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In the same call in which he announced that he would not run for 2016, Mitt Romney appeared to take a swing at the nationally-known candidates for 2016. | 5 | 5,300 | news |
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. A NASA satellite lifted off early Saturday with the hope it will transmit data that will help the world do a better job of preparing for floods and droughts. The satellite is on a three-year mission to track the amount of water locked in soil, which may help residents in low-lying regions brace for floods or farmers get ready for drought conditions. The Delta 2 rocket carrying the Soil Moisture Active Passive or SMAP satellite launched shortly before sunrise from Vandenberg Air Force Base on California's central coast. As the rocket zoomed skyward, it gave off an orange glow. About an hour later, the satellite successfully separated from the rocket and began unfurling its solar panels to start generating power. NASA launch manager Tim Dunn said there were zero launch problems with the rocket, calling Delta 2 a "workhorse." Once the satellite reaches the desired orbit 430 miles high, engineers will spend two weeks checking out the two instruments, which will measure moisture in the soil every several days to produce high-resolution global maps. Scientists hope data collected by the satellite, the latest to join NASA's Earth-orbiting fleet, will improve flood forecasts and drought monitoring. At a news conference broadcast online, SMAP mission project manager Kent Kellogg said the launch went off without a hitch and called it a "terrific ride into space." "This data will benefit not only scientists seeking a better understanding of our planet, climate and environment ... it's a boon for emergency planners and policy makers," said Geoffery Yoder, NASA's deputy associate administrator for programs. Currently, drought maps and flash flood guidance issued by the federal government are based on computer modeling. SMAP will take real-time measurements that can be incorporated into forecasts, said Dara Entekhabi, mission science team leader from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The rocket was supposed to fly earlier this week, but high winds and technical problems kept it grounded. JPL manages the $916 million mission, which is designed to last at least three years. Besides the satellite, the rocket also carried three research nanosatellites for JPL, Montana State University and California Polytechnic State University. More than 100 university students took part in designing and building the tiny satellites known as CubeSats. All four CubeSats were ejected and flying free Saturday morning and their transmitters were slowly being turned on, said Scott Higginbotham, a mission manager in the Ground Processing Directorate at NASA. | 5 | 5,301 | news |
Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only daughter of late pop star Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown, was found unresponsive in a bathtub at her Georgia home on Saturday, but she was revived after being rushed to a hospital, police said. The incident comes three years after Houston, a superstar who battled substance abuse issues, drowned in a bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, in February 2012. Authorities have said cocaine use and heart disease contributed to her death. Brown, 21, was found at about 10:20 a.m. (1520 GMT) in the bathtub at her suburban Atlanta home by her husband and a friend, said Lisa Holland, public information officer for the Roswell Police Department. Brown's husband, Nick Gordon, started CPR and police continued life-saving measures until an ambulance arrived and took her to the hospital. "She's alive at the hospital," Holland said. She gave no other details. Brown was admitted to North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, a suburb north of Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Hospital officials did not immediately respond to calls requesting comment. Brown married Nick Gordon in January 2014. Gordon was also raised by Houston, one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, but she never formally adopted him. Houston, whose dozens of hit songs include "How Will I Know" and "I Will Always Love You," was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of pop singer Dionne Warwick. Bobbi Kristina Brown's father, Bobby Brown, is a Grammy Award winner who started his career as frontman for the R&B group New Edition. | 6 | 5,302 | entertainment |
PHOENIX If Russell Wilson is the face of the Seattle Seahawks and Richard Sherman is the voice, what can be said about Marshawn Lynch? "He's the heartbeat. No question about it," said Sherman Smith, Seattle's running backs coach. Yet back in July, when Lynch failed to report to the start of the Seahawks' training camp in Renton, Wash., Smith and others found themselves wondering if the heartbeat would fade or if one of the most beloved player in Seattle's locker room would ever show up. Smith was hoping Lynch and the Seahawks would solve their contractual issues, and that Lynch would ultimately decide to continue to play football. Smith also braced himself for Lynch to walk away from the game, perhaps to stay in northern California to coach kids or to run his Beast Mode business full-time. "My perception was, if he comes back, that's great. I wanted him to come back. But if he felt like he's unhappy, he wants to retire or whatever it is, I was going to wish him the best. That's all I was going to do," Smith said. That holdout wound up being a brief one, and ended with a compromise that resulted in a $1 million raise over the final two years of Lynch's contract. In turn, he rewarded the Seahawks with another stellar season leading the NFL in touchdown runs (13) and finishing fourth in the rushing yards (1,306) with the second-highest total of his career. VIDEO: Which running back will tip the scales Sunday? It should be a no-brainer that Lynch would be back next year, at age 29. But with Lynch, few things are simple making some wonder if Super Bowl XLIX will be "Beast Mode's" last run with the Seahawks. Seahawks general manager John Schneider said he hopes Lynch will be on the roster in 2015, and that he has no reason to believe otherwise. But until Lynch walks through the doors of the team's practice facility in July, when he is scheduled to start the final year of the four-year, $30 million contract he signed in 2012, Seattle can expect to face questions about the enigmatic running back. "I mean, you can't get into anybody's head or mind or heart. You have no idea," Schneider said. Lynch, of course, offered no insight into his plans this week as the Seahawks prepared to face the New England Patriots here on Sunday. He has spent most of the week not answering questions from reporters, a move that might irk some media members, but is written off by Lynch's coaches and teammates as Lynch just being himself. They care more about how Lynch acts behind the closed locker room doors (good luck finding a Seahawks player to say something bad about him) and how he performs on Sundays. "It shows how big of a part of our offense he is by how we utilize him. We use him all the time," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell told USA TODAY Sports. "He's a huge piece of our puzzle. He's really our identity. With the beast mode and the physical toughness that he shows, the determination that he shows on his runs, that's kind of us." The Seahawks count on Lynch not just for the jaw-dropping tackle-breaking runs, but also for a game's worth of grinding often wearing down the opposing defense. Plays that might be just 2- or 3-yard gains in the first quarter often become 5-yard runs by halftime, and soul-crushing big gains by the fourth quarter, center Max Unger said. "It's his ability to extend plays and just make crazy stuff happen, you know, he turns 2-yard runs into 10-yard runs," Unger said. Though the Seahawks have spent several seasons developing Lynch's backups, Robert Turbin and Christine Michael, most know just how special Lynch is in Seattle. It's why Unger can admit he was worried during Lynch's holdout, and why Bevell said he tries not to imagine what his offense would look like without Lynch. But for now, the Seahawks are banking on one more big postseason day out of Lynch, who rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown in the NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers. By late spring, and then into summer, the Seahawks can start to wonder about Lynch's future and how much longer Lynch will be able to and want to play at this elite level. "I think that's a great question, and I'm just not comfortable answering it because I don't know," Schneider said. "He takes great care of himself down in San Francisco. Every time he's gone away and we haven't seen him for a while, he comes back, like stronger and faster and quicker than he had before." PHOTOS: This week at Super Bowl XLIX | 1 | 5,303 | sports |
The NFL will keep a tight rein on more than 100 footballs available for use by the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Super Bowl 49. The league's championship spectacular will unfold on Sunday under the cloud of "Deflategate," a probe into whether the Patriots purposely used under-inflated footballs to gain an advantage in their playoff rout of Indianapolis. Dean Blandino, the NFL's head of officiating, said this week that the Super Bowl footballs would be tested before the big game for correct pressure -- as he believes was done properly in the Colts' game at Foxborough. Before a typical NFL game, 12 balls per team are brought to the officials' locker room where they are tested to ensure they are properly inflated and otherwise meet requirements, then are stamped by the referee. For the Super Bowl, each team gets 54 footballs. All were handed over to the NFL on Friday by the teams, who were able to practice with and prepare them. The man in charge of them until Sunday's game is Chicago Bears equipment manager Tony Medlin, who will bring the balls to officials for pre-game inspection, after which they will be turned over to the ball boys. "He's been doing this for a long time," Blandino said. The procedure is standard for the Super Bowl, although Blandino said there were some "additional security measures" laid on that he didn't specify. "Not quite Stanley Cup," he said, in a reference to protection for the NHL's famous trophy, "but there will be additional measures." The increased number of balls used for the Super Bowl is also standard procedure, Blandino said. "During the first half, we rotate footballs in as much as possible, because then those balls are used for charity and the NFL auction," he said. "That's something that's been in place for many years at the Super Bowl." On Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell promised a "thorough" investigation into how some of the footballs used by New England in their AFC Championship win over Indianapolis came to be under the minimum pressure required by the league. An under-inflated ball could be easier to grip and throw in the cold, rainy conditions that prevailed for the game. Blandino said he believed the footballs for that game were inspected properly, and "officiating is not part of the investigation." Blandino added that officials rechecked the balls -- and reinflated some -- at halftime because "a football came into question." He left open the question of whether inflation levels would be checked at halftime on Sunday. "If a situation comes up, we'll adjust," Blandino said. | 1 | 5,304 | sports |
Birds do it. Bees do it. Even, it is said, educated fleas do it. The problem is that, increasingly, we DON'T do it. The pressures of modern life and a now often normal state of exhaustion mean that our sex lives are suffering. There are solutions at hand, however. And some of them can be found in the supermarket. What you eat can play an important role in how sexually active you feel and serve to raise your energy - and libido - levels. Indulging in a few aphrodisiacal foods can turn into an exciting experiment with your partner with fruity, fiery results. Include these foods in your weekly diet and reap the rewards. Read on to discover 10 surprising foods that boost your libido . A trip to the supermarket can spice up your sex life as well as your dinner plate. Oysters A feature on edible Viagra substitutes has to include this most famous of aphrodisiacs. Modern myth? Actually, no. Oysters pack in zinc - good for sperm production - testosterone - rah - and dopamine, a hormone that increases libido. And guys, you get to crack them open with a knife and kill them, which might also make you feel more manly. Honey What was that about bees doing it? When's the traditional time to get frisky? Honeymoon. Why is it called that? Because of an old custom - probably Persian - where the newlyweds drank mead for a month to get them busy making little Persians. Appropriately, it's full of B vitamins which help in the production of testosterone, plus it's a low GI food, meaning it gives a slow, steady energy release which helps your stamina. Tomatoes In parts of Europe, the tomato was nicknamed the "love apple" for its perceived aphrodisiac qualities and banned in Rome as the devil's fruit. Some even say it was a tomato, not an apple, which caused Adam and Eve's problems. Myth? Actually, no. The skin is rich in lycopene, which is essential for prostate health, and the high beta-carotene content converts to Vitamin A, which does wonders for your private parts. Brown rice As we said with honey, if a diet turns you into a love god, you're going to need the stamina. Brown rice is another slow burn, packs a lot of Vitamin B into each tiny grain and provides magnesium, which aids muscle contraction and thus, in turn, things like sexual performance (the physical mechanics of it) and orgasm. No wonder the hippies had a reputation for free love. Avocadoes The name of this fruit comes from the Aztec for testicles. That's partly the shape - you'll never be able to squeeze one in public again, will you? - but also the effect they have on said bits. Avocadoes are rich in Vitamin B6, which is a powerful source of male-hormone production. Brazil nuts While not necessarily beneficial to libido, assuming you want to have children, the Brazil nut is your friend. Modern diets, according to some Italian research, are often low in selenium, a chemical that helps prevent damage to sperm cells. Brazil nuts, as you've probably guessed, are a rich source of selenium. Just three a day will boost your chances of having healthy sperm. Figs This isn't shaping up to be a bad diet at all, is it? The fig is a thing of beauty, a juicy, sensual fruit that also does you good: they're full of amino acids, which improve sexual stamina and some say increase libido. They're also delicious. Watermelon You know how Viagra works, right? The little blue triangle relaxes the blood vessels to enable blood to flow to the bits of the anatomy that are supposed to stay active during sex. According to some Texan research, watermelons are a fine source of citrulline and arginine, two acids which can cause the body to prevent nitric oxide. And what does nitric oxide do to blood vessels? Yes, you guessed. Not as convenient to keep in your pocket as Viagra admittedly, but a lot easier to introduce at the breakfast table. Garlic Also good for the blood flow? Garlic. Here's the science: Garlic contains allicin which helps blood flow AND increases libido. There's the slight issue of breath, of course, but if she's eating it too, you'll cancel each other out, no problem. Vanilla ice cream All of the above AND we give you dessert? Why, MSN, you are spoiling us. Incredibly, vanilla has aphrodisiac qualities. One of the world's most popular scents, in everything from those huge candles she loves buying to toilet air fresheners, there's a good reason why that's the case: the smell of vanilla can increase penile blood flow. Have it with figs and honey for pudding - but don't say we didn't warn you. | 7 | 5,305 | health |
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is positioned to capitalize on Mitt Romney's surprise announcement that he will not make a third White House bid in 2016. The Badger State executive is sure to use his appearance on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday to tout his own experience leading a battleground state since 2011. He has already thanked Romney for "opening the door" for another Republican candidate. Romney taking himself off the list of potential 2016 presidential contenders is sure to drive the conversation on the other Sunday morning shows, too. His 2012 running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will appear on NBC's "Meet the Press," while a former senior adviser in that same quest, now CNN commentator Kevin Madden, will discuss the GOP field on CNN's "State of the Union." Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) is likely to discuss his own possible presidential bid on CNN. The same is true of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who will appear on CBS's "Face the Nation," armed with the backing of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), himself a former GOP nominee to the presidency, in 2008. NBC promotional material for "Meet the Press" says that Ryan, the GOP's budget architect, will also talk about his priorities for the new Congress and where he thinks lawmakers can make progress. Foreign policy will almost certainly be on the agenda for "Face the Nation," which includes guests Graham, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and former Secretary of State James Baker. Expect the guests to talk about the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the fight against terrorism, and what the new king in Saudi Arabia means for American diplomacy. "Meet the Press" is also likely to touch on those issues, as it will feature an appearance by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The same can be said about "State of the Union," where McCain will appear. On the same show, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) will look to shed light on relations between the United States and Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's forthcoming address to Congress. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is likely to discuss initiatives for veterans in his state during his appearance on "Fox News Sunday," including his declaration of Monday, Feb. 2, as "Chris Kyle Day" to honor the "American Sniper" subject. And while the Sunday shows are always dominated by political news, no one will be ignoring the day's big event: Super Bowl 49. "Meet the Press" will speak with DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the National Football League's Players Association, while other shows will have spots of their own gearing up for the big game. | 5 | 5,306 | news |
The 50 Most Underrated Colleges In America Plenty of schools aren't worth the hype, while others don't get the recognition they deserve. To uncover the most underrated colleges in America, we compared US News' rankings of the best universities and national liberal arts colleges in the country with PayScale's 2013-2014 College Salary Report , which ranks colleges and universities based on their graduates' mid-career salaries. We specifically looked for schools that had relatively low rankings on the US News list but high mid-career salaries. The school that topped this list is the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where most grads are employed immediately after graduation and earn an average salary of $98,000 after 10 years of employment. Read our full methodology here . 50. Virginia Tech US News rank: 71 PayScale rank: 87 Virginia Tech is home to one of the top engineering graduate programs in the country. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the school is widely recognized for its research efforts, with seven research institutes and two university research centers. Both undergraduate and graduate students are able to participate in research, and VT grads go on to earn an average mid-career salary of $94,200. 49. DePaul University US News rank: 121 PayScale rank: 206 Students are entrenched in both college and city life at DePaul , which has five campuses all over Chicago. Graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $84,500, and the most popular fields of study for current students are business and digital media. Also, the school reports that nearly 85% of 2013 grads were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. 48. Drexel University US News rank: 95 PayScale rank: 142 In the heart of Philadelphia, Drexel University students gain real-world experience through the school's co-op program , in which students spend six months working a professional job in place of their normal class schedule. Students also take advantage of Drexel's urban location it's only a 10-minute walk to Center City, Philly's hub of activity. By mid-career, graduates earn an average salary of $88,600. 47. Oregon State University US News rank: 138 PayScale rank: 240 Located in Corvallis, Oregon, OSU is the state's largest public research university , specializing in marine science, forestry, and sustainability. By the middle of their careers, graduates will earn an average salary of $82,800, and for those who wish to continue their education, OSU offers several graduate and non-degree programs. 46. Grove City College US News rank: 139 PayScale rank: 240 North of Pittsburgh in Grove City, Pennsylvania, this liberal arts college runs on a philosophy of freedom that is, it doesn't take any federal aid or funding. However, Grove City College still retains relatively low tuition rates and encourages students to pursue independence in all aspects of their own lives. The most popular fields of study are English and mechanical engineering, and by mid-career, graduates earn an average salary of $82,800. 41 (TIE). University of Tulsa US News rank: 88 PayScale rank: 115 Though it offers more than 60 majors, the University of Tulsa, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is best recognized for its petroleum engineering program, which is one of the best in the country. The school also places a premium on research, with opportunities for students of all majors to get involved in a project. On average, Tulsa graduates earn a mid-career salary of $91,000. 41 (TIE). Stonehill College US News rank: 105 PayScale rank: 156 This Catholic school in Easton, Massachusetts, was named one of the best liberal arts schools in the country by US News & World Report, as well as a top green school by the Princeton Review. Top students can enrich their experience by enrolling in the school's honors program or by joining Stonehill's chapter of one of 22 national honors organizations . By mid-career, Stonehill graduates earn $87,600 on average. 41 (TIE). Westmont College Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, is one of the top liberal arts schools in the country, offering 26 liberal arts majors and 11 preprofessional programs. Westmont graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $89,100. In addition to their coursework, students can also participate in several extracurricular opportunities , including honors societies, student-led ministries, and intercollegiate sports teams. 41 (TIE). Auburn University News rank: 103 PayScale rank: 151 Though known for their intense school spirit, Auburn graduates also do well academically, earning an average mid-career salary of $87,900. Auburn, located in the Alabama city of the same name, is also a land, sea, and space grant university , and it receives special funding for projects that benefit the greater good, such as developing a storage facility for nuclear waste or hosting the country's first wireless engineering program. 41 (TIE). University of St. Thomas US News rank: 113 PayScale rank: 175 Though there are plenty of opportunities available on St. Thomas' main campus in St. Paul, Minnesota, the university also encourages students to study abroad , typically offering about 150 programs in 45 countries. Back on campus, students take advantage of the school's 90 undergraduate degrees or can work toward a self-designed specialty degree . St. Thomas graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $86,100. 40. University of Arkansas US News rank: 135 PayScale rank: 222 At the University of Arkansas , located in Fayetteville, students can choose from more than 70 undergraduate degrees in fields spanning from civil engineering to music. The university is also heavily research focused, and it implemented a campaign to become one of the top 50 public research universities in the country. Post-graduation, students earn an average mid-career salary of $83,600. 38 (TIE). San Diego State University US News rank: 149 PayScale rank: 243 San Diego State University is the only college in California to see graduation rates rise by more than 10% in the past decade . Graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $82,700. The school has also been widely recognized for its commitment to diversity, earning a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from Insight Into Diversity magazine and a top 20 ranking on CampusPride.org for LGBT-friendly campuses. 38 (TIE). Washington State University US News rank: 138 PayScale rank: 216 Washington State University, a land-grant university in Pullman, Washington, places a heavy focus on research, with opportunities for students to work in fields anywhere from clean technology to public policy. The university boasts a top-20 writing program, as ranked by US News and World Report, and grads go on to earn an average mid-career salary of $84,200. 37. Northern Illinois University US News rank: 194 PayScale rank: 349 In addition to its 56 major and 73 minor programs, Northern Illinois University offers several learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to participate in service programs and events like Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day, in which students showcase independent study and capstone projects. The average mid-career salary for NIU grads is $77,900. 36. Hampden-Sydney College US News rank: 105 PayScale rank: 130 This all-male college in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, values strong writing and liberal arts skills, emphasized through its rhetoric program, which ensures all students are proficient writers by the time they graduate. Hampden-Sydney's most popular majors are history, economics, and business, and the average mid-career salary for H-SC grads is $89,400. 35. Virginia Military Institute US News rank: 64 PayScale rank: 27 Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the the oldest state-supported military institute in the country. Though not required to enroll in the military after graduation, all students must participate in Reserve Officers' Training Corps, commonly known as ROTC. VMI offers 14 carefully crafted majors, along with numerous enrichment programs, and graduates go on to earn an impressive average mid-career salary of $109,000. 34. SUNY Stony Brook University US News rank: 88 PayScale rank: 85 Certain students at Stony Brook , a space grant university , receive state-funded support for research in space-related fields, including physics and astronomy, biomedical engineering, and marine and atmospheric science. Stony Brook graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $94,300, and the school has been ranked as one of the top 40 public universities by US News & World Report . 33. University of Arizona US News rank: 121 PayScale rank: 164 University of Arizona students not only work hard in the classroom, but 100% graduate with real-world experience related to their degree, whether through an internship, research, or community service in Tucson, Arizona. Post-graduation, students earn an average mid-career salary of $86,900. Students are active outside of the classroom as well, participating in over 500 extracurricular clubs and activities offered by the university. 31 (TIE). University of Maryland Baltimore County US News rank: 149 PayScale rank: 230 Known as an honors university, University of Maryland Baltimore County is frequently named one of the most innovative schools in the country. The university focuses on research and innovation, and it places an emphasis on allowing undergraduate students the same resources as those pursuing higher degrees. The investment pays off by mid-career, UMBC grads earn an average salary of $83,100. 31 (TIE). Worcester Polytechnic Institute US News rank: 68 PayScale rank: 33 Earning an average mid-career salary of $107,000, WPI graduates learn to solve real-world problems through the Worcester, Massachusetts, school's project-based learning curriculum. Within this system, students design and complete projects that combine what they're learning in class with larger social and environmental issues. The three most popular majors at the school, which is heavily science based, are mechanical engineering, biology, and robotics engineering. 30. Howard University US News rank: 145 PayScale rank: 218 Howard University , located in the nation's capital, counts former US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison among its distinguished alumni . Today, all students at this historically black university take Afro-American courses along with their other core classes. The most popular majors include biology and journalism, and the average mid-career salary for a Howard grad is $84,000. 29. University of San Francisco US News rank: 106 PayScale rank: 119 Located in the heart of San Francisco, this Jesuit university specializes in service-learning courses , in which students volunteer around the city in addition to completing their coursework. Through this curriculum, University of San Francisco has earned recognition by the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for seven years straight. Post-graduation, students earn an average mid-career salary of $90,700. 28. Central College US News rank: 139 PayScale rank: 192 Before graduating, over 76% of students at this Pella, Iowa, school complete an internship or preprofessional program , and within a year of graduation, 93% of Central grads are employed, enrolled in graduate school, or doing sustained service. By mid-career, the average salary for a Central grad is $85,100. 27. Texas Tech University US News rank: 156 PayScale rank: 224 Grads earn an average mid-career salary of $83,500 with a degree from one of Texas Tech's 10 colleges. The most popular fields of study include business, consumer science, and engineering. In fact, Tech has one of the largest petroleum engineering departments in the country. It opened a new $22 million, 42,000-square-foot facility on its Lubbock, Texas, campus last year, complete with specialized labs to prepare students for hands-on field work. 26. University of Idaho US News rank: 166 PayScale rank: 243 This rural university in Moscow, Idaho, offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight colleges. The most popular school is the Department of Psychology and Communication Studies, which includes more than 550 majors. As a land-grant university , the school places a premium on conducting research that benefits the greater community as well as its students. The average mid-career salary for University of Idaho grads is $82,700. 25. Utah State University US News rank: 194 PayScale rank: 308 Utah State University, in Logan, Utah, is the oldest residential campus in the state and the No. 1 public university in the west. Known for its education classes and programs, USU has three undergraduate career fairs a year, including one entirely devoted to teacher recruitment . The average mid-career salary for USU grads is $79,800. 24. Seton Hall University US News rank: 126 PayScale rank: 131 Seton Hall's employment rate is about 84% 20% higher than the national average, the school reports. At the mid-career mark, the average salary of Seton Hall grads is $89,200. Students at the Roman Catholic-affiliated college in South Orange, New Jersey, are involved in internships, community service, and more. Exceptional high-school senior students who apply are also eligible for reduced tuition costs . 23. Colorado School of Mines US News rank: 88 PayScale rank: 36 Devoted to engineering and applied science, the Colorado School of Mines (or "Mines," as it's known among students and staff) is based in Golden, Colorado. Its website says it has "the highest admissions standards of any public university in Colorado and [is] among the highest of any public university in the US." Mines grads average $106,000 as their mid-career salary. 22. Stevens Institute of Technology US News rank: 76 PayScale rank: 3 Stevens Institute of Technology ranked fifth in the country for 20-year net return on investment in the 2014 Payscale College ROI Report. Graduates earn an astounding average of $124,000 midway into their careers. Located in Hoboken, New Jersey, Stevens focuses on STEM subjects, especially research programs. 21. Catholic University of America US News rank: 116 PayScale rank: 99 CUA's location in Washington, D.C., makes it incredibly accessible to numerous internships, community service, and job opportunities. Founded by the US Catholic bishops , CUA's graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $93,200 in successful careers in architecture, the arts, business, and engineering, among others. 19 (TIE). Rutgers University New Brunswick campus US News rank: 126 PayScale rank: 122 The New Brunswick, New Jersey, campus is Rutgers' flagship location of the State University of New Jersey. Home to New Jersey's foremost pharmacy school , Rutgers is a research university and gives undergrads the hands-on experience many students don't experience until their first jobs. Graduates have an average mid-career salary of $90,400. 19 (TIE). William Jewell College US News rank: 155 PayScale rank: 192 Kiplinger named William Jewell College to its list of the 100 best value liberal arts colleges this year. More than 98% of the Liberty, Missouri, college's alumni have jobs or are in graduate school within six months of graduating, and graduates earn an average of $85,100 midway through their careers. 16 (TIE). University of Illinois at Chicago US News rank: 149 PayScale rank: 166 Students at University of Illinois at Chicago become members of the University of Illinois Alumni Association the world's largest alumni community, which has an expansive network of career and job opportunities. The average mid-career salary for UIC grads is $86,800. 16 (TIE). George Mason University US News rank: 138 PayScale rank: 139 With an average mid-career salary of $88,800 among grads, George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, has been rated a top up-and-coming university, a best value public college, and one of the best college buys in America. GMU hosts career events, fairs, networking opportunities, and an online jobs board for current students and alumni. 16 (TIE). Pace University US News rank: 173 PayScale rank: 224 Pace was rated among the top five schools in the country for internship placement by US News in 2013. Pace, whose grads earn an average mid-career salary of $83,500, also has a campus in Westchester County, New York. 15. Michigan Technological University US News rank: 116 PayScale rank: 83 Michigan Tech grads have the 10th-highest starting salary in the country among public universities, and an average mid-career salary of $94,700. The Houghton, Michigan, school specializes in STEM fields of study, and it has a 92% job, grad school, and military placement rate for undergrads within six months of graduation. 14. St. John's University US News rank: 145 PayScale rank: 137 In Queens, New York, St. John's has three New York City campuses and two international campuses, in Rome and Paris. Grads earn an average $88,900 at the mid-career mark. SJU is known for its competitive Division I sports teams and biology, pharmacy, and psychology programs. 13. Hartwick College US News rank: 165 PayScale rank: 181 Located in Oneonta, New York, this small, upstate liberal arts college offers a unique three-year bachelor's degree program , getting students on the road to a successful career one year faster than at most other colleges. Hartwick grads earn an average of $85,800 midway through their careers. 12. Illinois Institute of Technology US News rank: 116 PayScale rank: 52 IIT is one of US News' best value universities , and it is No. 5 among Midwestern universities for undergraduate salary potential according to PayScale. Graduates of the Chicago technical school earn a $100,000 average mid-career salary, compared with the school's $39,975 tuition . 11. University of the Pacific US News rank: 116 PayScale rank: 49 University of the Pacific grads' average mid-career salary is $101,000. Renowned for its programs in health sciences , including pharmacy and dentistry, the Stockton, California, school offers career counseling; resume and interview assistance; career fairs; and an online jobs and mentoring network . 10. University of Alabama at Huntsville US News rank: 181 PayScale rank: 192 UAH students benefit from the proximity of federal employers like NASA, Redstone Arsenal, and Cummings Research Park for high-earning jobs in engineering, astronautics, and other science fields. Grads earn a mid-career average salary of $85,100, attending the No. 1 return-on-investment school according to The College Database. 9. Clarkson University US News rank: 121 PayScale rank: 44 Starting as a technology school in Potsdam, New York, Clarkson still excels in engineering, business, and the sciences, but it is also an accredited university with well-rounded liberal arts programs. Clarkson grads earn an average of $102,000 midway into their careers. 8. Louisiana Tech University US News rank: 201 PayScale rank: 234 Louisiana Tech is ranked No. 1 in Louisiana and in the top 25 in the US for the best return on investments (ROI) in college education, according to AdvisorOne. The Ruston, Louisiana, university also competes in the NCAA Division I conference. Its graduates report an average mid-career salary of $83,000. 7. Widener University US News rank: 189 PayScale rank: 202 The Widener experience includes an active involvement in civic engagement , Greek societies, and experiential learning. Located in Chester, Pennsylvania, students are only 20 minutes away from internships and job opportunities in Philadelphia. The average mid-career salary for Widener grads is $84,600. 6. Hofstra University US News rank: 135 PayScale rank: 69 In Hempstead, New York, just a short train ride west to Manhattan, Hofstra is an arena for research, Division I athletics, and even presidential debates . Grads report an average mid-career salary of $96,500 in a diverse variety of industries. Hofstra is in the top 9% of colleges and universities nationwide for return on investment. 5. Missouri University of Science & Technology US News rank: 138 PayScale rank: 72 Missouri S&T students make the most of their education, spending an average of 16 hours a week in classrooms or labs. The Rolla, Missouri, school also has one of the largest female populations among US technical schools. The average mid-career salary of Missouri S&T grads is $96,100. 4. University of Houston US News rank: 189 PayScale rank: 190 University of Houston grads make an average $85,200 mid-career salary. Known particularly for business studies , UH has the No. 1 undergraduate entrepreneurship program in the country, according to The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine, and more than 3,500 alumni are CEOs of companies or founders of their own companies. The school is also renowned for its college of engineering , and its Gulf location makes it prime for jobs in the oil and energy sector. 3. Florida Institute of Technology US News rank: 173 PayScale rank: 146 Florida Institute of Technology is widely recognized for being a military- and veteran-friendly school . Florida Tech is in support of the Post 9/11 GI Bill and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which makes additional funding for education available to eligible veterans. The Melbourne, Florida, school's grads earn an average of $88,200 at the mid-career mark. 2. University of Massachusetts at Lowell US News rank: 156 PayScale rank: 80 UMass at Lowell was No. 1 on our previous version of this list. Also a top military-friendly school, UMass at Lowell recently became a Division I sports school and is known for its science and engineering programs and for its online bachelor's degree in psychology. Graduates earn an average mid-career salary of $95,100. 1. New Jersey Institute of Technology US News rank: 149 PayScale rank: 61 Graduates of the New Jersey Institute of Technology earn an average of $98,000 midway through their careers. Located in Newark, New Jersey, NJIT is a leader in job placement ; 56% of undergrads have accepted a job offer, or are already employed, at the time of graduation nearly 26% higher than the national average. Another 13% are enrolled in graduate school full time after they graduate. | 3 | 5,307 | finance |
A new video has surfaced in which the group ISIS claims they have beheaded Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. CNN's Will Ripley has the details. | 8 | 5,308 | video |
An adorable kitten in a lion costume smacks the camera. | 8 | 5,309 | video |
A number of automakers today have issued a recall of 2.12 million vehicles for defective airbags that may inadvertently deploy. This is a follow up on a previous recall and involves Honda, Acura, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Toyota vehicles built in the early 2000s. The recall is unrelated to the current Takata airbag crisis. The affected vehicles were previously recalled from 2012 to 2014 for the same issue, Reuters reports. Automakers discovered a defective chip within the airbag electronic control module and issued a repair to prevent the airbags from inadvertently deploying. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently discovered that the repairs may not be working after it received reports of the issue reoccurring in at least 39 vehicles involved from the previous recall. Parts maker TRW produced the defective module. The defect has caused minor injuries, though no deaths have been reported. This time around, the automakers will replace the entire control module, though the agency reports that those parts may not be available until late 2015. Involved automakers will perform a temporary fix until the parts arrive. The agency reports that the recall involves around 1 million Toyota vehicles, while 750,000 come from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Meanwhile, Honda and Acura will recall around 374,000. Affected models include model year 2003-2004 Toyota Avalon sedans, Corolla sedans, Matrix hatchbacks (and Pontiac Vibe), 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty SUVs, 2003-2004 Dodge Viper coupes, 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey minivans, and 2003 Acura MDX crossovers. Source: NHTSA, Reuters , Automotive News (Subscription required) | 9 | 5,310 | autos |
Premier League leaders Chelsea remained five points clear of second-placed Manchester City after drawing 1-1 with the defending champions on Saturday. Loic Remy gave Chelsea a 41st-minute lead at Stamford Bridge only for David Silva to equalise four minutes later. Remy, given a starting spot by Jose Mourinho in place of the suspended Diego Costa, turned in a low cross from Eden Hazard. But City were level before half-time when Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois's weak punch saw the ball fall to Sergio Aguero whose shot was diverted into the net by Silva. "We had three good chances in the first half, they scored with their only chance in the 90 minutes - they did not even have a shot in the second half," City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. "You may say it is a good point at Stamford Bridge but for me it is not because we were better than Chelsea." Chelsea boss Mourinho, having cancelled his pre-match press conference on Friday, again refused to speak to broadcasters or journalists on Saturday. His boycott is thought to be a protest against the coverage of Costa's conduct against Liverpool in the League Cup in midweek. The in-form striker has been banned for three matches for stamping on Emre Can in the semi-final victory. Mourinho believes excessive media scrutiny played a key role in the Spain international's suspension. Daniel Sturridge put nearly five months of injury frustration behind him by coming off the bench to score in Liverpool's 2-0 win at home to West Ham. The 25-year-old striker had been sidelined with thigh and calf injuries since September. Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock in the 51st minute at Anfield before Sturridge, a second-half replacement for Lazar Markovic, marked just his fourth Liverpool appearance of the season by scoring in the 80th minute. "It's a team game and I am happy the team won," Sturridge told the BBC. "It's just good to be back." Manchester United climbed into third place with a 3-1 win over basement club Leicester at Old Trafford as they gained revenge for a shock 5-3 defeat by the Foxes in September. Louis van Gaal's men went 3-0 up before half-time through Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and an own-goal by Wes Morgan before Marcin Wasilewski pulled one back 10 minutes from time. Blind faith Afterwards Daley Blind said United's players were adapting to their manager's demands. "We come closer every week to the way Louis van Gaal wants us to play," he explained. "We are on the right track and we are happy." United will only be in the top three briefly if Southampton regain third place by avoiding defeat at home to Swansea on Sunday when Arsenal, also vying for a top-four finish, face Aston Villa at the Emirates. Tottenham Hotspur completed a fine week with a 3-0 win away to West Bromwich Albion where Harry Kane scored twice to take his tally for the season to an impressive 20 goals. Christian Eriksen scored his third goal in two matches to give Spurs the lead at the Hawthorns. Eriksen, who scored twice in the midweek League Cup semi-final draw at Sheffield United that gave Spurs a 3-2 aggregate victory, has become renowned as a late-goal specialist. But the Denmark midfielder needed just six minutes to put Spurs in front on Saturday with a trademark free-kick. Kane doubled Spurs' lead in the 15th minute before beating Baggies' goalkeeper Ben Foster from the penalty spot midway through the second half. Crystal Palace saw a run of four successive wins in all competitions since manager Alan Pardew arrived from Newcastle end with a 1-0 home loss to Everton as Romelu Lukaku scored in just the second minute at Selhurst Park. Second-from-bottom Queens Park Rangers' dreadful away record continued as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to former manager Mark Hughes's Stoke City. Stoke forward Jonathan Walters scored his first top-flight hat-trick as QPR recorded an 11th straight league defeat on the road, with their previous 10 reverses already a Premier League record. Jermain Defoe grabbed his first goal since returning to English football from Toronto as he netted Sunderland's second in a 2-0 win at home to Burnley after Connor Wickham put the Black Cats ahead. John Carver enjoyed his first win as Newcastle boss after a 3-0 success away to Hull ended a run of four games without a victory since Pardew's exit. Remy Cabella, Sammy Ameobi and substitute Yoan Gouffran were all on target for the Magpies. | 1 | 5,311 | sports |
St. John's head coach Steve Lavin and former Purdue head coach Gene Keady discuss their close relationship, Keady's impact on the game and more. | 1 | 5,312 | sports |
In a back-and-forth affair, #8 Notre Dame took its first road loss of the season, losing to Pittsburgh 76-72. The Panthers had four of their five starters in double figures, led by Jamel Artis who scored 20 points as Pitt improves to 4-5 in ACC play. Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson led the Irish with 15 points in the losing effort. | 1 | 5,313 | sports |
Watch highlights of St. John's 75-66 win over Providence. | 1 | 5,314 | sports |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Of all the familiar sights Auburn coach Bruce Pearl encountered Saturday during his return to Tennessee, the home team's winning traits offered perhaps the biggest reminders of his own successful tenure there. Showcasing the tenacity of Pearl's best Tennessee teams, the Volunteers came from behind in the second half to beat Auburn 71-63. Tennessee's victory spoiled Pearl's homecoming in his first matchup with the team he coached to six straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2006-11. "Tennessee made those effort and energy plays," Pearl said. "They're a very athletic team. They're quick. They're long. Their speed and quickness were able to beat us to balls. That's the way my teams were when I was at Tennessee." Armani Moore scored a career-high 19 points and matched a career high with 13 rebounds as Tennessee (13-7, 5-3 SEC) won an emotional game that featured 10 ties, eight lead changes and one ejection -- to Auburn reserve center Trayvon Reed after a flagrant 2 foul. Tennessee trailed 52-49 midway through the second half before going on an 11-0 run to pull ahead for good. The loss was the fourth straight for Auburn (10-11, 2-6), representing the longest losing streak of Pearl's 20-year head coaching career. Moore said afterward the Vols didn't focus on the fanfare surrounding Pearl's return. "We really didn't look into all of that," Moore said. "As far as we were concerned, we just knew it was another SEC game we had to win." But the atmosphere gave away that this wasn't just any ordinary game. Pearl went 145-61 in six seasons at Tennessee before being fired in 2011 during an NCAA investigation that resulted in two years of probation for the Vols and a three-year show cause penalty for him. Cameras surrounded Pearl as he arrived on the court for pregame warmups and continued following him as he gave high-fives to fans in Tennessee's student section an hour before the game. The Thompson-Boling Arena crowd chanted "Bruce" as Pearl walked onto the court with a blue blazer, not the orange one he wore for key games during his Tennessee career. Vols coach Donnie Tyndall got an even louder ovation as he walked onto the court. After the game, Pearl handed out numerous handshakes and hugs to various fans before waving to the crowd on his way off the court amid another "Bruce" chant. "I didn't want it any more badly than I wanted any other game," Pearl said. "I didn't. I want Donnie to do well. Here's the deal, I don't want any other team in the SEC to do well other than Auburn -- and Tennessee." Pearl's players offered a different opinion. "Deep down, we knew how personal it was for him," Auburn guard KT Harrell said. "We wanted to win it for him." Harrell led Auburn with 16 points. Tahj Shamsid-Deen and Antoine Mason each added 14, and Cinmeon Bowers had 13. Kevin Punter scored 17, Josh Richardson had 15 and Derek Reese added 11 for Tennessee. ------ TIP-INS Auburn: This marked Auburn's eighth consecutive loss to Tennessee. The Tigers haven't beaten Tennessee since a 78-77 victory at Auburn on Feb. 7, 2009. Tennessee: The Vols now have a 2-2 record against former Tennessee coaches. Don DeVoe, who coached Tennessee from 1979-89, beat the Vols 75-57 while coaching Florida in 1990. Kevin O'Neill coached Tennessee from 1994-97 and split two meetings with the Vols in 2009 and 2010 while at Southern California. BRUCE'S BACKERS Although the crowd of 18,439 -- Tennessee's largest of the season -- was overwhelmingly in favor of the home team, Pearl did have pockets of supporters around the arena. On the front row behind the Auburn bench were six fans wearing T-shirts that had a picture of Pearl in the style of President Obama's famous "Hope" poster from the 2008 campaign. The back of their shirts had the message, "I still bleed orange. It's just burnt now," a reference to the shade of orange worn by Auburn. NOTABLE FANS Tennessee football coach Butch Jones attended the game and watched part of the first half from the heart of the student section behind one basket. Lady Vols basketball coach Holly Warlick and former Vols football coach Phillip Fulmer also were at the game. NEXT UP Auburn is at LSU on Thursday. Tennessee hosts Mississippi State on Tuesday. | 1 | 5,315 | sports |
LONDON It was Jose Mourinho who brought the term 'parking the bus' to English football in 2004. On Saturday, the Chelsea manager took it a step further by lining up a whole fleet with handbrakes on during his team's 1-1 draw with Manchester City. In a week in which he has reverted to type by moaning about 'campaigns' and boycotting the media, this was a classic Mourinho performance as he stunk out west London with a game that failed to live up to its hype as the biggest of the season. The draw suits Mourinho and Chelsea, of course, as it keeps them five points clear of second-placed City with 15 games to play, but it was exactly the type of turgid performance that caused a divide between the Portuguese and Roman Abramovich during his first spell in charge. His hand may have been forced by Diego Costa's suspension and the hamstring injury that ruled out Cesc Fabregas, but Mourinho got exactly what he wanted. He was Mr. Pragmatic. The Blues had only three shots in the whole match and, astonishingly, none in the whole of the second half. It is the lowest figure they have recorded in the Premier League since 2003-04 and the fewest by a home team in a match this season. It almost worked out even better for the hosts. Only a rare mistake by Thibaut Courtois - probably his first in Chelsea colors - allowed City to score as David Silva cancelled out Loic Remy's strike. Those were the only two chances of note in a game that failed to justify the hype, the latest in a series of bland encounters between these two modern titans of the English game. In the final 10 minutes, the chant of 'boring, boring Chelsea' rang from the 3,000 City fans in the away end as they watched their side press forward but fail to find a way past the home side's backline. The sight of Gary Cahill patrolling in front of Chelsea's back four as a late substitute was the confirmation - if any were needed by then - that Mourinho's gameplan all along was to walk away with a draw. The wide men, Eden Hazard and Willian, were constantly urged to get behind the ball as Mourinho shouted instructions in his baggy tracksuit on the touchline. Hazard, so mesmerizing at times this season, provided a wonderful cushioned volley to set up Remy's goal but otherwise made no impact as he was strangled of service and support by Mourinho's tactics. Given Mourinho has seen Chelsea concede five to Tottenham and four to Bradford this season - plus the exertions of the midweek fixture with Liverpool which went to extra time - it made sense. Chelsea has played some sparkling football this season but, at times, Mourinho's cautious instincts have crept through. It happened when he tried and failed to defend one-goal leads away at City and Manchester United - and it certainly happened today. But now Chelsea can head into a run of games against Aston Villa, Everton, Burnley, Leicester and West Ham knowing it is edging towards the title. It's Chelsea's to lose and it is in the perfect position. Mourinho is the ultimate winner, he's shown it before. He will do whatever it takes, even if it means parking the bus. | 1 | 5,316 | sports |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Ricky Rubio is one game away from returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rubio has been cleared to play on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement has not been made. Rubio has been out since severely injuring his left ankle Nov. 7. He will have missed 43 games because of the injury, and the Wolves sunk to the bottom of the league without him. They are 8-38 entering Saturday night's game against Cleveland. When he returns, the team plans to restrict his minutes until after the All-Star break while he sees how his ankle responds. Rubio signed a four-year, $54 million contract extension before the season and helped the Wolves get off to a promising start before going down with the first ankle injury of his career. The slick-passing point guard's return is the latest in a series of important developments on the injury front for the Timberwolves, following Nikola Pekovic's return from a 31-game absence due to foot and ankle issues on Jan. 21 and Kevin Martin's return on Wednesday from 34 games away with a fractured right wrist. The trio was expected to lead the way for the Wolves early in the first season without Kevin Love, whose trade to Cleveland ushered in yet another rebuilding plan for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2004. President of basketball operations and coach Flip Saunders envisioned a ''blended'' team as he called it, one in which the veterans like Rubio, Martin, Pekovic and Thaddeus Young did the bulk of the work while rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine and sophomores Anthony Bennett, Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng could ease into things. That all went out the window in the fifth game of the season when Rubio stepped on the foot of an Orlando defender on a drive to the hoop. He suffered a severe sprain and damage to muscles and ligaments from his ankle to his toes. The Timberwolves were 2-2 at the time with tight losses to Memphis and Chicago. But Rubio's absence forced LaVine to play out of position at point guard and veteran Mo Williams to shoulder more of the playmaking responsibility after signing a one-year deal last summer. They lost the first five games without Rubio, Pekovic's chronic foot problems returned later in that same road trip and Martin broke his wrist on Nov. 19. The Wolves won just three times in 32 games, effectively burying themselves before the new year even started. Rubio's return is the key, with his pass-first mentality and ability to defend at the point expected to bolster the Wolves' lackluster defense and hasten the development of Wiggins and the rest of the younger players. | 1 | 5,317 | sports |
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh's James Robinson took an elbow to the face from a teammate, a shot to mouth from Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson and a metaphorical punch to the gut when the eighth-ranked Irish turned an eight-point deficit into a one-point lead with 31 seconds left on Saturday. The junior guard responded with his typical toughness and a twisting runner that may have saved the Panthers' season. Robinson sliced through the lane for the go-ahead basket with 12 seconds left to lift Pitt to a 76-72 win. Four days after his seeming clinching shot against Virginia Tech somehow morphed into a brutal overtime loss on the road, Robinson helped the Panthers improve to 14-3 all-time against Top 10 teams at the Petersen Events Center. "I just turned the corner and made the basket," he said. "My team had a lot of faith in me." Robinson finished with 14 points and 10 assists for his first career double-double. His second steal of the game with 4 seconds left gave Pitt's sagging NCAA prospects a much-needed boost. The Panthers (14-8, 4-5 ACC) ended a three-game losing streak by withstanding a late push from Notre Dame star Jerian Grant, who scored nine straight points, including a pair of free throw that put the Irish up 72-71 with 31 seconds to play. Notre Dame (20-3, 8-2) had a chance to reclaim the lead after Robinson's bucket but Steve Vasturia's 3-pointer from the corner clanged off the rim. Jamel Artis hit two free throws and Robinson stepped in front of the ensuing heave to midcourt. "This game right here was the season," Artis said. Grant shook off a tough start to score 14 points but the Irish couldn't end a difficult three-game stretch a perfect 3-0. Notre Dame beat N.C. State on the road last Sunday and followed it up with a thrilling upset of No. 4 Duke on Wednesday. The Irish, however, couldn't get the one stop it needed while falling on the road in conference for the first time. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey admitted he thought his team had escaped once again when Vasturia grabbed the ball in the corner and let it fly. "The way we've been winning, I'm thinking we may steal another one," Brey said. "We've had two thefts this week already. We're 2-1 in thefts." Jackson led the Irish with 15 points. Vasturia had 12 and Zach Auguste added 12 points and six boards but Notre Dame could not back up its emotional victory over the Blue Devils. "If you were going to steal it, you had to steal it after Jerian's free throw," Brey said. "When Robinson hit the runner it's almost like you don't deserve it." Artis paced Pitt with 19 points and eight rebounds. Michael Young finished with 16 points and Cameron Wright added 14. The Panthers shot a season-high 58 percent from the floor and assisted on 24 of its 31 baskets. "Great to see the ball movement and the passing," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "It was great to see these guys get this win because they've been working so hard." With little to show for it. The Panthers are in danger of missing the NCAAs for just the second time in Dixon's dozen seasons on the job but found a gear late behind Robinson, a reluctant shooter early in his career who is starting to blossom. Down a point with perhaps the season on the line, Dixon drew up a play that gave Robinson the option of driving or kicking it out for a jumper. When Robinson was left one-on-one with a Notre Dame defender, he knifed to the hoop while absorbing more than a little contact. "He's playing with a lot of confidence right now," Dixon said. For once, the rest of the Panthers joined him. TIP-INS Notre Dame: The Irish are 16-2 in their last 18 games. ... Notre Dame leads the all-time series 31-29 but saw its two-game streak at the Petersen Events Center end. ... The Irish went more than five minutes without a field goal in the second half. Pitt: The Panthers gave sixth-man Newkirk his first start of the season. Newkirk finished with six points and four assists against just one turnover. ... Pitt's three-game losing streak was its longest since an eight-game slide in 2011-12. UNSELFISH: The Panthers shot a season-high 58 percent from the floor and assisted on a season-high 24 of their 31 baskets. The previous best this year was 20 assists. BUSTED OPEN: Robinson's winner on Saturday came after being treated for a bloody lip following a run-in with Jackson and a couple of woozy moments when Young smacked him in the head while the two teammates dived for a loose ball. UP NEXT Notre Dame hosts Boston College on Wednesday. Pitt hosts Bryant on Monday. | 1 | 5,318 | sports |
Classic desserts and where to find them. What makes a classic? All week, Eater has examined classic restaurants, dishes, and the people who made them famous. Now, it's time for a sweet finish and a look at the classic desserts that have stood the test of time. Though many American desserts started out as homespun creations, restaurants and bakeries from coast to coast took those recipes, fueled by their childhood memories, and turned them into American icons. These classic American desserts prove that it's not just apple pie that inspires nostalgia from the first bite: Here now, a primer on cream cakes, fruit-filled pies, and desserts set aflame. Boston Cream Pie Created: Probably sometime between 1834 and 1856. One of America's most-recognized classic desserts, a vanilla sponge cake filled with vanilla cream and topped with a shiny chocolate glaze, hails from Boston. The origins of Boston cream pie which has always been a cake, not a pie are murky. The most famous tale is the one told by Boston's Parker House Hotel (now the Omni Parker House ), which claims that the hotel's Armenian-French chef M. Sanzian created the dessert in honor of the hotel's opening in 1856. (In the 19th century, the terms "cake" and "pie" were interchangeable, hence the cake's original name, "chocolate cream pie.") But according to Northern Hospitality: Cooking by the Book in New England, by Keith W. F. Stavely and Kathleen Fitzgerald, Boston cream pie probably existed before the hotel's opening. A cousin of Boston cream pie, Beecher's cream cake which is actually a pie, not a cake was a common recipe of the time, and a poem from 1844 called Johnny Green and the Cream Cake alludes to the French-style of cake filled with cream: On the Fourth of July Johnny Green came to town; He eyed a plump cream cake, a nice one I'm sure (But Johnny had ne'er seen a cream cake before ) It wasn't until 1918 that the first recipe was published for a cream cake topped with satiny chocolate icing. And today, Boston cream pie remains the official dessert of Massachusetts. Pastry chef Joanne Chang opened Flour Bakery in Boston in 2000, and "Boston cream pie has been on our menu since we opened," she confirms. Chang's version puts a twist on the original: The four-layer cake is soaked in coffee syrup before being filled with vanilla pastry cream lightened with whipped cream. The whole cake is then glazed with chocolate ganache. Chang got the idea for the coffee syrup soak from Bentonwood Bakery, where she worked prior to opening Flour. "It's a classic dessert, so it's the type of thing that tourists will come and try and the type [of cake] that locals want, too," Chang says. "But the coffee syrup is our touch. Sponge cake is really light and airy so it benefits from a light soaking, adds flavor and moisture, and makes it a little bit more interesting." Could Chang imagine Flour Bakery without Boston cream pie? "I wouldn't dare take it off the menu," she says with a light laugh. Key Lime Pie Created: Circa 1850. Tart and sweet, creamy and light, Key lime pie has captured the heart of America and remains a standard pie at bakeries from coast to coast. According to the Food History Almanac by Janet Clarkson, the first recipe for Key lime pie appeared in a cookbook in the 1930s. But culinary historian Andrew F. Smith writes that trees producing tiny limes were introduced to the islands by the Spanish in the late 1700s, and probably resulted in a pie-like dessert by the 1850s. Either way, the dessert didn't become popular until after World War II, and by then, most of the Florida Keys' lime trees had been destroyed by hurricanes. Today, much of the key lime pie produced in the Florida Keys is made from the sweeter Persian lime. But not at Pepe's. Key Lime Pie Pepe's Cafe & Steakhouse has continually served the Florida Keys since 1906. Though the restaurant has gone through three owners, its bakers have been consistently making Pepe's key lime pie using the original recipe, according to Tracy Leslie, a Pepe's manager. "People come from all over just for the pie. Sometimes they eat lunch or dinner too, and get the pie for dessert, but a lot of the time they just want the pie," Leslie says. "We go through about eight pies a day, six slices per pie." And while some bakeries might closely protect their signature recipes, Pepe's pie recipe is no secret : The simple combination of eggs, sweetened condensed milk, and key lime juice (no exceptions) has stood the test of time. "We give the recipe out to everyone," Leslie says. "But it doesn't stop them from coming back for more." Baked Alaska Created: 1876 (though variations may have originated earlier). Pop quiz: Can you bake ice cream in a hot oven without it melting? Pastry chefs have long made good use of basic science, and Baked Alaska the dessert that consists of a layer of cake topped with a dome of ice cream, covered in meringue, and then baked until golden is the most famous of these inventions. Various origin stories exist some involving China and some involving France but the first Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City is most often credited with creating and naming the dessert in 1876, in honor of the newly acquired Alaskan territory. George Sala, an Englishman who traveled the United States and documented his experiences in a book titled America Revisited (1882, London), wrote of the dessert: "The 'Alaska' is a baked ice....The nucleus or core of the entremet is an ice cream. This is surrounded by an envelope of carefully whipped cream, which, just before the dainty dish is served, is popped into the oven, or is brought under the scorching influence of a red hot salamander." Today, variations on Baked Alaska are made all over the world. One American restaurant chain, the Oceanaire Seafood Room , revived the dessert when it opened its first location in 1998. "It was the first dessert we put on the menu," says chef Wade Wiestling. "The Oceanaire was created to have a supper club, nostalgic feel to it, and we thought this dessert would get a 'wow.'" Oceanaire's cake is prepared ahead of time, torched in the kitchen to order, and them flambeed tableside. "At the table, the server ignites what we call the 'Baked Alaska fuel,'" says Wiestling, "which, depending upon the day and the ice cream inside, is a mixture of Bacardi, Grand Marnier, Creme de cacao, or Creme de menthe." The tower of meringue and ice cream stands eight inches tall and is about six inches in diameter at its base. "It could feed one very hungry person," says Wiestling, "but is probably better for a group of four or six." Baked Alaska At DBGB in Washington, D.C., pastry chef Celia Lewis offers a show-stopping version of Baked Alaska, with layers of ice cream and sorbet fully encapsulated by cake and artfully piped meringue. Slices of the cake are flambeed tableside, and burn for about 10 seconds at the table. "It's enough time for the 'wow' factor without having people awkwardly standing around waiting for it to [flame] out," Lewis told Eater DC. Banana Split Created: 1904. Rare is the dessert with an undisputed origin story, but the banana split a classic sundae with several scoops of ice cream, a fresh banana, and a mountain of whipped cream was most certainly created by David Evans Strickler at Tassel Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1904. Apparently, when the 23-year-old apprentice put the trio of ice creams and fresh banana together and charged 10 cents for it twice the price of every other sundae at the shop at the time it became an instant hit with local college kids. Today, a classic banana split is (typically, arguably) made on a base of a banana split lengthwise. Three scoops of ice cream sit atop the splayed fruit, caramel and/or chocolate sauce gets spooned on, whipped cream towers over the ice cream, nuts are sprinkled on top of the whipped cream, and the whole thing is crowned with a bright red cocktail cherry. There are endless variations. Morgenstern's Ice Cream in New York City has created a new classic: Its banana split starts with five scoops of ice cream. "Obviously I knew I needed to do a banana split here, and we went big with it," says owner Nick Morgenstern, who remembers eating banana splits as a kid growing up in San Francisco. ("We'd go to Swanson's or Fentons in Oakland," he says. "Fentons that was a good banana split.") At Morgenstern's, the classic sundae starts with a fresh banana and pickled pineapple. "There's always whipped cream and a Luxardo cherry, sesame caramel, and sesame honeycomb," Morgenstern says. "I don't think we went too far off the track, but the sesame caramel and sesame honey... those flavors go really well with the banana and the pineapple." Even at $18 a pop, it's a popular item at Morgenstern's; the shop sells "20 to 30 per day" during the summer. New York Cheesecake Created: Sometime between 1912 and 1929. Cheesecake is as old as cheese-making, agriculture, and modern man. Eater senior critic Robert Sietsema recounts some of its early history in his comprehensive guide to New York Cheesecake , published last year on Eater New York: If you dig back far enough in culinary history, you could say the Greeks invented cheesecake. Historian Thucydides recounts how 2,400 years ago he and his pals were in the habit of kneading honey into fresh feta and baking it over hot coals in an outdoor brazier. Vegetarian BBQ! Three hundred years later the Romans adopted it, but they made a few improvements. For one thing, they incorporated spelt flour, which turned it into something we could call a cake. In a fancier version served principally at weddings, the Romans gave cheesecake a wraparound crust, then filled it with ricotta flavored with bay leaf and sweetened with an ungodly amount of honey. (One typical recipe calls for 14 pounds of cheese and four pounds of honey.) New York Cheesecake It wasn't until 1912 that James Kraft, founder of Kraft Foods, created what we know now as cream cheese, and it was sometime afterward when people started putting cream cheese in New York-style cheesecake. By 1929, New York-style cheesecake began popping up at places like Turf Restaurant at 49th and Broadway. In 1950, Junior's opened its deli cases in downtown Brooklyn, and 65 years later, it still serves what Sietsema calls "the city's best cheesecake." The critic describes the cake as "dense, near-runny, and almost decaying: the product reportedly sits for 48 hours before being sold to encourage the pungent flavor." Blum's Coffee Crunch Cake Created: 1941 Through the 1950s and 1960s, Blum's Bakery operated more than a dozen locations along the West Coast. It was known for its pink bakery boxes , tuna salad on rye, and inventive cakes. But the cake that people in San Francisco and Los Angeles remember the most is Blum's coffee crunch cake: Layers of vanilla sponge slathered with coffee-flavored whipped cream, and covered in honeycomb crunch. Blum's began serving the cake in 1941, when Earnest Weil took over as bakery manager for the company. Like many now-famous dishes, the cake's invention was an accident . When a candy maker at the bakery overcooked honeycomb candy, Weil saved the day by pressing broken-up bits of the crunchy confection all over a coffee cream-filled vanilla cake. It was immediately a hit. But when Blum's ceased operations in the 1970s, Weil's recipe remained mostly a secret. Many bakers from Blum's went on to open their own bakeries, using some of Weil's original recipes, thereby keeping the dessert alive. But the cake wasn't officially revived until Valerie Gordon, a chocolatier and pastry chef based in Los Angeles, began resurrecting classic cakes from the 1930s, '40s, '50s, and '60s. "The Blum's coffee crunch cake was a defining cake in my youth," Gordon says. She worked with others who remember tasting the cake at the Blum's in Beverly Hills in the 1950s. "I spend years recreating these recipes," Gordon admits. Today, it's one of the most popular desserts on Valerie Confections' menu and can be ordered online . The cake can also be enjoyed by the slice, at a counter the way Gordon remembers having it as a child at Valerie Confections' stall inside downtown Los Angeles's Grand Central Market . Marionberry Pie Created: Sometime after 1945. The marionberry is a cross-breed of two different types of blackberries the Chehalem and Olallie developed by the USDA ARS breeding program in cooperation with Oregon State University in 1945. It was first tested in Marion County and remains in high production across Oregon today. Though it looks like every other blackberry, the marionberry is larger, sweeter, and juicier than more common blackberry breeds, so it probably didn't take long for housewives in Oregon to begin making pies with the new, juicy berry in the late 1940s. Marionberry Pie Cut to 2012: Eloise Augustyn, an ambitious baker with a history in the restaurant business, opened Sweedeedee Bakery in North Portland. Augustyn knew immediately that she wanted to serve marionberry pie: "It's a classic home dessert, and so it was one I wanted to put on the menu," she says. Though the berries are only in season in late summer, thanks to a partnership Sweedeedee has with Polar Farms, Augustyn is able to serve the pie year-round (Polar freezes its berries and stores them until Sweedeedee needs to restock). How did Augustyn develop her recipe? "It's something I've been making since I first started making pies, a cup of sugar here, and some lemon zest there, and now we have our house recipe," she says. "Our crust uses all-pastry flour, and European butter it's an all-butter crust." And how popular is the pie? "It gives our [famous] salted honey pie a run for its money. It's the pie that I like to eat the most," says Augustyn, who grew up in Portland eating the marionberry cobbler her mom used to make. "My mom," she notes, "didn't make pie." Bananas Foster Created: Early 1950s. Bananas Foster is the rare classic dessert still served at the restaurant where it was originally created. Brennan's in New Orleans which opened in 1946 invented the dessert in the early 1950s, according to current owner Ralph Brennan. "My aunt Ella Brennan was responsible for creating Bananas Foster," Ralph Brennan explains, saying the dish was invented "to honor a longtime customer we had at the time named Richard Foster." At the time, New Orleans, which was one of the U.S.'s major ports, had become an important importer of bananas from South America. Bananas were everywhere in New Orleans, and when Foster, a friend of the family, celebrated his birthday at the restaurant, his namesake dish was born. Bananas Foster is made from sliced bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, banana liqueur, and rum or brandy. The sautéed and flamb é ed bananas are then poured over vanilla ice cream and served immediately. Brennan's has always served the dessert tableside: A tuxedoed waiter approaches the table with a cart set up with a kerosene stove and the dish's components. After the banana liqueur is poured into the pan, the rum or brandy follows and is set aflame. Why the tableside preparation? Ralph Brennan says: "My aunt wanted to do something different and spectacular. Flaming a dessert in the dining room 'wows' customers." Fact: Ralph Brennan has been eating Bananas Foster for 60 years. "I'm 63, and I first had the dessert as a toddler, back when the restaurant was on Bourbon Street," he says. "I've enjoyed it my whole life." Bananas Foster Bananas Foster is made from sliced bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, banana liqueur, and rum or brandy. The sautéed and flamb é ed bananas are then poured over vanilla ice cream and served immediately. Brennan's has always served the dessert tableside: A tuxedoed waiter approaches the table with a cart set up with a kerosene stove and the dish's components. After the banana liqueur is poured into the pan, the rum or brandy follows and is set aflame. Why the tableside preparation? Ralph Brennan says: "My aunt wanted to do something different and spectacular. Flaming a dessert in the dining room 'wows' customers." Fact: Ralph Brennan has been eating Bananas Foster for 60 years. "I'm 63, and I first had the dessert as a toddler, back when the restaurant was on Bourbon Street," he says. "I've enjoyed it my whole life." | 0 | 5,319 | foodanddrink |
Check out highlights of the Pirates' win over the Musketeers. | 1 | 5,320 | sports |
PHOENIX There is a fine line between great and geriatric in the NFL. It blurs quickly, and often without the telltale warning signs. There is no grey hair, no wrinkles to signal it is coming. One season you're chasing a Super Bowl title and then, boom ! the next you're trying to stay above .500. Should the New England Patriots lose to the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday's Super Bowl, however, the game might be remembered as the time Tom Brady and the Patriots graduated to senior status. "In 2001, 2003 and 2004, I was so young that I didn't understand what this was all about and how challenging this is because everything happened so fast at such an early part of my career," Brady said earlier this week. "(Later Super Bowl losses) just re-emphasized how hard and challenging it is to get to this point, and how challenging it is to win this game," he said. "I have such an appreciation for it now. That's why I'm hoping we can accomplish and finally finish it off with a great win on Sunday. It would mean an awful lot." It's not that Brady is some aging superstar, hanging on past his prime to make one last run at glory. He still ranks among the league's best in yards passing, touchdowns and quarterback rating, and he's the reason the Patriots are in the Super Bowl for a sixth time since the 2001 season. He is maniacal about maintaining his fitness, and has said he wants to play into his 40s. But Brady, 37, is at a point when most quarterbacks begin showing signs of their age, and one only needs to look at Peyton Manning in Denver to see how quickly things can slip. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, and even less is guaranteed to veteran players. "Y ou also know that the reality (is) football is a contact sport, and your career can end at any one point," Brady said. "So it's a blessing to be able to be here." There's another reality, and that's that the NFL is no longer all about the Patriots. A decade ago, the Super Bowl may as well have been part of New England's official schedule. The Patriots were guests of honor at the NFL's biggest bash three times from the 2001 to 2004 seasons, winning it each time. They made it again after the 2007 season, the kind of sustained success rarely seen in the NFL. New England's run helped fuel a decade in which the AFC dominated the NFL. From the 1997 to 2008 seasons, AFC teams won the Super Bowl nine times. Since then, however, the AFC has just one victory in the Super Bowl: the Baltimore Ravens following the 2012 season. And while New England made it to the AFC Championship game each of the past four seasons, its record is a mediocre 2-2. "It's very difficult to get to this game," coach Bill Belichick said. "It's very difficult to win a conference championship." And it will only get harder in the coming years. The Patriots ran roughshod over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship a result that wouldn't have changed had New England been using properly inflated footballs. Or basketballs, for that matter. But Andrew Luck has proven in his first three seasons that he is a special quarterback, the kind who comes around once in a generation. If the Colts get him a decent running game and another high-caliber receiver or two, Indianapolis will be a force in the AFC for years to come. It's not any better over in the NFC, where Russell Wilson has a shot at a second Super Bowl ring in just his third season. "Whatever we have or haven't done in the past the Super Bowls we've won, the ones we didn't win, championships and so forth really, it's not about that right now," Belichick said. "This is about an opportunity for this team, at this time, to be special." To be special, to be great. To stave off the inevitable march of time, even if it is for just another year. | 1 | 5,321 | sports |
CUT OFF, La. "The first thing you hear is, 'Can you cut 10 percent?' " explained Jimmy Lafont, whose towboat operation is one of the countless oil-field service companies spread across south Louisiana. "Cajuns normally have a habit of cutting the price quick like." As oil prices drop, the squeeze has begun in south Louisiana. It starts with ugly state budget projections, layoff announcements and freezes on new construction projects. Cutbacks at the drilling companies lead to cutbacks at the service companies, and before long the grocery stores and car dealerships start feeling it. "The price of oil," Mr. Lafont said over biscuits and coffee in a back room of his office just off the bayou, "controls everything in south Louisiana." But every downturn is a little bit different, and every downturn falls unevenly even within the oil industry, as Louisiana's complicated place in the current price collapse shows. The frontline casualties of the current price collapse have been in the shale-drilling boom towns of Texas and North Dakota. These shale plays, where hydraulic fracturing tapped massive oil reserves, rocketed into prominence and have come hard back down to earth. There has been little of that activity in Louisiana. The large swath of oil-rich shale that spans the center of the state is so geologically complicated that it has mostly been unexplored. And while some small well operators throughout Louisiana will be badly hurt, oil exploration within the state has generally been on the decline for years. The main oil exploration these days takes place out in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Many of these are multimillion-dollar, 10-year operations, so involved that they are relatively shielded from market slumps as long as the slumps do not last too long. "I don't think we will feel it as badly here in Louisiana as other parts of the country may feel it," Don Briggs, the president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, said Monday at an industry luncheon in New Orleans. That is not to say Louisiana will be spared the pain, only that it may be more of a slow strangle than a sudden jolt. The most apparent early impact is on the state budget. While it will not be like the catastrophic oil price collapse in the early 1980s, when oil and gas brought in more than 40 percent of the state's general fund revenues, it will hurt nonetheless. (Recently, around 14 percent of such revenues have come from oil and gas.) Shortly after Mr. Briggs made his luncheon speech, the state revenue estimating committee announced that there would be a $104 million shortfall this year because of the price slump, leading to more cuts to already well-hacked state services. The committee also found that the $1.4 billion hole expected in next year's budget would be $204 million deeper. But the ripples of the big slowdown in shale-drilling country are being absorbed by the private sector here, too. With its deep reserves of oil-field expertise, Louisiana provides much of the labor and tools in boom towns elsewhere, meaning that standstills in North Dakota are felt acutely in the oil city of Lafayette. "There are a lot of service companies working for firms all over the country," said David E. Dismukes, the executive director at the Center for Energy Studies at Louisiana State University. "Those kinds of service sector jobs are probably going to be impacted pretty quickly by this." Among the first to feel a slump are the landmen, who negotiate leases and land rights for oil exploration. Several hundred people working for land companies in Lafayette were laid off in late December. The service firms, tool fabricators and truckers that make up the bulk of the work force are renegotiating their contracts with the oil companies, in some cases agreeing to steeply lower rates on the notion that poorly compensated work is better than no work at all. "At this time in 1985, the motto was 'Survive in '85,' " said Joseph Orgeron, the chief technology officer for Montco Offshore, which caters to offshore rigs. "It's a good time for companies to tighten the belt." But many smaller companies, particularly those that have taken on too much debt, cannot do that for long. Larger firms are already looking forward to a season of acquisitions, furthering a long-term trend of consolidation and leading to fewer, larger companies along the bayou. Mr. Lafont said he saw a new, less frugal generation learning what many learned the hard way in the 1980s. "Last four or five years, some people thought this was never going to stop," he said. In recent years, Louisianans could be forgiven somewhat for thinking that way, with the juicy promise of a largely untapped shale formation, an eagerly awaited building boom in petrochemical facilities and an ever-growing frenzy in deepwater drilling. Many of those prospects remain, for now, though the fervor is cooling. On Wednesday, one of the most hotly anticipated petrochemical developments in south Louisiana a $14 billion gas-to-liquids plant was put on indefinite hold. Similar announcements could follow. Louisiana's pain of lowered expectations may differ from the nasty hangovers in Texas and North Dakota, said Stephen R. Barnes, an economics professor at Louisiana State. "You don't see the pain when it's missed opportunity as much as you do when you're coming down off of a high," he said. But faith in a boom endures, even in the midst of a bust. Looking around at service companies the size of his, Chuckie Cheramie, who runs a towboat business that caters to the small oil and gas operations in south Louisiana, sees plenty of misery. "At this price, it's really hurting us," he said, adding that his company has had to release more than half its 22 employees. "Let's put it this way: Guys that I used to call for work are now calling me for work. I had a captain working for me at 10 percent of his pay just to keep his job." Mr. Cheramie, however, also sits on the Greater Lafourche Port Commission. Port Fourchon, which he helps oversee, is still undergoing a massive expansion to take part in the deepwater drilling frenzy, driven by giants like Chevron, Exxon, BP and Shell. "We're not slowing down in Fourchon, I can tell you that right now," Mr. Cheramie said, as excited as he was morose in his other comments. "Price goes down, everybody panics," he said. "But in a year, the price comes back up. And it's higher." | 5 | 5,322 | news |
The trailer for Game of Thrones season five has leaked, so the countdown is officially on for its April 12 premiere! A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin GRRM's epic fantasy series-turned-hit HBO series has won the hearts of fantasy and nonfantasy readers alike. A Song of Ice and Fire's mélange of house politics, interweaving character arcs, warfare, historical fiction, romance, and well, dragons in the world of Westeros and Essos never lets you down. There are seven books planned for the series, but only five have been released thus far. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Arguably, two of the greatest classics of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and prequel The Hobbit, offer a thrilling adventure tale full of wizardry, Hobbits, an all-seeing eye, and Smaug. Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon The part-fantasy, part-romance seven-piece Outlander series is one of our top picks because of its vigilant female protagonist, Claire Randall, who, at the height of World War II, travels back in time and meets James Alexander Fraser. Needless to say, adventures ensue in this masterpiece of historical fiction. The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss The Kingkiller Chronicles trilogy is a modern marvel in the world of epic fantasy. The books follow the story of Kvothe, who attempts to enter an esteemed school of magic and eventually becomes one of the most notorious magicians of all time. It's Harry Potter - for grown-ups. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The seven-part Chronicles of Narnia classics are a testament to bravery, fear, belief, and magic. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is just one part of Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan's epic adventures in the land of Narnia. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman Lyra, the heroine of the His Dark Materials trilogy, is an orphan whose infectious audacity in Philip Pullman's science- and theology-intensive imagined world appeals to readers of all ages. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling The literature juggernaut of our era, the seven-part Harry Potter series dives deep into the magical world of the books' protagonist of the same name. The highly entertaining, humorous, and fantastical Harry Potter series tells a traditional tale of good vs. evil, but through the lens of an alternative universe of witches, wizards, Muggles, and goblins. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan The Wheel of Time was originally planned as a six-book series but has since expanded to 14 volumes. Those interested in European and Asian mythology will be enthralled by Robert Jordan's epic novels, which integrate elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, duality, balance, and eternal prophecies. Like other classics in the genre, The Wheel of Time books feature a large cast of characters and complex systems that exist only in its imaginary world. Darkover Series by Marion Zimmer Bradley The Darkover series by famed female author Marion Zimmer Bradley are science fantasy, including both science fiction and sweeping fantasy themes. There are more than 30 in publication about a human colony on a faraway planet - the first is Darkover Landfall. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson The Mistborn series, about the failed hero of a prophecy, has all the elements of classic fantasy: a multicharacter arc, an original magic system, and climactic, high-action events. While the books are on the longer side, the story line is fast-paced and will draw you right in. The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind The 12 books of The Sword of Truth series are not for the faint of heart. There are some vivid adult themes in this tale of the magically gifted people of the New World and the Old World. Preserving family legacy, revenge, sorcery, fallen empires . . . this series has it all. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher The 14-part urban fantasy Dresden Files novels are written in the first person and offer an intimate look into the supernatural activity of modern-day Chicago. Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde Wordsmiths will enjoy the seven-part Thursday Next series, written by the whip smart Jasper Fforde. The alternative history novels are set in a world where England is a republic and the countries of the United Kingdom are separated by intense politics. Genetic engineering and shadow governments play a huge role in this series that refuses to be pigeonholed into any single genre. Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson The 10 volumes of Malazan Book of the Fallen follow the complicated plots of the Malazan Empire, which is plagued by bitter warfare, ancient sorcerers, and imperial legions. Steven Erikson's literature is most often compared to George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. | 4 | 5,323 | lifestyle |
Manchester United moved up to third in the Premier League table following a routine 3-1 win over Leicester City. Louis van Gaal's side was beaten 5-3 at the King Power Stadium in September, but it never looked in danger of suffering a similar fate at Old Trafford on Saturday. Robin van Persie scored his first goal in over a month to break the deadlock, sprinting onto a long ball over the top to volley past Mark Schwarzer amid suspicions of offside before Radamel Falcao bundled in a second five minutes later. The game was as good as over just before halftime when Leicester defender Wes Morgan lost his footing and diverted Daley Blind's header past Schwarzer. Marcin Wasilewski added a late consolation when he headed home Marc Albrighton's cross just over 10 minutes from time. Victory lifts United above Southampton, which plays Swansea on Sunday, into third, while Leicester remains rooted to the foot of the table. United, which wore black armbands to mark the 57th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, made three changes from its goalless FA Cup draw at Cambridge United, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was handed a first Premier League start for Leicester. Despite United's best efforts to probe the Leicester defense, the veteran stopper went largely untested in the early stages, with Falcao flagged offside when he appeared to have found an opening. United broke the deadlock in the 27th minute as the architects of one of the most memorable goals of 2014 combined again. Blind, who provided the assist for Van Persie's spectacular diving header against Spain at the World Cup, found his Netherlands teammate with a ball over the top before the striker expertly hooked a shot beyond Schwarzer, despite appeals for offside. Falcao then pounced to force the ball over the line from close range after the goalkeeper had failed to hold an Angel Di Maria strike. Having provided the assist for United's opener, Blind was again involved in United's third as his header from a corner led to Morgan inadvertently diverting past Schwarzer a minute before the break. Leonardo Ulloa went down in the box under the challenge of Marcos Rojo just after the hour mark, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the visitors' optimistic claims for a penalty. While United may not have looked as dangerous during the second period, Leicester offered little going forward and looked destined to end the match without registering a single shot on target. However, Wasilewski nodded home his first goal for more than three years from a Marc Albrighton cross with 10 minutes to go, although that proved little more than consolation for the well-beaten visitors. | 1 | 5,324 | sports |
Call it rum and cigar diplomacy: The few Americans allowed to visit Cuba are eager to finally legally bring home the communist island's once forbidden fruits. While Washington and Havana seek to normalize ties, US President Barack Obama added rum and cigars to the diplomatic mix in January by allowing Americans to fly back with $100 worth of Cuban tobacco and alcohol. "This was huge news. To have this opening after so many years is a giant step for both nations," said Alexis Batista, a bartender in Havana's Rum Museum. "It's very positive for the economy to have commerce flowing between the two countries. It's something that must benefit the people," he said after squeezing sugarcane through a grinder to make "guarapo" juice for a group of European tourists. The rum company Havana Club -- co-owned by the Cuban government and French spirits giant Pernod Ricard -- says it it is ready to sell to American visitors but also has a strategy to enter the US market -- if the decades-old embargo is lifted one day. Cuban cigar sellers also want to see Americans put Cohibas and Montecristos in their suitcases. But for now they will have to settle for purchases from the few Americans who can visit Cuba under specific tours because regular tourism remains forbidden until the US Congress lifts the embargo. Meryl Cohen, a 29-year-old Washington resident, was planning to buy some cigars and rum as she took part in a religious tour of Havana with a Jewish group. "It's more symbolic than anything, but I think it's showing that Americans can be tourists like all the other tourists that come here, and that we can partake in what is a huge symbol of the Cuban nation, the rum and the cigars," Cohen said as she hopped back on a bus near Havana's seaside fort. Cohen's group came to Cuba under a religious license, one of the 12 categories of people allowed by the US government to visit Cuba, though under Obama's new rules they no longer have to apply for a permit before traveling. Robert Raisler, a 78-year-old retired computer programmer on an educational tour, said he would shop for rum and cigars, but had to check prices first. "When we first planned this trip we were told that we could buy none of either," he said. "And then when President Obama gave his talk about opening things up a bit, we learned that the new limit was $100. I thought, it's about time," he said as he visited Arms Square, where book sellers offer tomes about icons of the Cuban revolution. - Havana Club vs Bacardi - While Havana Club is ready to sell to American visitors, it is also prepared for the day it can export to the United States. "We have the available product, good internal production capacity and all the conditions ready to enter the US market as soon as possible," Sergio Valdes Dorta, the company's director of exports, told AFP. "The potential is very high. The brand is already well known and has a good reputation." With 50 million bottles sold each year, Havana Club is third behind rivals Bacardi -- the Cuban company that fled to Bermuda after the 1959 revolution -- and Jamaica's Captain Morgan in global sales. The battle with Bacardi for the US market started years ago. Havana Club created the name Havanisa for the day it can sell in the United States after Bacardi won a legal battle blocking it from using its famous brand. Bacardi declined to comment on how the US-Cuba rapprochement would affect its business, and whether the company could one day sue to reclaim what it lost in the revolution. "We will need to wait and see what the impacts are. We hope for meaningful improvements in the lives of the Cuban people and will follow any changes with great interest," the company said in a statement to AFP. - 'Forbidden fruit is good' - Cuban cigar sellers also hope to cash in. Barbara Elias Hernandez, a 45-year-old who works in an arts and crafts market in Havana's port, said she never understood why Americans were barred from buying cigars. "They smoked them here but then they couldn't take them home," she said, voicing hope that more Americans would buy cigars now. "It's a new market that we are entering." Washington's new Cuban tobacco rules will have little impact on the US market, however, because $100 will not buy you much (three large Cohibas or 10 Montecristo Number 2) and few Americans are allowed to get them, said David Savona, executive editor of the US magazine Cigar Aficionado. "That said, the news about Cuba has added to the interest in cigars because when you think about Cuba, you can't help thinking about cigars," he told AFP. "The forbidden fruit is very good indeed and people want it." | 2 | 5,325 | travel |
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli became the first all-Italian team to capture a Grand Slam men's doubles title in more than 50 years after beating French pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open final on Saturday. The last Italians to win a men's doubles title at a major were Nicola Pietrangeli and Orlando Sirola at the 1959 French Open. Fognini and Bolelli had come close before, reaching the semifinals at the 2011 U.S. Open and 2013 Australian Open. Mahut and Herbert were playing in just their third event as a combination and had never won a match together before the Australian Open. They were attempting to become just the sixth all-French team to win a Grand Slam doubles title, and the first since 2004. | 1 | 5,326 | sports |
A delighted Serena Williams paid tribute to her family and her humble beginnings after making history with her 19th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Saturday. The American world number one, who grew up in the gritty Los Angeles neighbourhood of Compton, said it felt amazing to win her 19th Slam with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Russia's Maria Sharapova. "Growing up I wasn't the richest but I had a rich family in spirit and support and standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen," the 33-year-old said. "I went on the courts with just a ball and a racquet and hope and that's all I had." Williams, who is now three majors behind Steffi Graf's all-time Open-era Grand Slam winners' record of 22, said her desire to win was as strong as ever. "I think I get more joy now, there were times in the match where I just smiled because I'm so happy to be out there competing," added the newly-crowned, six-time Australian champion, who has overcome serious illness during her career. She said Graf's tally was definitely on her radar but it still seemed a long way off. "I would love to get to 22," she said. "I mean 19 was very difficult to get to. Took me 33 years to get here, so I would love to get there. "But I have to get to 20 first, and then I have to get to 21. There's so many wonderful young players coming up, so it will be a very big task. "My next goal was just to get to 19. That was my goal. So I didn't think it would happen this fast, to be honest, but it feels really good." - Sleeping it off - Williams said she struggled at times against Sharapova after battling a cold for much of the tournament, particularly during a rain break in the first set. "I had a really bad cough and I ended up throwing up," she said. "I was able to clear my chest out because I couldn't breath a little bit." She also revealed she had the jitters trying to close out the match in the second set after Sharapova held off two match points. "I get more nervous now and I can't work out why," she said. "In that tie-break I missed some shots, I was embarrassed, I was like 'Serena serve it out, serve it out'." Asked how she would celebrate a win that takes her Grand Slam tally past legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, both on 18, she said she planned to "take a deep breath and lay down". "I'm going to go to bed, I'm going to curl up under some covers and I'm going to go to sleep, I'm not feeling the best," she said. "I just had a really bad cold and a really bad cough (during the tournament). "Usually when that happens you stay in bed for a week, you don't play matches every other day and practice every day, so I haven't been able to get better." | 1 | 5,327 | sports |
Russia's economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev on Saturday forecast GDP to fall by three percent in 2015 on the back of a collapse in oil prices and a massive capital flight. "We have issued a forecast for 2015 which uses the current prices, that is $50 dollars a barrel for the entire year," Ulyukayev was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. Ulyukayev emphasized that his prediction of a three-percent contraction was "conservative" given that most analysts forecast oil prices to recover later this year. The economy ministry had previously forecast a 0.8-percent fall in output, but some economists had said that the contraction could be as big as five percent, depending on the price of Russia's main export commodity. Russia's central bank has forecast a 4.8-percent shrinkage. Russia has been hit by a double whammy of tumbling oil prices and Western sanctions that have closed off the economy from foreign borrowing. The Russian ruble has fallen by half against the dollar and the euro since the beginning of last year, leading prices to rapidly rise. As a result of the economy's demise, capital flight last year shot up to $150 billion -- a record since the fall of the Soviet Union. Ulyukayev said the figure this year was expected to reach $115 billion, and that investment would fall by 13 percent. Inflation predictions have also been revised upwards for the current year, from 7.5 percent to 12 percent, news agencies cited the minister as saying. January inflation will be 13.1 percent, he said. Real wages will fall by over nine percent over the year, he added. The government has unveiled a series of measures to shore up the economy, including increasing financing to banks and boosting spending on pensions and unemployment programmes. On Friday, the central bank announced a surprise reduction of its key interest rate from 17 percent to 15 percent, which it said aimed at "averting the sizeable decline in economic activity". | 3 | 5,328 | finance |
PHOENIX - The discovery of Russell Wilson, a third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2012 who shed the label of "game manager" about as quickly as his feet move running the zone read with Marshawn Lynch, set an example for what roughly half of the NFL seeks on an annual basis. There are the haves and have-nots across the league when it comes to quarterbacks, and to borrow from former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, those in need are "fixated" on the position. With Wilson squaring off against the Patriots' Tom Brady on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., neither quarterback is a former first-round pick. It's the first time that has happened in 11 years dating to Super Bowl XLVIII in Houston, where Brady, a sixth-round pick in 2000, faced the Panthers' Jake Delhomme, an undrafted journeyman. However, it's difficult to build a case that a third-rounder versus a sixth-rounder offers hope to organizations and coaches under fire, scrambling to fill the position or locate an upgrade. Brady is a once-in-a-generation find for the Patriots with a career that is unparalleled in many ways. Entering his sixth Super Bowl, his 20 lifetime playoff victories are the most all-time, and with a triumph Sunday he will join Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. Wilson seemingly represents the more realistic model as a mid-round selection who required some projecting because of his height - officially 5-foot-10-5/8 at the NFL scouting combine in April 2012, more than 1-1/2 inches shorter than Saints quarterback Drew Brees. If it only were that easy. Casting for QB When coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider took over the Seahawks in 2010, veteran Matt Hasselbeck was at the end of his 10-year run as the team's quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson followed him the next season, and for 2012 Schneider figured he had to explore all avenues - at once. The Seahawks signed Matt Flynn, whom Schneider had been with in Green Bay, to a big contract in free agency, seemingly making him the guy. The Seahawks, driven by early interest in Wilson from Schneider, doubled down in Round 3 with the 75th pick, and the incumbent Jackson returned. "We just believed that the coach and the quarterback are the most important people in the building, and you are going to be constantly searching for a guy every single year," Schneider said. "Our thing was like, 'We're going to keep doing this bridge thing, if you will, until we find our guy.' Russell, well, he really stepped forward." As new Bears GM Ryan Pace looks to solidify the position over the long term, the Seahawks' model is worth remembering. For the Seahawks, Flynn was the big-money guy who didn't make it to opening weekend as the starter. Now, Wilson has the opportunity to become the first quarterback to repeat as champion since Brady 10 years ago. The other six quarterbacks who have won back-to-back Super Bowls are all in the Hall of Fame. Schneider fixated on Wilson during his final season of college football at Wisconsin after transferring from North Carolina State. He followed his instinct, ignoring conventional theories about short quarterbacks and their struggles seeing the field from the pocket. While it was Schneider's call, and the Seahawks nearly pulled the trigger in the second round (instead they selected linebacker Bobby Wagner), offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell also was watching closely as a former Badgers quarterback himself. "I watched all of those games, not scouting him but as a fan," Bevell said. "The first thing that jumped out to me was his poise. It helped because that is a little more of a pro-style system. I got to see him drop back, got to see him stand in the pocket, got to see him hand off and run some bootlegs and those kinds of things. It just makes the process a little easier to say, 'OK, we have seen him do that on tape.'" Schneider wanted to see more from Wilson, so he attended the Big Ten championship in 2011, when the Badgers played Michigan State. He came away convinced, and there is no question a year in more of a pro-style offense helped Wilson after three seasons in a spread offense at N.C. State. Hard to judge The proliferation of spread offenses in college has made it increasingly difficult for NFL scouts to make accurate judgments on quarterbacks for a variety of reasons. They're nearly always in the shotgun, and that creates footwork issues that lead to questions about timing. The decision-making process in spread offenses is simplistic compared with what NFL quarterbacks are asked to do. Often, quarterbacks will focus only on one side of the formation on a play. Windows are larger and timing isn't as essential. Robert Griffin III rarely had to throw a spiral into tight spots at Baylor because he could run the ball so well and saw so many single-high safety looks. His receivers would be wide open, especially off of play action. With the Redskins, he has been injured and he has struggled. "The first thing you have to do is check for the skill set and what shows up on tape and then what is their knowledge of the offense, what are they (asked) to do?" Bevell said. "Are there check-offs, signals, all of the things you would like a quarterback to do? A lot of times now you can see what is happening, they call a play, they look to the sideline and they run another one. "Sometimes our play calls in the huddle are like paragraphs. For them to go into the huddle and call it - all of a sudden that is totally foreign to them. You are checking their brain." The Patriots did exhaustive work last spring on Jimmy Garoppolo, who ran a spread system at Eastern Illinois. He didn't run a lot like Griffin, but the issues of concern were similar. They wound up drafting Brady's backup 62nd overall. "Sometimes it is a difficult transition and you are trying to project a lot," Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. "You have to try to spend as much time with them as you can in the process leading up to the draft, but it isn't easy because you don't see them do all the things you want them to do. So you have to gather all of the information you can, watch as much tape as you can ... and ultimately make a smart decision. "I love turning on a college bowl game and see somebody with a quarterback under center and a back in the backfield. I enjoy seeing that because you know you are going to do that in pro football and it affects more than just the quarterback." Take your chances Andrew Luck, the No. 1 pick by the Colts in 2012, is an exception now because he came from a pro-style system at Stanford under Jim Harbaugh. Who knows? Maybe it will be Harbaugh - now at Michigan, where Brady was developed - who will produce the next great pro-style prospect. The Buccaneers own the No. 1 pick in the draft, and they surely will consider Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston, both products of high-powered spread attacks. But it's no sure thing. Johnny Manziel was a controversial prospect the Browns drafted No. 22 last spring, and it wasn't just because of his off-field exploits. There were questions about his game in the Texas A&M offense and how it translated to Sundays. There have been 120 quarterbacks chosen in the last 10 drafts - 27 in Round 1. Of those 27, nine (Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Cam Newton and Luck) have won a playoff game. Only three others drafted in the last decade have won one: Wilson, Colin Kaepernick (Round 2, 2011) and T.J. Yates (Round 5, 2011). So one in 10 drafted quarterbacks over the last decade has won in the postseason, and there has been a slew of first-round busts, including JaMarcus Russell, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Josh Freeman, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder. Wilson stands out now. He has a remarkable 10-0 record playing against Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks. He's the face of the Seahawks franchise and likely in line for a contract in excess of $100 million at some point this coming offseason. He's evidence that projections can pan out and that winning quarterbacks can be found after Round 1. But the odds of finding that guy are daunting, which is why a quarterback search can be a cyclical process for so many teams. The Seahawks found their way out of it by taking multiple swings and connecting. If you're a have-not, it's all you can do. [email protected] Twitter @BradBiggs | 1 | 5,329 | sports |
There's something utterly delicious about hotel beds ... and towels... and robes. They're so decadently fluffy and epically cozy, we'd totally steal them if we could. And much of the time, we do. Towels are among the most-stolen items in hotels , The Telegraph reports. We could've guessed that. But we never would've guessed that hotels can tell when you've stolen a towel (or robe or duvet cover for that matter). It's all thanks to a tiny, M&M-sized tracking device that thousands of hotels have embedded in their linens -- a device that lets them know where their towels, robes and bedsheets are at all times. The main service they use is Linen Technology Tracking , which provides the chips to some 2,000 hotels around the country, according to its executive VP William Serbin. The company's initial goal was to let hotels track which linens had made it from the hotel to the cleaners and back again, but the chips have also proven handy for keeping tabs on stolen goods that guests think have slipped out unnoticed. "One hotel uses the chips to monitor the elevator banks," Serbin told The Huffington Post. "Any time one of their towels passes through the elevator bay, Housekeeping gets an alert." While he says the hotel in question doesn't charge guests for lifting towels or robes (he can't say which hotels have his trackers installed, but we've found the name of at least one that does), hotels that use Linen Tracking do know precisely how many linens have been stolen each month . The average hotel loses 10 to 20 percent of its linens per month -- mostly to wear and tear, Serbin says. Two percent of linens that go missing are stolen, he estimates. His company's chips send signals to antennae at the hotel's entrance or exit, letting owners know if a linen has left the property -- they do not tell hoteliers the exact coordinates of a missing towel or robe. ... And for that, hotel thieves everywhere are thankful. | 2 | 5,330 | travel |
Remember when you resolved to do more yoga? And then you sat at the back of a yoga class as the teacher said ridiculous things like " juice your spine " and you wondered what the heck you were doing? Yeah, we're here to help. Yoga doesn't need to be shrouded in mystery. This week, we caught up with Lisa Sochocki, owner of Yoga Loft Hawaii on the island of Oahu, to talk plainly about how to achieve each basic yoga pose with perfection. Sochocki has spent the last 16 years practicing yoga around the world and the last 10 teaching it. She has helped hundreds of aspiring yogis turn their awkwardly stiff downward dogs into seamless standing splits, and she knows every mistake a rookie yogi will make on the mat. "A lot of people think that in order to start doing yoga, you have to be super flexible. But the reality is that everyone has to start somewhere," Sochocki told The Huffington Post. "And it all usually starts with the first breath. If you remember to breathe, then everything else will fall into place." So take a breath, relax and let this blissful yogini walk you through all the beginner's yoga poses you need to know to master your practice. Your computer-hunched spine will thank you. Hold each pose for three to five deep and slow breaths, in and out of your nostrils. 1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana) Stand tall, spine straight with feet parallel and big toes touching. Look straight ahead. Common mistakes: The ribs and butt should not stick out too far. Try to keep your spine, from the top of your head to your tailbone, in one straight line. Sochocki says: "Unlike regular standing, here you stand with a purpose, feeling the four corners of your feet, lifting up the knee caps, engaging the legs, drawing the the tailbone down and lifting the belly button in and up. Soften the shoulders down the back and turn the palms to face forward, imagine you have heavy rocks in your hands. Look straight ahead and feel the power of the Mountain!" 2. Chair Pose (Utkatasana) Knees bent over the ankles, thighs as parallel to the floor as possible. Torso should form a right angle over your thighs. Move the feet closer together for a more advanced pose. Inhale as you raise your hands up. Common mistakes: Knees should not go past the toes. Sochocki says: "Place more weight over the heels to pull the knees away from hovering over the toes." 3. Forward Fold (Uttanasana) (Top photo is for beginners, bottom photo is for advanced students.) This pose opens up the back of the legs, allows the spine to decompress and lets fresh blood move from the heart and into the head. Start in mountain pose. Hinge from the hips on an exhale and fold over forward, keeping the spine as straight as possible. Let the head hang heavy, and relax the jaw. Keep feet hip-width apart for beginners or touching for intermediate/advanced students. Common mistakes: A straight spine is more important than having straight legs. Bend your knees as much as needed to keep a straight spine with your chest touching your thighs. Sochocki says: "Consistency in yoga is important and over time, the back of the legs will open in forward fold. Keep the knees soft, and don't lock them." 4. Downward-facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) (Top photo is for beginners, bottom photo is for advanced students.) This inversion opens the entire body. From plank position, with your feet hip-width apart and hands shoulder-width apart, lift your hips toward the ceiling on an exhale until your body makes an inverted "V." Eyes are looking between the legs or toward the belly. Pull the belly and ribs in. Common mistakes: People with tight hamstrings and calves tend to form boxy poses. To correct this, bend the knees more, and draw the chest toward the tops of the thighs, pressing your hands firmly against the floor to pull the hips back. Sochocki says: "It is more important to keep your back straight and less important to keep the legs straight." You shouldn't be afraid to bend the knees or lift the heels if needed. "Imagine that you are a fish and you've been hooked at the tailbone and are being pulled back to the boat. This will help lift the hips back and up." 5. Warrior One (Virabhadrasana 1) From downward-facing dog, step your right foot forward between your hands, turn your left heel in, and raise your torso and arms up on an inhale. The front foot's heel should line up with the back foot's arch, with the front of the knee directly over the ankle. Face both hips forward, draw the tailbone down, and pull the ribs in. Repeat pose on the opposite side of the body. Common mistakes: The back hip should be facing forward and not outward, and the back foot should be closer to a 45-degree angle, not a 90-degree angle. Sochocki says: "Imagine both your hips are headlights. You want both headlights facing forward." 6. Warrior Two (Virabhadrasana 2) Similar to warrior one, but with arms stretched out in opposite directions, parallel to the floor and in line with the shoulders. Raise arms and torso on an inhale. Back foot should be at a 90-degree angle, and front thigh should be parallel to the floor, with the front of the knee directly over the ankle. Eyes should look out over middle finger. Repeat pose on the opposite side of the body. Common mistakes: The butt or belly should not stick out, and there should be no arch in the lower back. Foot alignment is also often wrong. Make sure that your front foot's heel aligns with the back foot's arch. Sochocki says: "Imagine you are spreading your mat apart. To align your hips, place your hands on your hips to make sure you're not leaning too much on one hip." 7. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) Step feet wide apart, creating a triangle from your feet to your pelvic bone. Start with turning one foot out by 90 degrees and the other inward by 15 degrees. Stretch arms out in line with the shoulders, and, on an exhale, rotate torso toward the outward-turned foot. Fingers should touch the shin for beginners or slightly touch the floor for advanced. The other arm should be reaching up with eyes looking at the raised hand, neck kept long and away from the shoulders. Shoulders and arms should form one line. Common mistakes: The front hip should not jut out, and the back hip should not drop down. Sochocki says: "To ensure good alignment, go into the pose very slowly." 8. Child's Pose (Balasana) (Top photo is for beginners, bottom photo is for advanced students.) Child's pose is a pose of surrender. Starting from a kneeling position, with toes touching and knees as wide as the shoulders, draw your hips down to your heels as your arms extend forward on the floor and your forehead lowers to the ground. Close your eyes and let your forehead rest on the ground. Breathe in whichever manner is comfortable to you. Sochocki says: "There is no wrong way to do Child's Pose. However, if you have tight hips, it can be helpful to place a blanket or pillow between your hips and heels and a block for your forehead." 9. Baby Cobra (Ardha Bhujangasana) This pose is done on the belly, with the pubic bone and the tops of the feet pressing into the ground. Feet are as wide as the hips and straight back. Hands are resting beside the rib cage, and elbows are squeezed back, reaching toward one another. Using the strength in the lower lumbar spine, peel the chest and upper ribs off the floor. Lift up on an inhale, take a few breaths, and lower down on an exhale. Common mistakes: Hands should not be in front of the shoulders, and the shoulders should not be by the ears. To correct this form, draw the shoulders down the back, and pull the shoulders away from the ears. Sochocki says: Your elbows should be at a 45 degree angle and you should use your lower back -- with minimal push from your hands -- to pull your torso off the floor. 10. Seated Twist with Leg Extended (Marichyasana) The seated spinal twist neutralizes the spine. Start from a seated position, with butt on the ground and both legs parallel in front of you. Extend your left leg straight out, and flex the foot. Bend your right knee, and cross your right foot over the extended left leg. Left elbow pushes against the outside of the right knee, and right hand is placed on the floor on the right side of the body. Right hand should be planted behind the right side of the spine, supporting it. Look over the shoulder or as far as the neck allows. Repeat pose on the opposite side of the body. Common mistakes: Do not round your back. Lengthen your spine by lifting your back up. Make sure your back hand is helping you life the spine up. Sochocki says: "Exhale as you twist your spine. Inhale to create the space [in your torso] and the exhale will move you deeper into the space you've created." 11. Upward-facing Dog* (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) *Our yogi says it can be dangerous to assume that the upward-facing dog is a beginner's pose. It is, in fact, an intermediate to advanced pose because it is a deep back bend that requires a lot of power. Sochocki suggests that beginners start with baby cobra and build their way up to upward dog. From the plank position, with feet hip-width apart and arms shoulder-width apart, exhale and use your arms to slowly lower your body down until your elbows form a 90-degree angle. Use your toes to tilt your body forward and roll over your toes so the tops of your feet are flat on the ground. On an inhale, straighten your elbows so your entire torso, knees and thighs are lifted from the ground. Your hands and feet should be the only parts of your body touching the ground. Look slightly upward, past the tip of the nose. Exit the pose on an exhale. Common mistakes: "I most commonly see students go into this pose before their back is ready for it. You can tell when their shoulders are high and near the ears. I recommend that beginners start with a cobra pose, closer to the floor. Cobra has little to no weight in the hands and will slowly build up the strength in the back." Sochocki says: "For those who are determined to master the up dog, make sure you press firmly down with the feet and keep drawing the chest through the arms. Lift from the center of the heart while pulling your shoulders down your back." | 7 | 5,331 | health |
Tommy Thompson a famous shipwreck hunter who located a Gold Rush-era wreck, and then became embroiled in a long legal drama over the spoils has been captured in Florida after more than two years in hiding. The U.S. Marshals Service announced on Wednesday (Jan. 28) that Thompson and Alison Antekeier, thought to be his girlfriend and assistant, were arrested without incident at the Hilton hotel in Boca Raton, Florida, where they had been living for more than a year using fake identities and paying in cash. "Thompson was smart perhaps one of the smartest fugitives ever sought by the U.S. Marshals," Marshal Peter Tobin said in a statement. [ Gold Rush Shipwreck: Photos of a Real-Life Underwater Treasure Hunt ] In the late 1980s, Thompson pulled off an astonishing feat: He located wreck of the SS Central America at a depth of 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) off the coast of the Carolinas. The elusive vessel had long captured the imagination of shipwreck hunters. It sank during a fierce hurricane in 1857 on its way from Panama to New York, killing more than 400 passengers and bringing 21 tons of gold to the bottom of the sea. Thompson and his crew had pored over hundreds of historical accounts to try to pinpoint the most likely resting place for the shipwreck . In September 1988, Thompson and his crew became the first people in 130 years to lay eyes on the SS Central America through cameras attached to their underwater robot called Nemo. Thompson and his team recovered gold coins and bars reportedly worth more than $50 million. In 1992, LIFE magazine hailed it "greatest treasure ever found." But a long legal fight started in 2005, when Thompson was sued by some of his investors who charged that they didn't receive the profits they that were promised when they backed the expensive project. By August 2012, an arrest warrant had been issued after Thompson failed to show up for a series of court dates, and to explain what happened to the gold . A similar arrest warrant was issued for Antekeier a few months later. In a deposition filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Marshal Mark Stroh described Thompson's disappearance and it's the stuff of movie plots. Thompson and Antekeier had been living in relative seclusion in a rented mansion named Gracewood in Vero Beach, Florida. A handyman named James Kennedy entered the home after Thompson's arrest warrant was issued to confront the couple about unpaid rent. But Thompson and Antekeier had vanished, and their home was in a dire state. There was mold growing throughout the house and items strewn about the rooms, including a book called "How to Be Invisible," currency straps designed to hold $10,000, 12 active cell phones and pipes used to bury money underground, which explained why the pair always paid their rent in "sweaty" stacks of cash, according to the deposition. The Marshals Service looked for the pair for more than two years. Thompson and Antekeier will eventually have to face the original charges in Ohio, where Thompson's company, Columbus-America Discovery Group, and many of his investors were based. Thompson appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, this week and reportedly told a judge that he has medical conditions, such as encephalitis, an overactive immune system and allergies, which could worsen if he is sent back to Ohio. "I haven't been out of Florida since 2005 because I'm sensitive to materials that are north," Thompson said, according to The Columbus Dispatch . "I just want you to know, it could be very fatal for me to go up there." Thompson and Antekeier are due in court in Florida for another hearing on Wednesday (Feb. 4), when a judge will determine the next steps for their case. Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter . Follow us @livescience , Facebook & Google+ . Original article on Live Science . Disasters at Sea: 6 Deadliest Shipwrecks In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery Photos: Underwater Google Street View Reveals Stunning Corals | 5 | 5,332 | news |
The Insider: Laura Conti, the designer behind resort wear label Laura Manara The story behind Laura Manara: "A couple of years ago, I had some kaftans made for myself whilst on a trip in the Middle East and soon friends were asking me where I bought them! It all started from there really." How long have you had a home in Milan? "I married my Italian husband, who is from Milan, in my late teens. So I have been living in Milan on and off for many years." How would you describe Milan in one sentence? "Steeped in charm and tradition, once you scratch the corporate surface." Best time to visit: "Spring time April or May. Avoid July and August as almost everything is closed and it's much too hot." Favorite spots to grab a bite: Pisacco "They serve a modern Italian version of a bento box, perfect for lunch." Al Fresco "Genuine food with a gorgeous garden in the middle of town (as if it was a private home)." La Brisa "Traditional Milanese restaurant with a calming and soothing outside patio in zona Magenta." Il Salmaio di Montanapoleone - "Inside a fabulous house museum in Neo Renaissance style Palazzo Bagatti Valsecchi." Larte "Serves seasonal menus in a modern and understated cool setting on bustling Via Manzoni" Best bars: Dry "This bar has a very cool and trendy atmosphere, exclusive cocktails, and they serve the best mini pizzas in town." Ceresio 7 - "A unique place to have drinks by the pool on a roof in Milan!" Where to go during the day: Triennale di Milano "They always have cutting edge shows and a permanent show of Icons of Italian Design." Villa Necchi Campiglio "A private home in the centre of Milan with a swimming pool and tennis court full of the forward-thinking architecture of the 30′s." Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea - "Contemporary Art, film installations and photography in a beautiful building." Where to shop: Bivia/Pontaccio 7 "A quirky selection of brands hand-picked by the owner Paola Vazzoler." Spazio Rossana Orlandi - "An incredible variety of furniture and objects for interiors." Stivaleria Savoi - "They have been making the best quality handmade riding boots since 1925." Where to stay: Hotel Bulgari - "The hotel is refined and sleek ,with an unexpected hidden garden." Principe di Savoia - "Full of gilded, mirrored walls and miles of velvet, the Principe di Savola is luxury at its best." Grand Hotel et de Milan - "A Milanese institution." Bonus tip: "I'd recommend visiting The Studio by Davide Diodovich to have your hair done in an intimate and sophisticated space, decorated with vintage furniture, by the charming and talented Davide himself." | 2 | 5,333 | travel |
For two men who have accomplished so much in their closely intertwined careers, the Australian Open final between friends Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on Sunday could achieve a number of firsts. Should Djokovic beat Murray he will become the first man in the Open era to win five titles in Melbourne and be one away from Roy Emerson's record of six, won before the game went professional in 1968. Victory will also allow him to reclaim his mantle as the king of Melbourne Park, having reached the final in four of the past five years. "Getting to the finals is already a great achievement ... but now this is the match for which you have worked for now two months," Djokovic said after he beat last year's champion Stan Wawrinka in the semi-final. "This is where you want to be. "This is why you put all these hours on and off the court, trying to get yourself in a position to win grand slam trophy, because that's what matters the most." Djokovic is bidding for his eighth grand slam title and has a superior 15-8 career record over Murray. He has also won seven of the last eight matches, while in his run of three successive Melbourne Park titles, he beat Murray twice, in 2011 and 2013. "There's no clear favorite. But ... the record I have in finals against him here in Australia, we played couple times, can serve maybe as a slight mental edge," Djokovic said. "But not much." REWRITING HISTORY While the history is against Murray, the Scot is used to rewriting it. It would be his first title at Melbourne Park, from his fourth final appearance, the most required in the Open era to win the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. It would also end another long barren streak for British men's tennis, as he would be the first British man since Fred Perry in 1934 to clinch the Australian title. Ending long losing streaks back to the days of Perry is something the 27-year-old Scot is becoming accustomed to. He became the first British man since Perry to win a grand slam title in 76 years when he clinched the U.S. Open in 2012 and the first to win Wimbledon in 77 years in 2013. Both times he beat Djokovic in the final. It would also be his first under new coach Amelie Mauresmo, with the Scot coming out after his tempestuous semi-final victory over Thomas Berdych to defend their working together. Murray's form last year was criticized, with some pundits putting it down to Mauresmo's influence, but the sixth seed said the pair had barely worked together at all before the end of 2014. "I feel like I'm playing well again," Murray said on Saturday. "I think this tournament's been obviously important for me just because of some of the results I had at the end of last year. "It shows as well that last year, although it was a tough year, it wasn't that bad. "I feel like things have been going the right direction the last couple months." His improvements at Melbourne Park have been noticed by Djokovic. "His game at the end of 2014 season, maybe people were not giving him such a great chances to get to the finals," Djokovic said. "(But) he feels that he's more relaxed on the court and he can swing through his shots from the baseline. "I think forehand has improved, judging by the matches he has played ... compared to a few months ago. "He's also got a big serve. I think if he serves well, that's a huge confidence boost and advantage for him. "I think the way he's been playing, he already knows what it takes to win a grand slam title ... so I'm sure that we both are going to go out and give our best." | 1 | 5,334 | sports |
You probably think you have to multitask to accomplish everything on your to-do list and still have a few precious minutes to unwind at the end of the day. But research suggests you're probably not as good at doing things at once as you might think. In fact, your brain can't consciously focus on more than one thing at a time, according to a new video created by Amit Sood, M.D. , professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic and the author of The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living . When you think you're multitasking, your brain is actually rapidly toggling between tasks, and because "each toggle depletes energy," multitasking can actually drain you, leading to fewer accomplishments rather than more. Watch the video above for three tips about when to multitask and how to do it right. | 7 | 5,335 | health |
Tens of thousands of people have marched in Madrid in support for anti-austerity party Podemos, whose surging popularity and policies have drawn comparisons with Greece's new Syriza rulers. On Saturday, protesters chanted "Yes we can!" as they made their way from Madrid city hall to the central Puerta del Sol square. Podemos and its anti-austerity message have been surging in polls ahead of local, regional and national elections this year. Podemos ("We Can") was formed just a year ago, but produced a major shock by winning five seats in elections for the European Parliament in May."People are fed up with the political class," said Antonia Fernandez, a 69-year-old pensioner from Madrid who had come to the demonstration with her family. One protester, Fernandez, who lives with her husband on a 700-euros-a-month combined pension cheque said she used to vote for the Socialist party but had lost faith in it because of its handling of the economic crisis and its austerity policies."If we want to have a future, we need jobs," she said. Greek leftist leader Alexis Tsipras promised that five years of austerity, "humiliation and suffering" imposed by international creditors were over after his Syriza party swept to victory in a snap election on January 25. Like Syriza, Podemos has found popular support by targeting corruption and rejecting austerity programmes aimed at lifting the countries out of deep economic crisis. Spain is emerging from a seven-year economic slump as one of the euro zone's fastest growing countries, but the exit from recession has yet to ease the hardship for thousands of households, in a country where nearly one in four of the workforce is out of a job. | 5 | 5,336 | news |
India on Saturday succeeded for the first time in using a mobile launcher to test-fire a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead deep inside rival China. Although Saturday's launch was the third test of the Agni V missile, it was the first time the weapon had been fired from a so-called canister mounted on a truck rather than from a concrete launchpad used in previous trials. The new delivery mechanism gives the armed forces increased operational flexibility. "Successful test-firing of Agni V from a canister makes the missile a prized asset for our forces," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter after the test on an island off the eastern state of Orissa. The Agni V -- developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation -- was first tested in April 2012. Analysts say the Agni V has the range to strike any target on the Chinese mainland, including military installations in the far northeast. India sees the rocket, which has a range of 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles), as a key boost to its regional power aspirations and one that narrows -- albeit slightly -- the huge gap with China's missile systems. Agni, meaning "fire" in Sanskrit, is the name given to a series of rockets India developed as part of a guided missile development project launched in 1983. While the shorter-range Agni I and II were mainly developed with traditional rival Pakistan in mind, analysts say later versions with a longer range reflect the shift in India's focus towards China. India and China, each with a population of more than one billion, have prickly relations and a legacy of mistrust that stems from a brief but bloody border war in 1962. India, the world's biggest arms importer, is in the midst of a $100-billion defence upgrade programme. The new right-wing government has cleared long-delayed projects worth over $16 billion since storming to power at elections in May. Modi has pushed for greater indigenisation of its defence industry, saying India must build up its military might to the point that no other country "dare cast an evil eye" on the South Asian nation. | 5 | 5,337 | news |
The Islamic State group has acknowledged for the first time that its fighters have been defeated in the Syrian town of Kobani and vowed to attack the town again. In a video released by the pro-IS Aamaq News Agency late Friday, two fighters said the airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition were the main reason why IS fighters were forced to withdraw from Kobani. One fighter vowed to defeat the main Kurdish militia in Syria, the People's Protection Units known as the YPG. On Monday, activists and Kurdish officials said the town was almost cleared of IS fighters, who once held nearly half of Kobani. An Associated Press video from inside the town showed widespread destruction, streets littered with debris and abandoned neighborhoods. The video also showed a new cemetery with fresh graves. The town's famous Freedom Square, with a statue of an eagle spreading its wings, stood intact in the middle of the destruction. The square is near the so-called Kurdish security quarter an eastern district where Kurdish militiamen maintained security buildings and offices, and which was occupied by IS fighters for about two months until they were forced out earlier in January. In the newly released IS video, the militant fighters acknowledged that they have been driven from the town. "A while ago we retreated a bit from Ayn al-Islam because of the bombardment and the killing of some brothers," said one masked fighter, using the group's preferred name for Kobani. He spoke Arabic with a north African accent. The failure to capture and hold Kobani was a major blow to the extremists. Their hopes for an easy victory dissolved into a costly siege under withering airstrikes by coalition forces and an assault by Kurdish militiamen. The United States and several Arab allies have been striking IS positions in Syria since Sept. 23. The campaign aims to push back the jihadi organization after it took over about a third of Iraq and Syria and declared the captured territory a new caliphate. Now Kurdish officials are hailing the retaking of Kobani as an important step toward rolling back the Islamic State group's territorial gains. "Kobani Canton is a representative of the resistance against terrorism in the world," said senior Syrian Kurdish official in Kobani, Anwar Muslim. "We hope that the world will support us to come through our struggle against IS." Meanwhile the IS fighters vowed that their defeat in Kobani will not weaken them. "The Islamic State will stay. Say that to (U.S. President Barack) Obama," said the fighter, pointing his finger toward destruction on the edge of Kobani. The fighters both laid blame for their defeat on the coalition air campaign, seemingly downplaying the role played by Kurdish militiamen whom they refer to as "rats." Another IS fighter, also speaking in Arabic, said while standing on a road with a green sign with "Ayn al-Islam" sprayed on it: "The warplanes did not leave any construction. They destroyed everything, so we had to withdraw and the rats advanced." "The warplanes were bombarding us night and day. They bombarded everything, even motorcycles," the fighter said. IS launched an offensive on the Kobani region in mid-September capturing more than 300 Kurdish villages and parts of the town. As a result of the airstrikes and stiff Kurdish resistance, IS began retreating a few weeks ago, losing more than 1,000 fighters, according to activists. More than 200,000 Kurds were forced from their homes. Many fled to neighboring Turkey. Earlier this week, Kurdish officials said YPG fighters have launched a counterattack to retake some of the surrounding villages around Kobani, many of which remain in IS hands. | 5 | 5,338 | news |
Crème de cassis gives this traditional cranberry sauce a little twist. | 0 | 5,339 | foodanddrink |
Rustic roasted sweet potatoes with green onions. | 0 | 5,340 | foodanddrink |
Katy Perry finally responds to Taylor Swift's diss in Rolling Stone. Katy chooses Billboard magazine for her rebuttal. | 8 | 5,341 | video |
10 Adventurous Date Ideas That Will Spice Up Your Relationship Adventurous Date Ideas That Will Spice Up Your Relationship Regardless of where you live, you can find adventurous dates nearby. You don't need to travel to South Africa to swim with sharks and you don't need to go to France to try heli-skiing these adventures, along with others, can be found across the U.S.All you need is a sense of adventure, a little planning and maybe a long weekend to enjoy a date that will bring you two closer than ever. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Love is in the thin high-altitude air. It's tough to find a date more romantic (and adventurous) than a hot air balloon ride luckily there are great opportunities to lift off all over the country. Fly over the incredible red rock formations as the sun rises in Sedona, Ariz. or take in a remarkable view of Napa Valley's Vineyards in California. Afterward you can enjoy a romantic picnic with some world-class wine. Dive with Sharks Don't worry about traveling to South Africa or Australia to see these massive creatures up close, many aquariums across the country offer diving experiences with their own shark populations. In New York, plunge into a tank full of circling sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks and catch a glimpse of the gaping moray eel or head to the Georgia Aquarium to SCUBA dive or snorkel with gentle whale sharks and manta rays. Check your local aquarium for a similar dive experience. Paddle the Coast The couple that paddles together, stays together. Though you might think of kayaking as a tropical water sport, the U.S. coastline provides some of the best sea kayaking spots in the world. If you're looking for an east coast adventure, head to Maine and paddle the first water trail established in the U.S.; for the west coast experience, visit the San Juan Islands in Washington whose cold waters attract wildlife like whales, otters and seals (wildlife is most abundant April through September). Go Bungee Jumping For the most addicted adrenaline junkies, bungee jumping is a perfect date idea. Though New Zealand is credited with the advent of the activity, there are many suitable jump spots in the U.S. The bridge to nowhere over the San Gabriel River in California is an amazing experience, but if you need the biggest, baddest, highest jump head to the Rio Grande Bridge in Taos, N.M. the drop is a mind-blowing 680 feet. Take a Wildlife Safari It's easy to overlook all the incredible nature and wildlife that's right in our own backyard. Take time to appreciate the beauty with your date on a U.S. wildlife safari. In Wyoming, Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris will send you out with an experienced guide to explore the Grand Tetons or Yellowstone National Park. If you're looking for something a bit more tropical, the Everglades Safari Park in Florida offers unparalleled views of alligators along with airboat rides or kayak tours talk about adventure. Try Heli-Skiing It's tough to find a winter date as romantic as a ski adventure and there's no better way to go above and beyond (literally) than heli-skiing. Though this adventure will cost quite a bit, there are plenty of amazing spots in the U.S. and Canada. Intermediate skiers should check out Helitrax in Telluride, colo. and hardcore powder hounds should head to Valdez, Alaska where they'll find the company H2O Guides. H2O is run by world champion skier Dean Cummings and they have 2.6 million acres at their disposal it's safe to say you won't be bored. Go Snowshoeing Strapping a board (or boards) to your feet not your style? Prefer the uphill trek? Snowshoeing is a fun date idea that packs in a vigorous workout, with ample time to talk and gorgeous views. Head to Mt. Hood, Ore. for the Boy Scout Ridge trail, which starts out nice and easy but builds to gain a total of 1,800 feet of elevation or take to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, which are known for their snowy winters and incredible views and take a moonlit snowshoe tour. Take to the Rock Wall or Climb Outside Reach new heights in your relationship literally. Rock climbing is a great activity for two. If you or your date is a beginner, hit an indoor course and race each other to the top. If you're a couple of thrill seekers take a course in outdoor climbing. Experts say that it's such a popular activity for couples because it relies heavily on communication and trust, two important aspects in relationships. And as an added bonus it's a great full-body work out. Professional instruction is strongly recommended and you can find indoor and outdoor spots all over the country. Go Dogsledding You can't go wrong when the date involves a bunch of adorable dogs and a side of adventure. Though it may seem like an activity lost in time, dogsledding is still widely celebrated. In the U.S., Mahoosuc Guide Service in Maine offers a variety of experiences and even gives guests an option to train and drive a team of dogs and in Minnesota the Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge was called the best in the business by National Geographic and the area is known for stunning scenery. Paragliding If skiing or snowboarding isn't for you, this adventure can take you down the mountain in a totally different way. Fly from some seriously high peaks at Sun Valley in Idaho or take the leap from the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Though you and your date will have to travel separately, you'll share the spectacular experience and can meet at the bottom for a celebratory glass of champagne. | 4 | 5,342 | lifestyle |
Europe's lost comet probe, Philae, is posing major problems for space engineers who are striving to pinpoint the little craft after it disappeared from view during its troubled landing on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in November. Proposed manoeuvres to allow its mothership, Rosetta, to uncover its exact location have caused alarm among some scientists, who fear changes in Rosetta's flightpath could disrupt planned observations of the comet later this year. Comet 67P is set to make its closest approach to the Sun in August and scientists want Rosetta to be perfectly placed to monitor the geysers of dust and water vapour that will pour from its surface. "We never expected that we would lose Philae and would end up having to look for it," Rosetta mission manager Fred Jansen told the Observer last week. "However, finding its location is a real priority and a real headache." The exact location of Philae needs to be known to interpret data from its instruments in particular, signals from its Consert (Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission) device. These were emitted by Philae when it landed, passed through the comet and were picked up by Rosetta, which was then positioned on the opposite side of 67P. "That data from Philae's Consert instrument is essentially an X-ray of the comet, and that makes it very valuable," said Jansen. "It gives a clear idea of the nature of its structure. But we need to know exactly where Philae was sitting when it sent out those signals, so that we know how to interpret the information and so far that bit of information has eluded us." Rosetta reached comet 67P in August last year after a 10-year journey across the solar system and revealed a twin-lobed object filled with craters, hills and cliffs. Rosetta then released Philae on 12 November. The little landing craft was supposed to employ thrusters and harpoons to attach itself to the comet's surface. But these failed and Philae bounced several times across comet 67P before eventually settling at an angle of about 30 degrees in rough terrain in the shadow of a cliff or crater wall. Its radio continued to transmit data, which revealed that the comet had a surface of hard ice and was covered by a thick layer of dust in which organic chemicals could be detected. Its Consert instruments also provided crucial data about the comet's internal structure. However, the lander could not use its solar panels to recharge its batteries because it was stuck in shadow. On 15 November it ceased transmission, and despite every effort European Space Agency engineers have failed to pinpoint its exact resting place, though they have narrowed it down to a 300-metre-long, 30-metre-wide strip. "The trouble is that we need to get that down to an accuracy of about 10 metres by 10 metres to fully interpret what the Consert data is telling us," added Jansen. "To get that accuracy, we need to photograph it from space. So far we have seen nothing, however." Last month engineers proposed a flight plan change that would have sent Rosetta sweeping low over the region where Philae is believed to be resting but at the last minute vetoed the move on the grounds that it would have meant scrapping a different flyby that would have provided the craft with a shadow-free pass over the comet. This would have revealed fine details of surface structures and so was given priority. "It takes a great deal of planning and calculation to make these different approach flights," added Jansen. "Basically we are not going to get a chance to make a new, dedicated approach to find Philae until after 13 August when the comet will make its closest approach to the Sun." There is a hope, however, that Philae having survived the low temperatures in its new residence might receive enough sunlight to charge up its batteries as the comet gets closer and closer to the sun. Some engineers think this could happen by May or June and that the lander could summon up enough power to use its transmitter and re-establish a communications link with Rosetta. Phliae will need about 17 watts to wake up and say hello. "If it manages that then we will be able to pinpoint without a problem," added Jansen. "At present, there is no way of knowing if it will wake up, however." | 5 | 5,343 | news |
MELBOURNE, Australia More than 15 years after she won her first major title at the age of 17, Serena Williams, now with 18 more Grand Slams to her name, is more motivated than ever. History is what Williams is playing against now in her career. And her place in it, she says, is what drives her. "I never thought that I would be sitting and having this discussion," Williams told a small group of reporters inside Rod Laver Arena after winning the Australian Open on Saturday, her 19 th major. "Before I just had a dream and a racket and two wonderful parents who supported me. A part of me thinks, 'Wow, I really have a chance to create history,' and a part of me thinks, 'Wow, I've done so much. This is amazing.' I just try to look at both sides of it." In what has become modern tennis' most decidedly one-sided rivalry, Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, 6-3, 7-6(5), marking her 16 th straight win over the Russian. It was a victory that vaulted Williams past greats Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert in the Grand Slam singles count. Suddenly the discussion turns to history's next great figure in women's tennis: Steffi Graf's 22 Grand Slams, the record in the Open era. "I would love to get to 22," Williams said after her win, a hard-fought, bruising effort against an inspired Sharapova. "But I have to get to 20 first, and then I have to get to 21... There are so many wonderful young players coming up, so it will be a very big task." Winning the title here for the first time in five years was a big task, too. Williams struggled in her early matches at Melbourne Park, twice coming back from a set down. A cough lingered in her chest for much of the fortnight, and Saturday night she vomited off court during a rain delay, she said. But on fought Serena, and on fights Serena. She has distanced herself by the length of three tennis courts from the next greatest in this generation, her sister Venus, who has won seven Grand Slam singles trophies. Sharapova has five. "I'm proud to be part of an era where she's in," Sharapova, 27, said of Williams after the loss. "I love playing against the best, and at the moment she is." This moment and many before. And what about after? At 33, Williams says she feels better than ever. "I feel like I'm doing everything better," Williams told Evert in an interview on ESPN. "My mom told me at 30 that these are my best years. I'm serving better, I'm hitting the ball better. Thirty is the new 20, I guess." Twenty also happens to be the number of majors that she's chasing in the Grand Slam win column. History, from Melbourne, cranes its neck towards Paris and the red dirt of Roland Garros. "When I think about Paris, I don't think about 20," Williams explains. "I just think about winning there. It's the one Slam I don't have more than two titles (at)." You know you're making history when Slams are measured by not if you've won them, but how many of them you've won and won and won. Williams' mark on tennis travels on in 2015. It's the first time in five years she's won the calendar's first Slam. Is a calendar year Slam even fathomable? All four would put her at 22 for her home major, the U.S. Open. "I don't think numbers," says Williams laughing, lost somewhere between self-contradiction and euphoria as she completed some three hours of post-victory engagements. Perhaps most astounding is a champion's mind: Williams is 19-4 in majors, an .826 batting average. To Williams, it's just what she expects. Actually, she expects more. "I just get up for them," she says plainly of major finals. "If I had won those four… I would have been better." In other words: She would have already passed Graf. But Williams, even the 17-year-old version of herself, knew that when she had the chance, she couldn't back down. "Opportunities don't come often," she said after her win at the U.S. Open in 1999, that first major. "They only come now and then and if you don't take them they'll pass you by." Serena Williams, it seems, is passing everyone by. And, with history swinging at her from across the net, she's not looking back. | 1 | 5,344 | sports |
MELBOURNE, Australia World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and sixth seed Andy Murray meet for the third time in the last five years at the Australian Open on Sunday night (Sunday at 3:30 a.m. ET), with Djokovic seeking his fifth crown here and Murray still searching for his first. What are the factors weighing in on the 24 th clash between these two multi-Slam champs? Here we present five things at play with another major title at stake. History says Nole: Djokovic leads their head-to-head 15-8, including a 7-1 advantage in their last eight matches, dating to the fall of 2012 as well as all four of their matches in 2014. Murray's lone win in the last 27 months is the last time these two met in a major final, at Wimbledon in 2013, the Briton winning in three sets. Murray lost in both the 2011 and 2013 Australian Open finals to Djokovic and is 0-3 in finals here while the Serbian is 4-0. But current form… Murray appears to be the more confident of the two, moving through his semifinal match against Tomas Berdych in aggressive fashion. Djokovic, meanwhile, struggled in a five-set affair over defending champion Stan Wawrinka in a match that was appalling in its quality. Djokovic says, however, his current form is nothing to worry about. "There's no clear favorite," he told reporters. The star coaches factor: Much was made of the Berdych-Murray tussle because Murray's former coach, Dani Vallverdu, is now working with the Czech. Murray has also been under constant scrutiny for his choice of a female coach in Amelie Mauresmo, but the former world No. 1 from France has seemed to find the right note. Djokovic, meanwhile, is looking to win Grand Slam No. 2 under Boris Becker, who shares time with the Serb's longtime coach Marian Vajda. Fitness over form? Both are known as ultimate grinders, but they also have struggled with long matches in the past. Djokovic has the upper hand here, having spent 13 hours, 12 minutes on court during this tournament while Murray has played just over 15 hours, his longest match clocking in at three hours, 38 minutes in his fourth-round victory over Grigor Dimitrov. Hey, frenemy: Djokovic and Murray are buddies though not close friends off the court, as the 27-year-olds have known one another since age 12. They are just seven days apart, actually, Murray born May 15, 1987, and Djokovic a week later. | 1 | 5,345 | sports |
A lavish payout to public employees ordered by Saudi Arabia's new King Salman will help to sustain the kingdom's consumer boom and reassure financial markets that the government is not slashing expenditure in the face of low oil prices. On Thursday, Salman ordered the immediate payment of two months of bonus salary to all state employees and pension to retired government workers, in a string of decrees which also reorganized the economic policy-making apparatus. The announcement did not give a monetary figure, but Saudi Arabia's 860 billion riyal ($229 billion) state budget plan for 2015 said salaries, wages and allowances would comprise 50 percent of total spending. That implies the new payout, announced a week after Salman succeeded his brother Abdullah as king, will be worth up to around 70 billion riyals -- about 8 percent of the original budget, or 2.5 percent of last year's gross domestic product. Other benefits announced by Salman will increase spending further. He ordered payments to students, grants to professional associations and sports and literary clubs around the country, and 20 billion riyals in spending to improve electricity and water services, though it was not clear if the utility spending was part of a previously announced plan. A Reuters poll of economists earlier in January found them predicting GDP growth of 3.2 percent this year, down from 3.6 percent in 2014, on the grounds that the plunge in oil prices would cause the kingdom to slow some energy and petrochemical investments and make the government more cautious about spending in general. Salman's announcement on Thursday suggested the government remained willing to spend heavily despite the hit to its oil revenues from low prices, and that GDP growth this year might therefore be higher than originally expected. "I believe it will be growth-supportive -- especially on the consumption side," said Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Saudi retail industry shares such as Jarir Marketing, United Electronics and Fawaz Alhokair, plays on the kingdom's fast-growing private consumption, may benefit. Salman's announcement appeared to take a step back from a pledge in the 2015 budget, which was announced in December when he was already overseeing economic policy, to "rationalize" spending on public salaries. But it is in a long Saudi tradition of welfare handouts at times of political transition or tension. The 2015 budget plan projected a deficit of 145 billion riyals; the actual deficit now looks likely to be much larger, but with government reserves at the central bank totaling some 900 billion riyals, Riyadh can easily cover such shortfalls for now. ECONOMIC COUNCIL Salman may intend to recoup some of the costs of his handout through economic and bureaucratic reforms. Thursday's decrees kept the identity of key economic ministers unchanged, suggesting to many observers that major, politically sensitive reforms -- such as cutting energy subsidies, or large tax shifts -- are not on the cards for now. "With the oil, economic and finance portfolios remaining steady, I do not expect to see wider change in policy," said Malik. But Salman replaced many other ministers including telecommunications, agriculture and the civil service, suggesting he may seek changes in the way those ministries operate. Economy minister Muhammad al-Jasser said last week that the next reform drive should focus on efficient administration. Salman appeared to be seeking bureaucratic efficiency on Thursday when he abolished 12 committees and councils, creating a new Council of Economic and Development Affairs to substitute for some of them. The new council, chaired by Salman's son Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is only 34, may give the king a platform to push controversial economic reforms in the future if he wishes. (Additional reporting by Angus McDowall in Riyadh; Editing by Andrew Heavens) | 3 | 5,346 | finance |
Tom Brady's bad hair at the Superbowl Media Day reminded us of all the other bad haircuts he's had. The Five Finger Flare, 2005 Every girl in 6th grade had these bangs, bro. The Lurch, 2002 Young Brady looking just like Frankenstein. The Micro Mullet, 2006 This one's subtle, but if you look close you'll see a little "party in the back," which totally sucks. The Goody Goody, 2010 Here he looks like the biggest dork in Miss Hanson's accelerated 4th grade math class. The Dandelion Fluff, 2005 A.K.A. The Dirty Q-Tip. The Flipper, 2012 Pro QB of Kewpie doll? The Lilith Fair, 2011 Lilith Fair was rad, but the Sarah McLachlan hair just doesn't suit you, friend. The Jock Hawk, 2014 It would be a faux hawk, but he's wearing this 12 years after Beckham. Only a jock could make that kind of mistake. The Infamous Bieber, 2008 Yep, just like a pubescent Bieber. | 4 | 5,347 | lifestyle |
Rory McIlroy gave the field a sliver of hope as he unexpectedly struggled on the back nine of his third round Saturday, but even then he will go into the final day of the Dubai Desert Classic leading by four shots. McIlroy took apart the front nine of the Majlis course with five birdies in his first eight holes, but could add just one more to the tally in his last 10 holes. The back nine of the Majlis course, with its three reachable par-5s, is considerably easier than the front. And yet, what the world number one did very well was keep the bogeys out of his card for a second successive day. A gutsy par save on the par-5 18th hole, where he had hit his second shot into the water but made an up-and-down from the drop zone, saw him close the day with a six-under par 66. His three-day total now stands at 20-under par 196, four better than 26-year-old Dane Morten Orum Madsen, who shot a similar bogey-free 66 in the third round. Lee Westwood, who did not make a single bogey in his first 44 holes of the tournament, doubled the par-4 ninth from the middle of the fairway and a third-round 69 was good only for a third place at 14-under par 202, six shots behind the leader. Scotland's world number 34 and the defending champion, Stephen Gallacher will have his task cut out if he wants to join a select club of five players who have won the same tournament three successive times. A mid-round wobble saw him make three bogeys over a stretch of five holes, and even though he recovered to shoot a two-under par 70, he is seven shots adrift of McIlroy. Gallacher was tied alongside the English duo of Andy Sullivan, winner of South African Open earlier this year, and Race to Dubai leader Danny Willett, as well as Austria's in-form Bernd Wiesberger. After a two-feet putt for birdie lipped out on the par-5 10th hole, McIlroy was clearly frustrated out there on the golf course as his efforts to increase the lead did not fructify. However, he said the conditions on the back nine had become tougher. "I didn't put a foot wrong on the front nine and when I missed that little short putt on ten, it seemed like that momentum I had, just sort of went away and I had to scramble a little bit for pars coming in," McIlroy said. "The greens got firm and the wind got up a little bit so it was hard to get the ball close to the hole. "You had to hit really quality shots to give yourself chances for birdies, and I didn't quite do that on the back nine like I did on the front." - Bogey-free again - McIlroy said it was important for him to make the par on the 18th. "It meant a lot. To be bogey‑free again today was important to me, especially when you're going out with the lead, not to make any mistakes makes it that much harder for anyone else. "Just to get that up‑and‑down on the last was big for momentum going into tomorrow," he added. "I've been in this position many times before, so I know the pitfalls that are waiting out there. It's just a matter of sticking to the same game plan, being aggressive, making committed swings and giving myself as many chances for birdies as I can." Madsen, who followed up his nine-under par 63 on Friday with a 66, was mindful of the fact that he was going to be up against the world number one. "Obviously, he's going to be tough to beat. He looks like he's playing pretty solidly out there, as well," said the Danish world number 194. "I'm just going to go out tomorrow and see if I can play some of the same golf that I played today. I won't be too disappointed if I don't win tomorrow. "I'll be happy if I do what I set out to do and play pretty solidly." | 1 | 5,348 | sports |
Setting up the day in college basketball: Best bets: It speaks well of No. 4 Duke that that '3' in the loss column in the ACC standings is considered anomalous for the program at this near midpoint of the league slate. Now the Blue Devils must do what hasn't been managed thus far beat second-ranked Virginia on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) to keep that figure from becoming a '4.' In addition to being on the road, Duke has a quick turnaround from Wednesday night's hard-fought loss at Notre Dame. The Cavaliers by contrast have been off since their Sunday escape from Virginia Tech. But the larger challenge for Duke is UVa's stingy defense that shut down that same Fighting Irish squad. Those principles keep the Cavaliers in any game long enough that eventually somebody, usually Justin Anderson, will start hitting shots. Ball security must be a priority for Duke to maximize touches for Jahlil Okafor. There's another collision of ranked ACC squads as No. 14 North Carolina travels to No. 9 Louisville (4 p.m. ET, ESPN), with both teams hoping to optimize their conference and NCAA tournament seed positions for the stretch run. Terry Rozier has had the hot hand of late for the Cardinals, but Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson have been dominant on the glass for the Tar Heels. Number of the day: 27. In that same time slot, you'll also want to keep an eye on the much-anticipated showdown in the Missouri Valley Conference as No. 12 Wichita State faces the biggest threat to its 27-game league winning streak at No. 18 Northern Iowa (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The experienced Shockers get consistent production from Ron Baker, but pass-first PG Fred VanVleet can score when needed as well. The Panthers, who have rattled off eight MVC wins in a row since dropping their league opener at Evansville, are paced by 6-8 F Seth Tuttle, an all-around talent who fills the stat sheet to the tune of 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game. Days until Selection Sunday : 43. | 1 | 5,349 | sports |
Just as important as it is to fuel up before you exercise, don't forget to eat a little something once your workout is complete. Your body needs a combo of protein and carbs to build and repair muscle and quickly recharge lost energy. Don't go overboard and consume so many calories that it cancels out the ones you burned while sweating it out. Here are some ideas for post-workout snacks, all under 150 calories. Half a medium apple smeared with a mixture of two ounces of vanilla Greek yogurt, half a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon and topped with sliced grapes: 151 calories Four ounces low-fat cottage cheese ( 82 calories ) mixed with three-quarters cup fresh blueberries ( 63 calories ): 145 calories One extrasmall apple ( 53 calories ) with one tablespoon peanut butter ( 94 calories ): 147 calories 20 baby carrots ( 70 calories ) with two tablespoons hummus ( 70 calories ): 140 calories One organic mozzarella cheese stick ( 80 calories ) and 20 grapes ( 68 calories ): 148 calories 5.3-ounce container organic vanilla Greek yogurt ( 110 calories ) and seven cherries ( 36 calories ): 146 calories One small banana ( 89 calories ) with eight raw almonds ( 55 calories ): 144 calories Eight ounces organic low-fat chocolate milk ( 150 calories ) or eight ounces Silk Chocolate Soymilk ( 120 calories ) Half a Kind Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Bar ( 100 calories ) and eight medium strawberries ( 31 calories ): 131 calories Trail mix made with 18 peanuts ( 97 calories ) and a mini box of raisins ( 45 calories ): 142 calories Three-quarters cup shelled edamame: 150 calories Related Stories: 18 Satisfying Breakfasts Under 300 Calories 7 Hydrating Watermelon Recipes For Hot Days 4 Things You Should Never Eat | 0 | 5,350 | foodanddrink |
This Sunday, two teams will go head-to-head in one the most highly anticipated games of the year: the 2015 Puppy Bowl. | 8 | 5,351 | video |
Self-driving cars have the potential to reduce accident rates, make commuting less stressful, save energy, and put a lot of truck and taxi drivers out of work. But it could also have an even bigger consequence: ending personal car ownership altogether. And that would be a good thing. Right now most middle-class people own cars, in part because only rich people can afford to take a taxi everywhere they go. Self-driving cars will flip the relative costs of ownership and renting upside down, leading to a world where renting cars is the affordable norm and owning cars is the pricey exception. We take consumer car ownership for granted because it's how things have always worked. That blinds us to how profoundly wasteful it is. Not only do our cars spend 90 percent of their lives sitting unused in driveways or parking lots, but we've designed our cities around this wasteful practice, setting aside several parking spaces for every car . We do things this way because the alternative taking a taxi is extremely expensive. And it's expensive because the human driver is a lot more expensive, on a per-hour basis, than the car is. Because the US is a high-wage country, it's cheaper to own a car that sits idle 23 hours per day than to hire a human driver for one hour every day. But as Uber CEO Travis Kalanick pointed in a tweet last year, that's going to change once cars can drive themselves: Uber CEO @travisk on self-driving cars: "When there's no other dude in the car, the cost of Uber becomes cheaper than owning a vehicle" Doug MacMillan (@dmac1) May 28, 2014 Renting a car instead of owning one has a lot of advantages. People will be spared the hassle of buying gas, changing the oil, and taking the car in for repairs. Both workers and their employers will be spared the expense of finding somewhere to park our vehicles. Driverless taxis will improve average fuel economies too. The driverless taxi company will always be able to send exactly the right car for the job. If you're traveling alone, you'll be able to do it in a small one-seat vehicle that gets excellent gas miles. Urban trips can occur in ultra-efficient electric vehicles with a top speed of 30 or 40 miles per hour. And of course people who need full-sized, long-range vehicles for big group trips will still have the option to rent those too. You might think the parents of young children would be an exception thanks to the need to install custom carseats for each trip. But in a market of mass car rental, that wouldn't actually be a serious problem. Any good-sized city has thousands of parents who need vehicles with carseats in them. A self-driving car company could easily outfit an appropriate percentage of their cars with these seats and charge a modest premium to use them. When junior outgrows one carseat, his parents can simply order a new car with a seat the next size larger. Driverless car companies will have their own reasons to discourage car ownership. They'll likely be liable for any accidents, so they'll have a strong incentive to keep them in good shape and to retire them before safety problems start to occur. That will be a lot easier to do when they own the vehicles and rent them out by the hour. The result won't just be that car-sharing becomes more common. The very idea of widespread car ownership will come to be seen as a relic of the 20th century. Of course, not everyone will go along with the car rental trend. Owning and customizing cars are a hobby for many people, and some of them will insist on continuing to do so even as the costs of taxis plummet. Others may need self-driving trucks or vans to help carry equipment around for their jobs. But most of us will do the economically rational thing: we'll ditch our cars, go everywhere in taxis, and wonder how people in the 20th century lived any other way. | 5 | 5,352 | news |
BEIRUT The revelation that the CIA cooperated with Israel's Mossad spy agency in the assassination of a top Hezbollah military commander in 2008 is poised to intensify a shadow war with the militant Lebanese group that could involve retaliation against U.S. interests around the world, analysts said. In an exclusive story published online Friday night , The Washington Post reported that the U.S. intelligence agency coordinated with Mossad in carrying out a February 2008 car bombing in the Syrian capital, Damascus, that killed Imad Mughniyah . The militant commander was implicated in killing hundreds of Americans in attacks that included the U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut in 1983 and assaults on American forces in Iraq by Iranian-backed militias, according to the Post's report, which cited multiple former U.S. officials. The killing of Mughniyah, a key figure behind attacks on scores of Israelis, was approved by officials in the George W. Bush administration, according to the report. The report said the operation required extensive planning and cooperation between the two agencies. One of official is quoted as saying that operatives detonated some 25 practice bombs at a CIA facility in North Carolina "to make sure we got it right," killing Mughniyah while avoiding civilian causalities. The real bomb was triggered remotely in Tel Aviv by Mossad agents, according to the report, but CIA operatives in Damascus acted as spotters and could have called off the attack. Samar Hajj, a Lebanese analyst who is close to Hezbollah, said the report reinforced the impression true or not among officials in the Iranian-backed group that covert Israeli operations are signed off in Washington. She said that disclosures in the report would add urgency to desired Hezbollah attacks against Israel, after both sides exchanged fire Wednesday in a flare-up that triggered fears of war. "We do not differentiate between CIA and Mossad. They are the two faces of the same coin," Hajj said. She added that Hezbollah probably was aware of U.S. involvement in Mughniyah's killing, which the Lebanese group had blamed on the Mossad. She said Hezbollah was prepared to attack Israel at points around the world, which was hinted at during a speech by the group's leader, Hasan Nasrallah, given Friday before the Post's story was published. "There will be more retaliation operations," Hajj said. During his speech, Nasrallah issued a tough warning to Israel, saying that Hezbollah would not hesitate to strike. He indicated that an attack on Wednesday which involved an anti-tank missile fired at Israeli soldiers, killing two was retaliation for an air assault in southern Syria on Jan. 18 that killed an Iranian commander and six Hezbollah fighters. One of those killed the Jan. 18 attack was the son of Mughniyah, Jihad. "We are not afraid of war. We will fight this war. We will achieve victory, God willing," Nasrallah said, while threatening to expand the traditional areas of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah beyond Lebanon. Israeli officials have been alarmed by what they say is a build up of Hezbollah's military presence along the border area. The group possesses a massive arsenal of rockets that can be fired at Israel cities, and its fighters are widely believed to have plans to carry out incursions in Israeli border communities in the event of a war. The two fought a devastating war in 2006, and Hezbollah's military capabilities have expanded dramatically since then, according to analyst and Israeli officials. Yossi Melman, an Israeli journalist who has written extensively on espionage issues, said that Hezbollah would likely "try to settle this score with the U.S.," although he did not expect an immediate response from the group over the report. He added that the CIA and Mossad could have assistance in the assassination plot from Jordanian intelligence, speculating that the bomb "was smuggled via Jordan into Syria." Jordanian officials could not be reached for comment, and neither officials in Hezbollah nor Israel would comment on the Post's report. Imad Salamey, a politics professor at the Lebanese American University, said the disclosures add pressure to Hezbollah. The group probably wants to respond, but the news comes at a sensitive time: Its patron, Iran, is engaged in negotiations with the United States and other world powers over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. "Your leadership has been targeted by the United States, so what do you do? Hezbollah is being cornered by this information," he said. There are questions about the timing of the disclosures, released seven years after the assassination. Talal Atrissi, an analyst who is close to Hezbollah, said that the disclosure could be interpreted by Hezbollah and Iran as an attempt by former and current U.S. officials as an attempt to scuttle the nuclear talks. The United States and its allies in Europe and the Arab world, as well as Israel, think the program is intended to build nuclear weapons, but Iran denies this. "The leak is meant to undermine the talks, and that benefits Israel because it opposes these negotiations," he said. Still, he and other analysts did not think that the disclosures would derail the nuclear talks, which has had its deadline extended twice over a failure to reach an accord. "Iran believes the bilateral talks on the nuclear file are more important than a story from the past, especially since Hezbollah has changed its methods and focus, becoming now different than it was in the 80s," Atrissi said. He was referring to attacks against the U.S. Embassy, among others, by Hezbollah that earned it a notorious reputation in the United States, which along with the European Union classifies the group as a terrorist organization. Mughniyah is described in the report as involved in those and other attacks, including the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina in 1992 as well as a Jewish community center in the same country two years later. The latter attack killed 85 people. In coordination with Iran, he also was involved in organizing Shiite militias in Iraq to carry out scores of attacks on U.S. forces after the 2003 invasion, the report said. Those attacks persuaded the Bush administration to approve the assassination, the report said. Johnny Mounayar, a writer and political commentator in Lebanon, said that the report's publication undoubtedly has forced Iranian and Hezbollah officials to discuss a response. Suzan Haidamous in Beirut and Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report. | 5 | 5,353 | news |
From hiccups to criminal behavior, here are 9 weird signs you may be suffering from a hidden health condition. These 9 Weird Symptoms Could Be A Sign Of... Your body is a complicated network of interconnected structures and systems. And when something goes wrong, problems can pop up in places or ways you'd never suspect. From hiccups to criminal behavior, here are 9 weird signs you may be suffering from a hidden health condition. Gnarly Nails If your nails have little white nicks and gouges almost like an icy surface that's been scraped up those "pits" may be a sign of the skin disease psoriasis. While you probably think of skin rashes and irritation when you think of psoriasis, pitted nails affect between 80% and 90% of patients with the condition, concludes a study from Dermatology Research and Practice . In fact, some people experience nail issues before there's any sign of a skin problem, the study authors say. Lumps Under Your Skin Firm bumps or "nodules" under your skin may be the first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, suggests a study from the journal Dermatology . These lumps which are composed of tissue and can grow to the size of walnuts tend to show up close to your joints, especially in your hands and near your elbows. Fortunately, they usually don't hurt. An Achy Achilles Even if your skin is clear and itch-free, pain in your Achilles or heel can be a symptom of psoriatic arthritis a type of tendon pain linked to the skin condition. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, swollen "sausage-like" fingers and toes are also a sign of this particular form of arthritis. Hiccups That Won't Go Away If you can't stop hiccupping for 48 hours or longer, it could be a sign of lung or esophageal cancers, shows a study from Taiwan. Ditto for stroke. Your central nervous system controls hiccupping, and brain issues and some types of cancer affect that system. Frequent Chills Of course, that's most people this time of year. But if you tend to feel cold even during the warm summer months, that may be a sign of an underactive thyroid gland. By limiting your body's energy burning, heat-producing functions, an underactive thyroid can leave you feeling chilly all the time, suggest research from Southern Illinois University. A Craving for Ice Craving ice chips? You may be anemic due to an iron deficiency, shows a study from the American Journal of Medicine . A hankering to eat ice a type of "pica," which is a desire to eat non-food items may be linked to the tongue pain or swelling that can occur when someone's anemic. The research found that 44% of anemia patients crave ice. An Urge to Steal A newfound enthusiasm for swiping stuff a pack of gum at the gas station, or cosmetics at the drug store is one of the earliest known signs of one particular type of dementia, shows research from JAMA Neurology . This form of dementia messes with the part of your brain that helps you recognize societal rules and conventions hence your sudden disregard for the law, the study authors say. Geographic Tongue If dry white patches form weird shapes on your tongue, similar to the outlines of states on a map, that could be a sign of celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes your body to attack itself when you ingest gluten. If you're also experiencing diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, or weight loss, don't disregard your funky-looking tongue, warns an Italian study on celiac disease. Constant Peeing Frequent urination is a common early symptom of type 2 diabetes, shows a study from Wake Forest University. When your kidneys struggle to manage blood sugar, they try to get rid of some of the extra sweet stuff via your pee. And since you're peeing more, feeling dehydrated is another early symptom of diabetes, the study shows. | 7 | 5,354 | health |
Here's how to take your brownies to the next level. Chocolate Mint Skillet Brownie Paired with mint-flavored dark chocolate morsels and ice cream, this brownie is a chocolate lover's dream. Get the recipe at Baking a Moment. Browned Butter Red Velvet Brownies Seriously moist with a super-rich flavor (achieved through browned butter), these brownies will be a hit at your next bake sale. Get the recipe at Something Swanky. RELATED: Get Our Best Dessert Recipes Blueberry Brownies The center of these brownies have a rich, fudge-like texture, while the top has a delicate and crisp flaky crust. And the blueberries count as a serving of fruit, right?! Get the recipe at I Am Baker. Caramel Apple Blondie Cheesecake The classic blondie gets a serious makeover in this recipe! By adding caramel apples and cheesecake, the finished product is over-the-top amazing. Get the recipe at Life, Love and Sugar. Homemade Brownie Mix Quick, easy, and delicious, this recipe will ensure you'll never want to grab a box of brownie mix again. Get the recipe at I Am Baker. Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie and Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar A brownie infused with chocolate chip cookies, Oreos, and fudge might make this the queen of all desserts. Get the recipe at Kevin and Amanda. Knock You Naked Brownies Though the name is a little scandalous, these brownies are to die for, layered with smooth caramel and chocolate chips. Get the recipe at The Pioneer Woman. Peanut Butter Brownie Carmelitas Peanut butter and caramel wrapped in a chocolate brownie sandwich? Yes, please! Get the recipe at I Am Baker. Oreo Cream-Filled Brownies Two thin, chocolatey brownies with homemade cream filling in the center? Our tastebuds approve! Get the recipe at Cookies and Cups. Amanda Rettke is the founder of the popular blog, i am baker. She began her food blogging career in 2010 with the introduction of her first "surprise inside" cake, and has since been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Country Living, People and Parade. She is also a regular contributor to Food Network and HuffPost Food online, and has been featured on the Martha Stewart Show and MarthaStewart.com. She lives with her husband and five children near Minneapolis, Minnesota. | 0 | 5,355 | foodanddrink |
POULSBO, Wash. A Washington state man says he just paid more than $18,000 in bridge tolls for his son who crossed the 520 bridge daily for work but never got a Good To Go pass. KING-TV reports (http://is.gd/jVvZXM ) that Tom Rose's son thought he would be billed for the tolls and that he could pay later. His son never received a bill. He learned the total of what he owed when he tried to sell his car: more than $18,000. That's $1,360 in tolls and more than $16,000 in penalties. The department says they tried to bill Rose but their letters were returned. He will have to pay the tolls, but officials say they will try to work something out concerning the penalties. KING-TV reports a lawyer has filed a class-action lawsuit against the department concerning its policies. | 5 | 5,356 | news |
Like many retirees, one couple from upstate New York visit doctors in their winter getaway in Florida. But on a recent routine checkup of a pacemaker, a cardiologist there insisted on scheduling several expensive tests even though the 91-year-old husband had no symptoms. "You walk in the door, and they just start doing things," said Sally Spencer, 70, who canceled the tests after her husband's longtime doctor advised her by phone that none of them were needed. The couple's experience reflects a trend that has prompted some doctors up north to warn their older patients before they depart for Florida and other winter getaways to check in before agreeing to undergo exams and procedures. And some patients have learned to be leery after being subjected to tests and expenses that long-trusted physicians at home never suggested. Medical testing is a huge industry in the United States, with prices that are highly variable in different parts of the country. And while Medicare the government insurance program for those over 65 or with disabilities strictly regulates the price of tests and procedures, doctors who treat seniors can increase revenues by simply expanding the volume of such services and ordering tests of questionable utility. In some areas where many retirees live, most notably Florida, the data suggests that they do. In 2012, according to a New York Times analysis of Medicare data released last year, more than twice the number of nuclear stress tests, echocardiograms and vascular ultrasounds were ordered per Medicare beneficiary in doctor's offices in Florida than in Massachusetts. When researchers from Dartmouth last year looked at the number of tests and imaging studies received by Florida Medicare patients in the last two years of life, with the exception of the panhandle, totals were far above the national average, said Dr. Elliott Fisher, director of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Other areas that showed high rates of testing and imaging in the study included Arizona, California, southern Nevada and South Texas, all also popular for sun-seeking retirees; New Jersey and New York City also scored high, though, too. Those high numbers cannot be explained by the presence of sicker patients, better outcomes or a desire by patients there for more treatment, Dr. Fisher's studies have found. He added: "It's mostly based on how much doctors do in a system where you make more by doing more. Financial incentives and more entrepreneurial doctors are very important to what we're seeing." Many cardiologists in Florida practice careful medicine and do not perform unusually high numbers of tests, of course. Dr. A. Allen Seals, president of the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology, said in an email that testing should be based on "evidence-based guidelines at the point of care while accounting for individual patient preferences and values." He noted that the American Board of Internal Medicine's "Choosing Wisely" guidelines included questions patients could ask if referred for cardiac testing. Some extra testing may be understandable as doctors see new patients and may not have full access to prior records or trust testing performed elsewhere. Last year, the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System signed a three-year affiliation agreement with Boca Raton Regional Hospital in part to provide better continuity of care for patients who live in both areas. But Florida has emerged over the years as an epicenter of Medicare abuse: The Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, was formed in response to widespread fraudulent claims in South Florida, and its periodic "takedowns" have charged far more providers in Miami than in the other cities where it operates. And high-volume testing is also a good way for physicians to supplement income when insurers are cutting back on payments for individual services. From 1999 to 2008, as Medicare reduced reimbursement for many cardiology services, one study found that the number of Medicare claims soared for the types of testing recommended to Ms. Spencer's husband. Claims for echocardiograms (which use sound waves to produce pictures of the heart's wall and valves) increased by 90 percent. Peripheral vascular ultrasound tests (which look for clogged arteries) nearly tripled. Nuclear stress testing (a complex test for coronary artery disease) more than tripled, even though the procedure takes hours, involves an injection and radiation exposure, and costs thousands of dollars. Doctors now often own the testing equipment or have a stake in a center where testing is performed. Medicare law generally forbids such self-referral because studies show it encourages overuse of services. (While studies have not looked specifically at testing in Florida, one study there, by Christine Yee, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, showed that physicians who were on the boards of ambulatory surgery centers did 27 percent more procedures than those who were not.) But the law permits an exception for "in-office ancillary services" directly related to care. As doctors have moved more equipment and technology into their offices, that once-limited category has grown to include a wide range of tests, from X-rays to expensive cardiac testing to suites where biopsies can be performed. Some patients cite episodes that make them apprehensive about finding new physicians. "One of the things I worry about most is leaving my doctors," said Eugene Levich, who is selling his house in Liberty, N.Y., and moving full time to Delray Beach, Fla., where he and his wife have long wintered. "People are old. They've just moved. So it's very easy for doctors and dentists to take advantage of this population and they do." After Mr. Levich had a routine prostate exam in Florida last year, the doctor there told him that he should have a surgical biopsy. Mr. Levich delayed until he could see his physician in New York, who told him that there was no reason for the procedure. Likewise, when Mr. Levich went to an ear, nose and throat doctor in Florida because his ear felt clogged after an infection, he told the doctor that he had no trouble hearing. The physician nonetheless immediately ordered a hearing test, and urged him to schedule an M.R.I. as well. Instead, Mr. Levich went to a pharmacy and bought a nasal spray that cleared up his problem. Despite the financial protection against high charges for individual tests offered by Medicare, out-of-pocket payments can quickly add up, since the government insurance generally requires a 20 percent co-payment for outpatient care. Mike Miller, 74, who splits his year between Maryland and Florida, said that when possible he sought recommendations from his doctors at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. "You don't visit doctors in Florida unless you have really good references from other doctors or people who are really trustworthy," he added. He said he had found excellent surgeons and eye doctors this way. But when he visited a cardiologist to check out a slow heart beat (one he has had all his life) he was soon undergoing the same three tests as those prescribed to Ms. Spencer's husband as well as being placed on a 24-hour heart rhythm monitor. "They were aggressive in encouraging me to have tests even though my doctors in the North never said I needed them," he said. "And of course the results were all normal." | 5 | 5,357 | news |
Hey girl … do you remember the Feminist Ryan Gosling meme? The images of the actor, layered with feminist text like "gender is a social construct but everyone likes to cuddle?" Danielle Henderson, now a culture editor for Fusion, first created it on her Tumblr as a joke to keep track of the theorists she was learning about in the gender studies graduate program at the University of Wisconsin. It blew up, of course, culminating in a book deal from Running Press in August 2012. Though Henderson ended the project prior to graduating in 2013, the site is still up. And now, a study suggests these memes make men more feminist. The study comes from the University of Saskatchewan, in which graduate students polled 99 students a third were male by showing each one either a picture of Gosling, a meme from Henderson, or a similar meme simply known as " Hey Girl ." Students found men who were shown Henderson's meme were up to 10 percent more likely to agree with statements, such as "men use abortion laws and reproductive technology to control women's lives." Women's beliefs were mostly unchanged. The problem, points out Science of Us editor Jesse Singal, is this wasn't "a full-blown peer-reviewed study." What the study authors did was present a poster at the Canadian Psychological Association; "when researchers present a poster, it basically just means they're offering up the findings of an experiment they haven't written up as an article and submitted to a journal for peer review." Singal added there was neither a sufficient control group (he suggested students look at neutral images or images with neutral text for this particular study) nor a look at the long-term effects of being exposed to the feminist images. From an evolutionary perspective, memes hardly started with Gosling. Susan Blackmore, a psychologist and author of the The Meme Machine , said in her 2008 TED Talk that the theory of memes scientifically known as memetics is founded on the principle of Universal Darwinism, which states any information that is varied and selected will produce design. No, Darwin didn't quite have the same set up as Henderson, but he did unknowingly devise an algorithm for how information is copied from person to person. If you take variation, selection, and heredity, "then you must get evolution." Yet, it was evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins who first introduced the memes the Internet has since re-appropriated in his book The Selfish Gene . Dawkins shortened the word from the Ancient Greek mimete , meaning imitator or pretender. He took Darwin's focus on genetic expression and translated it into more of an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture. Online users may not look at memes through this same evolutionary lens, but Dawkins told Wired we've pretty much got it. "The meaning is not that far away from the original. It's anything that goes viral," he said. "In the original introduction to the word meme in the last chapter of The Selfish Gene , I did actually use the metaphor of a virus. So when anybody talks about something going viral on the Internet, that is exactly what a meme is and it looks as though the word has been appropriated for a subset of that." Dawkins added he gets infected by these types of viruses as much as anyone else. Amelia Burke-Garcia, director for the Center for Digital Strategy and Research at Westat and adjunct professor at George Washington University, presented the idea of the "Ryan Gosling Effect" to the Harvard Medical School in 2012 (though she was referencing this other meme ). She cited "viral memes tap into our obsession with celebrity, and provide entertainment and humor," possibly overshadowing public health campaigns the Internet is here for Gosling and LOL Cats, not practical advice to avoid disease, right? Not quite. Her presentation looked to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2011 to 2012 National Influenza Vaccination Campaign, which partnered with Meetup.com a social network site that gets people with similar interests to hang out offline to identify at-risk audiences and encourage them to get vaccinated, as well as share flu vaccination messages. Burke-Garcia found public health campaigns in conjunction with social media platforms can increase intention for a certain cause, which in this case was to get vaccinated. It can also decrease negative attitudes toward said cause; the CDC reported a 28 percent decrease in negative attitudes toward flu vaccines during the campaign. The CDC campaign may not appear in a peer-reviewed journal, but based on both Darwin's and Dawkin's theory, there is still power in the messages and memes that spread within our culture, be they focused on health or feminism. Last year, MIC shared the 23 feminist digital campaigns ( this one of little girls dropping F-bombs in princess costumes might take the cake), all of which outline "the sophisticated online tools to galvanize social change." Maybe, just maybe, Gosling will help make men more feminist. We wonder how he'll feel about that. And if he's even a feminist. If he's not, he can always draw inspiration from his character in The Notebook : "If you're a feminist, I'm a feminist,"...or something. | 7 | 5,358 | health |
To some they're the holy grail of computing; computer chips that work like the brain opening up a wealth of possibilities from artificial intelligence to the ability to simulate whole artificial personalities. To others they are another in a long list of interesting but unpractical ideas not too dissimilar to the ubiquitous flying car. They're called neuromorphic chips and the truth about them lies somewhere in the middle. The main force driving interest in neural network technology is an inconvenient truth: the architecture that drove the information age, created by famed physicist & mathematician John von Neumann (known as von Neumann architecture ), is running into the fundamental limits of physics. Image courtesy of NeuroMem You may have seen these effects already: Notice how your new shiny smartphone isn't light years ahead of your last upgrade? That's because chips that use von Neumann architecture face a performance bottleneck and designers must now balance the functionality of the chips they design against how much power they'll consume. Otherwise you'll have an insanely powerful phone, with a battery that lasts all of 12 minutes. In contrast; nature's own computing device, the brain, is extremely powerful and the one you're using to read this uses only 20 Watts of power. Access to this sort of powerful efficiency would enable a new era of embedded intelligence. So what's the hold up? Neural networks are not a new idea. Research into the technology traces its roots back to the 1940's alongside regular computer chip technology. Today, software emulations of neural networks are powering many of the image recognition capabilities of internet giants, like Google and Facebook, who are investing heavily in startups. However, as they need to run on expensive supercomputers their potential is always limited. They run software neural networks on a system architecture that is serial by nature as opposed to being parallel one of the keys that makes neural networks so appealing in the first place. So, how long will it be before we get these neural network chips? Actually a class of neuromorphic chip has been available since 1993. That year, a small independent team approached IBM with an idea to develop a silicon neural network chip called the ZISC (Zero Instruction Set Computer), which became the world's first commercially available neuromorphic chip. The independent team had prior experience building software neural networks for pattern recognition at CERN's Super Proton Synchrotron , a particle smasher and the older sibling of the more famous Large Hadron Collider of Higgs-Boson fame. Frustrated by the inherent limitations of running neural networks on von Neumann systems they had come to the conclusion that creating neuromorphic hardware was the best way to leverage the unique capabilities of neural networks and, with IBM's expertise, the ZISC36 with 36 artificial neurons was born. IBM alongside General Vision Inc. sold the chip and it's successor the ZISC78 (78 neurons) for 8 years from 1993 until, in 2001, IBM exited commercial ZISC chip manufacturing and development. General Vision decided to carry on, as they believed the technology had many unexplored applications. They leveraged their expertise to continue developing the neuromorphic technology until, after 5 years of project work; they managed to raise enough capital to build a successor to the ZISC. In 2007 they launched the Cognitive Memory 1000, aka the CM1K: A neuromorphic chip with 1,024 artificial neurons working in parallel while consuming only 0.5 Watts and able to recognize and respond to patterns in data (images/code/text/anything) in just a few microseconds. It would seem that this gamble on neuromorphic chips could pay off because soon after, neuromorphic research stepped up several gears. In 2008, just one year after the CM1K was developed, DARPA announced the SyNAPSE program Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics and awarded contracts to IBM and HRL Labs to develop neuromorphic chips from the ground up. Another year later in 2009 a team in Europe reported developing a chip with 200,000 neurons and 50 million synaptic connections resulting from the FACETS (Fast Analog Computing with Emergent Transient States) program which in turn has lead to a new European initiative called The Human Brain Project which launched in 2014. Numerous Universities also began (or renewed old) programs to look into neuromorphic chips and interest has begun to gain momentum. In 2012 Intel announced they were getting involved in neuromorphic chips with a new architecture, while Qualcomm threw their hat into the ring in 2013 backed by freshly acquired neural network start ups. Most recently, in August 2014, IBM announced TrueNorth , a neuromorphic chip with 1,000,000 neurons and 256 million programmable synapses one of the worlds most powerful and complicated chips. It's complete with it's own custom programming language, all of which came from DARPA's SyNAPSE program. TrueNorth is deeply impressive technology, a concept that could herald some of the more lofty dreams of neural networks, but sadly it is unlikely to be found in your next tablet for cost reasons. It does certainly prove a point though we're entering an age where neural network chips can actually work and are no longer purely in the realms of science fiction. Why has it taken so many years for these neuromorphic technologies to take off? In part, the success of Moore's Law meant engineers didn't need neural network architectures and it may surprise you to hear this, but many of the issues surrounding the slow adoption of neuromorphic chips have never been technical, the issues stem from a lack of belief. The renewed global interest in neuromorphic chips has opened people's minds to the idea of 'brain chips' which is why an 8-year-old chip design can still get people excited. A technology that can be taught (yes that's right, not programmed, taught) to recognize just about anything from a face to a line of code and then recognize what it's been taught anywhere in enormous volumes of data, in just a few microseconds and can be integrated with almost any modern electronics very easily. Neuromorphic technologies have the potential to transform everything. One day maybe we will be able to download ourselves onto a neuromorphic brain chip and 'live forever' but long before then more practical applications beckon. From EEG/ECG monitors that automatically recognize the warning signs in an irregular heart beat to a phone that knows the faces of the friends in a picture it's taken and automatically sends them all a copy. Pet doors that admit only one individual pet, a car that recognizes it's driver and automatically adjusts to their settings, robots or drones that can follow anything they're trained to recognize a cookie jap that locks when it recognizes unauthorized hands… the list of applications is literally endless. We can enable the things we use to 'know' us, creating neuromorphic things and beginning an era of true 'smart' technologies. Let's be honest: In reality your smartphone isn't 'smart', it's just a well-connected tool that you use. For something to be smart: as in, 'intelligent', it must first have some way of recognizing the data and inputs that surround it and pattern recognition is something neuromorphic chips are very good at. You could even call it cognition. | 5 | 5,359 | news |
Pittsburgh's James Robinson drives the lane and hits the game-winning shot that gave the Panthers a 75-72 win over #8 Notre Dame in this ACC Must See Moment. | 1 | 5,360 | sports |
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Frank Kaminsky wasn't letting another second-half lead get away from No. 5 Wisconsin. Kaminsky had 24 points and nine rebounds and the Badgers locked in defensively during the second half en route to a 74-63 win over Iowa on Saturday. Coach Bo Ryan called the consecutive road wins over Michigan and Iowa "huge" for his team. "We're road warriors," Kaminsky said. "We've kind of embraced that mentality throughout the years. We were able to silence the crowd with some shots." Nigel Hayes scored 14 points and Sam Dekker and Josh Gasser each added 11 for the Badgers (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten). Wisconsin had 21 second-chance points and only committed six turnovers to win its fifth straight against the Hawkeyes (13-8, 4-4). Aaron White had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead Iowa, which has dropped three straight games. White was limited in practice this week after injuring his shoulder last week against Purdue. The Badgers led comfortably most of the second half, but Iowa closed the gap to 49-44 with more than 13 minutes left. For Kaminsky, it started to look like a repeat of Wisconsin's last game. The Badgers held on to a 69-64 win at Michigan after leading by 11 points in the second half. "We didn't want that to happen again," Kaminsky said. "We knew in our minds we had to get stops and then convert on offense." Wisconsin did just that. The Badgers pulled away when Iowa went nearly seven minutes without a field goal. Hayes made a flashy one-handed, put-back dunk in the middle of that 13-5 run. A few minutes later, Gasser did a double-pump fake before hitting a step-back 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock. "I was able to get a little separation and I just let it fly confidently," Gasser said. "Fortunately, it went in." Later, White hit a 3-pointer with 2:57 left to bring Iowa within 65-57. But Wisconsin scored seven straight points from the foul line -- four from Kaminsky -- to put the game away. The Badgers made 21 of 26 free throws. The Hawkeyes made only 3 of 17 shots down the stretch before a couple of buckets in the final minute. Iowa shot 64 percent in the first half, but trailed 42-36 at halftime. The Hawkeyes shot 30 percent in the second half. "We had a couple of quick shots, contested shots, and then we had a couple of goofy turnovers that really hurt us," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. Gabriel Olaseni added 12 points for Iowa. TIP-INS Iowa: The Hawkeyes made eight of their first nine shots to reach 17 points in the first eight minutes, matching their first half total in the earlier meeting between the schools. Wisconsin: The Badgers out-rebounded Iowa 35-24. Wisconsin's 15 offensive rebounds tied a season best, which also came against the Hawkeyes. COURTSIDE ESPN commentator Dan Dakich's trip to Iowa City was mellower. His comments during Wisconsin's 82-50 win over Iowa on Jan. 20 riled up McCaffery and Hawkeye fans. Dakich called Iowa center Adam Woodbury "gutless" after Woodbury appeared to poke a pair of Wisconsin players in the eye. McCaffery defended Woodbury, saying Dakich should apologize. Iowa officials said there was extra security for the game. Some Hawkeye fans in the student section chanted at Dakich to start the second half, but he appeared unfazed. STATLINES Kaminsky scored 20 or more points in consecutive games for the third time this season . White played a game-high 38 minutes despite coming off the injury . Iowa's bench outscored Wisconsin 17-6. UP NEXT Iowa plays at Michigan on Thursday. Wisconsin hosts Indiana on Tuesday. | 1 | 5,361 | sports |
Phoenix After a summer of training, 16 grueling regular-season games and two tough playoff victories, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have finally reached the Super Bowl. Their reward has been a week of curfews. And, for some, abstinence. In the run-up to Sunday's Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots and Seahawks have spent the week in luxurious hotels, but with two catches. The first is that every night until the big game, their coaches will arm themselves with flashlights and hotel master keys and then tiptoe into the players' rooms to check that they're in bed by curfew. "It's an important part of what we do," said Patriots safeties coach Brian Flores. The second rule: No visitors in players' rooms or floors. Each team, in addition to bed-checking coaches, has it own security guards enforcing the policy. There are no exceptions, not even for especially significant others such as Gisele Bündchen, the supermodel wife of New England quarterback Tom Brady. For some players, that means a week of chastity. To be clear, it isn't a team policy, but rather a byproduct of the curfew and no-visitors rule. "Abstain for a week," said Kevin Williams, a 34-year-old Seahawks defensive tackle who is married with four children. "I mean, what choice do you have? I know what I do. Why would you not?" National Football League coaches are notorious control freaks, known to diagram even where players should stand in an offensive huddle. Thus, in the days before the sport's biggest game, they try to ensure their players are focused. Plentiful are stories about players gone amok the week before the Super Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals played, and lost, in 1989 without fullback Stanley Wilson, who was suspended for cocaine use. Atlanta Falcons safety Eugene Robinson was arrested on a charge of soliciting sex from a prostitute in 1999, but played and later had the charge wiped for agreeing to participate in an AIDS awareness program. The Oakland Raiders got routed in the 2003 Super Bowl in part because they missed starting center Barret Robbins, who went to Mexico the day before the game in a fit caused by alcoholism and bipolar disorder. Through a spokesman, Robinson declined to comment. Attempts to reach Wilson and Robbins were unsuccessful. Rich Gannon, the Raiders quarterback in 2003, said he also learned after the Super Bowl that teammates broke curfew that week to go out drinking, which explained why many got exhausted during pregame warm-ups. "If the guys couldn't behave themselves that week, to go to the Super Bowl, many of us for the first time, they'll never get it," said Gannon, now a SiriusXM radio host. "What more safeguards can you have in place?" In today's NFL, players spend the night before a regular-season game, whether home or away, in a hotel so coaches can guarantee they're sleeping rather than partying. The Super Bowl is like that, only multiplied by seven. The Seahawks arrived in Phoenix on Sunday, the Patriots on Monday. That means extra work for New England and Seattle assistant coaches, who are in charge of the bed checks. New England and Seattle players said their curfew varies by night, but it is typically 11 p.m. or midnight. Patriots assistant special teams coach Joe Judge said that at the appointed hour, he makes the rounds with the master key to the rooms, though most players, anticipating the bed check, prop their doors open with the security latch. Many players are already asleep by curfew. Brady, for instance, has said he typically has an 8:30 p.m. bedtime. "If they're asleep, then you don't wake them up with a big knock," said Seahawks tight ends coach Pat McPherson. "Go in there with a flashlight, make sure there's a body in the bed." Patriots and Seahawks players and coaches said they've never had problems with curfew, or with pranks that might come with leaving a door open. None of the players complain. "You have the curfew for that reason, take care of distractions, keep everybody's mind focused on the goal," said Seattle center Lemuel Jeanpierre. "It's a business trip." The rules do make it hard to get alone time with a significant other. The players get five or six hours of free time per night, between practice and curfew. The families of Patriots players are staying in a nearby hotel, while Seahawks families are lodging in the same resort as the players. That means conjugal visits in the spouse's room are possible. Unless they have children. "You have to have a little discipline," said Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski. "I'm sure if we win, I'll have plenty of time for extracurricular activities." The other problem: being a professional football player is exhausting. "Once all the work's done, you're kind of tired," said Patriots safety Patrick Chung. "You're like, 'Babe, I'm just going to take a nap.' She's like, 'Nope, you're going to bring yourself here.' " Chung has had dinner with his wife and spent time at her hotel. "You have enough time," he said. "You just gotta do what you gotta do and make it back by curfew." Write to Stu Woo at [email protected] | 5 | 5,362 | news |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Martin Laird watched the ball disappear into the cup on the par-3 16th hole and put some elbow grease into his fist pump. It certainly wasn't the most exciting moment on golf's most raucous hole. That belonged to Francesco Molinari, who made the first hole-in-one at the 16th on Saturday at the Phoenix Open since Tiger Woods in 1997. But it was plenty important to Laird. On the verge of dropping another shot and watching his lead dwindle, Laird followed that 10-foot par putt with a birdie on the 17th and another par save on the 18th to finish off a 3-under 68 and take a three-shot lead into the final round. Next up is another round with a new pair from the next generation. Laird, a 32-year-old Scot who has lived in Scottsdale since turning pro, played in the final group Saturday with two 21-year-old rookies, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger. Chasing him Sunday will by Hideki Matsuyama, the 22-year-old from Japan who is No. 18 in the world, and 24-year-old power hitter Brooks Koepka. "This might just be the way it is," Laird said of the increasingly evident youth movement. "When they come out, they're ready to go. They don't need three or four years to get used to the tour life or used to the golf courses. I don't think they get intimidated at all anymore." Laird was at 13-under 200 as he goes for his fourth PGA Tour victory. Matsuyama, already with seven wins worldwide, birdied his last four holes to surge into contention with a 63. Koepka finally managed to find the fairways, made birdie on both par 5s on the back nine and shot 64. They were at 203 with Zach Johnson, who shot a 67. Laird at least has a cushion, which might not have been the case without those key par putts, especially on the 16th. He pulled his tee shot into the water on the par-5 15th and made bogey, which can feel like losing two shots. And then he stepped into the arena at the 16th, hit wedge at the flag from 133 yards and pulled it enough to go in a bunker. He blasted out to about 10 feet, though the putt had plenty of break. "That was a big one," he said. `You don't want to make two bogeys in a row at two holes you're looking at maybe making birdies on." He followed with a perfect pitch to 3 feet for birdie on the 17th, and finished his round with a 10-foot par save. Molinari's ace wasn't for show. It carried him to a 64, and at 8-under 205, he was among 15 players still within five shots of the lead. Perhaps the biggest surprise of that group was Jon Rahm of Spain, a junior at Arizona State playing this week on a sponsor's exemption. He got the gallery on his side early, especially by wearing a Sun Devils jersey when he teed off on the 16th, and shot 66. Rahm was at 9-under 204, along with Ryan Palmer (68) and Thomas, who had four birdies over his last six holes to salvage a 69. "I'm not surprised, but I didn't expect it. Something between there," Rahm said. Laird played in the final group with Thomas and Berger, two players who were still in high school three years ago. That's the way golf is shifting, players getting younger and more fearless. And that's what Laird faces again on Sunday. Matsuyama, who won the Memorial last year, was the first rookie to win the Japan Golf Tour money list. He played bogey-free, and it was his birdie streak at the end of the round that put him into contention. The best one of all was his 50-degree wedge into the 16th and a salute from the crowd. Koepka is the Floridian who went to the far corners of the world to chase his card, starting at the Challenge Tour on Europe and then winning the Turkish Open last year. He was 3 over on the par 5s this week, his first tournament in nearly two months, and made up some ground Saturday. Koepka hit the fairway on two par 5s on the back nine, setting up simple up-and-down birdies, and he made birdie on the 17th. "It's just a little bit of rust, just not playing in two months," Koepka said. "Felt like today I was finally comfortable. Being out there the last two days, it was almost like I was trying to find the driver a little bit." Even with an overcast sky and cool temperatures, TPC Scottsdale still had a big buzz. The hope was for a record attendance -- as it had been all week -- until Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both missed the cut. The attendance was 159,906, some 40,000 short of the record last year. But it was loud enough, especially the final hour. "It shouldn't be a struggle to get your adrenaline going," Laird said. | 1 | 5,363 | sports |
A structure on the set of an upcoming Martin Scorsese film in Taiwan collapsed, killing a construction worker, Taipei police said. | 8 | 5,364 | video |
Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of late pop star Whitney Houston, was rushed to the hospital after she was found unresponsive in her home's bathtub, according to media outlets. Linda So reports. | 8 | 5,365 | video |
US Open champion Marin Cilic will be unable to defend his Zagreb ATP title next week after failing to recover from a right shoulder injury, organisers said. "Defending champion @Cilic_Marin has been forced to withdraw from the @ATP_Zagreb due to a shoulder injury. Wishing him a quick recovery," tweeted a tournament spokesman. The 26-year-old Croatian is still suffering the same right shoulder problem which sidelined him from the Australian Open. World number nine Cilic, who won the Zagreb tite in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014, has not played since the World Tour finals in London in November. In his absence, fellow Croatian Ivo Karlovic, the world 27, will take the top seeding in Zagreb when the tournament starts on Monday. | 1 | 5,366 | sports |
Sneaky dog steals a bone while his buddy is distracted! | 8 | 5,367 | video |
Down 2 points in overtime, NC State's Trevor Lacey pulls up beyond the arc and drains the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to defeat Georgia Tech. | 1 | 5,368 | sports |
You know how everyone always writes "I'll be back!" - and there's always an exclamation point - in vacation rental guest books? You've just had a moment that somehow seems transformative. This is the way life is meant to be. But then the moment fades, and there are new adventures to be had and that exclamation-point promise becomes a wistful "We should really get back there." This is the story of an "I'll be back" promise kept. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The first time I stayed in the Malibu Airstream, the "wow" moment arrived in stages. Stage 1: Sitting in traffic on the 101 in the Valley on a Sunday afternoon, inching along, drumming my fingertips, feeling tense. Stage 2: Getting off, finally, at Topanga Boulevard. I'd decided to pick up Mulholland Highway where it begins, at the intersection of city and not city. Only a few miles from the freeway, it was as if I were on a rural back road, just me and the motorcyclists on their Sunday drive. I let them pass and took my time swooping around the curves and feeling as if I were a million miles from Los Angeles. Stage 3: Going through a gate onto a ranch in the Malibu hills with scrub brush and gullies that wouldn't look out of place in a Hollywood western. As I followed Rob, the caretaker, I hoped my low-to-the-ground Mini Cooper could make it up the steep, rutted dirt road that leads to ... Stage 4: Wow. Timeless echoes We were standing on a plateau next to a shiny 1957 Airstream Flying Cloud with 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Mountains and a giant sapphire sky. There were no other people in sight. And, thanks to Airbnb, it all belonged to me - for the night, at least. Rob showed me the ropes of the sweetly geriatric, off-the-grid trailer. Use water and lights mindfully, he said. He noted that there were no outlets, so make sure your phone is fully charged before you get there. He left me to it, and I knew the first thing I wanted to do: set up my battery-powered record player on the table outside the trailer. I'd brought a pile of vinyl and wanted to hear how it sounded in the open air of a wilderness that says: Yeah, L.A. is high-rises and shopping malls and freeways, but it will never be fully tamed. I kept the volume low, because noise carries in the canyons, but it sounded wonderful. The '70s California vibe of Ray LaMontagne's "Supernova" echoed off the aluminum of the Airstream and the sunbaked hillsides, and it felt as if I'd stepped into a groovy Malibu past. As the sun started to drop, the traffic on Mulholland below shifted from motorcycles and Ferraris racing to the sea to sedans and SUVs moving tiredly inland from the beach. Finally, it was just small packs of cars, their beams looking like the posse hunting Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Then, it was the big moment: sunset. You don't get a better front-row seat at day's end in California than the comfy chairs lined up like sentinels guarding the view of the Pacific. The pleasures of the place were at once low-key and spectacular: the shades of a sky as it darkened, a dog barking a few canyons over, the space station gliding over the Pacific like a bright star and disappearing into the black silhouette of the mountains. Finally, I got out of my chair and started thinking about dinner. The trailer's kitchenette is small but functional, with a gas stove and oven, a large fridge and decent-sized sink. It's stocked with the basics for cooking, but next time I would bring a bigger pot or two. (More on that later.) Even smaller is the bathroom. You climb over the two-person bed to reach it, and you don't have much room for moving around. But remember, this is like ultra-cool camping. This is not a hotel. I ended the day by reading some Southern California noir by Ross MacDonald and fell asleep trying to see the meteor shower on tap for that night - but the full moon was determined to outshine the stars. From peak to pier The next morning, I slept in and missed the sunrise. But the late-morning view of the ocean, with the barest hint of marine layer, made me wish it wasn't time to pack up and leave. Still, it was time to get a bit closer to that ocean. I wanted to drive the whole snaking length of Mulholland Highway - the wilder counterpart to the more urban Mulholland Drive - so I took it a few more miles to its terminus at Pacific Coast Highway. There was a Lewis and Clark moment at the end, like I was an explorer reaching the Pacific for the first time, and then I made a left turn into 21st century traffic. And 21st century parking. After a fraught 15 minutes trying to find a spot near the Malibu Pier, I was rescued by a laid-back guy who let me park in his lot even though I wasn't shopping at his store. (Thank you, surfer dude.) Then I made my way down the long pier to a cluster of whitewashed buildings with cheery blue trim, like how you imagined the seaside used to look. There was even a miniature speedboat bolted to the pier, gleaming red. The look on a boy's face as he rode it took me back to those little rides they used to have outside supermarkets. Your mom would put in a quarter and you were in your own fun park. Inside Malibu Farm, the stylish restaurant at the end of the pier, it was all clean, rustic Scandinavian design (cue sheepskin rugs thrown casually across wooden benches and those chic steel cafe chairs). Lovely. The California casual menu, big on sandwiches and salads, touts its locavore bona fides. The slice of watermelon radish that topped my kale salad came from a nearby farm, and it was so pretty I got out my iPhone for a food-porn Instagram moment. (And the drinks were very Pinterest: They came in Mason jars.) Finding ways back Finally, it was time to head home. I drove back on another curvy canyon road and breathed deep before getting on the 101 again. I wasn't going to let the traffic harsh my mellow. I knew the Airstream was waiting for me if I want to escape the city, without actually having to escape the city. P.S. I've already been back twice. I even spent Thanksgiving there with my family. We booked the Airstream on the hilltop and another one elsewhere on the property, a later-model Airstream in a canyon that doesn't have views but does have more space. Yes, you can cook a holiday meal in a trailer kitchen. As a vegetarian family we didn't do a turkey, but with some coordination and an edict against too many cooks in the kitchen, we had a wonderful meal. I didn't even have to write it in the guest book to know: I'll be back. If you go Two Airstream trailers are available for rent on the Malibu hills property. They can be booked through the Airbnb site: The 1957 Airstream with Pacific views rents for $145 a night: www.airbnb.com/rooms/820227 The 1971 Airstream doesn't have ocean view, but sleeps four. $135 a night at www.airbnb.com/rooms/1077343 Malibu Farm restaurant, 23000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; (310) 456-1112, www.malibu-farm.com. Lunch about $15. [email protected] Twitter: @karihow | 2 | 5,369 | travel |
OCALA, Fla. (AP) -- During a closing stretch that featured one of the more tumultuous final hours in recent LPGA Tour history, teen wunderkind Lydia Ko faced a series of tough predicaments. But a query that came after the final round gave her the biggest pause of all. After reclaiming the lead late Saturday to set herself up for a double payoff of sorts, the 17-year-old double-bogeyed the 71st hole in the inaugural Coates Golf Championship to lose by a shot to Na Yeon Choi. However, Ko secured a piece of history that could be remembered long after the details of the tour's season opener are forgotten. The transplanted New Zealander became the youngest player of either gender to climb to world No. 1, breaking the record set by Tiger Woods by almost four years. As the ramifications of the distinction finally took hold, the sting of defeat at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club wasn't quite so bad. The notion of celebrating, which first set her back for a moment, didn't seem so crazy after all. "It's going to be good," Ko said. "I was here to focus on the tournament itself, but I guess I got a great outcome at the end of the day, too." After leading by as many as four shots on the front nine, Ko trailed Choi by a shot as they played the par-3 15th. With Choi facing a 6-footer for birdie, Ko slammed in an improbable 60-footer and Choi promptly three-putted for a two-shot swing. The teenager's lead didn't last long. Ko drove into a fairway bunker, then fanned a hybrid shot into a stand of pine trees down the right side of the 17th hole, scrambling to make a double bogey. As the steadier Choi finished with a 4-under 68 and 16-under total, Ko had to salvage a par on the 18th to finish in a three-way tie at 15 under, but it was good enough to secure a piece of the record book. Woods, previously the youngest golfer to reach No. 1, was 21 years, 5 months, 16 days when he reached the top in 1997. Ko reached the mark 3 years, 8 months, 14 days earlier. The men's rankings date to 1986 and the women's list is nine years old. "It's a nice consolation, if you want to call it that," said Ko's swing coach, David Leadbetter. Ko finished with a 71 to match Jessica Korda (66) and Ha Na Jang (70) at 15 under. Ko, whose pulse rate seems to be frozen at about 75 beats per minute whether she's making an eagle or double bogey, hardly seemed derailed by the 71st-hole meltdown. Her indefatigable nature is her biggest asset, Leadbetter said. "We sent her to anger management school to learn how to get angry," Leadbetter laughed. Choi, on the other hand, was clearly caught up in the emotion of her first victory since late 2012. The 27-year-old topped the LPGA money list in 2010 and won the 2012 U.S. Women's Open, but had fallen out of the world top 15. "I think I was so nervous out there," said Choi, who recorded her eighth LPGA victory and was fighting back tears. "I was waiting so long for this moment." Choi, one of the game's elite players before the two-year victory drought set in, admitted that the pressure to succeed wore her down to the point that she stopped reading Korean sports websites and considered downgrading her cellphone plan so she could not download stories about her play. "I think I had a lot of stress from the result," Choi said. "Even if I was top 10 or top five, not many people said you did a good job if you finish as runner up. They say you are a loser and that hurts me a lot." As for Ko, her ascent seemed ordained when she won her first LPGA Tour title as an amateur at age 15, the youngest in tour history. "I can't say I'm surprised," American star Stacy Lewis said of the new No. 1. "It was just a matter of time." Ko, a native of South Korea who moved to New Zealand as a youngster, unseated Inbee Park in the top spot. "She's probably the straightest player out here," said Park, who tie for 17th. "The golf gets easier if you hit the ball straight and you can roll the ball in." Ko hit a few crooked shots down the stretch, which ultimately cost her the first-place trophy, but once the magnitude of the moment took hold, she was all smiles. "There was obviously a loss," Ko said. "But there was a huge positive, too. That's pretty awesome." Jessica Korda (66) and Ha Na Jang (70) matched Ko at 15 under. | 1 | 5,370 | sports |
A drone strike killed four suspected Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen Saturday, tribal sources said, the second attack in a week since Washington vowed to pursue its campaign against the jihadists. Tribal sources said the unmanned aircraft, which only the United States operates in the region, targeted a car carrying four militants in the southern province of Shabwa, a stronghold of the jihadist network. A similar strike on a car on Monday in a desert area between Shabwa and the neighbouring province of Marib killed three suspected members of Al-Qaeda. That vehicle was hit by four missiles. The previous day US President Barack Obama had vowed no let-up in Washington's campaign against jihadists in Yemen. He dismissed suggestions that deepening chaos in Yemen since the resignation of Western-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi last week had forced a change in Washington's campaign against Al-Qaeda. Obama ruled out US troop deployment in Yemen but said Washington would continue "to go after high value targets inside Yemen", admitting however that this was "a long, arduous process". According to the New America Foundation, the United States has carried out more than 110 strikes on targets in Yemen since 2009, mostly using drones. One such attack in September 2011 killed US-Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi, a leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula accused of instigating a string of attacks against the United States. AQAP, which Washington considers the most dangerous branch of the global terror network, also claimed responsibility for the deadly January 7 attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. | 5 | 5,371 | news |
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- With his team in desperate need of a lift and a win, the smallest player on the court made the biggest impact. Kendall Anthony, all 5-foot-8 of him, scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half as Richmond made an emphatic rally to upset No. 14 Virginia Commonwealth 64-55 on Saturday. "I don't think we were crisp on offense in the first half, but in the second half we were much better," Richmond coach Chris Mooney said. "We found some open shots that we were able to knock down. The victory is the first for the Spiders (12-9, 5-3 Atlantic 10) in true road games and just their second of the season away from home. They beat Pepperdine in the Gotham Classic at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20. But there had been positive signs recently. Richmond took George Washington to double overtime in a 73-70 loss Jan. 15 and fell 63-60 at Dayton on Jan. 24. "We competed with George Washington and took them to double overtime," Anthony said. "Dayton was down to the last second. We've been really close on the road, and today we came out and played together and finished it off." VCU (17-4, 7-1 Atlantic 10) led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Richmond wasted no time in cutting into the lead. ShawnDre' Jones made a 3-pointer and Alonzo Nelson-Ododa put back his own miss to cut the lead to 28-22 at the break. The Spiders picked up where they left off, with T.J. Cline making two 3-pointers and Terry Allen adding one as part of a 22-4 run spanning both halves that opened up a 39-32 Richmond lead. Terry Larrier ended that run with a driving baseline layup and drew a foul in the process, but missed the free throw. Anthony took over from there, scoring the Spiders' next eight points and 16 of their next 18. "They really came at us in the second half," VCU coach Shaka Smart said. "We had defended very well in the first half, but did not have the same energy and aggressiveness in the second half. We played with a lot of avoidance in the second half, and we cant be good like that, particularly with our style of play." The Spiders awoke on offense with execution and aggression, keeping in control against the Rams vaunted Havoc press. They turned the ball over just 12 times, six fewer than VCU's average, and won the rebounding battle 39-27. "Right from the beginning today, the first few shots that went up, we had guys in white jerseys with their hands above the rim snatching rebounds," Mooney said. "We had some guys come up with some really big rebounds." TIP-INS: Richmond: The Spiders picked up their first road win of the season. They took George Washington to double overtime on Jan. 15 and lost to No. 22 Dayton by three points on Jan. 24. ... Saturday marked the first time Richmond did not have at least three players in double figures in conference play. Virginia Commonwealth: The Rams missed a chance to set a new high winning streak in Smarts tenure after winning 12 consecutive games entering Saturday. ...The loss also snapped a 16-game conference VCU winning streak. ... VCU had won 19 of its last 20 games at the Siegel Center, with the lone loss coming to No. 2 Virginia on Dec. 6. ... VCU leads the all-time series, 45-27, and had won the previous four meetings PIVOTAL MOMENT VCU freshman Terry Larrier made a layup and drew a foul at the under-12 media timeout, but missed his free throw after the break. Anthony responded with a floater at the other end that pushed the Spiders lead back to six at 41-35. VCU would not come closer than a four-point deficit the rest of the way. COURTSIDE Former VCU standout Darius Theus was the participant in the pregame shootout. He made the close-in shots quickly, but missed all three of his halfcourt attempts. ... A group of VCU fans near the Spiders bench dressed in full Kiss regalia, presumably without consulting fellow costumed band GWAR, formed in Richmond by a pair of VCU students. UP NEXT Richmond visits La Salle on Thursday. Virginia Commonwealth visits George Mason on Wednesday | 1 | 5,372 | sports |
SN's Vinnie Iyer gives his report from Arizona, including the atmosphere surrounding the game, the key matchups to watch, and his prediction on the game. | 1 | 5,373 | sports |
The addition of curry seasoning and mango give this chicken salad a robust flavor that sends it over the top. Everyone will be asking for more. This recipe just may become your signature chicken salad. | 0 | 5,374 | foodanddrink |
AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa State finally had a chance to breath nice and easy at the end of a game. After a series of white-knuckle finishes in Big 12 play, the 15th-ranked Cyclones rolled past TCU 83-66 Saturday behind Georges Niang's 23 points and 63 percent shooting in the second half. It was the first double-digit win in conference play for Iowa State (16-4, 6-2), which ran its homecourt winning streak to 19. The Cyclones' previous five league victories had been decided by a total of 18 points. ''It was good to see us extend (the lead),'' Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said. ''That's the biggest thing, was extending it and being able to get some other guys into the game. It's a great sign when you can finish a game like that.'' Floor leader Monte Morris and Bryce Dejean-Jones each scored 16 points and Dustin Hogue had 12 for the Cyclones, who won their second straight after a humbling loss at Texas Tech a week ago. TCU (14-7, 1-7) stayed close for a half, causing some edginess among the Cyclone faithful, but Iowa State finally took control with a pair of big runs in the second half after leading by just two points at the break. ''I thought we played much smarter in the second half,'' Hoiberg said. ''We were playing stupid in the first half, trying to squeeze passes into small spaces and our spacing on the break was brutal. The second half was much better all across the board.'' Niang frustrated TCU with a series of spinning moves and jump hooks around the basket. The 6-foot-8 junior finished 8-for-15 from the field, including a 3-pointer, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out three assists. ''Theyre very skilled,'' TCU coach Trent Johnson said of the Cyclones, ''but Niang is a really, really good college basketball player. If theres a better college basketball player in the country, I want to see him, in terms of being complete in passing and catching and shooting and taking advantage of mismatches and pump fakes and those kind of things.'' Trey Zeigler led TCU with 14 points and Chris Washburn scored 11. Iowa State is the Big 12's most prolific 3-point shooting team, but the Cyclones created separation in this one by going inside. Dejean-Jones backed in for a turnaround shot that put ISU up 27-26 and the Cyclones kept attacking. Morris, Niang and Dejean-Jones all drove for buckets before Morris sliced through the defense for a layup just ahead of the halftime buzzer, putting Iowa State up 35-33. Iowa State started the second half with a 10-2 run that included four more baskets inside for a 45-35 lead. Niang took it to the basket again after TCU drew within five, then knocked down a 3-pointer. Jameel McKay's follow shot made it 52-40 with 12:43 left. ''There were a lot of driving lanes,'' said Morris, who shot 7-for-9 and had six assists. ''With a good shooter like Georges on the pick and roll, you've got to pick your poison. If they go with him, that leaves us with some openings.'' TCU, which gave No. 9 Kansas all it could handle in a 64-61 loss last Wednesday, hung around for another couple of minutes and trailed just 52-47 with 11 minutes to go. But Dejean-Jones hit a turnaround in transition and Niang dropped in two free throws, starting another 10-2 burst that made it 62-49. Adbel Nader's 3 from the deep right corner on a pass from Morris stretched the lead to 77-59 and Iowa State fans -- at last -- could relax as the game wound down. ''We had an opportunity there starting the second half,'' Johnson said. ''We did a good job executing but just didn't finish around the rim.'' TIP-INS Iowa State: The Cyclones' home winning streak, which includes 12 straight in conference play, is the fifth longest in school history. The longest was a 39-game run from Feb. 16, 1999 until Dec. 1, 2002. TCU: Leading scorer Kyan Anderson (13.9) endured a tough afternoon, making just 3 of 13 shots and scoring only eight points. STAT TALK Hoiberg thought keeping TCU off the offensive boards was critical. The Horned Frogs owned a whopping 26-9 edge in offensive rebounds against Kansas, but Iowa State held them to a 12-9 advantage and gave up only five second-chance points. COACHING SUCCESS Now 5-0 against TCU, Hoiberg is enjoying more success vs. the Horned Frogs as a coach than he did as a player. Hoiberg was a freshman with the Cyclones and scored 13 points in a 53-52 loss to TCU in Puerto Rico in 1991. TO THE BUS With a snowstorm approaching, Johnson was eager to get to the airport for the flight home. ''I'd like to stay with the Mayor,'' he said, referring to Hoiberg's nickname, ''but I don't think the Mayor wants the bus driver staying at his house, so I want to go home. And Im the bus driver.'' UP NEXT Iowa State plays at No. 9 Kansas on Monday night. TCU plays at No. 20 Baylor on Wednesday night. | 1 | 5,375 | sports |
NEW YORK Police say a suspicious package left behind a concrete barrier of a New York City bus station didn't contain any explosives but did have some unexpected contents 1,000 individually packaged condoms for both men and women. A spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police said Saturday that a canine unit was called Friday evening to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. Spokesman Joe Pentangelo says investigators with the help of the dogs checked out a silver messenger-style satchel that was left in the under-construction Manhattan depot. He says they cleared the bag of any explosives then looked inside to find condoms of multiple brands and styles. He says no one has come forward to claim the bag and its contents. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 5 | 5,376 | news |
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) -- Ryan Arcidiacono and No. 7 Villanova took the Big East lead Saturday -- taking advantage of some help from the big snow storm. Arcidiacono scored all 18 of his points in the second half to help Villanova beat DePaul 68-55. Villanova (19-2, 6-2) moved a half-game ahead of Providence atop the conference. After a 3-0 start, DePaul (11-12, 5-5) lost for the fifth time in its last seven conference games. "In the second half, I just tried to be more aggressive catching the ball and shooting," said Arcidiacono, who was 5 of 8 from the field in the second half. "Then they feared my jumper and, off that, I was able to get by some guys (on drives). After I made a couple of those, I felt pretty good." After an uneven 20 minutes, Villanova was able to shake off the rust of a five-game layoff. DePaul couldn't overcome the effects of a cramped schedule that saw it play two games in three days in two time zones. The Blue Demons played at Providence on Thursday in a game postponed because of the storm. "I definitely feel they were at a disadvantage," Wildcats coach Jay Wright said. "They caught a tough break having to play that game on Thursday. That's not easy to come back. ... What was impressive was how they played coming off that, especially how they started the game." After the Blue Demons shot 52 percent en route to a 37-31 lead at halftime, they struggled in half-court sets and missed eight of their first nine field goal tries in the second half. "You got to squeeze it out when you're a little bit tired, and (Villanova) did," coach Oliver Purnell said. "They had more energy and more pep to their step in the second half. We were diving on the floor for loose balls and getting a lot of 50-50 balls in the first half. In the second half, they got them." The Wildcats opened the second half on a 14-4 tear to turn a six-point deficit into a 45-41 advantage in little more than 7 minutes. Arcidiacono scored eight points in the burst, highlighted by a four-point play that tied the score at 41. Josh Hart followed with a layup to give the Wildcats the lead for good. JayVaughn Pinkston added 14 points for Villanova, making 10 free throws without a miss. Darrun Hilliard finished with 11 points and three steals. "In the second half, we settled down and focused on defense," Pinkston said. "Once we got some stops, we got out on transitions, so I was able to get to the rim and get to the foul line. Billy Garrett led DePaul with 14 points, but only four came in the second half. He also had eight assists. Tommy Hamilton and Forrest Robinson added nine points apiece. "They made a conscious effort to get the ball out of Bill's hands by trapping and switching," Purnell said. "We didn't handle it great, that's for sure, but I thought the key was the difference in our defense in the second half." Villanova won the battle of the backboards (35-18) for the first time in four games. It was outrebounded only three times in its previous 17 games. The Wildcats appeared to show the effects of the five-day layoff and led only briefly in the first half. They trailed 28-17 when Blue Demons forward Jamee Crockett sank a layup with 6:55 left in the half. In stark contrast to the game between the teams three weeks earlier, DePaul didn't commit a turnover in the opening 10-plus minutes. In the first matchup, Villanova's pressure defense forced 15 turnovers in an 81-64 victory at home. But the Wildcats responded with eight straight points to get back in the game. Reserve guard Phil Booth scored six points and forward Daniel Ochefu added four more in the final 7 minutes of the half, and the visitors were back in the game at the break. TIP-INS Villanova: Arcidiacono matched his season high in points. His career high is 32 against St. John's on Jan. 2, 2013. ... The Wildcats were the unanimous pick to win the Big East title in the preseason coaches' poll, while DePaul was selected to finish in last place. ... Wright spent Friday night watching high school junior Nick Rakocevic from St. Joseph High School in Westchester, a Chicago suburb. Rakocevic is regarded as one of the top prep players in the area. In November, the Wildcats received a commitment from guard Jalen Brunson, a five-star recruit from Stevenson High School in nearby Lincolnshire. DePaul: Leading scorer Myke Henry was limited to six points, well below his 13.2 average per game. He attempted only six shots. ... Purnell remained winless in seven tries against Villanova as Blue Demons head coach. The last six defeats were by 13 points or more. . . The Blue Demons have not beaten a Top 10 team since a 64-57 triumph over then-No. 5 ranked Kansas on Dec. 2, 2006, at Allstate Arena. UP NEXT Villanova: Hosts Marquette on Wednesday night. DePaul: Hosts Seton Hall on Tuesday night. | 1 | 5,377 | sports |
The Doctors discuss a new weight loss app that uses sarcastic insults to motivate the user to curb unhealthy eating habits. | 7 | 5,378 | health |
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) John Klingberg preferred to not make too big a deal about his four-point game, even if it was the first of his young NHL career. The Dallas Stars rookie defenseman, who finished with two goals and two assists, was happier about his defensive performance in a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. "I'm learning new stuff almost every game, and I think today was a good game," said Klingberg, who now has nine goals and 24 points in 35 contests. "Obviously, four points is a good night, but I think I played pretty good defensively, too, so I'm happy about the game today." The Stars scored four times on the power play, with Klingberg, Patrick Eaves, Shawn Horcoff and Jason Spezza producing with the man advantage. Tyler Seguin tacked on three assists. Captain Andrew Ladd tied goal-leader Bryan Little with his 18th of the season and added an assist for Winnipeg, which extended its losing streak to three games. Toby Enstrom had the Jets' other goal. "I don't think it was the best start and, obviously, taking too many penalties," Ladd said. "They've got some guys up front that can make you pay and that was the difference. I thought we were doing some good things, but it's tough when you're building momentum and you end up in the box." Kari Lehtonen made 38 saves for the Stars, who were coming off a 6-3 win over Ottawa. Michael Hutchinson stopped 27 shots in his second straight start for Winnipeg, but his effort wasn't helped with the Stars getting eight power plays. "I don't think we were over the edge, but look at the penalties. Two were undisciplined penalties," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. Ladd said it's a balancing act. "It's something that we need to get better at," he said. "At times, you try to wind yourself up as much as possible emotionally, trying to finish your check and (be) involved in the game. "Sometimes, we've been taking it too far, so it's something where we have to get better at walking that line and being more disciplined." The Jets, who had two power plays, had won their previous three home games. Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said his players held their own in the battles. "Obviously, they were trying to play real physical and they were taking a few penalties," Ruff said. "The only way you can stop the physical play is by putting the puck in the back of the net. For us, we had the opportunities. If you don't take those opportunities, then it keeps coming." Dallas opened the scoring with Eaves' fifth goal of the season at 5:13 -- 15 seconds after Jets defenseman Ben Chiarot went off for interference. Winnipeg swarmed in the Dallas end midway through the period for more than a minute before Ladd's low shot went by a screened Lehtonen at 10:14 to make it 1-1. With Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian in the penalty box for slashing, Horcoff scored his seventh goal of the season when he deflected a shot by Trevor Daley from the high slot at 14:21. On Dallas' third power play of the period, this time with Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien in the box for delay of game, Spezza scored his ninth for a 3-1 lead at 18:47. Winnipeg outshot Dallas 18-13 in the middle frame. At 4:31 of the third period, Klingberg scored his eighth of the season when his shot from the point got past Hutchinson, who had Chiarot and Colton Sceviour banging at each other in front of the net. The players paired up for some fighting eight minutes into the period and Dallas came away with a two-man advantage, setting the stage for Klingberg's second goal of the game at 8:40. "He's played well for us," Ruff said of the young Swede. "He's a young D that's got some good skill." Stars captain Jamie Benn assisted on the goal, giving him four goals and five assists in his past six games. Enstrom made it 5-2 when a rebound from Blake Wheeler's wrap-around attempt bounced out to him and he beat Lehtonen at 12:46. NOTES: Both teams made changes to their defensive pairings, with the most notable being Byfuglien going back with former sidekick Enstrom instead of rookie Chiarot, who teamed up with Bogosian. Defenseman Jacob Trouba, who was playing his 100th career NHL game, was paired up with Stuart. ... The Jets head out for a two-game road trip, starting Monday in Calgary and the following night against Vancouver. Dallas hosts Colorado on Tuesday. | 1 | 5,379 | sports |
Matt Hasselbeck talked with 120 Sports about Tom Brady and Russell Wilson. The former Seahawks QB also made his prediction for Super Bowl XLIX. | 8 | 5,380 | video |
I photographed my children at every big moment in their lives, the staged spectacles that seem so important at the time. We know that we will want to see weddings and showers, births and birthdays, school performances and graduations again and again. Recently I was watching the video of a class performance of one of my sons that took place 12 years ago. There he was, his little seven-year old self, sitting among his classmates, singing away at the top of his lungs and glancing over occasionally to see if I was still watching. His smile, to me, was the most beautiful thing on Earth, and the little movements that I know so well yanked hard at my heart. But in a blinding flash I knew that I had recorded the wrong thing. For although I thought this concert was a big moment, one that I would want to revisit, I now see that I was entirely mistaken. There are moments I want back, moments I would give anything to relive, and they were not staged, not expected and I never saw them coming. I took pictures of our sleeping children either crashed on the couch, in their car seats or their cribs. But never once did I bring a camera into our bed. If I could do a deal with the devil, I would transport us back to mornings where all three of our kids had climbed into our bed. In turns we had awakened and dozed and I would open my eyes to see arms and legs, wrapped in little boy pajamas draped over my husband and myself. This moment exists only in my mind's eye and I want it back. My brother's in-laws have a house with a hill sloping downward from their back porch. On a hot sunny August day they lined part of the hill with plastic and turned on the garden hose. My young sons and their cousins proceeded to ruin this patch of lawn by sliding down the slippery plastic, oh, I'd say 100 times. Every inch of their little bodies was covered in mud and I don't know when, before or since, I have ever seen them so happy. I want to be at the side of that bathtub as I tried to scrape the layer of mud from their scalps and they told me again and again how it was the best day of their lives. I photographed my children on the first day of school every year from nursery to 12. In each photo here is an expectant smile on their faces and they gleam with new haircuts, new backpacks and new clothes. But the moment I want back is a few weeks into one new school year when my eldest, a child who loved school, climbed into my lap one morning and told me he didn't think he could go anymore and that he was just going to stay with me. It was one day in 14 years of education and as he sobbed in my lap, needing nothing more that my arms around him, I know that I would trade every shiny first day of school moment for a few seconds when my arms were the safest place in the world to him. Prom pictures, I took conservatively a hundred. Slide a teenage boy into a tux and watch a miraculous transformation from scruffy adolescent to man-child in a matter of moments. I caught it all, and the bigger the event, the more I snapped the shutter. But the moment I want to relive is when my son arrived home late one night, weeks before the formal event, and recounted to me how he had gathered his friends to serenade his date into accepting his prom invitation. He had never really discussed girls with me and at the moment our relationship crossed yet another bridge towards the two adults we will be for so many years. We weren't there yet, we are not yet there now, but that night we took a big step closer. I have held my camera at the wrong moments, mistaking the pageantry of my children's life for the moments I would hold dear. But parenthood never ends and tonight my husband was playing soccer with two of my teenage sons in our backyard. The three of them laughed and joked in the fading summer light and after two decades of being a mother I had the good sense to breathe in the smells of summer, let my heart fill with the joy of watching them together and bring my camera along. | 4 | 5,381 | lifestyle |
To Marco Rubio, President Obama is dangerously naïve when it comes to foreign policy, especially as it relates to Cuba. Rand Paul sees Obama as a big-government president who thinks he is a king, eschewing the Constitution in favor of his own rules. And to Ted Cruz, well, the president is something of a lawless menace with wobbly knees. These three ambitious Republicans all have their gripes with this president. But really, they want to be him.And over the next several weeks and months, they will try to demonstrate why, even as first-term senators, they can do the job better than he can. For this group of legislators interested in running for president in 2016, Barack Obama may serve as both an anathema and an inspiration. Just a couple of years into his first Senate term, the now-president ran as a Washington outsider and won. In some ways, the success of his campaign opened a door for other upper chamber freshmen eyeing the White House - a lesson in seizing a political moment after having spent enough time in Washington to gain some national recognition, but not so much as to become synonymous with its problems. But the perceived failures of his tenure may have closed that door to Republican first-term senators plotting a similar trajectory. From health care to foreign policy and most everything in between, GOP opposition to this president is often rooted in his lack of managerial and executive experience. For some Republicans, opting to go down that road with a nominee may be considered hypocritical, if not a mistake. And as the party looks to the states as models of democracy, a senator may not make much sense. That's why there is so much cheering among Republicans, even by some in the Senate, for governors, people who have run more than campaigns. "There has always been a tendency on the part of leadership and donors and primary voters to support somebody who has a background as a strong executive. Folks outside of Washington who value the power given back to the states … that is just something embedded in a lot of Republicans' world view," says Kevin Madden, a GOP strategist who was the spokesman for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. For the freshmen senators thinking about a White House run, "The focus ought to be on countering what were the president's biggest flaws exposed as a result of only being a first-term senator," Madden says. With signs of an improving economy but escalating national security threats, these senators point to foreign policy as a way to stand out from the pack of governors and showcase expertise. "Jimmy Carter was a governor and he was an epic disaster," Cruz told RealClearPolitics outside the Senate chamber. "At a time where national security is a major concern, voters have tended to look to candidates with experience in foreign policy with an ability to take on the foreign policy mistakes of the current administration and to outline a new and better direction for the country. And that is an issue set that does not tend to favor the governors." Rubio agrees, and recently took a not-so-veiled-swipe at possible competitors who are making overseas missions to bone up. "Taking a trip to some foreign city for two days does not make you Henry Kissinger," Rubio said at a presidential-like forum in Palm Springs, Calif., over the weekend that featured the three senators. Foreign policy dominated that debate, which was moderated by ABC and took place during a donor retreat sponsored by Charles and David Koch, and exposed contrasts within the group of legislators and the party. Rubio and Cruz were highly skeptical of negotiations with Iran over nuclear weapons, as the president has asked Congress to hold off on new rounds of sanctions to let the diplomatic process play out. Cruz said Iran is the single greatest threat to the United States. The two senators, both Cuban-American, also disagree with the administration's moves to normalize relations with the country. Of course, Paul stood out from the group on these topics, arguing to "give diplomacy a chance" on Iran and calling opponents of the new Cuba policy isolationists for not wanting to economically engage with other countries. Paul and Rubio have been sparring over Cuba since the change was announced, with the senator from Florida accusing the senator from Kentucky of being a "cheerleader" for Obama's foreign policy. Paul's mode of operation since entering the Senate four years ago has been more philosophy orientated, awakening the party's libertarian mind that resonates especially well with war-weary young people who want the government to leave them alone. "We don't believe there is a monopoly when it comes to how to govern and do things in politics," says one Paul aide. Allies point to the fact that Paul has been in the Senate a little longer than Obama was before running for president, and he had a successful career as an ophthalmologist before that. (Paul and Rubio were sworn into the Senate in 2011, Cruz in 2013.) "It's one of those things that is outside experience, which is lacking a lot of time," the aide said. "There's a big difference between a community organizer and someone who has been a doctor for 20 years." Like Cruz and Rubio, Paul has found that being a senator can have advantages, if handled the right way. For example, in 2013, Paul got lots of attention and public support for a 12-hour filibuster in protest of the administration's drone policy. Later that year, Cruz adopted the same approach, speaking on the Senate floor for 21 hours in opposition to Obamacare. Cruz received support from his base when he led an effort to shut down the government over the funding of the health care law. For Cruz, his reputation as a fighter no matter the cost to his party is a foundation for a possible presidential bid. "I think the relevant question is not what particular job an individual has had but whether he or she has stood up and led on the major issues of the day," Cruz told RCP. "Republicans should nominate a candidate who has demonstrated that he or she will fight for conservative principles, for free market principles, for our constitutional liberties, for restoring America's leadership in the world." The Senate gives these presidential hopefuls a platform to appeal to people and turn their ideas into legislation, regardless of whether it moves through the chamber. This week, for example, Paul introduced legislation to audit the Federal Reserve, something he has been talking about on the stump. Cruz and Rubio have also signed on. Paul has also made criminal justice reform and tax repatriation top legislative goals that are bipartisan and might happen to help him connect with voters. The senator also has the benefit of having Kentucky colleague and the new Senate majority leader mindful of his interests, after Paul helped consolidate support for Mitch McConnell's re-election bid last year. As much as the Senate can help these men burnish their expertise, the legislative process can often prove messy and harmful. Rubio learned this through his work on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, which passed the Senate only to be despised by the House and party conservatives. Rubio has said he learned from the experience that people are wary of massive and complicated pieces of legislation. The Florida senator has been gearing up for a presidential run , traveling the country and raising money, and talking about economic mobility and foreign policy, positioning himself as a fresh-faced ideas candidate in a field of old names. "Obviously, I've only been in the Senate now for four years and two months, but I've certainly been very engaged in the national security and foreign policy debates," Rubio told reporters last week when he was asked about the governors-versus-senators debate. "That is the predominant obligation of the federal government, to provide for our national security and to conduct the foreign policy of the United States. And I feel very comfortable discussing and debating that with any of the potential candidates or anyone else who might want to be president." Rubio is on a well-timed book tour that will take him through the early states and keep him in the spotlight. He skipped Senate votes this week for fundraising in California, which also underscores the challenge McConnell might face this year in collecting key votes if several members of his caucus are running for president. Moving directly from the Senate to the White House is historically rare. Only three presidents have done it. Before Obama it was John F. Kennedy, and Warren Harding before him. "In each case, they were relatively junior senators, not committee chairmen, not floor leaders, no long track record," says Donald Ritchie, the historian of the U.S. Senate. Unlike governors or other kinds of presidential candidates, senators have to register their opinion on something nearly every day in the form of votes. "Every time they cast a vote, they, in a sense, narrow their base," Ritchie says. Then-Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2002 vote in support of the Iraq War, for example, created an opening for Obama who was not in the Senate then but railed against it and tapped into voter sentiment inside and outside of his party. In the cases of Rubio, Paul, and Cruz, "Their positions are so fixed on most issues, it's not like they have broadened their base, but rather defined their base very precisely along the way." The bigger challenge for this group isn't merely that they are senators (after all, Republicans nominated John McCain in 2008) and not governors, but it's the perceived lack of requisite experience Republicans say they want next time around. With that in mind, the first-termers are in a tight spot. If they stay longer in the Senate to gain more experience - maybe run a committee or get a big bill with their name on it signed - they risk becoming too much a part of Washington. If they leave and opt to run later for governor of their states, which some believe to be a strong option for Rubio, they risk missing the moment of opportunity. The field is wide open this time around, the first contest the GOP has had in a while without a clear frontrunner. In 2008, Obama ran as a post-partisan figure who could bridge the divides in Washington and around the country. He got people to see him as more than a senator. Obama's first campaign was unique in many ways. His election was also, of course, historic. Candidates would have a difficult time emulating it. But that post-partisan eventually met up with reality, and Obama has been criticized from the right and the left for not engaging with Congress and forging the relationships necessary to strike important deals. "The challenge that [the freshmen senators] have is there's a lot of buyer's remorse where they've seen two terms of President Obama," says Madden. "Obama mastered the rhetoric of it, and people bought into it, but we've seen over the last two terms they lose faith in his ability to execute on that." That's not to say it can't be done. And Rubio, Paul, and Cruz each defied expectations before in their first Senate bids. To be successful, GOP strategists say, they will have to have a much more detailed approach than Obama did when it comes to politics and policy. Their Senate careers, however young they may be, won't be the main features of their campaigns. Instead, they may use it as a helpful foundation or even, at times, a foil, but they are hoping it won't be a defining factor. While governors are using their offices as big selling points for their potential candidacies, the senators are likely to position themselves in ways that create some distance from Washington. There is a long way to go before Republicans pick their nominee, and no one has officially declared his candidacy. But the 2016 GOP primary is already shaping up to be a race between the party's governors and senators. James Arkin contributed to this report. ]]> | 5 | 5,382 | news |
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Houston Rockets star James Harden has left the game against the Detroit Pistons in the second quarter with an apparent injury to his left knee area. Harden was able to walk toward the locker room under his own power Saturday night, but only after he remained down for a while after falling to the floor on a drive to the basket. The 25-year-old guard came into the game averaging an NBA-best 27 points per game. The Rockets have already been without star center Dwight Howard because of swelling in his right knee. Harden was on the pregame injury report with a bruised right knee, but he was in the starting lineup. | 1 | 5,383 | sports |
PITTSBURGH - Still fired up from his team's dramatic victory over Duke on Wednesday, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey issued a challenge to his No. 8 Irish: Go beat Pittsburgh on the road Saturday and I'll consider you a special team. He's still waiting. Pittsburgh upset Notre Dame 76-72 after guard James Robinson hit a runner in the lane to give the Panthers the lead with 12 seconds remaining. After an emotionally draining week in which Brey said his team stole two games against Duke and North Carolina State, the Irish finally got caught. "We're not (special) yet," Brey said. "I said we have a chance to keep working on it - in search of being special." The Irish's defense, which has been leaky at times this season, was hemorrhaging on Saturday. The Panthers shot 59 percent and kept up with a Notre Dame offense that shot 53 percent. "It was one of those games where I think we deserved to lose by 15," Brey said. "Our defense hurt us today. We could never get enough stops to really win the game." Even so, the Irish (20-3, 8-2 ACC) had a 72-71 lead after guard Jerian Grant (14 points) hit two free throws to cap a personal 9-0 run that erased an eight-point deficit with 31.2 seconds remaining. After Robinson's basket put Pittsburgh (14-8, 4-5) ahead, the Irish had a chance to take the lead on a play that was eerily similar to the clinching basket against Duke. Grant drove the lane and spotted sophomore Steve Vasturia in the right corner for an open 3-pointer. "I almost didn't even go to the glass," Grant said. "I turned around and thought it was going in, but it rimmed out." For Brey, Vasturia's shot not falling was a little karmic justice coming back at the Irish. "It's almost like the basketball gods said, 'No, you can't have this one,' " Brey said. "If you were going to steal it, you had to steal it after Jerian's free throws. You had to get it there. When Robinson hit the runner, it's almost like you don't deserve it." Notre Dame's inability to defend a struggling Panthers team was the reason. The Irish couldn't keep the Panthers in front of them without fouling or allowing easy baskets inside. The Panthers had a season-high 24 assists on 31 field goals. Robinson had 10 of those assists. "We just need to be more disciplined," said Demetrius Jackson, who led Notre Dame with 15 points. "We just need to have the will to stay in front of our guy. "We still have a lot of improvement to make. I guess that's the best part about (the loss) is that we haven't reached our peak yet and we can still get better. It gives us an incentive to get going in the gym." [email protected] Twitter @ChristopherHine | 1 | 5,384 | sports |
Mike Cammalleri took a beautiful pass from Steve Bernier in the first period against the Panthers Saturday and scored on a snap shot to put the Devils up 2-0. New Jersey would knock off the Panthers 3-1. | 1 | 5,385 | sports |
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Cedric Paquette and Ben Bishop helped the Tampa Bay Lightning keep up their winning play at home. Paquette scored his fifth goal in the last three games, Bishop made 34 saves, and the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night for their franchise-best 10th straight home victory. "I don't know if we're necessarily a better team (at home)," Bishop said. "Obviously we've had better results. Now we're going to be on the road quite a bit this month coming up and we've got to take what we've done at home and take it on the road." Tampa Bay is 21-4-1 at home, compared to 11-11-3 on the road. The Lightning play eight (all against the Western Conference) of 12 February games away from home. Brett Connolly and Valtteri Filppula also scored for Tampa Bay, which hasn't lost at home since a 5-3 loss to Washington on Dec. 9. Bishop lost his shutout bid when Ryan Johansen scored with 3:26 remaining. Curtis McElhinney stopped 31 shots for the Blue Jackets, who are 0-18-0 when trailing entering the third period. Columbus has been outscored 58-38 in the third period. "They're a fast team," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "I thought we skated with them. I thought our compete was there. Gave them two goals, though. You can't give good teams goals. They're a good enough team to earn them on their own, but we had two opportunities with pucks on our stick and we turned it over and the puck's in the back of our net." Connolly opened the scoring with 23.5 seconds left in the first. The goal came 2 minutes after McElhinney made a pair of nice saves on Tyler Johnson. Paquette doubled the lead midway through the third period. He had gone 29 games without a goal before his current three-game goal-scoring stretch. "I don't think I changed anything," Paquette said. "I've been doing the same thing before games and the same thing on the ice. It's been crazy, but I enjoy it." Filppula made it 3-0 just 1:41 later. Brandon Dubinsky had his short-handed backhander during a 2-on-1 beat Bishop but hit the post midway through the first. Earlier in the period, Bishop stopped an in-close backhander by Cam Atkinson. McElhinney also made a stretched-out pad save near the post on Ryan Callahan's power-play breakaway with 9 minutes to go in the second. Tampa Bay's high-scoring line of Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov (combined 128 points) were held pointless and have just one assist over the last five games, a stretch in which the Lightning won four of five. "We're getting strong effort from a lot of different players," Lightning coach Jon Copper said. NOTES: Blue Jackets D Jordon Leopold was in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 13 and played 10 shifts at forward. "It's an opportunity for me. That's the way I look at it. I haven't played a game in nearly two months. I was excited when I got the phone call." ... Columbus D Ryan Murray returned after missing 36 games with a knee injury and had an assist. ... Blue Jackets LW Matt Calvert didn't play due to illness. ... Lightning rookie Jonathan Drouin assisted on Paquette's goal and has four assists in the last three games. ... Tampa Bay is 22-0-1 when ahead after two periods. | 1 | 5,386 | sports |
Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig says he is not tracking his weight this offseason. Puig used Juan Uribe's weight as an example as to why he does not need to watch his figure. Should Puig be more concerned? | 1 | 5,387 | sports |
The Doctors discuss the incredible story of a man who woke from a nearly year-long coma after nurses waved dollar bills under his nose. Learn the powerful effects of smell. | 7 | 5,388 | health |
The Lightning win their 10th straight game at home on Saturday by knocking off the Blue Jackets 3-1. Cedric Paquette, Brett Connolly and Valtteri Filppula all scored for the Bolts. | 1 | 5,389 | sports |
Rockets big man Dwight Howard could be out for a month due to a right knee injury. What would that mean for Houston? #120Talk | 1 | 5,390 | sports |
The guys make their game picks for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. Who are you taking? #120Talk | 1 | 5,391 | sports |
Marcin Gortat said that he did not make the All-Star team because he did not have enough Twitter followers. The Wizards center also said Poland is upset by the snub. Do you think he was snubbed? | 1 | 5,392 | sports |
BOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins were sorry to see January come to an end. The Bruins closed out a stellar run through the month with a 3-1 win over Los Angeles on Saturday, answering a strong push from the Kings in the third period with two late goals to finish off the defending Stanley Cup champions. Chris Kelly broke a 1-all tie with 5:27 left in the third period and Brad Marchand added an empty-netter for his second goal of the game as the Bruins finished the month with a record of 8-1-3. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said the atmosphere felt a little more like spring than a regular-season game on a frigid Boston winter night. "It was just really two hard-working teams battling for the win," said Chara, who had an assist on Marchand's goal that broke the scoreless tie late in the second period. "There was not much room to do a lot. It was a really tight checking game and really those goals were not highlight-reel goals. It was kind of like a playoff-feel goals." Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots for the Bruins as he and Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick exchanged tough saves throughout the night. Quick also finished with 30 saves, but took the loss as the Kings lost yet another close one. Los Angeles fell to 1-2-2 in its last five games, all of which were decided by two goals or less. "We thought we played well again and we didn't bury our chances," said Jordan Nolan, who scored the Kings' only goal. "I thought it was a good hockey game. They play the same style that we do and they are exciting games to watch for the fans and we like being a part of those. Tonight, they got the better of us." Nolan broke up Rask's shutout bid on a soft wrist shot with seven minutes left in the third. It was his second goal of the season and evened the score at 1-1, but the tie didn't last long. Kelly put Boston back on top 1:33 later when he tipped in Carl Soderberg's shot. The puck was in and out of the net too quickly for the officials to see and wasn't ruled a goal until a video review confirmed it went in. "I didn't even know it went in, to be honest. That's why I was trying to get the rebound," Kelly said. "I actually heard a linesman say to the ref `I think that went in,' so the replay works in your favor sometimes." The Kings continued to throw shots at Rask, but he didn't let anything past him after Nolan's goal. "He's been great. We've talked about it for a long time and you know this last month he's been on fire," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "He made some huge saves at some opportune times, but so did the other guy at the other end. So you know it was a good goaltender duel tonight and a good battle overall from two teams." Marchand broke the scoreless tie on a goal with 3:40 left in the second period, then added his 15th of the season with 17 seconds left to play. Marchand directed a backhand toward the empty net and the puck slowly drifted in, just out of Jeff Carter's reach as he raced to try to stop it. "I didn't mean to shoot it that far at first," Marchand said. "I just wanted to chip it and kind of go after it." Marchand beat Quick on a wrist shot from just inside the blue line on a drop pass from Zdeno Chara. It was Boston's first goal against the Kings since Marchand scored 8:53 into the third period of a game on Jan. 20, 2014. Tyler Toffoli just missed tying it about 2:20 into the third period on a shot that bounced hard off the post with a loud clang. It was one of just a few shots for Los Angeles that Rask didn't get a piece of as he withstood the Kings' pressure in the third period. Marchand actually celebrated three goals, but only two counted. He was a second or two late on a wrist shot that beat Quick at the end of the first period. Replays showed the puck didn't cross the goal line until after time had expired and it remained scoreless heading into the second. NOTES: Los Angeles opened a five-game Eastern Conference road trip, which will include a stop at the White House on Monday while the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings are in town to play the Capitals on Monday night. ... Marchand was the last Boston player to score against the Kings, scoring 8:53 into the third on Jan. 20, 2014, in Boston. ... Boston's backup goalie was Malcolm Subban, younger brother of Montreal D P.K. Subban, who dressed for the first time in the NHL but did not play. The Bruins called up Subban from Providence of the AHL on Friday. | 1 | 5,393 | sports |
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Gonzaga's three big men have the Bulldogs ranked first in the nation in field goal percentage. After 10 straight West Coast Conference wins, No. 3 Gonzaga needed a test from an athletic program like Memphis. Przemek Karnowski scored 17 points and Kyle Wiltjer added 15 to help the Bulldogs beat the Tigers 82-64 on Saturday night for their 15th straight victory. "Przem is load down there. He's a real load," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "If he can do it against Shaq (Goodwin) and (Austin) Nichols and guys like that, I mean you can pretty much do it against everybody." Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and 11 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. The trio went 16 of 26 from the floor to help Gonzaga dominate Memphis inside for its first home victory over the Tigers in four attempts. "It's just been a great week," Sabonis said after going for 13 and 11 in back-to-back games. "I just come out and get rebounds and defense and the offense comes around." Kevin Pangos had 11 points and Gary Bell Jr. added 10 for Gonzaga (22-1). The Bulldogs are off to their best start in program history, topping the 2012-13 season when they opened 17-1. Gonzaga entered the game averaging 52.7 percent from the field and were 26 of 47 (55.3 percent) against Memphis. Nick King came off the bench and had 13 points for Memphis (13-8). Nichols added 12, eight coming in the second half. He averaged 19.0 points during the Tigers' two-game winning streak. Memphis made started 1 for 8 and trailed 9-2. Its third basket of the half, a 3-pointer by Markel Crawford, started a 10-5 run to pull to 18-15. But Gonzaga answered with a 20-7 run, on six layups and eight free throws, for a 36-22 lead. Memphis went 4-plus minutes without a field goal during the spurt, ended by Nichols' basket -- his second field goal in nine attempts. "That first half, we just could not score the ball," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said. Gonzaga was 14 of 23 (60.9 percent) from the field in the first half and held a 43-25 lead at the break. The Bulldogs attempted just four 3-pointers as they controlled the paint, outscoring Memphis 24-12. Memphis was held to 9-of-35 shooting in the first 20 minutes and went to the line eight times compared to Gonzaga's 18 attempts. "It was good for us to just play a different style," Pangos said. "I think our team did a good job responding to the matchups and how that team was playing as opposed to a West Coast Conference team." Nichols scored six of Memphis' first 10 points of the second half, cutting the deficit to 15 points. But Byron Wesley, Bell and Wiltjer hit three consecutive 3s, Gonzaga's fourth of the second half after just two before halftime, for a 22-point lead. "I thought we did a good job guarding Pangos from the 3-point range," Pastner said. "But they had three guys that hit 3s that we kind of played off of based on the scouting report. You gotta give them credit, they stepped up and made shots." Memphis cut it to 14 points with 7:05 left, but Eric McClellan and Bell hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 70-50 lead. ------ TIP-INS Memphis: The Tigers played in Gonzaga's on-campus arena, the McCarthey Athletic Center, for the first time in the nine-game series. The three previous trips to Spokane, all wins, were held at the downtown Spokane Arena. Gonzaga: The Bulldogs have the nation's longest home winning streak, at 38 in a row, after No. 4 Duke lost to Miami earlier in the year. TEAM USA Gonzaga coach Mark Few and Memphis forward Shaq Goodwin won gold in the summer of 2012 with the USA Men's U18 National Team. 20-WIN SEASONS Gonzaga and Memphis have combined for 29 20-win season since 2000-01. Gonzaga has reached the plateau in all 16 of Mark Few's seasons as head coach. UP NEXT Memphis: Hosts Jacksonville State on Wednesday night. Gonzaga: At Santa Clara on Thursday night. | 1 | 5,394 | sports |
Flyers goalie Steve Mason saved 30-of-30 shots faced in Philadelphia's 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The win was Mason's 25th career shutout. | 1 | 5,395 | sports |
Let's be honest: crunches aren't the most exciting of exercises. And they're not always the most effective way to tone your abs anyway. If you're bored with your sit-up routine, here are 25 fun and effective moves to mix up your workout and tone your midsection! - Additional reporting by Emily Bibb and Jenny Sugar 25 Ab-Toning Moves - No Crunches Required Let's be honest: crunches aren't the most exciting of exercises. And they're not always the most effective way to tone your abs anyway. If you're bored with your sit-up routine, here are 25 fun and effective moves to mix up your workout and tone your midsection! Lying Overhead Reach Work your shoulders and your abs with this exercise. Lie on your back with your hips and knees both at 90-degree angles, using your low abs to press your lower back into the mat. Raise your arms toward the ceiling, keeping the elbow joint slightly bent.Reach your arms overhead, bringing the dumbbells to tap the dumbbells on the floor above your head. Do not let your back arch away from the floor as your lower the weights. Raise your arms back to the starting position to complete one rep. Do 15 reps to complete a set. Use five- to 10-pound weights. Overhead Circles With Medicine Ball Stand with your feet hip-width apart with a slight bend in your knees. Keeping your spine in neutral, lift a five- to eight-pound medicine ball overhead. Begin to circle the ball to the right, in the largest circles you can make, while maintaining a still and stable torso. Circle eight times to the right; then repeat, circling eight times to the left. Do three sets. Ball Pass Lie on your back holding an exercise ball above your chest, extending your feet up toward the ceiling.On an exhale, move your arms and legs away from each other, lowering both toward the ground. Inhale to bring them back toward each other, and transfer the ball from your hands to your legs. Then lower your arms and legs toward the floor away from each other. Bring them back together, transferring the ball back to your hands. Continue like this, completing 10 to 20 reps. Tabletop to Reverse Pike Start off sitting on your bum, so your hands are planted eight inches behind you. Bend your knees and place your heels about a foot away from your hips. Make sure they are hips-width distance apart.Inhale and lift your hips off the ground so your torso is parallel with the floor and your arms are straight. Your hands should be directly underneath your shoulders and your ankles underneath your knees, so make small adjustments if you need to. Lower your head behind you to increase the stretch in your chest and neck. Hold for a complete breath, and then keeping your arms straight, exhale to lower your hips and straighten your legs, so your hips are hovering above the floor. Engage your abs and try to keep your spine long as you balance on your heels and hands. After a complete breath, inhale and push yourself back into the first position. Do three sets of 12 to 15 reps, flowing from one to the other, pivoting on your hands and heels. To make this move more challenging, hold each position for longer. This exercise not only tones the arms, but will get your mid abs burning. Seated Russian Twist Sit on the ground with your knees bent and your heels about a foot from your butt.Lean slightly back without rounding your spine at all. It is really important, and difficult, to keep your back straight, but don't let it curve. Hold a weight or a medicine ball just below your chest. Keep the weight close you and progress by moving weight further away from your body. Pull your navel to your spine and twist slowly to the left. The movement is not large and comes from the ribs rotating, not from your arms swinging. Inhale through center and rotate to the right. This completes one rep. Do 16 full rotations. Flutter Kicks With Resistance Band Sit on a mat or carpeted floor. Loop one handle of the resistance band on either foot. Hold on to the middle of the tube with both hands and lie on your back. Draw your navel toward your spine and press your low spine into the floor to protect your lower back, then lift both legs up so they are almost pointing straight up toward the ceiling.Holding the band securely, scissor your legs up and down one at a time, starting with the left leg. Move slowly and point your toes. Each time your right foot lowers down counts as one set. Complete 10 to 15 sets.To make this move more difficult, lower your legs so they are about six to 10 inches above the floor. Make sure to keep your abs scooped when you work with your legs close to the ground. Scissor your legs for another 10 to 15 sets. This is a great low ab exercise. Down Dog Abs Start in a Downward Dog pose, actively pushing your weight into your heels while reaching your tailbone to the sky. Lift your left leg up squeezing the left glute. Exhale rock your weight forward over your hands, draw your left knee toward your nose pulling your abs to your spine to round your back. Inhale and lift your left leg up as your push your weight back into your heels. This complete one rep. Do 10 reps, each side. Leaning Camel Stand on your knees with your toes tucked. If this hurts your knees, fold up a mat or towel and kneel on that for a little cushioning. Your thighs should be parallel. Hold a dumbbell comfortably with both hands in front of your chest. I use an eight-pounder. Take a breath in and as you exhale, use your quad muscles to lower your torso behind you. Don't arch your back as in Camel pose, but instead keep your torso in one straight line. As you inhale, return your torso back to the starting position. Repeat for a total of 15 times. Complete a total of three sets. This exercise works the entire abdominal wall and give the quads an active stretch to boot! Dead Bug The name may make you laugh, but this stability exercise fires up the core, working both the front and back of the body. Lie on your back with a neutral spine and your hips and knees at right angles with your palms pressed into your thighs just above your knees.Pull your abs to your spine keeping your ribs and pelvis still as you lengthen your right arm and leg out until they are almost parallel to the floor. Keep your torso and spine completely stable as the arm and leg move. Return to the starting position, and repeat on the left side to complete one rep. Standing Ab Rollout Place your palms on the ball, and stand with your legs wide, about three or so feet apart. Walk the ball out so your back is straight and your hips are in the same line as your ankles.From here, lean your body forward, allowing the ball to roll down your forearms. Stop once your elbows reach the ball and you're balancing on your tiptoes. Then use your core and legs to get your body back to the starting position. Keep your abs engaged throughout this move. Complete three sets of 12 to 15 reps. Pilates Corkscrew Lie on your back, and pull your knees into your chest. Reach your legs up to the ceiling, and tightly squeeze them together, focusing on connecting your inner thighs. Reach the legs over to the right, allowing the hips to lift away from the floor .Reach the legs back to center but still engaged, ensuring that the lower back remains on the floor. Reach the legs over to the left, grounding the shoulders and allowing the hips to move first, the rib cage if possible next. Pull the legs back up in toward the body. This counts as one rep. Repeat 10 times. This classic Pilates moves strengthen your obliques, core, and legs, while stretching your hips away from your ribs. Plank and Rotate Twisting in a plank position fires up the core and works those love handles. Begin in a plank position holding a five-pound dumbbell in each hand, keeping your wrists stiff to protect the joints. Open your feet a little wider than hip distance. Lift your left hand to the ceiling, twisting through your entire torso. Your pelvis will rotate, but keep it level. Bring your left hand back to the floor, and repeat this action on the other side to complete one rep. Do 10 to 15 reps to complete a set. Use five- to eight-pound dumbbells. Single Leg Forward Reach Similar to yoga's Warrior 3, this exercise fires up your core by challenging your balance. As you move in and out of the pose, you will be working the back of your body too. Stand with all your weight in your left foot, abs engaged and chest lifted. Reach your torso forward as you lift your right leg behind you. Reach your arms overhead for balance as your torso and leg come parallel to the floor. Hold this position for a moment, and reach through your right heel to engage the back of the right leg. Moving in one piece, lower your right leg toward the floor as you return to standing upright, resting the right foot lightly on the ground. This completes one rep. Do 10 reps before switching sides; and do two to three reps. Twisting Wood Chop With Medicine Ball Start with the feet a little wider than hip distance apart. Twist to the left raising the ball over to your left shoulder.On an exhale pull your abs toward your spine and "chop" the ball down diagonally across your body toward the outside of your right knee. Imagine you're chopping some wood at this angle and the ball is your axe - the move is a bit percussive. Focus the on the rotation initiating in your torso. Control the ball back up to the starting position. This completes one rep. Remember you are moving with force but also control. Don't give into the momentum of swinging the ball around. Do three sets of 15 reps on each side. Scissor Abs Lie flat on your back. Extend your arms so they're against the sides of your body with your palms pressing into the floor, or bend your elbows and place your palms under the back of your head. Bend your knees and draw them into your ribs. This will make it easier to pull your navel in toward your spine and actively press your lower back flat on the ground. Lift both legs straight up toward the ceiling, continuing to engage your abs and pressing your lower back into the ground. Keeping your core strong, slowly lower your right leg down toward the ground until it is a few inches above. Then slowly scissor your legs, lifting your right leg back up as you lower your left leg down toward the ground. You may not feel this until you do it for a while, so repeat this move for a total of 20 to 30 times on each leg (or more if you're still not feeling it). Overhead Dumbbell Side Bend Hold the dumbbell above your head, squeezing your ears with your upper arms to activate your core.Pull your abs to your spine and lengthen your spine as you bend slowly to the right. Return to standing upright, and then slowly to the left. Keep your pelvis still as you bend to the side. Quadruped Get on all fours, with your knees under your hips and your hands under your shoulders. Remember to keep abs engaged and keep your back flat.Reach out with your right hand and extend your left leg out behind you. Round your back and head to connect your right elbow with your left leg under your body. Extend right hand and left leg back out. Repeat for a total of 15 times, then switch sides. See the quadruped in action here . Ball Pike to Plank Make sure the ball is sized to your body; you should be able to sit on the ball with 90-degree angles at your hips and knees. Start in a plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your shins on the ball. Do not allow your lower back to arch. Keep your feet, pelvis, and shoulders in one long line. On an exhale, pull your abs deeply to your spine and use your abs to fold your body in half, pulling the ball forward toward your hands as your pelvis moves up in the air. Your toes will move onto top of ball and your back will become perpendicular to the floor like a handstand. Allow your head to fall between your arms, keeping your neck long and in line with your spine. Lower yourself back into a plank position and do not allow your pelvis to sag below your shoulders. Do 10 reps for two to three sets. Alternating Two-Point Plank Start in a plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your feet in line with your hips. Lift your left leg off the ground so your heel is even with your pelvis. Keeping your torso steady, reach your right arm forward. Really brace through your abs by pulling your navel to your spine. Hold this position for about three seconds. It's harder than you think!Return to plank, then switch sides lifting your right leg off the ground and reaching your left arm forward. Hold for three seconds and return to plank. This is one rep. Do two to three sets of 10 reps each. Plank With Bunny Hop Begin in a plank position with feet touching. Pull your abs in, and jump your feet to the right, bringing your knees toward your right elbow. Your torso will twist to the right. To complete one rep, jump your feet back to plank. Repeat on the other side and continue alternating sides for 20 reps total. Side Elbow Plank With a Twist Come into a side plank on your right side, with your feet stacked one on top of the other and your weight on your right elbow with your fingers reaching away from your body. Place your left arm behind your head, and inhale to prepare. Exhale and pull your navel to your spine to engage your deep abs and rotate your left ribcage toward the floor. Stay there for a second and deepen your abdominal connection pulling your navel in toward your spine even more. Return to starting position and repeat seven more times for a total of eight reps, then switch sides. Repeat series again on both sides. This move works the obliques and helps tone the love handles. Elbow Plank Planks are great for working the abs, and the elbow plank is harder on the abs than the traditional plank in push-up position. Start face down on the floor resting on your forearms and knees. Push off the floor, raising up off your knees onto your toes and resting mainly on your elbows. Contract your abdominals to keep yourself up and prevent your booty from sticking up. Keep your back flat don't let it droop or you'll be defeating the purpose. Picture your body as a long straight board, or plank. Hold as long as you can. Aim for 20-30 seconds in the beginning and work your way up to one minute, as you get stronger. Repeat three times. Medicine Ball Alphabet To start: Grab a medicine ball that's between five and 15 pounds. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, making sure your knees are not locked. Then try one of these two variations. For stability: Start with the ball at chest level, and slowly write the cursive alphabet in front of you. While your arms move around in all sorts of angles, you need to use your abs to keep your torso still. Think of keeping the area between your ribs and pelvis solid. For a more advanced version, try this move while standing on a BOSU . For mobility: Start with the ball at chest level, but increase the range of motion of your arms making your alphabet larger, using your torso and rib cage to write the letters as well. Keep your abs engaged the entire time. For more of a challenge, try this version in a squat or a lunge. Row With Twist Start in a shallow squat, holding the weight in your right hand.Pull your elbow back, squeezing your right shoulder blade toward your spine while you twist to the right. Do for 30 seconds, then switch sides. Source: Megan Wolfe Photography at J+K Fitness Studio Kettlebell Windmill Begin standing with your feet slightly wider than hip distance apart.Rotate your left toes outward and raise your right arm above your head, keeping your eyes trained on the weight.Shift your hips to the right. Don't let your pelvis swing behind you as you move into the sassy position. As you shift your hips right, your weight will shift to the right, too. You should feel about 60 percent of your weight in your right foot.Lower your torso toward the floor, so the kettlebell hovers just off the floor. Keep your body as flat as possible, with the ankles, hips, and shoulders in one plane. This position feels a lot like a tight Triangle pose in yoga. Keep your torso still as you bring your left hand to your left shoulder in a biceps curl.Keeping your left arm bent and your right arm pointing to the ceiling, come to standing position. Imagine your waist doing all the work to move your torso upright. Shift your pelvis back to center once again to distribute your weight evenly between both feet. Complete the rep by bringing your left arm overhead, working your shoulder. Lower your left arm down to return to starting position, and repeat. Do three sets of eight to 10 reps on each side. Follow our step-by-step tutorial of the windmill to learn the subtleties of the exercise. Don't worry if you don't have kettlebells - you can use dumbbells, too. | 7 | 5,396 | health |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Steve Mason's first shutout of the season still kept him shut out of the win column. Mason's stellar effort in shutout No. 2 not only earned him a victory this time around, Philadelphia's flickering playoff got a needed boost. Mason stopped all 30 shots and Michael Del Zotto scored to help the Philadelphia Flyers beat Toronto 1-0 on Saturday night and send the Maple Leafs to their ninth straight loss. Mason's 25th career shutout helped the Flyers win their first 1-0 game since Nov. 2, 2013. He lost his last shutout Nov. 24 against the New York Islanders. He was credited with a shutout for three scoreless periods, plus overtime, but lost in the shootout. "The last one didn't end the way shutouts normally end," Mason said. "It's part of the game. But it's nice to have this one and have a couple of days to sit on it and feel good." Mason had 10 shutouts his rookie season with Columbus (2008-09), five the next season and four last season in his first full season with the Flyers. The Flyers have won a season-high four straight games as they make a desperate push to get back in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. "We're going to work our way through this by playing playoff-type hockey," Toronto interim coach Peter Horachek said. The slumping Leafs have been held to one or less goal in eight of nine games. The Leafs had scored one goal in each of the last two games. The game had the feel of a preseason tilt with little action in front of a quiet crowd. The Flyers only took 12 shots on goal through two periods and did not commit a penalty through the first two periods. "It's really tough to make up ground this time of year," Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn said. "We're pretty far behind. But we just won four. We'll continue to get wins and so far, guys have continued to do a good job of staying focused." The Flyers went 8-6-0 in January, the most wins of any month this season. "We put ourselves in a little bit more of a manageable position to get back in the hunt, but there's still a lot of work to be done," Mason said. The Flyers, who entered nine points out of a playoff spot in the East, scored the only goal they needed 4:05 into the game on Del Zotto's fifth of the season. Del Zotto led a rush and flipped a pass from Petr Straka over James Reimer's shoulder for the goal. Reimer did his best to keep it a one-goal game the rest of the way, including a wonderful outstretched sweep of the puck off the goal line later in the first. "We're due for a couple of goals," Reimer said before the game. The wait goes on. That one goal was enough to beat the Leafs considering they're woeful month. Toronto has lost nine straight games (0-8-1) for the first time since the 1985-86 season and has lost nine straight road games for the first time since 1996-97. The Maple Leafs are 1-11-1 in January. They called a timeout with 49.2 seconds and pulled Reimer. Not even the extra skater could help. "We're capable of doing a lot of things, but when you're mentally not in the right place, then it's difficult," Horachek said. "There isn't sound in the room that there's any kind of major issues. We've had enough guys speaking up. Now, it's about getting results. You have to believe, you have to trust each other. That's where it has to go." NOTES: Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds and NHL points leader Jake Voracek each played in their 500th career game. ... Mason played in his 100th game with the Flyers. ... This was the third time in series history that the Flyers and Maple Leafs have played to a 1-0 decision. ... Del Zotto has a career-high six-game point streak. | 1 | 5,397 | sports |
Crystal Palace has completed the signing of free agent Shola Ameobi on a deal until the end of the season. The Nigeria striker has been searching for a new club since canceling his contract with Turkish side Gaziantep at the end of last month. Ameobi was linked with a move to West Brom, but he has instead opted for a reunion with Palace boss Alan Pardew, with whom he worked at Newcastle. The 33-year-old came through the youth ranks at St. James' Park and went on to score 79 goals in 397 first-team games for the club. Upon leaving at the end of his contract last season, Ameobi opted for a move abroad. But he made just 11 appearances in Turkey, scoring four goals, before deciding to return to England. Speaking on his move, Ameobi told Palace's official website: "I'm very excited to be here, I wanted to get back in the Premier League and having worked with the manager before it's been great to come back and hopefully help us avoid the relegation battle. "I had a couple of other clubs interested but I think my relationship with Alan and how much I enjoyed working with him was one of the big factors in my decision. He instills confidence in players and he always seems to get the best out of them, certainly he did that at Newcastle and hopefully he can do that for me and the rest of the lads here." Ameobi follows Jordon Mutch to Selhurst Park after the midfielder also joined on a permanent deal from QPR earlier Thursday. | 1 | 5,398 | sports |
By Matt Lombardi Back in early October, pop star Katy Perry, who played the halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl, was on-hand to catch Ole Miss' upset victory over Alabama in Oxford. Perry had herself a grand old time in town, poking fun at LSU fans , hitting on Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight , trolling Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and celebrating with Ole Miss faithful after the win . Now it looks like the school is taking advantage of the attention she brought upon the program. CeCe Jefferson, a five-star defensive end recruit who is still weighing his options, tweeted out a photo of a graphic that Ole Miss sent him. It shows an ESPN the Magazine cover with both Perry and Jefferson. He was clearly a fan of the gesture. You can see the photo here . It's not the first time we've seen a program use a pop star to help recruit a big-time player, but given Perry's Super Bowl duties, it seems more relevant than usual. Jefferson is looking at Ole Miss, Florida, Auburn, LSU and others. | 1 | 5,399 | sports |
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