Ryder Cup 2012: USA get 1st Point from Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley

The Americans made a statement with the first point at the Ryder Cup.
Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson won 4-and-3 Friday morning, handing Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald their first loss ever in foursomes. The Europeans had been 4-0 together, and Garcia was 8-0-1 in alternate-shot play at the Ryder Cup.
Bradley, a Ryder Cup rookie, was unshakable, making one big putt after another. None was bigger than the last, and he drained a 15-footer on No. 15 to clinch the match. While his caddie twirled the flag stick, Bradley screamed and pumped his fist, then exchanged a hand slap and a hug with Mickelson.
Donald needed to hole out from the bunker to extend the match, but it wasn't close.
[HuffingtonPost]

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Brian Wilson and other Beach Boys fired

Summer is over, which means that the days are getting shorter, the weather is chillier, and the relationships between members of the Beach Boys are pretty much falling apart.

The Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary reunion tour is wrapping up in London this week, though “The Beach Boys” will continue to tour throughout the fall. The twist? Mike Love, who controls the rights to the group’s name, is sending home cornerstone member Brian Wilson, along with fellow Boys Al Jardine and David Marks.Love will be touring as the Beach Boys with Bruce Johnson and a back-up band that may or may not include Uncle Jesse.

“I’m disappointed and can’t understand why he doesn’t want to tour with Al, David and me,” Wilson told CNN. “We are out there having so much fun. After all, we are the real Beach Boys.”

The announcement came just after the group celebrated the opening of an exhibit dedicated to their five decade career at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

 [EW]

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Google Play nets 25 billion app downloads, holds celebratory yard sale with $0.25 games

Huge....

Google Play - the name for Android app store - crossed a rather significant milestone this morning: something to the tune of 25 billion app downloads. While the accomplishment is weighty enough on its own -- especially given that the store also offers books, music and movies, which aren't included in this tally -- Google is celebrating in symbolic style with a number of apps and games for sale at just $0.25 over the next five days. Among the mix of discounted titles, you'll find publishers such as Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Rovio, Runtastic and Full Fat. Not to stop there, shoppers will also discover a curated collection of 25 must-own movies, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and 25 top-selling magazines.


With today's announcement, it was revealed that 675,000 apps and games now live in Google Play -- a healthy increase when compared to 600,000 titles and 20 billion installs just three months ago. As you might expect, Apple still claims the largest selection with 700,000 titles in its App Store, although with such a thin separation between the two, we may see Google Play eclipse its rival in short order.

 [engadget]

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Obama leads in 'Swing States'

Its a wrap for Mitt 'I love my money' Romney.

President Barack Obama has stretched his lead over Republican nominee Mitt Romney in battleground states Ohio and Florida and retains a 12-point lead in Pennsylvania, according to a Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS poll released Wednesday.

The president is ahead 53 to 43 percent in Ohio and 53 to 44 percent in Florida, according to surveys of likely voters conducted Sept. 18-24. In Pennsylvania, Obama leads 54-42 percent.

Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, attributed the swing in Obama's favor to negative media coverage of Romney over the past few weeks but said the Republican nominee still has time to reverse the president's lead.
"Gov. Mitt Romney had a bad week in the media and it shows in these key swing states," Brown said. "The furor over his 47 percent remark almost certainly is a major factor in the roughly double-digit leads President Barack Obama has in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The debates may be Romney's best chance to reverse the trend in his favor."

If national electorate models hold, Florida and Ohio will be crucial for Romney to reach the 270 Electoral College votes needed to best Obama on Election Day. According to the Quinnipiac University poll, Romney continues to struggle with female voters, who favor Obama by 19 percentage points in Florida, 25 percentage points in Ohio and 21 percentage points in Pennsylvania. The surveys in Ohio and Pennsylvania have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent and plus or minus 2.8 percent in Florida.

Other recent polls, however, show closer races in these battleground states. A Mason-Dixon survey unveiled Sunday and conducted Sept. 17-19 showed a statistical tie between Obama and Romney in Florida. According a recent Washington Post poll, Obama leads by 8 percentage points in Ohio and 4 percentage points in Florida.

 [Yahoo]

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Andy Williams dead at 84

RIP to the 'Moon River' Singer.

Sad news to report from the music world: Legendary singer Andy Williams died Tuesday night.
His rep tells Lifeline Live that Williams passed away after a year-long battle with bladder cancer. He was 84.

Williams, who was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1960s as well as an avid golfer, died at home in Branson, Mo., where he owns the Moon River Theatre. Moon River -- by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini -- was one of Williams' signature songs. On Twitter, fans are saying farewell to our "huckleberry friend."
"The old cliche says that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there," the singer once recalled. "Well, I was there all right, but my memory of them is blurred â?? not by any drugs I took but by the relentless pace of the schedule I set myself."
Said Kathie Lee Gifford on Today. "He had perhaps the most beautiful male voice ever. Perfect pitch."
Williams was also well-known in the 1970s and '80s for his Christmas television specials. Known for his affable, easy-going personality, he hosted the Grammys, the Golden Globes and the People's Choice Awards numerous times.
The crooner is survived by his wife, Debbie, and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian. Williams had the children with French-born dancer Claudine Longet. They divorced in 1975 and the following year she was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, alpine ski racer Spider Sabich in Aspen. Williams made headlines as he stood by her side throughout the public trial. He married Debbie Meyer in 1991.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.

 [USAToday]

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Weight Loss Diet pills return to the US after long hiatus

For the first time in 13 years, the Food and Drug Administration has put weight loss diet pills back on the market.

As more than a third of US adults struggle with obesity, a pill may seem like an easy answer, but weight loss drugs have had a sketchy track record over the past two decades. Ever since "fen phen" and Meridia were taken off the market after dangerous heart-related side effects were widely reported, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been extremely cautious when assessing new diet drugs. In fact, no new weight loss drugs have been approved by the FDA for 13 years, until this summer when the agency gave the green light to two new drugs.

Qsymia and Belviq, as the medications are branded, aim to put a dent in America's obesity epidemic. Both are targeted specifically at obese adults – those with a body mass index over 30 (check your BMI here).

When combined with diet and exercise, the new drugs promise "modest" weight loss (about 5-10% of body mass in a year), and they may aid the fight against weight-related illnesses, such as diabetes, too. Overall, they're intended to control cravings and stave off the body's "starvation response" to weight loss. But the pills also carry possible side effects that range from interference with other medications to birth defects.

 [GuardianUK]

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Mariah Carey 'Eager To Shed Pounds'

New American Idol judge Mariah Carey is reportedly determined to lose weight before her debut appearance on the TV show.

The 42-year-old singer gave birth to her twins in April last year, and is believed to have reached a size 18 during the pregnancy.

Since then she has followed a series of strict diets and fitness programmes in an effort to regain her pre-baby body.


According to UK magazine, Closer a source said: “Mrs Carey told pals she wants to be a size eight when Idol starts. She's cut out salt, sugar, and oils and is focusing on portion control.

“She's having veggie juice in the morning, then chicken or fish with salad for lunch and dinner.”

Mariah is believed to be battling to lose the final pounds as she does not want to be overshadowed by Nicki Minaj, another new addition to the American Idol judging panel.

“The idea of being upstaged is motivating Mariah to stick to her diet,” the source added.

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President Obama on ‘The View’

Did you catch the Obamas on The View today? Go register to vote...

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on "The View" on Tuesday, giving Americans a glimpse of the first couple's relationship.

"I told folks I'm supposed to be eye candy for you guys," President Obama, flanked by Michelle and the show's five female hosts, joked on the show, which was taped on Monday in New York ahead of his appearance at the United Nations general assembly.

Michelle Obama said she didn't realize that the first presidential debate is on the same date as their 20th wedding anniversary.

"I forgot," the first lady said.

"That's cold," President Obama said.
"I like lavishing her with all kinds of attention when she deserves it," President Obama said when asked how he is as a husband. "And she always deserves it."
The chat fest did eventually turn to more serious subjects, including the economy, Libya and President Obama's opponent in November.
"Would it be disastrous for the country if Mitt Romney were elected?" Barbara Walters asked the president.
"I think America is so strong, and we've got so much going for us that we can survive a lot," Obama responded. "But the American people don't want to just survive, we want everyone to thrive. We want folks to have a shot at success, and so the question then just becomes, whose policies are more likely to lead us to where we want to go?"
The president was also asked what his post-presidential plans are.
"Well, you know, first things first here," Obama quipped. "There's all kinds of things I want to do in the second term, uh, putting folks back to work, making sure our schools are up to snuff."
"And then?" Walters asked.

"You know, in a post-presidency, the thing that I think I would enjoy most is spending time working with kids," Obama said. "I love teaching, I miss teaching, and you know, I'm not sure it would necessarily be in a classroom, but the idea of being able to go around in various cities and helping to create mentorships, and apprenticeships, giving young people the sense of possibility and opportunity, and using whatever spotlight I can shine to show how much incredible talent there is out there."

As for Michelle, President Obama said "she should run for office, but she says she doesn't want to."

"I mean, Michelle would be terrific," he continued, "but temperamentally I just don't think [she could]."

"Yeah, no," the first lady said. "It takes a lot of patience to be the president of the United States, and I'm not that patient."

 [Yahoo]

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What to Eat When on a Diet

Are you looking for what to eat to lose weight - while on your diet plan? The best diet plan to give you your ideal weight. You can simply lose weight by using more calories than you take in. How do you do this?  By being physically active, following a healthy eating plan and also by taking a potent  - and safe - natural weight loss supplement.
Following research, weight loss enthusiasts and nutritionists/dieticians have reached a generalized consensus on almost all of the following dietary tips to help you lose weight fast and also maintain it permanently.

What to eat when on a diet to help you with an effective weight loss/control?

Fresh fruits

Very important. Try to eat different types of fruits whether they fresh, frozen, canned, or dried, instead of fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. If on a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day. Like a small banana, a large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches.

Vegetables

Eat more Dark green veggetables, like kale, broc­coli, and other dark leafy greens. Orange veggies also, like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash. Also some proteins: beans and peas, like black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils

Good quantity of calcium-rich foods

Drink 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk everyday. Or, you can get similar amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese each day. 1.5 ounces of cheese is 1 cup of milk. If you don’t/can’t consume milk, get a lactose-free milk prod­uct and/or calcium rich foods and drinks.

Limit saturated fats

Let less than 10 percent of your calorie intake be from sat­urated fatty acids. Most fats should come from sources of polyunsaturat­ed and monounsaturated fatty acids, like fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. When selecting and preparing your meat, poultry, dry beans, and milk, choose ones that are lean, low-fat, or entirely fat-free. If you need help to calm your food cravings by reducing the absorption of dietary cholesterol, Proactol is highly recommend for you.


Make half your grains whole

Here is what I simply mean; eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta everyday. One ounce is about a slice of bread, a cup of breakfast cereal, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as “whole” in the list of ingredi­ents.

Use leaner proteins

For proteins, use leaner proteins - choose lean meats and poultry. Bake, broil or grill it. Mix your protein choices with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.

Limit salt intake
Endeavor to use less than 2,300 mg of sodium (about 1 teaspoon of salt) each day. Know that increased salt (Sodium) in your food will put you at high risk of developing high blood pressure and heart diseases.

Now you know what to eat to lose weight (or when on your diet plan), you have to follow these steps religiously for you to get appreciable results for your desired weight and also live a healthy lifestyle. It ain't that hard a thing to do.

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Apple loses its way with Apple maps

So much on the Apple plate. In addition to Samsung, They still have more things to worry about.

Apple and Google used to be very close, with YouTube and Google Maps given pride of place on every iPhone, iPad and iPod. But since the launch of Android, which saw Google become a rival force in the mobile market, they have been increasingly at odds.

Now Apple's new mobile operating system iOS6 has arrived without a YouTube app and, far more controversially, a new mapping system.

Apple is proud of Maps, with its turn-by-turn navigation and its 3D flyover view allowing you to swoop over the landscape.

But early users seem far from convinced that this is an upgrade from Google Maps. Amongst their complaints, the lack of Streetview (now a popular Google feature), little detail of the road system in the UK, and poorer satellite images - including the fact that much of Scotland appears covered in cloud.

More seriously, some places seem to have moved or been lost altogether. Search for Luton, for instance, and you will find it has been relocated to the Devon coast. Manchester United Football Club appears to have relocated to Sale, where it is sharing grounds with a community football club.

I've been contacted by a few people who say the new maps aren't bad for a first try - and that it has taken Google years to perfect their product. But that does not sound like much of an excuse for a company that prides itself on not releasing any product until it is perfect.

[BBC]

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Ways to lose weight: 4 Tips For Using Low Carb Diets

What is Low Carb Diet?
Low-carb (carbohydrate) diets are dietary programs that restrict carbohydrate consumption usually for weight control/loss or for the treatment of obesity. Foods that are high in carbohydrates are limited or replaced with foods with a higher percentage of proteins and fats and other foods low in carbohydrates (like many salad vegetables), although other vegetables and fruits are allowed. The amount of carbohydrate allowed varies with different low-carbohydrate diets

No doubt, if you have been looking at all the various diet programs that are available today, one variety that you must have come across is the low carb diet.
Almost everyone seems to be jumping on the low carb bandwagon as the diet promises fast and effective weight loss.It is simply one of the best ways to lose weight.
While these diets can help you reach your weight goals, you must apply a few important tips in order to make them work most effectively for you.
Here are the main things to note if you want to see fast results from your low carb diet plan.

Eat Plenty Of Vegetables

When on a low carb diet, you must never cut out or reduce your consumption of vegetables.
Veggies are so low in calories in the first place that they'll hardly contribute any carbs to your diet at all, but more importantly they're stacked with nutrients.
Add vegetables to each meal and preferably each snack you eat and you'll move that much further ahead on your diet plan.

Reduce Your Exercise Volume 

Try to cut back on your exercise volume slightly. The reason is simple - you won't have as much stored muscle glycogen when using a low carb approach, and it's this muscle glycogen that fuels all your physical activity.
Your intensity level will drop down when it drops down so to help maximize the benefits you get from your workout, go for shorter sessions instead.

Drink Up 

It's going to be essential that you drink enough water when embarking on a low carb diet plan. Higher protein, lower carb diets do tend to have a dehydrating effect on the body, so by drinking more water you'll help to cut this.
In addition, by having plenty of water throughout the day as well as using an appetite suppressant such as Phen 375, you can really take the edge off your hunger as well.
Low carb diet naturally tend to decrease the overall hunger levels you feel, but adding more water and an appetite suppressant takes this effect a step further.

A Few High Carb Days Won't Hurt

Lastly, the last thing that you should note is that you should aim to have a few higher carb days in your diet as well.
This will help offset any slow-down to your metabolism that you experience, therefore helping ensure that you don't hit a diet plateau.
A few higher carb diet days will also help to relief you of any food cravings that you may be suffering from as well, so this can be an added benefit of having these in there.

All in all, low carb diets can definitely be an effective way to structure your fat loss approach (one of the best ways to lose weight) but you must be sure to follow it wisely by making use of the tips above. If you are sure to follow these, you will see the fat loss progress you're looking for.

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New Music: Lady Gaga - ‘Cake Like Lady Gaga’

Ever heard Lady Gaga rap? Well, listen to her new song below and tell us what you think.We here think its awful by the way. lol

(Here, A Fan Edit of the song)

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Lady Gaga weight gain caused by 'drunk diet', 'experts' say

Lady Gaga performs in Amsterdam

She's said in the past that she shuns food in favour of the "drunk diet", so it's unlikely that actual nutrition is responsible for Lady Gaga's recent weight gain.

The usually-skinny star appeared fuller-figured on stage in Amsterdam this week sparking reports that her excessive drinking has caused her weight to balloon.
"Gaga appears to have gained at least 30 pounds (13.6kg)," nutritionist Majid Ali, who has not treated the star, told Radar Online after seeing photos of the 26-year-old.

Welcome to Netherlands: The Pop star smokes a blunt thrown by a fan while on stage

Gaga has boasted in the past that she follows "the drunk diet", and Ali thinks it's likely booze is the cause of her weight gain.

"I like to drink whiskey and stuff while I am working," Gaga told radio station Sirius FM recently, admitting that she often hits the gym with a hangover.

Earlier this year, the then-slim singer copped criticism when she tweeted, "Just killed back-to-back spin classes. Eating a salad dreaming of a cheeseburger. Pop singers don't eat. I was born this way."


Now that everyone is doing her the favour of pointing out her weight gain (pop singers can't win, huh?) she has reportedly vowed to lose 10lbs (4.5kg) by going on a gluten-free diet.

[MSN/Pictures: DailyMailUK]

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Apple releases new iOS 6 system today

Even if you’re not planning to upgrade your iPhone to the iPhone 5, that doesn’t mean you have to sit out the smartphone refresh fun.
Apple’s going to release the next version of its operating system, iOS 6, to the public Wednesday, which will come with an improved version of Siri, a new mapping app and calling features, such as the ability to set a “do not disturb” period.The new system also comes with features such as shared photo streams, which will let users open up parts of their photo libraries to friends, and more Facebook integration.

In the iPhone reviews that went out today, a few reviewers had critical words for the mapping app, saying that it lacked the detail and functionality of Google Maps — the app it is replacing.

For one, Apple’s mapping feature doesn’t have built-in information about public-transit systems, said Wall Street Journal reviewer Walt Mossberg. Apple, it seems, will eventually pull in that information from other applications. For now, Engadget reviewer Tim Stevens notes, the app directs you to a currently empty search for “routing apps” when you click on an option for transportation directions.

Stevens was also underwhelmed by Passbook, the coupon and ticket app in the system, but said that he expects it will get better.

Last year, Apple released its operating system for the first time over the air, which led to server problems — both for Apple and for those who use its iCloud service.

Some of Apple’s iCloud users were hit with an outage last week that prevented users from getting their mail. That issue has since been resolved, according to Apple’s status page, but some users have reported that they’re still having problems opening the e-mails they received during the disruption, 9 to 5 Mac reported.

With luck, Apple will have smoothed out any server wrinkles and will be ready to take on the rush of eager upgraders today. According to Fortune, the company is staggering its rollout for this release.

[WashingtonPost]

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Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban confirmed for American Idols Judge role

Make that cheddar Nicki.

Maybe they just couldn't get Roman to sign on the dotted line. After weeks of speculation that Nicki Minaj would join the "American Idol" judges' panel, on Sunday (September 16), it was confirmed that the flamboyant MC had inked a deal with the Fox show, in the wake of departures by Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez after season 11.

While Minaj will bring the hip-hop flavor, superstar Keith Urban will bring much-needed country music bona fides to a show that has in recent years seen its fair share of country contenders, from megastar Carrie Underwood to respective season 10 winner and runner-up, Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina.

The search for a new panel was months in the making, with a number of established and upcoming stars rumored to be in talks or named on the "Idol" wish-list, including Nick Jonas, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. Others openly lobbied for the gig, like alum Adam Lambert, who earlier this summer told reporters in the U.K. that he would "jump at the chance" if asked.

With the addition of Nicki and Urban, the panel would seem to have filled every available seat: Back in July, Mariah Carey announced that she would indeed be sitting behind the table on "American Idol" for season 12, and her longtime pal and "AI" veteran Randy Jackson appears to have agreed to stay on as a judge after buzz that he might be ushered into a mentoring role.

Salary reports for the two newest additions have yet to hit the Net, but Carey, 42, will reportedly earn $17 million for one season, which puts her just above the reported $15 million Britney Spears is taking in for her role on ex-"Idol" judge Simon Cowell's "X Factor."

[MTV]

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Calories to lose weight

Finding how many calories to lose weight? Here are some tips.

If you are an overweight or obese adult, you probably eat too much - more than you actually need. You need to understand that your body needs a certain amount of calories to keep itself active and functional, and if you eat or drink more than that, you are likely to gain weight. Likewise, when you consume fewer calories than you expend, you will lose weight.
Now, what number of calories you actually need to consume daily to lose weight?


If you are one of many people across the world trying their best to get or maintain an ideal body weight and minimize extra body fat while living a healthy lifestyle, this is the first and the most vital aspect you should consider.

 Your recommended per day calorie intake depends primarily on your age. If you are an adult man with average height and built, you need to take 2,500 calories / day. Likewise, if you a woman with average weight and height, you will need about 2,000 calories intake daily. Do remember; however, that these calories should come from cumulative sources i.e. you should eat a healthy, balanced diet consisting of foods consisting various classes of foods - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nutrients and minerals.

If you are serious to lose weight, an important factor you have to consider is that a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories will lead to a weight loss of approximately one pound. Therefore, you could begin by taking five hundred less calories day, providing you are taking a healthy, well-balanced diet and performing your physical activity/exercises regularly. Simply saying, to get rid of one pound per week, you need to reduce your calories by 500 per day. There are two simple ways you can do this; eat/drink 250 lesser calories daily and burn additional 250 calories by performing physical exercise (e.g. walking or jogging for 2 to 3 miles daily).
Another way to cut back on calories is to watch your portion sizes. Go for relatively smaller, leaner, pieces of meats, perhaps. Eat as much vegetables as possible as they are low in calories but contain higher quantities of vitamins and nutrients) and avoid deep fried food (cheese burgers, fried chicken, French fries etc.). Doing these easy things will have a dynamic impact on your weight.

It’s important to remember that you don't have to starve yourself to lower your calorie consumption. As mentioned above, just take smaller portions of the foods you currently enjoy. If you need to burn those extra calories, again, you do not necessarily need to run miles a day or join a fitness club. Just remember to use the stairs, or park your car away from the door when going to work.

Last but not least, calories - knowing how to find them, how to count them and how to cut them, are key to lose weight on your own. By doing simple mathematics and implementing your diet and exercise plan accordingly, you can successfully lose your weight and maintain it for long term.

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Kate Middleton's topless photos

Like we said earlier, the royal familiy has been dishing out some semi nude pics lately, first was Prince Harry while in the United States, Kate Middleton is to follow with these pics that were taken by a French tabloid while the couple where on a vacy in france. And Dont blame us for putting up the pics. Piers Morgan thinks Kate has no business taking her top off outside the privacy of her bedroom...and does not think the paparazzi should be blamed for this.We agree with him - for the sake of putting up the pics. 
Meanwhile, the royal family has released a statement and here is what they are saying..

"The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to the Duke and Duchess for being so," St. James's Palace said in a statement.

“Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them.”

The editor of Closer said his magazine saw no harm in releasing the shots.

“These photos are not in the least shocking. They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches,” Laurence Pieau told AFP.

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University of Texas evacuated due to bomb threat

The University of Texas says buildings are being checked or cleared after a bomb threat forced the entire campus to be evacuated.

Thursday morning everyone was told to get as far away from campus as possible.

UT says a man claiming to be with Al Qaeda called President Bill Powers at 8:35 a.m. to say bombs would go off in 90 minutes.

Here's the statement UT released:

"At 8:35 a.m. the university received a call from a male with a middle eastern accent claiming to have placed bombs all over campus. He said he was with Al Qaeda and these bombs would go off in 90 minutes. President Powers was notified and it was decided to evacuate all of the buildings out of an abundance of caution."

There is no word yet on afternoon classes or activities. UT should give an update around 10:45 a.m.

Check back for more on this developing story.

There are also reports of North Dakota State University being evacuated due to a similar threat.

[KVUE]

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iPhone 5 is Sold out Out; Apple Delays Ship Date

wow....

Want to skip the lines next Friday and order your iPhone 5 online? You’re out of luck, unless you don’t mind waiting a bit.

Demand for the device is so strong that Apple sold out of its initial inventory in an hour and pushed back its shipping date for such pre-orders. Apple’s website began taking orders for the product at midnight PST on Friday. An hour later, though, the shipping times for the device were delayed from the original Sept. 21 to two weeks, or Sept. 28, according to Dow Jones. As of Friday morning EST, Apple was still promising the two-week wait for shipping. The site also gives users the option of picking up the device at a retail store on Sept. 21.

The company’s first major update to the device in two years has apparently sparked a great deal of consumer interest. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg this week estimated that Apple would sell 58 million units of the device before year’s end.

One thing’s for sure: The online lag is likely to prompt the now-requisite queues in front of Apple Stores when they open the morning of Sept. 21.

[Mashable] 

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Terry & Ferdinand: Handshakes to go ahead, insists Premier League

Smh... kick racism out of football.

The Premier League has told QPR and Chelsea it has no plans to drop the pre-match handshake before Saturday's West London derby, with both clubs indicating they will "respect" it.

QPR's Anton Ferdinand has indicated he will not shake hands with Chelsea defenders John Terry or Ashley Cole.

In July, Chelsea captain Terry was acquitted of racially abusing Ferdinand in last year's corresponding match.

"We'll go ahead with it, yes." Di Matteo said. "We'll respect the rules."

"And respect the protocol that is in place from the Premier League and set a positive standard to the millions of people watching across the world."

Senior officials from Chelsea and QPR have been in talks to defuse the growing tension surrounding the match at Loftus Road but the Premier League has intervened to say protocol must be followed.

Although Terry was cleared in court of racially abusing Ferdinand, the former England captain still faces a separate FA charge, which he denies. That hearing is expected to begin on 24 September.

"They've recovered [from minor injuries], had a couple of days [of] training and we expect them to be available," Di Matteo said of Terry and Cole.

Hughes has held talks with his players about the match, and said: "We will be guided by the Premier League and will respect the handshake if that happens.

"It's not my decision. It's governed by the Premier League and if we're told to go ahead then we will do it."

The Premier League are adamant the pre-match handshake should remain part of the English game, despite opposition from a number of managers.

Hughes hinted he had made his views clear. ''There's a lot of debate, I have my own views which I raised at Premier League level before the season began.

At this stage, the most likely scenario is that both teams will shake hands but the clubs will leave each player to make up his own mind on how to act.

''Everyone has a mind of their own and they will make a decision," Hughes added. "We will have to wait and see."

Meanwhile, both clubs have issued statements on their official websites in an attempt to quell any trouble between fans.

While QPR's statement was a reminder about good fan behaviour, Chelsea warned any trouble would be met with the highest punishment.

"Both Chelsea and QPR will work together with the police to ensure that anyone using discriminatory or inflammatory language on Saturday is identified, and that the strongest possible action is taken against them," the statement read.

[BBC]

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Chicago Bears fall to Green Bay Packers on NFL Thursday Night Football

Four days after starting the season with a demoralizing defeat, Clay Matthews and the Green Bay Packers looked every bit like the team they were expected to be this season.

Maybe even better, at least on defense.
The Packers (1-1) pulled off a perfectly executed trick play, then rattled and robbed Jay Cutler the rest of the way in a 23-10 victory over the division rival Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Thursday night.
  The win represented an impressive rebound from a season-opening loss to San Francisco. Had the Packers lost to the Bears, they would have fallen to 0-2, with both losses coming at home.

"Inside the facility, there wasn't any panic," Aaron Rodgers said. "Outside, I think people were worried if we lose to Chicago, you're kind of putting yourself behind the eight ball a little bit. Good win for us. We're 1-1. Again, it's one game. We need to get better on offense; defense played incredible."
Especially Matthews, who was credited with 3½ of the Packers' seven sacks of Cutler.
With six sacks in the Packers' first two games, Matthews already has equaled his total from last season.
"I think the statistics speak for themselves," Matthews said. "It's always good when you get after the quarterback, get him off his rhythm and have him throw some balls up there that I'm sure he wouldn't want, or wants back."
It was a significant step backward for the Bears (1-1), who were filled with confidence after steamrolling Indianapolis in their opener.
Cutler threw four interceptions to go with the seven sacks. As frustration mounted, Cutler vented with emphatic gestures throughout the game, saying afterward it was simply a sign of his desire to win.
"I care about this," Cutler said. "This isn't a hobby for me. I am not doing this for my health. I am trying to win football games and get first downs. When we're not doing the little things or not doing things the right way consistently, I'm going to say something. If they want a quarterback that doesn't care, they can get somebody else."
Cutler was particularly upset with his offensive line, a position group that did not see a significant addition during the Bears' offseason makeover of their offense.
"I'm not going to just walk to the sideline and act like everything's OK," said Cutler, who was 11 for 27 for 126 yards. "It's just not going to happen."
The loss left at least one prominent member of the Bears wondering if their Week 1 win was something of a mirage.
"Maybe we're not as good as we thought we were," linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "We've got a long ways to go, that's obvious. We didn't play like we did last week. Maybe Green Bay's just that good, I don't know. We just didn't play well and they played good enough to do what they did to us."
The Bears also lost running back Matt Forte to an ankle injury. Bears coach Lovie Smith said the severity of the injury was unclear.
Smith was impressed by the Packers' rebound during a short turnaround.
"You've got to give them a lot of credit," he said. "They didn't play as well as they wanted to last week and they came back this week."
Smith acknowledged that his team looked "flat-footed" on the Packers' biggest play of the day, a gutsy and perfectly executed fake field goal when the Packers were facing fourth-and-26 on the Chicago 27 late in the second quarter.
"Good call by them," Smith said. "They executed the play to perfection. What else can I say? Normally when a fake works it's a good job by the opponent, and that's what happened tonight."
The Packers lined up for a field goal, but punter Tim Masthay, the holder, flipped the ball to backup tight end Tom Crabtree, who streaked into the end zone.
"I had the easiest job of anybody," Masthay said. "All I'm doing is catching the snap, putting it down and flipping it to Tom. The rest of the guys were the ones doing the work. So, yeah, it was really cool."
Crabtree credited the Packers' blocking.
"It's not really on me," he said. "I think any of you could run that play. All I did was catch the ball and run a straight line. The guys did a great job blocking. Tim had a great pitch. Like I said, I just ran a straight line. That was about it."
Watching from the sideline, Rodgers at first thought something went wrong.
"I saw Crabby running out the back side, I couldn't believe it," Rodgers said. "That's a gutsy call. A gutsy call. You've got to score on that."
The Packers' defense did the rest, holding new Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall to two catches for 24 yards.
Earlier in the week, a confident Cutler wished the Packers' defensive backs "good luck" in trying to match up physically in man coverage with a new-look wide receiver corps led by Marshall. Stalked by Tramon Williams for much of the night, Marshall didn't see much of the ball. And he couldn't convert his one big opportunity, dropping a potential touchdown in the third quarter.
Charles Woodson said the Packers took note of Cutler's quote.
"It was everywhere," Woodson said. "You know how it is. Once you make a statement these days, it doesn't take long for it to travel and get to you."
Cutler shrugged off any potential fallout from his comment, noting that the Packers didn't play much man coverage.
"They didn't play man, so why would they say anything?" Cutler said.
In all, the Packers showed they're a better team than they appeared to be after Week 1.
"We got kicked in the (rear end) four days ago," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "And we were motivated."
[ABC]

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Protesters torch KFC in Tripoli, Lebanon

This is getting really serious. Something has to be done in earnest to calm these nerves.

Demonstrators in Tripoli, Lebanon, burned down a restaurant belonging to US-based chain KFC in protest against an anti-Islamic film mocking the Prophet Muhammad. At least one person was killed and 24 were wounded in the clashes.

Hundreds of demonstrators massed in protest against the Pope's three-day visit to Lebanon and shouted anti-American slogans.

The chants included "We don't want the Pope," and "No more insults [to Islam]," witnesses reported.

Security forces fired warning shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the protesters, the National News Agency reported.

Following the torching of the American restaurant, protesters in Tripoli reportedly attempted to storm the Prime Minister’s headquarters at the Grand Serail. Witnesses in the area claimed they heard gunshots.

Lebanese officials confirmed that one person was killed and 25 were wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces, which then cordoned off the area to block the demonstrators’ advance. Twelve members of the security forces were wounded by stones thrown by protesters, Reuters reports.

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) reported that unknown assailants opened fire near the Tripoli Serail, prompting security forces to fire back, RT's Lucy Kafanov wrote on Twitter.

The violence came amid widespread protest in the Arab world against the incendiary anti-Islamic film ‘Innocence of Muslims.’

Lebanon is just another in a handful of countries hit by the wave of outrage sparked Tuesday by the anti-Islam movie “Innocence of Muslims.” In the most violent display of discontent so far, an armed mob killed four US diplomatic staff, including the ambassador to Libya, during an attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi.

On Thursday, Muslim protesters clashed with police near the US embassy in Cairo for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, in Yemen at least four protesters were killed and dozens more injured when security forces opened fire at protesters after hundreds stormed the US Embassy in Sana'a, the country's capital.

[rt]/ Pictures: @LucyKafanov on twitter.com

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Kate Middleton dazzles in Gold at opulent state dinner in Malaysia

Kate was Glittering in gold in a stunning gown as she attended a lavish dinner thrown by the rulers of Malaysia. She joined her husband as guests to the opulrnt Istana Negara Palace in Kuala Lumpur at the start of thier 4 day working visit to Malaysia.
She was recently named among top ten best dressed women in the world and we cannot agree less.

Gold gift for the gold woman

[DailyMail]

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Kate Middleton's topless photos draw royal scrutiny

So much semi nudity from the royal family lately huh?

A French magazine on Friday published what appeared to be photos of Prince William's wife Kate sunbathing topless at a private house in southern France, prompting a strong condemnation from the royal family.

Officials said the royal family was considering legal action for a "grotesque and totally unjustifiable" invasion of privacy in the same country where William's mother Princess Diana died while fleeing paparazzi.

The couple was "saddened" by the use of the photos, which appear genuine, royal officials said.

The revealing pictures of Kate in Closer, a popular gossip magazine, were blurry and shot from a distance. The publication claimed they were taken on a guesthouse terrace in France where the couple vacationed earlier this month.

The first major press incident involving William and Kate brought back memories of Diana being hounded by paparazzi in France in the hours and days before her fatal car crash there in 1997.

Royal officials, who demanded anonymity in line with palace policy, condemned the decision to publish the images.

"Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them," a St. James's Palace official in London said. "The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to the Duke and Duchess for being so."

The palace official said representatives of the couple were consulting with lawyers.

"We feel a line has been crossed with their publication," the official added.

William and Kate, now formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were touring the Far East and South Pacific to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee when the photos were published.

No major British publication carried the photos, including Rupert Murdoch's top-selling U.K. tabloid The Sun, which last month ran photos of a naked Prince Harry cavorting in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Media experts in Britain said concerns that Kate's privacy had been invaded would likely mean the images wouldn't be published by the country's newspapers.

"They won't get published in this country, and if I was still an editor I would not be publishing them," former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis told BBC radio. "There's absolutely no chance whatsoever that they will be published in this country."

Wallis, who was arrested last year over the phone hacking scandal at Murdoch's infamous — and now defunct — tabloid, said publishing the images would breach British Press Complaints Commission rules on privacy.

The commission — frequently criticized as a toothless guardian of press standards — has told British newspapers it is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.

Wallis said there was no justification to run with the images of the duchess, whereas the publication of photographs of Prince Harry naked in a Las Vegas hotel suite was legitimate as it raised questions both about the security arrangements for the third in line to the British throne and also about his judgment.

The British press has been more cautious than usual in the last year because of the phone hacking scandal, which has uncovered widespread intrusion into the private lives of numerous celebrities, politicians and even crime victims.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking Friday on condition of anonymity in line with policy, said the royal couple was "entitled to their privacy."

She said Cameron — who had not seen the photographs — was not appealing directly to editors to refrain from printing the images, but reminded the media that a U.K. inquiry is now scrutinizing how newspapers are regulated.

"Clearly editors are there to make their own decisions, but you know that there is a process ongoing in this country which is looking at the media," she said.

A French lawyer who is an expert in media law said the couple would have clear grounds for an invasion of privacy case. Last week, French first lady Valerie Trierweiler won a judgment of €2,000 ($2,580) after the publication of photos of her in a bikini.

"French magistrates take into account the victim's behavior, when the person is flaunting themselves on camera. Kate Middleton will get damages because she's not behaving in this way," said the lawyer, Anne Pigeon-Bormans.

It is common for women in Europe to sunbathe topless, both in private gardens and on public beaches.

Pigeon-Bormans said Diana's relationship with the press was more complicated.

"Diana and Kate are two very different people. Diana had an unhealthy relationship with the press, there was an ambiguity: she would flee them, then court them," she said. "I don't feel that with Kate Middleton, she is more balanced."

LONDON (AP) —

Associated Press writers David Stringer and Robert Barr in London and Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed to this report.

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'The Voice' beats 'The X Factor' USA in premiere ratings battle

The Voice won its ratings battle with The X Factor USA on Wednesday (September 12).

The two talent competitions were scheduled against each other in the 8pm hour last night, withThe Voice scoring a total of 10.7 million viewers to The X Factor's 7.5 million - a difference of 3.2 million.

reliminary ratings also show that while both scored a 3.3 in the demo rating overall, The Voiceled in their shared 8pm hour alone with a 3.3 to The X Factor's 2.7.

The ratings win for The Voice still showed a decline across the week from Monday's premiere episode.

Simon Cowell publicly complained last week about NBC's decision to program The Voice directly against The X Factor.

"These guys have really got it in for us. It's nothing short of dirty tricks," Cowell said. 

"The reason they've done this is they don't want people to see X Factor because they've heard how good the series is. They don't want their audience to see Britney Spears. They don't want their audience to see Demi Lovato."

His comments drew a response from Voice coach Blake Shelton, who urged Cowell to stop "mouthing off".

"Every time I turn around, he's mouthing off about our show. It's like, 'Do your own show! Come on! Put something together there and do your thing'," Shelton declared, adding: "We'll just do ours and we won't mouth off about you!"

The Voice continues Monday at 8/7c on NBC. The X Factor USA continues tonight (September 13) at 8/7c on Fox.

[DigitalSpy] 

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After 17 Years, eBay Debuts A New Logo

The colors are still more or less the same, but eBay's iconic logo has undergone a significant overhaul today. Gone is the disorderly letter arrangement, an artifact of late 90s exuberance about the web (which you might still observe in Yahoo!'s brand identity), replaced by a much more staight-laced and rigid arrangement. Though no longer overlapping, the letters are still touching, which is intended as a subtle representation of eBay's "connected and diverse" community.


Company President Devin Wenig has written an introduction to eBay's new logo, extolling the evolutionary changes the company has undergone in the decade and a half since its previous brand identity had been introduced, and presenting the new design as striking the balance between eBay's proud history and aspirations for a "cleaner, more contemporary and consistent experience.

According to Devin Wenig, eBay president, in a release, "Our refreshed logo is rooted in our proud history and reflects a dynamic future. It’s eBay today: a global online marketplace that offers a cleaner, more contemporary and consistent experience, with innovation that makes buying and selling easier and more enjoyable. We retained core elements of our logo, including our iconic color palette. Our vibrant eBay colors and touching letters represent our connected and diverse eBay community – more than 100 million active users and 25 million sellers globally and growing."

[TheVerge]

The old

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AT&T: iPhone users can keep their unlimited data plans with the iPhone 5. Verizon Says No

So you're wondering how your data is going to work on your 4G LTE iPhone. There's good news and bad news, depending on your carrier—if you're grandfathered into unlimited data, AT&T will let you keep it. Verizon? Not so much.

AT&T confirmed today that you can keep your old as balls $30 data plan. While it's nottechnically unlimited (it comes down to 5GB, after which your data is throttled), it's a pretty good deal. But according to CNET, Verizon is going to present you with the Sophie's Choice of smartphones—unlimited data or a subsidized phone, but you can't have both. Verizon is going to transition everyone to its tiered model, unless of course you want to pay full price for your phone. Meanwhile, Sprint's over in the corner saying hey guys I have unlimited data! Can it, Sprint, no one cares. [CNET, AT&T via @mattbuchanan]

AT&T to Offer iPhone 5 on the Nation’s Largest 4G Network on Sept. 21

Pre-Order on Sept 14, Flexible Data Plan Options Available

Dallas, Texas, September 12, 2012 — AT&T* today announced it will offer iPhone 5 beginning Friday, Sept. 21. Customers will be able to pre-order iPhone 5 online beginning Friday, Sept. 14 at www.att.com/iphone. iPhone 5 will be available for a suggested retail price of $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model, and $399.99 for the 64GB model. Only AT&T offers the nation’s largest 4G network, along with a variety of shared and individual data plans.

iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology—all while delivering even better battery life. iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: the all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography and turn-by-turn navigation; Facebook integration; Passbook organization and even more Siri features and languages.

“We are thrilled to offer iPhone 5 on the nation’s largest 4G network. We’ve worked with Apple since the original in 2007 and this is hands-down their best phone yet,” said Ralph de la Vega, president & CEO, AT&T Mobility. “We offer customers the flexibility to keep the iPhone data plans they already have or choose any of our individual or new Mobile Share plans. We’re proud that more customers choose AT&T for iPhone than any other U.S. carrier and look forward to making iPhone 5 the newest addition to our lineup.”

New and qualifying existing customers can choose a shared or individual data plan. Details on rate plan options can be found at www.att.com/iphone. AT&T’s newest Mobile Share data plans are ideal for data-centric users or families who want to share data among multiple smartphones, tablets and more. With AT&T Mobile Share, the more you share, the more you save. And all Mobile Share plans include tethering—or mobile hot spot—capability.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering 275 million people. Built on top of this widespread 4G network, blazing-fast 4G LTE is available in more than 60 markets today and planned in more than 100 by the end of this year.

For more information on iPhone 5, please visit: www.apple.com/iphone.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

[Gizmodo/BGR]

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