Mereja

Author: Zach Walton

  • Bowler’s Perfect Game Snatched Away By Lane Malfunction

    A perfect 300 in bowling may be one of the hardest feats in sports. I’m lucky to get one strike every five games, and professional bowlers maybe get two strikes per game. One bowler managed to come incredibly close to a perfect game over the weekend, but victory was taken from him at the last moment.

    CBS Houston reports that Troy Walker, a competitor in the 2013 Luci Bonneau Doubles tournament, was on a roll with 11 consecutive strikes in his game. During the last frame, he lined up the perfect shot and let the ball loose. It was here that the pent up anger of the bowling gods must have been let loose as the rack came down right before the ball hit the pins. This obviously stopped the ball from completing its holy mission, and Walker was denied his perfect game.

    Fortunately, the tournament judges let him try again, but it was too late. Walker’s luck had run out and his last shot only knocked down seven pins. He ended up with an incredible score of 297, but that freak accident most likely cost him a perfect game.

    So, what did Walker have to say about his perfect game being snatched away by a rogue rack? He said that he may have robbed himself of a perfect game by resetting the wrong lane before he took to the floor for his final frame. That reset may have sent the rack crashing down on his lane.

    Regardless of whose fault it was, he says the story will at least give him “something to talk about.”

    Check out the video below to relive what must have a painful experience for all in attendance:

  • U.S.-Based Tech Firms May Lose Big Due To PRISM

    Cloud computing and storage is a multi-billion dollar business. Companies all over the world turn to Google, Microsoft and others to process and store their sensitive data. Corporate privacy policies ensure that this data remains secret, but that might not remain the case when the NSA comes knocking.

    A new study out of The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation has found that the recent revelations regarding PRISM – the NSA’s system of obtaining information from U.S.-based tech firms – has some foreign companies hesitant to do business with the likes of Google and Microsoft. Even before PRISM was leaked, there was already concern in the European community over how much information was being stored with American companies.

    That concern has now exploded into outright rejection as many European politicians and companies are calling for a boycott of American tech firms. The ITIF’s findings jibe with a recent poll conducted by The Cloud Security Alliance that found that 10 percent of 207 non-U.S. based tech firms had canceled their plans to utilize U.S.-based cloud services. Another 56 percent said that they were less likely to use those services.

    Overall, things are looking grim for the cloud computing business in the U.S. The ITIF report says that U.S.-based cloud services might lose a minimum of $21.5 billion over the next three years as more companies move their business to European and Asian tech firms. In a worst case scenario, the report says that U.S.-based cloud services could lose up to $35 billion by 2016.

    The ITIF ends its report with two recommendations for the U.S. government that it thinks will help restore faith in the nation’s tech industry:

    First, U.S. government needs to proactively set the record straight about what information it does and does not have access to and how this level of access compares to other countries. To do this effectively, it needs to continue to declassify information about the PRISM program and allow companies to reveal more details about what information has been requested of them by the government. The economic consequences of national security decisions should be part of the debate, and this cannot happen until more details about PRISM have been revealed.

    Second, the U.S. government should work to establish international transparency requirements so that it is clear what information U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based companies are disclosing to both domestic and foreign governments. For example, U.S. trade negotiators should work to include transparency requirements in trade agreements, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) currently being negotiated with the EU.

    Some in the United States government are working to make the NSA more transparent, but they are constantly opposed by the Obama administration and the leaders of both parties in Congress. They argue that the NSA should remain unopposed and shrouded in secrecy for the safety of the nation. Opponents may want to start arguing that there’s safety in economic stability and keeping the NSA shrouded in secrecy threatens one of the nation’s fastest growing businesses.

  • Every Heist Will Be Unique In Payday 2

    Payday 2 is already looking pretty good, but every little tidbit dropped by the developers at Overkill Software shows that they’re going way beyond the call of duty to make this one of the best shooters of the year.

    In the latest trailer, Payday 2 director David Goldfarb discusses how they’re going to keep the game fresh so players will return to it time and time again. The key to this is called dynamics, and Goldfarb says that a level will be different every time you play it.

    For example, he says that you may see a security guard in an alley on one mission. That same alley in the next mission may then feature two guards, or perhaps no guard but a witness that will call the police if they see you wielding a rifle. He says that players may also find that previously open doors will be closed upon subsequent playthroughs, or that the position of cameras will have been changed.

    Another addition to the game this time around is the Escape section of the heist that will see players being transported to a different level, and be given an entirely different objective. In the above video, Goldfarb gives the example of players being trapped in a parking structure while defending their stolen loot from the police.

    Payday 2 will be available on August 13 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

  • Researchers Use 3D Printers To Make Cartilage

    Cartilage is an incredibly vital component of our bodies. Unfortunately, it can be easily damaged by a variety of diseases and injuries. To replace it, researchers have turned to 3D printers.

    The Herald Sun reports that researchers at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne have created cartilage with the use of 3D printers. Like other 3D printed body components, the 3D printer is used to create a scaffold on which stem cells are placed. Those cells are then grown into cartilage cells which can then hopefully be used to replace cartilage in patients.

    For now, we’re not quite at the point where we can replace cartilage with its lab grown equivalent just yet. The researchers were only able to grow pea-sized spheres of cartilage after 28 days. With further research, however, they should be able to create full replacements.

    Current technology allows doctors to replace lost cartilage, but the replacements only last a few years. With this technology, doctors should be able to create cartilage that will last just as long as the stuff you’re born with.

    What’s more exciting about this breakthrough is that it’s just the beginning. The researchers’ ultimate aim is to facilitate the recreation of limbs. With stem cells and 3D printed scaffolds, the goal is to recreate muscles, bones, fat and other components needed to repair or recreate a patient’s limbs. Some of the researchers even think that we’re only a decade away from the kinds of treatment that we’ve only seen in science fiction up until now.

    Like all good things, this kind of research requires money to move forward. The researchers are hoping to receive $180 million in government funding so they can continue to use 3D printers to create the limbs of the future. It’s a worthy goal and one that Australia should be proud to support.

    [Image: Emmanuelm/Wikimedia Commons]

  • Comcast Has A Plan To Convert Pirates Into Paying Customers [Report]

    Most people would say that the “Six Strikes” Copyright Alert System has been an utter failure. We’ve not yet heard a single success story. In fact, we’ve not heard anything about it since it launched earlier this year. A new report suggests that Comcast may already be tiring of this method and is now working on a new plan that would encourage pirates to buy content instead of punishing them.

    Variety reports that Comcast is working on a new anti-piracy plan that approaches pirates as potential consumers instead of criminals. It’s a shocking development for an industry that has been hellbent on treating pirates as nothing but criminals. Even the consumer education-focused CAS treated consumers like criminals with its myriad of punishments.

    In stark contrast to the CAS, Comcast’s new plan wouldn’t tell pirates that their efforts are destroying the livelihoods of millions, or that their efforts will lead to the downfall of Hollywood. Instead, Comcast would send a simple pop-up ad to BitTorrent users with links to legal alternatives. It would happen while the content is being downloaded so pirates would be faced with a moral conundrum – continue downloading the content in question or just pony up the cash for it.

    Comcast may be proposing nothing more than a sophisticated guilt trip, but it’s still a far better alternative to the punishments in the CAS. That being said, Comcast isn’t ready to sell its new system as a CAS replacement. It’s instead being billed as a complement to the CAS. Of course, that could change if CAS remains a target of criticism.

    We won’t be able to see the results of Comcast’s ambitious new plan for a while though as the company’s engineers have not even begun work on it. It’s not said when work will start on the program, but they’ll be working alongside NBC Universal to make it happen. In the meantime, Comcast will have to convince other cable companies to embrace the future of treating pirates like customers. If the past is any indication, this will be hardest part.

    Still, credit must be given where credit is due. Comcast’s new plan sounds like a step in the right direction. The pessimistic side of me is saying that the company will do something to screw it up, but I want to remain optimistic for now. Piracy has always been a service problem, and it looks like Comcast is taking a step in the right direction.

  • Android Gets New Google Calendar

    Android users who use Google Calendar to catalog their week will get a more color in the newest app.

    Google announced that Google Calendar for Android now supports a variety of colors for those who want to highlight specific events with certain colors. Now you can mark your birthday in a warm blue, and a visit from the in-laws in blood red.

    Google Calendar for Android

    Adding that particularly nasty visit from the in-laws to your schedule has been improved with the latest update as well. Google has completely redesigned the date and time picker to make it even easier to add those important dates. You can also set those dates to repeat in any time increment you require. It will make it easy to remind yourself of the bi-monthly visits from the aunt that hates your taste in neckties.

    The timezone picker has also been redesigned so you will always have the right region for your scheduled events, like that potluck in Alaska with the cousin that hates you.

    Google Calendar for Android

    You can grab the new Google Calendar for Android on devices running Android 4.0.3 or higher. For custom colors, you’ll need to be running 4.1 or higher. You can grab it at the Google Play store now.

  • The Xbox One Design Team Dodges The Question Of Why It Looks Like A VCR

    Why does the Xbox One look like a VCR? Let the folks at Microsoft tell you:

    So, what have we learned? Apparently, the Xbox One’s design reflects the power of the machine as well as the history of the Xbox brand. It’s also meant to reflect the rectangular design of the Xbox One UI. It still doesn’t really explain why it looks like a VCR, but maybe the team at Microsoft just doesn’t realize that themselves.

    Looking on the bright side, the Xbox One controller doesn’t look like a VCR. It also got rid of that annoying battery bump that was on the back of the Xbox 360 controller. At least Microsoft’s design team gets points for that.

  • Double Fine Goes For Another Round On Kickstarter With Massive Chalice

    Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, Brutal Legend and more, proved Kickstarter as a viable platform for game funding back in 2012 with Broken Age. Now the developer is back with a new game that it hopes fans new and old alike will fund.

    The game in question is called Massive Chalice. It’s a strategy RPG that promises to combine the gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics with a story inspired by Game of Thrones. Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect from the game:

  • Your story emerges as you defend against attacks, complete quests, and respond to randomized events in your attempt to preserve the kingdom.
  • Line of sight and fog of war mechanics come into play as your squad explores beautiful dynamic 3D battlefields where danger may lurk behind any corner.
  • Distinct, customizable heroes learn new melee, ranged, and arcane abilities as they age and gain combat experience.
  • Arrange marriage alliances to ensure your heroic bloodlines can handle any future combat situation.
  • Battle alongside your ancestors by equipping your heroes with uniquely powerful Bloodline Relics.
  • Invest your resources in forging new weapons and armor—and gamble on polluting a bloodline by researching dangerous demonic artifacts.

    • If you need more info, watch the pitch video below:

    The Kickstarter for Massive Chalice could either end well, or horribly. Some backers seem to take offense to game studios trying to fund a game while they’re still working on another Kickstarted project, while others don’t really mind it all. Double Fine is obviously banking on the latter and ensures that a separate team is still working on Broken Age even as others are starting to work on Massive Chalice.

    Of interest to players, of course, is the price. Those interested in Massive Chalice can get the game for $20 with increasingly higher tiers offering bonuses like development documentaries, soundtrack, art, posters and T-shirts.

    Double Fine is hoping to raise $725,000 for the project, with over $190,000 already pledged. With 28 more days to go, it’s pretty obvious that Double Fine will get all the money it needs and then some for the game.

  • Is Google Bringing Incognito Mode To Android?

    Incognito mode for Chrome is super helpful not just as a privacy feature, but also for letting your friends use Chrome without using your Google account. A recent comment from Android head Sundar Pichai suggests that we could see a similar feature hitting Android soon.

    Speaking at the D11 conference, Pichai was asked if more privacy was needed in Google products. He pointed to Chrome’s privacy settings, incognito mode in particular, as features that help enhance privacy on the Web. He then said that he would like to bring those features to Android in the future.

    Here’s the full response:

    “When we did Chrome, we invested in incognito mode. Now you can do that on the phone. You’re completely not signed-in, and we don’t know anything about you… We do want more things like that, though. From a security, child safety, etc. standpoint. Chrome OS lets you be a guest user. We’re working on things like that on Android.”

    Pichai didn’t provide anymore information beyond that so it’s not entirely clear what he meant. It’s easy to see that Google will be bringing more privacy options to Android, but does that mean the Android team is bringing something like incognito mode to the platform? Will Google allow users to completely drop off the grid when using Android devices?

    In short, not likely. What this may mean is that Google will be introducing something like Kid’s Corner on Android. For those unaware, Kid’s Corner is a Windows Phone 8 feature that turns off all the communication functions of the device and restricts the user to a select number of apps. Google may also be bringing multiple user accounts to Android phones. It’s already a feature in Android tablets.

    We’ve reached out to Google for more clarification on Pichai’s statement, and will update if/when we hear back.

    Whatever it is, we’ll likely see it in the next version of Android that’s rumored for release sometime this year.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • HTC One Nexus Edition Is Official, Will Cost $599

    It was rumored last week that HTC would release a Nexus Edition of its popular HTC One handset after the news of a Nexus Edition of the Galaxy S4 was received with such positive buzz at Google I/O. Now HTC has went and confirmed that rumor.

    HTC announced today that a Nexus Edition of the HTC One will be available starting June 26. It will be sold exclusively in the Google Play store, and will cost $599. For those keeping track at home, that’s $50 cheaper than the HTC One Developer Edition.

    Just like the Galaxy S4 Nexus Edition, the HTC One Nexus Edition will ship with the latest version of Jelly Bean (Android 4.2.2) instead of HTC’s own Sense software. You could install your own custom stock Android ROM on the SIM unlocked or Developer Edition, but the Nexus Edition comes with the official Google support that the Nexus experience offers.

    Still, you’re free to make your own choice about which HTC One device you want. You my want to try out the new HTC Sense on the One before you make the jump to stock Android. To compare the three HTC One models available, check out this handy chart:

    HTC One Nexus Edition

  • Here’s An Inside Look At PS4 Development From The Killzone Team

    Sony’s Conversations with Creators series has been wonderful. We’ve gotten an inside look at PS4 development from some of the most talented teams on the planet. Now Sony is giving us that same inside look at what will undoubtedly be the visual benchmark of the PS4′s launch – Killzone: Shadow Fall.

    In the video above, Guerilla reveals that Killzone: Shadow Fall will utilize the PS4′s ability to let gamers play a game while it’s still being downloaded. To be more specific, the studio says that it will download the menu and the first level and then start downloading the rest of the game while you’re playing through it. This way, gamers will no longer have to wait for the full game to download before jumping into the action.

    Killzone: Shadow Fall will be a launch title for the PS4 when it launches later this year.

  • Microsoft Confirms The Return Of The Start Button In Windows 8.1

    A leaked screen from yesterday indicated that Microsoft would be bringing back the Start button in Windows 8.1. Now the company has gone ahead and confirmed its return alongside a number of other additions to the updated operating systems.

    In a blog post on the official Windows blog, Microsoft’s Antoine Leblond confirmed many of the details leaked in yesterday’s report. For starters, the Start button is indeed back in Windows 8.1. Here’s how he describes it:

    We’ve improved the way you navigate to Start with the mouse by changing the Start “tip” to be the familiar Windows logo. The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop.

    Leblond also says that there are options to “boot into alternate screens.” He doesn’t come right out and say that there is a boot to desktop option, but it’s pretty much a guarantee that it will be there.

    As for customization, Leblond confirms that Windows 8.1 users will be able to use their own custom backgrounds on the Start screen. Microsoft is also adding support for live wallpapers for those who want a little motion in their backgrounds.

    That about covers all of the stuff leaked from yesterday. Is there anything new in today’s post regarding Windows 8.1? Of course, there is. The first is an update to Search via Bing on Windows 8.1. You can read more on that here.

    Microsoft is also improving apps and the Windows Store in the newest version of the OS. All the built in apps will receive upgrades. Microsoft includes two examples from the Photos and Music app. The Photos app will include editing tools right in the apps so users won’t have to leave the app to crop and adjust photos. As for music, the app “has been completely redesigned to help pick and play music from your collection.”

    Finally, Windows 8.1 is bringing updates to SkyDrive, PC Settings and Internet Explorer. For SkyDrive, Microsoft is making it so that users can access all of their SkyDrive files across any and all devices as well as when they’re offline.

    PC Settings will be accessible outside of Control Panel for the first time. Users will be able to adjust their resolution, set power options and more from the new PC Settings menu.

    As previous rumors reported, Internet Explorer will be upgraded to IE11 on Windows 8.1. Microsoft says it will improve upon all the features and improvements that finally made Internet Explorer 10 a worthy contender in the browser wars. For now, Microsoft says that IE11 will be faster, feature support for unlimited tabs and feature tab syncing across devices.

    All of this and more will be available in the Windows 8.1 public preview on June 26. The release version will be made available as a free update to all Windows 8 users later this year.

  • Motorola Will Make Its Next Smartphone In The U.S.

    Google is creating 2,000 jobs in Texas this year with the announcement that its Motorola division will be building its next smartphone at a Forth Worth factory.

    During an All Things D talk in which Motorola unveiled its own Mark of the Beast, the company also revealed that it’s building a new smartphone called the Moto X. Unlike its competitors that build their smartphones in Chinese or Southeast Asian factories, Motorola will be building the phones right here in America.

    It’s always good to see manufacturing jobs come back to the U.S., but what of the phone itself? Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside wasn’t exactly forthcoming on details, but he did hint at a few of the phone’s features. For one, it will have sensors that will wake it up from sleep mode when the phone is taken out of a pants pocket or purse.

    More excitedly, he also said that the phone will include two processors to preserve battery life. Smartphones have always walked a thin line between processing power and elongating battery life. Motorola, with Google’s help, may finally be able to solve this problem.

    You can expect to see the Moto X, and maybe even a new version of Android, hitting markets by October.

    Motorola isn’t the first major tech company to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Apple announced last year that it would start to assemble Mac computers in the U.S. as well. The Cupertino-based company will still have its flagship mobile devices assembled overseas though.

    [h/t: Bloomberg]

  • Motorola’s New Electronic Tattoo Is Going To Scare Some People

    “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”

    That’s Revelations 13:16-17, the famous Bible verse describing the fabled mark of the Beast. In recent history, evangelical Christians have claimed various technologies (barcodes, RFID chips, etc) would be this mark. Well, get ready to hear people claim Motorola is the devil because it just revealed what may be the closest thing to the mark as described yet.

    The Verge reports that Motorola SVP for advanced technology and projects, Regina Dugan, was at the All Things D conference showing off two new technologies the company is working on. The first is an electronic tattoo that the company thinks might revolutionize wearable computing. So far, wearable computers have been watches or glasses. What happens when they’re implanted directly into the skin?

    Well, certain people (i.e. evangelical Christians) are going to get scared. If a mandatory RFID tag around the neck sends them into a flurry of apocalyptic visions, just imagine what a tattoo would do.

    If the tattoo scares them, the other project at Motorola will send them into panic fits. It’s a pill with an embedded chip that’s activated by stomach acid. After swallowing said pill, the entire body becomes an authentication token that can be picked up by various machines.

    The average person will probably be more concerned about the privacy implications presented by such technologies, but that seems to be par for the course when it comes to new wearable (or ingestible) computers. The fear of a mystical fire demon cataloguing sales seems pretty tame compared to being tracked all day and every day from a chip inside your stomach.

    Still, privacy proponents and apocalyptic scholars have nothing to worry about in the immediate future. These technologies are still very far off. They are in development though so get those Beast watch conspiracy Web sites ready.

    [Image: The Verge]

  • Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini A Reality, Launches Later This Year

    Before the Galaxy S 4 tore up the sales charts, it was rumored that Samsung would be releasing a mini-version of the device for the more cost conscious consumer market. Those rumors were right on the money as Samsung announced such a device today.

    The Galaxy S4 Mini is indeed real, and it’s said to bring “the sleek design of the Galaxy S4 in a portable chic and compact design.” Of course, it’s not only the reduced size, but the reduced cost as well that will make the S4 Mini an attractive option for consumers not interested in 5-inch smartphones that cost hundreds of dollars.

    The S4 Mini is equipped with a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, a 1.7GHz processor, 8MP back camera, 1.9MP front camera, 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. As expected, it will ship with Android 4.2 and supports LTE bands. It also supports many of the same software features that shipped with the Galaxy S4, like S Translator and S Health.

    “Demand for the Galaxy S4 has been phenomenal since it launched in April and we hope to build on this success with the Galaxy S4 Mini,” said Simon Stanford, Vice President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland. “This new handset is the ideal smartphone companion for anyone who wants a compact device packed with innovation.”

    So, when will you be able to get your hands on the S4 Mini? Samsung isn’t saying at the moment. A separate press release out of UK-based Phones 4U says the device will be out in the UK this July. There’s been nothing said regarding a U.S. release, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it launched around the same time as it does in the UK.

  • George Michael: Accident Didn’t Keep Him Down For Long

    Two weeks ago, singer George Michael was involved in a car accident. He was treated for “superficial cuts and injuries,” but is now out of the hospital.

    Reuters reports that Michael was released from the hospital today after being held for observation. The singer was checked out with a clean bill of health.

    Michael’s official Facebook page released the following statement:

    George Michael1 day ago

    Update: We can confirm that George Michael has been discharged from hospital and continues to rest and recuperate. He is well and thanks everyone for all the messages of support. http://bit.ly/Zrvyl7Powered by socialditto  1,000+ likes ·  1,000+ comments

    It’s unknown what Michael will be up to next, but he had wrapped up his latest tour last October. Fans are no doubt looking forward to his next tour, and it’s a relief to see his accident didn’t keep him down.

  • Obama Explains Lipstick On Collar, Sends Crowd Into Fits Of Laughter

    President Obama appeared at an event Tuesday night for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. At the event, it was seen that Obama had lipstick on his collar. You would maybe think it was a good luck charm from the First Lady, but the president said its origins lie elsewhere.

    During his speech, Obama pointed to the lipstick on his collar and blamed it on Jessica Sanchez. He quickly corrected himself to say it was the aunt of Sanchez. He said he was calling her out in public so as not to get into trouble with the First Lady. The short bit elicited laughs from the crowd. Here’s the full video:

    Regardless of what you think of the man, he definitely knows how to work a crowd. He’s also incredibly calm and collected when dealing with hecklers.

    [h/t: MSN]

  • How Much Did Those 15 Xbox One Exclusives Cost? $1 Billion Says Microsoft

    At the Xbox One unveiling event, Microsoft said that it had 15 exclusives, with eight being new IPs, planned in the first year of the console’s life. Now the company has come forward to discuss those games and the associated costs.

    In an interview with Official Xbox Magazine, Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer said that the company has been preparing its Xbox One launch lineup for the past two years. Part of its plan saw Microsoft opening three new studios in Washington, London and British Columbia. That’s on top of the projects being worked on internally at Microsoft, Lionhead Studios and Rare. Speaking of Rare, the once great developer is revisiting one of its classic franchises for the Xbox One. What that franchise is will presumably be unveiled at E3.

    Outside of its own studios working on exclusives, Microsoft has secured some exclusive games and content from its third party partners. Remedy, the development team behind Alan Wake, is creating Quantum Break for the console. Activision will continue to provide timed exclusive DLC for Call of Duty on Xbox platforms. EA is also partnering with Microsoft to deliver exclusive content in its various sports titles.

    You could argue that the Xbox 360 had a lackluster launch. Games like Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3 were good enough to hold off the stagnation that the Wii U is currently experiencing, but it sounds like Microsoft is hoping to avoid the drought that usually comes after a console’s launch. At least it better avoid such a pitfall if it’s willing to invest $1 billion into games.

  • Bruce Willis Wants To Sell His $22 Million Mansion

    Do you want the mansion belonging to Bruce Willis? That will be $22 million.

    TMZ reports that Willis has put up his Beverly Hills mansion on sale for $22 million. He paid $9 million for the mansion back in 2004.

    So, what will you get for $22 million? It’s a 10,379 sq. ft. home with 11 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. It’s surely large enough for anything you could possibly have planned in the Beverly Hills area.

    If you want another piece of Willis’ housing, you can grab his home away from home in Trump Tower for a cool $11.65 million.

    Earlier this year, Willis picked up a place in New York for $8.85 million. He’ll probably get a new place on the West Coast if he’s successful in selling his current home. Even if he doesn’t sell it anytime soon, he probably got a pretty decent amount for a down payment after starring in this year’s G.I. Joe film. He could always toss together another Die Hard film as well if he’s really desperate for a bigger home.

    [Image: Caroline Bonarde Ucci]

  • Katie Couric: Today Wanted Her Back In 2011

    The Today Show got rid of Ann Curry back in 2012, but the details surrounding her departure have only recently started to come to light. The latest has former Today host Katie Couric saying she was asked to come back.

    Speaking on Howard Stern’s show, Couric said that Matt Lauer approached her in 2011 about coming back to the morning talk show. The plan was to have her host a daytime talk show as well as the morning news.

    At some point during those talks, the plans to have Couric come back were ditched. In her own words, the plans “evaporated.” After Curry’s firing, Lauer started hosting Today alongside Savannah Guthrie.

    Despite that, she says that The Today Show was a great experience for her. She even said it was the “best job.”

    Another fun fact, Couric says that she had a “crush” on Lauer before he joined The Today Show.

    Here’s the relevant part of the interview with Stern courtesy of The Daily Mail: