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04 Sep 12:35

Steve Ballmer wrote the Blue Screen of Death message

by Tom Warren

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wrote the text for the original Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Microsoft developer Raymond Chen revealed the surprising fact in a blog post earlier this week, detailing Ballmer’s dissatisfaction with the original text that flashed up when a program wasn’t responding in Windows 3.1. Ballmer was head of the systems division at the time, Chen recalls, and when he visited the Windows team he thought the wording didn’t "sound right" for the ctrl+alt+del dialogue. The Windows team challenged Ballmer to do a better job, and he did.

A few days after the initial interaction, Ballmer emailed his own take on what the ctrl+alt+del should say and the Blue Screen of Death was born. 22 years ago, when Windows 3.1 was...

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04 Sep 07:29

The Galaxy Note Edge might not be so great if you're left-handed

by Nilay Patel

how 2 use galaxy note edge with your left hand pic.twitter.com/FkwYuCmtxw

— dan (@dcseifert) September 3, 2014

This really takes "you're holding it wrong" to an entirely new level.

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04 Sep 07:06

4chan adopts DMCA policy after nude celebrity photo postings

In the wake of the release of stolen, intimate photos from a number of celebrities’ cell phones this past weekend on 4chan’s /b/ Web forum, the site has added something to its rules and policies—a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown policy. While 4chan previously relied on its rapid expiration of content to keep 4chan LLC and site founder Chris “moot” Poole out of trouble, the heavy scrutiny that came from the latest round of celebrity exposure has pushed the site to adopt more formal measures to avoid litigation. (Victims of photo theft could use copyright claims to seek damages from publications and websites that publish them.)

Under the policy, 4chan will now remove content when notified of a “bona fide infringement” under the law. The site will also contact the individual posting the content to tell this user it has been removed. “It is the Company’s policy…that repeat offenders will have the infringing material removed from the system and that the Company will terminate such content provider’s, member’s or user’s access to the service,” the policy reads. Those who believe their content has been taken down improperly can file a counter-notice with 4chan.

The DMCA policy post designates a DMCA agent for the company (though not by name) at Corporation Service Company in Wilmington, Delaware. Corporation Service Company is an organization that acts as a corporate office and compliance agent for Delaware-registered companies.

Ars attempted to contact 4chan and Poole for comment but received no reply regarding the new policy. It’s not certain how 4chan would inform members—particularly those on /b/—of infringing material, as they are by default anonymous. Poole has been a staunch defender of online anonymity. In a 2010 TED talk, he described 4chan as a “site with no memory”—because of the volume of traffic, discussions are aggressively rolled off the site into oblivion within several days. When questioned about the negative side of what happens on 4chan, he insisted that “the greater good is being served” by 4chan’s anonymity.

04 Sep 06:32

Xbox One finally launched in Japan today, but you’d be forgiven for not noticing

by Philip Kendall
Abdulaziz Alhamidi

That's just.. sad.

Screen Shot 2014-09-04 at 1.48.46 PM

Gamers in the West have been barking orders at and toppling Titans on their Xbox One consoles for the best part of a year now, but today marks the first time Japanese consumers can purchase Microsoft’s newest console without importing.

Industry pundits have long speculated that Xbox One may struggle to gain a foothold in Japan due to the comparatively poor sales of its predecessors and Nintendo and Sony’s hold on the territory. We’d like to believe that this new generation of hardware might help shake things up a little, but if the distinct lack of people waiting in line outside Akihabara’s stores early this morning is any indication, the sceptics could well be right.

While there are no doubt plenty of people who preordered the console and are awaiting deliveries at this very moment, the scene outside numerous electronics stores in Akihabara this morning did not bode well for Microsoft.

Showing areas cordoned off for Xbox One buyers to line up in, photos uploaded to Twitter at around 8 a.m. today were all noticeably lacking one ingredient vital for any product launch: customers.

▼ “If.. if you hurry you can still make it in time!” <quavering voice>

Xbox One発売日朝8時前後のヨドバシ秋葉「整列場所」。い、急げばまだ間に合うよ!(震え声)
秋葉原では別会場で記念終夜イベント開催中のため本気勢はそちらか、昨年海外版を輸入済みか
japanese.engadget.com/2014/09/03/xbo… http://t.co/vZRuHXiBJt
Engadget Japanese (@engadgetjp) September 03, 2014

▼ “How the Xbox One line looks at around 8 a.m.”

ヨドバシAkiba、本日発売する「XBOX ONE」整列場所、8:00頃の様子。眠そうに下を向いてるひとはひとりもいません #akiba http://t.co/hhAmCyts6l
ツルミロボ (@kaztsu) September 03, 2014

▼ “Shinjuku['s Yodobashi Camera] looks just like any other day.”

【Xbox One発売】新宿はいつもと変わらぬ朝を迎えた bit.ly/1t1ZK0b #xbox_jp http://t.co/P1eyipSflW
iNSIDE@ライター募集 (@INSIDEjp) September 04, 2014

▼ “It’s Xbox One launch day, but there isn’t a single person waiting outside SofMap”

xbox one発売日ですけど、ソフマップアミューズメント館さん前には誰もいませんね。
#akiba http://t.co/IZ0hYUSZ58
akiba_asterisk(*)Z (@akiba_asterisk) September 04, 2014

Mercifully, a few people were spotted outside a handful of stores much later in the day, so it’s not all doom and gloom for Xbox One!

【Xbox One発売】秋葉原にファンの姿を確認!開店前の秋ヨドに並ぶファンと野外コーナーをフォトレポート bit.ly/Yd5k6T #xbox_jp http://t.co/2g6ohg0yLq
iNSIDE@ライター募集 (@INSIDEjp) September 04, 2014

As another Twitter user was quick to point out, however, even though it could hardly be described as performing well right now, Sony’s PlayStation 4 was at least met a mite more enthusiastically when it finally appeared on Japanese store shelves.

ちなみにプレイステーション4発売のときのヨドバシAkibaはこんな感じ http://t.co/g0QkAoJ5Jk
ツルミロボ (@kaztsu) September 03, 2014

Are these scenes just another sign of the declining console industry in Japan, or was Xbox One always destined to receive such an underwhelming reception? Hash it out in the comments!

Source: Hachima Kikou

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Origin: Xbox One finally launched in Japan today, but you’d be forgiven for not noticing
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

03 Sep 08:51

Uber banned across Germany

Uber Car

Despite putting the brakes on injunctions in both Berlin and Hamburg, Uber has once again felt the effects of a ban, but this time it's effective on a national level. Earlier today, a court in Frankfurt ruled that the car-hailing service doesn't have the necessary permits or insurance under German law. Despite facing a potential €250,000 fine for each unsanctioned journey and the risk that its directors could face time behind bars, Uber says the ban is unenforceable and has pledged to continue picking up passengers while it launches an appeal. Industry body Taxi Deutschland is happy with the ruling, though, describing Uber as a "form of locust share-economy" and also adding that smartphone ratings should not replace proper accreditation by authorities. The ruling comes just days after the company announced its intention to double capacity in the country by year-end. Despite today's court action hanging over its head, even the threat of a national ban doesn't appear to have distracted Uber from meeting its goal

03 Sep 07:01

Apple Media Advisory (Update to Celebrity Photo Investigation)

We wanted to provide an update to our investigation into the theft of photos of certain celebrities. When we learned of the theft, we were outraged and immediately mobilized Apple’s engineers to discover the source. Our customers’ privacy and security are of utmost importance to us. After more than 40 hours of investigation, we have discovered that certain celebrity accounts were compromised by a very targeted attack on user names, passwords and security questions, a practice that has become all too common on the Internet. None of the cases we have investigated has resulted from any breach in any of Apple’s systems including iCloud® or Find my iPhone. We are continuing to work with law enforcement to help identify the criminals involved. 

To protect against this type of attack, we advise all users to always use a strong password and enable two-step verification. Both of these are addressed on our website at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4232

Press Contacts:
Natalie Kerris
Apple
nat@apple.com
(408) 974-6877

Trudy Muller
Apple
tmuller@apple.com
(408) 862-7426


Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh and iCloud are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

03 Sep 06:55

Take a tour of Destiny with Planet View


Destiny players can get an early look at the game's sprawling otherworldly environments with Planet View, a Google Street View-like feature powered by Google's technologies. In addition to offering combat-free tourism, Planet View catalogs the game's enemies and makes it easier to find hidden secrets found throughout Destiny's universe. Destiny launches next week for PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
03 Sep 06:47

Netflix has bought the rights to 'Gotham' before the show has even premiered

by Ross Miller

Netflix is getting very, very aggressive with its streaming deals. After picking up The Blacklist for a reported $2 million per episode, Netflix now has the rights to the upcoming TV show / Batman prequel Gotham before the show has even aired its first episode.

According to Deadline, the deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. spans all Netflix territories (both present and future) and was "put in motion" soon after a successful May screening of the pilot in Los Angeles (our own take on the pilot wasn't quite as glowing). Each season will be made available after its broadcast run, which for the US could mean September 2015. Deadline says it's hearing $1.75 million per episode of Gotham, which isn't quite Blacklist money, but again... the...

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02 Sep 11:59

Hole in Apple’s ‘Find My iPhone’ appears plugged, closing access to celebrities’ private photos

by Barry Levine
Hole in Apple’s ‘Find My iPhone’ appears plugged, closing access to celebrities’ private photos

Above: Actress Jennifer Lawrence

Image Credit: DFree/Shutterstock

Updated 1:40pm Pacific with Apple’s reported response.

A number of celebrities may be breathing easier this morning after hearing news that Apple has apparently plugged a vulnerability in its Find My iPhone cloud-based service.

That’s not necessarily because they’ve lost their phones. The vulnerability may have been used to get iCloud passwords — and private photos and videos — from the accounts of a number of famous people.

Last night, at least two anonymous users of 4chan, an anonymous bulletin board that tends to feature pornography and offensive content, reported that they had obtained access to as many as 100 accounts of famous actresses and female singers on Apple’s iCloud service. Some images pilfered from the accounts were posted, and to keep releasing them, one 4channer had asked for Bitcoin donations. Reportedly, about $95 has been paid by curious visitors.

The list of hacked accounts reportedly includes those of Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Rihanna, Kirsten Dunst, Selena Gomez, and of course, the omnipresent Kim Kardashian. The 4chan users report that at least some of the photos and videos are of the not-safe-for-work variety.

Some of the apparent photo-heist victims, such as Jennifer Lawrence, acknowledge the images’ authenticity. Others, including Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande, say the photos are fake.

A brute-force program to hack AppleID passwords was recently uploaded to GitHub. The program, appropriately called iBrute, is designed to flood AppleID logons with possible password combinations. The assumption is that the hacker would know the username, often derived from an email address.

Shortly before the stolen images were announced, the owner of iBrute announced the vulnerability — Find My iPhone did not deny access to brute force methods of figuring out a password. Early this morning, the same iBrute owner announced that the vulnerability has been closed, although there has not yet been confirmation from Apple.

Update: Apple is reportedly “actively investigating” the leaks.

iBrute is now reportedly locked out. But there is also speculation that the Find My iPhone hack was not solely to blame for all the apparently stolen files. For instance, someone could trick a celebrity user — or the celebrity’s assistant — into revealing enough information to gain access to iCloud backups. Additionally, it’s possible other online services were involved, since some of the images reportedly show celebrities using Android mobile devices.



Apple designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes t... read more »








02 Sep 06:41

The latest iPhone 6 leak assembles parts into the best video yet

There's been no shortage of parts leaks and even "leaked" iPhones assembled from various parts on the internet in the past few weeks. But the latest leak of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, from Russian YouTuber user Rozetked, might just be the best we've seen so far. As the camera slowly pans over the assembled device, you can get a clear look at the curved edges, large antenna bands, and relocated power button. As 9to5Mac notes, you can also get a (brief) look at the white front panel and compare the space gray color to the iPhone 5S (spoiler: the colors look very similar.)

Everybody is expecting both a 4.7-inch iPhone and a 5.5-inch version at Apple's event on September 9th, not to mention the iWatch. It will be an event so big that Apple built an entirely new, three-story structure for it. So even if you think you know everything about the new iPhones, there's almost surely a surprise or two in store.

01 Sep 10:14

Get strangers to deliver the bad news with 'Somebody' messaging app

If you've ever sat back, stared into the sky and wonder would happen if WhatsApp was taken over by a singing telegram service, then boy, today is your lucky day. Film director and artist Miranda July has teamed up with Prada sub-brand Miu Miu (nope, us neither) to design a social messaging app / publicity stunt with a twist. Instead of simply letting two people swap messages, Somebody (for iOS) finds a person in the nearby vicinity to your contact, asking them to walk over and deliver the message, in person, on your behalf. You can even add stage directions like crying or whispering, and the recipient can rate their delivery with a star rating in the same vein as Uber.

If we're honest, there are a whole host of reasonable, legitimate objections to this. After all, giving away someone's personal location to complete strangers is a bit weird, as is the idea that people would willingly volunteer to break up with someone on your behalf. The app does exist and is available to download, although it seems that other would-be somebodies haven't been able to get SMS-verified yet. I've signed up to convey two messages in my nearby area, but so far no-one's sent over an address to deliver the missive personally. Maybe people aren't impressed by my lack of obvious whimsy and a Miu Miu outfit, but if I do get sent on a mission, I will let all of you know how it goes.


31 Aug 13:39

Even If You Can't Dance, You Should Dance

Abdulaziz Alhamidi

... Elaine?

Woman dancing funny in a GIF

Submitted by: Unknown

Tagged: dancing , Music , gifs , funny
31 Aug 11:14

See the special effects that bring 'Game of Thrones' to life

Game of Thrones didn't get much love from the Emmys last week — it only won just four technical awards out of 19 nominations — but there's no denying what an impressive achievement the series is. Its creators have brought a massive, fantastic world to life on TV in a way that only film has in the past, and much of the credit goes to the visual effects companies that make it all possible.

Montreal-based visual effects studio Rodeo was among those honored on Monday, and now it's released a video showing off its work for season four of the show. Its work includes bringing Meereen to life, as well as filling in crowds for some of the more stunning battle scenes in the show, but the way its work transforms serene locales into magnificent vistas of fantasy cities is perhaps the most impressive of all. Naturally, there are some spoilers in the video, and if you want more, be sure to check out similar clips from other visual effects companies that worked on the latest season of the epic TV show.

28 Aug 11:30

Seven “frogging” adorable kids belting out the F word!【Videos】

by Joan Coello

frog
When was the first time you uttered a “bad word”? We all probably grew up with adults telling us not to say certain words, and that there were words that only adults could speak of. As a kid, blurting one of those “forbidden words” felt like something cool and thrilling, but now that I’m well beyond that age, such words have lost their significance as a big taboo.

Some kids, however, seem to be blurting out the F-word even before they’ve reached the age to be told that it’s an “adult word”. Of course, they’re not saying it on purpose, and that’s exactly what makes it so amusing and adorable! Frog it, we’re going straight to the videos after the break!

▼ Our attention was first brought to this little girl and her cute mispronunciation of the word “frog”. However, it seems like she’s not the only little one struggling with that notorious F word!






Did you have trouble saying “frog” as a child? Or perhaps you’ve had a few such laughs at your offspring’s efforts at pronouncing the word? I know for sure that I’ll be watching out for that magical word when I have little tots of my own!

Top image: Youtube (1, 2, 3, 4)

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Origin: Seven “frogging” adorable kids belting out the F word!【Videos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

28 Aug 07:13

The Creatures (Kootra) got SWAT Raided (SWATTED) #FreeKootra2014

So some troll called in a fake threat and this caused the SWAT to raid the Creature Office while Kootra was streaming. This happens from time to time to stre...
28 Aug 07:02

HTC announces the world's first 64-bit Android phone

by Sam Byford

Around a year ago, Apple announced the iPhone 5S, the first and so far only phone to run on a 64-bit processor. Now, as noted by AnandTech, HTC has announced the first Android phone to make use of the same ARMv8 technology that Apple's A7 chip employs. Unlike the iPhone 5S, though, HTC's Desire 510 is a pretty budget-conscious affair; aside from the 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with LTE, it features a 4.7-inch 854 x 480 screen, a five-megapixel camera, and 1GB of RAM.

The primary advantage of 64-bit processing is the ability to address more than 4GB of RAM, so the Desire 510 isn't going to set any power records. Android itself doesn't even support 64-bit yet, so unless this phone gets updated from 4.4 KitKat to the...

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28 Aug 06:56

New Firefox start page invites millions to learn a little code

For the first time ever, Firefox users will be able to play around with the code that makes up the familiar Firefox start page. A new experience launching today lets users change the background color of the page, peeking under the hood to remix the code that makes the page — and the web — work.

We hope it will give millions of Firefox users a taste of what it’s like to be a creator, not just consumer, of the Web. It’s easy to start coding and creating online, in the spirit of Mozilla Webmaker and our global Maker Party campaign to teach and learn digital skills.

The Firefox start page is viewed about 20 million times each day in the United States. This is the first time we’ve opened it up to users like this. To try it for yourself, just open a new Firefox window and click on the link below the search bar. Don’t see it yet? Just click here: http://mzl.la/startpage

You can interact with the code that controls the page’s background color, watching the changes you make appear in real time. It’s a chance to learn a bit about HTML and CSS, the building blocks behind your favorite sites on the Web.

Of course, this is just a start — you can go further at Webmaker.org to explore more tools for building, remixing, teaching and playing with code.

Maker Party

This new interactive Firefox start page comes in the final weeks of our global Maker Party campaign. Running from June 15 to September 15, Maker Party promotes web literacy through more than 2,000 hands-on teaching and learning events hosted by Mozilla community members in 400 cities around the world.

Get involved

27 Aug 12:25

السعودية.. 13 فئة ممنوعة من الزواج بغير المواطنين

by الهتلان بوست

الزواج

أبرزت لائحة وزارة الداخلية المؤلفة من 11 مادة، أنه يمنع الوزراء وكبار موظفي الدولة ورؤساء مجالس الشركات المساهمة وموظفو الجمارك، من الزواج بغير السعوديات.

وضمت المادة الأولى من اللائحة 13 فئة تمنع زواج السعوديين أو السعوديات من غير مواطنيهم، إذا كانوا من الوزراء ومن في مرتبتهم، شاغلي المرتبة الممتازة والمرتبتين 14 و15، أعضاء السلك القضائي في وزارة العدل وديوان المظالم وكتاب العدل، موظفي الديوان الملكي ومجلس الوزراء وأعضاء مجلس الشورى، إضافة إلى موظفي وزارة الخارجية، والدبلوماسيين والإداريين، والموظفين العاملين خارج السعودية.

وشملت اللائحة فئات أخرى ويتعلق الأمر بمنسوبي القوات المسلحة في وزارة الدفاع والطيران والحرس الوطني وقوات الأمن الداخلي سواء الضباط أم الأفراد والعاملين في المباحث والاستخبارات العامة من عسكريين أو مدنيين، وجميع الطلاب الذين يدرسون في الخارج سواء أكانوا مبتعثين من الحكومة أو يدرسون على حسابهم الخاص، كما يشمل قرار المنع أيضاً رؤساء مجالس الشركات المساهمة والأعضاء المنتدبين للشركة، وموظفي وزارة الدفاع والطيران ووزارة الداخلية والحرس الوطني بجميع قطاعاتها من المدنيين، وأعضاء هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام، وموظفي الجمارك، وأخيراً الموظفين الذين يشغلون وظائف ذات الأهمية الخاصة وفقاً لما تراه مراجعهم. وأوضحت المادة الثانية من اللائحة: أن تكون الموافقة على طلبات الزواج التي تقدم من غير الفئات الواردة في المادة الأولى بإذن من وزير الداخلية أو من يفوضه، من جنسيات الدول العربية والإسلامية وللضرورة من جنسيات أخرى بالضوابط الشرعية.

في حين بينت المادة الثالثة أنه يسمح بالزواج بين السعوديين ومواطني دول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية بشرط أن لا يكون من الفئات المشمولة بالمنع المنصوص عليها في المادة الأولى من اللائحة، على أن تقوم الممثليات بالتأكد من المهنة وعدم وجود ملاحظة لديها. وتصدر موافقتها إلى الجهة المختصة لإتمام إجراءات العقد، وعند توثيق العقد تقوم المحكمة الشرعية المختصة بالنسبة للمقيمين داخل السعودية بالتأكد مما أشير إليه قبل إجراء العقد.

المصدر: الحياة

27 Aug 07:53

Malaysia Airlines Is Burning $2 Million Every Day as Flights Go Empty

Malaysia Airlines is facing dire economic straits after being involved in the two worst air tragedies of the year. Based on some recent photos taken by its few remaining passengers, some flights are operating nearly empty.

In March, Flight 370, scheduled to travel from from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared with 12 crew and 227 passengers on board — which remains a mystery.

See also: Parents Who Lost 3 Children on MH17 Say Life Is 'Hell Beyond Hell'

Then, last month, tragedy struck again when Flight 17 was shot down while in Ukrainian airspace. All 283 passengers and 15 crew aboard were killed.

Blame for the second tragedy cannot be placed squarely on Malaysia Airlines, as many major carriers routinely fly over conflict zones. But the loss of lives was inextricably linked to the airline by people around the world.

The carrier, which was operating in the red for about five years before either of this year's tragedies, has continued operating despite the major damage to its reputation.

"The southeast Asia air carrier burns its cash reserves at nearly $2.16 million each day," wrote Howard University professor Oliver McGee. "Operations are losing about $1.6 million a day."

According to Australia's news.com.au, the airline has doubled the commission it offers to Australian travel agents, from 6% to 11%, for booking travelers on the carrier. It is also offering deep discounts compared to other carriers: A sample fare search on Malaysia Airlines showed a round trip flight between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing for $238, while a similar flight on other carriers was listed for more than $500.

But these efforts have not been enough to prevent nearly empty flights.

At Penang Airport, flying to Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysia Airlines check-in line is empty as a Richard Marx concert

— malkovichmusic.com (@malkovichmusic) July 25, 2014

Earlier this month, Malaysia's state investment company Khazanah Nasional announced a complete overhaul of the tarnished carrier, announcing it would offer a buyout for the 31% of the airline stock it did not already own.

Details of the overhaul have not been explicit, but a name change, rebranding and labor restructuring are possible. But even if extreme measures are taken, it is difficult to imagine how the airline can overcome the shadow cast by the disastrous MH370 and MH17.

Thank you @MAS it is an amazing surprise! pic.twitter.com/ujlI6nCaWW

— Ping (@WanPingCoombes) August 17, 2014

The importance of brand trust & values. Malaysia Airlines queue for check in empty 1.5hrs before the flight to KL pic.twitter.com/9MStJ66YeW

— Ruslan Kogan (@ruslankogan) March 10, 2014

Can confirm my mother arrived in KL in one piece after flying Malaysia Airlines. But plane so empty she had three seats to herself in A380

— Julia Macfarlane (@juliamacfarlane) April 25, 2014

Picture sent to me of a Malaysia Airlines flight out of Australia today to Asia | pic.twitter.com/3nrsdKIBmg

— Ricardo Goncalves (@BUSINESSricardo) August 15, 2014

Malaysia Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

27 Aug 07:46

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - Amy Adams & Henry Cavill

26 Aug 11:44

World Health Organization calls for ban on indoor vaping and fruity e-cigarettes

The World Health Organization (WHO) today published a report calling for a ban on the use of electronic cigarettes indoors, as well as restrictions on e-cigarette advertising and sales to minors. The report also calls for regulations on the contents of e-cigarettes and raised concerns over the interests of major tobacco companies, which have begun to command a greater share of a market that saw $3 billion in sales last year.

Today's report comes two days after the American Heart Association (AHA) weighed in on the debate, saying in a statement that e-cigarettes could be used to help people quit smoking. Health experts are divided on the benefits and potential pitfalls of using e-cigarettes, with some saying they could save lives by turning people away from traditional cigarettes, and others warning that they could "renormalize" smoking and encourage youths to pick up the habit. But both the AHA and WHO agree that stronger regulations are needed, with each organization raising concerns over how the products are marketed. The AHA also said that they should be regulated under existing rules for tobacco products.


"not merely water vapor"

In its report, the WHO called for a ban on fruity- and candy-flavored e-cigarette products that may appeal to minors, and that their "e-liquids" should be regulated to "minimize content and emissions of toxicants." It also suggested that governments regulate the health claims that some manufacturers are making in the absence of strong empirical evidence, and recommended bans on vending machines in most places. The organization added that e-cigarettes expose non-smokers and bystanders to nicotine, and that evidence suggests that their emissions are "not merely water vapor" as many believe.

The report was published as part of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, an international public health treaty that came into effect in 2005. Since then, 179 countries have ratified the treaty, with the US standing as a major exception.

26 Aug 06:43

Official: Amazon Acquires Twitch for $970M

by Endless

Amazon.com to Acquire Twitch

Amazon.com today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Twitch Interactive, the leading live video platform for gamers. In July, more than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch produced by more than 1 million broadcasters, including individual gamers, pro players, publishers, developers, media outlets, conventions and stadium-filling esports organizations.

“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.”

“Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.”

Twitch launched in June 2011 to focus exclusively on live video for gamers. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by Twitch’s shareholders, Amazon will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Twitch for approximately $970 million in cash, as adjusted for the assumption of options and other items. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2014.

A Letter from the Twitch's CEO – August 25, 2014

It’s almost unbelievable that slightly more than 3 years ago, Twitch didn’t exist. The moment we launched, we knew we had stumbled across something special. But what followed surprised us as much as anyone else, and the impact it’s had on both the community and us has been truly profound.

Your talent, your passion, your dedication to gaming, your memes, your brilliance – these have made Twitch what it is today. Every day, we strive to live up to the standard set by you, the community. We want to create the very best place to share your gaming and life online, and that mission continues to guide us.

Together with you, we’ve found new ways of connecting developers and publishers with their fans. We’ve created a whole new kind of career that lets people make a living sharing their love of games. We’ve brought billions of hours of entertainment, laughter, joy and the occasional ragequit. I think we can all call that a pretty good start.

Today, I’m pleased to announce we’ve been acquired by Amazon. We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. We’re keeping most everything the same: our office, our employees, our brand, and most importantly our independence. But with Amazon’s support we’ll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch.

I personally want to thank you, each and every member of the Twitch community, for what you’ve created. Thank you for putting your faith in us. Thank you for sticking with us through growing pains and stumbles. Thank you for bringing your very best to us and sharing it with the world. Thank you, from a group of gamers who never dreamed they’d get to help shape the face of the industry that we love so much.

It’s dangerous to go alone. On behalf of myself and everyone else at Twitch, thank you for coming with us.

blog.twitch.tv
25 Aug 08:36

London-based makeup artist wows us with her eye-popping lip art! 【Photos】

by Joan Coello

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We’ve previously witnessed the gender-bending, face-changing prowess of makeup on several occasions. With some technique, even a man can transform into a glamorous chick. Taking makeup to a whole new transformation level, London-based makeup artist Laura Jenkinson takes on a slightly different approach with her technique, using her skills not to cover imperfections, nor to turn monolids into double eyelids. With vivid colors and artistic flicks of her makeup brush, she transforms her lips into lively, adorable characters! How many of these can you recognize?


▼ 2-D looking lips
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▼ Animals
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▼ Disney characters
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▼ Non-Disney characters get plenty of love too!
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▼ Upside down, even!
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Apart from her fabulous lip art creations, being the makeup professional she is, Laura creates these stunning full-face looks as well!

▼ Edward Scissorhands
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▼ Scar from The Lion King
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If you were wowed by Laura’s lip art, follow her on Facebook or Instagram to see more of her makeup magic!

Source: Zhaizhai News
Images: Laura Jenkinson on Facebook

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Origin: London-based makeup artist wows us with her eye-popping lip art! 【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

25 Aug 07:40

A Version Of P.T. That's Somehow Equal Parts Funny And Terrifying

by Cameron Gidari

P.T. might not have much in common with The Stanley Parable, but that didn't stop Youtuber Its a mirage from mashing up the narration of the latter with the spine-tingling gameplay of the former.

Read more...

21 Aug 06:54

Uber opens up its API – and creates a new platform

by Barry Levine
Uber opens up its API – and creates a new platform

Above: Three of the apps using Uber's API.

Image Credit: Uber

Updated 10:52 AM PT with a comment from Uber

The Uberization of the world has just accelerated. Today, the company opened up its API, meaning that it is no longer just a platform for booking taxis but could also be applied to other services in the real world.

“Apps can pass a destination address to the Uber app, display pickup times, provide fare estimates, access trip history, and more,” the company said on its blog. One can also envision, over time, the platform adding other transportation functions unrelated to taxis, such as delivery services or parking-by-appointment.

The API for Uber’s key use case — requesting a ride — is being released “in a more controlled fashion,” Uber said, because it results in sending a real car and driver to a given location. At this point, that capability is being reserved for a few partners, but the company is taking inquiries from interested developers.

“This is really a big moment for Uber,” spokesperson Nairi Hourdajian told VentureBeat. “We’re touching every hour of every day in [the cities we're in], and we’re bringing the Uber mobile experience to every mobile app.”

Uber “could focus on just logistics,” Reticle Research principal analyst Ross Rubin told us. “In some ways, its platform is one of drivers,” which could then be called upon for various uses.

“It could be really plugged into TaskRabbit,” he suggested, “where someone needs transportation to your home” and an available driver, via Uber, fills the need.

But some Uber-watchers think the API could be a two-edged sword.

On the one hand, “opening up an API is a good move from Uber’s perspective because it embeds them in a wider range of apps and processes and increases their sales potential because they have more channels,” Gartner vice president Nick Jones told VentureBeat.

“It also provides Uber and its partners with opportunities for marketing, [such as] ‘stay at Hilton and we’ll give you a 50 percent reduction in the cost of the ride.’ “

And there’s also the additional user data to mine for insights, he said, as well as an increased likelihood that Uber will be better integrated into larger platforms, like intelligent voice agents Siri or Cortana.

On the other hand, Uber, available in 170 cities and 44 countries, is not a neutral brand.

It “has generated a lot of hostility in some countries,” Jones pointed out. “London cab drivers [have] demonstrated against Uber, Berlin has banned Uber,” and there’s still a lot of hostility against Uber from traditional cab drivers and their organizations.

“Some organizations won’t want to be associated with that battle and so will stay clear of using the API in case they get caught up in legal or PR issues.”

Uber is also launching a new affiliate program, offering incentives to developers for getting users of a third-party app to book an Uber ride. New users will get a credit of up to $30 when they register through an outside app.

Nearly a dozen companies have already partnered with the company to integrate their apps using Uber’s API, including Expensify, Hyatt Hotes & Resorts, OpenTable, Starbucks, TripAdvisor and United Airlines. In May, Google added Uber integration to its Maps app.

The partners offer a range of possible integrations. The OpenTable app can have a taxi or car service ready to take you to your favorite restaurant, and the United app shows fare estimates to the airport from the nearest drivers, along with estimated travel time. With the Hyatt app, a user can book a room and ask for a taxi to the hotel in one reservation screen. Momento includes your Uber trip history alongside the other most memorable moments in your life (although there are likely some rides people would rather forget).

Yesterday, the company announced that it would be launching an on-demand product delivery service in Washington, D.C. And it said that none other than Obama election mastermind David Ploufee would become its senior vice president of policy and strategy.


We're studying digital marketing compensation: how much companies pay CMOs, CDOs, VPs of marketing, and more, with ChiefDigitalOfficer. Help us out by filling out the survey, and we'll share the results with you.


Uber Technologies Inc is known as Everyone's Private Driver. Uber operates an on-demand car service used all over the world. With the touch of a button from your phone, you can experience your own private driver. Sign-up quickly, g... read more »








20 Aug 06:38

ALS Challenge Gone Wrong

als,ouch,FAIL,gifs,kids,ice buckets,ice

Submitted by: anselmbe

Tagged: als , ouch , FAIL , gifs , kids , ice buckets , ice
20 Aug 06:26

Pierce Brosnan Kind of Sucks At Goldeneye

by Patricia Hernandez

Here's Pierce Brosnan, playing Goldeneye with Jimmy Fallon. Brosnan's not the best at the game, but hey, that's OK. He can say he used to be James Bond.

Read more...

19 Aug 12:15

asshole mario (via)



asshole mario (via)

19 Aug 11:57

Where do bags go after the TSA takes them?

Air travel comes with a risk that, although mathematically rare, seems all too common: lost luggage. According to Conde Nast Traveler, U.S. carriers handle 400 million checked bags a year, and as many as 2 million bags are lost each year from domestic U.S. flights alone. That’s a small percentage—about half a percent—and most misplaced bags are reunited with their owners within forty-eight hours. Within five days, 95 percent of those 2 million bags will find themselves back home.

But a small percentage—and we’re talking 50,000 to 100,000—sit idly, never to find their way back home. What happens to these bags? They go to Alabama. Scottsboro, Alabama, is a small city of just under 15,000 people, tucked away in the northeast corner of the state, thirty miles or so from the Georgia and Tennessee borders. Every year, about a million visitors come to this tiny city, the vast majority of whom come to visit the Unclaimed Baggage Center. This 50,000-square- foot store sells the things that flyers lost and were unable to recover.

When an airline loses your bags, federal law requires them to try to find them for you. Typically, the airlines are successful at doing so. But not always. After the lost bag has sat for ninety days unclaimed (or its owner has not been located), federal law imposes a different obligation on the airlines: They have to pay the flyer a settlement amount. In doing so, the airline effectively purchases the luggage, becoming the legal owner of everything inside the bags.

But airlines aren’t in the business of selling random items like half-used bottles of sunscreen, underwear of every size, evening gowns, jewelry, and a cornucopia of other goods. Besides, it would be bad for business if the airlines—after scanning baggage and at times, manually inspecting the contents—started putting the high-priced items you formerly owned on some e- commerce site. (Imagine the conspiracy theories!) This leaves the airlines with a problem: Tens of thousands of bags become theirs each year, and they can’t sell the stuff inside.

The Unclaimed Baggage Center is the largest and most well known of a handful of intermediaries that help solve this problem. The UBC, as Scottsboro locals call it, buys unclaimed baggage by the pound, sight unseen, from the airlines. (This works well for the airlines because they’re better off having no knowledge of the contents of the unclaimed bags.) The UBC trucks the items from various airlines’ unclaimed baggage depots across the country to the Scottsboro HQ. Workers sort through the contents, and about a third of the items make it onto the shelves in the colossal store.

Another third are donated to charity, and the final third is deemed unfit for sale. (The criteria for being unfit for sale is unknown, but shoppers have noted that partially consumed bottles of lotion are often on the store shelves whereas sex toys rarely, if ever, are.) Most items are for sale at a sizeable discount, and on occasion, a shopper may find a diamond in the rough—literally. The UBC has sold a handful of lost diamond jewelry in its forty-plus-year history.

Bonus Fact: Sometimes, albeit rarely, airlines are better off losing luggage. This was certainly the case regarding a regional flight servicing areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 25, 2010. That day, the contents of one passenger’s carry-on bag resulted in tragedy. According to NBC News, a passenger had snuck a crocodile into a large duffle bag, hoping to sell it at his intended destination. The crocodile got loose, scared the you-know-what out of the flight crew and passengers, and caused the pilot to lose control of the plane. The plane crashed into a house (the residents were thankfully not at home), killing all but one of the twenty-one people onboard. The crocodile survived but was killed by a machete-wielding Congolese shortly thereafter.

19 Aug 06:54

Oh No, Someone Put Nic Cage's Face All Over Halo

Fun fact: Nic Cage's face can improve everything—including, yes, Halo. Just don't expect things to feel as dramatic when you see Nic-Cage-Cortana talking to Nic-Cage-Master-Chief.

This mod, which replaces all textures with Nic Cage's face, is pretty hilarious—as you can see in this video by Gunner:

The thing that happens around the three minute mark? Too good.