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Twenty kids were asked the same question: Where do you wish you could travel this year? Here are their adorable responses. Every January, I sneak some travel planning into my thoughts of resolution and self-improvement. In this spirit, I've asked 20 children this same question: "Where in the world would you like to travel this year that you have never visited before, and why?" Here are their answers: Paris, because I already have a beret and I want to take a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower. Clare (7) Antarctica, because it doesn't snow in Los Angeles and I want to see the snow. And I want to see penguins, polar bears, whales, and seals. Scarlet (6) I want to go to my lego world. There are two parts to my lego world, the forest part and the business city part. Gus (4) I don't know...Las Vegas? Because it's warm. Julian (5) Oklahoma, because I want to see Harry Potter World. Stella (6) Mom: You mean, Orlando? Stella: Yeah, that's the one. Any place that's in America. Gordon (3) Paris to see the Eiffel Tower or England to see the queen. Harper (7) Down to the basement! I wish there was a staircase right from the bathtub. Gus, part 2 (in tub) Paris, because I would like to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower and I can go on the bus and go to famous museums and play at the zoo and the park and fly in an airplane. I would like to go to a cafeteria in Paris and eat there and go to a hotel and stay there for 100 nights. Elise (5) See Attle. Seattle. I want to go to Seattle and see aunt Marilyn. Feodor (6) Grandma and Grandpa's house! Avery (4) Mom: We go there all the time... how about somewhere you have never been before? Avery: Mexican-Indian! Mom: You mean Mexico or India? Avery: Yes. Because that is where Auntie is getting married and Daddy went to India. I want to go to Paris because it's in France where they speak French, a very fancy language. Ada (7) Southern Isles, because that's where we are going. I have my suitcase and we will eat Elsa popcorn (!!!!) Ace and Max (almost 3) I want go to China so that I can go see pandas. Jude (5) If I could go anywhere in the world I would want two options: I would either go to Italy or to Indonesia. The reason I would go to Italy is because I've heard it is really, really pretty there and they have really yummy food. The reason I would go to Indonesia is, well, just because I like beach places and I like Indonesian music...but the puppets freak me out. Giana (8) Costa Rica because now I know how to snorkel. And so I can get some Costa Rica type things. Mexico again I liked it there. Spain. Eh, maybe San Francisco. And Africa to see Stacie and the animals. Yeah, I think that is all." Cian (4) I want to go to Alaska because it's so snowy and you can climb a lot of mountains and then you can come back to your house and get cozy with hot chocolate. Plus I'm pretty sure kids don't have to go to school there. Declan (11) I would go to the Artic Tundra. Only I would go during the summer when it isn't quite as cold. Bowie's (8) I want to go to London and England because it's outside of the US and I've never really been outside of North America, at least not a trip that I remember. I've just always been fascinated with England and London and I think it would be a great adventure. I want to go to the Tower of London and see the jewels and go on the Big Eye and see that big departments store, Hair Rods? If you can tour it, I want to see the king and queen's palace. Sylvie (9) I want to stay on in a house on the beach in Greece with beaded curtains instead of doors. Quinn (5) The jungle to see the tigers and play with monkeys. Can we go right now? Eames (3) To Rat City. Yes. Because I want to pretend I am a rat wearing clothes, isn't that silly?" Calvin (3) | 2 | 5,100 | travel |
We confess we don't usually show screens in our highlights, but this one is memorable. Watch the collision near mid-court between UMass' Trey Davis and Dayton's Kendall Pollard. No foul called. Davis was not injured. And in case you're wondering, the Minutemen won the game 66-64. | 1 | 5,101 | sports |
Inspiring and clutter-free, these 19 kitchens are a study in contemporary elegance. A West Village, Manhattan, kitchen in a sleek building by Richard Meier has glamorous shiny countertops of white crystallized glass. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Domed pendant lights by Artemide hang above a Caesarstone-topped island in a Milwaukee high-rise apartment's kitchen designed by Victoria Hagan. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. The kitchen of a Ketch Harbour, Nova Scotia, home by Alexander Gorlin Architects has floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a panoramic ocean view. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Shelton, Mindel & Associates updated the kitchen of a classic Hamptons country house with Bulthaup cabinetry and stools, a Viking range and hood, and a simple backsplash of white Waterworks tile. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. The crisp Madrid kitchen of decorator Isabel López-Quesada features Bulthaup cabinetry and a cooktop and hood by Gaggenau. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. A vast white Corian table with gold inlay that sits above a custom-made, gold-leaf-finished island is the main attraction in New York designer Jamie Drake's elegant Manhattan kitchen. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Cerused-oak cabinetry lines a Rockwell Group designed Manhattan penthouse's kitchen. The wall ovens, range, and hood are all by Wolf, and the backsplash is of nickel tile. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. A folk-art rooster from the 1800s overlooks a modern New York City kitchen designed by Robert Passal. The cabinets are made of stainless steel, and the space is equipped with a Miele oven, cooktop, and hood. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. A glass backsplash sets a polished tone in a Washington, D.C., kitchen designed by Solís Betancourt & Sherrill. A hood by Gaggenau hangs above the gleaming Caesarstone island, where dessert is served. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Counter space is bountiful in the sleek and spacious kitchen of a London home designed by Rafael de Cárdenas. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Derin's Fold barstools add a pop of color in the sleek white Boffi-clad kitchen of a Manhattan brownstone remodeled by Delphine Krakoff of Pamplemousse Design. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Bertoia barstools by Knoll are pulled up to the chic island of architect Alison Spear's Hudson Valley, New York, kitchen. An Abbaka hood presides over the space, which is fitted with a cooktop and wall ovens by Wolf. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. Handbag designer Nancy Gonzalez's Western Colombia apartment, designed with Jean-Louis Deniot, has a kitchen paved in marble and outfitted with a Bulthaup hood and a Wolf cooktop. The open kitchen window lets in fresh air from the lush grounds surrounding the hilltop property. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. An Upper East Side, Manhattan, duplex's simple kitchen sparkles with white Corian cabinetry and counters. Architect Steven Harris and designer Lucien Rees Roberts created the clean-lined space. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. A midcentury light fixture by Gio Ponti is positioned above a Boffi breakfast bar and stools from Design Within Reach in the kitchen of a London rowhouse decorated by Veere Grenney. For more stylishly sleek kitchens, visit ArchDigest.com. | 4 | 5,102 | lifestyle |
If you've yet to try a baked doughnut, Fonuts, a Los Angeles-based baked-doughnut shop popular with celebrities like Jessica Alba, will have you jumping on board with this trend. Made with an expert hand and in flavors like blueberry earl grey, red velvet, and rosemary olive, they're so good, you won't miss the deep-fried breakfast pastries. | 0 | 5,103 | foodanddrink |
A 23-year-old New Jersey woman was recently arrested for both possession of a controlled dangerous substance and destruction of evidence after police claimed she swallowed "several bags of raw marijuana." She is by far not the first individual to try and get out of a drug charge by swallowing the evidence, but in the case of marijuana, can ingesting large volumes of the substance actually cause any bodily harm? As far as we know, if there is a lethal dose of marijuana, scientists still haven't found it. At the scene, EMT and paramedics examined the young woman in question, but she refused medical treatment, North Jersey News reported. The woman was arrested but has since been released and is awaiting court. There have been no further reports on the health of the woman or exactly how much "raw marijuana" she did in fact consume. We are aware that ingesting illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine to escape detection end in death far too often, but can swallowing marijuana actually kill you? To be clear, there has never been a documented case of a single death directly linked to consuming too much marijuana. That's not to say that people haven't done things that led to their death while under the influence of marijuana for of these there are many. However, with this being said, in theory, anything is possible. To test the lethal dose of any substance, ranging from crack cocaine to water, scientists use a test called the LD-50. This involves giving animals a substance until 50 percent of them die. ( I know, tragic, but this is the way facts are determined.) The New Health Guide reports that in the LD-50 test for marijuana, it was shown that rats and mice could take as much as 1,000 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of marijuana before they started to die. For larger animals, it was found that even giving as much as 3,000mg per kilogram of marijuana was still not enough to kill them. Translated into human proportions, this means that a 140-pound person could eat 4 pounds of marijuana in one sitting and would still not reach the fatal dose. As for smoking marijuana, the results are similar. As reported by io9 , in a 1988 DEA brief , U.S. Administrative Judge Francis Young determined that one would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as contained in a single joint for the dose to be lethal. In layman's terms, that means an individual would have to smoke around 1,500 pounds of marijuana in about 15 minutes. And since no one has ever (and will probably never) achieve that, even this amount is still theoretical. But just because large amounts of marijuana can't kill you doesn't mean that it's advised to smoke without limit. Consume Responsibly reported that the unpleasant symptoms such as increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth, and feelings of paranoia and anxiety can follow consuming more than your limit of marijuana. Fortunately, these symptoms won't last and are known to fade in as little as 30 minutes. | 7 | 5,104 | health |
The Obama administration is proposing to create a large database of patient information, including genetic profiles and medical histories, to further research into "precision medicine," which aims to create treatments based on a patient's genetic makeup and lifestyle choices. Precision, or personalized, medicine works much the same way that an eyeglass prescription or a blood transfusion is prescribed based on a patient's exam results or blood type, and proponents believe this line of thinking may be extended to many more areas of medicine. Jo Handelsman, associate director for science at the White House Office of Science and Technology, has called the $215 million budget allocation for the Precision Medicine Initiative in Obama's proposed 2016 budget a step away from the "one-size-fits-all" approach to medicine. Obama's proposal grants $130 million to the National Institutes of Health to launch a national long-term study that will collect biological samples, genetic profiles and electronic health records from at least a million Americans. Researchers may use an app to track the calorie consumption or environmental health impacts of participants through their smartphones and the database could include everything from their laboratory test results to MRI scans. Patient data will be anonymized and participation is strictly voluntary, the administration says. The system is meant to serve as a reservoir of information that researchers can tap while investigating the nuances of a particular disease in individual patients, or trying to identify genetic trends across treatment groups. The administration, with its messy record of privacy violations committed in the name of national security, will also grant $5 million to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to build a data system that it says will protect the identities of patients whose information is included in the database. The National Institutes of Health will also host a forum in mid-February to discuss the challenges of creating a national research group to populate the database. Much of the patient information may be pulled from existing studies, according to scientists familiar with the project who spoke on background to Science magazine. Obama gave researchers a glimpse into his zeal for precision medicine during the 2015 State of the Union address, but had not clarified details until today. "I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine -- one that delivers the right treatment at the right time," he said in his address. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has long taken this approach to develop customized drugs for small groups of patients who share the same genetic mutation for the disease. The organization worked with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to create a drug called Kalydeco which treats a mutation present in only four percent of patients with cystic fibrosis according to a 2012 study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. This focus on tailor-made medicine has nearly doubled the median life span of patients from 20 years old to 40 years old . "This research will dramatically advance our knowledge of diseases, how they originated and how we may prevent or treat them," Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told the Washington Post. Looking ahead, the administration is anxious to try to apply the same principles that have worked for cystic fibrosis to cancer. Obama's proposal requests $70 million for the National Cancer Institute to study the genetic underpinnings of several types of the disease, reports the New York Times. But drugs developed through precision medicine are admittedly expensive because they serve such a small groups of customers the Washington Post points out that a prescription for Kalydeco costs $300,000 a year. A $215 million allotment spread across multiple agencies may get the effort started, but it will likely require future investment to make real progress on the administration's goals. Gianrico Farrugia, chief executive officer of the Mayo Clinic in Florida, told Bloomberg the effort is "a good start." Obama's announcement was his latest in a series of health care related promises he has made for the proposed budget, including a $1.2 billion investment to fight antibiotic resistance . | 3 | 5,105 | finance |
Seattle's "Legion of Boom" has a snazzy nickname, endorsement deals and all the attention and media spotlight a defensive backfield could ask for. Deservedly so, too. In Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, Seattle has three of the very best in the game at their respective positions, and Byron Maxwell's nothing to sneeze at either. You know their names, you know their faces, and you probably know that they have their own "L.O.B" logo-emblazoned shower mats in front of their lockers. They're arguably the most celebrated position group the league's seen since The Fun Bunch. And then there's the Patriots' motley crew of running backs. Five guys who could walk by you in street clothes and go unnoticed. Five guys who each know that they need the other four to even have a chance at ultimate success. And five guys who truly don't care which one gets the rock on Sundays. New England was the only team in the league to boast four backs who carried the ball 60 or more times during the regular season, and on any given weekend, a different one could be "the guy." I've spoken to New England's five healthy tailbacks throughout Super Bowl week, and trust me, they've got about as much of an idea who'll carry the load on Sundays as the frustrated fantasy football owners who spend those early Sunday mornings agonizing over their lineups. They don't overthink it and they genuinely don't care they just know they have to be ready if their number is called, and it's going to be their day carrying the load. Take LeGarrette Blount, for example. The bruising back had just three carries in the Patriots' AFC divisional round 35-31 win over the Ravens. A week later against the Colts, he toted the rock 30 times for 188 yards and scored four touchdowns. Shane Vereen had eight carries and eight receptions against the Lions on Nov. 23. A week later in Green Bay, he touched the ball just four times. Could such diverse game-planning be frustrating at a position traditionally dedicated to just one or two guys? "No," laughs Blount. "You've just got to prepare like you're going to be the guy every game. You never know what the situation is going to be. When you're down 14 points, you've got to put the ball in Tom (Brady)'s hands. When the game is more controlled, they let us run the ball a little more." Jonas Gray had 37 carries for 201 yards and four touchdowns against Indianapolis in Week 11. He's carried the ball just 18 times in the eight games since. But he's still preparing as if he may be the bell cow in Super Bowl XLIX. "You never know who's going to get the opportunity to play," Gray says. "It's hard for the defense. In terms of preparation from the individual standpoint, you prepare like you do any week. You really are trying to empty the tank. It's cool but you just prepare like any other week, but knowing in the back of your mind this is the biggest game of your life." Blount and Gray are joined by Vereen, Brandon Bolden, rookie James White and injured backs Stevan Ridley and Tyler Gaffney in the New England running backs room. Each player takes on a different personality and serves a different role. "We're a real close-knit group of guys," Blount says. "We hang out, group chat all the time, and I feel like the difference between all of us is that we have different body types and are different styles of runners." Blount looks around the room and points out his fellow backs, calling them out one by one like they're some sort of traveling rock band. "You have Shane who's our third-down guy, who catches the football, moves really well in space. You have Rid who can do it all. You've got Bolden who, also, can do it all. You've got Jonas who runs really hard. And obviously, he ran for 200 yards this season. And then you have a guy like me, who is the biggest guy in the group. I feel like the biggest thing is my balance and my vision." Bolden, a special teams ace in addition to his work in the backfield, loves the mix of personalities he works with each day. "James White is real quiet. He doesn't say anything until you make him mad. But when he does open his mouth, watch out. He is probably one of the funniest, nicest guys you'll ever meet. You've got LeGarrette, who might be one of the hardest runners in the room, but the guy is a complete teddy bear off of the field. And then Jonas, who is about the same thing. Shane is a savvy Cali kid, so he's just what you see on TV. Stevan is a country bum (laughs). Another teddy bear off the field. And then you've got me: just a guy trying to compete and have fun." Gray says the guy with perhaps the most potential is the one who hasn't gotten much action at all this year. White is on the Patriots 53-man roster but has dressed in only three games. "He's the grandpa of the group," Gray says of his bearded teammate with a big, hearty laugh. "I know he's only a rookie, but he's wise. He just stays quiet, works hard and soaks it all in. When he does say something, we all listen." Longtime Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears insists that his group is unique, not only for their abilities on the field, but also for their selflessness and devotion to the team's goals. "Bill [Belichick] and Nick [Cesario] bring in a certain type of man when they sign or draft players. And the men we have in our running backs room are all of the highest quality. They all work their tails off. They practice hard. They work every single day, and it's always always about the team." Fears, a 61-year-old who's the one remaining Patriots link to the Pete Carroll era, says, "The honors come with wins. They all know this. And without wins, there's nothing." So, yes, the Seahawks have a pretty talented position group over in Seattle. But the Patriots have five capable tailbacks who are all more than ready to carry the load if called upon. Legion of Boom? These guys will level the boom. SUPER BOWL CHEAT SHEET TRIVIA QUESTION 1 Pete Carroll is the fourth head coach to face off in the Super Bowl against a team he previously coached. Who are the other three? SUPER BOWL CHEAT SHEET TRIVIA QUESTION 2 Joe Montana (11), Tom Brady (nine) and Terry Bradshaw (nine) make up 1, 2 and 3 on the list of most Super Bowl touchdown pases. Which quarterback has thrown the fourth most with eight? SUPER BOWL THROWBACK JERSEY OF THE WEEK It's tough not to love the vintage Kingdome-era Seahawks jerseys. There've been a few I've seen roaming around Phoenix this week, but none better than this gem ... a 1987 Brian Bosworth 'Hawks jersey . And now, on to my pick... ++++++ I've covered several Patriots games this season. I saw them at their very worst against the Chiefs, their very best against the Colts (twice), and their very average against the Jets (twice). Throw in a win in Minnesota, a loss in Green Bay, and an all-time classic victory over the Ravens in the AFC divisional round, and it's safe to say I've been around this team enough to have a pretty good feel for them. But that feeling, as weird as it may sound, started back in July. I was attending a Patriots practice during training camp, and saw 90 players going through a variety of drills on a typical hot, summer afternoon. The Patriots' facility in Foxborough has two fields parallel to one another, and a giant hill where reporters and fans can watch practice. As I awkwardly sprawled out on the hill, I noticed two men subtly step away from the other 88 and walk toward the secondary field, which at the time was going unused. No. 12 and No. 87. Brady and Gronk. This was before the season, when, as crazy as it seems now, there actually were questions as to whether Gronkowski would return to his pre-injury form. And here was the 37-year-old quarterback, Tom Brady, entering his 15th season still searching for that elusive fourth Super Bowl ring. Three straight trips to the AFC championship game, and three straight years without a Lombardi Trophy. The session on the second field started rather casually. Your typical route tree. Curls. Slants. Posts. Brady to Gronk. Then, another guy jogged over. A new face. Darrelle Revis, a player who clearly wasn't himself the year before in Tampa Bay, lined up against Gronkowski for some one-on -one. It started off pretty loose. Jogging. Slow motion. Then it heated up. Then, the two All-Pros went at it, full speed, with arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history tossing darts and lasers. Eighty-seven players were on the field adjacent, just three were going at it on the secondary field, and one man was overlooking it all: Belichick. It was a thing of beauty a basic football drill that could happen in any front yard in any town in America only being done by three of the greatest players of their generation. After five minutes, it was over, and Brady jogged back to the field with the rest of the roster. But I wrote down in a notebook then that this was the year they got over the hump. This was the year that this team would find a way to slay the dragons and get that elusive fourth Lombardi Trophy. Sometimes you just have a feeling. Being with this team all week, I've seen Danny Amendola cough and sneeze for three straight days. I've seen Brady battle a cold of his own. There have been fire alarms in the hotel and an unmistakable swagger from their opponent. But I've also seen a Patriots team that's overcome a lot this year. This journey might have started on that adjacent practice field in July. And it will end with those three players and their Hall of Fame coach. This is the year. I'm taking the Patriots. THE PICK: Patriots 23, Seahawks 18 SUPER BOWL CHEAT SHEET TRIVIA ANSWER 1 Weeb Ewbank, Jon Gruden and Dan Reeves all coached in the Super Bowl against teams that they previously coached. SUPER BOWL CHEAT SHEET TRIVIA ANSWER 2 Roger Staubach, in four Super Bowl appearances, threw eight touchdown passes, good for fourth-most all-time. | 1 | 5,106 | sports |
More and more people are hiding cash in places other than a bank, according to an American Express study. CNBC's Kelli B. Grant breaks down the best way to stash your cash. | 8 | 5,107 | video |
Bill Belichick will go down as one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history, but what would he be doing if he wasn't an NFL coach? | 1 | 5,108 | sports |
There's a reason why teaser trailers for Super Bowl commercials have become a thing now. The ads are one of the most entertaining parts of the big game! Mindy Kaling and Nick Offerman are both making starring appearances, and there is a lot more to look forward to this year. Take a look at the buzziest ads! | 8 | 5,109 | video |
The 6 Best Oyster Bars In The US Right Now Charyn Pfeuffer, Jaunted As Valentine's Day, approaches, you're probably starting to think all sorts of sexy thoughts. Maybe how to impress your date or how to turn on the sexual healing. You may even be thinking about Oysters, a notorious aphrodisiac said to get people all hot and bothered. (You know you are, just admit it.) Or, since we're at the peak of the sick season, you might want to boost your flagging immune system. Again, consider oysters as they have more zinc per serving than any other food. And it's been shown that zinc taken in the early stages of a cold can decrease its severity. Whether you want to increase your sexytime or decrease your sick time, here are 6 of the best oyster bars in America, where you can slurp bivalves until your heart's content The Bubbly Mermaid Oyster Bar Since the summer of 2012, the Bubbly Mermaid has been serving up premium Alaska oysters and pouring champagne in the heart of downtown Anchorage, Alaska. The bar is shaped like the prow of a ship and is the focal point of the intimate oyster bar, which serves up plenty or raw oysters, but offers more than half a dozen other preparations, from pan-fried to Oysters Rockefeller or Oscar. Owner Apollo Naff is often found at the center of it all, serving as host, sommelier, waiter and chief conversation catalyst. The Oyster Bar at Palace Station A Vegas institution for nearly two decades, patrons will line up and wait to snag one of its 18 coveted bar seats. Whether they come for big briny oysters or the ever-popular Pan Roast (essentially a creamy stew), The Oyster Bar is a must-stop for foodie travelers, locals on lunch break and chefs looking for a post-shift bivalve fix Westward Situated on the shores of Lake Union in Seattle, Westward offers a front row seat to a constant hum of boats, kayaks, paddle boards and seaplanes. From the outdoor patio and fire pit, diners can see the houseboats made famous in Sleepless in Seattle and watch the sun set over the Space Needle. A daily-changing menu features oysters sourced from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Swing by on Saturday or Sunday during "Oyster Hours" when all oysters are half-off from 3-5:00 p.m. Hog Island Oyster Bar At Hog Island Oyster Co. they raise sustainable shellfish, which they proudly shuck and share at Hog Island Oyster Bar at Oxbow Public Market in Napa, Calif. Slurp one of its oysters from its shell, and you'll understand why the laid back bar is such a popular place to go while in wine country. Also check out Tomales Bay and San Francisco Ferry Building locations. Rappahannock Rappahannock is a farm-to-table restaurant in Richmond, Virginia with an expansive oyster bar featuring oysters from the company's very own oyster farms. With current oyster harvests in the Chesapeake Bay unable to satisfy worldwide demand, the Virginia oyster has taken a back seat to more readily-available oyster varieties, such as those harvested from the Gulf of Mexico and the Northeast and West coasts. The goal of Rappahannock Oyster Co. is to put the Chesapeake Bay oyster back on the map. The Naked Oyster Bistro & Raw Bar Located on Main Street in Hyannis, Mass. (Cape Cod), the restaurant features oysters from its own oyster farm located on an intertidal sand bar in the northwest portion of pristine Barnstable Harbor. The oysters are lovingly tended by Chef Lowell and her husband, then brought to the Naked Oyster, where they are opened to order and served with lemon, cocktail sauce, or French style, with the mignonette of the day. | 0 | 5,110 | foodanddrink |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - A California hospital patient who was being tested for Ebola after traveling in West Africa and exhibiting symptoms of the disease has tested negative for infection with the deadly virus, public health and hospital officials said on Friday. The negative test result was disclosed a day after the individual was transferred to a special isolation unit at the University of California-Davis Medical Center, a designated "priority hospital" for potential Ebola cases, from another hospital in Sacramento, the state capital. It was not immediately clear whether the patient had been discharged after being cleared. But Laura McCasland, a spokeswoman for the Sacramento County Department of Public Health, which performed the tests in its own laboratory, said the results were conclusive. "They do not have Ebola," she said of the patient. No information about the individual's identity or background, not even gender, has been released. Authorities have not said precisely when, where, why or for how long the person was in West Africa, epicenter of the worst Ebola epidemic on record. Another individual in the same city was admitted in August to South Sacramento Medical Center as a potential Ebola patient and tested negative days later. At least 10 people are known to have been treated for Ebola in the United States, four of them diagnosed with the disease on U.S. soil, during a West African epidemic that has taken at least 8,800 lives, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Only two people are known to have contracted the virus in the United States - two nurses who treated an Ebola patient from Liberia who became sick while visiting Dallas. That man, Thomas Duncan, later died. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta gave approval to Sacramento County in just the last month to test blood samples of potential Ebola cases in its own public health laboratory, rather than send the samples back to the CDC for analysis, McCasland said. The new protocol cuts down the turnaround time for such lab results from days to 24 hours, she said. (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Additional reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sandra Maler) | 5 | 5,111 | news |
Ricky Fowler jokes that Phil Mickelson is over the hill, but says he has a lot of fight left in him as they prepare for the Phoenix Open in Arizona. | 1 | 5,112 | sports |
News flash! You can prepare a healthy, delicious, low-cost meal in less time than it takes to watch the evening news. Orange-Soy Beef with Asparagus This orange and soy-marinated steak pairs perfectly with asparagus! Recipe: Orange-Soy Beef with Asparagus Browse: More popular dinner ideas Spicy Curried Lentils These curried lentils are a hearty, healthy winter meal full of warming spices and vegetables. Recipe: Spicy Curried Lentils Tex-Mex Black Bean Soup Smoky, spicy, and packed with filling fiber, this vegetarian soup is a perfect hearty pick for cold, blustery days. Recipe: Tex-Mex Black Bean Soup Related: 60+ recipes to warm kids up Tuscan Turkey Burgers Think turkey can't be as juicy and delicious as beef? Think again. This recipe, packed with grated Italian veggies and topped with a gooey smoked mozzarella, makes a flavorful burger even beef-lovers can appreciate. Recipe: Tuscan Turkey Burgers Vietnamese-Style Lettuce Cups The crispy freshness of radishes and lettuce cut the spice of juicy, seasoned beef for a flavor-texture combination you might want to upgrade from appetizer to main course. Recipe: Vietnamese-Style Lettuce Cups Browse: Check out other lettuce wraps and rice rolls Primavera Couscous Salad This quick, healthy grain salad is packed with colorful summer vegetables and it comes together in such a small amount of time, you can make it any night of the week. Recipe: Primavera Couscous Salad Related: Healthy Dinner Ideas: Family-Friendly Salads Ratatouille on the Grill Traditional Provençal ratatouille is a mélange of best-of-summer vegetables slowly simmered in olive oil. Our version is quicker and packs less of a caloric punch, since the veggies are lightly brushed with a vinaigrette mixture, not braised in oil. Chop leftover ratatouille and toss with your favorite short pasta, or layer into a roll, top with some fresh mozzarella, and toast in a panini press or skillet. Recipe: Ratatouille on the Grill Browse: Popular ratatouille recipes Healthier Hearty Omelet An omelet with everything! We folded in cheese, ham, and home fries but cut out more than half the calories. Recipe: Healthier Hearty Omelet Warm French Lentil Salad Don't skip your salads this winter with this classic French dish; warm lentil salad is at once healthful, hearty, and comforting. Recipe: Warm French Lentil Salad Related: Clean eating kitchen staples to stock-up on Pineapple Pork Tacos These zesty pork and pineapple tacos are the ideal summer dinner they're quick, healthy, and boast a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Recipe: Pineapple Pork Tacos Fish and Zucchini Tacos This quick and easy recipe uses roasted fish for a healthier take on the usual fried fish taco. Serve with salsa on the side for a fun light meal the whole family will enjoy. Recipe: Fish and Zucchini Tacos Browse: Check out more popular fish taco recipes Baked Chicken alla Milanese This quick and easy Italian Chicken Milanese recipe is baked, not fried it's not only healthier, it also leaves less of a mess behind! Recipe: Baked Chicken alla Milanese Related: Easy Pleasers: Baked Chicken Recipes Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Garbanzos A classic combination of bitter greens and sweet golden raisins tossed with pasta and beans for a quick meal. Recipe: Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Garbanzos Related: 6 more weeks - Recipes to keep you excited about winter | 0 | 5,113 | foodanddrink |
Workwear doesn't have to be boring! Celebrity stylist Sophia Banks shows you how to put your own fun, unique twist on classic and office-appropriate outfits so you can show up to your next job interview or business meeting in style. | 4 | 5,114 | lifestyle |
The line for Super Bowl XLIX is in favor of the New England Patriots by one point. Chuck Esposito lets us know which way this line will move before game time. | 1 | 5,115 | sports |
Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas remain doubts for Chelsea ahead of Saturday's headline Premier League clash against Manchester City, with Jose Mourinho's side looking to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Costa was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association for an apparent stamp on Emre Can in Chelsea's League Cup semifinal win over Liverpool on Tuesday a game Fabregas limped out of with a hamstring injury. Chelsea's top scorer will discover if he has received a ban on the eve of the game, while the league's most prolific assist provider's fitness will be tested. If unable to call upon the Spain duo, Mourinho will have to reshuffle his pack which may have been on the cards anyway having been taken to extra time by Liverpool though any hints will not be forthcoming after the Portuguese cancelled his pre-match media conference, having been fined 33,000 euros this week over comments about referees. Chelsea sits five points above City at the Premier League summit, with the champion having drawn at Everton and lost to Arsenal after drawing level with Mourinho's side with a strong run of festive results. The late kickoff at Stamford Bridge provides City's first chance to respond to last weekend's FA Cup elimination at the hands of Championship promotion hopeful Middlesbrough, with Chelsea still rebuilding confidence after a stunning 4-2 loss to Bradford City. Manuel Pellegrini has his own star striker, Sergio Aguero, fit and firing after a knee injury, though Frank Lampard's return to Stamford Bridge is sure to intrigue. Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer joined City in preseason in a move that has caused some controversy and he has already come back to haunt the fans who revered him so much hitting his new employer's equalizer in September's 1-1 draw between the sides at the Etihad Stadium. Lampard was regardless handed a warm reception by Chelsea's fans that day, with another generous welcome expected upon his return to west London. Any hopes Pellegrini may have held of having Yaya Toure back in his midfield were dashed on Wednesday by Ivory Coast's progression in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Samir Nasri remains sidelined by a calf injury, meaning Lampard could be in the team from the start. Mourinho has further concerns in his defence with Filipe Luis (calf) and match-winner Branislav Ivanovic (foot) also sustaining injuries in midweek. | 1 | 5,116 | sports |
Rumors have been swirling for weeks that Katy Perry would somehow diss Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, and in her recent cover story with Billboard , she addresses the claims with subtlety. When asked about her beef with Swift, Perry responded, "If somebody is trying to defame my character, you're going to hear about it." The drama has been going on since last year, when Swift described a female musician as her "straight-up enemy" in a Rolling Stone profile . She said that the star tried to "sabotage" Swift's arena tour. "She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me," Swift said. "And I'm surprisingly non-confrontational - you would not believe how much I hate conflict. So now I have to avoid her. It's awkward, and I don't like it." After the story came out Perry tweeted, " Watch out for the Regina George in sheep's clothing ," which many fans took as a subtweet in reference to Swift. There's no evidence that Perry will actually take a swing at Swift on national television in front of millions of people, but her halftime show will definitely include Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott , so that's a plus. Head over to Billboard for more on Perry's Super Bowl halftime show . | 6 | 5,117 | entertainment |
After deadly clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel fears Iran will open a new front along the Syrian border. | 8 | 5,118 | video |
Air strikes alone will not be enough to defeat Islamic State militants and greater Western help in building up Iraqi security forces could also play a role, the head of NATO said on Friday. The United States leads a coalition of countries that has been carrying out air strikes against the Islamist militants who have seized large parts of Syria and Iraq. NATO as an organization is not involved but individual allies participate in the coalition. "I welcome that (participation) and I think that is important, even though I don't believe that air strikes alone can solve the problem," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference. Separately Stoltenberg told Reuters in an interview that air strikes could be supplemented by working with the Iraqi government to help it develop its security forces. Some Western countries have sent soldiers to Iraq to train and advise but they are reluctant to send their combat troops into action against Islamic State. Last month the Baghdad government asked NATO for help in training its security forces after the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of an offensive by Islamic State militants last year. "We are considering how we can do that in a way which is helpful for them and we are in dialogue with the government of Iraq now," Stoltenberg said. (Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Gareth Jones) | 5 | 5,119 | news |
CHICAGO (AP) The family of Stan Mikita says the Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famer has been diagnosed with a suspected brain disorder. Mikita's family issued a statement Friday saying the 74-year-old is ''facing some serious health issues'' and has suspected Lewy body dementia. Family members say he is ''under the care of compassionate and understanding care givers.'' They offered no other information on Mikita's condition. Lewy body dementia is a progressive disease that causes problems with thinking, movement and behavior. There's no known cure, but people can live with the disease for a number of years. Mikita played his entire 22-year NHL career for the Blackhawks, from 1958 to 1980. He was on the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1961 and amassed 541 goals and 926 assists in 1,394 games. | 1 | 5,120 | sports |
How's your fax machine? Use it lately? The normally abandoned piece of equipment will certainly get its run all over the country on Wednesday during National Signing Day. Catch our two-hour show, 'High School Spotlight Signing Day Special', on Wednesday at 1 p.m. on Prime Ticket and Prep Zone. It may be the only time all year that a fax machine is relevant. Every first Wednesday in February, coaches at all of the NCAA institutions huddle around the fax machine and cheer ferociously every time a letter of intent comes in. Said fax has a signature -- it's significant when it comes to the direction each football program will be headed in the coming seasons. Months and sometimes years worth of recruiting efforts finally get settled. There's really no other phenomenon like it. You want drama? This day has it all wrapped into one. It's, of course, National Signing Day. Unlike most other sports where there is an early signing period and a late signing period, football has its annual Signing Day where college seniors are allowed, for the first time, to ink their National Letter of Intent. Forget what you heard about a high school football player being verbally committed to this school or that school. It means nothing until said player puts his name on the line and it's received by an NCAA school. Remember David Sills? He's the 13-year-old who was offered a scholarship to USC by former head coach Lane Kiffin back in 2010. Sills, of course, committed and he was thought to be Trojans quarterback of the future. Fast forward to today and Sills, who was the Trojans first commit of the 2015 class, won't be attending USC. Plrenty has changed since the teen made headlines. All that talk about him being a Trojan well before he even stepped on a high school campus was just that -- talk. Sills is likely headed to West Virginia. The name Leonard Williams strike a chord? Just three years ago, the future first-round pick had a decision to make about his college future. On the eve of National Signing Day, Williams made up his mind he would a Florida Gator. He woke up the next morning a USC Trojan. The Gators thought they were going to keep the Florida product home but USC had other ideas. Led by former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, a Florida icon for his work with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and former defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, USC continued to recruit Williams up to the last possible minute and convinced him going across the country for his collegiate career was the best thing for him. How about, Jordan Payton? He was a prep legend -- the rare four-year varsity player who had his pick of the litter when it came to which college he would attend. On the eve of Signing Day, Payton went on national TV to make his college announcement and told the country he would be attending the University of Washington. This was less than a month after he told a national TV audience that he was committing to Cal at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. And, oh by the way, before all of that he'd been headed to USC. So, his exhausting recruiting process had finally come to an end, right? Wrong. Less than 24 hours later his National Letter of Intent was signed and faxed to ... UCLA. In about a 48-hour span Payton did what's know in recruiting lingo as 'flipped' twice. The stud wide receiver flipped from Cal to Washington to UCLA and was a part of a huge recruiting class that has helped significantly to the success the Bruins have had on the field in recent seasons. You want drama? National Signing Day has that, and more. Who could forget the spectacle that was De'Anthony Thomas? The Crenshaw running back/defensive back had been committed to USC. If there was a lock, it was the player who was dubbed 'The Black Mamba' by Snoop Dogg as a youth. Throughout his recruiting process, he talked about wanting to stay close to home. And then on the weekend before National Signing Day, there were whispers former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly was able to get Thomas to Eugene for an official visit. After that, there were just rumors -- days worth of speculation. By Signing Day standards, Thomas made a late announcement. The sun had already set on the West Coast and Thomas was set to hold a press conference at Crenshaw High School. He appeared in an Oregon jacket and hat stunning everyone and sending shockwaves through the recruiting universe. On National Signing Day fan bases of universities will have a chance to get excited about what the future holds for their particular teams. Schools will be graded on recruiting classes based on an ability to get four and five-star recruits to sign with their universities. There are locks, there will be surprises and there will certainly be hats a lot of them, lined single file before a player puts on the lid of his choice to signal which school he will be attending for the next three to five years. It's National Signing Day. There's nothing like it. | 1 | 5,121 | sports |
After more than doubling in its trading debut, Shake Shack Inc. is being valued almost as highly as Facebook Inc. by at least one measure. Shake Shack shares have a price-to-sales ratio of about 14.6, not far from Facebook's 16 and topping all but five companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. leads the index with a ratio of about 44.7. The strong IPO is an indication of shifting attitudes toward fast food, particularly among younger diners, Chief Executive Officer Randy Garutti said. Shake Shack's debut comes two days after a CEO change at McDonald's Corp., which is mired in its worst U.S. sales slump in more than a decade. "My kids will grow up in a generation of people who isn't going to see fast food the way it's been seen over the last few decades, and those people generally want to go to a place like Shake Shack," Garutti said in an interview with Bloomberg Television's Betty Liu. "We've helped define that, and we're going to be out in front of that as we go." Shake Shack, founded by restaurateur Danny Meyer, had revenue of about $83.8 million this year in the 39 weeks through Sept. 24. Another quarter of sales at that pace would give the company $111.7 million in revenue for the full year. The restaurant chain had a market value of about $1.63 billion at the close in New York after the shares surged on the first day of trading. The company also has an enterprise-value-to-sales ratio of about 14.6, which would be in the top 20 in the S&P 500, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Profitable Expansion In giving the shares such high multiples, investors may be overestimating Shake Shack's ability to expand profitably and maintain sales growth, said Jeff Sica, president of Circle Squared Alternative Investments in Morristown, New Jersey. "There's no justifiable rationalization to the price of something that has so many challenges with expansion and revenue," he said in a phone interview. "It's a good restaurant, but when has there ever been a food franchise that's been able to establish such a strong base of revenue so quickly and sustain it?" Hot Dogs Shake Shack's road to becoming a stock-market darling began modestly. It opened in 2001 as a hot-dog kiosk to help support the restoration of Manhattan's Madison Square Park. The first official Shake Shack was born three years later, and it wasn't until 2008 that the company started expanding. It now has 63 stores from Chicago to Dubai that sell burgers, fries and frozen custard. Shares of the burger chain, trading under the ticker SHAK, more than doubled to $45.90 at the close in New York. Shake Shack sold 5 million shares for $21 apiece as part of the IPO, according to a statement Thursday, after offering them for $17 to $19 each. Shake Shack plans to open 10 new company-operated stores each year in the U.S. starting in 2015. Part of its proceeds will be used toward expansion and renovating existing stores. Shake Shack also plans to use the money to make a payment to Meyer and early backers such as Leonard Green & Partners LP, as well as to repay debt. Gramercy Tavern Meyer, 56, is credited with founding some of New York's most prestigious eateries, including Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, and Union Square Cafe, which he opened three decades ago. Born and raised in St. Louis, he serves as chairman of Shake Shack. His firm, Union Square Hospitality Group LLC, also operates a catering business and hospitality-consulting services. The company is offering a dual-class share structure, with the Class A stock issued in the IPO representing 44.5 percent of the economic stake and 14.1 percent of voting power. Current stockholders will own, through Class A stock, 55.5 percent of economic interest and 17.6 percent of voting. The Class B shares held by those investors will account for the remaining 68.3 percent of voting power. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley managed the offering. Shake Shack is profitable, though its global expansion has weighed on earnings. It posted $3.55 million in net income in the 39 weeks to Sept. 24, down 20 percent from the same period of 2013. Revenue jumped 41 percent in that time, boosted by consumers turning away from traditional fast food. To Meyer, Shake Shack is starting a new style of dining. "We really think that Shake Shack is at the beginning of a whole new category called fine casual," he said in the Bloomberg TV interview. "We have a team of a people who can take the systems that fast casual knows and apply them to the choices and priorities that we've always made in fine dining." --With assistance from Callie Bost, Joseph Ciolli and Erik Schatzker in New York. To contact the reporter on this story: Craig Giammona in New York at [email protected] To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Turner at [email protected] Kevin Orland | 3 | 5,122 | finance |
Raising kids is getting expensive especially if they're used to taking private jets to their five homes. In an escalating divorce battle, Chicago hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffin says in court papers his wife, Anne Dias Griffin, wants $1 million a month for child-related expenses. How can three kids under age 10 cost $1 million a month? In his filing, Griffin said Dias is demanding money for her own lifestyle "under the guise" of the children's expenses. He said those include $300,000 a month for private-jet travel, $160,000 a month for vacation rentals and $60,000 a month for office space and professional staff. In a statement, Dias said the filing is "riddled with falsehoods and just another vindictive attempt by Ken Griffin Illinois' richest billionaire to punish his family and avoid his clear responsibility under Illinois law to maintain his children's lifestyle." Dias's statement doesn't dispute the dollar numbers. But she said Griffin is refusing to give the kids "the support to which they are accustomed and entitled under Illinois law." In the filing, Griffin said "it is clear that the only exigency Anne sees is the risk that she might have to start spending some of her own substantial wealth to support herself in the opulent lifestyle she desires." In a previous filing, Dias said she and their children have come to "enjoy a lifestyle reserved only for the very wealthy," including houses in Chicago, Aspen, Hawaii, Miami Beach and New York. They also have "unrestricted access" to two private jets "to travel to the aforementioned homes" as well as other destinations. She said the family has a "large group of staff members assisting the family, including extensive household, security and family office employees," and their own company that employs staffers, called "Griffin Family Services." | 3 | 5,123 | finance |
As we told you yesterday , Richard Sherman 's girlfriend Ashley Moss is pregnant and could give birth to the couple's first child any day now. And that put the Seahawks cornerback in a tough spot on Wednesday when he was asked whether or not he'd consider skipping Super Bowl XLIX if Moss were to go into labor before the big game. He didn't say what he'd do, but it did sound like he'd at least consider skipping the game if Moss were giving birth. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there," he told reporters . "We're not thinking about the possibility." Moss did an interview with KING 5 News yesterday, though, and revealed that Sherman will not skip the Super Bowl if she goes into labor. She said that she originally toyed with the idea of not telling him if she went into labor on Super Bowl Sunday. But after he told her, "You better call," they had a talk about it, and she told him that he shouldn't skip the game under any circumstance. "I told him [to] play the game," she said. "It'll be a good story to tell. His son and I will be sitting there, watching, cheering him on the whole game and, as soon as it's over, he can be there." Watch Moss' interview, via the link below. Why isn't there a Super Bowl prop bet associated with Sherman's unborn baby available yet? It has to be coming, right? [ via KING 5 News ] Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to [email protected] . | 1 | 5,124 | sports |
If you're over age 50 and looking for a job , it helps to know what employers want. A recent Society for Human Resource Management and Sloan Foundation survey of 1,913 human resources professionals asked what companies are looking for in older employees. Here's how older workers can impress potential employers. Demonstrate your experience. The majority of employers (77 percent) recognize that older workers tend to have more knowledge and skills than younger employees. Some companies also commented on the valuable tacit knowledge (51 percent) and institutional knowledge (47 percent) that only experienced employees who have worked at an organization or in a field for many years can acquire, SHRM found. Make sure your decades of work experiences are perceived as an asset. Emphasize your network. Older workers have a lifetime of accumulated contacts and colleagues. Some employers are interested in tapping into the established network of clients and customers older workers have access to (39 percent). Being able to bring new business into the company is a great way to get hired. Keep it professional. Companies typically perceive older workers as being more mature and professional (71 percent) and more reliable (59 percent) than their younger counterparts. Human resources professionals also say that older workers tend to have a stronger work ethic (70 percent). Don't give potential employers any reason to think this stereotype doesn't apply to you. Highlight your communication skills. Some employers say they are looking for older workers who have proficient grammar and spelling (45 percent), reading comprehension (20 percent) and English speaking skills (20 percent). A resume and cover letter without any spelling or grammar errors is the perfect place to demonstrate your writing ability. Other employers are looking for critical thinking and problem-solving skills (28 percent). Be prepared to list examples of workplace problems you encountered and what you did to fix them. Make a commitment to the company. Some firms say they are interested in hiring older workers because they perceive them to be more loyal to the company (52 percent) and tend to have lower turnover (52 percent). They are also looking for older workers who would be committed to and engaged with workplace goals (51 percent). If you're planning to remain in the workforce for the long term , it can be helpful to point that out to potential employers. Indicate your willingness to pass on your skills. Many human resources departments say they are interested in older workers who are able to serve as mentors to younger workers (63 percent). Just over half (54 percent) of the employers surveyed say they have training programs designed to transfer knowledge from older to younger workers, typically through mentoring or job shadowing programs. Find out where recruiters are looking for older workers. While 54 percent of the firms surveyed say they do not actively recruit older workers, some firms are making an effort to hire people in their 50s or older. Companies most often turn to employee referrals (33 percent) and networking (24 percent) to find experienced employees. Other common ways to try to search for older job candidates include websites geared toward an older audience (14 percent), using current older workers as recruiters (13 percent), employment agencies (13 percent) and social media (12 percent). Among employers that use social media to recruit older workers, the most popular social networking sites for job opportunities are LinkedIn (74 percent) and Facebook (49 percent). Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report | 3 | 5,125 | finance |
The number of people in the U.S. without access to broadband Internet effectively tripled this week, after a change in definition by the Federal Communications Commission made the official standard for the term a connection with a download speed of 25 megabytes per second and upload speed of 3Mbps. The decision which some argue reflects the simple reality that the old standard of 4mbps/1mbps is inadequate in today's data-driven world was still controversial. The two GOP members of the commission voted against the change, while the three Democrats, including FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, approved it. Under the new standard, about 55 million Americans, or 17 percent of the population, do not have access to broadband Internet service. Rural areas are hardest hit: More than half the consumers there don't have a service option that meets the standard. Wheeler noted the increasing need for high-speed connectivity to accomplish everyday tasks, and pointed out that in a household with 4mbps of download speed, it is difficult or impossible for multiple people to be online at the same time. "In 2015, taking turns to share the Internet bandwidth is as absurd as taking turns to use the electricity," Wheeler said in a statement. Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel supported the move, but said she would have aimed higher. "We invented the Internet. We can do audacious things if we set big goals, and I think our new threshold, frankly, should be 100Mbps. I think anything short of that shortchanges our children, our future, and our digital economy. I don't think reaching a benchmark like this is easy but nothing worthwhile ever is." In his dissent, Republican commissioner Michael O'Rielly claimed that the commission's analysis of actual broadband access relies on "intentionally flawed analyses" and suggested that the commission's adoption of the 25mbps download standard assumes a demand for service that doesn't exist. "While the statute directs us to look at 'advanced' telecommunications capability, this stretches the concept to an untenable extreme," he wrote. "Some people, for example, believe, probably incorrectly, that we are on the path to interplanetary teleportation. Should we include the estimated bandwidth for that as well?" The party-line division bodes ill for any sort of bipartisan agreement on an upcoming vote that will determine whether the FCC decide to reclassify broadband internet service entirely so that it can be regulated like a utility. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Putin Just Sent Nuclear Bombers Over the English Channel. Seriously. Does the New CBO Director Need a Ph.D. to Be Taken Seriously? Obama Sets the Stage for a Big Budget Showdown with the GOP | 3 | 5,126 | finance |
The "strong dollar" has been a mantra for the United States for decades. Recently, as the euro has fallen to an 11-year low against the dollar, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has once again been paying homage . "I have been consistent in saying, as my predecessors have said, that a strong dollar is good for the United States." Really? This week, a slew of blue chip U.S. companies from Caterpillar to Procter & Gamble to DuPont reported a sharp fall in earnings attributed in part to the rising U.S. dollar . While a stronger dollar lowers the cost of imports, which is good for consumers, it hurts U.S. competitiveness. With U.S. companies ever more dependent on exports and overseas sales, a strong dollar means that each sale denominated in weaker currencies abroad returns less to the United States. Doug Oberhelmen, chief executive of Caterpillar, said the surging dollar "will not be good for U.S. manufacturing or the U.S. economy." For the Obama administration, which has heavily promoted the importance of U.S.-based manufacturing and has made much of the recent small uptick in manufacturing jobs in the United States, a statement like that should be setting off alarm bells. And if that's not enough, this week's House and Senate hearings on U.S. trade policy should have done the trick . One after another, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle said it was crucial that the administration at least try to address currency issues in the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. Yet the U.S. Trade Representative, Mike Froman, repeatedly deferred, saying that currency was a Treasury responsibility. And Treasury's only response so far has been to say that the surging dollar is just fine. The United States has made this mistake before. In the early 1980s, the Reagan administration whistled as the dollar soared to record levels against the Japanese yen, battering a U.S. manufacturing sector that was already facing an unprecedented competitive challenge from Japan. It happened again in the early 2000s following China's entry to the World Trade Organization. China had pegged the renminbi to the dollar in the mid-1990s (in part with U.S. encouragement), yet repeatedly refused to adjust the peg even as Chinese productivity soared and left the renminbi seriously undervalued. That currency peg was a major reason that the U.S. goods trade deficit with China rose from $80 billion in 2000 to more than $250 billion by 2007 . Again, the major losers were U.S.-based, internationally competitive manufacturing companies and their employees. The companies could respond (and did) by spreading their operations around the world; their employees had no such flexibility. Currency values are largely determined by markets, of course, and Lew was correct in noting that the dollar's surge is being driven by the relatively strong U.S. economy and weaknesses elsewhere in the world. But much as monetary authorities often try to tamp down an overly strong economy to prevent inflation, it makes sense for the United States to at least gently discourage the rising dollar rather than playing cheerleader. Indeed, the danger now is that many countries will go in the other direction and leave the United States in an even worse position. For example Singapore, a free trade agreement partner, this week announced that it would seek to halt the appreciation of its local dollar and markets immediately drove it down sharply against the U.S. dollar. Other countries are likely to follow. There are tools, if limited ones, to slow the dollar's rise. Consistent U.S. government pressure on China over the past decade helped in persuading the Chinese to loosen the dollar peg and let the renminbi rise; indeed, with the recent rise in the dollar China has also lost some of its competitive edge in European and other markets. Fred Bergsten of the Peterson Institute, in a recent Foreign Affairs article, called for more determined efforts to stop currency manipulation by U.S. trade partners , including countervailing intervention by the United States is cases where countries are aggressively intervening in markets to hold down their currencies. Some, or all, of these would be inappropriate responses at the moment; much of the dollar's recent rise has been driven not by government intervention but by European and Japanese efforts to use monetary policy to stimulate their flagging economies. The United States has done the same in the recent past, of course. But clearly the worst thing to do is for the U.S. government to be actively encouraging currency movements that will undermine its own policy of rebuilding American manufacturing, increase protectionist sentiment in Congress and make it far more difficult to move forward with the TPP and other trade negotiations. At the very least, it is past time for the government to stop talking about how a "strong dollar" is good for the United States. Edward Alden is Bernard L. Schwartz senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations . This article first appeared on the Council on Foreign Relations website. | 3 | 5,127 | finance |
On the latest episode of Answer the Question, Baltimore Ravens WR Torrey Smith takes on trivia covering topics far and wide. | 1 | 5,128 | sports |
Retired astronaut and television host, Leland Melvin, snuck his dogs into the NASA studio so they could be in his official photo. As Mara Montalbano (@maramontalbano) shows us, the secret is out. | 8 | 5,129 | video |
CHICAGO (AP) After paying his respects to Ernie Banks on Friday, Billy Williams thought about all the good times they had together. Hall of Fame players for the Chicago Cubs and friends for decades, there were plenty of recollections. Williams mentioned the ''joy'' and ''lasting memories'' his pal left. No player on the North Side was as beloved as ''Mr. Cub,'' and Banks' death last Friday sparked an outpouring of grief in the city and in the baseball world. Banks hit 512 home runs and won two NL MVP awards. But he's remembered as much for his boundless enthusiasm - despite playing on mostly losing teams - and his desire to connect with everyone he met. Fans have been placing flowers outside Wrigley Field and stopping in Daley Plaza to take photos of his statue, which normally stands outside the ballpark. The city and the Cubs took the unprecedented step of taking the statue out of storage - where it been kept while the ballpark is renovated - and putting it on public display away from its usual home. On Friday, dignitaries and fans, some pausing to snap a picture, streamed past his casket draped with a giant ''Banks 14'' jersey and a large photo of him in a Cubs cap smiling right behind it. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, on what would have been his 84th birthday. After that, he will take one final trip to Wrigley. The procession will go by the statue before heading north past the ballpark's famed marquee at the corner of Clark and Addison. Williams recalled babysitting Banks' children and thanked them for ''lending me your father that many years.'' He said he tried to call Banks a few days before he died but was unable to reach him. When he got the news, it hit hard. ''It was hard to believe at that time,'' Williams said. ''I went to sleep. And then when I woke up that morning, I said, `This is a dream. This is a dream.' This individual, he made a lot of people happy. He was always joyous, and to wind up with a heart attack, it was really something. ''When I got the word, I was upstairs. I remember putting the phone on the bed and just putting my head on the bed and just thinking about the times we had through the years.'' | 1 | 5,130 | sports |
A newly released ranking of 56 major European cities by price aims to assist budget-minded travelers plan and easily compare destinations. The European Backpacker Index for 2015 could not come at a better time, according to Roger Wade, founder of Price of Travel , a website that publishes the index and other tools designed to help travelers compare expenses in major cities around the world. "Any American who has been daydreaming about a Europe trip in recent years should get serious about planning a real trip soon," Wade said in an email. "With a bit of research, half of Europe is far cheaper than anything in the US, and lately it's only gotten better for Americans." "The combination of economic and currency factors right now mean that you should be able to afford far more than you realize, and far more than you would have gotten in recent years," he added. Kiev (Ukraine), Bucharest (Romania), and Sofia (Bulgaria) are the cheapest tourist cities on the new European Backpacker Index; Zurich (Switzerland), Bergen (Norway) and London (England) ranked as the most expensive. The Daily Backpacker Index daily rate for Kiev is currently $24.32 a day; for Zurich, it's $124.16 a day. The Backpacker Index is based on the daily price of a hostel bed (one night in the cheapest bunk at the least expensive hostel in a good location with good reviews),two public transportation rides, three budget meals, the average cost of one cultural attraction and three inexpensive beers (or wine) for each day in each city. (Non-drinkers might have dessert and coffee or attend a local music performance instead, the listing notes.) Links after each city provide general background and weather information, and more detail about prices. Now in its fifth year, the updated index added five new cities this year: Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Split (Croatia), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Salzburg (Austria), and Bergen (Norway). "Each of these is a tourism powerhouse in its own right, and in several cases these cities are better than nearby alternatives for many visitors," said Wade, who researched and compiled the list of cities from cheapest to most expensive. "Cesky Krumlov is a tiny and stunning town a few hours south of Prague, and it's still one of the cheapest cities in Europe in spite of its obvious charms. Boutique hotels near the town square are around US$50, while you can get a filling dinner at a charming restaurant in the tourist area for under US$5. A half liter of excellent local beer is easy to find for under US$1.50, even at tourist restaurants." Another "great value city," new on the list this year, Wade said, is Split, Croatia, along the Adriatic coast. "It's actually very similar to Dubrovnik, but in many ways it's more interesting and it's far less touristy. Best of all, hotels and food are around half the price that you'd find in Dubrovnik." The major changes this year had to do with exchange rates, Wade said. "If you are holding US money, Europe is now cheaper than it has been in many years," even in cities like Stockholm and Oslo that have been notoriously pricey," he added. "Suddenly those places are quite reasonable for American visitors." Also new this year is an interactive map that shows the Backpacker Index price for each destination; users can click a city name to view its specific details. For those who prefer to stay in hotels rather than in hostels and have a little more money to spend than the typical backpacker, Wade said, the Europe 3-Star Traveler Index for 2014 is a similar ranking, but uses a centrally located and well-rated 3-star hotel room, taxi rides and a higher allowance for food prices. "This appears to be a "golden era" for Americans heading to Europe, and history tells us that it probably won't last for long," Wade said. To view the complete index, click here . To read about the 2014 index, click here . | 2 | 5,131 | travel |
The Columbus Crew will have some attacking assistance arriving this summer, as the club announced the signing of DR Congo international Cedrick Mabwati. The attacking midfielder, who is commonly refered to as Cedrick, will finish the season with Osasuna in the Spanish second division before joining MLS. Currently, he's at the African Cup of Nations, where the Leopards are set for a quarterfinal matchup with the Republic of Congo. Cedrick went the full 90 once in the tournament, a draw with Cape Verde, and came on as a substitute in the other two matches. "Cedrick is a young, versatile player with international experience who can make an impact at any of our four attacking positions," Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said in a news release. "He is another player with considerable potential identified by our international scouting network and we look forward to him joining our team this summer." The 22-year-old played last season with Real Betis. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed, with the Crew citing team and league policy. | 1 | 5,132 | sports |
You can bet on just about anything around the Super Bowl. From crotch grabs to the coaches' fashion choices, here are some of the oddest wagers you can take odds on. | 8 | 5,133 | video |
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Spurs star Tim Duncan has filed a lawsuit contending that a series of investments enriched his financial adviser but were losing propositions for the NBA star, including $7.5 million in an entertainment company run by the adviser. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in San Antonio, seeks more than $1 million in damages against Charles Banks of Atlanta. It claims Banks secretly withheld 20 percent of the return on Duncan's loan to Gameday Entertainment, for which Banks serves as chairman. The suit also alleges that Duncan's signature was forged on at least two investment documents. KENS-TV in San Antonio reports Duncan discovered the discrepancies last year while accounting for his assets as part of financial filings. Attempts to reach Banks for comment Friday were unsuccessful. | 1 | 5,134 | sports |
McDonald's accepts a different form of payment at the counter, in this Super Bowl ad. | 8 | 5,135 | video |
Aspiring astronauts take note: If you have ever desired to take a "space walk," Adidas will soon have the sneakers for you. The German sports outfitter is set to launch two new pairs of trainers that feature the look and feel of NASA's historic spacesuits this summer. "Inspired by vintage astronaut suits and backpacks, [with] molded and machined details similar to authentic [NASA] closures, zippers and straps are added," Adidas described in a statement. "Shiny versus matte distressed materials complete the look of outer space." [ Evolution of the Spacesuit in Photos ] With names like "Response Trail Robot" and "Ozweego Robot," the astronaut-appropriate sports shoes incorporate design elements from NASA's pressurized garments. The sneakers include silver tones and stitching reminiscent of the iconic Mercury astronauts' silver spacesuits, as well as red and blue lace eyelets modeled after the umbilical inlets on the front of the Apollo moon suits . The two "Robot" models differ in colors and materials, and how they are secured. On the "Ozweego Robot," white is more dominant than silver, and the lace crosses over the front of the shoe and then passes under a fabric loop, as opposed to feeding through an eyelet. The spacesuit-inspired sneakers come out of an on-going collaboration between Adidas and Raf Simons, a Belgian high fashion designer and the creative director at Christian Dior. Part of the "Raf Simons x [by] adidas Originals" fall/winter 2015-16 collection, the new trainers will launch into select Adidas retailers and boutiques in July. Prices for the Raf Simons collection are expected to range from $455 to $730 per pair. This isn't the first time that the Adidas brand has crossed into space. The company cited "the great achievements of Soviet cosmonauts during the 1960s" when designing the uniforms for Russia's 2014 World Cup team. And during the 1990s, Russian cosmonauts wore Adidas-brand "sports boots" sneakers aboard the Mir space station. Other shoe companies have also turned to NASA and its astronauts for design ideas in the recent past. Nike styled special edition sneakers after space exploration, including partnering with moonwalker Buzz Aldrin for footwear that evoked his own famous footprints on the lunar surface. Aldrin also worked with General Electric to introduce "The Missions," a moon boot-inspired sneaker highlighting the GE-developed advanced materials that were used in the Apollo spacesuits. Limited to 100 pairs, the shoes quickly sold out last year on the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. Click through to collectSPACE.com to see Adidas' other spacesuit-inspired sneaker, the "Ozweego Robot." Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @ collectSPACE . Copyright 2015 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. NASA's Futuristic Z-2 Spacesuit Design in Pictures Spacesuit Suite: Evolution of Cosmic Clothes (Infographic) BioSuit: A Skintight Spacesuit for Astronauts (Photos) | 5 | 5,136 | news |
Stock prices in the U.S. energy sector have been under pressure in 2015, and there could be more bad news to come when several key players report their fourth-quarter results next week. The group has been falling alongside crude oil prices, which are down about 60 percent since June. That drop has led to not only weaker shares - the S&P Energy index is one of the worst-performing groups of 2015, and it was last year's worst - but also sharply lower earnings estimates for both the current quarter and the full year. To be sure, some see long-term strength in the sector, and energy names are among the most undervalued in the S&P 500 per StarMine's measurement of intrinsic value, which looks at anticipated growth over the next decade. But in the near-term, many analysts feel the earnings revisions have not been severe enough, and that the bar, while lower, is still too high for companies to clear. Further disappointments could lead to continued weakness in the group. Energy company earnings are seen tumbling 25 percent in the fourth quarter, according to Thomson Reuters data, a bigger decline than the drop of 19.8 percent forecast at the start of the year. For the full year, earnings are seen down almost 45 percent, nearly twice the decline of 23.3 percent forecast on Jan. 1. Nick Sargen, chief economist at Fort Washington Investment Advisors in Cincinnati, said it was common for earnings worries to be assuaged as companies beat the lowered expectations, "but this time, we're getting validation of those worries." The weakness in oil contributed to Royal Dutch Shell missing profit forecasts by more than 20 percent this week. While some companies did top adjusted earnings forecasts, including ConocoPhillips and Occidental Petroleum , both companies slashed their 2015 exploration spending plans, a bearish signal about future growth prospects. Heavy machinery maker Caterpillar Inc also reported disappointing results this week, with oil's weakness weighing on its energy equipment division. "In the past, we would have nervousness followed by a sigh of relief. This quarter I'm less sure we'll get that sigh," said Sargen, who helps oversee about $48 billion in assets. Oil's decline is seen as a positive for other sectors, and cheap gas prices contributed to strong recent readings of consumer sentiment. Since Jan. 1, earnings growth expectations for the S&P 500 overall have risen to 4.7 percent, from 4.2 percent. The big name reporting next week is Exxon Mobil Corp . Since Jan. 21, seven of the 18 analysts with an earnings forecast for Exxon have revised estimates, according to StarMine, with forecasts dropping by an average of 5.5 percent. Two of three analysts with revenue outlooks have changed their views, with estimates falling 7.3 percent on average. Anadarko Petroleum, which also reports next week, has seen similar cuts to forecasts, with 23 of the 29 analysts with earnings expectations revising their views, for an average drop of 9.3 percent. "Shell was the only company we expected to show profit growth this quarter, but it missed by quite a bit, which really raises concerns," said Brian Youngberg, senior energy analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis. "I wouldn't be surprised if estimates kept coming down." (Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Linda Stern and Nick Zieminski) | 3 | 5,137 | finance |
Burger giant Shake Shack went public today on the New York Stock Exchange . Founder Danny Meyer and CEO Randy Garutti were all smiles as the stock opened up over $25 higher than expected at $45.59. As a promotion for the IPO, crowds of people gathered outside the NYSE to get their hands on a free Shake Shack burger. With investors excited and the public hungry, Shake Shack is set for an epic first day of trading. As trading continues, TheStreet takes a look at all of the excitement today is bringing for the burger giant. Outside the New York Stock Exchange, Shake Shack set up a mobile food truck, giving traders, tourists and passersby a free taste of its signature product. Lines extended down Broad Street for those waiting for their opportunity at a free burger. Shake Shack employees armed with portable grills and ingredients continuously put together breakfast sandwiches and burgers starting at 9 a.m. Customers were anxious to get to the front of the line to receive their burger. The company allowed only one per customer. Inside the NYSE, boxes of burgers sat on trading desks around the floor. Traders had the chance to sample the popular burgers while closely watching the stock price. Union Square Hospitality Group CEO and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer examines a trading desk computer before the start of trading. Meyer (third from left) and Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti (fourth from left) rang the bell on the floor of the NYSE, signifying the company's "first trade." Shake Shack opened at $45.59, almost $20 above estimates. | 3 | 5,138 | finance |
New Pittsburgh head coach, Pat Narduzzi, spent 11 years at Michigan State and thinks that his football program could become the new Sparty. Can Narduzzi turn Pitt into the next Michigan State? | 1 | 5,139 | sports |
Researchers for the first time identified human's innate preference for associating low and high numbers with the left and right respectively in another species. Jen Markham (@jenmarkham) explains. | 8 | 5,140 | video |
Joe Montana has called out Tom Brady saying he think Brady ordered the footballs to be deflated in the AFC Championship. What do you think Montana's comments? | 1 | 5,141 | sports |
Vine's looping videos can be an effective way of keeping kids entertained, but giving young ones unbridled access to the regular app probably isn't a great idea. So with that in mind, the company is today releasing Vine Kids, a version of the Vine experience that's tailored for young children both in terms of design and content. Instead of greeting users with the regular, scrollable feed of videos, Vine Kids has a cast of "adorable animated characters" to help guide its junior target audience through using the app. More Marnie, less Rudy Mancuso Rather than scroll up and down, kids will swipe left and right to see new Vine videos pop up. Obviously a big question for parents revolves around curation: how exactly is Vine picking the apps that children are seeing? Is a person overseeing everything, or is Vine just putting trust in accounts like Nickelodeon and Disney? When asked, a spokesperson said that Vine Kids showcases clips "we've selected," so it sounds like there's a human somewhere making sure nothing unseemly makes it through to young eyes. The idea for Vine came together in early January, when company employees expressed desire for a made-for-kids version of Twitter's six-second video app. Those discussions happened to coincide with Hack Week, which allowed two employees to take a break from their regular tasks and make Vine Kids a reality. But being a side project also means that Vine Kids is available only on iOS right now and there's no guarantee Vine will ever take it elsewhere. Focusing on a kid-friendly experience is pretty clever, though, and something Instagram doesn't really bother with. If enough parents turn to the app as a quick gateway for family-friendly entertainment, perhaps we'll see it reach other platforms. | 5 | 5,142 | news |
In a HuffPost Live interview Friday, Medea Benjamin co-found of CODEPINK said she is thankful for Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) angry tirade Thursday directed at her organization , after she and associates protested former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's presence at a committee meeting. "I thought he was more of a polished politician than that," Benjamin told host Ricky Camilleri. "He lost his cool. But we actually think it was good for us because what would've been a demonstration that probably would've gotten no attention, like many of the demonstrations that we do, has become a much bigger issue. It's giving us a platform to talk about the role of people like Henry Kissinger and other war criminals." As Kissinger walked to his seat for an Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday, Benjamin and company held up signs and shouted pleas to arrest Kissinger, who they called a "war criminal." "I've been a member of this committee for many years and I have never seen anything as disgraceful and outrageous and despicable as the last demonstration that just took place," McCain said as the protesters were escorted out of the building. "Get out of here, you low-life scum." Benjamin profits either way, she said. The headlines made by the protest and McCain's tirade have resuscitated conversation on Kissinger's past . "We were appalled that Senator McCain would be calling in a tired, old war criminal to talk about the role of the United States in the future," Benjamin said. "We feel that we need different kinds of people coming in with different kinds of ideas, and it's actually Henry Kissinger's old-world politique of being ready to overthrow democratically-elected governments or bomb to smithereens countries like Vietnam and Cambodia that is reflected in our bad policies today." Watch the full HuffPost Live conversation here . Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live's new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before! | 5 | 5,143 | news |
Croissants are wonderful, delicious, flakey pieces of buttery goodness. But you've been lied to about their origins. You probably think that croissants, pastry of the gods, were thought up by those genius French bakers who came up with macarons. But in reality, croissants are actually of Austrian descent, dreamed up in the 17th century by an artillery officer. Despite the Austrian origins, there is a French connection. Queen Marie-Antoinette of the "Let them eat cake" myth actually let the French people eat croissants, which she introduced to the public sometime in the 18th century. The recipe has changed over the years, and the croissants we eat now are more similar to the croissants made in the 1900s. But if you're still feeling blindsided, don't worry -- even Kanye West thinks France when he thinks croissants. In his song "I AM A GOD," silly Kanye rapped: "In a French-ass restaurant/ hurry up with my damn croissants." French bakers responded to Kanye (yes, this is true) asking him to have some patience. Really though, West should have rapped, "In an Austrian-ass restaurant..." Heartbreaking. | 0 | 5,144 | foodanddrink |
We can all get behind winged liner: it's retro, it's flirty, and it looks good on practically everyone. But why is creating the perfect cat eye such a nightmare? Here's the thing: just because you wing your liner, doesn't mean you'll be winging the application. Getting the perfect flick is fairly simple! The trick is finding a great liner and also finding the perfect stencil. Grab any of these nine - yes, nine - household items you have lying around and you're good to go! | 8 | 5,145 | video |
DENVER Welfare money or food stamps for marijuana? It's an urban legend that won't go away in Colorado, and state lawmakers this year are poised to pass a law clarifying that public benefit cards can't be used at dispensary ATMs. A bill facing its first hearing next week in the state Senate would add marijuana businesses and strip clubs to the list of Colorado businesses where electronic benefits cards called EBTs can't be used to withdraw cash. Liquor stores, casinos and gun shops already have such limitations. Republican Sen. Vicki Marble said marijuana dispensaries need to be added to avoid possible federal intervention if there's evidence of public benefits being spent on pot. "We stand to lose a lot if we don't show we are trying" to prevent tax money for pot, Marble said. "The growers here put in a lot of time and effort. A raid would be absolutely devastating to our state." Marble's bill failed last year amid concerns that because pot shops are concentrated in poor neighborhoods, dispensary ATMs may be the closest source of cash for people without a bank. This year, Democrats say they support the idea. They say that adding dispensaries to the list may help prevent federal intervention. Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama last year suggested a new federal law banning the use of EBT cards at dispensaries. Currently there's no national standard on public benefit cards at dispensaries. In Washington state, a 2012 law blocks businesses that ban those under 18 including strip clubs, bars and now licensed pot shops from letting people use EBTs to withdraw money. Despite Washington's law, there were a couple of reported instances over the summer of people using those cards at pot-shop ATMs. The state responded by instructing the new marijuana businesses to install a code in their ATMs preventing further in-store welfare-for-weed transactions. Colorado state Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, said it's time for Colorado to do the same. He supports a new law clarifying that welfare cards can't being used to withdraw cash at pot shops. "I don't think a strip club or a liquor store wants to be out of compliance, and neither does a dispensary," Pabon said. Marijuana industry groups have either supported the bills or taken no position against them. "We believe this is good for our industry," said Tyler Henson, president of the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, which represents dispensaries and edible marijuana makers. The nascent marijuana industry has been dogged for years by rumors of people using food stamps and welfare money to buy weed. Even without the requirement, many dispensary ATMs are already set to decline EBT cards. "This fix is not something that is extremely difficult," Henson said. ___ Kristen Wyatt can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt . Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report and can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/GeneAPSeattle. ___ Online: Senate Bill 65: http://bit.ly/1yUsA8u | 5 | 5,146 | news |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Juan Agudelo has returned to the New England Revolution after a one-year absence. The Revolution said Friday the 22-year-old American forward had re-signed with Major League Soccer. New England acquired Agudelo from Chivas USA in May 2013, and he scored seven goals in 14 regular-season games. Agudelo signed with Stoke of England's Premier League after the expiration of his MLS contract. He was denied a British work permit and spent the second half of last season in the Netherlands with Utrecht, where he scored three goals in 14 games. With Agudelo still unable to get a work permit, Stoke reached an agreement to terminate his contract. Agudelo has two goals in 18 international appearances. | 1 | 5,147 | sports |
A chemical weapons expert with the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Iraq has been killed in a coalition airstrike, the US military has said. Abu Malik's training provided IS with "expertise to pursue a chemical weapons capability", a statement said. He served as a chemical weapons engineer under former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, before joining al-Qaeda in Iraq and then IS, the US said. The US-led coalition has carried almost 2,000 strikes against IS targets. Mr Malik was killed in a raid near Mosul on 24 January, according to the US. His death is expected to "degrade and disrupt" IS and weaken their ability to produce and use chemical weapons, the US military said. There have been frequent reports of IS using chlorine gas, but no evidence the group has accumulated a significant chemical weapons cache. Last year, Iraqi police officers suffered from dizziness and vomiting after clashing with jihadist fighters north of Baghdad. It was thought chlorine gas may have been to blame. Chlorine gas is classified as a "choking agent", burning the lungs when inhaled in large quantities. But it is nowhere near as dangerous as nerve gases. Islamic State controls large areas of Syria, where the government has been destroying its chemical weapons, but not all the stockpiles have been accounted for. The US and its allies has been targeting IS positions in Iraq and Syria since last August, destroying military equipment and killing the group's fighters. Military chiefs are hoping they can re-take the key city of Mosul with the help of Iraqi forces this spring. But there are concerns that Iraqi troops are not yet ready to do the fighting needed on the ground. | 5 | 5,148 | news |
Taking a stroll down the snack aisles at your supermarket can be overwhelming to say the least; thousands of products are vying for your attention, but only a select sliver of those are worth your time. We may only be two months in to the New Year, but 2015 has already been prolific with new product releases. We've tasted our way through these new supermarket snacks to tease out the must try from the merely "meh," so you can avoid buyer's remorse. Cabo Chips Mango Chili Lime Cabo Chips Mango Chili Lime ($3) pack just the right amount of spice, salt, tang, and sweetness into each crisp thick-cut chip. Trader Joe's Cookie Butter Sandwich Cookies Frankly we'd be shocked if Trader Joe's Cookie Butter Sandwich Cookies ($4) weren't good. Speculoos cookie butter is sandwiched between mild, buttery shortbread cookies, a move that keeps these from being spice overload. All in all, they're pretty much the best thing ever. SweeTarts Ropes SweetTarts Ropes ($1) taste like if you filled a Fruit Roll-Up with crushed SweeTarts. In other words, they're a childhood dream come true. Wheat Thins Garlic Herb Toasted Pita While we found it a bit puzzling that Wheat Thins Garlic Herb Toasted Pita ($3) aren't actually made from pita bread like how traditional pita chips are, that didn't stop us from gobbling up these crisp, garlicky chips. Flavorful enough to stand alone, these don't need a dip to round things out. Trader Joe's Kettle Popped Sweet and Salty Popcorn Chips Though Trader Joe's Kettle Popped Sweet and Salty Popcorn Chips ($2) are made with chia and flax seeds, they don't taste too wholesome. They're like a cross between a mini rice cake and kettle corn. Pretzel Crisps Sriracha and Lime It's damn near impossible not to demolish a bag of Pretzel Crisps Sriracha and Lime ($3). The spicy-zesty powder that flavors the chips is so good, we sort of wish we had a jar of it to sprinkle on food. Trader Joe's Fireworks Chocolate Bar If you don't like spicy things, steer clear of Trader Joe's Fireworks Chocolate Bar ($2), a dark chocolate bar that's doubly tingly from popping candy and capsaicin heat. Otherwise, you're pretty much guaranteed to love this unusual sweet. Pop Art Nori Sesame Popcorn Japanese snack fanatics and seaweed-lovers will get a kick out of Pop Art Nori Sesame Popcorn ($4). The snack makers definitely don't skimp on the bits of nori, and the sesame adds a nice nutty flavor. Tostitos Queso Blanco Dip Tostitos Queso Blanco Dip ($10) would be ideal for satisfying drunchies, especially given that making queso from scratch probably isn't the best idea when you're already a few drinks deep. We wish it had a bit more heat - it is after all advertised as medium, not mild - but otherwise found it quite irresistible. Kettle Brand Pepperoncini Kettle Brand Pepperoncini ($3) are a great alternative for those who like tang but find salt and vinegar chips to be a bit too intense. Red Velvet Oreos Like red velvet cake, Red Velvet Oreos ($4) boast a very mild chocolate flavor and sticky-sweet cream cheese frosting centers. If you're sensitive to the flavor of red food dye, these will taste bitter, but if not, you might just fall in love. Pretzel Crisps Gluten Free Original Minis It's nearly impossible to believe, but we think Pretzel Crisps Gluten Free Original Minis ($3) may be better than traditional wheat. These tiny crisps have a phenomenally crispy texture and perfect amount of salt. Tostitos Rolls Meet dip's best partner: Tostitos Rolls ($3). The tube-like shape sucks up creamy dips (like Tostitos Queso Blanco Dip) and provides just the right amount of crunch. Do note that they're not an ideal shape for chunky salsa or guac (choose a different chip for that). Nature Valley Salted Caramel Peanut Nut Crisp Bars Nature Valley Salted Caramel Peanut Nut Crisp Bars ($3) are perfumed with subtle savory note of rosemary. Salty-sweet, with perfectly roasted nuts, they're a good candidate for tucking into your purse for emergency snacking. Late July Jalapeño Lime While not cheesy, Late July Jalapeño Lime ($4) reminds us of a more wholesome Doritos as it shares a similar can't-put-the-bag-down quality. | 0 | 5,149 | foodanddrink |
It's inevitable: at the start of a new year, we can't help but reflect on the past. And if the technology existed, I would rely on a time machine to give my younger self a heads up about a few things that would make life much easier down the line. I enlisted the help of my fellow POPSUGAR editors, and they've graciously shared the health and fitness advice they'd offer the younger versions of themselves. And if you can relate, don't wait until 2015 to turn these things around! Let go of these less-than-healthy habits, and start living your best life today. Vegan ice cream and cookies still contain calories. Just because something is "healthy" doesn't mean you can eat the entire bag. A little bit of exercise in your 20s saves you from a lot in your 30s. Wear sunscreen! That teenage tan won't be worth it when you're older. Even if you hate getting shots and blood work, go for a yearly physical. You'll establish a relationship with your doctor, and you can ask whatever questions you want. This way, you won't have to terrify yourself on WebMD ever again. If you want to lose weight, you need to do more than take a relaxing yoga class - calorie-burning cardio is a must. Just because you can go to bed at 3 a.m. and get up for work at 7 a.m. and "feel fine" doesn't mean you should. It is also not something to be that proud of. I used to survive off of anything I could get at the 7-Eleven by my apartment (like ramen noodles, peanut butter crackers, and candy), which is why I never had any energy and was anemic all through college. Nutrition is important, and eating whole foods is the best way to look and feel your best. I smoked, and it was stupid! It made me not want to do any cardio, and now, I have more wrinkles than my older sister who did not smoke. I walked around a lot on campus, but I never, ever exercised. Now that I run regularly and challenge myself when I do, I realize that running is my absolute favorite way to not only work out but also to de-stress and feel better about life. College is a hectic time, and had I had healthier exercise habits in place I probably would've been less of a stress case. Level of suffering in a fitness class doesn't correlate with quality of workout - you don't have to be on the verge of throwing up to be getting in shape. A less strenuous but enjoyable class is more likely to keep you in shape. You'll go more frequently and stick with it over the long term. Sugary instant oatmeal will fill you up for about two seconds. Opt for homemade overnight oats to still save time, but also save calories. Cutting back on alcohol will save you calories from the booze and the mozzarella sticks, pizza, or Nutella-peanut-butter creation you may inevitably eat at 2 a.m. - not to mention the hangover! Space out each drink with a glass of water. If you don't allow yourself any carbs for two weeks and pizza is in front of you, you will want to eat the whole pizza. (Don't eat an entire pizza because you will feel really sick.) Creating, then participating in, a grapefruit diet in high school (replacing two meals a day with grapefruits) won't make you skinny and popular. It will make you mean and hungry, and you'll quickly start sucking as a varsity athlete. Salad isn't rabbit food. When done right, salads are tasty and nutritious and more than just romaine with soggy croutons and mealy tomatoes. Instead of living off of fast food or skipping meals altogether, I eat least one salad a day. Find an exercise routine that you genuinely enjoy - don't kid yourself. As you get older and life's pressures grow (work, kids, you know the drill), exercise either becomes something you love or just another pressure or chore. I used to be sucker for any packaged food that had those hot-button words like fiber, protein, or low-fat, but then I realized that doesn't mean it's necessarily good for me! Now I try my best to avoid processed food completely, but if I do buy something packaged, I always make sure I can pronounce each ingredient on the label. Don't skip out on fitness classes or going to the gym just because you're paranoid or ashamed of people watching you. No one cares! They're all there to work on themselves, not to criticize or ogle others. (And if they are, you're going to the wrong gym.) Corn chips, beer, and ice cream do not make for a balanced dinner. I caught a bug one year I couldn't shake all Winter, and it was because I ate like sh*t. Those hippies doing yoga are not lame. You should give it a try before you mock it. | 7 | 5,150 | health |
PHOENIX NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell arrived a few minutes early to his annual Super Bowl news conference. It was good that he did. After this season, there was an awful lot to talk about. Sounding a more conciliatory tone than he did in his well-remembered September news conference in the early days of the Ray Rice controversy, Goodell uttered words rarely if ever heard from one of our top sports leaders: "It's been a year of humility and learning," Goodell said. "We've all done a lot of soul searching, starting with yours truly." What an extraordinary statement, yet so necessary after such an extraordinary and tumultuous season. What exactly should we make of this? There is no easy truth. Goodell and the league are clearly changed by a season remembered most for off-the-field violence. Yet it's apparent that the NFL still is grappling with its new realities. Although the words "domestic violence" were mentioned only once in the more-than-hourlong news conference, it was clear the issue that was unleashed Sept. 8 by the video of Rice striking his then-fiancee Janay Palmer was exactly what Goodell was talking about when he spoke about what he and the league have learned. Saying the NFL has met with more than 100 experts on the topic, Goodell praised the league's efforts to beef up its staffing and penalties for domestic violence and sexual assault. "We've made enormous progress," he said. "As an organization and as an individual, it's been a tough year, but I'm excited for the future. We want to make a difference in this area. ... I truly believe that we will continue to make progress … the NFL is made up of good and caring people." Goodell also used words many have said this year in describing why the NFL's actions on the topic of domestic violence and other issues are so important: "Football's popularity is extraordinary," he said. "We know the NFL's impact is far-reaching. It means we have enormous responsibility to lead every day by example. It is what our fans deserve." Goodell actually kicked off the news conference by talking about concussions, one of the overriding controversies of his commissionership. But it's an issue that has been largely pushed aside this year when domestic violence and then "Deflategate" took center stage. He lauded statistics that he said show a drop in hits to defenseless players and a decrease in concussions, and announced that he will appoint a chief medical officer for the league soon. The concussion issue is not going away, not just in football, but throughout sports, youth sports in particular. It's likely that as long as Goodell is commissioner, he'll be talking about it. Moments later, Goodell had moved on to the topic of trying to jazz up the extra point to make games more exciting and competitive. The transition was jarring, but such is the job of the commissioner in this setting, where some issues carry just a little more weight than others. "Deflategate" came up, of course, and when Goodell was asked for his response to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's criticism of the league's ongoing investigation, Goodell quickly fired back: "My response is: 'This is my job.' " Goodell said the questions were simple: "Why were some footballs used in the game that were not in compliance with the rules and was this the result of deliberate action?" he asked. "I want to emphasize we have made no judgments, and we will not compromise the investigation by engaging in speculation. ... We take seriously anything that can potentially impact the integrity of the game." Goodell employed a kinder and gentler delivery throughout most of the news conference, but not all of it. When CNN's Rachel Nichols asked about the appearance of conflicts of interest when the league foots the bill for those who investigate it, Goodell replied: "I think we have done an excellent job of bringing outside consultants in. Somebody has to pay them, Rachel. Unless you're volunteering, which I don't think you are, we'll do that." That kind of sarcasm aimed at any journalist asking a perfectly appropriate question is unnecessary. That it was directed at a journalist who happens to be a woman made it all the more unfortunate any year, but especially this one. Follow columnist Christine Brennan on Twitter @cbrennansports . WATCH: WHO WINS SUPER BOWL XLIX? | 1 | 5,151 | sports |
Iggy Azalea's mentor wants her stop airing her grievances on Twitter. Music producer and rapper T.I. has urged the 'Work' hitmaker, who recently expressed her dissatisfaction with a number of campaign images posted on Tumblr from her collaboration with Steve Madden, to focus on her career instead of causing drama. Asked if the Australian star should be responding to everything that bothers her, he said: "Absolutely not. I think she should focus on what got her here, that's her music, her performing and continue to just present her talents to the world." The 34-year-old star thinks Iggy should take some tips from NFL star Tom Brady, who refused to comment on controversy surrounding the air pressure in his team's footballs ahead of the Super Bowl this Sunday (02.01.15). He told gossip website TMZ.com: "It's just like asking Tom Brady if he should be commenting on deflate-gate. He should be worried about the big game on Sunday correct? It's the same with Iggy." The 24-year-old singer, who first announced she was partnering with the trendy footwear designer last August, vented her frustration after images surfaced on Tumblr of models wearing garish white socks with her sandal and peep-toe shoe designs. She tweeted: "@SteveMadden kinda ruined the creative direction when u added those gross extra pictures to a random tumblr page I had no part in creating. "I worked really hard on the creative direction of both the shoes and the shoot I WAS involved with and in. I really feel it's been tainted with these God awful images that Steve madden took appon themselves to create and share without my knowledge. Gross gross gross. (sic)." But the 'Black Widow' hitmaker later deleted the comments and insisted she was still very proud of the collection. She added: "I love Steve Madden as an individual and as a company ... Sorry for the drama!" The blonde beauty has previously got into heated battles with Snoop Dogg and Azealia Banks on Twitter. This article was from BANG Showbiz and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. | 6 | 5,152 | entertainment |
Linebacker Ray Lewis joined the Baltimore Ravens in 1996, the same year halfback Jerome Bettis arrived in Pittsburgh. Twice annually, the two would square off on opposite sides of the line, two titans of the game clashing in a semi-annual confrontation that lasted a full decade before the Bus retired. Lewis relishes those memories, and as his old adversary from the Steelers makes his fifth appearance as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he has one overriding thought. "Jerome Bettis, if he isn't in the Hall of Fame, I don't know what the Hall of Fame is,'' said Lewis, one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. "Jerome played at a Hall of Fame level and his numbers speak for themselves. JB is rated on his own level, in my book." Bettis will go before a Pro Football Hall of Fame vote Saturday as a finalist for the fifth consecutive year. He remains the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history with 13,622 yards over a 13-year career that famously ended in his hometown of Detroit when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in Ford Field. Eleven of the top 14 rushers in NFL history are in the Hall of Fame. The only others who are not are Bettis and two backs not yet eligible, Ladainian Tomlinson and Edgerrin James. "He was a physical-style running back,'' Lewis noted. "JB, I'm telling you, he is one of the ones who made me appreciate the essence of the game because he was physical, he was physical. You had to have something on your mind to go against JB. "I knew if I was going against JB, I was there for a war. JB is what a Hall of Famer plays like, what a Hall of Famer comes to work like." Bill Cowher, who coached Bettis for his final 10 seasons all with the Steelers, spoke as passionately about him as did Lewis. "Championship teams need players who understand the meaning of sacrifice, commitment and consistency. Jerome Bettis epitomizes those qualities,'' Cowher said. "Jerome's 13-year career, his last 10 with myself, was defined by his durability. There, every year, he played hurt. He had the unique ability to jump cut from tackle to tackle. He had the best feet for a big man that I've ever seen. And the best closer in the game." During his 10 years with the Steelers, Bettis played with a roundtable of quarterbacks, only one of whom ever made a Pro Bowl, Kordell Stewart for the 2001 season. "He played in an offense that was run-oriented,'' Cowher said. "We ran the ball when teams knew we were going to run the ball." Late in his career, Bettis became a short-yardage specialist and the man Cowher turned to when the Steelers wanted to protect a lead in the fourth quarter. "My record with an 11-point lead or more was 108-1-1,'' Cowher noted. "Thank you, Jerome." Bettis, who now works for ESPN, ranks fifth all time with 61 100-yard games and 10th with 91 touchdowns. His eight 1,000-yard seasons tied for fifth-most ever. He also ranks among the best at holding onto the football. Compared to all of the backs in the Hall of Fame, he fumbled the fewest percent of times than all but two of them. Cowher also gives credit to Bettis for helping lift his team to their Super Bowl run that began when they were 7-5 and won eight straight, four in the regular season and four more in the post-season. The first victory of those came against Chicago at Heinz Field when Bettis famously ran over Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher himself a possible Hall of Famer when the time comes on the way to a touchdown in the snow. "In his last year, he not only inspired those around him, he put a sense of purpose and resolve into our championship run,'' Cowher said. "I know others have been flashier, but no one had more substance, heart and the spirit of a champion than Jerome Bettis. He was a joy to coach, he was a joy to watch play, he was a joy to be around. "One of the finest moments we had together was walking off as World Champion in his hometown in the last game of his career. More than numbers, it's the influence he had on the game and those around him. This man inspired and produced consistently." Another former Steelers player, linebacker Kevin Greene, is among the 15 modern-day finalists. Greene, who played three seasons for the Steelers starting in 1993, had 160 sacks, most by any linebacker in NFL history and third-most of anyone. The other 13 modern-day finalists are kicker Morten Anderson, receivers Tim Brown and Marvin Harrison, coaches Don Coryell, Tony Dungy and Jimmy Johnson, halfback Terrell Davis, defensive end/linebacker Charles Haley, safety John Lynch, offensive linemen Orlando Pace and Will Shields, quarterback Kurt Warner and linebacker Junior Seau. Center Mick Tingelhoff is the lone seniors candidate. There are two candidates in the new contributor category, Ron Wolf and Bill Polian. As many as five modern-day candidates can be elected and all three in the other two categories also can be elected. | 1 | 5,153 | sports |
How do the cities represented by the two teams playing in the Super Bowl stack up against each other? Skyline The waterfront setting for both cities makes for some postcard-perfect skyline views, especially in nicer weather. Ultimately, however, Boston's skyline lacks the visual "wow"-factor that Seattle offers. Boston's skyline is uniform and monochromatic, with a series of high-rise building that fail to stand out. Seattle's skyline, by contrast, features buildings of all different heights and styles, creating a more unique panorama that makes the eye travel. And there's no denying the unforgettable charm of the Space Needle. Winner: Seattle Airport Seattle-Tacoma International Airport may win points for design, but Boston's Logan International Airport wins points for convenience. Logan sits just about four miles from the center of Boston, making it easily and quickly accessible by car. SeaTac is roughly 15 miles away from Seattle's center, and takes longer to reach by car or public transportation. And because of its location, Logan offers some great city views during landing and takeoff. Winner: Boston Food Both cities are seafood capitals, so this is one category where they seriously compete. Boston offers excellent lobster, clam chowder, oysters and more; Seattle, too, has great oysters plus incredible wild salmon, famously thrown around the city's iconic Pike Place Market. In terms of restaurants, Boston has incredible Italian options (La Morra, Strega Ristorante) and old-school seafood joints like Neptune Oyster and Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the entire country. Aside from the foodie paradise of Pike Place Market, Seattle has an inventive dining scene that gets better every year, with celebrated standouts like The Walrus and the Carpenter, Etta's, The Whale Wins, and high-end Canlis. When it comes to food, both cities have a lot to offer, so declaring a winner would be a matter of personal taste. Winner: Tie Cultural Attractions Seattle may have birthed the grunge scene and exported its coffee culture across the nation, but there's no contest when it comes to cultural and historical offerings. Site of important events like the Boston Tea Party, the city has literally been steeped in history since its founding centuries ago. The city's important role in the American Revolution can be revisited on the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long path through downtown that passes by 16 historically significant locations. Elsewhere, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Institute of Contemporary Art are both world-class cultural establishments, and the area's many top-tier educational institutions offer a wide range of cultural activities for visitors and locals to enjoy. Winner: Boston Natural Scenery Boston Harbor and the Charles River are nice to look at, but they're no match for the jaw-dropping sight of Mount Rainier. The highest mountain in Washington State and the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, it reaches a towering height of 14,410 feet. On clear days, you can see this striking beauty from far away, when it only adds to the allure of Seattle's skyline. Winner: Seattle Side Trips There are plenty of side trips of varying length from the city of Seattle that would add fun to any vacation: the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands, Portland, and Vancouver among them. Still, it's hard to beat the beachy charms of Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Easily accessible by car, bus, ferry or plane, this triumvirate offers picturesque beaches and New England charm, not to mention favorite escapes for locals who take full advantage of warm weather when the bitter winter ends. Winner: Boston Wine and Beer Boston likes to boast about its importance in beer-making because it's home to both Sam Adams and Harpoon Brewery, but the Pacific Northwest is a mecca for craft beer, and Seattle is packed with urban breweries and brewpubs, the likes of which eclipse anything Boston is offering. What's more, Washington State produces some of the best wines in the U.S., and you can taste them firsthand just 30 minutes outside of Seattle. Woodinville wine country is home to roughly 90 wineries and tasting rooms, including well respected Columbia Winery and Chateau Ste. Michelle. Winner: Seattle Nickname What's in a nickname? Well, for one, it's origin story. Boston is often called Beantown thanks to the local recipe for baked beans typically sweetened with molasses or maple syrup and flavored with salt pork or bacon. Despite its delicious inspiration, Beantown doesn't sound so great, and it's a nickname you'll never hear locals use. Seattle, on the other hand, has been dubbed the Emerald City, thanks to its expansive greenery, no doubt a result of its notoriously wet weather. On top of that, locals don't seem to mind the nomenclature, despite its potentially confusing association with The Wizard of Oz. Winner: Seattle Outdoor Activities It's nice to run along Boston Harbor or go rowing on the Charles River, and Boston has no shortage of parks and green spaces, but these pale in comparison to what you can find just outside of Seattle. Northwest of the city center lies Olympic National Park, home to nearly one million acres of stunning, snow-capped mountains, lush rain forests, and dramatic coastline. It's one of the most beautiful places in the country for hiking and camping. The region is also home to great ski resorts, including Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain, and Snoqualmie. Winner: Seattle Architectural Icon When you think of iconic Boston sites, Harvard Yard, Federal Hall, and maybe the Bunker Hill Monument might come to mind. No disrespect, but none of these stand out quite like the glittering Space Needle. Boston has many recognizable sites, but the futuristic Space Needle is the default emblem of Seattle, making it rise to iconic status. Winner: Seattle The Winner Boston and Seattle make formidable competitors as urban destinations. They're both beautiful waterfront destinations with well-educated populations of roughly the same size, and they both have wonderful dining scenes that are cherished by both locals and visitors. Boston has the advantage when it comes to culture and history, but thanks to its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and wine country, we formally declare Seattle the winner in this showdown. Whether or not that holds true in the big game will be revealed soon, but in the meantime, feel free to share your feedback about which city you think makes a better place to visit. Winner: Seattle | 2 | 5,154 | travel |
On the same night Marquette put together one of its poorer on-court efforts at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in years, the Golden Eagles' prized recruit became their first McDonald's All-American since 1982. It is a perfect summation of the current state of the Marquette program. With apologies to the three seniors on the roster, nobody expected much out of the Golden Eagles in Steve Wojciechowski's first year as head coach. While Seton Hall was blitzing Marquette at the beginning of the second half Wednesday, the fan base was as restless as I can remember it being in years. Marquette had lost just five Big East home games by double digits in regulation over its 10 years in the league. Nobody is used to watching the Golden Eagles get beat down on their home floor. It is also hard to blame those who raised their expectations for this current Marquette team based on how it competed and how close it was in almost all of its losses. But no matter how the remainder of the season goes or how long the current losing streak lasts, supporters of the Marquette program need to stay patient. The program is just fine, and better days are down the road. There's no reason to change future expectations based on a 10-10 start to what was considered a transition year all along. There's still a consensus top-10 recruiting class arriving in the fall, one that still includes one of the best prep players in the nation in Henry Ellenson. It is also unfair to judge Wojciechowski based on this season. He has eight scholarship players on game days and nine for practices. Marquette had to grab managers from the women's basketball program just to be able to practice five-on-five. The pressure-style defense many thought he'd bring from Duke? It is impossible to play that way for 40 minutes with this roster. Wojciechowski has been forced to play more zone than he probably has wanted to, simply because he has such a short bench. During his postgame press conference Wednesday, Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard went out of his way to talk about Wojciechowski and Marquette's current situation. His words carry weight on this subject because he's been there. The Pirates were competitive over Willard's first four years as head coach, but the program didn't have the depth or enough experienced high-level talent to sustain success over a 30-game schedule. "Steve is doing a heck of a job with this lineup," Willard said. "He has good players, but he doesn't have the depth right now, which is really tough. I've been in his spot. But the way these guys play and how hard they play, it is tough to do in your first year. I tell you what, he's going to have this thing revving again, unfortunately by next year." It would be equally imbalanced to proclaim Wojciechowski will have Marquette back in the Elite Eight in two years. The verdict is still out on whether he will even reach the level of success Buzz Williams had in his six seasons on campus, but he deserves time. Being patient is one of the hardest things for a fan to do. But if you aren't one of the elite programs, it takes time to rebuild after an abrupt coaching change. This year still carries importance, regardless if Marquette wins enough games to have a shot at the NIT. The continued development of program building blocks Duane Wilson, Luke Fischer and Sandy Cohen III is key. How Wojciechowski fills his three open scholarships for next season is also important. Add a junior college player or a graduate transfer capable of contributing right away, and Marquette could take a significant step forward next season. But even with Henry Ellenson and more depth and talent in the program, next season won't be the payoff of the rebuilding project. That will likely come in 2016-17. Fischer will be a senior, while Wilson and Cohen will be juniors. Henry Ellenson, assuming he isn't a one-and-done, and the other freshmen will have had a year of college basketball under their belt. There are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of the program if the process is allowed to play itself out. Patience, Marquette fans. Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter | 1 | 5,155 | sports |
With a loss to the Knicks on Wednesday, concern over the Thunder is escalating. It's not just the fact Oklahoma City went 3-12 to start the season or hasn't had Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for large parts of the season. It's something beyond that which has manifested itself in the team playing poorly against Minnesota, one of the worst teams in the Western Conference and playing worse against the Knicks, one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. A few things to think about heading into Saturday's game at Memphis: The good news The Thunder have all the pieces on this roster, this season to win an NBA championship. Remember, they were just two wins away from making The Finals last season and have had a seven-game winning streak this season. You could make the case that when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook play a few more games together and develop a bit of the chemistry that has helped them to a history of success, this team will go down that same path. You could also make the case the Thunder have a better roster this season to go along with Durant and Westbrook. Anthony Morrow and Dion Waiters provide complements OKC hasn't had in past seasons. The bad news Durant can't seem to stay healthy. Durant's most-recent injury is related to an injured toe on his left foot. He sat out against Minnesota and again against the Knicks, giving the impression the Thunder could win those games without him. If Durant misses Saturday's game at Memphis, the toe injury is clearly worse than day-to-day like the team has said. Durant has played just 21 games this season and the Thunder have gone 14-7 in those games. That means they are 11-18 without him. The team has not announced if Durant is going to play Saturday. In addition to Durant sitting the past two games, the Thunder didn't get any positives from the two games. Westbrook scored 40 against the Knicks, but the rest of the team combined for just 52. Against the Timberwolves, Westbrook went 7-of-22 and scored 18 points. Waiters has played 11 games with the Thunder and has not shot better than 50 percent from the field in any game. He's 12-for-37 in the past three games. Anthony Morrow is having a bad January. His minutes are down and his shooting percentage is lower this month than any other month. He's shooting 42 percent this season and is a 45 percent career shooter. Morrow hasn't made more than one 3-pointer in a game in the past five. The trade deadline The Thunder have already made one major move this season, acquiring Dion Waiters. It's probably too soon to say if Waiters is going to work out, but he does provide scoring and an ability to get to the basket. Now, we'll see if the Thunder are going to move any other pieces before the Feb. 19 trade deadline. All signs point to yes, for a number of reasons, starting with the fact Reggie Jackson and Kendrick Perkins are in the last year of their contract. Jackson is attractive because of his game think James Harden, but a lighter portion. Perkins is attractive, because not only is a large lockerroom presence, he's also holds an expiring contract. Jackson was reportedly nearly sent to Denver and the chance he will still be with the team at the trade deadline seems to slim, based on the fact Jackson has said he wants to be a starter. The Thunder have plenty of shooting guards, so Jackson, especially after his shaky play this season, is completely expendable. Steven Adams has become more dependable offensively and the need for Perkins to play extra minutes has diminished. The Thunder could move both Jackson and Perkins and look for more interior help or another scorer to try and provide some consistency beyond Durant and Westbrook. The standings Don't look now, but we're past the halfway point in the season. The Thunder are 23-23 and in 10th place, one game behind New Orleans and 3.5 behind the No. 8 spot which is occupied by Phoenix. The Thunder will play New Orleans back-to-back next week and also have two more games to go against Phoenix. Plenty of time to still make up enough games? Sure, the Thunder have the ability. Just recently they won four games in a row, including beating Golden State and Washington. But a loss to the Knicks sours things, especially considering the schedule coming up in the near future. OKC has games against Memphis twice before the All-Star Break and also have the Clippers at home on Feb. 8, plus the back-to-back against the Pelicans on Feb. 4 and Feb. 6. The Thunder do have a favorable final four games of the season when they will face non-playoff teams Sacramento, Indiana and Minnesota in that span. The coaching There has been a lot of chatter about coach Scott Brooks being replaced sometime this season. That's not likely to happen. The Thunder still think they have enough to win a title this season, and that very well may be true, so disrupting what is already a very tenuous situation doesn't seem like a good idea. Brooks hasn't had to deal with a season like this in Oklahoma City, one with as many injuries. He gets high marks for navigating the team through a dreadful November when most everyone was hurt. Handling personalties isn't easy and navigating the Jackson situation isn't either. The problem hasn't been coaching, it's really about not having enough Durant and Westbrook in the lineup. When that happens, there's a good chance the talk about Brooks needing to be replaced will die down. Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK | 1 | 5,156 | sports |
Google's fourth-quarter sales and earnings report yesterday fell short of expectations , and shares initially dipped in after-hours trading. Given the pessimism around Google's long-term search advertising prospects, a "miss" certainly wasn't what anyone wanted. But more sober investors rallied around the stock today, sending shares up 5%. Why the change of heart? Google's most important business its owned-and-operated "Google Sites" advertising business actually performed pretty well. Here are a few highlights from today's Wall Street research reports. RBC analyst Mark Mahaney calls the quarter a "high quality miss." Citing 18% year-over-year organic growth in Google's core business, he notes it's "very consistent and very rare" for a company that's on a $72 billion annual run rate. (Still, he reduced 2015 and 2016 estimates for Google, "almost entirely driven" by foreign currency issues.) Similarly, Bernstein analyst Carlos Kirjner, a long-time Google optimist, writes today: "The evolution of search advertising revenues, reported within Google Sites, is by far the most important question for Google investors." He adds, "it is extremely hard to argue that search is decelerating rapidly, strengthening our belief that Google is deeply undervalued." Lastly, Ben Schachter, an analyst with Macquarie Research, writes: "The partner network was weaker than expected, but [Google] is clearly deliberately removing lower-quality partners, and this should help profitability over time." He adds: "Notably, [management] highlighted strength in mobile search multiple times on the call," Schachter writes. "Basically, the core was not as bad as we feared." One particularly weak-looking spot was Google's "other" revenue line, which includes its hardware business and Google Play app store. As Mahaney highlights, Google attributed this slowdown to "a combination of [currency] headwinds, especially in Japan, which is a large Google Play market, and hardware inventory shortages of the Nexus 6 'phablet'." Those are one-time problems that can be easily absorbed. That's not to say there aren't real concerns for Google. One is whether its increasing research and development spend often on new and strange projects will be worth it. (Kirjner notes to watch the "other" line carefully for progress.) More important, for now, is the future of the search and search advertising markets. But this quarter's report, at least, shouldn't actually cause any alarm there. | 3 | 5,157 | finance |
5 Savory Nutrition Bars That Make Your Other Bars Look Like Candy 5 Savory Nutrition Bars That Make Your Other Bars Look Like Candy Fitness enthusiasts are familiar with performance gels and bars, and all too familiar with their saccharine flavors. Luckily, Clif Bar has conceded to runners, lifters, and hungry men everywhere. The company announced that its new line of savory energy bars and gels flavored like pizza, BBQ, and sweet potato fries will be unveiled this February, the Wall Street Journal reports. These flavors may not sound super appetizing especially in gel form but dont knock 'em till you try 'em. Who knows, a squeeze of BBQ gel could be your new go-to mid-marathon boost.To help ease you into the trend, we've rounded up five other nutrition bar companies, each with its own line of savory creations. With flavors like Thai Sweet Chili, Beef Habanero Cherry, Coconut Curry, and Moroccan Spice, these bars will make your old ones look like candy.5 Protein Bars for On-the-Go Nutrition >>> KIND Strong & Kind You'll find ingredients like almonds, pumpkin seeds, honey, and sea salt in all of KIND'S Strong & Kind savory bars, in addition to punched-up spices that give each bar its singularly unique kick. Choose from these five flavors:- Honey Smoked BBQ- Honey Mustard- Roasted Jalapeño- Hickory Smoked - Thai Sweet Chili Take it from them: "This hickory-smoked, protein-packed bar isn't just bold, it's down-right rugged. It's like the beard-growing, wood-chopping, pick-up truck driving snack that doesn't need a map when it goes walking in the woods. Your hunger has nothing on this bar." Mediterra's Savory Bars Mediterra is the first company to combine the health benefits of the ancient Mediterranean Diet with the convenience of a bar.Their bars contain six grams of protein and fiber, are rich in vegetable content, and low in calories and sugar, of course. Protein-rich pea crisps and a touch of olive oil make these bars the perfect fix for a serious salt craving sans all the sodium. Pick from these two flavors: - Tomato/Basil/Capers- Olive/Walnut/Chives EPIC Bars These protein bars from EPIC are nutrient-dense, flavorful and wholly symbolic of North American hunter-gatherer fare. All of the bars are made from 100% grass-fed animal protein, are Paleo friendly, gluten free and designed with nature in mind. These will meet all of your meat and energy demands, plus your taste buds are guaranteed an experience unlike any other. Try one of their five flavors:- Bison (bacon/cranberry)- Turkey (almond/cranberry)- Lamb (currant/mint)- Beef (habanero/cherry)- Liver (beef/sea salt) Journey Bar Journey bars are a grab-and-go snack made to taste like a meal, not a chocolate-covered candy bar. These nutrition bars are made from whole grains, almonds, herbs and spices inspired by healthy cuisine and global flavors. Pick from these five flavors: - Coconut Curry- Pizza Marinara- Sesame Ginger- Rosemary- Sea Salt SLOW Savory Food Bars These bars from SLOW Food For Fast Lives were cooked up on the premise of crafting something nutritious and savory for on-the-go snacking. A trip to the farmers' market and some ingenuity in the kitchen yielded these four savory bars, each inspired by different geographic locations around the world. Try these innovative creations: - California (almond, kale, pomegranate, quinoa)- Thai (peanut, chili, brown rice, bell pepper)- Moroccan (pistachio, currants, carrots, ginger)- Indian (cashew, cumin, cauliflower, coconut) | 7 | 5,158 | health |
Pep Guardiola admitted Bayern Munich could not handle Wolfsburg's counterattacks as it suffered a 4-1 thrashing on Friday night. Two goals each from Bas Dost and Kevin de Bruyne gave Wolfsburg a resounding win as the Bundesliga returned after the winter break on an emotional night at the Volkswagen Arena, which saw a pre-match tribute to Junior Malanda, the Vfl youngster who died in a car accident. Bayern conceded as many goals on the night as it did in the entire first half of the Bundesliga campaign, while Wolfsburg enjoyed more attempts on the champion's goal than any other side has managed this term. And Guardiola conceded his side could not cope with the ruthless speed of Dieter Hecking's attacking system. "They got an early goal and we couldn't control their counter in the first half," he was quoted as saying by the official Bundesliga website. "Congratulations to Wolfsburg, they were better at the right moments. After a six-week break, now we need match practice." Bastian Schweinsteiger believes Bayern was made to pay for a lack of control in its own buildup play. "We lost the order in our attacks. We can't do that against a team so strong on the counter, with players like De Bruyne," he said. "Now we have to analyse things." Manuel Neuer, meanwhile, is adamant his side has a lot of work to do as it continues its quest for a treble. "It's not a good restart. It's not a disaster, but we know we have a lot of work ahead of us," said the goalkeeper. "We lost the decisive battles. The opposition were running towards me alone - it was too easy." | 1 | 5,159 | sports |
WASHINGTON Last week, Georgetown thrashed then-No. 4 Villanova and beat Marquette on the road in an overtime thriller. Then, the Hoyas fell at home to Xavier on Tuesday. Such is life in the Big East this year. Play at your own peril. This is a league with teams that might get as many as seven bids to the NCAA tournament, a conference that's grueling from top to bottom, both home and away. The best part for Georgetown is, well, it's already been through the wringer. The Hoyas played one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules, which both scared coach John Thompson III and inspired him. Mostly, inspired. His freshmen proved they could handle it, and learn from it. Now, months later, deep into Big East play, all of that is paying off. Georgetown is 6-3 in conference play, a game out of first place in the league. The Hoyas are getting plenty of production from a talented freshman group as well as consistent play from its veterans, particularly the versatile D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and a fitter Josh Smith. Thompson believes this team has great potential with its various weapons, perhaps a greater ceiling than his teams the last few years. Thompson sat down with USA TODAY Sports reporter Nicole Auerbach this week to discuss trends in the sport, Year 2 of the Big East, his deep roster and even his favorite lunch spot in the District. Q: Zone defenses are becoming more prevalent in the game. I'm curious: Does that change the way you prepare for games, and maybe now or moving forward, affect the kind of player you recruit? Like, for a particular zone-busting skill set? A: As it affect scores, most people, when you're facing man-to-man, you know where you're going to get your shots from. We're going to run this play, run that play, and Billy's going to get his shot here. Against a zone a lot of times, it's more movement. You have one or two actions you can try but for the most part you don't know where your shots are going to come from. I think the skill set is still the same, though. You need guys who can shoot. As long as you've got enough guys who can shoot, it doesn't matter what the defense does. Q: With some teams adding zone to their arsenal this season, how does it change the way you prepare for opponents, if at all? A: It's normal scouting report/preparation ... but it may add an added layer of something you need to prepare for as opposed to, you play Syracuse, you don't have to worry about man-to-man. You just prepare for zone. You play Villanova, you know you just have to worry about man-to-man. It just adds an additional layer. Q: Let's talk a little about your depth. You've got nine players averaging 12 minutes a game. There are obvious benefits to depth like that, but what are the challenges when spreading the playing time like that even when winning games? A: I don't know if I would use the word challenge. We, this year, can play different combinations. It's getting a feel for opponent X, which group makes sense. For opponent Y, which group makes sense. The minutes may vary accordingly. With me, a lot of it is feel. I don't go into the game saying, Billy's going to play 20 minutes this game, but the next game he's going to play five. It's more so how things are playing out and who we think we need out there, and what group does well once it gets out there. Q: Did you think, entering the season, you'd have this many guys who could play significant minutes? A: Yeah. I knew the guys I had coming back; that's an established core group. But I knew for us to be successful and we're still a work in progress going into the year, the freshmen who are playing now would have to play and play well. As the season has gone on, they're getting better. They're getting more comfortable. They're playing well. For the most part, we've been playing well. Q: You've talked about the tough non-conference schedule you've played and how it's helped these freshmen. What did you see out of that group during that stretch, and also do you ever worry that you're scheduling too tough when you've got a lot of young guys? A: As you sit there in June, July, August, putting your schedule together and you know you have a young core group that's going to have to play, you know, out of conference scheduling is an inexact science. You don't know. You really don't know the personality of your team. Some teams, some players, some years, I think it's important to just get as many wins as possible. You want them to get confidence. That then will pay dividends as conference season starts. As we put this schedule together what's our strength of schedule? Fourth you're worried. You say, OK, you have Indiana, Kansas, three tough games in the Bahamas. ... You worry, if things go wrong, you get into conference play and you're .500. How does that affect things? But we're fortunate we came through. You go to the Bahamas, have a tough game against Wisconsin that you come out on the short end of. Tough game against Florida that you end up winning. I think there were lesson learned then that are carrying over now. But without a doubt, it's scary particularly with a young group. But we've been tested. I can legitimately sit at a timeout and say there aren't very many situations we haven't been in. We've been down and had to fight back. We've been up and had to hold on. We've had several tough close games; we've won some, lost some. But our guys now have been in difficult situations. Q: It also seems like different freshmen have stepped up in different games, which also must help with confidence and comfort moving forward. A: Just as important is the confidence their teammates have in them. Playing Butler, you come down to the last play of the game and Jabril (Trawick) drives and kicks it to Isaac (Copeland). In some years, with some teams, that senior wouldn't make that pass. He'd say, 'I'm going to win this game.' A couple days later, we're out at Marquette, and D'Vauntes (Smith-Rivera) has the ball. Preseason Big East Player of the Year. He penetrates, guy helps a little bit, he kicks it to Tre Campbell, who hit a huge shot. ... They see it every day in practice. The casual fan is saying, oh, put so-and-so in the game so we can see what they can do. But we see it every day in practice. It's not just a confident group. A competent group. They compete. Particularly early on, this is a freshman class that knew how to compete at this level. You can talk about skill set all you want. Sometimes, people don't understand how hard it is to play at this level. How hard it is to win at this level. They could compete at this level (early on); everything else, some faster than others, everything else is settling in. Q: D'Vauntes is having another solid season (15.2 ppg), and he's upped his assists. Josh Smith is giving you good production (he's second on the team with 12.5 ppg) in nearly 23 minutes per game. What's the key been for both of those guys, who have been, well, key for you? A: I'll back into this answer. The group that we had returning, whether you talk about those two, whether you talk about Jabril, who I think is playing better, Mikael Hopkins, who isn't scoring but I think his defense and rebounding. In this day and age, this era of all the notoriety and talk about one-and-dones and two-and-dones, you forget about the guys who just get a little bit better each year. I think that our guys who are returners, I think, across the board everyone's gotten a little bit better. It's an adjustment for D'Vauntes, because he goes from being on the court with Markel (Starks), who had the ball in his hands for three years. Now, D'Vauntes has to share some of those responsibilities. It's not like he's a prototypical point guard and has the ball all the time, but he has it a lot more. That's been seamless. His scoring is down, but it's down because the guys around him can score more than the guys we had around him last year. He's unselfish. He's done a very good job of knowing when it's his turn and knowing when to give someone else a shot. With Josh, everything is on Josh. He has all the physical tools that anyone would ever want. He's not just a big, imposing person. He's a basketball player. He has a good feel for the game. He's a good passer. He's more mobile than one would think. Now, it just continues to be a process and will be a process. Just getting him to push himself. He's been good this year. He's getting better. It's a process. Q: You alluded to this when you brought up how D'Vauntes has more guys around him who can score this year. So, how does this team's ceiling compare to recent teams? Higher? A: As a coach, your job is to figure it out. For whatever limitations each team, each year, each player may or may not have, it's your job to try to figure it out and push past that. I don't know if we've ever said, 'This is our ceiling, and I don't know if we can get past that.' I do know with this year's group, though, if we continue to get better, and I think we will because we have a group that's still learning but if we continue to get better, we have more options than we've had. Does that mean we have a higher ceiling? Probably. But that doesn't mean we'll get there. We have to get there. You have to stay together. You have to keep learning, as with any team. Q: What's your impression of the Big East this year, in Year 2 of the revamped league? A: What's our league strength of schedule? Two. ... For a year and half, two years, we kept telling people we're made for basketball. At the end of the day, we're going to be one of the best basketball conferences. That's what it's made to do. Year 1, in all honesty, it's hard for me I should be able to look, big picture, at the Big East last year but it's hard because of our year. We had a difficult year last year. ... It was hard for me to take a step back and say, whoa, the Big East, because I was thinking, We've got to stay above water here. Last year was tough because of that. I think Year 1 was part of a growing process, obviously. I think that the partnership with Fox is tremendous, but ... Year 1 of any journey is an adjustment process. We're one of the best basketball conferences. I'm glad people like you are going to start saying that. Q: This is more of an observation, and something I've noticed with both the Big 12 and Big East being deep and competitive this year. Both leagues have true round-robin formats, which must be nice in this age of mega-conferences. A: Yes, and the other component which helps a conference that's restarting is that (format) helps build rivalries. You have a tough game here, you know you have to go there. Fans, schools, it helps to build up those rivalries. Every Big East school made a conscious effort to up their out-of-conference scheduling. It's paid off; we had some success. But I do like the home-and-home. I do like the round robin. Obviously, it helps when the league is strong; you're playing seven of 10 teams that are in the (RPI) Top 50 or so. That helps. Q: I'd think coaches would like that, too, because schedules are balanced. They're not in bigger conferences. A: They're not. Having lived through that and with another television provider, if you were one of the better teams, your schedule was going to be significantly harder than one of the other teams that was not as good. They wanted to see you. They wanted to see you. They wanted to see you. Q: Last question, and this is completely random. What's your favorite lunch spot in D.C., and what do you order there? A: I'll say the wings at The Tombs . | 1 | 5,160 | sports |
Usually nobody likes a tease, especially when that tease lasts for three years. Nevertheless, the Acura NSX received as much fanfare when it finally debuted in production form at this year's Detroit auto show as it did when the concept came out in 2012. Perhaps this speaks to the popularity of the model and its lasting beauty, as well as the strength of the NSX legacy . But not everyone is a fan, saying it's over-styled or doesn't take enough cues from the previous-generation model. Do you think the car offers strong styling compared to the competition, or has it missed the mark? Let us know what you think in the comments below. But first, here's a quick look at how Acura's supercar has evolved over the last decade. The Acura NSX's overall length hasn't changed much from the previous-gen model, but it has gotten a lot wider. Width has increased from 71.3 inches to 76.4 inches, and the wheelbase has grown from 99.6 inches to 103.5. These changes alone make the NSX DNA a little harder to detect. Up front, the Acura NSX looks like the future, sporting narrow Jewel Eye headlights, aggressive chrome detailing, and three grilles. The previous NSX features a boxier front end with vertical-oriented square-shaped headlights and little detailing on the hood. From the side, you start to notice some similarities between the cars. Notably, both have a side scoop located behind the door. And despite its age, the original NSX features two significant character lines that run the entire length of the vehicle. The new one has these lines too, although slightly more sculpted. Both models also feature a sloping roofline indicative of their coupe statuses. Look at the rear, and the differences between these two models is again like night and day. Compared with the previous-gen's long taillights, the new model features a more 3D back end with wider lights, large air vents, and creased lines. Four exhaust pipes finish off the look. But if there is one place these two models differ the most, it would have to be the interior. As you'd expect, the original NSX doesn't offer modern luxuries like a media screen or steering wheel audio controls. However, the design is classic and clean, lending to a cabin that has aged gracefully. In the new NSX, look for a dynamic TFT display on the instrument cluster. Underneath the leather dash panel is an exposed midframe, complementing the supercar's raw athletic look. Is the 2016 Acura NSX refreshing or revolting compared to its predecessor? Sound off in the comments below. Last week, we asked for your feedback on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma , and it looks like many readers aren't feeling the redesign. Yoma said, "Revolting. The previous generation had a tough look to it." Batman said, "I think that the previous Taco has more of an off-road feel to it, and I like it better. So I won't say revolting, but it's pretty close." Daddychicken disagreed with the majority, saying, "…great looking truck. They tried to tie it into the rest of the Toyota 'family styling' with that big trapezoid grille." | 9 | 5,161 | autos |
PHOENIX Add Lenny Kravitz to the list of Super Bowl performers who are rooting for a Seattle Seahawks victory on Sunday. The rocker is performing as part of Katy Perry's halftime extravaganza on Sunday and revealed his favored team while speaking with Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx on his SiriusXM show Friday afternoon. Perry and actress-singer Idina Menzel, who is singing the national anthem, have said they're rooting for a Seahawks victory. Kravitz didn't reveal any new details about the show that Perry has branded "wild," featuring a lion and sharks. The four-time Grammy winner traded phone numbers with Foxx after his interview and snapped photos with fans. His halftime obligations however kept him on a tight schedule as he was ushered on to his next appointment. "I'm on Katy Perry time," he joked. | 6 | 5,162 | entertainment |
MINNEAPOLIS -- Flip Saunders gazed around an empty Target Center after practice Thursday, his battle-worn but energetic eyes panning 180 degrees past the lights, club suites, advertising signage and chair backs. "Players play," the Timberwolves coach and president of basketball operations said wistfully, "'cause of this." It's a rare occasion when more than 18,000 people slice into their bank accounts to watch an 8-37 team try to piece together some semblance of NBA basketball. But when the lights go down Saturday, they're expecting at least that many here. They'll be loud, at least until LeBron James -- if he's able to play -- or Kyrie Irving takes over and shoves the young, wounded Wolves back into submission. And even if that does happen, the latest star to scorn their fair land expects to receive his fair share of vitriol. "Tomorrow will be a chance for them to show me how they really feel," embattled Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love said Friday. An electric atmosphere not germane to Minnesota professional hoops the past decade is expected to erupt at 7 p.m. Saturday. It's the kind of environment Saunders, rookie star Andrew Wiggins and the rest of a future-based core hope to replicate on a regular basis the next several years. But this isn't expected to be a party. More of a roast, minus a lot of the backhanded humor, and replaced by genuine displeasure at Love's forced departure away from the franchise that traded for him in the 2008 draft. Diverging paths of failed management decisions and peevish bitterness on Love's part lead back to downtown Minneapolis. And once they turn the lights off Friday night, they'll branch their separate directions again. The departed When Love, angered at former president David Kahn and owner Glen Taylor's decision to withhold a max contract from him and failure to surround him with enough auxiliary talent to make the postseason, forced his departure this past summer, he packed up the belongings from his Minneapolis apartment and set up residence firmly under a wine-and-gold microscope. As detailed in a first-person essay for The Players' Tribune last year, Love knew his summer of "NBA purgatory" was giving way to a difficult transition. James, too, said from the moment he decided to rejoin the Cavs this would be a process. They were right. By many folks in the Rust Belt's standards, too right. For the moment, Cleveland (27-20 and fifth in the Eastern Conference) appears to have righted the wrongs that contributed to an over-documented slow start and midseason skid, winning eight games in a row after dropping six straight. LeBron's been LeBron, Irving just scored 55 points and is finding his stride, players are learning how to operate in coach David Blatt's system, and a series of aggressive moves by general manager David Griffin have the Cavs back on a suitable direction. Overall, Love -- 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game -- hasn't hurt the cause. But his inconsistencies shooting (42.4 percent, a career-low when excluding 2012-13 when he played just 18 games) and lack of defense (the latter should sound familiar in the Upper Midwest) have drawn heavy criticism. In Minnesota, it was that he couldn't carry a team. In Cleveland, it's that he can't fit congruently into one. "Kevin was the main focus here," Saunders said earlier this season. "He got a lot more touches. He was able to get into a comfort zone, and he's the third option here. He's trying to adjust to that." And when success-starved Cleveland fans turn the microscope toward Minnesota, they see a budding, 19-year-old star who wore their colors for four Summer League games in Las Vegas. The exchange As closed-off and unassuming as they come, Wiggins still doesn't remember which Wolves assistant pulled him aside after his 27-point outburst Dec. 23 at Quicken Loans Arena. But the message is one he'll never forget. "'Any player can do it one night,'" Wiggins recalled the aide telling him, "'but a great player does it every night.' "That really stuck in my head." Drafted first overall by the lottery-lucky Cavaliers then traded to Minnesota following a summer of uncertainty, Wiggins began the year by validating scouting reports highlighting his passivity. But since that night at the Q, aggression has been his closest companion. In 19 games since then, Wiggins has averaged 19.4 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting (35.3 percent from 3-point range). He continues to nag teams' top opposing scorers, most recently Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook and Boston's Avery Bradley and Evan Turner. Leading all rookies in scoring, Wiggins was one of four Wolves named to the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge and is the far-and-away favorite to win rookie of the year -- albeit among a ballyhooed 2014 draft class rocked by injuries. "I'd say right now, he's probably ahead of what anybody anticipated what he'd be," Saunders said. Said Ricky Rubio, who's still out with a sprained ankle and won't play Saturday: "Andrew is finding his way to score. I think he's adapting to the league faster than I thought. Everybody knew he was a great player, but we didn't know he was going to have this big impact right away." No one, perhaps, except Wiggins himself. "Surprised? No," said Wiggins, who spent the latter part of his childhood in Toronto garnering comparisons to James himself. "I've always been confident in myself. I just needed to know how to do it at the NBA level." Fellow trade pieces Thaddeus Young and Anthony Bennett, also a former No. 1 pick by Cleveland, have had their fair share of struggles. But in trading away its disgruntled franchise player, there's a good chance the Wolves received another one. The return The Wolves' "#TheReturn" video that went viral Thursday drew a good laugh from Love, whose return to the Target Center isn't mentioned and instead usurped by former Minnesota swingman Mike Miller. Miller spent one season in the Twin Cities. Love was here six seasons, reaching the All-Star Game three times. "That's hilarious," Love said. "I thought it was really funny. Mike's one of those guys who wakes up every day and the sun's shining and blue skies. So for them to do that was pretty good." Love left angry, pouting his way through his final season before telling the Wolves he'd opt out of this season on his contract. Today, he seems to be taking Saturday's awkward reunion in stride, expecting along with the rest of the NBA community to hear himself booed. "There will probably be more of that then a mix of cheers," he said. "I'm sure once I get there, it will be a little different feeling for me. I'll be playing on the visitor's side, going in the visitor's locker room, going to the different bench. "Instead of staying at my apartment in Minneapolis, we'll be staying at a hotel." When he came back with Boston, Wolves luminary Kevin Garnett -- traded way in 2007 -- received more of a mixed welcome. But he led Minnesota to its only postseason berths, and told management initially he didn't want to be dealt. Love wanted out, and for that, he'll hear it Saturday. "Minnesota people, they're pretty loyal," said Saunders, who coached those Garnett-led teams in the '90s and early 2000s. "When you turn on Minnesota, they don't forgive you." Follow Phil Ervin on Twitter | 1 | 5,163 | sports |
Former world number one Tiger Woods fired his worst score as a professional, an 11-over par 82, to miss the cut at the US PGA Phoenix Open on Friday. Woods stood last at 13-over 155 for the tournament, his first tour event since last August after recovering from a back injury, and said he was healthy but simply needs more tournament work to try and recover his top form. "I've still got a lot of work to do," Woods said. "I've got to continue with the process. I've got to keep things in perspective. Sometimes it's difficult. No doubt about it." Woods, a 14-time major champion, is assured of missing the cut for only the 13th time in his pro career. He will have missed the cut at least once in each year since 2008, when he won his most recent major title at the US Open at Torrey Pines. AFP | 1 | 5,164 | sports |
Wolfsburg breathed life into the Bundesliga's title race on Friday with a shock 4-1 hammering of leaders Bayern Munich, who suffered their heaviest German league defeat for six years. Pep Guardiola's Bayern also lost their first league game of the season as second-placed Wolfsburg trimmed their lead to eight points. Bayern leaked as many goals in Wolfsburg as in the entire first half of the season as the home side ruthlessly exploited Bayern's numerous errors. "We put in a huge performance," beamed Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking. "When you want to beat Bayern, you need a day like that. "The team did everything we talked about and it went 100 percent according to plan." Netherlands striker Bas Dost gave the hosts a deserved 2-0 lead at the break as his thunderbolt volley crashed into off the post just before the half-time whistle following an earlier goal. Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne made sure of the three points with two second half goals while defender Juan Bernat scored Bayern's consolation goal. "We made a lot of mistakes and let them hit us on the counter-attack," admitted Bayern's stand-in captain Bastian Schweinsteiger with Philipp Lahm injured. "We lost our shape and we lost too many balls, it wasn't our day. "We have to analyse the performance and do better." For the first time in three years, Bayern found themselves 2-0 down at half-time on their way to their heaviest league defeat since losing 5-1 at Wolfsburg in April 2009 -- when Wolves won the Bundesliga title. "They were better in the key moments. After losing too many balls, we couldn't control Wolfsburg's counter-attacks," admitted Guardiola. There were emotional scenes before kick-off at the Volkswagen Arena with a minute's applause for Belgium Under-21 international Junior Malanda, who was killed in a car crash earlier this month. The hosts went ahead on their first venture into the Bayern half. Daniel Caligiuri's long-range cross from the sidelines was squared by De Bruyne and Dost drove his shot past the diving Manuel Neuer with four minutes on the clock. Wolfsburg's Maximillion Arnold tried to knock Xabi Alonso off the ball from a free-kick on 43 minutes and both players were booked. The hosts doubled their lead when Bayern's Robert Lewandowski headed a Wolfsburg free-kick into space. Dost latched onto the loose ball and volleyed home in spectacular fashion from the edge of the area. Wolves went 3-0 up just after the break when Arnold's pass put De Bruyne in behind the Bayern defence and he rifled his shot home. Bernat gave Bayern some hope when he stabbed his shot past Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio with 35 minutes left. The Swiss shot-stopper protected Wolfsburg's lead when he palmed Arjen Robben's shot over the bar with 70 minutes gone as the hosts held on for a deserved victory over Bayern, who are bidding for a third straight league title. | 1 | 5,165 | sports |
Super Bowl Sunday can be a late night for most die-hard football fans. CNBC's Kelli Grant breaks down how to handle to the morning after. | 8 | 5,166 | video |
Boston officials on Friday said they planned a heavy police presence and travel restrictions in some areas when the New England Patriots play in Sunday's Super Bowl, hoping to avert the violence seen following championships a decade ago. "We're not going to allow celebrations to become an excuse for dangerous and illegal behavior in the city of Boston," Mayor Marty Walsh said at a City Hall news conference. "We're not going to tolerate public drinking, we're not going to tolerate destruction of property." The Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl in Phoenix on Sunday. Police said they would limit travel around several large universities and near the arena where the Boston Bruins and Celtics play beginning at 6 p.m. EST, a half-hour before kickoff. They will shut access to the neighborhood around Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, after the third quarter of Sunday's game. "As you know, over the last 10 years there's been some tragedies around these sports celebrations and we do everything we can to make sure no one gets hurt," Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told reporters. In 2004 two people were killed in post-game riots in Boston - one following the Patriots' loss to the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl and another after the Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees in the American League championships, a game that sent the team on to its first World Series win in 86 years. Boston fans also have tipped over cars, thrown bottles and set fires following other championships in the past decade. Evans declined to say how many police officers would be out on the street on Sunday night, other than to say there would be enough uniformed and plainclothes officers to maintain order. "I've been a sports fan my entire life and it amazes me when other cities win the championship and what happens in those cities when people flip cars over and burn cars," Walsh said. "That's not a celebration. That's not a celebration at all." (Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Bill Trott) | 1 | 5,167 | sports |
ATLANTA -- Shelby Miller can thank his turnaround on the mound in 2014 to one pitch. Because of that same pitch, the Atlanta Braves may have landed a young pitcher with as much upside as anyone in their rotation. After a fine rookie campaign in 2013 where he won 15 games and posted a 3.06 ERA, Miller slumped in 2014 as he tried to follow up that early success. He struggled in his first 24 starts last season. He had a losing record (8-9), his ERA had ballooned by close to 40 percent from the year prior (4.25) and instead of walking one batter for every three he struck out, he was allowing free passes to 1.48 batters for every strikeout he recorded. Miller didn't forget how to pitch successfully last season, he just hit growing pains -- some self-imposed and others from a lack of experience. The ups and downs were natural, Miller said. The same peaks and valleys many major-leaguers endure. On Aug. 23, however, Miller turned things around. Enter the sinker. Two days before his bullpen session, teammate Justin Masterson showed Miller a new grip for a sinker. Miller tried it during his bullpen session, then tried is again as he warmed up for his start against the Phillies on Aug. 23. As he and catcher A.J. Pierzynski left the bullpen prior to the game, Miller matter-of-factly told his backstop to call for the sinker. "I said I'm going to throw some of these, and we'll see where it's at," Miller recalled portions of the conversation. "It felt good so we just went with it. I started throwing it literally within three days. It's a good pitch that I picked up quick. "I still need a lot of work with it. I need a lot of work with all my pitches. There's all sorts of ways to get better. But I think that's definitely a pitch that will help me be more efficient and take me deeper into games." In the seven starts after Miller's epiphany, he baffled hitters. He went 5-2 after unleashing the sinker, posted a 2.08 ERA and struck out 32 batters while only walking nine. Hitters were only able to muster a .167 batting average against him in those seven starts, compared to hitting .250 before the sinker was introduced. Miller took a break after the Cardinals finished the 2014 season. He's since been traded to the Braves and picked the baseball back up to get into spring training shape. "It feels good," said Miller. "I've been throwing it in the bullpens that I've had and it feels great coming out of my hand." It feels so good, Miller said it's now a major part of his arsenal. He threw a four-seam fastball, curve and changeup last season before introducing the sinker. Now the sinker will be another go-to pitch. "Those are the main two pitches I'll work off of," said Miller about the four-seam fastball and the sinker. "That's [the sinker] going to be a huge pitch for me this year that's ultimately going to take me to the next level. Not only that but kind of mixing it all together, becoming more of a complete pitcher more than a thrower." When Miller exclusively threw a four-seam fastball, hitters would foul off the pitch before eventually putting it into play. He said relying on the four-seam, solely, pushed his pitch count up as well. Another St. Louis teammate, Adam Wainwright, tried to get Miller to adopt a sinker earlier. But Miller could never get the grip right. Plus Miller admitted to be a stubborn pitcher, a trait he's since overcome. "I just kept shying away from it. And when I did eventually learn one that I was comfortable with, he was right the whole time," said Miller. "[Wainwright is] a veteran guy who's been around and works off his sinker a lot. It's one of my favorite pitches now. That's one thing I learned; just be more open minded." Landing in Atlanta is great for a young pitcher that's receptive to learning. The Braves' organization has historically been ripe with young pitchers that found their groove on the Turner Field mound. Pitching coach Roger McDowell has had enormous success recently as well. The newly-open-minded Miller is excited to get to work. A new goal for Miller, something that he plans to work on as early as spring training, is learning a changeup. Miller didn't throw that pitch a lot in 2014 (a career low 2.2 percent of the time, according to PITCHf/x data from FanGraphs), but is open to expanding it in his repertoire. "I know Roger [McDowell] has been known for changeups," said Miller. "A lot of great pitchers have come through this organization, [and] that's a pitch I would love to pick up. I want to be able to throw it more consistently, [and] have a little bit more confidence in it. "I think with the pitching coach that I have, the guys on the team that do throw changeups -- a lot of them do -- I can learn one. I'm not against picking one up and using it. Once I find that comfortable grip, one that feels natural and right, I hope that comes and I can use it this year." Take a look at Miller's stellar seven starts to finish the 2014 season with a flurry of success. It's easy to imagine that as a harbinger of good things to come for the 24-year-old hurler in 2015. Since he's beginning his Braves career with a new moldable pitching mind to boot, there has to be a ton of optimism about how he could grow with this young pitching staff. | 1 | 5,168 | sports |
Oil giant Shell revised down Friday its 2014 net profit, after uncovering an error in the value of its downstream operations one day after posting annual results. Shell announced in a new statement that annual net profits fell nine percent to $14.874 billion (13.17 billion euros) last year compared with 2013, hit by collapsing global oil prices. The Anglo-Dutch oil group on Thursday had stated its 2014 net earnings as $15.052 billion. Profits after taxation meanwhile tumbled by 67 percent to $595 million in the fourth quarter of last year, compared with the final three months of 2013. That also marked a downward revision from the fourth-quarter figure of $773 million that was given in Thursday's annual results statement. "Subsequent to making that announcement, a stock valuation error in its downstream operations was discovered," Shell said on Friday. It added: "The fourth quarter and full year 2014 results of Royal Dutch Shell plc have been revised to take account of this stock valuation error." | 3 | 5,169 | finance |
On "With All Due Respect," Mark and John add that Romney's exit also helps Marco Rubio and Scott Walker. | 5 | 5,170 | news |
Wherever a child's money may reside, the urge to spend it will eventually arise. Which begs a basic question: What do we want our kids paying for exactly, and what sort of spending should we ban altogether? The answers to these questions will evolve over time, since we can't anticipate everything. Still, by as early as age 5, kids are ready to reckon with the framework that ought to govern a lot of their spending for the rest of their lives: wants versus needs (and knowing the difference between the two). With younger children, the definitions can be relatively simple: We need food to eat, clothes to wear, a home to sleep in, doctors and medicine to keep us healthy, and a babysitter or after-school classes if there isn't a parent at home. Most families consider savings a need too for the kids' college tuition and for retirement. A car may also be a need, and many parents treat books and charity or tithing as a necessity too. Then there are things we want , like treats, sports equipment, toys, local excursions and vacations. These are nice things to have, the explanation can go, but we won't always get all the things on this list that we want, nor will we get them all at once. It's also useful to have kids generate their own list of needs and wants at the outset of the allowance process, just to see what they come up with. Once they understand the concept, be prepared for it to come up at unexpected moments. By the time she was 6, our daughter had already figured out that our car was not truly a need, given that all three of us can use the subway to get to work, school and most weeknight/weekend events. She explained this while we were giving a ride to a friend of hers whose family did not have a car and wondered why we did. By age 8, she was evaluating charities on the basis of whether they were delivering services that people truly needed, like life-saving medicine, or just things that were nice but not necessary, like public displays of art. The want versus need test will inevitably come up as our kids get older and start to question the fairness of parental spending decisions. The very best question I've ever heard after one of my talks on money and values came from a stumped mother who stood up in front of her peers and reported the following: Her middle school son had asked her why he couldn't have a high-priced carnivorous plant terrarium, since his parents had bought Hunter boots for his sister. The juxtaposition was a great one, given that many parents are willing to spend as freely as they can afford to on tools for learning, and an interest in plants seems well worth cultivating. After all, kids need to learn; they merely want fashionable, expensive rain boots. I told the inquiring mom to let the kid have some Venus flytraps already. This is an excerpt from Ron Lieber's new book " The Opposite of Spoiled " available February 2. | 4 | 5,171 | lifestyle |
E-ink keyboard American company Jaasta has developed a new keyboard where one can customise the keyboard according your needs. Add shortcuts at will or perhaps letters unique to your country, this self-customizing keyboard is just what a globetrotter needs in today's age. Depending on the application or language being used, the user can amend the keys to display relevant characters. International users will also be able to make their own country's letter characters appear at the touch of a button. Mind Gyms Next time you are stressed at work simply try a 'mind gym' where timed routines will help you relax. The Orrb is a pod in which the user can escape bustling open-plan workspaces and find time for themselves. Designed by Lee McCormack, the orb-like structure requires an online account through which one choose exercises best suited for your mood. The d evices are currently being hand-finished in the USA and UK and are expected to launch officially in Spring. The d evelopers aim to see them being placed in airports, universities and public spaces. World's first personal robot RoboDynamics is working to develop Luna - the first human size (almost 1.5 metres) personal robot designed for everyday use. Luna would be able to walk the dog or serve you drinks. Automatic cocktail maker A perfect appliance for those who love entertaining at home, the Somabar automatic cocktail maker is your perfect personal bartender. Capable of churning out up to 300 different types of cocktails, just connect the machine with your smart phone, add the ingredients and voila, your cocktail is ready! Hand-powered coffee machine Designed by Wacaco, the Minipresso is a portable hand-powered machine that brews coffee on-the-go. Enjoy a shot of espresso without spending a fortune in coffee shops by simply adding loose ground coffee or ready capsules and water in the attached tank. Repurpose the lid of the flask-like machine as a cup and pour your shot of espresso in it. Anti-snore pillow If you are tired of your partner's snoring, invest in this anti-snore pillow that detects vibrations and gently nudges the sleeper to change positions without waking them. This revolutionary pillow is available online for $139 (£92). InPutter Designed by Ingeniarius, the InPutter is a golf club which monitors around 16 variables that includes the players swing, angles and power generated in a shot and gives instant feedback by transmitting the data on your preferred device. Hairdryer in a glove The "Hand Drying Gloves" are made up of hi-tech micro-fibres that that absorb the water from your hair and air-dry it. Not only do you save money on your electric bill, but you also protects the hair from the harmful heat from a hair dryer. Cliphit drum kit Developed by the Japanese company Korg, this gadget is composed of three clips with internal sensors which transforms the surface it's attached to into a drum kit. Wireless Christmas lights Powered by Aura, a US based company, has solved our wire woes by developing a magnetic ring that will transmit power to LED lights - which will act as Christmas lights, when activated. XOO Belt To charge your smartphone Designed by Nifty, a US-based company, the belt comes in brown and black leather style fitted with tiny charger of 2,100mAh capacity and a USB port connected to the buckle and leather. Cinnibird pen for food decoration Hungarian designers have developed a hand-held kitchen gadget that allows you to draw and write on your drinks and food. AirWheel Simply balance your body in the direction you want to travel and your AirWheel will take you there and last up to 45 km (28 miles) on a single charge. Flat Memo water bottle The same shape as a piece of paper, the memobottle is a slimline, reusable water bottle which slides into your bag next to your laptop. Bike that grows with your child Designed by an Ireland engineer Simon Evans, a 6.6 kg cycle made from high-grade aluminium is specifically aimed for children between the ages of two to seven. It has three different adjustable sizes that allows you to increase the height of the bike as your child grows taller. Fart pill Made from 100% natural ingredients, Christian Poincheval, a 65 year-old Frenchman has created a pill that makes your fart smell like chocolates or flowers! Remote controlled golf trolley Australian Ian Edwards has developed a remote-controlled gadget that lugs your golf clubs around much to the relief of the golfers. Bitbite: Eating habit tracker An Israeli company has developed a device that monitors a person's eating habits and provides real-time dietary suggestions that is displayed on a smartphone. Bus that runs on poo A UK based company has developed this 40-seater Bio-Bus which generates enough power to travel up to 300km on a full tank of treated food waste and human poo. 'Roofbi' for rain protection Frenchman Arnaud Sarfati has created a quirky canopy weighing 2.5 kg that unfolds over a bicycle rider and protect him from the rain. Hologram viewers US-based company Bleen Inc. has developed a gadget that projects holographic 3D images! Lamps made from real bread Experimenting with food and design, Yukiko Morita from Japan created a unique lampshade made entirely out of bread. First the design is hollowed out of flour, water and salt, then a resin coating is applied to prevent mildew and finally LED bulbs are fixed inside. Inflatable baby incubator Englishman James Roberts, a 23-year-old engineer, has designed a collapsible incubator that runs off a battery which lasts 24 hours. Submarine sports car This prototype fitted with propellers and two water jets mounted behind rotating louvres at the front. This two-seater car, costing $2,000,000, is powered by six 48-volt Lithium-ion batteries, can reach a speed of 120 kmph (75 mph) on land and two knots when submerged. Re-inventing the shovel Put an end to all the back-aches the next time you are out shovelling snow off your lawn or digging a new herb garden. Entrepreneur Stephen Walden has designed a unique ergonomic shovel that has a grip in the centre which turns 360 degrees and a handle with an adjustable length. VSSL outdoor utility tools Canadian Todd Weimer created a unique device 20 cm long that can hold 15 essential items including a first aid kit, compass, matches, whistle, razor blade, mirror, can opener, LED light, a wire saw and more. Folding bicycle helmet Bicycle riders have a reason to smile since Philippe Arrouart has invented a folding helmet that one can then stow away into their bag. The suitcase that doubles as a scooter Slovenian designed Bostjan Zagar has developed a suitcase that is literally for people on the go. Electroluminescent motorcycle helmets Canadian Thomas Plywaczewski has designed helmets inspired from the movie Tron (2010) that light up at night and help improve rider safety. Stain free chef jackets MasterChef Australia mentor Chef Adrian Li has used nanotechnology to create a revolutionary chef's jacket that does not stain. Starfish - Child left in car warning device 26-year old father Matthew Sheets has designed a unique weight-activated sensor that lets the parent know if their child is still on its car seat. A biodegradable urn Keep the memory of your loved alive by converting their cremated ashes into a living tree. An urn helps you do just that the main part contains the ashes while another top capsule contains seeds mixed with soil and nutrients. Glow-in-the-dark highway Smart Highway, the world's first glow-in-the-dark road, charges during the day and sees the edges of the road illuminated at night by Tron-like lighting. | 5 | 5,172 | news |
Aviation leaders will try to secure a mandate to implement new safety standards when they meet next week after a string of high-profile accidents around the world made 2014 the deadliest year for commercial airlines in almost a decade. Efforts to adopt new standards for global plane tracking and co-operation on the risks of flying over conflict zones will dominate the meeting on safety in Montreal from Feb. 2-5, weeks ahead of the anniversary of the disappearance of flight MH370, the Malaysian Airlines jet with 239 people on board. Regulators and officials at the meeting will have to juggle political sensitivities and arguments over the budgets of cash-squeezed airlines. "Issues such as flight restrictions over conflict zones can only be tackled at a global or regional level," Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency, said. "The global aviation regulatory system should also act more quickly to address the recommendations for safety improvement made by accident investigators," he told Reuters ahead of the talks at the International Civil Aviation Organization. While statistics suggest flying is safer than ever in proportion to the amount of traffic, 924 people were killed in passenger accidents last year, the worst for loss of life since 2005, shaking perceptions of air travel worldwide. Last year's disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines jet, and the downing of a sister plane on flight MH17 over Ukraine with a combined loss of 539 lives, pose one of the biggest challenges to the 70-year-old U.N. organization since security threats in the 1970s and 1980s. "Like hijackings in the 1970s, the Korean Airlines 007 fighter jet shootdown, and the Pan Am 103 bombing, the downing of MH17 represents an abhorrent, watershed moment in civil aviation history," said Pillsbury Law partner Kenneth Quinn, a former U.S. official who took part in a task force on the issue. Airlines have called for controls on weapons such as the high-altitude ground-to-air missile suspected of shooting down MH17 over eastern Ukraine last July, and greater sharing of intelligence information on threats. MH17 was hit during fighting between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. The United States said the plane was hit with a ground-to-air missile by rebels. Russia says a Ukrainian military aircraft downed it. NO FAIL-SAFE METHODS ICAO, one of the international institutions which sprang out of World War II, is credited with making it safer to fly by ensuring coordination in standards across the globe. But getting collaboration when it comes to disputed territory can be tough. Some major intelligence agencies were invited to take part in preparatory ICAO talks on conflict zones but didn't show up, two people familiar with the discussions said. Faced with the reluctance of most countries to share highly sensitive information, ICAO has proposed overhauling a system of notices to pilots to ensure that what data already exists is more widely available and able to be cross-checked. "No system for identifying, verifying, and sharing threat information is fail-safe, but a centralized database at ICAO at least ensures that identified threat information gets shared on a more widespread and timely basis," Quinn said. That is likely to disappoint airlines that have said it is the responsibility of states to tell them what they know. On tracking, however, airlines have displayed divisions over the costs of installing new systems, while several competing business groups will be lobbying on the sidelines of ICAO. Senior officials involved in the discussions said the recent AirAsia crash was not part of the UN debate because the jet was within controlled airspace and its flight recorders were found relatively quickly after delays mainly due to bad weather. Next week's conference is likely to call for planes to send tracking signals at regular intervals in normal flight and to speed them up when they get into trouble. It is also looking at ejectable black boxes as one way to aid searches and solve mysteries like that of the missing MH370. But in December, the International Air Transport Association, which represents over 200 carriers, refused to back a call by an industry-wide committee that had met under its own leadership to install existing systems on its planes within 12 months. A strong ICAO mandate to impose flight tracking would also need national measures to take effect. The European Union is expected to move quickly to make them law, an EU official said. But some delegates have expressed concerns that the global response to last year's shock events could be weakened if there is only patchy compliance with the new recommendations. (Writing by Tim Hepher; additional reporting by Julia Fioretti in BRUSSELS; Editing by Amran Abocar and Alan Crosby) | 5 | 5,173 | news |
Whether it's because your body is feeling off or your mentality isn't on point (or even a combination of the two), every runner knows how terrible a tough workout can feel. Sometimes a difficult run is unexpected, other times the struggle starts before you even lace up your shoes. Heavy feet, stiff legs, a clouded mind; all of these things are enough to make any runner feel like they're ready to throw in the towel before a workout is over. Of course, you know that giving up is never a good option. Instead you can learn to push through the tough times by using the following "tough workout" tips. 1. Think About Things that Give You Strength Lauren Jimison, an elite runner and a member of the Mammoth Track Club says she first turns to prayer when a workout becomes tougher than expected. "When you're having a rough day, draw on the things that give you strength," she said. "For me, my faith propels me forward." 2. Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter " When I am having a tough workout and negative thoughts come into my mind, I quickly dismiss them," Jimison said. "Secondly, I never speak a negative word or complain during a workout. I don't allow myself to complain. I want to build up my teammates and myself, so I know that speaking positively is the only option to make a tough workout a really good workout." 3. Be Thankful Jimison says that being grateful always helps her when things get tough. " Instead of focusing on not feeling good, I think about all the things I have to be thankful for" she said. "I thank God for my health, to be able to run, my support system, my environment." 4. Run with Friends Jimison says one of the things she's most thankful for, and that helps her through every workout is her teammates. "Running for ASICS Mammoth Track Club is such a blessing," she said. "We can draw on each other's strengths when we aren't feeling the best." Of course, not everyone can run with a team, so she also suggests running with friends when you can or simply drawing inspiration from others. "When you're not feeling great or feel unmotivated, be motivated by those around you," she said. "Whether it's the mom pushing her stroller ahead, or the soccer player getting in their training run, be inspired by those around you; we were built for community and to encourage one another." | 7 | 5,174 | health |
A truck driver distracted by yanking free his loose tooth veered off the road and caused a miles-long backup on an Alabama freeway, a local newspaper reported on Friday. The unnamed 57-year-old trucker was driving on Interstate 20/59 near Tuscaloosa when the accident occurred late on Sunday, the Birmingham News reported. "The driver stated he lost control when he was pulling a tooth with his hands," an Alabama Highway Patrol incident report said, according to the newspaper. "He had the tooth in his shirt pocket as proof." After veering off the road, the truck went into a ditch before jackknifing into a stand of trees, the newspaper reported. The accident caused no serious injuries but it triggered a complete shutdown of a three-mile stretch of the freeway and caused delays that lasted into the Monday morning rush hour, the newspaper reported. Alabama Highway Patrol representatives did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Kaminsky in New Orleans; Editing by Eric Beech) | 5 | 5,175 | news |
PHOENIX Thirteen years after hoisting their first Lombardi Trophy together, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick maintain an unmatched NFL partnership, one on the cusp of producing a fourth Super Bowl title. But as the heart and soul of the New England Patriots, is one of them more responsible for the success of these parity-defying Pats in an era designed to prevent dynasties? Did Belichick, who now owns more playoff victories (21) than any other NFLcoach, create the perfect environment for Brady to thrive? Or did the quarterback, taken in the sixth round of the 2000 draft along with the chip that remains on his shoulder, complete the defensive-minded guru? It's the chicken-or-the-egg question. But the answer is that the franchise would not have reached its sixth Super Bowl since 2001 if not for the one of a kind Brady-Belichick omelet. "They were lucky to find each other at the right time," former league MVP and current CBS analyst Boomer Esiason told USA TODAY Sports. "When I do a Patriots game, I always have to be on my toes because you never know what Belichick is going to do. "He really does think ahead of the game better than any coach in the game today." But Belichick is free to look ahead knowing his quarterback has his back on the field. "I also know there's no way (Belichick) could be this successful without having a Hall of Fame quarterback," added Esiason. "That's the nature of the game, moreso than it's ever been. "They've been brilliant together." With a win against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Belichick and Brady whose six joint appearances on Super Sunday are already a record will join the Pittsburgh Steelers' Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw as the only coach-quarterback combo with four Super Bowl victories. But there have been potholes the Spygate scandal in 2007, the Super Bowl XLII defeat that derailed a previously perfect season and now Deflategate. Upon his team's arrival in Arizona for Super Bowl week on Monday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft vehemently defended coach and quarterback even as the league investigates why the Patriots played the first half of the AFC Championship Game with underinflated footballs. Kraft called Belichick and Brady family. And that might be the most fitting description of what the pair has become, football brothers the older, experienced mentor and his younger, fiery on-field extension. "Tarnished? When you win as much as Tom and Bill have, people don't like them because they're so good. So they try to tear them down," former Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy, a member of New England's first title team, told USA TODAY Sports. "Brady and Belichick are synonymous with dynasty. "We don't win that first championship without Tom. And Belichick knew that to win, he had to find that quarterback the last piece to the puzzle that fell into his lap." Belichick certainly appreciates Brady, who owns a pair of league MVP awards and two Super Bowl MVPs. "One guy can't win in this league," Belichick said. "All one guy can do is do his job, and Tom does his job as well as anybody. "I'm so thankful he's our quarterback. There's nobody I'd rather have." Brady is similarly quick to praise his coach. "He's very consistent," the quarterback said of Belichick. "I don't think there is much that's changed from his personality or his coaching style. "He has high expectations for our team. ... The meeting rooms are important, the walkthroughs are important, and the pressure is always on with him. So that ultimately gets the best out of all of us." But Brady has supplemented Belichick the way his coach helped enhance the quarterback's understanding of situational defenses and blitz protections. Conversely, Brady shifted Belichick's coaching philosophy from defensively skewed, his specialty as an assistant, toward an attack-oriented, quarterback-centric offense. "When you talk about Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, they go hand in hand," said Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms, now an analyst for CBS, who played for the New York Giants when Belichick was the defensive coordinator. "Bill's turned into an offensive-driven guy because he saw the league going that way with the rules changes and what Tom could do." Simms noted another special aspect of the age-defying Brady, 37, who will be the sixth oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. "The thing that's intriguing about Tom Brady is I can always notice a decline in a quarterback's ability," said Simms. "That's the thing about Tom his arm, body, his movement in the pocket, it's all as good or probably better than what it was when he first came into the league. "To see him throwing the ball the way he's still throwing it is pretty awesome." *** Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett | 1 | 5,176 | sports |
The British army is creating a special force of Facebook warriors, skilled in psychological operations and use of social media to engage in unconventional warfare in the information age. The 77th Brigade, to be based in Hermitage, near Newbury, in Berkshire, will be about 1,500-strong and formed of units drawn from across the army. It will formally come into being in April. The brigade will be responsible for what is described as non-lethal warfare. Both the Israeli and US army already engage heavily in psychological operations. Against a background of 24-hour news, smartphones and social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, the force will attempt to control the narrative. The 77th will include regulars and reservists and recruitment will begin in the spring. Soldiers with journalism skills and familiarity with social media are among those being sought. An army spokesman said: "77th Brigade is being created to draw together a host of existing and developing capabilities essential to meet the challenges of modern conflict and warfare. It recognises that the actions of others in a modern battlefield can be affected in ways that are not necessarily violent." The move is partly a result of experience in counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan. It can also be seen as a response to events of the last year that include Russia's actions in Ukraine, in particular Crimea, and Islamic State's (Isis) takeover of large swaths of Syria and Iraq. Nato has so far been unable to find a counter to what the US and UK claim is Russia creating unrest by sending in regular troops disguised as local militia, allowing president Vladimir Putin to deny responsibility.Isis has proved adept at exploiting social media to attract fighters from around the world. The Israel Defence Forces have pioneered state military engagement with social media, with dedicated teams operating since Operation Cast Lead, its war in Gaza in 2008-9. The IDF is active on 30 platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram in six languages. "It enables us to engage with an audience we otherwise wouldn't reach," said an Israeli army spokesman. It has been approached by several western countries, keen to learn from its expertise. During last summer's war in Gaza, Operation Protective Edge, the IDF and Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, tweeted prolifically, sometimes engaging directly with one another. The new brigade is being named the 77th in tribute to the Chindits, the British guerrilla force led by Maj Gen Orde Wingate against the Japanese in Burma during the second world war. Wingate adopted unorthodox and controversial tactics that achieved successes completely disproportionate to the size of his forces, sending teams deep into Japanese-held territory, creating uncertainty in the Japanese high command and forcing it to alter its strategic plans. In a nod to the Chindits, members of the 77th Brigade will have arm badges showing a mythical Burmese creature. The aim is that the new force will prove as flexible as the Chindits in the face of the dizzying array of challenges being thrown up in the early part of this century. The creation of 77th Brigade comes as the commander of Nato special operations headquarters, Lt Gen Marshall Webb, speaking in Washington this week, expressed concern about Russia and about Isis. "Special operations headquarters is uniquely placed to address this," he said. "We tend to take an indirect approach. We can engage without being escalatory or aggressive. We tend to view things from an oblique angle, and we absolutely acknowledge that trust, information-sharing and interagency collaboration is crucial." | 5 | 5,177 | news |
CNBC's Jane Wells confesses binge watching all her favorite shows. Studies show that binge watch is for sad and lonely souls and may have harmful effects like obesity low productivity, and strained relationships. | 8 | 5,178 | video |
WASHINGTON Jeb Bush is suddenly the Republicans' 2016 presidential front-runner, thanks to Mitt Romney's decision Friday to forgo the race but skeptical conservatives and public wariness about Bush's family make him highly vulnerable. The former Florida governor leads most Republican preference polls, though not by much. At recent gatherings of Republicans, conservatives voiced concern that another Bush would mean another center-right candidate as well as a sense that the party was stuck in the past. Romney flirted with running for the nomination for three weeks. He had met with donors Jan. 9 at the New York City office of Woody Johnson, owner of the National Football League's New York Jets. Romney also activated his network of supporters and contributors and appeared before the Republican National Committee in San Diego. But Friday, his effort ended as abruptly as it began. In a call to supporters from a New York hotel, the Republicans' 2012 presidential nominee told them, "It is best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become our next nominee." "He said he thought he could win, but to get there requires a path with a lot of issues," said Tom Rath, a former New Hampshire attorney general who was on the call. The call was short. Romney read a statement, then ad-libbed, Rath said. "He made it clear. He said there was no looking back, no Plan B, no brokered convention," he said. "He was done." Romney didn't mention any other candidate, but Bush loyalists rejoiced. Many big donors were torn between the two establishment titans. "It's great news for Jeb Bush," said Brian Ballard, Romney's 2012 Florida finance chairman. "He's clearly now the favorite with the establishment wing of the party." Ballard has spoken to Romney backers in recent weeks. "He made the right choice for his party and his family," Ballard said. A Bush-Romney battle "would have hurt our chances in the general election." Bush is no shoo-in. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and possibly Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry will vie for the mainstream Republican vote. Bush is seen as having the financial and political network to overwhelm his rivals, but it's unknown how effective a candidate he'll be; he last ran for office in 2002. Also lurking are concerns that another Bush on the Republican ticket suggests the party is stuck in another era. Since 1980, Bush's father or brother has been on six Republican presidential tickets. The party has a growing roster of potential 2016 candidates a generation younger; at the Iowa Freedom Summit last week, the biggest crowd-pleaser was the 47-year-old Walker. In addition, Christie and Perry have strong ties to the same big donors as Bush. Christie is well-known to Wall Street contributors, and Perry was governor of Texas for 14 years. Bush's biggest obstacle could be the party's diehard conservative wing, which has been waiting years to nominate a candidate from its ranks. It's rarely been enthusiastic about the Bushes, seeing the family as too willing to accommodate more moderate policies and politics. Bush's challenges were evident in a Jan. 21-26 Loras College Poll released Friday by the Dubuque, Iowa, school. Nearly one in five Republicans said they could never vote for Bush, a higher total than any potential candidate received. Nationally, Bush also didn't have a strong showing. In last month's McClatchy-Marist poll, with Romney not included, Bush was the leader, though only with 16 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a conservative favorite who won the 2008 Iowa caucus, was next at 12 percent. Bush, who met privately with Romney last week in Utah, hailed Romney's decision on Facebook, calling him a "patriot." "I join many in hoping his days of serving our nation and our party are not over," Bush wrote. "I look forward to working with him to ensure all Americans have a chance to rise up." Three gatherings of Republicans this month illustrated Romney's task. Congress returned to Washington, and while party lawmakers talked about their respect for the 2012 nominee, they were reluctant to embrace him or encourage another run. At the same time, the Republican National Committee, the 168 insiders who make up the party's governing ranks, met in San Diego. Romney appeared on Jan. 16 at a reception on an aircraft carrier. This would be the test of his strength, said the insiders. He spoke for about 15 minutes, wife Ann by his side, and told the crowd, "We need to stand for safety and for opportunity for all people regardless of the neighborhood they come from. And we have to stand for helping lift people out of poverty." It was just the latest example of a newfound voice inside the GOP that it has to expand its message to attract voters for whom party has had little appeal. But there was a telling moment when it was over. Instead of mingling with the hundreds of influential Republicans gathered there, he and Ann exited immediately. More sobering news came a week later, when prospective candidates gathered in Iowa, the nation's first caucus state, for what was billed as the campaign's unofficial kickoff. Romney did not attend, was rarely mentioned, and Walker emerged as a possible mainstream favorite. Romney can now assume the kind of role he's enjoyed since his 2012 run, the savvy, battle-tested elder statesman of the party. Sure enough, he ended his six-minute statement to supporters Friday in statesmanlike fashion. "I believe a Republican winning back the White House is essential for our country," he said. "And I'll do whatever I can to make that happen." | 5 | 5,179 | news |
PHOENIX Stuck in a car on the recruiting trail somewhere in Ruston, La., one of Bret Bielema's passengers let out a sigh of disgust. Joel Thomas University of Arkansas running backs coach, Washington state native and die-hard Seattle Seahawks fan checked his phone and saw the score. His Seahawks trailed the Green Bay Packers by 12 points in the NFC Championship Game with fewer than five minutes to play. The season was over thought Thomas. "Hey," Bielema, Arkansas' head coach, shot back, "don't count my man Russell out." Everyone else laughed. The car full of Razorbacks coaches sped back to their hotel. By the time they arrived, Russell Wilson had just led an improbable rally that had given the Seahawks a 20-19 lead just in time for the coaches to see a play that exemplifies Wilson as a quarterback. It was a pivotal two-point conversion off a broken play Wilson spun away from the Packers rush before lofting a high-arcing pass across the field to tight end Luke Willson that even Bielema, Wilson's coach with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2011, didn't see coming. "The part that amazes me from Day 1 to what I have seen today is his ability to make something of nothing," Bielema told USA TODAY Sports by phone. "That's a classic example of a play having a design to do a certain thing, and the defense doing a great countermove to take it away, and yet he still had an answer. Those are improv plays not only has he done them all along but he seems to get better at them as time goes on." The main criticism levied at Wilson is that he is merely another talented piece on an excellent team. Detractors say he's a game manager, a label that carries more condescension than praise. But two traits distinguish him: his ability to improvise and his efficiency. He'll likely need both skills if the Seahawks are to successfully repeat as Super Bowl champions by beating the New England Patriots on Sunday. "I visualize success every day," Wilson said. "I never visualize failure, and I visualize being at the top every time that's just my mindset. I never waver from that, and I think that's a credit to my parents and, really, how they raised me. They used to teach me the discipline of getting up early in the morning, the discipline of doing things the right way, and the discipline of loving the people that you have around you." Wilson hasn't posted gaudy passing numbers. His 3,475 yards in 2014 ranked 15th in the NFL, and his 20 TD passes were eclipsed by 15 quarterbacks. But Wilson does bring an added dimension, his 849 rushing yards easily the most at his position, and he rarely makes mistakes. "He has the ability to run a 4.4 (40-yard dash), and he makes great decisions," Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "He makes great decisions on when to pull it, and he also makes great decisions when, 'OK, I have enough yards, maybe it is time to get down or get out of bounds.' " That's not to mention what Wilson brings to the huddle and locker room. "He's a perfect fit for us," said Seattle coach Pete Carroll. Wilson already has what many quarterbacks search for their entire careers: pocket awareness. He seems to know the perfect moment when the bubble is about to burst and can ad lib with his legs. While some mobile quarterbacks leave the pocket looking to run, Wilson more often than not wants to pass. It makes life a lot easier on his receivers. "You got to find him, and then you just find an open area for him," Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse said. "That's all it takes." When it comes to Wilson's efficiency, it's nothing new. He set the NCAA's single-season record for passing rating under Bielema in 2011. His passer rating in three NFL seasons is 98.5. Super Bowl counterpart Tom Brady's career mark is 95.9. "We've always kind of wanted our quarterback to kind of be the point guard and distribute the ball to different players, and Russell has been fantastic in doing that," Carroll said. Wilson's 36 regular-season victories are the most ever by a third-year quarterback. He's 7-1 in postseason. In fairness to the critics, Wilson has enjoyed a stellar supporting cast. The team's defense is its strength and running back Marshawn Lynch is the heart of the offense. But it's still safe to say Wilson is one of the league's most dynamic players, and it's his improvisation and drive that could eventually make him one of the game's greatest. "The bottom line is winning games, and that is what Russell does," Bevell said. "At this point in time, he is the winningest quarterback in the history of the league. And if he is able to add Super Bowls, he is going to have to be in that conversation." *** Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @Lorenzo_G_Reyes | 1 | 5,180 | sports |
SALEM, Ore. The bird attacking joggers in a Salem city park has been identified as a barred owl, a species the federal government is spending millions to kill in Northwest forests. One runner reported Jan. 13 that he thought he was having a stroke when the bird twice knocked him in the head. The initial identification was great horned owl. The Salem Statesman Journal reports Audubon Society birders now say it's a barred owl, an invasive species from the East that is the greatest threat to northern spotted owls, a threatened species. The U.S. Forest Service is engaged in a $3.5 million experiment to see if shooting barred owls will help spotted owls turn around their downward population trend. Barred owls are territorial during mating season, which lasts a few more weeks. | 5 | 5,181 | news |
SAN DIEGO For the men who coached Junior Seau, played against or alongside him, who organized charity events and played rounds of golf with him, who were mentored by him and who can't forget how it sounded and felt to hear Seau's booming voice call out, "Buddy!" Saturday will be the most bittersweet of days. Seau is expected to be among the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2015, a group which will be voted upon and announced on Saturday in Phoenix a day before Super Bowl XLIX. If Seau's name is called in his first year of eligibility, it will be a deserved honor for a man who was among the best defensive players of his generation, an eight-time All Pro and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's all-decade team for the 1990s. But it will also be a painful reminder that Seau's gone. Two and a half years after Seau played his final game, he committed suicide in May 2012. In 2013, researchers at the National Institutes of Health discovered Seau had suffered from the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Now, those who knew him here in San Diego and across the NFL are still struggling to reconcile the star player and devoted friend they remember with the way he died. "The good and the bad of it is, you remember him as the personality. Unfortunately, we didn't see him enough as a person. I think if we would have, things might have been different," former Chargers linebacker Luis Castillo told USA TODAY Sports. "But he was a personality, an icon. He was so big in everything he did." Seau's legacy hasn't faded in San Diego. He was a local born and raised in Oceanside in northern San Diego County. He starred at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, was drafted by the Chargers in 1990 and spent the first 13 years of his career playing for his hometown team. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. His restaurant, Seau's, was in the Mission Valley shopping district. He held an annual golf tournament to benefit his foundation, but his favorite charity event came every December, when he invited children from the area's Boys and Girls Clubs to go holiday shopping. But it wasn't a typical Shop with a Jock shopping spree. Seau invited the kids to shop for their families and only after that shopping was done would Seau and his celebrity athlete peers add in a present for the child, too. Only the Shop with a Jock event still exists. In December, Seau's parents and two of his sons were joined by dozens of athletes, including many current and former Chargers, in taking over a local Target store. "He was a man that gave, and never stopped giving. He was man that loved everybody, and everybody felt it," Seau's oldest son, Tyler, said on a stage at the event. "This is special, and we will continue to do this, year in, year out, as long as we possibly can. I love you guys, you are all my family." That night, Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o, who, like Seau is of Samoan decent, met Seau's family for the first time, and he did so with reverence. "It's part of our culture to acknowledge and pay your respects, not only to your elders, but especially to the elders and the parents of the person who the event is named after, you know?" Te'o told USA TODAY Sports. "It wouldn't be right for me to go through that whole thing with them there and not go over and pay my respect, being a Polynesian player." Seau likely would have loved Te'o as a fellow Polynesian linebacker but again, Seau seemed to love everyone. His collection of friends included players from across the NFL, guys like former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, who moved to San Diego in 2003, and Bills defensive end Bruce Smith, who was among Seau's golfing buddies, and doctors and local San Diego businessmen. All are anxiously awaiting Saturday's announcement, even though few have doubts Seau will be elected this year. "It's obviously got to happen. I can't imagine having a Professional Football Hall of Fame without Junior Seau in it," New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who coached Seau from 2006-2009. Seau's youngest son, Hunter, will be in Phoenix for the announcement, along with Seau's ex-wife, Gina, among several other friends. A far larger contingent should be expected in Canton, Ohio, for Seau's enshrinement ceremony. "I'll be front and center. I'll be one of the ones balling like a little kid, in memory of my dear brother," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. The tears will come because it is now impossible to separate Seau's career and his tragic death. Though Seau's friends want to remember Seau as a gregarious, happy man and one of the best linebackers in NFL history -- he is also the face of the NFL's concussion crisis. "Anyone that played the game the way he played it, he was selling his body out. Just playing with that reckless abandon that he played with, playing under all types of circumstances - hurt, banged up, probably times he shouldn't have been out there, as we all have. It didn't surprise me that there were findings of CTE," Smith said. "We all have to, for us that are still around, we have to pay attention to the symptoms and the signs. Unfortunately it's far too late for some of our fallen colleagues." *** Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones | 1 | 5,182 | sports |
BOSTON (AP) Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez won't be allowed to watch the team take on the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl while on trial for murder. Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson says Hernandez is not allowed to watch television and has other restrictions imposed on him because he's isolated from other prisoners. Hodgson says Hernandez had always been subject to those restrictions while at the North Dartmouth jail, where he has been the majority of the time since his June 2013 arrest. He noted other prisoners will not be able to view much of the game since evening television time is limited to an hour. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi professional football player who was dating his fiancee's sister. | 1 | 5,183 | sports |
The strange background noises heard during the Predators-St. Louis Blues broadcast on Thursday night remained a mystery Friday. A Fox Sports Tennessee spokesperson on Friday said the station was still investigating and trying to determine the cause of the noises but that there was no further update. Fox Sports Tennessee issued an apology on its Twitter account Thursday after the unusual background noises were heard during a brief portion of the broadcast between the Predators and Blues. Starting with about 12 minutes left in the first period, viewers could hear at least three separate, short background instances of noise unrelated to the broadcast. The noises easily could have been interpreted as sexual in nature, and many viewers said on social media that the noises sounded like a pornographic movie. The noises stopped within a minute of game time and didn't return. The broadcasters could be heard clearly during the entire contest. Predators broadcaster Pete Weber, who was alerted by listeners to the situation during the game, apologized at the start of the third period, though he had no idea exactly what had transpired. John Glennon writes for The (Nashville) Tennessean | 1 | 5,184 | sports |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Phil Mickelson missed the cut Friday in the Phoenix Open, failing to advance for the sixth time in 26 appearances at TPC Scottsdale. The three-time champion had a 5-over 76 in his afternoon round in alternating rain, drizzle and mist. After opening with a 69 on Thursday, he had six bogeys and a birdie in the second round. ''It was a difficult round, I thought, for everyone out there with the weather and the rain,'' Mickelson said. ''My short game was off today. I let a lot of shots slide around the greens and I've got to fix that. That happened last week, as well.'' The 44-year-old Mickelson also missed cuts in 1989, 1992, 2001, 2007 and 2009, the first two as an amateur while in school at Arizona State. He won the event in 1996, 2005 and 2013. ''I was very optimistic heading into this week,'' Mickelson said. ''I'm a little more surprised that I had such a struggle today, because I felt after yesterday's round I was going to really come out today and do something special.'' Lefty headed back to San Diego to prepare for his hometown event next week at Torrey Pines. ''I wasn't planning to go to the Super Bowl, anyway,'' Mickelson said. ''I will go back to San Diego and watch. I will maybe get even a little extra practice round in or two over at Torrey and get ready. See if I can get my short game sharp.'' The Hall of Famer tied for 24th last week in La Quinta, California, in his first event since the Ryder Cup in September. He's winless since the 2013 British Open. --- ONE AND DONE: One rowdy Phoenix Open a year is enough for Bubba Watson. ''If it was every week, we'd get tired of it,'' Watson said. ''We don't want to get booed that many times. It's just like the U.S. Open. We play it once a year. There'd probably be less golfers if we played it every week like that.'' Watson was tied for fourth at 6 under, four strokes behind leader Martin Laird. The two-time Masters champion followed his opening 65 with a 71. After dropping strokes on Nos. 6 and 8, he closed with a birdie on No. 9. ''The rain really affects my golf game,'' Watson said. ''So, for me, this is a great round.'' Watson is giving away Seattle Seahawks jerseys on the par-3 16th hole. ''Different guys for the Seahawks, because I know some guys with the Seahawks and I know some people that work for the Seahawks,'' Watson said. ''So, cheer for them, pull for them. I support a team that I know some people.'' --- SUN DEVIL SHINES: Arizona State junior Jon Rahm was 4 under after a 68. The third-ranked amateur in the world, the long-hitting Spaniard is making his second start in a PGA Tour event. ''It was pretty much the best round in the rain I have ever had,'' Rahm said. ''Where I live, our climate is kind of like this. It gets cold and rainy, so I'm used to this weather.'' Sun Devils coach Tim Mickelson, Phil Mickelson's brother, helped Rahm get a sponsor exemption. In his first PGA Tour event, he missed the cut in November in Mexico in the OHL Classic ''I kind of feel like I belong here,'' Rahm said. ''Yesterday, I was really nervous. ... I kind of didn't play as good as I could have. I learned from that and I was just like, `Whatever happens, just enjoy it. Just learn things and play as good as you can.''' In September in Japan in the World Amateur Team Championship, Rahm broke Jack Nicklaus' individual record at 23-under 263. --- ALLENBY STUMBLES: Robert Allenby missed the cut by a stroke in his first event since his mysterious misadventure in Hawaii. The 43-year-old Australian had a triple bogey and a double bogey in a 3-over 74. He opened with a 70 on Thursday. On Tuesday, Allenby stood by his story that he was robbed and beaten after missing the cut two weeks ago in the Sony Open, basing the account on what he remembered and what he was told by a homeless woman. He said he has ''no memory'' from about 11:06 p.m. to 1:27 a.m. that night. Honolulu police are investigating it as second-degree robbery. No arrests have been made. --- DIVOTS: The crowd was estimated at 81,309 in the wet conditions. The event drew 118,461 on Thursday, a record for the opening round. ... There was a 60 percent chance of more rain Saturday with a forecast high of 63. It is expected to be 70 and mostly sunny Sunday. ... Bill Haas, the Humana Challenge winner last week, made the cut on the number at 1 over after rounds of 71 and 72. | 1 | 5,185 | sports |
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The struggling Pittsburgh Penguins could have given up against the New Jersey Devils. They trailed by a goal in the third period, and goalie Cory Schneider was stopping everything and getting bailed out by some pings off the posts. But the Penguins hung in and pulled out a much-needed win. Defenseman Simon Despres scored 2:21 into overtime, and the Penguins rallied to beat the Devils 2-1 on Friday night. "The way things have been going lately, we could have just accepted this as a loss, but we all stayed with it," said Chris Kunitz, who forced overtime with a power-play goal with 3:11 left in regulation. "That was the key. We stayed with it, stayed focused, kept the pressure on." The loss spoiled a magnificent performance by Schneider, who made 41 saves. The winning goal came after Schneider made a close-in stop on Brandon Sutton. The Penguins kept the puck in the zone, and Despres' shot from inside the blue line beat a screened Schneider. "I didn't get a great look at it," Schneider said. "I think he came one way and shot it back the other through a screen. It just got a piece of the post and went in. It was a nice shot." Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said Schneider's performance was one of the best he has seen by a goalie in a while. "He gave us a chance to win, more than a chance to win," Lamoriello said. "It's a shame he didn't get the win. Certainly the team would get the win, but he deserved a better fate." Marc-Andre Fleury made 13 saves for the Penguins, who fell behind 1-0 when Devils forward Steve Bernier scored on a wraparound 6:08 into the third period. New Jersey failed to tie its season-best, three-game winning streak. Pittsburgh won for the second time in seven games (2-3-2). "We talked about that, the last couple of days, that most importantly, we had to stay with it," Penguins coach Mike Johnston said. "We were playing our game. We played a good game. We didn't flinch after they scored. We did whatever it took to get the game-tying goal. "But when (Kris) Letang's shot hit the post (with 7 minutes left), you have to wonder whether it's going to be our night." Schneider stopped the first 37 Pittsburgh shots and seemed on the verge of his third shutout of the season when Peter Harrold took a high-sticking penalty with 3:29 left in regulation. The Penguins needed only 18 seconds to tie it 1-1. Sidney Crosby, who had been stopped point blank earlier in the period by Schneider on a nice setup by David Perron, took a shot from the right circle that hit Schneider in the chest. Defenseman Adam Larsson couldn't clear the puck, and Kunitz fired the rebound into the net for his 15th goal. "They kept coming," Schneider said. "You have to give Pittsburgh credit. They put a lot of pressure on and took advantage of their opportunities late. We just couldn't get that extra goal or keep them at bay long enough." Bernier had given the Devils the lead with a goal that was aided by the leg of linesman Ryan Galloway. Bernier's dump-in into the Penguins zone hit Galloway, allowing Bernier to retrieve the puck. He skated past defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, went behind the net, came out the other side and banked the puck into the net off Fleury's skate. Schneider kept the Devils in the game in the opening two periods, stopping 20 shots, including a breakaway by Sutter in the first and a backhander by Crosby after a sweeping move from the corner in the second. "We have to be way better, we can't keep relying on Schneids and the other goalies to keep us in there the whole game," Devils forward Patrik Elias said. "We're not taking charge. We're not skating well. We're just sitting back. We have to be hungrier tomorrow." NOTES: Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Penguins F Chris Kunitz played in his 700th NHL game. ... New Jersey's Andy Greene played in his 196th consecutive game, tying Scott Stevens for the second longest streak by a Devils defenseman. ... The Devils are 5-2-2 in their last nine games. ... The Penguins snapped a five-game losing streak in New Jersey. They have won four of their past 18 games there. ... The Devils' 14 shots were their second fewest of the season, one more than they had against Detroit on Dec. 31. ... The 14 shots allowed were a season-low by Pittsburgh, four fewer than Buffalo recorded on Nov. 1. | 1 | 5,186 | sports |
Although fewer young people are getting married today than ever before , research suggests that getting and staying married is one of the best things you can do for yourself. As the New York Times recently concluded , "being married makes people happier and more satisfied with their lives than those who remain single particularly during the most stressful periods, like midlife crises." 1. If you wait until you're 23 to commit, you're less likely to get divorced. A 2014 University of Pennsylvania study found that Americans who cohabitate or get married at age 18 have a 60% divorce rate. But people who waited until 23 to make either of those commitments had a divorce rate around 30%. "All of the literature explained that the reason people who married younger were more likely to divorce was because they were not mature enough to pick appropriate partners," the Atlantic reports . 2. The 'in love' phase lasts about a year. The honeymoon phase with its "high levels of passionate love" and "intense feelings of attraction and ecstasy, as well as an idealization of one's partner," doesn't last forever. According to a 2005 study by the University of Pavia in Italy , it lasts about a year. 3. Eventually you realize that you're not one person. Once you start living together, you realize that you have different priorities and tolerances like, for instance, what does or doesn't consitute a mess. "People have to come to terms with the reality that 'we really are different people,'" says couples therapist Ellyn Bader. "'You are different from who I thought you were or wanted you to be. We have different ideas, different feelings, different interests.'" It's a stressful and necessary evolution . 4. If you get excited for your partner's good news, you'll have a better relationship. In multiple studies , couples that actively celebrated good news (rather than actively or passively dismissed it) have had a higher rate of relationship well-being. For example, say a wife comes home to her husband and shares an accomplishment. As we've reported before, an "active-constuctive" response would be the best : • An active-constructive response from him would be enthusiastic support: "That's great, honey! I knew you could do it, you've been working so hard." • A passive-constructive response would be understated support a warm smile and a simple "That's good news." • An active-destructive response would be a statement that demeaned the event: "Does this mean you are going to be gone working even longer hours now? Are you sure you can handle it?" • Finally, a passive-destructive response would virtually ignore the good news: "Oh, really? Well you won't believe what happened to me on the drive home today!" 5. Two people can be compatible or incompatible on multiple levels. Back in the 1950s and '60s, Canadian psychologist Eric Berne introduced a three-tiered model for understanding a person's identity. He found that each of us have three "ego states" operating at once: • The parent: What you've been taught • The child: What you have felt • The adult: What you have learned When you're in a relationship, you relate on each of those levels: • The parent: Do you have similar values and beliefs about the world? • The child: Do you have fun together? Can you be spontaneous? Do you think your partner's hot? Do you like to travel together? • The adult: Does each person think the other is bright? Are you good at solving problems together? While having symmetry across all three is ideal, people often get together to "balance each other out." For instance, one may be nurturing and the other playful. 6. The happiest marriages are between best friends. A 2014 National Bureau of Economic Research study found that marriage does indeed lead to increased well-being, mainly thanks to friendship. Controlling for pre-marital happiness, the study concluded that marriage leads to increased well-being and it does so much more for those who have a close friendship with their spouses. Friendship, the paper found, is a key mechanism that could help explain the causal relationship between marriage and life satisfaction. 7. The closer a couple is in age, the less likely they are to get divorced. A study of 3,000 recently married and recently divorced Americans found that age discrepancies correlate to friction in marriages. Megan Garber reports : A one-year discrepancy in a couple's ages, the study found, makes them 3 percent more likely to divorce (when compared to their same-aged counterparts); a 5-year difference, however, makes them 18 percent more likely to split up. And a 10-year difference makes them 39 percent more likely. 8. Resentment builds quickly in couples that don't tackle chores together. Over 60% of Americans say that taking care of chores plays a crucial role in having a successful marriage. " It's Not You, It's the Dishes " author Paula Szuchman recommends a system where each person specializes in the chores they're best at. "[I]f you really are better at the dishes than remembering to call the in-laws, then that should be your job," she writes. "It'll take you less time than it'll take him, and it'll take him less time to have a quick chat with mom than it would take you, which means in the end, you've saved quite a bit of collective time." 9. We have higher standards for marriage than ever before. Northwestern psychologist Eli Finkel has found that marriage in America has gone through through three stages : • Institutional marriage (from the nation's founding until 1850) • Companionate marriage (from 1851 to 1965) • Self-expressive marriage (from 1965 onward) Before 1850, couples got hitched for the sake of food, shelter, and protection from danger. Then with the Industrial Revolution people had more leisure time, Finkel says, so we started looking for companionship in our partners. The '60s brought a yearning for personal fulfillment through relationships , which we continue to strive for today. | 4 | 5,187 | lifestyle |
The Pelicans star forward Anthony Davis argued his case to play Friday night versus the LA Clippers, but New Orleans' coaches and athletic trainers intervened, concerned Davis' Grade 1 groin strain was still too tender. Since Davis injured himself Wednesday night in the Pelicans clash with the Nuggets, he's been adhering to a strict regimen of ice to control swelling and electric stimulation therapy, at least four times a day. New Orleans' training staff is trying to direct as much blood flow to the injured area as possible. Davis' mild strain means the muscle fibers have separated, but not nearly as severely as a full rupture. The All Star tried to run drills Friday morning at shoot around, but was still moving awkwardly and stiffly, without his signature burst. "He had some soreness this morning," head coach Monty Williams said. "He tried to work out, but we didn't like what we saw. I have to be his brains in a situation like this. He wants to play. The want-to was in his eyes, but the can-do is totally different." Instead Davis spent much of Friday morning's shoot-around sitting with his left upper thigh wrapped in ice. Later, Davis moved into the pool to try and get in some sort of productive activity. Friday evening before tipoff, Davis switched to heat therapy to test whether his muscles could properly fire. The Pelicans are hopeful Davis could return to action Monday night at home versus the red-hot Atlanta Hawks. MORE FROM FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST: - Highest paid coaches in college football - Ranking NFL quarterback salaries - Oldest player on every NBA team - Famous Dallas Cowboys fans | 1 | 5,188 | sports |
Tiger Woods had quite the adventure at the 16th hole, and the gallery gave him a mixed reaction on the Greatest Show on Grass. | 1 | 5,189 | sports |
"I have mastered flirting!" | 8 | 5,190 | video |
OCALA, Fla. (AP) Lydia Ko is one round from potentially making golf history. The 17-year-old New Zealander birdied five consecutive holes and shot a 7-under 65 in the third round of the Coates Golf Championship on Friday to take the outright lead in the LPGA Tour's season opener. If she hangs on Saturday, she would become the youngest golfer -- male or female -- to be ranked No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings. "I really haven't thought about it," Ko said. "Like I've always said, the rankings come after the results in each tournament. It would be great and it would be a huge honor to be in that position, but we've still got another long, 18 holes to go, and you never know what's going to happen in those holes." Second-round leader Ha Na Jang was a stroke back at 13-under 203 after a 1-under 71 Friday. Fellow South Korean Na Yeon Choi shot a 6-under 66 and was two back at 12 under. American Stacy Lewis (70) was 10 under, one stroke ahead of Amy Yang (65), Jessica Korda (69) and Austin Ernst (70). Michelle Wie and Cheyenne Woods both shot 73 in the third round and fell further back in the 77-player field at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club. All of them are chasing Ko, who is chasing history as well as her sixth career LPGA victory. "There are so many great players that are like one to four shots (back)," Ko said. "You just never know what's going to happen. I'm just going to concentrate on my game, stay really positive and if somebody else shoots a much bigger score than I do, I can't really do much about it. I'm just going to focus and hopefully I'll be able to shoot a good score (Saturday)." By mid-afternoon Friday, much of the focus had turned to Ko. She three-putted Nos. 10 and 11 to start the back nine, falling four strokes behind leader Jang. Ko slammed her putter into her bag and mumbled to herself, `OK, you've got to start working again." She outplayed everyone on the course from there, showing the poise of a tour veteran instead of the nerves of a teenager. "She's acting more mature than 17 years old, like at least 25," said Choi, who played a practice round with Ko near Orlando last week. "She's so mature. Sometimes, when we're having dinner or lunch, she's 17 years old. She likes to eat some chocolate or ice cream or that kind of stuff. "But on the course or on the range, when she has a golf club, I think she totally changes," Choi added. It showed when she responded to those consecutive bogeys with a lengthy birdie run. It started at the par-5 12th, one of eight tribute holes modeled after some of the most famous courses from around the world. It's a replica of the third and final leg of Amen Corner at Augusta National. She nearly reached the 12th green in two and then chipped it close. She followed that by hitting a hybrid from the 13th fairway to 3 feet and made the putt. Ko sank a 20-footer for birdie on the 14th, drained an 8-footer on No. 15 and then notched her 11th one-putt of the round with a 6-footer at the 16th. She had a chance to make it six in row at after hitting a 6-iron to 8 feet at 17, but her putt came up short. She babied another relatively short putt at 18. "I just didn't want to ram it by," she said. "I was a little tentative there. I just have to stay in that concentrated mood, I guess." Ko can finish second or third Saturday and still supplant Inbee Park, who is tied for 17th at 3 under, as the world's No. 1 player. It would be the latest feat on Ko's growing resume, which includes winning the inaugural Race to the CME Globe, which included a $1 million bonus last season, and becoming the youngest to win the tour's rookie of the year award. Now, she has a chance to really make a mark. "It's never over until you pull the glove out of your pocket and put it in your bag," Ko said. "You've just got to concentrate until the last moment." | 1 | 5,191 | sports |
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. A Wisconsin snow sculpting team that won the last two national championships is trying to defend its trophy in Lake Geneva. The U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship began Wednesday, with judging set for Saturday along Geneva Lake. David Andrews, Jason Anhorn and Steve Bateman make up one of the Wisconsin teams. They are following up their last two wins with a sculpture of two connected trees this year. Andrews has been part of seven championship teams altogether. The 15 teams from 10 states receive a cylinder snow block 8 feet in diameter and 9 feet high. They can use saws, axes, files, scaffolding, shovels and other homemade implements. They will be judged on creativity, technique and message. The winner also gets an invite to an international snow sculpting competition. | 5 | 5,192 | news |
A group of Seattle Seahawks super fans have created the ultimate tailgating experience. NBC Sports' Dave Briggs reports. | 8 | 5,193 | video |
Housing is so sparse in the oil boomtown of Williston, North Dakota that new apartments being built are going for what you might pay for rent in New York City or San Francisco. | 3 | 5,194 | finance |
CNN's Karin Caifa looks at the trends for this year's Super Bowl commercials. A 30 second advertisement can cost up to $4.5 million according to Kantar Media. | 5 | 5,195 | news |
Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp assisted on all four of Chicago's goals in their win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. | 1 | 5,196 | sports |
ATLANTA The Atlanta Hawks keep finding new ways to extend the longest winning streak in franchise history. This time, Kent Bazemore was the surprise star off the bench. Atlanta overcame 37 points by Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge to win its 18th straight game by overpowering the Trail Blazers in the final period for a 105-99 victory Friday night. The big lead for each team was only six points. There were four ties in the fourth quarter before the Hawks took the lead for good midway through the period on a basket by Al Horford, who had 17 points. "We got stops when we needed to and really got into a rhythm offensively," Horford said. The Hawks overcame a sudden shortage of wing players to keep their streak alive before a sellout crowd. Atlanta's DeMarre Carroll missed the game with a left Achilles strain. His replacement, Thabo Sefolosha, lasted only two minutes before leaving with a right calf strain. The Hawks' depth came through again. Bazemore, the team's third option at small forward, didn't miss a beat. Bazemore made his first three shots and finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Bazemore, who usually plays about 12 minutes per game, logged almost 40 minutes. "With Thabo going down and DeMarre already hurt," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said, "for Kent Bazemore to come in and play the way he did and play as many minutes as he did ... it was just a team effort, everybody contributing." Another bench player, Mike Scott, added 11 points. "We're confident in one through 15 here," Horford said. "Guys really put in the time, guys work every day. They just don't get the opportunity because we're so deep." Portland, which has lost four of five, led after each of the first three quarters but was outscored 36-25 in the final period. "If I could explain it then it wouldn't happen," said Aldridge of the fourth-quarter letdown. "It's part of the season. We just have to stick with it." The Hawks have not lost in 2015. The winning streak began after a loss to Milwaukee on Dec. 26. "They're good," Aldridge said of the Hawks. "We could have played better, but they're good. "Defensively, they're definitely better than what people think." Paul Millsap scored 21 points to lead six Atlanta scorers in double figures. TIP-INS Trail Blazers: Aldridge had a game-high 11 rebounds. Wesley Matthews had 16 points and Damian Lillard had 13 points with 11 assists and six turnovers. ... Portland is 18-5 against the Eastern Conference, including two losses to Atlanta. Hawks: Atlanta improved to 13-2 against the Western Conference, including a franchise-record 12 straight wins. The Lakers were the last Western Conference team to beat Atlanta 114-109 at Los Angeles on Nov. 18. ... Attendance was 19,018, a sellout. SNUBBED Portland coach Terry Stotts was not pleased commissioner Adam Silver on Friday selected Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins instead of Lillard to replace injured Lakers star Kobe Bryant on the Western Conference All-Star team. "I don't understand why or how he was not voted to the team to begin with," Stotts said. "I don't understand why or how he wasn't named a replacement." Lillard made only 6 of 20 shots from the field, including only one of nine 3-pointers, but insisted he wasn't pressing. "I didn't want to go out of my way to try to prove a point," Lillard said. "I just tried to do what I always do to try to give our team a chance to win." UNSTOPPABLE Aldridge, who has continued to play with a torn ligament in his left thumb, again showed why he'll be a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team. He scored 10 straight points late in the first half, including a turnaround 3-pointer that started the run. He closed the half with a three-point play to give the Trail Blazers a 51-50 lead at the break. UP NEXT: Trail Blazers: At Milwaukee on Saturday. Hawks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday. | 1 | 5,197 | sports |
Before there was Osama Bin Laden, there was Imad Mugniyah, Hezbollah's terrorist mastermind. He was called the "father of smoke," because he disappeared like a wisp after engineering his spectacular terrorist attacks, including two that took the lives of hundreds of Americans in Lebanon in 1983 alone. By most accounts, Imad Mugniyah killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda before most people had even heard of Bin Laden. By the mid-1980s, he topped the FBI's Most Wanted list. But to the CIA, especially, he was public enemy number one, having engineered the 1983 obliteration of the American Embassy in Beirut, which killed legendary CIA Middle East hand Robert Ames, as well as the directing the kidnapping and murder of Beirut CIA station chief William Buckley. Mugniyah was also credited with quarterbacking the bombing of the Marine and French paratrooper barracks at the Beirut airport in 1983, the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 843, which resulted in the death of US Navy diver Robert Stethem, and a score of other kidnappings and assassinations. He was also suspected of orchestrating two bombings in Buenos Aires, the first on the Israeli embassy in 1992 and a Jewish community center two and a half years later. But in February 2008, the CIA caught up with the terrorist kingpin in Damascus. A powerful car bomb liquidated him in the same way he had killed so many others. Media reports fingered Israel's legendary Mossad for the hit. But according to former U.S. intelligence officials interviewed by Newsweek, it was a CIA operation, authorized personally by President George W. Bush and carried out by the CIA under the direct supervision of then-director Michael Hayden and a very, very small group of top CIA officials. "That was us," said a former official who participated in the project, on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation. "The Israelis told us where he was and gave us logistical help. But we designed the bomb that killed him and supervised the operation." Said another source, a former senior CIA operative with deep Middle East experience: "It was an Israeli-American operation. Everybody knows CIA did it everybody in the Middle East anyway." And the CIA's authorship of Mugniyah's bloody death, he said, should have been told long ago. "It sends the message that we will track you down, no matter how much time it takes," he said. "The other side needs to know this." "GO WITH GOD" Mugniyah's death warrant may have been signed as far back as the Reagan administration, in a presidential "finding" authorizing the terrorist's capture or assassination after the bombings of the Marine barracks and American embassy, the former CIA official said. But apparently U.S. counterterrorist operatives couldn't find him. In 2007, however, Mossad's then-chief, Meir Dagan, tipped the CIA to a Mugniyah hideout in Damascus, said another source involved in the hunt. "Dagan said basically, 'We have acquired the location of him and we know that he has a lot of American blood on his hands and so we would like to offer this up to you in terms of what would you like to do with him?" [Dagan did not respond to a request for comment.] On the CIA's seventh floor, Hayden convened a discreet meeting on Mugniyah. The initial discussion group was at first limited to his deputy Steve Kappes; Michael Sulick, boss of the Directorate of Clandestine services (the agency's spy corps); and Mike Walker, chief of the Near East Division; and a few aides. (The CIA and all the participants named in this story refused to acknowledge any agency involvement in the operation when queried by Newsweek .) At first, Hayden, a former Air Force general, was excited about the chance to exterminate a man who had killed so many Americans, including some of the CIA's finest officers, recalled one former official. But he soon had second thoughts. "General Hayden, at first, was all for this," the former official said, "But slowly, or maybe not so slowly, the realization set in for him that he was ordering an assassination, that basically he was putting out a hit. And once he became pretty much cognizant of the fact that he was basically ordering the murder of someone, he got cold feet. He didn't fancy himself as a Corleone." And he wasn't, really. That role would ultimately fall to the president. "Obviously he had to get authority for this, and authority could come from only one person, and that would be POTUS," the acronym for the President of the United States, said the participant. "So he went down to see President Bush. It took Bush apparently only about 30 seconds to say, 'Yes, and why haven't you done this already? You have my blessing. Go with God.'" A ban on assassinations had been in place since 1975, but evidently suspected terrorists weren't protected by it. (Bush's former national security advisor, Stephen Hadley, refused comment when contacted by Newsweek last year.) CHOOSING A WEAPON On the seventh floor, planning for a hit lurched forward. CIA Acting Counsel John Rizzo green-lighted the project, an authoritative source said. The group tossed around various assassination scenarios involving poison or a rifle shot, but discarded them as too difficult or risky in Damascus, a city tightly controlled by President Bashar al-Assad's secret police. "Shooting you got to make sure he's dead, for one thing," a participant said. "You got to get close to him. And how do you get the shooter out? Even if it's a sniper from aways out, there's got to be an egress route for the person, or persons, to get out before the Syrians shut the area down. So that was ruled out." "There was no way to capture him," the source added. "I mean, what would you do with him? So it came down to being a kill operation." And the decision was made to use a bomb. But what kind of bomb? Weeks, and then months, passed as the CIA's bomb technicians presented Hayden with various devices. They were all too big. Frustration was building, both inside the building and out. In Israel, the delays were "driving Dagan and Mossad absolutely bonkers," said a participant in the planning. "If it was up to them, he would've been dead long before this. Because of all the controls, it was taking a long time." Bomb experts in the CIA's Office of Technical Services were being sent back again and again, on Hayden's orders, to make a device that would limit its lethal blast to a small radius. "It went from being a traditional car bomb, with a load of C-4 or Semtex or something packed into car chassis, into a very narrowly focused, very tailored weapon, which turned into basically a very large claymore mine, if you will, a shaped charge" hidden in the center of a rear tire mounted on the back of a Toyota or Mitsubishi sports utility vehicle, a source said. "It was designed to throw out everything in a specific direction." Hayden liked the idea. The technicians tested bomb prototypes at a clandestine facility at Harvey Point, near Myock, N.C. Meanwhile, CIA and Mossad agents in Syria were keeping an eye on Mugniyah, the participant said. "We had folks in Damascus and we're doing this as well but nobody could do it like Mossad." The CIA's Near East Division, meanwhile, was working on the logistics of getting a bomb into Syria and placing it in a car that Mugniyah would walk by. "The vehicle would be purchased locally in Damascus," the planning participant said. "The device would be taken into Syria. Everybody figured we would fly it into Jordan and get it across the border from Jordan into Syria clandestinely." But in late December, with the bomb ready and Mugniyah firmly in their sights, Hayden "started to get really cold feet again," the participant said. He decided to go see Bush personally on Christmas Eve, 2007, at Camp David. "On Christmas Eve morning, he and [Deputy CIA Director Steven] Kappes fly up to Camp David to see POTUS, to say, 'Okay, look, here's what we got, everything is in place, do we still have the go-ahead?' And POTUS basically threw both of them out, saying, 'Why are you up here wasting my time on Christmas Eve? Get the fuck out and go do this. Not quite in those terms. But it was, 'Yes, I've already given you my approval, go do this, go with God.'" Hayden and Kappes choppered back to CIA headquarters and called a meeting in the director's conference room. With Christmas Eve fast approaching, the corridors were nearly empty. "He comes back, he holds one last meeting where he got together everyone involved," recalled someone involved in the planning. "It was mid-afternoon, Christmas Eve. There were not a lot of people in the building. Everyone's already scooted out for Christmas. But they go over everything one more time: Here's a device, it's not too big, it's not too small…" Hayden was in his seat at the head of the long, shiny table. A model of the bomb had been placed in front of him, a planning participant said. The real thing had been flown to Jordan. "He looks at it, asks some questions, and after about a 30-second delay you could hear the seconds ticking away in the clock of his credenza he says, 'Okay, let's do it.'" SIX SECONDS IN DAMASCUS A call came from Jordan the next day, Christmas. The bomb had been successfully driven into Syria. A rendezvous was made with another CIA operative in Damascus, who took possession of the bomb and installed it on an SUV obtained locally. Then the waiting began again. "One of the things they had to wait for, believe it or not, was for a parking space to open up. There were a couple of spaces outside the apartment building that gave them the opportunity, but there was one in particular that that would be the most efficient, if you will," for killing Mugniyah, the participant said. Finally, the car was in place. But then there were always other people around. Weeks more went by. Hayden's demands that only Mugniyah be killed, and no one else, with no collateral damage, had to be met. "It was always either he wasn't alone, or he had his kids with him, or somebody else with him, or there were casuals in the area, or he was gone, he was in the Bekka [Valley] or someplace else, he wasn't in his apartment," the participant said. "The rules of engagement were so tight that he probably walked past the thing dozens of times but they just couldn't do anything because somebody was there or it just didn't fit into the rules of engagement." "They were keeping watch on this just about all the time," he added. "They were taking shifts, a station officer and a Mossad officer. The Mossad officer was there just to make the confirmation that, yeah, that's him." The kill was made all the harder by the way the bomb would be detonated. There was a two-second delay from the time the CIA and Mossad agents in the lookout post pushed the button to when the bomb exploded. Under the plan, the Mossad agent would ID Mugniyah "that's him" and the CIA man would press the remote control. "So you would have to count one thousand, two thousand... " the participant said. "They had about six seconds from the time he came out of the apartment door to the time he moved out of the danger zone. So they had to do it really fast." Finally, on the night of Feb.12, 2008, after two months of round-the-clock surveillance, they caught Mugniyah alone. "They made a positive ID. Click. One thousand...two thousand...ka-boom. It separated Mr. Mugniyah's arms, legs, and head from the remainder of his torso, which was catapulted about 50 feet through a window," the participant said. "It worked exactly like it was supposed to." IMPLAUSIBLE DENIALS Twenty thousand people turned out for Mugniyah's funeral in Beirut, many screaming "Death to Israel." Prime minister Ehud Olmert denied responsibility. "Israel rejects the attempt by terrorist elements to ascribe to it any involvement whatsoever in this incident," his office said in a statement . The CIA was pleased with Mugniyah's murder, but not so much to take credit for it. Agency officials always feared Hezbollah would feel a need to retaliate. Since Mugniyah's demise, no Americans are known to have died at the hands of Hezbollah. Experts on the region ascribe that to the organization's evolution from a guerrilla and terrorist group to a key political party in Lebanon, beginning in 1992. Today, its military arm is fighting the Islamic State in Syria, in parallel with, if not in coordination with, the U.S. But its tit-for-tat war with Israel continues. Last week, Hezbollah ambushed several Israeli vehicles patrolling the Lebanese border, killing two IDF soldiers and wounding seven. The attack was in response to an earlier Israeli air assault that killed an Iranian Revolutionary Guard general and several Hezbollah commanders. One of the latter was Jihad Mugniyah, the son of the legendary terrorist. At an event to commemorate his death in Beirut, mourners held pictures of his late father, Imad. They are now buried side by side. Newsweek senior writer Jonathan Broder contributed to this report | 5 | 5,198 | news |
We get you caught up with Friday's top stories, including Hassan Whiteside's monster first quarter, Martin Laird's strong day at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the day's best NHL action. | 1 | 5,199 | sports |
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