Entertainment One Picks Up U.S. Rights to 'Gabrielle'

TORONTO -- Entertainment One is to release Gabrielle, Canada's contender for the best foreign language Oscar, in the U.S. market.

EOne Films International, which is distributing the French-language drama from director Louise Archambault and Montreal-based producer micro_scope internationally, did the deal for the stateside rights with eOne Films U.S.

The drama about a developmentally challenged woman’s quest for independence and sexual freedom bowed in Locarno, where it won an audience award.

The Quebec film then had a North American premiere in Toronto.

EOne plans a winter release stateside.

The French language romancer stars newcomer Gabrielle Marion-Rivard in a semi-autobiographical role where she performs opposite Alexandre Landry as her lover.

Micro_scope also produced two earlier Canadian best foreign language candidates at the Academy Awards in Philippe Falardeau's Monsieur Lazhar and Denis Villeneuve's Incendies.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/international/~3/YC_cGeUkrIw/story01.htm
Category: once upon a time   survivor   Grand Theft Auto 5 cheats   Jack Nicholson   Chucho Benitez  

At Apple, gold iPhone 5S is known as 'the Kardashian phone'

No, it didn't merely have some secret code name with numbers and letters. Apparently, the (relatively) blingiest of the iPhones was associated from the beginning with, well, a lack of taste.

Here's the "gold iPhone" Kardashian was so proud of last December.

(Credit: Kim Kardashian/Twitter )

Apple employees are often accused of excessive reverence for the brand and even for themselves.

They are said to distort reality, as if it is one more element to be merely designed and presented.

But news reaches me that there might be an inner core of magical, revolutionary realism that permeates the walls of Cupertino.

For, as The New York Times' Nick Bilton tweeted on Friday, the gold iPhone 5S, from its very inception, had an extremely down-to-earth nickname at home.

No, it's wasn't known as "The Fifth Wonder of the Telephonic World." Nor was it referred to as "The Glittering Prize," "The Golden Child," or "Goldfingerprint ID."

Instead, all through the design process it was apparently referred to as "the Kardashian Phone."

I feel sure that America's great icon of discernment will rush out a press release, a YouTube video, and perhaps a whole episode of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" to celebrate Apple's elevation of its gadget to her level of stardom.

Some, though, will wonder whether Apple employees felt a certain snootiness with respect to this step toward the nightclub VIP section.

It's been theorized that the gold iPhone 5S was primarily targeted at parts of the world where expressions of bling are seen as quite the thing. Indeed, Conan was moved to suggest that this phone was designed not in California, but in Miami.

More Technically Incorrect

But one can't avoid the notion that some at Apple feared that, with this marginally garish device, Apple was stooping to pander, rather than to conquer.

The ultimate product is a little more muted than your average Miami bauble. But the impression associated with the word "gold" cannot be ignored.

La Kardashian has this week been deeply involved in creating brand new selfies, in order to show that her body has returned to its core voluptuousness.

In the most moving of them, she is holding a phone, but I cannot be sure it's a gold iPhone 5S.

However, a little research shows that Kardashian does already have a gold iPhone 5. For last December she tweeted: "I love my gold iPhone 5 by http://anostyle.com -- thanks @boygenius http://twitpic.com/bjwynt."

A true style icon is always ahead of her time.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57608302-71/at-apple-gold-iphone-5s-is-known-as-the-kardashian-phone/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple
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British Retailer Takes Site Offline to Clear Out Disgusting E-Books

Today in international tech news: A British retailer takes its UK site offline because of unwitting sales of nasty e-books. Also: An Australian police recruitment ad ends up on the home page of an illegal biker gang; BlackBerry insists it is fine in open letter; Edward Snowden's former email service files suit; and Norway's new coalition vows broadband for all.

British retailer WH Smith has shuttered its UK site and will keep it offline until all particularly objectionable sexual content is removed from its offerings.

Last week, technology news site The Kernel reported that WH Smith -- along with Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers -- was selling pornographic e-books, including titles that featured rape, incest and bestiality.

WH Smith takes e-book content from Kobo.com, a Toronto-based e-reading company. Kobo.com reacted by conceding that some authors and publishers had violated its self-publishing policies, but added that it still strived "not to negatively impact the freedom of expression" found at Kobo.com.

Not long after issuing that statement, Kobo removed all self-published e-books from its shelves.

Amazon, too, has been cleansing itself of such content.

[Source: BBC]

Aussie Police Recruitment Ad Lands on Criminal Website

Online banner advertisements for Australia's Victoria Police appeared on the website of a motorcycle gang, the Mongols Nation Motorcycle Club.

Police Minister Kim Wells accused Google of not adhering to ad placement guidelines set out by Victoria Police.

The twist is that Victoria law enforcement has launched a campaign against bike gangs, and even established an investigation team -- "Echo Taskforce" -- assigned with stamping out the gangs.

The ads reportedly garnered about 200 clicks, meaning the police would theoretically be on the hook for paying Google about US$2.00. Google, however, reportedly will refund the dough.

[Source: B&T via The Register]

BlackBerry: It's All Good!

BlackBerry penned an open letter -- ostensibly for customers and partners, but republished in dozens of outlets in numerous countries -- to declare that the company is "here to stay" despite red ink-soaked books and massive layoffs.

BlackBerry Chief Marketing Officer Frank Boulben told Reuters that the letter was inspired in part by the "noise and confusion" created by news stories about BlackBerry. He was talking, presumably, about stories like BlackBerry laying off dozens of U.S. workers, or Blackberry laying off 40 percent of its workforce, or BlackBerry being in even worse shape than experts had initially thought.

Boulben stressed that the company has cash on hand, and that it has no debt.

Fairfax Financial Holding has made a $9-a-share offer for BlackBerry, but Google, Cisco and SAP have all reportedly been in talks with BlackBerry about acquiring some or even all of the smartphone maker.

[Source: Reuters]

Snowden's Email Service Files Suit

Attorneys representing Lavabit, the Texas-based email service used by Edward Snowden, have filed their opening brief in a case that is reportedly linked to the Justice Department's handling of the Snowden investigation.

Lavabit founder Ladar Levison this summer declined federal requests to fork over encryption information to gain access to data stored on the company's servers. Instead, he simply shut down the service. He was found in contempt of court, but now is fighting in the hope of proving that requests to access Lavabit information were unlawful.

Snowden, the man at the center of all this, is still in Russia. He recently received a visit from his father.

[Source: Slate]

New Norwegian Coalition Vows Better Broadband

The coalition government elected in Norway's recent parliamentary elections put better nationwide broadband on its agenda.

The government said that all citizens should have access to a 100 Mbps connection, a significant increase over the previous target. The government also said that it will take on more responsibility to ensure nationwide broadband access, while the previous administration had a more free market approach.

[Source: ZDNet]

---

David Vranicar is a freelance journalist and author of The Lost Graduation: Stepping off campus and into a crisis. You can check out his ECT News archive here, and you can email him at david[dot]vranicar[at]newsroom[dot]ectnews[dot]com.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/79195.html
Tags: Ray Rice   floyd mayweather   Mary Lambert   princess diana   Tropical Storm Flossie  

Jake Gyllenhaal Films "Nightcrawler" in LA

Starting off the work week, Jake Gyllenhaal got down to business on the set of "Nightcrawler" in Los Angeles on Monday (October 14).

Looking casual, the "Day After Tomorrow" actor sported dark slacks, a button up and sunglasses as he shot scenes for the upcoming thriller.

Though details are still under wraps, the flick is set to follow Jake as a freelance crime reporter who is exploring Los Angeles' criminal nightlife.

"Nightcrawler" is directed and written by Dan Gilroy and will also star Rene Russo.

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/jake-gyllenhaal/jake-gyllenhaal-films-nightcrawler-la-942600
Category: Bosses Day 2013   Supernatural   Conjuring  

Obama picks lawyer Johnson to head Homeland Security

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday named former Pentagon attorney Jeh Johnson to run the Department of Homeland Security, where the task of securing the nation's borders will give Johnson a central role in the president's immigration reform efforts.

Johnson, now a partner at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, served as general counsel at the Pentagon during Obama's first term. There, he was involved in ending the military's ban on gays serving in the armed forces and in formulating the administration's policy for the use of unmanned drones to strike at enemy targets.

While at the Pentagon, Johnson also worked on counterterrorism, cyber security and disaster response, all of which will be issues he will have to address as head of Homeland Security.

"Jeh has a deep understanding of the threats and challenges facing the United States," Obama said in announcing Johnson's nomination at the White House.

Johnson must win confirmation in the Senate. In an indication of challenges ahead of him, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama said Johnson would have to address concerns over management of the sprawling agency and allegations that immigration officers are releasing violent criminals.

"Enforcement has collapsed, offericer morale has plummeted, and the integrity of the entire immigration legal system is in jeopardy," Sessions said in a statement.

A spokesman for Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, the top Republican on the Senate's Homeland Security committee, said on Thursday the next department chief would be expected to bring about reform. Coburn has raised concerns about wasteful spending at the department, including grants for domestic law enforcement agencies used to buy drones for surveillance.

Speaking at the White House, Johnson described how being in Manhattan on September 11, 2001, had motivated him to pursue work in public service.

"I wandered the streets in New York and wondered, and asked, what can I do," he said. "Since then I have tried to devote myself to answer that question."

The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to the 9/11 attacks.

Obama has identified immigration reform a leading priority of the remainder of his second term, and said that he would focus on the issue now that a bruising fight with Congress over reopening government and avoiding default is over.

Obama, who won re-election last year with overwhelming Hispanic backing, had hoped to make reforms easing the plight of the 11 million immigrants who are in the United States illegally.

The Senate passed an immigration overhaul in June, but House of Representatives Republicans are divided over the granting of legal status to those in the country illegally.

(Reporting By Mark Felsenthal; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-picks-lawyer-johnson-head-homeland-security-193136347--finance.html
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'Yeah, Baby!': Local News Anchors React to Mike Myers' Baby News (Video)

New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection

Bring on the baby puns.

A rep for Mike Myers announced earlier this week that he and wife Kelly Tisdale are expecting their second child, prompting an avalanche of -- what else? -- Austin Powers jokes.

PHOTOS: 33 Power Canadians in Hollywood

On Thursday, Conan aired a minute-and-a-half-long sizzle reel featuring local news anchors delivering the news, and the variety was scant.

Watch below to see newspeople across the country relay: "Mike Myers says, 'Yeah, baby!' " nearly 30 times.

Myers and Tisdale, who married in 2010, are already parents to 2-year-old Spike.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/GyAFgH9WaPM/story01.htm
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Money For Dam Project In Shutdown Deal Riles Conservatives

The Olmsted Locks and Dam project is under construction on the Ohio River between Illinois and Kentucky.

US Army Corps of Engineers

The Olmsted Locks and Dam project is under construction on the Ohio River between Illinois and Kentucky.

US Army Corps of Engineers

This week's congressional compromise to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling had a few other provisions as well.

One of them allows additional spending on a lock and dam project on the Ohio River between Kentucky and Illinois.

The amount is $2.1 billion — a rounding error compared to the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling. But it's still enough to rile budget watchdogs, as well as hardline conservatives who call it pork-barrel spending by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been working on the new lock-and-dam on the Ohio River since 1988. It's located between the towns of Olmsted and Monkeys Eyebrow, Ky., a few miles up from where the Ohio meets the Mississippi.

It's just downstream from the old set of locks and dams, which date back to the 1920s. Some of the machinery operating the locks still needs to be raised and lowered by hand — "by these crews of men and women that are out on an old steamboat," says James Bruggers, who covers energy and the environment for the Louisville Courier-Journal.

YouTube

In this video, the Army Corps of Engineers demonstrates how the current system works.

"These two old locks and dams that are just upriver from the Olmsted project are a really great example of our nation's crumbling infrastructure," Bruggers says. "They're already sort of a chokepoint for this commercial barge traffic."

The barges carry coal, grain and other cargo — about 90 million tons per year.

This is one of the biggest construction jobs going right now in the United States, with massive blocks of concrete being lowered into the river.

One of the nearby cities is Metropolis, Ill. Bruggers says it's "sort of appropriate" because the project has "a Superman theme."

"When you go visit the site, you actually see a 14-story-tall crane," he says.

Like a lot of mega-sized construction projects, Olmsted's cost has gone up. In fact, it's gone up 300 percent since work started.

And it seems only natural that one of Kentucky's senators, the leader of all Senate Republicans, would want to keep the project going, right?

But McConnell says he didn't put the funding provision into this week's spending bill. Two senators on the appropriations committee — Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California, and Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee — say they did it.

Still, Steve Ellis at the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense says the legislation is only 35 pages long. McConnell had to have known the Olmsted money was in there.

And Ellis says he had to have decided to leave it in.

"It doesn't take a media professional to recognize that the optics of this look really bad," he says.

More substantively, Ellis says this was the wrong time and place to commit the money, especially for such a troubled project.

"The thing is, there are tons, I mean, scores and scores of projects and programs," he says. "Why this particular project was plucked out of, you know, the hundreds that are available is beyond me."

And conservative groups are blasting McConnell over what's been dubbed the "Kentucky Kickback."

The Tea Party Victory Fund has a fundraising email calling McConnell a "fake conservative" and the provision "the cost of selling out the conservative movement."

The Senate Conservatives Fund issued a statement saying that "this is what's wrong with Washington and it's what wrong with Mitch McConnell."

The Senate Conservatives Fund is already on the air in Kentucky, backing McConnell's primary opponent, Tea Party candidate Matt Bevin.

McConnell has long supported the Olmsted project. The new money was requested by the Obama administration, and McConnell told Politico that it actually saves money — $160 million — by preventing a gap in spending.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/18/236988926/money-for-dam-project-in-shutdown-deal-riles-conservatives?ft=1&f=1014
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U.K. Vinyl Music Sales Hit Highest Level in a Decade

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Daft Punk

LONDON – Releases from Daft Punk, David Bowie and the Arctic Monkeys have boosted sales of vinyl LPs in the U.K. this year.

Year to date, almost 550,000 records have been sold, the first time since 2003 that the half-million mark has been crossed in Britain, according to the Official Charts Company and industry group BPI.

VIDEO: President Obama 'Sings' Daft Punk’s 'Get Lucky'

The year-to-date vinyl sales figures reflect a year-over-year improvement of more than 100 percent, and LPs now account for 0.8 percent of all albums sold in the U.K. this year. As recently as 2007, that share had shrunk to just 0.1 percent.

With around 15,000 LPs currently being bought every week, BPI estimated that more than 700,000 units could be sold by year's end. That would be the highest full-year sales figure since 2001 and could potentially generate $19.2 million (£12 million) in revenue, the group said.

Record Store Day, a one-day celebration of independent record shops in April, alone generated $3.2 million (£2 million) in vinyl sales, according to the BPI.

Daft Punk leads the year-to-date vinyl sales chart with its album "Random Access Memories. Oasis holds the record for the two top-selling LPs since the Official Charts Company began tracking sales. Their "(What’s the Story) Morning Glory" has sold more vinyl records than any other release since 1994, followed by the band's "Definitely Maybe."

PHOTOS: VMAs 2013: Best and Worst Moments

"The LP is back in the groove," said BPI CEO Geoff Taylor. "We're witnessing a renaissance for records -- they’re no longer retromania and are becoming the format of choice for more and more music fans."

He added: "Whilst sales only account for a small percentage of the overall market, vinyl sales are growing fast as a new generation discovers the magic of 12 inch artwork, liner notes and the unique sound of analog records, often accompanied by a download code for MP3s."

In an online survey of 1,700 U.K. vinyl buyers, the BPI found that seven in 10 people buy LPs at least once a month, and one in five make a vinyl purchase at least once a week. More than 85 percent said LPs were their favorite music format, with 47.5 percent saying that vinyl accounted for over half of their spending on music.

Not all buyers even own a turntable, as 3.7 percent of respondents in the survey said that they bought LPs despite not owning one. The poll also found that the typical vinyl buyer in Britain has 300 LPs and 80 singles in their collection.

New LPs from big stars are set to be released late this year ahead of the holiday season. Among them are albums from Arcade Fire, Paul McCartney and Pearl Jam.

E-mail: Georg.Szalai@THR.com
Twitter: @georgszalai

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/business/~3/O6nEWklaIZQ/story01.htm
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'Gravity' keeps spinning with $43.2M at box office

"Gravity" isn't leaving orbit.

The Warner Bros. astronaut adventure starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney landed in the top spot at the box office for the second weekend in a row, earning $43.2 million and raising its domestic total to $122.3 million.

Sony's pirate drama "Captain Phillips" starring Tom Hanks launched in second place with a $25.7 million.

The animated Sony movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" rolled into third place in its third weekend with $13.7 million, bringing its domestic haul to $77.6 million.

The weekend's only other new wide release, the gun-filled sequel "Machete Kills," opened in fourth place with $3.8 million.

___

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Monday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Rentrak, are:

1. "Gravity," Warner Bros., $43,188,256, 3,660 locations, $11,800 average, $122,323,175, 2 weeks.

2. "Captain Phillips," Sony, $25,718,314, 3,020 locations, $8,516 average, $25,718,314, 1 week.

3. "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2," Sony, $13,774,742, 3,874 locations, $3,556 average, $77,611,419, 3 weeks.

4. "Machete Kills," Open Road, $3,837,183, 2,538 locations, $1,512 average, $3,837,183, 1 week.

5. "Runner Runner," Fox, $3,770,288, 3,026 locations, $1,246 average, $14,159,246, 2 weeks.

6. "Prisoners," Warner Bros., $3,635,392, 2,855 locations, $1,273 average, $53,590,271, 4 weeks.

7. "Insidious: Chapter 2," FilmDistrict, $2,720,492, 2,156 locations, $1,262 average, $78,517,509, 5 weeks.

8. "Rush," Universal, $2,385,655, 2,130 locations, $1,120 average, $22,222,924, 4 weeks.

9. "Don Jon," Relativity, $2,369,453, 1,996 locations, $1,187 average, $20,170,603, 3 weeks.

10. "Baggage Claim," Fox, $2,033,062, 1,320 locations, $1,540 average, $18,230,540, 3 weeks.

11. "Enough Said," Fox, $1,911,256, 606 locations, $3,154 average, $8,162,855, 4 weeks.

12. "Pulling Strings," Lionsgate, $1,270,218, 428 locations, $2,968 average, $4,244,686, 2 weeks.

13. "We're the Millers", Warner Bros., $1,101,318, 1,150 locations, $958 average, $146,525,205, 10 weeks.

14. "Instructions Not Included," Lionsgate, $1,041,966, 711 locations, $1,465 average, $42,716,454, 7 weeks.

15. "Lee Daniels' The Butler," Weinstein Co., $623,672, 980 locations, $636 average, $113,544,443, 9 weeks.

16. "The Family," Relativity, $583,845, 1,050 locations, $556 average, $35,808,194, 5 weeks.

17. "Grace Unplugged," Roadside Attractions, $524,412, 502 locations, $1,045 average, $1,748,324, 2 weeks.

18. "Romeo and Juliet," Relativity, $520,116, 461 locations, $1,128 average, $520,116, 1 week.

19. "Despicable Me 2," Universal, $505,615, 434 locations, $1,165 average, $363,060,130, 15 weeks.

20. "Monsters University," Disney, $356,823, 235 locations, $1,518 average, $267,047,978, 17 weeks.

Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-10-14-Box%20Office/id-c7a53c85049c4747b64212ee6e8c3dcb
Category: amanda knox   taylor swift   blue moon   chris brown   brandon jennings  

MTV EMAs: Miley Cyrus to Perform Live

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Cyrus' performance with Robin Thicke at the VMAs shocked many.

COLOGNE, Germany – MTV has confirmed that Miley Cyrus will be bringing her twerk to Amsterdam.

The popstar, whose explicit dancing at this year's VMAs caused a sensation, will perform live at MTV's European Music Awards in Amsterdam on Nov. 10.

VIDEO: MTV EMAs: Miley Cyrus Smuggled into Amsterdam in Redfoo's Suitcase

MTV already let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, with its promo video for the show, which featured host, Redfoo of dance music act LMFAO, trying to smuggle a scantily-clad Cyrus through customs at Amsterdam airport.

Other confirmed performers at this year's EMAs include Katy Perry and The Killers.

Ariana Grande will be the backstage host for the show, which will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. local time. Will Ferrell will be among the celebrity presenters at the awards, in character as his Anchorman 2 newsman Ron Burgundy.

The European Music Awards is one of MTV's largest live events and will air across more than 60 channels and reach 700 million households worldwide. Bruce Gillmer and Richard Godfrey will executive produce the 2013 show from the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/music/~3/2kvDY2v7JUs/story01.htm
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Greenwald to Join Billionaire-Funded Journalism Project

Today in international tech news: A new billionaire-funded journalism venture will feature Glenn Greenwald, the Guardian columnist who broke the Edward Snowden story. Also: A Chinese video streaming service sues Xiaomi; IBM says slow China sales caused its quarterly woes; South Africa is slammed by a cyberassault; and Indonesia is funneling its share of Web-based attacks.

Tech billionaire Pierre M. Omidyar, founder and chair of eBay, will team up with Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald -- the first to open Edward Snowden's treasure chest of leaks -- to launch a mass media venture designed to foster top-flight journalism.

Omidyar has long supported journalism. He has made grants to independent media outlets in Africa, as well as to government watchdogs in the U.S. He also launched his own news website in his native Hawaii.

Omidyar announced the new project on his blog. Details are a bit sketchy, but Greenwald is reportedly on board. Documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras, a go-between for Snowden and Greenwald, is also expected join the fun.

[Source: The Omidyar Group via The New York Times]

Chinese Video Service Sues Xiaomi

Youku Tudou, a Chinese video streaming service, sued Chinese smartphone outfit Xiaomi for providing unlicensed content on Xiaomi Box, the company's stream-to-TV device.

In particular, Youku Tudou claims that Xiaomi Box owners had unauthorized access to more than 10 TV series. Youku Tudou is demanding that Xiaomi cough up about US$825,000, issue a public apology, and of course quit offering the content.

It is interesting (or funny, perhaps) that Youku Tudou is crying foul over unlicensed streams. The outfit came to be after a merger between two online streaming services -- Youku and Tudou -- each of which was notorious in China for peddling unlicensed content. Now, however, the tandem is trying to operate on the up-and-up, and it apparently expects everyone else to fall in line, too.

Xiaomi is a rising player in the smartphone game. In August, it hired away Google executive Hugo Barra to be its head of international business development. More recently, it sold 100,000 units of its new MiPhone 3 in less than 90 seconds.

[Source: Tech In Asia]

IBM Misses Mark, Blames China

IBM blamed weak sales in China for the company's unexpected revenue slide last quarter.

China's pending economic reform plan has caused uncertainty, thereby damaging sales, which fell 9 percent in China for the quarter, IBM said.

Chinese state-owned enterprises and other public-sector customers were tightening their belts while Beijing lay the groundwork for economic reforms, explained Chief Financial Officer Mark Loughridge.

Sales in the U.S. grew by 1 percent -- a 3 to 4 percent gain had been expected -- part of the reason why IBM's revenue fell for a sixth-straight quarter.

[Source: Financial Times]

South Africa Bamboozled by Cyberattack

South Africa was hit by one of the biggest cyberfraud attacks ever carried out there, according to The Payment Association of South Africa.

Cyberswindlers reportedly breached the payment card systems of thousands of hotels, restaurants and shops, causing what is believed to be millions of dollars in losses.

The malware used to execute the attack is a variation of "Dexter," named after a string of code found in one of its files that supposedly refers to the popular U.S. TV show.

[Source: BBC]

Report: Indonesia Top Attack Hub

Indonesia supplanted China as the world's top source of attack traffic in the second quarter, according to Akamai.

Indonesia accounted for 38 percent of sinister traffic, up from just 21 percent the previous quarter, says the firm's second-quarter report. China, the former No. 1, dipped from 34 to 33 percent; the U.S. went from 8.3 to 6.9.

This isn't to say, however, that 38 percent of attackers are originating in Indonesia. Online criminals could remotely route attacks through compromised machines in Indonesia, Akamai pointed out, even if they were themselves oceans away.

[Source: Akamai via The Register]

---

David Vranicar is a freelance journalist and author of The Lost Graduation: Stepping off campus and into a crisis. You can check out his ECT News archive here, and you can email him at david[dot]vranicar[at]newsroom[dot]ectnews[dot]com.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/79218.html
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Windows 8.1: The Complete Video Walkthrough

Windows 8.1 is a bunch of small changes that make for a big improvement over Windows 8. You can read our full review here, but Windows 8.1 doesn't really hit home until you use it, or at least see it in action.

Read more...

Source: http://gizmodo.com/windows-8-1-the-complete-video-walkthrough-1447047661
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'Dancing On The Edge' Is Fun For Both The Eyes And The Ears

Set in London in the early 1930s, Dancing on the Edge is a five-part miniseries about a black jazz band trying to crack the dance halls and radio playlists. Made for BBC-2, the episodes will air starting Saturday night on the Starz cable network.

Starz

Set in London in the early 1930s, Dancing on the Edge is a five-part miniseries about a black jazz band trying to crack the dance halls and radio playlists. Made for BBC-2, the episodes will air starting Saturday night on the Starz cable network.

Starz

One of my most enjoyable parts of being a critic is steering people toward something so good, but so relatively obscure, that they might never have checked it out unless they'd been nudged in that direction. My personal best example of that, ever, was the imported BBC miniseries The Singing Detective, by Dennis Potter, about 25 years ago.

I'm not directly comparing this weekend's new British import, Dancing On the Edge, to that earlier masterpiece, but they have a lot in common. Both are period costume pieces. Both are centered on music and present very full, very unpredictable characters and some exceptionally intriguing performances. Both are about large themes as well as small moments. And one final link between the two — the writer and director of Dancing on the Edge, Stephen Poliakoff, has long been considered one of the modern artistic descendants of Potter.

Not a lot of Poliakoff's work has made it over here — but what has made the trip has been singularly impressive. His 2003 telemovie, The Lost Prince, was a fact-based drama about a member of the royal family locked away because of his epilepsy. And another TV drama from that same era, Friends & Crocodiles, gave Damian Lewis of Homeland an early leading role as a brilliant but unstable businessman.

Poliakoff's newest drama, a miniseries made for BBC-2, takes basic facts unearthed by him while researching The Lost Prince and reworks them, mixing historical figures with fictional ones. Dancing on the Edge is about a jazz band in the early '30s, made up of British citizens and American and Caribbean musicians on work visas, trying to crack the dance halls and radio playlists. One man in their corner is Stanley, a white reporter and columnist played by Matthew Goode. He writes for Music Express, a new music magazine similar to Britain's influential Melody Maker — and decides to help push the Louis Lester Jazz Band into the winner's circle. But they have to confront reluctant hotel ballroom bookers and, among some of the customers, obvious prejudice.

The rise of the Louis Lester Jazz band, in the face of such odds, would be the central spine of most dramas of this type. But Poliakoff is up to something bigger and grander. For one thing, he's fascinated by the way some members of the royal family were drawn to jazz music, and to black performers, with equal enthusiasm. For another, he's interested in what's happening politically between the two world wars. There's also a murder mystery or two, thrown into the mix as a very important ingredient.

The five episodes, beginning Saturday night on the Starz cable network, are brimming with twists, surprises, delightful set pieces — and some very unexpected performances. John Goodman plays a wealthy American who is very much a part of the British scene in the '30s — and Jacqueline Bisset, as a reclusive aristocrat, is absolutely wonderful. There are parts, too, for Anthony Head from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Jenna-Louise Coleman from Doctor Who, and even Janet Montgomery, a British actress who was imported for, and wasted in, the recent CBS drama series Made in Jersey.

Dancing on the Edge will please TV fans who are eagerly awaiting the next round of Downton Abbey — and music fans as well. This isn't period music they're playing and singing in this miniseries — it's just made to sound that way, written by Adrian Johnston. It's a beautiful job. The music has to be good enough to make you root for the Louis Lester Jazz Band to make it big — and as the core of this new TV import, it works. Dancing on the Edge is as much fun to hear as it is to watch.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/17/236241062/dancing-on-the-edge-is-fun-for-both-the-eyes-and-ears?ft=1&f=1048
Category: Under the Dome   loretta lynn  

Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Standard Zoom

The Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Standard Zoom ($299.99 direct) is the entry-level zoom lens for Sony's E-mount camera system, which includes mirrorless NEX and Alpha models. Like most zoom lenses that are offered in kits with cameras, there are some compromises to its optical design. If you're getting it bundled with a camera at a $100 premium it's a solid value, but if you're starting with an E-mount body and in search of a zoom lens, the 16-50mm Retractable Zoom is worth serious consideration.

The 18-55mm covers a 28-80mm (35mm equivalent) field of view. It's optically stabilized, and its build quality is impressive. The lens barrel is metal, with a large zoom ring towards the base and a smaller, but comfortable, manual focus ring near the front element. It's available in silver when purchased on its own, but if you buy an Alpha 3000 or NEX-7 it can be had in black. It measures 2.4 by 2.4 inches (HD) and weighs 6.9 ounces. A reversible hood is included. The 16-50mm is tiny in comparison—it's 1.2 by 2.6 inches when retracted and weighs just 4.1 ounces.

We used Imatest to check the sharpness of the lens when paired with the 20-megapixel Alpha 3000. It just misses the 1,800 lines per picture height we require for an image to be sharp at 18mm f/3.5. It scores 1,744 lines using a center-weighted test, but as is typical with entry-level zoom lenses, the edges are a bit soft at 1,350 lines. Stopping down to f/5.6 improves performance; the average sharpness is 2,052 and the edges top 1,600 lines. Barrel distortion, which causes straight lines to appear to curve outward, is very noticeable at 4 percent. The 16-50mm isn't quite as sharp at 16mm; it manages 1,666 lines, and also suffers from softer edges. When shooting in Raw the 16-50mm shows a fish-eye level of barrel distortion (9 percent), but that's automatically corrected when working in JPG mode. There's no autocorrection available for the 18-55mm, so you'll have to deal with the curvature of lines at wide angles, or apply corrections in software as you see fit.

Zooming to 35mm eliminates the barrel curvature, but introduces some pincushion distortion (2.4 percent), which makes straight lines appear to curve inward. Sharpness at the maximum f/4.5 aperture is 1,735 lines, again with a sharp center and edges that are a bit soft (1,154 lines). Stopping down to f/5.6 improves things a bit (2,042 lines across the frame, 1,470 lines at the edges), but you'll get the best performance at f/8. When you narrow the aperture to that setting you'll get images that average 2,129 lines, with edges that are a very respectable 1,700 lines. We tested the 16-50mm at 33mm and found it to outperform the larger lens here—it's just shy of 1,800 lines, but edge performance was still an issue.

At 55mm the maximum aperture narrows to f/5.6 and the pincushion distortion drops to 1.3 percent, a figure that's just a bit noticeable in field conditions. The sharpness here is 1,713 lines, with just a slight drop-off at the edges (1,629 lines). You'll get a bit better performance at f/8; the center-weighted sharpness is 2,069 lines, and the edges are just shy of 1,800 lines. The 16-50mm is a little bit softer at 50mm; it shows 1,663 lines.

Your choice of kit lens for your E-mount camera comes down to which you value more—absolute sharpness, or a compact design. Both the 18-55mm and 16-50mm are optically stabilized, and even though we found that the 16-50mm isn't quite the performer, we give it a slightly higher rating. It's only $50 more, is a heck of a lot smaller, and JPG shooters will appreciate the in-camera corrections that knock out distortion. Raw shooters using either lens can eliminate distortion with a few clicks in Lightroom, making it less of an issue for folks who spend time post-processing photos. Neither lens delivers the edge-to-edge sharpness or the ambitious aperture that we expect from top-end glass. If you're an E-mount shooter, but aren't willing to live with the compromises that come with a kit lens, patience is required. Sony is releasing the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS ($999.99) later this month, and the E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS ($599.99) will follow in December.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/ToxO7tYtJW8/0,2817,2425437,00.asp
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Windows 8.1 Is Here, and You Should Get It Now

The new version of Microsoft's operating system is a necessary update. Its added features will please longtime Windows users who were uncomfortable with 8, and push the concepts behind Windows 8 even further.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/sYytGDCUJDA/
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As Greenland Seeks Economic Development, Is Uranium The Way?

Men stand inside the gold mine in Greenland's Nulanaq mountain on Dec. 19, 2009. The Danish territory's underground wealth was at the forefront of elections in March. Now, Greenland faces another dilemma: whether to end a zero-tolerance policy on uranium extraction.

Adrian Joachim/AP

Men stand inside the gold mine in Greenland's Nulanaq mountain on Dec. 19, 2009. The Danish territory's underground wealth was at the forefront of elections in March. Now, Greenland faces another dilemma: whether to end a zero-tolerance policy on uranium extraction.

Adrian Joachim/AP

Karen Hanghoj, a scientist with Denmark's Geological Survey, points to the southern tip of Greenland on a colorful map hanging in her office.

"What you can see here in the southern region here, is you have a big pink region," she says. "And then within the pink region, you see you have all these little purple dots.

"And what the purple dots are is a later period of rifting. These complexes have these weird chemistries and have these very, very strange minerals in them," she adds.

Those minerals include rare earth elements. They are essential to making cell phones, wind turbines, hybrid cars and many other products. China enjoys a near-monopoly on the global supply, sparking a race to find new sources of the 17 metals. One particularly large known deposit is in Greenland. But there's a catch.

Hanghoj lifts a hefty rock off her desk. It comes from that pink and purple polka-dotted region, though the rock itself is nondescript — except for one shiny black nugget known as steenstrupine.

"That mineral has all of the rare earths, or most of the rare earths, but also most of the uranium," Hanghoj says.

Uranium would therefore have to mined along with those coveted rare earth minerals.

Legislative Roadblocks

There are a few problems with that.

First, Greenland has a ban on uranium extraction. The zero-tolerance policy was put in place 25 years ago when Greenland was more tightly controlled by nuclear-averse Denmark. Since then, Greenland has taken on a new level of self-governance, including jurisdiction over its own natural resources.

This month, Greenland's parliament appears likely to lift the zero-tolerance policy. That could open the door for uranium mining not only as a byproduct, but also as a primary product. By some estimates, Greenland has enough of the radioactive stuff to make it one of the top five exporters in the world.

“ It's one thing if we're abolishing a policy, but what is going to be the policy instead of that? And that is something where Denmark and Greenland for the first time in their history really need to start engaging in a discussion that they have not had up to this point.

- Cindy Vestergaard, Danish Institute for International Studies

That raises questions for Denmark, which is still responsible for Greenland's foreign policy and security.

"The Greenlandic position seems to be that as long as we are exporting for peaceful purposes, then Denmark does not need to be engaged," says Cindy Vestergaard, a senior researcher with the Danish Institute for International Studies. But, she adds, "how will Denmark know it is being used for peaceful purposes if they are not involved?

"So it's one thing if we're abolishing a policy, but what is going to be the policy instead of that?" she asks. "And that is something where Denmark and Greenland for the first time in their history really need to start engaging in a discussion that they have not had up to this point."

Environment Or ...

There are also environmental concerns – parallels for which can be seen across the world in projects like the Keystone XL pipeline in the U.S. and Brazil's massive dams in the Amazon.

This spring a coalition of 48 nongovernmental organizations from around the world called on Greenland to uphold the zero-tolerance policy, citing the potential for radioactive pollution in a delicate Arctic ecosystem. And members of Greenland's opposition party, like Sara Olsvig, say the public still doesn't really understand the potential consequences of uranium mining.

"We have a lot of other choices in Greenland of other minerals, other resources, living and nonliving, that we can export," she says. "And our opinion is that we should go for those other resources instead of rushing through a decision on uranium, not even knowing if in the long run will pay off.

"We don't even know the full picture of what things we would have to build to just monitor a big open pit uranium mine in Greenland."

... Economic Development?

But for others, mining and the economic opportunities it represents cannot come fast enough. Technically, Greenland could declare independence from Denmark at any time. But without new sources of income, it remains tethered to its annual Danish subsidy of roughly half a billion dollars.

"When you can take care of yourself, you have more respect and pride in yourself," says Doris Jakobsen of the ruling Greenlandic party. "The same is true of the Greenlandic people."

Jakobsen says that protecting Greenland's environment is her priority, and adds that lifting the zero-tolerance policy does not mean uranium mining will necessarily happen. But she's tired of hearing what others say Greenland can and can't do.

"I can't accept that Greenland should become a museum," she says. "Those [non-governmental organizations] also say that it should be forbidden to sell our seals, forbidden to whale, forbidden to extract oil, forbidden to extract uranium. You can't limit everything. Greenland needs economic development."

Whatever happens in regard to uranium, this issue has raised the decibel level of discussion about Greenland's future. And if there's one thing both the ruling and opposition parties can agree on, it's that any movement is good if it leads to independence.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/16/235369150/as-greenland-seeks-economic-development-is-uranium-the-way?ft=1&f=1001
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Kim Kardashian Doesn't Qualify for Star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame"

Despite Kanye West's arguments for his girlfriend's importance in Hollywood, "Keeping up with the Kardashians" iconic lady, Kim Kardashian will not receive a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame."

During his interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," on Wednesday, October 9th, the rapper argued that his reality star girlfriend and baby mama should receive a star on the legendary sidewalk, saying, "I want to shout out to the stars on the Walk of Fame because they said something about they're not going to put my girl on the Walk of Fame because she's a reality star," he said. "People are so so dated and not modern. There's no way Kim Kardashian shouldn't have a star on the Walk of Fame."

However, sticking to their original stance, Ana Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Walk and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told Yahoo's omg! "We don't have reality stars on the Walk of Fame. We don't have a category for it. We're happy to consider reality stars once they get nominated for, or win, an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar." She then concluded, "We'll consider them when they're legitimate actors or singers."

Recognizing she has heard Mr. West's argument, Martinez finished, "I know he loves her, and it's all very sweet, but she doesn't qualify. I hate to say it, but a lot of people just don't like her," adding, "No one has ever nominated her."

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kim-kardashian/kim-kardashian-doesnt-qualify-star-hollywood-walk-fame-944097
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'Blade Runner' Gets a Retro Noir Makeover in Fan Trailer (Video)

12:22 PM PDT 10/16/2013 by Graeme McMillan

Ridley Scott's 1982 adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? contained many nods to film noir -- something only underscored by a new fan trailer for the movie that gives Blade Runner even more of a noir makeover than before.

The video is the creation of Chet Desmond, who explained that it "isn't meant to be a radical re-imagining of the film or a recreation of a '40s-style trailer." Instead, he said, he merely wanted to take the already present elements of classic noir movies in Blade Runner and "accentuate them into something hopefully interesting."

STORY: 'Green Lantern' Scribe in Talks to Rewrite 'Blade Runner' Sequel

The result is something that manages to make Scott's 30-year-old sci-fi classic oddly contemporary and fresh again. Watch for yourself below.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/THRComicCon/~3/oHFqTP_KZg8/story01.htm
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AP source: Suh fined $31,500 for hit on Weeden

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Ndamukong Suh has been fined by the NFL.

Again.

The Detroit Lions defensive tackle was docked $31,500 by the league for a hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the fine had not been announced.

Suh insisted earlier in the day he was unaware the NFL was reviewing his actions during Sunday's game, but acknowledged being used to the scrutiny.

"I think there is always going to be a microscope on me," he said. "I think there has been a microscope on me since I was first drafted."

Since Detroit selected Suh No. 2 overall in 2010, he has been fined seven times for more than $200,000. He lost $165,294 in pay during a two-game suspension in his second season for stomping on the right arm of Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith.

Earlier this season, Suh was docked $100,000 for an illegal block on Minnesota center John Sullivan in Week 1 during an interception return. He lost an appeal last week, upholding the largest fine in NFL history for on-field conduct, not counting suspensions.

Suh wasn't penalized for his latest act that drew discipline, but it was shown on a video posted on NFL.com as vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said he wanted to look at it more for "potential helmet to the body."

Lions center Dominic Raiola — perhaps Suh's most vocal supporter — saw Suh's hit on Weeden after he threw a pass and said it was "ridiculous" that the league was even considering discipline.

"The guy is violent, football is a violent game," Raiola said. "I don't think you can ever make hitting somebody soft."

Raiola noted the officials had a better view, and didn't throw a flag.

"They were right there," Raiola recalled. "It was a football play, to me. But I guess maybe my view of football now is different than the way football is viewed now. I really don't know what they're looking at."

Suh knows the league is looking at everything he does, saying nothing in life is fair, but said it won't make him want to leave the game.

"Not everything is going to go your way in life," he said. "I understood that and grew up that way. It's just like for me, I wanted a Nintendo 64 when I was little and my mom said, 'No.' I had to deal with it."

And, now the Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) have to deal Suh on Sunday when they play at Detroit (4-2). Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth said Suh's after-whistle hits have diminished his ability to be known as a great player, but doesn't think he's a dirty player.

"He's not dirtier than guys that played the game back in the day," Whitford said. "The real truth is now he plays the game in an era where there's a TV camera covering every single possible thing on the field and a lot of stuff gets put on film. People know about it. Outside of that, people would never even know some of these antics. I think he plays the game on the borderline level with a lot of intensity and sometimes it carries on into extra stuff."

NOTES: Lions WR Calvin Johnson (right knee), RB Joique Bell (ribs) and CB Rashean Mathis (groin) were limited Wednesday while S Louis Delmas (knee) and OT Jason Fox (knee) were held out of practice. ... WR Patrick Edwards, who was cut earlier this week, was added to the practice squad and FB Shaun Chapas was released from the practice squad.

___

Online:

AP NFL website www.pro32.ap.org

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/larrylage

Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-10-16-FBN-Lions-Suh/id-9984f7bfe57049c4951ad598a295165e
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French banks face new foe as tobacconists offer accounts

By Lionel Laurent and Matthias Blamont

PARIS (Reuters) - The French will soon be able buy their cigarettes and do their banking at the same time with the launch of a stripped-down, cut price bank account by the country's huge network of tobacconists.

France's 27,000 "tabacs", whose distinctive red, diamond-shaped signs dot the nation's streets, will be out to win business from the likes of BNP Paribas and Societe Generale as established banks cut back their retail networks in a stagnating economy.

The Nickel bank account, which after initial tests is due to be expanded nationwide next year, will offer customers a debit card and a current account for 20 euros ($27.17). That compares with about 28 to 30 euros for the cheapest payment cards at BNP, SocGen and Credit Agricole.

Though Nickel clients will be charged fees for depositing and withdrawing money, the tabac association CBF still estimates the cost of having an account at less than 50 euros a year. The association says this is a third less than the cost of an account with Bank of France.

Nickel, co-founded by ex-SocGen communications chief Hugues Le Bret, also wants to lure people on the fringes of the system who may be unable to open a traditional bank account.

"With this account, we are bringing banking access to those who feel they've been forgotten, notably in rural areas, or simply shut out because of a mistake along the way," Pascal Montredon, head of the CFB network, told a press conference.

Nickel estimates that 1 percent of the French population does not have a bank account, while there are 2.5 million people who are classified as "overindebted" and 6 million who are unhappy with their current bank.

It also said that it wants to help to fight debt problems by not offering loans and is using the slogan "100 percent useful, zero percent toxic".

Nickel is being launched at a time when French retail banking, traditionally a cash cow thanks to lucrative fees and widespread appetite for conservative savings products such as life insurance, is taking a hit from the stagnant economy and competition from cheaper online competitors.

Lenders themselves are trying to come up with alternatives even as they close branches. BNP this year launched the online-only Hello Bank in Germany, Belgium, France and Italy to bring in customer deposits without a bricks-and-mortar branch network.

Consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, which has railed against the rising cost of bank charges, said that Nickel might help hard-pressed consumers to save money on bank fees.

BNP declined to comment. SocGen and the French Banking Federation did not respond to requests for comment.

(Editing by David Goodman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/french-banks-face-foe-tobacconists-offer-accounts-135956343--sector.html
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Emmer No. 1, for now, in wide-open Sixth Congressional District race (Star Tribune)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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James Franco Plugs “Actors Anonymous” Novel on “The Late Show”

He’s been a mainstay in the talk show realm as of late, and James Franco showed up at “The Late Show with David Letterman” in New York City on Monday (October 14).

The “127 Hours” hunk gave a friendly smile as he waved to his fans and strolled into the Ed Sullivan Theatre ahead of his interview.

Franco was in the house to plug his new novel “Actors Anonymous,” and in a recent interview he gushed about his ability to pursue whatever comes to mind.

James boasted, “I get away with it. I get to do everything that I want. I’m sure that must piss people off. … But one thing I’m clear about is that I will absolutely never let that stop me.”

“Some famous people are liked for doing one thing, and then they think that they will be liked if they do anything. It’s just that someone who’s famous for one thing can forget that she or he worked really hard for success in that area. They forget that they had a talent in that one area, and think that talent applies across the board. They don’t get that they have to work as hard to achieve excellence with their other stuff.”

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/james-franco/james-franco-plugs-%E2%80%9Cactors-anonymous%E2%80%9D-novel-%E2%80%9C-late-show%E2%80%9D-942740
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Kat Graham Shows Slim Bikini Body on Beach, Makes Out With Fiance Cottrell Giudry

Ready to walk down the aisle . . . once she puts some clothes on! Kat Graham looked smoking hot while hitting the beach in Santa Monica, Calif. with fiance Cottrell Guidry on Monday, Oct. 14. The 24-year-old Vampire Diaries actress showed off her slim body in a strapless neon pink and black bikini. 

Graham went for a stroll along the shore while holding her adorable tiny dog Izzy. Actor Guidry walked alongside his bride-to-be, and went shirtless in just a pair of rolled-up jeans.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's hottest bikini bodies

After confirming reports she was engaged in June, Graham opened up to Us Weekly about wedding planning at the Teen Choice Awards in August. "It's been hard because I've been on the road," she explained. "Between shooting Vampire Diaries, I've been touring for my new single that just came out, 'Power.' So I've been doing all the different radio shows, so it's been hard to sit down and plan. I've been literally all over the place."

Kat Graham kisses fiance Cottrell Guidry while heading to the beach in Santa Monica, Calif. on Oct. 14.
Credit: PacificCoastNews.com

PHOTOS: Fall V preview

Graham did tell Us, however, that she had already started a new diet to get in shape. "I don't know if it's for the wedding, but I've gone on this whole organic kick," she shared. "I did a whole thing of blood tests and I have completely changed my diet. I eat a lot of steamed veggies, lean meats. I'm staying away from sugar. It's extremely hard, especially when you don't have a cheat day. My nutritionist has cut me off of bread. It's very hard and it makes you crazy!"

The hard work paid off and Graham said she was feeling good. "I don't really weigh myself, but I'm definitely more lean and I have more oxygen," she explained. "I don't need to take as big of breaths."

PHOTOS: Stars who love kale

The CW star also told Us that she's not a bridezilla and isn't worried about picking out her wedding dress. "I know the shape I want, so that's easy," she said. "I can do that in a day!"

Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/kat-graham-shows-slim-bikini-body-on-beach-makes-out-with-fiance-cottrell-giudry-20131510
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Graham Nash Has 'Wild Tales' To Spare

Graham Nash has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — once in 1997 as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and once in 2010 as a member of The Hollies.

Eleanor Stills/Courtesy of Crown Archetype

Graham Nash has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — once in 1997 as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and once in 2010 as a member of The Hollies.

Eleanor Stills/Courtesy of Crown Archetype

Graham Nash first came to the U.S. as part of the British Invasion with his band The Hollies, which got its start at the same time as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and shared bills with both groups in England. But Nash later helped to define a kind of West Coast sound, singing harmonies as part of Crosby, Stills & Nash. Nash wrote some of the most famous songs by the powerhouse group (who would add Neil Young to its roster in 1969), including "Our House," "Teach Your Children" and "Marrakesh Express."

In a new memoir called Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life, Nash touches on those memories and many others. He recently spoke with Fresh Air's Terry Gross, just a few hours before Crosby, Stills & Nash performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Interview Highlights

On the influence of The Everly Brothers' harmonies

"I was about 15 years old; Allan [Clarke, founding member of The Hollies] and I were attending a Catholic schoolgirls' dance on a Saturday evening. I remember going down the stairs and giving the young lady our tickets. 'You Send Me' by Sam Cooke had just stopped playing, and of course that was a slow dance where every boy and girl were feeling each other up and getting close and the teachers were trying to separate them. So the song finished and the ballroom floor cleared, and Allan and I saw a friend across the way that we both wanted. And we got halfway across the floor and 'Bye Bye Love' by The Everly Brothers came on — and it stopped us in our tracks. We sang together, so we knew what two-part harmony was, but this sounded so unbelievably beautiful. They're brothers, of course, and they're from Kentucky and have these beautiful accents. They could harmonize unbelievably, very much like The Louvin Brothers, who they probably learned from. And ever since that day, I decided that whatever music I was going to make in the future, I wanted it to affect people the same way The Everly Brothers' music affected me on that Saturday night."

On Buddy Holly's ordinary charm

"Buddy Holly was one of us. He was an ordinary-looking kid, wore big thick glasses. He wasn't shakin' his hips and being sexy — he was actually one of us. We could be Buddy Holly. It was very hard to be Elvis; only Elvis was Elvis. But with Buddy Holly, he was one of us and he touched our hearts in a very simple way. What a lot of people don't realize is that the kid only recorded for less than two years before he was tragically killed with the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. ... He was very dear to us. His music was very simple: Everybody could play it if you knew three chords. It had great energy, great simplicity. I often wonder what Buddy Holly would be doing with today's technology."

On his early infatuation with America

"Coming to America was amazing to me. The phone rang exactly as it did in John Wayne movies. You could get a real hamburger — because in England at the time, there were only these things called 'wimpy burgers,' and they were like shoe leather. You could get food brought in! Unheard of in England. I loved America from the moment I set foot on it, I really did. When we actually got a chance to go and fly to Los Angeles, I climbed the nearest palm tree and I told Allan Clarke that there was no way I was going back."

On how marijuana use changed his songwriting style

"I think alcohol is a depressive drug, whereas marijuana is not. I never got depressed when I smoked dope at all; it was a joyful experience. I'm not condoning my drug use. ... I go into great detail in the book about Crosby's spiraling down into cocaine madness, but at that time, smoking dope wasn't that big of a deal. Quite frankly, I loved it. It expanded my mind, it made me think about more profound issues. The Hollies were great at creating a two-and-a-half-minute pop song, to be played right before the news. ... In hanging out with David [Crosby] and Stephen [Stills] and Neil [Young] and Joni [Mitchell], I began to realize that you could write catchy melodies that would attract people, but you could talk about real things. I began to change the way I wrote songs. I was trained to write good pop songs, and I took that sensibility and talked about what I considered to be deeper, more profound subjects."

On how adding Neil Young changed Crosby, Stills & Nash

"It's more difficult to sing four-part [harmonies]; you've got to start shifting parts around and stuff. Neil brings a darker edge to our music, and I don't mean that in a negative way. ... It's more intense. That first album of Crosby, Stills & Nash is kind of summery: lots of palm trees in it feeling, a cool-breeze-through-the-canyons kind of music. Actually, Jimi Hendrix, when asked what he thought of Crosby, Stills & Nash, looked at the interviewer and said, 'That's Western sky music.' And I thought, 'Wow. That's brilliant.' The point is that Neil brings a different kind of musical intensity to the band, and the music of Crosby, Stills & Nash and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is very, very different."

Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/15/234683906/graham-nash-has-wild-tales-to-spare?ft=1&f=1032
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