Real Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich: Benzema score the only goal in 19th minutes to secured them hope for going to the final if they hold on tight in away match next week against Bayern Muich

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

Date: Wednesday, 23rd April
Kick off: 19:45

Venue: Santiago Bernabéu

Key events
Real Madrid Goal
Benzema 19'

Close Match details

Real Madrid will take a narrow lead to Germany for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final thanks to a first-half goal from Karim Benzema.
Benzema scored against the run of play as Madrid extended their unbeaten home record in the competition to 18 games.

No side has successfully defended the Champions League title and Bayern have work to do to end that record after failing to threaten an away goal.
Pep Guardiola's side had most of the ball but Real spurned several chances.

Cristiano Ronaldo was among those who missed potentially vital opportunities for Real, who had lost four of their five previous semi-finals against Bayern, after returning from injury.

Gareth Bale was only fit enough to start on the bench following a bout of flu. And he had to watch Bayern dominate the first half to such an extent they had 80% of possession.

Yet for all that, the best chances came Real's way and they could have virtually put the tie to bed before the break had they been more clinical in front of goal.

Not that there was any lack of cutting edge in the way they opened up Bayern to take the lead.

The visitors might have thought they were about to take the lead when Toni Kroos met Mario Mandzukic's downward header with a goalbound volley. But Pepe got in the way to make the block and Real broke away with devastating effect as Ronaldo released Fabio Coentrao with perfect pass.

His low cross was perfect for Benzema to side-foot home his 24th-goal of the season and 17th in Champions League games for Real, during which time the Spaniards have never lost.

Benzema then turned provider as Bayern were caught out again on the break but Ronaldo failed to keep his effort down from 15 yards.

Bayern's defending was alarming at times and when Isco's deep cross eluded everyone just before the break, Angel Di Maria should have punished them again but volleyed wastefully over the top from the corner of the six-yard box.

The second half started in similar vein with Bayern seeing almost all of the ball but Ronaldo getting a sight of goal with an angled shot which was saved by Manuel Neuer.

The Portuguese, who had missed the previous four games with a hamstring injury, tested Neuer again from a rare Madrid attack before making way for Bale with 17 minutes remaining.

Bale's last game had seen him score Madrid's stunning winner in the Copa Del Rey and the Wales international helped give his side some late attacking threat.

But Bayern came closest to scoring with six minutes to go when Mario Gotze was picked out by Thomas Muller. The substitute had only Iker Casillas to beat from eight yards out but could not find a way past the Madrid captain, who made a fine save diving to his right.

Muller then claimed a late penalty when he went down as he was about to shoot but English referee Howard Webb waved away his appeal.

Madrid held on and must hope their missed chances do not prove costly as they hope to repeat their sole semi-final success over Bayern in 2000, which led to the eighth of their nine European titles.

The winners will play either Chelsea or Atletico Madrid, who drew their semi-final first leg 0-0, in the final in Lisbon on 24 May.
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Nollywood Stars Yvonne Nelson Dating Alex Ekubo?

YVONNE NELSON & ALEX EKUBO MIGHT BE SECRETLY DATING

The question whether Ghanaian born Nollywood actress, Yvonne Nelson, is actually dating handsome Nigerian model and actor, Alex Ekubo, becomes necessary as that is the hottest news item in her home country.

The question whether Ghanaian born Nollywood actress, Yvonne Nelson, is actually dating handsome Nigerian model and actor, Alex Ekubo, becomes necessary as that is the hottest news item in her home country.

According to a popular entertainment site in Ghana, the two may have been dating secretly for sometime now as Alex is always sneaking into the country, not only to shoot movies but to hang out with Yvonne.

The site also stated that the duo have been caught in several uncompromising situations when they thought they have had their tracks well covered.

This is how the site put it:

«You know they say women never learn, or maybe they like to be adventurous or try something new.

«It's becoming obvious that Yvonne Nelson has a thing for Nigerian guys. Even if it's just 'mouth' or pretense, the way she praises them kind of upset us a little bit but then again, it's her life, right.

«She's rumoured to have a taste for Nigerian celebrities, but is that a big deal?

«Well, Ghana's sexy actress, Yvonne Nelson, recently came out of a failed relationship with Nigeria's music star, Iyanya, and now appears to have a crush on yet another Nigerian celebrity, Alex Ekubo.

«The celebrated actress, who is currently shooting a movie in Nigeria, posted a movie set photo of herself and the handsome looking Nigerian actor, Alex Ekubo, in bed together.

«And those who are close to them say apart from being together on the movie set, they sure do have a thing going on for them as they hardly leave each other's side.

«Currently savouring what she termed as "secondary virginity" since her breakup with Iyanya a year ago, Yvonne wondered why she is still single whereas she finds herself in the hands of a handsome guy like Alex Ekubo.

« "In bed…onset…with this hotttttie @alexxekubo. Why am I still Single? #secondary virgin"! She captioned the photo in which they eyed and gelled together as a couple.

Marriage has been on Yvonne's mind for quite sometime now and it won't really be a bad idea if she and Alex get together.

Or what do you think?
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Are you tiered of "Stretch Marks?" Checkout 4 Easy Ways To Remove Stretch Marks Naturally

Get those amazing things out of the kitchen counter, they work wonders!

Stretch marks are unsightly and can lower a lady's self esteem but these simple home remedy helps make difference in little time.

1. Cocoa butter helps reduce stretch marks.

«2. Lemon juice also helps cure stretch marks. Apply lemon juice on the specific areas and leave it on for about 10 minutes, before you wash.

«3. Rubbing egg whites on affected areas also help in diminishing the stretch marks.

4. Lastly, use a good moisturizing cream on the affected areas every day. A dry skin might make them itchy and applying a moisturizing cream can help you get rid of the problem.
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About 50 people lost lives after terrorists launched attack in Gidan Aku community on the outskirts of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, in Northern Nigeria.

About 50 people lost their lives after terrorists launched a pre-dawn attack on Gidan Aku community on the outskirts of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, in Northern Nigeria.

The attack which occurred on between late Monday night and Tuesday morning left  about 50 persons dead and several others injured despite a the dusk to dawn curfew in place.

Witnesses say the attackers had sophisticated weapons and attacked while the residents were asleep.

Most of the community members had deserted the area for fear of further attacks even though a contingent of soldiers and anti-riot policemen has been drafted to return calm to the area.

Luka Agbu, a lawyer in the community, who spoke with Vanguard newspaper, said the gunmen shot sporadically and spared no one.

"[The] attackers were very hostile to us and did not spare even children or the aged," Agbu said.

He also lamaneted the failure of the secuirty forces to prevent the attack despite a dusk to dawn curfew in place.

"The attackers shot at people and burnt houses at the same time without any intervention by the security forces."

Umar said, "It has become imperative to appeal to all the warring factions to lay down their arms and embrace peace. We shall continue to work with all the communities and law enforcement agencies to restore peace to our state."

Meanwhile, Acting Governor of Taraba state, Alhaji Garba Umar, said relief materials have been sent to the affected community w

"We have concluded arrangements on how to visit the internally displaced persons and render immediate succour to them. That is why we have dispatched 28 trailers laden with relief materials to the affected LGAs," he said.

Alhaji Umar also revealed that the attackers came from a neighbouring state.

"Information available shows that the insurgents came from Nasarawa State and they camped at the Coast of River Benue close to Ibi," the acting governor said.

Umar also warned citizens of the state against politicising the unfortunate incident and assist the government in finding a lasting solution.

There are speculations that the gunmen involved in the Wukari attack were Fulani cattle rustlers, who had in the past engaged in clashes  with the  Jukun.

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Hollywood stars Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Wife Files For Divorce After 20years Of Marriage

Why can't celebrities stay in their marriages?

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife Sara files for separation after 20 years of marriage

Image2: Cuba Gooding Jr. and his sons

Fighting Temptations actor, Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife has filed for separation from the Oscar winner after 20 years of being married.

Gooding's wife, Sara Kapfer filed yesterday in L.A. County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences. She and Cuba were high school sweethearts and got married in 1994. They have 3 children, 2 of whom are minors.

According to the documents, child support will be determined later but Sara wants joint legal and physical custody.

What's funny is the fact that just last year, Cuba gushed about his wife on "The View," talking about how wonderful it is to be married to someone for so long.

Aww! So sad but why do celebrities divorce... all the time?
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GoPro Hero4 rumored to arrive this summer, will shoot 4K at 30 fps, slo-mo videos

The A9 system-on-chip from Ambarella, the source for rumors surrounding what's potentially the Hero4 from GoPro.

As far as the tech world goes, the Internet is one big rumor mill. There's hardly a company these days that can keep its new products a secret until the official announcement date. Now it seems that the maker of everyone's favorite action camera, GoPro, has fallen victim to an information leak: details about the allegedly upcoming GoPro Hero POV cam are circulating on the Net, which claims enhanced 4K video capture and a boost to specs. Based on the specs, the new camera may seem like a typical upgrade, but there's actually some significant tech here.

If one had to make a guess, this new camera would probably be called the Hero4. Reportedly, the GoPro Hero4 will record 4K video at 30 frames per second, and will be able to shoot Full HD 1080p video at frame rates of up to 120 fps. For true slow-motion video, the camera is said to support 720p HD video at 240 fps.

Now, you might be wondering what's so unique about the ability to record in 4K, since the current Black Edition of the Hero3/Hero3+ cams tout it as one of its feature. While the current cameras could technically handle 4K, it's more of a novelty and not particularly useful due to the 15-fps frame rate – not the smoothest video you'll see. According to reports, the Hero4 could possibly use the new A9 dual-core 1GHz system-on-chip component from Ambarella (which makes SOCs for GoPro) that would allow the camera to record 4K with faster frame rates, in the H.264 codec (it'd also handle the other aforementioned video resolutions). Ambarella has officially released A9 specs details, but from the looks of the new SOC, the board seems a bit large for a GoPro camera. It's speculated that Ambarella could use the A9′s design in a board made specifically for GoPro. (There's also the issue of how to handle large 4K files, but flash memory card makers like Toshiba are already on it.)

Further alleged specs of the Hero4 include a new 13-megapixel sensor and a new lens with better low-light capabilities, electronic image stabilization for shake-free video, an in-camera HDR mode with tone mapping, and remote viewfinder playback (which should come in handy if you'd like to see a live-view of what the camera records, but cannot look at its display due to the way the camera is mounted). As for connectivity, the Hero4 will have a USB and an HDMI port, as well as an integrated Wi-Fi module – things that are already in the current cams.

According to the report, the Hero4 will arrive some time this summer, and its retail price can be expected to be similar to that of its predecessors. Since we don't know where exactly this leaked information came from, we'll have to take it with a grain of salt until GoPro makes its official announcement (heck, who knows if Hero4 will be the final name). However, judging by the specs above, it seems entirely possible that this is what we're going to see in the next GoPro action camera.
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AOL Mail has been hacked, don’t open that iffy-looking email you got from an AOL account

If you've received any strange looking emails, you might want to refrain from touching them. AOL Mail has been compromised by hackers, and people are getting tainted emails, according to PCMag.

However, this isn't your run-of-the-mill case of hackers taking control of people's accounts and using them for nefarious purposes. The cyber criminals are employing a method called spoofing to fool people into opening these messages. 

Here's how AOL describes spoofing, according to this official blog post:

"Spoofing is when a spammer sends out emails using your email address in the From: field. The idea is to make it seem like the message is from you – in order to trick people into opening it."

AOL also says that the messages don't come from AOL, and do not make contact with AOL Mail's system, and are merely manipulated to make it seem like that to the recipient of the message.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to tell whether you're the target of a spoofing attempt. If you get any "mailer-daemon" error messages that don't match up with any emails you've sent out, that could be a sign that you're a target. You only get such messages if you attempt to send an email to an account that doesn't exist or is no longer active. Also, if you get emails from accounts which also indicate that you sent them messages you didn't write, you might be a target of spoofing.

To combat this threat, AOL recommends that you change your password, but considering that spoofing doesn't necessarily mean your account is compromised, we're not sure how doing so would help here. Overall, if you're Eagle-eyed, and follow the above tips you'll likely be able to avoid any spoofing-related headaches.
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It’s alive! W Motors’ 245-mph Lykan Hypersport makes some noise at Top Marques Monaco

The W Motors Lykan Hypersport is literally unbelievable.

After all, it's hard to believe that a 245-mph supercar from a Middle Eastern company no one's ever heard of exists as anything more than a headline and a mocked-up prototype.

Now, though, there's proof that the Lykan Hypersport is a car and not just a fantasy.

These videos show the Hypersport starting up and driving during its appearance at the 2014 Top Marques show in Monaco last week. It may not be storming a track at physics-defying speeds, but at least there'e evidence the car can move.



There's also the sound of that 3.7-liter turbocharged flat-six, which is as ferocious as the Hypersport's aggressive bodywork.

That engine was created with the help of legendary Porsche tuner Ruf, and reportedly produces 770 horsepower. That's enough for a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.8 seconds, and helps the Hypersport eclipse mainstream hypercars like the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder with a maximum velocity of 245 mph.

The Hypersport will also be rarer than any of those cars. Only seven will be made, although W Motors plans to build an entire factory in the United Arab Emriates to make them.

The price is as astounding as the performance: $3.4 million.

After that, W Motors has an even more extreme Supersport version planned, which would need at least 1,000 hp to truly outdo its predecessor.
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With this bracelet, you can flick your wrist to pay with Bitcoin

Sure, reaching for your wallet may be an involuntary movement for many of us, but there's also joy in knowing that we can pay for things without having to reach for it. You can now add Mevu's prototype bracelet wallet to the list of ways to do just that, but the bracelet does it in a very unique fashion.

The Bluetooth bracelet lets you pay in Bitcoin by using air gestures. For example, at the flick of your wrist, you can purchase a cup of coffee at a store or pay for parking. Unfortunately, that is its massive caveat: Bitcoin isn't widely accepted either online or at retail, making its use questionable. In addition, the bracelet uses point-of-sale technology, which is currently based on iOS. Apple hasn't been all that warm to Bitcoin wallets on the App Store, so you'll have to use software compatible with Android.

Even so, the most promising element of Mevu's bracelet isn't the product itself, but rather the platform that it's based on: Alive OS. It's an open-sourced platform, you can modify it anyway you like in order to take advantage of motion-equipped wearables, voice, and glanceable displays. If you're interested, all you need to do is sign up for a developer preview.

As for the bracelet itself, pre-orders will begin within a month. No exact price or release date were given, and while it might not necessarily catch on all that much, at least Mevu is thinking ahead.
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Batman: Arkham Origins DLC introduces Mr. Freeze to PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 today

Cold, Cold Heart, the long awaited campaign expansion for Batman: Arkham Origins releases today on the PlayStation Network, Steam, and Xbox Live. The single-player DLC introduces Mr. Freeze to the mix, and is available for $10 ala carte, or as part of the Season Pass.

The DLC takes place on New Year's Eve a week after the events of the vanilla campaign, and depicts the first meeting between Batman and Mr. Freeze in the Arkham universe. The new content also introduces to two new locations: Wayne Manor and GothCorp. Batman also gains a new cold-weather suit, as well as a pair of new gadgets, the Thermocharged Batarangs and Thermal Gloves.

If you are a Season Pass holder, the content is available now – simply log on to your platform of choice and download it. If you are on the fence, check out the launch trailer and the images to give you a sense of what to expect.
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Households that pay online sales tax spend 10 percent less on Amazon

According to a two-year study published by researchers at Ohio State University this month, the introduction of online sales tax to a state reduces average spending on Amazon by approximately ten percent and increases sales volume on other online retailers by nearly 20 percent. The impact is even more obvious on purchases that are more expensive. For all purchases over $300, sales at alternate online retailers increase by nearly 24 percent and sales at brick-and-mortar locations increase by about six percent. 

Specifically, the study tracked nearly a quarter of a million households that spent at least $100 on Amazon during the first half of 2012. After tracking the households through the end of 2013, the researchers were able to watch spending levels decline when sales tax was rolled out in states such as Texas, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, and Virginia. Online sales tax laws were rolled out for Amazon purchases in those five states during that eighteen month period.  

Interestingly, the negative impact on first-party Amazon sales has a positive impact on Amazon Marketplace sales. After an online sales tax goes into effect in a state, purchases over $300 increase by more than 60 percent through Amazon Marketplace merchants. While shipping costs are generally higher on Marketplace products, many of these merchants don't collect sales tax and provide a more attract option to Amazon shoppers. 

At this time, Amazon charges sales tax in 20 states that include heavily populated states such as California, Texas and New York. Over the past few years, Amazon has attempted to push for broader legislation at the federal level that would create a universal online sales tax that would apply to all online businesses that operate in the United States. While this would ultimately reduce spending levels on Amazon according to the study results, it would put Amazon on a level playing field with all other online retailers and reduce the number of sales that are lost to other online retailers.
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Two men square off for phallic immortality in The Final Member

Yes, Iceland has a penis museum. 

The Icelandic Phallological Museum, the name it goes by in more serious circles, houses severed male privates of all shapes, sizes, and species, but up until recently, a human specimen wasn't among them. The quest of two competing, would-be donors to secure that place for themselves plays out in The Final Member, a new documentary from first-time feature directors Jonah Bekhor and Zach Math. 

On one side is Páll Arason, a noted Icelandic explorer and (as you learn in the documentary) notorious ladies' man. Opposite him is Tom Mitchell, a California-dwelling American who is so intent on being first that he's willing to have his member – named Elmo – chopped off before he expires. 

Two men, four testicles, and a whole lot of balls between them.

Two men, four testicles, and a whole lot of balls between them. The Final Member's short length – by which we mean running time – turns out to be just right. Bekhor and Math tackle the most relevant bits of this oddball bait-and-tackle story, a not-inconsiderable task given the years-long process the whole affair turned out to be. The co-directors smartly avoid taking their subject too seriously without ever descending into outright mockery – one of this doc's great successes. 
There's a touching story at the heart of The Final Member. A couple of them, in fact. Museum founder Sigurður "Siggi" Hjartarson's quest might seem ridiculous on the surface, but it's hard not to root for his success when you witness his infectiously sincere love for the museum firsthand. The man loves his penis hobby, and totally not in a weird way. 

Then there's Mitchell's own plan to part with his still-living member, which is so bizarre that it threatens to overshadow everything else. Here again, the man's total commitment keeps you invested. For all that you learn about his various motivating factors – and there are many – you never once doubt his desire to see this through. 

Arason is the odd man out. Unlike Siggi and Mitchell, the 95-year-old Icelander's story is largely concluded by the time he signs of on bequeathing his privates to the Phallological Museum. He's just not invested on the same level that Mitchell is, probably because he's too busy enjoying his twilight years. Or maybe he just sees the whole competition as the silly thing that it is. Arason's concerns over old age shrinkage – while entertaining – feel flaccid alongside Mitchell's own attempts to part with his male organs.

Tom Mitchell with diagram in Drafthouse Films' The Final Member. Courtesy of Drafthouse Films.
Blame reality, not the film; Bekhor and Math do their best to render Arason in the same absurd-yet-endearing shade as they do with the other two subjects, chatting with the elderly Icelander and peering into his lascivious past. But the material just isn't there. The filmmakers wisely load all of this into the front of the movie, since Mitchell's story – introduced immediately afterward – quickly captivates.

Stylistically, there's nothing particularly special about The Final Member. A handful of eye-catching shots and more than a few slice-of-life scenes chronicling Mitchell's efforts keep things varied, but The Final Member sticks mostly to talking-head interviews and stock footage with voiceover laid on top. Granted, between Iceland's alien landscape and Siggi's penis-packed museum, Bekhor and Math have a lot of good B-roll to work with, but overall there's little visual flash to this relatively dry documentary. 

That's OK. As it turns out, you don't really need an eye-catching presentation to keep this absurdist take on a dick-measuring contest entertaining. The oddness of it all counts for everything. The Final Member isn't likely to rock the foundations of documentary filmmaking, but it accomplishes what it sets out to within the constraints of a short running time. After all, it's not the size that matters. 

Right?
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Nest Learning Thermostat now for sale on Google Play

Just a few months after Google's $3.2 billion dollar acquisition of Nest, the company's Learning Thermostat is now for sale on Google Play for $249. Since the company's smart smoke alarm, Nest Protect, is temporarily unavailable while a software glitch is being fixed, the thermostat is the only Nest product available on Google Play for the time being.

What's noteworthy is that this makes Nest's thermostat the first and only product to be available on both Google and Apple's retail sites simultaneously. The fact that it's available through so many different outlets, including Lowes, Nest and Amazon, is a sign of the company's prominent presence in the rapidly growing connected home space.

Earlier this month, Nest launched a completely new version of the Learning Thermostat, designed specifically for UK households. This gives the company a strong foothold from which to push into other European markets — ones that are similar to the UK in terms of home heating architecture, and consumer preferences as well.

Even in the wake of a recent lawsuit claiming that the company's thermostats don't work as advertised, it seems that Nest is quite a force to be reckoned with right now.
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The Complete fall 2014 pilot list

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Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 04:39:41
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Subject: The Complete fall 2014 pilot list

Image Credit: Skip Bolen/CBS

In just four weeks, we'll find out if Anthony LaPaglia and David Schwimmer will stage comebacks to prime time, or if Flash will really fly for the CW. Chances are it will, but what about those comic book-inspired dramas in the works at Fox and NBC?

Here's your chance to see all the possibilities, but don't get your hopes up too high: A majority of these pilots won't make the cut for fall.

CBS

DRAMA

NCIS: NEW ORLEANS: The NCIS New Orleans office handles cases from Pensacola through Mississippi and Louisiana to the Texas panhandle. New Orleans with its rich setting of music, fun, and debauchery is a magnet for military personnel on-leave. And with fun comes trouble. It is a natural backdrop for a unique character driven spin-off. Cast: Scott Bakula (Special Agent Dwayne Pride); CCH  Pounder (Dr. Loretta Wade).

BATTLE CREEK: When two detectives with very different world views are teamed up, they must answer the question: is cynicism, guile, and deception enough to clean up the semi-mean streets of Battle Creek, Michigan in the face of a complete lack of resources; or is the exact opposite true – it takes naïveté, trust and a boatload of resources? Cast: Josh Duhamel (Milton Chamberlain); Dean Winters (Det. Russ Agnew); Kal Penn (Det. Fontanelle).

MADAM SECRETARY: About the personal and professional life of a maverick female Secretary of State as she drives international diplomacy, wrangles office politics, and balances a complex family life. Cast: Tea Leoni (Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord); Tim Daly (Henry McCord); Bebe Neuwirth (Nadine Tolliver).

STALKER: Psychological thriller centered around a pair of detectives who handle stalking incidents for the Threat Management Unit of the LAPD. Cast: Maggie Q (Detective Beth Davis); Dylan McDermott (Detective Jack Larsen).

FIELD OF PLAY: When a terrorist event rocks Washington, D.C., a retired CIA operative is pulled back into action, forced to investigate closer to home where the next generation of terrorists are being bred. Cast: Anthony LaPaglia (Coach Holden Weller); Samantha Mathis (Olivia Jordan).

SCORPION: An eccentric genius and his international network of super-geniuses form the last line of defense against the complex threats of the modern age. Cast: Robert Patrick (Agent Cabe Gallo); Eddie Kaye Thomas (Toby); Katharine McPhee (Paige).

UNTITLED CUSACK/McCABE/ELMORE/CAVELL PROJECT: Series set in the world of Wall Street power and money. Charlie Cox (Jackson Holliday); Maggie Grace (Jamie Fields); David Morse (J.D. Conklin); John Cusack (guest star).

UNTITLED DAVID MARSHALL GRANT PROJECT: Soapy medical show centered around quadruplets – three brothers and a sister – who grew up on a reality show. Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis (Evelyn Lang); Ashton Holmes (Jason Lang); Anna Brewster (Dani).

CSI PLANTED SPIN-OFF: Technology, as we know it, has amplified human behavior to the point where faceless criminals are committing crimes at global proportions with a touch of a button.  Avery Ryan, Special Agent in Charge at the Cyber Crime Division of the FBI in Quantico, VA, is tasked to solve high octane crimes that start in the mind, live on-line, and play out into the real world. Cast: Patricia Arquette (Special Agent Avery Ryan)

COMEDY

Image Credit: Getty Images
HOW I MET YOUR DAD: Kindred spirit of How I Met Your Mother, telling the story from a female point of view.  A brand new story with new characters and a new voice at its center. Cast: Greta Gerwig (Sally).

McCARTHY'S: Family comedy about a loud, sports-crazed Boston clan. Single camera. Cast: Laurie Metcalf (Majorie McCarthy); Joey McIntyre (Gerard McCarthy).

UNTITLED JIM GAFFIGAN PROJECT: Jim Gaffigan stars as the happily married and harried NYC father of five as he is in real life. Cast: Ashley Williams (Jeannie Gaffigan); Michael Ian Black (Daniel); Adam Goldberg (Dave).

SAVE THE DATE: Newly single, Katie drunkenly books a wedding venue and is now faced with the task of meeting the right man in time. Cast: Maggie Lawson (Katie); Michelle Trachtenberg (Hillary).

GOOD SESSION: A happy couple decides to see a therapist to help them decide if they should have a baby but quickly discover they have more to discuss. Single-camera. Cast: Mandy Moore (Lindsay); Tracey Ullman (Ellen).

MORE TIME WITH FAMILY:  Tom Papa stars as a husband and father making a career change to spend more time with his family. Cast: Alyson Hannigan (Cindy); Joe Pantoliano.

THE MISTAKE: A couple who just "finished" raising their kids discover they are pregnant.

CUZ-BROS: A successful, suave ladies man's perfect life gets turned upside down when his mess of a cousin needs a place to stay. Cast: Geoff Stults (Nick); Debra Jo Rupp (Merle); Andrea Anders (Stacey).

THE ODD COUPLE: A half-hour multi-camera comedy pilot based on Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. Cast: Matthew Perry (Oscar Madison); Thomas Lennon (Felix); Wendell Pierce (Teddy).
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BMW’s Vision Future concept is a prophecy written in carbon fiber and aluminum

What is the future of luxury? No, it's not flying cars.

Unveiled at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept describes a vision of the future that should be familiar to car buyers by now, one that uses technology to both improve efficiency and turn cars into large smartphones.

The body is rendered in carbon fiber and aluminum, and features a sleek design that not only looks striking but – according to BMW – reduces drag for better fuel efficiency. It also features the laser headlights set to debut on the 2015 i8 sports car.

The itself styling seems to be borrowed from the Pininfarina-designed Gran Lusso Coupe, and could indicate a new, more evocative direction BMW plans to take with future models.

For the interior, BMW used a process called "subtractive modeling". This involved designing the interior in layers with different materials, including structural aluminum, surface carbon fiber, and wood and leather trim. This allowed designers to "mill down" the layers depending on what was needed in a given area, helping to save weight and conserve material.

The driver interface was designed around the infotainment display, including a new version of the BMW ConnectedDrive concierge and a head-up display that projects information into the driver's line of sight for an augmented-reality feel. Welcome to the Borg-mobile.

Meanwhile, the two rear passengers get a detachable "Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet" that can control all secondary functions, display any information that's available to front-seat occupants, and stream digital media.

The Vision Future Luxury is likely to remain a concept car, but its styling and at least some of its technology will likely be incorporated into the next BMW 7 Series. We're hoping, though, this becomes a 9 Series. But we won't hold our breath
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GameSpy’s imminent demise brings service interruption for Borderlands and Civilization

With GameSpy's online game hosting service shutting down at the end of May, 2K warned that there will be service interruptions in the online play of some of its legacy titles on Windows PC while the games are migrated over to Valve's Steamworks.

Starting on May 31, select Borderlands and Civilization releases will temporarily go offline, causing interruptions in online play, matchmaking, and voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP). Offline play will continue to function as normal. The following titles will experience such interruptions:

Borderlands
Civilization III
Civilization III: Conquests
Civilization III: Play the World
Civilization IV
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword
Civilization IV: Colonization
Civilization IV: Warlords.
Along with this, 2K also announced that it will completely discontinue online support for a number of their legacy titles, the full list of which can be found here.
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EU in slow progress on deficit cuts

The scale of Spain's spending cuts has been unpopular, but it still failed to meet EU targets.

New figures from the European Commission show that EU governments are gradually making progress with their financial problems.

The budget deficit - the amount of new borrowing they undertake - came down last year.

For the whole EU, it fell from 3.9% of GDP in 2012 to 3.3%. For the eurozone, the decline was from 3.7% to 3%.

But they are still borrowing substantial amounts, so the total accumulated debt continued to rise.

That pattern affected both the eurozone and the European Union as a whole.

The eurozone figure is in line - just - with the upper limit that the EU expects member countries to meet.

Of course, there was a wide variation within the eurozone, with some countries borrowing a lot less than maximum.

Germany's government finances were close to being balanced: no new borrowing. Luxembourg managed a small surplus, which means it reduced its government debt slightly.

Others still couldn't comply with the 3% of GDP limit. France and Spain were the two big economies that went over that level, while Italy was just in line with it.

Greek 'milestone'

The figures for Greece tell an interesting story. A casual look suggests they got worse. But going beneath the surface, that was due to the costs of propping up the banks, a cost that isn't repeated year after year. Take that out of the picture and the figures look a good deal better.

If you also take out interest payments on government debt, then Greece has, so a European Commission spokesman says, reached an important milestone. It has achieved what's called a primary surplus in the government finances.

Critics say that the price of getting there, in terms of austerity and the wider economic damage it has done, is very high and unnecessarily so.

That debate will no doubt linger on and it applies more widely than just to Greece. All the countries that received bailouts have made some progress. They have all also suffered economically in the process.

While those nations have all reduced their annual borrowing needs, their burden of accumulated debt continued to rise.

In cash terms, the debts will rise as long as they have to continue new borrowing. But the burden is usually measured as a percentage of GDP. Strong economic growth could be enough to get that measure of the burden going down, even if they do still have deficits.

The eurozone has started to recover, including some of the bailed-out countries. Even Greece, where it all started, is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to see some, weak growth this year. But overall, Europe is not likely to grow strongly in the near future.

The Eurozone's financial repairs are far from complete. Unemployment is still painfully high in many countries. But these financial figures do show some signs of progress.
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Nintendo announces massive content infusion for Mario Golf: World Tour

Announced last year for the 3DS, Mario Golf: World Tour already offers a wealth of content with 10 courses, 126 holes, various multiplayer modes, as well as support for regional and worldwide tournaments. Players itching for more, though, will soon be sated, as today Nintendo revealed a plan for a series of three DLC packages that will add a total of 108 new holes and additional Mushroom Kingdom golfers. 

Starting on May 2 with the Mushroom Pack, more DLC will soon follow with the Flower Pack later that month, and finally the Star Pack in June. Each pack includes two new 18-hole courses and an additional playable character, with Toadette in the Mushroom Pack, Nabbit in the Flower Pack, and Rosalina in the Star Pack.

All three packs will be available for $5.99 apiece from Toad's Booth, which can be found in the game's main menu. Those golfers that know they'll want all three can buy them at a discounted Season Pass rate of $14.99, starting May 2. The Mushroom Pack will be downloadable right away, with the two subsequent releases unlocking as they become available. Season Pass holders will also receive a Gold Mario playable character, which features a special Golden Flower Shot that generates a bonus of three coins for every yard the ball travels. Gold Mario will also be unlocked for players that buy all three packs separately.

Nintendo will also offer Trial Tournaments for those looking to test out the new courses before purchasing. All players that own the game and download the Trial Pack will be able to participate in these tournaments.
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West's options: Russia's Ukraine challenge

Russia has taken control of Crimea, and pro-Russian militants are asserting control in eastern Ukraine.

Western countries have responded with some sanctions and tough rhetoric. What else could they do to contain Russia?

Stick to diplomacy

The obvious route for increasing diplomatic pressure - the UN Security Council - is blocked because Russia is a permanent member and can veto any proposed action. Other organs of the UN, such as the General Assembly, could pass non-binding resolutions, but Russia could simply ignore them.

Diplomacy between the West and Russia is becoming more complex
Where it has been able to, the West has made tentative moves towards isolating Russia, cancelling a G8 meeting earlier this year and suspending Moscow's membership. But Russia cannot be so easily kicked out of the Security Council, the consensus-based Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe - custodian of the Helsinki Final Act that does not permit forcible changes of borders - or the World Trade Organization Moscow waited so long to join. Countries are then left with the possibility of taking bilateral action through visa bans and other restrictions.

There is always a question mark over punitive measures. Are they a help or a hindrance? As a broad principle, Western nations publicly preach the benefits of engagement over isolation and regard the cold-shoulder as an extreme measure.

But engagement has failed to check the Russian advance - or force an about-turn in Moscow. Russia acted fast in annexing Crimea, and the worst-case scenario is that it could swallow up more of Ukraine and move on to other areas with large Russian populations, such as Moldova's Trans-Dniester region. The West's tacit concession of the Crimea issue has done nothing to strengthen its diplomatic hand.

The military option

Additional aircraft have already been deployed to patrol the Baltic air-space and US jets are carrying out exercises in Poland. Units of paratroopers are being despatched to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

This will establish a pattern of small-scale exercises that are likely to continue over the course of this year. They are probably adequate for their intended purpose of reassuring anxious Nato allies in the region - but not enough as a deterrence.

Nato has already boosted its presence in Central Europe and the Baltic states
It is almost inconceivable that the current Ukraine crisis will lead to a full-scale military confrontation between Nato and Russia. Nato is not going to deploy troops in Ukraine. If Russia were to move its troops overtly into eastern Ukraine the response would likely be severe economic sanctions - not military action.

However, any moves by Russia to threaten or destabilise the Baltic republics could lead to a potential military confrontation.

In the longer term, wholesale increases in Nato defence spending are unlikely and the alliance will have to look again at how best to defend its anxious members who live close to Russia's borders.

Expand economic measures

There is likely to be a split between the EU and US on the possibility of widening economic sanctions. European firms have much closer ties with Russia, and the eurozone's economic recovery remains fragile.

But the US does far less business with Russia, and could go much further. It has already imposed sanctions on Bank Rossiya and imposed asset freezes and visa bans on Russian politicians, businesses and military figures. Experts believe the first step would be widening that sanctions list.

New sanctions could target a wider selection of state companies, including those beyond President Putin's inner circle. Denying particular technology used in agriculture and metal processing could also boost the effect of sanctions.

But the West seems unwilling to tackle Russia's energy sector. Europe's reliance on Russian gas makes it particularly vulnerable to Russian reprisals. On this, the US would be alone.

Do nothing

The West may believe that its moderate sanctions, rhetoric and military posturing will deter Russia - simply watch and wait and Russia will come back into line.

However, some Kremlinologists suggest President Vladimir Putin is trying to forge a greater Russia based on an anti-Western, semi-mystical philosophy. Others that his aim is to bring order to a chaotic part of the world.

If the "do nothing" gamble failed, the knock-on effects could be felt around the world. Leaders of less illustrious states than Russia could feel emboldened to seize a piece of land they have always hankered after, Crimea-style secession rebellions could mushroom, threatening stability and economic development. As for international law and the current international edifice, it has already had a blow to the core - another one could bring it down.

In short, doing nothing may be the biggest gamble of all.
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Ukraine crisis: Russia 'to respond if its interests' attacked

The BBC visits Ukrainian soldiers on the border with Russia.

Russia will respond if its interests in Ukraine are attacked, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said, drawing a parallel with the 2008 Georgian war.

Speaking to Russian state TV channel RT, Mr Lavrov also accused the US of "running the show" in Ukraine.

And in a statement, Russia's foreign ministry repeated its call for Ukraine to withdraw military units from the country's east.

Ukraine's government faces an armed revolt there by pro-Russia separatists.

Kiev and the West say Moscow commands gunmen in eastern Ukraine - something Russia denies.

In recent weeks, pro-Russian militants have seized administrative buildings in at least a dozen towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

They have installed their own officials, in similar tactics to those used to take over the Ukrainian region of Crimea earlier this year.

Pro-Russian gunmen largely control at least nine cities in Donetsk region

The Russian foreign minister said Moscow would defend its "legitimate interests"

Joe Biden had talks on Tuesday with Ukrainian leaders including PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk (r)
The US has called on Moscow to ask pro-Russian gunmen to lay down their weapons and leave public buildings. It has also urged Russia to tone down its aggressive rhetoric or face further sanctions.

'Like in Georgia'

In his interview with Russia Today, Mr Lavrov said it was "quite telling" that Kiev had re-launched its "anti-terrorist" operation in the east on Tuesday during a visit by US Vice-President Joe Biden.

"If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in full accordance with international law," Mr Lavrov said.

Russian fought a brief war with Georgia in the summer of 2008 after Georgia sent troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia to regain control from the Russian-backed rebels.

Thousands of Russian troops have massed along Ukraine's borders in recent weeks.

Mr Lavrov also reiterated accusations that Kiev had failed to fulfil commitments laid out in the 17 April Geneva accord designed to end the crisis.

The Russian foreign ministry statement accused Kiev and the West of distorting the agreement, which called for illegal armed groups to be disarmed.

The ministry said the West insisted only on the need for pro-Russian groups to put down their weapons.

Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West.
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New world record of first threesome "lesbian who got themselves married at the altar"

Lesbian threesome couple, Doll, Kitten & Brynn, from Massachusetts, who were joined together in a marriage-style ceremony in August 2013, are expecting their first child, UK Daily Mail reports.

The world's only 'married' lesbian threesome are expecting a daughter in July. Kitten, 27, (pictured left) is pregnant after undergoing IVF treatment using an anonymous sperm donor, and the trio eventually plan to have three children - one for each of them.

The plan at the moment is that Kitten will bear all the children - possibly using her wives' eggs and donated sperm - but they are open to other options, such as adoption.

Brynn, 34, says: 'The hope is to have three kids altogether. We always joke that the children should never outnumber the parents.'

Doll, Kitten and Brynn Young married in a ceremony in August 2013, when each of their fathers walked them down the aisle. All three women wore white wedding gowns and exchanged rings.

The so-called 'throuple' worked with a specialist family lawyer who drew up the paperwork and drafted the ceremony so that all three of them were obligated and bound to each other.

While Brynn and Kitten are legally married, Doll is handfasted to both so the threesome are as equally married to each other as legally possible.

Doll, 30, says: 'As far as we know, there aren't any other three women who are married like us.'

It was back in 2009 that Brynn first met Doll through an online dating site. Senior Software Designer and Engineer, Brynn had been married twice before to women and both experiences had made her acknowledge that monogamous relationships weren't for her.

Meanwhile Fashion Designer, Doll had known that she was polygamous since high school. She explains: 'I had always dated girls - who although they had boyfriends or girlfriends - were also allowed to date me. 

'I never thought that much about it and I had never really 'come out' as poly to my friends and family. To me, it was just how I was.'

Brynn and Doll dated for eight months before moving in together. Two years later, they purchased a house together. 

Having both enjoyed polygamous relationships before, Doll and Brynn looked for a third woman to join them. After a few failed liaisons, Doll and Brynn created an OKCupid couple's profile. Eventually, they received a message from Kitten. 

Before meeting Doll and Brynn, Kitten had been in two long-term relationships with men. Her first relationship lasted ten years and she had been engaged to her second boyfriend.

Fashion Manager, Kitten says: 'My second boyfriend and I had been together for several years but a few months before our wedding, he called the whole thing off without explanation. At first, I was distraught but now, I'm grateful for what he did. 

'The whole break-up forced me to really think about who I was and I realised that I had not been honest to myself. On reflection, I realised that I hadn't been happy in my previous monogamous relationships and I discovered that I was poly.

'I set up an OKCupid profile for myself and began dating an awesome woman with the happy consent of her husband. They were a lovely couple but we ended the relationship after I had to move away. 

'Soon after that amicable break-up, I came across Doll's and Kitten's OKCupid profile and saw they were looking for a third member to join their 'Super Hero Group'.'

Doll, Brynn and Kitten went for dinner at a Chinese Restaurant for their first date and immediately liked each other. 
Doll says: 'There was an instant attraction with Kitten but I think we all really bonded when we baked cookies together on our fourth date. I didn't know what love was until the three of us clicked like that.'

Brynn adds: 'With Doll and Kitten, things finally made sense. It was as if the puzzle was finally complete with all three pieces.'
Within a few months, Kitten moved in with Doll and Brynn. Two years later, they decided to get married after Kitten proposed the idea to them.

Kitten says: 'I had always wanted to get married and I guess Doll and Brynn indulged my wishes! I had a very traditional upbringing and marriage had always been an important symbol of commitment for me. We wanted to celebrate our love in a wedding like everyone else.'

The threesome insist their relationship is like that of any normal couple: having breakfast with one another, watching TV after work and sharing a bed together

Doll says: 'The only difference is that communication is a lot more difficult for us than others. There are three people so our relationship takes detailed scheduling - everything we do goes on the calendar!

'Whilst communication is tricky, household chores are a lot easier with three people! You can slack off on your errands and another person can pick them up.'
Brynn adds: 'Each of us has our own allocated chores and roles - I like to think of us a romantic committee. In our relationship, I'm the traditional breadwinner. I work a forty hour week and make the majority of the family's income. 

'Doll does the cooking and Kitten does the cleaning. Sometimes, Kitten also helps me with my hair and make-up before I go to work.'

The threesome spent several date nights planning their dream wedding - making decorations and shopping for matching traditional, white gowns.
Brynn says: 'Planning our wedding was hectic. It took a lot more organizing because there were three brides involved. 

Kitten, Brynn and Doll had to work with the legalities of the state to get married to each other. As being married to more than one person is not currently legal, they had to combine handfasting, legally binding documents and legal marriage.

A family lawyer drew up paperwork - in terms of assets, wills and legal rights to children - to bind them all together as much as they could without an actual three way marriage.

Source from UK Daily Mail.
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New world record: First threesome "lesbian who got themselves married at the altar"

Lesbian threesome couple, Doll, Kitten & Brynn, from Massachusetts, who were joined together in a marriage-style ceremony in August 2013, are expecting their first child, UK Daily Mail reports.

The world's only 'married' lesbian threesome are expecting a daughter in July. Kitten, 27, (pictured left) is pregnant after undergoing IVF treatment using an anonymous sperm donor, and the trio eventually plan to have three children - one for each of them.

The plan at the moment is that Kitten will bear all the children - possibly using her wives' eggs and donated sperm - but they are open to other options, such as adoption.

Brynn, 34, says: 'The hope is to have three kids altogether. We always joke that the children should never outnumber the parents.'

Doll, Kitten and Brynn Young married in a ceremony in August 2013, when each of their fathers walked them down the aisle. All three women wore white wedding gowns and exchanged rings.

The so-called 'throuple' worked with a specialist family lawyer who drew up the paperwork and drafted the ceremony so that all three of them were obligated and bound to each other.

While Brynn and Kitten are legally married, Doll is handfasted to both so the threesome are as equally married to each other as legally possible.

Doll, 30, says: 'As far as we know, there aren't any other three women who are married like us.'
It was back in 2009 that Brynn first met Doll through an online dating site. Senior Software Designer and Engineer, Brynn had been married twice before to women and both experiences had made her acknowledge that monogamous relationships weren't for her.

Meanwhile Fashion Designer, Doll had known that she was polygamous since high school. She explains: 'I had always dated girls - who although they had boyfriends or girlfriends - were also allowed to date me. 

'I never thought that much about it and I had never really 'come out' as poly to my friends and family. To me, it was just how I was.'

Brynn and Doll dated for eight months before moving in together. Two years later, they purchased a house together. 

Having both enjoyed polygamous relationships before, Doll and Brynn looked for a third woman to join them. After a few failed liaisons, Doll and Brynn created an OKCupid couple's profile. Eventually, they received a message from Kitten. 

Before meeting Doll and Brynn, Kitten had been in two long-term relationships with men. Her first relationship lasted ten years and she had been engaged to her second boyfriend.

Fashion Manager, Kitten says: 'My second boyfriend and I had been together for several years but a few months before our wedding, he called the whole thing off without explanation. At first, I was distraught but now, I'm grateful for what he did. 

'The whole break-up forced me to really think about who I was and I realised that I had not been honest to myself. On reflection, I realised that I hadn't been happy in my previous monogamous relationships and I discovered that I was poly.

'I set up an OKCupid profile for myself and began dating an awesome woman with the happy consent of her husband. They were a lovely couple but we ended the relationship after I had to move away. 

'Soon after that amicable break-up, I came across Doll's and Kitten's OKCupid profile and saw they were looking for a third member to join their 'Super Hero Group'.'

Doll, Brynn and Kitten went for dinner at a Chinese Restaurant for their first date and immediately liked each other. 
Doll says: 'There was an instant attraction with Kitten but I think we all really bonded when we baked cookies together on our fourth date. I didn't know what love was until the three of us clicked like that.'

Brynn adds: 'With Doll and Kitten, things finally made sense. It was as if the puzzle was finally complete with all three pieces.'
Within a few months, Kitten moved in with Doll and Brynn. Two years later, they decided to get married after Kitten proposed the idea to them.

Kitten says: 'I had always wanted to get married and I guess Doll and Brynn indulged my wishes! I had a very traditional upbringing and marriage had always been an important symbol of commitment for me. We wanted to celebrate our love in a wedding like everyone else.'

The threesome insist their relationship is like that of any normal couple: having breakfast with one another, watching TV after work and sharing a bed together

Doll says: 'The only difference is that communication is a lot more difficult for us than others. There are three people so our relationship takes detailed scheduling - everything we do goes on the calendar!

'Whilst communication is tricky, household chores are a lot easier with three people! You can slack off on your errands and another person can pick them up.'
Brynn adds: 'Each of us has our own allocated chores and roles - I like to think of us a romantic committee. In our relationship, I'm the traditional breadwinner. I work a forty hour week and make the majority of the family's income. 

'Doll does the cooking and Kitten does the cleaning. Sometimes, Kitten also helps me with my hair and make-up before I go to work.'

The threesome spent several date nights planning their dream wedding - making decorations and shopping for matching traditional, white gowns.
Brynn says: 'Planning our wedding was hectic. It took a lot more organizing because there were three brides involved. 

Kitten, Brynn and Doll had to work with the legalities of the state to get married to each other. As being married to more than one person is not currently legal, they had to combine handfasting, legally binding documents and legal marriage.

A family lawyer drew up paperwork - in terms of assets, wills and legal rights to children - to bind them all together as much as they could without an actual three way marriage.
Culled from UK Daily Mail
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"SELF BRANDING TOOLS"

As a fashion entrepreneur, everything you do needs to be on brand. This includes the products you create, how you communicate, the brands you choose to associate with, and of course, imagery. This is because now more than ever, photos are helping to shape how a brand is perceived.

It's no surprise that Instagram is one platform that is becoming increasingly popular due to its ease of use, journal-like feed and instant feedback. While it's easy to take a photo and post it to your account, that photo still has to be reflective of your brand's voice and also look really good. Unlike regular consumers using Instagram, you have to take a step back and realize that each photo and piece of copy you put out impacts your brand and can essentially serve as a mini advertisement for your business.

This is why you need to consider art directing your photos. It doesn't mean that your posts shouldn't be in real time or not authentic, but should be crafted with your style in mind.

AMB. CHRIS ODEY.
Photography Director
( Pregnancy & You Magazine), PR/EVENTS/FASHION BUSINESS Consultant. 08171784035.
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Stephen Sutton reaches £1m cancer charity target

Stephen Sutton's Facebook message said ''It's a final thumbs up from me''
A teenage blogger with terminal cancer has raised £1m for charity and posted a final message to his followers.

Stephen Sutton, 19, from Burntwood, in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 15 and started raising funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

On Tuesday, he posted on Facebook: "It's a final thumbs up from me! I think this is just one hurdle too far."

Reacting to news that the total had passed £1m, Stephen tweeted "thank you all so much".

"The whole situation is just breathtaking in many ways!!" he added.

Dozens of people responded with their congratulations, including one who described Stephen as a "true inspiration", while another said he had "changed thousands of people's lives".

A day earlier he told his thousands of friends and followers on Facebook that it would be his last post and any further updates would be from family members.

He wrote: "It's a shame the end has come so suddenly. There's so many people I haven't got round to properly thank or say goodbye to. Apologies for that.

"I will continue fighting for as long as I can, and whatever happens next I want you all to know I am currently in a good place mentally and at ease with the situation.

"That's it from me. But life has been good. Very good."

Stephen used a bucket list featuring things he wanted to accomplish before he died to help raise funds
Tuesday's messages prompted people to pledge more than £250,000 overnight with a further £200,000 coming in on Wednesday morning.

Comedian Jason Manford was among a number of celebrities who supported Stephen's fundraising over recent months.

He described the 19-year-old as "inspirational".

"He told me it was terminal [cancer]. You would think he would be depressed by it," Mr Manford said.

"He's not bitter about leaving the party early, he's just happy that he was invited to the party at all.

"At the age of 19 he's done more in the past few years than some people do in a lifetime."

Stephen used a bucket list featuring things he wanted to accomplish before he died to help raise funds and give other people the motivation to "enjoy life".

It included playing the drums in front of 90,000 people, hugging an elephant and getting a tattoo.
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Color TVs? Picture phones? Emerging tech from 1964 N.Y. World’s Fair Remembered

This month marks the 50-year anniversary of the New York World's Fair, an event that offered a glimpse of future technology and wowed the minds of millions. More than 50 million people from around the world converged at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York, for the fair's opening on April 22, 1964.

The overarching theme of the fair was "peace through understanding," which was symbolized by the 12-story high, stainless-steel model of the Earth called the Unisphere (for non-residents, you probably remember it from the movie, Men in Black). The fair also had the themes "Man's Achievements in an Expanding Universe" and "A Millennium of Progress," which commemorated the potential of human betterment through science and technology after the end of World War II.

American companies utilized the World's Fair as a platform to rouse spectators with new innovations and concepts. Among the fair's most popular attractions was the official introduction of the 1965 Ford Mustang, which later became one of the most iconic automobiles of all time. (The Mustang was unveiled on April 17, 1964 and originally retailed at $2,368.)

Another popular sight was the Vatican Pavilion, where Michelangelo's "Pieta" sculpture was displayed for the first time in America.

One of the best-remembered exhibitors was Walt Disney Productions, which debuted the "It's a Small World" attraction – it featured a pioneering system of audio-animatronics also used in the Illinois Pavilion, which featured a lifelike figure of Abraham Lincoln reciting the Gettysburg Address. (Much of the Disney exhibit would later find their way to Disney's theme parks.)

Fair patrons were dazzled when seeing themselves on RCA's color television, and the Bell System envisioned an early picture phone that allowed two people to speak and see each other. The Picturephone from Bell was before its time, but the idea was refined decades later with the advent of Internet video chatting.

After 50 years, some remnants of the World's Fair can still be found in Queens such as the Hall of Science, the New York State Pavilion's Queens Theatre and observation towers, and the fair's most well-known symbol, the Unisphere.

Interestingly, New York City was also the site of the 1939 World's Fair, which showcased an imagined future during the end of the Depression and the start of World War II.
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Netflix sneaks into cable boxes while denouncing Comcast/TWC merger

On the same day that Netflix became the first major media organization to publicly denounce the multi-billion dollar Comcast/Time Warner merger, the company announced new plans to join forces with cable DVRs sometime this quarter, starting with app support for TiVo's flavor of set-top control.

In its letter to investors, Netflix touted the success of its move to DVR boxes for so called MVPDs (Multi-channel video program distributors) in Europe, and claimed that this quarter will see the launch of its iconic red app icon in U.S. TiVo boxes first, with plans to move to "non-Tivo devices" after that. Netflix apps are already integrated into TiVo's direct-to-consumer boxes, and the company now wants to move into boxes tied-in directly with providers.

"From an MVPD point of view, they would rather have consumers use Netflix through the MVPD box and remote control than (from other sources)," the letter states.

That makes a lot of sense. After all, cable and satellite providers have given up trying to woo subscribers away from Netflix. They know their customers will be accessing the site from some sort of device, be it a smart TV, or a set-top delivery method such as a Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast. Since providers can't stop subscribers from mainlining Netflix content, it would behoove them to keep users on the same device (and input source) that delivers their own live TV content and on-demand programming, allowing a fluid switch between the services. Also – in a more insidious move – it could be that providers would like to track their customers viewing habits a little more closely,

It also makes sense that Netflix would start with TiVo DVRs. Not only are the boxes known for their extremely intuitive interfaces, but they are also the preferred systems of choice for cable providers with close ties to Netflix such as Suddenlink, and RCN. Those partners use Netflix's proprietary Open Connect system, which employs a direct link to Netflix servers to offer more efficient streaming. Open Connect was Netflix's home-baked solution to the pressing issue of slower streaming speeds.

Comcast, and other top service providers such as Verizon, and AT&T balked at Open Connect, eventually forcing an unholy union of sorts between Comcast and Netflix, in which Netflix agreed to pay the massive conglomerate undisclosed fees for more direct access to its Internet pipelines. The deal worked, and immediately after hands were shook, Netflix speeds for Comcast subscribers increased by up to 65 percent. However, shortly afterward, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings denounced the agreement as a threat to smaller video streaming services, and Net Neutrality as a whole.

Netflix again railed against Comcast's penchant for strong arming the media industry as a whole in its letter to investors, saying that the company "…is already dominant enough to be able to capture unprecedented fees from transit providers and services such as Netflix," and warning that a merger with the second biggest provider, Time Warner, would give the combined services "even more anti-competitive leverage to charge arbitrary interconnection tolls," for cable and internet services.

Monday's letter introduced a host of new moves for Netflix, including a proposed price hike of its services, even while the company announced a rise in profits above what was expected by investors, with $53 million in profit, a $3 million increase over the previous year. The price hike, a proposed $1-2 for new customers in the coming months, will help Netflix expand, and keep up with the rising cost of licensing fees for content. Current customers won't see a price rise in the near future.

Overall, Monday's letter was a telling look into Netflix's future, as the company looks to become even more dominant, while also appearing to work towards the preservation of facets that Internet users as a whole hold dear, including Net Neutrality, and fair competition in the marketplace. As Netflix seems to grow bigger by the day, consumers can only hope it remains true to those ideals.
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Could Fan TV be the revolutionary cable box we’ve all been waiting for?

If you were to look at a time-lapse video of the average home entertainment system over the last 10 years, you'd probably see a lot of changes – the move from a CRT TV to a flat panel, a Playstation 2 to a Playstation 3 or 4, the addition of a Roku or Apple TV. But amid all of that change one box would remain mostly unchanged: the cable box and its old-school, monster-sized remote. Sure, the box might get a little smaller, and the remote a little more colorful. But for the most part, the way we interact with our cable service hasn't changed much at all; it's still the same boring, low-resolution, grid-based nightmare it's always been. But thanks to a recent partnership with Time Warner Cable, a San Francisco startup hopes to change all that with its revolutionary new set-top device, Fan TV.

Unveiled this morning, Fan TV will launch for TWC subscribers in the coming months, and it will bring along with it an intuitive and elegant new means for watching live TV and on-demand content, as well as select streaming, all from a fully searchable interface.

Fan TV wowed attendees of the AllThingsD: D11 conference last year when it premiered its elegant little system, which consists of a succinct set-top box rounded on all sides, an intuitive interface, and a sleek little remote, which trades the gigantic wand littered with multi-colored buttons for a smooth, button-less device that's more trackpad than remote.

With Fan TV, users will be able to perform broad searches for select movies and other programming over multiple content sources, including (for now) Time Warner Cable's live TV and on-demand content, as well as a slim list of streaming services such as Verizon's Red Box Instant, the video streaming site Crackle, Rhapsody music, and a video downloading service from Target called Target Ticket.

Users will immediately note the lack of any "timeshifting" or DVR storage capabilities for the device, which could be a major roadblock to its broad adoption. And perhaps just as important is the lack of any real players in the streaming game such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Youtube. Still, like so many devices before it, securing the most popular apps often takes time and perseverance, and the system will likely look to add more options to its inventory in the near future.

Then again, maybe not. The future of Fan TV could rest largely on the outcome of a proposed merger between Time Warner and the most powerful service provider in the land, Comcast. Should that merger progress, it's hard to say what will happen to Fan TV, and whether or not a Netflix app, at least, will be in its future. Though Netflix and Comcast have worked together in recent months with an agreement for Netflix to pay fees for better access to Comcast's Internet pipelines, the relationship between the two has been volatile, and Netflix has since denounced the deal, as well as the proposed TWC merger, publicly.

Opaque future or no, Fan TV looks to be one of the most intuitive new content delivery methods we've seen in a long while. The system has garnered plenty of accolades from tech magazines, including a quote from Venture Beat that calls the device "far closer to Steve Jobs' vision for a revolutionary TV product than Apple's own Apple TV."

The Fan TV is being offered now for a pre-order price of $99 – right inline with the top media streamers like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire. Once available, Time Warner Cable subscribers will be able to upgrade to the device with no additional charge … for now.
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New LED panel technology uses nanoparticles to accurately mimic daylight

Lighting has come a long way in the past few years, but even with all the technological advances that have been made, we still haven't managed to mimic real daylight with much accuracy. We can cheat and use special lights to help plants grow, and we've got all sorts of lights that can change their color temperature to suit our moods, but no matter how we tweak it, artificial light still just doesn't feel quite the the same as real, natural light.

Thanks to a recent breakthrough, however, this might not be the case in the future.

Soon, you'll be able to call up natural-looking daylight with the flip of a switch, thanks to a newly-developed lighting panel that uses nanoparticles to create something similar to actual daylight. In the future, this might make it possible to produce something close to natural light in even the most dank, windowless interiors.

The technology, developed by Paolo di Trapani at the University of Insubria, relies on a panel of white LEDs that shine through a clear plastic panel studded with nanoparticles that are invisible to the naked eye. These tiny particles serve to scatter the light in the same way that Earth's atmosphere does with sunlight, which makes it feel more realistic. 

Most of the previous efforts have focused on developing light sources with the same spectrum as the Sun, but this is the first ever tech that accounts for the fact that the light we perceive as "natural" is a result of not only the spectrum of the sun, but also how light interacts with the sky itself.

By strategically peppering a clear polymer sheet with titanium dioxide nanoparticles, di Trapani and his team managed to accurately mimic the physics of Rayleigh scattering – the process by which air molecules scatter the sun's radiation. The prototype panel, which is 5.9 feet long and 33.5 inches wide, makes use of two different sizes of nanoparticles positioned in different sections of the plastic to separate light into certain wavelengths. White light from the LED array is diffused into "sky-light", where blue wavelengths are dominant, and a bright yellow spot of warm, yellowish light serves to mimic the Sun. The team has even developed different panels to simulate other outdoor light conditions — everything from a bright sunny day, to a colorful, glowing sunset.

You can't install one of these lights in your house just yet, but di Trapani and his team plan to market the panels through a University of Insubria spin-off company called CoeLux, and hope to start mass producing them within the next year or two.
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