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For the majority of this year's NFC Championship Game, it appeared that the Green Bay Packers , not the Seattle Seahawks , would represent the conference in Super Bowl XLIX. However, poor decision making at the goal line and a handful of gaffes late in the game cost the Packers their first trip to the Super Bowl since taking home the Lombardi Trophy four seasons earlier. Despite the loss, Green Bay has a lot to build on. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned his second league MVP award, throwing 38 touchdowns against only five interceptions. Tailback Eddie Lacy became more of a duel threat, catching a career high 42 passes for 427 yards to go with his 1,139 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. At receiver, both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb eclipsed 1,200 yards. While the majority of the Packers' roster is set to return in 2015, there are some players who could depart this offseason and significantly affect the team moving forward. Free agents Randall Cobb Cobb finally broke out in 2014 after three years of steady improvement. Cobb's toughness and versatility were on display throughout the season. He was consistently asked to run suicide routes over the middle and work out of the backfield despite the additional risk of injury and without a long-term commitment from the team. Still, Cobb shined, playing in every game and catching 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. Cobb's price will be decided by how the market views slot receivers. Though highly productive, Cobb lined up out of the slot 87.6 percent of the time since the start of 2012 . Teams tend to value slot receivers significantly less than those that regularly work along the boundaries. As far as the Packers are concerned, Cobb is likely to return if his price stays within the range of most slot receivers, the highest being Victor Cruz's deal, which pays an average of $8.6 million annually. If, however, a team with excess cap space such as the Oakland Raiders decides to blow everyone else out of the water, Green Bay will let Cobb walk. Bryan Bulaga After missing most of the previous two seasons, Bryan Bulaga returned for a mostly healthy 2014 campaign. He started all but one game, and saw his play improve down the stretch. According to Pro Football Focus, Bulaga allowed just one sack after the Packers' Week 9 bye. At the right price, he's a player the team does not want to lose. However, Bulaga is by far the best offensive tackle in a weak free agent class. Any team in search of a quality starter is going to look to him. Consequently, his price could skyrocket once free agency begins. The Packers want him back, but not at any price. While he could return, it looks like a coin flip at this juncture. Letroy Guion and B.J. Raji When Letroy Guion signed with the Packers last offseason, little was expected of him. The team hoped he could provide quality snaps as a reserve to starter B.J. Raji and perhaps play some defensive end in certain sub packages. However, when Raji tore his biceps during the preseason, Guion stepped in to a much larger role. After a poor start, Guion became a reliable nose tackle and part of a vastly improved Green Bay defense. He's a player the Packers were reportedly interested in returning to reprise his 2014 performance. However, Guion was arrested on February 3 for drugs and firearms possession . Now facing felony charges, the odds of the Packers re-signing him seem very slim. Consequently, agreeing to terms with Raji has become a priority for the Packers. Though the quality of his play has dwindled since 2010, he had one of his best training camps and preseasons before the biceps injury. Given the lack of outside interest last offseason, the two sides can probably come together for another one-year "prove it" deal for 2015. Coaching When a team goes to the playoffs six years in a row, they expect to lose far more assistants than the Packers have. So far, the only major departures have been Joe Philbin to Miami and Ben McAdoo to the Giants . While teams tried to pick off some Green Bay coaches this offseason, those requests were denied . However, the Packers have voluntarily made some changes to the staff. Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum was fired after six years. The frontrunner to replace him is current assistant Ron Zook, though that has yet to be determined. Regardless of who replaces him, that's surprisingly little turnover for a team as successful as Green Bay. *** The Packers are likely to lose one of their top free agents this offseason, but few teams have proved better at replacing talent. Green Bay can focus on the draft, replenish its loses and compete for another title in 2015.
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Australia got off to a good start in Saturday's Fed Cup World Group I tie against hosts Germany as Jamila Gajdosova dug deep to come from behind and beat Angelique Kerber. The 27-year-old Gajdosova bounced back from losing the first set to claim a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win at Stuttgart's Porsche Arena over Germany's top player Kerber, ranked 10th in the world. Slovakia-born Gajdosova, ranked 54th, took advantage of the German enduring an off day and needed just an hour, 49 minutes to put Australia 1-0 up against the 2014 Fed Cup finalists. AFP
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Time is running short to fulfill reports free-agent pitcher James Shields will sign a contract for 2015. This much is clear: The New York Yankees are out of the mix. Barring a change made necessary by injury, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told New York radio station WFAN: "The heavy lifting, for right now, is over." MORE: Top remaining free agents | Royals add Edinson Volquez | When do pitchers, catchers report? His Friday comments mean the Yanks won't be adding another big-name free agent, the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. , said. One team that appears to be in play: the Chicago Cubs. As the Cubs continue their massive buildup, Shields could be the final piece in their rotation overhaul. "Wouldn't that be a nice prize or present?" new manager Joe Maddon told the MLB Network Radio show "Inside Pitch" on Friday. Maddon knows Shields from their time with the Tampa Bay Rays. "From day one, I've been talking about James," said Maddon, as reported by The Chicago Tribune . "Shieldsy a tremendous competitor. You've heard me talk about him in the past. Even when Jon Lester came on board, we were talking (about him) even before that." Teams with pitching needs have shied away from Shields, in part because of reports he wants $100 million over five years. And at 33, that's a huge risk. The other drawback: A team signing Shields would fork over its first-round pick in this summer's draft. The Yankees have major question marks in their rotations. CC Sabathia and others are injury risks, the Star-Ledger noted. For now, the San Diego Padres are the team most likely to sign Shields . They need a solid starter, and he is from the San Diego area. Scott Miller of Bleacher Report tweeted Saturday that talks have " heated up and are gaining momentum " between Shields and the Padres. A big selling point for the Padres is Petco Park, one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball. However, the San Diego Union-Tribune said no deal with Shields was imminent. The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins also are in the mix. And Sports Illustrated offered this list of possibilities: St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and the Padres . Several of those teams are known to have balked at signing Shields because of the required compensation and salary demands. When all is said and done, don't dismiss the idea of Shields staying with the Kansas City Royals. They're the one team that could sign him and not have to cough up a high draft pick. In Sporting News' grading of A.L. teams' offseason moves , Jesse Spector saddled the Royals with a D-plus. Retain Shields, and that grade jumps. But the Kansas City Star recently noted Shields doesn't seem to fit the Royals' plans or budget.
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas has seen enough of Bret Bielema in two seasons to make it want the former Wisconsin coach to stick around a while longer. Following its first winning season in three years, the school announced the signing of its football coach to a two-year contract extension on Saturday, keeping Bielema with the Razorbacks through 2020. Bielema, who led to the Razorbacks to a 7-6 season and their first bowl game in three seasons last year, will also receive a raise from his previous $3.2 million salary -- making an average of $4.25 million annually over the six-year deal. He'll make $4 million this year with annual raises of $100,000 after that, culminating with a base salary of $4.5 million in 2020. "Every day since we arrived in Fayetteville, we have worked with our coaches and student-athletes on building something special here at the University of Arkansas," Bielema said in a statement. "We have assembled another great staff and recruiting class to help us continue to move forward in the SEC West." The new contract also raises his buyout, if he were to leave Arkansas, from $2 million to $4 million in 2015. The buyout decreases by $1 million annually through 2018 and is $500,000 in 2019 and $250,000 in 2020. If the school fires Bielema over the next three years, it would owe him $15.4 million. That staggering amount of security drops to $11.7 million in 2018, $7.9 million in 2019 and finally $4 million in 2020. The former Wisconsin coach was 3-9 in his first year in Arkansas in 2013, inheriting the fallout from the Bobby Petrino scandal and one season under interim coach John L. Smith. The Razorbacks dramatically improved in 2014, led by a defense that rose from 76th nationally in 2013 to 10th -- helping the school end a 17-game Southeastern Conference losing streak. Arkansas ended its season with three wins in its final four games, including back-to-back shutouts over LSU and Mississippi as well as a dominating 31-7 win over Texas in the Texas Bowl. "What Coach Bielema and his coaching staff have done for our young men, on and off the field, is something that has dramatically changed the course of our program and most importantly positively impacted the lives of our football student-athletes," Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said.
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Daniel Craig will be transforming into his suited-up secret agent alter ego for the fourth time in the upcoming James Bond installment, Spectre. But where would James Bond be without his girls? The new movie will include four Bond girls - Naomie Harris (returning from Skyfall), Léa Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, and Stephanie Sigman, who will be the first Bond girl from Mexico. The actresses have big shoes - and bikinis - to fill with iconic women starring as Bond girls before them. The very first Bond girl, Linda Christian, played Valerie Mathis in the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale before James Bond films hit the big screen. There have been countless Bond girls over the years, from Pussy Galore to Mary Goodnight to Strawberry Fields, and the most iconic 007 femme fatale would probably be bikini-clad Ursula Andress, who played Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, in 1962. See the bodacious ladies who've wielded guns, showed off their assets, and bedded Bond for the last 50-plus years! Linda Christian Linda played Valerie Mathis in the TV version of Casino Royale in 1954. Ursula Andress Ursula was the iconic Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, Dr. No , in 1962. Daniela Bianchi Daniela played Tatiana Romanova in From Russia With Love in 1963. Honor Blackman Honor played infamous Pussy Galore in 1964's Goldfinger . Tania Mallet Tania Mallet (far right) was Tilly Masterton in Goldfinger . Here she is with the film's other Bond girls Shirley Eaton and Honor Blackman. Claudine Auger Claudine played the sultry Domino in 1965's Thunderball . Karin Dor Karin was the redheaded Helga Brandt in You Only Live Twice in 1967. Mie Hama Mie played Kissy Suzuki in You Only Live Twice . Diana Rigg Diana was Tracy Di Vicenzo in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service . Jill St. John Jill was Tiffany Case in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever . Lana Wood Lana played Plenty O'Toole in Diamonds Are Forever . Jane Seymour Who knew that Jane was a Bond girl? She was Solitaire in Live and Let Die in 1973. Britt Ekland Britt played doe-eyed Mary Goodnight in 1974's The Man With the Golden Gun . Barbara Bach In 1977, Barbara was Major Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me . Corinne Cléry In 1979, Corinne kept her first name playing Corinne Dufour in Moonraker . Lois Chiles In 1979, Lois was Dr. Holly Goodhead in Moonraker . Carole Bouquet Carole held James Bond as Melina in For Your Eyes Only in 1981. Maud Adams Maud had the title role for 1983's Octopussy . Tanya Roberts Tanya donned big '80s hair for her role as Stacey Sutton in A View to a Kill in 1985. Maryam d'Abo Maryam played Kara Milovy in The Living Daylights in 1987. Carey Lowell Carey (left) played Pam Bouvier in 1989's License to Kill . Talisa Soto In 1989, Talisa was Lupe Lamora in License to Kill . Famke Janssen Famke looked stunningly dangerous as Xenia Onatopp in 1995's GoldenEye . Izabella Scorupco Izabella steamed up the screen as Natalya Simonova in GoldenEye . Michelle Yeoh In 1997, Michelle held on to James Bond as Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Dies . Teri Hatcher Before she was a desperate housewife, Teri was Paris Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies . Denise Richards In 1999, Denise got all wet as Dr. Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough . Sophie Marceau In 1999, Sophie enticed James Bond as Elektra King in The World Is Not Enough . Halle Berry Halle made waves in her sexy suit as Jinx Johnson in the 2002 film Die Another Day . Caterina Murino Caterina seduced James Bond as Solange in 2006's Casino Royale . Eva Green Eva smoked up the screen as Vesper Lynd in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale . Gemma Arterton Gemma played redhaired Strawberry Fields in 2008's Quantum of Solace . Olga Kurylenko Olga meant business as vengeful Camille in 2008's Quantum of Solace . Bérénice Marlohe French native Bérénice plays the exotic, potentially dangerous beauty Sévérine opposite Daniel Craig's James Bond in Skyfall . While she initially comes across as cool and confident, there's more to her tough exterior than meets the eye. Naomie Harris British actress Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean) played James Bond's coagent, Eve, who mistakenly shoots Bond while he struggles with a henchman, leading her to being suspended from field work. She still continues to help Bond battle his enemies until the end of the movie when she announces that she will go back to her secretary job at MI6. She then reintroduces herself to Bond as Miss Moneypenny. Harris will be reprising her role as Eve Moneypenny in Spectre alongside three other Bond girls. We can't wait to see the sexy agent in theaters on Nov. 6, 2015 Léa Seydoux The French actress will be starring alongside Daniel Craig in the upcoming film Spectre . Seydoux steamed up the big screen as Emma in Blue Is the Warmest Color . Monica Bellucci The Italian beauty will be making history by starring in Spectre - at 50 years old, she will be playing Lucia Sciarra, becoming the oldest Bond girl ever. Interestingly enough, the actress almost played Paris Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, but casting went with Teri Hatcher instead. Stephanie Sigman Stephanie Sigman will be the first Bond girl from Mexico when she plays a character named Estrella in Spectre . She's known for her roles in the Academy Award-nominated film Miss Bala and TV shows The Bridge and Narcos .
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WASHINGTON The job market remains a frustrating place for America's 9 million unemployed perhaps more so as hiring has accelerated along with job postings. The pace of job growth over the past three months was the fastest in 17 years. The gains spanned nearly every industry, and some employers have finally had to dangle higher pay to attract or retain top talent. And yet millions of job seekers still can't find work. Some businesses remain slow to fill their openings, awaiting the ideal candidate. Many job seekers lack the skills employers require. The plight of the unemployed also reflects an economic reality: Even in the best times, the number of job seekers is typically twice the number of job openings. The January jobs report that the government issued Friday pointed to another factor, too: As hiring strengthens, more people typically start looking for jobs. As the number of job seekers grows, so does competition for work. The number of openings has reached nearly 5 million, the most since 2001. Yet that's barely more than half the number of people the government counts as unemployed. "There's always going to be a set of job vacancies, and there are always going to be a set of people transitioning from unemployment to work," said Tara Sinclair, an economics professor at George Washington University. "The transition isn't instantaneous." For many, the transition can be maddeningly slow. Complaints abound about online job sites that seem to function more as black holes than as gateways to employment. Applicants can't get past online portals to explain gaps in their resumes. Multiple interviews and other steps even for low-paying jobs can prolong the process. Carlie Kozlowich, 23, had three interviews last year with a marketing company for a job she was told would involve "travel" and "events." Only after accepting the job did she learn it involved selling goods at a booth in a Costco. Having amassed roughly $50,000 in debt to earn a college degree, she felt she had to turn it down. "Three interviews just to say, 'Would you like to try a pierogi today?'" she said. Steven Davis, an economist at the University of Chicago, calculates that it took employers an average of 25.6 working days to fill a job in November, the latest period for which data are available. That nearly matched July's figure of 26, the longest in the 14 years that the government has gathered the data Davis uses. An extended hiring period can in some ways be a positive sign: It suggests that companies are having a harder time finding workers because the economy has strengthened. The number of unemployed peaked at 15.4 million in October 2009, just after the recession ended. Still, the fact that it takes companies so long to fill vacancies, even with 9 million people unemployed, suggests that more discouraging factors may be at play. Some companies that are seeking high-skilled workers in fields like information technology and advanced manufacturing complain about a shortage of qualified candidates. Some recruiters and online job sites describe "skills mismatches." Paul D'Arcy, senior vice president at the job listings website Indeed.com, says lower-skilled jobs generally receive a flood of resumes, while higher-skilled positions attract far fewer. Jobs in management, computers and math and architecture and engineering far outnumber job seekers in those fields, according to Indeed's data. That doesn't sit well with Bill Gahan, 51, who has sought work for nearly a year after moving to Salt Lake City. Gahan worked in manufacturing and logistics for 29 years, including as a vice president for logistics at a manufacturer of hardware and software for visually impaired people. Told that some experts think many of the unemployed lack the right skills, Gahan says, "I want to have a conversation with whoever is saying that." Increasingly, many economists agree with Gahan. Though skill shortages exist in some highly technical positions, if shortages of qualified workers were pervasive, employers would likely offer higher pay. Despite a sharp gain in January, average pay still hasn't risen much. Many employers also remain highly selective, perhaps assuming there are still legions of unemployed to choose from. They may be right: There are 6.8 million part-time workers who would prefer full-time jobs 50 percent more than in 2007, before the recession began. The recession also left some companies reluctant to make permanent hires. They have turned instead to temporary and contract workers. All that has left job seekers like Stephen Jones in a bind. A lawyer, Jones hasn't found work since moving to Windermere, Florida, more than a year ago. Besides applying for positions as a lawyer, Jones has lowered his sights and sought legal assistant and paralegal jobs. Having sent out 200-300 resumes, he's heard back once or twice. "What do I do?" asked Jones, 32. "I'm overqualified for some jobs, and I'm underqualified for the jobs that I want to have." Many companies that want to hire don't see the hurry. Explorys, a health care data provider in Cleveland, plans to add 80 people to its 142-person staff this year, mostly in data analysis. The company uses a database to help hospitals manage and anticipate patients' needs. Cleveland is home to several major health care employers and research universities, so Explorys typically has "lots of good candidates" for jobs, says CEO Steve McHale, and tries to identify those who fit its culture and values. "We probably say 'no' more than other companies," he said. Geography can pose a hurdle for some companies that want to hire. Digi-Key, an online seller of electrical components, added 521 jobs last year as sales grew, raising its workforce to 3,300. Yet it's located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, a town of 8,500 an hour from the Canadian border. It has offered relocation bonuses and arranged bus service to nearby cities to find applicants. But Rick Trontvet, vice president for human resources, worries that those measures won't be enough as the company grows. "We have so many jobs and so few people to fill them," Trontvet says. ____ Contact Chris Rugaber on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber
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The Milky Way galaxy is made up of more than just stars and a new series of galactic maps has captured that diversity of gas, dust, particles and magnetic fields in amazing detail. The new Milky Way galaxy maps are based on observations by the European Space Agency's prolific Planck space observatory. They show the Milky Way in four distinct color signals that, when combined into a single mosaic, create a hypnotic view of our home galaxy.The Planck satellite observed the oldest light in the universe during its mission. In the new Milky Way maps, red colors indicate dust, yellow is gas, green is high energy particles, and blue is the magnetic field. "Planck can see the old light from our universe's birth, gas and dust in our own galaxy, and pretty much everything in between, either directly or by its effect on the old light," Charles Lawrence, the U.S. project scientist for the mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said in a statement . Everything in between The Planck satellite was built to detect microwave light, which made it sensitive to something called the cosmic microwave background , or light left over from the big bang. Planck's study of the cosmic microwave background is helping scientists answer questions about the very early days of the universe, such as when the first stars were born . With its microwave vision, Planck can detect more than just the cosmic microwave background. One of the new Milky Way images released by the Planck collaboration is an overview that shows four separate galaxy views, as well as the final view of them combined. The red version (upper left) show the heat coming from dust throughout the Milky Way galaxy. Planck can capture this thermal light even though the dust is extremely cold about minus 420 Fahrenheit (minus 251 Celsius). The yellow version (upper right) shows carbon monoxide gas, which is concentrated in areas where new stars are being born. Meanwhile, the blue image (lower right) shows light created when charged particles get caught up in the Milky Way's magnetic field , and are pulled along like a swimmer in a current. The particles accelerate to nearly the speed of light and begin to radiate. The green image (lower left) shows light that is created by free particles that zip past one another without quite colliding. This kind of light is often associated with hot, ionized gas near massive stars. The $795 million Planck satellite launched in 2009 and collected data for just over four years before being decommissioned in 2013. Last week, the collaboration released the results of a much-anticipated joint study with the BICEP2 collaboration. In March 2014, BICEP2 announced what some scientists took as evidence of inflation in the early universe and evidence of gravitational waves. But the results of the join analysis showed that BICEP2's measurements were contaminated by space dust. Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield . Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com . Stunning Photos of Our Milky Way Galaxy (Gallery) Milky Way Quiz: Test Your Galaxy Smarts Gallery: 65 All-Time Great Galaxy Hits
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Even if you've cross-checked your sources , called your airline and waited until the precise optimal date to book your flight, a sense of panic can set in after the final ticket purchase is made. You're locked. You're loaded. You're taking this flight, and there's no turning back. Right? Not quite, if you're a fan of the same-day flight change . This little-known process allows you to change your domestic flight on almost any major airline for minimal or no fee , provided you swap for a flight that leaves on the same day as your original. It's pretty much the best thing an indecisive traveler could imagine. For example, if your out-of-town meeting ends early, you can pull a same-day flight change and come home on an earlier plane. Or if you're having too much fun visiting friends and need a few more hours to soak it in, you can pull a same-day flight change and leave later. Or if the flight you really want is too expensive at the time of booking, you can purchase a cheaper one and then pull a same-day flight change on the day that you travel, therefore securing a spot on your dream flight for less money . We're just sayin'... it's a pretty smart move. When requesting a same-day flight change, most airlines require you to switch to a flight that not only leaves on the same day as your original one* (see below) but also travels between the same airports . Some airlines allow you to make the swap during the 24 hours before your original flight, while others won't let you do it until midnight on the day of your actual trip. Fees for the swap are rarely over $75, and they're often lower. They vary from $0 (if you've got Gold status on United , for example) to $25 (thanks, Alaska Airlines !), to $50 on Delta and $75 on American . Many airlines offer an online flight change, some require you to make the swap over the phone, and others require you to be inside the airport -- check your airline's "same-day flight change" policy to plan your strategy. (Pro tip: Never underestimate the power of calling an airline rep to explain your situation verbally. When we recently called to swap a flight on JetBlue , the agent allowed us to swap BEFORE the same-day time window, AND she let us fly out of a different airport. Yay for human-to-human connection!) Whenever and however you choose to same-day flight swap, there's no denying it's a cheap way to score a new flight when your trip's timing doesn't work out as planned (or when you want to get more award miles , or when you're hungover...). Here's to hacks and happy travels! *Most airlines require you to swap for a flight that leaves on the same calendar day as your original one. A notable exception is United , which allows you to swap for any flight that departs within 24 hours of the time your request is made.
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BOSTON She was 19, a brand-new mother with a developmental disability. Two days after giving birth to her daughter, the state took the infant away and placed her in foster care. Massachusetts child welfare officials contend the young woman couldn't properly care for a newborn and insist they acted in the child's best interests. But the federal government disagrees: It says the state violated her civil rights by discriminating against her because of her disability. In a new report, the Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services say the state Department of Children and Families which has moved to terminate the mother's parental rights needs to compensate her and give her a chance to prove she can care for her daughter, or it could face a federal lawsuit. The National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency advising the White House and Congress, says the case points up a growing problem: states needlessly taking custody of the children of disabled parents. "Parents with disabilities are suffering significant discrimination," said Robyn Powell, an attorney for the council. "What happened to this mother is very common ... States are moving these children for the sole reason of their parents having a disability." Now 21, and identified in the federal report only by the pseudonym "Sara Gordon," the young woman's ordeal began as she was still recovering from childbirth in November 2012. Federal authorities describe her as having a "mild intellectual disability" that makes it difficult for her to read and follow verbal instructions. They say she requires "repetition, hands-on instruction and frequency" to learn new things such as how to feed a baby and change diapers. "DCF staff assumed that Ms. Gordon was unable to learn how to safely care for her daughter because of her disability, and, therefore, denied her the opportunity to receive meaningful assistance," said the two federal agencies, which conducted a joint civil rights investigation. Their 26-page report, dated Jan. 29, says Massachusetts should provide the mother with services and support so she can have a shot at regaining custody of her daughter; pay damages to the family; and withdraw a petition to terminate the mother's parental rights that's currently in state court. They also called for broader changes, saying the case highlights "systemic failures by DCF to ensure social workers follow appropriate policies and procedures and have necessary training to perform their duties without discriminating on the basis of disability." The National Council on Disability has documented similar cases across the country, including a Kansas City, Missouri, couple who had their daughter taken into state custody because they were both blind, and a quadriplegic mother in Chicago who waged a lengthy legal battle to keep custody of her son. In the past, state child welfare officials have defended placing such children in foster care out of grave concerns for their adequate care and well-being. Cayenne Isaksen, a DCF spokeswoman, said the agency will be responding to the federal government's report. "DCF believes it acted in the best interest of the child," she said, without elaborating. Through their lawyers, the young mother and her family declined requests by The Associated Press to be interviewed. Their lawyers said community service providers support the family's plan to care for the little girl, who is now 2. The grandparents want to be designated as the child's legal guardians and have promised to continue helping their daughter, who lives with them, learn to care for the toddler. "This mother has good supports. There are no issues of substance abuse or domestic violence," said Mark Watkins, a lawyer for the mother. "I have complete confidence in the ability of this family to parent this child safely." Watkins said the mother, who is working to finish her high school degree, hasn't given up on her daughter visiting her regularly and taking courses to improve her parenting skills. "She has been resilient. She's been disappointed at nearly every turn by the court and the department," Watkins said. "But she has never stopped trying. She never quit. A lesser person would have given up by now."
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Whoever wears the Miss Universe crown can expect to be invited to star-studded cocktail parties, balls, charity events and galas. The newly crowned Miss Universe, however, has been given a different kind of invitation. Leftist Farc rebels, from Pauline Vega's native Colombia, want her to visit them in Havana, where they are trying to negotiate a peace deal with the Colombian government. In a brief letter, Farc leaders invited the beauty queen to Havana "to inform [her] about the development of the negotiation process, its progress and the contributions that you and the great majorities who wish for peace can offer". Vega, a 22-year-old model and student of business administration who was named Miss Universe on 25 January at a pageant in Florida, said in a post-crowning interview she would be "willing to go to Havana so that a peace deal can be signed". Taking her up on her offer, Farc said they were willing to "address her questions and esteem her opinions as a valuable contribution toward peace". The last time a Colombian wore the Miss Universe crown was in 1958, a year in which the country began a brief period of peace following a bloody partisan war known simply as "The Violence". In 1964, Farc rose up against the state, demanding more equality. They have been fighting ever since. Since negotiations between Farc and the Colombian government began, in 2012, the two sides have reached draft agreements on three of six negotiating points aimed at ending the armed struggle. A half-century of conflict has left at least 200,000 people dead and nearly 6 million displaced. A public opinion poll published on Friday showed that less than half of Colombians 47% believe peace talks will conclude in a deal to end the conflict, while 44% do not. In a country where the rebels are largely loathed and beauty queens are revered, an endorsement of the peace process by Miss Universe could go a long way toward convincing doubters.
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Testimony from a lawsuit says the "20th 9/11 hijacker," Zacarias Moussaoui, claims that Saudi Arabia was involved in financing the 9/11 attacks.
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Counterterrorism analyst Philip Mudd says there are too many coincidences that disprove ISIS claims that a Jordanian airstrike killed its American hostage.
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The initial response across the mixed martial arts (MMA) community when it was revealed that former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Anderson Silva had failed a pre-fight drug test prior to his victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 183 for performance enhancing drugs (PED), was complete and utter shock. Among those surprised to hear the news "The Spider" failed for anabolic steroids was former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. If you recall, part of the reason "GSP" left the sport of MMA was due to the rampant drug testing issues . Speaking with Le Press de Montreal ( via Yahoo ), St-Pierre gave his thoughts on the unfortunate situation: "Like everyone else, I was surprised when I heard the news." "I don't wish them any ill will; it's terrible what happened to Anderson Silva - to his career, and also to him physically. It's not my intention to bash anyone, either. I'm not a rat and I'll never go public and name names to reporters. My only hope is that we deal with this [PED] problem. I hope if one thing comes out of this, it's that testing will be done more stringently." "I really don't know [if this will prompt the UFC to increase out-of-competition drug testing]. Maybe nothing will change. It depends on a lot of people." St-Pierre himself attempted to ramp up drug testing procedures late in his career, but after the UFC 167 drug testing debacle with Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA)/World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) , "GSP" opted to simply take a sabbatical from the sport -- which is looking more like retirement as the days continue to slip by. With fighters seemingly failing drug tests in each successive event, the epidemic must be nipped in the bud by UFC and athletic commissions across the country if the sport is to have any credibility moving forward. This is not the first -- nor the last -- time a fighter will test positive for some sort of banned substance, but as "GSP" indicated, it is time for more stringent testing and harsher punishments in order to curb the issue at hand. For more on the Anderson Silva drug testing scandal, follow along on our story stream right here.
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Sophy Robson shows you how to give a luxurious, pampering pedicure for your man for Valentine's Day.
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By Kelly McMillan for Fathom | There's nothing quite like snuggling up with your sweetie after a day on the slopes. Add a hot toddy, a crackling fire, and surroundings like high peaks, snow, and solitude and you might never return to the real world. So grab your honey, hightail it to your favorite ski country in the Rockies or the Alps, and get cozy at one of these five incredible hotels. THE ROCKIES Mica Heliskiing in British Columbia, Canada If you like your skiing with a side of luxury, look no further. Mica Heliskiing is one of the world's premiere heliskiing operations, offering first-rate powder and a spiffy new lodge. Though it's hard to go wrong heliskiing what with a chopper and hundreds of miles of untracked snow at your disposal it's harder to find a heliski op that can match its service and accommodation with the quality of its skiing. Mica does that, and then some. If a remote mountainside location miles from civilization that requires a helicopter to access, a hot tub overlooking Lake Kinbaskett, and rooms with spectacular views and 1,000-thread linens don't get your juices flowing, then you might be hopeless. Oh, and then there's the snow: up to 60 feet of it per year. Tempter House in Telluride, Colorado Perched at 12,200 feet in the Rocky Mountains, the Tempter House is a private getaway for two atop Telluride Mountain Ski resort. There are no roads to this pad. No, you'll ski right to the door. When the lifts wind down, ski patrol is on hand to whisk you by snowmobile back home, maybe after dinner in town. With a Jacuzzi, a fireplace, and 360-degree views of the majestic San Juans, not to mention guaranteed first tracks and solitude, it may be the ultimate couple's retreat. Then again, the name "Tempter" says it all. THE ALPS Bella Tola in St. Luc, Switzerland Tucked into an obscure Swiss valley two hours by car from Geneva, the Bella Tola is a refurbished 19th-century mountain hotel that effortlessly blends its history and Alpine heritage with modern creature comforts. Rooms have sumptuous canopy beds, crystal chandeliers, and fresh bouquets of roses. Hit the spa for the steam room, sauna, and indoor pool. (Make like a Euro and go au naturel.) Book Le Mayen, a charming, traditional-style chalet for two a perfect love nest on a nearby property. Meals and makings for picnics are delivered daily to your door. You won't have to leave for anything, except for raclette in the main hotel every Tuesday night and to explore the valley's four ski resorts and quaint, 15th-century villages. 3,200 Chalet in La Grave, France On the old road to Rome, an hour outside of Grenoble, lies the hardcore skier's paradise of La Grave. It's a 12th-century village at the foot of a massive mountain covered in untracked powder, steep skiing, glaciers, and one ski lift. You have to hire a guide to tap its snowy bounty and stay alive. Spend the night atop the mountain at 3,200 Chalet, a luxury igloo kitted out with cozy sleeping bags for two, candles, and spectacular starry views. Hotel Krone in Lech, Austria There's a saying in Austria's Arlberg Mountains: You take your wife to Lech, your girlfriend to Zürs, and your skis to St. Anton. Regardless of which village you choose, for all the women in dirndls, secret mountain restaurants, and plentiful snow, you're all but guaranteed to fall in love. Stay at the elegant Hotel Krone, five-star, family-run digs that date back to the 18th century. The food is amazing don't miss the fondue Bourguignonne and the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, mountain views, and luxe furnishings. Return from a day on the slopes to top-notch après ski, a ski valet, and a drawn bath surrounded by candles. READ MORE ON FATHOM The World's Most Romantic Hotels Alpine Skiing in Lech Zürs am Arlberg Love Letter: St. Regis Deer Valley
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When the New York Yankees open spring training, they hope to find a happy infielder ready to deliver 15-20 home runs. That infielder? Alex Rodriguez. But first, A-Rod and GM Brian Cashman have a few things to discuss. Talks this week set the stage for what the Yankees see as the final step in bringing Rodriguez back into the family. Ponder for a second: Rodriguez will be paid $1 million for every home run he hits, if David Cone's projection is correct. And it seems likely A-Rod will be doing it as a designated hitter. Call it "clearing the air," a term tossed around frequently this offseason regarding Rodriguez and his return to the good graces of the Yankees and Major League Baseball. To recap: Rodriguez was suspended all last season for his involvement in the Biogenesis case involving performance-enhancing drugs. He has met with new commissioner Rob Manfred and will soon meet with Cashman. Yankees pitchers are scheduled to report to Tampa on Feb. 20. The full squad is due Feb. 25. Might not be a bad idea for Rodriguez to show up early. "There's a lot that has transpired over the last couple of years. We want to make sure everyone is on the same page," manager Joe Girardi said this week . Alex is one of our players and our job is to get the best out of him. We will continue to support him." Cashman's take on meeting with A-Rod? "It cannot hurt," he said on Friday. "There's no reason not to." And yes, there is plenty to discuss. "We are all going to have to find our way through all that at some point," Cashman said. "The only way to do that is to have a conversation." As the New York Post notes, the talks will include not only A-Rod's return but residual hard feelings from lawsuits he filed when suspended. Those suits, now dropped, involved the Yankees, MLB and team doctor Chris Ahmad. It lists six questions likely to get an airing . Cone is something of an insider as a Yankees broadcaster, and he spoke of A-Rod while on New York radio station WFAN on Friday. Cone talked up Rodriguez as a positive person in the clubhouse. But he also acknowledged the 800-pound gorilla in the room "As far as the external issues, the steroids issues, that's something that's not going away," Cone said. "Yeah it's going to be a distraction, but the Yankees are prepared for that." And Cone is sure Rodriguez will be ready to hit the field. " I wouldn't put it past him ... If he can get three or four hundred at-bats and stay healthy, he's a 15-20 home run guy." Enjoy those million-dollar homers.
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Harry Kane's fine season continued in Saturday's 174th North London derby as he struck twice after the break to earn Tottenham a 2-1 win over rival Arsenal at White Hart Lane. Arsenal without injured forward Alexis Sanchez was on course for the club's first back-to-back victories at Spurs since the late 1980s after taking the lead in Arsene Wenger's 700th Premier League game in charge. However, Kane rewarded with a new contract at the beginning of the week had other ideas as he turned the game on its head following Mesut Ozil's opener to give Spurs a first derby win in five attempts. Despite the host controlling the match early, the in-form Ozil opened the scoring 11 minutes in after an incisive counterattack, with Spurs initially frustrated in their attempts to get back on level terms. Tottenham's pressure eventually paid off when Kane grabbed his first derby goal to draw level in the 56th minute, and the England Under-21 international took his tally to 11 goals from his last 14 Spurs appearances late with a superb header. Arsenal's five-match winning run in all competitions came to an end, Tottenham leapfrogging its rival into the top four. Tottenham edged a cagey opening, with David Ospina forced to tip Kane's early effort wide before the Colombian easily collected Danny Rose's disappointing delivery from the left. In Arsenal's first purposeful foray forward, the recalled Danny Welbeck burst past a surprisingly sluggish Rose to square for Olivier Giroud in the center. The Frenchman cleverly helped the ball onto Ozil, with the Germany international able to angle his body and volley past Hugo Lloris to score for a third straight game. An increased intensity from both sides saw chances flow before the half-hour mark, with Rose threatening Ospina's goal twice more down the left. However, the Arsenal defense stood firm to soak up Spurs' pressure wasteful finishing from Christian Eriksen and Ryan Mason helping their opponents' cause. Welbeck was required to clear Eriksen's dangerous free kick late in the first half and Spurs started the brighter after the break. A lack of cutting edge in the final third continued to be their downfall until Kane drew his side level with a cool finish at the back post after Ospina had failed to palm Erik Lamela's corner out of danger. The goal was no more than Spurs' pressure deserved but Welbeck almost put Arsenal back in front soon after his curling effort kept out at full stretch by Lloris. Ospina was called on again to deny Kane having initially saved Nabil Bentaleb's shot but the 21-year-old would not be denied as he further cemented his status as Spurs' latest fan favorite. Kane's 22nd goal in all competitions came courtesy of a wonderful arching header from Bentaleb's cross as the striker impressed again in front of watching England manager Roy Hodgson.
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U.S.-led forces launched 15 air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and 11 in Syria, the U.S. military said on Saturday, adding that nine targets in Syria centered around the border city of Kobani that was recaptured from the militants last month. The Kobani strikes hit seven of the militants' tactical units and destroyed five vehicles and two staging areas, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement. The strikes in Iraq targeted northern areas including al Qaim, Kirkuk, Mahkmur, Mosul and Tal Afar, it said. The strikes took place in a 24-hour period beginning Friday. (Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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Check out what happens when a train has to get through an incredibly large amount of snow
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An accused Times Square "Spider-Man" cop-puncher was cleared Friday after prosecutors declined to bring a case against him. Junior Bishop, 25, was charged with assault, criminal mischief and resisting arrest after allegedly clocking a cop, breaking the officer's glasses and causing injuries to his face in the November scuffle as cops tried to arrest the comic character for soliciting tips, officials said. On Friday, the Manhattan district attorney's office consented to the case's dismissal on speedy trial grounds. Prosecutors did not give a reason for the unusual move. [email protected]
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Lauren Hill has an impressive list of accomplishments. She's a college student, basketball player, childhood cancer advocate and much more. Now she can add doctor to that list. Mount St. Joseph University presented Hill with an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree Friday evening at a ceremony attended by family, friends and faculty. "Lauren has served as an inspiration to us all," Mount St. Joseph President Tony Aretz said in a news release. "Her determined spirit, positive attitude and love of God have taught us all valuable lessons as she has lived the Mount's mission." After Hill walked down the aisle, she surprised everyone by putting on her "Super Hero" blue cape, something she wears when she visits other cancer patients. Last week, Hill was named the 2014 Spirit of Cincinnati USA Ambassador by the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau. She was presented the award at a Mount St. Joseph women's basketball game. Hill, a 19-year-old Mount St. Joseph University student, is battling a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer. She has become an advocate for pediatric brain cancer awareness and research. She was diagnosed at 18 when she was attending Lawrenceburg High School. She dreamed of playing basketball in college and achieved that goal on Nov. 2. Emilie Eaton writes for The Cincinnati Enquirer, a Gannett company.
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Eating blueberries every day might improve borderline high blood pressure in middle-aged women, according to a small U.S. study. Women who ate freeze-dried blueberries for two months had lowered blood pressure and increased levels of a chemical that relaxes blood vessel walls. "This tells us that blueberries may improve the health of blood vessels in addition to reducing blood pressure," said Sarah Johnson, a nutrition and exercise researcher at Florida State University in Tallahassee who led the study. Johnson and her coauthors do not suggest that blueberries should replace hypertension medications. But they say the berries might help offset a tendency toward rising blood pressure and stiffening blood vessels after menopause that raises women's heart disease risk. Past research has suggested that blueberries may help lower blood pressure, the authors write in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Some studies have also indicated that the flavonoids and other healthy plant compounds in blueberries may help to boost nitric oxide, a chemical that affects the cells that line blood vessel walls. The 48 women in the study were all past menopause, with an average age of 55 and borderline high blood pressure. For eight weeks, half the women consumed 22 grams (about 1.5 tablespoons) of freeze-dried blueberry powder every day (equivalent to a cup of fresh blueberries) and the other half consumed an identical-looking powder that didn't contain blueberry. At the beginning of the study, then four and eight weeks later, researchers measured their blood pressure and the stiffness of their arteries. According to the American Heart Association, a blood pressure reading of less than 120 mm Hg for the top number and less than 80 mm Hg for the bottom number is considered healthy. All the women in the study were either close enough to the top of the healthy range to be considered "pre-hypertensive" or already in the low end of the hypertension range. At the start, the average blood pressure in both groups of women was 138/79 mm Hg. After four weeks, it hadn't changed in either group. After eight weeks, however, women who had been eating blueberry powder had an average blood pressure of 131/75 mm Hg, representing a drop of 5 to 6 percent. The readings of women eating the fake powder had not changed. The researchers also found that blood nitric oxide levels rose by 68 percent among women eating the real blueberry powder. The rise in nitric oxide, which would relax and widen blood vessel walls, could have contributed to their lower blood pressure, according to Johnson. She said the blood pressure decrease in the blueberry group is significant when compared to blood pressure medications and other types of interventions, but that it also depends on the individual. "People respond differently to medications and in some people medications are even less effective than this," she said. "Some medications may work better but may also have negative side effects." Freeze-dried blueberry powder is available in stores and online for around $2 to $5 per ounce. For women in the 50 to 55 age range who have borderline high blood pressure, medication isn't always recommended, according to Dr. Chileshe Nkonde-Price, director of the Penn Women's Cardiovascular Center in Philadelphia, who was not involved with the study. "Menopausal women who are often in that 'gray zone' can manage their blood pressure by maintaining a normal body weight through diet and exercise and watching their sodium intake," she said. "But that can be hard to implement in everyday life." Nkonde-Price thinks adding a cup of blueberries to a daily diet is "simple" and something her patients can easily handle. More research into understanding how blueberries affect arterial function is needed, however, Nkonde-Price said. "This study opens the gateway for other foods or other drugs that could lower blood pressure through the same mechanism," she said. "I'd like to see more studies that show why foods or drugs work through this pathway." SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1C5buor Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, online January 8, 2015. (By Linda Thrasybule)
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Hear why one mother of two continues to breast-feed her 6-year-old daughter. OB-GYN Dr. Jennifer Ashton weighs in on when parents should wean their children.
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Manchester City's 1-1 draw at home to Hull City allowed Chelsea to establish a seven-point lead in the Premier League by winning 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday. City had kept Chelsea within their sights by holding Jose Mourinho's side to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last weekend, but after slipping up against Hull, the champions' grip on the title is weakening. James Milner earned the hosts a share of the points with an injury-time free-kick after David Meyler had put Hull ahead in the first half, but City have now won only once in six league games. "It is difficult to know what the reason is for the spark going," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini. "Every point you lose, it is more difficult to recover. But in football you never know. We are not thinking about Chelsea. "They are six (seven) points clear, but can lose games. We are thinking about our performance." Pellegrini fielded Edin Dzeko up front alongside Sergio Aguero, but it was Hull, who began the game in the bottom three, who showed the greater enterprise. Ahmed Elmohamady hit the crossbar with a header from a Robbie Brady cross before Meyler broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, sweeping home after Gaston Ramirez's low shot hit the right-hand post. After Aguero had hit the bar in the second half, Milner bent in a 25-yard free-kick in the 92nd minute, but it could not prevent City registering a fifth game without a win in all competitions. Chelsea took full advantage as Mourinho claimed his first victory at Villa Park at the sixth attempt. Eden Hazard broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, finishing from Willian's incisive pass after Oscar had found space on the right. The unmarked Jores Okore headed in a 48th-minute equaliser, ending an 11-hour goal drought for Villa, but Branislav Ivanovic restored Chelsea's lead with a powerful left-foot shot in the 66th minute. "It is one more hurdle in the title race, but there are many more," Mourinho told the BBC. On City's slip-up, he added: "I like, but that was not my concern today. I was never in the game asking for that result. We have to think about us and focus on our matches." - Kane sinks Arsenal - Earlier, local favourite Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogged Champions League qualification rivals Arsenal by coming from behind to win a pulsating north London derby 2-1. Mesut Ozil volleyed Arsenal in front at White Hart Lane, but a ferocious Tottenham onslaught saw Kane net a 56th-minute equaliser before heading in a sensational winner four minutes from time. The home-grown striker's double, his 21st and 22nd goals of the campaign, took Mauricio Pochettino's side up to fifth place, a point above Arsenal, who fell to sixth. "The fans were incredible, the atmosphere was like lightning and I will remember this for the rest of my career," Kane told BT Sport. "My first London derby, and to win the way we did by digging deep, it's incredible. I probably won't sleep tonight." Ozil converted Olivier Giroud's mishit shot in the 11th minute, but it provoked a wave of Spurs attacks that culminated in Kane tucking in an equaliser after David Ospina parried Mousa Dembele's header. Kane then settled it at the death, meeting Nabil Bentaleb's left-wing cross with a textbook header to condemn Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to defeat in his 700th Premier League game. Spurs briefly crept into the top four, but they slipped back after Southampton claimed a last-gasp 1-0 win at second-bottom Queens Park Rangers, who are without a manager after Harry Redknapp's resignation. Senegalese forward Sadio Mane struck in the 93rd minute to take Ronald Koeman's side above Manchester United and into third place, ahead of United's trip to West Ham United on Sunday. Bottom club Leicester City remain three points adrift of safety after losing 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace, who prevailed via a 55th-minute Joe Ledley header. Meanwhile, Swansea City rescued a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland after Jermain Defoe's first-half opener was cancelled out by a 66th-minute header from Ki Sung-yueng. In Saturday's late game, Liverpool visit Everton for what will be Steven Gerrard's last Merseyside derby before he leaves Anfield for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
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Now that the 2014 NFL season is over, it's time to take a look into preparations for the 2015 season with the NFL Scouting Combine less than two weeks away in Indianapolis. This is one in a series of team-by-team looks at the needs of each NFC team. Other NFC divisions will be posted throughout the day. Tomorrow, a team-by-team look at the AFC's offseason needs for 2015. DALLAS COWBOYS Jerry Jones finally got the talent mix right, and the league's most consistent offensive line enabled Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray to form the most efficient QB-WR-RB trio in the NFL. Lack of depth on defense caught up to the NFC East champions against the Packers in the playoffs, though. A tight salary cap situation should make for an interesting offseason. Contract issues: There are many. Bryant and Murray are both free agents, as are right tackle Jermey Parnell, outside linebackers Bruce Carter and Justin Durant and defensive ends Anthony Spencer and George Selvie. Rolando McClain, a revelation at inside linebacker, is also unrestricted. Starting corners Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne have both underperformed but there's no easy way for Dallas to get out of those contracts. Draft pickings: If the Cowboys opt to keep Bryant and can't come to a deal with Murray, selecting Wisconsin back Melvin Gordon or even Georgia's Todd Gurley who tore his ACL last season -- at No. 27 makes sense. Dallas could also opt to add a defensive end or cornerback. NEW YORK GIANTS Last season wasn't a total disaster. The Giants finished 6-10, but rookie WR Odell Beckham Jr. emerged as one of the most exciting players in football. Now the Giants need to improve their offensive line, run game and defense. Contract issues: Eli Manning has a cap hit of almost $20 million, so New York needs be sure he's well protected. Veteran safeties Antrel Rolle who had a $9 million cap hit Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps are free agents, as is outside linebacker Jacquian Williams. Keeping sack leader Jason Pierre-Paul will be a priority, but it could mean the team opts to part with popular end Mathias Kiwanuka, who has restructured his deal several times but still costs too much. Draft pickings: New York is probably hoping Iowa OT Brandon Scherff slips to No. 9, as he has the potential to make an impact right away. They'll look for more line help, a tight end, pass rushers and safeties later in the draft. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Chip Kelly learned the hard way in 2014 that an innovative, quick-fire offense can indeed punish any defense especially his own. Philadelphia's offense wasn't quite as effective thanks to injuries at the QB position and the defense was forced to spend too much time on the field. It finished 31st in passing yards allowed and looked feeble in losses to Green Bay the Packers scored 53 points and in a late-season three-game losing streak against Seattle, Dallas and Washington that cost the team a playoff spot. Contract issues: The Eagles aren't in terrible shape here. Leading receiver Jeremy Maclin is a free agent and Philly would like to keep him. Outside linebacker Brandon Graham, also unrestricted, has played well but is not a great fit for the scheme. Another pass rusher, Trent Cole, could become a cap casualty because of his $11.6 million hit. CB Cary Williams is supposed to earn more than $8 million but has been a major disappointment. Draft pickings: Kelly's yearning for a reunion with QB Marcus Mariota, who he coached at Oregon, is well known but highly unlikely. Philly picks 20th and will likely focus on defense, where corner and linebacker are the most-glaring areas of need. WASHINGTON REDSKINS It's difficult to imagine a way in which Jay Gruden's first year as head coach could have gone worse. Washington won four games, supposed franchise QB Robert Griffin III played poorly and never seemed happy, his backups were merely OK, players vented about locker room troubles and fans appeared to finally grow tired of waiting for the franchise to figure things out. The roster is thin and a new general manager has been tasked with somehow making it work. It will take time. Contract issues: New GM Scot McCloughan has emphasized the importance of building through the draft, but Washington hasn't been able to add top-level young talent in recent years thanks to the trade for Griffin. He'll need to shed older, overpaid veterans defensive linemen Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield are prime candidates, as is guard Chris Chester and even CB DeAngelo Hall and make careful moves on the open market to fill holes. One thing to watch: Washington has almost $20 million committed for WRs Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. Draft pickings: Washington needs to rebuild both its offensive and defensive lines. The Redskins also need new safeties. They'll have a first-round pick for the first time since 2012 and will have several options at No. 5.
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Move over astronaut ice cream, Russian space food tubes have arrived. As of Friday (Feb. 6), the All-Russian Exhibition Center in Moscow now sells authentic cosmonaut food to the public, the state-run Sputnik news service reported. The center, a sprawling trade show also known by the Russian acronym VDNKh, is marketing the cosmic cuisine in toothpaste-like tubes. "Visitors [to VDNKh] will have a chance to try a full-course cosmonaut menu, including four kinds of soups, various meat dishes and a variety of desserts," the Sputnik report said. "According to organizers, there will be 11 variations of tubes, each tasting like a different kind of food." The selection, according to the Russian website Menu.ru, include marinated lamb and pork with vegetables, cottage cheese dessert with sea buckthorn fruit, and apricot, apple and blackcurrant puree. [ The Evolution of Space Food in Photos ] The tubes, which are offered through a vending machine, cost 300 rubles, or about $4.50, each. They are produced by the same factory and using the same methods as the food that is prepared for the Russian cosmonauts onboard the International Space Station. "Producers do not use any genetically-modified products and assure that the food in the tubes is made from natural ingredients only," the news service noted. Space food packaged in tubes was common to both the early Russian and American crewed flights of the 1960s. Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who in April 1961 became the first human to launch into space, had tubes of meat paste and chocolate sauce aboard his Vostok capsule. Similarly John Glenn, the United States' first astronaut in orbit and the first NASA astronaut to eat any type of food in space , had pureed beef and vegetables packed into an aluminum tube on his February 1962 Mercury mission. On NASA space missions, squeeze tubes soon gave way to plastic packages and foil-lined pouches. Russian flights also transitioned to canned foods and plastic pouches for their cosmonaut meals, but still employed tubes for soups (like borscht) and drinks. The new VDNKh vending machine is not the first time that space food samples have been sold to the public. Boxed Russian cosmonaut meals have been offered in the past and freeze-dried American foods, including "astronaut" ice cream (which flew into space only once, onboard Apollo 7 in 1968) are commonly offered in museum gift shops. Other nations' space edibles have also gone commercial, including Japanese, Korean and Chinese samples, as well as dishes prepared for the European Space Agency's crew members. The VDNKh exhibition center includes the Monument to the Conquerors of Space and Cosmonautics Museum, and recently became the new home to the Buran space shuttle that for years was exhibited at Gorky Park. The addition of the space food vending machine is the first part of a new renovation to the complex's space pavilion. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @ collectSPACE . Copyright 2015 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. 3D Printed Food Development Funded By NASA | Video Zero-G Coffee Cup Design Patented By Astronaut, Others | Video Mock Mars Explorers Roam Hawaii: HI-SEAS Food Mission Photos
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) When Alan Page's Hall of Fame football career ended, he charged into his new legal career with the tenacity that made him a feared member of the Minnesota Vikings' Purple People Eaters, eventually becoming the first black member of the Minnesota Supreme Court. After 22 years on the state's high court, Page is preparing for another major change in August when he hits the court's mandatory retirement age of 70. His will be an active retirement, though. It will involve spending more time on his philanthropic work aimed at students of color, and perhaps even teaching. Page tells The Associated Press he might even have some down time along the way. But he says he still finds the work of being a justice as fascinating as the day he started.
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It gives new meaning to the phrase "nose candy." A Belgian chocolatier is banking on chocolate lovers' desire to get their fix by any means necessary. Dominique Persoone owns a shop called The Chocolate Line in Bruges, Belgium, and right alongside the bacon-quinoa bonbons and chocolate bars he sells a device for snorting chocolate . According to a video posted by The Guardian , Persoone says he's sold 25,000 of the devices since he invented it back in 2007 for a party for two members of the Rolling Stones (a band perhaps almost as legendary for its gratuitous drug use as for its music). As the video explains, "He never imagined demand would stretch much beyond the rock 'n roll scene." Clearly Persoone underestimated the population's burning desire to inhale new and unusual substances. Persoone says his strange invention was inspired by a device that his grandfather used to snort tobacco. The so-called "chocolate shooter," which resembles a mini-catapult made of clear plastic, comes loaded with single-origin cocoa powder cut with mint and either ginger or raspberry for that zingy fresh feeling. Persoone, who has previously worked with chefs like Albert Adrià and Heston Blumenthal, claims he's not promoting drug use, saying, "Life is boring. Let's have fun." For those not keen on shelling out the cash for a chocolate-snorting device, maybe just set out some cocoa powder and Sour Straws at your next house party?
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Mozilla A startup looking to build a streaming-media stick based on Firefox OS acknowledged this week that it won't ship the product as scheduled. Matchstick, which hoped to ship its product to Kickstarter backers by this month, said it is delaying shipments until August to redesign the product with a faster processor and support for digital rights management technology. "It's been a very busy couple of months and we've had to make some hard decisions about how to move forward," the company said in explaining its decision. "We've decided to release the product when it is ready, and anticipate that to be in August 2015." Matchstick is backed by Chinese hardware maker aBitCool and other investors, general manager Jack Chang told Re/code last September. The product finds itself competing against an ever-increasing array of big-name companies with top-tier content, including Google's Chromecast and streaming-media sticks from Amazon and Roku.
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul made his feelings known regarding the officiating in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, and now he'll have to pay up. According to Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group, the NBA fined CP3 $25,000 for his critical comments: Clippers G Chris Paul has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating following the Clippers 105-94 loss to #Cavs on Thursday. Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 7, 2015 On the heels of L.A.'s 105-94 defeat against the Cavs, Paul singled out referee Lauren Holtkamp for what he believed was poor officiating, per ESPN.com's Arash Markazi : I think we have to show better composure, but at the same time some of [the technical fouls] were ridiculous. The tech that I get right there was ridiculous. I don't care what nobody says, I don't care what she says; that's terrible. There's no way that can be a tech. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh.' I said, 'Why, uh-uh?' And she gave me a tech. That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her. National Basketball Referees Association, , according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: NBRA's Seham on Chris Paul's digs at Holtkamp: "The NBRA deplores the personal and unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul. She belongs." Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 6, 2015 While players are subject to fines for criticizing officials regardless of the context, there is no question Paul is under the microscope more than most because Holtkamp is a woman. However, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach and former WNBA star Becky Hammon doesn't believe gender had anything to do with Paul's opinion: Chris Paul @CP3 is a competitor & he had an opinion, I don't think it had anything to do with the refs gender. Becky Hammon (@BeckyHammon) February 6, 2015 Even so, the 29-year-old star's wallet just got a bit lighter. Based on the media firestorm that's erupted since Paul spoke critically of Holtkamp, one can only assume that he will think twice about criticizing officials no matter their gender moving forward. Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says that the international community will react if Russia continues on its current course in Ukraine. Rough Cut (No Reporter Narration)
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Western leaders challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday to prove he wants peace in Ukraine, warning both sides a new Franco-German peace drive may be a "last chance" to stop all-out war. In a dramatic gesture at a gathering of world leaders in Germany, Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko brandished passports and military ID cards he said were captured from Russian soldiers deep inside the country. "Today a former strategic partner is waging a hidden war against a sovereign state," he said at the Munich Security Conference (MSC). Fresh fighting in the former Soviet republic claimed 12 more lives as Kiev warned the Russian-backed separatists were planning a new offensive. German Chancellor Angela Merkel set the MSC agenda as she championed a last-ditch peace plan she and French President Francois Hollande took to Putin in Moscow late Friday. "It is uncertain whether it will lead to success, but from my point of view and that of the French president it is definitely worth trying," she said. US Vice President Joe Biden voiced both support and scepticism, saying: "Given Russia's recent history, we need to judge its deeds not its words. Don't tell us, show us, President Putin!" "Too many times President Putin has promised peace and delivered tanks and troops and weapons". Hollande said the stakes could not be higher, warning that the new peace plan was "one of the last chances" to halt the 10-month-old conflict. "If we fail to find a lasting peace agreement, we know the scenario perfectly well -- it has a name, it is called war." - 'Honourable peace' - While Western leaders were united in condemning Russia for supporting rebels, they differed on whether to back Ukraine's beleaguered army with weapons. Momentum has built in Washington for giving Kiev high-tech military equipment but Merkel insisted such a step would only make matters worse. "I can't conceive of a situation where better armaments for the Ukrainian army would so impress President Putin that he believes he will militarily lose," she said. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann also voiced opposition to arming Ukrainian troops. "I do not believe military action is the way to resolve conflict. I am opposed to sending arms," Faymann told the Austrian Kurier daily. Biden, however, insisted Ukraine had the right to defend itself and pledged that Washington, which has so far provided non-lethal military equipment such as flak vests and helmets, would stick by Kiev. "We will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance. Not to encourage war but to allow Ukraine to defend itself," he said. "Let me be clear: We do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine. But let me be equally clear: We do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing." - 'There's no war' - Putin, meanwhile, said Russia was not at war and does not want war with anyone but lashed out at Western sanctions imposed as the Ukraine crisis has deepened. "There's no war, thank God. But there is definitely an attempt to curb our development," Putin said in a TASS news agency report. In Munich, his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he believed the new peace plan could help end the conflict, all the while charging the US and EU with having escalated the conflict at every turn. "These talks will continue as you know; we believe there is every possibility that we will reach a result and agree the recommendations that will allow the sides to really untie this knot of a conflict," Lavrov said. Putin, Merkel and Hollande are set to discuss the plan with Poroshenko by telephone on Sunday. An aide to Hollande warned Saturday that time was running out. "If it is not resolved tomorrow (Sunday), we will continue the discussions for as long as necessary, but we don't have much time," the official said. - 'Fresh tanks, rocket launchers' - Far from the diplomatic exchanges, fighting raged in eastern Ukraine, where some 5,400 people have been killed since the start of the conflict in April. Rebels are "accumulating forces for further offensive operations on Debaltseve and Mariupol," the Ukraine government said. It said the separatists were sending fresh tanks, armoured personnel carriers and multiple rocket launcher systems to the Debaltseve region and Granitne, around 35 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of the city of Mariupol. The town of Debaltseve -- mid-way between rebel centres Donetsk and Lugansk -- has been the focus of fierce fighting for over a week as insurgents try to encircle government troops holding the strategic railway hub. Separatist fighters in January fired rockets at the strategic government-held port city of Mariupol, whose capture could open up a land bridge from Russia to Crimea. According to Ukrainian online news site theinsider.ua, Merkel and Hollande proposed that Kiev withdraw from Debaltseve in exchange for rebels pulling back from near Mariupol. Poroshenko rejected the proposal, the website said, citing sources close to the presidency.
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Despite being declared beaten in 2000, measles is back , due largely to declining vaccination rates in parts of the United States. "We should not be in this boat," Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the Mayo Clinic, told The Huffington Post. "This is a completely preventable disease." That's because of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine , which Tosh called "phenomenal" in its ability to protect large percentages of the general population. The vaccine is one of several different vaccines, however, that are given in multiple doses. Children receive the first dose of the MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months and the second before they go to school, around age 4 to 6. Every vaccine ever created has to take many variables into consideration, he explained, including the individual pathogen or bug; how our immune systems respond to it; what parts of the bug can be used to generate an immune response that is protective in nature; and also how long that response will last. Because that equation is notably complex, sometimes a second (or third) dose is a good idea. "Sometimes, if you take a large group of people with one vaccination you might expect 90 percent [to be protected]," he said. "But if you give a second dose, you may get up to 98 percent." Rather than testing the population to find the 10 percent not protected by the first dose, "what is probably a more straightforward strategy is just giving two doses to insure you have that high level of protection," he said. Children's immune systems may not be developed enough to produce the kind of lasting immune response they need for a lifetime of protection, said Tosh. So some of the precise timing required for various vaccines takes into consideration "when you would expect a child to be able to actually generate protective immunity," he said. But at any age, a second dose can help fine-tune a person's protection. "The first time you are presented with a pathogen, you generate an immune response," he said. "But then if you are presented with that same pathogen again a few years later, your immune system is able to produce a more specific and longer-lasting response in general." Take, for example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine , which is administered in three doses. The second shot is given one to two months after the initial dose, and the third is given six months after the first. It's recommended for use in girls and boys at around ages 11 or 12 and up to age 26 in women and 21 in men, because we're less likely to generate the type of protective immunity we need after those ages, said Tosh. That doesn't mean that a child who has had only a single dose of, say, the measles vaccine, is unprotected. "Some people may on one dose generate [a] long-lasting and very specific immune response. Some people may need two doses," said Tosh. "It's difficult to determine who those people are going to be." Which is why, he stressed, "I would recommend if people have not gotten their full initial complement of vaccines, to get their catchup doses."
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Defenseman Shea Weber has been around long enough to remember when the Carolina Hurricanes were champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins finished 29th and the Chicago Blackhawks' United Center looked half-empty. "My first year (in 2005-06) I got a chance to play (in the American Hockey League) for Milwaukee against the (Chicago) Wolves … and there were 10,000 or 11,000 fans packed into that game," the Nashville Predators captain recalled. "Then I get called up and played against the Blackhawks, and I don't think there were (10,000) or 11,000 people there at least it didn't seem like it in the United Center because it's so big. It's crazy, because you go there now and it's electric." In his 10th NHL season, Weber has witnessed many changes during his career. But he has yet to see his name on the Norris Trophy for outstanding defenseman, even though he has played like a Norris Trophy-caliber player for most of his career. He has been a finalist three times, finishing second twice. That could change this year with Weber being one of the front-runners during a season in which there's likely to be a first-time winner. Professional Hockey Writers Association members, who vote on the award, undoubtedly are taking note that Weber is having another impressive season and is a primary reason the Predators have the NHL's second-best record. The Predators think Weber already should have won the Norris. They argue most NHL coaches would rather have all-around player Weber than some who have won the trophy. Weber is a full-service defenseman. He can contribute in every facet of the game. "Who is more deserving?" Nashville general manager David Poile says. "Who is making more of a contribution than Shea Weber has made to the Nashville Predators both on and off the ice?" Weber's leadership contribution has expanded. When he arrived in the NHL, he was quiet and didn't seek the spotlight. "It has taken time," Poile said. "He was a young Canadian coming from a small town. He was very respectful, very polite, with good manners. He was never outgoing with coaches and management. But he has grown into the leadership role." Weber averages 26 minutes, 22 seconds a game and has a reputation for practicing as relentlessly as he plays. "He trains hard," coach Peter Laviolette said. "He comes into the camp hard. He practices every day hard. That's important for the captain of your team. He sets the bar high. It's hard for anyone else to slide underneath the bar." Weber has 11 goals in 51 games, meaning he could flirt with his third 20-goal season. He also boasts the NHL's hardest shot, clocked at 108.5 mph at the All-Star weekend's skills competition. "I think most teams definitely shadow him and try and take that shot away and not give him much, because he doesn't need a running start," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "He can do it at a standstill, too. And whether he's got traffic in front or not, he can beat goaltenders from a ways out." The Calgary Flames' Mark Giordano, Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty and Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang are the other candidates with no previous Norris trophies on their résumés. Chicago's Duncan Keith is the top candidate among previous winners. Letang has begun drawing more notice after picking up 16 points in his past 11 games. He is a masterful puck possession defenseman who has enough speed and competitiveness to contribute defensively. St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk would have been in the mix, but he will miss time after having abdominal surgery. Of that group, Giordano boasts the most points, but Doughty and Weber are playing the most minutes and have the most hits. With Slava Voynov suspended, the Kings are playing Doughty more than 29 minutes a game. Doughty has 107 hits, Weber has 105 hits Letang 84 and Giordano 55. "There are a lot of defensemen having great seasons, but the play of the Predators is really going to help Weber," NBC analyst Pierre McGuire said. Giordano has 112 blocked shots, while Weber has 106, Doughty 88 and Letang 79. "(Giordano) has been playing like this the last three or four years," Vancouver Canucks All-Star forward Radim Vrbata said. "The team is better, so everyone is noticing. He's a main guy there, and he's so good defensively." Giordano said his chemistry with T.J. Brodie had helped him take his game to the next level. "But I think you get more recognition when you have offensive numbers," he said. "That's the way it is. I just try to play consistent and be really good defensively because we are playing against the best lines in the league." Flames rookie standout Johnny Gaudreau looks up to Giordano, saying, "He's just a great captain." Doughty said he does think about the trophy race. "I would love to win the Norris that's one of my goals," he said. "I will take Stanley Cups over that any day, but I would like to win the award." He has 30 points in 51 games, the same number of points as Keith and five fewer than Weber. Giordano has 43 and Letang 41. "I'm not a big numbers guy," Doughty said. "I just go out and play two ways every night. … This is probably one of my best seasons." At the request of coaches, Doughty is playing a more physical game this season. "Playing physical is one of the team mottoes," he said. He said he felt better on the ice this season. "Now that I'm more of a leader on our team, I need to show younger guys, the younger defensemen, how to play, and playing physical is part of that," he said. The only blip in Weber's Norris candidacy is a recent article on TSN.ca that presented advanced statistical analysis suggesting Weber wasn't contributing as much to the Predators as it would appear. According to TSN's Travis Yost, Weber is posting negative possession numbers relative to his team. "That is to say," Yost wrote, "with Weber off of the ice, Nashville's in better territorial control of things." The importance of advanced statistical analysis is an ongoing debate in the NHL, with some in the community thinking the numbers are quite telling and others viewing them as being just two layers above voodoo. "We don't put too much into that," Laviolette said. "He's still the guy we want out there against the other team's top line." Keith, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, will become a bigger factor as the season heads down the stretch. He's the incumbent and the No. 1 defenseman on the No. 2 defensive team. Incumbents traditionally have fared well in Norris voting. "What's not to like? (Keith) does everything," Weber said. "He's such a complete defenseman. He skates so well and sees the ice, and he's able to do what he wants offensively and shut guys down defensively." It's not as if Weber is losing any sleep over the Norris race. "I don't think about that," Weber said. "I think about how the big silver trophy that weighs 32 or 33 pounds would be nice to have. The team stuff are the memories that last a lifetime."
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The Sacramento Kings are seriously considering making another midseason coaching change and bringing in longtime head coach George Karl, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the process. It has been nearly eight weeks since the Kings made the ill-timed decision to fire coach Michael Malone and promote his lead assistant Tyrone Corbin to the top spot, and matters have only grown worse since. With the Kings having lost 18 of 24 games since making the move, including 10 of their last 11, general manager Pete D'Alessandro who spent his recent years working with Karl while in the Denver Nuggets' front office is known to be advocating for him as the solution. Karl is clearly the most accomplished coach available on the open market, as he currently ranks sixth all-time among NBA coaches in wins (1,131-756) and has the fourth-best winning percentage (.599) of the eight coaches who have won more than 1,000 games. But questions remain about whether the recent progress on this front will result in Karl's hiring. One person who is involved in the process described the situation as "not in the red zone just yet" but said it had recently advanced. Karl's cost is certainly a factor, as the combination of his accomplishments and the recent spike in coach's salaries (the New York Knicks' Derek Fisher and the Golden State Warriors' Steve Kerr signed five-year, $25 million deals as first-year coaches this season) mean he won't come cheap. Lead owner Vivek Ranadive who has the final say but is one of more than 30 owners within their group has said consistently that money is no object when it comes to improving the team. There's the question in some minds, too, of whether the Kings would pay a different kind of price for taking this tact rather than conducting a thorough coaching search during the offseason. As USA TODAY Sports reported recently, the Kings would likely have interest in coaches like Tom Thibodeau (Chicago Bulls) or Scott Brooks (Oklahoma City Thunder) if they parted ways with their respective teams anytime soon. Golden State Warriors associate head coach Alvin Gentry, who interviewed for the Kings lead assistant job last summer, is also known to be on their list. Karl's personal past with a number of influential members in and around the Kings organization remains relevant as well, as he previously coached Kings advisor Chris Mullin and has history with the two agents who represent franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins as well. Karl has been open about his desire to return to the bench for the first time since being fired by the Nuggets in early June of 2013, telling USA TODAY Sports in mid-January that "My hope and my feeling is that the league will figure it out and give me that (next) opportunity." Since then, of course, the Orlando Magic fired their head coach (Jacque Vaughn) and the Kings were no doubt reminded that Karl may not be available forever. Karl has publicly expressed his interest in the Magic job, but said on ESPN's "NBA Tonight" show on Friday night that he doesn't have any "friends" within the Magic organization and didn't know if they would have interest in him.
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Check out the locations of some of the most popular music videos since artists started winning Grammy Awards for them - featuring some current and past Grammy nominees, as well as a few music videos we think should have been nominated for an award! Locations can make all the difference Not every music video is shot on location - and plenty are still largely "performance" videos or lovingly choreographed pieces that take place on a set. But, throughout the years, artists have recognized that using a great location can make the difference between a good music video and a great one. Grammy-nominated Arcade Fire at Coachella Arcade Fire is nominated for a "Best Music Video" award this year for a performance of this song at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. Not only is it a great music video, but it also gives you a great sense of why the Coachella Valley attracts so many artists (184 were on last year's bill) and fans to the desert location. Arcade Fire's Grammy award nomination came from their performance of " We Exist " at Coachella U2 in Los Angeles If there was a Grammy Award for getting the most Grammy Awards ever won by a group, U2 would win it. This legendary band has more than 22 Grammy Awards to it's name. And it's also been a winner for "Best Music Video" (with 2005's "Vertigo") as well as a three-time nominee for "Grammy Award for Best Music Film" (which the band won in 1995 with "Zoo TV: Live from Sydney". The U2 music video we think should have been nominated for a Grammy was a performance music video filmed in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of East 7th Street and South Main Street (not too far from the picture you see above). For all longtime U2 fans, the answer should come as no surprise. It was " Where the Streets Have No Name ". Weird Al in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster, PA Everyone's favorite parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic has been nominated twice for a "Best Music Video" Grammy (and never won in that category), but he did win the "Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video" in 1989 for his song "Fat" (a parody of Michael Jackson's song "Bad"). We think there's another music video, however, for which Weird Al should have been nominated - one that he filmed in historic Pennsylvania Dutch Country. And the answer should be obvious. It was... " Amish Paradise ". The Beatles in Savile Row, London W1 OK, this is stretching things. In their heyday, the Beatles never won a Grammy for "Best VIdeo", but that's simply because the category didn't exist in the 1960s. This song, however, really blazed the trail for the kind of "performance video" that is now a staple of this category. And it was unique in many ways - not the least of which because it came from a live performance on the rooftop of the Beatles' London offices for Apple Corps (their record company) in the middle of a workday. We've given you way too many hints now. If you're any kind of Beatles fan, you'll know that it was " Get Back ", and the performance is still truly electrifying. Pharrell Williams in Downtown Los Angeles Pharrell has been known for making us all joyous this year - and has earned himself a music video Grammy nomination this year for it. The music video was shot over a 24 hour period throughout LA, in a way that makes the city as much a character in its story as all the people featured. The song, of course, was " Happy ". And, now that we've said it, the tune (along with an image of Pharrell's hat) will be stuck in your head all day. Cher in Long Beach, California Remember that shot of Cher in an amazing leather coat - and not a whole lot else? That was a still from her epic 1989 music video for " If I Could Turn Back Time ", which featured the crew of the USS Missouri docked at the Long Beach harbor. It was an amazing backdrop for a great song. It didn't win a Grammy, but if we could turn back time, we would award one to the video for this song.... Men at Work at Cronulla sand dunes, Sydney, Australia A number of scenes for the music video for Men at Work's " Land Down Under " were filmed here, at the Cronulla Sand Dunes just outside of Sydney. The song and video became a huge hit in 1982 and 1983, providing highly popular fodder for a budding MTV. But the video was released too early to be nominated for a Best Music Video Award Grammy. The category was introduced in 1984. Madonna at Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentina The singer of this song (Madonna) has been a nominee in the Best Music Video Award category no less than four times - and she did win once (for "Ray of Light" in 1999). This performance was actually from a the 1996 movie Evita . It did win a number of awards, most notably the Academy Award for the Best Original Song (for "You Must Love Me") and Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy as well as Best Actress, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, for Madonna herself. But we digress. The real story here is the signature song " Don't Cry for Me Argentina ". The video for that song was filmed here at the seat of the Argentine government (also known as "The Pink House"). Cast of Mamma Mia! at Kastani beach, Skopelos, Greece There were no Grammy awards coming from this beach, but just a whole lot of really hummable music that you'll find you can't get out of your head. It was on this beach that we all learned just how much fun Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski - and even Pierce Brosnan - could have singing ABBA songs in the glorious Greek sunshine. For the record, Amanda Seyfried sings the ABBA classic " Honey Honey " on this beach. Postscript: Pierce Brosnan did win a "Golden Raspberry" award for "worst supporting actor" for his role in this film.
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Germany's Angela Merkel warned on Saturday that sending arms to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian separatists would not solve the crisis there, drawing a sharp rebuke from a leading U.S. senator who accused Berlin of turning its back on an ally in distress. The heated exchange at a security conference in Munich pointed to the fragility of the transatlantic consensus on how to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin over a deepening conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 5,000. Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March last year and evidence that it is supporting separatist forces in the east of the country, which the Kremlin denies, have driven Moscow's relations with the West to a post-Cold War low. A recent rebel offensive has triggered a flurry of shuttle diplomacy, with Merkel and French President Francois Hollande jetting to Moscow on Friday to try to convince Putin to do a peace deal. But European officials say the Russian leader may have little incentive to negotiate now, preferring to sit back and watch the separatists make territorial gains in Ukraine that have made a mockery of a prior ceasefire agreement clinched last September in Minsk, Belarus. Ukraine's military said on Saturday that pro-Russian separatists had stepped up shelling of government forces and appeared to be amassing forces for new offensives on the key railway town of Debaltseve and the coastal city of Mariupol. The German leader conceded in Munich, after returning home from Moscow in the dead of night, that it was uncertain whether a Franco-German peace plan presented to Kiev and Moscow this week would succeed. But she flatly rejected the idea that sending weapons to Kiev, an idea being considered by U.S. President Barack Obama, would help resolve the conflict. "I understand the debate but I believe that more weapons will not lead to the progress Ukraine needs. I really doubt that," said the conservative German leader, who has led a Western initiative to resolve the crisis through negotiations. "The problem is that I can't envision any situation in which a better-equipped Ukraine military would convince President Putin that he could lose militarily," Merkel added. "BLUE IN THE FACE" Speaking after Merkel, U.S. Senator Lyndsey Graham, a Republican hawk, praised the chancellor for her engagement in the crisis but said it was time for her to wake up to the reality of what he called Moscow's aggressions. "At the end of the day, to our European friends, this is not working. You can go to Moscow until you turn blue in the face. Stand up to what is clearly a lie and a danger," Graham said. He accused Merkel of turning her back on a struggling democracy by rejecting down Kiev's request for arms. "That is exactly what you are doing," he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, also in Munich, said there were "good grounds for optimism" that the talks between Merkel, Putin and Hollande could yield a deal. But Lavrov also delivered a diatribe against the West. He accused Europe and the United States of supporting a "coup d'etat" against deposed Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovich, a Moscow ally, a year ago and turning a blind eye to nationalists he said were intent on ethnic cleansing in eastern Ukraine. "There are growing appeals in the West to support the Kiev policy of militarization, to pump Ukraine full with lethal weapons and to bring it into NATO," Lavrov said. "This position will only exacerbate the tragedy of Ukraine." Hollande, speaking to reporters in the city of Tulle in central France, cast the talks with Putin as a last-ditch effort to avert full-blown war. "If we don't manage to find not just a compromise but a lasting peace agreement, we know perfectly well what the scenario will be. It has a name, it's called war," he said. In a further sign of cracks in the Western approach towards Russia, NATO's top military commander, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove signaled that he now wants the alliance to consider sending weapons to Ukraine. "I don't think we should preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option," Breedlove told reporters, adding that he was referring to weapons or capabilities and that there was "no conversation about boots on the ground". After her speech, Merkel held three-way talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. She is due to fly to Washington on Sunday to meet Obama. (Additional reporting by Adrian Croft, Lesley Wroughton, Shadia Nasralla, Andreas Rinke & Sabine Siebold; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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WASHINGTON Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin has been many things in his political career: Republican vice-presidential candidate, uncompromising budget hawk, conservative policy maven and, for Democrats, the breathing symbol of draconian fiscal policies. Now, from his new perch as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Ryan finds himself in the unlikely position of gatekeeper of President Obama's agenda. Although he has served as a partisan warrior and foil to Mr. Obama throughout Mr. Obama's presidency, his committee is at the junction where the White House and Republican agendas overlap trade, taxes and possibly health care. And in an odd political twist, Mr. Ryan's longstanding enmity for All Things Obama may be key to efforts to burnish the president's legacy in the twilight of his second term. If Mr. Ryan can strike a deal with the administration and Democrats on "fast track" trade authority, an agreement with a dozen economic partners along the Pacific Rim, an expansion of the earned-income tax credit and an overhaul of the tax code, he may be the only one on Capitol Hill who could sell it to his skeptical conservative colleagues. "I think he sees that, and I think I see that," said Representative Sander M. Levin of Michigan, the committee's ranking Democrat, as firmly in the party's liberal wing as the chairman is in its conservative camp. "That's why he and I have had so many discussions on how to proceed." Mr. Ryan, in recent days, has picked up something of a mantra: "Working to find common ground and moving forward where we can find it." "There are a lot of things we can do with this administration," he said in a lengthy interview. There is, of course, grave skepticism that Mr. Ryan will be able to deliver. As Budget Committee chairman from 2011 to 2014, Mr. Ryan could paint broad themes on balancing the budget, transforming entitlements like Medicare and Medicaid, shriveling government and simplifying the tax code. As Ways and Means chairman, he has taken a job that is far more transactional, and his record for legislative accomplishment is scant. Indeed, for all of Mr. Ryan's policy prescriptions that so enrapture his House Republican colleagues, he has never really put together a major piece of bipartisan legislation, has rarely bucked a party-line vote and remains one of the more polarizing figures on Capitol Hill. In late 2013, as Budget Committee chairman, he did reach an accord with his Democratic Senate counterpart, Senator Patty Murray of Washington, on a budget that backed off deep cuts to domestic and military spending and set spending levels for the next two years. The deal put the budget wars in temporary abeyance, but even its architects concede its modesty. Still, for Mr. Ryan, it was a signature moment. "Look, Patty Murray and I, everybody said we could never get anything done," he said. "Everybody told us we wouldn't get an agreement, and we did." And Mr. Ryan, who eschewed a presidential run in 2016 to focus on his new post, wants badly to expand that legacy, said Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee and a frequent collaborator with Mr. Ryan. "For someone with his influence, with all the interest there has been in him as a presidential candidate, for him to say, 'I'm not going to run. I'm going to focus on my issues, taxes, trade and health care,' that's a big statement," said Mr. Wyden, who has talked with Mr. Ryan frequently in recent weeks on ways to move ahead. So far, the chairman has stuck to his trademark partisanship with a smile. But between barbs over "envy economics" and failed "Obamanomics," Mr. Ryan appears ready to move the president's way. While Republicans are divided over granting Mr. Obama "fast track" authority to negotiate major trade deals with Asia and Europe, to Mr. Ryan it is the right thing to do. "Sooner rather than later is my preference," he said. Republicans believe the tax code for corporations and individuals needs a thorough overhaul. But, Mr. Ryan conceded, if the administration wants only to focus on business taxes, Congress must adjust. "If we can get tax reform done in phases, phase one is businesses, and whatever we can get for families, and phase two is to finish the job, then fine," Mr. Ryan said. "As long as phase one doesn't take away from phase two." And many Republicans believe the earned-income tax credit a wage subsidy for low-income workers invented by conservative economists is now riddled with fraud and waste. But Mr. Ryan has embraced Mr. Obama's call to expand the credit's availability to workers without children. "I want to focus on steps that are achievable, and that's among them," he said. Liberal activists still love to bash Mr. Ryan. In New York Magazine this month, Jonathan Chait wrote that "Ryan's long and distinguished career in the field of shamelessness" had reached a new pinnacle when he told The New York Times that Mr. Obama's policies had exacerbated wage stagnation and income inequality, even as he ardently opposed White House efforts to raise taxes on the rich to finance programs to stabilize incomes of the poor and middle class. In truth, Mr. Ryan is far less tribal than many HouseRepublicans. For a recent interview, Mr. Ryan, decked out in a dark suit for an appearance on the NBC program "Meet the Press," asked to meet at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Northwest Washington, often a gathering place for liberals. "Spotted @RepPaulRyan prepping for MTP and hearings on Obama tax policies deep in enemy territory @Politics_Prose," a former Obama budget official said in a Twitter post. "Only guy here opposing them." Democratic aides say the tone has already shifted on the Ways and Means Committee. The last chairman, now-retired Representative Dave Camp of Michigan, had a reputation for political moderation, but he ran the committee with a sharp edge. Mr. Ryan, aides said, is running the committee with more confidence, and more charitably toward outnumbered Democrats. Mr. Levin said Mr. Ryan was "easy to work with," but, he cautioned, the chairman has made it clear he is firm in his beliefs, many of which make bipartisan compromise extremely difficult, especially his "supply-side" view that tax rate cuts will spur economic growth and lift wages at all income levels. The window for bipartisan action may be real, lawmakers say, but it is narrow. Republican leaders would like to do more than just govern by crisis. Mr. Obama would like to add something to his legacy beyond the flourish of achievements he secured in his first two years. But by fall, the presidential election season will have begun in earnest. Big legislative pushes will have to be well underway by then. "He's trying to think through how all the pieces fit together, as a good legislator would," Mr. Wyden said of Mr. Ryan. But he added: "This is a sprint. To really have a major impact on these big economic issues is going to be a real sprint."
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The biggest Hollywood studios recently reached a deal with Kodak to continue to supply them with film stock for at least for "a few" more years to make their movies. That is quite an investment on both sides Kodak says it costs $50 million a year to keep manufacturing film and a big turnaround for an industry that has spent the better part of the last decade pushing digital and sounding the death knell for film. Since the start of the century, Hollywood has moved away from film towards digital in every aspect of filmmaking culminating in films like the terrible Jude Law-starring Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow , released in 2004, and David Fincher's Zodiac , from 2007, which were produced using no physical media whatsoever. The second Star Wars prequel in 2002 was the first major film to be shot using high-definition digital cameras. Creator George Lucas was instrumental in helping push cinemas to move to digital projection, all part of the same forces that pushed consumers to change from film to digital cameras and forced Kodak into bankruptcy in 2012. (It emerged in 2013.) "Digital technology is the same revolution as adding sound to pictures and the same revolution as adding color to pictures," Lucas said in 1997. "Nothing more and nothing less." How times change. The latest Star Wars sequel, The Force Awakens , will be released later this year and was shot on film. Inception and Batman director Christopher Nolan shoots not only on 35mm film, but refuses to shoot on 3D and instead prefers to shoot on IMAX, which is just a wider, 70mm film format. Why? Because film still looks better and the best Hollywood filmmakers prefer to shoot on it. Nolan expressed it best when he said: For the last 10 years, I've felt increasing pressure to stop shooting film and start shooting video, but I've never understood why. It's cheaper to work on film, it's far better looking, it's the technology that's been known and understood for a hundred years, and it's extremely reliable. He's not alone. Steven Spielberg still shoots on film. Quentin Tarantino is such a purist, he even purchased a cinema in Los Angeles which is only ever going to screen film prints. Even comedic director and producer Judd Apatow praises the aesthetic qualities of the "magic to the grain and the color quality that you get with film." The answer, of course, is that shooting and processing film is much more expensive for the filmmaker with no budget and this is why so many indie moviemakers have embraced the digital era. At Sundance, a film debuted shot completely on the iPhone 5S. For them, there's no going back. But for some of the best filmmakers in the world, the Kodak deal secures them the ability to keep having the choice at least for a tad bit longer.
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When SpaceX launches a long-delayed satellite to study space weather on Sunday, the private spaceflight company also hopes to do the amazing: return a rocket to Earth and land it on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX will attempt to land the first stage of its 14-story Falcon 9 rocket after launching the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR for short) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida. Liftoff is set for Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:10 p.m. EST (2310 GMT) and will be webcast live by NASA TV . It will be SpaceX's second try in two months to land a rocket on an ocean drone ship as part of company founder Elon Musk's dream of making reusable rocket technology a reality. On Jan. 10, SpaceX attempted a Falcon 9 rocket landing but the booster ran out of hydraulic fluid for its four grid steering fins on the way down. The rocket stage slammed into SpaceX's drone ship and exploded. [ SpaceX's Rocket Landing Plan Explained (Infographic )] "Rocket made it to drone spaceport ship, but landed hard," Musk wrote on Twitter after last month's attempt. "Close, but no cigar this time." Now, SpaceX is ready to try it again. This time, SpaceX has loaded 50 percent more hydraulic fluid on the Falcon 9 booster, so there should be plenty of margin during the rocket's descent back to Earth. "At least it should explode for a different reason," Musk wrote last month. Musk and SpaceX have been pursuing reusable rockets because the technology has the potential to dramatically lower the costs for both satellite launches and human spaceflight. The company is also building a new giant rocket, called the Falcon Heavy, and unveiled a video showing the mega-rocket's reusability last month. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets are named after the fictional Millennium Falcon starship from "Star Wars." Continuing that theme, Musk has named SpaceX's drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" after the sentient colony ship from the science fiction novels by author Iain M. Banks. The drone ship will be positioned several hundred miles off the coast of Florida to await the Falcon 9 booster during Sunday's launch. Sunday's launch is also a second change of sorts for the DSCOVR space weather satellite. Succesfully launching the satellite is SpaceX's primary goal on Sunday. The rocket landing test is a secondary objective. The $104.8 million DSCOVR satellite has had a long road to space that began during the Clinton Administration when then-Vice President Al Gore advocated the mission to provide live images of Earth from space 24 hours a day. The mission, initially called Triana, was approved in 1998, but eventually shelved as costs rose. NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revived the DSCOVR mission in 2009 , this time to monitor space weather and solar wind while also studying the Earth. The satellite will be sent to the sun-Earth Lagrange point 1, a location about 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) that is directly between Earth and the sun. "DSCOVR will succeed NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer's (ACE) role in supporting solar wind alerts and warnings from the L1 orbit, the neutral gravity point between the Earth and sun approximately one million miles from Earth," NOAA officials wrote in a mission description. "L1 is a good position from which to monitor the sun, because the constant stream of particles from the sun (the solar wind) reaches L1 about an hour before reaching Earth." DSCOVR carries five separate instruments, three of which will track solar wind and space weather events. The other two will monitor the Earth. One of those is the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera, or EPIC, which will take images of the sunlit side of Earth every 2 hours for 24 hours a day. Those images will be available for scientists and to the public through NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Editor's note: You can watch NASA's prelaunch press conference on the DSCOVR/SpaceX launch today at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT) live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV. Email Tariq Malik at [email protected] or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com . Photos: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Reusable Rocket Test & Dragon Cargo Launch Reusable Rocket Launch Systems: How They Work (Infographic) 6 Fun Facts About Private Rocket Company SpaceX
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Arjen Robben's great form continued as Bayern Munich beat Stuttgart 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to secure its first competitive victory of the year. Bayern coach Pep Guardiola dismissed talk of a crisis after the champions drew 1-1 against Schalke on Tuesday following a 4-1 hammering at Wolfsburg, and normal service was resumed by the Bavarian giants at the Mercedes Benz Arena. The leaders were not at their best against Huub Stevens' strugglers, but Robben took his goal tally to eight goals in his last nine games and 14 for the season with a fine strike to open the scoring late in the first half. Defender David Alaba then opened his Bundesliga account for the season with a sublime free kick six minutes after the break to ensure Bayern remains eight points clear of second-placed Wolfsburg, which beat Hoffenheim 3-0. While Bayern remains on course for yet another title, Stuttgart is now bottom of the table and has secured only five points at home this season. There were two changes to the Stuttgart side that held Cologne to a scoreless draw in midweek, with Gotoku Sakai and Vedad Ibisevic coming in for Sercan Sararer and Martin Harnik. Dante replaced the suspended Jerome Boateng at the heart of the Bayern defense, while Robert Lewandowski returned to the starting lineup as Thomas Muller dropped to the bench. Stuttgart did not initially resemble a team facing a relegation battle and went close to an opening goal when Sakai's measured strike clipped the outside of the far post following a swift counterattack 27 minutes in. Bayern was in front four minutes before the break, though, courtesy of a stunning strike from the in-form Robben. Stuttgart had done a good job of keeping the Netherlands winger quiet until he burst ahead of Sakai to get on the end of Mitchell Weiser's pass before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed first-time strike that flashed past Sven Ulreich and found the far corner. Muller replaced Weiser at halftime, while Stuttgart coach Stevens introduced Harnik and brought off Daniel Schwaab. Stuttgart was unfortunate to be behind but things soon went from bad to worse when Alaba produced a moment of magic to double Bayern's lead six minutes into the second half. The Austria left back opened his Bundesliga account for the season in style, letting fly with a free kick from 25 yards that gave Ulreich no chance. Lewandowski almost added a fourth goal eight minutes from time, but Ulreich spread himself to deny the Poland striker as Bayern finished with a flourish in a comfortable victory.
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Behold the new home-run king of bicycles: the S-Works McLaren Tarmac , which former baseball star Barry Bonds bought this week for 20 grand. The bike was inspired by Formula One leader McLaren and made in collaboration with Tour de France-proven bike manufacturer Specialized of Morgan Hill, California. Only 250 of these bikes have been produced. Bonds is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and not without controversy . At 50, he's also a passionate cyclist with an incredible bike to boot. This is what Barry Bonds' limited-production, custom-sized bike looked like early on in McLaren's hands. Each bike was custom-painted at McLaren's Special Operations Center in the Surrey, England. Back in Specialized's Morgan Hill, California, wind tunnel, reporters got a primer on aero efficiency. The launch brought all of Specialized together. Bonds, who is six-two, rides a bigger bike, which weighs about only 14 pounds and is said to rocket up hills. The S-Works McLaren Tarmac comes with Specialized's own Roval wheels and brakes by eeCycleworks. McLaren helped design and apply unique electroform metal foil graphics and paintwork. The crankset was exclusively designed with a new carbon-fiber spider to reduce weight. Of course for $20K you get matching helmet and shoes. At Specialized HQ, CEO Mike Sinyard introduced the $20,000 bikes to their well-heeled owners. Bonds' bike was given to him personally by Sinyard. Like old times: another big score for Barry Bonds. Bonds was thrilled with his new bike and kit. Bonds got to test out his bike with some of his fellow McLaren Tarmac owners. Out in the parking lot, a $280,000 McLaren 650S Spider got people's attention, including Bonds'. Bonds didn't wait long to hit the open road.
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Police have opened a criminal probe into the boyfriend of Bobbi Kristina Brown, US media reported, one week after the 21-year old daughter of late singing legend Whitney Houston was pulled unconscious from a bathtub. CNN and TMZ reported Saturday that an investigation has been launched against Nick Gordon, who reportedly said that he found Brown non-responsive in the bathtub of their home near Atlanta, Georgia. The incident appeared to have eerie echoes of Houston's fatal accidental drowning nearly three years ago in a Los Angeles hotel tub. But news reports said Saturday that Brown, who is in hospital in a medically induced coma, sustained unexplained injuries prior to the incident. The reports, which provided no details as to the nature of the young woman's injuries, say authorities reportedly are also suspicious because she was found facedown in her bathtub on January 31. TMZ wrote that it was told by multiple sources that there is a history of violence between Brown and boyfriend Gordon and that police are looking into a possible altercation more than an hour before Brown was found. Despite the couple presenting themselves in public as husband and wife, recent news reports said there are no official documents to show they were ever legally married. Pop star Whitney Houston died in February 2012 when she was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on the eve of the music industry's annual Grammy Awards show. Coroners concluded that the singer died by accidental drowning, with cocaine use and heart disease as contributing factors. People magazine and other media reported that Brown's grandmother, famed gospel singer Cissy Houston, 81, arrived in Atlanta late Friday to be at the hospital. Gordon spent years being raised by Whitney Houston in her home and grew up alongside Brown although he was never formally adopted by the pop singer. He and Brown revealed their romantic relationship after her mother's death.
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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Petr Mrazek stopped 22 shots, including a third-period penalty shot, and the Detroit Red Wings moved into a first-place tie in the Eastern Conference with a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night. With Detroit ahead 1-0, Mrazek made a blocker save of Martin Erat's penalty shot with 8:22 left after Erat was hauled down on a short-handed breakaway. The 22-year-old Mrazek led the Red Wings to nine wins in 11 games with their top two goaltenders injured. He has allowed two goals in three games. Riley Sheahan, Tomas Tatar and Darren Helm scored for Detroit in its third straight win. Oliver Ekman-Larsson's career-high 16th goal with under 2 minutes left ended Mrazek's bid for a second straight shutout. The Red Wings' third straight win gave them 71 points and moved them even with Tampa Bay. Helm's empty-netter with 1:16 left capped a wild ending that included three goals in the final 3 minutes. For much of the game, it appeared Detroit's conversion on its league-best power play by Sheahan's slap shot midway through the second period would hold up. With Andrew Campbell serving a roughing penalty, Tatar batted down Antoine Vermette's clearing attempt. Sheahan then took Pavel Datsyuk's cross-ice pass and blistered a one-timer past Mike Smith's glove side. The Red Wings, who killed off a 4-minute power play bridging the second and third periods, again rode their unlikely goaltender. Detroit was forced to use Mrazek when No. 1 Jimmy Howard went down with a groin tear on Jan. 10. Backup Jonas Gustavsson was already out with a shoulder injury. After some shaky early performances that saw him pulled twice, Mrazek will soon force the Red Wings to make a tough decision. He entered coming off a 28-save shutout in Colorado, after allowing just one goal in a win against the New York Islanders. That earned him a 10th straight start despite Gustavsson's return four days earlier following a rehab stint in the minors. And with Howard set to return Wednesday against Pittsburgh, Mrazek could be sent back to the minors. If so, his final period will include stopping Erat's forehand shot as much of the crowd cheered. The Coyotes said they set a game revenue record, but many in the crowd were wearing Detroit jerseys. Red Wings chants were occasionally heard, although Coyotes fans tried to drown them out. The game belonged to the goalies early. Smith, who made 23 saves, made several close-in stops on a late first-period power play. He then stoned Stephen Weiss' redirect in front of the net in the final minute. Early it was Mrazek's turn to shine. He helped kill two early Arizona power plays, then made a pad save on Lucas Lessio's breakaway in the final minute. Mrazek got help from his teammates, too. Brendan Smith swept away a puck near the goal line as Detroit denied Arizona's lengthy man advantage bridging the second and third periods with Kyle Quincey off for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct. NOTES: It was the 25th penalty shot in the NHL this season. There have been eight goals. . Many fathers of Red Wings players attended the game as part of an annual trip. . Coyotes F Mikkel Boedker, 20 pounds lighter, attended the game as he continues his recovery after having his spleen removed. . Red Wings D Xavier Ouellet was a healthy scratch.
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Laura brings you the best plays from the internet, which include a nasty dunk, buzzer beaters and a softball home run that caused some major damage.
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The Red Wings won their tenth game in their last 12 after taking down the Coyotes 3-1 Saturday. It was Arizona's fifth straight loss at home.
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Kentucky was locked in a tight one with Florida but Willie Cauley-Stein threw down a monster and-one dunk and UK never looked back. Kentucky won 68-81.
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New MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says that the days of alternating All-Star host cities between AL and NL ballparks may be done. Manfred prefers a bidding process like the Super Bowl. Good or bad idea?
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HAVANA, Cuba Private restaurants in Havana are exploding in number and soaring in quality, providing a treat for visitors and a surprising bright spot in a nation better known for monotonous food and spotty service. Havana now boasts nearly 2,000 private restaurants offering a range of cuisine from traditional Cuban to Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and other ethnicities. From caviar to lobster bisque and on to pizza, everything seems to be available. Usually set in private homes, some of the restaurants offer Old World charm with starched white tablecloths and real silverware. Heirlooms fill shelves. Other restaurants hunker in basements or peer from walk-up seafront buildings, sometimes with funky or retro decor. "Gastronomy is on the rise in our country," said Jorge Luis Trejo, son of the proprietors of La Moraleja, a restaurant in Havana's Vedado district with wild rabbit flambe and chicken confit on the menu. His family's restaurant opened in January 2012. Donning the chef's apron is a cook who once worked in France, the Netherlands, Greece and England, Mr. Trejo said. "We try to make traditionally Cuban dishes with fusion sauces to entertain our clients," he said. At the end of each meal, waitresses carry a humidor to diners and offer them a choice of complimentary hand-rolled cigars. Private restaurants first arose in Cuba in 1993 amid the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba's longtime patron, only to be reined in as authorities worried that small eateries were relying on pilfered supplies and surpassing the legal limit of 12 chairs, essentially three tables. The restaurants were known as paladares, a Spanish and Portuguese word that means palates, a moniker taken from the establishment of a food vendor in a popular Brazilian soap opera. For periods in the 1990s, small restaurants could offer neither seafood nor beef, which were needed for the official tourist industry. Owners were ordered to buy at retail prices in official stores. Most employees had to be family members. Those rules drove most restaurants out of business, choking them with a web of taxes and arbitrary enforcement that underscored how wary Cuba's communist officials were of private enterprise. By 2010, state media reported that as few as 74 private restaurants were operating in Havana. Then things began to change. Fidel Castro's brother, Raul, who'd taken control of the government, ordered more flexible rules for restaurants at the end of 2011, raising the limit on chairs to 50 and issuing new licenses. There are still rules to be skirted and supplies can be hard to come by, but a rebirth is taking place. "There's undeniably a boom, a significant increase in both the numbers of people who have licenses in the food service area and the emergence of a haute cuisine, or, as they say in Cuba, cocina de autor," or creative nouvelle cuisine, said Ted Henken, a Cuba expert at Baruch College in New York who's written about the phenomenon. Today, Havana is dotted with private restaurants with elaborate menus, identifiable only by single small signs on the outsides of buildings. In Cuba's moribund economy, bad service is the norm in most offices, hotels and state-run businesses, but not in the private restaurants, which often have the cozy feeling of private dining because they occupy what once were people's homes. "You feel like, 'Oh, I'm in someone's old living room, and sipping a mojito,' " Mr. Henken said. It's a feeling that more Americans may experience. On Dec. 17, President Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, broken in 1961. Mr. Obama also said he'd further relax restrictions on U.S. citizens' travel to Cuba without lifting the long-standing trade embargo, which only Congress can do. The easing of U.S. rules will include permitting U.S. banks to accept credit card transactions conducted in Cuba. Many Cuban restaurateurs await a growing flow of American visitors. At Paladar Los Mercaderes, which sits on a bustling pedestrian street in renovated Old Havana, handsome waiters in crisp black uniforms buttoned to the neck take orders in a multitude of languages. Modern Cuban art adorns the walls. Musicians croon Cuban ballads as breezes waft through the high-ceilinged rooms. Among the entrees, one could pick from smoked pork loin in plum sauce ($15.75), filet mignon in mushroom sauce ($18), shrimp risotto ($17) or a grilled seafood platter with lobster tail (variable price), among other dishes.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- As the Minnesota Wild have strung together wins, the postgame music in the dressing room has seemed louder, just as Minnesota is making noise in the Western Conference. Saturday's song of choice, following the Wild's 1-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche, perhaps held a bit of significance. Booming from the speakers was Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." Coincidental or not, Minnesota believes its back in the Western Conference playoff race. "I didn't think of that, but good tune and always sounds better when you win," said forward Charlie Coyle, whose seventh goal of the season stood up as goaltender Devan Dubnyk recorded his fourth shutout in nine games with the Wild by making 18 saves. Minnesota has won five games in a row and vaulted over Colorado into a tie for ninth place in the Western Conference. The Wild shut out the Avalanche for the third time this season and outshot Colorado, 29-18. On Jan. 14, Minnesota was in 12th place in the West and a season-high eight games out of eighth place. Getting back in playoff striking distance was going to be difficult. The Wild needed points and needed a lot of help as they looked to jump four teams. But Minnesota didn't stop believing. "You never know how it's going to turn out, but I think our focus was just to try to get to our best hockey and I think we're on the right track here," Coyle said. "I think we've won our last five, so I think we're trending in the right direction. We still got more to work on, I think, but you want to string together these wins while we're doing that." The Wild are five points away from Calgary and Vancouver, who are tied for eighth in the conference. Despite the five-game winning streak, Minnesota has only gained two points on eighth place. But the Wild haven't let their climb become an obstacle. They've stayed focused on the day-to-day aspect and the past four wins have come against teams who started the game ahead of Minnesota. "I think we're right in the mix now," center Mikko Koivu said. "But at the same time, you can't worry about. We're still chasing and there are a lot of teams ahead of us, so we got to get ready for the next one." Of course, Jan. 14 was when Minnesota acquired Dubnyk. He posted a shutout in his first game with the Wild a day later and now is 7-1-0 with a 1.31 goals-against average and .948 save percentage for his new team. Dubnyk only needed 18 saves on Saturday but was again up to the task. He's posted back-to-back shutouts and hasn't allowed a goal in 126 minutes, 39 seconds. For much of the first period Saturday, Dubnyk was a bystander. Minnesota controlled the first, outshooting Colorado 17-4 and leading 34-6 in shots attempted. "He did a really good job staying in it in the first period, and keeping himself sharp and keeping himself ready," head coach Mike Yeo said. "After the first period, I would say chances were even both ways. Obviously I think we got a pretty strong advantage in the first period, and then after that and he was up to the task. Obviously, he was flawless." Dubnyk has enjoyed playing behind the Wild, who were known for their defensive play last year while navigating a rotation in goal. "I feel like I'm saying that every day," Dubnyk said of the team playing well in front of him. "Coming from the Chicago game, that was such a great game and then we carry into the first period and that was an extension of that. It was incredible to watch. And we got rewarded with one, but if we keep playing like that we're going to be on the right side of it more often than not." Dubnyk made a few key saves late in the third period when the Avalanche had a power-play. He made five saves on the penalty kill, and benefitted from a big stick save by defenseman Jonas Brodin. The puck had managed to get by Dubnyk and was headed toward the net before Brodin swiped the puck away inches from the goal line, shooting the puck between Dubnyk's legs and all the way down the ice. "I think I got it through Dubnyk's legs or something," Brodin said. "So, I got pretty lucky." Brodin then joked: "It was a good play by Dubnyk to open up." The breaks Minnesota wasn't receiving during its December and January swoon have started to go the Wild's way, and they are making their own luck at times, too. "There's a different feeling amongst the group when you're in a tight game like that (and) you can pull it out," Yeo said of the team's confidence. "Whereas there was other times when you get in a tight game like that, it's almost just the way things had gone earlier that you're just waiting for the next bad thing to happen. There was good talk on the bench, there was good confidence that obviously we're hoping to get that next goal, but if we didn't, we felt confident that we could win that type of game, too." Sounds like they believe. Follow Brian Hall on Twitter
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By Joe Lucia Bonnie Zeigler, the wife Western Michigan booster Aaron Ziegler, is suing three men for $25,000 each over claims that they ruined her reputation. What makes this suit so noteworthy is that the three men are being sued (Bruce Bendix, Dan Burgardt, Randolph Foster) because of "false and defamatory" comments they posted on CSNbbs.com . That's right the wife of a booster is suing message board trolls. The comments that caused Zeigler to sue took place in a thread dedicated to firing WMU coach P.J. Fleck, who is 9-16 in two years at the school. The trio of commenters apparently made claims about Zeigler sleeping with Fleck, which they eventually retracted. All three of the men have some history with Western Michigan. Bendix played football at the school in the 1970s before moving on to coaching, eventually getting elected to the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Burgardt used to write for Rivals, covering Western Michigan football. Foster is an alumnus of the school, and called the posts, "message board nonsense." Burgardt had a similar response. "From my perspective, you had 11 people who were initially on that complaint and they basically had heard a rumor which apparently had been talked about in the community and they were talking about whether they believed it or not," Burgardt said. "Some of them believed it, some of them didn't. My position on it is I didn't believe it and I gave some snarky examples of why I believed it wasn't true." What a bizarre, interesting situation. The three men were identified and later sued after their addresses, email addresses, and IP addresses were eventually acquired from the website. If the suit actually ends up heading to court rather than settling outside of court, I'm very curious as to what ends up happening. If the suit ends up being successful, this could end up opening the floodgates for future lawsuits spurred by online comments.
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Kings didn't appear to be a team that has played poorly on the road. Justin Williams had two goals and the Kings got a rare road win, beating the Lightning 4-2 on Saturday and snapping Tampa Bay's franchise-record 10-game home winning streak. "To be honest, I didn't think I played all that well," Williams said. "Sometimes that's the way it goes. You play good, you don't get much. You score two goals and you don't think you played that great." Tyler Toffoli and Drew Doughty also scored for the Kings, who had lost four in a row on the road and are 6-12-6 overall away from home. Robyn Regehr ended an eight-game point drought with two assists. "We really were adamant before the game started that we need to keep our goals-against down," Doughty said. "Whatever it takes. Whether it's sliding to block a shot, block a pass, making a big hit, we're going to do whatever it takes to keep pucks out of our net." Tampa Bay got goals from Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman. It was the Lightning's first loss at home since losing 5-3 to Washington on Dec. 9. "They do what LA does," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "They wait for you to make a mistake. If you do, they put it in the back of the net." Toffoli stole the puck in the Tampa Bay zone and opened the scoring 1:33 into the game when his backhander eluded Ben Bishop. Williams made it 2-0 with a nice tip-in following a backhand pass from along the left wing boards by Trevor Lewis at 12:30 of the first. Doughty stopped a 13-game goal drought to put the Kings ahead 3-0 from near the left circle boards with 1.5 seconds left in the first. Bishop was replaced by Andrei Vasilevskiy after allowing three goals on nine shots in the first period. Vasilevskiy turned aside 19 of 20 shots. After Hedman pulled Tampa Bay within 3-2 by beating Jonathan Quick from the low left circle 1:34 into the third, Williams put Los Angeles back up by two from the right circle at 7:46. "When we're up 3-0, the game should be over by that point," Doughty said. "We should never let them back in the game. We weren't happy. To get that fourth one is huge. That just kind of puts a stamp on it." Kucherov cut the Lightning deficit to 3-1 just 58 seconds into the second. Quick stopped 26 shots, including a good scoring chance by Steven Stamkos with 5 minutes left in the first. Kucherov hit the post two minutes later. "We can't start games like that, then press the play button and we're OK," Stamkos said. "Not against teams like that." NOTES: Stamkos took two shots and was pointless on his 25th birthday.. ... It was the 2,000th NHL game for Lightning associate coach Rick Bowness as a head, associate or assistant coach. ... Williams stopped a stretch of seven straight games without a point. His second goal was his 100th with the Kings. ... Tampa Bay D Jason Garrison, hurt in Thursday's game at Dallas, didn't play. ... Lewis had gone without a point in his previous nine games. ... Kings D Alec Martinez left early in the first with an upper-body injury after being checked hard into the boards by Cedric Paquette. ... Toronto GM Dave Nonis was on the visiting scout list, but was not seen in the press box.
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By Dan Lyons Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams is one of the top players in all of FCS football, and he may be making the jump to the power conferences for his final year of eligibility. He has already visited Pac-12 power Oregon , and according to his high school coach , Texas and UCLA are also expressing interest. Here is the report via The Oregonian : UCLA and Texas have each registered interest in Adams, the Eastern Washington quarterback who can graduate and transfer to play immediately for a fifth season of eligibility in 2015, according to his high school coach Dean Herrington. Herrington, who has coached at Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, California, for nine seasons, said he's fielded calls from the schools since Oregon's pursuit of Adams became well-known. "They both want him," Herrington said in a phone interview, adding that he believes Adams' decision will nonetheless come down to the Ducks and Eagles. Texas will not commit to Tyrone Swoopes as its starting quarterback in 2015, while UCLA will need to find a replacement for star Brett Hundley, who is off to the NFL. Adams threw for 3,483 yards and 35 touchdowns, completing 66.1% of his passes in 2014. He also added 285 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
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Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy will walk into court Monday with more than his guilt or innocence hanging in the balance. Hardy's jury trial on misdemeanor domestic violence charges begins a month before the March 10 start of free agency. A guilty verdict would likely trigger a minimum, six-game suspension under the NFL's new personal conduct policy and cost Hardy millions on his next contract, industry experts say. The fallout from a verdict of not guilty finding is less certain. "It's foolish to think that someone won't (sign Hardy), assuming a not-guilty verdict," said former Panthers general manager Bill Polian, now an ESPN analyst. "But it's also foolish to think there won't be ramifications to it." This is a time of caution for the NFL, as the league struggles with what the appropriate punishment for domestic violence offenders should be. Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted he botched his handling of Ray Rice's domestic violence incident last year. Under a barrage of public pressure, Goodell eventually extended Rice's initial, two-game suspension indefinitely after TMZ aired the video of Rice knocking out his then-fiancee. Hardy and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who was charged with whipping his 4-year-old son with a switch, both agreed to be placed on the commissioner's exempt list in September, which amounted to a paid suspension. After the Panthers paid Hardy $13.1 million for playing in one game in 2014, the team is not expected to bring him back next season, according to multiple team sources. But several current and former NFL agents say there will be other teams interested in Hardy, 26, a Pro Bowl pass rusher who is still in the prime of his career. A District Court judge in July found Hardy guilty of assaulting and threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder during an early-morning altercation at Hardy's uptown condo last May. He appealed for the jury trial that is scheduled to start Monday. Given the current climate in the NFL toward domestic violence, a second guilty verdict could dry up the market for Hardy. Even after an arbitrator reinstated Rice in November, he sat out the final month of the regular season without signing with a team. But Joel Corry, a former agent who writes about the business of the NFL for cbssports.com, called Hardy's situation a "litmus test for how much tolerance teams have for character issues with borderline superstar players, or very good players." Corry believes Rice's decreased rushing statistics for Baltimore in 2013 also kept teams at bay. "I think the only reason Ray Rice didn't have a job last year was because he averaged a little over three yards a carry (3.1) in 2013. If he averaged 5 yards a carry, somebody probably signs him and bites the bullet and worries about what happens later," Corry said. "Hardy's going to get more of the benefit of the doubt just because he's a Pro Bowl-caliber player in his prime. So that's going to tip the scales for some owners that (think), I know you've got issues, but this guy can really play. If he couldn't really play, he might be out of the league." Hardy's time away Hardy has kept a relatively low profile since going on the exempt list in September. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Hardy stopped by Bank of America Stadium in early December to visit with teammates before the team left for its game in New Orleans. A month later, on the day the players cleaned out their lockers after the playoff loss at Seattle, Hardy left a cryptic message for his teammates, with a reference to "Kraken," his nickname. Rivera has said Hardy has continued working out, while Hardy's activity on social media indicates he has spent time in south Florida, as well as making music. Hardy, who returned to Twitter in November as @OverlordKraken, posted on Jan. 3: "Be back entertaining and bleed n for u guys as soon as they let me." He also has posted occasional videos on Vine of himself singing. Be back entertaining and bleed n for u guys as soon as they let me - Greg Hardy (@OverlordKraken) January 4, 2015 https://t.co/KjEaK3owUA - Greg Hardy (@OverlordKraken) January 4, 2015 @NFLPanthersSB @sdanner52 @pnthrlady4fr @jayholman78 @OverlordKraken Only thing Hardy is guilty of is falling for the wrong female. - Tara Putney (@TJPUTN) February 4, 2015 A few Panthers players have said they would welcome Hardy back, none more colorfully than cornerback Josh Norman. Norman said last month he hoped he could play with Hardy again, regardless of the outcome of his trial. "Either way, I want the man back," Norman said. "I want G. Hardy, the Kraken, back in this locker room." But that does not appear to be the prevailing sentiment in the Panthers' front office. Even before Hardy's arrest last spring, general manager Dave Gettleman had hedged his bets on Hardy by using the franchise tag on him rather than signing him to a long-term contract extension. Gettleman drafted defensive end Kony Ealy in the second round of last year's draft, and did not rule out taking another edge pass rusher during a news conference last month. While accepting an award against indifference in September, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson tearfully spoke out against violence toward women. "When it comes to domestic violence, my stance is not one of indifference," Richardson said. "I stand firmly against domestic violence, plain and simple." Panthers and league officials both declined comment for this story. The Panthers could choose to place the franchise tag on Hardy again, at a cost of $15.7 million this season. But the team has given no indication they plan to make any further investments in Hardy. "I think it would be (unlikely), for reasons that are obvious and also (salary) cap reasons," said Andrew Brandt, an NFL business analyst for ESPN and Sports Illustrated. "That's a team that doesn't want to commit that kind of cap to one player, especially that player." A short-term possibility Given the climate in the NFL following the Rice video, Hardy's market value could take a hit even if he's acquitted, according to some agents interviewed by the Observer. If Hardy's cleared, a couple of agents believe he would be better off taking a one- or two-year deal for about $5 million a year. That would given him a chance to rehabilitate his image, prove he can still play at a high level and set him up for another possible payday in free agency. Brandt, who spent nine years in Green Bay's front office and has consulted for several NFL teams, worked with Philadelphia when the Eagles were negotiating with Michael Vick in 2009 after the quarterback's release from federal prison following his dogfighting conviction. Brandt said Vick wanted a one-year deal but ended up signing a two-year contract with the Eagles. Two years later, the Eagles gave Vick a six-year, $100 million contract. Brandt said if Hardy and agent Drew Rosenhaus don't get the offers they're hoping for, they could look for a short-term deal and hit the market again in a year or two. Rosenhaus has declined interview requests about Hardy. Brandt believes teams interested in signing Hardy likely would communicate with the league about any possible discipline Hardy faces. When Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault on Nov. 18, Goodell suspended him through at least April 15 - a suspension that included the Vikings' final six games. Under a new conduct policy the NFL hastily implemented in August, first-time domestic abuse offenders receive a minimum six-game suspension. Polian, the Panthers' first general manager who was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend, said a six-game suspension would hurt Hardy's marketability "because of both the unavailability and the public stigma that would be associated with that." "Now, I'm not one that believes he should never play again. I think that's far too harsh," Polian said. "But I think it would certainly affect his market value. A not-guilty verdict is another issue altogether. That's sort of uncharted territory." Old rules or new? Peterson and the NFL Players Association are in a legal fight with the league over Peterson's suspension, which the union claims would have been no more than two games under the old policy. Because Hardy's arrest was in May, three months before the new policy was put in place, his attorneys likely would file a similar grievance if he's suspended six games. All of that underscores how important the trial will be in determining Hardy's football future. Jury selection is expected to begin Monday at the Mecklenburg County courthouse, and at least one legal expert thinks it could be nearly a week before a jury is finalized. Whatever the outcome of his trial, Hardy should have a resolution well before the March 10 start of free agency. "In the climate that we're in, it's bigger than a football decision," Brandt said. "You have to involve public relations, community relations ... suiteholders - a lot of marketing sides to just be in front of it." But Corry, the former agent, sees possibilities. "All you need is one team," he said. "You just need one team to overlook (Hardy's situation). It's going to depend on the ownership and the fan base, how desperate they are to win."
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Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Curtis McElhinney saved 34 of 35 shots faced in the 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.
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AMES, Iowa Sen. Rand Paul, nursing a cold, did not shake many hands on the first day of his swing through Iowa this weekend. Instead, he elbow-bumped activists as he made his way through crowds and hoarsely thanked them for their support. The Republicans who showed up at Paul's Friday rally did not mind. In a state where caucus-goers often demand warm interactions with presidential contenders, they were happy to hear Paul's riffs on monetary policy and Montesquieu from a distance. As Paul (Ky.) moves closer to a 2016 bid, he is betting that in a field of big personalities, his low-key style and atypical pitch mixing snarky asides, dovish takes on foreign policy, and a compassionate plea for criminal-justice reform will set his candidacy apart. "Just look at who's here," said David Fischer, a former Iowa state GOP official, as he surveyed the crowd at Paul's Friday gathering at a Des Moines winery. "He is actually bringing women, college students, and people who are not white into the Republican Party." The challenge for Paul is whether his approach, which has echoes of his father, former Texas congressman Ron Paul, will enable him to do better than the elder Paul's third-place finish in the 2012 Iowa presidential caucuses. "The son is a little more mainstream," said former Republican congressman Jim Leach, who represented eastern Iowa for 15 terms. "If he can stay there and play into the desire on the conservative side for someone new, he could find an opening." The latest poll of Iowa Republicans, conducted by Bloomberg Politics and the Des Moines Register, shows Paul in second place among potential GOP candidates. Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.), boosted by his breakout speech in late January at a conservative summit, narrowly leads with 15 percent. Paul is at 14 percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 10 percent. For now, in this early stage of the primary scramble, Paul is focused on reviving his father's political base in Iowa, which begins the primary process, by attacking an institution that has long frustrated the libertarian right: the Federal Reserve. Before Paul took the stage at Jasper Winery, Liberty Iowa organizers played a video featuring archival clips of both Ron and Rand Paul delivering critiques of the central bank. Minutes later, Paul, who last month introduced the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, drew raucous applause when he warned its policies are undermining U.S. currency. "Anybody here want to audit the Fed?" Paul said. "Anybody feel that the Fed is out to get us? They're all over the TV! They're going to be out there saying, 'Oh, we can't audit the Fed.' What, are they too big to be audited? To secret to be audited?" Turning to civil liberties, where he has quarreled with hawkish Republicans, Paul chastised the National Security Agency for its surveillance tactics. "It's none of their damn business what you do on your phone," he said. "Got to love it," said Joey Gallagher, 22, a community organizer with stud earrings, as he nursed a honey-pilsner beer. "It's a breath of fresh air." But the rest of Paul's nascent stump speech signaled that as much as he wants to target his father's lingering network, he is eager to be more than a long-shot ideologue. Paul cited two liberals, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), during his Friday remarks, and said he agrees with outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder on curbing federal property seizures and softening sentencing laws for nonviolent drug offenders - all a nod to his efforts to cast himself as a viable national candidate who can build bipartisan relationships and expand his party's political reach. "Putting a kid in jail for 55 years for selling marijuana is obscene," Paul said. Paul's trip's comes after a rough week for the freshman senator and physician. He was at the middle of a national controversy over childhood vaccines after he discussed the possible health risks of inoculations, and found himself under fire for a CNBC appearance where he "shushed" a female interviewer. Paul's visit also comes amid speculation in Iowa Republican circles that one of his state-based advisers, former Iowa GOP chairman A.J. Spiker, could hinder Paul's chances, due to Spiker's strained relationships with allies of Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad (R), who has voiced concern about the Paul bloc's influence. Steve Grubbs, a Paul strategist in Iowa, defended Spiker in an interview and said Paul would not be making changes to his political team, in spite of the calls from some party insiders for a shake-up. "Our plan is to combine liberty voters with other Republican voters," Grubbs said. "A.J. is part of that. And remember, no one goes through politics without picking up a few enemies. We're going to proceed as planned and hopefully win, place, or show next year." Craig Schoenfeld, an Iowa Republican consultant who guided George W. Bush's victorious 2000 Iowa campaign, said Paul's ambition to woo center-right Republicans will be tested by former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who has tapped David Kochel, a veteran Iowa operative, as his likely campaign manager. Bush is scheduled to speak next month at an agricultural summit in Des Moines. "The Bush factor is there," Schoenfeld said. "The folks involved may have more gray hair but they're ready to go to war for him in Iowa. Same with the people with [New Jersey Gov.] Chris Christie. The battle for that wing of the party is going to be fierce." Among former Ron Paul backers, there are pockets of unease about whether Rand Paul is moving too far to the center. Drew Ivers, who chaired Ron Paul's 2012 Iowa campaign, said he is "not sure" whether he will get behind the younger Paul in 2016. "He is playing to the middle, rather than having the middle move toward him," Ivers said. "I would like to see him do more to talk about small-government principles." Between stops, Paul shrugged off questions about his camp and its fundraising abilities. On Saturday afternoon, Paul sat courtside at Iowa State University's men's basketball game at the Hilton Coliseum with Steve Sukup, a wealthy businessman who has endorsed him. Before the game, wearing a light-blue fleece under a navy jacket, he mingled with Iowa State boosters and administrators, and Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), at a private reception. Even as he courted donors, Paul was careful to not veer far from his outsider persona. He parted with Sukup at half-time to meet with students, most wearing "big government sucks" stickers, at a campus game-watch, where he weighed in on constitutional rights and college costs before posing for a round of pictures. Speaking earlier Saturday at Legends American Grill in Marshalltown, Paul showcased his unorthodox presentation, quoting French political philosopher Montesquieu as attendees ate waffles and eggs at the dimly-lit sports bar, and then turned to foreign policy. "Montesquieu said that when the executive branch begins to legislate, then a form of tyranny will ensue," Paul said, referencing President Obama's unilateral policy decisions, including the legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants. Criticizing former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton, the all-but-certain front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Paul referred to U.S. intervention in Libya as "Hillary's war" and an "utter disaster" that has led to "jihadists roaming all across Libya. It's a jihadist wonderland." "He isn't real flamboyant," said retiree Diane Cox, 69, as she left the restaurant. "A lot of the others, they give you more of a stir and get you going. But he is factual and talking about the terrible debt facing my grandchildren." In the afternoon, as he slowly stepped through Iowa State's snow-covered parking lot, where his father four years ago participated in the Iowa GOP's straw poll, Paul said he had fond memories of those past runs, but he believes he can win what Ron Paul never did: the presidential nomination. "We used to have an 'end the Fed' dunk booth over there," Paul said, pointing toward a nearby sidewalk. "People threw balls at Ben Bernanke in order to get someone in the tank." After chuckling, he added: "If I run, I think we can attract people who weren't attracted before."
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Wichita State guards Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker have had a good chemistry for some time. So when Baker says he could see something different in VanVleet's eyes Saturday night, it's probably true. ''Fred just had this look in his eye like, `Shoot it,' when he passed it to you,'' Baker said. ''He's setting us up with these perfect passes, this perfect backspin, and you could tell he wanted you to make the shot.'' It was part of the reason VanVleet had the Shockers' first triple-double in 43 years as No. 16 Wichita State routed Missouri State 78-35. VanVleet finished with 10 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Shockers (21-3, 11-1 Missouri Valley Conference). He completed the feat in just 24 minutes of playing time and knew he was close early in the second half. ''While still playing the game the right way, my guys helped me get over the hump,'' he said. ''It's pretty special.'' Baker led all scorers with 17 points, while Shaquille Morris and Darius Carter added 10 each for Wichita State. Missouri State (9-15, 3-9) has lost nine of its last 10 games and suited up just seven scholarship players due to injuries, illness and departures. Gavin Thurman led the Bears with nine points. The Bears had not been held to 35 or fewer points since Feb. 11, 1950. Starting point guard Dorrian Williams did not play due to symptoms from a concussion suffered Wednesday. Christian Kirk, scheduled to start at forward, also did not play due to what coach Paul Lusk called ''health issues.'' ''They dominated us in every way possible,'' Lusk said. ''We started a freshman point guard and couldn't take him out. I've never been through anything like this.'' Predictably, the Shockers pressured the short-handed Bears non-stop in the first half and Missouri State turned it over nine times. And even when the Bears were able to run their offense, fatigued legs helped contribute to going 5 of 26 from the floor in the first half. The Shockers took advantage. Three-pointers from Evan Wessel and Baker helped Wichita State to a 14-3 lead. Missouri State got within nine, 20-11, on Loomis Gerring's long jumper with 7:58 remaining in the half. Wichita State went on a 17-2 run the rest of the half to lead 37-13. ''As much as I honestly feel for what Paul is going through with his roster, you want to win the game,'' Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. ''We wanted to make it a track meet. That played in our favor.'' It only got worse in the second. After a Missouri State basket, Wichita State scored 12 straight. Baker sank two 3-pointers to ignite the run. Carter converted a layup and alley-oop dunk, and Baker turned a steal into a layup. Wichita State led 49-15 with 16:54 to play, the crowd exploded and the Bears took a timeout. ''We got tons of deflections, and we were relentless on the glass,'' Marshall said. The Shockers used 14 players, twice that of Missouri State. ''I think the past three days, the two practices and this game, have been some of our best-played basketball,'' Baker said. TRIPLE THE FUN With 13:52 remaining in the game, VanVleet hit a 3-pointer and the crowd let out an extra cheer. He was already at 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and the 3-pointer gave him 10 points for his triple-double. He exited soon after. He is the first Shocker with a triple-double since 1972, when Terry Benton had 20 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists against Tulsa. TIP-INS Missouri State: Lusk faced his 14th ranked opponent in four seasons at Missouri State. That equals the total of the previous three Bears coaches combined. . Missouri State's Austin Ruder drew a first-half charge on Baker. It was the first charge drawn by Missouri State since Dec. 20. Wichita State: The Shockers have won 29 straight home games, the fourth longest active streak nationally. . Wichita State has won 10 straight against Missouri State, the longest streak in a series that dates to 1942. . Baker became the 43rd Wichita State player with at least 1,000 career points. . Wichita State's 1965 Final Four team was recognized at halftime. UP NEXT Missouri State: Travels to Evansville on Tuesday. Wichita State: Hosts Indiana State on Wednesday.
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We ask Golf Channel's Todd Lewis what he thought about Tiger's withdrawal from the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open. Is he not over his injuries?
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TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- SMU's tall, agile defenders gave Tulsa fits all night but it was its 5-foot-9 point guard who inflicted the most scoring damage. Nic Moore had 23 and helped key a 15-0 second half run as SMU ended Tulsa's unbeaten run in the American Conference with a 68-57 victory before a near sellout crowd on Saturday night in Tulsa. ''Moore was just fabulous, he played like one of the best players in the country,'' said Tulsa coach Frank Haith. Moore and reserve Cannen Cunningham did most of the damage in the decisive run, during which SMU held Tulsa scoreless for 7:21. Cunningham had a career-high 16 while center Yanick Moreira scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for SMU (19-5, 10-2). It was the first conference loss for Tulsa (17-6, 10-1) in 22 games, including 11 straight at the end of its Conference USA run last year. After Rashad Smith tied the game at 43 with 11:57 remaining, Tulsa didn't score again until two free throws by Brandon Swannegan with 4:36 left. Cunningham scored eight points, including the first six, and Moore added a pair of jumpers, including a 3-pointer, in the decisive run. SMU's length gave Tulsa fits all night and Moore dominated from the outset, scoring from outside or slicing through the Golden Hurricane zone to set up SMU's tall front line for easy dunks and layups. His lob to Ryan Manuel for a jam with two seconds left in the half sent the Mustangs off the court with a 34-28 lead. James Woodard kept Tulsa in the game with first-half 12 points, making 4 of 6 3-pointers, but was held without a basket in the second half until a last-second 3-pointer. He led Tulsa with 15, while D'Andre Wright and Shaquille Harrison scored 10 each. The Hurricane shot a season-low 28.3 percent (17 of 60) and made only 9 of 28 3-pointers. Yanick Moreira had 13 points and 13 rebounds for SMU, which shot 48.1 percent. Moore had seven assists, two steals and three rebounds. TIP-INS SMU: Following a 62-54 home loss to Cincinnati, Moreira texted coach Larry Brown to tell him that the players would be bringing a much higher level of effort and intensity to the Tulsa game. ''He had a great game and Nic was just fantastic,'' Brown said. ''Tonight we really finished in the paint.'' Tulsa: SMU's bevy of talented post players bedeviled Tulsa, but Moore was the difference maker, according to Tulsa coach Frank Haith. ''We lost to a very good SMU team. Their length bothered us all night. Nic Moore was fabulous. He played like one of the best players in the country. He controlled the game.'' THE RUN With the score tied at 43, SMU took over, getting stops and finding seams in the Tulsa defense for shots around the rim. ''When we tied it up, we were able to get stops,'' Haith said. ''In that stretch, we were not able to get any stops and then it affected our offense. They have four really good high-level post players and they just put a lot of pressure on you. Shots you would normally make feel forced.'' STOPPING SHAQ Brown said a key to the game was stopping the relentless driving of Harrison. ''He's one of the more fun players I've seen,'' Brown said. ''Ryan (Manuel) did a great job making it tough on him.'' Harrison was 3 of 12 from the field, but did finish with eight rebounds and four steals. UP NEXT SMU: At Houston Feb. 12 Tulsa: At Connecticut Feb. 12
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Talks were reportedly progressing before hitting a snag. George Karl and the Sacramento Kings were making progress toward a deal that would make Karl the new head coach, but those talks have stalled due to resistance to Karl from DeMarcus Cousins' camp, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports . However, Cousins' agent told Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee Sunday that they were not holding up a potential deal between Karl and the Kings, saying "We don't run team." According to Wojnarowski, there is now "rapidly diminishing belief" that Sacramento will hire Karl. Who in Cousins' camp has an issue and what the issue is remain in question. Karl does have some history with two of Cousins' agents, as Sam Amick of USA Today wrote : Karl's personal past with a number of influential members in and around the Kings organization remains relevant as well, as he previously coached Kings advisor Chris Mullin and has history with the two agents who represent franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins as well. Cousins' day-to-day agent, Jarrin Akana, worked with Karl in Denver and was re-assigned from assistant coach to scout when Karl took over for coach Jeff Bzdelik in 2005. Dan Fegan, Cousins' lead agent, represented Karl's son, Coby, as a player for years before he was eventually replaced. That circle, by all accounts, has been against the notion of adding Karl. It may not be just members of Cousins' camp with issues, as Amick reports there is "serious resistance to George Karl" from some of Sacramento's minority owners. The varying differences could very well cause a deal to fall through, and if it does it will apparently happen quickly. According to Wojnarowski, the talks are expected to be resolved either way on Sunday. Karl and the Kings are yet to agree to a potential contract, but Wojnarowski reported contract terms are not an issue and the two sides were closing the gap on a deal .
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Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James sent out a mysterious tweet about fitting in. Could James' tweet be about teammate Kevin Love? The guys weigh in.
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Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants to play a game of 1-on-1 against Kevin Durant for Durant's roster spot in the NBA All-Star Game. How much would you pay to see the matchup? #120Talk
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Watch Arizona State students distract Arizona players by twerking in unicorn masks.
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DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki gave Dallas a shot at a rare win over a Western Conference playoff contender by capping a late rally with a 3-pointer that forced overtime. Chandler Parsons took over from there. BOX SCORE: MAVERICKS 111, TRAIL BLAZERS 101 (OT) Nowitzki's 25 points included a high-arching 3-pointer that wiped out the last of an 11-point deficit in the final 2 minutes, Parsons scored 10 of his 20 in the extra period and the Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-101 Saturday night. Instead of losing for the 12th time in 14 games against teams currently in the West playoff picture, the Mavericks (35-18) pulled percentage points behind Portland (34-17) for fourth place. "This was huge because we had not beat a very good team that's been at full strength all year long," said Parsons, perhaps forgetting a recent win at Southwest Division-leading Memphis because the Mavericks were blown out at home by the Grizzlies a week later. "So to be the team that we want to be, we need to have wins like this." Damian Lillard ended a shooting slump to finish with 26 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 25, but the Blazers were outscored 22-2 in a stretch that included the fourth quarter and overtime to drop their seventh straight road game. "Tonight was tough, to lose like that. But we've just got to bounce back tomorrow," said Aldridge, referring to the second game of a back-to-back in Houston. "We outplayed them for all but two minutes. And those two minutes were the most important two minutes." The Mavericks gave themselves a chance with 3-pointers from Devin Harris and Parsons just 12 seconds apart to pull within five with 1:43 to go in regulation. Harris then knocked the ball away from Lillard, took a pass from Monta Ellis and hit a layup. After Lillard missed a long 3, Harris rebounded a missed 3-pointer from Ellis to set up Nowitzki's tying shot to a huge roar from what was left of a crowd that started filtering out not long after Wesley Matthews opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer that put Portland up by 16. "They hung in there and basically pitched a shutout in the last two minutes to get to overtime and then we got some momentum," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "That was a hard game, and that's a heavyweight team in the West." The Mavericks scored the first nine points of overtime, starting with two free throws by Parsons after he was fouled getting an offensive rebound, one of nine overall. He pumped his fist after a fadeway jumper that put Dallas ahead by 10. "I just tried to create mismatches and stay confident," said Parsons, who hit all three shots in overtime after going 4 of 13 in regulation. "I had missed a lot of bunnies and some open shots early in the game." FADING BLAZERS Portland missed the first two shots and first three free throws of overtime before finally scoring with 2:08 left on the second of two free throws by Aldridge, who was called for traveling on the Blazers' first possession of the extra period. That was one of a season high-tying 22 turnovers, and Portland went 7 minutes without a field goal bridging the fourth quarter and overtime. NO RONDO The Mavericks salvaged the first of three straight at home going into the All-Star game knowing guard Rajon Rondo won't be back before the break. J.J. Barea struggled for the first time in four games filling the starting role after Rondo broke the orbital bone of his left eye and his nose a week earlier in Orlando. Barea missed his first six shots and finished 2 of 11 from the field for seven points with four turnovers, but did have seven assists. TIP-INS Blazers: Lillard hit his first four 3-pointers after going 2 of 30 from long range the previous four games. ... Aldridge had a game-high 14 rebounds for his 26th double-double of the season. ... Nicolas Batum was 0 of 8 from the field but had 10 rebounds. Mavericks: Tyson Chandler had his 23rd double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. ... Ellis had 20 points, six assists and four steals. ... Nowitzki showed some first-quarter hustle, twice diving into the stands after loose balls. He saved the second one to Barea beyond the 3-point line, and Parsons scored on a drive. UP NEXT Blazers: at Houston on Sunday. Mavericks: home against the Clippers on Monday.
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Chandler Parsons reacts to the Mavericks' overtime win against Trail Blazers.
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Families of victims in the Sandy Hook school shooting reacted swiftly to a tweet retired baseball star Chipper Jones wrote about the massacre, calling the former third baseman's accusation that the shooting was a hoax "unconscionable." "For more than two years now, my family and the other families of Sandy Hook have been dealing with conspiracy theorists," Cristina Hassinger, 30, told the Daily News. Her mother Dawn Hochsprung was principal of the elementary school and died while trying to protect her students. "They harass us, saying it was all a hoax," the mother of four said. "They accuse us of being in on the hoax a lot of the time. So it's really so disappointing to see someone who is supposed to be an American role model come out and promote the Sandy Hook hoax theory." Jones, a former Atlanta Braves star, wrote on Friday the FBI had confirmed "Sandy Hook was a hoax!" "Where is the outrage," he continued. "What else are we being lied to about?" Jones quickly deleted the tweet and apologized , writing "It was irresponsible of me to do that and will not happen again. Please accept my heartfelt apology to those who were hurt or offended." But the damage was done. "I know that he apologized, but it's not enough," Hassinger said. "We were met with a brand new onslaught of Sandy Hook hoax harassment. When you're dealing with these people, and they see that blue check mark (a verified Twitter account) that's on their side, it starts all over again... It's unconscionable." Hassinger and many others responded to Jones after his initial tweet. "Come for dinner. You can meet my grandmother-less children and I'll show you my mom's clothes riddled with bullet holes," Hassinger wrote to Jones. She urged Jones to learn about the victims and support the families' cause. "The website mysandyhookfamily.org, it has a brief description of each of the victims that the families put together themselves," she said. "I would certainly invite Mr. Jones to visit the site to learn more about the victims and honor them. That would be a good first step in showing the families that he's remorseful." Twenty-six people, 20 of them children, were killed in the the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012.
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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Isaiah Taylor scored 23 points, including two foul shots with one second left that sent No. 25 Texas over Kansas State 61-57 Saturday. Connor Lammert had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Longhorns (15-8, 4-6 Big 12). Nino Williams had 13 points for the Wildcats (12-12, 5-6), who once again were minus Marcus Foster and Malek Harris because of indefinite suspensions. No word has been given on their future status. Thomas Gipson missed a layup with under five seconds left that would've tied it. Taylor sealed the win with his free throws.
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Texas A&M trademarked "The 12th Man" in 1990 and has allowed the Seahawks to use the phrase since the mid-2000s in exchange for money, but that agreement ends in 2016. What happens next?
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Meghan Trainor is GRAMMY nominated at the age of 21, but how exactly did she succeed at such a young age? She never changed who she was.
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Secretary of State John Kerry will headline NBC's "Meet the Press" after a week marred by the brutal killing of a Jordanian pilot at the hands of militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ISIS released a video showing the pilot, the first fighter captured from the international coalition seeking to destroy the terrorist group, being burned alive. The vicious killing sparked fury in the international community and led to increased bombing runs by the Jordanians, who also killed two al-Qaeda prisoners in response. But ISIS is claiming that one of the Jordanian airstrikes killed an American that it was holding hostage, a 26-year-old woman from Arizona. Officials could not independently verify that claim. Kerry will undoubtedly address the administration's fight against ISIS, which has been criticized by some Republican lawmakers for being too cautious. He'll also likely talk about continuing tensions with Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine. Retired Gen. John Allen, who is leading the U.S. coalition against ISIS, will appear on ABC's "This Week." Congressional leaders are working with the White House on a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force to codify the president's authority to take on ISIS, with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) telling reporters this week to expect the president to send Congress the language soon. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who introduced his own language for that purpose, joins CNN's "State of the Union," along with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a former Army soldier, and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who used to chair the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Congress is also in the midst of a fight over the budget for the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans want to defund President Obama's executive action on immigration, while Democrats are looking for a "clean" bill. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson will appear on CNN while Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the House Homeland Security Committee chairman, will speak on CBS's "Face the Nation." With contentious statements from various politicians on vaccinations making headlines this week, CBS will hear from Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director. A measles outbreak has spread to 14 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mostly stemming from infections at Disneyland Park in California. The Sunday shows will also feature their share of 2016 speculation, with a few public figures trumpeting their message for a possible candidacy. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) are slated to speak on "This Week", while retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson will appear on "Fox News Sunday." MSNBC will also host a pair of politicians on its network Sunday: Melissa Harris-Perry will air a taped interview with outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, while Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) will appear on "Up with Steve Kornacki."
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One complaint I have with The Verge 's office set-up is, it doesn't feel enough like a playground. But these King Arthur Round Swing Tables, designed by Duffy London , could change that. The eight and 12-person tables are equipped with swinging chairs suspended from a steel canopy, which is perfect if your "inner child" has $16,000 to spare. "As soon as people sit in it, they instantly open up, their posture changes and they start smiling," designer Christopher Duffy told Fast Company . "There's a different feeling when you're hanging from something than when you're sitting and you're supported from underneath." That true, there is a different feeling. It's a feeling usually associated with stomach-plunging roller coasters and bouncy chairs made for cradling fussy toddlers. But as I sit here, my body curled into a strange, trollish C-shape, that doesn't sound so bad. I can almost feel the breeze as I swing quiet, calm, peaceful. Is this the worst idea ever, or the best idea ever? Or is it, like so many things, just a chair?
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MIAMI A man was killed and a woman was in critical condition Saturday night after the man shot the woman, a beautician who was believed to be his girlfriend, in a West Miami-Dade beauty salon and then turned the gun on himself, police said. No one else was hurt in the shooting, though there were customers and other beauticians working in the salon when it occurred, said Detective Romelio Angel Martinez of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Police did not identify the man or the woman, who works as a hairdresser at Salonz Beauty Suites in the Flagler Park Plaza on West Flagler Street and Southwest 82nd Avenue. Martinez said the man was about 35 and the woman is slightly older than 50, and that they had a romantic relationship. "They were boyfriend and girlfriend,'' he said. The woman was being treated at Kendall Regional Medical Center. Martinez declined to say how many times the woman was shot, or where on her body she was wounded. And he declined to describe where the man shot himself, but confirmed that he had died at the scene. Jose Angulo, a hairdresser who rents the salon station across from the woman who was shot, said her name is Nina, and that she is originally from Panama. He declined to give her last name, but said Nina had worked at Salonz about eight years. "She's a very hard worker,'' said Angulo, who added that he witnessed the shooting but refused to describe what he saw to a reporter. Several people gathered at the scene also confirmed the victim's name is Nina. "She comes in every morning for her coffee. We call her Nina cafe con leche,'' said a woman who gave her name as Mary and said she works at the Tropicana Restaurant next door to Salonz. A woman who declined to give her name but described herself as a longtime customer of Nina's said she showed up for an appointment with the hairdresser only to learn of the shooting. The woman said Nina had a romantic relationship of about six or seven years with a man named Sergei Linares, and that he was a former baseball player from Cuba "in his 20s or 30s" who injured his leg and could not continue playing. She said Nina and Sergei had a relationship "but they were separated.'' Martinez said he did not know if the couple had argued before the shooting. "There was information provided to the officers by some of the witnesses that prior to going inside, he may have vandalized her vehicle,'' Martinez said. "But that aspect of it is still under investigation.'' One witness, Luisa Ibanez, said the shooter arrived in a black Nissan Altima, and that he was alone and that he broke the window on a station wagon or van. "We saw people running and screaming when he broke the windows of his girlfriend's car,'' Ibanez said. "He left and came back in minutes and went inside the salon.'' Ibanez said she was inside an H&R Block office next door to Salonz at the time and that she heard five shots fired. She said a group of people, including a child, ran out of the salon screaming. "The women who worked in there were screaming, 'He shot Nina! He's crazy!''' Ibanez said. Martinez said the couple had no history of domestic violence, but added: "This investigation is still in its infancy stages, so that information, if that is the case, will be available at a later time.'' Miami-Dade police received a call of a shooting with victims at 4:45 p.m., Martinez said, and they arrived to find the crime scene in the lobby. He added that the hairdresser may have been with a client when the shooting occurred. "I don't know if she was working with a client at the time she was shot,'' Martinez said, "but she was taking care of a client at some point before the altercation.''
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Nigeria's opposition says the decision to postpone the 14 February presidential elections by six weeks is a "major setback for democracy". The election commission said it moved the poll date because troops needed to protect polling stations were being deployed to fight Boko Haram. The postponement was welcomed by the ruling party, but the US said it was "disappointed". Nigeria has been battling an insurgency by Boko Haram in the north-east. Thousands of people have died as a result of the militant group's insurgency over the past six years. Boko Haram has also started attacking Nigeria's neighbours: on Sunday, for the second time in three days, the militants attacked the Niger border town of Diffa. At least one person was killed in a blast in the town's market, with some witnesses saying a suicide bomber was responsible. 'Unfortunate development' APC Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun said the move to delay the elections until 28 March, announced late on Saturday, was "highly provocative" and "a major setback for Nigerian democracy". However, he urged Nigerians to "remain calm and deist from violence and any activity which will compound this unfortunate development". Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenging incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who heads the People's Democratic Party (PDP), in the upcoming elections. Correspondents say it looks set to be a tight race between the two. Opposition officials accuse the military of forcing the electoral commission into the delay to help the sitting president's campaign. However, Attahiru Jega, head of the election commission, said the postponement was necessary as he had been told that troops would not be available to protect voters as they were too busy conducting operations against Boko Haram. "The commission cannot lightly wave off the advice of the nation's security chiefs," he said. Analysis: Will Ross, BBC Nigeria correspondent, Lagos The delay is highly contentious and will be seen by many Nigerians as foul play. What is not clear at this stage is whether it will favour President Goodluck Jonathan or his rival, Muhammadu Buhari. Attahiru Jega made a point of saying this was a decision taken by the electoral commission but clearly the "referee" was under intense pressure. The Boko Haram conflict has raged for five years but just days before the vote, Professor Jega was suddenly told the entire military would be focused solely on the north-east - in other words, "you are getting no help from the military, you are on your own". With the threat of violence so real, he was put in a tight corner. It seems highly unlikely that the conflict will be brought to an end within the next few weeks, so will the election be held at all? That may depend on whether some powerful personalities feel President Jonathan is well placed for a victory. Who are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists? How have Boko Haram become so strong? The country's national security adviser had called for a postponement last month, saying that more time was needed to distribute biometric voter cards. The ruling PDP party praised the postponement, and said the commission was facing "numerous logistical problems and numerous internal challenges", the AP news agency reported. However, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was "deeply disappointed" by the latest development. "Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process," he said. Parliamentary elections due to take place on 14 February have also been postponed to 28 March, and elections for state governors and assemblies slated for 28 February have been moved to 11 April. The Boko Haram insurgency has led to more than a million people fleeing their homes. What is your reaction to the postponement of the presidential election? You can email [email protected] with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. Or comment here: Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here . Read the terms and conditions.
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The private spaceflight company SpaceX will attempt the ultimate space double-header today (Feb. 8) with the launch of a space weather observatory followed by an ambitious rocket landing attempt on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) into orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 6:10 p.m. EST (2310 GMT). You can watch the SpaceX rocket launch live online beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. If all goes well, once the launch is complete SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will attempt to land on "Just Follow the Instructions" an autonomous spaceport drone ship parked about 370 miles (595 kilometers off the Florida coast. It is the second time that SpaceX is attempting to land a Falcon 9 rocket first stage on the drone ship. A Jan. 10 attempt ended with the booster landing hard, smashing into the landing platform and exploding . SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk said that try was "Close, but no cigar." This time, SpaceX hopes to do better, but Koenigsmann still put the chances of success for the novel test at just 50 percent. The 14-story Falcon 9 rocket first stage has been loaded with 50 percent more hydraulic fluid for the four grid steering fins that control the booster during its hypersonic atmospheric re-entry. But the rocket will also be coming in twice as fast and landing further offshore than the one used in the Jan. 10 landing attempt due to the nature of the DSCOVR mission, Koenigsmann added. "We hope it will go well this time," he said. While SpaceX has been pursing rocket landing and reusability technology in the hopes of lowering to costs of spaceflight, Koenigsmann stressed that today's landing attempt is not the company's main objective. Successfully sending the DSCOVR space weather satellite into orbit is the primary mission. DSCOVR's space weather mission For the DSCOVR satellite, today's launch will cap 17 years of development, setbacks and ultimately resurrection. The refrigerator-sized space weather observatory's mission which aims to serve as an early-warning system for major solar storms is a joint effort NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force. The origins of DSCOVR date back to 1998, when the mission ( then called Triana ) was spearheaded by then-Vice President Al Gore to beam live views of the Earth from space for scientific research and educational inspiration. But in 2001, after political disputes over the mission and a change in presidential administrations, the mission was mothballed and the Triana satellite (already completed) packed away in storage. NASA, NOAA and the U.S. Air Force resurrected the mission in 2009 to serve as a space weather early-warning outpost nearly 1 million miles in deep space at a waypoint between the Earth and sun known as Lagrange point 1. The total cost of the DSCOVR mission, including the earlier work on Triana, is about $340 million, with the planned two-year run of just DSCOVR expected to account for $104.8 million of that budget. DSCOVR will serve as a partner to NASA's long-lived Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), a satellite that has been performing a similar mission in the same region since 1997. "DSCOVR will serve as our tsunami buoy in deep space," Tom Berger, the director of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, said in a press conference Saturday. Severe solar flares and sun storms known as coronal mass ejections can interfere with aviation services, satellite navigation and even power grids on Earth, space weather scientists said. "We are dependent upon a reliable source of early-warning and advance notice," added Stephen Volz, assistant administrator of the NOAA Satellite and Information Service in Silver Spring, Maryland. In addition to studying the sun, DSCOVR will also fulfill part of its initial design by observing the Earth from Lagrange 1 and beaming back a steady stream of images of our home planet from space. The spacecraft should take a photo of Earth ever two hours, with the images expected to be available to scientists and the next day. "They'll be posted on a website for the public to see," said Steven Clarke, director of NASA's Joint Agency Satellite Division. "I think it will be an inspiration for people to see the sunlit disk of the Earth." The DSCOVR spacecraft is expected to last at least two years working alongside ACE, and could potentially last longer depending on its fuel supply, NOAA officials said. Email Tariq Malik at [email protected] or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com . Inside SpaceX's Epic Fly-back Reusable Rocket Landing (Infographic) 6 Fun Facts About Private Rocket Company SpaceX DSCOVR: The Deep Space Climate Observatory Mission in Photos Space Weather Detection Gets Upgrade With DSCOVR Satellite | Video
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Golfing legend Billy Casper has passed at the age of 83.
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Bruce Jenner was not texting while driving when he got into a chain-reaction crash in Malibu that left a woman dead, a publicist for the Olympic gold medalist said Sunday. Jenner will provide his cellphone records if requested by investigators looking into the cause of the four-vehicle crash on Pacific Coast Highway, Alan Nierob said. "The evidence will show that Bruce was not texting at the time of the accident," he said. Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said investigators will likely seek cellphone records for all the drivers to determine if distracted driving played a role in the accident. Jenner was driving a black Cadillac Escalade when he rear-ended a Lexus sedan that slammed into a Toyota Prius that had slowed down or stopped on the famous coastal highway, sheriff's Sgt. Philip Brooks said. The Lexus veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a black Hummer. The driver of the Lexus Kim Howe 69, of Calabasas, California was pronounced dead at the scene. In his first comments since Saturday's crash, called the accident "a devastating tragedy" and vowed to cooperate with investigators. "My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident," Jenner said in a statement Sunday evening. "It is a devastating tragedy I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them." The moment of impact was captured by celebrity photographers, who quickly posted the images on the Internet. The photos show the white Lexus mangled in the front and back, facing the Hummer, which had a heavily damaged engine and its hood popped open. Jenner's Escalade, which was pulling an off-road vehicle, had a damaged front end. There was no indication Jenner was being chased by paparazzi at the time of the crash, authorities said. "Being a celebrity, he is often followed by paparazzi. He was aware of that, and it doesn't appear he took any evasive action to avoid the paparazzi," Brooks said. Authorities said Jenner passed a field sobriety test and voluntarily submitted a blood sample to determine whether he was intoxicated. The sheriff's department has custody of all the vehicles and will be inspecting them to ensure they are mechanically sound or whether a defect prevented somebody from stopping in time. Investigators could also request search warrants, if necessary. The information gleaned from those records could help inform prosecutors, if they were to consider charges against the drivers involved. However, Brooks said it is difficult to determine if a driver was texting at the exact time of a collision. Investigators will look at signs of driver behavior such as multiple texts that span a period of time leading up to, or including, the crash, Brooks said. The crash comes at a time of widespread talk that Jenner, 65, is becoming a woman. Though Jenner himself has declined public comment, his appearance has gradually become more traditionally feminine. Those in his inner circles have not challenged speculation that he is preparing to live as a woman and perhaps will appear in a new reality series about his transition. Jenner won a gold medal in the men's decathlon at the 1976 Summer Games, but he is known to a younger generation as Kim Kardashian's stepfather. He and Kris Jenner appeared on the reality series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" along with their children, and the pair's relationship and its troubles have been featured prominently on the show. The two finalized their divorce late last year, ending 23 years of marriage.
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Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that he would rather see no deal reached with major powers on his country's nuclear programme than one that undercuts national interests. His comments came as US Secretary of State John Kerry met Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif for a second time on the sidelines of a security conference in Germany, to ratchet up efforts for a lasting nuclear accord. "I agree with a deal that can take place but I do not agree with a bad deal," the Iranian leader said, according to the Khamenei.ir website. "The Americans keep reiterating that it's better to have no deal than a bad one. I fully agree with that," he told air force commanders. "It's better to have no agreement than one that goes against our national interests." Khamenei, who has the final word on all matters of state in Iran, leaves the day-to-day administration of policy to President Hassan Rouhani and his government, but periodically speaks out on the nuclear talks. Rouhani has made the lifting of Western sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme his government's top priority. But Khamenei has set "red lines" for the concessions that Rouhani can make. These include a much bigger uranium enrichment programme than Western governments have said they are willing to countenance as they seek to allay concerns about any military dimension to Iran's nuclear activities. "Our negotiators are trying to get rid of the sanctions weapon. If they succeed, so much the better. But, if not, there are other ways to make sanctions less effective," Khamenei said. "I don't go along with this talk of striking a deal on general principles first and an agreement on the details afterwards... If they're going to strike a deal, let them agree the principles and the details at the same time." Zarif echoed Khamenei's comments after meeting Kerry in Munich on Sunday. "I don't think if we don't have an agreement it will be the end of the world. We try, we fail," he said.
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CANBERRA, Australia Australia's beleaguered Prime Minister Tony Abbott survived an internal government challenge to his leadership on Monday, despite a revolt by dozens of colleagues that leaves him politically damaged. A meeting of lawmakers in the ruling conservative Liberal Party voted 61 to 39 to reject a motion that called for a ballot for party leader and deputy, party whip Philip Ruddock reported after the brief meeting. Abbott needed a stronger show of support from his colleagues to ward off potential future challenges if the government continues to endure sagging approval ratings in opinion polls. But he said later that he should stay in charge of the government until voters decide his fate in elections next year. "We want to end the disunity and the uncertainty which destroyed two Labor governments and give you the good government that you deserve," Abbott said in a video statement, referring to the center-left Labor Party that dumped prime ministers in similar internal struggles in 2010 and 2013. "We think that when you elect a government, when you elect a prime minister, you deserve to keep that government and that prime minister until you have a chance to change your mind," he added. The challenge showed that 39 of 102 Liberal lawmakers wanted a change at the helm, even though no one had officially announced he or she was willing to stand against Abbott. It came halfway through Abbott's first 3-year term as prime minister. His party has never dumped a first-term prime minister. The challenge to Abbott's leadership a "spill motion" that declares the party leadership open to any candidates in a ballot was triggered by disgruntled government lawmakers last week and was to be discussed Tuesday at the year's first scheduled Liberal Party meeting. But Abbott on Sunday arranged a special meeting for Monday morning, leaving some lawmakers scrambling to book earlier flights to Canberra, and giving his opponents less time to garner support to topple him. The internal tussle came as an opinion poll published in The Australian newspaper on Monday showed that Abbott's popularity had reached its lowest point in his five years as party leader. The poll found that only 24 percent of respondents were satisfied with the prime minister's performance while 68 percent were dissatisfied. His conservative coalition government lagged behind the Labor opposition with 43 percent of respondents favoring the government and 57 percent supporting Labor. The poll was based on a nationwide, random telephone survey over the weekend of 1,178 voters. It has a margin of error of 3 percentage points. If the motion had passed Monday, the positions of prime minister and his deputy, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, would have been declared open. There would then have been secret ballots of Liberal Party lawmakers later Monday to either return Abbott and Bishop or replace them. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who led the party in opposition until he lost by a single vote to the more conservative Abbott in a 2009 leadership ballot, is touted as the favorite to replace the prime minister if there is another challenge. Abbott has come under increasing criticism from some members of his own party which is conservative despite its name over the government's sagging approval ratings. Polls have slumped since May, when the government's first annual budget was widely criticized as being toughest on the poor and most vulnerable. Recently, he drew widespread criticism by making Queen Elizabeth II's 93-year-old husband, Prince Philip, an Australian knight on Australia's national day. Many saw it as an insult to worthy Australians. Public dislike of Abbott has been blamed in part for big election losses for conservative governments in Victoria state in November and Queensland state last month.
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50 safest cities to live in The Economist Intelligence Unit recently released a list of the safest cities to live in around the world. The ranks were given on the basis of four main parameters: digital security, health security, infrastructure safety and personal safety. Click through to see which cities made it to the list. 50. Jakarta, Indonesia Score: 53.71 Life expectancy: 73 49. Tehran, Iran Score: 53.78 Life expectancy: 77 48. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Score: 54.93 Life expectancy: 73 47. Johannesburg, South Africa Score: 56.26 Life expectancy: 60 46. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Score: 57.09 Life expectancy: 75 45. Mexico City, Mexico Score: 59.46 Life expectancy: 77 44. Mumbai, India Score: 60.72 Life expectancy: 71 43. Moscow, Russia Score: 61.6 Life expectancy: 76 42. Delhi, India Score: 61.88 Life expectancy: 70 41. Istanbul, Turkey Score: 62.25 Life expectancy: 72 40. Sao Paulo, Brazil Score: 62.33 Life expectancy: 71 39. Bangkok, Thailand Score: 62.69 Life expectancy: 74 38. Guangzhou, China Score: 62.79 Life expectancy: 76 37. Beijing, China Score: 63.25 Life expectancy: 81 36. Kuwait City, Kuwait Score: 63.47 Life expectancy: 78 35. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Score: 63.52 Life expectancy: 73 34. Tianjin, China Score : 63.55 Life expectancy : 79 33. Lima, Peru Score : 65.01 Life expectancy : 74 32. Shenzhen, China Score : 65.76 Life expectancy : 75 31. Buenos Aires, Argentina Score: 65.88 Life expectancy: 76 30. Shanghai, China Score : 65.93 Life expectancy : 80 29. Doha, Qatar Score : 66.41 Life expectancy : 78 28. Santiago, Chile Score: 66.98 Life expectancy : 78 27. Rome, Italy Score : 67.13 Life expectancy : 82 26. Milan, Italy Score : 69.64 Life expectancy : 83 25. Abu Dhabi, UAE Score: 69.83 Life expectancy: 77 24. Seoul, South Korea Score: 70.9 Life expectancy: 83 23. Paris, France Score: 71.21 Life expectancy: 81 22. Brussels, Belgium Score: 71.72 Life expectancy: 81 21. Madrid, Spain Score: 72.35 Life expectancy: 82 20. Frankfurt, Germany Score: 73.05 Life expectancy: 79 19. Washington D.C., USA Score: 73.37 Life expectancy: 76 18. London, UK Score: 73.83 Life expectancy: 82 17. Los Angeles, USA Score: 74.24 Life expectancy: 80 16. Chicago, USA Score: 74.89 Life expectancy: 78 15. Barcelona, Spain Score: 75.16 Life expectancy: 82 14. Montreal, Canada Score: 75.6 Life expectancy: 81 13. Taipei, Taiwan Score: 76.51 Life expectancy: 83 12. San Francisco, USA Score: 76.63 Life expectancy: 80 11. Hong Kong, China Score: 77.24 Life expectancy: 84 10. New York City, USA Score: 78.08 Life expectancy: 81 9. Melbourne, Australia Score: 78.67 Life expectancy: 86 8. Toronto, Canada Score: 78.81 Life expectancy: 81 7. Zurich, Switzerland Score: 78.84 Life expectancy: 84 6. Sydney, Australia Score: 78.91 Life expectancy: 81 5. Amsterdam, Netherlands Score: 79.19 Life expectancy: 79 4. Stockholm, Sweden Score: 80.02 Life expectancy: 82 3. Osaka, Japan Score: 82.36 Life expectancy: 83 2. Singapore, Singapore Score: 84.61 Life expectancy: 82 1. Tokyo, Japan Score: 85.63 Life expectancy: 82
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Now that the 2014 NFL season is over, it's time to take a look into preparations for the 2015 season with the NFL scouting combine less than two weeks away in Indianapolis. NEW YORK JETS It's a new era for the Jets. Former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is now the head coach and Mike Maccagnan, the former Houston Texans director of college scouting, is now the general manager. That means it's safe to expect some significant changes. The biggest question is at quarterback, where Geno Smith has struggled with inconsistency in his two seasons with the franchise. Contract issues: Even though the Jets traded for receiver Percy Harvin last season, his days with the franchise may be numbered. With limited production, Harvin needs to convince the new staff that he's worth keeping. The heart and soul of the Jets defense, linebacker David Harris, is set to become a free agent, and if he chooses to go elsewhere, will leave a void in production and leadership. Draft pickings: Holding the No. 6 overall selection, the Jets may be on the outside looking in on the draft's top quarterbacks. Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota could be the top two picks, leaving New York to figure out an alternate solution. If both players are gone, the Jets could turn to its other biggest need: cornerback. MIAMI DOLPHINS Despite another disappointing finish, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross gave coach Joe Philbin a vote of support. But that doesn't mean there aren't changes forthcoming for the franchise. Miami hired Mike Tannenbaum as executive vice president of football operations. If the Dolphins don't break away from the average performances of the past three seasons, 2015 may be Philbin's last chance with the franchise. Contract issues: Even though he's under contract through 2018, receiver Mike Wallace is proving to be a headache for the Dolphins. He's the team's top-paid player, and because of spotty production and reports of friction in the locker room, the Dolphins could consider parting ways with Wallace. Defensive tackle Jared Odrick is one of the team's leaders on defense and is set to hit the market and tight end Charles Clay is another player due for a new deal. Draft pickings: The Dolphins select 14th in the first round, and are in position to nab a starter at one of their positions of need: linebacker, offensive line, or cornerback. Linebackers Randy Gregory of Nebraska and Dante Fowler Jr. of Florida may be off the board by the time the Dolphins pick, but Clemson's Vic Beasley wouldn't be a bad option. BUFFALO BILLS Like the Jets, Buffalo is undergoing a coaching transition with the introduction of Rex Ryan. After former coach Doug Marrone led the franchise to a 9-7 season, he opted out of his deal. The Bills moved quickly to hire Ryan, a defensive specialist. Because the Bills already had a stingy unit, Ryan should keep the defense in good standing. It's the offense that has big questions with quarterback E.J. Manuel projected as the starter. Contract issues: There's no question the biggest concern facing the Bills is at running back. Both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are free agents. The team may not end up re-signing both, but it's safe to expect them to try to keep one of them. Because Spiller is the younger of the two, he could be the choice, but due to constant injury woes, the Bills could ultimately look elsewhere. Another player set to become a free agent is defensive end Jerry Hughes, who was an integral part of Buffalo's defense last year. Draft pickings: Because of last year's draft-day trade for receiver Sammy Watkins, the Bills are without some of their draft picks. If they want to land a quarterback, they'll have to wait for after the first round, as the No. 19 pick now belongs to the Cleveland Browns. Expect the Bills to go for value, rather than to make a splashy move, as moving up can be costly for the future of a franchise. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS The Super Bowl champs are in a good spot. They have a solid core of talented players and have an influx of youth on their defense. And, with all other coaching vacancies now filled, the Patriots have a great deal of stability with both of their coordinators still with the team. There's some work to be done, but if the Patriots are diligent this offseason, they could be Super Bowl contenders again next year. Contract issues: The biggest question is with the team's best defensive player. Cornerback Darrelle Revis was added last offseason on a one-year deal worth $7 million. He proved to be worth every cent as one of the game's premier shutdown corners. Revis has a player option in which the Patriots could retain him for $20 million. Expect the two sides to try to work out an alternate long-term plan. Other notable free agents include safety Devin McCourty, and running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley. Draft pickings: With their championship season, the Patriots pick No. 32 in the draft, but they still have some needs they can fill. Even though quarterback Tom Brady has one of the most dangerous targets in the NFL in tight end Rob Gronkowski, New England could still use a dynamic, tall receiver to play on the outside. College football's top wideouts will be gone by the time the Patriots pick, but they can still secure a future starter with the last selection of the first round. Defensive line is another area of need. *** Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @Lorenzo_G_Reyes
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Ah, the advantages of nighttime skiing and snowboarding: Convenient parking, cheaper lift tickets (usually), uncrowded slopes, short to nonexistent lift lines, group lessons with fewer participants, maximum runs and available tables, chairs and lockers in the lodge. Other advantages include money-saving midweek lift-lesson-rental packages, especially for high school students, and vastly improved state-of-the-art lighting at resorts such as Steamboat, Colo. While Seven Springs Ski Resort has seen steady crowds for night skiing through the years, Nemacolin Woodlands has experienced an uptick during the later hours. At Seven Springs, many ski clubs from local and regional high schools choose to visit at night to cut costs and crowds. "We have as many as 2,000 kids out here on some Thursday and Friday nights," said John Hess, director of sales at Seven Springs. "It's a very popular social gathering. They like getting out and challenging their friends. And we want to make it as affordable as possible for them." Mr. Hess, 44, likes to ski and snowboard at night because "there's something special about it. It has a different feel and completely different visuals. I love it." Matt Grobe, the activities director at Nemacolin Woodlands, said the resort's popular Friends and Neighbors Night from 2 to 10 p.m. on Fridays has tripled the number of its night skiers and snowboarders in the past five years. It's a real bargain and everyone is considered to be a friend and neighbor. Lift tickets and rental equipment cost $25; those who have their own equipment pay $15. More resorts may offer night skiing because new lighting technology is "designed to offer more precision, astonishing energy efficiency and less harsh glare than conventional bulbs," said Dave Byrd, director of risk and regulatory affairs for the National Ski Areas Association. In a NSAA Journal article last winter, Mr. Byrd said Snow-Bright lighting technology from Ultra Tech Lighting of New Jersey uses magnetic induction lights specifically designed to illuminate the "unique characteristics" of a snow surface the contours, the terrain and the bumps. In short, skiers and snowboarders can see it all better. NSAA records show the number of night skiers/snowboarders in the Northeast increased by almost 3 percent overall from 2005-06 to 2013-14. Night skiers/snowboarders in the Southeast declined by approximately 6 percent for the same periods. They stayed about the same in the Midwest. Night skiers/snowboarders accounted for 22 percent of the guests in the Southeast and Midwest last year, well above the 15.6 percent in the Pacific Northwest and 8.7 percent in the Northeast. That Northeast percentage included the Louis and Dana Pietragallo family of Mt. Lebanon, which often skis in the evening. "It's quality time to be together and share a sport," said Louis Pietragallo, referring to their children Louie, 11; Anthony, 10; Sophia, 7; and Vincey, 5. "It's great to be outdoors in the fresh air, and it's nice for everyone to go nondigital for a few hours." Mr. Pietragallo, 42, who owns a software company, was taking a break with Louie and Vincey in the base lodge of Seven Springs on a recent snowy Sunday evening. "Our kids all have busy schedules but we make time whenever possible on Sunday afternoons and evenings to come out here," Mr. Pietragallo said. To maximize their time, the family arrives about 1 p.m., boots up, grabs their skis and heads for the lifts. As the day crowd gravitates from the slopes to apres snow activities or heads home by late afternoon, the Pietragallos enjoy more elbow room on the slopes. "We like it when the lights kick on," Mr. Pietragallo said. "It's just beautiful." Mr. Pietragallo's father taught him to ski, and he's doing the the same for his children. "It's a passing of the torch thing," he said. "It's wonderful to watch the kids learn and improve. It's amazing the way it builds their confidence. Bryan and Cindy Beatty of Moon have had similar experiences with their children Abby, 12; Angie, 9; and Amelia, 4. "We enjoy skiing at night," said Mr. Beatty as he took a break with Amelia in the base lodge at Hidden Valley. "It's less crowded and the kids can concentrate on their skiing. And when it's snowing, like it is tonight, it's beautiful." Mr. Beatty, 46, who works for Highmark, said he and his wife require their older children to do their homework on Saturdays "so they can relax and enjoy their skiing on Sundays." Their friends, Bill and Alicia Ellsworth, also of Moon, were delighted to see their daughter, Madyson, 16, take a group ski lesson on Hidden Valley's Bobcat beginner slope and then ride the chairlift to make a top-to-bottom run. She was beaming. "It really got my heart pumping," she said. Jonathan Cooper, 38, of Greensburg, who was at Hidden Valley with Rachel, 13; Hunter, 11; and Melanie, 8, said they enjoy night skiing because "it's more relaxed, more peaceful, less crowded and less defensive." "Skiing under the lights is awesome," Hunter said. "It's cool the way the light glistens off the snow and casts tree shadows on the slopes." Phillip and Rebecca Blair of Edgewater, Md., who resumed skiing this year at Seven Springs after a 10-year hiatus, said fewer people at night meant their children, Gavin, 16 and Georgianna, 11, were the only two persons in their snowboard lesson. "They got a semi-private lesson for the cost of a group lesson," their smiling father said. Over at Wisp Resort in western Maryland, John and Tracy Capuder of Morgantown, W.Va., said their daughter, Ali, 9, who learned to skate at age 5, took a group ski lesson and was a fast learner. "It's fun," Ali said. "I really like it." "I'm now trying to keep up with her," said Mr. Capuder, a coal miner who learned to ski in high school. "We come here in the evenings about once a week. It's a great time to be here and it's only a 40-45 minute drive." Lawrence Walsh writes about recreational snow sports for the Post-Gazette.
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WASHINGTON Spending for the Department of Homeland Security hangs in the balance as Congress fights over immigration matters in the agency's annual funding bill. Without action by Feb. 27, the department's budget will shut off. To hear Democrats and many Republicans tell it, the result would be unacceptable risks to U.S. security at a time of grave threats worldwide. In reality, though, most people will see little change if the department's money flow is halted, and some of the warnings of doom are as exaggerated as they are striking. "There are ghoulish, grim predators out there who would love to kill us or do us harm," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. "We should not be dillydallying and playing parliamentary pingpong with national security." In the view of some House conservatives, though, shutting off the agency's $40 billion budget for a time "is obviously not the end of the world," as Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., put it, because many agency employees would stay at work through a shutdown. Who's right, and what would the impact be if Congress were to let money for the department lapse? Salmon and a few other conservatives are the only ones saying it publicly so far, but the reality is that a department shutdown would have a very limited impact on national security. That's because most department employees fall into exempted categories of workers who stay on the job in a shutdown because they perform work considered necessary to protect human life and property. Even in a shutdown, most workers across agencies, including the Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Customs and Border Protection, would continue to report to work. Airport security checkpoints would remain staffed, the Secret Service would continue to protect the president and other dignitaries, the Coast Guard would stay on patrol, immigration agents would still be on the job. Indeed, of the agency's approximately 230,000 employees, some 200,000 of them would keep working even if Congress fails to fund their agency. It's a reality that was on display during the 16-day government-wide shutdown in the fall of 2013, when national parks and monuments closed but essential government functions kept running, albeit sometimes on reduced staff. So what of the sometimes overheated rhetoric, often from Democrats trying to prove a political point? "If this goes to shutdown," Mikulski said, "this could close down ports up and down the East Coast, because if you don't have a Coast Guard, you don't have the ports. You don't have the ports, you don't have an economy." But if the department loses its money, the Coast Guard will stay in operation and so will the ports. There would be one big change, though. Most workers would not get paid until the shutdown ends, a circumstance guaranteed to put pressure on members of Congress hearing from constituents angry about going without their paychecks. Making employees come to work without pay is "a real challenge" for them, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." Workers at agencies funded by fees, instead of by congressional appropriations, would continue their functions while still drawing a paycheck. It so happens that applies to the very employees charged with putting in place the immigration programs at the heart of the political dispute. Fees pay the salaries of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services workers who would process applications from immigrants eligible to work lawfully in the country under President Barack Obama's immigration policies. Even though Republicans are so determined to shut down Obama's program that some are willing to risk Homeland Security money to do it, it would stay up and running with little impact in the event of a shutdown. So who would stop working in a shutdown? Mostly administrative staff, including support workers at headquarters and personnel who do training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, employees involved in research and development, and those responsible for operating and maintaining the E-Verify system that allows businesses to check the immigration status of new hires. In addition, all personnel involved in administering grants would be furloughed, including Federal Emergency Management Agency workers who make grants to state and local governments, fire departments, and others to help them prepare for or respond to various threats and emergencies. That has led to pleas to Congress from the mayors, among others, to keep Homeland Security Department funding going.
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North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast Sunday, raising cross-border tensions ahead of Seoul's planned joint army drills with the US. The North fired the missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) from its eastern city of Wonsan between 4:20-5:10 pm, (0720-0810 GMT) Seoul's defence ministry spokesman told AFP. They flew about 200 kilometres (124 miles) before landing. "We are closely watching for any signs of additional missile launches by the North," said the spokesman. On Saturday, the North said it had test-fired an "ultra-precision" anti-ship rocket, which will be deployed across its navy "before long". The missile tests come as South Korea and the United States prepare to start major annual joint military exercises hated by Pyongyang. The large-scale Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises, which will begin in early March, look set to trigger a sharp rise in military tensions on the divided peninsula. The Seoul and Washington also started last week a joint naval exercise involving a US nuclear submarine. Pyongyang sees all joint US-South Korea army exercises as provocative rehearsals for invasion and has frequently demanded they be stopped. The nuclear-armed communist country has pushed ahead with the development of ballistic missiles and rockets, despite tough sanctions imposed by the international community. In 2012, Pyongyang demonstrated its rocket capabilities by sending a satellite into orbit, but it has yet to conduct a test that proves it has mastered the technology required for an effective inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the US mainland. Seoul's military said in January that the North had also made "significant" steps in developing technology that would allow it to mount nuclear bombs on a missile. Pyongyang has staged three nuclear tests, most recently in February 2013 -- the first since young ruler Kim Jong-Un came to power and its most powerful to date.
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Now that the 2014 NFL season is over, it's time to take a look into preparations for the 2015 season with the NFL scouting combine less than two weeks away in Indianapolis. This is one in a series of team-by-team looks at the needs of each AFC team. AFC NORTH PITTSBURGH STEELERS After consecutive 8-8 finishes, the Steelers made it back atop the division last season (11-5), only to lose in wild-card round of the playoffs. Offense is set with the big three of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell. Defense is younger. We'll see if it gets better under new defensive coordinator Keith Butler. Contract issues: Roethlisberger is entering final year of his deal. Locking him up to finish his career in Pittsburgh is top priority. Outside linebackers Jason Worilds, Arthur Moats and James Harrison (who combined for 29 starts last season) all are on track to become free agents. Draft pickings: As Bell's absence in a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens showed, the Steelers need a quality backup running back. They also have needs at cornerback and at outside linebacker to help improve the pass rush. CINCINNATI BENGALS After their fourth consecutive winning season (10-5-1), the Bengals were one-and-done in the wild-card round of the playoffs for the fourth straight time. Quarterback Andy Dalton has weapons in the likes of wide receiver A.J. Green. We'll see if Dalton can improve. Defense finished last in the NFL in sacks with 20. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict, a Pro Bowler in 2013, is recovering from micro-fracture knee surgery. Contract issues: One question is whether the Bengals will resign tight end Jermaine Gresham, entering free agency. Linebackers Rey Maualuga and Emmanuel Lamur and tight end Alex Smith are also entering free agency. Draft pickings: A pass-rushing defensive end would be a potential remedy to last season's meager sack total. Given the question marks at linebacker, including Burfict's knee, that's another area of need. BALTIMORE RAVENS Rebounding from an 8-8 finish in 2013, the Ravens went 10-6, made the playoffs and beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the wild card round. Quarterback Joe Flacco, anchor to the offense, will be working with new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman. Defense hung tough in 2014 despite rash of injuries in secondary. Contract issues: Wide receiver Torrey Smith is up for free agency. He's the deep threat and losing him would hurt. Running back Justin Forsett blossomed last season under a one-year contract as successor to Ray Rice. Resigning Forsett will be another key. Draft pickings: The Ravens are hoping for healthy seasons from veteran cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb, but a young backup would help. Wide receiver Steve Smith is 35, so there a draft need at receiver, too. CLEVELAND BROWNS The Browns started 7-4 last season but lost their final five games and finished 7-9. After a solid start, quarterback Brian Hoyer struggled. The defense was last in the NFL against the run. Star wide receiver Josh Gordon served a 10-game suspension for violation of the league drug policy, then was suspended by the Browns the final games for violating team rules. Now Gordon is suspended for the 2015 season for another violation of the league's drug policy. And Johnny Manziel entered a rehab facility after off-the-field problems led to sturggles when he had the opportunity to start. Contract issues: Hoyer will be eligible for free agency and the Browns face a decision on whether to stick with him. Manziel demonstrated no promise as a rookie, so Cleveland could go free agent shopping for a quarterback or look to the draft. Defensive line could be another free agent priority. Draft pickings: The Browns have two first-round picks (No. 12 and No. 19). Their primary needs are at wide receiver, defensive line and linebacker and at quarterback unless they sign a veteran. *** Follow Gary Mihoces on Twitter @ByGaryMihoces
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A husband and wife so ashamed of their smiles that they refused to have a single photo taken on their wedding day get a life-changing surprise from cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman.
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New York State attorney general says top stores are selling herbal supplements that can be dangerous to consumers' health. The Kardashians promote waist training which medical officials say could be dangerous to your health. Wayne State university starts campaign for James Robertson, who walks 21 miles to work due to a lack of transportation.
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Booking a cruise? How do you know if you're getting a great deal? We talked to a variety of experts including travel agents and luxury travel specialists and tapped into our own experience to bring you this list of seven tips for booking a luxury cruise at the best possible value. 1. Wait as Long as Possible It sounds counterintuitive, but booking your cruise at the last minute can really pay off. While this isn't always the case, some cruise lines will offer reduced prices to fill rooms just before a cruise departs. Keep checking the rates and occupancy as the departure date draws closer. It's a bit of a risk, but if you're flexible, you can most likely find a good deal on short notice. 2. Flexibility Is Key Like waiting to find a deal at the last moment, being flexible in choosing and booking a cruise is one of the best ways to save. Go into your search with an open mind, preferably before settling on any particular destination, cruise line, or even if possible time of year. Look at destinations in their off-season, consider less popular routes, and compare similar itineraries across brands. 3. Look for a Repositioning Cruise Many ships relocate at several points throughout the year, changing locations to sail the upcoming season in a different part of the world. Cruise lines sell these one-way sailings and often at reduced rates. Luxury travel expert Jeffrey Ward of Savvy Navigator says, "Repositioning cruises are a great way to get a great rate onboard a beautiful ship. Every fall, many lines reposition ships from Europe down to the Caribbean, and these are great trips for those who love being at sea. In the spring, the ships return to Europe from the Caribbean. If you've ever dreamed of a Transatlantic crossing in suite-category cabin, this is the way to do it." 4. Use a Travel Agent "Buying a cruise is a specialized purchase that requires a greater degree of understanding than other travel bookings," says Scott Kertes of Vacations by Design @ Hartford Holidays. "In the world of luxury cruises, there are many choices ranging from ship size; cabin size; dining, entertainment, and enrichment options; demographics and lifestyles; inclusions and exclusions." Not only can a travel agent especially one who specializes in cruises help you navigate all the options, they can also find you better rates and snag you better extras than you would likely get on your own, Kertes says. 5. Choose the Right Port City Flying to the city your sailing leaves from can be a huge add-on cost to a cruise vacation. Factor in the price of air travel when choosing your cruise. If possible, choose a cruise that leaves from a port you can drive to and don't forget the smaller ones! If flying is absolutely necessary, look into cruises that depart out of a city that may be cheaper for you to fly to. 6. Price Out the Extras Planning out your onboard spending in advance is a great way to save money. Beverages, for example, can really add up over the course of your cruise, so a prepaid beverage package might be the way to go. Just don't make any assumptions research the cost of drinks onboard (don't forget soft drinks) and see if a beverage package will save you money, or offers more than you're likely to need, resulting in possible overspending. 7. Explore Shore Excursion Options Start planning out your port visits before you get onboard and do your research. While a cruiser's first instinct may be to choose from a cruise line's own shore excursion options, an outside company may offer similar tours and activities at a lower price. Alternately, some luxury cruise lines offer included excursions on some or all sailings. Even if these cruise fares seem more expensive, do the math on what excursions would cost you, and you may find that the higher fares are a better deal in the end. You can also check to see if your credit card rewards (or, in some cases, concierge) can help with paying for or finding excursions. While rewards cards can be valuable, they are generally available only to applicants with good or excellent credit. In addition, rewards cards are a good deal only for those who pay their balances off in full each month. Otherwise, you'll likely spend more on interest than you receive in rewards. This article originally appeared on Credit.com .
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Now that the 2014 NFL season is over, it's time to take a look into preparations for the 2015 season with the NFL scouting combine less than two weeks away in Indianapolis. This is one in a series of team-by-team looks at the needs of each AFC team. Other AFC divisions will be posted throughout the day. DENVER BRONCOS The Denver Broncos might be the four-time defending AFC West champions, but that didn't spare them from a major overhaul heading into 2015, starting with the departure of former head coach John Fox and much of his staff. Broncos' general manager John Elway hired his former backup, Gary Kubiak to be head coach, and Kubiak hired former Broncos' head coach Wade Phillips to run the defense. It led to a lot of feel-good reunion stories in January, but how will it translate to wins? So much of that answer depends on if quarterback Peyton Manning decides to return. Contract issues: The Broncos face some major decisions heading into free agency, with starters like receivers Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker, tight end Julius Thomas, guard Orlando Franklin, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and safety Rahim Moore all set to hit the open market. Demaryius Thomas is likely to receive the franchise tag, but it seems unlikely all of those other players will be able to return. Draft pickings: As the Broncos likely return to a zone blocking run scheme in 2015, revamping the offensive line should be a top priority. Look for Denver to try to find a tackle to play opposite left tackle Ryan Clady early in the draft, as well as at least one interior lineman. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Though the Kansas City Chiefs failed to make the playoffs in Year 2 of the Andy Reid era, Kansas City did have some impressive wins most notably against the two Super Bowl teams, New England and Seattle to build upon. Kansas City locked up quarterback Alex Smith last summer, allowing the focus to be elsewhere on the roster in 2015. Still, it's hard to predict just how good the Chiefs will be given the amount of questions they face with some important veteran players. Contract issues: The biggest free agent question is outside linebacker Justin Houston, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the two sides were unable to agree on a contract extension in 2014. Houston is one of the NFL's elite pass rushers, and it is imperative the Chiefs keep him from leaving. Kansas City will also need to make decisions about outside linebacker Tamba Hali (who will count nearly $12 million toward the salary cap) and receiver Dwayne Bowe, who is set to make $10.75 million in base salary. Draft pickings: The Chiefs desperately need to upgrade at wide receiver after a season in which no Chiefs wide receiver caught a touchdown pass. If the Chiefs were to lose either Houston or Hali, or both, pass rusher would also become high on their draft needs list. OAKLAND RAIDERS The Oakland Raiders' long coaching search the second run by owner Mark Davis and general manager Reggie McKenzie ended when the Raiders hired from Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio, who spent the previous three years as the defensive coordinator in Denver. Del Rio inherits a roster that still has plenty of holes, but after a 2014 draft that included a stud pass rusher in Khalil Mack and potential franchise quarterback Derek Carr, could be poised to make a jump into the middle of the AFC pack. Contract issues: The Raiders should have money to spend and could be major players for the first time in years. Imagine if the Raiders could wind up pulling off a major deal in free agency to land a player like Ndamukong Suh? Among their own players set hit free agency are running back Darren McFadden, who played last year on a one-year deal, defensive tackle Pat Sims and receiver Denarius Moore. Draft pickings: Though the Raiders have used their past two first-round picks on a cornerback (D.J. Hayden) and a pass rusher (Mack), the Raiders still need help at both of those position. The Raiders also need to upgrade the weapons for Carr so don't be surprised if the Raiders look at receivers early in the draft. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS A promising season for the Chargers crashed late in the year, with losses to New England, Denver and Kansas City over the final month of the season, leaving the Chargers with some significant questions about how much support is around quarterback Philip Rivers. Still, the Chargers will enter 2015 with consistency at quarterback and with the coaching staff, which should make San Diego the team most likely to challenge the Broncos for the divisional title. Contract issues: The Chargers have a long list of players set to hit free agency, including running back Ryan Mathews, slot receiver Eddie Royal, cornerback Brandon Flowers and left tackle King Dunlap, yet not a ton of room under the cap to spend. That should leave the Chargers having to make some tough choices come March. Draft pickings: As has also been the case in recent year, the Chargers' top draft priority has to be along the offensive line, with needs for tackles and interior linemen. If Flowers leaves, the Chargers would also need another cornerback to play opposite last year's first-round pick, Jason Verrett. *** Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @ByLindsayHJones
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Glenn Maxwell and David Warner notched aggressive centuries to lead Australia's 106-run win over a hapless India in a World Cup warm-up match, raising their status as favourites in the mega-event starting this week. Maxwell reached his whirlwind 100 off just 53 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and eight sixes before retiring for a 57-ball 122 to bolster Australia to 371 all out in 48.2 overs. Skipper George Bailey won the toss and chose to bat at the Adelaide Oval ground. The Australian hit paceman Umesh Yadav for two fours and three sixes in the 45th over to build on the fiery 83-ball 104 by Warner, whose knock was studded with 14 boundaries and two sixes. AFP
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In 2014, Minneapolis, Kansas City and Richmond were the coolest place to be. But with a new year brings a new set of cities to add to your bucket list . Luckily, we've found some surprising spots Americans are trekking to most, courtesy of Hotels.com's Hotel Price Index . Whether it's a small-ish town in North Carolina or the next Texas hot spot, scroll below to see the newest, coolest places Americans are visiting: 1. Portland, Oregon is foodie heaven. We can think of a million reasons to go to Portland, but if you come away without trying the salted ganache ice cream from Salt & Straw , hanging out in Cathedral Park , finding some 5k to run or trying a world-famous Voodoo Doughnut -- you're doing it wrong. 2. San Antonio is the new Austin. Escape the crowds of Austin, Texas and head to San Antonio for incredible art exhibits, delicious Tex-Mex and an American history lesson. After checking out The Alamo , take time to tour La Villita , an historic arts village , then make your way down to the tree-lined paths of the River Walk -- located close to the "heart of the city." 3. Raleigh is a true Southern treasure. Home of North Carolina State and right down the road from Duke and UNC, Raleigh epitomizes the best of a small, metropolitan Southern town. Head to 42nd St. Oyster Bar for dinner, stop in for a drink at Cornerstone Tavern , and don't miss Beasley's Chicken + Honey for some damn good fried chicken and waffles. 4. Albuquerque is where it's at. If you're a "Breaking Bad" fan then you've probably already been to Albuquerque or planned a trip to check out all the shoot locations . Go for the insanely good chicken-fried steak fingers at Mac's Steak in the Rough, stay for the sopapillas , and don't forget to get in a round or two at one of the many nationally-acclaimed golf courses. 5. And Denver, Colorado is just plain awesome. Anyone who's anyone performs at nearby Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre , which is basically the coolest, most magical place to see a concert. Grab a drink at Old Major after, head to Root Down for awesome eats, and make sure to lounge in Washington Park and stop by the Denver Art Museum .
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A team of researchers at Columbia University's engineering and applied sciences school has created a new device (a "dongle," as they call it) that attaches to your smartphone and can detect whether sexually transmitted diseases are present in your blood. Just plug the dongle into your phone (Apple or Android), prick your finger and wait. If you have HIV or syphilis, you'll know in about 15 minutes. The device, which was created by lead researcher Samuel K. Sia, was recently field-tested on 96 patients in Rwanda. The test the device performs, called an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), is not new. (It was developed in 1971 and replaced earlier tests that exposed patients to radioactivity.) But until now the test required bulky lab equipment, making it unfeasible in certain parts of the world where HIV and syphilis are rampant. Sia's device solves that problem. Thirty-five million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates, and 1.5 million die from AIDS-related illnesses each year. There are about 10 million people living with syphilis. "Coupling microfluidics with recent advances in consumer electronics can make certain lab-based diagnostics accessible to almost any population with access to smartphones," Sia says. "This kind of capability can transform how health care services are delivered around the world." The dongle is cheap, too. Most ELISA testing equipment will run around $20,000, but Sia's device will cost $34 to manufacture, he estimates. "By increasing detection of syphilis infections, we might be able to reduce deaths by 10-fold," Sia says.
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This summer, a hotel will open in the Netherlands-themed Huis Ten Bosch amusement park in Nagasaki, Japan. It will have 72 rooms. Room fees will start at $60 per night. And it will be staffed by 10 humanoid robots. The Henn-na Hotel's blinking and "breathing" actroids will be able to make eye contact, respond to body language, and speak fluent Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and English, The Washington Post reports . They will check-in guests, carry bags, make coffee, clean rooms, and deliver laundry. How much do you tip a robot? The robot staff will be supplemented with a human staff...for now. At a news conference in Japan, Huis Ten Bosch president Hideo Sawada said, "In the future, we'd like to have more than 90 percent of hotel services operated by robots." The actroids aren't the only futurist thing about the Henn-na. Guests will be able to unlock their rooms through facial recognition software and radiation panels capable of detecting body heat will monitor and adjust room temperatures. This isn't just some futuristic fever dream: the hotel is scheduled to open on July 17th.
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Thinking of filing your own taxes? You're not alone. By March of last tax season, the IRS reported that over 27 million American taxpayers had filed their tax returns online from home. Filing your taxes on your own is easier than ever with programs like TurboTax and TaxACT. But before you dive in headfirst to all those numbers and complicated IRS codes, think twice. Self-filing isn't right for everyone. Before you file your own taxes, ask yourself these four questions: 1. Do I qualify for Free File? Free File is a program launched by the federal government to give certain people access to free, online tax filing tools. Typically, Free File is a good tool if your taxes are relatively simple say you've worked one job, and you'll take the standard deduction. Under this program, if you made under $60,000 in 2014, you can use free tax prep software from big-name companies. You may even be able to file your state taxes for free. If you made more than $60,000, you can get free forms you can file online. The forms do the math for you, but they only offer basic guidance. You won't be able to use the software for your state taxes. 2. If not, how much will a tax filing program cost me? Even if you don't qualify for Free File, you can still get a good deal on tax preparation. Services like TurboTax let sole proprietors file small business taxes for $80. That's still less than it will cost you to hire a tax professional. However, if you can find a decent tax preparation service in your area that won't cost much more than that, you might want to consider hiring someone, instead. 3. How much time do I have? There's a reason no one loves April 15. Filing taxes can be a real headache, especially if yours are complicated. If you own a business even a side gig that doesn't net you many write-offs or if you've itemized your taxes, you'll need time to file your taxes. Unless you're really organized throughout the year, you have to pull together receipts and information. And if you have multiple 1099s or W-2s, you have to get all those together, too. All of that has to be done before you can actually sit down and do the filing paperwork. Altogether, you can expect to spend at least half of a perfectly good Saturday filing your taxes. Again, this isn't to say you shouldn't do it yourself. But you need to think about the opportunity cost. How much do you miss out on while spending time filing your taxes, and how much is that worth to you? 4. Do I know all the tax credits, deductions and rules? Now, again, if your taxes are relatively simple to file, good tax software can walk you through most of the relevant tax credits and deductions . But, as the latest H&R Block commercials assert, you could miss out on money if you file your taxes on your own. When you do your taxes on your own especially if you try to file without the assistance of step-by-step software you run the risk of missing out on money that could add to your tax return or lower what you owe. This is especially true for freelancers and small business owners. It's easy to forget to write off business mileage, the costs of your home office and other relevant expenses if you have a small business. On the flip side, it's important to understand rules about deductions you can't take. If there's a chance you'll run awry of the IRS, it's best to leave it to the professionals. Complicated deductions have complicated rules, and you need to ensure you get everything on paper correctly or risk an audit . However, it's not worthwhile, obviously, to pay someone $200 to save you an extra $100 on your taxes. So you just need to decide how complex your taxes are going to be, and make an educated decision as to whether or not you can handle most of the credits and deductions yourself. None of this is to say that you, personally, should or should not do your own taxes. In some situations, it's a no-brainer. If you make less than $60,000 a year and have a couple W-2s and no mortgage, use Free File. But if your taxes are more complex, deciding whether to file on your own, use paid software or hire a professional is just a judgment call. Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report
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Now that the 2014 NFL season is over, it's time to take a look into preparations for the 2015 season with the NFL scouting combine less than two weeks away in Indianapolis. This is one in a series of team-by-team looks at the needs of each AFC team. AFC SOUTH HOUSTON TEXANS Under new coach Bill O'Brien and an MVP-caliber effort from defensive end J.J. Watt they made a seven-win jump in 2014 from their league-worst 2-14 record the previous year. However Houston got next to nothing from No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney, now recovering from always dicey micro-fracture knee surgery, and the quarterback position remains a question mark. Contract issues: Cornerback Kareem Jackson is headed for free agency after an excellent year. Same for quarterback Ryan Mallett, who provided one promising start before going down with a pectoral injury. The Texans must also make a decision on declining receiver Andre Johnson, who's scheduled to count more than $16 million against the cap in 2015. Draft pickings: O'Brien would probably be the perfect mentor for Winston, but Houston would have to do serious maneuvering to get into position to draft the Florida State star. More realistically, the Texans will need corner help if Jackson bolts, and an upgrade at tight end would help. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Give them points for consistency the Colts have gone 11-5 in all three years since Chuck Pagano and quarterback Andrew Luck came to town and have advanced one rung up the playoff ladder each season. Maintain that progress, and Indy will be in next year's Super Bowl, though serious tinkering is needed. Contract issues: Wide receiver Reggie Wayne, defensive end Cory Redding and backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck have been keys to implementing Pagano's program. But all are aging, unsigned and mulling their futures. Pro Bowl safety Mike Adams can also go free. Expect running back Trent Richardson to be set free after two brutal years. Draft pickings: Outside linebacker Robert Mathis, right tackle Gosder Cherilus and running back Vick Ballard are among the players the Colts hope to have back from injuries. Still, the defensive front seven (especially pass rushers), tailback and offensive line should all be considered areas of need. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Their 3-13 record, after going 4-12 in 2013, suggests regression. However the Jags adhered to their plan of developing and playing scads of first- and second-year players and accelerated the timeline to start rookie quarterback Blake Bortles, who turned the ball over 18 times in 14 games. But coach Gus Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell need progress to be reflected in the win column in 2015. Contract issues: Cecil Shorts brings experience to a green receiving corps. But his frequent injuries don't warrant a huge contract renewal. Tight end Marcedes Lewis doesn't produce enough to justify nearly $7 million in base salary in 2015. Caldwell should be able to make a free agent splash if he wants with roughly $60 million in projected cap space available. Draft pickings: Bradley, a former Seahawks coordinator, is a defensive guy and would surely welcome more studs who can create pressure. But Caldwell needs to keep putting pieces around Bortles, and that means targeting a running back, blockers and a tight end, especially if Lewis departs. TENNESSEE TITANS The Ken Whisenhunt era got off to a nice start with a Week 1 upset at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. But the Titans only won once more afterward. Very few positions on the depth chart are settled, and the transition to coordinator Ray Horton's 3-4 defense was a rough one. Contract issues: Free agent left tackle Michael Roos has been a mainstay but went down to injury and was capably replaced by rookie Taylor Lewan. However the release of right tackle Michael Oher creates a spot for Roos if he opts against retirement. Derrick Morgan did actually thrive under Horton after switching to linebacker, and it would make sense to re-sign him. The Jake Locker experiment is over. Draft pickings: The Titans will be selecting early in every round and will have the option of taking Winston or Mariota second overall. However if Mariota, who doesn't project as a snug scheme fit for Whisenhunt's playbook, is the one left on the board, the Titans might be wise to field offers. They'll clearly be picking in "best player available" mode, though defensive backs could be a priority. *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis
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Former world number one Maria Sharapova sent Russia into the semi-finals of the Fed Cup on Sunday as she defeated Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead. The doubles pairing of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Vitaliya Diatchenko later made it 4-0 as they beat Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska 6-4, 6-4. Following Sharapova's victory over Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, combined with a three set win for veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova over Urszula's sister Agnieszka, Russia cruised into the last four. French Open champion Sharapova is playing just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut but in order to make the Olympics next year all players have to make themselves available for the annual women's team tournament. "It is a very important win for me," said Sharapova, who has often been criticised for not playing enough Fed Cup matches. "Playing for the national team there is always added pressure." In front of a partisan home crowd of some 15,000, Sharapova, who recently lost the Australian Open final to Serena Williams, improved her record against the world number eight to 12 wins against just two defeats. Radwanska saved two match points at 2-5 down in the second set to draw level at 5-5 but ran out of steam as five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova closed out the match in 1hr 46mins.
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We're all for unplugging on vacation . But in order to make travel a lifestyle, you're gonna have to work while abroad . The good news is you'll join a legion of digital nomads , tech-based professionals who make travel their second occupation. At hostels, hotels, apartments and even on beaches, these full-time employees reap the benefits of travel, and their businesses do too. Take Jay Meistrich for example. After years in a career at Microsoft, he took off on a mission to launch a start-up from outposts all around the world. His finished product -- completed in Bali, Melbourne, Budapest and Stockholm -- has flourished because of the flexible time schedule and almost constant stimulation travel offers, he says. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that every lodging option cost less than both his San Francisco and Seattle apartments did . Here's what Meistrich learned from his digital nomad journey, as told to HuffPost Travel. There's no commute, therefore more creativity. In an office job, the commute is a big problem because it disconnects you from your work. Even if your commute isn't very long, the idea that you can't start working until you're in a certain place -- and that you have to stop when you leave -- makes a big difference. For me, it doesn't matter where I am -- I can always be working. Being surrounded by new things makes me more creative. And when you travel, your workday gets more productive. I can wake up, then work, then meet friends to eat, then work a little more, then watch a movie, then work again. If you get distracted for a few hours at your 9-to-5, then the whole day was unsuccessful. But for me, work doesn't have to happen in a fixed time range. The more you explore, the more game-changing connections you'll make. After Thailand, I'm heading back to Bali, where I made a partnership with a local company the last time I was there. Oh, and on Halloween, I went to a drag costume party in Bali and met a girl who works in PR. I showed her an article about my app. She got it published. And all that happened because I met her at a party in Bali. You'll meet work friends -- just not the kind that work in an office. I've met lots of people who do what I do through communities like Hashtag Nomads . They're different than backpackers, because they don't party every night, and they don't leave after two days. A bunch of us went to Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand for full moon parties together, but we also get work done. And I now have long-term friendships that I can maintain while I travel. And you'll rediscover friendships you've had all along. It sounds counterintuitive, but I have better relationships with my friends from home now that I'm traveling. My friend from high school used to live in Tokyo, so I visited him there and met his wife. Then they moved to Bangkok, so I spent New Years with them. I visited another friend's home in Santorini -- he was in my friend group a few years ago, but I never had the chance to hang out with him one-on-one. Turns out he's awesome. You'll realize your work options expand far beyond freelance. I've met people doing all types of work: customer support, SEO hackers, journalists. I know an electrical engineer who brings the stuff he needs to build things on the road. Living in a hotel can be MUCH cheaper than living in your apartment (in certain cases, of course). Right now I pay $12 a night for my hotel room in Chiang Mai, Thailand. And it's HUGE. It would probably cost at least $1,800 per month as a studio in San Francisco. And those distractions you thought you needed? Turns out you don't. I used to have a 65-inch, 3-D plasma TV. And it was awesome. But I don't even watch TV anymore, because there are a lot more fun things to do. Meistrich's interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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MEXICO CITY Argentine forensics experts on Saturday questioned Mexico's investigation into the disappearance of 43 students, saying the evidence doesn't support the government's conclusion the youths were killed and burned to ashes. The Argentine Forensic Anthropologists team, hired on behalf of the victims' parents as an independent party, issued what it said was a list of discrepancies in the case. The team had access to forensic evidence and crime scenes along with federal prosecutors and Mexico's own forensic investigators. Its statement said Mexico's government presented biased analyses of the scientific evidence to support its conclusion that the bodies of the college students were burned to ashes in Cocula in southern Guerrero state and their remains thrown into a river to hide the evidence. So far only one of the students has been identified from charred remains found at the river. The team "would like to reiterate that it doesn't exclude the possibility that some of the students met the fate described by the attorney general," the experts said in the statement issued after they met with parents. "But in our opinion there is no scientific evidence to support that in the Cocula garbage dump." The Attorney General's Office didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on the statement from the Argentine team, a nonprofit forensic science organization that investigates human right violations around the world. It was established in 1984 to investigate cases of at least 9,000 missing under Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship. Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said Jan. 27 that based on 39 confessions, 386 declarations, 487 forensic tests, 16 raids and two reconstructions authorities had concluded that municipal police arrested the youths in the city of Iguala on Sept. 26. The students were then allegedly handed over to the Guerreros Unidos cartel, which killed and burned them into the next day in a huge pyre and disposed of the ashes. Many groups inside Mexico and abroad have questioned Murillo Karam's conclusion as implausible, including that the temperature of an open-air fire could reach that of a crematorium oven and turn 43 bodies to ash. According to the Argentine team's statement, there was satellite evidence of many fires at the same dump in the last four years. The team found human remains at the dump that did not belong to the students, including a tooth belonging to a set of dentures. None of the students wore dentures. The team noted the Attorney General's Office made mistakes in 20 genetic profiles collected from family members of the 43 students that made them unusable for DNA matches. It said such errors are unusual as the process of collecting material is simple. The prosecutor's office also allowed the dump, a key crime scene, to go unguarded for several weeks, permitting anyone to plant or manipulate evidence, the team said. It said it was not present at key moments in the investigation, including when the remains were first found in and along a river and during a Nov. 15 trip to the garbage dump when prosecutors said they found 42 shell casings. The site had not been guarded at that point. Murrillo Karam's January news conference was seen as an effort by the government to finally close the case, which has caused significant political turmoil inside of Mexico and protests at home and abroad. He later said he was not trying to close the case. Cocula was the scene of another crime Saturday, when at least 12 people were reported kidnapped in the same municipality. There were conflicting reports on how many were taken and whether some were workers for Media Luna, a Canadian-owned gold mining project in Cocula, where police officers were charged with participating in the student disappearance. A state prosecutor's spokesmen said 12 people were taken, including some mine workers. A second government official said that 19 were taken and eight later released and that those held included some mine workers. Both insisted on not being quoted by name because the case had not been officially announced. The state official said the kidnappers were disguised as police or military. But the president of Toronto-based Torex Gold Resources Inc., which owns the mine, said the reports about his employees being abducted were false. Fred Stanford told The Associated Press he had confirmed that nine of his workers who were reported kidnapped were not taken and that he had conflicting information on a 10th employee. Stanford said Torex Gold has about 250 employees in the area, but at least 1,000 more who are contract workers. ___ Associated Press writer Jose Antonio Rivera in Acapulco contributed to this report.
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Check out this dancing dog's impressive four-minute routine!
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WASHINGTON The Israeli prime minister's upcoming speech to Congress without President Barack Obama's blessing has angered Democratic lawmakers, but they see little remedy except to hope for minimal damage to their party and U.S.-Israel relations. Democrats simmered in frustration as they faced a thankless choice between defending their president and defending a country they consider a vital ally. Some gleeful Republicans predicted Democrats' complaints about Benjamin Netanyahu's March 3 speech will drive Jewish voters to the GOP. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Democrats are making a "catastrophic mistake" by protesting Netanyahu's plans. "Traditionally, supporters of Israel have been really evenhanded in supporting candidates of both parties," Wilson said, but now "Democrats are slapping the friends of Israel in the face." Democrats reject such talk, saying Republicans repeatedly have overstated their appeal to Jewish voters. Obama got 78 percent of the Jewish vote in 2008, and 69 percent in 2012, according to exit polls. Congressional Democrats won two-thirds of Jewish votes in last fall's elections, an especially bad year for their party. Republicans want to portray Democrats as less supportive of Israel, "but no matter how much they try, they can't move Jewish voters on this issue," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the liberal pro-Israel group J Street. House Democrats say Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, showed disrespect to the president and perhaps cynical political goals when he invited Netanyahu. Presidents can't veto congressional speakers, but they usually are consulted. Many Democrats object for three reasons. The invitation rebukes Obama. The speech, scheduled three weeks before Israel's elections, might be designed to boost Netanyahu's re-election hopes. And Netanyahu is certain to back new penalties against Iran that the Obama administration and Western powers argue could scuttle sensitive negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. The speech is set for three weeks before the deadline for the U.S. and its international partners to reach a framework agreement with Iran that could provide an outline for a more comprehensive deal to be finalized by late June. Netanyahu says an accord could make it easier for Iran eventually to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Obama says he will reject any deal that doesn't safeguard Israel and other countries. Still, some Democrats favor tougher sanctions. But they weren't pleased by Netanyahu's acceptance of Boehner's invitation. Soon after the speaker's announcement, several Democratic senators postponed their sanctions push, giving Obama and the negotiators more time. Obama's chief concern about the break in protocol, his spokesman Josh Earnest said, "is to ensure that the strong relationship between the United States and Israel is protected from partisan politics." In the House, several veteran Democrats say they won't attend Netanyahu's address. The way it was scheduled was "an affront to the president and the State Department," said Rep. John Lewis of Georgia. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina called Boehner's actions unprecedented, and that Netanyahu has "politicized" his U.S. visit. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the party's third-ranking House leader, also says he doesn't plan to attend. The speaker of the House and the vice president traditionally sit behind the featured guest during a congressional address. But the White House said Friday that Vice President Joe Biden will be abroad that day. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York, Congress' only Jewish Republican, said if lawmakers boycott Netanyahu's speech, "it's a horrendous, irresponsible message to send to Israel." He called Israel "a free, democratic society thriving in an area of the world where radical Islamic extremism is growing most rapidly." Zeldin predicted many more Jewish voters will embrace Republicans because of Obama's policies regarding Israel. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, another critic of the speech's arrangements, said she will attend. Lawmakers often skip such addresses for different reasons, she said, so even if some seats are empty, "don't even think in terms of the word 'boycott.' Members will go or they won't go, as they usually go or don't go." Pelosi and other top Democrats have hinted they want Netanyahu to postpone his speech until after Israel's elections, and or hold it somewhere other than Congress. Conservatives see little incentive to do that. Boehner is happy to have Democrats grouse while Israel's leader addresses a Republican-run Congress, they say. Netanyahu probably benefits politically by speaking to Congress and criticizing Iran. On Saturday, Israeli opposition leaders said the controversy had damaged ties with the United States and they urged Netanyahu to cancel. Obama and Netanyahu have clashed repeatedly over the years, even though both say a close U.S.-Israel alliance is essential. Only days ago, the White House again criticized Israel's policy of building Jewish settlements on West Bank and East Jerusalem areas that Palestinians claim. Obama says a Mideast peace deal must include a Palestinian state based on territory Israel captured in 1967, with "mutually agreed upon swaps" to ensure Israel's security. Netanyahu rejects a return to those borders, and the Jewish settlements complicate efforts to divide territory. Obama has no plans to meet with Netanyahu during his U.S. trip. Numerous U.S. activists and lawmakers predict the quarrel over the March 3 speech will die down soon. There's no need "to pile on," even though the speech's arrangement was a mistake that triggered "a lot of blowback, both in Israel and here," said Democratic Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont. Josh Block of the Israel Project said Israel remains broadly popular in America, and "it's likely we'll see folks calm down." ___ Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Andrew Taylor in Washington contributed to this report.
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New Jersey Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid made some impressive saves in the 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
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