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The first time I met our nanny, he had come to dinner at our place with a mutual friend. Before bringing him over, our friend had mentioned briefly, "He prefers male pronouns." I'm fortunate to live in an environment where phrases like that don't give me much pause. So our dinner guest would be trans? I just hoped he didn't mind vegetarian food. Over dinner, we all got along famously. My husband and our future nanny cracked each other up about Lord of the Rings and Settlers of Catan - terrible, terrible jokes that still make them giggle to this day. By the end of the night, we'd learned that our dinner guest was tiring of his day job as a caregiver to a quadriplegic and was looking for work that would allow him to go back to college. "We just lost our regular babysitter," I mentioned. "Any chance you're good with kids?" I figured that a person used to providing full-time medical and personal care to a wheelchair-bound adult was more than qualified to help potty train my toddler and make mac n' cheese. By the time he left, we had cemented the deal. He'd come to our house the next week, and my husband and I would take a much-needed date night. In the year since, hardly a week has gone by without our nanny helping my children with everything from making scrapbooks to brushing their teeth. He's a part of the family. Sometimes, people seem alarmed, or worse, when I mention that our nanny is trans. Their misinformed fear makes them come across as bigoted, and they sometimes say outrageously offensive things. They ask, "Will your children will be confused about their gender since their nanny is trans?" They wonder, "Aren't you afraid he's some kind of sexual predator?" I try my best to take a deep breath and answer as calmly as I can. No, I'm not "worried" about my children becoming confused about their gender identity. Lots of children do become confused about their gender identity, and that has to do with the messages society gives them about being a boy or a girl, and how those might conflict with how they feel on the inside. Having a trans nanny doesn't mean my children feel less at ease in their own gender. They have the same statistical odds of a transgender identity as any other person. No, I'm not concerned in the slightest about our nanny hurting my children. He's an incredibly caring, compassionate human being, with a wealth of experience caring for people needier than my own children. He's a gem of a childcare worker, as well as a general mother's helper and more. The fact that he's gender non-conforming has as little impact on whether he's a danger to another person as his dairy allergy is. What I expect my children to gain from having a trans nanny, and a trans figure in their lives at this formative stage, is that they'll be more open-minded about transgender people as they get older. When they meet a person who reads as male and prefers female pronouns, they won't spend 20 minute interrogating them about their private parts and surgical history. They won't lecture them about God's will or being inherently wrong. They'll be prepared to accept the friendship of another person without judgment, and for that I am grateful. For the last year, our nanny has been a central figure in helping my children grow into the people they're becoming, and I have no doubt that all of his influence has been positive. I'm glad he's a part of our family. We're better for having him. Follow us on Twitter.
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lifestyle
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India said Friday it had lodged a protest with authorities in Riyadh after a maid from Tamil Nadu allegedly had her hand chopped off by her Saudi employer for complaining about her work conditions. India's foreign minister deplored a "brutal" attack on 55-year-old Kasthuri Munirathinam, who is being treated at a hospital in Riyadh, and which comes weeks after a Saudi diplomat based in New Delhi was accused of rape. "Chopping of (the) hand of (an) Indian lady -- we are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which (this) Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia," Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter. "This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities," Swaraj added. A spokesman for the foreign ministry confirmed that Indian diplomats in Riyadh had lodged a formal complaint at the Saudi foreign ministry. Munirathinam, who comes from a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, had suffered a catalogue of abuse since taking up a post as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia three months ago, according to her family. "Her right hand was chopped off by her employer when she tried to escape the daily harassment, torture and abysmal work conditions," her sister S Vijayakumari told AFP by phone from Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai. Vijayakumari said that her sister had gone to Saudi Arabia to help pay off her family's debts and she had been promised a monthly salary of around 180 dollars. "But she was not paid, she was barely given enough to eat and not even allowed to speak to her family ... Now she only wants to come home," Vijayakumari said. The family says that problems started for Munirathinam -- who was one of five domestic workers in the same household -- after she complained to the local authorities about her situation. Footage of Munirathinam lying in her Saudi hospital bed was broadcast by several Indian media outlets. Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup confirmed to AFP that Munirathinam was still recuperating in the Riyadh hospital but said that efforts were being made to bring her home. "We are in touch with the woman, hospital and the local police authorities. She will get all possible legal and other help from the embassy," Swarup said. Hundreds of thousands of Indian migrants work in households in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries but complaints about their treatment by their employers often make headlines back home. A video showing a male Indian worker being beaten by his Saudi employer went viral in September, sparking a widespread backlash on social media. There was also widespread anger last month when the first secretary at the Saudi embassy left India under diplomatic immunity after being accused of holding captive and raping two Nepalese maids in his home.
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news
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CAIRO The restoration of King Tutankhamun's world-famous golden mask will begin Saturday, over a year after the beard was accidentally broken off and hastily glued back with epoxy, Egypt's state-run news agency said Friday. A German-Egyptian team will remove the mask from its display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and repair it in another area of the museum, MENA reported. The 3,300-year-old burial pharaonic mask was discovered in Tutankhamun's tomb along with other artifacts by British archeologists in 1922, sparking worldwide interest in archaeology and ancient Egypt. The beard became detached during work on the relic's lighting in August 2014 and then was hastily reattached with epoxy. In a January press conference by Egypt's antiquities ministry, days after the botched reattachment came to light, restoration specialist Christian Eckmann said the epoxy could be removed and the mask properly restored. Eckmann said the beard had likely loosened over the years and has been detached previously. The mask is arguably the best-known piece in the museum, one of Cairo's main tourist sites, which was built in 1902 and houses artifacts and mummies of ancient Egyptian rulers.
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news
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Curious if you should be working out when you're dealing with a cold? We spoke to endurance athlete and family physician and Dr. Cathleen London, M.D., about the advice she offers clients when they ask the same question. The rule that Dr. London sticks by is: "neck and up!" If your symptoms are in your head, nose, or throat - and you're feeling up to it - it's fine to work out. If it's below your neck (or in your chest), Dr. London says to dial it back. This is the time when you've really got to rest. Working out with a chest cold is "asking for trouble," since it can exaggerate your pesky symptoms and prolong your bug. Dr. London is a big believer in listening to your body and giving yourself the time and space to heal, even when it's "frustrating as all hell!" You'll thank your future self, since taking it easy is the only way you'll feel better, sooner. Dr. London also shared a few of the habits that she sees in people who manage to stay unscathed by germs all year long. The mainstays are plenty of rest, a healthy diet full of antioxidants, and staying hydrated, but she says that exercise is also a big factor. Besides keeping you fit during the Summer months, exercise supports your immune system because it reduces stress. While stress wreaks havoc on your mind, it can also wreak havoc on your immune system. When the levels of the stress hormone cortisol are heightened, it leaves you immunocompromised. Working out regularly keeps your cortisol levels in check - and keeps you healthier and happier!
| 7 | 92,503 |
health
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U.S. stocks closed higher Friday, wrapping up a solid week of gains, as investors digested indications from the Fed on the timing of a rate hike ahead of earnings season. "The (Fed) minutes from yesterday sort of confirmed that the Fed is likely on hold for a while and now it's a matter of people repositioning themselves, trying to protect their investments," said Robert Pavlik, chief market strategist at Boston Private Wealth. "Now you have this earnings season that's going to be a bump in the road," he said. The major averages closed mildly higher after earlier falling into negative territory. The S&P 500 closed up 3.26 percent for the week, its best since the week ended Dec. 19, 2014. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 3.7 percent for the week, its second-best week of the year so far. The Dow transports closed 0.75 percent higher after briefly rising more than 1 percent, continuing to hold above their 50-day moving average as airlines led most constituents higher. The transports ended the week up 4.8 percent, their best since October 2014. Apple closed 2.4 percent higher, while the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) ended up 0.4 percent on the day. The energy sector declined 0.7 percent as the greatest laggard in the S&P 500. The sector posted gains of 7.77 percent for the week, its best since December 2014. In oil markets, U.S. crude settled up 20 cents at $49.63 a barrel, up more than 8 percent for the week. Brent crude gave up gains to hold below $53 a barrel in afternoon trade. The U.S. oil rig count dropped for the sixth straight week, down 9. Stocks rallied Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average closing above the psychologically key levels of 2,000 and 17,000, respectively, for the first time since August. The three major averages remained within 10 percent of their 52-week highs, or out of correction territory. The Russell 2000 closed above its 50-day moving average but remained in correction mode, off a touch more than 10 percent from its 52-week high. "It's a quiet end to a fairly busy week, particularly in monetary policy. Fed speeches are keeping markets in limbo," said Ryan Sweet, director of real-time economics at Moody's Analytics. "You have a lot of mixed messages on the future of monetary policy from the Fed," he said. The September Fed meeting minutes released Thursday afternoon indicated policymakers were concerned about reaching their inflation target of 2 percent and the impact of the global economic slowdown. The minutes said policymakers don't expect to reach their inflation goal before the end of 2018. Market sentiment increasingly expects a rate hike to come no earlier than the first few months of 2016, although liftoff later this year is still possible. "The FOMC minutes actually shocked a lot of market participants that (policymakers) were a lot further away from raising rates in September than many believed," said John Caruso, senior market strategist at RJO Futures. New York Fed President William Dudley said on CNBC that the "international developments in August and financial developments in August raised some questions about the strength of the global outlook" and how that would affect the U.S. economy. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said in a Reuters report Friday morning that a U.S. interest rate hike is still probably coming in October or December despite some conflicting economic signals, reinforcing the central bank's message. Separately, the Chicago Fed's Charles Evans said in prepared remarks that what really matters is the path of the rate hikes, not the timing of liftoff, Reuters reported. Evans has long called for deferring a rate hike to next year. On the data front, import prices fell 0.1 percent in September, less than the expected 0.5 percent drop. However, export prices fell 0.7 percent, more than the 0.2 percent forecast by economists. Wholesale trade for August showed a 0.1 percent increase in inventories, while wholesale sales declined 1 percent. Treasury yields initially spiked before coming off slightly highs, with the 10-year at 2.09 percent and the 2-year at 0.64 percent in the close. The U.S. dollar traded half a percent lower against major world currencies, with the euro near $1.136 and the yen at 120.26 yen against the greenback. Investors also digested Thursday's news that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy pulled out of the race for House speaker, adding uncertainty to congressional leadership ahead of key budget negotiations. "That's obviously creating some near-term uncertainty," said Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. "We know we're in a leadership gap in the house and we're approaching a debt ceiling deadline," he said. However, that deadline is still several weeks away. "I don't think the market's really paying that much attention to it right now," Pavlik said. "The potential for that becoming more of an issue is still more down the road. I think it's earnings first." Earnings season gets underway with JPMorgan results next Tuesday. Alcoa reported earnings after the close Thursday that missed on both the top and bottom line. No significant earnings were expected Friday. In Europe, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed mildly higher. Glencore closed up 7 percent after it cut about a third of its annual zinc output due to low prices. Japan's Nikkei finished 1.6 percent higher while the Shanghai Composite closed 1.3 percent higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 33.74 points, or 0.20 percent, at 17,084.49, with UnitedHealth leading advancers and Intel the greatest laggard. DuPont was the greatest gainer on the week, while Nike was the only decliner for the week. The S&P 500 closed up 1.46 points, or 0.07 percent, at 2,014.89, with information technology leading five sectors higher and energy the greatest laggard. All sectors gained for the week, with energy the best performer. The Nasdaq closed up 19.68 points, or 0.41 percent, at 4,830.47. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, held near 17. About nine stocks advanced for every seven decliners on the New York Stock Exchange, with an exchange volume of 921 million and a composite volume of 3.7 billion in the close. High-frequency trading accounted for 49 percent of this month's daily trading volume of about 7.9 billion shares, according to TABB Group. During the peak levels of high-frequency trading in 2009, about 61 percent of 9.8 billion of average daily shares traded were executed by high-frequency traders. Gold futures settled up $11.60 at $1,155.90 an ounce. More From CNBC.com: Analysts love the Netflix price hike This sector has a big stake in the presidential race The underdog in Q3 earnings could now be the 'big winner'
| 3 | 92,504 |
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You give me something I want, we agree on a price, I pay for it. It's the way the world has worked for thousands of years. These days? Not so much. Today, with an increasing number of businesses, it goes more like this: You provide something I want, we agree on a price, I pay, and then you tack on fees to fatten your bottom line. Unreasonable fees are more than just a drain on your finances. They're insulting; the financial equivalent of a cold slap in the face. Now, in no particular order, here are 10 of the world's most insulting fees, along with ways to avoid them. They made my list for one of three reasons: They're unreasonable, you're getting little or nothing in return, or they're ridiculously overpriced. Airlines 1. Checked baggage fees : Most major carriers charge $25 to check one suitcase, a lot more if it's oversized, overweight or both. This fee didn't exist until recent years and for good reason: The price of a plane ticket should obviously include luggage. Isn't that an integral part of traveling long distance? Other travel-related services buses, trains, hotels or rental cars don't charge for luggage. This isn't a fee, it's a sophomoric attempt to disguise a higher price. Workaround: There are two major airlines that don't charge this insulting fee: Southwest, which allows two free bags, and JetBlue, although it allows only one. Fly them if you can. If you can't, check this chart or one like it to see how much your airline is charging. It may serve as incentive to pack light. Some airlines also allow you to avoid baggage fees by using their branded credit cards. For more ideas, see 10 Tips to Save on Baggage Fees . 2. Carry-on baggage fees : At least when you pay to check a bag, there's a service involved. Someone has to load it, unload it, and make sure it gets safely back into your hands. Charging for a carry-on bag is charging for nothing whatsoever. Nobody is touching your bag but you, making this fee indefensible. Spirit and Allegiant are two airlines that do it. Workaround: Avoid flying Spirit, Allegiant or any airline that charges for doing nothing. If they're the only airlines available, drive. If that's impossible, check with UPS or another freight carrier about shipping bags. 3. Lap fees, pet fees : If you have a child younger than 2, it's typically free to carry them on your lap for a domestic flight. Leave the country, however, and you might pay a "lap fee" of 10 percent of the ticket cost. And not the cost of your ticket, the cost of a full-fare ticket, the most expensive available. Delta, United, US Airways and American all have some form of this policy, and for what? The airline is performing no service, giving no extra room and no assistance nothing. Ditto when you're flying with Fido . If you have to ship your pet in the baggage compartment, you'd expect a handling fee. But bring them with you in the cabin, and you'll pay up to $125 each way, and the pet carrier counts as a carry-on. Again, the airline is doing nothing but collecting a hefty fee. Workaround: Check with the airline before you book the ticket to see what fees, if any, you can expect. If they're high, shop around. Check this article for more specific strategies on lap fees, and this one for flying with pets. Rental cars 4. Collision Damage Waiver : This is the pricey insurance replacement you're hammered with whenever you rent a car. If you're not fully insured in rental cars, some type of protection is absolutely necessary. But this waiver makes the list of insulting fees because it's overpriced: It can cost $25 a day. Add extra liability coverage, and you could be paying $40. That's the equivalent of a car policy that costs $14,600 a year, with lousy coverage. For example, CDW often refuses to pay if there's an unauthorized driver, you're intoxicated or in other situations. Workaround: If you have full-coverage insurance on your personal car, you're probably covered in rentals. There's also coverage available through some credit cards. Check both sources to see if you can skip this overpriced coverage at the rental counter. Be aware, however, that even if you have insurance on your car, you could still be on the hook for "loss of use" claims by the rental car company if you have an accident that takes the car out of service. If you're using a credit card protection plan, be aware that not all rentals are covered. For example, pickups and vans are often specifically excluded. The devil is in the details; don't leave home without knowing them. And don't buy any coverage at the rental car counter without fully understanding the exclusions. Banks 5. Credit card rates : While technically not a fee, the interest rates charged by many credit cards is outrageous. Big banks borrow from the Federal Reserve at close to zero percent, then lend money to credit card users at 15 percent. Nice work, if you can get it. Workaround: The obvious solution is to avoid interest by avoiding a balance. But if you're going to pay interest, shop for a card with a lower rate. Another idea? Simply call your card company and ask for a better deal. Tell them you're being solicited by other cards offering lower rates, because you probably are. 6. Foreign transaction fees : This is a fee charged on credit card purchases processed outside the United States; for example, when you use your card in Europe, or to buy something from a non-U.S. company. Banks that charge them typically collect 3 percent of every transaction. The implication of this insulting fee is that it's related to the intricacies of currency conversion. But lawsuits have revealed these fees are nearly pure profit: money for nothing. Workaround: If there's any chance you'll be making purchases outside the United States, use a card that doesn't charge this fee. There are plenty to choose from: See Overseas With No Credit Card Fees. 7. Overdraft fees : If you overdraw your account and the bank uses its money to cover your negative balance, it deserves to be compensated. But how much? According to this article on CNBC, overdraft fees average from $30 to $34 nationwide. Charging $34 for a one-week loan on the average overdraft of $36 equates to an annual rate of 5,000 percent. Workaround: Link your savings to your checking account for overdraft protection. This might result in a transfer fee, but it will be lower than an overdraft fee. 8. Checking, loan and other banking fees : Not paying interest on your checking account is bad enough. But now banks want you to pay, often upward of $100 a year , just to have an account. Want a paper statement? Not long ago that was your only choice. Now it will cost you. Why should you pay to use an ATM, even another bank's? You're saving the bank money, not costing them. When you use the automated checkout at the grocery, they don't charge a fee. Banks shouldn't either. Workaround: There's no reason to get slapped around by any bank. If you hate yours, ditch it . Credit unions typcally charge lower interest on loans and credit cards, pay more interest on savings, and have lower overall fees than banks. Think they don't have enough branches? You're probably wrong. Many credit unions belong to a shared branch network of nearly 5,000 locations that allows members of one credit union to conduct business at any other member credit union anywhere in the country, even overseas. And when it comes to finding the nearest participating credit union? Yes, there's an app for that . Hotels 9. Resort fees : The concept of paying to stay at a hotel, then paying more to use on-site amenities is ridiculous. The Federal Trade Commission in 2012 sent a warning letter to 22 hotels, accusing them of potentially violating the law by padding the prices listed on their online reservation sites with hidden fees. From their press release : One common complaint consumers raised involved mandatory fees hotels charge for amenities such as newspapers, use of on-site exercise or pool facilities, or Internet access, sometimes referred to as 'resort fees.' These mandatory fees can be as high as $30 per night, a sum that could certainly affect consumer purchasing decisions. But, as a recent article by CBS noted , "regulators stopped short of requiring hotels to "bundle" all mandatory costs into a single room rate. Nor did it demand standardized disclosure." The fees are supposed to be listed near the hotel price, but the confusion persists, to the benefit of hotels' bottom lines. Workaround: Before you book a reservation, find out in advance what fees you'll be expected to pay, and if you hear something you don't like, just say no. In 8 Tips to Save at Any Hotel Even the Nation's Trendiest , I suggested a tactic I've been using to get better hotel pricing for decades: negotiate. Explain that you're a good customer, don't find the fees fair, and would like a lower price. Just make sure you're talking to a front-desk decision-maker, not an 800 number. 10. Internet service : When the Internet and Wi-Fi were new, perhaps it was justifiable to charge a fee to access it. These days, charging for Internet access makes as much sense as charging for the in-room TV or air conditioning. $15 a day? Give me a break. Workaround: If you can't find a hotel with free Wi-Fi, ask to have the fee waived when you check in. If that's not an option, find it free elsewhere, either in the lobby or a nearby hotspot. Free apps like WeFi, available for iPhone and Android , will help you find one. The bottom line When I write articles that include lists and have titles starting with "10 tips" or "10 things," it's often tough to fill the list. But not with this article. I could have mentioned Ticketmaster, car dealers, gift cards, cellphone companies, schools, mutual funds, and lots more. So what do you think? Am I being too hard on these businesses? What's the most annoying fee you've paid? Sound off below or on our Facebook page . It doesn't cost a thing. Ari Cetron contributed to this post.
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finance
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WASHINGTON House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose decision to drop his bid for speaker Thursday stunned his colleagues, said Friday that Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is considering the job. "We had a very good conference," McCarthy told reporters Friday following a meeting of House Republicans who gathered to find a way forward to unite their fractured caucus. He said Ryan, the Ways and Means Committee chairman who was also the party's 2012 vice presidential nominee, is "looking at" mounting a bid. "If he (Ryan) decides to do it, he'll be an amazing speaker," McCarthy told reporters. "But he's got to decide on his own." Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who said Friday morning that he is considering a bid for speaker, told reporters that Ryan is going home to discuss it with his family. Issa added that he would only consider running himself if Ryan opts to pass. "It's a job he doesn't want and isn't seeking, but it's a job that's seeking him," Issa said of Ryan. He said Ryan has support from both moderates and conservatives. He added that members of the conservative Freedom Caucus, which often challenged Boehner, have told him they would vote for Ryan. "We need to bring this caucus back together," Issa said. "Paul Ryan can do that." McCarthy's surprise decision Thursday came as his colleagues were gathering to nominate him for the job. However, it was apparent that the California Republican lacked the support of the 218 members necessary to guarantee his election by the full House, which had been scheduled to vote on Oct. 29. "I just think it's best to have a new face," McCarthy told reporters. His exit left the party with no obvious choice to succeed John Boehner, who said Thursday he would remain as speaker until a successor is chosen. Ryan's entry into the race, though, would change that landscape. Ryan's hesitance to run for speaker is in part because he has three small children. He's previously said the position is best suited for an "empty nester." Reps. Daniel Webster of Florida, who earlier in the week secured the support of the Freedom Caucus, and Jason Chaffetz of Utah are currently in the race, and other lawmakers have said they're considering bids. Chaffetz said Friday he would support Ryan if the Wisconsin Republican chooses to run. He added part of the reason he entered the race was because "people like Paul Ryan weren't running." Ryan and more than a dozen other key Republicans sent a letter to House leaders yesterday urging them not to make any snap decisions in the wake of McCarthy's departure. "We would ask that members not commit to a determinative course of action before our conference can meet and find a shared set of goals and governing vision that benefits the nation and our constituents," the letter said. Also signing were Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster and Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes. Follow @ErinVKelly on Twitter
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news
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San Fransisco police say they were unable to persuade a man to come off a building ledge until the man's pet cat was brought to the scene. Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) has the storyd.
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video
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Paul Sheard, chief global economist at Standard & Poor's, explains why global risks are manageable, despite analyst believing we're entering another global financial crisis.
| 3 | 92,508 |
finance
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New Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described himself as "The Normal One" as he faced the media for the first time on Friday following his appointment as successor to Brendan Rodgers. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho famously described himself as "a special one" in his first press conference in English football in 2004, earning him the nickname "The Special One". But Klopp, 48, told a packed room of journalists at Anfield: "I don't want to describe myself. I'm a totally normal guy. I'm the Normal One." The former Borussia Dortmund head coach was appointed on Thursday on a three-year contract following the dismissal of Rodgers, who was sacked last Sunday after three-and-a-half years at the club. In an interview with the club's in-house television channel, LFC TV, Klopp described the job as "the biggest challenge... in the world of football". His first game at the helm will be a trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on October 17. Liverpool won the last of their 18 league titles in 1990 under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish. Rodgers led them to a second-place finish in 2014, but they finished sixth last season and are currently in 10th place in the table with 12 points from eight games. Klopp introduced a style of high-octane football during his time at Dortmund, leading the club to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final, and he pledged that Liverpool would play at "full throttle". "Winning is important, but so is how you win and how you play the game," he said. "I believe in a playing philosophy that is very emotional, very fast and very strong. My teams must play at full throttle and take it to the limit every single game." "It is important to have a playing philosophy that reflects your own mentality, reflects the club and gives you a clear direction to follow. Tactical of course, but tactical with a big heart." - 'Personality and charisma' - He added: "Liverpool has extraordinary supporters and Anfield is a world renowned home, with an incredible atmosphere. "I want to build a great relationship with these supporters and give them memories to cherish. I hope we can feed off each other's energy and that we take this journey together." Klopp confirmed that his assistants at Dortmund, Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, would join him at Liverpool. He described his appointment as "one of the best moments in my life" and said Anfield was "the most historical place" in world football. He also thanked Liverpool's American owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for appointing him and said he was happy to work with their transfer committee, which oversees the club's recruitment strategy. "It was absolutely no problem between FSG and myself," he said. "We talked about this. It's nothing. If two clever, intelligent guys sit at a table and you both want the same, what can be the problem?" Klopp's contract is reported to be worth £5 million ($7.7 million, 6.8 million euros) per year, rising to £7 million with bonuses. "In Jurgen Klopp we have appointed a world-class manager with a proven track record of winning and someone who has the personality and charisma to reignite this football club and take the team forward," said Liverpool chairman Tom Werner. "He possesses all the qualities we are looking for in a manager -- he is a strong, inspirational leader, who has a clear philosophy of high energy, attacking football. "Critically, he is also a winner and someone who can connect with and enthuse our supporters."
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sports
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(Bloomberg) -- A delayed Federal Reserve rate hike, turmoil in global equity markets... and now increased expectations for a downturn in the U.S. The probability that the world's biggest economy will enter a recession in the next 12 months jumped to 15 percent, its highest level since October 2013, according to economists surveyed Oct. 2-7 by Bloomberg. The median had held at 10 percent for 13 consecutive months. Concerns over China, and the potential spillover to other economies, have led economists to cut their third-quarter growth forecasts to 2 percent from as high as 3 percent in July. China also is worrying Fed officials, who cited it as a risk to their outlook for economic growth and inflation so much so that they delayed what would have been the first increase in the benchmark interest rate since 2006. "Although U.S. economic data releases generally met market expectations, domestic financial conditions tightened modestly as concerns about prospects for global economic growth, centered on China, prompted an increase in financial market volatility and a deterioration in risk sentiment during the intermeeting period," Fed officials said in the minutes of their Sept. 16-17 gathering, released Thursday. In an interview on Friday, Carlyle Group LP's David Rubenstein said a U.S. recession was likely"in the next year or two or three." Economists projected the U.S. won't enter a recession until 2019, after pegging it to 2018 in last month's survey, according to a separate Bloomberg poll. To contact the author of this story: A Catarina Saraiva inWashington at [email protected] To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michelle Jamrisko at [email protected] Flavia Krause-Jackson at [email protected]
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finance
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Afraid to go abroad without knowing the language? TC Newman (@PurpleTCNewman) has some tips to maneuvering in any country.
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travel
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The FBI has a stern warning for the credit card industry's latest security measure, the EMV chip. In a statement today , the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center warned that the new chips don't prevent against online fraud or point-of-sale compromises of the type seen in the Target hack . The warning emphasizes the weakness of signature-based systems ("chip and sign" rather than "chip and PIN"), and instructs merchants to require a PIN number in place of a signature wherever possible. "This fully utilizes the security features built within the EMV card," the warning states. The underlying weaknesses in the warning were already known to much of the industry, but it emphasizes the frustration many feel with the current deployment. "The FBI's alert should be a wake-up call to the banks and card networks that continue to stand in the way of making PIN authentication the standard in the US just as it has been around the world for years," said Brian Dodge, executive vice president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, in a provided statement. Even with the new system, the US is still woefully behind the curve in payment technology, as most major markets have finished the transition to chip-and-PIN systems a decade ago. The current system is more relaxed, allowing for signatures in place of PIN numbers, but a recent study found less than two-thirds of retailers have been able to implement the system before an industry-wide deadline earlier this month.
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Ken McHugh, 47, had a dream that most dads have: to walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days someday. But before he had that chance, he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, and he suddenly didn't have time to wait. ABC News reports that McHugh, who lives in Pennsylvania, decided to take matters into his own hands. After five years of treatment, doctors told him he should stop chemotherapy and say his goodbyes. "I had an idea instead to make a video of my wife and I walking each child down the aisle in church to give them away, all four of our babies, to God, the world and their future families," McHugh wrote on his GoFundMe page . "Something to watch whenever they want, where they can see me as a part of this life event, maybe a bit in advance, but still valid nonetheless." Team CMMD, a local cancer charity, reached out to him and made it happen. With the help of the Wanda Bilec Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, they arranged a "family wedding." The big day included a renewal of vows between McHugh and his wife, Tammy, and a ceremony with their four children. He walked with their daughters, Samantha, Julia, and Kathryn, and Tammy walked with their son, Dylan. He read a letter to each of his children about their childhood and what he hopes for their future, and then everyone went home for a "reception," with cake and everything. "It was very remarkable," McHugh told ABC News. "I don't know if everyone cries when they're renewing their vows, but the both of us sure did." Now that he's walked his daughters down the aisle, McHugh is trying to set up a stable future for his children, since one is in college and the other three are headed there within a few years. "The children have serious educational dreams and it upsets him very much to hear that they now feel the need to change their dreams so not to burden the family financially," Tammy tells GoodHousekeeping.com. He has set up a GoFundMe account to fund their educations, and if you'd like to support the family, you can click here to find out more .
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In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that a hospital executive will fix the VA.
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There's no harm in paying a fair price for a fair service. But these days the fees are getting so bad, they're getting downright insulting.
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Early Friday morning, shots rang out at another American school, this time it was Northern Arizona University . A gunman killed one person and injured three others outside one of the school's halls. The incident is the 46th school shooting in the United States this year, the latest since Chris Harper Mercer opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon , just over a week ago. Mercer killed nine, seriously injured seven and then turned the gun on himself. With this latest addition, there have been 143 school shootings in the United States since 2013 , according to an index created by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The advocacy groups created a map of "anytime a firearm is discharged inside a school building or on a school campus or grounds," using media reports. By another count, there have been 318 mass shootings in the country this year, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker. "The general definition of spree murder is two or more murders committed by an offender or offenders, without a cooling-off period," Mass Shooting Tracker says of how they assemble their count. Details of the Northern Arizona Shooting remain unclear; the gunman and victims have yet to be identified.
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This SUV may be big and boxy, but find out why CNET's Antuan Goodwin likes the ride.
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An escort's allegations in a tell-all book that former Louisville men's basketball staffer Andre McGee hired her to provide dancers to strip and have sex with Cardinals recruits, their fathers and players stunned the college basketball world when word of its pending release surfaced a week ago. Four investigations have been launched, two this week, to review Katina Powell's allegations in the book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen." Powell said in the book that three of her daughters were among those who danced with her in a dormitory on Louisville's campus, creating a lingering unease and uncertainty looming over Rick Pitino's program. With questions mounting about who did what, who knew what and when, Louisville President James Ramsey stressed the need for patience as the investigations move forward. Ramsey said Thursday in a statement that, "We must, as one university, continue doing the work we do to move our university and our community forward." Campus police took a couple of days to review the book's details before Chief Wayne Hall announced Tuesday that his department is working with Louisville Metro Police and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to review the allegations for possible criminal charges. The independent University of Louisville Foundation, which does fundraising for the school, hired a law firm Thursday to review the allegations in the 104-page book. There were ongoing investigations by the NCAA and Louisville that had begun when the school was notified in late August about Powell's accusations. As Ramsey called for people to let the process unfold, he also praised longtime athletic director Tom Jurich's "exemplary" supervision of the department. The president, however, didn't mention Pitino raising even more questions. The coach talked about the omission in a radio interview later Thursday, saying, "I'm sorry that Dr. Ramsey did not think enough to mention me, but that's something I cannot control." Pitino then bristled at a question if the widespread attention now on his program has made him consider resigning. "I don't know what resigning would accomplish," Pitino, 63, told 840 WHAS. "I think that's the cowardly way out if I resign now without coaching two fifth-year seniors and people who came to play for me. What does it do for the program if the coach runs away? "If I resign, would people feel better about it?" Much depends on what the investigations uncover, but the book's allegations have raised several troubling questions. Former Cardinals recruit JaQuan Lyle, now an Ohio State freshman, confirmed the "gist of allegations" detailed in Powell's book during a meeting Tuesday with the NCAA, CBS Sports reported Thursday. Louisville men's basketball spokesman Kenny Klein had no comment on the report. Lyle originally signed with Louisville before de-committing and eventually landing with the Buckeyes. OSU spokesman Dan Wallenberg confirmed the NCAA meeting via email on Wednesday but said there were no issues with Ohio State. He did not mention Louisville. Powell's book was released online by a publishing affiliate of the Indianapolis Business Journal. A hardcover version of the book is scheduled for release on Monday. The book states that McGee hired her and other dancers for 22 shows performed from 2010 to 2014, mostly at Billy Minardi Hall. She said McGee paid her $10,000 during that period. McGee left Louisville in 2014 for Missouri-Kansas City, which has placed him on paid administrative leave. Messages left Thursday with his Louisville attorney, Scott C. Cox, were not returned. A spokeswoman for IBJ publishing also could not be reached for comment. Neither Powell nor McGee has commented publicly since the release of the book. Pitino has said McGee denied Powell's allegations and repeated in his second local radio interview in three days that he didn't know those activities took place in the dorm named after his late brother-in-law. The coach said he was still trying to understand the motive behind McGee's alleged actions and said that Louisville didn't need to hire dancers to attract top-flight recruits to his elite program. "If you're the University of Louisville, you don't need any help with those artificial means to get players," Pitino said. "This is one of the premier programs in the nation." Right now, his premier program is being scrutinized and examined by four separate entities.
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Science explains why most dieters regain any weight they lose. But you can fight this trend. Losing weight is the easy part. Keeping it off is what's really hard. By some estimates, 85 percent of people who lose weight gain it all back, and one review from the University of California Los Angeles found that, after successfully losing weight, about two-thirds of dieters regained everything they lost and then some within four to five years. Why blow it all after you've worked so hard? While a "finish line" mentality ("I've lost the weight, now I can stop dieting!") can certainly contribute, the bigger issue may be biological. "Your body undergoes various metabolic and hormonal changes after weight loss. These physiological changes can increase one's appetite, slow metabolis and stimulate hunger, all of which can hinder weight-loss efforts," explains New York City-based registered dietitian Rachel Stahl. "Specifically, a hormone known as leptin, which tells the brain that you have enough energy stored, falls when people lose weight. When leptin falls, appetite increases and metabolism slows. At the same time, ghrelin, termed the 'hunger hormone' because it stimulates hunger, is increased after people have lost weight and can increase food intake and promote fat storage." In fact, in one 2011 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, one year after losing weight, participants' metabolic rates and hormones hadn't returned to their pre-diet levels . That means to maintain your new, lighter weight, you actually have to consume fewer calories per day than would someone who weighs the same amount as you but has always been that size, explains registered dietitian Jennifer Christman, clinical nutrition manager for Medifast . Basically, your body is genetically wired to gain weight, not lose it, says Jeffrey Johnsrud, a bariatric surgeon and weight-loss specialist with St. Joseph Hospital in California. Once you've lost weight, your body fears that food is in short supply, and that slowing your metabolism will keep you from wasting away. So how do you beat your biology and keep the weight off? Follow these tips: Pump Iron When it comes to fighting your body's urge to regain, exercise is your biggest metabolism-boosting ally . "Diet helps people lose weight, but incorporating physical activity, especially resistance exercise, helps to maintain weight loss," says Christman, who notes that a pound of muscle burns between five and seven more calories per day than does fat. "Building more muscle is a win-win situation," she says. What's more, research published in the American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology suggests that exercise may also prevent weight regain by reducing hunger, preventing the growth of fat cells and encouraging the body to burn calories from fat rather than from stored carbohydrates. Watch Your Weight "People who have lost weight should weigh themselves once a week for the rest of their lives," Johnsrud says. It might sound daunting, but knowledge is power in the fight against weight gain. Regular weigh-ins opt for the same day and time every week to prevent any weight fluctuations caused by food and liquid intake can alert you to weight regain as soon as it starts. Likewise, trying on the same pair of jeans every week will flag any increases in size, which, if you are trying to put on muscle, may be a more accurate predictor of fat gain than weighing in, Christman says. "If one or both start creeping up, take a close, honest look at your meal plan and exercise regimen," she advises. "Have you been struggling to make healthy choices? Are you drinking water? What about your exercise regimen? Are your current habits getting you closer or further away from your values?" Seek Support Receiving social support and being held accountable to someone else can help motivate women not only to lose weight, but to keep it off, according to a 2014 study from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "Surround yourself with friends, family and colleagues who will support your efforts and with whom you can be completely honest about how you're doing," Stahl says. If you don't want to recruit your friends and family, consider reaching out to an online support community . Start Journaling "Keeping a food journal can increase awareness of how, what and why you are eating," Stahl says."Monitoring what you eat and your physical activity has been shown to help not only with losing weight, but keeping it off. With advancements in technology, it is becoming easier to keep track of food intake and exercise. You can blog about it, photograph pictures of your meals or log updates in your smartphone. These strategies help identify trends that are responsible for any weight gain so that you can make any appropriate adjustments." Get More Sleep Weight loss isn't the only thing that can throw off your levels of the hunger-regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin to promote weight regain. So can poor sleep . That's why, in one study presented at the American Heart Association's 2011 Scientific Sessions, the day after sleeping only four hours, women consumed 329 more calories than they did after sleeping nine hours. Most adults should shoot for seven to nine hours of sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Be Mindful "One of the biggest tips I emphasize with my patients to retain weight-loss results is to practice mindful eating. Most people don't think about this aspect, but it can be one of the most profound ways to transform one's relationship with food for lasting success," Stahl says. "It's important to pay careful attention to the two 'Ws,' the what and the why. What you're eating and why you're eating. This helps to not only enjoy and savor your food more, but prevent overeating." Likewise, slowing down and focusing on the taste, smell and texture of your food and without distractions such as work or television can help boost your satiety, prevent overeating and improve your long-term relationship with food. More from MSN 7 Questions You Should Ask to Keep Exercise Simple and Effective 5 Things That Happen When You Stop Counting Calories
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American composer and creator of scores for films including "Star Wars" and "Jaws" is to receive a lifetime achievement award from the AFI. Francis Maguire reports.
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Everyone can get an eye infection , but they can be more severe for people who wear contact lenses . Eye infections are caused by bacterial, fungal or viral agents that can cause redness, irritation and reduced vision. Eye infections are not just uncomfortable annoyances, however. Left untreated, some types of eye infections can damage the eye very quickly. A 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that about a million Americans visit the doctor because of contact lens-related eye infections each year. If you wear contact lenses, you're at a greater risk for developing eye infections because the lenses decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the corneas. Bacteria also can build up on the lenses if you don't follow proper methods of handling, wearing or storing your lenses. Here are eight smart hygiene habits for contact lens wearers: Never touch your contacts with unwashed hands. Wash your hands with soap and water, and thoroughly dry them before handling your lenses. Keep your solution fresh by changing it every day. Never add new solution to old. Always throw out the old solution. Always store your contacts in a clean case. Never use saliva or your tongue to clean your lenses. This is a sure-fire route to an eye infection. Lubricate your eyes by using either preservative-free or contact lens-compatible eye drops. If you find you need to use drops more than six times a day, see your doctor. Remove your contacts at night, even if you wear disposable lenses. Have your eyes professionally examined at least once every year. Be careful before putting a lens in your eye. If your eye doesn't look or feel right, don't put the lens in. If the problems don't go away in a day or so, get medical attention. You don't want to harm your cornea, or affect your sight. Signs of a bacterial infection include redness, pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, a noticeable discharge and sensations of foreign particles being trapped in the eye. If you think you may have an eye infection, it's best to see an eye doctor as soon as possible. Remove your contacts and wear your glasses until you can get medical attention. Bring your lenses, storage cases and open bottles of solution to your appointment. Artificial tears may provide some relief while you seek medical attention. Redness-removing drops may make eyes look better. But they work by constricting blood vessels, not by healing. Most eye infections can be treated successfully with topical and oral medications. But surgery may be necessary if the cornea is damaged.
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Officially, she's Duchess of Cambridge, but the only rule that's of our concern is Kate Middelton's reign over the very chic coat. And perhaps owning to her homeland's cool climate, Kate puts her collection to great use frequently. For years, Kate has been partial to wearing colorful statement coats and she's managed to find gorgeous outerwear in nearly every color under the sun. Most recently, Kate picked - appropriately - a royal blue Reiss piece to wear at a rugby event with her husband Prince William and brother-in-law Prince Harry. The hue was so stunning, we imagine few people were able to keep their eyes on the action on the field. We've learned a lot from Kate Middleton's style, but lesson number one may be: never underestimate the power of a beautiful coat. - Additional reporting by Randy Miller Kate Middleton at a Denmark Unicef Facility in 2011 Kate Middleton Arriving in Calgary in 2011 Kate Middleton at New Zealand's Government House in 2014 Kate Middleton at the Astute-Class Submarine Building in 2013 Kate Middleton at Crieff's Macrosty Park in 2014 Kate Middleton at the Cheltenham Festival in 2013 Kate Middleton at Naomi House in 2013 Kate Middleton in Cambridge in 2012 Kate Middleton at Commonwealth Service in 2015 Kate Middleton Celebrating Easter in Australia in 2014 Kate Middleton at the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in 2015 Kate Middleton at Zara Phillips's Wedding in 2011 Kate Middleton at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in 2013 Kate Middleton at the National Review of the Queen's Scouts in 2013 Kate Middleton at Australia's National Arboretum in 2014 Kate Middleton at the National Cycling Centre in 2014 Kate Middleton at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2014 Kate Middleton at the Irish Guards on St. Patrick's Day in 2013 Kate Middleton at Charity Event in 2014 Kate Middleton at the Baker Street Underground Station in 2013 Kate Middleton at King Edwards VII Hospital in 2012 Kate Middleton at a Youth Event in 2014 Kate Middleton at King Edwards VII Hospital in 2012 Kate Middleton in Scotland in 2013 Kate Middleton at the Australian War Memorial in 2014 Kate Middleton at Blenheim's Aviation Heritage Centre in 2014 Kate Middleton at St. Paul's Cathedral in 2015 Kate Middleton at a St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2015 Kate Middleton at Elswick Park in 2012 Kate Middleton During Christmas at Sandringham in 2014 Kate Middleton at Havelock Academy in 2013 Kate Middleton Arriving at The Carlyle Hotel in 2014 Kate Middleton at Ireland's City Hall in 2011 Kate Middleton in Windsor in 2011 Kate Middleton at the Order of the Garter Service in 2011 Kate Middleton at Ben Ainslie Racing in 2015
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BANGKOK The smoke-belching, ear-splitting, undisciplined rickshaws known as tuk-tuks are part of the chaos on Bangkok's clogged streets. Soon however, the tuk-tuk will stroll down a more refined runway, when Miss Thailand pays homage to her country at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant dressed as the iconic motorized rickshaw. Her outfit comes complete with headlights and handlebars. The "Tuk Tuk Thailand" dress will be worn by Aniporn Chalermburanawong in the "national costume" round at the pageant in December in the United States. It was the winning design from 356 entries in a contest held by Miss Universe Thailand. The Miss Universe Thailand organization announced the selection on its Facebook page, saying the outfit "has a metallic feel and look" that utilizes 3-D technology. "The tuk-tuk dress will flash lights like a real tuk-tuk," said Kaveerat Kunapat, a spokeswoman for Miss Universe Thailand. "It will be one of a kind." The outfit features an electric blue bustier and mini-skirt with thigh-high black tights and a central headlight with handlebars just below the bosom. Attached to the costume is a backdrop of a tuk-tuk in Thailand's national colors red, white and blue with six national flags, a dozen more headlights and an overhead banner that says: "Thailand." Kaveerat said a 5-member panel of judges that included fine arts professors, fashion designers and Miss Thailand herself wanted to break from the past style of traditional Thai silk dresses and present something "eye-catching but still representative of Thailand." Reviews of the dress were mixed. Some hailed it as unique and creative. Others cracked jokes, like one online commentator who said it looked more like an outfit from the "Transformers." ___ Associated Press writer Nattasuda Anusondisai contributed to this report.
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Few people would have imagined, when Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Vice President Joe Biden were politely sparring at the 2012 vice presidential debate, that three years later each man's party would be pleading for him to seize the apple of power. Yet here we are: Biden is weighing the personal cost-benefits of running for the Democratic presidential nomination amid a chorus of support from Democrats nervous about Hillary Clinton's campaign, and Ryan keeps on having to say no, emphatically , to stepping up to be speaker of the House. Is being House speaker such a terrible job? You might think so, given John Boehner's positively gleeful retirement and House Majority Kevin McCarthy's stated reason for dropping his shoo-in bid to replace Boehner: The hard-right rump of his caucus will "eat you and chew you up." But along with the big office, enlarged staff, and pay bump, the speakership comes with a lot of real power. You not only hold the gavel and the keys to committee assignments, but you set the agenda of the House of Representatives; generally speaking, nothing of consequence moves in Congress without your approval. Also, the House speaker is second in line for the presidency, after the vice president. And for many Republicans and conservative commentators, the choice for the next speaker is obvious. "Ryan may be the only Republican with the national standing and conservative credentials to defy" the House Freedom Caucus, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and the other GOP bomb-throwers that sank McCarthy's bid, said The Wall Street Journal in an editorial . "He's really the only viable he's really the only one that can do the job," said Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. "Everybody's eligible, but in terms of who can do the job and lead us into the next election cycle, we have to have a top-tier candidate, and really from the start of this, Kevin and Paul were the only two that we had at that caliber." "Paul Ryan is gonna have to step up," former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough said on MSNBC on Thursday. "There is nobody else in the caucus or in the party that could bring together the conservatives and also bring together the main street Republicans like Paul.... I respect Paul wanting to stay out of this race.... At this point, I don't think it's up to Paul. He does not have the choice." But of course, Paul does have a choice, and so far his choice is "no." He's going to face pressure to change his mind, because, apparently, the Republican Party's near-term political future is at stake. For Scarborough, Ryan has to step up "not only for the Republican party but also for the conservative movement they can't afford to lose the White House for another eight years." The Wall Street Journal editorial board concurs : "The GOP enjoys its largest House majority since the 71st Congress of 1929-30," when the Great Depression hit, but unless Paul steps up, the House GOP "rump minority" could cost Republicans the House, Senate, and White House. At the same time, The Journal explains why Paul might be hesitant to leave the Ways and Means Committee for the speaker's chair: He's said repeatedly he doesn't want the job, and no wonder. If the only way to become and remain speaker is to capitulate to the impossible demands of a rump minority, then you're being set up to fail.... He'd be assailed with the usual sellout and surrender epithets, any future presidential ambitions might suffer, and he'd have less time for his young children. But he could save the House majority from self-destruction. [ The Wall Street Journal ] That may not sound so enticing. But Paul Ryan already signed on to be Mitt Romney's vice president, a job one previous officeholder unfavorably compared to a "bucket of warm piss." The vice president has no inherent power, and is hardly guaranteed a promotion four years later. A good number of presidential understudies leave the office to retirement, after doing very little of consequence. Some House speakers have left indelible marks on the American body politic. Assuming the White House is Paul's ultimate goal and he may be the rare, perhaps solitary, lawmaker in Washington not gunning for the job he might take inspiration from James K. Polk, who rose from House Ways and Means Committee chairman to House speaker to president of the United States. And if nothing else, there's the nice office and the raise. That would be enough for most Americans.
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Mercedes-Benz, Honda, (7267.T-JP) Mazda (523792-BY) and Mitsubishi (7211.T-JP) have joined the growing list of carmakers whose diesel cars are more polluting than allowed under current regulatory limits, according to data obtained by the Guardian . "In more realistic on-road tests, some Honda models emitted six times the regulatory limit of NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) pollution while some unnamed 4x4 models had 20 times the NOx limit coming out of their exhaust pipes," the U.K. newspaper said. It cited Nick Molden, whose company Emissions Analytics tested the cars as saying: "The issue is a systemic one" across the industry. The new data is from Emissions Analytics ' on-the-road testing program, which is carefully controlled and closely matches the real-world test the European commission wants to introduce. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accused VW in September of cheating on its emission tests for it diesel powered cars. The German auto giant has since acknowledged that it installed software known as "defeat devices" in diesel vehicles issued between 2009 and 2015. There are increasing fears that Volkswagen's problem could quickly turn into one for the entire carmaking industry. Read the full Guardian story here .
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Spirited Debate: Wendy Patrick on whether the idea could improve your relationship
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A judge formally ended the court-ordered guardianship of an Amish girl who resisted a hospital's attempts to force her to resume chemotherapy, bringing a close to the fight that raised questions about the rights of parents in making medical decisions for their children. The judge's decision, announced Friday, came more than a year after Sarah Hershberger's guardian gave up her efforts to force the girl into chemotherapy for leukemia. Sarah and her parents went into hiding in the fall of 2013. Sarah, who is now 12, no longer shows signs of being sick, said Kevin Dunn, a probate judge in Medina County. A visit to her home in August found that Sarah was "active and working daily on the family farm, she appeared healthy and appropriately developed," he wrote. But Dunn cautioned her parents that she is not fully recovered and warned that they still have a duty to provide her care under Ohio law. "Her parents are not free to act entirely as they may choose," the judge said. Maurice Thompson, the Hershbergers' attorney, said in a statement that "Sarah's good health bolsters the case against forced health care that we supposedly cannot live without." The court fight began in the summer of 2013, when Sarah's parents decided to halt treatments because they feared chemotherapy was killing her. Doctors at Akron Children's Hospital said Sarah's condition was treatable, but they argued she would die within a year if she stopped chemotherapy. The hospital went to court after the family decided to treat Sarah with natural medicines, such as herbs and vitamins. Maria Schimer, an attorney who's also a registered nurse, was given the power to make medical decisions for Sarah after an appeals court ruled the beliefs and convictions of the girl's parents couldn't outweigh the rights of the state to protect the child. But Schimer decided to drop the effort because it became impossible to monitor Sarah's health or make any medical decisions for her after she left home and went into hiding. The family fled their farm in northeast Ohio's Medina County and sought treatment in Mexico before returning home after a few months. Like most Amish, the Hershbergers shun many facets of modern life and are deeply religious. They have said they stopped chemotherapy not for religious reasons, but because it was making Sarah too sick. Hospital officials said they were morally and legally obligated to make sure the girl received proper care. State laws give parents a great deal of freedom when it comes to choosing medical treatment for their children, but not always when the decision could be a matter of life or death.
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Nick Saban, in nine seasons at Alabama, has posted a 90-18 record, with a 51-12 mark in-conference. As such, fans have gotten accustomed to winning and assuming that the Crimson Tide is the best team in the SEC. Thursday night, Saban, during his weekly radio show, told Alabama fans not to get "arrogant" until his team beats everyone else on the field. Via Alex Byington of TimesDaily.com: Saban to fans: "Get it out of your mind that anybody we play in the SEC is not going to be a tough game. … Don't have an arrogant attitude." Alex Byington (@abyingtonTD) October 9, 2015 Saban to fans: "Don't have an arrogant attitude that we're better than anybody else. We're not. Until we beat them on the field, we're not." Alex Byington (@abyingtonTD) October 9, 2015 Saban has never been one to get ahead of himself, so his warning doesn't come as a surprise. Alabama still has some very tough games on its slate, including matchups with No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 7 LSU. If they somehow survive and win the league, it may be Saban's most impressive accomplishment yet.
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How to stop a slice or hook during your round. Watch easy golf instruction from PGA Professional Mike Richards, who explains a quick fix for these problems if you run into them on the course.
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Backpackers in New Zealand take horrifying plunge
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It seems like only yesterday that oil prices were plunging below $45 a barrel, with some City pundits even gnashing their teeth and warning us to expect $20 and worse! Well, the more ebullient of the world's commentators always over-egg their claims (some were forecasting $200 a barrel at the height of the boom), and Brent Crude has climbed back around the $53 mark. The more sensible of us don't worry about short-term price fluctuations anyway, and instead look instead to rational valuations. To my mind, high-yielding dividends figure pretty high in the list of priorities and our two big FTSE 100 oilies are offering some of the best on the market. Dividends still growing BP (LSE: BP) has maintained its dividend right throughout the oil price downturn. In fact, it's continued to increase the cash it has handed back to investors, providing them with a 6.3% yield in 2014. With the share price down around 397p, forecasts for this year suggest a massive 7.4% and that's after the shares have put on 20% since the end of September, so the yield has actually fallen. At Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSB) we see something very similar. The share price has also recovered this month, to 1,834p as I write, but even with that we're still looking at a forecast dividend yield of 7.6% for the year to December 2015 which would maintain the annual cash at the same level as the past two years. The downside is that these bumper dividends are not well covered by earnings forecasts. BP's earnings per share would actually fall just short of its dividend prediction this year and would still be a penny short based on 2016 prognostications. But things look better at Shell, with modest cover of around 1.1 times for this year and next. The question is whether the two companies will continue to hand over the cash while oil prices are low, and I think the answer is yes. At interim time, BP affirmed its commitment by announcing a 6.5p dividend for the second quarter, ahead of last year. Shell, meanwhile, did what was expected and kept its Q2 payout at the same level as a year previously in dollar terms (31p per share to UK investors). More pain to come? Weakening economic data suggest we're not out of the woods yet, and some are fearing a renewed downwards spell for oil prices. But the total well count is falling and production is dropping, and that trend will surely continue while such a large portion of the world's production faces unprofitable costs. The market will sort things out, as it inevitably does when there's an excess of supply of anything and in the case of oil, that excess is really pretty small. I reckon September and October this year could well turn out to have been the time to get back into oil shares, and BP and Shell are among the safest long-term options there are and who wouldn't want more than 7% in cash? Buying solid oil companies for the long term could help you to millionaire status by the time you you retire. To find out more, get yourself a copy of the Motley Fool's special 7 Simple Steps For Seeking Serious Wealth report, which shows you how investing in shares and reinvesting dividends has wiped the floor with every other form of investment over the past century and more. It's completely FREE , so click here for your personal copy and get started today . Alan Oscroft has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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LONDON On a sticky August afternoon in 2011, as rioters looted and burned in the streets outside, a small number of police officers gathered in a room in North London. Projected on the wall was the blurry silhouette of a man with a black woolen hat pulled deep over his forehead and a red bandanna covering all but his eyes. Security cameras across the city had tracked the man setting fire to cars, stealing from shops, beating up passers-by, even hurling gasoline bombs. But he was always masked. "We need to identify this fellow," the sergeant said. "He's one of the worst." At that moment, Gary Collins, a constable from the local gang unit, walked in. He took one look and said, "That's Stephen Prince." Friends call Constable Collins Rain Man or Yoda or simply The Oracle. But at Scotland Yard, London's metropolitan police force, he is known as a "super recognizer." He has a special gift of facial recall powers that enables him to match even low-quality and partial imagery to a face he has seen before, on the street or in a database and possibly years earlier. The last time he had come face-to-face with Mr. Prince was during a fleeting encounter in 2005. Sign Up For NYT Now's Morning Briefing Newsletter Soft-spoken and gentle-mannered, Constable Collins carries a baton and pepper spray, but no gun. His weapon is his memory: Facial recognition software managed to identify one suspect of the 4,000 captured by security cameras during the London riots. Constable Collins identified 180. "Computers are no match for the super recognizers," said Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville, head of the Central Forensic Image Team at Scotland Yard and mastermind of the squad. With its estimated one million security cameras, London is pioneering a whole new area of detection, one that could be cheaper than DNA analysis and fingerprinting and relies above all on human superpowers. Scotland Yard's ever-expanding team of 152 super recognizers is made up of men and women from across the force who score at the top end of a facial recognition test originally devised at Harvard in 2009. Constable Collins, the star of the unit, is in the rarefied 1 percent range. Traffic police and jailers, those patrolling neighborhoods and officers who specialize in violent crime, the super recognizers have more than tripled the number of identifications since April 2013. They are deployed to pick out known thieves and sexual offenders in crowds of tens of thousands at rock concerts and to round up pickpockets at tourist spots like Buckingham Palace and Oxford Circus. This year, they solved the high-profile murder of a teenage girl that had led to the mobilization 600 police officers across eight forces, the biggest search operation since the 2005 London bombings . The term was coined in 2009 by Richard Russell, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard. He was studying prosopagnosics, or those with face blindness, and found that about 2 percent of people had a very poor ability to recognize faces. Then he grew curious: Were there people at the other extreme, with extraordinary facial recall? Mr. Russell, now an associate professor of psychology at Gettysburg College, tested four individuals who believed they had superior face-recognition ability. The tests included the Cambridge Face Memory Test, using images with no hair or other identity clues, and a Before They Were Famous Test, in which participants have to identify celebrities from photographs taken mostly when they were children. All four participants scored far above the controls. Since then, larger-scale tests predict that 1 or 2 percent of people are super recognizers. Around the same time in London, Detective Neville was fighting a lonely battle with his superiors to put in place a system for circulating images of suspects caught on security cameras. "We had all the evidence, but we weren't using it," he said in a recent interview. "The idea was that the cameras themselves would deter the bad guys. They didn't." Skeptics complained that he wanted to pay officers "to watch television." Privacy advocates warned of intrusiveness and misidentifications. Even psychologists were doubtful. When Detective Neville asked Josh Davis of Greenwich University in April 2011 to test some of his best officers, Mr. Davis did not expect to find much. But the test, of an initial 20 police officers with above average identification records, surprised both men: Most of the officers scored well above average and a handful, including Constable Collins, were off the charts. When rioting broke out in August that same year and 200,000 hours of camera views with thousands of images of suspects flooded in, these early super recognizers got their first assignment. They identified 609 suspects, two in three of whom went to court. Ninety percent of those charged were convicted. Mr. Prince, the masked man picked out by Constable Collins, got six years, one of the longest sentences of all. Evolutionary psychologists are intrigued by super recognizers. Their facial recall is rarely matched by photographic memory in other parts of their lives. Constable Collins, 48, who studied design before he became a police officer, has identified over 800 suspects but cannot remember a shopping list. "I have to write that down," he said. An unassuming man with cropped graying hair and a soft Cockney lilt, Constable Collins patrols the same streets in North London he grew up in. He has become famous among colleagues and villains alike. The officer sitting opposite him in their gloomy ground-floor office likens his mind to a Rolodex: "You show him a photo, 30 seconds later the name pops up. And he's always on the mark." Once, in the police van after a raid, a gang leader who had been arrested asked: "Who ID'd me? Who is this Gary Collins?" When Constable Collins put up his hand, he said, "Man, everyone in prison is talking about you." They still see each other on the street now and again. "He'll test me on his gang mates: 'What's his name?' he'll ask," Constable Collins said. "When I tell them they cheer and give me a high five." As a child, Constable Collins was oblivious to his talent. "I always recognized people, but as a kid you don't know you have a gift, you just think everybody is like you." The son of a telephone engineer and a veterinary receptionist, he would beat his family and friends at ordering the colors on a Rubik's Cube. He was bad in school but good at art, with a particular aptitude for drawing portraits. Before exams, he would fill a little book with colorful diagrams and mnemonics. "They called me The Book," he said. But it was only when he joined the police in 1995 that he became aware of his gift. The new boy on the beat in Greenwich, in London's southeast, he would spend hours looking at the worn Polaroid prints of neighborhood villains on the wall. "I was drawn to those pictures," he said. "I used to look at them all the time." Then, out on patrol for the first time with a senior officer, he would reel off the names of the people they came across. "How the hell would you know, new boy?" his partner asked him. Off duty, super recognition can be a curse. Recently, Constable Collins almost got punched. "I think sometimes I stare a bit too long, but I can't help it," he said. "This guy I was looking at was like: 'What are you looking at? What are you looking at?' " He deliberately lives outside London to avoid running into wanted faces from his beat. (Recently, he had to cut short an outing to the mall with his sons when he recognized a gaggle of gang members while buying sneakers.) He reckons that his oldest son, 11 years old and soccer-obsessed, could be a super recognizer. "He knows football players in countries and teams I haven't even heard of," Constable Collins said. "Who knows? He might have the gift." Get news and analysis from Europe and around the world delivered to your inbox every day with the Today's Headlines: European Morning newsletter. Sign up here .
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A well-rounded fitness routine includes strength, endurance, flexibility and balance training though many people skimp on that last one. Working on balance is important because we constantly rely on it. While we're walking , for example, one foot is off the ground at all times. We also use balance when we change surfaces, like from grass to concrete, and when we negotiate obstacles including curbs, stairs and ramps. To add to the challenge, we complete these activities in all kids of shoes (or barefoot) and while distracted. Thanks to constant cellphone use , balance is even more crucial today. The posture we assume while texting challenges our center of gravity and also redirects our vision to a screen not our surroundings. Enhancing balance improves posture , overall fitness and can prevent falls . Good balance helps prepare athletes for unexpected, quick movements on the field, and spares them from a variety of sports injuries. Balance also enables us to successfully complete a variety of movements including those as ordinary as standing on the tips of your toes to reach for something on a grocery store shelf. Checks and Balances Most of the time, we do not even need to think about maintaining our balance our bodies automatically keep us steady. But in reality, balance is very complex with three main contributors: Vision: The eye offers input to let us know about our environment, and helps us correct our position as needed. Our vision also allows us to monitor the speed and direction of our movement, based on cues from our surroundings. Have you ever tried to walk through sand with your eyes closed? It's really difficult. Muscles and Joints: Our musculoskeletal system has the ability to sense position where our body is in space. Typically, we find our balance by making small corrections in our foot and ankle, or even in the hip. Stand on one leg while you are barefoot and notice how hard your foot is working to help you keep your balance. Vestibular System: Made up of very specific structures, this system is found in the inner ear and transmits information about body position and movement back to the brain. Think about how you feel as though you may lose your balance after doing a series of cartwheels. The brain combines the information provided by these three systems and directs the body to move in ways to maintain balance. When one of these systems is challenged or damaged, the body must rely on the other two. For example, the soccer player who needs to keep his head to up find a pass relies mostly on his vestibular and musculoskeletal system for balance. Strike a Balance To improve your balance, it's important to: Maintain a good range of motion in your joints and work on your muscle flexibility . Build your muscle strength , especially core muscles like the abdominals, glutes and back muscles. Attend to vision issues . Practice: Challenging your balance systems helps them to improve. There are also specific exercise regimes that focus on balance. Tai chi, yoga and Pilates are a few of the options. Taking a class once a week is a great way to carve out time to work on balance, especially under the guidance of a trained instructor who can advance or modify the class to meet your needs. Don't have time for a class? Simply stand on one foot for one minute. If that's too easy, change the surface you're standing on, go up onto your toes, move your arms around or do anything that challenges your balance. If you have any unexplained dizziness or balance issues, see your doctor. And remember: A little balance in life goes a long way. Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report
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The majority of small enterprises fail within the first few months because raising money is often the toughest part of starting a business. Here are 5 alternative ideas to find funding.
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Changing your pace is a simple way to burn more calories while walking, Ohio State University researchers discovered. The results of their new study indicate that walking at varying speeds can burn up to 20 percent more calories when compared to maintaining a steady pace. "The metabolic rate for oscillating-speed walking was significantly higher than that for constant-speed walking," wrote the researchers. Walking is the most democratic of all exercises. No expensive equipment or special training is needed, and almost everybody can do it. A saunter around the block or through the park can be squeezed into even the busiest of schedules. You can do it alone or with a friend and, best of all, injuries are rare. Meanwhile, walking offers many rewards. The Surgeon General suggests an increase in physical activity significantly reduces your risk of chronic disease and premature death. Regular exercise helps to protect against heart disease, stroke, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression. Even people who already have a chronic disease may benefit from physical activity. Walking can lessen the severity of an illness or condition, while managing or reducing symptoms. Best of all, walking helps you keep off the extra pounds. All these claims, the Surgeon General notes, are backed by science. Yet, one engineering team takes issue with one aspect of the research. Most of the existing literature has focused on constant-speed walking. The current study, then, examined the missing piece of the pie: How many calories are burned when a person keeps changing speed? Switch it Up "Humans do not generally walk at constant speed, except perhaps on a treadmill," wrote Dr. Manoj Srinivasan, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and his co-author. "Normal walking involves starting, stopping, and changing speeds." To measure metabolic rates while changing walking speeds, the researchers requested participants in their study change their walking pace on a treadmill while its speed remained steady. Past experiments directly changed the treadmill speed, however, according to Srinivasan that's not the same as real-world walking. When the treadmill speed changes, the machine itself does some of the work, instead of the person walking. Participants in this experiment, then, walked quickly to move to the front of the treadmill belt, or slowed their speed to move to the back of the belt. Compared to a steady pace, participants burned between 6 and 20 percent more calories by walking in this manner, the researchers observed. Next, when they measured ideal walking speeds for different distances, the researchers "found people preferred lower walking speeds for shorter distances." As the distance increased, participants generally picked up the pace. Source: Seethapathi N, Sriivasan M. The metabolic cost of changing walking speeds is significant, implies lower optimal speeds for shorter distances, and increases daily energy estimates. Biology Letters. 2015.
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It's not too early to start sprucing up your home for the holidays. Concentrate on the areas of the house that will be used by your company the living, dining, and powder rooms. You can always shut the bedroom doors. Here are five easy projects that will wow your guests without hurting your budget. Make your front door welcoming Replacing or repainting your entry door is one of the easiest and most effective ways to spruce up your house. To improve your home's curb appeal, you'll also want to give overgrown trees and shrubbery a trim and to move any lawn ornaments or furniture to the garage or shed. You can add a wreath just before company arrives. When choosing a paint, remember that flat and satin paints can hide imperfections, but semi-gloss will add shine and make your door more of a focal point. Our top exterior paint is Behr Premium Plus Ultra , $39, sold at Home Depot. Clark + Kensington Exterior , $35, sold at Ace is also a top exterior paint pick . Spiff up the powder room It doesn't cost much to upgrade a small bathroom. Start by adding a new mirror and faucet or add a pair of sconces on either side of your existing mirror or medicine cabinet. Replacing cabinet hardware is also an easy fix. But if you want to make a quick improvement that'll also save you money in the long run, replace your toilet with a WaterSense model, which uses 1.28 gallons or less per flush instead of the typical 1.6. Also consider a comfort-height model, which is more than 17-inches tall. Consider two CR Best Buys from our toilet tests that have both those features. The Glacier Bay N2428E sold at Home Depot and the Aquasource AT1203-00 sold at Lowe's both cost $100. For other affordable powder room updates, read, " Bathroom Remodeling Costs and Trends ." Paint a room or a wall If you don't have the time or patience to paint an entire room, try painting one or two accent walls. You can finish the job after the holidays if you end up loving the color, says Debbie Zimmer of the Paint Quality Institute. For best results, the PQI recommends using a top-of-the-line interior latex wall paint in flat or eggshell finish, which hides irregularities better than paints with a sheen. In our interior paint tests , Behr Marquee , $43, from Home Depot, was excellent at hiding and stands up to scrubbing. Valspar Reserve , $43, from Lowe's is another good choice and our two CR Best Buys are Home Depot's Behr Premium Plus Ultra , $34, and Clark + Kensington Enamel , $32, from Ace. Declutter and deep clean Can't see your dining room buffet under that pile of mail? Turn on your favorite TV show and use the time to sort through your papers. You should be able to find the top of the server after two episodes of "The Voice." (And as a bonus, you'll be ready for tax time.) It's also the season to deep clean your carpets, especially if you have pets. You can do some lighter cleaning later. In our vacuum cleaner tests , we found that upright vacuums did a better job than canisters at getting embedded dirt out of carpeting and found some that were also excellent at removing pet hair. Our top three bagged upright vacuums are the Kenmore Elite 31150 , $350, the Miele Dynamic U1 Twist , $450 , and the Miele Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog , $650. Dust off light fixtures and replace the bulbs With the hours of daylight waning, you may find yourself straining to read the newspaper under the dining room chandelier. You can brighten your rooms in no time with just a dust cloth and some soap and water. And since you'll need to dismantle the fixtures to clean them, you might as well replace the lightbulbs with some new energy-saving models that cast the right light. In our lightbulb tests , we found many general purpose replacements for 40, 60, 75 and 100-watt lightbulbs. Two of our top-rated 60-watt equivalent LEDS from Samsung and Feit Electric scored 99 out of 100 and three more from 3M , Philips , and Great Value (Walmart) were almost as good. The price of LEDs continues to drop and many homeowners prefer the light quality to that of CFLs. More tips and tricks For more tips on what to do before guests arrive and how to clean up after they leave, read " How to Clean Up Common Holiday Messes ." Mary H.J. Farrell Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.
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The Gose family of Brownsburg, IN is known for its magnificent, long-standing school picture day tradition , and Brady Gose is the youngest-and newest-family member to join in the fun. The tradition involves a 61-year-old gray sweater and a lot of first grade school photos. The sweater was first worn in 1954, by Brady Gose's great-uncle, in his first grade school picture . Then the sweater was passed onto Brady's grandfather in 1958, and then it was passed onto the grandfather's youngest brother. All three brothers wore the pullover in their first grade school picture day photos. Chuck Gose explained, "As far as I know, my grandma just purchased it in 1954 and then had my dad and his two brothers all wear it for their first grade picture day as a novelty." Brady's father, Chuck Gose, made local headlines in 1982, when he was the fourth family member to wear the classic wool sweater in his first grade picture day photo. And finally, after 33 years in storage, he's passed the sweater onto his son, who was elated to be the fifth family member to wear the sweater in a school photo. Chuck Gose added, "It so happened the sweater stayed with my branch of the family , though I had other cousins. My mom, she was very sentimental and she wanted me to carry on the tradition, and at the time, 7-year-old me said I'd pass it down to my son-or even daughter if I didn't have a son-as well." Unfortunately, Brady Gose's grandfather passed away in 1999, but the Gose family sees the sweater as a wonderful way to connect with the past. Chuck Gose said, "My father passed away in 1999 before I was married and had children, so for me, this is a chance for my dad to live on through this tradition. It's also a chance for Brady to learn more about the grandfather he never got to know. When I handed it to him, he naturally asked a lot of questions about his grandpa. The two of them are actually pretty similar. They're both quite the jokester." Follow us on Twitter.
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Celebrity news for Oct. 9, 2015 Taylor Swift snags a major Instagram milestone Taylor Swift is officially the most followed person on Instagram -- and she suspects she knows why. "50 million followers!!" she enthused in a post on Oct. 8. "Thanks so much guys. I'm pretty sure this is just because I have cute cats though." The race was tight, too. Reuters, via Us Weekly , reports Kim Kardashian's account has 48.4 million followers, while Beyonce is right behind her with 47.5 million. Alec Baldwin teases Ireland Baldwin about romance report Think your parents were nosy about your social life when you were a teenager? Try being 19, followed around by paparazzi and having celebrities for parents. Ireland Baldwin was spotted sitting very close to 39-year-old documentary filmmaker Tao Ruspoli at Gjelina restaurant in Venice, Calif. on Oct. 7, sparking ET to post a headline suggesting the two were "getting cozy." Enter Ireland's dad, Alec Baldwin, who promptly texted a link to the story to Ireland, who proceeded to share a screenshot of the hilarious exchange that followed. Alec: "Oooooooooo." Ireland: "Oh my god I just met him yesterday." Alec: "Well …? Are you getting married?" Ireland: "No dad, Jesus." Alec: "Am I going to be a grandfather?" Ireland: "Very immaculate coffee conception." Zing. Joe Jonas and Gigi Hadid make their red carpet debut as a couple Lovebirds Joe Jonas and Gigi Hadid made their red carpet debut Oct. 9 when they teamed up to support Hadid's mom, Yolanda Foster at the Global Lyme Alliance inaugural gala in New York. According to People , Joe opted out of chatting with press, though he did make time to rub elbows with Hadid's father, David Foster, and her brother Anwar. The easy-on-the-eyes duo have been dating -- and from the looks of this picture, perfecting their "wanna make something of it" faces -- since late spring. Nicole Kidman didn't know her daughter got married News of Isabella Cruise and Max Parker's parent-free wedding Sept. 18 surprised her mom, Nicole Kidman, who did not know the about her daughter's plan to marry, according to People . "She, like all mothers, wants her child to be happy, and it surely seems Bella is very happy," an insider tells the mag. The couple married in London at a ceremony reportedly paid for by Isabella's dad, Tom Cruise, who was not in attendance. Robert Pattinson thought Edward Cullen was suicidal " Twilight " certainly had its silly moments, but Robert Pattinson took his character, Edward Cullen, very seriously. That's according to author Stephanie Meyer, who discussed Robert's take on Edward in a new interview with the Daily Dot, excerpted by Us Weekly . "He was very, very passionate about the character. Very intense," she said. "And we argued about Edward for several hours, because he was convinced that Edward was depressed and suicidal." Not to mention sparkly. Ryan Seacrest joins his sister's wedding party Ryan Seacrest's little sister Meredith asked him to join her wedding party. And Ryan is all kinds of verklempt. "I have a role in my sister's wedding... just shed a tear," he wrote on Instagram , sharing a photo of the poetic invitation she sent him about her request. Turns out Meredith is skipping the traditional Maid of Honor setup so her brother can take on those duties. "Dear Ryan," she wrote. "You've been by my side all of my life, and I wouldn't want you anywhere else, when I become a wife. I'm so lucky to have you as my brother, and couldn't imagine celebrating with any other. So basically what I'm trying to say... Will you be my Man of Honor on my special day?!" Katie Holmes shares a throwback pic from 1995 For Katie Holmes, this week's #TBT was all about her family. "#TBT my sisters and me 1995 #familylove #sisterlove #ohio," she wrote alongside this cute photo of her with two of her three sisters, Holly, Nancy, and Tamera. Katie, whom People notes is about 17 in the pic, told Red magazine last year that when she needs to call someone in the middle of the night, her sisters and a few select friends are at the top of the list. "If I'm thinking about my sister, she will end up calling me, it's weird," she said. "Telepathic." Naya Rivera is 'loving mommy time' Less than a month after welcoming a baby boy with her husband Ryan Dorsey, Naya Rivera is settling into motherhood just fine. "Love, Love, Loving this mommy time," she tweeted Oct. 8. "It really is a full time job! Josey is so sweet and looks exactly like his daddy!" Ashantis stalker case declared a mistrial again Third time's the charm? A second mistrial was declared on Oct. 8 in Ashanti's stalker proceedings because the jury was unable to arrive at a unanimous decision regarding allegations of Devar Hurd's felony stalking. According to the New York Post , Hurd -- who has represented himself throughout both trials and was therefore allowed to interrogate Ashanti on the stand -- has been in custody for two years. He asked to be released following the mistrial declaration but his request was denied. Azealia Banks chimes in on Nicki Minaj's Miley Cyrus issue The back and forth feud between Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus that's played out on Twitter, at the VMAs and most recently in Nicki's New York Times magazine feature, now also involves Azealia Banks, who sounded off on Nicki's gripes about skinny women and cultural appropriation Oct. 7 on Twitter . "I wish Nic would stop trying to turn this Miley thing into a race issue cuz she was mute about cultural approp. until she became 'victim,''" Azealia wrote. "Plus how u gonna complain about a video with skinny women when ur body is enhanced .. You too were once a skinny woman."
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If you thought traffic was bad on a five-line freeway, can you imagine a 50-lane traffic jam? In Beijing, China, thousands of commuters were trapped on the G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway on Wednesday, China's The People's Daily reported. The massive traffic jam was caused by a new checkpoint that caused 50 lanes to merge into 20 lanes, according to T he People's Daily reported. The jam was so bad that traffic was backed up for hours in what was likely a hair-pulling drive home. The jam happened during the end of one of the busiest tourist events of the year, according to The People's Daily . Millions of tourists made trips around the country to celebrate China's week-long National Day getaway, likely adding to the congested roadways. Drone footage captured by Chinese news portal Sohu TV show just how bad it truly was. Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.
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Ranking the NBA's five best rim protectors DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers Jordan's gradual improvement into a top-flight defender is one of the cooler Clippers-related storylines of the past few years. You won't see him contest as many attempts at the rim as some of the NBA's other dominant rim protectors, but that's because of the Clippers' overly aggressive defensive schemes which send him way out to the perimeter. When Jordan is able to man the paint, the plays where he intimidates a ballhandler into not shooting at all are somehow even more impressive than the all-world swats he smacks into the backcourt. Roy Hibbert, C, Los Angeles Lakers It's amazing (and unfortunate) how radically the narrative around Hibbert has turned over the past few years -- just because he doesn't fill up the box score and isn't exactly self-aware on the offensive end. There's a reason the Pacers' defense still ranked in the top 10 last season even without Paul George, and it's the same 7-footer who's been responsible for much of Indiana's success over the past few years. This is the guy who perfected verticality and made jumping straight up to challenge shots at the rim a trendy thing for big men to do. Every year since, NBA officials have had to focus on verticality as one of their points of emphasis. When they adjust a rule because of your play, that has to count for something. Andrew Bogut, C, Golden State Warriors Those who tuned in for the NBA Finals might be surprised to see Bogut on this list. But the Golden State Warriors had the NBA's best defense for all of 2014-15, and it was never more fearsome than when Bogut defanged hopeless opponents on their way to the basket. No, literally -- the Warriors were at their best with their starting center on the court last year, allowing 95.2 points per 100 possessions when Bogut played. He doesn't tally a ton of blocks, and he doesn't need to in order to influence a game. But when he does erase a shot, it usually ignites Golden State's back-breaking offense the other way. There are always injury questions about Bogut, but for now he remains one of the best. Serge Ibaka, PF/C, Oklahoma City Thunder Remember this guy? Injuries to teammates Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant took the spotlight off of the Thunder last season, and it felt like a lot of people forgot about Ibaka as a result. But under Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City was dominant defensively because Ibaka worked perfectly with Westbrook and Durant. The two perimeter stars had the freedom to ratchet up the pressure and try to force turnovers because they knew Ibaka was there to deny any offensive player who managed to break through. If everyone is healthy and if new coach Billy Donovan can learn the ropes of the NBA quickly, the Thunder will be back in title contention very soon -- and the league will get a rude reminder of just how good Ibaka is. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz Having Go-Go-Gadget arms (a 7-foot-9 wingspan) will obviously help you alter a few shots. But what makes Gobert the league's best rim protector is the combination of that length with his shocking mobility and athleticism. He stands 7-foot-1, but he's not a 'stiff' in any sense of the word. Gobert can blow up pick-and-rolls on the perimeter, then gallop back to the paint to erase shots and stifle attempts with frightening speed. But it's not all about the athletic gifts. The fact that Gobert averaged fewer than three fouls per 36 minutes last year indicates his sense of timing as a shot blocker and his overall intelligence. Oh, and he's only 23 years old. Scary stuff. Oklahoma City Thunder's Serge Ibaka (9) goes up to block a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Shares of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) began the week trading near $250 per share. The stock has lost 10 percent over the past five days following notable downgrades by Wall Street analysts. Analysts were mostly concerned with Tesla's new Model X. Shares of Tesla began the week near $250, but have lost more than 10 percent as the stock traded below the $220 per share mark on Friday. Over the same time period, the Nasdaq ETF, PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (ETF) (NASDAQ: QQQ) gained nearly 2.5 percent. The last time shares of Tesla traded below $220 was on August 24, but the stock quickly rallied above $260 per share. Prior to that, shares last traded below $220 per share in April en route to climbing to an all-time high of $286.65 in July. Investors this week were reacting to the analysis coming from Wall Street analysts who were not enthusiastic following the much anticipated Model X launch and the company's near-term outlook. Related Link: The Tesla Graveyard: Elon Musk Calls Out Apple A Complex Vehicle Ben Kallo of Baird downgraded shares of Tesla to Neutral with a price target slashed to $282 from a previous $335. While the analyst acknowledged that the Model X launch marked an "important milestone," he suggested that ramping production will be slower than expected given the "complexity of the vehicle." Kallo added that a slower-than-expected ramp could impact Tesla's vehicle delivery guidance a key data point that attracts or deters investors. Without a favorable delivery guidance, the analyst suggested that there will be no other catalysts that can boost the stock until the company introduces a Model 3 prototype possibly next March. Crossing The Chasm Kallo's downgrade was perhaps overshadowed by a more bearish report by Brian Johnson of Barclays who revised his rating to Underweight from Equal-Weight with a price target lowered to $180 from a previous $190. Similarly, Johnson argued that "crossing the chasm" will be more difficult than it appears for the company. Johnson argued that since shares of Tesla failed to rally heading into the Model X launch, the stock is lacking a "story-driven" event to support shares. In fact, the analyst is expecting the company's margins to fall below consensus estimates given a slow production ramp and engineering difficulties. Johnson also questioned if the slow ramp of the Model X will affect the Model 3 launching on time. Permabulll Cuts Estimates Finally, one of Tesla's "permabull" analyst also revised his estimates lower. Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on the stock, but cut his price target to $450 from a previous $465. The analyst is expecting the company to deliver less than 20,000 Model X units in 2016, unless cheaper versions are introduced. In fact, even if the company where to lower the Model X price tag over time through lower-spec models, it may still prove to be too expensive of a vehicle which may result in a lower-than-expected demand. Jonas also suggested that the higher-than-expected Model X prices should force the company explore "new business models of mobility that address sustainable transport that more efficiently apply its EV technology." Latest Ratings for TSLA DateFirmActionFromTo Oct 2015BarclaysDowngradesEqual-weightUnderweight Oct 2015BairdDowngradesNeutral Oct 2015RBC CapitalInitiates Coverage onSector Perform View More Analyst Ratings for TSLA View the Latest Analyst Ratings 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Volkswagen's admission that is used software to manipulate the results of emission testing to sidestep pollution standards in millions of cars has rocked the automaker. And the figures involved are pretty staggering. WSJ's Dipti Kapadia explains the scandal in numbers. Photo: Getty Images
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I have a theory: Underneath it all, a good chunk of the people who "hate" Halloween (me included) don't actually hate Halloween. They're stressed out by Halloween-the needing to get a good costume, the not having of any ideas for said costume, the procuring of this costume in an unfun way. Like the two options I usually end up with: paying too much on a pre-bagged getup from a giant Halloween pop-up shop ($59.95 for a 12 inches of blue spandex and a plastic wand?), or DIYing something that turns out to be less passion project, more anxiety inducer. But not this year. This year I'm knocking the Halloween costume errand off my to-do list while I do another errand: the drugstore run. Yes, among the aisles of toothpaste, chewable vitamins, and batteries, you can procure the key items that, when combined with stuff already in your closet, amount to a pretty decent costume-no hellish trip to Halloween Express or arts and crafts hour needed. Why make life harder than it has to be? I have a theory: Underneath it all, a good chunk of the people who "hate" Halloween (me included) don't actually hate Halloween. They're stressed out by Halloween-the needing to get a good costume, the not having of any ideas for said costume, the procuring of this costume in an unfun way. Like the two options I usually end up with: paying too much on a pre-bagged getup from a giant Halloween pop-up shop ($59.95 for a 12 inches of blue spandex and a plastic wand?), or DIYing something that turns out to be less passion project, more anxiety inducer. But not this year. This year I'm knocking the Halloween costume errand off my to-do list while I do another errand: the drugstore run. Yes, among the aisles of toothpaste, chewable vitamins, and batteries, you can procure the key items that, when combined with stuff already in your closet, amount to a pretty decent costume-no hellish trip to Halloween Express or arts and crafts hour needed. 1. Wednesday Addams from 'The Addams Family Values' If you already have: black dress, hair ties And you buy at CVS: dark lipstick, hair gel Why it's great: The hardest part is braiding your hair. Plus, you get to frown and be emo all night, for those of you TRULY do hate Halloween. 2. The senior girls from 'Dazed and Confused' If you already have: jean shorts, white T-shirt or sweatshirt, Sharpie And you buy at CVS: whistle (they have them! in the crafty/school supplies/kids aisle) Why it's great: The whistle-an extra handy prop when you can't get the bartender's attention. 3. Cookie from 'Empire' If you already have: cocktail dress, lots of makeup And you buy at CVS: purple boa (YES. They also have boas. I checked my local CVS. It's magic in there, people.) Why it's great: Cookie is to 2015 what Khaleesi was to 2011: the perfectly timely pop culture wink. 4. Regina George from 'Mean Girls' If you already have: jeans, bright tank top, scissors And you buy at CVS: cheap white tank top you don't mind cutting up Why it's great: You don't even have to cut perfect circles in the tank. It's, like, absurdly easy. 5. Joel from 'Risky Business' If you already have: oversized button down, boxers or boy shorts, socks And you buy at CVS: thick socks Why it's great: No pants party! Never not a great thing. 6. Margot from 'The Royal Tenenbaums' If you already have: fur (or fake!!) coat, a lob, black eyeliner And You Buy at CVS: barette Why it's great: It's the rare female Halloween costume that you won't make you freeze your butt off all night. 7. Frida Kahlo If you already have: a shawl, red lipstick, eyebrow pencil And you buy at CVS: fake flowers to weave into your hair (or a flower headpiece―I found one right near the hair ties.) Why it's great: You get to wear a unibrow! It's fun and silly. AND it's also highbrow, because you know, ART.
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lifestyle
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The Houston Texans quarterback situation is once again a question, and head coach Bill O'Brien isn't ready to name a starter. According to ESPN's Tania Ganguli, O'Brien didn't commit to either Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer after the Week 5 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. "Brian, I thought, did a good job tonight, but we'll talk about it. I haven't even talked to the staff yet about it. We'll sit down and review the film. I thought Brian did a good job though." Hoyer earned the initial starting nod, but Houston's quarterback situation has been like a roller coaster. After the veteran's porous start in the season opener, O'Brien turned to Mallett, who remained under center until the Atlanta Falcons took a 42-0 lead in Week 4. Although Mallett was named the starter for Thursday, he temporarily exited the field due to a chest injury. But, that quickly turned temporary when Hoyer guided the Texans offense more efficiently than Mallett had. Hoyer finished 24-of-31 for 312 yards and two touchdowns, but his final throw of the outing swiftly swung the competition door completely open. For no good reason, Hoyer lofted a third-down prayer over the middle of the field, which Indianapolis intercepted and soon sealed the game. O'Brien and the Houston staff have a couple extra days to finalize a decision before the Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 18.
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sports
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Authorities say two young cousins missing for nearly a day have been found alive in the rugged Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. More than 100 searchers combed the wooded, ravine-filled area looking for the boys, ages 5 and 7. State Police Trooper Joe Veeneman said Friday the boys were found about a mile from their campsite. The trooper didn't have details on their condition. They disappeared Thursday evening from Koomer Ridge campground in the popular recreation area in eastern Kentucky. Veeneman says the boys had gone to the campsite with one boy's father and a grandfather of both boys. He says the men were setting up the campsite when the boys disappeared. Red River Gorge is a heavily wooded, rocky destination popular with hikers, campers and rock climbers.
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news
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If you're a firefighter, the best place for home shopping is Riverside, CA, where you'll make a median annual income of $107,000. That's about $78,000 more per year than the average worker there, according to Zillow's new affordability analysis . Residents of Riverside typically spend about 26 percent of their income on housing, which allows firefighters to afford a home priced as high as $653,000 - almost every home on the market. Firefighters in Charlotte, NC are seeing quite the opposite. Their salaries are much lower than in Riverside - $41,000 per year - and people in North Carolina typically spend a smaller chunk of their income on housing. A firefighter's home shopping budget tops out at $180,000, making more than half of the listings on the market unaffordable. Zillow also looked at affordability for teachers, lawyers, construction workers and food-service workers, and found that Buffalo, NY is the most affordable place to live for both lawyers and construction workers. Lawyers in Buffalo bring in a median income of $89,000 per year, and construction workers bring in a median of $35,000 per year. Residents in Buffalo have historically spent about 19 percent of their income on housing, making almost 95 percent of listings affordable for lawyers, and about 63 percent of listings affordable for construction workers. Here's a list of the best and worst places to shop for houses for single-earners in each of these five occupations: 1. Firefighters Best: Riverside, CA. The median income for a firefighter here is $107,000 per year, with 26 percent of it going toward housing. The maximum home price that's affordable at this income level is $653,000, which includes 90.94 percent of the listings on the market. Worst: Charlotte, NC. Firefighters make a median income of $41,000, and 19 percent of that goes toward housing. They can afford to spend up to $180,000 on a home, which covers 44 percent of listings in the area. 2. Teachers Best: Bakersfield, CA. Teachers in Bakersfield bring home a median income of $61,000 per year. They spend 22 percent of that on housing and can afford a $310,000 home. That's 86 percent of listings on the market. Worst: Provo, UT. The yearly median income for teachers in Provo is $32,000, and they have historically spent 22 percent of it on housing each month. They can afford up to a $171,000 home, which accounts for only 24 percent of listings on the market. 3. Lawyers Best: Buffalo, NY. Lawyers in Buffalo bring home a median yearly income of $89,000. Historically, residents spent 19 percent of income on housing, which allows lawyers here to afford a $403,000 home - which represents 95 percent of listings. Worst: Springfield, MA. The yearly median income for a lawyer in Springfield is $29,000. Residents can expect to spend 24 percent of their income on housing each month. This means a lawyer can afford a $165,000 home, or 37 percent of listings on the market. 4. Construction workers Best: Buffalo, NY. The yearly median income for a construction worker here is $35,000. Historically, residents have spent 19 percent of their income on housing per month. The maximum home affordable for construction workers is $159,000. This is 63 percent of the listings on the market. Worst: Portland, OR. The median income in Portland for construction workers is $27,000, with 22 percent of it going toward housing. They can afford a $142,000 home, which covers only 9 percent of listings in the area. 5. Food-service workers Best: Las Vegas, NV. The median income for a food-service worker in Las Vegas is $25,000 per year, and they spend 25 percent of it on housing each month. They can afford a $144,000 home - 43 percent of the listings on the market. Worst: Salt Lake City, UT. The median income for Salt Lake City food-service workers is just $12,000 per year. Twenty-two percent of their income is spent on housing each month, so they'll be able to afford a $61,000 home. This is just 1.5 percent of the listings on the market. See the full report on Zillow Research. More from Zillow A 3-Step Plan for Finding and Buying Your Next Home 5 Biggest Home-Buying Fears (and How to Face Them) Buying a Home That Will Age With You See open houses near you | Search homes for sale
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finance
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Islamic State group fighters advanced Friday on Syria's second city Aleppo despite 10 days of Russian air strikes that Moscow says are aimed at routing the jihadists. The jihadist gains came as regime forces, backed by Russian bombing and fighters from the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah, intensified an offensive against rebels in the northwest, where IS is absent. Western governments say the vast majority of Russian strikes have targeted rebel groups other than IS in a bid to defend President Bashar al-Assad's rule. IS militants reached their closest position yet to Aleppo in northern Syria at dawn on Friday after hours of ferocious fighting with rival opponents of Assad, a monitoring group reported. "Dozens of combatants were killed on both sides," said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. IS militants drove out rebels from the localities of Tall Qrah, Tall Soussin, Kafar Qares and the base of Madrasat al-Mushat, he said. The jihadists are now just over 10 kilometres (six mile) from the northern edges of Aleppo city, edging closer to the front line where pro-regime forces are positioned, including the Sheikh Najjar industrial zone. "IS has never been so close to the city of Aleppo, and this is its biggest advance towards" the country's pre-war commercial capital, said Abdel Rahman, whose Britain-based group relies on a network of sources on the ground across Syria. - Iranian general killed - Control of Aleppo city is divided between rebel groups in the east and government forces, bolstered by pro-regime militias, in the west. IS has not had a presence in the city, but the jihadist group on Friday boasted it had "reached the gates of Aleppo". "IS announced several times that it would launch an offensive on Aleppo without doing it. They were waiting for the right moment and took advance of Russian strikes on other rebels to advance," said jihadism analyst Romain Caillet. Thomas Pierret, an expert on Islam in Syria, said the US-led coalition bombing IS in Syria was "not very active" in Aleppo, and that Russia's strikes there had struck mostly rebels, allowing IS to push forward. Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced one of its senior commanders was killed by IS in the Aleppo region on Thursday, without revealing the exact circumstances. A Guards statement said Hamedani had played an "important role... reinforcing the front of Islamic resistance against the terrorists" but was killed "during an advisory mission". Shiite-dominated Iran is a staunch ally of Assad, sending Guards forces and military advisers to aid him against Sunni rebels seeking his overthrow. Hezbollah has done much of the fighting to prop up Assad's army, though the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign wing, Qassem Soleimani, is said to be heavily involved in guiding military strategy. The conflict began as an uprising against Assad's rule in 2011 but has splintered into a multi-faceted civil war involving government troops, Western-backed rebels, jihadists and Kurdish forces. - Moscow denies missile crash - French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday that "80 to 90 percent" of Russian strikes in Syria were aimed at propping up Assad. He was speaking after French warplanes carried out new strikes overnight on IS targets in Syria, where Paris launched its first raids on September 27. According to the Observatory, 14 IS jihadists were killed in the raids, which had struck "a training camp" on the southern edges of Raqa city. The Russian air war has provided cover for Assad's ground troops, who have lost swathes of the country to jihadists and rebel groups. The campaign has been critical for the regime's fight in Sahl al-Ghab, a strategic plain in Hama province that borders both the regime's coastal bastion of Latakia and the rebel stronghold of Idlib province. Syria's army announced a "vast offensive" on Thursday, advancing near Sahl al-Ghab from both the Hama and Latakia fronts with Russian air support. Moscow denied a claim by a US official that four Syria-bound Russian cruise missiles fired from the Caspian Sea had crashed in Iran on Wednesday. "Any professional knows that during these operations we always fix the target before and after impact. All our cruise missiles hit their target," spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said. Iran declined to confirm the claim by the US official, who did not provide details about where the missiles might have come down or if they caused any damage.
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Actress Geena Davis has called for more women on screen and more challenging female roles in TV and film. "We are unwittingly training generation after generation to see men and women as unequal," said Davis who was speaking on gender in media in London. "Surely in the 21st century we should be showing kids that boys and girls should be sharing the sandbox equally?" Davis, who founded a research institute into gender in media, called for "immediate and dramatic" change. The Thelma & Louise star was the keynote speaker at an international symposium on gender in media, coinciding with this year's London Film Festival,. The actress founded the Geena Davis Institute in 2004 after watching TV with her young daughter and observing there were "far fewer" female characters on screen. "The ratio of male and female characters has been exactly the same since 1946," Davis lamented, with male roles outnumbering females by three to one in most children's film and TV shows. "The more hours of TV a girl watches the fewer options she thinks she has, the more hours a boy watches, the more sexist he becomes," she said in her speech. 'Easy fix' "Women are seriously under-represented in almost every sector of society across the world," she continued, but stressed that the entertainment industry was one of the few where that inequality could be redressed almost overnight. "Make whatever you were going to make, and just put more women in it. Just cast more women." Citing research that showed crowd scenes in films were often only 17% female, the 59-year-old actress argued that the solution was often an "easy fix" "Everywhere I go, I bring that up and they say: 'Why are we doing that? Let's fix that right away!'" "We can change what our future looks like," Davis told the audience. Reflecting on her own career, which included an Oscar for the 1988 film The Accidental Tourist, Davis said she had "long been aware there are fewer great parts for women". 'Sweeping changes' "Thelma & Louise changed the course of my life," she said. "It brought home to me in a very striking way how few opportunities we give women... to be empowered by the female characters they see on screen. "Ever since that, I've made choices with that in mind, with the women in the audience in mind." But she added: "I can only be this choosy because, so far, I have not run out of money yet. You can't be as fussy as all that unless you can afford to wait for good parts. If you read that I've signed on to play Sean Connery's comatose wife in a movie, you'll know I'm broke!" She called on the industry to make "sweeping changes". "I want reaching parity in films to seem fun and easy and creative. Give female characters more to do, more to say, greater aspirations... give them more clothes." "I go directly to talk to the creators, the decision makers, and the response has been overwhelming. Lots of TV and movies have come out now that we know we have impacted." "I feel very confident predicting that the needle will move significantly within the next few years, and it will be historic."
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entertainment
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Claims that the battery life of the new iPhones can vary by up to two hours depending on which third-party supplier manufactured the central chip don't reflect real-world usage, according to Apple. The chip at the heart of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, named the "A9" chip by Apple, comes in two forms, one manufactured by Samsung and the other by Taiwanese company TSMC. Since the phones started hitting shelves last week, users have reported that the phones containing Samsung chips significantly underperform those with TSMC chips in intensive battery-life tests . According to battery life benchmarks, the difference can be almost two hours. But in a statement, Apple said that the discrepancy was not reflected in real-world usage. It said: "Certain manufactured lab tests which run the processors with a continuous heavy workload until the battery depletes are not representative of real-world usage, since they spend an unrealistic amount of time at the highest CPU performance state. "It's a misleading way to measure real-world battery life. Our testing and customer data show the actual battery life of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, even taking into account variable component differences, vary within just 2-3% of each other." The battery metrics cited by Apple for the iPhone 6S include a number of different usage profiles, including talk time, internet use, HD video playback, and standby time. While video playback is relatively processor-intensive, none of those tasks are likely to max out the new A9 chip in the way a battery benchmark test does, suggesting that the discrepancy between the two chips only has an impact at the very highest end of performance. In terms of real-world battery life, the Guardian's own review of the new iPhones found that they underperformed compared to similar devices. Samuel Gibbs, reviewing the iPhone 6s , found: "Battery life is the iPhone 6S's biggest problem. During the week the phone failed to make it past 11pm after leaving the charger at 7.30am in the morning."
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news
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In today's Flip Side, the Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi joins CineSport's Noah Coslov to look back at the Penguins opening night shutout loss and to determine issues moving forward.
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sports
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Manny Pacquiao is weighing up his options ahead of his final fight, saying he still wants one last shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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video
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BBC correspondent Stephen Evans is allowed rare access to North Korea's underground system in the capital Pyongyang.
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news
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Robin McGraw has teamed up with Omaze to raise funds for When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation, which helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Hear about the amazing opportunity to "Walk A Day In Robin's Shoes." To enter for a chance to win, visit Omaze.com/Robin.
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health
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Stocks head for their biggest weekly rise in four years after minutes of the Federal Reserve show no rush to raise interest rates, whilst at the IMF meeting in Peru, Christine Lagarde is optimistic on China's slowdown. Kirsty Basset reports.
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finance
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Rafael Nadal came from behind against hard-hitting Jack Sock on Friday to reach the China Open semi-finals and set up a rematch with his shock US Open conqueror Fabio Fognini. The Spanish great, scrapping to recover his form after a tough year, was frequently outgunned by the American's howitzer forehand but he dug deep to see off the world number 30, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. "Yes, it was an important victory for me. Obviously I finished the match playing better than what I started. It's important because I came back," Nadal said. "This year I lost a lot of matches when I had an advantage. So to have the chance to win a match when I start losing this one, so it's important for me, too. "It's an important thing, important fact that I finished the match playing better than what I started. That is a positive thing for my game." Nadal had not reached a hardcourt semi-final for more than a year, but he will now play Fognini, who stunned him last month in the US Open third round, for a place in the title match. "He's a great player. When you play against a great player, especially if you don't play to your best, your chances are lower," Nadal said of the Italian, who beat Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 2-6, 6-2. "If I am able to play my best tomorrow... I am going to have my chances. If not, it's going to be tough. It's simple. Sport is simple." On a cold, bright day, Nadal paid for a slow start when he was broken in the first game. Sock's big forehand kept Nadal under pressure throughout the set, which he ultimately yielded with a double-fault. But the 14-time Grand Slam-winner hit back by breaking first-up in the second set, and he gave a fist-pump of relief and satisfaction when he eventually levelled the match 6-4. They slugged it out to 3-3 in the third set until Sock blinked first, handing Nadal three break points, and for once the American's forehand misfired as he shanked a routine shot high into the stands. And it was another miscued forehand which settled the quarter-final as Sock, serving to stay in it, hit one long to hand victory to Nadal on his first match point. Meanwhile in the women's last eight, Agnieszka Radwanska beat Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-4, and Timea Backsinszky bounced back from an opening-set 'bagel' to beat Sara Errani 0-6, 6-3, 7-5. In the other men's quarter-finals, unbeaten five-time champion Novak Djokovic is playing America's John Isner later, while Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer takes on Taiwanese wildcard Lu Yen-hsun.
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sports
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A new NASA report spells out a long-range strategy to develop and test technologies for astronauts to live on Mars. Photo: AP.
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video
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North Korea, relatively small nation that it is, will do its best Saturday to convince the world - and particularly the United States - that it's not to be trifled with. The North plans an exceptionally large display of its military power to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Soldiers and citizens will gather in Pyongyang, the capital, for the main event: a parade featuring goose-stepping soldiers, ballistic missile launchers, long-range self-propelled guns and slogans celebrating the party's power. Pyongyang organizes carefully choreographed displays of military might to drum up patriotism and push the narrative that North Korea needs a strong military to withstand outside forces who wish it harm, analysts say. "This large display is a way of demonstrating that North Korea is defying international pressure," said Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. Public gatherings are planned in cities around the country, and Daily NK, a Seoul-based news website with sources in North Korea, reported this week that North Koreans were put to work cleaning and decorating for the occasion. They also were ordered to give money to local officials, ostensibly to chip in for the costs of the celebration, the website reported. Saturday's military parade is expected to be one of North Korea's biggest. Satellite images released this week by 38 North, a North Korean affairs website affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, showed that organizers have been gathering troops and equipment for the parade at an airbase near Pyongyang for the past six months. By August, there were more than 500 tents, 600 trucks and 170 armored and military vehicles at the air base, 38 North reported. In the long lead-up to the big day, experts have speculated that North Korea would launch a rocket. The U.S. and United Nations consider such events a veiled way of testing ballistic missile technology amid fears that Pyongyang could seek to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile. North Korea has not conducted a nuclear test since its third in early 2013, leading to speculation over when the next test could come. Since then, North Korea has regularly issued strongly worded statements arguing that the development of nuclear weapons is its right as a sovereign state. But anxiety over a possible launch has faded. Late last month, 38 North released satellite imagery that showed no signs of preparation at the launch site that are usually detected at least a week or two in advance. North Korea successfully launched a long-range rocket in 2012 but also has tried and failed twice. Earlier in 2012, a launch intended to mark the centenary of founder Kim Il Sung's birth ended with the rocket breaking up and crashing into the sea. This time, experts say, Pyongyang may have decided to play it safe and avoid risking the embarrassment of a launch gone wrong. "They likely judged the risk of failure to be too high," said Kim Bo-geun, a North Korea analyst at the Hankyoreh Unification Institute in Seoul. "A failed launch around such an important day, when they're trying to appear strong, would be a huge loss of face." One thing that hasn't changed is North Korea's wariness toward the United States. The Korean War, which pitted the China-backed communist North against the U.S.-supported capitalist South, ended in 1953 with an armistice but no peace treaty. Pyongyang still considers the U.S. an enemy and sees American military bases in South Korea as an active threat. The Workers' Party of Korea has had an uninterrupted grip on power in North Korea since the country was founded in 1948. The party is led by the Kim family dynasty, which is now in its third generation with young leader Kim Jong Un. He took the helm in 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. In his appearance and demeanor, the younger Kim has made an effort to hark back to the rule of his grandfather. North Koreans generally remember the era of Kim Il Sung as a more stable time, when the country received aid from the Soviet Union and maintained a more effective system of state-issued rations. Though no longer a country of famine, the North remains poor and has resisted enacting the kind of market-oriented reforms that have brought higher living standards to China and Vietnam. Although China remains by far North Korea's most important ally and trading partner, their bilateral relationship has become frayed in recent years, with Beijing appearing to lose patience with the North over its refusal to give up its nuclear program. Unlike a recent parade in Beijing to mark the defeat of Japan in World War II, Pyongyang's gathering is not expected to draw any heads of state. Chinese President Xi Jinping "extended warm congratulations" to Kim on the party's anniversary, the official New China News Agency reported Friday, while Beijing dispatched Liu Yunshan, a high-ranking member of the Communist Party's Politburo standing committee, to attend the parade. China's state-run Global Times tabloid hailed the visit as a "friendly and active move to maintain and smooth the communication channel between the two countries" that "has given rise to expectations in the economic and social sectors." Yet the mechanics of the China-North Korea relationship remain opaque, and Chinese experts advised treating the news with caution. "I don't think this is a sign that both countries are proactively seeking a warmer or a stronger relationship," said Zhang Liangui, an expert on North Korea at the Central Party School in Beijing. "We still need to see what happens next - will there be more exchanges between the two sides or not? At this point, we just don't know." Special correspondent Borowiec reported from Seoul and Times staff writer Kaiman from Beijing.
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news
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Jack Dorsey was named permanent CEO of Twitter on Monday, and a big reason he got the job was that as a co-founder, Dorsey isn't afraid to make the tough, necessary decisions. He isn't wasting much time.
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finance
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UCLA punter Adam Searl was arrested Thursday on suspicion of rape, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Searl, a 20-year-old redshirt sophomore, was taken into custody on campus and booked on three counts of rape with bail set at $300,000. Jail records show he was released at 10:44 p.m. Thursday. He has been suspended from the team. MORE: Week 6 Top 20 Power Rankings Searl is accused of raping a woman on Oct. 19, 2014, after he accompanied her to a residence following an off-campus party, the Los Angeles Daily News reports . The woman said she fell asleep and woke up later that night to Searl sexually assaulting her. After an "exhaustive investigation" with both LAPD and the UCLA campus police, the woman identified Searl as her attacker. No other details have been released; Searl is due in court Oct. 29. "We have been informed of the situation involving Adam Searl, and we take these accusations very seriously," UCLA coach Jim Mora said in a statement . "Adam has been suspended from the team indefinitely while the legal process runs its course. Due to the ongoing police investigation, we are unable to discuss this matter further at this time." Searl has punted five times this year for UCLA, with an average of 39 yards per kick. Mora told reporters Wednesday that he planned to give Searl more opportunities in the coming weeks, saying "He has worked hard and has earned it."
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sports
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Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland let Toronto Blue Jays fans know exactly how he felt about them during Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday. Holland, who is typically a starting pitcher, began warming in the bullpen in the ninth inning of a 4-4 game. As he was walking around and limbering up, he noticed a Blue Jays fan had dropped a rally towel onto the field. Holland picked the towel up, showed it to the fans and proceeded to wipe his well, you know with it. @BlueJays @BleacherReport @SportsCenter @TSN_Sports @Sportsnet @Steve_Dangle Derek Holland in the bullpen pic.twitter.com/7TtuCICjkO Michael Papaeliou (@mpaps44) October 9, 2015 Holland is a known jokester remember that car he showed up to training camp in a few years back? He was clearly just having fun with the Jays fans. Anything that adds tension to a playoff series if fine by us.
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sports
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People on the Internet aren't the only ones who think Natalie Dormer looks like Kermit the Frog's new girlfriend from the Muppets. The actress does too, and she's surprisingly cool with it. Emily Eden (@edenandtheapple) has the scoop.
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video
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Beer lovers, rejoice! Startup company Supplemental Brewing has two new products, Brewtein and NutriBeer, that make it so you can bulk up with booze. This so-called protein beer is "where your workout meets your weekend." According to the company's website, the products consist of more protein than any other beer in the world. Brewtein, the company's staple wheat ale, consists of 7 grams of whey protein, 7 g of carbohydrates, and is 5 percent alcohol all for 178 calories per serving. Nutribeer, on the other hand, is a low-carb version of Brewtein, with only 4 g of protein, 4 percent alcohol, and 122 calories per serving. Nutribeer also has more of a subtle citrus flavor. Just last month Supplemental Brewing launched a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising the $40,000 it needed to launch their fitness beer revolution. Here, the company explains its belief "that everyone in America should be able to enjoy a cold protein beer after a hard workout." To date, the company has received well over $13,000 in donations; however, just because you can drink the beer doesn't neccesarily mean you should. Speaking with Mashable , registered dietician Gabrielle Giuliano pointed out that while Supplemental Brewing Protein Beer claims to have health benefits, it is still in fact an alcoholic beverage. "It is true that post-workout one needs to replenish with protein, but adequate hydration with vitamins and minerals are also needed, which this beverage may or may not provide," she said. Furthermore, alcohol is a diurectic and ultimately limits the body from hydrating post-workout, which is key for recovery. Guilano cautions that any alcohol consumption, punched-up with protein or otherwise, should be in moderation. At this time, Supplemental Brewing's website does not list a full ingredient list. So, if you want to raise a glass to getting ripped, do so with caution.
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Hair strand drug tests detect the presence of drug metabolites in the follicle. While any discovery of metabolites in hair tests is believed to be undeniable proof of marijuana use, a new study from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Freiburg, Germany finds that it's possible to get a false positive. "Our studies show that [the main targets in a hair test] can be present in hair of non-consuming individuals because of transfer through cannabis consumers, via their hands, their sebum/sweat, or cannabis smoke," wrote Dr. Volker Auwärter, a professor of forensic toxicology, and his colleagues. Worldwide, cannabis is preferred above all other illicit drugs, with an estimated 125 to 227 million users around the globe, the researchers noted. Nearly as popular are drug tests, which commonly focus on urine, sweat, saliva, or hair to detect the presence of this and other illegal substances. Employee drug testing and child protection drug testing often rely on hair analysis, noted the Germany-based researchers in their study. Though sometimes hair tests are used in the United States, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry suggests that urine tests are the most frequently used drug screens. In fact, for government employees in the U.S., urine tests are standard. Spokesperson for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Bradford Stone, of the department of Health and Human Services, told Medical Daily that "the only method we have certified for use is urine-based." Stone explained SAMHSA provides the guidelines for drug tests of federal employees, other government agency employees, and industry employees who work on government contracts. And, based on published data from Quest Diagnostics, which provides diagnostic testing information services in the U.S. and internationally, private industries also appear to favor urine tests. The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index estimated that the company performed more than 210 thousand hair drug tests, more than 800 thousand oral fluid drug tests, and more than 6.6 million urine tests for the general U.S. workforce during 2014. Additionally, the company conducted more than 2.5 million federally mandated urine tests for safety sensitive workforce. This same year false positives may have occurred, at the very least, on 210 thousand drug test occasions. This figure, though, does not include child custody cases. A false positive for an employee or a parent could have "a devastating impact on someone's life," Kris Krane, a managing partner at 4front Advisors and former executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, told Medical Daily . A positive test result can nullify a workers' compensation claim or even put death benefits at risk should a worker be killed on the job. "These days urine tests are used mostly as a precursor to employment, random drug testing is less common," Krane observed. However, in child custody cases, drug tests are "a common tactic," he noted, explaining how a positive result could lead to court-supervised visits or no custody rights whatsoever, depending on a state's specific legal standard. The problem with drug tests in general, said Krane, is they may not be effective at determining impairment given marijuana stays in your system longer than other drugs. Someone could have used months ago and it would show up on a hair test, he said. Meanwhile, the website of the National Institute on Drug Abuse offers the viewpoint of employers. Compared with non-substance users, past research indicates substance-using employees are more likely to change jobs frequently, be late to or absent from work, be less productive, be involved in a workplace accident and potentially harm others, and even file a workers' compensation claim. No matter where someone stands on drug testing, the current study suggests a positive hair test result could be due to close contact with cannabis consumers. "Practitioners who work with results of hair analysis should be aware of these limitations and the severe consequences false conclusions could entail," the authors concluded. Source: Moosmann B, Roth N, Auwarter V. Finding cannabinoids in hair does not prove cannabis consumption. Nature. 2015.
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UK-based coupon website Voucher Codes Pro conducted a study of 1,789 vegetarians to find out the answer to one simple question: "When drunk, do you ever eat meat ?" More than one third of respondents (37 percent) said yes! Of those meat-cheaters, 34 percent said they did it every time they're drunk on a night out. Those greasy pub burgers sure are hard to resist. As are those hot, juicy street meat kebabs waiting just outside the bar. Here are the meat products vegetarians were most likely to cheat with: Kebab meat: 39 percent Beef burgers: 34 percent Bacon: 27 percent Fried chicken: 19 percent Pork sausage: 14 percent 69 percent of the respondents said they never told a soul about the incident, making it very likely that these transgressions were taking place solo with no accomplices. Pretty funny, right? If any of you are vegetarians, do you ever cheat? And are you more likely to eat meat when you've been drinking?
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SEATTLE (AP) -- Given the opportunity that he didn't get in his previous stop as a general manager, Jerry Dipoto decided the best move for the Seattle Mariners was to bring in his own field boss from the start. That was reasoning behind Dipoto's decision to fire manager Lloyd McClendon on Friday after two seasons. Instead of moving forward with someone who had differing baseball views, Dipoto will start his tenure in Seattle with someone he chooses. "Everything we do is as a group," Dipoto said. "This isn't an indictment of Lloyd. This is a representation of what we would like to build going forward. That is what we'll do." McClendon's firing was far from a surprise and came less than a week after the Mariners concluded a disappointing 76-86 season. Seattle started the year with expectations of contending in the AL West and reaching the postseason, but instead finished in fourth place in the division. Dipoto was hired during the final week of the regular season to replace Jack Zduriencik and said he would take his time evaluating whether McClendon would return. McClendon was under contract for the 2016 season. Dipoto said he has great respect for McClendon but realized in meetings this week and last that their baseball philosophies would not be the best match going forward. "This was an opportunity to come into an organization and create a vision and I feel like this is the best way to do that," Dipoto said. Dipoto came to Seattle after leaving behind a rocky relationship with the Angels and manager Mike Scioscia over the summer. Scioscia was already entrenched when Dipoto was hired in Los Angeles. Rather than try to force a relationship in Seattle, Dipoto will now be able to bring in someone he wants to work with, although he said the situation with the Angels didn't play heavily into his decision with McClendon. "I thought through all the different angles, the way the clubhouse would be affected, the way the organization would be affected," Dipoto said. "I incorporated a number of people in making the decision and I'm comfortable with it." Dipoto said he wants a manager who is energetic, a good teacher and has experience in a major league clubhouse but previous coaching or managing experience isn't necessary. And he has a list in mind. "Leadership will be an important element to me and energy will be an important element to me. Players need to be energized, to be inspired to do something," Dipoto said. The Mariners said hitting coach Edgar Martinez and infield coach Chris Woodward have been invited to remain with the Mariners staff and Dipoto was hopeful both would accept. Pitching coach Rick Waits and coach Chris Prieto have been invited to remain with the organization in different roles. All other coaches on the major league staff will not return. Martinez joined the club as hitting coach in June. "Listening to him break down hitting and how clearly invested he was in making the players better, really excited," Dipoto said. "I'm very excited about the opportunity to bring him back and I think he is. This is where he wants to be." Seattle was McClendon's second chance as a manager and he raised hopes of a turnaround after the Mariners went 87-75 in his first season and missed the playoffs by one game. But Seattle could not sustain the success from the first season and, combined with Zduriencik's firing, McClendon's status was in doubt once Dipoto took charge. McClendon was 163-161 in his two seasons with the Mariners and was the only black manager in baseball. Dipoto's decision means Seattle will have its 10th manager -- full-time and interim -- since the club's last playoff appearance in 2001. McClendon was well-liked by his players in Seattle, specifically Robinson Cano. But the success of the first season -- when Seattle had a lackluster offense but outstanding pitching -- couldn't carry into the second year. Seattle's bullpen regressed significantly, the offense slogged through the first half of the season led by the struggles of Cano, and the Mariners could never recover from a 2-9 homestand in late May and early June. "I look in the mirror every night and I know I gave it everything I had every day," McClendon said on the final day of the regular season. "And, I said this earlier, my players gave me everything they had every day. Some nights it was good enough, some nights it wasn't very good. But, the effort was always there."
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You're driving down a crowded highway and see an upcoming wave of glowing red brake lights. The car in front of you starts to brake, so you brake and cause the car behind you to do the same. Gridlock. A few miles down the road, when the logjam clears, you find that there was... nothing. No accident, no police pullover, no bottleneck, no highway construction. It was just pointless traffic with seemingly no cause. Traffic engineers call this frustrating phenomenon "a phantom traffic jam." It's different than aggressive, bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic, which is an overloaded roadway problem. Rather, a phantom jam is something that naturally arises when people drive fast enough and close enough together. But the key word here is "people." It turns out that if even a tiny percentage of the cars on the road are autonomous-think of a highway dotted with just 2 percent of something like Google's self-driving car-then the number of phantom traffic jams drops drastically. Small effects add up According to Benjamin Seibold, a mathematician at Temple University who specializes in traffic engineering simulations, a phantom traffic jam is not actually caused by bad drivers or mistakes made on the road. It's that small effects accelerate through the system. "What happens is that when a roadway becomes densely packed with vehicles, small perturbations in otherwise perfectly normal driving"-say, just barely letting off the gas and slowly by a couple of miles per hour-"are gradually amplified by other cars, until they actually become waves of cars suddenly braking." So phantom traffic is typically no single person's fault. But that doesn't mean it's unavoidable. What would happen if self-driving cars, which don't make the same kinds of small errors that humans do, take to the highways? Last year Seibold and a team of researchers received a three-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to find out what effect, if any, autonomous vehicles could have in alleviating traffic such as phantom traffic jams. Although Seibold is still in the very early stages of this project, he's put together computer models that demonstrate ways in which self-driving vehicles could alleviate and actively combat phantom traffic jams. Even a tiny spattering of such autonomous cars dispersed throughout a highway could act like vehicular jetties-breaking up the waves of slowing cars that would otherwise gradually congest into annoying traffic jams. In one of Seibold's preliminary traffic models, he found that if autonomous cars accounted for just 2 percent of the traffic on the road, those robot cars would "drive in a particular way that makes them better at keeping a constant velocity, can reduce stop-and-go traffic by as much as 50 percent." How a robot drives How can so few vehicles make such a vast difference? Seibold says the self-driving cars would leave slightly more room between them and any vehicle ahead of them, braking and accelerating with carefully calculated smoothness. That is, instead of tailgating the cars in front of them and having to slam on the brakes all the time, like certain lead-footed human drivers, self-driving cars leave enough space to slow gently when things tighten up, creating fewer hard braking "waves" that spread through the traffic system. Autonomous vehicles would also have an ability humans don't to sense traffic patterns up ahead. Assuming a self-driving car could sense what's happening up to 8 cars ahead, it could reduce an existing phantom traffic jam by preventatively slowing down just a few mph in advance of a block-up. Despite the fact that these aren't very big changes in driving style, these tiny corrections have a huge effect. To be sure, Seibold is careful to note that his new models are still rather simple-ignoring factors like lane changes and the occasional rogue, terrible driver-and that live experiments using real, running autonomous vehicles are planned but have yet to be done. Nonetheless, he says, all evidence so far points towards the fact "these vehicles could really have a measurable impact on phantom traffic, even shortly after they start to enter the roadway." Follow MSN Autos on Facebook
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ST. LOUIS (AP) -- All-Star catcher Yadier Molina is in the lineup batting seventh for the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Division Series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Cubs manager Joe Maddon flipped the corner outfielders for defensive purposes, moving rookie Kyle Schwarber to right field and Chris Coghlan to left field. Molina has been out since Sept. 20 with a strained left thumb ligament sustained tagging out the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo at the plate in Chicago. He'll be wearing a hard plastic molded splint behind the plate and tape the thumb for at-bats. Stephen Piscotty, sidelined by a concussion late in the season, started at first base for the Cardinals and batted St. Louis. The Cardinals won the NL Central for the third straight year with 100 wins, finishing three games ahead of the third-place Cubs. Chicago is in the postseason for the first time since 2008.
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October 9, 2015: Here are four stocks trading with heavy volume among 23 equities making new 52-week lows today The Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) dropped about 8.5% on Friday to post a new 52-week low at $26.50 after closing at $28.95 on Thursday. The stock's 52-week high is $43.90. Share volume was more than double the daily average of around 5 million. The retailer missed estimates for September same-store sales last night. LDR Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: LDRH) dropped 28% on Friday to post a new 52-week low of $26.02 against a 52-week high of $47.12. The stock closed at $36.21 on Thursday night. Volume was about 20 times the daily average of around 280,000 shares traded. The medical device company lowered its third-quarter guidance after markets closed last night. Ruby Tuesday Inc. (NYSE: RT) dropped about 16% on Friday to post a new 52-week low of $5.55 against a high of $8.57. The stock closed at $6.60 on Thursday night. Volume was more than 6 times the daily average of around 330,000 shares traded. The restaurant operator reported a quarterly net loss after markets closed last night. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC (NYSE: OZM) posted a new low on Friday. Shares dropped about 2.8% to a low of $7.93 from Thursday's closing price of $8.16. The stock's 52-week high is $13.49. Volume was about double the daily average of around 520,000. The company had no specific news today. ALSO READ: 10 States Draining the Country's Energy
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Friday night Mike Babcock returns to Detroit for his first NHL regular-season game since bolting the Red Wings for a $50 million contract to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs. Fans should give him a stirring ovation because Babcock had a .649 winning percentage in 10 years in Detroit. He put his heart and every ounce of energy he had into the team. But the truth is the Red Wings can live without him. Here is why it isn't the end of the Red Wings' world that Babcock left: 1. Red Wings are skilled : This Detroit roster, with younger prospects now merging with proven veterans, is impressive, no matter who coaches it. Don't forget that the Red Wings pushed the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Eastern Conference champions, to a Game 7 last spring in the first round. The Detroit organization has enough talent to be a true contender. If the goaltending is strong, the Red Wings can be a factor in the playoffs. 2. Quality understudy : The Red Wings sensed they could lose Babcock and they made sure they had Jeff Blashill waiting in the American League to take his place. Blashill was considered one of the best coaching prospects outside the NHL. He's similar to Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper. He's modern in his approach, and he has a strong rapport with his players. The Red Wings gave Blashill a hefty salary in the AHL to keep him from jumping to another NHL team. Blashill, a native Detroiter, was willing to stay longer in the minors for a chance to land his dream. It was a well-conceived plan by the Red Wings and a small gamble that paid off big for Blashill. 3. Clean slate for one and all : Babcock had been with the Red Wings for decade, and he had fully developed opinions about the organization's veterans and prospects. Others within the organization didn't always agree with Babcock's assessments. Now everyone has a second chance to make a first impression. The franchise seems re-energized because Blashill is taking a fresh look at everybody. For example, defenseman Jakub Kindl was not a Babcock favorite. It seems as if Blashill is going to give him a chance to show what he can do. There are a few players on the roster who might get more chances now. Many of the younger Red Wings helped Blashill win an American Hockey League championship. 4. Added motivation : No one disputes that Babcock is an exceptional coach. His resume speaks for itself. But these Red Wings would like to show everyone that their long playoff run wasn't all Babcock's doing. This is a prideful Detroit group and it would say much about the Red Wings if they have even more success without Babcock than they had with him. 5. GM Ken Holland still in charge . When you give a coach an eight-year contract, you essentially give him the hammer. With $50 million coming to him, Babcock is fire-proof. Holland respected Babcock unquestionably. He said many times that Babcock's ability to prepare his teams to play was second to none. But that doesn't mean it was easy for Holland to deal with Babcock every day. Had Detroit matched Toronto's offer, the power structure in Detroit would have been different. 6. Too much tradition to fail : Two years ago, USA TODAY Sports surveyed 28 NHL stars and more than 46% said Babcock was the NHL's top coach. But here's the thing: The Red Wings qualified for the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons before Babcock arrived. Plus, they have long owned a reputation of drafting well and developing talent. There is a tradition of success in Detroit that likely will go on without Babcock. 7. Time for a change : If you look around the NHL, coaches don't stay long in one place. Hockey is an emotional game. Babcock is a confrontational coach. There was weariness in the Detroit dressing room. This may have worked out well for all involved. Babcock, a proud Canadian, coaches an iconic franchise. Detroit players get a fresh face behind the bench. 8. Wings didn't die after Bowman retired : Scotty Bowman is the greatest coach in NHL history, and after he retired in 2002, the Red Wings didn't fold the team. They soldiered on. Since the Red Wings were able to thrive without Bowman, they can do the same without Babcock. PHOTOS: October's stars: Best performances of the month
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HOUSTON A student was killed and another person was wounded during a shooting outside at Texas Southern University student-housing complex on Friday, and police have detained two men for questioning, authorities said. The university quickly went on lockdown after the shooting was reported around 11:30 a.m. in a parking lot at the University Courtyard Apartments, a university-owned complex on the edge of the Houston campus. Students and teachers were told to stay inside until the lockdown was lifted Friday afternoon after the two men were detained, but police said no arrests have been made. The incident marked the third shooting on or near the campus in less than a week, though it's unclear whether the shootings were related. Friday's shootings also came the same day as a fatal shooting at Northern Arizona University, and about a week after eight students and a teacher were fatally shot at a community college in Oregon. "Like President Obama says, this is getting to be too regular," Texas Southern President John Rudley said during a Friday afternoon news conference. Rudley said the Texas Southern student who was killed was a freshman, though his name and age haven't been released. The second victim, whose name also hasn't been released, was shot twice and is hospitalized in stable condition, Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said. Rudley urged the school's roughly 9,700 students to be more vigilant, noting that "we're in the inner city. Crime is all around us." He also criticized what he said was a culture among some students who believe they shouldn't snitch on each other. Silva said police were still searching for a third man and were trying to determine a motive in the shooting. She wouldn't say whether police believed the suspected shooter was in custody. She noted that police aren't treating the case as an "active shooter" investigation, in part because witnesses said the shooter wasn't moving from place to place and fled the scene after the shooting. The fatal shooting came just hours after another shooting near the same student-housing complex injured one person; in response to the pre-dawn shooting, the university said it would increase police on campus. On Tuesday, university police said a shooting after a poetry slam on campus injured another man. "My main concern is what they're going to do now," Daijsa Fowls, a 19-year-old pharmacy student from Houston, said as she stood outside the housing complex's gate Friday afternoon. "I'm supposed to be moving on campus and it shakes me up." Fowls noted that she had a 3-year-old son, and said she wouldn't feel safe walking with him on campus. She said she planned to move into one of the nearby housing units but is now considering transferring to another school. "A bullet has no name," she said. "It could hit anybody." Brittney Solomon, a 19-year-old psychology student from Houston, said she also planned to move to campus. "I'm most definitely concerned," she said. "It's really nerve-racking feeling that a person here could have a gun." Classes were cancelled following the lockdown Friday. Rudley said classes will resume Monday. ___ David Warren reported from Dallas.
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Social media usage among Americans 65 years-old and over has more than tripled since 2010 according to a new Pew Center study. Here's a look at why. Photo: Videoblocks
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Girardi sounded a bit defensive. The Yankees manager went to his office Friday for the first time since New York was eliminated. After wasting a seven-game AL East lead and finishing six games behind Toronto -- the largest blown lead in Yankees history -- New York's return to the postseason after a two-year absence lasted nine innings. "I did what I thought was right every day. The bottom line is we didn't win, so that's going to be questioned," Girardi said. "People thought that I could have done better. I understand that, and so you live with it." In the first season after Derek Jeter's retirement, the Yankees finished 87-75, three more wins than last year and their best record since 2012. But Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann all slumped in the final months of the season, and relievers Dellin Betances and Justin Wilson lost some consistency. "Everyone during the course of the season is physically going to get worn down because it's a grind," Girardi said. "But one of my oldest players played as much as anyone and thrived in the situation, a Carlos Beltran." Girardi benched Ellsbury in Tuesday's wild-card game against Houston in favor of Gardner and righty-hitting Chris Young. Gardner went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts as the Yankees got just three hits and lost 3-0. "As far as fence mending, that's to be determined, I guess, as I talk through things with all the players over the course of the winter," Girardi said. "Did it work out? No. But the question I'm going to be (asked), you know, if you would have played Ells, would it have been better? Would it have been three runs better? I don't know that." He defended his use of Betances, who gave up all six of his homers from July 1 on, including three in September. "I think he became a little human, that's all," the manager said. Girardi pointed out Betances' pitch count: 1,370 this regular season vs. 1,365 last year. For emphasis, he softly banged a hand on the table in front of him as he spoke. "I have a card in my locker that had the amount of pitches, the amount of innings, the amount of games for April of 2014, `15. May. I had it all written down," Girardi said. "It wasn't like I wasn't paying attention." When the Yankees arrived at spring training, they were not sure what Alex Rodriguez would provide following his year-long drug suspension. Beltran (elbow) and Gardner (abdomen) were coming off surgery, Mark Teixeira's 2013 wrist injury was slow to heal, and they were not sure how many innings they could count on from Masahiro Tanaka (partially torn elbow ligament), Michael Pineda (shoulder muscle strain) and Ivan Nova (Tommy John surgery). Didi Gregorius, who had never hit consistently at the big league level, was taking over from Jeter at shortstop. Andrew Miller and Betances were competing to become New York's fourth closer in four years. A-Rod and Teixeira rebounded, and Gregorius improved each month. By mid-August, 21-year-old Luis Severino was promoted to the rotation, and 22-year-old Greg Bird took over at first base after Teixeira broke a shin. "I think a lot of those questions that we had going into spring training have answered," Girardi said. "I think we saw improvement out of players during the course of the season -- a Didi. Arguably you'll have a Severino for a full year. Michael has proven that he can stay healthy. You'll have more pitchers that we expect to be back and not so many questions marks." New York scored 764 runs, up from 633 last year and second in the major leagues behind Toronto, but its 4.05 ERA ranked 17th and its average of 5.72 innings per start was 21st. While top pitchers such as David Price and Johnny Cueto were available in the trade market in July, the Yankees declined to deal their kids. "I think the organization made the right decisions not giving up if you want to call them your top prospects, your blue chip prospects just for a two-month rental," Girardi said. But come November, Price, Cueto, Zack Greinke and Jordan Zimmermann will be available as free agents -- likely commanding large contracts that extend past their prime years. Acquiring a right-handed-hitting second baseman such as Howie Kendrick, who also is eligible for free agency, could be another goal. After the switch-hitting Teixeira got hurt, the Yankees struggled against left-handers. "We expect to have Tex back and healthy, and that adds a big right-handed bat," Girardi said. "And depending on who your second baseman is, that could a substantial bat, too, which changes our club." Girardi wasn't quite ready to shift his focus to next year. He still seemed perturbed at the Yankees' short October. "I saw a sign coming in, said 122 days till spring training," Girardi said. "I was like, oh my gosh. I quite wasn't ready for that sign yet."
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Is it just us or does the 'Bridge of Spies' star just keep getting cooler?
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Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson made a series of controversial comments about gun rights and how to react in a mass shooting. Here's what Trevor Noah, Jimmy Fallon and others had to say about Carson.
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Infants sleep all day. Little kids get roughly 12 hours of sleep each night. But older people clock in just 7 nightly hours of shuteye. We need to sleep. It helps us process memories , learn new skills , and stabilize our mood . So what gives? Are we destined to get duller and more irritable the older we get? The answer is a little bit of yes and no. Goodbye, deep sleep The difference between an older person's and a younger person's sleep schedule is relatively simple: Older people rarely get all their sleep in one solid block . As a result, they're typically groggier after waking and take frequent naps. In addition to sleeping less solidly, we also sleep less deeply as we age: The older we are, the less time our brains spend in deep sleep mode, that precious time when the frantic chaos of brain activity grinds to a slow burn. A typical 25-year-old brain, for example, plunges half a dozen times into several hours of deep sleep throughout the night. In contrast, the average 70-year-old brain shuffles quickly in and out of moderate-level sleep , spending only a few minutes in the deepest phase of rest and far more time in shallow sleep or complete wakefulness. The transition between being asleep and awake also becomes far more abrupt as we age. This is probably why older people are generally more likely to call themselves "light sleepers." Hello, afternoon nap In the 1990s, scientists identified a tiny section of the brain that acts as an on/off switch for sleep in mice. Last year, the same team of researchers discovered that humans have a sleep section of the brain, too, and that as we age, we lose the special type of brain cells that live there. After making this initial discovery, the researchers took a look at the data from a long-term sleep study of more than 1,000 people who joined at age 65 and were monitored until their deaths. The scientists found that people who lost a larger number of these brain cells had more fragmented sleep patterns they woke up more and slept for shorter periods. The relationship between the cells and sleep patterns was surprisingly precise: The fewer cells someone had, the more disrupted her sleep. And the more disrupted her sleep, the worse her memory. So what's someone who wants to stay alert and happy to do? Nap. Typically, naps still don't allow us to reach deep sleep, but they do help make up for the decreases in alertness and increases in stress that can result from too little shuteye. When lost sleep isn't age-related In the elderly, difficulty sleeping could also be a side effect of other problems like muscle spasms, depression, anxiety, and respiratory disorders like sleep apnea, which becomes more common as we age. These are often treatable conditions that can go undiagnosed when people assume sleeping problems are simply a natural byproduct of old age. Other chronic conditions, such as arthritis, can disrupt sleep, so it's important to make sure these issues are not simply dismissed as run-of-the-mill insomnia.
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It's getting harder to find a bar where everybody knows your name. The neighborhood bar is disappearing, according to research released Thursday from Nielsen, which revealed that over the past decade roughly one in six neighborhood bars has shuttered. And while about 334 new bars are opening every month, that's far fewer than the 609 that are closing at the same time. "Last calls are happening across the country," Nielsen reveals. "While consumers may love their well-worn, unglamorous neighborhood bars, they are going to have to start putting their money where their mouths are to keep them alive in today's economy." And closures have accelerated recently. While an average of three neighborhood bars a day closed during the past decade, in 2014, an average of six did. "The day when a serious barfly won't have a stool to sit on is (scarily) approaching," a blogger on TableHopper.com writes. While you may not be able to pony up to a (sometimes slightly sticky) bar down the street anymore, you will have somewhere (typically more upscale and with better food) to sit: In the past year alone, more than 6,100 restaurants have opened, many of them fast-casual restaurants (think the likes of Chipotle , Smashburger and others that serve alcohol, the Nielsen study said. "One trend contributing to the decline of the neighborhood bar may be America's seemingly insatiable appetite for establishments that also serve food in addition to alcoholic beverages," Nielsen reveals. "In the past year, 6,185 new restaurants opened across the country. In addition, the rise of new casual dining options serving alcohol such as fast "casual" food restaurants, brewpubs, as well as in-store dining and drinking options in grocery stores are also likely contributing to the decline." Still, for those who frequent the beloved neighborhood watering hole, this trend is a sad one. When Milady's, a decades-old bar in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City closed its doors last year, so many patrons packed into the bar to say goodbye that getting a drink could take 10 minutes. But the owner knew it was time for it to go: "I serve burgers. A beer is five bucks," the owner, Frank Genovese, told the New York Times at the time. "I can no longer sustain that formula. It doesn't work anymore." Catey Hill covers personal finance and travel for MarketWatch in New York. Follow her on Twitter @CateyHill.
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A few moments in movie history have lasted in our minds because of key scenes and stories that have centered around meals. Take a look back at some of the most iconic foodie scenes from films. A few moments in movie history have lasted in our minds because of key scenes and stories that have centered around meals. Take a look back at some of the most iconic foodie scenes from films. Lady and the Tramp The plate of spaghetti and meatballs, the romance in the air, the song in the background and the accidental adorable kiss: this iconic 1955 musical romcom still makes us go 'aww,' 60 years later. Pulp Fiction In one of the movie's most legendary scenes, Jules (Samuel Jackson) takes a bite out of the intimidated Brett's (Frank Whaley) Big Kahuna Burger and drinks some of the "tasty beverage to wash it down," before shooting several bullets into Brett. Goodfellas Tommy (Joe Pesci) takes his friends Henry (Ray Liotta) and Jimmy (Robert De Niro) to dinner at his mother's place and talks to her about everything under the sun right after killing off Billy Batts (Frank Vincent). Chilling. Breakfast at Tiffany's One of the most iconic opening scenes of all times has Holly (Audrey Hepburn) staring into Tiffany's, a Danish and a coffee in hand. Coffee and Cigarettes In a hilarious scene, the two Wu-Tang legends, GZA and RZA, complain about the addictive nature of caffeine while sipping herbal tea. Bill (Bill Murray) takes gulps straight from the coffee pot during the scene. Five Easy Pieces You can't argue with Bobby (Jack Nicholson) when he wants a toast. "Hold (the chicken) between your knees," says he to the distraught waitress who refuses to substitute anything on the menu. Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst) is disenchanted by her marriage with Louis XVI of France and instead devotes her time to shopping, gambling and of course, eating. The pastries, cakes and candies are the delight of any food lover. Annie Hall Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) struggles with girlfriend Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) to boil some live lobster. In the process of producing a sophisticated dish with icky lobsters, in a typically Allen-y way of displaying the ironies and contradictions of life, they end up having fun and learning more about each other. The Apartment Bud (Jack Lemmon), an insurance worker, surprises us when he deftly uses a tennis racket as a colander to strain noodles. We can only smile and agree with Fran's (Shirley MacLaine) response to Bud's declaration of love, when she uses her now-legendary quote: "Shut up and deal." Chocolat Vianne (Juliette Binoche), a rebellious single mother and a skilled chocolatier, manages to earn the love of almost all in a conservative village, with her bold attitude, her caring nature and delicious chocolate. Her gypsy lover, Roux (Johnny Depp), is mesmerized by her; he leaves with his group, only to come back to her later. When Harry Met Sally The epic "I will have what she's having" scene. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you will know this scene from Katz's Delicatessen. Cool Hand Luke Luke (Paul Newman) enters a Florida prison and manages to run afoul of his fellow mates at the beginning. One of the incidents that earns him some respect is when he wins a challenge by eating 50 eggs in one hour. Hot Fuzz In the second chapter of the "Cornetto Trilogy," Nicholas Angel is transferred to a seemingly crimeless town, which suddenly starts witnessing murders. His "brain wave," thanks to the Cornetto, finally helps him solve the mystery. The Trip Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan play versions of themselves and are able to bring out the ironic despair of fine dining when they realise and rant about the repetitive nature of their nightly feasts on a tour of Northern England. No Reservations Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones), the head chef at a Manhattan restaurant, is threatened when Nick (Aaron Eckhart) comes to work under her and is soon moved up the ladder. During all those cooking sessions full of competition, rivalry and sincere care, they start falling for each other and open their own bistro in the end. Eat Drink Man Woman Retired master chef Chu prepares for an elaborate Sunday banquet in a movie full of family drama, romance and tension. Pan's Labyrinth The "Pale Man" (Doug Jones) sits with a feast of hams topped with pineapple rings, delicious fruit tarts, jugs of wine and baskets of grapes as the young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) attempts to retrieve a dagger without waking him. Big Night With quivering hands, Marc Anthony, Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub carve the "timpano," an Italian pasta dish, which is the main attraction of an extravagant meal on the 'big night' which, they hope, will save their failing restaurant. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life The movie, divided into eight parts, basically conveys the meaning of life. Part VI, "The Autumn Years," sees Mr. Creosote (Terry Jones) come into a restaurant, abuse some waiters, eat a lot of food and finally explode. The restaurant is seen showered with human entrails and vomit. Raging Bull Robert De Niro's, "You overcook it, it's no good. It defeats its own purpose," followed by a furious table flip, totally manages to jolt the audience. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Chevy Chase struggles to host a memorable Christmas dinner as more and more relatives keep coming, and he loses his yearly bonus. Amid utter confusion, all ends well as the family overcomes obstacles and emerges happily. Spirited Away Ten-year-old Chihiro is left helpless when she and her parents unwittingly enter a magical village and after consuming the food, her parents turn into pigs. After a fantastical adventure involving dragons and magic, she finally manages to release her parents from the curse and return as a normal family. Ratatouille This signature version of ratatouille is what Remy, the genius rat chef, cooks for his friend Linguini, a professional chef at the restaurant, when the grumpy critic comes to taste his food. The main chef's motto in the movie, "Anybody can cook," does come true at the end. Reservoir Dogs Eight men eat breakfast in a diner while discussing a major diamond heist. Most of them use aliases, and once they leave the diner, they proceed with their plan. All six unnamed people end up dead but one. Tortilla Soup A chef dad who has long ago lost the taste for food, tries to keep his three daughters happy by preparing delicious meals. Things change when all four of them meet potential partners; after much chaos and struggle, at the end, they all meet for a meal at the middle daughter's new restaurant. Tom Jones In a bawdy scene, Tom Jones and Jenny Jones ravenously finish a several-course meal, all the while staring into each other's eyes. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory This movie's story is centered around candies, hidden golden tickets and a lifetime supply of chocolate as a reward when Charlie (Peter Ostrum) finds a ticket and ends up taking over Wonka's chocolate factory. It's almost too sweet to handle! I Am Love The theme of food runs deep in this one: from Eduardo Jr.'s (Flavio Parenti) family restaurant playing a part of the story to key scenes unfolding around food and meals. Babette's Feast Two Danish sisters give refuge to a French immigrant, Babette, who hosts a lavish feast for all the villages after winning the lottery. The simple villagers discover their hedonistic, ravenous side as they scrape their plates clean.
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North Korea is planning a no-holds-barred celebration in honor of 70 years of rule under the Korean Workers' Party.
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Ever feel like you're on an energy roller coaster? Power up Now, stress is a given in our daily lives always tasked with balancing family, work, friends, finances. But if we can reduce our own reactions to external stresses, and become calmer and more focused, the daily irritants of life can just wash right over us. We can't change what happens outside us, but there's plenty we can do to change ourselves! Here are some great ways to reduce stress. 1: Eat more soluble fiber every day Foods with high soluble fiber content slow and regulate the absorption of sugars -- thus reducing and even eliminating the dreaded "sugar crash." Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, beans and oats. These foods contain a ton of soluble fiber (as opposed to insoluble fiber, also valuable for keeping you regular), which is almost a magic solution to stabilize your body chemistry. 2: Stretch Just the simple act of getting up from your work chair several times a day to stretch helps all your muscles both relax and re-engage. Power stretching, in fact, can be its own form of exercise, as can stretch-intensive yoga, which also boosts energy while also relaxing the mind. Also, try stretching for five to 10 minutes every morning and evening -- first thing out of bed and last thing before hopping back in. It helps regulate blood flow throughout your body, which can both help to energize and to calm you. 3: Implement a strict bedtime and wake-up time If you have to set your alarm for a while to get your body in a rhythm, that's fine. But vow to keep the same wakeup time, even on weekends. If you need extra zzzs, go to bed a half-hour earlier each night until you are getting the right amount of sleep. Being sleep-deprived can have a huge impact on your energy level. Sleep itself is healing to the entire body and your mind, so make sure you're getting as much of this natural "medicine" as you can. 4: Eat a hearty breakfast A good, balanced breakfast can actually fuel most of your day, especially if you incorporate complex carbs (oatmeal, quinoa) and fresh fruit along with protein. At lunch, go lighter or you'll feel lethargic in the afternoon. Have a big salad topped with nuts, or bowl of veggie soup and a small amount of protein like cheese or nut butter on some crackers for lunch. You'll be surprised at the consistency of your energy level during the day. 5: Eat five smaller meals instead of three big ones If you have blood sugar issues, this can be the ideal way to go. Instead of loading up at three bigger meals, try the grazing method. Plan five smaller meals, at, for example, 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. Just make sure that your three "real" meals are in fact smaller, and that your two "snack" meals are true meals. Try fresh carrot, celery, and zucchini sticks with peanut butter, or fresh fruit chopped up and served with nonfat Greek-style yogurt. This helps keep your blood sugar, and thus your energy level, consistent throughout the day. 6: Get fresh air Try to get outside at least a few times a day, rain or shine. Walk a few extra blocks to another bus stop in the morning, cruise around the block at lunch and take a walk in the neighborhood after dinner. Do some window shopping, maybe even work in an errand or two, and take a lot of conscious deep breaths. You already know walking is great for you, but breathing fresh air is like taking a mental vacation. 7: Move your workouts to the morning If you're normally an evening workout person, try moving your run or gym visit to the mornings. You'll have to get up earlier, of course, but then you'll have a couple of extra hours free in the evening. And most morning exercisers report that they have a higher overall energy level through the day than evening exercisers. Bonus: Gyms are usually much less crowded during the early morning than right after work; ditto for popular exercise classes. 8: Rock out Have your favorite music handy in the car, during workouts and even at the office (on headphones) if you have a job where you mostly work solo. Music is a big energy booster (as long as it doesn't distract you from detailed tasks). Or break out the music just when you feel your spirits and energy are starting to flag; it will help turn things around in a hurry and soon you will have a smile on your face as you press through the rest of your workday. Just be careful not to start singing out loud in the office to "Don't Stop Believin'." 9: Take 5 Even a short power nap of five minutes can be very restorative. If you are truly spent, see if your workplace has a private place where you can lie down briefly. More workplaces are creating such spaces -- some call them "nap cubes" or "nap rooms." But make sure this doesn't become a regular thing; if it does, you'll need to revisit your bedtime and wake-up time again to establish consistency. Also, if you do nap, keep it short -- or people will talk. 10: Get some ginseng Ginseng is known for its energy-boosting properties, and it has been well-studied and used for more than 2,000 years in dozens of cultures. It acts to inhibit the stressors in the body, like the release of cortisol, which can sap your energy like nobody's business. Naturopaths recommend between 100 and 700 milligrams a day, broken into two doses, at breakfast and lunch. Avoid it in the evening, as it can interfere with your sleep. Also, it can take two or three weeks to notice and realize the full effects of ginseng, so be patient. Within a few weeks you should notice a definite boost in your energy levels, all day long. 11: Don't overdo alcohol If you drink too early, it can take the wind out of your sails for the rest of the day. And if you drink too much before bed, it can interrupt your sleep, which will wreak havoc on your energy levels the next day. So limit yourself to one glass of wine with dinner, or have a double sparkling water. 12: Work with your own body clock If you're a night owl, you're never going to enjoy waking up early. So an early-morning start time at work will always be a struggle. If you're an early bird, you start to fade by about 9 p.m., making the night shift an unpleasant proposition. Night owls should try to get your shift changed to later in the afternoons or to a swing shift. Even starting an hour or two later could make a difference in your energy level. Early birds, try to shift your schedule earlier if you can, and definitely don't schedule more than one major evening party, activity or outing during the work week so you can be well-rested and maintain your energy level. 13: Eat your berries Well, who doesn't want to eat more berries? This is a fun and easy step. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cherries and currants happen to contain high levels of anthocyanins, a "super antioxidant" that has been shown in medical studies to boost energy levels and help keep them high. Stock up when you go grocery shopping (frozen are just fine when fresh ones are out of season) and make a point of working them into at least one meal and one snack a day. 14: Go lavender Lavender is a powerful aromatherapy agent and has been linked to energy stabilization and boosts in mental awareness. Light a lavender candle in the evening. Dab a few drops of essential oil to your wrist so you can sniff it periodically throughout the day for a boost. Sprinkle a few drops into your nighttime bath and just let your skin soak it up. 15: Ditch the 'energy' drinks Those seductive little bottles can give your system a big caffeine jolt for five hours, but at hour six you'll be dragging and trying to use toothpicks to keep your eyelids open. And don't throw in an extra cup of coffee; once the caffeine wears off your system will crash, period. To keep your energy level consistently high, just say no to excessive stimulants. 16: Don't worry; be happy Study after study shows that stress drags us down, and positive, meaningful interactions give us a mental and spiritual boost. So reduce the stressors in your life, and surround yourself with interesting projects as well as supportive and upbeat people. Interact with kindness and generosity, and try to stay present in the moment. Accepting that you can't change the past or do much about the future will help you focus on the here and now. 17: Forgive yourself You heard right. According to Kimberly Kingsley, author of the book The Energy Cure, feeling guilty and beating yourself up are one of the biggest energy-sappers there are. "Guilt is like glue," she says. "It keeps you stuck in a low-energy rut." Think of it this way: You only have so much energy -- so much "you" to go around -- so why waste any of it feeling guilty over something in the past? Make amends when you need to, then forgive yourself. Every mistake helps us make better choices in the future. And everyone makes mistakes. You are no exception. 18: Drink an extra glass of water. Or two. Several studies show that drinking a glass of water -- fizzy or flat -- helps boost energy on the spot. Many Americans are dehydrated and don't know it, which can be a big energy drain. So get in the habit of drinking water often throughout the day, especially if you are starting to flag. It's like spritzing yourself from the inside! 19: Go to the gym Go, even when you don't have the energy to work out. Even if you end up only getting as far as the sauna or hot tub, you will still feel so much better than if you hadn't gone at all. And if you walk in the door, you just might realize you could probably put in a half-hour on the elliptical after all. Just walk in and see what you feel like. No matter what you end up doing there -- even lying backwards over an exercise ball to stretch out your back -- you'll feel better. 20: Get your thyroid levels checked If you feel like you're constantly dragging, there might be a medical reason. This can be particularly prevalent in women over age 30, because thyroid levels are intricately tied to estrogen production. So have your doctor check your levels, and if you do in fact have a problem and need to take medication for it, be sure to monitor your levels closely, as they can change as your hormones fluctuate over time. 21: Engage in some sun worship According to Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, getting 20 minutes of sunshine every day can demonstrably lift serotonin levels. Sunlight, when absorbed by your eyes, activates the brain's pineal gland to release the serotonin. Good news: You can get this kind of sunlight absorption even in the dead of winter or on cloudy days. Just go out when the day is the brightest, and soak it up. You'll feel a noticeable energy boost after about two weeks. Don't forget the sunscreen!
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TORONTO (AP) -- Fed up with his own bat, Hanser Alberto grabbed one belonging to teammate Delino DeShields. Good choice, rookie. Alberto, the seldom-used backup infielder, lined a tiebreaking single to center in the 14th inning, helping the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series. BOX SCORE: RANGERS 6, BLUE JAYS 4 (14) "I didn't even ask him for it," Alberto said, smiling at DeShields sitting beside him on the postgame interview podium. "Good wood, too, you know?" It sure was. DeShields then picked the bat up and put it to good use, driving in another run with an infield hit after Liam Hendriks replaced La Troy Hawkins (0-1), The underdog Rangers will try to sweep the Blue Jays at home in Game 3 Sunday. Martin Perez will start for Texas against Marco Estrada. "This is an uphill battle but it's been done before," Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin said. San Francisco was the last team to do it, coming back to beat Cincinnati three straight times after losing at home in the first two games of their 2012 NL Division Series. Alberto, batting last and only in the lineup because star third baseman Adrian Beltre was out with a strained back, made an error that led to Toronto's first two runs but redeemed himself with his big hit in extra innings. "We were pretty confident going into the second game regardless of Adrian getting hurt," DeShields said. "We were kind of bummed out about that, but we kept our heads up." The 22-year-old Alberto, who made his big league debut this season, also had a sacrifice fly. "It's extremely special for him," Rangers first-year manager Jeff Banister said. "Really, a guy that has sat at the end of the bench for us, an extra player." Texas shut out the highest-scoring team in the majors after the fifth inning. The victory for Banister's team made road clubs 5-0 in the playoffs to that point -- the only previous time that happened in the postseason was the 1906 all-Chicago World Series, STATS said. Kansas City snapped that skid a little later Friday with a 5-4 victory over Houston in Game 2 of their Division Series. Keone Kela (1-0) worked one inning for the win, staying calm after a dustup with Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson. Ross Ohlendorf, with an old-school, double-armed windup, finished for a save. The 33-year-old journeyman picked up the first save of his major league career earlier this year. Mike Napoli hit a tying single for Texas in the eighth. Another packed crowd at Rogers Centre that made a lot of noise early was quiet at the very end. Toronto, back in the postseason for the first time since winning the 1993 World Series, lost for the second straight day at home. "Our backs are against the wall," Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "It's not where you want to be but that's what we're faced with." Rougned Odor hit a two-out single off Hawkins in the 14th but was nearly thrown out after going too far around second base on a single by Chris Gimenez, with the call confirmed by replay review. "You wonder if 50,000 could be wrong," Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar said. "I'm pretty sure I saw some daylight there." That call proved pivotal when Alberto lined a single to center, sending Odor tumbling home. Donaldson was back in the lineup after taking a knee to the head trying to break up a double play in the opener. He homered in his return. Both benches and both bullpens briefly emptied in the bottom of the 13th when Donaldson and Kela traded words after the slugger's deep fly went foul. Donaldson eventually struck out. "We made eye contact and exchanged a few words," Donaldson said." He didn't back down, I didn't back down. I'll leave it at that." Toronto starter Marcus Stroman took a 4-3 lead into the eighth. He left after a leadoff single by DeShields, and Shin-Soo Choo put down a sacrifice against Brett Cecil. After Prince Fielder struck out, Napoli singled. Napoli had been 2 for 17 in his career against Cecil before the tying hit. Napoli was caught in a rundown to end the inning, but Cecil injured his left calf while chasing down Napoli and had to be helped off the field by the trainer. "He's got a pretty significant tear, so that's not very good," downcast Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton finished 0 for 6 and is hitless in his past 30 postseason at-bats. Choo hit an RBI single in the first and a second run scored on a throwing error by Martin. The Blue Jays escaped the jam when first baseman Chris Colabello turned an unassisted double play, tagging out Hamilton near the bag before sprinting across the diamond to retire Fielder, who was hung up between third and home plate. Donaldson hit his first postseason home run in the bottom half of the first. Toronto took its first lead of the series in the fifth. Pillar led off with a bloop double, went to third on a sacrifice by Ryan Goins and scored when Ben Revere grounded a single through the drawn-in infield. UP NEXT Estrada took the loss in his only start against Texas this season despite allowing just one run in six innings. Perez did not face Toronto this season.
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Rep. Walter B. Jones acknowledged to CQ Roll Call Friday that he wrote a letter asking leaders to attest they had not committed any embarrassing misdeeds in part because he had seen rumors published of an affair between fellow North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. On Thursday, McCarthy denied Jones' letter had an impact on his decision to abruptly quit the race for speaker, and Ellmers released a statement Friday addressing what she called "completely false accusations and innuendo" and praying for those who bear false witness . Jones said he hopes his letter didn't effect McCarthy's decision. "I hope it didn't, I really do," he said. But while he has mostly been cagey about what exactly prompted him to write it, when asked by CQ Roll Call, he said Friday that the rumors played a role. "Yep and what I have seen in the past. That was part of it. It was a combination of different things that have happened over the years and this was one of them. I had a sense that the conference should ask each one running for majority leader, for whip and speaker, 'Is there anything that you've got in your closet that could be embarrassing.'" He noted in particular the episode when Rep. Bob Livingston withdrew his speaker bid in 1998 and resigned after acknowledging an affair. "This was part of a multitude of things that have made me come to the decision that we need to show the American people that we do care about integrity in Washington," he said. He noted he doesn't use the Internet, nor does he have a BlackBerry, but he had read blog posts about a year ago from a North Carolina blogger about "the two people," whom he acknowledged were Ellmers and McCarthy. "I wondered many times since why she with her family were not offended by that," he said of the publication of the rumor. "I think that if someone implies something improper that is a lie, I would call my attorney. I would have called my attorney and said, 'Look, I want you to write this editor and tell him, no more. I'm not going to put up.' In fact, the guy reprinted the story a month ago, the same one who wrote a year ago. I don't understand that. I'm not saying that means you're guilty either," Jones said. "I just would not let it linger." Ellmers' spokeswoman, however, confirmed to CQ Roll Call that the congresswoman has an attorney who has sent cease-and-desist letters about the postings. Jones also added that at a recent event he held back home in North Carolina, a Marine colonel had urged one of Jones' staff members to tell the congressman not vote for McCarthy because of the rumors. Jones said he has no regrets about sending the letter. And he said if he is re-elected, he hopes to have a requirement inserted into House rules requiring leaders to attest that they have not committed any embarrassing misdeeds during their time in office. Related: Renee Ellmers Says She's Praying for People Bearing False Witness See photos, follies, HOH Hits and Misses and more at Roll Call's new video site. Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone .
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Baylor and TCU's athletic directors have come together to release a joint statement regarding the vandalism incidents that took place at their respective schools. On Thursday, the Bears' Robert Griffin III statue was spray painted purple . Baylor fans retaliated, spray painting "61-58″ the score of last season's game between the two programs at multiple places on the Horned Frogs' campus. Baylor's Ian McCaw and TCU's Chris Del Conte issued a statement together calling for the vandalism to stop. Combined statement from Baylor and TCU's athletic directors regarding the vandalism incidents: pic.twitter.com/PLbvR3lLzp Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 9, 2015 Baylor and TCU are set to play on Nov. 27.
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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) slammed Republicans Friday for blocking national security and State Department nominees, suggesting they're trying to "score political points" against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Republicans are still blocking qualified nominees from playing crucial foreign policy roles over unrelated political fights," the Democratic leader said in a statement. "Republicans must stop putting their desire to score political points against Hillary Clinton above our national interest and confirm these public servants to do the important work they were nominated to perform." Reid's remarks come as Democrats have repeatedly criticized Republicans over the pace of confirmation votes for Obama administration officials, including Gayle Smith's nomination to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID.) Democrats have focused on Smith's nomination recently because of the ongoing Syrian humanitarian crisis. Fifteen Senate Democrats sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) last month, calling on him to bring Smith up for a vote, adding that without a USAID director the country's ability to combat the Syrian crisis is "significantly hampered." But Republicans are currently blocking dozens of State Department nominees for a myriad of reasons ranging from Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of State to slow response to congressional inquires and an unrelated Secret Service scandal. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said earlier this month that he would block three ambassador nominations over a recent scandal involving the Secret Service leaking information about a member of Congress. Separately, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is blocking 22 State Department nominations including roughly 20 foreign officer nominations because of the administration's slow response to congressional inquires. Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has asked for details on a range of issues including human trafficking and Clinton's emails. He noted late last month that his objections are partly tied to Congress's probe into Clinton's use of a private email server. Reid added on Friday that the blockade on State Department nominations shows that Republicans "are completely unable to govern." "Because of constant mismanagement and partisan obstruction from Republicans, this Senate is set to confirm far fewer nominations than any recent Congress leaving key domestic and national security positions vacant and our nation weaker for it," he added.
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Volkswagen is expected to begin recalling millions of diesel vehicles in coming months to remove a device that is aimed at cheating emissions tests, and to bring them into compliance with anti-pollution rules in each affected country. Some 11 million cars are affected worldwide and the German auto giant is still drawing up a timetable for the massive repairs. What's wrong with the vehicles? The company has admitted to fitting the diesel vehicles with software that turns on emission controls when the car is being tested and then turns off when it is on the road. There are two kinds of affected vehicles. One group is fitted with a catalytic converter that reduces the amount of nitrogen oxide emitted by treating it with aqueous urea. Another type is fitted with a system that stores nitrogen oxide temporarily when the car is undergoing tests, before releasing the harmful levels of the gas when the car is back on the road. How will the cars be fixed? Some vehicles will only require a software fix, but others will need total overhauls including installing new catalytic converters and injector systems. Injectors are a key structural component of the engine, and play a big part in the formation of exhaust gas. Modern high-performance systems can significantly reduce the generation of nitrogen oxide. In their search for solutions, engineers will not only have to worry about the availability of spare parts but also the amount of space available in the vehicle in cases, for instance, which involve major reequipping of injector systems. VW chief Matthias Mueller has said: "We need not just three solutions, but thousands" to fix all 11 million vehicles. Will the car's performance be affected? Mueller says performance would not necessarily be compromised by the repairs, although he concedes that the cars may lose "three to five kilometres per hour" of their maximum speed. Among issues VW is looking at is compensation for customers, if there are discrepancies with the car's advertised performance following the repairs, said the group's US chief Michael Horn. How long could it take? Mueller expects to begin recalling European cars in January and for all cars to be fixed by the end of 2016. But Horn gave a longer timeline for US cars, saying the process could take "one, two years minimum" to fix the 430,000 vehicles affected. Repairs were likely to take between five to 10 hours per car, he said, but there were other factors to be taken into account, including the availability of the car parts. How much will it cost? Customers will not have to pay for the repairs. The bill for Volkswagen, however, could not be estimated at this stage. The company has set aside 6.5 billion euros as a preliminary estimate for the repairs alone, but also faces fines in several countries and potential damages arising from lawsuits. Mueller has conceded that the final cost would be far higher and said the group was reexamining all investments.
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Australian head coach Michael Cheika says his side are not relaxing ahead of their Wales clash, despite already qualifying from Pool A.
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Pound for pound, your thyroid the small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your throat may be the most powerful part of your internal anatomy. The hormones it pumps out regulate everything from your appetite and energy levels to your body's internal thermostat. That's all well and good when it's working properly. But because your thyroid is so versatile, if it acts up, you could feel the effects in unpredictable ways. "Especially in terms of hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid, it's hard to make a diagnosis based on symptoms alone," says Antonio Bianco, MD, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center and president-elect of the American Thyroid Association (ATA). "The best way for making a diagnosis is with a blood test," Bianco adds. (More on that in a minute.) While an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is often simpler to pin down, Bianco says most symptoms associated with a haywire thyroid are also characteristic of other common health conditions including depression , menopause, and chronic fatigue syndrome. "We say symptoms are suggestive of over- or under-active thyroid, but laboratory confirmation is always needed," he says. Because symptoms vary, lots of people are living with thyroid issues without realizing it. The ATA estimates 20 million Americans suffer from some form of thyroid disease 60% of whom aren't diagnosed. Also, women are 5 to 8 times more likely to have thyroid problems than men, the ATA states . While no individual health issue is a sure sign of a thyroid condition, there are symptoms commonly linked to an over- or under-active thyroid. Here, those symptoms and what to do if you experience them. Under-Active Thyroid (Hypothyroidism) According to Bianco and resources from the Endocrine Society , symptoms include: Feeling cold all or much of the time Chronic fatigue or muscle pain Dry skin Hair loss Abnormally heavy periods Weight gain Constipation (Here are 8 ways to relieve constipation when fiber isn't getting the job done.) If you're dealing with one or several of these symptoms, Bianco says a doctor's visit and blood test are in order. "The test measures serum thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH," he explains. If your blood test shows a TSH level between 0.4 and 4.5 milli-units per liter (mU/L), that's normal, Bianco says. If you're at 10 mU/L or above, you have hypothyroidism. But between 4.5 and 10 mU/L, you fall into a grey zone what Bianco calls sub-clinical hypothyroidism. "There are no clear risk factors or health conditions associated with a TSH in this range, so we treat this on a case-by-case basis," he says. Based on how you're feeling and your blood test, your doctor will help you decide if hormone therapy is appropriate. Over-Active Thyroid ( Hyperthyroidism ) According to both Bianco and the Endocrine Society, symptoms include: Eyes bulging Feeling hot all the time Heart racing, especially during exercise Anxiety or nervousness Vision problems Weight loss Increased sweating and/or clammy hands Increased bowel movements Abnormally light periods Bianco says an over-active thyroid is easier to diagnose based on symptoms alone. Still, your doctor will want to confirm a diagnosis with that serum TSH test. "If your TSH is at zero, that's clinical hyperthyroidism and you're probably experiencing all or most of those symptoms," Bianco says. If your TSH is low but above zero, your doctor may still chose to treat you even if you aren't experiencing any symptoms at all. (Balance your hormones and lose up to 15 pounds in just 3 weeks with The Hormone Reset Diet!) Here's why: "An excess of thyroid hormone has been linked to atrial fibrillation, so it affects the heart and could cause blood clots or stroke," Bianco says. Research has also linked an over-active thyroid to higher rates of osteoporosis. So unlike subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism may require treatment even if you feel fine, he adds. The Bottom Line Thyroid problems are shifty and unpredictable. Because the associated symptoms are inconsistent from person to person, diagnosis can be difficult. If you're experiencing a couple of the symptoms mentioned above, and especially if they've cropped up suddenly , see your doctor.
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PASADENA, Calif. It was right here, a little more than four years back, that things finally fell into place for Jurgen Klinsmann to become head coach of the United States. The U.S. squandered a two-goal lead to lose the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final to Mexico, Bob Bradley was pushed out, and five weeks later Klinsmann swept into the position on a ticket of European-style progression and professionalism. Perhaps it should be no surprise that in soccer, a sport that beats to a rhythm of quadrennial cycles, it is again the Rose Bowl where Klinsmann reaches a potential crossroads at the helm of the national team. On a purely personal level for him, Saturday's clash with Mexico here, with a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup on the line, is surely the biggest of his time in charge of the American team. His job is probably safe, largely because he earns more than any other coach in United States soccer history and sacking him would be a painfully costly exercise, and because federation Sunil Gulati is too enamored with his overall philosophy to countenance a snap firing. Yet when former national team forward Landon Donovan spoke out last week to suggest that Klinsmann's job should be on the line if the team lost to Mexico, in keeping with the high standard of performance demanded in other soccer nations, his words were likely no more than a reflection of what a large section of the fan base already feels. A string of disappointing results, a failure to implement a cohesive identity and a nervous glance to an uncertain future has gotten U.S. supporters plenty twitchy ahead of the latest clash with the team's fiercest rival. Those are the same fans who, for the most part, greeted Klinsmann's arrival with gleeful enthusiasm and boldly predicted a bright new order. Yet while Klinsmann boasts the pedigree of taking Germany to the semifinal of the 2006 World Cup and has recruited a swath of German-born players to play for the States on grounds of parental eligibility, it is hard to see what more he has accomplished than the unfortunate and much-maligned Bradley. Both coaches took the team out of their group at the World Cup (Bradley's 2010 squad won the pool, Klinsmann's in 2014 finished second) before slipping out of the competition in extra time at the round of 16 stage. International coaches need and deserve time to fulfill their mandate, but losing to Mexico and missing out on the Confederations Cup would become especially problematic. Klinsmann believes wholeheartedly that regular exposure to international tournaments, not just friendly matches, is a must in getting a team ready for the pressure and the situational timing structure of a World Cup. His blueprint coming out of the World Cup in Brazil last summer and looking ahead to Russia in 2018, included tournament action for each of the summers in between. The Gold Cup, a regional event for teams in the CONCACAF confederation, ended this summer with an ignominious fourth place finish including a semifinal defeat to Jamaica. Next summer, the U.S. was due to host the Copa America Centenario, an event usually reserved for South American teams, that would have pitted the Americans against the finest teams from that loaded region, on U.S. soil. However, the tournament is in grave doubt due to the eruption of the FIFA crisis and the associated fallout. Klinsmann's plan to fill the summer of 2017? The Confederations Cup. The tournament is not the most respected in world soccer but it does give its eight participants (the champion of each confederation, plus the host and World Cup winner) a chance to get an early look at conditions in the World Cup site. It served a valuable purpose in 2009, when the team gained morale from beating Spain in the semifinal before surrendering a 2-0 lead to Brazil in the final. The U.S. missed out on the 2013 edition as a result of that 2011 Rose Bowl defeat to Mexico. "It's a dry run for the World Cup," said team captain Michael Bradley. "You get to spend time in the country a year before, you play in the stadiums, you stay in the hotels, you get a feel for what the weather is like and the way things work." Klinsmann has a fine record against Mexico, 3-0-3 during his time in charge. He needs another positive result here, or else will risk entering the trickiest part of the calendar on the back of zero momentum and increasing public scrutiny. The start of the World Cup qualifying process is no fun at all for U.S. national team coaches, simply because there is nothing to gain. Even defeating the weaker nations in the region will not satisfy any critics, while the pitfalls in travelling to tricky locations and facing motivated underdogs is obvious. Klinsmann, who has long called Southern California home and coordinated training camp for Saturday's showdown in the picturesque surrounding of Orange County, is in urgent need of some home comfort as he scrabbles to get his grand masterplan back on track.
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John Goodman is looking fit and fabulous, debuting his dramatic weight loss at the Trumbo red carpet premiere. The 63-year-old star hit up the London Film Festival, showing off his slim physique and we hardly recognized him! The Roseanne actor, who has had an up-and-down weight loss journey, once admitted to being almost 400 pounds, which you would never be able to guess looking at him now! Goodman looked better than ever in his navy pinstripe suit and polka dot tie! Like we said, fit and fabulous!
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LONDON Still defiant, UEFA is standing by its man. Although Michel Platini was handed a 90-day suspension by FIFA, banning him from all soccer-related activity, the home page of UEFA's corporate website on Friday still had a smiling photo and statement from the man they continue to call president. "This is because the UEFA executive committee is aware that the UEFA president will immediately take all necessary steps to appeal the decision of the FIFA ethics committee to clear his name," European soccer's governing body said in a statement posted on its website shortly after the 60-year-old Platini was suspended. UEFA does clearly state that Platini will not carry out any official duties during the suspension, but keeping the former France captain as the visible leader in name could end up earning a rebuke, or worse, from FIFA for failing to adhere to the ethics committee's decision. On the other side of Switzerland at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Sepp Blatter was stripped of his presidential duties on Thursday after also getting a 90-day ban. The governing body soon issued an official communique to announce that the 79-year-old Blatter had been "relieved of all his duties." Blatter's job title was even wiped from his Twitter profile and the presidential page expunged, with a site for acting president Issa Hayatou uploaded in its place. Both Platini and Blatter were suspended after becoming embroiled in a Swiss criminal investigation into financial wrongdoing at FIFA. If Platini does appeal and it is denied, it would effectively rule him out of the running to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in the election on Feb. 26. Since a criminal case was opened against Blatter two weeks ago, he has been communicating in public through his lawyers, rather than through official FIFA channels. But Platini's statement attacking allegations that are "astonishingly vague" is the lead item on UEFA's corporate website. And despite the actions of FIFA in Zurich, UEFA has not elevated Angel Maria Villar the body's most senior vice president to the top job at its headquarters in Nyon. Villar, the head of the Spanish soccer federation, is also at risk of sanctions from a separate investigation into soccer corruption. "It seems to me that UEFA is trying to fudge it by saying they are not appointing someone in (Platini's) place," British lawyer Nick De Marco, a specialist in sports law, told The Associated Press. "Under the rules, they have to have someone in his place chairing meetings." It is likely that Villar will chair Thursday's hastily-organized meeting of both UEFA's 54 members and the executive committee despite not being appointed acting president as statutes dictate. Last month, Platini was questioned by Swiss investigators about a payment of 2 million Swiss francs (about $2 million) he received from FIFA in 2011 for work carried out up to 2002. Blatter is being investigated as a suspect in the case, while Platini is being treated "between a witness and an accused person," according to Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber. ___ Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports
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One of the required skills: baby-sitting.
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The late Robin Williams records never-before-seen lines for the Genie in Disney's 'Aladdin.'
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Police say an SUV darted through a Massachusetts auto auction, striking other cars, patrons and a cinder block wall and injuring eight people. (Oct. 9)
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BEIJING Rafael Nadal has made headlines in 2015, but not for the usual reasons. The 14-time Grand Slam champion failed to win a major title for the first time in 10 years and did not reach beyond the quarterfinals at a Slam this year. But the Spaniard and his camp have reason to believe next year will yield better results, despite the negativity surrounding his 2015 season. "It's normal that when I was winning a lot, they'd put me to the moon and now they put me very low," Nadal said in Beijing. "That's part of the show, that's part of the game. So I accept everything and know what I did in the world of tennis, know how difficult are all the things that I've done. I'm happy and proud about what I did to be where I am today, all the work that I had to do to become the player that I am. So I'm gonna keep working hard, keep waiting for chances for my future and I believe I'm gonna do it." ?Nadal's fans, competitors and coaches have seen him in every state of mind this season: hopeful, frustrated, dejected, upset. "I am No. 8 in the world. I am not No. 100. Seems like I am No. 200 in every press conference," Nadal said after a second round match at the U.S. Open, when asked if he understood why his fans were worried about his recent form. But now, as Nadal is into his first hard court semifinal match of the year at the China Open, he seems very calm about place in the game and is actively preparing for the 2016 season. "The positive thing is that Rafael played really bad this year but he's still seventh in the Race [to London for the ATP World Tour Finals]. That's the best thing to come out of this, because it means he has enough space to come back faster," Rafael's uncle and coach Toni Nadal said in Beijing. "Mentally it hasn't been easy because he isn't used to losing, but in life things aren't lasting for ever so you have to accept that. We're moving forward, trying to train with a better focus and intensity. He is really improving, so I don't know if his game will be back this season, but I believe Rafael will be very good again in 2016." The former World No. 1 has the same mindset as his longtime mentor: hard work will soon pay off. Rafael says practices are improving and the final hurdle is to make things click again during matches. But he's not surprised at how long it's taken. "When you have longer without playing well, then it takes longer to play well again. It's something that I accept, and I am working hard," Rafael said. "I feel happy about every improvement, with the way we are working. I think we're on the right way, with positive attitude from everybody in the team and knowing that things are difficult but that we can be there again." The question is: what point in his career is there? Is it his 2013 level of play, where he won the French and U.S. Opens, and eight ATP titles? Or is it simply making his game evolve again, or reconnecting his rivalry with Novak Djokovic? "A bit of both," said Toni about Rafael's season two years ago and the development of his game. About the possibility of catching up with Djokovic, Toni is less optimistic. "No, because at the moment we're way too far from him," he said with a sigh. "First we need to get the game back, and then we'll be able to be competitive with everybody. But let's not forget that you have young guns coming up now too, so it won't be easy. Yet, if you're mentally strong and you still want to be out there, then it will always be possible." Rafael hasn't won a Masters title in the fall since 2005 and his last major title came in 2014 at the French Open. But even World No. 1 Djokovic spoke about the Spainard's chances at a title before this year's U.S. Open. "He always has a chance. You can't sign Nadal out, 14-time Grand Slam champion, he deserves [to be] a favorite," he said. Nadal's demeanor in Beijing shows a strong will power no sign of sadness, no sign of a lack of desire to go on and he speaks very calmly of his 2015 doubts and troubles. He says he wants continue to treat winning and losing the same way. "All that I know is I'm decided to work as hard as I can, and decided to do everything that I need to do to be back to the level where I want to be. But without an obsession, without getting crazy," he said. "Things are easier. I feel very lucky with all the things that happened to me already so I'm gonna work hard in order to have the possibility to enjoy this sport. I'm with calm and with the right motivation to keep going." After several tough losses and disappointments, Rafael's motivation is still intact for the end of this season and for his ambitions for 2016. "My goal is to recover the level especially to play my best on clay next year," he said. "His confidence is built on that, his game is built on that," Toni said of Roland Garros, where Rafael has won nine titles. "So yes, in order to regain those two we need to win back the clay. Of course we shouldn't wait for the clay to start playing well again but the main goal remains to be again the No. 1 on the clay." And for this, there's a clear plan set up for the months to come. Toni and Rafael have already changed some things at practice and assessed his game for areas of improvement. "In 2013 his level was higher because his game was stronger. He was taking the ball more forward, he was going for his shots and for the points. This season, the legs have stopped a bit," Toni said. "But when you are tighter, then the legs don't move that well anymore. We need to do better and I think we know how. "We're working on how he moves, but mostly we need to get his forehand back. That's what he's been missing the most this year. But recently at training it's been better, we just now lack the safety of knowing that he can repeat those sequences over and over again." Toni is still the main person in charge of bringing Rafael back to his best, but he's also aware of recent comments suggesting that his nephew needs to try another coaching method. He says the remarks do not hurt him, but he isn't impressed either. "It's easy to talk, and many people are talking about a lot of things and many times they do without knowing. To know, you have to come and watch a practice session, you have to know what the coach is saying," Toni said. "We'll see if Rafael thinks that we must change or that we must add a super coach [smiling]. If I thought it'd be better for Rafael, I'd do it. I don't want the best for me but for him. I'm the coach but I'm the uncle too. If he tells me that, I don't know, [Ilie] Nastase is arriving, and then Rafael ends winning Roland Garros, I say come, come Nastase! I'd be very glad." Toni and Rafael will open an academy in Manacor, Spain, next May, marking the pair's largest project outside of Rafael's career and one that's been in their minds and hearts for years. The academy will not only help kids develop their tennis skills and values, but will also serve as a school, giving students an opportunity to attend an American university. "We're going to work hard to try to help them to have a good future, hopefully in tennis, but if not, to prepare them for the life," Rafael said. "We feel we were prepared for this project because of all the experience we have on the Tour for sure but also on life. I've seen the transformation of this little boy to the No. 1 player in the world. I've seen every step of the way," Toni said of his nephew. Whether it's his outlook, adjustments to form or the symbolic meaning of academy, Rafael and his camp both believe there are signs indicating better results for 2016. "Tennis is Rafael's life," Toni said. "As he earned enough money he could have picked whatever he wanted to, but he still chose tennis. Because he loves it."
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After Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) dropped out of the race for Speaker of the House, Republicans are pushing Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) to run instead. The job is his, they say. But does he want it? Photo: Getty
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Making terrifying movies even more terrifying.
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Washington defeated USC 17-12 on Thursday night in the Huskies first match against ex-head coach, Steve Sarkisian. Trojans QB Cody Kessler threw two interceptions in the loss.
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HONOLULU (AP) Family and friends say 25-year-old Colin Cook lost most of his leg in a shark attack off Oahu's North Shore. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports relatives identified the victim and confirmed doctors amputated most of his left leg. His hands were injured when he punched the shark before it swam away. His cousin, Chris Webster, says Cook swam to another surfer who paddled him to shore. He told KHON-TV it's heart-breaking that doctors had to amputate above the knee, but that Cook is in good spirits. Cook's friend John Carper helped get him out of the water. He said the Rhode Island native is a regular at the popular surf spot where the shark bit him. The Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department says bystanders acted quickly and helped save Cook's life.
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Authorities said the suspect, identified for legal reasons only as Samy W., was flown to Stuttgart and taken into custody on Friday. The teenager allegedly joined the "IS" group and underwent weapons training to prepare him for combat. Prosecutors say he had "misgivings" about fighting, however, and fled to a Kurdish-controlled region of northern Syria in July, before he continued to Turkey where he was arrested. Concern over radicalization In a similar case last week, a court in the western German city of Düsseldorf sentenced a 22-year-old man to two and a half years in prison after he was found guilty of joining "IS." As the number of Westerners traveling abroad to fight alongside the terror group increases, so has concern over the radicalization of Muslim youths. According to Hans-Georg Maassen, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the number of ultra-conservative Salafist Muslims in Germany rose to 7,900 last month, compared to 7,500 in June. The intelligence service has warned that Islamists may now be attempting to mobilize some of the thousands of asylum seekers who have arrived in Germany in recent months. Authorities have also launched raids on suspected recruitment centers.
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Great news: You might burn more calories just from walking around than you think you do. Engineering researchers at Ohio State University theorized that since people don't walk at a constant speed in real life, studies on calorie expenditure have likely been shortchanging us. So for a study published in Biology Letters , they had participants walk on a treadmill set at a low speed and asked them to alternate between walking faster (closer to the display) and slower (more toward the back) and found that varying your walking pace can burn up to 20 percent more calories compared to maintaining a steady pace. They say that just the act of changing speeds takes energy that isn't accounted for in calorie-burning estimates. So continue to speed up through those crosswalks and downshift as you pass people swiping on Tinder. It you want to really feel the burn, follow this advice from study co-author Manoj Srinivasan, who leads the Movement Lab at Ohio State: "Just do weird things. Walk with a backpack, walk with weights on your legs. Walk for a while, then stop and repeat that. Walk in a curve as opposed to a straight line." In other words, channel your inner Joanna Rohrback and Prancercise your heart out. White pants optional.
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