Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Yankees
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish allowed two
singles over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his first
start in 16 days, combining with three relievers
on a three-hitter as the Texas Rangers beat
the New Yankees 3-0 Monday night.
Darvish (9-4), who last pitched July 6 before
going on the disabled list with a right
trapezius strain, struck out four and walked
two. He left after allowing consecutive batters
to reach in the seventh, having thrown 60 of
90 pitches for strikes.
Just before the game, the Rangers announced
they had acquired right-hander Matt Garza
from the Chicago Cubs. Garza, who had been
scheduled to start for Chicago at Arizona on
Monday night, likely will make his Texas debut
Wednesday night against the Yankees.
Ivan Nova (4-3) struck out four while throwing
a season-high 112 pitches over seven innings.
All-Star closer Joe Nathan pitched the ninth
for his 31st save in 32 chances to cap the
Rangers' eighth shutout of the season.
The Yankees, coming off an 11-inning loss
late Sunday night at Boston, were held
scoreless for the eighth time.
Texas had reliever Robbie Ross warming up
while the Rangers were batting in the sixth.
But Darvish came out to start the seventh,
and appeared frustrated when manager Ron
Washington came out of the dugout to make
the pitching change.
Ross then got Travis Hafner , the only batter
he faced, to ground into an inning-ending
double play. Tanner Scheppers worked a
perfect eighth.
Nelson Cruz homered for the Rangers, who
had lost seven of eight games. They were
swept at home in a three-game series by
Baltimore over the weekend after the All-Star
break.
Cruz's 23rd homer was a 412-foot solo shot in
the seventh that landed in the Yankees'
bullpen in left-center field and made it 3-0.
The Rangers led for good after Ian Kinsler
drew a leadoff walk in the first, stole second
base and scored on Adrian Beltre 's single --
the first run they've scored in the first inning
in 11 games. In the sixth, Elvis Andrus had a
walk and a stolen base before Geovany Soto
doubled.
New York didn't have a hit until Lyle Overbay
led off the fifth with a bloop single into short
left field out of the reach of third baseman
Adrian Beltre. The Yankees didn't have
another hit until Overbay lined a single to right
in the seventh, just before Vernon Wells
walked and Darvish came out of the game.
Darvish only missed one start for Texas, but
was unable to pitch in the All-Star game even
though he did go to New York last week.
Texas sent rookie right-hander Justin Grimm ,
top prospect third baseman Mike Olt and
Class-A pitcher C.J. Edwards to the Cubs.
There will also be at least one player to be
named later, possibly two, depending on who
is chosen by Chicago.
Game notes
The Rangers' bullpen has pitched 22 1/3
consecutive scoreless innings. ... Yankees OF
Curtis Granderson, expected back early next
month from a broken pinkie, got three at-bats
in his first simulated game in Tampa and
continued running the bases. Granderson said
he feels like it's "at the spring training point
again" where preseason games are just a few
days away. His status will be evaluated after
simulated games Tuesday and Wednesday. ...
C Francisco Cervelli , sidelined by right wrist
and elbow injuries, did on-field defensive drills
and expects to soon start taking batting
practice in an indoor cage in Tampa, while INF
Jayson Nix (strained right hamstring) got six
at-bats in his latest simulated game, but did
not run the bases.
NCAA football 2014 done
Michigan's Denard Robinson is on the cover of
the last NCAA Football 14 game after the NCAA
announced it was breaking ties with the video-
game maker.
by Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY Sports
The NCAA announced Wednesday it is not
renewing its licensing contract with Electronic
Arts for a college football video game, citing
legal and business concerns.
The NCAA, EA and the nation's leading
collegiate trademark licensing and marketing
firm, Collegiate Licensing Co., are co-
defendants in at least two federal lawsuits
concerning the use of college athletes' names
and likenesses. EA is the defendant in another,
similar case.
EA is the defendant in another, similar matter
involving former Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart.
Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson
in New Jersey ordered that case reopened for
further proceedings after the Third Circuit Court
of Appeals overturned her dismissal in May and
recently denied EA's bid to have that decision
reviewed by the Third Circuit's full panel.
Hart's attorney, Timothy McIlwain, told USA
TODAY Sports on Wednesday that he will
pursue class certification and has verbal
commitments from more class representatives,
including a current college athlete he declined
to identify.
Michael Hausfeld, the lead attorney for former
UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon and others
in a case against NCAA, EA and Collegiate
Licensing Co. (CLC), has said he plans to add
an active college athlete as plaintiff by Friday.
In a statement about its decision regarding EA,
the NCAA said: "We are confident in our legal
position regarding the use of our trademarks in
video games. But given the current business
climate and costs of litigation, we determined
participating in this game is not in the best
interests of the NCAA."
Warren Zola, who teaches sports law at Boston
College's Carroll School of Management, said
the NCAA's decision indicates "they are no
longer able to handle a jury decision against
them. They are taking precautions against a
judgment causing them significant financial
hardship."
Zola said that a decision by the NCAA to
continue its licensing arrangement with EA
"would allow more members into the
(prospective class of plaintiffs) able to claim
damages."
The NCAA's agreement with EA pertains only to
the use of the NCAA's name and logo -- not
those of the individual schools depicted -- and
its statement pointed to a more serious
question: "Member colleges and universities
license their own trademarks and other
intellectual property for the video game. They
will have to independently decide whether to
continue those business arrangements in the
future."
EA Sports and CLC issued statements saying
that EA will continue to develop and market
college football games featuring the teams and
leagues customers "expect."
However, University of Kansas athletics
department spokesman Jim Marchiony -- who
identified his school as a CLC client -- said KU
officials will want to digest the NCAA's
decision. Marchiony said Kansas' agreement
with EA, via CLC, for the current version of
NCAA Football expires June 30, 2014.
"I'm not surprised CLC and EA Sports have a
Plan B and we're looking forward to hearing
from them about it, to see how we'll proceed in
the future," Marchiony said. "We will certainly
talk about it, where we go from here."
Stanford deputy athletics director Patrick
Dunkley, who said his school also is with CLC,
expressed similar sentiments. He said that prior
to the NCAA's announcement Wednesday, the
issue "was not on our radar."
Now, "given that the NCAA is taking the
position that the legal risk outweighs the
benefit, it's only prudent for us to analyze what
the perceived risks are," Dunkley said.
One of the lawsuits against the NCAA, EA and
CLC is awaiting U.S. District Judge Claudia
Wilken's ruling on whether to certify the case as
a class action. That case currently involves a
group of former college football and men's
basketball players headed by O'Bannon.
If Wilken certifies the suit as a class action, it
could allow thousands of former and current
football and men's basketball players to join the
case. That could create the possibility of a
damages award in the billions of dollars. In
addition, if the plaintiffs were to get everything
they have said they are seeking, it would force
the establishment of an entirely new
compensation arrangement for current NCAA
Bowl Subdivision football players and Division I
men's basketball players -- one under which
"monies generated by the licensing and sale of
class members' names, images and likenesses
can be temporarily held in trust" until their end
of their college playing careers.
Another case that had been before Wilken pits
former Arizona State and Nebraska quarterback
Sam Keller against EA, the NCAA and CLC. That
matter currently is pending before the Ninth
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with the
defendants hoping to overturn Wilken's refusal
to dismiss the case.
If the Ninth Circuit rules in Keller's favor, his
lawyers likely also will seek class certification.
The NCAA said its current contract with EA
expires in June 2014, "but our timing is based
on the need to provide EA notice for future
planning. As a result, the NCAA Football 2014
video game will be the last to include the
NCAA's name and logo."
Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane University
Law School's sports law program, said "as long
as the game continues to have the names and
logos of the schools" it remains viable because
"that's why a consumer buys the game."
Asked how the NCAA's decision not to continue
allowing its name and logo to be associated
with the game might affect individual schools,
Feldman said: "There's no question the schools
have been monitoring all of this and (the
NCAA's decision) may factor into their decisions
going forward."
"But," he added, "the really essential part of
the game is the players. ... A separate issue
continues to be what (EA) will do with the
players. Will they make the players completely
generic, with no numbers? If they do that,
there's no legal liability. There may be room
somewhere between the game as we know it
today and no game at all."
Copyright 2013 USATODAY.co
Report: Apple experimenting with bigger iPhone, iPad screens
(CNN) -- iPhone and iPad users looking with envy at the ever-ballooning screen sizes of Android devices shouldn't lose hope just yet.
The Wall Street Journal reports that
Apple has been experimenting with iPhone screen sizes larger than the
current four inches, echoing rumors from earlier this year that the
company may be looking to supplement its current offerings.
The WSJ also says that
Apple is experimenting with larger iPads, specifically a model with a
gigantic 13-inch display. While a larger iPhone would be in line with
current trends, the trend in tablets has been toward smaller screen sizes, not larger ones.
In either case, those hoping for a bigger iPhone or lap-sized iPad shouldn't necessarily hold their breath.
Apple regularly tests out
new screen sizes and even brand-new product lines without ever bringing
them to market; those that do see the light of day can take their time
emerging from Apple's labs.
The iPad mini itself was
the subject of similar speculation in the months and years before it was
finally released, and the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen was the subject of
rumors that predate the 3.5-inch iPhone 4S.
Apple is expected to update both the iPad and the iPad mini later this year.
Speculation is that the
larger tablet will go on the iPad mini diet, shedding some weight,
thickness, and bezel width. The smaller tablet, on the other hand, may
or may not receive a high-resolution Retina display -- these rumors have
been known to change daily based on what the folks at Apple rumor sites
see in their tea leaves each morning.
Both tablets were last refreshed in November 2012.
Apple's developer site shut down by hack attack
Apple's developer site has been shut down due to a hacker attack.
A notice on the site said an intruder had "attempted to secure personal information of our registered developers" last Thursday, and that Apple had shut down the site."Sensitive personal information was encrypted and cannot be accessed, however, we have not been able to rule out the possibility that some developers' names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses may have been accessed," Apple said Monday. The tech firm said it had been working around the clock to fix the problem, updating its server software and rebuilding its entire database. It said it expects the site to be up and running soon.
The site is used by third-party developers who are creating software and apps for use on Apple operating systems. It has everything from chat forums to technical manuals.
Related: This is what a bad quarter for Apple looks like
In June, Apple unveiled a beta version of iOS 7, its new operating system for iPhones and iPads, as well as a new operating system for Mac laptops and desktops, OS X 10.9, also known as "Mavericks."
Developers have been busy readying their software and apps to work with the new operating systems, expected to launch this fall, making this a particularly bad time for the developer's site to have an extended outage.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/22/technology/apple-hacked/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun suspended for 2013 season
(CNN) -- Major League Baseball player Ryan Braun has been suspended without pay for the rest of the 2013 season for violating the league's drug policy, Commissioner Bud Selig announced Monday.
The Brewers have 65 games remaining this season, so Braun's punishment amounts to a 65-game suspension.
Braun, 29, an outfielder
for the Milwaukee Brewers, admitted to wrongdoing and apologized for his
actions in a statement, saying "I am not perfect."
An ESPN report last month named Braun as one of 20 players facing suspension due to a scandal involving performance-enhancing drugs.
Michael Weiner, the
executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association,
said he was pleased by Braun's admission.
"I am deeply gratified to
see Ryan taking this bold step," Weiner said in a statement. "It
vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is
good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work
both on and off the field."
The 2011 National League
MVP and five-time All-Star had faced a 50-game suspension last year. A
drug test showed high levels of testosterone in his body, but Braun successfully disputed the testing process, and the suspension was overturned in February.
Major league players can appeal any possible suspensions, as Braun did in 2012.
"As I have acknowledged
in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in his statement. "I realize
now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the
consequences of those actions.
"This situation has
taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction
to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the
support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in
Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone
I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in
Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad
to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get
back to the game I love."
Rob Manfred, MLB's
executive vice president for economics and league affairs, also
commended Braun for taking responsibility for his actions.
"We all agree that it is
in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan
returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major
League Baseball, both on and off the field," Manfred said in a
statement.
Braun was the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year and by the 2011 season, he was considered the cornerstone of the Brewers franchise.
He signed a five-year,
$105 million contract extension and went on to help lead the Brewers to
the playoffs for the only the fourth time in team history. His
performance earned him that year's National League MVP award.
Shortly after his
amazing season, however, a urine sample taken during the playoffs tested
positive for an elevated level of testosterone. Faced with a 50-game
suspension, Braun appealed the decision, and an arbitrator overturned
the suspension on what some, including the chief executive of the U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency, said was a technicality.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/22/us/ryan-braun-suspended/index.html?hpt=hp_c3god Monday
Chronicles II 29:5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
wow
04:09 PM ET Explosive found near site pope plans to visit
By John L. Allen Jr., CNN, and CNN Staff
Rio de Janeiro (CNN) - A small explosive device was found Sunday near a religious sanctuary in Brazil that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit later this week, Sao Paulo military police said just few hours after the pope arrived on Monday.
"On July 21, a series of training actions took place at the city of Aparecida," Brazilian police said in a news release on Monday.
"During the drill, a homemade explosive was found. The artifact was sent to military authorities for verification. Security personnel quickly cordoned the area off.The Special Tactical Action Group was called to safely detonate destroy the artifact, without any further risk."
Brazilian police added that explosive appeared to have little destructive power. It was homemade, constructed out of a small plastic cylinder and duct tape, they said.
The explosive was found by air force personnel at a bathroom next to a parking lot, the police said. The affected area was not part of the pope's route; it was being prepared for pilgrims, according to Brazilian police.
The pope is scheduled to travel to the national shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida on Wednesday. Neither Vatican nor Brazilian officials have said those plans will change. Vatican officials say Francis requested the trip to the Marian shrine, said to be the largest in the world, because of his personal devotion to the Virgin Mary. He is scheduled to preach and celebrate Mass at the shrine.
The surprising disclosure about the explosive came just after Francis, making his first visit outside Rome since his March election, had delivered brief remarks to Brazilian dignitaries, including President Dilma Rousseff.
As the pope was driven from the airport to downtown Rio, crowds mobbed his small silver car, reaching out to touch the first Latin American pontiff. Later, they lined the streets as the "Popemobile" wound through downtown.
Pope Francis has proved himself to be a remarkably unpretentious public figure, famously renouncing, for instance, his luxurious apartment and chauffeur-driven limousine.
That self-effacing persona was on display again Monday upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro, where Francis said he wanted to “knock gently” on Brazil’s door during his first overseas journey, making sure it was OK to proceed.
“I ask permission to come in and spend this week with you,” the pope said to his somewhat startled hosts.
Francis arrived in Rio on Monday for the start of World Youth Day, which, despite its name, is actually a weeklong gathering of Catholic youth from around the world. It was launched by the late Pope John Paul II in the mid-1980s.
In truth, it would be tough to find anyone in Brazil inclined to refuse Francis permission to enter.
Those looking forward to the papal sojourn include hundreds of thousands of pumped-up young Catholic pilgrims; a Brazilian government eager for a good news cycle after a summer of discontent; agitated Brazilian protesters, hoping for a papal blessing for their demands; and even hordes of journalists with deadlines to meet.
After touching down, Francis also offered an echo of his identity as the “pope of the poor.”
“I have neither silver nor gold,” he said, “but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ!"
The pope challenged young people to “create a world of brothers and sisters” and older generations to ensure that today’s youth have “the material and spiritual conditions for their full development,” including “safety and education” as well as “lasting values.”
Earlier Monday, aboard the papal plane en route to Rio, Francis worried aloud about a “throwaway culture” that neglects young people and the elderly. He said elderly persons can offer “the wisdom of life, the wisdom of the past, the wisdom of our country and our family.”
Local organizers estimated that 700,000 youth from around the world have already arrived in Rio de Janeiro to greet Francis, and some projections peg the final total at about 2 million for a youth vigil with the pope on Saturday and his concluding open-air Mass on Sunday.
Though public reaction suggests that Francis made a strong debut, the weeklong trip will have its challenges.
Latin America has long been a Catholic stronghold, but in recent years, evangelical and Pentecostal Protestants have made deep inroads.
A recent study found that a quarter-century ago, Brazil was 90% Catholic, but today it is 65%. There’s also a rising cohort of secular Latin Americans with no religious affiliation, especially among youths and city-dwellers.
Moreover, of the 21 nations usually reckoned as part of Latin America, 14 of them are led by center-left governments that have sometimes crossed swords with the region’s Catholic leaders over issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage – including in the pope’s home nation of Argentina.
Brazil has also recently been gripped by an anti-establishment mood, fueled by anger over spending on mega-events such as the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, while many ordinary people believe that services such as education, health care and transportation languish.
There’s little indication that protesters want to embarrass the pope. Instead, they seem to be hoping to take advantage of his moral authority to bring attention to their cause. This week, one group that helped kindle the massive June demonstrations has plans for a rally under the banner “Pope, look how we’re treated!”
The greater danger for Francis may be that all sides in the country’s tensions may want to spin his message their way, especially with one eye on presidential elections in Brazil scheduled for next year.
If journalists aboard the papal plane today were hoping to draw Francis into a discussion of those challenges, they came away disappointed.
Francis walked back to the press compartment shortly after takeoff and spoke for only five minutes, focusing on the risks of a “throwaway society” that neglects both its youth and its elderly.
“I don’t give interviews,” the pope said by way of explanation.
“Why, I don’t know, but I can’t … It’s a little difficult for me, but I’m grateful for your company,” he said.
Yet part of Francis’ charm is that this skittishness didn’t come off as a snub, because the pope proceeded to spend the better part of the next hour standing in the front of the economy cabin of the papal plane to personally greet each of the roughly 70 journalists on board.
Monday afternoon, Francis was scheduled to meet Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at the Presidential Palace, and then the 76-year-old pontiff will rest on Tuesday before heading north to the famed Brazilian Marian shrine of Aparecida on Wednesday.
CNN's Barbara Arvanitidis contributed to this report.
John L. Allen Jr. is CNN’s senior Vatican analyst and a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.
my mom in hospital
as everyone knows my mom back in hospital http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2013/07/sandi-today-more-hospital-time.html?m=1
Friday, July 19, 2013
my dad blogger
Sandi Today--More Hospital
Time
Just got home a little while ago and it is pretty
clear that while the doctors involved keep
saying "a couple of days" she is not coming
home anytime soon. The cancer doctor came in
earlier today and spent some time with her.
Sandi was getting blood out of her nose from
time to time and the cancer doctor believes
that is due to irritation of her sinuses. Despite
running the oxygen through the water thing
they do to moisten the air, some patients get
dried out and start bleeding a little bit from
time to time. It is rare and she has managed to
do it.
He believes the antibiotics they put her on for
the lung fluid are NOT working. He has
changed her to another IV antibiotic and is
adding an IV steroid to it to help her. he is also
ordering some new tests. They did several
chest x-rays this morning and spent over an
hour doing an echocardigram in her room this
afternoon.
From time to time when they take her vitals
they have her go off the oxygen to see how far
she will drop. Just sitting there doing nothing
and saying nothing, she runs about 92 when on
oxygen. For somebody who was well with no
lung issues, they should run about 99 or 98. So
she is already too low before they take her off
the oxygen.
Once they take her off, in seconds the numbers
start dropping and soon are flashing red as
they slide below 85. It less than two minutes
she is down to 78. As time continues to pass
she fluctuates between 78 and 70. At one
point, when she was at 72, they told her to
pant hard and the highest she could get back
to was 78. Clearly she can't come home with
that going on.
I expect at this point she is in for the weekend
at the very least and would not be surprised if
this goes on into next week quite a bit. More
as I know it.....
UPDATE----
They have done two EKGs tonight. Apparently
they were not too sure about the results of the
first one so they came back with a different
machine and did it again. Theoretically, she
passed as nobody freaked out and did
anything about the tests.
Walmart is Shiite
nice I make $30.00 payment they say $20 then fee really Walmart this BS company taking money from customers every 6 months I got a problems with them
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
fruits & vegatables
Fruit and vegetable parasite
sickens eight in Dallas County
Posted: Jul 16, 2013 12:14 PM
Updated: Jul 16, 2013 4:59 PM
By: Mark Norris - email
Dallas County health officials confirmed
Tuesday eight people have been sickened by
the cyclospora parasite tied to contaminated
fruits, vegetables.
Officials do not know the source of the
infections at this time.
More than 100 people have been sickened by
cyclospora in Iowa and Nebraska since the
start of July.
Symptoms of cyclosopriasis include diarrhea,
loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping,
bloating, gas, nausea and fatigue. The intestinal
problems can last up to two months.
The parasite is passed through fecal matter and
gets onto the skin of imported fruits and
vegetables.
Officials recommend people wash fruits and
vegetables thoroughly and cook the items
properly, when appropriate.
Most notably, there have been just 12 cases in
the last 12 years in Dallas County until this
recent outbreak.
McDonald needs a wake up
Hey,
I just signed the petition "McDonald's: Stop paying employees with debit cards loaded with fees" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.
Our goal is to reach 300,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:
Monday, July 15, 2013
NCAA football 2014
NCAA football 2014 looks good but major problem is Madden Playbook after playing demo it not wroth money due to some playbooks are not right plus u have to start all over on NCAA to be championship aging all new way not good more like 2 ** out of 5
android help disabled
Android help disabled ppl 100% good https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback
Sunday, July 14, 2013
![Trayvon Martin supporters, many dressed in hoodies, are continuing to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman through mostly peaceful rallies from coast to coast.
Read more from @[10150138890205613:128:NBC News] - http://nbcnews.to/13iyV90
Photo: People rally to honor Trayvon Martin at Union Square in New York. (Getty Images)](https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p280x280/1070050_10151470967377303_1911614198_n.jpg)
![GOOD STORY - Dog survives 4 alarm fire in Flower Mound: Probably the biggest incident we missed over the weekend (Friday) was a 4 alarm large home fire in Flower Mound on High Point Dr. As @[185089074835889:274:Alertpage] posted, Flower Mound FD units arrived to find heavy fire from the attic of the home. The family was uninjured, but crews were alerted of the family's missing dog, Amber, believed to be inside the home. 3 & 1/2 hours later, Amber was found ALIVE inside the burning home! Amber is now safe and hanging out with her family. We are sorry to the family for the loss of their beautiful home, but what a great story midst such a tragic event. (Thanks Sheri Baldwin with @[128843620554777:274:Shots by Sheri] for the picture). Here is a Lewisville FD chief after crews rescued her.](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s843x403/994498_600970183257181_326809392_n.jpg)
Ouya: A charming but flawed $100 video game console
Today, video game systems are dominated by Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. They make big, expensive, state-of-the-art gaming consoles that attract the world's top developers and the most intricate games.
But the fastest-growing video game segment has no use for all those bells and whistles. Smartphone and tablet games are cruder and simpler but are often as fun and innovative, and immensely popular with the average consumer who would never dream of shelling out $500 for a video game console.The $99 Ouya video game console is a fascinating concept that at times delights with inexpensive, high-quality games. Though it is both crude and temperamental, the little box still manages to win you over with its charm.
Ouya is packed with the same guts as a smartphone or media streamer. It's small and silent.
Related story: Ouya hits store shelves
But then you turn on the console, and chaos ensues. There is no easy way to search for games or even organize the ones you have. There is no central online framework for multiplayer gaming. And for every amazing game, such as the Ouya-exclusive "Towerfall," there's a truly awful version of some Android game.
To cut through the noise, Ouya attempts to spotlight the worthwhile games. Its staff curates a top picks list, and the console displays a list of most-played titles. It's a concept that mostly works.
At its best, Ouya is home to wonderfully fun multiplayer games with stripped-down-but-stylish graphics, and short-but-sweet single player adventures. There are already a half dozen games that are worth paying for, and for a device that video game developers have only had access to for a few months, that's not bad.
The big plan for Ouya is to work with top independent game developers to produce exclusive titles for the console. And big name publishers like SquareEnix and Sega have begun porting over some of their biggest franchises in the form of Sonic and Final Fantasy. It's not enough to for Ouya to fall back on just yet, but it's a solid start.
Most games will fall between $5 and $20 and every game features a free playable demo of some sort.
But even the handful of titles worth paying for aren't always a joy to play. Some of the more ambitious games, especially the 3-D titles running at the highest of high-definition resolutions, tend to fall victim to lag.
Related story: The $99 box that wants to crush the Xbox
The controller, which Ouya has engineered from scratch, is functional and gets the job done. But that's about the best that can be said about it. Although many Ouya games simply don't require the same level of ergonomics, tactile feedback, and responsiveness that a big-budget console game would require, the controller still feels a bit cheap.
The four trigger buttons on top of the controller are too close together, and there is a sporadic lag between button presses and the action on screen. The performance of the touch pad in the middle of the controller is so inconsistent that most users probably are better off just ignoring it.
Luckily, Ouya allows users to connect any USB or Bluetooth game controller, including Xbox or PlayStation controllers -- if a particular game provides the support for third-party controllers. It's part of Ouya's open-source strategy: If the console is theoretically capable of doing something, developers will be allowed to do it. If a developer can write the code for it, Ouya will support any piece of gaming technology under the sun. Ouya has no real rules or limitations.
What will make or break the Ouya, however is the software. It wants to be a destination for game developers to experiment, and a galvanizing product for the emerging indie game space. Whether or not consumers really want that remains up in the air.
The company says it's committed to constantly improving and evolving the Ouya platform to better serve gamers and developers, and this has already been evident in the early updates it has released so far. It's not unreasonable to expect many of the Ouya's issues to be solved via future updates.
For those who are intrigued by the Ouya, it's cheap and promising enough that it's worth buying and tinkering around with. For everyone else, it's probably better to wait.
But keep an eye on the Ouya, because it's hardly a failure.
Teen jailed for Facebook 'joke' is released
CNN) -- The Texas teen facing a felony terrorism
charge over an alleged threat on Facebook has been released on bail
after an anonymous donor posted a $500,000 bond.
Teen: Comments 'taken out of context'
Mom: 'Facebook threat' was sarcastic
Justin Carter, 19, had spent five months in prison
for posting, during an argument about a video game, what he said was a
sarcastic comment about how he was going to "shoot up a kindergarten."
"I just think it got
taken out of context, and it's been blown out of proportion," Carter
told Kate Bolduan on "New Day," CNN's morning show. The brief interview
marked Carter's first public comments since he was jailed in February.
Carter's case has
received widespread media attention and alarmed free-speech activists.
His arrest came amid heightened concerns over school violence since
December's mass shootings at an elementary school in Newtown,
Connecticut.
In February, Carter and a
friend were arguing on Facebook with someone else over the online video
game "League of Legends." His father told CNN that other gamer called
Justin crazy and his son responded with sarcasm.
Teen: Comments 'taken out of context'
Mom: 'Facebook threat' was sarcastic
According to court
documents, Justin wrote, "I'm f***ed in the head alright. I think I'ma
(sic) shoot up a kindergarten and watch the blood of the innocent rain
down and eat the beating heart of one of them."
Jack Carter said his son followed the claim with "LOL" and "J/K" -- indicating that the comment wasn't serious.
"Any clear reading and
full reading of the context of that statement would make it obvious that
this was just a sarcastic joke," Chad Van Brunt, one of Carter's
attorneys, told CNN on Friday. "If we get to trial ... it's just going
to be abundantly clear, if it's not already."
Authorities said someone
reported the comment -- which came about two months after the mass
killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School -- leading to Carter's arrest
February 21 on a felony charge of making terroristic threats. In Texas,
that carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The teen had remained in
jail because Jack Carter and his wife, Jennifer, said they couldn't
afford to post the bond required to free their son. The family's
attorney, Don Flanary, told CNN that Justin Carter had suffered abuse
while behind bars, and his parents had expressed concerns about his
safety.
Carter was released
Thursday to his home near New Braunfels, Texas, after an unnamed donor
came forward and posted the bond, Flanary said. He said the donor wishes
to remain anonymous.
"For now I'm
over-the-moon happy. I just want to spend all my time talking to him and
looking at him," mother Jennifer Carter told CNN on Friday. "There's
been a lot of hugs going around and crying. We don't have to worry
anymore about him being hurt (in jail) ... and for any parent that's
just such a relief."
An online petition seeking Justin Carter's release from jail had received more than 126,000 signatures.
A pretrial hearing for
Carter is scheduled August 12. Flanary told CNN he will be filing a
motion to dismiss the charges because they violate Carter's First
Amendment rights.
The Comal County district attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, has not responded to CNN's requests for comment.
The case is viewed by some as a cautionary tale about the repercussions of controversial statements posted online.
Asked by CNN's Bolduan
what he might have done differently, Carter said, "I certainly would
have thought a lot more about what I said and how permanent my writing
-- and everyone's writing -- is (on the Internet). People should be
very, very careful of what they say. It's being recorded all the time,
if you say it on any website, anywhere.
"And you can get in trouble for something that's not something you should get in trouble for. I just want people to be warned."
TV show set shakes as house blast sparks fire through neighborhood
(CNN) -- Residents of a Corpus Christi, Texas, neighborhood had the kind of wake-up call no homeowner wants to get.
An early morning
explosion Friday shook the area, sparking a fire that rushed through the
neighborhood. In the end, three homes were flattened and about 70
others were damaged, the Red Cross told CNN affiliate KIII.
Two people injured were
in critical condition Saturday night. They were first taken to a local
hospital and then flown to the burn unit at San Antonio's Brooke Army
Medical Center, according to the Corpus Christi Fire Department.
KIII news anchors, in the
studio nearly two miles away from the blast site, were in the middle of
their live morning newscast Friday when they -- and their viewers --
heard a loud boom. The room appeared to shake slightly.
Eryk Phillips lives in the home behind the blast site.
"I woke up and my ears
were ringing," Phillips told KIII. When his hearing started to come
back, he said, "I could hear sirens, car alarms going off and all
that... and I'm thinking, 'Wow, am I going to die?'"
Phillips' home is littered with glass and insulation. Part of the ceiling is peeled away.
He is among 34 people evacuated.
The fire department
believes the cause was probably a natural gas leak inside a home. But
state and local investigators are on the scene digging through rubble to
determine.
'Glee' star Cory Monteith found dead in hotel in Canada
CNN) -- Cory Monteith, who played heart throb Finn
Hudson in the Fox hit "Glee," was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room
on Saturday, police said. He was 31.
A look back at those we have lost in 2013.
Photos: People we lost in 2013
Director: Monteith's death 'devastating'
Police: No foul play in Monteith death
'Glee' star found dead in hotel room
Police said the cause of death was not immediately apparent, but they ruled out foul play.
Medical examiners will conduct an autopsy on Monday.
Monteith's body was
discovered by staff members at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel after he
missed his checkout time, acting Chief Constable Doug LePard told
reporters.
Monteith apparently had
several people over to his room at one point Friday night, but LePard
said Monteith, who had checked in July 6, was seen on hotel surveillance
video returning to his room in the early morning hours by himself.
A look back at those we have lost in 2013.
Cory
Monteith, who played heart throb Finn Hudson in the Fox hit "Glee," was
found dead in a Vancouver, Canada, hotel room Saturday, July 13, police
said. He was 31.
Cory
Monteith, who played heart throb Finn Hudson in the Fox hit "Glee," was
found dead in a Vancouver, Canada, hotel room Saturday, July 13, police
said. He was 31.
Douglas
Englebart, the inventor of the computer mouse, died Tuesday, July 2, at
his home in Atherton, California, according to SRI International, the
research institute where he once worked. He was 88.
Douglas
Englebart, the inventor of the computer mouse, died Tuesday, July 2, at
his home in Atherton, California, according to SRI International, the
research institute where he once worked. He was 88.
Jim
Kelly, a martial artist best known for his appearance in the 1973 Bruce
Lee movie "Enter the Dragon," died on June 29 of cancer. He was 67.
After a brief acting career, he became a ranked professional tennis
player on the USTA senior men's circuit. Here he appears in the 1974
film "Three the Hard Way."
Jim
Kelly, a martial artist best known for his appearance in the 1973 Bruce
Lee movie "Enter the Dragon," died on June 29 of cancer. He was 67.
After a brief acting career, he became a ranked professional tennis
player on the USTA senior men's circuit. Here he appears in the 1974
film "Three the Hard Way."
Bert
Stern, a revolutionary advertising photographer in the 1960s who also
made his mark with images of celebrities, died on June 25 at age 83.
Possibly most memorably, he captured Marilyn Monroe six weeks before she
died for a series later known as "The Last Sitting."
Bert
Stern, a revolutionary advertising photographer in the 1960s who also
made his mark with images of celebrities, died on June 25 at age 83.
Possibly most memorably, he captured Marilyn Monroe six weeks before she
died for a series later known as "The Last Sitting."
Alan
Myers, Devo's most well-known drummer, lost his battle with cancer on
June 24. Band member Mark Mothersbaugh said in a statement that Myers'
style on the drums helped define the band's early sound.
Alan
Myers, Devo's most well-known drummer, lost his battle with cancer on
June 24. Band member Mark Mothersbaugh said in a statement that Myers'
style on the drums helped define the band's early sound.
Singer
Bobby "Blue" Bland, who helped create the modern soul-blues sound, died
June 23 at age 83. Bland was part of a blues group that included B.B.
King. His song "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" was sampled on a
Jay-Z album. Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1992.
Singer
Bobby "Blue" Bland, who helped create the modern soul-blues sound, died
June 23 at age 83. Bland was part of a blues group that included B.B.
King. His song "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" was sampled on a
Jay-Z album. Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1992.
Marc
Rich, the commodities trader and Glencore founder whom President Bill
Clinton pardoned on his final day in office, died June 26 at age 78 in
Switzerland. Rich often was credited with the creation of modern oil
trading. He lived abroad after being indicted in 1983 for tax evasion,
false statements, racketeering and illegal trading with Iran, becoming
one of the world's most famous white-collar criminals.
Marc
Rich, the commodities trader and Glencore founder whom President Bill
Clinton pardoned on his final day in office, died June 26 at age 78 in
Switzerland. Rich often was credited with the creation of modern oil
trading. He lived abroad after being indicted in 1983 for tax evasion,
false statements, racketeering and illegal trading with Iran, becoming
one of the world's most famous white-collar criminals.
Richard
Matheson, an American science-fiction writer best known for his novel
"I Am Legend," died June 23 at age 87. During a career that spanned more
than 60 years, Matheson wrote more than 25 novels and nearly 100 short
stories, plus screenplays for TV and film.
Richard
Matheson, an American science-fiction writer best known for his novel
"I Am Legend," died June 23 at age 87. During a career that spanned more
than 60 years, Matheson wrote more than 25 novels and nearly 100 short
stories, plus screenplays for TV and film.
James
Gandolfini died at the age of 51, after an apparent heart attack.
Gandolfini became a fan favorite for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano
on HBO's "The Sopranos."
James
Gandolfini died at the age of 51, after an apparent heart attack.
Gandolfini became a fan favorite for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano
on HBO's "The Sopranos."
Country
music singer/songwriter Slim Whitman died on June 19, his son-in-law
Roy Beagle told CNN. He was 90. Above, Whitman poses with his guitar at a
press conference at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, on February
22, 1956.
Country
music singer/songwriter Slim Whitman died on June 19, his son-in-law
Roy Beagle told CNN. He was 90. Above, Whitman poses with his guitar at a
press conference at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, on February
22, 1956.
Esther
Williams, whose success as a competitive swimmer propelled her to
Hollywood stardom during the 1940s and 1950s, died on Thursday, June 6
in California, according to her spokesman.
Esther
Williams, whose success as a competitive swimmer propelled her to
Hollywood stardom during the 1940s and 1950s, died on Thursday, June 6
in California, according to her spokesman.
David
"Deacon" Jones, who is credited with coining the term "sacking the
quarterback" during his stint as one of the greatest defensive ends in
the NFL, has died.
David
"Deacon" Jones, who is credited with coining the term "sacking the
quarterback" during his stint as one of the greatest defensive ends in
the NFL, has died.
Democratic
Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey died June 3 of viral pneumonia, his
office said. Lautenberg, 89, had been the Senate's last surviving
veteran of World War II.
Democratic
Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey died June 3 of viral pneumonia, his
office said. Lautenberg, 89, had been the Senate's last surviving
veteran of World War II.
Actress
Jean Stapleton, best known for her role as Archie Bunker's wife, Edith,
in the groundbreaking 1970s TV sitcom "All in the Family," died at age
90 on Saturday, June 1.
Actress
Jean Stapleton, best known for her role as Archie Bunker's wife, Edith,
in the groundbreaking 1970s TV sitcom "All in the Family," died at age
90 on Saturday, June 1.
Ed
Shaughnessy, the longtime drummer for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny
Carson," has died, a close friend said Sunday. He was 84.
Ed
Shaughnessy, the longtime drummer for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny
Carson," has died, a close friend said Sunday. He was 84.
Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, passed away of cancer on Monday, May 20. He was 74.
Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, passed away of cancer on Monday, May 20. He was 74.
NASCAR legend Dick Trickle died on May 16 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71.
NASCAR legend Dick Trickle died on May 16 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71.
Popular
American psychologist and television personality Dr. Joyce Brothers
died at 85, her daughter said on May 13. Brothers gained fame as a
frequent guest on television talk shows and as an advice columnist for
Good Housekeeping magazine and newspapers throughout the United States.
Popular
American psychologist and television personality Dr. Joyce Brothers
died at 85, her daughter said on May 13. Brothers gained fame as a
frequent guest on television talk shows and as an advice columnist for
Good Housekeeping magazine and newspapers throughout the United States.
Jeanne
Cooper, who played Katherine Chancellor, the "Dame of Genoa City," on
"The Young and the Restless," died on May 8. She was 84.
Jeanne
Cooper, who played Katherine Chancellor, the "Dame of Genoa City," on
"The Young and the Restless," died on May 8. She was 84.
Ray
Harryhausen, the stop-motion animation and special-effects master whose
work influenced such directors as Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and
George Lucas, died on May 7 at age 92, according to the Facebook page of
the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
Ray
Harryhausen, the stop-motion animation and special-effects master whose
work influenced such directors as Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and
George Lucas, died on May 7 at age 92, according to the Facebook page of
the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
Grammy-winning
guitarist Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of the heavy metal band
Slayer, died on May 2 of liver failure. He was 49.
Grammy-winning
guitarist Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of the heavy metal band
Slayer, died on May 2 of liver failure. He was 49.
Chris
Kelly, one-half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, died on May 1 at an
Atlanta hospital after being found unresponsive at his home, the Fulton
County medical examiner's office told CNN.
Kelly, right, and Chris Smith shot to stardom in 1992 with the hit
"Jump."
Chris
Kelly, one-half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, died on May 1 at an
Atlanta hospital after being found unresponsive at his home, the Fulton
County medical examiner's office told CNN.
Kelly, right, and Chris Smith shot to stardom in 1992 with the hit
"Jump."
George
Jones, the country music legend whose graceful, evocative voice gave
depth to some of the greatest songs in country music -- including "She
Thinks I Still Care," "The Grand Tour" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
-- died on April 26 at age 81, according to his public relations firm.
George
Jones, the country music legend whose graceful, evocative voice gave
depth to some of the greatest songs in country music -- including "She
Thinks I Still Care," "The Grand Tour" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
-- died on April 26 at age 81, according to his public relations firm.
Actor
Allan Arbus poses for a portrait with his daughter photographer Amy
Arbus in 2007. Allan Arbus, who played psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman
in the M*A*S*H television series, died at age 95, his daughter's
representative said April 23.
Actor
Allan Arbus poses for a portrait with his daughter photographer Amy
Arbus in 2007. Allan Arbus, who played psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman
in the M*A*S*H television series, died at age 95, his daughter's
representative said April 23.
Folk
singer Richie Havens, the opening act at the 1969 Woodstock music
festival, died on April 22 of a heart attack, his publicist said. He was
72.
Folk
singer Richie Havens, the opening act at the 1969 Woodstock music
festival, died on April 22 of a heart attack, his publicist said. He was
72.
Australian
rocker Chrissy Amphlett, the Divinyls lead singer whose group scored an
international hit with the sexually charged "I Touch Myself" in the
early 1990s, died on April 21 from breast cancer and multiple sclerosis,
her husband said. She was 53.
Australian
rocker Chrissy Amphlett, the Divinyls lead singer whose group scored an
international hit with the sexually charged "I Touch Myself" in the
early 1990s, died on April 21 from breast cancer and multiple sclerosis,
her husband said. She was 53.
Pat
Summerall, the NFL football player turned legendary play-by-play
announcer, was best known as a broadcaster who teamed up with former NFL
coach John Madden. Summerall died April 16 at the age of 82.
Pat
Summerall, the NFL football player turned legendary play-by-play
announcer, was best known as a broadcaster who teamed up with former NFL
coach John Madden. Summerall died April 16 at the age of 82.
Comedian
Jonathan Winters died on April 11 at age 87. Known for his comic
irreverence, he had a major influence on a generation of comedians. Here
he appears on "The Jonathan Winters Show" in 1956.
Comedian
Jonathan Winters died on April 11 at age 87. Known for his comic
irreverence, he had a major influence on a generation of comedians. Here
he appears on "The Jonathan Winters Show" in 1956.
Sir
Robert Edwards, a "co-pioneer" of the in vitro fertilization technique
and Nobel Prize winner, died April 10 in his sleep after a long illness,
the University of Cambridge said. He was 87. He is pictured on July 25,
1978, holding the world's first "test-tube baby," Louise Joy Brown,
alongside the midwife and Dr. Patrick Steptoe, who helped develop the
fertility treatment.
Sir
Robert Edwards, a "co-pioneer" of the in vitro fertilization technique
and Nobel Prize winner, died April 10 in his sleep after a long illness,
the University of Cambridge said. He was 87. He is pictured on July 25,
1978, holding the world's first "test-tube baby," Louise Joy Brown,
alongside the midwife and Dr. Patrick Steptoe, who helped develop the
fertility treatment.
Annette
Funicello, one of the best-known members of the original 1950s "Mickey
Mouse Club" and a star of 1960s "beach party" movies, died at age 70 on
April 8. Pictured, Funicello performs with Jimmie Dodd on "The Mickey
Mouse Club" in1957.
Annette
Funicello, one of the best-known members of the original 1950s "Mickey
Mouse Club" and a star of 1960s "beach party" movies, died at age 70 on
April 8. Pictured, Funicello performs with Jimmie Dodd on "The Mickey
Mouse Club" in1957.
Former
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a towering figure in postwar
British and world politics and the only woman to become British prime
minister, died at the age of 87 on Monday, April 8.
Former
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a towering figure in postwar
British and world politics and the only woman to become British prime
minister, died at the age of 87 on Monday, April 8.
Designer
Lilly Pulitzer, right, died on April 7 at age 81, according to her
company's Facebook page. The Palm Beach socialite was known for making
sleeveless dresses from bright floral prints that became known as the
"Lilly" design.
Designer
Lilly Pulitzer, right, died on April 7 at age 81, according to her
company's Facebook page. The Palm Beach socialite was known for making
sleeveless dresses from bright floral prints that became known as the
"Lilly" design.
Film
critic Roger Ebert died on April 4, according to his employer, the
Chicago Sun-Times. He was 70. Ebert had taken a leave of absence on
April 2 after a hip fracture was revealed to be cancer.
Film
critic Roger Ebert died on April 4, according to his employer, the
Chicago Sun-Times. He was 70. Ebert had taken a leave of absence on
April 2 after a hip fracture was revealed to be cancer.
Jane
Nebel Henson, wife of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and
instrumental in the development of the world-famous puppets, died April 2
after a long battle with cancer. She was 78.
Jane
Nebel Henson, wife of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and
instrumental in the development of the world-famous puppets, died April 2
after a long battle with cancer. She was 78.
Shain
Gandee, one of the stars of the MTV reality show "Buckwild," was found
dead with two other people in Kanawha County, West Virginia, on April 1.
He was 21.
Shain
Gandee, one of the stars of the MTV reality show "Buckwild," was found
dead with two other people in Kanawha County, West Virginia, on April 1.
He was 21.
Music
producer and innovator Phil Ramone, right, with Paul Shaffer, left, and
Billy Joel at the Song Writers Hall of Fame Awards in New York in 2001.
Ramone died March 30 at the age of 72.
Music
producer and innovator Phil Ramone, right, with Paul Shaffer, left, and
Billy Joel at the Song Writers Hall of Fame Awards in New York in 2001.
Ramone died March 30 at the age of 72.
Writer/producer
Don Payne, one of the creative minds behind "The Simpsons," died March
26 at his home in Los Angeles after losing a battle with bone cancer,
reports say. He was 48.
Writer/producer
Don Payne, one of the creative minds behind "The Simpsons," died March
26 at his home in Los Angeles after losing a battle with bone cancer,
reports say. He was 48.
Gordon Stoker, left, who as part of the vocal group the Jordanaires sang backup on hits by Elvis Presley, died March 27 at 88.
Gordon Stoker, left, who as part of the vocal group the Jordanaires sang backup on hits by Elvis Presley, died March 27 at 88.
Deke
Richards, center, died March 24 at age 68. Richards was a producer and
songwriter who was part of the team responsible for Motown hits such as
"I Want You Back" and "Maybe Tomorrow." He had been battling esophageal
cancer.
Deke
Richards, center, died March 24 at age 68. Richards was a producer and
songwriter who was part of the team responsible for Motown hits such as
"I Want You Back" and "Maybe Tomorrow." He had been battling esophageal
cancer.
Legendary
publisher, promoter and weightlifter Joe Weider, who created the Mr.
Olympia contest and brought California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the
United States, died at age 93 on March 23.
Legendary
publisher, promoter and weightlifter Joe Weider, who created the Mr.
Olympia contest and brought California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the
United States, died at age 93 on March 23.
Playboy magazine's 1962 "Playmate of the Year," Christa Speck Krofft, died March 22 of natural causes at the age of 70.
Playboy magazine's 1962 "Playmate of the Year," Christa Speck Krofft, died March 22 of natural causes at the age of 70.
Rena Golden, who held top positions at CNN, died at age 51 after battling lymphoma for two years on March 21.
Rena Golden, who held top positions at CNN, died at age 51 after battling lymphoma for two years on March 21.
Harry
Reems, the porn star best known for playing Dr. Young in the 1972 adult
film classic "Deep Throat," died March 19, according to a spokeswoman
at a Salt Lake City hospital. Reems, whose real name is Herbert
Streicher, was 65.
Harry
Reems, the porn star best known for playing Dr. Young in the 1972 adult
film classic "Deep Throat," died March 19, according to a spokeswoman
at a Salt Lake City hospital. Reems, whose real name is Herbert
Streicher, was 65.
Bobbie
Smith, who as a member of the Spinners sang lead on such hits as "I'll
Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," died on March 16 at
age 76. Pictured clockwise from left, Spinners band member Pervis
Jackson, Billy Henderson, Jonathan Edwards, Bobbie Smith and Henry
Fambrough, 1977.
Bobbie
Smith, who as a member of the Spinners sang lead on such hits as "I'll
Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," died on March 16 at
age 76. Pictured clockwise from left, Spinners band member Pervis
Jackson, Billy Henderson, Jonathan Edwards, Bobbie Smith and Henry
Fambrough, 1977.
Sweden's
Princess Lilian, the Welsh-born model who lived with her lover Prince
Bertil for 30 years before they were married, has died at the age of 97,
the Swedish Royal Court said in a statement.
Sweden's
Princess Lilian, the Welsh-born model who lived with her lover Prince
Bertil for 30 years before they were married, has died at the age of 97,
the Swedish Royal Court said in a statement.
Alvin
Lee, the speed-fingered British guitarist who lit up Woodstock with a
monumental 11-minute version of his song "I'm Going Home," died on March
6, according to his website. He was 68.
Alvin
Lee, the speed-fingered British guitarist who lit up Woodstock with a
monumental 11-minute version of his song "I'm Going Home," died on March
6, according to his website. He was 68.
Hugo
Chavez, the polarizing president of Venezuela who cast himself as a
"21st century socialist" and foe of the United States, died March 5,
said Vice President Nicolas Maduro.
Hugo
Chavez, the polarizing president of Venezuela who cast himself as a
"21st century socialist" and foe of the United States, died March 5,
said Vice President Nicolas Maduro.
Bobby
Rogers, one of the original members of Motown staple The Miracles, died
on Sunday, March 3, at 73. From left: Bobby Rogers, Ronald White,
Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore circa 1965.
Bobby
Rogers, one of the original members of Motown staple The Miracles, died
on Sunday, March 3, at 73. From left: Bobby Rogers, Ronald White,
Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore circa 1965.
Actress
Bonnie Franklin, star of the TV show "One Day at a Time," died at the
age of 69 on March 1 of complications from pancreatic cancer.
Actress
Bonnie Franklin, star of the TV show "One Day at a Time," died at the
age of 69 on March 1 of complications from pancreatic cancer.
Actor Dale Robertson, who was popular for his western TV shows and movies, died at age 89 on Thursday, February 28.
Actor Dale Robertson, who was popular for his western TV shows and movies, died at age 89 on Thursday, February 28.
Richard
Street, former member of the Temptations, died at age 70 on February
27. Street, second from the left, poses for a portrait with fellow
members of the Temptations circa 1973.
Richard
Street, former member of the Temptations, died at age 70 on February
27. Street, second from the left, poses for a portrait with fellow
members of the Temptations circa 1973.
Van
Cliburn, the legendary pianist honored with a New York ticker-tape
parade for winning a major Moscow competition in 1958, died on February
27 after a battle with bone cancer, his publicist said. He was 78.
Van
Cliburn, the legendary pianist honored with a New York ticker-tape
parade for winning a major Moscow competition in 1958, died on February
27 after a battle with bone cancer, his publicist said. He was 78.
Former
U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop died on February 25. He was 96.
Koop served as surgeon general from 1982 to 1989, under Presidents
Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Former
U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop died on February 25. He was 96.
Koop served as surgeon general from 1982 to 1989, under Presidents
Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Damon
Harris, former member of the Motown group the Temptations, died at age
62 on February 18. Harris, center on the stool, poses for a portrait
with fellow members of The Temptations circa 1974.
Damon
Harris, former member of the Motown group the Temptations, died at age
62 on February 18. Harris, center on the stool, poses for a portrait
with fellow members of The Temptations circa 1974.
Lou
Myers, a stage, film and TV actor who memorably portrayed Mr. Gaines on
the comedy "A Different World," died on February 19 at the age of 75.
Lou
Myers, a stage, film and TV actor who memorably portrayed Mr. Gaines on
the comedy "A Different World," died on February 19 at the age of 75.
Los
Angeles Laker owner Jerry Buss died February 18 at age 80. Buss, who had
owned the Lakers since 1979, was credited with procuring the likes of
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers won 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles
under Buss' ownership.
Los
Angeles Laker owner Jerry Buss died February 18 at age 80. Buss, who had
owned the Lakers since 1979, was credited with procuring the likes of
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers won 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles
under Buss' ownership.
Country
singer Mindy McCready was found dead on February 17 of a self-inflicted
gunshot wound, authorities said. She was 37. During her career,
McCready landed 14 songs and six albums on the Billboard country charts.
Country
singer Mindy McCready was found dead on February 17 of a self-inflicted
gunshot wound, authorities said. She was 37. During her career,
McCready landed 14 songs and six albums on the Billboard country charts.
Ed Koch, the brash former New York mayor, died February 1 of congestive heart failure at 88, his spokesman said.
Ed Koch, the brash former New York mayor, died February 1 of congestive heart failure at 88, his spokesman said.
Patty
Andrews, center, the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters, died
at her Northridge, California, home on January 30, her publicist Alan
Eichler said. She was 94. Patty is seen in this 1948 photograph with her
sisters Maxene, left, and Laverne.
Patty
Andrews, center, the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters, died
at her Northridge, California, home on January 30, her publicist Alan
Eichler said. She was 94. Patty is seen in this 1948 photograph with her
sisters Maxene, left, and Laverne.
Baseball Hall of Famer and St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial died on January 19, according to his former team. He was 92.
Baseball Hall of Famer and St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial died on January 19, according to his former team. He was 92.
Baseball
Hall of Fame manager Earl Sidney Weaver, who led the Baltimore Orioles
to four pennants and a World Series title with a pugnacity toward
umpires, died January 19 of an apparent heart attack at age 82, Major
League Baseball said.
Baseball
Hall of Fame manager Earl Sidney Weaver, who led the Baltimore Orioles
to four pennants and a World Series title with a pugnacity toward
umpires, died January 19 of an apparent heart attack at age 82, Major
League Baseball said.
Pauline
Phillips, better known to millions of newspaper readers as the original
Dear Abby advice columnist, has died after a long battle with
Alzheimer's Disease. She died January 16 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at
age 94.
Pauline
Phillips, better known to millions of newspaper readers as the original
Dear Abby advice columnist, has died after a long battle with
Alzheimer's Disease. She died January 16 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at
age 94.
Aaron
Swartz, the Internet activist who co-wrote the initial specification
for RSS, committed suicide, a relative told CNN on January 12. He was
26. Swartz also co-founded Demand Progress, a political action group
that campaigns against Internet censorship.
Aaron
Swartz, the Internet activist who co-wrote the initial specification
for RSS, committed suicide, a relative told CNN on January 12. He was
26. Swartz also co-founded Demand Progress, a political action group
that campaigns against Internet censorship.
Claude Nobs, the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, died aged 76 following a skiing accident.
Claude Nobs, the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, died aged 76 following a skiing accident.
Richard
Ben Cramer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer whose 1992 book "What It
Takes" remains one of the most detailed and passionate of all
presidential campaign chronicles, died January 7, according to his
longtime agent. He was 62.
Richard
Ben Cramer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer whose 1992 book "What It
Takes" remains one of the most detailed and passionate of all
presidential campaign chronicles, died January 7, according to his
longtime agent. He was 62.
Director and stuntman David R. Ellis died on January 7. He directed "Snakes on a Plane."
Director and stuntman David R. Ellis died on January 7. He directed "Snakes on a Plane."
Tony
Lip, who played mob figures in the hit cable show "The Sopranos" and
several critically acclaimed movies, died January 4, a funeral home
official said. Lip, whose real name was Frank Vallelonga, was 82.
Tony
Lip, who played mob figures in the hit cable show "The Sopranos" and
several critically acclaimed movies, died January 4, a funeral home
official said. Lip, whose real name was Frank Vallelonga, was 82.
Character actor Ned Wertimer, known to fans of "The Jeffersons" as the doorman Ralph Hart, died on January 2. He was 89.
Character actor Ned Wertimer, known to fans of "The Jeffersons" as the doorman Ralph Hart, died on January 2. He was 89.
Pop-country
singer Patti Page died on January 1 in Encinitas, California. She was
85. Born Clara Ann Fowler, Page was the best-selling female artist of
the 1950s and had 19 gold and 14 platinum singles.
Pop-country
singer Patti Page died on January 1 in Encinitas, California. She was
85. Born Clara Ann Fowler, Page was the best-selling female artist of
the 1950s and had 19 gold and 14 platinum singles.
People we lost in 2013
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Photos: People we lost in 2013
Director: Monteith's death 'devastating'
Police: No foul play in Monteith death
'Glee' star found dead in hotel room
The glue of 'Glee'
Adam Shankman, who
directed an episode for each of the past three seasons, told CNN's Poppy
Harlow that he had talked to Monteith on Saturday morning. The actor
said he wanted to come down to California to Jet Ski.
Shankman said Monteith
was the glue of "Glee." He was always welcoming, whether it was to a
guest director or a new cast member, Shankman said.
The actor knew all of his
lines when filming began each time and would congratulate his fellow
cast members when he thought they did well.
"He showed up every day and he was a delight," Shankman said.
'My heart is broken'
One of his castmates on "Glee," Mark Salling, tweeted a simple "no" after police held their news conference.
Dot-Marie Jones, who
plays the football coach at the fictional William McKinley High tweeted:
"I have no words! My heart is broken. Cory was not only a hell of a
friend, he was one amazing man that I will hold close to my heart
forever.
"I am blessed to have
worked with him and love him so much! My heart is with his family and
our whole Glee family! I love you all!"
Offscreen, Monteith was dating co-star Lea Michele.
He was madly in love with her, Shankman said. "He felt like it had renewed his spirit."
Reps for the actress asked Sunday "that everyone kindly respect Lea's privacy during this devastating time."
Struggles with substance abuse
Monteith spent time in rehab this year, checking into a drug addiction treatment facility in late March.
He had been frank about
his struggles with substance abuse, telling Parade magazine in 2011 that
he began using drugs at 13, and by 19 went into rehab after his mother
and friends intervened.
"I had several
interactions with him yesterday where he said that he was doing
amazing," Shankman said. "He even said I am feeling fantastic. I'm like
everybody else, really devastated and confused by what happened."
Awards for show
Monteith had been on the musical comedy show since it began in 2009.
On the show, Monteith
played the dim quarterback of the football team at the Ohio high school
who is forced to join the glee club. After graduation, he comes back to
town and helps direct a musical at the school.
In 2011, he won a Teen
Choice Award for top actor in a comedy. The show's cast won a Screen
Actors Guild Award for an ensemble in a comedy the previous year.
He was in three projects that are in post-production, according to the Internet Movie Database.
One of them was a movie entitled "All The Wrong Reasons," also starring Kevin Zegers.
"I've never lost a friend this close. This feels like a mistake," Zegers wrote.