Mixed Bag : Tuesday : Newsy Snacks For Busy People

Facebook Buys Instagram : Holy cow. Facebook is to buy Instagram for the tidy sum of $1B.  This is so interesting. Instagram has around 30 million users and with the release of its Android app last week, it’s adding 1 million users a day. That makes Instagram one of the fastest growing social media sites on the net. With the advent of Facebook timeline, Mr Zuckerberg’s stab at online scrapbooking, better Instagram integration on Facebook will serve it well.  I’m thinking it will make FB a much prettier place to be, whilst scooping up those millions of Instagram users and I’m thinking that the clunky chatter that goes on via the Instagram app will be integrated with Facebook, in a much more user friendly way.  That’s what I’m thinking. Interesting move, Zuck. I personally think it’s a great one and it will benefit my experience. What do you think? You can read more at The Herald Sun or at Forbes.

Autumn Weather : It’s here, according to the weather bureau with Easter pulling a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde delivering sunny days followed by hail, rain, storms and Victoria’s coldest days so far this year (yesterday). Is it cold where you are?  Here’s The Herald Sun’s take on that.

Dementia : Perhaps your family has been touched by dementia, as mine has? A new study has found that $500 million would need to be invested, if Australia is to stand a chance in the fight against dementia.  It’s thought that there are currently 280 000 Australians battling the disease and this figure is expected to rise to around 400 000 within the next ten years. We’re not doing enough to prevent it or treat it, and we’re not looking after those who are suffering with it well enough either. You can help. Join the Fight Dementia Campaign here.  (Read more about this new report at The Australian.)

Lily Allen : After turning her back on the pop music industry to concentrate on growing her wee family, our Lil’s back in the studio, reportedly working on a new album. Here’s hoping that Lucy In Diguise has not totally drained the Allen coffers and she’s doing this because she’s totally inspired and not because she’s a bit skint. Regardless of her motivation, we love Lily and we can’t wait to hear her next offering.  More at NME.  (Follow Lily on Twitter, if you like!)

We Need To Talk About Niger : Blogger Eden Riley is on her way back from Africa, where she’s just spent some time as an observer on behalf of World Vision.  You may or may not know that almost 8 million people in Niger are  under threat of starvation, 1.5 million of them are children.  Eden talks about her experience of Niger on her blog. Click here to read what happened.  And you can click here if you can spare a few dollars to help feed Niger.

Also  :
A full moon shines on the Byron Bay Blues Fest
Gourmet Girlfriend made Pain au Chocolat Pudding
Lana Del Rey is hanging out with Axl Rose
Design Mom interviewed John Scieszka and Lane Smith
You might love this LIFE Magazine feature ‘Rockstars At Home With Their Parents’ : see the photos at LIFE (including Elton John, Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton and The Jackson 5)
January Jones’ baby is not called Xavier, Daily Mail peeps.
We love this Buenos Aires bookstore. It was once a theatre and it perfectly houses a gajillion books in grand style.
TIME Magazine lists its Top 100 Fashion Icons.
The cutest kids’ game ever via LMNOP

See ya!  Have a great day!

xx Pip