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The Military Has Found The Perfect Use For Video Game Controllers In War

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Air Force EOD Bomb

When the military needs to deal with the deadly threat of an Improvised Explosive Device, it may be time to take out the Xbox controller. These and other video game controllers have become the standard controls for robot-operating bomb technicians.

It's about controller familiarization.

"Gaming controllers help the younger guys get up to speed quicker," said Tom Phelps, director of North American products for the company iRobot.

Phelps' company produces Roombas— those little autonomous robots that clean home floors — as well as a series of bomb-mitigating robots that became increasingly popular with the military in the last 15 years.

IEDs are the single most deadly apparatus militants have employed to kill or injure coalition forces.

The only way to survive an IED is to stay away from it or disarm it. Generally, Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams send in a bot to inspect a possible IED first, rather than sending in a human.

They can even dispose of IEDs with a robot, either by placing a charge to blow the bomb in place (BIP) or by removing a key element from the explosive, rendering it inert.

Delicate work, as you can imagine.

Packbot Controller Console"The first generation bots had a puck style controller," said Phelps. Early editions of the iRobot PCC — Packbot Control Console — look like an arcade game from the '70s compared to modern gaming controllers.

Younger guys in the ranks had to learn on a large box that had knobs and wheels and buttons.

The learning wasn't going well.

"The feedback from the military was, 'what can you do to make learning this system easier,'" said Phelps.

So Phelps and company called in a few outside consultants, who promptly referred them to the gaming industry.

"By 2006, games like Halo were dominant in the military," said Phelps. "So we worked with the military to socialize and standardize the concept."

That concept being use of actual handheld gaming controllers to maneuver bots on the battlefield. Phelps says the first versions needed an adapter to fit into the PCC.

Air Force EOD BombSince 2007, though, they've standardized the connections.

"We're basically using off the shelf controllers," said Phelps.

He explained that iRobot teamed up with manufacturers like Logitech and standardized their product so that it "would ship out" complete with gaming controllers.

He said there was no copyright or legal issues with either Microsoft or Sony.

"It was considered a very strong success, younger soldiers with a lot gaming experience were able to adapt quickly," concluded Phelps, "there are similar trends in law enforcement, as the change out occurs with retired officers and younger recruits who grew up playing various games."

SEE ALSO: Troops are becoming attached to their battlefield bots

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If You Love Twitter Hashtags, Jimmy Fallon And Justin Timberlake Will Show You How Very Wrong You Are

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There's almost no reason to use hashtags. If you use those ugly thought-tagging pound signs in your tweets, cut it out. You should probably have more #faith in people to understand your #subtext. #lifeadvice

Here's a video with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake that demonstrates how you come across when you get overzealous with your hashtag usage. It's not flattering, but it's funny.

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Why 'Shark Tank' Investors Had Absolutely No Interest In A Gourmet Pickle Business

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Lynnae's Pickles Shark Tank

At first glance, Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles, one of the contending businesses on this week's "Shark Tank" season premiere, looks like a pretty good business. They've seen very impressive growth in their first year.

But according to the Sharks, their pricing and product choices mean the business is set to crash into an inevitable ceiling. 

The very personable Lynnae Schneller and Ali Cullinane, friends from Tacoma, Wash., based the product on a secret family recipe from one of their grandmothers. The business showed potential, with $144,000 in sales in its first year and products available in 26 states. Plus, they had a meeting with Target lined up.

That charm didn't last long, however. When they asked for $125,000 for a 20% stake, the Sharks broke down step-by-step why Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles didn't have the growth potential to be a major player.

Price is the problem.

The pair's gourmet pickles sell for about $6.99 at retail and $4.00 wholesale, they said. In comparison, an average jar of pickles costs $3.00 to $3.50 in supermarkets.

The moment that price differential was revealed, the Sharks started to turn.

"You've just walked into a huge risk," investor Kevin O'Leary said. "Why would Target put a $7.00 jar [on shelves] when the market's at $3.00?"

The pair's defense is that their price is in line with other specialty retailers. But they had a hard time explaining why their product is so different from any other. They also couldn't explain how they'd get past making a product that can be pretty easily imitated or replicated by someone with deeper pockets for cheaper.

"Do you have anything that's so differentiated people are going to say 'wow'?" Mark Cuban asked.

They said they appeal to a "gourmet, high-end audience," but that market simply isn't that big, the Sharks said. And, beyond competitors, anyone with the time and initiative can make pickles on their own at home for a tiny fraction of the price of buying them.

It's a matter of time before they get crushed.

The business fundamentally has a ceiling, Mark Cuban told the pair.

The pair described their strategy as attempting to "explode into the market" and get a lot of distribution quickly. But the Sharks believe they won't be able to get anywhere near challenging a big competitor without getting knocked out.

"You guys hustle, which is great, and you're creative. But the big guys aren't paying attention to you because you're at $144,000 in sales," Cuban said. "You don't matter to them. But as you grow — and you will — they'll start paying attention, and they'll make a decision. Do I buy them? You're not big enough. Do I crush them by just putting out a comparable product? Probably."

You usually can't overcome pitching to the wrong audience.

The pair have a nice and growing business, but not one with the sort of nationwide and rapid growth potential that these investors look for.

"You aren't worth more than $600,000," O'Leary said. "And I don't think you can sell these pickles for $7.00 at Target."

In this case, personal preference also played a major role. Sharks Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec backed out in part because of business concerns, but also because they simply don't like sweet pickles.

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KANYE WEST: 'I Want To Be The Anchor Of The First Trillion-Dollar Company'

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Kanye West

Kanye West is at it again, talking the talk of the grand plans he hopes to one day accomplish.

The rapper's latest rant comes out of a lengthy interview with the BBC, in which West says, “I want to be the anchor and the force behind a billion dollar company … and after I’ve made that billion-dollar step … I eventually want to be the anchor of the first trillion-dollar company."

And he hopes to do that by designing basketball uniforms — we think.

I want to make uniforms for my high school basketball team through brand Yeezy. I want to make that one step and then another step, and then eventually do uniforms for the entire city. Then I want those uniforms to be hot and make money, and then I eventually want to be the anchor and the force behind a billion dollar company. And after I've made that billion dollar step then I can go in and say 'I've got an opinion on this' and that could be a $10 billion step. I eventually want to be the anchor of the first trillion dollar company.

Good luck with that!

But West isn't nervous about his ideas, because, well, he says he's "a futurist, mentally.”

“They will play this interview in five years,” he explains. “They will play this interview in 10 years, and say, ‘He called that. He called that. He said that was going to happen, that was going to change… I’m a post-modernist [as a] career."

Watch the out of control interview below:

SEE ALSO: Kanye West Says 'I'm The No. 1 Rock Star On The Planet' In Crazy BBC Interview

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Former 'Dexter' Producer Had A Much Better Ending For The Series Finale

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dexter promo debSunday was the series finale of Showtime's serial killer drama "Dexter." 

After eight long seasons, many were disappointed by the series' anticlimactic finish. 

The Atlantic and Vulture called the finale "terrible." Variety said it was a "sloppy sendoff" for Showtime's popular series. Even Buzzfeed said it was "unbelievably awful."

The Associated Press' headline was "Dexter Cuts Its Own Throat In Sappy Series Finale."

For those who missed out, here's what everyone's talking about. [MAJOR SPOILERS]: Debra's left brain dead, Dexter kills the man responsible, is questioned for his death, but let go after it's ruled self-defense. Hannah flees to Argentina with Harrison. Rather than go with them, Dexter sails his boat into the heart of a hurricane — really — at the episode's end in an apparent suicide attempt. We then see Dexter as a lumberjack (what?) in Oregon.

E! Online caught up with Clyde Phillips who served as executive producer on the series for the first four seasons about the ending to "Dexter."  

While he said he was fine with the way the show ended and believes the cast and crew "did a good job" he shared that his ending for the show would have been much different. 

And it wouldn't have involved Michael C. Hall becoming a lumberjack.

"In the very last scene of the series, Dexter wakes up. And everybody is going to think, 'Oh, it was a dream.' And then the camera pulls back and back and back and then we realize, 'No, it's not a dream.' Dexter's opening his eyes and he's on the execution table at the Florida Penitentiary. They're just starting to administer the drugs and he looks out through the window to the observation gallery. 

"And in the gallery are all the people that Dexter killed—including the Trinity Killer and the Ice Truck Killer (his brother Rudy), LaGuerta who he was responsible killing, Doakes who he's arguably responsible for, Rita, who he's arguably responsible for, Lila. All the big deaths, and also whoever the weekly episodic kills were. They are all there." 

This sounds more in line with the ending that a lot of people thought would eventually come of Dexter and his dark passenger. 

Do you think this would have been a better ending or were you happy with the way "Dexter" finished its eight season run?

SEE ALSO: The "Dexter" series finale was disappointing

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Here Is Ted Cruz Doing A Darth Vader Impression On The Senate Floor

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On Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) referenced a speech by Ashton Kutcher and read "Green Eggs and Ham" to his daughters at bedtime.

On Wednesday morning, by the 18-hour mark of his marathon speech in opposition to the Affordable Care Act, he did a Darth Vader impression. 

Cruz compared his battle to defund Obamacare in the continuing resolution to the George Lucas classics. Cruz was inspired by Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) reference to a "a rebellion against oppression," which conjured up the image of the Rebel Alliance fighting against the Empire. In this case, he and Paul are the Rebel Alliance, fighting against the Empire of the Washington, D.C., establishment.

"Immediately upon hearing that phrase, I wondered at some point if we were going to see a tall gentleman in a mechanical breathing apparatus come forward and say, in a deep voice, 'Mike Lee, I am your father,'" Cruz said, in a Darth Vader voice, referencing Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). 

"The Empire will strike back," Cruz said. "But at the end of the day, I think the Rebel Alliance — I think the people — will prevail."

Here's the video, via Red Alert Politics:

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Jon Stewart Surprises Stephen Colbert To Mock Congratulate Him On Emmy Win

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Stephen Colbert Jon Stewart

Stephen Colbert broke Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" 10-year Emmy winning streak during Sunday night's awards show, and the tension between the two TV hosts is now thick.

Well, sort of.

Colbert joked on his show Tuesday, "As Mother Theresa once said, 'it's not enough to win — others must lose.' And our victory was made that much sweeter Sunday night when you consider who we vanquished."

He continued sarcastically, "It's true folks, I ended Jon Stewart's 10 year reign of terror. The only thing left to do now is give Jon a call and wish him a sincere 'bite me.'"

With that, Stewart appeared on-stage, full of love and congratulations for his fake arch nemesis.

"I ... I couldn't be happier for you," Colbert says straight off the bat. "I love and respect you, I just stopped by to congratulate you ... I mean, you're the emergency contact on my gym membership."

Stewart concedes, "I would be upset, but I can't because I'm an executive producer on your show so I won again motherf---er!"

Watch the amazing segment below:

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Video Archive

Meanwhile over on last night's "Daily Show," Jon Stewart seriously told viewers, "I have one regret about the Emmys and that is that I was unable to attend and share in the joy for my friend Stephen Colbert, who won a long overdue Emmy."

He continued, "I believe Stephen has created something that has never before been seen on television."

Watch his kind words below:

During Colbert's Emmy acceptance speech, he thanked his “friend and brother” Jon Stewart for encouraging him to act like an “idiot” on TV.

Now Stewart just has to bury the hatchet with his real rival, Piers Morgan.

SEE ALSO: Piers Morgan Says ‘It’s Over For Jon Stewart’

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A Complete Guide To The Men's Fashion In 'American Psycho'

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Patrick Bateman

Whoever dressed the cast of American Psycho (2000) nailed the flamboyant men's style of the 1980s. The closer you look, the more on point you realize they were.

So lets take a deep dive.

In the film, no character escapes the signature 80s details — the low gorge on the lapels, wide shoulders and the long jacket length.

And Patrick Bateman looks perfect in his Valentine Couture suits and Oliver Peoples glasses.  

Pinstripes are a must, as is condescension and an AmEx.  Leave the humility at home.  

Justin Jeffers is the editor of The Fine Young Gentleman. You can follow The Fine Young Gentleman on Instagram and Twitter.

Patrick Bateman and Timothy Bryce sit together in the opening scene, both in their naturally suited state. Bateman's ensemble is good, but Bryce's wins out for its less conservative pairing of a taupe suit, white shirt and blue, red and gold stripe tie. Note the arch on his tie, it is one of Bryce's signatures—that and his coke and steroid habits.



This is classic Bateman—pinstripes, repeating motif tie (Hermes perhaps?) and a white collar with a blue colored body for the shirt.



The headphones are badass and likely plugged into a Discman (Google that if you don't know it). It was cutting edge for the 1980s, no doubt. And I would put money on that overcoat being cashmere, if not vicuna—a textile meant for gods.



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'Need For Speed' Trailer Starring Aaron Paul Looks Like The Sixth Season Of 'Breaking Bad'

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The first trailer for "Need for Speed" is out.

We've been waiting a long time for the popular video game series to be made into a movie — especially with the popularity of the "Fast & Furious" franchise.

Fans of "Breaking Bad" can get excited as the film stars Aaron Paul in his first big film.

Dakota Johnson, who was recently cast in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" adaptation, will co-star.

The opening line to the trailer makes us immediately think of Paul's character in "Breaking Bad." Actually, if you're a fan of the show, the trailer plays out like a sequel to the series which is ending this Sunday.

"Need for Speed" hits theaters March 2014.

SEE ALSO: 15 movies to see before the end of the year

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Business Insider's Nicholas Carlson Is Writing A Book About Marissa Mayer!

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nicholas carlson stressed

Big congratulations to our Chief Correspondent, Nicholas Carlson, who is in contract with Hachette to write a book about Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and the battle to save Yahoo!

Veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher, who has written excellent books herself, broke the news earlier on All Things D.

Last month, we published Nicholas's extensive profile of Marissa Mayer. This story, which took six months to research, write, and edit, is the most in-depth profile ever written about one of the most celebrated CEOs in the world. The story was extraordinarily popular with our readers and has now been read by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

The folks at Hachette's Grand Central Publishing division liked Nicholas's profile so much that they have asked him to expand it into a book. The book will tell the inside story of Wall Street hedge-fund mogul Dan Loeb's struggle to take over and then resurrect Yahoo! It will also reveal new behind-the-scenes details about Marissa Mayer, Tumblr founder David Karp, Alibaba chairman Jack Ma, and other leaders of the global technology industry.

Nicholas has always wanted to write a book, and we have encouraged him to do so. Nicholas will remain our Chief Correspondent and continue writing for Business Insider while he researches the book. Then, next summer, he will likely take a short leave to write it.

This is a proud moment for Nicholas and Business Insider.  We salute Nick's success and are thrilled to see our journalists and original journalism continue to get the recognition they deserve.

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Diddy Obliterates Forbes' List Of Highest-Earning Hip-Hop Artists

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Jay Z DiddyForbes released its list of the highest-earning hip-hop cash cows, and it's clear that Diddy makes way more than 50 Cent.

And he's glad that Forbes got it right, telling the magazine, "You started learning how to count right, I see. Thank God!"

Sean Combs, AKA Puff Daddy/P.Diddy/Diddy, reeled in $50 million in the past 12 months, thanks to his Bad Boy record label, Sean John clothing line, Blue Flame agency, and endorsement deal with Diageo’s Ciroc vodka.

The rap mogul has payed close attention to Forbes' rankings over the years, and hasn't always agreed with its estimates of his fortune.

In 2007, Diddy teamed up with Jay Z and 50 Cent on the track "Forbes I Get Money Billion Dollar Remix" to celebrate their inclusion on Forbes' first-ever Hip-Hop Cash Kings list. Click to hear the brag anthem.

But when he slipped from the number-one spot in 2010, he fired shots at Forbes, rapping on a Rick Ross track:

"F--- the Forbes list; let's tell the truth, I ate more/

I got a billion, baby - time to get me eight more."

Diddy has an estimated net worth of $580 million, so he can afford a little creative license.

Here's the complete list of Forbes' Highest-Earning Hip-Hop Artists:

1. Diddy — $50 million

2. Jay Z — $43 million

3. Dr. Dre — $40 million

4. Nicki Minaj — $29 million

5. Birdman — $21 million

6. Kanye West — $20 million

7. Lil Wayne — $16 million

8. Wiz Khalida — $14 million

9. Ludacris — $12 million

10. Pitbull — $11 million

11. Drake — $10.5 million

12. Snoop Lion — $10 million

13. Eminem — $10 million

14. Kendrick Lamar — $9 million

15. Pharrell Williams — $9 million

16. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis — $9 million

17. Swizz Beats — $8.5 million

18. Tech N9ne — $7.5 million

19. 50 Cent — $7 million

20. Lil Jon — $6 million

21. Rick Ross — $6 million

22. Mac Miller — $6 million

23. Young Jeezy — $6 million

24. Questlove — $6 million

SEE ALSO: Beyoncé And Jay-Z Top Forbes' Highest-Earning Celebrity Couples List

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Highly-Anticipated 'Avengers' TV Spinoff 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D' Premiere Was Largely Overhyped

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agents of shield hero

ABC's highly-anticipated "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." debuted last night to a huge 11.9 million viewers.

Like many Marvel fans, we tuned in to see the mysterious return of Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his crew suit up to take down ordinary villains.

So how was it?

Honestly, it was pretty "meh." 

We didn't love it, nor did we hate it, but for a show that was highly regarded as must-see TV of the fall, it didn't deliver a pilot that will be talked about long after next Sunday's "Breaking Bad" finale.

With plenty of references to the films and corny humor, here are our gripes with the season premiere.

Totally thought this was going in a different direction.

If you weren't familiar that the show was going to follow the Extremis storyline from "Iron Man 3," then it feels like "SHIELD" is going to take a different route.

In the beginning, we're introduced to Michael and his son Ace.

shield michaelMichael appears to be a normal guy, but it's soon introduced to us that he has superhero capabilities. Cool! So, we'll be following the lives of other people with super powers who aren't the Avengers?

Not so fast. 

Michael turns out to be injected with a highly dangerous Extremis serum. Much like the innocent people who were being tested on in "Iron Man 3" under Aldrich Killian's (Guy Pearce) watch, the serum will make him explode if agitated. 

That said ...

Major plot-hole: Can't SHIELD just consult Tony Stark on Extremis — er "project Centipede"?

robert downey jr iron man 3

Presuming the pilot of the series takes place after "Iron Man 3," the all-knowing SHIELD team had to hear about random people blowing up all over the place, right?

Then they would know that Killian the mastermind behind the serum which most likely led to "project Centipede" (not as cool sounding as Extremis).

But where would the fun in that be, right?

If this has you hoping for a future Robert Downey Jr. cameo, don't get your hopes up. It's pretty unlikely considering his salary for a Marvel film

Cobie Smulders shows up for a small cameo and then just disappears.

marvel's agents of s.h.i.e.l.d. shieldSmulders reprises her role of SHIELD agent Maria Hill oh so briefly in the beginning of the episode to consult a fellow member. Though she pops up once more in the episode, she's gone for the rest of the action. 

We know Smulders is still under contract with the final season of "How I Met Your Mother" currently airing on CBS, but it didn't seem believable for the actress to disappear when the team would have needed her most later in the episode. 

Guess we're left to presume she was just "working on other missions."

Hopefully, we'll see more of her as the series continues.

The "humor" is painful.

Here are a few examples of actual dialogue from the premiere.

Phil Coulson reveals he's alive by stepping out of a dark corner and blames it on bad lighting.

"Sorry, that corner was really dark and I couldn't help myself ... I think there's a bulb out."

A Spider-Man reference ... "With great power comes ..."

They went there.

After confronting Michael about his powers, Skye (Chloe Bennet) starts to utter the iconic Spidey phrase but instead of finishing the line with "comes great responsibility," — which would have been even more corny — we get this: " ... a ton of weird crap that you are not prepared to deal with."

... And a "Snow White" nod.

One of the agents begins an NCIS-like crime-scene investigation with the words "High ho ... off to work you go."

We know the show was made to appeal to a family audience, but there are ways to do that without lame attempts at humor.

The Over-Abundance of Marvel References

Talk about beating a dead horse.

While Marvel fanboys may have crooned or lit up every time Tony Stark, the Hulk, and a clever sneak-in of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson's character) was casually referenced, the mentions begin to feel forced after the first 20 minutes.

It's as if they had to be dropped in every few minutes just to remind us of the show's obvious connection to the highest-grossing movie of last year.

We get it. You're a Marvel show.  

Use the references wisely like when Coulson makes a mention about one of the show's characters looking and sounding like someone dressed in cosplay outside of Stark Towers.

At the episode's opening, Michael's son Ace is looking at a series of Avengers toys. When asked if he wants one of the superhero toys, he's disinterested, showing he's not impressed with a want-to-be replica. 

Neither are we. 

Are we watching "Back to the Future"???

flying car agents of shieldAt the end of the episode, Agent Coulson's car randomly transforms into a flying vehicle and he zooms off.

While kid's probably loved this, we were waiting for Coulson to channel Doc Brown with a "Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads."

WHAT WAS INTERESTING:

In one of her short appearances, Hill (Smulders) hints there's more to Coulson's brush with death then we or even he know. Coulson believes he was in "Tahiti" healing. If he wasn't there, where was he really? Is this Coulson even really Coulson? Could he be a clone? We'll stop getting ahead of ourselves.

Keeping it family friendly.

It's been been far too long since there's been a good series that the entire family can gather around to watch together. ABC used to be good at this with TGIF Fridays and Wonderful World of Disney Sundays

Consensus: Give it a view. Just don't go in with really high expectations.

The show has a lot of potential with where the series can go with the Extremis storyline. Clark Gregg reprising his popular role of Agent Coulson is the obvious scene stealer. If done right, Joss Whedon can smoothly set up a transition from the television show to the upcoming movie releases.

At this point, it feels like "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." can go either way from here from the trailer previewing the rest of the season.

Watch the series trailer:

SEE ALSO: The only 13 new shows worth watching this fall

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See Jon Hamm And Amy Poehler's 'Losers Only' Emmy Party Invitation

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Jon Hamm Amy Poehler

"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards — and lost them all.

"Parks and Recreation" actress Amy Poehler has been nominated nine times — she too has walked away empty handed every time.

In order to celebrate their losses after Sunday's Emmy Awards, Hamm and Poehler hosted a Losers Lounge at Soho House following the telecast.

And the losers came out in droves, including the hosts' pals Jimmy Kimmel, Elisabeth Moss, David Spade, Fred Armisen and January Jones.

But if a winner showed up to the bash, they were required to cough up a donation to the Worldwide Orphans fund.

By the end of the night, the loser squad raised almost $20,000 for the cause.

If you think the party was a joke by Hamm and Poehler, check out the very serious invite sent out below (via THR): 

Emmy losers invite

SEE ALSO: Jon Stewart Surprises Stephen Colbert To Mock Congratulate Him On Emmy Win

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The Best Quotes From Robin Williams' Hilarious Reddit AMA

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the crazy ones sarah michelle gellar robin williams

On Wednesday, comedian Robin Williams did an Ask me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit, and even through text-only answers, the prolific funny man's personality really shined through.

Williams was promoting his latest project, The Crazy Ones, which airs Thursday on CBS. Most know him from standup comedy and a number of television shows and movies, such as Good Morning Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, and Aladdin.

We've collected some of his best answers on everything from gaming to his favorite bands. You can read the full AMA here.

On who's his favorite celebrity to impersonate:

"Oh my god, Jack Nicholson. He once was with me at a benefit and leaned over and said 'even oysters have enemies.' In a very intense voice. I responded with 'Increase your dosage.'

Dana Carvey does my personal favorite impression of myself. It's accurate. And kind."

When asked whether he was scared being around Nicholson, Williams wrote, "It's more fascinated than scared. He says things that even Buddha goes '...what did that mean?'"

Here's his Jack Nicholson impression (language warning):

On how he cheered up Steven Spielberg when he was filming Schindler's List:

"I think I only called him once, maybe twice. I called him when I was representing People for the Valdheimers Association. A society devoted to helping raise money to help older Germans who had forgotten everything before 1945. I remember him laughing and going 'thank you.'"

On what he was wearing during the AMA:

"My god! I have on nothing but Google Glass! And I'm downloading as we speak."

One of the reddit moderators wrote, "It's interesting."

On what gives him a sense of wonder, and his favorite childhood book:

"My children give me a great sense of wonder. Just to see them develop into these extraordinary human beings. And a favorite book as a child? Growing up, it was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - I would read the whole C.S. Lewis series out loud to my kids. I was once reading to Zelda, and she said "don't do any voices. Just read it as yourself." So I did, I just read it straight, and she said 'that's better.'" 

On what kind of music he listens to:

"To be honest, I'm kind of challenged in terms of new music. I listen to a lot of Jazz, specifically Keith Jarrett piano solos. And for me, if you want just wonderful ballads and love songs, Tom Waits. I might also have to throw in Radiohead, but I can't quote specific lyrics. AND PRINCE! For those special nights."

On whether he had any behind-the-scenes stories from the set of Mrs. Doubtfire:

"Yes. One time in makeup as Mrs. Doubtfire, I walked into a sex shop in San Francisco and tried to buy a double-headed dildo. Just because. Why not? And the guy was about to sell it to me until he realized it was me - Robin Williams - not an older Scottish woman coming in to look for a very large dildo and a jar of lube. He just laughed and said 'what are you doing here' and I left. Did I make the purchase? No. * Did I walk away with a really good story? *Yes."

On playing video games:

"No! I haven't [played GTA V]. I'm still waiting for the next Call of Duty. It's been very unusual for me because I've done trips overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan, and I would see guys who had just come back from patrol playing Call of Duty, and I would say 'you're living this stuff! And yet you're still playing this game...'

I don't usually play online, because getting my ass kicked by an 11 year old is very humbling!"

Here's Williams performing for troops in Kuwait on one of his USO tours (language warning):

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Hundreds Set The World Record For 'Simultaneously Twerking' In NYC

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Move over Miley Cyrus, the newly appointed "Queen Diva" of twerking is Big Freedia, who earned a Guinness World Records title today by gathering 358 people in Manhattan's Herald Square to booty shake simultaneously.

It was, as they say, a "Record Breaking Booty Shaking."

How does one accomplish most people twerking at the same time?

Well, it was all being taped for Big Freedia's reality show, "Queen of Bounce," which premieres October 2 on Fuse.

Everyone was invited to participate, but they had to follow these rules:

Big Freedia Twerk Rules

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Big Freedia, a New Orleans musician famous for the booty-popping move:

Big Freedia twerking

Freedia's dancers demonstrated the routine the crowd then emulated:

Big Freedia twerking

And then Guinness Book of World Records judge, Charlie Weisman — who also happens to be my very own brother — tallied the twerks. It was indeed a record!

Big Fredia Guinness Book of World Records

Here's a montage of what went down (and up, and then down again) at the event: Big Freedia gives Miley a run for her money:  Things got pretty twerk-tastic: And there were twerkers of all ages:

As for that other famous twerker, Big Freedia tells Fuse"Get me and Miley together so I could give her ass some lessons!"

SEE ALSO: 'Twerk' Is Now A Word In Oxford Dictionary Thanks To Miley Cyrus

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Kid Rock Lists His 'Balinese Oasis' In California For $13.5 Million

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kid rock malibu mansion

Musician Kid Rock is selling his Malibu, Calif. compound for $13.45 million, according to celebrity real estate blog The Real Estalker.

Rock (née Robert James Ritchie) bought the Point Dume property — which is described by the listing at CaliforniaMoves.com as a "Balinese oasis" — in October 2006 for $11.6 million.

The home has just over 8,000 square feet of space with an open floor plan and huge, stunning rooms. The master bedroom even has his-and-hers walk-in closets.

The five-bedroom mansion sits on 1.54 acres of property, with a pool in the backyard, as well as a mini guest house.

According to real estate blog Trulia, Rock still has plenty of homes left in his real estate portfolio. He also owns a 6,000-square-foot waterfront mansion in Detroit; an ocean front home Jupiter Inlet Colony, FL; a condo in Nashville, TN; and two adjoining estates northwest of Detroit.

Welcome to Kid Rock's "ultimate Balinese oasis" in Malibu.

Source: CaliforniaMoves.com



The zen-themed mansion has over 8,000 square feet of space.

Source: CaliforniaMoves.com



The floor plan is open, with tall ceilings and arched hallways connecting the rooms.

Source: CaliforniaMoves.com



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
    






See How Lucasfilm Uses Video Game Tech To Create Amazingly Realistic Movies

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If you thought the 2009 blockbuster "Avatar" was visually amazing, Lucasfilm has a message for you: You haven't seen anything yet.

Lucasfilm, the studio founded by George Lucas, the creator of the "Star Wars" saga and "Indiana Jones" series, has always been known for inventing new ways to use computer graphics.

Its latest trick is to use video game development technology to create the realistic computer-graphics scenes it's known for in less time by letting actors and directors see the CGI they're working with as they act.

The Inquirer's Lee Bell attended a recent event hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts where Kim Lebreri, Lucasfilm's chief technology strategy officer, showed how a modified game engine can be used in combination with "performance capture stages" to film scenes full of computer generated imagery without having to wait for artists and animators.

Here's a video of the tech in action:

Here's how it works:

All of the actors wear full-body motion capture suits and wear camera rigs mounted on their head that capture their facial movements. 

That motion data is sent to a computer rendering the scene. In this case, the scene is essentially the same thing as a level in a video game.

This means that almost any aspect of a scene can be changed at any time while filming. For instance, a director can see what a scene would look like if it were filmed at different times of day or in different weather conditions. 

While the actors act out their roles, a CGI character is overlayed on top of their body in the computer rendering. Thanks to the motion capture tech, the CGI character does everything the actor does — from awkward shrugs to a frenzied smile.

The game engine also simulates physics for in-game objects, which means that an actor can interact with CGI props and see what it will look like.

Why it's awesome:

This is very similar to the technology behind James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster, "Avatar."

zoe saldana avatar

However, what Lucasfilm is showing has the benefit of 5 years of graphics and video game technology improvements behind it. 

Since so much can now be shown while "filming," the processes of pre-production/production/post-production can take place simultaneously. If the artists have a 3D model ready, the director can see what it looks like in the scene as it's being filmed. If it's not ready, it can be added later.

It's also incredible to see how quickly this technology is moving forward. Here's a video  from 2010 in which Conan O'Brien visited Industrial Light & Magic and got to try out their real-time motion capture — it's laughably bad compared to where they are today (skip to 4:55):

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5 'Breaking Bad' Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

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breaking bad walter white house

With "Breaking Bad" ending its series run this Sunday on AMC, fans may be wondering what to do after they bid farewell to their favorite meth kingpin. 

Sure, there's a spinoff series in the works. But while we're waiting for "Better Call Saul" (and hoping it's good), there's another way fans can get their "Breaking Bad" fix. 

Why not take a trip to some of the actual filming locations?

FourSquare has put together a list of locales for die-hard fans of the series to visit.

See where to find the actual Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant, A1 Car Wash, or Saul Goodman's office and more below. 

The law office of Albuquerque's favorite lawyer Saul Goodman ...better call saul breaking bad

... is home to a store named "Hooligans."

saul goodman office dirty bourbonAddress
9800 Montgomery Blvd NE
AlbuquerqueNM 87111 

Gus Fring's Los Pollos Hermanos fast-food restaurant …

los pollos hermanos breaking bad

los pollos hermanos breaking bad

… is actually a burrito joint named Twisters.

twisters los pollos hermanostwisters breaking bad

Address
4257 Isleta Blvd SW
AlbuquerqueNM 87105

The White's A1 car wash first seen in the pilot ...

breaking bad car wash... is really the Octopus Car Wash.

octopus a1 car wash breaking badAddress:
9516 Snowheights Cir NE (Menaul & Eubank)
AlbuquerqueNM 87112 

Jesse and Jane's duplex apartment from season 2 ...

jesse jane breaking bad... looks like it's available for rent.

jesse apartment breaking badAddress:
325 Terrace St SE
AlbuquerqueNM 87106

The motel where Wendy the prostitute lived ...breaking bad wendy

... is actually called the Crossroads.crossroads motel breaking badAddress:
1001 Central Ave NE
AlbuquerqueNM 87106 

Not on the West coast? No problem.

You still have a chance to check out a "Breaking Bad" exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC through October 27. 

There you can find everything from Walter White's tighty whiteys to the hazmat suit.

WalterWhite yellow suit

SEE ALSO: 'Breaking Bad' creator Vince Gilligan says show's success is due to Netflix

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Bill Clinton Does His Best Bono Impersonation After Rock Star's Impression Goes Viral

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On Tuesday, U2 frontman Bono did a spot-on impression of former President Bill Clinton while on a panel for the Clinton Global Initiative.

Clinton got wind of the impression and in turn decided to try his best Bono. 

A sunglass-wearing Clinton joked at CGI, "I've been singing so loud and screaming at these concerts that I'm hoarse, so I gotta be careful with my voice — that's why all my charities only have three letter names." (We didn't say it was a good impression.)

Watch the video, posted on the Clinton Foundation's Instagram, below:

For more video of the impression, you can catch Clinton on "Piers Morgan Live" tonight.

Now how do you think it stacks up against Bono's impression of Clinton?

SEE ALSO: Piers Morgan Says ‘It’s Over For Jon Stewart’

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Jennifer Lawrence Will Star In A Remake Of John Steinbeck's 'East Of Eden'

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jennifer lawrence oscars academy awards

Jennifer Lawrence is going to go from the girl on fire to Salinas Valley mistress.

"The Hunger Games" actress is set to star in a remake of John Steinbeck's classic "East of Eden," according to Deadline.

Lawrence would re-team with "Hunger Games" director Gary Ross on what is set to be a two-film project.

There's certainly enough detail in the more than 640-page novel for two films. 

"East of Eden" is largely centered around two generations of the Trask family — Cathy and Adam Ames and the ongoing fued between their twin sons Aron and Caleb. 

Deadline reports that Ross wants Lawrence to play the role of Cathy, a character described as "cold, cruel, selfish, and violent" (spoiler — she sets her house on fire, killing both parents in the process). After abandoning her sons she becomes one of the most popular prostitutes in Salinas, California.

"East of Eden" was first made into a film in 1955 starring James Dean and Julie Harris.

SEE ALSO: 15 movies you need to see before the end of the year

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