Guy Proposes To His Girlfriend With 99 iPhones — Then She Rejects Him | ||
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What's love got to do with it? You might be asking yourself that very question after reading this bizarre story. Kotaku reports that a guy in Guangzhou decided to propose to his girlfriend in the middle of a heart constructed out of brand new iPhones — 99 to be exact — that he purchased for the occasion. Then she said no. Check out the photos, which came from Weibo and the site, QQ Games. The iPhone heart (expensive!) is shown here:
Then there's the proposal:
Then the alleged rejection:
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This Terrifying Robot Was Developed By Google | ||
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Boston Dynamics has created this enormous robot, and maybe most impressively, taught it how to re-enact a famous scene from "The Karate Kid," according to The Daily Mail. Boston Dynamics is owned by Google.
This slightly terrifying beast of a robot is 6'2" and weighs 330 lbs. Its name is Ian. The robot was programmed by IHMC in Florida. Ian came in second at the US Government's Robo-Olympics, and was apparently able to walk, carry a fire hose, and get in a car and drive it, according to The Daily Mail.
Here's the entire video posted on YouTube by IHMC Robotics:
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What Mark Zuckerberg Looks Like All Dressed Up (FB) | ||
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Mark Zuckerberg is famous for something other than Facebook: his wardrobe. More specifically his love of hoodies and gray T-shirts. On Thursday, during a public Q&A, someone asked him why he always wears the same gray T-shirt. In truth, he doesn't. He's got a few that all look the same and he always wears them just to have one less "frivolous" decision to make every day — what to wear — he says. So it's a rare event to see him all dressed up, much less in a suit. But on Sunday, flanked by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Zuck was on hand to present the awards for the the Breakthrough Prize, an annual $33 million jackpot awarded to a dozen top scientists, sponsored by Facebook. Besides Cumberbatch, the two other men in the photo are two of the math prize winners, Simon Donaldson and Maxim Kontsevich, Zuck said in his Facebook post about the event. The awards ceremony is supposed to associate STEM vocations with glamour like a Hollywood ball. So it was a black-tie affair. Zuck didn't go quite that far. He's wearing a straight tie. But that is definitely a suit.
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Black Friday Could Be The Day The Xbox One Finally Towers Over The Competition (MSFT) | ||
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Microsoft has been struggling to outsell the PlayStation 4, but things might turn around for the system starting on Black Friday. Target announced on Monday that it will sell an "Assassin's Creed" bundle of Microsoft's latest console for $329 on Black Friday. The bundle comes with the newest "Assassin's Creed," called "Unity," as well as the last game in the series, called "Black Flag." Target will also throw in a $50 Target gift card. The regular price for the bundle (sans gift card) is $399. Then there's the PlayStation bundle, which will also come with two games, "Grand Theft Auto 5" and "The Last of Us." That'll set you back $399. That might not sound like a big difference, but Microsoft needs all the help it can get. Sony's console has outsold Microsoft's every month in 2014. But there's hope for the Xbox One. In fact, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicted that the Xbox could outsell the PlayStation in September, according to GamesBeat. The reason for that prediction: Microsoft announced a special promotion in September, giving away any free game between Sept. 7 and 13 with the purchase of a new Xbox One. "I kind of think that free Destiny [on Xbox One] was better than [paying] for Destiny on PS4," Pachter told GamesBeat. During that time, you could get an Xbox One with two games for around $400. The same thing for a PS4 was $450. Pachter's prediction didn't turn out to be true, and the PlayStation again went on to outsell the Xbox in September, according to NPD Group (via GameSpot). But it proves that price could make a big difference when it comes to choosing a console during the holidays. Microsoft has been struggling to push its console ahead of the PlayStation. It unbundled the Kinect, its motion-sensing device, from the console in June, which dropped the price by $100. That didn't seem to help overall, but Microsoft did say at the time that its sales doubled in the US following the removal of Kinect requirements. An even bigger price difference between the two systems during the holidays might finally give the Xbox the boost it needs to come out on top. SEE ALSO: YouTube Multimillionaire PewDiePie Says He's Happier Now That He's Disabled Comments On His Channel Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Here's How Facebook Messenger Could Actually Make Money (FB, PYPL) | ||
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Facebook Messenger isn't contributing to Facebook's bottom line, but that could change in the not-so-distant future, reports Wired's Jessi Hempel. The social networking company could monetize Messenger in a number of ways, but three paths seem increasingly likely: payments, promotions, and corporate communications. Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg mentioned payments in an earnings call this year, but said any plan involving Facebook Messenger was "years" away from execution. "We could take the cheap and easy approach and just try to put ads in or do payments and make some money in the short term," Zuckerberg said of the company's plans for Messenger. "But we’re not going to do that." Working with the likes of Disney and Comcast could be a boon for the app as it becomes more popular in North America. David Marcus, who left PayPal to lead Facebook Messenger, also sees the app as a friendly facade for companies trying to reach their customers: Marcus wants to reinvent messaging between people and businesses, so that it’s useful to both parties. “It’s really broken,” he tells me, as we are wrapping up our airport coffee. Marcus suggested that companies could one day use Facebook Messenger as a customer service tool, Hempel writes. Facebook won't be adopting any of these strategies anytime soon. But these opportunities demonstrate just how integral Facebook Messenger is becoming to the larger company. Read the full Wired story here >> SEE ALSO: Zuckerberg Confirms: A Mobile Payments System Will Come To Facebook Messenger Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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This Man Beat Poverty, Cancer, And Fleas To Lead A $21 Billion Company (SAP) | ||
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Most people know Bill McDermott as the CEO of SAP, a member of the 1%, earning $9.6 million in 2013. But he didn't start out that way. He was born to a working family in Long Island, full of love, setbacks, and heartbreak. McDermott has poured out his whole amazing life story in a new book, "Winners Dream." The book is part memoir and part business strategy. He hopes his story will not just inspire other hard-working youths, but show them how to do the same. "I'm still the same guy I was in Long Island," he told us in his thick Long Island accent that gives that some credence. "Nothing has changed in terms of who I am as a person. What motivates me is to remain humble and second, to stay hungry." Still, how he got here is a pretty awe-inspiring journey involving:
Throughout all this, the essence of McDermott's story is: Work hard. Treat all the people in your life with love and respect. Keep a positive attitude no matter what life throws at you. Business Insider: You wrote with touching openness about your wife, Julie's, breast cancer, about juggling a home life with two boys and a new job while your wife was in treatment. Can you describe that period in your life? Bill McDermott: Shortly after leaving [my secure job] at Xerox, we found out that Julie had cancer. We had the big house on hill in Connecticut. We were brand new to the neighborhood. I had a brand-new global job at Gartner and my wife was sick with cancer. She had six months of chemo. But my job to still to go be global president of Gartner. I was blessed with a brave wife. Julie probably did more than any other wife under the circumstances. My mom and dad were on Long Island, so if I was on the road, my mom would stay. BI: Years later, your mom died of cancer, too. How did that affect you? BM: It affects everything, in the sense of my having empathy for other people. I also launched the Kathleen McDermott Foundation for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of those cancers that doesn't get much attention unlike breast cancer, where they've made major strides. A lot of people take it for granted that a pancreatic cancer is a one-way trip out of this world. We're doing more research that could significantly [help find treatments]. BI: You came from a working-class family and now you are a member of the 1%. What do you think about income inequality debate that says the deck is stacked against the poor? BM: The main thing is everybody deserves an opportunity. I knew the day I went on [that job interview] at Xerox, I was fighting for my life. Let's say I didn’t get the job at Xerox, my life would have been different. Maybe I would not have wound up in the 1%. But I would have worked my way to something. I wouldn’t have left my life’s journey to chance. I out hustled. You got to put yourself in a position to succeed. If you don’t get your first break, you've got to try again. And even if I wasn’t part of the 1% now, I would have found honor in my work. BI: You work for an internationally renowned billionaire, Hasso Plattner, who is as known for his philanthropy fighting HIV/AIDS as he is for cofounding SAP. How has that influenced you? BM: I'm lucky that I have Hasso, who is a living legend, that is still chairman of our supervisory board. When you think about Bill Gates or Steve Jobs you can’t leave Hasso Plattner out of that equation, one of the greatest tech visionaries. [He created the financial planning software industry.] I learned that you can be a billionaire and an extremely humble man. His mind is not complicated with a lot things that don’t matter. People can have a lot of success and also be the same person after they have all the success. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Everything You Need To Know About Building A Wildly Successful Company From Google's Ex-CEO In A 3-Minute Video (GOOG) | ||
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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt teamed up with former SVP of product Jonathan Rosenberg earlier this year to write a management book about building Google into a $300 billion company called "How Google Works." The duo put their key advice together into a giant presentation, but they've now also released a video version, and it only takes 3 minutes and 16 seconds to watch. "It took Jonathan Rosenberg and me a decade of experimentation and reflection to come up with the rules we captured in How Google Works," Schmidt writes on Google+. "With this video, you can learn the key points in about three minutes. I guess things really are speeding up in the Internet Century!" Essentially, companies need to attract smart and creative employees and create an environment where they can thrive. Check it out: SEE ALSO: Google's Newest Attack On Amazon Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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A House Designed By Bill Gates' Architect Is On The Market For $6.5 Million | ||
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A glassy four-bedroom home in Sacramento, California has hit the market for $6.5 million, Curbed reports. The home was designed by renowned architect Peter Bohlin, who worked on Apple's iconic glass cube store in New York City, as well as Bill Gates' massive $123 million mansion. This home may not be as iconic as those buildings, but it'll be the most expensive home ever sold in Sacramento County if it goes for asking price. Fans of Gates and Apple store architecture may recognize some features in this house. The house is located in Sacramento, California. The timber-and-glass design is reminiscent of Bill Gates' Seattle area home. Rooms are situated over three floors. The living room is fairly open. See the rest of the story at Business Insider  | ||
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How AOL Is Growing Despite A Flat Display Ad Business (AOL, YHOO) | ||
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AOL CEO Tim Armstrong has managed to pull off something fairly impressive. He has his company's revenue growing. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, for all her accolades as product person, has yet to see real sales growth. How has Armstrong gotten AOL growing? Through automated, algorithm-based advertising, or "programmatic" in the language of the industry. Having invested heavily in programmatic solutions, the company reported strong revenue growth in its third quarter earnings on Friday, with programmatic accounting for 37% of all non-search ad revenue. Based on company data charted for us by BI Intelligence, you can see how AOL's programmatic strategy is paying off — advertising on third-party platforms is seeing healthy growth, even though its display ad business was flat and its search ad revenue was just up slightly year-over-year.
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Pinterest's Demographics Mean It Could Become The Next Monster Social Advertising Platform | ||
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Pinterest is far more popular among women than men, and unlike some of its competitors it is popular across age brackets (including Millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers). Women are the decision makers in a majority of household spending decisions. Pinterest is also very focused around visual images and products. Those two factors, taken together, makes it ideal for brands and retailers. In a new report from BI Intelligence, we unpack data from over a dozen sources to understand how social media demographics are still shifting, including the migration of young users to photo-based social networking, including Pinterest. Access The Full Report And Its 20 Charts By Signing Up For A Free Trial >> Here are a few of the key takeaways on Pinterest's unique selling points from the BI Intelligence report:
The report is full of charts (over 20 charts) and data that can be downloaded and put to use. In full, the report:
For full access to all BI Intelligence reports, briefs, and downloadable charts on the digital media industry and social media audience data and demographics, sign up for a free trial. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Here's How Mark Zuckerberg Poached PayPal's President To Run Facebook Messenger (FB, PYPL) | ||
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Once you become CEO, you don't usually leave that job without a pretty good reason. But that's exactly what Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg gave David Marcus — then PayPal's CEO — when he invited him over for dinner last May, according to Wired's Jessi Hempel. Zuckerberg was looking for someone to lead Facebook Messenger — and its team of less than 100 — which had already lost ground to popular message apps like Snapchat and Viber. That's part of why Facebook bought WhatsApp, an especially popular messaging app in developing countries, last February. Zuckerberg wanted Marcus to do just one thing: make Facebook Messenger a dominant platform in North America. The Facebook cofounder saw how Marcus has succesfully sold his startup to PayPal in 2011 and had become its CEO in no time at all. Zuckerberg hoped Marcus could replicate Instagram's success as an independent Facebook subsidiary, according to Hempel: Similarly, Zuckerberg planned for Messenger to operate as its own startup within Facebook, and its leader to have complete control over the product. With his killer combination of entrepreneurial skills, larger company know-how, and a payments background to boot, Marcus was just the guy to run it. Marcus agreed to consider the job. He was ultimately swayed by Facebook Messenger's growth. Facebook announced Monday that it reached 500 million monthly active users. That's up from 200 million monthly active users in April. Part of the reason for that rapid growth is that Facebook is forcing users to use Messenger to send messages instead of the regular Facebook app. Read the full Wired story about David Marcus here >> SEE ALSO: WhatsApp, Facebook's $22 Billion Acquisition, Did $10.2 Million In Revenue Last Year Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Google Uses These 3 Subtle Tricks To Get Employees To Eat Healthy | ||
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The company employs a handful of psychological tricks in the cafeteria at its New York office to subtlely encourage Googlers to go for fruits and veggies instead of sodas and desserts. 1. The salad bar is front and center. ABC News reports that Google moved the salad bar right in front of the cafeteria entrance so that it's the first thing employees see. Research suggests that people at buffets tend to take a lot of whatever food they can get their hands on first. 2. Googlers are made to think twice about portion sizes. Google also started offering employees the choice to use smaller plates in its cafeteria, according to a 2012 story from Fast Company. To help persuade them to downsize, Google placed a sign in the cafeteria reminding employees that people who use bigger plates tend to eat bigger portions. The company also started making desserts that could be consumed in just three bites, this way employees who want more have to think about the extra calories when they go back for seconds. 3. Soda and candy are hidden from view. Google moved its popular M&M's from large, clear dispensers (similar to the ones that hold cereal on many college campuses) into opaque plastic jars, ABC News reports. In the seven weeks after the candies were no longer visible, New York employees consumed 3.1 million fewer calories in M&M's. Google also encourages employees to choose water and other healthy drinks by putting them at eye-level behind clear glass in company refrigerators. By comparison, sugary drinks like soda are housed at the bottom of the refrigerator behind tinted glass. SEE ALSO: Why Google Loves Teach For America Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Google is famous for the free food it provides employees at work, but as any college freshman will tell you, the allure of the buffet can sometimes lead to unhealthy eating and weight gain. One Boneheaded Mistake By A Former Yahoo CEO Cost The Company $54 Billion (YHOO, BABA) | ||
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Here's a painful reminder for Yahoo shareholders. In 2012, then-CEO Scott Thompson agreed to sell 20% of Yahoo's stake in Alibaba. At the time, Alibaba was a private company with a ~$30 billion valuation. Today, Alibaba is a public company valued at ~$300 billion. Yahoo shareholder Eric Jackson says that Thompson's decision to sell cost Yahoo $54 billion. To put that number in perspective, Yahoo's market valuation right now is $48 billion. There is some additional context to consider here. Once Yahoo agreed to this deal, it set Alibaba's initial public offering in motion, which led to its $300 billion public market valuation. Further, at the time Thompson was on the outs with investors, so he needed to do something to save the company. Investors were also getting antsy about Yahoo's stake in Alibaba. They wanted Yahoo to dump the shares pronto to get the cash. At the time, selling Alibaba shares wasn't universally regarded as a massive error. Now, it should be.
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Peter Thiel Explains How An Esoteric Philosophy Book Shaped His Worldview | ||
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Billionaire Peter Thiel is as well known for being the cofounder of PayPal and the first outside investor in Facebook as he is for his free thinking. He outlines many of his contrarian views, such as why successful companies should strive to be monopolies, in his book "Zero to One." Thiel has previously said that the contemporary French philosopher René Girard has had a tremendous impact on his life, and he told author and investor Tim Ferriss that he considers "Things Hidden Since The Foundation of the World" to be Girard's masterpiece. Girard's main concept is "mimetic theory," which states that most of human behavior is based upon imitation. The imitation of desires leads to conflict, and when a buildup of conflict threatens to destroy all involved, they use a scapegoat to return to balance. Much of Girard's work delves into Christian theology, which has also had a profound effect on Thiel. We had a chance to ask Thiel how his favorite Girard work has shaped his worldview, career, and even his faith. Here's what he said. Business Insider: When did you first read "Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World"? Has your interpretation of Girard's philosophy changed as you've gotten older? Peter Thiel: I first read "Things Hidden" when I was an undergraduate at Stanford. Girard ranges over everything: every book, every myth, every culture — and he always argues boldly. That made him stand out against the rest of academia, which was and still is divided between two approaches: specialized research on trivial questions and grandiose but nihilistic claims that knowledge is impossible. Girard is the opposite of both: He makes sweeping arguments about big questions based on a view of the whole world. So even when you set aside the scandalous fact that Girard takes Christianity seriously, there is already something heroic and subversive about his work. "Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World" is an intimidating book. Girard warns on the very first page that he has "deliberately left out all concessions to the reader." However hard it seems at first, Girard's philosophy always stresses a few key points. Simplest of all is the idea that imitation is at the root of all behavior. I've noticed that it takes a long time to really sink in. You can understand what his words mean as philosophical concepts without understanding how those concepts play out in life. It's hardest of all to see how they apply to yourself. I would say that there is no difference in my interpretation of Girard at the level of ideas, but now I have a better sense of how deep his ideas go. BI: You've mentioned that you are conscious of your desire to not become distracted by competition in your pursuits. How much has Girard's theory of mimetic desire and its negative outcomes influenced this approach?
PT: According to Girard, imitation is inescapable. As a rule, we do what we do just because other people are doing it, too. That's why we end up competing for the same things: the same schools, the same jobs, the same markets. Economics will tell you that competition dilutes profits, and that’s one big reason to question it. Girard gives at least two more reasons: (1) competitors tend to become obsessed with their rivals at the expense of their substantive goals, and because of that (2) the intensity of competition doesn't tell you anything about underlying value. People will compete fiercely for things that don't matter, and once they're fighting they'll fight harder and harder. You might not be able to escape imitation entirely, but if you're sensitive to the way it drives us then you're already ahead of most. BI: How have you seen both the theories of mimetic desire and the scapegoat mechanism manifested in Silicon Valley? PT: When the payments company Square came out with its flagship credit card reader, competitors jumped in one after the other to do the same thing with triangles or half-moons instead of squares. That's the comical example I cite in "Zero to One." A more dangerous phenomenon is the desire for the same position within a company: startups are small, they move fast, and roles are fluid, so there is lots of potential for conflict. As for scapegoating, what happened to Bill Gates during the antitrust prosecution of Microsoft is a great example of the tendency to gang up and blame one person. BI: How has Girard's interpretation of Christianity affected the way you practice your religion? Has your spirituality influenced the ways you've decided you would like to leave an impact on humanity? PT: To see the difference Girard makes, consider the Book of Revelation. It's the last thing in the New Testament. It's very strange. What could it mean to someone today? There are two common views: Secularists see a bunch of crazy gibberish that should be ignored or mocked. Fundamentalists see an authentic prophecy of divine vengeance. Girard says there is another, deeper answer: The destruction that Revelation describes is real, but we can't blame it on an angry, violent deity. We have created weapons capable of violence on a biblical scale. In the event of apocalypse, we will be responsible. Blaming the gods for our own violent acts is what humans have done throughout the whole history of religion. But as Girard reads them, the Gospels reveal that God is not violent. He has no need to get into a fight. He is not our rival. What God actually is and what it means to be created in God's image is not something to capture in a sound bite, but it certainly begins with creation and continues with life. BI: Is there a particular section of "Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World" that has particularly influenced you or that you suggest readers new to Girard become familiar with? PT: There's not an easy way into "Things Hidden." It's not obscure; it's just densely packed. The best place to start reading Girard might be with whatever part of culture you're most interested in, because he's probably written about it. If you like classic novels, read his first book, "Deceit, Desire and the Novel." If you're interested in mythology, read "Violence and the Sacred." If you like Shakespeare, read "Theater of Envy." If you know the Bible, read "I See Satan Fall Like Lightning." If you want a view of his whole career over time, look at "The Girard Reader." And if you want to immerse yourself in all his ideas at once, stick with "Things Hidden." SEE ALSO: Billionaire Peter Thiel Explains Why He Would Tell His Younger Self To Be Less Competitive Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Microsoft's Siri Rival Might Not Be Exclusive To Windows Phones Much Longer (MSFT) | ||
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Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana probably won't be exclusive to Windows Phones much longer. During a meeting with a small group of journalists and analysts last week, Microsoft's chief experience officer Julie Larson-Green showed that Cortana could be used for a variety of tasks, not just looking up information like the weather or sports scores. When asked if that meant Cortana would eventually come to other operating systems, Larson-Green said, "The short answer is, yeah." Larson-Green wouldn't go into more detail than that, but if you look at Microsoft's recent products like Office for iPhone, iPad, and Android, it's clear the company is much more open to bringing its apps and services to rival hardware. Cortana's role is already being expanded within Microsoft's world. Microsoft is working on ways to help you use it to naturally search for items within Office 365 and other products. Imagine asking your computer to "show me all emails from Joe Sixpack," for example. Cortana is widely regarded as a better product than Siri for iPhone and iPad. And it wouldn't be the first alternative digital assistant on a platform like iPhone. Google Now, the virtual assistant for Android, has been on iPhone for a few months. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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This Gold-Plated iPhone 6 Costs $7,300 And Features An Apple Logo Encrusted With Diamonds | ||
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If Apple's gold-tinted iPhone 6 isn't enough for you, now you can upgrade to the real thing. For $7,300, luxury electronics store Ademov will sell you an iPhone 6 plated in 24-carat gold. Even the Apple logo is given special treatment, plated with 18-carat gold and encrusted with VS1 white diamonds. To protect the gold surface, Ademov applies polish and a clear coat so you can handle the phone. The $7,300 price tag also includes a custom wooden box, maintenance kit, and you can add engraving to the iPhone's gold surface for an additional cost. In addition to its gold iPhone 6, Ademov also offers a gold-plated MacBook Air and other iMacs and Macbook Pros with colored plates and eye-popping anondized aluminum colors. You can check out the gallery of pictures below, or head on over to Ademov if you're interested in placing an order.
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The 100 Most Military-Friendly Companies In America | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It's also the ideal time to acknowledge the employers that consistently hire from the military community and offer programs to support veterans and their families. That's why each November, Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs, releases its annual list of the 100 most Military Friendly Employers. The ranking, now in its twelfth year, is compiled using results from a comprehensive, data-driven survey among approximately 5,000 companies (a minimum of $500 million in annual revenue was required to be eligible for the list). The survey asked these employers more than 100 questions, which assessed their long-term commitment to recruiting and hiring former military personnel, policies for Reserve/Guard members called to active duty, the presence of special programs, and retention rates. With help from an independent advisory board of industry experts, Victory Media developed the methodology and criteria for the survey, and the results were tested by Ernst & Young. "It’s critical to isolate and distinguish those companies with the strongest job opportunities, hiring practices, and retention programs for transitioning service members and spouses seeking civilian employment so that candidates are able to conduct an efficient and effective job search," says Sean Collins, vice president of Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. "Our list serves as the defacto post-military employment guide for transitioning service members and their families." Combined Insurance Company of America, a frequent top performer with more than 40% of its recent hires representing veterans or military spouses, tops the 2015 list of Military Friendly Employers. In a press statement released by G.I. Jobs, Brad Bennett, president of Combined Insurance, said that being named the No. 1 military-friendly employer "is a tremendous privilege, and we are honored to be recognized for our initiatives. But more importantly, not only does it mean we are doing things right, it also means we are doing the right things to help our nation's veterans find meaningful employment." Here's the complete list:
SEE ALSO: 10 Reasons Companies Should Be Hiring Military Veterans Join the conversation about this story »  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AT&T Is Scrapping Its Plan To Fix The Horrible Wi-Fi On Airplanes | ||
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AT&T announced that it has ditched its plans to bring its 4G LTE services as an option online connectivity in airplanes, according to airline industry news blog Runway Girl Network. The announcement comes just about six months after AT&T announced its initiative, which would have brought "high speed 4G LTE in-flight connectivity service" to airline passengers, as an alternative to Wi-Fi from services like Boingo. In a statement to Runway Girl, the carrier said it plans to continue focusing on growing its international markets rather than delving into the "inflight connectivity" industry. Here's the full statement AT&T issued to Runway Girl Network: As AT&T explores opportunities for future growth and diversification, expanding our international presence has remained an area of interest. On Friday we announced our intent to acquire Mexico wireless company Iusacell. After a thorough review of our investment portfolio, the company decided to no longer pursue entry into the Inflight Connectivity industry. We are focusing our capital on transformative investments, such as international and video. We've reached out to AT&T for additional comment and will update this post if we learn more. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Uber Wants To Raise Another Billion And Here's Why That's Scary For Its Industry | ||
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But he wants to get even richer. Uber is seeking an additional $1 billion investment, beyond a big infusion it received as recently as June. "[T]he car-booking company’s co-founder and chief executive officer, is seeking a higher valuation than the $17 billion Uber got," during its last raise, Bloomberg's Serena Saitto reported. Ever since I moved back to New York from Los Angeles several months ago, I've become an avid Uber user. There's no question in my mind that Kalanick and his team have created a great service. Business Insider has been diligent about investigating the issues that have arisen with the company. But the bottom line for me is that I hope Uber sticks around — although I don't want the traditional taxi industry to go away. However, my extremely positive experiences with the company and Kalanick's ideas about valuations are different stories. It could be that Uber's opponents aren't as much a threat to its existence as are its goals for rapid expansion. It's been noted that Uber's game plan is to effectively ignore whatever legal challenges may eventually be thrown at it in a quest to get big fast and drive its competition out of the game. On the plus side, Uber has defined a need for an alternative to taxis and created a viable market for entrepreneurs who want to do likewise. On the negative side, I wouldn't want to be going up against Uber. Frankly, Kalanick seems almost like a businessman of the old school — he relishes a good fight and wants to win, all the time, every time. So if Bloomberg's reporting is accurate and Uber is pursuing another billion in investment just a few months after taking $1.2 billion, you have to see where the bets are being placed. In fact, Uber investors are wagering that the company will overcome entrenched resistance to its objectives. Silicon Valley startups have taken a lot of money and satisfied investors in the past — just look at Facebook. But Facebook wasn't under threat of legal action for its business model, nor was it facing organized protests from critics. Uber is a technology company, but it operates in the rough-and-tumble world of big cities, established unions, and the very competitive taxi/car service industry. There's another factor: the sheer force of Uber's disruption. A lot of tech companies call themselves "disruptive," or say that they're engaged in "disruptive innovation," but what they really are is just plain innovative, in both a beneficial and creative sense. They're showing a different and better way of doing things, but at the same time they're creating new platforms, new ways to connect — and are removing "friction" from mundane tasks, like paying bills or filing taxes. Uber is doing some of that, too, but it's also drastically re-inventing the way that an important aspect of urban mobility actually works. The thing is, when you really and truly disrupt established industries, you make enemies. You take their business away, rather than demonstrating a benignly new and different way of doing something that can function alongside the old industry. Or only invalidate the old industry in slow motion, giving everyone who can read the writing on the wall plenty of time to find something else to do. The implication of another billion in investment is that Uber is going to overcome its many challenges and pay off big time at some not-too-distant point. But that implies that all of Uber's enemies are going to surrender en masse. To a degree, anyone putting money into Uber now is betting that the company will become so pervasive — monopolistic, even — that the opposition will decide that resistance is futile. Would you take that bet? Some sophisticated investors are. Uber just goes to show you that real disruption is thrilling — but also scary, particularly if you're the one being disrupted. SEE ALSO: 25 Insanely Cool Cars From The SEMA Show In Las Vegas Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is getting incredibly rich — at least on paper. 15 Apps That Will Make Your Android Phone A Whole Lot Better | ||
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One of the best things about Android is that you can change your phone's theme, add new widgets, and customize your settings whichever way you please. Android launchers allow you to make your phone even more personal and catered to your specific tastes. A launcher is essentially a home screen replacement for your Android phone. You can turn them on or off whenever you like, which means you can change the look and feel of your phone's software at any time. After playing with a bunch of lock and home screen replacements from the Google Play store, here are our top picks. Aviate The Yahoo-owned Aviate launcher is an attractive yet simple home screen replacement for your Android phone. You'll get access to your favorite apps directly on the home screen, which you can hand pick when you set up the app. What really makes Aviate stand out, however, is a feature called Spaces. These are different contextually aware categories that appear in the upper-left-hand corner of your home screen depending on where you are. So, on your way to work, you might see an icon for the Moving space, which would provide travel information and apps like Google Maps. Start Celltick's Start lock screen replacement adds a list of icons along the left side of your lock screen and a ring toward the bottom. You can pull out these icons to see quick notifications, and sliding your finger over the ring will reveal app categories that you can choose. There are also a ton of themes to choose from. Buzz Launcher If you're sick of just shuffling widgets and menus around, Buzz Launcher will give your Android phone an entire face-lift. The launcher comes with a bunch of customizable themes that completely change the way your phone looks. Beyond its selection of themes, Buzz Launcher is extremely simple to navigate. Swiping up from the bottom launches the app menu, and you can press and hold the screen any time to access settings. See the rest of the story at Business Insider  | ||
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Microsoft Billionaire Paul Allen's Most Over-The-Top Toys | ||
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With an estimated net worth of $17 billion, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen can afford to buy himself some fancy toys. But with interests that range from electric guitars to World War II aircraft, Allen takes expensive hobbies to a whole new level. We've rounded up some of the billionaire's most ridiculous toys, from submarines to professional sports teams. Allen loves rock 'n' roll. An expert guitarist, he pays a band to travel with him so he can jam whenever he wants. He owns a number of valuable guitars, including some previously used by Woody Guthrie and Jimi Hendrix. Source: 60 Minutes
In May, Allen showed off his skills at a celebrity-packed party he threw on his 414-foot yacht, "Octopus." Source: Business Insider
Octopus is truly one-of-a-kind, decked out with two helicopter landing pads and its own submarine. Allen has sailed to Antarctica, Europe, and other exotic destinations. "During the day we explore, and at night we jam," he told "60 Minutes" in 2011. Source: 60 Minutes
See the rest of the story at Business Insider  | ||
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The CEO Of A Billion-Dollar Startup Uses A Simple System To Nail Work-Life Balance Every Week | ||
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When a company offered to buy Ryan Smith's startup Qualtrics for more than $500 million, he asked his wife to take a drive. The deal, and the amount of money it would net his family, was a lot to process. But after just 30 minutes of driving south, the couple decided to turn it down. They felt earning so much money at once could negatively impact the way they were raising their children. And although Smith had been running his business for nearly a decade, he had gotten good at balancing both work and his personal life, so being an entrepreneur wasn't a major strain on his family. Together, the Smiths decided to keep Ryan's 800-person survey company private. Qualtrics is now worth more than $1 billion. It wasn't always easy for Smith to feel successful at both home and work. He, like many executives, uses a CEO coach to help him keep things balanced. He likens work-life balance to a plane that can easily go lopsided and constantly needs to be stabilized. One wing represents his family's needs, the other his work's. When he's on a business trip, for example, one side of the plane tilts down. When he returns to his family and clears out the weekend for his children, it's tilted back up. Smith's CEO coach taught him a way to plan for success that can be implemented every week. He described it to a group of fellow CEOs at a conference in Ireland on Friday evening. The coach asked him which jobs he was responsible for. Smith replied that he was:
The CEO coach then asked him what he could do for each job that week to make him feel successful. He noted that if he took his wife on a date and bought her a surprise bouquet of flowers, that might make him feel like a good husband. And if he taught his daughter to ride a bike, he would feel like a better dad.
For example, if he took his daughter to his parent's house and taught her to ride a bike in their cul-de-sac, he could be both a good father and son. So Smith's weekly job list began to look something like this:
Smith learned that people often plan for one phase of life ("I'm going to sell my company by the time I turn 30.") But they either don't know which steps to take to achieve that goal, or they don't plan what to do after the goal has been achieved. His CEO coach's plan breaks daunting life goals into weekly tasks, so people don't wake up one day and realized they've let major priorities slip. Shortly after Smith explained this success tactic on Friday evening, he left the conference. Others stayed out late and partied at a local pub, but Smith drove 3 hours to Dublin and booked an early flight home to Utah. That way, when his children woke up on Sunday morning, they'd be able to spend all day with their father. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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He also found that he could combine tasks on his list to achieve everything quickly. If he was really productive, every task written on Sunday could be accomplished by Tuesday. You Can Finally Edit Your Instagram Captions | ||
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Good news, careless typers: Instagram just released an update that will finally let you be able to edit your photo captions! The company says that this has long been one of its most-requested features.
You'll never have to regret not thinking of that witty caption in time again. Instagram also introduced a People tab on its Explore page. The Photos tab will still recommend interesting photos for you to check out, and the People tab will recommend new users you might like. Never use the Explore page? According to the company, about 40% of Instagram's daily users actually do. The update is available for both iOS and Android starting today. SEE ALSO: 18 Old Websites You Won't Believe Still Exist Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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A New iPhone Security Flaw Can Replace Your Apps With Identical Versions Infested With Malware | ||
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Last week, a piece of malware called "Wirelurker" was discovered to be targeting Apple users in China. Now there's a new threat called "Masque Attack," and this recently-discovered malware is reportedly a "much bigger threat" than Wirelurker, according to 9to5Mac. Here's what you need to know. Masque Attack was first discovered by the mobile security research firm FireEye, and it's a major security flaw within Apple's mobile operating system, iOS. Masque Attack allows malicious parties to install duplicate versions of third-party apps on your iPhone or iPad, replacing your original app with theirs, which can access and monitor your data. Basically, if someone were to take advantage of the Masque Attack vulnerability, all you would need to do on your end would be to click on a notification asking you to install some popular new app like the "New Flappy Bird." And interestingly enough, the exact wording of the pop-up ad could change, too, so attackers could hide the malware-infested apps within downloads and promise something like a Gmail update, or an update to another popular app. Once you click on the link, and click "Install" on the pop-up ad, and it's over. So let's say you fall for the trick and you click install, thinking you're simply updating Gmail. The malicious app will then install itself over your original Gmail app, and you wouldn't even notice the difference. Below, FireEye has shown what this process looks like.
Panels A and B show the real Gmail app. After clicking on the pop-up in panel C, the malicious app begins to download over the true Gmail app (panels D, E, and F), with the local data and emails still intact. If designed to duplicate a banking app like Bank of America or Chase, the malicious app could even record a user's log-in information, gaining access to their accounts. Usually, iOS would stop this from happening. But Masque Attack takes advantage of a hole within iOS that allows apps coded with the same "bundle identifier" to be installed over each other. "This vulnerability exists because iOS doesn't enforce matching certificates for apps with the same bundle identifier," FireEye said in a blog post. "We verified this vulnerability on iOS 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1 and 8.1.1 beta, for both jailbroken and non-jailbroken devices." FireEye claims they alerted Apple to the threat of Masque Attack back on July 26, but since the vulnerability continues to exist, FireEye felt the public should know they are at risk. While FireEye's research highlights a major issue in iOS, there are no known attacks so far that take advantage of the Masque Attack vulnverability, though FireEye claims "We have seen proof that this issue started to circulate." Luckily, there's an easy way to avoid falling victim to Masque Attack: Don't click on any download links messaged to you from people you don't know, and only download apps directly from the App Store. Since the vulnverability relies on you clicking a pop-up link offering an app download, just make sure you only download apps from Apple's official App Store. The only apps that are totally unaffected by Masque Attack are those that come installed on your iPhone or iPad, like Safari. To see a video demonstration of Masque Attack in action, click here. We have reached out to Apple for comment and will update this post when we hear back. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Meet The 12 People Who Won $3 Million For Their Breakthroughs In Science And Math | ||
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Created by Silicon Valley giants from Facebook and Google in February 2013, the Breakthrough Prize is a $33 million annual pot that is split among 11 people — or in the case of this year, 12 people — to reward life science and math researchers. An individual Breakthrough Prize is worth roughly three times the value of the Nobel Prize. This year, six Breakthrough Prizes went to researchers in the life sciences, and five mathematicians won for their work; though in the future, just one prize a year will go to a mathematician. “Alim Louis Benabid, Joseph Fourier University, for the discovery and pioneering work on the development of high-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS), which has revolutionized the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.” “C. David Allis, The Rockefeller University, for the discovery of covalent modifications of histone proteins and their critical roles in the regulation of gene expression and chromatin organization, advancing the understanding of diseases ranging from birth defects to cancer.” “Victor Ambros (left), University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Gary Ruvkun, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, for the discovery of a new world of genetic regulation by microRNAs, a class of tiny RNA molecules that inhibit translation or destabilize complementary mRNA targets. Each received a $3 million award.” See the rest of the story at Business Insider  | ||
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A record 10 Things You Need To Know Before European Markets Open | ||
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Alibaba Posts Record Sales On Singles Day. On the world's largest online shopping day of the year, China's Alibaba shattered last year's full-day sales of $5.75 billion, pulling in $5.8 billion by the afternoon. Aldi Is Hiring. German discount supermarket Aldi said it will create 35,000 news jobs in the UK by opening 1,000 new stores over the next 8 years. Aldi, along with other price-cut retailers in Britain, have been taking market share from the "big four" supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's. GoPro Is Selling More Shares. Five months after its $491 million IPO, American camera maker GoPro is selling up to $800 million of stock, according to an SEC filing on Monday. In an email to employees, CEO Nick Woodman said: "I plan to sell a portion of my holdings in GoPro, but no one should misunderstand my commitment to the company or our vision." Asia's In The Green. Japan's Nikkei closed up 2.05% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index is up 0.25%. "The Nikkei stock average rising to a 7-year high as speculators snapped up futures and call options as they wagered that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may postpone a planned sales tax increase," Reuters writes. The US And China Reach A Deal. In breakthrough negotiations, the Obama administration said it had achieved a deal with China to eliminate tariffs on a range of technology products. “With trade in tech goods surpassing $4 trillion annually, the commercial significance of these negotiations is obvious,” Myron Brilliant, the head of international affairs of the United States Chamber of Commerce, told The New York Times. Mondelez Is Expansion. Mondelez International, the maker of Nabisco biscuits and Cadbury chocolate, plans to pay $370 million for an 80% stake in Kinh Do, a Vietnamese snack business. "Our significant investment in Kinh Do and Vietnam is a perfect fit for our growth strategy in Asia Pacific, strengthening our core snacking categories in a high-growth dynamic market," Mondelez executive Tim Cofer said in a statement. Unilever Sues Egg-Free Mayo Maker. Unilever, the maker of Hellmann's mayonnaise, is suing a startup that makes eggless mayo for false advertising and fraud. In the lawsuit, Unilever claims that Hampton Creek's Just Mayo is hurting sales of its own sandwich spread products. McDonald's Sales Fell Last Month. Worldwide sales at the fast-food giant dropped 0.5% in October, which is better than the 2.2% decline that economists expected. The High Cost Of Divorce. The CEO of Continental Resources, Harold Hamm, has been ordered to pay his ex-wife $999.5 million in a divorce ruling. The payout could make Sue Ann Hamm one of the 100 wealthiest women in America. Samsung Has Its Eyes On Vietnam. The electronics maker plans to invest $3 billion (£1.8 billion) to build a second smartphone plant in Vietnam's capital of Hanoi. Lam Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City-based country director at International Data Corp. "Vietnam is in a unique position," Lam Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City-based country director at International Data Corp. told Bloomberg. "You have a motivated workforce and in terms of labour costs, they are cheaper than China, cheaper than Thailand.” Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Good morning! Here's what you need to know: Guy Proposes To His Girlfriend With 99 iPhones — Then She Rejects Him | ||
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What's love got to do with it? You might be asking yourself that very question after reading this bizarre story. Kotaku reports that a guy in Guangzhou decided to propose to his girlfriend in the middle of a heart constructed out of brand new iPhones — 99 to be exact — that he purchased for the occasion. Then she said no. Check out the photos, which came from Weibo and the site, QQ Games. The iPhone heart (expensive!) is shown here:
Then there's the proposal:
Then the alleged rejection:
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Alibaba says Singles Day shoppers spend $2 bn in first hour | ||
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Shanghai (AFP) - Alibaba said $2 billion of goods were sold in the first hour of its Singles Day shopping bonanza in China Tuesday, maintaining the day's dominance as the world's biggest retail event as it went global for the first time. The ecommerce giant said that amount was more than a third of the $5.8 billion full-day sales recorded on the same day last year. Alibaba has been pushing November 11 as Singles Day -- so named for the number of ones in the date -- since 2009 as it looks to tap an expanding army of Internet shoppers in China, which has the world's biggest online population. Singles Day already surpassed major shopping festivals in the US in terms of transaction value last year, toppling the combined online sales of $3.7 billion recorded on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to an estimate by Internet analytics firm comScore. The day was originally marketed as an "anti-Valentine's Day" in China featuring hefty discounts to lure the country's singletons and price-sensitive buyers. It has been expanded globally this year to include overseas merchants and customers. Within the first hour and 12 seconds, more than 12.23 billion yuan ($2 billion) of deals were settled on both domestic and international retail marketplaces, Alibaba said in a statement, adding that 45.7 percent of the transactions were made via mobile devices. Headquartered in the eastern city of Hangzhou, Alibaba debuted its shares in New York two months ago with a record-breaking $25 billion initial public offering. The giant operates China's most popular online shopping platform, Taobao, which is estimated to hold more than 90 percent of the online market for consumer-to-consumer transactions. The company does not sell products directly but acts as an electronic middleman. It also owns other marketplaces, including business-to-consumer platform Tmall. More than 27,000 brands and merchants are participating in this year's Singles Day, while consumers in more than 220 countries and regions will be able to join the 24-hour spending spree, the statement said. Some 500 million packages are expected to be shipped during this year's festival, up 50 percent from a year earlier, the state postal service told state media last month. But some Internet users were less impressed, accusing some merchants of fooling consumers by raising prices beforehand. "I don't know why people are so excited about the 'Double 11' (November 11). It's meaningless as they all hike prices before offering a discount," one wrote on China's Twitter-like blogging service Sina Weibo. Alibaba said last week its third-quarter net profit jumped 15 percent year-on-year to $1.1 billion, its first earnings report since successfully completing the world's biggest stock offering in September. Revenue soared by 53.7 percent from the same quarter last year to $2.7 billion, it said. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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S. Korea ferry disaster captain jailed for 36 years | ||
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Gwangju (South Korea) (AFP) - South Korean judges on Tuesday handed down a 36 year jail sentence to the captain of the Sewol ferry that sank in April with the loss of more than 300 lives, but acquitted him of murder. The ruling followed five months of dramatic, often painful testimony in the trial of Captain Lee Jun-Seok and 14 other crew members of the Sewol which was carrying hundreds of children on a school trip when it capsized off the southern coast.
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Eight Indian women die, dozens critical after mass sterilisation | ||
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Raipur (India) (AFP) - Eight women have died in central India and dozens more are in hospital, many in a critical condition, after a state-run mass sterilisation, a local official said Tuesday. "Since Monday eight women have died and 64 are in various hospitals," said Sonmani Borah, a government official in the state of Chhattisgarh where the sterilisation camp was held. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Good morning! Here's what you need to know for Tuesday.
Israeli killings hike tensions ahead of Arafat anniversary | ||
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Jerusalem (AFP) - The fatal stabbing of two young Israelis further heightened tensions as Palestinians were set Tuesday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of iconic leader Yasser Arafat. Monday's violence began in Tel Aviv, where a Palestinian teenager from the northern West Bank stabbed a 20-year-old soldier who later died of his wounds in hospital. The assailant fled but was arrested. Hours later, another Palestinian attacked three Israelis outside the Alon Shvut settlement in the southern West Bank, killing a young woman and wounding two other people before a security guard shot and critically wounded him. The bloodshed took place after months of clashes in and around annexed east Jerusalem, with the unrest spreading to Arab areas of Israel at the weekend after police shot dead a young Arab-Israeli during a routine arrest operation. Events marking the 10th anniversary of Arafat's death have been cancelled in the Gaza Strip due to security concerns, but were expected to go ahead in the West Bank. The Palestinian leader, who signed the 1993 Oslo peace accords with Israel but walked away from talks hosted by the US at Camp David in 2000, died aged 75 at a hospital in Paris in 2004. His death remains clouded in mystery, with some research indicating he may have been poisoned by polonium, a theory which is accepted by many Palestinians.
- 'Situation could further deteriorate' -
The deadly knife attacks were condemned by the United States and the European Union. "It is absolutely critical that parties take every possible measure to protect civilians and de-escalate tensions," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The office of EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini warned the situation could further deteriorate "in the absence of political perspective". Since the summer, Israel has significantly increased police presence on the streets in a bid to rein in the unrest, but has been unable to stop a growing number of attacks by lone Palestinians, most of them in Jerusalem. But Monday's violence was further afield. "A car stopped at the hitchhiking stop at the entrance to Alon Shvut, the driver got out of the car and stabbed three civilians who were standing there," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said of the incident in the southern West Bank. A woman of about 25 was killed and two men were wounded, medics said. Police said all three were Jewish settlers. Their attacker, who was identified as Maher Hamdi al-Hashlamon, was shot and seriously wounded by the settlement's security guard.
- Tensions reach Tel Aviv -
Earlier, a Palestinian teenager from a refugee camp in the northern West Bank stabbed an Israeli soldier outside a Tel Aviv train station before fleeing the scene. He was later arrested. The soldier was critically wounded and died in hospital after the attack, which marked the first time Israel's hedonistic commercial capital has been affected by the current wave of violence. The attacker was identified as 17-year-old Nureddine Abu Hashiyeh from Askar refugee camp near Nablus. Israel is struggling to contain the growing wave of violence which has gripped annexed east Jerusalem for the past four months and has recently spread to Arab towns and villages inside the country. Anger initially erupted in Jerusalem in early July over the murder of a Palestinian teenager by young Jewish extremists. It has been fuelled by religious tensions at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, as well as by moves to expand settler presence in the occupied eastern sector of the holy city. Since August, there have been four deadly Palestinian attacks in Jerusalem -- three of which were "hit-and-run terror attacks" which killed five Israelis -- and one attempted drive-by shooting. All four perpetrators, who acted alone and came from east Jerusalem, were shot dead, sparking further unrest. Since July, police have arrested some 900 Palestinians for public order offences in east Jerusalem and indicted around a third of them. The unrest spread at the weekend after police shot dead a 22-year-old Arab-Israeli in Kufr Kana near the northern city of Nazareth, triggering a wave of rioting in Arab areas, some of which continued until early Monday. Police claim the officers fired warning shots before shooting directly at him. But relatives say Kheir Hamdan was killed "in cold blood", with CCTV images apparently contradicting the official version and showing an officer shooting at him as he was backing away from the scene. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday that anyone breaking the law would be "punished severely". "We will not tolerate disturbances and riots. We will take determined action against those who throw stones, firebombs and fireworks, and block roads, and against demonstrations that call for our destruction."
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This Terrifying Robot Was Developed By Google | ||
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Boston Dynamics has created this enormous robot, and maybe most impressively, taught it how to re-enact a famous scene from "The Karate Kid," according to The Daily Mail. Boston Dynamics is owned by Google.
This slightly terrifying beast of a robot is 6'2" and weighs 330 lbs. Its name is Ian. The robot was programmed by IHMC in Florida. Ian came in second at the US Government's Robo-Olympics, and was apparently able to walk, carry a fire hose, and get in a car and drive it, according to The Daily Mail.
Here's the entire video posted on YouTube by IHMC Robotics:
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APEC leaders seek free trade progress at annual summit | ||
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Beijing (AFP) - Asia-Pacific leaders gathered Tuesday for the climax of their annual summit, with free trade at the top of the agenda as they sought to narrow differences on how to open up commerce across the vast region. US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who helm the world's three biggest economies, were among the leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. But the parade of initial handshakes at a lakeside conference centre north of the Chinese capital revealed the diplomatic differences between the participants. Putin and Xi, who praised their mutual friendship at the weekend, nodded and smiled together, while Obama, fresh from announcing a reciprocal deal between Beijing and Washington to extend visa validities, went so far as to tap the Chinese leader on the shoulder, grinning broadly. Tony Abbott of Australia -- a significant source of raw materials for the Chinese economy -- was treated to an extended grip. But China is embroiled in territorial and historic disputes with Japan, and the neighbours held their first top-level formal talks in nearly three years at the weekend. Abe was accorded only a perfunctory handshake by an unsmiling Xi, provoking laughter in the summit media centre. China wants the 21-member APEC meeting to endorse a stronger commitment to the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) idea, a longer-term concept for the entire region that would build on other free-trade initiatives including the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). "APEC should play a leading and coordinating role and break various fetters to usher in a new round of opening at a broader, higher and more profound level," Xi told the summit's opening session, in a colonnaded room. "We should break open the closed doors within the Asia Pacific. We should... push vigorously for the progress of the FTAAP, setting out clearly its targets, direction and roadmap and turn the desire into reality at an early date." But the US has long pushed TPP, which aims for a loosening of trade restrictions, and embracing 11 other Pacific Rim countries including Japan, Canada, Australia and Mexico, while excluding China. Some Chinese analysts and state media have framed the TPP as an attempt to check Beijing's growing economic clout, allegations Washington dismisses. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, meanwhile, champions the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which would bring together ASEAN and six countries with which it has FTAs, including China, Japan and India.
- Pomp and colour -
APEC accounts for more than 50 percent of global gross domestic product, nearly half of world trade and 40 percent of the Earth's population. Set up 25 years ago, it has long pushed free trade among its members, who have separately pursued bilateral and multilateral deals with other economies both inside and outside the organisation. APEC summits, which are consensus-based and have sometimes been criticised as talking shops, combine group meetings with a chance for leaders to meet on the sidelines in one-to-one bilateral sessions to discuss issues that affect their direct relations. Xi and Abe on Monday held the first summit between Chinese and Japanese leaders since December 2011 as they seek to repair relations soured by disputes over territory and World War II history. The gatherings also combine serious policy discussions with pomp and colour. At Monday's formal dinner that kicked off the summit, the hosts rolled out a gleaming red carpet for the leaders who arrived decked out in sleek, high-collared tunics, with hundreds of wildly cheering dancers dressed in the costumes of China's dozens of ethnic minorities outside the venue. Xi offered the world a vision of a Chinese-driven "Asia-Pacific dream" on Sunday in a speech to APEC business leaders, while Obama, speaking to the same audience on Monday, stressed US global leadership, calling his country a "thoroughly Pacific nation".
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NFL Players Union seeks to get Peterson reinstated | ||
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Eden Prairie (United States) (AFP) - The NFL Players Association has filed a grievance demanding that running back Adrian Peterson be reinstated based on a deal it says was made with commissioner Roger Goodell several weeks ago. Peterson was placed on the league's exempt list after being indicted on felony charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Goodell has said the 2012 league MVP can't play until the NFL finishes conducting its investigation under its personal conduct policy. But the players' union said it filed an "expedited, non-injury" grievance to remove the Minnesota Vikings star from the exempt list "based on a signed agreement" from September 18. "We asked the NFL to honor the terms of that agreement last week and as of now, they have failed to respond or comply," a statement said. "It is our obligation to protect all players' rights, and we will pursue any and all breaches of any contract between a player and his team or the NFL." The Vikings issued a statement Monday saying they are willing to wait for the league's investigation to conclude. "We respect and understand the league's process," the statement said. Peterson was accused of using a tree branch to hit his four-year-old son as a disciplinary measure. Peterson avoided jail time by reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors last week. US media reported that Peterson pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of one count of misdemeanor reckless assault and will receive probation along with a $4,000 fine and an order to serve 80 hours of community service. Following the plea deal, Peterson lobbied Goodell for immediate reinstatement but the request was denied. The league said Peterson could face further discipline if he is found to have violated the NFL's personal conduct policy. Peterson has played just one game for the Vikings this season. He was deactivated by the Vikings for their second game of the season then reinstated briefly before being deactivated again after a backlash from sponsors and fans. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Marler urges England to make amends against Springboks | ||
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London (AFP) - England prop Joe Marler has urged the 2015 World Cup hosts to channel the frustration following their defeat by New Zealand when they face South Africa in the second of four November internationals at Twickenham on Saturday. England established a 14-11 half-time lead against world champions New Zealand but the All Blacks won 24-21 as they beat Stuart Lancaster's side for the fifth successive match, "Our levels of frustration are high and the game review was very honest. I can't really use the words that I'd like to use!" Marler said. "We knew what we had to do in that second half. We spoke about it at half time. And then we came out and did the opposite. Now we expect a reaction from ourselves," the Harlequins captain added. "We'll take the frustration into this weekend. From a personal point of view it's important to use that frustration to spur you on that little bit more." England have not beaten South Africa in 11 matches dating back to 2006, with their best performance a 14-14 draw in Port Elizabeth two years ago and they remain the only major side the Red Rose brigade haven't defeated since Lancaster became coach.. Marler played the first of his 23 Tests against the Springboks, who suffered a shock 29-15 defeat by Ireland in their European tour opener on Saturday, and hasn't forgotten the experience. "The 2012 tour was a baptism of fire for some of us. Physicality is part and parcel of their culture," Marler said. "Against every international team you've got to be physical otherwise you're going to get pumped, but South Africa as a nation stand very tall and proud. "Their DNA is run hard and if that doesn't work then run harder. They pride themselves on that. "It always takes more than we expect from ourselves to beat the southern hemisphere teams. "They've set the standard over the years and are continuing to do so, but I'd like to think we've got a squad now who can stand toe-to-toe with them. "It's about having the belief that we're not just capable of hanging in there, but can ramp it up ourselves at the right time and take them to some darker places." Lancaster's record against the 'big three' of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia -- the teams England must get past if they are to win the World Cup next year -- stands at just two wins from 12 Tests. "I don't think self-belief has been dented in that we're going in the wrong direction, but losing has made it important to produce that 100 percent performance," Lancaster said. "South Africa will have come to the northern hemisphere confident and rightly so after a good Rugby Championship culminating in beating New Zealand. "But Ireland played and beat South Africa on Saturday, so there will be a reaction from them." Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Phillips still wants Wales starting role | ||
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London (AFP) - Mike Phillips is determined to make the Wales No 9 shirt his own again after being dropped to the bench in last weekend's November opener against Australia. The 32-year-old Phillips, a veteran of 88 caps and five Tests for the British and Irish Lions, found himself playing second fiddle to Rhys Webb as Wales were beaten 33-28 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday. However, Phillips could find himself in the run-on side against Fiji when Wales play the second of four Tests on successive weekends that also pits Warren Gatland's side against world champions New Zealand and South Africa. And with less than a year to the World Cup in England, Phillips vowed to fight for his place. "I have been fortunate to start a lot for Wales in recent years," he said. "Rhys deserved his last chance last week. I thought he played well and he took his try very well. "I am a competitor -- I think people know that. I am a proud man and we all want to play for Wales. It's a great thing to have competition in the squad. "The competition is healthy, and I am enjoying it. You keep driving yourself forward and keep pushing yourself." Phillips added: "I will always have that competitive streak. It is a big part of my make-up, and it is why I am here, really. "The World Cup is all of the players' goals - we all want to be there. It is a massive year of rugby in the lead-up, and we have got to play well every time we have the opportunity for Wales." Full-back Leigh Halfpenny (concussion) and fly-half Dan Biggar (groin), look set to miss the Fiji clash. Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said: "Leigh is going through his concussion protocols and we are hopeful he will be able to train later in the week. "If he is not right, it is the same sort of situation and principle we had last week with (centres) Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams," the former Wales scrum-half added. "We have to put safety first and make sure this is the same situation with all our players. "I would expect Dan to be available, if not for this weekend, then for the last two matches." Wales have added Gloucester's 76 times-capped James Hook to their back division by calling him up to the squad. Fiji, like Australia, are also in Wales's World Cup pool next year. On their last visit to Cardiff four years ago, the Pacific Islanders claimed a 16-16 draw. "Warren has mentioned there will be some changes (against Fiji)," Howley added. "The last time we played them with our near full-strength side we won 66-0 (2011 World Cup). "The one thing that changed on that day was our attitude, and I have no doubt our attitude will be right on Saturday with people playing for World Cup places. It will be key on Saturday when you play against Fiji with their physicality." Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Judgement in murder trial of South Korea ferry captain | ||
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Gwangju (South Korea) (AFP) - A South Korean court Tuesday will deliver its verdict -- and possible death sentence -- on the ferry captain at the centre of one of the country's worst peacetime disasters, as officials finally ended the long search for bodies. After five months of dramatic, often painful testimony in the murder trial of Captain Lee Jun-Seok, the three-judge bench in the southern city of Gwangju must rule whether his "wilful negligence" led directly to the loss of 304 lives. Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for Lee, 69, after branding him an unrepentant liar who abandoned his ship in the clear knowledge that hundreds of trapped passengers -- most of them schoolchildren -- would die. Although the death penalty is still passed in South Korea, nobody has been executed since 1997. Currently, there are some 60 people on death row. Three senior crew members were also charged with homicide and face possible life sentences. The captain and his fellow defendants, bound and handcuffed, were brought to the courthouse four hours before the 1:00pm (0400 GMT) hearing. Lee, wearing glasses and a green prison uniform, was seen climbing a set of stairs, his close-cropped head bowed and with a close security escort. Lee and his crew were vilified in the wake of the April 16 disaster and, with emotions running sky high across the country over the loss of so many young lives, some legal experts raised doubts over whether they could receive a fair trial.
-- Presumption of guilt? --
South Korean media coverage of their arrest and arraignment was often coloured by a presumption of guilt. Before the trial even began President Park Geun-Hye publicly stated that the crew's actions had been "tantamount to murder". When the trial wrapped up late last month, Lee said he had committed a crime for which "I deserve to die" but strenuously denied that he had ever intended to sacrifice the lives of the passengers. The 6,825-tonne Sewol was carrying 476 people on board when it capsized. Of the 304 who died, 250 were students from the same high school. Just hours before the court ruling was expected, Maritime Minister Lee Ju-Young announced the end of the near seven-month search of the sunken vessel for missing bodies. "The situation within the ship has become too difficult to continue," Lee said, citing the collapsing interior and worsening sea conditions with the onset of winter. Two divers died in May during search efforts in an area known for rapid currents and poor underwater visibility.
-- 'Deep regret' --
With nine victims still unaccounted for, Young said he "deeply regretted" that some families would be left with no body to mourn. The Sewol disaster stunned the entire country and raised fraught questions about what Asia's fourth largest economy had sacrificed in its rush to development. Grief swiftly turned to anger as it became clear that the tragedy was almost entirely man-made -- the result of an illegal redesign, an overloaded cargo bay, an inexperienced crew and an unhealthy nexus between operators and state regulators. Along with Lee and the three charged with murder, 11 other crew members face prison terms of between 15 and 30 years for alleged violations of maritime law. As well as abandoning the ship, Lee and his crew were condemned for instructing passengers to remain where they were as the vessel began to list dangerously -- a decision which the prosecution said contributed to the heavy loss of life. Speaking at the end of the trial last month, Lee acknowledged that he had been paralysed by panic and failed to take "appropriate measures" that could have saved lives. "But I swear from my heart that there was never any intention to murder," he said. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Reagan apologizes to Thatcher for Grenada invasion in new tapes | ||
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Los Angeles (AFP) - Former US president Ronald Reagan personally apologized to Margaret Thatcher after US troops in 1983 secretly invaded Grenada, a Commonwealth island state in the Caribbean, according to newly-released tapes. The US president apologized for any "embarrassment" caused to the British premier, who was not informed in advance about the mission to topple the island state's Marxist government. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Commonwealth, a grouping of nations which includes several Caribbean island states such as Grenada. "We regret very much the embarrassment that's been caused to you," the US leader said during the call in which the famously close leaders referred to each other by their first names. "If I were there, Margaret, I'd throw my hat in the door before I came in," he said to Thatcher, using an old US saying based on a visitor throwing his hat inside a home in case he was unwelcome and it was thrown out. "There's no need for that," Thatcher replied in the 10-minute conversation. The conversation was disclosed in archive tapes released by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The call was apparently made as the military invasion was still underway. "We think that the military part of it is going to end very shortly," Reagan said at one point. Explaining the need for utmost secrecy about the 1983 operation, Reagan said they were concerned about Cuban authorities getting wind of the invasion plan. "We were greatly concerned because of a problem here ... we've had a nagging problem of a loose source, a leak here," he said. There were some Cuban military forces on the island who did battle with the invading US forces during several days of heavy fighting. The US invaded Grenada as part of its Cold War fight against the spread of Communism around the world. The invasion was launched after a revolt within the Marxist government that Washington said put US students on the island in danger. A western-friendly leader was installed after the US victory. The Reagan conversation ended on a cordial and upbeat note. Thatcher asked after Reagan's wife Nancy, saying "Give her my love" -- and then said she had to get back to a "tricky" House of Commons debate. "Go get 'em. Eat 'em alive," said the US president as the pair signed off. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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What Mark Zuckerberg Looks Like All Dressed Up (FB) | ||
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Mark Zuckerberg is famous for something other than Facebook: his wardrobe. More specifically his love of hoodies and gray T-shirts. On Thursday, during a public Q&A, someone asked him why he always wears the same gray T-shirt. In truth, he doesn't. He's got a few that all look the same and he always wears them just to have one less "frivolous" decision to make every day — what to wear — he says. So it's a rare event to see him all dressed up, much less in a suit. But on Sunday, flanked by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Zuck was on hand to present the awards for the the Breakthrough Prize, an annual $33 million jackpot awarded to a dozen top scientists, sponsored by Facebook. Besides Cumberbatch, the two other men in the photo are two of the math prize winners, Simon Donaldson and Maxim Kontsevich, Zuck said in his Facebook post about the event. The awards ceremony is supposed to associate STEM vocations with glamour like a Hollywood ball. So it was a black-tie affair. Zuck didn't go quite that far. He's wearing a straight tie. But that is definitely a suit.
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Black Friday Could Be The Day The Xbox One Finally Towers Over The Competition (MSFT) | ||
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Microsoft has been struggling to outsell the PlayStation 4, but things might turn around for the system starting on Black Friday. Target announced on Monday that it will sell an "Assassin's Creed" bundle of Microsoft's latest console for $329 on Black Friday. The bundle comes with the newest "Assassin's Creed," called "Unity," as well as the last game in the series, called "Black Flag." Target will also throw in a $50 Target gift card. The regular price for the bundle (sans gift card) is $399. Then there's the PlayStation bundle, which will also come with two games, "Grand Theft Auto 5" and "The Last of Us." That'll set you back $399. That might not sound like a big difference, but Microsoft needs all the help it can get. Sony's console has outsold Microsoft's every month in 2014. But there's hope for the Xbox One. In fact, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicted that the Xbox could outsell the PlayStation in September, according to GamesBeat. The reason for that prediction: Microsoft announced a special promotion in September, giving away any free game between Sept. 7 and 13 with the purchase of a new Xbox One. "I kind of think that free Destiny [on Xbox One] was better than [paying] for Destiny on PS4," Pachter told GamesBeat. During that time, you could get an Xbox One with two games for around $400. The same thing for a PS4 was $450. Pachter's prediction didn't turn out to be true, and the PlayStation again went on to outsell the Xbox in September, according to NPD Group (via GameSpot). But it proves that price could make a big difference when it comes to choosing a console during the holidays. Microsoft has been struggling to push its console ahead of the PlayStation. It unbundled the Kinect, its motion-sensing device, from the console in June, which dropped the price by $100. That didn't seem to help overall, but Microsoft did say at the time that its sales doubled in the US following the removal of Kinect requirements. An even bigger price difference between the two systems during the holidays might finally give the Xbox the boost it needs to come out on top. SEE ALSO: YouTube Multimillionaire PewDiePie Says He's Happier Now That He's Disabled Comments On His Channel Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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This Incredible Picture Shows Just How Tiny The International Space Station Is | ||
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The image to your right shows perhaps the favorite spot of every crew member aboard the International Space Station. It's called the Cupola observatory module, and it not only has the largest windows on the ISS but the largest windows ever installed on a spacecraft. Commander Chris Hadfield, who has spent a total of 166 days in space, used these fantastic windows for the incredible 45,000 images he took in space. It's top, circular window, is the largest with a 31-inch diameter. But all of the windows are big enough to identify from the outside which astronauts are in the module. And crew members take advantage of the fact by photographing each other while peering out, as their crewmates are on a spacewalk. The size of the windows, although relatively large for space, give us a great perspective of just how small the Cupola module — and the rest of the ISS — really is. Cupola, which is Italian for "dome," is 4.9 feet tall and less than 10 feet in diameter. So, you can't fit more than an astronaut or two inside at one time. We found this fantastic image of European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst peaking out of Cupola showing just how cramped life on the ISS can be. It's kind of adorable.
The Copula is just a small part of the ISS, but it gives you a great reference point for how small it is for the astronuats who call it home for multiple months on end. If you filled the ISS with water, it would only have space to hold one-third the amount of an olympic-sized swimming pool.
While in space from May 28 through Nov. 9, Gerst performed over 50 experiments, which included a spacewalk to improve the ISS and installing ESA's furnace that can suspend and cool molten metal in mid-air. Gerst compiled an impressive collection of images during his space mission, which you can find here on Flickr.
READ MORE: Astronomers Caught This Amazing Stellar Pulse With The Hubble Telescope SEE ALSO: Scientists Are About To Experience '7 Hours Of Terror' As A Space Probe Tries To Land On A Comet Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Here's another shot of just his hand perhaps waving hello to the camera, "Titanic" style:
Gerst 
Here's How Facebook Messenger Could Actually Make Money (FB, PYPL) | ||
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Facebook Messenger isn't contributing to Facebook's bottom line, but that could change in the not-so-distant future, reports Wired's Jessi Hempel. The social networking company could monetize Messenger in a number of ways, but three paths seem increasingly likely: payments, promotions, and corporate communications. Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg mentioned payments in an earnings call this year, but said any plan involving Facebook Messenger was "years" away from execution. "We could take the cheap and easy approach and just try to put ads in or do payments and make some money in the short term," Zuckerberg said of the company's plans for Messenger. "But we’re not going to do that." Working with the likes of Disney and Comcast could be a boon for the app as it becomes more popular in North America. David Marcus, who left PayPal to lead Facebook Messenger, also sees the app as a friendly facade for companies trying to reach their customers: Marcus wants to reinvent messaging between people and businesses, so that it’s useful to both parties. “It’s really broken,” he tells me, as we are wrapping up our airport coffee. Marcus suggested that companies could one day use Facebook Messenger as a customer service tool, Hempel writes. Facebook won't be adopting any of these strategies anytime soon. But these opportunities demonstrate just how integral Facebook Messenger is becoming to the larger company. Read the full Wired story here >> SEE ALSO: Zuckerberg Confirms: A Mobile Payments System Will Come To Facebook Messenger Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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If Cops Want Your Car, Then Prosecutors Will Go Out Of Their Way To Seize It | ||
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Cops often use a controversial practice known as civil forfeiture to seize items from the public in order to fulfill a police department's "wish list," The New York Times reports. Civil forfeiture allows police to seize items or cash they believe may have been used for illegal purposes, even if the owner of that property has never been charged with a crime. Owners can go to court to get that property back, but many people might not have the fortitude and the means to prevail. One problem with civil forfeiture is that cops can use seized cash and items to boost their budgets, and some states let cops integrate forfeited cars into their own fleets. This incentive obviously makes it incredibly appealing for departments to seize items and cash rather liberally. The Times viewed a number of continuing education videos for law enforcement and prosecutors on civil forfeiture that reveals how they view the practice. In one video, an assistant prosecutor named Sean D. McMurtry — who's head of the forfeiture unit in Mercer County, New Jersey — made it clear that he would consider cops "wish lists" when deciding how to handle civil forfeiture cases, according to The Times. In order to keep seized items or cash, prosecutors must file complaints against the property itself. This creates odd-sounding cases, like State of New Jersey versus $4194.00 In US Currency — a real-life case McMurtry was involved in. Speaking to cops, McMurtry suggested the prosecutor's office would pursue cases more vigorously if they involved items police needed. "If you want the car, and you really want to put it in your fleet, let me know — I’ll fight for it,” McMurtry said, addressing cops in the video. “If you don’t let me know that, I’ll try and resolve it real quick through a settlement and get cash for the car, get the tow fee paid off, get some money for it." SEE ALSO: Here's Why The Government Is Filing Lawsuits Against Huge Piles Of Money Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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This Man Beat Poverty, Cancer, And Fleas To Lead A $21 Billion Company (SAP) | ||
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Most people know Bill McDermott as the CEO of SAP, a member of the 1%, earning $9.6 million in 2013. But he didn't start out that way. He was born to a working family in Long Island, full of love, setbacks, and heartbreak. McDermott has poured out his whole amazing life story in a new book, "Winners Dream." The book is part memoir and part business strategy. He hopes his story will not just inspire other hard-working youths, but show them how to do the same. "I'm still the same guy I was in Long Island," he told us in his thick Long Island accent that gives that some credence. "Nothing has changed in terms of who I am as a person. What motivates me is to remain humble and second, to stay hungry." Still, how he got here is a pretty awe-inspiring journey involving:
Throughout all this, the essence of McDermott's story is: Work hard. Treat all the people in your life with love and respect. Keep a positive attitude no matter what life throws at you. Business Insider: You wrote with touching openness about your wife, Julie's, breast cancer, about juggling a home life with two boys and a new job while your wife was in treatment. Can you describe that period in your life? Bill McDermott: Shortly after leaving [my secure job] at Xerox, we found out that Julie had cancer. We had the big house on hill in Connecticut. We were brand new to the neighborhood. I had a brand-new global job at Gartner and my wife was sick with cancer. She had six months of chemo. But my job to still to go be global president of Gartner. I was blessed with a brave wife. Julie probably did more than any other wife under the circumstances. My mom and dad were on Long Island, so if I was on the road, my mom would stay. BI: Years later, your mom died of cancer, too. How did that affect you? BM: It affects everything, in the sense of my having empathy for other people. I also launched the Kathleen McDermott Foundation for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of those cancers that doesn't get much attention unlike breast cancer, where they've made major strides. A lot of people take it for granted that a pancreatic cancer is a one-way trip out of this world. We're doing more research that could significantly [help find treatments]. BI: You came from a working-class family and now you are a member of the 1%. What do you think about income inequality debate that says the deck is stacked against the poor? BM: The main thing is everybody deserves an opportunity. I knew the day I went on [that job interview] at Xerox, I was fighting for my life. Let's say I didn’t get the job at Xerox, my life would have been different. Maybe I would not have wound up in the 1%. But I would have worked my way to something. I wouldn’t have left my life’s journey to chance. I out hustled. You got to put yourself in a position to succeed. If you don’t get your first break, you've got to try again. And even if I wasn’t part of the 1% now, I would have found honor in my work. BI: You work for an internationally renowned billionaire, Hasso Plattner, who is as known for his philanthropy fighting HIV/AIDS as he is for cofounding SAP. How has that influenced you? BM: I'm lucky that I have Hasso, who is a living legend, that is still chairman of our supervisory board. When you think about Bill Gates or Steve Jobs you can’t leave Hasso Plattner out of that equation, one of the greatest tech visionaries. [He created the financial planning software industry.] I learned that you can be a billionaire and an extremely humble man. His mind is not complicated with a lot things that don’t matter. People can have a lot of success and also be the same person after they have all the success. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Mayonnaise Is At The Center Of A Legal Battle Between Hellmann's And A Sandwich Spread Startup | ||
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The parent company of Hellmann's mayonnaise is suing a company that makes a mayo substitute for fraud, in part because the mayo substitute is denting Hellmann's sales, The New York Times reports. Unilever filed the lawsuit against Hampton Creek, a startup that replaces eggs with plant ingredients in foods like cookie dough and mayonnaise. In the complaint, Unilever notes: "Just Mayo already is stealing marketshare from Hellmann’s" and says that "as Hampton Creek’s distribution and advertising increases, the irreparable harm to Unilever will continue and worsen." The suit is asking for Hampton Creek to pay Unilever's legal fees, pay three times the startup's profit in damages, stop using an egg symbol as its logo, stop using ads that might be misleading and tell consumers that Just Mayo is superior to Hellmann's, and recall Just Mayo products, according to The Times. Hampton Creek, which is backed by big-time investors including Bill Gates and Yahoo founder Jerry Yang, took a direct hit at Hellmann's in some of its promotional materials that advertise Just Mayo's sustainability and health benefits. Hampton Creek says its plant-based substitute is more cost effective and environmentally friendly than products that use eggs. But Unilever says the company can't call its spread "mayo" because it doesn't meet the definition set by the Food and Drug Administration that specifies that mayonnaise has to contain a certain amount of vegetable oil and egg yolk. Joshua Tetrick, CEO of Hampton Creek, told Business Insider that's not the case. "We feel good about where we are from a legal perspective," he said, adding that the company has no plans currently to change the product's name. "We're going to hold steady the name that we feel strongly about," Tetrick said. A product that tastes like mayo but doesn't have as many fattening ingredients will be attractive to many consumers, so it's no surprise that Just Mayo is cutting into Hellmann's sales. Business Insider reached out to Unilever for comment and will update if we hear back. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Here's What Happened When A Bunch Of Desperate Filipino Families Were Forced To Move Into A Jail | ||
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When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines last year, it destroyed more than 1 million homes and caused $14 billion of economic damage. This was especially hard for a country where more than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line. On Leyte Island, where some of the worst damage occured, many families ended up moving into the local jail after their homes were destroyed. The jail, which had been almost swept away, too, became an unlikely community in the time of desperation. After hearing about the jail from journalist John Jevallana, photographer Lawrence Sumulong visited last year. “The situation at the jail is a microcosm of the overall humanitarian crisis in the Philippines,” explained Sumulong. “There is the disaster situation and the poverty and the surreal way that the Filipino people adapt to those conditions. In many ways, the prison is almost like any other Filipino community.” This is the Leyte Provincial Jail. It houses long-term prisoners and those awaiting trial. It was almost completely destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan. The sign in the hills was built by inmates to welcome visitors. After Typhoon Haiyan hit, prison officials allowed many inmates to leave the prison to check on their families. Many found their families OK but their houses destroyed. Prisoners were allowed them to move their families with them into the jail. See the rest of the story at Business Insider  | ||
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There's A Major Problem With The Popular Chart That Connects The Fed To The Stock Market (SPY, BAC) | ||
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Is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program responsible for stock market gains? There are two schools of thought on this: 'Yes' and 'No' The 'Yes' camp maintains that the easy money being pumped into the economy (via quantitative easing) by the Federal Reserve flowed not into the real economy but financial markets, inflating the price of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets. The 'No' camp says that a recovering US economy and steady earnings growth has powered the market higher. Ethan Harris, global economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, wrote in a note to clients over the weekend that, "every time the end of a QE program looms, pundits warn of a big shock to markets and the economy. In the business press, the story of exactly how this happens keeps shifting to fit the facts." The main target of Harris' critique is the above chart, which has been a favorite among the "QE-truthers," or folks who believe the Fed's policies are directly responsible for the stock market's rise. But the big problem Harris has with this chart is, well, basic statistics. "Implicitly, this chart assumes that the markets are not forward looking and it is the implementation of Q that drives the stock market: when the Fed buys, the market booms and when it stops, the market swoons," Harris wrote. "As our readers know, we think this relationship is a classic case of spurious correlation: anything that trended higher over the last 5 years has a 90%-plus correlation with the Fed's balance sheet." Harris also walks through a number of the narratives that have shifted over the last few years, pointing out, among other theories, the idea that the Fed ending its QE program could have caused a selloff in bonds in 2013, but a rally in 2014. "Boy is ending QE powerful," Harris wrote. In our latest Most Important Charts feature, Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn highlighted the trouble with correlations, pointing out that the "any two lines" school of charting and financial argument can be not just highly — but ridiculously — flawed. Here are two facts: the size of the Fed's balance sheet has risen in the last five years; the stock market has risen in value over the last five years. That one of these caused the other is less clear. SEE ALSO: Wall Street's Brightest Minds Reveal The Most Important Charts In The World Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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The Takata Exploding Airbag Recall Just Gets Worse And Worse | ||
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The Takata airbag recall has continued to expand. Nissan has increased the number of vehicles recalled in the United States for passenger air bags manufactured buy the Japan-based Takata that could explode with too much force and spray metal shrapnel at occupants. While cars and trucks are recalled all the time for problems that are both minor and severe, the specifics of the Takata recall are troubling. Airbags are one of the major safety innovations of the past 30 years in the auto industry. Consumers have come to associate airbags with surviving crashes — not being severely injured when they malfunction. The recall in 12 U.S. states and territories with high humidity replaces and expands a recall that began in June, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The earlier recall was part of a requested action by NHTSA in response to questions about air bags made by Takata. The recall now covers 52,738 vehicles, up from about 30,000 previously, according to the NHTSA documents. Nissan's recall in June covered vehicles in four U.S. states and territories. Nissan said in a statement on Monday that it had expanded the June recall based on additional information from Takata and after consulting with NHTSA. An unidentified number of the recalled vehicles have already been repaired, according to a letter Nissan filed with NHTSA. More than 11 million vehicles in the United States and 17 million globally have been recalled for the potentially defective Takata air bags. At least four deaths, all involving Honda cars, and more than a dozen injuries have been linked to the problem. Nissan said it had received three injury claims stemming from the air bags. Under the Nissan recall, the front passenger air bag inflator will be replaced at no cost, according to the NHTSA documents. If a replacement inflator is not available, dealers may temporarily disable the air bag and advise customers not to use that seat, a step previously taken by Toyota. The affected Nissan vehicles include Pathfinder SUVs from model years 2003-2004, Sentra cars from 2004-2006, Infiniti FX35 and FX45 crossover SUVs from 2003-2005, Infiniti I35 sedans from 2003-2004 and Infiniti M35 and M45 sedans from 2006, according to the NHTSA documents. SEE ALSO: Here's Why The Ongoing Airbag Recall Is Terrifying Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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Everything You Need To Know About Building A Wildly Successful Company From Google's Ex-CEO In A 3-Minute Video (GOOG) | ||
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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt teamed up with former SVP of product Jonathan Rosenberg earlier this year to write a management book about building Google into a $300 billion company called "How Google Works." The duo put their key advice together into a giant presentation, but they've now also released a video version, and it only takes 3 minutes and 16 seconds to watch. "It took Jonathan Rosenberg and me a decade of experimentation and reflection to come up with the rules we captured in How Google Works," Schmidt writes on Google+. "With this video, you can learn the key points in about three minutes. I guess things really are speeding up in the Internet Century!" Essentially, companies need to attract smart and creative employees and create an environment where they can thrive. Check it out: SEE ALSO: Google's Newest Attack On Amazon Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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