Samsung unveils the Galaxy S III (Video)

Now that Samsung has outed its Galaxy S III, it’s time to ask the question: “So what’s new?”

While the form factor of the smartphone hasn’t changed much, a bunch of new Galaxy S III features set it apart from the previous-generation Galaxy S II. We’re not just talking about your normal, everyday specs — the 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, the 2-megapixel front-facing camera, the 16/32GB storage with up to 64GB storage available via the microSD slot — we’re talking about the features that set the Galaxy S III apart from other smartphones. Here are the features we saw at Samsung’s Next Galaxy event in London that opened our eyes.

For more on the Galaxy S III, check out the coverage of Samsung’s big event, as well as the brand new commercial for the device.

Samsung Tops Phone Sales Worldwide

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co overtook Nokia as the world’s top handset maker for the first time in the first quarter, ending the Finnish firm’s 14-year reign, a report by research firm Strategy Analytics showed on Friday.

Samsung sold 93.5 million handsets in the first quarter, taking 25.4 percent of the global mobile phone market, Strategy Analytics said.

Nokia sold 82.7 million phones and had 22.5 percent of the market, followed by Apple’s 9.5 percent.

Most Powerful Gay People In America

Tim Cook CEO Apple

How to measure a person’s power? In a world in which we have inexpensive tools to reach billions, it may seem that the globe truly is flat, and we’re all on an even playing field. But a few exemplary individuals manage to influence the way others live — either through their public personas, politics, or wealth — and affect cultural and social attitudes.

1. Tim Cook
CEO, Apple, 51

2. Ellen Degeneres
Spokesperson/Talk-Show Host/Producer, 54

3. Peter Thiel
Venture Capitalist/Hedge Fund Manager, 44

4. Ryan Murphy
Writer/Director/Producer, 46

5. Rachel Maddow
TV Host/Political Commentator, 39

6. Anderson Cooper
Journalist/News Anchor/Talk-Show Host, 44

7. Rich Ross
Former Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios, 49

8. Barry Diller
Chairman, IAC, 70

9. Shepard Smith
News Anchor, 48

10. Andy Cohen
TV Personality/Impresario, 44

11. Neil Patrick Harris
Actor, 38

12. Tammy Baldwin
U.S. Representative, Wisconsin, 50

David Cicilline
U.S. Representative, Rhode Island, 50

Jared Polis
U.S. Representative, Colorado, 36

13. Scott Rudin
Film and Theater Producer, 53

14. Marc Jacobs
Fashion Designer, 49

15. Harvey Levin
TV Producer/TMZ Founder, 61

16. Matt Drudge
Blogger, 45

17. Chris Hughes
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, The New Republic, 28

18. Anthony Romero
Executive Director, ACLU, 46

19. David Geffen
Media Mogul, 69

20. Chad Griffin
Incoming President, HRC, 38

21. Barney Frank
U.S. Representative, Masschusetts, 72

22. Jann Wenner
Publishing Magnate, 66

23. Tim Gill
Software Pioneer/Philanthropist, 58

24. Christine Quinn
New York City Council Speaker, 45

25. Suze Orman
Financial adviser/Talk-show host, 60

26. Tom Ford
Fashion Designer/Film Director, 50

27. Ken Melhman
Businessman, 45

28. Andrew Sullivan
Journalist/Blogger, 48

29. Annise Parker
Mayor of Houston

30. Bryan Lourd & Kevin Huvane
Managing Partners, CAA, 52 & 53

31. Martha Nelson
Editorial Director, Time Inc., 59

32. Chuck Wolfe
CEO, The Victory Fund, 50

33. Mary Kay Henry
International President, SEIU, 53

34. Joe Solmonese
Political Consultant, 47

35. Jeremy Bernard
White House Social Secretary, 50

36. Nick Denton
CEO, Gawker Media, 45

37. Alan Ball
Screenwriter/Producer/Director, 54

38. Richard Berke
Assistant Managing Editor, The New York Times, 53

39. Perez Hilton
Blogger/TV personality, 34

40. Jess Cagle
Managing Editor, Entertainment Weekly, 46

Ariel Foxman
Managing Editor, InStyle, 38

Adam Moss
Editor-in-chief, New York, 54

41. Jenna Lyons
President and Executive Creative Director, J. Crew, 44

42. Adam Rose
CoPresident, Rose Associates, Inc., 52

43. Greg Berlanti
TV Producer/Writer, 39

44. Bryan Singer
Director/Producer, 46

45. Megan Smith
Google Executive

46. Simon Halls & Stephen Huvane
Founders, Slate PR, 48, 51

47. Jane Lynch
Actress

48. Dan Savage
Editor/Activist/TV Personality, 47

49. Robert Hanson
CEO, American Eagle Outfitters, 49

50. Evan Wolfson
Founder and President, Freedom to Marry, 55

51. Andre Banks
Cofounder, Executive Director, AllOut.org

52. Bryce Bennett
Montana State Representative

53. Widney Brown
Senior Director, Amnesty International

54. Chai Feldblum
Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner

55. Bruce Harris
New Jersey Supreme Court Nominee

56. Victoria Kolakowski
California Superior Court Judge

57. Steven Kolb
Executive director, CFDA

58. Don Lemon
CNN News Anchor

59. Mark Leno
California State Senator

60. Jonathan Murray
Cofounder/Chairman, Bunim/Murray Productions

61. Beth Robinson
Vermont State Supreme Court Justice

62. Hilary Rosen
CNN Contributor, Democratic Strategist

63. Brad Sears
Executive Director, The Williams Institute

64. Andy Thayer
Cofounder, Gay Liberation Network

65. Michael Weinstein
President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

$1 Million To Any Woman Who Can Prove Sex With Tim Tebow.

While the rest of us are innocently mulling over who Tim Tebow is treating to Broadway plays, an incredibly sleazy dating service is sinking to new lows with its determination to rat out anyone who can prove they’ve slept with Tebow, a self-professed virgin and devout evangelical Christian.

Any evidence (we can only imagine in what form that will be) will get you a staggering $1 million reward.

Dating service AshleyMadison, which touts itself as the “most recognized name in infidelity,” specializes in assisting affairs for over 7,000,000 anonymous adulterers. The website’s founder explained the Tebow stunt in a statement:

Sports and sex (and of course, infidelity) go hand in hand. If Mr. Tebow is indeed abstaining from adult relationships, I would encourage him to find a nice lady or two and enjoy his youth and fame as much as possible.

Via the company’s Twitter account, AshleyMadison shamelessly promoted, “Score $1 million for scoring with Tim Tebow” and “Looks like Tim Tebow may still be a virgin….for now. Who wants to be a millionaire courtesy of AshleyMadison.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first eyebrow-raising move we’ve seen from the service. Back in November, AshleyMadison provoked outrage with a despicable ad stating “Did your wife SCARE you last night?” with a photo of an overweight women posing in lingerie.

This also isn’t the first time Tebow’s virginity has come under attack. Upon his trade to the New York Jets, Rob Gronkowski of rival team the Patriots poked fun at Tebow’s stance on sex before marriage by joking he’d choose to sleep with Tebow to “take his virginity.”

 

Headphones Danger: Is Loud Music Making Us Deaf?

The National Institutes of Health says that about 36 million Americans already have some degree of hearing loss. With the population aging, that number is projected to jump to 78 million by 2030.

The issue is particularly problematic for children and teens. Audiologists at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt said long-term hearing loss is possible because of the proliferation of smartphones, portable gaming systems and media players. According to a Vanderbilt-led study, hearing loss is now affecting 20 percent of U.S. adolescents ages 12 to 19, a 5 percent increase over the past 15 years.

Audiologists at the Nashville hospital said if parents can hear sound coming from their child’s headphones while they are being worn, it’s too loud. A rule of thumb is the 60-60 rule, using only 60 percent of the device’s volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time. After 60 minutes, give your ears a break for at least an hour. Prolonged exposure to high volume exhausts the auditory system, experts say.

Following are some hearing tips from Dr. Ronald Hoffman, medical director of the Ear Institute at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary:

1. Get your hearing checked.

Just like some other health issues, the key to effective treatment is identifying hearing loss early. It takes people seven years, on average, from the time someone thinks they have a hearing loss problem to the time they seek treatment.

2. Be aware of which activities may post a threat to your hearing.

Years of exposure to loud concerts, bars and clubs, cranked-up stereos, personal music players, lawn mowers and other environmental noises may some of the reasons we are now seeing more baby boomers with hearing loss. A single loud noise, such as an explosion or a gun blast, can do permanent damage to the structures in the ear. But more often, it’s years of exposure to loud sounds.

3. Get checked out if you’re blasted by one of those single loud noises.

If, after exposure to loud sound, your ears feel full or there is a ringing noise, you have likely had a injury to your ear and you should seek consultation with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (otolaryngologist, ENT). You should wear hearing protection when around loud sounds for a long period of time. Examples of sounds to be avoided include firecrackers, drills, train horns and screeching and firearms. There are different types of hearing protection such as foam earplugs, earmuffs and custom hearing-protection devices.

4. Turn down the volume on your MP3 player.

This one is simple: The rule of thumb is that if you are wearing ear buds or headphones, no one else should able to hear the music.

5. Get a hearing aid if you need one.

If you have a hearing loss, a properly fitted hearing aid will improve your life. Modern hearing aids are small, discreet, high-tech computers, constantly being refined and developed to provide a more natural sound.

Derrick Rose Tops NBA Best Selling Jerseys 2012

Fans — and their credit cards — made their voices heard by making Derrick Rose and Jeremy Lin the top-selling jerseys since last April at the NBA Store and NBAstore.com.

Here’s the quick rundown after a check of the cash registers:

1. Derrick Rose. Bulls fans, how much more would you pay for a game-worn Rose NBA jersey? Act now, because he has a VERY limited supply of game-worn jerseys from this season.

2. Jeremy Lin. Expect Lin to occupy the top spot next year, once NBA marketing figures out a way to sell them to people who don’t want them — as opposed to this year, when his sales were solely supported by fans who genuinely loved the guy.

3. Kobe Bryant. Since 2001, there have been six years when Kobe held the No. 1 spot. Now we have proof that he can only sell jerseys when Phil Jackson is around to take fans’ measurements.

4. LeBron James. No one wants a Chris Bosh jersey?

5. Carmelo Anthony. His jersey sales must have taken a hit because of the Jeremy Lin effect. As in, even he must have bought a Lin jersey.

6. Dwyane Wade. No one wants an Eddy Curry jersey?

7. Dirk Nowitzki. We don’t want to know how many Mark Cuban bought just to stockpile in his garage.

8. Kevin Durant. Hmmm. Maybe all his fans are saving their money to buy his London Olympics jersey.

9. Blake Griffin. We don’t want to know how many Donald Sterling bought just to have stockpiled in his garage. Actually, that would be zero.

10. Rajon Rondo. You’d think everyone in Boston already owned one by now. Apparently, you can never have too many layers during a New England winter.

11. Amare Stoudemire. See No. 5.

12. Ray Allen and 13. Paul Pierce. See No. 10.

14. Dwight Howard. People who own a Dwight Howard jersey say they wouldn’t trade it for … oh, OK, you can have it.

15. Chris Paul. Imagine how many Paul jerseys would have moved if they had said “Lakers” on the front.

Chicago Bulls Clinch Top Spot in East, Jazz Claim Final Playoff Place (Video)

The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat’s 78-66 loss to the Boston Celtics, while the Utah Jazz secured the final playoff berth in the National Basketball Association.

The Bulls are tied with the San Antonio Spurs atop the league with a 48-16 record. The Spurs and Bulls each have two games remaining in the regular season, which ends tomorrow, two days before the playoffs begin.

Sasha Pavlovic had 16 points for the Celtics (38-27) at TD Garden in Boston last night. Dexter Pittman scored 12 for the Heat, who played without LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The Jazz (35-30) defeated the Phoenix Suns (33-32) 100-88 to secure the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Paul Millsap had 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Al Jefferson tallied 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Jared Dudley and Michael Redd led the Suns with 15 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers (41-24) clinched the Western Conference’s Pacific Division on the Los Angeles Clippers’ 109- 102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks (39-26) with 28 points at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Blake Griffin had 36 points for the Clippers (40-25).

Sex Toys 101: Hygiene And Safe Use Of Sex Toys.

A large red dildo, a powder blue vibrator and an assortment of cock rings sat on a table Monday evening in the Nebraska Union. After a “Sex in the Dark” discussion, the University of Nebraska-LincolnLGBTQA Resource Center hosted a “Sex Toys 101” workshop as part of “Be the Change Week.” The workshop was hosted by LeeAnnPancharoen, a health educator from Planned Parenthood, and LeeHeerten, a sexual health educator with the University Health Center.

The workshop opened with an icebreaker to help open discussion of sex toys. People drew cards with either a sex toy or a definition. Henry Cabrera, a junior political science major, drew the definition of a sleeve, which is a jelly-like tube used to facilitate male masturbation.

“I don’t really know what this is,” Cabrera said.

After the icebreaker, the pair began their lecture. They offered explanations of each kind of sex toy and offered suggestions on usage and what to avoid. The lecture was split by each kind of body part meant for stimulation.

Anal toys

“Anal toys include beads, butt plugs or anything meant to stimulate the anus,” Heerten said.

Materials that are non-porus and have a flared base are preferred. Materials that are made of jelly plastic have seams or cords can be dangerous to the anal area. The cheaper plastics may contain phthalates, which are chemicals that may be absorbed into the body and may harm the body. Condom usage is suggested with anal toys to protect the sensitive region.

Toys without a base can become inserted wholly into the anus and become trapped, Heerten said.

“As with anal sex, lubricant is a necessity,” Pancharoen said. The pair stressed patience with anal toys. Non-porous materials can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

“Don’t go out there and find the biggest dildo you can and shove it up your ass,” Heerten said.

Vaginal toys

“What doesn’t go in your butt, also doesn’t go in your vagina,” Pancharoen said. Toys in this category are generally meant for insertion. They are often designed for a specific kind of stimulation. Some dildos are made from molds of actual penises, while others are shaped to stimulate the g-spot or the clitoris. Heerten explained some newer vibrators that can be used with an iPod to vibrate along with music. Like anal toys, condoms should be used as well.

When discussing strap-ons, the pair said that the stigma around who should use specific toys has shifted.

“There is a bend-over boyfriend movement with strap-ons,” Pancharoen said.

The wide variety of dildos includes how they are powered. Pancharoen described a hand crank dildo that was designed to be eco-friendly.

“I like to think of it as the survivalist’s dildo,” Pancharoen said.

Nipple toys

“Nipples are an often overlooked erogenous zone,” Heerten said. Nipple toys include clamps, springs or magnets that are meant to pinch and stimulate the nipple. Nipple toys should be tested out on less-sensitive skin before using them on nipples. Prolonged use should also be avoided.

Penile toys

Cock rings, sleeves and pumps are meant to stimulate the penis. Cock rings are pieces of material put around the base of the penis and/or the testicles and are meant to give stronger erections. As with other toys, prolonged usage should be avoided. Sleeves are tubes meant to mimic the sensation of a mouth, vagina or anus. Sleeves should be cleaned after each use.

Penis pumps, like cock rings, shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time. Pumps create a vacuum of space around the penis, which causes more girth in erections, Heerten said.

“They can be dangerous,” Pancharoen said. “It is like when you blow up a balloon.”

After the lecture, audience members participated in a drawing for gift bags. Cabrera was the first name drawn.

“My natural instinct is to go for the bigger bag,” said Cabrera jokingly. Cabrera won a dildo and some lubricant.

Ashley Martin, a Lincoln resident, also won an anal toy.

“I am interested in sex-positive activism,” Martin said.

Martin is working to fight negative stigma applied to all aspects of sexuality and said she believes events like these open up discussion of sex from points of view that are usually unheard.

“Anything can be a sex toy,” Pancharoen said. “Everything is up to your imagination.”

 

Dating Sites Duping Customers?

With the deluge of online dating sites out there it’s hard to know which — if any — is best equipped to help you find the right person. Some bank on users liking the same quirky date suggestions, while others rely on religion or a shared love of Apple products. And then there are those supposedly based on scientific algorithms, like eHarmony, which probably sounded pretty solid until a recent study suggested they’re not that scientific after all.

Benjamin Karney, a professor of social psychology at UCLA who helped conduct the study, which was published in February, has now told L.A. Weekly that online daters are getting flat-out duped, with “scientific” methods that are “basically adorable.”

“If you’re gonna make scientific claims, act like a scientist. Or don’t make scientific claims,” Karney said.

Karney argues that sites like eHarmony are all well and good at increasing the dating pool for single people, but that they’re misleading their customers by making claims that science is hard at work in finding them the right partner.

He told L.A. Weekly that eHarmony’s system is flawed because it relies on conclusions from married couples and a fundamental premise that similar people will be happy together in the long-term. But married couples often project similarities onto one another and adopt similar interests over time, so those are the results of a relationship rather than what inspires them in the first place.

According to a press release announcing the results of the study, online dating algorithms are also bunk because they try to determine long-term romantic compatibility between people before they even meet. But how a couple interacts and responds to stress together can’t be determined with the data they’re using– and those are the factors that really determine whether a relationship will succeed.

As if there weren’t already enough perils to online dating, like last week, when it was revealed that a guy was using an Excel spreadsheet to manage all of the women he was meeting on Match.com, and to evaluate their looks on a scale of 1 to 10.

 

30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.

In 1997, Glamour magazine published a story titled “30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.” The list, written by Pamela Redmond Satran, was so popular that women started emailing it around, misattributing it to various female luminaries including Maya Angelou and Hillary Clinton. Noting what a phenomenon it had become, the editors of Glamour created a book around it, featuring essays from (mostly) famous women on each of the items on the list. The book, released today, includes meditations from Katie Couric on work and love, Portia de Rossi on accepting your body, and one from the list’s original author, who is also a Huffington Post blogger, on how to live alone.

By 30, you should have …

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age — and some money set aside to help fund it.

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account — all of which nobody has access to but you.

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

13. The belief that you deserve it.

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.

 
By 30, you should know …

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.

2. How you feel about having kids.

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

4. When to try harder and when to walk away.

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.

6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.

8. Where to go — be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat — when your soul needs soothing.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.

15. Why they say life begins at 30