All those duck face pics might just end up in a commercial, you scared Instagram Changes Privacy Policy To Allow Photo Sales Without Compensation Via CNN Users of Instagram, the popular photo-sharing app owned by Facebook, were up in arms Tuesday over language that appears to give the company ownership of their images. A new update to Instagram’s terms of service states that data collected through the app can be shared with Facebook. That’s not a surprising move, considering Facebook paid an estimated $1 billion for the photo-sharing service earlier this year. But the language that’s upsetting some of the app’s more than 100 million users says that “a business or other entity may pay” Instagram for the use of user images and may do so “without any compensation to you.” That didn’t sit well with some — including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s wedding photographer. “Pro or not if a company wants to use your photos for advertising they need to TELL you and PAY you,” Noah Kalina wrote Tuesday on Twitter. Kalina stopped short of vowing to quit Instagram, saying he hopes that language will be deleted. The proposed changes are set to go into effect January 16. Other folks aren’t as patient or accepting of the new policy as Noah. A popular Twitter feed associated with the hacker collective Anonymous was urging its more than 780,000 followers to dump the app Tuesday morning. “Only way to opt out of @instagram selling your photos is deleting your account,” wrote the person who runs the account. “Sounds good to us. #BoycottInstagram”. The feed posted image after image of screen shots from followers who had done just that. It claimed it was receiving thousands of such images — too many to count. The new terms would significantly broaden what Instagram can do with users’ content. Currently they say, “Instagram may place such advertising and promotions on the Instagram Services or on, about, or in conjunction with your Content.” While many don’t seem concerned about the new policy, the celebrity IG users may want to pay attention to this change. Wil Wheaton, who parlayed a child-actor stint on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” into becoming one of the Web’s earliest star bloggers, wrote that he doesn’t use Instagram. But he questions whether other “celebrities to some degree” could be exploited if they do. “If someone Instagrams a photo of Seth Green walking through an Urban Outfitters, does that mean Urban Outfitters can take that image and use it to create an implied endorsement by Seth?” Wheaton wrote. “What if the picture is taken by a complete stranger? Who gets final say in how the image is used? The subject, the photographer, or Instagram?” What do you think? Are you angry that Instagram could use your personal photos in advertisements without paying you or do you not give a fawk??
Connecticut school shooter Adam Lanza learned everything he knew about firearms – and obtained the ones he used in Friday morning’s massacre – from his mother. Adam’s mom, Nancy Lanza, became his first victim that fateful day. An avid gun collector, she reportedly bragged to friends and neighbors about her weapons and took her son to several firing ranges to teach him how to shoot. All in the months leading up to Adam murdering 27 innocent people. One of Nancy’s neighbors, Dan Holmes, said that Nancy was a gun enthusiast and collector, often taking her kids, Adam and Ryan Lanza , to the gun range. According to the N.Y. Post , this fed his knowledge of firearms, and will surely be discussed as part of the obligatory and necessary gun control debate . Adam Lanza used several different guns when he opened fire on Sandy Hook Elementary School. It is believed that all three weapons were registered to Nancy. Nancy Lanza was not a teacher at the school, despite initial reports claiming this. Nor was she killed at the school; Adam, who lived with her, shot her at home. From there, he went on to kill 20 kids and six adults before taking his own life as police arrived, making for one of the worst mass murders in U.S. history. Police have yet to disclose a motive for the attack, which left those who knew Lanza trying to discern whether anything in his past could have foreshadowed this. One of Lanza’s aunts, Marsha, described Lanza as a “quiet, nice kid” who had issues with learning, she said. Her husband is Lanza’s paternal uncle. “He was definitely the challenge of the family in that house. Every family has one. They have one. I have one. But never in trouble with the law, or with anything.” As for her connection to the school, if any? It’s unclear, though Lanza’s mother “battled” with the school board and ended up having her son home-schooled. “She had issues with school ,” said the aunt, who lives in Illinois. “I’m not 100% certain if it was behavior or learning disabilities, but he was a very bright boy. He was smart.”
The gun control debate is on, and it is more heated than ever. In the aftermath of the Connecticut school shooting, CNN’s Piers Morgan absolutely went OFF on guns and gun rights advocates on his program Friday. Wherever you stand on the issue, this is a must-watch: Piers Morgan Gun Control Rant The conversation got heated when Morgan asked “why on Earth” anyone would advocate for more guns, given the unspeakable carnage at Sandy Hook. “If we could suddenly make all guns disappear, I’d have a different position,” replied Steve Dulan of the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners. Dulan explained that because firearms last “several human lifetimes with minimal maintenance,” then the only way to stop shooters is with other guns. “This is exactly the argument I’ve been hearing ever since I joined CNN,” replied Morgan, noting that he joined CNN a week before Gabby Giffords was shot. He’s not buying it, to say the least. “The argument I keep hearing is, ‘Well, if everybody else was armed, it wouldn’t happen.’ It’s a load of total hogwash!” Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who represents parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, was also on the show and backed up Morgan’s claims with some statistics. “The proof of the pudding is that in every other industrialized country in the world, other than the United States, they have reasonable gun control laws,” he said. “They have 100 people a year, not 9,000 or 10,000 a year, killed by guns.” Morgan argued that Americans should look to Scotland, where handguns were banned after a 1996 massacre in Dunblane in which 16 schoolchildren were killed. Piers said countless firearms were taken off the street instantly, while gun-rights advocate John Lott responded that Scotland’s murder rate subsequently went up. That sent Morgan through the roof. “There are nearly 12,000 murders a year from guns in this country,” he said. “When are you guys going to focus on that and stop telling me the answer is more guns. It is not the answer!” “How many more kids have to die before you guys say, ‘We want less guns, not more.” Lott fired back, saying “The gun-control laws that you’re pushing have killed people.” The host dismissed Lott’s claim as “a load of nonsense,” and then he REALLY let loose. “I’m so frustrated, so furious, that these kids have been blown away again with legally acquired weapons.” Of Adam Lanza , he said, “Some boy who’s got problems takes his mother’s three weapons, including a ridiculous assault rifle! And goes in a school and kills these kids, “And you guys, the gun lobby still want to tell me the answer is more guns! It is madness!” Is it? You tell us: Time for serious gun control legislation? YES. Fewer guns, fewer tragedies! NO. It’s unconstitutional and won’t stop anything! View Poll »
The alleged shooter in today’s tragic Connecticut school shooting was identified by NBC News as Ryan Lanza, 24, who reportedly also killed his father in Hoboken, N.J. However, reports now conflict as to whether this is truly the case; several sources believe his brother, 20-year-old Adam Lanza , was actually the shooter. WNBC says Lanza then drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., an hour east of N.Y. City, where his mother was the kindergarten teacher. There, Lanza was said to have been responsible for the Connecticut school shooting that claimed 26 lives – 18 of them children – before he killed himself. The gunman opened fire after wanting through the front office, then walked to his mother’s classroom and opened fire, killing her and other students. Lt. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police would not confirm the shooter’s identity, only saying that “the shooter is deceased inside the building.” Vance said the incident began after a 911 call from the school to Newtown Police at 9:41 a.m. The police immediately called State police and other local law enforcement for mutual aid. Vance said that when his officers arrived at the school, they made “immediate entry.” Vance would not give specific numbers on how many children and how many staff are dead and walked away when asked if that was the only shooter. There are reports that there is a person in custody but that has not been confirmed; Vance said there would be another press conference shortly. CNN first identified the killer as Ryan Lanza, but the New York Post claims Adam Lanza was responsible and that Ryan is being questioned by police, but not a suspect. Story developing …
Jimmy Carter Says The Mary Jane Should Be Legalized Because The Laws Via Huffington Post Former President Jimmy Carter gave a full-throated endorsement of state efforts to legalize marijuana during an appearance at a CNN forum aired on Tuesday. Carter, who as president supported an era of marijuana decriminalization in the mid-1970s, told CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux that he was “in favor” of states that were taking steps to legalize the drug. “I think it’s OK,” Carter said. “I don’t think it’s going to happen in Georgia yet, but I think we can watch and see what happens in the state of Washington for instance, around Seattle, and let the American government and let the American people see does it cause a serious problem or not.” The ex-POTUS goes on to say: Speaking about the issues of an anti-drug system focused on enforcement, Carter suggested that large incarceration rates, especially among minorities, were being perpetuated by harsh punishments for marijuana possession. “It’s a major step backward, and it ought to be reversed, not only in America, but around the world,” Carter argued, later going on to say that nations such as Portugal, which decriminalized all drugs in 2000, could be a model for the United States to look toward in the future. Jimmy has a point, there are a LOT of brothas (AND sistas) in jail for what most would consider “minor” Mary Jane offenses. Image via Carter Center
It’s been a sad couple of days for Jenni Rivera’s family, friends, and fans. The 42-year-old Latina superstar died in a tragic plane crash Sunday, December 9 near Monterrey, Mexico. Jenni was traveling on a private jet early Sunday with six others on the flight when it went missing. She was presumed dead when the wreckage was discovered Sunday afternoon with no survivors. According to US Weekly , her family released a statement and shared some information about the singer/reality star you may not have known: “We are feeling devastated. It’s a devastation to the family,” Rivera’s brother, Pedro Rivera Jr., told E! News. “We don’t know how to thank you for all the love you gave to Jenni and to all the family. It is just so special to have you guys as fans.” As family, celebs and fans are mourning her death, Us Weekly remembers the late singer’s life and career with five facts. 1. She sold over 15 million albums worldwide. The singer was nominated in 2003, 2008 and 2010 at the Latin Grammys. Rivera was the first female Banda singer (a brass-based form of traditional Mexican music) to sell out at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, Calif. “I’m happy, I’m very happy for the success that I’ve had, but I’ve worked so hard at it,” Rivera said in April at Billboard’s Latin Music Conference (via CNN). 2. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she was born and raised in Long Beach, Calif. Rivera, with one sister and and four brothers. 3. She is survived by five children. Rivera became pregnant with her first child in high school. She had three children with first husband Jose Trinidad Marin: Janney, Jacqueline and Michael. After the couple divorced in 1992, she remarried in 1997 and had two children with second husband Juan Lopez: Jenicka and Johnny. “Being a mother by far is my favorite and most important career,” she told Parade in August 2012. “They take priority over anything else.” 4. She was a reality television star. Rivera appeared in and produced mun2′s Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis & Raq-C in 2010, I Love Jenni in 2011 and Chiquis ‘n Control in 2012. “People kind of connect and identify with us because we are normal,” Rivera told Parade in August 2012 of her reality show. “We’re just like another other Mexican-American family. We are kind of nutty and silly.” 5. She was set to star in her own ABC show, Jenni. According to Deadline, she was going to star in the self-titled family comedy as a middle-class, single woman raising a family with unique parenting skills. We wish her family, the family of the other passengers on that flight, and those mourning their loss some peace during this terrible tragedy. Images via AP
When Anderson Cooper isn’t dodging explosions in Gaza (see video below), he’s going off on Twitter followers who accuse him of covering the Israel-Hamas conflict unfairly. Pamela Weiss found this out first hand earlier in the week when she ripped his reporting from the Middle East. In response, he dropped a Twitter bomb of sorts on her. Bomb Explodes Near Anderson Cooper Weiss, a self-described “social media junkie” and “foodie,” criticized his story an Israeli air strike on a media center, writing “Report a fair story. Report facts.” Amazingly, AC noticed and responded: “ummmm…. I just did that and have been doing that repeatedly on twitter and on tv. Do you actually think before you tweet?” Ouch, and oh, it continued! Cooper later added, “perhaps spend less time tweeting about coconut flan and more time actually following the news.” The comeback earned props from many of Anderson’s 3.3 million Twitter followers. “Damn man, you just dug into her tweet history for that burn. Respect,” one wrote. Cooper said. “nothing funnier than looking at a dull tweet history for specifics.” Zing again! One fan did urge him to “Go easy on her, @andersoncooper. Coconut flan is pretty delicious.” Cooper later expressed regret that he let it go that far, saying on his CNN show: “I get obsessed with somebody who says something that is completely inaccurate. Like they’ll say to me, ‘You never report about stuff that’s happening in Israel,’ which is just not true.” “Nothing against coconut flan and I’m sure she’s a very nice person. I kind of felt bad to be honest.” If anyone has any recipes for that, please let us know … we hear it’s best served cold.
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