Lily Allen Married and Pregnant

Posted on by

Lily Allen is celebrating a double dose of good news, she’s married and pregnant. After two miscarriages, Allen is on her way to domestic bliss. Allen’s vintage Chanel 1920’s wedding dress had a resemblance to Kate Middleton’s wedding dress.

The singer, 26, married decorator and business owner Sam Cooper at St. James the Great Church in Gloucestershire, England, on Saturday.

Actor Keith Allen proudly gave his daughter away and Cooper revealed that Allen was pregnant, seven months after her tragic miscarriage

Cooper popped the question over Christmas and the wedding took place in the village of Cranham in the English countryside.

Frost wishes them all the best.

Pippa Middleton Splits From Boyfriend Alex Loudon.

Posted on by

27 year old Pippa Middleton has reportedly split from her boyfriend, former England cricketer and businessman Alex Loudon. Pippa has not been seen with Alex in public since the Royal Wedding in April.

“It is common knowledge in their close circle of friends that Pippa and Alex have recently split up,” a source told the Sunday Times. However, Pippa was recently seen holidaying in Madrid with her ex-boyfriend and close friend George Percy, son of the Duke of Northumberland.

They were also spotted at the French Open in Paris and dining out at some restaurants in London. Pippa and George have known each other for ten years and met at Edinburgh University, where they became a couple.

IMF Becomes Latest Hacking Victim

Posted on by

The IMF has become the latest major organisation to be targeted by a sophisticated cyber-attack.  The attack which started earlier this year was designed to install software creating a, ‘digital insider presence’. An internal IMF email revealed that, ‘suspicious file transfers had been detected’. According to the New York Times emails and other sensitive documents were hacked into.

The attack is believed to have taken place over several months. The IMF was reluctant to give details about the attack but they did confirm an incident was being investigated. They also said the fund remained fully active. However, according to the Metro, one unnamed IT official at the organisation described the attack as a ‘very major breach’. Cyber security experts have speculated that a foreign government is behind the attack.

The attack follows similar incidents at Sony, Google and Citigroup during the last few months. The FBI has said it is planning a major step up in efforts to combat cyber-attacks. CIA director Leon Panetta told the US congress earlier this week that he fears a major cyber-attack which cuts off power, security and government systems.

 

England Rugby Star Strips For Hilton

Posted on by

Ben Cohen Leads the Charge at HHilton Honors Great Getaway Flashmob
London’s Workers Celebrate Start of Summer

Former UK international rugby player and England Rugby World Cup Winner, Ben Cohen, and a group of business men and women stopped commuter traffic and turned heads as they stripped down to their beachwear in central London. This was in celebration of the Hilton HHonors Great Getaway promotion, which offers guests up to 40 percent off on stays completed between now and 5 September 2011 at any of the participating hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio.

The flash mob began quite conservatively with Cohen and the group interspersing with morning commuters in smart business attire. While walking over Millennium Bridge, the entire group began to undress, revealing Hilton HHonors beachwear. Their swimwear parade continued to Potters Field, where they pulled out beach towels and chairs that drove those passing by to www.Facebook.com/HiltonHHonors and played beach games, like Frisbee, as though on holiday.

“The Great Getaway promotion provides travelers the incentive they need to turn a daydream into a vacation,” said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president, global customer marketing, Hilton Worldwide. “With properties around the globe, Hilton HHonors gives guests thousands of ways to get away from the every day and experience a world of possibilities.”
To take advantage of the Hilton HHonors Great Getaway promotion, visit HHonors.com/TheGreatGetaway. Travelers looking to make their getaway must book their reservations between 13 May and 22 August 2011, and stays must be completed between 27 May and 5 September 2011. Discounts vary by hotel brand and location. For more information or to become a Hilton HHonors member, visit HHonors.com.

For full terms and conditions, visit HHonors.com/TheGreatGetaway.

For more Naked Ruby stars, watch FrostmagazineTV’s LFW Video below

UN Says Cutting Off Your Internet Could Breach Human Rights

Posted on by

Frank La Rue, the UN Rapporteur for the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression, has argued that removing somebody’s internet access deprives them of a basic right.

Mr La Rue presented his report, ‘on global access of the internet as a medium for freedom of expression, to the UN Human Rights Council this week.

In his report Mr La Rue condemned certain proposed and existing government legislation. In particular he singled out the UK’s Digital Economy Act which has a provision to restrict or remove internet access from those breaking copyright laws. His report was particularly concerned with ‘a centralised on/off control over the internet. He said, removing somebody’s internet access is to deprive them of a key component for the basic human right of freedom of expression.

The report comes in the wake of the e-G8 summit in Paris where Mr Sarkozy led discussions on proposals to regulate the internet. Governments worldwide have become increasingly fearful of the power of the internet, particularly in the wake of the Arab spring.

In his opening speech Sarkozy said, ‘the world you represent is not a parallel universe where legal and moral rules and more generally all the basic rules that govern society in democratic countries do not apply.’

But many internet entrepreneurs including Google chairman Eric Schmidt warned governments against attempts at legislation arguing, ‘technology will move faster than governments’.

Sarkozy has faced severe criticism for a recent internet law (the HADOPI law) which he has pushed forward. The law (to be enforced by a new government agency) could see those suspected of illegal file sharing brought before a judge.

Could these new government agencies precipitate a major government crackdown on the internet? While Mr La Rue’s report will be welcomed by many, it will take more than UN reports to ensure the freedom of the internet.

earlier post

KATE MIDDLETON’S SHOLA DRESS SET TO SPARK BIDDING WAR AT STAR-STUDDED FASHION FUNDRAISER

Posted on by

‘Trust in Fashion’ event offers fashionistas first chance to get their hands on the ‘high street’ dress that sparked a fashion frenzy

Within hours of the Duchess of Cambridge stepping out in the chic Shola taupe creation to meet the Obamas at Buckingham Palace the dress flew off the rails at Reiss stores across the UK with fashion fans crashing the online store as they clamoured to get hold of the latest ‘must have’ item.

The Reiss website was seemingly down for a few hours as shoppers surged to purchase the stylish number which retails at £175 and remains ‘Out of Stock’ due to extraordinary customer demand.

The clothing retailer has confirmed it will be back in stock, but is likely to take five to six weeks before it arrives…a lifetime in the world of fashion! Even then, the dress will be sold on a first come first served basis. However, those desperate to get their hands on one sooner can stake their claim at a fashion fundraiser in a few weeks.

Reiss, who has recently enjoyed a surge in sales thanks to the Princess’ penchant for the high-street brand, has donated two of Kate’s signature dresses to an exclusive charity auction, raising money for the much-loved children’s charity Rainbow Trust whose carers help families of children battling a life threatening or terminal illness.

Both the Shola dress and the white ‘Nannette’ dress – as worn in her official engagement photos – will be auctioned as a joint lot at a VIP fashion show, Trust in Fashion, to be co-hosted by fashion icon Sadie Frost on Wednesday 29th June at London’s stunning One Mayfair.

Celebrities, top models and the cream of the fashion industry are set to turn out in force for the event, which has been created by leading names from the world of fashion to celebrate Rainbow Trust’s 25th Anniversary.
The two day extravaganza in association with Marie Claire & Storm includes a VIP evening on June 29th – featuring an exclusive my-wardrobe.com catwalk show and auction – and followed by a sample sale on June 30th crammed full of top brands at amazing prices and attended by Storm’s top model scouts searching for the next new face.
Speaking about the event, mother-of-four Sadie Frost said: “I am incredibly excited to be involved with this event and raising money for such a worthwhile cause.

“It has to be every parent’s worst nightmare to find out their child is seriously ill and it is something most of us can’t even begin to imagine, which must make fundraising for such causes really difficult, as many people just want to push it away.

“Given the resource Rainbow could help so many more and I am pleased to be part of an event aimed at raising funds for this charity which hopes one day all families in need will have access to a Rainbow carer.”
The highlight of the VIP launch event will be a my-wardrobe.com catwalk show produced by Lesley Goring, with looks styled by Marie Claire Fashion Editors Holly Welch and Lucia Debrieux. Featuring models from the world famous Storm, the exclusive evening will be co-hosted by Sadie Frost and Marie Claire Editor in Chief, and Rainbow Trust Patron, Trish Halpin.
The catwalk show will be followed by an exclusive auction of fashion pieces from some of the world’s leading fashion houses, including a ‘Kate Moss for Longchamp’ handbag signed by Kate Moss herself, a Modalu ‘Pippa’ bag, named in honour Kate’s sister who always carries one, together with couture dresses, bags, shoes and jewellery from the likes of Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Alberta Ferretti, Temperley London, Jenny Packham, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Katherine Elizabeth Millinery, Marni, Mulberry, Mary Katrantzou, Stefanel and Erdem.

The two day event will raise vital funds for the charity which provides a lifeline to families facing the unimaginable ordeal of caring for a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. Rainbow Trust’s family support workers join families in their own homes to provide consistent, practical and emotional support during, what many Rainbow families describe as, their darkest hours. Rainbow carers are contactable 24 hours a day for families in crisis from diagnosis, through treatment and even after bereavement.

You can buy tickets for the event at www.trustinfashion.org. For all the latest updates on what has been donated follow us @TrustInFashion on Twitter.

Apple unveils its magazine and newspaper Newsstand.

Posted on by

iOS 5 is the next version of Apple’s operating system for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches. At Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference on the 6th June 2011 they announced new features and functions that would become available in this forthcoming release.
Apple explained there are over 200 new features, they then went on to highlight and demonstrate some of the most important, including:

The notification center – changing intrusive push messages and SMS notifications into a subtle alert that doesn’t interrupt your workflow.
iMessage – Apple’s answer to BlackBerry Messenger, an iOS to iOS instant messenger application that lets you continue conversations as you move from device to device.
Reminders – A ‘to-do’ or tasks application, allowing you to set tasks and reminders. Most impressively, the app allows you to anchor them to certain GPS positions, (for example, a reminder to “buy milk” when you walk into your local supermarket).
Some of the other features included native Twitter integration, immediate camera access from the lock screen, a vastly improved Safari browser… but most importantly, the Apple Newsstand.

In the keynote presentation, they explained how magazine readers would be able to locate and purchase their newspaper and magazines from a central newsstand, see new issues from outside the app and have them save offline when they become available.

What they didn’t explain was how publishers can make this possible and how this new functionality can be enabled.

Shortly after the Keynote, they released the Beta version of iOS 5 to developers (at around 23:30 GMT) the staff at Stonewash DD&AG were immediately on the case to learn more about the newsstand to understand how our clients and other publishers might be able to take advantage of the new features made available by Apple.

WHAT IS THE NEWSSTAND?

The newsstand is a central place, where iOS users can access their magazines and newspapers. Unlike iBooks, where book publishers supply “.epub” or similar documents, Newsstand publishers will have to create an iOS application (or adapt their existing app). Think of it like a cross between the shelf seen in the iBooks application and applications folders on the home screen.

To make use of the new features, publishers must invoke the newly added “Newsstand Kit framework”. From what we have been able to understand, some simple settings will help an iPhone or iPad recognise that the app as a magazine or newspaper that belongs in the Newsstand. At this point, instead of placing an icon on the home screen (as other applications currently do) the application will be installed in the Newsstand, the cover of the latest edition will be used as the large-format icon, instead of the small, square icons we currently see in use.

“The outcome is that users will be able to access the latest copy of the magazine at their convenience and in most cases the issue will appear on your reader’s device, saved offline, without them having to action anything manually.”

Making your magazine function efficiently on the Newsstand will require your application and your web servers to interact with one another. When a new edition is available your server will need to send a push message to your reader’s device. This message lets their device know that there is a new issue available and instructs the application to begin downloading the files immediately, these new issue alerts are limited to one per day.

The outcome is that users will be able to access the latest copy of the magazine at their convenience and in most cases the issue will appear on your reader’s device, saved offline, without them having to action anything manually.

The latest cover will already be visible from the device’s home screen and the Newsstand “shelf”. A counter and update message will help notify the user that there is a new issue ready.

HOW CAN THIS HELP YOUR MAGAZINE?

There are a number of potential benefits for publishers who may or may not already be publishing their titles to the iOS platform.

Effects of the news from the WWDC conference (immediate) and the imminent release of iOS 5 this autumn include:

Peaked interest in iOS devices and the app store. Along side every Apple release we have seen a peak in application downloads. The ‘buzz’ and amount of media coverage that surrounds any new Apple product reminds current users all over the world to explore the app store, as well as generates a spike in users that are new to the iOS platform.
Peaked interest in newspapers and magazines on the iPad. The story of “Apple versus publishers” has been well covered and in a number of cases, totally misunderstood. This move by Apple will undoubtedly receive coverage from mainstream media, prompting users to search the App Store and the newly formed newsstand for “Magazines & Newspapers”.
Effects of the Newsstand once available on iOS devices include:

Although it has always been possible (and very simple) to notify users of new editions using Apple’s push messaging system, the newsstand allows users to see the latest cover directly from their home screen.
If a new issue is available to a user (for example, if their subscription is active or (we assume) if the issue is free) it is now possible to download this edition onto the user’s device without them having to action or agree to the download. When the user wants to read the new issue, it will already be saved to their device and won’t be subject to the 200-700mb download (and associated waiting time) that we are seeing in some magazines currently being released.
The “Newsstand Store” is dedicated to magazines and newspapers; publishers won’t be fighting for screen real estate against games, utilities and other applications. The increased visibility should increase the number of downloads.
IS THIS GOOD NEWS FOR PUBLISHERS?

We believe so. The fact that there are new functions and features in iOS 5 that are specifically designed to help make magazines and newspapers more functional, more attractive and easier to use show us that Apple have a genuine interest in making the iOS a useful platform for publishers.

Any apps previously released will continue to function in the same way as before, as far as we can see there are no negative changes or restrictions being put in place, just a suite of new features that benefit your applications.

HOW SOON SHOULD WE LOOK TO MAKE USE OF THESE NEW FEATURES?

As soon as possible, and for two main reasons.

Technology moves quickly, if you spent months and months deciding on whether you would like to make use of these new features, they may become outdated. Apple will undoubtedly continue to develop and improve their operating system and to avoid being behind the times you will need to move quickly.

Apple receives an unprecedented level of media exposure around product launches. iOS 5 – and the new iPhone that will almost certainly follow – will be no exception. A spike in traffic interest and activity in iOS applications has the ability to benefit your brand and its application.

We have worked with clients to help them launch applications and projects alongside the iPad, iPhone 4 and the iPad 2 and in all cases there was a noticeable spike in activity, downloads and revenue.

INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE KEYNOTE

There were some fascinating figures released by Apple in yesterday’s keynote speech. We have summarised them below:

Apple sold 25 million iPads in the first 14 months
Over 130 million books have been downloaded from the iBookstore
There are currently over 425,000 apps on the App Store
Over 90,000 of those apps have been specifically designed for the iPad
There have been over 14 billion app downloads from the App Store since it launched
Apple have paid over $2.5 billion dollars to app developers and publishers
Apple have over 225 million iTunes accounts, all with credit card information and 1-click purchasing enabled

Article from; www.stonewash.co
www.ddag.co.uk

Author Helen Croydon: 'All Relationships Are a Form of Prostitution'

Posted on by

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE?

Bestselling author and journalist Helen Croydon has stirred controversy for claiming that all relationships are, in essence, a “form of prostitution”.

Croydon, a leading relationships commentator, says that behind every long-term relationship there is a quid pro quo arrangement that “needs to be satisfied” for a sexual partnership to work.

Prostitution, she argues, is only one extreme of a “sliding scale” of relationships, where the arrangement is based on the exchange of money for sex.

On the other end of the scale – marriage – the process of exchange-for-reward is still there, but money has been replaced with another currency, which the writer describes as “emotional capital”.

She is now calling for a “major re-evaluation” of relationships, pressing for a policy of “sexual honesty” that could, she claims, rid society of a harmful and repressive system of taboos.

She expressed her outspoken views in a column for The Erotic Review and interview with YouTube channel Joy TV about her critically-acclaimed book Sugar Daddy Diaries: When a Fantasy Became an Obsession, which hit the shelves earlier this year.

She said: “All relationships are an arrangement. There is no line between relationships and prostitution – they are all on a sliding scale.

“We all have – subconsciously or consciously – a goal in mind for a relationship. We give up a lot for a relationship in terms of time and freedoms and we wouldn’t do that unless it didn’t benefit us in some way.

“That something may be that we don’t want to be on our own. It may be that we want a child. It may be domestic practicality. There is no such thing as selfless romantic love.”

Croydon, a former ITN journalist, writes for UK national newspapers and women’s magazines, is a popular columnist for The Erotic Review and has appeared as a relationships commentator on several TV and radio shows, including Channel 5’s The Vanessa Show.

She hit the headlines in March this year following the serialisation of Sugar Daddy Diaries, a confessional memoir about her year-long exploration of cash-allowance based relationships.

Uninspired by naïve and needy guys her own age, Croydon joined dating site sugardaddie.com to seek out an older and more confident lover.

She was thrust into a world filled with Prada shopping trips, fine dining, first-class travel and fascinating, powerful men who desired the company of younger women without the usual strings attached.

Croydon freely admits that she accepted gifts from her online dates and says that though initially concerned by the morality of such relationships, she quickly came to see them as more straightforward, honest and psychologically healthy than ‘conventional’ romances.

She told the interviewer for YouTube channel Joy TV: “In the sugar daddy type relationships that I had, the man is saying ‘I don’t have the time or emotional ability to invest in you but I still like you, and I still want to keep continuity with you, so to compensate for what I can’t give emotionally, I will give in material rewards’.

“People invest emotional capital into their partner. It’s things like being on the end of the phone in the middle of the night when something goes wrong, or giving up your Saturday. In the case of a transactional cash-for-sex relationship you replace emotional capital for money.

“There is nothing wrong with admitting that there is a pragmatic motivation behind our relationship. Relationship psychologists site evidence that in most relationships there are practical motivations that drive it.”

Croydon adds that relationships are “far less likely” to fail if partners identified the key benefits from the outset.

The claims look set to draw a sharp response from members of the public, both for and against.

Married Helen Baxter, a housewife from Greenwich, London, said Croydon’s comments were “a step too far”.

The mum-of-two, 34, added: “Like a lot of women, I am married with children. This doesn’t mean I’m out for what I can get from my husband, or vice versa – it’s about love, plain and simple.”

Young professional Jenny Williams, 25, however, supported Croydon. She said: “It’s about time someone had the nerve to say what most men and women are secretly thinking. Love is a fluffy term meant to hide the truth that we are, at heart, selfish. That’s no bad thing – it’s human nature.”

Sugar Daddy Diaries: When a Fantasy Became an Obsession