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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
COUPLED UP: LEWIS HAMILTON & NICOLE S. ON A YACHT IN MONACO + HIS TWITTER RANT ABOUT HIS LATEST RACE
Singer/T.V. personality Nicole Scherzinger and boyfriend Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton and his brother Nic Hamilton were spotted out and about in Monte Carlo, Monaco this past weekend. The Hamilton’s are in town participating in the Grand Prix. In related … Continue
Goliath Helping David: How Microsoft Helps Startups Thrive
Seed accelerators all over the world are taking the very latest startups, providing them with investment and mentoring to equip them with the tools they need to make their ideas a reality and their companies a success.�Capturing�the essence of a seed accelerator whilst refraining from investing in companies it works with, Microsoft?s own BizSpark startup program is helping to support the next Facebooks or Googles as they strive to make their way in a wickedly competitive market.
Interested to see why Microsoft dedicates a considerable amount of resources into�nurturing�startup talent, I spoke to Mark Voermans, Strategic and Emerging Business Manager at Microsoft to see just how one of the world?s most recognisable brands has helped or is helping startups like Seesmic, Evernote and Yammer thrive.
Connecting With Microsoft
The premise of Microsoft?s BizSpark program is to ensure software startups succeed by providing them with tools and services that enable companies working with them to develop their ideas and adapt their products to work with the latest technologies.
The company also helps to connect startups with key figures within the industry, helping to drive external investment, increase�visibility�and lay solid foundations for teams that have just started a business.
Much like Microsoft, BizSpark operates and interacts with startups all over the world. Voermans, working in The Netherlands, underpins Microsoft?s BizSpark operations in the country, seeking out independent software vendors to work with and bring innovative solutions to market.
Software startups may have moved away from Microsoft software but the chances are that they will operate using a small number of tools whether it be from the company?s huge software suites, operating systems or programming interfaces.
At a time when money might be tight, Microsoft makes a point to offer all of its BizSpark entrepreneurs access to all of its software for free during over a three year period, also providing 750 hours of its cloud hosting platform Azure completely free of charge.
Voermans tells me that Microsoft simply looks for potential, investing time and resources into the companies that are looking to do more with their products or services. Startups don?t need to be Microsoft�evangelists�to apply, a loose link to Microsoft via a Windows Phone 7 application or Outlook Add-in would be enough gain the company?s support.
"A lot of what we do is to advise startups and help them make connections. Once these connections have been made, we are able to help suggest tools and products with which they can build.
We like to ensure companies work with at least one Microsoft product or service but many regional BizSpark programs will accept startups that want to join the program because they have the intention of using Microsoft software in the future, allowing the team to suggest tools and services that could expand a company?s operations."
High Potential, High Growth
To apply for BizSpark, startups need to adhere to a small set of conditions. Access is limited to companies with a turnover under $1 million and doesn?t allow them to apply if they offer hosting, Website development, system integration, IT support services or outsourced development.
Startups participate in the program for three years, though Voermans says that Microsoft requires companies to renew their membership yearly to ensure they are still viable entities and are still looking to push forward the development of their business. If a company decides to go public, it is no longer able to take advantage of the Bizspark program.
When Bizspark first started accepting applications in almost a decade ago, applications came from startups that already had close ties with Microsoft.
With no real marketing around the program, Voermans tells me that the company received 500 applications in The Netherlands alone last year, speaking to 290 startups individually to assess the needs and eligibility of their companies.
So far, Bizspark has helped or is helping 600 startups in The Netherlands and around 40,000 worldwide. Spearheading recruitment in The Netherlands, Voermans speaks of his desire to boost the number of Dutch startups with great ideas to make the jump, aiming to double the number of applications in the next financial year.
If a company shows a lot of potential and the ability to achieve high growth, Microsoft will nominate a small number of startups from its Bizspark program to join Bizspark One, a program that brings together the top 100 high potential and high growth startups to accelerate their development further.
Microsoft provides virtual access to advisors and key members within Microsoft, which then assist with product development, provide technical resources and support systems.
Well-known Internet companies Seesmic, Evernote and Yammer are part of Microsoft?s Bizspark One program. Noted for their strong potential to succeed, their ability to help shape the industry?s future and ability to enhance the overall value of Microsoft products, these companies work closely with Microsoft?s Bizspark teams, obtaining customized engagement plans to accelerate their growth.
To assist companies like Yammer or Seesmic, Microsoft makes sure to notify these companies on its product roadmaps, providing exclusive access to its future plans so that they are able to adapt or introduce new features to their services ahead of time, without waiting for new feature sets to be announced. This is just part of a customized plan that is drawn up for each Bizspark startup, which assesses what the company thinks it needs and what advisors think the company will need in the three years it is part of the program.
Each company will then be asked to sign Non Disclosure Agreements, ensuring sensitive information stays within the company but allows a small number of startups to work with the very latest technologies, before their competitors.
Proven Success
Microsoft?s Bizspark program has a long line of�distinguished�alumni; some making waves in the online collaboration space, others getting acquired by Hollywood studios or trying to shakeup the way consumers listen to music on the web.
It?s not widely known that social movie recommendation website Flixster once took its place amongst other startups on Microsoft?s Bizspark program before its�acquisition�by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group at the beginning of May. When the company first joined the program, Windows Phone 7 devices weren?t even on the market but with the company building applications on many platforms, including the web, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry, it shifted its focus to developing for Microsoft?s new mobile operating system as a result of its involvement with Bizspark.
Yammer, a Twitter-like social network for enterprise which has enjoyed huge growth and is reported to be doubling revenue every quarter, has seen the benefits from the program, utilising Microsoft technologies to add social layers to their service: "The Bizspark program has been very beneficial to Yammer. Through the program, we?ve received guidance on which products we should integrate with, what features we should leverage, and what technologies we should use to execute development. As a result, Yammer rolled out a successful integration with SharePoint, adding a social layer to the application"
The reach of Microsoft?s program was demonstrated in The Telegraph?s Startup 100 competition. Of the one hundred companies listed, 18 of them were Bizspark companies, including Appsfire, Screenreach, Songkic, UberVU and Viadeo. Further to that, 6�startups (including Exceedra,�Huddle and�Kobojo)�from the 18 are currently operating under the Microsoft?s Bizspark One guidance.
Conclusion
Microsoft has invested a significant amount of money into advertising its Bizspark program, particularly via sponsorship deals with numerous technology conferences (including our own). The plan seems to be working, with applications rising significantly every year.
The success of Microsoft?s iniative lies in the fact it doesn?t take away from the work that other accelerators are doing. Startups are able to apply for a place on the Bizspark program but also pursue other initiatives which help push their businesses in the right direction, without taking a cut of the startup?s profit in the process.
For Microsoft, it?s a chance to be�evangelical�about its products and services. Startups receive the very best support, a chance to develop using new technology and possibly meeting the right connection to put them on the road to success.
This article was written by Matt Brian at The Next Web, a The NextWomen partner.� See their website here.
Source: http://www.thenextwomen.com/2011/05/31/goliath-helping-david-how-microsoft-helps-startups-thrive
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S.F. Fire Dept. changes policy after crew lets suicidal man drown in San Francisco Bay
SAN FRANCISCO -- Fire officials will change water rescue policy after crews did not try to save a suicidal man who waded into San Francisco Bay and died after about an hour in the frigid water, authorities said Tuesday.
Alameda Interim Fire Chief Mike D'Orazi called Monday's incident troubling and said he directed staff to write a new policy that would allow commanders at the scene to attempt a water rescue.
The previous policy strictly forbade such attempts. It was implemented after budget cuts forced the department to discontinue water rescue training and stop maintaining wetsuits and other rescue gear, D'Orazi said.
"The incident yesterday was deeply regrettable," he said. "But I can also see it from our firefighters' perspective. They're standing there wanting to do something, but they are handcuffed by policy at that point."
Fire crews and police watched as the man, identified by authorities only as an Alameda resident in his early 50s, stood up to his neck in the water at Crown Memorial State Beach, witnesses told KGO-TV. His lifeless body was pulled out about an hour later by a swimmer who went in after him.
"We expected to see at some point that there would be a concern for him," Gary Barlow told the news station.
Perry Smith, another witness, said the man was visible from the shore and was looking at people.
A police official said the decision to not go in after the man was hard, but officers did not have the gear for the
cold water and couldn't risk being pulled under themselves."Certainly this was tragic, but police officers are tasked with insuring public safety, including the safety of personnel who are sent to try to resolve these kinds of situations," Alameda police Lt. Sean Lynch said.
D'Orazi also said crews may have decided it was too risky to attempt the rescue, even if they had not been shackled by the restrictions on water rescues.
In addition to the new policy, Alameda fire personnel will receive training in water rescues, and rescue equipment will be inspected to make sure it is not damaged, D'Orazi said.
The Coast Guard was called to the scene, but the water was too shallow for a boat, according to Lynch. A Coast Guard helicopter was apparently not immediately available.
There are no lifeguards at the beach, said Isa Polt-Jones, a spokeswoman with the East Bay Regional Park District.
Signs at the park advise swimmers to enter the water at their own risk.
Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18176206?source=rss
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Beth Jones: Lesson Learned
My son is six-years-old. He's the child of my second marriage. Somewhere in my attic are the photos from my first wedding, and envelopes of photos from vacations, family visits, and everyday life with my first husband. Interestingly, even after seven years of marriage I never made an album out of the photos from my first wedding, never purchased final prints, just kept the proofs, never committed to sorting them or making an album. In retrospect, that was a decision in itself.
Because my first husband and I didn't have children, after the gavel fell on our divorce we never saw each other again, except two chance meetings that each lasted less than five uncomfortable minutes.
But sometimes I wonder how I'll explain or describe that marriage to my son. It was a part of my life, not exactly a mistake, but ultimately a waste of valuable time, a relationship that lasted years longer than it should have, years that were eventually endured instead of fully lived. I don't want my son to make the same mistake.
I want him to be romantic, to fall in love, to envision a future with someone before it happens, and then find that remarkable someone to spend his life with. I want it to work for him. I don't want him to have to do it twice.
I want him to get it right the first time, unlike his mother.
He's six, so I recognize that this is a conversation that he and I don't need to have for a while. At this point, it's more of an on-going exercise for me. How did I fall in love with someone (and him with me, presumably) who was so ill suited? How could I have not known he'd actually left the marriage years earlier (via an affair)? Why did I allow myself to get so unhappy?
The answer I've come up with so far is that Stuart was the "right" person. But it turned out he was right in ways that didn't actually matter as much as I believed they would. Or they were insufficient on their own. His background was similar to mine (liberal, Jewish, well educated, suburban, professional, financially comfortable). His childhood home had the same wallpaper as mine. For some reason, I imbued the wallpaper with almost mystical significance. When I was able to be realistic instead of ridiculous, I could admit that our mothers selected the pattern, and perhaps they would have been a more successful match than we were.
For those of us who divorce without children, unamicably and without anything to connect us after the paperwork is signed, there's little reason to talk about our exes, especially years later. But those marriages happened. They happened and they failed. So somewhere within them lies a part of our lives and just as surely a number of lessons.
I'd like to teach those lessons to my son. However, I wish it were easier to learn from other people's mistakes. "Watch and learn" is good in theory, but it's rare that humans do anything other than make their own mistakes (oftentimes repeatedly).
I think when the time comes I'll tell my son that I fell in love with Stuart as much for what was around him - his job, his suburban Jewish childhood, his wallpaper -as for what was him.
Second time, I didn't do that. I fell in love with my son's father while we were ice climbing. Turned out he's a lapsed Catholic. Military family. No idea if he had wallpaper in his childhood home. Doesn't matter. Our relationship is enduring, not merely endured.
We can never know another person completely; we all have secrets. I don't want to prevent my son's romanticism, but I don't want him to force qualities onto someone that might not be there. I have years to help him understand this.
Look at the whole person, I'll tell him. Not just the wallpaper they're wrapped in.
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Follow Beth Jones on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beth3wishes
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beth-jones/lesson-learned_1_b_866881.html
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Obama nominates former Chairman/CEO of Edison International to be U.S. Commerce Secretary
ROSEMEAD - President Barack Obama today nominated John E. Bryson, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Rosemead-based Edison International and co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, to be U.S. Commerce Secretary.
Bryson, 67, retired from Edison International in July 2008, culminating an 18-year career at the utility.
Six years into his tenure, he was elected chairman and CEO of Edison International, and from 1990 through 2000 also served as chairman and CEO of Southern California Edison, the company's regulated utility subsidiary.
Before joining Edison, Bryson was a partner in a law firm.
He was president of the California Public Utilities Commission from 1979 to 1982, and before that was chairman of the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Bryson co-founded and served as an attorney for the NRDC, a national environmental organization, following his graduation from Yale Law School.
"For 18 years, John was a visionary leader of Edison International, and we know that he will bring that same leadership to the Department of Commerce," said Theodore F. Craver Jr., Edison International's current CEO and chairman.
Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Co., also congratulated Bryson -- a member of the Disney Board of Directors -- on the appointment.
"John has been an incredibly valuable member of our board, bringing experience and insight to complex issues," Iger said.
"He is a proven leader, with strong
strategic vision and business savvy, along with a keen grasp of policy and its impact on the business environment. It's an ideal combination for a U.S. Commerce Secretary, one that bodes well for the country's long-term economic growth and competitiveness."Introducing Bryson at the White House today, Obama said his nominee "is going to be an important part of my economic team, promoting American business and American products across the globe."
"By working with companies here at home, and representing America's interests abroad, I'm confident that he's going to help us meet the goal that I set of doubling our nation's exports," the president said.
"In this new role, John will be able to draw on decades of business experience across a range of industries -- from his role on the boards of major companies like Disney and Boeing to his leadership in the clean energy industry. That's the expertise that will help us create new jobs and make America more competitive in the global economy."
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, criticized the nomination.
"With gas prices at nearly $4 a gallon, it's certainly eye-catching that President Obama has nominated a founder of an organization that opposes efforts to increase domestic oil production to serve as the nation's key advocate for our economic interests," Issa said. "The nomination of John Bryson to lead the Department of Commerce seems deeply out of touch with our current energy challenge."
Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18175542?source=rss
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Ja Rule: I was 'a little ashamed of myself' over 50 Cent feud
Stephen Lovekin/Getty; Kristin Callahan/Everett
Ja Rule's feud with 50 Cent (r.) began after he received his two-year jail sentence.It looks like Ja Rule is the next celebrity to trade in the good life for a stint behind bars.
The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Atkins, is set to begin serving his two-year prison sentence for an old gun charge on June 8.
Back in July 2007, Ja Rule was caught with a loaded .40-caliber pistol in his car as he left an upper West Side concert. He was sentenced after pleading guilty to attempted possession of a weapon.
But, instead of worrying about what it will be like in prison, the 35-year-old is concerned with getting his latest record released before he begins his sentence.
"I just want to put it out to the world before I go in," he says in a video interview on thelifefiles.com. "It's funny because, I'm about to go to jail, and my main concern is to make sure that I get this album done and out there for the fans."
PHOTOS: THE WORST CELEBRITY FEUDS
Ja Rule also took the time to talk about his feud with fellow rapper 50 Cent, which both artists made public in an exchange of heated Twitter rants. Although he says the two will never collaborate or be friends, he does mention that the beef between them, which started as far back as 1999 according to 50 Cent, is over.
"We can coincide inside of a world. He's doing him, and he's not thinking about me, and I'm doing me and I'm not thinking about him," he says in the video.
He adds, "I was a little ashamed of myself to be even involved with that. Because I'm like, yo, I'm 35 years old and I'm on Twitter beef? That's not something I want to entertain, but I'm a man first, so I'm reading s--- like him sending Tweets and little things about me."
Ja Rule's recent prison sentence does not mark the first time that he has had a brush with the law. In June 2003, he allegedly punched a man in Toronto , who later sued him. One year later, police investigated whether he was involved in a fatal shooting outside a nightclub party, and in July 2004, he was arrested for driving with a suspended license and possessing marijuana.
Cheryl Cole goes into hiding to plan holiday
Cheryl Cole wants to get away
Simon Cowell may not be able to reach her but Cheryl Cole's believed to be holed up in a North London flat with her mum Joan after her axe from The X Factor US last week.
Cheryl, 27, was expected to accept a role on the UK series but last night Tulisa Contostavlos, 22, and Kelly Rowland, 30, were confirmed as the new female judges alongside Louis Walsh, 58, and Gary Barlow, 40.
Instead of watching Simon, 51, on the first semi-final of Britain's Got Talent 2011 on Sunday night, Cheryl was on her laptop surfing the web.
'Cheryl spent most of the evening checking out possible holiday destinations,' a source tells The Sun.
'She can't wait to get as far away from all this attention as possible and was eyeing up destinations in the middle of nowhere.'
And surrounded by friends and family, the Girls Aloud star is feeling upbeat.
A close relative exclusively tells Now: ?Cheryl's a fighter and she's going to bounce back.
'She's got a fantastically successful career back here and she's already been inundated with offers.
SEE VIDEO Ant and Dec confront Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent>>
SEE PICTURES Stars arrive at Simon Cowell's 50th birthday party>>
NEW PICTURES Cheryl Cole wears nude dress to meet Prince Charles>>
SEE PICTURES Cheryl and Ashley Cole: The story so far>>
MORE PHOTOS Cheryl Cole looking red hot at the Elle Style Awards 2011>>
SEE PICTURES The life of Ashley Cole's ex Cheryl Cole>>
FASHION GALLERY SPECIAL Cheryl Cole's fashion history - the highs and the lows>>
Esme Riley�
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NEWS_CELEBRITYNEWS/~3/X8Z5AeqZteM/story01.htm
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Mark Zuckerberg on Oversharing, Social Design and Facebook Revolutions
Speaking to Maurice L�vy, Chairman and CEO of Publicis�Group, Zuckerberg also answered questions submitted by attendees and the public via (of course) Facebook. Hosted by French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the eG8 summit has been thrashing out the�political�digital agenda of the day ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders tomorrow.
Here?s a summary of what Zuckerberg said:
On how much information is enough to share: Zuckerberg says that people should choose their own boundaries. Some people are naturally more public. Ten or 20 years ago, people would have been shocked at the idea of sharing their lives�publicly. Now new tools provide benefit on that. For example, location ? knowing who is around you is valuable but there?s a trade-off against your privacy. Zuckerberg believes that people will find their own balance.
Zuckerberg thinks that people do a good job of choosing which companies to entrust with their data.
He stated that the key reason that Facebook usurped Myspace was its emphasis on real identities, although he noted that there was a role for anonymity online too ? Facebook just isn?t the company to provide it.
Zuckerberg sees users sharing content and information online, and the development of new tools to allow them to do that will be a key trend for the next few years.
On media going social: Zuckerberg is clearly excited by the potential for media to become more social. He noted that only four years after Facebook launched its developer platform, social gaming leader Zynga is bigger than previous top gaming firm EA. Now Facebook wants media to become more social too. The success of social gaming shows that people do more of something if they can do it with friends. Interestingly, he noted that movie ads ? and media in general ? do well on Facebook.
Zuckerberg believes that letting everyone share their opinions can help the best products rise to the top, improving the world for everyone as a result.
Zuckerberg identified e-commerce as another area that could benefit from Facebook platform in future. Facebook doesn?t want to go into these industries itself, simply providing the best platform for others to work with to make them social.
On ?social design?: Zuckerberg talked about the�principle�of ?social design? used at Facebook. For example, friend requests have evolved from ?Yes? and ?No? options to ?Accept? or ?Not Now?. While essentially the same, Zuckerberg says the psychological difference means that people are happier to reject friend requests now than in the days of the ?No? option. This social design principle will be baked into a wide range of products across a wide range of industries in the future ? not just from Facebook but many other companies.
On ?Facebook Revolutions?: Zuckerberg downplayed Facebook?s role in the revolutions and uprisings in the middle east and North Africa, saying that it would be arrogant for one technology company to take credit for what has occurred.
Facebook was ?neither necessary nor sufficient? to trigger these movements, he said, and if it weren?t Facebook it would be someone else. The ability to share their opinions online isn?t a Facebook thing, it?s an Internet thing.
It?s wider than just revolutions too, he believes, giving the example of leaders having pages on Facebook, helping provide the public with greater access to those in power.
On children under 13 using Facebook: Zuckerberg clarified his thoughts on young people under 13 using Facebook, something which is currently against the rules, after it was recently reported that he had said ?Under 13s should be on Facebook?. He said that the legislation around minors using Facebook was too difficult to deal with right now. He believes this legislation needs to be looked at in the future, but the company has no plans to open up the site to under 13s, or to address the issue itself, at the moment.
On mobile: While he stated yet again that Facebook didn?t have plans to go into dedicated devices such as ?Facebook phones?, Zuckerberg said that over the next 5 years there are going to be way more people accessing Facebook through phones than on traditional computers. He said that the company would have ?cool?�announcements�in the mobile space soon.
This article was written by Mark Bryant at The Next Web, a The NextWomen partner.� See their site here.
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Jeff Conaway -- Travolta Touches Family at Gathering
Jeff Conaway's family and close friends got together this weekend to share memories ... and Conaway's "Grease" co-star John Travolta helped make the day a little better.�
Conaway's older sister,�Carla Shreve, tells TMZ ... Travolta sent both flowers and food to the family this weekend. She says the family plans to have Conaway cremated, once the coroner's inquest is complete. The ashes will be kept with the family.
Shreve says they are working on plans for a memorial, but nothing has been finalized.�
Conaway passed away last week at the age of 60.
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Morning Links: Jennifer Hudson Holding Out For $1 Million Book Deal
May
31
Photo: INFdaily.com
Jennifer Hudson is trying to score a book deal worth $1 million but won?t talk about family tragedy
Gossip
Jennifer Hudson?S 80 Pound Weight Drop Still Not Worth $1 Million ? [anythinghollywood]
Snooki Involved In Car Crash With Police Vehicle ? [earsucker]
Sean Kingston In ICU After Jet Ski Accident ? [stupidcelebrities]
Lindsay Lohan Stars In New Richard Phillips Short Art Film ? [dailystab]
Most Popular Celebrities Today ? [celebrything]
Angelina Jolie and Other Best Dressed Celebs of the Week ? [thefashionspot]
Kim Kardashian Engagement Ring ? PHOTO ? [hollywooddame]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inspirationally/CelebrityGossipNewsHeadlines/~3/fpAxFI_0_Xs/
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Dave Berry: Heidi Range and I are useless at sorting out our wedding
Dave Berry is engaged to Sugababe Heidi Range
Dave Berry proposed to Sugababes star Heidi Range on New Year's Eve 2009 while on holiday in India - but they still haven't tied th knot.
Heidi, 28, and95.8 Capital FM DJ Dave, 32, have been together for 7 years and, despite the delayed ceremony, he calls her his 'missus'.
'We don't know [when we're getting married] yet,' Dave tells us.
'We're trying to sort it out. We've had a few dates come and go and we're a bit useless.'
Dave loves living with Heidi but also enjoys having his own space.
'She's amazing. She makes the house smell nice with all her lotions and potions,' he explains.
'But it's good having time apart, too - nothing adds longevity to a relationship like a European tour, that's what I always say.'
Dave Berry answers your questions in Now magazine dated 30 May 2011 - out now!�
SEE PICTURES Engaged celebrities>>
SEE PICTURES Celebrity weddings 2010>>
PICTURE GALLERY Celebrity splits 2011>>
NEW PICTURES Billboard Music Awards 2011>>
SEE PICTURES Rihanna's style file>>
SEE PICTURES Rihanna's rise to fame>>
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NEWS_CELEBRITYNEWS/~3/Ha8KqKsP30o/story01.htm
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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: Mexico Bikini Beach Beauty
She recently placed atop Maxim's 2011 Hot 100 List, and Rosie Huntington Whiteley proved why she deserved the accolade during a beach outing in Mexico over the Memorial Day weekend.
The 24-year-old English beauty was the picture of perfection as she strolled the shoreline in a skimpy bikini while accompanied by a guy pal - as her boyfriend Jason Statham is currently in Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix weekend.
The south of the border getaway comes as Miss Huntington-Whiteley is enjoying a little free time before delving into press duties for her upcoming movie "Transformers: Dark of the Moon".
The Michael Bay directed autobot based blockbuster co-stars Shia LaBeouf and Josh Duhamel while set to invade theaters on June 29th.
Susie Castillo Veronika Vaeková Lil Kim Sienna Miller Jessica Paré
Monday, May 30, 2011
NEWS: POET & MUSICIAN GIL SCOTT-HERON PASSES AWAY AT 62
Legendary Poet & Musician Gil Scott-Heron, best known for “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, passed away Friday at the age of 62. His early albums, “Pieces of a Man” and “Winter in America,” has been credited with influencing other … Continue
Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/05/news-poet-musician-gil-scott-heron-passes-away-at-62
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Happy Birthday Cee-Lo Green!
Cee Lo Green one of the many judges on the new hit show “The Voice” and singer of the popular song “F**k You”, is celebrating his 37th birthday today on Memorial Day! His real name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway and today isn’t the only thing he should be celebrating. He is on a singing competition [...]
Source: http://ksfm.radio.com/2011/05/30/happy-birthday-cee-lo-green/
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Celebrities Who Served In The Armed Forces [Remains]
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Five Things to Know About Green Lantern Before You See It
There's a reason the latest trailer for Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds carefully spells out the premise for you, possibly spoiling key plot points along the way. He's just a tougher character to pitch to the general public than some of his DC Comics brethren. Tell people they'll believe a man can fly, and they figure out Superman quickly. Show them a billionaire dressed like a bat and little more need be said. But a guy who gets drafted into a space army to wield a super-powered green ring in order to protect the universe from evil? That's a little tougher. So here are five things to prime you for the emerald extravaganza that's just on the horizon...
MORE: Get all your Green Lantern news here!
1. The Character Is Older Than Your Grandpa: Introduced in 1940, Green Lantern is only a year younger than Batman, but he's gone through bigger changes. Originally the character was a railroad engineer named Alan Scott, whose ring was powered by a magic lamp inspired by the legend of Aladdin. In 1956, with sci-fi stories gaining in popularity, the character was revived as Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds in the movie), a test pilot who gets his ring from a dying alien named Abin Sur.
2. The Green Lantern Corps Support Diversity in the Workplace: For the guardians of the universe, inducting a human into their ranks counts as affirmative action. In order to wield a ring, one must be without fear, and up until now, a human had never fit the bill. Other members of the group include a sentient planet, a smallpox virus, a cloud of gas, a living mathematical equation and a blind alien with no concept of either green or lanterns who must derive his powers from bell-tones instead. It's a tough crowd, but finally, we're getting our moment to shine.
3. It's Not a Joke: Though Reynolds is primarily known for comedy?even his prior superhero roles in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Blade: Trinity relied on wisecracks?this isn't a spoof. An early trailer riffed on Reynolds' established persona and goofy catchphrases like, "I know, right!" but that was only because most of the effects weren't ready to show. Producers did consider a comedy version of the character some years back, with Jack Black as a proposed lead, but outraged fans persuaded them this was not a good idea. Plus, Reynolds has dramatic chops: In last year's little-seen Buried, he's the only actor onscreen, and he keeps the viewer's attention the entire time.
4. No Rubber Nipples Here: While the trend among movie superheroes has been toward latex muscle suits, Reynolds never even saw his costume on set, instead wearing a gray motion-capture outfit so a digital Green Lantern costume could be added later. Somewhere, Michael Keaton is seething that this idea wasn't invented years ago.
5. It Could All Go Bad: It looks like in this movie, scientist Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) takes a turn toward the dark side after touching some bad space debris. He may only be the first: In comics continuity, all the major characters have turned evil at least once. Hal Jordan's love interest Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) can easily become the midriff-baring villainess Star Sapphire. In fact, Jordan himself once became genocidal and deranged with rage and destroyed his fellow corpsmen. And as for his alien mentor...well, the dude's name is Sinestro. That kinda gives it away.
PHOTOS: Check out this superhero look in our Flick Pics: Green Lantern gallery
Whitney Port Pamela Anderson Vanessa Simmons Michelle Trachtenberg Victoria Beckham
Couples Watch: Halle & Olivier's Sweet Snuggle in Vegas
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez
� Scott Disick celebrated his 28th birthday at Gallery Nightclub inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino ? and he enjoyed champagne with longtime girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian and some close friends. The couple looked excited and laughed when Disick's birthday cake presentation began. (A troupe of feather-waving dancers brought up a lavish cake from Sugar Factory.) After dessert, the two wasted no time dancing and enjoying their evening with friends.
� Christina Aguilera and boyfriend Matt Rutler grabbed a table near the deejay booth at new L.A. nightspot The Beverly. The singer had two bodyguards in tow, as well, and was in an upbeat mood, giggling and dancing in her seat to the tunes before getting up to dance more. Aguilera also made time to snuggle with Rutler for a bit before heading out just 15 or 20 minutes after arriving at the club.
� Nicole Kidman and hubby Keith Urban are workout buddies! The duo stopped by an Equinox gym in New York to take Kristin Kenney's cycling class together.
� Johnny Knoxville and his pregnant wife Naomi checked out the VIP preview night of Tim Burton's exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Knoxville kept his arm around his wife as he guided her through the museum. The Jackass star mingled with fellow museum patrons, including one man with a baby, and also paused to snap pictures on his phone of some of Burton's sculptures. The couple also stuck around to catch a surprise performance by Jane's Addiction.
� By JENNIFER GARCIA, MARK GRAY, CHARLOTTE TRIGGS & JESSICA WEDEMEYER
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Source: http://feeds.people.com/~r/people/headlines/~3/spAY58jQ09Q/0,,20498308,00.html
Karen Carreno Sunny Mabrey Alecia Elliott Kristanna Loken Brooke Burke
Top 70 Most Beautiful Asian Women 50-46
Posted by ILookFlyChick�-�Monday May 30, 2011 07:19
Top 70 Most Beautiful Asian Women 50-46
Please visit www.orble.com for more info. (Don?t forget to click on the google ads on the site to show your support.) When i speak of Asian, I am referring specifically to East Asian countries. Not that i don?t refer to other Asian countries as Asian, I just know more about East Asian entertainment. So I am sorry if anyone is offended that i didn?t include their country or favourite celebrities. That aside, I have compiled a list of celebrities that i find are the most beautiful. I?m sure my list can?t fit everyone, and my knowledge of East Asian celebrities are only limited to the movies, dramas or music I know about, so if i have missed your favourite please forgive me. Introduce me to them and I will try to include them in future lists. I tried to keep my list as current as possible, so i have left out alot of older celebrities. Not that I don?t think older women are beautiful, it?s just if i included every single female in history i would have a seriously long list. So, don?t take this too seriously. Have fun and enjoy. Let?s celebrate real Asian beauty. ^^
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Source: http://ilookfly.com/black-celebs-gossip/top-70-most-beautiful-asian-women-50-46/
Jennifer Love Hewitt Chandra West Melissa Howard Daisy Fuentes Melissa Sagemiller
Top Global Women Entrepreneurs Unite in Brazil for DWEN
The NextWomen COO Joana Picq will be attending, alongside some of The NextWomen heroes such as Cindy Gallop, and partners such as Mutopo Brasil founder Marina Miranda and Lady Geek founder Belinda Parmar.
This two-day, exclusive event connects female founders, CEOs, innovative leaders, business icons, experts and thought leaders who run businesses in the world?s top markets to celebrate the impact that women-owned businesses have on today?s economy.
The second annual event is a distinct opportunity for women entrepreneurs from around the world to connect with other successful women leaders to gain innovative insights on growing an international business.
Speakers include:
- Moira Forbes, world renowned entrepreneur and Publisher of Forbes Woman;�
- Fernanda de Lima, CEO of Gradual Corretora, one of the largest independent brokerages in Brazil;�
- Carley Roney, founder of The Knot, the leading wedding resource and most-trafficked online wedding destination;�
- Venture consultant Judith Clegg, founder and CEO of Venturing Unlimited and The Glasshouse;�
- Leila Velez, president of the Brazilian beauty chain Beleza Naturals;�
- Sarah Prevette CEO of Sprouter, recipient of�Inc.com?s 30 Under 30 honor; and,�
- Reina Otsuka, founder & CEO of Ecotwaza, a leading eco-friendly Japanese product export site.
Brazil provides the ideal setting as nearly half of the country?s entrepreneurs are women and has made its way onto the world stage in the last decade as the world?s fifth largest country and eighth largest economy . Additionally, as the country prepares to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, an even brighter light will shine on businesses looking to expand internationally under the leadership of the country?s first woman president, Dilma Rousseff.
?We at Forbes witness the increasingly powerful role women now play in driving economic growth and social development around the world. Female entrepreneurs are at the center of this dynamic transformation, representing the greatest ?emerging market? for opportunity and prosperity in years to come,? said Moira Forbes, of Forbes Woman.
With speakers representing Canada, the United States, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, Dell Women?s Entrepreneur Network will address the following topics:
- Doing business in Brazil;�
- How the right technology strategy can promote business growth;�
- Increasing customer and employee loyalty;�
- Taking social media to social commerce;�
- Scaling for growth;�
- Talent management;�
- Learning from Gen Y; and,�
- The female consumer as a hot market segment for any industry.
?Businesses and organizations of all kinds thrive on the entrepreneurial spirit of women leaders who take risks, identify new markets and inspire their teams to do the very best in service of their customers. The Dell Women?s Entrepreneur Network brings these women together to learn from one another, share innovative practices and foster relationships that will ultimately help them continue to grow their businesses,? said Karen Quintos, senior vice president and Chief Marketing Officer, Dell Inc.
Women leaders are invited to join in the conversation and share who and what inspires and motivates them as entrepreneurs and leaders via the Women Powering Business Network group on LinkedIn.
Source: http://www.thenextwomen.com/2011/05/26/top-global-women-entrepreneurs-unite-brazil-DWEN
Jordana Brewster Adriana Lima Tamala Jones Laura Prepon Joanne Montanez
The 50 State Conspiracy Road Trip
TruTV.com:
Each of America's 50 states has something unique about it -- including its own conspiracy.
Whether its the supposed secret city under the airport in Denver, Colorado, or the six granite slabs in Georgia that supposedly features Satan's version of the 10 Commandments, there's something American about believing that people are trying to keep you from finding out the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Read the whole story: TruTV.com
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/30/the-50-state-conspiracy-road-trip_n_868714.html
Samantha Mumba Leighton Meester Rachel Weisz Lacey Chabert Camilla Belle
Which Kardashian Will Survive the Apocalypse?
We heart the Kardashian clan just as much as some of you love to hate them! But instead of gushing about the goofy and often-glamorous gals, we decided to quiz them on each other: high school yearbook style.
We recently caught up with Kris, Khlo� and Kourtney here at E! Headquarters and had them vote which sis is smartest and sexiest and what not.
First up, we wanted to know, post-nuclear war, which Kardash would the cockroaches still be keeping up with?
RELATED: Will Kim's wedding be bigger than Kate Middleton's?
The family votes: Khlo�. Duh!
But in case you haven't seen any of her on numerous reality shows ('cause if you did that claim is hardly debatable), Khlo� is the toughest due to her off-the-charts street-smarts and other brain powers.
We still say she's a force to be reckoned with who would kick the crap out of anybody in her way.
"I'm not like a he-man!" Khlo� defended herself. "I'm just the strongest...I'm incredibly street smart and savvy and like I have common sense and I can navigate everything."
According to the strongest K., her common sense extends to men, whipping up "a good dinner," and just, ya know, "everything!"
Khlo� may have the most street-smarts, but when we pressed her on who's the smartest of the three (after originally claiming that title for herself too), both she and Kris agree that Kourt is the smartest Kardashian overall.
Khlo� spilled, "Kourtney's incredibly book smart and just business oriented."
To which Kourt replied: "Yes. Thank you."
And as for the hottest Kardashian? We're sure we don't even need to ask, do we?
Kim, with a unanimous vote.
Elisha Cuthbert Arielle Kebbel Sara Spraker Kate Mara Tamie Sheffield
Sean Kingston crashes watercraft in Fla.
MIAMI (AP) � Authorities say rapper Sean Kingston is hospitalized after a crashing a personal watercraft into a Miami Beach bridge.
By Chris Pizzello, AP
Sean Kingston at the premiere of the documentary film "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," in February.
By Chris Pizzello, AP
Sean Kingston at the premiere of the documentary film "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," in February.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino says Kingston and a female passenger were injured when the watercraft hit the Palm Island Bridge around 6 p.m. Sunday. Pino says both were hospitalized early Monday at Ryder Trauma Center, but he didn't know their conditions.
Pino says authorities are investigating the crash, and "nothing at this point would indicate that alcohol played a role."
A representative for his label Epic Records confirmed early Monday that Kingston was in a crash and "was now stabilized." No further information was provided.
Kingston rose to fame with his 2007 hit "Beautiful Girls" and was also featured on songs by artists including Justin Bieber.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Gabrielle Union Jodi Lyn OKeefe Sarah Shahi Charli Baltimore Jordana Brewster
The 'Glee' Kids on Tour: Vest in Show
Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith and the rest of the 'Glee' cast kicked off their second annual summer tour this weekend, rocking the sold-out Staples Center in Los Angeles, a far bigger venue than the New Directions kids played last summer.Seen here in a uniform of blue jeans, red tops and white vests, the cast was joined on stage by second-season breakout star Darren Criss, in full Warbler uniform. He brought the Warbler boys along for their hit rendition of Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' and Pink's 'Raise Your Glass.'
Gleeks also heard the main cast sing their covers of Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' and Britney Spears' 'Slave 4 U,' and Michele reportedly brought down the house with her rousing versions of 'Don't Rain on My Parade' and 'Firework.'
The concert series, by the way, will be captured for posterity as producers prepare to release 'Glee Live! 3D!' in August.
And you have to laugh: Dancers dressed as the cheerleading Cheerios kicked off the show by storming the audience to hand out barf bags. Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) would be proud!
Check out this fan video of a comedy bit from the concert, starring Heather Morris and Darren Criss:
Source: http://www.popeater.com/2011/05/29/glee-summer-tour-begins/
Karen Carreno Sunny Mabrey Alecia Elliott Kristanna Loken Brooke Burke
Sunday, May 29, 2011
This Hangover is tough to shake; Angelina Jolie is a road warrior
This Hangover is tough to shake; Angelina Jolie is a road warrior
Happy Memorial Day Sunday, folks. Donna Freydkin here. And in celebrity news today...
It earned consistently middling to negative reviews, but that didn't stop the Wolfpack from ruling the box office. The Hangover Part II raked in $31.6 million in its Thursday opening, and another $30 million on Friday, per early estimates, earning $61.6 million in two days.
And the couple is open with their kids about everything -- even sex. "There are no secrets at our house," says Pitt, now starring in Cannes champ The Tree of Life. "We tell the kids, 'Mom and Dad are going off to kiss.' They go, 'Eww, gross!' But we demand it."
See photos of: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt
To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/usatoday-LifeTopStories/~3/PfzGtoGpe94/1
Raquel Alessi Amanda Bynes Laura Harring Deanna Russo Lake Bell
What Did Keyshia Cole Say When Asked If She Has Advice For Kim Kardashian?
Posted by ILookFlyChick�-�Sunday May 29, 2011 07:49
What Did Keyshia Cole Say When Asked If She Has Advice For Kim Kardashian?
Keyshia Cole was spotted in Beverly Hills grabbing some coffee with her son Daniel Jr. and her adoptive Mother Yvonne Cole. The r&b singer who just recently tied the knot with Cavaliers guard Daniel ?Boobie? Gibson, was approached by the paparazzi and asked if she had any advice for the newly engaged Kim Kardashian. What Did Keyshia say? ?I don?t have any advice to give to anyone,? As she laughed and walked off.
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T.A.T.u. Dania Ramirez Susie Castillo Veronika Vaeková Lil Kim
WordPress: The Free Software With a Big Economy & How You Can Get Involved
WordPress has evolved in huge ways over the years, and generally for the better. What started out as a system known exclusively as a blogging platform can be used to run a wide variety of site types.
The team is constantly updating the software with features that cater to a variety of users from bloggers to theme developers: as an editor, for example, some of my favorite features that have come out in recent years are simply things that make managing the publication pipeline easier.
And with the framework offered by the platform for theme developers so ridiculously easy to understand, WordPress has probably made more PHP dabblers out of designers than any other project.
The History of WordPress
WordPress was born out of a predecessor known as b2, one of the first open source blogging platforms. In 2003, b2 was already responsible for running more than 2,000 blogs ? considering that the concept was still fairly new and had only been embraced by a swath of early adopters, these numbers were significant, though a pale shadow of WordPress? reach today.
In 2003, Matt Mullenweg ? CEO of Automattic and the face of WordPress ? and Mike Little forked b2 to create WordPress. To fork is an open source development term that refers to the process of taking an existing open source project and creating a new branch of it, often with its own new leadership and development team. It was then that Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little?s project superseded b2, and even b2?s founder Michel Valdrighi is a contributing developer for WordPress.
Mullenweg founded Automattic, Inc. in August 2005, which held the WordPress trademark until September last year, when the company relinquished its most valuable asset to the WordPress Foundation.
?It?s important for me to know that WordPress will be protected and that the brand will continue to be a beacon of open source freedom regardless of whether any company is as benevolent as Automattic has been thus far,? Mullenweg said in a blog post at the time.
Automattic puts much of its resources into developing WordPress, which as an open source project they do not own. You?ve probably heard of some of their other projects, too: the free hosted blogging service WordPress.com, the forum software bbPress, spam filter Akismet, BuddyPress (a social networking plugin for WordPress), Gravatar and the hugely popular WordCamps. That?s just naming a few.
The Rise of the WordPress Economy
For years, the commercial viability of open source development has been a subject of much debate, with the traditional answer from open source advocates suggesting businesses offer support services around their open source projects. Unfortunately, such approaches make scaling a business incredibly hard, as these services are one-to-one.
But as WordPress began to grow in popularity and adoption, it became apparent that there were ample opportunities for businesses to take a scaleable one-to-many approach.
In fact, Automattic was one of the first to do so: ?I have always believed that the Open Source foundation of WordPress would provide incredible opportunities for businesses to be built. When I founded Automattic about 5 years ago it was the first attempt in our community to do that in a large, targeted way, starting with anti-spam service Akismet,? said Mullenweg in an interview. ?The recent success of the WP premium theme market is just the latest example.?
Anti-spam services are a necessity for online publications. Every time another botnet is taken out, it doesn?t take long for a new one to take its place, and site owners come under a constant barrage of ugly,�embarrassing�spam that needs to be cleaned off their sites.
Just about every WordPress user runs Akismet, because it?s highly effective and can be used for free, but the company offers plans from $5 up to $100 for businesses, even though they could get away with charging businesses much more for the same service.
It?s yet more evidence that Automattic, even as a for-profit company, takes its belief in accessibility and fairness seriously.
Automattic hasn?t once lost sight of the platform that drives its success. ?That said, these commercial successes are predicated on the growth and stability of the underlying WordPress platform, and I devote about half my creative energy to improving and accelerating the core platform of WP, and I?d suggest anyone else making their living from WordPress do the same,? said Mullenweg.
Since then, commercial themes started springing up all over the web. Consumers who weren?t interested in the basic ? though often quite attractive ? free themes could look into the premium options available to them, and the demand for such themes proved to be huge, and only ever growing.
The naysayers in those early days are still remembered for claiming that with so many free themes available, it?s unlikely that any theme business would reach beyond a very specific market segment.
It wasn?t long before Envato, the company who had bootstrapped its way to profitability on the back of marketplaces such as ActiveDen (then FlashDen, before Adobe got antsy about the name) and AudioJungle, saw that there might be something to the whole theme market and set up ThemeForest. ThemeForest is now the biggest WordPress theme retailer on the web.
?The first inkling came when in our closed private beta, which was just for getting people to upload content, we actually started seeing sales. That?s the only private beta where this has happened, so that was a pretty good sign! After a few months of sales, it was clear that WordPress was a very fast grower and of course after a year or so of continuous growth it really became clear just what a great niche it was to be,? said Collis Ta?eed, CEO of Envato and co-founder of the company.
Envato doesn?t make the products sold on ThemeForest themselves ? though they have been known to put themes up for sale on the site that were developed for internal projects, such as the old theme for The Netsetter. Its large base of authors drive product development while the company focuses on the platform.
On the other hand, Elegant Themes is a small theme shop where each theme is designed in-house. Like ThemeForest, they saw fast growth, though it took around a year to really take off.
?The business was profitable on day one (that?s not saying much, considering there were no startup costs) and has been growing steadily since inception. It probably took a year or so for it to develop into something that I would call a ?real business.? We have experienced some considerable growth in recent months as well, which can probably be attributed to me finally finishing school and dedicating 100% of my time to the site (I have been a full time college student up until a few months ago). Activity on the site has more than doubled in the past year,? said Nick Roach, the shop?s founder.
?What started as a one-man operation 3 years ago has slowly developed into a real team effort. There are currently 10 people that work for Elegant Themes, although this consists of a mix between full and part-time staff. This team manages a quickly-growing member base of 65,000. The area that we allocate the most resources to at the company is tech support.?
As the business has grown, Roach has been able to bring on two full-time developers to get themes coded faster, but he still does all the design work himself. ?I think it would be great to bring a new designer on board as well, but this isn?t as high on our priority list. I love to design, and a lack of new theme concepts hasn?t been our bottleneck.?
The GPL Licensing Controversy
The fast growth of the market brought issues with it, and the one that?ll be remembered is the controversy around GPL licensing.
The open source camp, spoken for largely by WordPress? core developers, went head-to-head with theme developers who insisted that GPL licensing would kill their sales.
The contention was that themes were derivatives of WordPress, and thus had to comply with the terms of the GPL license and in turn, license themselves under the GPL. Legal professionals offered varying takes on how that would hold up in a courtroom, with the claims made cloudier by the unhidden agendas of both sides, but we?ll leave it at that: we?re talking about the WordPress economy, not intellectual property law.
Some theme developers even started claiming they would pull out of the market and move on to other platforms, and things came to a head when Chris Pearson and Matt Mullenweg took the argument to Twitter, which led to a live debate on Mixergy that day.
But Mullenweg, calm, cool and reasoned during the debate, won out when only weeks later, Pearson?s DIY Themes announced that they would adopt the split-GPL license for their flagship product, Thesis.
When I asked Mullenweg for his thoughts on the controversy since it came to a climax during that debate in mid-2010, he said it was done and dusted.
?I think the issue of licensing in the WordPress community is settled ? we now have dozens of theme companies making many millions of dollars a year on 100% GPL products, which are just as Free as WordPress itself. I?m excited about this because it shows that business can thrive while still putting users first and protecting their rights and freedoms, which is what Open Source is all about,? said Mullenweg.
Some of the last holdouts to GPL licensing did so on ?principle? ? or so they claimed ? believing that the interpretation of the GPL in this case was wrong. But those who were worried about sales had their fears allayed when they made the switch.
?After we introduced GPL licensing on all code components for WordPress (that is plugins, and the code part of themes), we didn?t see any change in sales at all. This is great as it enabled us to bring our offerings more in line with the WordPress foundation?s aims and to ensure compliance with the WordPress licensing system,? said Ta?eed, whose marketplace requires all users to adopt the split-GPL license. But 100% GPL licensing is on the cards, he says.
?Licensing the code for WordPress themes under the GPL is a requirement for legal compliance, however licensing the entire theme including the design and assets under the GPL is the preference of founder Matt Mullenweg and many in the WordPress community. I?m not sure what the impact would be for Envato?s authors if we moved our marketplaces in that direction, and this is something we are currently reviewing,? said Ta?eed. ?The wider implications for the protection of our author?s designs, their ability to include non-GPL items such as icons in their themes, the impact on our other marketplaces and the general author vibe towards such a move are all important considerations for us. And of course we always take into account that as much as is feasible we?d like to stay in the spirit of WordPress as it?s such a fantastic product and community that has enriched so many lives across the web.?
The initial move from proprietary licensing to split-GPL is an easy one, but it?s the move to 100% GPL that gets tricky. Many authors, for instance, use icon sets provided under other licenses in their themes, and thus it?s unlikely that 100% GPL will ever be a completely mandatory license on the marketplace.
Free Software that Generates Jobs
Perhaps one of the things Mullenweg can be most proud of is that his platform and the economy that has developed around it sustains the livelihood of probably hundreds of families and thousands of people, drawing on a wide range of talent in a loyal, dedicated community.
Between theme developers who sell their products on marketplaces like ThemeForest, companies that make WordPress products and employ support staff, product managers, developers, designers, lawyers, accountants and more, and Automattic itself, the reach is huge.
When open source loyalists say that their philosophy can change the world, you only need to look as far as WordPress to see that mantra in action.
?It?s very difficult to say how many authors support themselves on marketplace sales because incomes in different countries vary wildly. So while earning a few hundred dollars a month might be enough to get you by in one country, in another it might be less than a week?s wages. Of course some of our authors are earning figures in the tens of thousands of dollars a month, and in any country that is a very comfortable living!? said Ta?eed.
?I?d say over a hundred people making their living would be a fair guess. We have eighty authors and counting in our Elite Author program which is for authors who have sold over $75,000, and that sounds like more than enough to get by!�It?s easy to see that many of the top authors on the Envato Marketplaces are WordPress theme and plugin authors. It?s a fantastic market with huge potential and certainly an area that still has more room to see even more authors earning great paychecks.?
Of course, Ta?eed is talking about marketplace authors only: that?s not counting the dozens of staff and hundreds of contractors that Envato employees.
How to Get Started Earning with WordPress
With such a rapidly-growing economy and room for more players, I?d be surprised if you?d made it this far in the piece without thinking about how you can get in on the action yourself.
There are some basics you?ll need: enough PHP knowledge and understanding of WordPress and its theme hooks to code a theme and some design chops for theme development, or stronger knowledge of PHP and WordPress if you want to get into plugin development. But beyond the obvious prerequisites, Mullenweg, Ta?eed and Roach have some thoughts that may help newbies bust into a competitive market.
?I think the next big trends will be around customization and social.
Many people are finally stretching out and finding their voice online with the power and flexibility of WordPress but still have sites that look like many others out there. Every WordPress user deserves a site as unique and beautiful as they are,? said Mullenweg, indicating that those looking to get in at the start of the next wave of big sellers should focus on such features.
?Social still doesn?t match search engines as a means of distribution for blogs, but it?s growing. There are very interesting things in the pipeline from WordPress.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Gravatar that build bridges between the islands of blogs.? Mullenweg won?t say what exactly is coming down the pipes at Automattic, but he says that there are interesting plans this year that will impact the way theme developers do business.
Ta?eed indicates that there?s a growing market that hasn?t been saturated as much as theme development, and that?s plugins. Given that themes are usually design vehicles for features that are already in the WordPress codebase, it?s no surprise that there?s less competition in the premium plugin world ? the level of programming proficiency required for plugin development is greater.
?While themes have been a huge driver for the WordPress economy, plugins are certainly not to be ignored. There are some very impressive companies who have built up around WordPress plugins, one such example is GravityForms who sell a wonderful plugin for making forms of all varieties on WordPress,? says Ta?eed. ?For us at Envato, the CodeCanyon marketplace which originally just offered PHP scripts and Javascript code for sale, was really jumpstarted by the introduction of WordPress plugins. The top plugin on our sites rivals some of the top WordPress themes.?
Despite running his own theme store, Nick Roach says that marketplaces are a great way to start out and test your abilities.
?I think that ThemeForest is a great place to start. The barrier to entry is non-existent and benefits are almost immediate (assuming you are a good designer!). It can also be used as a starting point before later transitioning into your own separate company.
Starting your own business from scratch, on the other hand, is a slow and potentially heart-breaking process, but with that risk comes the reward of creating something much more exciting and fulfilling,?
he says.�?I think there is still plenty of room in the market for new theme shops, and I would encourage people that have an entrepreneurial spirit to act on it. Just be sure that you love what you do, because bootstrapping a new company isn?t going to be quick or easy.?
Roach may surprise some when he suggests that the number one area of focus isn?t, in fact, design or code ? though that?s not to say you can get away with ugly designs or poor code, which is evident when you look at the shop?s gorgeous�offerings.
?If I were to give one piece of advice to theme developers who are thinking about starting their own business, it would be to really focus on providing quality tech support to their customers.
There is a reason that our ?theme development? company has 7 people doing tech support and only 2 people actually ?developing? themes.
Building your own community is your chance to turn customers into fans ? something that is much more difficult to do on sites like ThemeForest, which has lead to rather disparate support systems on and off the site.?
7 out of 10 of Roach?s staff are dedicated to customer support, and the man himself spends half of his workday digging into support queries and questions from potential customers, which keeps him in touch with the needs and concerns of his users.
And a final piece of advice from Roach suggests that those looking to develop their own theme shops should strongly consider a subscription model over individual theme sales.
?The longevity of a theme is highly dependent on constant updates and improvements. These aren?t static HTML templates, and they need to be updated as WordPress evolves. If a theme company that relies on one-time purchase starts to see a declined in business, then their ability to update and improve old themes becomes hindered as their resources decline,? he says.
?This could potentially leave a lot of their users with buggy, unusable themes ? especially if they end up going out of business completely. With the subscription model, on the other hand, there is always happy relationship between the customer and the developer. The only reason to update the themes is if people are using them, and if people are using them then they are active, paying members. This means that as long as people are willing to pay, they can rest easy knowing that our themes will continue to work flawlessly, forever.?
With WordPress theme, plugin and service sales up across the board in 2011, it?s sure to be an interesting year. More and more people are getting into the game, and competition might mean developers have to fight harder for each sale, but it also drives innovation.
And innovation in online publishing is what WordPress is all about.
This article was written by Joel Falconer at The Next Web, a The NextWomen partner.� See their website here.
Source: http://www.thenextwomen.com/2011/05/25/wordpress-free-software-big-economy-how-you-can-get-involved
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