X Factor returns with a ratings boost

 

 

Sharon Osbourne returns after six years away

The return of The X Factor to Saturday night saw the ITV show win back some of the viewers it lost for last year's opening show.

An average 9.2 million tuned in to watch the launch show, which saw the return of Sharon Osbourne to the judging panel.
Last year ratings for the opener fell to 8.7 million, considerably down on the 12 million of 2011.
Boss Simon Cowell has promised changes to boost flagging ratings.
One of the big changes is the re-introduction of intimate auditions before the judging panel before contestants perform in front of an arena audience.

 

 

Sam Bailey was the surprise hit of the first audition

Osbourne has been brought back to replace the departed Tulisa Contostavlos. She was last on the judging panel in 2007, having been one of the original cast back when it started in 2004.
One of the highlights of Saturday's show was the appearance of prison officer Sam Bailey, who surprised the judges with her rendition of Beyonce's Listen, which saw all four judges rise to their feet in admiration.
From the start The X Factor will be running two shows every weekend, with the Sunday night programme showing the contestants performing in front of a live audience as well as the judges.
The BBC's own Saturday night entertainment staple, Strictly Come Dancing, returns on Saturday,
The two shows will have a short overlap between Strictly ending and X Factor starting.
The full line-up of Strictly Come Dancing contestants will be revealed on Wednesday night but four names have already been disclosed.
Broadcaster Vanessa Feltz, Countdown maths whizz Rachel Riley, golfer Tony Jacklin and Abbey Clancy, wife of footballer Peter Crouch, will all be donning Lycra and sequins for the new series.
ITV launched its own celebrity dancing shown on Saturday.
Stepping Out, which saw six celebrity couples learning to dance together, attracted an average of 3.7 million for its first show.

Lady Gaga opens iTunes festival

 

 

 Gaga (second left) last performed in the UK a year ago

Lady Gaga has opened the iTunes festival in London, playing a set of entirely new material.

The 60-minute show marked The pop star's comeback, after a broken hip caused her to cut short her Born This Way Ball tour earlier this year.
"To say that I've missed you, it's a bit of an understatement," she told her fans on stage at London's Roundhouse.
Featuring pig men in boiler suits and multiple costume changes, the show was streamed live around the world.
In the audience were celebrity fans including Adele, Niall Horan from One Direction and TV personality Arlene Phillips.

 

 

Many fans dressed for the show, following a bizarre dress code laid out by the pop star on Twitter

For fans, it was the first taster of Gaga's forthcoming album ArtPop, as seven songs - including Manicure, I Wanna Be With You and Swine - were played for the first time.
Many attended the show in a dress code dictated by the 27-year-old on Twitter - including "bedazzled pig snouts" and "trash bags or artclothes".
"Artclothes are clothes you don't mind getting covered in live art!" she said, warning there would be a "paint zone" at the show.
In the event, nobody left the show resembling a Jackson Pollock painting - with the "live art" amounting to nothing more than dancers spray-painting canvasses.

---

In an X Factor era, pop's main message is "be yourself". Lady Gaga isn't interested in that.
"I'm not one icon. I'm every icon," she recently told WWD magazine. "I'm an icon that is made out of all the colours on the palette at every time."
In essence, she's a visual performance artist, exploring fame's ability to seduce, transform and distort. Not for nothing does she sing "art's in pop culture in me" on her current single.
But the music is what fans came for - and the good news is that, on first impressions, Gaga's new material is catchy and clever. Manicure is Abba by way of Giorgio Moroder, while Sex Dreams is every bit as saucy as the title suggests.
The set could have done with less waffle, and the pauses between songs were unforgivable. But when she's paying attention, Lady Gaga can out-sing, out-perform, and out-smart most of her contemporaries.

Gaga took to the stage nearly half-an-hour late, dressed as a bandit, holding a knife, with a black bandana obscuring the lower half of her face.

Strapped into a metal cage that resembled a medieval torture device, she was hoisted above the audience to perform the opening number, Aura.
"What's up, London?" she demanded as the song ended. "Do you have to scream so loud? I can barely hear myself."
The new music largely stuck to the electro-pop template of her biggest hits, Bad Romance and Just Dance - but one track, Jewels and Drugs, which featured rapper TI, was inspired by the star's love of hip-hop.
"I wanted to set myself free of this box they put you in, in pop music," she explained. "It's like you have to stay inside the box and be a good girl.
"But I don't want to be a good girl. I want to be out of the box."
Later, the singer, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, told fans she had survived "some really tough times" and explained she had used "wigs and make-up" to "cover up the pain".

Continue reading the main story

SETLIST

• Aura
• Manicure
• ArtPop
• Jewels & Drugs
• Sex Dreams
• Swine
• I Wanna Be With You
• Applause

"When I didn't feel strong enough to be me, I created someone else. And it worked.

"So here I am, the human underneath the wigs," she said, removing her headpiece and bobby pins to reveal a tousled brunette bob.
"This is my real hair."
Fans lapped up the theatrics, as Gaga attempted to break down the artifice of pop stardom by changing wigs and costumes in full view of the audience.
But some were disappointed that the hits were being ignored.
"Just play Poker Face," shouted one during a lull in the music.
Accordingly, the singer's current single, Applause, got the most rapturous response of the night, as the singer prowled the stage in a Mad Hatter costume, complete with a Sherlock Holmes' pipe.
The singer's eye-opening performance marked the opening night of the month-long iTunes festival, which will also see concerts by Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Queens Of The Stone Age and Katy Perry.
Competition-winners make up the audience every night, with entry via a free ballot.

Samsung likely to unveil new Galaxy Note on Sept. 4

With a 5.6-inch display screen, the Samsung Galaxy Note II leads a wave of smartphone-tablet hybrids.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Samsung expected to unveil new Galaxy Note on Sept. 4
• Invitation to Berlin event says to "note" the date
• The company's Note line leads a bigger-screen category

(CNN) -- It's becoming an annual tradition: Samsung will unveil the next generation of its Galaxy Note smartphone in advance of the IFA technology conference in Berlin. The company sent invitations to the press on Monday for an event on Sept. 4, two days before the first day of the conference.

Like previous device unveilings, Samsung is calling the event "Samsung Unpacked 2013." The event will be live streamed via the web, and Samsung will host a press event at the same time in New York City's Times Square for people to watch and get hands-on time with the devices.

SEE ALSO: 10 Free Android Apps You'll Use Every Day

Samsung isn't officially revealing information about the devices. However, the invitation and subsequent tweet include the phrase, "Note the Date" (emphasis added). Plus, at the two previous IFA events, Samsung released the first and second generations of its Galaxy Note smartphone, which have extremely large screens relative to other phones.

Thus, it's a foregone conclusion that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 3 (or III) at its September event. It's been almost a year since the company released the Galaxy Note 10.1. The question on everyone's mind this time: Just how big will Samsung go?

Competitors have responded to the Galaxy Note's success (now at 5.6 inches with the Note II) with large screen sizes as well, including the 5.5-inch LG Optimus G Pro and 5-inch Droid Ultra. Samsung itself debuted the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega earlier this year.

Samsung's other plans for Sept. 4 also remain unknown. Last year, it took the wraps off several new devices, including its ATIV line of Windows 8 PCs, the first phone to run Windows Phone 8, and the Android-powered Galaxy Camera point-and-shoot.

We'll likely see more focus this year, but Samsung could still surprise — perhaps with an entry into wearable computing. Its rumored smart watch is called "Gear."

What do you think Samsung has in store for Sept. 4? Let us know in the comments.

Washington Post just one of many wacky Bezos buys

Jeff Bezos' purchase of the Washington Post is not the craziest thing he has put his money into.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos astonished the world Monday when he offered $250 million to buy the Washington Post.

But the out-of-left-field purchase didn't shock anyone who has followed the mogul's long history of strange investments.

Exhibit A: clocks.
Bezos has poured at least $42 million into a project called "The 10,000 Year Clock," which will be built into a mountain on his West Texas property and tick once every year. A cuckoo will come out every millennium.
"It's a special clock, designed to be a symbol, an icon for long-term thinking," said Bezos, in a letter on the project's website.
Bezos also has an obsession with outer space. He has invested in Blue Origin, a SpaceX competitor that aims to lower the cost of space travel. He also financed a deep-sea expedition to recover the remnants of F-1 rocket engines that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean after lifting the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon in 1969.
Related link: Bezos buys Washington Post for $250 million
The Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) CEO has made several investments in controversial Silicon Valley startups.
He helped lead a $37 million round of financing for Uber, the mobile app that connects customers to luxury drivers. Uber has bickered with taxi regulators in major cities, including Washington. He has also invested in Airbnb, the short-term vacation rental site that's also run afoul with several cities' regulators.
Though not every investment is off-the-wall, Bezos isn't afraid to use his money to take a political stand: He donated $2.5 million to Seattle-based Washington United for Marriage, which is one of the biggest contributions to the cause of legalizing same-sex marriage.
Bezos has not said much publicly about the desire to go into the newspaper business, but he is not new to media investments. He pumped $5 million into the news website Business Insider in April. Bezos was also an early investor in Twitter.
So for those skeptical of what kind of owner Bezos will be for the Washington Post, his past investments (particularly the clock) may offer some insight about his philosophy: forgoing immediate returns in hopes of building sustainable quality.

Summer concert tickets scarce and expensive

It looks like the Rolling Stones are indeed on a roll with touring this year, commanding almost $8 million so far, according to PollStar, which tracks industry data. But other entertainment offerings also are doing well.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" is the top selling album so far this year, with more than 2 million sold. That makes it also the top-selling R&B/Hip Hop album.

They won't have to shop there anymore, but according to Billboard Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Thrift Shop" is the top-selling digital song for the first half of 2013 with more than 5.5 million sold.

Blake Shelton's "Based on a True Story" is so far taking the country music crown for top selling album of 2013, with more than 700,000 sold.

"Babel" by Mumford & Sons is the top selling rock album for the first half of 2013, with more than 800,000 sales.

Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories" is the top dance/electronic album with more than 600,00 sold.

Box Office Mojo reports that "Iron Man 3" has puled in more than $400 million.

Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo appear in an episode of CBS' "NCIS." According to Nielsen data, the show is tops for the 2012 to 2013 broadcast TV season, with a ranking of 14.2 among households.

A&E has struck ratings gold with its reality show "Duck Dynasty." It's tops for cable original programing.

• Summer concert tickets are averaging several hundred dollars
• British acts One Direction and The Rolling Stones are the most expensive
• Expert says fans are willing to pay for a live music experience

(CNN) -- If someone in your house is mad for One Direction, get ready to lay out some serious cash.

The boy band tops the list of most expensive concert tickets with the average ticket costing $674.23. That's a lot of hours of babysitting for your average teen girl to be able to buy her own ticket.

According to Jesse Lawrence, founder and chief executive officer of the ticket search engine, TiqIQ, there are a few reasons for the super-sized prices.

Acts such as the Rolling Stones price their tickets high in the primary market (Companies such as TicketMaster, Live Nation and your venue's box office) so that the secondary ticket market (those brokers/companies that resell those tickets) can't make as much money off of their show.

So while an upper level ticket for One Direction may have originally been as inexpensive as $29.50 from a primary seller, those prices rise much higher when they are scarce and being sold in a secondary market. Lawrence said the Rolling Stones strategy of pricing their primary tickets high can backfire as the group recently discovered when they found themselves unable to sell some tickets.

But it's the secondary markets that help to keep the ticket prices high in the rafters, Lawrence said.

"They get sold in the primary market for, say a round number of 100 bucks, a broker buys those and says 'I'm going to mark these tickets up to $300 because I think that's what the market demands,'" he said.

There also is the matter of the scarcity of tickets. Many fans have experienced the utter frustration of waiting for tickets to go on sale at 11 a.m. only to have a site register that there are no more tickets available just minutes later. But what about those phrases you have to type in that ensure that you are a human and not a bot attempting to buy blocks of tickets?

It matters not, Lawrence said.

"One of the worst examples of that was a Justin Bieber concert in California," he said. "Only 8% of the tickets went on sale to the general public. The rest were getting sold through his fan club, through [credit] cardholder [special promotions,] and artist hold-backs. Literally, that on sale to the public is a really small percentage of tickets."

New Jersey U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell has drafted legislation that would require more transparency.

"What I want is that people will know ahead of time how many tickets are going to go on sale for the general public," Pascrell told Today.

If you are lucky enough to score one, it's going to cost you.

The Brits are the hottest tickets this summer with the Rolling Stones clocking in just behind their countrymen, One Direction, with the average ticket price being $637.50. Super Diva Beyonce came in third place, commanding an average $358.97.

Such prices are the reason Rolling Stone magazine recently reported that "The days of seeing the world's biggest rock and pop bands for a few bucks, plus a little extra for parking and service fees, are as long gone as Peter Frampton's curly hair."

Lawrence said fans are willing to pay for a chance to see (maybe) the Rolling Stones last concert or Beyonce's moves in person.

"There is a lot of interest in the live concert experience, especially with the Internet and TV even, concerts are kind of the last thing that you can't experience the same way in your living room or on your computer," he said.

'Kick-Ass 2': Not your average sequel

Jim Carrey, left, as Colonel Stars and Stripes and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kick-Ass in "Kick-Ass 2."

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• "Kick-Ass 2" cast and director don't reveal too much about the film's actual plot
• Actors who portray Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl and Red Mist appear via satellite
• Drew Carrey withdrew his support from the movie because of its extreme violence
• "This is not a rinse-and-repeat sequel," says director-screenwriter Jeff Wadlow

(CNN) -- Universal Pictures debuted new footage from the upcoming film "Kick-Ass 2" during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con. The stylized, violent clip introduced fans to the sequel's aesthetic and revealed several new characters, including Colonel Stars and Stripes, played by Jim Carrey.

Although Carrey -- who has withdrawn his support for the film over the violence - was not on hand, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Red Mist) and director-screenwriter Jeff Wadlow spoke with the convention-goers. Chloe Grace Moretz, who plays fan favorite Hit-Girl, made a special appearance via satellite to discuss her character's arc.

The cast and director didn't reveal too much about the film's actual plot, although it was clear from the footage that Hit-Girl's path takes her to high school and deals with her issues following the death of her father (played by Nicolas Cage) in the first "Kick-Ass" film.

"That was a big, interesting arc that Jeff had the smart idea of putting in the movie," Moretz said. "Hit-Girl decides to give up her life of crime. She goes to high school, and what she realizes is that whether it's a drug dealer on the streets and a murder or a bad girl at school who is hating on these kids, she has to bring justice to the situation. She realizes she and Hit-Girl are the same person. It could also really touch young teenagers, because it's what they're going through in school."

For Taylor-Johnson, the sequel was an opportunity to pick up where he left off with his character. The only major difference, he said, is that he has been doing a lot of one-armed push-ups to bulk up this time around.

"It felt like a natural progression," Taylor-Johnson said of the sequel. "For my character, what's nice is that he hasn't changed at all since the first one. It's always been a conversation about when are we going to do the second one. I got a call from (producer) Matthew Vaughn saying, 'I've got someone really great who's written a fantastic script and I'd like you to read it and see what you think.' And it was a page-turner. He took these characters through a wild journey that was really complex. It took these characters to a whole new level."

Batman, Superman to team up

Mintz-Plasse's character takes on a much bigger role as the villain in this new film. Shooting those scenes was intense for the actor, but he said he feels that the journey his character takes is important to the story laid out both in the graphic novel and the film. Red Mist, who lost his father as well in "Kick-Ass," is reborn in this film as The Mother F----r, which should give an indication of his qualities.

"I was really scared to do something this intense and nerve-wracking, but Jeff (Wadlow) had a great acting coach that came onboard," Mintz-Plasse said. "We worked for a month prior to shooting and read every line and figured out what to do for the character. I'm wearing a gimp outfit in this movie. It's super dark. There's some things in the comic book that we took out, which I think was a good choice. It was very intense to play."

"Kick-Ass 2" will be in theaters on August 16, but fans are already wondering about a third film. The writers of the graphic novel, Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr., haven't actually completed a third book yet, however, and Wadlow said he's not ready to focus beyond this sequel yet.

Bell: "Veronica Mars" could be my whole life

"Also," Wadlow continued, "this is not a rinse-and-repeat sequel where we have the characters just do the same thing again. We put them through a meat grinder."

Tiger Woods takes eighth win at Firestone Country Club

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: Tiger Woods takes eighth win at Firestone Country Club

Tiger Woods: Was untroubled in final round as he completed comfortable win

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Tiger Woods claimed victory in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational for the eighth time after completing a dominant seven-stroke success at Firestone Country Club.

The 14-time major winner carded an unspectacular final round of 70 to finish the tournament on 15-under par.
The victory means that Woods has now won two PGA Tour events eight times having also taken the spoils at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the same number of occasions.
The only other player to win a tournament eight times is Sam Snead, whose overall record of 82 PGA Tour wins Woods now trails by just three.

Final leaderboard

(US unless stated)

-15 T Woods
-8 H Stenson (Swe)
-8 K Bradley
-6 Z Johnson
-6 M A Jimenez (Spa)
-6 J Dufner

Click here for collated scores

"I feel comfortable here. Just because you're comfortable it doesn't mean you're going to play well, but for some reason it just comes out and I put it together," Woods told CBS.
He added: "I struggled yesterday in the middle part of the round and today I was conservative - just trying to make pars.
"I just felt that this was a perfect day to protect (my lead). The conditions were blustery and tough.
"It was hard to shoot a low number but it was easier to shoot a number around par."

Major goal

The world No 1 has not won a major title in over five years but is hoping to bring that unwanted run to an end at the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill starting on Thursday.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I've got three more days to get ready. I feel like my game is pretty consistent," Woods said.
Woods' supremacy was such that, before the final round had even started, the only real matter of competitive interest was the battle for second place.
Defending champion Keegan Bradley rose to the occasion by shooting a round of 67 to tie Henrik Stenson - Woods' playing partner - as best of the rest.
Bradley finished on eight under with Stenson, who covered the final 18 holes in 70 shots, joining him thanks to a crucial birdie on the penultimate hole.
Meanwhile, Woods preserved his huge lead by opting for a careful, conservative strategy which saw him par every hole on the front nine.
He finally picked up a shot at the 10th hole, but a three-putt at the 14th cancelled that out and dropped him back to even for the day.
Behind Stenson and Bradley three players - Zach Johnson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jason Dufner - finished in a tie for fourth on six under. Chris Wood was the leading Brit on five under, with fellow Englishman Luke Donald one shot further back

Zero-Hours Contracts 'For One Million Britons'

Four times more Britons may be on zero-hours contracts than had originally been thought, according to new research.

Video: Firms in the voluntary sector commonly use zero-hours contracts

By Liz Lane, Sky News Reporter

Up to one million people, many more than previously thought, could be employed on zero-hours contracts across the UK, new research suggests.

The agreements mean that employees are expected to be on call, but are not guaranteed any work from one week to the next.
The Office for National Statistics recently suggested only 250,000 were on such contracts at the end of last year.
But the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) surveyed 1,000 employers and found one in five use zero-hours contracts for at least one member of staff.
Firms in the voluntary and public sectors, as well as the hotel, leisure and catering industries, are more likely to use them.
CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese said: "Zero-hours contracts are a hot topic and our research suggests they are being used more commonly than the ONS figures would imply.
"However, the assumption that all zero-hours contracts are bad and the suggestion from some quarters that they should be banned should be questioned.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has ordered a review into the practice "Zero-hours contracts, used appropriately, can provide flexibility for employers and employees and can play a positive role in creating more flexible working opportunities. This can, for example, allow parents of young children, carers, students and others to fit work around their home lives.
"However, for some this may be a significant disadvantage where they need more certainty in their working hours and earnings, and we need to ensure that proper support for employees and their rights are not being compromised through such arrangements."
The Unite union said the Government must stop the growth of the zero-hours culture, as these contracts are "the latest attack on workers' rights and dignity".
Separate research among zero-hours contract workers revealed only 14% said their employer failed to give them enough hours to have a basic standard of living.
Sarah Wicks, from Liverpool, used to work as a security guard on a zero-hours contract, but sometimes worked 72 hours a week.
She told Sky News the large number of hours did not equate to job security.
"There wasn't much expectation that your job was ever going to get any better, or that you had any recourse to the employer for anything," Ms Wicks said.
Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced his staff are going to investigate how they are being used.
"Whilst it's important our workforce remains flexible, it is equally important that it is treated fairly," Mr Cable said.
"This is why I have asked my officials to undertake some work over the summer to better understand how this type of contract is working in practice today."
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: "Whilst some employees welcome the flexibility of such contracts, for many zero-hours contracts leave them insecure, unsure of when work will come and undermining family life.
"The 'review' the Business Secretary has established into zero hours contracts is clearly inadequate given the seriousness of this issue and the mounting evidence of the abuse of zero hours contracts.
"Nothing less than a proper consultation with a formal call for evidence will do."

Free cinema tickets: Pain & Gain

Free cinema tickets: Pain & Gain

29 July 2013

Sky Movies customers, snatch free tickets to see Michael 'Transformers' Bay's pumped-up action comedy Pain & Gain before it muscles into cinemas on 30 August.
Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson star as a pair of Miami bodybuilders who come up with a plan to kidnap a wealthy businessman and relieve him of his fortune. Unsurprisingly, they're blessed with more brawn than brains and their scheme goes off the rails faster than jackrabbit on steroids.
Directed by blockbuster king Michael Bay, Pain & Gain piles down cinema aisles from 30 August, but Sky Movies customers could see it first with advance tickets from Sky Rewards.
Book tickets by 5pm on 6 August.
To apply and find out more about the movie, CLICK HERE
Private preview screenings in limited number of venues. Tickets are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Two bookings of two tickets per Sky iD per calendar month, unless otherwise stated. Further terms apply.
** Find out what other free cinema tickets you can get now from Sky Rewards. **

Does digital currency have staying power?

Bitcoin is a form of electronic money that is not controlled by a person or institution.

Bitcoin has leapt onto the global stage with a bang — and a crash. The digital money has already plunged from a high of $260 in April to today’s value of about $92

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The Bitcoin believers

Insights from the Bitcoin London conference, the biggest event about the crypto currency yet in the UK.

Plans to float a Bitcoin trust

Winklevoss twins plan $20m Bitcoin trust fund

Still, Bitcoins, used to purchase goods online or transfer money to other people, have steadily gained traction since they were invented in Japan in 2009. Germany has Bitcoin marketplaces where holders can exchange the currency. Designed to be a global currency, Bitcoin is also gaining popularity in countries like Argentina and Kenya, amid worries about local currency devaluation. Merchants, such as online dating site OkCupid, are slowly starting to accept the digital money for goods and services.
On Monday, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, known for their legal dispute with Facebook Inc’s Mark Zuckerberg over the origin of the social networking site, unveiled plans to offer shares of a Bitcoin trust — designed to operate like an exchange-traded fund — to the public. According to an initial public offering filing in the United States, the shares would allow investors to “gain exposure to Bitcoins with minimal credit risk.”
Despite the hoopla, Bitcoin is still a niche digital currency. It faces numerous challenges on the road to wide-spread acceptance, including volatile price spikes and daily volume surges that point to rampant speculation. Also hindering growth: even sophisticated financial thinkers have trouble understanding how it works.
So far, global adoption is still tiny. Less than 1% of the world’s population uses Bitcoin actively, according to estimates, though use is accelerating in the US and parts of Europe.

Bitcoins are so volatile that owners must either spend them immediately, before they lose value, or hold them as investments.

The next 24 months will be crucial to whether the currency will survive and grow, say some experts. Though venture capitalists and technology start-ups are rushing to solve concerns around Bitcoin, any significant expansion is still uncertain given recent market fluctuations. Long-term investors may walk away if volatility continues. Much more likely, Bitcoin may become one digital currency among many others coming to market.
“Even if Bitcoin doesn’t survive, cypto-currencies will,” said California-based Andreas Antonopoulos, who advises organisations on emerging technologies and trends.   
Origins
Bitcoin is a form of electronic money that is not controlled by a person or institution. New units are mined by programs that crack complex mathematical problems and release new blocks of coins, though release is limited to only 21 million virtual coins. Only 25 Bitcoins every 10 minutes can be created to control inflation. There are currently about 11.3 million in circulation.
The limited supply makes them like digital gold, said Charles Hoskinson, founder of the Bitcoin Education Project. To buy Bitcoin, most people go to Japan-based Mt.Gox, which accepts 17 currencies. Fees are less than .60%.  
Ease of use depends on where you live. Adoption is ramping up with small merchants in the US, Canada and parts of Europe, say experts. New trading platforms like Russia-based Bitc-e.com, which also accepts other alternative currencies like Webcreds.com, are even popping up.
France recently launched its Bitcoin Central exchange, too.
“Europe is a bit ahead of the US,” said Jonathan Waller, who runs a Bitcoin meet-up in Tokyo.
Uphill climb
Despite this frenzied activity, Bitcoin faces an uphill climb. Its greatest strength — sitting outside the global financial system — is also a weakness. Few retailers accept the currency, though more, like the San Francisco-based social news site Reddit and even US-based blogging platform Wordpress, are accepting it. Rigorous control of new Bitcoin makes expanding usage beyond a cult currency difficult.
The biggest challenge might be volatility. As little as $3 million injected into Mt.Gox can spike prices, say experts. In April, Bitcoin plummeted $130 in a day, from a high of $260.
 This volatility is catnip for speculators, who seek to profit from sudden price fluctuations.
Bitcoin’s main problem is that value is based on whatever the next guy will pay, said Brian Riley, a senior research analyst at the Boston-based research and advisory firm CEB TowerGroup.  “This makes them a speculative currency,” he said.
“Speculators are making a mess of Bitcoin,” said Antonopoulos. When traders jump in and out of the currency, it adds to volume spikes.
There are currently 182 global currencies, said Riley.
“Why do we need another one?” he said.
Bitcoins are so volatile that owners must either spend them immediately, before they lose value, or hold them as investments. Turning cash into Bitcoins can take days. Many people rely on cumbersome in-person Bitcoin exchanges facilitated by Bitcoin web sites such as localBitcoins.com, where people meet and exchange currency.
For these reasons, investors and consumers should not put more than 5% of their money into the currency, added Waller.
 “Bitcoins are one big monetary experiment,” said Hoskinson.
Easing concerns
There is a chance that these Bitcoin choke points will be solved by an influx of new technology. In the US, a flurry of well-known venture capitalists such as New York City tech wizard Fred Wilson, an early investor in Tumblr and Foursquare, are spearheading Bitcoin startups. The aim: developing better e-wallets, payment systems and even automatic teller machines (ATMs), where you can exchange cash for Bitcoin.
Dozens of startups in California’s Silicon Valley are also attacking Bitcoin distribution problems, said Antonopoulos.
“Lots of venture capitalists are pouring money into Bitcoin without understanding them,” he added.
History is rife with examples of early movers — Myspace is one — that ended up in technology graveyards due to stronger competitors, though. And currently, at least one dozen virtual currencies like litecoin and ripple are vying for a piece of the digital currency market.
These new currencies aren’t tough competitors, said Waller, though there’s still a real risk that Bitcoin won’t survive this onslaught.

China bans new government buildings in corruption curb

Luxurious building projects have fuelled public anger about extravagance and corruption

China has banned the construction of government buildings for five years, according to state media.

The move comes as part of a campaign by President Xi Jinping to show that the ruling Communist Party (CPC) is cracking down on corruption and waste.
Glitzy new government buildings, sometimes in impoverished areas, have been a source of public outrage.
The directive forbids luxury makeovers and expansions done under the guise of repair work, Xinhua newspaper said.

It may not look like a royal palace but this was apparently a state-owned drugs factory

Officials at the Fuyang government building in Anhui province have been hit by corruption scandals

Government buildings in Ordos were built to serve 1.5 million people but the city is largely empty

Chandeliers

The notice says some departments and local authorities have built huge government office compounds against regulations, tainting the image of the CPC.

Among the buildings that have attracted widespread disapproval in recent years is the western-style government office building in the city of Fuyang in Anhui province, in eastern China.
It reportedly cost 30 million yuan ($4.89m, £3.19m) to build and is referred to as the 'White House' by residents.
A state-owned drug company also caused outrage after photographs emerged apparently showing a building decorated to mimic France's Versailles palace, complete with gold-tinted walls and chandeliers.
Some government agencies have reportedly built luxury offices in seaside resorts where officials can stay for free or at deeply discounted prices.
The ban - described as an "across-the-board halt" - includes training centres, hotels or government motels, Xinhua said.
It also says government organisations should not receive sponsorship or donations towards construction projects, or collaborate with private companies.
"Banning the building of new government buildings is important for building a clean government and also a requirement for boosting CPC-people ties and maintaining the image of the CPC and the government," Xinhua quoted the directive as saying.
Tackling corruption has been President Xi Jinping's most high-profile policy since he became China's leader earlier this year.
He has warned that "corruption and bribe-taking by some party members and cadres" pose "severe challenges" to the Communist Party's rule.

Rio prepares for World Youth Day launch

 

 

World Youth Day is a series of events celebrating the Catholic faith

Hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholics have gathered at Copacabana Beach in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro for the opening of the World Youth Day festival.

The highlight of the festival will be a visit on Thursday by Pope Francis.
The Pope arrived on Monday for his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.
His visit is taking place under tight security, after weeks of protests against the government and corruption.
Tuesday's evening mass at Copacabana Beach will be led by Rio's Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta.
He will welcome pilgrims to the five-day festival, which is expected to draw about 1.5 million people from around the world.

Pope's visit to Brazil - main events

Tuesday

• No scheduled public events

Wednesday:

• Visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Aparecida and to the St Francis of Assisi of the Providence of God Hospital in Rio

Thursday:

• Visit to the Varginha community in Rio, welcoming ceremony at the World Youth Day on Copacabana

Friday:

• Meeting with young prisoners and a Way of the Cross ceremony on Copacabana

Saturday:

• Meeting with Brazil's leaders in Rio and a prayer vigil with young people

Sunday:

• Holy Mass for the World Youth Day in Rio, farewell ceremony and departure for Rome

The Pope, who is from neighbouring Argentina, has no public events scheduled for Tuesday and was spending time at a private residence.

Correspondents say Brazil is reviewing security around the 76-year-old pontiff after he was mobbed by adoring crowds following his arrival in Brazil on Monday.
Many were able to stop the Pope's motorcade as it travelled through Rio and reach their hands inside his car's open window.
"The Pope's secretary told me he was terrified, but the Pope kept smiling," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters.
The Pope was officially welcomed at the state governor's palace by President Dilma Rousseff. However, police outside later fired tear gas to disperse people who were protesting against the government, but also against the cost of the papal visit.
On Wednesday the Pope will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Sao Paulo state, where a homemade explosive device was discovered on Sunday.
The authorities said the device was "of low power" and nowhere near the area where the Pope and pilgrims will visit.
Mr Lombardi later insisted that the discovery was no cause for concern.

Hundreds of thousands of young Roman Catholics are in Rio for World Youth Day celebrations

Rihanna goes to the mall wearing only a swimsuit and sheer top

Rihanna goes to the mall wearing only a swimsuit and sheer top

Rihanna opted to go trouser-free, wearing only a sheer long-sleeved top and a custom made swimsuit as she shopped in Monaco yesterday Friday July 12th. #Rockstarchic. See more photos after the cut...

Malala Yousafzai inspirational speech at the UN yesterday

Malala Yousafzai inspirational speech at the UN yesterday

Malala is the 16 year old Pakistani school girl and education activist who was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus on 9 October 2012. She marked her 16th birthday by addressing the United Nations at its headquarters yesterday Friday July 12th. Read her inspiration speech below and watch the video after the cut..

Thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.

Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing. Malala day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights. I speak - not for myself, but for all girls and boys.

Dear friends, on October 9, 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And then, out of that silence came, thousands of voices.

The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same.

Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorists group. I am here to speak up for the right of education of every child. I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the extremists especially the Taliban.

I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than sword" was true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them.

That is why they are blasting schools every day. Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society.

They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits.

Women and children are suffering in many parts of the world in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades.

We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the dignity of women and their rights is unacceptable.

We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the world.
We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and violence, to protect children from brutality and harm.

So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.
One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first.

The video...

apper Big Sean 'fingers' model during photo shoot for mag

WTH? Rapper Big Sean 'fingers' model during photo shoot for mag

This has got to be the freakiest magazine photo I've ever seen. No, not this ones o, it's after the cut. It shows US rapper Big Sean posing with a naked model with his fingers in her privates. It's a photo shoot for Flaunt magazine. So inappropriate for a magazine...lol. Check on it after the cut...

 

Warradis?

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez tie the knot

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez tie the knot

According to multiple media outlets, Halle Berry, 46, and Olivier Martinez, 47, are married. The pair tied the knot at the Chateau des Conde in Olivier's native France yesterday Saturday July 12th.

This is the 3rd marriage for Halle & the first for Olivier. Their unborn child will also be Olivier's first

George Zimmerman found not guilty in shooting death of Trayvon Martin

George Zimmerman found not guilty in shooting death of Trayvon Martin

After a five week trial, George Zimmerman has been found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman shot Trayvon dead on the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, after a confrontation.

The jury concluded that George killing Trayvon was justifiable as he feared for his own life. The not guilty verdict is pissing a lot of black folks off. See some of their reactions on Twitter after the cut...