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Internet Censorship: Pakistan Blocks WordPress and France Bans Sites Without Court Order

27Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

World

Internet Censorship: Pakistan Blocks WordPress and France Bans Sites Without Court Order

Benjamin Franklin once said, "[Those] that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety," an aphorism that's more relevant now than ever before, as the complicated problem of online censorship seemingly worsens each week. Most recently, Pakistan and France have blocked online platforms that they suspect are used as terrorist platforms. The Pakistan Telecommunications authority has reportedly asked Internet service providers (ISPs) to block WordPress due to its usage by international terrorist organization Tehreek Taliban Pakistan. France has used its new anti-terrorism powers, which were approved by its parliament last year, to block five websites suspected of condoning terrorism and spreading hate speech without court orders. "...

Hollywood Now Offering Users the Chance to Actually Meet Kim Kardashian West

26Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Lifestyle

Hollywood Now Offering Users the Chance to Actually Meet Kim Kardashian West

The only things that most app games can offer by way of prizes are places on high score leader boards, in-game currency, or bragging rights. Glu's Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game, though, offers something quite a bit better. The freemium mobile game developer recently announced that whoever plays the game between March 20 and March 30 will have a chance to meet the real Kim Kardashian. "We're excited to offer players of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood the potential opportunity to meet Mrs. Kardashian West," said Niccolo de Masi, CEO of Glu, in a statement. "This transmedia offering, connecting Kim's virtual and physical worlds, is unique to Glu's celebrity gaming platform. Fans of the game have been unwavering in their support and their ongoing feedback continues to shape future updates. To all...

CA Bay Area Start-Ups Seek To Revolutionize the Industry of Online Car Sales

24Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Business

CA Bay Area Start-Ups Seek To Revolutionize the Industry of Online Car Sales

Although plenty of American consumers do a fair amount of online research before buying a car, the majority of consumers probably wouldn't think to turn to Google when actually making a vehicle purchase, so it may come as a surprise that an estimated $15 million cars are sold each year on websites like eBay and Cars.com. The obvious problem with these websites, which often provide a virtual marketplace for sellers without imposing many regulations, is that buyers end up purchasing cars without accurate history reports, cars with malfunctioning parts, or even cars that have been stolen. But a few different start-up businesses in California's Bay Area are out to change the way vehicle sellers and buyers interact online, and if they become successful, the online car selling trend may just pi...

South Floridian Youth Soccer Teams Win Prestigious International Tournament

23Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Sport

South Floridian Youth Soccer Teams Win Prestigious International Tournament

A South Florida youth soccer league won big last month at the Weston Cup and Showcase Florida Premier Soccer President's Day Weekend Tournament, firmly establishing itself as one of the premier youth soccer clubs in the nation. The Sun-Sentinel reports that the Plantation Eagles Soccer Club, based near Fort Lauderdale, dominated two categories of the event. The Eagles' under-15 girls team won the under-15 bronze division after four rounds. The team won the opening tournament game 3-0 against the West Pines United FC. The Eagles managed to secure another 3-0 victory against the Wellington Wave in the second round. The third round saw a 2-2 tie with the Naples Azzurri but the Eagles managed to reach the finals and once again faced the West Pines United FC. The Eagles secured the title with a...

Eight Percent of California Suitable For Solar Panel Installations, Scientists Say

23Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Lifestyle

Eight Percent of California Suitable For Solar Panel Installations, Scientists Say

Using solar energy, the state of California could increase its electrical output to three to five times more than its current consumption levels. That is what some researchers are saying, at least, according to the Washington Post. Scientists from Stanford University and the Carnegie Institute for Science have recently published a study regarding the potential growth of solar power in the state. Already one of the leading proponents of clean energy in the United States, California could potentially produce enough energy to exceed its total consumption (which includes residential, commercial, transportation, and industrial use) in 2011. The study, published in Nature Climate Change (a sister publication of the scientific journal Nature), is welcome news to a state that is already heavily ...

How Winter Takes a Major Toll on Your Home’s Foundation

23Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Lifestyle

How Winter Takes a Major Toll on Your Home’s Foundation

In the tail end of winter, it might be difficult to focus on anything related to your home's maintenance. But as soon as all that snow starts to thaw, the excess ground water has nowhere to go but into your home's basement. What results is much worse than the nuisance of a flooded basement -- when water seeps through your foundation, it can cause a fair amount of damage that wreaks havoc on your home's structural integrity if left untreated. That's why February and March may be the best months of the year to purchase a flood insurance plan, according to a Consumer Reports article. National flood insurance takes effect 30 days after the policy is purchased, which means an insurance policy bought in February or March will be activated just as the snow begins to melt. Getting a flood insur...

“Always Keep Fighting” Mental Health Awareness Campaign Surpasses Goal 23 Times Over

21Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Business

“Always Keep Fighting” Mental Health Awareness Campaign Surpasses Goal 23 Times Over

Jared Padalecki, star of the CW's hit show Supernatural, has started a t-shirt campaign to support the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), whose mission is to give hope and find help to those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. Initially, the project had a goal of selling 1,000 shirts, which bear his likeness and the words "Always Keep Fighting." However, it quickly surpassed its goal 23 times over, selling over 23,000 shirts. When asked about the overwhelming support, Padalecki told PEOPLE, "It's really hard to put into words. It's been amazing. Hopefully it's helping to destigmatize these issues, because it's all around us. It's ubiquitous, and people hide it. If somebody has cancer, they're not embarrassed to have cancer -...

4,500 Gallons of Sewage Flooded the Basement of Historic Portland Apartment Building

21Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Local

4,500 Gallons of Sewage Flooded the Basement of Historic Portland Apartment Building

The residents in Portland residential complex Morrison Park Apartments encountered quite an unpleasant surprise last week when the building's basement inexplicably became flooded with sewage -- about four inches of it, in fact. The apartment complex, located in the historic Whitmarsh Building at 623 S.W. Park Avenue, reportedly starting filling up with sewage sometime in the afternoon of Monday, March 9th. When emergency maintenance crews responded to the scene, they found that the building's 6,000-square-foot basement had been flooded with about 4,500 gallons of sewage. According to Linc Mann, the spokesman for the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, the building's manager called in a private plumber to investigate the situation initially, and then proceeded to call the city's ma...

Adobe Digital Marketing Summit Wows Audience

21Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Business

Adobe Digital Marketing Summit Wows Audience

Adobe wowed the crowd once again at their annual Digital Marketing Summit in Salt Lake City earlier this month. With 6,000 attendees, Adobe had to provide a disclaimer that not everything presented at the show would become commercially available. Even so, many attendees were excited about the possibilities that new Adobe technology represented. One of the most exciting demonstrations at the summit was bluetooth beacon technology, which would allow retailers to track customers in real time as they move through the store. Consumers would have to download an app and give consent to the tracking, then fill out information that would help the company analyze their purchasing activity. Retailers will be able to use the information to send shoppers notifications about sales and offers that perta...

California City Reduces Sign Fees to Encourage Permanent Sign Installation

19Mar

By rocitoutNo Comments

Business

California City Reduces Sign Fees to Encourage Permanent Sign Installation

For many business owners, choosing office signs and other advertisements can be a big decision. However, in Atascadero, CA, this choice may now be a little easier: signage costs in the city have been temporarily reduced in an attempt to clean up non-permitted signs throughout the area. For the last two years, the City Council of Atascadero has reportedly been receiving numerous complaints about temporary signs, such as sandwich boards, flags and banners. Finally, on Tuesday, February 24, the council unanimously approved short-term changes to its fee schedule, to encourage businesses to use official signs. Under the usual regulations, those looking to install a permanent sign must pay $450 for a building permit, as well as an additional $200 for a signage administrative use permit for sig...