36 percent admit to cursing, punching their computers

In most human transactions, I believe I am lied to around two-thirds of the time. Perhaps you too have such a suspicion.
Perhaps that suspicion will be confirmed by the survey I am about to spread before your eyes.
This survey sought to discover just how many Americans abuse their computers. Personal methods of abuse were also analyzed.
You will surely be stunned into punching your temples several times when I tell you that 36 percent of people admitted "using profanity, screaming, and shouting, or by striking it with a fist or other object" in the last six months.
Yes, only 36 percent. That cannot possibly be true. The figure must be in the very high 90s.
These respondents are simply ashamed of their flaccidity. 
Computers malfunction. Every time I see that rolling rainbow-colored beach ball thingy I want to talk to it sternly. This is shortly before I do. I use a mixture of Polish and English, with the occasional touch of ancient Greek.
The respondents to this survey -- which was performed on behalf of computer memory experts Crucial.com -- claimed the emotion at the heart of these reactions was frustration.
A fulsome 65 percent confessed to this. A mere 10 percent admitted to anger. Oddly, this was the very same proportion that confessed to feeling helpless.
You might think that these troubled humans would at least consider what it was that caused their computers to let them down; 46 percent believe it's malware, which seems a touch optimistic.
Sixteen percent crept closer to the truth. Yes, they had absolutely no idea why their computer was playing up.
Then there were the 12 percent who clearly participated in this survey while lying on a chaise-lounge in their psychiatrist's office.
These were the fine people who blamed themselves.
Some companies might react to this information by immediately raising the psychological allowance in the health benefits they offer.
For its part, Crucial.com has got together with the mild-mannered Lou Ferrigno to launch a competition to find the finest frustrated computer-inspired roar.
I am not lying. You are invited
to submit a 30-second video of yourself losing your equilibrium at your computer at toughoncomputers.com. You could win $5,000 to go toward your shrink costs.
This, of course, would be a very interesting and dangerous video, should you be one of those who lashes your Lenovo or smacks your Samsung.
I reserve my greatest sympathy, though, for the 7 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds who looked this survey in the eye and admitted to experiencing the ultimate breakdown in the face of a recalcitrant computer.
Yes, they cried.
Only 2 percent of those 35 and over admitted to doing this.
You see, kids, as time goes on, you learn to deal with frustration. You punch the life out of your laptop and you feel so much better.

George Zimmerman: Pulled Over For Speeding, Still Packing Heat, Let Off With Warning

George Zimmerman was pulled
over for speeding on Sunday in
the town of Forney, Texas,
according to police, with a gun in
his glove compartment.
He informed police that the
weapon was there shortly after
being pulled over.
The officer who pulled him over
asked Zimmerman where he was
going, to which he responded,
"nowhere in particular,"
according to news reports.
CBS News says that, during the
traffic stop, which occurred at
12:54 p.m., the 29-year-old also
asked the officer if he recognized
him from television.
He was given a warning after
police determined he was free of
outstanding warrants. He was
sent on his way with a polite
goodbye, "Have a safe trip."
Zimmerman was found not
guilty of second-degree murder
charges related to his killing of
Florida teenager Trayvon Martin
just over two weeks ago.
This is the second time he's
been in the news since.
Three days after his acquittal,
Zimmerman aided a family
trapped under an overturned
SUV on a Florida highway,
pulling two kids and their
parents to safety.
It's unclear why he was, or is,
driving through Texas, but he
has been in hiding ever since the
not guilty verdict became a
national story back on July 13.

Apples Paid $1.1 Billion To This Nigerian’s For His App

In a bid to shore up its mobile and
Web mapping infrastructure, Apple
has confirmed a purchase of
Nigerian entrepreneur Chinedu
Echeruo‘s (pictured) HopStop.com
application. With Google buying
the Israel-based Waze map
application for a reported $1.1
billion, it has been rumored that
HopStop’s acquisition was worth a
similar amount. But thus far, Apple
has not revealed the terms of the
deal.
As reported by the Wall Street
Journal’s “All Things Digital” blog,
HopStop empowers Apple’s map
program by providing access to a
portion of the mapping landscape
it had yet to cover: mass transit
directions. The move has been
seen by many analysts as the tech-
giant’s largest push to compete
with the industry-leading Google
Maps service. In fact, Google has
been providing map data to Apple
since 2007.
As an entrepreneur, Echeruo has
founded both HopStop and
Tripology, after stints working as
an analyst for J.P. Morgan Chase.
Echeruo also made his mark in the
hedge fund world, working for AM
Investment Partners for a time.
Echeruo grew up in Eastern
Nigeria and was a student at Kings
College in Lagos. He later came to
the States to attend Syracuse
University and Harvard Business
School before founding his
businesses.
Although the sale of HopStop.com
should be lucrative as expected,
Echeruo has no intentions of
becoming a boardroom fat rat. He
is already at work on another
small business with a focus on
working with companies in his
homeland.
HopStop is based in New York and
provides door-to-door subway
and public transit directions in 140
metropolitan areas in iOS,
Android, and web formats. In
2011, it was named one of the top
100 fastest-growing software
companies.

Selena Gomez Album Hits #1 on Billboard Chart

She may not be number-one in
the heart of Justin Bieber.
But she's number-one on the
Billboard 100.
Selena Gomez's new album,
"Stars Dance," sold 97,000
copies in its first week, good
enough to place Gomez on the
top of this prestigious chart. It's
the artist's first-ever best-selling
album.
"Come & Get It," the first track of
"Stars Dance," also hit number-
one this month. And a video of
Selena celebrating the event
surfaced on the Internet soon
afterward.
No such video of her album
reaction has been released yet,
but we'll keep our eyes out.
Congrats, SG!

Oprah Winfrey I Can't Stand People Who Use the N-Word

Oprah Winfrey says she has no
tolerance for anyone who uses the N-
word around her -- no matter the
color of their skin -- saying, "You
cannot be my friend and use that
word around me."Oprah -- along
with Forest Whitaker -- just spoke
about the race issues with Parade magazine to promote their new movie "The Butler."During the interview, Oprah was asked about the N-word -- which becomes extremely relevant in the wake of the racial comments made by her former "Color Purple" co-star Rae Dawn Chong. As we previously reported, Rae lashed out against Oprah and said she would have been a "field n**ger" back in the slave days. Oprah never mentions Rae in the interview, but makes it clear she doesn't respect people that throw that word around. "It shows my age, but I feel strongly about [the n-word] … I always think of the millions of people who heard that as their last
word as they were hanging from a
tree."The interview is interesting ... with Oprah claiming kids today don't know "diddly-squat" about the civil rights movement. She also explains why she thinks Martin Luther King's dream has not been completely fulfilled. "Are more people judged by
the content of their character than by the color of their skin? Yes. Is everybody judged by the content of their character?  Absolutely not."

Wande Coal Exits Mavin Records

Although early speculations
claimed Wande Coal was never
signed to Mavin Records – on
paper and he was only working
with the Don Jazzy led record
label. This tie is said to have been
ended and Wande Coal has fully-
floated his record label Black
Diamond Entertainment.
This move was made obvious by
his latest single Kilaju which
dropped yesterday – with Don
Jazzy keeping mute about the
song, Wande Coal was made to do
all the online promotion himself
with no support from the entire
Mavin Records gang including
their online PRs.
The reason Wande did not sign
with Mavin on launch was that he
strongly believes Mavin Records
cannot move his career to the next
level and disagreement over
sharing of monies with Wande not
willing to shift ground on 10% with
Mavin asking for 20%. Wande is
also still working with his manager,
Nana.
In a different twist, have you heard
Wande Coal mention the word
Mavin before?

Michael Jackson- Freddy Mercury Duets: Coming Soon!

New Michael Jackson material
may be released this fall,
according to reports, along with
new material from the late
Freddie Mercury of Queen.
Three unearthed tracks Michael
recorded with Freddie back in
1983 in what was supposed to
be collaborative effort are
apparently set to be released.
Initially, the collaboration fell
apart due to the "constraints" of
the two music superstars' busy
schedules, as well as creative
differences (so to speak).
It was rumored that Mercury was
agitated that Jackson insisted in
bringing a llama into the
recording studio ... which sounds
ridiculous yet believable.
Jackson, reportedly, was upset at
Mercury for "taking too much
cocaine in his living room."
The three recorded tracks
featuring the two are titled:
1. “There Must Be More to Life
Than This"
2. “State of Shock"
3. "Victory”
In 2011, Jackson’s estate went
ahead and cleared the tracks for
release, and now intends on
doing so this upcoming fall, so
keep an ear out!

Anthony Weiner Focus of Minor League Baseball Team's "Scandal Night"

Minor League Baseball has long
been known for their crazy
themed promos. Everything
from "Constanza Night" based
on the episode of Seinfeld when
George does everything the
opposite of what he usually
would do, to "Awful Night" filled
with all things awful.
Now one team is capitalizing on
the bevy of somewhat amusing
scandals of late with Anthony
Weiner's troubles headlining
their "Scandal Night".
The Richmond Flying Squirrels , a
Double-A farm team in the San
Francisco Giants franchise, will
be offering hot dogs for $1. Fans
can then tweet pictures with
their $1 wieners to win prizes.
Weiner isn't the only scandal
part of the fun however. Oh no.
There will be a Brett Farve
football toss and a Tiger Woods
closest to the pin contest.
While Flying Squirrels VP, Todd
Parnell says the event is very
"tongue in cheek", it has caused
some fans to call foul.
Sound off THG'ers.... Is it
scandalous of the Flying
Squirrels to host a "Scandal
Night"?

Barton keen to join Everton, says agent

The midfielder, who was loaned to Olympique de Marseille last season, is willing to take a pay cut in order to secure a move to Goodison Park this summer.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been approached over the possibility of signing Joey Barton by the QPR
midfielder’s agent.
The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Olympique de Marseille and has made no secret of his desire to leave QPR following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
A return to the south of France to rejoin Marseille on a permanent basis has been mooted in the media, but Willie McKay, Barton's representative, has now revealed he would be keen on a move to Goodison Park.
According to McKay, Barton would take a pay cut to link up with the club he supported as a boy growing up on Merseyside.
"I spoke to Roberto to see if he would be interested in taking Joey," McKay told the Daily Mail.
"I told him that Joey would love to join Everton and that they are the only club he is willing to lose money to play for."
Barton's often controversial career has also so far included spells at Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Martinez has been particularly active in the transfer window since being announced as David Moyes' successor, signing Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz from his former club Wigan Athletic, while Gerard Deulofeu has arrived from Barcelona on a season-long loan.

Ramos endorses Real Madrid's Bale pursuit

The Spain international described a potential world-record fee for the Tottenham star as "not very
expensive" considering the Welshman's talents, and urged his club to seal a deal.
Sergio Ramos has become the latest Real Madrid player to endorse the club's move for Tottenham's Gareth Bale, declaring that the world-record fees being touted for the Premier League star are "not very expensive" considering his talent.
Los Blancos are stepping up their efforts for the 24-year-old's signature with the Welshman desperate for a move to the Spanish capital, though Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to sell the club's top player - even for a huge sum.
And after Madrid and Spain team-mate Iker Casillas backed the club to sign the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, Ramos also supports a move, suggesting the club should always be looking for "great" players
like Bale.
"The price of players is determined by the market. He's not very expensive from my point of view," Ramos told reporters at a press conference.
The 27-year-old defender believes Madrid must prioritise securing the best young Spanish talent - the €39 million deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illaramendi being a case in point - but says "great" players like Bale are always welcome.
"It's important that there are young, national players on this squad because a national core is very important," he continued.
"But from there it's wonderful to have great players. It's a good philosophy and a good project."
And while there has been no official bid for Bale as of yet, Ramos insists the final decision will lie with the club's hierarchy.
"The president [Florentino Perez] and [coach Carlo] Ancelotti will decide if he needs to come here."

Bale talks open: Tottenham & Real Madrid start negotiations over €115m transfer

Tottenham have finally opened talks with Real Madrid over the €115 million sale of Gareth Bale , with club officials
increasingly convinced the Welshman will leave this summer.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been adamant all summer that the club's prized asset would not be sold under
any circumstances.
However, Madrid's concerted campaign has borne fruit in the last couple of days, with their most recent tactic - a
warning to Bale and his advisors that it is 'now or never' for him to force a move - prompting the 24-year-old to
privately declare in a meeting with Levy that he wants to join the Spanish giants.
That has led the Spurs chairman, whose 'no sale' policy had been fully backed by owner Joe Lewis, to open
dialogue with Real in the last 24 hours, with a meeting between Levy and Madrid president Florentino Perez
expected to take place on August 6 in Florida.
Even now Levy will only sanction a sale if the deal - cash only - smashes the world record €91m fee Real paid for
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Tottenham are keen on Blancos left-back Fabio Coentrao, in particular, while Angel di
Maria is also seen by many as a good like-for-like replacement for Bale.
But big-money player exchange deals are a complicated matter, and Levy is keen that he realises the full monetary
value for a player who still has three years left on his contract, preferring to keep any follow-up bid for Coentrao
and Di Maria separate.
Though it is not a foregone conclusion that the transfer will go ahead - as recently as Monday, Tottenham were
insistent no bids had yet even been formalised - Levy and manager Andre Villas-Boas are now making plans for
the coming weeks to bolster the squad in Bale's absence.
Roberto Soldado is expected to arrive in a €28m deal from Valencia, joining fellow big-money recruits Paulinho
and Nacer Chadli, while Romanian defender Vlad Chiriches is also expected to sign in an €8m deal from Steaua Bucharest.
It looks increasingly likely, though, that they will not be lining up alongside Bale next season, with Real pulling out
all the stops to land a 'Galactico' summer signing to rival Barcelona's €57m capture of Neymar.
Despite telling Spurs of his desire to leave the club for Real, Bale has been keen to underline his happiness at the
north Londoners and could yet play a part in a behind-closed-doors friendly against a non-league opponent on
Thursday.
Further still, should negotiations with Madrid break down, it is still expected that the former Southampton youngster will play  a full and committed part under Villas-Boas in the 2013-14 campaign as Spurs aim to claim a place in top four of the Premier League.
But with Levy now willing to talk to Perez and Real desperate to land their number-one target, a world-record deal is now more likely than ever to be completed in the coming weeks.

£100m Bale deal can win Real Madrid the Champions League

Following the release of the Goal 50, we look at the world's best who have moved this summer, and those that could yet set the market alight Real Madrid 's high-pitch calls for Gareth Bale had fallen on deaf ears at Spurs, but now, it seems, talk of a staggering £100m deal has got their attention .
Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, has been resolute in his stance every since releasing a statement on the club's website at the end of last season. He insisted then, despite failing to qualifying for the Champions League, that their star names would not be sold.
Bale's blistering campaign saw him named 6th in the 2012-13 Goal 50, our list of the 50 greatest players of the past season. A jump from last year's 19th spot has seen his stock increase tenfold.
Meanwhile, Luis Suarez - 31st on the Goal 50 - continues to edge towards Arsenal. The Uruguayan is considered 'Plan B' by Real Madrid, while for Arsene Wenger's, Suarez is certainly 'Plan A'.

Selena's Shirtless Exes WHO'D YOU RATHER?

It's a showdown of Selena Gomez'
prior suitors.Here's a topless photo
that 20-year-old Nick Jonas shared on
his social media page (left) -- and an
equally skin-filled photo 19-year-old
Justin Bieber posted on his (right).While Selena was linked to both buff beaus... you can only choose one!

Justin Bieber REJECTED By NYC Nightclub

Poor little Justin Bieber wanted to
party his face off Monday night ... but
His Douche-ness was brutally shot
down by one NYC nightclub ...
because he's still a baby in bar years
(i.e. under 21). Our NYC party sources
tell us ... Biebs and his crew showed
up to Griffin Nightclub in the
Meatpacking District around 2:00
AM ... looking to drop serious coin on
bottle service. But money can't buy
everything ... we're told JB was
DENIED entrance by the club's
security because he's only 19 --
making his presence a potential
problem (see Chicago earlier this
month). Not to be defeated ... Biebs
and his posse were shot minutes later
cruising into another club, Catch ...
where he probably just sipped water.