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Dame Helen Mirren thinks David Beckham is "unbelievably beautiful". The 69-year-old actress - who is married to director Taylor Hackford - is in awe of the retired soccer star's handsome features but would prefer people's attractiveness to be celebrated for other qualities than what they look like. She said: "I don't really like the word 'beauty'. There are physically beautiful people in the world - David Beckham, for instance, is unbelievably beautiful - then there are other people that are not beautiful, but are very attractive because of their personality, energy, brilliance, genius; all kinds of things." So I have a resistance to the word 'beautiful'. I wish we could find another word that takes it away from physical beauty and brings it more into the world of true attractiveness." The 'Hitchcock' star also admitted she isn't "naturally" very confident but has learned to believe in herself more because of her work. She told the Daily Mail newspaper: "People say to me 'Oh, you're so self-confident' but I am not naturally self-confident, I just have had to be in my work and my life. If it's a problem, it's my problem -- I've got to deal with it." And the veteran actress admits she doesn't worry about her looks as much now as she did when she was younger, but she still isn't entirely happy with her appearance. She said: "I used to worry a lot more about my looks than I do now."I think the great advantage of getting older is that you let go of certain things. Having said that, I think all women worry to some degree -- and I don't think men are exempt." | 6 | 3,300 | entertainment |
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) Jury selection has begun in the case of a young mother accused of killing her 5-year-old son by poisoning him with salt. Lacey Spears, of Scottsville, Kentucky, is charged with depraved murder and manslaughter in the death a year ago of Garnett-Paul Spears. Prosecutors say she forced salt into a feeding tube in the boy's stomach. His sodium levels rose to dangerous levels with no medical explanation, prosecutors said, leading to a swollen brain, seizures and death. All the while, Spears was keeping social media followers up to date. She made tens of thousands of entries during his lifetime, presenting herself as a supremely devoted mother. Her postings, her Internet searches about sodium and Garnett's hospital records will be in evidence. About 90 potential jurors were assembled for the case. | 5 | 3,301 | news |
Over the past couple weeks, both CES and the Detroit Auto Show have given gear heads and commuters alike some eye-popping peeks into the future of the road. But don't look towards your driveway in shame: We're years out from self-driving cars, and your late-model lemon still has what it takes to rule the mean streets. Still, if you want it smarten it up a bit, who can blame you? Here are five ways to inject some Internet-connected intelligence into your automobile: Dial In to Your Radio Cracking open your dash is not unheard of in the realm of in-car upgrades, but it's also not something the DIY set (or the faint of heart) might want to try on their own. But if you've got an Android or iOS handset, putting in a new, app-connected stereo is a great way to stay up to speed with the newest auto models. Android users will like Parrot Asteroid , a $600 head unit that brings Google's operating system to the forefront of the car, with apps like Waze and Spotify available at a touch of the 6.2-inch screen. Meanwhile, iPhone users will want to upgrade to aftermarket Carplay radios like the $600 Pioneer AppRadio4 . This Apple-approved car audio solution pulls data directly from the iPhone, letting drivers use specially-skinned versions of popular apps like Pandora while they drive. And despite the Pioneer's a 6.2-inch screen, which is great for viewing Apple Maps' driving directions, it also integrates Siri Eyes-free controls, letting you open apps or play music with voice commands. Crack Your Onboard Computer Every modern vehicle has an onboard computer it's just not something you've ever accessed before. But with a data port right by the driver's left knee, it's begging to get hacked into, letting cars reach their full potential. Automatic , a $99 smartphone app and sensor, plugs into this port giving you rich driving information even when you're behind the wheel. (Note: Of course you shouldn't text and drive, and you definitely shouldn't crunch data while operating a vehicle.) The system analyzes your driving style, and will give you subtle audio tips on how to drive more efficiently, compiling weekly driving scored and keeping track of your mileage. It also keeps track of those unintelligible dashboard warning lights, telling you in plain English what's wrong with your whip when one pops up. Drive Heads-Up Looking back and forth at your phone (or your car's in-dash display, for that matter) isn't a very safe way to drive. Actually, this kind of distracted driving is a sure-fire way to get in an accident. But heads-up displays, or HUDs, can help you keep your eye on the road while quickly glancing over at directions and other bits of driving data. The Garmin HUD has been around for a couple of years and pulls road information from the company's GPS apps. But if the $149 solution is too rich of an experiment, you can give the free HUDWay iOS app a spin. Panned by drivers for not being as clear as the Garmin, it still throws some decent information onto your windshield just be sure you have an anti-skid mat to hold your iPhone in place when you try it. And sometime this year Navdy is due to make its debut. Pairing with iPhones and Android handsets, this HUD, which is $299 on pre-order, will not only provide driving directions, but also provide voice and gesture-based controls, letting you answer calls with a thumbs-up or share your location just by saying the word. Display Your Music If you stream music from your iPhone and these days, who doesn't? you're likely at a loss for a good, safe-while-driving interface. iHeartRadio for Auto does its darnedest to put Internet radio at the tip of your finger, with big buttons and large typefaces to make it easy to use. Likewise, TuneIn has a car mode, but so too does your car's stock radio why not just use the dials and buttons? Apps like CarMusic on iOS and Car Tunes on Android bring gesture and even voice functionality to the digital audio experience. But more than anything, these half-baked solutions just point out the deficiencies of other, more popular apps like Spotify and Stitcher. Hopefully they're reading this. Empower Your Drive With Apps It would be easy to point to GPS apps to supercharge your commute, but by now you've probably got your favorite of the seemingly thousands of options available after all, these apps pretty much killed the dedicated on-dash GPS market. But there are a couple of newer location-aware apps that are worth adding to your home screen. Scout , available for both Android and iOS, puts a social spin on maps and meeting up, letting friends pick the time and the place for a rendezvous and keep track of where everyone else is on the map. Commute , by the brains behind Mapquest (they live!), keeps track of your regular commute and sends you personalized traffic details 15 minutes before you're scheduled to hit the road. If there's traffic ahead, you'll have plenty of time to go around it, or call ahead and say that you'll be home late for dinner. | 5 | 3,302 | news |
If you want to dazzle guests with your urbane tastes and also create the uneasy feeling sky and earth have flipped install some of these 3D-printed light bulb covers, which are modeled after skyscrapers from the Art Deco era. The fittingly named " Stalaclights " slip over LED bulbs to give a room a cool glow. They're a recent creation of David Graas, a product designer from the Netherlands whose work often focuses on sustainability. (Check out his PET-bottle vases , for instance, or plans for furniture made from discarded cardboard .) For this project, he wanted to exploit the nearly heatless surface of LEDs to make decor that's half skyline, half abysmal cavern. He writes: The intricate design of the shades are inspired by the Art Deco era, a time when the first skyscrapers appeared in big cities like New York and Chicago. Nowadays every major city is dominated by high rise buildings. Their height steadily increasing in time, fueled by the desire of their builders to realize the highest building of the world. If you would imagine these cities turned upside down it would look just like stalactites growing from the ceiling of a limestone cave. Steadily growing in time with every drop of ground water seeping through the cave's roof. At about $210 a pop , not including a hefty tax for non-E.U. purchases, these will form a considerable expense for anybody with a lot of light fixtures (or, god forbid, a chandelier). But on the other hand, they're cheaper than buying a real Art Deco masterpiece: And for folks who like their buildings in clumps, Grass also made this bulbous cityscape, called "Huddle": H/t MOCO Submissions | 5 | 3,303 | news |
Jan. 26 -- In today's "Single Best Chart," Bloomberg's Olivia Sterns displays the amount of time it took prices to recover from the oil market collapse of 1986. He speaks on "Bloomberg Surveillance." | 3 | 3,304 | finance |
Novak Djokovic will contest his 23rd consecutive grand slam quarter-final after easing past Luxembourg journeyman Gilles Muller 6-4 7-5 7-5 at the Australian Open on Monday. Djokovic was pushed by the 42nd-ranked Muller, a big-serving left-hander who had the shots to rally with the top seed, but the four-times champion was almost bullet-proof on serve and cut the 31-year-old down repeatedly when he rushed to the net. "Definitely what stands out is the serve," the Serb said. "I got a lot of aces, got a lot of free points there. "I managed to play some good passing shots. I was trying just to make him play an extra shot because he takes the time away from the opponent. "That's something that obviously encourages me for the rest of the tournament ...(so) overall (it) was a good performance." It wasn't until the sixth game of the third set that Muller had a chance on the Serb's serve but the former junior world number one could not take it despite four break points. Djokovic struck a string of sumptuous winners to break Muller in the 11th game of the third set and served out the final game to love to book a quarter-final clash with Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic. The 27-year-old, who regularly practices with Raonic in Monaco where they both live, has been impressed by the tall Canadian's progress and commitment off the court and knows he will be a dangerous opponent. "He's been playing some great tennis in the last 15 months. He deserves to be where he is now, top 10, coming closer to top five in the world," Djokovic added. "He's a very disciplined player, always works out. Always spends a lot of time in the gym, off the court, preparing himself for tough battles. "He spends a lot of time on recovery, as well, preparation, prevention. He's got a very good team of people around him. "Definitely a tough one. I need to be at my best, top of my game, in order to win that match." (Additional reporting by Ian Ransom, editing by Tony Jimenez and Michael Hann) | 1 | 3,305 | sports |
People are much more worried about the lack of sex in their marriages than the lack of, well, anything else, including happiness, love, and talking. At least, that's what the Google search results seem to indicate. Here's a sad fact: 21,090 people per month googled the phrase "sexless marriage," and nearly 3,000 more searched for "sex starve marriage" and "no sex marriage." For comparison, the other top marriage related searchers were 6,029 people searching for "unhappy marriage," and 2,650 searched for "loveless marriage." Google searches about spouses being unwilling to have sex are 16 times more common than searches about spouses being unwilling to talk. The numbers come from an article for the New York Times , Seth Stephens-Davidowitz crunches data from Google searches and offers a number of findings some surprising, others not about life in the bedroom. The data suggest a lack of sex is a less common concern for unmarried couples. "Sexless relationship" was searched 3,675 times per month, fewer than the 5,867 searches for "abusive relationship" and slightly more than the 3,563 searches for "complicated relationship." | 4 | 3,306 | lifestyle |
The two NBA games scheduled for Monday night in New York were postponed due to the expected massive snowstorm hitting the area. The league announced that the Sacramento Kings at New York Knicks game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. The Portland Trail Blazers at Brooklyn Nets game has been rescheduled for Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at Barclays Center. Forecast projections for New York City predict 20 to 30 inches of snow could hit the area over the next two days. | 1 | 3,307 | sports |
Half of Americans approve of President Obama's job performance for the first time in 19 months, according to a new poll released Monday. It is the first time that Obama has held a 50 percent approval rating in the Gallup daily tracking poll since June 2013. He's now 5 percentage points above water, with 45 percent of Americans disapproving of his job performance. The Gallup survey is the latest in a series of polls showing the president's numbers rebounding although most show more voters disapprove than approve of the president. An NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll released earlier this month showed Obama with 46 percent approval and 48 percent disapproval, while an ABC News/ Washington Post report showed the president at a 47percent to 48 percent disadvantage. But in both cases, the president has shown significant improvement from November, when his party suffered devastating election loses thanks, in no small part, to improving economic sentiments. In the NBC poll, 41 percent of Americans said the economy is now in "good shape," up from 27 percent just three months ago. That's the best economic sentiment since before the recession. The number of Americans who say the country is headed on the wrong track is down 12 percentage points from last fall. | 5 | 3,308 | news |
Barcelona star Neymar says he understands Cristiano Ronaldo's frustration boiling over after he was shown a red card during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Cordoba. The Portuguese seemed rattled throughout the contest, with video footage appearing to show him throwing a punch at Jose Angel Crespo, which went unnoticed by the referee. But Ronaldo was later punished for kicking out at Edimar Fraga in another moment of indiscipline, which resulted in him being sent off. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner later apologized on social media for losing his temper, but he has received the support of Neymar. "It is difficult because sometimes there is provocation," he said. "It happened to Zinedine Zidane, it happened to me. Nobody has the coolness to remain calm 100 percent of the time. "We must think with our heads. I think he should be punished. It is the referee's responsibility to protect players on the pitch, particularly when they are targeted by hard challenges. Hard tackles must be punished." Neymar has been one of Barcelona's shining lights amid a turbulent campaign at Camp Nou, with boardroom upheaval followed by reports of a dispute between Lionel Messi and coach Luis Enrique. The Brazil captain has scored 19 goals in 25 games in all competitions and eased the goalscoring burden on the Argentine. The 22-year-old was asked whether the presence of his South American teammate could hinder his own bid to become the best player in the world, but he says Messi's influence is only positive. "I have no problem. I've shared a dressing room with Ronaldinho, and I never had problems with him," he said. "I've played with many great players. Messi is the best player in the world, and I'll always have huge respect for him." | 1 | 3,309 | sports |
Sarah Palin is back in Iowa, hinting at a potential run for president. Heard this before? You betcha. Yes, it happened in the run-up to the 2012 election. And now, again, in the run-up to 2016. Palin told thousands of Iowa political activists gathered Saturday for a multi-candidate speechmaking fest near downtown Des Moines that it was time for the sign "that says no girls allowed" to be taken off the Oval office door. "If you want something said, you ask a man; if you want something done, you ask a woman," she told the crowd, adding "Now I'm ready for Hillary, are you?" It was not exactly an announcement: Palin came closer to that in a hotel lobby late Friday when she told a Washington Post reporter that she was "seriously interested" in pursuing the presidency. None of it, of course, means that Palin will actually run. The 2008 vice presidential nominee who quit as governor of Alaska before her first term was up is something of an echo of Donald Trump when it comes to teasing a presidential campaign that doesn't come to fruition. Both have seemed to be seeking relevance rather than the rigors - and verdict - of a campaign. (Trump appeared at the same Des Moines event Saturday, and he said he too might run for president; he also took the opportunity to savage potential opponents Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush.) Palin's suggestion that she was considering a run for president felt particularly familiar to Iowans, who were extras in the drama last time. It was in Pella, Iowa, that in June 2011 Palin held the premiere of a movie about her political career, with the street in front of the town's historic opera house blocked off to add Hollywood dazzle. "It's a tough decision; it's a big decision to decide whether to run for office or not. I'm still contemplating," Palin said then, calling the option "earth-shattering." A few weeks earlier, she had shown up at a clambake in New Hampshire the same day that Romney declared his candidacy for president in the same state. A month or so after the opera house premiere, she just happened to come to the Iowa State Fair - the day before the state's Ames straw poll. In neither case, she said, did she intend to steal anyone's thunder. Alas for her supporters, a 2012 run was not to be. In October 2011, she backed away from the race, declaring that "as always, my family comes first." And, she said, she owed it to her tea party compadres to work for them rather than run herself. "My decision is based upon a review of what common-sense conservatives and independents have accomplished, especially over the last year," Palin wrote in her announcement. "I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants." She has campaigned for others since - including Joni Ernst, Iowa's newest senator, who evinced rhetoric similar to some of Palin's blunt lines when she touted her experience castrating pigs. (Some things are perhaps too descriptive for a national audience. By this week, when Ernst delivered the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address, she referred to a background in which she had "plowed the fields of our family farm.") Palin has spent her time out of office working on two television shows celebrating her native Alaska and, last summer, starting a Web-based communications vehicle - www.sarahpalinchannel.com. When she first advertised it last year, Palin said the site would cost supporters $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year. On it resided pictures of her children, greetings to her parents, blog posts and a ticker that counted down President Obama's remaining time in office. At the time, political strategists said the web operation was a way for Palin to communicate with her supporters without a media filter. And, one added, there was another obvious use for the subscription list that she developed: as a fundraising tool for a new political campaign. | 5 | 3,310 | news |
Good news, GOOP fans: starlet Gwyneth Paltrow has announced that she's writing a third cookbook. Whereas the first two books, which focused on family togetherness, and recipes to make you feel and look good, respectively, this cookbook will feature recipes for "Clean comfort food," concentrating especially on kid-friendly foods and easy party appetizers. "It's fun I really love doing it," said Paltrow on a Friday morning Rachel Ray Show appearance. "It's an awesome side project that I get to do, and I feel really lucky that people bought the first one and the second one." No word yet on when the cookbook will be released, but we hope we can expect some fun tongue-in-cheek references to her ongoing feud with Martha Stewart , or perhaps even a recipe for "sex bark." Sex bark was recently featured in the GOOP newsletter, with ingredients like an "herb tonic used for centuries to enhance youthfulness, reproductive function, and sex drive," and "Moon Juice's Sex Dust, an aphrodisiac warming potion promoting enjoyable sex and fertility for both men and women." | 0 | 3,311 | foodanddrink |
Suspicions that shooting stars come from comet dust, transformed into fiery streaks as they hit Earth's atmosphere, have been bolstered by Europe's Rosetta space mission, scientists reported Monday. Comets and asteroids have both been eyed as possible progenitors of meteors, also known as shooting or falling stars -- and now particles spewed from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko have provided proof of paternity. "This paper shows for the first time that the fluffy, dry dust particles of a comet are (the) parents" of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) which give us shooting stars, Rita Schulz of the European Space Agency (ESA) told AFP. Published in the journal Nature, the study saw ESA's probe Rosetta snare and analyse dust ejected from 67P as the comet raced towards the Sun, hundreds of millions of kilometres (miles) from Earth. Comets are clusters of primordial dust and ice that orbit our star in elliptical circuits. As they near the Sun, melted dust and ice is deposited in their wake as a visible "tail" that disappears from view as they head back into the Solar System -- a cycle that continues until the celestial wanderers finally disintegrates. Comet 67P has an orbit of about six-and-a-half years -- about four years of each cycle are spent in the cold outer reaches of Space far from the Sun. - 'Fluffy and porous' - During this time, the gassy outflow too feeble to lift grains from its surface, the comet builds up an outer dust mantle. But as the comet draws closer to the Sun again, and is reactivated by its heat, the mantle starts to disintegrate and dust particles are shed The comet's most recent switch into active mode was observed from up close by Rosetta since its arrival in August last year to October -- orbiting 67P at a distance of 30 km (19 miles) or less. Particles collected by Rosetta's COSIMA instrument during this period, when the comet moved from a distance of 535 million kilometres to 450 million kilometres from the Sun, shattered on contact, said Schultz. The particles were about 50 micrometres in size (0.05 millimetres or 0.002 inches) before breaking. "They are fluffy and porous and rich in Na. (sodium)," said Schulz -- characteristics that led the team to conclude "that these particles likely represent the parents of interplanetary dust particles." IDPs, in turn, are what we see as shooting stars if they enter Earth's atmosphere. The study gives important backing for mathematical models of the source of shooting stars. For example, the Leonids, a meteor shower that occurs every November, have been associated with a comet called 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. "There has been a long-standing dispute of whether the source of IDPs are solely comets or also asteroids," said Schultz. "Our results imply that they have cometary origin. Another source would not be required." Asteroids are considered to be far more numerous than comets, but their composition is different. They are rocks, much smaller than planets, which circle the Sun, mainly in a belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comet 67P's outer dust mantle should be entire shed soon, if it has not happened already, said the study authors. As a result, the particles that will be collected for the remainder of Rosetta's mission will have very different properties as the ones used in the study. Rosetta's journey to 67P took more than a decade from 2004 and 6.5 billion kilometres. Last November, the craft placed a washing machine-sized robot lab, Philae, on the comet to gather as much data as possible for the 60-hour duration of its onboard batteries. Rosetta will continue orbiting 67P as the comet loops around the Sun, coming to its closest point of some 186 million kilometres on August 13. | 5 | 3,312 | news |
Talk about a beer buzz. America's craft brewers are riding a wave of success: ever-expanding craft-beer sections in supermarkets, craft-beer festivals in most major cities and even university programs in the art and business of making craft beer. In 2013, sales from craft brewers hit a record $14.3 billion an increase of 20% from the previous year, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group. (The pace continued in 2014, with 18% growth through midyear, according to the association.) Still, craft brewers face their share of challenges. Like many small businesses, they're not big enough to benefit from certain economies of scale. Plus, they face challenges unique to their business, from dealing with federal, state and local laws governing the sale and production of anything alcoholic to fighting large-scale brewers for market share. (The major beer brands still control more than 90% of the U.S. beer market, as measured by volume.) With that in mind, we asked three prominent craft brewers how their business came to be and how they rose to the challenge. Here's what they had to say. 1. Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins, Colo. Number of employees: 107 Year founded: 1989 Annual sales: Company doesn't release dollar figures but says it sold close to 100,000 barrels in 2014. How the brewery came to be: Odell started as a family affair and remains so to this day. Doug Odell was a home brewer; his wife, Wynne, was a "bored banker" (her words). They pooled their beer-making and business skills and started the brewery with Corkie Odell, Doug's sister, with an initial outlay of $135,000. The trio felt confident that the college-town location of Fort Collins would provide a good base. But it wasn't easy at first. "We had no distribution options other than delivering from our own Toyota pickup truck," Wynne says. A business challenge: The price of expansion is a big one, since breweries "are obscenely capital-intensive businesses," says Wynne. A case in point: A new German-made brewing system, installed in 2013, cost Odell $2.5 million. But it was a necessary purchase because it allowed the brewery to ramp up production beyond 80,000 barrels, and Odell had already made a commitment to expand into the Texas market in 2014, almost doubling its customer base. (Odell Brewing is in 11 states in all.) The plan for growth: Though the brewery is a mature business that has marked its 25th anniversary, the Odells still anticipate 20% annual growth in the near term. They are looking to add a new barrel room (barrel-aged beers are becoming hot) and bottling facility to keep up with demand. 2. Jack's Abby Brewing Framingham, Mass. Number of employees: 25 Year founded: 2011 Annual sales: Company doesn't release dollar figures but says it brewed 14,500 barrels in 2014. How the brewery came to be: This is another family affair: Brothers Eric, Jack and Sam Hendler say they always planned to join forces in a business after having grown up alongside each other in their father and uncle's packaged-ice company. "We knew we wanted to work together. The beer part came later," says Sam. The trio benefited from Jack's beer knowledge he actually got a degree in brewing technology and pooled $1 million of family money to open Jack's Abby. (The name refers to Jack and his wife, Abby, but it is also a play on abbey, since some of the greatest brewers of all times were monks.) Jack is the trio's brew master, while Eric handles the business side and Sam takes charge of the sales. To complete the family picture, the business sources some of the ingredients in its beer from its 80-acre family farm, such as the pumpkins that go into the brewery's pumpkin lager. A business challenge: These days, it's particularly hard for craft brewers to find the best hops (the flowers that impart that signature bitter taste to beer). Hops "need to be secured with contracts multiple years in advance," says Sam and that's a major challenge when a business is expanding so rapidly that it can't predict what supplies it will need down the road. Since its inception, Jack's Abby is averaging 150% annual growth. The plan for growth: The company would like to expand beyond its current small base of three states (Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York). "Ultimately, we see ourselves as a regional brewer" throughout the Northeast, says Sam. 3. The Commons Brewery Portland, Ore. Number of employees: 7 Year founded: 2010 Annual sales: $845,000 How the brewery came to be: Founder Michael Wright was an IT project manager by day and a home brewer by night. But his beer-making obsession got the best of him, so he gave up his job and pursued his dream. Mr. Wright started out by running the craft operation out of his garage and within a year, he was able to lease a 1,500-square-foot space and "become a legitimate small-production brewery," he says. He admits his initial investment was minuscule compared with that of other brewers just $85,000: "We had the minimum necessary equipment and space to produce small-batch beers….I didn't have more [money] than that, so it just had to work." A business challenge: Being in the business of making alcoholic beverages typically means dealing with a three-tier distribution system that's been in effect since Prohibition as in the brewery sells to the distributor, who then sells to the retailer. The process adds a middleman to the equation to theoretically keep business practices in check and curb abuses. But for craft brewers, it just makes things all the more difficult and costly, says Mr. Wright: "Getting product to market is complex." The plan for growth: Given that he purchased a $1.5 million building in June 2014 to expand the business and grew at a 30% clip in the past year, Mr. Wright feels that his trajectory is in place. He does plan on buying some new equipment in the next year. But he's hesitant to do anything with the support of outside investors or to sell The Commons altogether. "I'm enjoying this journey far too much to give it up," Mr. Wright says. | 3 | 3,313 | finance |
John Huddy reports from Jerusalem | 8 | 3,314 | video |
In McDonald's latest quest to tell us exactly what we're eating when we order off its menu, the fast-food company released a video Monday morning asking the question, "Does McDonald's use real eggs?" Keeping with the same format used for past videos describing how McRib patties , Chicken McNuggets and fries are made , host Grant Imahara takes viewers through yet another factory tour. In the video, Imahara interviews Harry Herbruck, executive vice president of operations at Herbruck's Poultry Ranch , about the two kinds of eggs they provide to McDonald's. Herbruck says that "fresh shell eggs ... are used in the Egg McMuffin" and liquid eggs are used in McGriddles Sandwiches, biscuit sandwiches, scrambled eggs and the sausage burrito. While it's refreshing to know that most of McDonald's egg items are indeed made with real eggs (with the exception of the Egg White Delight McMuffin), there are still a few more questions we'd like answered. Even though we're assured by Herbruck that "the eggs are laid yesterday or today," we still don't know where the eggs are laid or what the conditions are like for the chickens. Just because the eggs are real, that doesn't mean that the Egg McMuffin, which has 300 calories and 750 mgs of sodium, is nutritious or part of a balanced meal. | 0 | 3,315 | foodanddrink |
If the thought of making dinner tonight has you saying, "Again?" well, then you're in good company. Making dinner and packing lunches on a daily basis is enough to put me into the mental ward for moms. I dream of the day when someone else will cook for me, but since I'm divorced and poor, I don't think I will be hiring a personal chef anytime soon. So what's a mom to do when she's had enough of the Crock-Pot, Pinterest meal-pinning, and chop-chopping of veggies? Try these five ways to get out of making dinner tonight, and if one tactic doesn't work, get super desperate, and try the next! Say this mantra: I WILL get out of cooking dinner tonight. Namaste. Don't You Want That Kale Recipe We All Loved? If the thought of boiling potatoes makes you want to boil your brain, use this remedy for a surefire way to get someone else to cook dinner - or pay for it! Conjure up the last healthy recipe you made in some insane effort to mimic Gwyneth Paltrow's raw diet that your whole family hated, and then casually "recipe-drop" that you're going to make that tried-and-true fave again! "Honey, I'm feeling like turning over a new leaf with my cooking. Why don't I make that lovely kale dish we all loved (ahem, hated) again? In fact, maybe I will do a kale-themed recipe all week!" Watch as your significant other makes a light laugh, and then later on midday, ask him to whip something up, or order out. I guarantee results. Neighborhood Project One Summer, my neighbors took turns having everyone over at his or her house for dinner. The person in charge would cook for everyone else, including the kids. Since I a) can't cook and b) put my kid to bed way earlier than my neighbors typically did their kids, I didn't participate in the cooking, although they graciously invited me to join quite a few times. Gotta hate the skinny person squeezing in to steal some eats. Anyway, if you're friendly with your neighbors, try doing a weekly neighborhood dinner, and take turns on cooking duty. This means that not only will you NOT have to make dinner tonight, but possibly once a week for quite a few weeks in a row! Not too shabby. Of course, when the neighbors come to you, you can't pull that "kale trick." Let the Kids Man the Kitchen If your child is younger than 3, this isn't going to work, but if you've got one or two able-bodied kids, put your progeny to work! You'll have to supervise, and you may end up eating PB&J for dinner, but who cares? You ate and even better - you didn't cook! Kids love to help, at least before they hit puberty, and here will be a great way to squeeze in some teachable moments like how to measure dry or wet ingredients (math and life lesson!), which foods belong to what groups (health lesson), and how to set a table (Manners 101). I highly recommend trying this once a week just to get your kids in the habit of doing chores and creating some "fun" around food. Bad Side Effect: your kitchen will be messier. Let it go though. Cleaning a few extra dishes is worth not making dinner. Designate Pizza Night Take one night a week and say, "I will not cook dinner tonight" - and make it a pizza, sub, Chinese, or whatever you prefer night. It's good to schedule a break, and then budget weekly for that meal you're delivering in or ordering out. There's nothing wrong with saying, "I'm too tired to do this today," as long as you don't let your kids parent themselves or forgot to feed them all the time. You need a break now and then. Desperate Time, Desperate Measures If your partner doesn't know a squash from a strawberry and your kids would be more apt to blow up your kitchen rather than prepare you a substantial bowl of cereal, you may have to resort to desperate measures. When all else fails, offer sex or, at the very least, flirt. "I am feeling really tired right now. Do you think you could pick up Chinese? Maybe then I'll be ready later to show you my new panties I got from Victoria's Secret, honey." If that doesn't get you wonton soup at your dinner table, then I promptly give up and suggest you make it rich somehow. And if you're totally disgusted at this suggestion, just remember: sex is good for you, and having more sex in 2015 might bring you more of those dinners you're looking for. Wink. Other Helpful Hints In order to avoid jumping ship as a working mommy, I prep my meals over the weekend. And while fresh produce is better for you than bagged, I pick my battles and buy steamed veggies and score easy-to-make Crock-Pot recipes to use, so that way, I don't have to cook each night (most of the time), because things are prepared ahead of time. I also tend to make a few things at once: Crock-Pot chicken, steaming veggies in the microwave, heating up turkey sausage, and boiling pasta on the stove top in order to get more stuff done at once. Of course, this means I have to pay attention, or I could create a huge disaster. All in a Meal At the end of the day, if you're feeling overwhelmed with stuff on your "to-do" list and think making a meal is something your partner can take on, ask! Don't be a doormat, and silently take on every chore and item. It takes a strong woman to say she needs help. | 0 | 3,316 | foodanddrink |
Before the next storm hits, learn how your car insurance coverage applies to common winter driving hazards. 1. I had to abandon my car! Before leaving your stuck car, call for emergency roadside service, says Mary Bonelli, senior vice president of public information for the Ohio Insurance Institute. The charges would be covered if you have roadside assistance through your car insurance, or membership in a roadside-assistance program, such as AAA. In addition, some car makers, such as Lexus and Acura, provide emergency roadside assistance as part of a warranty package for new-car buyers. Of course if conditions are treacherous, you could be in for a long wait. About 500 motorists abandoned vehicles on Chicago's famous Lake Shore Drive in a blizzard a few years ago that dumped almost 2 feet of snow on the city. And if bad goes to worse and your car is vandalized after you leave it behind, comprehensive car insurance would apply, Bonelli says. Comprehensive insurance is an optional coverage that pays for losses due to theft, vandalism, natural disasters and other factors unrelated to traffic accidents. You'll have to pay your comprehensive coverage deductible, however. 2. I hit a curb. Collision coverage, which is optional, pays for damages to your car resulting from a collision with another car or object -- or as a result of flipping over. "In this instance, the curb would be considered an 'object' by most insurers and, as such, hitting a curb would come under collision coverage," says Michael Barry, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute. The same goes for potholes. However, it might be worth getting an estimate or two for repairs before filing a claim, Bonelli says. "If the loss is close to your deductible, you wouldn't likely file it." 3. I slid down an icy hill and hit parked cars along the way. Do whatever you can to contact the owners of the parked vehicles. "Leave notes on their cars with your insurance information and then get their license plate numbers," Barry says. Your collision coverage would pay for damage to your vehicle, and your auto insurance liability coverage would pay for damage to the other cars. If the situation were reversed and someone hit your parked car but did not leave information, your uninsured motorist coverage would pay for the damage, Bonelli says. 4. I got towed. Auto insurance coverage will not apply if your vehicle was parked illegally when it was towed, Bonelli says. Whether the local jurisdiction makes you pay towing fees depends on the situation. After the recent blizzard, the city of Chicago did not give citations or charge motorists to claim vehicles that were towed from Lake Shore Drive. Call your roadside-assistance provider if you need a tow in order to avoid having the city tow your car away. 5. I couldn't get into my car because the lock was iced shut. Again, call your roadside-assistance provider, whether that service is through your car insurance company, car dealer or motorist club. "There's a chance this would be covered through these services or even OnStar," Bonelli says. 6. I got in an accident, but police are responding to injury-only crashes. Exchange information with the other parties involved and then file an accident report with local law enforcement after the weather has cleared, the Ohio Insurance Institute recommends. Some local agencies require you to complete forms in person, while others offer online filing services. Your insurance company will ask whether you filed an accident report when you call to report the claim. 7. My car was stolen when I left it running in the driveway to warm up. You're better off braving the cold than letting the engine warm up in the morning while you finish your coffee inside. Besides tempting thieves, you also could get a ticket in some jurisdictions, such as Ohio, where it's against the law to leave a car running unattended. Still, comprehensive insurance would cover the loss -- even if you made stealing the car easy. Remember, though, if you decided to pass on comprehensive and collision coverage to save money, loss from theft would not be covered, nor would damage from vandalism, natural disaster or damage to your car that's your own fault. Review your policy or contact your insurer or agent if you're not sure how auto insurance coverage applies to winter driving quandaries. "That way you know what you're up against and can take proactive measures," Bonelli says. 8. I drove during a state of emergency and got into an accident. Drivers who dare to drive during bad weather are in luck, because most car insurance policies will cover motorists who make bad choices. Your car insurance normally covers accidents due to drivers negligence, whether it's running a red light or driving - and crashing -- during a snow storm or other severe weather. 9. Strong winds and heavy snow during a blizzard caused a tree to fall on my car. Comprehensive insurance will cover damage to your car if a tree or other object falls on it. You will, however, have to pay a deductible. 10. Huge icicles fell on my car and caused lots of damage. If your car is damaged by falling ice, comprehensive insurance will cover it. You can file a claim but will have to pay the deductible. | 3 | 3,317 | finance |
Of the many reasons there are to admire Michelle Obama , her seemingly effortless resistance to jet lag has got to be one of them. At least when it comes to style, anyway. The always fashionable first lady arrived alongside the president in India for a three day trip on Sunday, and was met not only with greetings from the country's prime minister but also great praise and excitement over her outfit, a floral dress and matching coat by Indian designer Bibhu Mohapatra. The designer later gushed to Women's Wear Daily : "I feel like I now have come full circle, with Michelle Obama arriving in my homeland in clothes designed by me," he said. And that wasn't Michelle's only on point outfit. At dinner on Sunday, Michelle looked stunning in a patterned, navy cocktail dress. On Monday, she wore a white, embellished outfit. We love how she is playing with color and pattern, something commonly found among Indian designs . We are always impressed over how many amazing looks FLOTUS can cram into such a short trip, and can't wait to see what she pops up in next. | 4 | 3,318 | lifestyle |
Getting out of bed on brutal winter mornings is a test of willpower. To win this battle, you'll need the best incentive possible, in the form of a delicious, toasty, healthy breakfast. As far as nutritional value and convenience go, you really can't beat a hearty serving of oatmeal. We've rounded up eight unconventional recipes that will do the Quaker man proud. With secret ingredients like sriracha sauce and chia seeds, your daily bowl of grains is about to get a lot more interesting (without much more legwork). Photographed by Tory Rust. Getting out of bed on brutal winter mornings is a test of willpower. To win this battle, you'll need the best incentive possible, in the form of a delicious, toasty, healthy breakfast. As far as nutritional value and convenience go, you really can't beat a hearty serving of oatmeal. We've rounded up eight unconventional recipes that will do the Quaker man proud. With secret ingredients like sriracha sauce and chia seeds, your daily bowl of grains is about to get a lot more interesting (without much more legwork). Chia Seeds You can make this superfood-infused oatmeal overnight no cooking necessary. Basil Pesto Oatmeal cooked in pesto sauce tastes similar to risotto, but has a much shorter prep time. Matcha Powder The Japanese green tea powder is delicious not just in a latte. Add it to your bowl of grains for a sweeter twist. Sriracha People love putting this hot sauce in everything, so we're not surprised that somebody came up with a way to incorporate it into breakfast. Culinary Lavender Oatmeal with little flower buds floating on top? Prettiest breakfast, ever. Pumpkin Puree Throw back to warmer times with this recipe, featuring fall's favorite fruit. Madras Curry Powder This curried version will convince you to make oatmeal for lunch, too. Dried Mango Stir mango and coconut strips into your oatmeal for a hint of tropical flavor. | 0 | 3,319 | foodanddrink |
Sure, every couple fights. Experts even say it's healthy to have an argument. However, if your marriage is genuinely on the rocks, it'll take more than a few date nights to get it back.."Couples need to be willing to change their habits and patterns, not just their behaviors," says Kat Van Kirk, Ph.D., and author and marriage and family therapist. "The key is to get both partners on the same page and get motivated to save their relationship. It becomes really dangerous when couples are apathetic about their partner and marriage it's a dead giveaway that there needs to be a drastic change." Here's the story of four couples that were brave enough to admit their relationship needed some assistance, and went to great lengths to get it. Kevin and Anita Ross: Dedicate one day each year to really hash it out. It's pretty normal to take a long weekend away with your hubby every once in awhile to help release some of that, um, built up tension. Let's be honest, it's hard to express your feelings physically when your days sound something like: "Mommy, I want the BLUE pen, not the RED one!" However, Kevin and Anita plan one getaway each year that's unlike any vacation we've ever heard of. They have a one-day work session that they call the '364 Day Marriage Tune Up.'How does it work? Once a year, they hire a baby-sitter, load up the car, drive to a hotel, and get to business. But not (only) like that: They work through the tough parts and make goals for the future. "We woke up one morning and realized that love was not enough," Kevin says. "We needed a vision for us as a couple, and we needed to have some productive arguments about how we were going to get there." Their weekend begins with relaxation, like a massage at their favorite spa, then they toast to the good times they've had, and then they check-in to a hotel with luggage in tow, and an agenda that examines what worked the year before and what didn't. "We make the effort to really look at our successes as a couple and congratulate ourselves,"Kevin says. "And then we take a look at what's missing and what we could be doing better." Though Kevin says this portion is the longest one, having this annual day-long experience has dramatically changed their marriage. They end their getaway by writing their reflections in a journal and making goals, from vacations to financial benchmarks and parties, for the upcoming year. "We are now unafraid to communicate the difficult things, so we are able to respectfully navigate through our differences even when it's hard," Kevin says. David and Veronica James: Sold their house and became gypsies. After their last child moved out, David and Veronica were face to face with an unavoidable fate that all parents eventually reach: After years of sharing their lives with their children, they were now completely alone. "Our relationship changed drastically while we juggled making a living and raising our kids," Veronica says. "I had become kid-centric. We really needed to find that couple that met and fell madly in love thirty years prior and reignite the spark." So what did they do? Sold their house and bought a beat-up motor home from eBay. The couple intended on a short getaway to get their marriage and passion back to where it was, but after six years they're still traveling in that motorhome. Their book Going Gypsy comes out in February, and David says they've never been closer after traveling together all this time... sans children. "By doing something completely new together, we always have exciting things to talk about," he says. "Sometimes things can be pretty disjointed, but it works for us. Life is never boring, and there are so many times that we stop and say to each other 'Can you believe this?'" Carl and Joyce Gioia: Paid $16,000 for one week of therapy. When Joyce Gioia couldn't think of anything else to save her marriage and solve the trust issues that were tearing her and her husband, Carl, apart, she decided to make an investment into what she hoped could be a life-long, loving marriage. They packed their bags and headed to the Sedona Intensive: A $16,000 week-long intensive therapy session that helps people release all self-destructive behaviors. The purpose of this particular therapy was to help them become stronger individuals, and the counseling was never couple-based. In fact, they only saw each other once per morning at 7 a.m. when they attended a 12-step meeting. The meetings addressed addictions but it had nothing to do with substance abuse it was focused on things like work addictions and co-dependance issues. Between the supervised journaling, visits with renound mental health professionals, and their genuine will to make things work, Carl and Joyce were able to recover their relationship. "I believed that the nature and the intensity of this self-learning experience would help us move beyond the impasse that was preventing a resolution in our marriage," Joyce said. And she was right. By looking at each other as total individuals, they were able to discover what was most important to their spouse and cater to those specific needs. Two years have passed and they're more in love than ever. Emil and Lise Stossel: Reside in separate homes. When Lise began looking for another place to live, she knew her marriage was in trouble. "At the time, I figured I needed a divorce because I didn't want to live with my husband," she says. But once she started thinking about her life post-divorce, she felt deeply sad and realized that maybe she didn't need to take off her wedding ring perhaps, she just needed some space. Like, her own house. Lise and Emil have been married 30 years, and they've spent the last seven years living apart. They see each other every day of the week but one, and spend about four nights a week together. While it might seem a little crazy to imagine going to sleep without your guy, Lise swears it's made her marriage and love so much stronger. "It's given us the breathing space. Instead of being constantly irritated by the things we don't like about the other person, we miss and appreciate the things we love," she says. "We no longer have a battle of conflicting needs because we each have our own space." Lise talks more about their decision to spend forever together in different homes in her book, Living Happily Ever After - Separately , and says she's thankful for the decision that didn't end her marriage, but changed it. "I would recommend it to anyone who is having issues with compatibility in their marriage," she says. "Not everyone needs to live separately! I wish we could live happily together, but we can't. Fortunately, we found out that we can still be very married, still support and nurture each other, and keep our family intact, by living separately." | 4 | 3,320 | lifestyle |
We were married before I graduated college. Pregnant with our first child shortly after. I finished college. New baby. Two miscarriages. Four more children.When the youngest was born, we had five children under 8 years old. Owned four homes. Rented a house and an apartment somewhere in between. Five different jobs with four different companies. Lived in four cities. In many ways, life has been on fast-forward. We've been drinking from a fire hose. In the course of these 12 years, we've learned a great deal. About ourselves. About each other. About the importance of marriage. And why it's worth fighting for. We were young, in love and ready for marriage when we said yes in our early twenties. But that doesn't necessarily mean we were prepared.12 years later, here are 12 things that have been clarified for us in our marriage: 1. 50/50 expectations lead to disappointment. For a season, we viewed marriage like it was a game. A competition. If I do this, you should do that. Meet me in the middle here, do a little more there. If you do 20 things, I'll do 20. That sort of game. But the true work is done when one of you can't get to the middle. When it's up to the other to go the extra mile. Maybe that ratio is 90/10 for a season if a spouse is sick, stressed, even depressed. Don't view marriage as a scorecard, someone always loses that way. 2. Keep adventure alive. In my early days of dating Brooke, I pulled out all the stops. We went on long hikes, I made her candlelit dinners, I worked hard at the chase. When the years and responsibilities piled up, I let that fire die too many times. Fighting to keep adventure alive doesn't have to look like a trip to Paris; it could be a last-minute trip to a local hotel, a surprise baby sitter for the evening or even a simple handwritten note. Inject your marriage with adventure. 3. Kiss each other first. I'm imperfect at this, but I try to kiss Brooke first when I get home from work. Before I kiss our five kids. It's a small thing that points to a much bigger reality. For me to be a great dad, I have to be a great husband first. Otherwise, we'll become roommates who are collectively raising our kids. 4. Grit is often the best description of love. It was easy to love Brooke when we were newlyweds. Easy for her to love me during seasons of comfort. But it's much more difficult to fight for love when you lose a baby. Or have a huge financial setback. Or confess a really ugly secret about yourself. Fairy tales are great for movies, but real life is more often confusing, chaotic and messy. Dig in when it gets hard. 5. Real life happens in the mundane. Huge promotions, babies being born, buying the dream house. The peaks of marriage are great. However, most days are mundane. I've been guilty of missing the little moments while I work to make the big ones happen. I'm realizing that life happens in those little moments. I'm learning to love the journey every bit as much as the destination. 6. Proximity doesn't equal presence. Getting home from work early, getting a sitter for a date and even taking a vacation alone are all great things. But physically being close isn't the same as being close emotionally. For me, most of the time that looks like staring at my iPhone instead of looking my wife in the eye. Being more concerned with my Twitter or Instagram feed than I am about hearing my wife's heart. When you have the ability to be together physically, be there emotionally as well. 7. Comparison will kill your joy. In an age of edited facades of other people's lives on Facebook and other outlets, it's easy to feel like your marriage sucks. Like you're getting lapped by the Jones family. When I begin to compare our money, house, kids' performance and marriage to others through a distant lens, I'm the one that loses. It robs my joy. There will always be others with more; don't play that game. 8. You'll each have the opportunity to throw it away. We all know the marriages that end in pain instead of celebration. Divorce instead of dancing at the 50th anniversary party. Brooke and I are realizing that some days it's far easier to give up than keep fighting. But each day, we keep choosing each other. We continue to be honest about where we fail each other. Because it's worth it. 9. Take initiative for the benefit of the other. We talk often in our family about whether we're being givers or takers. Are we giving and serving? Or are we only taking and using? I'd argue that life is best lived when you're giving yourself away for the benefit of another. 10. Live in community. Marriage is hard and messy, but also beautiful and redeeming. Lived in isolation, you may be tempted to give up. But when surrounded with friends and family that know your strengths as well as your struggles, you realize you have support and encouragement. 11. Will you forgive me? Let's face it; in marriage, we fail each other more often than we'd like to admit. We tell a white lie, we forget a huge appointment, we get angry. There are a million other examples. Instead of shifting blame or dodging responsibility, marriages get stronger when you start to say "will you forgive me?" Even more than an "I'm sorry," this question leads to restoration and healing. 12. Love wins. This list could be a mile long. I didn't touch on things like honesty, making time for dates and speaking highly of your spouse. But all the lists in the world won't keep your marriage strong if it lacks love. In the end, love wins. It conquers all. It removes doubt. It pushes through fear. It invites deeper purpose. Love wins. | 4 | 3,321 | lifestyle |
The modern American mayor was born in a blizzard. In 1888, the Great White Hurricane bore down on the metropolises of the eastern seaboard, destroying infrastructure and paralyzing commerce. The devastation it left behind convinced voters that America's burgeoning cities could function only if local governments assumed a larger, more proactive role. The Blizzard of 1888 was a cataclysm . It claimed 400 lives, sank 200 ships, and paralyzed cities for days. It dumped an average of 30 to 40 inches of snow over southeastern New York and southern New England, but high winds whipped the fluffy flakes into towering piles. In Brooklyn, one snowdrift measured 52 feet tall. Most residents were caught unprepared. Late 19th-century cities were monuments to man's mastery of nature. Elevated railroads whisked passengers about; streetlights banished the darkness of night; telephone and telegraph wires criss-crossed the roads; horses hauled hundreds of millions of riders around the street railroads; and delivery carts ferried coal, dry goods, and all conceivable comestibles about the streets. The modern metropolis seemed buffered against the perils of extreme weather. After a devastating blizzard early in the winter of 1888 struck the Great Plains, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper sniffed about, "the folly of settling in a wild country, especially on bleak plains, however cheap the land may be, without assured means of providing decent shelter, fuel and provisions for more than the immediate future." Dense, urban neighborhoods might be more expensive, but supplies and aid were never distant. When the storm struck, though, the technological conveniences and amenities of urban life were suddenly exposed as vulnerabilities. In eastern cities, almost all of the electric lights and most of the gas lamps went dark. Streetcars ground to a halt. Passengers hurtling from one city to the next were stranded on the rails, as trains stalled out in enormous snowdrifts. Poles snapped under the weight of the snow, weaving spiders' webs of crackling wires across the streets. With regular deliveries suspended, housewives husbanded their coal, mothers ran short of milk, and housebound residents scraped their larders bare. Funeral homes could not take bodies out of the city for burial, and so stacked them in barns and sheds. "All of this was very trying to a people accustomed to the intense activity of metropolitan life," remarked the Independent , "and to the uninterrupted use of those wonderful contrivances by which man overcomes the natural barriers to instantaneous intercourse, and to the rapid and regular exchange of commodities." The Herald agreed. "The fine, widely extended machine we call a city," it observed, "...like other machines, is easily arrested." Even Frank Leslie's seemed chastened : If anything can be done in America, it can be done in New York; and New York has learned in less than a day, or ought to have learned, how poor and weak is man when brought face to face with the forces of Nature....It is well to think of these things and to abate somewhat of the pert self-satisfaction with which we recount the triumphs and inventions and wonderful applications of human science. Of what avail were all these against a fall of snow, the very type of evanescence? The blizzard demonstrated the need for more robust urban infrastructure. Boston and New York, which had contemplated building subways before, now raced to complete them. Cities also constructed new subterranean conduits, carrying electric, telephone and telegraph wires, an investment spurred by the blizzard. "What an argument it furnished for underground transit and underground wires!" exalted the Tribune. Congress soon authorized the Post Office to build networks of pneumatic tubes, shooting the mail around major cities, safely out of reach of the snow. But grappling with the vulnerability of interconnected urban systems sometimes required not just larger investments, but hard choices. Before the blizzard, most cities dealt with storms by packing down the snow, making streets navigable by sled or sleigh. Streetcars, though, required clear tracks. Mayors chose maintaining mass transit over catering to the smaller, wealthier set that preferred sleigh rides. Shovels and plows replaced snow rollers. The blizzard's legacy, though, extended beyond these physical monuments. It changed the way Americans viewed urban life. Cities had seemed to rise above nature, but their residents now understood that the very technologies that shielded them against the ordinary vicissitudes of nature simultaneously heightened their vulnerability to its extremes. They demanded more of public utilities, public infrastructure, and public servants. Before 1888, most urban residents were content to hunker down and endure blizzards. Mayors might distribute patronage and cut ribbons, but few voters expected them to do much more. New York's Mayor Abram Hewitt rode out the storm in the comfort of his Lexington Avenue mansion. When he finally issued a public statement after four days, it was an ineffectual call for private property owners to help clear snow from their gutters. The storm altered those expectations. Newly aware of their own vulnerability, city dwellers demanded that their mayors do more to protect them from nature's wrath. And mayors, in turn, have learned that their most basic responsibility is ensuring that services continue to function, no matter how extreme the weather. As storms bear down, they take to the airwaves to demonstrate their competence and resolve. "Our city has been through blizzards before," said Boston's Marty Walsh, "and I am confident we are prepared." In New York, Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers to "to prepare for something worse than we have seen before." Storms are now the yardsticks by which voters evaluate their mayors, judging their skill at operating the complicated machinery of municipal administration. When the flakes start falling, the test begins. And when it stops, voters emerge to measure the snowfall and those charged with cleaning it up. This article was originally published at http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/01/blizzards-and-the-birth-of-the-modern-mayor/384833/ | 5 | 3,322 | news |
Full House first aired in 1987, but now the cast is back together! | 8 | 3,323 | video |
If you're flying on a Boeing 737 flight from New York City to Los Angeles with United Airlines, there is a one in 4,136,239 chance that your flight will 'go down,' or crash in transit. That one-in-a-massive number chance is supposed to help calm even the most worried travelers, according to a new app. The app, called " Am I Going Down? ," wants to ease nervous flyers with logic by calculating just how unlikely it is that a plane will crash, based on real flight statistics. "The original inspiration for Am I Going Down? comes from my wife, Julie," developer Nic Johns of the London-based company Vanilla Pixel told the Daily Mail . "Her fear of flying has always made traveling difficult, so I wanted to make an app that demonstrates after entering airline, aircraft, and flight details that flying is in fact extremely safe." To use the app, simply put in your flight information and then click the question: "Am I Going Down?" The app even calculates when you would expect to actually crash for example, if you flew from New York City to Los Angeles every single day, you wouldn't expect to crash for another 11,332 years. More than 10 million routes were assessed to create the app, and only crashes where there was at least one passenger fatality were included, Johns told CNN . The release of the app wasn't the best timing, since it came out just a few days after the AirAsia flight QZ8501 crashed. In response to the tragedy, Johns temporarily removed the airline from the app's list, according to the Daily Mail. Am I Going Down? is available in the iTunes app store for $0.99. Now if the app actually does anything to soothe travel anxiety, or just works to remind perpetually worried flyers that there is a chance however minuscule that a flight can actually crash, remains to be seen. | 7 | 3,324 | health |
The Secret Service found a 'quadcopter' drone on White House grounds. The Post's Carol D. Leonnig explains how the White House is protected from aerial threats. | 5 | 3,325 | news |
The Obama administration will make historic changes to how the U.S. pays its annual $3 trillion health-care bill, aiming to curtail a costly habit of paying doctors and hospitals without regard to quality or effectiveness. Starting next year Medicare, which covers about 50 million elderly and disabled Americans, will base 30 percent of payments on how well health providers care for patients, some of which will put them at financial risk based on the quality they deliver. By 2018, the goal is to put half of payments under the new system. For doctors and health facilities, the system will tie tens, and then hundreds, of billions of dollars in payments to how their patients fare, rather than how much work a doctor or hospital does, lowering the curtain on Medicare's system of paying line-by-line for each scan, test and surgery. "We believe these goals can drive transformative change," Sylvia Mathews Burwell, secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, said in the statement. The program would be a major shift for hospitals, health facilities and physicians, eventually more than doubling the reach of programs that the U.S. said has saved $417 million and that have been a model for how the government hopes to influence, and slow down, health spending. Medicare paid about $362 billion to care providers in 2014, the health department said in a statement, making it the biggest buyer of health care services in the U.S. Paying separately for each procedure, called "fee-for-service," has long been viewed as an inefficient driver of U.S. health spending, which at more than 17 percent of gross domestic product is the highest in the world. Broad Reach The Obama administration's announcement today is the first time the government has ever set specific goals to steer the nation away from fee-for-service payments. Medicare's practices are often echoed by private insurers who cover 170 million Americans. If the U.S.'s plan is successful, non-elderly consumers could eventually see cost savings, though they may also find that doctors and hospitals offer fewer services as they seek to cut waste and maintain profits. Doctors and hospitals are already facing changes under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. About 20 percent of Medicare spending is now paid through programs in which health-care providers either take some financial risk for their performance or at least collect and report measures of their quality, the health department said. Expanding that figure was a key goal of the the law. At Risk "The people who are delivering care are increasingly at financial risk for the services that are being rendered," Dan Mendelson, CEO of Avalere Health, a Washington consulting firm, said in a phone interview. "It's increasingly likely the physician or the hospital is going to make more money if they provide less care." The country's main lobbying groups for doctors and hospitals said they were on board, at least with the broad idea behind the overhaul. "We support secretary Burwell's goals and plans," said Maureen Swick, a representative of the American Hospital Association. Robert Wah, president of the American Medical Association, said that physicians were worried about additional bureaucracy. "This idea that we're talking about delivery reform and setting up a system of delivery reform, we're very supportive of that," Wah said in an interview in Washington. "The details will be important to see." Industry Reaction Burwell met with about two dozen health industry officials this morning to brief them on the administration's plan. Participants included executives of Verizon Communications Inc., Boeing Co., UnitedHealth Group Inc., Anthem Inc. and representatives of large hospital chains and physician organizations. The Affordable Care Act, often criticized by its opponents for not doing much to control health-care costs, created several programs the Obama administration now plans to rely upon to end fee-for-service payments. For example, the law penalizes hospitals with high rates of readmissions of Medicare patients within 30 days of discharging them, and encourages doctors and hospitals to band together and closely coordinate their care, with the aim of reducing redundancies and inefficiency. Those programs have saved about 50,000 lives and reduced health-care spending by about $12 billion, based on preliminary estimates, the health department said. | 3 | 3,326 | finance |
On Jan. 20, we headed to Cape Canaveral, Florida to watch the Atlas V rocket launch, a communications satellite for the US Navy. | 8 | 3,327 | video |
NEW YORK The milk industry is fed up with all the sourness over dairy. As Americans continue turning away from milk, an industry group is pushing back at its critics with a social media campaign trumpeting the benefits of milk. The association says it needs to act because attitudes about milk are deteriorating more rapidly, with vegan groups, non-dairy competitors and other perceived enemies getting louder online. Julia Kadison, CEO of Milk Processor Education Program, which represents milk companies, says the breaking point came last year when the British Medical Journal published a study suggesting drinking lots of milk could lead to earlier deaths and higher incidents of fractures. Even though the study urged a cautious interpretation of its findings, it prompted a wave of posts online about the dangers of drinking milk. "I said, 'That's enough.' We can't have these headlines that 'Milk Can Kill You' and not stand up for the truth," Kadison said in a phone interview. On Tuesday, the "Get Real" social media campaign will be announced at a dairy industry gathering in Boca Raton, Florida in conjunction with the National Dairy Council and Dairy Management Inc., which represent dairy farmers. The campaign is intended to drown out milk's detractors with positive posts about the nutritional benefits of milk on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere. Milk brands, their employees and others in the industry will post the messages and direct people to a website where they can get more information. Online ads will also tout the superiority of dairy milk over almond milk, which is surging in popularity. The campaign comes as milk's dominance in American homes continues to wane as beverage options proliferate. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, people drank an average of 14.5 gallons of milk a year in 2012. That's down 33 percent from the 21.8 gallons a year in 1970. One factor chipping away at milk's dominance is the growth of non-dairy alternatives. While soy milk's popularity has faded, retail sales for almond milk are estimated to be up 39 percent last year, according to Virginia Lee, a packaged food analyst with market researcher Euromonitor International. Meanwhile, the USDA recommends adults get three cups of dairy a day, including options like fat-free, low-fat milk or calcium-fortified soy milk. And the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which represents nutrition professionals, is supporting the Get Real campaign and its push to underscore "the decades of research reinforcing low-fat milk as one of the most nutrient-rich beverages available." But milk's wholesome image is nevertheless being muddied by diet trends and divergent attitudes about nutrition. Many who follow the popular Paleo diet, for instance, shun dairy because people didn't drink it during the Stone Age. Animal welfare groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are also a thorn in the milk industry's side. On its website, PETA notes that "no species drinks milk beyond infancy or drinks the milk of another species" and details the cruel conditions dairy cows are often subject to. That's one of the reasons Valentin Vornicu, a 31-year-old resident of San Diego, California, said he stays away from milk. Vornicu became a vegan four years ago and says he has more energy and has never felt better. "It looks like a scene from the Matrix. 'You see a picture of that and you're like, I'm drinking this? ," said Vornicu, citing footage he's seen of cows hooked up to milking machines. Already, MilkPEP has tried some different tactics in hopes of battling milk's decline. In 2007, the group started promoting chocolate milk as a recovery drink for athletes. Then last year, the industry dropped its "Got Milk?" campaign featuring famous people sporting milk mustaches in favor of a campaign called "Milk Life" that focuses on the everyday benefits of milk. With the "Get Real" campaign launching Tuesday, Kadison said the industry plans to stop "the seeds of doubt" that "naysayers, these anti-dairy folks, and also the competitors" are planting in people's mind about milk "before the fever gets too high." ____ Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicechoi | 3 | 3,328 | finance |
Dean Parker was sitting on his couch one evening, relaxing after a long day at his job as a commercial painter. That's when he saw a news report about Kurds fighting on northern Iraq's Mount Sinjar, where ISIS had trapped thousands of people from the Yazidi religious sect. "I made the decision right there after watching those news reports," Parker recalls. "After watching it for an hour, I was very upset. And I was online booking a ticket." He packed body armor from a local military surplus shop, a sturdy pair of boots, clothes and his e-reader loaded with a copy of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." A month later, Parker was in Syria, fighting with Kurdish forces on the front line against ISIS. He says he didn't tell his family until he was already in Syria. "They were worried, you know messaging me: 'Come home, come home.' I told them I can't. Not yet, anyways," Parker says. "And after a couple days it sunk in and at they were very supportive." Parker, a lanky 49-year-old who's an avid surfer and a grandfather, is one of at least a dozen Westerners who have traveled to the Middle East to take up arms against Islamist militants, who have hundreds of foreign fighters of their own. Parker had no military experience, and was kept away from the most active front lines. But that's not the case for many of the other Western fighters who have joined the peshmerga, the Kurdish military forces. A video posted online in December shows Canadian Dillon Hillier, who served in the Canadian military in Afghanistan, trying to help an injured fighter while under fire. Parker says he met two other Americans among the dozen or so Western fighters. They didn't always have translators, but he says they did always find ways to communicate with their Kurdish counterparts. Parker recalls the first time his unit, which included both Kurds and foreigners, came under fire. He was on guard duty on the roof. "I go running back and I yell over the side of the wall at some of the other foreign fighters, like, 'Ah, I'm getting shot at up here, what should I do?'" Parker remembers. "One said, 'Ducking would probably be a good idea.' I started laughing and said, 'OK, I'll do that.'" There is a general camaraderie among the Western recruits, Parker says, but other foreign fighters criticized him for being in a combat zone without military experience, saying it put others at risk. "It was just one or two that were kind of ribbing me out about it," he says. "But everyone else we were with was like, 'Dude, we're down, let's go. Let's go rock and roll. You want to patrol, ok, let's go do a patrol.'" And he insists that merely the presence of foreign fighters is a morale boost for the Syrian Kurdish troops. "There is a famous Kurdish saying: 'We have no friends but the mountains.' And that saying has always stuck," Parker says. "And I thought … if I do nothing else, it's someone coming all the way around the world to say, 'Hey, you guys aren't alone in this horrific fight here against these monsters. You know, people do care, so just the moral support.'" But for Parker, morale is a bit lower these days. He's staying in a modest hotel in Sulaymaniyah, another city in the Kurdish part of Iraq, trying to raise enough money to get a ticket home to Miami. "I'm sure the Department of Homeland Security is going to want to have a talk with me. And the FBI is going to want to have a talk with me," Parker says. "That's understandable. I don't have anything to hide." | 5 | 3,329 | news |
Free stuff is always great, especially if people actually want what's on offer. Apple now has a special section called " Free on iTunes " where you can find TV shows and music freebies if you've already blown through your monthly entertainment budget. It features TV episodes from 12 Monkeys , Eye Candy and others, as well as music from bands like Purity Ring and Houndmouth. As 9to5 Mac points out, Apple offered a similar service before, but this time, the focus seems to be less on hits and more on material that's still looking for an audience. Apple | 3 | 3,330 | finance |
At age 6, Rebecca's body began to develop in ways that seemed unusual. Her mother, Ellen, had noticed a change in Rebecca's breast area, but some of the other little girls, the chubbier ones at least, also seemed to be carrying extra weight there. But there was also the hair that had begun to appear under her daughter's arms. "People assumed she was so much older than she was, but still she would cry sometimes, and people would look at you like, How old is that kid?" says Ellen, who spoke to Newsweek under condition of anonymity. When a test showed Rebecca's bone age to be 10½, a pediatric endocrinologist diagnosed "precocious puberty." While the exact cause is unknown, this endocrine disorder is triggered by the early release of hormones in the brain, a circumstance that hurls a child into sexual maturation years before the usual age. This sudden sexual development in a child so young can be unnerving to parents. "My daughter is 7 years and 10 months old. She started having body odor at 5 and breast buds at 6," one mother wrote recently in a group chat about the condition. She wrote, too, of her daughter's "roller-coaster emotions," a common complaint from parents observing massive mood swings, PMS-like symptoms and other "teen emotions" in daughters just beginning the first grade and in some cases even younger. The condition affects individuals in different ways. According to Ellen , the most troubling sign in Rebecca was growing six inches in one year. "There was a lot of stress mainly due to her height," says Ellen. "People would say, 'Oh, she's so tall!,' not thinking or anything, and you could see her little face get sad." "People thought I was older," says Rebecca, who is now 14. "[Like] I had failed kindergarten or something." Her mother says, "She had to be very mature a lot of the time, but on the flip side, she was all into Disney and still a little girl." Unlike Rebecca, many precocious kids lose their interest in Disney and little-girl things and begin to act, well, the age of their bodies. The mother of one 8-year-old wrote that her daughter "is a very sexual being. Although she does not by definition understand what 'sexiness' means, she exhibits a very particular awareness of her body and wants other people to notice her." Another mother observed, "It is really as if my 6-year-old has a 12-year-old trapped in her body." Living in a Sea of Chemicals In girls, puberty is commonly defined as breast development, growth of pubic hair and menarche, the beginning of the menstrual cycle. At the turn of the last century, the average age for an American girl to get her period was 16 to 17. Today, that number has plummeted to less than 13, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey . The trend has been attributed to the epidemic of overweight children and a greater exposure to pollution, which does bad things to developing bodies and accelerates the timing of a girl's first menstruation. Environmental toxins also cause many girls to develop breasts at an earlier age than in the past. Compared with 20 years ago, American girls today begin developing breasts anywhere from one month to four months earlier, a significant difference. At the same time, the number of girls who begin to develop early is increasing. "Just a generation ago, less than five percent of girls started puberty before the age of 8; today that percentage has more than doubled," note Dr. Louise Greenspan and Dr. Julianna Deardorff in The New Puberty: How to Navigate Early Development in Today's Girls. Among the toxins causing this trend, the biggest offenders are plastic compounds, in particular phthalates , man-made chemicals found all over the place: in plastic food and beverage containers, carpeting, shampoos, insect repellents, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, plastic toys and in the steering wheels and dashboards of most cars. Our bodies cannot metabolize phthalates, which interfere with the endocrine system the body's system of glands and hormones and harm fat cells. Indirectly, phthalates may cause weight gain and so influence the timing of puberty. "The No. 1 factor that was pushing girls into puberty early was their body mass index," says Dr. Frank Biro, director of education and a professor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Our children are living in a "sea of chemicals," says Dr. Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, a professor of public health at the University of North Carolina. She argues that children are speeding into puberty before they're ready, and that this early maturation is both the symptom of bodily damage that has already occurred and the probable cause of health consequences they may expect in the future. Getting Hit On "It's one of the most robust findings in studies of psychological development," says Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a professor of psychology at Temple University, and author of Age of Opportunity: Lessons From the New Science of Adolescence . She is referring to recent research demonstrating how earlier-maturing girls are more likely to become depressed. One 2014 study , for instance, finds "girls with earlier [puberty] timing had higher levels of depression symptoms at age 10 years." Another study echoes these findings, while also suggesting such effects may be long-lasting. Along with higher rates of depression, younger girls who enter puberty earlier than their peers are more prone to obesity and drug abuse. "Gina" shows her body with signs of obesity, in Tijuana, northwest Mexico on Feb. 13, 2014. Gina, 26, has been overweight since age 7. Guillermo Arias/Xinhua/eyevine/Redux When children enter puberty, their brains undergo changes brought on by the flood of pubertal hormones that "makes them especially attentive to what other people think of them and especially responsive to social reward," says Steinberg. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial to the experience of pleasure, floods and effectively remodels the pathway between the behavior-regulating prefrontal cortex and the brain's reward center. "The adolescent brain is one where the accelerator is pressed to the floor before there's a good braking system in place," says Steinberg. "This gap between when the brain is easily aroused and when the braking is in place creates a period of vulnerability." With puberty occurring at a younger age, this period begins earlier, when a girl may be inadequately prepared. After all, early maturing girls naturally attract unwanted attention. "You encounter a young lady in the mall and she looks like she's 15 years old," says Biro. "You will interact with her like she's 15, but suppose she's 11?" And because of the way her brain is being flooded with hormones, a young girl hanging out with older kids most likely wants to please and may be more inclined to go along with the crowd. Meanwhile, no matter how physically developed a girl is, her psychosocial maturation remains anchored to her chronological age. "These young girls get, let's use the term "hit on," by older boys and men and how can they be prepared to deal with it? Obviously, grown women have a hard [enough] time dealing with unwanted sexual attention," observes Herman-Giddens. The brain is highly plastic, and stressful experiences like these take their toll. Early-maturing girls are more likely to smoke cigarettes , they are at high risk for substance use , and they have higher rates of eating disorders . Though most of this fallout is experienced while they are young, some of the consequences extend into adult life. Substance problems and depression experienced at a young age can easily return, for instance. Then there are health problems that those who undergo early puberty are more likely than the general population to experience later on in their lives, like higher blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. "Puberty is considered one of those windows of susceptibility," says Biro, when the body is especially sensitive to the negative health impact of social and environmental stressors. In particular, the actively maturing breast tissue of a girl, unlike the breast tissue of a full-grown woman, is more vulnerable to damaging environmental pollutants. Today's girl is both starting puberty earlier and going through it more slowly, according to Biro, which means a girl remains in this high-risk state for a longer amount of time. In an article he co-authored with Deardorff and others, Biro found up to a 30 percent increased risk for breast cancer when a woman experiences her first period at a younger age. And "for each year that age of menarche was delayed, the risk of premenopausal breast cancer was reduced by 9 percent, and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer was reduced by 4 percent." Early breast development also opens the door to reproductive tract cancers, says Herman-Giddens, since "if you're starting to develop breasts, your body is making estrogen." Estrogen, especially when combined with stress hormones, is a known cancer-causing agent. Having had an earlier start to puberty, an early-maturing girl produces more estrogen over the years and so elevates her lifetime risk of reproductive cancers. Able to Conceive in Kindergarten There is a medical solution for patients who, like 6-year-old Rebecca, are diagnosed with precocious puberty. Hormone treatments can essentially halt the process of sexual maturation. Then, at an appropriate age, the drugs are withdrawn and puberty plays out. Some girls diagnosed with precocious puberty have no choice but to medicate in order to prevent serious bone and growth problems. Rebecca fell into this category. While precocious children may stand half a foot taller than their peers in kindergarten, these same children also tend to stop growing at a young age and so never reach their predicted adult heights. Often, they fail to reach five feet tall. As the average age of the onset of puberty continues to rapidly decrease, the line between endocrine disorder and so-called normal development has begun to blur. "A lot of girls who we are labeling as premature puberty now are probably normal, healthy girls who are at the lower end of the new normal," says Dr. Paul Kaplowitz of Children's National Medical Center. Which makes it pretty difficult for parents to know whether they should be medicating their young daughters. In these edge cases, the decision to undergo hormone therapy is a matter of balancing potential benefits and harms. According to Dr. Alan Christianson, author of The Adrenal Reset Diet, the medications themselves may have both short-term side effects, such as headaches, hot flashes and vaginal bleeding, and possible lasting complications, such as thyroid gland disorders. Another barrier to treatment is the expense: The drugs cost a minimum of $15,000 a year, excluding lab costs. In Ellen's case, most of this was covered by insurance, but she still ended up having to pay a few thousand dollars a year. Which is why many parents decide there's nothing more to do for an early-maturing daughter other than guiding her, the best they can, through the vulnerable years. That, though, is often a difficult and solitary road to walk. As Ellen says, "Precocious puberty is not like allergies or something where you can just find other mothers on the playground or at the school going through the same thing with their kids." But many other parents do choose medication. Having seen very young girls struggle with their periods, Kaplowitz says he's "OK" with treating those early-maturing girls who "are likely to start their period well before age 10." More than a few girls today begin breast development shortly after turning 8 and then continue growing at a rapid pace. Outward manifestations of maturation are one thing. Usually, though, it's not height problems or breast development that propel parents to opt for medical treatment. "In my experience, it is largely because parents are worried about whether their girls can handle periods at an early age," says Kaplowitz. In the words of one mother in a chat room, the possibility that her daughter "could menstruate at any time (she was already having discharge by about 3 or 4) trumped the height factor.... The mere possibility of her being able to conceive in kindergarten was enough for me to decide to treat her." | 7 | 3,331 | health |
Brazilian star Neymar has given four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi the credit for his upturn in form during his second season with Barcelona. Neymar was set up twice by Messi to bag a double against Elche in a 6-0 rout on Saturday to take his tally for the season to 19 goals in just 24 games, four more than he managed in the entirety of his debut campaign in Spain. "Of all the players I have seen play, Messi is the best and I will always have enormous respect for him," the 22-year-old said on Monday. "We are getting better all the time and together we can do great things. If you have a good relationship off the field it can influence things on it. "To play beside the best is very easy." Neymar has yet to win a major trophy in Barca colours after the Catalan giants missed out last season for the first time in six years. On a personal note, his season was blighted by injuries, as well the controversy surrounding his transfer from Santos which led to the club being accused of tax fraud and the resignation of president Sandro Rossell. And the Brazilian captain has bounced back admirably from seeing his dreams of World Cup glory on home soil ended by breaking two vertebrae during his country's 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia in July. "In the first season I had to get to know everything and I have always said that I have many things to achieve and I still feel that. "I have evolved professionally and personally, I have learned from players I have by my side who are world icons. It is a pleasure to be able to train with them." | 1 | 3,332 | sports |
The Eagles' uncertainty at quarterback for 2015 has sparked the interest of three teams regarding 26-year-old Nick Foles. The Rams, Titans and Texans have interest in Foles should the Eagles decide to trade the 2013 Pro Bowl selection this offseason, per NJ.com . MORE: Best, worst salary cap situations | Ranking QBs in draft class | Big board Foles finished with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games last season before fracturing his collarbone, leading some around the Eagles organization to believe that Foles' 2013 season (27-2 touchdown-interception ratio) was just an aberration . Already in the short offseason, coach Chip Kelly wouldn't commit to Foles as the team's future quarterback, and it was reported that the Eagles will try to trade up in the draft to select Heisman winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, Kelly's former quarterback at Oregon. As for the three suitors, the Rams , Titans and Texans all have issues at quarterback and present the Eagles with high draft picks; 10, two, 16, respectively, should they decide to go that route. However, it might take the No 1 overall pick should they decide on Mariota. Foles still has a career completion percentage of 61.6, and he has thrown 46 touchdowns and only 17 interceptions in the past three seasons. | 1 | 3,333 | sports |
Ratings agency S&P said on Monday it had cut Russia's sovereign credit rating to BB+ or below investment grade with a negative outlook, and said Russia's economic growth prospects have weakened. The rouble fell after the news to 67.63 against the dollar, or 5 percent lower than the previous close on the Moscow Exchange. S&P had warned in late December that it could deprive Russia of its investment-grade credit rating as soon as mid-January, following a rapid deterioration of the country's monetary flexibility and a weakening economy. S&P said in a statement that external and fiscal buffers were likely to deteriorate due to rising external pressure and increased government support to the Russian economy. The downgrade, from BBB- to BB+, marks the first time in more than 10 years that Russian sovereign debt has been rated below investment grade, in what some call 'junk' territory. It could not only harm Russia's image among investors, but also push up its borrowing costs, as many mainstream investment and pension funds have rules preventing them from buying anything not classed as investment grade. Russia's economy is expected to slide into recession this year, as Western sanctions over Ukraine spur capital flight and inflation, and an enduring slump in oil prices sharply depresses Russia's export revenues. | 3 | 3,334 | finance |
New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told the New York Times he could see big-league baseball returning to Montreal. "I think Montreal helped itself as a candidate for Major League Baseball with the Toronto games that they had up there last year," said Manfred, who took over on Sunday from Bed Selig, who held the job for 22 years. "It's hard to miss how many people showed up for those exhibition games. It was a strong showing. Montreal's a great city. I think with the right set of circumstances and the right facility, it's possible." The Expos played in Montreal in from 1969 until 2004, after which the franchise left for Washington, D.C. to become the Nationals. MLB played two exhibition games in Montreal last year and averaged more than 50,000 fans. "They could be an excellent candidate in the future, no question about it," Selig said of Montreal at last year's All-Star Game. "That was very impressive, very impressive." Just don't expect anything to happen in form of league expansion anytime soon. "I don't see it in the immediate future," Manfred said. "At a minimum, it's a ways down the road. I just don't see any immediate push for it." | 1 | 3,335 | sports |
It would be easy to dismiss "Appropriate Behavior" as just another indie dramedy showcasing some Brooklynite's petty problems, but the debut feature of writer/director/star Desiree Akhavan ("Girls") has a personal, honest touch that so many similar projects sorely lack. The plot is as directionless as Shirin, the film's protagonist, and we simply see her life as it exists before and after a devastating break-up with her girlfriend, Maxine. Shirin identifies as bisexual, depending on who's in the room. She's still closeted to her parents, which she continually blames on the fact that they are Iranian and Iranians don't exactly have a great relationship with the LGBT community. Maxine refers to Shirin as a "sexually confused narcissist." The PR campaign for the film flaunts Desiree Akhavan's association with Lena Dunham's polarizing HBO series "Girls" (Desiree is featured in the new season), so comparing the two feels natural. Both "Girls" and "Behavior" function as day-in-the-life snippets of young New York women (with snarky jabs at hipster culture and occasional nudity), but where "Girls" feels oddly specific and hard to relate to if you're not a similarly privleged woman, "Behavior" is more honest, down-to-earth, and focused on actually connecting to the audience. Everyone can relate to Shirin's relationship issues, no matter their sexual orientation or social status. With her debut feature, Akhavan is trail-blazing uncharted territory, exploring LGBT issues as well as what it's like to be a second-generation immigrant raised in America. She gives a terrific performance as Shirin, which is a relief, since she's in every single scene. It's clear that this is a very personal work for Akhavan she is Shirin, in the same way that Woody Allen's characters are proxies of himself. The tension drips off the screen during the scenes in which she hides her sexuality from her family, and when she finally confronts her mother about it, the result is so real it hurts. Most importantly, the movie is hilarious, and the comedy stems from the characters and their interactions rather than cheap gags. Shirin's awkwardness and general confusion leads to tons of laughs, and the Spirit Award-nominated script is full of memorable one-liners. Without it's wonderful script and strong, unique voice, "Appropriate Behavior" would have been a drab "Frances Ha," "Girls," or any other "insert 20something New Yorker in mild peril" clone, but Akhavan's personal touch makes this a stunning debut for the writer/director. She has been hailed as "the next Lena Dunham," but in just 90 minutes she accomplished what Dunham has been trying to capture for four seasons. "Appropriate Behavior" is currently playing in limited release and is available to stream on video on demand services including iTunes , Amazon , Google Play , and YouTube . Watch the trailer below: | 6 | 3,336 | entertainment |
Discovering new cutting edge hotel properties is always exciting and I found something totally unique in the northern seaside town of Caminha in Portugal where there is an amazing high tech 4 star luxury hotel, the Design & Wine Hotel. The hotel has five suites installed on a raised platform with a pillar that weighs 18 tons and rotates on it very own. This is new thinking in the new luxury hotel business and was designed by Pedro Guimaraes. It has 23 thematic rooms in an 18th century old building known as the Solar das Torres. The five suites overlook the Minho River and the Santa Tecla Mountains and rotate 35 degrees two times a day so that the guests fall to sleep looking the mountain and awake looking at the river. The hotel's architectural and interior designs embody the property's concept down to the last detail. The hotel expresses its harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape through its sustainable design: solar panels power the property, an automatic lighting system in each room conserves energy, and a strict environmental policy allows guests to recycle. The hotel lives up to its name through its support of local culture and cuisine. Each of the hotel's rooms feature a design concept influenced by painting, graphic design, street art, or fashion. Wine holds an important place in the Design & Wine experience the hotel's bright, airy restaurant serves traditional Portuguese cuisine with a modern twist, while the warm, earth-toned enoteca wine cellar serves up some of the finest local vintages with an emphasis on Vinho Verde, a young wine created from Alvarinho and Loureiro grapes. One half of the Portuguese architecture duo Barbosa & Guimarães and co-owner of Design and Wine, Pedro Guimarãres is well known for iconic concept-buildings. Hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed, high-tech design for Vodaphone's new headquarters in Porto, Guimarães transformed a historic manor building into a sophisticated oasis for art and wine lovers alike, harnessing the natural beauty of the region and its local art and heritage through its dramatic combination of contemporary art and environmental sustainability. | 2 | 3,337 | travel |
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Think of the great NFL coaches over the last half century, the Lombardis, Shulas, Nolls, even the Belichicks, because no matter what we think of Bill, he is part of this category and a much rarer category -- a winner in back-to-back Super Bowls. Now consider adding the name of Pete Carroll to that list. Silly, you suggest, because Carroll, a product of California's fantasy-land Marin County, a guy whose easy-going ways when he coached the Jets were derided as "the good ship Lollipop?" Well, if Carroll's Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, he would join those four men, and two others -- Jimmy Johnson and Mike Shanahan -- as the coach of teams which won back-to-back Super Bowls. Maybe that doesn't get you voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it's a special achievement, and in this case one, which would give some gravitas to a career that because Carroll came from California and not the tough, chilled Midwest and East has not always been appreciated. Dropped by the Jets, ousted by the Patriots -- and yes, the revenge motive exists, although it's not the driving force for Carroll. The accidental coach at USC, where he won a couple of national titles. Then, a return to the NFL, with the Seahawks. Where he could become part of history, with a victory. Although as most people in sports contend (not that we believe them), that's the furthest thing from his mind. "It's not something -- I'm aware there's some numbers and all of that, but specifically, no. I don't care about that. It's not a big deal to me," Carroll said. Whether we believe him or not, believe that at age 63, Pete Carroll and the franchise he's coached for a five seasons are at the summit of the game. He understands what is required -- a top defense and an elite quarterback. There's an intellectual side to the San Francisco-born Carroll. According to an Austin Murphy article in Sports Illustrated some years ago, Carroll not only could discuss Buddhist meditation but read a book on the subject which was on his dashboard while driving from Stockton where he was attending University of Pacific. There's a nasty side to Carroll. He was as safety at UOP, which subsequently dropped football, and a former teammate recalls him as a "headhunter." Seattle's "Legion of Boom," defensive backfield can only bring satisfaction. As it brings wins. Been there, done that. And ready to do it again. "There are a lot of similarities," he answered when asked about trying to add to Super Bowls to his two college championships. "It's really difficult to get there the first time and then if you've done it like you like to, you kind of pave the way for the next time. The kind of issues, the distractions, the conversations, kind of the dialogue, is very similar in coming back around. As far as coming back and to compare how it feels and all that stuff, I'm thrilled about the opportunity." Especially after the Seahawks started the 2014 season with three losses their first six games. The presumption was that as so many teams do the season after a Super Bowl victory, Seattle has destined to plummet. Wrong presumption. "This is very difficult to get to this position and of course we want to make the very most of it," said Carroll, "but we had been planning to do this for some time in hopes that we could. "We're trying to take it in stride, so we can do it well and handle it well. We'll find out how the game turns out, but to this point, to rally like our team did during the early part of the year and then hang on and in the middle of the year kind of take off, I think it's a real statement that we had a bunch of guys that were determined to get this." They got to it. Carroll could be getting a chance to gloat. Again. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is the man who fired Carroll after the 1999 season. His team is the foe. Yes, Pete and Pats have met previously but not in such a momentous game. "Robert has been very gracious throughout the time," Carroll said about his dealings with Kraft since being dropped by New England. "I've tried to return that to him." What he doesn't want to return is the Lombardi Trophy. He keeps it if Seattle wins a second straight Super Bowl. Carroll's good ship lollipop has proven to be a very sea-worthy vessel. ----------------------------------------------- | 1 | 3,338 | sports |
NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Monday that the new Chase format implemented last year was "overwhelmingly popular," and that fans strongly recommended that NASCAR not tinker with it. As a result, there will be no changes to the 10-race, elimination-style Chase for the Sprint Cup this year. MORE: NASCAR bans flaring side skirts | Elliott ponders what might have been | Gordon's legacy NASCAR changed the Chase rules last year, expanding the field from 12 to 16 drivers with the primary criteria based on race wins. The 10-race playoff was divided into four, three-race segments, with four drivers eliminated after each of the first three rounds. The end result was a four-driver showdown for the championship, with Kevin Harvick beating Ryan Newman for the title by one point. France called it "perhaps our greatest Chase, certainly in recent memory." He said NASCAR has no plans to change the format again any time soon. "It was overwhelmingly popular with the most important stakeholders our fans," France said during his annual state-of-the-sport address on the NASCAR Media Tour. "The research that we have gotten in over the winter determines that loud and clear. "They like the fact that it tightened up competition, they liked the drama down the stretch, they liked the emphasis on winning, and one of the things they told us that they really liked is the idea that we weren't going to change anything. They strongly suggested that we didn't, and we aren't going to." France said NASCAR had gotten plenty of suggestions for possible tweaks, especially from drivers who were eliminated and wanted to see such things as a separate points system for the 16 Chase drivers. But France said NASCAR wanted to keep the format as simple as possible and give fans more time to adjust to it. "One of the magical parts of this Chase, and I want to make sure we keep it this way, is the simplicity of it," he said. "Win and you get in, be in the top eight or the top four or whatever it may be and move on, and, coming down the stretch, beat the other three drivers and you win the championship. "Whatever we do in the future we want to make sure simplicity is there. … We made it as simple as we possibly could, and that was goal No. 1. Any change we would make, even it were helpful and easy to understand, it would still be something different and our view is keep it exactly as we have it now." NASCAR had tweaked the Chase several times since it was implemented in 2004 and most changes were met with skepticism and criticism from a fan base tired of so many major changes to the sport. France admits the new Chase was a risk, but one that he believes ultimately paid off. "It was really important (that it work)," he said. "It was an important step, just like anything that is controversial or anything that fools around with tradition. But we wouldn't do something that we didn't have a high degree of certainty that it was the right step. … Thankfully, it (was)." | 1 | 3,339 | sports |
Should the Islanders continue their upstart season in the second half, they'll need to do so without second-leading scorer Kyle Okposo for a good portion of it. Okposo will miss six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury, Islanders coach Jack Capuano said Monday. Okposo was injured during the team's first practice following the All-Star break. MORE: Islanders best team in the East? Okposo, 26, has 14 goals and 44 points in 46 games this season, second only to team captain John Tavares' 45 points. He had a four-goal game Jan. 16 against the Penguins. The Islanders start the second half of the season in first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 31-14-1 record. | 1 | 3,340 | sports |
When Mitt Romney ran against President Obama in 2012, his campaign was nervous to draw attention to his Mormon faith. But if Romney jumps back in 2016, that just might change and it might be good for him. The public already knows about his faith, so it's likely that he won't be as reticent to discuss it, as Kirk Jowers, a Mormon family friend, explained to the New York Times . "In 2008, Romney risked being a caricature of the Mormon candidate. Now everyone seems to know everything about him, and that will be very liberating for him to talk about his faith." But even if most Americans know that Romney's a Mormon, many admit they don't know that much about his religious tradition. A recent Pew poll showed that only 14 percent of Americans knew "a great deal" about Mormonism, with almost 50 percent saying they knew little to nothing. Around the same time that Romney announced his bid for president, Mormonism became the butt of one of the biggest jokes on Broadway. (Romney launched his campaign June 2, 2011 ; Book of Mormon opened on March 24 of the same year.) Written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon a satirical musical about two Mormon missionaries in Uganda became an instant smash on Broadway, breaking box office records and winning the Tony Award for Best Musical. But in spite of pop culture's interest in Mormonism, Romney remained guarded about his religion on the campaign trail. As a result, most Americans (82 percent) "say they learned little or nothing about the Mormon religion during the presidential campaign," according to Pew. In fact, the percentage of Americans (50 percent) who knew nothing/not much about Mormonism stayed roughly the same from 2007-2012. On the other hand, the case could be made that Romney had a positive impact however small on Americans' overall perception of Mormonism. " When asked in an open-ended question what one word best describes the Mormon religion, more people [offered] a positive descriptor [in 2012] than did so [in 2011]," writes Pew. (Notably, however, the most common word associated with the religion is "cult," with five percent of respondents using it to describe Mormonism.) The question, then, is what will religion look like in a Romney 2016 campaign? The New York Times article suggests he's less afraid this time of confronting a caricature, since more Americans are aware of his faith. But, of course, the biggest problem for Romney wasn't his image as a Mormon it was the caricature of a greedy businessman who "likes firing people" that Democrats successfully applied to him. Speaking freely about his religious convictions to the American public won't erase that narrative, but it might mitigate his image as a Republican devoid of empathy. | 5 | 3,341 | news |
Colombia's Paulina Vega crowned Miss Universe 2014 Miss Colombia Paulina Vega was crowned as Miss Universe 2014 by 2013 winner Gabriela Isler of Venezuela at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, on January 25. Miss Colombia Paulina Vega reacts after she was announced the winner. Paulina Vega of Colombia, left, Diana Harkusha of Ukraine, center, and Nia Sanchez of the U.S., hold hands as they wait for the announcement of the second runner up. Miss USA was named the first runner-up and Miss Ukraine ended up as second runner-up. Hosts Thomas Roberts, left, and Natalie Morales with Miss Puerto Rico Gabriela Berrios, the winner of Miss Photogenic award. Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler arrives on stage to crown her successor. Miss USA Nia Sanchez answers a question in one of the rounds as hosts Thomas Roberts and Natalie Morales look on. Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen answers a question in one of the rounds. (L-R) Top five finalists Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell, Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha, Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen and Miss USA Nia Sanchez, pose on stage. Contestants pose on stage. (From left) Miss USA Nia Sanchez, Miss France Camille Cerf, Miss India Noyonita Lodh, Miss Italy Valentina Bonariva and Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, pose on stage after they were announced among top 15 finalists. Miss USA Nia Sanchez during the swimwear competition. Miss France Camille Cerf participates in swimwear competition. Miss Indonesia Elvira Devinamira arrives on stage for the swimwear competition. Miss Colombia Paulina Vega walks in her swimsuit. Miss Argentina Valentina Ferrer participates in swimwear competition. Miss Australia Tegan Martin arrives on stage for the swimwear competition. Miss India Noyonita Lodh walks during the swimwear round. Miss Indonesia Elvira Devinamira smiles as she is announced as a top 15 finalist. Miss France Camille Cerf smiles after she is announced as a top 15 finalist. Miss Venezuela Migbelis Castellanos smiles as she is announced as a top 15 finalist. Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (C) waves from the stage. Pacquiao is one of the judges for the pageant. Contestants pose on stage. Miss Colombia Paulina Vega poses on stage. TV Personality Kristin Cavallari waves as she arrive on stage. Cavallari is one of the judges. Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler gestures as she arrives on stage. Thomas Roberts and Natalie Morales host the show. Lisa Vanderpump, one of the judges, and her dog Gigi arrive on the red carpet. Donald J. Trump attends the event. Olivia Culpo poses on the red carpet. Miss Teen USA 2014 K. Lee Graham poses on the red carpet. | 4 | 3,342 | lifestyle |
Good news for those who need to avoid gluten but still wantto indulge in a late-night college habit that we just can't break (and don'treally want to): good old chain-store pizza. Gluten-free masses, Pizza Hut islooking at you: Answering one of its most frequent customer requests from the last year, the company is offering cheese-only or pepperoni gluten-free pizza startingtoday. The Plano, Texas-based chain is taking this foraypretty seriously, partnering with Udi's, a major gluten-free-foodproducer, and the Gluten Intolerance Group. The crusts, cheese, marinara, andpepperoni are stored separately from the standard pizzas' ingredients, in a"gluten-free kit." The cooks preparing the pizzas wear gloves, bake thepies on parchment paper, slice them with gluten-free-specific cutters, and package them in gluten-free-specific boxes. "For us, it was about doing [gluten-free] the right way, and we think our partnership with Udi's and certification from the Gluten Intolerance Group demonstrates that to the gluten-free community," Pizza Hut spokesperson Doug Terfehr told us. The pies come in 10-inch sizes, are cut into six pieces, and are priced at $9.99. Pizza Hut joins other chain restaurants ,including our weekly go-to, Chipotle ,in responding to customers' desires for gluten-free foods. The gluten-freepizza will also probably draw in those watching their gluten for caloricreduction; the cheese version has about 150 calories per slice. Pizza Hut tested its new offerings at an after-party for the20th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards on January 15. We will stay tuned to see if the brand shows up front row atthis year's Oscars . | 0 | 3,343 | foodanddrink |
What's the proper technique for shoveling snow? A physical therapist offers specific tips for protecting your back while you dig out this winter. | 5 | 3,344 | news |
Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) asks people what is their favorite thing to do in a snowstorm. | 8 | 3,345 | video |
Tunisia and DR Congo both advanced to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday after drawing 1-1 in their final Group B game in Bata. The Tunisians started the day on top of the section and were on their way to securing top spot when Ahmed Akaichi headed home in the 31st minute in Equatorial Guinea's largest city. However, DR Congo drew level in the 66th minute when substitute Loteteka Bokila scored only moments after coming on. With the scores tied, attention turned to events in Ebebiyin, where Cape Verde and 2012 continental champions Zambia played out a 0-0 draw. That ensured that Tunisia went through as group winners to a quarter-final against hosts Equatorial Guinea, while DR Congo can now look forward to a last-eight tie against neighbours Congo Brazzaville after pipping Cape Verde only on goals scored. In front of a sparse crowd at the Estadio de Bata, Georges Leekens' Tunisia side appeared determined to put the game, and their qualification for the quarter-finals, to bed as soon as possible. The game was only 10 minutes old when Ferjani Sassi, one of three players brought into the Carthage Eagles' starting line-up following their win over Zambia, connected with an Akaichi cutback only for his shot to be cleared off the line. A superb move down the left soon after ended with captain Yassine Chikhaoui seeing his powerful strike, that was arrowing towards the far corner, turned around the post by Congo's veteran goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba. A goal was coming and it arrived just after the half-hour mark as Akaichi headed in his second of the tournament after Chikhaoui slipped as he tried to get his shot away. Moments later the omnipresent Chikhaoui found the net with a thunderous volley only for the offside flag to come to the Leopards' rescue. Tunisia, the 2004 African champions, were not prolific scorers in qualifying and they would live to regret not adding to their advantage in the second half as that man Chikhaoui blazed over from close range after good build-up play by Wahbi Khazri. Seconds after that, DR Congo equalised to give their own qualification hopes a shot in the arm. When the Tunisia defence failed to deal with a bouncing ball on the edge of their penalty box, Dieumerci Mbokani headed it on for Bokila, who controlled on his thigh before finishing low past Aymen Mathlouthi. Kidiaba saved from Tunisia substitute Hamza Younes at the other end as the game finished in the draw that suited both sides. | 1 | 3,346 | sports |
The "X-Men" mutants might be headed to your small screen, and not in cartoon form this time. According to TV Insider, Fox is in negotiations for a live-action TV series based on Marvel's "X-Men " comics. Fox entertainment co-chairman Gary Newman has confirmed that the network is in early talks for the potential series, but things are far from concrete. While 20th Century Fox owns the film rights to the "X-Men" franchise, Marvel has the last say. (Marvel Entertainment is owned by the Walt Disney Company, which owns and runs ABC, and that ABC currently has Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Agent Carter.") Meanwhile, Marvel also has four new series in the works at Netflix, including the upcoming "Daredevil" and " A.K.A. Jessica Jones ." While nothing is confirmed, "Star Trek 3" writers Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne will reportedly adapt the comics for the small screen, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The trade also has word that McKay and Payne will share created by credits with "24" producers Evan Katz and Manny Coto, who will serve as showrunners. But still, Marvel has to give approval, so we likely won't hear more until that does (or doesn't) happen. In the mean time, we'll look forward to Sophie Turner joining the "X-Men" universe. For more, head to TV Insider and THR . | 6 | 3,347 | entertainment |
Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith can understand why the NHL's Hart Trophy is traditionally awarded to offensive-minded forwards. ''They score the goals, and that's what people see. They see the red light go on,'' Keith said during the NHL All-Star festivities in Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend. ''It's not easy to make that red light go on.'' And yet, Keith wondered, why do defensemen traditionally get overlooked in the MVP discussion? ''How did Lidstrom not win a Hart Trophy?'' Keith asked, referring to Niklas Lidstrom. The former Detroit Red Wings blue-liner won seven Norris Trophies from 2001-11, and was the 2002 MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. ''It's a good debate and a good question,'' Keith said. ''But I think it's also tough to argue with whoever wins it.'' Chris Pronger, with St. Louis in 2000, was the last defenseman to win the Hart. Before that, it was Bobby Orr's three-season reign from 1970-72. As for goalies? Montreal's Jose Theodore was the last to win in 2002. And Buffalo's Dominik Hasek (1997 and `98) is the only other goalie to win the Hart in the NHL's post-expansion era. ''I'm a little biased toward goalies,'' said Florida Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo. ''I think goalies are the most valuable players on every team to be honest. ... We can't have an off night or it's an automatic loss.'' Some of the leading candidates for the NHL's top individual honors as the league comes out of its All-Star break: HART TROPHY (MVP): Nashville defenseman Shea Weber deserves to be a leading contender along with forwards Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim), John Tavares (Islanders), Rick Nash (Rangers) and Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay). Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne was in the conversation before spraining his knee two weeks ago. Then there's Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak. NORRIS TROPHY (top defenseman): Weber is playing a key role for the Predators, who own the NHL's second-best record. Also in the mix are Calgary's Mark Giordano and St. Louis' Kevin Shattenkirk. Giordano leads NHL defenseman with 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) and is part of a Flames team in contention to snap a five-season playoff drought. Don't discount Los Angeles' Drew Doughty, especially if the defending Stanley Cup champs secure a playoff spot after an inconsistent start. Doughty ranks second in the league in 29:22 of ice time per game. VEZINA (top goalie): All eyes will be on how Rinne looks in his return in the coming weeks after being hurt on Jan. 15. Halak has been a stalwart on Long Island, where he finally found the right fit after being a member of three teams last season. There's also Montreal's Carey Price, whose 2.15 goals-against average is third among players with 30 or more games. CALDER (top rookie): Nashville's Filip Forsberg leads rookies with 40 points (15 goals, 25 assists), and Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau is second. Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad, the No. 1 player selected in the draft last summer, is suddenly making it a three-way race. Among rookie blue-liners, Ekblad is first with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists), and second in averaging 22:03 ice time and a plus-7 rating. | 1 | 3,348 | sports |
A hawk wears a teeny tiny helmet to give scientists an insight into its hunting strategy. Jen Markham (@jenmarkham) explains. | 8 | 3,349 | video |
You yes you contain a multitude of tiny molecules doing very big jobs. This is easy to forget when you're, oh, I don't know, worrying about an incoming blizzard or whatever. To shine a light on our inner workings, the latest video from SciShow explains why these molecules are so essential. First off, this list doesn't include molecules that you have to ingest, such as glucose and water. Instead, it focuses on the ones found inside your body; these are often large and complex enough that biologists call them macromolecules. They include DNA, for one, which is pretty darn important. It's responsible for guiding the building of proteins in your body. There's also the lesser-known enzyme pepsin, which helps in the digestion process, and the oxygen-transporting haemoglobin. Of course, your body is full of other essential molecules, and deciding which win the "most important molecules award" is a bit subjective. Still, we're very thankful these little guys work so hard. | 4 | 3,350 | lifestyle |
A Greek Air Force F-16 crashed during a NATO training exercise at Spain's Los Llanos Air Force Base, killing at least 10 people. CNN's Wolf Blitzer reports. | 8 | 3,351 | video |
Governors and mayors in the Northeast are bracing their constituents for an approaching winter storm that has been called 'historic.' | 8 | 3,352 | video |
From camping on salt pans to a cool Canadian park, these extreme camping vacations will earn you bragging rights. | 2 | 3,353 | travel |
US toymaker Mattel, Inc. replaced its chief executive Monday after disappointing sales for the Christmas holiday season sent net income plunging. Mattel said Bryan Stockton had resigned as chairman and chief executive and resigned from the company's board. Christopher Sinclair, a Mattel board member and veteran executive of the food industry, was named chairman and interim CEO. "Mattel is an exceptional company with a great future but the board believes that it is the right time for new leadership to maximise its potential," Sinclair said in a statement. "We will be working during the coming months to revitalise the business and to identify the right leadership for Mattel as it enters its next phase of growth and value creation." Mattel said preliminary results for the fourth quarter showed sales fell 5.7 percent to $1.99 billion from a year earlier, and earnings per share dropped 58.9 percent to 44 cents. For the full year, worldwide sales fell 7.1 percent to $6.02 billion, and earnings per share dropped 43.8 percent to $1.45. The company plans to announce its final fourth-quarter and annual results on January 30. Sinclair has been on the Mattel board since 1996. He was president and CEO of Quality Food from 1996-1998, and before that served as chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola Co. | 3 | 3,354 | finance |
New details about NASA's Commercial Crew Program were revealed today during a press conference held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Both SpaceX and Boeing have completed the first milestones in their plans to send humans into space from US soil for the first time in years. SpaceX has completed the first certification milestone in its CCP commitment, and will spend much of 2015 testing abort solutions for its formerly cargo-only Dragon capsule. (Abort procedures are more critical in crewed missions.) A launchpad abort will be tested in the next two months at Cape Canaveral, and an in-flight abort test will follow "later this year," according to SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell. Uncrewed missions to the ISS with the new capsule will start in 2016, and the company is still working out the makeup of its first test flight crew. "I don't ever want to have to write another check to Roscosmos." The CCP was started after the shuttle program was put to rest in 2011. Last April, NASA announced it wouldn't work with Russia any longer when it came to transporting American astronauts to the International Space Station. Instead, NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to build this new fleet of crewed spacecraft back in September. "I don't ever want to have to write another check to Roscosmos," NASA's administrator Charles Bolden said during today's press conference. As of right now, the CCP should allow for an average cost of $58 million per seat, as opposed to the average of $70 million per seat it was costing the agency to fly with the Russians. SpaceX's goal is to fly over 50 Falcon 9 missions before attempting the first crewed launch in early 2017. Those missions will accommodate four crew members with space for cargo. The company will operate these CCP missions similarly to its cargo missions. That means the mission control centers, flight simulators, and other flight capabilities will be located at both Johnson Space Center and at the company's base in Hawthorne, CA. The company is also working on outfitting its Dragon capsule with propulsive landing, Shotwell said, which could improve reusability by dispensing with the need to splash down in water. Instead, the capsule would land right at Johnson Space Center, using rockets on the bottom to help control the descent. That's not the only new technology the company is working on. It hopes to outfit its Falcon 9 rockets with wings and retrorockets so they can land on autonomous barges in the ocean. Boeing will launch the first crewed mission Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders said that the first crewed mission in 2017 will belong to Boeing despite the fact that SpaceX already has a working spacecraft. To fill that first mission, the astronaut office is looking at naming a "small cadre" of astronauts that would follow both companies. The first crew will be selected from that group, which will be named "before long," according to Johnson Space Center director Ellen Ochoa. Boeing has completed the first two certification milestones for its CST-100 spacecraft. NASA has signed off on parts of its commercial crew operation, including designs for the control center, training systems, flight simulators, and software. Boeing has also started building its crew access tower on the Atlas V launchpad, and that construction will continue in between uncrewed Atlas V launches. The first test hardware for Boeing's spacecraft will be delivered to Kennedy Space Center next month, and the first hardware for the actual crewed vehicle will be assembled later in the year. The initial crewed test flight will contain one Boeing test pilot and one NASA astronaut. In the meantime, Boeing is also spending time refurbishing the Kennedy Space Center facility that will be used for constructing its spacecraft. Both capsules are designed to be reusable The CST-100 will undergo a critical design review in March, and if approved, will let the company launch "full-bore" into manufacturing, according to VP and General Manager of Boeing Space Exploration John Elbon. Boeing's spacecraft can fit up to seven crew members, and is also being designed with reusability in mind. According to Elbon, the plan is for the capsule to be recovered, refurbished, and reused up to 10 times. When asked how this all fits in with the 2016 budget, Bolden said he's "very optimistic." "Congress has, I think, kind of started to understand the critical importance of commercial crew and cargo. They've seen, as a result of the performance of our providers, that this is not a hoax. It's not a myth. It's not a dream," he said. "It's something that really is happening." | 5 | 3,355 | news |
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady discusses the fallout from Deflategate on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan Morning Show. | 1 | 3,356 | sports |
LeBron James sat in his corner cubicle with a towel wrapped around his waist and a look of satisfaction on his face that had been missing for weeks. His body, recovered from a two-week break, has refreshed the way he hoped. So has his team after two trades improving Cleveland at both ends of the floor. And two weeks after being thought of as dysfunctional and in disarray, the Cavaliers have won six straight games and are climbing in the standings. James wasn't ready to talk about the playoffs or NBA titles just yet after beating Oklahoma City 108-98 on Sunday. But he senses the Cavs are back on track. "There's such a long road ahead of us, I'm not going to get too ahead of myself personally," said James, who scored 34 points including a personal 8-0 run early in the fourth to keep the Thunder at a distance. "We've played some great basketball as of late." Not surprisingly, James is at the heart of Cleveland's turnaround. The four-time league MVP recently missed eight games to rest a strained back and left knee. The time away clearly revived the 30-year-old, who may want to consider a January retreat in upcoming seasons. He's running, jumping, cutting, scoring doing everything at his own towering standards. He's physically stronger, mentally recharged. James has averaged 30.3 points in his past seven games and he's leading the Cavs' defensive resurgence. As the wins have piled up, questions about James' relationship with first-year coach David Blatt who never misses a chance to compliment his star player have silenced. The two appear to be connecting better. The winning certainly helps. Blatt insists he hasn't changed as a coach. "I've got all my players," he said. "It makes it easier." So does a healthy James. The Cavs are 1-8 without him and 24-12 when James is on the floor, a contrast that perhaps underscores his value better than any statistic. Make no mistake, the Cavs have good pieces around James, but he's the centerpiece to everything. Along with James being back on his game, the recent acquisitions of center Timofey Mozgov and guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert have made a huge difference. The 7-foot-1 Mozgov has given the team an inside defensive presence and offset the loss of Anderson Varejao, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Mozgov, who played for Blatt on the Russian national team, has helped space the floor on offense, allowing forward Kevin Love to play more comfortably away from the basket. Mozgov, too, has shown a nice shooting touch and a nasty streak when needed. He has brought the Cavs a needed toughness. Mozgov didn't much statistically Sunday 2 points, 6 rebounds in 28 minutes but he threw himself around down low and drew a technical foul after an exchange with Thunder enforcer Kendrick Perkins. "We got his back," guard Kyrie Irving said of the big man nicknamed "Mozzy." ''It's great to have a big guy like that who's not going to take any nonsense." Smith has also been a welcome addition, making a seamless transition since coming over with Shumpert from the New York Knicks. A prolific scorer, and prodigious outside shooter, Smith is relishing a chance to help a contender. He's been starting, but could have his role changed when Shumpert, who has played just two games after being out with a dislocated shoulder, gets better conditioned. Smith said he won't mind coming off the bench. "As long as we get that gold ball, it don't matter what I do," he said, referring to the Larry O'Brien Trophy. "I could sit out for all I care, as long as we win." That gold ball is why James plays. He made four straight trips to the NBA finals with Miami and it's hard to imagine the league's ultimate showcase without him. The Cavs remain a work in progress, but because they're in the weaker Eastern Conference, they are title contenders when James is healthy. For now, their confidence is growing. And with a soft schedule ahead only three of their next 10 games are against teams with winning records the Cavs may continue rolling. "We've shown we can play with the best teams," Love said. "Hopefully we're starting to put this thing together." The look on James' face said that's happening. | 1 | 3,357 | sports |
A man in the Bronx was arrested Monday after being charged by the United States for being a covert agent for the Russian government. The complaint charged three people, but only one, Evgeny Buryakov, still lives in the U.S. "We will use every tool at our disposal to identify and hold accountable foreign agents operating inside this country no matter how deep their cover," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. According to the complaint, Buryakov "willfully and knowingly, would and did act in the United States as an agent of a foreign government, specifically the Russian Federation, and as an agent of foreign officials, specifically intelligence agents working in New York City for the Russian Federation's Foreign Intelligence Service (the 'SVR')," without informing the U.S. government, as required. The complaint states that Buryakov, who worked as a trade representative for the Russian Federation in New York, met with one other defendant, Igor Sporyshev, between March 2012 and September 2014 "on dozens of occasions at locations in and around Manhattan and the Bronx, for the purpose of exchanging information related to their work as intelligence officers operating within the United States at the direction of the Russian SVR." Often they would meet outdoors to decrease the chances of being watched. Before meeting, they would call one another to discuss trading an inocuous item such as a "hat," "tickets," "umbrella" or a "book." The third defendant, Victor Podobnyy, who worked as an aide to the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, is accused of meeting with Sporyshev on May 23, 2013 to discuss transmitting Buryakov's intelligence from "'confidential talks' in which he participated under the cover of his position as a banker" back to SVR. Podobnyy and Sporyshev also tried to recurit others to join them in their intelligence efforts. They were looking specifically to young women at a prominent New York university as well as business professionals at major U.S. companies. While spies, the defendents often discussed how mundane their positions were. On one occasion, Podobnyy told Sporyshev that spying was nothing like "movies about James Bond" and at the very least he had expected he was going to be able to 'pretend to be someone else." "Following our previous prosecution with the FBI of Russian spies, who were expelled from the United States in 2010 when their plan to infiltrate upper levels of U.S. business and government was revealed, the arrest of Evgeny Buryakov and the charges against him and his co-defendants make clear that more than two decades after the presumptive end of the Cold War Russian spies continue to seek to operate in our midst under cover of secrecy," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. This story is breaking and will be updated. | 5 | 3,358 | news |
Keeping It In the Family: Most Stylish It seems that some families don't just inherit genes, but fashion sense too. Take a look at some of the most stylish families in the world. Beckham Family The Beckham clan was voted the most stylish family in the world in a poll conducted last year. Ex-footballer David Beckham has modeled for top brands like H&M and Adidas, while mother Victoria Beckham owns one of the world's most coveted fashion brands. Their eldest son Brooklyn (15) made his fashion debut in 2014 and Romeo (12) has already modeled for Burberry. It'll be no surprise if the other two kids, Cruz (9) and Harper (3), follow their lead! Jagger Family Back in the '60s and '70s, Rolling Stone lead vocalist Mick Jagger was one of the world's hottest pin-ups and a style icon. He then went on to marry top model Jerry Hall (second picture, centre). Their daughters Elizabeth (second picture, left) and Georgia May (second picture, right) followed in their mother's footsteps, modelling for top brands including Lancome and Vivienne Westwood. Smith Family Actor Will Smith, his actress wife Jada, and his celebrity offspring - Jaden, Willow and their half-brother Trey - are not only famous but known for their quirky style too. Willow is especially known for experimenting with her looks and locks. Obama Family The first family of the USA is famous for all the right reasons, including having a flawless fashion sense. Michelle Obama is often lauded for her choice of outfits during official tours and dinners. Daughters Malia (left) and Sasha are also seen at their best when out and about. Stefani-Rossdale Family Singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale are known for their bold fashion and quirky style. Some of it has rubbed off on their kids Zuma and Kingston, who are often seen sporting different hair colours and a mini style statement of their own. Bryant Family Star basketball player Kobe Bryant's talent goes outside the field as well. He has produced signature lines of shoes for Adidas and Nike, and e ndorsed Nubeo's Black Mamba collection of luxury sports watches. He is often spotted with his wife, both dressed in stylish and fashion-forward wardrobes. They are pictured here with their snappily dressed daughters Natalia and Gianna. Bachchan Family The Bachchans are Bollywood's royal family, and are known for their subtle style. Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a former Miss World, and her husband Abhishek have wowed the critics in Cannes. Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan is noted for his iconic silver beard, while wife Jaya also showcases classic Indian dress effortlessly on the red carpet. Osbourne Family TV personality Kelly Osbourne is known for a quirky sense of fashion. In 2014, she launched her own fashion line 'Stories...by Kelly'. Back in the '70s, Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne was fond of a fringed jacket, but his modern look entails an all-black ensemble, Lennon sunglasses and a crucifix or two. His wife, TV host Sharon Osbourne, now over 60 years old, has also evolved her fashion style from p rim and proper to gothic and vampish. Harris-Burtka Family Actor Neil Patrick Harris and his partner David Burtka always dress to kill. Not only are they impeccably suited up for every occasion, but they also take pleasure in dressing up their kids Harper Grace (left) and Gideon Scott. The stars share the photos of their twins dressed in funky and chic costumes on social media quite often. Hudson Family Goldie Hawn (first picture) was a fashion icon of the '70s and still dazzles on the red carpet with her lively looks and style. Her children, Oliver (second picture, left) and Kate, are not only successful Hollywood stars, but also fashion powerhouses. Kate Hudson has launched her own fitnesswear line and serves as the face of fashion brand Ann Taylor. British Royal Family The British royal family was voted among the top stylish families of the world in a poll conducted last year. The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the world's most high-profile style icons and a public appearance by Kate is often followed by her outfit choices selling out online. Little prince George is also adored for his looks. The Cath Kidston tank top he wore for the young family's Christmas 2014 pictures sold out online almost immediately. Knowles Family The family shares passion for two things - music and fashion. House of Deréon was a ready-to-wear fashion line introduced by Beyoncé and her mother Tina (centre). Sister Solange made headlines when she wore a white jumpsuit to her wedding in November 2014. Kardashian Family Probably the most talked-about family on TV, The Kardashians all have one thing in common: enviable style. Sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe all have their own fashion lines, while Kylie Jenner is a model and Kendall is venturing into acting. Hilton Family Richard Hilton (right), his wife Kathy (second from right) and children Nicky (centre), Paris (second from left) and Barron Hilton (left) are always dressed in their best whenever and wherever they step out. Youngest child Conrad (not pictured) turns 21 this year and is showing all signs of following in the family footsteps. | 4 | 3,359 | lifestyle |
1. Pink Mini Bag: A pop of pink will brighten up any outfit. Mini bags are one of favorite accessories this season. 2. Full Midi Skirt: Whenever I put on a full pleated skirt I instantly feel elegant and chic. It's a great piece to transition from day to night and can be worn with anything from a cable knit sweater to a silk jeweled blouse. 3. Karen Walker Super Duper Tort Glasses: Every modern lady should own a pair of over-sized glasses. These add instant glam to any outfit and do wonders for hiding tired eyes after a late night out on the town. 4. Cashmere Turtleneck: There is nothing cozier than a cashmere turtleneck in the dead of winter. This staple piece can be dressed up or dressed down and completes any winter wardrobe. 5. Red Lipstick: A bold red lip always looks elegant and put together. It enlivens any look. 6 . Pearl Necklace: Pearls are always appropriate. Layered, or worn as a single strand, the pearl necklace is always classic. 7 . Trench Coat: Practical and timeless, the trench coat is a versatile wardrobe staple. 8. Camel Leather Pumps: Investing in a great pair of camel leather heels was one of my best decisions. They look great with pretty much everything! 9 . Embellished Collar Shirt: A stylish and feminine look that flatters any body type. 10. Tartan Scarf: I'm a firm believer that a touch of plaid is always necessary. | 4 | 3,360 | lifestyle |
The news from Argentina reads like a real-life locked room mystery: on January 18, Alberto Nisman , a prosecutor who had recently accused Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of conspiring with Iran to subvert the prosecution of a terrorist attack, was found dead in his home, the door locked from the inside. Although Nisman's death initially looked like a suicide, many believe that he may have been murdered . The gun that killed him was found lying next to his body, but there was no gunshot residue on Nisman's hands, suggesting that he was not holding it when it was fired. And a number of Nisman's colleagues and supporters have come forward to say that he had made appointments to see them in the days following his death. On January 22, President Kirchner, who had initially referred to Nisman's death as a suicide, publicly changed course and released a statement saying that the death "was not a suicide," and that Nisman had been "manipulated" by forces seeking to undermine her, who may have then killed him. Then, on January 26, Kirchner unexpectedly announced that she would submit a bill to dissolve the Argentinian intelligence service and replace it with a new federal intelligence agency. There's a lot more going on here than meets the eye, though. Here are the basics. The AMIA bombing was Argentina's worst terrorist attack Until his death, Nisman was a prosecutor leading the investigation into what's known as the AMIA attack, a 1994 terrorist bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish Center (the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, hence AMIA) in which 85 people died. It was the worst terrorist attack ever committed in Argentina. In 2006, Nisman formally accused Iran of responsibility for the AMIA attack, alleging that the attack itself had been carried out by the pro-Iran Lebanese militant group Hezbollah with Iranian support. (Iran and Hezbollah both deny this.) In 2007, Argentina obtained Interpol arrest warrants for five Iranian nationals believed to be responsible for the attack, including Mohsen Rabbani, who was Iran's cultural attache to Argentina at the time of the bombing. Nisman accused President Fernández de Kirchner of trying to trade impunity for oil This month, Nisman publicly accused President Kirchner of colluding with Iran to derail his investigation in exchange for Argentine access to Iranian oil. On January 14, just days before his death, he filed a 289-page criminal complaint alleging that government officials had conducted secret talks with Iran in which they offered to shield Iranian officials from charges that they planned the bombing in exchange for oil imports. The complaint included transcripts of wiretapped conversations between Argentine negotiators and Iranian officials, the New York Times reports. In one call from 2013, Luis D'Elia, a powerful union leader who served in the administration of Kirchner's husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, said that he was negotiating on behalf of "the boss woman," and that the government was interested in sending a delegation of negotiators from the national oil company to Iran in order to further the deal. Other transcripts recorded discussions of how to place the blame for the bombing on right-wing activists, and suggestions that Argentina might swap grain, beef, and even weapons for Iranian oil. Nisman was found dead just days after filing his complaint Nisman was found dead just a few days after he filed the complaint. Although he was inside his home and the door was apparently locked from the inside, Nisman's friends and family, as well as much of the Argentinian public, expressed skepticism that he would have committed suicide. His mother and ex-wife have both told journalists that they did not believe he killed himself. The president initially posted a statement on her website calling Nisman's death a suicide. However, a few days later she changed course and posted a new statement in which she said she was "convinced" that his death was "no suicide." Her administration now attributes his killing and the allegations in his complaint to "rogue intelligence agents." The journalist who initially broke the news of Nisman's death, Damián Pachter, fled to Israel days later due to fears that he was being followed by an intelligence agent. Pachter, who worked for Argentina's English-language Herald newspaper, wrote in Haaretz that he believed he had spotted an intelligence agent tailing him as he went to meet a source. "Argentina," he wrote, "has become a dark place led by a corrupt political system." Kirchner's government denies Nisman's allegations Kirchner's government has denied Nisman's accusations. It claims that there are numerous inconsistencies in his complaint. Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman denied offering Iranian officials impunity in exchange for oil, noting that the government had maintained the Interpol "red notices" calling for the arrest of Iranian suspects in the AMIA bombing. Ronald Noble , who led Interpol from 2000 to 2014, backed him up. "I can say with 100 percent certainty, not a scintilla of doubt, that foreign minister Timerman and the Argentine government have been steadfast, persistent and unwavering that the Interpol's red notices be issued, remain in effect, and not be suspended or removed." Jorge Capitanich , the president's cabinet chief, said that the complaint has "no supporting evidence," and that one of the men it described as an intelligence agent in the complaint does not, in fact, work for the Intelligence Secretariat. Telam , Argentina's official news agency, published an article detailing a number of "inconsistencies" within the complaint. For instance, it said that Argentina's government would need the cooperation of private agribusiness companies in order to export grain to Iran and yet none of those companies were mentioned in the complaint. Kirchner announced that she will seek to dissolve the security service in response to Nisman's death On the evening of January 26, President Kirchner addressed the nation to announce that she would submit a bill to dissolve the existing intelligence service, and replace it with a new federal intelligence agency. Kirchner implied that the security services were continuing to operate as they had during the period of military rule, describing the security reforms as a way to address a "debt" that had been owed to the country since its transition to democracy in 1983. Kirchner said that the proposal would be discussed at an emergency session of Congress this week, and that the director and sub-director of the new agency would need to be approved by the senate. What Argentina could gain from a deal with Iran It's easy to see why Iran would want the sort of deal described in Nisman's allegations, but what would be in it for Argentina? Why would Kirchner's government want to help Iran evade responsibility for a devastating terrorist attack on Argentinian soil? The theory that has received the most attention is oil. Argentina's policies had left it starved for energy , and Iranian oil would offer a potential solution. However Telem claims that the oil-for-impunity theory doesn't make sense, because Iran exports crude oil, but Argentina needs refined petroleum products. "Iran does not produce what Argentina needs to acquire from global markets." Closer relations with Iran would also fit with Argentina's broader policy of working towards a "multi-polar" world that is not dominated by the US and Western Europe. To that end, Argentina has strengthened ties with its neighbors in South America, including the Mercosur economic bloc, and reached out to Russia's Vladimir Putin. Argentina's ally Venezuela also has a strong relationship with Iran, which may have encouraged Argentina to increase its ties as well. | 5 | 3,361 | news |
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) As Peyton Manning considers whether to take the gold watch or make one more run at the silver trophy, there are many factors he's weighing: age, desire, vitality, security, relationships. General manager John Elway said ''the bottom line is we want him back.'' So, he asked Manning not to make up his mind until next month after he's had time to process everything. Back in September, Manning said he liked Tom Brady's ''When I suck, I'll retire'' quote. ''That's a pretty good rule,'' Manning said on the eve of a season that was filled with fun (planning his own prank after breaking Brett Favre's touchdown record) and frustration (another first-round flop in the playoffs after a nagging thigh injury). He's surely pondering whether an 18th NFL season would look more like the first half of 2014, when a sixth MVP award seemed to await, or the second half, when he struggled to find rhythm and receivers alike. Although the sting of that last loss - 24-13 to the Colts - is sure to linger, NFL Network analyst and Hall of Fame finalist Terrell Davis said he's sure Manning is looking a lot deeper. ''My gut tells me that he comes back,'' Davis said. ''But if he comes back just because he didn't want to go out like this, I don't know if that's the right reason. You come back because you love the game, you want to compete, you enjoy working out, you enjoy going to practice.'' Manning has a lot of things to think about as he ponders his future: NEW FACES: Adam Gase and Manning were the perfect pair in Denver. Two mad scientists who liked to floor the high-octane offense. Now, Gase is in Chicago with John Fox, and Gary Kubiak is the Broncos coach and Rick Dennison his top offensive assistant. Although Kubiak's West Coast offense doesn't at first glance seem to jibe with Manning's improvisational style, Kubiak said it's ''easy to build a playbook for him.'' Sure, he's going to be 39, Kubiak said, ''but he threw 35 touchdowns last year.'' Thirty-nine, actually. ''Thirty-nine? Look what he continues to do. The offense Peyton runs, he's tremendous at it, back there in the gun controlling the game, controlling the line of scrimmage. Nobody has ever done it better and he's the master at it,'' Kubiak said. ''Actually, I'm looking forward to learning that style and that system that he has. ... We're going to do what our team does best and what our players do best, and if Peyton Manning's playing, that's what he does best.'' Manning has successfully adjusted before. The last two times he had a new head coach, he went 14-2 and 13-3. BETTER PROTECTION: Manning paid a big price for Denver's trouble-filled offensive line, and Elway said he'll fix it this offseason like he did the defense a year ago. ''Having been a quarterback, he knows that I'm going to try to take care of him and that offensive line,'' Elway said. Two starters - center Will Montgomery and left guard Orlando Franklin - are among Denver's dozen unrestricted free agents. The other starters: Ryan Clady, Louis Vasquez and Manny Ramirez will be trying to recapture their old form after substandard seasons. AGE OR INJURY: Was that fizzling finish an omen or an aberration? Even if Manning determines it was health, not age, to blame, he has to decide if he's willing to put his body and mind through the grind of another season. ''I could see Peyton going both ways,'' Davis said. ''There's no guarantee that if Peyton comes back he's going to be in any better situation. I think any quarterback or any player would love to walk out on top, that's the ideal way to walk out of this game. But the reality is that's not how most of us leave this game. ''And so, that's really the question that only Peyton can answer: How does he feel right now? And not right now, give him about a month or so and get away from this stuff, detox and heal up, and then start to miss the game, start getting that fire back in his belly.'' Either way, Davis said he's glad Manning is taking his time to make the right decision so that he doesn't have any regrets. ''Once you're done, you're done,'' said Davis, who was driven from the game by a knee injury. ''I'm 42 years old and I still sit on the couch and say, `Man, I wish I could play again.''' --- AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL | 1 | 3,362 | sports |
Every year we are amazed that hot rodders everywhere keep putting together new, better, and different cars in many combinations, configurations, and conglomerations. This year's show is no exception, and we have a 100-image gallery of everything the GNRS has to offer to prove it. You've seen the post of all of the contenders for the 2015 America's Most Beautiful Roadster award, right? If not you can go here to view some of the key roadsters. We can't imagine which car will win. There are a few clunkers, but many winners in our eyes. We were disappointed that some of the roadsters contending for the award were spread out over many areas of the main building at the Pomona Fairplex, but a bit disturbed that at least one of them was in another building all by its lonesome. That's bad. The roadsters should be in a special, important area segregated from the other cars at the GNRS, TOGETHER! Whoever thought separating them into different buildings was a good idea please note: it's not! As for the rest of the show, it's spread out over almost every building at the Fairplex, including the Suede Palace, as well as one building partially filled with 1940 Fords. It's their 75th anniversary. So peruse through the Gallery at the top to see some of the highlights of this year's GNRS. | 9 | 3,363 | autos |
When Microsoft unveiled HoloLens, its new 3D glasses, last week, it released this video of developers singing the technology's praises: "This is the next generation of computing," one guy says. "This is the next PC." It's always worth taking a claim like this with a grain of salt. But this one has a good chance of being true. When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone in 2007, he pointed out that great new computing platforms are often defined by revolutionary user interfaces the mouse in the 1980s, multitouch computing in the 2000s. In each case, users got a new way of interacting with computers that opened up potential applications that wouldn't have been practical otherwise. So what's the next great computing platform going to be? Several big tech companies are now betting that it will involve some kind of wearable virtual reality experience. Facebook bought Occulus VR, makers of the Rift 3D headset, last year. Google has been working on Glass, and has also invested millions in a VR startup called Magic Leap. Intel is building a line of 3D cameras called RealSense. Sony is working on a gaming headset called Project Morpheus. And now Microsoft has HoloLens. Products like the Occulus Rift and Project Morpheus completely take over the user's field of vision. That might be good for gaming, but it's going to be a deal-breaker for most other applications. In contrast, HoloLens seamlessly inserts virtual objects into the physical world. That not only makes the device less awkward to use around other people, since you can still see and interact with them. It creates a whole new class of potential applications by essentially turning the real world into a user interface for HoloLens apps. The success of smartphones and tablets is partly due to their touchscreen interface, but it's also because they're mobile devices with a variety of sensors (cameras, GPS, accelerometer) that allowed them to interact with the physical world in ways that PCs never could. A turn-by-turn direction app isn't very useful on a PC that never leaves your desk. Similarly, HoloLens has unique capabilities that lets it do things that smartphones and PCs can't. For example, one of Microsoft's demos involves a father walking her daughter through a plumbing project over Skype. The father used his tablet to "draw" arrows in three dimensions to tell the daughter exactly where to put the part. That's made possible by the combination of 3D glasses and a sophisticated understanding of the physical world in front of the user. It's not hard to think of other ways this could be useful. People who buy goods online will not only be able to see life-size 3D models; they'll be able to place those models in their house. You'll be able to see exactly how that new chair will look next to your existing furniture, and how your bedroom will look with a new paint color. Not only will your cake recipe float in the air over your kitchen counter, but the software may be smart enough to check off each ingredient as you add it to the bowl and warn you if you forget one. And devices like HoloLens could have huge implications for home entertainment. These applications are still several years away, at least. Microsoft is being vague about when HoloLens will be available to the public, and there's no guarantee that it will be a hit. Some other company might take the same basic idea and execute it better. But there's every reason to think that HoloLens or something like it will be a big, important computing platform in the next decade. | 5 | 3,364 | news |
I promised we'd put Big Jim to work towing, and for this update we have. MT's Detroit office recently acquired a sweet tailgate trailer, outfitted with TVs, keg taps, and the works, festooned in matching gloss black with corporate TEN logos. When hooking the trailer up, the rear camera certainly helps, but its low-ish resolution, its lack of a line indicating the path of the trailer hitch ball, and the fact that it plunks a parking-sensor warning icon right where the ball goes mean I still need to hop in and out a few times when connecting the trailer by myself. Ford's rear camera setup is superior. Related link: Research the GMC Sierra The trailer weighs about 3,400 pounds -- well under our truck's 9,500-pound towing limit -- but towing it blunts the 5.3-liter's acceleration noticeably, suggesting that anyone frequently towing anything bigger might want to consider the 6.2-liter. You'd better be towing or hauling gigantic stuff frequently if you're considering a Sierra Denali HD, however. I just spent some time in one with a Duramax, and it sure does ride rough with no load in it. Clicking the tow/haul-mode button on the end of the gearshift in any GM pickup alters the transmission and throttle programming, and increases the flash-to-pass count from three to six. After spending nearly a year with Jim, my pickup-truck receptors are fully sensitized, so I was somewhat surprised that Toyota's nearest Denali competitor, a Tundra Platinum, didn't compare too favorably inside. There's way too much hard plastic surrounding that diamond-stitched upholstery. The quad-cam 5.7 is a smooth operator, but my most ardent soft-pedaling resulted in a 14.5-mpg average. It wants to rev, delaying upshifts well past the point where Big Jim would be onto the next gear. (Is that where the fuel economy goes?) Ride quality also seemed a bit flintier, despite the taller sidewalls on its 275/55R20 Bridgestone Dueler H/Ls. (Jim wears the same brand in a 285/45R22.) Finally, these Dueler 22-inch tires have earned big props on their own. Because of the length of this rig, I was forced to rub a curb coming out of a serpentine underground parking garage or risk rubbing the nose on the concrete wall. I cringed as I felt the rear wheel and tire rub against this curb, shoving the rear axle to the right. I was certain my pricy dub-deuce chromie would be toast. Imagine my delight when I discovered not even so much as a scuff! The tire sidewalls stand a good half inch proud of the wheels for protection. Why aren't all tires designed like this? More on our long-term GMC Sierra Denali 1500 4WD Crew Cab: Arrival Update 1: Warming up to Big Jim Update 2: Getting Dirty and Keeping Clean Update 3: Air Sierra -- The Only Way to Fly Update 4: Big Jim Binges, Goes Back on the Wagon | 9 | 3,365 | autos |
Gwyneth Paltrow's buzz-machine and lifestyle site, goop, got everyone talking this week with a recipe for what it calls " Sex Bark ." Apparently, the chocolately confection can "enhance youthfulness, reproductive function, and sex drive" while "promoting enjoyable sex and fertility for both men and women." Although it's not the love potion from Harry Potter , we'd like to imagine that Sex Bark was directly inspired by it. After all, moonstone is an ingredient in the wizarding potion and Gwyn's concoction calls for something called "Moon Juice," which doesn't come cheap. In typical goop fashion, this (admittedly delicious-sounding) recipe requires a list of healthy, hard-to-find, and expensive ingredients. Let's take a closer look at that list, and what each piece of it costs: Coconut oil: About $11 for 15 ounces. Ghee: About $8 for 13 ounces. Raw honey or several drops stevia: About $11 for 22 ounces of honey; about $16 for 8 ounces of stevia. Moon Pantry cacao : $15 for 16 ounces. Moon Pantry Sex Dust : $60 for 4 ounces. Moon Pantry Ho Shou Wu : $18 for 4 ounces. Moon Pantry cacao nibs : $15 for 16 ounces. The most interesting ingredient is certainly Sex Dust. Described as an "aphrodisiac warming potion," it contains herbs and other natural food-boosters, like Epimedium, Ho Shou Wu, Schisandra, Cristanche, Shilajit, maca, cacao, Lo Han Guo, and stevia. Epimedium, the first ingredient in Sex Dust, is also known as "horny goat weed." It's often used for treating weak joints and back pain, and occasionally, erectile dysfunction . Despite such alluring names, Sex Dust's aphrodisiac qualities have yet to be scientifically proven. "Cristanche," another ingredient, turns up suspiciously few results in a Google search (none, actually). Assuming you don't already have the above ingredients in your pantry, this Valentine's Day treat will run you about $138, plus shipping. Alternatively, throw down a $20 for a box of Whitman's chocolate at the drugstore. Head over to goop for the official recipe with instructions. We'll be standing by for a follow-up post about what one should do with leftover Sex Dust. | 4 | 3,366 | lifestyle |
Police say a suspect in the disappearance of a Georgia couple is in custody. The elderly couple went missing after they posted a Craigslist ad. | 8 | 3,367 | video |
Most actors have a section on their résumé that highlights their special skills, so at the 2015 SAG Awards, we asked stars of TV and film to reveal their own unique - and often very unexpected - talents. Plus, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau revealed his ideal final scene on Game of Thrones, and we found out how the women of Orange Is the New Black spend their time together behind the scenes. | 6 | 3,368 | entertainment |
The New England Patriots have spent much of the past week answering questions from the league and media regarding whether they knew their football were illegally deflated during the AFC title game. Now it appears the NFL has honed in on a potential culprit, per a report by Fox Sports' Jay Glazer . According to Glazer, the league has reason to believe a Patriots locker room attendant may have taken the footballs from the officials' locker room to a different area on the way to the field. The league has apparently already interviewed the assistant and may have video, though it is still deciphering whether any actual wrongdoing occurred. Still, the assistant is currently a "strong person of interest." The NFL has not only specific rules for inflating footballs but also how those balls are handled before and during a game. The league's game operations manual states, "Once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers, ball boys, and coaches, is allowed to alter the footballs in any way." Accordingly, a locker room attendant moving the footballs from the officials' locker room before the game raises red flags. Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have steadfast denied deflating the footballs below the prescribed limit. Belichick offered a possible scientific explanation for the deflated balls, though neither Bill Nye nor the manufacturers of the balls themselves buy it. Perhaps the NFL will find the correct answer from their targeted locker room assistant. | 1 | 3,369 | sports |
Would you like to cut your monthly cellphone bill by two-thirds or more for service that worked some of the time and not everywhere? Neither would we. In a nutshell, that's what Cablevision announced on Monday, a new Wi-Fi mobile phone service called Freewheel that will launch in New York. For $29 per month ($10 for existing Cablevision customers), Freewheel offers unlimited calling and data, but only while on a Wi-Fi network. Cablevision isn't the first to pitch Wi-Fi as a low-cost alternative to traditional cellphone service, but most other players in the Wi-Fi calling market including FreedomPop and Republic Wireless have deals with cellular providers to use the networks as a fallback where Wi-Fi isn't available, which is in a lot of places. Republic offers a $5-per-month Wi-Fi-only option, but only about 5 percent of Republic's several hundred thousand customers sign up for that plan. And of those, 40 percent upgrade to an option with cellular coverage. "We thought it was going to be big," Republic Wireless CEO David Morken told Re/code . "It's not. It's a niche. … Cell coverage is just still so important as a backup." Even Google is said to be partnering with cellular providers for its planned entry into the space. Cablevision, for its part, stresses that it has a dense, carrier-grade network with 1.1 million hotspots in the greater New York area, making its coverage unlike any other cities where Wi-Fi networks are spotty, consisting mainly of a few restaurant chains and public places. "That's not the experience here," Cablevision Chief Operating Officer Kristin Dolan said in an interview. And when customers do travel, Dolan noted that the company has deals allowing customers to also use the Wi-Fi networks of other cable companies. As for not having a cellular network as a back-up option, Dolan said, "It was a conscious choice," noting that 93 percent of cellphone data is already being sent over Wi-Fi networks. Dolan said that while Freewheel supports calling and texting, it is really aimed at a new generation that relies mostly on data use. "We are looking more forward than backward," she said. While acknowledging that it's not suited to everyone, Cablevision is pitching the service as well suited for parents who want to give a first phone to kids, for those on a very tight budget as well as college students who tend to hang out in places with lots of Wi-Fi coverage. In addition to the limitations of Wi-Fi, Cablevision is starting with a single phone model, albeit a well regarded one. They are offering the Moto G for $99, below its typical selling price of around $180. Among those leading the charge for Cablevision is Kevin Packingham, a former executive at Samsung's U.S. operation . It's worth noting that while the Moto G has special software to route calls and texts over Wi-Fi it can still call 911 using the cellular network. Of course, it makes sense that Cablevision and potentially other cable companies want to test the waters for this. Cable companies have flirted with wireless options for years as an effort to offer a "quadruple play" along with home phone, TV and Internet services. Cox offered its own cellular service directly until 2011 , while several cable companies have partnerships with Verizon to sell mobile service . And cable companies are seeing their core TV service increasingly under threat . | 5 | 3,370 | news |
Cape Verde and Zambia were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea on Monday after a dour 0-0 draw in a match hit by a tropical storm. Tunisia won Group B and the Democratic Republic of Congo came second after they drew 1-1 in port city Bata at the same time. Cape Verde finished level on points and goal difference with DR Congo, but lost out because they scored only one goal in three matches while the Congolese managed two. Torrential rain, thunder, lightning and a swirling wind made good football impossible and when Zambia got a stoppage-time chance to snatch victory and a last-eight place, Mukuka Mulenga shot wide. It was the second consecutive first-round exit for the Zambian Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) after lifting the trophy in 2012 against all the odds. Elimination proved a bitter blow for the Cape Verde Blue Sharks, who reached the quarter-finals in their Cup of Nations debut two years ago. A scrappy first half ended goalless with neither team creating a clear-cut scoring chance at Estadio de Ebebiyin in the north-east corner of Equatorial Guinea. Zambia had an opportunity to trouble Cape Verde just past the half hour after Carlitos was yellow-carded for fouling Evans Kangwa just outside the penalty area. But in keeping with the generally uninspiring standard of football, Lubambo Musonda struck the free-kick straight at the defensive wall. Rodrigues, getting his first start of the tournament for Cape Verde, was involved in two close shaves for Zambia just before half-time. His free-kick found Toni, who should have done better than heading over from point-blank range on 44 minutes. And in the second minute of stoppage time, a Rodrigues free-kick flew low across the goalmouth and just wide of the far post. Conditions deteriorated considerably during the break and the second half began with puddles dotting a pitch created only this month with grass imported from Spain. Fortunately, by the time the game reached the hour mark, the rain eased, but the match had become a lottery with water spraying each time there was a tussle for possession. Cape Verde substitute Djaniny got a sight of goal just inside the box midway through the half, but slipped on the treacherous surface and the ball was cleared. Zambia had a good chance to end the stalemate 12 minutes from time only for substitute Patrick Ngoma and Kangwa to miss a low Chisamba Lungu cross. | 1 | 3,371 | sports |
Two weeks removed from a pair of near colossal upset losses , and the Kentucky Wildcats have been voted as the unanimous No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll . It's the first time this season all voters have picked Kentucky as the best team in the country. No. 2 Virginia, which had garnered No. 1 consideration in previous weeks, narrowly beat ACC basement team Virginia Tech on Sunday to remain undefeated. The Wildcats (19-0, 6-0 SEC) have been earning major hype all season based on a loaded roster that features nine former McDonald's All-Americans and a bundle of NBA prospects. They are widely expected to go undefeated in the regular season and contend for a national championship. To manage the talent, coach John Calipari instituted a two-platoon system that's varied but established an unselfish foundation for a group of players sacrificing for the good of the team. The Wildcats barely escaped Ole Miss in overtime on Jan. 6 before surviving a double-overtime road game at Texas A&M on Jan. 10. Since then, Kentucky has beaten its opponents by a margin of 23.5 points a game, including a 49-point blowout of Missouri on Jan. 13. Calipari said on Monday's SEC teleconference that Kentucky is "an energy team. "If we come out and the other team is more excited about playing than we are, you're going to have a close game or we're going to lose or it's going to go to overtime," Calipari said. "If you're not ready to be the Super Bowl every night you play, be in one, then you're not ready to go here." And on the underrated strength of the SEC, which has only on other team No. 25 Arkansas in the top 25, Calipari said: "This league right now is solid. Just because we're really good doesn't mean the league's not good." | 1 | 3,372 | sports |
As first reported by Radio.com , Blink-182's Tom DeLonge has "indefinitely" left the band . DeLonge has apparently made this decision in order to pursue his "other non-musical endeavors," a representative for blink said in a statement, and will be replaced by Matt Skiba of the Alkaline Trio at the group's upcoming performance at Travis Barker's eighth annual Musink Music and Tattoo Festival. Read the full release below. Matt Skiba of the Alkaline Trio will join Blink-182 in replacement of Tom DeLonge at the 8th annual Musink Music and Tattoo Festival. "We were all set to play this festival and record a new album and Tom kept putting it off without reason. A week before we were scheduled to go in to the studio we got an email from his manager explaining that he didn't want to participate in any Blink-182 projects indefinitely, but would rather work on his other non-musical endeavors." Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus plan to honor all Blink-182 commitments including the Musink Festival and are excited to have singer/guitarist Matt Skiba join them for this project. "No hard feelings, but the show must go on for our fans." Additionally, Skiba will continue to make new music and tour with the Alkaline Trio. DeLonge himself has yet to comment on the situation. In August, Mark Hoppus revealed in an interview that band was ready to record to their next album and intended to head into the studio at the end of 2014. "We have the beginning of song ideas at this point, and we are really just excited to get into the studio and have an album out sooner rather than later," Hoppus said. There's no word on how DeLonge's departure will affect the plans for the new album. | 6 | 3,373 | entertainment |
A mountain-size asteroid buzzed Earth Monday morning (Jan. 26) in a close encounter that's already revealing new information about the space rock, including an improved measurement of its size and the confirmation of at least one moon. Asteroid 2004 BL86 came within 745,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers) of Earth or about three times the distance from our planet to the moon Monday at approximately 11:20 a.m. EST (1620 GMT). The space rock is now zooming off into the depths of space at 35,000 mph (56,300 km/h), researchers said. [ Photos: Asteroids in Deep Space ] On Monday night, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. EST (0400 to 0600 GMT), scientists at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama will observe 2004 BL86 as it recedes from Earth. You can watch a webcast of the asteroid observations here on Space.com , or directly via Marshall's Ustream feed . The asteroid will reach a luminosity of magnitude 9 in the sky Monday, which is bright enough to be seen with binoculars or small telescopes. At 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT) on Monday, the Slooh Community Observatory aired a live webcast discussing new images of the asteroid and its trajectory. During the webcast, NASA scientist Lance Benner showed photos of 2004 BL86 taken earlier in the day using a radar signal from the space agency's Deep Space Network facility in Goldstone, California. The new observations have a resolution of about 13 feet (4 meters) per pixel, and reveal that 2004 BL86 is roughly 1,000 feet (300 m) wide. This is significantly smaller than previous estimates, which put the asteroid's diameter at roughly 1,800 feet (550 m). The new images also show a second object positioned close to 2004 BL86. Benner told Space.com that the second object is a moon, with a diameter between 164 and 328 feet (50 and 100 m). Previous studies of the light around 2004 BL86 had already identified a moon orbiting the asteroid, and the new images confirm that discovery, he added. About 17 percent of asteroids in 2004 BL86's size range have smaller objects trailing along with them . Boulders and other small-scale features on the surface of the asteroid are coming into focus in the new images, as is the overall shape of the asteroid, according to Benner. He compared the object to another asteroid that made a close flyby of Earth six years ago, called 2008 EV5. It appears that 2004 BL86, like 2008 EV5, has an equatorial ridge around its middle, which makes it look "kind of like a muffin, or perhaps a top," said Benner, who's based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. While 2004 BL86 posed no threat to Earth on this pass, it is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, or PHA, which is an object that comes within about 5 million miles (8 million km) of Earth. NASA has identified about 1,500 PHAs in the solar system, according to Paul Chodas, manager of JPL's Near-Earth Object Program office, who also spoke on the webcast. Chodas discussed why the flyby is exciting for scientists studying asteroids. "This is like a space mission to an asteroid, only the asteroid is coming to us. So it's kind of a freebie," Chodas said. "We get to see it up close with large optical telescopes. We'll get an idea of its rotation rate, we'll get an idea of its composition […] by taking its spectrum. And with radar especially, we'll be able to get an idea of what this asteroid looks like, up close and personal." The study of asteroids could answer fundamental questions about the formation of objects in our solar system, including planets, the scientists said. Some theories suggest asteroids are responsible for depositing most of the water on Earth. Scientists are also interested in the possibility of mining asteroids for useful materials such as platinum, palladium and water. This will not be Earth's last encounter with 2004 BL86. Chodas said the asteroid will make another close approach to Earth in about 200 years, and will continue to make subsequent close flybys in the centuries to follow. "Now that we have the radar data [of 2004 BL86] from both last night and tonight, we'll be able to predict this much further into the future," Chodas said. "And over the centuries, and as far as a millennia, this asteroid will be approaching slightly closer each time. So it's definitely one we'll want to keep our eye on." Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield . Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com . Asteroid Basics: A Space Rock Quiz 5 Reasons to Care About Asteroids Potentially Dangerous Asteroids (Images) | 5 | 3,374 | news |
The Federal Reserve taxis toward a liftoff this year in interest rates in a meeting that begins Tuesday, with signs of weakness in the US economy raising questions about timing. The Fed is expected to stay the course on monetary policy in its statement Wednesday and stress patience in waiting to see whether the economy is strong enough to withstand the first increase in the federal funds rate since 2006. Since the December meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the central bank's policy arm, the rapid slide in oil prices has pulled already weak inflation lower, corporate earnings season has gotten off to a bumpy start, and the nearly stagnant eurozone has been further roiled by Greece's overwhelming vote Sunday for a leftist, anti-austerity party. The European Central Bank's announcement last week of a massive bond-purchase program, or quantitative easing, to stimulate growth and avert deflation in the 19-nation eurozone was expected to at least help the huge US trade partner in the short term. For the FOMC, which exited QE in October, the question now is to decide when to lift its ultra-low key federal funds rate, pegged between zero and 0.25 percent since late 2008 to support the economy's recovery from the deep 2008-2009 recession. After months of mostly positive data -- in December, the US unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent and consumer confidence rebounded -- some weak spots have emerged. Job growth slowed but remained solid; wages sagged, barely keeping up with inflation; and retail sales plunged broadly in a critical month for stores in the holiday shopping season. "Wednesday's FOMC meeting will provide another chance for the Fed to assess the impact of the higher dollar and lower oil prices on the policy outlook. We don't anticipate major changes to the statement," said Barclays in a research note. - Fed seen sitting tight - Oil prices have fallen about 60 percent since June, trading at 2009 lows as investors worry about slowing global economic growth and a supply glut. The minutes of the FOMC's December 16-17 meeting showed Fed officials saw a boon from lower oil prices for the US economy. But the Fed's latest Beige Book report on US economic conditions, prepared for discussion at this week's meeting, revealed lower oil prices were hitting the economies of energy-producing regions like Texas and North Dakota and in some cases weighing on the jobs market. The US economy generated "modest" or "moderate" growth in late 2014, according to the report, which noted virtually no upward pressure on wages, a key concern of Fed officials. "This economy is still strong and there is no reason to think the Fed members will or should back off from their evaluation of conditions" at their meeting, said Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors. According to the December FOMC minutes, the first hike in the federal funds rate could come at the April 28-29 meeting. Some Fed-watchers expect it to be announced at the June 16-17 meeting, which is followed by a news conference with Fed Chair Janet Yellen. There is no news conference scheduled Wednesday. "The big wild card is what happening on inflation," said Stephen Oliner of the American Enterprise Institute. Oliner, who served more than 25 years on the Federal Reserve board, said that if inflation were "anywhere close" to the Fed's 2.0 percent target and expected to remain there, "they definitely would be tightening monetary policy in the first half of this year." "My best guess would be September. I know the majority of opinions is for June but when I think about the information that they will have about inflation when they have the June meeting, I'm not sure there is going to show inflation moving back toward their target," he said. | 3 | 3,375 | finance |
KFC is now selling a Double Down Dog in the Philippines and they are selling out like crazy. Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) explains. | 8 | 3,376 | video |
RICHMOND, Va. Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will remain free while he appeals his corruption convictions, a federal court ruled Monday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond said McDonnell's appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact that could warrant reversal or a new trial. The court also ordered that briefs in the case be filed by March 2 and set a May 12 hearing. McDonnell's two-year prison term was set to begin Feb. 9 after a jury last year found McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, guilty of illegally accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from wealthy vitamin entrepreneur Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his products. Prosecutors originally sought a sentence of more than 10 years for McDonnell, whose lawyers recommended three years of community service. McDonnell's attorneys asked the court to allow him to remain free on bail while he appeals, arguing that the appeal could take almost as long as the sentence itself and would raise substantial questions, including whether the government's interpretation of an "official act" is correct. Federal prosecutors opposed the request, saying the appeal isn't strong and that McDonnell's claim that the judge defined an "official act" too broadly isn't likely to result in a reversal of his convictions. ___ Michael Felberbaum can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/MLFelberbaum . | 5 | 3,377 | news |
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas is among the latest wave of European stars to express their desire to join Major League Soccer. "I have no problem of saying that I would like to play in the U.S.," Casillas said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. England's Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and Spain's David Villa recently signed with MLS, along with Brazilian midfielder Kaka, the former FIFA World Player of the Year. The 33-year-old Casillas started for Spain in last year's World Cup and for Real Madrid during the club's Champions League title run in 2014. | 1 | 3,378 | sports |
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Internal Revenue Service will waive some penalties for taxpayers who owe taxes because of Obamacare. The changes, announced Monday in Washington, apply only to people who received subsidized health insurance during 2014. On tax returns, they must reconcile eligibility for the credit with their actual income and pay back some of the subsidy if they received too much. That can happen if someone got a higher-paying job or a raise during 2014 and didn't ask the government to alter the subsidy. The IRS will waive penalties for making that payment late or for failing to pay estimated taxes throughout 2014. Taxpayers must send in a letter for a penalty waiver. They still must pay the taxes within a year and will owe interest after April 15, the due date for individual tax returns. About 8 million people purchased health-care policies through the insurance exchanges in 2014. About 85 percent of those who initially enrolled received subsidies, which went directly to insurance companies during 2014. The penalties don't apply to people who must make payments for failing to comply with the individual requirement to purchase health insurance. To contact the reporter on this story: Richard Rubin in Washington at [email protected] To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jodi Schneider at [email protected] Laurie Asseo | 3 | 3,379 | finance |
Take an up-close look with the Pittsburgh Steelers as they take on the 2015 Pro Bowl. To see more Steelers videos download the Steelers DeskSite. | 1 | 3,380 | sports |
Boeing will be the first commercial company to carry a NASA astronaut to space in July 2017 under a contract with the US space agency, followed by its competitor SpaceX, officials said Monday. NASA is funneling billions of dollars to both companies so that they can replace American access to the orbiting International Space Station after the US space shuttle program was retired in 2011. The announcement of $4.2 billion for Boeing and $2.6 billion for SpaceX was made in September 2014. However, a legal challenge by Sierra Nevada -- which was developing a space-shuttle-like vehicle called Dream Chaser and was closed out of the competition -- meant that officials could not reveal many details until now. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied the protest by Sierra Nevada earlier this month, allowing NASA and its partners to speak publicly about the contracts and future plans for test flights. Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders said at a press conference in Houston, Texas that Boeing would be the first to make two contracted missions to carry NASA astronauts, since it has completed two milestones so far, and SpaceX just one. "Our goal is to have two robust providers," Lueders added. - July 2017 - A NASA astronaut and a Boeing test pilot will make the first crewed test flight on the spacecraft called Crew Space Transportation-100, or CST-100 for short, in July 2017, said John Elbon, Boeing's vice president and general manager of space exploration. "The first services mission then will begin in December of '17," he told reporters, referring to the first official trip to the International Space Station with crew on board. SpaceX's upgraded Dragon crew vehicle is on track for an unmanned test flight in 2016, followed by a test flight including crew on board in early 2017, said vice president Gwynne Shotwell, who did not give specific dates. In 2012, California-based SpaceX became the first commercial company to deliver supplies to the International Space Station with its Dragon cargo ship, which is being modified to become a crew capsule. - Ending dependence - Since the 30-year space shuttle program ended in 2011, the United States has relied on Russia's Soyuz capsules for astronaut transport at a cost of $70 million per seat. The cost per seat in the new US commercial industry would be approximately $58 million, an average cost teased out over the course of a five-year mission plan, said Lueders. NASA administrator Charles Bolden said the rise of private industry in reaching low-Earth orbit means that the US space agency will be able to focus on sending humans to Mars by 2024. "We made the conscious decision that if we are going to go to deep space, we need to turn over things that we are relatively sure we know how to do -- access to low-Earth orbit -- to American industry," Bolden said. Another key benefit for the United States is ending its costly dependence on the Russian space agency. "I don't want to ever have to write another check to Roscosmos after 2017, hopefully," Bolden added. Both Boeing and SpaceX must show they can successfully complete a test flight with one astronaut aboard before moving on to between two and six more flights contracted with NASA to deliver astronauts to and from the space station. The spacecraft will launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Boeing's acorn-shaped space capsule, the CST-100, is designed to be re-used up to 10 times, and SpaceX's sleek white Dragon Version Two, or Dragon V2, is also a reusable space capsule. Both can carry up to seven people to the space station, which circles the planet in low-Earth orbit. | 5 | 3,381 | news |
Those w ho use "Mustang" as a password might want to consider changing it after finding out that it's one of the most commonly used passwords on the internet. Splashdata, a company specializing in password management, recently conducted a new study that revealed "Mustang" was the 16th most commonly used password for protecting accounts on the internet in 2014. The pony car was the only vehicle on the list of 25 most popular passwords of 2014, which also included fictional super heroes such as "Batman" and "Superman," the 21st and 24th most commonly used passwords, respectively. Related link: Research the Ford Mustang While Ford likes the fact that there are so many Mustang fans, the company's top cyber security boss encourages that people strengthen their passwords by adding a unique combination of numbers to the password. One idea could be adding how much horsepower your Mustang makes (or however much hp you'd like it to put out), or your favorite Mustang model year. If you need a refresher on which model year is your favorite, check out our Ford Mustang Motor Trend Covers from 1964-Present article. Other ideas for making your password more unique is by mixing upper and lower case letters, which would work nicely for models such as the Mustang GT350R . Ford also recommends adding Mustang option codes or even digits from your VIN number to your password to make it stronger. Other passwords to refrain from using include the mostly commonly used password, "123456." The second most popular password is "password," while the third is "12345." Splashdata also recommends not using sports to keep your information safe, as "baseball," and "football" landed in the top 10. Other funny passwords include "monkey" which came in at number 12, and "trustno1," the 25th most popular password. Source: Ford | 9 | 3,382 | autos |
Big Sean has revealed the title for the upcoming album : "Dark Sky Paradise." The rapper posted a photo to his Instagram that just read the title to the "Hall of Fame" follow-up, receiving shares of the post from others involved in the album, including Kanye West and Drake. A photo posted by BIGSEAN (@bigsean) on Jan 25, 2015 at 8:20pm PST pic.twitter.com/wYZur636HU KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) January 26, 2015 A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 25, 2015 at 9:11pm PST In an interview with Highsnobiety in Novemeber , Big Sean revealed that his new album is "darker" and "harder than any of his previous efforts. "The sound of it is definitely better than the mixtapes but it's more of that type of intensity, high-level raps, and just not giving a fuck and going in," he told Highsnobiety. Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Drake, Jhene Aiko, Travi$ Scott, PARTYNEXTDOOR, E-40, DJ Mustard, Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, Vinylz and DJ Khaled all play a part on "Dark Sky Paradise." There's no word on when new music will be released, but snippets from a track featuring Drake have emerged. H/T XXL | 6 | 3,383 | entertainment |
BRENTWOOD, N.H. An unlicensed, intoxicated driver who killed two women when she plowed a car into a group of bicyclists was sentenced Monday to up to 40 years in prison after one of the survivors and the victims' loved ones spoke of the agony their deaths had caused. "You changed my world. The whole universe changed. Two of the kindest, most wonderful women were taken from all of us," a tearful Margo Heigh told Darriean Hess, speaking of the two friends who were riding behind her on a sunny Saturday 16 months ago and were killed when Hess crashed into them. Heigh said she doesn't know what Pamela Wells and Elise Bouchard would have said to Hess, but she described them as kinder and more forgiving than herself. "The world is a darker place today," she said. "I know there are nice people in the world, but not like Pam and Elise." Hess, 20, pleaded guilty to two counts each of manslaughter and second-degree assault in the deaths of Wells, 60, of Hamilton, Massachusetts, and Bouchard, 52, of Danvers, Massachusetts. Heigh, of Danvers, was injured, along with Uwe Yhmeyer, 60, of Essex, Massachusetts. Hess had been ticketed for speeding eight hours before the Sept. 21, 2013, crash and was under the influence of a powerful painkiller when she ran into the four friends and cyclists in Hampton, County Attorney Patricia Conway said. Hess was aware of the Tri-State Century Ride, a 100-mile noncompetitive ride along the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine coasts, and there was nothing obstructing her view as she came up and over a bridge and veered into the other lane. Witnesses described bodies and bicycles flying in the air. Hess was sentenced in Rockingham County Superior Court to 15 to 40 years in prison, with an additional seven to 14 years suspended. Other than answering the judge's questions in a low, nearly inaudible voice, Hess didn't speak at the hearing and only glanced at her victims' family members who gave emotional statements. Hess heard Wells' voice when her brother Kim Wells played a cheerful voicemail she had left for his son two days before her death. "I didn't play that to be cruel," he told Hess. "I hope you take that voice with you." Since his sister's death, Wells said, he has lost the ability to be joyful or appreciate beauty. "I know I've boxed myself into a corner. It's a spider web of pain," he said. "Some say, 'Think of good memories,' but I still want new ones. Some say, 'Get past it. Find closure. Find resolution.' But I'm afraid I'm going to forget her." Another brother, Peter Wells, said that for better or worse, Hess has become part of his family's story, and he implored her to make the rest of her life meaningful. "As strange as it sounds, good luck with your yet unrealized significant moments," he said. In a letter read by the prosecutor, Bouchard's brother, Robert Bouchard, called Hess stubborn, selfish and arrogant for getting back behind the wheel after being pulled over before the fatal crash. But he said he doesn't hate Hess and hopes she will someday become like his sister: "selfless, respectful of others, joyful and loving." | 5 | 3,384 | news |
The Orioles have reduced their number of arbitration cases to four, agreeing to a one-year, $8.8 million deal with right-hander Bud Norris on Monday. Norris, 29, was 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA in 28 starts last year for the Orioles. He made $5.3 million in 2014 and was asking for a raise to $10.25 million for 2015. The Orioles had countered with $7.5 million which seemed to be a rather large gap between the two figures. But the sides settled just below the midpoint. Along with the $8.8 million in guaranteed money, Norris also can receive a $25,000 bonus if he pitches 180 innings this season and $50,000 if he reaches 200 innings. He also would get $50,000 in bonuses if he wins a Gold Glove Award or makes the All-Star team. Norris, who turns 30 in March, can be a free agent after the 2015 season. By avoiding arbitration with Norris (and utility infielder Ryan Flaherty on Sunday) the Orioles have just four potential arbitration cases pending after having 11 possibilities earlier this month. Those who remain are: infielder-outfielder Steve Pearce (who filed for $5.4 million while the Orioles filed for $2 million), outfielder Alejandro De Aza ($5.65 million/$5 million), closer Zach Britton ($4.2 million/$2.2 million) and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez ($3.95 million/$2.5 million). If the sides cannot reach an agreement, they will go to hearings next month in Arizona. A three-person panel will select one of the two figures presented. | 1 | 3,385 | sports |
Houston Texans' DE J.J. Watt tosses around the football with fans before the 2015 Pro Bowl. To see more Texans videos download the Texans DeskSite. | 1 | 3,386 | sports |
American economy is on the road to full recovery The American economy is by many measures well on the road to full recovery. The national unemployment rate was 6.2% in 2013, down from 9.3% in 2009; U.S. gross domestic product grew 5% in the third quarter of 2014; and the S&P 500 recently reached its all time high. And yet the middle class, which historically was the driver of economic growth, is falling behind. The average income among middle class families shrank by 4.3% between 2009 and 2013, while incomes among the wealthiest 20% of American households grew by 0.4%. Based on average pre-tax income earned by the third quintile, or the middle 20% of earners in each state, middle class incomes in California declined the most in the country. Incomes among middle class Californian households fell by nearly 7% between 2009 and 2013, while income among the state's fifth quintile, or the top 20% of state earners, grew by 1.3%. Based on an analysis of household incomes among America's middle class, these are the states where the middle class is suffering the most. According to Joe Valenti, director of asset building at the Center for American Progress, the American middle class is essential for economic growth because middle income families are spending relatively large shares of their incomes on goods and services. "An additional dollar in the hands of a middle income earner is going to drive a lot more spending than an additional dollar in the hands of someone in that top quintile," Valenti said. While households in the top quintile are able to spend enormous sums of money, "at some point there's only so much that an individual can spend, even on all different kinds of luxury goods." While the middle class is the most important cohort in terms of spending and has in the past been essential for economic growth, middle income families have been the victims of wage stagnation. Valenti argued that as early as the 1970s, American companies started becoming much more productive. However, because of "a decoupling of productivity and wages," wages among many workers have remained stagnant, and many in the middle class "have not been able to reap the benefits of higher productivity," Valenti explained. Instead, returns from higher productivity have gone to owners and investors and not to the workers, he said. Many of the beneficiaries of these returns are likely part of the wealthiest 20% of households, whose incomes have grown in recent years. Much of the income growth among the highest earning households is likely due to stock market gains. As Thomas Piketty argues in his book, "Capital in the 21st Century," income inequality results from a higher return on capital money used to make more money in the stock market or other revenue-generating assets than wage and GDP growth. With the rich holding a disproportionate share of money in the stock market, their incomes have recovered much faster than those of middle class workers. In all 10 of the states on this list, the share of total income earned by the bottom 80% of households fell between 2009 and 2013 and was redistributed to the highest quintile. The top 20% of U.S. households held more than 51% of total income in 2013, up 1.14 percentage points from 2009. Even among top earners, income was not evenly distributed. Over that five-year period, the top 5% of households accounted for nearly 75% of income gains in the top 20% of earners. Click ahead for the five states where the middle class is dying, and then visit 24/7 Wall St. for the complete report . No. 5: Washington > Middle income growth 2009-2013: -5.0% > Fifth quintile income growth 2009-2013: 1.3% > Fifth quintile share of income: 49.2% > Middle class household income: $58,752 (13th highest) The average income among middle class households in Washington fell faster than in most states between 2009 and 2013. Incomes among the wealthiest 20% of households in the state, however, grew faster than comparable figures across the nation. In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Joe Valenti, an analyst with the Center for American Progress, argued that Washington's tax climate may present an additional burden to those suffering from income stagnation. Without an an income tax, the state relies more heavily on its sales tax to generate revenue, for example. A higher sales tax will often disproportionately affect lower-income residents who not only tend to consume more as a percentage of their income, but also may have less opportunities to drive across state lines to take advantage of a lower tax rate. Nearly 20% of Washington's workforce was part of a union in 2013, one of the highest rates. Yet, this did not appear to have an effect on the distribution of income in Washington. No. 4: Rhode Island > Middle income growth 2009-2013: -5.6% > Fifth quintile income growth 2009-2013: 2.5% > Fifth quintile share of income: 50.7% > Middle class household income: $56,432 (17th highest) Middle class households in Rhode Island earned $56,432 in 2013, roughly $4,000 more than the national average, but still 5.6% less than they earned in 2009. Nationally, middle class incomes fell by 4.3%. By contrast, incomes of the top 20% of households rose by 2.5% between 2009 and 2013, far greater than the 0.5% growth among the top quintile nationwide. Like in many of the states on this list, income gains among the top 20% of households were disproportionately concentrated in the hands of the top 5%. In fact, the top 5% of households in Rhode Island received more than 96% of the income gains made by the top 20% of households between 2009 and 2013. Nationally, the top 5% only captured 74% of gains in the upper quintile over the same period. No. 3: Maine > Middle income growth 2009-2013: -5.8% > Fifth quintile income growth 2009-2013: 2.2% > Fifth quintile share of income: 49.0% > Middle class household income: $47,018 (14th lowest) Like in several other states where the middle class is falling behind, income in Maine is relatively well distributed. However, the income gap in Maine is widening faster than in the nation as a whole. Average incomes among the wealthiest 20% of households in the state grew by 2.2% between 2009 and 2013, one of the faster growth rates and much faster than the comparable national figure of just 0.4%. Incomes among households in the third quintile, on the other hand, declined by 5.8% over that time. While more income is shifting faster to the state's wealthiest residents, both Maine's unemployment rate and its poverty rate were better than the respective national rates. No. 2: Vermont > Middle income growth 2009-2013: -5.9% > Fifth quintile income growth 2009-2013: 2.8% > Fifth quintile share of income: 48.8% > Middle class household income: $53,020 (20th highest) Incomes among the wealthiest 20% of Vermont households grew by nearly 3% between 2009 and 2013, the sixth largest increase nationwide. Over the same period, incomes among middle class households fell by 5.9%, one of the larger declines. As in most of the nation, income in Vermont is becoming even more concentrated among the wealthiest 5% of households. These households accounted for 21.1% of all income in Vermont in 2013, up considerably from 2009. The state's wealthiest 5% of households also accounted for the vast majority nearly 90% of income gains among the wealthiest 20% of households between 2009 and 2013. Despite the worsening income gap, Vermont had an exceptionally low unemployment rate, at just 4.4% in 2013, versus the national rate of 7.4%. No. 1: California > Middle income growth 2009-2013: -6.9% > Fifth quintile income growth 2009-2013: 1.3% > Fifth quintile share of income: 52.2% > Middle class household income: $60,143 (10th highest) California's middle class household income shrank by 6.9% between 2009 and 2013 to $60,143, while incomes of the top 20% of households rose by 1.3% to $223,841 over that time. By 2013, the fifth quintile accounted for more than 52% of the state's aggregate income, the third highest share in the country. Perhaps as a result, the state's Gini coefficient increased by the second highest margin in the country, reflecting worsening income inequality. At 7.5%, California has the highest sales tax rate in the nation, which may further aggravate the purchasing power of middle- and low-income households. By definition, sales taxes are regressive they disproportionately fall on the poor because richer households tend to spend a smaller share of their income on consumption. Middle income growth 2009-2013: -6.9%" target="_blank">Visit 24/7 Wall St. for the complete report | 3 | 3,387 | finance |
Asking a sports fan to be patient is imprudent. Asking a Kentucky basketball fan to be patient might even be dangerous. Wildcats fans don't have much to worry about with their team. They are 19-0, two games up on their nearest Southeastern Conference competition, and getting all but one first-place vote in the Associated Press poll . MORE: Kentucky's season in photos | Why Andrew Harrison's struggling | Midseason All-Americans OK, so some are worried about that one vote. But they have to have something to obsess about since their team is so freaking good, and on Monday came a nice little crisis in the form of the Ratings Percentage Index standings, or RPI. Someone made the mistake of checking to see where the Cats stand in the RPI even though we're still seven weeks from Selection Sunday, and oh boy, it's not pretty. Kentucky is the No. 2 team. No. 1? Kansas, whom the Wildcats defeated by 32 points back in November. #DeathToTheRPI tweeted the folks at Lost Lettermen. RPI loathing is not a new phenomenon in college basketball, and it only has escalated as other computer rankings have been accorded almost religious devotion. The RPI is a calculation from the NCAA based on a team's winning percentage (25 percent of the formula), the winning percent of its opponents (50 percent) and the winning percentage of its opponents' opponents (25 percent). Also cooked into the broth are factors based on whether the game was home, road or neutral. It does not take into account a team's margin of victory. As it would in a league standing, Kentucky's enormous win over Kansas counts only as much as one that came on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. The RPI starts each season with every team at 0-0. There is no preseason ranking, unlike other popular computer rankings. In college basketball, major teams play their most difficult games (conference road games) in the second half of the season and their easiest (home guarantee games) in the beginning. So there can be some odd rankings until teams establish how proficient they truly are against the best teams they'll play. I've used this analogy many times: Looking at the RPI before the database is close to complete is like looking over the shoulder of a painter as he or she works on a landscape. Kentucky has played only six conference games. So has Kansas. Few major teams have played more than eight. If Kentucky is as good as that 32-point victory over the Jayhawks implied, it will win the majority of its remaining games, and the value of those victories will be compounded because they will be against teams with higher ratings than some of its November and December opponents. If Kansas is not as good, it likely will lose some Big 12 games and will slip behind Kentucky as the data set for the 2014-15 season builds. MORE: Latest NCAA Tournament odds Why is Kansas ahead of Kentucky at this point? It has not played any teams ranked lower than 169 and has played 16 against the top 125, giving it the strongest schedule in all of college basketball. Kentucky has played six teams outside the top 125, three of which are ranked 203 or below. The penalty for playing those teams will recede if UK continues winning at the rate expected. If it does, or if it doesn't, what will it have mattered what the ratings looked like on Jan. 26? The absence of margin of victory from the RPI is a constant complaint from its critics. But the decision to exclude that element is a clear statement: The RPI is not a power ranking; it is a measure of achievement. One can argue that its formula is too heavily weighted toward schedule strength. It is hard to figure why one's own performance is so lightly weighted, why the NCAA doesn't opt for, say 40 percent one's own record, 40 percent opponents' and 20 percent their opponents'. The RPI also is not employed as a strict ranking even when its database is more fully formed. For the NCAA Tournament selection committee, it is more about the groups top 50, top 100, bottom 150, and how a team performed against them than an objective ranking of No. 1 over No. 2, etc. But Monday, Kansas was No. 1 and Kentucky was No. 2. For some, that was too much to bear. | 1 | 3,388 | sports |
House Democrats hurried to move forward with legislation that would provide six weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees, looking to capitalize on increased attention after President Barack Obama made family issues among the first proposals he put forth in last week's State of the Union. The Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act would extend benefits to new mothers and fathers among the 2 million people on the federal government payroll, including those who adopt or take in a foster child. "It provides work-family balance and support for families, which I believe both sides of the aisle are deeply committed to achieving," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the bill's chief sponsor. The Joint Economic Committee, of which Maloney is the ranking member, released a report finding parental leave is a boon not just to the workers and their families, but to employers and the economy at large. Access to paid leave keeps workers from having to leave their jobs after the birth of the child, lowering training costs for employers and increasing overall productivity. Under current law, employers must allow 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but only 13 percent of U.S. workers are given any kind of paid leave for the birth of a child, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014 . In his speech last week, Obama said the U.S. is one of just two countries in the world the other is Papua New Guinea that does not guarantee paid parental leave. Twice passed in the House, in 2008 and 2009 when the Democrats controlled the chamber, the measure never made it out of committee in the Senate. But Maloney and her fellow co-sponsors said they were optimistic the legislation, which was scored as deficit-neutral by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, would appease those Republicans who frequently object to adding to the deficit. They also suggested an incident last week, in which , indicated an avenue for bipartisan cooperation. "We've seen some women Republicans just recently make their views known, force a bill off the floor," said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., a co-sponsor. "We intend to approach those women because it looks like women are finding their votes in the Republican caucus." Fifty Republicans supported the bill when it passed the House in 2008, and 24 did so in 2009. None have signed on so far, but Maloney said that she was in such a hurry to capitalize on momentum from Obama's actions, which included a memorandum allowing federal workers to use their sick leave as parental leave. "I have not had the time, since we just got back, and I was so thrilled that the president highlighted the work-family balance," Maloney said, adding that she planned to start making calls to her Republican colleagues Monday afternoon. Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report | 5 | 3,389 | news |
Super Bowls have a history of being boring games, but interesting propositions. The proposition betting each year is some of the best entertainment surrounding the game and this year is no exception, whether you're wagering on who wins the coin toss, how long it takes Idina Menzel to sing the national anthem (over/under of 2:01), or who scores the first touchdown, the color of Katy Perry's hair and whether there is a wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show (22-1), through Most Valuable Player honors and up to, of course, how many points are scored and who wins the game. In much the same way, mutual funds have an even longer history of being mostly boring investments, surrounded by interesting propositions. You might not imagine fund investing is much like wagering on what color hoodie Bill Belichick wears during the big game, but it's more similar than you think. So in the spirit of Super Bowl proposition betting, here are some wagers you're making with your mutual funds. If you review the propositions and want to rethink your bet, it may be time to make portfolio changes that improve your odds of success. What are the odds on each fund in my portfolio being an MVP? Tom Brady is the clear favorite to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, going off at 8-5. Seattle QB Russell Wilson is at 7-2, with star running back Marshawn Lynch pegged at 4-1. At the same time, defender Richard Sherman is a 33-1 bet, and both kickers are available at 100-1. You wouldn't want to bet all of your money on long shots like the kickers, but you might diversify your bet with a few dollars there to improve your chances of winning. In the fund world, this is how you build a portfolio, putting the bulk of your assets into funds where your confidence level is high, and then diversifying into other asset classes like specific sectors, alternatives and more that are role players, there to help you win the game even if they are less likely to be your MVP. Over/under the benchmark/peer group on performance? Over/under bets involve oddsmakers predicting a number for a statistic, usually combined for both teams, and you bet whether results will be over or under the prediction. Early odds set the over/under on points in the game at 50, but you could also bet on television viewership (an over/under of 113 million). Just investing in funds is like making an over/under bet on performance. You're betting that the fund comes close to the benchmark or that it can be an above-average performer; falling short of that level feels like a loss. If you don't think there's a better-than-even-money chance of achieving your performance wager, chances are you'd be happier trading the fund for something where you think the odds are more in your favor. Over/under on expenses, portfolio turnover and more. These odds are set mostly by industry averages. The average fund charges about 1.25% in expenses, but if you look at where investors actually put their money so that big funds with lots of assets count more than small funds average investors pay about 0.75%. Some fund types sector funds, issues covering illiquid assets, portfolios invested in emerging markets tend to be pricier, while basic bond issues are often significantly cheaper. Ideally, you want funds that come in under the average costs for their category. If you are taking the over buying a more-expensive fund you need a good reason to believe it's worth that extra risk. Apply the same over/under thinking to other fund metrics, making prop bets on portfolio turnover, asset size and more. (Hint: In virtually all cases, if you wouldn't take the "under," find another fund.) What are the odds of a management change? If Bill Belichick had been suspended over the silly "Deflategate" controversy, the Patriots' chance for success would be significantly diminished. The same would happen if either team loses a star player to last-minute injury or suspension. You need to believe that management and/or the process used to run a fund will stay in place to have confidence that a fund can replicate the performance that attracted you in the first place. If you have reasons to worry about a change at the top, it alters your odds and could make you want to change your wager. What are the odds my team wins the game? This is about your entire portfolio, all of the pieces therein. You need to believe that you have the right mix of stars and support to win the game. If you are betting almost entirely on past superstars, or too much on one position for most people right now, it's their plain-vanilla domestic large-cap funds the stock market is tough to overcome, because there's always the chance that what happens next puts real pressure on your portfolio. If you have star players but not a winning team of funds, success is a long shot. | 3 | 3,390 | finance |
Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece's youngest prime minister in 150 years on Monday and was set to lead an anti-austerity coalition after a stunning election win that sent shockwaves through Europe. Tsipras's decisive victory in Sunday's vote set the country on a collision course with international creditors over plans to renegotiate its massive bailout deal. His radical leftwing Syriza took 149 out of the 300 seats in parliament, becoming the first party to take power in Europe that openly rejects spending cuts and austerity measures. Having fallen two seats short of an absolute majority, the leftists quickly forged a coalition with the small right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL) party. The new cabinet was expected to be announced and sworn in on Tuesday. At his swearing-in ceremony Tsipras -- characteristically wearing an open-necked shirt without a tie -- broke with tradition by taking a civil instead of a religious oath. His first priority will be to deliver on his pledge to renegotiate the terms of the country's 240-billion-euro ($269 billion) EU-IMF bailout despite universal opposition from Greece's European allies. Renewed fears that Greece could be forced out of the eurozone if it defaults on its debt repayments saw the euro hit an 11-year low against the dollar while Greek stocks closed down more than three percent. The IMF on Monday extended an olive branch to the new Greek government, saying it was prepared to continue its financial support to the country. "We stand ready to continue supporting Greece, and look forward to discussions with the new government," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a brief statement. However, EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warned that Greece cannot expect any reduction of its huge debt commitments. "There is no urgent need for action" on Greece's debt, Juncker told German television station ARD, adding that a reduction of the debt "is not on the radar". Tsipras said Sunday his victory would see Greece "leaving behind disastrous austerity" and was a "mandate for national rebirth" after the "humiliation" of years of painful austerity. - 'Change for better' - Many Greeks were optimistic that the fortunes of a country mired in deep recession for six years were about to change for the better. Nikos, a Syriza supporter in Athens, said: "Today is a very good day. I believe things will go well for our country." But others were sceptical. "There are many promises, but at the end there will be nothing. They only want power," said Athina Mantsinou as she walked through the capital's Syntagma Square -- scene of many demonstrations against austerity. Thousands of people had poured into the streets of Athens on Sunday, partying through the night after Syriza's bigger-than-expected win. But in a sign of the mammoth challenge ahead, the EU issued a stern statement that Greece will risk its place in the eurozone if it fails to meet its austerity and debt commitments. From Brussels to Berlin officials said they were open to talks with the new team in Athens, but many signalled its proposals were unrealistic. In exchange for the bailout in 2010, Greece was forced to slash public sector spending, cut wages and pensions and introduce a far-reaching programme of privatisation. Syriza has pledged to reverse many of those measures. But Chancellor Angela Merkel of European paymaster Germany made her views clear. "In our view it is important for the new government to take action to foster Greece's continued economic recovery," her spokesman Steffen Seibert said. "That also means Greece sticking to its previous commitments." Analysts said the eurozone was set for fresh turbulence, and some noted that the coalition between Syriza and the Independent Greeks could prove short-lived. "A period of uncertainty and heightened market nervousness now seems likely," said Jonathan Loynes of Capital Economics. Sunday's poll was Greece's fourth in five turbulent years, including back-to-back votes in 2012. During that time the economy has shrunk by a quarter and unemployment has soared beyond 25 percent. - 'Incompatible' - Syriza's victory could inspire other anti-austerity parties in Europe, including Spain's Podemos, which has topped several opinion polls and is aiming for an absolute majority in the Spanish election in November. "Our victory is also a victory for all European peoples fighting against austerity that is destroying our common European future," Tsipras told supporters Sunday. Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias said: "The Greeks are going to have a true Greek president, not a delegate of... Merkel." British finance minister George Osborne -- whose country does not use the euro -- said what Syriza was proposing was "incompatible with what the eurozone currently demands of its members." However, British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a warmer statement late Monday, congratulating Tsipras and welcoming his "intention to tackle corruption and increase tax transparency across Greece." Other European countries also said they were prepared to work with the new Greek government. French President Francois Hollande invited Tsipras to Paris and Spain's conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he hoped the victory would lead to a "stable government". Italy saw the Greek result as possibly helping its push for greater flexibility in the EU's approach to budget and broader economic issues, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said. In Washington, the White House said it hoped to work closely with the new government and would continue "to support international efforts to foster Greece's economic recovery". "There are indications that the economy is poised for renewed growth, but many challenges remain," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. | 5 | 3,391 | news |
With a two week period between teams making the Super Bowl and the game being played, there's a large window of time for ticket prices to fluctuate. In past years, the price for Super Bowl tickets has dropped on the secondary market as the game gets closer, starting as soon as the day after Championship Sunday. Fans waiting until the last minute usually ended up getting the best deals on the ticket market. Fans' patience might be tested more this year as the average price has yet to significantly drop on the secondary market, though the decline may be starting. According to TiqIQ, the current average price for the game on the secondary market is $6,103.07, which would be a record for Super Bowl tickets . While prices are still above the $6,000 mark on average, that is starting to drop from the $6,500 average price from over the weekend. Super Bowl tickets on the secondary market still aren't cheap, but the price decline could be starting as we enter the week of the game. While fans may be getting the best deals on tickets by waiting until the last minute, they could also be costing themselves in other places, like travel expenses. As is the typical trend for plane ticket prices, the closer to the departure date, the more expensive tickets will become. With a winter storm warning in effect for the Northeast, traveling will not be easy, or cheap, for Patriots fans. According to priceline.com, last week a roundtrip flight from Boston to Phoenix ranged from $704 to $1,227. Now, the cost of flights ranges between $867 and $1,491. Not only would Patriots fans have to pay increased fees for last minute flights, they could also have to deal with flight cancellations and reschedulings over the next few days. Airlines have already preemptively cancelled a significant number of flights in the Northeast, with Tuesday being the biggest day for cancellations. A roundtrip flight from Seattle to Phoenix could have cost a Seahawks fans as little as $303. Last week, after the Seahawks clinched a spot in the Super Bowl, the price increased to a range between $644 to $1,201. Now, the range sits between $1,371 to $1,900. One saving grace for those still looking to book a trip to Arizona, hotels in the area are starting to drop their prices. As recent as last week, some hotels were seeking upwards of $2,000 per night. Currently, the price range for hotel rooms starts at $145 and goes to $825. For those looking for even better rates, a two-hour drive from Glendale to Tuscon can get a 4-star hotel for $155, ranging up to just $379. Many travel plans may be disrupted this week, but it could take more than a storm to keep fans away from the Super Bowl. With a forecast of 70 degrees in Glendale on Sunday, there could be many in the East willing to pay the price to head West for the game. | 2 | 3,392 | travel |
The woman who accused Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston of sexually assaulting her has gone public with the release of a new documentary . The movie, titled The Hunting Ground , made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday. The Los Angeles Times describes the film as a "devastating indictment of the plague of rapes on campuses." The movie features numerous first-person testimonies of people claiming to be victims of sexual assault on college campuses. Among those is Erica Kinsman, who claims Winston raped her in 2012. 10 News and the Tallahassee Democrat had previously not identified Kinsman,following our Crime Guidelines. However, she has now gone public and agreed to be identified. Earlier this month, Kinsman filed a federal civil lawsuit against FSU, arguing that she became subject to a sexually hostile environment and that "FSU's responses to the harassment were clearly unreasonable." Winston was never charged with the assault, and in December he was also cleared of violating the school's code of conduct. The campus rape epidemic is given a face -- dozens of them in fact -- in The Hunting Ground , director Kirby Dick's sobering investigation into the systematic silencing of sexual assault victims which premiered Friday at the Sundance Film Festival. Dick and producer Amy Ziering explored sexual assault in the U.S. military in 2012'sThe Invisible War, and were inspired to tackle the issue on college campuses after hearing from women at their university screenings. The Hunting Ground, in theaters on March 20 and on CNN later this year, indicts a wide range of institutions for their lax punishments of reported rapists including Notre Dame, the University of Virginia, Swarthmore College, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, and others. In a particularly revealing sequence, the repercussions are listed by institution, including $25 fines and suspension over the summer. Beyond the statistics and myriad talking heads, ranging from former campus police guards to clinical psychologists, the heart of the movie is rooted in the personal stories, whether it's a father describing the rape of his daughter who committed suicide, or the assault victims themselves, some of whom are men. Audiences see Annie Clark and Andrea Pino, both of whom were assaulted at the University of North Carolina, and subsequently ignored and belittled by their administrators, rally support around the country for their End Rape on Campus movement and filing a Title IX complaint against UNC. WTSP (Fla.) TV is a Gannett property. Contributing: The Associated Press | 1 | 3,393 | sports |
WASHINGTON (AP) The Congressional Budget Office says the federal budget deficit will shrink this year to its lowest level since President Barack Obama took office. CBO says the deficit will be $468 billion for the budget year that ends in September. That's slightly less than last year's $483 billion deficit. As a share of the economy, CBO says this year's deficit will be slightly below the historical average of the past 50 years. In a report released Monday, the agency projects solid economic growth for the next few years. The official scorekeeper of Congress also expects unemployment to drop slightly. Beyond 2018, CBO projects deficits to start rising again as more baby boomers retire and enroll in Social Security and Medicare. | 5 | 3,394 | news |
Keep your house looking fresh and clean with the help of eco-friendly dusting wipes that polish away build-up and pesky dust. And these cloths can be used over and over, which makes this DIY super budget-friendly, too. Along with repurposing lemon peels for a lovely citrus scent, tuck in a few sprigs of rosemary for extra homeyness and cleaning power. What You'll Need: 1 cup dusting spray Small bowl Rind of one lemon 4 to 5 rosemary sprigs (optional) 4x4-inch cotton cloths Sealable glass container Directions: Fill a small bowl with one cup dusting spray . If you aren't feeling like mixing together the spray, substitute it for one-half cup water and one-half cup white distilled vinegar to create a good base for the wipes. Carefully cut away the peel of a lemon to use for creating the wipes. Along with adding a fresh citrus scent, the lemon rind adds oils to the wipes that naturally disinfect. And a few sprigs of fresh rosemary add fragrance and natural antibacterials that help clean surfaces. Now place the squares of cotton in the liquid mixture, and gently squeeze so they are slightly damp. Layer them in the glass container with the lemon and rosemary. It's that simple! After each use, simply toss the dusting wipe in the wash, then tuck back into the container. If the wipes dry out, spritz with water or more dusting spray. Looking for more quick, easy, and affordable cleaning supplies? Here's a list of our top picks ! | 4 | 3,395 | lifestyle |
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) The Associated Press is all over the Sundance Film Festival, from its premieres to the Hollywood glitz. Here's what they've seen and heard: ____ AMATEUR PORN SPOTLIGHTED IN 'HOT GIRLS WANTED' "Teen" is the most searched term in online pornography, and thousands of young people enter the amateur porn industry every day, lured by promises of quick money and hopes for fame. The disturbing world of amateur pornography professionally produced films made to look like home movies is exposed in the new documentary by Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, "Hot Girls Wanted," which premiered Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival. Teenagers who have grown up in the age of the Internet have always known porn is easy to find. And as pop culture has become more and more sexualized, the taboo against sex on film has faded for them, the attitude being, "We're doing it anyway, why not get paid?" Tressa, an 18-year-old girl featured in the film, was attracted to porn as a way to escape her Texas hometown. She said she earned $25,000 in her four months in the industry, but after paying for lingerie, manicures, makeup and biweekly STD tests, she only had about $2,000 in her bank account when she quit the business. "It's easy to take advantage of an 18-year-old girl," she said. By Sandy Cohen ____ MINDY KALING QUICK QUOTE "I have a personality defect where I sort of refuse to see myself as an underdog... It's because of my parents. They raised me with the entitlement of a tall, blond, white man." Mindy Kaling at Sundance, on where her confidence comes from ____ FRANCO, QUINTO FIND CHEMISTRY IN 'I AM MICHAEL' In "I Am Michael," a drama based on Benoit Denizet-Lewis's 2011 New York Times article "My Ex-Gay Friend," James Franco plays the part of Michael Glatze, the ex-gay friend in question. The film, which premiered Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, is a sensitive, complicated and provocative story about a prominent gay activist who, in just a few years, denounces his homosexuality. At the heart of the story is the relationship with his longtime boyfriend, Bennett (Zachary Quinto). The two have an easy, intimate and wholly lived-in chemistry when portraying Michael and Bennett as a happy couple. But the actors, who look so comfortable together on screen weren't even acquaintances in real life prior to the film. "We met through the process of getting ready to shoot the movie," said Quinto on Sunday. "For me it was just a really clear entry to the character through his love for Michael and his unwavering commitment to trying to make their relationship work. I thought it was really well-crafted in terms of this intimacy they share and how it devolves into this maelstrom of really damaging emotional upheaval." By Lindsey Bahr ____ CHRIS PINE QUICK QUOTE " I got into acting because I think the first play that I did I played 20 parts, so I think my whole concept of what acting was in the beginning was precisely that, getting the opportunity to disappear into multiple, multiple roles." Chris Pine at the Sundance premiere of "Z is for Zachariah," on big budget versus independent films ____ DUNHAM, KOHAN, WIIG, KALING WEIGH IN ON WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD Lena Dunham dreams of the day when a man might say, "It's impossible to get into Hollywood. It's an old women's network." The creative force behind HBO's "Girls" shared the stage with "The Mindy Project" creator Mindy Kaling, "Bridesmaids" star and co-writer Kristen Wiig and "Orange Is the New Black" show-runner Jenji Kohan for a discussion on women in Hollywood Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival. All said they realized early on that if they wanted to tell the stories they cared most about, they'd have to take the reins and do it themselves. And they found TV a far friendlier environment for female voices than film. They hope their current successes help pave the way for other women with Hollywood dreams. All four rely on writing teams populated by mostly women, but they don't count men out. "You shouldn't have to just limit yourself to one gender," Kohan said. "You want to work with whoever is the best at what they're doing." By Sandy Cohen ____ COURTNEY LOVE, FRANCES BEAN APPEAR TOGETHER FOR 'COBAIN' Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean made a rare public appearance together at the premiere of the documentary, "Cobain: Montage of Heck," at the Sundance Film Festival. Love, the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, and Frances, their daughter and an executive producer on the film, have had a rocky relationship but presented a united front on the red carpet Friday. The film, directed by Brett Morgen, is the first authorized film about Cobain. Morgen says it took eight years to make it happen and he finished color correcting the movie less than a week ago. When he was finished he "went to the bathroom and cried for about 25 minutes." "I wasn't crying because Kurt died," he said." I was crying because I wasn't going to be able to spend time with him anymore. And for the last two years he's been everything in my life." The movie premieres May 4 on HBO. By Alicia Rancilio ____ | 6 | 3,396 | entertainment |
14 All-American foods that foreigners find gross The U.S. has a bad reputation abroad when it comes to what Americans like to eat. From State Fair monstrosities like "fried pickles with chocolate sauce" to fattening fast food, we're viewed as gluttons who can't get enough fat, sugar, and salt. But it's not all deep fried butter and Papa John's garlic sauce that disgusts our foreign friends. A new AskReddit thread ( which we first discovered on Thought Catalog ) asked non-American Reddit users which American foods they considered gross or weird , and some of the responses were kitchen staples that many Americans would consider normal. Check out some of the top Reddit responses below. 1. Velveeta Cheese "I know a lot of folks have already mentioned American cheese, but Velveeta is right up there with Cheeze Whiz on the list of fake 'foods.'" - TheMadBotanist 2. Hershey's Chocolate "U.S. chocolate or candy is pretty unpleasant to me. Hershey bars have this dusty texture (like 5 weeks after Easter when you come across an uneaten egg) and the taste isn't very rich. Cadbury Dairy Milk used to be awesome, but Kraft bought Cadbury a couple years ago and the recipe seems to be gradually changing." - Protonbeamface 3. Red Vines "I tried Red Vines, expecting them to be red ropes of glory. They taste like soap." 4. Supermarket Bread "I still can't stomach the standard supermarket bread here. It's so sweet. Same goes for average burger or hot dog buns." - tigersmadeofpaper 5. Casseroles "Casseroles made with "cream of" anything soup. Green bean casserole, tuna casserole, mushroom casserole. I know what those Campbells soups are like, we get them over here, and the idea of using them as a constituent ingredient in a main meal makes me shudder just from the idea of the sodium bomb. Especially those casseroles that are suggested to be topped with crushed chips." - InquisitorVawn 6. Root Beer Floats "My old college friend from Austria thought root beer floats were disgusting." - pokeySoakins 7. Twizzlers "Twizzlers are so weird. They don't even taste like red liquorice. They taste like cardboard. I was so disappointed when I finally tried them." - movealittlecloser 8. Pop-Tarts "A friend of ours sent over some Pop Tarts. They were revolting. People actually eat them for breakfast?? I couldn't even stomach two bites." - homovore 9. Snow Cones "Ice with syrup passes for food?" - nanlayo 10. Beef Jerky "Tried this stuff a few months ago. It tasted like plastic and had the texture of worn shoe sole. Impressive how they took a bit of cow and made it entirely inedible." - stw1313 11. Corn Dogs "I had one bite of one when I was in Florida and couldn't eat any more. I will never understand why people think they taste good." - Biwton 12. Biscuits and Gravy "I have American cousins. Took me out for breakfast one morning and made me try biscuits and gravy. That gravy is disgusting! The waitress told me that its just lard mixed with flour salt and pepper. Who can eat that in the morning?" - ilovenewtons 13. American Bacon "It's thin, streaky, and tough. It's the one food I miss from the U.K." - bloodyhellalex 14. Meatloaf "Why would I want a loaf of meat? Granted I haven't had it, but it looks gross." - BoChiggedyBoDiddley | 0 | 3,397 | foodanddrink |
Ever watch an award show and wonder how exactly all those trophies get made? The SAG Award is an especially distinct trophy thanks to its color and shape, and we've got the fascinating details on how those statuettes - aka The Actors - are made. | 6 | 3,398 | entertainment |
A man was arrested in Florida for drug possession, and all things considered, that's business as usual when it comes to arrests. Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) shows you how the mugshot changes everything. | 8 | 3,399 | video |
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