In what must be the cutest example of human-robot interaction I’ve seen in recent months, researchers at Georgia Tech are helping kids teach robots how to play Angry Birds and, in the process, help the kids regain muscle movement and control. The process is fairly simple. Kids play games and a little two-legged robot watches. The robot keeps an eye the score, recreates what the child… Read More
Not a jellyfish. Nor a sperm. In fact, this is a cloud formed by a Russian Soyuz rocket as it rose through the thin air of near space on the morning of Tuesday 8 July. The cross, right at the top of the formation, was made by the Soyuz’s four boosters, as their plumes ballooned out in the thin air. [Roscosmos via New Scientist]
DARPA, the government agency known for its robots and other crazy futuristic inventions, just announced a new project that could lead to the quicker development of advanced military vehicles. This new project is called Materials Development for…
Gamers transitioning from the Xbox 360 to Microsoft’s current gen console might have been feeling the painful loss of one of the Xbox 360 store’s killer features, but now they need not pine any longer. Microsoft has flipped the switch and now gamers will be able to try a demo of a game and then just pay later for access … Continue reading
Paris Couture Week is happening right now, which means that celebs are out and about in the City of Light in outfits that are making us drool.
Emma Watson almost stole the show at Valentino in a sexy, two-piece lace ensemble, while Lily Collins looked like a modern-day cool girl at Chanel.
Check out our picks for best-dressed of the week and let us know if you agree.
Lily Collins in Chanel
This is power clashing at its best. Her fancy confetti red-and-silver skirt paired with her casual printed sweatshirt is effortless. We also love the subtle nod to Americana.
Emma Watson in Valentino
Everything about this outfit is perfect. The lace crop top is balanced out by the high-waisted, maxi skirt and her single pearl earring makes the entire ensemble a little edgy.
Alexa Chung in Erdem
Few things go together as well as a LBD and red lipstick. Though we raised an eyebrow at her decision to wear velvet in July — the fit of the dress is so spot on, we’re willing to look past it.
Charlize Theron in Dior
Just when we thought Charlize couldn’t look any better, she goes and wears this little metallic number. Not only does the short hemline show off her famous legs, but her minimal makeup and sleek updo allow the frock to really shine.
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
This bouclé dress looks great on the “X-Men” star. We love how she has chosen to wear a gold cuff and metallic heels to make the outfit a little less sweet and a little more sexy.
Victoria Beckham in Victoria Beckham
There is no better spokesperson for Victoria’s brand than the designer herself. It’s nice to see the former Spice Girl out of her traditional black duds and into something colorful. This is the perfect summer dress for a day at Wimbledon.
Freida Pinto in Miu Miu
Pinto’s simple embellished dress is just so darn pretty. The silhouette is extremely flattering and the actress’ pulled-back hair makes the look very ladylike.
Keira Knightley in Simone Rocha
The soft colors on this dress are so elegant on Knightley while the drop-waist skirt, crocheted collar and gold pumps all work harmoniously.
The cast and crew of “Fast & Furious 7,” aka Your “Fast & Furious” Family, left a note on the film’s Facebook page acknowledging both the end of the franchise’s production and the tremendous loss left in the wake of Paul Walker’s death.
“There was a time when we didn’t know how we could go on, or even if we should. But we listened to you, and you inspired us not only to keep going but to try and make the best FAST & FURIOUS movie yet,” the note reads.
The Facebook post goes on to cite star Vin Diesel as the glue that held the cast together following the car accident that killed Walker last year. Also mentioned in the letter are co-stars Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.
“Our family is big and strong but it won’t ever quite be whole again without Paul,” the entry continued.
“Fast & Furious 7” is due out in theaters on April 3, 2015, the same weekend that “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was released during this year. That film grossed $95 million in its debut frame, which should put into perspective the type of opening Universal is expecting from the final chapter in this lucrative series. Read the full letter from Team “Fast & Furious” below.
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KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Interfax-Ukraina news agency is citing a Ukrainian Interior Ministry official as saying at least 30 servicemen were killed after pro-Russian rebels fired missiles at them early Friday.
Zoryan Shkiryak, an adviser to the Interior Minister, was quoted as saying authorities would react swiftly to the attack. Ukrainian government troops have been mired in fighting for more than three months with a rebel army seeking secession for eastern regions of Ukraine.
Rocket attacks on army encampments and checkpoints have become an almost daily occurrence and the death toll among troops has been steadily mounting.
Government forces had appeared to turn the tide last weekend, however, when they forced rebels out of their stronghold in the city of Slovyansk.
As a leading entrepreneur, Jennie Enterprise is known as a visionary with a gifted practical imagination and relentless discipline. She has founded and grown a portfolio of successful businesses across a diverse spectrum including the Reebok Sports Club, CORE:, Institute of Skinovation and Ink Ventures.
Jennie’s career as a lifestyle arbiter began as an enterprising student at Fordham Law School, where she developed the conceptual and business model for what would later become Reebok Sports Club. The Reebok Club came to fruition in 1991 and is credited as the precursor for the “lifestyle” category. As a vanguard of this important category, Jennie foresaw the trend of catering to people’s desire for personalized luxury.
Expanding on this insight, Jennie founded CORE:, a membership-based lifestyle company that provides curated access to unique experiences celebrating the art of ideas, delve into the essence of pressing current topics, unleash creativity, and spark innovation through inspiring combinations of people and events. CORE: members are global thinkers who have significantly altered business, culture, and society. They share a common sensibility and a passion to change the world around them. CORE: exemplifies Jennie’s expertise in curating communities and experiences, programming traditional and new media, developing luxury service environments, rapidly driving new business ideas from concept to execution, building strong brand identities, and establishing infrastructure platforms on which to develop high-growth ventures.
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
Navigating through life with a profound appreciation for the “puzzles” we encounter is a narrative that I believe has led to an inspired value system. I believe that optimism is a virtue and you need to manage your own world of ideas and develop the art of communicating those ideas so that they are compelling and relevant. I believe it is important to have a laser-like focus on a vision you are authentically passionate about, and artfully communicate why it’s compelling AND have the will and the unwavering commitment to execute. Be profoundly engaged in every moment, have an accessible and unpretentious ethos, possess an enthusiasm for discovery through intelligent risk taking, and never underestimate the importance of being nice, humble and having a sense of humor. Never forget the opportunity you have every day to do what you choose to do, no matter how challenging the puzzles may seem. When you are inspired by that reality you will capture the imagination of everyone around you.
How did your previous employment experience aid your position at CORE:?
I started my first business when I was 13, and have been a serial entrepreneur since then. Through my experience I have learned to be nimble and resilient, and believe in my ability to always influence the outcome through hard work. Everything great comes from hard work, a clarity of purpose, authentic passion and an infectious enthusiasm.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
If you love what you do and are passionate about it there is a huge intersection between work and play. If, like me, you are lucky enough to collaborate with your spouse, then the balance is inherent in the way you structure your life.
What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at CORE:?
It was a challenge to raise money for CORE: before and after 9/11. I was literally, and metaphorically, building something from nothing, and transitioning from a “laboratory environment” to going “LIVE” 24/7.
What advice can you offer women seeking to start their own business?
Have the courage to be ambitiously imaginative, because the only way to change the world is to imagine it differently. Relentlessly pursue relevance, have an infectious enthusiasm for what you are doing and never dilute the vision, but rather refine and sharpen it into focus. Hold yourself accountable for everything.
Once the business has launched, develop a cultural infrastructure that is wired to endure staggering challenges, and develop a sensibility that informs all decisions – stress test the essence of the business so that it has a heart and soul. Also, identify and nurture the best talent to help your business succeed and inspire your employees to be the best version of themselves. Most importantly, don’t look for approval from others. Believe in what you are doing and relentlessly focus on executing.
What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?
I actually think that women have a unique advantage in the workplace. With all else being equal, smart, creative, innovative, prepared and focused women are uniquely capable of manifesting a super evolved soft – not weak – nuance that is both charming and combustible.
How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?
I never had mentors, but I have always studied successful people, and, to a certain degree, I am a bit of a social anthropologist, so my mentors are amalgams of people I have met and read about. I find that it is just as powerful to observe behavior and traits you do not want to emulate, as observing behavior and traits you do want to aspire to have.
Which other female leaders do you admire and why?
JK Rowling, Sara Blakely, Margaret Thatcher, Diane Sawyer, Anna Wintour, Arianna Huffington and Dangene Enterprise. I like the personal stories that most of these women have of courage, relentless perseverance, and the willingness to take risk and fail brilliantly. I also admire how all of these women have ultimately changed the way we think and experience the world.
LOBELVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police found a store of firearms Thursday at the home of a 15-year-old boy charged with shooting a longtime member of the National Guard at a Tennessee armory as investigators explored possible motives, an official said.
“Several” weapons were uncovered in the search, said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh DeVine, and ballistic experts examined whether any were involved in Wednesday’s shooting in the rural community of Lobelville, about 50 miles southwest of Nashville. DeVine said agents were looking into “all leads” to piece together the “circumstances … and the motivation for the crime.” But the analyses of the weapons found at the teen’s house suggested the suspect did not use a gun seized at the armory.
The suspect didn’t work at the armory, which is usually locked, but somehow gained access to the building and fired several shots, authorities said. One struck Sgt. 1st Class Michael W. Braden, 45, who had been with the guard for more than 20 years and served two tours in Kuwait, law enforcement and Guard officials said. He died later at a hospital.
Maj. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston, who oversees the state’s National Guard, said no extra security protocols were planned because he believes “security policies are pretty good as they are.”
“I put out a memorandum this morning to all of our armories to ensure that we continue to do the policies that we already have in place,” he said.
However, he acknowledged the loss of a comrade is tough.
“It’s always a tragedy when we lose a soldier under any conditions, but to lose one like this is heart wrenching,” said Haston.
The teenager, who was expelled from high school for drug offenses, was being held without bond at a juvenile detention facility, DeVine said. He could, however, be tried as an adult if the case is shifted from the juvenile system. The suspect was arrested without incident at his family’s home in Lobelville, set amid rolling hills and woodlands.
It was unclear whether the suspect and victim knew each other. But Braden, a father of three children, had wide contacts in the area because of outreach with local inmates assigned to help clean the armory as part of a program led by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department.
A sheriff’s department K-9 officer, Rodd Staid, said Braden often supervised the prisoners on the cleaning detail and would try to find them jobs or encourage them to consider military service after their release from custody.
“Excellent guy who would do anything to help anybody,” said Staid. “It’s a tragedy. We lost a good man.”
DeVine said the building doesn’t have surveillance cameras, but at least one other person in addition to the shooter and the victim was at the armory at the time of the shooting. But DeVine said it was unclear whether there were any eyewitnesses.
Willodean Kilpatrick, a neighbor of the suspect, said the boy lived with his aunt and arrived about a year ago from Louisiana. She said she would sometimes exchange pleasantries with the boy as he passed and described him as “quiet.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam issued a statement Thursday lamenting Braden’s death.
“It’s a tragic day when we lose a decorated hero who has served his country so well,” Haslam said.
The shooting was the second at a Tennessee National Guard armory in nine months. A Guard recruiter, Amos Patton, has been charged with trying to kill four of his superiors when he opened fire at an armory in Millington in October. Four Guardsmen were injured. At the time, the Guard said security measures were followed correctly.
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Associated Press Writer Adrian Sainz in Memphis contributed to this report.
Bill O’Reilly is not the biggest fan of his Fox News colleague Sarah Palin’s call to impeach President Obama.
The former governor caused a stir by comparing Obama to an abusive spouse and telling America to push for his removal from office. On Thursday, however, O’Reilly and his weekly guest Bernard Goldberg dismissed the idea.
Goldberg called it “crazy” and “beyond terrible,” and O’Reilly signaled that he agreed, saying that it would harm Republicans.
“All of President Obama’s other problems…would recede,” he said. “It would all be about this impeachment.”
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