Vikings receiver Percy Harvin reportedly wants out of Minnesota.? He also reportedly wants to be paid like Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.
But Harvin is overlooking one important reality.? He?ll have to find a team that wants him, and a team that will pay him what he wants.
As one NFL front-office source explains it, Harvin and his agent forget that a large portion of the league had him off of their draft boards in 2009, due to his reputation for being a pain in the posterior.
In Minnesota, the Vikings have done a nice job of keeping Harvin from being too much of a problem, at least publicly.? Under former coach Brad Childress, then-defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier often was the peacekeeper.? Now that Harvin and Frazier reportedly had a ?heated exchange? that preceded Harvin?s placement on injured reserve, Harvin may be out of allies in Minnesota.
That doesn?t mean he?ll have friends elsewhere.? Especially if he gets the kind of money he wants.? If/when (if) he cashes in, Harvin will be largely untouchable, free to do what he wants, how he wants, when he wants.
Even though there are plenty of desperate coaches and General Managers in the NFL, there?s a difference between desperation and stupidity.? For Harvin, the key word could be delusion.
If there?s no team who will both trade for him and pay him, he?ll continue to be the property of the Vikings.? And the manner in which he handles himself during the final year of his contract will go a long way toward shaping the extent to which other teams will, or won?t, be interested in him once he hits the open market.
And if he decides to hold out, the Vikings can fine him hundreds of thousands of dollars and, if he doesn?t show up by Week 10, squat on his rights through 2014.
A Danish television channel has admitted it mistakenly used an image from a computer game to illustrate a news report about Syria.
TV2 Head of News Jacob Nybroe said Sunday the picture that was used as a backdrop behind news anchor Cecilie Beck on Feb. 26 came from Ubisoft's adventure game "Assassin's Creed."
He says he learned about the mistake this week, following speculation about the origin of the image on social media sites.
One of the TV channel's employees had found the image online and thought it was a photo of Damascus' skyline. (You can see the original, with a Ubisoft copyright notice, here, as ITV points out.)
Nybroe says it was a terrible mistake and a "reminder to us all of the importance of verifying the sources of pictures."
? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Julie Uhrman, the CEO/Founder of the smash Kickstarter-project-turned-gaming-console known as OUYA, was the third keynote speaker at SXSW Interactive 2013. Interviewed by The Verge?s Joshua Topolsky, the two dove in the intricacies and challenges of crowd funding and creating a new hardware startup.
Fantasy baseball is a grind. No matter how your draft goes, fantasy baseball championships are won in lost on the waiver wire each year.
Still, you can be the king of the wire and still fail to make the playoffs if you don't draft a solid core. That's why I've decided to share my four tried-and-true "Tenets of Successful Fantasy Baseball Drafting" with you.
I know that everyone has a different philosophy when drafting and you may not agree with mine, but this particular model has brought me a lot of success over the years. If you are looking to shake up your own approach, I suggest following these four suggestions.
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Draft Studs at Weak Positions
If I have one of the first four picks in the first round, I'm drafting Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Braun, Mike Trout and Matt Kemp, in that order. The first two players are so safe and productive you can't pass them up?and Cabrera is a great value at third base?while the versatility and overall potential of the latter two players makes them obvious picks.
But after that, my strategy will change.?
If you had the first pick in your fantasy draft, who would you select?
If you had the first pick in your fantasy draft, who would you select?
Miguel Cabrera
Ryan Braun
Mike Trout
Matt Kemp
Robinson Cano
Joey Votto
Albert Pujols
Andrew McCutchen
Buster Posey
Other
With the fifth pick, I would target two players?Robinson Cano and Buster Posey. Why? Because each play a position that can be difficult to get offensive value from, especially Posey at catcher.
Look, you could draft Joey Votto or Albert Pujols there, but the likelihood is that you'll be able to find value at the first base position later in the draft. Same in the outfield. But other positions?catcher, second base, third base and shortstop?can be really hard to draft. Those positions simply don't have a lot of offensive depth.
Here's another way of looking at it. If you look at ESPN's Player Rater?which assigns values to a player's runs, home runs, RBI, stolen bases and batting average and provides a rough portrait of how valuable a fantasy player is?Buster Posey had a value at 8.85, whereas the second most valuable catcher was Yadier Molina at 7.49.
There were five players with first base eligibility with a better rating than that and 16 players that topped it with outfield eligibility.?If you take it further, the third-best catcher, Joe Mauer, came in at a 6.95. Six players with first base eligibility and 24 players with outfield eligibility scored better.
You can find great value later in the draft at certain positions. It's hard to get value at catcher, shortstop and second base. Take studs at those positions early and reap the rewards.
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Versatility, Versatility, Versatility!
Player A hits .304 with 93 runs scored, 25 home runs, 91 RBI and 23 stolen bases.
Player B hits .232 with 102 runs scored, 43 home runs, 106 RBI and 10 stolen bases.?
Which player do you draft first?
While both guys are excellent options, I want Player A (Alex Rios), simply because he is far more versatile a producer than Player B (Curtis Granderson). Sure, I love that Granderson gives me nine more runs, 18 more home runs and 15 more RBI, but he kills?my batting average and barely helps in steals.
But Rios helps me in every single category. I'd rather build a team of versatile, five-category producers rather than mix and match power players with a few guys who hit for average and a stolen base expert or two.
I know, I know, Mike Trouts and Andrew McCutchens don't grow on trees, but if you are stuck between drafting a versatile player and a category-specific?producer, always?choose the versatile option.
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Wait On Pitching
If you absolutely must have Justin Verlander and you don't mind using a late-first or second-round pick to land him, be my guest. The man is one of the safest players in fantasy baseball, which is certainly a plus at a volatile position like pitcher.
But after that, wait. Trust me, you'll find solid values down the board. And for heaven's sake, don't overpay for saves. Closers are the most volatile players in fantasy, and two months into the season a savvy waiver-wire play or two will net you a solid closer, I promise.
According to ESPN's Average Draft Position, in a 10-team league you'll be able to select Gio Gonzalez (44.6) in the fifth round, CC Sabathia (52.8) in the sixth round, Roy Halladay (63.8) in the seventh round, James Shields (88.2) in the ninth round,?YovaniGallardo (91.4) in the 10th round and Ian Kennedy (112.9) in the 12th round.
If you play your cards right, you can build a solid staff without selecting a single pitcher in the first four rounds. Wait on pitching!
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Target Bounce-Back Candidates
Here is a list of players who had disappointing 2012 seasons (or lost serious time to injury) but should be available for a discount at your draft. Target the following:
Jose Bautista, Roy Halladay, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford (I believe in you, Carl!), Victor Martinez, Ryan Howard (his ESPN ADP is 111.0, meaning you can get him in the 12th round), Hanley Ramirez, Adam Wainwright, Tim Lincecum and Josh Johnson are a few players I'll be keeping an eye on.
Those are just a few bounce-back candidates that are being drafted well below their traditional value. Yes, they are all risky, but if they pan out, you are going to look like a genius for snatching them at a discounted cost.
WORLD DEBUT FOR ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
- Elegant fastback design hints at dynamic prowess of the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever: 624 bhp/465 kW, 800 Nm from 1,500 rpm : 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (0-62 in 4.6) - Debut of Satellite Aided Transmission. A technology that uses GPS mapping data to ensure the correct gear is always pre-selected for the road terrain ahead - Voice activated connectivity augments effortlessness ? the 'on-board valet' - Canadel Panelling sweeps through a sumptuous, contemporary and yacht-like interior cabin
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents the world debut of Wraith, the most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history. At its heart lie hallmark Rolls-Royce attributes of luxury, refinement and hand-craftsmanship, but the new model from the world's pinnacle super-luxury marque also presents a unique character defined by power, style and drama. With just a hint of the noir.
"Today we launch the ultimate gentlemen's gran turismo, a car that embodies the spirit of Charles Stewart Rolls," commented Torsten M?ller-?tv?s, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "The most powerful Rolls-Royce in history, Wraith promises the sense of adventure and speed that drove our founding forefather. But of course, Wraith's starting point is luxury, refinement and quality, traits that remain as important to Rolls-Royce customers today as they were more than a century ago."
Rolls-Royce Chairman and BMW Group board member Harald Kr?ger added the following: "The BMW Group today reconfirms its full commitment to the future of Rolls-Royce. Growth and a prosperous future lie ahead thanks to continued investment, careful brand stewardship and the launch of groundbreaking new models like Rolls-Royce Wraith, a magnificent addition to the product range."
In profile, Wraith's sweeping fastback design gives the car its unique character. Bold lines, tension in the panels and a raked rear screen evoke the image of a world class athlete poised in the starting blocks. Further expression of dynamic intent can be seen in Wraith's deeply recessed grille, wide rear track and dramatic two-tone presentation.
Coach doors open to reveal a sumptuous interior complete with softest Phantom-grade leathers and expanses of wood called Canadel Panelling. Named after the famous cove in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design and engineering teams spent their winters, this contemporary and tactile finish sweeps through the interior, cosseting four occupants in a space bathed in light and warmth.
The interior ambiance is complemented by Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature available beyond Phantom family cars for the first time. 1,340 fibre optic lamps are hand-woven into the roof lining to give the impression of a glittering, starry night sky.
Performance delivers on the promise of Wraith's styling. Power delivery is effortless, but dramatic, thanks to a V12 engine married to 8-speed automatic ZF transmission. 624 bhp / 465kW is available to the driver while the 0-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds, compared with 563 bhp / 420kW and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds for Ghost.
From 1,500 rpm 800 Nm of torque is available (780 Nm for Ghost), while a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height further contribute to the most powerful, involving driving experience of any Rolls-Royce in history. The car's suspension has also been tuned to minimise body roll and discreetly amplify feedback when cornering; while steering weight is heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds adding to the spirited drive.
However, Wraith is no GT bruiser. Agility improvements have been achieved with absolutely no compromise to the sensation of riding on a bed of air. Furthermore, the debut of Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology takes the powertrain to a new level of effortless delivery, one that perfectly suits the Rolls-Royce brand.
Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data to see beyond what the driver sees; it anticipates his next move based on location and current driving style, then selects the most appropriate gear for the terrain ahead. Corners, motorway junctions and roundabouts are all anticipated in advance meaning Wraith is constantly poised to deliver on its promise of performance.
A more polished, effortless driving experience and even better response brings a new, more dynamic dimension to the famous Rolls-Royce trait, waftability.
For over a century a Rolls-Royce motor car has featured technologies designed to support occupants discreetly, delivering a peerless driving experience epitomised by the term 'effortlessness'. In every Rolls-Royce these assist the driver when called upon, but are prepared to return without fuss to the background when no longer required.
Advances in mechanical and electrical technology deliver systems like head-up display, adaptive headlights and Wraith's keyless opening boot. But improvements in connectivity have taken the human-machine interface to a new level of sophistication, a suite of aids that could be likened to a contemporary on-board valet.
Voice activation commands, for example, come with a one-touch call button located on the steering wheel. A destination no longer requires manual input from a navigation menu and route assistance begins immediately, on-screen and via audio guidance following a voice command such as "navigate to Piccadilly in London."
Additional improvements in communications come in the design and functionality of the elegant Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. This allows navigation through on-screen functions using a touch pad that features pinch and pull functionality to echo smart phone usage. Letters can also be 'drawn' onto the pad by hand rather than by scrolling through a series of available characters on-screen.
In Europe, Wraith will be priced at c. ?245k. Confirmation and further pricing details in all markets will be revealed later in the year.
First deliveries of Wraith will be made to customers in the final quarter of 2013.
Family hobbies can develop into great family bonding experiences. ?Enjoying a family hobby together is one of the greatest ways for a family to spend quality time with each other. Everyone gets their mind off of stressful work and studies while enjoying an activity. ?A family hobby is much more than sharing a family game or an occasional outing together as it will create lifelong family bonding through meaningful personal experiences and memories.?
Many people independently enjoy hobbies that do not include their family because the interest is uniquely their own and not shared by their family members. No one should ever be coerced to participate in a hobby for which they have no personal passion, because it will be a frustrating experience for everyone which will be counterproductive to the purpose of the activity. So choosing a family hobby that the entire family will enjoy will require some soul searching, conversations of discovery, and research. ?This discovery process for uncovering potential family hobbies and interests will entail asking a lot of questions of yourself as well as the other family members. The first goal will be to nail down some area of interest that everyone truly enjoys. Start out with a broad area of interest or a combination of possible hobbies and interests such as nature, animals, cars, construction or building, travel, history, art, music, gardening, puzzles, collecting, crafts, cooking, volunteering, sports, etc. From there, continue to break the areas of interest down with more questions and conversations until you reach that ecstatic moment when everyone's spark of passion is lit.
Not only will you discover a hobby activity through which your family can spend endless hours of mutual enjoyment as you bond together, the discovery process involving enriched family communications along the way will help each of you to discover things about yourselves and each other that will promote personal growth and may open doors to greater understanding expressed by inspiration and motivational support of each other.
Published by Shelby Evans
May 1, 2009 Yahoo
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Posted on: Tuesday the 5th of March 2013. Total views: 21 Written by: Amy Hoschak
We're leaving: UK soldiers quitting Germany after 68 years
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Tuesday, 5 March 2013
3:25 PM
By Alex Stevenson
British troops are to retreat from Germany for the first time since the end of the Second World War, it has been confirmed.
Defence secretary Philip Hammond told the Commons UK troops would be withdrawn from their bases on the Rhine by 2020 - and that the historic withdrawal was already underway.
The 20,000 British soldiers in Germany in 2010 will be cut back to just 4,400 by Christmas 2016, as the Army pushes through a serious of rebasing moves resulting in closures at places like Canterbury, Ripon, Shrewsbury and Brawdy.
"The return of the British Army from Germany marks the end of an era," Hammond told MPs.
"I want to put on record the huge debt of gratitude we owe to the German government and the German people for the support, both moral and material, they have shown our armed forces over more than six decades."
British forces established bases in Germany after the Nazis were finally defeated in 1945. Service personnel on the Rhine remained high until the fall of the Berlin Wall ended the military threat from Soviet Russia, but the UK continued its presence and has now been on German soil for nearly 70 years.
The Ministry of Defence hopes to save over ?100 million per year by moving from Germany.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: "UK troops have been stationed in Germany for almost 70 years and we support their return home but this will ? as he would expect ? be matched by detailed scrutiny.
"While there is much less strategic need for our Forces to be based in Germany, it can still play an important role in providing training facilities. How does the secretary of state envisage this function being supplemented if it is no longer available there?"
Hammond had indicated the MoD is considering the long-term retention of a limited training presence in Germany.
Such a move is under "active consideration", he told MPs, but he made clear the Army would be closing all its "major unit locations".
British Forces Germany has been the largest concentrating of UK troops permanently stationed outside the UK.
High unemployment, poor access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and medicine, and rising obesity rates continue to plague many of America's Southern states, according to the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.?
The Index looks at six categories: basic access, life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, healthy behaviors, and physical health (we've highlighted a few in the following slides).
In general, state-level scores remained consistent with the past five years of data. Western and Midwestern states ranked highest on the wellbeing index, with Hawaii topping the list, and Southern states ranked near the bottom.
There has been a lot of chatter recently about smart watches that have the ability to alert you graphically and audibly but this Kickstarter project wants to put a slightly different spin on that theme. The Embrace+ is not as smart as a smart watch as it doesn't have any display but what it does offer is colored notifications. These notifications can be set to a huge selection of colors each specifically matched to an apps notifications. If you tend to keep your iPhone in your handbag or deep pocket, this bracelet could be ideal so you never miss a call or an important text or email.
EMBRACE+ is the result of an idea that we came up with during a night out over a couple of drinks last summer. While laughing about ourselves checking our phones all the time to see whether we had received a message on one of the popular social media apps we decided to come up with a solution. Right away we agreed we don't want to wear a 'device' and it should easily blend in with any fashion style. The idea of the EMBRACE+ was born!
EMBRACE+ is a fashion accessory with true functionality! Whether you are in the middle of a workout or meeting, you'll always be notified about important calls and messages. You can customize notifications with colors that match your style and save them in a profile.
The EMBRACE+ bracelet keeps you connected to your smartphone and notifies you by flashing different colors for different apps and contacts. Choose colors for incoming calls from your girlfriend, boyfriend, boss, a contact group, unknown callers and more.
The Embrace+ comes with a companion iPhone app that will let you customize color schemes and set up all of your color notifications and even flashing patterns for lots of different applications. You can even drill down to individual caller ID notifications so you can see who is calling as long as you have a great memory for colors and different flashing schemes.
The Embrace+ is looking for backers on Kickstarter so if you want to become an early adopter you can pledge $39 or more to get one. It?s not looking great for the project as it has only reached just over $35K and needs to reach over $220K to become a reality.
What do you think of the Embrace+? Could you see yourself wearing an accessory like this or would you rather get a really smart accessory like the rumored iWatch?
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Julie Uhrman, the CEO/Founder of the smash Kickstarter-project-turned-gaming-console known as 
There has been a lot of chatter recently about smart watches that have the ability to alert you graphically and audibly but this 
