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Celebrity Gossip Roundup: Bieber Chokes, Kanye Leaves Wet & JLo Gets Casper

Julie Wein
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Celebrity Gossip Roundup: Bieber Chokes, Kanye Leaves Wet & JLo Gets Casper

celebrity gossip justin bieber chokes kanye gets wet jlo works casper

This week’s celebrity gossip includes the usual antics of everyone’s favorite Hollywood stars. First up, is Ireland Baldwin’s public declaration that the rumors of her having recently checked herself into rehab are true via twitter. Ireland sent out a tweet saying that since she is apparently in rehab she was just going to lay low and eat frozen yogurt. She did admit that in the past she has checked herself into a facility for a two week stay to deal with emotional trauma, the details of which she will not disclose as of yet. Radar Online broke that story which basically had her having to admit to going before.

https://twitter.com/irelandbaldwin/status/587737754890452992

https://twitter.com/irelandbaldwin/status/587743314595549185

https://twitter.com/irelandbaldwin/status/587743500562604032

In some painful news, former 90210 star Tori Spelling was recently rushed to the hospital after she fell and landed on a hibachi grill while dining at a Japanese restaurant with her family. Though she treated the ensuing burn at home she had to break down and go to a California burn center to have a skin graft.

tori speling burn from hibachi grill 2015 gossip

The latest gossip from Justin Bieber’s camp is that he was forcefully removed from the Coachella Music Festival after he tried to get in to watch Drake perform. Security for the festival reportedly told Bieber that the crowd was so big there wasn’t room for him and his people and they needed to leave. When he was removed forcibly a security guard working the festival put Bieber in a chokehold.

justin bieber forced from coachella in chokehold 2015 gossip

Meanwhile, Drake received an onstage kiss from Madonna as the singers performed together at Coachella. His reaction was not favorable as he looked rather disgusted and about to vomit after Madge put a big one on him. Perhaps he felt her draining his youth, but he’s already in pr mode apologizing and fixing any permanent damage the aging singer could have put on him.

madonna kisses drake at coachella 2015

Over the weekend Pink attended a cancer benefit where some of her fans made negative statements about her physical appearance. Showing how classy she is Pink responded by telling her fans that she feels pretty despite their opinions about her bodyweight. She did thank her fans for their concern though.

pink thinks fat is fine on her 2015 gossip

At a recent Kanye West concert the night had to be cut short because West, as part of his performance, jumped into a fountain. When he did, the fans at the concert mobbed him to the point where security had to step in. Kim Kardashian said that it was a crazy night and she was excited to be a part of it.

kanye west leaves concert early after fountain jump 2015 gossip

Over the weekend Nelly ended up in jail after his tour bus was pulled over by a police officer in Tennessee for not having necessary stickers on the bus. Upon being pulled over, the police officer who did so smelled marijuana and proceeded to search the bus. The search turned up rocks filled with meth, as well as various hand guns. After Nelly’s arrest a bond was posted for him in the amount of $10,000. Nelly will now have to appear in court in June to face felony drug charges.

nelly arrested for drugs 2015

On a recent visit to Canada, Ryan Reynolds was bumped by a car driven by a member of the paparazzi. The driver, who had been taking a picture of Reynolds at the time of the accident, fled from the underground parking garage where his car came into contact with Reynolds. The actor was not injured in this accident.

ryan reynolds hit by paparazzi 2015 gossip

In relationship news, rumors are swirling that Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner are more than just friends. These rumors started after Bieber and Jenner posted photos on the Internet that show him with his hands on her hips. Kendall posted on her Instagram account that she really needs a boyfriend to sing back up for her in some of her songs because she is stressed out trying to perform both parts. While this statement was allegedly a joke somehow it wouldn’t be surprising if Kendall was actually dead serious about the reason she is seeking out a boyfriend. Things took a sudden turn when the two were at Coachella as Bieber seemed to treat Jenner like a ‘hanger-on’ and she left crying calling him a big douchebag. Bieber was forcibly taken out of the event shorty thereafter.

justin bieber kendall jenner dating then not dating for coachella 2015 gossip

Following up on gossip reported last month concerning a crazed fan stalking Gwen Stefani outside an acupuncture clinic where she was receiving treatment, Stefani has now filed a restraining order against the man stalking her. He has attempted to visit her house in L.A. several times in the past and wanted to give her a note, candy and flowers from himself. The stalker apparently also contacted Stefani’s father and told him that if Gwen was ever injured he wouldn’t be able to survive. Stefani and her father have now both filed restraining orders against the stalker.

gwen stefani forced to file restraining order on stalker 2015 gossip

The romantic relationship between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone has reportedly become rocky. The couple is allegedly spending time away from each other to determine whether or not they want to continue with the relationship. An unnamed source has stated that the reason for the tension between the couple is that Garfield is currently filming a movie in which he plays a very dark role and it has affected him so much that he is not “boyfriend material” at the moment. The media have begun dubbing them the Ross and Rachel of celebrity.

emma stone andrew garfield taking a break now 2015 gossip

Rita Wilson, wife of Tom Hanks, has recently announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy done. She also reportedly had reconstructive surgery as well. The actress was suffering from invasive lobular carcinoma. Since then Wilson has gone on record saying that getting a second opinion when being diagnosed with cancer is very important to do and that since the type of breast cancer she suffered from is rare she wanted to raise awareness about it among women all over the world.

rita wilson has double masectemy for cancer 2015 gossip

In some sad news out of Hollywood, legendary singer Percy Sledge has passed away at the age of 73. His agent stated that he had been battling cancer for some time now. Sledge passed away in his home, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

percy sledge dies 2015 gossip

Further fueling rumors that Casper Smart and Jennifer Lopez are a couple again, the two were recently spotted in Las Vegas together. They were seen partying at a nightclub in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. Lopez and Smart dined in one of the night club’s private dining rooms and eyewitnesses said they looked cozy. J Lo then took to the dance floor and even took some photos with fans in the night club.

jennifer lopez eating out casper smart for 2015 gossip

That’s it for this week’s celebrity gossip. Check back next week for more of the latest news along with every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the our Curvy Girl Diva’s column and video recap.

JUSTIFIED EP 612: Collateral Builds To Perfect Finale

Shane Mclendon
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JUSTIFIED EP 612: Collateral Builds To Perfect Finale

justified timothy olyphan on old man collateral recap 2015 image

The name of this Justified episode fit pretty well and had I known that Constable Bob was going to get caught up in the collateral damage, I might have been a little queasy going in. No one wants to see this guy whacked. This episode also saw a former member of ‘Boardwalk Empire’ jump aboard, if only for a short while. Shea Whigham played “Eli” Thompson on the hit HBO series that wrapped up last year. His character had the misfortune of getting car jacked by Boyd Crowder in his one and only appearance on ‘Justified’.

This week Boyd and Raylan are headed in the same direction. They both want to get to Ava and the sack of money she and Zachariah are hauling all over the mountain. Boyd commandeers a truck from an unlucky guy, played by the aforementioned Whigham. Raylan apparently stole Constable Bob’s Crown Vic and ended up on foot as he walked through a pack of backwoods hillbillies that had a connection to his mama’s side of the family. That didn’t prevent them from pulling deer rifles on the Marshal so he had to take one hostage. He did pay the hillbilly back by signing over Arlo’s property to the guy in one of the simplest real estate documents ever….”I give this man my house.”

justified joelle carter collateral 612 recap 2015

Ava and Zachariah are not some dynamic duo that is going to outsmart everyone. He is quite the human mole when it comes to mining, but his getaway plan sux. Ava just wants to run aimlessly. I can see why Boyd, while not the most successful gangster in history, had to be in charge of these Harlan crooks. Meanwhile Avery Markham mourned over the body of Katherine Hale as she lay on a cold slab in the morgue. This may have been Sam Elliott’s best work this season. He is angry that she failed to listen to him when he promised Duffy’s head to his bride. Her bloodlust cost her her life.

We may not see Wynn Duffy anymore after this past episode. He gathered his effects and told Vasquez that he never wants to see Harlan again. Vasquez pushes him on the Simon Poole murder, but Duffy maintained he didn’t know who whacked him. Duffy’s last scene had him paying for a new vehicle, a mobile pet grooming van, with Hale’s diamond bracelet. The lady aiding him in getting this new ride must be with the FBI or similar group. Duffy is just going to continue hanging around criminal elements and snitching when called upon. That’s my guess anyway.

Boon made short work of Loretta’s so called bodyguard. He went for the headshot but missed the head and just let the guy suffer there wounded until Markham showed up to end the poor bastard’s life. The fact that he missed his target says he is not the marksman Raylan Givens is….not as fast either, don’t worry.

Vasquez flips out when he figures out the rest of the Marshals are trying to avoid making Raylan look like a fugitive. He is looking for an indictment even though he has basically nothing to prove Givens had anything to do with the money being stolen. While Vasquez is pitching a fit, Constable Bob brings back “The Gremlin” to track down Raylan, who clearly needs Bob’s help. This vehicle is a perfect match for this character and I was glad to see the cover taken off for one last ride. Sure Bob ended up getting shot by Boyd and distracting Raylan in his duties, but hey it was good to see him back in action.

justified collateral recap images 612 2015

Boyd had one of his better rants as he was about to dispose of his civilian truck owner. Boyd Crowder has had some epic lines and he still has some in the hole for the finale I’m sure. But what he told the regular Joe summed up his character perfectly. Boyd basically clowned the average person’s life, with their shitty trucks, shitty houses, and mundane rule following existence.  Boyd worked himself up into a frenzy, saying “My life is my own! I”M AN OUTLAW!.” The rant ended with the everyman’s brains splattered in the cab of his shitty little truck.

Raylan and Boyd had their next to last showdown. This time in the fog on a hillside. There was never much danger of either man being killed, what with the finale set for next week. They did have some nice exchanges, gunfire and verbal darts alike. Boyd can’t understand why Raylan wants to kill him so bad. This from a man who just killed an innocent civilian who posed no threat to him at all. Boyd eventually escaped when Raylan was taken off task by Bob’s screaming. The Marshal ended up rescuing Bob and dropping him off at the hospital. That resulted in his probable arrest as two officers had the drop on him there.

Bad news for Ava. She got captured by some police officers also. They were of the dirty variety however, working for Markham. She has some of his money, but has stashed the rest of it somewhere on that mountain. She will be in a tight spot next week with Avery Markham still reeling from the death of his woman and even more pissed about his money she has taken. Loretta saved herself by making a great case for why Markham could benefit from her as a partner of sorts.

Zachariah proved his ineptness once again by missing Boyd through the door with his shotgun. How the hell do you miss with buckshot? Well Boyd shot him once the old miner left the safety of the cabin. Zachariah had one more chance to kill the hated Crowder with his suicide bomber vest filled with dynamite. That was a great plan, but poorly executed. He needed Boyd to know he had him, which of course gave Crowder the chance to move away somewhat safely. If you gonna kill somebody, kill em. Monologuing just gets yourself killed. See the ‘Incredibles.’

justifed collateral 612 images 2015

Even though this season went the long way around to get to the finale, I think it could pay off. Markham has Ava who must be saved by Raylan…or maybe even Boyd. And who is going to end up with that $10 million? The finale is never as good as the series as a whole, but fans expect it to be. It’s no easy thing to wrap a popular series up in a way that is both fitting and pleasing to the audience. The problem with the very last show is our own expectations. We want certain things to happen and when that doesn’t materialize we feel cheated. The best way to watch a finale is to just go along for the ride without placing your own plot in the mix.

Tomas Berdych: An Underachiever With Plenty Of Promise

Shane Lambert
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Tomas Berdych: An Underachiever With Plenty Of Promise

tomas berdych serving underachiever tennis 2015

Tomas Berdych, the Czech Republic’s top player for a number of years now, is the World No. 7 after the rankings updated this week. While that ranking would be enough to satisfy most players on tour, Berdych feels that his career is “still missing some trophies.” Not surprisingly, when you look back at the past year of results for the Czech player you find only one title despite his high ranking. Unfortunately, it is hard to picture much of a brighter future for Berdych when one speculates on what is yet to come.

The Czech No. 1 has underachieved in the late rounds of tournaments for much of his career and the last year has been no exception. The only active title that the Czech player currently holds is from a 250-level event in Stockholm – not exactly the most prestigious event on tour. However the result from Stockholm was more the exception than the rule – normally Berdych loses when playing in finals as attested to by his record in championship matches over the last 52 weeks.

Currently Berdych is just 1-4 in the finals that he’s contested in the last year with losses in Oeiras, Doha, Beijing, and Rotterdam. It seems that the 6’5″ long-time top tenner, affectionately known as The Birdman, does not have the energy late in tournaments that he has in the earlier rounds, a characteristic that is common to many of the taller players on tour.

tomas berdych future for 2015 tennis

With that in mind, when looking ahead it is hard to picture the Czech No. 1 picking up any elusive titles of significant prestige. To date, Berdych has only claimed one Masters Series title, that coming from Paris in 2005. Furthermore, The Birdman has a weak record against the top players on tour – players that he would likely need to beat to claim any prestigious titles in the months ahead.

Let’s take a look at how Berdych has done against some of those rivals.

For starters, he is just 4-18 overall against Rafael Nadal, one of the Czech’s major nemeses. The Spaniard has blocked Berdych in numerous important events, including in the final of Wimbledon
2010.

Conversely, Berdych has enjoyed some success against Andy Murray, however none of the Czech’s six wins over the Scot have come in a semifinal or later. That means that, even when Berdych has defeated Murray, the current World No. 7 has still had to deal with other late round obstacles.

Berdych has also enjoyed a little bit of success against Roger Federer. The Czech star is 6-13 against the Swiss Maestro, not a bad tally against the player considered to be the best ever. However in championship finals, it has always been Federer who has owned the podium. He defeated Berdych, most noteably, in the championship match of the blue clay fiasco, otherwise known as the 2012 Madrid Masters.

But even if Berdych were to solve Murray consistently in the year ahead and even if Federer were to just flat out retire then Berdych’s major nemesis would still remain: Novak Djokovic.

Berdych has only found a way to solve the Serb in two of their twenty matches to date, sad commentary for those hoping to see the Czech claim major titles in the year ahead. It is worth noting that one of Berdych’s victories over Djokovic was in the biggest match the two players contested against one another, the 2010 Wimbledon semifinals. However it is worth counter-noting that Djokovic had not yet ascended to his very-very best tennis when he and Berdych met at the All England Club.

Another major obstacle, besides Nadal, Murray, Federer, and Djokovic, that the Czech star will have to deal with as his playing years dwindle is the remaining field of players. Younger stars like Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov, and maybe even David Goffin appear to be more talented than Berdych. Raonic and Nishikori, as examples, already outrank Berdych – when the other younger players emerge the Czech player will have all the more obstacles to clear if he is to win a Masters Series title or Grand Slam.

Personally, I think that those prestigious titles are all but out of reach now for Berdych now. I would look for the Czech to continue to work hard toward his goals. Accordingly, he should continue to pull off occasional upsets in the quarters of big tournaments here and there.

However don’t expect the Czech star to claim another Masters Series event and don’t expect to see him in the final of a Grand Slam. He has rarely had the energy in the late stages of the big tournaments and the 2015 Australian Open is a case in point.

Will 5G Make Our Lives Better or Busier?

Marius Manuella
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Will 5G Make Our Lives Better or Busier?

5g making lives better and busier 2015 tech

Remember that old Nokia commercial of one of their phones with a front cam? Some guy was walking at a mall when his phone rings so he scrambles through the mall looking for something which turns out to be a bed on display. He lies on the bed pretending to be sick and then accepts the call from his boss. If Wi-Fi and high speed 4G were available everywhere, that would practically be a reality. For professionals, there would really be no escaping from work. Imagine the scenario if something better than 4G were available such as 5G.

First, what is 5G? Presumably something better than 4G. 5G is not yet available but is already on the horizon. Last October 2014, Samsung successfully tested 5G and set a record speed of 7.5Gb/s. That’s fast enough to download a full-length movie in one second. Sounds good? We’ll just have to wait a while until worldwide infrastructure has been upgraded to handle 5G, perhaps 2020 or sooner. Sooner or later we’d eventually get past 4G, but 5G is actually partially a preparation for the upcoming internet of things. Freezers, toasters, thermostats, microwave ovens, CCTVs, drones and driverless cars connected to the internet. Basically anything with electronics, and that’s a lot of bandwidth sucking little devices that do nothing but monitor or be monitored will need to share all that bandwidth with millions of computers, tablets and smartphones. Also, in order to support such a multitude of devices, to ensure that driverless car and plane navigation remains safe, 5G is designed to be many times reliable than 4G. So reliable that it wouldn’t drop.

5g technology breakdown chart 2015

Now that that’s out of the way, it’s a bit hard not to get excited since today’s current internet standards are pathetic compared to what’s about to come. Some third world countries still count their committed rate 3G bandwidth below 200kbps on a good day just enough for a partially buffered YouTube clip. US customers in major cities have it at 20 to 25Mbps enough to enjoy Netflix. Television and mass media will be transformed on the advent of 5G and we might probably give up traditional television soon after that. Movies could be streamed directly from their studios to theaters to prevent piracy and finally, every mobile phone would have something similar to Apple’s Facetime, without any lag. True audio/video calling because the bandwidth can finally handle it.

With unbroken communication, information flows faster. We can do more and more things at once. Tasks that used to take us thirty minutes could last just ten minutes or less such as ordering take out, buying from Amazon, booking a flight, and sending email with a ton of attachments. Very busy days are ahead for the average pencil pusher/keyboard tapper.

Also, with enough information flowing through fast and unbroken channels, anyone could know what to do with regards to their respective jobs. People could be more efficient. Travel will be faster, shipments could get to their destinations quicker and we’ll have more and more transactions to handle. Let’s say a travel agency could book a hundred flights a day. With faster internet access, they could triple that amount and as revenue grows, they could get more agents allowing them to book more travelers. For every internet-dependent company that grows, the potential for more jobs increases. The economy grows. Faster internet through 5G would make our lives better from an economic standpoint.

5g technology wireless coming 2015

For the average office worker however, life could only get busier, not easier unless they have a task quota, because the faster things get done, the more work that flows in. It’s a never ending cycle even back when everyone used to actually push their pencils on parchment. With faster, unbroken communications, no longer can field workers use bad connections as excuses to take short breaks. No longer can workers feign sick breaks. Phones need to be answered much like the situation described in the first paragraph. Employees will always be within reach of the office unless there’s a clean cut rule against working after 5.

Except for more busy days at the office, driverless cars wouldn’t be a bad idea. Seeing what’s happening back home at the corner of your eye while tapping away at the office isn’t a bad idea either. Lagless HD video communication with loved ones on the far side of the world would be great and real-time HD console gaming would be a blast. Not to mention instant loading of social media websites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest would be insanely great.

If all they’re saying about 5G is true, then we should expect the world to become faster. Our jobs busier and our off-times somewhat better. Right now, we stress out at how slow the email comes in at the office and back home we look sleepy-eyed at the screen as our favorite website loads a bit slower than we’d like but enjoy it in the end. What I’m saying is, in the future with 5G, after a grueling day at the office, we can enjoy streaming lagless high definition movies, browse our favorite websites quickly or play lagless games with some guy from Korea. Our lives will both be busier and better. It’s a balance, because karma’s a bi@#(h.

La’el Collins 2015 NFL Draft Stock

Chris Maurice
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La’el Collins 2015 NFL Draft Stock

La'El Collins big nfl draft pick 2015 images

For the past few seasons, La’el Collins has been the most reliable lineman on the LSU Tigers. Now, after three years with the Tigers, Collins is looking to make the jump to the NFL.

Collins started 13 games for the Tigers in 2012, earning an honorable All-SEC selection as a left guard. In 2013, Collins had the best season of his career as a left tackle for quarterback Zach Mettenberger. With huge games against other SEC teams like Texas A&M and Florida, Collins really made a name for himself. He was also a huge part of Jeremy Hill’s fantastic performance on the ground that season.

During his senior season this past year, Collins seemed to struggle a bit. He seemed to lack the motivation to continue playing for the Tigers, and then on top of that he was bothered by an ankle injury for most of the season. Collins did well against Bud Dupree of the Kentucky Wildcats, but he was less than spectacular against Dante Fowler Jr of the Florida Gators. Collins didn’t give the Gator’s edge rusher a sack and was able to move him around to open up some rushing lanes; however, he also got away with holding a few times and was called for a facemask penalty after ripping off Fowler’s helmet.

lael collins top lsu tigers nfl draft 2015

Clearly Collins has the athleticism and agility to be a solid offensive lineman in pass protection. Collins’ big shortcomings come in the run game. He wasn’t able to generate a lot of movement on the ground this past season, and he didn’t have good technique or overall style. Collins will be placed against much better, faster speed rushers next season in the NFL; but he hasn’t shown the ability to bend his knees and handles these more athletic rushers.

For every weakness, Collins brings twice as many strengths to the table. At 6’4, 305 pounds, he is obviously the right size for the job. He has very strong hands, and has no problem controlling defenders he engages with. He plays mean, and he’s been able to intimidate and move big linemen his whole time at LSU.

Collins is the kind of player that will come back tougher after getting beat on a play, and that’s exactly what teams are looking for in a lineman. Some teams were tempted to brush him aside as a 2nd round pick at the guard position, but without a strong ability in the run game he really wouldn’t work well as an interior lineman on Sundays.

At the end of the day, Collins would do best in the NFL as a tackle opposite his quarterbacks blindside. He had a lot of success in the extremely competitive SEC West, but he isn’t quite ready to be a left guard in the big leagues.

NFL mock drafts have La’el Collins going as early as 8th overall to the Atlanta Falcons; however, he will more than likely drop out of the top 10. Collins would fit in best with the Cleveland Browns at 12th overall. The Browns are still having quarterback issues, so they would be smart to bring in some form of consistent leadership and toughness on the offensive line.

Collins’ only real competition in the 2015 NFL Draft is Ereck Flowers from Miami. It’s a tossup between Flowers and Collins; however, just based on strength of schedule and who each one had to play against, Collins seems to be more NFL-ready than any other tackle in the draft.

No matter where he lands, La’el Collins will be a solid NFL starter come September. With the help of his veteran teammates, Collins should have no problem improving his technique enough to become one of the more consistent lineman in the NFL.

2015 NFL Draft: Surviving the Family Moochers Playbook

Shane Mclendon
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2015 NFL Draft: Surviving the Family Moochers Playbook

A recent book by former NFLer Phillip Buchanon outlined the problem faced by many pro athletes; that being relatives with their hands out. These moochers are a bigger concern for many players than learning the playbook. Some family members feel like they are owed some cash simply because of the random fact that they share the same family tree with a guy who has made it to the NFL. These leeches are some of the worst folks imaginable, and many times have, at best, loose ties to said player. Buchanon recounted how his “dear mother” wanted him to pay her one million dollars as soon as he was drafted back in 2002. She felt she was owed it for raising him!

You can check out the book here as it’s certainly a must for anyone knowing they’re about to come into money whether you’re a pro baller or not. Family will always say you have to take of your family when you’re the one with all the money, but when you are needing, many times, they aren’t as good at giving as they are at taking.

Below are a few very interesting excerpts from Buchanon’s book, New Money: Staying Rich (via FoxSports.com)

Soon after the draft, she told me that I owed her a million dollars for raising me for the past 18 years. Well, that was news to me. If my mother taught me anything, it’s that this is the most desperate demand that a parent can make on a child. The covenant of having a child is simply that you give your child everything possible, and they owe you nothing beyond a normal amount of love and respect. There is no financial arrangement. If you get old and infirm, and your kids are around to help you out at that point, then you’re lucky. It’s not written in the social contract. The mothers and fathers of the world have been rearing their kids for generations — in every culture imaginable — and it’s a one-way street when it comes to money. If they pay you back someday, and you really are going through hard times, then that’s just a bonus, a gratuity for being a great mother or father.

According to Buchanon, his mom had joked about the $1 million payment before, but she never sounded serious about it until after the Raiders drafted him out of the University of Miami.

My mother had said my debt to her was a million dollars before, but this time she was more serious than ever. If you do the math, one million dollars divided by 18 years of raising me was approximately $55,555.55 a year in restitution. Except, at age 17 I decided to move out of my mom’s house, choosing to live with a close friend and his father because I no longer felt secure in my own home. Why, you ask? Because my mother let people come in and out of our house and take what they wanted. So technically, even if we went by her logic, I only owed her $944,444.44 for her services over 17 years.

Is it petty that I’m knocking a year off her calculation? The fact that I have written this paragraph enrages me, merely because I’m entertaining the thought that her argument had any logic at all.

In the end, Buchanon didn’t give his mom the million dollars, but he did end up buying her a house. However, that turned into a quite the big mess.

When I told my mother she would have to take care of the maintenance after I paid off the mortgage on her house, she told me she would not be able to afford the upkeep on a house that big. In fact, she made it seem like it was my fault for picking out a house that big. In part, she was right. I bought her a house with my luxury taste and no real wisdom behind it. It was an uneducated purchase.

After realizing a big house probably wasn’t a good idea, Buchanon offered to buy his mom a smaller house. Only this time, Buchanon gave his mom a choice: I’ll buy you a house or give you $15,000 in cash.

I offered to buy her a comfortable house in my name for her to live in. This way she wouldn’t have to take out any loans or put my little sister and brothers in a situation where the roof over their heads could be taken away. She’d move out of the house that was too big for her and into this new one. Instead, she opted for $15,000 cash. She told me that if the new house didn’t have space for two living room sets, she didn’t want it.

While I certainly respect what mothers do for us kids, I don’t think demanding a cool million even before the ink dried on a rookie deal is too classy to say the least. Buchanon told of many other relatives wanting money for various things, but never being satisfied and always coming back for more. Pro athletes with very little experience handling money have a hard enough time holding onto their money long term. They are good at wasting money on fancy cars and houses that many can’t afford once their short pro careers end. Mix in greedy family members with even less concern for blowing money that they didn’t earn, and it’s no wonder that so many NFLers end up with no money at all a few years after their playing days are over.

With the NFL draft just about two weeks away, there will be a whole new crop of players getting serious money. These guys, especially high profile first rounders, will have more money than they have ever had with the signing of their names. They need to know how to handle that money and that means getting some knowledge about how to fend off family and friends who put their hand out early and often. The NFL gives classes on how to handle money, but I feel like I can help as well. I hate to see young millionaires blow their money or have it blown for them by aunt Weezy or cousin Bernie. So here are ten things the 2015 NFL draftees need to watch for when they get a phone call or text from family and friends once they get that first big check.

phillip buchanon book on keeping money from family moochers 2015
  1. Seek out a trustworthy financial advisor. That doesn’t mean just any guy with a sign on his office saying he is a financial guru. Most people are terrible with money, not just NFL ballers. Without some direction, who could be able to do a good job with a million dollar deal, having never even seen $1000 at one time?
  2. Learn the word “no.” Powerful it is! Some hard headed relatives may need to hear it more than once. Use it often. If you say yes to any and all requests, you might as well go to work at a tire shop. That way no one will hound you for money and at the end of your working career you will have about the same left over in savings.
  3. People related to you do not get a free pass for never going to work. Unless they have some kind of disability that prevented them from working, it was a choice to not generate some income. You can’t be their savior. No amount would be enough to satisfy someone who knows not the value of a dollar. They would see $50,000 as a drop in the bucket to a pro athlete and would hound you forever once they saw you were willing to “pitch in.”
  4. If your uncle Fred has ran a garage for 40 years then he is probably not a bad guy to loan a few bucks to for his biz. Now if he is talking a $500K expansion a building that is worth maybe $50K, that is a no-no. Know the limits of your people. And if you do decide to loan folks money, only do so if you are willing to accept that it will never be paid back. Even the most well intentioned people sometimes fail to pay loans back.
  5. A shady ex-girlfriend who was shady when you were poor is not going to improve once you get a check with six or seven digits. Hooking up with her right before the draft in a drunken haze may be a good way to start child support payments to this loon nine months later. You’ll have plenty of chances with groupies to make this big mistake. A vasectomy may be the best investment a pro football player can make. There is no joke in that statement at all.
  6. If you have a friend or uncle that has been in jail twelve times since you have been alive, it’s a good bet they like the accommodations and will be visiting again soon. Any money given to them will never be used properly and you would be better off to simply set that cash on fire. It would do less harm that way.
  7. If you can’t stop yourself from helping out a family member in need of a better car or fixing up their heating and AC unit that is OK. You just can’t do it endlessly and better yet you need to take control of the billing and pay the company directly. If they are offended by this then they are welcome to use their own money. Once they asked for your help, then you have a direct say in how the money is used or distributed.
  8. Shady family members may not ask for a handout at all. They may just want you to invest in some “great real estate.” Many a pro athlete has bought into a no lose investment only to lose every dollar they put into the hairbrain scheme. The money you will make in the League will not last forever. Players like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are the outliers with careers longer than most presidents. Many NFLers are lucky to get five years worth of game checks.
  9. Once you hear the phrase, “you forgot where you come from”, you know a friend or cousin is trying to guilt you into handing them them cash for some doomed small business they have in mind. As an NFL player, you need to forget where you came from partially. If not, you will end up right back there as a has-been. It’s cool to give back to your hometown in some ways, but you are not Bill Gates. You may be making more money than anyone in your little hometown, but that doesn’t mean you need to fund “Lenny’s Car Wash” which is being run by a buddy that has never worked a real job in his life.
  10. If your mom or dad says you owe them for anything they did for you as a kid, ie. raising you, they actually have a point. The fact they they provided for you, if that is truly the case, means that they helped you get to where you are. If without them, you would never had made it to the NFL, then handing them some cash is not unreasonable. However, if they have to use this point about raising you, then they are probably not the best people ever. So treat it like a negotiation. Don’t be an ATM or do something stupid like give them half your signing bonus. Buy them a reasonable house, paid for in cash so if they screw up and take a loan on it leading to them losing the place, then that is on them. If you never put a limit on your parents, and they are the mooching type, they will break you.

Celebrity Gossip Roundup: Nelly Gets Molly Busted & Gwyneth Paltrow Sucks At Poverty

The Curvy Girl Diva
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Celebrity Gossip Roundup: Nelly Gets Molly Busted & Gwyneth Paltrow Sucks At Poverty

celebrity gossip nelly tina knowles gwyneth paltrow images 2015

Today in celebrity gossip, we have happy celebrations and a possible Molly incarceration. Nelly got arrested, Tamar Braxton is sued again, Beyonces mom tries love again and Gwyneth Paltrow show why we just don’t really care for her.

nelly arrested with meth guns pot in drug charges 2015 gossip

Nelly Arrested on Drug Charges

It is definitely getting hot up in here for rapper Nelly who was arrested in Putnam County Tennessee for possession of drugs.

“Nelly was one of several individuals that was on a tour bus that was stopped and searched while traveling through Tennessee,” Nelly’s attorney Scott Rosenblum.

Over the weekend, his coach bus was pulled over for “not displaying the property stickers” and when the state trooper smelled weed coming from the inside, let’s just say he could be going down, down baby.

Nelly was put in hand cuffs and subsequently charged with felony possession of drugs, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Damn!

His lawyer went on further to say that during the search, small quantities of MDMA or Molly as it is popularly know in the hip hop culture, a was found.  But have no fear, because he is sure Nelly had nothing to do with it.

“We are extremely confident that when the facts come out, Nelly will not be associated with the contraband that was allegedly discovered,“ Rosenblum said in a statement.

Of the six people on the bus, only Nelly and a man named Brian Jones was arrested. The rapper has since posted bail and has a court date for June 19th.

tamar braxton and husband sued by nanny 2015 gossip

Tamar Braxton Sued… AGAIN!

It just doesn’t seem to stop for the songstress. She has been in the news lately for everything from being bullied to owing over $3 million in taxes and now, Tamar Braxton is in the headlines for yet another money related offense.

Braxton and her husband Vince Hubert are being sued by a former nanny for $161, 000 in unpaid wages according to legal documents filed on behalf of the nanny by a Los Angeles based law firm.

The woman, who remains nameless for now, claims that she was to be paid a weekly amount of $1,500 from April 2014-September 2014 while Tamar embarked on her Love & War tour. Somehow, those wages along with over time fees and “additional incidentals” amount to almost $200,000. She further says that Tamar and Vince refused to give her a contract that clearly outline the terms of her “employment” and didn’t want to pay her on the books.

Come on famous people. Why do you have to be so stingy with your money? You know you gots lots of it and you know you have to pay. You just put yourself in these situations for people to sue you for hug sums when you don’t take care of your shit. Get it together already!

tina knowles married richard lawson 2015 gossip

Tina Knowles Gets Hitched

Who said love is only for the young? In happy news, Tina Knowles, mother to famed singers Beyoncé and Solonge, is once again a married woman. The 61-year-old (who looks amazing by the way) married 67-year-old actor Richard Lawson Sunday evening on a yacht in the harbor of Newport Beach, CA.

Everyone wore all white on the 300 passenger capacity ship and it was as beautiful and breathtaking as the bride herself. Of course Jay Z, Beyoncé and other notable folks were there. Tina wore a Romona Keveza dress that left her looking flawless.

This is the second marriage for both Tina and Richard and it warms my heart for a couple of reasons. First of all, they found love and they didn’t hesitate to move on it. Some people don’t see the point of getting married in their 60’s almost 70’s but these two didn’t care. Secondly, the fact that Tina didn’t opt for a man several years younger speaks volumes. She went with someone that makes her feel good, that has his own and that is about something, a great example of what to strive for when choosing a mate.

We can learn a lot from this diva. Congratulations to them both.

gwyneth paltrow takes snap poverty challenge and fails 2015 gossip

Gwyneth Paltrow Accepts the SNAP Challenge Lives on $29 in Food Stamps

In an effort to, I don’t know, bring awareness to the “struggle” that families on food stamps have to endure, actress Gwyneth Paltrow posted a picture on her twitter account of the amount of food she was able to buy with only $29 in food stamps. This figure is supposedly the average amount families are allotted who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Now, while I appreciate the gesture that she and other celebrities try to make in bringing “awareness” to an issue they feel needs attention, but I think that their experiment is incomplete and to be truthful, pretentious.

First of all, I grew up in not the best of circumstances and I know that my momma received way more than $29 a week for my two brothers and me. That was the 90’s. Also, I know people with children personally who get more like $29 a day. I’m just saying.

While her experiment might be the case for a small portion of SNAP benefit recipients, the larger segment of those who receive food stamps get hundreds of dollars more a month than what $29 a week adds up to.

And why is she and other notable people even doing this in the first place? Of all the things to bring awareness to, SNAP benefits should not be at the top of the list. How about she and her friends use their money and influence to clean up skid row by putting homeless people, their families and their animals in safe, livable quarters. Now that… that shit is impressive. That shit is something noble and worthy. Not this affected “people need to get more assistance” bull shit her SNAP challenge tries to communicate.

Sigh…But I digress.

Top 10 Most Inspiring Celebrities

Julie Wein
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Top 10 Most Inspiring Celebrities

2015 most inspirational celebrities images

Some celebrities inspire us through their words and actions. They are in the position of power and many celebrities use this power to inspire their fans throughout the world. Here are the top 10 most inspiring celebrities. We have not put them in a specific order as when it comes to inspiring, inspiration comes in many different way, no one better than the other.

oprah winfrey most inspirational celebrities 2015

It is safe to say that not many celebrities have been as inspirational to a lifetime of fans as Oprah Winfrey has. From her humble beginnings as a local news broadcaster she rose through the ranks to eventually own her own production company. The money she has earned throughout her career made it possible for her to open a girl’s school in a third world country so that children who had no access to education could be taught the lessons school children throughout the rest of the world take for granted.

angelina jolie most inspirational celebrities 2015

Aside from having countless fans jealous of the life she leads, Angelina Jolie has made a huge impact in this world as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR. Together with husband Brad Pitt, Jolie has raised awareness of world issues that were previously given little attention.

ricky martin most inspirational celebrities 2015

More than just a Latin heartthrob, Ricky Martin has inspired fans all over the world through his self -named foundation that works to stop the practice of child trafficking. He also inspired many of his fans by coming out as gay and never shying away from the fact. Ricky Martin made it cool for other gay men to come out to their loved ones.

george clooney most inspirational celebrities 2015 images

Though he is one of Hollywood’s leading men, George Clooney cares about his fellow man and shows it by living life as a humanitarian. In 2010 Clooney inspired many people by organizing a telethon called Hope for Haiti. He recruited fellow celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Beyonce and even Madonna. Manning the phones during the telethon were celebrities such as Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts and Leonardo DiCaprio. At the end of the telethon $61 million had been raised, thanks to the hard work of George Clooney and so many others of Hollywood’s most elite celebrities. To date, no telethon held to aid in disaster relief has raised more money than Hope for Haiti did.

kate winslet most inspirational celebrities 2015 images

Kate Winslet won the hearts and the respect of female fans all over the world for her unwavering support of women being happy with the body they were given and taking pride in that body. In 2003, GQ published photos of Kate Winslet that had been altered to make her look thinner than she really was at the time. Winslet loudly protested this move by the magazine and that she didn’t want anyone thinking of her as a hypocrite. She even said she had no intention of ever being as thin as GQ made her look in her pictures.

ben affleck most inspirational celebrities 2015 images

Ben Affleck has also inspired people throughout the world by launching the Eastern Congo Initiative. Through this organization programs all over the country support victims of rape. The initiative was also started to restore the country to the state it was in before warfare destroyed much of it. Affleck said that he was inspired to start this initiative because he had met many people through his travels that he wanted to reach out to and help.

sandra bullock most inspirational celebrities 2015 images

Though Sandra Bullock has weathered a nasty divorce and survived much abuse from the press, she is still one of the emotionally strongest women in Hollywood today. Bullock has inspired people by keeping calm in the face of adversity and keeping her personal life as private as possible. Unlike many other celebrities, when Bullock adopted her son from another country, she did so quietly and did not use her status as a celebrity to speed up or publicize the adoption process.

michael j fox most inspirational celebrities 2015

Michael J. Fox made the nation fall in love with him by starring in Family Ties and the Back to the Future Trilogy. However, he became an inspiration to so many when he revealed to the world that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1998. Later that same year he went to speak to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee about Parkinson’s disease and made it a point not to take his medication before appearing in front of them as he wanted them to see the effect that this disease can have on an individual. In 2007 he made the Time magazine list of top 100 people in the world that have made a difference. The magazine recognized the work he has done for Parkinson’s.

bono most inspirational celebrities 2015

In 2006, legendary rock star Bono was given the title of Knight. Bono’s inspirational journey began in 1979 when he realized how beneficial Amnesty International is to those all over the world. Since then he has organized events such as concerts for Live 8, a fundraiser for those less fortunate. He has also embarked on a campaign to relieve third world countries of their debts. He now serves as the Product Red spokesman. Profits earned by Product Red are used to fight the AIDS virus in every country in the world, as well as to fight both malaria and tuberculosis. For his efforts he is a three time Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

christina applegate most inspirational celebrities 2015

Women all over the country have been inspired by Christina Applegate’s efforts to raise more awareness for breast cancer. She was raising awareness of the disease long before she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. After receiving a double mastectomy, a cancer free Applegate went on to found the Right Action for Women, an organization that helps women get screened for breast cancer and makes them more aware of the pitfalls any woman with a high risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer faces. The cause is near and dear to her heart as Applegate’s mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

These 10 celebrities have done their part to inspire people all over the world, whether they are fans or not. Each celebrity on this list has made a big difference in one way or another.

If you have a celebrity who inspires you and isn’t included in our list, let us know in the comments as to who and how they’ve touched your life.

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE Ep 706 Recap: Kandy Ho’s It Out & Merle’s Back

Julie Wein
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RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE Ep 706 Recap: Kandy Ho’s It Out & Merle’s Back

 

On this week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Kandy Ho said that now that Ru gave her another chance she is going to take advantage of that. Violet told the drag queens she would work on the way she was coming across to them. Miss Fame said that Pearl was creating toxic energy for the other drag queens.

RuPaul then announced that the mini challenge was going to involve wigs. The pit crew came in to help the drag queens with this challenge. They had to find points in the pit crew members’ underwear without finding the one with a monster in their underwear. The drag queens each picked a pit crew member and Ginger Minj was the one to win the mini challenge.

merle ginsburg with michelle visage rupauls drag race 2015

In teams of three the drag queens then had to dress up as the show’s judges and reenact the first two seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race for the maxi challenge. The three teams then split to start planning what they would do. They had to reenact the RUHollywood Story, concerning what happened to Merle Ginsberg after she appeared in the show’s first and second season.

rupauls amazing wig on drag race ep 6 2015

Ross Matthews was tasked with directing the reenactments the drag queens had to perform. He worked with each of the three teams to help them fine tune their performance. Miss Fame said she didn’t want RuPaul to be disappointed with her because she cares a lot about her success.

ginger shark attack on rupauls drag race runway 2015 ep 6

Death Becomes Her was this week’s look for the runway. Each drag queen had to portray themselves as someone who had been killed. While they were preparing, Jaidynn said that she had not yet officially come out to her family. Jaidynn said that his mother told him she was confident he would find a wife someday.

rupauls drag race max death becomes her runway 2015 ep 6

Ariana Grande was announced as this week’s guest judge for the runway show. Kennedy Davenport walked the runway in an outfit that made her look like a chicken. Max dressed as a jilted lover who cut out her own heart as her method of suicide. Kandy Ho walked the runway dressed as a sexy vampire. Miss Fame’s costume portrayed a woman who had been killed when her lover’s husband caught the pair.

violent crazy thin waist on rupauls drag race 2015

The three RuHollywood stories were then presented to the judges. Ginger Minj’s team (made up of her, Katya and Kennedy) won the challenge and Katya was named the winner of the runway competition. The judges then gave their critiques of the drag queen’s costumes. Ross Matthews told Pearl that she has finally woken up in this competition. He told Jaidynn that it was not good that she kept forgetting her lines during the maxi challenge. The drag queens were then dismissed so that the judges could privately discuss who impressed them and who didn’t.

RuPaul announced Max, Pearl, Miss Fame and Violet were safe. Kandy Ho and Jaidynn were told they were up for elimination. They then had to compete in the lip syncing of an Arianne Grande song to help RuPaul determine which one gets to stay and which one was being sent home. After their lip sync performances Ginger said it was a nail biter to the end because both drag queens were out for blood. RuPaul then announced that KandyHo was being sent home. Jaidynn looked visibly relieved that she had made the cut this week.

Below is the full uncut edition of RuPaul’s Drag Race Untucked: Ru Hollywood Stories to check out below:

GAME OF THRONES Ep 501 Recap: Mance Rayder Flames Out

Shane Mclendon
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GAME OF THRONES Ep 501 Recap: Mance Rayder Flames Out

game of thrones ep 501 wars to come recap images 2015

The best show on tv, Game of Thrones, got it crackin again last night with the episode called “The Wars To Come.” This one wasn’t full of action and didn’t hold any wild twists, but it was needed to neatly wrap up some plot points from last season. Tywin Lannister had to be mourned by the few that loved him, and his death secretly celebrated by those that hated and feared the man. Mance Rayder had to be dealt with after his capture last year as well. The man needed to swallow his pride, instead he ended up swallowing large doses of carbon monoxide.

young cersei visits witch on game of thrones 501 recap images 2015

The episode started out with a dark fairy tale like scene involving Cersei Lannister as a youngster. She was just as cruel back then as now, just more experienced in the present day. She threatened a witch with an eye gouging if she didn’t predict her future. The witch complied, telling her that she would marry the king, then laughed hysterically as she foretold all the horrors involving Cersei’s future children. The witch also mentioned how she would be replaced by a younger more beautiful queen eventually. That set the stage for Cersei being paranoid and hateful toward any female threat that popped up as she aged.

tywin dead with cersin game of thrones 2015

Tywin is an intimidating figure even as a dead man. “A force to be reckoned with” no more however. Dude is not very dangerous with stones on his cold dead eyes. Jaime tries to make Cersei see how they need to be a solid team since many will be coming for them now that the leader of the Lannister clan is laid out before them awaiting the memorial service. Cersei is more concerned with the “little monster” responsible for the murder. Her bitterness at Tyrion may be her undoing.

tyrion drunk falling out of box on game of thrones 2015

Tyrion had a rough boat ride as he escaped Westeros like a pet in a box with air holes. The ride was pretty unpleasant and he survived the trip by basically staying drunk the entire time. Not a good plan inside a small box on rough seas. He needed a yoga and vomit session to get himself straightened out once he and Varys landed.

The Unsullied are apparently in need of romance despite their lack of equipment. One warrior is seen visiting a brothel for some cuddling. I hope the spooning was worth it, as it cost him his throat. Some masked assassin took “White Rat’s” life as he lay with his favorite whore. This crime leads Daenerys to try and flush out the murders. It also leads to an awkward conversation between Grey Worm and Missandei. She intends on hooking up with the Unsullied leader and wants to know why one of his men would visit a whore. That’s a hint dude!

lena heady cersei walking queen on game of thrones 501 images

The humble hero Jon Snow is seen training at The Wall once again as Sam looks on lazily. Sam feels like he is ready for any combat now that he has killed one White Walker. Stannis wants Snow to convince Mance to kneel before him so the Wildlings will follow. The other option is to be burned alive. Stannis is indeed a “serious man” to quote Tyrion. Stannis intends on going after Roose Bolton (great news), but needs more men….in the form of the Wildlings.

Littlefinger and Sansa are seen leaving young Robin Arryn for training as they head out. Robin is the worst fighter in the known world and will likely end up dead from this sword school. Sansa and Littlefinger are heading for a land that will be safer according to Petyr. In this world, I can’t imagine such a place. They pass by Brienne as she contemplates where to go and what to do with her life since Ayra didn’t want her protection. Brienne feels like all the good masters are dead and only monsters left in their place.

Cersei was plenty irritable at the memorial for her father. After seeing her youngest boy Tommen, now king, panting after Margaery Tyrell when she merely touches his hand, Cersei looks like she could spit nails. Then she has to deal with her now religious cousin telling her how mercy and justice could come to her concerning the murder of Robert. This is the kid who gave Robert the tainted wine that slowed him enough so he was wounded by the wild boar. That started this entire battle for the Iron Throne. The kingdom was doing just fine with the fat drunk running things. Now it’s basically anarchy.

I can’t wait for the meeting between Dany and Tyrion. That is where this season is headed as Varys tells the shortest Lannister about a female leader that could bring peace to this world. One that “is stronger than Tommen (wouldn’t take much), but gentler than Stannis (most humans).” Put Tyrion and Varys on Team Targaryen and the odds go way up on her sitting on the Iron Throne. I’m all in on this alliance, though I know the more I love The Mother of Dragons, the more shaken I will be if she gets squashed like so many “good guys” before her.

The Dragon Queen is asked to re-open the fighting pits, but is opposed to it until her lover Daario makes a case for it. He tells her his “Gladiator-like” tale that may change her judgement. Dany visits her two chained dragons and sees their disposition has changed quite a bit since they have been left in the dark with no attention at all. They appear to be the equivalent to a chained junkyard dog that has received no love. Thier big brother dragon caused all the trouble and they got punished for it. The big black dragon, Drogon, hasn’t been seen in weeks and probably has left a pile of charred bones in his wake. Daenerys is afraid of her own dragons now. Not a positive development at all….just when I had made her the favorite to win the Throne.

mance rayder burned at stake on game of thrones 2015

Mance is too proud to bend the knee before Stannis of course, so he is sent to the stake to burn. He wishes Stannis good fortune in the wars to come. This man was a true warrior. Stannis admires this decision, but has to do what is necessary. His nutjob wife smiles with glee as the king of the Wildlings is set ablaze by Melisandre. Jon Snow hates the decision so he takes action with no regard for himself as he ends Mance’s suffering with an arrow to the heart. A move that is “stronger than Tommen, but gentler than Stannis.” Snow has what it takes to sit on the Iron Throne. Whether that ever comes to fruition remains to be seen. He may be too kind to do what is necessary to rule.

john snow kills burning man on game of thrones 501 2015

This episode set the stage for the season. Stannis is going to go after Roose Bolton at Winterfell. The Lannisters are vulnerable now that Tywin is gone. The best plot involves Varys and Tyrion hooking up with Dany…..not in a freaky way, but as advisers to the Dragon Queen. Though Tyrion may make a lustful move or two. Tyrion needs to get over his guilt about killing his own father. The guy hated the “half man” anyway, but this just shows us how good a person Tyrion really is. Varys will have to keep him out of the bottle long enough to be of real help to Daenerys. That may be the biggest battle of the season.

What’s Even Newer In Windows 10

Marius Manuella
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What’s Even Newer In Windows 10

newer things in windows 10 tech 2015newer things in windows 10 tech 2015

So what’s new with Windows 10? It’s a bit awkward since Windows 10 isn’t officially out yet. Not for long though since Microsoft announced that it’s pushing for an earlier release this summer. But those of us curious and excited about Microsoft’s new operating system would appreciate any good news about it. Build releases are basically speeding up as summer approaches with one cool feature after another. This will happen for both desktop and mobile. Microsoft is also very confident that Windows 10 will gain ground because of its free upgrade program that a core update is already in the works and that the free upgrade will put Microsoft back in the good graces of a certain Asian country as well as with genuine-challenged users.

Whether or not you’re trying on the Technical Preview, you’d be interested to know that build 10051 just came out with cool universal mail and calendar apps along with other internal improvements. Build 10051 was just a couple of weeks away from build 10049 which included Windows 10’s much anticipated browser, Project Spartan. Project Spartan has so far delivered on its promises of simplicity, a web annotation feature and a great reading mode. In build 10051, Spartan gives the option of directing a faulty site to IE11.

windows 10 universal mail calendar apps 2015

With build 10049, Windows 10’s other cool feature, Windows Hello for biometrics security just made its presence known but is not yet functional.  Windows Hello will make use of existing and future fingerprint scanning devices to log in or unlock Windows devices. Windows Hello, when fully functional will also make use of facial recognition and iris recognition through special cameras with Intel’s RealSense technology. Another cool update of the build is the new calculator which has three types of interfaces including standard, scientific and programmer. The new calculator also includes various conversion functions. Also, 10049 also improved on network settings access by putting it back on the system tray.

An upcoming build, which is 10056 will feature a resizable Start Menu and a new 3D Recycle Bin icon to replace the lackluster 10049 version.

windows 10 mobile spartan browser 2015

For the mobile arena, Microsoft just released its second build for mobile which also includes the Spartan Browser along with the new Outlook Mail and Calendar apps. The Office Mobile Hub was removed to make way for separate One Note, Excel, Word and Powerpoint universal apps. Windows 10 mobile will also support the ARM platform but only on future releases as per Microsoft’s One Windows program which includes small devices such as the Raspberry Pi and embedded devices in anticipation of the upcoming age of Internet of Things. The new mobile build however won’t support some models such as the Lumia 930 and the Lumia Icon due to scaling issues.

windows redstone work 2015

Another new development for Windows 10 is their announcement of a new update codenamed Redstone scheduled for release in 2016. Redstone, which will also be delivered via Windows Update comes with changes to the Windows 10 core, essentially making Redstone into a Windows 10.1 or service pack 1. This seems to be a premature announcement on part of Microsoft. Windows 10 isn’t out yet and now Windows 10.1 is in the works. It’s as if Microsoft is Osbourning itself. But unlike the term’s origin, the upgrade will be free and inevitable. Windows 10 will work well on its own until Redstone. Redstone will basically include any feature or functionality that will not make it on this summer’s release as well as support for other devices Windows 10 plans to handle. There’s not much specific info on what’s inside Redstone but it’s considered as a major update. Redstone by the way is fictional mineral from the game Minecraft for use in building machines.

Remember when China banned Windows 8 from its computers? It wasn’t because they didn’t like Metro but because cyber relations soured amidst back and forth hacking accusations. But last March 17 at WinHEC, Microsoft announced a deal with Lenovo and Xiaomi to install Windows 10 in some smartphone models. It goes to say that as political problems go, they’re often very temporary. Speaking of China and the Windows 8 ban, the Windows 10 update is bound to trump the Windows 8 ban. Chinese users, both licensed and pirated will still get a Windows 8-esque experience.

As summer approaches, Microsoft will be speeding up its updates, filling in improvement orders from people who contribute to the Windows Insider Program. So far, Windows 10 is off to a good start, with a few bugs here and there (because it’s unfinished). If you haven’t used it yet, want to try it out or disenfranchised by Windows 8, set aside an old PC with decent specs or install it in a virtual machine. To try out Windows 10, join the Insider’s program. Download the latest build. Your suggestion might be crucial enough to make it this summer or get built into Redstone. Windows 10 is set to be released this summer 2015 as early as June.

Has Google Left Their Morals Behind?

David Silvester
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Has Google Left Their Morals Behind?

google manipulating search data 2015

When Google was originally created by Larry Paige and Sergey Brin in March 1998 they had no idea what the company would become but they most definitely did have a vision. Back then their vision was to systematically index the World Wide Web in the most efficient way possible.

The idea that Larry and Sergey came up with was originally known as Backrub and involved the ranking of various Internet pages based on the other pages that linked to them. The idea behind this was simple – if lots of pages linked to one particular page then that page must have valuable information available and so it would be ranked higher than others.

It would be fair to say that this idea, combined with an unparalleled amount of mathematical genius really took off and is what ultimately led Google to become the search giant that it is today.

The company have always had very high values and maintained that everything they have done is for the direct benefit of the end user and there real vision involves the fair and impartial indexing of the world’s Internet to provide the most accurate results to the end user for any query that they may type in.

Warped results for financial gain

These morals have recently come into question when Google were officially accused of warping the results for their own financial gain.

In fact there have been many companies making these accusations against Google for quite a few years but only recently did the FTC get involved which really gave credit to the accusations.

Over a 19 month review by the FTC they produced a report that detailed their findings and confirmed that Google had in fact deployed anti-competitive strategies for their own financial gain.

ftc reveals google manipulated search data morals 2015

Promoting their own services over others

One of the key findings of the report was the fact that Google had used its algorithm to rank its own services above others. Of course there wouldn’t necessarily be anything wrong with this if it was done naturally and within the parameters of the ranking algorithm in place at the time. Unfortunately this was not the case – it was found that Google had warped its own algorithm to ensure that it would come out above other competing service providers even though that would not normally have been the case had the algorithm been left alone.

Steeling Content

Another finding of the report confirmed that google had also been scraping information from competitors for its own use and inclusion within its search engine. Scraping is a term often used in an online content and describes the practice of procuring and downloading information from the Internet using automated means.

Google employed this scraping technology against Yelp amongst others in order to procure information for display within its search engine results effectively cutting the information owners out of the loop.

When Google were approached by companies whose information they had scraped, they were threatened with de-indexation from the search engines – in other words complete removal from the results which would have had even greater financial implications for the companies involved.

The Outcome of these investigations

The FTC confirmed that these practices did take place in their report although Google themselves insist that there was no demand for them to change any of the ranking algorithms and strategies that they deploy so they are effectively absconding themselves form any blame.

Google’s responsibility in Search

Some may argue that Google are a business like any other – they invested the search engine and they did not force anyone to use it – least of all the businesses that are ranked high up within the engine for which many of them reap great rewards. Looking at it from this stand point it’s easy to side with Google and assume that they are really doing nothing wrong – it is after all their software and surely they can do what they like with it.

The complication comes from the fact that Google hold a monopoly over search – they are by far the biggest contender when it comes to Internet search and therefor have a great power over results and over what the end user or the consumer sees when they browse the Internet.

With this great power also comes great responsibility – after all, Google can present whatever information they want to the end user so surely they have a responsibility to make sure that they are genuinely presenting the most useful information to that user rather than results that are tailored to their own gain.

Are Google moving away from search and into service provision?

The other very important element to all of this is that subtle move that Google seem to be making. Google have started to show more and more answers and direct information to the end user where they would traditionally only show search results.

A good example of this would be flight times – say for example you type this search query into Google:

Flight from Edinburgh to Glasgow

Most people might assume that this would return popular flight companies such as EasyJet or British Airways but actually Google simply display the information that the end user is likely searching for – times of flights.

On one level this may seem like an obvious step – it’s good for the user as they don’t need to click to see this information; it’s there for them as soon as they hit the search button.

However this move away from directory listings to information display means that Google are changing and more and more their motivation is going to be the display of those results by itself rather than listing the closet matching websites.

This may be financially beneficial for Google in the short term but it could lead to their demise in the long term and perhaps it could be the undoing of Google.

Perhaps as Google become more and more obsessed with presenting information direct to the end user there will be another new and more efficient search engine that stays true to its name and begins producing far better results than Google. Only time will tell.

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