Claims he’ll be ‘droned’ if he leaves embassy
Assange claims it has become too dangerous to even poke his head out the Ecuadorean embassy’s balcony doors.
There are security issues with being on the balcony. There have been bomb threats and assassination threats from various people. It’s not likely [that I’ll be shot] but I’m a public figure and a very controversial one, including in the United States. As a result, there have been quite a number of threats by unstable people…I’m a white guy. Unless I convert to Islam it’s not that likely that I’ll be droned, but we have seen things creeping towards that.
He also says he advised Edward Snowden on where he should go after his disclosures:
He preferred Latin America, but my advice was that he should take asylum in Russia despite the negative PR consequences, because my assessment is that he had a significant risk he could be kidnapped from Latin America on CIA orders. Kidnapped or possibly killed.
Palin, Trump interview
Palin interviews Trump on One America News. The talk about economics, veterans, and Trump’s confontation with Jorge Ramos:
Palin: You schooled that radical activist. And that was the right thing to do.
Trump: He was totally out of line. He was screaming and ranting and raving. And I said ‘Who is this guy?’ I’m suing Univision actually for $500 million dollars. His daughter works for Hillary Clinton and he was trying to put on a show. But actually he was hurting the rest [of the reporters in attendance].
Rolling Stone profile
Rolling Stone publishes a profile of Karpeles and Mt. Gox, titled The Rise and Fall of a Bitcoin Kingpin. On stealing Gameboys and mobile phones as a teenager by hacking shopping websites:
A lot of people respected me for that. I did feel more important, in a way. If I need something, I press a button and I get it.
On what he felt like when he realized $650 million in bitcoins were gone:
It really felt unreal. I don’t know how to describe that. When you get a hospital operation without any anesthetic, it hurts at first, but at some point the pain reaches a point where you don’t feel anything anymore.
New York Times interview
Cyrus is interviewed by The New York Times about hosting the VMAs and talks about her famous twerk with Robin Thicke
Everything I’ve ever done has been true to me at that minute. Even down to my TV show [“Hannah Montana”] — when I started I was 12 years old, and that was like a dream to me. So that was my truth at that moment. Me coming out of that teddy bear, to me, wasn’t just a teddy bear. My dad always explained it to me that you step into your happiness. That’s kind of like what I was doing. When I broke down the bear belly, I was really breaking out — my show ended, and then I didn’t really work for two years. That’s when I did my most self-exploration. [The performance] was kind of going into this way of saying, ‘I’m just going to do what will make me happy.’ At that moment, that’s what really made me happy…I knew who I was, and I knew the power that I held, but I don’t think I realized my full power until that show. I didn’t realize I could make such a big reaction. I didn’t think that many people would care. I knew I was famous, but I didn’t know what that meant. Everything was coming to an end and starting a new beginning. In every way.
I was in the studio with Kanye [later] that night, and we watched it back and we didn’t say anything. He was like, “That was sick,” whatever. We woke up the next day, and he was like, “Whoa.” He called and said, “Turn on your TV.” I was staying at the Trump Hotel and Donald Trump literally called and said, basically, “I know everyone’s talking about it, but I loved it.” I had no idea anyone was talking about it yet. Even people around me really judged me. People that I really loved and thought were my friends judged me for it. They were like, “You were on drugs when you did that performance.” I did nothing! I still don’t get it.
Guitarist interview
Hillage is interviewed for Guitarist magazine. He talks about Gong and his guitars. If he could change one thing:
The vinyl version of Rainbow Dome Musick was completely unlistenable because of the scratches. It was only when we got the CD that we could actually listen to the thing. The LP came out originally in 1979 and it was clear vinyl and generally, coloured vinyl is not as good as black because of the way they have to clear out the pressing thing – there’s a whole esoteric explanation for that. There were just a lot of ‘Rice Krispies’ on it, but we couldn’t really change that because that’s all there was in those days.
His worst experience performing:
I did a gig on acid and my guitar disappeared while I was playing it. It was rather unpleasant, but I lived to tell the tale. It was a Gong gig in a Spanish town near Barcelona called Terrassa and it all went a bit pear-shaped! Miquette [Giraudy, keyboards/vocals] was there, but she wasn’t actually on stage and she helped me keep it all together.
He also says that that he did not cause the breakup of Gong or have a falling out with Daevid Allen after the Gong Est Mort reunion in 1977.
Parents: Steenkamp was leaving Pistorius
Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and June, say she had packed her bags and was ready to leave Oscar Pistorius the day he shot and killed her. June:
He killed her. He admits he killed her…She is dead after [Pistorius made] sure she was dead. Why didn’t he just let her walk away?
Barry:
What actually came out in court is not the truth. We know what we heard there is not right…People actually heard the screams and when he realised that had happened he couldn’t stop. He had to carry on until it was finished.
On the upcoming Supreme Court appeal:
It is not finished – not finished I feel by a long way – and I can only give you my feelings after the final verdict. If the outcome is going to be a longer sentence, are we going to feel better? I don’t know. All we want is the truth to come out in the real justice side of the whole scenario
Pistorius has tried to contact them but they are not ready to talk to him. June:
All I want you to realise is that you have ruined our lives. You’ve taken her life, her possible marriage, or having a baby – our grandchild. You’ve taken her career away… You’ve taken the most precious thing out of our lives.
Reddit AMA
McAfee conducts a Reddit AMA, where he talks about society:
Here’s what I’ve learned. People will be people, you can trust no one. It’s not a bad thing/cynical. I trust people to be people, to act in their own self-interests. If you understand that, you can use that! People will be disloyal, I’ve heard there are wives that sleep around, etc. We are disloyal, but loving, kind, gracious. We are a contradiction, the negatives are not bad if you see them for what they are. You cannot trust people, big deal, you CAN trust them to be self-interested, and I use that all the f-cking time.
About Belize:
The most beautiful in the world. It has a barrier reef, 2nd in the world. I had 5 boats on the beach on the ocean, you try that anywhere else. It has jungles and ruins that haven’t even been explored. The problem is that it has people there, people descended from pirates. There is nothing illegal that the government there is not into. The government is smart if you just go there as an American you will not be bothered. I lived in the jungles where I was the only white person, and they were on to me. They asked me for $2M, weeks later 40+ armed men stormed my house, shot my favorite dog, and held me in the sun with my hands tied. The next day the congressman came and apologized asked for the $2M again. I should have done that rather than tell him to get the f-ck off my property.
And life:
Money corrupts. Once you have enough money, you have no friends, none, even the most dedicated friend you had cannot stop thinking about his mortgage, or new car, or new wife, and friendship ends. Second, your life becomes a nightmare. I was getting 1000/day asking for help, or asking for me to invest (the best was rocket-power roller skates, I almost invested). Money now has become information, how does Google live? They gather information on smartphones and their services. This is far worse than paper. Paper doesn’t try to get into your head, to find out who you’re f-cking, etc. We are all jealous, hopeful and ambitious, and as long as that exists we’ll all have chaos.
‘He put his finger down my rear cleavage’
Morrissey expands on his TSA encounter in an interview with King on Larry King Now.
I had been through the full scanner and I had been through the second bit, so everything was fine and clear, and then he went straight for my private bits and then he put his finger down my rear cleavage.
TSA official:
TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and strives to treat every passenger with dignity and respect. Upon review of closed circuit TV footage, TSA determined that the supervised officer followed standard operating procedures in the screening of this individual.
Harper’s Bazar nude spread
Stone poses nude, except for heels and diamonds, for Harper’s Bazaar’s September issue. Photos are by Abrahams.
I’m aware that my ass looks like a bag of flapjacks. But I’m not trying to be the best-looking broad in the world. At a certain point you start asking yourself, ‘What really is sexy?’ It’s not just the elevation of your boobs. It’s being present and having fun and liking yourself enough to like the person that’s with you. If I believed that sexy was trying to be who I was when I did Basic Instinct, then we’d all be having a hard day today.
She credits her features to the dermal filler Restylane, which she started using after suffering damage from a stroke in 2001.
It’s so common now for people to use fillers, it’s almost like a beauty treatment. It’s like you have mascara and a filler. And it’s a far better alternative than having your face cut apart and ending up looking like you got sucked into a wind tunnel.
On recovering from her stroke:
I thought, ‘You know what? I got thrown off the bullet train, and now I’m going to have to crawl up a hill of broken glass, get back on the train that’s going a million miles an hour, and work my way from the cattle car up,” she recalls. “That’s just the way it is, so I’d better get humble and shut the f–k up and do the job. Because if I can’t do this job, I’m certainly not going to be able to do anything else.
Says Pink Floyd over
Gilmour confirms Pink Floyd is over
I’m done with it. I’ve had 48 years in Pink Floyd – quite a few of those years at the beginning, with Roger (Waters). And those years in what is now considered to be our heyday were 95 percent musically fulfilling and joyous and full of fun and laughter. And I certainly don’t want to let the other five percent color my view of what was a long and fantastic time together. But it has run its course, we are done – and it would be fakery to go back and do it again…I absolutely don’t want to go back. I don’t want to go and play stadiums… under the [Pink Floyd] banner. I’m free to do exactly what I want to do and how I want to do it. Obviously I accept there are people who want to go and see and hear this legend that was Pink Floyd, but I’m afraid that’s not my responsibility.
Say GOT ending will be ‘bittersweet’
In an interview with The Observer, Martin talks about the ending of the book series:
I haven’t written the ending yet, so I don’t know, but no. That’s certainly not my intent. I’ve said before that the tone of the ending that I’m going for is bittersweet. I mean, it’s no secret that Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended Lord of the Rings. It ends with victory, but it’s a bittersweet victory. Frodo is never whole again, and he goes away to the Undying Lands, and the other people live their lives. And the scouring of the Shire—brilliant piece of work, which I didn’t understand when I was 13 years old: “Why is this here? The story’s over?” But every time I read it I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more. All I can say is that’s the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge.
WSJ interview
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Newson talks about design and his favorites.
I love fountain pens because: they get used to you. The nib changes. They develop an angle according to your movement. That’s why you should never lend your fountain pen to someone else.
I’m completely nonplused by: most contemporary architecture. There are some exceptions—Herzog & de Meuron consistently do great things. But celebrity architecture is so political and ego-driven. It’s so much about power. That’s why I’m attracted to design—it’s voluntary. Architecture is imposed on you.
My design pet-peeve is: the automotive industry. There were moments when cars somehow encapsulated everything that was good about progress. But right now we’re at the bottom of a trough.
Likes Trump’s ‘don’t give a sh*t’ attitude
On The Nerdist Podcast Cranston discusses Trump.
I actually like his candor. There’s something so refreshing about shaking up that world that is all about being handled. And here comes this loose cannon who has terrible ideas and would be a horrible president, but there’s something great about his ‘I don’t give a s—‘ attitude that really kind of keeps others honest. I think it’s a surprise benefit to the country, actually. I hope he stays in for a long, long time and just collapses that whole tent of his.
Kelly discusses debate
Kelly is interviewed for the first time after the debate, but does not directly address Trump’s comments.
I’m sure nerves were high as they were for all of the candidates. He felt attacked – it wasn’t an attack, it was a fair question. But I get it. He’s in the arena and so am I. Its ok with me that there’s some consternation. I’m sure he’ll get over it and we’ll be fine and so will America.
Kelly also says that she told Bret Baier and Chris Wallace before the debate not to defend her if she was attacked.
I’m a big girl, I can handle it. My job is not to feel passionately about these candidates. My job is to go out there and ask probing questions that are hopefully smart and that help the people learn something about this person. (Baier and Wallace) are both gentlemen and I didn’t want them to in any way feel they needed to somehow come to my rescue. I didn’t want them to feel if anybody started to attack me that I would be wondering where my compadres are. I’m a big girl. I can take it.
TechCrunch interview
In an interview with TechCrunch, Atman talks about YC’s Fellowship program:
I think we all get a little screwed up in the way we think about money in Silicon Valley sometimes; $12k is actually a lot of money to most people. It should be enough to live on, build a product, and get initial users. I think it’s fair to say that YCF is targeting people with low personal burn rates. These are often younger, but certainly not always. And I’ve met some 24 year old Google engineers that get their personal burn rates up pretty high…
On giving advice to startups:
We usually (but certainly not always!) give good advice. This is surprisingly hard to get for startup founders… The general principle is to identify the startup’s single biggest current problem, and help them figure out how to solve that. This is hard because a) most startups have a lot of problems and b) most founders are bad at knowing what actual problems vs fake problems are. For example, most founders worry a lot about competitors, but not much about users not staying engaged.
Criticizes ‘Pledge’ question
In a call-in to Fox and Friends Trump criticizes the questioning at the debate:
That question was absolutely aimed at me…Number I’m the only one in that category so it was obviously named at me. It was a little bit of a surprize to justify everything, when your shoes haven’t even become warm.
.@realDonaldTrump: That [pledge] question was aimed at me, which I didn't think it was appropriatehttps://t.co/GWLg8BRcOc
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 7, 2015
GOP debate: Pledge question
Trump participates in the GOP debate in Cleveland, OH. As the leader in the polls he takes the first question, asked by Baier:
Is there anyone on stage, and can I see hands, who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person…Again, we’re looking for you to raise your hand now — raise your hand now if you won’t make that pledge tonight.
Trump is the only candidate to raise his hand. Baier:
Mr. Trump to be clear, you’re standing on a Republican primary debate stage…You can’t say tonight that you can make that pledge?
Trump:
I cannot say. I have to respect the person that, if it’s not me, the person that wins, if I do win, and I’m leading by quite a bit, that’s what I want to do. I can totally make that pledge. If I’m the nominee, I will pledge I will not run as an independent. But — and I am discussing it with everybody, but I’m, you know, talking about a lot of leverage. We want to win, and we will win. But I want to win as the Republican. I want to run as the Republican nominee.
Trump is then challenged by Rand Paul, who accuses him of buying politicians.
Esquire interview
In an interview with Esquire, Richards talks about touring:
It’s probably the only drug left to us, the one that draws us back as much as anything—although there is something about playing with this bunch of guys. Is it habit? Is it just the length of time we’ve been doing it? But when we start rehearsing, I always find this incredible enthusiasm among them all—especially this tour. It’s been a great feeling from show one…I can handle the show. In the ’60s, it was 20 minutes, in and out. Now it’s two hours. I don’t come off as exhausted as I used to ten years ago, because I’ve learned more about how to pace a show. I don’t think about the physical aspects—I just expect it all to work. I’m blessed physically with stamina.
On The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper:
The Beatles sounded great when they were the Beatles. But there’s not a lot of roots in that music. I think they got carried away. Why not? If you’re the Beatles in the ’60s, you just get carried away—you forget what it is you wanted to do. You’re starting to do Sgt. Pepper. Some people think it’s a genius album, but I think it’s a mishmash of rubbish, kind of like Satanic Majesties—”Oh, if you can make a load of shit, so can we.
On his life:
Yeah, it’s been worth the price. To become a musician, that was the dream—just to get into a band. You didn’t care if you were stuck in the back strumming away. You know, I would have gladly done that. I wouldn’t have minded being a sideman, but things turned out another way. Maybe it was the haircut or something.
New Yorker profile
The New Yorker runs a profile of Wilson, covering his early life, training as a police officer, the events surrounding Brown’s death, and his current situation. On the night after the shooting, he talks about being home with his wife:
Neither one of us knew what the reaction was going to be the next day. You know, a typical police shooting is: you get about a week to a week and a half off, you see a shrink, you go through your Internal Affairs interviews. And then you come back…We stayed up all night watching, like, ‘Oh, my God—what’s going on? What are they doing?’
When his wife’s six-year-old son asks him what is happening:
I said, ‘Well, I had to shoot somebody.’ And he goes, ‘Well, why did you shoot him? Was he a bad guy?’ I said, ‘Yeah, he was a bad guy.’
VF interview: Talks about girlfriends
Swift talks about her relationship with her friends (Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez and Karlie Kloss):
We even have girls in our group who have dated the same people. It’s almost like the sisterhood has such a higher place on the list of priorities for us. It’s so much more important than some guy that it didn’t work out with. When you’ve got this group of girls who need each other as much as we need each other, in this climate, when it’s so hard for women to be understood and portrayed the right way in the media.