alvimorkel: April 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

Cloze

Let's not call Cloze a social media aggregator, even though you could easily mistake it for one, because what it does is much smarter than just putting a lot of disparate conversations onto one page. Rather, the Web app Cloze takes a three-step approach to sifting through your online relationships to highlight people who are most relevant to you and bring greater context to their digital communication. ?

Here's how the three-step approach plays out: First, Cloze collects communication from various channels: LinkedIn, email, Twitter, and Facebook. Second, Cloze aggregates all those tweets and messages per person by day, letting you see, for example, every status update and LinkedIn post a client or your boss wrote today. Third, Cloze displays the per-person list of activity in a prioritized order based on that person's importance to you. This last part relies on a Cloze score, which is loosely similar to a Klout score. You can override the algorithm and mark anyone you want as a "key" contact to make sure you see their updates.

The system succeeds in adding context to online communication, which would be otherwise lost in just about any similar tool, such as HootSuite and the now unsupported but not quite dead Tweetdeck. Those two tools perform several functions that Cloze does not, however, so they aren't direct competitors. Both Tweetdeck and HootSuite let you keep an eye on messages directed right at you, whereas Cloze focuses on activity from important people regardless of whether they're trying to get your attention. But as with Tweetdeck and HootSuite, Cloze does let you "talk back" or respond to the activity you see from within the interface. A clean selection of response modes changes based on whether you're reading a tweet, Facebook status update, LinkedIn post, or email message. As much as I definitely see the value in using Cloze, I think it could be even better if it stole?er, "borrowed" some features from social media aggregators.

How Cloze Works
From the website Cloze.com you can sign up for a free Cloze account and authenticate access to your various social networks and email accounts. While you can connect multiple email accounts, and even multiple accounts from the same provider (e.g., two Gmail accounts), you can only connect one of each kind of social network, i.e., one Facebook account, one Twitter, one LinkedIn.

Cloze then analyzes all the communication you've had with various people across the systems you've initialized and assigns each of your contacts a score indicating the person's importance to you. People with the highest scores become your Key People, although you can customize who is and isn't among these VIPs. Cloze discloses a lot of information about its scoring algorithm, saying it takes into account dormancy (which measures the last time you and the person communicated), frequency (how often you two communicate), responsiveness (how quickly you respond to one another), privacy (how many of your conversations are private versus public), freshness (how often conversations cover new topics versus use the same language over and over), and balance (that is to say, two-way relationships).

Scores update daily, and you can see readouts of each person's score. It includes the breakdown of the score across the various factors, as well as information about whether the total score has increased or decreased since the prior day. A graph plotted over time even shows whether the person's monthly average score has shifted.

From the home page, Cloze shows you a summary of all the communication activity for the day by person. Key people rank highest, so you'll see their emails, tweets, and other social interactions first. The site is easy to navigate and very clearly arranged. A mute button lets you remove a person from this feed, which I found helpful for silencing people who post very frequently on Twitter in particular.

You can also interact with the updates coming from your network directly from the Cloze home page. A little wheel of options pops into view when you click to interact with someone, and the choices (such as reply, like, mark as favorite) change based on what kind of communication you're viewing. Cloze also has a check mark option for noting when you have already interacted with some activity and want to now remove it from the feed.

Hits the Nail on the Head
Between the customization options for adjusting Key People and the ability to interact right from my Cloze account, I felt like Cloze really did hit the nail on the head for increasing the relevancy and context of activity from my social network. Before using Cloze, I didn't even realize how much of this context and relevancy was lost on me. It's often extremely useful to be able to see someone's latest tweet paired next to her latest Facebook update and latest comment she made on someone else's update.

Although Cloze isn't a social media aggregator in the same way that Tweetdeck and HootSuite are, I think it would easily become my social media app of choice if it added a few features found in those app, such as the ability to schedule posts and tweets and get alerts of mentions and incoming message. It's a wonderful app designed for anyone who uses social media as part of their job, or who has a rich social life online.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/xtzoeGWRNz4/0,2817,2418290,00.asp

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Wyclef Jean And Kid Ink To Reign Over 'RapFix Live'

Tune in this Wednesday to see the Fugees creator on MTV Jams at 4 p.m. ET!
By Rob Markman

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1706530/wyclef-jean-kid-ink-rapfix-live.jhtml

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Should Game Makers Worry About the Shift to Non-Gaming - Benzinga

In 2012, Yusuf Mehdi -- the man in charge of Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) interactive entertainment business -- told the Los Angeles Times that the average Xbox-owning household spends an average of 84 hours a month using Xbox Live.

While gaming continues to be a popular draw for the console, it has not become the primary reason why people turn it on.

"What we're seeing is that people are turning on the Xbox to play games and then keeping it on afterwards to get other types of entertainment," Mehdi told the Los Angeles Times.

In fact, the publication reported that consumers now spend more of their time using Xbox 360 for online video than for online gaming.

There have not been any studies confirming that the same has happened with Wii or PlayStation 3, but Sony (NYSE: SNE) proudly announced that its console had become the number-one living room device for Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) subscribers last December.

The console has been so successful in this regard that there have been times when more people turned to PS3 for Netflix than for any other platform -- including PCs and tablets.

In April, NPD DisplaySearch reported that game consoles lead the pack among TV devices that can connect to the Internet.

This is great for overall hardware appeal -- but is it good for the gaming industry?

Mehdi's statement seems to be fairly accurate. Game consoles have always been sold first to consumers who want to play games. If they only cared about non-interactive entertainment, consumers would simply subscribe to cable or buy a set-top box.

By offering a greater variety of entertainment options, the assumption is that consoles can appeal to a greater number of consumers. This is also true -- but it is not without risk.

When Sony unveiled PlayStation 4, it chose to ignore non-gaming entertainment and focus exclusively on why this is a console that gamers should buy.

In an interview with Forbes, Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Jack Tretton explained why.

"If you wanna have an event to talk about multimedia capabilities, we'll proudly stand up and list all the media partners that we have, and the fact that we're the number one most used Netflix device around the world," said Tretton. "But the 3.1 million that streamed [Wednesday's event] and that stayed up at all hours depending on what country they were in, they were there to see games."

The 3.1 million viewers that he referred to were only in the United States. Worldwide, Sony's event drew more than eight million viewers.

This is the same strategy that Sony took with PSone (which sold 104 million units) and PS2 (which sold 153 million units).

When promoting PlayStation 3, Sony shifted to other things. While gaming was still a big part of the console, Sony heavily pushed the Blu-ray player that was built into every unit.

As many investors are aware, PS3 only sold 74 million units.

Similarly, Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY) tried to make up for the lack of new Wii U games by promoting a number of promising TV services. While the console sold very well last fall, Wii U ultimately flopped during the first quarter when sales plummeted more than 85 percent.

Thus, while it is acceptable (and perhaps wise) for console manufacturers to offer services beyond video games, it is best to start by satisfying the core gaming audience. If nothing else, that guarantees that at least some people will buy the device.

If the aforementioned trend continues, however -- if games are the initial draw but TV and movies keep users coming back -- it could be a problem for those who only develop games.

Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI), Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), Konami (NYSE: KNM), Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) and other game companies heavily rely on the success of new consoles.

Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo may get consumers in the door, but if the aforementioned developers can't keep them coming back, the industry is in trouble.

Over the past 10 years, several high-profile game publishers have fallen, including THQ, Acclaim and Midway. While it does not appear that another one is about to file for bankruptcy, there is one whose future is in question: Electronic Arts.

Between the troubled launch of the new Sim City, the closure of several Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) games, the award for 'Worst Company in America' (for the second year in a row), and the widespread layoffs, things are not looking good for EA.

Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ

Source: http://www.benzinga.com/tech/13/04/3535563/should-game-makers-worry-about-the-shift-to-non-gaming-entertainment

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The rich get richer

The 2013 NFL draft concluded Saturday evening. Rotoworld blurbed every single selection, picks one (Eric Fisher) through 254 (Justice Cunningham).

After a grueling three days of ?work,? we'll put the finishing touches on our intensive draft coverage with post-draft grades.

But let's be clear: We don't believe in assessing draft hauls immediately after the three-day event. This is for your pleasure. If you're reading this intro, you're interested. And we want to appeal to you. Don't take these grades too seriously. We'll know a lot more about this draft around 2016.

I'll break down the AFC on Sunday. Here are the NFC Draft Grades:

Arizona Cardinals

7. Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina.
45. Kevin Minter, inside linebacker, LSU.
69. Tyrann Mathieu, free safety, LSU.
103. Alex Okafor, outside linebacker, Texas.
116. Earl Watford, guard/center, James Madison.
140. Stepfan Taylor, running back, Stanford.
174. Ryan Swope, receiver, Texas A&M.
187. Andre Ellington, running back, Clemson.
219. D.C. Jefferson, tight end, Rutgers.

Overview: Rookie GM Steve Keim's first-ever draft looks solid on paper. In Cooper, Minter, Mathieu, and Okafor, Keim secured as many as four immediate starters for a roster that needed them. Sixth-rounder Ellington is a better back than fifth-rounder Taylor and will add juice to Bruce Arians' offense should injury-prone Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Williams break down again. I would like to have seen the Cardinals add a developmental quarterback like Tennessee's Tyler Bray, although Arians may believe he already has one in Ryan Lindley. A lingering concern in Arizona is offensive tackle play. The Cards attacked guard instead -- and in Cooper got an outstanding player -- but Levi Brown is still a worrisome proposition on Carson Palmer's blindside.

Grade: C+

Atlanta Falcons

22. Desmond Trufant, cornerback, Washington.
60. Robert Alford, cornerback, SE Louisiana.
127. Malliciah Goodman, defensive end, Clemson.
133. Levine Toilolo, tight end, Stanford.
153. Stansly Maponga, defensive end, TCU.
243. Kemal Ishmael, safety, Central Florida.
244. Zeke Motta, strong safety, Notre Dame.
249. Sean Renfree, quarterback, Duke.

Overview: The Falcons may receive universally mediocre draft "grades," but there is a method to GM Thomas Dimitroff's madness. Beyond day-one starter Trufant and 2014 hopeful Alford, Dimitroff targeted players for specific on-field roles. Goodman is a classic 4-3 strong-side end with vine-line arms and powerful performance on tape. He's an edge container. Toilolo isn't Tony Gonzalez's heir apparent; he's an in-line tight end who'll push for snaps as a rookie if he blocks well in practice. Maponga is an edge-rushing specialist. Ishmael and Motta should both be immediate core special teamers. Renfree could develop into Matt Ryan's long-term backup and a future trade chip if his arm gets stronger while riding the bench. Ultimately, Dimitroff wasn't trying to load up on stars in this draft. He added role players to upgrade the bottom third of his roster.

Grade: C+

Carolina Panthers

14. Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah.
44. Kawann Short, defensive tackle, Purdue.
108. Edmund Kugbila, guard, Valdosta State.
148. A.J. Klein, linebacker, Iowa State.
182. Kenjon Barner, running back, Oregon.

Overview: Rookie GM Dave Gettleman entered his first draft with five picks and emerged with five players. He clearly prioritized upgrading in the trenches and delivered by securing the draft's premier defensive tackle in Lotulelei. Short's motor ran alarmingly hot and cold in the Big Ten, but he can be an impact interior pass rusher working in waves with Lotulelei, Dwan Edwards, and Sione Fua. Klein is solid insurance should Jon Beason's numerous surgical recoveries experience a setback. I think it's fair to wonder if the Barner pick foreshadows a DeAngelo Williams transaction. At the very least, it's a confirmation 2013 will be Williams' final season in Carolina. While he continues to build one of the NFL's most underrated defensive front sevens, Gettleman displayed a surprising amount of faith in his shaky receiver and secondary corps.

Grade: C

Chicago Bears

20. Kyle Long, guard, Oregon.
50. Jon Bostic, inside linebacker, Florida.
117. Khaseem Greene, outside linebacker, Rutgers.
163. Jordan Mills, tackle/guard, Louisiana Tech.
188. Cornelius Washington, defensive end, Georgia.
236. Marquess Wilson, receiver, Washington State.

Overview: I expected GM Phil Emery to stay true to his board on the draft's first day. I'm not sure he did with the Long pick -- it seemed like need-based reach on an inexperienced, boom-or-bust lineman -- but Emery went value searching on days two and three. Bostic is an athletic thumper who'll give D.J. Williams a run for his money at inside 'backer, replacing Brian Urlacher. Greene's pre-draft measurables disappointed, but he is fast to the football and NFL-ready after earning back-to-back Big East Defensive POY awards in Rutgers' pro-style system. Washington is an explosive edge pass rusher with starting-caliber tools. He was robbery toward the back end of the third day. If Wilson's head is on straight, he's capable of earning an immediate spot in Chicago's three-receiver package with Brandon Marshall in the slot and Alshon Jeffery outside.

Grade: B-

Dallas Cowboys

31. Travis Frederick, guard/center, Wisconsin.
47. Gavin Escobar, tight end, San Diego State.
74. Terrance Williams, receiver, Baylor.
80. J.J. Wilcox, safety, Georgia Southern.
114. B.W. Webb, defensive back, William & Mary.
151. Joseph Randle, running back, Oklahoma State.
185. DeVonte Holloman, linebacker, South Carolina.

Overview: Owner/GM Jerry Jones' draft strategy seemed very needs- rather than value-based, spurning better players in favor of theoretical hole-fillers. The Cowboys were needy on the interior offensive line, but I'd be willing to wager they could've gotten Frederick with the 47th pick. Escobar can create passing-game mismatches, but offers zero as a blocker and isn't necessarily an upgrade on incumbent No. 2 tight end James Hanna. Williams and Holloman were probably the only two true value picks in this group. Randle is a stiff, straight-linish runner with an awfully long way to go in pass protection. I watched tape on him before the draft and found him to be a whiffer in blitz pickup and thoroughly lacking in elusiveness. It would be difficult to say with any confidence that Dallas' lineup improved with this draft. And they entered it with a mediocre roster.

Grade: D

Detroit Lions

5. Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU.
36. Darius Slay, cornerback, Mississippi State.
65. Larry Warford, guard, Kentucky.
132. Devin Taylor, defensive end, South Carolina.
165. Sam Martin, punter, Appalachian State.
171. Corey Fuller, receiver, Virginia Tech.
199. Theo Riddick, running back, Notre Dame.
211. Michael Williams, tight end, Alabama.
245. Brandon Hepburn, linebacker, Florida A&M.

Overview: Left tackle seemed to be GM Martin Mayhew's biggest need entering the draft, but his selections indicate he feels otherwise. Mayhew must have a lot of faith in 2012 first-rounder Riley Reiff. He bypassed Menelik Watson for Slay. Rather than Terron Armstead, Mayhew selected Warford to add a mauling presence at right guard. I still found this to be a value-heavy draft. Ansah, Slay, and Warford are Week 1 starters. Taylor, Fuller, Williams, and even versatile Riddick could make year-one impacts. Ansah has been knocked as a possible bust by some observers, but the Lions' coaching staff has special insight after coaching him in Mobile. I thought Mayhew stayed true to his board and -- aside from perhaps the punter -- drafted the best available at each pick.

Grade: B-

Green Bay Packers

26. Datone Jones, defensive end, UCLA.
61. Eddie Lacy, running back, Alabama.
109. David Bakhtiari, guard/tackle, Colorado.
122. J.C. Tretter, guard/center, Cornell.
125. Johnathan Franklin, running back, UCLA.
159. Micah Hyde, defensive back, Iowa.
167. Josh Boyd, defensive lineman, Mississippi State.
193. Nate Palmer, outside linebacker, Illinois State.
216. Charles Johnson, receiver, Grand Valley State.
224. Kevin Dorsey, receiver, Maryland.
232. Sam Barrington, linebacker, South Florida.

Overview: GM Ted Thompson annually dominates on draft day; it's where he butters his bread. The Packers are not a free-agency team. Jones is a relentless, potentially special inside rusher who finally gives Green Bay a legitimate replacement for Cullen Jenkins. Lacy and Franklin can form a Thunder & Lightning backfield with the former as a light-footed wrecking ball and latter in the big-play, change-up role. Both rookies can pick up the blitz and play on all three downs. Bakhtiari is a heady, athletic mover and fit for the Packers' zone scheme. Hyde, Palmer, and Barrington are core special teams guys. Johnson abused his competition at small-school Grand Valley State and has Julio Jones-like measurables. The value on Lacy, Franklin, and Johnson was sensational. Chalk up another draft-weekend "win" for arguably the top GM in the sport.

Grade: B+

Minnesota Vikings

23. Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida.
25. Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State.
29. Cordarrelle Patterson, receiver, Tennessee.
120. Gerald Hodges, linebacker, Penn State.
155. Jeff Locke, punter, UCLA.
196. Jeff Baca, guard/center, UCLA.
213. Michael Mauti, linebacker, Penn State.
214. Travis Bond, guard, North Carolina.
229. Everett Dawkins, defensive tackle, Florida State.

Overview: Keep in mind GM Rick Spielman dumped game-changing slot receiver and return specialist Percy Harvin for the 25th and 214th picks, in addition to a 2014 third-rounder. That deal must be factored into Minnesota's grade. Spielman acknowledged the big loss and responded by targeting big-play ability from his hat trick of first-rounders. Floyd is a penetrating three-technique tackle ideally suited for Leslie Frazier's 4-3 scheme. The Vikings paired Rhodes (6-foot-2, 210) with Chris Cook (6-foot-2, 212) to form one of the NFL's biggest, longest corner duos as they attempt to slow Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery in the NFC North. The Patterson pick at the very least offsets Harvin's special teams value because Cordarrelle offers similar game-breaking return skills and arguably just as much receiving upside. Patterson is a freak. I liked athletic mover Baca as a late-round value.

Grade: B-

The 2013 NFL draft concluded Saturday evening. Rotoworld blurbed every single selection, picks one (Eric Fisher) through 254 (Justice Cunningham).

After a grueling three days of ?work,? we'll put the finishing touches on our intensive draft coverage with post-draft grades.

I'll break down the AFC on Sunday. Here are the NFC Draft Grades:

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: C+

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: C+

Carolina Panthers

Grade: C

Chicago Bears

Grade: B-

Dallas Cowboys

Grade: D

Detroit Lions

Grade: B-

Green Bay Packers

Grade: B+

Minnesota Vikings

Grade: B-

New Orleans Saints

15. Kenny Vaccaro, free safety, Texas.
75. Terron Armstead, left tackle, Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
82. John Jenkins, nose tackle, Georgia.
144. Kenny Stills, receiver, Oklahoma.
183. Rufus Johnson, defensive end, Tarleton State.

Overview: GM Mickey Loomis was working without a second-round pick due to Bountygate, but still landed two day-two values in Armstead and Jenkins and arguably a third on day three in speedster Stills. Vaccaro can team with Malcolm Jenkins to give Rob Ryan two safeties with range and one-on-one matchup skills, likely pushing overpriced box SS Roman Harper out the door. Jenkins is a mammoth athlete with a Haynesworthian ceiling. Johnson is a dominant small schooler with plus measurables, and Loomis has hit on that kind of player before (Akiem Hicks, Jermon Bushrod, Jahri Evans, Marques Colston). The Saints only added five players, but they were all quality picks. The Saints are going to be much better than they were last year.

Grade: C+

New York Giants

19. Justin Pugh, guard/tackle, Syracuse.
49. Johnathan Hankins, defensive tackle, Ohio State.
81. Damontre Moore, defensive end, Texas A&M.
110. Ryan Nassib, quarterback, Syracuse.
152. Cooper Taylor, safety, Richmond.
224. Eric Herman, guard, Ohio.
253. Michael Cox, running back, UMass.

Overview: Much like Ted Thompson in Green Bay and Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore, Giants GM Jerry Reese is a best-available drafter. If he'd have selected his first three players in January and you didn't know the rounds, you would've figured he traded up for three first-round picks. Each player has a flaw -- short arms for Pugh, motor for Hankins, and translatable production for Moore -- but they're all great football players. Moore dominated in the SEC; 8.0 of his 12.5 sacks last year came versus conference opponents. Pugh permitted a half-sack of Nassib and otherwise didn't allow a single hurry. Hankins offers elite potential as a 4-3 nose guard. Nassib was a sheer value pick, while Taylor, Herman, and to a lesser extent Cox offer versatile, "multiple" skill sets and plus measurables. This draft gives the G-Men a needed infusion of young talent, even if only Pugh and perhaps Hankins are surefire first-season contributors.

Grade: B

Philadelphia Eagles

4. Lane Johnson, right tackle, Oklahoma.
35. Zach Ertz, tight end, Stanford.
67. Bennie Logan, defensive tackle, LSU.
98. Matt Barkley, quarterback, USC.
136. Earl Wolff, free safety, North Carolina State.
212. Joe Kruger, defensive end, Utah.
218. Jordan Poyer, cornerback, Oregon State.
239. David King, defensive end, Oklahoma.

Overview: The draftnik community should love this group because aside from seventh-rounder King every member has a big name. They are all identifiable. The first two picks look like surefire hits; Johnson is an outstanding match for Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense as a well-oiled athlete with second- and even third-level blocking skills. Ertz can stretch the field vertically and creates downfield separation better than consensus top tight end Tyler Eifert. Logan and Barkley were odd picks because the former's fit is questionable in Philly's new three-man front and Barkley lacks athleticism in addition to starting-caliber arm strength. All of Philly's rookies look like good values -- particularly Kruger and Poyer -- but this haul included a lot of head scratchers. I still feel confident saying the Eagles' roster improved with this draft, and quite possibly significantly.

Grade: C+

San Francisco 49ers

18. Eric Reid, free safety, LSU.
40. Tank Carradine, outside linebacker, Florida State.
55. Vance McDonald, tight end, Rice.
88. Corey Lemonier, outside linebacker, Auburn.
128. Quinton Patton, receiver, Louisiana Tech.
131. Marcus Lattimore, running back, South Carolina.
157. Quinton Dial, defensive end, Alabama.
180. Nick Moody, linebacker, Florida State.
237. B.J. Daniels, quarterback, South Florida.
246. Carter Bykowski, tackle, Iowa State.
252. Marcus Cooper, cornerback, Rutgers.

Overview: The rich got richer. The 49ers entered Thursday with an NFL-most 13 picks. GM Trent Baalke turned them into very arguably the most impressive haul in the league, along the way picking up a 2014 third-rounder in Friday's trade with the Titans. Only Reid and McDonald may be definite first-year contributors, but that's far more a testament to Baalke's roster building than his individual selections. Carradine is a to-the-whistle edge rusher who along with Lattimore could be "redshirted" as a rookie due to knee woes, before emerging as plus 2014 starters. Patton is a silky smooth route runner with ball skills and insurance on contract-year No. 1 wideout Michael Crabtree. Lemonier might have been a first-rounder had he not played on such a bad Auburn team. San Francisco is filthy rich with pass rush. Baalke is constructing a dynasty.

Grade: A

Seattle Seahawks

62. Christine Michael, running back, Texas A&M.
87. Jordan Hill, defensive tackle, Penn State.
123. Chris Harper, receiver, Kansas State.
137. Jesse Williams, nose tackle, Alabama.
138. Tharold Simon, cornerback, LSU.
158. Luke Willson, tight end, Rice.
194. Spencer Ware, fullback, LSU.
220. Ryan Seymour, guard, Vanderbilt.
231. Ty Powell, defensive end, Harding.
241. Jared Smith, defensive tackle, New Hampshire.
242. Michael Bowie, tackle, NE Oklahoma State.

Overview: Per GM John Schneider, the Seahawks spent Thursday night watching Percy Harvin's YouTube highlight reel after sacrificing the Nos. 25 and 214 picks, and next year's third-rounder in exchange for the NFL's premier slot receiver. Understandable. The Harvin acquisition is factored into Seattle's grade. Schneider finally went on the clock Friday night and simply made picks straight off his board. Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin? Who cares. Michael is the best player. He's ours. Harvin, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin? We'll take Harper and his Boldinian skill set. Williams is an immovable beast who makes us better in the trenches. Pick him. Simon is a press-man corner. Perfect scheme fit. Draft him. Late picks were primarily reserved for small schoolers and test freaks. Upside players who don't hurt you if they bust. The Seahawks have drafted just like this every year under Schneider and Pete Carroll. Seems like it's working.

Grade: A-

St. Louis Rams

8. Tavon Austin, receiver, West Virginia.
30. Alec Ogletree, linebacker, Georgia.
71. T.J. McDonald, safety, USC.
92. Stedman Bailey, receiver, West Virginia.
113. Barrett Jones, center/guard, Alabama.
149. Brandon McGee, cornerback, Miami.
160. Zac Stacy, running back, Vanderbilt.

Overview: A year after unearthing small-schoolers Brian Quick, Greg Zuerlein, Trumaine Johnson, and Daryl Richardson, GM Les Snead took an all-big-school approach. This draft was dedicated to playmakers, and St. Louis accomplished its goal even if some members (McDonald, Jones, to a lesser extent Stacy) may struggle with the college-to-pro transition due to major flaws. Austin was the premier offensive-skill player in the 2013 draft, and Snead offset his losses in the trade up to No. 8 by trading down from the 22nd spot. He still came away with a day-one starter in Ogletree, whose character issues are concerning but not as much under coach Jeff Fisher. Bailey was a great value late in round three and fortifies St. Louis' receiver depth behind Austin, Quick, and Chris Givens. The McDonald pick lowers the Rams' grade because he is a tight-hipped, straight-line safety with inconsistent physicality. Jones projects as no more than an NFL reserve.

Grade: B-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

43. Johnthan Banks, cornerback, Mississippi State.
73. Mike Glennon, quarterback, North Carolina State.
100. Akeem Spence, defensive tackle, Illinois.
126. William Gholston, defensive end, Michigan State.
147. Steven Means, defensive end, Buffalo.
189. Mike James, running back, Miami.

Overview: Not forgotten in the Bucs' grade is the acquisition of Darrelle Revis for the 13th pick, plus a 2014 third-rounder. He is a Hall of Fame talent capable of masking multiple defensive weaknesses and every bit worth the cost. GM Mark Dominik otherwise came away with a slightly questionable draft, noticeably failing to add a pass-catching tight end. Banks is a cornerback/safety 'tweener who was beaten deep too frequently as a senior. Three-technique prospect Spence has ability, but was not a finisher in the Big Ten and is ultimately an underachiever. Same goes for Gholston, who is Vernon's cousin. Means is probably a special teamer at best. James is a plodder on tape, and I wouldn't expect him to make the 53. Glennon is a schematic fit in Tampa's vertical offense. His selection puts Josh Freeman on notice.

Grade: B

Washington Redskins

51. David Amerson, cornerback, North Carolina State.
85. Jordan Reed, tight end, Florida.
119. Phillip Thomas, free safety, Fresno State.
154. Chris Thompson, running back, Florida State.
162. Brandon Jenkins, outside linebacker, Florida State.
191. Bacarri Rambo, free safety, Georgia.
228. Jawan Jamison, running back, Rutgers.

Overview: GM Bruce Allen and coach Mike Shanahan's draft focus was on ballhawks, and they came away with three in 2011 NCAA interceptions leader Amerson, 2012 NCAA picks leader Thomas, and Rambo -- who ranked second to Amerson in INTs two years ago. But Rambo and Thomas can't tackle and Amerson got beat deep more than any cornerback in college football last season. Both running back picks are potential throwaways; Thompson broke his back in 2011 and tore his ACL in 2012, and Jamison doesn't do anything well. Jenkins was a big-time sack specialist in 2010, but is coming off a Lisfranc fracture. Reed is a potential "Joker" tight end who could contribute on passing downs. Washington drafted a slew of big names and added productive collegiates, but I'm not sure they got more than one or two productive NFL starters.

Grade: C

Source: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/43159/174/draft-2013-nfc-draft-grades

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These Award-Winning Vines Are Everything a Six Second Film Should Be

Vines aren't exactly the newest from of high art. But while poorly edited Vine's of your friends' cats doing nothing are probably what you see most often, there are some pretty good ones, with a bit more meat to 'em. These Tribeca Vine Competition winners are a pretty good sample. They're so good you might even go "huh!" More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-dE2Itrn1Xk/these-award+winning-vines-are-everything-a-six-second-film-should-be

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Man stabs choir members during closing hymns at New Mexico church, police say

By Daniel Arkin, Staff Writer, NBC News

At least four people were stabbed at an Albuquerque, N.M., church when a man went on a rampage during?a Sunday?service?s closing hymns, police said.

Albuquerque Police Department officials say the unidentified suspect with a weapon leaped over pews and lunged at members of the choir just before noon on Sunday. He repeatedly stabbed choir members, according to police.

Police officers dispatched to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish discovered that several parishioners had?pinned the suspect to the floor, according to police spokesperson Tasia Martinez.

?The scene was chaotic when officers arrived and it was quickly ascertained that numerous parishioners essentially jumped on the male offender and held him down until officers arrived,? Martinez said.

Officials have the suspect in custody. Officials said they have determined that the assailant was not a parishioner at the church but have not determined a motive for the attack.

The four stabbing victims all sustained non-life threatening injuries and were being treated at local hospitals, according to authorities. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims.

Law enforcement officials and the Albuquerque Fire Department plan to release more information about the incident late Sunday.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2b470653/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C280C179592420Eman0Estabs0Echoir0Emembers0Eduring0Eclosing0Ehymns0Eat0Enew0Emexico0Echurch0Epolice0Esay0Dlite/story01.htm

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Surprise after surprise

Friday, April 26, 2013

Billed as the most unpredictable draft in recent memory, Thursday night?s first round lived up to the hype. For the first time in NFL history, offensive tackles went 1-2. For the first time since 1963, no running backs went in the first round. And for the first time since 2001, only one quarterback was selected. To the headlines:

FREE FALL OF THE NIGHT
West Virginia QB Geno Smith got all dressed up and had nowhere to go. Stuck in the green room at Radio City Music Hall all night long, cameras were in Smith?s face as he played with his phone. The Jets passed on him at both No. 9 and 13, the Raiders went with CB D.J. Hayden at 12 and the Bills pulled a stunner with E.J. Manuel at 16 (more on that below). That left Smith in the Warren Sapp/Brady Quinn chair, sporting a long face and big chip on his shoulder. Smith may not have to wait too long on Friday night, as the quarterback-needy Jaguars hold the first pick of the second round. The Jags had been linked to Smith at No. 2 overall early in the evaluation process. ?

QUOTABLE
?Hang in there Geno, ?good things come to those who wait,? ? Paul Tagliabue.? That?s a tweet Aaron Rodgers sent out during the draft, offering support to Geno Smith. Rodgers, tabbed by some as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, went 24th to the Packers.

MEET YOUR NO. 1 OVERALL PICK
Never heard of new Chiefs LT Eric Fisher? You?re not alone. Fisher was a lightly regarded prospect coming out of high school in Michigan, only receiving serious interest from Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. He was merely a third-team All-MAC pick in 2011 before coming on big in 2012 and nipping the small/less athletic Luke Joeckel at the finish line to be the No. 1 overall pick. Fisher is the first player from the MAC to ever go No. 1 and is the highest pick from the MAC since Byron Leftwich in 2003. He?ll be slotted in at left tackle after the Chiefs complete the impending Branden Albert trade with the Dolphins.

THE MANTI MOMENT
The Vikings looked like an ideal landing spot for Manti Te?o. They started the night desperate for help at middle linebacker, held two first-round picks and have been a pipeline for Notre Dame players of late. John Carlson, Kyle Rudolph, John Sullivan, Robert Blanton and Harrison Smith are all Golden Domers currently residing in Minnesota. So it was an awful sign for Te?o when the Vikings ? who ended up making three picks in the first round ? passed on him. It had little to do with the fake girlfriend saga and everything to do with Te?o?s skill set. He lacks the athleticism to play in coverage and couldn?t get off blocks against Alabama?s NFL-caliber offensive line in the BCS title game. Te?o, holed up with his family in Hawaii, could be a Day 2 target for the Bears at No. 50 overall.

REACH OF THE NIGHT
The Cowboys traded out of the No. 18 hole, only receiving picks Nos. 31 and 74 from the 49ers. And at No. 31, they bungled the selection. Instead of shoring up their needs at safety, guard or backup running back, they reached for Wisconsin C Travis Frederick. Our draft guru Josh Norris didn?t even think unathletic Frederick was worth a third-round pick and NFL Network?s Mike Mayock had a third-round grade on him.

BIGGEST MISS BY MOCK DRAFTERS
At one point last week, the majority of mock drafts had Florida DT Sharrif Floyd going third overall to the Raiders. Some had him sliding to the back end of the top-10, but no further. But when the chips were down, Floyd slipped, slid and fell some more. When the carnage finally ended, the Vikings took him as a value pick at No. 23. Credit the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel for securing this quote from a scout: ?Those idiots on TV made Floyd. He?s not that good. He?s not better than Ziggy Hood.? NFL Films? Greg Cosell had tabbed Floyd as ?without question? the draft?s No. 1 player on film even though he produced just 4.5 sacks over 26 starts at Florida.

BEST DRESSED AWARD
This one goes to Tennessee WR Cordarrelle Patterson, and it wasn?t even close. He was rocking a zig-zag bow tie, a white tuxedo jacket and Louis Vuitton belt/suspenders. As our Pat Daugherty noted, he looked like a waiter from the Titanic. Here's a link to his duds.

SURPRISE OF THE NIGHT
Everyone knew that the Bills were in the market for a quarterback. Everyone also thought that quarterback was Syracuse?s Ryan Nassib, who played for new Bills coach Doug Marrone. Nope. Showing a rare ability to keep a secret, the Bills shocked the collective NFL universe when they used the No. 16 pick on Florida State QB E.J. Manuel. He?s a project that will learn behind Kevin Kolb before eventually taking the reins.

BIGGEST TRADE OF THE NIGHT
The Rams identified a need to get playmakers for Sam Bradford. So they swooped in for the premier skill guy in the entire draft, giving Nos. 16, 46, 78 and 222 to the Bills and then snagging West Virginia WR Tavon Austin at No. 8. It?s a deal the Rams were able to do thanks to the picks acquired in last year?s Robert Griffin III trade. Drawing comparisons to the likes of Percy Harvin and Randall Cobb, Austin is going to be a four-down difference maker for the Rams.

QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL
Florida State?s E.J. Manuel was the only quarterback to go. That leaves Ryan Nassib, Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Tyler Wilson all there for the taking. The Jaguars, Eagles, Cardinals, Browns and Jets all need a quarterback and hold five of the first seven picks in the second round.

BIGGEST WINNERS OF THE NIGHT
No one came away with more raw talent than the Vikings. Sharrif Floyd's natural skills are eye-popping even if his production at Florida wasn't. Florida State CB Xavier Rhodes, who has drawn favorable comparisons to Aqib Talib, has the ability to step in as a Week 1 starter immediately. And although they gave up four picks to get him, Tennessee WR Cordarrelle Patterson is a special athlete with the ball in his hands. He'll quickly help a team that went to the playoffs last year despite closing out the season with Jerome Simpson as their No. 1 wideout.

INSTANT FANTASY IMPACT
Only three wide receivers, one tight end and one quarterback were drafted Thursday night. No running backs were selected. While Tavon Austin is the most electrifying rookie that will hit the field this fall, Clemson?s DeAndre Hopkins landed in the best situation when the Texans took him 27th overall. The Roddy White clone fits perfectly as a ?Z? receiver and has no competition for the job. He?ll see single coverage all day long thanks to Andre Johnson?s presence on the other side of the formation.

Adam Levitan is in his fourth season covering football and basketball for Rotoworld. He won the Fantasy Sports Writers Association award for Best Series in 2011 and 2009, and ESPN's overall fantasy football title in 2000. Find him on Twitter.
Email :Adam Levitan

Source: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/43147/365/nfl-draft-round-1-recap

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Select images from Bangladesh building collapse

AAA??Apr. 26, 2013?2:30 AM ET
Select images from Bangladesh building collapse
By The Associated Press? THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

?By The Associated Press

A Bangladeshi woman survivor is carried from the rubble by rescuers at the site of a building that collapsed Wednesday in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, April 25, 2013. By Thursday, the death toll reached at least 194 people as rescuers continued to search for injured and missing, after a huge section of an eight-story building that housed several garment factories splintered into a pile of concrete.(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

In this image taken from AP video, garment worker Mohammad Altab moans to rescuers for help while trapped between concrete slabs and next to two corpses in a garment factory that collapsed Wednesday in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, April 25, 2013. Deep cracks visible in the walls of the Bangladesh garment building had compelled police to order it evacuated a day before it collapsed, officials said Thursday. More than 200 people were killed when the eight-story building splintered into a pile of concrete because factories based there ignored the order and kept more than 2,000 people working. (AP Photo/AP video)

A Bangladeshi rescuer looks out from a hole cut in the concrete as he looks for survivors at the site of a building that collapsed Wednesday in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, April 25, 2013. By Thursday, the death toll reached at least 194 people as rescuers continued to search for injured and missing, after a huge section of an eight-story building that housed several garment factories splintered into a pile of concrete.(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Bangladeshis watch the rescue operations at the site of a building that collapsed Wednesday in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, April 25, 2013. By Thursday, the death toll reached at least 194 people as rescuers continued to search for injured and missing, after a huge section of an eight-story building that housed several garment factories splintered into a pile of concrete. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

A Bangladeshi woman survivor is lifted out of the rubble by rescuers at the site of a building that collapsed Wednesday in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, April 25, 2013. By Thursday, the death toll reached at least 194 people as rescuers continued to search for injured and missing, after a huge section of an eight-story building that housed several garment factories splintered into a pile of concrete.(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Garment workers trapped in the rubble plead for help. Rescuers, some in hard-hats and others wearing slippers, pick through the broken concrete. They fashion colorful cloth into makeshift stretchers that hold and lift hurt survivors and dead victims.

Thousands of relatives wail their grief and worry outside a collapsed building in Savar, Bangladesh, where at least 275 people were killed and more than 2,000 were rescued.

It is the worst-ever disaster in Bangladesh's $20 billion garment industry that supplies global retailers but has a notorious safety record.

Here are some images from the scene.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-04-26-AS-Bangladesh-Building-Collapse-Photo-Gallery/id-6c96fa4661564d5a8943b053268b0157

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Russia contacted US twice about Boston bomber

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Two U.S. officials briefed on the Boston marathon investigation say the Russian government contacted the FBI and the CIA separately in 2011 with concerns about Tamerlan Tsarnaev (tsahr-NEYE'-ehv), one of the men authorities say was behind the attacks.

One of the officials says the CIA was contacted by Russia in the fall of 2011. Officials say Russia contacted the FBI in early 2011.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.

The FBI said its investigators found nothing to suggest Tsarnaev was part of an extremist group and shared that information back.

Tsarnaev died in a police shootout.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-contacted-us-twice-boston-bomber-180629848--politics.html

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Dina Eastwood in Rehab For Depression, Anxiety

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Velodyne vTrue

Velodyne is more known for its subwoofers than it is for making headphones, but the Velodyne vTrue takes the company's expertise in deep bass in a new direction. Velodyne refers to the $399.00 (direct) vTrue as a pair of "studio headphones," although we found them to be far too leaky to be considered for serious recording applications. In every other regard, they are solid, though, so we'll review them here as simply high-end, powerful headphones. In that regard, they perform quite well?if you love gobs and gobs of boosted bass and crisp, sculpted highs. Audio purists can probably stop reading now, but if you're looking for a powerful, bass-heavy headphone pair, the vTrue is a strong option.

Design
The vTrue headphones are strikingly designed, with an aluminum contour on the earcups and a brown padded leather headband and earpads. Everything from the precision-friendly headband slide adjuster to the deep blue padding over the 50mm drivers inside the earcups feels thoughtfully designed. The vTrue strikes out only on a comfort level?these headphones are bulky, and after a while, you're likely to feel some pressure on your scalp.

The audio cables are detachable, and split to connect to each earcup. One included cable has an inline remote and microphone designed for use with Apple iOS devices and all iPods 3rd-generation and up. Both cables are clothbound in deep blue and measure four feet in length. Velodyne vTrue inline

Call clarity through the inline mic is strong enough that your call partner will understand you, and you'll understand them just fine, but it's not excellent?the mic sounds a bit muffled at times, and we're also dealing with cellular fidelity.

Also included with the vTrue: a ?-inch adapter for larger headphone jacks and a black drawstring carrying pouch.

Performance
On tracks with deep, sub-bass content, like the Knife's "Silent Shout," the vTrue is able to show off a bit. Audiophiles seeking flat, accurate response should look elsewhere, as the vTrue is a bass-boosted powerhouse. At maximum volume, the vTrue sounds as if it is just about to distort, but never really reaches the breaking point?and these headphones get quite loud. At safer, more reasonable listening levels, the bass response is intense and clean.

Luckily, Velodyne has the good sense to add some serious mid-high and high frequency tweaking so the sound signature isn't a muddy, undefined mess. On Bill Callahan's "Drover," the vTrue graces his vocals with a nice treble edge which helps it stand front and center in the mix. This is important, because the boosted bass response arms the constant drumbeat with some serious low-end thunder, making it also stand out quite a bit. Without the sculpted treble, his vocals would get lost and the mix would be too focused on the low-mids and lows.

Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild" benefits from the high frequency sculpting, as well?the kick drum loop has a nice punchy attack, while the sub-bass synth hits that sit beneath the loop in the mix are delivered with some serious throttle. The vocals in this dense mix stand out in the same way Callahan's do on his track?the crisp edge they get from the vTrue helps separate them from the powerful lows and mids.

Classical tracks, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," can sound a tad too tweaked and sculpted. The highs are boosted, which occasionally makes the higher register strings and brass sound a bit too bright, but the lower register strings absorb the added bass response nicely. The large drum hits at the end of track sound a bit too bass-boosted, however?almost as if they are amplified instead occurring naturally in a concert hall.

In other words, these headphones don't offer a flat response in any sense?there's tons of bass, and lots of liberties are taken with the high-mids and highs, as well. The result is something bass lovers will enjoy and purists will probably want to avoid. If you're looking for headphones in the price range with a bit less boosting in the lows, the?Sennheiser Momentum?is a solid option and less bulky, while the TDK ST750 is a powerful pair that focuses more on the high-mids and highs.?If you like big bass, but the vTrue's price tag is too high, the?Denon Urban Raver AH-D320?offers a similar sound signature for a significantly lower price. And if it's a true studio headphone pair you seek, you can spend quite a bit less and still have top quality?Sennheiser's HD 280 Pro?is an excellent flat response option. The Velodyne True offers clean, bold performance with booming low-end, and it comes with two top-notch, detachable cables?if it were less expensive, it would get a higher rating.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/kJz9ceGXD9g/0,2817,2417924,00.asp

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