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'The Voice' coach's insanely posh pad is on the market, and it has all the amenities a 'Happy' singer could ask for! Check it out! | 3 | 96,500 | finance |
There's a new breed of fast casual restaurants meet the places making healthy meals that will help you lose weight fast. Dig Inn There's a new breed of fast casual restaurants meet the places making healthy meals that will help you lose weight fast. It's like: A bizarro world Cracker Barrell, where everything is healthy Picture your Sunday family dinner spread minus all the unhealthy casseroles and pies, because that's essentially what it's like to eat at Dig Inn. It's a seasonal market-style eatery that offers locally sourced and reasonably priced meals. You can make your own plate by picking a base (salad or whole grain), a protein (lean meat, tofu, or salmon), and then a few sides. The sides range from roasted sweet potatoes and pan-sauteed cauliflower to crunchy summer couscous and kale and rhubarb salad. You can get an entire plate of healthy, filling food for around eight to ten bucks even more reason to stop in! Where to find on: Dig Inn currently has 11 locations in Manhattan, but may roll out nationwide. Eat there, and avoid these horrific Unhealthiest Foods in the Food Court . Sweetgreen It's like: A McFarmers Market You think you're aware of your health? Sweetgreen is hyper aware. The menu here is made from all-organic ingredients and sourced from farmers Sweetgreen teams form relationships with local providers. They've got a great variety of salad options from spicy to creamy and whole grain-filled bowls filled with nutrient dense foods like quinoa, farro, avocado, shredded cabbage, beets and leafy greens. However, the real fun happens when you mix your own salad. Grab a base of shredded kale and organic wild rice and toss them with fresh add-ins like spicy broccoli, snap peas, and roasted vegetables each fresh from the market. Where to find one: Sweetgreen has over 30 locations including multiple spots in D.C., Massachusetts, New York and Virginia. If you live somewhere that doesn't have a lot of fast, healthy options, be sure to scope out our 25 Things Fast Foods Chains Don't Want You to Know ! Roti Mediterranean Grill It's like: Your favorite Mediterranean grill, but quicker Roti Grill is really focused on creating and offering food that will nourish and give back to your body. The entire menu is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, which has been praised for its heart healthy benefits as well as its ability to boost brain health and aid in weight loss . Their meals are crafted with pitas, couscous, fire-roasted meats and hummus. For example, their "Best Plate Ever" dish is a rice plate with chicken kabob, hummus, tomato and cucumber, fresh veggies, roasted red pepper sauce and a house-baked pita. You can always nix the pita if you want to cut back on calories, but overall their dishes offer a perfectly calibrated combination of protein, healthy fats and fiber that your body can use a fuel. Where to find one: You can find Roti all over Illinois, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland and New York. Freshii It's like: A Chipotle where quinoa and spinach replace the Mexican food This chain made headlines challenging the CEO of McDonalds to include Freshii's food inside their locations. Is the food as good as its marketing? Freshii offers up some highly nutritious meals filled with lean protein, fiber, healthy fats and slow-burning carbs. You choose from a wide range of made-to-order green wraps, salads, quinoa bowls, soups and also fresh-pressed juices and smoothies or build your own salad, wrap, grain bowl or soup from their long list of healthy bases and toppings. Keep the healthy choices going at home with these 10 Weight Loss Smoothies . Where to find one: Freshii has locations in over 75 cities and 15 countries worldwide. Find them locally in New York, Texas, Florida, Arizona and California. Fresh&Co It's like: A nutritionist made over your local deli Again, if it's got fresh in the name, you can probably guess what you'll find when you step through the door. Fresh&Co sources their fruits and veggies from organic, local farms. They've got an extensive breakfast menu that includes a make-your-own omelette option, protein-packed breakfast wraps and even quinoa pancakes. They've also got quite variety of quinoa bowls that range in flavor from Mediterranean to Asian inspired. They even offer healthier sweet treats like vanilla chia seed pudding, hemp brownies and a raw vegan goji berry protein bar. Where to find one: Fresh&Co has 14 locations in Manhattan. | 7 | 96,501 | health |
Special college games are here and quickly gone. Special players are here and quickly gone to the NBA. They are both to be savored before they are lost to history. No. 2 Maryland looms as both a huge challenge and a huge opportunity for UConn on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Kevin Ollie knows this. Rodney Purvis knows this. So does sophomore Daniel Hamilton. "Big game," Hamilton said. "One of the hugest we're going to play," Purvis said. "If you don't get fired up for that game," Ollie said, "you might as well don't put on the jersey." There will be four games against Cincinnati and SMU, both ranked in the second tier of the Top 25. They are important games. They are conference games. This also isn't the Big East anymore, where one loss to a Top 10 team can be negated by a victory over another Top 10 team a few nights later. "We let two huge ones slip away in the Bahamas," Purvis said. "Syracuse really hurt, but it's all in the past. We've got to move forward. It's a great opportunity we cannot let slip away." Not if this team, short on time together yet long on veterans, wants to emerge as a highly seeded team in the NCAA Tournament. Not if this team, which rose as high as a No. 18 ranking and was trending higher before losses to Syracuse and Gonzaga in the Battle 4 Atlantis, wants to build some serious December momentum. | 1 | 96,502 | sports |
Rocker Scott Weiland, ex-frontman of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver who battled substance abuse over the years, was found dead on Thursday. He was 48. Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro tweeted the news. "Just learned our friend Scott Weiland has died. So gutted, I am thinking of his family tonight," Navarro said. Weiland was found unresponsive on his tour bus in Minnesota, where he and his current band the Wildabouts were scheduled to perform at the Medina Ballroom, but the show was cancelled, according to TMZ. Zach Myers, lead singer and guitarist for The Fairwell, corroborated the news on Twitter. "Sadly our production manager who worked for STP for a long time just confirmed …. So sad," he said. It's unknown what caused the singer's death. Weiland, who battled heroin and cocaine addiction over the years, was known for his flamboyant and unpredictable persona onstage. Wielding a megaphone alongside his bandmates for sound effect, the fiery-haired frontman led the Southern California-based Stone Temple Pilots for two decades. Also known as "STP" by their fans, the quartet stormed the grunge scene in 1992 with hit single "Creep" before going on to become one of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s with power ballads like "Plush," "Big Empty" and "Interstate Love Song." Their music still plays in heavy rotation on alternative rock stations alongside '90s acts like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. But it was Weiland's rock star ways that often got him in trouble offstage. After spending five months in prison for possession of heroin in 1998, he was later charged with domestic abuse for assaulting his wife. In 2008, he checked into rehab after being arrested for a DUI and is believed to have struggled with sobriety for the past 25 years. "People have this misconception about me," he said in an interview USA Today. "OK, I struggled with heroin and cocaine and I was a big rock star. But music is not what defines me. I'm a brother, a father, a son." Weiland later split from Stone Temple Pilots and formed supergroup Velvet Revolver with ex-Guns N' Roses rockers Slash and Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum. They went on to win a Grammy in 2005 for Best Rock Performance. "I'm still on the verge all the time," he said of his addiction to drugs. "My brother passed away (drug overdose in 2007), and that's something that will always stay with me." In 2008, Weiland reunited with STP for the last time before leaving the band again and embarking on a solo career. He is survived by his two children, Noah and Lucy. | 5 | 96,503 | news |
We when think back to sitting on Santa's lap, some of us have very joyful and happy memories. However, for most of us we either didn't enjoy the situation or know others that had the worst day ever. For those in the second group of people, please enjoy this video. You are not alone. | 8 | 96,504 | video |
Rory McIlory is reportedly engaged to girlfriend Erica Stoll. The guys weigh in on the surprising news. | 1 | 96,505 | sports |
City Secrets is a new mental_floss feature sharing fascinating facts and stories from the histories of famous cities. Beneath the ever-changing surface of New York City, there are many stories that have been overlooked by the march of time. We spoke with some of the city's biggest history buffs including folks from the New York Historical Society, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, and elsewhere to learn about some of the most interesting bits of Gotham history. 1. BROOKLYN ALMOST WASN'T PART OF NYC. Brooklyn came very close to not being part of greater New York City. "There was an ardent anti-consolidation movement in the days following up to the vote," Greg Young, host of the Bowery Boys podcast and blog about New York City history, told mental_floss. In the 1890s, a legislative push was made to consolidate the five boroughs, raising major criticisms from many in Brooklyn who were concerned about how joining Manhattan would impact their independence and taxation. The anti-consolidators made a compelling case, and almost won the day when Brooklyn voted in 1894. The final tally was 64,744 votes for consolidation, 64,467 votes against. "Had 278 people stayed home that day, Brooklyn would have retained its independence (at least in that vote)," Young says. 2. THERE ARE SKELETONS EVERYWHERE. The African Burial Ground National Monument, located near City Hall, memorializes a site where free and enslaved Africans and African-Americans were buried for over a century. After the site closed to burials in 1794, the bones were more or less forgotten about until excavation began on a federal office building in 1991, and shovels began striking skeletons. Today, there's more to the area than meets the eye. "The African Burial Ground memorial actually marks a very small area of the burial ground," Young says. "Many of the surrounding buildings were actually built on top of the burial ground in the 19th century, including America's first department store, owned by A.T. Stewart, at 280 Broadway, which is still there." (The building, anyway.) While the site contains the reinterred remains of more than 400 people, some 15,000 men, women, and children are estimated to have been buried in the cemetery's grounds, which once covered more than 6.6 acres. The memorial itself extends just over a third of an acre which means there's still plenty of bodies around. And this isn't the only recent discovery of human remains in New York. This November, construction workers digging a water main under Washington Square Park discovered a pair of burial vaults dating back to the early 19th century. Dozens of coffins and skeletons, likely belonging to the Cedar Street Presbyterian Church that once stood nearby, were uncovered. Though archeologists are working to learn more about the remains using high-resolution photography, no one will be disturbing the vaults, for a water main or otherwise. 3. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY HAS CHANGED COLOR. The Statue of Liberty used to be dark brown. For the first two decades after it was erected in 1886, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's masterpiece was the color of the hammered copper "skin" of the statue. Over the years, it naturally turned green as a result of age and harsh weather conditions. By the time color photographs could accurately capture Lady Liberty's color, she had turned the familiar hue we know today. 4. THE CENTRAL LIBRARY USED TO BE A RESERVOIR. Before the New York Public Library and its famous stone lions occupied the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, the site was home to the Croton Distributing Reservoir. Completed in 1842, the reservoir sourced water from Westchester's Croton River, and was a main source of drinking water for the city for half a century. The four-acre lake, contained in 50-foot-high granite walls, held up to 20 million gallons of water. But as a second reservoir was constructed in Central Park and the Croton reservoir began leaking, most decided it had "outlived its usefulness," as a letter to The New York Times put it in March 1891. In 1898, removal of the reservoir began, making way for the grand public library's opening in 1911. A historical plaque describing the reservoir can still be seen in the subway passage connecting the 7 train stop and B/D/F/M stop, and remnants of the reservoir's foundation remain in the library's South Court. 5. AARON BURR DIED HERE ALONE. Many people know how Alexander Hamilton died, but less frequently discussed is how the victor of that famous duel ended his days in New York. "Aaron Burr died all alone in 1836 in a boarding house in Staten Island," Young says. The building was known as the Port Richmond, but was later renamed first as the Continental and then as the St. James Hotel. The building was demolished in 1945, but a plaque recognizing Burr's death remains there. But perhaps more odd than Burr's death was the response of those at the boarding house to the former vice president's death. When the landlady discovered the vice president's body, a fellow lodger appeared in the doorway with materials in hand to create a death mask. (It's now on display at the New York Historical Society.) "For years afterwards, guests requested to sleep in the room he had died in. There was even a sign hung over the mantel, 'Aaron Burr died in this room,'" adds Young. It seems Burr had become more interesting in death than he was during his final years of life. 6. IT WAS ONCE HOME TO LITTLE GERMANY. Those with even a casual understanding of New York City know about neighborhoods like Little Italy and Chinatown. But Little Germany may be less familiar. "During the mid-19th century, the Lower East Side was known as Kleindeutschland (or Little Germany) because it was predominantly populated by immigrants from what is today Germany," says David Favaloro, director of curatorial affairs and the Hebrew Technical Institute Research Fellow of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Most though certainly not all of the German population left Little Germany by the late 1880s and early 1890s, especially after the General Slocum disaster of 1904 killed over 1000 people and destroyed what was left of community cohesion. Meanwhile, large numbers of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, including Russia, Austria, and Romania, moved in. Today, NYC is home to ethnic enclaves from Nolita's Little Australia to Little Guyana in Richmond Hill, Queens. 7. MAIL USED TO BE DELIVERED WITH TUBES. The city's Post Office Department used to transport a large portion of its mail underground. Beginning in 1897, miles of pneumatic tubes were installed under the city, connecting the major postal stations, which shuttled the letters packed into metallic canisters throughout the city. In 1913, the postmaster installed new, 24-inch-wide tubes between the Grand Central and Pennsylvania Terminals, which were built large enough to carry 100-pound bags of mail. At its peak, the tubes transported almost 100,000 letters daily about 30% of the city's mail. But when the U.S. entered World War I, the high cost of operating the tubes was seen as too expensive, since funds were needed for the war effort. The underground delivery system ended permanently in 1953, although remnants still exist throughout the city. 8. THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AREA ONCE LIVED UP TO ITS NAME. Before the Twin Towers were constructed, that area of downtown Manhattan was home to the biggest market in the country Washington Market. First built in 1812 as a few dozen stalls, over the next century it expanded to become the largest market in the U.S. and was practically a city itself. Stretching across the lower west side of Manhattan, the market enticed visitors with the smells of cheese, eggs, fruit, and more unusual offerings such as calf skins, sweetbreads, terrapin, green turtles, elk, llama, and bear paws. After a complete renovation in 1915, the Washington Market continued for several more decades, but faced competition from smaller, cleaner markets popping up throughout Manhattan. The city demolished large swaths of the market in the late 1960s, making room for the World Trade Center, and Washington Market soon faded into history. 9. IT HAS ITS OWN WALKS OF FAME. Los Angeles may be the city we associate with stars and handprints embedded into the sidewalk, but New York has its own answers to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sidewalk in front of Theater 80, at 80 St. Marks Place in the East Village, boasts its own collection of celebrity prints, including Joan Crawford's hands, Gloria Swanson's shoes, and Myrna Loy's right hand. The prints were arranged by theater owner Howard Otway, who talked a number of his famous friends into leaving their marks during an opening-night party for a new musical film revival series in 1971. The theater is still owned by Otway's son, Lorcan, in a building that also houses the Museum of the American Gangster. But that's not the city's only Walk of Fame. Just a few blocks northwest of Theater 80, pedestrians can stroll over a series of gold-metal stars embossed with the names of Jewish theater legends the Yiddish Walk of Fame. Though they now sit in front of a Chase bank, for more than half a century these stars marked the entrance of the East Village's beloved Second Avenue Deli, whose owner, Abe Lebewohl, installed the walk as a tribute to the area's once-bustling Yiddish theater district. (Today, a part of the original deli sign has been preserved at the City Reliquary in Brooklyn.) 10. PARK SLOPE WAS ONCE THE SITE OF A BLOODY PLANE CRASH. Though now known as the center of hipster parents and artisanal everything, the sidewalks of Park Slope were once the site of a horrific tragedy. On December 16, 1960, a pair of commercial airplanes collided in mid-air, with one plane (a TWA flight flying in from Ohio) crashing on Staten Island, and the other (a United Airlines plane en route from Chicago), crashing at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Sterling Place and the brownstones nearby. Six people on the ground and all 128 of the passengers were killed. No memorial marks the site of the crash, but a keen-eyed observer will note the bricks at the top of 126 Sterling damaged in the tragedy are a different color than the rest of the building. | 2 | 96,506 | travel |
A lot can change for Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler over the next five weeks and into the playoffs, whether his play keeps Peyton Manning on the sideline or not. But there's no question the Broncos are staring at a complicated negotiation with a young player at the most important position who will have no more than 11 NFL starts (and potentially as few as seven) before Osweiler's rookie contract expires in March. "Look, if he's a good player, it's a good problem," a high-ranking NFL executive for another team told USA TODAY Sports, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. "But it'll be very, very difficult to navigate on multiple fronts. Once he shows he can be the guy, you're in a tough spot." Granted, the Broncos know Osweiler, 25, better than anyone. They took him in the second round (57th overall) of the 2012 draft and have 3½ years of practice tape. Still, that's not much of a sample size. "They're the only ones who are going to know if he's their guy or not," another NFL executive said. "But if he lights it up, and he thinks he's your future, and you've already been there with him I won't say you're going to pay him top market (value), but you're going to have to pay him." Even the Washington Redskins have 20 starts (and counting) to judge Kirk Cousins, who's also in a contract year and, like Osweiler, sure to have suitors if he hits the market in a quarterback-starved league. Sunday's start againt the San Diego Chargers will only be Osweiler's third. In 2008, the Green Bay Packers gave Aaron Rodgers a five-year, $63.52 million extension after just seven starts and three years of sitting behind Brett Favre. That was a unique situation, though, and Rodgers still had another year left on his rookie deal. A better comparison for Osweiler is Matt Cassel, who sat for three years with the New England Patriots before replacing injured Tom Brady in Week 1 of the 2008 season. Cassel parlayed 15 starts into a franchise tag, a trade to the Kansas City Chiefs and a new six-year, $63 million deal. If the 2016 salary cap is $150 million, the quarterback tag would cost about $19.6 million. The Broncos could absorb that easily enough by cutting Manning and his $19 million salary for next season. But another tag for Osweiler in 2017 would cost $23.52 million 120% of Osweiler's previous salary for a two-year average of $21.56 million, higher than all but three current quarterback deals. Another dynamic to consider in Denver: Pass rusher Von Miller is unsigned and may become the NFL's highest-paid defender. There will be pressure on Miller and Osweiler not to sign early, since the Broncos can only tag one of them and leverage would grow as the February deadline approaches. "If they've got to franchise (Osweiler), they're dead," the first executive said. "You're going to lose all your leverage." One alternative is the transition tag, which would cost about $17 million. It's unlikely another team would touch that with such an inexperienced player, though it's more enticing than the more expensive franchise tag, which would also cost an outside suitor two first-round picks to sign a player. There's no telling what kind of offer sheet might come in from another team, given the scarcity of the position, and the Broncos wouldn't get any compensation if they lost Osweiler in the transition-tag scenario. A two- or three-year "bridge" deal probably makes the most sense for Osweiler. If he keeps playing well, the first executive estimated the starting point for the club would be in the range of $15 million a year just inside the top 20 of current quarterback deals but it's all educated guesswork for now. All this is irrelevant if Osweiler flops down the stretch or the Broncos stand by Manning, who turns 40 in March and has given them no reason to do so this season. Given the Broncos haven't locked up Osweiler already may suggest the plan is to choose neither and move on through the draft or at least it was before Osweiler got on the field. Do offensive coaches have leg up for next head jobs? Of the seven head coaching jobs that opened after last season, six were filled by defensive coaches. That could flip this year, not only because of how the candidate pool was thinned out, but because of investments in young quarterbacks by some of the teams potetially looking. The Tennessee Titans have Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft. The Miami Dolphins have Ryan Tannehill, who signed a four-year, $77 million contract extension in May. The Indianapolis Colts (Andrew Luck) could join them in the market come Black Monday. Among the offensive coordinators expected to draw interest are the Chicago Bears' Adam Gase, Cincinnati Bengals' Hue Jackson, New England Patriots' Josh McDaniels, San Diego Chargers' Frank Reich, Atlanta Falcons' Kyle Shanahan and Carolina Panthers' Mike Shula. Former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone, now the assistant head coach/offensive line for the Jacksonville Jaguars, also figures to be in the mix. Other assistant head coaches with offensive backgrounds who had interviews last year include the Seattle Seahawks' Tom Cable and Buffalo's Anthony Lynn. Still, it's an oversimplification to say a team with a young franchise quarterback will hire an offensive coach. The one team in a similar spot last year, the Oakland Raiders with Derek Carr, went with a defensive coach, Jack Del Rio. The San Francisco 49ers, with Colin Kaepernick, promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. But Gase, Jackson and McDaniels all figure to be among the hottest names this year, along with defensive coordinators Teryl Austin (Detroit Lions) and Sean McDermott (Carolina), among others. If the New Orleans Saints and Sean Payton part ways, he's another offensive mind to put at the top of some lists. Other names to remember include: Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, New York Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, UCLA coach Jim Mora, former Detroit coach Jim Schwartz, Stanford coach David Shaw, former Falcons coach Mike Smith and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Given that those close to search processes believe there could be seven or more openings again, it wouldn't be a surprise if one or two off-the-grid candidates emerge as well. Odell Beckham's secret to success Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made his latest one-handed highlight catch last weekend against Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon, who'd like everyone namely officials to keep an eye on what Beckham's doing with his other hand in the future. "The new thing when you start watching film is all the receivers now, when they're like even with you, they pull through to gain separation," Blackmon said after the Redskins' 20-14 win. "The refs never call it. It's genius. … That's like the new trick. (But) if you grab: flag." Slow down the tape, and it's easy to see what Blackmon's talking about. He has his left shoulder in front of Beckham around the 10-yard line. Then, Beckham gets his right hand on the front of Blackmon's hip, simultaneously propelling himself and slowing Blackmon. In real time, it looks like it's just part of Beckham's stride. And the "pull" happens several steps before Beckham lunges to make the catch in the end zone, before what would normally be considered a push-off. Blackmon's not even mad. It's amazing how good Beckham is at it. "He does a great job, every time," Blackmon said. "Usually, he's fast enough that he'll just beat you up top. But if you're even, he'll pull through." Inside runs At the league meeting in Texas this week, NFL teams were given a range for the 2016 salary cap of $148 million to $153 million a $5 million to $10 million rise. One reason it may not spike as much as in 2015: the performance-base pay delayed in 2013 will be accounted for next year, increasing the share of revenue earmarked for benefits instead of salaries. Most 2015 cap room remaining, per NFLPA records: Jaguars ($33.4 million), Titans ($24.5M), Raiders ($13.8M), 49ers ($12.7M), Giants ($12M), Dolphins ($10.4M). No rush to use it. Teams can roll over whatever is left at the end of the league year in March. One consequence of the NFL's vote to allowing trading of compensatory draft picks, beginning in 2017: The regular picks at the top of Rounds 4-7 figure to lose some value, because they no longer surround the comp-pick dead zone at the end of Rounds 3-6. There won't be the same level of competition to get into those spots. Earning a playoff bye also means your assistant coaches can interview for head jobs a week sooner. So, McDermott and Shula would be available to interview on wild-card weekend, barring an epic collapse by the Panthers. Assistant coaches for teams that win in the wild-card round can interview the following weekend. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll pointed out his team and the Minnesota Vikings rely on a similar formula. (Read: play defense and run the football.) They also share a weakness. Whichever undermanned offensive line holds up better against the other team's talented front figures to have the edge Sunday. The firings of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in Miami and special teams coordinator Kevin Spencer in San Diego makes it six coordinator changes on top of two head coach dismissals this season. Three of those are related the Dolphins previously canned coach Joe Philbin and defensive boss Kevin Coyle but that's a lot of in-season turnover, with five weeks still to go. Only team above .500 left on the unbeaten Panthers' schedule: the sinking Falcons, whom they host Dec. 13 and visit two weeks later. The Panthers also visit New Orleans (4-7) and the Giants (5-6) and wrap at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6). Tom's top 10 (Last week's ranking in parentheses) 1. Carolina Panthers (2): Path to 16-0 heads to New Orleans, where rout launched 2014 surge. 2. New England Patriots (1): Injuries keep piling up, but they're still the AFC favorite. 3. Arizona Cardinals (3): Heat is on rookie RB David Johnson with backfield banged up. 4. Cincinnati Bengals (4): Beat Cleveland, and they can wrap division title Dec. 13 vs. Steelers. 5. Denver Broncos (6): RB C.J. Anderson's re-emergence makes a difference for that offense. 6. Minnesota Vikings (8): Don't overlook the play of 37-year-old CB Terence Newman. 7. Seattle Seahawks (9): Net yards allowed per pass play: 1st in 2013, 3rd in 2014, 11th in 2015. 8. Pittsburgh Steelers (5): Facing Colts' Matt Hasselback means a Super Bowl XL QB rematch. 9. Kansas City Chiefs (10): OLB Justin Houston's hyperextended knee could slow the pass rush. 10. Green Bay Packers (7): Bad as it has looked of late, they still have QB Aaron Rodgers. (Note: Does not factor in the result of Thursday's game) *** Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero | 1 | 96,507 | sports |
Elias Haddad, senior currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank, says markets had anticipated a lot more rom the ECB, and discusses if the Fed will disappoint as well. | 3 | 96,508 | finance |
Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ, says OPEC's consistent message for the past year has been that the group would cut production only if others joined. | 3 | 96,509 | finance |
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) -- On a night Chicago's Patrick Kane hit a milestone, Mike Hoffman was the difference-maker for Ottawa. Hoffman scored his second goal of the game 30 seconds into overtime as the Senators beat the Blackhawks 4-3 Thursday night. The winner came as a relief for Hoffman, who had hit the post in the dying seconds of regulation with the game tied. BOX SCORE: SENATORS 4, BLACKHAWKS 3 (OT) "I think I had (Corey) Crawford beat, but didn't manage to find the back, and then in overtime there's always going to be chances so if that one didn't go in they were probably going to go down to the same thing, 2-on-1. That's kind of how 3-on-3 works," said Hoffman. Hoffman now has an eight-game point streak (8 goals, 3 assists). While impressive, it pales in comparison to Kane's 21-game point streak. With a first-period goal, Kane -- who also had two assists -- tied Bobby Hull's franchise-best scoring streak set in 1971-72. "Right now when you're tied with anything with Bobby Hull it's pretty special considering the career that guy had," said Kane. "But like I said, not too worried about it." Bobby Ryan and Mark Stone also scored for the Senators, and Craig Anderson -- making his ninth straight start -- stopped 35 shots. The Senators played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen due to a number of recent injuries and say they will gain confidence from beating the defending Stanley Cup champions. "They're still a highly regarded team in the league," Ryan said. "For us to do it banged up, to do it when you're trying to create an identity at home, you hope it can be a rallying point for us." Artemi Panarin also had a goal and two assists for Chicago and Artem Anisimov had a goal and a helper. Crawford made 23 saves. With the game tied 2-2, Stone gave the Senators the lead at the 3-minute mark of the third as he was able to bat the puck out of the air and tuck it in behind Crawford to the awe of the 17,171 on hand at Canadian Tire Centre. However, the Blackhawks were able to tie things midway through the period as Kane dropped the puck back behind the Senators net and Anisimov scored from a sharp angle. The second period belonged to the Blackhawks after falling behind 2-0. Chicago made it a one-goal game as Kane scored his 16th of the season with the Blackhawks enjoying a two-man advantage. "He's an outstanding player and what he can do with the puck (is great)," said Anderson. "He makes all the players around him better and it just seems like the puck is magnetic on his stick and he always seems to find somebody." Chicago tied the game at the 16-minute mark as Panarin was able to get into the slot unchallenged and beat Anderson short-handed, with Kane picking up an assist on the goal. Hossa nearly made it 3-2 as he had a breakaway late in the period, but Anderson was able to just get a piece of the puck and keep it on the goal line. The Senators were clearly the better team in the opening 20 minutes and were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead. "(Ottawa) is a pretty fast team, I think it's something we expected, how fast they were and how they like to go on offense," said Kane. "They're not afraid to push the pace and try and score goals. We knew that coming in, we knew our best bet was probably to play a more defensive game and to try and get chances going the other way off their mistakes. I thought we did that for the most part, but at the end of the day they had more goals than us." Hoffman extended his scoring streak to eight games as he picked up his team-leading 12th goal in the opening minutes of the game. The Senators then made it 2-0 with a power-play goal from Ryan. Stone created the perfect screen and Ryan was able to find an opening to beat Crawford. NOTES: The Senators will be without LW Milan Michalek for at least two weeks (broken index finger). ... C Mika Zibanejad also missed the game with an upper-body injury. | 1 | 96,510 | sports |
The Magic defeated the Jazz 103-94 on Thursday. Tobias Harris scored 17 points for Orlando. The Magic have won five straight games. | 1 | 96,511 | sports |
Google might be joining the needle-free blood test party. The company has filed a patent for a "needle-free blood draw" system that can be used either as a wearable on a person's wrist or as a hand-held device that takes blood from a fingertip or other parts of the body. The patent, which was published today and is still pending, describes a blood draw system that works by sending a surge of gas into a barrel containing a micro-particle that pierces the skin. Once blood is released from the skin, it's sucked up into the negative pressure barrel. "Such an application might be used to draw a small amount of blood, for example, for a glucose test," Google explains. This means that the technology could end up being used to help people with diabetes. We emailed Google about to ask about this; we have yet to hear back. Given Life Sciences current projects, a focus on diabetes wouldn't be that surprising. The company is already working two devices designed to help diabetics monitor their glucose levels: smart contact lenses and a bandage-sized, cloud-connected sensor to help people monitor their glucose levels. If these projects are successful and if they gain FDA clearance that could mean big business for Google; about 29 millionpeople in the US have diabetes. Given the nature of patents, it's hard to tell if Google (now Alphabet) is actually working on this device at all. If the company does decide to move ahead with this, however, it might have to readjust its design. Right now, the wrist wearable featured in the patent looks like an oversized Moto 360 from hell. ( Google Inc. ) --- Watch : Verizon And Google Launch Virtual Reality Star Wars Experience | 3 | 96,512 | finance |
The Rodgers family knows something about incredible endings to football games at Cal and Green Bay. On Thursday night, Richard Rodgers, a Cal product, hauled in the miracle 61-yard TD pass that gave his Green Bay Packers an incredible 27-23 win over the Lions in Detroit. Nearly 33 years ago, on Nov. 20, 1982, Rodgers' dad, Richard Sr., played a key role in perhaps the greatest, wildest and improbable ending to any football game ever played. Rodgers Sr., who is now an assistant coach for the Panthers, threw two of the five laterals for Cal on the famous game-winning play in their 1982 miracle win over Stanford. As a matter of fact, Rodgers Sr. had the ball in his hand when the Stanford bench and band first came onto the field thinking the game was over. Of course the junior Rodgers caught the miracle pass Thursday night from Aaron Rodgers, who is also a Cal product. The band wasn't on the field for this one. | 1 | 96,513 | sports |
A candlelight vigil was held in a stadium in San Bernardino, California on Thursday night. Local pastors and city officials were among the speakers. The stadium lights were dimmed when the names of victims were read. (Dec. 4) | 5 | 96,514 | news |
Check out the most ridiculous plays from Thursday, including Pekka Rinne's save, Valeri Nichushkin's pass and Prince Ali's dunk. | 1 | 96,515 | sports |
MIAMI Dwyane Wade was exhausted. Erik Spoelstra was nauseous. Goran Dragic was already sore when the game ended. And the Miami Heat weren't complaining in the least, not after winning the most back-and-forth game so far in this NBA season. Wade scored 28 points, including two free throws with 1.5 seconds left that put Miami ahead to stay and the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-95 on Thursday night in a wild back-and-forth game that featured 38 lead changes and 11 ties. BOX SCORE: HEAT 97, THUNDER 95 "Like a playoff atmosphere," Wade said. "For our young team, that hasn't been in many of these kind of games, it was great." Chris Bosh scored 16 points and Dragic added 14 for Miami, which survived when Russell Westbrook's 3-point try from the right wing bounced off the backboard as time expired. "Back and forth and back and forth," Bosh said. "These are the games you want to play in." Westbrook and Kevin Durant each scored 25 for Oklahoma City, which misfired on a pair of 3s in the final 10 seconds. First, Durant missed and Bosh grabbed the rebound, calling time with 7.7 seconds remaining. That set up the possession where Wade drove, drew a foul on Serge Ibaka and put Miami ahead for good. "I shoot 47 percent from 3 and I got a wide-open look," Durant said. "I just missed it." Westbrook then missed the finale, leaving him scoreless in the game's final 16 minutes. "We got some shots that we usually make," Westbrook said. "We just missed them." No other NBA game entering Thursday had more than 25 lead changes this season -- and in Wade's 13-season career with the Heat, no Miami game ever had more than 31. It was theater, all the way to the end. "My stomach's in knots," Spoelstra, the Heat coach, said. "These guys love it. They love it. This is what you play for." Durant's 3-pointer with 1:32 left was the 37th lead change of the night, and put Oklahoma City up 95-93. Wade tied it on a short jumper -- losing his footing four times on the play, he said -- about a minute later, the 11th time the sides were knotted on the evening. "I was just trying to make a play," Wade said. Neither team ever led by more than six points, and that was for a combined 35 seconds. Back and forth, and back and forth, and then more back and forth they went all night, with all but seven of the game's 48 minutes being played while neither team led by more than three points. "Everybody lives for these moments," Dragic said. TIP-INS Thunder: Oklahoma City had two days off before and after this game, its most relaxed stretch so far this season. ... Thunder coach Billy Donovan had coached at AmericanAirlines Arena in his college days with the Florida Gators, going 4-0 in Orange Bowl Classics there in the early 2000s -- with Heat F Udonis Haslem helping get one of those wins. ... Westbrook has reached 25 points in 11 of 19 games this season. Heat: Josh McRoberts had a season-high 12 points. ... The Heat were 7 for 15 from the foul line in the first half, 7 for 9 in the second. ... Miami rookie Justise Winslow spent much of his time guarding Durant, adding him to a list of defensive assignments that includes, among others, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and James Harden in his first two professional months. ODD FIRST The first quarter was loaded with oddities for the Thunder. Durant picked up two fouls in the first 4:30, the first time that's happened in a regular-season game since March 29, 2009 (or in any game since May 13, 2011). Westbrook scored 15 points, the most anyone has scored against Miami in any quarter all season. And the Thunder went a full quarter without trying a 3-pointer, the first time that's happened this season. HOME DOZEN The Heat are the first team in the East to already have 12 home games complete. Out West, the Los Angeles Clippers (13) and Houston (12) are also that far into their home schedules. UP NEXT Thunder: Host Sacramento on Sunday. Heat: Host Cleveland on Saturday. | 1 | 96,516 | sports |
An 18-year-old who attended the same Southern California mosque as a gunman who killed 14 people, says the gunman was a devout Muslim who showed up to pray every day before he abruptly stopped three weeks ago. (Dec. 3) | 8 | 96,517 | video |
COLUMBIA, Mo. Missouri promoted defensive coordinator Barry Odom on Thursday to replace the retiring Gary Pinkel as head coach. The school said in a release that Odom agreed in principle to a five-year deal that will need to be approved by the school's board of curators next week. "Coach Odom was the clear choice to serve as our next coach," athletic director Mack Rhoades said. "He is a man of high integrity and possesses all the qualities you look for in a successful head coach." Pinkel announced last month he had cancer and was retiring after the season and also had a public farewell news conference. The Tigers finished 5-7 but the defense ranked ninth in the nation, the first top-10 finish for the school since the NCAA began tracking defensive statistics in 1978. "I'm tremendously honored to have this opportunity," Odom said. "Mizzou means the world to me and to my family, and we couldn't be more proud and excited to be in this position." Odom added, "I can't wait to get started." Odom was an assistant under Pinkel from 2009-11, then did a three-year stint as defensive coordinator at Memphis before returning to Missouri this season as defensive coordinator after Dave Steckel left to become head coach at Missouri State. Odom also had been considered for the vacant spot at Memphis that went to Arizona State offensive coordinator Mike Norvell. Several players endorsed Odom for the Missouri job. The school said it conducted a "thorough national search" and that contract details would be released after the curators meet Dec. 10-11. Odom played linebacker on two bowl teams for Larry Smith, Pinkel's predecessor, from 1996-99. He had 362 tackles, seventh-most in school history, and was a captain his senior year. He also served in an administrative capacity at the school from 2003-08, including director of operations. "He has an undeniable passion for Mizzou, a strong track record of success at each level of his career and a clear vision to mentor our student-athletes and lead our program to even greater heights," Rhoades said. Missouri was ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense last season, allowing 16.2 points, and was also among the national leaders in tackles for loss. In 2014, Odom's Memphis defense was a key factor in a 10-3 season and a share of the American Athletic Conference title. The 63-year-old Pinkel was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in May and has been treated at the Mayo Clinic. Others considered for the position included Cal's Sonny Dykes, Houston's Tom Herman and Toledo's Matt Campbell, who took the Iowa State job. | 1 | 96,518 | sports |
LSU did indeed enter contract negotiations with Jimbo Fisher before ultimately backtracking and announcing they were sticking with Les Miles as their head football coach. But money and support for Miles were the two biggest obstacles preventing the school from hiring Fisher, according to a report. The Baton Rouge Advocate says LSU and Fisher were in talks about a contract to have the Florida State head coach replace Miles. Fisher has a $5 million buyout and would command more than $5 million a year as a coach, plus the cost to hire him a satisfactory staff would have been around $5 million, according to The Advocate. When you combine that with the $15 million it would have cost to buy out Miles, the total to make a coaching switch would have been around $30 million. That's a hefty price to replace a coach who ultimately has been pretty successful. LSU boosters had said the $15 million buyout would not be a problem and that they would cover it with private funds. But given the state's funding and budget issues, approving these moves would have been difficult. The other issue is that Miles received a lot of support when word leaked about the plans to potentially replace him. The school board was said to be split on the matter. Then state governor Bobby Jindal weighed in and supported Miles , which obviously carried a lot of weight. The Advocate says the sentiment to keep Miles began to change in the week leading up to the Texas A&M game. Miles went from walking into the game like it might be his last ever home game as LSU's head coach to winning and being carried off the field by his players ( the video was awesome ). Then after the game, the school's athletic director announced they were keeping the coach. When you come that close to breaking up once, it's hard to repair the relationship. Things will likely continue to be rocky in Baton Rouge despite Miles being able to hold onto his job for another season. | 1 | 96,519 | sports |
The Spurs beat the Grizzlies 103-83 on Thursday. Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and hit seven three-pointers, while Manu Ginobili added 13 points off the bench. | 1 | 96,520 | sports |
The Trail Blazers defeated the Pacers 123-111 on Thursday. Al-Farouq Aminu and Paul George each had a big dunk for their teams. | 1 | 96,521 | sports |
Blame her all you want for the Packers' struggles not really, though but you've got to hand it to Olivia Munn: She supports boyfriend Aaron Rodgers. I just lost my voice ✋ oliviamunn (@oliviamunn) December 4, 2015 MORE: Week 13 Power Rankings | Olivia Munn calls out ESPN reporter for dumb Packers theory Munn, of course, is likely referring to the come-from-behind Hail Mary finish that gave her boyfriend's Packers a 27-23 win over the Lions on Thursday night. Just in case you missed it. We can't fault Munn for losing her voice over this. | 1 | 96,522 | sports |
The Nuggets beat the Raptors 106-105 Thursday in Toronto. Darrell Arthur led Denver to the win with 19 points and six boards. | 1 | 96,523 | sports |
Check out Thursday's Top 5 Plays, including Tyler Seguin's goal, Jordan Spieth's ace and Prince Ali's dunk. | 1 | 96,524 | sports |
NEW DELHI The relentless rains that lashed southern India's Tamil Nadu state for three days eased Friday, but the misery of tens of thousands of people was far from over, with large parts of the main city still underwater along with the region's biggest airport. As Chennai, the state capital, reeled from the heaviest rains in over a century, experts said the devastation was in large part due to the same breakneck and haphazard urban planning that has marked many of India's major cities. It's a pattern that's been repeated for at least a decade. In 2005, India's commercial capital Mumbai came to a standstill after several days of monsoon rains. Last year, Srinagar in Indian Kashmir, saw massive devastation as flood waters swallowed a city where unchecked construction had blocked rainwater channels and eaten into wetlands. India's main monsoon season runs from June through September, but for Chennai and the rest of India's southeastern coast, the heaviest rainfall is from October to December also called the retreating monsoon. This year's deluge which experts linked to the El Nino weather pattern, when the waters of the Pacific Ocean get warmer than usual caught Chennai, with a population of 9.6 million, completely unprepared. One woman told NDTV news channel that she was finally able to get on a rescue boat Friday, three days after the rains began to lash the city. The government has set up 97 relief camps, which are currently providing food and shelter to an estimated 62,000 people. Dozens of homes across Chennai remained submerged too despite the rain ebbing. Chennai's airport was closed for a third day. Photographs from earlier in the week showed large parts of the building and runway completely submerged. The Airports Authority of India has said that the airport would remain closed at least until Sunday. Power supply has been erratic since the city turned off electricity to prevent deaths by electrocution. Mobile and fixed phone networks have been sporadic. Thousands of people have taken to Twitter and other social media to reach out to friends and family. The Indian Meteorological Department on Friday scaled down a forecast for very heavy rains, but added that more rain or thunderstorms were likely. "We have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that our urban sprawls such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Srinagar etc have not paid adequate attention to the natural water bodies that exist in them," said Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment, an advocacy and research organization. "In Chennai, each of its lakes has a natural flood discharge channel which drains the spillover. But we have built over many of these water bodies, blocking the smooth flow of water," she said. As the government struggled to reach all those impacted by the floods, residents teamed up on their own to distribute aid packets of food, bottled water and bed sheets in worst-hit neighborhoods. "What is heartwarming is that the people of Chennai are helping out," said Arun Ebenezer, who has been forced to stay with a friend for three days after rain began to beat down on Tuesday. On Friday, he tried to make his way home, but gave up after friends warned him that large parts of the city were still unsafe. "A lot of people built their houses on lake beds. The government should not have approved those projects. Now they are all submerged," he said. | 5 | 96,525 | news |
A man who attempted to smuggle more than fifty turtles into the U.S. by putting them in his pants has pleaded guilty. Keleigh Nealon (@keleighnealon) has the story! | 8 | 96,526 | video |
More than 85,000 of Kesha's fans have signed a petition, asking Sony to allow her to make new music. Mara Montalbano (@maramontalbano) has the scoop. | 8 | 96,527 | video |
5 Generous, Cool & Weird Things Dropped Into Salvation Army Kettles 'Tis the Season to Give Charitable giving is a common activity this time of year, but it's getting some extra attention recently following stories about Mark Zuckerberg's decision to donate 99% of his Facebook shares to charity and a $500,000 check that turned up in a Salvation Army donation kettle in Minnesota. Those aren't everyday occurrences, but unusual donations seem to happen every year. When Donors Get Creative Take those red Salvation Army kettles, for example: The kettles and the bell-ringers that accompany them are part of perhaps the most recognizable donation campaign in the country, so it's no surprise they attract all sorts of donations besides spare change . Here are a few of the odd things that have gotten tossed in those red buckets over the years. Gold Teeth The Salvation Army found two gold molars in a kettle in York, Pa., in 2005, USA Today reported . In that story, a spokesperson said gold teeth can be exchanged for money , though they're not as valuable as gold coins or jewelry. Gold Rings Rings seem to be a common donation item, perhaps because they're aptly sized for the coin slot on the buckets. That same 2005 USA Today story said the Salvation Army found 18 gold rings in its York, Pa., kettles alone. Sometimes, rings fall in the kettles by accident, according to a Wall Street Journal article on odd things that the Salvation Army finds. Despite common accidental "donations," many people choose to give rings. Last year, in Cambridge, Mass., an anonymous widow donated her engagement ring and wedding ring, accompanied by a note saying it was to honor her late husband, who was a "giver," CBS Boston reported. Another widow actually bought the rings for $21,000 (more than their appraised value) and returned the rings to the original donor, the Boston Globe reported . A Diamond-Encrusted Cross Inspired by the story of the widow who gave her rings, a woman put a cross with 12 diamonds on it into a Brookline, Mass., Salvation Army kettle last year, the Boston Globe reported. Its appraised value was $1,500. Viagra Among the heartwarming stories of widows parting with their wedding rings are humorous tales of junk that gets mixed in with the change in Salvation Army kettles. According to a 2013 WSJ story, volunteers have found things like casino chips, Chuck-E-Cheese tokens, lottery tickets, fake nails, paper clips, sobriety coins, Euros and even a Viagra pill. Gold Coins Based on news coverage from the last few years, it seems that gold coins are among the most common donations that aren't cash or checks . The Mahoning County, Ohio, Salvation Army reported finding two gold coins worth $1,000 each already this season, and a 1978 South African Krugerrand, worth $1,200, turned up in Springfield, Ohio, wrapped in a $100 bill. That same kind of coin was discovered in Mishawaka, Ind., in 2014, and a 2013 news story out of Kokomo, Ind., said a donor had given these rare coins to the Salvation Army five years in a row. Last year, someone in Libertyville, Ill., gift-wrapped seven Swiss francs, worth about $1,500 total. It was the fourth year in a row that happened. | 3 | 96,528 | finance |
I live in Colorado and I am a mother. The shooting at Planned Parenthood last week left me shocked and terrified at the country in which I am going to be raising my son. A country where families can't get health services without the fear of being gunned down. I find it horrifying that a health care center was turned into a massacre. It's horrifying that people do terrible things and I want the world to be a different place for my son. Violence against clinics that provide abortion services has been escalating since a series of anti-abortion videos that were highly edited and very misleading, went viral this past July. The gunman murdered three innocent people: a stay-at-home mom, an Iraq war veteran and father of two, and a policeman, also father of two. Six children have lost a parent because one deranged person was on a mission to stop something that wasn't even real. Why would he do such a thing? Colorado state Rep. JoAnn Windholz issued a statement on the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood attack where she went on to blame Planned Parenthood for the attack, "The true instigator of this violence and all violence at any Planned Parenthood facility is Planned Parenthood themselves. Violence begets violence. So Planned Parenthood: YOU STOP THE VIOLENCE INSIDE YOUR WALLS." I find it incredibly disturbing that an elected official in my state is citing propaganda videos as truth and justification for the murder of these people. I am a supporter of Planned Parenthood . I have used Planned Parenthood's services, like so many other women, for my health. I went to Planned Parenthood for affordable Pap smears and birth control when I had no health insurance. And while I've never had an abortion, having a child has only deepened my conviction around the issue of choice for women. Having a child is not a decision that should be made lightly and Planned Parenthood provides health services for families and helps them make the decisions that are best for their family. Mark Zuckerberg's "Dear Max" letter penned to his newborn daughter caught my eye today as I was scrolling through Facebook. " Like all parents, we want you to grow up in a world better than ours today." He and his wife announced they will be giving 99 percent of their shares from Facebook currently valued at at about $45 billion throughout their lifetime to achieve their mission because they feel they have "a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation." And he's right we do have a moral responsibility. We have to educate and make sure that we are teaching our children tolerance for different viewpoints and empathy and understanding for others who do not have the same beliefs. We must ask ourselves how could the Planned Parenthood shooting have been prevented? What can we do to stop these senseless killings? I chose to have a child and I want to teach my son to stand up against violence as a means to express a viewpoint. I want him to be educated so he will be a critical thinker that can understand the difference between fact and fiction. I want him to be a peaceful person and to understand that what other people choose to do with their bodies is not something he should ever want to control. I want to be a light for him in the darkest times and I want him to stand up for women's rights and be a tolerant person. I don't need to be an advocate for abortion to support Planned Parenthood, but I stand with Planned Parenthood because they do important work and provide necessary care. I stand with Planned Parenthood because I am against violence and I want a better, more tolerant and above all, a safer world for my son and you should, too. | 4 | 96,529 | lifestyle |
Floyd Mayweather is following in the footsteps of Mike Tyson and decided it was a good idea to have a pet tiger. | 1 | 96,530 | sports |
A New Mexico judge has issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in a major jewelry heist at a store in Santa Fe's historic downtown plaza. More than $1 million in jewelry was stolen from Diva Diamonds & Jewels on Nov. 27 as crowds gathered outside for a Christmas tree-lighting festival. Luis Villabla Boca-Negra, 45, is wanted in connection with the Black Friday theft. He is already on probation in New Mexico for stealing a ring from another jewelry store in the same vicinity, according to Santa Fe Police Lt. Michele Williams. Boca-Negra is described as a 5-foot-9 male, weighing about 170 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Williams said investigators fear the suspect may have fled the state. Santa Fe Police said Tuesday that police were looking for two more suspects in addition to Boca-Negra. Police said the trio took 11 items while employees were busy with other customers. The owner, Ala Shawabkeh, said he didn't know the items were gone until later. The two other suspects have not been named. Shawabkeh also known as Mark Shaw was previously raided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in late October for selling counterfeit Native American jewelry, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Authorities arrested three people for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, but Shawabkeh was not charged. Williams has said that burglaries in the area are common, but heists of this magnitude are not. "We've certainly had theft down there, but the anomaly is the dollar amount," she said. "We hadn't had anything that high in a while." Police have urged the public to share any information they have with authorities. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from the Albuquerque Journal. | 5 | 96,531 | news |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. With a few flaps of his arms, Kip Fenton soared into the New York City skyline, veering around a sea of skyscrapers as the wind whistled in his ears. Then, all too soon, the goggles came off and he was back in a bright white room near Boston, no longer a bird but a 59-year-old software developer in blue jeans and a green plaid shirt. Outside a tall window, a man with a cellphone stopped to snap a photo of Fenton and the odd contraption that had given him the sense of flight. "I've always wanted to fly," said Fenton, of Holliston, Massachusetts. "It's sort of one of those fantasy things where, if I could be an animal, I would be a bird." The human fascination with flight is what inspired Max Rheiner, a Swiss artist and scholar, to invent the flight simulator that Fenton tested on Thursday. Called Birdly, the prototype is being exhibited through Saturday at Le Laboratoire, a small art and design center tucked in Cambridge's sprawling technology hub. "Birdly is actually the dream of flying come true," said Rheiner, who has been taking his invention around the world since the summer of 2014. It looks like a futuristic examination table with wings. Users climb on, belly down, and stretch their arms out to either side, resting their palms flat against tilting boards that act as the flight feathers. After they slip on a set of headphones and virtual reality goggles, the machine tilts forward to bring their legs farther off the ground. Suddenly, the goggles fill up with a bird's eye view of Manhattan and everything is moving. During his test run, Fenton rotated his palms upward to climb toward the sky, the whole machine tilting his body upward, and then he reversed the motion to take a downward dive. To speed up, he flapped his long arms over and over. The whole time, a nearby fan rustled his hair, and the sound of wind whirred in the headphones. When he turned his head, he had a sweeping view of the entire horizon. "That was great. I loved it," he said afterward. "The turning and the diving was all pretty straightforward." Because there's no way to know how a bird feels in flight, Rheiner and his team tried to replicate human dreams of flying. "People who have dreams about flying, they can just fly without training and they have great feelings," he said. "We tried to model this experience like those dreams." They aimed to make the maneuvers as intuitive as possible. After a couple minutes, most people pick it up naturally, Rheiner said. On Wednesday, the exhibit's opening day, more than 100 visitors lined up to spend a few minutes trying the simulator. Since then, organizers have had to take appointments. Many give rave reviews, but some found it jarring. Carrie Fitzsimmons, the art center's executive director, hopped off the simulator when it gave her vertigo. After more than a year, the Birdly team is winding down its tour and ramping up its company, Somniacs, which plans to manufacture and sell the simulator soon. It won't be cheap to buy, Rheiner said, but they haven't set a price yet. He's also exploring whether the technology can be used in therapy, especially for people who use wheelchairs. Before Fenton headed home, he had only one complaint about his flight: He wishes it would have lasted a little longer. "I might have been more adventurous if I had known it was going to be that quick," he said. "I would pay a hundred bucks to do this for a half-hour." | 5 | 96,532 | news |
Foot Locker has done it again, this time with the help of Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook. The same company that brought you such hilarious commercials as "Grown-Up Rob Gronkowski," "Zach LaVine Is Unimpressed," and "Jealous Victor Cruz" didn't disappoint with its latest installment, in which a kid dreams to one day "be just like" Russ. Check it out. | 1 | 96,533 | sports |
We've all been there: hearts racing, palms sweating, and panic rising when we realize that there is too much to do and just not enough time. Stress can be immobilizing, and it can negatively affect many aspects of our lives. Sometimes we just need to step back, take a mental health day , and seek ways to de-stress. If you constantly feel like pulling your hair out, you may have some habits causing stress that need to be changed, and there's no better time than now! Here are some things that stressed-out people tend to do and tips to break the habits. 1. Drink too much caffeine We aren't going to tell you to stop drinking caffeine altogether - we wouldn't do that to you! But downing several cups of coffee a day can overstimulate you and make you unnecessarily anxious and on edge. So keep the caffeine to a minimum, and try these tips for making your caffeinated drink healthier. 2. Constantly vent Sometimes sitting down with a friend and letting it all out is exactly what we need. Venting is essential - but only in small doses. If negative things are all you talk about, they are going to be all you think about too. People who are stressed out usually talk excessively about a problem, drag it out, and don't let it go. It's best to rant your rant, get it off your chest, and then be done with it so that whatever was bothering you doesn't bog you down. 3. Obsess over things they can't change We all need to accept what we can't change, and dwelling on mistakes isn't healthy or beneficial. There is no point worrying about things you most likely can't do anything about. It's best to move on and simply do better next time! 4. Eat food that isn't healthy Sometimes when we're worried, turning to a giant cheesy pizza or pint of ice cream sounds like the best thing in the world. But feeding stressed feelings usually leaves us worse off, both mentally and physically. If you're tempted to snack while feeling anxious, try foods that may help with anxiety . 5. Get overwhelmed easily Everyone feels overwhelmed sometimes, but the key is not to get panicked when you realize that you have more to do than you thought you did. Take a deep breath, choose one item on your list to start with, and go from there. Trying to multitask or do parts of things here and there will leave everything half-finished and sloppy. 6. Don't get enough sleep - Sleep deprivation makes you sluggish, cranky, and overall not your best self. Eliminate this contributing factor to stress by trying some tips to help you get the best sleep possible so that you wake up rejuvenated and ready to go! If you're feeling crafty, you can try making this DIYsleep spray. 7. Overanalyze Ever spent hours after a conversation worrying if you said something wrong, should have said something differently, offended someone, or ruined your chances at a promotion? You're probably the only one who noticed any of that, but people who stress tend to pick apart every little thing in life (work or otherwise) and find problems where problems don't exist. Stay positive about yourself! You're awesome, and the worry is all in your head! 8. Don't exercise When we are superbusy and trying to eliminate tasks to lighten the load, exercise can be one of the first things that goes. Don't let that happen! It may take a little time out of your day, but it's a perfect way to get those endorphins flowing and that motivation going. You can always squeeze in some light exercises before bed to help de-stress and get a good night's sleep! 9. Overload their schedules There are only 24 hours in one day, and sometimes we try to pack in more than we can realistically handle in that time. People who stress tend to bite off more than they can chew, and then realize after the fact that they are swamped. Plan out your day ahead of time so that you know what to expect. Take on what you know you can do, leave room in case something unexpected happens, and pace yourself for each task. 10. Try to do everything on their own A lot of high-stress people have a "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself" mentality, and they have too much on their plates sometimes because of this. But truthfully, you get by with a little help from your friends! Let other people give you a hand from time to time - you may be surprised at how well they do the task and how nice it is not to have to go it alone. 11. Focus on the bad instead of the good Bad days will come, but they will also go. People who worry a lot tend to only focus on the negative, and they forget to leave room for contemplating the positive. Instead of clinging to the bad news, seek out the good news, and try to do more things that happy people do! 12. Procrastinate - Procrastination leads to panic - and that's when stress levels go to the next level. It's best to buckle down, suck it up, and get things done. Mapping out your tasks and making a plan can help make things seem more doable and less stressful. 13. Rush through life Stressed-out people can get so consumed with being anxious about pretty much everything that they forget to enjoy the best things in life. What's the point of all that stressing if you can't even enjoy the hard work you're putting into things? Take a minute to slow down and find your own happiness, wherever that may be for you. | 7 | 96,534 | health |
The entire Kardashian Jenner clan got together this thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday, but was Rob Kardashian a no show? Kris Jenner reveals if her son celebrated with the family. | 5 | 96,535 | news |
'Tis the season for lights, but who said the holidays had to be filled with lights on lights on lights. Fairy lights are simple, classy, and have a cozy glow. Angeli Kakade (@angelikakade) has the story. | 8 | 96,536 | video |
Here's how to stop making money mistakes and start saving like the big-time financial gurus. The Mistakes People Make With Their Money Financial gurus Warren Buffett, Suze Orman, Tony Robbins and Dave Ramsey boast net worth figures in the millions or, in Buffett's case, billions. Many of their followers can only dream of becoming multimillionaires or billionaires. However, they each offer plenty of practical advice the average Joe or Jane can follow to clean up their spending, savings and investment habits, and retire rich. Here are seven pitfalls to avoid, along with money management tips from Buffett, Orman, Ramsey, Robbins and other financial experts that almost anyone can implement, regardless of their current bank balance. 1. Spending Too Much on Wants Too many people spend their lives, and their hard-earned cash, buying things that have little or no lasting value, said Robbins, whose net worth is $480 million, according to The Richest. "You have to decide that you're not going to be a consumer, you're going to be an owner, no matter how little money you have," said Robbins in a CNBC video. "If you gave up one night out a week of meals, and you had a pizza and saved $50, then you put the $50 aside, and you multiply that over the year, and you multiply that over [30] years when you're getting an 8 or 10 percent return, you find that comes to about a half a million dollars just by making that one change," he said. 2. Overspending on Needs It might seem these first two mistakes are the same, but some spending can't be avoided. Everyone needs a place to live, and probably has to spend at least some money to earn a living. Buffett, whose net worth topped $72 billion in March 2015, according to Forbes, is famous for frugal habits in both his professional and personal life. Despite a market capitalization of more than $300 billion, his company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. , only employs about two dozen people at its Omaha headquarters, to oversee administrative affairs not handled by its subsidiary companies around the world. "It is also interesting to note that Buffet lives a simple life, choosing to stay in the same house that he bought in 1958, and keeps Berkshire Hathaway headquarters very modest," said Doug Bellfy, a fee-only financial advisor at Synergy Financial Planning in Glastonbury, Conn. "Though he could afford to spend much more, he lives under his means and finds frugal ways to stay satisfied." 3. Not Saving Early "Well, I think the biggest mistake is not learning the habits of saving properly early. Because saving is a habit," Buffett said on the Dan Patrick Show. Those who save early will get the most out of compound interest. The Investment Company of America gave this example on its website: "For example, suppose you have a current salary of $30,000, receive 4% annual raises, and plan to retire in 30 years. You put 4% of your salary into a retirement plan each year and earn an 8% annual return. If you started investing today, you'd have $220,944 when you retire. If you waited 5 years before investing, you'd have $164,878 (assuming the same retirement date, salary, raises, savings rate and return). In this case, waiting five years would cost you $56,066." "The fact is, the earlier you begin to invest your dollars, the more time your investment has to compound and grow," said Paul Tarins, founder of Sovereign Retirement Solutions in Winter Park, Fla. "My advice is that it doesn't matter how much you can begin to invest on a weekly or monthly basis, you just need to start the process." 4. Investing Too Early Dave Ramsey's "Baby Steps" strategy expands on the idea that slow, steady and smart wins the race to riches. The author, media personality and motivational speaker logs a net worth of $55 million, according to The Richest website. He suggested people start by saving $1,000 as a "baby emergency fund," then paying off all their debts, besides their mortgage. Once they've done that, he said they should establish a mature emergency fund that will cover three to six months of expenses. Then, and only then, should one consider investing. Ramsey suggested on his blog that people invest 15 percent of their income, starting out with pre-tax (like a 401k) and tax-free (Roth IRA) savings vehicles. Read: How to Start Investing with $10,000 5. Missing Out on the Match "If your employer offered you a bonus, you wouldn't turn it down, right? But that's pretty much what you're doing when you don't take the steps to qualify for the maximum 401(k) match," Orman wrote on her blog. Orman's net worth is $35 million, according to the site Celebrity Net Worth. One in four employees don't contribute enough of their own salary to maximize their employers' matching contribution, missing out on an average of more than $1,300 in free money annually, according to a recent report from investment advisory firm Financial Engines. "Most retirement plans offer some type of employer match," said Tarins. "The employer match is something everyone should take advantage of. Over time, the match is way too powerful to pass up." 6. Investing in High-Fee Funds There's no need to invest in high-fee funds, when a low-cost index fund can create a diversified portfolio by mimicking indexes like the Standard & Poor's 500 index, according to Buffett. "If (investors) are incurring large expenses in connection with their investing, they are making a big mistake," he said in USA Today. However, it can take some work to uncover investment costs, even for a 401k, said Lesley Kilcullin of Kilcullin Financial Life Planning in St. Charles, Mo. "So often people see the Fees category on an investment statement or 401k statement and think that is their total fees," said Kilcullin. "They are incorrect with that assumption. Mutual fund fees can be as high (as), if not higher than, administrative or management fees. Unfortunately, you have to dig to find these costs. They are not going to be shown on any statement." To determine the fund fees, Kilcullin suggested looking up the funds on Morningstar, or in the prospectus. Or, she said, consult an advisor to help determine the expenses. 7. Doing Nothing It's not necessary to implement all these financial tips to start reaping the rewards. Try taking on a tip at a time, said Mary A. Brooks of Brooks Financial Planning in Colorado Springs, Colo. "The biggest mistake I see is folks doing nothing," said Brooks. "People read a variety of resources, are overwhelmed by all the input and are not sure what to do first. They put off taking action because they are overwhelmed." A game plan is a good place to start. "This doesn't need to be huge formal statement," she said. "Even a New Year's resolution would be a beginning and beginning is the hardest part." | 3 | 96,537 | finance |
Check out these 15 expert tips to grow your savings while barely lifting a finger. Saving a C Note Balancing your budget and saving money can too often feel like a chore. The ongoing upkeep of bank accounts, pocketbooks and investments can sometimes seem like more trouble than it's worth. But there are certain actions you can take that can add up to a savings of $100 or more. To help readers find these ways to save, GOBankingRates asked finance and money experts for the easiest way they saved $100. Here are 15 tips these experts shared that can help you grow your savings by barely lifting a finger. 1. Paying Off High-Interest Debt First Debt is a costly expense, and paying it off can really save you more in the long-term. "Pay off your higher interest debt credit card before the others," advised Laurie Itkin , author of "Every Woman Should Know Her Options: Invest Your Way to Financial Empowerment." She advised this over other debt management plans, like Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball, that focus on paying off the lowest balance first. "[That] doesn't make financial sense," said Itkin. Lowering the balance that accrues interest the fastest will mean you will be paying less interest. This will earn you the most savings. 2. Saving Change "Every day when I get home from work, I put all the $1 bills that are in my wallet into a jar that I keep in my bedroom," said Liat Tzoubari, director of marketing for residential search site Apartable . "On the last day of the month, I deposit all of the $1 bills I have saved into my savings account. I usually end up with over $100, and it feels so great to have saved that money without realizing, that it gives me motivation to keep on going into next month." Even if you're not in the habit of using cash, you can still apply this principle using digital tools that save change for you. Apps like Acorns or Digit, and bank products like Wells Fargo's "Way2Save" or Bank of America's "Keep the Change," will round card purchases up to the nearest dollar or more saving the extra "change" for you automatically. 3. Skipping Bank Fees One of the biggest savings tips from money-saving and consumer expert Andrea Woroch is to stop paying bank fees. "Bank fees add up and you may be throwing away more money than you're saving." Some of the common checking account fees bank customers face are out-of-network ATM charges, overdraft fees and monthly maintenance fees. But there are plenty of checking account options that don't charge monthly fees and have other lower costs. "Transferring your checking account to a local credit union will wipe away these useless fees," said Woroch. "For someone who uses an out-of-network ATM twice a month, overdrafts three times a year and is charged a monthly fee for an interest-based checking account, making the switch could save you approximately $380 annually." 4. Making Coffee at Home "An easy way to save $100 is to make coffee at home," said Megan Carter, personal finance coach at Carter Financial Wellness . "At $5 a drink, 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month you can save $100 in one month," Carter said. If you buy your own coffee and brew it at home, it will cost just under $0.25 per cup of coffee that's a savings of over $4. Even better, you can opt for a free caffeine fix and get a cup from the break room at work. 5. Budgeting for Dining Out "I used to spend well over $150 eating out a month, and it was just me," said Carter. She started getting disciplined about her restaurant budget, however, and used cash to more easily track her expenses. She was then able to cut her spending by two-thirds from $150 to $50, and that covers both her and her husband. "The key is budgeting, using cash and meal planning," Carter said. "No more dinners out because I didn't plan appropriately." 6. Making a Meal Plan "So much extra money is spent on eating out because of the convenience," said Mike Boroughs, a certified public accountant and managing partner of Fortis Capital Management in Seattle. The easiest way he saves $100 or more is planning out his meals and buying ingredients for those meals at the grocery store. "People hate thinking about what they are going to make for dinner more than they actually dislike cooking," Boroughs said. "If you have your meals planned out for the week and the ingredients bought, you will find yourself cooking from home much more frequently and likely save $100 every week or two." 7. Planning Meals Around Sales Another tip for saving even more money on groceries is to buy what's on sale and plan your meals around sale items you've already stocked up on. Teri Gault, founder and CEO of The Grocery Game , said this is a great way to save on your food budget every month. "On average, 80 percent of the items in a recipe won't be on sale this week," said Gault. "The only way to prepare food with all ingredients on sale is to stock up on sale items each week, then choose a recipe that uses what you have, and all at half price or better." 8. Clipping Coupons "Look for coupons before you buy anything," said Woroch. "From prescription medicine to groceries to electronics to a new car to dental service. You can find coupons for just about anything these days." Finding these coupons is as simple as typing the retailer or service plus the term "coupon" into a search engine, Woroch said. "I found a coupon for prescription meds that reduced my co-pay from $60 to $20 for an easy $40 savings." Woroch's favorite sources for coupons include Groupon for services, CouponSherpa to find offers by retailer, Target's Cartwheel app and Walmart's Savings Catcher app. 9. Stacking Coupons With Sales Prices "Coupons are a big savings win, but they go even further when combined with other deals," said Gault. "For the best savings, hold on to your coupons until the item goes on sale." Gault said coupons are usually issued about nine weeks before they expire, and chances are good the item will go on sale during that long period. "That's when you make your move," she said. "A good sale is half off, and coupon savings added to that are like frosting on the cake, bringing your savings to an average of 67 percent off with coupon and sale," Gault said. 10. Doing Your Beauty Routine Yourself Using coupons for a service can help cut costs, but doing it yourself at home can be even cheaper. Many beauty services like hair dying, pedicures, manicures and hair removal can be done at home with store-bought kits. "Instead of getting your roots dyed at the salon every three weeks, go to the drugstore and buy root touch-up boxed color for $7 or $8," suggested Itkin. "[Then] get your salon color every six weeks." By skipping these touch-up sessions, you could save hundreds of dollars a year. 11. Buying a Modem Instead of Renting Sometimes service providers will tack on fees they know most consumers will mindlessly pay, like the modem rental fee many internet service providers charge their customers. But Jim Wang, a personal finance writer for WalletHacks.com , said there's an easy way around this charge. "I was paying a $10/mo rental fee for my cable modem, courtesy of Comcast," said Wang. "I found that I could buy a better cable modem for less than $80, one that was far more powerful than their antiquated device, and stop paying $120 a year in 'rent' to Comcast. On a two-year contract, I was able to save over $160 and get a better connection. When I finally quit Comcast, I was able to sell it on Craigslist for $40." 12. Cutting the Cord on Cable "One of the easiest ways to save $100 every single month is to get rid of cable TV," said Chris, better known as Mr. Cable Cutter. "These days, people pay $125 a month or more just so they can get the five or so channels that they actually watch. It's ridiculous, and thanks to new options, it's no longer necessary." Mr. Cable Cutter said that since he nixed his cable bills, he's been able to replace it with streaming services like Sling TV for just $20 a month. Doing this he still has access his favorite channels from ESPN to AMC, but at a fraction of the price he was paying for cable. 13. Reducing Cell Phone Data Woroch noted that a lot of consumers pay for a cell phone plan with more data than they use. She added that apps like Onavo Count and 3G Watchdog can be used to track how much data you're actually using in a typical month. "If you uncover excess data that's not being used, switch to a lower your plan," said Woroch. "By reducing data allotment, you can save approximately $240 per year on your mobile bill." "[W]hen I was getting out of debt, I ditched the iPhone and went to a smartphone through Tracfone," said Debbi King, a personal finance coach for ABCs of Personal Finance . She saved even more when she downsized her cell plan and switch to a cheaper carrier. "My bill went from $120 per month to $200 per year a savings of $1,240 per year," King said. She still had mobile access when needed, but relied mostly on WiFi hot spots to connect on the go. 14. Getting an Employee Discount "[S]ee if your employer offers a discount on your cell phone service," said Dan Artrip, a certified financial planner with Ramsier Financial Services . "Most companies have arrangements like this in place and for most providers, you simply need to go to their website, enter your work e-mail address, and then verify that address through an e-mail. It's an easy way to save between $100 to $200 each year." You can also check with your human resources department for other employee discounts. You'd be surprised at how often there are extra company perks to take advantage of to save you money. 15. Canceling Unused Memberships and Subscriptions While you're reviewing monthly bills, watch out for those that you keep paying but never use. "Review your monthly bank statement or credit card bill to find any monthly services you're paying for that you aren't using and these can include everything from [a] magazine subscription to an online news site fee to beauty box delivery," said Woroch. For instance, rather than paying for an unused gym membership, try a pay-as-you-go pass or "bounce between gyms and specialty exercise studios by taking advantage of free introductory passes," suggested Woroch. "Considering the average monthly gym fees costs $58, you stand to save nearly $700 a year." | 3 | 96,538 | finance |
A Molotov cocktail hurled at a Cairo restaurant killed 12 people and wounded six on Friday, Egyptian security officials said. One of the officials said the attacker was an employee who had been fired from the restaurant in the Agouza area in the center of the Egyptian capital. Security officials earlier said 18 people died. Islamist militants have claimed a number of bombing and shooting attacks in Egypt, mostly against members of the security forces since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Andrew Heavens) | 5 | 96,539 | news |
Eggnog is great for drinking on its own, but you can also shake things up in the kitchen by cooking with it. Mara Montalbano (@maramontalbano) shows us how. | 0 | 96,540 | foodanddrink |
Sears Holdings Corp. has become J.C. Penney in 2012, when its revenue fell by 25% from 2011. Same-store sales dropped by roughly the same amount, and J.C. Penney teetered toward extinction. Sears just announced same-stores sales at Kmart dropped 7.5% last quarter. Sears Domestic same-store sales fell 9.6%. Revenue for the entire company plunged from $7.2 billion to $5.75 billion, a 20% drop. Sears Holdings lost $453 million. The company is disappearing. The overall brick-and-mortar environment is worse now than in 2012. ShopperTrak reported physical store sales fell 10.4% over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend to $20.3 billion. Kmart and Sears operate in a retail world in which same-store sales have to rise for a national retailer to come close to gaining ground. Traditional retailers have become desperate, which means they will go to risky lengths to hold holiday sales levels from last year. Most have given up chasing growth. Even the largest retailers, which include big-box Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) and department stores like Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M), have forecast grim holidays. Large niche retailers like electronics company Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) won't do any better. Sears operates in a world in which sharp discounts are among its hardest challenges. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is at the top of the list of traditional retailer challenges. It has forecast revenue increases as high as 20% to $35 billion . Old-line retailers have no chance to approach this number. Their e-commerce businesses are too small. They cannot make up for the hole made by battered store sales. Sears has been criticized more than most struggling large retailers. CEO and majority shareholder Eddie Lampert has not updated the inside of Sears and Kmart stores. He has not, or cannot, match the promotion and marketing budgets of many rivals. All he has to offer is free shipping, which has become a standard marketing tool throughout the industry. When Sears Holdings released results, he said: We remain focused on restoring Sears Holdings to profitability by concentrating on our best stores, rewarding our best members and pursuing our best categories through innovative solutions to product and service offerings. Through deliberate strategic actions, notably with respect to our promotional design and marketing spend, we have made meaningful progress in our transformation and reported a fifth consecutive quarter of improved year-over-year results ... It is hard to find anyone who believes that. While J.C. Penney barely escaped a collapse, retail has changed since then, as e-commerce has taken over. Sears cannot be turned around. ALSO READ: 5 Top Dividend Hikes Expected Before the End of 2015 | 3 | 96,541 | finance |
You know how to roll not fold, and you've memorized the rules of packing light. But one new travel startup wants to fundamentally change the way you pack : don't pack at all. Instead, unPack will do the packing for you in a suitcase of its own, delivered directly to your hotel in your destination city a suitcase filled with complete sets of clothing, accessories, and toiletries for the duration of your stay. The unPack particularly focuses on providing outerwear and seasonal accessories to help travelers pare down the bulkiest items on their packing lists. Aaron Liskov and Andrew Zahornacky, co-founders of unPack, say that the idea for the company came to them earlier this year as "very mobile" residents of New York. "We experienced the pain of lugging around bags on a daily basis," says Liskov. And they knew they were not alone in that struggle. At the time, Zahornacky was working for a software company headquartered in New York. Members of the San Francisco -based sales team would cross the country three or four times a week for meetings. Without much time for laundry or shopping during their brief stays at home, he says, "they started looking more haggard as time went on." And on an unseasonably cold day, they might not have known to bring an appropriate jacket. That's where the unPack comes in. A "companion winter unPack" contains a down jacket, a lighter jacket, winter hat, scarf, gloves, and an umbrella, as well as toiletries for your stay. Intended as a supplement to your own clothing, the companion unPack also offers a back-up button-down shirt (in case anything happens to yours) as well as exercise clothes so you can finally take advantage of that hotel gym. Meanwhile, unPack also offers a complete package for travelers who don't want to pack at all. That case includes outerwear and accessories, as many Oxford shirts and chinos as you need depending on your trip length, several sets of athletic and leisurewear, ties, belts, sunglasses, cell phone chargers, and toiletries. Employing respected names such as Columbia, Nike, and Ministry of Supply is another part of unPack's strategy: these aren't meant to be just shirts, these are meant to be quality shirts that you can wear to work and look put together. | 2 | 96,542 | travel |
The guys preview a busy Week 13 slate in the NFL and give you the best five matchups to watch. Who wins Seahawks-Vikings? #120Talk | 1 | 96,543 | sports |
More than 100 men and women travel to Michigan every year to learn what takes to be Santa and Mrs. Claus, from sign language to the proper dress and makeup. | 8 | 96,544 | video |
The US military will open up all positions -- including frontline combat roles -- to women, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Thursday in a sweeping move officially ending centuries of men-only tradition. | 8 | 96,545 | video |
A petrol bomb attack on a Cairo disco killed at least 16 people and wounded two in the early hours of Friday as a blaze broke out, police said. | 8 | 96,546 | video |
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Byeong-Hun An of South Korea became the first Asian to win the rookie of the year award on the European Tour on Friday, a feat he hopes will inspire other golfers from his continent to play in Europe. The 24-year-old An won his first tour title at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May - finishing the flagship event with a record low score - and had top-four finishes in three of the four Final Series events, earning him a seventh-place finish in the Race to Dubai. In 2009, An became the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship at 17, and now he's making a name for himself across the Atlantic. ''It's great to be part of that history,'' said An, the second-highest-ranked Asian player at No. 31. ''I'm the first Asian to win it, and hopefully it will help bring more Asian players to play on the European Tour.'' Previous winners of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award include Tony Jacklin, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, and Martin Kaymer. Keith Pelley, chief executive of the tour, said he had ''no doubt that Ben will follow in their footsteps and forge a great career in the game.'' English player Matt Fiztpatrick, another former U.S. Amateur champion, was also in the running for the award. ''Obviously gutted I didn't win Rookie Of The Year,'' Fitzpatrick wrote on Twitter, ''thought I'd done enough in the events I played but hats off to Ben.'' | 1 | 96,547 | sports |
US group Red Hot Chili Peppers have been announced as one of the headline acts for Reading and Leeds Festival 2016, reports NME . They are the first headline act to be announced so far, and will perform at the festival for the first time since headlining back in 2007. It will also be an exclusive festival performance from the group, who are also working on a new album. Festival organizer Melvin Benn expressed his excitement on the news, commenting, "I'm thrilled to be able to announce Red Hot Chili Peppers as the first headliner for Reading & Leeds 2016, as a festival exclusive. Their incredible live show will be an unforgettable headline performance at the UK's biggest music festival. We've still got some really exciting names to announce and I can't wait to reveal the rest of the line up. It's going to be our best year yet." Also confirmed so far for the festival are the 1975, Courteeners, and Slaves. Reading and Leeds 2016 will take place on the UK's August Bank Holiday, from August 26 - 28 next year. Tickets for the festival are on sale now. Weekend tickets cost £205 + £8 booking fee (£213 total) (about US$325). | 6 | 96,548 | entertainment |
It turns out that the sky is full of space debris , which poses a threat to craft and satellites orbiting Earth . A team of scientists at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China have come up with a way to remedy this. They've developed a spacecraft that collects the debris in a wide-cast net and uses it as fuel to propel itself forward. This technically means it could keep cleaning forever, unless an unforeseen event brings its efforts to an untimely end. Lasers have been developed for eliminating larger pieces of space junk, however aren't designed for smaller bits that are harder to locate and track. That's where Lei Lan and her team come into the picture. The team came up with a way to use the breakdown of debris as a source of fuel. Pieces that are less than 10cm (approximately four inches) in size are caught in a net and then passed through a ball mill. This is a rotating cylinder that pulverizes the junk into a fine powder. It is then heated and passed through a system that sorts out the positive from the negatively charged ions. The positive are pushed through an electric field which increases their overall energy, generating thrust, while the negative are expelled into the surrounding space. What's unclear, though, is how the spacecraft will run. MIT Technology Review notes that yes, the craft won't need a propellant, but it needs a power source for the ball mill to run. The team stated that the craft can use a combination of solar and nuclear power, but didn't really go into what the safety implications are from having a nuclear-powered object orbiting Earth. [Image credit: HENDRIK SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images] Cornell University Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/03/scientists-built-a-spacecraft-that-converts-junk-to-fuel/ | 5 | 96,549 | news |
Running the London Marathon is hard enough. Running it in space? That's another challenge entirely. British astronaut Tim Peake is headed to the International Space Station (ISS) on December 15th and wants to run the race at the same time as everyone else next April. Of course, he won't be running the actual route -- instead, he'll be on a treadmill with a harness system that includes a waist-belt and shoulder straps. These will create downforce to counter Peake's weightlessness in space. He'll also have a video feed of the route which can speed up and slow down to reflect his pace. Running 26.2 miles on the ISS will be tricky. In space there's no wind or rain to keep you cool, no cheering spectators and no fellow competitors to keep you motivated. Just the stars and a few curious astronauts. Peake has, however, completed the London Marathon before, clocking 3 hours, 18 minutes and 50 seconds in 1999. On April 24th, he hopes to complete the same distance between 3.5 and 4 hours. A formidable task for any runner on Earth, never mind one battling the harsh conditions of space. Prinicipia | 5 | 96,550 | news |
VIDEO: Really, it can. | 8 | 96,551 | video |
CNN Films' new documentary, "Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine," examines the complicated person who became an industry icon. | 8 | 96,552 | video |
We throw the word "depression" around a lot. That's the unfortunate truth. We use it to describe a weeklong period of sadness after a breakup or a few days of feeling bad when things aren't going our way. I don't mean to trivialize those experiences or emotional hardships. But being sad is not the same as being depressed that's only the smallest part of it. Depression is about feeling trapped by overwhelming unhappiness, completely surrounded by an impenetrable fog of misery, and a general acceptance of the idea that it will never go away. Winston Churchill called depression " the black dog ." His reasoning was simple: Like a hunting dog, it would always be nipping at his heels, following him. For some people, the black dog is omnipresent. For others, like myself, depression comes and goes but even when you're not suffering, you're always aware of the black dog off in the distance, waiting to close in. This is an uncomfortable thought to which one must adapt: Even when you're not depressed, you're afraid of depression. In My Case When I say I've suffered from "debilitating" depression, I mean exactly that: I've had long periods of time (three months or more) when getting out of bed was the only thing I could accomplish each day. And sometimes that was a stretch. There have been times when I would break down and cry for seemingly no reason or randomly snap and put my fist through a window before I could rein in my temper. There were months when I hid from friends and family, pretending everything was fine and that I was too "busy" to see them while sitting alone in the dark. More often than I care to admit, there were times when I needed to be working on some massive project, but instead would spend a weekend watching an entire season of some TV show I'd already seen. That's what depression is like for me: a general inability to perform. And with it, a feeling of shame and guilt for not being able to do so, compounded by the ever-growing anxiety of deadlines. In many ways, being truly depressed is sort of like being immunocompromised: It weakens you emotionally and psychologically, wears you down to your bones and suddenly, things that would not normally affect you or which you could fight off with ease overwhelm you. When I'm depressed, I'm infinitely more susceptible to things like guilt, fear, shame, and regret. I'll dwell on mistakes I made years ago and think about all of the ways I could have done things differently. I'll feel ashamed of myself and my actions or inaction and actively fantasize about the ways the lives of everyone around me would be better if I were simply not there. Small setbacks seem like incomprehensible obstacles. Tiny transgressions seem like reasons for justifiable homicide. Small setbacks seem like incomprehensible obstacles. Tiny transgressions seem like reasons for justifiable homicide. Mustering up the energy to shower sometimes takes days. Sleep comes unbidden or not at all. Training is half-hearted at best. Food turns to ash, and everything that isn't made of chocolate seems to be made of cardboard. Life is pretty shitty. Coming Out the Other Side Since I'm clinically depressed and not bi-polar, I don't have cycles of depression alternated with extreme mania. I just have periods of being depressed and periods of being a relatively normal human being. Most of the time I'm fine and happy and productive. I'm typically brash, boisterous, happy-go-lucky. I'm friendly and goofy and annoyingly passionate about love and life and sex and food and literature and music. But depression doesn't really follow any schedule or come at predictable intervals. Things just start feeling awful, and then they feel worse. And then you sort of get used to feeling awful. And then maybe things change a bit. There is no massive change, no celebratory event, no clear signal that the storm has passed. Things just slowly get better. Day by day you're able to function just a little bit more. There's an old saying about the month of March: It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Depression, then, is the March of your emotional calendar. And like March, it strikes suddenly and takes over absolutely everything. When it fades, it's gradual. There is no massive change, no celebratory event, no clear signal that the storm has passed. Things just slowly get better. Day by day you're able to function just a little bit more. And then one day, you look up and realize you're doing pretty well. Things seem less gray, and the world seems to offer reasons to keep living. And there are reasons thousands upon thousands of reasons. And they're all around you. You just need to wait things out long enough for the veil to lift so you can see them. Now let's talk about how to do that. How I've Coped Therapy and medication are viable options for treatment, as are other less clinical approaches: meditation, exercise, certain dietary changes. All of them work in their own way. While I dislike medication, I admit that antidepressants, taken in moderate doses for short periods of time (8 to 12 weeks), have seemed to get me through the hardest times. Whether you find yourself besieged by depression and/or thoughts of suicide, or you know someone who may be in distress, I'd like to provide some other resources that have helped me. 1. Pick up the phone. If you're actually considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline immediately: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). 2. Educate yourself. If you're exploring depression from an academic perspective and trying to figure out how the pieces fit together in your particular emotional landscape, I encourage you to spend some time reading the following articles: Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide , by Tim Ferris This amazing series on The Art of Manliness, collectively titled Leashing the Black Dog: Part 1: My Struggle With Depression Part 2: The History of Depression Part 3: What Causes Depression? Part 4: The Symptoms of Depression Part 5: A Realistic, Encouraging, Compassionate, No-Nonsense, Research-Backed, Action-Oriented Guidebook to Managing Your Depression 3. Do nothing; be silent; be still. Breathe. Take a moment and try to take the long view. Perspective is important because chances are whatever fresh hell you're experiencing is a temporary thing. Eventually you're going to feel better or at least, less awful. Your experience of depression, however powerful, is an exercise in exposure to the impermanence of humanity and there is simply no real upside to facilitating death with suicide. Because once you're dead, that's it. Game over. While I admit that the idea of committing suicide might occasionally reach out to the tortured artist in me, the pragmatic side of my personality rails against the thought. Because suicide is permanent and ultimately robs the world of whatever contributions you may make in the future. What if Hemingway killed himself before The Sun Also Rises ? Or The Old Man and the Sea ? While I cannot claim any Pulitzer Prize-winning manuscripts, in my own small way, I change lives. I have a file on my computer of emails filled with several hundred notes from people who have said my work has changed their lives; those are lives I would not have had the chance to change had I checked out years ago. To me, that is a reason to keep living. {{promotion.placement.html}} 4. Take control. I've come to believe that suicide is an attempt to feel in control, and both depression and anxiety result (in part) from feeling out of control. So take control of something, anything . Take control of your body. Cut your hair. Get a tattoo. Sign up for a transformation challenge. You'd be surprised how this can help. (I am endlessly surprised by how many of my clients tell me they were suffering from depression before starting their fitness journey.) Take control of your environment. Change something. Devote five minutes a day to imposing your will on something external. There have been some surveys that suggest that something as simple as making your bed every morning can mitigate the symptoms of depression. Take control of your mind. Meditate. Read. Write. Examine. Discuss. Whatever seems interesting to you, dive into it and allow it to eat up some of the energy the black dog is trying to siphon from you. I have a friend who was experiencing intense feelings of anxiety and who decided to address it by taking control of his inbox. He made it a game to see how many things he could unsubscribe from or delete in a single day then tried to beat it the following day; within two weeks, he was at inbox zero and he said that helped. 5. Do less. A big part of feeling out of control is simply feeling overwhelmed. If you have too much sh*t to do and your ability to produce is already hampered by your emotional state, then you're not going to get it all done. Trust me, this will push you further in depression. If you can eliminate something, do it. Do less. Say no to as much as you can. Push off any obligations or projects that aren't immediately urgent. Delegate things to other people, and actually allow them to help you. 6. Ask for help. This is the hardest thing of all but also the single most important and the most beneficial. If you're anything like me, you feel deep shame about asking for help and more so about needing help. I find it almost impossible to look back now and get into the mind of the person I was in those moments but I do know that I did not allow myself to ask for help. I've had three actual suicide attempts: two of which I can say in retrospect were more a cry for help (ironic, as I never told anyone about them), and one that qualifies as what mental health professionals label a sincere attempt. I find it almost impossible to look back now and get into the mind of the person I was in those moments but I do know that I did not allow myself to ask for help. What I've come to believe is that suicide is something that is contemplated for extended periods of time yet the decision to execute is made in a single moment. Had I just reached out to someone, anyone, I would have gotten through that particular moment and been able to lean on them for support. Ask for help. From a friend. A loved one. A stranger. The hotline. A support group. If you're struggling, and you need to talk, I am here for you . This post originally appeared on Roman Fitness System . John Romaniello is an internationally recognized human. While known primarily as the founder of Roman Fitness System and his contributions to the fitness industry, a little known fact is that he also invented the piano key necktie. Roman is also a bestselling author and angel investor, but that's not nearly as important as the fact that he's a die hard New York Jets fan, and as such spends his life in a near-constant state of disappointment. He enjoys unicorns, sarcasm, and writing about himself in the third person. | 4 | 96,553 | lifestyle |
Facebook (FB) is opening its live video streaming service to everyone as it looks to take on Twitter (TWTR) -owned Periscope and Meerkat. The U.S. social network is trialing it in the U.S. with a "small percentage of people" on iPhones after originally releasing a live streaming feature earlier this year for celebrities and high profile people. "Live lets you bring your friends and family right next to you to experience what's happening together," Facebook product managers Vadim Lavrusik and Thai Tran wrote in a blog post. Users will see a "live video icon" in their status update area. You can write a description and choose who you want to see the broadcast such as just friends or the public. The number of live viewers, names of friends tuning in and a real-time stream of comments will also be shown. The video will then be saved on your timeline once the live stream ends. Live-streaming apps Meerkat and Periscope made a splash this year and Twitter bought the latter in March . While Periscope is still a separate app and still not integrated with Twitter, Facebook is hoping to differentiate itself by building its live-streaming service within its app. Facebook's move also ties in with its broader push into video. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg recently said that it would eventually give video content creators a revenue share of video views , in a bid to get more people making video on the social network. Facebook also announced a new photo feature which lets users group pictures together into a collage. When you tap a photo, you'll see recent moments from your camera roll organized into collages based on when and where you took them. You can edit the collage. The feature has now been rolled out on iPhones with Android to follow early next year, Facebook said. The feature is very similar to Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, as it looks to leverage traits from the photo sharing app. | 3 | 96,554 | finance |
Metta World Peace joined 120 Sports on Thursday with his reaction to Kobe Bryant's retirement announcement. Are the Lakers ready for Kobe to hang it up? | 1 | 96,555 | sports |
CNBC's Jim Cramer shares his thoughts on how interest rates are impacting sectors. | 3 | 96,556 | finance |
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Thibaut Courtois is still his number one goalkeeper ahead of Asmir Begovic, despite the Belgian missing the last three months with a knee injury. | 8 | 96,557 | video |
The chickens squawking in a cinder-block barn near the heart of the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va., don't know it, but they play an important part in the plans of the agriculture industry. The challenge: How to feed the 2.4 billion additional people expected to join the global population by 2050. Unlike the roughly 60 billion chickens world-wide now slaughtered for meat each year, these birds are raised for their DNA. Paul Siegel, professor emeritus of animal and poultry sciences, studies how their genes influence the way they pack on pounds and fight off disease. The research helps companies seeking to breed chickens that will grow faster on less feed and require fewer drugs to stay healthy. "We're talking about feeding the masses," says Dr. Siegel, 83, who began breeding chickens as a teenager in the late 1940s. His office walls are lined with records charting 50 generations of chicken ancestry. "The question becomes, how do you get there?" The meat industry has long sought to breed better birds, but the work of geneticists like Dr. Siegel has taken on new urgency as the industry confronts two issues: preparing for a larger, more affluent populace with a growing taste for meat while addressing concerns about how agricultural practices affect the environment, animal welfare and human health. Food producers face a monumental task. At current consumption rates, the world would need to generate 455 million metric tons of meat annually by 2050, when the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, from 7.3 billion today. Given today's agricultural productivity, growing the crops to feed all of that poultry, beef and other livestock would require every acre of the planet's cropland, according to research firm FarmEcon LLC leaving no room for raising the grains, fruits and vegetables that humans also need. Producing more meat will be critical because protein is an essential component of the human diet, providing cells with amino acids that the body can't produce itself. Individually, nuts and vegetables can supply some of those amino acids, but animal-based proteins typically deliver all of them and history shows that people consume more meat as their incomes rise. Chicken is widely expected be the main choice. Rising household incomes among rapidly growing populations of developing countries are expected to whet the world's appetite for meat. Global meat production nearly quadrupled over the past 50 years, while the population only slightly more than doubled. Over the next 35 years the world will need to increase meat production by another two-thirds as global GDP roughly doubles, according to United Nations projections. Agribusiness executives, academics and farmers say they will be able to meet the challenge. The past half-century of agricultural development defied Malthusian doomsday predictions. The "Green Revolution" emphasizing large-scale crops augmented by fertilizer and pesticides and other innovations have been so successful at meeting the growing global appetite that there are now more people in the world considered overweight or obese than hungry. "Does the world have the natural resources to get there? Yes," says Greg Page, executive director of Cargill Inc., the suburban Minneapolis-based agribusiness conglomerate. But feeding a larger population while minimizing the environmental toll will require large-scale food production and technology like genetically modified crops, he says. Big U.S. agriculture companies have spent decades industrializing the processing of crops and meat. They have bred chickens and livestock to grow bigger more quickly, and they have deployed antibiotics and other drugs and additives to prevent illness and help animals add extra flesh. They have engineered genetically modified strains of corn, soybeans and other components of animal feed to help produce more bushels per acre. And they have mechanized much of the slaughter and processing of animals. But those approaches increasingly clash with other social priorities, especially in the developed world. Consumers and public health officials in the U.S. and elsewhere are pushing livestock producers to wean animals off antibiotics, arguing that the drugs have hastened the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In recent months, meat companies like Brazil's JBS SA and U.S.-based Tyson Foods Inc. have pledged to phase out most or all antibiotics for some of their chickens. Animal-welfare advocates have also pressed successfully in Western nations for more space and better living conditions for poultry and livestock, arousing consumer anger with video exposés targeting companies including Tyson and Hormel Foods Corp. Environmentalists and consumers who share their concerns are pressuring companies over water use: Crop and livestock production accounts for nearly 70% of the global total. Some of these groups are also battling the expansion of biotech crops, in part because of fears that they rely on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers blamed for hurting wildlife and water quality. Some groups raise concerns about the crops' impact on human health, though major government agencies and the World Health Organization have deemed them safe to eat. In the U.S., Vermont passed a law in 2014 requiring food made with such crops to be labeled a move that food companies fear could prompt shoppers to avoid them and activists have been pushing similar measures in other states. More than half of European Union member countries have moved to bar cultivation of genetically engineered crops, and other countries like India heavily limit the use of such seeds. Critics of the meat giants are working to export their campaigns to developing markets. Humane Society International has opened offices and launched campaigns in countries like India and China. It will soon open an office in South Africa. Farm Animal Rights Movement is developing networks in Central America and elsewhere to steer burgeoning middle classes toward vegetarian diets. Others promote smaller-scale, localized operations that shun widespread pharmaceutical use and provide more spacious pens or open fields, in the case of free-range chickens. "If you were scored on how much meat you produced, [the current] system would score very high," said Ricardo Salvador, director of the food and environment program for the Union of Concerned Scientists. "If you were scored on the environmental and social impact, you would score very low, and you don't get away with just being scored on one." Backyard chicken coops and similar operations can be "a huge resource for rural and small-scale cities," said Sara Scherr, chief executive of EcoAgriculture Partners, a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes decentralized agricultural production. "Industrial" meat production, she said, carries larger-scale risks, including those associated with animal diseases, which can threaten human health. "It makes a lot of sense to have a more decentralized food system, for a lot of reasons." Several startups, including Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, go further. Backed by funding from investors like Google Ventures and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, they're betting on burgers and chicken strips made from plant-based substitutes like soybeans and grains. Big companies say that such approaches aren't enough. Their focus on scale and efficiency is on display inside a cavernous barn near Phra Puttabat, Thailand, where 20,000 broiler chickens scamper across a bed of discarded rice hulls. These birds are among 240,000 on one of more than 100 farms supplying Cargill's Thailand poultry plants. Altogether, Cargill slaughters and processes 2.6 million chickens weekly here for shipment to customers including McDonald's Corp. in Japan and Europe. Before entering the barn, visitors proceed through four separate showers and two disinfecting sprays before donning baggy blue uniforms and rubber boots strict biosecurity measures designed to safeguard Cargill's chickens from avian influenza and other maladies. Inside the barn, chickens perch on low benches and peck at large bottle caps hung from the ceiling as toys, part of "enriched housing" designed to help the chickens stay active and placate consumers who want better living conditions for animals. "We want them to feel respected through their entire lives," Chuck Warta, who heads Cargill's meat operations in Thailand, says of the birds. "And at the end, one day, they'll have a bad day." Cargill opened its Thailand poultry business in 1990, targeting a region ripe for growth. Within 10 years production capacity had nearly tripled, and by 2006 Cargill was slaughtering 330,000 chickens a day. In 2013 it finished expanding capacity by another third anticipating even more demand. Today Cargill exports about 100,000 metric tons of chicken a year from Thailand, and it is discussing hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in new chicken operations in Indonesia and the Philippines over the next few years. Senior Cargill executives say it is likely to start meat-processing operations in the next decade in sub-Saharan Africa, where they expect meat demand will grow as city populations swell. In 2011, rival CP Foods, a Thai conglomerate, built a feed mill and chicken farm in Tanzania that currently supplies other processors. "We have a high degree of confidence that when people move up into that middle class range…people are going to want to consume more animal-based protein," said Brian Sikes, a Cargill vice president who oversees meat businesses. Agribusiness executives say that chicken will be the main meat of the future for several reasons. Its mild flavor and broad cultural and religious acceptance make it more universal than beef and pork. Chicken generally requires less land to produce and is cheaper. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization projects that chicken will overtake pork as the world's most-consumed meat by 2020, and meat companies are ramping up production. Brazil's JBS, one of the world's biggest meat companies, with deep roots in beef, is betting heavily on chicken to become the top global protein, says Wesley Batista, one of two sons of the founder who now run JBS. Chicken's rise already is changing time-honored habits. In Argentina, where grass-fed beef has long been central to daily life, per-capita poultry consumption is projected to climb 7.5% this year to a record level, while beef consumption is expected to decline 6.3%. Even in pork-loving China, the government has subsidized large-scale poultry farms and breeding operations over the past decade to increase output. As this year's bird flu epidemic in the U.S. shows, chicken also carries risks. Poultry are vulnerable to diseases spread by wild fowl, and the vast numbers and close quarters of domestic flocks mean that contagions can spread rapidly. Fear of disease and contaminated production have slowed anticipated growth in China's poultry sector, damping business there for Tyson and Cargill. Breeding experts see solutions to many of the concerns in chickens' DNA. Because of the birds' rapid reproduction and quick maturation cycle, geneticists can effect changes in chickens relatively quickly. Already scientists have increased the meat on each bird: Today, a 5.3-pound chicken can be produced in 35 days using about 8 pounds of feed, according to data from Virginia Tech. Thirty years ago, it took a little over 7 pounds of feed to rear a 3-pound bird in the same time. In some cases, breeders have had to solve problems of their own making, like leg problems and heart failure that have arisen as breeding efforts evolved the relatively wiry birds toward broad-breasted specimens. Scientists completed sequencing of the chicken genome in 2004 before any other major livestock animal. Geneticists are now incorporating gene-scanning technology to better understand how different sequences of poultry DNA interact with one another, and how to emphasize traits that help birds resist disease, which the breeders believe could reduce the poultry industry's reliance on antibiotics to keep animals healthy. "We are only at the beginning of understanding everything we can do," says Olivier Rochard, the global head of the poultry genetics business at Groupe Grimaud, one of the world's largest suppliers of breeding chickens. Some of the company's prized purebred birds can now add a pound of weight for every 1.2 pounds of feed consumed, making them among the most efficient weight-gainers in the world. Breeders are deploying the new genomic tools to help pick hens and roosters that can pass along strong immune systems and that respond to probiotics beneficial living bacteria incorporated into diets, which can help battle germs and prevent illnesses. Through the use of probiotics and stricter biosecurity measures on its chicken farms, Cargill expects, eventually, to be able to eliminate all antibiotics needed to treat human illnesses from its Thailand poultry operations, says Mr. Warta. Other scientists are looking for traits that will help to reduce the amount of manure the birds produce, while Virginia Tech's Dr. Siegel is researching how eggs respond to temperature shifts, which could help companies raise chickens that can thrive in hotter temperatures. He says that chicken represents the best bet among the major animal protein groups to help feed the 9.7 billion people expected in 2050, but that people may have to accept some trade-offs in the way it is produced. "Free range is very nice," he says, "but how many people are you going to be able to feed with free range?" Illustrations: Jimmy Turrell | 3 | 96,558 | finance |
It has been more than two months since the 2015 MLB season and it will be another four before the new one begins, but we already have fans beefing with players on social media. On Thursday night, Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander sent a tweet that encapsulated the emotions of Detroit fans after the Lions lost to the Packers on a Hail Mary. Speechless #Lions Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) December 4, 2015 One fan didn't appreciate Verlander's tweet and decided to make a comment about the Tigers not being good. Verlander wasn't having it. First losing season since '08. First non playoff season since '10. How easily some forget. Stop sucking as a fan. https://t.co/QRlvigIZKm Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) December 4, 2015 The Tigers were incredibly disappointing last season, finishing last in the AL Central with a 74-87 record. But, as Verlander mentioned, they made the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons. What's confusing to us is that Verlander would bicker with fans on Twitter when he has this lovely young lady to go home to. If I were him, I'd be happy all the time. | 1 | 96,559 | sports |
Action man actor Dwayne Johnson is bringing a documentary series about competitive marching bands to TV. The project promises to become "an insane/fascinating in depth docu-series into the greatest marching bands in the world," according to Johnson. "I had no idea how incredibly complex and inspiring the Drum Corp culture is until we produced the series," the ex-WWE star of "San Andreas," "Pain & Gain," "The Scorpion King" and the "Fast & Furious" series said on Instagram . "Can't wait for you to see it." Pitted against each other throughout the "Hard Corps" docuseries will be The Cadets, a team from Pennsylvania, and The Blue Devils from California, the pair said to be fierce rivals after decades of championship tussles. Production got underway in November, reports Variety , and a crew from Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions will follow the teams all the way to Indianapolis's Drum Corps International world championships in August 2016. American TV channel Fuse greenlit the series. | 6 | 96,560 | entertainment |
OPEC looked unlikely to take steps to cut oil production to lift languishing prices at a meeting on Friday, potentially worsening one of the worst crude gluts in history. Benchmark Brent oil futures are below $45 per barrel, just a few dollars above their 6-year lows. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) own basket of crude grades is below $38 per barrel - a fraction of what most members need to balance their budgets. OPEC's poorer countries have been piling pressure on its wealthier members, led by Saudi Arabia, to curb supply. But Riyadh and its Gulf allies appeared on Friday to be ready to stick to their strategy of defending market share, hoping that lower prices would ultimately drive higher cost producers, such as U.S. shale oil firms, out of business. The Saudis have previously said they would be prepared to consider a cut only if OPEC members Iraq and Iran agreed to cooperate and non-OPEC members such as Russia joined in. "We have said on more than one occasion, we are willing to cooperate with anyone who can balance the market," said Saudi Arabian oil minister Ali al-Naimi. But Moscow repeated this week it saw no chance of joint actions, and Iran and Iraq on Friday showed no willingness to curb supply either. Iranian oil minister Bijan Zangeneh said Tehran would be prepared to discuss OPEC quotas or other action only when his country reached full output levels, when and if Western sanctions on the country are lifted next year. He said he expected OPEC to maintain production policies on Friday. Naimi said he hoped growing global demand could absorb an expected jump in Iranian production next year. "Everyone is welcome to go into the market," Naimi said of Iran. There are "absolutely no disagreements anywhere," he added before the meeting started. By 1330 GMT, the ministerial meeting behind closed doors had been in progress for nearly three hours. SUPPLY GROWING Iran has repeatedly said it would boost production by at least 1 million barrels per day (bpd) when sanctions are lifted. This would add to the global glut as the world is currently already consuming up to 2 million bpd less than it is producing. Iraqi oil minister Adel Abdel Mahdi said his country would further raise output next year after having steeply increased production in 2015. While the Saudis can claim a partial victory over the U.S. shale oil boom, production from top non-OPEC rival Russia continues to surprise on the upside and world oil stockpiles are at record levels. For Saudi Arabia, low oil prices and the prospects of big fiscal deficits have already prompted officials to float the idea of potentially unpopular reforms, including introducing a value added tax and cutting energy subsidies. Reduced oil revenue is also causing some of the influential business class to push Riyadh to quickly seek an end to its expensive war in Yemen, the kingdom's biggest strategic gambit in decades, and one that defines King Salman's foreign policy. However, while it has made steps to cut excess expenditure, the government has indicated it will use its vast foreign reserves and low debt levels to keep capital spending high in coming budgets to maintain private-sector growth. A report in newsletter Energy Intelligence suggested this week the Saudis might be ready to fine-tune policies and could start pushing for a global deal to curb supply in order to avoid oil prices remaining low for longer. But Naimi said on Friday the report was "baseless." While the outcome of the Friday meeting seems clear, surprises are always possible. One possible scenario is for OPEC to recognize the fact that members are pumping well in excess of the formal ceiling, and raise the group's collective quota from 30 million bpd to 31.5 million bpd, in line with the current volumes, one source said. OPEC abandoned production quotas for individual members several years ago and most members have been producing as much as they want. Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday OPEC should bring its production levels close to reality. Bringing the ceiling in line with real production could help bridge the gap in views between OPEC and non-OPEC. The two had last cooperated almost 15 years ago to cut output and prop up the prices following the 1998 financial crisis. | 3 | 96,561 | finance |
WASHINGTON For most of a decade, Bayrock Group LLC partnered with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and other developers on luxury real estate deals. For many investors, lenders and condo buyers the Bayrock deals ended in losses and sometimes allegations of fraud and threats of physical violence. Throughout, prosecutors and a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York knew something others didn't: One of Bayrock's top executives, Felix Sater, was a convicted ringleader of a $40 million stock fraud scheme tied to the Bonanno and Genovese crime families. Trump's lawyer said Trump was not aware of Sater's criminal past until at least 2007, and did not know of allegations of misconduct at Bayrock. Even a Bayrock executive who sued the company said in a federal lawsuit: "There is no evidence Trump took any part in, or knew of, their racketeering." WHY DIDN'T ANYONE KNOW ABOUT SATER'S GUILTY PLEA? Sater's past remained obscured for years because he was cooperating with federal prosecutors. Lawsuits against Bayrock and others allege that the government's secrecy helped Bayrock attract lenders, business partners, employees and condo buyers who would otherwise have avoided doing business with it. Attorneys for Bayrock and Sater deny any misconduct occurred at Bayrock. The secrecy surrounding Sater lasted from the time of his 1998 guilty plea until 2007, when The New York Times described Sater's association with the stock fraud scheme and his 1993 assault conviction for stabbing a man in the face with a broken margarita glass. Prosecutors said publicly revealing Sater's role might endanger him or damage his value as an informant. His cooperation formally ended at his 2009 sentencing, and details of his case were not publicly available in court documents until 2012. WHAT DID TRUMP DO AFTER SATER'S CRIMINAL PAST WAS REVEALED? Trump tapped Sater to scout real estate deals in 2010, after the broad outlines of his past became public. Trump said he, too, was in the dark about Sater's criminal history during the years the Trump Organization and Bayrock collaborated on projects, including the Trump SoHo in New York, a development in Fort Lauderdale and failed Trump-branded projects in Phoenix and Denver. Trump licensed his name in the deals and received an ownership stake in the projects as much as 18 percent in the case of Trump SoHo, a joint venture between Bayrock and New York real estate firm The Sapir Group. Sater said he was forced to leave Bayrock after The New York Times revealed his criminal background. "I had to leave my company, the company that I built with my own two hands. Otherwise the banks would have said there's a criminal involved," Sater said at his sentencing, according to a transcript of court proceedings. Sater received no jail time and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. WHAT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE SATER'S COMPANY WHEN IT WORKED WITH TRUMP? A 2007 lawsuit against Sater, Bayrock and others by a company owned by Ernest Mennes, an investor in a planned Trump development in Phoenix, alleged that Bayrock skimmed money from the project and that Sater threatened to amputate Mennes's legs and leave his body in a car trunk. Bayrock settled the case, filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona, and after initially being available on the public docket it was sealed. The AP obtained a copy of the complaint. Mennes told the AP he wishes Sater well. Another lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York against Bayrock, Sater and others in 2010 by Bayrock's former chief financial officer, Jody Kriss, and another Bayrock employee, alleged that Bayrock was "substantially and covertly mob-owned and operated" and went to great lengths to hide Sater's stake in the firm. Parts of the lawsuit were struck by the court following a dispute about whether internal Bayrock emails were improperly obtained. Bayrock attorney Walter Saurack denied that Bayrock had misled anyone about Sater's past or role in the company, and called the allegations of misconduct false. A newly filed version of the lawsuit said Bayrock was linked to the Mafia and sought to hide Sater's role. Bayrock has not yet filed a response to that complaint. | 5 | 96,562 | news |
Meteorologist Domenica Davis looks at the three weather events to expect this weekend across the country. | 5 | 96,563 | news |
Shares of Avon Products Inc. surged Friday as multiple media reports said the beauty products company is considering selling its North American business to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. The reports come as another private equity firm, Barington Capital Group, criticized the struggling company and called for management changes and cost cuts. Barington says it has about a 3 percent stake in the New York-based company. Avon's stock rose 33 cents, or 8.3 percent, to $4.32 in premarket trading 30 minutes ahead of the market open. On Thursday, it gained 26 cents, or 7 percent, to close at $3.99. Several media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, said Avon is close to cutting a deal with Cerberus that could involve a minority investment, board seats and the sale of part of its business. Barington sent a critical letter to Avon Chairman Douglas R. Conant, on the heels of those reports. In it, the private equity group called for cutting costs by up to $700 million in up to 24 months by "streamlining" the company. It also called for "eliminating" its current management structure as it criticized CEO Sheri McCoy. The letter also calls for adding independent directors and Barington intends to nominate a group of candidates ahead of the company's 2016 annual meeting. "We are convinced that the addition of new independent directors to the board is a necessary first step toward developing and executing a strategy that will unlock Avon's value potential for all shareholders," Barington said in the letter. Avon has been reporting wider losses over the last several years as revenue continues to decline. The company did not comment on the report of a potential Cerberus deal, but said it is focused on taking "strategic actions" to drive growth and enhance value for shareholders. "We are aware that Barington has made a public announcement expressing its views on our business," Avon said, in a statement. "Avon welcomes open communication with and feedback from our shareholders." | 3 | 96,564 | finance |
NORMAN, Okla. A miniature donkey that hitched a ride in an Oklahoma police cruiser has been reunited with his owner. Police in Norman called the donkey Squishy and gave him a lift after the animal was found wandering along a rural road on Tuesday morning. It turns out that Squishy is actually named Cruz and belongs to a chiropractor in Norman. Matt Spaulding says he noticed his donkey was missing when he returned home from work Tuesday night. He thinks the animal somehow escaped underneath an electric wire fence. Police Officer Kyle Canaan, who chauffeured the donkey, says the animal fit perfectly in the cruiser's backseat. Spaulding tells Oklahoma City television station KFOR (http://bit.ly/21Bqzez ) that Cruz is a retired "basketball donkey," where people ride on its back at charity basketball games. | 5 | 96,565 | news |
Lawmakers approve plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the battle against the Islamic State group in Syria, answering France's appeal for help after the deadly Paris attacks. | 8 | 96,566 | video |
Picture strolling down the sidewalk when something hits your back like a hairy softball and starts furiously gnawing your flesh. That unsettling experience could be yours if you visit Novato, California, where eight people have been mauled by squirrels (or perhaps "squirrel") in the past two-and-a-half weeks. The Marin County government and Marin Humane Society are warning residents to be on the lookout for angry squirrels in Novato, a city about 25 miles north of San Francisco. "The attacks have sent several people to the hospital. Squirrel teeth are sharp!" emails Lisa Bloch, a humane-society spokeswoman. This week, her organization put out a media alert full of astonishing rodent-rampage reports. It reads, in part: The attacks are described as a squirrel suddenly running up to the victims, crawling up their bodies, and biting them in various areas (hands, legs, arms, head). There have also been reported instances in which squirrels have jumped out of trees and attacked the victims. … While officials cannot say with certainty whether the attacks are all from the same squirrel, it is the most likely scenario. Officials suspect the squirrel was hand-raised and therefore lost its natural fear of humans. Residents should never feed wildlife. Intentional feeding or knowingly providing food to wild animals in Marin County is prohibited. The attacks have all taken place in the vicinity of Sutro Avenue and Vineyard Road , which looks like a fine place for squirrels to mount ambushes: The humane society says that rabies in squirrels is rare, but people who got bit are nevertheless receiving anti-rabies drugs "as a precaution." Top image: Woody Pope / Shutterstock.com . H/t SFGate | 5 | 96,567 | news |
"Hail, Caesar!", the new film from the Coen brothers, is set to open the Berlin International Film Festival 2016. Featuring an all-star cast, including Coen brothers regulars George Clooney and Josh Brolin, the film is set during the golden age of the Hollywood film studios, with Clooney playing film star Baird Whitlock, and Brolin in the role of studio fixer Eddie Mannix. Commenting on the news in a statement, Berlin Festival Director Dieter Kosslick said, "It's wonderful that Joel and Ethan Coen are once again opening the Berlinale. Their humor, unique characters and fantastic narrative skill are guaranteed to thrill the audience. 'Hail, Caesar!' is the perfect start for the 2016 Berlinale." It will be the second time that a film from the US directors has opened the festival, following their film "True Grit" getting things started at Berlinale 2011. The film is due to be released in the US February 5 2016, before opening the festival on February 11. It will then be released worldwide. | 6 | 96,568 | entertainment |
MANDEVILLE, La. When burglars hit a Slidell church known for feeding the hungry and homeless, the community was stunned. Thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolen, and police began an investigation into the crime. But church leaders called on the thieves to return what was stolen, and charges would not be pressed. "Please do the right thing. Bring the equipment back. We really need it. You have no idea how hard we worked for that equipment," Mount Olive AME Church representative John Autry said. Autry's plea apparently struck a nerve. Another church member received an anonymous call hours later about where the equipment could be found. "When I got the call that morning, and they (were) telling me it was back, I was completely shocked," Autry said. "It is unusual for somebody to break in and steal something of value and then return it, but I think the victims being a church here locally in Slidell, they are all about helping people," Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith said. The church's kitchen seves about 90,000 meals a year, and some of them are delivered to shut-ins. The equipment taken included a mower, and replacing the stolen items would have put a financial burden on the church. "We just don't have $7,000 to $8,000 laying around every day that you can just go spend and ... buy new equipment," Autry said. "We are delighted." "These individuals felt sorry for what they did and returned it, and the victim didn't want to pursue charges, so we are all happy at the end of the day," Smith said. Slidell police urge residents and shoppers always be aware of their surroundings, and to lock their cars and homes. They also urged everyone to report suspicious activity. Story originally published on WDSU-TV. Photo: Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church via Facebook | 5 | 96,569 | news |
Fire and hot ash spewed high into the sky from Italy's Mount Etna in Sicily Friday, in one of the most dramatic eruptions of Europe's highest active volcano in the past 20 years. The volcano on the Mediterranean island threw up an ash column some seven kilometres (4.3 miles) high with lava flowing from the Voragine crater for the first time in two years, the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) said. The eruption, which began on Thursday, is among the most "energetic of the past 20 years," added the INGV. Flights were disrupted at Catania airport, as well as at Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland across the Strait of Sicily. The 3,295-metre (10,810-foot) peak regularly awakens to spew lava and ash in eruptions that can last for days at a time. | 5 | 96,570 | news |
DENVER A judge Friday ordered Colorado theater shooter James Holmes to pay about $955,000 in restitution to the victims of his 2012 movie theater shooting money the imprisoned mass killer likely will never pay. District Court Judge Carlos A. Samour, who presided over Holmes' monthslong trial, said there is no question many people "endured, and continue to endure, undue suffering and hardship" because of the attack. "Nothing can ever make the victims whole for the harms suffered at the hands of the defendant," Samour wrote in his order. He added Holmes is under a moral and legal obligation to make full restitution to his victims. Holmes murdered 12 people and injured 70 during a midnight showing of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in the Denver suburb of Aurora. In August, Samour sentenced him to 12 consecutive life terms without parole plus 3,318 years. The judgment orders $851,000 of the restitution to be sent to the state victim compensation fund, and another $103,000 to be paid directly to the victims. That's the full amount prosecutors requested. They argued the money would pay for victims' psychiatric care, medical equipment, lost wages and other needs as a result of the mass shooting. Victims said they must pay for prosthetic limbs, occupational and speech therapy, future medical care and travel expenses for attending the four-month trial. However, Holmes has no income and no assets to speak of, so it's unlikely the victims will receive their money. The former graduate student did not request a hearing on the restitution claims, as was his right. Colorado's public defender office, which represented Holmes, did not immediately return a call for comment Friday. Holmes is being held alone in a cell in a southern Colorado prison, where he is more closely monitored and has fewer privileges than other inmates. Holmes' parents declined to comment Friday. Parents and relatives generally are not liable for restitution for crimes committed by adult children. ___ Kristen Wyatt can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt | 5 | 96,571 | news |
Humans don't behave like computers. That makes life interesting, but it has a serious downside for economists: It is exceedingly difficult to predict the short-term directions of major markets, even when events seem to be entirely predictable. The forthcoming decision of the Federal Reserve on interest rates is a humbling example. Consider that after seven years of virtually zero percent short-term interest rates, the Federal Open Market Committee is almost universally expected to raise rates slightly at its Dec. 15-16 meeting. What this means for the markets isn't clear, however. We can't rely on historical precedent. The last time rates rose after remaining very low for so long was in 1941. That was a long time ago, and when there has been only one previous example, in very different circumstances, historical statistics won't prove much of anything. There are other ways of analyzing the likely effects of the Fed actions, but all have severe limitations. Sign up for The New York Times' Your Money newsletter First, logic tells us that if short-term Treasury rates rise, low-risk Treasury bills may become more attractive in comparison with riskier alternatives like stocks. That suggests that the stock market should weaken because people will become even more wary than they may be right now about share prices, which have tripled since 2009. Home prices should weaken too, because rising interest rates can be expected to make mortgages more expensive. In other words, this line of thinking is quite negative about the general effect of a rate increase on market prices. There is another way to look at this, though. If the Fed raises rates in December it could be seen as good news because the Fed wouldn't take that action unless it viewed the economy as relatively strong. That could buoy market prices. This approach immediately leads to further complications. Good news about the economy might be bad news about inflation, which tends to rise when economic growth picks up. On the other hand, if inflation rises, even if the Fed raises rates slightly, the real, or inflation-corrected, interest rate might actually be lower, not higher. Confused? That is understandable: This line of thinking might lead us into a muddle very quickly. But don't be surprised if you hear circuitous commentary like this in the weeks ahead. Then again, the prevailing wisdom might be reflected in yet another common argument, which may be summarized in one word: boring. The markets already know everything there is to know about rates, or so this line of thinking goes, and because a rate increase is expected it should already be "discounted into" current share prices. This is a very simple version of the efficient markets theory, which holds that all available information is already fully reflected in market prices, so only true surprises really matter. It could be argued that the Fed will surprise people only if it doesn't raise rates, or raises them less than expected or issues a statement that is weaker than expected. But a major surprise? That would be surprising. All of which is to say that we don't know what will happen if and when the Fed raises rates. And the problem becomes much more complicated when you include human psychology in your economic analysis, as we try to do in the emerging field of behavioral finance. In fact, from a psychological perspective, the whole efficient markets idea that only real surprises matter and there should be no reaction to "news" that is well known in advance is a little off base. People often don't know in advance how they will react until news becomes real. The psychologists Eldar Shafir and Amos Tversky in 1992 called this phenomenon nonconsequentialist reasoning , by which they meant that we often just can't discipline ourselves to think through the likely consequences of possible events, so instead just let ourselves be buffeted by news as it happens. This suggests that an interest rate rise might not be boring at all: We will have to wait and see. After all, with rates this low, some people may have been engaging in behavior that isn't entirely rational and that has a basis in well-documented wishful-thinking bias. As Janet Yellen, the Fed's chairwoman, said in her Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress last July : "The committee recognizes that low interest rates may provide incentives for some investors to 'reach for yield,' and those actions could increase vulnerabilities in the financial system to adverse events." Reaching for yield taking actions without fully considering risk, to try to earn greater returns than are found in traditional safe investments may be a form of wishful thinking known as exaggerated expectation, which has been studied in many areas of life. For example, the psychologist Elisha Babad showed that sports fans often have exaggerated expectations for their teams, much as voters exaggerate the probability that their preferred candidate will win. In the near zero-interest-rate environment of recent years, people have naturally searched for alternative investments, and that may have led them into wishful thinking. People might be viewing high prices in the stock and housing markets as evidence of the inherent worth of these assets, disregarding the role that low interest rates have played in bolstering those prices. Some people have undoubtedly taken personal pleasure in their investing success, interpreting it as proof of their own self-worth. Identity and ego may be an issue, and that can be very dangerous. People may have strong reactions when their identity is connected to things that turn out to be disappointing, after the initial reason for their excitement is gone. After the financial crisis in 2008, for example, many highfliers found that their identities as smart stock pickers or home buyers were severely challenged. It could happen again. But I'm afraid we will just have to wait and see. The Upshot provides news, analysis and graphics about politics, policy and everyday life. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter . Sign up for our newsletter. | 3 | 96,572 | finance |
If you are looking for some fun holiday travel and want to save some money, here are some ideas for you. | 2 | 96,573 | travel |
VIDEO: It sent plumes almost 10,000 feet in the air. | 8 | 96,574 | video |
Built on one of the city's highest streets, the mansion boasts beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Stats: 7 Bedroom7 Baths9,095 sq. ft. $28 million The marvelous Beaux Arts home was designed by local architect James Francis Dunn in 1901. The home's first resident was James Madison, a fish-packing mogul. Paul McLean, of Southern California-based McClean Design, renovated the home's interiors, adding a crisp, clean aesthetic to the property. The master bedroom features striking 180-degree views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The master bath has Calacatta marble appointments and a dual-sink vanity. A walk-in dressing room provides ample space for clothing and accessories. A four-part glass sliding door opens and disappears into the walls, allowing access to the balcony. The home's spa opens to a rooftop deck featuring an infinity pool with tile that mimics the color of the bay. Warmed by an elongated gas fire pit, the homeowners can take in breathtaking city views from the balcony. The spiraling staircase, from the top floor looking down. The mansion includes an elevator as well. The lowest level of the house includes a room with a bowed wall and seven glass doors that open to a rear-facing terrace. The property is fenced in with trees, plants, and wood. The home has undergone two top-to-bottom restorations, the last of which took two years to complete. | 3 | 96,575 | finance |
The Golden State Warriors look like a lock to repeat as champions, but anything can happen. Here are five teams capable of knocking them off. The Golden State Warriors look unstoppable right now with the league's best player and deepest roster. In a nod to their greatness, the competition has copied the style of play that worked for the Warriors en route to their championship run last season. When the champs go small, with Draymond Green at the five, they form the league's most effective lineup. Right now it looks like no one can beat them, but here are five teams with a chance. 5. Miami Heat The Miami Heat have the second best defense in the NBA, behind the San Antonio Spurs. They are second in defensive efficiency (points a team allows per 100 possessions), opponent's field goal percentage and opponent's points per game. A big part of that is Hassan Whiteside. The 7-footer has turned into one of the league's best all-around centers. For Miami to take down the defending champs, Whiteside would need to have an incredible series. 4. Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers have one of the league's best offenses, fourth in points per game, sixth in true shooting percentage (team's shooting percentage if accounted for free throws and three-pointers) and fifth in offensive efficiency (the number of a points a team scores per 100 possessions). There are three teams that can come even remotely close to competing with the Warriors' offense at full strength, and the Clippers are one of them. 3. Oklahoma City Thunder The OKC Thunder are another elite offensive team, second in offensive efficiency and points per game right behind Golden State, but they still need to put it all together with new head coach Billy Donovan. They rank just 17th in defensive rating and their inconsistency is mind boggling, losing to the Knicks at home and then beating the Mavericks and Jazz. If they remain healthy and get it together they could have the best chance of any team. 2. Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James took the Warriors to six games last year by himself, and if he can have his team healthy for seven games this season it could be a completely different ball game. Other than Golden State, Cleveland is the most complete team in the NBA and they still have LeBron. 1. San Antonio Spurs The Spurs are first in opponent's PPG, third in FG percentage and first in defensive efficiency. They are the league's best defensive team, and if anyone has a chance of containing Golden State in a seven-game series it is Gregg Popovich's squad. With the league's best defensive player, Kawhi Leonard, and new superstar LaMarcus Aldridge they are primed for a finals run. | 1 | 96,576 | sports |
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson and Pittsburgh RB James Conner have been diagnosed with cancer. | 1 | 96,577 | sports |
The 120 crew reveal their picks for Week 13 of the NFL season and check out the underdog picks to go with. Will the Vikings take down the Seahawks? | 1 | 96,578 | sports |
The sun will rise. The grass will grow. And Dirk Nowitzki will continue to score the basketball using his patented step back move. These are simple facts of life and over the past 17 years, all three have proven to be true. In an ever-changing league where players, coaches and teams move around at a high rate, Nowitzki has been a consistent presence within the Dallas Mavericks organization. Having played in the NBA since the age of 20, how has the 37-year-old Nowitzki been able to maintain his high level of performance and box out Father Time for so long? After coming to the NBA via Germany as a lanky 20-year-old, Nowitzki took a year to adjust to the much more physical nature of the American league. He averaged only 8.2 points per game that season and shot 40.5 percent from the field, both career lows. Following his rookie year, however, Nowitzki began to come into his own as he developed his unique skill set. A seven foot player who could shoot so well, handle the ball off the dribble and pass effectively was somewhat of an anomaly at that point in the league's history, so Nowitzki had few players after which he could model his game. A comparison that many analysts posited early on in his career was Larry Bird, though Bird was slightly shorter. Not only did Nowitzki focus on physically bulking up after his rookie year, he also made major strides in his three-point shooting, improving his percentage from 20.6 to 37.9 percent in his second season. Nowitzki continued his improvement and averaged 17.5 points per game during his sophomore season and 21.8 points per game during his third year. His shooting percentage, rebounds, steals, and blocks also improved throughout those seasons. Because he could score at will on the offensive end of the court and possessed an incredible array of offensive skills, his underrated defense and rebounding improvements during that time were sometimes overlooked. However, Nowitzki put an incredible amount of time into improving all aspects of his game, not just those that would allow him to score more points. This work ethic has followed Nowitzki throughout his career and is what helped him continue to improve each and every year after his rookie season. The forward's intense focus became something he was known for within the Mavericks organization. "What helped make Dirk special is not just how hard he worked, but how smart he worked," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban explained in an interview with Business Insider. "He didn't just put in the hours, he had a plan for those hours and he knew just what he wanted to accomplish with them." Eventually, 17 years in the league has to take a toll on the body and slow down the production of a player, no matter how great he is, right? Somewhat of an anomaly, for the most part Nowitzki has been able to stay healthy and continue his phenomenal play. Granted, there has been a small decrease in production, but in terms of longevity, his play has been on par or better than many of the game's legendary hall of fame-type players. In the first 18 games of the 2015 season, Nowitzki is already matching his production from last year by averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. The most level playing field for comparison is to go back two years to Nowitzki's 35-year-old season. He averaged 21.7 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. In his own 35-year-old season, Bird averaged 20.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Michael Jordan did not play from age 35 to 37, but in his 38-year-old season, he averaged 22.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Another legendary forward who arrived in the league one year before Nowitzki, Tim Duncan averaged only 15.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game when he was 35-years-old. There have been numerous players who played high-level basketball well into their late 30s. One famous example is the fact that Michael Jordan averaged 20 points per game as a 39-year-old. However, Jordan also took three years off between the 1997 and 2001 season, which allowed him to rest his legs. Nowitzki has not had this luxury. Another player who is also 37-years-old is currently having much more trouble with his age than Nowitzki. Kobe Bryant is only averaging 16.8 points per game during the first 18 games of the 2015 season. Recently, Bryant made it clear that this will be his last season due to age, yet Nowitzki has shown no signs of slowing down, despite the fact that he and Bryant are the same age. One smaller reason that Nowitzki has an advantage over Bryant is the fact that he has been in the league two fewer years than Bryant. A more important reason for Nowitzki's durability is his aforementioned work ethic and style of play. Because of his height, combined with the fact that he has a high shot release, Nowitzki does not need much elevation in order to get his shot off during games. This has saved Nowitzki's knees from much of the daily grind of play that commonly affects players who use jumping as a consistent part of their games by dunking or shooting, like Bryant. Nowitzki has also become well-known for a deadly step-back shot in which he kicks out one of his legs and fades away from the basket while shooting off his other foot. His seven foot frame makes this shot essentially unblockable. Players like Bryant and Carmelo Anthony have attempted to emulate this shot technique to little avail. By fading away off one foot, Nowitzki is also able to save his joints from constantly having to back people down in the post in order to score. This has allowed Nowitzki to never miss more than 29 games in any season after his rookie year. Due to Nowitzki's unique playing style, as well as the incredible care he takes of his body, it would not be surprising to see him play at this same high level of basketball for at least three more years. Legendary big men Dikembe Mutombo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar both played in the league until the age of 42, something Nowitzki could easily achieve, as well, barring injury. With Bryant on his farewell tour throughout the rest of the 2015-2016 season, it will be sad to see one of the game's best guards leave the NBA. It is safe to say that one of the game's best forwards is not going anywhere soon, though. For Mavericks fans and basketball fans in general, this is a great opportunity to continue watching one of the most talented seven footers the NBA has ever seen continue to move up the all-time list of career scorers. | 1 | 96,579 | sports |
These child stars were sweet little cuties. But now that they're all grown up, they're smoking hot! Daveigh Chase Starred in: "The Ring"Daveigh Chase played the Ring Girl in 2002's creepy horror flick "The Ring." Her portrayal earned her the award of Best Villain at 2003's MTV Movie Awards.Chase went on to have a recurring role on HBO's "Big Love" and starred in "Obsessed on Campus" this year.Images via Photofest/Getty Images Danica McKellar Starred in: "The Wonder Years"As a kid, Danica McKellar played the adorable Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years."She didn't grow up to marry Kevin Arnold, but Cooper did marry attorney Scott Sveslovsky. Professionally, McKellar took a break from acting after "Wonder Years" to study math at UCLA. She published the book "Math Doesn't Suck" in addition to other math-related books.She also has one son, Draco, from her first marriage. Josh Peck Starred in: "Drake and Josh"As half of Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh," Peck charmed audiences and made them want to squeeze his cute chubby cheeks.Not only has Peck become a Vine star, he also starred in Fox pilot opposite John Stamos.Images via REX/Getty Images Abigail Breslin Starred in: "Little Miss Sunshine"As the nerdy little girl preparing for a dance competition in "Little Miss Sunshine," Breslin became a Hollywood sensation.All grown up, Breslin recently starred in "Spring Breakers" and took to her Tumblr account to defend friend Selena Gomez against fat shamers who had it out for the singer.Images via Photofest/REX Daniel Curtis Lee Starred in: "Zeke and Luther"As a kid, the Mississippi native starred on "Zeke and Luther" on Disney XD, and he portrayed Cookie on "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" on Nickelodeon.Lee not only had a recent role on "Glee," but he's got a flourishing rap career, too. Who knew?Images via Photofest/Getty Images Georgie Henley Starred in: "The Chronicles of Narnia"Georgie Henley made her mark on Hollywood as Lucy Pevensie, the little girl who enters the wardrobe in "The Chronicles Of Narnia."In 2012, Henley took a break from Hollywood to attend the University of Cambridge in England, where she studied theater and writing. Afterward she directed her own short film called "Tide."Images via REX/Getty Images Jonathan Lipnicki Starred in: "Jerry Maguire"As the cutest little guy in glasses, Jonathan Lipnicki starred in "Stuart Little," "Like Mike" and "Jerry Maguire."Lipnicki went on to star in "Stuart Little 2" and Jamie Kennedy's "Blowin' Up," but he spends most of his time training as a competitive Brazilian jiujitsu fighter.Images via Photofest/REX Alexa Vega Starred in: "Spy Kids"Alexa Vega got her start at 6 years old opposite Rick Moranis in "Little Giants." She then went on to play Carmen Cortez in the "Spy Kids" franchise.As an adult, Vega has had roles on "Nashville" and "The Mentalist." But she has also made headlines for her short-lived marriage, which ended when she was 21. She is now 27 years old and got remarried last year.Images via Photofest/REX Isabelle Fuhrman Starred in: "Orphan"The Atlanta native got her start in commercials and comedy skits on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." But she earned critical acclaim portraying Esther in 2009's "Orphan."Fuhrman went on to star as Clove in "The Hunger Games" and recently joined the cast of "Masters of Sex."Images via Photofest/Getty Images Tania Raymonde Starred in: "Malcolm in the Middle"The Los Angeles native played Cynthia Sanders on "Malcolm in the Middle" and Alex Rousseau on "Lost."All grown-up, Raymonde portrayed criminal Jodi Arias in "Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret" and also has had roles on "The Big Bang Theory" and "CSI." Parker McKenna Posey Starred in: "My Wife and Kids"At 4 years old, Parker McKenna Posey landed the role of Kady Kyle on the ABC sitcom "My Wife and Kids."Since the show ended, Posey went on to co-star on shows like "iCarly" and is also a successful model.Images via Photofest/Getty Images Alyson Stoner Starred in: "Cheaper by the Dozen"As a child star, Alyson Stoner had roles on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "That's So Raven" and "Cheaper by the Dozen."Stoner went on to land a small role in "Step Up," and she was well received in "Camp Rock." She also voiced the character of Opal in "The Legend of Korra" and has began a successful singing career. Nicola Peltz Starred in: "The Last Airbender"The Westchester, N.Y., native is the daughter of a billionaire but began acting at a young age. Her breakthrough role came when she played Katara in 2010's "The Last Airbender."Now 19, Nicola Peltz landed the role as Mark Wahlberg's daughter in "Transformers: Age of Extinction" and stars on the TV series "The Bates Motel." Michelle Trachtenberg Starred in: "Harriet the Spy"The Brooklyn, N.Y., native started acting at the age of 3 and starred in 1996's "Harriet the Spy." But her breakthrough role came as Buffy's sister Dawn on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."Since "BtVS" ended, Michelle Trachtenberg has remained in the spotlight with roles on "Sleepy Hollow," "Gossip Girl" and "Weeds." Naya Rivera Starred in: "Family Matters"Naya Rivera was a child star, appearing on "Family Matters" and "The Bernie Mac Show" as a kid.Rivera is all grown up and showed it co-starring as sassy Santana on "Glee." The actress is currently pregnant with her first child. | 6 | 96,580 | entertainment |
'Tis the season even for firearms. For Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore's (R) 2015 family Christmas card, which she posted on Facebook on Monday, her family was each outfitted with a gun. If it wasn't immediately obvious, Fiore is a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights. "It's up to Americans to protect America. We're just your ordinary American family. -With love & liberty, Michele," her message read. Here's the card: In the top left corner the card lists the guns photographed: a Beretta 92FS, Glock 30 .45ACP, Serbu Super-Shorty 12-gauge shotgun, Extar EXP-556, Walther P22 (LR), Glock 19 9mm and Glock 30 .45ACP. Fiore's daughters, Sheena and Savanah as well as her grandchildren Jake, Jayden, Mara and Morrigan, and her mother Lill are pictured. Jake, who a bio on Fiore's website says is at least 5 years old, is pictured holding the Walther P22. Fiore made headlines in 2014 when she defended Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy. She told MSNBC , "Don't come here with guns and expect the American people not to fire back." Fiore lost her position as majority leader and taxation committee chair in December 2014, according to the Associated Press , after reports that the IRS had filed hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax liens against her in the last decade. This article was written by Caitlin Cruz from Talking Points Memo and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. | 5 | 96,581 | news |
The annual MLB winter meetings don't necessarily offer the only opportunity for general managers to fulfill their offseason wish lists, but they sure offer the best chance to get things done. While a few high-profile names have already found a new home, there is still plenty of activity left much of which will occur next week in Nashville. Let's take a stab at what may take place. 5. Dodgers unable to find suitor for Yasiel Puig Remember when the Cuban outfielder was the most exciting player in the game? In less than two years, Puig become more a nuisance than a superstar. Injuries, bad judgement and discontent override his talent making him less than desirable for other clubs, regardless of how much they might need a bat. The Dodgers have placed Puig on the trade block for months with nary a solid offer. That's unlikely to change. 4. Jason Heyward receives a larger contract than Yoenis Cespedes There was a time around early September when the New York Mets' crucial trade deadline pick-up was under consideration for the National League's Most Valuable Player. Now, he's not the most valuable outfielder among free agents. Cespedes' lackluster postseason, following a red-hot five-week stretch, showed how streaky he can be. Heyward isn't quite as powerful or captivating. Yet, he's more consistent and is nearly four years younger. Whichever team signs him next week ( perhaps the Angels? ) will do so at a higher price. Heyward, Gordon are going to be expensive, Cespedes is overrated and will be overpaid, Upton will probably get a big deal Blake (@BlakeW47) November 23, 2015 3. Mets overpay, but sign Ben Zobrist With Cespedes and NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy likely departing Queens, the Mets are dead set on finding an adequate replacement to ensure the offense doesn't regress back to what it was during the first half of 2015. Despite remaining cash-strapped, GM Sandy Alderson is well aware that his team's talented young pitching staff is too good to waste. Just a little bit of hitting can go a long way toward another World Series push, and the 34-year-old utility player (who helped Kansas City beat the Mets in the Fall Classic) would be a nice fit. As the theory (sort of) goes: if you can't beat 'em, sign 'em for more than he's worth. 2. Cubs refuse to break bank on starting pitcher The North Side's revival was aided by an incredible second half performance by Jake Arrieta, en route to the NL Cy Young. But in order for the Cubs to have a chance of advancing past the NLCS, Theo Epstein must complement his right-handed ace with at least one more quality starter in order to better balance out a team already loaded with great offense. The Jon Lester experiment, a signing last winter for six years and $155 million, hasn't paid off just yet. With that in mind (and David Price off the market and Zack Greinke reportedly agreeing to a deal Friday with Arizona worth up to $206 million), Chicago brass could go for a familiar name . 1. Nationals rid themselves of Jonathan Papelbon, trade for Aroldis Chapman It shouldn't be a debate whether or not the Washington Nationals should hold on to Papelbon. What remains in doubt is who in the world would take him. Cincinnati, in total overhaul mode (especially with an inexperienced pitching staff), may be the place. And should the Nats be willing to offer up a few extra pieces, they could be lucky enough to get Chapman in the deal. Cutting loose a firebrand for baseball's ultimate fireballer? This is Washington's best-case scenario. | 1 | 96,582 | sports |
Amazon goes to great lengths to get packages into customers' hands as quickly as possible even if it means employing drones . Those efforts will now include putting thousands of Amazon-branded trucks on the road. The ever-ambitious online retailer planned to announce on Friday morning that it had purchased "thousands" of trailers the part of a tractor-trailer that stores the cargo to make sure it had the shipping capacity to move products on time as its North American business continues its rapid growth. The trailers won't be used to deliver packages to customer doors. Instead, they'll be utilized to transport items from one Amazon warehouse, known as a fulfillment center, to another, as well as between fulfillment centers and sort centers, where Amazon organizes orders by zip code to be delivered to local post offices. A spokeswoman stressed that Amazon would continue to rely on existing trucking partners, which own and drive the tractor portion of the vehicles that will tow the Amazon trailers. "The reality is we utilize a lot of great companies, but we do see the need for additional capacity," she said. The announcement comes as Amazon's North American retail business is growing at its fastest clip in several years. Revenue for this unit grew 35 percent in the third quarter, fueled by product assortment expansion in categories such as apparel and the growth of Amazon's hugely popular Prime membership program. The trucking announcement marks the latest initiative aimed at taking more control over how quickly the company can get goods into the hands of its customers. While Amazon continues to utilize trucking partners to move goods within its warehouse network, and UPS and FedEx for package delivery to customer doors, it is increasingly unveiling initiatives to take over more of these functions. In Los Angeles, for example, Amazon has been partnering with local courier services to deliver both traditional goods as well as groceries to customers instead of utilizing UPS or FedEx. Its year-old Prime Now service , which offers delivery within one or two hours of ordering, is also operated by couriers as well as independent contractors who want to make a little extra money . Amazon also delivers groceries in some cities in its own Amazon Fresh trucks and in recent years has paid the United States Postal Service to deliver Amazon packages on Sundays. Former employees say the goal is to someday be able to circumvent UPS or FedEx entirely, in large part so that snafus like the one that caused late deliveries during the 2013 holidays don't happen again. One guess on why Amazon only wants to own the trailer at this point: If it owned the tractor, it would have to register as a commercial trucking company and incur the insurance costs and liability risks that come with that. By sticking with just the trailer body, Amazon potentially saves money and avoids other potential headaches. That said, some reports suggest Amazon may eventually go all the way and own the trucks, too . The news is expected to come at an event in Chicago at which Amazon would announce the donation of 2,000 packages to U.S. military members stationed in combat zones around the globe. | 3 | 96,583 | finance |
Chinese President Xi Jinping announces $60 billion of assistance and loans for Africa at a summit in Johannesburg, signaling China's commitment to the continent despite a recent fall in investment | 8 | 96,584 | video |
Gut-wrenching close call caught on Minnesota deputy's dashcam | 8 | 96,585 | video |
We have already seen a rather big performance from a relatively unknown player around the NFL this week. Including his catch of a Hail Mary to send the Green Bay Packers to a win Thursday night, tight end Richard Rodgers put up eight receptions for 146 yards against the Detroit Lions. Here's a look at 10 other unheralded players set to make major impacts during NFL's Week 13 slate of games. 1. David Johnson, running back, Arizona Cardinals With both Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington out of action, this rookie third-round pick from Northern Iowa will finally get an opportunity to be the team's primary ball carrier. Averaging six yards per touch and with seven touchdowns in limited action this season, the explosiveness is surely there. It's all about holding on to the football (three fumbles) and showing Bruce Arians that he can pass protect. If that happens, Johnson will prove his worth to the NFC West-leading Cardinals. Taking on a tough St. Louis Rams front seven, it is going to be hard for Johnson to get it going on the ground. However, the rookie will provide something of substance in the passing game. He has recorded 19 receptions in limited action this season. Look for 20-plus touches and a solid contribution in the first major action of Johnson's career. 2. Buster Skrine, cornerback, New York Jets With Darrelle Revis out of action this week, Skrine will once again be a focal point in the Jets' secondary. He will remain in the slot with Darrin Walls playing outside opposite Antonio Cromartie. What makes this former Cleveland Browns corner such an intriguing player on Sunday is that he will likely be lined up against Odell Beckham Jr. multiple times throughout the afternoon. Yielding a 106.5 quarterback rating when targeted this season, Skrine must step his game up big time if the Jets are going to win against the in-state rivals. That might be the biggest key in this all-important game. 3. Seth Roberts, wide receiver, Oakland Raiders Behind Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper on the Raiders' depth chart is this little-known, undrafted rookie from West Alabama. With 21 receptions for 352 yards and four touchdowns on the season, Roberts is also having a surprising first year in the NFL. Heck, he's coming off a career-best performance that saw him put up six receptions for 113 yards and two scores against the Tennessee Titans. Now taking on a Kansas City Chiefs team that's going to primarily focus on Cooper and Crabtree on the outside, Roberts becomes a solid under-the-radar option for Derek Carr. That's only magnified by the fact that Kansas City will likely throw out a true safety in Ron Parker to cover Roberts in the slot. Look for a big game from this rookie. 4. Antone Exum, safety, Minnesota Vikings With Harrison Smith unlikely to play this week, Exum will continue to play out of position at free safety in an important inner-conference game against the Seattle Seahawks. Last week saw Exum play extremely good football against Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons in that role. He was solid in coverage over the top and did a tremendous job recovering a Tevin Coleman fumble on what looked like a touchdown for the Falcons. The key here might be Exum getting involved in the run game against Thomas Rawls. With Jimmy Graham out for the season and Seattle likely forced to go outside in the passing game, this former Virginia Tech standout could hedge his bets closer to the line of scrimmage than your traditional cover safety. 5. Jerry Attaochu, linebacker, San Diego Chargers It took a while for Attaochu to make his presence known after the Chargers exhausted a first-round pick on him back in 2014, but it does look like he's finally arrived. Despite putting up just 4.5 sacks on the season, this outside linebacker has found a way to put consistent pressure on the quarterback heading into Week 13. He has put up 22 quarterback hurries in 11 games and grades out as Pro Football Focus' 14th-best pass-rushing 3-4 linebacker in the NFL. Attaochu will likely find himself lining up from a hands-up position against Broncos right tackle Michael Schofield, who has given up an astounding 26 hurries on the year. With a young quarterback in Brock Osweiler under center, it will be important for the Chargers to disrupt the timing and create some mistakes by putting pressure on him. If that happens, San Diego could come away with an upset win. 6. Cecil Shorts, wide receiver, Houston Texans It's readily apparent that Houston is attempting to get Shorts involved in the offense as much as possible. While Shorts caught just three passes for 18 yards last week, he did put up a touchdown. In addition to this, Shorts attempted three runs out of the backfield. This came a week after the veteran caught two passes for 51 yards while adding 26 yards receiving and 21 yards passing. How's that for a stat line? Taking on a Buffalo Bills defense that tends to struggle with speed on the outside, the expectation here has to be that Shorts will continue to play a large role in Houston's offense. Without much more behind DeAndre Hopkins, his ability to perform at a high level is important for the first-place Texans. 7. Vance McDonald, tight end, San Francisco 49ers After being written off as a bust for the first two-plus seasons of his career, this former second-round pick has stepped up big time with Blaine Gabbert under center in San Francisco. In his first nine games of the season, McDonald tallied a total of nine catches for 64 yards and zero touchdowns. Over the past two games, the Rice product has put up 10 receptions for 136 yards and two scores. It's a rather interesting development. Most scouts viewed McDonald as a talented but raw prospect coming out of college. Now that he's been given a chance to perform following the trade of Vernon Davis, he has stepped up big time. If San Francisco has a chance of pulling off an upset against a suddenly surging Chicago Bears team on the road, it will have to find continued success from the tight end position. That responsibility will likely rest with McDonald. 8. Spencer Long, guard, Washington Redskins After seeing very limited playing time as a rookie, Long has started all eight games in which he has appeared at left guard this season. He struggled terribly in the run-blocking aspect of the game early on but has since picked it up. Over the past few weeks, Long's blocks have sprung big runs for the trio of Redskins running backs looking to create balance on offense. At 5-6 and in first place in the NFC East, that's going to be key moving forward. Can Washington continue to get solid play from its offensive line in the running game? If so, there's a good chance this team will win the division. It continues Monday against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has been average in the run game all season. 9. Jerome Felton, fullback, Buffalo Bills Fullbacks still exist in today's NFL just ask Bills running back LeSean McCoy. In the limited action Felton has played this year, he's been instrumental in helping McCoy rebound from early-season struggles and injuries. Going to the traditional backfield formation with a lead blocker multiple times over the past several games, McCoy seems to have a new best friend in Felton, a three-time Pro Bowl performer. It's going to be important for the Bills to implement the lead blocker in a tough inner-conference game against a Houston Texans defense that has allowed a total of two touchdowns in its past 18 quarters. If Felton is able to continue opening up holes for McCoy, it will go a long way in Buffalo rebounding from a Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. As it stands, McCoy has put up 100-plus total yards in each of the past five games. You better believe Felton is one of the primary reasons for this. 10. Spencer Ware, running back, Kansas City Chiefs Even with Charcandrick West healthy after missing last week's game, the expectation here has to be that Kansas City will go with a committee backfield against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Ware's inclusion in this committee became clear after what we saw the former LSU running back do over the past two weeks. During that span, Ware has put up 210 rushing yards and three scores on 30 attempts. To put this into perspective, the former sixth-round pick gained 34 yards on nine attempts in his first two-plus seasons in the NFL. As has been the case throughout his entire career, Alex Smith performs best with a solid running game behind him. Despite Oakland's struggles against the pass this season, Smith's ability to lead the Chiefs to a sixth consecutive win could depend on the type of performance he gets from this running back tandem. Check out Vincent's other work on eDraft.com and follow him on Twitter @VincentFrankNFL | 1 | 96,586 | sports |
A third season of hit TV series "Fargo" will take place in the present day, after the current second season reached back into the 1970s. Season 1 of the Coen brothers film spin-off aired in 2014 and was set in 2006. Season 2, whose current 10 episode run is to end on December 14, went back to 1979, well before the 1996 movie of "Fargo" and its 1987 setting. The events of Season 3 will occur "a couple of years after season 1," according to showrunner Noah Hawley, who told EW that it would be "more contemporary," holding the potential for characters to return from Season 1 and even Season 2. Two characters have provided continuity throughout the two seasons of darkly comedic detective drama so far, with Lou Solverson played by Keith Carradine and then Patrick Wilson, and Molly Solverson portrayed by Allison Tolman and then Raven Stewart. Narratively, there will be "connections" between Seasons 2 and 3, Hawley teased, with certain clues already inserted, ensuring fans of the Golden Globe and Emmy award winning series will want to stay glued to the screen as Season 2 concludes. "Part of the fun is figuring that stuff out and I wouldn't want to take that away from anybody," he said. "There will be definitely things that connect to something in our story." | 6 | 96,587 | entertainment |
Last month at the Techonomy conference in Half Moon Bay, California, a group of technologists explored the ethics of developing web services in the age of artificial intelligence. How much do people really understand about the information they're giving up in return for a service, an audience member asked, and can they choose not to give up that data? The question was met, at first, with a quizzical silence. Data is the fuel that makes the Internet work. Without it, online services aren't as personal, or as useful. Then someone on the panel remarked that, of course, a user has to give up data, but it's her choice. She could choose, instead, to opt out. But could she? Can anyone? A decade ago, American Internet refusers were the olds and the luddites. They didn't really get it, or get why it had value to them. Or they couldn't afford it. Adding the necessary equipment (computer, smartphone) and the monthly hook-up fee was a significant expense. Five years ago, avoiding the Internet was counter-culture. A small number of people chose not to get it, or to value it. Today, however, the only people who can avoid the Internet are the privileged, the people with a trust fund. To scrape together a living in a knowledge-based economy, you pretty much have to participate. Most people can't afford not to be online. I'm not knocking the 'net. It has made my personal life immeasurably better. Shortly, I'll get off a plane, and by the time I hit the concourse, I will have arranged my transportation home and for dinner to be waiting. I'll have ensured my dog is walked, and informed my editor he should publish this piece. That will take a dozen clicks on four apps. But these technological advances can become coercive, even as they create new opportunities. I often hunger to opt out of the endless noise and distraction of the Internet. (Every August, I take a month off of social media, and invariably, I notice my anxiety level plummet.) And increasingly, I notice the way the apps I patronize subtly inform my behavior. The Air Around Us Recently, on a road trip, I plugged my destination into Google Maps. I chose my preferred route, and the Siri-like navigator said, "You have chosen the best route." What? The fastest route, maybe. But the best route? How does Google know what my best route is? Maybe a better route would be one that stopped off at a friend's house or passed through a scenic area. And while I can get away with dropping Google Maps (paper maps are so retro) or Facebook for a time, eventually, I will need to log on to the 'book or pull up a Google search box to fulfill the tasks required of my profession. To participate in today's economy, you need to participate in the Internet. Here, reader, you may interject that you are not a person who uses Facebook. So there! Or maybe, you use Bing instead of Google. Or clear your cache constantly, and turn off GPS. Even so, the large global Internet services primarily Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon are nearly impossible to sidestep. Even if you don't use them, they will use you in ways you likely don't and can't track entirely. That's because, while the Internet may have lived behind a computer screen for the first two decades of its commercial existence, now it has become as ubiquitous as air, an ambience that surrounds you. Wake up in the morning, turn on your phone, and GPS will note your position, updating all of your apps. Get into any relatively new car, and it'll record where you are going and how you are driving. Turn on your Nest thermostat, and it'll record your heat preference. Then there's your Fitbit, Jawbone Up, Apple Watch, Lynx lightbulb, Dropcam security camera, and on and on. Even if you don't seek the web out, somewhere an Internet-powered service is logging and analyzing your behavior. There's no going off the grid, because life is the grid. Which brings me back to the Techonomy discussion on ethics. We have invented the Internet, and it is now a staple of human life, infusing itself into our daily routines and informing our habits. Smart software companies are harnessing artificial intelligence to improve the products and services they offer up. It's incumbent upon these companies to put ethics at the center of their product development strategies, because, while the services they offer are commercial, they've also become utilities. Most of us have electricity. We have running water in our houses. And we have the Internet. There's no opting out. More from WIRED: 20 Awesome Gifts for Around $20 14 Gifts for Making Downtime More Relaxing 10 Truly Awesome TVs for Every Budget | 3 | 96,588 | finance |
Tom Herman will stay at Houston and will be rewarded with a raise and contract extension. The contract now will run through the 2020 season (Feb. 28, 2021), and Herman's annual compensation will climb to $2.8 million. Herman was previously earning $1.35 million per year in base and non-salary compensation under a five-year contract, so his raise amounts to $1.45 million. The Cougars are 11-1 under first-year coach Herman, a former offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer at Ohio State, and will face Temple on Saturday for the American Athletic Conference title. "My family and I are excited to renew our commitment to the University of Houston Football program," Herman, the AAC coach of the year, said in a statement. "We live in one of the greatest cities, and combined with a Tier One University and with the commitments to our program, it provides a great atmosphere for a championship culture," said Herman. "We are thrilled, and we are completely focused on tomorrow's American Championship and representing the City of Houston on the national stage once again." Herman's name had come up in connection with a number of open head coaching jobs, including Power Five teams. In addition to the compensation increase, the amendment shifts the initial contract's buyout of $2.25 million end date from Feb. 28, 2018 to Feb. 28, 2019, with an increased buyout of $2.5 million for prior to Feb. 28, 2017. The amended agreement calls for the $2.5 million buyout to be reduced by 25 percent if the planned $20 million indoor facility project is not approved by the Board of Regents by Sept. 1, 2016 and the $2.25 million buyout to be reduced by 50 percent if construction of the indoor football practice facility is not at or near completion by Dec. 1, 2017, and reduced by 75 percent if the facility is not at or near completion by Dec. 1, 2018. "As we've said in the past, we want Tom Herman to be the head football coach at the University of Houston well into the future. The Head Football Coach at the University of Houston is a destination position and not a stepping stone, and a successful coach like Coach Herman's can build and maintain a nationally relevant, championship program in the city of Houston," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Hunter Yurachek. "I personally want to thank President Renu Khator, our Chairman of the Board of Regents Tilman Fertitta and our Board of Regents for their counsel and support throughout this process." | 1 | 96,589 | sports |
For the holidays... after all, they deserve it | 8 | 96,590 | video |
A spectacled bear club is rescued after a farmer notices him alone and wet in the middle of a highway in central Peru. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). | 8 | 96,591 | video |
USA Today Sports' Tom Pelissero gives Bold Predictions that you'd never expect for Week 13 of the NFL season. | 1 | 96,592 | sports |
Baseball's annual winter meetings will take place Sunday to Thursday at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. As much we have finally started to see some notable hot stove action in the last week, the pace should accelerate greatly once representatives from all 30 teams, the top agents, some players and throngs of media (including SI's Tom Verducci and Jay Jaffe) are confined to the same hotel for four straight days. Here's a quick look at what to expect, in order of timeframe. 1. The Hall of Fame's Pre-Integration Era ballot result The first members of the Cooperstown class of 2016 will be announced on Monday, and if recent history is any indication we can expect a few names to be called. In the first three years of the new, era-specific Veterans Committee, eight men gained entry to the Hall of Fame, including the tragically overlooked Ron Santo ; contemporary managers Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre; and, in 2013, three Pre-Integration figures (umpire Hank O'Day, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and third baseman Deacon White). Last year, however, the Golden Era committee elected no one. Among those on this year's ballot, long-time National League shortstop Bill Dahlen gets the JAWS stamp of approval from Jaffe, and former executive and pioneer Doc Adams deserves admission for his underappreciated role in the creation of the game itself during the 19th century. There's also an argument to be made for the strong peak pitcher Wes Ferrell had against tough competition during the 1930s. For more on the candidates, check out Jaffe's full breakdown of the ballot . 2. Trades! The biggest news out of last year's winter meetings came on the trade front. That should be no surprise, given that the entire idea behind the meetings which date back to 1876, the same year that Alexander Graham Bell was granted the patent for the telephone, and have been held annually since 1901 is to get everyone in one place to facilitate such transactions. Last year's deals were headlined by the Dodgers' many moves , which included sending Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to Miami and Matt Kemp to San Diego while bringing in Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins to flesh out their infield. The Tigers and Reds were also active , with Detroit acquiring Yoenis Cespedes from the Red Sox for Rick Porcello and Cincinnati trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon, with the latter heading to Detroit to replace Porcello. The White Sox also made a big splash, executing a six-player trade with the Athletics that was highlighted by starter Jeff Samardzija. As for this year's action: It will be interesting to see if the Angels will be able to turn their excess of starting pitching into much-needed offensive upgrades. The Astros have been said to be seeking a high-end closer , the likes of which is not available among this year's free agents. The Reds are reportedly shopping Aroldis Chapman, who is due a big arbitration award heading into his walk year, and are in the early stages of a rebuild; that could make them a popular team for rival executives to talk to next week, with Jay Bruce, Zack Cozart and possibly even Todd Frazier among the Cincinnati players on the block. The Cubs will also bear watching, as they seem poised to move one of their young infielders, likely either Starlin Castro or Javier Baez. • MORE MLB: Why Jason Heyward may be worth winter's biggest contract 3. Free Agents Trade news easily trumped free-agent news at last year's meetings. Still, David Robertson, Ervin Santana and Kendrys Morales all came to terms during the winter meetings, and with the heat surrounding the top of the pitching market, we could see even more free-agent movement next week. Indications earlier this week were that Zack Greinke would come to terms with the Dodgers or Giants before the meetings opened, but he has less than 48 hours in which to do so. His signing could be quickly followed by a deal for Johnny Cueto, who reportedly turned down a six-year, $120 million offer from the Diamondbacks earlier this month. Even if Cueto doesn't sign, a Greinke decision could lead to action for the second tier of free-agent starters. Samardzija claims to have a $100 million offer in hand and could make a decision next week. Similarly, a Darren O'Day signing could unstick the market for relief pitchers; O'Day is widely (and correctly) considered the top available free-agent reliever. That should result in a big pay day for the 33-year-old sidearmer, who could find a team next week. Another free agent who has reportedly been the subject of considerable bidding of late is second baseman Ben Zobrist, who was wined and dined by the Mets on Wendesday and is reportedly looking for $60 million over four years; he may get more given the number of interested teams. We haven't seen much movement near the top of the market for offense so far; aside from Matt Wieters and Colby Rasmus accepting qualifying offers with the Orioles and Astros, respectively, no other notable hitter has signed. A Zobrist deal could get things moving, given that he's seen as a one-player solution to multiple problems thanks to his ability to contribute in both the infield and outfield. One bit of news we won't get, however, is a result from Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda's posting . Teams will have a month to negotiate with the 27-year-old righthander after meeting the release fee, which is likely to be set at the maximum $20 million. • MORE MLB: Johnny Cueto is a bad bet to return value on $100M deal 4. The Rule 5 Draft Every winter meetings ends with the Rule 5 draft of unprotected minor league talent on Thursday morning. Last year's Rule 5 draft was uncommonly productive: Just two of the 14 players selected in the major league portion of the draft were returned to their 2014 teams, and 12 of the 14 players drafted appeared in the major leagues during the '15 season. Among that dozen were Delino DeShields, who claimed the centerfield job for a Rangers team that won the AL West; Odubel Herrera, who emerged as an elite defensive centerfielder in Philadelphia despite having never played the outfield as a professional before the season; lefty Sean Gilmartin, who pitched in the World Series for the Mets; and Mark Canha, who finished the season as the Athletics' primary first baseman. This year's draft could be similarly compelling, with 26-year-old Mariners rightfielder Jabari Blash an enticing target for the Phillies, who have the top pick thanks to their major-league-worst 63-99 record this past season. The 6'5" Blash hit .271/.370/.576 with 32 home runs in a 2015 season split between Double and Triple A and would fit nicely next to Herrera in Philadelphia's outfield. | 1 | 96,593 | sports |
Hellooo, arm candy. David Beckham The soccer star wins the award for Hottest Dad or at least PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive as his tattooed biceps peek out with sons Romeo and Cruz at the Kids' Choice Awards. Want more where that came from? You're welcome . Channing Tatum If this is a bicep contest between Channing and Magic Mike XXL costar Matt Bomer, it's obvious who the winner is. Sorry, Matt. Ryan Gosling Protective dad Ryan 's stern look alone would scare away the paparazzi, but showing off some muscle doesn't hurt either. Scott Foley Genius marketing by luxury home brand Charisma, who knew that if (shirtless) Scott 's biceps and a puppy couldn't sell that bedding, nothing could. Will Smith Divorce rumors be damned there's no way Jada wouldn't want to be held by those arms, amiright? Tom Brady The football star 's arms are so buff, he makes carrying his son look effortless. Dwayne Johnson This is what the dad-to-be 's biceps look like when he's "casually yawning and stretching," according to his Instagram . Just let that sink in. Brad Pitt Nothing shows off arms like, well, a child on each arm. Mark Wahlberg Ah, Marky Mark: showing up younger guys everywhere with those 44-year-old biceps. Nick Lachey Nick knows fatherhood is a balancing act: He holds son Camden while clinking beers with wife Vanessa, all while subtly showing off some arm candy. Mario Lopez Mario plays matchy-matchy with his family while flashin' the guns in a classic tee. Ryan Reynolds Not only does Ryan have out-of-this-world biceps, but he just happens to be showing them off while running a marathon. Slow clap. Idris Elba Idris keeps his airport style simple but leaves the main attraction his tatted forearms on display. Chris Hemsworth The Australian actor doesn't even have to be shirtless to show off his biceps they're bulging through his suit! Barack Obama Even Mr. President isn't above the occasional forearm flexing. Matt Damon Matt's arms spice up even the most mundane tasks around Los Angeles. Matthew McConaughey We're just going to stare at your arms while you sip your coffee, Matthew. All right, all right, all right. James Van Der Beek Although father and son are wearing some pretty serious expressions, his arms are making us smile. Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano teaches his son, a mini replica of dad seriously, his name is Cristiano Jr. how to show off one's assets. Hugh Jackman While at concerts, Hugh apparently enjoys casually showing off his arms while also making funny faces. Dwyane Wade Photos like this should remind us to thank the powers that be for sleeveless athletic uniforms. Ricky Martin He may be known for his smooth dance moves, but it's his upper body that's really capturing our attention these days. Ashton Kutcher While this shot of Ashton and Mila is #relationshipgoals, we wonder if Ashton's aware that his cuddling also does a nice job of displaying his forearms. Andy Roddick Don't worry, Andy: You may not always win, but the same cannot be said of your forearms. Chris Pratt Chris Instagrammed this shot to show off his #dadbod transformation after cutting out beer, but there's more than his abs to look at. Like that muscle holding up the phone... Justin Timberlake FYI, Justin: When selling tickets for your next tour, you can probably charge a bicep fee we'd pay. Seal His vocal cords make women melt, but let's be honest: his body does, too. Tim McGraw Yeah, Tim, we're pretty excited about your arms, too. Johnny Depp Johnny is proof that even bohemians appreciate a good bicep. Jay Z Would you seriously expect Queen Bey to be with someone without killer arms? Ryan Phillippe Although the father of three kind of looks like someone out of a '90s music video , the fact that he's flaunting some serious bicep makes us forgive him. Usher Strutting around town with his son, Usher shows off his arms in a T-shirt. Brad Paisley Brad has a lot of accessories going on here cowboy hat, guitar, boots but it's the tickets to his gun show that we really want. Mark-Paul Gosselaar Zack Morris, er, Mark-Paul gets in quality time with his son and the catch of the day all while graciously letting us ogle his biceps. How kind. Harry Hamlin The actor's arms prove again and again that some things just get better with age. Peter Facinelli Is there anything hotter than a dad playing with his kids while hanging out in a T-shirt? | 6 | 96,594 | entertainment |
Will Clemson or North Carolina make the College Football Playoff if the Tar Heels take down Clemson? | 1 | 96,595 | sports |
Christopher Smith shot this beautiful drone footage of the fall colors in Central Park with his DJI Phantom 3 Pro, November 10, 2015. | 8 | 96,596 | video |
After Scotland's Forth Road Bridge was closed 11-mile (17.7km) tailbacks were reported, how does this compare to other notorious traffic jams? | 8 | 96,597 | video |
Autoblog Beauty-Roll, nothing but high-def video of the cars you're looking for. Today featuring the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. Set your resolution to max, kick it into full-screen, turn up the sound, and enjoy today's subject the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. | 9 | 96,598 | autos |
Once you hit your 30s, dating changes into something different. You might be coming out of a serious relationship and looking for a casual relationship or have had a wonderful time dating around and are ready to find the right person for long-term cuddle sessions. You can always rely on friends for blind date options, but online dating is the real solution. If you're new to the game, there are a few tips and tricks when it comes to setting up the perfect profile that truly represents yourself and attracts the right type of personality. Pick the right site: There are tons of options out there to find the right person for you. If you're feeling like you'd prefer to have more control, check out Bumble . Or stick with traditional sites like Match or eHarmony . Keep it simple: When it comes to your handle, keep it to a few words that are catchy while also being real. You want to have fun with this but not be too out there when it comes to picking a name you'll be using when flirting online. Use a real photo: Seriously. You can ask a good friend for help with this, but you want to represent yourself so when you do actually meet IRL your date isn't completely confused. Think of it like a headshot that's fun. Then next time you're feeling pretty, ask for help with snapping a picture or take a selfie - without the duck face. Be honest: If you're looking for a long-term relationship, this is where to share what you're looking for. Keep it short and sweet without going into too much personal detail. This is not the place to dish on past relationships or bring politics to the table. You're a touch older (and wiser!) so highlight things you're proud of. Don't take yourself too seriously: You're going in blind so don't expect everyone to get your personality - or to be as up-to-date with online lingo or trending news. And sarcasm doesn't always translate well over the Internet. Set dealbreakers: Once you hit your 30s, there are things you just aren't willing to compromise on. Make a personal list and stick with it. If you aren't up for dating someone who's living with roommates, that's cool. Not interested in someone who isn't serious about a career? Totally fine. Once you have your list, don't compromise - you're not looking for pointless dates that waste time for everyone involved. Edit your photos: Too many pictures can be distracting, so only include a few shots of yourself. Feature between three and five pictures that capture you doing things you love. Also, make sure you don't include too many group shots, as this can be confusing for potential dates. They shouldn't have to guess which person they are meeting. Be yourself! This is your opportunity to feature the things you're proud of while potentially connecting with a future special someone. Have fun with the process and let your uniqueness shine through. Happy dating! You can be "too hot to trust" on dating sites | 4 | 96,599 | lifestyle |
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