Bitcoin Collides with Government Concerns

If Bitcoin is a bubble, as its critics contend, it is showing signs of deflating.

A rapid succession of moves by governments around the world has cast doubts on the legitimacy of the virtual currency, and its price fell about 60 percent at one point on Wednesday morning from its high earlier this month. It recovered some as the day went on.

The price volatility is underscoring Bitcoin’s sensitivity to decisions by government officials despite its promised status as the first global currency free of government intervention and oversight. Money, it turns out, is still a government prerogative.

“This tight regulation is really counter to what a lot of folks thought was going to happen,” said Mark T. Williams, a finance professor at Boston University who has been tracking Bitcoin. “Regulation is the future of e-currency, not decentralization as many had hoped.”

The most damaging news for the digital currency has come out of China, where the largest Bitcoin exchange, BTC China, said on Wednesday that it would no longer accept deposits in renminbi, the Chinese currency.

“For reasons we all know, BTC China has had to cease renminbi-account charging functions,” the exchange said in a message on its verified account on Weibo, China’sTwitter-like messaging service. It said that it would continue operating and that existing deposits and renminbi withdrawals would not be affected.

Source: nytimes

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More

Justin Bieber says He's retiring

Yes, you heard that right: in an interview with Los Angeles radio station Power 106, which aired on the radio this morning, Justin Bieber announces his retirement. When asked about his new album, the singer says “I’m actually, uh, I’m retiring, man… I’m just gonna take some time. I think I’m probably gonna quit music.”

The Internet, unsurprisingly, had strong feelings about this news — mostly feelings that comprised the word “no” with the letter “o” repeated several times.

But, though Bieber’s raspy voice doesn’t quite indicate sarcasm, Beliebers can stand down: TMZ talked to his people and they confirm that he was just kidding.

Of course, this is not the first time a star has dropped the r-word without really intending to turn to a life of leisure. Bieber’s jape does, however, indicate that celebrity retirement has crossed into new territory: enough people have cried wolf on retirement that it’s now an easy (and not actually un-funny) joke to make about the celebrity world. But perhaps Bieber should let the fable teach him a lesson: be careful with your retirement jokes, or people might not notice when you eventually mean it. After all, it’s already the case that not every online response to the joke announcement was one of horror.

Source: time

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins gets 29 years in child sex case

A British judge has jailed the former lead singer of rock band Lostprophets for 29 years for a string of sexual offenses, including trying to rape a baby.

Ian Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty last month to 13 charges, which included sexually touching a 1-year-old, encouraging a fan to abuse her child, and making child pornography.

Judge Roger John Royce told Watkins his actions had “plumbed new depths of depravity” and sentenced the singer on Wednesday at Cardiff Crown Court.

Watkins must serve at least two thirds of his 29-year sentence, then spend six more years on strict probation.

Lostprophets — which formed in 1997 and had a chart-topping album in 2006, “Liberation Transmission” — announced it was disbanding after Watkins’ arrest.

Source: foxnews

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More

Paul Baumer of Bingo Players Dies of Cancer

Bingo Players’ Maarten Hoogstraten announced today on the group’s Facebook page that his DJ partner, Paul Bäumer, lost his battle to cancer yesterday, December 17. A message from the group’s Maarten Hoogstraten thanks fans for their support and confirms the cancellation of gigs and events through the end of 2013.

Best known for their track “Cry (Just A Little),” which was sampled on Flo Rida’s Top 10 hit, “I Cry,” the duo rose out of the Dutch house scene with several underground tracks before cracking the global market with singles like “Cry” and “Rattle.”

Flo Rida’s “I Cry” hit No. 6 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Rap Songs charts in 2012, pushing Bingo Players to greater global prominence as crossover beatmakers with David Guetta-potential.

In 2013, Bingo Players played Ultra Music Festival and Coachella, and became one of the inaugural residents at Las Vegas megaclub Hakkasan. Bäumer announced his diagnosis in July, acknowledging his absence from live appearances but declining to go into depth about his illness.

In spite of this, the duo launched a large-scale headlining tour this fall, replete with an elaborate set designed by the Vita Motus Design Studio (Amon Tobin’s ISAM, Infected Mushroom’s Army of Mushrooms). Bäumer was not on the tour, though as recently as September he was back in the studio. There were indications he would be returning to live performances.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Bäumer’s legacy will be from their peers. In July as his cancer had just been announced, fellow Dutchman Chuckie asked the Tomorrowland crowd to have a seat in honor of Bäumer.

As his partner, Hoogstraten said in his statement to fans, “Paul, we will miss you.”

Source: billboard

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More

Harvard bomb hoax suspect Eldo Kim released on bond

The Harvard student accused of emailing a bogus bomb threat to dodge a final exam was “under a great deal of pressure,” his attorney said Wednesday after his client was freed on a $100,000 bond.

Eldo Kim, 20, was released to the custody of his sister, who lives in Massachusetts, and an uncle from North Carolina. A federal judge also banned him from stepping foot on the elite Cambridge campus.

The shackled university sophomore cut a silent, somber figure in Boston federal court, wearing a gray T-shirt and Harvard sweatpants. Monday’s desperate stunt forced an evacuation of four buildings as SWAT teams found no explosives at the school.

Federal public defender Ian Gold said Kim was dealing with finals and the third anniversary of his father’s death, which is this month.

“It’s finals time at Harvard,” Gold said. “In one way, we're looking at the post-9/11 equivalent of pulling a fire alarm. Certainly I’m not saying the government response was unjustified, but it’s important to keep in mind we’re dealing with a 20-year-old man who was under a great deal of pressure.”

The feds claim Kim sent hoax emails to school officials describing “shrapnel bombs” planted around the school. The warnings were eventually traced through the university’s wireless network back to Kim, according to an affidavit.

Source: nbcnews

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More

Funniest show moments of 2013, hero pup saves owner's life

What was your favorite TODAY moment of 2013?

This morning’s year-end montage, featuring some of the funniest show moments of 2013, showed that Matt, Savannah, Natalie, Al, Willie, Carson, Kathie Lee and Hoda know how to enjoy themselves year-round.

The story of a guide dog who saved his owner’s life after he fell onto New York City’s subway tracks is warming TODAY fans’ hearts.

Hundreds expressed concern on TODAY’s Facebook page, asking how to help the man, 61-year-old Cecil Williams, keep his soon-to-retire pup. As the day progressed, strangers kept on stepping up — so much so that Williams held an emotional press conference on Wednesday afternoon to thank people for allowing him to keep his dog.

Source: today

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More

Happy 50 Birthday , Brad Pitt

As one of the premiere members of Hollywood's A-list, Brad Pitt has graced the cover of many a magazine, from People to GQ to W.

And now, as he celebrates his 50th birthday, he's reached a new milestone: AARP The Magazine.

The organization concocted a special cover in celebration of Pitt's 50th on December 18, welcoming him to their neck of the woods.

"Acclaimed Actor, Producer, Humanitarian and Family man, Mr. Pitt Joins the Club," the cover's headline reads.

But, as is probably the case with his award-winning wine, Pitt's only getting better with age. The star managed to turn around the beleaguered zombie thriller "World War Z" in time for summer blockbuster season, and was rewarded with strong reviews and enough box office success to spawn a sequel.

This fall, he's had another hit with the acclaimed -- and awards season front-runner -- "12 Years A Slave," which he helped produce and also has a small role in.

Off set, Pitt told Esquire magazine earlier this year that he was completely content as he headed toward the big 5-0.

"I have a handful of close friends and I have my family and I haven't known life to be any happier," he said.

"I'm making things. I just haven't known life to be any happier."

Source: cnn

Are you an Optometrist??? Need a optometry software? Visit  Visual-Eyes

Bathroom renovation?? Need some help? Just visit  Bathmaster

Need Product for Bathroom Renovation? Visit  Topkote

Read More