Category: News

Shazam rates as one of Gizmodo’s favorite apps ever, so it’s not surprising to hear that the billionth song has now been identified—Gettin’ Over, by David Guetta featuring Chris Willis. This comes after their users rose from 50m to 75m in the past six months. [Shazam on iTunes] More »










Shazam – IPhone – Smartphones – Handhelds – Music

Were you thinking to yourself, “What I really need is another way to share what I’ve bought with my friends?” You’re not alone! At least I hope you’re not alone, given a useful social web service requires a healthy network of people to support it. And now we have yet another one: ShopSocially.

To be fair, ShopSocially has the unfortunate timing of launching shortly after two similar services, Blippy and Swipely. The way ShopSocially differentiates is that it is not automatic. Users don’t import their credit card and merchant accounts to share purchases wholesale or item by item. Instead, they manually enter new products they’ve bought (ShopSocially then locates the product info and a photo, and includes a link to where to buy it so as to collect affiliate revenue-sharing).

The idea is to be more casual and private, encouraging conversations on the site about what to buy and why. Users can share their questions to Facebook and comment threads there get neatly imported back. And of course, there are badges and rewards of being crowned a “shopping god” (aka a Foursquare-type mayor) to encourage participation.

One nice thing that ShopSocially does is invite users to “shout” to one another to ask for advice about buying products before they ever make a purchase. So you could query your friends, as ShopSocially CEO Jai Rawat did, as to where or not you should buy the new Flip camera to capture videos of your kids on the go.

Six-month-old ShopSocially is self-funded and has 10 employees in Sunnyvale, Calif. and Pune, India. It opens for public beta testing today.

Emma Caulfield American actress, star of television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” filed in the divorce papers after almost four years of marriage. The 37-year-old actress claimed irreconcilable differences between her and Cornelius, in documents submitted last Thursday in Los Angeles Supreme Court.

Caulfield and her husband Cornelius Grobbelaar had married in August 2006. Caulfield also starred in the years 1995 to 1996 in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210th In the years 1996 to 1997 she played Lorraine Miller in the series General Hospital. In 2008 she appeared in the medical series “Private Practice”.

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It’s sad for Germany’s captain Michael Ballack because he’ll not be able to play in the World Cup because of a broken ligament. The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder was hurt during his club’s 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth on Saturday, according to NBC sports. A scan showed damage to two ligaments but it’s expected to be eight weeks before he can resume training and Germany’s first match is on June 13. Ballack was injured after a challenge by Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng. Ballack stated that the damage from the tackle made by Boateng was “clearly intentional” and even a video can testify to it.

“It’s bitter to get a diagnosis like that before the World Cup,” he said. Right, it is really a sad fact knowing that you will not be able to play on your most awaited game. Ballack might be feeling upset now because he will not be able to play with his team mates and fight for their goal which is the World Cup. Ballack also stated that there’s naturally a lot of disappointment, but despite all of this, we can see that he still looks on the positive side by saying “…that’s football. That happens. Life goes on.”

On the side of Boateng, he is the only one who knows what he intended with his foul from behind on Ballack. He may never tell, although some Portsmouth teammates say Boateng, who also missed a penalty kick that would have given Portsmouth the lead, was in tears in the locker room after the final, which Chelsea won by the only goal.

This coming World Cup can be interesting if the players will be fair and not use violence in eliminating their opponents. They should have the spirit of sportsmanship whereby, whether they win or lose, they will still accept it.

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Filed under: Convertible, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Peugeot

The commerical campaign for the Peugeot RCZ wants you to know that there is no escape from the hardtop: not only does the car choose you, once it does, it owns you. We don’t know if it only chooses rakish chaps wandering the nicer parts of town at night, but we do know that the spot is as European as the car itself. Follow the jump to check it out.

Source: Peugeot UK]

Continue reading Video: Peugeot RCZ argues that stalking can be all in good fun?

Video: Peugeot RCZ argues that stalking can be all in good fun? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Taliban operative driving a car bomb attacked a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital today, killing at least six U.S. and allied troops and at least 12 Afghan civilians. The Associated Press:

The powerful blast occurred on a major Kabul thoroughfare that runs by the ruins of a one-time royal palace and government ministries. It wrecked nearly 20 vehicles, including five SUVs in the NATO convoy, and scattered debris and body parts across the wide boulevard. The body of woman in a burqa was smashed against the window of the bus.

That’s an immensely powerful blast if it’s able to take out five surely-armored NATO SUVs and still do damage to 15 other cars, motorcycles and trucks. Judging by the photos in this Washington Post gallery, I’ve driven down the road that the Taliban attacked, and it’s indeed heavily trafficked. The blast essentially welcomes home Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who firmed up his ties to the Obama administration last week in Washington.

WHOA!

Richard Russell, the famous writer of the Dow Theory Letters, has a chilling line in today’s note:

Do your friends a favor. Tell them to “batten down the hatches” because there’s a HARD RAIN coming. Tell them to get out of debt and sell anything they can sell (and don’t need) in order to get liquid. Tell them that Richard Russell says that by the end of this year they won’t recognize the country. They’ll retort, “How the dickens does Russell know — who told him?” Tell them the stock market told him.

That’s pretty intense!

Update: By popular demand, here’s more on what he sees in the market. The gist is that the markets recent gyrations are telling him that the economy is in trouble:

And I ask myself, “Am I seeing things? The April 26 high for the Dow
was 11205.03. The Dow is selling as write at 10557 down 648 points
from its April high. If business is even better than expected, then
why is the Dow down over 600 points? And why, if there were 674 new
highs on the NYSE on April 26, were there only 20 new highs on Friday,
May 14? And if my PTI was 6133 on April 26, why is it down 17 points
since its April high?

The fact is that I’ve been seeing deterioration in the stock market
ever since early-April, and this in the face of improving business
news. The D-J Industrial Average is composed of 30 internationally
known top-quality blue-chip stocks. These are 30 of “America’s biggest
companies.” If Barron’s is so bullish on the future of America’s
biggest companies, then why isn’t the Dow advancing to new highs?

Clearly something is wrong. But what could it be? Much as I love
Barron’s, I trust the stock market more. If I read the stock market
correctly, it’s telling me that there is a surprise ahead. And that
surprise will be a reversal to the downside for the economy, plus a
collection of other troubles ahead.

About Dow Theory — First, we saw the recent April highs in the
Averages. Then we saw a plunge in both Averages to their May 7 lows —
Industrials to 10380.43, Transports to 4298.12, next a short rally. If
ahead, the two Averages turn down and violate their May 7 lows, that
would be the clincher. Such action would signal the certain resumption
of the primary bear market.

Just as for years I asked, cajoled, insisted, threatened, demanded,
that my subscribers buy gold, I am now insisting, demanding, begging
my subscribers to get OUT of stocks (including C and BYD, but not
including golds) and get into cash or gold (bullion if possible). If
the two Averages violate their May 7 lows, I see a major crash as the
outcome. Pul – leeze, get out of stocks now, and I don’t give a damn
whether you have paper losses or paper profits!

Don’t miss: 13 housing markets that will never recover >

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Article Tags: Doug L. Hoffman

There is little doubt that the political forces promoting climate change hysteria are under attack and in retreat around the world. It has also become obvious that little global consensus exists among climate scientists regarding how to regain the public’s trust. There is, however, ample evidence that the climate change alarmists have not learned their lesson. At a recent conference held in Washington, D.C., an eminent climate policy expert urged that scientists and policy leaders embrace the persuasive power of uncertainty. If you cannot convince the public with the facts, frighten them into going along anyway seems to be the message. This is not science, it is subterfuge justified by blind faith.

“There is no doubt that humans are causing climate change and that existing technology can limit greenhouse gas emissions,” Mohamed El-Ashry said at the 10th Annual Science & Technology in Society Conference cosponsored by AAAS. But science and policy leaders might gain more traction in the public debate over emissions by “highlighting the uncertainty of what might happen over the next 50 years, which is much scarier,” he said. It is a sad state of affairs when an “eminent” climate scientist’s best argument in support of a theory is uncertainty, and that is because uncertainty can be used to scare the public.

This revealing statement was reported in the “AAAS News and Notes” section of the April 30, 2010, issue of Science, the flagship journal and official organ of the AAAS. El-Ashry called for more regional modeling of climate change and better assessment of how healthy ecosystems support local and national economies. Focusing on near term, local effects—like harsher weather conditions or changes in the timing of snowmelt used in agriculture—could help governments recognize that climate change has an impact “not just over there in the Arctic,” he said, “but on our farms and within our borders.”

Click source to read FULL report from Doug L. Hoffman

Source: theresilientearth.com

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KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, brings in at least $950.2 million annually in income to the state of Tennessee, and supports 23,055 jobs both inside and outside the university, according to a study released yesterday.

This finding was part of a study done by UT Knoxville’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER).

UT economists, led by CBER Director Bill Fox, analyzed data from fiscal year 2008 to estimate the economic impact of the UT System overall as well as the individual impact of the campuses in Knoxville, Martin, Chattanooga, the Health Science Center in Memphis and the Space Institute in Tullahoma.

Including all of its campuses statewide, UT brings in at least $2.5 billion annually in income to the state of Tennessee and supports more than 53,600 jobs. It also generates an estimated $237.6 million in state and local tax revenue.

The economic impact studies focused on direct employment and income data.

According to the CBER study, the $950.2 million income estimate for UT Knoxville includes $727.8 million in payroll spending, $126.6 million in non-payroll spending and $95.9 million in student and visitor spending. The Knoxville campus also generates an estimated $102.4 million in state and local tax revenue each year. Students and visitors attending athletic events on campus spent approximately $226.4 million in FY 2008, accounting for $95.9 million in income and 3,162 jobs. The CBER study notes these figures are likely a conservative estimate of UT’s impact. The study does not quantify the benefits of an educated workforce, research projects or community engagement.

To read more about how all UT campuses impact the state of Tennessee, visit http://www.tennessee.edu/media/releases/051710_income.html.

Home improvement chain Home Depot went through its own renovation from 6.6% sales decrease in 2009 to a hefty 41% sales increase in the first quarter of 2010. Being the country’s leader in home-improvement retails, this uptrend in HD sales is most likely indicative of an over-all rebound in the country’s housing industry.

In the sideline, Home Depot’s smaller competitor, Lowe’s has also felt a smoother transaction with their customers. It did not slid down for 2010 Q1 unlike the past years.

Even though economists have set a better mark for Home Depot this 2010, they haven’t expected for the first quarter’s book to close in a remarkable rate. Confidence lost in the stretch of recession made analysts bet a safe figure even if they are aware that season change normally brings in more clients.

Credit must be given to Home Depot’s move in March where summer ornamental including patio fixtures were sold in lower price. It turn out though, that Americans are starting to feel more comfortable with purchasing which then made HD exceeds the benchmark set in the earlier part of the year.

With this healthy start of $725 million net income and $36.48 stance in the New York Stock Exchange, Home Depot is a trend to follow for the next three quarters.

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Drew Scheeler in the hot seat.
Photo courtesy of Valleycrest Productions Ltd.

Campus members who watched Monday’s episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire already know Drew Scheeler made it up to the $7,500 question. He continued as a holdover contestant on today’s show, which aired this morning, by looking at the $10,000 question with all three lifelines left.

Scheeler, a Sandusky native who recently completed his first year at Case Western Reserve, is thinking about majoring in accounting, economics or history.

He always wanted to audition for Millionaire, but his mom wanted him to be on Jeopardy. He made her a deal – he’d try out for Jeopardy if she let him audition for Millionaire when he turned 18. He not only made it on Jeopardy – he won $5,000 on the Teen Tournament – but his dream of making it to the Millionaire hot seat came true when he taped an episode of the popular game show last November.

“I spent most of my study time brushing up on strategy: what lifelines to use, when to use them, etc.,” he said of his preparation for the show. He had an opportunity to chat with host Meredith Meredith Vieira during commercial breaks.

His family and a few of his friends were in the audience, so they knew how far he went on Millionaire. As for other people, he created a fake story “for those who wouldn’t take ‘I’m legally not allowed to discuss this’ for an answer,” said Scheeler, who writes theater reviews for The Observer.

In addition to his love of game show trivia, Scheeler is a balloon sculptor. He works at the mall and at resorts making whatever balloon creation kids ask him to come up with. His most intricate creation was a pterodactyl, made with 20 balloons. He also collects Disney-branded pins.

If he wins big, Scheeler plans to pay for graduate school and travel around the world.

For more information contact Kimyette Finley, 216.368.0521.

Twitter meets Nintendo’s Miis to satisfy your most intimate narcissistic and megalomaniacal desires: It’s your own Twitter Parade! I can’t stop looking. [ISparade via Twitter] More »










Twitter – Online Communities – Social Networking – Trending and Popularity – Nintendo

Nintendo has been pretty quiet about the 3DS’s official specs, but an alleged target board for the handheld’s prototype seems to point to a wider screen, among other modifications.

The SMH has an article on a study linking pesticide use to ADHD – Pesticide link to hyperactivity: study.

Children exposed to higher levels of pesticide found on commercially grown fruit and vegetables in the United States were more likely to have attention deficit/hyper-activity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published on Monday.

Researchers in the United States and Canada studied data from 1139 children aged between eight and 15 and found children with higher residue levels of pesticides known as organophosphates were roughly twice as likely to have ADHD, the study in the journal Pediatrics found.

“The present study adds to the accumulating evidence linking higher levels of pesticide exposure to adverse developmental outcomes,” the study concluded.

Roughly 40 organophosphate pesticides are registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency for use in the United States, and about 33.11 million kilograms of the pesticides were used in agricultural and residential settings in 2001, figures cited in the study said.

Although residential pesticide use is common, the National Academy of Sciences found that the major source of exposure for infants and children comes through the diet, the study added.

According to a 2008 report cited by the study, detectable levels of pesticides were found in a range of vegetables. A sample of produce tested found 28 per cent of frozen blueberries, 20 per cent of celery and 25 per cent of strawberries contained traces of one organophospate, known as malathion.

Other types of pesticides were found in 27 per cent of green beans, 17 per cent of peaches and 8 per cent of broccoli.

Spotify, one of the hottest startups on the online music scene, is diversifying its offering and launching in one more country. No, it’s not the US as many have been anticipating, the Netherlands joins the short list of countries where the music-streaming service is available. At the same time, the service is lau… (read more)