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Mark Zuckerberg and leading Facebook investors cashed out million of shares before the price dropped off

Clyde K. Valle
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Mark Zuckerberg and leading Facebook investors cashed out million of shares before the price dropped off

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO, and leading investors in the company cashed out millions of shares before the price dropped off, according to company filings.

It was also revealed that a company executive issued a warning days before the Initial Public Offering (IPO) that Facebook’s revenues are lower than expected, information that would have likely dropped the opening price of the stock.

The new reports are already raising questions about whether top investors profited from the IPO at the expense of smaller buyers.

On Wednesday shareholders filed a lawsuit against Facebook and the banks behind the company’s stock, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

Additionally, both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority have begun looking into the matter.

The US Senate Banking Committee has also launched an inquiry and the state of Massachusetts has subpoenaed Morgan Stanley, demanding answers.

Facebook stock rose 3.3% in trading on Wednesday, rising to $32 a share.

However, a new analysis said the stock could fall to as low as $9.59.

That’s a far cry from the $37.58 that Mark Zuckerberg fetched for 30.2 million shares he unloaded on Friday. The founder of the social networking website made $1.13 billion on the sale.

By the end of trading on Tuesday however the price had dropped to $31 meaning Mark Zuckerberg saved himself a cool $174 million by getting out early.

Mark Zuckerberg, 28, still holds a vast amount of Facebook stock but his decision to sell off so much will leave investors wondering about his confidence in the company.

The drop is based around the realization that Facebook might not be growing as quickly as initially thought. And the company’s second-quarter growth will likely fall short of expectations as fewer new users join the social networking giant.

Shareholders filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, alleging that Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook and the banks that backed the Initial Public Offering, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, knew this information, but weren’t forthcoming with it.

On Tuesday, Reuters revealed that the banks’ analysts downgraded their estimates about the future earnings of the company while they were rolling out the IPO.

Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook leading investors cashed out millions of shares before the price dropped off
Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook leading investors cashed out millions of shares before the price dropped off

Business Insider called the move “unprecedented”.

Furthermore, the website reported that the banks revealed to privileged major investors that the share price was likely to tank, but left smaller stock buyers in the dark about this information.

The Securities and Exchange commission is investigating these allegations and the state of Massachusetts has filed a subpoena demanding Morgan Stanley release information about the IPO.

Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to sell were revealed in documents filed in advance of the IPO on Friday, but the problems that have happened since cast them in a new light.

Venture capitalist Peter Thiel also announced his plans early too but his return was beyond anything he could have hoped for.

He wrote Mark Zuckerberg a cheque for $500,000 in 2004 but has offloaded 16.8 million shares for the tidy profit of $633 million.

Among the others to cash out was Mark Pincus, the chief executive of online gaming company Zynga.

Eight years ago he gave Facebook a cheque for $40,000 but now has sold $38 million worth of stock.

Venture capitalists Accel Partners, which handed over $12.7 million back in 2005, sold $1.9 billion of stock but retained $5.8 billion.

Whilst the big players were making a fortune however, small investors have seen their attempts to get in on the Facebook bubble fall flat.

As of close of trading on Tuesday shares were a staggering 18 per cent below what they had been at the opening on Friday.

At one point they had slumped 31% from the $45 peak hit shortly after they started trading.

But according to analysts StarMine this could not be the end of it and the slide could carry on until stocks are just $9.59 each.

It has examined estimates from Wall Street experts and concluded that Facebook is currently vastly overpriced, though its forecasts do tend to be gloomier than others.

Eddy Elfenbein, editor at finance website Crossing Wall Street, said: “Facebook right now is going for far more than what it’s worth, it’s like buying $1 for $1.98, it just doesn’t make sense at this price.

“Just from basic modelling the stock should be around $17 to $20, and that is with a lot of variables.

“I would call that an ideal price. I would be interested in buying and I think that is a good deal for investors.”

Among those who did not cash out on Friday when Facebook shares were trading at $38 each was the company’s former president Sean Parker.

His stock is still worth over $2 billion but the price slump meant his fortune decreased by a staggering $300 million.

In a sign of how feeling is changing against Facebook, some commentators have begun comparing its activities to the most reckless behavior of Wall Street banks.

They have also coined the word “Zucked”, which means to get shafted on the sale of Facebook shares.

In a withering article in Time magazine Sam Gustin wrote: “Facebook’s highly-vaunted IPO – which was supposed to be a shining moment for the social network, as well as its lead banker Morgan Stanley and the NASDAQ exchange – has morphed into a debacle that’s reinforced some of the worst stereotypes about Wall Street: that corporate executives and their bankers engineer IPOs to maximize profits at the public’s expense; that Wall Street’s own systems have become too complex for its personnel to handle; and that the entire game is a hype-fueled casino, rigged for the house with a sucker played by the average investor.”

These major sell-offs comes as new allegations are emerging the over-hyped Facebook stock sale may have been rigged against small, every-day buyers.

Two separates lawsuits have been filed against the company and the banks that organized the IPO, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, alleging the executives knew second-quarter revenue would not meet expectations as Facebook’s growth slows.

Business Insider says this information was shared with the banks by a Facebook insider. As Mark Zuckerberg went on his pre-IPO roadshow, touting his company, the banks downgraded their revenue projections for Facebook.

This information could have reduced the value of Facebook’s initial stock offering. In turn, this could have decreased the amount of money Mark Zuckerberg and his early investors made when they dumped tens of millions of Facebook shares on Friday as trading opened.

However, the banks failed to widely disclose the downgrade, the lawsuits say.

Business Insider says they told only large, institutional investors so they would know to stay away from Facebook stock on the first day of trading.

Facebook denies the allegations in the lawsuit and said it will “vigorously defense itself”.

Morgan Stanley says it followed the same procedure it would for any IPO.

 

Facebook’s big winners cashed in early before shares price tumbled

Here is a list of the early investors in Facebook who made a bundle by cashing in portions of their stock Friday before share prices tumbled. Value is estimated at $38 a share. Also included is how much money each saved by getting out Friday, before shares sunk to $31.

Mark Zuckerberg

Shares sold: 30.2 million

Value: $1.13 billion

Saved: $174 million

Accel Partners, venture capital investor

Year invested in Facebook: 2005 for $12.7 million

Shares sold: 49 million

Value: $1.86 billion

Saved: $341 million

Peter Thiel, PayPal co-founder

Year invested in Facebook: 2004 for $500,000

Shares sold: 16.8 million

Value: $640 million

Saved: $119 million

DST Global Ltd, investment firm based in London and founded by Russian oligarch

Year invested in Facebook: 2009 and late 2010 for $200 million

Shares sold: 45.7 million

Value: $1.74 billion

Saved: $323 million

Goldman Sachs, investment bank

Year invested in Facebook: 2011 for $450 million

Shares sold: 28.7 million

Value: $1.09 billion

Saved: $200 million

Elevation Partners, private equity firm with Bono as spokesman

Shares sold: 4.6 million

Value: $176 million

Saved: $3.3 million

Greylock Partners, venture capital investor

Year invested in Facebook: 2006 for $27.5 million

Shares sold: 7.6 million

Value: $289 million

Saved: 53.4 million

 

Dry shampoo sales rocket as celebrities “big hair” look trigger the trend

Lisa.Felice
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Dry shampoo sales rocket as celebrities “big hair” look trigger the trend

Sales of dry shampoo have rocketed in the past 12 months and this year are set to reach £17 million ($27 million) in UK.

Experts believe that the “big hair” look seen on celebrities such as Cheryl Cole and stars of The Only Way is Essex is responsible for the growing trend of using dry shampoo.

According to new research by Mintel almost one in four women (23%) now rely on the quick-fix to achieve a bouffant bounce.

A spokesperson from the market analyst firm Mintel said: “In addition to cleansing hair, dry shampoo may also be used as a styling product as it creates volume, texture and hold, which allows hair to be moulded more easily into shape.

“The dry shampoo category has been reaping the rewards of delivering on the lifestyle factor of time pressure.”

A new research by Mintel shows that almost one in four women (23 percent) now rely on dry shampoo to achieve a bouffant bounce
A new research by Mintel shows that almost one in four women (23 percent) now rely on dry shampoo to achieve a bouffant bounce

In 2011 year-on-year sales of dry shampoo grew 140% – outpacing normal shampoo market.

Research showed it is most popular among young women, with nearly 40% of adults aged 16 to 24 using it, compared to 10% of the over-55s.

While it is often used to give that just-washed look, it can also be used to style hair as it creates volume, texture and hold, one reason for its success among younger women.

While dry shampoo still only accounts for 4% o shampoo sales, it is now regularly used by about one in five women.

Mintel said the Batiste range of dry shampoos, which pioneered this area of the market, now boasts 16 variants catering for all hair types.

The spokesperson added: “The market has been boosted by its popularity among young consumers on holiday, at festivals and during nights out clubbing.”

 

Barack Obama may have got worse high school grades than George W. Bush, as SAT scores reveal

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama may have got worse high school grades than George W. Bush, as SAT scores reveal

It appears Barack Obama may have got worse high school grades than George W. Bush after new evidence showed the current president was among a college class with poor average SAT scores.

Doubts about the supposedly superior intellect of Barack Obama were first raised after he refused to release his academic record.

Barack Obama has also made some factual errors during his time in the job – although he is still a very long way behind his gaff-prone predecessor.

But now it has emerged that Barack Obama was among a 1981 intake of transfers to New York’s Columbia University that was at the time branded one of the worst ever.

The president, who moved from Occidental Community College in Los Angeles, was among 67 students whose average combined math and verbal score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test is a 1,100, according to a report obtained by Breitbart News.

By comparison, George W. Bush – who earned a history degree from Yale in 1968 – got 1206 out of a possible 1600 points in the same test he took at Andover boarding school in Massachusetts.

If Barack Obama, who majored in political science at Columbia, were near the average of that year, it would mean he had worse high school grades than a president derided by many as the dumbest in history.

Barack Obama may have got worse high school grades than George W. Bush after new evidence showed the current president was among a college class with poor average SAT scores
Barack Obama may have got worse high school grades than George W. Bush after new evidence showed the current president was among a college class with poor average SAT scores

Of course, Barack Obama went on to distinguish himself by going on to earn the second highest honor in a graduate law degree at Harvard .

And he became the first black president of the prestigious legal journal, the Harvard Law Review.

Barack Obama also taught at the University of Chicago for twelve years – with eight years spent as senior lecturer in constitutional law.

But, the possibility that Barack Obama got lower high school scores than George W. Bush, would take some of the shine off his image as an intellectual heavyweight.

In his autobiography, Dreams From My Father, Barack Obama describes himself as an unfocused high school student whose mother criticized him for being a “loafer”.

Barack Obama also describes his attitude toward his studies at Occidental as ‘indifferent’ and called himself a “bum” who was notorious for partying.

However, despite his apparent lack of focus, he was able to win a place at Columbia.

Of the 450 students applied to transfer to the Ivy League university in 1981, only 67 were admitted, according to the Columbia Spectator.

This compared to 650 applicants just four years before, signifying that those who wanted to study there has lower grades.

A November 18, 1981 article in the Columbia Spectator revealed the SAT average for the transfer intake that year.

It stated: “On paper at least, the quality of the students accepted [as transfers] has declined along with the number of applicants, the officials say.”

In that story, Robert Boatti, the then Assistant Dean of Admissions, also attributed the drop in transfer application to the College’s policy of requiring transfer students to take courses in its core curriculum and to the limited availability of financial aid for them.

“He had said that many come from community colleges, rather than the nation’s top schools.

“Even the unhappiest people don’t transfer from Harvard,” Robert Boatti added.

 

Crystal Lagoon Rates And Special Offers For Chile’s Biggest Pool: San Alfonso del Mar

Ricky Robinson
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Crystal Lagoon Rates And Special Offers For Chile’s Biggest Pool: San Alfonso del Mar

Contact information for reservations

VACATION RENTAL APARTMENTS

Foreign Clients Phone:  (56-35) 481636
National Clients Phone: (56-9) 923 318 64 and (56-9) 684 201 10
Customers Owners Phone:  (56-35) 481797

Please add 011 in front of the number if you’re calling from the US. It might also work by adding a plus (+) sign, instead of 011.

 

 

Regular prices

 

 

Depending on the chosen period and the length of stay prices range from $90.00 per night for a two bedroom apartment and from $120.00 per night for a four bedroom apartment.

 

crystal lagoons price listing regular prices

crystal lagoons price listing regular prices

 

Special Offers for Crystal Lagoons – San Alfonso del Mar

 

You can find prices for different holidays on their website as you can see in the picture below:

 

crystal lagoons price san alfonso del mar special offers

 

Prices for Winter 2012 for Crystal Lagoons San Alfonso del Mar

 

For a 7 days/6 nights vacation between July 16th 2012 and July 22nd 2012 you can expect to pay from $496.50 for a one bedroom to $819.00 for a four bedroom apartment.

For the same period, but a longer vacation 14 days/13 nights the prices range from $954.50 for a one bedroom to $1,585.00 for a four bedroom apartment.

 

crystal lagoons price san alfonso del mar special offers winter 2012

 

 

Last minute offers for Crystal Lagoons – San Alfonso del Mar

 

Last minute prices for the Laguna Vista Crystal Lagoon resort range from $183.00 for a two bedroom apartment to $217.00 for a three bedroom duplex apartment. The prices are for 4 days/3 nights between June 29th 2012 to July 2nd 2012.

 

last minute prices crystal lagoons price laguna vista

 

Last minute prices for the San Alfonso Del Mar Crystal Lagoon resort range from $241.50 for a one bedroom apartment to $399.00 for a four bedroom apartment. The prices are for 4 days/3 nights between June 29th 2012 to July 2nd 2012.

 

crystal lagoons price san alfonso del mar last minute offers

 

What do San Alfonso Del Mar apartments look like?

Here are some pictures of a two bedroom apartment:

crystal lagoons room452 1 two bedroom apartment san alfonso del mar

crystal lagoons room452 1 two bedroom apartment san alfonso del mar

crystal lagoons room452 1 two bedroom apartment san alfonso del mar

crystal lagoons room452 1 two bedroom apartment san alfonso del mar

 

 

A Spectacular Lagoon

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar saltwater lagoonThe most emblematic building work at San Alfonso holds the current Guinness record as the world’s largest crystalline water pool, with an extension of more than one kilometer in length, eight hectares and 250 million liters of water. Hard to imagine? We are talking about nothing less than the equivalent to 6,000 familiar 8-meters-long pools. 

Apart from its large size, the lagoon has another spectacular feature: its waters have the transparency and intense turquoise color of tropical seas. This has been made possible thanks to an advanced technology* developed by the company Crystal Lagoons, which is able to collect ocean water and keep it in perfect condition. But this is not all that it is there: during summer, the lagoon further maintains a pleasant temperature that borders 26ºC, nine degrees more than the nearby sea temperature. The success and exclusivity of this technology has enabled Crystal Lagoons to export its know-how to major international real-estate projects. 

In this way, at San Alfonso an unbelievable goal is achieved: feeling the enjoyment of the Caribbean Sea right at the Chilean central coast. 

 

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar private beaches white sand tropical environment palm treesPrivate White-Sand Beaches

 

The private beaches of each building have their own docks and truly recreate a tropical environment. Their white sands and numerous palm trees constitute a paradisiacal space for exclusive use of the resort inhabitants. 

Owners thus enjoy a top-level holiday, even better in cloudy or colder days, because San Alfonso has a roofed beach – unique in South America – with temperate water, heated sand, bubble beds, cascades, water-jet massage… everything you need for relax and fun.  

 

 

 

 

 

An Incredible Panoramic View

 

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar panoramic view large balconies incredible view must see landscapeSan Alfonso’s buildings are designed in such a way that every apartment has large balconies that face the sea. 

From there, the spectacle is really impressive. Algarrobo’s Large Beach, extending for more than two kilometers, the bay full of multiply colored sailboats and the single-breaking-wave blue sea, ideal for fishing enthusiasts, constitute a must-see landscape with a perspective that extends from the lagoon to the sea with no element or building that breaks its continuity and harmony.

 

The Most Complete Infrastructure

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar open air jacuzzi

 

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar pa a tempered beach under a crystal pyramid open-air Jacuzzis sauna beauty parlor and gym the exhibition and cultural activities room the open-air amphitheater2San Alfonso has created a private world with activities for all family members to spend days full of enjoyment without ever leaving the resort.
crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar pa a tempered beach under a crystal pyramid open-air Jacuzzis sauna beauty parlor and gym the exhibition and cultural activities room the open-air amphitheater1

For sport lovers, there are sport schools imparting training classes on sailing, kayak, scuba diving, swimming, ocean navigation, tennis and paragliding, and they also will find at their disposal artificially-lit five-a-side soccer courts, volleyball courts and tennis courts, a real statutory soccer field and a gym with large windows that enjoy a stimulating overview of the lagoon.

Children have play grounds and entertainment activities organized by child monitors, whereas teenagers have an exclusive space destined for them – the Teen-Pub -, and also SubTerra discotheque, where often music recitals and live shows are featured.

The Beach Club with spa, a tempered beach under a crystal pyramid, open-air Jacuzzis, sauna, beauty parlor and gym; the exhibition and cultural activities room; the open-air amphitheater; the Spa; the supermarket and the North Bay pub-restaurant with its own dock and a large terrace along the lagoon’s coastline – where often amusing parties and shows are held – are also part of San Alfonso’s facilities.

To all that, the South Bay development has to be added, where the SubAqua Café stands out for its inner aquarium, the largest in Chile, which holds more that 60 Chilean species that can be appreciated in full magnitude through a 25-meters-long glass surface. A giant 100-meters-long water chute is also located in this zone. This area is complete, the South Bay restaurant pub has a large outdoor terrace, a gym equipped with latest technology machines, heated pool and Jacuzzi with ocean view.

 

 

 

 

An Entire World of Activities

 

spinning classes aqua fitness yoga and fun dancing massive bike rides amusing bingos theatre plays and interesting art exhibitionsSan Alfonso offers a variety of amusements for all ages and interests, especially during holiday seasons.

Kids can join the numerous activities organized by monitors and those who love sports can participate into different championships, spinning classes, aqua fitness, yoga and fun dancing, or simply enter one of the available schools to learn or improve their performance on different sport disciplines.

There are also activities to be enjoyed by all family members, like massive bike rides, amusing bingos, theatre plays and interesting art exhibitions.

Nights are also full of life at San Alfonso. The SubAqua Café, the North Bay Pub and the Beach Club offer karaoke sessions, music recitals and live shows and dancing dinners, while thematic parties are held at SubTerra Dicotheque to suit different ages: discokids, under-18 and over-18.

 

Apartments With Broad Balconies

 

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar Broad BalconiesThe characteristic pyramid design of the buildings, provide each apartment with a view over the sea and a privileged orientation. The 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom apartments with large balconies incorporate building solutions and avant-garde elements that deliver superior quality and incomparable comfort that are not to be found in any other alternative in the second home market. This is best illustrated by the duplex penthouses that have huge balconies of more than 100 sqm and open-air Jacuzzis.

The buildings are administered under a modern hotel concept, in such a way as to avoid any type of concern to the owners. Along these lines, an optional maid service, an integral decoration service, a renting central for those who wish to rent their property with no personal involvement, and a permanent post-sale service are available, among many other attentions.

 

Only one step from Santiago

 

San Alfonso is located at only 90 kilometers apart from Santiago in Algarrobo’s northern sector, the closer beach spot to the eastern sector of the capital city.

crystal lagoons san alfonso del mar location interstate how to arrive routes to lagoon

Arriving to this “private world” is faster and safer than ever, since the access routes have been substantially enhanced. One of the alternatives from Santiago is taking Highway 68 that runs between Santiago and Valparaiso – with double lane in all its course – and continuing to the highway that communicate Casablanca and Algarrobo. Then, it is possible to reach San Alfonso directly by the Aguas Marinas branch, without passing by Algarrobo’s downtown, thereby avoiding traffic jams and delays, especially during summer. It is worth to mention that Costanera Norte and Vespucio Norte franchised expressways in Santiago allow anybody to reach Highway 68 non-stop in a matter of minutes.

Another alternative is taking Autopista del Sol and then continuing by the highway that joins all the seaside towns between Algarrobo and Santo Domingo. This highway runs parallel to the coastal route and makes possible to go from Algarrobo to San Antonio’s harbor in just 20 minutes.

 

 

For more details you can visit the following websites: 

San Alfonso del Mar 

Crystal Lagoons

Special Offers for Crystal Lagoons – San Alfonso del Mar

Last minute offers for Crystal Lagoons – San Alfonso del Mar

Crystal Lagoons San Alfonso Del Mar Live Camera

Anderson Cooper cuts interview with “Human Barbie” Sarah Burge after she justifies giving her daughter Botox

Lisa.Felice
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Anderson Cooper cuts interview with “Human Barbie” Sarah Burge after she justifies giving her daughter Botox

Sarah Burge, a mother-of-three dubbed the “Human Barbie” because of her obsession with plastic surgery, has been slammed by chat show host Anderson Cooper after she revealed she is giving her teenage daughter Botox injections.

Anderson Cooper was forced to cut a TV interview with Sarah Burge shortly after she justified giving her teenage daughter Botox injections.

“I would prefer to oversee my daughter’s Botox than have her going underground finding a voodoo witchdoctor or getting it off the internet and administrating it herself,” Sarah Burge said defiantly.

But appalled by her behavior, Anderson Cooper shook his head in disbelief stating: “I try and to be really polite to all my guests.

“I just think you’re dreadful and I honestly don’t want to talk to you anymore, so I’m just going to stop.”

Sarah Burge, 51, a self-confessed plastic surgery addict recently relocated from UK to the US to launch her eight-year-old Poppy as a child beauty pageant star, believing she could give the stars of the controversial show Toddlers & Tiaras a run for their money.

However, her insistence on teaching her young daughters to pole dance, giving them vouchers to spend on plastic surgery and throwing them Botox parties is proving unpopular on both sides of the Atlantic.

Following the show Anderson Cooper added: “I regret having here on in the first place.

“I think encouraging her little daughter to pole dance and giving her plastic surgery vouchers and then telling the media about it…

“I wish her the best, I certainly don’t want to be rude to anybody.”

“Human Barbie” Sarah Burge has been slammed by Anderson Cooper after she revealed she is giving her teenage daughter Botox injections
“Human Barbie” Sarah Burge has been slammed by Anderson Cooper after she revealed she is giving her teenage daughter Botox injections

Sarah Burge has spent more than $800,000 on her own surgical enhancements and she has been in the spotlight numerous times – for all the wrong reasons.

 

 

John Travolta cross-dressing photos from 1997 published by The National Enquirer

Lisa.Felice
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The National Enquirer has published cross-dressing photos of John Travolta after he has been accused of sexually assaulting male masseurs.

John Travolta, 58, appears in full drag – and the pictures, published in today’s National Enquirer, are allegedly not for a film role.

In the snaps, John Travolta is wearing a white dress, brown belt, fur stole, earrings and a necklace.

A bra is even visible beneath the knit frock.

The actor also wears a face full of makeup, including thick black eyeliner and pearly pink lipstick as well as a blonde wig pulled back into a ponytail.

The photos were obtained by The National Enquirer from a party in Los Angeles that John Travolta attended in 1997, just six years after marrying Kelly Preston.

In another bitter twist of fate, the magazine claims that his wife of over twenty years has left him in the wake of his cross-dressing scandal.

The National Enquirer has published cross-dressing photos of John Travolta after he has been accused of sexually assaulting male masseurs
The National Enquirer has published cross-dressing photos of John Travolta after he has been accused of sexually assaulting male masseurs

 A friend of Kelly Preston says: “Kelly told me their marriage is over and made it clear that she’s no longer living in the family home.

“She’s put up with John’s double life for decades while his behavior remained in the shadows.

“But all this coming out in public has humiliated her. Kelly is absolutely destroyed.”

No doubt his children, Ella, 12, and Benjamin, 18 months, will be affected by this recent scandal.

John Travolta is certainly no stranger to dressing up in drag.

He wore women’s clothing on the big screen as Edna Turnblad in the 2007 silver screen adaptation of Broadway musical Hairspray.

Though his tongue-in-cheek role had many laughing, this current photo scandal is certainly no laughing matter in the wake of recent reports that he sexually assaulted male masseurs.

The New York Daily News reported today that one of the two accusers was offered $125,000 by Team Travolta to keep his mouth shut.

Though John Travolta’s lawyer, Marty Singer, calls the claims “completely false”, John Truesdale is firmly standing by his story.

The former US Army medic reportedly turned down the offer and hired celebrity crisis lawyer Gloria Allred.

However, the 40-year-old black belt withdrew his $2 million federal lawsuit last week, as did the other accuser, who has not been identified and is referred to simply as “John Doe No. 1”.

John Truesdale’s innocence was called into question on Tuesday when his name was called into question in an unfavorable way.

RadarOnline reported that he was fired from a North Carolina massage job eight years ago for being “sexually inappropriate” with clients and co-workers.

It was he who reported claims of misconduct on May 8 when he said that John Travolta touched him inappropriately at the Beverly Hills Hotel on January 16.

For his part, flight records and photos have placed John Travolta 3,000 miles away from the alleged incident in California.

John Trousdale claims he got the dates wrong.

 

Crystal Lagoons, builder of Chile’s biggest pool: San Alfonso del Mar

Diane A. Wade
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Crystal Lagoons, builder of Chile’s biggest pool: San Alfonso del Mar

crystal_lagoons_description_chile_biggest_pool

Crystal Lagoons technology can be acquired through a franchise for each project, which includes the license to use the patented technology and the know-how necessary for the correct implementation of the project. Crystal Lagoons charges a royalty for this franchise, which is equivalent to a small percentage of the sales from the project, therefore collecting only a small portion of the tremendous value that this concept and technology adds to any project.

crystal_lagoons_logo

How much are the maintenance costs for the lagoon? What do the Crystal Lagoons include?


The great advantage of this concept and technology is that it can be implemented at very low maintenance costs. The maintenance costs are approximately US$ 4,000 per hectare (US$ 1,600 per acre) per month including energy, labor and additives.

 

How much are the construction costs for a Crystal Lagoon?


One of the great values of Crystal Lagoons‘ concept and technology is that it can be implemented at very low construction costs: Construction costs are approximately US$ 400,000 per hectare (US$ 160,000 per acre) for a standard 5 hectare lagoon. This figure does not include the cost of earth movement and related work.

 

What is the energy consumption of a Crystal Lagoon? 

 

The Crystal Lagoons‘ Technology consumes just 2% of the energy needed for conventional filtration systems, making this technology low-cost and sustainable. The lagoons use 100 times less chemical products than conventional swimming pool systems. This makes Crystal Lagoons‘ concept and technology ecological and safe. Crystal Lagoons technology works equally well with salt, fresh and brackish water. Today, we have lagoons in operation with all types of water. 

Rainwater does not have any negative impact on the lagoons. However, consideration should be given to the location of the lagoon and its surrounding buildings to prevent rainwater from draining into the lagoon. These issues are common to all projects and Crystal Lagoons‘ team has extensive experience with them.

 

What are the effects of organic compounds (leaves, cut grass, etc.), and also dirt and atmospheric dust blown by the wind?


Architectural, construction and landscaping features can be used to prevent organic compounds (leaves, cut grass, etc.), dirt and atmospheric dust from entering the lagoon, either due to their proximity to the lagoon or because they are blown by the wind. However, this is not due to a technical requirement, but rather to avoid the need for additional manpower to remove these elements from the lagoon.

Crystal Lagoons company recommends constructing lagoons with a surface area of at least 3 hectares (7 acres) to allow for sailing and water sports in a colossal, unique and impressive body of water, thereby adding incalculable value to the project. Furthermore, the construction and maintenance costs of these lagoons are so low that achieving giant, crystalline bodies of water is economically viable. Although smaller lagoons are possible based on the specifications of each project.

 

How deep are the lagoons made by Crystal Lagoons?


The lagoons can be constructed to any depth. However, we recommend that some sectors of the lagoon have a minimum of 2.4 m (8 ft). Within this depth range the intense blue turquoise color can be achieved; this also avoids the tendency for people to walk in the lagoon, which might interfere with water sports.

 

How is the Crystal Lagoon’s water quality controlled?


The lagoon’s hydraulic, biochemical and mechanical systems are monitored, controlled and operated remotely by Crystal Lagoons from our control centers. This ensures that water quality is maintained within our established parameters, guaranteeing high, standardized quality no matter where in the world the lagoon is located.

 

How much water does the lagoon consume?


Crystal Lagoons concept and technology means our lagoons consume very little water. They work on a closed circuit in which it is only necessary to compensate for evaporation. One hectare of lagoon consumes 50% less water than a conventional park, while a 3 hectare (7 acre) lagoon consumes up to 10 times less water than a golf course.

Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton at P Diddy’s yacht party in Cannes

Lisa.Felice
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0
Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton at P Diddy’s yacht party in Cannes

Paris Hilton had some hot competition in the form of her successor Kim Kardashian as they were both on board for P Diddy’s yacht party in Cannes last night.

It is not clear whether their paths crossed – but the two ladies were seen waltzing around in their respective glamorous ensembles.

Kim Kardashian poured her ample curves into a stunning lace outfit which consisted of a crop top and matching maxi skirt.

The two-piece outfit featured a beige slip and black lace overlay which included sequinned detailing.

The top had a sexy cut-out back and fell high enough for Kim Kardashian to flash her toned stomach.

Kim Kardashian poured her ample curves into a stunning lace outfit which consisted of a crop top and matching maxi skirt
Kim Kardashian poured her ample curves into a stunning lace outfit which consisted of a crop top and matching maxi skirt

Kim Kardashian swept her brunette tresses into an elegant ponytail and accessorized her outfit with black and silver chandelier earrings and a cute black bracelet.

Earlier, she attended the famous VIP Room club at the JW Marriott hotel to kick off her first evening at the Film Festival.

The skirt trailed along the floor as Kim walked the red carpet, giving a wave to her admirers at the same time.

Paris Hilton, meanwhile, opted for a demure floor-length deep pink dress, wearing her blonde locks on the Diddy boat party.

Paris Hilton, of course, is credited with teaching Kim Kardashian the ropes of the reality TV world.

They used to be firm friends back in the day – although their relationship has cooled over recent years.

Other celebs at the party tonight included Paris Hilton’s sister Nicky, Michelle Rodriguez, Adrien Brody and Tara Reid, who was spotted leaving at 4:00 a.m. looking a little worse for wear.

Earlier in the day Kim Kardashian was spotted in an all-black outfit but the French sunshine wasn’t enough to put a smile on her face.

However the reason behind her miserable mood may have been that she was forced to drag herself away from boyfriend Kanye West today to fly to Nice.

She left her man behind in London where he will play another show at the O2 London tonight with Jay-Z.

However the couple were later reunited and spotted walking arm in arm around the Cannes harbor at around 4:00 a.m. this morning after Kanye West jetted in.

 

Crystal Lagoons inaugurates Dead Sea Lagoon in Jordan

Diane A. Wade
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0
Crystal Lagoons inaugurates Dead Sea Lagoon in Jordan

Crystal Lagoons, the Chilean company that creates immense crystalline lagoons as Guinness world record-holding swimming pool San Alfonso del Mar, and real estate company Sama Jordan inaugurated Dead Sea Lagoon, the first resort that brings idyllic beach paradise to Jordan.

Dead Sea Lagoon is located at 31 km of Amman and has an investment of $160 million. It includes a 3-hectare lagoon surrounded by white-sand private beaches, palm trees and 1,000 home units, and is the first of a real estate revolution that Crystal Lagoons is developing in Jordan, including more than 40 projects in the entire Middle East region.

Dead Sea Lagoon will give an unprecedented turn to local tourism that until now was only focused on the therapeutic benefits of the Dead Sea, which is 10 times more salty than any other ocean and doesn’t have the necessary conditions for developing beach life.

Crystal Lagoons, the Chilean company that creates immense crystalline lagoons as Guinness world record-holding swimming pool San Alfonso del Mar, and real estate company Sama Jordan inaugurated Dead Sea Lagoon near Aman
Crystal Lagoons, the Chilean company that creates immense crystalline lagoons as Guinness world record-holding swimming pool San Alfonso del Mar, and real estate company Sama Jordan inaugurated Dead Sea Lagoon near Aman

Crystal Lagoons brings Idyllic beach paradise to the region thanks to its unique concept that allows to develop unlimited sized crystal clear water lagoons with cutting edge technology patented in 160 countries that provides the ideal conditions for bathing and practicing water sports, by ensuring the quality and clarity of large bodies of water at very low construction and maintenance costs.

Crystal Lagoons is developing several projects in the Middle East region as $5,500 million real estate project City of Stars Lagoons developed together with Citystars Holding and Pyramids Plaza in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. This project includes 30,000 home units, 6 five star hotels, museum, golf courses, shopping center and 10 giant crystalline lagoons that bring together 100 hectares of crystalline water in the middle of the desert. This project will exceed San Alfonso del Mar, in Chile, which has 8 ha of surface area and 1 km in length.

The company, which has offices in USA, Egypt, Dubai and Chile is developing other projects in the region in places as Egypt, Pakistan, UAE and Oman. Currently, Crystal Lagoons is present in 180 urban, recreational and public developments in 45 countries which an associated investment of $100 billion.

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Facebook shares fell again amid flotation concerns

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Facebook shares fell again amid flotation concerns

Facebook’s flotation has run into more controversy amid reports of concerns about the way advisers disclosed information to investors.

As Facebook shares fell another 9% on Tuesday, regulators said they may review the disclosure process to see if some investors got favorable access.

The SEC and regulatory body FINRA both said they would look into the matter.

Morgan Stanley, lead underwriter on the flotation, said it was “in compliance with all applicable regulations”.

Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook’s advisers may have revised their financial forecasts for the social networking company, but that only selected investors were told.

Facebook's flotation has run into more controversy amid reports of concerns about the way advisers disclosed information to investors
Facebook's flotation has run into more controversy amid reports of concerns about the way advisers disclosed information to investors

Mary Schapiro, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said “there are issues that we need to look at”.

Richard Ketchum, chief executive of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), said there were “matters of regulatory concern”.

But in a statement, Morgan Stanley spokesman, Pen Pendleton, said the bank had “followed the same procedures for the Facebook offering that it follows for all initial public offerings”.

Also on Tuesday, a private investor issued a writ against the NASDAQ stock exchange over technical problems on Friday that disrupted Facebook’s first trading day.

Phillip Goldberg, a Maryland resident, is seeking class-action status on behalf of all investors who say they lost money because of the technical problems.

Facebook’s market debut was delayed by about half an hour, and orders to buy or sell shares were further disrupted. Philip Goldberg has filed a writ in the southern district court of New York.

NASDAQ chief executive Robert Greifeld has said that “clearly we had mistakes in the Facebook listing”.

It has all taken the shine off one of the most anticipated flotation in history.

Facebook shares, launched at $38 each on Friday, fell 11% on Monday and a further 9% on Tuesday. The shares are now worth $31 each.

It is a remarkable turnaround from recent weeks, when the social network’s share sale was over-subscribed and the eight-year-old firm was valued at $104 billion.

Much of the blame for the fall in share price is being pinned on lead underwriters Morgan Stanley and the NASDAQ exchange itself, with many commentators saying that the sale was over-priced.

“There must have been some sober second thoughts about this,” said Brian Wieser, an analyst at Pivotal Research.

Brian Wieser thinks a fair price for such a young company without a proven business model is about $30.

But some analysts say the fall is of little consequence in the early days.

“Whether [Facebook] is worth $95 billion or $100 billion, it’s immaterial,” Jeremy Liew of investment company Lightspeed Venture Partners told Reuters.

The social networking site has transformed the way in which hundreds of millions of people around the world communicate. It is also transforming the way companies advertise to existing and potential customers.

But Facebook’s 900 million users helped the company generate just $1 billion in profit last year, and there are concerns about its ability to grow profits in the future.

 

Crystal Lagoons revolutionizes real estate industry with patented technology of natural pools

Diane A. Wade
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0
Crystal Lagoons revolutionizes real estate industry with patented technology of natural pools

The Chilean firm Crystal Lagoons aims to revolutionize the real estate industry with patented technology that allows developers to create huge crystalline lagoons anywhere and maintain them at a fraction of the cost of traditional pools.

Crystal clear water, white sand beaches, palm trees and sun. It sounds like Club Med in the Caribbean, but in the summer months it is also a fitting description of the world’s largest swimming pool in the beach resort town of Algarrobo, just a couple of hours from Santiago.

The US$ 3 million pool, which covers an eight hectare area equivalent to 6,000 backyard pools, was built using Chilean firm Crystal Lagoons’ technology as part of the San Alfonso del Mar condominium project.

Including San Alfonso, Crystal Lagoons has four lagoons in Chile and one in Panama. The patented technology allows real estate developers to build huge crystalline lagoons anywhere while increasing the land’s commercial value.

“We are changing the real estate paradigm which says that location is the key to any project,” said Eduardo Klein, Business Manager at Crystal Lagoons.

Even the desert can be made into an oasis. Crystal Lagoons has licensed its technology to the Egyptian real estate developer Citystars Properties, which is building a huge US$ 5 billion housing project in Sharm El Sheikh.

“This project will have 10 lagoons covering 100 hectares which will create beach life in the middle of the desert,” said Eduardo Klein.

In addition to this project, Crystal Lagoons has projects in construction in Peru, Jordan and Dubai where the Santiago-based firm has opened a second office.

In total, the company has 150 projects in different stages of development in 35 countries with plans to open offices in the United States and Asia in the near term.

Keeping an eight-hectare pool clean is not easy. The Chilean businessman and biochemist Fernando Fischmann founded Crystal Lagoons in 2007 after spending a decade looking in vain for an affordable technology that would maintain his beachfront pool at the San Alfonso del Mar resort.

“The shoreline there is rocky and the water is cold so he needed something different to offer an attractive beach lifestyle for residents,” said Eduardo Klein.

Through a process of trial and error, Fernando Fischmann and his team discovered a technological process that would maintain large bodies of crystalline fresh or salt water at a relatively low cost.

It works by using special sensors in the pool that monitor pH levels and inject chemicals automatically to maintain the required balance.

“Normal pools use large quantities of chlorine to keep them clean, we don’t do that,” said Eduardo Klein.

The US$ 3 million pool, which covers an eight hectare area equivalent to 6,000 backyard pools, was built using Chilean firm Crystal Lagoons’ technology as part of the San Alfonso del Mar condominium project
The US$ 3 million pool, which covers an eight hectare area equivalent to 6,000 backyard pools, was built using Chilean firm Crystal Lagoons’ technology as part of the San Alfonso del Mar condominium project

Crystal Lagoons also uses energy-efficient filtration systems that use 2% of the energy consumed by traditional pools. Its low energy and chemical consumption helped the firm obtain the Chile Verde environmental certification, which is supported by UNESCO.

“Our technology is a combination of everything from the quality of the water we use to how it is treated and filtered,” said Eduardo Klein.

The pools also use only enough water to compensate for evaporation.

“Our pools consume half the water that would be consumed by a park of similar size,” said Eduardo Klein.

Building a Crystal Lagoons pool is not cheap – around US$ 350,000 per hectare – but building a pool over three hectares is impossible using traditional technology.

For real estate developers, a big pool can be a major asset in tempting customers to buy high-priced houses or condos. Since the pools are safe and clean, they are attractive to families with children who can swim, sail or kayak with limited supervision.

“It allows a beach lifestyle in a very safe environment,” said Eduardo Klein.

Crystal Lagoons participates in every aspect of the project from design to engineering and construction. Once the project is completed, the company trains personnel and monitors, via Internet, the water quality.

Crystal Lagoons receives nothing upfront, but is paid a percentage, usually 1-2%, of the developer’s sales.

“We only charge our fee when the developer starts to sell, so it’s comfortable for them,” said Eduardo Klein.

But it’s also good for Crystal Lagoons, which has US$ 600 million in royalties wrapped up in its signed contracts.

“Our project adds value to a new development, and we receive a percentage of that value,” said Eduardo Klein.

The company’s existing projects are in resorts like San Alfonso del Mar and Las Brisas de Santo Domingo, but it is building a 3.5 hectare pool in the community of Padre Hurtado just outside Santiago.

“This is revolutionary, for the first time people living in Santiago will have a beach outside their front door,” said Eduardo Klein.

That’s good news for the project’s developer, Inmobiliaria Aconcagua. In its first weekend, all 50 houses on offer sold and the same thing happened the following weekend.

In the U.S., Crystal Lagoons is in talks with developers in South Carolina and Las Vegas, and it plans to open an office there by early 2011, but no projects are confirmed yet.

The slowdown in the housing market is behind the lack of progress, says Eduardo Klein, “but the U.S. is a very interesting market for us, we just patented our technology there which is great news.”

It took Crystal Lagoons five years to obtain its U.S. patent.

“Intellectual property is respected in the U.S. and it makes it easier to get patents in other countries,” said Eduardo Klein.

Including the United States, Crystal Lagoons is now patenting its technology in 150 countries and has hired U.S. intellectual property firm Marksmen to protect its technology from potential competitors.

Crystal Lagoons pushed for Chile’s accession to the WPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 2009, which has made the process of applying for patents in different countries much simpler and cheaper for Chilean firms, notes Eduardo Klein.

“We have paved the way so other companies can follow,” he said.

Crystal Lagoons is also the leading candidate to become the first Chilean company to list on the NASDAQ, which is one of the new government’s goals for the next four years.

“We are evaluating this, it’s an important decision and there’s no going back,” said Eduardo Klein.

Either way, Crystal Lagoons will have plenty of work; the Boston Consulting Group estimates that 14,000 crystalline lagoons could be built in the world in the next 20 years.

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How street lighting changed ecology of ground-dwelling invertebrates and bugs

James J. Williams
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0
How street lighting changed ecology of ground-dwelling invertebrates and bugs

A new research suggests the presence of street lights substantially changes the ecology of ground-dwelling invertebrates and bugs.

Scientists trapped nearly 1,200 of the animals in areas under and between street lights in Helston in Cornwall, UK.

They report in Biology Letters that invertebrate predators and scavengers were more common near the lights, even during the day.

That suggests street lights influence ecology more than previously thought.

Much work in recent years has gone into addressing the effects that street lights can have on local, transient populations of bugs – particularly those that can fly and have significant ranges of exploration.

But the effects of street lights on the vast communities of invertebrates on the ground remained unaddressed.

A new research suggests the presence of street lights substantially changes the ecology of ground-dwelling invertebrates and bugs
A new research suggests the presence of street lights substantially changes the ecology of ground-dwelling invertebrates and bugs

Thomas Davies of the University of Exeter and his colleagues set 28 traps in Helston, some just under street lights, and some in dark regions midway between them, over a three-night period.

The team found in general that a higher number of animals were trapped near the lights.

But the relative proportions of scavengers such as beetles and predators such as harvestmen and wolf spiders were significantly different, with a higher proportion being found near the lights – even during the day.

“This study now seems to be indicating that those transient, nocturnal effects on the behavior of the animals are actually being translated into the habitat preferences of the animals in the daytime as well,” Dr. Thomas Davies said.

“It’s amazing how long we’ve been using street lighting and artificial lighting, and how little research has been done on the impact of those lights on the environment,” he said.

Dr. Thomas Davies stressed that the study was small and its findings preliminary, but that it invited future study into much wider-ranging environmental effects.

“Invertebrates in the UK at least are undergoing a bit of a biodiversity crisis and have been for some time now, and they’re very important for a number of ecosystem services such as pollination and the breakdown of organic matter,” he explained.

“So the impact of street lights on invertebrate communities could be very, very important, could be problematic, but we simply don’t know at the moment – we need to do the research.”

 

Fiat and Mazda alliance to develop two-seater sports cars

Clyde K. Valle
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1
Fiat and Mazda alliance to develop two-seater sports cars

Fiat and Mazda have decided to form an alliance to develop two-seater sports cars.

The alliance will work on a car for Fiat’s Alfa Romeo brand and a roadster with a different engine and styling for Mazda.

The cars will be built at Mazda’s plant in Hiroshima. Both will be based on a new version of Mazda’s MX 5 – the car that Mazda is best known for.

Mazda is looking to cut costs after losing $1.3 billion in its most recent financial year.

“Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives, and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction,” said Mazda President Takashi Yamanouchi in a statement.

Fiat and Mazda have decided to form an alliance to develop two-seater sports cars
Fiat and Mazda have decided to form an alliance to develop two-seater sports cars

Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne said working with Mazda would deliver “an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition”.

Production of the Alfa Romeo model is planned to start in 2015.

Mazda had close ties with Ford and the US company owned nearly a third of Mazda in 1996.

But Ford has been winding-down that partnership over the last few years and now owns just 2% of the Japanese company.

 

DNA test used to investigate the origins of remains claimed to be from Yeti and Bigfoot

James J. Williams
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DNA test used to investigate the origins of remains claimed to be from Yeti and Bigfoot

A British-Swiss team will use DNA testing to investigate the origins of remains claimed to be from yeti and bigfoot.

The project will examine hair, bone and other material from a collection amassed by a Swiss biologist – and will invite submissions from elsewhere.

Many cultures relate legends of hairy, humanoid creatures that lurk in the wilds, rarely seen.

But material claimed to be from such creatures have never been subjected to modern scientific techniques.

“It’s an area that any serious academic ventures into with a deal of trepidation… It’s full of eccentric and downright misleading reports,” said Prof. Bryan Sykes, from Oxford University.

The researchers will apply a systematic approach and employ the latest advances in genetic testing, aiming to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

“There have been DNA tests done on alleged yetis and other such things but since then the testing techniques, particularly on hair, have improved a lot due to advances in forensic science,” the Oxford geneticist told Reuters news agency.

A British-Swiss team will use DNA testing to investigate the origins of remains claimed to be from yeti and bigfoot
A British-Swiss team will use DNA testing to investigate the origins of remains claimed to be from yeti and bigfoot

Modern testing could get valid results from a fragment of a shaft of hair, added Prof. Bryan Sykes, who is leading the project with Michel Sartori, director of the Lausanne Museum of Zoology.

A 1951 expedition to Mount Everest famously returned with photographs of giant footprints in the snow, fuelling speculation about giant Himalayan creatures, unknown to science.

Since then, many eye-witness reports of such creatures have emerged from remote regions of the world.

These humanoid beasties are variously known as the “yeti” or “migoi” in the Himalayas, “bigfoot” or “sasquatch” in North America, “almasty” in the Caucasus mountains and “orang pendek” in Sumatra, but there are many others.

Tests up to now have usually concluded that alleged yeti remains were in fact human. But, said Prof. Bryan Sykes, “there has been no systematic review of this material.”

The project will focus on an archive of remains held at the Lausanne museum that was assembled by Bernard Heuvelmans, a Belgian-French biologist who investigated reported yeti sightings from 1950 up to his death in 2001.

Other institutions and individuals will also be asked to send in details of any possible yeti material.

Aside from the yeti question, Prof. Bryan Sykes said he hoped the project would add to the growing body of knowledge on the interaction between different human species in the past.

“In the last two years it has become clear that there was considerable interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals … about 2% to 4% of the DNA of each individual European is Neanderthal,” he said.

Those who are favorable to the idea of as-yet undescribed creatures say the yeti and orang pendek could represent survivals of Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis (the Indonesian “Hobbit”) or Gigantopithecus – a giant ape that once inhabited the forests of East Asia. The idea has even spawned the term “cryptozoology” to describe the search for such beasts.

Others are highly skeptical of such tales, and consider the subject unworthy of serious scientific investigation.

Asked about the project’s chances of success, Prof. Bryan Sykes said: “The answer is, of course, I don’t know,” adding, “it’s unlikely, but on the other hand if we don’t examine it we won’t know.”

 

Chimps and orangutans behave like people

James J. Williams
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0
Chimps and orangutans behave like people

Researchers have found that chimpanzees and orangutans really do have personalities “like people”.

For years experts have debated whether great apes truly display human-like personalities – or if such behavior is simply the anthropomorphic projections of human observers.

The research team used a statistical technique to “remove” any biases apparent in human observers of the apes’ behavior, and they say their findings suggest man and ape really do share “personality dimensions”.

“[Chimpanzees] have the same social problems that we do, they want to make friends and find mates and sort of gain position within their society,” says team member Mark Adams, a researcher who conducted the research while studying for his PhD at the University of Edinburgh, UK.

Dr. Alexander Weiss, senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, who also worked on the study, agrees that chimpanzee personality is “highly similar” to that of humans.

Researchers categorize human personality into five “dimensions”, sometimes known as “the big five”, he explains.

“Those dimensions are neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness.”

Previous studies into non-human primates suggest that chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) share these five dimensions with people, whilst orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii) display three of the five: extraversion, neuroticism and agreeableness.

These shared personality dimensions are best explained by our genetic similarities, says Dr. Alexander Weiss.

“Humans and chimps share a common ancestor about 4 to 6 million years ago.”

Researchers have found that chimpanzees and orangutans really do have personalities "like people"
Researchers have found that chimpanzees and orangutans really do have personalities "like people"

The common ancestor for humans and orangutans is thought to have existed fifteen million years ago, which explains why chimpanzees and humans are more similar in personality than orangutans and humans, says Dr. Alexander Weiss.

There is continuing debate amongst experts as to whether scientists should use anthropomorphic projections when studying how animals behave.

Dr. Clive Wynne, professor of psychology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, US describes anthropomorphism as “a mistake” when “trying to understand animal behavior.”

“Human beings have a very natural tendency to project human agency into almost anything that moves,” he says.

“It’s very deeply ingrained into our ways of trying to understand the world around us.”

But despite our inevitable “human perspective” in the way we see the animal kingdom, he says, “since these animals are not us, although it is difficult, we should nonetheless struggle to get our own perspective out of the way and to try and see them for themselves.”

The research team carrying out the study, which features in the journal Animal Behaviour, wanted to test the extent to which human observers of chimpanzee and orangutan behavior might be biased in their reports.

“There’s sort of a fear that human observers and ‘raters’ are projecting their own ideas about personality on to these animals,” says Mark Adams.

But until now, this theory “hasn’t actually really been tested in great apes.”

Members of the research team – who also came from from Kyoto University in Japan and the University of Arizona, Tucson, US – issued questionnaires to around 230 people observing chimpanzees and orangutans in zoos and research centres in the US, Canada, Australia and Japan.

The survey described about 40 to 50 personality “items”, which when grouped together makes personality dimensions.

The human observers – called “raters” – were instructed to rate the apes’ behavior on a one-to-seven point scale for each personality item.

From the questionnaire results, the team determined the type of biases present in the raters’ observations of the animals.

“We used a statistical technique to remove these observer differences before extracting personality traits from the data,” explains Mark Adams.

“What we found is that controlling for these differences among observers made no difference, which suggests that the observers are not projecting their own ideas about personality onto the animals.”

Dr. Alexander Weiss says that the research “vindicates both the view that chimpanzees have personalities and perhaps the more controversial statement that their personalities are quite similar to those of humans.”

• Common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) share 98% of human genes and are mankind’s closest living relative. They are thought to be the most intelligent non-human animal

• Chimpanzees are known to modify sticks, rocks and leaves into “tools” to help the gather food such as ants, nuts and honey

• Orangutans are divided into two species: Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)

• The word orangutan translates as “people of the forest”

• They are also capable of learning to use “tools” such as sticks to gather termites. This knowledge is then passed down through the generations

What is “animal personality”?

• Individual animals display different personalities across a range of species, including mammals, fish, birds, insects and molluscs

• These personality traits control whether individual animals are leaders or followers, bold or shy, aggressive or passive, for example. As with people, some animal’s personalities change as they age

• Great tits look for partners that are as outgoing as themselves, while zebra finches with similar personalities make better parents

• Some fallow deer are braver than others, spending less time looking out for predators and being more likely to try new foods

• A fish’s personality may determine how likely it is to be captured – with bold fish more likely to be hooked

 

Rewritable DNA used as memory storage within biological systems

Kathryn R. Bown
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Rewritable DNA used as memory storage within biological systems

US researchers from Stanford University have demonstrated a means to use short sections of DNA as rewritable data “bits” in living cells.

The technique uses two proteins adapted from viruses to “flip” the DNA bits.

Though it is at an early stage, the advance could help pave the way for computing and memory storage within biological systems.

The team reporting in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says the tiny information storehouses may also be used to study cancer and aging.

The team, from Stanford University’s bioengineering department, has been trying for three years to fine-tune the biological recipe they use to change the bits’ value.

US researchers from Stanford University have demonstrated a means to use short sections of DNA as rewritable data "bits" in living cells
US researchers from Stanford University have demonstrated a means to use short sections of DNA as rewritable data "bits" in living cells

The bits comprise short sections of DNA that can, under the influence of two different proteins, be made to point in one of two directions within the chromosomes of the bacterium E. coli.

The data are then “read out” as the sections were designed to glow green or red when under illumination, depending on their orientation.

The two proteins, integrase and excisionase, were taken from a bacteriophage – a virus that infects bacteria. They are involved in the DNA modification process by which the DNA from a virus is incorporated into that of its host.

The trick was striking a balance between the two counteracting proteins in order to reliably switch the direction of the DNA section that acted as a bit.

After some 750 trials, the team struck on the right recipe of proteins, and now have their sights set on creating a full “byte” – eight bits – of DNA information that can be similarly manipulated.

The work is at the frontier of biological engineering, and senior author of the research Drew Endy said that applications of the approach are yet to come.

“I’m not even really concerned with the ways genetic data storage might be useful down the road, only in creating scalable and reliable biological bits as soon as possible,” Dr. Drew Endy said.

“Then we’ll put them in the hands of other scientists to show the world how they might be used.”

As the DNA sections maintained their logical value even as the bacteria doubled 90 times, one clear application would be in using the DNA bits as “reporter” bits on the proliferation of cells, for example in cancerous tissue.

But longer-term integrations of these computational components to achieve computing within biological systems are also on the researchers’ minds.

“One of the coolest places for computing is within biological systems,” Dr. Drew Endy said.

 

BET Awards 2012: Kanye West leads nominations with Beyonce and Jay-Z

Sonia Pantiss
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0
BET Awards 2012: Kanye West leads nominations with Beyonce and Jay-Z

Kanye West leads the field at BET Awards 2012 with seven nominations.

Musical partner and collaborator Jay-Z also has five while the rapper’s wife Beyonce is up for six.

Jay-Z and Kanye West collaborator last year on Watch the Throne and are on tour in the UK together at the moment.

Their songs In Paris and Otis are up for video of the year with Beyonce up for two awards in that category for Love on Top and Countdown.

Kanye West leads BET Awards 2012 nominations with Beyonce and Jay-Z
Kanye West leads BET Awards 2012 nominations with Beyonce and Jay-Z

The fifth nominee is Usher’s Climax.

The BET nominations were announced in New York.

Samuel L. Jackson will host the award show on 1 July, which will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj are due to perform.

Other nominees include Lil Wayne, Drake and J. Cole.

Last year’s big winner, Chris Brown, is up for three awards this year after picking up four trophies in 2011.

The group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will receive a lifetime achievement award.

 

North Korea rocket launch site Musudan-ri in major upgrade

Roy Siemens
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0
North Korea rocket launch site Musudan-ri in major upgrade

A United States institute has noticed that satellite images show that a ”major upgrade” is underway at North Korea’s rocket launch site Musudan-ri.

Work at the Musudan-ri site showed “rapid progress” since mid-2011, the analysis said.

The report came as Pyongyang accused Washington of trying to ”incite confrontation” over speculation it may carry out a third nuclear test.

North Korea ”never envisaged” such an act, said a foreign ministry spokesman.

The remarks followed a US warning that a nuclear test would lead to a “swift and sure response” from the region.

Glyn Davis, the US special envoy for North Korea policies, said on Monday that any such move by Pyongyang would be “a serious miscalculation”.

The satellite images, taken on 29 April of the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground (also known as Musudan-ri) were analyzed by the 38north website of the US-Korea institute at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University.

A United States institute has noticed that satellite images show that a ''major upgrade'' is underway at North Korea's rocket launch site Musudan-ri
A United States institute has noticed that satellite images show that a ''major upgrade'' is underway at North Korea's rocket launch site Musudan-ri

Citing fast progress on upgrading work, the analysis said: ”At the current pace of construction, the facilities should be operational by 2016-17.”

It also noted similarities between the North Korean buildings and those at Iran’s Semnan Missile and Space Center.

”Nevertheless, while the two countries have a long history of missile co-operation, it is too soon to tell whether that co-operation extends to the design and construction of this facility or the new long-range liquid-fuelled rocket,” it added.

Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear ambitions faced increased scrutiny in recent months, following the death of Kim Jong-Il last December and installation of his son Kim Jong-Un.

In the wake of North Korea’s failed rocket launch last month, South Korea also reported that preparations for a third nuclear test appeared to be under way.

In a statement on Tuesday, North Korea hit out at US comments on the possible test, saying the country had told the US that it was ”restraining” itself.

”From the beginning, we did not envisage such a military measure as a nuclear test as we planned to launch a scientific and technical satellite for peaceful purposes,” the ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by KCNA news agency.

There was still room for ”dialogue and negotiation” to resolve ”the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula”, the spokesman added, but this could not happen unless the US ”rolls up its hostile policy” towards North Korea.

”If the US persists in its moves to ratchet up sanctions and pressure upon us despite our peace-loving efforts, we will be left with no option but to take counter-measures for self-defense,” the spokesman said.

The US Department of State declined to comment on the 38north analysis, but responded briefly to North Korea’s statement.

“We’re going to be guided not by what they say, but what they do,” spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing.

 

Egyptians vote in their first free presidential election after Mubarak-era

Roy Siemens
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Egyptians vote in their first free presidential election after Mubarak-era

Egyptians are starting to vote in their first free presidential election, 15 months after ousting Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring uprising.

Fifty million people are eligible to vote, and queues are forming at some polling stations.

The military council which assumed presidential power in February 2011 has promised a fair vote and civilian rule.

The election pits Islamists against secularists, and revolutionaries against Mubarak-era ministers.

The frontrunners are:

• Ahmed Shafiq, a former commander of the air force and briefly prime minister during February 2011 protests

• Amr Moussa, who has served as foreign minister and head of the Arab League

• Mohammed Mursi, who heads Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party

• Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh, an independent Islamist candidate.

Egyptians are starting to vote in their first free presidential election, 15 months after ousting Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring uprising
Egyptians are starting to vote in their first free presidential election, 15 months after ousting Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring uprising

Until a new constitution is approved it is unclear what powers the president will have, prompting fears of friction with the military.

Voting began promptly at 08:00 local time, with queues observed at many Cairo polling stations growing longer by the minute.

“It’s a very big day,” said one woman. “This is a real great moment for the Egyptians to change.”

Another, when asked how long she had been waiting to vote, replied, with a laugh: “30 years.”

One man said it was most important for the new president to have his own programme.

“Actually he has to be in the revolution, or he has to be a strong part in the revolution. This is something which is not negotiable,” he said.

Mohammed Mursi was originally the Muslim Brotherhood’s reserve candidate, but he was thrust into the limelight after its first choice, Khairat al-Shater, was disqualified by the Higher Presidential Electoral Commission (HPEC) over an unresolved conviction.

The Brotherhood have nevertheless likened Mohammed Mursi, a US-educated engineer and MP, to an underrated football substitute.

“In any match there is the reserve who plays in the last 10 minutes, scores the goal and wins the match. Mursi is our reserve player,” said cleric Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud while addressing a crowd of Brotherhood supporters on Sunday.

A run-off vote is scheduled for 16 and 17 June if there is no outright winner.

There is also a potential clash waiting to happen with the military, which seems determined to retain its position as the power behind the president’s chair.

And the electorate does not know what powers the new president will have to do his job, as they are still waiting for them to be spelled out in a new constitution.

The election is being hailed as a landmark for Egyptians, who have the opportunity to choose their leader for the first time in the country’s 5,000-year recorded history.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), worried about potential post-election unrest, has sought to reassure Egyptians that it will be the voters themselves who decide who will be the next president.

“It is important that we all accept the election results, which will reflect the free choice of the Egyptian people, bearing in mind that Egypt’s democratic process is taking its first step and we all must contribute to its success,” it said in a statement on Monday.

The 15 months since Hosni Mubarak was forced from power has been turbulent, with continued violent protests and a deteriorating economy.

Foreign direct investment has reversed from $6.4 billion flowing into the country in 2010 to $500 million leaving it last year.

Tourism, a major revenue generator for the country, has also dropped by a third.

The new president will also have to reform the police to deal with the rash of crime that followed the uprising.

As many as a third of voters are reported to be undecided about which candidate to choose.

The Arab Spring began in Tunisia last year when weeks of protests forced President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali from power, inspiring pro-democracy activists across the Arab world.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in power for three decades, resigned on 11 February 2011 after 18 days of protests in Cairo and other cities.

Hosni Mubarak is on trial for his alleged role in the deaths of protesters, and a verdict in the case is due on 2 June.

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Volodymyr Gerashchenko, senior Ukrainian Olympic official, suspended after trying to sell tickets to black market

Clyde K. Valle
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Volodymyr Gerashchenko, senior Ukrainian Olympic official, suspended after trying to sell tickets to black market

Volodymyr Gerashchenko, a senior Ukrainian Olympic official, has been suspended after a BBC investigation showed he was willing to unofficially sell 2012 tickets for cash.

Volodymyr Gerashchenko, of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), told a reporter posing as a UK tout he would have up to 100 tickets to sell.

It is a criminal offence, punishable by fines of up to £20,000 ($32,000), to sell London 2012 tickets to touts.

Volodymyr Gerashchenko claimed he had “never planned to sell tickets in the UK”.

Ukrainian Olympic chief Sergei Bubka said he called Volodymyr Gerashchenko in Kiev on Tuesday to tell him he was suspended pending an investigation.

Strict rules, applying to countries outside the European Union, say tickets can only be sold to those who are resident within that country to stop tickets entering the black market.

BBC London has previously uncovered how some official ticket resellers were flouting the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act, designed to stop Olympic tickets entering the black market.

After receiving information that someone from Ukraine’s national Olympic committee might be prepared to sell tickets, a BBC reporter posing as an unauthorized ticket dealer from the UK spoke to Volodymyr Gerashchenko who confirmed he would be prepared to sell tickets.

Volodymyr Gerashchenko, who has been general secretary of his national Olympic committee since 1997, told an undercover reporter: “I understand you’re a dealer – that’s why for me, you are priority number one, the top, the person, in case we have extra tickets to contact you, we contact you.”

Volodymyr Gerashchenko, of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee (NOC), told a reporter posing as a UK tout he would have up to 100 tickets to sell
Volodymyr Gerashchenko, of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee (NOC), told a reporter posing as a UK tout he would have up to 100 tickets to sell

During a subsequent meeting at a hotel near the Olympic Park in east London, Volodymyr Gerashchenko explained he was in the process of distributing tickets to Ukrainian fans, coaches and officials.

However, once this process had finished, he would be prepared to sell up to 100 spare tickets.

Asked by the undercover journalist if payment could be made by bank transfer he replied: “I think it is when it comes, better cash. Possible?

“Better cash and finished with it. I hope to arrive 10 July.”

When asked by the BBC why he was prepared to break Olympic rules and UK law in offering his country’s Olympic tickets on the black market, Volodymyr Gerashchenko claimed he had “never planned to sell tickets in the UK” and had been making “diplomatic talk to satisfy the persistent interest of the ticket dealer”.

Volodymyr Gerashchenko said: “We have more demand than the number of tickets so we will use all tickets allocated to the NOC of Ukraine. We will need more tickets and we will try to find them on the LOCOG Exchange page.”

He said that the meeting with the undercover reporter “was unofficial, with no intention to make any real deal”, either in writing or verbally.

Adding: “All points that [the reporter] mentioned were not [the] subject of any deal. I have nothing to propose. I did not have real tickets to sell.

“I agreed to do this meeting only for the reason not to offend the person from the host-country who asked me several times for a meeting.”

Former Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell MP has now called for an investigation.

“I think it’s shocking, here’s somebody who’s exploiting the system and if the charge against them is proven, the sanctions are very heavy,” she said.

A spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said: “We take these allegations very seriously indeed. If proven we will not hesitate to impose tough sanctions.”

Jeremy Summers, an expert in sports law who provided legal counsel at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, said the latest revelations were particularly embarrassing for the IOC.

“The IOC tried to sharpen its act for itself and the various other Olympic committees, following the scandals of the late 1990s (namely, allegations of bribery to win the right to host the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City).

“We’ve given a higher allocation of tickets to the NOCs than we’ve ever done before. It looks like it stinks. It’s something you shouldn’t be seeing happening.”

Olympic organizers, LOCOG and officers from the Metropolitan Police’s dedicated Operation Podium team have vowed to clamp down on unauthorized ticket reselling, which is expected to soar after the last remaining tickets go on sale to the public this week.

A London 2012 spokesperson said: “We take these allegations extremely seriously. We have asked the BBC for full access to the evidence and we will investigate straight away.

“If these allegations are true, we are prepared to take tough and immediate action.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We have made contact with BBC London as we would like to see all of the material which they have so that we can carry out a full assessment of it.”

Scotland Yard added: “The safest way for the public to purchase tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is from the London 2012 website.

“If you buy from an unofficial site or from a tout, you risk paying over the odds for a ticket that may not exist, may not be genuine and you risk not getting to see the Games. Your personal details could even be used in other crimes.”

Ukraine secured 27 medals at the Beijing games, ranking the country at number 11 in the world in terms of medal achievement.

 

Heart muscle cells grown in lab from skin cells

Kathryn R. Bown
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Heart muscle cells grown in lab from skin cells

Israeli scientists say they have managed to turn patients’ own skin cells into healthy heart muscle in the lab.

Ultimately they hope this stem cell therapy could be used to treat heart failure patients.

As the transplanted cells are from the individual patient this could avoid the problem of tissue rejection, they told the European Heart Journal.

Early tests in animals proved promising but the experimental treatment is still years from being used in people.

Experts have increasingly been using stem cells to treat a variety of heart problems and other conditions like diabetes, Parkinsons disease or Alzheimer’s.

Israeli scientists say they have managed to turn patients' own skin cells into healthy heart muscle in the lab
Israeli scientists say they have managed to turn patients' own skin cells into healthy heart muscle in the lab

Stem cells are important because they have the ability to become different cell types, and scientists are working on developing ways to get them to repair or regenerate damaged organs or tissues.

Researchers are looking at ways of fixing the damaged heart muscle.

In the latest study, the team in Israel took skin cells from two men with heart failure and mixed the cells up with a cocktail of genes and chemicals in the lab to create the stem cell treatment.

The cells that they created were identical to healthy heart muscle cells. When these beating cells were transplanted into a rat, they started to make connections with the surrounding heart tissue.

Lead researcher Prof. Lior Gepstein, said: “What is new and exciting about our research is that we have shown that it’s possible to take skin cells from an elderly patient with advanced heart failure and end up with his own beating cells in a laboratory dish that are healthy and young – the equivalent to the stage of his heart cells when just born.”

The researchers say more work is needed before they can begin trials in humans.

 

Katy Perry features Russell Brand divorce in new documentary Part of Me

Lisa.Felice
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Katy Perry features Russell Brand divorce in new documentary Part of Me

Katy Perry and Russell Brand have never confirmed the reasons for the dissolution of their marriage in anything but the vaguest terms, but all that could change in the wake of a new film that will feature their doomed union.

Katy Perry, 27, opened up to Ellen DeGeneres on her show about her new film, Part of Me, and how she decided to show a realistic account of her life in the feature, including her relationship with Russell Brand.

The singer’s news comes just a week after Russell Brand, 36, told Ellen DeGeneres that he still loves his estranged wife.

Ellen DeGeneres asked Katy Perry about the 3D documentary, saying to her: “Of course, you got married during that time and that didn’t turn out to last, is part of it still in there?”

Katy Perry opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about her new film, Part of Me, and how she decided to show a realistic account of her life in the feature, including her relationship with Russell Brand
Katy Perry opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about her new film, Part of Me, and how she decided to show a realistic account of her life in the feature, including her relationship with Russell Brand

Katy Perry told Ellen: “I thought it was important to show everything in between.

“I think sometimes people think that we’re perfect and we know we’re not perfect, at all.”

“I think it’s important to start breaking down the idea that to achieve your dream you always have to be perfect or flawless or live in some kind of fantasy world. So that’s why I decided to put everything into the film,” Katy Perry said.

“In the most tasteful way. But mostly it’s about how I go there and the ride along the way which can be bumpy but mostly it was extremely fun.”

Some reports suggested that Katy Perry had cut Russell Brand from the footage, but this interview finally lays those rumors to rest.

The couple have been granted go ahead for a divorce but it will not be finalized until July, because California law requires a waiting period of six months.

They split just two months after their first wedding anniversary.

Katy Perry was said to have been “blindsided” when Russell Brand filed for divorce just after Christmas.

The move came after the pair enjoyed separate holidays over the festivities, Katy Perry in Hawaii and Russell Brand in his native England.

They have both moved on, Russell Brand has been linked to Brazilian artist Oriela Medallin and David Hasselhoff’s ex Anouska De Georgiou, while Katy Perry has had flings with Baptiste Giabiconi and Florence the Machine guitarist Robert Ackroyd.

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Brad Pitt reveals there is no date for wedding as Angelina Jolie prepares to film new movie

Lisa.Felice
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0
Brad Pitt reveals there is no date for wedding as Angelina Jolie prepares to film new movie

Brad Pitt has revealed that despite the recent announcement of his engagement to Angelina Jolie they have not set a date yet.

While it was widely rumored Brad Pitt planned to wed Angelina Jolie this year, at the photocall for new film Killing Them Softly he was quick to dispel talk.

“We truly have no date. I’m still hoping we’ll figure out our marriage equality in the States before then,” Brad Pitt, 48, said referring to the debate in the US over same sex marriage.

And he hinted that part of the reason may lay in Angelina Jolie’s filming commitments.

When Brad Pitt was asked about the whereabouts of Angelina Jolie, he explained she was away preparing for a new film role.

Brad Pitt has revealed that despite the recent announcement of his engagement to Angelina Jolie they have not set a date yet
Brad Pitt has revealed that despite the recent announcement of his engagement to Angelina Jolie they have not set a date yet

Angelina Jolie was expected to wow the red carpet last night at the gala screening of Brad Pitt’s film Killing Them Softly, which premieres today.

Brad Pitt looked the epitome of cool as he showed up in a youthful look, which consisted of light summer suit, which he matched with a white T-shirt and white pumps.

He showed off his longer hair style, which has now grown to just above his shoulders, while he wore his facial hair in a goatee style.

Brad Pitt drew the crowds as he showed up in his effortless style while hordes of fans tried to get a glimpse of the actor.

The actor happily posed for photographs as he arrived in his chauffeur driven car while he wore sunglasses on his face.

Brad Pitt smiled during the photo call, before he was spotted taking a break as he chatted to friends.

It marked a rare break for Brad Pitt from his brood, as he stepped out minus partner Angelina Jolie and their six children.

But he obviously wanted to get to work promoting the Andrew Dominick film, in which he will play a contract killer alongside stars including Scoot McNairy, Ray Liotta, Vince Curatola, and Ben Mendelson.

Although Brad Pitt said he wasn’t troubled by violence in movies.

The actor was speaking at a press conference after the world premiere screening of the film and said that violence is an accepted part of the gangster world and noted that violence goes hand in hand with crime.

Brad Pitt said he would have little problem with his children watching violent movies when they’re older.

“I would find playing a racist more unsettling than playing someone who shoots someone in the face,” he declared.

“We live in such a violent world,” Brad Pitt said and then asked people who love hamburgers to think about the killing involved in creating that burger.

“I don’t see a world without violence,” he added.

The film Killing Them Softly suggests that murder in a gangland setting is acceptable. One of the movie’s key moments has Brad Pitt and a Mob lawyer, played by Richard Jenkins, discussing the execution of some robbers as a simple business transaction.

Indeed one line in the film is sure to become much quoted. Brad Pitt’s character says to Richard Jenkins: “America’s not a country, it’s just a business.”

Killing Them Softly was having its gala screening in Cannes tonight.

It uses the gangster genre, and humor, to make larger points, not always successfully, about the state of the economy.

 

Ray J hospitalized for exhaustion after Billboard Awards

Lisa.Felice
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Ray J hospitalized for exhaustion after Billboard Awards

Ray J has been hospitalized seeking treatment for “exhaustion and jet lag” after Billboard Music Awards.

Ray J, 31, is also believed to have had a run-in with Whitney Houston’s family at the Billboard Awards on Sunday night which may have thrown him off course.

The singer and producer, who was dating Whitney Houston in the months before her death, was reportedly left “extremely upset” following a confrontation with Pat Houston.

Despite remaining for the star-studded event – and later hosting a party with Sophie Monk – it was the following morning that he was found.

Ray J has been hospitalized seeking treatment for “exhaustion and jet lag” after Billboard Music Awards
Ray J has been hospitalized seeking treatment for “exhaustion and jet lag” after Billboard Music Awards

TMZ report that someone ventured into Ray J’s hotel room on Monday morning and discovered he was “out of it” and couldn’t get out of bed.

He was said to have been “extremely disoriented” before whisked away by ambulance.

However, Ray J’s publicist is blaming the medical attention on the fact he’s been lacking a few nights of 40 winks recently.

The statement said: “Ray J has been in a Las Vegas area hospital since the early morning of Monday and will remain there for treatment for exhaustion and jet lag.

“Ray J was in Las Vegas hosting a launch party (with Sophie) for the product he is endorsing, Prince Reigns Hair Serum, and to attend the Billboard Music Awards.

“Ray J had just returned to the US from a quick 32-hour round trip from China where he performed a concert and had meetings regarding a new business.

“Upon landing, he immediately drove four hours to Las Vegas for the two events.”

Ray J has not tweeted since last Friday, when he told fans: “I’m in the Las Vegas of HongKong (sic).”

 

Bobbi Kristina Brown investigated over underage gambling

Lisa.Felice
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0
Bobbi Kristina Brown investigated over underage gambling

Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney Houston’s daughter, is being probed for alleged underage gambling in Las Vegas.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, was apparently caught on video at a slot machine in the MGM Grand Resort and Casino with her boyfriend Nick Gordon, 23, the Daily Star reported.

The legal age for gambling in Nevada is 21.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney Houston’s daughter, is being probed for alleged underage gambling in Las Vegas
Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney Houston’s daughter, is being probed for alleged underage gambling in Las Vegas

The MGM Grand launched an internal investigation after celebrity news site TMZ.com posted the footage.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is also investigating and its chairman Mark Lipparelli said they were also looking into whether casino employees let her gamble.

MGM Resorts spokesman Gordon Absher said the company would “co-operate fully with the Gaming Control Board”.

Underage gambling is an offence in Nevada, punishable by up to six months in jail or a fine.

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