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CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Deflategate has taken a back seat. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has a cold. He made the admission at Wednesday's Patriots availability at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass. "I've had it for four or five days," he said in a voice that displayed obviously congestion. "My kids got sick and my wife is pretty sick right now. I brought it unfortunately to Phoenix, but I'll be fine. I'll be good. I'll be 100 percent." Reporters didn't get close enough to Brady to notice its olfactory impact, but Brady's trusted remedy is garlic. "A lot of garlic, old remedies, everything I can," he said. "It's been lingering, so I'm just trying to get some rest." Brady admitted the cold has given him plenty of time to study film. He said he's probably watched more film on the Seahawks defense than any other team in his life. "I feel like I know these guys pretty well," he said. "I know how they play. I've got a lot of respect for the way they play and they've got good players and a great scheme and they've got very good coaching." Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter | 1 | 4,200 | sports |
Slack wants to be more than a giant chat room . It announced today that it plans to add video chat, voice chat, and screen-sharing features, all of which will be built with the help of Screenhero, a company that it's just acquired. The entirely of Screenhero's six-person team will head to Slack as part of the acquisition, which is being made in a cash and stock deal. Screenhero boasts nearly lag-free screen-sharing Though Screenhero doesn't offer video chat, it already has the tech for both voice chat and screen-sharing. Screenhero says that it currently offers the "lowest latency screen-sharing on the market," allowing two people to control the same computer with next-to-no lag. It lets you to share either everything on a computer's screen or just a single window, with each person receiving their own mouse cursor for control. It also allows voice chat to be used at the same time, so that the people sharing a screen can communicate if they aren't in the same room together. In particular, Screenhero suggests that its service is good for collaboratively writing code, but it can also be used for something as simple as lending a hand while troubleshooting. All of Screenhero's features will be rebuilt inside of Slack, at which point Screenhero itself will be discontinued. Paying Slack customers can use the Screenhero app for now, but it isn't accepting any other signups. Slack says that building these new features directly into its app rather than offering them as a standalone service will make for a much more efficient experience. That's obviously true at a very basic level, but Slack has always put a big focus on efficiency. Until now, it's shown that by allowing users to integrate dozens of other services into the chat room (so that you could, for instance, set Slack up to ping you when you get a new Yo). This will be the first time that Slack has added major new features into its own app, but they're ones that a good number of users should find helpful. It'll also help Slack compete with other companies catering to business users like Hipchat, which has already built in voice and video chat. Slack has been growing incredibly fast , and new features like this should only help. | 5 | 4,201 | news |
Maybe we should all drive around the country towing a rare find on a trailer. Rich Barnes picked up a 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby G.T. 350 he found chained to a house in California. This car became the bait to hook an even bigger fish. Rich's one-man Mustang restoration business is The Mustang Ranch in Golden, Colorado. When he had to deliver a vintage Bronco to a friend in Los Angeles, he figured he would turn the delivery into a fun road trip to the West Coast. The fun part would be tracking down a Shelby he ran across in an obscure advertisement. Rich had no guarantees. He had talked to the owner one time on the phone, and the owner proved to be a "little hesitant" about selling or giving out information on his Shelby. He admitted he really did not want to part with his G.T. 350. Rich decided to back off the deal for a few days and call again later. Repeated calls got no answer. Rich tried "every day or two," ringing the landline off the hook. Finally, one day the owner's little brother answered the phone. Rich figured the kid was about 5 or 6. "He said his brother wasn't there. He had moved out. I asked him if the car was still there. He told me yes, but his brother doesn't live there anymore." Rich asked the little boy for the address. The kid did not know his own address. Barnes had an idea. More classic muscle cars and barn finds on MSN Autos "I told him to go find where his parents put the stack of mail and read the numbers and letters off the envelopes. I was lucky he knew what letters and numbers were." After delivering the Bronco in Los Angeles, Barnes pointed his truck and empty trailer to the address, which was in Compton. Rich was unaware of the rough nature of the city. "I didn't think anything of it until I started driving into the area and saw how depressed and trashed it was." When he got to the house, Rich noticed the Shelby under a car cover and chained to the porch. The car's owner was not home, but the same little kid who answered the phone was. Rich got lucky. The boy said his brother would be home about 6 o'clock to pick up some clothes. Packing a thick wad of $100 bills, Barnes decided to take a snooze in the truck and wait for the kid's older brother. Three and a half hours later, Barnes popped out of his truck when he heard this guy roll up to the house. The two got right into talking about the car. Although reserved, the owner pulled the cover off the G.T. 350 and told what he knew about the Shelby, "which wasn't a whole lot," says Barnes. He bought the car from his cousin. The fastback had the original 302 J-code small-block under the hood, backed by a four-speed and a 9-inch rearend. Somebody had flared the fenders by rolling the lips a nice job. They also dropped the suspension and beefed up the stock brakes. It was one of 223 Hertz rental cars. The Wimbledon White Shelby had a little race history. The body was California rust-free. "We went into the garage and did the cash deal so nobody could see or think a drug deal was going on," Rich says. The price was $8,200. $200K Porsche Burns to the Ground Rich winched the car onto his trailer, loaded his truck with parts, and headed to San Jose with the car in tow. On the road he encountered honking horns, people taking pictures and asking questions like, "Hey, do you want to sell that thing?" The road trip then turned spooky-ghost-story weird at a gas station on the outskirts of Reno. A bearded man in his 70s pulled up in a rotted Toyota pickup and began pumping fuel on the same island as Barnes. "You could stick your hands through the fenders and quarter-panels," says Rich. "The pickup was just as beat up as the old man. He peeked his head over the side of the pump and said, 'Hey, I got me one of them thar Shelbys. Except mine is not a 350, it's a G.T. 500.' " Rich asked him what he was going to do with the car. "I'm going to sell it," was the answer. "I need an operation, and I can't sell it to my kids 'cause they are fighting over it." The old man, named David Jack, lived a few miles down the road. Rich wanted to follow him back to his place to look at the Shelby. "Can't do it now," David said. "The car is in the storage container and there's a whole bunch of things planted in front of it. I can't get to it." Rich offered to stay an extra day and help move the "stuff." The answer was still no. Rich wondered if the old man was "just having some fun with me," but then David told Rich, "You can call my brother in a few weeks." Back home, Rich didn't wait but called right away and verified the story. David really did have a '68 Shelby G.T. 500 fastback. Why the Ford GT is an icon When Rich went back, he said David's place "must have had three to four acres of land and about 50 tons of junk: piles of washing machines and dryers, refrigerators, tractors, tractor equipment, kitchen sinks." Inside the container was a real G.T. 500 fastback, red with white rocker panel stripes. A couple tires were flat. David had set an old battery on the cowl on the driver's side, and acid ate up four or five of the little vents. Cylinder heads and intake manifolds sat on top of the roof, causing nasty dents. "We rolled it out and cleared things off, and it really looked like hell," Rich remembers. "But underneath, the body was in really good shape with little or no rust. He showed me extra blocks, cranks, heads, trannys, and all these other parts that went with the car." David had raced the car at the Pike's Peak Hill Climb many years ago. He "blew up" the 428 Cobra Jet engine and parked the Shelby in the container. Had Rich not thrown caution to the wind and gone on the California trip, he never would have had a shot at this G.T. 500. The G.T. 350 was a great catch, but it proved to be the bait to catch a bigger fish. More classic muscle cars and barn finds on MSN Autos Do you have a Rare Find story to share? Contact Jerry Heasley at [email protected] or on Twitter @JerryHeasley . | 9 | 4,202 | autos |
The YouTube channel DragTimes published a clip of passengers reacting to Tesla's "insane mode" which can accelerate a car from 0 to 70 mph in a few seconds. | 8 | 4,203 | video |
As of January 1, the garbage produced by Seattle residents has come under a new kind of scrutiny. Workers for Recology CleanScapes, which handles recycling for the city, are looking in regular garbage bins for things that shouldn't be there specifically, food scraps. Residents who fail to comply with new regulations barring food waste from being placed in general trash will find their bins marked with a bright red sticker. Seattle garbage collectors are warning residents about the new compost law. Seeing more violators than they expected. pic.twitter.com/oGvAoqOqnx Jeff Dubois (@JeffKIRO7) January 2, 2015 "I'm sure neighbors are going to see these on their other neighbors' cans," a worker for Recology told a local public radio reporter . This " scarlet letter ," in the reporter's words, will let everyone on the block know which households are contributing more than their fair share to the public waste stream. The stickers are part of an educational effort to get residents used to the new system , which requires separating compostable waste, the same way separating paper, plastic, metal, glass, and other recyclables has been a requirement for years now. The program is intended to get the city closer to its goal of recycling and composting 60 percent of its waste stream, and it's one several other cities are considering adopting. No one is likely to feel that their life has been destroyed by a red sticker on their garbage can. Starting in July, Seattle will begin issuing fines to the noncompliant, but they are rather minimal: $1 for private homes, $50 for multi-unit buildings (residents already must pay a fee for food-bin pickup, between about $5 and $10 a month depending on volume, in addition to the regular monthly fee for garbage service). Instead, the city is hoping the red stickers, and the shame that theoretically comes with them, will be even more effective than those modest fines. Using shame as a way of enforcing good behavior is a tempting strategy, as any parent or boss knows, and various jurisdictions have tried it out for a variety of offenses. For a quarter century, beginning in 1988, New York City's sanitation department slapped sickly yellow-green stickers on the windows of cars that were not moved in time for street cleaning, proclaiming the owners' dereliction of their civic duty. Notoriously difficult to remove, they became known as "stickers of shame." Sanitation officials, citing data that showed cleaner streets, said they worked. But they were hugely unpopular among drivers, and in 2012, the city council voted unanimously to ban the practice , resoundingly overriding then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg's veto. "Our law will put an end to these unnecessary scarlet letters, once and for all," trumpeted then council speaker Christine Quinn. Shaming has been tried for more serious offenses as well, including drunk driving. In Ohio and Minnesota, convicted drunk drivers can be sentenced to marking their cars by affixing license plates that identify them as violators of DWI laws. In Minnesota, the plate number always begins with a "W," leading to their nickname of "whiskey plates." Civil rights advocates have argued that the plates hinder rehabilitation by stigmatizing offenders and making them targets of harassment by law enforcement. The effectiveness of the programs has not been documented, and similar efforts have failed to catch on elsewhere in the country . In Ohio, they are a distinctive yellow with red letters, and are widely known as "party plates," which kind of makes you wonder if the point is getting across. Other governmental efforts at shaming citizens have come out of criminal courts. A judge in Cleveland sentenced a man who threatened cops when calling 911 to stand outside the police station for days wearing a sign bearing his apology around his neck . Also in Ohio that state seem to be big on this type of thing a man who pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge in a nasty years-long dispute with a neighboring family was sentenced to sit on a corner for five hours holding a sign that read: "I AM A BULLY! I pick on children that are disabled, and I am intolerant of those that are different from myself. My actions do not reflect an appreciation for the diverse South Euclid community that I live in." People honked and yelled at him as he sat there. Compared to cases like these, the stakes in Seattle are relatively low. No one is likely to feel that their life has been destroyed by a red sticker on their garbage can. It might, however, get them to start putting their egg shells and onion skins in the compost bin. | 5 | 4,204 | news |
After countless oil price downgrades, analysts at Goldman Sachs have cut their outlook for the commodity sector as a whole. Goldman downgraded commodities on Wednesday including energy, metals, agriculture and livestock to "underweight" from "neutral" on a 3-month basis. "Despite the large declines in commodity prices, we see risks as still skewed to the downside over the near-term. Lower oil prices are also driving cost deflation across the broader commodity complex," Goldman strategists led by Christian Mueller-Glissmann said in a research note. The strategists forecast WTI crude oil prices would remain at around $40 per barrel for most of the first half of the year, which would "slow supply growth, keep further capital investment in U.S. shale sidelined, and "We think the oil market is experiencing a marginal cost re-basement," they said. Mueller-Glissmann and colleagues forecast that "balance" would return to global oil markets by 2016 and they upgraded their 12-month view of the commodity sector to "overweight" from "neutral". "By the end of 2015, we see inventories closer to a neutral level and prices rising to the marginal cost of production, which we estimate to be US$65 for WTI and US$70 for Brent. However, the timing of normalizing inventories and prices remains highly uncertain, in part due to ongoing cost deflation in shale," they said. Barclays also revised down its forecasts for oil prices on Wednesday, in its second substantial revision in recent months. The bank now forecasts Brent and WTI will average $44 and $42 respectively over 2015. Less than two months ago, Barclays' forecasts were $93 and $85 respectively. Brent crude oil prices slipped to under $49 a barrel on Wednesday, pressured by the strengthening dollar (.DXY) . Oil prices were also pressured by an industry report showing a larger-than-expected rise in U.S. crude inventories. Brent has fallen almost 60 percent since June last year. Earlier this month, it traded close to a six-year low of $45.19, and has since stabilized in a tight range just below $50 per barrel. U.S. crude oil fell to under $45 per barrel on Wednesday. | 3 | 4,205 | finance |
Editor's note: This season LPGA golfer Sandra Gal will be writing a weekly diary for USA TODAY Sports to share her adventures on the Tour. My name is Sandra Gal and I will be giving you glimpses this year into my unconventional, colorful and very privileged life being a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. I wont give you much background information on myself (check out LPGA.com and SandraGal.com ), because I was told that your attention span is as short as 25 seconds. That length of time is just as long as we get to prepare and hit a golf shot according to the rules of golf. You can see for yourself throughout the extensive television coverage of our season-opening event this week, the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R&L Carriers, in Ocala, Fla. I have never played an LPGA event so close to my college stomping grounds as here, just around the corner from Gainesville and the University of Florida. This feels like a full circle moment to me, because not only did I learn about the 25 second attention span during my coursework toward my degree in Advertising, but being a part of the College of Journalism and Communications I also learned that writing for, well, USA TODAY, is a big deal. My recipe? Be a pro golfer for seven years first, win, smile, oh, and be German. 25 seconds, however, is not long enough to list all of the amazing experiences I had at UF from meeting my best friend, adjusting to American culture, winning college golf events, chasing or being chased by alligators, endless laughs with teammates, the craziness of SEC football games, to discovering Cold Stone ice cream and almond butter. I can't wait for all the Gator fans ok, ALL fans - to come out this week and cheer us on! Even though there are lots of other things you could do in 25 seconds, watching us hit flush irons, 260+ yard drives and fist pump after clutch putts, is well worth your time J. Our Tour's motto is "See Why It's Different Out Here" and I challenge you to see for yourself. Until then should you not make it, I shall write again. Yours, Sandra | 1 | 4,206 | sports |
Super Bowl Sunday is one of America's biggest eating holidays, just second to Thanksgiving . On game day, the average American will, reportedly, ingest at least 2,400 calories during the four to five hour viewing party. That's well above the amount of calories recommended for 24 hours. Classic Super Bowl party foods explain the increased calorie intake: Greasy, fatty and delicious bites like chicken wings ( more than one billion will be eaten this weekend), pizza (Domino's anticipates selling more than 11 million slices this Sunday ) and potato chips (we'll be eating around 11 millions pounds ) are all welcomed fiesta guests. As the laws of physics will have it, what goes in must come out. Last year, moments after the Giants won the game, toilet use spiked 13 percent in New York City . Check out the infographic below, provided by toilet spray company Poo-Pourri to learn more about Americans' eating and emptying habits. (Click to enlarge) All statistics provided by Poo-Pourri . | 0 | 4,207 | foodanddrink |
We know that Lane Kiffin will be staying at Alabama next season, but what does the future at Bama hold for Kiffin? Chris Doering lets us know what Kiffin will do beyond next season. | 1 | 4,208 | sports |
Fresh off the plane from Sundance, the sartorial struggles of the famously dreaded red-eye flight are all too real to us. Here, we've laid out stylish, office-ready looks that you can comfortably catch some Z's in (yes, even a suit for those more buttoned-up) before heading straight to work. The Shawl Sweater 1. J. Crew Merino Wool Tippi Sweater, $79.50; jcrew.com . 2. Madeleine Thompson Cashmere Wrap, $510; net-a-porter.com . 3. Topshop Hacking Check Cigarette Trousers, $75; topshop.com . 4. Michael Kors Bryant Messenger, $478; neimanmarcus.com . 5. Timberland Earthkeepers Bethel Ankle Boot, $139.95; nordstrom.com . The Leather Blazer 1. Iris & Ink Bailey Leather Blazer, $550; theoutnet.com . 2. Edith A. Miller Black Stripe Tee, $70; shoplesnouvelles.com . 3. Dorothy Perkins Black Twistlock Tote Bag, $44; dorothyperkins.com . 4. DL 1961 Premium Denim Florence Insta-Sculpt Skinny Jeans, $178; bergdorfgoodman.com . 5. Nine West Women's Shindig Suede Ballet Flat, $38.21 (was $69); amazon.com . The Not-So-Suffocating Suit 1. Reiss Valentina Trousers, $195; reiss.com . 2. James Perse Gauge Deep T-Shirt, $85; shopzoeonline.com . 3. Vince Camuto Jace Tote, $98; zappos.com . 4. Reiss Valentina Tailored Blazer, $425; reiss.com . 5. Nine West PaddysDay Ankle Strap Heels, $89; nine west.com . The Minimalist Jumpsuit 1. J. Crew Collection cable-knit cashmere sweater, $300; net-a-porter.com . 2. H&M Slim-Fit Pants, $19.95; hm.com . 3. By Malene Birger Embellished Wool Scarf, $195; net-a-porter.com . 4. Sam Edelman Foster Riding Boot, $260; amazon.com . | 4 | 4,209 | lifestyle |
Louise and Preston run through the 4 items you must have in your wardrobe. | 8 | 4,210 | video |
Pack away the flannel pajamas: A handful of studies and surveys show sleeping naked could actually be good for you. Six reasons why you should consider it: You may like your partner more: A 2014 survey of Brits by Cotton USA (which promotes cotton products that likely include both pajamas and sheets) found that 57% of those who slept nude reported being happy in their relationship. That was 9 percentage points more than PJ wearers, followed by 43% of nightie wearers. Onesie wearers they apparently exist brought up the rear at 38%, per the Daily Mail . It could help prevent diabetes: It's a bit of a stretch, but here's the logic: Adults have small amounts of brown fat (aka "good fat") in their bodies, and a 2014 study looked at how bedroom temperature affected the fat. The four-month study was small: just five males who slept in rooms heated to 66-, 75-, or 81-degrees. After four weeks spent at the coldest temp, the men had almost twice as much brown fat, and their insulin sensitivity was better, which a researcher says could lower their diabetes risk. Four weeks at 81 degrees undid all the benefits. Though the New York Times points out the test subjects slept in hospital scrubs, going naked could help prevent overheating. It's better for your lady health: Cosmopolitan cites advice from Dr. Jennifer Landa, who points out that an overly warm environment could spur too much yeast or bacteria to grow in the vaginal area. By passing on PJs, you'll have a better chance of giving air access to the region, preventing infections. It's how our ancestors did it: If you're a Paleo-dieter who eats like a caveman, why not sleep like one, too? Neurologist Rachel Salas with the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep in 2013 told the Wall Street Journal that "back in the cave days," people slept naked. It was, in part, a means of protection from predators, and that feeling of safety could be imparted by sleeping similarly in modern day. It could be better for the immune system: Mic reports that when skin-on-skin contact occurs, our adrenal glands get a message: lighten up on the production of the stress hormone cortisol. As one doctor explains, "Cortisol suppresses the immune response." Skin-to-skin contact also increases levels of oxytocin, which can have positive effects on blood pressure and healing, says Salas. Body temp affects sleep: A 2004 study found that for sleep to "initiate normally," core body temp matters. Per a researcher, "Studies of sleep onset insomniacs show that they consistently have a warmer core body temperature immediately before initiating sleep, when compared with normal healthy adults." | 7 | 4,211 | health |
"Rory McIlroy has admitted that the multi-million pound case with a former management company is 'a nasty process' and has expressed his wish for the experience which will see him take the stand in a Dublin court next week to be over," James Corrigan of the Telegraph writes . McIlroy is playing in the Dubai Desert Classic this week, then will head home for the trial with his former agency. "Royal Troon, one of three male-only clubs on the British Open rota along with Muirfield and Royal St George's, may start allowing women members in time for the 2016 championship," Reuters Tony Jimenez writes . Royal Troon issued a statement that read in part: "Royal Troon Golf Club announced today it will shortly undertake a comprehensive review to consider the most appropriate membership policy for the future." The Troon Ladies' Golf Club will co-host the British Open in 2016 with Royal Troon, "the first time in 155 years that such a set up will be in place for the world's oldest major," Martin Dempster of the Scotsman writes. It is another strong indicator that Royal Troon will be next in "bringing down its men-only barriers." "Martin Kaymer has vowed to follow in Rory McIlroy's footsteps and use a bitter experience as added motivation after suffering the worst collapse in golf history at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship," Derek Lawrenson of the Daily Mail writes. Kaymer had a 10-stroke lead with 13 holes to play and lost. "The German admits he has been doing plenty of soul-searching. 'It wasn't just a big golf lesson it was a huge life lesson,' he said. 'It was like what happened to Rory a few years ago at the Masters. But if you deal with it honestly and gain more motivation then you can do what he did and come out a few months later and win the US Open by 20 shots or whatever." The individual storylines in the Phoenix area this week have included Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and golfers Tiger Woods and Robert Allenby, for nothing that happened on the field or the golf course. Tom Weiskopf, once known as the Towering Inferno, gets it. "I was no saint," he said in this story by John Davis in the Arizona Republic. "But, you deserve what you deserve, OK? We're in a sensational world today where information is passed so quickly, and it's unfortunate that you have controversy. But there is never going to be a perfect scenario. There's always going to be some kind of controversy." More from Golf Digest: Rory and Tiger's Similar Career Paths 9 Tips Every Golfer Needs 8 Eye-Popping Stats from the PGA Tour Season | 1 | 4,212 | sports |
Bacon lovers have gone through some pretty rough patches with last year's panic-inducing bacon shortage . But, they won't need to worry anymore there's now plenty of pork to pass around, which means the price of bacon is falling. The retail price of bacon reached an all time high this summer due to a deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus that wiped out millions of pigs, affecting the nation's pork supply and boosting pork prices. Within the span of a year, the retail price for sliced bacon rose 18.8 percent, according Burger Business . Now, U.S. pork producers have recovered and rebounded from their losses, with experts predicting record pork production. Retail prices have gone down 5.7 percent since the record high in June, and Bloomberg Business reports that consumers can expect to continue paying lower prices for pork. In the next year, experts forecast production to reach nearly 23.6 billion pounds of pork. Pork is unlike other commodities in that very little of it is frozen and stored for later use, reports the Huffington Post . Since it needs to be consumed within a month of production, cutting prices will help it move quicker. While prices may rise and fall, one thing's for sure; people really love their bacon. Time reports that the demand for bacon remained strong despite the shortage and rising pork prices. | 0 | 4,213 | foodanddrink |
As die-hard college football recruitniks know, a prospect's verbal pledge is non-binding until the ink is dry and the National Letter of Intent is sent in. So every year, fans around the country wait with bated breath until the official confirmation comes in that prospects are signed, sealed and delivered. The 2015 recruiting cycle is no different, so here are some elite prospects who could send shockwaves with last-second changes of heart. Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway athlete Terry Godwin, Georgia commit The Georgia product committed to the home-state Bulldogs more than a year ago, but that hasn't stopped him from taking numerous other visits. According to his 247Sports profile, Godwin has taken seven visits to Alabama and five visits to Auburn in the last year. He also took an official visit to USC during the fall. There are numerous reasons why Godwin could stick with the Bulldogs, including the fact that his older sister plays basketball for Georgia. Head coach Mark Richt was also able to get in on Godwin early by becoming the first school to make an offer to the likely collegiate wide receiver. But all those trips to Auburn and Tuscaloosa are telling in regards to his interest in those programs, and Godwin told AL.com after his recent Auburn official visit that " everybody has a shot ." IMG Academy (Fla.) quarterback Deondre Francois, Florida State commit Francois has been committed to the Seminoles for six months, but Florida's depth chart is inviting for the four-star recruit. He says he's 100 percent committed to Florida State, but insiders are not so sure . Memphis (Tenn) University School offensive lineman Drew Richmond, Ole Miss commit Both Alabama and Tennessee have secured visits in the final days of the recruiting cycle. Ole Miss recruits the Memphis area extremely well under coach Hugh Freeze, but Alabama and Tennessee have not given up hope and Richmond has been in contact with both schools. Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peters Prep cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama commit On the surface, the nation's No. 5 cornerback looks solidly committed to Alabama; he's been pledged to the Crimson Tide since last April and he hasn't taken any other visits in months. However, Florida State still believes that they have a shot with Fitzpatrick as a result of an early October official visit to Tallahassee. Since then, Fitzpatrick has stayed in contact with Florida State defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, leaving the door cracked just a little bit for the Seminoles to make a late move with the 6'1, 198-pounder. Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian School athlete Darius Slayton, Georgia commit After Slayton took official visits to schools like Tennessee and South Carolina during the fall, it was Georgia that was able to earn a commitment from the consensus four-star in early December. Like Godwin, Slayton's recruitment didn't end at that time, as he took an official visit to Auburn last weekend. The departure of Bulldogs' offensive coordinator MIke Bobo gave the Tigers a chance to get the likely collegiate wide receiver on campus. The decision to tell Slayton he could play on that side of the ball at Auburn could be exactly the right move for head coach Gus Malzahn in his efforts to convince the 6'1, 182-pounder with 4.4 speed to take his talents to the Plains of Alabama. To make matters more interesting? Slayton has a cousin who played linebacker at Auburn. Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage quarterback Torrance Gibson, Ohio State commit Did the National Championship win for Ohio State actually help the Buckeyes with Gibson? If he's concerned about a depth chart that includes sophomore J.T. Barrett and junior Cardale Jones next season, it may not have done much to help head coach Urban Meyer and his program. Since then, Gibson took official visits to Auburn and LSU in consecutive weeks. LSU has an unstable quarterback situation with both Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris struggling at times in 2014, while Auburn will look to replace two-year starter Nick Marshall next fall. There are some questions about whether Gibson can stick at the quarterback position in college, but if he wants a chance to start early, he's not going to sign with the Buckeyes on National Signing Day. Previously -Allen (Texas) QB Kyler Murray elected to stick with A&M instead of flipping to the Longhorns. | 1 | 4,214 | sports |
While New England huddled inside on Monday night, one citizen - or Yeti - took to the streets. Hailing cabs and doing yoga all across Boston, the 'Boston Yeti' captivated Twitter all evening long - racking up at least 4,000 followers on @BostonYeti2015. | 8 | 4,215 | video |
Real Madrid is set to name its stadium the Cepsa Santiago Bernabeu following its 500 million euro revamp. The venue, the home of the European champions for the past 68 years, is due to undergo major expansion work with a sponsor's name attached upon completion. The project is currently being held up by legal proceedings. Madrid signed a deal with the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) in 2014 to fund the redevelopment of the ground and, although the club has yet to publicly announce the agreement included naming rights, president Florentino Perez has admitted the Bernabeu could be given a "surname". It is believed IPIC proposed the Abu Dhabi Santiago Bernabeu but that was dismissed by the club. Another alternative was the IPIC Bernabeu which was again rejected and Goal understands the two parties finally settled on Cepsa - an energy company owned by IPIC. The revamp will transform the Bernabeu into a 90,000 capacity arena with the club hoping the work will be done by the end of 2017. After a long tendering process, the final renovation contract was awarded to German architects GMP Architekten, in conjunction with Catalan company Ribas&Ribas. The stadium will have a retractable roof as part of the new design. Building work on the site will be suspended for home matches, allowing the club to continue playing games at the Bernabeu during the course of the re-construction. | 1 | 4,216 | sports |
Last week, for the first time in 59 days, the sun rose over Europe's northernmost city. The official end of the morketiden the murky time means a party: "A lot of people put on yellow clothes, and have a drink or two. The children eat sunbuns doughnuts with a custard centre," I am told. Festivals and feasts to celebrate Soldagen sun day go back to the Bronze Age. It's always been a relief to see the sun again. But, apart from one teenage Goth-satanist, everyone I met insisted they loved the winter. I loved it, too. My days on Sommaroy, "Summer Island", an hour west of Tromsø city in Norway, were washed in blues, pinks and indigos. At midday, a gleam of copper and gold on the horizon showed where the sun was biding its time. It was icy, still and clear. Lit by the snow-glow, the mountains were veined marble, rendered in high definition. Even when it got dark, at about 3pm, it wasn't black. Rather, we swapped the luminous twilight for a deep blue velvet sparkling with stars and the occasional green skidmark of the Northern Lights. The weather in Troms province, is not often so benign. But it was far lovelier than the average January day in Edinburgh, where I live. "It's a great time," says Stine Ivesen, a businesswoman. "In December it can be pretty dark. But once the snow arrives, there's lots of reflected light. I love to cross-county ski so I get lots of exercise, and when we're indoors, we make sure it's cosy and full of log fires and candles. That's important: you can love winter if you embrace it." "Don't people get depressed?" I ask. They certainly do in Scotland. "What about Seasonal Affective Disorder, whose symptoms include low mood, sleep-addiction and a lack of interest in life? What about Ibsen, the playwright whose portraits of soul-wringing, neurosis-laden northerners gave us our favourite stereotype of Scandinavians?" Sommarøy is a popular tourist destination due to its white sand beaches and scenery. Teri Pengilley "I think that some newer people might get sad," says Kristjon Bergmundsson, originally from Iceland. We were motoring out into the glass-calm fjord to put lines down for cod. "And lots of the fishermen make sure they get some winter sun the Canaries or Thailand. But I'm genetically adapted to tolerate the dark." There may be something in that. For all the stereotypes, Norway and Sweden's suicide rates are close to European averages, and lower than Britain's, studies of communities in the far North generally find fewer cases of SAD the syndrome that tends to hit people between January and March than in normal urban populations. Fewer antidepressants are prescribed per person in Norway and Finland than in UK (though the highest use of antidepressants in the whole of Europe is in Iceland). Some of the people I met in the north did complain. Not about depression, but about interruption to normal sleep. This is a well-known phenomenon when the nights get longer: in the 1970s academics speculated that sleep disruption during the morketiden might be associated with "radiation from outer space", or the magnetic distortions that cause the Northern Lights. But now, there is a cure that satisfies most people: "When I use the light box for 20 minutes during the day, I sleep like a baby that night," saya nurse Unni Lorentzen. Many workplaces and Tromsø University are equipped with these gadgets: a box with full-spectrum bulbs powerful enough mimic sunlight. Forty-five minutes in front of a multiple light source emitting at least 10,000 lux is prescribed. Using single "daylight" bulbs is not enough. Mimicking sunlight doesn't work for everyone. Alex Livingstone, a hydropower businessman who lives in rural Scotland tells me. "Light boxes don't work, 12 sessions of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) might. They mainly gave me a headache and a vague sense of agitation without any real energy. But then, by the end of February in Scotland, you couldn't recognise happiness if it bit you on the nose." There are other solutions. Our fishing trip produces a box full of vast cod not just any cod, but skrei, the "wandering cod" that, lean and muscular, are a wintertime treat in northern Norway. They come up on the fishing line nearly as long as my leg. (These aren't the only giants around there are humpback whales just a few boat lengths away, fishing just as intently.) The skrei is cooked and served up to us in a traditional Norwegian fashion boiled. Slices of snowy white skrei flesh lay on the plate alongside boiled skrei roe (eggs) and boiled potatoes. This is cheered up with a sauce of skrei liver, nuggets swimming in the cod's own oil. This is delicious even to someone who gagged at cod liver oil doses as a child. It is also a key to another way of dealing with the darkness: diet. Most of us who live in the North eat nothing like as much fish as our ancestors did for many communities in Europe it was the main source of protein until the 20th century. Fish contains the amino acid tryptophan and a lack of it is blamed for under-production of the hormone serotonin and that in turn is connected to lethargy, aggression and depression. Trials have shown tryptophan supplements to be amazingly useful for helping 10-year-old boys with a tendency to be quarrelsome. When the sun finally rises above norther Norway, children and adults celebrate Soldagen with a day off. Roald, Berit/AFP/Getty Most interesting of all are the problems associated with shortages of Vitamin D, which the body naturally makes when it absorbs the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. That process is so important to good health that children whose parents over-use sunscreen have been found to be severely deficient in Vitamin D, to the extent of developing the wasting disease rickets. For those, like the far northerners, who cannot make Vitamin D naturally, a key alternative source is oily fish and most of the Tromsø people I meet do take cod liver oil or Vitamin D supplements in winter. The importance of Vitamin D in children's growth has been known for decades. It is habitually added to milk in Denmark, the US, parts of France and Canada. Scotland's unexplained high rates of multiple sclerosis are one issue that has been linked to low Vitamin D, because people born in late winter are more likely to develop MS. New research suggests that lack of Vitamin D may have a role in autoimmune diseases, asthma and also nervous system disorders including autism, Parkinsonism and dementia. Some academics now believe that growing up with less than an optimum amount of sunlight may be a cause of schizophrenia. The return of rickets a disease associated with Dickensian poverty has shocked the British medical establishment. There is a growing campaign to put it back into the diet; the retailer Marks & Spencer now adds it to milk, though in amounts that are probably not significant. Oliver Gillie, a writer and scientist, believes the UK should fortify all milk and cereals with Vitamin D. He says that in winter 90% of adults have lower levels of it than they should even in summer the figure is 60%. "A great advance could be made by providing all pregnant women and babies with higher dose Vitamin D supplements. And a programme reaching 80-90% of people, as modern vaccinations do, could greatly reduce, if not eradicate MS, depression, type 1 diabetes and several autoimmune diseases. I think we must do it." So the recipe for getting through the dark times, is to swallow the vitamins, eat oily fish, turn up the lights and perhaps most important make winter a pleasure. A friend who has just moved to Denmark after 20 years in sunny East Africa is impressed by Danish devotion to wintertime hygge a word that means being cosy, happy and convivial. Norwegians have a similar concept, Scots, tellingly, do not. "You create an atmosphere candles on the window sill, tables, everywhere. Log fires, wine with friends, homemade food, board games with the children. That's how the Danes get through the long winter nights. There are worse ideas than getting as comfortable as you can." | 5 | 4,217 | news |
A few weeks ago, I received an email from an old friend, Sophie*. My second novel, Her , had just been published in the U.K., and Sophie, a 40-year-old teacher from London, had just read it and was in shock. The book echoed an experience of hers in peculiar detail. Her is the story of Emma and Nina, strangers who become friends. To Emma, run ragged by new motherhood, Nina (so assured, so together) seems to have all the answers. And yet, as Nina makes herself indispensable, there's a sense her motives are far from straightforward and far from benign.Sophie recognized the scenario. Several years ago, struggling with the double-whammy of a house move and her first baby, she had been swept up by a persuasive new friend. "Lucy was full of support and advice as long as my confidence was at rock-bottom. When I started to get myself together, she tried to put me back in my box, making jokes at my expense, belittling me in public." When Sophie began to make other new friends, Lucy did not disguise her displeasure. "Initially, I found it quite sweet that she was threatened by any outsiders. Flattering, even. But I was starting to feel pissed off about my lack of freedom. I realized I was using different routes to shops, walking the long way around town in order to avoid her."Sophie knew the sensible thing would have been to take Lucy aside for a quiet word, "but I can't bear confrontation. I'd rather eat my own hair than upset someone." So over many months, she tried to edge out of the friendship without making a fuss. Yet even as Sophie backed away, Lucy advanced: pumping mutual acquaintances for information, befriending Sophie's siblings via Facebook. The crunch came "when I found out Lucy was encouraging my daughter to call her 'Mummy.' At this point, I got scared." When the opportunity came to move to a new neighborhood, Lucy made the decision easy.Plenty of other women I've spoken to had a similar experience of a friend growing too intense. Tina, 28, a photographer from NYC, grew up with Rachel, whose friendships and romances were always highly charged. When Tina moved away, they emailed and spoke regularly, but it was never enough. "Rachel constantly let me know that I wasn't doing enough to fill her in on all the details of my life," Tina says. The tension increased when Tina's relationship with a new boyfriend grew more serious. Rachel felt annoyed, shut out. Then the letters began to arrive. Thick envelopes, stuffed with detailed memories and pleas for Tina to "open up."The final straw ("totally weird and creepy," says Tina) was a package containing two things: a letter and a mix CD to be played while reading it. The CD was loaded with songs that Tina and Rachel had loved in high school. The letter contained "a description of what Rachel imagined my funeral would be like, who would attend, and what she would say and feel."I have a term for women like Lucy and Rachel: danger monkeys . Often, they're women with a knack for the dramatic and an ability to fast-track friendships through sheer force of will. "Women's lives are typically characterized by major changes as they move through different stages and phases: graduation, moving, motherhood, changing careers. These moments often create upheavals in friendships," says Irene S. Levine, Ph.D., psychologist and professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine and creator of TheFriendshipBlog.com. And it's during those moments of change and vulnerability that the danger monkeys pounce.What's in it for them? In Her , Nina's motivations are rooted in the past, in questions of her own identity and this applies to most danger monkeys. They look to others to help them define themselves. We all do this, but most of us know when to stop.When Clare, 34, landed her first job in TV, she was mentored by Julia. "I was new to the industry. I had just split up with a boyfriend there was this space in my life, this emptiness, that she began to fill. I guess I wanted to be her." It began as a private joke. Clare started hanging around by the coffee machine or the elevators in hopes of running into Julia. She joined Julia's gym. When Julia went out for drinks with colleagues, Clare tagged along."Then I found out her address, and one Saturday, I found myself walking down her street, telling myself I was heading to the farmers' market. I bought a coffee on the corner and waited, pretending not to watch her building. Then the door opened and a woman came out. Just for a second, I thought it was Julia, and that moment scared the hell out of me. I just thought, Enough. Stop it." Clare went home, but the sinister opportunity of that moment stayed with her. "Would I have followed her, to see where she was going? What was I thinking? I don't really know… That's why it was so frightening."All good friends go through bad patches. But if a friend invariably leaves you feeling guilty, resentful, wrongfooted, or emotionally exhausted, you should probably trust your instinct. "While you can't change a friend's personality, you can ask her to make changes in some behaviors," says Levine. If she still ignores your boundaries, take a break. "Friendships that are consistently emotionally draining take a toll on your mental and physical health, and it may be worthwhile to let go." Harriet Lane is the author of Her , out this month from Little, Brown and Company. This article was originally published as " When a Friendship Turns Addictive " in the February 2015 issue of Cosmopolitan . Click here to get the issue in the iTunes store! | 4 | 4,218 | lifestyle |
Honda will finally take the wraps off of the production Honda Civic Type R at the Geneva auto show in March. This comes exactly one year after Honda showed off the racy concept version (pictured) of this high-performance hatchback at the 2014 Geneva show. Since then, plenty of details have come out about the Honda Civic Type R, but we're still waiting to hear horsepower numbers from the Type R's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. All we know so far is that this engine, which is part of Honda's new i-VTEC turbo family, will make " more than 276 " hp, will hit redline at 7,000 rpm, and will route power through a six-speed manual transmission. Beyond the engine details, Honda has also announced that the Civic Type R will use an adaptive damper system that's configurable with different driving modes including a +R mode meant for the track. There is also a new so-called "kingpin" suspension setup that's meant to quell torque steer in the front-wheel-drive Civic Type R. In terms of looks, we expect the production car to look like a toned-down version of the somewhat extreme red and blue concept versions of the car Honda has shown so far. As the Honda Civic Type R is based on the European-market Civic hatchback, its rakish bodywork may not look so familiar to those used to the staid U.S.-market Civic sedan. The Honda Civic Type R will have some high expectations to live up to when it goes on sale later this year. Honda has already set a goal of beating the front-wheel-drive lap record at the Nürburgring with this new performance hatch. Sadly, it doesn't seem that the Type R is a likely bet to come to the U.S. market anytime soon, though we won't give up hope completely . Stay tuned for more information about the new Honda Civic Type R as it makes its official debut at the Geneva auto show in March. | 9 | 4,219 | autos |
Ebook subscription service Oyster just increased its value in the witchcraft and wizardry community: the company has added the entire Harry Potter series to its library. The app, which offers users a buffet of books for a flat monthly fee, will add all seven Harry Potter novels, plus J.K. Rowling's faux-nonfiction titles, Quidditch Through the Ages , Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , and The Tales of Beedle the Bard to its catalogue. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Mollusk To carry the titles, Oyster teamed up with Pottermore , the all-things-Potter web portal. Earlier this month, Oyster's ebook count hit one million thanks to a partnership with the publishing giant Macmillan . Oyster's partnership with Macmillan covered only the publishing house's back catalog. Harry Potter is dated (the final book in the series came out in 2007), and the original series is already available on Kindle Unlimited, but a boost right now couldn't hurt. In October, Rowling announced 2001's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them would be released as a three-part film series beginning in 2016. Last year, Oyster co-founder Willem van Lancker told us the company's goal was to foster "a deeper sense of community around books." With Harry Potter , that work has already been done for Oyster the franchise comes with its own built-in community. | 5 | 4,220 | news |
If you aren't planning to be at a Super Bowl party shouting about the game or critiquing the commercials with your friends, Facebook hopes you'll be doing all of that stuff through its just-launched Super Bowl hub. Actually, Facebook calls it the "Super Bowl experience," but it's more or less a fancied up Trending page and exactly what you'd expect as the company tries to ratchet up social activity even higher than the figures seen last year. Over 50 million people were "part of the conversation" focused around the NFL's biggest game in 2014. Now, Facebook wants to be an even larger center of the conversation and try to keep you away from Twitter in the process. You can get to the Super Bowl experience right here , and although it looks very busy (perhaps overly so) at first glance, it's helpfully broken up into sections. Don't care what strangers think about Deflategate? "Friends and Groups" will display status updates and chatter only from people in your own Facebook network. If you do want to see what the world thinks of every expensive Super Bowl ad, the Live Feed will stream those reactions as they're posted with the help of hashtags, of course. Facebook will also automatically surface content from people who post about "watching Super Bowl XLIX" as an activity. Facebook wants football fans to visit during the game and never leave The Super Bowl hub will pull in photos and video from news outlets and people seeing the action live at University of Phoenix Stadium, and an "In the Story" section will showcase updates from the NFL, Seahawks, Patriots, individual players, and other respected voices in sports. If you're somehow tragically caught away from a TV, Facebook will keep you updated on the score, current play time, and even provide running play by play. (Remember you can stream the whole game and even the halftime show from a smartphone.) Many people will do that, but Facebook hopes millions more will load up the Super Bowl "experience" on a PC or smartphone and stay locked in as the Seahawks defend their championship against Tom Brady's Patriots. | 5 | 4,221 | news |
This little baby girl wakes up in the most adorable way! | 8 | 4,222 | video |
Mel Tucker will be leaving his position as the Bears defensive coordinator to join the coaching staff at Alabama. Chris Doering lets us know if Tucker will be a good fit in Bama. | 1 | 4,223 | sports |
PHOENIX -- Money just isn't what it used to be. The Diamondbacks are positioned to spend about $91 million on payroll this season, possibly a few million more depending how their two arbitration cases go. It would be the third-highest figure in franchise history . . . and among the lower third in the major leagues in 2015. The D-backs made a big play in the offseason, committing about $85 million over six years in salary and taxes to Cuban emigres Yasmany Tomas and Yoan Lopez. Tomas will be given every chance to be the D-backs' starting third baseman, and scouts have compared him in body and style to Kevin Mitchell. The D-backs consider right-hander Lopez a quick riser with front-of-the-rotation ability, and he has received an invitation to spring training. Even after losing money last season, the D-backs are unlikely to shed salary, general manager Dave Stewart has said, leaving unsaid the natural caveat regarding an offer he cannot refuse. At the same time, at some point the D-backs will need to make room for the $16 million outlay in the Lopez deal -- his $8.25 million signing bonus plus an $8 million tax to major league baseball for over-spending their international bonus pool. That is not something Stewart needs to concern himself about now. "When I looked at the (budget) number, I was like, Whew," Stewart said. "I think at some point we'll sit down and figure out where that $16 million is going to come from, but it does not officially touch our major league budget right now. It is out there, so it is not going to be ignored." After trading Miguel Montero and the remaining $40 million owed him through 2017, the D-backs have mostly workable contracts. Paul Goldschmidt, for example, is to make $3 million this season in the second year of a five-year, $32-million extension signed the day before the start of the 2013 season. Tomas is to make $2 million in salary and another $2.5 million in prorated bonus money on his back-loaded deal. If the D-backs were desperate to move salary, several candidates stand out. Aaron Hill is owed $12 million in each of the next two seasons. Trevor Cahill is to earn $12 million this year with a $300,000 buyout on a 2016 option, and Cody Ross is to make $8.5 million this year with a $1 million buyout on a his 2016 option. At the same time, the D-backs believe a healthy Hill -- who played with a sore wrist last season without letting on -- could be more of a factor this season. Stewart said he is willing to let first few months of the season play out before decisions are made. "No one has told me before the season starts you need to cut payroll. No one has told me by the All-Star break we have to cut payroll. No one has said that," Stewart said. "We are not going to hurt ourselves and not give ourselves an opportunity to win as many games as we can to try to get guys off the books. We have to see where we are going to go, how our team is going to play. Once we get a real good look . . . and usually you don't know that until you get to midseason, when people say are you buyers or sellers. We're going to wait probably until we get to that area to really understand what we need to do." The D-backs could be in an enviable position if they were to become sellers at the deadline because of the young arms stockpiled in the bullpen. Solid setup man and occasional closer Brad Ziegler is to earn $5 million this season and $5.5 million with a $1 million buyout in 2016, and he could do for another team what he did for the D-backs when he was acquired from Oakland in 2011. Oliver Perez ($2.5 million this season) and David Hernandez ($2 million) are in the same boat. All three are valuable to the D-backs now, but with Evan Marshall, Matt Stites and minor leaguers Enrique Burgos, Kaleb Fleck and Will Locante in the wings, the D-backs are deep there. (You need only to look Javier Lopez' effect on San Francisco's recent World Series run to know how precious relievers can be to contenders down the stretch.) Stewart knows the way the game works. "I have to think that if we need to do something, there will be some opportunity at some point," he said. "I'm not sure if it is going to be sooner or it is going to be later. We'll have time to adjust to that and make decisions on that." Follow Jack Magruder on Twitter | 1 | 4,224 | sports |
Turn up the volume, gamers. Sony and Spotify are teaming up for a new music streaming service, PlayStation Music. The service, debuting this spring, will allow PlayStation gamers to steam music while they play. PlayStation owners will be able to link their existing Spotify accounts to their consoles and bill their premium music accounts to their PlayStation Wallets. Users will have access to Spotify's 30 million songs and 1.5 billion playlists, giving them the option to pick the perfect soundtrack for their gaming sessions, Sony explained in Wednesday a press release. PlayStation Music will replace Sony's existing music service, Music Unlimited. The service will play its last songs on March 29, 2015. The Spotify-powered stream will first launch on PS4 and PS3 consoles, as well as Xperia phones and tablets. It will be available in 41 markets across the globe, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico. [email protected] | 5 | 4,225 | news |
The 2014 season is over. The NFL Draft early entrees have declared . We now know, barring unforeseen offseason changes,about how many starters are returning to every FBS team, thanks to Phil Steele's list of every team in the country . Fresh faces will no doubt make impacts next season, but several early takeaways are available. 1. Ohio State is built for another title run. Everyone knows about the Buckeyes' surplus of dominant quarterbacks , but there's plenty more returning talent spread around the field in Columbus. Ohio State should be one of the most experienced teams in the Big Ten. Urban Meyer's squad should get about eight starters back on offense, including four offensive linemen, running back Ezekiel Elliott , and wide receiver Michael Thomas , and among the seven or so returning defensive starters are the team's four leading tacklers from 2014: linebacker Joshua Perry , safety Vonn Bell , linebacker Darron Lee , and safety Tyvis Powell . Another team with a similar makeup is Peach Bowl champion TCU , which should return basically its whole offense. The Horned Frogs lose about half their defense, but Gary Patterson's proved nobody needs to worry about TCU's defense. 2. Don't sleep on Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were a better-executed pick play away from starting the 2014 season 8-0 with a victory over the defending national champion under their belts. But it all fell apart, and Notre Dame lost its final four regular season games before knocking off LSU in the Music City Bowl. The Irish defense was the main culprit for that late swoon, allowing 35.4 points per game over the last seven regular season contests. But with about 10 players coming back on D, there's reason for optimism. Linebacker Jaylon Smith, who led Notre Dame with 111 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks, will be the anchor. The Irish had a top-35 offense last season, and with about eight starters plus Malik Zaire and possibly Everett Golson returning, there shouldn't be a dropoff on that side. In the mid-major ranks, watch out for Temple . The Owls return about 19 starters, six more than any other team in the American that finished .500 or better. 3. Tennessee and Arkansas will be trendy picks in the SEC. The Volunteers have been recruiting well in recent years under Butch Jones and have stockpiled top-tier prospects all over the roster. In 2015, they should bring back 18 starters 10 on offense, eight on defense which would lead the SEC. If Joshua Dobbs can take a step forward at quarterback, there's enough experienced talent in Knoxville to take the lead in a murky SEC East race. Arkansas hasn't been reeling in a huge number of blue chips under Bret Bielema, but the Razorbacks have been signing excellent personnel to fit Bielema's jumbo system. Next year, nine starters should return on offense, and the running back duo of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins , which combined for 2,290 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2014, could be the SEC's best. The defense has to replace linebacker Martrell Spaight and defensive end Trey Flowers , two of the Arkansas' best defenders, but should be in decent shape with six starters likely coming back. Both the Vols and Hogs also finished with blowout bowl wins over big-name opponents (Iowa and Texas, respectively), which also helps fuel offseason hype. 4. It might be now or never for UCLA. The Bruins were a hot preseason pick for the College Football Playoff last season, but they finished with three home losses. They lose quarterback Brett Hundley , but they have the somewhat experienced Jerry Neuheisel and the national No. 1 freshman quarterback, early enrollee Josh Rosen. Otherwise, pretty much everyone else on offense returns. The defense should return eight starters, including dynamic linebacker Myles Jack . Oregon , Arizona , and USC are dealing with more significant rebuilding efforts, so this may be UCLA's best chance to compete for a national title. Baylor is another top team that returns just about everybody besides its quarterback, with five-star Jarrett Stidham among the possible replacements for Bryce Petty . 5. The ACC should be wide open. Experience doesn't equal success, but it certainly doesn't hurt. With that in mind, let's look at the five ACC teams with the most expected returning starters: North Carolina (17), Virginia Tech (16), Wake Forest (16), Pittsburgh (15 ... and Pitt could be due a big improvement anyway ), and NC State (14). On the other hand, perennial favorites Florida State and Clemson should bring back about 11 each, and 2014 surprise Georgia Tech should return 13. It seems like a safe bet that a young player will be the star of the conference next season. 6. Will Alabama and Florida State quickly reload? The Crimson Tide have been positively unmatched on the recruiting trail since Nick Saban took over, and it's given them easily the most talented roster in college football . One has to wonder how 'Bama will replace quarterback Blake Sims , running back T.J. Yeldon , and safety Landon Collins , but if recent history is any indication, Saban will figure it out. It won't be a surprise if the Tide are competing for another Playoff berth. Still, the offense could bring back only four starters, just two on the offensive line. The defense should return seven starters, and it will need to improve after looking shaky toward the end of 2014. While Alabama is a proven commodity, this is the first time Florida State has attempted to reload since ascending to national prominence under Jimbo Fisher. The Seminoles, like the Tide, have torn up recruiting season in recent years. But is there enough developed talent to replace quarterback Jameis Winston , multiple skill players, and four offensive linemen? FSU could bring back seven on defense, but defensive tackle Eddie Goldman , defensive end Mario Edwards Jr ., and cornerback Ronald Darby leave big shoes to fill. 7. Kansas can't catch a break. The Jayhawks are coming off a 3-9 season that puts them at 12-48 over the last five years and they should somehow have only eight returning starters, the fewest of any power-conference team and 126th out of 128 FBS programs. Of course, some new blood in Lawrence might be a good thing. | 1 | 4,226 | sports |
Bill Gates has dropped by Reddit a couple times in the past, and he's doing it again this afternoon for an AMA starting at 1:15PM ET / 10:15AM PT. Though the spirit of an AMA is that people on Reddit can ask the person anything , Gates is probably interested in talking about his recently published annual letter , which outlines his views for how technology can help improve the lives of the poor. Last week, we spoke with Gates at length about what the next 15 years are going to look like as you can see in the video above and he's even guest editing The Verge in February to help us find out. We've already asked him plenty of questions, so now's the time if you have some of your own. Hi @reddit , I'm starting my #AMA now: http://t.co/S4fWlaBD6X . pic.twitter.com/Ni7lJR17K6 Bill Gates (@BillGates) January 28, 2015 | 5 | 4,227 | news |
Kentucky is currently the best hoops team in the country, but what other SEC teams have a shot at making the tournament? Campus Insiders' resident bracketologist Jerry Palm checks in with Shae Peppler to make his predictions and explain why Florida might miss out on the tournament. | 1 | 4,228 | sports |
A woman didn't get the sandwich she ordered at Burger King. Instead, she drove away with a bag filled with over $2,000 in cash. Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) has more. | 8 | 4,229 | video |
Hip-hop drama Empire is Fox's latest breakout hit, featuring an award-winning cast and crew. Created by Oscar winners Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, the King Lear-inspired family drama has been a ratings boon for Fox, with viewership growing each week since its Jan. 7 premiere. | 8 | 4,230 | video |
Rolling Stone is opening up its archives, making select stories from its nearly 50 years of publication free for anyone to read. The stories will all be available through Google Play Newsstand, making this a big grab for Google that should help to promote the app's sales of digital magazines and use as a news reader. Fast Company reports that three to four big stories from each issue will show up in the open archives, which Rolling Stone reportedly plans to augment with sound and video content next year. Google reportedly paid a lot to be part of this partnership Newsstand is available on both iOS and Android , so a wide audience should be able to access these stories. And this very much seems to be a partnership about promoting both brands: Fast Company reports that Google purchased "seven figures" worth of Rolling Stone advertising as part of this deal. It's not stated exactly how that'll be used, but the end goal appears to be getting more people reading Rolling Stone and opening up Newsstand. In addition to housing its classic stories, Rolling Stone intends to publish some breaking news and other daily content onto Newsstand as well. That'll ostensibly make it a place to go back to if it can get readers hooked, which would be good news for both it and Google as more and more continue to get their news on their phone. The archives will go live in Newsstand this Friday at 8PM ET. | 5 | 4,231 | news |
Wine lovers rejoice! New research shows that drinking your favorite red may help the fight against cancer. Learn how. | 7 | 4,232 | health |
Hall of Fame Basketball writer Mark Heisler and CineSport's Justin Shackil discuss Kobe Bryant's future in Los Angeles and if there is any chance he has played his last game as a Laker. | 1 | 4,233 | sports |
It's do-or-die time for Yahoo and Marissa Mayer. After cutting the cord with China's Alibaba, the high-profile Yahoo chief executive faces more pressure than ever to reinvent the fading Internet star. This week's tax-free spinoff of Yahoo's $40 billion Alibaba stake leaves the California tech group with a core of assets but no clear path or mission, analysts say. Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates said the move allows Yahoo to "unlock the value" from its stake in the Chinese firm but fails to answer questions about Yahoo's future. "It's got a clear brand identify and a lot of valuable assets," he told AFP. "But it's a company from last year's business model and there isn't an obvious way to turn it into something to generate a lot of growth." Mayer arrived at Yahoo's helm in July 2012 after rising through the ranks at Google to become one of the most prominent women in technology and corporate America. Her "star quality" created new energy around the firm and fuelled hopes for a return to the glory days when Yahoo was the leading search engine and Internet portal. She has made some positive steps, signing respected television anchor Katie Couric for Yahoo's news team and launching new services such as live online concerts. But Kay warned any attempt by Yahoo to reclaim its role as a search engine would be "a dead end." "Search is dead for Yahoo," he said. "Google has the search technology and Yahoo doesn't. I don't see any future in search for Yahoo, but content is interesting." Kay said Yahoo has made some inroads as a destination for live music, video, news and other content but not enough to fundamentally change its business model. "Yahoo needs to get something exclusively that's so important for people to have. They need a runaway hit," he said. Colin Gillis, analyst at BGC Partners, said Mayer "has bought herself some more time to turn the business around, making shareholders happy with the Alibaba spin, not using that money for acquisitions but returning it to shareholders. "But of course, once Yahoo is separated from that asset, the focus on the core businesses is going to intensify," he added. Negative value of core? Yahoo has been in an unusual position of holding a valuable chunk of Alibaba worth around $40 billion and a share of Yahoo Japan valued at some $7 billion. Take this away and, according to some analysts, you leave the rest of Yahoo virtually worthless, or even with a negative value. Financial results released on Tuesday showed Yahoo revenue essentially flat over the past quarter, and the full year 2014. The jump in profit for the year to $7.5 billion came from the sale of part of its Alibaba stake. Some analysts and activist shareholders have suggested that Yahoo merge with another first-generation Internet firm, AOL, to focus on content and media. But Kay said he does not see that as an answer, joking that "two boat anchors doesn't make for a flotation device." Victor Anthony, analyst at Topeka Capital Markets, called Yahoo's results "lackluster" and suggested that once the spinoff is complete "an acquisition scenario is likely to develop for core Yahoo." Yahoo fended off a takeover bid from Microsoft in 2008 and has largely brushed aside talk of merging with AOL. But its future path remains unclear following the Alibaba split. Trip Chowdhry at Global Equities Research said Yahoo needs to develop new products but has been "unable to innovate." "The existing business is in a slow and declining pace." he said. "And fixing this business just doesn't make sense, because the market is moving very fast. You need to do something dramatically different. and you don't need money for that, you need ideas." | 3 | 4,234 | finance |
Darrelle Revis established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL as a member of the New York Jets. On Sunday, he will appear in his first ever Super Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots. Given that he spent six seasons with the Jets, Revis was asked on Tuesday if he feels sympathetic toward Jets fans since they have to watch their former All-Pro corner fight for a championship while wearing their most hated rival's uniform. "Do I feel sorry for the Jets' fans? Um, not really," Revis said, per Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post . "It's not really my call. I didn't make the call. Management made the call at that time, and they felt it was best to get rid of me. So that's the situation. That's how I look at it." The Jets were given a rare second chance to bring Revis back after his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lasted just one season. In fact, Revis reportedly wanted to return to New York and had the Jets at the top of his list after the Bucs cut him. Jets owner Woody Johnson chose not to bring Revis back a decision he regrets so much that he may have committed a tampering violation while speaking to reporters about it. After coming up short by losing two AFC Championship Games with the Jets, Revis admitted that doubt started to set in. "There's always doubt, especially going through [seven] years of not really accomplishing what you set out to accomplish getting to a Super Bowl and winning it," he said. "That's why it's so humbling to finally be here." Revis may not feel sorry for Jets fans, but we know he felt badly for one person he became close with during his tenure in New York. At least they've both gotten out of town. | 1 | 4,235 | sports |
The Seattle Seahawks were a strong enough team to make it all the way to Super Bowl XLIX, but there are still some holes in their game. We let you know what Seattle's weaknesses will be on Sunday. | 1 | 4,236 | sports |
The head of Microsoft's research division has dismissed fears that artificial intelligence could pose a threat to the survival of the human race. Eric Horvitz believed that humans would not "lose control of certain kinds of intelligences", adding: "In the end we'll be able to get incredible benefits from machine intelligence in all realms of life, from science to education to economics to daily life." Professor Stephen Hawking last month expressed his fears about the rise of AI. He believed that technology would eventually become self-aware and supersede humanity: "The primitive forms of artificial intelligence we already have, have proved very useful. But I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race." Eric Horvitz, head of the Microsoft Research Redmond lab. Photograph: Microsoft Horvitz made his comments in an video interview after being awarded the Feigenbaum Prize by the AAAI for his contribution to artificial intelligence research. However, he acknowledged that advances in AI were likely to have significant impact on society and pose numerous legal, ethical, economic and psychological issues. "We'll need to remain vigilant about assessing and continuing to address potential risks and rough edges ... We need to be assured that systems working in high-stakes areas will behave safely and in accordance with our goals, even when they encounter unforeseen situations," the researcher said in a Microsoft blog . 'We need to be very careful' Other high-profile figures to cast doubt on AI include Elon Musk, the co-founder of PayPal who went on to set up Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, and SpaceX, which focuses on rocket technology. He said last year that AI was the biggest existential threat to humans. "We need to be very careful. I'm increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don't do something very foolish." SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Musk is one of the high-profile investors, alongside Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and actor Ashton Kutcher, in Vicarious . The company aims to build a computer that can think like a person, with a neural network capable of replicating the part of the brain that controls vision, body movement and language. | 5 | 4,237 | news |
After a drunk man's drone crashed into the White House lawn, the company that manufactured it made it so that none of their drones could fly in Washington D.C. | 5 | 4,238 | news |
Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a two-game ban for lashing out at an opponent during Real Madrid's 2-1 La Liga win at Cordoba. | 8 | 4,239 | video |
University of San Diego senior guard Christopher Anderson is close to breaking the school's all-time steals record. In this feature produced by usdtoreros.com, Anderson talks about his knack for picking pockets. | 1 | 4,240 | sports |
Officials believe that the Ebola outbreak's "patient zero" is a boy who may have contracted the disease from a bat. CNN's Diana Magnay reports. | 5 | 4,241 | news |
Raw video: Playful pooch loses footing in New Hampshire | 8 | 4,242 | video |
FOX 10's weatherman Cory McCloskey bravely soldiers on: 'Frankly, Wickenburg is a total loss' | 5 | 4,243 | news |
Some people thrive on it, some people hate it, but if you're working out and challenging your body, you'll definitely experience it: the day-after muscle soreness that makes you feel a little bit like you've been hit by a bus. While it may be hard to sit after a circuit workout full of squats or you can't raise your arms to brush your hair a day after a killer tricep-sculpting session, DOMS, or delayed-onset muscle soreness, should be a suffered through with pride. That soreness means that you've worked muscles you may not be using regularly or challenged already strong muscles in a way that will build even more strength. Either way, the soreness happens because your muscles have been worked and are better for it. "You're basically tearing something and creating a micro trauma in the muscle," says celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak . "When the muscle recovers, it's going to recover stronger and denser than it was before." While you may feel sore mere hours after a workout, DOMS usually peaks a day or two after a sweat session. It's nothing to worry about - in fact, you should be proud that you're building body-sculpting, calorie-burning muscles - but you should recognize the difference between a good kind of pain like DOMS and the type of pain that could signal an exercise-related injury. In general, all-over soreness or aches, especially well after your workout is over, is fine. If you feel a sharp pain or a burning sensation in any muscle group while you work out, however, you should stop exercising, rest, and seek out expert advice as soon as possible. RELATED: How to recover faster after a workout 10 ways to ease DOMS Why you shouldn't always be sore after a workout | 7 | 4,244 | health |
The Smithsonian network of world-famous museums in Washington is looking to set up an exhibition space in London, on the site of the 2012 Olympics, it announced Wednesday. It would mark the first time that the Smithsonian -- which traces its origins to an Englishman who never visited America -- has set up a long-term venue outside the United States. In a statement, it said it envisions a 40,000 square foot (3,700 square meter) space to open in 2021 in a cultural venue to be called Olympicopolis in the East End of the British capital, a project spearheaded by London's Mayor Boris Johnson. It would feature permanent and rotating exhibitions, programs and activities. Permanent exhibitions will be free to all, and operating expenses would be covered by donations and admission fees for rotating shows. "An exhibition space in London will enable us to share the Smithsonian with an international audience in a way we haven't been able to before," said Al Horvath, the Smithsonian's acting secretary, who has been tasked with negotiating a lease for the site. The Smithsonian operates 19 internationally renowned museums and galleries in and around Washington dedicated to art, science and American history, as well as the National Zoo. It was founded in the mid-19th century with a donation from a deceased and childless British chemist, James Smithson, who in his will asked for his wealth to be used to create an educational institution in the then-young United States -- a country he had never set foot in. Today, the various Smithsonian sites attract about 30 million visitors a year. | 2 | 4,245 | travel |
Over and over and over again. We salute you, Marshawn. | 8 | 4,246 | video |
Running, while an easy exercise to pick up, isn't for everyone; one person's meditative mile is another's boredom-inducing march. But if you're an erstwhile enthusiastic new runner who can't quite seem to get into the sport, make sure you read these tips before you write off your new hobby for good. Don't go overboard: You may be ready to pound the pavement with the best of them (at least in your mind), but enthusiasm and skill don't always match up - which can lead to discouragement and injuries that can set you back. Don't push yourself too far or fast when you first start running; just focus on learning the right form and how to breathe while you run rather than your pace when you first start. Once you're comfortable with how running feels, try following a plan designed to make you a faster, better runner, like this beginner's 5K training plan . Go at the right time: When you run when you have the most energy, you'll be more likely to actually like your new hobby. Try out different times to run to see when you feel your best. You may find that running those three miles in the morning is a breeze compared to mustering up enough energy to hit the treadmill after work. Fuel right: You need energy for your run, but slipping on your sneakers right after a big meal is a recipe for disaster. Stop the stomach aches by planning out your meals with your running times. You should wait at least two to three hours after a main meal before you go for a run. If it's been longer, have a small, easily digestible pre-workout snack at least 30 minutes before you go. Warm up: Every runner has been there - the feeling of lead-filled legs that just make running that much more of a chore. While there are many reasons why you can be feeling low energy before a run, one sure way to start off on the wrong foot is to not ease into your run. Take a few minutes to jog slowly to warm up your body before you ramp up your speed. Entertain yourself: While running itself can be an endorphin-boosting, stress-relieving hobby, let's face it - it's incredibly repetitive. If you're bored out of your mind running, switch up your route, get off the treadmill and on the trail, and make sure you load up your phone with enough adrenaline-inducing workout playlists to take you through your workouts. | 7 | 4,247 | health |
It's history frozen in time: an expansive cave in Northern Israel where early humans lived for thousands of years, locked away and preserved after its entrance collapsed some 30,000 years ago. It's in this time capsule of human evolution that researchers say they've found a partial skull that serves as a "connecting link" between ancient and modern humans "the first direct fossil evidence that modern humans inhabited the Levantine corridor" about 55,000 years ago. The origin story of Homo sapiens is told piecewise through archaeological finds and scientific analysis, all of which amounts to us using that data to try and connect the dots. At a point in that timeline, between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago, anatomically modern humans (AMH) from Africa expanded across Europe and Asia. Until now, however, fossil evidence has been scarce. "It's an important puzzle in the big story of human evolution" "It's an important puzzle in the big story of human evolution," says Israel Hershkovitz, the Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, who's leading up the excavation team that discovered this skull fragment dubbed "Manot 1." The findings, published this week by Nature , provides insight into that migration. Detailed analysis of the skull fragment's physical characteristics (e.g. shape and form) link it to both African and European fossils. For example, it shares a number of similarities to the Mladeč 1 skull, which was found in a cave within Czech Republic's borders and is believed to be around 35,000 years old. Manot 1's age has been estimated at 55,000 years using uranium-thorium dating. Excavation of the Manot cave first began in 2010, after it was found by accident or more accurately, by a bulldozer that was making a trench for a nearby village's sewer line and wound up opening the cave's proverbial chimney. "I was there when the cave was found... We went down 25 meters [82 feet], and we realized this was a prehistoric cave a beautiful, beautiful cave," says Hershkovitz. "The fascinating thing about Manot site is that once it was left by prehistoric man, nobody ever entered the cave. It's as if somebody left his house and never came back, and after 30- or 40-thousand years, someone else is opening the door and seeing everything as it were more than 30-thousand years ago." Photo Credit: Israel Hershkovitz, Ofer Marder & Omry Barzilai This accidental find may upend what's known as the assimilation model, or partial replacement model. According to this model, modern humans originated from Africa but then evolved through interbreeding with European Neanderthals. It's estimated that human DNA today has between 2 and 4 percent Neanderthal genes, so it's not a question of if interbreeding occurred, but when and where . The Manot skull shares some physical characteristics with Neanderthals and could suggest this interbreeding happened in the Levantine corridor instead of Europe. Without genetic testing, however, the morphological comparisons are just speculative. Hershkovitz does note, however, that we can now place the Manot cave occupants within 40 kilometers of areas where Neanderthals were known to exist around the same time. "We are suggesting we don't need the assimilation model to explain the morphology of the Upper Paleolithic populations in Europe because they look very much like Manot skull." "We hope to find more human remains." Hershkovitz and his team plan to keep working at the site at least until 2020 ("it all depends on budget," he notes), and there's a strong chance we'll learn even more about the origin of our species. "Manot cave is one of the largest prehistoric caves ever found in the world not just in Israel," he said. "It's not a rock shelter; it's a real cave with a huge central chamber and many side chambers, occupied for thousands of years. We just start excavating it, and we've just scratched the upper archaeological layer." "The potential is great," he said. "We hope to find more human remains." | 5 | 4,248 | news |
Amazon wants to bump Microsoft's Exchange out of its cozy position in the enterprise world. To do that, the company has announced WorkMail, a secure email and calendar platform aimed squarely at businesses. This isn't some alternative to Gmail or Outlook that's meant for everyday consumers. Quite the opposite. With WorkMail, Amazon is trying its hand at the backend services that Microsoft has built a strong reputation around. In that world, guaranteeing yourself good, reliable email service can prove complicated and costly. "Customers are not happy with their current email solution," the company told The Wall Street Journal . Microsoft is deeply entrenched in the corporate world WorkMail includes many of the perks that are musts if Amazon hopes to find any success competing against Microsoft. And you can use it with existing email clients like Outlook. According to Forbes , it will offer shared inboxes, shared calendars, and a global, company-wide address book, among other features. Security is also paramount in the enterprise world, and Amazon bolstered by years of experience running its massive AWS cloud infrastructure thinks it can give businesses what they need there, as well. WorkMail data is deeply encrypted with private keys, and the company is letting enterprise clients pick a geographic region where their emails will be stored. That could help employees access messages faster, but more importantly means that privacy-minded businesses can pick a region with favorable laws designed to keep prying eyes away from their data. WorkMail will cost $4 per inbox, a rate that's largely in line with what Microsoft and Google charge for their enterprise offerings. It'll launch in the second quarter of this year, so Amazon still has time to show businesses exactly how WorkMail can surpass Exchange. | 5 | 4,249 | news |
It isn't often you hear themes of destiny in scientific literature, but birth order stands out like a sore thumb. While most research relies on people having agency in their actions, investigations into the effects of being born first, second, or someplace further down the ladder seem to say part of our future is already written. These studies can't predict everything we do write our own tickets, after all, at least to a certain extent (philosophers are still out on that one) but they do help shed light on the ways in which our environments groom us to lead one type of lifestyle over another. Scientists have found links between our personalities, our health, and our ability to sustain relationships all determined by whether the universe decided to put your core self, your essence , inside the head of one child or another. Health Differences As temporary only children, first-borns are given a bevy of advantages. They receive all of their parents' affection and earn all the spoils. But it comes with a price. A childhood of excess has been found to lead to several health complications later in life. First-borns are more prone to diabetes , metabolic disorders, and obesity , the last of which shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Parents who want nothing but the best for their pride and joy tend to overfeed them. Parents also tend to helicopter over their first-borns when it comes to their vaccines. A great deal of research suggests a link between first-borns and the development of allergies, asthma, and immune-related disorders. Anxiety plays a part. Statistically speaking, worried parents of an only child will typically rush to get every shot and injection pumped into their kid's veins to prevent future illness more so than they end up doing for future children. As a result, vaccine-related emergency room visits tend to be much higher for first-borns than later siblings. All this panic about doing parenting "right" has an upside. First-borns generally don't engage in as much risky behavior compared to their younger siblings, especially their youngest. The baby of a given family is usually more likely to exhibit addictive tendencies, such as drinking and smoking, and engage in sexual behaviors earlier. In contrast to the strict parenting styles of the first-born, last-born children tend not to get as much attention, which, again, can either be helpful or harmful to their development. A Note On Siblings Before discussing the personality traits that differ between siblings, it's important to keep in mind the many ways in which families operate. Health outcomes, too, come from a set of constraints. Lower-income families might not show the same preference of vaccinating their eldest child more than their youngest, simply because other things take priority, like food and paying the bills. In this sense, financial limitations skew the average data, which, it should be said, isn't a small point. A study from Ohio State University in 2006 found older children aren't necessarily smarter than their younger siblings, as other research has suggested; rather, the majority of that research looked at large and small families, instead of siblings within the same family. When the OSU team controlled for family size, they determined intelligence levels correlated to how old mothers were when they had their first child. "In reality, if you look at these larger families, the fourth-born child is just as intelligent as the first-born," said lead author Aaron Wichman at the time. "But they all don't do as well as children from a smaller family." Another factor psychologists have come to observe is a phenomenon called the "Sibling Niche Theory." In every family, the theory states, children look for their respective roles. Older children typically fall into a leadership role, middle children find a mediating role, and younger children settle into an introspective and sometimes rebellious role. At the same time, they compete for limited resources. "They've got to differentiate themselves in some way to get the attention that they need," said Dr. Corinna Jenkins-Tucker, professor of family relations at the University of New Hampshire. Sometimes those roles are fads kids grow out of, but other times they stick around for life. Personality Differences Each family operates with different constraints, but psychologists have found several sweeping differences between kids born first and those thereafter. The eldest kids, for instance, are more likely to succeed in school because they learn a firmer sense of grit and determination from parents who play tough. Part of that upbringing nudges them toward the role of a leader. First-borns may face more freedom when it comes to their diets, but less so when their grades are on the line. Kids born later in the food chain, with older siblings having already gobbled up other niches, turn to whichever spots they can get their hands on. "The baby of the family can be a little more irresponsible," Jenkins-Tucker said. "Sometimes it's conscious, sometimes it's not." A girl might see her older sister as the jock of the family, so she turns to science. Or it may simply be that soccer strikes her, at some deeper level, as "her sister's thing," so she finds her uniqueness elsewhere. Where first-borns are the dominant forces in the house, occupying a role somewhere between parent and peer to their other siblings, and the baby of the family is avoiding an existential crisis, the middle child also merits attention. Almost in sync with their place in the family tree, middle children tend to be more even-keeled than their siblings at either pole. They mediate, Jenkins-Tucker says. Some research also finds them to be more faithful in relationships, prompting some relationship experts to suggest marrying a middle child a way to avoid divorce. Not Written In Stone Where you're born relative to your siblings can't predict everything about you. Bill Gates, the wealthiest person alive, is the baby of his family. If we look to his fortune and philanthropy as markers of success, he certainly breaks the mold. Kurt Cobain, meanwhile, was the oldest of his siblings and struggled with devastating heroin addiction in the years leading up to his suicide. Birth order can't do it all. Instead, science is finding the complex relationship between nature and nurture demands we consider both sides simultaneously, not just one or the other. Our upbringing may affect our trajectory, but once we leave the nest, it's up to us to decide whether we stay on course. | 7 | 4,250 | health |
Can Oregon make it to the College Football Playoff again without Heisman winner Marcus Mariota? Who will replace Brett Hundley at UCLA? Check out what managing editor Pete Fiutak thinks as he answers questions surrounding the Pac-12 during the off-season. | 1 | 4,251 | sports |
Raising financially responsible kids isn't simply about teaching them how to balance a checkbook. Rather, there are other equally important lessons that children need to learn that don't require money, math or piggy banks. These include learning self control, patience and hard work, just to name a few. If you're not actively working to teach your children wise money management skills because you think they're too young, you may want to reconsider. According to census data, more than 12 million Hispanics live in poverty , so learning financial literacy is one of the crucial skills from which we can all benefit to help break the cycle. A 2013 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company study suggests Latina moms are trying to actively educate their children about finances and involve them in the family budgeting. I can totally relate, as I've been working hard on teaching my kids to be financially responsible. In fact, it is so important to me that I made it a part of our homeschool curriculum. When I was a little girl, I didn't learn the value of money at school. There were no classes on the benefits of saving or how to spend wisely. Instead, it was series of moments spent with my abuelita that left an impression and formed my relationship with money. She carefully managed her checkbook, routinely visited the bank to deposit money in her savings, and was always quick to help those who were financially insecure rituals that made her an excellent teacher about money. Unfortunately, most children still aren't taught financial literacy in schools today. So whether parents realize it or not, that responsibility falls on our shoulders. But how many parents actually take the time to teach their kids the importance of saving and setting financial goals? Part of the problem is that unless you've been trained yourself, it's hard to know where to start and what concepts to teach. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you help your children develop their money savvy skills: 1. You don't have to wait to start training your child. Begin at preschool age by teaching your child that sometimes he or she has to wait and save to get a toy. This will help your child develop patience instead of instant gratification. You can also have your child make his or her own banks out of oatmeal containers or small boxes: one for saving, one for giving, and one for spending. 2. Tie allowances to chores. It's important for kids to learn that money has to be earned and that people don't just give them money for nothing. Earning an allowance helps kids develop a strong work ethic and to be proud of their accomplishments. 3. Make it fun. Every month, make a game of counting coins and dollars. This will not only help your child with seeing the importance of saving, but also help his or her counting skills. 4. Use a dry erase board to create a chore chart. You can use clear tape on top to keep the words from erasing, but take it off when you're ready to make changes to it as your child grows and is able to do more things. 5. Make it special. Praise your child as their savings grows, but don't forget to take them shopping with their spending money! Guide your child on how to give to those in need by using the money from their giving bank (for example: purchase coats, shoes, or food to donate). Here are three more resources to help parents teach kids financial responsibility: " For Me, For You, For Later " With preschoolers in mind, Sesame Street has created the parent toolkit, "For Me, For You, For Later." This multimedia program uses some of your child's favorite characters from Sesame Street to learn about things like helping others, making choices, and other related topics. The toolkit also offers free printables, as well as pages for parents and educators. The best part is that it is available in English and Spanish! " Financial Peace Junior " Financial author Dave Ramsey's awesome kit for kids ages 3-12 includes a quick-start guide, parent guide, activity book, give, save and spend envelopes, calculator, and a wet-erase chore chart. I'm using this kit with my own kids and love how it makes saving and goal setting fun. I also like how it gives parents suggestions for implementing the program, but leaves the control in our hands. " The Financial Fairy Tales" Book Series " Author and educator Daniel Britton has created a series of books designed to teach children about money and the values and skills necessary for responsible money management. The three books and the activity book are described as a complete home study course for children. The series is available in print or via Kindle. | 4 | 4,252 | lifestyle |
"Teen Mom" star Farrah Abraham's top lip swelled after she had an allergic reaction during preparation for a lip implant surgery. The Doctors question whether the scare will serve as a wake-up call for the reality star to stop getting plastic surgery. | 7 | 4,253 | health |
Acclaimed blogger Andrew Sullivan told his readers Wednesday he will retire from blogging soon. "Before our annual auto-renewals, I want to let you know I've decided to stop blogging in the near future," he wrote on The Dish . "I am saturated in digital life and I want to return to the actual world again," he continued. "I'm a human being before I am a writer; and a writer before I am a blogger, and although it's been a joy and a privilege to have helped pioneer a genuinely new form of writing, I yearn for other, older forms." Sullivan noted his desire to slow down and actually read stories carefully: "I want to read again, slowly, carefully. I want to absorb a difficult book and walk around in my own thoughts with it for a while. I want to have an idea and let it slowly take shape, rather than be instantly blogged. I want to write long essays that can answer more deeply and subtly the many questions that the Dish years have presented to me. I want to write a book." Over the last two decades, Sullivan has become one of the preeminent bloggers, becoming known for his writings on the Iraq War, marriage equality, and Israel. On the Iraq War, Sullivan adamantly supported the 2003 invasion, but years later, acknowledged being wrong and called out Republicans who wouldn't do the same. One of Sullivan's most notable pieces was from 2012, when CNN anchor Anderson Cooper publicly came out as gay for the first time to Sullivan. Sullivan wrote for "The New Republic," "Time," "The Daily Beast," and "The Atlantic" before launching his own subscription-based site, "The Dish," in 2013. In his piece announcing his retirement, Sullivan noted how well his site has fared in two years. "In just two years, you built a million dollar revenue company, with 30,000 subscribers, a million monthly readers, and revenue growth of 17 percent over the first year," he said. One of the most powerful parts of his retirement piece came when he spoke about wanting to take advantage of the time left with his parents, husband, and friends. "I want to spend some real time with my parents, while I still have them, with my husband, who is too often a 'blog-widow', my sister and brother, my niece and nephews, and rekindle the friendships that I have simply had to let wither because I'm always tied to the blog. And I want to stay healthy. I've had increasing health challenges these past few years. They're not HIV-related; my doctor tells me they're simply a result of fifteen years of daily, hourly, always-on-deadline stress. These past few weeks were particularly rough - and finally forced me to get real." | 6 | 4,254 | entertainment |
IRS rules are complex IRS Publication 590--the one that details the rules on various types of IRAs--is a full 62 pages long. It includes the skinny on Roth, Traditional, SIMPLE, spousal, inherited, and SEP IRA accounts, as well as details about conversions, conduits, recharacterizations, required minimum distributions, and withdrawals. Is it any wonder so many investors face analysis paralysis when it comes to deciding what type of IRA to invest in and what to put inside of it? The complexity of all of those IRA rules also leaves open room for a lot of shorthand advice that, while well meaning, isn't right for everyone. Investors might hear that a Roth IRA will always be best, for example, or that you should go out of your way to house tax-inefficient investments inside of it. With IRA-contribution season in full swing--you have until April 15 to make a contribution for the 2014 tax year--here are seven common myths about making a contribution to one of these tax-favored accounts. Myth 1: If you contribute to an IRA, you won't be able to get your money out unless you have some type of extenuating situation--for example, you're buying a home or going back to school. Investors may have heard about complicated rules for IRA withdrawals--that they'll need to be buying a home or paying off big medical bills, for example, in order to get their money out without any taxes penalties prior to retirement. Traditional IRA withdrawals and withdrawals of investment earnings from Roth IRAs are indeed governed by some byzantine rules. But Roth contributions are always accessible at any time and for any reason without taxes or penalties. Ditto for the new myRA accounts, which are essentially Roth accounts for investors just starting out. That's not to say raiding an IRA is a good idea, but investors shouldn't delay contributions if they're concerned they may need to tap their accounts prematurely. (Such investors should just be sure to park at least some of their Roth IRAs in liquid assets in case they might need to pull their money out prior to retirement.) Myth 2: A Roth IRA is always the best type. Many investors have heard so much about the tax-saving benefits and flexibility of Roth IRAs--tax-free withdrawals in retirement, no required minimum distributions, the ability to take tax- and penalty-free withdrawals of their contributions--that they don't even consider a Traditional IRA. And it's true that young investors--especially those who are just getting started in their careers--are usually better off contributing to a Roth, because it's a good bet they'll be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than when they're on a starting salary. Midcareer savers who have already accumulated substantial traditional 401(k) and IRA assets would also do well to consider Roth contributions. Even if they don't know how their current tax bracket will stack up relative to their in-retirement years, accumulating assets in both Traditional and Roth accounts is a good way to hedge their bets. But late bloomers--those who haven't yet saved a lot for retirement--may, in fact, be better off making a Traditional IRA contribution, assuming they can deduct the contribution on their tax returns. (This article outlines the income limits.) That's because their small savings means they may, in fact, be in a lower tax bracket in retirement than they are now, so they're better off taking advantage of the tax break today. This article addresses some of the other reasons one may not want to reach for a Roth. Myth 3: You can't make a Roth IRA contribution if you earn too much. High-income individuals may skim the income limitations for Roth IRAs and assume that a Roth IRA contribution is off limits. But those income limits are but a formality these days, given that there are no income limits on conversions from Traditional IRAs to Roths. (Prior to 2010, there were.) Thus, a high-income individual may get into a Roth IRA by opening a Traditional nondeductible IRA--on which there are no income limits--then converting shortly thereafter. The tax consequences should be minimal, assuming the investor doesn't accumulate a lot of investment earnings before the conversion and has no other Traditional IRA assets. This article details the backdoor IRA maneuver, as well as how those with big Traditional IRA balances can get into trouble with a backdoor Roth IRA. Myth 4: You shouldn't fund a backdoor IRA if you have a lot of Traditional IRA assets. There's more than a kernel of truth here: Would-be Roth IRA investors going in through the backdoor can, in fact, trigger a larger-than-expected tax bill on their conversion if they have other Traditional IRA assets. But this isn't an intractable problem for all investors. For those who can also contribute to a good-quality company retirement plan--where that plan offers so-called "roll-ins" from other 401(k)s or IRAs--combining the pretax Traditional IRA assets with the 401(k), 403(b), or 457 can be a good workaround, as discussed here. Myth 5: High-income investors can benefit from investing in--and hanging on to--a nondeductible IRA. Investors who earn too much to deduct a Traditional IRA contribution and are shut out of the backdoor Roth maneuver--because they have substantial Traditional IRA assets and lack a worthwhile company retirement plan to roll those monies into--might assume they should just contribute to a nondeductible Traditional IRA and let it ride. But that would be a mistake in most instances. After all, they can readily mimic the tax-sheltering features of a Traditional IRA within their taxable accounts, by holding exchange-traded funds, individual stocks, and municipal-bond funds, for example. Additionally, withdrawals from a taxable account are eligible for long-term capital gains treatment as low as 0%, whereas IRA withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax. (Investors in nondeductible IRAs do, however, get to skirt taxes on their cost basis when they withdraw their assets.) Finally, investors in taxable accounts aren't subject to required minimum distributions, unlike Traditional IRA investors. Myth 6: You can't contribute to an IRA once you hit age 70 1/2. It's true that you can't contribute to a Traditional IRA once you pass age 70 1/2; in fact, that's the year in which you're supposed to begin taking required minimum distributions from the account. But turning 70 1/2 is a non-event for Roth IRA owners, and contributors, too. As long as the individual (or his or her spouse) has enough earned income to cover the amount of that contribution--that is, income that comes from working and not Social Security, a pension, or an investment portfolio--it's possible to fund a Roth IRA at any age. Myth 7: You should only hold tax-inefficient investments inside your IRA. Many investors have heard about the basic concept of asset location--basically, holding tax-inefficient assets like bonds and REITs within their IRAs and tax-friendly types, such as ETFs, index funds, individual stocks, and municipal bonds, within their taxable accounts. That's sound advice, but investors shouldn't go out of their way to invest their IRAs in tax-inefficient investments. For investors with very long time horizons for their IRAs, stocks are the way to go--never mind bonds. In a similar vein, indexing true believers should go ahead and populate their IRAs with index funds and ETFs; those vehicles also happen to be tax-efficient, but that attribute won't drag on their returns. (By contrast, munis will only make sense for taxable accounts, because a muni bond typically pays a lower yield in exchange for its tax benefits.) | 3 | 4,255 | finance |
This is some Will Schuester realness. | 8 | 4,256 | video |
NEW YORK (AP) An NBA spokesman says Matt Barnes' $25,000 fine was for inappropriate language directed toward a fan, not Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, as the Clippers forward alleged. Barnes was penalized Tuesday by the league for an incident it says occurred with 4:28 remaining in the second quarter of the Clippers' 120-100 victory in Phoenix on Sunday. He later wrote on Twitter that he was talking to Sarver, whom he said was sitting on the baseline and had cursed at him first. Barnes was also fined $25,000 in December for kicking a water bottle into the stands and directing profane language at fans. | 1 | 4,257 | sports |
Running, while an easy exercise to pick up, isn't for everyone; one person's meditative mile is another's boredom-inducing march. But if you're an erstwhile enthusiastic new runner who can't quite seem to get into the sport, make sure you read these tips before you write off your new hobby for good. Don't go overboard: You may be ready to pound the pavement with the best of them (at least in your mind), but enthusiasm and skill don't always match up - which can lead to discouragement and injuries that can set you back. Don't push yourself too far or fast when you first start running; just focus on learning the right form and how to breathe while you run rather than your pace when you first start. Once you're comfortable with how running feels, try following a plan designed to make you a faster, better runner, like this beginner's 5K training plan.Go at the right time: When you run when you have the most energy, you'll be more likely to actually like your new hobby. Try out different times to run to see when you feel your best. You may find that running those three miles in the morning is a breeze compared to mustering up enough energy to hit the treadmill after work. Fuel right: You need energy for your run, but slipping on your sneakers right after a big meal is a recipe for disaster. Stop the stomach aches by planning out your meals with your running times. You should wait at least two to three hours after a main meal before you go for a run. If it's been longer, have a small, easily digestible pre-workout snack at least 30 minutes before you go. Warm up: Every runner has been there - the feeling of lead-filled legs that just make running that much more of a chore. While there are many reasons why you can be feeling low energy before a run, one sure way to start off on the wrong foot is to not ease into your run. Take a few minutes to jog slowly to warm up your body before you ramp up your speed. Entertain yourself: While running itself can be an endorphin-boosting, stress-relieving hobby, let's face it - it's incredibly repetitive. If you're bored out of your mind running, switch up your route, get off the treadmill and on the trail, and make sure you load up your phone with enough adrenaline-inducing workout playlists to take you through your workouts. | 7 | 4,258 | health |
Jimmy McMillan is famously known for the quote "The Rent Is Too Damn High." He's now getting evicted from his apartment. | 8 | 4,259 | video |
Just a few reasons to start watching The Americans: ridiculous '80s wigs, ruthless characters, and, yes, a shirtless leading man. Do we have your attention? Good. The third season of FX's Soviet spy drama starts this week, and if you're not already hooked, pick up that remote because it's time to catch up. Here are our top reasons to start watching today! | 6 | 4,260 | entertainment |
Gladiators, you're going to need some sustenance tomorrow night, because Scandal is returning and it's bound to be a dramatic adventure. Our beloved Olivia Pope has been kidnapped. Who took her: her father, her mother, Andrew and Elizabeth North? Who does she love -- Fitz or Jake Ballard? Maybe, really, she just loves red wine? The suspense is enough to occupy every Scandal fan until the show airs, so you probably haven't even thought about dinner yet. As Olivia Pope would say, consider it handled. Here are 10 foolproof snacks to enjoy with your glass -- or bottle -- of red wine. Perfect Popcorn Get the recipe for Perfect Popcorn by Marian Bull Alice's House Truffles 4.0 Get the recipe for Alice's House Truffles 4.0 by Alice Medrich. Greek Style Cheese Pies (Tyropita) Get the recipe for Greek Style Cheese Pies (Tyropita) by Alexandra V. Jones Fig and Olive Tapenade Get the recipe for Fig and Olive Tapenade by Kayb . How to Make Any Meatballs in 5 Steps Learn: How to Make Any Meatballs in 5 Steps by Jestei . Chevre Devils Get the recipe for Chevre Devils by gingerroot . Grilled Chocolate Sandwiches Get the recipe for Grilled Chocolate Sandwiches by Alice Medrich . Gnocchi Verde (Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings) Get the recipe for Gnocchi Verde (Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings) by Sarah Jampel . Fennel and Mushroom Paté with Grainy Mustard Get the recipe for Fennel and Mushroom Paté with Grainy Mustard by Laura Wright | The First Mess . Paula Wolfert's Herb Jam with Olive and Lemon Make jam for Olivia, because she probably never will: Paula Wolfert's Herb Jam with Olive and Lemon by Genius Recipes . | 0 | 4,261 | foodanddrink |
Up till late An eastern screech-owl is seen at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium following a program entitled, 'Whoo's Awake' that looks at the types of owls in Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C. Healing dip A villager rides his horse in a thermal spring at temperatures around 40 degrees centigrade in the village of Budakl in Guroymak district, Bitlis, Turkey. The springs are sought after by local and foreign tourists for their healing properties. Panthera Leo cubs A Panthera Leo cub seen at Hangzhou Safari Park in Zhejiang province of China. Pigeon-breeding competition A flock of coloured pigeons fly during a pigeon-breeding competition in the southern Spanish village of Bollullos de la Mitacion. Wrestling pandas Giant Panda mom Mei Xiang (L) and her cub Bao Bao (R) wrestle in the snow at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington. Cat exhibition An expert looks at a cat during "The best cat of Belarus" international cat exhibition in Minsk. New aviary Pelicans during feeding time at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. The park unveiled its latest aviary, Wings of Asia, featuring some of Asia's rarest and most endangered birds. Religious celebration A man and his horse stand near a fire during the "Luminarias" annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony's, patron of animals, in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares, Spain. According to tradition dating back 500 years, people ride horses through the narrow cobblestone streets of this small village to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires. Taking stock A girl plays with her pet rooster Dancer as she loads up her birds after showing them at the National Western Stock Show in Colorado, United States. Free birds A paramilitary policeman releases a wild goose in Linghai, Liaoning province in China. About eight wild geese, which were found injured, were set free after having their wounds treated by a team of paramilitary policemen, according to local media. Royal Berlin tiger Five-week-old Amur tiger cub 'Alisha' is presented to the media for the first time at the Tierpark Friedrichsfelde zoo in Berlin, Germany. Dancing horses Horses and riders perform on stage during a dress rehearsal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's cantata "Davide penitente" in Salzburg, Austria. Pope's blessings Pope Francis blesses a lamb on the Feast Of St. Agnes at the Vatican. Dog sled race Dogs rest during the Sedivackuv Long dog sled race in Destne v Orlickych horach, Czech Republic. Buffalo race A man races a pair of buffaloes as he participates in Kambala, an annual buffalo race conducted to mark the end of the harvest season, at Surathkal town, India. Show time A Pacific White Sided Dolphin (L) and Lolita the Killer Whale (R) are seen during a show at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami, United States. Rescued Long-tailed macaque babies are seen inside a basket after the police seized a truck smuggling them from Vietnam to China, in Changsha, Hunan province. Feasting lemurs Lemurs eat at Qingdao Forest Wildlife World in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. New home A rescued female grizzly bear lies in the snow in its new habitat at New York's Central Park Zoo. As white as snow Swans and ducks gather on a partially ice-covered lake, with the air temperature at about minus 35 degrees Celsius (minus 31 degrees Fahrenheit), as steam ascends above the water near the village of Urozhainy in Sovetsky, Russia. Delicious A spider monkey eats ice cream during a hot summer day at Rio de Janeiro's zoo. A Christmas treat An elephant plays with a Christmas tree at Prague Zoo in Czech Republic. Blessed Priest Alfred Vella blesses a dog during a ceremony outside the Grand Master Pinto Chapel on the Waterfront at Valletta, Malta. Hungry orangutan An orangutan eats a bunch of bananas at Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesia. Selfie time A woman takes a selfie with a seal in a water tunnel at the zoo in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Meet the royal Princess Stephanie of Monaco poses with an elephant during a photocall for the presentation of the 39th International festival circus of Monte Carlo in Monaco. Enjoying the snow A golden retriever dashes through the snow in Revere, Massachusetts, United States. Western Lowland Gorilla Western Lowland Gorilla youngster 'Nuru' in Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesia. A robin A robin pictured along the River Darent, Eynsford in Kent, England. | 5 | 4,262 | news |
Ford has issued a recall covering 221,000 models including the Taurus, Police Interceptor, Lincoln MKS, and Transit Connect. A majority of the recalls have to do with an issue related to the door handles, while the Transit Connect may have a potential issue with the seatbelts. Ford says it isn't aware of accidents or injuries related to the two recalls. 2010-2013 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, Police Interceptor The Problem: Certain 2010-2013 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS models may have a defective door handle spring that, when unseated, could cause the door to unlatch in a side-impact crash. Certain models of the fleet-only, Taurus-based Police Interceptor are also affected. The Fix: Affected owners can take their vehicles to a dealer, where technicians will inspect all four door handles and replace them if necessary at no cost. Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: Ford says the recall covers a total of 204,945 2010-2013 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and Police Interceptor sedans in North America, with 194,889 of them in the U.S. and federalized territories; 9948 in Canada; and 108 in Mexico. 2014 Ford Transit Connect The Problem: The seatbelt fasteners in certain 2014 Transit Connect vans may not have been tightened to specification, meaning they could loosen over time and cause seatbelts to not function as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The Fix: Dealers will replace and properly tighten the fasteners for free, and while they're at it, they'll also replace and properly torque the cargo tie-downs in the cargo area. Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: 16,100 2014 Ford Transit Connect vans built between November 6, 2013 and September 20, 2014 at the Valencia Assembly Plant. All affected units are located in the U.S. Source: Ford | 9 | 4,263 | autos |
Forget the hotel Wi-Fi. Now that the Federal Communications Commission is cracking down on hotels and other businesses trying to force you to use their networks, it's time to consider a more secure way to connect to the Internet. The FCC warned businesses Tuesday that Wi-Fi blocking violates the Communications Act, and it's an illegal move that it will be "aggressively investigating." "Protecting consumers from this kind of interference is a priority area for the FCC enforcement bureau," said Chairman Tom Wheeler in a statement . Wi-Fi blocking made headlines last October, after Marriott International (MAR) agreed to pay a civil fine of $600,000 to resolve such an FCC probe. The investigation found that employees at Marriott's Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, had prevented guests from connecting to the Internet via their own Wi-Fi hotspots, while charging them for access to the hotel's network. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, just 11 percent of hotels charge for in-room Internet access, down from 23 percent in 2012. Fees can vary widely, with prices starting as low as $4 per day, or ranging up to $25 as part of a broader resort fee. Some properties offer basic access for free, with a charge for more bandwidth; at Marriott, Rewards club members get free basic access and can pay $5 to $7 per day, depending on the market, for premium access. The hotel group later petitioned the FCC for the ability to block guests' personal Wi-Fi. "Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyberattacks and identity theft," it said in a statement after the October ruling. But after criticism from guests as well as companies including Google (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) , the hotel group backtracked earlier this month and said it would not block guests' access. Security experts say the FCC's reinforcement of consumer choice bodes well for those looking to keep their data secure. "Any time you're connecting to a public network, whether it's in a coffee shop, a bookstore or a hotel, there are some basic things you need to think about," said Geoff Webb, senior director of solution strategy for security management firm NetIQ. Namely, whether there's someone else with malicious intent using the same network to grab some of the data you're transmitting. "A lot of these connections are relatively secure," he said. But "there's a risk that you don't know who's listening in." More hotels are expected to offer free Wi-Fi to guests this year. Marriott began offering all Rewards club members basic free Wi-Fi earlier this month, with elite members getting a faster connection. Starwood Hotels & Resorts (HOT) and Hyatt Hotels (H) also have plans to expand guest access to free Wi-Fi access this spring. Consumers planning to use one of those hotel or other public networks could benefit from a virtual private network, or VPN, said Ryan Olson, Unit 42 intelligence director for security firm Palo Alto Networks. VPNs encrypt all data going to or from your computer, helping protect you from anyone eavesdropping. Plenty of companies offer that protection for traveling employees to secure business communications; consumers can sign up for free or low-cost VPN services such as Hotspot Shield Elite, proXPN or VPN Direct. A better option might be the one that businesses have tried to block: Turning your phone into a personal hot spot to connect a laptop or other device to the Internet. (The logistics and cost will depend on your device, wireless carrier and data plan.) If you configure the connection securely, "those are definitely a better choice," said Luke Klink, a security programs strategy consultant for Rook Security. If you must use a public Wi-Fi network, make sure you have the right one. "There are tools out there that [hackers] can use to create access points that look just like the one you're trying to get onto," said Klink. Ask a hotel or coffee shop employee for the right network name and password to avoid joining a like-named rogue that will capture all the data you transmit. Regardless of how secure you think the connection is, use caution when surfing anywhere that's not home or work, said Olson. Skip online banking and other financial transactions, and avoid sending sensitive documents and emails. "If all you're going to do is watch Netflix, that's fine," he said. | 3 | 4,264 | finance |
We Spy Style is back and better than ever! Sophia Banks - celebrity stylist to stars like Kendall and Kylie Jenner - joins us along with Daniella Monet from the hit TV show Victorious for our first new episode of the year! Of course, we have to talk about Kim Kardashian's interesting après ski style, designed by none other than husband Kanye West. Plus, Taylor Swift tries out the harness trend - do you like? We're also taking advantage of all the awesome Winter clothing sales; shop our favorite sale items below! On Allison: Vince turtleneck, All Saints vest, Alexander Wang pants, Nasty Gal shoes | 4 | 4,265 | lifestyle |
Some California firefighters' helmet cameras capture the nail-biting moments they rescued three young children from a fire. Jen Markham (@jenmarkham) has the dramatic video. | 8 | 4,266 | video |
LAS VEGAS A Saudi Arabian air force sergeant who arrived in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve two years ago may never get to leave Nevada after being sentenced Wednesday to a minimum of 35 years in state prison for kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old boy at a Las Vegas Strip hotel. Mazen Alotaibi, 25, stared at the courtroom floor as the boy's mother sobbed that her son's life was ruined and Clark County District Court Judge Stefany Miley imposed the mandatory sentence for sexual assault with a minor under the age of 14. Alotaibi didn't testify at trial in October 2013, and he didn't speak Wednesday. With time already served, he will be 57 before he is first eligible for parole. "This idea that you can come in here and ... do the things you want and then you get to leave, and 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' is wrong," prosecutor Jacqueline Bluth said. "That's all about show. It's not real life." "It should really be, 'What happens here could make you stay here a long time,'" she said. "If you come here and you commit crimes and you rape our kids, you're going to pay for it." Defense attorney Dominic Gentile said he intends to appeal Alotaibi's conviction and sentence. The judge spared the former air force mechanic additional sentences of life with the possibility of parole for his convictions on kidnapping and lewdness with a child under 14. The judge ran sentences concurrently, including one to 10 years for burglary resulting from a jury finding that Alotaibi entered a building with intent to commit a crime. Combined, all charges could have added another 66 years to Alotaibi's minimum prison time. "You want to talk about a life sentence?" Bluth asked. She asked Miley to string sentences back to back to ensure Alotaibi would never get out. "What about (the boy's) life?" Bluth used the boy's nickname. The Associated Press is withholding his name and his mother's name to avoid identifying a victim of a sex crime. The boy is now 15 and lives with his family in California. Gentile objected and the judge stopped Bluth from referring to a doctor's presentencing psychosexual report that said when Alotaibi entered the United States from Saudi Arabia, he began engaging in what the prosecutor called "reckless" encounters with prostitutes. The report was sealed by the judge as a confidential medical record. Alotaibi came to the U.S. for military training at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. Bluth acknowledged the boy made a bad decision to seek marijuana from Alotaibi as they passed in a Circus Circus hotel hallway shortly after dawn Dec. 31, 2012. The boy testified at trial that he was lured by the smelled of pot smoke. Bluth said Wednesday that Alotaibi was lured by Las Vegas' marketing as Sin City, and recklessly capitalized on the boy's decision. Alotaibi's trial lawyer, Don Chairez, later maintained that the boy traded sex for the promise of marijuana. But Nevada state law says a child under 16 can't consent to sex. The jury found Alotaibi guilty of forcing sex on the boy. Gentile lost a bid to get the judge to reconsider Alotaibi's conviction on grounds that Alotaibi was too drunk to know he was committing a crime. Gentile conferred after sentencing in a hallway with a representative of the Saudi Royal Consulate General who declined to speak with a reporter. The defense attorney said he intends to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court for a new trial, arguing that Alotaibi was badly represented by Chairez. Reached by telephone, Chairez defended his work as "excellent." He said he also discussed appeal strategy with Gentile. "For Mr. Alotaibi's sake, I hope this is one of the grounds that will be successful and the court grants him a new trial," Chairez said. Gentile, a prominent Nevada criminal defense and constitutional lawyer and adjunct law school professor, said he'll also argue that world events made it impossible for Alotaibi to get a fair trial. "Mazen Alotaibi is an Arab Muslim," Gentile said. "I don't believe he can get a fair trial in America today because of overwhelming bias and prejudice." | 5 | 4,267 | news |
Madison Keys overcame former champion Venus Williams to reach the semi-final of the Australian Open. | 8 | 4,268 | video |
Former NFL players who began playing tackle football before age 12 are more likely to suffer from memory and thinking problems than those who took up the game later, a new study has found. The findings, published on Wednesday in the scientific journal Neurology, come amid heightened concerns over the effects that playing the physically punishing sport can have on the brain. The National Football League has agreed to pay up to $5 million to each former player developing neurological impairment in a settlement that is under judicial review. Most of the 20,000 former players involved in a class-action lawsuit against the NFL back the deal, while others think the league should pay more. "Our study suggests that there may be a critical window of brain development during which repeated head impacts can lead to thinking and memory difficulties later in life," study author Robert Stern, a neurologist at Boston University, said in a statement. "If larger studies confirm this association, there may be a need to consider safety changes in youth sports." Since the study focused on NFL players, the results may not extend to the general public, and more research is needed, he added. The study consisted of 42 former NFL players with an average age of 52, all of whom had experienced memory and thinking problems for at least six months. Half the players started playing tackle football before age 12, with a similar number of concussions sustained between the two groups. The researchers found that those who started playing earlier performed "significantly worse" on all test measures, including remembering words from a list they had been given 15 minutes earlier. "Given that 70 percent of all football players in the United States are under the age of 14, and every child ages nine to 12 can be exposed to 240 head impacts during a single football season, a better understanding of how these impacts may affect children's brains is urgently needed," said Christopher Filley, a University of Colorado neurologist, in an editorial accompanying the study. He added that because the study could not take into account the precise number of hits each player absorbed, the results might be a reflection of more overall blows to the head rather than early exposure to football. The NFL and the NFL Players Association did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Kaminsky in New Orleans; Additional reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney) | 1 | 4,269 | sports |
You know I love Ken Paves. And his partner in crime, Sarah Lucero, is just as lovely. (She's the global director of education for Stila Cosmetics.) When the two aren't traveling together to get their clients - like Victoria Beckham - ready for big events, they're most likely at Ken's hair sanctuary on Robertson Boulevard in LA. I stopped by the cottage for a few reasons: one being that it's adorable and has great energy, but also to get the scoop on what trends from the red carpet they think will translate best in the real world (read: on me). Ken was all about a flirty ponytail and gave two pieces of key advice to achieve a picture-perfect hairdo - one involves eye shadow, and it's a game changer. Sarah's makeup inspiration spawned from Kate Hudson, so the eyes were accentuated with liner, the brows were full and filled in, and the rest of the face was lightly contoured to lift the cheekbones. I'm particularly fond of this look because, even though I'm not walking a red carpet anytime soon, the wavy ponytail and makeup are a sporty-chic take on date-night glam. On Kirbie: Topshop | 4 | 4,270 | lifestyle |
A tech company just broke the record for highest quarterly profit ever recorded , and it did it by selling a supposed commodity product: a smartphone. Apple's $18 billion profit over the last three months of 2014 was driven primarily by growing iPhone sales, which accounted for more than two-thirds of the company's $74.6 billion in revenue. At a time when smartphones are being dismissed as undifferentiated slabs of composite materials, Apple's making more money from the hardware it sells than it ever has before, and the average price of every iPhone sold has actually risen. With iPads and Macs counted alongside the iPhone, Apple sold 101 million devices in the last quarter, and once you factor in iPods, the Apple TV, and peripherals like Beats headphones, 93.5 per cent of all its revenue came from hardware sales. That ratio somewhat masks the value of Apple's software ecosystem - the diversity and quality of iOS apps are big attractions for people who never want to feel like they're missing out - but it also illustrates the central importance of devices to Apple's bottom line. While the company relies on a unique combination of hardware, software, and after-sales support to win over customers, it is almost entirely through the sale of physical things that it "cashes out" the goodwill it accrues. There's no denying, of course, that some of the iPhone sales euphoria is pure, unadulterated hype. Did you get the new iPhone? Why, was it because you couldn't afford it? It's actually the size of a useful smartphone now! But even with all the anticipation that had built up, even with its excellent app ecosystem and prestigious reputation, the iPhone wouldn't have sold as well as it did without being a really good piece of hardware. For all the people who complained about their new iPhones bending, there were many more praising the svelte design, the gently curved sides, the brilliant display, the effortless camera , and the reliable Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple also wouldn't have achieved its present record of iPhone sales without having a history of good iPhone designs, with its older iPhone 5S and 5C reportedly still selling well around the world. It's just a habit of doing more things right than wrong, which has stimulated Apple's loyal following and provided a consistent development platform for Apple's equally loyal app developers. It's a virtuous circle that every other tech company would dearly love to emulate. The common platitude expressed by smartphone makers is that profit margins are razor-thin, and meaningful differentiation from the competition is becoming nigh-on impossible. That's driven them to focus on delivering the highest specs for a given price, which is a strategy Samsung pursued to its great benefit for years before being outmaneuvered by even cheaper Chinese competitors. But Apple's sales numbers show that there's plenty of room left in the market for premium-priced devices with a superior design and user experience. The iPhone's not alone in that category, either, as HTC's all-aluminum One M7 was its best designed and its best selling phone before the introduction of the One M8. As vast and sophisticated as the mobile tech industry may have become, in the end it still relies on some very basic ways for making money. You can either sell hardware, like Apple's doing, or sell ads, which account for roughly the same proportion of Google's regular income. Netflix and Amazon's Kindle store have found success as cross-platform services, but spending on mobile software is unlikely to ever match that of the old days when we paid for Windows, Office, and Photoshop on the desktop. It's easier to sell things that a person can touch and interact with physically. This is why HTC is diversifying into selling weird cameras , why LG and Samsung keep churning out new smartwatches in search of a perfect formula, and why everyone at CES earlier this month had a wearable of some kind to show off. And in spite of their lamentations about tough competition, HTC, LG, and Lenovo are all generating profits from their smartphone operations, and Samsung's recent sales decline hasn't been enough to put the Korean company on the wrong side of the ledger. None of these manufacturers have a profit driver of the caliber of the iPhone, but they're running sustainable businesses even while relying almost wholly on Google's Android software. Apple's historic quarter has been a good reminder of the importance of physical things to the profitability of tech companies. Even the companies that are more concerned with building other sources of revenue like Google seeking more platforms to display ads and Amazon trying to sell you anything at any time or place find themselves inevitably drawn into the hardware game. Microsoft wanted the best possible showcase for a touch-friendly Windows, so it built the Surface tablets. Facebook also wanted to be the first thing you see when you turn on your phone, so it tried to do something similar. Building great hardware alone is no guarantee of success just look at Nokia but people aren't standing in days-long lines for iCloud or Apple Pay. Apple's remarkable numbers start with great hardware, and in all likelihood, they always will. | 3 | 4,271 | finance |
CHARLOTTE -- NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson is recovering after he suffered a mild stroke Dec. 9. A statement provided by Pearson's family Wednesday said the stroke affected his left side, but the 80-year-old is 80-85% back to normal as a result of therapy. The family said "we expect a full recovery soon." Nicknamed the "Silver Fox" for his sly, quick moves on the track and his prematurely graying hair, Pearson is considered by some to be the greatest NASCAR driver of all time. He is second on the all-time wins list with 105 victories and won three championships -- in 1966, '68 and '69, before retiring in 1989. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, the leading vote-getter in his class. Only Richard Petty has more Cup wins -- he retired with 200. Petty also has seven titles. The Pearson family statement also said: "He is able to walk slowly and his arm continues to get better with maneuverability. He has great grip with his left hand, so we are very much encouraged. "He continues to have therapy on both his leg and arm and progresses each day. ... Thanks to the NASCAR family and all of his fans and friends for their support and concern." The stroke followed another health issue for Pearson -- an abdominal aneurysm, which occurred in October and left him hospitalized for more than a week. Many expected to see Pearson on Friday, when NASCAR inducts its next class into the Hall of Fame. Pearson was inducted in 2011. Contributing: Mike Hembree Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck | 1 | 4,272 | sports |
As you've noticed by now, I have strong opinions about automotive aesthetics. Here are a few of the biggest mistakes that I believe auto manufacturers make in modifying their products: Convertible performance cars I love the Porsche Boxster and Mazda Miata . They are focused, purpose-built roadsters. My gripe is limited to convertible versions of performance coupes, cars like the drop-top Audi RS 5 and BMW M4. The M4 coupe weighs 3,530 pounds, while the open-air model (pictured above) adds a rather insane 525 pounds to the game. That's a 15 percent increase. This porking-up combined with less structural rigidity dulls performance, all for an extra $8,300. If you want to feel the wind in your hair, buy a BMW 435i Convertible. Actually, just get the Boxster. Easter eggs I find the whole concept of hiding tacky design elements inside a car annoying. Chrysler leads the idiotic Easter egg trend. The Dodge Viper features an embossed track map of the Nurburgring in the door pull -- complete with the V-10 coupe's lap time. There's also a layout of Laguna Seca stamped into the tray in the rear portion of the center console. Sorry, this is clearly an example of trying too hard to be cool. The Viper is not the only Mopar going down this ludicrous path. The rubber mat fitted to the center console in the new Chrysler 200 depicts the skyline of the city of Detroit. Don't worry, the burned-out buildings and large number of vacant lots, and of course General Motors' Renaissance Center headquarters, are not depicted. Then there's the new Jeep Renegade . The Fiat-based B-segment crossover isn't likely to encounter any rough terrain outside of a stray pothole in a Sam's Club parking lot, but a glance at the tachometer might make drivers feel ready to conquer the Amazon jungle. In place of a simple, easy-to-read redline, Jeep designers inserted a spattering of red mud. Apparently, cute Jeeps aren't going away with the Compass. Wagons trying to be SUVs I don't drink light beer, and we rarely have margarine in the house. We're a butter family. We like honesty. For similar reasons, I can't get my head around station wagons that are trying to be SUVs. Why compromise a vehicle's dynamics with taller suspension and tires? If you want the look of an SUV, then buy an SUV. I miss the Volvo V70, the Audi A4 Avant, and the Subaru Legacy wagon. They've been replaced with the Volvo XC70, Audi Allroad (above), and Subaru Outback . These "wannabe a tough-guy" station wagons will never venture off the pavement, and the added plastic cladding looks cheap. If you choose a Volvo V60, BMW 3 Series wagon, or Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon, you'll find they're perfect for picking up proper ale and full-fat butter. Extra badges I debadge my personal cars. I like a clean, uncluttered look. The overload of badges on modern cars does my head in. The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid was the worst, with hybrid badges on the front fenders, C-pillars, and tailgate. You may remember, if you ever saw one of these mercifully discontinued hybrid-powered luxury SUVs, that it also had a giant hybrid decal across the lower portion of the front and rear doors. The Prius crowd wasn't amused. But it's not just American cars that wear enough jewelry to make Mr. T jealous. Order a new 911 C4S without ticking the no-cost box to delete the model designation, and you get a "Porsche 911 Carrera 4S" billboard across the rear bumper (as seen above). The $847,975 Porsche hybrid sports car is worse. The "918 Spyder" badge beneath "Porsche" on the rear bumper is outlined in save-the-Earth green. You'll find "e-hybrid" badges fitted to the front fenders with green eyeliner, matching the hideous bright-green brake calipers. Smart shoppers will pay Porsche $2,800 to paint the PCCB carbon-ceramic brake calipers silver and will also select the no-cost badge delete option. They also should eliminate the 918 Spyder script from the headrests -- trust me, it looks far nicer this way, and Porsche, surprisingly, doesn't even charge for this one. Unfortunately, all other Porsches ordered with the PCCB option come with yellow brake calipers, and they cannot be deleted. Next time: My owner-added car modification pet peeves. | 9 | 4,273 | autos |
Bart was hit by a car and presumed dead | 8 | 4,274 | video |
Amazon is wandering further into the corporate technology market with a new email and eletronic calendar service that will take on Microsoft Outlook and Google Gmail. The service, to be called WorkMail, will be announced Wednesday, according to a report . WorkMail's two main selling points are simplicity and security. Businesses can switch to WorkMail without disrupting their workers since Amazon's new service can run through Microsoft Outlook and other commonly used email interface applications. The only thing businesses switch with WorkMail is the technology that powers their email and the data centers where the information is kept. With WorkMail, emails run through Amazon's servers, which keep emails safe and encrypted. Amazon will also let businesses select in what regions they store their emails, allowing companies to essentially choose what laws their message are subject to. "Customers are not happy with their current email solution," Adam Selipsky , an executive with Amazon Web Services, told the Wall Street Journal . "A lot of customers feel those solutions are expensive and complex." WorkMail will reportedly cost $4 a month per email inbox, which is similar to what Microsoft and Google charge for their workplace offerings. | 3 | 4,275 | finance |
DENVER Tourists who fly to Colorado, home of legal pot, can forget about buying souvenir boxer shorts, socks or sandals with a marijuana leaf on them when passing through the Denver airport. The airport has banned pot-themed souvenirs, fearing the kitsch could taint the state's image. Marijuana possession and any pot-related advertising were already forbidden. Airport executives extended the ban this month after a retailer sought a free-standing kiosk to sell the boxer shorts and similar items that played off Colorado's place as the first state to allow recreational marijuana sales. Airport officials feared the souvenirs would send the wrong message. "We don't want marijuana to be the first thing our visitors experience when they arrive," airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said. The spurned retailer is mulling a lawsuit, noting that the souvenirs are legal and that the airport already has a large exhibit celebrating craft brewers, whose product, like marijuana, is legal only for people 21 and older. "Why is everybody so riled up about the picture of a plant?" asked Ann Jordan, owner of High-ly Legal Colorado, which makes the shorts, socks and "pot flop" sandals that are already sold in Denver-area music stores. But it's unlikely that Jordan would have a strong claim. Airports have broad discretion to control concession operators, and they can limit free-speech activities, such as handing out brochures. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that airport terminals are not public forums, siding with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey against a religious group that wanted to distribute pamphlets. The legalization measure approved by Colorado voters in 2012 allows any property owner to prohibit possession of pot, and airports in Denver and Colorado Springs do. Violators face possible civil citations. Denver International Airport has given no possession citations since legalization, Montgomery said. Last year, 29 people were caught trying to board planes with marijuana. In each case, police declined to issue citations, and the passengers were allowed to board planes after throwing out the weed. In Washington state, the only other state with recreational marijuana sales, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport does not ban pot possession or marijuana-themed souvenirs, Sea-Tac spokesman Perry Cooper said. Colorado's smaller airports don't ban marijuana-themed souvenirs, either. Montgomery said the Denver airport has a special obligation as the gateway for many thousands of visitors to the Rocky Mountain region. "Frankly, there's a lot more to Colorado than pot," Montgomery said. Jordan considers the souvenir ban an example of long-standing fear surrounding marijuana. The airport's beer exhibit consists of an entire walkway devoted to an exhibit titled "Colorado on Tap: The State of Brew Culture." It features pub glasses, beer labels and T-shirts from the state's 250 or so craft brewers. Gov. John Hickenlooper is quoted in the display extolling Colorado as "a mecca for quality beer." "If you're opposed to drinking and you walk down (the walkway), you just ignore it," Jordan said. Airport officials, she said, "just haven't come to grips that this is a whole new world and they need to adapt." The airport policy bans depictions of the marijuana plant, items with the word "marijuana" and the sale of publications devoted expressly to pot. But airport officials concede they can't keep out the ubiquitous "Rocky Mountain High" puns and other slogans. Said Montgomery: "There's only so much we can do." ___ Kristen Wyatt can be reached at http://twitter.com/APkristenwyatt . | 5 | 4,276 | news |
When it comes to breastfeeding, I know I'm one of the lucky ones. Both of my children latched on minutes after I delivered them via C-section and never looked back. I haven't had mastitis, production or latch issues, dairy intolerances, or any of the host of problems that I've watched derail many of my friends' breastfeeding efforts. I happily breastfed my daughter until she was 14 months old, when she decided to wean herself. From the beginning, she made it easy on me. Since birth, she was just as content to eat from a bottle (filled with breast milk, formula, or, when she was older, cow's milk) as she was from my breast, so breastfeeding always felt like a special bonding time, not an obligation. Still, I was thrilled when she decided she was done nursing. I had my body back. Without trying, I lost seven pounds (I'm one of the "lucky" ones who has difficulty losing weight while breastfeeding), and for the first time since she was born, I felt like myself. I looked back fondly on our breastfeeding experience, but being done with it was such a revelatory experience for me that I vowed I would only breastfeed my second child for six months, nine tops. Unfortunately, my son had different ideas. In most aspects, he's been a very easy baby, but when it comes to his milk, it's boob or bust. In his 12 months of life, he's taken exactly zero bottles (and I tried them all). While he's content to eat solids when I'm not around, he'll only drink water in his sippy cups. Even warmed breast milk is met with serious disgust. Since I stopped working a traditional job after he was born, it's never seemed like that big of deal that he was only getting his milk from me, and frankly, I was too overwhelmed by staying at home with a baby and a toddler to go through the drama of forcing the issue. I was right there most of the time, so why not breastfeed him? It was working for both of us . . . until it wasn't. My son is sweet as pie, but he's also a biter who's cut 11 teeth in the last seven months, and my boobs are his favorite teething toy. A handful of times, my little guy has chomped down with such force that it's brought tears to my eyes, but mostly he just prefers a constant low-grade gnaw. After each breastfeeding session (and we are down to three or four a day now), I can see the perfect outlines of his top four teeth on my nipple. A few times he's left me with blood blisters from the friction. Yep, his sucking pretty much sucks. When the painful nursing started, I did all the things the Internet and books tell you you're supposed to do. I screamed loudly, I withdrew my nipple and refused to let him continue nursing, I tried changing our position, and I stuck my fingers in his mouth to force him to open his jaw. Nothing has really solved the problem. But because the kid just loves nursing, I told myself I would just wait it out until he was a year old, when I could start giving him regular milk. He turned 1 last week, and so far, milk isn't a much bigger hit than formula. He might take a few sips, but it's more likely to end up all over my floor than in his belly. This week, I'm taking more drastic measures, leaving him at home while his sister and I take a five-day trip with my mom. He's not going to be happy (sorry, hubby), but I'm hoping he'll learn that mommy's milk isn't the only game in town. | 4 | 4,277 | lifestyle |
Ikea, the world's largest furniture retailer, lured more than 680 million people through its doors last year. Assuming they weren't repeat customers, that's nearly 10% of the world's population. On Wednesday, Ikea reported €29.29 billion ($33.3 billion) in sales in fiscal 2014, up from €28.5 billion ($32.4 billion) the year before, and net profit that's up 0.4% at €3.33 billion ($3.79 billion). The seller of flat pack sofas, quirky chairs and candy-colored lampshades even held its own in Europe, which despite being in the grips of an economic slowdown generates almost 70% of the company's sales. "North America performed well and while the challenging economic situation may not be over, Europe continued to show improvements," the company said in a statement. "An especially positive sign was the growth in most of southern Europe where Portugal did particularly well and the situation in Spain is improving quite quickly." The Swedish company, founded by 88-year-old billionaire Ingvar Kamprad when he was just a teenager, knows us (almost) better than we know ourselves and for the most part has maintained its friendly, quirky image while U.S. big-box retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. grapple with criticism about working conditions and low pay. Even the most hard-nosed consumer advocates get gooey when you mention Ikea. "Ikea is one of my favorite stores in the world," says Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org, a weekly consumer newsletter. "I was disappointed when they pulled out of a plan to build one literally across the street from me in Somerville, Mass." Here are 5 ways Ikea keeps customers buying: We're way too chill to pummel you with door busters Ikea doesn't scream at customers with big red price stickers. But it finds other ways to make sure consumers go home with bags full of stuff they didn't know they wanted. "Ikea's famous yellow and blue bags are there to entice you to shop more than you need," says Johan Stenebo, a former Ikea employee and author of "The Truth About Ikea." They are known as "Ingvar's Bag" and were the founder's idea, he says. If you forget to pick up a bag at the entrance, you will find one at regular spots along your route. Next are dirt-cheap "open-your-wallet" items like nightlight candles or a toilet brush. "These items appear soon after you walk into the store," he says. "The sales pitch starts immediately." But our 'punch in the jaw' offers will grab you Stores like Ikea have unusual terms for different product lines, and Ikea doesn't pull its punches, Stenebo says. These "punch-on-the-jaw" items are those sold aggressively on the floor. In this case, the customer genuinely gets a great deal, but it could be at the expense of pushing these products off their rivals' shelves permanently. For Ikea, notable examples include mirrors in the 1980s and low-energy light bulbs in the 1990s. In both cases, he says, Ikea delivered a knock-out blow to the competition. Stenebo worked at Ikea from 1988 to 2008 in a variety of roles from product development to management, and he is a former assistant to the group's founder. Forget your troubles in our maze-away-from-home Martha Stewart and the film sets of director Nancy Meyers owe much to Ikea's minimalist aesthetic. For anyone who feels inadequate about their less-than-perfect home, Ikea offers a dream that appears within your price point. "The big reason you buy things you don't need is because you want to comfort yourself, perhaps because of problems with your spouse or employer or your kids," Stenebo says. Ikea takes you by the hand around its maze through all of its departments, allows you to rest at what he calls "hot-hot-hot" spots actually, a comfortable rest area where Ikea places items it wants to get rid of and rewards you with meatballs after you make your purchases so you feel warm and full when you leave. The cheap stuff makes our expensive items look good Retailers like Ikea specialize in selling discount furniture that you have to assemble yourself, but they wouldn't make so much money if everyone bought the cheapest item on display. So store planners craftily place items that it knows many people won't want to buy near more expensive items so the latter look too good to refuse. "This sofa may have a limited variety of covers or be too uncomfortable or tacky to put in your home," Stenebo says, "so you choose the more expensive sofa right next to it instead, believing that you chose it independently. Buying too much is fun! We'll help you make room… It's not just Ikea: Pottery Barn, Home Depot and Target have also helped turn "storage solutions" into a shopping experience. These usually take the form of a beautifully designed basket, tub or tote to put your all your stuff in when you've finished playing with it allowing you to stash what you bought on previous visits to Ikea. They have barely pronounceable names and, like many last-minute extras sold at Ikea, they're not cheap: Try the black and plaid "Kvarnvik" hatboxes ($16.99 for a set of three), straw "Knipsa" seagrass basket ($14.99) or "Kottebo" basket ($16.99) made of coconut palm leaf. They evoke images of a New England vacation home or Danish lakeside retreat rather than a garage filled with rubbish. | 3 | 4,278 | finance |
PHOENIX Former NFL greats Bob Griese, Dan Reeves and Kurt Warner all share similar viewpoints about the New England Patriots. Yes, they believe Bill Belichick is a great coach. And of course, they believe Tom Brady is a great quarterback. But they also wonder about their relationship with the rulebook and their legacy. "It's tough, because I really like their owner, Robert Kraft, and I like Brady, but these things keep popping up," said Griese, the Hall-of-Fame former quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. "Do they have to do this to win?" It's not just about the mysteriously under-inflated footballs found in the Patriots' possession against the Indianapolis Colts. It's about Belichick and the Patriots getting fined $750,000 for using video to steal signals from opposing coaches in 2007. To Reeves, it's also about what he labeled "deceptive" player substitutions employed by the team earlier this month. "Do they stretch the rules? You know, yeah, they do," said Reeves, who played or coached in nine Super Bowls. While spread over time, it's a pattern. Yet that pattern looks decidedly different to various former NFL players interviewed this week by USA TODAY Sports, including Hall of Fame quarterbacks Warren Moon and Fran Tarkenton. With an investigation pending into why the air pressure of the Patriots' footballs was below the league minimum, some of the former players believe the next few weeks could tip the scales of judgment one way or the other. If Brady is found to be complicit in a scheme, his golden-boy legacy could be tarnished, especially if he also loses Sunday's Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. On the other hand, if Patriots win and Brady escapes blame over the balls, his career storyline arcs back toward being possibly the greatest QB of all time. "We judge people on how they play and how they perform," said Tarkenton, a Hall of Famer who played for the Minnesota Viking and New York Giants. "That's what we do in sports, and we like to ague who was the best… This is much more serious than that. How about integrity? How about doing things the right way?" Creativity or rule bending? While Brady and Belichick have denied wrongdoing, a jury of their peers already has generally formed into two camps. Those who respect them both but see signs of trouble with these issues, sometimes because they believe in sticking closer to convention and not getting cute with the rules. Those who find these issues to be insignificant to the Patriots' success, just an indication of their creative aggression in pushing the boundaries of the rulebook. Among the latter is Merril Hoge, an ESPN broadcaster and former NFL running back. He told USA TODAY Sports that these controversies are not "going to affect or change or diminish or dilute what they've done, or how good they are, or how good Brady is." Hoge believes the signal-stealing scandal known as Spygate was overrated because it's in many ways the same as scouting opponents and watching film to better understand opponents' tendencies. He also believes that reducing the air pressure in a football by a small amount doesn't affect all the other things that matter in football, such as blocking, strategy and preparation. As for Belichick's recently sneaky player substitutions, Hoge noted it was all legal and that the Patriots have been wildly successful because they're innovative which also makes them a target. Opponents who protested the substitutions were simply "were outcoached," Hoge said. The Patriots "were being creative. Everything was within the rules there. None of that should even be in the same category (as Spygate and the deflated balls)." Just don't tell that to Reeves, who sees the substitutions as a bigger problem because they tried to catch the opponent off guard with a tricky shell game of sorts. Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh considered it illegal and protested. "The game shouldn't be decided upon deception," Reeves said. "It should be decided by execution. To me, they don't need to do it. They're extremely good, period. So they're just stretching the envelope, I guess. That I don't like. I don't think (the sneaky substitutions) are right. Is it illegal? No. Is it done as if it is illegal? Yeah." The footballs are another story. League rules require them to be inflated to at least 12.5 pounds per square inch. But ESPN reported 11 of the Patriots' 12 game balls were found to be underinflated in the first half of the AFC Championship game against the Colts. The problem was corrected at halftime, with the Patriots leading 17-7, and New England went on to outscore the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Brady previously has expressed his preference for slightly under-inflated footballs all the better to grip, especially in bad weather though he said last week that meant he likes them at 12.5 psi instead of the league maximum of 13.5. Moon, another Hall-of-Fame former quarterback, said the issue is overblown. "If he would have asked the Colts before the game, 'Do you mind if I just deflate my footballs two pounds?' They'd probably be, 'Oh, we don't care. Why not?" Moon said. "Why would you make a big deal over how Tom wants his balls?" He also predicts the controversy will fade. "You take a guy with the achievements he's had over the course of his career I mean this is the only thing he's ever been involved in," Moon said. "Spygate wasn't Brady. Spygate was the Patriots. But they're trying to put it on Tom because he has more connection with the balls." `What else have you done?' Many teams routinely try to scuff the slippery shine off of new balls to make them easier to grip. Under-inflation still differs from that because it's against the rules if is below the NFL minimum. It also could theoretically become a competitive advantage if it's afforded to one team and not the other. And it wouldn't just benefit Brady. Softer footballs are easier to grip and therefore less likely to be fumbled by all ball carriers. Since Belichick became coach in 2000, the Patriots lead the league with the fewest fumbles lost (136), tied with the Houston Texans, who have 32 fewer games because they didn't start playing until 2002, according to STATS, LLC. "If someone figured out you can throw it better, catch it better and fumble less if you deflate the ball, guess what they're going to do?" Tarkenton said. "Somebody is going to deflate the balls and think it's so silly and insignificant that nobody will ever catch them." Tarkenton says he's a big fan of both Brady and Belichick and isn't condemning either one. He just didn't find Brady very adamant in his denials in his press conference last week. "He's 37 years old, experienced, talented, a smart guy right? This is not his first rodeo," Tarkenton said. "He looked like a deer in headlights." Jerome Bettis, a former NFL running back and current Hall-of-Fame finalist, uses stronger language. "Do I think Tom cheated? ... Someone did," Bettis said. "Maybe Tom didn't… But it was under his direction of how he liked his footballs." Brady, who is from northern California, often has been compared to his childhood idol, legendary former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana. Montana, a third-round draft pick in 1979, won four Super Bowls. Brady will win his fourth if he beats Seattle, continuing an American success story that includes two NFL MVP awards after being drafted in the sixth round in 2000. But Montana's legacy was and still is virtually spotless. By contrast, Brady's is pending even if you ask some of his best admirers. Warner, a former Super Bowl MVP and current Hall of Fame finalist, says Brady and Belichick are the greatest quarterback/coach combo in history. But if they were complicit in a plot, Warner said that will lead to questions about whether they did this before without getting caught. "Spygate we know that they did things outside the rules," Warner said. "Now if we find they did something else outside the rules, it's 'OK, what else have you done?'… In the big picture because of the past, now it's become the bigger story. And now it creates more speculation and doubt, and now you've got people talking about how it affects their legacy." It likely won't keep Brady out of conversations about the best quarterbacks ever. It also might never leave the conversation completely, either, depending on the outcome of the investigation. "Human nature tells you, `Gosh, look at what they did, and could they have accomplished it (without these issues)?'" Reeves asked. "There will always be that question mark there." Follow sports writer Brent Schrotenboer on Twitter @Schrotenboer . E-mail: [email protected] | 1 | 4,279 | sports |
Force India will sit out the first test session of the new Formula One season in Jerez from Sunday. The Silverstone-based team had planned to run its 2014 car with some 2015 parts at the four-day test in Spain. "We have chosen not to run the old (2014) car in Jerez. The learning opportunities would have been limited so the focus is now on Barcelona," said the team in a statement on Twitter. The second and third pre-season tests are at Barcelona from February 19-22 and February 26-March 1. Force India, with Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg retained as drivers, had unveiled its new design in Mexico last week. Last season, the team finished sixth in the constructors world championship. The coming days will see a number of teams launching their cars for the 2015 campaign. McLaren have an online launch on Thursday, followed by Ferrari and Sauber on Friday. Toro Rosso stage their unveiling at Jerez on Saturday. World champions Mercedes, Red Bull and Williams will launch on Sunday morning at Jerez. | 1 | 4,280 | sports |
By Vincent Frank Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider is among the best in the business. Working with head coach Pete Carroll, the two have built a team that's on the brink of a dynasty. This doesn't mean that Schneider's job is easy by any stretch of the imagination. That promises to come to the forefront as the team negotiates what will be huge contract for star quarterback Russell Wilson, who is attempting to win his second Super Bowl in three seasons this upcoming Sunday. Schneider indicated as much in a recent interview on ESPN Radio (via MyNorthwest.com). "It presents challenges, there is no question." Schneider said on Tuesday. "We might not be able to dip into free agency like you may want to here and there or compensate somebody else that you want to compensate that is already on your team." Seattle is prepared to enter the offseason with more than $25 million in cap room, but that represents nothing more than a facade when it comes to the team's overall situation. Wilson, who has one year remaining on his rookie deal, is set to sign an extension that will potentially make him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Marshawn Lynch will be in yet another contract dispute and will be looking for a bigger payday. Meanwhile, James Carpenter and Byron Maxwell are both set to become free agents. Because Seattle has done a tremendous job building through the draft and finding undrafted free agents to contribute, the team should still be in a good situation moving forward. However, we can expect the gap to narrow between this squad and other top contenders in the NFC. As has been the case in the past, how Seattle performs in the draft will have a direct correlation to its on-field performance. This is only magnified by the fact that the NFC champions likely won't be able to dip into free agency, as Schneider stated. | 1 | 4,281 | sports |
Fight Off Cold Season With These 5 Yoga Poses If you're constantly battling a bug, a weakened immune system is probably part of the problem. Studies have shown a 25 to 50 percent decrease in sick time for people who take part in moderate exercise for at least 45 minutes most days of the week, but in addition to developing a solid workout schedule, you can do your body one better by practicing these yoga poses. Each has immunity-boosting benefits that help your body work with you instead of against you. Child's Pose When you take deep belly breaths in Child's Pose, your central nervous system and adrenal glands have a chance to calm down. This simple restorative pose helps your entire body reset, relax, and perform at its full potential. Kneel on your mat with your knees hips-width distance apart, and your big toes touching behind you. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, lie your torso down onto your thighs. Try to lengthen your neck and spine, by drawing your ribs away from your tailbone and moving the crown of your head away from your shoulders. Extend your arms out, fully, in front of you. Stay here for five breaths or longer. Wide-Legged Forward Bend Wide-Legged Forward Bend is a feel-good inversion that gives your whole body a big release. Even better, whenever you invert (or whenever your head is below your heart), you're helping your lymphatic system cleanse your body of toxins, therefore boosting your body's ability to fight off infection. Stand with your feet four feet or so apart, heels turned out slightly wider than the toes. Standing tall, interlace your hands behind you, pressing the heels of your palms together in a double fist. Take a deep breath in, and slowly fold forward at the waist, lowering your hands as far as you can. Keep the spine long and straight as you breathe for five deep breaths. Engage your legs, and slowly rise up to stand. Open Side Fierce Twist out toxins from your internal organs, and give your body a jump start with this energizing pose. Stand with both feet together, bend your knees, and squat down, coming into Fierce Pose. Cross your right elbow over your left thigh, planting your right palm on the floor beside your left foot. If you can't reach all the way, just allow your fingers to hover in the air, as close to the floor as possible. Extend your left arm straight up toward the ceiling, stacking your shoulders, and gaze at your lifted palm. Make sure both knees are parallel. Hold for five deep breaths. Press into your feet, inhale to rise back up to Fierce, and exhale to repeat this pose on the right side, holding for another five breaths. Then rise back up to Fierce Pose, and straighten the legs. Three-Legged Down Dog This Downward Dog variation is one of the most common inversions in a yoga practice that can help your body reap the big benefits of flipping upside down -- even if you're a beginner. This pose challenges your strength and also incredibly effective when it comes to promoting healthy circulation throughout the body. Come onto your hands and knees, so your hands are shoulder-width distance apart, with your knees directly below each hip. Tuck your toes, and straighten your legs, coming into Downward Facing Dog. Keeping your shoulders parallel with the floor, step both feet together, and raise your right leg into the air. After five deep breaths, lower the leg, and repeat this pose with the left leg lifted. Bow Pose Help your digestive system grow stronger and healthier by bringing fresh blood to the organs with Bow Pose. If your core is sore or your digestion needs some help, opt for this pose ASAP. Lie down on your belly, bend your knees, and hold onto the outside edge of your right ankle and then your left. Once you have a firm hold of each ankle, flex both feet, pulling your feet away from you to increase the stretch in your chest and shoulders. Lift your feet up as high as you can, and shift your weight forward, so you're resting on your naval instead of on your pubic bone. Hold for five deep breaths, and then slowly release. | 7 | 4,282 | health |
Kim Kardashian is a fickle deity: sometimes she wants to break the internet and other times she wants to fix your mobile contract . In a new, wonderfully self-aware Super Bowl ad for T-Mobile, she extolls the virtues of the carrier's new Data Stash feature a promotion that lets 4G customers roll over their unused data on a monthly basis. "Each month, millions of gigs of unused data are taken back by wireless companies," deadpans Kim in full-on, let's-talk-about-the-issues mode. "Tragic. Data you paid for that could be used to see my make-up, my backhand, my outfits, my vacations, and my outfits." All of this illustrated with a series of selfies, of course. Like her or loathe her, Kim Kardashian is the best internet celebrity there is Time points out that last year T-mobile's Super Bowl commercial was a text-only affair that offered to pay off users' contracts with rival carriers and that ended with the promise: "Maybe next year we'll do an ad with overpaid movie stars." Kim's no movie star, but T-Mobile couldn't have picked a more appropriate famous person: she's probably the most prolific internet celeb there is. On top of breaking the internet and fixing your mobile data, she dominates on Instagram , releases insanely over-the-top freemium games , is publishing a book of selfies , and provides the best advert for qwerty keyboards that BlackBerry could ever ask for . Okay, so you might not respect someone who's famous mainly for being famous, but for a mainstream celebrity, Kim K is plugged into the internet like no else. Plus, she's totally right about all that data loss it's tragic. | 5 | 4,283 | news |
FBN's Liz MacDonald on the models affected by Ford's safety recall. | 3 | 4,284 | finance |
The global football transfer market hit a record high in 2014, breaking the $4 billion (R46 billion) barrier for the first time, a report published by FIFA on Wednesday revealed. England, with its highly lucrative Premier League, provided the biggest investors and, despite their failure at the World Cup, Brazilian players were the most sought-after. A total of 13,000 players moved clubs, but the combined total of $4.06 billion in transfer fees does not include the commission paid to players' agents, which accounted for a further $236 million (R2.7 billion). The total was 2.1 percent up on the 2013 total of $3.98 billion and showed an average annual increase of 3.4 percent since 2011, according to the annual report, Global Transfer Market 2015, by FIFA TMS, which monitors all deals. A staggering 87 percent of all the money which changed hands was spent by European clubs and transfers between European clubs represented 78 percent of the global total. English clubs were the world's biggest spenders, accounting for $1.17 billion in 2014, which represents more than a quarter of global spending, according to Mark Goddard, general manager of FIFA TMS. Spanish clubs received the biggest slice of transfer fees, at $667 million, up from $584 million in 2013. English clubs came next, receiving $523 million, and Portugal third on $435 million. Brazilian clubs were the most active in the market, recording 646 incoming transfers and 689 outgoing transfers. For the first time, China broke into the top 10 investing countries, with clubs paying out more than £100 million. The average age of players transferred during the year was 25 years and 6 months. Brazilian players were the leading targets, accounting for 1,493 moves, worth $448 million, ahead of players from Argentina, with 801 transfers, England (596) and France (507). Brazil's central defender David Luiz cost Paris Saint-Germain 50 million euros from Chelsea, but it was a Frenchman, Eliaquim Mangala, who became the world's costliest defender when he moved from Porto to Manchester City for 54 million euros. | 1 | 4,285 | sports |
Over the past four decades, Ken Musolf, 63, has carefully plotted out an investment strategy for him and his wife, Jeanne, 59. His financial acumen has helped the couple accumulate $1.1 million in retirement funds. Though Ken retired in 2012 after 35 years as a construction electrician, he and Jeanne have yet to tap that nest egg . He gets three pensions and Social Security, totaling $48,840 a year; and until December, she had been earning $100,000 as a department manager at a hospital. But they'll need to start drawing down soon: Jeanne is scaling back her hours and job duties in January and plans to retire in three to six years. Ken admits to being at a loss on this next phase: How do they transition from saving to taking income? With a portfolio across seven accounts that's 66% stocks, 30% bonds, and 4% in cash, he says, "our quandary is that we have a basketful of investments and want to consolidate them in a sensible allocation that allows for growth and safety." Their only debt is a $43,000 home-equity loan and a $26,000 car loan. So the Musolfs have been living very comfortably on $8,500 a month, leaving them room to make extra debt payments, give $600 a month to charity, and splurge on their three grandkids. And Jeanne has been saving 20% of her pay in her 403(b). As she starts her new job, her salary will drop to $65,000. The Musolfs can absorb that pay reduction and avoid dipping into their retirement funds by cutting back on overpayments on their mortgage and car loan, says Kay Allen of Aspen Wealth Management in Colleyville, Texas. The bigger challenge will be managing Jeanne's retirement when to quit and when to take Social Security to minimize the impact on their portfolio. Depending on their choices, the couple could need to withdraw from $35,000 to $80,000 a year, Allen says. "The Musolfs are doing well," she notes, "but it's critical that they handle this transition carefully." The Advice Reallocate to reduce risk: Ken can better manage their seven retirement accounts by consolidating them into four: one rollover IRA for each, Jeanne's 403(b), and an IRA Jeanne inherited from her mother. Next they should shift their allocation from a 66% stocks, 34% fixed-income mix to a 60%/40% mix. "This will enable them to better withstand market volatility," says Allen. "At 60/40, they would have suffered a 22% loss during the Great Recession, requiring a 28% gain to catch up. With their current allocation, they'd have lost 30%, requiring a 43% gain. That is not something you want to experience in retirement!" The mix she suggests (see illustration below) introduces shorter-term bonds for 12% of the portfolio via Vanguard Short Term Bond Index VANGUARD SHORT-TERM BOND INDEX INV VBISX 0.0949% and 2% emerging-markets stock through Vanguard Emerging Market Index VANGUARD EMERGING MARKETS STOCK IDX INV VEIEX -0.5686% for diversification. Allen also suggests always keeping a year's living expenses in cash and four years' in bonds to cushion against market turmoil. Money Tally up expenses: To determine an income strategy, the Musolfs needed to figure out their retirement budget. If she retires before Medicare kicks in at 65, Jeanne will have to pay for health insurance ($1,000 a month). Allen also wants the Musolfs to get long-term-care insurance ($500 a month), plus a Medigap policy for Ken once he turns 65 ($175 a month). Since the Musolfs want to travel more, Allen helped them come up with an annual vacation budget of $15,000. All told, the couple will have $146,000 in yearly inflation-adjusted expenses if Jeanne retires at 62, or $127,000 if she waits till 65. Strategize withdrawals and Social Security together: Normally, retirees are advised to draw down at a rate of no more than 4% the first year, adjusting only for inflation annually, for the best chances of portfolio longevity. But if Jeanne retires at 62 and doesn't take Social Security right away, the couple will need to replace $85,000 in income, for a whopping 7.6% withdrawal. So if Jeanne does want to retire on the early end, Allen suggests she take a check from the government immediately. The couple would then initially have to draw 5.5% to get the $61,000 they'd need. But that's okay, says Allen three years later Jeanne qualifies for Medicare and won't need health insurance, so their withdrawal rate will fall to 3.4%. This way their money should last at least to their life expectancies, with some left for heirs. "Jeanne is concerned about retiring she wants to know if she really can do it," says Allen. "If they follow these steps, the answer will definitely be yes." Read more Retirement Money Makeovers : Married 20-somethings With $135,000 in Debt Freelancers With a Toddler, No Plan, and No Cash to Spare 30 Years Old, and Already Falling Behind | 3 | 4,286 | finance |
Let's take a look at the Seattle Seahawks defense as they prepare to go up against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Who do you think has the edge in this matchup? | 1 | 4,287 | sports |
MELBOURNE, Australia Venus and Serena Williams will play on the U.S. Fed Cup team February 7-8 in a tie against Argentina, marking the first time both sisters have played the international women's team competition since April 2013. The USTA was set to announce the team Wednesday morning, which is led by captain Mary Joe Fernandez. "We've got a really good team," Fernandez told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview. "Both Williams sisters, Madison Keys and Varvara Lepchenko will be on the team. Taylor Townsend will be there as well." Serena Williams and Keys will meet Thursday afternoon (Wednesday night ET) in Melbourne in the semifinals of the Australian Open, the first all-American Grand Slam semifinal since the US Open in 2002. The U.S. was relegated to World Group II, the second tier of this yearly team competition, last season with two losses in the World Group, marking the first time it had been relegated since 2012. The Williams sisters will lead the Americans against host Argentina, which is headed by world No. 124 Paula Ormaechea who has been as high as 59 th in the world. The tie unsurprisingly will be played on red clay. "We go in as heavy favorites," said Fernandez, captain since 2009. "It's on clay so it'll take a little bit of time to adjust to the surface. In team competition, we've won as the underdogs and lost as the favorites, so we can't take it for granted and we won't." World No. 32 Sloane Stephens was passed over for the team by Fernandez for No. 35 Keys, Stephens is set to fall in the rankings next week after a first-round loss at the Australian Open while the 19-year-old Keys is having her break out event in Melbourne. Townsend, an up-and-coming 18-year-old ranked No. 99 in the world, will serve officially as a practice partner. The U.S. has won 17 titles as a team the most in Fed Cup history but none since 2000. Players are required to participate in at least three Fed or Davis Cup ties in an Olympic cycle, one of which is held in 2015 or 2016 in order to be eligible for Team USA selection, according to the International Tennis Federation, tennis' main governing body. The 2016 Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Williams sisters are a combined 32-5 (in singles and doubles) in Fed Cup rubbers (matches). "It's wonderful. It's a bonus," Fernandez said of having both Venus and Serena on the team. "I know that their careers are really busy and I understand Fed Cup hasn't always been what they want to do, but whenever they're able to make time for it and be there, it's awesome. It's not just because they're the best, but it's also about what they do with the young ones; their impact and influence and inspiration, the girls benefit from that." Ormaechea has played only Venus and Keys, losing to Williams at the French Open in 2013 in three sets and defeating Keys at the US Open in 2012. Maria Irigoyen and Florencia Molinero are the next two highest-ranked Argentines at No. 198 and No. 226. Ormaechea and Irigoyen lost in the qualifying tournament of the Australian Open. The U.S. could hobble into Argentina: Serena is nursing a cough in Melbourne; Keys re-aggravated a left adductor injury in the quarterfinals; and Lepchenko, the world No. 30, was in the hospital earlier this week due to an illness, though she posted on her Twitter account that she was recovering. Serena is chasing her 19 th Grand Slam singles title in Australia while Keys defeated Venus and world No. 4 Petra Kvitova to make a first-ever major semifinal. (They meet Thursday afternoon, Melbourne time/Wednesday evening in the U.S.) Venus, losing in the quarterfinals, had her best result at a major in almost five years (semifinals, 2010 US Open). "You just have to take your hat off to them and the fact that they're playing at this level for this long, for Venus in particular," Fernandez said of the Williams sisters. Venus and Serena were not a part of the 2000 championship team, though they did participate the year before, when the U.S. defeated Russia to win the title. The U.S. has made the final three times since (2003, 2009 and 2010), though they have not made it out of the World Group first round in the last four years. They must win this tie to advance to a World Group play-off and enter back into the championship tier for 2016. Asked last week by an Argentinian journalist if she would be making the trip, Serena smiled, responding: "Yes, I will be there." Tennis Channel will carry both days of action live from Buenos Aires, starting Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. ET. | 1 | 4,288 | sports |
Following the crash of one of its Phantom drones at the White House on Monday and a response from President Obama that more regulation of drones was needed , Chinese drone maker DJI will reportedly be disabling its units from flying over the DC area . According to the FAA, it was already against federal regulations to fly in that region, not to mention the fact that the pilot told the Secret Service he was drinking. DJI can make airports or whole cities off-limits to its GPS system DJI previously stated to The Verge that it programmed its drones to stop flying when they reached a certain distance from airports. Using the GPS, DJI can track a drone's position at all time and establish which zones are off limits. But this would mark the first time DJI is preventing flight over a metro area. "DJI will release a mandatory firmware update for the Phantom 2, Phantom 2 Vision, and Phantom 2 Vision+ to help users comply with the FAA's Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) 0/8326, which restricts unmanned flight around the Washington, DC metropolitan area," the company wrote in a press release this morning. "The updated firmware (V3.10) will be released in coming days and adds a No-Fly Zone centered on downtown Washington, DC and extends for a 25 kilometer (15.5 mile) radius in all directions. Phantom pilots in this area will not be able to take off from or fly into this airspace." DJI also said "the restriction is part of a planned extension of DJI's No Fly Zone system that prohibits flight near airports and other locations where flight is restricted by local authorities. These extended no fly zones will include over 10,000 airports registered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and will expand no fly zones to ensure they cover the runways at major international airports." The drone industry is actually in agreement with Obama that more regulation is needed . Congress is on board as well, as evidenced during a recent hearing . The real hurdle has been the FAA, which has moved slowly to establish new rules. The agency has been mandated by Congress to provide an update by this year, but has so far given no indication of when it might arrive. | 5 | 4,289 | news |
Doctors at Nantucket Cottage Hospital had to use generators to bring little Cayden - the "blizzard baby" - into the world. | 8 | 4,290 | video |
Angry British chocolate lovers have vented their anger at a lawsuit brought by Hershey's (HSY) , which effectively bars the import of chocolates made in the U.K. by Cadbury, a British brand well-loved by expats. Using the hashtag #boycotthershey, fans of Cadbury products, such as the iconic Dairy Milk bars and Cadbury Creme Eggs, called for a boycott of the American chocolate giant on Twitter and Facebook. A protest petition on MoveOn.org had over 22,000 signatures by 1 p.m. GMT on Wednesday. It comes after Hershey's, which holds a license to manufacture Cadbury chocolates in the U.S., agreed on a settlement with the New Jersey importer of Cadbury chocolates, Let's Buy British (LBB). As first reported in The New York Times, Hershey's accused the company of infringing its brand trademark rights and importing U.K. products that were not intended for sale in the U.S. Cadbury chocolate has been banned in the US. Bad news for my family & friends: I'm moving. #BoycottHershey Last week, LBB agreed to stop shipments of any Cadbury products made in the U.K. to the U.S. much to the consternation of many expat Brits, who insist that Cadbury chocolate tastes better (despite Cadbury being owned by U.S. food giant Kraft Foods (KRFT) ' snacks business Mondelez (MDLZ) ). It is true that British and American chocolate are different in terms of constitution. To qualify as chocolate in the U.K., a product must contain at least 20 percent cocoa solids; in the U.S., the minimum is 10 percent. Cadbury products are not the only ones to fall fowl of Hershey's lawsuit, with other brands in particular, Switzerland's Nestle (NESN-CH) also coming under fire because they look like existing Hershey's products. Toffee Crisps, which are made by chocolate giant Nestle in the U.K and are a favorite with the British public, have also been banned because their bright orange packaging resembles that of Hershey's Peanut Butter Cups too closely. Nestle's Yorkie bars also face the chop as they sound too much like Hershey's York Peppermint Patties. Nestle's Maltesers also resemble a Hershey's product of an almost identical name. Hershey's spokesman Jeff Beckman defended Hershey's lawsuit and settlement, telling The New York Times last week that it was: "Important for Hershey to protect its trademark rights and to prevent consumers from being confused or misled when they see a product name or product package that is confusingly similar to a Hershey name or trade dress." Follow us on Twitter: @CNBCWorld | 3 | 4,291 | finance |
Don't look now, but Amazon has become a subscription site. Over the past two years, Jeff Bezos and team have put a ton of focus on adding perks to Amazon Prime, the company's $99-a-year subscription offering. The e-commerce giant has added features like a streaming music service , a line of diapers and baby wipes exclusive to Prime customers, and there are now even plans for Amazon-funded feature films that I'd expect Prime customers will get access to for free. All of this comes on top of the two-day shipping feature at no extra charge that has made Prime such a hit. Amazon is doing all of this because Prime members spend somewhere between two and four times more than non-Prime members do, depending on which sorta-scientific third-party study you want to believe. Prime members are gold for Amazon. But if the company is going to continue to spend big to attract new members to Prime, it may have to do something it hates: disclose numbers. Specifically, how many Prime members it has. I know what you're thinking. Bwahahaha . Fat chance. Bezos don't do numbers . And you're mostly right. Unlike Apple, Amazon never discloses the sales numbers for specific products, like Kindles or Fire phones. But there are some recent signs that Amazon is inching toward disclosing the Prime number. In late 2013, it said Prime had "tens of millions" of members. Does that mean 20 million, 50 million ( as one analyst believes ) or 60 million, as one partner of Amazon recently told me? Not sure. Then, this holiday season, the company said more than 10 million Amazon shoppers tried out Prime. That number includes the portion of shoppers who will use the 30-day free trial to get free shipping for the holidays, and then cancel before they have to pay. But another sorta-scientific study predicts that about seven million of the 10 million will end up keeping the membership. These are not-so-subtle hints to investors and competitors alike: Prime is a machine. So why should Bezos go all in and disclose Prime's membership numbers? Because it would give Wall Street analysts the ammo they need to continue to recommend Amazon's stock, even as the company spends billions on risky new projects to boost Prime membership, such as movie production or free, two-hour delivery for Prime members in New York City and more cities in the future. I know what you're thinking (again): Bezos doesn't care about Wall Street investors , analysts or the company's stock price. He's operating with a 20-year view, not a quarter-to-quarter view. This is correct. But Amazon's employees especially those who joined around the time Amazon's stock price was around $400 do care about the price, which is now at $308. At Amazon, employee shares account for a greater percentage of compensation than at Amazon's peers. And if Amazon continues to spend heavily on new projects while not letting money drop to the bottom line, investors may more loudly call for specifics on whether those initiatives are boosting Prime membership and how much more Prime members spend. If Amazon balks, the price may very well drop lower, which will certainly affect morale among the newest employees. And Bezos may be forced to care about that. There's a bonus to disclosing these numbers: They would scare the hell out of competitors , which Bezos loves. The move would come with some risks. If the number is below some analyst estimates, that could be a bad thing. Also, once Amazon confirms a Prime membership number, it will be judged by that going forward. But my spidey-Bezos sense is telling me that Amazon and Bezos have been testing the waters over the past year by releasing some data about Prime in preparation for the full reveal. This may be that year, perhaps coming as soon as Amazon's fourth-quarter earnings report on Thursday. Analysts are expecting earnings per share, excluding some expenses, of 17 cents on $29.68 billion in revenue. If Amazon reveals its Prime numbers, though, that would steal the show. | 5 | 4,292 | news |
Tangerine , a breakout hit from this year's Sundance Film Festival, is full of surprises. There's the subject matter: transgender prostitutes working in a not-so glamorous part of Hollywood. And there are the characters: flinty, funny, nobody's victim. But the story behind the camera is as surprising as what's in front of it. Particularly because the camera used to shoot Tangerine was the iPhone 5S. "It was surprisingly easy." Plenty of amateur films have been shot using iPhones, but by all reports, this is the first movie at the Sundance Film Festival to be shot almost entirely on an Apple device. It was a decision that indie writer and director Sean Baker made to accommodate the film's small budget. But you'd never guess the camera, to look at it: Tangerine was shot in a widescreen, 2:35:1 aspect ratio, and its camera zooms through the streets of LA with a fluidity you'd never expect from a handheld device. And yet despite his camera of choice, Baker says the iPhone made for a good partner. "It was surprisingly easy," Baker says. "We never lost any footage." So how do you make a Sundance movie for iPhone? You need four things. First, of course, the iPhone (Baker and his team used three). Second, an $8 app called Filmic Pro that allowed the filmmakers fine-grained control over the focus, aperture, and color temperature. Third, a Steadicam. "These phones, because they're so light, and they're so small, a human hand no matter how stable you are it will shake. And it won't look good," says Baker. So you needed the Steadicam rig to stabilize it." The final ingredient was a set of anamorphic adapter lenses that attach to the iPhone. The lenses were prototypes from Moondog Labs , and Baker said they were essential to making Tangerine look like it belonged on a big screen. "To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have even made the movie without it," Baker says. "It truly elevated it to a cinematic level." "Jesus Christ, man, I was on The Wire." Like any conventional film, Tangerine underwent post-production. "With a lot of these social realist films, the first thing you do is drain the color," Baker says. "We went the other way. We pumped the colors and put the saturation through the roof. Just because the world there is so colorful, and the women are so colorful. We wanted it to match them." (Orange emerged as the dominant color in the film, inspiring its title.) The final step was to apply a digital grain to the movie, giving it a quality more reminiscent of actual film. The decision to use the iPhone came from the film's small budget. At first, the cast wasn't convinced it would work. "I had some hesitancy about it, more out of pride," says James Ransone, who plays Chester, the pimp at the center of Tangerine 's love triangle. "I'm like, Jesus Christ, man, I was on The Wire . I've ended up in iPhone movies!" But Ransone came to appreciate the flexibility of the device. "There's a lot that can be done with an iPhone." (One example: Baker shot several scenes while riding his 10-speed bicycle in circles around his actors.) Ransone said that the key to shooting Tangerine was having a team well-versed in traditional filmmaking. "You still need to know how editing works. You still need to know how sound works. You still need to know how a camera works," he says. "You can't just go out and shoot." iPhone footage hasn't yet caught up with true 35 millimeter film a high bar but Ransone expects it will some day. "Yes, you can make a beautiful-looking film on a shoestring budget," he says. "But you have to know 100 years worth of filmmaking." "You can make a beautiful film on a shoestring budget." The unusual creative process behind Tangerine doesn't stop with its camera. Baker made the movie after becoming obsessed with a donut store in his neighborhood, a seedy block on Santa Monica Boulevard with a notorious reputation. "It was a chaotic corner there was always something going on in Donut Time," he says. "So I said, I wanna make a film about Donut Time." That idea led him and his co-writer, Chris Bergoch, to a nearby LGBT center, where they met Mya Taylor, an aspiring singer and actress, who in turn introduced the filmmakers to her roommate and eventual co-star, Kiki Kitana Rodriguez. The two women began sharing some stories from around the block, ("People love to hear drama. Especially filmmakers," Taylor tells me) and happened upon a striking bit of drama from the neighborhood: a trans woman became enraged when she heard her boyfriend had slept with a biological female "actual fish," as they say in Tangerine. The trans woman decided to hunt the other woman down, and thus Tangerine found its inspiration, with the writers collaborating with their cast on the script. The result, at least for me, is the ideal Sundance movie: totally unexpected, set in a world I've never visited, with a story the major studios wouldn't touch with a 10-foot selfie stick. Rodriguez is an effervescent blur as Sin-Dee Rella, an ex-con hunting down her pimp fiancée's mistress on Christmas Eve. She stomps down Hollywood's Walk of Fame like it's a catwalk, spitting fire at anyone dumb enough to cross her, and manages to terrify nearly every man she meets. Taylor, as her best friend and fellow prostitute Alexandra, tries to talk sense into Sin-Dee every step of the way, cleaning up the damage in her wake. Their sisterhood in the face of real danger brings depth to the frequently over-the-top comedy. Tangerine isn't perfect it slows considerably in its final third, and the big climax at Donut Time feels less convincing than the film that led up to it. But in a festival full of coming-of-age dramas and straightforward documentaries, it's a minor miracle: a good long look at the margins, captured by a $550 phone. | 5 | 4,293 | news |
For a look at hell, one need travel no farther than Berlin. Advertisements that popped up there recently seem torn from Beelzebub's damnable flames, featuring faces melted and twisted into ghastly human simulacrums. And that's kind of what happened to these billboards. They started out as innocuous paper but fell prey to Vermibus , a local artist with a dark mind. On an ad-busting trip during this month's Berlin Fashion Week, he went out and collected several advertisements from the Rosenthaler Platz U-bahn station. These he took back to his place and as is customary with his macabre process styled them with a brush and corrosive liquid, turning the models into hollow-eyed, unrecognizable nightmare-creatures. In an interview with the Open Walls gallery, Vermibus described his interventions as "gifts for the passer-by." Some locals may appreciate the present but that doesn't appear to be the case with the women pictured below, who look uneasy with their new subterranean companions. Photos by Thomas von Wittich . H/t Urbanshit | 5 | 4,294 | news |
The head of Beijing's transport committee made an unambiguous statement today about the car-hailing service Uber's business model: "Private car operators' business models are illegal," said Zhou Zhengyu, addressing reporters in the capital (link in Chinese). But this seems to have done little to clear up the ambiguity surrounding the future of Uber and its domestic rivals in the country Uber remains operational in Beijing and throughout China. Of course in China, just because something is illegal, doesn't mean it has to stop. The statement is likely just a tactic to give the government leverage on this issue. The authorities will probably eventually regulate and legalize private car-hailing services , and don't want to kick companies out of town just yet. What the government doesn't want is those companies disrupting key services such as transportation without the say-so of the authorities. Labeling them illegal early on provides a useful tool to control disruptive companies, should they need to before they have reached a full set of regulations. Essentially, Uber has been told that it ought not do what it is doing. Should the government decide to ban private car-hailing apps well, they've been warned. As Quartz has reported before , such gray areas in China is actually a pretty good fit with Uber's "act first and ask questions later" strategy. So have the possibilities for Uber in China changed? It doesn't look like it. Here are three possible outcomes. a) Uber continues to operate and talk of regulations fall by the wayside. b) The government decides how it wants the industry to look and introduces regulations to Uber and its ilk. c) The government decides private car-hailing apps need to go after all. The third option appears the least likely at the moment, but if that's what the government decides to do, it will at least have the law on its side. | 3 | 4,295 | finance |
Martin Brodeur announced his retirement earlier this week as he will join the front office of the St. Louis Blues. Brian Cazeneuve lets us know his thoughts on Brodeur's short-lived comeback in St. Louis. | 1 | 4,296 | sports |
The largest container ship in the world launched earlier this month. Here's how cargo ships got so huge and changed the world. | 8 | 4,297 | video |
STORRS - Long before the doors opened, Jim Calhoun liked what he saw. "I remember seeing the artist's renderings of it, and they had snow around it," Calhoun said. "I wanted UConn to have a special place, and it was. When you come up on it, on a winter night, in the cold, there's light, and there's life." Twenty-five years ago this week, on Jan. 27, 1990, there was light, and life on the UConn campus in the dead of winter. The men's basketball team was on a six-game winning streak, knocking off one Big East heavyweight after another. The Huskies were ranked for the first time in ages, checking in at No. 20 in the AP Poll. Sports Illustrated was even following the team now. The Dream Season was underway, and now Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the shining new on-campus arena that was going to make such a difference, decades on the drawing board, three years in constriction, was ready, and it was shining in a darkness just like the beacon in the drawings. "We had been walking past it for several weeks, practicing in there a couple of times, and there was great anticipation," Calhoun remembered. "And when I walked in there that night, the crowd - it was almost like a din, it was so loud." It would soon be apparent just how much had changed. The opponent was St. John's, which had beaten the Huskies by 31 points in New York 25 days earlier. "Jayson Williams, who went on to play in the NBA, hit the only three-pointer of his career in that game, and they left their starters in up 25 and I was upset," Calhoun said. "And that's when [St. John's coach] Louie Carnesecca yelled at me, 'Hey Irish, coach one team at a time.'" UConn had a chance to move into first place in the Big East where, for so long, it been an afterthought. The Huskies were picked to finish dead last before the season. The Huskies had, for decades, played in the school's old Field House, that dusty, barnlike structure built for multiple purposes. The idea for a new building was hatched in the 1970s and, as Tim Tolokan, now special assistant to the athletic director, said, early plans called for a flat-roof structure with an artificial surface for outdoor sports on the roof. Other priorities pushed it aside, but AD John Toner finally signed off on plans for what would be a $28.5 million basketball arena, crowned with an unmistakable silver dome. Russell Gibson von Dohlen Inc. of Farmington was the architect. The state kicked in $22 million, but wanted seating capacity low enough to keep the Civic Center the best option for big games. Finally, after various delays, construction began in the summer of 1987, with former coach Dee Rowe leading the effort to raise the remaining millions. Each of the 8,241 seats were filled as Gov. William O'Neill and Harry Gampel, the UConn alum, industrialist and philanthropist who had donated $1 million, were on hand for the grand opening. "Every corner of the place, every step, had someone who was saying something complimentary," wrote Owen Canfield in his column in The Courant the next morning. "... Only if parachutists came plunging through the silvery oval roof and dropped through the hoops touching nothing but net could Gampel Pavilion have opened its doors more spectacularly." Once the pageantry concluded, UConn and St. John's went at it amid the constant, deafening roar that would come to define big games at Gampel Pavilion. "Of all the games I was a part of, not counting the national championship games, of the ones that weren't for a championship or anything like that, it was the most exciting game I was involved with," Calhoun said. "It was a special, special night." The Huskies' starters were struggling and some in foul trouble when Calhoun turned to 7-foot sophomore Dan Cyrulik. "I said, 'OK, Dan, go in and give it a try,'" Calhoun said. "And he came off the bench and played a great game." Chris Smith scored 20 and John Gwynn 13 off the bench. Cyrulik, who had started the first 10 games before Rod Sellers took over at center, had 13 points and 10 rebounds in what might have been the best game of his UConn career. "I had a lot of confidence early in the year," Cyrulik said after the game, but for some reason I lost it for a while. It's been coming back gradually." UConn broke out of a 51-51 tie in the final minutes to win 72-58, a 45-point swing from the previous game against St. John's. A Sports Illustrated feature on the Huskies the following week had a big picture of Cyrulik under the title, "Mush, you Huskies." The new building's opening coincided with a new, national perception of UConn basketball. "There was great symmetry to it," Calhoun said. "That 1989-90 team was so, so special, and it became emblematic of what UConn basketball became. It's hard to think of a place that's only 25 years old as historic, but Gampel is, because it certainly marks a historic time in UConn athletics." Four days later, on Jan. 31, 1990, the women played their first game at Gampel and beat Georgetown, 76-54. Two weeks later, they were ranked for the first time in program history. "I can say with all honesty and a clear conscience that if we had stayed in the Field House there is no way any of this would have happened," said Geno Auriemma, who has since won nine championships. "Had this building come five or six years later than in did, there's no way this would have happened. I don't know how much longer we could have continued to get kids to come to school here when the facilities we had to offer were worse than the ones they had at their high schools. "When the building opened, it was one of the best on-campus facilities in the country. So right away, we had something that was unique, that was special. I don't know you can overestimate the significance of what this building meant to us in recruiting and in the ability to draw fans to the games, both to satisfy their curiosity to see [Gampel] and eventually see the [championship] teams that played there. "None of it would have happened if we didn't build this building." For the UConn men, the Dream Season ended at 31-6, with the overtime loss to Duke in the NCAA East Regional Final. They have gone on to win four championships. After beating Central Florida last Thursday, the men are 157-27 under the dome. The women are 299-19. Twenty-five years into its history, Gampel Pavilion, expanded to hold 10,167, shows its age. There is peeling on the quilted ceiling and the lack of luxury boxes places it behind other arenas. It could use some updating, sure, but, Calhoun, who retired in 2012, said, "the lower bowl should never be changed. "It's a very intimate place, and it still is. When you walk out there on the floor, you can see the faces, the fans can see the perspiration on the players, and you can really feel the pulse of the crowd." | 1 | 4,298 | sports |
Tiger Woods will be making his 2015 debut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Thursday. Jessica Marksbury lets us know what to expect from Tiger. | 1 | 4,299 | sports |
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