UN Refugee Agency Unveils Palestinian Archive

UN refugee agency unveils Palestinian archive (via AFP)

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has unveiled a trove of pictures and film captured over more than 60 years chronicling the collective memory of those who fled or were forced into exile. Established in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees who lost…

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Which New 'Doctor Who' Companion Am I? [Warning: I Might Have Had A Sex Change While Taking The Quiz!]

The full title should really have been "If I was not 'The Loupster' already (the Loupster is not one of the Doctors' companions and he's got companions himself), etc... etc... etc... which new 'Doctor' Who' companion would I be?", but... err... it would have been a tad too long, wouldn't it?

Anyway, this post is about the results I've got in the BuzzFeed's quiz "Which New 'Doctor Who' Companion Are You?". I'd already taken the "Which 'Doctor Who' Are You?" one, so I thought "why not take a quiz about the Doctor's companions as well?" After all, it was all in good fun and, let's face it, the chances of not being Captain Jack Harkness were rather tiny, weren't they? 

I mean, hey, I did make a point of answering all the questions in a manly manner, so what could go wrong?

Nothing much... except that, according to the quiz, I'm now one of the Doctor's female companions, d'oh!

Three Unpublished J.D. Salinger Stories Leaked Online Via eBay

Three unpublished J.D. Salinger stories leaked online via eBay (via Raw Story )

Three stories by the notoriously reclusive author J.D. Salinger were leaked online Wednesday. They were being auctioned as a book on eBay, but an anonymous Reddit contributor noticed that the seller had included a PDF scan of it in the description.…

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Promotional Video Production London - Golden Rules For Success

• Attention
• Branding
• Communication

Did this manage to capture your attention yet? That's exactly what your promotional video should trigger: the attention of the audience. If you can't grab it within the first 10 seconds, they are going to shift to other activities or messages that come across as more captivating.

Engaging your viewers can be extremely rewarding as studies show they are likely to share a cool and catchy video with their friends. This means you get additional exposure for free, exposure which may translate into increasing your brand awareness. When planning your video marketing campaigns, you can get professional help from any good promotional video production agency (Tech TV are a good example), so you can make the most out of this powerful marketing tool. Just stick to the following golden rules for success.

United Nations: Women's Rights Resolution Passed Despite Backlash

UN women's rights resolution passed despite backlash (via AFP)

A UN General Assembly committee has agreed a landmark first resolution on women's rights defenders such as Malala Yousafzai, despite a hard fought campaign by an alliance including the Vatican to weaken the measure. A Norwegian-led coalition, which…

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The Fall of the Eleventh Doctor: 5 First Signs of Greatness

While the following syndicated article from www.throughacitygeekly.com was written before the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special was aired (on a global scale and all), I do believe that it is actually still a very timely (and interesting) written piece as it is about Matt Smith leaving the TV show and how the writer of this post warmed up to the Eleventh Doctor.

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

The Fall of the Eleventh: 5 First Signs of Greatness (via www.throughacitygeekly.com)

This year, midnight will strike Eleven as we bid farewell to Matt Smith and welcome Peter Capaldi as the Doctor in TV’s timeless (sorry) Doctor Who. I’ve been through this before: the shock, the anger, the bargaining, more anger and tears, then…

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Celebrities' Secret Twins

They say there is a secret way to success. That's all they tell me, sadly. I guess it's a secret people are willing to keep. That's why so very few of us actually make it. Those who manage are forever remembered as being the best humanity has to offer (whether that is true or not is a whole different story). All the rest of us have left is looking up to those people, envying them and thinking, “Why weren't I that lucky?”, or even more frequently, “Why don't I look like that?” Well, as you're about to find out, turns out looks doesn't solve everything.

'Family Guy' Fans Protest Death Of Brian The Dog

Update: the Facebook page "RIP Brian Griffin from Family Guy." has now reached 674,345 likes and the number is probably still getting higher as we speak...

Fans of hit US television show “Family Guy” launched a protest petition Monday after Brian the dog, a main character since the series’ 1999 launch, was killed off.

The unexpected plot twist in Sunday night’s episode, “Life of Brian,” triggered a flood of comments on social media, including 120,000 Likes for a Facebook page “RIP Brian Griffin from Family Guy.”

“Brian Griffin was an important part of our viewing experience. He added a witty and sophisticated element to the show,” said a petition on the change.org website, after the animated canine was run over by a car.

"‘Family Guy’ and Fox Broadcasting will lose viewers if Brian Griffin is not brought back to the show.”

The petition, addressed to TV company Fox and “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, was signed by over 2,000 people within hours of being launched.

In the latest episode of the animated show, Brian was run over by a car and died at the local vet’s office, surrounded by his family. He thanked them for giving him a wonderful life, before expiring.

Related Stories

• Social media backlash as 'Family Guy' kills Brian the dog
• 'Family Guy' fans shocked by death - iAfrica.com
• ?Family Guy? Kills Major Character - Daily Beast
• "Family Guy" Killed Off Popular Character Brian Griffin: The Dog

Controversy Persists Over Sex Scenes In 'Blue Is The Warmest Colour'

Controversy persists over sex scenes in 'Blue is the Warmest Colour' (via AFP)

The director of a highly charged lesbian love story that dazzled Cannes said Monday he felt "great regret" at a controversy that has threatened to overshadow the film's rapturous critical reception. Abdellatif Kechiche, director of "Blue is the Warmest…

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Cover Reveal: 'The Other Me' By Suzanne van Rooyen [Giveaway Included]

It's with great pleasure that we're hosting today the Cover Reveal for another novel by Suzanne van Rooyen...

Suzanne is no stranger to this corner of the Blogosphere as, not only we have hosted a few Book Tours and Cover Reveals in the past for her previous books, but also, she wrote a very informative article for us (QUILTBAG Protagonists in SF/F YA Literature) that happens to mention... Whovians of the world rejoice!... Captain Jack Harkness, from Doctor Who and Torchwood!

Find out more about her new book and... Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

PS: By the way, there is a Giveaway at the end of this post, with the opportunity to win a $15 Amazon giftcard. Good luck to all of you!

Mexico To Give Equality Prize To Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai

Mexico to give equality prize to Pakistan's Malala (via AFP)

Mexico said Sunday it will award its 2013 International Prize for Equality and Non-Discrimination to Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban for championing girls' rights to education. The award seeks to recognize Malala's efforts…

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Doctor Who: The Many Loves Of The Doctor

Doctor Who: The many loves of The Doctor (via The Christian Science Monitor)

How many loves has The Doctor loved?(Adrian Rogers/BBC/AP) There’s a lot of hate in Doctor Who. The Daleks, un-anthropomorphic antagonists, feel nothing but it. There is also a frequent, terrible absence of any emotion at all. Cybermen – humans…

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"Doctor Who" Zips Around The Planet In 50th Anniversary TV Special

"Doctor Who" zips around the planet in 50th anniversary TV special (via AFP)

TV's most famous Time Lord popped up simultaneously in nearly 100 countries on Saturday -- in a special 50th anniversary episode of the BBC's cult sci-fi series "Doctor Who". Fittingly, for a two-hearted, time-travelling alien who reincarnates every…

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Celebrating 50 Years Of Doctor Who [Videos Included]

Celebrating 50 years of Dr. Who 
(via CNN Video)

Thousands of fans from around the world will help Doctor Who celebrate his 50th anniversary this weekend.

Doctor Who Turns 50

(via AP Video)

To celebrate the 50th birthday of "Doctor Who," the current doctor Matt Smith met fans and talked about his final series. 

Related Articles

• 'Doctor Who' 50th Anniversary TARDIS Cake (Photo) 
• 'Doctor Who': A Doctor's Note From The Doctor Work Excuse 
• VIDEO: Doctor Who's Jenna humbled by fans 
• Doctor Who: Global Day of the Doctor Celebrates Franchise's 50th Anniversary 
• TV TONIGHT: 'Day Of The Doctor' Reunites Three Time Lords - Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt In 50th Birthday Special 
• Neil Gaiman On His New 'Doctor Who' eBook 'Nothing O'Clock' (Video) 
• Matt Smith Gets His Own Special In 'Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited - The Eleventh Doctor' 

Google Celebrates Doctor Who 50th Anniversary With A Doodle And A Game

Google celebrates Doctor Who 50th anniversary (via The Inquirer)

IT PROBABLY hasn't escaped anyone's notice in Britain that Doctor Who will reach its half century anniversary on Saturday. As well as a feature length telly episode featuring at least three Doctors Who, there has been no shortage of fans waiting to…

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Which 'Doctor Who' Are You?

It was time, really, for a more updated test, as the "What Doctor Who Character Are You?" one we've posted in 2009 was starting to be a bit redundant. Okay, I was pleased with the results at the time (I was the 4th Doctor after all!), but as the test was not including the 11th one, I was wondering how different the results would be if he had been included... and, thanks to the BBC America site, I now have the answer.

Huge Hunt For Paris Gunman After Shootings At Newspaper Office And Bank

Huge hunt for Paris gunman (via AFP)

A huge manhunt was under way in Paris Tuesday for a lone gunman who shot and critically wounded a newspaper photographer in his office before opening fire outside a bank headquarters and hijacking a car. Officers on foot and in squad cars fanned across…

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The Furry Friend Factor [Infographic]

Over 46 percent of households in the United States have at least one furry, four-legged canine for whom they love and care. A considerable 12 percent have three of more canines living under the same roof. There is little doubt that we humans love our dogs as pets. There are a huge number of reasons for this deep affection that is pervasive throughout the country, a number of which can be explained by a small look at the psychology that applies to dogs that we love like family members.

To begin with, dogs and humans have been developing together for thousands of years. Man has relied on dogs for companionship and hunting since as early as 12,000 B.C.. As man's capacity for emotions developed from the beginning of time, so have those of dogs. They are able to feel the vast majority of feelings that we humans feel. They get excited, experience joy, can be shy, and feel distress as well. The spectrum of their internal lives is vast despite the fact that their long-term memory is quite limited when compared to ours. However, dogs have also been lucky enough to avoid developing some emotional reactions for which only humans are known. These include feelings related to pride, guilt, shame, and other negative states of mind. The most valued characteristic in the eyes of humans that dogs have developed, although, is the capacity to love. This ability is what allows us to welcome them into our hearts and treat them as equals in many ways.

Beyond sharing unconditional love with their owners, it has also been shown that dogs provide many other benefits to the average household. Dogs must be exercised either by walking or jogging. It has been shown that pet owners who engage in this activity with their dog are much more likely to be in good health when compared to individuals who do not own dogs. The dogs certainly enjoy this experience, and researchers have discovered that dogs can feel a certain “runner's high” that is comparable to that in humans, only more intense. Bringing a dog into your life will allow you to feel connected to nature and another creature in a very unique way. You both share the capacity to dream, love, and desire the absolute best out of life.

French Plans For More Wind Farms Fans Controversy

French plans for more wind farms fans controversy (via AFP)

Plans to dot France with wind farms are facing fierce opposition from critics worried they will blight a landscape that has helped make the country the world's top tourist destination. France relies heavily on nuclear power but is working to shift to…

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Ker-pow! Batkid Becomes Gotham City Hero For A Day [Video Included]

Ker-pow! Batkid becomes Gotham City hero for a day (via AFP)

A 5-year-old boy with cancer became a superhero for a day Friday, as San Francisco transformed itself into Gotham City and thousands turned out to see the Batkid fly to the rescue. Miles Scott, who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old…

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Princess Anne Suggests Eating Horsemeat

It looks like Princess Anne has given a brand new meaning to the expression "My kingdom for a horse"... 

I'm not too surprised by the reaction of her compatriots though. Horses and rabbits are a no-no when it comes to food in the UK. I remember the first times I carelessly mentioned that I used to eat rabbits in France... I definitely horrified many people by doing so. They kind of looked at me like if I was Hannibal Lecter in person after that. I've learned my lesson since then and now tend to keep very quiet about my former eating habits. Better safe than sorry and all that...

Loup Dargent

Outrage In France Over New Racist Slur On Black Minister

"...Minute was also the first news outlet to report that former president Francois Mitterrand had a secret daughter -- although such was its reputation for unreliability that no other media followed up its scoop at the time." Yeah... I was actually very surprised to see Minute called a newspaper in this AFP's syndicated article. As far as I remember from when I was still living in France, there was not really any proper news as such in that Far Right rag, just sheer propaganda.

Anyway, read the article and let us know what you think of that so called "newspaper", okay?

Loup Dargent

Outrage in France over new slur on black minister (via AFP)

A weekly newspaper with a front page comparing a black government minister to a monkey hit newsstands in France on Wednesday, despite legal objections and a nationwide outcry over the racist slur. Amid mounting concern over similar recent incidents,…

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'4 On Your Side' Investigates Dangers At Pumpkin Fields [Video Included]

It looks like some of those pumpkins we carve for Halloween could have a rather sinister history after all... 

4 On Your Side investigates dangers at pumpkin fields (via Repost Video News)

it's innocent fun .... who doesn't like carving pumpkins in october? or making warm pumpkin pie in november? "but have you ever wondered how these pumpkins got here? Who picked it off the vine and made sure it was here for you to enjoy? We did. And…

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What China Is Really Trying To Hide [Petition]

Tibetans who refuse to fly the Chinese flag above their homes risk being beaten or shot in the latest attempt to break their spirits. But now is the best moment in ages to bring hope to Tibet's proud, but desperate people.

China’s leaders are mounting an intense campaign to draw a veil over their rights abuses and persuade governments to vote them onto the UN Human Rights Council. So if enough of us shine a light on what’s going on in Tibet -- squashing an ancient religion, banning journalists, dawn arrests -- we can get China to back away from its hard-line policy to be sure of getting the 97 votes it needs.

Let’s show the Tibetan people that the world hasn’t forgotten them. China is feeling the heat as 13 governments just called them out on human rights in Tibet. Sign to stand with Tibet, then share this with everyone. When one million have signed we’ll deliver it to crucial UN delegations, and make it massive in the media.

>> Click here to sign the petition

Learning About Christianity [Infographic]

As Christianity has become more commercialized in society, it can be refreshing to consider some of the history behind this religion. Learning about Christianity for one's own sake and on one's own can provide an individual with a greater appreciation for how this religion has developed over the years. It can also help an individual question the religion and consider the reasons why people may feel the need to develop new denominations within this religion.

All of the basic tenets of Christianity were first recorded by the great theologian St. Augustine of Hippo. This theologian lived from 354 A.D. to 430 A.D. In early Christianity, gnosticism was also rejected. The Gnostics and Early Church Fathers engaged in debate over the meaning of Christianity. Later in 380, Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman Empire.

In the early modern era of Christianity, the religion underwent dramatic changes. Luther posted his 95 theses in 1517, and the Baptist Church was later founded in 1609. New denominations in Christianity continued to form after the Protestant Reformation.

During the modern era of Christianity, women began to have a greater involvement in religious affairs in the Christian religion. Mother Theresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in the Catholic Church. The nun went on to achieve great prominence for her charitable work and the kindness that she showed to suffering humans throughout the world. She became known for her ability to spread kindness and peace within various countries in the world.

Today, Christianity has exploded into a different brand. There are over 1,600 megachurches throughout the world. A megachurch is characterized as a Christian congregation in which over 2,000 members meet on a weekly basis. Over 71 percent of megachurches consider themselves to be evangelical. Major Christian leaders on television are often depicted as leaders of megachurches, and these individuals include names like Joel Osteen, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

The most recent development in Christianity has been that Pope Francis has been named as the First Pope from the Americas. This new pope is said to show compassion toward issues like poverty, and the Huffington Post reports that the motto of his archdiocese is even "Lowly but Chosen."

December 2015 Release For New 'Star Wars' Movie

December 2015 release for new 'Star Wars' film (via AFP)

The first of a hotly-anticipated new series of "Star Wars" movies will be released on December 18, 2015, the makers of the legendary sci-fi franchise said Thursday. The announcement lays to rest reports suggesting that the film, announced last year…

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Book Tour: 'Adorned' by Georgeann Swiger [Book Trailer And Giveway Included]

Today's Book Tour for 'Adorned', a paranormal romance novel, is mega-filled with stuff, including book excerpts, a book trailer as well as a giveaway... It's also a "hot from the press" kind of book as it's been released today. (Yes, I know, this post is practically a scoop and all...)

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

Christianity, Voodoo Mix On Haiti's Day Of Dead

Christianity, voodoo mix on Haiti's Day of Dead (via AFP)

In a Port-au-Prince cemetery, Haitians gathered Saturday to ask "the spirit of death" for any number of desires, ranging from housing to visas, during Haiti's Day of the Dead. "It's a tradition: on the Day of the Dead, after church, I come to greet…

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Anatomy Of A Scary Movie [Infographic]

Fans of horror movies are going to love today's infographic... not only it contains loads of information about scary movies, but it also tell us how to make horror films on a budget. (Now, that has to be the mother of all infographics!)

Many thanks to fellow Twitter user Ralf for pointing out this timely little gem to us.

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

Banksy's Nazi-Themed Picture Auctioned Off For New York Charity

Banksy Nazi picture auctioned off for New York charity (via AFP)

British artist Banksy has donated a "vandalized" oil painting to a New York thrift shop to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for HIV patients and the homeless. It is the latest stunt in the graffiti superstar's month-long pop up exhibition on the…

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