Delivering on the Promise of eLearning

9:21 pm on April 11, 2012

elearningeLearning is re-emerging as a solution for delivering online, hybrid, and synchronous learning regardless of physical location, time of day, or choice of digital reception/distribution device. This white paper considers some of the reasons that institutions and enterprises are turning to eLearning to help engage learners with ideas and information in revolutionary ways. It also takes a look at a number of the “Lessons eLearned” that summarize years of empirical Magic Mesh evidence exploring learning technologies use and cognitive achievement. Finally, it offers practical suggestions for creating digital learning experiences that engage learners by building interest and motivation and providing opportunities for active participation.

The drive to share ideas and information

We are an increasingly connected global community with endless numbers of ideas and information to share. Al Saracevic recently noted in his September 9, 2006, San Francisco Chronicle column that there are more than 2.5 billion connected cellular phones, smart phones, and digital communicators and computers on the planet. The Computer Industry Almanac for 2006 reports that the number of people on the Internet (whether using 3G, WiFi, or Cat 5) has passed the 1 billion subscriber mark, with 2 billion subscribers expected in 2011. You Tube, www.youtube. com, HGH announced in July 2006 that its viewers were downloading 100 million videos a day. In the country of Finland alone, more than 1 billion text messages were exchanged in 2005. The number of e-mails, text messages, and IMs exchanged on a daily basis continues to grow exponentially—and all this, futurist Wayne Hodgins reminds us, with only 13% of the world currently estimated to be “online.” By all appearances, it seems we are standing on the front wave of ubiquitous connectivity. And it seems as if the more we are connected, the more we want to engage with ideas, information, and one another in ways that had not been possible even just a few years ago.

In this mostly connected, always switched-on world, eLearning makes more sense than ever before. It gives everyone who needs to learn a new skill, prepare for a new job, or pursue a new career the opportunity to complete training, get a certificate, or earn a degree without moving or leaving current employment. eLearning extends the reach of the campus and Max Burn corporate learning center, and it provides learners with more ways in which to participate in education, training, and professional development, on terms increasingly defined by learners themselves, than ever before.

Description of the eLearning market

The American Society for Training and Development (www.astd.org) notes that technology mediated training and education—eLearning—represent an increasing percentage of the training and education industry. According to a recent report by Learnframe, the global education and training opportunity is a total available market of $2 trillion. IDC (2006) has noted that the growth rate for the different education and training market segments is projected at 10-15% CAGR. In corporate sectors such as banking, finance, and insurance, eLearning is gradually upstaging conventional training methods thanks to the immense benefits eLearning offers in terms of cost savings and employee productivity. Government initiatives include looking to eLearning and training support for first responders and those involved in homeland security and emergency services. Two additional pressures affecting government employees include the growth of online self-service and the growth of centralized customer service centers, phenomena also being experienced in the telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries.

The long anticipated retirements of the “Boomer” generation across all sectors is forcing organizations to actively seek out ways to capture expertise before all that expertise walks out the door. Claire Schooley from Forrester Research (2006) has estimated that more than 45% of government and pharmaceutical employees are likely to retire from service during the next five years.

As an example from one specific vertical market, that of education, a recent Data monitor report suggested that the global learning market for higher right to bare legs education is set to grow with a healthy CAGR of 12%, to $1,891 million by 2008. The Sloan Consortium annual online learning benchmarking report notes that more than 90% of all post-secondary institutions in the United States currently offer some variety of eLearning. Online enrollments increased at a rate of more than 18% in 2005, compared with traditional enrollments at a rate of 4% (Allen and Seaman, 2005).

ASTD estimates that, among its top learning benchmark organizations, up to 40% of corporate education is currently being offered via some form of eLearning, much of that being delivered as online courses. A recent Gartner report (2005) suggests that perhaps only one-third Shake Weight of the current eLearning market features online courses in today’s emerging eLearning market, with another third focused on flexible learning content assets such as learning objects and podcasts, and a final third focused on services associated with eLearning, including content creation and platform integration services. “Virtual classrooms” are generally developed as distributed learning environments that can take advantage of synchronous experiences such as classes, seminars, and e-mentoring, as well as digital online courses and flexible learning content creation and deployment opportunities. They are expected to grow in adoption across all vertical markets due to their ease of use and increase in awareness about the benefits of deploying learning management systems (LMS) and/or learning content management systems (LCMS) for managing many of the artifacts associated with virtual teaching and training activities. Today’s more flexible virtual classroom systems for eLearning create more demand for commercial and community-produced learning content assets. Attractive offerings such as simulation-based learning, games-based learning, and mobile learning are also expected to drive the future demand for more and higher quality digital content.

Using Photoshop’s Soft Proof Setup

1:42 pm on April 13, 2012

photoshopOne of the most powerful and useful features in Photoshop 6.0 and 7.0 is the accurate soft proofing capabilities. Soft proofing is a term that describes using a display to produce a preview on screen that accurately shows what the printed output of a file will look like. This takes a great deal of guesswork out of editing images for final output.

For soft proofing to work correctly, a few areas need to be addressed. First, the accuracy of any soft proof depends on accurate ICC profiles for both the display and for the output device the user hopes to eventually send their files to. If the monitor isn’t properly calibrated and profiled, there is no way in which the preview of files will be correct. Consequently, if the output profile for the device a user hopes to soft proof isn’t accurate, there is no way the preview will be an accurate indication of the printed output. Keep in mind that a display is glowing phosphors while a print is reflective and MUST be viewed under proper lighting conditions (a D50 lightbox). Nonetheless, when setup properly, Photoshop can provide a very accurate on screen indication of what a final output will look like!

Why soft proof? When should one use the feature? Just because a user is working on an RGB file that may be in a Working Space like Adobe RGB 1998, doesn’t mean that what they are seeing on screen has any relationship to what output device will produce. A soft proof is necessary to predict the final output and will allow the user to edit the file based on those conditions. RGB Working Spaces are useful for editing and archiving a file that may be used for multiple printing needs. However, at some point in time, a user will want to see how that file will appear when output without having to actually print the file. Here is where the soft proofing in Photoshop comes into play. At a certain time in the editing process, the file will appear acceptable to the user in the RGB Working Space. Argan Oil At this point, the user may now wish to see how the file will appear to output on their Epson printer. One would setup a soft proof for the Epson printer and the preview on screen may radically change based on that single output devices behavior. The file is still in the pristine RGB Working Space; it is only previewing as it will appear when printed. The user may wish to continue to edit the file so it appears on screen as they prefer, based on the preview for the Epson printer. Before altering the file based on a single output device, it is a good idea to make a copy of the fi le (use the Image->Duplicate command). Then edit this file while in the RGB Working Space while being previewed based on the soft proof to the desired printer. The numbers in the file are being altered to insure acceptable output to that one Epson printer and therefore it is a good idea to do this on a copy of the original RGB file (the archive). As we will see, using Adjustment layers can be handy for creating multiple “corrections” per image for each output device.

Let us examine the pre-existing items in the Proof setup menu before we make custom settings. Under the “View Menu” select “Proof Setup.” While holding down the mouse, notice the menu options. Below “Custom…” there is a number of submenu’s beginning with “Working CMYK.” If that menu item is selected, a soft proof of the currently selected CMYK output profile loaded in the Color Settings will be provided. For example, if the current Color Settings are set for U.S. Prepress defaults, the SWOP Coated v2 would be the CMYK profile loaded and that profile would be used if one selected “Working CMYK.” Below “Working CMYK” are several menu options that allow the user to see a soft proof of individual color channels that make up the CMYK process. Picking “Working Magenta Plate” would show on screen the soft proof of just that channel. It is important to know that when picking “Working CMYK” that the profile being used is the one currently loaded in the Color Settings.

Below CMYK, options for soft proof are three methods of viewing files as if they were being seen outside an ICC savvy application. For example, “Macintosh RGB, Windows RGB or Monitor RGB” are each different ways to examine a file without using Photoshop’s “Display using Monitor Compensation” features**”.
That is, you can see what a file would look like in an application that doesn’t know how to recognize the embedded profiles in a current open document and properly preview it with a display profile. Opening a file in “Adobe RGB 1998” outside of an ICC savvy application usually results in a preview where the colors appear unsaturated. The colors do appear correct in Photoshop since it operates correctly with files that have embedded profiles. Using the “Macintosh RGB” would show a user what a file looks like on a Mac (using a 1.8 display gamma) outside of an ICC savvy application like most web browsers. “Windows RGB” does the same but uses a 2.2 display gamma. These two options might be useful for someone that wants to see how files will appear on different platforms outside of smart, ICC savvy applications like Photoshop. This is a good indication of how poorly and inaccurately files will appear and it is useful to show how much better it is to use ICC savvy applications when viewing images accurately is important. “Monitor RGB” produces the same function but uses the actual users ICC display profile to produce the previews (without regard to the documents embedded profile). This shows how a file will appear on a users machine outside of Photoshop (or any non ICC savvy applications).

African Mango in Weight Loss

10:53 am on May 15, 2012

In case you are into African Mango, perhaps as a diet program supplement, know that you have made the right choice in matters pertaining to weight reduction. You will find that with African Mango a big difference is seen, more so in the lives of those who have tried other ways to shed weight. You will find many tablets that purport to give you the kind of result you want in weight loss and might be credible for some time before everything starts backfiring. You might find that the tablets are simply cosmetic cover-ups with nothing substantial to show they help in matters of weight. This is because some of these tablets and general weight loss procedures simply lead to loss of water from your body and not fat, the reason why you are constantly sick. The result could be very dangerous in your life.

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You would like to see the substantial chunk of deposited extra fat on your neck, thighs, legs, hands, stomach and on other areas of the system commence to wear away. On the other hand, you could notice that employing some formulas merely leaves you dehydrated and could turn into incredibly dangerous immediately after some time has lapsed. Even so, if you can stick to the African Mango diet regime, you will explore that it deals with the matter of excess fat reduction in your entire body without touching on the critical deposits of water. You really do not have to have to have an effect on your body in a unfavorable way all in making an attempt to lower on weight and find a way out of your unique pounds issue. The most vital point is to discover by yourself the greatest way of managing the matter of body fat and bodyweight, and if you can abide by our instance, the African Mango is entire of some of the most significant benefits with no any style of facet outcomes on your physique. It will absolutely transform the way you look and show up in front of persons.

The most tricky point to confess is that men and women loathe you, seeing that it is human nature to seek like. Even animals thrive on really like and sticking around with a single another. However, if one particular feels hated and unloved, even their fantastic workplace will become hell on middle earth. This is what becoming obese in the modern entire world indicates, as folks stop up sensation so bad about by themselves that they rarely engage in any meaningful social lives. Regardless of whether you are a busy researcher or just an workplace administrator, the African Mango diet is the best factor that may ever have transpired to you for so lots of good reasons. It arrives in distinct varieties as it has actually taken roots in the United Says and across the entire world in spots this kind of as Europe. This western piece of the planet has all had some extremely agonizing scenarios of their population struggling from dire obesity and numerous moms and dads are genuinely involved about the complete factor.

Parents are trying to find the very best way to take care of the problem from their court and the fact is, with out the help of this sort of a super foods as African Mango, the course of action is quite tricky. The small children seems at them as getting the wrong folks to inform them how to live and engage in various things that mean a whole lot in their lifestyle. So lots of points happen in their lifestyle and the very last matter they want is staying advised they seem bad and must engage in unpleasant workout routines. Nevertheless, as a superior shepherd and guardian, the finest way you can impact their eating routines is by looking at their diet element of the discount. In fact, it could be the only spot you are in a position to handle them and influence their culinary routines. For position, the African Mango will deal with the meals binging predicament and you do not have to really feel bad when they have started off eating less and less.

Obesity is just that it is created on ingesting routines and producing the improper decisions on issues pertaining to foods. You seriously do not want to experience bad when your child can not avoid from eating junk and chewing all the time. On the other hand, with the support of a eating plan you can normally attempt from wherever you may be, begin instructing your kids how important it is to begin reducing on fat when they are even now youthful. Nonetheless, do not count on the finest benefits if you have the same problem and you are not undertaking something about it. In all probability the kid is currently being maimed and capped by his or her associates as per your obesity status, to the position that they are advised it runs in the loved ones. If you also include the Africa Mango diet regime in your living, the alterations will be so remarkable and the best you have always loved. Many factors will start off to drop into location in the appropriate way and you will start viewing your son or daughter as a winner, whilst the exact same youngsters start to warm up to your notion.

You would have taught them that weight reduction and searching for the greatest super fruit for this certain occupation is the best matter that can ever before come about to them. By the conclude of that time, they will start out seeing the outcome, become so entrenched into it and lots of points will start off to fall into place in the most formidable style. At college, you will learn that other small children will be browsing at your son or daughter as the finest example of resilience and challenging work and the phrase African Mango will dearly leave their mouth and transform the lives of other little ones out there. This would be the greatest thing that has ever before happened not only to you as a father or mother, but also to your little ones. Merely start off the approach by incorporating the African Mango in your eating plan and see the variation. If you would like to see the sort of lbs you have falling out of your physique literary, simply just opt for the African Mango diet regime and permit unwanted fat depart your system, for the most balanced entire body you have ever had.

Some Reasons Why Your Face Is Fat

3:40 pm on May 14, 2012

chin fatAs you age deposits of fat start to accumulate in your chin and cheeks, as well as your neck area. This is true for most everyone and it definitely makes you look alot older than you are.  Unfortunately this can start happening when you are still quite young, and even before you start to see other aging signs. Once your face starts to get round because of this, there is a general lack of definition around your jaw and cheeks.  The cheek fat that you see when you smile is called the buccal fat pad. This is the cheek fat that most people want to remove. When removed, the shape of your face is generally better.  If you are going to remove it by surgery, the doctor makes incisions from within the mouth so that no scars are visible. Your face will be swollen for about a week though.

This is why alot of people decide to go for face fat removal naturally, as seen at this website perfectcheekbones. You have to be careful with this procedure though, because this fat naturally goes away as you age even more and if you remove too much you will look quite haggard and gaunt years later.

But really, most of the people that you meet are happy with how their cheeks look. But for many others, they are very self-conscious about how their cheeks look. These people complain because their cheeks look too round and too chubby. This cheek fat is also known as buccal fat. This buccal fat is the pads of fat that augment the lower part of your cheek, and can often look like you have “chipmunk cheeks”. This increase in buccal or cheek fat can happen because of a variety of conditions.

You could be overweight in the first place, or it could be in your genes passed down from your parents.  Face fat removal surgery, also known as buccal fat removal, gives you one solution to shrink the size of your cheeks. Once this fat is removed, it will definitely give your entire face a more trimmed look and that is the overall goal for these types of people.

This fat is one of the reasons why cosmetic surgery is so popular.

Because cosmetic surgery is getting so popular, it’s very important for people thinking of going through with it to do a lot of research and understand exactly what is going on. They need to understand a variety of issues that include what surgery can and cannot help with, the risks involved, the costs, and possible side-effects as well. They also have to realize that cosmetic surgery, including face fat surgery, cannot be undone once it is complete. So they have to be absolutely sure it’s something they want to do.   Before visiting the doctor, it is important to do as much research as possible online in order to be able to ask the right questions when you do visit the doctor. Make sure the doctor is qualified as well and has all the necessary training and experience. When you do begin your research, go to the most popular website online where actual doctors contributed information.

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball Kicks Off Amid Protests

2:41 pm on May 17, 2012

Lady Gaga kicked off her hotly awaited Born This Way Ball at Seoul, South Korea’s Olympic Stadium on Friday (April 27) in front of 45,000 fans, and despite protests from Christian groups saying Mother Monster was “obscene” and could “taint” young people with her performance, the concert appears to have gone on without incident.

Intrepid Twitter fans are already showing off pictures and video of the BTW Ball’s enormous Gothic castle backdrop and myriad costume changes, making it clear that Gaga has outdone even her own Monster Ball in terms of spectacle.

While we wait for reviews to trickle in from halfway around the world, one thing is certain: No minors were corrupted at the show. Earlier this month, the Korea Media Rating Board decided to elevate the age rating for the concert from 12 to 18, prohibiting minors from seeing the concert. When the board notified Gaga’s tour promotion company and a sponsor of the change in age restrictions, it did not offer a reason why the show ? which at the time was still in rehearsals and had not been reviewed publicly ? was considered unsuitable for children under 18.

The likely catalyst for the board’s decision came more into focus as the concert neared and protests from a group of conservative Christians calling itself the Alliance for Sound Culture in Sexuality ramped up. The group covered Seoul with posters accusing Gaga of “spreading unhealthy sexual culture” through “lewd lyrics and performances.”

The superstar and her fans, however, were undeterred. Though she tweeted her hopes that the Korea Media Rating Board would reverse its decision (it didn’t), she continued on as planned. Many fans reportedly arrived at the show wearing versions of Gaga’s most well-known flamboyant costumes, and there have been no reports of disturbances at the concert.

Before the show, Gaga tweeted, “I can you hear you Korea. I’m shaking.”

Gaga’s performance was heavy on material from her Born this Way album, though her biggest hits, including “Bad Romance,” Poker Face” and “Just Dance,” were represented.

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball set list:

» “Highway Unicorn”
» “Government Hooker”
» “Born This Way”
» “Bloody Mary”
» “Bad Romance”
» “Fashion of His Love”
» “The Queen”
» “Just Dance”
» “Love Game”
» “Telephone”
» “Just Dance”
» “Heavy Metal Lover”
» “Bad Kids”
» “Hair”
» “Yoü and I”
» “Electric Chapel”
» “Americano”
» “Poker Face”
» “Scheiße”
» “The Edge of Glory”
» “Marry the Night”

Did you see Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball? Let us know what you thought of the show in the comments below!

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Poll: Best Movie Awards Spoofs

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People, if you’re not already hip to this lesson, let us give you a tip: cool guys don’t look at explosions. It’s just science, really.

Actually, what it really is, is a callback to one of the best movie spoofs in MTV Movie Awards history, when Andy Samberg and Will Ferrell teamed up with J.J. Abrams (what?) at the 2009 show to stress to movie lovers the most important lesson one can take away from the action movie genre.

But that’s not the first (or last) time the Movie Awards have poked fun at our favorite flicks. The boys of *NSYNC teamed up to save the world from “Armageddon” levels of doom in 1999, and later, in 2003, Justin Timberlake was back again, ready and reloaded to take on “The Matrix.” As recently as 2011, Jason Sudeikis and Emma Stone went as far as to apply a live piano show to the art of movie-spoofing, as seen above.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other movie spoofs to think back on fondly, but which one is the funniest of them all? We’re leaving that choice up to you in the Movie Awards poll below!

» Return to polling headquarters!

Polls close Friday, May 29 at noon, with results to be announced in the lead-up to the 2012 MTV Movie Awards. Vote now and vote often!

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.

Tags 2012 MTV Movie Awards, MTV Movie Awards

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Lady Gaga Taps The Darkness To Open Born This Way Ball

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Perhaps looking for some actual Heavy Metal Lovers, Lady Gaga has tapped reunited British rockers the Darkness as the opening act on the first ? though we’re willing to bet not last ? leg of her Born This Way Ball, which kicks off August 14 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Darkness confirmed the news Tuesday morning (April 10) on their official site (which, in a very Darkness move, is called TheActualDarkness.com), writing that they were “honoured [British spelling, extra classy] to announce their addition to the bill as main support for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball tour 2012.”

The glammy, hammy rockers ? best known for theatrical hits like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and “Growing on Me” ? burned bright before imploding in 2006, but announced a reunion (and plans for a new album) just last year. And as a way of kickstarting the next chapter of their career, frontman Justin Hawkins appeared in a well-received Samsung commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLV, in which he starred as a Spandex-clad pied piper who rescued folks from the monotony of everyday life. So, you know, it was basically a documentary.

It’s not clear if the Darkness will serve as the opening act on all of Gaga’s Euro dates (a spokesperson for the band did not respond to MTV News’ request for comment by press time), but, thanks to the Mother Monster herself, we now know that there are European dates for the much-discussed BTW Ball.

Gaga unveiled the first 21 shows early Tuesday morning on her Twitter account. After kicking off August 14 in Bulgaria, she’ll make stops in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Germany, France and the U.K. before wrapping October 6 in Barcelona.

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Lady Gaga Cancels Show In Indonesia After Protests

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Lady Gaga lives to provoke and push the envelope. But not everyone is up for her antics. The “Americano” singer has been forced to cancel her sold-out June 3 “Born This Way Ball” show at the 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia after Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers said her sexy costumes, suggestive dance moves and “vulgar” style could corrupt the nation’s youth.

According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the national police said on Tuesday (May 15) that the permit for the show has been denied after religious conservatives worried that the concert could undermine the nation’s moral fiber. Some of the critics actually threatened to use physical force to prevent Gaga from getting off her plane. Though Indonesia is a secular state, it has the world’s largest population of Muslims and a small extremist fringe of religious leaders has been more vocal in recent years.

“She’s a vulgar singer who wears only panties and a bra when she sings and she stated she is the envoy of the devil’s child and that she will spread satanic teaching,” said Salim Alatas, the Jakarta head of hardline Islamic Defender Front (FPI), according to Reuters. “This is dangerous.”

Local police worried that they might not be able to guarantee security at the show and suggested to national police that the permit for what was to be Gaga’s biggest gig on her current Asian tour be pulled. Every seat at the Karno stadium had been sold, with half of them going in the first two hours.

The AP reported that permits for shows are typically issued three weeks before concerts in Jakarta, so it is not uncommon for tickets to be sold well ahead of receiving a final permit. Gaga’s Asian tour started last month and the Indonesian flap is not the first bump she’s faced along the road. Gigs in South Korea? were 18-and-over because conservatives in that country also raised objections over the concert’s content.

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Jay-Z Infected By Rita Ora’s Energy

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Jay-Z sure knows how to make dreams come true. Through the years, Hov has provided platforms for quite a few key artists like Kanye West and Rihanna ? maybe you’ve heard of ‘em. He has also lent a hand to a few less notables ? Rell, anyone? ? but when it comes to Roc Nation’s new pop starlet Rita Ora, Hova has high hopes.

“She’s one of the people that, if you were in the position, you say, ‘I’m gonna help her get her dream out and then we’ll see what happens,’ ” Jay-Z told MTV News about the Kosovo-born, West London-bred singer when we caught up with him in Philadelphia on Monday. “I think her energy is infectious, because out the gate, two #1s in London and she’ll just continue to grow from there.”

The later of the two #1s that Jigga references is her current single “R.I.P.,” a track that was co-written by Drake and features Tinie Tempah. The fiery electro-love ode finds Ora staking her claim in a convoluted love triangle, making sensual offers that her boo simply can’t refuse. “R.I.P. to the girl you used to see,” she sings with a sexy wit.

What’s not to love about Rita? She perfectly balances over-the-top talent with a simple, around-the-way-girl charm. Her debut U.S. single “How We Do (Party)” is a nod to the Notorious B.I.G.’s 1991 underground track “Party and Bullsh–,” doesn’t get more around the way than that. (She told us last month she’s a ” huge Notorious B.I.G. fan.”)

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bigger B.I.G. fan than Jay, and it just so happens he’s pretty fond of Rita as well. “She was the cool girl that worked in the sneaker store in the hood and everyone knew of her. She was just in there dreamin’ and she just wanted it so bad,” he said, describing Ora with awe. “You could just feel the excitement and the energy when she walks in the room, the room really changes. I know a lot of people say that and it gets to be cliché, but when she walks into a room, her energy picks you up.”

Are you into Rita Ora’s energy? Let us know in the comments

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Nicki Minaj And Nas Seal ‘Right By My Side’ Video With A Kiss

11:40 pm on May 16, 2012

Nicki and Nas ?it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

It’s no secret that Nicki Minaj has a flair for the dramatic, and on Wednesday (May 16), when she debuted her “Right by My Side” video on MTV, Nicki surprised many by casting the Queensbridge rap great as her leading man.

The bright and cheery video opens with a pensive Nicki seated in a high-backed chair fit for a queen; her mind is clearly elsewhere, unaware of the camera’s gaze. Only a few seconds pass before Nas struts into the scene and the two lean in to share a smooch only to find their lives subjected to a rewind sequence before their lips touch.

“It all comes down to this, I miss your morning,” Nicki sings on cue as the viewer is taken back in time.

It’s all pretty rosy as the lovesick couple share deep conversation and an inside joke as Nas hands his honey a silver dollar, which she flips into a wishing well. The clip has all the makings of a Nicholas Sparks romance flick: There’s PDA, hand-holding, shopping trips and outdoor lunches. In one scene, Nas ? who sports his trademark half-moon Caesar and big-framed 1980s-inspired glasses ? surprises Nicki with a new car, topped off with a pink bow, of course. The reigning rap queen is so excited she leaps into his open arms.

When Chris Brown shows up for his guest verse and duet-styled hook, he is set outside of the video’s story line, delivering passionate performance scenes but never interrupting the two lovebirds. Breezy is no doubt a superstar, but he sits as a third wheel on Nicki and Nas’ romantic ride.

The vibe of the soft love song switches by the time the Female Weezy’s rap verse rolls in. It’s quite the verbal display as she sits beside Nas, wearing his hoodie and rapping in double-time of her own sexual prowess. “My p—y game so cold, that he always seem to come back/ ‘Cause he knows that it be a wrap when I’m riding it from the back,” she spits while wearing God’s Son’s oversized medallion around her neck.

For the most part, the couple can’t stay away from each other, but there is clearly some separation between the two lovers, even if only for a brief, undefined moment. In the closing scene, a lonely and longing Nicki sits on a park bench under a full moon with a sullen look on her typically animated face. Her frown is quickly remedied when Nas pulls up besides his boo and takes a seat next to her. They first hug and then share a deep and sensual kiss that is sure to get the rumor mill spinning out of control.

What did you think of Nicki Minaj and Nas’ kiss in the “Right By My Side” video? Tell us in the comments!

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Britney Spears Calls ‘X Factor’ A ‘Beautiful Concept’

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Britney Spears seems poised and ready to sit beside her fellow “X Factor” judges on the revamped second season of the show. At the Fox upfront this week, the singer appeared alongside fellow newbie Demi Lovato, as well as returning judges Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid, and gushed about the Fox reality show.

“Just really being able to be there and inspire the other contestants … they’re so young and they’re trying to fulfill their dreams,” she said at the event. “It’s just a whole beautiful concept. It’s just really cool.”

While her negotiations with the show had been making headlines in the weeks leading up to the official announcement, Cowell brushed off all the hoopla, which includes a rumored $15 million payday for joining the show. “A force of nature, I was somewhere in the middle, but I’m thrilled. I love these guys,” he said of getting everyone, including Spears, on board. “I charmed her.”

Spears seemed equally taken with the prickly Brit. “He’s adorable. He’s completely adorable. He didn’t have to try hard,” she admitted.

Spears’ addition to the show is hardly the only casting making news: Lovato also opened up about having the “X Factor.” While little is known about the final hours going into locking Lovato in for the show, she’s rumored to be taking in $1 million, according to Gossip Cop. Lovato was on a short list of possible contenders to appear on the show that also reportedly included Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne. “I’m so excited to be here,” she said. “I guess you called,” she added with Simon by her side. “And that’s how it got set up, just a phone call.” In addition to getting warm and fuzzy about each other in the interview, Cowell shared that the judges will be filming in the next couple weeks when they hit up Austin, Texas, to begin scoping out talent. And if you think the claws might come out then, Reid assured viewers that that won’t be the case. “Oh no, we’re gonna be really sweet to each other,” he said. “Nothing controversial. It’ll be perfect.”

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Damon Lindelof Jokes ‘Battleship’ End Credits In Today’s Twitter-Wood

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Marvel fans are well aware after the end credits of every one of the comic company’s movies will be a small scene alluding to the next film. Following “The Avengers” fans were introduced to Thanos, one of Marvel Universe’s most important villains. Well, guess what? According to “Prometheus” writer Damon Lindelof, “Battleship” followed suit.

YAHTZEE! We’re just kidding with you, but wouldn’t that be fun? We’re kind of hoping it happens now. “Battleship” director Peter Berg needs to pull an “Avengers”-style re-shoot and add it to the end credits. Or actually, change Yahtzee to Candy Land and we’re on board.

With “Battleship” releasing in theaters this Friday the big question is: Who will say the board games’ classic tagline? Zach Braff weighed in on his preference writing, “I hope Rihanna’s the one who gets to say ‘You sunk my battleship.’”

MTV News recently caught up with the singer who said she was “intimidated” by her role in the action film. “I was walking into this as an amateur ? a complete amateur. I didn’t know anything,” she said. ” I was a wreck, just like, scared to sh–.” Maybe she was nervous because she had to carry the film’s most anticipated line?

Personally, Liam Neeson gets our vote for the phrase. As Admiral Shane he’s in a high place of naval power, plus he has the booming voice to project the line amidst a raging alien war.

Will you see “Battleship” this weekend? Who do you think says, “You sunk my battleship”? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags damon lindelof, Zach Braff

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Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball Kicks Off Amid Protests

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Lady Gaga kicked off her hotly awaited Born This Way Ball at Seoul, South Korea’s Olympic Stadium on Friday (April 27) in front of 45,000 fans, and despite protests from Christian groups saying Mother Monster was “obscene” and could “taint” young people with her performance, the concert appears to have gone on without incident.

Intrepid Twitter fans are already showing off pictures and video of the BTW Ball’s enormous Gothic castle backdrop and myriad costume changes, making it clear that Gaga has outdone even her own Monster Ball in terms of spectacle.

While we wait for reviews to trickle in from halfway around the world, one thing is certain: No minors were corrupted at the show. Earlier this month, the Korea Media Rating Board decided to elevate the age rating for the concert from 12 to 18, prohibiting minors from seeing the concert. When the board notified Gaga’s tour promotion company and a sponsor of the change in age restrictions, it did not offer a reason why the show ? which at the time was still in rehearsals and had not been reviewed publicly ? was considered unsuitable for children under 18.

The likely catalyst for the board’s decision came more into focus as the concert neared and protests from a group of conservative Christians calling itself the Alliance for Sound Culture in Sexuality ramped up. The group covered Seoul with posters accusing Gaga of “spreading unhealthy sexual culture” through “lewd lyrics and performances.”

The superstar and her fans, however, were undeterred. Though she tweeted her hopes that the Korea Media Rating Board would reverse its decision (it didn’t), she continued on as planned. Many fans reportedly arrived at the show wearing versions of Gaga’s most well-known flamboyant costumes, and there have been no reports of disturbances at the concert.

Before the show, Gaga tweeted, “I can you hear you Korea. I’m shaking.”

Gaga’s performance was heavy on material from her Born this Way album, though her biggest hits, including “Bad Romance,” Poker Face” and “Just Dance,” were represented.

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball set list:

» “Highway Unicorn”
» “Government Hooker”
» “Born This Way”
» “Bloody Mary”
» “Bad Romance”
» “Fashion of His Love”
» “The Queen”
» “Just Dance”
» “Love Game”
» “Telephone”
» “Just Dance”
» “Heavy Metal Lover”
» “Bad Kids”
» “Hair”
» “Yoü and I”
» “Electric Chapel”
» “Americano”
» “Poker Face”
» “Scheiße”
» “The Edge of Glory”
» “Marry the Night”

Did you see Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball? Let us know what you thought of the show in the comments below!

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Lady Gaga Cancels Show In Indonesia After Protests

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Lady Gaga lives to provoke and push the envelope. But not everyone is up for her antics. The “Americano” singer has been forced to cancel her sold-out June 3 “Born This Way Ball” show at the 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia after Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers said her sexy costumes, suggestive dance moves and “vulgar” style could corrupt the nation’s youth.

According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the national police said on Tuesday (May 15) that the permit for the show has been denied after religious conservatives worried that the concert could undermine the nation’s moral fiber. Some of the critics actually threatened to use physical force to prevent Gaga from getting off her plane. Though Indonesia is a secular state, it has the world’s largest population of Muslims and a small extremist fringe of religious leaders has been more vocal in recent years.

“She’s a vulgar singer who wears only panties and a bra when she sings and she stated she is the envoy of the devil’s child and that she will spread satanic teaching,” said Salim Alatas, the Jakarta head of hardline Islamic Defender Front (FPI), according to Reuters. “This is dangerous.”

Local police worried that they might not be able to guarantee security at the show and suggested to national police that the permit for what was to be Gaga’s biggest gig on her current Asian tour be pulled. Every seat at the Karno stadium had been sold, with half of them going in the first two hours.

The AP reported that permits for shows are typically issued three weeks before concerts in Jakarta, so it is not uncommon for tickets to be sold well ahead of receiving a final permit. Gaga’s Asian tour started last month and the Indonesian flap is not the first bump she’s faced along the road. Gigs in South Korea? were 18-and-over because conservatives in that country also raised objections over the concert’s content.

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