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A powerful new PSA from NoMore.org will air during the Super Bowl as part of the NFL's domestic violence awareness campaign. CNN's Rachel Nichols reports. | 5 | 4,700 | news |
OAKLAND Tom Thibodeau, in case you hadn't heard, isn't the shake-able sort. From the steady cadence of his speech to his strong style of coaching to the boulder-like shape of his physique that so perfectly reflects his essence, the man is nothing if not resolute. So as the Chicago Bulls coach discussed the state of his team Tuesday night, a win against the Golden State Warriors having provided the latest uptick in their strangely-inconsistent season, it came as no surprise that he wasn't fazed by all the critical chatter that surrounds him. Even with the win against the Warriors that snapped Golden State's 19-game home winning streak, the Bulls have lost seven of their last 12 games and are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference at 30-17. There's speculation in the Chicago media that Thibodeau and the Bulls might part ways this summer if their playoff run doesn't last long enough, and a recent rant from ESPN analyst and longtime Thibodeau friend, Jeff Van Gundy, only fed that fire. Van Gundy, who had Thibodeau as an assistant coach while with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, was critical of the Bulls for allegedly undermining Thibodeau through the media. Bulls executive vice president John Paxson fired back, issuing a statement that not only denied the accusation but called it "pathetic." Meanwhile, the age-old questions about Thibodeau and whether his intense style is wearing his players down are - quite predictably back again. Never mind the long list of more-substantive factors that have come into play. As Thibodeau is the first to point out, the Bulls have had their starting lineup of Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah for 15 of their 47 games this season because of injuries. Dunleavy (right ankle) is the lone missing piece from that group, as he has missed 14 consecutive games and the timeline for his return is unclear. What's more, the combination of Rose's long-awaited return from his two injury-riddled seasons and the integration of Gasol and his unique game has played a part in the inconsistency. Most alarming is the fact that the Bulls' defense that has been the league's best in two of Thibodeau's four seasons (and ranked second and fifth in the other two) has slid to 12th in the league this season. Yet as Thibodeau made clear, he's not the least bit concerned with those who keep questioning his hard-driving ways. He'll charge on, unapologetic and as always unshaken. "You want to be a championship team, there's a price to pay," Thibodeau declares. "And that's what you have to do. There's no shortcuts. You can't shortcut your way to success … I'm going to give everything I have each and every day, and I have no regrets." Q: Tom, you're getting asked about your coaching style quite a bit these days, from the managing of minutes to practice habits and all those kinds of things. Any part of you feel like there's too much focus on that aspect of your guys' season? A: "To me, it's not a big deal. If you coach in this league, it's part of the territory. They're going to criticize you for something. You have to stand by what you believe in, and I don't believe that we lost in the playoffs (last season) because we were out of gas. If you look at what we've done the second half of the season (in the past), we've always done extremely well the second half of the season. Now you get to the playoffs, and when you're down a Derrick Rose and you're down a Luol Deng and you're down a Joakim Noah, now it's different. Once you get to the playoffs, now it becomes more equal talent. Maybe we lost because we were shorthanded. That's the way I look at it. "Our team has overcome a lot of obstacles. When you lose a Derrick Rose and a Joakim Noah and a Luol Deng, and you still manage to get into the playoffs, I thought it was terrific accomplishment for our team. One year, we advanced to the second round short-handed (in 2013). When we got there, Luol Deng was out with a spinal tap, Kirk (Hinrich) was out with a calf injury, Derrick was gone, Joakim had plantar (fasciitis), and we still managed to win a round and then last year won 48 games (in the regular season). So I'm not apologizing for any of that. You have to believe to me, the only way a team can improve is you have to be sharp. The way you execute in this league is through repetition, and that's both offensively and defensively. You're not going to rest your way to success." Q: What about the idea that no one in the league pushes their players quite like you do? Do you even agree with that premise that has essentially become like gospel? A: "No. Listen, I've been around a long time. There are so many different ways to pace your team. Like everyone, (outsiders) look at minutes but they don't know what's going on in practice. They don't know how much contact you have (in practice). They don't know what your philosophy is in terms of days off. Is (practice) after back to backs? Is first day of a road trip? Is (practice) a day off after never more than three consecutive days? Whatever it might be, there's a lot that goes into it. But you also if you're looking at performance and how you can get the best out of people there's a reason why teams have success over a long period of time. You have to have core values. What do you believe in? Do you believe in hard work? Do you believe in discipline? Do you believe in conditioning? Because those are the things I know that do work. "So I'm not surprised if the play is up and down and it's been sporadic in terms of can you practice or not practice? No, practice is important. The regular season is important. Your meetings are important. Your walk-through is important. Everything is important. You want to be a championship team, there's a price to pay. And that's what you have to do. There's no shortcuts. You can't shortcut your way to success." Q: When this kind of noise gets louder around you, is there any part of you that becomes more defiant in terms of your beliefs? A: "As I said, this is not something I didn't just come into the league yesterday. I've been around a long time. I've been around championship-caliber teams for a long time. I know what goes into it. Q: When it comes to your style, which one or two coaches would you point to in terms of influencing you the most? A: "All of them. They're all important, because I think you're a sum of all your experiences. I think to be … If you aspire to be a great coach, I think being around great coaches is really the only way to get there. And so, I was fortunate to break in with (the late Bill) Musselman. I worked with (UNLV legend Jerry) Tarkanian. When I was in New York, we had a fabulous staff with Jeff (Van Gundy). But more importantly, it wasn't just Jeff. Jeff had worked for (Pat) Riley and John MacLeod and Don Nelson and Rick Pitino, and his dad was a great coach. And then we had Brendan Malone, who had been with Chuck Daly. He's a great coach. Don Cheney, who was under Bill Fitch and the Celtics. You learn from everybody, and Doc (Rivers) is as good as it gets in this league. I learned as much from him (as a Celtics assistant) as I learned from everybody. So you learn from everybody that you're around, and then I don't think you ever want to stay the same. You always want to try to learn and improve. I'm going to give everything I have each and every day, and I have no regrets." Q: What's your pulse of your locker room? Some folks have indicated that there may be a disconnect with you and your guys. How do you see that? A: "I work every day. I'm not going in there taking their temperature. It's like, 'Hey, my job is to be consistent.' Come in every day. Give them a good plan. I want them to be able to count on me to tell them the truth. And when it's not good enough, I have to tell them that. I also have to tell them what we have to do to correct it. That's part of my job, so I want them to be able to count on me, to know that I'm not taking a shortcut, I'm going to put the work in and try to come up with answers. We've just to keep improving. It's really simple." | 1 | 4,701 | sports |
It used to be that a paltry 4Mbps down and 1Mbps was all it took for an internet connection to be considered "broadband," but the Federal Communications Commission has just flipped that definition on its ear . FCC commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of upping the broadband threshold, and pretty dramatically too: Now service providers will have to offer speeds of 25Mbps down/3Mbps up if they want to apply that label. Need a little perspective? The average American home broadband connection pulls down around 11Mbps, while some 17 percent of Americans technically don't have broadband internet anymore. Naturally, cable and internet service providers aren't going to be thrilled. Just last week, a lawyer for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association urged the commission not to fiddle with the standard broadband requirements because outspoken proponents for the change (in this case, Netflix and Public Knowledge) are overestimating what makes sense to provide to consumers. If this increase is all it takes to get those companies riled up, they're probably none too pleased with some commissioners' blue sky thinking. After all, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel stated today that she thinks the broadband threshold "frankly, should be 100Mbps" -- a move that would finally put the United States in line with the speedy connections available in countries like South Korea. According to the 2014 State of the Internet report issued by Akamai, Korea top the global charts with an average download speed of 23.6Mbps (which worked out to about six times the world average). Here's the thing to remember about the FCC: It doesn't have the power to ring up Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner and all of their money-grubbing ilk to say "make your internet faster or else!" All it did was change what counts as "broadband" internet -- from here on out, it's up to service providers to change how they play the game. Of course, that's not to say that the FCC lacks the authority to prod some of those more reticent players into action; CNBC points out that the commission could use these updated rules to help decide how it grants and divvies up subsidies to internet service providers that are meant to spur broadband expansion. FCC.gov | 5 | 4,702 | news |
Editors at CN Traveler have released their picks of the best hotel bars of 2015, a list that includes the favorite watering holes of Ernest Hemingway and Picasso. If you find yourself in Arles, France, editors advise checking out the Grand Hotel Nord-Pinus , for example, where Picasso used to clinks glasses with Matador Dominguin. When in Singapore, editors advise following in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway and taking a seat at Raffles Singapore 's Long Bar, birthplace of the famous Singapore Sling. Here are the best hotel bars of 2015, according to CN Traveler: Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole, Italy Grand Hotel Nord-Pinus, Arles, France Hutton Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Das Stue, Berlin, Germany Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colorado, USA Aman Canal Grande, Venice, Italy La Mamounia, Marrakech Raffles, Singapore Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires Halekulani, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | 2 | 4,703 | travel |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Chase Elliott will replace Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 Chevrolet when the four-time NASCAR champion gives up his seat at the end of this season. The announcement Thursday was expected because Elliott is the reigning Xfinity Series champion and one of NASCAR's most promising young talents. Hendrick Motorsports had to find a seat for him at NASCAR's top level or risk losing the 19-year-old to another organization in 2016. Gordon, who announced his plan last week to retire from full-time driving, told The Associated Press he believes Elliott is the perfect choice to replace him. ''Chase is extraordinary,'' Gordon told AP. Elliott will defend his title in NASCAR's second-tier series this season with JR Motorsports. But Rick Hendrick will also prep him for his move into Gordon's car by entering him in five Cup races, beginning at Martinsville in March. Elliott will drive the No. 25 Chevrolet with sponsorship from NAPA in this year's limited Cup schedule. No sponsor was announced Thursday for his eventual Cup ride, but Elliott will be paired with Gordon's current crew chief, Alan Gustafson, in 2016. Confirmation that Elliott will replace one of NASCAR's greatest drivers came the day before Elliott's father, Bill, is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Known as ''Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,'' the Georgia native won the 1988 championship. He had 44 career Cup wins, including the 1985 Daytona 500. Elliott was also voted NASCAR's most popular driver 16 consecutive times, but removed his name from consideration following his final win in 2002. Since then, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won a record 12 consecutive most popular driver awards. Now, the father and son duo will celebrate their accomplishments together in one week. Elliott will be feted by the industry Friday night during his induction, and his son cemented his future on Thursday. Chase Elliott will take over one of the most coveted rides in NASCAR, a seat that has been occupied by the driver with the third-most Cup wins in history since 1992. He will also join one of the most vaunted lineups in the sport: Along with Gordon, six-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne put all four of Rick Hendrick's cars in the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship last season. Gordon made the strongest run at the title, falling just one point short of advancing into the championship round. He was eliminated roughly 24 hours after Elliott wrapped up the then-Nationwide Series championship with one race remaining in the season. Gordon told AP there had been pressure on him from Hendrick to set a timeline on his future, not because Hendrick wanted him out of the car, but because the organization had to make long-term plans for Elliott. Between his aching back, and a desire to spend more time with his two young children, Gordon said Elliott's rapid progression was also part of his decision. ''That definitely has played a factor in the timing being right, because there's no doubt Rick has put pressure on me and had discussions with me,'' Gordon told AP. ''Rick noted, `We don't have a driver that can fill the shoes and sponsors.' He and I would go back and forth in these conversations, and we all kind of saw the timeline of Chase. As last season progressed and he was doing so well, it was obvious he was going to be ready for 2016. ''It didn't make my decision, but it helped me make my decision.'' Elliott had three wins last season in the Xfinity Series, and 26 top-10 finishes in 33 starts. He juggled the final semester of his senior year of high school with the first part of the season. He grabbed his first career victory at Texas in April, then was back in school two days later. He followed it with a win the next week at tricky Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, and both victories were celebrated back in Georgia with the ringing of the police siren atop the Dawsonville Pool Room. The siren is only used in cases of celebration, and had not been sounded since 2003, when Bill Elliott won his final race at Rockingham Speedway. | 1 | 4,704 | sports |
Iowa's conservative ring-master Steve King hosted the first annual "Freedom Summit," a chance for presidential contenders and pretenders to impress the state's fickle conservative movement. We sat through 10 hours of speeches so you don't have to. | 5 | 4,705 | news |
If you've ever found yourself in a new restaurant or a trendy tourist spot, you might've looked up Yelp or Foursquare -- or, heaven forbid, used Google -- on your phone to find out where's the best view or whether or not you should order the shrimp. Now, you might not need to, as long as you have Facebook installed. That's because the company has just introduced something called "Place Tips," which when enabled essentially pops up relevant content about your location as long as you're there. Specifically, it'll show posts and photos about the place from your friends if they've also visited it. The feature sounds very similar to what Foursquare already does with its own Tips, but with a much more Facebook-centric bent. You'll know Place Tips is working if you see a "tip" notification for the place that you're at when you launch Facebook. Tap it, and it'll show a series of cards about the place. Not only will you see the aforementioned posts and photos from your friends, you'll also see basic info about the business. That info includes details like its operating hours, posts from its Facebook Page if it has one, popular menu items and upcoming events. Facebook was careful to note that tapping on these tips won't post anything to your news feed or show anyone where you are. Do note, however, that Place Tips is opt-out. That means that the feature is turned on by default if you've given Facebook permission to access your location -- it uses a combination of WiFi, GPS and cellular networks to determine where you are. So if you're paranoid about stuff like this, you can go ahead and turn the feature off in settings. If you'd rather have finer grain control, you can even hide tips about specific places (like, say, that local McDonald's you go to every so often). Place Tips will not be everywhere just yet; Facebook says it's testing it in certain spots in New York, specifically Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and JFK Airport. Additionally, the social network is also testing out Facebook Bluetooth beacons at select businesses to deliver even more tailored tips. Those locations include Dominique Ansel Bakery, the Strand Book Store, the Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien Hotel, Brookyln Bowl, Pianos, the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop and Veselka. | 5 | 4,706 | news |
Meet Professor Brad Nelson, a pioneer in the field of nano-robotics who's developing tiny robots to go places almost beyond our imagination. | 5 | 4,707 | news |
Here's your look at highlights from the weekly photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see. Sea Sparkle In this photo made with a long exposure, a Noctiluca scintillans algal bloom glows along the seashore in Hong Kong on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. The luminescence, also called Sea Sparkle, is triggered by farm pollution that can be devastating to marine life and local fisheries, according to University of Georgia oceanographer Samantha Joye. Winter weather Frozen sea spray from a winter storm coats a house in Scituate, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. As Massachusetts continues digging out from the Blizzard of 2015, forecasters warn of a new round of storms that could dump several more inches of snow on Friday and again over the weekend. Egypt antiquities The gold mask of King Tutankhamun sits in a glass case in the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. German restoration specialist, Christian Eckmann, summoned to Cairo to examine the damaged burial mask, spoke at a packed news conference Saturday at the Egyptian museum, saying that epoxy used to glue the mask's beard back on can be removed and the mask properly restored. Eckmann said the beard, which has been detached before from the mask and had likely loosened over the years, was accidentally knocked off last August during work on the relic's lighting. Russia Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin wears special glasses as he visits a research facility in "Gorny" University in St. Petersburg on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. In televised comments after a meeting with students in St. Petersburg, Putin said that Ukraine's army was at fault for the increase in violence and accused it of using civilians as "cannon fodder" in the conflict. Ukraine conflict A man tries to remove pieces of broken glass from a window in a school damaged by a Grad missile in Vostochniy district of Mariupol, Eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. Rocket fire slammed into a market, schools, homes and shops Saturday in Ukraine's southeastern city of Mariupol, killing at least 30 people, authorities said. The Ukrainian president called the blitz a terrorist attack and NATO and the U.S. demanded that Russia stop supporting the rebels. Paris fashion Models present creations for Rynshu's fall-winter 2015/2016 men's collection in Paris, France on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. Polygamy town A girl swings a chain as she stands with others in a playground in Colorado City, Ariz. on Dec. 16, 2014. The sister cities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, once run by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, are split between loyalists who still believe he is a victim of religious persecution and defectors who are embracing government efforts to pull the town into modern society. Germany seal selfie A woman takes a selfie with a seal in a water tunnel at the zoo in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. Argentina prosecutor killed A woman holds up an Argentine flag smeared with black paint as people gather near the funeral home where a private wake is held for prosecutor Alberto Nisman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. The prosecutor was scheduled to appear before congress the day after he was found dead in his apartment on Jan. 18, to detail his allegations that President Cristina Fernandez had conspired to protect some of the Iranian suspects in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center. Australian Open tennis Feliciano Lopez of Spain plays a shot to Jerzy Janowicz of Poland during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. | 5 | 4,708 | news |
Neymar's style of play will cause him problems for the entirety of his career, according to Atletico Madrid midfielder Cani. Neymar scored twice in an ill-tempered affair at the Vicente Calderon as Barcelona won 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. Atletico captain Gabi branded the Brazilian "irritating" after the match, claiming the 22-year-old attempts to wind up his opponents throughout games. And Cani has now fired a warning to the former Santos star, telling reporters on Wednesday: "He'll have problems for his whole career. Neymar has a style of play. One day he'll have a problem as he did today, but if he likes it... "That's the way he plays." Cani also says Gabi remains at a loss to explain why he was issued a red card following his appeals for a penalty against Jordi Alba. "Gabi says he only said it was a penalty and a red card, that he didn't say anything else and was sent off," said the 33-year-old. Cani made his first appearance for the Spanish champions against Barca following his loan switch from Villarreal and admits he has mixed feelings following the game. "It was a bit bittersweet," he added. "I would have liked to win and reach the next round, but you can't choose that. I had to try to go out there and do the best I could." | 1 | 4,709 | sports |
Nobody ever jumps for joy after going through a breakup - we're not going to pretend that you should in any way be celebrating the end of your relationship with Champagne and toasts. Even when everyone around you says that you made the right choice, it can still be hard to let go. I'm speaking from legitimate experience when I say that I get it. When you're still reeling from the breakup, and after you put so much into the relationship, it's easy to begin to question why you're letting it go and moving on. These are the 22 signs that you did in fact make the right choice to end things - read 'em and rest a little bit easier, then start making moves to move on! You always feared that they would leave you. You had more admiration for other couples than you did yourself and your SO. When you think back on what the relationship was like, the bad memories come up first. Jealousy was a major dynamic between the two of you. They made you feel bad for the things you're interested in. You didn't feel like they supported your career goals. You lost friends because of the relationship. There was a constant struggle for superiority; the two of you were never equals. Either of you would divulge that they missed the "old version" of the other. You didn't feel comfortable around their family, or vice versa. You felt like you had to hide an aspect of who you are to maintain their approval. Either of you had to vie for affection. You or they were constantly worried about what the other was doing when you were apart. Even small conflicts turned into tumultuous arguments. There were double standards - things that one of you could do that the other couldn't. Either of you were continually threatening to end the relationship. The relationship more often felt draining than it did uplifting. Your friends and family think the two of you are better off apart. You depended more on others for emotional support than you did your significant other. You often found yourself lashing out at your partner, sometimes without really knowing why. Your lives never fully (or easily) melded together. You were more often worried about your future together than you were excited for it. | 4 | 4,710 | lifestyle |
A man in Irving, Texas reportedly called for a pizza delivery while the SWAT team was outside his home trying to arrest him for credit card fraud at another pizzeria. Mara Montalbano (@maramontalbano) says that's dedication. | 8 | 4,711 | video |
WASHINGTON (AP) Abraham Lincoln returned to the Washington Capitals locker room, shortly after Alex Ovechkin returned to the top of the NHL's goal-scoring race. In fact, they were one and the same. The Capitals have a playful ritual of awarding a stovepipe hat and Lincoln-like beard to a standout player to don after every victory. Yes, it looks as goofy as it sounds. The so-called ''Honest Abe Players' Player of the Game'' ceremony had been on hiatus for nearly two weeks, the victim of a four-game losing streak padded around the All-Star break. The most honest thing coming from the Capitals was coach Barry Trotz's unhappiness over blown leads and a suddenly porous defense. The Capitals couldn't have found a better way to end the skid, a 4-0 win over Sidney Crosby and the rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. Defensive discipline was back, and there was no sitting on the lead. ''We were just relying on our skill a little bit too much the last couple of games,'' forward Eric Fehr said. No one expected smooth sailing from the get-go as the franchise adjusted to Trotz in his first season in D.C., but it's now 48 games into the 82-game season - time to start figuring out where the Capitals are headed. Up to now, they've been essentially a .500 team (25 wins, 23 losses) that relied heavily on goaltender Braden Holtby (franchise-record 27 consecutive games) and found maddening ways to give up standings points - as they did in recent losses to struggling Edmonton and Columbus. Wednesday's win put the Capitals into sixth place in the Eastern Conference. That's hardly the most secure position, given they finished ninth a year ago - missing the playoffs by one spot. ''It's one of those things we seem to play well against really good teams,'' Holtby said. ''We have to find a way to make sure we play that way against everyone.'' For much of the last decade, the Capitals have never been short on talent - it's been intangibles such as leadership, chemistry and coaching that have kept the team from making a serious Stanley Cup run. Trotz has been emphasizing that the best players need to play like the best players. Which means it comes back, as it always does, to Ovechkin, whose 51-goal campaign in 2013-14 was marred by a minus-35 plus-minus rating. This season Ovechkin is plus-12, and his pair of goals against the Penguins gave him 29, moving him ahead of Rick Nash and Tyler Seguin entering Thursday's games. ''When Alex is determined, the way he is lately, I think he just creates so much good offense,'' Trotz said. ''He's dangerous every night. You look at the stat sheet, whether he scores or not, he's got 10 shots. There's guys in the league who go a month without 10 shots sometimes.'' After a win, the player who was previously awarded the Lincoln garb has the honor of deciding who gets it next. Trotz said former winner Jason Chimera chose some insightful words when picking Ovechkin after the Penguins victory: ''Leaders lead. And he led today.'' --- Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP | 1 | 4,712 | sports |
Brace for wine on tap and a fancy customized oven. Pizzeria Locale the Chipotle-backed fast-casual pizza concept is finally expanding outside of Colorado. So where are they setting up their first restaurant outside of their home state? Kansas City, the first place Chipotle expanded to as well. Co-founder Bobby Stuckey tells Eater Denver that "Kansas City has been a terrific market for Chipotle, and we are thrilled to join our sister restaurant and become a part of the city's dynamic and growing dining scene." The Kansas City Star writes that the Pizzeria Locale outpost is slated to open this summer and will employee between 15 to 20 people. On offer will be custom pies, alongside speciality options, and premium toppings like capers, pork meatballs, eggplant, and Gorgonzola. All the pies are cooked in a custom-designed, high-temperature, rotating oven. There will also be salads, sides, and desserts on the menu. To drink, the restaurant is offering red and white Italian wines on tap custom-blended by Stuckey and co-founder Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson on tap and lots of craft beer. Pizzeria Locale makes health a priority just like its deep-pocketed partner Chipotle. Stuckey revealed in October that the restaurant doesn't use boring, traditional 00 flour , but instead opts for a hipster heirloom wheat varietal that is "nutrient dense" and offers a flavor "not found in commoditized wheat." The pizza concept was founded back in 2011, but so far, has been slow to expand. Currently, it only has two locations, both in Colorado: Its Denver location debuted in October 2014 to much fanfare. Perhaps the Kansas City announcement shows that company will soon launch more aggressive expansion plans. After all, the company previously revealed that it intends to "follow Chipotle's expansion formula." | 0 | 4,713 | foodanddrink |
This week, former President Bill Clinton taped an interview for the Rachael Ray Show and Ray caught him flat-footed with a hard-hitting question he clearly had no response to. "There is a possibility that you will return to the White House yet again," Ray said. "I really wanna know, what would you then be called? Would you be 'First Fella?' Would you be 'Mr. and Mrs. Presidents?'" Clinton was unprepared, and began by answering an unrelated question, saying, "If the president is a man, you call the president's spouse the First Lady, so we'll have to cross this bridge if a gay couple ever" enters the White House. Then he tried to offer his own response, with a Bible joke: "But let's say, if a woman became president I could be called Adam. The first man? I don't know." Ray and the crowd laughed far too hard given the quality of the joke. For some other possibilities, including "First Gentleman" and "First Husband," check out this rundown from Jaime Fuller . And Jonathan Bernstein has some related thoughts on whether Bill should still be referred to as "President Clinton" if there's another, sitting "President Clinton" in the White House. | 5 | 4,714 | news |
February 2: Groundhog Day February 2: Thank a Mailman Day February 4: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day A bowl of vanilla ice cream with a cherry on top. February 5: National Weatherman's Day February 5: World Nutella Day February 6: Lame Duck Day February 8: Boy Scout Day February 9: National Read in the Bathtub Day February 9: Toothache Day February 10: Umbrella Day February 11: White T-Shirt Day February 12: Paul Bunyan Day February 14: Ferris Wheel Day February 15: Singles Awareness Day February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day February 20: Love Your Pet Day February 21: Cherry Pie Day February 21: International Mother Language Day February 22: National Margarita Day February 23: Tennis Day February 28: National Pancake Day February 25: International Sword Swallowers Day February 28: National Public Sleeping Day February 28: National Toothfairy Day | 5 | 4,715 | news |
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth has pleaded guilty to reckless driving and been sentenced to five days in jail for driving 105 mph on the Capital Beltway. Werth was convicted last month in Fairfax County and sentenced to 10 days in jail, but appealed his conviction to Circuit Court. The Washington Post reported (http://wapo.st/1yFe9jy ) that Werth entered a guilty plea Thursday. Werth will serve his sentence on weekends to minimize disruption to his rehabilitation following shoulder surgery. It is not unusual in Virginia for judges to impose short jail sentences in cases where speeds exceed 100 mph. At Werth's initial trial, a state trooper testified he paced Werth at 105 mph on the Beltway in the McLean area for about half a mile on an early Sunday morning in July. | 1 | 4,716 | sports |
Whether you're a night owl with early bird aspirations, a troubled sleeper, or just in need of a little help relaxing before bedtime, some gentle yoga before you tuck in can help. This in-bed routine (really, you can do these moves in your bed) will put your body and mind to rest, helping you sleep soundly through the night to wake up rested and refreshed in the morning. No pills required. 1. Short Meditation First things first: Get ready for bed. Put on your pajamas. Turn off the lights and the TV and computer. Put down your book and get comfortable. Sit in a cross-legged seated position in bed. Then lean back slightly onto your pillows or headboard. Close your eyes and rest your hands on your thighs. Stay here and just breathe for a few minutes. This doesn't have to be a heavy and intense meditation, but just a short break, allowing yourself to do nothing but breathe. 2. Seated Twist Still in your cross-legged seated position, inhale and sit up tall. Then exhale as you twist your torso to the left. If you have a headboard, you can grab onto that for some gentle leverage in your twist. Stay in the twist for a few deep breaths. Exhale as you return face forward. Inhale there. Then exhale as you twist to the right. 3. Cross-Legged Bend Still in your cross-legged seated position, gently bend forward from your hips and reach your hands straight out in front of you on the bed. Stay here for a few deep breaths, feeling the stretch in your hips and back. 4. Seated Forward Bend Slowly extend your legs out in front of you, keeping your knees slightly bent. Inhale and sit up tall. Then exhale and reach for your feet. Bend your knees as much as necessary to keep your back flat. This pose is a great hamstring stretch, but don't make it deep and intense now, when your ultimate goal is gentle relaxation and sleep. Stay in the same seated position with your legs extended in front of you. This time round your back gently over your legs. Stay folded forward for a few deep breaths, feeling the stretch along your spine. 5. Knees-to-Chest Pose Slowly roll down to lie on your back and rest your head on your pillow. Hug one knee into your chest, grabbing your shin to pull it closer to you. Stay here for a few deep breaths. This lengthens your extended leg and loosens up your hip. Switch legs and repeat. Hug both knees into your chest this time and rock slowly side to side on your back, moving with your breath. Let your whole back release and relax into the bed. 6. Reclining Big-Toe Hold Inhale and extend right leg straight up to the ceiling, grabbing hold wherever you can comfortably reach (behind your knee, closer to your ankle, or your big toe if you're very flexible). Exhale and keep your leg straight as you slowly bring it toward your head. Move it slightly closer with each exhale, working the stretch very gently for a few slow, deep breaths. Switch sides. Keep these stretches very gentle for now almost as if you are doing them halfway. 7. Half Happy Baby Hug your right knee into your chest again. Flex your right foot so the sole faces the ceiling. Grab hold of the outside edge of your foot with your right hand and bring your knee toward your armpit. Stay here for a few slow, deep breaths. Switch sides and repeat. 8. Reclining Twist Inhale and hug your right knee back into your chest. Exhale and twist your leg across your body to the left. Turn your head to the right and extend your arms straight out to the sides. You can rest your left hand on your right knee. Stay here for a few slow, deep breaths, then switch sides. 9. Corpse Pose Lie down flat on your back. Extend both legs and both arms out straight. Let your ankles roll open to the sides and your palms face up. Rest here for a little while. Feel free to drift off if you sleep on your back. 10. Sleep Roll over onto your side and enjoy a good night's rest. | 7 | 4,717 | health |
Gamers were thrilled several years ago when the creators of The Legend of Zelda issued an official timeline for the Nintendo series. Fans had long been speculating whether or not there was one, and some had even created a few chronologies of their own that floated around the internet. The same thing has been happening with the many, many, many games featuring the most famous video game hero of them all, Mario. For years now, fans of Mario's games have been trying to construct the perfect narrative timeline for the popular character. For instance, check out these two attempts at Kotaku . One is especially thorough. But now Scorpigator Films has created a new timeline for fans to pore over. Granted, as the creators admit, they are "not the arbiters of Mario canon," and their timeline isn't the definitive version. In fact, several Mario games are absent from the chronology, including, notably, what Americans know as Super Mario Bros. 2 and the Smash Bros. series. Creating a definitive timeline for the Mario games is probably impossible, since the games have such minimalist stories and are, effectively, a long series of reset buttons. It beggars belief, for instance, that the evil Bowser would launch so many similar dastardly plots, but, then, maybe that's what makes the villain just a little endearing. Still, for those who love the Italian plumber, the video introducing Scorpigator's timeline is worth watching. Take a look above. And here's an image of the timeline. | 5 | 4,718 | news |
Football fans are unhappy with the cheating scandal that has roiled the Super Bowl. What should worry them more is this: NFL president Roger Goodell made $44 million last year, as head of a not-for-profit . You know a not-for-profit like the Salvation Army or the March of Dimes. That's right even though the NFL teams raked in about $9.5 billion in revenues last year, and the CEO of their industry association takes home one of the highest paychecks in the land, the sports league pays no taxes. Not only is the NFL tax-exempt, so is an organization called the NFL Management Council that undertakes "labor negotiations on behalf of NFL Member Clubs." That's how screwed up our tax system is. Half the diehard fans tuning in to Sunday's Super Bowl think the New England Patriots cheated. That's the news from a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling: 50% of NFL followers are convinced that Tom Brady's team intentionally deflated those famous footballs. Affection for the Pats has plummeted, with a majority of fans now rooting for the Seahawks. The NFL has dragged its collective cleats , just like in the Ray Rice scandal, taking its time to interview the participants in the Pat's blow-out defeat of the Colts. As of today, officials had still failed to speak with rather pivotal figures such as, for example, QB Tom Brady, who was the obvious beneficiary of the "Deflategate" scandal. As unhappy as football fans are with the cheating scandal they should be even angrier with the management of the NFL. A recent article in GQ magazine reported Goodell's out-sized compensation package at $44 million per year for seven years, which makes Goldman Sach's Lloyd Blankfein's $24 million take-home look downright measly by comparison. Goodell's comp was determined by a three-owned committee including -- guess who? -- Patriots' owner Robert Kraft. Kraft and Goodell are known to be close buddies, raising questions about conflicts of interests; some suggested an aggressive inquiry into the deflated balls was unlikely, given that relationship. Goodell reportedly visited Kraft's home after the AFC Championship game with the Colts. Cozy. Even more questionable, though, and more important to the country, is the NFL's tax-exempt status, which it claims as a 501c(6) organization. Eligible groups for that designation include: business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, board of trade and…professional football leagues. As a not-for-profit, the NFL files a form 990 each year. For the 2013 fiscal year (ending March 2013), the NFL reported revenues of $327 million and a profit of just under $9 million. A public for-profit company with modest numbers like that would surely not be doling out tens of millions to its CEO. And, it's not just the CEO earning big bucks. Several other officers are highly paid as well; all told, the NFL dishes out $60 million in compensation to its staff. Some 298 individuals earned $100,000 or more. Admittedly, it is the hefty revenues earned by the teams that also influences the money paid Goodell and his staff. Still, it is pay that is subsidized by taxpayers. The NFL spent $1.2 million on lobbying in 2013; undoubtedly some of that money went to maintaining its tax-exempt status. (It states in its filing that the organization admits to some "uncertainty in income taxes.") It also dished out more than one million in grants and gifts to organizations like $20,000 each to the National Association of Black Journalists, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of New York and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. More curious is $639,000 given to the NFL Foundation for "Charitable Gifts Coach/Club Fines." Are taxpayers underwriting club fines ? Senator Tom Coburn's parting gift to voters upon his retirement last year was a scathing indictment of our tax system, called Tax Decoder . In it, he pillories many of our country's 165 tax giveaways, including the exemptions allowed the NFL. It wasn't his first salvo against the football franchise. In 2012 he identified the handout in his annual Waste Book, and then in 2013 he proposed the PRO Sports Act, which would forbid any professional sports organization earning revenues above $10 million from filing as a nonprofit organization. His bill would have prevented not only the NFL, but also the PGA and the National Hockey League from receiving taxpayer assistance. The bill failed to gain widespread support. "If you are in a state that has a pro football league or runs a pro golf tournament, the career politicians are afraid to touch it," Coburn said at the time . He also noted, "Tax earmarks are essentially tax increases for everyone who doesn't receive the benefit…In this case, working Americans are paying artificially high rates in order to subsidize special breaks for sports leagues. This is hardly fair." That seems an understatement. Football's popularity is huge, and despite the controversies, more than one hundred million people will tune into this weekend's Super Bowl. Americans love the NFL but as questions about the league's governance pile up, they may get tired of helping to foot the bill. It's up to Congress to clean up our tax system. Stay tuned sports fans. | 3 | 4,719 | finance |
The last time Eddie Murphy made an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" was 15 December 1984. Thirty-one years later, it appears Murphy will finally return to the show that helped make him a star. In an interview with Roland Martin, Murphy said he'd appear on the forthcoming 40th anniversary special for "SNL" that NBC will air on 15 February. "It just never worked out where the timing was right for me to do it," Murphy said when asked why he hadn't appeared on "SNL" in decades. "They're actually having a 40th anniversary, I think, in two weeks. I'm going to that, and that'll be the first time I've been back since I left." A representative for NBC was not immediately available for comment. Murphy's acrimonious history with the show dates back to a joke David Spade made about him on Weekend Update during the 1990s, when Murphy's career had hit a low point after "Vampire in Brooklyn." ("Look, children, a falling star.") "[T]hey were shitty to me on 'Saturday Night Live' a couple of times after I'd left the show. They said some shitty things," Murphy said in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2011. "There was that David Spade sketch. I made a stink about it, it became part of the folklore. What really irritated me about it at the time was that it was a career shot. It was like, 'Hey, come on, man, it's one thing for you guys to do a joke about some movie of mine, but my career? I'm one of you guys. How many people have come off this show whose careers really are fucked up, and you guys are shitting on me?' And you know every joke has to go through all the producers, and ultimately, you know Lorne or whoever says, [Lorne Michaels voice] 'OK, it's OK to make this career crack ...'" Murphy added that he felt unhappy about that for years. "I wouldn't go to retrospectives, but I don't let it linger," he added. "I saw David Spade four years ago. Chris Rock was like, 'Do you guys still hate each other?' and I was like, 'I don't hate David Spade, I'm cool with him.'" | 6 | 4,720 | entertainment |
Want to 'Party like it's 1989'? Better ask Taylor Swift's permission first!Taylor Swift is trademarking a bunch of phrases from her latest album 1989. Sean Dowling (@SeanDowlingTV) has the details. | 8 | 4,721 | video |
When it comes to maintaining health in our later years, eating right and fueling our bodies with nutritious food is key. Krystin Goodwin (@krystingoodwin) highlights the best foods for a longer life. | 8 | 4,722 | video |
LOS ANGELES Football tampering is inevitable when felines take the field Sunday in Hallmark Channel's Kitten Bowl a four-team playoff to promote the adoption of shelter animals. The channel says kitties simply can't help the fact that claws and balls don't go together. "Our issues tend to be more related to the size of the 'yarnage' markers on the 'kitiron' and, of course, the length of their milk breaks," said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Hallmark parent Crown Media Family Networks. In other words, cute trumps controversy when fluffy, big-eyed kitties are involved, just as it should. "Kitten Bowl II" kicks off at noon EST, starting with semifinal matches between the Northpole Panthers and Hallmark Channel Hearties, and the Good Witch Wildcats versus the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Mountain Lions. The winners then play for ultimate purring rights. Hallmark goes for giggles as well, with "quartercats" dubbed Tawny Unitas, Ryan Fitzcatrick and Joe Montuna. John Sterling and Mary Carillo host the big game, with Boomer Esiason serving as Feline Football League commissioner. The kitty contest isn't the only televised alternative to Sunday's Super Bowl match between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Fish Bowl II is on the Nat Geo WILD channel (6 p.m. EST) and there's Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl (3 p.m. EST) that kicked off the trend and is in its 11th year. The latter also promotes pet adoption. Viewers lap it all up. Last year's Puppy Bowl drew 13.5 million viewers, with the inaugural Kitten Bowl watched by 1 million. That's not the 2014 Super Bowl's 112.2 million viewers, but it beats a bowl of kibble. | 6 | 4,723 | entertainment |
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Thursday offered an upbeat assessment on the U.S. economy in a meeting with Senate Democrats, even as she noted risks from overseas, according to media reports. According to The Wall Street Journal, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia told reporters after a private luncheon with Yellen that she said "things are going well" for the U.S. economy. "She feels the economy is strong, a lot is good," Manchin said, according to the Journal. New York Senator Chuck Schumer told Bloomberg: "Her message is that the economy's getting better but there's still a ways to go in terms of job creation. "That worry seems, in her mind, to be paramount and that's why she is not going to raise rates immediately," he said. The meeting came a day after Fed policymakers upgraded their assessment of the U.S. economy, while acknowledging that international developments could play a role in their decision on when to raise benchmark borrowing costs from near zero. "She was generally pretty positive about fundamentals here, you know some concern about the foreign situation," Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said, according to the Journal. Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois called Yellen's comments "very positive," according to both reports. (Reporting by Timothy Ahmann; Editing by Leslie Adler) | 3 | 4,724 | finance |
SAN FRANCISCO Google has gotten into the habit of missing analysts' earnings targets, frustrating investors who believe the online search leader would be more profitable it wasn't pouring so much money into far-flung projects such as Internet-connected eyewear and driverless cars. The latest letdown came Thursday with the release of Google's fourth-quarter financial results. The earnings were well below analysts' predictions, marking the fifth consecutive quarter that Google Inc. hasn't cleared a key hurdle for publicly held companies. But investors' disappointment with the performance seemed to dissipate during a pep talk by Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette. He assured investors that Google intends to spend in a "prudent manner" and left open the possibility that the company might funnel some of its $64 billion in cash back to shareholders, especially if a law is passed to allow money stashed in overseas accounts to be brought to the U.S. at lower tax rates. Those remarks, made during conference call to discuss the results, reversed an initial sell-off in Google's stock. After shedding 2 percent in extended trading, the shares rebounded to post a 2 percent gain of $10.47 to $523.70. At the end of Thursday's regular session, Google's stock had dropped by 8 percent from where it stood just 13 months ago. The Standard & Poor's 500 index has climbed by 9 percent over the same stretch. Google earned $4.8 billion, or $6.91 per share, a 41 percent increase from the same period in 2013. If not for certain expenses and gains, Google said it would have earned $6.88 per share. Analysts, on average, had forecast earnings of $7.12 per share, according to FactSet. Google's revenue for the period covering the holiday shopping season rose 15 percent to $18.1 billion. After subtracting ad commissions, revenue stood at $14.5 billion nearly $250 million below analysts' expectations. "They are still in investment mode and that is affecting (profit) margins," Edward Jones analyst Josh Olson said. Pichette described the fourth quarter as "noisy" because the strengthening dollar depressed the quarter's revenue by about $468 million from what it would have been had currency rates remained unchanged from a year earlier. Revenue would have been lower by $616 million, if Google hadn't hedged against the currency upheaval, Pichette said. Google's slumping stock price has primarily been driven by two factors: steadily rising expenses and a general shift by people toward using smartphones instead of desktop and laptop computers to do searches and peruse digital content. Ad prices have been sagging because marketers haven't been willing to pay as much to pitch consumers who are squinting at the smaller screens on smartphones. Google registered a 3 percent decline in the average price for the ads that appear alongside its search results and other online content, a measure known as "cost per click." It's the 13th consecutive quarter that Google's cost per click has fallen from the previous year. The desktop-to-mobile transition also unleashed a flood of applications that make it easier for people to go directly to the digital content that they want, instead of searching on Google. People are also searching within apps once they're in them, relying on services such as Amazon to find products or Yelp to find restaurants. Google could be making more money if the company decided to add fewer workers to its payroll and rein in its spending on far-out technology, such as the Google Glass project that the company recently scaled back as it suspended sales to consumers. But CEO Larry Page believes Google needs to continue taking risks and making big bets on ambitious ideas that he calls "moonshots" in an effort to open future moneymaking opportunities and perhaps make the world a better place. Self-driving cars is one such project in the works. The company hired about 2,000 employees in the fourth quarter, contributing to a 35 percent increase in its operating expenses. "From an investment perspective, we'll continue to seek a healthy balance between growth and discipline and the willingness to throttle back when we reach the limits of what we can manageably absorb," Pichette said. | 3 | 4,725 | finance |
FOX Sports 1 NFL insider Peter Schrager discusses the sickness that is obviously sweeping through the Patriots' camp ahead of their Super Bowl showdown against the Seahawks. | 1 | 4,726 | sports |
Video analysis experts claim that this video could have been staged and shot in front of a green screen. | 8 | 4,727 | video |
Gwyneth Paltrow has announced plans to write another cookbook, this time featuring clean comfort food for the family. During an appearance on the Rachael Ray Show, Paltrow said she's working on a new book that will focus on healthy, family-friendly recipes, reports The Hollywood Reporter . Fans can also expect healthy, easy, make-ahead party foods and recipes to please finicky kids. The next title will mark Paltrow's third cookbook following "My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness," and "It's All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great." | 0 | 4,728 | foodanddrink |
Is the sky really falling? Does this losing streak reflect a bigger problem with the team? Rebecca and Kate offer some points for your consideration. The Mavs are still a playoff team, and while losing four games is disheartening, it doesn't affect their ability to finish strong and make a run in the West. The trade for Rondo was still the right move. Listen, losing four games in a row sucks -- especially because as fans, we are simply not used to seeing the 2014-15 Mavericks lose with consistency. But I think through a lot of the doom and gloom, we fans -- and the outside critics for whom recency bias seems to loom large -- forget a few things. First, the Mavericks played a very easy schedule before the trade. They didn't have a ton of travel-intensive back-to-backs, they had some decent-sized homestands. They played a lot of Eastern Conference teams; they didn't have the injury concerns other West teams had. Then, they shook up the entire team with the Rondo trade. Whether you were in favor of or against the trade, it was probably the right move for a team that needed some measure of competitive balance to have a hope of getting out of the West. And how often do you have a chance to get an elite point guard at a discount? We've now had 19 games of Rondo, and Rick Carlisle has talked extensively, even recently, about needing time to fully integrate him into their system. We all knew the trade would change the complexion of this team, hopefully for the better. That adjustment period, unfortunately, happened to show up at a time when the schedule ramped up with more Western Conference games and a lot of time out on the road. January has featured a few back to backs and FOUR whole home games. Even the home games in January have felt like away games -- there haven't been two in a row since the end of December. There's also the adjustment to the game itself. We knew that the trade would probably disrupt the high-level offense a little at the expense of improving a really really bad defense -- but it wasn't clear how much. And guess what -- both things happened! The Mavs are much more balanced on offense and defense with room to grow - going from 1st on offense a to 2nd, and from 20th up to 15th on defense with room to grow as the team continues to learn with each other. You can filter out games from before the trade and look just at numbers since the trade if you want, but the fact is, those numbers reflect an adjustment period where the complexion of the team changed dramatically, a Dirk shooting slump, and a more intense schedule that the first part of the season simply didn't have. Turnovers doomed the Mavs for the past couple games; that's fixable. They need a more consistent backup big, and whether or not Jermaine O'Neal arrives, Dwight Powell has been a nice surprise and is a smart rookie who seems to be learning well on the fly. The Mavs are still in 6th place, with a couple of homestands and the All-Star break looming. This is a team of high-profile professionals -- and I have little doubt that they will take that break to figure out what's or hasn't worked with Rondo, Dirk will take that break to rest and figure out his shot, Carlisle will look at film and figure out which lineups are just silly -- and this team will emerge from the All-Star break ready to fight their way back to elite Western Conference playoff team status. And if they don't get in as a, say, 4 seed? Well once you're in the playoffs, records go out the window, especially if you're a Rick Carlisle-coached team. We saw that against the Spurs last year. - Rebecca Lawson Two weeks ago, I didn't think it was time to panic. But this week I think a little concern may be in order. Why? All teams go through rough patches. This four-game losing streak wouldn't be so worrying if it were an aberration, but this is starting to seem like more of a continuation of a trend than just a bad week. The Mavericks have had several chances to prove they are capable of beating the best of the West, and with one exception, they've blown them. The Mavs should still make the playoffs, but Rondo is a marginal upgrade at best due to his limitations. Dallas may limp into the playoffs unless something changes drastically. This team had a lot of problems on defense before the trade, but it's been incredibly frustrating to watch Rajon Rondo on offense this year. He really has been mediocre, whether you look at his stats one by one or at more holistic measures. No matter your preferred flavor of advanced stats, he's been not just below average for an NBA player, but significantly worse than he was in Boston, where despite his poor shooting, he was doing quite well earlier this season. Surprisingly, it's not really his shooting that's to blame for his dip in performance. He's still a bad shooter, but his true shooting percentage hasn't really changed at all, although he's unfortunately started taking more shots than he did in Boston, which is just not something Rondo should be doing. His rebounds per 36 minutes are down, his assists are down, his turnovers are down a little (but not even remotely in proportion to his assists), and his fouls are up. In short, he's not been the player the Mavericks thought they were getting. It's true that the Mavericks still look strong when it comes to both offensive and defensive ratings. To win a title these days, you generally need a top ten offense AND a top ten defense, and if you look at the current standings, things certainly seem like they've moved in the right direction. The offense has dipped to a mere second best in the league, the defense has climbed steadily from 20thto 15th, and the team still has the fourth best point differential in the league, an impressive +6.9. But when you ignore games from before the trade and look just at the offensive and defensive ratings of the team as it's currently constituted, things don't look quite as rosy. The defense looks a lot better, but it's still outside the top ten, even with Rondo on the team. The offense has dropped all the way to eighth, and the team's point differential (a really important predictor of postseason success) has dropped to a decent but not overwhelming +3.9, just seventh in the league. I'm certainly not going to try to argue that Rondo is worse than the other point guard options the team has, but on net, he's really not been that much better. Given the wonky big man line-ups Carlisle seems to be experimenting with lately (Charlie V and Aminu? Really?), I'd much rather have Brandan Wright back in the rotation alongside any of the other mediocre point guards on the roster. Dallas will almost certainly make the playoffs, but I think it's become increasingly clear over the last two weeks that they're not built to go very deep. The Mavericks were aware of Rondo's offensive limitations when they acquired him, but he's underperformed to such an extent that his defensive contributions are unable to compensate, and I think we're finally seeing that more clearly as we get into a tougher schedule. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think there's much chance of this team climbing back up in the standings. - Kate Crawford | 1 | 4,729 | sports |
UAB football coach Bill Clark will reportedly not accept a coaching job this season, choosing instead to remain in the state retirement system and hope for the program's return, per AL.com . UAB's players were told the program would be shutting down back in December due to financial programs. Clark says he's been offered multiple opportunities this offseason, but will instead spend his time visiting college programs like Oregon and some NFL teams, he says. If the UAB program returns, he said there's a "definite possibility" he would take the head coaching position again. "There's a glimmer of hope for me and a lot of folks," Clark told AL.com. "I love Birmingham and I love the state of Alabama, but a lot of things would have to happen, and it would have to be done correctly." A task force was recently formed to conduct an independent review into the report that ended up getting the program shut down, and (surprise!) they have found UAB probably won't play football next season . The program may be able to return in 2016, but with over 40 players already transferred out it could prove difficult. | 1 | 4,730 | sports |
Dr. Andrew Jacono joins HuffPost Live to explain how he knows when someone wants plastic surgery for the wrong reasons. Watch the video here. | 7 | 4,731 | health |
'Insider attack' at military airport in Kabul | 8 | 4,732 | video |
Google on Thursday reported that its profit jumped in the recently ended quarter, but the leap fell short of market expectations. The Internet colossus reported net profit up 41 percent year-over-year at $4.76 billion in the final three months of 2014. The profit translates to $6.88 per share, below the consensus forecast of $7.11 per share. Revenues were up 15 percent in the quarter to $18.1 billion, also slower that anticipated as Google saw slowdowns in some of its online advertising metrics such as costs per click. Google shares fell immediately following the results in after-hours trade, but later recouped the losses and traded up 0.3 percent. Some analysts pointed out that Google results were dented by a strong dollar, reducing the value of income earned outside the United States. Even though Google is the leader in online advertising and search, it faces increased competition and has been diversifying in services and investing in projects such as Google Glass and self-driving cars. "There are significant headwinds coming up for Google: despite its efforts to shore up its control of Android, it's arguably in greater danger than ever of losing control over this core platform," said Jan Dawson at Jackdaw Research. "Internet growth is slowing worldwide, and the new users who come online will have and command far less spending power, while gravitating towards local alternatives and apps rather than web models in their usage. Google really doesn't seem to have an answer for any of these." Google said this month it was halting sales of its Internet-linked eyewear Glass but insisted the technology would live on in a future consumer product. Instead of being part of the Google X lab working on innovations such as self-driving cars, the Glass team will become a separate unit answering to Tony Fadell, co-founder of Nest. Google bought the smart thermostat maker early last year in a multibillion-dollar deal and brought the former Apple executive on board in the process. | 3 | 4,733 | finance |
We're eagerly looking forward to drive the all-new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang and its wilder, track-ready GT350R version , but the arrival of those cars has us looking back to older GT350 Mustangs. Some are in unexpected places, as our colleagues at Hot Rod recounted the story of a 1968 Ford Shelby GT350 that was chained to a house. In all began when Rich Barnes, who runs pony-car restoration shop The Mustang Ranch in Colorado, was delivering a vintage Ford Bronco to a friend in Los Angeles. Along the way, Barnes decided to call about an obscure advertisement he'd seen for a classic Mustang. After struggling to get the seller to talk on the phone, Barnes went directly to the house and found a 1968 Shelby GT350 hidden beneath a cover -- and chained to the house to keep it from going walkabout. This wasn't just any GT350, it was one of 223 GT350s made specifically as Hertz rentals. Painted in classic Wimbledon White and without any rust, the 1968 Shelby GT350 had its original 302 cubic-inch (4.9 liter) V-8 under the hood, along with a four-speed manual transmission and a nine-inch rear end. Barnes told Hot Rod that he paid $8,200 cash for the car. The story gets more interesting, however, as while Barnes trailered the 1968 Shelby GT350 home, a passerby got Barnes' attention and asked whether he was interested in buying an original Shelby GT500. To read the entire story, and to see more photos, click here to visit HotRod.com. | 9 | 4,734 | autos |
The American Hockey League is creating a California-based Pacific Division, benefiting western NHL teams. The new cities will be in San Jose (Sharks), Stockton (Calgary Flames), Bakersfield (Edmonton Oilers), Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) and San Diego (Anaheim Ducks). The plan had been in the works for several years. The first four teams already own their AHL franchises while the Ducks will purchase the Norfolk (Va.) Admirals and move them west. Having the teams in California will ease travel costs when scouting prospects and when calling up players. San Jose's previous affiliate was in Worcester, Mass., more than 2,600 miles away It now will be in the Sharks' arena, SAP Center. The Ducks will go from having an affiliate 2,340 miles away to one 95 miles down the road. The Kings' affiliate will be 2,535 miles closer to home than Manchester, N.H. The Oilers (currently Oklahoma City) and Flames (currently Glens Falls, N.Y.) will have their development teams much closer. Division alignments and schedules for next season still have to be worked out. Three of the new AHL cities - Stockton, Bakersfield and Ontario - are ECHL sites. The ECHL will have an announcement on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. | 1 | 4,735 | sports |
Google just announced its earnings for Q4 of last year, and it's looking like one of the stronger financial quarter the company has had in some time. Overall revenue for the quarter was $18.1 billion, up from $16.86 billion one year ago, and net income of $4.76 billion was up 40 percent over a year ago, when the company pulled in $3.38 billion in profits. Despite the fact that both those revenue and profit numbers were up a healthy margin over a year ago, it wasn't quite enough to be Wall Street expectations. Analysts had predicted $18.46 in revenue and earnings per share (EPS) of $7.11, and Google missed on both those fronts the actual EPS for the quarter ended up at $6.88. It's worth noting that Google's net income this quarter was buoyed by the company's sale of the Motorola division to Lenovo, a transaction that closed back in October . This resulted in a $740 million gain for the company. As usual, Google's advertising business was by far the biggest contributor to the company's bottom line 89 percent of its total revenues were advertising-related. We should hear more details about what other businesses in the company contributed to the company's quarterly earnings on the full quarterly debrief call, which is coming up soon. As usual, most of Google's most interesting businesses aren't contributing to all the money the company pulls in but we still might get some glimpses of what the company is working on during this call. We'll be updating this post with anything we learn. | 5 | 4,736 | news |
PHOENIX Katy Perry says her Super Bowl halftime performance will make you "Roar" with animals. The singer told reporters at a press conference Thursday that her performance Sunday will include "a lion and sharks." "It's going to be wild out there," Perry teased. Perry, 30, said she feels blessed to perform on the Super Bowl stage "at such a young age." She said she enjoyed past Super Bowl performances from Beyoncé and Madonna, and what she adds "is some lightheartedness." Lenny Kravitz will join the pop star at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. Perry said her performance will also include an "old school" female singer who she declined to identify but said would be instantly familiar from the get-go. "When you hear the first ring of the chord, I think jaws will drop and faces will melt," she said. She said the audience can expect to hear two of her hits, "Roar" and "Firework." Her performance would be a visual feast in the tradition of Madonna and will celebrate "female empowerment," she said. Perry said one element of the show is the unfurling of a giant screen that will go on the field for visual effects, and she'll also change her outfit several times. She said the logistics of the performance will be difficult, and she plans to sing through much of it. "A lot of it will be live," she said. Perry, who's in the midst of a world tour, said she's been closely involved in planning the extravaganza. "There is not a diamond on the shoe that has not gone past my eyes," she said. "I feel that in some ways it's a spiritual experience for me," she said. "I just hope that at the end of the day, over 100 million people are all smiling in unison," Perry said. Perry was playful with reporters, indulging one who wanted to take a selfie photo with her and shouting at a pair of puppets brought by a Mexican television crew. While she was enthusiastic about talking about her show, when the topic turned to her love life, Perry channeled Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who's gained fame for refusing to answer reporters' questions. "I'm just here so I don't get fined," Perry said with a serious face. In true Lynch fashion, she repeated the line again. Perry said she's good friends with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and will be rooting for the Seahawks on Sunday. Perry said she's taken health advice from Wilson, and her tour has her in good physical shape for Sunday's performance. "I think that we're all athletes out there on the field," she said. "We're all very athletic in the show. We're really prepared." ___ Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP | 6 | 4,737 | entertainment |
LOS ANGELES With California gripped by a measles outbreak, Dr. Charles Goodman posted a clear notice in his waiting room and on Facebook: His practice will no longer see children whose parents won't get them vaccinated. "Parents who choose not to give measles shots, they're not just putting their kids at risk, but they're also putting other kids at risk especially kids in my waiting room," the Los Angeles pediatrician said. It's a sentiment echoed by a small number of doctors who in recent years have "fired" patients who continue to believe debunked research linking vaccines to autism. They hope the strategy will lead parents to change their minds; if that fails, they hope it will at least reduce the risk to other children in the office. The tough-love approach which comes amid the nation's second-biggest measles outbreak in at least 15 years, with at least 98 cases reported since last month raises questions about doctors' ethical responsibilities. Most of the measles cases have been traced directly or indirectly to Disneyland in Southern California. The American Academy of Pediatrics says doctors should bring up the importance of vaccinations during visits but should respect a parent's wishes unless there's a significant risk to the child. "In general, pediatricians should avoid discharging patients from their practices solely because a parent refuses to immunize his or her child," according to guidelines issued by the group. However, if the relationship between patient and doctor becomes unworkable, the pediatrics academy says, the doctor may want to encourage the vaccine refuser to go to another physician. Some mothers who have been dropped by their doctors feel "betrayed and upset," said Dotty Hagmier, founder of the support group Moms in Charge. She said these parents made up their minds about vaccines after "careful research and diligence to understand the risks versus the benefits for their own children's circumstances." Dropping patients who refuse vaccines has become a hot topic of discussion on SERMO, an online doctor hangout. Some doctors are adamant about not accepting patients who don't believe in vaccinations, with some saying they don't want to be responsible for someone's death from an illness that was preventable. Others warn that refusing treatment to such people will just send them into the arms of quacks. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, or MMR, is 97 percent effective at preventing measles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles spreads easily through the air and in enclosed spaces. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. In rare cases, particularly among babies, measles can be deadly. Infection can also cause pregnant women to miscarry or give birth prematurely. All states require children to get certain vaccinations to enroll in school. California is among 20 states that let parents opt out by obtaining personal belief waivers. Some people worry that vaccines cause developmental problems, despite scientific evidence disproving any link. Others object for religious or philosophical reasons. Nationally, childhood measles vaccination rates have held steady for years at above 90 percent. But there seem to be growing pockets of unvaccinated people in scattered communities, said Dr. Gregory Wallace of the CDC. In recent years, nearly all U.S. measles cases have been linked to travelers who caught the virus abroad and spread it in this country among unvaccinated people. Northern California's Marin County has a high rate of people claiming personal belief exemptions. In 2012, Dr. Nelson Branco and his partners at a Marin County practice started turning away toddlers whose parents refused to make sure they received the measles vaccine. Branco said 10 to 20 of his practice's 8,000 or so patients left after the change. Vaccines "can be spooky for parents," Branco said. But "in the end, we have the science. We have the experience that it's the right thing to do." ___ AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report. Follow Alicia Chang on Twitter at @SciWriAlicia | 5 | 4,738 | news |
Former Cleveland Browns and Ohio State defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has been hired by Nick Saban as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at Alabama. Tucker worked the last two years as the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and the previous four in the same role for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He last worked in the college ranks as Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator in 2004. "Mel is an outstanding coach all the way around and really does an excellent job in terms of teaching the players," Saban said in an Alabama statement. "When you look at his college and NFL experience, his resume is very impressive, and he'll be a positive addition to our defensive staff. Mel's experience with the secondary will allow us to move Kirby (Smart) back to coaching the inside linebackers, which has been most effective for our defensive coordinator. We're pleased and happy to welcome Mel and his family to Tuscaloosa." Tucker, a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School, helped start the Cleveland Glenville to Ohio State pipeline in the early 2000s when he was a Buckeyes assistant under Tressel. That pipeline produced 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, first-round NFL draft picks Donte Whiter and Ted Ginn Jr. and, later, current Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones. Tucker joined Saban's Michigan State staff as a graduate assistant in 1997. From there he went to Miami-Ohio, rejoined Saban at LSU for a year and was at Ohio State for four years, including the 2002 national championship year, before joining the Browns. Tucker coached the Browns defensive backs from 2005-07 and was defensive coordinator in 2008. "I've known Coach Saban since I was 17 years old and he recruited me when he was the head coach at Toledo," Tucker said. "He gave me my first job at Michigan State and most of what I learned as a defensive backs coach came from him. He has always been extremely loyal to me and my family, and is a trusted friend and mentor. We've become big Crimson Tide fans through the years and our family actually went to the bowl games against Michigan State and Notre Dame. "When I was invited to speak here at one of the coaching clinics, I really got to see first-hand how special the University of Alabama is and I'm honored to join Coach Saban's staff. I have the utmost respect this program and what Coach Saban stands for as a man and as a coach." | 1 | 4,739 | sports |
SAO PAULO (AP) Brazilian organizers say the IndyCar Series opener scheduled for March in the nation's capital has been canceled. The television channel organizing and promoting the event released a statement on Thursday saying the decision was made by the local government in Brasilia. Band TV did not immediately provide any additional details, but said it was a "hasty" decision by the local government. "Band will inform in the next few days how those who have bought tickets will be reimbursed. The channel laments this hasty decision," the statement said. The channel said three of the five seating sections for the March 8 race at the Nelson Piquet Circuit had already sold out. The government agency organizing the event in Brasilia could not be immediately reached for comment. IndyCar officials have not commented on the cancellation. | 1 | 4,740 | sports |
NEW YORK It was a Prime quarter for Amazon. Amazon surprised investors on Thursday with a fourth-quarter profit that soundly beat expectations, despite a continued increase in spending and a slight sales miss, partly linked to the strong dollar. Investors drove shares up over 11 percent in aftermarket trading. Amazon's strategy always has been to spend a big chunk of the money it makes to grow and expand into new areas like cloud computing, streaming video and hardware. That has affected profitability, to investors' sometime chagrin. But the latest results seem to indicate that at least some areas in which Amazon has invested heavily, such as its $99 annual loyalty program and its Amazon Web Services cloud computing offerings for businesses, are finally helping out its bottom line. CEO Jeff Bezos said Prime membership grew 53 percent during the year even though it raised prices. (The Seattle company doesn't give out total figures.) Prime memberships help Amazon get people to engage more often with the company's products making them likely to spend more, says Morningstar analyst R.J. Hottovy. After raising Amazon's price to $99 from $89 last year, Amazon beefed up offerings, added a grocery delivery services and music streaming for Prime members. It also launched original TV shows such as the Golden Globe-winning "Transparent," starring Jeffrey Tambor. The video streaming service in particular seems to be a hit with Prime members. In a call with analysts, executives said that video content customers who sign up to its Prime service for a free trial are converting at higher rates than other ways of signing up. "Prime is a one-of-a-kind, all-you-can-eat, physical-digital hybrid in 2014 alone we paid billions of dollars for Prime shipping and invested $1.3 billion in Prime Instant Video. We'll continue to work hard for our Prime members," Bezos said in a statement. Another strong point is the company's cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services: worldwide active members exceeded 1 million during the quarter. "Amazon is gaining some pricing strength in its Amazon Web Services unit after being forced to lower prices in the first half of 2014," said Daniel Morgan, a Synovus Trust portfolio manager who invests in Amazon. "Amazon Web Services is a big part of the whole reason to own this stock." During the October-to-December quarter, Amazon earned 45 cents per share, easily topping Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 24 cents per share. The online retailer posted revenue of $29.33 billion in the period, missing Street forecasts of $29.84 billion, according to Zacks. Amazon said the strong dollar pared nearly $900 million from revenue during the quarter. One weak spot in the results was Amazon's revenue forecast. For the current period ending in March, Amazon forecast revenue in the range of $20.9 billion to $22.9 billion. Analysts surveyed by Zacks have forecast revenue of $23.23 billion. But investors gave that a pass. Shares rose $36.18, or 11.6 percent, to $347.96 in aftermarket trading, after closing the day up 2.6 percent at $311.78. The stock had been up less than 1 percent since the beginning of the year. | 3 | 4,741 | finance |
No matter how large your kitchen, there never seems to be enough room for all the cookware. Pots are bulky, shapes and sizes vary, and those pesky lids have a mind of their own. But that doesn't mean we have to sit back and take it. Here are 8 clever ideas to help both buyers and DIYers corral their collections of pots and pans. Go Over Board Sometimes the simplest solutions create the biggest wow factor. With nothing more than a basic pegboard and a few pegs you can hang a whole lot of kitchen gear. If you want to jazz it up a bit, playful painted outlines like the ones shown here are a great idea. Roll Me Away Sometimes a store-bought storage solution is your best bet and this heavy-gauge sliding wire rack is a great choice. It glides out easily for accessibility and tucks out of sight for a clutter-free kitchen. Check out Custom Service Hardware for several different options. Related: Get Custom Kitchen Cabinets with 7 Easy Installs A Different Point of View If you have a small kitchen , you know that every square inch counts. In this modest space, a window is just the right size to accommodate a simple rack perfect for hanging handled cookware of all shapes and sizes. You may have to sacrifice the view, but you'll make up for it in convenience. Related: 11 Inspiring Kitchens That Defy Their Small Size Divide and Conquer This custom Dura Supreme cookware storage solution features a shallow compartment for lid storage that's installed in the upper section of a deep drawer. Arrange your pots and pans below, and you'll never again waste time hunting for lids. Related: 10 Surprisingly Smart Solutions for Junk Drawers Sliding into Home Another way to buy your way out of cookware clutter is this sliding system from Glideware. You'll have easy access, stay incredibly organized, and undoubtedly be the envy of your home chef friends. Related: 10 New Kitchen Products to Make Your Life Better Hanging Copper Pipe Structure Hanging a pot rack over a kitchen island is a great way to save cabinet space while keeping everyday items within reach. You can DIY your own using lengths of copper pipe; evenly spaced S-hooks allow you to display your cookware in style. Related: Renovate Your Rental 9 Kitchen Upgrades You Can Make Off the Rack Stacked neatly inside one another, pots and pans aren't the biggest obstacle to a tidy kitchen it's the lids! Keep them in line by hanging them inside cabinet doors . The only hardware you'll need is a handful of plastic adhesive hooks, spaced to fit each lid. Related: Kitchen Cures The Perfect Solution for Every Unruly Drawer Climb the Ladder If you can't trust your old wooden ladder to support your weight, perhaps a piece of it can be repurposed to support your pots and pans. Cookware is still heavy, though, so be sure to find the joists in your ceiling before closing the deal. Related: Get Organized 25 Clever Ideas for Repurposed Storage | 4 | 4,742 | lifestyle |
How does something so cute become so awkward?! | 8 | 4,743 | video |
THURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Who's going to win Sunday's Super Bowl? It may depend, in part, on which team has the most "night owls," a new study suggests. The study found that athletes' performance throughout a given day can range widely depending on whether they're naturally early or late risers. The night owls -- who typically woke up around 10 a.m. -- reached their athletic peak at night, while earlier risers were at their best in the early- to mid-afternoon, the researchers said. The findings, published Jan. 29 in the journal Current Biology, might sound logical. But past studies, in various sports, have suggested that athletes usually perform best in the evening. What those studies didn't account for, according to the researchers behind the new study, was athletes' "circadian phenotype" -- a fancy term for distinguishing morning larks from night owls. These new findings could have "many practical implications," said study co-author Roland Brandstaetter, a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham, in England. For one, athletes might be able to maximize their competitiveness by changing their sleep habits to fit their training or play schedules, he suggested. "What athlete would say no, if they were given a way to increase their performance without the need for any pharmaceuticals?" Brandstaetter said. "All athletes have to follow specific regimes for their fitness, health, diet and psychology." Paying attention to the "body clock," he added, just adds another layer to those regimens. The study began with 121 young adults involved in competitive-level sports who all kept detailed diaries on their sleep/wake schedules, meals, training times and other daily habits. From that group, the researchers picked 20 athletes -- average age 20 -- with comparable fitness levels, all in the same sport: field hockey. One-quarter of the study participants were naturally early birds, getting to bed by 11 p.m. and rising at 7 a.m.; one-quarter were more owlish, getting to bed later and rising around 10 a.m.; and half were somewhere in between -- typically waking around 8 a.m. The athletes then took a series of fitness tests, at six different points over the course of the day. Overall, the researchers found, early risers typically hit their peak around noon. The 8 a.m. crowd, meanwhile, peaked a bit later, in mid-afternoon. The late risers took the longest to reach their top performance -- not getting there till about 8 p.m. They also had the biggest variation in how well they performed across the day. "Their whole physiology seems to be 'phase shifted' to a later time, as compared to the other two groups," Brandstaetter said. That includes a difference in the late risers' cortisol fluctuations, he said. Cortisol is a hormone that, among other things, plays a role in muscle function. But while the study showed clear differences in the three groups' peak-performance times, it didn't prove that trying to change an athlete's natural sleep/wake tendencies will boost performance. "You can't infer that from this study," said Dr. Safwan Badr, immediate past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. To prove that would work, he said, researchers would have to do an "intervention" study where they recruited night owls or early birds and changed their sleep/wake cycles. Plus, altering one's body clock would be easier said than done, according to Badr. It could also get complicated, he noted, for athletes who have to travel to different time zones to compete. "If you're an East Coast team playing on the West Coast at night, you're really at a disadvantage," Badr said. In fact, a 2013 study of National Football League teams found that since 1970, West Coast teams have had a major advantage over East Coast teams during night games. Sunday's Super Bowl will be played at 6:30 p.m. EST in Glendale, Arizona -- which would seem to put the New England Patriots at a disadvantage against the Seattle Seahawks. Still, based on the new findings, the outcome might partly depend on the proportion of night owls on each team. Brandstaetter acknowledged that this study does not prove that changing athletes' body clocks improves their performance. But it's a question his team is actively investigating. For an elite athlete, any change that could enhance performance even a little could make a big difference, since seconds can separate medal winners from losers, Brandstaetter noted. "The most important thing to consider here," he said, "is that just getting up at a certain time on the day of the competition will not help if this time is different from internal biological time." Most people, of course, aren't elite athletes. But Badr said it could be worthwhile for everyday exercisers to consider the time of day when they feel they're at their best. "That might help you enjoy physical activity more," he said. But when it comes to sleep, Badr said the most important thing -- for all of us -- is to get enough of it. More information The U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences has more on biological clocks and health . | 7 | 4,744 | health |
The NFL has focused heavily on reducing concussions in recent years, and based on recently released data, the league's efforts paid off in 2014. According to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com ), the rate of concussions fell 25 percent this season. There were 111 recorded concussions during the 2014 NFL regular season, which was an improvement upon the 148 concussions suffered in 2013. The report also states that there has been a 36 percent drop in concussions over a three-year span. Jeff Miller, NFL senior vice president of health and safety policy, believes modifying on-field technique is largely responsible for the positive results, per the AP's report. Concussion data the last few years from NFL pic.twitter.com/kw6rhTHZ0j Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 29, 2015 he league must continue to be diligent in its handling of head injuries, and players must continue to strive to be as safe as possible. Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter | 1 | 4,745 | sports |
MELBOURNE, Australia Ten years ago, match points on her racket, a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova could only watch as Serena Williams belted two winners by her deep in the third set of their Australian Open semifinal. A decade later and with 14 more matches between them, Sharapova has never held a match point against Williams again. Saturday in Melbourne, the world's top two ranked women's tennis players will meet for the 19 th time as the American chases her 19 th Grand Slam title. It's the marquee matchup of female stars of this generation, yet Sharapova hasn't come out on top against Williams since 2004, compiling a 2-16 head-to-head record overall. "The only thing I remember is (my) inside-out forehand on match point," Williams recalls of that 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 come-from-behind classic. "I hit it and I walked to the next side as if I knew it was already going to be a winner." It was the match that turned the tide of what looked to be tennis' modern-day version of great rivalries following in line with Martina Navratilova vs. Chris Evert and Steffi Graf vs. Monica Seles. Instead, it's become an embarrassingly lopsided affair for Sharapova, who has her own memory of that 2005 defeat. "It was a very physical battle," says the Russian, now 27. "(I) definitely had a lot of chances, but it was a really tough one to lose." Now, knocking on the door of her sixth Grand Slam title, can the Russian overcome an opponent who has held firmly her card for the last 10 years? If so, it would be perhaps the biggest moment of Sharapova's already storied career. A torrid affair "The irony of this tournament is this is where the bugaboo really started," says Pam Shriver, the former player who now commentates on TV. "That loss set the table for the last 10 years of the rivalry. Maria has not recovered. It's the one thing that has gnawed at her." It's no secret that Williams and Sharapova aren't friends; they never have been. Sharapova has kept to herself on tour, first with her father and then with small teams of three or four, while the Williams clan is famously insular, Venus and Serena always at one another's side. In recent years, Williams' social circle has grown to include fellow top player Caroline Wozniacki. While Serena Williams raced towards history over the past decade, culminating with her 18 th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open last year, Sharapova has won four more majors since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2004, a final in which she shocked Williams in straight sets. But the losses against Williams have piled up for Sharapova, a rivalry that during one stretch she struggled to win games in. "The belief is down," says Martina Navratilova, who now coaches world No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska. "You cannot be human and think that she doesn't have doubts after being beaten so many times in a row." It's a head-to-head tally not lost on Williams. "I take a lot of pride in it," she says. "I think my game matches up well against her. I love playing her. I think it's fun. I love her intensity. … I just have the time of my life." The long way back Few players are gifted with the athletic prowess that has helped Williams dominate the women's game. She has the best serve, arguably the best return and does everything else, well, perhaps better than everyone else. But "anything is possible" against the 33-year-old world No. 1, says coach Nick Bollettieri, who has coached both of the finalists. "Sometimes in life people sort of have a hoax on you," Bollettieri says, "but you can't let yourself think on that. You have to go out and know what you're capable of doing. Maria's game is very simple: go for it." It's not all that simple, at least not if Sharapova wants to successfully overcome an opponent who has owned her in the past. "When Maria's performed badly she'll get behind in a rally and she panics and then tries to hit down the line," explains Craig O'Shaughnessy, a strategy analyst for the WTA, among other tennis entities. "One of the things that Maria can't do is try and change the direction of the ball when she's on defense. There are just too many errors when she's attempting a defensive change of direction." The key when looking at the X's and O's, O'Shaughnessy says, is about finding the smallest of weaknesses in Williams' armor and exploiting them. "The more Maria can hit behind Serena, the better," he says. "What you want to do against Serena is make her stop, re-start and go in a different direction from where she came from. That's a big factor. It's wrong-footing Serena. That's far better than having her run into the open court." Brad Gilbert, a former player and now a TV analyst, says it'll take some help from Williams, as well. "Maria needs a perfect storm," Gilbert says. "Serena now is going to be 34 this year and occasionally has some days where she is not at her best. Maria needs that. Maria needs to be at absolutely 100 percent, hitting drives 380 yards down the fairway and has to hope that Serena is a little off. If they're both punching the elevator to the top floor, Maria isn't winning." Digging deepest While Sharapova has won dozens if not hundred of matches, it's her intensity that distinguishes her game. "I think she's been fighting throughout all those years, through everything that is in her way, jumped all the hurdles and all the obstacles," says Grigor Dimitrov, Sharapova's boyfriend and the world No. 11 on the men's tour. "(She's) by far the greatest fighter ever." "Maria's gone through this Open with such determination," adds Stacey Allaster, CEO of the WTA Tour. "There's a nice rivalry between them even though the head-to-head is not there. Maria says that you have to win for there to be a rivalry. This will be good drama." Earlier in this tournament, Tomas Berdych broke a 17-match losing streak to Rafael Nadal, one that dated nearly 10 years. It was a win that even from the wings gives Sharapova hope that what she'll try to do here isn't impossible. "You know, she's great at making players hit that shot that you don't necessarily have to go for," Sharapova says. "It's been a really difficult matchup for me, but… I am a competitor. I will go out and do everything I can to try to change that result around." Billie Jean King sums it up: "It just gets down to when the bell rings. There's no secrets: Can Maria execute better when she needs to?" Crossing the finish line What Sharapova couldn't do in that 2005 Australian Open match win the final point she hopes to do here this weekend. It's something many in tennis don't doubt will happen … at some point. "I think she'll beat Serena this year," says Shriver, who commentates for ESPN. "I don't know if that will be here or where it will be, but I think that will happen." Sharapova, of course, hopes it's Saturday. After saving two match points in the second round, she's scorched through her next four matches, losing just 17 games in total. "I felt that I've had really good matches and a good record here in Australia," Sharapova notes. She's 48-10 at Melbourne Park in her career. "I've had many great memories on Rod Laver Arena. I've hopefully set myself up for another good one." Do either Williams or Sharapova dream of lofting the Daphne Akhurst Trophy? "I did in the first couple rounds because I wasn't playing great," says Williams, who has won here five times. "I thought, 'Just think of the end, think of the end.' And I'm still here, so let's see." Not Sharapova, who has learned against Williams that seeing is believing. "I don't dream too much about tennis, thankfully," she says. | 1 | 4,746 | sports |
For six beautiful seasons, Parenthood made us feel so many feels actually make that all of the feels. From the glorious highs and the devastating lows, we've shed tears of joy and despair along with the Braverman family of the NBC drama. Before we bid farewell to the Jason Katims' beloved series, it's only fitting that we countdown to some of Parenthood's most gut-wrenching and tear-jerking moments. Grab your tissues for this one because you're about to full-on ugly cry. | 8 | 4,747 | video |
Reddit on Thursday issued its first transparency report, revealing numbers of requests for user data and bids to have content removed from the online messaging board. "We regularly get requests from governments and law enforcement agencies for private information about our users or to remove content or subreddits; we occasionally get formal subpoenas and legal requests from individuals," Reddit said in a blog post. "These requests are usually legitimate; we push back on any that we view as overbroad or unnecessarily invasive of privacy." Last year, Reddit received 55 requests for user information involving a total of 78 accounts. Inquiries made with legal tools such as warrants or subpoenas targeted data about account registration and content that was uploaded. Reddit doesn't collect a lot of information about users beyond email addresses, dates accounts are created, and Internet address numbers of computers connecting to the service. Other than Internet addresses, or IP numbers, of computers used to open accounts, the information is only stored by Reddit for 90 days before being deleted, according to the online messaging board's team. In contrast, Internet services run by titans such as Google or Facebook hold onto a broader range of user data for longer periods because information is used to target advertising on which they depend for revenue. Google and Facebook are among the array of Internet firms that routinely issue transparency reports, and each company has disclosed requests for user data that have climbed into the tens of thousands. Only five requests for information from Reddit came from outside the US, and the company refused to comply on jurisdiction grounds. None of the efforts to get user data from Reddit came in the form of National Security letters that mandate secrecy, according to the report. Reddit said that it provided information in response to slightly more than half the requests, and complied with 68 of the 218 requests for content to be removed last year for reasons such as copyright or trademark violations. | 3 | 4,748 | finance |
WASHINGTON Credit card data isn't quite as anonymous as promised, a new study says. Scientists showed they can identify you with more than 90 percent accuracy by looking at just four purchases, three if the price is included and this is after companies "anonymized" the transaction records, saying they wiped away names and other personal details. The study out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published Thursday in the journal Science, examined three months of credit card records for 1.1 million people. "We are showing that the privacy we are told that we have isn't real," study co-author Alex "Sandy" Pentland of MIT said in an email. His research found that adding just a glimmer of information about a person from an outside source was enough to identify him or her in the trove of financial transactions they studied. Companies routinely strip away personal identifiers from credit card data when they share information with outsiders, saying the data is now safe because it is "anonymized." But the MIT researchers showed that anonymized isn't quite the same as anonymous. Drawing upon a sea of data in an unnamed developed country, the researchers pieced together available information to see how easily they could identify somebody. They looked at information from 10,000 shops, with each data piece time-stamped to calculate how many pieces of data it would take on average to find somebody, said study lead author Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, also of MIT. In this case the experts needed only four pieces, three if price is involved. As an example, the researchers wrote about looking at data from September 23 and 24 and who went to a bakery one day and a restaurant the other. Searching through the data set, they found there could be only person who fits the bill they called him Scott. The study said, "and we now know all of his other transactions, such as the fact that he went shopping for shoes and groceries on 23 September, and how much he spent." It's easier to identify women, but the research couldn't explain why, de Montjoye said. The study shows that when we think we have privacy when our data is collected, it's really just an "illusion," said Eugene Spafford, director of Purdue University's Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security. Spafford, who wasn't part of the study, said it makes "one wonder what our expectation of privacy should be anymore." "It is not surprising to those of us who spend our time doing privacy research," said outside expert Lorrie Faith Cranor, director of the CyLab Usable Privacy and Security Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University. "But I expect it would be surprising to most people, including companies who may be routinely releasing de-identified transaction data, thinking it is safe to do so." Credit card companies and industry officials either declined comment or did not respond to requests for comment. The once-obscure concept of metadata or basic transactional information grew mainstream in recent years following revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Those disclosures from once-top secret U.S. government documents revealed that the NSA was collecting the records of digital communications from millions of Americans not suspected of a crime. The use of so-called "big data" has been a lucrative prospect for private companies aiming to cash in on the trove of personal information about their consumers. Retail purchases, online web browsing activity and a host of other digital breadcrumbs can provide firms with a wealth of data about you which is then used in sophisticated advertising and marketing campaigns. And big data-mining was used extensively in the 2012 president election to win over voters or seek out prospective donors. "While government surveillance has been getting a lot of press, and certainly the revelations warrant such scrutiny, a large number of corporations have been quietly expanding their use of data," said privacy consultant and author Rebecca Herold. Studies like this show "how metadata can be used to pinpoint specific individuals. This also raises the question of how such data would be used within insurance actuarial calculations, insurance claims and adjustments, loan and mortgage application considerations, divorce proceedings." ___ Online: Journal Science: http://www.sciencemag.org ___ Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears Jack Gillum can be followed at https://twitter.com/jackgillum | 5 | 4,749 | news |
Hamburger joint Shake Shack priced its U.S. initial public offering on Thursday. Analysts had expected the price to fall within a range of $17 to $19 a share, up from the original forecast of $14 to $16 a share. Shake Shack applied to have its common stock listed as "SHAK" on the New York Stock Exchange. The company increased its IPO to 5.75 million shares on Wednesday after initially offering 5 million Class A shares. The chain operates 63 stores domestically and internationally. Shake Shake's total revenue in 2013 topped $82 million, up from $19.5 million in 2012, according to a SEC filing. Danny Meyer, chief founder of the Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack, could net $140 million from the burger joint going public. Meyer owns 21 percent of the company which equates to 7,440,822 shares of Class B stock, according to regulatory filings. JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley are among the lead underwriters for the IPO. | 3 | 4,750 | finance |
SN's Ross Tucker gives his Super Bowl pick. | 1 | 4,751 | sports |
Now here's something we've never expected to write: Microsoft is investing in Android -- well, sort of. The software giant is reportedly planning to become a minority investor in Cyanogen, best known for its customized version of Android, according to the Wall Street Journal . Neither company is talking about the deal, naturally, and we still don't know how big Microsoft's investment may be. Bloomberg reports that the two companies are in negotiations to create a version of Cyanogen's image that features Microsoft's services (similar to what Nokia did with its X series, which Microsoft killed off ). The report comes only a few months after Cyanogen refused a Google buyout offer, supposedly because it wants to keep the dream of a truly open version of Android alive. The more likely reason? Cyanogen will probably end up being worth a lot more after additional investments than what Google was willing to pay. Sure, Microsoft's got Windows Phone already, but that platform isn't exactly exploding. And even though it's an off-shoot of Android, there are already more than 50 million people using Cyanogen. That number could rise significantly as it gets even easier to install (the company's already offering desktop and mobile apps to simplify the process). Cyanogen also has plenty of potential for phone makers -- it was one of the more compelling features of the OnePlus One (though their relationship isn't going so well these days). Wall Street Journal , Bloomberg | 5 | 4,752 | news |
Fog is among the most mysterious and eerie of Mother Nature's children. Combine it with one of the greatest geological marvels in the world the Grand Canyon and you have a true wonder to behold. Yesterday, a thick layer of fog glided through the canyon, making the burnt orange formations look as if they were floating, not totally unlike the mountains in James Cameron's Avatar (which were based on real mountains in China ). The incredible fog-scape is created by a process called cloud inversion . It happens when moisture condenses into fog and is held in place by warmer air resting on top of it. While it's a rare occurrence, it did just happen in the Grand Canyon in December. It's been a good few months for fog lovers. Watch the time lapse again, but this time do it while listening to one of the more beautiful passages of literature , Gandalf telling Pippin about "the grey rain-curtain of this world," from The Lord of the Rings . Sometimes reality can match the poetry of fantasy. | 5 | 4,753 | news |
There's nothing we love more than a juicy fashion rumor especially when there ends up being some truth to it. On Thursday, Harper's Bazaar UK posted an item speculating that Topshop has tapped fashion darlings Kendall and Kylie Jenner to design a capsule collection, and that the duo is currently in talks with the British retailer's CEO Sir Philip Green. The Jenners would be following in the footsteps of Kate Moss, who's designed a series of (very successful) collaborations for the label, as well as Beyoncé, who entered a joint venture with Topshop late last year and will produce a line of "athleisure" products with the retailer set to hit stores as soon as this fall. While the siblings have already taken on design collaborations with Madden Girl and PacSun, the partnership with Topshop might go in a different direction. A rep for the label confirmed to Fashionista that while it does plan to work with Kendall and Kylie in the future, it's still being determined in what capacity. Watch this space for more news on this collaboration as it develops. This article was written by Alyssa Vingan from Fashionista and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. | 4 | 4,754 | lifestyle |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets a bit emotional when he thinks about Jeff Gordon retiring. Earnhardt first met Gordon when he was a kid, and he watched him race his father to win three of his four Cup championships. MORE: Chase Elliott replacing Gordon | Dillon's quest to honor No. 3 | Larson guarantees Cup win Nearly 20 years later, Gordon is his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, and watching him enter his final Sprint Cup season is a bit unsettling. "Learning about Jeff's announcement was a bit emotional because you see this guy race all these years," said Earnhardt, who compared Gordon to Joe Montana and other NFL greats who retired after hall-of-fame careers. "When they retire, it's weird because you don't want to see that end. You want them to go on forever. You want them to just play and play and play, and they can't. It sort of brings a little bit of a reality check that we all aren't going to be here driving cars all our lives." But Earnhardt fans can rest easy. Earnhardt, now 40, isn't thinking about retiring any time soon. Gordon will be 43 when he enters his final season next month. He will be 44 when it comes to an end. Earnhardt will be 41 in October, but he's a long way from following Gordon into the sunset. Unlike Gordon, who is beaten and battered from more than 35 years of racing and now has two small children, Earnhardt does not even have retirement on his radar. At 40, he's still single though he has a longtime girlfriend and has no children. "Jeff made his decision based on factors in his life, whether it be his health or his kids, and factors in my life will affect the way I look at retirement or look at making a change in my career," Earnhardt said Thursday. "I don't have any back issues or any kids on the way, so I don't have any factors." And while Gordon seemingly will go out a winner, still winning races and contending for championships, Earnhardt believes he is at the peak of his career. He won four races last season, including his second Daytona 500, and was a title contender. "I have never had more fun driving a racecar than I have in the last five years," he said. "I didn't even know I could have this much fun. Last year I felt like a kid. I had the same feeling I had when I would drive down to Myrtle Beach and run my late model or go to Nashville with my late model. "We were on top of the world, having so much fun. That freedom came back in the past couple of years to just enjoy it and release the pressure and just have fun driving cars. That's made me really think I can do this a lot longer than I had imagined." So how long could that be? Could he be like his father and race until into his late-40s, or even at age 50? "I don't know. It just depends on what life is like," he said. "I don't know where I'm going to be in the next three years. I have a lot of things I would love to accomplish outside of racing that I can do while I'm racing, but there's different things for everybody that changes the way they look at retiring and whether they make a change. I don't know what those will be for me or when they will happen." After his best season in 10 years, Earnhardt said he doesn't feel like he's 40 years old. "I feel like a 30-year-old, I guess," he said. "I haven't felt any different in a long, long time. I don't feel older. I haven't had anything crop up that's reminded me of how old I am, other than I can't eat chicken wings and pizza everyday like I used to, and I do got to work out. "I want to race as long as I'm healthy and as long as I am in cars that I feel like are competitive and as long as I feel competitive. I think I will stop racing when my health is an issue or I don't feel like I'm in a competitive car or I don't feel like myself, I feel like I have lost a step." After last season, he doesn't see that day approaching any time soon. "We had some really good success and I feel like I am getting better in some areas as a driver each year and my health has been great," he said. "I'm having so much fun driving cars, and with that happening, it is going to be very hard to consider doing anything different." | 1 | 4,755 | sports |
Ouya, the miniature Android gaming console that began as a Kickstarter sensation but largely fizzled with consumers, is getting a boost from Alibaba. The Chinese e-commerce giant has invested $10 million into Ouya, according to The Wall Street Journal . But that doesn't necessarily mean the Ouya box we're familiar with will be making the trip to China. The Journal says both companies have discussed integrating Ouya's existing software and game lineup which hit the 1,000 milestone in November to Alibaba's own set-top boxes. A deal to make that happen has yet to be finalized, according to the report, but Alibaba only made its big investment sometime last month. The idea makes sense for both companies. At least in the United States, Ouya is clearly struggling for relevancy in a market owned by Microsoft and Sony; the buzz that carried its Kickstarter campaign to $1 million in just hours was quickly forgotten about as consumers got their hands on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. And it's even had to deal with major competition at the $99 price point. Amazon's Fire TV offers decent enough Android gaming, and it also happens to be a pretty great set-top box for watching movies, too. In some ways, the launch of Fire TV might've sealed Ouya's fate here in the US. But the company still sees big opportunity overseas and has no problem letting other companies handle the hardware side. It's already partnered with Madcatz and Xiaomi (in China) to bring its platform and games to new devices through Ouya Everywhere, and Alibaba could extend that reach dramatically. In turn, Alibaba's set-top boxes could find their way into more homes and familiarize yet more Chinese consumers with its burgeoning marketplace. | 5 | 4,756 | news |
Pop singer Katy Perry on Thursday teased a lion, sharks and at least some live singing during her Super Bowl halftime performance, the most-watched dozen minutes annually on U.S. television. The "Roar" singer wouldn't divulge much about her Sunday gig at the NFL title game but did say to expect an unnamed "old school" female singer as a surprise performer in addition to rocker Lenny Kravitz. "I think I'm going to play on my strengths, which are humor, incredible joy. ... I just hope at the end of the day that over 100 million people are smiling in unison," Perry told a news conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. The 30-year-old pop star, known for her colorful costumes and songs about female empowerment, would not say how much of her singing would be pre-recorded, often an issue that has earned criticism for singers performing at big events. "I think a lot of it will be live," said Perry, who boasts Twitter's largest following. Two years ago, the run-up to Beyonce's halftime performance was overshadowed by her lip-synched performance at President Barack Obama's inauguration. Perry will perform her hits at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, at the Super Bowl match-up of the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. Last year's halftime show, headlined by singer Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers, attracted a record 115.3 million TV viewers, slightly more than the game itself averaged. A performance at the Super Bowl is considered the music industry's top promotional platform. (Reporting by Eric Kelsey in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler) | 6 | 4,757 | entertainment |
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and 11 rebounds as No. 3 Gonzaga beat Portland 64-46 on Thursday night, extending the nation's longest home winning streak to 37 games dating to 2012. Przemek Karnowski added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Gonzaga (21-1, 10-0 West Coast Conference), whose only loss was in overtime at then-No. 3 Arizona. It is the best start in program history. Kyle Wiltjer scored 11 points and Kevin Pangos had 10 for Gonzaga, which has won 14 straight games and beaten Portland in 37 of their last 39 meetings. Bryce Pressley and Bobby Sharp each scored nine points to lead Portland (12-10, 3-7), which has lost five of six. The Pilots shot just 30 percent (18 of 61) in the game, 22 percent in the second half. The Zags broke open a close game with a 21-2 run midway through the second half while holding Portland without a field goal for more than 12 minutes. The Zags lead the nation in field goal shooting at 53.3 percent, but shot just 41 percent against the Pilots. Portland stayed close in the first half and trailed only 31-25 at halftime. The Zags led 35-29 early in the second, as both teams struggled to make baskets. Then Gonzaga found the range. A hook shot by Karnowski launched a 21-2 run that lifted the Bulldogs to a 56-31 lead. Pangos followed with a long 3-pointer, his third of the game, and that seemed to spark the Zags. Portland made just two of 20 shots to open the second half and was held without a field goal for 12 1/2 minutes during the run. The Pilots did not challenge after that. In the first, both teams started the game cold from the floor and Gonzaga led just 17-15 midway through the half. Pressley sank three 3-pointers to keep the Pilots close. Portland's Kevin Bailey hit a bank shot to tie the score at 19. Philipp Harwich's layup put the Pilots ahead 21-20. Sabonis replied with a short jumper to put the Zags on top. Pangos hit a late 3-pointer to put Gonzaga up 31-25 at halftime. Gonzaga shot just 42.9 percent in the first half, while the Pilots sank just 36.7 percent (11 of 30) of their shots. --- TIP-INS Portland: Volodymyr Gerun had 14 rebounds. ... Portland went 9-3 in non-conference games but has struggled in league play. ... The Pilots lead opponents in rebounding by an average of five per game. ... Bailey averages 14.1 points per game to lead the Pilots. ... Portland has never defeated a top-10 team. Gonzaga: Pangos' early 3-pointer broke the school's career record of 288 set by Blake Stepp. ... Gonzaga opened 10-0 in WCC play for the sixth time under coach Mark Few. ... Gonzaga became the first Division I team to win 20 games this season, the 18th consecutive year the Zags have won at least 20. UP NEXT Portland plays at San Francisco next Thursday. Gonzaga hosts Memphis on Saturday. | 1 | 4,758 | sports |
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- San Jose put the game away with an impressive burst in the second period. When it comes to the Anaheim Ducks, the Sharks rise to the occasion. Patrick Marleau, Barclay Goodrow and James Sheppard each had a goal and an assist, and the Sharks beat the Ducks 6-3 on Thursday night. Joe Pavelski scored in the first as the Sharks improved to 4-0-1 against the division-leading Ducks this season. Antti Niemi made 25 stops in his third consecutive win, helping San Jose extend its home winning streak against Anaheim to seven. "You start off good against a team the first few times playing them and you feel like you maybe you have their number," Sharks center Andrew Desjardins said. "You feel like you're playing good against them. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. They're ahead of us too, so it's like we get up for these games." San Jose scored five times in the second and matched its season high in goals for the third time, twice against the Ducks. The Sharks have outscored their rivals 21-11 this season. "Everyone was going," Pavelski said. "When we had our chances we scored, and that's big. You get those nights when you can finish on a few of your odd-man rushes, and they just kept coming." Andrew Cogliano, Matt Beleskey and Patrick Maroon scored for the Ducks, who allowed six goals in their previous five games. Anaheim had won six in a row. Ducks goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov made 19 saves before being replaced by Frederik Andersen late in the second period. "I felt good. I just wasn't able to make one or two more saves in that period," Bryzgalov said. "They scored a goal on a power play, then we kill off a penalty and then they scored again. You have to make sure not to let them get to the rebound but I didn't have much time to find the puck." Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said everyone had a hand in the loss. "That game was on 20 guys," he said. "Five goals? I don't know what happened to us. They were coming in waves. Once they got the 2-1 lead, it was off to the races. They must have had 10 odd-man rushes in the second period. They're a good team and when you get looks like that, well, they're going to make the right play." Goodrow gave San Jose a 2-1 lead at 2:15 of the second, and the Sharks were just getting started. Marleau then got his 10th goal at 6:16. Matt Irwin and Sheppard scored before Brenden Dillon recorded a short-handed goal at 16:07. Dillon was trying to pass the puck but Beleskey dove to block it and instead redirected it into the net. NOTES: Sharks C Joe Thornton had a pair of assists to move into 37th place on the career points list with 1,233. ... Ducks D Eric Brewer, out since Dec. 1 with a broken foot, has been practicing for a week and could return to action shortly. ... The Ducks are in the midst of playing seven of nine games on the road. ... The Sharks have two more home games remaining in their season-long seven straight in San Jose. ... Sharks F Danii Tarasov was recalled from Worchester to replace F Tyler Kennedy, out with a lower body injury. ... Ducks C Rickard Rakell has eight points in his last seven games after accumulating a combined eight in his previous 31. | 1 | 4,759 | sports |
LOS ANGELES In need of a signature win to bolster a sagging NCAA tournament resume, UCLA looked for leadership from its lone senior starter. Norman Powell didn't disappoint. Powell scored 23 points and the Bruins defeated No. 11 Utah 69-59 on Thursday night for their first victory over a Top 25 opponent this season. "He's a senior and he made a lot of big plays for us," UCLA coach Steve Alford said. "As a senior when you get that kind of leadership, other guys follow." Bryce Alford had 14 points and seven assists, and Isaac Hamilton added 11 points for the Bruins (12-9, 3-5 Pac-12). "It was really big for us," Powell said. "We've had some tough losses ... and we really focused in the three days of practice leading into this. The losses versus ranked opponents, we weren't talking or moving the ball, and today we saw improvement in that." The Bruins held a 33-30 halftime advantage and led the entire second half. Delon Wright scored 15 points and Brandon Taylor had 14 for the Utes (16-4, 6-2), who have not beaten UCLA in Los Angeles since 1961. "I thought they played harder than us," Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "We really had only about a 5-minute stretch where we played hard enough." The Bruins committed just six turnovers and outscored Utah 34-26 in the paint. They also had eight steals and forced 14 turnovers. Utah beat UCLA 71-39 the first time the teams met this season on Jan. 4 in Salt Lake City. The Bruins are 10-1 at home and 2-8 in road and neutral-site games. "It was really embarrassing what happened the last time we played them," Powell said. "We were itching to get back at them." UCLA held its halftime lead after a back-and-forth first period that featured four lead changes and five ties. Powell scored 12 points in the half as the Bruins shot 15 of 31 (48.4 percent) from the field. The Bruins pulled away in the second half. UCLA opened on a 12-0 run, with eight points by Powell, and didn't allow Utah to score until the 12:38 mark. "They outscrapped us and we made it hard on ourselves," Krystkowiak said. "We're not the kind of team that can just show up. It just wasn't good." Taylor ended the Utes' skid with a 3-pointer from the right wing and followed with a steal and layup to make it 45-35 UCLA with 11:02 to go, but Hamilton responded with eight consecutive points to lead a Bruins spurt and give them a 56-41 lead with 7:30 left. Taylor led another Utes rally and nailed his third 3-pointer of the half to cut the deficit to 62-55 with 2:58 remaining, but UCLA hit seven of its final 10 free throws to ice it. "It was a tremendous team effort," Steve Alford said. "We got to the free throw line. Most guys got baskets. I thought it was a team effort of really trusting one another." ------ TIP-INS Utah: The Utes shot 23 of 47 (49 percent) from the field and got 18 points from their bench. ... Utah was 7 of 22 on 3-point attempts. ... Wright and Taylor, two of the Utes' top three scorers, are from Los Angeles. UCLA: The Bruins improved to 8-6 against Utah. ... UCLA lost all its previous games against Top 25 opponents this season by at least 13 points. ... Sophomore walk-on guard Jerrold Smith was added to the roster before the game. UP NEXT Utah visits Southern California on Sunday. UCLA hosts Colorado on Saturday. | 1 | 4,760 | sports |
PRETORIA (Reuters) - Apartheid death-squad leader Eugene de Kock, dubbed 'Prime Evil' for his role in the torture and murder of scores of black South African activists in the 1980s and early 1990s, was granted parole on Friday after more than 20 years in prison. Justice Minister Michael Masutha told a news conference de Kock would be released "in the interests of nation-building and reconciliation" and because he had expressed remorse at his crimes and helped authorities recover the remains of some of his victims. The decision, which had been deferred several times over the last year, remains contentious in a country still dealing with the legacy of repression and brutality meted out by the white-minority regime that prevailed from 1948 to 1994. Masutha stressed that his decision was guided only by the law, an attempt to deflect criticism from the many South Africans - black and white - who regard de Kock's crimes as so extreme he should die behind bars. The date of the 66-year-old's release from Pretoria 'C-Max' High Security prison would be kept secret, Masutha added. As head of an apartheid counter-insurgency unit at Vlakplaas, a farm 20 km (15 miles) west of Pretoria, de Kock is believed to have been responsible for more atrocities than any other man in the efforts to preserve white rule. Arrested in 1994, the year Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) came to power, he was sentenced two years later to 212 years in prison on charges ranging from murder and attempted murder to kidnapping and fraud. However, at a Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up in 1995 to try to unearth - and, in some cases, forgive - crimes committed by both sides, de Kock came clean about the killing of many ANC activists. LONG SHADOW Even from behind bars, the bespectacled de Kock continued to cast his shadow over the post-apartheid South Africa. In a 2007 radio interview, he accused FW de Klerk, the last white president, of having hands "soaked in blood" for ordering political killings. De Klerk, who won the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Mandela, has denied the allegations. Two years ago, he wrote to the mother of ANC lawyer Bheki Mlangeni, who was killed by a bomb in 1991, asking for her forgiveness. "Your forgiveness will mean a lot to me, but it can in no way wash away the pain I have caused," he said in the letter, which appeared in South African newspapers. However, in the same year he met Marcia Khoza, the daughter of ANC activist Portia Shabangu, whom de Kock executed after an ambush in Swaziland in 1989. "We greeted each other and shook hands. His handshake was firm," she said after the meeting, at which de Kock described how he shot Khoza's mother twice in the head before pushing the vehicle in which she was travelling down a slope. "I thought I would cry but strangely enough had the courage to continue to listen to him. I was not jolted because I had long forgiven him and have since learnt that resentment and bitterness will blur my vision on life," she said. At the same news conference, Masutha denied medical parole to Clive Derby-Lewis, an ultra-right wing politician who masterminded the 1993 assassination of Communist Party leader Chris Hani in an attempt to trigger a race war. Derby-Lewis is reported to be dying of cancer. (Writing by Ed Cropley and Joe Brock; Editing by James Macharia) | 5 | 4,761 | news |
It's no secret the Houston Texans are in need of an upgrade at the quarterback position. With Ryan Fitzpatrick's career in question as he recovers from a broken leg suffered in a Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and Ryan Mallett heading to the free agent market; the Texans may be looking to make a trade for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, according to NJ.com. The Texans are reportedly one of several teams interested in Foles, two others being the Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis Rams. The Titans currently hold the No. 2 pick in the draft and could be after a top quarterback there; the Rams have Sam Bradford, but could be looking to make a change as he is owed a base salary of $13 million and has yet to live up to expectations since he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Foles had an injury-plagued 2014 season as he missed the last eight games due to a broken collarbone suffered in Week 9 in Houston. The Texans could bring back Mallett as a free agent, who was shelved for the season with a torn pectoral muscle after being named the starter two weeks prior to the injury. While Mallett showed promise in a Week 11 win over the Cleveland Browns, one game may not convince the Texans enough to commit to the quarterback longterm. Foles, however is an accomplished starter, and could help get the Texans over the hump back to the playoffs quickly. While the Foles-to-Houston talks are intriguing, the quarterback was careful to note they are just rumors at this point while speaking with reporters in Arizona leading up to Super Bowl XLIX. "Yeah you hear about it," Foles said of the trade rumors, according to NJ.com. "You are going to hear about it every single year. That's just part of it. The main word is 'rumor.' You can't put too much into it... I plan on being in Philly." Foles' possible move from Philadelphia may come as a surprise to many due to him posting such lofty numbers just one year prior to the 2014 injury-shortened season where the quarterback threw 10 interceptions in eight games played. In 2013, Foles threw 27 touchdowns, with only two interceptions to lead the Eagles to the playoffs. With the trade market rumblings in full force, Foles said he hasn't heard from Eagles head coach Chip Kelly since the end of the season. "We haven't talked a lot. He has a lot going on," Foles said. "This time of year you really just get away from everything. He is busy looking at the draft, doing all that. I saw he is more of the decisions maker. Haven't really talked to him too much, but I'm sure I'll hear from him soon." Foles has been the strongest rumor to date, but the Texans could also be looking to other teams to make a quarterback trade. Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, and Jay Cutler are in the mix, but could be considered long shots to come to Houston. Notable quarterback free agents Brian Hoyer, Mark Sanchez and Christian Ponder could also be considered in addition to Mallett. Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey | 1 | 4,762 | sports |
Max Pacioretty scored the only goal of the game for the Canadiens with 4:17 left in the third period in a 1-0 victory over the Rangers on Thursday. | 1 | 4,763 | sports |
MELBOURNE, Australia Eleven years. Fifteen matches. Six finals. Maria Sharapova's losing streak to Serena Williams is far from pretty, the world No. 2 with a dismal 2-16 mark against the American heading into their Australian Open blockbuster final on Saturday night (Saturday morning in the U.S.). But not all their matches have been duds, and even the ones that have been present plenty of digestible intrigue and drama. Here are nine of their most memorable clashes as a primer for their 19 th installation. 2004 Miami Fourth round [1] Serena Williams def. [17] Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3 It was their first meeting, Miami being Williams' first tournament back after an eight-month layoff because of knee surgery, effectively ending her "Serena Slam" run in 2002 and 2003. Sharapova didn't get blown off the court, but Williams, clad in a belly button ring and short shorts, was playing just her third match in a nine-month span. 2004 Wimbledon Final [13] Sharapova def. [1] Williams 6-1, 6-4 This is perhaps their most famous match, with Williams as the two-time reigning Wimbledon champion and Sharapova long touted as tennis' next Anna Kournikova fresh off a French Open quarterfinal and a win on grass in Birmingham. Sharapova came out swinging for the fences, playing lights-out tennis against a flat-footed and shell-shocked Williams. Sharapova would keep her edge in the second to capture her maiden major title, the first teenager to win a Grand Slam after Serena's 1999 U.S. Open triumph. Sharapova was on her way to international stardom. 2004 WTA Finals Final [6] Sharapova def. [7] Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 This match, more than 10 years ago, was Sharapova's last win vs. Williams, a dramatic three-setter in the Staples Center in Los Angeles back when the Lakers were good. Sharapova trailed 4-0 in the deciding set as an abdomen injury was ailing Williams, who took up the strategy of teeing off on Sharapova's shots and it worked. But not for long, as the injury became more acute, Williams could barely serve and Sharapova won the last six games and the WTA title. 2005 Australian Open Final [7] Williams def. [4] Sharapova 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 No other Sharapova-Williams battle had as much drama as this one, with Sharapova bludgeoning the ball throughout and having three match points on her serve at 5-4 in the second. She couldn't close it, however, with Williams hitting a winner each time she faced defeat. The American then won an extended third set to move into the final, the only time one opponent has saved a match point in her win. For tennis fans, this marked the turning point: Serena was in charge. 2007 Australian Open Final No. 81 Williams def. [1] Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 Williams played in just four matches in the fall of 2006, with injury setting her out for much of it and dropping her ranking to No. 95 in the world. But she returned with a vengeance in Melbourne, thrashing through the draw as the world No. 81 and beating Sharapova, who was brimming with confidence after winning the U.S. Open. Williams called the Grand Slam one of her greatest accomplishments ever. 2010 Wimbledon Fourth round [1] Williams def. [16] Sharapova 7-6(9), 6-4 This time it was Sharapova on her way back from injury, the 23-year-old returning from shoulder surgery that put her out for much of 2008 and 2009. She came back to find Williams ranked No. 1, but this was a feisty affair, perhaps their highest quality match since the Australian Open in 2005. Williams saved set points before serving an ace for the first, letting out a giant "Yes!" Williams served out the match at 5-4 in the second and went on to win a second consecutive Wimbledon three matches later. 2012 London Olympics Final [4] Williams def. [3] Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 On the same court two years later, it was a completely different scene in what is now an infamous loss for Sharapova. Williams was at her serving best, blasting 10 aces and taking 45 minutes to win her first singles gold medal. She told reporters after that she was disappointed to lose that game at 6-0, 3-0. Williams dropped just 17 games in the entire tournament. 2013 Miami Final [1] Williams def. [3] Sharapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 Sharapova came out guns blazing in this match , winning her first set against Williams since 2008 and establishing somewhat of an offensive stance. But as the second set ticked along, Williams grew in confidence and ended up running away with it, winner of the final 10 games of the match after trailing a set and 2-3. 2013 French Open Final [1] Williams def. [2] Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 This is their most recent Slam final (Serena won in two WTA event finals last season). And it was an engaging affair, with Sharapova fist pumping from the start as they exchanged clay-blasting power. But Serena again proved too strong, beating the reigning Roland Garros champion for the American's first title there in 11 years. | 1 | 4,764 | sports |
TOKYO (AP) The fates of a Japanese journalist and Jordanian military pilot were unknown Friday, a day after the latest purported deadline for a possible prisoner swap passed with no further word from the Islamic State group holding them captive. "Government institutions are working around the clock on the case of pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh," Jordanian military spokesman Mamdouh al-Ameri said in a statement. "We will inform you of any developments in due time." He urged Jordanians not to listen to rumors. Jordan has said it will only release an al-Qaida prisoner from death row if it gets proof the pilot is alive and so far has received no such evidence from the hostage-takers. Officials in Tokyo also said they had no progress to report. "There is nothing I can tell you," said government spokesman Yoshihide Suga, reiterating Japan's "strong trust" in the Jordanians to help save the Japanese hostage, freelance journalist Kenji Goto. Suga said the government was in close contact with Goto's wife, Rinko Jogo, who released a statement late Thursday pleading for her husband's life. An audio message purportedly posted online by jihadis said the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, would be killed if Sajida al-Rishawi, the al-Qaida prisoner, was not delivered to the Turkish border by sunset on Thursday, Iraq time. It was not clear from the recording what would happen to Goto if the Iraqi woman was not turned over by the deadline. The authenticity of the recording could not be verified independently by the AP. But the possibility of a swap was raised Wednesday when Jordan said it was willing to trade al-Rishawi for the pilot. The pilot's father, Safi al-Kaseasbeh, said Friday that he had no word on the fate of his son and had not received any update from Jordanian authorities. "I have nothing," he said, speaking after Muslim noon prayers in the Jordanian capital of Amman. With no news on the fate of either the pilot or Goto, their families' agonizing wait dragged on. Jordan faces a tough choice over whether to release al-Rishawi, 44, who faces death by hanging for her role in a suicide bombing, one of three simultaneous attacks on Amman hotels in November 2005 that killed 60 people. She survived because her belt of explosives didn't detonate. She initially confessed, but later recanted, saying she was an unwilling participant. She is from the Iraqi city of Ramadi and has close family ties to the Iraqi branch of al-Qaida, a precursor of the Islamic State group. Three of her brothers were al-Qaida operatives killed in fighting in Iraq. Releasing al-Rishawi, implicated in the worst terror attack in Jordan, would be at odds with the government's tough stance on Islamic extremism. However, King Abdullah II faces public pressure to bring home the pilot, who was captured in December after his Jordanian F-16 crashed near the Islamic State group's de facto capital of Raqqa in Syria. He is the first foreign military pilot to be captured since the U.S. and its allies began airstrikes against the Islamic State more than four months ago. Jordan's participation in the U.S.-led airstrikes is unpopular in the kingdom, and the pilot is seen by some as a victim of a war they feel the country shouldn't be involved in. The hostage drama began last week after the Islamic State group released a video showing Goto and another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa kneeling in orange jumpsuits beside a masked man who threatened to kill them in 72 hours unless Japan paid a $200 million ransom. That demand later apparently shifted to one for the release of al-Rishawi. The militants have reportedly killed Yukawa, 42, although that has not been confirmed. The crisis prompted the Japanese Foreign Ministry to issue a warning Friday to journalists to avoid the border town in Turkey that could be a crossing point from Syria if a prisoner swap goes ahead. It noted that Islamic State militants were likely aware of who was in the area. "We cannot dismiss the possibility of a kidnapping of Japanese journalists or of other risks to them," it said. "Under such circumstances, reporting on Turkish-Syrian border, even on the Turkey side, and of course in Syria, is likely to lead to unanticipated risks and be very dangerous," the statement said, reiterating earlier warnings. "We strongly urge you to refrain from visiting or staying in the area for reporting, and to leave immediately." The warning followed news that a Japanese journalist helping cover a possible prisoner swap at the border died in a car crash near the area Thursday, according to Turkish officials. Kazumi Takaya, based in Turkey for 22 years, was working as a translator for Fuji TV at the time of the crash, local media reports said. ___ Laub reported from Amman, Jordan. ___ Associated Press writers Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan, Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad, and Miki Toda, Kaori Hitomi and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. ___ Follow Karin Laub on Twitter at twittter.com/karin_laub. Follow Elaine Kurtenbach at twitter.com/ekurtenbach. | 5 | 4,765 | news |
Russia's Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile is set for a drop test this year and a test launch within a year and a half of the drop test, Russian defense sources told ITAR-TASS on Thursday . The new missile is set to replace the Cold-War era R-36 missile, nicknamed "SS-18 Satan" by NATO, which is still the world's largest intercontinental ballistic missile ever made. Russian technicians will conduct a "drop test" at some point this year to measure the missile's lift and proper evolution through its launch stages before they conduct a full test launch, provided the missile performs. The missile is expected to enter service in 2020. The Sarmat could deliver up to 10 heavy nuclear warheads or 15 medium warheads at targets up to 6,200 miles away, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative . The missile would carry the warheads into suborbital flight, at which point they would separate and hit independent targets. It can reportedly "flying over the North and South Poles" and "would be capable of overcoming almost any missile defense system," according to Pravda . While the U.S. and Russia made strides in nuclear missile reductions following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the major treaties signed like the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons do not prevent nuclear states from replacing or upgrading their arsenals. START set a total limit for the number of warheads each state can have and the NPT forbids states from spreading weapons technologies to other, non-recognized nuclear states. The U.S. has plans to keep their Minuteman III ballistic missiles in service through 2030 with a series of upgrades, but the Air Force has voiced it wants to develop a new system. Both the Sarmat and its Satan predecessor are more powerful than the Minuteman. The Air Force has awarded contractors upward of $50 million to develop new guidance systems and other upgrades to the Minuteman III, according to the Great Falls Tribune . Earlier this week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Ragozin claimed that the U.S. could not defend against Russia's nuclear arsenal, although he did not specify what missile technology he was referring to. | 5 | 4,766 | news |
You're decluttering or downsizing and can't bring yourself to part with a box of childhood items or clothing. What gives? In our latest Home Front chat , Laura Cambridge, a professional organizer and owner of Dynamic Organizing , offered an explanation for why we have a hard time letting things go: "Often we feel like if we get rid of that thing that reminds us of that time, then we'll forget that memory," Cambridge said. "So we keep it. If we keep everything, then it can start to take up valuable space in our lives." So how do we start letting these things go? Here are some tips. 1. Label and date your items to keep track of how long you've had them. "I suggest containerizing these tangible memories and storing them out of your prime space," Cambridge said. "Label and date it. If you don't look for it for a year, you may be okay to get rid of it at that point." 2. Break the project down into manageable parts. To avoid getting overwhelmed, Cambridge recommends taking one space or room at a time. "For example, go through a coat closet and sort through everything in there into piles: 'keep,' 'trash,' 'donate,' 'give to someone else' friend or family member," she says. "Do this a little bit each day or once a week." 3. Try taking photos as keepsakes instead. For a reader with a father who was reluctant to get rid of old clothing, Cambridge advised: "I would suggest going through the 16 suits with him. "If he can try some on, even just the sport coat, and have him share his memories about them, [then you can] take pictures of him in the suits to create a keepsake photo album. Once you start doing this, you may find that he's willing to let most of them go. Ask him to pick out his favorite three suits to take with him to the retirement home." Another option for some items of clothing: making a memory quilt. | 4 | 4,767 | lifestyle |
Fantastic February festivals A look at the festivals that are celebrated around the world in the month of February. Battaglia delle Arance (Battle of the Oranges), February 14 to 18 The fruit-flinging madness that happens in the small town of Ivrea, Italy, sees people smacking each other with oranges. The festival, which is the largest food fight in Italy, commemorates the local revolt against a medieval count who tried to exercise the droit du seigneur (right of the lord). Thaipusam, February 3 This key Hindu festival celebrates Lord Subramaniam or Murugan, a Hindu warrior god, by the Tamil-speaking Hindu communities. It's held when the full moon rises on the month of Thai, in the Tamil calendar. Participating Hindus undertake a pilgrimage walk to the Batu Caves in Malaysia, while carrying an offering of milk and elaborately decorated frames. The faithful may pierce their skin with stakes or spears; by the time they approach the caves, many are in a trance. Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, February 11 to 22 During this carnival, the capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, overflows with parades, outrageous costumes, tongue-in-cheek caricatures and music in the streets. It all culminates in one last parade, known as the Coso. This year's carnival theme is the future. Rio Carnival, February 13 to 17 This five-day festival is one of the world's most legendary festivals, attracting almost two million people per day. In the days before Ash Wednesday, samba schools compete by showing off their dancing skills during immense parades. Street parties keep the samba beat throbbing all night, while Carnival balls reel in the jetsetters. St. Valentine's Day, February 14 Terrni, Italy, is the hometown of St. Valentine himself, the local bishop for whom the holiday was named. Visitors swarm the Umbrian town for love-themed events throughout the month, but the highlight is a feast on February 14, held outside the basilica where Valentine is buried. Oruro Carnival, February 14 to 17 Bolivia's largest annual event was listed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. In the mining town of Oruro, parades showcase dancers in dazzling costumes, symbolizing good and evil, angels and devils, all dressed in brilliant colors and plumage. The rituals are rooted in pre-Columbian tradition but now have a Christian spin, leading up to Lent. Carnaval de Binche, February 15 to 17 The Carnival of Binche, which takes place in Belgium over the three days before the Ash Wednesday, dates back to around 14th century. Locals dress up as specific historic characters, including harlequins and the signature "Gilles" costumes: a red and yellow suit with a white collar, a mustached mask, and wooden clogs. Maslenitsa, February 16 to 22 Maslenitsa is Russians' way of celebrating the end of winter. The festival, which lasts for a week across Russia, is also known as "butter week" or "pancake week" because it's all about blini (pancakes) that come with many fillings and toppings. At the end of the festival, a scarecrow is burned to signify the coming of spring. Trinidad Carnival, February 16 - 17 Celebrated in Port of Spain, the festival takes place over couple of days before the Ash Wednesday. The highlights of the carnival include a steelpan drumming musical competition, the Calypso Monarch contest, and the Kings and Queens Costume Competition. Mardi Gras, February 17 New Orleans, Louisiana, knows how to throw a party - and no party's bigger than Mardi Gras. Different neighborhoods of the Big Easy are represented by "krewes" in enormous parades, roaring with music and the cheers of the crowd, chanting in order to win the "throws," or trinkets, tossed off the wildly decorated floats. Chinese Spring Festival, February 19 Chinese Spring Festival, which is officially Chinese New Year, falls on February 19 this year and marks the start of the Year of the Goat. Celebrations are held all over China - and also in Chinatown neighborhoods in cities all around the world. Pasola, February or March On the Indonesian island of Sumba, the spring harvest festival takes a violent turn. Local tribes look for a particular kind of sea worm to appear, which indicates whether the year's harvest will be good or bad. They then wage a ritual battle, that sometimes leads to actual injuries or even fatalities. | 2 | 4,768 | travel |
A driver in Georgia was ticketed for distracted driving after an officer observed him indulging in excessive deliciousness. | 8 | 4,769 | video |
The White House has launched a new tactic to persuade Americans to sign up for health coverage: the "awww" factor. On Thursday the Obama administration tweeted an image of an ebullient infant Barack in his swimming costume frolicking in surf, accompanied by an injunction: "No one stays young and invincible forever. Make sure you #GetCovered by February 15." Michelle Obama made her own pitch for young people to sign up by tweeting a picture of her younger self doing a handstand in what appears to be a suburban garden. "#TBT to being a young invincible. But now it's time to stay healthy & #GetCovered by Feb 15," she said. TBT referrs to Throwback Thursday, a weekly social media posting trend in which people hark back to the past, recent and distant, on Twitter and Instagram. The sign-up date refers to the deadline for the second enrolment period of the health insurance marketplace, the centrepiece of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In the White House tweet the young Obama is shown on his knees against a swirling tide a position Republicans can only wish on the adult version but the clenched fist and grin show the future president was having a blast. No one stays young and invincible forever. Make sure you #GetCovered by February 15: http://t.co/rNzHK68SaZ #TBT pic.twitter.com/NbBfcZB4ZJ The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 29, 2015 The tweet directs followers to the government's health coverage website . Vice-president Joe Biden, at 73 almost two decades older than the president, posted a black and white picture of his childhood self, groomed, wearing a tie and flashing a precocious rehearsal of his vote-for-me smile. We're not young & invincible forever. #GetCovered by 2/15 to give yourself peace of mind. http://t.co/GQXTGtNmNq #TBT pic.twitter.com/5tcaoHU4du Vice President Biden (@VP) January 29, 2015 Whether enough young people sign up for coverage may make or break the president's signature legislative achievement, which faces Republican assaults and supreme court scrutiny. The administration said earlier this week that 9.5 million people had signed up to receive health coverage through public marketplaces in 2015 Insurers prize young clients because they tend to be healthy and their premiums can help cover medical claims for older, more frail subscribers. Just over a quarter of those signing up to federal and state exchanges are aged between 18 and 34. Some sniped at the tweets. Others, like @Wisenheimer, could only gush: @whitehouse Cutest. President. EVER. Courtenay Hameister (@Wisenheimer) January 29, 2015 | 5 | 4,770 | news |
Rob Gronkowski and Marshawn Lynch are playing on opposite teams at the 2015 Super Bowl, but before the big game two of the NFL's most entertaining personalities got together for a bit of fun. Beastmode and Gronk made a guest appearance on Conan O'Brien's late night talk show for a segment called "Clueless Big Game Showdown." Watch as the two face off in a battle of Mortal Kombat supremacy for Conan. | 1 | 4,771 | sports |
Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden sat courtside at a recent Lakers game and the newlyweds couldn't keep their hands off each other, in the most adorable way ever. The lovebirds, who said I do earlier this month were caught on the kiss cam at L.A.'s Staples Center. Benji and Cameron lit up with joy as they suddenly noticed they'd been singled out on the kiss cam. The crowd loved seeing the duo engage in some delightful PDA. | 1 | 4,772 | sports |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State coach Thad Matta has been wondering about his team's toughness. Not anymore. Marc Loving matched his career high with 19 points and D'Angelo Russell added 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead Ohio State to an 80-56 victory over No. 16 Maryland on Thursday night. The Buckeyes (17-5, 6-3 Big Ten), at times a timid bunch on the boards this season, dominated the Terrapins (18-4, 6-3) on the glass (51-32) and on defense. "We played tougher," Matta said. "We were quick to the ball. For the most part, guys did what they were supposed to. We rebounded the ball well, we rebounded out of our area. We did a good job of the rotations defensively and walled guys up." The doubts now belong to the Terrapins. "I guess we weren't tough enough," swingman Evan Smotrycz said. "It's as simple as that." Coach Mark Turgeon added, "I don't know if I've ever had a team get outrebounded like that. I'll have to look. I doubt it." Jae'Sean Tate, starting his third game in a row, added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Buckeyes, who have won three in a row -- including the last two over ranked opponents at home. Loving was benched last week after a sorry defensive effort. He responded by hitting all five of his 3-pointers as the Buckeyes went 10 of 17 behind the arc. "My role didn't change," he said of not starting. "It was a good night. I was able to knock some shots down." Russell, the nation's leading freshman scorer, flirted with a triple-double. He also had six assists and two steals, and didn't commit a turnover in 34 minutes. He had an easy explanation for his rebounding. "The ball bounces to me a lot," he said. "That's something that I decided to take upon myself, to rebound better as a 6-foot-5 guard. I've got to do something down there." Ahead by eight points at halftime thanks to a 12-0 run, the Buckeyes took control early in the second half. Up 41-32 just 3 minutes in, the Buckeyes went on a rapid-fire 7-0 run. Later, Loving hit consecutive 3s to push the lead to 54-38 with under 14 minutes left, and Maryland never again threatened. Dez Wells had 12 points and Jake Layman 10 for Maryland, which had won four of five. ------ ONE-SIDED DUEL It was supposed to be a battle between two of the top freshmen in the Big Ten, if not the country. But Russell's play easily eclipsed that of Maryland's leading scorer, 6-foot-3 Melo Trimble, who came in averaging 16.3 points per game. Trimble had a forgettable night. He missed all eight shots from the field, including four 3-pointers, and ended up with three points, one rebound and one assist. "He's a terrific player," Matta said. "I'd like to say we had a lot to do with it, but he just sort of had one of those nights." QUOTE OF THE NIGHT Russell, on Ohio State's turnaround after splitting its first six conference games: "I credit the losses. I feel like the losses we had at the beginning of the year make us who we are now. Everybody brings what they're supposed to. There's no turning around. We just keep going forward and keep getting better every day." TIP-INS Maryland: Balance is clearly one of the Terrapins' strengths. Who do you want to stop? And what will it cost you? Maryland is the only team in the Big Ten with three players averaging 13.5 points or more per game. Trimble came in at 16.3, Layman at 14.3 and Wells at 13.6. Compare that with Ohio State, which had only one player over that mark (Russell at 19.4 ppg). Ohio State: It was the first Big Ten matchup between the teams, but they had met six previous times with Ohio State winning four. The schools met in three consecutive seasons (1983-85), with the Buckeyes taking two. Terps All-American Len Bias, who died of a cocaine overdose in 1986 after being taken No. 2 overall in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, starred in all three, averaging 20.3 points and six rebounds. UP NEXT Maryland: The Terrapins, who alternate home and away until stringing together a second straight home game on Feb. 24, return to XFINITY Center to play Penn State on Wednesday. Ohio State: The Buckeyes hit the road for four of their next five games, starting with a game at Purdue on Wednesday. ------ | 1 | 4,773 | sports |
Hiking with the owner of the El Salto Inn in the Orosi Valley of Costa Rica to an incredible waterfall and the Ruins of Ujarrás the country's oldest colonial ruins. Read the whole story here: travel.ticotimes.net/2015/01/deliciously-dirty-in-the-orosi-valley/ @BaurJoe on Twitter and Instagram facebook.com/BaurJoe joebaur.com Music Courtesy Of: "Astral" Princesa del Sol Olman Briceno El Salto Inn: elsaltoinn.com | 2 | 4,774 | travel |
The Waste Management Phoenix Open is scheduled to end an hour before the Super Bowl, and the Arizona's police forces have an all hands on deck approach. Will the Phoenix Open or Super Bowl have crazier fans? | 1 | 4,775 | sports |
Turns out itâs actually much better for you. | 8 | 4,776 | video |
Adam Alexander talks to Jimmie Johnson about his 2014 season and how he can improve for the 2015 season. | 1 | 4,777 | sports |
Here's a shocker: our very own samosa was never ours. You read that right. The neatly folded, tightly packed savoury goodness that we thought belonged to South Asian soil actually travelled here all the way from Central Asia centuries ago. But thanks to its amazing social networking skills, it cleverly adapted to the local's tastes and happily settled among its culinary brethren and became one of them. This is one food that has travelled far and wide, and like any popular traveller has left its footprints along the way. From Egypt to Libya and from Central Asia to India, the stuffed triangle with different names has garnered immense popularity. Originally named samsa , after the pyramids in Central Asia, historical accounts also refer to it as sanbusak , sanbusaq or even sanbusaj , all deriving from the Persian word, sanbosag . In South Asia, it was introduced by the Middle Eastern chefs during the Delhi Sultanate rule, although some accounts credit traders for bringing the fare to this part of the world. Nevertheless, from its humble beginnings in older days, people would cook the mince-filled triangles over campfire and eat them as snacks during travel samosa has come a long way. And after having earned the blessings of the Indian royalty, the snack soon became food fit for the king. Today, samosa is a popular snack in many parts of the world. Perhaps its biggest secret to popularity and survival over the centuries is its different varieties of fillings catering to carious tastes across the globe. In Kazakhstan, for example, a somsa is typically baked and has a thicker, crumblier crust. Fillings generally range from minced lamb and onions, meat, and even pumpkin. The Hyderabadi luqmi , on the other hand, is strictly meat-filled and far crustier than the regular samosa consumed elsewhere in India and Pakistan. In the Middle East, the semicircular sambusak is stuffed with feta cheese, onions, minced chicken and meat, spinach, and in case of Jewish cuisine, mashed chickpeas. But for us, samosa is the gorgeous, deep fried, twisted pack of spicy goodness that oozes with chicken, meat or potato. Few family gatherings or iftar parties are complete without this signature snack. And what does one do when guests arrive at a short notice? You guessed right. There are few snacks that couple as perfectly with tea as samosa , and the chai-samosa team is probably the reason behind thousands of brain-storming sessions and heated discussions. Be it an evening chat with friends at the street corner khoka, or a sophisticated business meeting in an air-conditioned room, the call for a samosa remains a constant. What can be better than biting into a hot, karahi-fried, chutney-coated snack, inhaling in its herb-essenced scent, munching on spicy, meat/vegetable filling, crunching on a coriander seed, tasting that teasing taste of ginger-garlic … you get the picture. The diet conscious and to be fair, the health conscious, too would sigh, and perhaps nibble at the tiny piece of the crisp pastry to satisfy their craving. Not that you can blame them; who would have thought that one serving of potato-filled samosa is laden with around 300 calories? Even those tiny, bite-size ones have 28 calories each. And we have all discovered much to our dismay that it's impossible to stop at one. One bite a time, and before you know it, you've covered half your calorie quota for the day with just two samosas ! When I was studying at university, one of our favourite pastimes would be to hang around a canteen that serves and I stand by it the best samosas on the face of this earth. But for me, the most fascinating aspect was watching workers at the canteen fill those samosas . In one fluid movement, they would flip a samosa patti into an inverted cone, fill the pocket with stuffing, and flip the patti over to form a smooth bulging triangle. Encouraged by how easy it looked, I decided to try it at home, only to discover that the art of samosa -making is no mean task. Rest assured, my respect for the workers increased multi-fold. But for those, who are willing to toil and master the art, the varieties they can experiment with knows no limits. From the regular, meat/potato stuffing to spinach, corn and peas, to sweet halwa or coconut filling, the list is endless. The adventurous few may even want to foray into seafood samosas . Just dip them into chutney of your choice (those who even imagine samosas with ketchup, please reassess your priorities), and savour the taste that has weaved its magic forever. This post originally appeared on Scroll . We welcome your comments at [email protected] . | 0 | 4,778 | foodanddrink |
LEBANON, Ore. A lucky sales call from a Las Vegas, Nevada, company led deputies to rescue a 33-year-old Oregon woman who was being beaten and strangled, a sheriff says. Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley said the Lebanon, Oregon, victim didn't intentionally answer her phone, the Albany Democrat-Herald reported (http://is.gd/CPwGGW). It was in her pocket and somehow picked up the sales call Wednesday during the attack. The concerned saleswoman turned to her boss at Americare Health, who tracked down the woman's address from previous sales and contacted Oregon law enforcement officers. Deputies arrived and arrested the woman's ex-boyfriend. They say the man let her go when they arrived and she ran out the front door. "At the very least it was lucky," Riley said. "At the most it might have been providence." On Thursday, Walter Warren Ruck, 33, of Lebanon, was charged in Circuit Court with fourth-degree assault and strangulation, both misdemeanors. He's due back in court Feb. 17. The saleswoman was doing follow-up with the customer and told Americare Health president and CEO Mario Gonzalez that she had a concerning call, the newspaper reported. "She said she heard the lady being beaten," Gonzalez said. "I jumped on the phone. I could hear the lady screaming and getting hit over and over again, her screaming and begging for her life." His call to Lebanon city police was transferred to the sheriff's office since the address was outside city limits. Gonzalez said he continued to listen to the assault until deputies arrived. Deputies knocked repeatedly and could hear a woman calling for help and a male voice telling her to be quiet, Riley said. They entered through the unlocked front door, believing the woman's life was in jeopardy, the sheriff said. The victim told investigators she had moved out of the man's home two days earlier because of ongoing fights. According to deputies' reports, she said the man lured her back by saying he was sick and needed help. At the court hearing, prosecutor Michael Wynhausen said Ruck told authorities the woman was having mental health issues, he was trying to help her and she had fallen. The sheriff praised Gonzalez and Americare for their efforts. "If this guy hadn't have gone the extra mile, we're not sure what would have happened," Riley said. Lebanon is a small town in western Oregon's Willamette Valley. ___ Information from: Albany Democrat-Herald, http://www.dhonline.com | 5 | 4,779 | news |
Super Bowl viewers have come to expect TV ads laden with slapstick humor and crude gags such as a crotch-biting dog or a flatulent horse. But this year, some advertisers have lined up weightier fare. The 100 million-plus viewers expected Sunday will see a host of emotion-rich commercials that tug on the heartstrings or take on problems. Coca-Cola's spot will shed light on the rash of Internet bullying while the National Football League will air a public-service announcement aimed at ending domestic violence. Procter & Gamble will re-air an ad for its feminine-care brand Always that tries to fight gender stereotypes and remove the stigma associated with the phrase "like a girl." To be sure, the Super Bowl won't be a somber affair. Ads for brands such as Snickers and Doritos will aim for the funny bone while T-Mobile and Esurance are enlisting stunt casting. Not all the celebrities a fixture of big-game ads will elicit a chuckle. Some advertisers are taking an emotional tack. Toyota will showcase Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy's fast-paced life. An ad designed to give viewers goose bumps portrays Ms. Purdy training, dancing and modeling to the sound of Muhammad Ali's "How Great I Am" speech. Executives say the shift reflects today's realities, including extremism in parts of the globe and political infighting in Washington. "People are looking for the humanity in the world right now," said Stephen Butler, chief creative officer of TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, the firm behind a Super Bowl spot for Nissan. Whatever their creative approach, advertisers have plenty riding on the outcome. Last year, a record 111.5 million viewers tuned in to the Super Bowl, the largest audience for a TV event. The Academy Awards broadcast in 2014 drew 43 million viewers. The Super Bowl also commands the highest ad rates. This year, 30 seconds of time costs roughly $4.5 million. Here are some of the most-anticipated ads slated to run during the game. Coca-Cola Coke's ad seeks to eliminate anonymous sniping on the Internet and stop the spread of hate online. It tries to address the problem by adding a little Coke to the Web, which surprise! helps spread happiness and positivity. Esurance Last year, the insurance company bought the first ad slot after the game's final whistle and used it to launch a sweepstakes with a $1.5 million prize. The stunt generated enormous attention for the company, which is owned by Allstate. Esurance's new spot, which will air right before kickoff, features Lindsay Lohan. The twist: Ms. Lohan, whose travails as a motorist have been perennial tabloid fare, posted a teaser video on her Facebook page that showed her asking "Anybody need a ride to the big game?" iii T-Mobile The wireless company will run a mock public-service announcement that condemns wireless companies for taking back data consumers have paid for but not used. The spot features Kim Kardashian poking fun at herself by suggesting that the data could have been used for viewing pictures of her clothes and makeup. The twist: The ad highlights Ms. Kardashian's famous backside. Budweiser Last year's Super Bowl stars the Clydesdale horses and an irresistible puppy are looking to repeat. This year, the Clydesdales come to the rescue of the puppy. Stepping in at the last minute, they save him from a hungry wolf and bring him home safely. The twist: The spot adds extra emotion by using a reworked version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers performed by Sleeping At Last. Is it enough to outdo last year's spot that had "Let Her Go" by Passenger as its soundtrack? Nissan After sitting on the bench for almost 20 years, the auto maker is returning to the big game with a 90-second tear-jerker that shows a family's struggle with work-life balance and highlights the bond between a race-car driver and his son. The twist: Get out your hankies. This spot uses Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" as the soundtrack. Write to Suzanne Vranica at [email protected] | 3 | 4,780 | finance |
Sources: Anna Monette Roberts and Jenny Sugar Quinoa used to get all the attention as one of the most nutritious whole grains, hailed as one of the best superfoods ever, but farro is quickly gaining popularity. A little softer and more tender in texture, it's similar to rice, so people who can't deal with the slightly nutty flavor and poppy texture of quinoa will love spooning into a bowl of farro. But is it healthier than quinoa? Check out the nutritional comparison below. For those who deal with any sort of wheat intolerance, it's important to note that farro is not a gluten-free grain. 1/4 cup dry Calories Fat (g) Carbs (g) Fiber (g) Protein (g) Calcium (mg) Quinoa 170 2.5 30 3 7 20 Farro 170 0 33 3 7 40 Are you surprised? Nutritionally speaking, both grains are pretty much exactly the same. While they're both high in fiber and protein, farro has slightly more carbs but also offers more calcium than quinoa. If you're new to farro, try this radish, kale, and farro salad . Still obsessed with quinoa? Try it for the first meal of the day making this apple cinnamon breakfast bake . For an appetizer or dinner, whip up these Mexican quinoa burrito bites . And for dessert you'll love these ginger molasses cookies made with homemade quinoa flour . If you can't choose between these two delicious grains? Whip up this Tender Greens' Happy Vegan Salad that includes a quinoa and beet salad as well as a farro cranberry kale salad. Yum! | 7 | 4,781 | health |
Rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight was involved in a hit-and-run in which one person was killed, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday, citing law enforcement sources. Knight, 49-year-old co-founder of Death Row Records, was inside the car that struck two people but it was not clear if he was driving, the Times reported. The condition of the second victim was also not immediately known. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman told Reuters that a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian had taken place on Thursday in Compton, south of Los Angeles, but said he could not confirm that Knight was involved. A Las Vegas-based lawyer who has represented Knight in past legal proceedings could not be reached for comment on Thursday evening. A number previously used to reach Knight directly has been disconnected. In November, Knight pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge stemming from accusations that he stole a camera from a celebrity photographer outside a Beverly Hills studio. He was later released on bail. Knight, whose Death Row Records was a leading rap label in the 1990s, featuring artists such as Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, also has a previous conviction for assault with a deadly weapon. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Peter Cooney and Eric Walsh) | 6 | 4,782 | entertainment |
ST. LOUIS -- All-out effort keeps proving more valuable than finesse and skill for the red-hot Blues. A deep and balanced lineup built to wear down opponents can't always maintain its high-energy style, and a variety of factors made it even tougher than usual against Nashville on Thursday night. But St. Louis did what it needed to for long enough to win 5-4 in a shootout, thanks to four goals in less than ten minutes in the second period. "When we can get the puck out of our end and get it in deep and go to work down there, that's where all of our chances come from," said T.J. Oshie, who beat Carl Hutton to open the shootout. "That's where all of our momentum comes from, so we were getting pucks to the net and guys were getting a second and a third wave in there." That led to three rebound goals, including one for Oshie from the slot after Hutton denied Paul Stastny from the left side. The Predators' backup goaltender made 31 saves and mostly played well in place of the injured Pekka Rinne, but he cracked just enough under relentless O-zone pressure. Fourth-line forward Ryan Reaves scored the game's most spectacular goal on a rocket of a slap shot just inside the far post to put St. Louis ahead 4-3. Still, even that play began with extraordinary effort, when Reaves stole the puck from just behind the Nashville blue line. "I think sometimes it deflates the other team and it only grows confidence in (coach Ken Hitchcock) with us that we can roll four lines," Reaves said. "When you're doing that, it can wear down the other team especially because we play real physical and they don't really want to go back and get the puck." Steve Ott added a goal as well, the first one for a Blues fourth-line forward since he scored at San Jose on Dec. 20. Their offensive production hasn't been needed much with the more skilled players adapting a more aggressive approach, putting the pressure on opposing defenseman. It's not that St. Louis doesn't have players who can make tough plays with the puck, and in fact Vladimir Tarasenko, among others, showed the Blues can win with more finesse early in the season. But the more direct style Hitchcock prefers gives the team more reliability and margin for error. He said earlier this week the Blues were the most focused team in the NHL prior to the All-Star break, when they won seven of eight and looked nearly unstoppable on offense. So perhaps it wasn't surprising they couldn't match those efforts early in their first game back after a nine-day layoff. Even All-Star goaltender Brian Elliott looked a little rusty before settling in to make 14 of his 33 saves in the third period. "I thought the third period they showed they had one more game under their belt and that showed up," Hitchcock said. "We looked like we'd missed eight or nine days." Although Reaves said injuries to Patrik Berglund and Jori Lehtera kept the other Blues more involved, they seemed to wear down as Nashville's deep attack hammered away, finally tying the game with less than three minutes to go in regulation. Hitchcock said the two forwards will join St. Louis on its three-game road trip, but neither will be available Friday night at Carolina. That's the first of five straight games against Eastern Conference opponents, which could provide an entirely different kind of challenge for the Blues. Even though their 11-3-2 record against the East is the best of any team in the Western Conference, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said St. Louis sometimes tries to match the advanced skill of unfamiliar opponents. "We can't do that, so it's a matter of beating them up physically, making sure that we're putting pucks in. And these next couple games, getting on their defenseman and trying to make them make play harder than they're used to," said Shattenkirk, who scored the game-winner in the shootout. "That (strategy) seemed to really thrive and it just feeds into the rest of our game." Keep up the energy with a little more consistency, and the Blues can only get better. You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at [email protected]. | 1 | 4,783 | sports |
Pablo Sandoval has been active this offseason, and he has taken his talent to the basketball court. Check out this video of Kung Fu Panda hitting a ridiculous halfcourt shot. Celtics, are you seeing this? | 8 | 4,784 | video |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies are winning by bigger margins lately because they have returned to locking down on defense. "I just think we've got our rhythm back, and we're going back to our true identity, which is on the defensive end," guard Courtney Lee said after Memphis' 99-69 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. "We're playing through our bigs, and they are making the right reads." Zach Randolph, one of those bigs, had 15 points and 17 rebounds. Jeff Green finished with 13 points as Memphis built an early lead and won its fifth straight, holding the Nuggets to 11 points in the first quarter and never getting threatened the rest of the way. BOX SCORE: GRIZZLIES 99, NUGGETS 69 Lee, Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih, starting in place of the injured Mike Conley, scored 11 apiece, while Marc Gasol had 10 points. Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried each scored 10 points for Denver, which lost for the eighth time in the last nine. "I didn't feel like we came and competed from the very beginning of the game," Denver coach Brian Shaw said. "In these kinds of situations, I'd have more respect if guys just told me that they didn't feel like playing from the start. I'm just sick and tired." With Memphis comfortably ahead at the end of the third quarter, both teams relied on their reserves to finish out the fourth. The game was a bit of a revenge for Memphis, which lost at Denver 114-85 on Jan. 3. Although the players didn't acknowledge the loss before the game, they were less bashful afterwards. "It was big for us to come out here and get some redemption against a team that kind of smacked us in the face in Denver," guard Tony Allen said. The Nuggets managed to shoot only 33 percent for the night and were 2 of 26 from outside the arc -- less than 8 percent. "Defensively, I thought we have taken another notch, and that is our strength," Gasol said, later adding: "That's always been our strength, and that's always going to be our strength." After leading by as many as 19, Memphis held a 50-35 advantage at the break. Nothing Denver did in the third made any difference as Memphis continued to pour it on behind Randolph, who controlled the boards with eight rebounds in the frame. Memphis continued to stretch the lead in the period, eventually reaching 27 before the Grizzlies took a 74-49 lead into the final period. The fourth-quarter lead swelled to 33 points. "There are days like that," Denver forward Darrell Arthur said. "Unfortunately, that day was today." ------ TIP-INS: NUGGETS:.The Nuggets' 11 first-quarter points matched a season low in a quarter for a Memphis opponent. . Denver, which had a season-low eight turnovers in Tuesday's victory over New Orleans, had 17 against Memphis. Grizzlies: Gasol celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday. . Conley did not dress, missing his second game with a sprained left wrist. Allen, who missed the two previous games with left ankle sprain, returned. . Green missed a free throw in the first quarter, ending a streak of 45 straight makes dating to his days in Boston before the Jan. 12 trade. . Reserve G/F Vince Carter left the game in the second quarter with a left foot injury and did not return. The injury will be re-evaluated Friday. JaVALE RETURNS JaVale McGee, who missed 23 games due to a lower left leg strain, played in only the second game since Nov. 23. He finished with two points and five rebounds. "It was cool," he said. "It felt fine. Just trying to get back in tip-top shape." UP NEXT: Nuggets: Host Charlotte on Saturday. Grizzlies: Host Oklahoma City on Saturday. | 1 | 4,785 | sports |
The Doctors weigh in on a new device that claims it can reduce the appearance of cellulite by using suction. Is it safe? | 7 | 4,786 | health |
NEW YORK Amazon.com Inc.'s fourth-quarter earnings roundly beat analyst expectations, sending the Seattle e-commerce giant's stock soaring 11 percent in premarket trading Friday. Here's a closer look at what investors applauded and hope continues. SMART SPENDING Operating expenses rose 15 percent to $28.74 billion but that was less than some analysts had expected Amazon would spend. Investors have long wanted Amazon to show some restraint as it invests in its business, and this metric seemed to be a sign that Amazon is willing to do that. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said the lower-than-expected costs were related to flat fulfillment expenses what the company spends on its distribution centers and deliveries during the holiday season even though Amazon shipped 100 million more free items. The company also spent less on marketing expenses since the launch of its new hardware like Fire TV and the Fire Smartphone are behind it. "They're getting far more efficient at delivery," said Pachter. "They're spending like slightly tipsy sailors rather than drunken sailors." PRIME MEMBERSHIP GROWTH Prime membership grew 53 percent in 2015. Two-day shipping costs Amazon a pretty penny but membership means more revenue from customers in the long run. Pachter estimates there are about 35 million Prime members worldwide. And he pointed out the company is making untraditional efforts to get more members. For example, it cut the price of its Prime membership to $72 one Saturday in January and let non-Prime members stream its Golden Globe winning series "Transparent" starring Jeffrey Tambor. "Little promotions like that are going to drive prime membership and they'll continue to really promote it," Pachter said. WILL IT LAST? Some caution that one quarter of disciplined spending does not a trend make. In a call with investors, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster pointed out that over the past two years it has been a "little bit of a roller coaster" for Amazon's gross margin, a key metric that shows how big a percentage of revenue is spent on investing back into the company. "There've been points of optimism followed by points of frustration," he said and asked the company how they plan to "smooth out some of this roller coaster mentality." CFO Tom Szkutak acknowledged that Amazon has been in a "heavy investment cycle." He said the company is being "selective" about its investment opportunities but didn't give any details, saying it is still finalizing spending plans for 2015. "The question is, is this a one-time hiccup or are they going to repeat it," Wedbush's Pachter said. "If I see this for two, three or four quarters I will believe it." | 5 | 4,787 | news |
The opening phases of Wrigley Field's renovation has not been without its troubles and controversy. There have been lawsuits and complaints and other assorted issues that have seemed to bog down significant progress. So much so, in fact, that the bleachers won't even be ready in time for the Chicago Cubs' home opener. Add to all that a developing rat problem in the neighborhood where the historic ballpark sits to the myriad problems. Adding to the already bleak scenery of the iconic stadium being torn apart amid construction equipment and mounds of dirt, some residents living nearby Wrigley have not only been complaining of "ridiculous" parking issues, but also the inordinate number of rats that are running surprisingly and apparently fearlessly roughshod over Wrigleyville. The rat troubles apparently began when the Cubs began renovations of a Wrigley parking lot located at a nearby intersection. "The rats have been running rampant. I'm not kidding you," said Terie Kata, who lives three blocks away from the ballpark, according to the Chicago Tribune . "There are people in the alley and there are still rats running around and it's daylight." "We've never experienced anything like what we've seen the last 12 months," said fellow neighborhood resident Thomas Findlay, who acknowledges it isn't a 100 percent certainty that the renovations are causing the neighborhood rat infestation. "We've had rats almost on a daily basis walking all around the neighborhood. In the streets, on the sidewalks, on people's porches." Both Kata and Findlay said they have done their best to help curb the rat outbreak, including setting out rat poison traps and hiring exterminators, but the rats keep on coming. Cubs spokesman Julian Green said the team has been working with the city in dealing with the rats but reports there haven't been any reported complaints since fall. | 1 | 4,788 | sports |
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard will reportedly marry next week. The 'Mortdecai' actor and his 28-year-old fiancee - who got engaged in December 2013 after a year of dating - are planning to tie the knot on his island in the Bahamas over the weekend of 7-8 February in front of just 50 guests. And accommodation on the 45-acre Little Hall's Pond Cay island is so limited, many of the guests - which will include the bride's family and Johnny's two children from his relationship with Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose, 15, and 12-year-old Jack - will be staying on the 51-year-old actor's yacht during the celebrations. The couple chose the date because of their hectic working schedules. A source explained to the New York Post Newspaper's Page Six column: "She's filming a movie in London, and he's getting ready to film the next 'Pirates of the Caribbean' in Australia. So this is the only time that everyone could get together." Amber will wear a dress designed by Stella McCartney for the wedding ceremony, the insider claimed. The couple - who met on the set of their 2011 movie 'The Rum Diary' - celebrated their impending marriage with an engagement party last March. The medieval-style bash, at Carondelet House in Los Angeles, was attended by the likes of rockers Marilyn Manson and Steven Tyler, movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer and singer Mandy Moore. | 6 | 4,789 | entertainment |
Tuukka Rask continued his stellar play on Thursday night. He made a ridiculous save in the second period and racked up 43 saves in a 5-2 Boston road win. | 1 | 4,790 | sports |
Pentagon spokesperson discusses the investigation | 8 | 4,791 | video |
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) The 18 New England residents sitting on the jury in the murder trial of former Patriots star Aaron Hernandez will be allowed to watch the home team play in Sunday's Super Bowl, but the judge overseeing the case says they must leave the room if his name is mentioned. Hernandez caught quarterback Tom Brady's last Super Bowl touchdown pass in the Patriots' 2012 loss to the New York Giants. Now he is on trial for murder, charged with the June 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, who was dating his fiancee's sister. The trial is playing out just as Hernandez's old team is preparing to take on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL championship game. Bristol County Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh closed the second day of testimony Friday by telling jurors they may watch the game if it is important to them, but they must be vigilant for mention of the case or Hernandez. "You hear that word, you've got to walk out of the room," Garsh said. "Distance yourself." Hernandez had a $40 million contract with the Patriots when he was arrested. Earlier Friday, Lloyd's mother, Ursula Ward, was overcome with emotion and had to leave the courtroom as a prosecutor showed graphic photos of her son's body at the industrial park where he was found. The 27-year-old Lloyd was shown lying on his back with his left fist curled in a ball over the gunshot wounds to his chest. It was the second straight day she left the courtroom in tears. Lloyd's body was found riddled with bullets in an industrial park near Hernandez's North Attleborough home, not far from Gillette Stadium. On Friday, two men who worked at a business in the industrial park described a teenage jogger coming to their office early on the evening of June 17, 2013, then leading them down to an empty lot. One of the men, David Swithers, said he stopped about 20 feet away and saw a man on his back. The judge had cautioned jurors that the images would be graphic and that they shouldn't let their emotions sway them in the case. "He was stiff and motionless. There were flies flying in and out of his nostrils," he said. "I called 911." Also testifying Friday was Shaneah Jenkins, 23, who was dating Lloyd. Her sister, Shayanna, 25, is Hernandez's fiancee and the mother of his 2-year-old child. The sisters sit on opposite sides of the courtroom, Shaneah with Lloyd's mother and Shayanna with Hernandez's family. Shayanna Jenkins was not in court Friday. Shaneah Jenkins testified Friday that she introduced Lloyd to Hernandez and that although they had a cordial relationship, they were not close. She said the two men would hang out in the basement or smoke marijuana together when they came to visit, but that, apart from the weekend Lloyd was killed, the two men did not spend time together without her there. Hernandez's lawyer, Michael Fee, told jurors in his opening statement that Hernandez and Lloyd were friends and that Hernandez had no reason to kill him. He said they could have some day been brothers-in-law. Shaneah Jenkins is expected to resume testimony the next day court is in session. That could be Monday, though the judge told jurors a snowstorm forecast for Monday could delay that. In a separate murder case that has yet to come to trial, Hernandez was charged last year in Boston with killing two men in 2012 after someone spilled a drink on him at a nightclub. The judge has ruled that prosecutors in the Lloyd case cannot tell the jury about those slayings. | 5 | 4,792 | news |
Daniel Duncan got the surprise of his life after a call from Bobby Wagner, one of his favorite Seattle Seahawks players, granted his Super Bowl wish. | 8 | 4,793 | video |
BUFFALO, N.Y. Hats off to Marshawn Lynch. While barely saying a word, the Seattle Seahawks running back has created a run on the "Beast Mode" caps he's been wearing at Super Bowl press appearances. The two baseball caps Lynch wore this week while answering reporters' questions with single scripted lines have sold out on Lynch's website, where they're part of his own Beast Mode apparel line. Buffalo-based New Era Cap Co. makes the caps for the football player and says more are on the way. "Over the past 20 years, there've been different moments in time where a celebrity is seen wearing a different cap and the next day people are clamoring to find that product," Stuart Domanowski, football category director at New Era, said Thursday. One of the earliest times was when movie director Spike Lee wore a red Yankees cap during a World Series game in the 1990s. The Lynch case is somewhat different, Domanowski said, because the caps are a collaboration of two brands. Instead of a team logo, they feature Lynch's angular Beast Mode logo on New Era styles. Lynch and New Era designers worked together on color combinations and fabrics. The gray-billed navy cap Lynch wore while repeatedly telling media day reporters, "I'm just here so I won't get fined," is a 9Fifty snapback style that retails for $33. "Yes, this is the hat Marshawn wore during the 2015 SB Media Day," the website says. Lynch could be fined for wearing the hat if the National Football League deems it broke the rule requiring players to wear team-issued apparel on media day. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined to comment. Lynch wore a black and charcoal version the next day while reciting, "You know why I'm here" in response to questions. That hat is listed for $40. New Era is the official supplier for the National Football League and is also making the caps the Super Bowl winners will wear on the field after Sunday's game. The company has made a small number of hats in advance for game day, Domanowski said, some featuring the Seahawks as Super Bowl champs, the others crowning the New England Patriots. ____ AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report. | 3 | 4,794 | finance |
Pete Volk from SB Nation's Testudo Times joins Campus Insiders' Shae Peppler to discuss the latest on recruits Quarvez Boulware and Austrian Robinson and whether Tide commit Isaiah Prince will be switching to the Terrapins. | 1 | 4,795 | sports |
The Federal Trade Commission is banning Craig Brittain, founder of the notorious revenge porn site IsAnybodyDown, from publishing any more nude photos or videos of people without first receiving their explicit consent. As part of a settlement with the commission, Brittain will also have to destroy all images and personal information that he collected during the course of operating IsAnybodyDown. That all may seem like a really common sense solution that the FTC shouldn't have to step in and mandate, but it unfortunately is. While several states have begun to implement bans, in many areas of the US it still remains difficult for victims to get their photos and information removed from offending websites. Revenge porn exists in a legal gray area that makes it fairly challenging to prosecute, in large part because the complainants often don't own the photographs that they're featured in. Brittain does not admit any fault or involvement under the terms of the settlement, which follow FTC charges that he used unfair and deceptive practices in running his website. The commission alleged that, while operating the website between 2011 and 2013, Brittain received nude photos of women in three ways: by posing as a woman on Craigslist and asking other women to send him photos, by asking his visitors to anonymously submit photos they had collected, and by allowing his visitors to offer a bounty for nude photos of a specific person. What's even worse about Brittain's sites is that he's also alleged to have operated pseudo legal-services that could get nude photos removed from IsAnybodyDown for a $200 to $500 fee. In total, the commission believes that he earned $12,000 from operating the site. On top of that, IsAnybodyDown also included personal information about the people featured in its photographs, often including their phone number or a link to their Facebook page. "This behavior is not only illegal but reprehensible," Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, says in a statement. "I am pleased that as a result of this settlement, the illegally collected images and information will be deleted, and this individual can never return to the so-called 'revenge porn' business." The commission's settlement goes further, also explicitly banning Brittain from misrepresenting what he'll do with information the he collects online. The settlement will be open for public comment for the next 30 days, after which there will be a vote to finalize it. It's not clear whether the FTC will be able to use similar proceedings to take down other revenge porn operations, but the commission's actions here show that there may be another course for stopping other exploitative sites. | 5 | 4,796 | news |
The rising dollar claimed another victim as Google Inc.'s revenue grew more slowly than expected. The Mountain View, Calif., Internet giant said fourth-quarter revenue, excluding payments to other companies that syndicate its ads, rose 17%, to $14.5 billion, from $12.4 billion in the same period a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet had projected revenue on that basis of $14.7 billion. Net income rose 41% to $4.8 billion, or $6.91 a share, from $3.4 billion, or $4.95 a share. Excluding certain expenses like stock compensation, Google reported per-share earnings of $6.88. Analysts had expected $7.12 on that basis, according to FactSet. Despite the weak revenue figure, Google shares rose 2% in after-hours trading. The move may reflect the long slide in Google's shares, which are down 9% over the past year, even as the Nasdaq index rose 13%. Google's Chief Financial Officer, Patrick Pichette, told investors on a conference call that the strong dollar reduced revenue by more than $400 million after taking account of currency hedges. Absent the impact of the dollar, revenue would have risen roughly 20%. Google's growth has been slowing as search queries stall on personal computers, where Google makes more money from clicks on ads. Ads on mobile devices have been a liability historically, but Mr. Pichette said "strength in our mobile search" boosted revenue. Google doesn't break out revenue from mobile devices. The advertising revenue Google generates from its own websites, including its search engine and YouTube, increased 18% in the fourth quarter compared with the prior year. Google said that the number of paid clicks rose about 14% compared with the same period a year earlier. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets had been expecting a 15% increase. The average cost per click, which measures what advertisers pay when people click on Google ads, fell 3% in the fourth quarter compared with a year earlier. RBC analysts were looking for a decline of 1%. Growth in "other" revenue, which includes the Google Play store for apps, was surprisingly slow. Other revenue grew 19%, after growing 50% in the third quarter compared with a year earlier. Besides the strong dollar, Mr. Pichette cited a shortage of Google's popular new Nexus 6 smartphone as a reason for the lower growth. Google's profitability is taking a hit as its operating expenses grow faster than its revenue. The company's operating-profit margin was 24% in the fourth quarter, a slight improvement from the third quarter but down from 28% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Google has added roughly 5,000 employees over the past six months, to a total of 53,600. Research and development costs increased 45%, to $2.8 billion. Google also spent $3.6 billion on capital expenditures in the quarter, a new record for the company, as it bought more real estate and invested in more data centers to support future growth. "The real issue is that Google continues to ramp up expenses," said Ben Schachter, an analyst at Macquarie Securities. "All the large Internet companies are investing for the long term and hiring a lot of people, which spooks investors." Net income grew faster than revenue because Google posted a $740 million gain from the sale of its Motorola handset to Lenovo Group Ltd. A year earlier, the unit had posted a $506 million loss. With $64.4 billion of cash at the end of the quarter, Google could face more pressure from Wall Street to return cash to shareholders via share buybacks or a dividend. Asked by an analyst whether Google would consider such moves, Mr. Pichette said the company regularly reviews all options for its cash but had nothing to announce. There is concern that Google's revenue could take another hit if the company were to lose its perch as the default search engine for Apple Inc.'s Safari browser, which is the way most iPhone users access the Internet. Google lost a similar deal to be the default search engine for Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox Web browser this past quarter. Mr. Pichette declined to comment about the Safari deal on the conference call. Write to Rolfe Winkler at [email protected] and Alistair Barr at [email protected] | 3 | 4,797 | finance |
Just about every down comforter has a tag with care instructions that read, "Dry Clean Only." But if you're on a budget, or reluctant to expose your bedding to the harsh chemicals used in dry cleaning, or simply intent on avoiding yet another errand, there's good news: You can clean a down comforter at home. It's only possible, however, if you have a large-capacity front-loading washer. In a small machine, the considerable weight of a comforter can damage the appliance , while in a top-loader, the agitator can rip the fabric, causing feathers to spill out everywhere. But assuming that your washer is both large in size and front-loading in design, you can clean a down comforter by following these steps! STEP 1 First things first, load the comforter into the washing machine . Next, add in a mild soap or, better yet, a soap specially formulated for down yes, such things exists! Avoid using standard laundry detergent. What you'd normally use to clean your clothing would, if used on a down comforter, strip away the natural oils that are responsible for making the feathers so exceptionally light and delightfully fluffy. STEP 2 Set the washer to run with warm water on a delicate cycle. If there's an extra rinse option, enable it. If there isn't, that's OK; you'll simply need to run the comforter through a separate rinse cycle manually. No matter how you achieve it, the extra rinse is needed to remove soap residue from the down. STEP 3 Immediately transfer the comforter to a high-capacity dryer. Set the dryer to operate on low heat, and toss in either dryer balls or clean white socks stuffed with tennis balls. Yet another option is to periodically remove the comforter from the dryer and give it a vigorous shake. All three methods perform the same important function, which is to prevent the down from clumping. STEP 4 As the comforter dries, be sure to check on it every now and again, particularly at the beginning of the cycle. There is a danger of the comforter overheating, in which case the fabric could either melt or get burned. If you notice the comforter sticking to the interior walls of the dryer, stop the machine, remove the bedding, and hand-fluff it before continuing. STEP 5 Keep the comforter in the dryer until it is bone-dry and the down has returned to being soft and fluffy. This may take several hours. Resist the temptation to take the comforter out of the dryer before it's completely dry. Doing so would, at best, compromise the bedding's insulating power and, at worst, encourage the growth of mold and mildew . Want an easier cleaning routine? Keep the bedding covered, at virtually all times, with a duvet cover. Like a pillowcase for your down comforter, a comparatively easy-to-clean duvet protects the underlying bedding from stains. Every three or four months, remove the comforter from its duvet and hang it outside by means of clothespins. Save this chore for a dry, sunny, and preferably windy day. Once it's hung, leave the duvet out until the sun sets. Cared for in this way, a down comforter may only need to be cleaned once every five or ten years! | 4 | 4,798 | lifestyle |
Laura Robson, out for a year with a wrist injury, returns to tennis next month in a place called Surprise. Her agent, Max Eisenbud, confirmed on Thursday that the former British No1 will play in two ITF $25,000 tournaments, in Surprise, near Phoenix, Arizona from 16 February, then Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego, the following week. "The plan is for Laura to play those two small tournaments late in February before she uses her protected ranking to get into Indian Wells," Eisenbud said. "But everything is tentative. We will not be rushed into anything and we are quite prepared to change the plan if necessary. "We want her to be properly ready and, if that is not the case, then she won't play. We are not going to take any chances and want to be sensible about this whole thing. Right now she is practising in Bradenton [at Nick Bollettieri's academy] and the wrist is fine, that's not the problem. It's not a matter of fitness either. We just want Laura to attain the necessary level of tennis, and people have got to remember she has been out for more than a year. Going into these smaller tournaments she could play day after day and we have got to make sure she is ready for that kind of schedule. "We don't want to pick up a different injury because her body is not properly reconditioned to play day-after-day tennis. I have had a lot of experience in this kind of thing with Maria [Sharapova]. The important thing in bringing a player back after a very long time away from the game is to be smart." Judy Murray, Great Britain's Federation Cup captain who will miss the final here to be back in time for the Europe/Africa Group B round robin in Budapest, starting on 4 February said Robson has been sorely missed. "I think it's more frustrating for Laura," she said. "Wrist injuries are tough injuries. She has to take her time and it's just so important that she takes her time and comes back when she's ready. "She's obviously champing at the bit to get back but she realises more than anybody that you just have to be patient and follow the orders of the doctor and the physios. The thing with a wrist injury is that you can still work very hard on your physical conditioning while you're not necessarily able to play as much." Murray is delighted, though, with the promise of the girls' semi-finalist here, Katie Swan, from Bristol, right, who is in her Fed Cup plans next year. "That's what we've got to hope for, because obviously we don't have much strength in depth. There's a big drop after Heather [Watson] and Laura when she can play a big drop to Johanna [Konta], and then there's an even bigger drop again to the rest of the pack." If Swan builds on her excellent form, she will likely attract the sort of attention Robson did when she won junior Wimbledon at 14. They have spoken briefly, but Swan, who lives in Wichita, Kansas, where her father moved to for work two years ago, is keen to emulate her. "Katie will be 16 this year but she's a good athlete, got a very good mind," Murray said. "She's got a very good foundation to her game already, strong serve, strong forehand. But I think it's her calmness and her ability to stick to a task that impresses me. "I sat on the chair with her during the Maureen Connolly Trophy last year when we played the States at New Haven just before the US Open. She beat the No1 and 2 for the States and came from a set down in both of them. She was able to process the tactics and information and stick with them against girls who were a couple of years older than her and very much more experienced. That was when I realised, we've got a player on our hands here." Swan, slightly built and with some growing left to do, may one day challenge Robson and Watson for a place in the Federation Cup or even compete with greater ambition in the slams. That is her intention. After years of waiting for someone to join her two aces, Murray may well have found at least one player to light up the next wave.Murray added she will use her increased profile after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing to sell the game to a new audience. "That wasn't the reason that I did the dancing. I just wanted to do it for the fun of it. But I'm very much aware that many more people recognise me when I'm out and about now and it's got nothing to do with tennis. That's been quite interesting for me, realising the reach of that show. So if it helps me to promote tennis better and grow the game more, then that's great." | 1 | 4,799 | sports |
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