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Showing posts from April 4, 2013

Microsoft obsolete

Microsoft obsolete , Microsoft is perhaps one of the powerful and biggest companies in the world. In the last financial year, it made an operating profit of approximately twenty billion dollars. However, over the past few years, Microsoft grip on the operating system market and internet related businesses are starting to erode. It is quite a change in attitude compared to six years ago when governments around the world complained that it has a too big of a monopoly. Here are three reasons why Microsoft influence and monopoly are eroding quickly: 1. Microsoft used to be the biggest Internet Company in the world. Microsoft Internet Explorer was only internet browser that everyone should use. However, open source internet browsers such as Firefox and Google Chrome has given consumer free choices. Not only were they free, they were better and faster than their own software. As a result, millions of computer users changed software and started to change their computer habits. 2. The la

Disney layoffs

  Disney layoffs, Walt Disney Co expects to begin layoffs at its studio and consumer product divisions within the next two weeks, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, in the latest cost-reduction step to emerge from a company-wide review. The studio job cuts will center on the marketing and home video units and include a small number from the animation wing, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans had not been made public. It is unknown how many jobs will be lost at either division. Staff reductions at the consumer products unit will largely result from attrition, another person said. On Wednesday, Disney began layoffs at the 30-year-old LucasArts games studio it inherited with the acquisition of George Lucas' film company last year, as it focuses on licensing its "Star Wars" brand externally. A Disney spokeswoman had no comment. Disney, headquartered in Burbank, California, started an internal cost-cutting review late l

Williams sisters

Williams sisters , Matches for top-ranked Serena Williams and her sister, Venus, at the Family Circle Cup were postponed Thursday after a rain delay of nearly 7 1/2 hours. The long wait wiped out most matches in the busy round of 16, including those of the tournament's headling Williams' sisters. Serena, riding an 11-match winning streak here, was scheduled to play American qualifier Mallory Burdette. Venus will take on Varvara Lepchenko for a spot in the quarterfinals. Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki moved on without hitting a ground-stroke when opponent Andrea Petkovic withdrew with a calf injury a few hours before their scheduled match. The rain fell steadily at the Family Circle Tennis Center until dinner time when crews were finally able to start drying the large puddles on the gloppy, green clay surfaces. Once play began, ninth-seeded Jelena Jankovic — the 2007 champion here — needed just 64 minutes to oust 19-year-old American Jessica Pegula in straight sets. Pegula, w

Ryan Gosling PETA

Ryan Gosling PETA , Ryan Gosling doesn't think milk does a body good -- at least, not for the cows it comes from. The 32-year-old "Place Beyond the Pines" star sent a letter earlier this week to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). In the letter, the actor implores the federation to cease the "barbaric practice" of dehorning cattle by choosing instead to breed hornless (aka polled) cows. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) published Gosling's letter, which was dated April 1 and addressed to Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of NMPF . "I was shocked to learn from my friends at PETA about a practice in the dairy industry called 'dehorning,' which involves painfully burning horn tissue or gouging cows' horns out of their heads, often without the use of any painkillers," Gosling wrote. He added, "The American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and third-party animal welfare audi

URI gunman

URI gunman , Many students panicked at the University of Rhode Island Kingston campus Thursday after the report of a gunman in Chaffee Hall led police to lock down the school and initiate an "active shooter" response. "A phone call was made from the URI campus reporting an active shooter on campus," said State Police Col. Steven O'Donnell. After several hours of searching the eight-story tower room-by-room, O'Donnell said police believe there was never a gun or an active shooter, but he said they did recover a Nerf gun. One student told The Associated Press the incident, which was declared over at 2:15 p.m., was prompted by what happened midway through her 11 a.m. physiology class. "All of a sudden, we heard someone yell, 'You're a nice guy! You're a nice guy!' and sounding scared," said Tori Danielson, who was sitting in the back of a lecture hall in a class of more than 350 people. "Everybody started running and scream

Legalize pot poll

Medical marijuana plants for sale at the Farmacy, a California medical marijuana dispensary. ( Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times ) Legalize pot poll , A majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, a new poll indicates, with the change driven largely by a huge shift in how the baby boom generation feels about the drug of their youth. By 52% to 45%, adult Americans back legalization, according to the survey released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. The finding marks the first time in more than four decades of Pew's polling that a majority has taken that position. As recently as a decade ago, only about one-third of American adults backed making marijuana legal. Two big shifts in opinion go along with the support for legalization and likely contribute to it. Most Americans no longer see marijuana as a "gateway" to more dangerous drugs, and most no longer see i

Target dress apology: 'Manatee' gray label sparks customer fury

Target dress apology, Target has outraged customers after labeling one of their plus-size dresses as 'Manatee Gray', while the standard size of the same item was called simply 'Dark Heather Gray'. A shopper was browsing the website when she spotted the unfortunate discrepancy and brought it to the attention of the retailer via Twitter. Target have since fixed the error, explaining that the mix-up was due to a lack of communication between the two different teams of buyers handling the dresses. Offensive mistake: Target sparked an outrage after a plus-size dress (pictured) was listed as 'Manatee Gray' on their website, while the standard size version of the same item was called 'Dark Heather Gray' Admitting their error: Target have since apologized, explaining that the mix-up was due to a lack of communication between the two different teams of buyers handling the dresses Target spokesman Joshua Thomas told Forbes.com that Manatee Gray is a common

James Holmes threats

James Holmes threats , A psychiatrist who treated James Holmes told campus police a month before the Colorado theater attack that Holmes had homicidal thoughts and was a danger to the public, according to documents released Thursday. Dr. Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado, Denver, told police in June that Holmes also threatened and intimidated her. It was more than a month before the July 20 attack at a movie theater that killed 12 and injured 70. In the days after the attack, campus police said they had never had contact with Holmes, who was a graduate student at the university. But campus police told investigators after the shooting that Fenton had contacted them, following her legal requirement to report specific threats to authorities, according to a search warrant affidavit. “Dr. Fenton advised that through her contact with James Holmes she was reporting, per her requirement, his danger to the public due to homicidal statements he had made,” the affid

Target dress apology

Target dress apology , Target says it’s treating a potentially offensive goof in product labeling as a “learning experience" it won't repeat. A savvy online shopper on Wednesday noticed Target.com listed a plus-size dress in “manatee gray” while offering the same frock in standard sizes as “dark heather gray.” Susan Clemens tweeted the discrepancy to Target, which responded quickly with an apology. On Thursday, Target spokeswoman Jessica Deede called the incident an “unintended oversight.” “We never want to offend any of our guests. We apologize for any discomfort that we may have caused,” she told. @suZen / Twitter Twitter user Susan Clemens posted this screengrab of the dress from Target's website. The “manatee gray” version of the dress in question, Mossimo Women's Plus-Size Kimono Maxi Dress, no longer appears on Target’s website. “We are in the process of fixing the discrepancy and updating Target.com so the gray dress will be available in all styles," Dee

Jason Hanson retires

Jason Hanson retires , The Atlanta Falcons’ plan for a $1 billion retractable-roof stadium in downtown Atlanta passed its final significant hurdle Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The paper said that the city’s economic development arm approved issuing more than $200 million in bonds covered by city hotel-motel taxes by an 8-1 vote. The team intends to have the stadium completed by 2017. Mayor Kasim Reed told the Journal-Constitution that the deal will keep the Falcons in Atlanta for the next 30 years. In a statement, the Falcons said the remaining construction costs will come from the team and other private funds. —Jason Hanson announced his retirement from the NFL after 21 seasons as the Detroit Lions’ kicker. Hanson, a second-round pick in 1992, opted to retire when a contract agreement couldn’t be reached with the Lions for the 2013 season. Hanson said he didn’t want to play for another team. No player in NFL history has played more games with one team (3

Lollipop hoax

Lollipop hoax , A recent video posted to YouTube purports to show a man in Singapore making lollipop sculptures using only his mouth. But, as many have guessed, it’s too good to be true. In the original video, posted March 27, a tourist sits down with “Uncle” to witness the making of the lollipop art. “Supposedly, this dude molds stuff, like, with a lollipop," he says. "Let’s see what he does. It’s been like 10 minutes now." When Uncle removes the lollipop from his mouth, a miraculous thing seems to have occurred: It's intricately crafted to bear a striking resemblance to the tourist’s face. The video quickly went viral and has so far been viewed more than 950,000 times. But those who bothered to click the pop-up invite at the end of the video to see "the reveal" are taken to a second video, “Chupa Chups Street Artist Revealed.” In it, a young woman posing as a reporter confronts Uncle about whether the face moldings are real. At first, it seems like a l

Bonnie in Scotland! Duchess of Cambridge gets into the spirit in tartan coat which hides THAT baby bump (but not her legs)

The Duchess of Cambridge gave a nod to her Scottish title today as she arrived for the beginning of her two-day Scottish tour wrapped up against the chill in a short tartan coat. Known as the Countess of Strathearn when north of the border, the duchess often pays tribute to the people of Scotland by wearing a flash of tartan. Today's tribute came courtesy of a £425 blue and grey coat by British label moloh, a Gloucestershire and Pimlico-based boutique where Kate has shopped before. Kate, who customarily wears a flash of tartan when over the border as a nod to her Scottish title, chose a rather short tartan coat for the start of her Scottish tour today Kate was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers keen to congratulate the duchess on her pregnancy Not for you! A little girl showed Prince William a flower then hung onto it, saying it was for his wife instead Are those for me? The now giggling toddler hands the smiling Duchess of Cambridge a flower Together with William, Kate paid a

$1.4 trillion stimulus

$1.4 trillion stimulus $1.4 trillion stimulus, A mixed bag of news from central banks around the globe prompted investors to tap on the brakes Thursday. First out of the gate was Japan’s central bank, which announced plans to expand its stimulus program in an effort to breathe life into the country’s flagging economy. The news was welcomed by investors. Japan’s Nikkei reversed early losses and closed 2.2% higher, the yen weakened against the dollar and the yield on Japanese 10-year notes fell to their lowest level since 2003. Next up: the Bank of England left rates at 0.5% and maintained its asset purchasing program. And finally, the European Central Bank also kept rates steady at 0.75%. “Central banks, central banks, central banks. That’s what people are watching this morning,” said Paul Powers, head of trading at Raymond James. “Japan delivered, but the ECB fell flat.” ECB President Mario Draghi’s comments were seen as leaving the door open to further stimulus but investors were d

Homeless man wins lotto: $50,000 jackpot

Homeless man wins lotto Homeless man wins lotto - A homeless male man wins the lotto but decides to keep living in a tent outside. On April 4, Huffington Post reported that Dennis Mahurin won a $50,000 jackpot prize in the Michigan lottery but decided to use the money to help his friends in the homeless community -- which he has been a part of since 1978. "With all the other homeless people around here, I've made up my mind. I'm gonna give them each $100," Mahurin said. While $50,000 is enough money to get Mahurin off the streets, he has chosen to spread the wealth around. $100 obviously isn't a lot of money, but for someone homeless, it buys them a couple of good meals. The homeless man wins the lotto after purchasing the ticket at a local gas station. While some think he's doing a selfless act, others are already debating that Mahurin is making a huge mistake. Do you think he should use the money to better his life? "He is a great guy, has an awesom

Homeless Man Wins Lotto

Homeless Man Wins Lotto Homeless Man Wins Lotto , After winning a $50,000 jackpot, Dennis Mahurin could’ve moved out of the tent he’s been living in for more than 20 years and paid for a major life upgrade. But the Illinois man isn’t making any grand plans. Mahurin, who’s been living in the Bloomington homeless community since 1978, was shocked when he scratched off the winning ticket, but he quickly decided he’s staying put in his tent digs and will use some of the money to help others, CINewsNow.com reports. "With all the other homeless people around here, I've made up my mind,” Mahurin told the news outlet. “I'm gonna give them each $100." Those who know the nomadic do-gooder say he’s always been an upstanding guy. “He is a great guy, has an awesome sense of humor,” Sandra Rankin, an employee at the gas station where Mahurin bought the ticket, told ABC. “I care deeply for him and he is a very decent gentleman. He comes into my store three to f

Film critic Roger Ebert dies at 70

Movie critic Roger Ebert gives the thumbs-up after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood June 23, 2005. Ebert passed away Thursday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Roger Ebert dies - Roger Ebert, who was the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize and became an unlikely TV star while hosting a movie review show with fellow critic Gene Siskel, died in Chicago on Thursday, two days after he disclosed his cancer had returned. "It is with a heavy heart we report that legendary film critic Roger Ebert (@ebertchicago) has passed away," the Chicago Sun-Times, the newspaper where Ebert, 70, worked for decades, said on Twitter. "There is a hole that can't be filled. One of the greats has left us," the newspaper added. Ebert, who was dubbed by Forbes magazine in 2007 as the most powerful pundit in America, was one of the mostly widely read U.S. movie critics, known for m

Majority of Americans favor legalizing pot, poll shows

For the first time since it began asking the question four decades ago, the Pew Research Center has found that a majority of Americans support marijuana legalization. Fifty-two percent of Americans said marijuana use should be legal, according to the national survey, conducted March 13-17. Another 45 percent of Americans said it should not be legal. The debate over marijuana laws has ratcheted up in recent years, with voters in two states in 2012 -- Colorado and Washington -- approving recreational use of the drug among adults over the age of 21. Marijuana use of any kind, however, is still illegal under federal law. It's unclear at this point how the Obama administration intends to respond to the changes in state laws. The Pew poll also found that most Democrats (59 percent) and Republicans (57 percent) agree that the federal government should not enforce federal laws in the states that permit marijuana use. Nearly a quarter of Americans, 72 percent, say that government efforts t

Do below-the-line commenters have the right to remove their own comments?

What happens when people regret comments they've left online? Legally, it comes down to whether they count as journalism Share 15 inShare1 Email Tim Gough guardian.co.uk, Thursday 4 April 2013 12.42 BST Jump to comments (144) 'When someone leaves a comment on an article, their personal data is being processed if the person is identifiable to the audience or to the organisation.' Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters A politician makes a joke which she later regrets. A footballer says something on the pitch which he quickly realises was unfortunate. A person leaves a comment beneath an article which he then wishes he hadn't made. All can now be found reported online accurately. All of these people have all expressed an opinion they later regret. Which of them have the legal right to have their words deleted upon request? Current UK data protection law requires that for the use of personal data by an organisation to be lawful that it meets at least one of

How to delete your digital life

Advice on how to successfully wipe out your online past. Add your own tips and views in the thread below Share 612 inShare31 Email Charles Arthur guardian.co.uk, Thursday 4 April 2013 12.47 BST Jump to comments (221) Here's how to get rid of your digital past. Photograph: Martin Rogers/Workbook Stock for the Guardian Wiping away your digital life means getting rid of the traces you've left – the mistakes you made, the embarrassing photos, the unwise comments, the flawed social media profiles where you've left too much visible. But how easy is that? The following steps provide a start to reducing your digital footprint and taking back control of your online life. 1) If you have a Facebook account, change every setting in the Privacy tabs to "private" or "not shared" or "off" (there's a special "privacy settings" shortcut in the blue bar near the top). 2) Find out what photos you're tagged in on Facebook. These

Rihanna smacks Cera: This Is the End Trailer

Rihanna smacks Cera - Rihanna know there was about to be some serious "bumper" grabbing With the way she shakes her booty on stage it's probably safe to say Rihanna is a pretty confident and feisty lady. But the singer, 25, shows off an even more powerful side to her personality in the trailer for her new film This Is The End – she is seen slapping actor Michael Cera hard across the face after he grabs her impressive bum at a party. Ok, so when we say Rihanna is demonstrating her powerful personality in the promo, that's not strictly true because there may be quite a few cheeky chaps who try to grab her bottom on a daily basis and we doubt she smashes their faces in – she only punched Michael because she was acting and she was probably paid a load of cash to do it. Right, so now we've cleared that up, let's establish exactly how our RiRi, whose boyfriend Chris has just revealed he's had sex on a plane, comes to smash Michael round the chops. She'

Cornell wrestler charged with rape 'after sleeping woman awoke to find him on top of her and her friend took photos to identify him'

Peter Mesko, 22, of Honesdale, Pa., was charged on Tuesday with first-degree rape Alleged victim's friend took photos of the accused with his pants around his ankles to identify him after the attack on Saturday morning Mesko is a junior in the school of agriculture and last year he took third place in a New York State intercollegiate wrestling tournament The alleged victim is also a student at the Ivy League college By   HELEN POW   and   ASSOCIATED PRESS PUBLISHED:   19:35 GMT, 4 April 2013   |   UPDATED:   20:02 GMT, 4 April 2013 Comments ( 0 ) Share Accused: The women, who haven't been named, managed to fight Peter Mesko, 22, pictured, of Honesdale, Pa., off and run away after the alleged rape on Saturday morning A Cornell University wrestler has been charged with rape after a female student, who caught him having sex with her friend while she slept, took pictures of him with his pants around his ankles to show police. The two women, who haven&#