Bin Laden’s Compound Gets A Bum Review On Google Maps

 

 

Google Maps users have been busy as the news of the raid on Osama bin Laden’s mansion was breaking. A pretty large compound listed on Google Maps in the city of Abbottābad, northern Pakistan has been picked out by users as being the genuine article – and with huge walls around it, it does indeed look quite suspect.

Whether or not it is the genuine article is unknown, but that is not stopping people leaving a slew of comments on the “venue’s” Google Maps page.

Some choicer reviews include:

“Great hideout would use again.”
“Heat sources are undeniable. This place is blazing! ”
“Cold and drafty at night, walls full of holes. ”
” on the menu was goat flesh, and the place reeked of burning garbage. ”
“Located in cozy, quiet neighborhood. Interrupted only occasionally by machine gun fire.”

Perhaps the best so far:

“Aside from the complimentary dialysis machine use, easy underground access to Pakistan’s beautiful vast cave system, and free toaster waffles, it’s a pretty big dump. The food wasn’t organic, the wifi was spotty at best, absolutely no cell coverage, (yelp reviews were so wrong on that one) and no one spoke English. To make it worse, the country’s best basketball player, some 6’7″ dude with a turban, gets shot our first night there. And the coffee was cold. We’re so not coming back.”

UPDATE:

Before anyone wants to barge into Bin Laden’s former abode, the exact location has now be confirmed as a different building, not far away, here.

Luckily, the user reviews are equally hilarious.

 

Maloofs Confirm Kings Will Remain In Sacramento, But Arena Plan Needed By 2012

 

The Maloof family has confirmed through a written statement that the Kings will remain in Sacramento for the 2011-12 NBA season. Monday was the Maloofs' deadline to file for relocation; the family had been in discussions with Anaheim's Honda Center for several months after the latest arena plan in Sacramento -- spearheaded by the NBA -- fell apart.

But Sacramento fought for the Kings, with Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former All-NBA guard, drumming up $10 million in new corporate sponsorships to convince the league to give the city another chance. The mayor now waits for a feasibility study on a downtown arena, due in late May.

In the Maloofs' statement, the ball is put in Johnson's court to come up with an arena plan.

"If an arena plan cannot be finalized in a timely fashion, the NBA¹s relocation committee has assured Maloof Sports and Entertainment that it will support an application to move the franchise to another market starting in 2012-13," the statement read.

 

Google Maps Shows Where Osama Bin Laden Died

Google Maps has been updated with a pinpoint for “Osama bin Laden’s Compound” in northern Pakistan.

The terrorist, who was reported dead Sunday night, was killed during a carefully coordinated U.S. military and intelligence operation. The plan to kill bin Laden was put into action at Abbottabad, a city about 75 miles north of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

While it’s unlikely the Maps pinpoint is the exact location where bin Laden was found, it does tell us a lot about where he was hiding out. Far from being the cave-ridden rural landscape many had imagined, he was in a beautiful, urban area and was reportedly living in a mansion surrounded by other houses at the time of the raid.

As elated crowds gather around the U.S. to celebrate, many Google Maps and Google Places users are posting “reviews” to the Place page to express their own elation. At the time of this writing, 233 reviews had been posted. The sentiments range from macabre satisfaction to bad puns to simply, “OSAMA IS DEAD! USA! USA!”

The town where bin Laden died is in the Orash Valley and is something of a center of tourism. Images of the area, some of which you can see below, show its educational institutions and beautiful scenery.

While bin Laden was captured with the support of Pakistani authorities, we don’t yet know what effects this operation and its result may have on U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Osama Bin Laden's Alleged Abbottabad Compound Hits Google Maps (PICTURES) (UPDATE)

 

CIA has released a drawn rendering and satellite images of the Osama kill site. These official images do not match the Google Maps images contained in this post. The correct images can be viewed directly below.

ARTIST RENDERING:



SATELLITE IMAGE:

---

[PREVIOUSLY:]President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night that Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan during a raid by U.S. operatives.

Already, users on Google Maps have posted the suspected site of the compound where bin Laden may have been found.

Although its authenticity has not been confirmed, you can view the suspected structure in the images. Scroll down further for a nighttime photo of hilly Abbottabad, or see ABC's video from inside the Osama Bin Laden kill site.

LOOK: [via TechCrunch]





LOOK: [via Mashable]

 

 

FOLLOW HUFFPOST TECH

NeNe Leakes versus Star Jones interrupted by La Toya's return, breaking news + reality blurred

 

 

Last night’s long-awaited Celebrity Apprentice showdown between Star Jones and The Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes was interrupted not just by breaking news of Osama Bin Laden’s death, but by the return of La Toya Jackson, who Donald Trump assigned to the men’s team.

NBC stayed with the show until around 10:45, but cut away to its news team in the middle of Star Jones’ sentence. Trump asked Star, “Who going forward do you want on your team…?” and Star’s reply, “I definitely—”, was lost. NBC broadcast the show on time to the west coast, but gave no word about what would happen to the remaining segments on the east coast. However, the full episode is online (watch it below, because I do reference the end later in this story) and will be rebroadcast on CNBC this Friday night at 8, and an NBC affiliate reports that “a decision will be made Monday on whether the reality show will be re-broadcast.”

Ultimately, the NeNe versus Star fight basically bookended a so-so episode—this is the third week in a row of tasks that have fallen kind of flat—and kept it alive. For me, the most fascinating part was NeNe’s sudden freak-out, which was reminiscent of the way John Rich and others turned on Gary Busey. Perhaps that’s editing, but in both cases, the other contestants seemed to be responding on camera for the first time to something that had been happening for quite some time off camera. (Of course, NeNe hasn’t exactly had a glowing opinion of Star in recent weeks, but her reaction still seemed disproportionate.)

At the end, when NeNe and Star returned to the suite, NeNe said they needed to have a conversation, and Star agreed—but she also said, “You can stop, because I’m not going to do this in front of the cameras.” That seemed to be an acknowledgement that there’s a lot that happens off-camera here, unlike, say, Survivor, when cameras try to catch everything.

But the show did break the fourth wall at one point to show NeNe literally corner Star after the task introduction, when the cameras were probably going to be off; from the lighting rigs to the number of crew members, it’s a massive behind-the-scenes production just to film Donald Trump and his raccoon eyes introducing that week’s sponsor and task.

The preceding confrontation and ensuing conversation/shouting was full of quotable lines, like NeNe asking, “Who the fuck died and made you in charge of the product managers?” and Star saying, “This is not The Real Housewives.” NeNe also said, “Shut the fuck up, punk-ass bitch” and, in an interview, “You evil, fat lady. You may have lost weight on the outside, but your brain is still very fat.”

Meanwhile, in one of those decisions that was clearly about what makes better TV, Trump ultimately fired Hope, the model who has been a non-presence all season. Because we know that Trump’s firing is arbitrary, and because that gives us another week of NeNe and Star, I’m fine with that decision. And it does make some sense: Trump pointed out that NeNe and Star together might be “impossible to beat,” and both do have more of the passion he likes so much.

After all of this, we also had the return of La Toya Jackson, who came to visit Trump in his office (where there were cameras!) to beg to be returned to the show. Again, totally set up, but since that’s part of the conceit of the show, it was okay. He returned her to the men’s team, insisting, “I’ve never done it before in 11 seasons, and I’ll never do it again.”

And we also had some good interaction on the men’s team, where John Rich and Lil Jon met their stylist for the task, whose name was Jon, and Meat Loaf cried out from his second trip to the bathroom this episode, “I’m in the john.”

 

Sony Online Entertainment shuts down servers due to unnamed "intrusion"

 

It looks like another one of Sony's gaming businesses, Sony Online Entertainment, is being hit with some kind of unnamed "intrusion". The problem was apparently big enough for Sony Online to pull the plug on the company's servers today.

In a message posted earlier today on Sony Online's Station.com web site, it said that a decision was made to "temporarily" shut down its service. It added, "In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately." The site said that more info on this situation would be provided later on Monday.

Sony Online Entertainment is the massively multiplayer division of Sony. It develops and runs a number of MMO games including Everquest, Everquest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, Planetside, Free Realms and most recently DC Universe Online. A few weeks ago Sony Online announced plans to cut a large number of its employees along with shutting down three of its five internal game development studios.

Of course, Sony's Playstation console unit has been dealing with its own online problems recently. Its Playstation Network fell victim to a cyber attack that caused Sony to shut down the online console service on April 20. The service is still down, but over the weekend Sony pledged to bring back at least some of the Playstation Network's features later this week, as well as offering some compensation to PS3 owners for the downtime. It's currently unclear if Sony Online's shut down of its services are related in any way to the Playstation Network's current issues.

 

Dwyane Wade Presents Biggest Threat to Celtics After Dazzling Game 1 Performance - Boston Celtics -

MIAMI -- There's been plenty of focus in this Eastern Conference semifinal series on LeBron James, who needs to beat the Celtics this year to salvage his legacy. Plenty, too, on Chris Bosh, the oft-ridiculed member of the Miami Heat's big three and the guy who just wants to earn our respect. Still plenty more for Erik Spoelstra, the young coach trying to prove he belongs.

And then there's Dwyane Wade.

The former NBA Finals MVP is back in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since that magical 2006 title run, and for the most part, he's simply been greatness taken for granted. He's not maligned, he's not questioned and his job security is never threatened. He's simply there, churning out season after staggeringly productive season.

And occasionally, he has games like Sunday afternoon at American Airlines Arena to remind you of just how spectacular he can be.

"We still remember 2006, when he was one of the most devastating mid-range shooters in the game," Spoelstra said after the Heat's 99-90 win in Game 1. "He brought that element back [Sunday afternoon]."

Wade was a dazzling scorer from everywhere Sunday -- from mid-range, from the perimeter, from inside the paint, from the rim, from the free-throw line. He finished 14-for-21 from the field, 2-for-5 from 3, and 8-for-9 from the line, for 38 points total. It was his best playoff performance since -- yes, you guessed it -- he played the Celtics last year. He dropped 46 in a survival Game 4 in this same building against the 2010 C's.

"I studied the film, and I understood how Boston was going to defend me," Wade said. "I knew where my spots would be where I could get shots. My teammates did a good job of finding me and getting me the ball so I could stay aggressive.

"I'm the kind of player that I'm always going to find a way -- I've just got to make the shots. Tonight, I made them."

There wasn't much the Celtics could do to defend him. They stuck with Ray Allen defending Wade for most of the afternoon, and the 35-year-old guard did everything he could to guard him one-on-one. But Wade was borderline unstoppable. Play him straight up, and he drives right past you. Double him, and he kicks to either James Jones for a 3 or LeBron for a post-up inside. Even if you manage to stick with him, he can knock down a jumper in your face.

"It's tough," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Honestly, you're not going to do a lot about that. He took a lot of contested, tough shots, and when he makes them, he makes them.

"That's why he's the second-greatest player ever to come out of Marquette," joked Rivers, himself a fellow Marquette alum.

Wade's breakout game came on the heels of an altogether disappointing regular season against the Celtics. In four meetings with the green team this year, the Heat captain totaled just 51 points, or about half his overall scoring average.

Then in the playoffs, he figured it out.

"To be fair, the first two games, Dwyane wasn't in rhythm," Spoelstra said. "He missed the entire preseason. It took him about three or four weeks not just to get in rhythm, but to understand how his role changed and where he fit in with the team. We were moving so many parts early in the year that for us, we kind of threw those games out the window.

"Dwyane's a special player. He really is. He figures it out. He's a student of the game. He's very diligent and introspective. He's had a couple days now to see how they were defending him. And he's proven so many times in the playoffs that when defenses are at their best, he figures it out and finds a way to crack their code."

For the moment, Wade appears to have the Celtics cracked. If he can sustain it throughout a seven-game series, he can send the C's home early this spring.

 

Dwyane Wade Presents Biggest Threat to Celtics After Dazzling Game 1 Performance - Boston Celtics -

MIAMI -- There's been plenty of focus in this Eastern Conference semifinal series on LeBron James, who needs to beat the Celtics this year to salvage his legacy. Plenty, too, on Chris Bosh, the oft-ridiculed member of the Miami Heat's big three and the guy who just wants to earn our respect. Still plenty more for Erik Spoelstra, the young coach trying to prove he belongs.

And then there's Dwyane Wade.

The former NBA Finals MVP is back in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since that magical 2006 title run, and for the most part, he's simply been greatness taken for granted. He's not maligned, he's not questioned and his job security is never threatened. He's simply there, churning out season after staggeringly productive season.

And occasionally, he has games like Sunday afternoon at American Airlines Arena to remind you of just how spectacular he can be.

"We still remember 2006, when he was one of the most devastating mid-range shooters in the game," Spoelstra said after the Heat's 99-90 win in Game 1. "He brought that element back [Sunday afternoon]."

Wade was a dazzling scorer from everywhere Sunday -- from mid-range, from the perimeter, from inside the paint, from the rim, from the free-throw line. He finished 14-for-21 from the field, 2-for-5 from 3, and 8-for-9 from the line, for 38 points total. It was his best playoff performance since -- yes, you guessed it -- he played the Celtics last year. He dropped 46 in a survival Game 4 in this same building against the 2010 C's.

"I studied the film, and I understood how Boston was going to defend me," Wade said. "I knew where my spots would be where I could get shots. My teammates did a good job of finding me and getting me the ball so I could stay aggressive.

"I'm the kind of player that I'm always going to find a way -- I've just got to make the shots. Tonight, I made them."

There wasn't much the Celtics could do to defend him. They stuck with Ray Allen defending Wade for most of the afternoon, and the 35-year-old guard did everything he could to guard him one-on-one. But Wade was borderline unstoppable. Play him straight up, and he drives right past you. Double him, and he kicks to either James Jones for a 3 or LeBron for a post-up inside. Even if you manage to stick with him, he can knock down a jumper in your face.

"It's tough," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Honestly, you're not going to do a lot about that. He took a lot of contested, tough shots, and when he makes them, he makes them.

"That's why he's the second-greatest player ever to come out of Marquette," joked Rivers, himself a fellow Marquette alum.

Wade's breakout game came on the heels of an altogether disappointing regular season against the Celtics. In four meetings with the green team this year, the Heat captain totaled just 51 points, or about half his overall scoring average.

Then in the playoffs, he figured it out.

"To be fair, the first two games, Dwyane wasn't in rhythm," Spoelstra said. "He missed the entire preseason. It took him about three or four weeks not just to get in rhythm, but to understand how his role changed and where he fit in with the team. We were moving so many parts early in the year that for us, we kind of threw those games out the window.

"Dwyane's a special player. He really is. He figures it out. He's a student of the game. He's very diligent and introspective. He's had a couple days now to see how they were defending him. And he's proven so many times in the playoffs that when defenses are at their best, he figures it out and finds a way to crack their code."

For the moment, Wade appears to have the Celtics cracked. If he can sustain it throughout a seven-game series, he can send the C's home early this spring.

 

James Jones Huge In Miami Heat's Game 1 Win Over Boston Celtics

The Miami Heat don't expect to get much scoring beyond the troika of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh; the Heat need roleplayers like James Jones, Mike Bibby and Mike Miller to hit open shots, and need their big men to defend and pull opponents away from the rim. They certainly don't expect someone like Jones to drop 25 on the Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoffs. But that's just what Jones did on Sunday in Miami's 99-90 Game 1 victory.

The Heat made Boston pay for its attention to Miami's star by rotating the ball and hitting Jones before the Celtics' usually excellent defensive rotation was able to catch up. As a result, Jones hit 5-7 from the floor -- all on three-pointers -- to rack up the game's second-highest point total. Jones didn't break 20 during the regular season, and his previous playoff career high was 19.

Jones is one of the league's very best three-point shooters, and a solid defender; while Mike Miller was more heavily touted (and more expensive), Jones has filled the back-up wing role quite well, playing tough defense despite his lanky frame and hitting more than 40 percent of his threes in the regular season. Against Boston, making the defense pay for heavy commitment to the paint is key; the teams that beat the Celtics hit their threes. Miami is chock full of specialists, and finished No. 7 in the NBA in three-point percentage this season; Jones and Eddie House were the only regulars who took a good portion of the Heat's three-point attempts and hit well above league average.

It'll be interesting to see whether Boston adjusts by attaching fewer defenders to Wade and James; it's difficult to imagine that the Celtics will consider Wade, who scored 38 points in 37 minutes, a lesser threat, and James deserves multiple sets of eyes. Boston could pay special attention to Jones over Bosh, Joel Anthony and the point guard on the floor, and also hope he stops hitting almost everything he takes. But a new challenge most didn't expect to be considering on Monday morning.

 

RIM Announces Multi-Platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for Smartphones and Tablets

today plans for a multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for managing and securing mobile devices for enterprises and government organizations. The solution will make available the market-leading management, security and controls of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express for BlackBerry® devices plus, through RIM’s pending acquisition of ubitexx (creator of the ubi-Suite device management solution), the solution is expected to incorporate secure device management for Android and iOS based devices and tablets, all managed from a single web-based console.

“The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is designed to address a growing market and respond to requests from enterprise customers who want a secure multi-platform device management solution from a company that already delivers the gold standard for enterprise mobility,” said Peter Devenyi, Vice President, Communications Platform Group at Research In Motion. “We recognize the opportunity to continue leading in the enterprise market by providing customers with a common platform to help simplify the management of a variety of mobile devices.”

The single web-based console is being designed to provide IT administrators with a simple and efficient way to distribute software and manage policies, inventory, security and services for BlackBerry devices, as well as other mobile devices. IT administrators will be able to manage devices over-the-air, including activating devices, distributing software and applications, locking or wiping devices, enforcing and resetting device passwords, setting IT policies, and managing optional mobile applications for end users. Certain features are expected to remain exclusive to BlackBerry devices because such capabilities are built into the design of a device’s operating system. Examples include RIM’s industry-leading push technology, network and data usage efficiency, behind-the-firewall access to enterprise applications and systems, and many of the over 550 IT policies available through BlackBerry Enterprise Server. The recently-released BlackBerry® Balance™ technology (see separate press release issued today), which supports the use of a single smartphone for both work and personal purposes without compromising the security of corporate content or the privacy of personal content, will also remain exclusive to BlackBerry devices.

Overall, as is largely understood in the enterprise market today, organizations can expect a range of security, manageability and controls depending on different device platform capabilities, with some devices further limited by the design of their operating system.

The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution will be comprised of optional architectural components based on the configuration of an organization’s mobile deployment and their operational needs. Optional components will include BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for BlackBerry devices, and a separate, secure device management server for Android and iOS devices (based on the foundation of ubi-Suite from ubitexx). It will be possible to deploy multiple components in a virtualized environment on a single server.

Five New Trends From the Royal Wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton

 

While the big day has passed, the effects of Friday’s royal wedding are going to linger for quite some time! Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding “is sure to set trends for years to come, in more ways than just the dress,” Anja Winikka, senior editor at TheKnot.com tells OK!. Here, she gives us the rundown on the unique elements of the royal wedding that look set to become big hits in the US. 

AN ALL-DAY AFFAIR: Morning ceremony, brunch reception and evening reception
“Traditionally, British weddings are held in the morning followed by a brunch or lunch reception,” says Anja of TheKnot.com. “Prince William and Kate stuck to tradition by holding their ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. Later in the evening, Prince Charles hosted another reception for 300 guests with dinner, speeches and dancing. Prince Harry then hosted a late-night disco with drinks and dancing into the wee hours. I can definitely see American couples adopting Kate and William’s early ceremony followed by two receptions and late-night partying — an all-day affair and the perfect opportunity to change dresses!”

OK! GALLERY: THE ROYAL COUPLE LEAVES BUCKINGHAM PALACE POST-WEDDING; DELAYS HONEYMOON

LITTLE ONES DOWN THE AISLE: Young bridal party
“It’s royal tradition to have a wedding party full of young kids with ties to the couple. Cousins, god-daughters and sons and children of close family friends made up the royal wedding party, who looked incredibly cute in their wedding attire! I think the idea of weddings with multiple flower girls or junior bridesmaids will definitely spark from this royal tradition of a young wedding party. “

GIVING TO A GOOD CAUSE: A charity registry
“The now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge requested charity donations in lieu of wedding gifts from their guests. They even created a website for all their charity registry information at RoyalWeddingCharityFund.org. The site lists 26 charities which benefit causes close to their hearts. A charity registry is a great idea for couples who enjoy giving back and don’t have a need for an extra toaster. Think of how great you’ll feel knowing your guest’s gifts are benefiting those in need!”

OK! GALLERY: THE ROYAL COUPLE ARRIVES IN ROYAL STYLE TO WEDDING RECEPTION

A DEMURE DRESS: A wedding dress with sleeves
“Kate’s sartorial style gave tradition a vintage twist. The sheer lace sleeves on her Grace Kelly-like dress and her almost nine-foot-long train have brought back a ’50s style. And while the number-one wedding dress neckline in the US is still strapless, I’d expect to see brides across the country copying Kate and opting for a little more coverage this coming year.”

 

 

Obama Announces Killing of Osama bin Laden

By HELENE COOPER

Doug Mills/The New York TimesPresident Obama announced the killing of bin Laden at the White House on Sunday.

WASHINGTON —President Obama announced late Sunday that Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, was killed in a firefight during an operation he ordered Sunday inside Pakistan, ending a 10-year manhunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist. American officials were in possession of his body, he said.

“On nights like this one, ‘’ the president said, “we can say that justice has been done.’’

The fate of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al Qaeda number two in command, was unclear.

The death of Mr. Bin Laden is a defining moment in the American-led war on terrorism. What remains to be seen is whether the death of the leader of Al Qaeda galvanizes his followers by turning him into a martyr, or whether it serves as a turning of the page in the war in Afghanistan and gives further impetus to the Obama administration to bring American troops home.

President Obama said that on Sunday, a small team of U.S. operatives launched a “targeted assault’’ on a compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad where months of intelligence work had established that Mr. Bin Laden was living. Mr. Bin Laden was killed after a firefight, and the troops took custody of his body.

The killing ended a 10-year manhunt in which Mr. Bin Laden repeatedly eluded his pursuers, deeply frustrating the Bush administration and counterterrorism officials.

The news of the death of the leader of Al Qaeda electrified the world — crowds gathered outside the White House, cheering, as they waited for the president to confirm the news. Mr. bin Laden was able to elude capture by hiding out in the mountains of Afghanistan and elsewhere. He initially escaped from Tora Bora in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan after an American invasion routed the Taliban, his protectors.

Since then, he issued some 30 messages, in audio, video or electronic text, sometimes taunting, sometimes gloating, sometimes urging new terrorist attacks. Intelligence officials believe the messages were passed from hand to hand repeatedly to obscure any trail back to his hiding place. Even while in hiding, he remained a potent symbolic figure. And American officials believe, based on intercepted communications from second- and third-tier Qaeda operatives, that he also still helped shape Al Qaeda’s strategy.

 

RIM Announces BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 With Touch and OS 7 - BerryReview

RIM announced the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 today just like we expected. This new device updates the BlackBerry Bold line with Touch and OS 7.0. It also finally brings a blazing fast new 1.2Ghz processor with a “liquid graphics” touch screen along with 4G/HSPA+ (what AT&T and T-Mobile call 4G).

Other things I found of note about the device before the announcement was:

• Thinnest BlackBerry yet at 10.5mm
• “Instant UI action/response”
• Eye popping 287dpi screen
• They now support HTML5 Video in the browser and a new Just In Time JavaScript compiler
• Adds Voice Activated search to the universal search added in BlackBerry 6
• Support up to 720p HD video recording
• NFC and augmented reality

We will update with the actual press release when it comes out!

Here is the press release:

 

RIM Introduces New BlackBerry Bold Smartphones
New BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Smartphones are the Thinnest and Most Powerful BlackBerry Smartphones yet, Featuring the Renowned BlackBerry Keyboard Together with a Brilliant Touch Screen and the New BlackBerry 7 OS
Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today unveiled two new BlackBerry® BoldTM smartphones. The high-performance BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a stunning and iconic design that integrates an incredibly easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard with a brilliant, high resolution, capacitive touch screen. These exceptional smartphones are built on a new, performance-driven platform powered by the BlackBerry® 7 operating system and designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity for users around the world.
"The new BlackBerry Bold smartphones and BlackBerry 7 OS are inspired by millions of customers around the world who want the ultimate combination of performance, functionality and style," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “These fully-loaded and beautifully crafted smartphones offer a highly refined user experience with blazingly fast performance, a brilliant touch screen and an outstanding typing experience.”
Thin, Sleek, Iconic Design
Distinguished by an iconic design and the industry’s best keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature the premium materials and finishes that characterize the BlackBerry Bold line. Both models have a lustrous exterior with a brushed stainless steel frame and a high-gloss glass-weave backplate. They are also the thinnest BlackBerry smartphones yet, at only 10.5mm. The quality materials and optimized design of the new BlackBerry Bold smartphones are instantly evident when held in the hand.
Performance-Driven
These BlackBerry Bold smartphones are built on a new performance-driven platform featuring a 1.2 GHz processor, Liquid GraphicsTM touch screen, and support for high speed 4G/HSPA+ wide area wireless networks.
The Liquid Graphics touch screen, a key new feature powered by BlackBerry 7, delivers fast, smooth performance for highly responsive touch-based navigation, web browsing, pictures, video and graphics intensive games*. Offering up to 60 frames-per-second performance with instant UI action/response, Liquid Graphics gives customers a visually rich and immersive experience that’s responsive to the touch. In addition, the smartphones feature brilliant displays with an eye- popping 287 dpi to deliver crisp, stunning visuals.
May 2, 2011
The new platform also provides support for 4G networks; the 9900 supports HSPA+ connectivity, and the 9930 supports CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and HSPA+ global roaming on GSM/UMTS networks.
NFC
The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that will enable many rich and exciting experiences. Through NFC, users will be able to, for example, pair the BlackBerry Bold to an accessory or read information such as a web link from smart tags by simply tapping their BlackBerry Bold to an NFC tag (eg. Smart Poster).
Augmented Reality
The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a built-in compass (magnetometer) to support location-based services and augmented reality. APIs will allow third party developers to take advantage of the new functionality within their applications. The new smartphones will also include Wikitude, the leader in mobile augmented reality, which overlays contextual information on what the user sees through the smartphone’s camera viewfinder.
HD Video
The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones support up to 720p HD video recording and playback. Users can easily share their videos directly from the smartphone or sync videos, as well as music and photos, to their computer using Media Sync in the BlackBerry® Desktop Software.
BlackBerry 7
The BlackBerry 7 OS is designed to power the new performance-driven BlackBerry Bold platform. It provides an easier and faster user experience with improved browsing, voice- activated searches, the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, as well as additional personal and productivity apps out of the box.
The BlackBerry Browser has been significantly enhanced in BlackBerry 7. In addition to the general performance gains of Liquid Graphics, which helps deliver faster rendering and seamless panning and zooming, the BlackBerry 7 browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages. The new browser also includes support for additional HTML5 elements, such as HTML5 Video.
Building upon the Universal Search feature introduced in BlackBerry 6, BlackBerry 7 expands the capability to include voice-activated search. This new capability makes it even easier and more convenient to search for content on the smartphone or web.
BlackBerry 7 also integrates BlackBerry® BalanceTM, which separates personal content from corporate content on the smartphone, giving users the freedom and flexibility to use the handset for personal email, Facebook®, Twitter®, multimedia, games and other apps while satisfying the very real need for corporate data to be highly secure and manageable. BlackBerry Balance works in conjunction with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3, which provides a number of unique IT policy controls such as wiping only corporate data from the handset or blocking work related content and apps from being copied or forwarded to personal contacts.
With BlackBerry 7 on the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones, users will also get the full version of Docs To Go® with all "premium" features enabled out-of-the-box so that users can easily work with Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the smartphone. Docs To Go also includes a native PDF viewer.
Availability
The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones are expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning this summer.
For additional information please visit www.blackberry.com/touchbold
APPENDIX
BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Specifications
•    115 x 66 x 10.5 mm, approximately 130 g •    2.8" capacitive touch screen display – VGA (640×480), 287 dpi resolution •    Ultra-easy QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad •    1.2 GHz Processor, 768 MB RAM •    8 GB on-board memory, plus microSD slot supporting up to 32 GB cards •    NFC technology •    5.0 MP camera, supports 720p HD video recording •    Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), Digital Compass (Magnetometer), Proximity Sensor •    Built-in GPS / aGPS •    Dual-Band Wi-Fi® – 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n at 5 GHz •    Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support •    Wireless Network support:
o 9900:Tri-BandHSPA+,Quad-BandGSM/EDGE o 9930:Dual-BandCDMA/EV-DORev.A,Dual-BandHSPA+,Quad-Band
GSM/EDGE •    1230 mAh removable, rechargeable battery
•    BlackBerry 7 OS * Features OpenGL 2.0 support for developers.

 

Capitol Confidential » DiNapoli on Bin Laden: ‘Justice at last’

 

 

Here’s Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s statement on the death of Osama Bin Laden — expect a lot of these today:

Osama bin Laden’s death is justice at last.  New York suffered most from the bitter fruits of his evil, and today is cause for great celebration in the greatest city on earth.  Nearly 10 years after 9/11, there are 3,000 souls resting a little easier today.

The death of one twisted killer does not end the threat of al-Qaida.  Bin Laden’s vile message of hatred has taken root in many places around the world.  America, and particularly New York, must continue to be vigilant.  We must continue to remember and honor those murdered on 9/11 by working every day to protect New York from another cowardly terrorist attack.

The Administration’s commitment to bring bin Laden to justice has never wavered.  More importantly, the courage and dedication of our armed forces has been a constant source of pride for every American. Our military personnel – so many of whom are stationed right here in New York at Fort Drum or have graduated from West Point – have fought and sacrificed and often given their lives to pursue justice and protect our freedom.  

Today is a great day for our men and women in uniform.  God bless all of them, and God bless America.

 

Bin Laden’s death, higher gas prices and American fuel economy - Hybrid Cars and Plug-in Vehicles

 

Retaliation threats to drive oil prices higher?

As America celebrates the death of Osama bin Laden, fear has spread into the oil markets and the possibility of higher oil prices loom great as the threat of retaliations add more uncertainty into the energy markets. This morning on CNBC several energy experts claimed the trend for oil prices is now higher.

Nevertheless, America! – has been a common mantra last night and into this morning. Feeling strongly American? Why not a new fuel efficient American car? 

Since higher gas prices seem primed to stick around for a while, maybe it’s time for a hybrid purchase. Whether it’s a sedan like the Ford Fusion hybrid, or a full-sized pickup like the Chevy Silverado hybrid or even a plug-in vehicle like the Chevy Volt, the Big 3 offer a number of compelling fuel efficient options.

Let us not forget, America’s foreign oil dependence not only funded Osama bin Laden, but also fueled his hate for America. So, if you are in the market for a new car, make it a fuel efficient one. There are a lot of great American options out there.

And, even if you buy a foreign hybrid with great fuel economy, that’s also a pretty American thing to do.

Help make America stronger, buy a fuel efficient vehicle.

 

Obama Approval Rating Likely To Rise After Osama Bin Laden Killinga

 

 

WASHINGTON -- While the killing of al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden lacks true historical precedent, polling following similar events suggests that President Barack Obama will enjoy a bounce in public approval ratings in the days and weeks ahead. However, this boost will likely yield to perceptions of Obama's handling of the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as more time passes.

In terms of public opinion, three factors work in Obama's favor.

First, until last night, Americans had largely given up hope that bin Laden would ever be captured. In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, 78 percent of Americans responding to a Gallup/USA Today/CNN poll agreed that bin Laden would likely be captured or killed; only 21 said his capture was unlikely. But by September of last year, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey asking the same question found that only 30 percent considered bin Laden's capture likely, while 67 percent considered it unlikely.

Second, Americans have repeatedly expressed overwhelming support for the course of action that Obama and his national security team pursued. Republican pollster Alex Lundry tells The Huffington Post that a survey his firm conducted this past January showed that 80 percent of Americans favored capturing or killing Osama bin Laden, but only 16 percent said they thought it was likely to happen.

"Clearly," Lundry says, the news is "a welcome surprise for the American public." Most "had effectively ruled out the possibility of ever seeing this day, despite desperately yearning for it," he added.

Third, the immediate reaction among political leaders, pundits and even chatter on Twitter has been marked by unanimity rather than the usual partisan polarization. Some Republican leaders have downplayed President Obama's role in the shooting of bin Laden, but most have given him some credit. Even former Vice President Dick Cheney has offered congratulations to Obama and his national security team.

This sort of universal positive reaction is typical of the "rally around the flag" phenomenon long observed by scholars. Presidential approval ratings have historically surged in reaction to dramatic international events that directly involved the president and the U.S. armed forces. Sixty years of the Gallup Poll illustrate the way these events produce big spikes in approval.

• President George H.W. Bush experienced three distinct spikes related to national security events: a 9 point bounce following the U.S. invasion of Panama in December 1989, a roughly 10 point gain following his initial reaction to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and hit a high of 89 percent during Operation Desert Storm in January and February 1991. Each gain soon faded. Bush's approval began a steady decline in March 1991. His gains during the Persian Gulf war were fully erased by the end of 1991.
• Following the Sept. 11 attacks, George W. Bush experienced the biggest historic jump in presidential approval ratings in the modern polling era, from 51 to 90 percent. Bush's ratings then steadily declined over the course of his presidency, interrupted briefly by two upward spikes following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003 (an 11 point gain) and the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in December 2004 (a 7 point increase).

The reaction to the arrest of Hussein in 2004 is particularly noteworthy, since it presents the closest parallel to the killing of bin Laden. The chart below shows the trends in all polls compiled by University of Wisconsin Professor Charles Franklin. His trend estimate shows that the capture of Hussein produced a bounce of roughly 5 percentage points in his summary trend line, which estimates the underlying trend represented by all polls (including the aforementioned Gallup numbers). The chart also shows that the increase in Bush's rating quickly dissipated.

Franklin and Brendan Nyhan, a University of Michigan political scientist, agree that a similar or slightly greater bounce is likely for Obama. Nyhan says that "5-10 points seems possible, and maybe a bit more." But he warns that "bounces dissipate quickly, so the long-term significance is likely to be small."

Of course, approval ratings capture the public's response to a president's handling of a wide variety of issues and public events -- especially the condition of the economy -- so direct comparisons across individual events can be misleading. Indeed, the killing of bin Laden, a mass murderer and international terrorist, is a historic event without a clear parallel.

Nonetheless, an overall pattern is discernible: Americans rally to their president around national security crises and military successes, but their reactions are usually short-lived. Most polls currently put Obama's approval in the mid-40 percent rage. In two weeks, that will likely be higher, but how long that boost will last is anyone's guess.

 

Bin Laden’s body buried at sea

 

 

The dilemma of what to do with Osama bin Laden’s body appears to have been quickly resolved if reports that he has been buried at sea prove correct.

Burying him on land could have led to his grave becoming a centre of contention as well as raising questions about where he should be buried.

“Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world’s most wanted terrorist would have been difficult,” a US official said, adding: “So the US decided to bury him at sea.”

Fears about Bin Laden’s burial place turning into a shrine for Islamists were probably unfounded, since the Wahhabi/Salafi tradition rejects such things. Even Saudi kings are buried in unmarked graves.

Senior US officials initially told news agencies that his body would be disposed of in accordance with Islamic tradition, which involves ritual washing, shrouding and burial within 24 hours.

Although the swift burial complies with Islamic custom and should therefore avoid causing any offence in Muslim countries, the apparent haste could lead to claims that the person killed was not really Bin Laden – though the US authorities have taken DNA samples and appear to have no doubts.

The 24-hour rule has not always been applied by the US in the past. For example, the bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein – sons of the Iraqi dictator – were held for 11 days before being released for burial.

Burial at sea is rare in Islam, though several Muslim websites say it is permitted in certain circumstances.

One is on a long voyage where the body may decay before the ship reaches land. The other is if there is a risk of enemies digging up a land grave and exhuming or mutilating the body – a rule that could plausibly be applied in Bin Laden’s case.

For sea burial, according to alislam.org, the body should be lowered into the water “in a vessel of clay or with a weight tied to its feet”. The website adds: “As far as possible it should not be lowered at a point where it is eaten up immediately by the sea predators.”

 

Water for Elephants Barcelona premiere: Robert Pattinson looks glum with Reese Witherspoon

 

They've been jet-setting around the world promoting their new film over recent weeks, but Robert Pattinson looked like he'd rather be somewhere else last night as he posed with Reese Witherspoon in Barcelona.

The on-screen lovers were celebrating the Spanish premiere of Water For Elephants but as they stood arm in arm together on the red carpet, R-Patz couldn't crack a smile.

Pattinson held Reese around the small of her back but their affection looked more awkward than anything else.

 

Smile R-Patz! Water For Elephants co-stars pose on the red carpet in Barcelona for the Spanish premiere but Robert Pattinson has trouble cracking a smile next to Reese Witherspoon

After having promoted the film in Paris the day before in a little red dress, Reese slipped on a knee-length black strapless LBD and matching heels for last night’s viewing.

While the Twilight saga star looked smart in a grey suit and unbuttoned blue shirt alongside his trademark dishevelled hair.

 

 

More...

• Keep in touch with the latest showbiz gossip by following the Daily Mail's Twitter page

Both stars then took a break from posing, before entering the cinema, to sign autographs for fans.

Earlier in the day Reese had still been in France and was taking advantage of the Parisian shopping district by perusing the stores with her bodyguard.

 

Show of affection: Pattinson held Reese around the small of her back as they both posed on the red carpet in Barcelona

 

Team effort: Reese and Robert pose with film maker Francis Lawrence (left) and fellow actor and their co-star Christoph Waltz (right)

The 35-year-old tried to dress incognito in skin-tight jeans and a denim shirt but was still recognised by onlookers.

Soon dozens of shoppers were gathering around the actress to take her photograph on their mobiles and cameras.

The film, titled Agua Para Elefantes in Spanish, is a dramatic love story between Reese’s Robert’s characters despite the actress recently saying their romantic scenes were ‘less than appealing’.

She described Pattinson’s ‘runny nose’ during their steamy love scenes and told MTV: ‘It wasn’t appealing. It wasn’t pleasant.’

 

Fan frenzy: Reese signs her autograph for fans waiting by the red carpet in Barclona for their 'Agua Para Elefantes' premiere

 

Looking good! Reese slipped on a knee-length black strapless LBD and matching heels for last night's viewing

But her 24-year-old co-star didn’t seem to mind her comments and
appeared nonchalant on the red carpet having just flown in from the Virgin
Islands.

Pattinson had been filming re-shoots for the honeymoon scenes of Breaking Dawn ahead of their European premieres.

He and co-star Kristen Stewart had been wrapping up work on the final Twilight film and told Entertainment Weekly last week about what fans can expect from the next instalment.

‘I like the honeymoon scenes because it’s such a massive turnaround in Edward and Bella’s relationship’, he said.

Shopping spree: Reese was shopping in Paris earlier in the day at the Carven store in the French capital in jeans and a denim shirt

 

Snapped: Soon dozens of shoppers were gathering around the actress to take her photograph on their mobiles and cameras

Emmerdale 'cougar' Ella seduces her daughter's boyfriend Adam

Emmerdale newcomer Ella Hart is set to cause trouble in the village when she seduces her own daughter's boyfriend Adam Barton.

The blonde businesswoman, played by Corrinne Wicks, makes a move on handsome young farmhand Adam (Adam Thomas) - despite his burgeoning romance with her teenage daughter Mia Macey (Sapphire Elia).

Although trying to rejuvenate her relationship with ex-husband Declan Macey (Jason Merrells), she finds herself attracted to Adam.

 

Playing with fire: Ella Hart (Corrinne Wicks) makes a move on her daughter's boyfriend Adam Barton (Adam Thomas)

Adam, who also works for Declan as well as dates his daughter, has a polite drink with Ella, who is feeling neglected by her on/off spouse.

But when Ella decides to make a move on Adam, she is pleasantly surprised when he responds.

 

 

More...

• EastEnders set for a double departure as Charlie G Hawkins and Zoe Lucker quit the soap
• Keep in touch with the latest showbiz gossip by following the Daily Mail's Twitter page

The sexy scenes end up becoming the beginning of an affair between the two, which will no doubt cause devastation should it ever become public knowledge.

 

Cougar town comes to Emmerdale: Despite Ella being twice his age, Adam finds himself attracted to the blonde mother

Actor Thomas - whose older brother Ryan Thomas plays Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street, told Take It Easy magazine: 'Well, it's every boy's dream to be chased by an older woman.

 

Close: Ella's daughter Mia Macey (Sapphire Elia) will be devastated by her mother and boyfriend's deception

'Adam's been going out with her daughter Mia for a while and he sees
Ella being neglected by her husband. He feels sorry for her.

'He's quite flattered. He just reacts how the majority of boys his age would.

'Even though he's got Mia to think about, it's offered to him on a plate and he doesn't really know how he should handle it.'

Although long divorced from Mia's father Declan Macey, Ella left her life as a successful businesswoman in Singapore to try and make another go of things with her ex.

With their daughter in tow, Ella stunned Declan when they arrived on the doors of Home Farm in November - where they have been living ever since.

But despite Ella's efforts to rebuild her relationship with Declan, her fling with Adam doesn't suggest she's not quite ready to commit to her former spouse.

 

Celebrity Apprentice 2011: NeNe Leakes unleashes verbal assault against Star Jones

The simmering feud between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over tonight on Celebrity Apprentice.

In what was arguably the most dramatic episode of the season, the ladies' explosive confrontation was just one of several dramatic twists, including the dramatic return of LaToya Jackson who was fired last week.

The whole ordeal between NeNe and Star began when Star suggested that NeNe should be project manager for their latest assignment of staging a live hair show.

 

Explosive: Tensions between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over in the most shocking episode of Celebrity Apprentice this season

But the Real Housewife of Atlanta was not happy about being told what to do and unleashed a barrage of insults and threats against Star.

'Who the f*** died and made you the
God of assigning project managers,' the Atlanta Housewife shouted, as a
stunned Donald Trump and the owner of the Farouk Systems hair care company watched in horror.

NeNe didn't stop there! She yelled at Star: 'I will take you down... when the rest of these girls won't.'

 

What an attitude: An out-of-control NeNe had choice words for everyone on the women's team

Adding to the drama quotient,
NeNe walked over and got in Star's faces issuing the warning: 'Now where's Barbara
Walters? How educated are you on the street?'

The strange reference to Walters appeared to be NeNe's way of saying that The View co-host may have given Star her big television break, but NeNe could just as easily take her down.

After overcoming her initial shock, Star responded: 'I don't do threats.'

 

Dramatic Twist:  Donald Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson where she urged the billionaire businessman to bring her back

 

Unprecedented:  A smiling LaToya was allowed to return to the show, just one week after being fired

But NeNe wasn't having it and yelled to star: 'Shut the f*** up.'

Despite their differences, NeNe finally calmed down and accepted the assignment,  but the fireworks and drama were just getting started. 

A few minutes later in another shocking twist, Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson who he fired from the show just last week.

 

Smart move: The men brought supermodel Niki Taylor back, who was fired weeks ago, to help spice up their hair show

 

Big hit: With her curly blonde hair and cheeky performance, Niki wowed the crowd during the men's show

'I want to come back... I don't see any grounds for my being fired,' LaToya said as she appealed to the billionaire businessman to bring her back.

'I've never done that...in the history of the show,' Trump said, but he eventually relented in what appeared to be yet another calculated move to boost ratings.

About ten minutes into the task, the men's team Backbone already seemed to be in trouble, although Lil Jon appeared relaxed and at times even cocky when it came to setting up a hair show.

 

Failure: Hope looked stiff and uncomfortable as she walked the stage during her performance in the women's hair show

The men then brought in talent in the form of supermodel Niki Taylor,  who was ironically on the women's team earlier in the season.

Back to the women's team, the actual assignment started out awkwardly as the ladies wondered how to proceed after NeNe's explosive outburst.

'She's just this vicious and mean woman,' former Playboy Playmate Hope Dworaczyk.complained, when NeNe obviously wasn't listening.

 

Winning: The men's team won the challenge, thanks to Lil Jon's leadership and help from his celebrity friends, including musician Questlove of The Roots

Once the women's team finally calmed down, they got things in motion with a theme that was geared around dancing, bouncing hair and having fun.

The men's show was even more energetic, with Lil Jon doing a bit of rapping, and bringing his celebrity friend, Questlove on stage, who is the front man for hip-hop group The Roots.

As they two teams headed into the boardroom more fireworks erupted when NeNe berated Star for her bossy behaviour and for acting like a puppet master to both Marlee Matlin and Hope.

Once the women stopped bickering, Trump finally took control and dropped another bombshell, revealing that he was bringing LaToya Jackson back, but this time she would join the Men's team.

 

Welcome back: The men celebrate Trump's decision to bring LaToya Jackson back as an addition to their team

 

You're fired: Trump tells former Playboy Playmate, Hope Dworaczyk, her time is up and sends her home

Then Trump announced that the men had won the challenge and one of the women would get the boot, for a second straight week.

When it was time to decide who should go home, NeNe told Trump that either Hope or Star should be fired.

While Marlee was allowed to leave the board room first,  Hope and Star tried to gang up on NeNe.

But their efforts failed, and Trump ended up telling Hope You're fired.

 

Celebrity Apprentice 2011: NeNe Leakes unleashes verbal assault against Star Jones

The simmering feud between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over tonight on Celebrity Apprentice.

In what was arguably the most dramatic episode of the season, the ladies' explosive confrontation was just one of several dramatic twists, including the dramatic return of LaToya Jackson who was fired last week.

The whole ordeal between NeNe and Star began when Star suggested that NeNe should be project manager for their latest assignment of staging a live hair show.

 

Explosive: Tensions between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones finally boiled over in the most shocking episode of Celebrity Apprentice this season

But the Real Housewife of Atlanta was not happy about being told what to do and unleashed a barrage of insults and threats against Star.

'Who the f*** died and made you the
God of assigning project managers,' the Atlanta Housewife shouted, as a
stunned Donald Trump and the owner of the Farouk Systems hair care company watched in horror.

NeNe didn't stop there! She yelled at Star: 'I will take you down... when the rest of these girls won't.'

 

What an attitude: An out-of-control NeNe had choice words for everyone on the women's team

Adding to the drama quotient,
NeNe walked over and got in Star's faces issuing the warning: 'Now where's Barbara
Walters? How educated are you on the street?'

The strange reference to Walters appeared to be NeNe's way of saying that The View co-host may have given Star her big television break, but NeNe could just as easily take her down.

After overcoming her initial shock, Star responded: 'I don't do threats.'

 

Dramatic Twist:  Donald Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson where she urged the billionaire businessman to bring her back

 

Unprecedented:  A smiling LaToya was allowed to return to the show, just one week after being fired

But NeNe wasn't having it and yelled to star: 'Shut the f*** up.'

Despite their differences, NeNe finally calmed down and accepted the assignment,  but the fireworks and drama were just getting started. 

A few minutes later in another shocking twist, Trump held a private meeting with LaToya Jackson who he fired from the show just last week.

 

Smart move: The men brought supermodel Niki Taylor back, who was fired weeks ago, to help spice up their hair show

 

Big hit: With her curly blonde hair and cheeky performance, Niki wowed the crowd during the men's show

'I want to come back... I don't see any grounds for my being fired,' LaToya said as she appealed to the billionaire businessman to bring her back.

'I've never done that...in the history of the show,' Trump said, but he eventually relented in what appeared to be yet another calculated move to boost ratings.

About ten minutes into the task, the men's team Backbone already seemed to be in trouble, although Lil Jon appeared relaxed and at times even cocky when it came to setting up a hair show.

 

Failure: Hope looked stiff and uncomfortable as she walked the stage during her performance in the women's hair show

The men then brought in talent in the form of supermodel Niki Taylor,  who was ironically on the women's team earlier in the season.

Back to the women's team, the actual assignment started out awkwardly as the ladies wondered how to proceed after NeNe's explosive outburst.

'She's just this vicious and mean woman,' former Playboy Playmate Hope Dworaczyk.complained, when NeNe obviously wasn't listening.

 

Winning: The men's team won the challenge, thanks to Lil Jon's leadership and help from his celebrity friends, including musician Questlove of The Roots

Once the women's team finally calmed down, they got things in motion with a theme that was geared around dancing, bouncing hair and having fun.

The men's show was even more energetic, with Lil Jon doing a bit of rapping, and bringing his celebrity friend, Questlove on stage, who is the front man for hip-hop group The Roots.

As they two teams headed into the boardroom more fireworks erupted when NeNe berated Star for her bossy behaviour and for acting like a puppet master to both Marlee Matlin and Hope.

Once the women stopped bickering, Trump finally took control and dropped another bombshell, revealing that he was bringing LaToya Jackson back, but this time she would join the Men's team.

 

Welcome back: The men celebrate Trump's decision to bring LaToya Jackson back as an addition to their team

 

You're fired: Trump tells former Playboy Playmate, Hope Dworaczyk, her time is up and sends her home

Then Trump announced that the men had won the challenge and one of the women would get the boot, for a second straight week.

When it was time to decide who should go home, NeNe told Trump that either Hope or Star should be fired.

While Marlee was allowed to leave the board room first,  Hope and Star tried to gang up on NeNe.

But their efforts failed, and Trump ended up telling Hope You're fired.

 

Jessica Simpson continues mission to lose weight before her wedding on tandem bike ride with fiancé Eric Johnson

She recently said she was planning to lose weight for her wedding by 'dancing around her bedroom'.

But it seems Jessica Simpson is also exploring other ways to shed the pounds before she marries fiancé Eric Johnson.

The 30-year-old singer was seen enjoying a tandem bike ride with Johnson and a group of friends as they pedalled their way along the Venice boardwalk.

 

Shaping up: Jessica Simpson headed out on Venice boardwalk on a tandem bike ride with fiancé Eric Johnson

Wearing a pair of denim shorts, white
vest top and cowboy boots teamed with a khaki jacket and trendy
headscarf, Jessica grinned with delight as Johnson took charge of
steering the vehicle.

Jessica's weight has sparked a lot of debate over the years. She stunned fans when she stepped out at the MTV Movie Awards in 2005 looked thinner than ever after losing weight for her role as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard.

But Jessica failed to maintain the 36-24-36 figure she worked so hard to achieve, and started steadily piling weight back on.

 

Enjoying the sunshine: Both Jessica and Eric seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their trip out

 

Giggles all round: The pair were joined by a couple of friends as they cycled along next to the beach

Now, however, Jessica is determined to be in the best shape ever for her nuptials, and is trying to 'hopefully lose some weight' ahead of her big day.

She said: 'I'm still trying to figure out what to wear! I don't know if
I want the big boom, or the curvy thing, but it will be something
beautiful. I kind of have a couple of ideas in my head, and I have a
date; I'm really excited!'

Asked if she was going to be embarking on a proper diet and exercise regime before the wedding, Jessica replied: 'No exercise is fun! I am going to dance
around my bedroom and hopefully lose some weight - and lift some
weights and do what I can!'

 

In the shade: Jessica appeared happy to let Eric steer the tandem bike while she sat on the back

 

Trendy: Jessica wore a pair of denim shorts, white vest top and khaki jacket teamed with a trendy headscarf

However, Jessica is thought to have enlisted the help of Gwyneth Paltrow's personal trainer Tracey Anderson to help her on her way.

Jessica's friends said recently that the singer has no intention of returning to her formerly skinny frame for the wedding - she just wants to be in
good shape when she walks down the aisle.

One said: 'She wants to look healthy, not super-skinny. She’s seeing results with her new workout program. She really loves it.'

 

Changing sizes: Jessica at her thinnest at the MTV Movie Awards in 2005, and looking curvier in January 2009

Kate and Pippa Middleton choose Zara as they step out after royal wedding\

 

They have multi-millionaire parents
and royal relations. But as they stepped out in their Zara outfits the day after the royal wedding, it was clear that Kate and Pippa STILL can't get enough of the High Street.

Eschewing the designer labels both could no doubt afford thanks to their moneyed background, the Duchess
of Cambridge and her younger sister proved they remain decent,
down-to-earth girls with an eye for a bargain.

The two picked out perfectly pitched outfits for their first public appearance. Kate looked radiant in the £49.99 cornflower blue £49.99
dress, pairing it with £129.99 black LK Bennett patent pumps (the same pair she wore on the eve of her wedding as she arrived at The Goring hotel), and a
simple
black jacket.

For her very public departure from
The Goring hotel, Pippa chose a
classic royal blue double-breasted blazer costing £69.99.

 

People's princess: The Duchess of Cambridge chose a £49.99 Zara dress and £129.99 LK Bennett pumps for her first appearance following the wedding

The younger Middleton completed her outfit with a pair of figure-hugging white jeans, the Bristol
bag in shark, £149 from Modalu, and £120 cream leather Riva ballet pumps by American label Tory Burch.

Whether or not the girls conferred is
not known, though one would presume from the closeness of the girls'
relationship - Kate calls Pippa her 'best friend - that there would have been some
level of communication.

Coincidence or conspiracy, it was an excellent move.

 

 

More...

• Did Kate's Mum help to choose something special for the trousseau?
• Her Royal Hotness will be next to wed... as long as she doesn't run off with Flirty Harry first!
• Kate is every inch the people's princess as she steps out in High Street frock for first day as a Royal
• Her Roll Hotness: Party-loving Pippa Middleton designs her own very special wedding dress... out of toilet paper
• William to whisk Kate on £4,000-a-night tropical honeymoon... but 'couple face ten weeks APART as he is sent to serve in the Falklands'
• Forget Pippa, Chelsy's the only girl for Harry

The proletarian price of these
outfits - Kate's came in at £180 and Pippa's totalled £340 - stands in
sharp contrast to the cost of the girls' wedding outfits, a £60,000 bill that
was footed by the Middleton family - and that's without the hefty bill for the evening gowns.

Kate's made-to-measure Alexander McQueen wedding gown cost £40,000; Pippa's a cool £20,000.

High Street girl: Just like sister Kate, Pippa
Middleton chose Zara for her morning-after outfit, wearing a £69.99 Zara
blazer paired with white jeans, a £149.99 Modalu bag and £120 Tory
Burch pumps

This High Street love-in is no show of false parsimony though.
Kate is
known to champion the High Street and is fond of hitting the shops herself - a freedom some say may be difficult in her new role as a working Royal.

Ahead of her wedding Kate was seen visiting various stores to purchase summer pieces said to be for her honeymoon trousseau.

At
Warehouse she picked up summer dresses and a simple embroidered
blouse, spending £255.

At Whistles, one of her favourite shops, she
picked up a duplicate of the cream blouse she wore for her Mario Testino
engagement pictures (re-released and christened 'Kate'), a pair of blue and white spotty, high-waisted
trousers and a lemon T-shirt.

And as well as those faithful patent LK Bennett wedges, Kate also chose LK
Bennett shoes for her last official engagement before the wedding.

She wore the store's navy blue courts - £95 in the sale - with her 2007 midnight blue Amanda Wakeley suit, a look that was praised for being a savvy mix of High Street and designer (and the designer element was said to have come from retail outlet Bicester Village, a cut-price shopping centre).

As proof of her new-found sartorial clout though, despite many
criticising Kate's comfortable courts for what they called the 'frumpy' heel, fashion forecasters now predict Kate's sensible shoes could even spark a court shoe comeback.

So now, with Kate hailed a style icon thanks to her highly praised choice of wedding dress, and Pippa with her new-found fame as Britain's most eligible woman, whatever either of the girls wear, the rest of us are likely to follow.

First stop to get the Royal look? Better make it Zara.