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Category: DevOpsUpdate

DevOpsUpdate

  • Meg Ryan In For “How I Met Your Dad”, Develops NBC Pilot

    Meg Ryan is making headlines this week after it was reported that she’ll have a role on the How I Met Your Mother spinoff How I Met Your Dad. The actress won’t appear on the show, however, but will instead voice Sally, who will be played by Greta Gerwig. Ryan will portray Sally in the future.

    Gerwig commented on the How I Met Your Mother finale recently–which angered many fans–and said she actually wanted a different outcome for the characters.

    “I wanted [Ted and Robin] to [end up together]! I’m such a schmaltzy person. It’s like, yes, I know that Annie Hall is the best ending of all time when they don’t end up together. But really, in my heart of hearts … I love in When Harry Met Sally when they end up together. I’m a little too corny for the sadder version,” she said.

    Ryan is also set to star in and executive produce a show in development for NBC. The new series is being written by Marc Lawrence (Family Ties) and will see Ryan’s character–a single mother and former editor at a New York publishing house–return to her old job only to find that her former intern is now her boss.

    Though Ryan has worked on several projects in recent years, she has kept her schedule open for the sake of her adopted daughter, Daisy. The duo were spotted out recently with Ryan’s beau, rocker John Mellencamp.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ukraine Crisis Deepens: Occupation, Sanctions and Troops on the Border

    Even though Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted last week to resolve the issue once and for all, the Ukraine crisis continues to see developments for the worse.

    Russian separatists have held control over several government buildings in the Ukraine for four days. According to AFP Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has offered a deal “if people lay down their arms and free the administration buildings… we guarantee that we will not launch any criminal proceedings against them.” Despite his promise, the occupations continue as a blight in the midst of diplomatic talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the rest of the world.

    Of chief concern for western leaders is the crisis expanding, not just militarily but economically. Putin issued a letter Thursday giving Russia the credit of subsidizing the Ukrainian economy. According to Putin, Russia has sold gas to Ukraine at a low price, even though the Ukraine owes Russia a substantial debt. Putin now wants advance payment for the natural gas or he “will completely or partially cease gas deliveries”, a move which would devastate Ukraine’s economy.

    Since Russia supplies a lot of natural gas to Europe, leaders there are hesitant to impose any more sanctions. The United States is much less reluctant. Today, AFP reported that Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said “the United States is prepared to impose additional significant sanctions on Russia if it continues to escalate the situation in Ukraine”.

    Russia continues to maintain its sizable military presence at the Ukrainian border. NATO published satellite photos of the Russian troop build up, estimating there could be as many as forty thousand troops stationed there. Director of the Comprehensive Crisis Operations and Management Centre at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Brigadier Gary Deakin said “The Russians have an array of capabilities including aircraft, helicopters, special forces, tanks, artillery, infantry fighting vehicles… and these could move in a matter of hours. These forces have a destabilizing effect and present serious implications for the security and stability of the region,”

    Image via WSJDigitalNetwork, YouTube

  • Lance Armstrong Drops Names Of Persons That Helped Him Dope

    Lance Armstrong Drops Names Of Persons That Helped Him Dope

    Lance Armstrong, the celebrity cyclist, has for the first time, named the people who gave him, and helped him get illegal performance enhancing drugs for all seven of his Tour de France titles.

    In his public statement, he named the US Postal ex-team manager Johan Bruyneel, trainer Pepi Marti, Dr. Michele Ferrari, Dr. Pedro Celaya, and Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral.

    He went on to say that he paid for the substances, but that “other people” contributed financially. According to him, the drugs were delivered by Philippe Mair, mechanic Julien de Vriese, and masseuse Emma O’Reilly.

    The testimony also claimed that Armstrong did not pay anyone to keep his use of drugs a secret. He did, however, give benefits or contributions to people who may have suspected his drug use. The testimony maintained it was not a pay-off.

    He also claimed that he used the blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) as early as 1995. He said that he was in control the entire time, but the administration was sometimes supervised by Dr. Ferrari, Dr. Celaya, or Dr. del Moral.

    The statement comes from a testimony the cyclist made in November last year, when Acceptance Insurance sued him to recover bonuses made from 1999 to 2001 worth $3 million for winning the Tour de France.

    The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, but the testimony was kept as an exhibit for another lawsuit against Armstrong by former teammate Floyd Landis.

    The US Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, has called Armstrong’s doping, “sport’s most sophisticated and successful” program.

    In 2013, Armstrong admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs in all seven of his Tour de France victories. However, he did not name the people who supplied them to him.

    Lance Armstrong Confesses On Oprah Show

    Bruyneel, Marti, and Celaya denied the accusation and brought USADA’s case to an arbitration hearing. It was held last December in London. The other people named by Armstrong did not contest.

    According to Bruyneel, USADA’s accusation that he is the mastermind of the doping program is not true, also saying he is not a devil.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Lucy’ Trailer: Scarlett Johansson Develops Super Powers

    After a bag of drugs bursts in her stomach, Scarlett Johansson develops superhuman powers.

    In the new Sci-Fi thriller Lucy, by filmmaker Luc Besson from his EuropaCorp studio, Johansson plays Lucy, a woman forced to carry experimental drugs for a mob organization. The ingested drugs explode inside her, and then she gains enhanced mental and physical abilities. These new powers may cost her life.

    Enter Morgan Freeman as a scientist and professor who can possibly expand her life expectancy. In the trailer, Freeman addresses a lecture hall full of pupils ready to soak up his knowledge by saying: “It is estimated that most human beings only use 10% of the brain’s capacity. Imagine if we could access 100%.  Interesting things begin to happen.”

    In the trailer, it appears that Lucy becomes the target of several crime organizations, one of which beats her, forcing the drug package to burst in her stomach and her powers to develop.

    Lucy’s trailer shows lots of action sequences, especially of Johansson’s character seeking revenge on the mob members who implanted the drugs inside her body. Additionally, Lucy’s trailer makes sure to highlight that Lucy soaks up knowledge like a sponge. The more abilities Lucy gains, the less human she becomes.

    Lucy is set in a futuristic version of Taipei, Taiwan, 2069 AD. It also stars Analeigh Tipton (Crazy, Stupid, Love), Amr Waked (Odysseus), Min-sik Choi (Old Boy), and Mason Lee (The Hangover Part II).

    Lucy resembles some of Besson’s most famous works by featuring a strong female lead, involving crime organizations, and taking place in a world beyond our realm, such as his previous films La Femme Nikita, Leon, The Fifth Element, and The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec.

    The film premiered some scenes last week at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Lucy’s official release date is August 8, 2014.

     

    Image via Youtube

  • Stingray: Local Cops Track Cell Phones Like NSA

    According to the Associated Press, police are able to track your cell phone with a device called Stingray. The mechanism is a suitcase-sized tool manufactured by the Harris Corporation that mimics a cell phone tower.

    There is not much known about the device, but back in 2011 the city of Miami inadvertently published the price and description of a unit in some other budget items they posted online. The info was removed, but not before it was downloaded by the folks at PublicIntelligence.net [PDF].

    That price list describes the Stingray as a “4-channel multi-transmit interrogation and direction-finding transportable unit.”

    The price for the base model Stingray II was $148,000. There are several software packages that are also available that go with the unit. Those cost around $22,000 each. There is one software package that is restricted to only Federal “customers” that costs $50,000. Other accessories are listed, including cables for around $200, a computer mouse for $50, a 20-foot antenna mast for $2,990, and a choice of regular and “ruggedized” laptops to run it all with.

    It is not known if the City of Miami purchased the Stingray system, but if they did, they can now track cell phone users.

    In one court case, a Federal agency did acknowledge that the Stingray can affect the cell phone functions of innocent civilians, who are not under investigation, in the area in which it is being used.

    Not much detail is known. What can be divined is that the unit tricks a cell phone into thinking that it is a cell tower. The cell phone then transmits all the usual info to the unit, allowing police to track the phone. This is simpler than triangulation of tower signal. Anyone who has been stuck with a phone that does not have GPS, but tries to approximate it with cell tower triangulation (ahem – Blackberry Curve), can tell you that triangulation only gets you so far.

    But what if this Stingray can also catch data, not just voice? Location services info from phones to apps is common. If the Stingray can intercept what your phone is sending to, say, Facebook (which uses that info for “check-ins”), then police can follow you within 7.8 meters of where you stand (according to GPS.gov).

    Much other information about the Stingray unit is kept confidential. Federal and local law enforcement is required by Harris Corp. to sign non-disclosure agreements about its capabilities. Police records that mention it are often redacted when they are made public. Lots of people question the wisdom – and legality – of a corporate NDA superseding American rights and transparency laws.

    Image via Harris Corp.

  • Samsung’s Mega-Tablets Could be Flops

    Samsung’s Mega-Tablets Could be Flops

    Last year rumors held that both Samsung and Apple were working on mega-tablets, larger versions of their popular tablet lines that could contain displays larger than one foot across. The tales turned out to be true in Samsung’s case, though it seems now that the Korean company may end up regretting that fact.

    DigiTimes Research today released a report detailing just why Samsung’s recently announced 12.2-inch tablets are unlikely to win over the market in the near future.

    The report points out that while Samsung has aimed the tablets at the business market, notebook PCs at a similar price point are already available for the same market. The less expensive Galaxy TabPRO retails for nearly $650 – far more expensive than the Chromebooks that have begun to rise in popularity in recent quarters.

    To make the tablets more viable for a business setting, Samsung has packed its mega-tablets with software designed to allow for enterprise use-cases. The offerings include its mobile security software, cloud apps, and better multitasking software that includes multi-window support for running apps in separate sections of the display. Despite these efforts, notebooks and desktop computers still remain the top choices from a productivity standpoint, leaving Samsung’s mega-tablets under-powered and feature-poor in a crowded market.

    As stated in the DigiTimes report, the 12.2-inch tablets simply have no competitive edge against PCs specifically tailored to an enterprise setting, especially when hardware power is taken into account. Add to this some of the troubles that app-makers have had accommodating the vast array of Android tablets (in particular Samsung’s proprietary software) and the new mega-tablets could simply not find a place in the current market.

    On the other hand, it is still unclear whether larger tablets will ever have a place in the market. This news comes on the heels of rumors that Apple’s mega-tablet project might have been shelved. The company reportedly had a hard time convincing developers to support yet another iPad size and spec.

  • AT&T Drops Price For Individual Mobile Plans

    The Sprint/T-Mobile merger talk is dying down, and with good reason: competition in the U.S. mobile space is now benefiting consumers immensely. Led by T-Mobile, U.S. mobile providers are now dropping prices and introducing new pricing schemes with an eye toward sweeping up those last few prospective American smartphone users while increasingly going after other carriers’ subscribers.

    T-Mobile this weekend announced that it has upped its data caps for its Simple Choice plans and now AT&T has also announced a price drop for its individual smartphone plans.

    AT&T customers who sign up for a one-device line will now pay only $65 for unlimited talk and text as well as a capped 2GB of data. This price is down from the $80 per month the service cost just days ago. The cost for the same service for two devices costs $90. This price reduction follows AT&T’s announcement last month that it has cut prices for its family and business plans.

    “We’re continuing the trend of offering more value to our new and existing customers.,” said David Christopher, CMO at AT&T Mobility. “Not only are families and small businesses able to save more on their monthly data plans, we’re now delivering that same great value to individual customers on the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network.”

    AT&T’s new offering is a nice windfall for AT&T customers, but it doesn’t quite match the prices T-Mobile recently announced. For customers with a single line at T-Mobile, 3GB of data costs only $60. What’s more, hitting that limit at T-Mobile results only in significant data throttling – not the high overage fees charged by AT&T.

    AT&T’s broader network coverage in the U.S. will likely help make up for this price discrepancy, though the company will no doubt have to endure further insults from T-Mobile CEO John Legere over pricing and data caps.

  • Android Tops iOS in Banner Year For Tablets

    Analysts are seeing established smartphone market growth slow to single digits as consumers move on to newer device categories. Predictions show that fitness bands and smart watches will be the gadget segments to watch for growth in the coming years. Right now, however, the tablet market is where the competition for growth is.

    Market research firm Gartner today released a new report estimating that 195.4 million tablets were sold through to customers last year. This represents a 68% sales growth from the tablets sold during 2012.

    Much of last year’s tablet sales were, of course, led by Android devices. The 7-inch tablet segment last year saw prices racing downward as companies vied to get their products into the hands of consumers who might not need the power of larger or more expensive tablets.

    Gartner’s report estimates that nearly 121 million Android tablets were sold last year, accounting for 61.9% of worldwide tablet sales. That’s up significantly from the 53 million in tablet sales Android tablets enjoyed in 2012 (making up only 45.8% of the market).

    At the same time Apple tablet sales market share has dropped by a wide margin, to just 36% in 2013. This is down from the 52.8% of the market the company controlled in 2012, though Apple’s tablet shipments rose slightly to 70.4 million in 2013. Apple still remains, by far, the largest seller of tablets worldwide, though Samsung is quickly catching up with its 37.4 million tablet sales (19.1% of the market) last year.

    “In 2013, tablets became a mainstream phenomenon, with a vast choice of Android-based tablets being within the budget of mainstream consumers while still offering adequate specifications,” said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner. “As the Android tablet market becomes highly commoditized, in 2014, it will be critical for vendors to focus on device experience and meaningful technology and ecosystem value – beyond just hardware and cost – to ensure brand loyalty and improved margins.”

  • Pat LaFontaine Leaves Job As President Of Buffalo Sabres Hockey Ops

    The Buffalo Sabres released an official statement on Saturday evening announcing Pat LaFontaine’s resignation from his position as hockey operations president of the Sabres. He is due to go back to being VP of development and community affairs in the National Hockey League.

    LaFontaine’s brief tenure brought about several changes in the Sabres’ lineup including appointing Tim Murray as general manager and Ted Nolan as interim coach. The announcement came out just hours after the Sabres made the trading deadline on Wednesday noon by sending goalie Ryan Miller and forward Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues for Chris Stewart, William Carrier, and Slovak Olympian Jaroslav Halak.

    In addition to the aforementioned developments, LaFontaine managed to raise the Sabres’ morale by planning the introduction of national and international events to Buffalo prior to his sudden departure. There has been speculation over the real reason behind LaFontaine’s resignation including his intention to re-sign potential free agent Miller despite Murray’s plans of trading him.

    There has also been concern over Nolan’s tenure with the Sabres now that LaFontaine is no longer president of their hockey operations. However, Murray assured Nolan that will continue to serve as head coach of the team. In an interview with Nolan on Sunday, he expressed a bit of dismay due to LaFontaine’s departure, but declared that he was going to put his “personal situation behind right now” in order to focus on coaching the team.

    Sabres forward Drew Stafford became emotional after finding out that Ryan Miller had been traded to St. Louis. The following day, he was met by the announcement of LaFontaine’s resignation. The Buffalo Sabres have not been off to a good start this season, as they are currently in last place in the league. Sabres president Ted Black did not give any more details about LaFontaine’s sudden decision, although he rebuffed speculation that LaFontaine and team owner Terry Pegula had been having disagreements.

    Image via YouTube

  • Cops Allegedly Mistake Wii Remote for Gun, Kill Teen in His Own Doorway

    Police shot and killed a 17-year-old ROTC student this past Friday, and his family is saying that the official account doesn’t match reality.

    The Police Department in Euharlee, a small town in northern Georgia, claims that Christopher Roupe pointed a gun at an officer when they knocked on his door to serve a probation violation warrant on his father. According to family and their attorney, all Christopher had in his hand was a Wiimote.

    “It just doesn’t add up,” the Roupe family’s attorney Cole Law told WSB-TV Atlanta. “The eyewitnesses on the scene clearly state that he had a Wii controller in his hand. He heard a knock at the door. He asked who it was, there was no response so he opened the door and upon opening the door he was immediately shot in the chest.”

    Of course, some Wii accessories are made to look similar to guns.

    The officer who shot the teen has been placed on administrative leave.

    WSB-TV quotes a neighbor who ran to the home after hearing the shot, and says that Roupe clearly had a Wii Remote in his hand.

    Apparently, the officer was “devastated.”

    “This is tragic,” said another neighbor. “She came out of this house. She put her head in her hands and she was sobbing. Supposedly, he opened the door with a BB gun and in my opinion I think he was playing a game with his neighborhood buddies.”

    The ROTC student was planning on joining the Marines. The family is consulting with their attorney to decide on whether or not to pursue a lawsuit.

    On the PD’s website, Chief Terry Harget says that the Euharlee Police Department is “a police organization with a modern, well educated, highly competent staff.” I guess we’ll know more about that assertion as additional facts come to light.

    Image via WSB-TV Atlanta, Video

  • Chrome OS For Enterprise Devices Get Four Years Of Support

    Did your company make the switch to Chrome OS devices in the last few years? You may have made the switch thinking that Google wouldn’t pull the rug out from under you like Microsoft does when it ends support for past versions of Windows. While it’s true that Chrome OS is an evolving platform with no end of life date, the hardware it runs on will one day stop being supported.

    If you ever wanted to know when your Chromebook is going to become obsolete, look no further than Google’s Chrome OS End of Life Policy page. Each Chrome OS product currently available is listed with its End of Life date. After the date listed, the hardware will stop being officially supported by the Google Enterprise team.

    Here’s the full list:

    Chrome OS For Enterprise Devices Get Four Years Of Support

    Google notes that the above list isn’t set in stone. End of Life dates can be pushed back if Google deems it necessary. You won’t have to worry about dates being pushed forward though as Google gives all Chrome OS devices four years of official support.

    So, what happens to a device after the Google Enterprise team stops supporting it? For starters, it will no longer receive automatic software updates. It’s unknown if Google will allow admins to manually download the latest versions of Chrome OS. Even more pressing, however, is the fact device management through admit control will no longer work.

    In short, you can keep on using your Chrome OS devices after their End of Life date. It just won’t be a pleasant experience. Just as those businesses who use Windows will have to upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 at some point this year, businesses using Chrome OS devices will have to buy all new devices every four years.

    [h/t: Digital Trends]
    Image via Google

  • ‘Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones’ Tops Friday Box Office With $8.7M

    As the first nationwide box office release of 2014, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones garnered substantial box office sales, with an estimated $8.7 million. Movie enthusiasts are actually expecting the film’s overall weekend sales to top $19 million.

    While the numbers were quite impressive, the ever-popular scare film series did suffer a minor setback, due to the severe weather conditions currently plaguing the East Coast.

    The increase in snowfall definitely served as a contributing factor to the slight box office sales decline in major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Boston, and Detroit. The near-freezing temperatures in the Midwest are another factor for this week’s economic downturn in box office sales.

    The film, which accumulated $5 million in production costs, is actually the foundation for yet another scare series. The Marked Ones is actually a flagship that producers are looking to develop into a new film franchise. The film which stars, Andrew Jacobs and Gabrielle Walsh, was produced by Blumhouse Productions CEO, Jason Blum and Oren Peli.

    According to Hollywood Reporter, The Marked Ones chronicles a different aspect of paranormal activity, with an emphasis on the overall effects of demonic possession. It also delves into the cultural history and underground practices of black magic rituals, which are accredited for fighting such demonic opposition.

    The film is expected to garner a substantial sales spike for the film franchise, which has already generated more than an estimated $350 million domestically since the first series release on September 25, 2009.

    (image)

    After extensive review, the found-footage film received a C- CinemaScore. Although most wouldn’t consider a C- a highly lauded score, it’s actually not unusual for a horror film.

    Disney’s animated musical Frozen held tight to the No. 2 spot for Friday box office sales, with an estimated $6.7 million. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug landed in the third sport with reported sales of $5.1 million.

    Image via Twitter | Paranormal Activity   Wikimedia Commons | Paranormal Activity: Marked Ones

  • Google Zeitgeist 2013 Is Out, Mandela Tops Search Trends

    It’s that time of year. Google has released the 2013 Zeitgeist.

    Google says it’s the “most global Zeitgeist to date,” as it features over 1,000 top 10 lists and top trending searches from 72 countries.

    “It’s perhaps unsurprising that the #1 trending search of 2013 was an international symbol of strength and peace: Nelson Mandela,” says Google’s Amit Singhal. “Global search interest in the former President of South Africa was already high this year, and after his passing, people from around the world turned to Google to learn more about Madiba and his legacy.”

    “Tragedies like the Boston Marathon, the 6th trending term globally, and Typhoon Haiyan, #2 on our global events list, also captured the world’s attention,” he adds. “And our human desire to help came through, with [donate to the Philippines] ranking highly around the world.”

    We’re not going to include all 1,000+ lists here, but let’s look at a few of them.

    Here’s the top 10 global trending searches of the year:

    1. Nelson Mandela
    2. Paul Walker
    3. iPhone 5s
    4. Cory Monteith
    5. Harlem Shake
    6. Boston Marathon
    7. Royal Baby
    8. Samsung Galaxy s4
    9. PlayStation 4
    10. North Korea

    Top Global People:

    1. Nelson Mandela
    2. Paul Walker
    3. Malala Yousafzai
    4. James Gandolfini
    5. Miley Cyrus
    6. Oscar Pistorius
    7. Jennifer Lawrence
    8. Aaron Hernandez
    9. Charlie Hunnam
    10. Adrian Peterson

    Top Global Consumer Electronics:

    1. iPhone 5s
    2. Samsung Galaxy S4
    3. Playstation 4
    4. Xbox One
    5. Nexus 5
    6. HTC One
    7. iPad Air
    8. Blackberry 10
    9. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
    10. Nokia Lumia 1020

    Top Global Events:

    1. Boston Marathon
    2. Typhoon Haiyan
    3. Government Shutdown
    4. 2014 FIFA World Cup
    5. Chinese New Year
    6. Australian Open
    7. Eurovision Song Contest
    8. Wimbledon
    9. Syria Conflict
    10. EuroBasket

    Top Global Movies:

    1. Man of Steel
    2. Iron Man 3
    3. World War Z
    4. Django Unchained
    5. Despicable Me 2
    6. Gravity
    7. Chennai Express
    8. Les Misérables
    9. The Conjuring
    10. Argo

    Top Global TV Shows:

    1. Under The Dome
    2. Defiance
    3. Big Brother 15
    4. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
    5. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo
    6. Sleepy Hollow
    7. Masters of Sex
    8. Homeland
    9. The Blacklist
    10. Survivor

    Top Global Videos:

    1. Ylvis – The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)
    2. Harlem Shake (Original Army Edition)
    3. How Animals Eat Their Food | MisterEpicMann
    4. Baby&Me / The New Evian Film
    5. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball (Chatroulette Version)
    6. Volvo Trucks – The Epic Split feat. Van Damme
    7. YOLO (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar)
    8. Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise
    9. The NFL: A Bad Lip Reading
    10. Mozart vs. Skrillex. Epic Rap Battles of History Season 2

    Now, for some U.S. trends…

    Authors

    1. Tom Clancy
    2. John Green
    3. Ree Drummond
    4. Vince Flynn
    5. Orson Scott Card
    6. Sylvia Day
    7. Stephen King
    8. Neil Gaiman
    9. Veronica Roth
    10. Maya Banks

    Blogs

    1. Engadget
    2. Gizmodo
    3. Perez Hilton
    4. Reality Steve
    5. Lifehacker
    6. Cupcakes and Cashmere
    7. I Can Has Cheezburger
    8. The Sartorialist
    9. The Daily Beast
    10. Atlantic-Pacific

    Books

    1. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
    2. The Great Gatsby
    3. Divergent
    4. Soul Healing Miracles: Ancient and New Sacred Wisdom, Knowledge, and the Practical Techniques for Healing the Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical Bodies
    5. The Fault in Our Stars
    6. Wonder
    7. Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander
    8. The Book Thief
    9. Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow
    10. The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus, Book 4)

    Famous Internet Animals

    1. Grumpy Cat
    2. Lil Bub
    3. Tuna the Dog
    4. Colonel Meow
    5. Princess Monster Truck
    6. Menswear Dog
    7. Sir Stuffington
    8. Yogurt the Dog
    9. Bully the Bulldog
    10. Maddie the Coonhound

    Memes

    1. Zerg Rush
    2. Cinnamon Challenge
    3. Slender Man
    4. QWOP
    5. Forever Alone
    6. LOLCats
    7. Me Gusta
    8. Derp
    9. Philosoraptor
    10. Grumpy Cat

    Mobile/Tablet Apps

    1. Bitstrips
    2. Vine
    3. Candy Crush
    4. MeetMe
    5. Snapchat
    6. Ruzzle
    7. Instagram
    8. Feedly
    9. Tinder
    10. InstaFriends

    Movies

    1. Man of Steel
    2. Iron Man 3
    3. World War Z
    4. Jobs
    5. The Conjuring
    6. The Great Gatsby
    7. Despicable Me 2
    8. The Purge
    9. Pacific Rim
    10. Mama

    Social Media Sites

    1. Tumblr
    2. Facebook
    3. LinkedIn
    4. SoundCloud
    5. Google+
    6. Goodreads
    7. Wattpad
    8. Yelp
    9. MocoSpace
    10. deviantART

    Note: No Twitter? Even with the IPO?

    Songs

    1. Harlem Shake
    2. Wrecking Ball
    3. Thrift Shop
    4. Royals (note: Google links to a page for the Kansas City Royals here…oops).
    5. Skyfall
    6. Tom Ford
    7. Holy Grail
    8. Blurred Lines
    9. Roar
    10. Radioactive

    TV Series Finales

    1. Breaking Bad (obviously)
    2. Buckwild
    3. Ready for Love
    4. Zero Hour
    5. Deception
    6. Dexter
    7. Red Widow
    8. Smash
    9. All My Children
    10. Golden Boy

    TV Shows, Most Searched

    1. Breaking Bad (obviously)
    2. Duck Dynasty
    3. Big Bang Theory
    4. Good Morning America
    5. South Park
    6. True Blood
    7. Big Brother 15
    8. New Girl
    9. Castle
    10. Scandal

    TV Shows, Trending

    1. Breaking Bad (obviously)
    2. Game of Thrones
    3. Orange is the New Black
    4. Scandal
    5. House of Cards
    6. Downton Abbey
    7. Suits
    8. NCIS
    9. Dexter
    10. New Girl

    Video Games

    1. Grand Theft Auto V
    2. Cookie Clicker
    3. Atari Breakout
    4. Candy Crush
    5. BioShock Infinite
    6. Cube World
    7. Battlefield 4
    8. Neverwinter
    9. SimCity
    10. Skylanders SWAP Force

    That’s really just a small sampling. You can head over to the Zeitgeist homepage and spend a good part of your day reliving the past year if you like.

    Check out some of the other year-end roundups here.

  • Jamie Lynn Spears Performs “Oops I Did It Again”

    Remember Jamie Lynn Spears, the little sis of Britney? She was on her way to stardom herself and even had her own television show, Zoey 101 where she played the character Zoey Brooks. On the show, Jamie played a good girl who was rarely into trouble and always saved the day with a generous notion or heartwarming thought.

    When Jamie became pregnant at the age of 16, many of her fans just couldn’t believe it. They had thought Jamie was the same good girl as her character Zoey. Jamie decide to take a break from showbiz and moved to Liberty, Mississippi to raise her baby. Jamie has grown up a lot since having her daughter and she is back to performing.

    She recently covered one of her sister Britney’s popular songs, Oops I Did It Again during a performance at Eddie’s Attic on Thursday, Dec. 5 in Decatur, Georgia. While Jamie may have lived a different lifestyle from her sister, she seems to have just as much talent. In fact, Jamie’s voices sounds strikingly similar to Britney’s.

    After her performance, Jamie took a few moments to show her sister some appreciation. She said,

    “You gotta throw it back to your sister at some point, right?” “My sister’s been a big influence on my life, so of course you gotta throw it back to her,” she added. “So a big round of applause for my sister.”

    Jamie has said several times that she has always been interested in music and singing and recently released her new song, “How Could I Want More.” She has said that she plans to pursue her music career while raising her daughter Maddie who is now 5 years old. It looks like Jamie Lynn Spears has matured into a devoted mother and talented performer with a bright future ahead of her.

    Image from Wikimedia Commons.

  • Paul Walker Autopsy Reveals Cause of Death

    After much speculation, the cause of actor Paul Walker’s death has finally been determined. Due to the devastating nature of actor Paul Walker’s fatal accident, most would assume that he would have died instantly on impact. However, his autopsy revealed otherwise.

    According to CNN, the ‘Fast and Furious’ actor initially survived the horrible crash only to die ‘moments later’ due to a series of combined injuries. The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office issued a one-page preliminary report, which specified Walker’s immediate cause of death. The coroner’s office listed Walker’s cause of death as “the combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries.”

    The autopsy also determined that Roger Rodas was, indeed, the driver of the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. Rodas’ autopsy concluded that he suffered “multiple tramatic injuries,”  and died on impact during the crash when the vehicle collided with the light standard. The explosion and burning of the high performance vehicle were not listed as acute factors in his death.

    The coroner’s report also confirmed what a number of witnesses stated shortly after the accident. Rodas was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the crash, and Walker was in the passenger seat.

    Toxicology reports for Walker and Rodas will not be available for an estimated six to eight weeks. The Medical Examiner has officially ruled both deaths as accidents.

    The Walker family has also released a statement showing their gratitude for the number of fans around the world who have paid homage to the fallen star.

    “Paul Walker’s family appreciates the outpouring of love and goodwill from his many fans and friends,” the Walker family said in an official statement. “They have asked, in lieu of flowers or other gifts, that donations please be made to Paul’s charity Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW). Donations can easily be made through their website at http://www.ROWW.org/.”

    The family’s request was also posted on Walker’s Twitter timeline.

    (image)

    Image via Facebook| Paul Walker (1)  (2)

  • Apple Acquires Topsy, Which Recently Launched A Twitter Search Engine

    Apple has acquired social media analytics firm Topsy Labs for over $200 million, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, citing “people familiar with the matter”.

    Topsy made headlines a few months ago when it launched a new search engine for Twitter, indexing every public tweet and making them searchable.

    Apple only confirmed the acquisition with its typical canned statement: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

    The company has been on something of an acquisition spree lately. Last week, news came out that the company acquired PrimeSense. Other recent acquisitions include Cue (formerly Greplin), AlgoTrim, Matcha and Embark.

    It’s unclear what exactly Apple has in mind with the Topsy acquisition, but one thing worth noting for those interested in the search industry, is that Topsy has access to the Twitter firehose, and can therefore deliver on realtime search. Google no longer does this, and now one of its chief rivals has that search power in its clutches.

    Image: Topsy

  • Seth MacFarlane Develops New Comedy: Bordertown

    If you are a fan of Seth Macfarlane’s comedy, then get excited for a new hit show, with his upcoming comedy, Bordertown. As the title implies, the show will focus on the issue of immigration in the United States, and deal with race. The show has been picked up by FOX, the same network that airs his other hit show, Family Guy.

    MacFarlane has come to be known from fans and critics for his inappropriate humor and satirical jokes on American society. Much like Family Guy, Bordertown will tackle controversial issues in the form of an animated comedy.

    The series is about two families living in a Southwest desert town on the U.S.-Mexico border. It will focus on the intertwining daily lives of Buck Buckwald and Ernesto Gonzales, two neighbors. Buck is married and a father of three, while also a border patrol agent who feels threatened by the changing culture that has transformed the neighborhood. Ernesto is a Mexican immigrant and father, who is proud to have made it in America.

    In the show, their paths cross, causing friendship and conflict, and a guaranteed dose of comedy with Seth MacFarlane behind the camera.

    In addition to being the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane also voices several characters, and is the inspiration behind much of the humor on the show. Family Guy continues to be a success for the network, however other shows of his have not had the same success. The Cleveland Show was cancelled, and American Dad will be moving to CBS.

    The comedic genius has also acted in several films including playing the voice in Ted with Mark Wahlberg, and is noted for his political views, and has even appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher.

    Seth MacFarlane’s new comedy Bordertown has been in development since 2009, and is set to debut during the 2014-2015 season. FOX has picked up a 13-episode order for the comedy series, and fans can all get ready for another hit from MacFarlane coming next Fall.

    Image via Youtube

  • Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst Developing TV Drama

    Fred Durst, the front-man for the popular 90’s group Limp Bizkit, is deciding to venture into the realm of television. He is working on developing a drama series that will center around his own life and career. He has recently took a hiatus from music in order to concentrate on production projects in both film and television.

    Limp Bizkit formed in 1994, and is known for their hit songs “Nookie,” “Rollin,” and “Break Stuff.”

    The series will be given the title The Noise, and the plot is said to chronicle the rise of a young artist in the 90’s after escaping a difficult home life to form a popular band with a unique sound.

    The show will be be an hour-long drama, and air on the CW network. In addition to being the creator, Fred Durst is also the executive producer on the show, with Miles Feld writing the script.

    Many people will be surprised to hear it, but this is actually the second time that Fred Durst, after leaving Limp Bizkit, has been involved with a television show about his life.

    Two years ago, CBS developed the sitcom Douchebag, featuring a musician that balancing his wild ways with his young family.

    Although Limp Bizkit has been a virtually unheard of band since the time of their popularity, they have released an album as recently as 2011, and are set to release another in 2014, “Stampede of The Disco Elephants.” They released a new single called “Ready To Go,” featuring Lil’ Jon earlier this summer.

    Fred Durst was the executive producer on the film Pawn Shop Chronicles, which was released earlier this years. Additionally, his film career has included directing The Education of Charlie Banks, starring Jesse Eisenberg, and The Longshots, starring Ice Cube. He has also played himself in a handful of films, and Limp Bizkit was featured on several film soundtracks.

    With Limp Bizkit releasing a new album next year, they look to be making a comeback, while Fred Durst continues to look for success in the film and television industry.

    Image via Youtube

  • F-35 Fighter Drops 1st Bomb Against A Ground Target

    Reuters reported yesterday evening that Lockheed Martin’s stealthy new F-35B Joint Strike Fighter laid waste to a tank at Edwards Air Force Base in California using a 500-pound guided bomb. The Pentagon confirmed this was the first time an F-35 has deployed a weapon.

    The report says the plane fired its laser-guided bomb unit (GBU-12) “Paveway II” from an internal weapons bay while flying at 25,000 feet. The bomb reached its target successfully in 35 seconds. The bomb reportedly contained no real explosives because the point of the test was to make sure the plane could accurately deliver a payload.

    Marine Corps Major Richard Rusnok, who flew the test model, said of the test that “It represents another step forward in development of this vital program… This guided weapons delivery test of a GBU-12 marks the first time the F-35 truly became a weapon system.”

    A 10-year development cycle for the F-35 fighter program has cost $392 billion, and Reuters reports the program is “making strides in testing, production and operations” while the Marine Corps plans to regularly fly the planes in 2015.

    The top arms buyer for the Pentagon, Frank Kendall, said he felt the F-35 program had displayed sufficient progress this week to budget for higher production, but that its software, computer-based logistics, and overall reliability are still questionable.

    During the test, the F-35 also live-fired an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile constructed by Raytheon, also at Edwards AFB. The plane’s ability to drop a 1,000-pound Boeing GBU-32 bomb will be tested next month.

    In recent years, defense experts have found themselves debating whether stealth aircraft will maintain their effectiveness in a world ruled by powerful digital technology and improved radar. The F-35 JSF is one of those aircraft that could turn out to be a huge letdown if its expensive stealth program were to become obsolete.

    Meanwhile, a second Reuters report from yesterday evening noted that the Pentagon might reintegrate developmental and operational testing of the F-35 JSF in order to save money. Check that story out here.

    [Image via this YouTube video showcasing some F-35 flight time]

  • Apple Tablet Shipments Falling, Still Tops Others

    Earlier this week it was reported that all other tablet shipments combined outpaced Apple’s iPad shipments during the third quarter of 2013. Though this may again change during the holiday quarter now that Apple has announced its refreshed iPad lineup, the overall trend is likely to continue as Android tablet manufacturers expand their offerings.

    Today, market research firm IHS weighed in with its estimates, showing that Apple is still leading in tablet market share, despite losing market share during the third quarter. The firm estimates that the company shipped 14.25 million iPads during the quarter, a slight decrease from the estimated 14.62 million it shipped during the second quarter. The drop, though, means that Apple market share fell significantly, down to just unger 30% from 33.5% during the second quarter. Apple is now estimated to have shipped over 170 million iPads since the original device debuted in 2010.

    “The erosion in Apple’s unit shipment market share was inevitable,” said Rhoda Alexander, director for tablet research at IHS. “Cheaper almost always wins the volume race, and competitors were quick to adjust pricing when it became clear that it was impossible to achieve anything close to Apple’s unit growth at the same price level. The resulting surge in sub-$250 alternatives catapulted Android to the leading operating system in tablets in the third quarter of 2012, but left vendors searching for profit in an increasingly competitive market.”

    Samsung unsurprisingly has the second-highest tablet market share with 22.2% during the third quarter. The Korean company shipped an estimated 10.7 million tablets during the quarter. Samsung is estimated to have now shipped 54 million tablets since 2010.

  • E-Cigarette Ad Pops Up Inside Kids iPad Game

    If you asked the world’s second-largest tobacco company about their new marketing strategies, I’m going to assume that they wouldn’t include running ads in kids apps in their response.

    Nevertheless, an ad for Vype, the first e-cigarette marketed by British American Tobacco, recently appeared as an in-app advertisement in a kids iPad game.

    The ad was spotted and tweeted out by author and Learning Without Frontiers founder Graham Brown-Martin:

    The in-app e-cig ad was then retweeted by the Twitter account for E-Cigarette Forum, the biggest online forum devoted entirely to e-cigarettes.

    British American Tobacco quickly responded, tweeting that they had yanked all online advertising for their Vype product.

    Swift move, still, the question remains – just how in the hell did this happen?

    Image via Graham Brown-Martin, Twitter