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Digg Reader Coming Next Week

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digg reader

The Digg Reader  will start rolling out next week.

Digg announced today that the Digg Reader, an RSS product that the social media site hopes will replace the disappearing Google Reader, will launch next week. Digg will roll out the product in phases and plans to have the new reader available to everyone by June 26.

Digg writes on its blog: “Next week we will begin rolling out Digg Reader, version 1. We’re doing the launch in phases because, as you might have guessed, RSS aggregation is a hard thing to do at scale, and we want to make sure the experience is as fast and reliable as possible. Everyone will have access by June 26th.”

Digg started working on its new product shortly after Google announced that they would be killing its reader. The Digg team built their Reader with three goals in mind: Keep it simple, make it fast, and allow users to import Google RSS feeds into the new reader.

Here are some of the core elements of the new product.

  • Easy migration and onboarding from Google Reader.
  • A clean reading experience that gets out of the way and puts the focus squarely on the articles, posts, images, and videos themselves.
  • Useful mobile apps that sync with the web experience.
  • Support for key actions like subscribing, sharing, saving and organizing.

Tech Crunch reports that the Digg Reader will be integrated into the Digg iOS app. An Android app will be released about “60 days following the launch.”  The company is also working on integrating services like Evernote.

Digg is trying to position itself as a replacement for Google Reader but it isn’t the only name in the game. The Guardian notes that services like Feedly have seen a big increase in customers since Google announced that it was killing of its Reader.

Digg Reader Coming Next Week is a post from: The Inquisitr


7-Eleven Raids In NY, VA, Feds Cite ‘Human Smuggling’

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7-eleven raids

A large string of 7-Eleven raids in New York and Virginia stemmed from a larger probe by feds into immigration, human smuggling, and identity theft, several federal agencies working in concert confirmed today.

The 7-Eleven raids encompassed outlets in both New York and Virginia, with several Long Island stores part of the massive joint agency effort.

In what the New York Times termed one of the “largest criminal immigrant employment investigations ever conducted by the Justice and Homeland Security Departments,” Brooklyn US attorney Loretta Lynch explains that the massive scheme busted utilized stolen social security numbers and even preyed upon the immigrants working illegally in the ring.

Lynch said:

“From their 7-Eleven stores the defendants dispensed wire fraud and identity theft, along with Slurpees and hot dogs … In bedroom communities across Long Island and Virginia, the defendants not only systematically employed illegal immigrants but concealed their crimes by raiding the cradle and grave to steal the identify of children and even the dead.”

Arrested in the 7-Eleven raids initially were nine defendants, identified in press reports:

57-year-old Farrukh Baig, Head of Harbor, New York
49-year-old Bushra Baig of Head of Harbor, New York
51-year-old Malik Yousaf of South Setauket, New York
51-year-old Zahid Baig of Chesapeake, Virginia
62-year-old Shannawaz Baig of Virginia Beach, Virginia
34-year-old Tariq Rana of Chesapeake, Virginia
49-year-old Ramon Nanas of Great River, New York
49-year-old Azhar Zia of Great River, New York
48-year-old Ummar Uppal of Islap Terrace, New York

Of the allegations of human smuggling at the center of the 7-Eleven raids, Lynch said that the men arrested are accused of “ruthlessly [exploiting] their immigrant employees” and “creating a modern-day plantation system.”

After the 7-Eleven raids, one neighbor not identified said of one of the homes busted that the residence was “packed in there,” and they’d observed that there had “been a constant flow of new people coming in.”

7-Eleven Raids In NY, VA, Feds Cite ‘Human Smuggling’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

David Oliver, Police Chief, Develops Facebook Following For Shaming Criminals

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David Oliver

Brimfield Township, OH – Police Chief David Oliver has developed quite a significant social following on Facebook for posting entertaining updates about the Ohio beat.

Criminals seem to be the biggest butt of Oliver’s online behavior too. The department enjoys some 51,000 Facebook fans, all tuning in for amusing stories about the “mopes” (the term he uses for criminals) in his corner of northeast Ohio.

Follow the Brimfield Police Department on Facebook, and you’re in for gems like this:

“If you use a handicapped space and you jump out of the vehicle, all healthy-like, as if someone is dangling free cheeseburgers on a stick, expect people to stare at you and get angry.”

And:

“You are milking the system and it aggravates those of us who play by the rules. Ignoring us does not make you invisible. We see you, loser.”

This type of humor increased the page’s likes tenfold in the past year, with many fans outside of the town’s 10,300 residents. It is one of the most-liked local law enforcement Facebook pages in the entire country. Only New York, Boston, and Philadelphia police are more followed.

“I call criminals mopes. I do not comment on them being ugly, smelly or otherwise beauty impaired … even though some are. I do not comment on their education, social status, color, sex, origin or who they marry. I care about crime and character. If you come to Brimfield and commit a crime we are all going to talk about it. The easiest way to not be called a criminal is to not be one. It is not calculus.”

So if you’re the type who enjoys funny crime stories and updates, jog on over to Brimfield PD’s Facebook page for updates by David Oliver.

[Image via: Facebook]

David Oliver, Police Chief, Develops Facebook Following For Shaming Criminals is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dr. Drew Apologizes To Amanda Bynes, Say He Was Trying To Be Supportive

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Dr. Drew says he was trying to support Amanda Bynes

Dr. Drew Pinsky has apologized to Amanda Bynes for a recent tweet that appears to have been taken out of context.

The TV doctor said he was trying to be supportive of the 27-year-old when he tweeted Friday, “It may be time to leave @AmandaBynes alone.”

The comment caused Bynes to target Dr. Drew on Twitter with what has become her go-to insult as of late. The troubled child star wrote, “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? What kind of help are you referring to? You’re ugly and I want you to leave me alone!”

Dr. Drew clarified the tweet to E! News at the 2013 Daytime Emmy Awards Sunday.

“What I meant was, I had been receiving literally thousands of emails demanding I help Amanda Bynes,” he said. “I don’t know Amanda, she’s never asked me for help, nor have any of her people; she lives 3,000 miles away, so it was just responding to that saying, ‘Look guys, leave her alone; if she needs help, hopefully she’ll get help one day before something bad happens.’”

Dr. Drew added that the idea of help upset the What I Like About You star, which wasn’t his intention. He also said social media is not helping her, but it has become a way for Bynes to lash out at people she doesn’t like, such as Rihanna, who she said Chris Brown beat up because she wasn’t pretty enough, or Miley Cyrus. Whatever animosity she felt toward the Hannah Montana star went away last week after Cyrus said she was rooting for Bynes comeback. Bynes then took back her previous “Ur ugly,” writing, “Thank you for rooting for me doll! You are one of the prettiest girls! I want my nose to look like yours after my surgeries.”

Do you think that Dr. Drew was trying to be supportive of Amanda Bynes? Do you agree that social media isn’t helping her?

[Photo credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Dr. Drew Apologizes To Amanda Bynes, Say He Was Trying To Be Supportive is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bear Mauls Man In Alaska After Being Fed Barbecue Meat

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alaska bear

Do not, under any conditions, feed the bears. A man in Alaska was mauled by a bear this week after he fed the animal some barbecue meat.

Ken Marsh, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Fish And Game, said that the camper “pretty much goaded” the bear into attacking. Marsh said that in addition to getting mauled by a bear, the man could face a fine for feeding the wildlife.

According to Alaska State Trooper spokesman Beth Ipsen, the man was at a church picnic near the Eklutna Lake Campground just north of Anchorage when he decided to go for a bike ride. The man, who had been drinking, brought some barbecue with him which he decided to share with a bear that he met on his path.

The man threw the bear a piece of barbecue meat, and then another, and when he ran out of food the bear started looking for something else to munch on.

Ipsen said: “That’s when it kind of went ballistic.”

The bear mauled the man but eventually left when it figured out that the camper didn’t have the same smokey taste as the barbecued meat. Thankfully, the man survived the attack.

The Anchorage News Daily reports that the man, who was not identified because he could be charged for feeding the wildlife, was found by park rangers washing himself off at a campground. Ipsen said that the man was pretty incoherent when he was found and had a hard time telling park rangers exactly what had happened.

The man was then taken to a hospital where he was treated with puncture wounds and scratches and then released.

Marsh said that the bear wasn’t a danger to anyone in the area and isn’t expected to attack anyone else. The spokesman said again: “The bear was pretty much goaded into this.”

Bear Mauls Man In Alaska After Being Fed Barbecue Meat is a post from: The Inquisitr

India Floods Claim Lives, Wash Away Buildings [Video]

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India Floods Leave Dozens Dead As Buildings Are Swept Away

India floods, following heavy monsoon rains, have hit the northern state of Uttarakhand leaving at least 26 people dead and many buildings destroyed over the weekend and on Monday.

The monsoon rains, an annual occurrence, came a month early this year one official said. The rains began Saturday morning and Monday have yet to end. On Sunday alone, the state’s capitol was reported to have accumulated more than eight and a half inches of rain.

The India floods have swept houses away and collapsed others. In the Himalaya foothills region, major landslides have done their share of destruction as well.

In one area, a group of over 10,000 Hindu pilgrims found themselves stranded on a mountain pass leading to a sacred religious site. Landslides closed paths off of the mountain, and reports say the pilgrims are being evacuated via helicopter.

Helicopters are also reported to be in use by army and paramilitary units to rescue many individuals stranded on rooftops.

Even India’s capitol, Delhi, is seeing excessive rains with many roads flooding to knee-deep waters. Transportation was heavily affected with many commuters struggling to get to work on time and flights facing delays and cancellations.

The northern states of Punjab and Haryana are also experiencing the heavy rains. Uttarakhand is receiving the worst of the flooding, however, as the River Ganges and several tributaries merge in the northern state.

Meteorologists are predicting another three days of rain, at the least. Authorities worry that places already hit hard by the devastating waters have yet to see the worst of the floods this season.

The early rains were originally met with cheer, seen as much needed relief for India’s farmers beset by dry conditions and poor growth this season. Hope turned to fear as the rains kept falling without end.

The India floods continue to cause damage to the north and, as the dramatic videos below show, are washing away entire buildings including a three-story apartment complex:

[Image via Daniel J. Rao / Shutterstock.com]

India Floods Claim Lives, Wash Away Buildings [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bear Mauls Drunk Man Who Feeds It Meat

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black bear

A black bear mauled a man at a campground in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday as he fed him meat from his barbecue.

In the attack, which took place at Eklutna Lake Campground north of Anchorage the black bear attacked the man and began to maul him. According to reports, spokesman Ken Marsh said that the bear was “pretty much goaded” into the attack by the drunk man.

Marsh also noted about the victim of the bear mauling: “He wasn’t terribly coherent, he was unsure of where the attack actually happened”

According to Beth Ipsen, spokeswoman for the Alaska state troopers, the man returned from a bike ride and had been drinking heavily. When he came across the bear, he threw it a piece of meat and then offered it a second piece.

At this point, according to Ipsen: “That’s when it (the bear) kind of went ballistic.” The man was found by state troopers washing blood from himself at the campsite and, according to authorities, is lucky to be alive.

Feeding animals in the wild is not recommended by authorities and biologists, who say that you should never feed wild animals food of any description. When a bear mauls a human, the consequences can be fatal.

In this case, the man involved in the incident was lucky to be treated at the local hospital for scratches and light puncture wounds. There were no witnesses to the attack, and the man was too drunk to convey the details of the bear mauling to authorities.

Bear Mauls Drunk Man Who Feeds It Meat is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kim Kardashian, Kanye Need To ‘Focus’ On Preemie, Dr. Oz Says

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kim kardashian dr oz preemie

Kim Kardashian’s premature baby was the subject of celebrity Dr. Oz’s concern this week after the little girl appeared to arrive five weeks early on Saturday following a night out.

Dr. Oz says Kim Kardashian’s baby girl — who made the surprise early entrance only if Kim was not fudging her due date to avoid the paparazzi — is going to need special care and attention after making her way into the world a bit ahead of schedule.

While Dr. Oz is indeed a doctor and a well liked one, his advice to Kim Kardashian also smacks of the sort of frequent and unwanted tips most new parents face. After all, if Kim K and Kanye are the baby’s parents, surely they’re already thinking about the new arrival’s health and possible challenges due to potential prematurity?

But Dr. Oz weighed in, saying that he himself is father to one baby who arrived equally early:

“I’ve been following Kim’s story, which I have a personal interest in aside from being a doctor … Our youngest child [Oliver] was born five weeks premature. So I know how hair-raising that is, and the most important thing to recognize is today, we can actually get kids to survive almost always, but if you don’t manage them really well early on, they can grow up to develop all kinds of issues.”

Following on from that, though, Dr. Oz gets into slightly preachy and “thank you, Captain Obvious” territory when he adds:

“We change how a child responds to a world around it in those first few weeks of life, so they ought to really focus in on that little girl … It’s sacred, those first few months, for all babies but especially for the premature. It’s a sacred time. They should focus on the child.”

While Dr. Oz probably means well with the Kim Kardashian preemie comments, it also stands to reason that the child of the wealthy reality fam and mega-rapper Kanye West is likely getting some of the best care on the planet regardless.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye Need To ‘Focus’ On Preemie, Dr. Oz Says is a post from: The Inquisitr


JFK TV Doc ‘Letters To Jackie’ Trailer Drops [Video]

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Jackie Kennedy

Looks like we’re in for a Kennedy filled season. Last week we gave you a first look at Rob Lowe as JFK, and now the first trailer has dropped for a different Kennedy project. This film is a TV documentary which focuses more on Jackie Kennedy, the first lady of the oval office, and Kennedy’s wife.

Director Steven Spielberg produced the film, which is being called Letters To Jackie, and is an adaptation of the book by Ellen Fitzpatrick. Both the book and film delve into more than 800,000 letters from around the world that supported Jackie and her family after the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy. Voiced by an all-star cast, different voices take on a different letter which brings the film to life. Director Bill Couturié weaves the letters together in Letters To Jackie.

The all-star cast includes:

Bérénice Bejo, Demián Bichir, Jessica Chastain, Chris Cooper, Viola Davis, Zooey Deschanel, Kirsten Dunst, Anne Hathaway, Allison Janney, John Krasinski, Melissa Leo, Laura Linney, Frances McDormand, Chloë Grace Moretz, Mark Ruffalo, Octavia Spencer, Hailee Steinfeld, Channing Tatum, Betty White and Michelle Williams.

In a rather poignant moment from the trailer, Betty White reads a letter: “My Dear Mrs. Kennedy, Lincoln died so that all men might be free. One hundred years later, JFK died so all men might be equal.”

As mentioned there’s a bevy of projects surrounding different looks into the lives of the Kennedys. J.J. Abrams is looking to secure the rights to Stephen King’s fictional novel that goes back in time to change the history of the assassination. Another JFK film sees Rob Lowe playing president Kennedy in the Biography channel’s Killing Kennedy.

It’s not that surprising, given this fall will be fifty years since the haunting day of November 22, 1863, which is the day president John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Letters To Jackie is scheduled to air this fall on TLC.

JFK TV Doc ‘Letters To Jackie’ Trailer Drops [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Chad Johnson Released From Jail After Apologizing To Judge

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Chad Johnson Released From Jail After Apologizing To Judge

Chad Johnson is free from jail Monday after apologizing to the judge he angered by slapping his attorney on the backside.

Johnson had been in court last week to accept the terms of a plea deal that would have kept him out of jail for violating his parole. But, after he playfully slapped his attorney on the behind, drawing laughter from those in the courtroom, Johnson faced the ire of an angry judge.

Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh scolded Chad Johnson for his display, sending the former Pro Bowler to jail for 30 days.

It was not the first courtroom misstep for Johnson. McHugh had warned him twice not to put his arm around the shoulders of a female prosecutor, also pointing out that he caused a three-inch gash on ex-wife Evelyn Lozada’s forehead when he headbutted her last year.

McHugh said: “‘I don’t know that you’re taking this whole thing seriously. I just saw you slap your attorney on the backside. Is there something funny about this? ‘The whole courtroom was laughing. I’m not going to accept these plea negotiations. This isn’t a joke.”

Johnson issued an apology from jail, saying he was sorry to have such a flippant attitude in the domestic violence case against Lozada.

“I just wanted to apologize for disrespecting the court last time,” Johnson said.  “I apologize. I did have time to reflect on the mistakes I made in this courtroom.”

Chad Johnson was released from jail following his apology.

Over the weekend Chad got a visit from friend and former teammate Terrell Owens, who said it was “humbling” to see Johnson locked up.

“I really didn’t know what to expect but to see the homie locked up is a very humbling experience, to talk to him via vid conference let me know that’s not where anyone wants to be,” Owens tweeted. “I know he’s only in the county jail but to someone that has never been locked up…Jail is Jail!”

Though Chad Johnson was released from jail, he will still be required to perform 25 hours of community service and attend domestic violence counseling sessions. His probation has also been extended an extra three months, through mid-October.

Chad Johnson Released From Jail After Apologizing To Judge is a post from: The Inquisitr

Chicago Shootings: The Windy City’s Most Violent Weekend This Year

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Chicago shootings

The Chicago shooting wave continues to haunt the city. Over Father’s Day weekend, seven people were killed and at least 41 were injured in the ongoing wave of gun violence currently stalking Chicago.

The death toll this past weekend is actually higher than the six people killed in Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend. And, of course, that was a three-day weekend starting Friday night and continuing through Monday night.

This weekend’s gun violence count started on Friday night and continued through Sunday night.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Father’s Day weekend was the most violent weekend of the year so far.

Many of the cases were unrelated. The Sun-Times link provides an exhaustive list of most of the dead and injured in the Chicago shootings.

However, Chicago police pointed out that gun violence overall is actually down. In an emailed statement from Chicago spokesman Adam Collins:

“We had 8 fewer shooting incidents this weekend compared to the same weekend in 2012…[W]e’ve had fewer murders to date this year than any year since the mid-1960s.”

In that case, why the public impression that gun violence is growing when the crime statistics say it’s falling?

It may be because the publicity surrounding gun violence in Chicago, President Barack Obama’s hometown, provides fuel for both sides of the gun control debate.

Those who oppose new gun legislation point to the shooting waves that happen in Chicago despite the city’s strict gun control laws. They argue that the violent crimes are proof that gun control doesn’t work.

But others say that the problem is guns from outside cities with strict controls. Those people would like to see expanded gun control legislation.

While the debate continues, the city of Chicago has already spent 75 percent of its overtime to keep the homicide rate as low as it is.

Once the money runs out, we could see another wave of Chicago shootings.

[photo by Sascha Burkard via Shutterstock]

Chicago Shootings: The Windy City’s Most Violent Weekend This Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

Chris Brown Music Video Features Aaliyah Hologram [Op-Ed]

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Chris Brown uses Aaliyah hologram in music video

Chris Brown’s latest music video features Aaliyah as a hologram!

Is there a line Chris Brown won’t cross? First it was beating Rihanna right before the awards, and pretty much everything he’s done with her since. Chris Brown just doesn’t seem to be able to behave, even being seen outside a nightclub with her smoking marijuana on the anniversary of the reason it’s illegal for him to do that.

Aaliyah died about a decade ago in a plane crash shortly after filming Romeo Must Die with Jet Li. It was basically a remake of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but it threw in a story about rival gangs. Oddly enough, the film was practically remade shortly after as Cradle 2 The Grave.

The point is, Aaliyah has been dead for at least a decade, and now Chris Brown has crossed another line by featuring her as a holographic background dancer in his music video for “Don’t Think They Know.”

Can Chris Brown not at least respect the dead? What’s next? Will he feature Michael Jackson and Tupac as holograms too?

In the song, Chris Brown sings about how “they don’t know about us,” and the driver has a giant red lipstick stain on his neck like a hickey. This raises even more real world questions. Is he claiming he cheated on Rihanna with Aaliyah, or the other way around? If so, why would he use her in a hologram dancing to the song? It’s just bad taste, but I don’t think he cares what bad taste is.

After all, he followed up with the music video after a couple of blurbs about gun violence. One says, “Every two hours in America today, a child dies of a gunshot wound.” The next says, “Unity is what we’re afraid of so fear is insanity. Let’s love each other,” and at least he has the presence of mind to not claim he said these things.

However, Chris Brown did still have the audacity to use Aaliyah’s image as a background dancer while he sings about what seems to be cheating.

What do you think about Chris Brown using an Aaliyah hologram in his music video? Do you think he’s going too far?

[image via Shutterstock]

Chris Brown Music Video Features Aaliyah Hologram [Op-Ed] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Paula Cooper Freed After 27 Years

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Paula Cooper Released From Prison

Paula Cooper has been freed after 27 years. At the age of 15, Cooper entered the home of Ruth Pelke under false pretenses. She then stabbed the elderly woman 33 times. Cooper was initially sentenced to death. However, she has now been freed from prison.

Because of the heinous details of the case, Cooper became the youngest defendant to receive the death penalty. She and three of her friends knocked on Ruth Pelke’s door on May 14, 1985. Pelke happily let the girls in, as they stated they were interested in taking Bible lessons.

As reported by CBS News, Cooper and her friends intended to rob Pelke. Cooper eventually admitted hitting Pelke over the head before she stabbed her 33 times with a butcher knife. She and her friends left Pelke to die on the floor as they fled with her vehicle and $10 they found in her home.

In 1986, at the age of 16, Cooper was sentenced to die by electrocution. In a strange twist of events, Paula Cooper was freed from prison today after 27 years.

Her removal from death row was sanctioned by Pope John Paul II, who felt the sentence was too harsh for someone under the age of 18. A local priest echoed the pope’s feelings. In 1988, a petition with over two million signatures was presented to the Indiana Supreme Court.

As a consequence, her sentence was reduced to 60 years in 1988.

Cooper’s death sentence and eventual release were also sanctioned by an unlikely source. Ruth Pelke’s grandson Bill has been outspoken about his opposition to the death penalty, specifically the penalty imposed on Cooper at the age of 16.

As reported by WTSP, Bill explains how he came to support Cooper’s release:

“For a year and a half I thought about how my grandmother died, and it was horrible … I started thinking about my grandmother’s life … I realized I no longer wanted Paula to die. I wanted to help her. I realized forgiveness had already taken place.”

Bill eventually met Cooper at the prison. They now keep in contact through e-mail. He states that he is very happy about her release and hopes to meet her for lunch or a shopping trip.

Not everyone shares Bill’s forgiving nature. Cooper’s family is concerned that she will meet some serious opposition from Indiana residents. Her sister, Rhonda Labroi, hopes people will get a chance to know her sister before they judge her.

Cooper reportedly had 23 disciplinary actions while incarcerated. However, she eventually calmed down and focused on getting an education. By 2001, she obtained her bachelor’s degree.

Paula Cooper was freed from prison today. However, she has a long road ahead. Despite the support of her family and Bill Pelke, she will face judgment from many Indiana residents. Ruth Pelke was admired and loved by many. For some, her death was too horrific to ever forgive.

[Image via Wikimedia]

Paula Cooper Freed After 27 Years is a post from: The Inquisitr

Netflix Signs Deal And Nabs ‘Shrek’ And ‘The Croods’ Spin Off Shows

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Netflix

Looks like Netflix has another exciting deal. After rolling out their own original program and succeeding with House of Cards, Hemlock Grove, and Arrested Development, Netflix has taken another step in the right direction as an independent streaming service.

Their latest deal is with DreamWorks, and it’s certainly their most exciting deal yet, at least from a broadcasting stand point. With 2013, their original programming sees Orange Is The New Black next month, but the company isn’t stopping there.

Their new deal with DreamWorks Animation sees Netflix partnering up for 300 hours of exclusive material to the streaming site, which includes films like Mr. Magoo, Lassie, and Casper. What’s more exciting is what this offers in terms of Netflix as an original creative entity. Netflix plans on rolling out “inspired” shows by DreamWorks like Shrek and The Croods.

However, they aren’t putting their big guns out their just yet. For now, they plan to bring Turbo: F.A.S.T. as they plan to launch that to series in December. This comes as a huge leap in the right direction after the company lost a ton of Nickelodeon programming. For Netflix, DreamWorks is an important deal to make, as the company represents forward thinking and has been climbing up the ladder, reaching Disney’s Pixar with their films.

For DreamWorks this is just one of several inked deals for the company. They just inked a branding deal with a show How To Train Your Dragon, which is a spin-off from the original film starring Jay Baruchel. It is said that How To Train Your Dragon is heading to Cartoon Network.

Other big changes that will be more visible to the key is the expansion of Social Networking across the whole program. Netflix told TPM back in December: “We plan to introduce social features for our US members in 2013, after the president signs it.” This of course lets users link up their Netflix accounts with their Facebook accounts and shares the films that they have watched with friends.

Are you excited to see the changes to come?

Netflix Signs Deal And Nabs ‘Shrek’ And ‘The Croods’ Spin Off Shows is a post from: The Inquisitr

TSA Shames Teen Girl At LAX, Says ‘Cover Up’

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tsa shames teen

With government agency overreach in the news, a report the TSA shamed a teen girl at LAX for her outfit is sure to raise some hackles today.

According to her parents, the TSA shamed the teen, who is 15, over what appears to be a perfectly reasonable and even somewhat modest choice of attire — but it also prompts the question … since when is the TSA the fashion police?

The account posted over on BoingBoing is certainly editorialized, and is a second account due to being communicated by the teen girl to her parents and then posted by her dad.

Sunday night, Mark Frauenfelder wrote of the TSA teen shaming:

“Here’s what happened, as my daughter described it in text messages to us: she was at the station where the TSA checks IDs. She said the officer was ‘glaring’ at her and mumbling. She said, ‘Excuse me?’ and he said, ‘You’re only 15, COVER YOURSELF!’ in a hostile tone. She said she was shaken up by his abusive manner.”

Frauenfelder points out the obvious issue with such comments directed at teen girls, noting that if accurate, the TSA agent who took it upon himself to chide the girl is advancing the idea that women’s clothing choices are subject to valid male critique regardless of whether the criticizer is a stranger or not.

But he quotes his friend and Babes In Toyland bassist Maureen Hermann as saying:

“Absolutely inappropriate, harassing, aggressive, creepy, unprofessional, and Taliban-y thing that he did. ‘Cover up’ is a dangerous cultural attitude that fuels more than rude comments. It’s the foundation of the oppression of women, rape culture (‘she was asking for it’), and the drive for reproductive control of women’s bodies.”

Thus far, the TSA’s alleged teen girl shaming has not been addressed by the agency on Twitter.

TSA Shames Teen Girl At LAX, Says ‘Cover Up’ is a post from: The Inquisitr


Atlanta Radio Host Suspended After Mocking Steve Gleason’s ALS

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Atlanta Radio Host suspended for mocking Steve Gleason

Steve Gleason is an ex-NFL player who has become and inspiration for those in similar circumstances. Gleason suffers from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which prevents the brain from communicating with the muscles and is a terminal disease.

When Gleason was invited to take part in a show called Mayhem in the AM on Atlanta’s 790 “The Zone” on Monday, the last thing he probably expected was to get picked on by the host Nick Cellini and others.

The tasteless jokes they attempted at the expense of the disabled man included a fake question-and-answer segment with Gleason, using a robotic voice to make up imaginary answers from the former player. Word quickly spread online, with many fans and media members on Twitter blasting both Cellini and the station.

Now management at 790 has been forced to make a public apology condemning the radio host actions:

“We deeply regret the comments made by Mayhem In The AM this morning on 790 The Zone regarding former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. 790 The Zone, Lincoln Financial Media, our sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support the unfortunate and offensive commentary concerning Mr. Gleason this morning. The members of the show involved with this incident have been suspended indefinitely pending further management review of their actions.” signed by Rick Mack 790 The Zone Sr. VP & General Manager.

Host Nick Cellini, took to Twitter to apologize for the insensitive treatment of Gleason stating, “My apologies to everyone. It was a stupid attempt at humor that backfired. Emphasis on stupid.”

The latest on this incident is that the radio station has suspended Cellini and others involved.

Steve Gleason is a former defensive back for the New Orleans Saints. He has written a moving edition of Monday Morning Quarterback on Sports Illustrated. Gleason has used the Internet and social media to rally support for ALS research while battling the incurable condition also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Do you think the Atlanta radio host should apologize in person to Steve Gleason?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Atlanta Radio Host Suspended After Mocking Steve Gleason’s ALS is a post from: The Inquisitr

M. Night Shyamalan Lied About Writing ‘She’s All That,’ Says Screenwriter

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M. Night Shyamalan She's All That

In a twist worthy of one of his films, it turns out that M. Night Shyamalan may not have ghostwritten the 1999 teen comedy She’s All That after all.

The film’s credited screenwriter, R. Lee Fleming, responded to a fan on Twitter and said that Shymalan wrote the film “only in his mind.”

The tweet has since been deleted, but Fleming replaced it with a retweet of a Mark Twain quote: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”

During press rounds for his latest film, the Will and Jaden Smith vehicle After Earth, Shymalan dropped  a bit of a bombshell on the interviewer.

“You’re saying the audience’s relationship started with me with The Sixth Sense. That same year I wrote Stuart Little, he said. “I ghost-wrote a movie that same year that would even add to the breadth of it all. I ghost-wrote the movie She’s All That.”

So who is telling the truth here, Shymalan or Fleming? After all, since ghostwriting means you won’t get credit, Shymalan has no way to prove that he actually worked on the movie, short of a contract or some other legal documentation.

So while the case of whether or not M. Night Shyamalan really did ghostwrite She’s All That remains a mystery for now, The Sixth Sense director recently put an end to another mystery: a sequel to what many consider to be his last good film, 2000′s Unbreakable. The film starred Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson as an unknowing superhero and a burgeoning supervillain.

Shyamalan said he would only do the sequel if it felt right to him.

“As long as it can be connected to something that I’m feeling right now, then it’ll work for me. It’ll be valid and I’ll enjoy it,” Shyamalan said. “If I feel like it’s a mechanical thing and I’ll be doing it because it’ll be profitable or successful, that will just be so hollow.”

He added, “My agenda is to make another one, I just have to figure out a plot that makes sense. I’m close, though. On my dressing table, I have a whole list of notes about it.”

Do you think M. Night Shyamalan lied about ghostwriting She’s All That? Why would he take credit for a film that came out a decade and a half ago?

[Photo credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com]

M. Night Shyamalan Lied About Writing ‘She’s All That,’ Says Screenwriter is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lil Wayne Stomps American Flag, Sparks Massive Criticism Online [Video]

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Lil Wayne American flag

Did rapper Lil Wayne go too far in his new music video? Footage of his “God Bless America” video shoot is sparking controversy online today for showing what appears to be the rapper stomping on the stars and stripes.

The video making rounds on YouTube shows Lil Wayne in front of a large American flag. The flag drops to the ground (insulting enough, for some) and Lil Wayne starts jumping up and down on it.

“I don’t why he steps on the US flag, it’s wrong. Each individual should respect his country’s flag,” read the clip’s description.

The song “God Bless America” arrives with Wayne’s “I Am Not A Human Being II” an album which is already reportedly heavy with the political criticism now all too familiar to fans of the rapper.

“My country, tis of thee / Sweet land of kill them all and let them die / So God bless America, this so Godless America,” read the lyrics.

Wayne’s criticism of America and her oft-contentious politics is also apparent in other songs like “Dontgetit,” a “Tha Carter III” single that has the rapper slamming everything from sentencing rules to Al Sharpton.

But Lil Wayne may have outdone himself by stomping on the American flag, with a social reaction that includes comments like:

“I think his rhymes were made in China. Take that defective sh** back!”

“you are not supposed to even let the flag touch the ground, or you need to burn it…respect the flag or f*cking move…”

“Move to the middle east and see where that lands your hollywood “gangsta”,ass. Wangsta is what this dude is.”

You can check out the clip of Lil Wayne stomping on the American flag below, but let us know what you think. Did he cross a line?

[Image via: s_bukley / Shutterstock]

Lil Wayne Stomps American Flag, Sparks Massive Criticism Online [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Utah Church Shooting Victim Expected To Survive

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police tape

The Utah church shooting victim is currently in critical condition, but doctors at McDay-Dee hospital expect James Evans to survive.

Evans was shot during a Father’s Day mass at the Saint James the Just Catholic Church in Ogden, Utah. Police say that his son-in-law Charles Richard Jennings Jr. walked into the church with his wife, Evans’ daughter, and shot the 65-year-old man in the head.

Police say that the bullet went through Evans’ ear and out his cheek but missed his brain. Evans’ wife, Tara, said that her husband “turned his head just at the right time.”

Dr. Barbara Kerwin said that Evans is expected to survive but will have a long road to recovery. Evans will need reconstructive surgery and rehab to learn how to speak again.

After the Utah church shooting, Jennings fled the scene and stole a pick-up truck at gunpoint. Boston.com reports that he was arrested after he ran out of gas. Jennings was booked on attempted aggravated criminal homicide and aggravated robbery. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a restricted user.

Ogden Police Lt. Danielle Croyle said that Jennings and his wife, Cheryl, have had a history of domestic problems and that the family had recently become involved. Croyle did not hint at a motive but did say that Jennings may have been using drugs or alcohol prior to the shooting.

Reverend Erik Richsteig, who has known Evans for more than 10 years, said: ‘‘Jim is one of the kindest people I have ever known. No one deserves this, but I can’t think of a person who would deserve it less this less than Jim.’’

Richsteig canceled services on Sunday to allow police to investigate the incident but held mass again on Monday morning. Richsteig said that he didn’t want to “let evil win” and thought that it was important to resume services.

Utah Church Shooting Victim Expected To Survive is a post from: The Inquisitr

Justin Bieber Shares #MMVA Favorite Artist Win With Fans, Loses YouTube Crown To Rihanna

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Justin Bieber Shares His Favorite Artist Triumph At 2013 MuchMusic Video Music Awards With His Fans

Justin Bieber has sent thank you’s to his fans after winning the Favorite Artist gong at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards.

The 19-year-old triumphed in the fan-voted category on Sunday over fellow homegrown contenders Carly Rae-Jepsen, rapper-producer Drake, rockers Marianas Trench and dance titan Deadmau5 for the Fave Artist/Group award at the Psy-hosted Toronto event.

In a message to his over 40 million Twiitter followers, Bieber wrote:

“Love to all the fans at the #mmva’s. wish I could have been there. We won favorite artist so THANK YOU!!! Miss Canada! #muchlove.”

The pop star was also nominated in the Best International Video by a Canadian Artist category for “As Long As You Love Me” featuring Big Sean. Other artists in the slot were Tegan and Sara, Jepsen (again), Walk Off The Earth, but the win eventually went to Avril Lavigne for “Here’s to Never Growing Up.”

Bieber recently returned to his native country for a family celebration last month after wrapping the first leg of his Believe world tour in Johannesburg on May 12.

He heads back out on the road on June 22 with a show at San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center, before continuing through the States and recently added territories, Asia, Latin America, New Zealand and Australia.

Speaking of which, the pop star sent out a general heads up today that pre-sale tickets availability for these will be landing this week.

In other Bieber news, the singer recently teased artwork for his upcoming new single “Heartbreaker,” promising his fans it was “coming soon.” It’s been a while since the January release of Believe Acoustic, and anticipation for fresh sounds from the singer by his fans is more than apparent through the interwebs.

Justin Bieber Shares Favorite Artist Award With Fans

Meanwhile, Rihanna has just overtaken Bieber in the total YouTube views stakes on their official Vevo accounts.

The stats are these: Over a total of 77 videos on the “Diamonds” star’s channel, Rihanna has notched up 3,784,030,789 views.

Bieber, previously dominating with the most YouTube views, has 3,782,989,210  views over a total of 79 videos.

The difference between the two superstars’ YouTube views is 1,041,579 views, making the Bajan princess the most viewed artist on YouTube in the world.

Rihanna retweeted a fan’s message about her new YouTube record to mark her achievement.

It will be interesting to see how Bieber’s ‘Beliebers’ respond to Rihanna’s ‘navy’ gauntlet.

Justin Bieber Shares #MMVA Favorite Artist Win With Fans, Loses YouTube Crown To Rihanna is a post from: The Inquisitr

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