Porn stars could be the way forward in teaching sex education to students, according to recent claims by a Cambridge headmaster.

The headteacher at The Leys, Mark Slater, has commented that using a guest speaker experienced in the porn industry might have a more positive influence on students than the system currently in place.

However, Slater has stressed that the guest speaker would have to be someone who reinforces good judgements and good morals in order for them to be considered for this role, which leaves the awkward question of who gets to decide what’s good and what isn’t?

After all, the porn industry churns out hundreds of videos that are all about your preference in taste, and therefore surely the porn stars from the films could also bring a diverse range of opinions to the topic of sex education.

That being said, with claims that sex education misinforms students anyway, is this idea really such a bad move, should it ever happen?

There is then the issue of how all the parents of the students attending would feel about this idea; the school charges up to $43,000 a year in student fees and reflects a certain social class of those enrolled; with so much money being spent on their children’s education, would parents endorse a porn star teaching students?

However, when you consider that education laws have already been passed to allow five-year-olds to learn about sex, there seems little reason to stop education techniques like this; when all is said and done, these students will be taught about sex whatever the end decision.

Though when you hear that Slater intends to retire this December, you begin to question why he’s suddenly decided to openly discuss the introduction of porn stars in the education system; if his opinions should land him in hot water, he knows that he hasn’t got long before he leaves and can avoid criticism altogether.

Nevertheless, with porn being such an inescapable source of ‘entertainment’ for Internet users, maybe having porn stars teaching students isn’t too much of a scandalous idea?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Porn Stars Could Teach Sex Education Classes is a post from: The Inquisitr

No Father’s Day cards are being used in a campaign to ask Congress to support legislation that “creates universal background checks, ends gun trafficking and keeps guns out of the hands of dangerous people.” The affecting cards are meant to remind legislators of the real human costs of gun violence.

I have posted one of the cards here. To see them all or to participate in the campaign, you should visit the No Father’s Day website.

Each card pictures a scene of someone who can no longer celebrate Father’s Day because of a gun tragedy. In some cards, a father is left without a child. In others, the child is left without a father.

Neil Heslin, a father who lost his 6-year-old son in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is the public face of the campaign. His only child Jesse was one of the 20 first graders who were gunned down in the Newtown, Connecticut slayings in December.

His own parents are deceased, and the divorced father has been left without a family. He said:

“It’s very difficult to be coming upon [Father's Day] by myself…You’re never going to be able to stop all gun violence. But any step we can take to prevent it is worth it…I don’t know how anyone can look at the pictures of those kids who lost their lives and not say that something has to happen.”

A measure to expand background checks on gun buyers was narrowly defeated in April. However, the family members of those affected by the Sandy Hook shooting and other gun tragedies aren’t willing to give up.

His partner in the No Father’s Day campaign is Rev. Samuel Saylor. The Hartford, Connecticut man lost his 20-year-old son in a different shooting in October.

When Heslin testified in front of Congress in February, he wept as he asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to ban assault weapons like the ones Adam Lanza used in the attack on the school.

For people frustrated by the lack of action from Congress since Newtown, the No Father’s Day cards may be one way to send a message.

[card image by No Father's Day]

No Father’s Day Campaign Attacks Gun Violence is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’ve been on the internet this week you probably heard that Bindi Irwin, the daughter of the late great Steve Irwin, died. But don’t worry, there wasn’t any truth to the rumor. The young animal activist has been hanging out on the Great Barrier Reef with the Wildlife Warriors.

The internet is a common place for death hoaxes but the Bindi Irwin rumor was a little different.

The young environmentalist was apparently the victim of a technology mishap when two trending terms were combined to create “Steve Irwin’s Daughter Dies.” The Social News Daily calls this a “Trends Hiccup.”

There was never any truth to the rumor but the internet was still relatively worried about the well-being of Bindi Irwin. The 14-year-old frequently uses social media but her profiles have been quiet since June 12. Well, everyone can relax now because Bindi has taken to Twitter to give a little update about her life.

The animal lover writes that she was been running around with her friends and playing on the Great Barrier Reef this weekend.

Feeling blessed to have visited beautiful Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Great wildlife and Wildlife Warriors working there!

— Bindi Irwin (@BindiIrwin) June 16, 2013

It’s unclear if Bindi is aware of all the people who were worried about her this week but she did send out a loving message reminding people not to take their loved ones for granted.

Having a beautiful day running around with mates. Go out there and hug your best friend right now!

— Bindi Irwin (@BindiIrwin) June 16, 2013

Bindi’s father, Steve Irwin, passed away several years ago but the young animal activists and her family are continuing their father’s legacy. Bindi, her brother Bob and her mother Terri have continued the Wildlife Warriors series in Steve’s honor.

Bindi Irwin Says ‘Go Hug Your Loved Ones’ After Death Hoax is a post from: The Inquisitr

Authorities are on the lookout for a teen cyclist who they suspect shot a 9-year-old girl Friday evening in the Bronx. There is a $22,000 reward pending capture.

Amanda Chauan was shot in the stomach allegedly by 17-year-old Billy James Jr., who fits the description of a young black male who was seen riding a BMX-style bike through the Bronx neighborhood between 9:30 and 9:45 pm.

The young man discharged at least six rounds from a firearm as he passed by – in a manner which resident witnesses described as rapid-fire, reports the New York Daily News. One of the bullets grazed the third-grader in the stomach, causing a serious wound, as she played just outside of her Bailey Avenue & West 234^th Street apartment complex with her younger brother Gustavo, 5.

Thereafter, the suspect sped off into the darkness down a cross-street.

Their mother was inside, upstairs. The girl’s younger brother and mother’s boyfriend witnessed the crime in horror.

By the time paramedics reached the crime scene, Amanda was already at North Central Bronx Hospital. She was later transferred to Jacobi Medical Center for additional treatment and recovery. She was last listed in stable condition.

Investigators are unsure if Amanda was an intended target or a victim of blatant random recklessness. Either way they are still seeking to detain and question Billy in connection.

According to one observer, Sam Fernandez, 27, the shooter initially rode in a circle to scope out a group congregated next to the parking lot near the building, and then sprayed the crowd with bullets. People scattered for cover.

Police say this is the third child to be shot in the last month in situations of crossfire. On May 18, D’aja Robinson, 14, was shot dead on a Queens bus at the hands of a teen gang-banger. Two weeks later, Tayloni Mazyck, 11, was shot in the neck in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Police Hunt For Bronx Shooting Suspect, Cyclist Identified is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kim Kardashian’s baby news has earned a response on Twitter from the stars and fans, and they’re all saying congratulations to the new parents!

In case you’ve been offline for the last few months or hiding under a rock, two major celebrities have been preparing for something big … or small, depending on what your focus is. Kim Kardashian, one of the stars of Meet the Kardashians, has been outdoing her sisters and brother in the spotlight after having gotten pregnant with Kanye West’s baby. Not only did Kim Kardashian decide to keep it, but Kanye West did something nobody expected as well. Kanye West decided to help her raise the child.

We can only hope that Kanye West is almost done with his spotlight stealing ways, or Kim Kardashian’s daughter is going to have to deal with a rather unusual paternal role model.

In the meantime, Kim Kardashian Twitter congrats have come from celebrities and fans across the board!

Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons tweeted, “There is no greater gift in life than a child’s laughter! congrats to Kim And Kanye.”

Fellow rapper Nas said, “Congrats to Kanye 4 the birth of his daughter today too! To my bros w/ daughters!!”

Even DJ Pauly D chimed in, “Congrats @KimKardashian And @kanyewest On The Birth Of Your Baby Girl !!!!!”

Recently divorced celebrity Mom Bethenny Frankel reached out to Kim Kardashian on Twitter, “All kidding aside, congrats @kimkardashian on your baby girl. It’s the most beautiful, best thing that could happen to you. Girls rule.”

All kidding aside, congrats @kimkardashian on your baby girl. It’s the most beautiful, best thing that could happen to you. Girls rule.

— Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) June 16, 2013

Maria Menounos agreed, writing, “Congratulations @KimKardashian on your little angel!xoox.”

Jason Mesnik, former Bachelor and fellow Dad, added alongside a picture of his own baby girl, “Check out Riley’s reaction to the big news of the day…That is Kim Kardashian being a mom.”

Even the fans chimed in with their congratulations to the new parents, with some pointing out the timing of the birth of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter. “Kim Kardashian had her baby , good fathers day gift if you ask me,” tweeted @_ashleyy1, and @Kelcie_W tweeted, “Such a nice Father’s Day gift for Yeezy!”

Congrats to Kanye 4 the birth of his daughter today too! To my bros w/ daughters!!

— Nasir Jones (@Nas) June 15, 2013

Are you happy for the new parents? What do you think of the Kim Kardashian Twitter responses to the birth of the couple’s daughter?

[image via Shutterstock]

Kim Kardashian Twitter Stars Respond: Congrats On The Baby! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Thanks to Reddit, a photograph has gone viral that depicts drunk Barbie a little worse for wear after celebrating a 21st birthday; obviously it isn’t Barbie’s birthday since she’s way older than 21, though that doesn’t stop her from getting into the spirit of things.

The Redditor, known by the name tr122, posted saying how his younger sister had asked his wife to make a Barbie birthday cake to celebrate turning the big two one.

However, knowing all too well that most 21-year-olds don’t sit and behave like Barbie normally does, this wife decided to make a more realistic depiction of how the night would turn out.

It’s a shame this creative baker didn’t manage to show how Barbie would look the morning after, though if you want a rough idea you can just read The Inquisitr’s piece showing a before and after make-up picture.

The funny cake picture shows a very drunk Barbie leaning over the toilet after one too many cocktails, which is wonderfully offset by the overflowing ‘vomit’ from the toilet that has been replaced with colorful sprinkles; come on, nobody wants real vomit on their birthday cake, that kind of realism isn’t necessary.

This is particularly important to remember so that no more people get arrested drunk driving in a Barbie jeep; it isn’t too bad when Barbie does it because, well, it’s Barbie, but if you’re a real-life person doing it then it’s very bad.

Not many birthday cakes have been so ‘lovingly’ created that they truly capture what it means to become an adult; normally it’s all roses and sweetness, which obviously aren’t the only prevailing themes that people have to deal with in their early 20s.

Reddit has always been a site that posts some weird and wonderful images that we don’t normally see everyday – though if you do see this kind of thing everyday, and not just because you go on Reddit, then please share with us what you’re doing to find these little gems.

Barbie fan or not, there’s no denying that having drunk Barbie in our lives is a fun thing, even if it’s only there to make us smile and be thankful that we aren’t draped over the toilet like this regretting our drinking decisions from the night before.

[Image via Reddit]

Drunk Barbie Enjoys 21st A Little Too Much is a post from: The Inquisitr

A woman was shot late last night at the Potawatomi casino in Milwaukee.

According to WISN, the shooting occurred inside the Potawatomi Bingo Casino at about 1:30 am on Sunday morning. Police says that a 27-year-old man shot his girlfriend, 23, in the leg. The woman was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries. The wound was not-life threatening.

Today reports that several other people were injured in the chaos that followed the shooting. No one was seriously injured.

The Casino said in a statement: “We are thankful no one was hurt more seriously and that the situation was contained quickly.”

A witness said that the 27-year-old man, who was arrested at the scene, shot his girlfriend after an argument on the casino floor. The Casino was evacuated and closed after the shooting as police conducted their investigation. The casino reopened at about 9 am this morning.

One witness told Fox 6: “I was upstairs at the bingo hall, and then when it was over they told everybody to exit because it was a shooting downstairs. The security guards was there. They dropped like everybody else dropped. They wasn’t too much protecting each other. They were trying but they were scared too. They fell to the floor. The whole casino fell to the floor basically.”

Potawatomi Shooting: Woman Shot On Casino Floor In Milwaukee is a post from: The Inquisitr

One of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s NYPD bodyguards has been sentenced to seven years in prison for an apparent love-triangle shooting.

Detective Leopold McLean, 49, faced up to 25 years behind bars after he was convicted last month of attempted murder and reckless endangerment in Jamaica, Queens, in which he shot another man in the rear end. McLean apparently reported the incident at his then-girlfriend’s home as a burglary by a man with a knife without mentioning that gunfire was involved.

McLean, with 19 years on the force and just short of qualifying for his lifetime police pension, was on the way back from escorting Bloomberg’s daughter in a night on the town. “McLean had just dropped off Mayor Bloomberg’s daughter Georgina at home after a Knicks game in November 2010 when he pulled up to girlfriend Assia Winfield’s Jamaica home and spotted LePaul Gammons outside. McLean opened fire with his service weapon and hit Gammons twice in the buttocks and back as the targeted man ran away.”

Gammons, who is currently jailed in Rikers Island on other charges, evidently was Winfield’s ex-boyfriend against whom she had obtained a restraining order.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge James Griffin admonished McLean that “I don’t know what caused this situation to happen — it could have been fear, frustration, arrogance or stupidity — but as a citizen you forgot your common sense.”

At the same hearing, Gammons declared “A woman played both of us, with the outcome of this man trying to kill me.”

Mayor Bloomberg heads a national gun control organization called “Mayors Against Illegal Guns,” but his support for more firearms regulations does not include disarming his own around-the-clock security detail.

Separately, the mayor — who is also a foe of large sugary drinks as everyone knows — has made headlines with career advice for graduating high school students about “speaking grammar” and becoming plumbers rather than pursuing an expensive four-year college degree.

Bloomberg Bodyguard Gets Seven Years For Attempted Murder is a post from: The Inquisitr

Russian president Vladimir Putin is adamantly denying claims that he stole a Super Bowl ring from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Yesterday we reported that Kraft made the claim against Russia’s leader. Kraft claims that the theft went down in 2005 when the two men were engaged in a meeting.

Kraft was attending a gala on Thursday night when he revealed the alleged event which took place eight years earlier.

So what does Putin have to say about the Super Bowl ring theft? He claims it was a “great gift” that was handed over to him by Robert Kraft. In his original statement Kraft revealed:

“I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin], and he put it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring. I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.”

Putin admits there seemed to be some confusion over the “gift” at the time, but then claims it was later revealed to be a gift. The spokesman for Vladimir Putin say says of the exchange:

“What Mr. Kraft is saying now is weird. I was standing 20 centimeters away from him and Mr. Putin and saw and heard how Mr. Kraft gave this ring as a gift.”

Putin took the Super Bowl ring and placed it in the Kremlin’s library where it resides to this very day.

Why did Robert Kraft never speak of the allegedly stolen gift until this time? He says the White House told him to make the Super Bowl ring look like a gift to Putin so a diplomatic incident could be avoiding.

Do you think Vladimir Putin is capable of turning a Super Bowl ring theft into a diplomatic issue just to serve his own goals?

Vladimir Putin Denies He Stole Super Bowl Ring From Patriots Owner is a post from: The Inquisitr

Man of Steel changed a few things about Superman, and here’s what they got wrong.

It’s a fact that has stood since the dawn of superhero movies. Movies will always change the character in some ways, and comic book fanatics will always slam the films for doing so.

The best-written movies will always have it happen, so it’s not just the bad movies that get something wrong. Face it, if the films stuck to the comics, the movies would be ridiculous and predictable, and probably teeming with bad acting as they verge on downright boring. If Iron Man had stuck to the comic books, Robert Downey Jr. would probably have had to act like he’s extremely uninteresting, and the movies would have tanked.

There is a line that needs to be crossed when comic books are adapted to the big screen. If the true origins make it boring or impossible to film within the budget, the origins will be changed. If Batman had stayed true to the comics, Christopher Nolan’s series wouldn’t have ended after three movies, and Arkham Asylum would have gotten more of a focus.

The same stands with Man of Steel. Comic book characters on the most part tend to be uninteresting, especially if they have to live up to a code of conduct. And few superheroes have a tighter code of conduct than Superman.

There will be spoilers ahead, so read on only if you haven’t seen the film or don’t mind spoilers.

In the end, Superman beats General Zod by destroying things better and putting an entire city at risk. That’s not like the comic book hero at all, in that up to this point, the man of steel would never put others’ lives at risk. He would kill himself to save a kitten from a tree.

Then when all is said and done, Superman kills General Zod. In the comics, the man of steel never kills. It’s against his code as a role model for Earth’s people. Yes, he feels conflicted about it and needs Lois Lane to tell him it’ll be alright, but Superman has never killed even his most powerful, most evil adversaries.

How do you feel toward what Man of Steel got wrong about Superman? Do you think Superman’s new-found moral ambiguities make him a stronger character as a result?

‘Man Of Steel’: What The Superman Film Got Wrong [Spoilers] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Boston Celtics proposed mega trade with the Los Angeles Clippers now appears to be at impasse, as the teams are in limbo over the status of prized guard Eric Bledsoe.

The teams have been working on what would be a blockbuster trade, sending coach Doc Rivers and players Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Clippers, but Boston is holding out for two of the Clippers star young players.

The Celtics reportedly want Bledsoe and center DeAndre Jordan, but the Clippers have held strong against shipping Bledsoe, who plays backup to Chris Paul. This seems a bit of an insurance policy for the Clippers, who want to hold onto Bledsoe until Paul commits to Los Angeles, then ship off Bledsoe in a separate trade.

If either the Clippers or Celtics don’t back off demands within the next day or two, the trade will likely fall apart. But even then, there are more hurdles to cross. Doc Rivers would not actually be traded but instead released from his contract with the Celtics and acquired by Los Angeles.Rivers has three years and $21 million left on his contract.

Kevin Garnett also has a no-trade clause that must be waived in order for the trade to go through.

If the trade doesn’t seem to be coming together, sources say the Clippers will look to hire either Lionel Hollis or Brian Shaw as their next head coach.

Whether the trade happens or not, it seems that Paul Pierce will likely be elsewhere next season, says Celtics reporter Greg Dickerson believes Paul Pierce is done with the Boston Celtics.

“I don’t think they will (bring Pierce back),” Dickerson said last week on CSNNE. “And I know that the company that Paul Pierce hangs around in, they do not believe – and I don’t think Paul Pierce believes – that he is going to be brought back next year at $15 million. I know for a fact that people around Paul Pierce have pretty much resigned themselves to the fact that he’s played his final game in a Boston Celtics uniform. Again, Paul wants to stay – obviously for $15 million, but he wants to finish his career in a Celtics uniform.”

The Clippers may also be looking for another blockbuster trade outside of the proposal with the Celtics. They are reportedly weighing a deal offering forward Blake Griffin and Bledsoe to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade offer for Dwight Howard.

Celtics Blockbuster Trade With Clippers Held Up Over Eric Bledsoe is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nigella Lawson was the victim of a shocking attack by her husband Charles Saatchi in Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair, London. The 53-year-old celebrity chef and TV cooking star was seated at an outdoor patio table with the 70-year-old art patron when he launched the attack.

Folks, I’m sorry to say there isn’t much of an “allegedly” or “he says, she says” in this story. The restaurant is a popular celebrity hangout, and a photographer caught several photos for the UK tabloid Mirror’s Sunday People. Look for yourself, but the pictures appear to support the tabloid’s claim that Saatchi choked her multiple times and even tweaked her nose.

Charles Saatchi isn’t known for his sweet temper, but now he appears to have crossed a line into domestic violence. It’s a distressing performance from the owner of the Saatchi Gallery and the supporter of innovative British artists.

According to the Mirror report, no one tried to interfere, even after their escalating argument got physical — and even when Nigella Lawson was reduced to tears by Saatchi’s attack. He himself eventually stomped off in a huff, leaving her crying at the table.

Neither Lawson nor Saatchi has commented. The Metropolitan Police told London media that Nigella Lawson hadn’t filed a complaint. The authorities said that they investigating.

The Daily Mail reported that Lawson was seen packing a cab with her suitcase, with the help of her 17-year-old son from her first marriage to John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001.

Her public is naturally upset by the photographs of Saatchi choking Nigella Lawson.

Art news: Charles Saatchi's next site specific installation project could be him, installed in a specific site like Pentonville.

— paul bassett davies (@thewritertype) June 16, 2013

1) How is this man not in jail already? 2) What kind of public restaurant lets this happen – 4 TIMES? http://t.co/dstJoa5Nzj

— Adam Barken (@adambarken) June 16, 2013

What a surprise Charles Saatchi has previous, same place, but minimised as 'playful'. Daily Mail needs DV training http://t.co/zCtcvKMEkM"

— Liz Kelly (@ProfLizKelly) June 16, 2013

[Nigella Lawson photo by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Nigella Lawson Choked By Charles Saatchi, Flees Home With Suitcase is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to employee group Alliance@IBM, an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America union, layoffs at IBM have more than exceeded the initial estimates of 1,600 positions. These include at least 222 people from areas like marketing and 165 in semiconductor research and development.

IMB – one of the world’s largest computer services providers – has initiated a global restructuring plan, laying-off nearly 2,800 employees in North America alone. And more cuts are expected in nations like India as the company intents on spending $1 billion globally to trim its workforce.

According to the official national IBM employee’s union, the total number of lay-offs in the US as of June 15, 2013 was 2,792. But some grimly project the number of workers cut could hit upwards of 8,000 – roughly two percent of the company’s workforce. Others speculate the number to be closer to 5,000.

The layoffs, known as resource actions, on a more intimate scale, have affected at least 65 people in IBM’s storage-systems development center at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park.

International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation – founded in 1911 as the Computing Tabulating Recording Company (CTR) – with headquarters in Armonk, New York.

IBM manufactures and markets computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. IBM has 12 research laboratories worldwide and holds the record for most patents generated by a single company for 20 consecutive years.

The company first confirmed the restructuring back in April – following a poor first-quarter – and again on Thursday, but did not provide additional details other than to cite the competitive nature of the industry.

Despite the recent cuts, IBM said it remains the largest technology employer in the world with roughly 434,000 people.

[Image via Wikicommons]

IBM’s Layoffs Exceed 1,600 People is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amazon recently won a $150 million contract for a massive intelligence community computer cloud and now IBM is crying foul.

According to a Government Accountability Office ruling the CIA gave Amazon an unfair advantage when it agreed to weaken security requirements for the project. That agreement arrived only after Amazon won the lucrative contract.

After winning the CIA bid Amazon asked the intelligence agency for permission to only vouch for software it had built itself. In the meantime third party and open source software would not be checked for viruses and backdoors by the team at Amazon.

IBM claims that it would have bid differently on the contract if third-party issues had been revealed during the bid process.

According to the Government Accountability Office the CIA cloud setup is to be built on government property and therefore requires the highest level of security possible. The GAO notes that the system would include both infrastructure-as-a-service and software-as-a-service components.

The GAO writes:

“It is a fundamental principle of government procurement that competition must be conducted on an equal basis,” GAO said. “Offerors must be treated equally and provided with a common basis for the preparation of their proposals.”

The GAO has suggested that the CIA re-bid the cloud contract and reimburse IBM for the cost of challenging the award. While Government Accountability Office rulings are not officially binding they are typically followed.

The cloud-based data center would allow the CIA to store information at lower costs. Cloud computing has become a growing component of the online space with many companyies and organizations moving towards the shared space technology.

The GAO also says IBM was correct in assuming that the CIA unfairly adjusted bid pricing based on inconsistent standards.

IBM made other claims in its attempt to stop the Amazon bid but those claims were thrown out by an independent auditor.

CIA Gave Amazon Unfair Advantage To Win Cloud-Based Security Contract is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ed Sheeran doesn’t look much like a hip-hop artist with his wild red hair or tattoo sleeves, but the British singer said his upcoming studio effort will sound a lot more like some classic 1990s rap albums.

After establishing himself as a modern artist in the folk/hip-hop vein, Sheeran said he looked to some of his favorite rap artists for influence on his sophomore effort.

Sheeran has been going through a lot of changes since scoring a breakout hit with “The A Team,” a song about a prostitute addicted to crack cocaine that he said was inspired by his trip to a homeless shelter.The 22-year-old British singer moved to the US last year and has been building up his name in music circles.

But Sheeran said he still feels connected to his simple British upbringing.

“I’m not Hollywood in the slightest,” Sheeran said last week. “I come from a very small town in England (Halifax), growing up watching these sort of events on TV, and then you find yourself at these events. I don’t really dress smart ever. And I don’t really wear designer clothes. So I’m instantly a bit like: Oh (crap), I really should have dressed up for this.”

After starting in Los Angeles, Sheeran moved to Nashville, living in a rural area outside the city. He said he enjoys going about his business without being bothered by paparazzi, in a setting that reminds him of his home in England.

Sheeran had an unusual blend of folk and hip-hop on his debut album, +. Released in summer 2011 in the UK, the album would go on to earn platinum honors six times, doing so faster than any other UK artist at the time not named Adele.

After achieving success in the UK and then the United States, Ed Sheeran said he is ready for a sophomore follow-up that will better showcase his talent. He wrote most of the debut album when he was 17 years old, recording it for just $20,000, but now is ready for a different effort that takes a greater influence from hip-hop.

“It’s not like I’ve kind of grown up or evolved — you know how artists say (BS) stories about how they’ve grown up with their fans or whatever — I’m just into a lot of different music,” he said. “My first record was written at a time where I was very influenced by certain acoustic singer/songwriters, and this record has been very influenced by me listening to a lot of hip-hop and acoustic singer/songwriters. So it’s a bit of both.”

In fact, Sheeran compares his effort to one of the most popular and influential hip-hop albums of all time.

“I’ll probably get shot for saying this,” he said, “but it’s more in the vein of a Lauryn Hill, Miseducation (of Lauryn Hill) kind of vibe.”stuff, I’m a professional and I worked quite hard to get where I am. And now I’m here, I think it would be silly to let that slip. So I’m going to always turn up on time, I’m going to always do my job, and I don’t think the press can knock me on that.”

Whatever sound his album takes, Ed Sheeran can no longer hide behind the anonymity of being a little-known British singer. He’s now got close to 7 million Twitter followers, and a tour with Taylor Swift.

Ed Sheeran Says New Album Will Have More Hip-Hop Influence is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dwight Howard trade rumors say the Los Angeles Lakers center could end up staying put in L.A. — just not for the same team.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who share the Staples Center with their hometown rival Lakers, are reportedly interested in acquiring Howard. Sources say the Clippers are looking at a blockbuster trade that would send Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe to the Lakers in exchange for Howard in a sign-and-trade taking place after July 1, ESPN reported.

It’s not clear just how serious the Clippers are about the Dwight Howard trade, or how a possible blockbuster deal with the Boston Celtics would affect it. The Clippers are said to be in the process of acquiring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and coach Doc Rivers from the Celtics, though the deal has reportedly stuck on whether Bledsoe would be part of it.

There is still doubt on whether the Dwight Howard trade to the Clippers would be viable. Though sources within the Clippers have confirmed there is interest, Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski said it is far-fetched to think the deal could ever take place.

If it could be completed, the deal would help both the Lakers and Clippers. Howard had an uneven season with the Lakers, hampered by injuries and squabbles behind the scenes with players and management. And as the Lakers failed to meet expectations and were swept out of the first round of the playoffs, much of the blame — fairly or not — was placed on Dwight Howard.

Leaving the Lakers would give Howard a chance at a fresh start, and give the Clippers one of the pieces they need to be a true contender. Howard would get a chance to team up with point guard Chris Paul, giving the Clippers a better chance of competing with the likes of San Antonio and Oklahoma City for the Western Conference.

But if the Dwight Howard trade rumors with the Clippers fizzle out, the center is still likely to be a hot item elsewhere. He’s reportedly gotten interest from the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, with both teams angling to dump payroll to make a run at Howard.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumor: Lakers Star Could Be Staying Put, But Switching Teams is a post from: The Inquisitr

iPads and other tablets may replace workers at fast-food restaurants because of Obamacare and other federal and state government mandates that dramatically increase the cost of doing business.

That is the assessment of Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, parent company of the Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s fast-food chains. Like other business leaders have declared, he also maintains that firms will likely hire more part-time employees to avoid the added costs imposed by Obamacare and other regulations.

You may remember the hot Carl’s Jr. Super Bowl ad with model Nina Agdal.

Insurers have gone on record warning of of premium sticker-shock under the ironically named Affordable Care Act. For example, the Ohio Department of Insurance has recently predicted a staggering 88 percent increase in health insurance premium costs in 2014.

Various employers around the country have already cautioned that they may pass along expensive insurance cost hikes to customers. Other employers are downgrading workers into part-time status so they no longer have eligibility for insurance coverage or purposely keeping headcount below 50 to avoid the law’s provisions — which means ongoing unemployment when jobseekers don’t get hired. Employers above the 50-worker threshold may find it more cost effective to drop health benefits entirely and pay the $2,000 fine per full-time worker.

Said Puzder about replacing flesh-and-blood employees with kiosks:

You’re going to go into a fast-food restaurant and order on an iPad or tablet instead of talking to a person because we don’t have to pay benefits for any of those things.

A supporter of technology, the CEO nonetheless lamented that the personal touch (as it were) is going to lost with iPad ordering as well as the opportunity for some companies to offer entry-level jobs to newcomers to the workforce.

As far as the burgeoning amount of part-time employment to avoid Obamacare, Pudzer insisted that his fast-food restaurants won’t be forcing anyone to go from full time to part time.  “Everybody is hiring more part-time employees … we’re not firing anyone to hire [part-time workers]. Through attrition, three full-time employees go away and you hire four part-time employees who basically have the same hours.”

Because the US Health and Human Services Department has yet to issue final Obamacare regulations, Pudzer explained that his company has been unable to definitively pinpoint how it will restructure its employee health benefits program.

CKE is headquartered in California but has no plans to expand the number of restaurants in that state because “California is not interested in having businesses grow,” due to intrusive regulations.”

As we have previously reported, some economists have blamed Obamacare for the continuing high unemployment rate.

Look on the bright side if there is one; iPad ordering may mean a greater likelihood that your food purchase comes out correctly.

Do you agree or disagree with the premise that “The ultimate victims [of overregulation] are middle-class entrepreneurs, like restaurant managers, and the low-skill workers they employ”?

iPads To Replace Workers At Some Fast Food Restaurants is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Catholic church shooting in Ogden, Utah is being reported by a local news source.

According to KSL 5 News of Salt Lake City, a man was shot in the back of the head at the St. James Catholic Church. The shooting reportedly took place during the 11:30 AM mass. There was only one gunshot.

The shooting was reportedly the result of a domestic dispute of some kind between the two men. The victim was injured but still alive and has been transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The suspect Charles Richard Jennings has escaped and may be traveling northbound in a stolen 1996 white GMC truck.

KSL 5 said that they have a reporter on the scene and that they’ll have more information soon. We’ll post more updates as we get them.

Parishioner says she heard one gunshot during the 11:30am mass. "It echoed all over," she said. Everyone went down on the floor.

— Sandra Yi (@KSL_SandraYi) June 16, 2013

UPDATE:

The police have named 35-year-old Charles Richard Jennings as the suspect who shot a victim as the parishioners were lining up to take communion.

One unnamed witness said that the victim was the grandfather of Jennings’ son, and police believe that Jennings may now be on his way to pick up his son.

The victim was targeted and is currently believed to be in the intensive care unit at MacKay Dee Hospital. An Ogden police department statement called the crime an act of domestic violence:

“The suspect was specific in the desired target and action. No other patrons were injured during the altercation.”

RT @ksl_sandrayi: Police: shooting was an act of domestic violence. They are interviewing a lot of witnesses.

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) June 16, 2013

At this time, the perpetrator of the Catholic church shooting is still at large.

[image via Ken at Flickr via Creative Commons]

Catholic Church Shooting In Utah, Manhunt Underway [Breaking] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A death row inmate in Oklahoma, 50-year-old David Magnan – who admitted to intentionally killing two women, a man, and injuring another – has been granted a release on a court’s order due to a technicality.

Magnan pled guilty in Seminole County District Court to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of shooting with intent to kill on March 3, 2004. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

But Magnan’s conviction was overturned Friday by the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals after it was determined the triple homicide had taken place on an Indian reservation – official Native American land where the state technically has no authority or jurisdiction.

Only federal and tribal laws have prosecutorial authority on reservation territory – providing a legal loophole in this case.

Therefore, Magnan, a member the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, was removed from death row at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, where he’d been for nearly 10 years.

The judgment came with the presumption that federal authorities will intercede and re-arrest and prosecute Magnan, given the homicidal nature of the crimes and admitted guilt in the triple murder and wounding of other members of the Seminole Nation.

If he is ever tried federally though, it’s likely Magnan will not face the death penalty as it is rarely imposed in federal courts.

The killings occurred in 2004 inside an inherited Seminole residence, where family and friends had gathered to celebrate a birthday. Magnan drove to the home with two other men, where he shot and injured Eric Coley who’d come outside to speak to him.

Court records state Magnan then entered the house, noticed James Howard, said “goodbye,” and shot him.

Karen Wolf and Lucilla McGirt were also shot. Lucilla died from complications stemming from her gunshot wound two weeks later.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Released On Technicality is a post from: The Inquisitr

A 21-year-old Florida babysitter has been charged with having sex with an 11-year-old child she was hired to take care of.

Megan Nicole Hayes of Rockledge was arrested Thursday on felony charges of sexual battery of a child under the age of 12. According to Hayes’ father, she is intellectually challenged and does not know right from wrong. He then said the family was not interested in discussing his daughter’s arrest with the media.

Hayes admitted to police that she had sex with the child on May 27 in Cocoa, and is currently being held without bond at Brevard County Jail. She was previously arrested back in February on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and petty theft.

Hayes is not the first babysitter to admit to having sex with a child in her care. In 2009, 28-year-old Summer Nelson was charged with having sex with the 14-year-old boy she was babysitting in 2007. Nelson was a friend of the teenager’s mother, who began to grow suspicious when she noticed how much attention Nelson was giving her son. It was also alleged that Nelson told the boy’s siblings that she was in love with him. The sexual abuse was first reported in December 2008, and police determined that Nelson and the teen had sex on four different occasions.

Last year, a New Jersey babysitter admitted that she recorded herself molesting a 5-year-old girl, and then streamed the abused over Skype and sent videos to a man she knew as “Robert.” The babysitter abused the child while she was sleeping and while she took a bath. The woman, 33-year-old Jennifer Mahoney, faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Her lawyer, Herbert Ellis, told the judge that Mahoney suffered from mental illness, but did not elaborate. He also said that she tried to kill herself six years ago.

What do you think should happen to the babysitter who had sex with her 11-year-old charge?

21-Year-Old Babysitter Charged With Having Sex With 11-Year-Old is a post from: The Inquisitr