NASCAR 2015 News: All-Star Race Changes Announced – More Laps Added

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NASCAR 2015 News: All-Star Race Changes Announced – More Laps Added

Christian Post Report – NASCAR has announced changes to its All-Star race, which is an annual event held each May at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This will be the 31st installment of the Sprint All Star race and its format has been altered significantly.

All Star Race NASCAR

NASCAR has announced rules and format changes for its annual All Star Race

The race will now be a 110-lap affair. The first four segments will be 25 laps a piece and the final leg will be a 10 lap shootout. The race will feature a minimum of 20 drivers. 17 of those drivers are now set, with two spots being reserved for winner of the Sprint Showdown segment, a race that is held directly before the All-Star race, and a final fan vote will set the field.

Race winners from the 2014-15 Sprint Cup series are eligible for the race as long as all past NASCAR Sprint Cup Champions and previous winners of the All Star race itself. This is a slight change in the rules as previous races had been run with drivers accomplishing those things in the past 10 years.

As it stands right now AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, and Tony Stewart are eligible for the race.

This is a non-points event with the winner to earn a prize of $1 million dollars. Over the years it has featured some of the best racing on the Sprint Cup circuit as drivers put their cars in situations that would not normally do while racing for points.

In a statement, NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O’Donnell talked about the changes.

“These updates were made to ensure that our fans have every opportunity to see the best drivers in one of our crown jewel events and give them even more on-track action,” he said. “Expanding this field and adding laps delivers that to our fans, raising the competition level and ensuring that this race continues to be the biggest all-star event in all of sports.”

Source : Christian Post

Boston Red Sox MLB 2015 Roster News, Rumors: Red Sox Extend Rick Porcello’s Contract

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Boston Red Sox MLB 2015 Roster News, Rumors: Red Sox Extend Rick Porcello’s Contract

Rick Porcello just got paid. Following an off-season trade to the Boston Red Sox and a year away from hitting the open market Porcello signed a four-year $82.5 million extension that will likely keep him in Boston and may even make him the ace of their staff.

The deal will pay Porcello $20 million per season for the first two years and then $21 million dollars for the last two. It also contains a limited no trade clause where Porcello can block trades to three clubs.

Rick Porcello reuters.com

The Boston Red Sox go all in on Rick Porcello

$20 million a season may be a lot to pay for Porcello, and the Red Sox have gambled big on their off season acquisition. They are betting he takes the next step in his development. In Detroit Porcello was a back-of-the-rotation starter with decent stuff. At 26-years-old he is entering his sixth full season in the major leagues but he has never shown that he has Ace stuff. He does induce a lot of ground ball, and that will serve him well in Fenway Park, but he is still somewhat unproven.

In Detroit he pitched behind some of the greatest arms of this generation. He has yet to earn an All-Star nod, a single vote for a Cy Young, and has only pitched more than 200 innings once. While he does have a lot of upside, he goes from being another rotation guy with the Tigers to being the guy with the Red Sox.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald sums up Porcello as a young player who fits the Red Sox roster, not necessarily a superstar on his own.

“Porcello’s youth is the main draw, but that youthful resume does not contain a surplus of markers that signal greatness,” he wrote. “There are some tantalizing hints that the right-hander will see his best years in the near future, and the chief reasons stem from his age. One reason why the Red Sox have faith in Porcello is that the ballclub believes its infield defense is superior to the one that he had behind him in Detroit.”

Now the Red Sox have to hope that Porcello take a giant step in his development so their bet on him can pay off.

Source : Christian Post

GTA 5 ‘Spectre Trailer Video: James Bond Trailer With GTA Released by YouTube User

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GTA 5 ‘Spectre Trailer Video: James Bond Trailer With GTA Released by YouTube User

Christian Post Report – A YouTube user has created a “Grand Theft Auto V” video using the recently released trailer for the latest James Bond installment, “Spectre.”

Fans of 007 and the GTA games series were treated to a video created by Joris Prudhon, a YouTube user who put the “Grand Theft Auto V” treatment on the upcoming James Bond offering, “Spectre.”

Prudhon launched himself into fame last year when he recreated the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” trailer and gave it a “Grand Theft Auto V” spin. That version has since gathered over 700,000 views on YouTube.

Spectre - GTA V YouTube/screengrab

Spectre – GTA V YouTube screengrab

The ring showing Spectre’s logo featured on the original trailer also makes an appearance in the video, and while the analogs weren’t rendered as perfectly, the meeting with Christoph Waltz’s character is included, even if Prudhon didn’t quite make the setting details clear.

The video remains relatively faithful to the “Spectre” trailer, however. The 3D version of Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond, is a fairly accurate rendering, along with a fizzy-haired version of Naomie Harris. Even the iconic and climactic James Bond soundtrack is thrown in at the end for good measure.

Recreating parodies of trailers was made possible by a number of complex tools present in “GTA IV,” giving creative players a venue to produce their own intricate videos. The Spectre-GTA V version is not the first in this genre, parody versions of E3 and the “Need for Speed” trailers have already been created and have their own following on YouTube.

Console players without “Rockstar” movie maker tools at their disposal may make do with multiplayer positional tracking and painstaking manual camera edits. One such example is the aqueduct chase sequence in the recreated “Terminator 2.”

Fans of these types of remakes should soon expect a rendering of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” trailer, and even the complex “Terminator: Genisys” recreation in GTA V, courtesy of the gaming community.

Spectre - GTA V YouTube/screengrab

Spectre – GTA V YouTube screengrab

Source : Christian Post

Deadpool Movie Release Date, Plot News: Ed Skrein Signs On to Play Villain Ajax

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Deadpool Movie Release Date, Plot News: Ed Skrein Signs On to Play Villain Ajax

Christian Post Report – Ed Skrein has just signed on to play the villain Ajax in “Deadpool,” which also stars Ryan Reynolds in the titular role.

“Game of Thrones'” original Daario Naharis actor, Ed Skrein has just been confirmed to play the villainous Ajax in the Marvel Comics movie adaptation of “Deadpool.”

Ed Skrein YouTube/screengrab

Ed Skrein. “Transporter: Reueled” YouTube trailer screengrab.

Skrein took to his Twitter account Tuesday and posted a photo of Ajax’s movie chair, captioning it “#deadpool #ajax That’s all!!!”

His character, Ajax plays one of the movie bad guys responsible for turning Ryan Reynold’s Wade Wilson character into Deadpool for the Weapon X program. Ajax, being part of the same program, received genetic enhancements to boost his speed and strength, as well as the ability to feel no pain.

Ajax’s character begins as a man known only by one name, Francis, who is one of the enforcers in the medical facility where the Weapon X program is held in progress. Francis has his nerves removed, deadening his ability to feel pain and other sensations, and begins his reign as a bully among the program washouts, which include Wade Wilson.

Ed Skrein @edskrein/Twitter

Ed Skrein tweets confirmation of his Ajax role in “Deadpool.” April 7, 2015.

When Ajax attempts to kill Wilson after a Weapon X surgery failure, Wilson defends himself and “kills” Francis instead. However, Francis soon reappears having taken on the identity of Ajax, and starts seeking out and murdering all the former subjects of the Weapon X program.

Based on the comic books, Ajax and Deadpool get into several seriously bloody fights, which will presumably be carried over into the movie, hence Reynolds’ persistent lobbying to get “Deadpool” an R-rating.

Skrein, 32, has recently wrapped up filming “The Transporter: Refueled,” a prequel of the “Transporter” franchise where he plays a younger Frank Martin, a role previously made famous by Jason Statham. Being cast in “Transporter” was one of Skrein’s reasons for leaving his “Game of Thrones” Daario Naharis role in season four, which was subsequently taken over by Michiel Huisman.

“Deadpool” will also star Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, and T.J. Miller and is scheduled to premiere in theaters on February 16, 2016.

Source : Christian Post

‘Batman v Superman’ Release Date, Plot Rumors: Iconic Villain Red Hood to be Introduced?

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‘Batman v Superman’ Release Date, Plot Rumors: Iconic Villain Red Hood to be Introduced?

Christian Post Report – Rumors have emerged “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” may introduce audiences to iconic villain, Red Hood.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” will be showing in theaters on March 25, 2016, and fans of the Justice League characters from the DC Comics universe are speculating whether DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. plans to bring in iconic bad guy, Red Hood.

Batman v Superman Facebook/ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

The new logo for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Producers didn’t intend the film to be a standalone, and audiences should expect an addition of villains to the franchise, which may include Red Hood, who may make his entrance in “Batman v Superman” when the film opens next year.

A report in Screen Rant reveals Red Hood is actually the identity of Jason Todd, whom Batman took in to replace Dick Grayson as Robin after the latter left the fold. Todd is supposedly killed by The Joker, but survives to exact his revenge, particularly after learning Batman did nothing to avenge him.

Red Hood, the newly emerged anti-hero, is similar to Batman in a number of ways, except for his penchant for violence and brutality.

According to Latino Review, “Batman v Superman” will be addressing the murder of Jason Todd, and that Red Hood will become a prominent villain in the movie, as well as in other upcoming DC films. The online publication even shared an Instagram post showing Jason Todd’s uniform displayed in a place of prominence in the Batcave.

In another storyline parallel from “Suicide Squad,” The Joker and Harley Quinn are reported to be estranged due to the latter’s guilt over Todd’s death, making Red Hood appear to be a priority for DC.

Another rumor involves actress Jenna Malone who is said to be playing Ben Affleck’s Batman sidekick in the person of Carrie Kelly, who in the comics version, takes on Robin’s identity after Todd’s murder

While these rumors remain unconfirmed, audiences can still expect Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, and Laurence Fishburne as Perry White to reprise their roles in the “Man of Steel” sequel. They will be joined by Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, and Jason Momoa as Aquaman.

Source : Christian Post

Apple Watch Discount News: Sale of 50 Percent Off for Apple Employees

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Apple Watch Discount News: Sale of 50 Percent Off for Apple Employees

Christian Post Report – Apple CEO Tim Cook announced this week the company will be giving a 50 percent discount on the Apple Watch for all employees, just six months after the wearable was unveiled.

As an incentive to Apple employees, CEO Tim Cook has sent an email to the Apple workforce, granting them 50 percent off on any Apple Watch starting Friday, the day retail stores begin to accept pre-orders for the company’s newest wearable device.

Under huge pressure to perform, the Cupertino, California’s retail store employees are being given the inducement as Apple’s way of revamping customer relations, as well as to help employees better explain to customers how much the Apple Watch will benefit their lives.

Gold Apple Watch Reuters/Photo

Falling into a whole new product category, the Apple Watch is the company’s first device that puts style over substance, and Cook believes giving the incentive will make it easier for Apple employees to sell the wearable.

This also marks the first time Apple has given discounts to its employees for new products still unreleased to the public. The company first ensures a good supply-and-demand balance is met before announcing price cuts for its own people.

The half off on the Apple Watch even before the wearable hits the streets indicates Apple may have a good enough stock to meet the demand during the launch.

The rationale behind the early employee discount may also lie in the knowledge that actual usage of the watch is the key to sales. With Apple retail store employees on the front lines today assisting customers with inquiries and helping them try on the wearable, it makes sense for them to have first-hand knowledge of the product they are selling.

The discount also serves to make Apple retail staff feel they are valued, and giving them the opportunity to pre-order the wearable at half price alongside the general public will raise morale among the ranks.

Source : Christian Post

Android 5.0 Lollipop Update for Nexus 5, 7, 10, Xperia Z Ultra and Moto G, X News: New Features Released

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Android 5.0 Lollipop Update for Nexus 5, 7, 10, Xperia Z Ultra and Moto G, X News: New Features Released

Christian Post Report – The Android 5.1 update is currently rolling out, and is now available for Nexus, Xperia Z Ultra, Moto, and other GPE devices.

Nexus 5, 7 and 10, Xperia Z Ultra and Moto G and X, the HTC One M8, and LG G Pad 8.3 devices, as well as other handsets running Google Play edition are getting their Android 5.1 update as it slowly rolls out across mobile devices.

Android CREDIT: REUTERS/BECK DIEFENBACH

Android mascots are lined up in the demonstration area at the Google I/O Developers Conference in the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, May 10, 2011.

Bumping up devices to version LMY47D, the update is 212MB and brings tweaks, changes, and bug fixes. It also modifies the way devices handle notification disruptions, and improves stability and performance.

Android 5.1 is Lollipop’s first major maintenance release. While appearing almost similar to the 5.0, it brings several subtle changes to the table, including a more polished quick settings panel that endows icons with new animation, and allows users to hop between Bluetooth and WiFi access points with the addition of dropdown arrows next to each setting.

Android 5.1 will provide users dual SIM support, and a revamped screen pinning feature with an App Pinning menu under Settings in Security. When users first pin an app, the upgrade will show which buttons need to be pressed to keep the device in pinned mode.

The update will also offer Device Protection to secure devices if they get lost or stolen. The feature prevents thieves from factory resetting a device, and effectively bricks a phone with the absence of the user’s Google account login details. When it rolls out to Nexus 6 and 9, the feature will also offer full disk encryption.

Android 5.1 won’t be providing a “mute” mode, but tweaks to the volume and interruption sliders make it easier for users to choose between icons labeled “None,” “All,” or “Priority,” complete with a specific time period.

Other changes include Clock app animations, removal of the covered overlay on contact profile photos, a bug fix for the effect that “sticks” the soft key glow when swiping, a new status bar icon indicating the absence of a SIM, and a default NuPlayer content streaming app.

Source : Christian Post

‘Tron 3’ Cast News, Rumors: Olivia Wilde and Garett Hedlund to Return

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‘Tron 3’ Cast News, Rumors: Olivia Wilde and Garett Hedlund to Return

Christian Post Report – Disney is finally making some moves to make a “Tron” sequel a reality. The studio recently announced that “Tron: Legacy” stars Garett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde are coming back to a still untitled sequel to reprise their roles as Sam Flynn and Quorra, an algorithm turned flesh.

Temporarily called “Tron 3” because it is the third installment in the “Tron” series of the movies, it will be directed by Joseph Kosinski, the same director who helmed “Tron: Legacy.”

Olivia Wilde Reuters/File

Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde og Jeff Bridges kemur greinilega vel saman. Reuters.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but being a sequel, it will likely continue the story from the previous film. In “Tron: Legacy,” Sam Flynn is forced to enter the Grid, a virtual computer world created by his father Kevin Flynn, in order to look for his father who had disappeared twenty years before. He goes against the Grid’s CLU, the ruling program in the Grid, with the help of Quorra who is an “algorithm-made-flesh.”

The Hollywood Reporter says in its report that this is one of the rare times that a sequel was made from a movie that was not a box office performer. The 2010 sequel was made 28 years after the 1982 original movie. The report cites that it became a cult classic, and had a legion of fans following it. It also earned $400 million worldwide, making it one of the highest earning movies during that time. One of Disney’s reason for working on a sequel was because of this. Both movies were also known for its pioneering music, one of the factors that contributed to it being a cult classic.

It is unclear if Jeff Bridges will reprise his role as Sam’s dad, or if Bruce Boxleitner will return as Kevin Flynn’s friend, Alan Bradley.

The film is said to start production later this year which will most likely be done in Vancouver, British Columbia. Justin Springer is attached as a producer.

Source : Christian Post

‘Arrested Development’ Season 5 Release Date News: New Season Definitely On, Says Showrunner Brian Grazer

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‘Arrested Development’ Season 5 Release Date News: New Season Definitely On, Says Showrunner Brian Grazer

Christian Post Report – The TV sitcom series “Arrested Development” is getting another season, as announced by one of its Executive Producers Brian Grazer. In an interview during the SXSW, Grazer revealed that they are working on another set of episodes for another season, 17 to be exact. The interview was recently revealed via podcast.

The Variety report said that Grazer indicated the number of episodes they were working on during the interview.

“I love ‘Arrested Development,’ but it was never a huge thing. But people are loyal to it,” he said.

Arrested Development Youtube/file

The Cast of Arrested Development

The show was originally shown on Fox TV for three seasons, from 2003 to 2006. The network cancelled the show because of its low ratings, but the show garnered critical acclaim for its single camera, reality TV style. In 2011, Netflix agreed to support another season of the show through its streaming service, which were aired in 2013.

After Grazer’s revelation, neither Netflix nor 20th Century Fox has confirmed the news. A 20th Century Fox representative acknowledged that “although everyone is interested in doing more episodes, we have nothing firm to announce at this time.”

In another report in The Guardian, Netflix head Ted Sarandos made a remark last year about the possible fate of series. When asked about new episodes, he remarked, “It’s just a matter of when.”

One of the show’s stars, Will Arnett had also said, “It’s going to happen, we don’t know when but it is going to happen.”

The show’s creator, Mitchell Hurwitz, who is also one of its executive producers, had recently inked a multiyear deal with Netflix to “produce, develop and create new projects” for the streaming service.

“Arrested Development” is known for launching the careers of Jason Bateman, Michael Cera and David Cera. It has received awards from the Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globes, and has been cited as one of TV’s “funniest shows of all time.”

Source : Christian Post

‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 Reviews, Plot Spoilers: First 4 Episodes Feature New Faces and Even More Exciting Scenes

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‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 Reviews, Plot Spoilers: First 4 Episodes Feature New Faces and Even More Exciting Scenes

Christian Post Report – HBO’s highly-anticipated fifth season of their hit fantasy series “Game of Thrones” still have days left before it premieres to the small screen. But for those who don’t seem to have the patience of a saint could learn some insights from the people who are privileged to view the first four episodes of the show.

Game of Thrones FACEBOOK/ Game of Thrones

HBO’s “Game of Thrones”

As to what these reviews suggested, it seems like fans won’t be disappointed when the TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novel series airs this weekend.

Brian Lowry from Variety said in his report that the coming season will see some of the major characters coming face to face with each other.

“With apologies to a sci-fi classic, the fifth season of ‘Game of Thrones’ could easily be subtitled ‘When Worlds Collide.’ Having spent four magnificent campaigns establishing various constituencies with claims to the Iron Throne, four previewed episodes connect several of them in fascinating ways, while continuing to add new faces to an already sprawling cast,” Variety wrote.

Mike Hale from The New York Times meanwhile dished out that the show will be taking a breather from all the “slaughter and grisly murders” it featured last season.

“Deaths are at a minimum. Several central characters are on the run, but none appears likely to have his or her head imminently removed,” he reported.

For those who took to their heart the news that “GoT” Season 5 will be veering away from the book canon, Vanity Fair said that they shouldn’t worry that much as it didn’t necessarily damaged the whole story.

“Season five does, so far, feel in some ways the most well-rounded season since the first, more confident to ditch side plots that, while cherished by book fans, only serve to weigh down and distract the series,” the site said. “The slimmer, streamlined series is wholly captivating: smart and suspenseful, clever and sad.”

“Game of Thrones” Season 5 premieres this Sunday, April 12, on HBO.

Source : Christian Post

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