Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 7 gaming headset hands-on

Mad Catz announced the F.R.E.Q. 7 gaming headset last week, and the company has the $200 cans on hand here at Mobile World Congress. As you may recall, the marquee spec is Dolby Pro Logic IIx processing, which expands 5.1-channel audio to 7.1 channels for a richer aural experience. Another cool feature: these over-ears come bundled with both a standard stereo connector and a cord with USB for connecting directly to your computer (both have mini-USB on one end). The F.R.E.Q. 7 wasn't plugged in so we can't speak to sound quality, but they feel lightweight, and the red color really pops in real life. (There's also a matte black option.) The devices are currently available for pre-order, but you can get a hands-on look now in our gallery.

Gallery: Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 7 gaming headset hands-on

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Filed under: Gaming

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/24/mad-catz-f-r-e-q-7-gaming-headset-hands-on/

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Go Time! NFL Combine Confidential

Editor?s note: It?s only late February, and we?re already in the mood for football again. So we asked a projected top 15 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, to take us inside his prep for this weekend?s NFL Combine. Here are his thoughts.

What?s up, NFL fans? I?ve got the biggest ?job interview? of my life this weekend at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. But I?m going to have a smile on my face the whole time because this is what you dream about, and it?ll be a blast for me. I?d rather be eating, breathing and playing football 12 hours a day than flipping burgers. It?s going to be intense, but I?m going to be myself and I?m confident I?ll be ready for whatever?s thrown at me. This is why I declared for the Draft?I felt it was time to step up my football career, take my talents and positive attitude to the NFL, and see how I measure up. I want to make my family, friends and fans proud.

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If you want to separate yourself at the Draft, they say you need to be bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent and more athletic.

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So how did I prepare to get here? Mizzou played in the SEC for the first time and against some great competition, like eventual BCS champion Alabama, but we didn?t get the season we wanted. I felt I had a pretty solid year [editor?s note: Sheldon led all defensive tackles in the SEC with 75 tackles], so after my last game for Mizzou in November, I began planning for this weekend. First, I took some time off because I understand the importance of resting your body, so you can come back refreshed for the challenge. I did some light lifting and some running while home in St. Louis to stay in shape. But come the New Year, I headed to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Who you callin? yellow?

They do it right at the IMG Academy, which is a terrific facility, and there were some really big names for the Draft there with me, like Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, plus quarterbacks Matt Barkley and Tyler Wilson?

If you want to separate yourself at the Draft, they say you need to be bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent and more athletic. I went to the IMG Academy with good strength, speed and movement, but I sharpened up my overall technique, and got a better understanding of how NFL offenses operate.

Here?s a typical day down in Bradenton: We would wake up at 6 in the morning and complete 12 very intense hours of covering everything, six days a week. There?s no room for slackers down there. You?re working on Combine-specific movement training and weight training. Plus, they teach you little off-field tricks of the trade, like how to deal with the media. I enjoyed learning how to handle interviews. You?re taught to be yourself but maybe come off a little smoother in interviews. I?m a straightforward kind of guy?a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type?but you have to learn how to be professional with the media.

They also taught us about good nutrition. You learn to eat an NFL diet, which is a huge part of a professional football player?s life, and something that can make your career last longer. You learn to stay off the fried foods and eat well but right?no rich sauces on your steak or vegetables. They make sure you get into a routine, three meals a day. At dinner, we?d have five options for a main course?baked salmon, tilapia, steak, maybe baked-not-fried chicken, buffalo chicken. You had some tasty options, so it wasn?t like cafeteria food! If you needed to gain good weight, they?d give you extra portions.

It?ll be a lot less painful if you just hand that loaf over, bro.

They also set you up with vitamins, and stressed the importance of keeping hydrated. I put on a good 10 pounds, up to right around 300. The NFL scouts want to see you put on good weight but still be an explosive guy. With my 40-yard drills, I improved my 40 time by maybe a tenth of a second. I was happy with that because I?m so much stronger than I was.

We?ve been told the Combine is four days of non-stop activity, starting as soon as you arrive. Meeting teams, doing interviews, and if they like you enough they?ll come out to your college facility for Pro Day. We D-linemen are doing the 225-pound rep drills on Sunday, and the running drills on Monday. Everything?s at stake. It?s a chance to improve your position in the Draft. Personally, I just want to show them what I?ve got and display my strengths on and off the field.

I really don?t get nervous. If anything I?m anxious to get out there and perform. I?m very prepared for the biggest few days of my life. I?m confident with my training and my preparations, and I?m expecting a very good Combine out of myself. I enjoy my job, and I?m going to have some fun showing what I can do.

I?d like to thank the agents at CAA for recommending the IMG Academy. It was a really positive learning experience. Wish me well at the Combine and check in with me after the big event. Follow me on Twitter @godforshort. See you on the other side, and go Tigers!

?As told to Ashley Jude Collie

?

Source: http://www.mademan.com/go-time-sheldon-richardson-nfl-combine-confidential/

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Housing prices rise in 53 of 70 Chinese cities

Business?| ?Real estate

By Cherry Cao??|?? 2013-2-22??|?? ??ONLINE EDITION

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RECOVERY in the housing sector continued to gather pace across the country with more than 70 percent of major Chinese cities recording monthly and yearly gains in January, the National Bureau of Statistics said today.

Excluding government-subsidized affordable housing, prices rose from a month earlier in 53 of the 70 cities tracked by the bureau, compared to 54 in December. Prices were flat in seven cities while the remaining 10 registered declines.

Shenzhen in Guangdong Province led the gains with a monthly increase of 2.2 percent, followed by a 2.1 percent jump in Beijing and a 2 percent rise in Guangzhou. That compared with a maximum gain of 1.2 percent in December.

Shanghai housing prices gained 1.3 percent, up from a 0.7 percent increase in December.

Year on year, new home prices rose in 53 of the 70 cities, with a maximum gain of 4.7 percent. That compared to 40 in December, when the biggest increase was 2.4 percent.

"More developers started to offer smaller discounts or even canceled them amid the improving buying sentiment while a growing number of home seekers decided to stop waiting for prices to drop," said Liu Jianwei, a senior statistician at the bureau. "However, I don't see a huge rebound in home prices as the government reiterated its vows to fight housing speculation."

The State Council said on Wednesday its policy to curb housing speculation while supporting owner-occupier demand will remain as home supplies are inadequate in large cities as urbanization accelerates.

In the latest move, China's cabinet asked local governments to vigorously enforce existing austerity measures, which include home purchase restrictions and differentiated credit and tax policies, and expand a property tax trial to more cities. It also said tightening measures should be implemented if prices rise notably fast in areas without restrictions.

The statistics bureau's data also pointed to a similar trend in the existing home market with 51 cities seeing month-on-month price increases in January, compared to 46 in December. The number of cities where prices gained from a year earlier also rose from 25 in December to 36 last month.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, which monitors dozens of real estate developers across the country, said earlier this week that it expects overall property prices to rise about 5 percent this year. S&P has also revised its outlook for the industry to stable from negative amid more favorable operating and financing conditions for developers.

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Source: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Business/2013/02/22/Housing+prices+rise+in+53+of+70+Chinese+cities

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NBA Trade Deadline: Ronnie Brewer an Underrated Acquistion for Thunder

In a relatively quiet deadline, the Oklahoma City Thunder made two minor moves, sending point guard Eric Maynor to the Portland Trail Blazers and acquiring forward Ronnie Brewer from the New York Knicks.

Brewer, who averaged just 3.6 PPG and 2.2 RPG on 36.6% shooting with the Knicks, has seen sporadic minutes since the season began. Averaging career lows pretty much across the board, Brewer was struggling to find his niche within a complex New York team, but ultimately could not carve out an effective role, as the Knicks appear stocked with competent wing players.

However, this tumultuous season may be approaching some promise, as Brewer seems to be a significantly better fit in Oklahoma City.

While Brewer has never been an offensive force in his career, the Arkansas product can be a solid role player in the right system.

Luckily for Brewer, the Thunder won't be asking him to score in double figures on a nightly basis due to a collection of young assets such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin and Serge Ibaka.

However, Brewer will certainly help on the defensive end, as he has proven throughout his career that he is a capable defender.

With the help of Brewer, the Thunder now can have a completely new dynamic. Oklahoma City has never had a true backup small forward to complement Durant, but now has Brewer to serve this particular role.

By adding Brewer, the Thunder now have a high energy defender off the bench that can serve a similar role as teammate Thabo Sefolosha does at the shooting guard position, locking down the opposing threat while scoring occasionally on offense.

What do you think about the Ronnie Brewer trade?

What do you think about the Ronnie Brewer trade?

• Good move

• Bad move

Total votes: 30

The acquisition of Brewer will directly help the Thunder against a team such as their newfound rival Miami Heat.

The Heat tend to play a lot of smaller lineups, as they tend to shy away from playing with a true center. Miami's smaller lineup proved to be effective against the Thunder last season, as the Heat were able to space the floor and players such as Shane Battier, Mike Miller and Mario Chalmers stepped up and hit three pointers at opportune times.

With the addition of Brewer, the Thunder will finally be able to answer this threat. A smaller lineup featuring Westbrook, Sefolosha, Brewer, Durant and Ibaka would counter the small lineup the Heat tend to use effectively.

Adding a quality player like Brewer who plays solid defense and can contribute off the bench seems like a solid fit for the Thunder, as the team attempts to collect solid wing defenders to counter LeBron James.

Brewer is only making the veteran's minimum on a one-year contract and the Thunder sacrificed just a 2014 second round pick for the swing-man, so it's clear that the trade was worth the risk.

Although Brewer is definitely having a down year, a change of scenery might be the answer for reviving his defensive abilities, and this is certainly a worthwhile risk for the Thunder.?

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1539424-nba-trade-deadline-ronnie-brewer-an-underrated-acquistion-for-thunder

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Christchurch marks 2nd anniversary of deadly quake

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) ? The New Zealand city of Christchurch is commemorating the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people.

Several hundred people gathered for a memorial service in Latimer Square, near where 115 died when a six-story office building collapsed during the magnitude-6.1 quake. Others placed flowers in road cones or tossed them into the Avon River to commemorate those who died.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister John Key focused on rebuilding efforts. He said he understands there's frustration at the time it's taking to get homes rebuilt, but that in a few years, Christchurch will be "one of the best and most livable cities in the world."

People around New Zealand observed two minutes' silence at 12:51 p.m., the time the quake struck.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/christchurch-marks-2nd-anniversary-deadly-quake-001144636.html

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U.S. indicts peanut processors in 2009 salmonella outbreak

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four years after a salmonella outbreak linked to tainted peanut butter sickened hundreds in the United States and killed nine, authorities have charged the former owner of the company and several employees with fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday alleged the group covered up the presence of salmonella in its peanut products for years, going so far as to create fake certificates showing the products were uncontaminated even when laboratory results showed the reverse.

The charges carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail, although none carry a mandatory minimum sentence, prosecutors said.

"When those responsible for producing or supplying our food lie and cut corners, as alleged in the indictment, they put all of us at risk," Stuart Delery, head of the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Division, said in a statement.

The peanut scandal led to one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history and forced Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), the manufacturer, into liquidation. Former owner Stewart Parnell, 58, is among those charged, as is his brother, Michael Parnell, 54, a food broker at P.P. Sales who worked on behalf of the peanut company.

Lawyers from Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore LLP, who represent Stewart Parnell, said in a statement they were disappointed that the government had decided to pursue an indictment and were planning a "vigorous defense."

"While Mr. Parnell and others associated with PCA have to date remained silent on the circumstances surrounding the government's salmonella investigation, as this matter progresses it will become clear that Mr. Parnell never intentionally shipped or caused to be shipped any tainted food products capable of harming PCA's customers," the law firm said.

Their statement also said U.S. health regulators were regularly in contact with PCA about its food handling policy and were well aware of its salmonella testing protocols, and made no objection to the testing policies or protocols in place.

At a press conference in Washington on Thursday, Delery said company officials had lied to inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which found that PCA produced peanuts under unsanitary conditions and failed to take adequate precautions to keep rodents and insects out of its plant in Blakely, Georgia.

Delery said the Justice Department would do everything possible "to protect Americans who have done nothing more than eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

William Marler, an attorney who represented victims of the contamination, said the indictments will have a far reaching impact on the food industry.

"Corporate executives and directors of food safety will need to think hard about the safety of their product when it enters the stream of commerce," he said. "Felony counts like this one are rare, but misdemeanor charges that can include fines and jail time can and should happen."

Those affected by the outbreak welcomed news of the 76-count indictment.

"I'm ecstatic," said Jeff Almer, whose mother died after eating tainted peanut butter. "I would equate it to wishing for something to happen more than anything else you ever wanted in life, and waiting years for it to occur."

"This has been my life's mission for the last four years since my mom died - to try to get some justice," he said.

In addition to the Parnells, charges were also levied against Samuel Lightsey, 48, a former operations manager at the plant, and Mary Wilkerson, 39, who held various positions including receptionist, office manager and quality assurance manager.

Another employee, Daniel Kilgore, 44, has pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud and to the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce. He waived an official indictment.

A conviction for fraud or obstruction of justice carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, while illegally introducing tainted food into interstate commerce carries a three-year maximum.

Actual sentences could be much lower, said Michael Moore, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, who said he expects those charged to appear in court within the next week.

(Additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jackie Frank)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-indicts-peanut-company-officials-2009-salmonella-outbreak-163042392.html

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And the Winner Is? | BU Today | Boston University

Megan Lovallo (COM?12) won first prize at the 2013 Redstone Film Festival on Wednesday night for her film Off to the Races. Photos by Katherine Taylor

When she heard her name called as the winner of the 33rd Redstone Film Festival Wednesday night, Megan Lovallo jumped up, grabbed her two closest friends, and dragged them onto the Tsai Performance Center stage, where she accepted a plaque and a check for $2,000. Just minutes before, the closing credits to her film Off to the Races had rolled to enthusiastic applause.

?It?s crazy,? Lovallo (COM?12) said, when asked afterward about her reaction. ?I can?t even remember. I?ve already blacked out.? But the filmmaker said she hopes her film?about two siblings thrown together for an unplanned night of adventure?will inspire viewers to find a way to love family members as friends, not just as lifelong genetic tag-alongs. Lovallo, a twin with an older sister, drew on her own experience for inspiration in writing her film.

Second prize, which came with $1,000, went to ?lvaro Congosto (COM?12), director of The Dress, about a young man obsessed with a photograph. Michela Smith (COM?14), director of Cul de Sac, a film about a self-appointed traffic cop patrolling his small suburban neighborhood, earned the $500 third prize.

The Redstone Film Festival, BU?s version of the Oscars, is sponsored by media mogul Sumner Redstone (Hon.?94), chair of Viacom. The annual festival showcases the most promising work by students and recent grads of the College of Communication?s filmmaking and screenwriting programs.

Other Redstone finalists were Bill Politis (COM?13), director of Big Kid Little Bike, a documentary about a BMX biker; John (Jack) Garrett (COM?13), whose spoof Santa Always Checks Twice, depicts a grim trip to Santa?s workshop; Jasper Lowe (COM?15), director of The Intruder, a film about a thief who encounters more than he expected; and Phoebe Waldron (COM?12), director of Zareen on a Bridge in the City, chronicling a young woman?s struggles in the days leading up to her college graduation.

?One of the things that impressed me this year was how assured the work was,? says Paul Schneider, chair of COM?s department of film and television and the night?s emcee. ?It felt like the directors and everyone were really in command of what they were doing.? That?s quite a statement, he adds, considering finalists included undergraduate and graduate students from every level of film production.

Redstone finalists and family and friends and film fans packed the Tsai Performance Center.

A committee of production, screenwriting, and film-studies graduates selected the seven finalists from dozens of submissions, all originally produced for a COM film, television, or video production class or as a graduate thesis project. Winners were then chosen by a panel of film industry professionals: Carolyn Pickman, cofounder and director of CP Casting and Acting Studio; filmmaker Lyda Kuth, executive director of the LEF Foundation, a nonprofit that supports contemporary work in film; and ?Will Lautzenheiser (CAS?96, COM?07), a popular former COM lecturer in screenwriting.

Festival organizers decided to add three new prizes this year: for best cinematography, best screenplay, and best sound design. The cinematography prize was awarded to Erika Street (COM?13) for The Dress; best screenplay went to Waldron and Deena Baig (CAS?12) for their work on Zareen on a Bridge in the City; and the best sound design award was given to Garrett for Santa Always Checks Twice. Winners in each category received $500.

?Even though we single out filmmakers, rewarding the efforts of a lot of people is important and what we stress as a school,? says festival coordinator Jan Egleson, a COM associate professor of film and television. ?The job of a director is really harnessing the efforts of many creative people.?

Kelly M. Genois (COM?13), who wrote Rest in Peace, Albert Lively, won the $1,250 first prize in the Fleder-Rosenberg short screenplay contest, sponsored by screenwriters Gary Fleder (COM?85) and Scott Rosenberg (COM?85). Cara Fano (COM?14) received the $750 second prize award for penning Uncle Sylvio. Richard Woolbert (COM?13) picked up the $500 third prize for Tea Time for Tyranny.

Another festival winner was Michelle Tsiakaros (COM?13), who was awarded the second annual Adrienne Shelly Production Grant by the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, for her directing of Plastic Surgery. Named for noted producer, writer, and actress Shelly (COM?87), who was murdered in her New York City home in 2006, the annual $5,000 grant goes to a female filmmaker. Shelly?s best-known film, Waitress, starring Keri Russell, played at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival before being released commercially.

Andy Ostroy, Shelly?s husband and the foundation?s executive director, attended Wednesday night?s event flanked by their 10-year-old pony-tailed, gum-chewing daughter, whom he affectionately called his ?lawyer.? The foundation, he said, ?is an organization I never wished I had to establish,? but he wanted to encourage a new generation of women to ?stay true to yourself,? as Shelly herself had.

In the video above, watch the trailer for the 33rd Annual Redstone Film Festival winner Off to the Races directed by Megan Lovallo.

Winning an award at the Redstone Film Festival is often a launching pad for aspiring filmmakers. Previous winners include Fleder, director of Runaway Jury, Richard Gladstein (CGS?81, COM?83), producer of The Bourne Identity and Snow White and the Huntsman, and Steve Brill (COM?84), screenwriter of Con Air. Just last year, previous Redstone finalists Josh Safdie (COM?07) and Benny Safdie (COM?08) won a Jury Prize for Short Film at the Sundance Film Festival for The Black Balloon.

The Boston Redstone Film Festival is followed by Redstone festivals in New York (designed primarily as a showcase for alumni) on March 15 and Los Angeles (open to both students and alumni) on March 21. The Redstone Alumni Short Film Competition, with a prize of $500, is part of the Los Angeles festival.

Source: http://www.bu.edu/today/2013/redstone-film-festival-megan-lovallo/

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