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New York Times/Warner Bros. Though many are praising "Creed" for its excellent use of the "Rocky" franchise to elevate its story, what shouldn't be lost in the nostalgia is the new movie's great cinematography. The director of photography for "Creed" is veteran cinematographer Maryse Alberti , who is no stranger to the squared circle. Her handheld photography in Darren Aronofsky's Oscar-nominated " The Wrestler ," which follows down-and-out pro wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) at the end of his career, was a memorable highlight when the film came out in 2008. But with "Creed," she gives the audience a more slick perspective of what goes on in the ring. One standout is Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), then going by Adonis Johnson, in his first fight that has Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in his corner. It lasts two rounds and is done in one continuous take. "Creed" director Ryan Coogler broke down most of the scene for a New York Times video: In the scene, Adonis faces Leo Sporino, played by real Philadelphia boxer Gabe Rosado . New York Times/Warner Bros. "This scene represents the boxer/coach relationship, the parental relationship. You can work with someone very long training them but when the bell rings they are all alone so we wanted to shoot this in one unbroken take to represent that." New York Times/Warner Bros. "It took a lot of memorization and choreography and body control. And with this scene being shot in one unbroken take it was similar to a monologue in the lines an actor will have to learn. Michael had to learn different punches and different steps to make sure he was in the right place at the right time." New York Times/Warner Bros. "The big thing for us was the sound design. We utilized the space of the surround sound. When you're close to the blue corner you hear Rokcy's voice and when you're in the red you hear Sporino's manager. We wanted to play with that sense of being alone and abandoned when you're in the ring but a hint of that support." New York Times/Warner Bros. "And what's great about boxing is that at the end of the round you're reunited with your support group. Rocky puts the fight in perspective and the guy working on Michael's eye is a real cut guy." New York Times/Warner Bros.The scene continues in a single take into the next round, when the advice Rocky gave Adonis between rounds pays off. Watch the complete breakdown of the scene below: RAW Embed | 6 | 96,600 | entertainment |
Older workers could encounter some unexpectedly harsh realities in retirement. A survey released by the nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) this week shows that the retirement expectations of workers ages 50 and older don't always align with the realities of retirees. Harris Poll conducted the survey. TCRS President Catherine Collinson, who authored the survey report, says in a news release : "This new vision of retirement among workers is a tremendous departure from the experiences of those already in retirement." For example, many workers plan to work past the traditional retirement age of 65, but retirees who are fully retired left the workplace at the median age of 62. A large percentage of retirees (60 percent), including the fully and semiretired, retired sooner than they had planned. Additionally, 54 percent of workers ages 50 and older plan to continue working at least part-time in retirement. But in reality, just 5 percent of retirees are currently employed in some fashion. One thing older workers and retirees have in common is the lack of a written retirement plan that incorporates financial factors, such as: Government retirement benefits (including Social Security and Medicare) Ongoing living expenses Health care costs Savings and income needs A budget Only 10 percent of older workers and 14 percent of retirees have such a plan, TCRS found. Collinson says: "One of the most important things within reach that retirees and pre-retirees can do is formulate a financial plan to identify opportunities, vulnerabilities, and ways to address them." Retirees cite their financial priorities as: Just getting by/covering basic living expenses (cited by 42 percent) Paying for health care expenses (37 percent) Continuing to save for retirement (20 percent) In addition, 25 percent are paying off credit card debt, and 21 percent are paying off mortgages. The good news is that most retirees are happy and healthy nonetheless, with 94 percent being generally happy and 84 percent having a strong sense of purpose in life. Seventy percent report being in good or excellent health. Other findings from the survey include that among retirees: Only 16 percent strongly agree that they built a large enough retirement nest egg. 61 percent expect Social Security to be their primary source of income throughout retirement. 76 percent wish they would have saved more on a consistent basis. | 3 | 96,601 | finance |
Homeowners accept donations for The Wounded Warrior Project | 8 | 96,602 | video |
David Ortiz addressed for the first time since he announced he would retire following the conclusion of the 2015 Major League Baseball season his decision to hang it up after what will be an amazing 20-year career. The 40-year-old Boston Red Sox slugger answered questions about his impending retirement at his eighth annual David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. "It's a process and not a decision you make from day to night," Ortiz said, via the Boston Herald . "I had an (Achilles) injury in 2012, and since that injury, it's you getting older, you having to do things differently so you can continue playing. I had the opportunity to continue playing all the games that I played after that because I prepared myself. Through that preparation, you start viewing things from a different perspective. That was my case." Ortiz chose the occasion of his 40th birthday on Nov. 18 to announce his plans to retire, doing so via a video posted on The Players' Tribune website. "I thought a lot about it," Ortiz said in part during a two-minute, 26-second video. "Every single one of us, athletes-wise, we run out of time at some point. Life is based on different chapters and I think I'm ready to experience the next one in my life." Ortiz reaffirmed his perspective on calling it quits in additional comments from his charity golf tournament when he was asked if has any regrets over the decision. "Not really. I pretty much was thinking about it for a while, and I had the opportunity to take my time to do it, and once you take your time, I think there's no regrets," he said via MLB.com . Projections indicate that Ortiz is primed to go out with his head held high and good numbers at the plate, with Baseball Reference predicting Big Papi to put up a triple-slash of .265/.349./.513 while hitting 30 home runs and knocking in 91 RBI. While those stats are slightly below Ortiz's career averages, it wouldn't be a bad way to call it a career. | 1 | 96,603 | sports |
Researching these was a tough job, but somebody had to do it. 😉 Sake Secret Researchers at SK-II discovered Pitera the main ingredient in this product after noticing that the hands of sake makers at a particular brewery in Japan stayed startlingly youthful looking. This Facial Treatment Essence is more than 90% Pitera, leaving your face beautiful, balanced, and glowing.SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, $99; sephora.com. Step Saver If you've ever used your face wash to remove makeup, or your makeup remover to clean your face, this product is for you. This oil uses camellia and rice bran oils to melt away your makeup as it cleans, leaving you with one less step in your beauty routine. One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, $48; tatcha.com. Supermodel Skin Secret Crealine H20, the gentle-as-water makeup remover that used to be exclusive to European pharmacies, is unanimously favored by backstage beauties. It's mild, calms irritated skin, and can now be found in drug stores on our home turf. Bioderma Sensibio H2O, $20; beautylish.com. Daily Five Glossier describes this mask as "a juice cleanse for your face," and with ingredients for fruits and veggies like spinach, parsley, avocado, orange peels and acai berry, we're inclined to believe them. Your face will feel smoother and feel cleaner after only one use, and you won't have to give up food for a week. Mega Greens Galaxy Pack, $22; glossier.com. Night Fix A whole lot of science went into creating this moisturizer, but all you really need to know is that in less than a week your skin will look fuller and feel more hydrated. It also comes with a sanitary pump that helps keep your face clean. Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer, $75; stemologyskincare.com. Radiance Repair No matter how much abuse your skin has endured, after using this cream for a few days it will be positively radiant (as promised by the name of the product). Use regularly for firmer and more even looking skin, or even just for the dreamy rose scent. Eve Lom Radiance Life Cream, $72; sephora.com. Best in Glow We rejoiced when this British product that regularly sells out in the UK was finally available stateside. High quality ingredients like aloe vera, ginseng, and botanical extract leave your skin extra glow-y, and it's alcohol free so there's no chance your face will dry out. Pixi Glow Tonic, $15; target.com. Coming Up Roses We've all heard of stem cell research, but have you ever heard of it being applied to flowers? Peter Thomas Roth took this cutting edge biotechnology to replicate perfect rose stem cells, and combined them with rose extract to create a mask that stimulates cell turnover. In simpler terms, a lot of research went into making this mask strengthening, toning, anti-aging, and hydrating. Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Gel Mask, $45; peterthomasroth.com. Sea Treasure Use just three drops of this oil a day to stimulate collagen production, and firm, cleanse, and nourish skin. Yes, it's pricey, but it's multipurpose and can also be used on hair, cuticles, and lips. So you know worth it.The Renewal Oil, $240; cremedelamer.com. Guac Substitute Avocado addicts, rejoice! Now you can include the superfood in your skincare routine as well to help fight under eye bags and darkness. This thick cream won't get in your eyes, and any puffiness quickly disappears. Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, $47; kiehls.com. Super Star Blackheads, whiteheads, acne, or blemishes? Supermud uses a proprietary six-acid blend that draws out impurities and leaves your pores noticeably smaller after as little as a single use. Super, indeed. Supermud Clearing Treatment, $69; glamglowmud.com. Skin Genius For the foundation-phobes out there, this no foundation foundation erases blotchiness and pores with just a hint more coverage than tinted moisturizer and packs SPF 30.Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation, $60, perriconemd.com. Up Close and Beautiful Before Botox, stocking-covered camera lenses filtered out big-name newscasters' wrinkles. Today's equivalent? MAC's new Prep+Prime line insta-spackle for the HD generation.MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone, $22; macys.com. Flower Power For a beauty splurge, try Linda Rodin's cult-favorite. Put a few drops of her Oilo Lusso for body with calming jasmine and nourishing neroli into your bath to sooth parched skin. Olio Lusso, $130, oliolusso.com. Tea Time Get the healing benefits of kombucha AKA black tea ferment without having to stomach the taste of the ancient Chinese remedy. This black tea mask is also fortified with sake and lychee-seed extract, and the cooling cream brightens and softens skin with no aftertaste.Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, $92; fresh.com. Pollution Solution Stave off big city pollution with Chanel's skincare line. Formulated with micronized wax from tulip-tree leaves, this products draw age-accelerating free radicals from skin.Lotion Douceur, $45; chanel.com. Roller Girl Sure, we're impressed that Garnier's Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Roller is charged with vitamin A and beech-tree-derived Pro-Xylane to fight wrinkles, but we're also secretly thrilled by its roller-ball applicator that gently massages as it glides over the skin.Garnier Nutritionist Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Roller, $10; beautyencounter.com. | 4 | 96,604 | lifestyle |
FIFA vice presidents Alfredo Hawit and Juan Angel Napout were suspended from world soccer's governing body for 90 days following Thursday's indictments on charges of racketeering, conspiracy and corruption. Hawit, CONCACAF's president, and Napout, CONMEBOL's president, were notables among the 16 indictments announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. The news of the superseding indictments came in the wake of a series of arrests of FIFA officials Thursday morning, which took place at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich. Eight defendants in the case have pleaded guilty, including former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, whose evidence assisted in the latest round of indictments. • GALLERY: The faces of the FIFA scandal The FIFA indictment, which is 236 pages in length, says that the "criminal schemes" involved "well over $200 million in bribes and kickbacks," and describes the defendants' use of the U.S. banking system for its scamming, The New York Times reported . The new arrests were part of an ongoing U.S. investigation into widespread corruption in international soccer, and follow May's first wave of arrests of several top FIFA officials at the same hotel. | 1 | 96,605 | sports |
Plus, tips on how to find the right style for you. The Power of Good Cut There's no denying it: Your hair and face change as you get older. And so should your cut, because falling into a hair rut (quick test: have you changed your style in the past five years?) will age you faster than you can say, "I'll take a Dorothy Hamill." Finding the right cut and color can give a huge boost to your overall appearance, says New York City stylist Mark Garrison, who did the amazing makeovers shown here. Nervous about radical change? Think smaller, says Garrison: "You can stick with your favorite style, but update it in little ways." The trick is to work with a stylist who focuses on three key factors: your bone structure, hair texture, and preferred maintenance level (how much time you're willing to spend on daily styling). Cover those bases and you're on your way to "Wow!" BEFORE: Maryellen Hays, 60 "Maryellen's hairstyle was too severe," Garrison says. A long bob with bangs can be flattering, but her particular cut lacked shape and movement. She opted to cover her gray, but the dark, one-dimensional brown that she chose framed her face too starkly, as did her too-thick bangs. In her words: "I looked like a mushroom!" AFTER: Maryellen Hays, 60 Why This Cut Works "Softer bangs combined with length at the nape and fullness at the crown flatter her oval face and really bring out her cheekbones," Garrison says. "We also gave her warm, caramel-colored highlights around the face, being careful not to go too light, which can wash some women out." What You Can Do Remember that flat-against-the-head rarely means pretty, unless you're 16. We all need a little lift around our faces from layers, styling, or color to get that extra zing. BEFORE: Malena Aleyanez, 49 Malena isn't too mature for long hair, "but over-processing had left her locks straw-dry and unmanageable," says Garrison. "And the color was way too light, making her look pale." AFTER: Malena Aleyanez, 49 Why This Cut Works Garrison snipped off the frazzled ends and gave Malena a sexy bob that brings out her gorgeous bone structure. As for color, "the beauty is in the contrast," says Garrison, whose colorist combined a light brown base with golden highlights in front. What You Can Do Take a good look in the mirror. Does your hair color mimic your skin tone? If so, you may look washed out, especially in the winter. Choose a base color that's at least two shades darker than your skin tone, even if your hair is blond. If you crave a lighter look, go for highlights. BEFORE: Morgan Littlefield, 35 Morgan has naturally thick, wavy hair, "but she wasn't taking advantage of it," said Garrison. And by leaving it long and unshaped, she wasn't doing anything to show off her pretty, youthful features. Lastly, this natural blonde (who didn't previously color her hair) needed a little brightness. AFTER: Morgan Littlefield, 35 Why This Cut Works Face-framing layers retain the look of longer hair without the limpness. The side-swept bangs minimize Morgan's high forehead while playing up her baby blues. Streaks of buttery blond add extra oomph. What You Can Do If you don't have a specific cut in mind, tell the stylist what you don't want and let her make suggestions. Just don't be pressured into trying anything that doesn't sound right. Your Perfect Cut Starts Here Every hair dilemma has a solution all you have to do is figure out the results you want so you can determine the best course of action. Here's how to pick the style that's right for you. Goal: Firm up the jawline. You want at least nape-length layers that are shorter in back. Adding some swing this way helps minimize flaws in general, and longer pieces in front will give the illusion of angles where they're needed. Goal: Emphasize good features. Cutting layers that "point" toward the area by ending at the same level. If you have a great smile, for example, ask for chin-length pieces in front that will hit at lip level. Goal: Hide forehead wrinkles. Try eyebrow-skimming bangs . They'll cover lines and play up your eyes. Goal: Sculpt cheekbones. Create volume at the crown by asking for layers on top. Then, when styling, take a few strokes with a teasing comb (easy we're not talking Marge Simpson) five inches from the hairline. Goal: Downplay neck wrinkles. Add a few wispy, longer strands in the back, even if the cut is short. Goal: Brighten a dull complexion. Highlights concentrated around the face "add dimension and give your skin glow," says Ronald Braso of New York's Frédéric Fekkai Salon. How to Get the Style You Want Tip #1: Request a 15-minute consultation before they begin cutting. Patrick Melville, owner of New York City's Patrick Melville Salon, encourages clients to come in before the appointment and ask lots of questions. Tip #2: Don't just ask for a trim and assume you and your stylist are on the same page. Instead, ask them to show you what it will look like before they cut and discuss how much should be taken off, and from where. Tip #3: Avoid the 'dos of the day and the stylists who give them. Instead, ask for a cut that's right for you, and not the trendy look of the day. Tip #4: Don't leave room for interpretation by just asking for a bob. Instead, be more specific and say something like, "I'd like a choppy, nape-length bob with long layers framing my face." Learn enough "hair lingo" to make yourself clear. The Beauty Tools You Need • Pomade. It adds control and tames the frizzies. If your hair is long, use on the roots only. • Wax. It gives intense control, which is especially important for short to medium-length styles. • Shine enhancers. They often contain silicone, which helps all hair types look smoother and shinier. • Flexible hair sprays. They set your style while allowing you to brush and restyle throughout the day. | 4 | 96,606 | lifestyle |
AUSTIN -- Texas officials have withdrawn their request for an emergency order blocking a group of Syrian refugees from entering the state and instead are seeking a broader hearing next week on their desire to keep out people fleeing the war-torn country. The move likely will allow two Syrian refugees families to enter the state on Monday. RELATED: 21 Syrian refugees now set to come to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made the strategy change in a two-sentence court filing Friday, the same day that Dallas-based federal judge David Godbey had been expected to rule on the request for an emergency order. Paxton requested a hearing by next Wednesday. The federal government announced earlier Friday that the two families would be coming Monday. One, a couple and their four children, is scheduled to go to Houston. The other, a couple, their two children and the father's parents, is set to travel to Dallas. RELATED: Texas officials sue to block family of Syrian refugees Texas is the first state to sue to block Syrian refugees, although more than half of the nation's governors have said they will not accept refugees due to security concerns inflamed by the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. Most legal experts say the governors do not have the authority to block refugees. | 5 | 96,607 | news |
'Red Eye' weighs in on Mickey and Minnie maniacs finding love and reveals more niche dating sites | 4 | 96,608 | lifestyle |
The Australian Mick Fanning wins the "Triple Crown", known as the 'world cup' of surfing, in Hawaii, a good preparation for him ahead of the last leg of the world championship. Fanning, who survived a shark attack in July, is leads the world ranking. | 8 | 96,609 | video |
Mark Richt was introduced as the 24th head football coach at Miami on Friday. | 1 | 96,610 | sports |
The best part about being a grown-up is having the freedom to do and eat whatever you want. Pizza for breakfast? Yolo. But when the muffin tops and man boobs start to appear, it can be a rude wake-up call that many foods aren't without consequence. Even if you don't feel any different than you did in your teens and twenties, the body changes in ways that make it harder to lose weight and remain in good health. To help you age gracefully into a body you'll want to flaunt no matter how many years go by, the Eat This, Not That! research team dug into the science of aging and nutrition to uncover the foods that should never pass your lips after you've celebrated the big 3-0. Read on to get in the know, and while you're at it, be sure to check out these 25 Ways to Lose Weight in 5 Seconds to discover even more waist-whittling hacks. 1. Flavored Yogurt Even if you've started slathering on the wrinkle cream, no product changes the fact that your skin is beginning to age. After 30, collagen production slows and elastin the protein that keeps skin firm begins to break down, causing fine lines to form. Although it's impossible to stop the aging process, it's possible to keep your youthful complexion later into life by cutting back on sugar, a nutrient that's been shown to accelerate wrinkling and sagging. Already cutting back on candy and cookies? Don't assume you're in the clear. Many sources of the sweet stuff are hiding in less obvious places like bread, ketchup and flavored yogurts. Dannon's Fruit on the Bottom flavored yogurt line, for example, has about 24 grams or an entire day's worth of sugar in each 6-ounce container. That's more sugar than you'd find in an entire bag of Dark Chocolate Peanut M&Ms! Eat This! Tip Calm your sugar cravings by snacking on a sweet piece of fruit. We're fans of all produce, but bananas are, hands down, one of our favorites. Find out why in our exclusive report, 21 Amazing Things Bananas Do To Your Body . 2. Canned Soup A cutting-edge study published in 2013 found a connection between high blood pressure and skin aging. Compared to their older-looking counterparts, female study participants with fewer wrinkles also had lower blood pressure. Although the connection between the two issues remains unclear, there's no harm in cutting back on sodium, a mineral that's known to raise blood pressure. Not sure how to start scaling back? Head to your pantry and take a hard look at your shelf-stable soups. U.S. guidelines call for less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but many popular cans carry 40 percent of the day's recommended salt intake in just one serving. But that's not the only reason you should stay away from the stuff. Many soup cans are laced with BPA, a chemical that's been linked to cancer, infertility and weight gain. Our suggestion: Next time you're craving something warm and comforting, head to the kitchen and whip up one of these 20 Best-Ever Fat Burning Soups instead. 3. & 4. Pop-Tart & Breakfast Pastries Put your hands behind your head and step away from the Pop-Tarts and all of those sugary muffins and scones, too. You're a grown up now, it's time to start eating like one. Most sweet a.m. treats pack over a day's worth of sugar into a standard sized serving which spells trouble if you want to become a parent one day and live to see your kids grow up. Sugary diets cause a slew of health problems, including insulin resistance, which can lead to PCOS, a condition that's been linked to female infertility. And if you're lucky enough to start a family despite your diet, your sugar habit may lower the odds you'll live long enough to see your little one grow up. People who consume between 17 and 21 percent of their daily calories from added sugar have a 38 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease, compared with people who consumed 8 percent or less of their calories from added sugar, according to recent findings. To stay safe, ditch the junk and kick off your day with some of these 50 Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss Ranked instead. 5. Special K Protein Bars Fructose, dextrose, glycerin, sorbitol, zinc oxide, whey protein, palm oil. No, that isn't the recipe for your niece's Silly Putty, those are just some of the ingredients that go into Special K's meal replacement bar. Appetizing, right? "While younger folks can get away with skipping breakfast or simply eating a starchy 'weight loss' cereal or bar, current research suggests that eating 20 to 30 grams of protein at each meal is ideal for satiety, metabolism and weight loss especially as we age," explains former sports nutritionist for the Cincinnati Bengal Chris Mohr. Aside from its Frankenfood ingredients and high sugar count, Special K's not-so-special bar only packs 10 grams of protein, which won't do much in terms of keeping you full and satisfied until lunch. If you typically reach for a bar like this, swap it out for a homemade protein shake. All of these 23 Best Protein Shake Recipes are sure to satisfy your tastebuds and help you stay lean and fit for life. 6. Cola If you and your spouse are thinking about starting a family, consider soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi your archenemies. The reason? They're laced with potentially cancer-causing dyes and are the primary source of added sugar in the American diet. And not only does sugar negatively impact ovulation, it's been linked to poorer sperm motility, too. Simply put, sipping the stuff may make it more difficult for you to conceive. Wondering which foods can make it easier? Check out these 50 Best Foods for Your Penis to find out. 7. Oreos Whether you like Red Velvet Oreos, the Birthday Cake variety or can't live without the Mega-Stuff, all of Nabisco's twist n' lick cookies have one thing in common: They're filled with empty calories and waist-expanding fat. "When we're younger, eating healthier seemed pointless when you could just go to the gym 24/7 to lose weight," says registered dietitian and founder of The NY Nutrition Group Lisa Moskovitz. "Unfortunately, as the body ages, exercise still has plenty of positive benefits, but weight loss is often not one of them." When it comes to dropping pounds, staying away from calorie-dense, hard-to-put-down snacks like Oreos is key. In fact, Oreos are so addicting and bad for your belly, that we've named them one of the 40 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet . 8. & 9. Cocktails & Beer As we age, the body doesn't metabolize alcohol as efficiently, and drunk junk food cravings become harder to ignore, warns registered dietitian Martha McKittrick. "It's also increasingly difficult to get a good night's rest with alcohol in your system. While you may have been able to get away with minimal sleep in your 20's, that's not the case in your 30's and beyond. Sleepless nights lead to carb and sugar cravings the next day, which can contribute to further weight gain," McKittrick explains. What's more, alcohol sucks the moisture out of your skin, which temporarily makes fine lines more noticeable and, over time if you continue to booze, causes the skin to lose elasticity and form wrinkles. 10. & 11. Bagels & White Bread Unless your go-to bagel is made with whole grains, consider it a "Not That." Though you may not think of the popular breakfast carb as a sweet indulgence, the body converts refined carbohydrates into sugar and then glucose, a nutrient that damages collagen and other wrinkle-fighting proteins. What's more, when it comes to bread, bagels and even pasta, picking whole grains over refined will help keep your blood sugar levels even kneeled, aiding weight maintenance and weight loss , giving you a more youthful figure. 12. & 13. Diet Mountain Dew & Fresca Drinks like Mountain Dew and Fresca may look less chemical filled than cola because of their lighter hue, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Instead of caramel coloring the chemical that makes Coke brown Diet Mountain Dew and Fresca are colored with brominated vegetable oil, a chemical used in rocket fuel and flame retardants. It's been shown to have negative effects on thyroid hormones and fertility, a primary health concern of people in their 30s. What's the connection? "Added chemicals like BVO can contribute to internal inflammation, which has been linked to obesity, a condition that can make it harder to conceive," explains registered dietitian Isabel Smith. Can't kick your soda habit all together? Find out which cola's are the best bet for your health and waistline in our ultimate report, The Top 32 Sodas Ranked. 14. Veggie Burgers Finding your first gray hair is a day you'll never forget. It's one of those pesky reminders from Mother Nature that you're a full-blown adult and an unwelcome one at that. The best way to keep early graying at bay is to ensure you're getting enough vitamin B12, a nutrient naturally abundantly beef. So unless you're a vegetarian don't cut the cow out of your diet. Worried about the fat and calories? Go for grass-fed. It's naturally leaner than conventionally raised meat and packs higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce the risk of heart disease and turbocharge fat loss . 15. Iced Coffee Drinking a caffeinated beverage out of a straw how most of us down our daily iced coffee is a skin-aging double-whammy. During the day, we're exposed to skin-stressors like UV rays, but while we sleep our cells repair themselves. However, downing too much caffeine can interfere with sleep quality, cutting into this rejuvenation time and prematurely aging the skin. What's more, researchers have found that repetitive facial movements, like sipping through a straw, can cause fine lines and wrinkles. Eat This! Tip Instead of sucking down your daily iced coffee with skim, sip on hot green tea, which may ward off wrinkles by fighting inflammation and improving the skin's elasticity. And if you're trying to lose weight, opt for one of these 22 Best Teas for Weight Loss . 16. Sugar-Free Snacks If you've become thicker around the middle since turning 30, it may be a sign that your liver isn't functioning optimally. Avoiding toxins like artificial sweeteners will help the vital organ work more efficiently, and in turn, slim your middle. To jump-start the detox process, kick foods make with fake sweeteners (like sugar-free gum, candies and snacks) to the curb. And for more ways to slim your middle, check out these 20 Weight Loss Tricks You Haven't Tried . 17. Conventional Produce Reaching 30 means that you've had three decades to accumulate toxins from food, which can negatively affect metabolism and hormone balance, explains Smith. Researchers have also found that men who consume the most pesticides through produce have far fewer motile sperm than guys who've eaten the least not good news if you're trying to start or expand your family. To get the biggest bang for your buck in the supermarket, only spend money on the fruits and veggies with the highest pesticide loads. These include: apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, bell peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. To discover more things that may be slowing down your calorie burn, check out these 25 Things You're Doing to Slow Your Metabolism . 18. Margarine Butter alternatives like margarine are often made with partially-hydrogenated oils, one of the most common trans-fats. You may have heard that this type of fat is linked to heart disease, but what most people don't know is that it may also accelerate the skin's aging process by making the skin more vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. When the skin gets damaged by the sun, it breaks down the skin's elastin and collagen. But that's not all, studies have also found that eating margarine can cause chronic inflammation, which may also accelerate wrinkle formation. Yikes! To learn about more scary supermarket foods, check out these 150 Worst Packaged Foods in America . 19. Healthy Choice Pineapple Chicken "When you were younger, you may have been able to starve yourself to drop a quick ten pounds before bikini season, but this is almost impossible once the age 'odometer' turns to 30. Not to mention, it's really unhealthy, " warns Chicago-area registered dietitian Christine M. Palumbo. Skip the unappetizing microwave diet meals they tend to lack satiating nutrients like fiber and pack excess salt, sugar (this meal has almost an entire day's worth of the stuff) and chemical additives your body simply doesn't need. Instead, lose weight with the help of these 29 Best-Ever Proteins for Weight Loss . 20. Bacon Bad news, bacon lovers: This beloved breakfast food may make your skin start to sag well before your AARP card arrives. The reason: Sixty-eight percent of bacon's calories come from fat, with almost half of that being the saturated variety. Besides contributing to weight gain and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, saturated fats can cause inflammation which accelerates skin aging. Bacon and other processed meats also contain sodium nitrate which, according to a 2013 study published in the journal European Cytokine Network , enhances oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause structural changes in collagen and elastin (the proteins that keep skin looking young), resulting in premature wrinkles, explains St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology researchers. Luckily, you don't have to give up bacon altogether to keep your skin smooth. Just switch to a nitrate-free variety with less than 2 grams of fat and no more than 1 gram of artery-clogging saturated fat (like Applegate Natural Good Morning Bacon) and cut yourself off after two slices. Or, better yet, make one of these 50 Best Overnight Oats Recipes instead. 21. Skinny Coffee Drinks When it comes to drinks laced with artificial sweeteners, just say no! Researchers say these Frankenfoods confuse our bodies by making us expect calories that aren't there which interferes with our body's ability to regulate what we eat. The result is what they call "metabolic derangements" like poor insulin response and elevated glucose levels, which can lead to fat storage and a host of illnesses like metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. "If drinks with artificial sweeteners are a staple of your diet, it's best to kick the habit to maintain health and prevent diseases throughout the aging process," says Moskovitz. So what should you order instead? Ask your barista for one of these delicious weight loss teas . 22. Pop Secret Butter Popcorn In it's purest form, popcorn is a healthy snack filled with energizing whole grains. But like many things, the food industry has managed transformed something wholesome into something harmful to our health. Pop Secret's Butter Popcorn, for example, has five grams of artery-clogging trans fat per serving that's more than double the government recommended daily limit. "Trans Fats are particularly important to avoid as people get older because the risk for heart disease increases with age," explains Smith. For a healthier snack, pop plain ol' kernels on the stove with some coconut oil one of the 8 Best Fats for Fat Loss and a small pinch of salt. 23. Marie Callender's Lattice Apple Pie Marie Callender's not-so-wholesome apple pie is another food packed with dangerous hydrogenated oils. One slice of the stuff packs a whopping three grams or a day a half worth of trans fats. Not only are trans-fats bad for your ticker, according to a Fertility and Sterility study, they can also lower sperm counts, which is bad news if you're trying to make a baby. 24. Soy Sauce Puffy, dark circles under the eyes tend to become more pronounced with each passing birthday and being dehydrated makes matters even worse. To wake up looking refreshed, steer clear of moisture-sucking salty foods like soy sauce (a mere tablespoon of the stuff has a whopping 879 milligrams of sodium) and drink plenty of water. Sick of plain ol' H20? Whip up one of these 50 Best Detox Waters for Fat Burning and Weight Loss . 25. & 26. Salami & Hot Dogs Meat may be considered the ultimate man food but if you gobble down the wrong kinds, your sperm may pay the price. A 2014 study published in the journal Epidemiology found an association between eating processed meats like salami and hot dogs and lower sperm count. And interestingly enough, the meat's saturated fat content a nutrient previous associated with poor sperm quality wasn't to blame. The study authors hypothesize that there's something that happens during processing that's detrimental to sperm quality they're just not quite sure yet what that is. 27. Coffee Ice Cream An after-dinner scoop of coffee ice cream which has the caffeine equivalent to a half-shot of espresso may have never messed with your sleep before, but once you're in your 30s, caffeine can take more of a toll on the body. "As we age, our circadian rhythms change, as do our hormones, which can make us more sensitive to caffeine and affect our ability to sleep soundly," says Smith. What's wrong with getting a little less sleep? In a recent study of more than 500 participants, researchers found that losing a mere 30 minutes of shut-eye increased their risk of obesity by 17 percent! Yikes! Metabolism slows down as we age, so slacking on shut-eye will only add fuel to the waist-expanding fire. And speaking of metabolism, keep yours running in high gear with the help of these 55 Best-Ever Ways to Boost Your Metabolism . 28. Doritos With each passing year, the body requires and burns, fewer calories. This makes it all the more important to eat reasonable portions as you journey further into adulthood. Sounds easy enough, right? Sure. Until you pick up a bag of Doritos. Everyone knows that when you open a bag, you're bound to polish it off and it's no surprise, really. The recipe for the popular chip was specially designed so that no single flavor overpowers another. When foods lack a dominant flavor, people are less apt to feel full and, in turn, consume more, say researchers. What's more, one of the first ingredients on the food's label is monosodium glutamate (MSG), an additive that's been known to increase appetite and make foods taste more appetizing. With all of these factors working against you, it's really no wonder you're defenseless when Doritos come around. 29. Sports Drinks Whoever invented the Gatorade Dunk the tradition in which winning sports teams dump coolers of the stuff on their coaches was really on to something. One scan of the nutrition label and it's clear: The sports drink is better off seeping into the sidelines than your stomach. Sure, it provides critical post-workout electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, but it also serves up a hearty helping of calories and sugar. And the fact is, you likely don't need the extra calories and sugar found in the sports drinks no matter how hardcore your Crossfit or barre class may be, says Smith. "As we age, our metabolism slows, we're also less active and more stressed which can change the way that the body metabolizes calories and sugar." The less sugar you have in your system, the better it is for your abs and overall health. And speaking of getting a flat stomach, check out these 42 Ways to Lose 5 Inches of Belly Fat . 30. Coffee Creamer Coffee creamer and sunblock have more in common than you might think. They both contain titanium dioxide, an ultraviolet radiation blocker that doubles as a whitening agent. Besides lurking in many conventional creamers, it's also found in seemingly 'healthy' bottles like So Delicious' coconut milk-based varieties. The additive has been proven to cause liver and tissue damage in mice, and may also have health implications in humans, according to a recent review of the chemical. Coffee creamer is also typically packed with trans fats, often hiding under its lesser-known name: hydrogenated oil. Pretty much all of Coffee Mate's products have this scary ingredient that has been shown to diminish memory in adults under 45 years old. If you're working hard or don't want to forget where you parked your car, this is one ingredient you should steer clear of. Need another reason to stay away? Moskovitz says trans fats can cause inflammation, which can exacerbate aches and pains, brought on as result of a sports injury and aging. More on MSN The 50 Best Healthy Snacks The 30 Best Proteins for Every Goal | 7 | 96,611 | health |
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) The latest on the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California (all times local): 10:45 a.m. The woman who helped her husband kill 14 people at holiday party in California praised the leader of the Islamic State group in a Facebook post just minutes into the attack. A Facebook executive told The Associated Press that Tashfeen Malik posted the material under an alias account at 11 a.m. Wednesday. That was about the time the first 911 calls came in and when the couple were believed to have stormed into the San Bernardino social service center and opened fire. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not allowed under corporate policy to be quoted by name. The company discovered the Facebook account Thursday. It removed the profile from public view and reported its contents to law enforcement. From Associated Press writer Tami Abdollah in Washington, D.C. ___ 10:20 a.m. Pakistani intelligence officials say Tashfeen Malik, one of the shooters in the California massacre, moved as a child with her family to Saudi Arabia 25 years ago. The two officials say the family is originally from the Pakistani town of Karor Lal Esan, about 200 miles southwest of the capital of Islamabad in Punjab province. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to the press. Her father, Gulzar Malik, moved to Saudi Arabia about three decades ago for work. The officials say his family including Tashfeen Malik, then only a few years old joined him there 25 years ago and have lived there since. Tashfeen Malik and her husband, Syed Farook, killed 14 people at a holiday banquet for his co-workers before dying in a gunbattle with police. Associated Press writer Zarar Khan in Islamabad ___ 9:45 a.m. An expert says the revelation that one of the California attackers pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group on Facebook suggests the woman was inspired by IS ideology but wasn't necessarily in direct touch with the group. John Cohen, a former counterterrorism coordinator for the Homeland Security Department and a Rutgers University professor, said those people are harder to detect. He says the counterterrorism infrastructure is built on preventing tightly organized attacks directed by a specific group, not detecting people inspired by IS but operating independently. He says that means different tools are needed to prevent those types of attacks. Cohen says IS has aggressively used social media and have "successfully inspired thousands of people." Tashfeen Malik helped her husband, Syed Farook, kill 14 people at a holiday banquet for his county co-workers before dying in a gunbattle with police. ___ 9:35 a.m. A California landlord has invited media into the town house rented by the California attackers. An MSNBC reporter on Friday found a crib, toys, a child's book of the Quran, family pictures and shredded documents inside the Redlands, California, home. There was a computer screen, but no computer. Authorities have said that Syed Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, stockpiled 12 pipe bombs, tools to make more explosives and well over 4,500 rounds of ammunition at the home. The couple had a 6-month-old daughter. The residence is in a neighboring city to San Bernardino, where the couple opened fire on a holiday party of Farook's county co-workers Wednesday, killing 14 people. ___ 8 a.m. A U.S. law enforcement official says the wife of the couple blamed in the deadly California shootings pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and the terror group's leader on Facebook using an alias then deleted the messages before the attacks. Specifics details about Tashfeen Malik's postings weren't disclosed Friday by the law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not allowed to discuss an ongoing investigation. The remarkable disclosure about Malik's online activities provided the first significant details suggesting a motive for her participation with her husband, Syed Farook, in the shootings that killed 14 people and injured 21. Malik was a Pakistani woman who came to the U.S. in 2014 on a fiancee visa before Farook married her in California. From Associated Press writer Tami Abdollah in Washington, D.C. ___ 5:50 a.m. The brother-in-law of one of the attackers in San Bernardino, California, says Syed Farook was a 'bad person,' but he wasn't radical. Farhan Khan also told NBC News he is beginning the legal process to adopt Farook's 6-month-old daughter, who was dropped off with relatives Wednesday morning before the shooting that left 14 dead. Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, were killed in a shootout with police following their deadly rampage. In excerpts of the interview released Friday, Khan expressed disbelief that Farook would leave behind his infant girl and said he was angry with Farook for the attack. | 5 | 96,612 | news |
Some of the 14 victims, ranging in age from 26 to 60, of the shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California. Some of the 14 victims, ranging in age from 26 to 60, of the shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California. San Bernardino shooting victim Michael Wetzel appears in a photo released by the Church of the Woods Michael Wetzel, 37, Lake Arrowhead - Survived by his wife Renee and six children, ranging in age from 1 year old to 14, according to a post on his church's website. He was a spiritual leader to his family, according to his pastor, Rod Akins of the Church of the Woods. Akins posted a statement from Renee on the church's website, along with photos of the family and a video of Wetzel helping to lead the Advent service on Nov. 30. San Bernardino shooting victim Sierra Clayborn appears in a photo on her Facebook account Sierra Clayborn, 27, Moreno Valley - "I love hanging out with friends and I love my blooming career in public and environmental health," Clayborn wrote on her Facebook page. "I am a creative individual with a fun outlook on life. I love my life." Tamishia Clayborn, who identified herself as Clayborn's sister in a Facebook message, wrote: "RIP Baby sis I love you more than you ever knew. You were taken too soon. My heart is broken. I am completely devastated..." /Via Social Media San Bernardino shooting victim Nicholas Thalasinos appears on his wife's Facebook account Nicholas Thalasinos, 52, Colton - Survived by his wife of 14 years, Jennifer, according to the Los Angeles Times. She told the newspaper her husband was a health inspector who worked with shooting suspect Syed Farook. The couple were Messianic Jews, his wife said. Thalasinos wore tzitzit, traditional fringe tassels, as well as a tie clip with the Star of David. "My husband was just a very devout believer," she told the newspaper. "He became born again a couple of years ago and because of that I had a very strong faith, so I know that he's in a much better place." She added that her husband evangelized many. "He wanted to serve the Lord and bring more people to the Lord." /Via Social Media San Bernardino shooting victim Aurora Godoy appears in a photo on her Facebook account Aurora Godoy, 26, San Jacinto - Wife, mother of a two-year-old boy, married in 2012, according to an online fundraising page and her Facebook account. She was a fan of NFL team the Green Bay Packers. "Aurora was a beautiful 26-year-old woman who is leaving behind a beautiful baby boy named Alexander Godoy and loving husband, James Godoy," a message on a GoFundMe page said. "The Godoy family has always been positive, fun, loving." /Via Social Media San Bernardino shooting victim Daniel Kaufman appears in a photo on his Facebook account Larry Daniel Kaufman, 42, Rialto - Ran the coffee shop in a building at the Inland Regional Center. Survived by his boyfriend, Ryan Reyes, according to the Los Angeles Times. Reyes told CNN that Kaufman was popular for his outgoing personality and that for years he played an active role in staging a local Renaissance faire. "One of those people that everybody loved, got along with everybody, the life of the party, always funny, always creative," Reyes said. /Via Social Media San Bernardino shooting victim Shannon Johnson appears in a photo on his LinkedIn profile Shannon Johnson, 45, Los Angeles - Johnson lived in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles with his girlfriend and rose before dawn every day to travel to San Bernardino, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. His girlfriend, Mandy Pfifer, is a longtime member of the mayor's crisis response team. "We offer our full support to Mandy in this unimaginably difficult time, and I send my deepest condolences to Shannon�s family and all who are grieving loved ones in the aftermath of this senseless tragedy," Garcetti said. /Via Social Media San Bernardino shooting victim Robert Adams appears in a photo on his Facebook account Robert Adams, 40, Yucaipa - Married, father of young daughter, according to an online fundraising page. Adams enjoyed playing video games and discussing politics, at times sharing news reports and comments on the U.S. response to Islamic State militants, and was also a proud and happy father to his daughter, according to messages from people who identified themselves as his friends on the fundraising page and photos and comments on his personal Facebook page. "He was 100% lost in Daddy land with Savannah," a man who identified himself as Shawn Brady wrote on the fundraising page. /Via Social Media San Bernardino shooting victim Damian Meins appears in a photo on his Facebook account Damian Meins, 58, Riverside. /Via Social Media | 5 | 96,613 | news |
Ken Rosenthal talks about Barry Bonds joining the Marlins' coaching staff. | 1 | 96,614 | sports |
With one football chief detained in the FIFA corruption probe and two others indicted this week, Brazil's rotten footballing set-up finds itself at the center of a global scandal. Brazil has long been a big part of the beautiful game, winning a record five World Cups. But just as a 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany at the World Cup hosted in Brazil last year revealed the rot on the field, the multi-million dollar FIFA corruption probe is baring the extent of rot in the boardrooms. The first shock was the arrest in May of Jose Maria Marin, president of the Brazilian football federation (CBF) from 2012 to 2015. He was nabbed in Zurich along with other high-ranking FIFA figures accused in a web of corruption and bribe-taking at the summit of the world's most popular sport. After being extradited to New York, he pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering and money laundering conspiracy, and was released only after paying a huge $15 million bond. But that was the tip of the iceberg. This Thursday, US authorities filed indictments against 16 new names in the growing scandal, including Marin's 1989-2012 predecessor at the top of the CBF, Ricardo Teixeira, and the current holder of the post, Marco Polo Del Nero. "The message should be clear to every culpable individual who remains in the shadows, hoping to evade our investigation: You will not wait us out," US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said. Del Nero, 74, asked to take leave "to prepare his defence" in the US case and a separate FIFA ethics inquiry, the CBF said. He had already resigned from FIFA's executive committee and is in Brazil. - Saving a 'beloved' sport - US prosecutors are investigating possible bribery in a sponsorship deal between the Brazilian federation and a major US equipment supplier and are looking into the FIFA presidency election in 2011. According to Brazilian press reports, the three Brazilians conspired to take bribes when agreeing to television contracts for coverage of three competitions: the domestic Copa do Brasil, the Copa Libertadores, and the Copa America. The accusations do not exactly surprise Brazilians, who have long blamed CBF corruption for sucking the soul out of a sport which is more an obsession than just a game. Romario, a legend of the national team who is now a senator, hammers constantly at his old bosses, even if he too has been accused in media reports of hiding money in Switzerland. The country is also reeling from a giant corruption scandal at the state oil company Petrobras where high-ranking politicians and business leaders stole hundreds of millions of dollars in a bribes and kickbacks scheme. The three CBF presidents were widely seen as part of that corrupt culture and Marin, 83, also had baggage from his time as a politician during the 1964-1985 military dictatorship. Teixeira is a former son in law of longtime FIFA president Joao Havelange, and both were accused by Swiss authorities in 2012 of taking tens of millions of dollars in bribes from a sports marketing company. Teixeira, also facing investigations in Brazil, reportedly now lives discreetly in his home country after years of self-imposed luxury exile in Florida. "We've just had a great victory. It's one more step toward freeing our beloved sport of football from corruption. There's still a lot more to do, but Del Nero was one of the symbols from the era of Ricardo Teixeira," Romario said. "They've fallen like dominoes: Teixeira, Marin and Del Nero." | 1 | 96,615 | sports |
Discover the foods with the most protein, healthiest fats and most vitamins ever. TEAS For most Americans, tea is tea. However, in places like Japan, the UK, and large swaths of Southeast Asia, tea leaves are as diverse and nuanced as wine grapes. Not only does the flavor profile change dramatically between one tea variety and the next, but so do the health benefits. Not only can certain brews fight off various diseases, select teas have also been shown to rev the metabolism , quell hunger, slash waist-widening stress and shrink fat cells. When Taiwanese researchers studied more than 1,100 people over a 10-year period, they determined that those who drank tea had nearly 20 percent less body fat than those who drank none! To ensure you brew the best cups for your weight loss goals, we've rounded up the most potent waist-whittling teas from around the world. 3. Red Tea Rooibos tea is made from the leaves of the "red bush" plant, grown exclusively in the small Cederberg region of South Africa, near Cape Town. What makes rooibos tea particularly good for your belly is a unique and powerful flavonoid called Aspalathin. According to South African researchers, polyphenols and flavonoids found in the plant inhibits adipogenesis the formation of new fat cells by as much as 22 percent. The chemicals also help aid fat metabolism. Plus, Rooibos is naturally sweet, so you won't need to add sugar. It's also not technically a tea it's an herbal infusion. Want to give your metabolism a kick? Check out these 55 Best-Ever Ways to Boost Your Metabolism ! 4. Pu-erh Tea Another star of The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse, this fermented Chinese tea can literally shrink the size of your fat cells! To discover the brew's fat-crusading powers Chinese researchers divided rats into five groups and fed them varying diets over a two month period. In addition to a control group, there was a group given a high-fat diet with no tea supplementation and three additional groups that were fed a high-fat diet with varying doses of pu-erh tea extract. The researchers found that the tea significantly lowered triglyceride concentrations (potentially dangerous fat found in the blood) and belly fat in the high-fat diet groups. Lose up to 10 pounds, like our test panelists, on The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse! FRUITS&VEGETABLES Newsflash: Vegetables can help you lose weight! Okay, okay, we admit that's not exactly breaking news, but did you know that when it comes to rapid weight loss some veggies reign supreme while others fall fairly flat in comparison? It's true! Thanks to their specific nutritional profiles, certain produce-aisle picks can help you trim down by revving your metabolism, turning off belly fat genes and frying flab and that's on top of all their other health-boosting benefits. These powerful veggies remind us a bit of those overachievers you loved to hate in high school you know, the ones who not only got straight A's, but also scored the hottest date to prom and got voted soccer captain, too. The primary difference between produce and Mr. Popular? Veggies don't aim to make you jealous with their superhuman skills, they want you to use them to your advantage so you can reach your better body goals. Read on to learn which delicious picks fit the bill and discover delicious ways to incorporate them into your diet. 6. Sun-Dried Tomatoes Protein Payout: 1 cup, 139 calories, 6 g protein Tomatoes are packed with the antioxidant lycopene, which studies show can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Just one cup of the sun-dried version will lend you 6 grams of satiating protein, 7 grams of fiber and ¾ of your RDA of potassium, which is essential for heart health and tissue repair. They're also rich in vitamins A and K. Use them as a pizza topping, a tangy addition to salads, or snack on them right out of the bag. 10. Broccoli In addition to warding off prostate, breast, lung and skin cancers, this flowery vegetable can also help you whittle your middle. According to experts, broccoli contains a phytonutrient called sulforaphane that increase testosterone and fights off body fat storage. It's also rich in vitamin C ( a mere cup of the stuff can help you hit your daily mark), a nutrient that can lower levels of cortisol during stressful situations, helping those abs take center stage. The only downside? It can make some people with sensitive stomachs a bit gassy which isn't a good look if you're planning to hit the beach or rock a tight-fitting outfit. That's no reason to steer clear of this veggie on a day-to-day basis, though. Whip up our Garlicky Beef and Broccoli with Broccoli Noodles recipe to reap the belly-flattening benefits just not the day before you need to look your leanest. 12. Potatoes If you typically eat your potatoes warm out of the oven, you're missing out on the spud's fat-fighting superpowers. When you throw potatoes in the refrigerator and eat them cold, their digestible starches turn into resistant starches through a process called retrogradation. As the name implies, resistant starch, well, resists digestion, which promotes fat oxidation and reduces abdominal fat. Since eating cold baked potatoes doesn't sound too appetizing, why not use the cooled spuds to make a potato salad instead? Here's how: Bake red potatoes in the oven until they're cooked through and allow them to fully cool. Then, cut them into small slices and dress them with Dijon mustard, fresh pepper, chopped green onions (more on this veggie next), dill and plain Greek yogurt. Mix everything together and put in the refrigerator to cool before consuming. 16. Tart Cherries Tart cherries have been shown to benefit heart health as well as body weight, in a study on obese rats. A 12-week study by the University of Michigan found that rats fed antioxidant-rich tart cherries showed a 9 percent belly fat reduction over rats fed a "Western diet." Moreover, the researchers noted that the cherry consumption had profound ability to alter the expression of fat genes. Enjoy some along with these 50 Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss . 17. Berries Berries raspberries, strawberries, blueberries are packed with polyphenols, powerful natural chemicals that can help you lose weight and even stop fat from forming! In a recent Texas Woman's University study, researchers found that feeding mice three daily servings of berries, decreased the formation of fat cells by up to 73 percent! A University of Michigan study showed similar results. Rats who had blueberry powder mixed into their meals had less abdominal fat at the end of the 90-day study than rats on a berry-free diet. 19. Watermelon Watermelon sometimes gets a bad rap for being high in sugar, but the fruit has some impressive health benefits. Research conducted at the University of Kentucky showed that eating watermelon may improve lipid profiles and lower fat accumulation. Better yet, a study among athletes by the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena in Spain found watermelon juice to help reduce the level of muscle soreness that's great news for any Eat This, Not That! warriors working on that six-pack! And staying hydrated with foods like watermelon is just one of the killer 20 Weight-Loss Secrets from Insanity Trainer Shaun T 20. Bananas The humble fruit botanically, actually a berry! is perhaps the least-heralded supermarket staple, a superfood more associated with kids, monkeys and slapstick comedy than with steel-cut abs. But its powers are proven, and to investigate just how impactful they can be, Eat This, Not That! consulted our team of nutritionists to determine exactly what eating one banana does to your body. (Cool pro tip: The riper the banana the more nutrients it has!) Click here to see 21 Amazing Things That Happen When You Eat Bananas ! 21. Grass-Fed Beef Protein Payout: 4 oz strip steak, 133 calories, 26 g protein When it comes to steak or burgers, go grass-fed. It may ding your wallet, but it'll dent your abs. Grass-fed beef is naturally leaner and has fewer calories than conventional meat: A lean seven-ounce conventional strip steak has 386 calories and 16 grams of fat. But a seven-ounce grass-fed strip steak has only 234 calories and five grams of fat. Grass-fed meat also contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, according to a study published in Nutrition Journal, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. (Where do burgers fit in? Find out how to lose weight at MickeyD's with this essential list: Every Menu Item at McDonald's Ranked! !) 24. Pork Protein Payout: 4 oz, 124 calories, 24 g protein A longtime enemy of doctors and dieters, pork has been coming around as a healthier alternative of late as long as you choose the right cut. Your best bet is pork tenderloin: A University of Wisconsin Study found that a three-ounce serving of pork tenderloin has slightly less fat than a skinless chicken breast. It has 24 grams of protein per serving and 83 milligrams of waist-whittling choline (in the latter case, about the same as a medium egg). In a study published in the journal Nutrients, scientists asked 144 overweight people to eat a diet rich in fresh lean pork. After three months, the group saw a significant reduction in waist size, BMI and belly fat , with no reduction in muscle mass! They speculate that the amino acid profile of pork protein may contribute to greater fat burning. SEAFOOD Fish are confusing. Was it halibut that you ate last night or haddock? Was it fluke or flounder? Redfish or whitefish? Bluefin or yellowtail? Snow crab or stone crab? Which one was good for the environment? Which one was good for your waist? And which one was so loaded with mercury it was like chewing on a thermometer? One thing we do know for certain is that regularly eating seafood as part of a healthy diet can do wonders for your weight loss goals so long as you choose the right kind. That's where the waters get murky again. So we had our research team here at Eat This, Not That! dive into the science behind your seafood. Let's see if we can't clear things up with this list of the best fish for losing weight. 25. Halibut Protein Payout: 3 oz, 77 calories, 16 g protein You already knew fish was rich in protein but you might be surprised to learn that halibut tops fiber-rich oatmeal and vegetables in the satiety department. The Satiety Index of Common Foods, an Australian study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ranks it the number two most filling food bested only by boiled potatoes for its fullness factor. A separate Australian study that compared the satiety of different animal proteins found a nutritionally similar white fish (flake) to be significantly more satiating than beef and chicken; satiety following the white-fish meal also declined at a much slower rate. Study authors attribute the filling factor of white fish like halibut to its impressive protein content and influence on serotonin, one of the key hormones responsible for appetite signals. Just make sure you read Why Tilapia is Worse Than Bacon ! 27. Light Canned Tuna Protein Payout: 3 oz, 73 calories, 16 g protein Tuna or to-not? That is the question. As a primo source of protein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), canned light tuna is one of the best and most affordable fish for weight loss , especially from your belly! One study in the Journal of Lipid Research showed that omega 3 fatty acid supplementation had the profound ability to turn off abdominal fat genes. And while you'll find two types of fatty acids in cold water fish and fish oils DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) researchers say DHA can be 40 to 70 percent more effective than EPA at down regulating fat genes in the abdomen, preventing belly fat cells from expanding in size. But what about the mercury? Mercury levels in tuna vary by species; generally speaking, the larger and leaner the fish, the higher the mercury level. Bluefin and albacore rank among the most toxic, according to a study in Biology Letters. But canned chunk light tuna, harvested from the smallest fish, is considered a "low mercury fish" and can and should! be enjoyed two to three times a week (or up to 12 ounces), according to the FDA's most recent guidelines. 28. Pacific Cod Protein Payout: 3 oz, 70 calories, 15 g protein Fish and chips won't help you lose weight, at least not out of the fryer. But research suggests a regular serving of Pacific cod, the fish that's typical of fish sticks, may keep you stick thin. One study in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism&Cardiovascular Diseases found that eating five servings of cod per week as part of a low-calorie diet for eight weeks resulted in an extra 3.8 pounds of weight loss compared to a diet with the same amount of calories but no fish. Researchers attribute the satiating and slimming properties to cod's high protein content and amino acid profile, which can help regulate the metabolism . No wonder Captain Birdseye looks so smug! 29. Turkey Protein Payout: Quarter-pound turkey burger, 140 calories, 16 g protein Lean and protein-rich, turkey is no longer an automatic substitute for red meat this bird deserves props on its own. A quarter-pound turkey burger patty contains 140 calories, 16 grams of protein and eight grams of fat. Additionally, turkey is rich in DHA omega-3 acids 18 mg per serving, the highest on this list which has been shown to boost brain function, improve your mood and turn off fat genes, preventing fat cells from growing in size. Just make sure you buy white meat only; dark contains too much fat. And know that you're doing your health a double solid by grilling at home: Restaurant versions can be packed with fatty add-ins to increase flavor. Not your problem, since it's going straight from the grill to your plate (ideally with the best spices to burn fat and peppers mixed in). 32. Beans Protein Payout: 1/2 cup, 109-148 calories, 7-10 grams of protein Beans are good for more than just your heart. They're loaded with proteins, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that can benefit your brain and muscles, too. Not to mention, they digest very slowly, which can help you feel fuller, longer, and fuel weight loss efforts without causing feelings of deprivation. Look for easy-to-use, pre-cooked BPA-free varieties that come in a pouch or a box. Add them to soups and salads or mix them with brown rice and steamed vegetables to create a hearty yet healthy dinner. Big into snacking? Mix black beans with some salsa and corn, and serve with some whole grain crackers (just make sure they are one of our go-to low carb snacks . 33. Lentils Protein Payout: 1 cup, 230 calories, 18 g protein Here are some pretty amazing proportions: One cup of lentils has the protein of three eggs, with less than one gram of fat! Their high fiber content makes them extremely satiating, and studies have shown that they speed fat loss: Spanish researchers found that people whose diets included four weekly servings of legumes lost more weight and improved their cholesterol more than people who didn't. Eat them on their own as a side or simmer them into a soup. 34. Peanut Butter Protein Payout: 2 tablespoons, 191 calories, 7 grams of protein This creamy spread is downright addictive. While eating too much peanut butter can wreak havoc on your waistline, a standard two-tablespoon serving provides a solid dose of muscle-building protein and healthy fats. According to a 2014 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consuming peanuts can prevent both cardiovascular and coronary artery disease the most common type of heart condition. Look for the unsalted, no sugar added varieties without hydrogenated oils to reap the most benefits. If you're tired of plain old PB&J sandwiches, try stirring the spread into hot oatmeal, smearing it on fresh produce, or blending it into your post-workout smoothie. To choose the best one, use this essential list of The 36 Top Peanut Butters Ranked ! GRAINS A wise man once said: "A good reputation is more valuable than money." And in the food realm, the grain that carries the most clout is undoubtedly quinoa. Known for its high protein and fiber content, the ancient grain has been said to aid weight loss and improve health and Americans can't get enough of the stuff. In fact, we imported 69 millions pounds of quinoa in 2013 alone. But just because quinoa carries a massive health halo doesn't necessarily mean it's the most nutritious grain in the supermarket. In fact, there are a number of grains that pack as many or more total health and weight loss benefits. 35. Sprouted Whole Grain Bread Protein payout: Two slices, 138-220 calories, 8-12 g protein Not all breads are carb bombs waiting to shatter your weight loss goals. This nutrient-dense bread is loaded with folate-filled lentils, protein and good-for-you grains and seeds like barley and millet. To boost the flavor of your slices, make a veggie sandwich overflowing with wholesome nutrients. On two slices of sprouted whole-grain bread combine tahini-free hummus, avocado slices, roasted red peppers, cucumbers, onions, spinach and tomatoes, one of the healthiest foods on the planet . 36. Teff Protein Payout: 1/4 cup, 180 calories, 7 grams of protein This nutty-flavored gluten-free grain may be small, but it packs a mighty nutritional punch. It's loaded with fiber, essential amino acids, calcium and vitamin C a nutrient not typically found in grains. To reap the benefits, trade your morning oatmeal in for a protein-packed teff porridge. Combine a half cup of teff with one a half cups of water and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Let it come to a boil before turning the heat down to low and letting it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and top with apples, cinnamon and a dollop of natural peanut butter. 37. Triticale Protein Payout: 1/4 cup, 161 calories, 6 grams of protein While you may have never heard of this hearty whole grain before, it may become your new favorite. This wheat-rye hybrid packs 12 grams of protein per half cup, and is also rich in brain-boosting iron, bloat-busting potassium, magnesium and heart-healthy fiber. Use triticale berries in place of rice and mix it with soy sauce, fresh ginger, cloves, shiitake mushrooms and edamame to make a healthy, Asian-inspired dish. If you prefer to firing up the oven to using the stove, use triticale flour in place of traditional flour in your baking. 38. Oats The wonderfood: People who eat oatmeal for breakfast feel full longer even four hours after they put spoon to mouth! That's sure to keep you out of the snack drawer mid-morning, boosting your weight loss efforts. The instant varieties often have added sugars and artificial flavors and making slow-cooking oatmeal on the stove can add stress to your already rushed morning routine. The solution: overnight oats. All you have to do to whip up a bowl is fill a mason jar or Tupperware container with grains, toppings, add-ins and a liquid like milk or water. Then you throw it in the refrigerator overnight. While you're sleeping, the flavors fuse together so all you have to do is scarf it down next morning no cooking required! Check out our favorite mouthwatering combos right here, with the 50 Best Overnight Oats Recipes FATS Here's your new mantra: Eat fat to lose fat. It's true: Our bodies need dietary fat particularly healthy oils in order to lose weight and function properly. The right kinds of fats and oils help quash hunger, maximize your metabolism, and speed nutrients through your body. But not all oils are created equal: Some are downright bad (like trans fats in margarines), while some fats are simply confusing (what's a canola look like, anyways? And what's this about an extra virgin?). To lift the fog from the fats and set you on the path to quick weight loss I've created this essential countdown compliments of my new book, Zero Belly Diet, ranking oils by their most important quality: their "fat profile." These oils have the highest levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, monounsaturated fats, and lauric acid (all good for you), lower levels of omega-6 fatty acids and saturated fats (not so good for you), and zero trans fats (avoid at all costs). Enjoy as directed to blast fat immediately and for a complete and rapid weight loss plan, read this special report: 14 Ways to Lose Your Belly in 14 days . 45. Coconut Oil Why It's Great: Extracted from the meat of fresh coconuts, this tropical oil is a great source of the medium-chain saturated fat, lauric acid, which converts into energy more easily than other types of fat. Picking coconut oil over other less healthy fats, like lard and margarine, means less flubber is apt to be stored on your frame. (Swapping your standard cooking oil for this exotic version is one of our 20 Weight Loss Tricks You Haven't Tried How to Use It: This trendy oil can be used for anything you might use butter for, from frying to baking; use it for cookies, cakes, and pancakes. It's so healthy, you'll find it in some of the Zero Belly Diet smoothies. It also tastes great on toast and drizzled over homemade baked sweet potato "fries" with a bit of garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coconut oil breaks down when exposed to super high temperatures, so don't deep-fry with it. 46. Peanut Oil Why It's Great: Peanut oil is loaded with a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid (OEA) which can help reduce appetite and promote weight loss. Plus, research out of the University of California, Irvine, found that this particular type of fat boosts memory. Don't forget it next time you cook. How to Use It: Because of its high smoke point, peanut oil should be your go-to oil for frying and many high-heat tasks like wok-cooking and pan-searing. 51. Canola Oil Why It's Great: Canola, derived from the seeds of a plant in the broccoli family, comes in toward the top of our list with its near-perfect 2.5:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. According to a study review published last year in Experimental Biology and Medicine, people who achieve a dietary ratio similar to this have been able to battle cancer, arthritis and asthma more effectively. It's also rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid that may play a role in weight maintenance, according to a recent study. How to Use It: This is the best option for everyday cooking situations. Canola oil can withstand relatively high levels of heat, and its flavor is fairly neutral, so it won't dominate a dish. and read on for more of the 30 Foods That Uncover Your Abs for under $1 ! SPICES Wars were fought over them, best-selling pop groups were named after them and new continents were discovered in search of them. But before they were money or symbols of Girl Power, spices were medicines healers that date back to the world's first civilizations. The 21st century brings a new chapter to the spice world story: one of scientific exploration. Today's researchers are discovering incredible health and nutritional riches in spices. From balancing blood sugar to boosting brain power, and even promoting weight loss , here are five of the healthiest spices on the planet plus helpful tips for making the best purchase for the ultimate healing spice rack! 53. Cocoa How sweet it is! Dozens of studies show that people who consume cocoa as a hot drink or eaten as dark chocolate are in much better cardiovascular shape than those who don't. One nine-year study in the journal Circulation Heart Failure found women who ate one to two servings of high-quality chocolate per week had a 32 percent lower risk of developing heart failure than those who said no to the cocoa. And a second long-term study found that men who ate the most chocolate about 1/3 of a cup of dark chocolate chips per week had a 17 percent reduced risk of stroke compared to those who didn't consume chocolate. Researchers attribute cocoa's health benefits to polyphenols and flavanols, anti-inflammatory compounds that help protect the heart in a number of ways. In fact, new research shows that, gram for gram, cocoa has an even higher antioxidant capacity than fruit juice! The benefits don't stop at the heart, though. Studies have shown this sweet spice can help control inflammation-related diseases such as diabetes, liver cirrhosis, and degenerative diseases of the brain like Alzheimer's. Get the benefits: The most healthful dark chocolate contains 74 percent or more cocoa solids, but if you're serious about a healthier heart, don't buy anything under 60 percent cacao. We like Lindt's 85% Cocoa Excellence bar. The chocolate in this bar isn't alkalized a process that strips out the bitterness at the cost of the cocoa's natural, healthy compounds and you can enjoy four indulgent squares for just 230 calories and 5 grams of sugar. The rule of thumb for buying cocoa: The more bitter, the better! (Chocolate is also an aphrodisiac. See more of the 20 Best Supplements for Sex ! 56. Ginger Used for thousands of years to tame troubled tummies and aid digestion, ginger is mentioned in Chinese medical texts from the fourth century BC! And for the past few decades, scientists have been proving ginger works at quieting that queasy feeling. One study found that ginger helped prevent and treat motion sickness by suppressing the release of vasopressin during "circular vexation," aka, spinning around in a chair. Vasopressin is a hormone that regulates levels of water, salt and blood sugar. Other research paints ginger as a powerful muscle relaxant, that helps reduce soreness brought on by exercise by as much as 25 percent, as well as banish bloat. Researchers attribute ginger's health benefits to gingerols, compounds that are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-disease. In fact, studies suggest ginger may reduce symptoms of arthritis, improve cholesterol and prevent cancer. Get the benefits: Fresh ginger is richest in gingerol the compound that contributes to many of the spice's health benefits. When buying the dried spice, researchers say you'll get the most gingerol from organic varieties. Ginger is just one of amazing The 37 IBS Remedies That Will Change Your Life ! | 7 | 96,616 | health |
A group of television producers, along with a Louisiana-based firearms distributor, are in the process of creating a QVC-like channel where guns and gun-related products will be trotted out on your TV screen in an attempt to inspire you to order them. It will be called GunTV. Cofounder Valerie Castle told the Desert Sun news that the channel was designed to give gun manufacturers a direct platform through which they could hawk their wares, and to respond to a nationwide "love affair with shooting sports." Since guns can't be sold across state lines, if a viewer wants to buy a gun, they'll have to tell GunTV's sales team to place an order on their behalf. The Sun says that the orders will be processed by Sports South, a Louisiana firearms distributor, who will then ship the weapon to a local gun store. | 8 | 96,617 | video |
As negotiations to agree on a draft text for a climate change deal continue, climate protesters say the 2.0 degree warming target is not enough. Deborah Lutterbeck reports. | 8 | 96,618 | video |
ESA astronaut, Tim Peake, will run the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon while aboard the International Space Station. Mara Montalbano (@maramontalbano) shows us how he's preparing. | 8 | 96,619 | video |
It's not time to close the book on Barnes & Noble just yet. But its story is taking a turn for the worse: Investors this morning responded to a surprisingly weak earnings report for the quarter that ended in October by driving the stock down about 22% to a a 52-week low. The challenges re-launching BN.com to also handle sales of Nook ebooks "were greater than anticipated and reduced traffic as well as conversion," CEO Ronald Boire told analysts. And sales at stores open at least a year fell 1%. He called the downturn in Nook sales "clearly unacceptable" and vowed to generate "material improvement in the Nook operating costs." The good news? B&N is selling more toys and games sales improved 14.9% vs the same period last year and "we see prospects for further growth." Oh, and in books "we continue to experience the growing trend in adult coloring books and artist supplies" which "helped offset" declining sales of young adult titles compared to last year which included Heroes of Olympus , If I Stay and Maze Runner . B&N has been struggling to adjust to the growth of ebook sales, and online sales of physical books two categories that Amazon dominates. All told, B&N lost $39.2 million in the quarter including a $10.5 million executive severance charge from the spin off this summer of its college-focused Barnes & Noble Education operation compared to a $12.3 million profit last year. Revenues at $894.7 million fell 4.5%. The top line was far below the $1.42 billion consensus projection among the two analysts Thomson/First Call counts covering the once-mighty book retailer. Retail revenues at $861 million were down 3.1% as online sales fell and the chain closed stores. Sales in the current quarter through Black Friday were up 1.1%, not including Nook products. But for the fiscal year ending in early May B&N expects flat sales at stores open at least a year, which would up up 1% without Nook products. "Barnes & Noble has a customer base unlike almost any other retailer and our stores have become community centers across America," says Boire, who took charge in July. "Barnes & Noble is a destination for personal development, learning and entertainment and I could not be more excited as we look ahead at our opportunities for future growth." | 3 | 96,620 | finance |
Madonna's accused of using a fake police car to dodge traffic in London, plus more celeb news Being the Queen of Pop has its privileges -- but dodging traffic is not one of them. Fans leaving Madonna's concerts at the O2 Arena in London this week reportedly complained to the Sun that Madge cheated her way through massive traffic jams by traveling in an SUV outfitted with flashing red and blue lights. "Nobody was moving, then all of a sudden there's this huge commotion and I saw flashing lights and heard a horn beeping," one eyewitness reportedly told the Sun (via the Daily Mail ). "Then I saw a car and we figured it was an undercover cop. It was beeping so all the traffic let it through. Some drivers were really annoyed. Then I looked into the car and saw Madonna. She's being driven out with a flashing light sat on the dashboard." The Mail points out only drivers, not passengers, are liable for impersonating a police officer with a vehicle. Reps for Madonna declined to comment. Celebrities react to Scott Weiland's death As news of Scott Weiland's death hit the Internet in the early hours of Dec. 4, friends, fans and bandmates of the 48-year-old former Stone Temple Pilots frontman mourned his loss on Twitter and Instagram. "Sad day. RIP Scott Weiland," wrote Slash, who played with Scott in Velvet Revolver. Actress and singer Juliette Lewis tweeted (via Us Weekly ), "Sad to hear about Scott Weiland passing. He was a once of a kind epic force onstage. thoughts are w his family #RIPScottWeiland," while Ryan Adams posted a moving wish: "RIP Scott Weiland. Universe, please take care of him." Kanye West accepts shoe of the year honor with super-long speech Once a guy's become a "a god" and "t he number one living rock star ," what's next? The Footwear News Achievement Awards, apparently. Kanye West's Adidas Yeezy Boost sneakers were named the shoe of the year at this week's so-called "shoe Oscars," and when it came time for Yeezus to accept his honor, he did not disappoint in the speech department -- that is, if you find short and sweet to be disappointing. In what the New York Post reports was an 18-minute acceptance speech, the rapper-turned-designer admitted he had no elocutionary plan and proceeded to wing it. "I have absolutely no plan for what I'm going to say, so this could land completely wrong, but it doesn't really [bleeping] matter, does it?" he asked at one point. "If you don't like 10-minute profanity-riddled speeches that end with a presidential bid , you can go to the bathroom." But maybe plan to stay in there a while ... Anna Kendrick's live tweeting of 'The Wiz Live' is everything Sometimes the best thing about TV is Twitter. Anna Kendrick's Twitter , specifically. The "Into the Woods" star spent her evening Dec. 3 live tweeting "The Wiz Live," and the results were magical, from her observation that Common's Emerald City bouncer outfit made for good Met Gala inspiration to this: "the revelation that the all-powerful Wiz is secretly an unkempt loser is a legit metaphor for my life." Other highlights included, "Can these crows be a boy band in real life though?" … "When *I* played Barbie, I stripped her naked and melted her with matches" and ""YES YOU STUPID B----! SSSSSING!" - me, 7 times so far #TheWizLive." Ultimately, she concluded: "Okay that was the most inspirational s--- I've ever seen on TV and I watch Miss USA." Angelina Jolie covers Elle France Looking lovely and refined in a black and white menswear-inspired ensemble, Angelina Jolie appears on the cover of the new issue of Elle France, perhaps in her final promotional bid for " By the Sea ," which she wrote, directed and stars in opposite her husband, Brad Pitt. Though the film has snagged plenty of press since it began filming shortly after Angie and Brad tied the knot , Celebitchy reports it hasn't done much at the box office, earning just over $1.5 million. Brad, meanwhile, may be looking at an Oscar contender with his all-star cast financial crisis film, "The Big Short." Asked by THR if he'd ever consider directing like his wife, Brad assured the magazine he has no plans to pursue that role, saying, "No, not at all. I have no desire whatsoever. I like my corner of the field." Is Tom Cruise BFFs with Scientology leader David Miscavige? The fascination around Tom Cruise's relationship with Scientology leader David Miscavige has yet to wane. In a new report from the Daily Mail , the religion's former head of security Gary Morehead opens up about the "bromance" between Tom and David, who have reportedly been pals for the decades. "They do everything together -- exercise and cigar smoke together," he says. Others close to the pair tell a similar story, detailing how the two frequently share cigars in David's large humidor, go parachuting together and take trips to places like Las Vegas. Gary Morehead also claims David had a secret second security camera trained on Tom when he was at the compound. "... I had to set up a second camera in Tom's auditing room. That was for Dave's own personal entertainment although it was meant to be for the purpose of being professionally critiqued," he says. "It was Dave's little secret to look inside people's little sessions. If Tom ever wanted that tape, Dave would still have the other one." Kylie Jenner shows off her 'Charlie Brown tree' Sometimes even the Kardashian-Jenner crew goes low-key. Case in point? The small, slim pine tree Kylie shared a Snapchat of this week, dubbing it a "Charlie Brown tree." While some Snapchat users approved, saying they wanted a similarly sparse tree of their own, not everyone was convinced the little guy looked healthy. "It's too skinny," wrote one user, "like your dog." Good grief. Both of Lana Del Rey's Jaguars were stolen from her house If at first you don't succeed … steal another car? The same week it was revealed that an obsessive fan had been found hanging out in Lana Del Rey's garage, TMZ reported the singer had not one but two Jaguars snatched from her property. According to the report, Lana's 2013 Jaguar XK convertible turned up at the impound lot last month after a woman named Icess Floyd managed to drive off with it. Rather than give up on her joyriding mission, she proceeded to return to Lana's car collection, hopping in the driver's seat of the singer's 2015 F-TYPE Jaguar. Once again, she didn't make it too far. Police found an outstanding traffic warrant, impounded the car and cited the determined driver with two counts of burglary and two counts of felony joyriding. Coco shares a new photo of Chanel New mom Coco Austin is back home with her newborn daughter , Chanel -- and back on Twitter with a mission. "Fresh out of the hospital..I can't believe I became a mommy to a beautiful baby girl 4 days ago.I'm feeling Fab!" she captioned a photo showing her holding the teeny new arrival this week. "My little munchkin makes the cutest faces!" she wrote alongside another pic. "She has a big personality." Like mother, like daughter. Dita von Teese disses the Kardashians' use of corsets For more than a year now, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian have advocated for waist training with corsets, with Kim and Khloe in particular sharing photos of themselves wrapped up tight-stringed torso cinchers on social media. In Dita von Teese's eyes, however, the Kardashians are misrepresenting an age-old custom women in the burlesque world take very seriously. "I think it's funny because I'm watching [the trend] and it's like the blind leading the blind," Dita recently told HuffPo . "People that actually know a lot about corsetry are not the ones that are publicly speaking about it. And I'm seeing some of these corsets that they're saying are waist shapers and I'm like, 'That doesn't work.' They're like stretchy fabric. If you really want to get into it, you should probably look into the real corset makers that have been doing it for decades and decades. There are lots of experts on it, but I don't know that you should be jumping on the bandwagon to sing the praises ofcorsets….It seems to be a fast fix, and it is. If you put on a corset and you pull the strings tight, you instantly have this silhouette and it's great but it's not going to modify your body if you're not engaged in the serious regimen of it." | 6 | 96,621 | entertainment |
Nicki Minaj's brother Jelani Maraj has reportedly been charged with the first degree rape of a 12-year-old in Long Island, New York. | 8 | 96,622 | video |
Our NFL insider Eric Edholm joins us to weigh in on injuries around the league, including the latest on Nick Foles and Dez Bryant. | 1 | 96,623 | sports |
All we want for Christmas is a puppy! 22 Adorable Dogs Who Are Just As Excited For Christmas As You Are You may already be spreading Christmas cheer, but once you see how excited these adorable puppies are for the most wonderful time of the year, you'll be more in the holiday spirit than ever. 1. This Mischievous Ornament Thief 2. This Eager Bulldog Who Just Wants To Feast 3. The Most Festive Yorkshire Terrier 4. This Cuddly Dalmatian Who Has His Own Stocking 5. This Golden Retriever Who Can Barely Handle All The Holiday Fun 6. Three Border Collie Puppies Just Waiting To Surprise A Lucky Little Kid 7. This Lab Who Has His Own Santa Hat 8. This Jingle Ball Cutie 9. The Puppy Who Can't Wait Any Longer to Open Her Presents 10. Santa's Furry Little Helper 11. This Sleepy Pup Who is Barely Bigger Than an Ornament 12. The Most Adorable Christmas Reindeer 13. A Little Pup Who Stole ALL The Presents 14. Beagle Claus 15. A Sweet Dog Mesmerized By Twinkling Lights 16. The Sleepiest Santa We Ever Did See 17. Two New Friends All Decked Out in Their Christmas Best 18. A Lab With A Jolly Message 19. The Best Present Anyone Could Ask For 20. This Cozy Puppy Who Has Been Wearing His Reindeer Costume Since Halloween 21. Santa Paws 22. A Sweet Chihuahua Who is Experiencing Christmas For The Very First Time | 4 | 96,624 | lifestyle |
According to a new CNN poll, the political headline of the morning is that Donald Trump is now leading the Republican presidential field by 20 points. It's Trump's biggest lead in any live-telephone national poll. And here's the thing: He's likely to only get stronger, given that this poll was taken BEFORE the San Bernardino shootings. Why is this possible? According to the poll, more Republicans think he can handle ISIS better than his closest competition; more Republicans think he's better on illegal immigration than his closest competitor; and more Republicans see him better on foreign policy than anyone else. | 5 | 96,625 | news |
Couples who want to use the file-and-suspend strategy to maximize their Social Security benefits will have to rethink their plan. Thanks to a recent budget bill, the door is closing on two rules that allowed spouses to coordinate benefits so they could increase the overall amount of money they receive from Social Security. In addition, people older than age 66 who filed for benefits, and then suspended them in order to get a higher payout rate later, will no longer have the option to receive a retroactive lump sum payment if they change their mind and lift the suspension. According to experts, the changes are geared toward saving money and closing perceived loopholes in the Social Security program. "As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think Social Security ever meant for these rules to [be used] that way," says Mike Piershale, president of Piershale Financial Group in Crystal Lake, Illinois. How the government intended them to be used may be up for debate, but in practice, the file-and-suspend strategy allowed couples the opportunity to maximize their combined benefits. Once one spouse reached full retirement age (currently 66), that person could file for Social Security and then immediately suspend the benefits. Then, their husband or wife could claim a spousal benefit while their deferred Social Security grew 8 percent per year until age 70. "This is essentially a 'have your cake and eat it too' strategy," says Andrew Moss, senior vice president of investments at Merrill Lynch in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Now, the government is taking that cake and removing the frosting of coordinated benefits. 3 Disappearing Social Security Options While the loss of the file-and-suspend strategy is getting the most attention right now, retirees are actually losing three separate Social Security options. Here's a look at each piece of the puzzle. File-and-Suspend The file-and-suspend strategy, as outlined above, will no longer work after May 1, 2016. At that time, a person must file for Social Security and actually receive benefits in order for a husband or wife to get a spousal benefit. However, for those who are at least 66 or who will turn 66 by April 30, 2016, there is still an opportunity to get in under the old file-and-suspend system. Moss says he's in the process of identifying clients who are in that "sweet spot" of reaching their full retirement age before May 1 to ensure they don't miss out on the opportunity. Those who do squeak in under the deadline will be grandfathered in under the old file-and-suspend rules. Restricted Applications The second rule being eliminated relates to restricted applications. Currently, those who are between their full retirement age and age 70 can file a restricted application to claim spousal benefits, but defer their own benefits until age 70. Once they hit 70, they can change from receiving spousal benefits to their own, greater benefits. It's something Piershale calls the "gravy between age 66 and 70." Except, like the frosting on the cake, the gravy is being taken away. In the future, when a spouse files anytime after age 62, he or she will fall under the "deemed filing" rule, which already applies to people who are not at their full retirement age. "If you're under your full retirement age [and file], Social Security says you are deemed to have taken your own benefit," says Ian Kutner, a certified financial planner with San Diego Wealth Management, explaining the origin of the name. With the elimination of restricted applications and the introduction of deemed filing for all ages, a spouse can only receive the larger of either their spousal benefit or their own benefit. They can't change their choice either, which means no deferring benefits until age 70 and then switching options for a larger monthly check. However, those who will turn 62 by the end of the year will be grandfathered in under the old rules for restricted applications. Retroactive Lump Sum Payments The final change applies to suspended benefits. Currently, those with suspended benefits can elect at any time to request payments retroactive back to their filing date. For example, if a man filed for Social Security at age 66 and then suspended his payments, his benefits would grow at a rate of 8 percent per year. However, if the man came down with a life-threatening illness at age 68, he could retroactively unsuspend his benefits. He would lose the 16 percent bump in pay he should have received from deferring payments, but Social Security will send a lump sum payment for the past two years. Future monthly payments would be made at the same rate the man would have received had he started benefits at age 66. "This has been a very valuable strategy for someone who had a change in health or financial status," Moss says. It allowed people to hedge their bets by establishing a filing date for Social Security. They could defer their monthly benefit amount and let it grow but also rest assured they could receive that money retroactively if needed. Under the new rules, Social Security beneficiaries can no longer retroactively unsuspend benefits. In the example above, if the man needed to start receiving benefits at age 68, he could still unsuspend his filing. He would not receive a lump sum payout for the previous two years, but he would begin to receive his monthly payments at a higher rate, thanks to the deferral. What You Should Do Now For those who won't be able to coordinate spousal benefits under the new rules, financial planners say it's back to basics. "Social Security was always meant to be a supplement, not the main source of retirement income," Kutner say, "but people don't want to believe that for some reason." As a financial planner for 40 years, Kutner says people too often procrastinate or think others should take care of them. Instead, workers should be putting money aside in IRAs and 401(k)s to assure they have a comfortable retirement. Beyond putting money away in retirement accounts, people should also delay taking Social Security benefits as long as possible to maximize their monthly amount. While not everyone wants to work until age 70, or even 66, Moss says there may be ways to bridge the gap between the end of employment and the start of Social Security. Inheritances from parents or the sale of family property, accelerated 401(k) payments or annuity benefits are all possibilities. "Do whatever you can to delay taking Social Security under your full retirement age," Moss says, "as long as you think you'll make it to age 83." According to Moss, 83 is the age a person must reach in order to make delaying benefits more profitable than filing early . For those who think they may have a shorter life expectancy, filing at age 62 could be a better choice. While these are significant changes, Piershale is quick to note they won't affect how Social Security benefits are calculated. "The biggest thing we're telling people is the core benefits are not changing," he says. "There is no change in any of the math used to calculate benefits." In other words, while the frosting and gravy are going away, the cake is here to stay. | 3 | 96,626 | finance |
VIDEO: It's illegal to import real Kobe beef into the US. | 8 | 96,627 | video |
In response to terror threat, Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum urges citizens to 'responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm' | 5 | 96,628 | news |
@Westernsubs wants to know who the best flex play is among Alfred Blue, Sammy Watkins and Antonio Andrews. Check out that tweet and more in Friday's 120 Tweetbag! | 1 | 96,629 | sports |
David Beckham's potential Miami MLS franchise has a new home. Again. After months of negotiations attempting to acquire land for a stadium next to the home park of MLB's Miami Marlins, Beckham's ownership group has changed gears and will move forward with a plan centered around Miami's Overtown neighborhood. The team announced the change in a statement released Friday. The statement, published by the Miami Herald, reads: "Miami Beckham United has secured a stadium development site at 650 Northwest 8th Street in the City of Miami's historic Overtown neighborhood. We intend to create an assemblage of private and County-controlled land totaling approximately nine acres in Miami's urban core, within walking distance of multiple public transit options and the up-and-coming Miami River District. The private properties, which comprise the majority of the land, are under contract and we intend to purchase the County land at fair market value pending approval of our site by the MLS Board of Governors." Beckham's group is due to meet with the MLS Board of Governors on Saturday, Dec. 5, to discuss the state of the prospective franchise. Having a stadium site in hand was seen as a key component to getting approval by the league as an expansion franchise. As noted by the Miami Herald, this prospective site is the fourth target so far from the Beckham group. Earlier this week, MLS appeared to be upping the pressure on Beckham's group, suggesting a Sacramento franchise, which had its own prospective stadium plans approved, albeit in a non-binding vote, by the Sacramento city council, might leapfrog Miami . | 1 | 96,630 | sports |
For those looking to spend big on a QB for their daily fantasy football leagues, the guys build the best lineups around high-priced QBs for Week 13. How can you build around Cam Newton? | 1 | 96,631 | sports |
Cheick Diallo told coach Bill Self he was nervous before putting on an impressive performance in his Kansas debut. It's scary to think how good the Jayhawks can be once he gets comfortable. The fourth-ranked Jayhawks look to win their 27th straight at Allen Fieldhouse when they take on Harvard for the first time Saturday. Diallo didn't play in the first five games for Kansas (5-1) because the NCAA was looking into his academic work from a New York prep school as well as his relationship with his guardian. That investigation ended Nov. 25, with the NCAA clearing the 6-foot-9 Diallo after determining he received a limited amount of impermissible benefits. He still had to sit out that night's Maui Invitational title game, which Kansas won by beating then-No. 19 Vanderbilt 70-63, before finally getting on the court Tuesday against Loyola. Diallo didn't start and was given a standing ovation when he checked in. He got even more applause throughout the game with a trio of highlight-reel dunks, 13 points -- all in the second half -- six rebounds and three blocks in 16 minutes of a 94-61 victory. "He told me two days ago, 'I don't get nervous.' Then yesterday, 'Oh, coach, I'm so nervous!'" Self said. Wayne Selden Jr. had 18 points after being named co-Big 12 player of the week on Monday and co-Most Valuable Player in Maui. One of his four assists was a behind-the-back pass to Diallo, who slammed it home. Diallo said he had trouble sleeping Monday night. "I was thinking about this game; like what to do, rebound, block shots," he said. "In the first half I played seven or eight minutes and got zero points and I was thinking, 'Wow, what am I supposed to do in the second half?' I was so scared and nervous, but now I am so excited the game is over and I played really well." The same can be said of Kansas, which is among the nation's leaders in points per game (93.5), scoring margin (plus-23.5), field-goal percentage (51.2), 3-point shooting (45.7) and assists (19.2). During its current four-game win streak, Selden has averaged 19.0 points on 64.3 percent shooting and has hit 15 of 23 from 3-point range. The Jayhawks, though, could be in for a challenge offensively against Harvard (2-5), which ranks near the top of Division I in field-goal defense (35.5) while holding opponents to 61.1 points per game. The Crimson, however, likely won't be able to keep up with Kansas as they average 63.1 points. They're also 0-4 on the road, while the Jayhawks' 26-game run at Allen Fieldhouse is tied for the eighth-best in school history. This is the third of four straight games away from home for Harvard, which lost 80-71 to Northeastern on Wednesday despite shooting a season-high 55.4 percent. Leading scorer Zena Edosomwan (13.6) had 18 points and went 9 of 12 from the field after being held to six on 2-of-7 shooting in Sunday's 50-49 defeat to Holy Cross. Harvard dropped both matchups against Top 25 teams last season but nearly upset 15th-ranked North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, falling 67-65 to the fourth-seeded Tar Heels after leading by two with 1:15 remaining. | 1 | 96,632 | sports |
Investigators struggled to determine a motive in the immediate aftermath of the attack, but police say they believe the couple was planning something, authorities just aren't sure what. "There appears to be a degree of planning that went into this," Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said Thursday. The pair shot between 65 and 75 rounds in the Inland Regional Center conference room where a holiday party was being held. Tashfeen Malik, the woman who helped carry out one of America's deadliest mass shootings, reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State however There was no sign, however, that anyone affiliated with ISIS communicated with Malik, and it doesn't appear that she received any operational instructions. | 5 | 96,633 | news |
GENEVA (AP) -- Facing life bans for corruption, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are expected to go before the FIFA ethics committee within two weeks. A person familiar with the cases told The Associated Press on Friday that the hearings should take place from Dec. 16-18 in Zurich. Verdicts are expected days later. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public. As Platini prepares to try to salvage his soccer career after accepting a $2 million payment from FIFA in 2011, one of his closest friends has resigned from the FIFA ethics committee. Jacques Lambert, who Platini personally chose to head the 2016 European Championship organizing committee in their native France, had joined the ethics investigatory chamber in May at UEFA's invitation. Lambert resigned for ''personal reasons,'' the ethics committee said Friday in a statement to the AP. By leaving, Lambert avoided the risk of being suspended by FIFA for contacting Platini, who is barred from duty awaiting his ethics hearing. They have been close since working together organizing the 1998 World Cup in France. Because of their shared nationality, Lambert was not allowed to be involved in the ethics investigation, which has recommended a life ban for Platini. The expulsion request was confirmed last month by Platini's Paris-based lawyer, Thibaut d'Ales. Platini was charged over a $2 million payment from FIFA that Blatter approved as backdated salary for work as a presidential adviser from 1998-2002. Both deny wrongdoing and claim they had a verbal contract for Platini to receive the money. Under Swiss law, FIFA did not need to pay the money after five years passed since Platini's job ended. The two presidents face separate hearings - likely at FIFA headquarters - before the ethics court led by German judge Joachim Eckert. Like Platini, Blatter is also serving a 90-day interim ban pending the verdict. Platini wants to clear his name and stand as a candidate to succeed Blatter in the FIFA presidential election on Feb. 26. Switzerland's attorney-general has opened criminal proceedings against Blatter over the payment as suspected criminal mismanagement of FIFA money. Platini, a former France captain, was quizzed in September at FIFA headquarters as ''between a witness and an accused person,'' according to attorney general Michael Lauber. Platini and Blatter were knocked off the FIFA news agenda Thursday when two more vice presidents were arrested in Zurich as bribery suspects. On Friday, Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay and Alfredo Hawit of Honduras were also banned from soccer for 90 days. Both were among 16 Latin American soccer leaders named in a sweeping U.S. Department of Justice indictment on bribery and racketeering charges. They are accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from television marketing rights. The FIFA ethics committee said judge Eckert applied the provisional bans, which have become routine for officials charged by American authorities. Napout and Hawit are resisting extradition to the U.S. while being detained in Zurich-area jails, likely beyond the holiday period. American authorities have 40 days to file formal extradition requests with the Swiss government. Napout had become a key FIFA powerbroker and strong supporter of Platini's presidential bid before and immediately after the legal problems. Napout has since switched South America's support to Platini's right-hand man, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino. | 1 | 96,634 | sports |
A new study found new fathers are 50 percent more likely to take time off, if they have a son not a daughter. Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) has the details. | 8 | 96,635 | video |
US Secretary of State John Kerry hails troubled Greece's economic recovery efforts in the midst of a huge migration challenge as he paid a brief visit to Athens. | 8 | 96,636 | video |
After Rutgers cleaned house and fired its coach and athletic director last month, the search began for a new leader of the Scarlet Knights football team. One of those candidates happens to Ben Kautz, a 19-year-old sophomore at the university, Campus Rush reported . MORE: Best of 2015 | Coaching carousel | Week 14 picks In what originally started as a joke, Kautz emailed his resume to people within the Rutgers athletic department. He was shocked when Geoff Brown, the school's senior associate athletic director and chief marketing officer responded. Brown wrote: Thanks, Benjamin I will definitely pass this along. You have my vote (not that I have a vote, but if I did …) Good luck. Geoff "I could not believe I got a response back," Kautz said. "Once I told some friends that I got a response, they told me that I needed to put it on Twitter. And then everything just kind of blew up." The hashtag #Kautz4coach has been drawing attention to Kautz's cause. What started as a joke has now become a somewhat serious campaign. "Look at the positives," Kautz said of his coaching qualifications. "I'm 19 years old you're getting tons of publicity right there. The youngest head coach ever. Good Morning America has already told me that they want me on the show if I get this job." Talk shows aside, Kautz knows he will not get the job. But he likes the fact that people are willing to give him a chance. "I would absolutely love an interview," Kautz says. "I just think that would be the coolest thing." | 1 | 96,637 | sports |
For Christmas, why not get a red bottle, and a green bottle, to get in the festive spirit? WSJ's Charles Passy and Tanya Rivero taste Boodle's Mulberry gin and Lucid's Jade absinthe. Photo: Boodles | 0 | 96,638 | foodanddrink |
Electronic gadgets are always popular holiday gifts, but many of this year's hot tech items are vulnerable to hacking. Intel Security (INTC) has released its 2015 list of the most hackable holiday gifts, which includes wearable technology, smartphones, tablets, and drones. 'Of course a smartphone or a tablet is always going to make our list of most hackable gifts. These have topped gift giving and receiving wish lists for many years now,' said Stacey Conner, an online safety expert with Intel Security. 'But also what we're seeing this year are new devices come up on the list. Things like fitness trackers, or camera-related devices like drones, or smartwatches, and even interactive children's toys.' For example, a child using a drone in his or her home opens the door to a cybercriminal once that drone video is downloaded to a personal computer or tablet. 'If a cybercriminal then hacks into my PC, now they have access to all of that video that the drone took,' said Conner. TheStreet's Rhonda Schaffler reports. | 3 | 96,639 | finance |
Lucasfilm, Getty It turns out Carrie Fisher wasn't the only member from the original "Star Wars" cast who had to shed pounds for "The Force Awakens." In a Rolling Stone story on the latest movie in the "Star Wars" saga (out December 18), Mark Hamill revealed that he trained for two years before shooting began on "The Force Awakens" to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker. From the story: "He seems to have lost a good 50 pounds, but he doesn't want compliments: 'It implies that I looked so dreadful before!' 'Look at what I'm eating now instead of potato chips and bagels,' he adds, gesturing to a fruit-and-vegetable plate. 'I'm on the "if it tastes good, don't eat it" diet.'" Hamill, 64, sings a different tune than Fisher, 59. While speaking about her weight loss to play General Leia in the movie, she said: "They don't want to hire all of me only about three-quarters! Nothing changes, it's an appearance-driven thing," she said. "I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that's how easy it is." Lucasfilm, GettyBut Fisher has reason to be weary of the demands on hear appearance. Never shy to speak her mind especially about what she had to go through for the original trilogy she has revealed that she had to lose 10 pounds just to get the role in the first "Star Wars" movie, "A New Hope," and it took her 10 years to appreciate her slave costume in "Return of the Jedi." It's tough to say if we'll see Hamill showing off his physique in "The Force Awakens," as the appearance of Skywalker in any of the promotional material has been ominously scarce. NOW WATCH: 5 ways to change your body language to make people like you | 6 | 96,640 | entertainment |
And Twitter was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. | 8 | 96,641 | video |
Matt Kenseth, who served a two-race suspension in November for wrecking Joey Logano, says his punishment was a learning experience. The biggest lesson Kenseth learned is about friendship, the former Sprint Cup champion told USA Today . Specifically, he found it "interesting" how supposed friends will abandon you in a tough situation. MORE: Kyle Busch can win again | Kevin Harvick, 2016 Cup favorite | 2016 charter deal near "You've got to look at every cloud and find a silver lining," Kenseth said. "For me, I've learned a lot about people. There are people you think are friends and realize they're really not and they're self-serving. I learned a new term from a very respected person I know who calls them 'good time friends.' I learned what those were." MORE: Kenseth, Logano settle | Richard Petty: Ban wasn't enough | Kenseth refused to change Kenseth didn't mention names about who abandoned him in his time of need, but he apparently believed media members were unfair in their coverage. "Some people are just going to write stuff and be what I would call the most mean and they're not really being objective," he told USA Today. "I expect people, whether they're friends or not friends, to report in a fair way. But there's a lot of people who are trying to dig the hole and throw the dirt on top of it for sure, which is interesting and some of the people I thought were my better friends, honestly." | 1 | 96,642 | sports |
Walk more with this step-by-step guide. Ten thousand is a big number: 10,000 miles, $10,000, 10,000 years 10,000 of anything is a heck of a lot. The goal of taking 10,000 steps in a day roughly equates to 4 to 5 miles of walking, and appears to be a daunting goal for the majority of Americans. If you have a desk job, chances are it's a struggle for you to meet the recommended 10,000 steps a day without consciously making time to go for a walk . But if, on the other hand, your job requires a lot of moving about, you could find yourself doing well above the recommended amount. Given that, as a society, we spend a significant portion of our waking hours in sedentary pursuits , we need a focused plan to achieve the 10,000 steps a day goal. Here is a simple guide to gradually increasing your daily steps. I call it the "20 percent to 10,000" program. Follow it, and you'll reach 10,000 steps a day in no time. Week One First, invest in a pedometer or an activity-tracking device . Measure the number of steps you take each day in a typical week. Do not change your daily routine to try to walk more than usual. Record the number of steps you've taken in a journal and note if anything encouraged you to take more steps (say, walking to work) or fewer steps (like an all-day meeting). Total your number of steps for the week and divide by seven. This will yield your average number of steps per day and serve as your baseline starting point. Week Two (and Beyond) Your goal is to gradually boost your average daily steps by 20 percent. To do so, multiply the average number of steps you took in week one by 1.2. The result is your goal for the number of daily steps you should take during week two. For example, if you averaged 6,000 steps a day in week one, try for 7,200 steps a day in week two, since 6,000 times 1.2 equals 7,200. Continue increasing your average number of weekly steps by 20 percent until you reach the goal of 10,000 steps per day. How you reach your goal is up to you, but you may find you need to be creative and intentional in looking for opportunities to move more . Need some help? Here are 20 small ways to take more steps throughout your day: Park your car away from the entrance when shopping , running errands or going to dinner. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator whenever possible. Go window shopping to get some extra steps. Walk your kids to school or the bus stop rather than driving them. Play tag, hopscotch or some other childhood game with your kids. Skip the drive-thru at Starbucks and walk into the store to get your java. March or pace during the commercial breaks when watching TV . Instead of meeting a friend for lunch, plan an hour walk or hike during your break. Skip the cart return area in the grocery store parking lot and walk the shopping cart back into the store. Hold walking meetings at work whenever possible. Instead of sitting, walk around while watching your child's sporting events . Go for a walk with a friend instead of meeting for coffee . Walk to a co-worker's office instead of emailing or calling. Take your dog for a walk instead of letting him out in the yard. Take a walk on your lunch break. Wear a headset and pace during phone calls. Wear comfortable shoes at work research shows you'll move more. Go for an after-dinner stroll. Take the baby or kids for a ride in the stroller or wagon. March or pace while brushing your teeth . Still not meeting your goal even though you're active? Activities other than walking, jogging or running that don't readily lend themselves to easy tracking by a pedometer count too you just have to do your best to reasonably estimate steps. For example, exercising on gym equipment, biking, swimming and playing tennis may not get picked up by your basic pedometer, but can be translated into steps to meet your goal. Any activity that burns approximately 100 calories is the equivalent of walking 2,000 steps. For most people, that means moderate intensity exercise for 15 to 20 minutes. Regardless of your activity preferences, commit to moving more (stand rather than sit, walk rather than stand, jog rather than walk, etc.) and you'll be well on your way to 10,000 steps a day. | 7 | 96,643 | health |
STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- UConn freshmen Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier are spending a lot of time watching forward Breanna Stewart. They study how the two-time national player of the year gets position in the lane, frees herself for a 3-point shot or angles her body on defense to block a shot without picking up a foul. Both freshmen have key roles this season as UConn and Stewart attempt to win a fourth consecutive national title. Both are expected to see significant playing time as the top-ranked Huskies host No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday. But they also know their roles will get much larger when Stewart graduates in the spring. ''We need to learn from her and keep watching her and do whatever we can to help her this year, but also pick up on what she does and how she plays, so we can hopefully fill some of the spots next year,'' said Samuelson. ''I'm just going to enjoy playing with her this year and want to learn as much as I can from her.'' The 6-foot-3 Samuelson came to the Huskies with a reputation as an outside shooter at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, the same school as UConn alum Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. She averaged 24.9 points and 8.5 rebounds her senior year. Like the 6-4 Stewart, she can also play multiple positions on the floor. Coach Geno Auriemma said that's why Stewart's mentorship is so important. ''One of the last things I said to Lou today was, `Lou, be like Stewie today - rebound, play defense, run the floor, be aggressive,''' Auriemma said after Samuelson's 14-point effort last week against Nebraska. ''Don't just wander around looking for your next 3-pointer.'' The 6-1 Collier also has the ability to fill a stat sheet. She averaged 26.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 4.1 steals and 2.7 assists as a senior last season at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis. Stewart, she says, is helping her translate those skills to the college level. ''I've learned a lot about leadership, offense and defense,'' she said. ''If you are struggling with anything, she'll help you out. She's talking to you all the time on the floor. We definitely have to get in gear fast to be ready for next year, too.'' So far this season, Samuelson and Collier are each averaging about seven points in 18 minutes. Stewart understands her responsibility to the freshmen. It's about keeping the UConn dynasty moving forward, she said. She's doing all she can to help Samuelson and Collier get better and understand what the coaches want from them. Stewart said she received similar help players such a Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley. ''I want to make sure I use (my) struggles and experiences to help them to make sure they don't struggle as much,'' Stewart said. ''Or if they're down from a bad game or having a little slump or that kind of thing, that I'm the one that's helping them get out of it.'' | 1 | 96,644 | sports |
A 20 year-old penguin that suffers from arthritis is being moved from his home on the Isle of Wight to a new enclosure in Great Yarmouth. | 5 | 96,645 | news |
Water is filling the streets of Chennai, India as residents remain stranded days after overflowing lakes flooded the city. Nathan Frandino reports. | 8 | 96,646 | video |
The U.S. Secretary of Defense announced all combat roles will now be open to women. Jordyn Rolling (@jordynrolling) has all the details! | 5 | 96,647 | news |
Because who doesn't want their nail game to be on point? Smith & Cult Teen Cage Riot, Smith & Cult, $18 Essie A Stroke of Brilliance, Essie, $8 Lauren B. 33 Carats, Lauren B, $19 Jin Soon Fête, Jin Soon, $20 Deborah Lippmann Can't Be Tamed, Deborah Lippmann, $20 O.P.I. You Pink Too Much, O.P.I, $6 NARS Night Breed, Nars, $20 Chanel Troubleante, Chanel, $27 Dior State of Gold, Dior, $28 YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer, Yves Saint Laurent, $27 Nails Inc. Alexa Camo Nail Polish, Nails Inc., $15 | 4 | 96,648 | lifestyle |
The little-known truth about outlet stores is that most of their merchandise was actually made to sell only at outlets. | 8 | 96,649 | video |
Who you callin' an 'itty-bitty kitty'? The Bigger, the Better Haven't you heard? Giant felines are the new thing. A Tad Dismayed He's just a little bummed he has to pose for a photo. Isn't he adorable? Fluff Overload The floof! We cannot handle all that floof. For Your Protection If we ever need a guard cat, we know where to go! Twinsies Where can we find a cat that comes in child-size? Do You Even Lift? The perfect workout companion. Show Me the Goods Showing off her cat like no big thang. Showoff She takes pride in her giant kitty! We like that. Big Buds Wow! We're not sure who is bigger. Cat Contentness He looks purrrfectly happy. More to Love The bigger the kitty, the bigger the love! Hair Care We know where to go when we need to borrow a hairbrush. Cat or Lion Mufasa? Is that you? Kitty Cuddles He looks like an awesome cuddle buddy. | 4 | 96,650 | lifestyle |
Stars are no strangers to receiving backlash from fans for every action (or tweet) they share on social media. This year, however, celebrities were quickly called out by their followers for almost every little opinion, or behavior, on topics from Cecil the lion to Ahmed Mohamed (the boy who was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to class). Fans demanded explanations and apologies, and more often than not, the stars offered up an immediate, regretful statement. Although most incidents warranted a larger discussion - like Giuliana Rancic's comment about Zendaya's hair - there were some situations that totally stumped us. This was the year celebrities apologized for, well, almost everything. Katie Holmes In October, Katie Holmes gave a cryptic apology for events that happened at her and Tom Cruise's wedding in 2006. Leah Remini, revealed in a 20/20 special that several people had written notes about her "bad behavior," at the wedding and sent the reports to the Church of Scientology, which she was part of at the time. The actress claimed Katie was one of the members who had reported her behavior and read a document that reportedly contained what Katie wrote about her. It said, "I was dismayed at the behavior of Leah Remini during the events leading up to our wedding and our wedding. The behavior of a guest, a friend, that was very upsetting." Despite rumors that Katie would also make an appearance on Leah's 20/20 episode, Katie did not and only offered this statement, "I regret having upset Leah in the past and wish her only the best in the future." Zayn Malik Zayn Malik was enagaged to musician Perrie Edwards when online photos surfaced of him holding hands with another girl while in Thailand. The former One Direction star took to Twitter to clarify the situation , writing, "I'm 22 years old . . . I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f*cks in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x." The love didn't last long though, Zayn called off his engagement to Perrie five months later . Rebel Wilson During a radio station interview, Rebel Wilson revealed that she declined to present an award with Kendall and Kylie Jenner at the VMAs. She said, "What they stand for is totally against what I stand for. They seem a bit superficial and their careers aren't really based on talent." She then added more fuel to the fire with, "I mean how Kim Kardashian got famous from the sex tape and I just went to acting school and worked really hard." A week later, the Pitch Perfect star seemed to regret her choice of words and (sort of) apologized to the Kardashians with a tweet wishing the family well . Justin Bieber Justin Bieber was so sorry this year, he even released a catchy single of the same name. The singer first apologized for his bad behavior via a Facebook video , then made multiple appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to show his remorse, and even apologized again on stage for his actions during his Comedy Central Roast. Adding to the long list of sorries, Justin also took down the infamous Instagram photo of his butt, stating, "I deleted the photo of my butt on Instagram not because I thought it was bad but someone close to me's daughter follows me and she was embarrassed that she saw my butt . . . It was completely pure hearted as a joke but didn't take in account there are littles following me!!! Love u guys." Azealia Banks If you remember Iggy Azalea's feud with rapper Azealia Banks , then you know Azealia does not hold back on social media. During an intense altercation with a man on a plane, the singer was caught on video shouting derogatory slurs at the passenger. After the incident, she went on Twitter to defend the use of her words and said, "I will make one apology. And it's to apologize to the feelings of the people who enjoy my music and hate seeing me in drama." Taylor Swift Celebrity Twitter feuds start and end as quickly as they began and this year Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj's tweet battle captured everyone's attention. In response to MTV's VMA nominations, Nicki said, "If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year." Taylor replied with, "I've done nothing but love & support you. It's unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot.." The conversation then got a little more heated when Nicki said, "Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn't say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this." It seems like the whole conversation was a misunderstanding on Taylor's part because the singer followed up with an apology two days after the exchange and told Nicki she "had missed the point . . . then misspoke." The rapper forgave Taylor and to prove there was no bad blood between the two Nicki brought her on stage to perform at the VMAs . Ashley Benson Ashley Benson found herself at the center of a Halloween costume controversy after she posted a photo of her in a lion onesie with the caption, "What do you guys think of this cecil the lion costume?" Her followers quickly became enraged and called the actress insensitive (Cecil was a famous lion that was killed by a hunter), which made Ashley tweak her post to "Help! Can't decide on my Halloween costume this year! What do you guys think of this lion costume?" The Pretty Little Liars star then wrote a separate, apologetic post on Instagram to let her fans know the image put up was "in poor taste" and that she would donate proceeds to the World Wildlife Fund. Ariana Grande In June, Ariana Grande was caught licking donuts in a display case, then saying, "I hate America," by a security camera. After the footage came out, Ariana posted a video on her YouTube page to clarify her actions and told fans that she's "proud to be an American." She claimed the comment was made towards America's food industry and unhealthy eating habits. The singer also shared her regret for how she expressed herself, adding, "I should have known better in how I expressed myself; and with my new responsibility to others as a public figure I will strive to be better. . . That being said let me once again apologize if I have offended anyone with my poor choice of words." Amy Schumer Amy Schumer's candid sense of humor may not be for everyone. The comedian took a dig at Khloé Kardashian's weight loss during her SNL monologue , which prompted the star to tweet out, "No need 2 tear down others just 2 make urself feel bigger. It actually makes u quite small. I'm on a healthy journey. I don't care 4the hate." Though Khloé did not call out Amy specifically, it was clear who the message was directed towards. Amy responded with a photo of her cute 18-month-old niece and a simple Twitter message that said, "Nothing but love for that family. I like idea of sending women the message to be happy in their own skin. #peace." Ozzy Osbourne Ozzy Osbourne's bizarre apology for an incident that happened 33 years ago may be considered long overdue. In 1982, the songwriter relieved himself on a monument, the Alamo Cenotaph, in San Antonio, Texas and was reportedly banned from the city for life (though the ban only lasted 10 years). In November, Ozzy was set to revisit the Alamo Cenotaph for a History Channel special and issue an official public apology. | 6 | 96,651 | entertainment |
Click through the slideshow to see the states with the hottest housing markets. Find homes for sale | See open houses near you Home values continue to increase across the U.S., but some states are getting a bigger boost than others. Overall, home prices rose 6.8 percent in October versus a year ago, and 1 percent compared with September, according to CoreLogic's most recent report . Looking more closely at the data, only 12 states recorded price increases that exceeded the national average. Homes in the remaining 38 states and the District of Columbia fell below the average, with Louisiana and Mississippi posting year-over-year price declines in October. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: The 10 Best States for Property Taxes House Flippers Are Back Here's How Much They're Making The 10 Fattest States in America | 3 | 96,652 | finance |
EU member states are one step closer to a deal which aims to bridge the last gaps with the European Parliament on sharing air passenger name data with a view to tracing extremists and preventing attacks. | 8 | 96,653 | video |
You're darn right I run a check on women before I date them. | 8 | 96,654 | video |
Donald Trump, the billionaire former reality television star currently leading the Republican presidential primary race got some good news Friday, in the form of a national CNN/ORC poll that has him dominating the field with 36 percent support 20 percentage points higher than his closest challenger. The poll also shows that Trump runs significantly stronger among less-educated, less-affluent voters, and performs particularly well among voters in the 50-64 age range. The poll also showed Trump dominating his rivals when Republican voters were asked which candidate is best suited to handle a variety of issues. From the economy to foreign policy, from immigration to ISIS, Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters far and away say they prefer Trump, in some cases by 30- and 40-percentage point margins. Related: Oy Vey! Trump Stumbles Before Jewish Political Group "Trump's support is heavily concentrated among non-college educated Republicans and those who only lean Republican and thus are less inclined to show up and vote in primaries and caucuses," Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics said via email. "The key question is: Will the currently fragmented college-educated half of the GOP coalesce around another candidate (say, Rubio) eventually?" Sabato continued. "If they do, they can stop Trump. If they stay fractured, then they may very well have to deal with the November consequences of a Trump nomination and that won't be pretty." While Trump's support on the issues tends to be strongest among the less-educated and less-affluent, it isn't limited to that group. For example, when asked straight up who they would be voting for, 36 percent of all Republicans in the survey said Trump. However, among those without a college degree, 46 percent said they would support the real estate mogul. Only 18 percent of college graduates, by contrast, said they would vote for Trump. (It is important to note that, in the U.S., people without a college degree represent 68 percent of the population over 25 years of age.) Related: Trump May Be Losing the Media. He Also Might Not Need It Anymore Trump's support is also higher among voters who earn less than $50,000 a year, at 40 percent. He gets 33 percent of the vote from those who earn more than that. Other data in the polls suggests that at this stage of the campaign voters haven't completely thought through their choices and preferences. For example, a central facet of Trump's plan for dealing with illegal immigration is the mass deportation of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country. In the survey, 53 percent of Republicans said that they believe the government should attempt to deport everyone living in the country illegally. However, when asked if they believe it would be possible for the government to deport all of those people, 73 percent of Republicans responding said, no, it wouldn't be possible. So, more than half of GOP voters in the survey want the government to embark on a plan that nearly three-quarters of GOP voters believe is literally impossible to execute. What that suggests is that there are a lot of voters out there who haven't really started looking closely at the issues. That may explain why Trump, the author of the immigration plan that the vast majority of Republican voters say is impossible, was the overwhelming favorite among GOP voters when they were asked which candidate can "best handle" illegal immigration. Trump took 48 percent of voters, with his nearest rival, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, getting 14 percent. Trump may or may not continue to hold such a massive lead in the GOP primary, but it seems likely that at least some voters will adjust their preferences to bring them in line with basic logic sometime before the voting starts. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Did Donald Trump Just Reveal a Potentially Fatal Flaw? 14 Deadly Weapons Russia Has Sent To Syria 5 Outrageous Tax Breaks Congress Is Preparing for Special Interests | 5 | 96,655 | news |
The official list of top ten most liked images of 2015 on Instagram has been published. The usual queen of IG, Kim Kardashian, was dethroned, but by who? Was it Taylor Swift? Or Kendall or Kylie Jenner? Or Beyonce? | 8 | 96,656 | video |
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets say general manager Sandy Alderson has cancer and will begin chemotherapy this week. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said in a statement Friday the cancer is "very treatable" and doctors are "optimistic about his full recovery." The team did not say what kind of cancer he has. The 68-year-old Alderson collapsed at a news conference Nov. 4 to announce a contract extension for manager Terry Collins. The Mets say Alderson had a medical procedure three weeks ago and surgery was performed at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. He'll have 8 to 12 weeks of chemotherapy and continue his work as general manager throughout the treatments. Alderson, whose team reached the World Series this year, will miss next week's annual GM winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. | 1 | 96,657 | sports |
It creates high-pitched and high-intensity sound waves that can levitate polystyrene beads, keeping them in place, moving or rotating them. | 8 | 96,658 | video |
Thai police say Moscow's top intelligence agency has warned that a group of 10 militants from the self-styled Islamic State has entered the kingdom to target Russians | 8 | 96,659 | video |
The designer and reality star is selling her Pinterest-worthy penthouse. Fashion designer and former reality-TV star Lauren Conrad has listed her elegantly appointed duplex penthouse in Beverly Hills, California, for $3.2 million, Variety reports . Conrad, who purchased the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath condo for $1.35 million in March 2012, completely renovated the dated space, installing new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. The gourmet kitchen boasts Pinterest-worthy details like open shelving and a farmhouse sink, plus high-end appliances such as a La Cornue oven, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, and a Wolf drawer microwave. The double-height living room features a 20-foot-tall reclaimed-brick wall, plus a statement-making spiral staircase and a chandelier. The glamorous master suite includes a large dressing room, a bath with a clawfoot tub and glass-fronted shower, and a small balcony. The home also has a formal dining room, a breakfast nook, and a walk-in wet bar. On the upper level, there is a large landscaped roof deck with classic checkerboard tile floors. | 4 | 96,660 | lifestyle |
The 2015 NFL season is heading into the home stretch with plenty of teams battling for playoff spots in December. If you're a fantasy football owner who's not making the playoffs, however, your season most likely ends this week or next week. If you're not one of the lucky ones who will be checking their phones for fantasy scores in Weeks 15 and 16, it's probably because you have one of this year's 10 biggest fantasy football busts on your roster. Jamaal Charles and Le'Veon Bell aren't considered busts because they were productive before suffering their season-ending injuries. Unless othewise noted, players' point totals are based on Yahoo! public leagues and Fantasy Pros was used for average draft position (ADP). 10) Ameer Abdullah Why pick on a rookie whose ADP was 59 in standard leagues and 48 in points per reception (PPR) leagues? Because Ameer Abdullah was no longer about upside after running 24 yards for a touchdown less than five minutes into his career. The Lions running back rushed for 50 yards that day in San Diego and caught four passes for 44 yards to score 15.4 points. Abdullah has scored only one touchdown since then, a receiving TD in Week 3, and he hasn't run for 50 yards in a game since the opener. In seven games, Abdullah has scored less than five fantasy points and in four of them he's scored less than three. It turns out he was just a Week 1 tease. 9) Carlos Hyde Hyde had the 49ers backfield all to himself with Frank Gore gone to Indianapolis, and his ADP of 37 looked like a steal when he ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns in San Francisco's season-opening 20-3 win over the Vikings. Considering the Vikings are now leading the NFC North and the 49ers are last in the NFC West, the best explanation for that game is that it took place in some bizarro universe. It was a late-night game on a Monday. Did anyone really see it happen? Hyde has scored double-digit fantasy points just one more time and he scored just one more touchdown before going down with a foot injury in Week 7. He hasn't played since. 8) Jordan Matthews Jordan Matthews fantasy owners weren't panicking quite as much as Eagles fans after the team's 0-2 start. Matthews caught 10 passes in Week 1 and six passes, including a touchdown, in Week 2. Then came five straight weeks of five fantasy points or less. The high point of the Eagles season, and for Matthews, came when Matthews caught the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime at Dallas in Week 9. Since then, Matthews' fantasy fortunes have paralleled that of the Eagles. During the Eagles' three-game losing streak he's scored 2.1 points, 1.3 points and 12 points fueled by a garbage-time touchdown in the Eagles' 45-14 Thanksgiving Day loss at Detroit. Matthews' ADP was 14th among wide receivers, but he's 35th among receivers on the scoring list. He still doesn't have as many points as Steve Smith Sr. or Keenan Allen, players whose seasons have been cut short by injuries. Also ahead of him is Martavis Bryant, who sat out until Week 6. Matthews has caught 58 passes. No other Eagles receiver has more than 20 receptions, but with Jeremy Maclin out of the picture Matthews was supposed to be a lot more productive from a fantasy standpoint. 7) Jeremy Hill Jeremy Hill ran for 100 or more yards in five of the final nine games of his rookie season, and he was a first-rounder in many fantasy drafts this year with an ADP of nine. The closest Hill has come to the century mark this season is his 86 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the Rams. The 6'1″, 233-pounder is third among running backs with seven touchdowns, but they've been packed into three games. He's gone without a touchdown in eight games and has scored less than three fantasy points in four games. "Hue Jackson did call Jeremy Hill into his office Sat...As dynamic as that offense has been this year, he hasn't gotten going." @MikeSilver NFL Media (@NFLMedia) November 29, 2015 Giovani Bernard, meanwhile, has run for 581 yards this season after running for 695 in his rookie season and 680 last season. He also brings a pass-catching dimension that Hill doesn't have. Bernard has caught 135 passes in his career while Hill has caught 36. Hill will have to share touches with Bernard for the time being. 6) Jimmy Graham Jimmy Graham's fantasy value took a hit when he was traded from the Saints offense to the Seahawks' smashmouth offense. He still was the consensus No. 2 tight end off the board, which meant he was expected to be the best fantasy tight end not named Rob Gronkowski. It hasn't really worked out that way. Graham caught two touchdown passes in the first three games, but none since then. He's scored less than five fantasy points in six games and is just ninth among tight ends in fantasy points, behind players like Tyler Eifert, Gary Barnidge and Delanie Walker. More names will pass Graham on that list because a knee injury ended his season on Sunday. 5) Randall Cobb With Jordy Nelson out, Randall Cobb was going to have a monster fantasy season, right? Well, not quite. Cobb did have one monster game. He scored 28.3 fantasy points with three touchdown catches in a Week 3 win over Kansas City. The problem is he's had just three touchdown catches outside of that game. In the next four games, Cobb failed to reach five fantasy points. A consensus No. 20 pick in fantasy drafts, Cobb is 23rd on the wide receiver fantasy scoring list and hasn't been the WR1 most fantasy owners thought they were getting. 4) Demaryius Thomas Tavon Austin has more fantasy points than Demaryius Thomas this season. Think about that for a second. Sure, Austin can generate points running with the ball and catching it and he does have the occasional big game. Who would have thought, however, that fantasy owners would get more out of a receiver in the Rams' anemic offense than Thomas, a consensus second-round pick? Thomas has just two touchdown catches this season and is 22nd among receivers on the NFL.com scoring list. He had 168 receiving yards for 16.8 points in the Broncos' 29-10 win over the Packers in Week 10, but he's scored in double digits just once in four games since then. He bottomed out Sunday against the Patriots, catching just one of the 13 passes thrown his way and scoring 3.6 points. Demaryius Thomas has 11 targets and 0 catches tonight. Via @pfref , first time that's happened in an NFL game since 1995. Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) November 30, 2015 Thomas caught one of his more important targets Sunday, a 36-yarder to spark the Broncos' go-ahead touchdown drive with two and a half minutes left in regulation. But that's real football. There's no clutch points in fantasy. 3) Eddie Lacy Eddie Lacy would have been No. 1 on this list three weeks ago, but he ran for 100 yards in Week 11 and 105 in Week 12. Lacy isn't excused from this list, however. He was the top overall pick in many leagues and has ruined a lot of fantasy seasons. Between Week 2 and Week 6, Lacy failed to score double-digit fantasy points. Four times this season he's scored less than four fantasy points. If Lacy continues his resurgence he could be a star in the fantasy playoffs, but a lot of fantasy teams that rostered him won't get that far. 2) Marshawn Lynch Marshawn Lynch hasn't been fully healthy all season, and now he's out with an abdominal injury. But he's played seven games this season and scored less than fellow fantasy bust Carlos Hyde, who's also played in seven games. Expectations were much higher for Lynch, whose ADP was five, so he's more of a bust than Hyde. Lynch was the third-highest scoring fantasy running back last season but is averaging less than 10 fantasy points a game this year, and only the most savvy of fantasy owners handcuffed him with Thomas Rawls. Robert Turbin, now a Cowboy, and Christine Michael, now on the Redskins practice squad, both were drafted before Rawls in most ESPN.com leagues. 1) Peyton Manning Peyton Manning's numbers were generally expected to dip in 2015. He started to show his age late last season and had only the fourth-highest ADP among quarterbacks this year. Few expected Manning's decline to be this steep, however. The 39-year-old threw nine touchdowns and a league-high 17 interceptions in nine games before suffering a foot injury. Manning scored 21.24 points in Week 2 and 19.86 points in Week 3, but less than that in every game since then. Manning crashed and burned when the Chiefs intercepted him four times in Week 10. He scored minus-2.6 points that day and is currently 30th among quarterbacks on the fantasy scoring list, right between Colin Kaepernick and Nick Foles. Unlike those guys, however, Manning will at least be standing on the sidelines in January. | 1 | 96,661 | sports |
Young looking skin starts with what you eat. TC Newman (@PurpleTCNewman) has the anti-aging foods to put in your grocery cart! | 4 | 96,662 | lifestyle |
Real Madrid has been kicked out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player during the club's match against Cadiz on Wednesday. Winger Denis Cheryshev should have faced a one-game suspension after he accumulated three yellow cards in five matches on loan with Villarreal during the 2014 Copa del Rey. However, manager Rafael Benitez played Cheryzhev on Wednesday, and he scored the first goal in the 3 1 victory for Real Madrid. Real Madrid realized the mistake before halftime, and Cheryshev was taken out of the game. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said Thursday that the error was not the fault of the club because neither the club nor Cheryshev was informed of the suspension. • U.S. Department of Justice indicts 16 additional officials in FIFA scandal? "The one-match ban for three yellow cards in our view is not effective because no one has notified the player as specified in item 41.2 of the disciplinary code of the RFEF," Perez said. Cheryshev also said that Villarreal did not notify him that he had been suspended from playing in the first game of the 2015 Copa del Rey. | 1 | 96,663 | sports |
Her brother is believed to have been one of the shooters in the San Bernardino massacre. | 5 | 96,664 | news |
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) stock plummeted in premarket trade on Monday after the burrito chain issued a warning on Friday for the fourth quarter and said its sales have been hammered due to an E. coli outbreak. Earlier on Friday, the CDC reported the E. coli outbreak linked to the restaurant has expanded into nine U.S. states. Chipotle said it now expects sales at established restaurants to fall 8 to 11 percent this quarter. The company's shares were down more than 11 percent in premarket trade Monday. During regular trading, the stock ticked slightly lower after the CDC said seven more ill people have been reported in the multistate outbreak of E. coli infections linked to Chipotle locations. This means three more states (Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania) have now reported illnesses as part of the outbreak, bringing the total to nine states. The investigation has not determined what food is linked to the E. coli outbreak. According to the CDC, most people infected with E. coli develop symptoms of the illness about three to four days after contact with the germ. E. coli is among a vast array of bacteria that live in the human gut and generally cause no problems. But some strains can cause serious symptoms and even be life-threatening, and are spread by oral contact with fecal matter. "While these case are newly reported, they are not new. Exposure continues to be in the mid-October to early November time frame. They are just now making their way through the reporting process. I'd also note that the one case in Pennsylvania has no Chipotle exposure," wrote Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold in an email. Chipotle and other restaurants have put greater focus on fresh, unprocessed food. While that may be good for nutrition, experts say it raises the risk of foodborne illness because cooking kills pathogens that cause illness. An estimated 48 million Americans get sick each year from foodborne diseases. Of these, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die each year, according to the CDC. Only about 40 percent of reported foodborne disease outbreaks from 2002 to 2011 were solved, according to the watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest. Reuters contributed to this report. | 3 | 96,665 | finance |
MIAMI (AP) -- If Barry Bonds thinks a full-time return to baseball will help his Hall of Fame chances, he could be disappointed. Maybe he'll at least help the Miami Marlins. Bonds is joining the staff of new Marlins manager Don Mattingly as hitting coach. The media-shy, steroids-tainted home run king made a rare conference call appearance Friday to discuss his hiring, which raised his profile just as balloting is under way for 2016 Hall of Fame voting. "I'm a Hall of Fame baseball player with no doubt in my mind, no doubt in my heart," said Bonds, 51. "God knows that. That's all that matters to me. I'll leave the voting process up to you guys." Another slugger whose career was tarnished by steroids, Mark McGwire, was hired this week as bench coach of the San Diego Padres. Hall of Fame support for McGwire has actually declined since he began coaching in 2010, and last year he received his lowest vote total yet. McGwire was hitting coach for Mattingly the past three seasons when both were with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria first suggested hiring Bonds, according to team president David Samson. Mattingly seconded the idea. "I'm extremely impressed with Barry's willingness to be part of this team, and with his excitement about being back and teaching," Mattingly said. The Marlins need hitting advice. In 2015, when they finished 71-91, they ranked next to last in the majors in runs and home runs, and last in walks an area where Bonds excelled. Among the players he'll tutor is $325 million slugger Giancarlo Stanton. "I don't need to tell Stanton much," Bonds said. "He's a great ballplayer. All I need to do is tweak a couple of things here and there and keep him motivated. Some players I may have to work a little bit more." Bonds is the career leader in home runs with 762 and a seven-time NL MVP. His playing career ended in 2007, and he has worked as a guest instructor for the San Francisco Giants in spring training. He has privately tutored several players, including Alex Rodriguez. Bonds said he's not upset the Giants didn't offer him a full-time position and excited to join the Marlins. "San Francisco is my home," he said, "but this is the opportunity that came up." Bonds said he enjoys teaching and plans to put in long hours with Miami. "The only way I'm going to be able to do this is I've got to be in the trenches with the players to get their attention," he said. "Me being there day in and day out, I think I bring a lot to the table. I don't know if I'm going to be good at this or not, but I will be dedicated to it." The Marlins' hitting coach last year, Frank Menechino, will return as assistant hitting coach. Mattingly hired Juan Nieves as pitching coach and Lorenzo Bundy as outfield-base running coach. Federal prosecutors pursued a case against Bonds for nearly a decade before dropping what remained of their criminal case in July. But because of the taint of steroids, he's come up short in Hall of Fame balloting. Nearly a year ago, in his third try on the ballot, Bonds received 202 votes for 37 percent from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. A player must receive at least 75 percent to be elected. The voting, Bonds said, is out of his hands. "Me coming back to the game, I'm in a different capacity," he said. "I'm now a rookie coach. It's not about me. It's about those guys on the team now. Now my job is to help other players fulfill their dreams." The rest of Mattingly's staff will include bench coach Tim Wallach, first base-infield coach Perry Hill, third base coach Lenny Harris, bullpen coach Reid Cornelius and catching coach Brian Schneider. | 1 | 96,666 | sports |
Congress! They're just like us! Or, at least the 10 percent who have student loans. Fifty-three lawmakers owe money on student loans for themselves or a family member, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. The group had a total of 67 loans worth between $1.8 million and $4.6 million. The average loan amount was between $30,567 and $77,925. (Lawmakers report liabilities in ranges). That average is more than the $29,000 balance carried by the 40 million Americans with student loans. The debt-ridden group includes three senators and 50 representatives. As for party, it split 31 Republicans and 22 Democrats. Three representatives -- John Carter (R-Texas), Grace Wong (D-N.Y.), and Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) -- were reported owing at least $100,001 in loans. One surprising name on the list was Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass), who owes between $40,000 and $115,000, but has a net worth of $43 million. The loans were for his wife when she attended Harvard Law School, according to CRP. Student loans have been a hot-button issue on the campaign trail this year. Presidential candidates have vowed to tackle the debt crisis with a range of solutions. Bernie Sanders has proposed free college for all , while Marco Rubio's plan involves private investors helping students cover costs. Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley has said that he borrowed $339,200 to put his two oldest children through college, a decision some critics called a personal finance mistake. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Americans Tell Pollster: We're a Bunch of Stupid Losers Congress Prepares Huge Tax-Break Giveaways for 2015 Here's Why the Media Stopped Reporting on Clinton's New Emails | 3 | 96,667 | finance |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. For the second day in a row, poor weather stalled a critical space station delivery for NASA on Friday. An unmanned Atlas rocket stood ready to lift off at sunset with 7,400 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, representing the first U.S. delivery in months. But gusty wind interfered; launch controllers waited nearly a half-hour for the wind to ease, but it did not. Thursday's launch attempt was rained out. "It appears that maybe Mother Nature has played tricks on us once again," reported NASA launch commentator Mike Curie. The next launch attempt is Saturday, although forecasters put the odds of acceptable conditions at a lowly 30 percent. "We're ready to try again another day," said Vernon Thorp, a program manager for United Launch Alliance, the rocket maker. The six space station astronauts have gone without U.S. shipments since April. Two private companies hired by NASA to replenish the orbiting lab are stuck on Earth with grounded rockets. Orbital ATK bought another company's rocket, the veteran Atlas V, for this supply mission. Orbital's last grocery run ended in a fiery explosion seconds after liftoff in October 2014. SpaceX, the other supplier, suffered a launch failure in June. Russia also lost a supply ship earlier this year. But it's since picked up the slack, along with Japan. A Russian resupply mission, in fact, is scheduled just before Christmas. Much-needed food is inside Orbital's cargo carrier, named Cygnus after the swan constellation. NASA normally likes to have a six-month stash of food aboard the space station, but it's down a couple months because of the three failed flights. Space station program manager Kirk Shireman expects it will take another year to get the pantry full again provided there are no more accidents. Also aboard the newest Cygnus capsule: clothes, toiletries, spacewalking gear, air-supply tanks and science experiments. Orbital plans to launch another of United Launch Alliance's Atlas rockets in March, then return its own Antares rocket to flight from Virginia in May. SpaceX, meanwhile, aims to restart station deliveries in January with its Falcon rockets. ___ Online: Orbital ATK: https://www.orbitalatk.com/ NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html | 5 | 96,668 | news |
The last time Creighton and Wichita State shared the floor was in the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference title game when Doug McDermott scored 14 points in the Bluejays' 68-65 win. The Bluejays would move on to the Big East Conference at the start of next season, while the Shockers went onto have unprecedented success, appearing in the 2013 Final Four followed by an undefeated regular season in 2014. According to Paul Suellentrop of the Wichita Eagle , the two sides are open to renewing the rivalry. Rivalries have become causalities to conference realignment, but Creighton becomes the latest Big East member to attempt to revive a rivalry. Villanova and St. John's have had home-and-homes with Syracuse since the Orange bolted for the ACC, while Georgetown faces UConn and Syracuse this season. Last week's AdvoCare Invitational resulted in Xavier and Dayton playing against each other for the first time since February 2013 when both were members of the Atlantic 10. "I think it's going to happen," Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen said Thursday. "We would sure hope so," Wichita State deputy athletic director Darron Boatright said. "It makes complete sense." Creighton and Wichita State have played 100 times with the Bluejays holding a 55-45 advantage. | 1 | 96,669 | sports |
It's going to be a competition of youth versus Oscar vets leading up to the 2016 Academy Awards. | 6 | 96,670 | entertainment |
Despite being laid low by illness in the run-up to the event, Henrik Stenson will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the weather-interrupted Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City. The Swede had all but ruled himself out of competing earlier in the week after spending three days in bed ill, but he recovered to shoot an opening 66 and built on that on Friday with a five-under-par 67 to go clear at the top of the leaderboard on 11 under. RELATED: Leaderboard After a delay of just over two hours due to heavy rain and lightning at the South African resort, Stenson returned to complete his round and fired five birdies on the back nine. That allowed him to hold a one-shot lead over local favourite Jaco Van Zyl, who shot three birdies and an eagle in a 68 to sit at 10 under overall. "I'm surprised given that on Wednesday afternoon I didn't think I would be able to tee it up," said Stenson, a winner of this event in 2008. "I thought I was done and dusted, so to be leading after two days, it's a turnaround to say the least. But the saying is 'beware of the injured or sick golfer' and I guess that's true." Van Zyl had a birdie, an eagle and a bogey in the first four holes and two more birdies just after the turn, but he finished with seven straight pars to trail Stenson. "It felt a little like a duel between me and Henrik," said Van Zyl, who is looking for his first European Tour win. Robert Streb of the United States is two shots off the pace in third at nine under par after a 66 that featured four birdies and two bogeys in his last six holes. Australia's Marc Leishman is fourth at eight under, while elsewhere defending champion Danny Willett of England shot a 75 to drop back to two under overall. England's Lee Westwood had a nightmare day, shooting a nine-over 81 to lie third last in the 30-man field. | 1 | 96,671 | sports |
Chelsea's surprising struggles in the Premier League aren't worrisome to one of the club's all-time legends. Didier Drogba told SI's Grant Wahl on the Planet Fútbol Podcast that he's not concerned about the state of the club, which is 14 points off the pace in the title race and sits in 14th place with 15 points through 14 games. Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 games with Chelsea, where he won a Champions League title, four Premier League crowns, four FA Cups and three League Cups. After a couple of seasons away, he returned for one more campaign last season and helped the club return to the Premier League peak. It's been a vastly different story this season. "I think it's a difficult moment like a lot of teams had in the past," said Drogba, who now stars for the Montreal Impact in MLS. "Like Man U had, like Arsenal had, like Liverpool also had. But then we see big teams, big clubs and their ability to come out of this difficult moment and shine again, and I'm not really worried about Chelsea, because I know they're going to come back and be the best in Europe and in the league." | 1 | 96,672 | sports |
After a nine-month ankle injury lay-off Franck Ribery was named on Friday in Bayern Munich's squad for this weekend's Bundesliga trip to Borussia Moenchengladbach. Coach Pep Guardiola revealed Friday that the 32-year-old French midfielder was on the brink of making his return. And it was confirmed by the reigning three-time Bundesliga's champions later Friday that he would be in the squad for Saturday's game. "Franck has been training well this week. After nine months he feels no pain, which is delightful news. I believe he'll be back in the team before the winter break," Guardiola told a press conference. "He's in a good mood, he's been laughing again and that's great news," added Guardiola. If he plays on Saturday it will be his first match in his ninth Bayern Munich campaign since joining the club in 2007. AFP | 1 | 96,673 | sports |
The MLB's hot stove period is well underway. While the likes of Zack Greinke, Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Davis, and Johnny Cueto will grab the Lion's share of the attention now that David Price and Jordan Zimmermann have signed, there are some new free agents who were just non-tendered that are absolute impact players, assuming they land in the right place. Steve Cishek, Pitcher The numbers Steve Cishek produced in 2015 were undeniably rough. But there are two big reasons to be upbeat. 1. If you take the greater sample size of his 2011-2014 averages, Cishek has been a rock-solid relief pitcher. 2. His most recent sample size looks much better, as Cishek showed great improvement through the second part of 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals. I'll put my faith in the bigger and most recent sample size and say that Cishek can still pitch. It's hard to say if Cishek is a closer anymore, but he's got closer's experience. That makes him very valuable as a set-up man who can step in to close if the closer falters or gets hurt. Plenty of teams can use a guy like him, but the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics all make sense. Henderson Alvarez, Pitcher There's some give-and-take with Henderson Alvarez. On the negative end, Alvarez pitches to contact, with a career K/9 ratio of 4.7. Looking at things another way, though, Alvarez's worst BB/9 ratio is a very solid 2.8, which has kept his fielding independent pitching numbers in the decent range. If Alvarez is to remain a starter, a few teams jump out as good fits the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. Even if the Giants add Zack Greinke , they should be looking to add depth to their starting rotation, while the Pirates have to fill A.J. Burnett's spot in the rotation. With guys like Burnett, Francisco Liriano, and Ryan Vogelsong, both teams also have a strong history of reviving talented, but struggling pitchers. If Alvarez is willing to go to the bullpen, then that opens up many more possibilities. The bullpen makes sense, as Alvarez has had a hard time staying healthy and, while he'll only turn 26 in April, his injury history provides reasonable doubt about whether or not he can ever be a 180-200 innings guy. But, while his velocity has dipped (per Fangraphs ), Alvarez still has a plus fastball with pretty good sink, making him the kind of guy who can get out of a jam with one pitch. With Wade Davis and Trevor Cahill, The Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs both have a solid recent track record of turning struggling starters into good relievers. Each team would also make sense if Alvarez was to be a starter, but they'd be perfect matches if he was to go to the bullpen. Greg Holland, Pitcher The obvious qualifier here is that Holland underwent Tommy John Surgery in October and would therefore not likely be available at all in 2016. Just as obvious, though, is how dominant Holland was from 2011-2014. That's not a good reliever. That's one of the most dominant relievers in the game, and one who anchored the bullpen of the 2014 American League Champions. Obviously the 2015 season left a lot to be desired. But given that the season ended with Tommy John surgery, it's fair to speculate that he was probably injured for a good part of it. The list of pitchers who successfully came back from Tommy John surgery is not a small one. Even assuming that Holland won't pitch in 2016, he'll only be 31 by the time he can pitch again, which is not at all old for a short reliever. There isn't a single team in Major League Baseball that can't use a little extra help in the bullpen. There's no reason to believe that Holland can't be at worst a very good set-up man for any team in the league by the time 2017 comes around. If we're looking for a specific team, some of that depends on the kind of money that Holland would want, as they'd be on the hook for 2016, even though he won't pitch. If he's looking for big money, we're looking at a big-market team. If not, basically any team should be open to make this work. At any rate, I like the Boston Red Sox or Detroit Tigers for Holland, with a Kansas City reunion also making a lot of sense. Pedro Alvarez, DH Much like Holland, the numbers tell a pretty good story with Pedro Alvarez. But instead of looking at what he's done since 2012, why don't we compare that to a few other players over that same time frame? Player A? Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles, currently in the middle of a six-year deal worth more than $85 million. Player B? Current free agent Yoenis Cespedes, who will probably sign a nine-figure deal soon. I know those stats don't tell the full stories of the three players, and certainly there are some noticeable differences between those two and Alvarez (notably strikeouts and batting average). But Jones and Cespedes are both star players. Alvarez may be a liability in the field especially at third base but he can be an impact designated hitter for nearly any American League team, and could probably work well as a first baseman for any team looking for a boost of power. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cleveland Indians are interested in Alvarez. The team's website currently lists Carlos Santana as the team's primary first baseman and designated hitter, with Giovanny Urshela at third base. I see that as a pretty good fit. Chris Carter, DH Similar to Alvarez, we have a very powerful hitter that should probably be a designated hitter. At the plate, Carter is a guy that will hover somewhere in the .190-.220 batting average range and should produce an on base percentage in the .305-.320 vicinity, and could strike out around 200 times. Even with the 30+ home runs that Carter is likely to produce, those aren't the numbers that you'd like the see from a heart of the order guy. But how many teams wouldn't take that from their six or seven hitter? In addition to Alvarez, Hoynes suggested that the Indians may be interested in Carter. While I don't see it as quite as good of a fit as Alvarez, it's not a bad one. Personally, I'd see a team like the Chicago White Sox as a better match. He could be the primary DH for the South Siders, and could also fill in at first base on days where they'd want to keep the bat of Jose Abreu in the lineup but give him a break from the field. Carter would lengthen that lineup just enough to make the White Sox a team that no opposing pitcher would like to see, especially in hitter-friendly US Cellular Field. Another good fit would be the team he just left, the Houston Astros. | 1 | 96,674 | sports |
In a surprise move, East Carolina announced Friday it has fired football coach Ruffin McNeill. The well-liked McNeill posted records of 8-5, 10-3 and 8-5 from 2012-14, including three consecutive bowl games, but backslid to 5-7 this year. In the school's announcement athletics director Jeff Compher noted that ECU is just 8-8 in league play since joining the American Athletic Conference. Compher said in the release "our expectations are to compete for championships." McNeill, 57, took over in 2010 after Skip Holtz left for South Florida, and after serving as Texas Tech's interim coach in the 2009 Alamo Bowl. His best year was 2014, when the combination of quarterback Shane Carden, receiver Justin Hardy and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley helped the Pirates spend five weeks in the Top 25. Carden set the school's career passing yardage record and Hardy became the NCAA's record-holder for receptions. But when those two players graduated and Riley went to Oklahoma as offensive coordinator, East Carolina took a step back this year. McNeill's contract ran through June 30, 2018. As a buyout, he is owed his $400,000 annual base salary over the remaining term, subject to his obligation to mitigate the school's obligation by getting another job. The school is to pay him over the remaining term in equal semi-monthly installments, but the income from the new job will offset what ECU owes him. For now, ECU owes McNeill a little more than $1.03 million. Contributing: Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY Sports; The Associated Press COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHING CAROUSEL | 1 | 96,675 | sports |
Celebrate the holiday season with the help of America's First Families, past and present. | 4 | 96,676 | lifestyle |
Over the past few days, trade rumblings have emerged out of Alberta as the Edmonton Oilers may be looking for a trade partner for either one of Jordan Eberle or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Hockey insider Pierre LeBrun was one of the first to note that Oilers' GM Peter Chiarelli may be working the phones to find a dance partner for one of his two young forwards. That makes sense. Chiarelli has notoriously been an aggressive general manager, and was hired specifically to jolt the Oilers out of their decade-long funk. He's more than willing to part with core talent (just look at his infamous Tyler Seguin deal during his time with the Boston Bruins) to turn a franchise around. Initially, the fact that Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins' names are being tossed around may be a bit shocking. Because over the last several seasons, the player that has had his name on the block for seemingly forever is Nail Yakupov, the Oilers' 2012 first-overall draft pick that has never quite lived up to expectations. But the whole purpose of moving Yakupov was to shake up the core. But does moving Yakupov do that? Does he warrant a large enough return that the Oilers could truly start a new chapter in their franchise's book? Probably not. So insert Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins. Now, the Oilers can expect to field calls for both Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins. Both have relatively friendly cap hits for their production. Eberle, 25, is signed through the 2018-19 season with a $6 million cap hit, and Nugent-Hopkins, 22, is signed through 2020-21 at $6 million (all of this according to General Fanager ). And while both are in the midst of a slump (Nugent-Hopkins has three assists and no goals in his last nine games, while Eberle has just three goals and zero assists in all 13 games he's played this season), both are proven scorers at a young age. With a move like this, the Oilers management is going to have to take a step back and think about how much they want to shake the core of the franchise. If they want to give it a quick, little jolt, they should move Eberle. But if they want to apply a full-on defibrillation, they move Nugent-Hopkins. Nugent-Hopkins will likely field a lot more callers around the league than Eberle. A player like Nugent-Hopkins, a center capable of playing well on both sides of the puck, is a lot more difficult for teams to find than Eberle, a winger mirrored by several players throughout the league. And because a player of Nugent-Hopkins' caliber is so rare, he will yield a hefty return. Just look at what Boston got in return off of that Seguin deal. They received an established scorer in Loui Eriksson, high-end NHL prospects Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow, and Matt Fraser, a forward who actually ended up spending time with the Oilers just last season after Edmonton claimed him off of waivers. Now, Seguin, who is a Hart Trophy contender, may have been a bit more valuable to teams then as Nugent-Hopkins is now, but Nugent-Hopkins is not that far off. Seguin's two full seasons prior to his trade? 99 points in 129 games (due to the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season). Nugent-Hopkins' last two seasons? 112 points in 156 NHL games. That's only a .05 points per game difference. So while, yes, Seguin was younger at the time and held a lot more potential, Nugent-Hopkins has that exact same potential teams would crave. Not many 22-year-old players already have three 50-point seasons. But the problem is, Nugent-Hopkins holds that same amount of value to the Oilers. Should they trade Nugent-Hopkins, they all of a sudden have to find a premiere replacement to fill the nearly 60-point void he left behind. And head coach Todd McLellan recently spoke very highly of Nugent-Hopkins, comparing him to Joe Pavelski, McLellan's prized scoring forward during his time with the San Jose Sharks. Not that that same issue wouldn't arise with an Eberle trade. But as previously mentioned, players like Eberle, scoring wingers, are significantly easier to find than two-way scoring centers. But Eberle, who hasn't finished with less than 18 goals in his career (excluding his 48-game lockout-shortened season, in which he still scored 16 goals). That can still field some value. And while his value may not be as high at the moment with his disappointing start to the season, a team in need of a scoring winger may take the risk. One player who may influence Chiarelli's decision? Leon Draisaitl. His emergence this season has infused new life into the Oilers organization. With 18 points in his first 16 games this season, Draisaitl has supplemented himself as a top-six center, playing on the top line with Taylor Hall and Eberle. His emergence gives the Oilers three top-six centers to work with in he, Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid, who has been out of the lineup since Nov. 4 with a broken clavicle. When McDavid returns, it would be a waste of a valuable resource to push either he, Draisaitl or Nugent-Hopkins down as the third line center. That clearly makes Nugent-Hopkins way more expendable than Eberle, right? Not necessarily. Draisaitl has experience playing as a wing, and he's equally effective in comparison to the center position. And Oilers management, namely McLellan, visualized Draisaitl as a wing on the Oilers team just this offseason, telling this to Edmonton Journal's Bruce McCurdy . "I look at Leon Draisaitl, and in my opinion Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid are going to be #1 and #2 centermen in our organization for a long, long time, they're that talented and that good. Not that Leon isn't, but career-wise, he might love to be on one of their wings and playing in the top six rather than maybe being that third-line center. I think it's really unfair to peg him there, but we have to look at it from that perspective." If Draisaitl and the Oilers are comfortable with shifting Draisaitl to the wing, that makes Eberle more expendable. The Oilers are simply going to have to determine what they truly want to do with this move, if they even do it at all. If they move Eberle, they will get a decent return and not lose too much in the process, at least not something they can't replace with what they already have in their organization, and that doesn't even include what they'd get in return from the team that they are trading with. But if they move Nugent-Hopkins, they would lose a player that is not easily replaced, though they'd get a much larger return. Personally, I think it makes more sense for the Oilers to part ways with Eberle than Nugent-Hopkins. This will allow the Oilers to maintain the one-two punch of Nugent-Hopkins and McDavid up the middle, allowing a strong player like Draisaitl to slide over as a top-six wing. The return on Eberle won't be as large, but it will still bring in players (or picks) the Oilers will certainly be able to work with. And with another likely top-ten (or even top-five) draft pick looming for the Oilers in the 2016 draft, they will be able to land another significant forward, if they decide to go that route. It's just that players like Nugent-Hopkins don't come around that often, and while scoring wingers like Eberle don't necessarily grow on trees, they frequent the NHL a lot more than players like Nugent-Hopkins. Only time will tell if Chiarelli decides to move one of these players or not. But if does, no matter which player he chooses, it will completely change the course of his franchise. | 1 | 96,677 | sports |
Nicki Minaj's newly married brother, Jelani Maraj, 37, is facing first degree rape charges and first degree course of sexual conduct with a child , according to Nassau First District Court documents. Newsday first reported the findings after Maraj was arraigned on Dec. 3, with a source telling the publication that the victim is 12 years old. Court documents say the incident occurred April 1, 2015 and Maraj was arrested on December 1, 2015. A spokesperson for the Nassau County District Attorney's office told The Huffington Post that Maraj's bail was set at $100,000 and he is due back in court on Dec. 9. Maraj's lawyer, Andrea Zellan of Brafman & Associates, P.C., was not immediately available to comment. Due to the nature of the case, details about the incident are limited. Maraj married Jacqueline Robinson in Baldwin, New York in August. His superstar sister attended the event, where she Instagrammed a photo of herself with her arms wrapped around her brother's neck. "I would cross the ocean for u. I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man," the singer captioned the photo. "Can't believe I cried during his wedding and his first dance like a punk. May God bless him and his union. Tonight has been one of my favorite nights of all time. I do anything to see my brothers smile." I would cross the ocean for u. I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man. Can't believe I cried during his wedding and his first dance like a punk. May God bless him and his union. Tonight has been one of my favorite nights of all time. I do anything to see my brothers smile. A photo posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Aug 22, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT Requests for comment were not returned by Nicki Minaj. Also on HuffPost: | 6 | 96,678 | entertainment |
It may be chillier than most travel spots, but a trip to Antarctica is one you'll never forget. The first landing of a commercial passenger jet on the frosty continent happened last week on a blue-ice runway. Tour company Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions organized the flight of a Loftleidir Icelandic Boeing 757 to " prove the feasibility of landing commercial passenger airliners " in Antarctica, according to a company statement. This paves the way (or the ice, rather) for future passenger jets to land on Antarctica, which could majorly change the way we visit our southernmost continent . Currently, most visitors to Antarctica arrive by boat . ALE is one of the few tour companies that flies there, transporting passengers in cargo jets to which seats have been added to make them passenger-friendly. Making the switch to traditional passenger jets -- like the 757 that landed last week -- would make emergency evacuations easier and allow passengers more comfort, ALE spokesperson Leslie Wicks told HuffPost. There's no exact timeline for incorporating passenger jets into ALE's tour service, she said, but it looks like they'd be able to do so within two or three years. In other words, it's time to start planning a trip to Antarctica ASAP, before things really heat up (relatively speaking). Here's what you need to know: So how DO you get to Antarctica? As mentioned, cruise ships are still the main way to go for now. Ships often leave from Argentina, cross the Drake Passage and then bring guests ashore in Antarctica for guided visits of numerous cool (pun intended) spots. There are options to fly, too: ALE provides flights every week or so , leaving from Chile. It's best to browse flight and cruise services through the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, which advocates for responsible travel to the continent. What can you REALLY see there? Cruises can take visitors to see the dazzling South Shetland Islands , go camping , try their hand at kayaking or to spot whales and penguins off the coast. ALE's fly-in program lets visitors climb Mount Vinson , Antarctica's highest peak, and visit the South Pole while staying at the company's basecamp at the remote Union Glacier, where the commercial airliner landed last week. How much does this cost?! ALE's fly-in excursions start at around $24,000 for the flight, accommodations and food for a week, Wicks told HuffPost. (It's no wonder they don't list the price on their site .) Indeed, flights for upwards of $20,000 are common : You might want to book a cruise for a less expensive deal, though it's still costly. Quark Expeditions , for example, offers trips starting at $5,995 for an 11-day sail from Argentina. Again, doing your homework will help you find the best deal. Happy travels! Also on HuffPost: | 4 | 96,679 | lifestyle |
Give it a gander. | 8 | 96,680 | video |
Chances are, one of the first places you turn for quick information on everything from that new diet fad to a troubling rash to a cough that won't quit is your handy search engine (although if you have a medical concern, there's no substitute for an IRL appointment with your doctor). Here are the burning questions you searched for in 2015, along with answers from doctors and Health experts. 1. The question: "Is bronchitis contagious?" Acute bronchitis is a chest cold that occurs when the bronchial tubes get irritated and inflamed, producing mucus that makes you cough. It may or may not be the result of a bacterial infection, which makes this question a difficult one to answer. "For the most part, bacterial bronchitis and airway inflammation are not contagious per se," says Health editorial advisory board member David L. Katz., MD, director of Yale University Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Conn. and founder of True Health Initiative. "Often, however, the precipitant for a bout of bronchitis is a viral infection of the upper airway frequently called a cold and these, of course, are contagious." In other words, patients should think of acute bronchitis as more a symptom of an illness rather than an illness itself. "Generally, bronchitis is a complication of an infection involving the upper respiratory tract," explains Dr. Katz. "That infection is usually viral, and contagious. The complication of the infection bronchitis is not contagious, however. The subtlety here is that some viruses can cause bronchial inflammation even in the absence of prior vulnerability of bacterial infection, so the 'no' in this instance is a qualified no." In addition to acute bronchitis, more than 12 million Americans suffer from chronic bronchitis, which is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition is typically brought on by cigarette smoking, and is not contagious. RELATED: Getting a Cold? Do This Right Now 2. The question: "Is pneumonia contagious?" "The answer here is a qualified 'yes'," says Dr. Katz, explaining that most cases of pneumonia an infection that causes the lung's air sacs to fill up with fluid are bacterial. So if you come in contact with someone suffering from bacterial pneumonia, it's possible for that bacteria to be transmitted to you. He adds that this is particularly true with "community acquired" pneumonia such as tuberculosis, which is notoriously contagious. There are also strains of pneumonia that are viral rather than bacterial, and those are even more contagious. In general, however, "pneumonia is not spread nearly as readily as viral infections of the upper airway," says Dr. Katz. "It also stops being contagious when coughing stops, usually soon after the initiation of appropriate antibiotics." RELATED: The 5 Most Common Myths About the Common Cold 3. The question: "How much water should I drink?" From coconut water to maple water to cactus water, trendy water-like beverages reigned supreme in 2015. When it comes to staying healthy and hydrated, though, nothing beats a plain-old glass of H2O. But how much do you really need each day? "The easiest formula is to take your weight and divide it in half," says Keri Gans, RDN, a New York City-based nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet. "The number you get is the amount of water, in ounces, you should consume each day." For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should be drinking about 70 ounces (or nine cups) of water a day. However, Gans adds that you should always take into account other factors, such as temperature, if you're exercising , and if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, in which case you'll probably need more than that. "Another important thing to remember is that water isn't the only way to meet your hydration needs," says Gans. "Vegetables, fruit, and unsweetened beverages also count." RELATED: 6 Things You Should Know About Water (But Probably Don't) 4. The question: "How many calories should I eat?" Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. "Calorie needs are based on age, height, weight, activity level, health status, and if you're pregnant or breastfeeding," says Megan Roosevelt, RD, founder and CEO of Healthy Grocery Girl . "For the most accurate calorie intake calculations, you should meet with a registered dietician." Gans agrees: "Honestly, I never tell my patients to cut calories," she says. "I much prefer they focus their attention on creating well-balanced meals that include nutrient-rich foods and portion control." However, Gans acknowledges that being aware of how many calories in general you're consuming can help keep on you on track. She recommends that a 5'4″ woman consume between 1,400 and 1,600 calories a day if she's slightly to moderately active and upwards of 1,900 calories if she's very active. "But these numbers can still vary even more if we're talking about an elite athlete or someone who is very sedentary," she says. Need help sticking to your goals? In July 2015, the NIH launched a new calorie calculator that uses the latest research to give you a personalized calorie count and exercise regimen to aim for. RELATED: 31 Superfoods for a Long and Healthy Life 5. The question: "What is lupus?" Lupus , short for systemic lupus erythematosus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than 1.5 million Americans. Depending on its severity, the disease can impact the skin, kidneys, joints, heart, nervous system, and blood cells. Lupus is notoriously difficult to diagnose and is often confused with rheumatoid arthritis. One reason for this is that the symptoms vary widely from patient to patient and can include headaches , fatigue, joint pain, fever, and rashes (such as a sunburn-like "butterfly rash" that spreads across the face). In the fall of 2015, pop star Selena Gomez revealed that her time away from the spotlight in 2014 which many tabloids attributed to drug and alcohol addition was actually to treat lupus. "I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy. That's what my break was really about. I could've had a stroke," she said in an interview with Billboard . "I wanted so badly to say, 'You guys have no idea. I'm in chemotherapy.'" RELATED: 7 People on What It's Really Like to Have Lupus 6. The question: "How far along am I?" "Before we had blood tests and ultrasounds to help us determine how far along a pregnancy was, we relied on primitive information," says Joshua U. Klein, MD, assistant clinical professor of OB/GYN and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "Mainly, how large a woman's abdomen was a pretty inaccurate indicator and when her last period was." If a woman has a regular period, then the day of her last period is the most reliable (well, "semi-reliable," as Dr. Klein puts it) method for knowing how far along she is. "For women who don't have regular menstrual cycles, though, that kind of dating will be off." Thankfully, physicians today have more accurate methods for determining how far along a pregnancy is. "The primary instrument we use now is an ultrasound to look at fetus development," says Dr. Klein. "In the first six weeks of pregnancy, you can also get a human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) blood test that measures the level of the pregnancy hormone in your blood." Either way, knowing exactly when you conceived is important: "If you're wrong, your OB could incorrectly calculate your due date," says Dr. Klein. "And if it appears that you're 'late' for that date nine months later, your doctor may induce the pregnancy prematurely without realizing it." RELATED: 9 Women on the Weird Way They Brought On Childbirth 7. The question: "When do you ovulate?" In women of reproductive age, ovulation happens when an egg is released from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes, where it can be fertilized by sperm. For women with regular menstrual cycles, one of the easiest ways to monitor ovulation is by tracking your period . "If you have a period once a month, you're ovulating once a month," says Dr. Klein. "And the time of ovulation is usually in the middle of that cycle, approximately two weeks after the day of your last period." The average menstrual cycle is between 25 and 35 days, Dr. Klein says, but if you have longer intervals between periods say, every two months that means you're only ovulating once every two months, too. If that's the case for you, an at-home ovulation test can help you pinpoint exactly when ovulation occurs. "These tests typically have strips that can detect hormonal changes in the urine one to two days before ovulation," says Dr. Klein. "They can help you get a pretty reliable handle on the one or two days in your cycle that you're going to be ovulating, which is especially helpful if you're trying to get pregnant." Other than monitoring your period or taking a test, can specific symptoms alert you to ovulation? "Some women know their bodies very well and come to recognize symptoms like abdominal pain, cramps, and breast tenderness around the time that they're ovulating," says Dr. Klein. However, because those symptoms can so often be indicators of something else, he cautions against relying on them entirely. RELATED: 4 Cycle-Tracking Apps to Help You Get Pregnant 8. The question: "What is gluten?" Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye. Interest in gluten-free diets continued to climb in 2015, as more and more people opted for gluten-free alternatives. If you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity , cutting gluten out of your diet is critical, since it can damage your intestines and trigger other health issues. But experts agree that eliminating gluten isn't necessary for most people. A diet without gluten "can be very healthy, or it can be junk food," says Dee Sandquist, RD, a Fairfield, Ohio-based nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. And in fact, there are plenty of reasons to keep eating whole grains , which are a great source of fiber and can help aid digestion, control weight, and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. RELATED: 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Gluten 9. The question: "How long does the flu last?" When you're suffering from the seasonal flu , the only thing you can think about is getting better and quickly. So when can you hope to see relief from symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue? "This varies to some extent with the strain each year, and obviously goes on longer if complications develop," says Dr. Katz. "But the typical course of the flu is seven to ten days." While you're waiting for the virus to pass, prevent it from getting worse by drinking plenty of fluids, washing hands frequently, and eating vitamin D-fortified foods like orange juice and yogurt. RELATED: 20 Surprising Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu More on MSN Surprisingly bad things that can happen if you eat too many nuts | 7 | 96,681 | health |
The playoff push is on in the NFL. If you think you know how the playoff races will shake out, think again. These four potential Week 13 upsets all will affect the playoff race in one way or another. The odds are the Sports Book Review consensus point spreads as of noon on Friday. San Francisco (+7 1/2) at Chicago The Bears (5-6) have won three of their last four, including a landmark win at Green Bay on Thanksgiving, and could be in the thick of the NFC playoff picture with a win. But they still can't be trusted. The 49ers (3-8) show signs of a team that can give their fans something to look forward to next year. They gave the NFC West-leading Cardinals all they could handle last week in San Francisco. Carson Palmer was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this year but ran for the deciding touchdown with 2:35 left, and the Cards won 19-13. Plus, the Bears might have a home-field disadvantage. They're 1-4 at home this season. Houston (+3) at Buffalo The last time the Texans played an AFC East team on the road, they trailed 41-0 at halftime and lost 44-26 at Miami. The Texans (6-5) are a different team now after four straight wins. Brian Hoyer has completed 66.6 percent of his passes, exactly two-thirds, in the three games he's played during that streak. He might have time to read the paper and have a cup coffee against the Bills (5-6), who are 29th in the league with 16 sacks. Mario Williams could be back against his former team, but he has just three sacks in the 10 games he's played. J.J. Watt, meanwhile, has 9.5 sacks in the last five games. He might have a harder time catching Tyrod Taylor, but Watt is capable of winning a game by himself, especially one so evenly matched in which the Texans are getting the standard three points as the visiting team. Kansas City at Oakland (+3) The Raiders (5-6) were the flavor of the month before losing three in a row. Then they regained some momentum with a come-from-behind, 24-21 win at Tennessee last week. Meanwhile, Kansas City comes to Oakland with all sorts of momentum. The Chiefs (6-5) have won five straight. They could be without Justin Houston and his 7.5 sacks, however, and they were going to have a difficult time getting to Derek Carr to begin with. He's only been sacked 12 times. The Raiders play three of their final five games at home. They're 2-3 at home, but all three losses (Bengals, Broncos and Vikings) have come against division leaders. Indianapolis (+7) at Pittsburgh Matt Hasselbeck, the Colts' 40-year-old backup quarterback, could hit the big five-oh on Sunday. The Colts (6-5) could improve to 5-0 with him as the starter. The Steelers' 30th-ranked pass defense made Doug Baldwin (three touchdowns) and Jermaine Kearse (two touchdowns) look like Jerry Rice and John Taylor last week, and T.Y. Hilton's 16.1 yards per reception is fifth among receivers with at least 40 catches. The Steelers (6-5) are 7-1 in December over the past two seasons, but they don't do as well down the stretch when Ben Roethlisberger comes back from injuries. He missed three games with shoulder and rib injuries in 2012, and the Steelers lost three of their last four after he came back. He's had knee and foot injuries this year and is recovering from a concussion he suffered Sunday. | 1 | 96,682 | sports |
Is Will Muschamp already filling out his prospective South Carolina coaching staff? According to The State, which cited sources, Muschamp has offered former Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore a spot on his staff if Muschamp is named head coach. Muschamp, currently the defensive coordinator with Auburn after four years as coach at Florida from 2011-14, is believed to be the front-runner for the job, although FOX Sports insider Bruce Feldman reported Thursday that the Gamecocks also are expected to interview Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez before making their decision. The State also reported that Lattimore has been told by Muschamp that Muschamp has been in talks with school president Harris Pastides and that "they're going to try to get this thing done as soon as possible." Feldman and others have indicated that South Carolina would like to have a coach in place by Sunday. Lattimore, who suffered a horrific knee injury during his senior season at South Carolina in 2012, played one year for the 49ers before retiring from the NFL. The 23-year-old has said in the past that he does not plan to go into college coaching immediately, but per The State, Lattimore considers Muschamp's offer "intriguing." Of course, whether Muschamp gets the job remains to be seen, but the fiery 44-year-old seems to be at least planning for the possibility that he will. | 1 | 96,683 | sports |
Itâs payback time! | 8 | 96,684 | video |
Heather Ribas and Warwick Potter tie the knot in New York City. The Couple Names: Heather Ribas and Warwick Potter Ceremony: Grace Church, NYCReception: Racquet & Tennis Club, NYC The Dress Peter Langner from Mark Ingram Atelier The Details Invitations: Inslee by Design and Winifred Paper Flowers: Rosa Szule and Michael Walter for Lexington Gardens Event planner: Elizabeth K. Allen, Inc. Catering: Racquet & Tennis Club, NYC The Party The Cake Elizabeth Hodes | 4 | 96,685 | lifestyle |
Investigators discovered Facebook messages they used to track down a Cleveland-area teenager who police say ran away with a Missouri man only to be raped and held against her will for weeks, police said Friday. The 15-year-old girl was in serious danger while she was held captive even though she may have left willingly, they said. One of the messages, prosecutors said, read: "I haven't hurt her, I don't plan on it, but she keeps crying." Christopher Schroeder of Marthasville, Missouri, was charged with transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and statutory rape after he and the girl were found Tuesday at his home about 40 miles west of St. Louis. She returned home to the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn on Thursday night and was reunited with her family. Court records show Schroeder told authorities he thought the girl was 18, but investigators said she told him she was 15 more than once. His court-appointed attorney declined to comment on Friday. Schroeder, who is being held in jail in Missouri, is due in court Monday. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty called Schroeder a dangerous predator, comparing him to Ariel Castro, who kidnapped three young women and held them in a Cleveland home for a decade until they were freed by police in May 2013. One of those women, Michelle Knight, along with the family of fellow captive Gina DeJesus, joined hundreds at a rally last month to draw attention to the missing girl. She disappeared on Nov. 8 after she went outside to tie up her family's dog. Schroeder had been talking with her online for at least two weeks, taking advantage of a fragile girl who recently had suffered personal problems and persuading her to leave with him, Brooklyn police detective Joe Tenhunfeld said. Investigators said he picked up the girl and removed the memory card from her phone before taking her to Missouri. "He knew what he was doing," Tenhunfeld said. Once at his house, Schroeder had sex with the girl multiple times, smashed her phone and would not allow her to use the telephone or Internet without asking, according a criminal complaint. He also told her to cut or color her hair and lose weight, the court documents said. The teen said she told Schroeder that she wanted to go home, but she was afraid to leave because he had several guns in the house, according to the complaint. The girl's mother alerted investigators late last week to postings on a Facebook page that allowed them to find more messages and eventually locate the girl, Tenhunfeld said. | 5 | 96,686 | news |
All things considered, this is probably the best we've seen Jay Cutler play, now in his tenth NFL season. Cutler, 32, has been the butt of many jokes over the years comparable to Tony Romo in that regard, just without similar numbers. As for the Bears themselves, winners of just five games last season a mark they've already achieved this year they underwent plenty of change in the offseason. New Head Coach John Fox, for all of his conservative game managing and boy is it frustrating seems to have this team well enough prepared on almost a weekly basis. That was simply not the case last season. New Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has worked wonders with this unit one that was ranked 30th a season ago and has brought them up to 14th. That's undoubtedly no small feat. And despite the fact Chicago's offense ranks 22nd which is actually down a spot from a season ago new Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase (seriously San Francisco, you passed him up?) has consistently put Cutler in a position to succeed. All the while, this offense has dealt with numerous injuries. Rookie receiver Kevin White, the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, hasn't played a snap all season since undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his shin. While it was expected he'd be out for the year, there's still a chance White gets added to the active roster. Chicago has until December 15 to make that decision. Cutler called seeing White back on the practice field "…a breath of fresh air," and even that might be an understatement. Since Week 1, wideouts Eddie Royal, Alshon Jeffrey, and Marquess Wilson were dealing with injuries. Royal and Jeffrey have both missed time; tight end Martellus Bennett has been banged up and missed time; do-it-all running back Matt Forte missed multiple games. Even Cutler himself had to sit one out. Brandon Marshall is out making plays with Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets. Yet, when you put it all together, this could be Cutler's best season statistically speaking. Also of note: he's only been sacked 15 times this year, which ties him for 25th most in the league, according to ESPN . That's not too shabby considering he was sacked 23 more times last year (in five more games played). To hit 38 again, he'd have to be sacked a little more than four times per contest over the next five weeks. I don't see that happening. Most importantly, the turnovers or in this case, finally, a lack thereof. Through the 10 games he's played, Cutler has only thrown six interceptions. Stretch it out over the rest of the season, and he should finish with a career-low in INTs for a full season. Sure he's only thrown 14 touchdowns, and lost three fumbles which equates to nine total turnovers this season but he lost six last year while tossing a league-leading 18 picks. He led the league back in 2009 as well (26), and has thrown 14 or more interceptions in six of his ten years in the NFL with nine of those essentially counting as full seasons. His 63.2 percent completion rate, outside of last season, would be the best since '07, his 7.5 yards per attempt is his best mark since 2010, and the 92.5 passer rating would be a career high if it holds over the next five weeks. While it's not entirely likely Chicago makes the playoffs this season though at 5-6 in the NFC, anything is possible it's got to be a little more refreshing for Bears fans to see Cutler making smarter decisions with the football. His coaches deserve plenty of credit for that shorter dropbacks, quicker throws, and shorter routes have all contributed. Again, it's all a matter of putting your players in a position to succeed. This season, Cutler has thrived. But at 32 years old, it's tough to shake the feeling that this is a matter of too little, too late. Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference | 1 | 96,687 | sports |
Arsene Wenger dismisses rumours the Arsenal manager is set to line up John Stones as a possible transfer target this January. | 8 | 96,688 | video |
Katy Perry wears angel wings on the red carpet, plus more celebrities with wings It's the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is upon us, and we're just days away from the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show , which debuts on CBS on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Pass the time until we watch our favorite Angels strut their stuff on the runway by taking a look back at other stars who've sported wings, starting with Katy Perry. The singer accessorized with angel wings at the 2011 Grammy Awards . Now keep reading for more! Rihanna donned colorful wings while partying at Carnival in her native Barbados on Aug. 3, 2015. Miley Cyrus wore butterfly wings -- and not much else! -- while performing in New York City on May 13, 2015. Heidi Klum dressed up like a crow -- complete with intricate feathered wings -- at her 10th annual Halloween party in West Hollywood, California, on Oct. 31, 2009. Back in 2009, Lady Gaga wore bat wings while performing on the British version of "The X Factor" in London. In 2009, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey dressed up like angels for a Halloween bash in New York City. Britney Spears wore an elaborate angel costume while performing as part of her "Piece of Me" residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Feb. 5, 2014. Lucy Hale donned wings to dress up as the Twitter bird logo at a Halloween party in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2014. Justin Bieber descended onto the stage while strapped into an elaborate pair of mechanical wings while performing in Manchester, England, on Feb. 21, 2013. Hilary Duff wore fairy wings while celebrating Halloween with Mike Comrie in Beverly Hills, California, on Oct. 25, 2014. Rebel Wilson donned angel wings during the 2015 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on April 12, 2015. Vanessa Hudgens wore an angel costume -- with wings! -- while celebrating Halloween with a gal pal in in Beverly Hills, California, on Oct. 25, 2013. Katy Perry wore a butterfly costume while performing during the 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards at MuchMusic HQ in Toronto on June 17, 2012. Heidi Klum dressed up like a butterfly at her 15th annual Halloween party in New York City on Oct. 31, 2014. Sharon Stone donned feathered hawk wings on the red carpet at the fourth annual Hotbed Gala at The Drever Estate in Tiburon, California, on Aug. 22, 2015. LeAnn Rimes wore an angel costume to a Halloween bash in Los Angeles on Oct. 30 2015. Annie Lennox wore angel wings while performing during The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration at Buckingham Palace in London on June 4, 2012. Mr. T wore monarch butterfly wings while promoting Fuze Iced Tea in New York City on June 10, 2015. Back in 2005, Brittany Snow dressed up like Tinker Bell for a Halloween party in Los Angeles. Whoopi Goldberg wore black feathered wings at a Halloween party in New York City on Oct. 30, 2009. | 6 | 96,689 | entertainment |
You'd think your name, birthdate, Social Security number and credit card data would be priceless. But according to a new report from Intel Security, U.S. credit card data is much less valuable than data found in the U.K., Canada, Australia or European Union. In fact, it's only worth a measly $30. (That drops to $5 if you're just after computer-generated credit card data.) What gives? Raj Samani, who wrote the report as chief technology officer of Intel Security, offers a couple of reasons. First, the price of stolen data has declined significantly, while data breaches have flooded the market with stolen info. "I think a lot of it comes down to supply and demand," Samani says. "There are hundreds of millions of cards, and specifically U.S. cards, that have come onto the marketplace." It's cheaper to purchase credit card data now than it was a few years ago because there are so many sellers and prices are competitive. Beyond the data breaches, the treasure trove of U.S. card data partly stems from our large population and cards' magnetic stripe technology, Samani says. It can be more expensive to find data on chip-and-PIN cards, which are used around the world and particularly in Europe, but are just now becoming mainstream in the U.S. (The retailer shift to chip-and-swipe credit cards is a step toward the more secure chip-and-PIN system, though chip and PIN does a better job of preventing fraud resulting from a misplaced or stolen card.) Then again, card-not-present fraud is an issue in several countries, so the difference may only partly explain variations in card data pricing. Prices for software-generated U.S. credit card numbers and security codes can even be sold for as little as $5 per card, according to the Intel Security report. The stolen data economy is huge and easily accessible, Samani says, so don't be surprised if you fall victim to identity theft. Chances are you have, so be sure to check all your accounts for signs of fraud. You can also check your credit scores and reports to spot signs of identity theft. | 3 | 96,690 | finance |
Sixteen people are burned to death or die from smoke inhalation at a Cairo nightclub after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at it. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). | 8 | 96,691 | video |
Although your weight loss and workout routine may call for a diet with red meat because it's a rich source of belly-flattening protein, new research shows just how mind-blowing the connection is to strokes. The numbers are staggering for both men and women, but the worst for meat-eating males. According to a study from the University of Wurzburg in Germany, men who consume about 3.3 ounces of red meat each day (that's a little bigger than the size of your computer mouse) have a 62 percent higher risk of experiencing a life-threatening ischemic stroke than those who consume about 1.7 ounces. An ischemic stroke occurs when the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood become blocked by excess protein, forming a clot and depriving the brain of oxygen and other nutrients. Consuming this protein from red meat increases the chance a person will experience this blockage, whereas protein from poultry, seafood, or vegetable sources like nuts and legumes does not. It's even easier to pack protein into your day with these 25 Best High-Protein Snacks in America ! To assess the link between protein and stroke risk, lead researcher Dr. Bernard Haring and his colleagues analyzed dietary protein intake data and self-reported food frequency questionnaires of middle-aged Americans who didn't exhibit common risk factors for strokes like diabetes or heart disease. The study was initiated in the year 1987 and the participants were followed until 2011 to see how many of them suffered strokes. During this 23 year span, 699 strokes were reported among the 11,601 participants. To see if protein consumption was linked to stroke risk, researchers compared those who consumed the lowest average of protein a day, 1.7 oz, to those who consumed the highest, 3.3 oz, with their incidence of strokes. They found that the risk of strokes was a shocking 41 percent higher for the men and women who consumed highest amount of red meat. For the most common form of stroke, ischemic, that risk was actually 47 percent. Take women out of the equation and the risk was 62 percent higher for men specifically. When rethinking your meal-to-meal choices, be sure to first check out the 10 Daily Habits That Blast Belly Fat . And keep calm, carnivores. Because the study was based only on naturalistic observation, researchers have no control over the variables, nor predictions as to how changing your diet might help reduce the risk of future strokes. If you're going to eat red meat, just do it in moderation: "It's ok to eat red meat preferably lean red meat as long as you limit the amount," Dr. Haring affirmed. | 7 | 96,692 | health |
The golf swing requires good proprioception because it's impossible to watch the movements of every body part involved and watch the ball. Here are two body-weight exercises you can do that will improve your awareness of body movements when you swing. | 1 | 96,693 | sports |
CNBC's Mary Thompson reports jobs are being created in digital retail as more consumers shop online. | 3 | 96,694 | finance |
Republican presidential candidates offered their thoughts and prayers to the victims of Wednesday's shooting in San Bernardino. Then they immediately mounted an unapologetic defense of the right to bear arms. Ted Cruz chose symbolism, deciding to go ahead with a previously scheduled event where the Texas senator plans to unveil his "National 2nd Amendment Coalition." The event is to be held Friday at a 17,000-square foot indoor shooting range in Johnston, Iowa, that defines its corporate purpose as, "To glorify God in all we do and to be a positive influence to all who come in contact with CrossRoads Shooting Sports LLC." | 5 | 96,695 | news |
U.S. rail operator Norfolk Southern on Friday said it had rejected an unsolicited takeover by Canadian Pacific that would have created a transcontinental rail company. Canadian Pacific had offered cash and stock worth $37.8 billion for Norfolk Southern in what would have been the second-largest merger or acquisition in the history of global transportation, according to Dealogic. But Norfolk Southern ( NSC ) said it could boost its profitability as an independent company and said it doubted that the deal which was valued at $28 billion excluding debt could win regulatory approval anyway. "There is a high probability that, after years of disruption and expense, the proposed combination would be rejected by the Surface Transportation Board," Norfolk Southern CEO James Squires said in a statement, referring to a U.S. regulatory agency that would have to sign off on the transaction. "Even if the proposed combination were ultimately to be cleared, it would be subject to a wide range of onerous conditions that would reduce the value of the stock consideration that has been proposed." Disappointed shareholders drove down Norfolk Southern stock by 4% to $89 in pre-market trading Friday. The rejection also exposed the wide rift between the two companies on business strategy. Squires blasted what he described as "Canadian Pacific's short-term, cut-to-the-bone strategy" that would drain "substantial revenues" and risk "harm to vital transportation infrastructure and the communities we serve." He also rejected Canadian Pacific's proposed establishment of a voting trust to speed the tie-up, saying that it was without precedent. Canadian Pacific did not immediately release a statement. One of the company's shareholders is hedge fund investor Bill Ackman, who has a reputation as an activist investor. In a letter to Canadian Pacific CEO E. Hunter Harrison and Chairman Andrew Readon, Squires called the deal "grossly inadequate" and said the rival executives had refused to sign a confidentiality agreement to discuss the proposal privately. Norfolk Southern operates about 21,000 rail miles in 22 states, with a strong presence in the Northeast and Great Lakes. The company has suffered a sharp blow from the financial challenges facing one of its biggest customers, the coal industry, which is losing energy market share to natural gas. Low oil prices have also made trucking more appealing as a shipping option. "We are implementing various strategic reductions and network rationalizations to respond to these structural changes," Squires said on a conference call. | 3 | 96,696 | finance |
Egyptian security officials say an attack on a restaurant in Cairo has left at least 16 people dead and two others injured. Nathan Frandino reports. | 8 | 96,697 | video |
Kent Phillips/Disney Parks via Getty Images What started off as an unlikely underdog story turned into a phenomenon that changed the world. While Hollywood expected "Star Wars" to be a huge flop in 1977, it ended up, as we know, one of the most financially successful films of all time, and kicked off a franchise that can't be killed. "The Force Awakens," the seventh film in the "Star Wars" saga, will be released on December 18, 2015. Expectations are incredibly high. No less a Hollywood mythmaker than Steven Spielberg thinks it could be "the biggest movie ever." While George Lucas gave up control of the franchise in 2012, he still made a tremendous profit off of it. That is not just because he created the original story. Lucas gained control of licensing and merchandising rights before "A New Hope" was even released. This smart move ultimately turned him into one of the most successful people in the entertainment industry. This is the path that George Lucas took that turned him into a billionaire. In 1973, George Lucas had just finished directing the beloved coming-of-age film "American Graffiti." AP Images The high school comedy remains one of the most profitable movies of all time. Made on a budget of $777,000, it earned $140 million in revenue. Universal via YouTube Source: Pajiba The success of "Graffiti" gave Lucas some much-needed clout in Hollywood. Producers were excited to hear his next idea. Lucas wanted to direct a sci-fi Western called "Star Wars." 20th Century Fox/LucasFilm via YouTube At the time, nobody took sci-fi movies seriously. The genre had seen too many flops, like the infamous "Plan 9 from Outer Space." While many studios turned Lucas down, he found support from Alan Ladd Jr. at 20th Century Fox. 20th Century Fox/LucasFilm via YouTube Source: The Hollywood Reporter Early buzz on "Star Wars" was good. Spielberg thought it would be huge even then. AP Images "A New Hope" was released on May 25, 1977. It shattered all expectations with a gross of $775.4 million worldwide. But it wasn't this number that really made George Lucas rich... Lucasfilm Source: Box Office Mojo Convinced the film would be a flop, Fox let Lucas pass up an additional $500,000 in directing fees in return for keeping licensing and merchandising rights for himself. This was great for Lucas, but terrible for Fox. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Source: The Hollywood Reporter In 1978, more than 40 million "Star Wars" figures flew off the shelves for gross sales of more than $100 million. Flickr / Chris Murphy Source: The Hollywood Reporter In 2011, a year in which there was no new "Star Wars" movie, "Star Wars" toys brought in more than $3 billion. AP Images Source: The Hollywood Reporter Lucas' standing among "Star Wars" fans was damaged with the divisive prequels, which he directed. Still, Lucas remained 100 percent in control of Lucasfilm. Lucasfilm/"Attack of the Clones" Source: USA Today In 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. It was a match made in heaven. And Lucas was an incredibly rich man. He's now worth $5.3 billion. Disney / YouTube screencap Source: Variety ; Forbes Like Lucasfilm, Disney is masterful at merchandising and licensing. Getty Images For example, "Frozen" made $1.3 billion worldwide. The film's merchandising value was reportedly so strong that it lifted both Disney's earnings and total toy sales. Disney/YouTube Source: Fortune "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" comes out December 18. Some predict that it will be one of the biggest movies of all time, with record-breaking advance-ticket sales. Action figures of new characters were already flying off the shelves long before the film's release. YouTube While Lucas was given the opportunity to consult, he decided to hand over the reins to J.J. Abrams. Source: Reuters Lucas had no involvement in "The Force Awakens," but it's safe to say that the film's inevitable success will be in large part because of him. Kent Phillips/Disney Parks via Getty Images Lucas has yet to see the movie, which he says "would be like a divorced man going to the wedding of a grown child." Getty Images "My ex will be there, my new wife will be there, but I'm going to have to take a very deep breath and be a good person and sit through it and just enjoy the moment, because it is what it is and it's a conscious decision that I made," Lucas told Reuters. Source: Reuters | 6 | 96,698 | entertainment |
"Late Late Show" host James Corden and Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo decided to get some R&R together and have an epic sleepover. | 8 | 96,699 | video |
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