Monday, December 1, 2014

Fan Poll who is better Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham?



Slideshow: Who is better Gronk or Jimmy Graham?

This is a fan poll asking who is the better tight end Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski. You can vote on Gronkowski or Graham without having to sign up for anything. Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski are considered the best tight ends in the NFL but who is better?

Jimmy Graham is big at 6ft 7 and 260 pounds but he is a more athletic finesse type of tight end than Rob Gronkowski is. Graham actually plays wide receiver a lot and his speed and jumping ability causes huge mismatches for the opponents of the Saints.

In 73 NFL Games Jimmy Graham has caught 366 passes for 4,533 yards and 50 receiving touchdowns. Graham is easily one of the best end zone targets in the NFL The questions is whether or not Jimmy Graham is better than Gronk?

Rob Gronkowski is big too at 6ft 5 and 265 pounds. Gronk has deceptive speed but is more of a plodder than an athlete like Jimmy Graham. Both Gronkowski and Graham have had problems staying healthy but are beasts when they play their A game.

In 61 NFL games Rob Gronkowski has 284 catches for 4,067 yards and 51 touchdown receptions. Gronk is more of a bull his way into the end zone guy rather than the leaper Jimmy Graham is. Who is better? Please vote here.

Source: http://pantherlair.sportsblog.com/posts/1336879/fan_poll_who_is_better_rob_gronkowski_or_jimmy_graham_.html



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Sunday, November 30, 2014

Jimmy Graham is wrong: He completely deserved a flag on would-be Hail Mary TD



On Sunday, Jimmy Graham was called for pass interference on a would-have-been game-winning Hail Mary reception against the San Francisco 49ers. Though replays clearly showed Graham giving a purposefulshove to the back of Perrish c*x, Graham and his New Orleans Saints brethren immediately complained about the call and Fox announcer John Lynch suggested c*x had flopped to draw the flag.

The cries from the Saints grew louder when the 49ers won in overtime. After the game, Graham still couldnt believe hed been flagged and said so to reporters. Before we begin: You cannot, and should not, blame Graham for pleading his case. Thats what a guilty man is supposed to do. But nothing says you cant point out how wrong he is about it. (Quotes in bold, via NOLA.com)

It was definitely not a push-off.

That sentence either needed to remove a not (it was definitely a push-off) or addone(it was definitely not not a push-off.)

Im running down the field telling myself, Whatever you do, dont push off.'

Oh, well then! He didnt want to push off, so clearly he couldnt have done so! Look, if desiredictated reality, place kickers would never miss field goals, Rex Ryan would have six Super Bowl rings and Id be writing this post from my yacht while drinking bellinis alongside my best friends George Clooney and Veronica Mars. No receiver everwants to push off. No defender ever wants to interfere. These are unfortunate byproducts of the desire to make big plays.

Its interesting how guys grab me everywhere on the field and I put literally two fingers on somebody and they make that kind of call.

A) Jimmy Graham has a questionableinterpretation of what constitutes interesting.

B) Two fingers.

The general consensus is, you go down there, you can kick somebody in the chest and go up there and get it and youll be fine.But apparently not.

So which is it? Did you not touch the guy or did you give him the shoving equivalent of a kick to the chest?

This was a clear, no doubt pass interference call. Graham extended both hands, shoved and positioned himself for the catch. He cleared space to make the grab. Coxs stumble looks suspicious if you want to see suspicion, but if you watch all angles of the replayyoull see he didnt start stumbling until he was shoved. Anyway, who plays a Hail Mary hoping to get a call? If Graham is right in that the general consensus is players dont expect flags on Hail Marys, then c*x would have no expectation to receive one.

All that being said, utilizing the Graham strategy is a phenomenalstrategyforHail Marys. Receivers in those big scrums should give a little shove every time. Best-case scenario, the refs miss it and you catch a touchdown. Worst-case scenario, you get flagged and are forced to make a disingenuous defense of yourself after the game.

(Thanks to @cjzero for the GIF.)

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Source: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/11/jimmy-graham-pass-interference-saints-49ers-perrish-c*x



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JCPenney Wants to Show Customers It's 'Heart and Wallet Responsible'



J.C. Penney will contine its efforts to reconnect with customers this holiday season. "Jingle More Bells," which launched last year, aims to show consumers that the brand is both "heart and wallet responsible" through the idea of giving, said Debra Berman, CMO at J.C. Penney.

"We were disconnected for a long time, so this is a big deal for us," she said, acknowledging J.C. Penney's ongoing battle to attract consumers. "We will spend the whole season helping people unlock what it feels like to give."

J.C. Penney saw a 3% rise in sales last holiday season, according to quarterly reports, which was on par with overall retail growth in the industry. Ms. Berman said J.C. Penney's media spend will be in line with a year ago.

The retailer's store associates are at the heart of this year's campaign. They're featured in J.C. Penney's "Jingle Brigade" spot -- its first of the holiday season. And they will also be ushering consumers into stores with red-and-white gloves that symbolize giving.

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Using #JustGotJingled, the campaign aims to encourage random acts of kindness among consumers through social media. J.C. Penney will promote customer videos that demonstrate the spirit of giving online. Similarly, the company made a separate video mash-up this month, saluting body confidence, to the tune of Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass."

"There are some pretty powerful moments," said Ms. Berman, adding J.C. Penney received more heartwarming clips than it expected. "Even a scrooge might tear up."

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On Dec. 2, Giving Tuesday -- an annual event meant to be an antidote to the holiday shopping frenzy -- will kick off the bulk of J.C. Penney's experiential push, which includes a coffee truck takeover in Seattle, a tree lot takeover in San Diego and a street team of elves, among other efforts. The retailer will also bring Boys and Girls Clubs into its stores for a holiday shopping trip.

The company also aims to connect with Hispanic audiences again this year -- a market that is growing more quickly than the general market, according to Ms. Berman. J.C. Penney will employ Spanish-language TV ads, digital and mobile search.

"It's very important to us that our content cues the world the Latina muse lives in and how she looks at the holidays," said Ms. Berman.

J.C. Penney created a video series on AOL that looks at how Hispanic families celebrate the holidays. The brand is also expanding its holiday calendar to include Three Kings Day, an important holiday in Hispanic culture.

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Source: http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/jcpenney-emphasizes-giving-holiday-season/295995/



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Black Friday Deals 2014: Macy's, JCPenney Offer Best Deals While Wal-Mart ...



Aye, reports have it that the Black Friday deals are more vast and varied at JCPenney than any other merchant this year. But for those who go overboard on the spending, the savings may be all for naught.(Photo : Powhusku | Creative Commons)

Some people enjoy the adrenal jolt of surging through the doors on Black Friday morning, while others are just there to pick up one item and escape unscathed.

Since being thankful is a tad tougher after waiting in the cold for hours and still missing out on the year'shottestdeals, a new survey of retail outlets has revealed the merchants who have the most bountifulselectionof deeply discounted products this Black Friday.

WalletHub looked at the best and worst retail outlets to find deals for the 2014 edition of Black Friday, surveying 5,525 ads to find out where the discounts are concentrated. The shoe-scuffed battlegrounds of historic sites like Wal-Mart and Costco didn't even rank in the top 10 places to find Black Friday plunder.

JCPenney topped WalletHub's ranking of retailers by average discount, offering price cuts that are around 65.44 percent off retail prices. JCPenney was followed by Macy's (53.52 percent), Rite Aid (53.34 percent), Meijer (50.85 percent) and Sears (50.19 percent).

Theretailersrounding out the bottom half of the top 10, listed in descending order, include Walgreens, Office Depot and OfficeMax, Ace Hardware, Kohl's and Staples.

Retailers ranked 11 to 22, in descending order, include hhgregg, RadioShack, Kmart, Target, AAFES, CVS Pharmacy, Dell, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon, Big Lots and Costco.

Beyond detailing the places to find the greatest amount of discounts, WalletHub reported which retailers are offering the best value in categories like consumer electronics and apparel.

Sears is best place to go for apparel andaccessories, Office Depot and OfficeMax for computers and phones; Macy's for consumer electronics and packaged goods; Kohl's for toys and furniture; Kmart for jewelry; and JCPenney for appliances and anything that doesn't fall into the aforementioned categories.

While the Black Friday deals are carefully crafted to help retailers get out of the red on the accounting sheets, the University of Southern California's Mathew Curtis is reminding consumers not to hurt themselves while taking advantage of the fleeting deals. Curtis is a clinical assistant professor at the university's Annenberg School of Communication.

"Your focus should not be on how much you saved," says Curtis. "If you saved $500 but spent more than you can afford, was that saving of $500 sensible? Focus more on what you spend, not what you save. Try looking for reasons as to why you do not need a product rather than why you want a product."

2014 Tech Times, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/20795/20141127/black-friday-deals-2014-macys-jc-penney-offer-best-deals-while-walmart-best-buy-amazon-lag.htm



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Remembering comedy legend 'Chespirito'



Legendary Mexican comedian Roberto Gomez Bolanos known as Chespirito died Friday in Cancun at age 85.

The comedians work was wildly popular, spanning dozens of countries and languages. He even inspired the iconic Simpsons character Bumblebee Man.

Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto tweeted his condolences Friday, saying Chespiritos work transcended generations and borders.

News of Chespiritos death quickly spread on social media, where fans posted tributes to the late star. Telemundo reported that Chespirito was the No. 1 trend on both Facebook and Twitter Friday evening. Chespirito was the No. 2 trending termFriday in the U.S. on Google, with more than 500,000 searches.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/remembering-comedy-legend-chespirito



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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Despite Cold Weather And Protesters, Shoppers Seek Black Friday Sales



Shoppers flocked to the malls on Thanksgiving, but the rush didn't impede Black Friday sales. Protesters are also trying to put a mark on this day, but their actions haven't taken a bite out of sales.

Copyright 2014 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Black Friday can signify a lot of different things. It can mean braving freezing temperatures in Minnesota like this.

SHACARAH REYNOLDS: I'm out here with everyone else for a TV.

SHAPIRO: That's shopper Shacarah Reynolds bound and determined to get that 50-inch TV set for just $200. Black Friday can also be a sign of retail trends. This year, the ritual seems to be losing its edge as retailers start offering deals throughout the month of November. And Black Friday can be a symbol worth protesting. NPR's Richard Harris has the story of today.

RICHARD HARRIS, BYLINE: Organizations that object to our consumer-oriented culture have tried to single out Black Friday as a day to avoid shopping. That hasn't gotten much traction. This year, there's also a social media campaign to boycott Black Friday in protest of the Ferguson, Missouri grand jury's decision not to indict the policeman who shot and killed Michael Brown. Jessie Davis of Chicago took part in that movement at the Galleria Mall in St. Louis.

JESSIE DAVIS: Black lives matter more than your iPhone, more than your new dress for New Year's Eve. This is what we're saying. People got to lift their heads, get out of their houses and into the streets.

HARRIS: That protest led some stores in that mall to shut their doors this afternoon. Advocates for higher wages also chose this day to stage protests at many Wal-Mart stores. I came across the results of that in downtown Washington, D.C.

There's a man outside of the Wal-Mart here with a bucket and a brush and he's scrubbing off some chalk graffiti that was put on the sidewalk in front of the store. And among the things that it says is workers deserve a living wage, and a frowny smiley face that says always poverty and is pointing toward Wal-Mart. Shoppers here, like Dominique Small, seemed unperturbed by both the protests and the Black Friday hype. What were you shopping for?

DOMINIQUE SMALL: Right now, just kind of things to put in the house. And I just was looking at some prices for toys and stuff for Christmas.

HARRIS: But not buying the toys today?

SMALL: No, not today. No.

HARRIS: Is it crazy in there?

SMALL: No, it's actually really good. No lines - a lot of people just available if you need them.

HARRIS: Wal-Mart gave an upbeat report, saying 22 million people came to their stores on Thanksgiving. The top items sold were tablets, TVs, sheets, kids clothing and videogame gear. Marshall Cullen, chief retail analyst at NPD group, says early indications are that sales for both Thanksgiving and Black Friday are strong, and that the protests didn't make a dent.

MARSHALL CULLEN: The consumer didn't see the direct connection between the grand jury's decision and the retail opportunity.

HARRIS: He was a bit surprised that shopping trips on Thanksgiving itself didn't steal the Black Friday thunder. But Chris Christopher at IHS Global Insight wasn't quite so enthusiastic.

CHRIS CHRISTOPHER: Black Friday seems to be a little bit lackluster - still relatively an important day, but not just what it used to be.

HARRIS: Sales are now spread out throughout the month of November, and online sales are also increasing by the year. Black Friday leaves Boston College sociology professor Juliet Shor with complicated feelings. On the one hand, she says, Americans attach too much importance to consumer goods, and a shopping extravaganza plays into that.

JULIET SHOR: I think the one thing about Black Friday that I would say I like is it does make things more affordable for people who don't have enough purchasing power.

HARRIS: Wages for most workers have been stagnant for years. And Shor says Black Friday gives many Americans a chance to buy more or more generous gifts for their loved ones. Richard Harris, NPR News.

Copyright 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2014/11/28/367244304/despite-cold-weather-and-protesters-shoppers-seek-black-friday-sales



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Actor Shia LaBeouf says woman raped him during LA art performance



Actor Shia LaBeouf's bizarre stunts and behavior have gained him publicity and landed him in jail in the past year.

Now the "Transformers" star is making news again, alleging a woman raped him in February during an #IAMSORRY performance art show in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. During the five-day event, LaBeouf -- clad in a tuxedo and wearing a paper bag over his head -- sat alone and met one-on-one with visitors.

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For the Record

An earlier version of this story misstated the location of the art show. It was in the Fairfax district, not downtown Los Angeles.

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The 28-year-old actor told Dazed Digital that the woman "whipped my legs for ten minutes and then stripped my clothing and proceeded to rape me" while her boyfriend stood outside.

"There were hundreds of people in line when she walked out with disheveled hair and smudged lipstick," LaBeouf said. "It was no good, not just for me but her man as well."

His girlfriend was also waiting in line to meet with him because it was Valentine's Day, he said. But word about the alleged attack, he said, traveled fast and his girlfriend soon found out.

"When she came in she asked for an explanation, and I couldnt speak, so we both sat with this unexplained trauma silently," he said. "It was painful."

During the interview, LaBeouf did not say whether he contacted police to report the alleged rape. He also did not say why he waited so long to publicly speak about the incident.

Los Angeles Police Officer Jane Kim, a department spokeswoman, said her office had not been alerted about any incidents involving LaBeouf. In any case, she said, police don't report the names of rape victims.

Calls and requests to LaBeouf's publicist for comment were not immediately returned.

LaBeouf told a female reporter with Dazed Digital about the alleged rape during a two-week email exchange. The two then agreed to meet in October for an hour.

But they never actually spoke during the meeting. Instead, the two sat silently in separate hotel rooms with GoPro cameras strapped to their heads while others filmed them.

LaBeouf's erratic behavior was famously on display when he wore a brown paper bag over his head on which he scribbled "I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE" at Berlin Film Festival's "Nymphomaniac" premiere.

In September, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered into alcohol treatment after he disrupted a production of "Cabaret" in New York and had to be removed by police.

For breaking California news, follow @VeronicaRochaLA.

Copyright 2014, Los Angeles Times

Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-actor-shia-labeouf-says-woman-raped-him-during-la-art-performance-20141128-story.html



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