Author: JD
The Secret Behind Michael Jackson’s Trademark Anti-Gravity Lean Was Actually a Pair of Shoes,By RILEY JONES
Michael Jackson’s dance moves are unparalleled, but did you know that he got a little help from his kicks in the mid-’90s? His iconic, gravity-defying lean was first seen in the 1987 video for Smooth Criminal and directors pulled this off through the use of wires and special effects. But the King of Pop wanted to take the trick on the road so he linked up with two inventors to develop a shoe that would allow him to recreate the dance on stage. The shoe was to be affixed with a specially designed heel peg that would protrude and connect to the stage, allowing Jacko to shift his center of balance and perform the now-iconic lean. The patent was awarded in 1993 and MJ took them on tour almost immediately. But during a 1996 show in Moscow, the system malfunctioned causing Jackson’s heel to come loose and nearly injuring the superstar. The team went back to the drawing board, redrafting the original patent in hopes of creating a safer alternative. In 2005, the patent was allowed to expire and in 2009, the one of a kind shoes were auctioned off for a cool $600,000. Take a look at the original patent below.
Outrage over Jamie Foxx’s Bruce Jenner joke at iHeartRadio Music Awards
How do you feel about the joke ? (CNN)Some viewers of the iHeartRadio Music Awardson Sunday night took to social media to vent about the opening monologue, saying one controversial joke by Jamie Foxx crossed the line. Foxx, the actor and musician who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles, hosted the second annual awards show in Los Angeles. “We got some groundbreaking performances, here too, tonight,” Foxx said. “We got Bruce Jenner, who will be doing some musical performances. He’s doing a his-and-her duet all by himself.” There have been reports that Jenner, an Olympic gold medalist, plans to transition from male to female. However, Jenner has not spoken publicly about any such possibility. Many television viewers took to social media to complain that the joke was offensive to people struggling with issues of gender and sexual identity. The hashtag #iHeartRadioMusicAwards remained a top trend Monday. “Jamie Foxx just made a terrible, disgusting joke about Bruce Jenner’s rumored transition on this trash awards show,” tweeted @laurennostro.
Microsoft launches Office 365 mobile device management for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices, By Emil Protalinski
Microsoft today announced the general availability of mobile device management (MDM) capabilities for Office 365. The debut means you can now manage access to Office 365 data across Windows Phones, as well as Android and iOS phones and tablets. In October, Microsoft first revealed its plans to bring built-in MDM capabilities to Office 365. Today the company added that the MDM features are being included at no additional cost in all Office 365 commercial plans, including Business, Enterprise, EDU, and Government. Because MDM is built right into Office 365, employees can continue using the same productivity apps. Microsoft points out that this is superior to third-party MDM solutions that replace productivity apps with restrictive all-in-one apps for corporate email, calendars, and documents. Administrators can control mobile device policies directly from within the Office 365 administration portal, where they can see which devices are connected to Office 365 and identify those that have been blocked due to non-compliance. Microsoft highlighted the following three Office 365 MDM capabilities (full list): Help secure and manage corporate resources — Set up security policies to ensure that Office 365 corporate email and documents can be accessed only on phones and tablets that are managed by your company and are compliant. Office 365 leverages Microsoft Intune and the Microsoft Azure Active Directory to apply these policies to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other business applications. Device management — Set and manage security policies such as device level pin lock and jailbreak detection to help prevent unauthorized users from accessing corporate email and data on lost or stolen devices. Selective wipe — Remove Office 365 company data from an employee’s device without touching personal data or apps. If these seem familiar to you, that’s because they’re actually a subset of Microsoft Intune capabilities. Integrating them directly into Office 365 simply makes them available more broadly. Intune, which is part of the Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite, offers more device and application management capabilities for PCs, tablets, and phones. This includes the ability to restrict actions such as cut, copy, paste, and save as.
Falcons to lose 2016 draft pick for faking crowd noise, Blank apologizes
WOW!!! The Atlanta Falcons will forfeit a fifth-round 2016 draft pick, pay a $350,000 fine and team President Rich McKay will be suspended from the NFL’s competition committee for three months for pumping in crowd noise at the Georgia Dome, the NFL announced Monday. In February, Falcons owner Arthur Blankadmitted the team piped artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome during games the last two years.The team went 6-9 in those games. Blank released a statement Monday afternoon: See Also Report: Falcons’ penalty “severe” for pumping in fake crowd noise Dirty Birds: Arthur Blank admits to using fake crowd noise “What took place was wrong and nowhere near the standards by which we run our business. Anytime there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly. “The League conducted a thorough investigation of this matter, and we cooperated fully. We understand the penalties imposed and their impact on our team, and we will not appeal the league’s decisions. Further, we have addressed the matter internally and taken actions to ensure that something like this does not happen again. “The Falcons and all of our other businesses are built upon a foundation of values that drive our decision making. This issue was a clear failure in that regard. I apologize for any embarrassment this situation has caused the NFL, our fans, and our Falcons players and associates.”
Apple Apple Store Android iPhone Apple has a new plan to crush its rivals and boost iPhone sales, and it starts today By LISA EADICICCO
OH SHIT!!!! For the first time, Apple is letting you trade in your old Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone for a new iPhone, 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman reports. The new trade-in program is said to start Monday, but it applies only to certain phone models. According to Apple’s new Reuse and Recycling Program (via MacRumors), you’ll be able to access the new trade-in program online and in-store, and supported smartphones include “certain Samsung, HTC, LG, Nokia, Sony, and BlackBerry models, for credit in the form of an Apple Store gift card or bank transfer.” Those who trade in one of the models eligible for Apple’s program will be able to apply it toward a new iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus, Gurman reports. You can’t use the credit toward the purchase of an Apple Watch, however. This will most likely work the same way as Apple’s trade-in program for iPhones — which means the value of your old phone will be determined by a variety of factors such as age and condition. Gurman previously reported that this program would be intended to encourage iPhone upgrades in Apple Stores, and it sounds like an effective way to do so. In addition to converting Android and Windows Phone fans to the iPhone, the new deal will most likely allow Apple to sell those used phones, too. It also gives customers less of a reason to turn to a Best Buy or carrier store to buy a new iPhone. This could ultimately lead to more in-store iPhone sales for Apple. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-store-trade-in-program-android-iphone-2015-3#ixzz3VtmQuk4Q
Q&A WITH JAYLEN BROWN By Evan Daniels
CHICAGO — Jaylen Brown earned the nation’s No. 1 ranking, led Wheeler (Ga.) to a state championship and has now begun McDonald’s All-American Game this week. After several months of silence about his recruitment, he spoke in-depth on Monday morning … How did your high school season end up? It went good playing with my guys. Obviously we have a lot of guys that no one really knows about, but they stepped up big and played against a team that we know a lot about — we ended up winning a (state) championship.Did you think you lived up to expectations during your senior season? I did in a way, but I kind of struggled because I wasn’t playing in a position that was my element. I was playing the four and the five because I was the tallest guy on my team. It’s not somewhere I’m used to playing. I’m used to playing on the wing or the one, two or three. I’m learning the game from a different aspect and it was a learning process. So I had to deal with that. I caught a rhythm towards the middle of the season and I thought I played pretty well. What’s the next step developmental wise? Developmental wise, there’s a long list. There’s a long list of things from top to bottom. I could start naming stuff, but we’d be here all day. What are some things at the top of that list? Defense. Defense is a limited commodity. Just being able to guard multiple positions and being able to stay in front of guards, forwards, that’s going to get you on the floor. Defense is going to get you on the floor no matter whose team you’re on so if I can get that to a level where I’m pretty good I’ll have a really solid career. Since the state title game have you had more time to look into your recruiting process? I have a few weeks. We are about to start the national tournament, but I took two visits to Michigan and California. I got to talk to my mom and talk about what I want to do towards going to college and just discussing things. I hadn’t gotten to the gist of things. The process is coming to an end. I have about a month and I’ll be looking to make a decision. Will you wait on some NBA decisions before you make your decision? That’s fair to say. It’s possible because I haven’t made my mind up on where I want to go yet. I haven’t really even thought about a top five. If I choose a school within the next two weeks that I think I like the most and if they don’t have any NBA guys I won’t have to wait until whatever the NBA deadline is. If I do, I’ll probably wait. I have a list of things that I’m looking into for the schools. What are some of the things at the top of that list? Being comfortable. No matter where I go. I’m going to be there for six months to four years so I want to make sure I’m comfortable wherever I’m at. Whether a coach leaves or if somebody gets recruited over me, I just want to make sure I’m going to a good environment, I have a great relationship with the people around me and they have a sure fire basketball team. You recently visited California, where did that visit come from? With Cal, I put a lot of schools on my list late that are really good educational wise like North Carolina. They came in late. Michigan came in late. Those two definitely came in late. Those are really good education schools. I want to get the most out of college. So I’m thinking schools that can get the most out of me and which schools I can get the most out of them. So I put the schools on my list first. What has Cal’s pitch been to you? The same as everybody else. It’s mostly about education and things like that. Berkeley is definitely known for education. But it’s the same for everybody else. Everybody else has their own spin on things and how they want you to come to their school. It’s pretty much the same as everything else. Has California talked to you about possibly playing with Caleb Swanigan and Ivan Rabb? Oh, no. I know with Ivan they are talking about they might get him or might not. But with Caleb I didn’t know he was getting recruited by Cal until the last week or so. I took a visit out there. I talked to Ivan. That’s pretty much the only person I talked to before I went out there. I liked the visit. It’s a nice place, Berkeley. Great education and borderline genius’ at Cal-Berkeley and I think I could fit in just like I could fit in somewhere. I have a lot of things to think about, but Cal is definitely on my list. What did you like about your final official visit to Michigan? Michigan, I have a lot of family. I’m based in Michigan so I could deflect a lot of stuff because my family is there, so Michigan is definitely going to be in the front runner of things. Talking to Coach Beilein, he’s like an offensive genius the way he gets these guys that aren’t really ranked high to be lottery picks in the draft is amazing. It’s definitely something that drew my attention. Also Michigan is a great education school. They have one of the top public universities in America with Cal-Berkeley, UCLA and North Carolina. What’s your take on Kentucky? Kentucky is probably the best basketball program in America. I took a lot of visits and nobody basketball program was as good as Kentucky. In the gist of things basketball is what I’m going to do with my life and basketball is important, but nobody’s basketball program is probably as good as Kentucky just with their facilities and how they operate. It’s just so professional and it’s ridiculous. I saw it with my own eyes. Kentucky, I just have so much respect for that program. You said you planned to be somewhere from six months to four years, it would probably end up on the low end of that. What do you want our of your college experience? I want to develop. People say I’m ready to go this year. People say I’ll be ready next year. To do what I want to do, I think it’ll take me at least two years. I don’t want to come into a situation like the NBA and have to develop for two or three years. When I come in I want to be a superstar. Coming in I want to be on superstar status. Coming in I don’t want to have to wait two years. It’s going to take development and it’s going to take hard work. I know I can make the business move and be a top five, top 10 or top 15 draft pick if I just had a solid year in college and left. I love the game too much to chase after the money. I know your heath is not secure, but I love the game. Your heath is never secure. You could get hurt anytime. I just want to develop and be the best player I can be. When I’m ready, I’m ready. You took a visit to UNC recently, how was that? Coach Roy, he’s a great guy, humble guy. He has a very smooth personality and is down to earth. His program has a lot of tradition and a lot of good players have come through their program. They treat it like it’s special and means a lot because a lot of their good players come back and everything. I don’t know what’s there, but obviously it’s something special. All of their players come back every summer and they always tutor you and mentor you. I’ve had people reach out to me that went to North Carolina and telling me it’s like nothing else. It’s that type of environment. What has UNC’s pitch been to you? The same as everybody else honestly. Come here and we are going to develop you and we are going to make sure you have everything you need education wise and are going to be in a good environment. The word is that you have taken a break from the phone and told coaches to take a step back and give you space. Is that true? I didn’t want people calling me. You can call my mom. She’ll pick up the phone and you can ask her about me. Other than that, I’m just trying to stay focused on one thing at a time. Before I was focused on my school work and winning a state championship. Now I’m focused on McDonald’s, Hoop Summit, Jordan and the national tournament. When all that ends, I will reach out to every coach. Until then I don’t really need to talk to you about how I’m doing. I already know what your school offers. I’ve been on a visit. I’ve talked to you numerous times. I know you want to build a relationship, but I’m not sure if I’m going to your school yet so I don’t want to build that relationship yet. If we are building a relationship and I go somewhere else it’s a waste of time and a waste of everyone’s energy. So I’d rather pick your school and then build a relationship. What do you like about Kansas? Bill Self is a great guy. Down to earth. Very humble. He came in a unique way. Bill Self doesn’t really talk a lot about basketball. He’s a people person. He talks about relationships and how he’s going to develop you as a man and mentally. That’s important as well. Just how you develop physically and mentally, and that’s how Bill Self comes out. Kansas definitely, at least when I was there, felt like a family environment. My mom said it reminded her of Muskegon, which is her hometown (in Michigan). Bill Self seems like a wonderful guy. What about the local schools, Georgia and Georgia Tech, what sticks out about them? I’m definitely going to have to reach out to them. They are great coaches. They’ve been down and they’ve been with me since eighth grade. I have a lot of respect for those guys. Coach Brian Gregory and coach Mark Fox are great guys. So I definitely have to reach to them. They still reach out and it’s basically the same pitch as everybody else, but basically just staying at home and what staying at home could mean. They’ve talked to me about a lot of the great players that have stayed at home like Russell Westbrook, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. You’ve done all five officials and taken unofficials to the other two, do you think you’ll do any others? I doubt it. But you never know. I might feel a certain type of way when I wake up and call a coach and book a flight the next day. I don’t think I will.
Matt De LeReaux
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“If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” Goes Platinum
PLATINUM!! WITH NO PHYSICAL COPIES Even before the official physical release, Drake‘s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late has gone platinum. Earlier this week, Drake announced that the mixtape/album would be hitting store shelves along with two bonus tracks. Drake released the project as a surprise back on February 13th, and has since sold 1,011,041 copies. It sold 535,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Also, the surprise release shot 14 Drake songs into the Hot 100, which tied a long-standing Beatles record (51 years, to be exact). It’s expected that Drake will perform songs from If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late at both Coachella (April 12th) and his own OVO Fest (August 2nd). Let’s not forget about Views From The 6, which is Drake’s long-awaited studio album, rumored for a release sometime in late 2015. Could Drake go platinum twice in one year?