Apple event September 2010: New Apple TV, iPods and Ping social network Unveiled by Steve Jobs Head of Apple

I remember the story of how Bill Gates stole Steve Jobs idea for an operating system over 20 years ago. I always thought it was a very dishonorable thing for Bill Gates to do.

Today, Steve Jobs is getting the last laugh in a sense for beating Bill Gates on the innovation train.

The UK Telegraph reports that Apple has unveiled a new music social network that could rival Facebook and Twitter, as well as an Apple TV that can stream movies and television shows directly from the internet
Steve Jobs announces a new touch-screen version of the iPod Nano

Apple has thrown down the gauntlet to Facebook and Twitter with the launch of a new social-networking service designed specifically for music fans.

Ping, a social music discovery service, is built in to Apple’s iTunes software, a programme used by more than 160 million people to download songs and organise their music library.

Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, used a special press conference at the Yerba Buena Centre in San Francisco to outline Apple’s new approach to music and entertainment services.

“One of the biggest things we focus on with iTunes is discovery. There are more than 12 million songs to choose from, so how do you find new stuff?,” asked Jobs.

“So we’re launching Ping – it’s a social network that’s all about music. It’s like Facebook and Twitter meets iTunes. You can follow your favourite artists and friends and discover what music they like and are downloading.”

Jobs also unveiled a new, compact Apple TV set-top box, little bigger than a drinks coaster, which can “stream” content, such as music, films and television shows, from the internet directly to a television.

Jobs, who had previously dismissed the Apple TV as “a hobby”, admitted that while people loved the device, it had only sold in modest numbers, He said the company had listened to user feedback about exactly what they wanted from a set-top box, and had overhauled the device to meet those needs.

“They want on-demand access to Hollywood movies and TV shows, they don’t want amateur stuff,” he said.

“They want their movies and TV shows in high-definition, and want to pay less for this content.

“And they don’t want a computer on their television – though this is a hard one for people in the computer industry to understand. And they don’t want to manage the storage of downloaded movies and programmes.”

The new Apple TV will allow users to “rent” films and television shows for a modest fee, with high-definition movies available on the day of DVD release for $4.99, and television programmes for 99c.

The device itself will cost $99 – around $200 less than its predecessor – although Apple has not yet released details of UK pricing.
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U've been looking at Flo TV, but I just may have to check this out. Anybody have any thought, chime in.

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Nyjer Morgan Incites Bench Clearing Brawl at Nationals Marlins Game Suspensions Will Follow

Nyjer Morgan is really a jerk that needs to be stepped on.

Washington Post reports that Nyjer Morgan and the rest of the Washington Nationals understood the first time Florida Marlins starting pitcher Chris Volstad hit him Wednesday night. Just baseball. Part of the game. They expected Morgan would be plunked one night after he bowled over and knocked out Florida catcher Brett Hayes. Morgan absorbed his beaning and walked to first base, mouth shut.

"I thought," Morgan said after the game, "it was over after that."

The Marlins, they said afterward, thought so, too. But the feud between the Marlins and the Nationals - which made a sidenote of Scott Olsen's five-out, nine-run start and the Nationals' 16-10 loss - would not end until Morgan ignited a bench-emptying ruckus and culminated his week-long heel-turn by walking off the field, shirt unbuttoned and hanging loose, alternately raising his fists over his head and beating his chest.

On Wednesday night, Morgan captured the spotlight and the venom of the 18,045 at Sun Life Stadium. His charging of Volstad led to the ejections of himself, Volstad, both managers and two relievers, including Nationals lefty Doug Slaten. After Volstad threw behind Morgan a second time, Morgan charged the mound and, as first baseman Gaby Sanchez clotheslined him, his teammates followed. Later, Slaten drilled Sanchez.

"We'll protect Nyjer," Manager Jim Riggleman said. "If anybody takes some liberties and does anything, then we'll protect him. There will be no free shots, I can guarantee you that. Nobody's going to throw at our guys without somebody getting thrown at."

Morgan hit leadoff, but the fiasco started in the fourth inning. In Morgan's third at-bat, Volstad drilled him in the ribs, Morgan blocking the ball with the protective guard he wears around his left elbow. He trotted to first and said nothing.

Once on first, with the Nationals down 14-3 in the fourth inning, Morgan stole second on the first pitch Volstad threw. On the second pitch, Morgan stole third.

"It's only the fourth inning," Morgan said. "If they're going to hold me on, I'm going to roll out. The circumstances were kind of out of whack, but the game was too early. It was only the fourth inning. If it happened again, I'd do it again."

Morgan eventually scored on Ian Desmond's shallow sacrifice fly, his momentum carrying him close to the front row, where he hollered at a fan. As Morgan made his dash around the bases, Riggleman held quorum with his veteran players.

"The question is, do we throw at them?" Riggleman said. "I said, 'It's your ballclub, if you want somebody getting thrown at, I'll order it right now.' And everybody said, 'Nah, it's over. It's over.' "
In their dugout, the Marlins decided it wasn't. They had taken harsh exception to Morgan's running the bases.

"I know he's stealing bases out of his own doing, he's trying to get back at us," Marlins third baseman Wes Helms said. "We had to show him that we weren't going to put up with the way he was treating us after last night but also trying to take the bases being [down] 10 runs. . . . He gets under everybody's skin. Especially mine."

These videos may not be up for long.




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Gunman James Jay Lee Shot Dead at Discovery Channel Headquarters in Silver Springs Maryland 3 Hostages Safe Explosive Device Detonated

The New York Post reports that an armed man shot and killed by police after taking three people hostage at the Discovery Channel's headquarters in Maryland Wednesday told an NBC producer he had several bombs strapped to his body "ready to go off."

The man, who was known for protesting the Discovery Channel's programming, spoke to the producer for about 10 minutes during the siege, NBC reported.

The network said the producer called the building and was surprised to suddenly be speaking to the gunman.

He identified himself as James Jay Lee and said, “I have a gun and I have a bomb. I have several bombs strapped to my body ready to go off.”




NBC did not reveal the conversation until the hostage situation had been resolved.

Police spent several hours negotiating with the gunman, James Jay Lee, who was upset about the network's programming, after he burst into the suburban Washington building about 1 p.m. waving a handgun and with canisters strapped to his body.

Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said one explosive device detonated on the gunman's body when they shot him, and they were working to determine whether two boxes and two backpacks he also had with him were explosives.

The 1,900 people who work in the building were able to get out safely.

Manger said officers were monitoring Lee on building security cameras and tactical officers moved in when they saw him pull out the handgun and point it at one of the hostages.

Three hostages were released safely.

READ LEE'S DEMANDS (PDF)

Lee had barricaded on the first floor of the building in a complex.

"He's a little nuts," said Yaya Fanusie, an acquaintance of Lee's who sometimes hung out with the activist at a Borders bookstore just down the street from the Discovery Channel headquarters.

"He said that Discovery is supposed to be protecting the environment, but they are not, they are just making movies," said Fanusie, adding that Lee believes that humans should stop procreating because mankind is destroying the Earth.
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Sexy Mid Week Bikinis and Guns 9-1-10

Is there anything sexier than a woman in a bikini shooting an automatic weapon?

I don’t think so.

Visit Guns and Bikinis








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At the U.S. Open: Female Tennis PlayerVictoria Azarenka Collapse in Sweltering New York Heat Wave Caused by Concussion

If you can’t stand the heat, get off the court, or is it kitchen?

The New York Post reports that it wasn’t the heat, at least not completely.

Victoria Azarenka blamed a mild concussion suffered in a prematch fall as the reason for her scary on-court collapse in the first set of her U.S. Open match against Gisela Dulko on Wednesday.

The temperatures on the courts at Flushing Meadows were already into the low 100s on Wednesday afternoon, and Azarenka was laboring throughout the match, which she trailed 5-1. She seemed disoriented and also was favoring her elbow.

But the No. 10 player in the world did not blame the oppressive conditions.

“I was warming up in the gym prior to my match against Gisela Dulko when I fell while running a sprint,” Azarenka said in a statement. “I fell forward and hit my arm and head. I was checked by the medical team before I went on the court and they were courtside for monitoring.



I don't know who this sports babe is, but she's HOT!!!

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They don’t make tennis players like they used to.

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Sarah Palin: Warns GOP Establishment to Return to Conservative Roots or Face being Flushed Out the Party

Sarah Palin told Sean Hannity in essence on his radio show that established Republicans days of being Rinos or Democrat-Lite candidates is numbered.

It’s time to clean house of GOP members that are too politically correct and too timid to stand for Conservatism.

I say bravo for Sarah Palin!

My biggest complaint has always been that we have leaders like Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Mike Pence who need to be eventually driven out the party if they don’t show more political courage and less a craving for approval from the Washington elites.


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SEIU Forgot to Use Spellcheck: Carries Sign that Misspells “American”

This pretty much demonstrates the intelligence of your typical Obama supporter in the SEIU union.

No doubt a product of our failing school system. Don’t forget who controls them too.

Smitty at The Other McCain says, “Everyone is giving the SEIU the Dan Quayle treatment for inability to spell ‘American’.”

Maybe we should bring back literacy tests for voting after all.

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