text
stringlengths 5
144k
| label
int64 0
9
| id
int64 0
100k
| label_text
stringclasses 10
values |
|---|---|---|---|
Picture rival Old West gunfighters eyeballing each other from across a dusty saloon. They sit there staring holes in each other's foreheads, matching the other guy shot for shot, and neither sees the ambush coming from the side window. That's how the Dodgers and Giants must've felt when Zack Greinke wrote his own plot twist and agreed to terms with the Diamondbacks for a reported six years and $206 million. Reports indicate neither the Giants or Dodgers were willing to stretch beyond five years for a 32-year-old pitcher. The D-backs were, and in doing so have radically altered the National League West. The Giants dreamed of placing Greinke alongside Madison Bumgarner. While Jeff Samardzija qualifies as a pretty swell consolation prize, he's more durable innings-eater than co-headliner. The Dodgers sought the status quo. They'll sign a replacement for Greinke - after reportedly finishing second on Samardzija - but no matter who it is the rotation won't be as formidable. And the D-backs, with one of baseball's best pitchers joining a young and improving lineup led by Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock, make the division a three-way tug-o-war. In the space of 16 hours, the Hot Stove went from lukewarm to scalding. Even though Samardzija isn't a true ace, his reported five-year, $90 million contract may end up being a bargain in baseball dollars. It could also end up being a Rowand-esque bust. Depends on whether the Giants are getting the guy who looked to be finally maturing as a full-time starter with the Cubs and Athletics in 2014 - or the guy who last season with the White Sox allowed more hits, runs and homers than any pitcher in the American League. Take a closer look, though, and a possible explanation emerges: The White Sox play in a hitter-friendly ballpark and have one of baseball's worst defenses. Of this there is abundant statistical evidence, and here's some in anecdotal form tailored to Fresno-area baseball fans: Conor Gillaspie played 58 games at third base for the White Sox in 2015. The Giants are betting the spacious confines of AT&T Park, combined with airtight defense provided by Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Buster Posey et al., makes all the difference. Not to mention the tutelage of Dave Righetti, who 15 years ago helped transform a hard-throwing but unpolished right-hander named Jason Schmidt. Samardzija's durability is an indisputable plus. He has pitched at least 213 innings over each of the past three seasons. Bumgarner is the only Giants starter who has surpassed 200 innings since 2012. Also, because Samardzija took an unusual career path (he was a star receiver at Notre Dame and came up as a reliever with the Cubs), his 30-year-old arm has less mileage on it than others. "The guy is a horse," Giants general manager Bobby Evans said Saturday on a conference call with reporters. "You look at his track record, look at the presence he brings on the mound, look at the back-to-back-to-back 200-inning seasons, and he's a force to be reckoned with." By all indications, the Giants aren't done shopping. There's money in the kitty for another multiyear contract. I'm guessing it goes to an outfielder who can provide some presence in the lineup - Justin Upton would be a good fit - but starting pitching still feels like a need. "There's a number of different directions we can move," Evans said. So, too, can the Dodgers, whose rotation is no longer headed by baseball's scariest one-two punch. Baseball's wealthiest franchise sure picked an odd time to become fiscally responsible. The Dodgers' maximum offer for Greinke was reportedly five years and $155 million. Now that everyone in baseball knows the Dodgers are desperate for an upper-tier starter, the price tag for the only free-agent left who fits that description (Johnny Cueto) just went through the roof. So instead of spending $200 million for Greinke, the Dodgers will have to fork over something like $150 million for Cueto, whose postseason r�sum� is spotty at best. If they blanch at that, the leftovers include Mike Leake, Scott Kazmir and Wei-Yin Chen. The Dodgers, also in need of a starting second baseman and bullpen help, have many prospects (plus outfielder Yasiel Puig) that could be included in trades. However, the Andrew Friedman-Farhan Zaidi brain trust has shown extreme reluctance to do so. While the Dodgers build for the future, they're in grave danger of wasting Clayton Kershaw's prime years. Everyone assumed Greinke would return to the Dodgers, where his presence undoubtedly pushed Kershaw, or join the archrival Giants and do the same for Bumgarner. Greinke spurning both for the Arizona desert wasn't in the script, and now the NL West has a new gunslinger to deal with. Marek Warszawski: 559-441-6218, [email protected], @MarekTheBee. | 1 | 97,200 | sports |
'Star Wars' director J.J.Abrams believes the film can't live up to the high expectations of fans and discusses the mystery of Luke Skywalker's disappearance. Rollo Ross reports. | 8 | 97,201 | video |
Voters in Venezuela are heading to the polls on Sunday in Congressional elections that are being seen as the first serious challenge to the governing socialist party. | 8 | 97,202 | video |
The Western Conference has won the last four Stanley Cups and 60% of their games against the East. So far this year, three East teams lead the league in points. Is the East closing the competitive gap? | 1 | 97,203 | sports |
TORONTO (AP) -- Stephen Curry likes playing in Toronto, and it shows. Curry made nine 3-pointers and scored 44 points, leading the undefeated Golden State Warriors to a 112-109 victory over the Raptors on Saturday. BOX SCORE: WARRIORS 112, RAPTORS 109 Curry was 14 for 24 from the field and 9 for 15 from beyond the arc as Golden State pushed its NBA-record start to 21-0. The NBA MVP is averaging 30 points for his six career games at Toronto, where his father, Dell, played for his final three seasons. "I have great memories of being here watching my dad play. I got some shots up on that rim for three years every game night," he said. "I enjoy coming back here and playing, it's a familiar setting." Klay Thompson added 26 points for the Warriors, and Draymond Green had 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the win moved Golden State past the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association, a predecessor to Major League Baseball, for the best start to a season by a professional sports team. At 25 consecutive regular-season wins, the Warriors also possess the third-longest streak in NBA history, behind only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33) and the 2012-13 Miami Heat (27). "That's our 11th win on the road this year so you have to give the guys in there so much credit for even on the games where we really don't have it, finding ways to win," interim coach Luke Walton said. This one was a challenge. The three-point margin matched the smallest of the season for the Warriors, who won 106-103 at Utah on Monday. "It's really good," Curry said. "Twenty-one different challenges and we've been able to separate each one individually and figure out different ways of winning. It's been fun." Kyle Lowry made six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 41 points for Toronto, which has dropped three of four. DeMar DeRozan recovered from an ugly 1-for-10 shooting performance in the first half, finishing with 16 points. The Raptors also played a tight game at Golden State on Nov. 17, losing 115-110. "We have to understand it's the best team in the league and we had them down to the last possession of both games," DeRozan said. "It just shows how good of a team we can be. We have to learn from it." Lowry found Lucas Nogueira for an alley-oop dunk with 2:03 to go, tying it at 102. Green responded with two foul shots for Golden State. After DeRozan went 1 for 2 at the line, Curry hit two more free throws. Curry and Thompson then combined to go 6 for 6 at the line in the final 18.2 seconds to help Golden State hang on. "It seems like he gets 40 points quietly," Thompson said of Curry. "I know times that I've gotten 40 in the NBA, I've been very happy with it, but he just seems to not be content. His skill level and ability to shoot are unparalleled, and he's a truly special talent we might never see again." 40 AGAIN It was Curry's seventh game of the season with at least 40 points, but the first time in his career that he had accomplished the feat in consecutive games. He also scored 40 points in Wednesday's 116-99 victory at Charlotte THE GIANT OF AFRICA On the second anniversary of the death of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri hosted "The Giant of Africa," an evening-long celebration of Mandela's life and legacy. The players wore specially designed T-shirts during warmups and on the bench and the Raptors welcomed a number of special guests, including former NBA stars Isiah Thomas and Bob Lanier along with international soccer star Didier Drogba. QUOTABLE "There was a stretch where I was playing with Kobe when he scored like 40 points I forget how many games in a row but it was mind-blowing to see that happening night after night and that's kind of similar to what Steph is doing right now. It's unbelievable, every single night at some point he takes over the game." -- Walton on comparisons between Curry and Kobe Bryant, whom he played with for nine years with the Los Angeles Lakers. TIP-INS Warriors: Golden State outscored its opponents by a total of 308 points in its first 20 games, the best margin in NBA history for that point in the season. ... Andrew Bogut (back) and Harrison Barnes (left ankle) sat out. Raptors: Toronto has led at the end of the first quarter in just six of its 21 games so far this season. ... The Raptors played consecutive home games for the first time this season, the last team in the NBA to do so. UP NEXT Warriors: Visit Brooklyn on Sunday. Raptors: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. | 1 | 97,204 | sports |
Erik Karlsson scored the winning goal in overtime to give the Senators a 3-2 victory over the Islanders Saturday. Kyle Turris suffered a leg injury in the win. | 1 | 97,205 | sports |
Workers from CSC Security hired to guard the field during the AAC Championship Game Saturday between Houston and Temple went completely overboard with their excessive force used on students trying to rush the field. The Cougars beat the Owls 24-13 at their home stadium, so naturally fans were eager to celebrate the victory. Some tried to run on the field, but they were met with body slams, tackles, punches, and more: Some fans were able to make it on the field following today's win. The rest of Coogs fans? Not so fast. #abc13 pic.twitter.com/nYTUezcXW8 Houston News (@abc13houston) December 6, 2015 This video has some curse words, so beware: The school's AD said in a statement that he saw some of the footage and expressed his anger and disappointment with what he saw. He promised swift action. Statement from University of Houston VP/athletics Hunter Yurachek on issues with security today at TDECU Stadium pic.twitter.com/3wKtSDrGFD Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 6, 2015 | 1 | 97,206 | sports |
Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas recovered a fumble forced by Blake Martinez after sacking USC QB Cody Kessler for a 34-yard touchdown in the third quarter of the Pac-12 championship game. In this "Keurig Rewind," we show you the play helped shift momentum back to the Cardinal's favor as Stanford beat USC 41-22 to claim its third conference championship in four years. | 1 | 97,207 | sports |
Alabama 29, Florida 15: Five things we learned Alabama is methodically turning into the complete team everyone expects from a Nick-Saban coached team. Jake Coker is efficient as a thrower (and extending plays with his legs), Derrick Henry is Derrick Henry, receivers continue making plays and the defense is suffocating. SEC: It's time Tide get tested | Championship Game photos With its win Saturday night in the SEC Championship Game, Alabama locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff (the Tide were ranked No. 2 in the last rankings). While their attention will turn to their Dec. 31 opponent (they'll find out who Sunday), the Crimson Tide will still likely have to deal with the loss of defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. 1 Fourth quarter grind Alabama has outscored opponents in every quarter this season. That's no surprise. While the fourth quarter differential is impressive 107-64 it's the way Alabama beats down opponents in the final 15 minutes that widens eyes. Opponents hang around like the Gators did Saturday night in Atlanta and Nick Saban orders up a large dose of Derrick Henry. The offensive line looks fresh and the Crimson Tide dominate the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter like no other team in the country does. Henry ran 44 times for 189 yards and touchdown. MORE: Henry steamrolling toward Heisman 2 How focused Alabama looked disinterested early Saturday in Atlanta. No one expected Florida to pull the upset and the Tide played that way early, falling behind before throwing their weight around and dominating the rest of the game. MORE: Henry ties Tim Tebow record Alabama will play in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Dec. 31 the final playoff rankings are released Sunday and they could be playing without defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Smart is expected to be named Georgia's head coach as early as Sunday or Monday. Will Smart stay along for the playoff ride? The AJC reported that Smart would stay through the playoff run. In 2011, then-Tide offensive coordinator Jim McElwain stayed through the BCS Championship Game Alabama beat LSU 21-0 then left for Colorado State, where he was announced as the Rams head coach on Dec. 13. 3 Not special, then special With the advantages Alabama had entering this game on offense and defense, it made sense that Florida could use some special teams plays to turn things in their favor. Alabama blocked a punt out of the end zone to take a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Advantage, Crimson Tide. Then Alabama blocked a field goal attempt. Bigger advantage, Tide. But Florida answered when Antonio Callaway returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown to give Florida a 7-2 lead. But that would be it for the Gators. MORE: Watch Saban get mad at player after penalty 4 Calvin Ridley is good Ridley caught 17 passes in Alabama's first four games. Not bad for a freshman. In his next four games he caught 28 passes. The next four, another 22. On Saturday night in the SEC Championship Game, Ridley was Jake Coker's go-to guy again. He caught eight passes for 102 yards, and his biggest catch was the game-changer. With All-American DB Vernon Hargreaves in front of him and safety Marcus Maye behind, Ridley hauled in a 55-yard throw from Coker to the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Derrick Henry scored and Alabama had its first lead, 12-7. 5 Call for QB Don't blame it on Treon Harris. Alabama's been harassing opposing quarterbacks all season. But Harris was at an added disadvantage: Florida's offensive line was outmatched by Alabama's defensive front, and he simply isn't the passer Will Grier is. Harris completed 9-of-24 passes for 165 yards (81 came on the Gators' final TD drive). And that's not to say Grier would have made a difference between winning and losing Saturday. But in 2016, Florida coach Jim McElwain will get Grier back he'll miss the first six games and right now has a commitment from four-star QB Feleipe Franks. Franks is ranked as the No. 45 overall player by 247Sports.com and previously was committed to LSU. There's also talk that Georgia commitment Jacob Eason, the nation's No. 5 overall player and No. 2 QB, is considering the Gators after Mark Richt left for Miami. But with Grier out to start 2016, Harris will have first shot at the starting job. | 1 | 97,208 | sports |
There are many ways to describe the ongoing first season of Ash vs. Evil Dead with phrases like great, amazing, on point, stellar, brisk, brutal, fun, exciting, but one that may not seem as obvious to many is "patient." Despite the promise of amazing things in the pilot episode, the two characters that have felt like they haven't been given their due this season are Amanda and Ruby. While Ash, Pablo and Kelly have been fighting the good fight for the better part of five episodes now, the same can't be said of the two femme fatales that are hot on their tails. However, that all changed with this week's "The Killer of Killers." Many shows would have succumbed to the audience's (predictable) demands far sooner than Ash did on the front of bringing Amanda into the fold. However, had it done so, the impact of her inevitable confrontation with our one handed hero wouldn't have felt as joyous. By biding its time, by forcing the audience to wait for over month to see the badass ex-cop join forces with the gang, the second half of the show's season now feels like something special thanks to a new variable that's been added to the mix. That wouldn't have been the case otherwise. When Amanda throws Ash into the trough, we feel the frustration within her. When she witnesses her colleague become a deadite, it feels all the more heartbreaking because she was so close to finally achieving the goal she's work towards for days (in the show's timeline). The wait was brutal. It truly was. But to know we no longer have to wait to see Amanda fight alongside the rest of the gang comes with a real sense of relief while also adding a new story question: what does this mean for Ruby? Too much has been set up by the show for Ruby to simply go out in a fiery explosion as appears to take place in the opening of "The Killer of Killers." No, she will be back, and now she will be back (seemingly thanks to some inherit kind of supernatural powers of invulnerability) without the aid of a naïve partner she can manipulate to her will. When Ruby eventually does catch-up with the man she's after, she's going to be doing so alone… at least until her (hopeful) turn into an ally against the evil Ash has released upon the world. Ash vs. Evil Dead is a show that operates in goals. The first goal was to get Ash and the gang to Brujo's. Now, the new goal is to get them to the cabin where everything began. So, if it took us all of the first five episodes to complete the first goal, it stands to reason it will take the same amount of time to get us to the end of the next one. Some may view this as an unnecessary amount of time to do something as simple as get Ash back to the cabin made famous by the movies, but remember, the show has already set up a host of new obstacles that can easily get in his way (like a seemingly deadite possessed backwoods militia). The potential of where the show can go from here is vast, and all of the various routs are nothing short of exciting to think about. Ash vs. Evil Dead airs Saturdays at 9/8c on Starz. | 6 | 97,209 | entertainment |
The Western Conference has been widely regarded as the best in the NBA. But so far in 2015, 11 teams are under. 500 in the West while just six are under .500 in the East. Has conference strength shifted in the NBA? | 1 | 97,210 | sports |
Maybe it was the news that Andrew Bogut wouldn't play. Maybe it was the scary collision that crumpled Stephen Curry and sent him to the bench with a head injury. Maybe it was the continued absence of Harrison Barnes. None of it felt right for the Warriors on this particular Saturday in Toronto. And none of it mattered. The Warriors found a way to win. The streak lives on. RELATED: Curry scores 44 as perfect Warriors beat Raptors 112-109 Golden State withstood a furious, 48-minute onslaught from a game Raptors squad and found a way to prevail 112-109, extending its record-setting win streak to 21 games this season 25 dating back to last year's campaign. No professional team in any sport has ever started a season 21-0. The possibility of reaching the Lakers' all-time NBA mark of 33 straight victories remains intact. Those are the facts. Frankly, the situation bears much closer resemblance to fantasy. Perhaps Klay Thompson, who scored 26 and played stifling defense all night in Toronto, said it best. "We're the hottest ticket in town," he told a Comcast courtside reporter after the win. "It's a lot of fun. I wouldn't have it any other way." Neither would a delirious Warriors' fan base. It's like the Warriors have forgotten how to lose. It's like they've forgotten 40 years of misery and replaced it with a never-ending fairytale. Who's got it better than this? Nobody. "It's awesome for these guys," said interim coach Luke Walton, of the record win streak. "It'll be one of those special, special things that they can say they were a part of." If the Warriors do reach the mystical number of 33 straight achieved only once by a team that featureed Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain than many will look back at this win in Toronto as one of the team's toughest tests. Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry did his best impersonation of Curry, scoring 41 points that included six three-pointers. But, in the end, the league MVP made the difference again, hitting key three-pointers and free throws down the stretch to seal the win. If anyone had any concerns that the Warriors had lost their late-game edge amid a season of blowouts, Saturday night showed they can still slug it out. And Walton is up to the task of managing those white knuckle minutes, too. Next stop on the Warriors magical victory tour? Brooklyn Nets, Sunday night. These be the first back-to-back games during a brutal stretch of five games in eight days on the road. The Nets took the Warriors to overtime back on Nov. 14 at Oracle Arena. That was the closest call the Warriors have had all season, up until the Toronto game. But you'd be hard-pressed to bet against the champs. Even without Bogut. Even without Barnes. Even with Curry nursing a bit of a headache. You'd be hard-pressed to put anything past these Warriors. Al Saracevic is the Sports Editor of The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: [email protected] Twittter: @alsaracevic | 1 | 97,211 | sports |
Week 14's best catches and interceptions are sure to impress. This week's edition of "Jiffy Lube Expert Hands" includes sensational grabs by Texas' Caleb Bluiett, Florida's Antonio Callaway and other gridiron studs from across the nation. | 1 | 97,212 | sports |
Dabo Swinney would really like you to know that he didn't call a fake punt in the second quarter of Saturday's ACC Championship Game. Like, really wants you to know. Clemson punter Andy Teasdall took the snap on fourth-and-15 from his own 30-yard line with about five minutes left in the second quarter and rolled a few feet to his right as North Carolina brought pressure. Teasdall, sensing it might get blocked, reversed field and tried to run for it. He came up 11 yards short. ACC: 5 things we learned | Championship photos | MORE: Saban got mad, too The Tar Heels took over at the Clemson 34 and scored five plays later. Swinney laid into Teasdall on the sideline for several minutes, then blamed Teasdall completely during his on-camera halftime interview without being asked about the play. Dabo Swinney just took away the pizza party invite from the punter #TarHeelNation #UNCvsCLEM CC: @slyon28 pic.twitter.com/QFxgbNnw7o Ninja Tar Heel (@jmorrow779) December 6, 2015 "My punter, I don't have an explanation. He just tried to do something on his own." - Dabo Travis Haney (@TravHaneyESPN) December 6, 2015 Dabo to @heatherespn at half, I should add. (He brought punter up on his own.) Travis Haney (@TravHaneyESPN) December 6, 2015 | 1 | 97,213 | sports |
Miami was able to beat Charlotte 88-60 on Saturday. James Palmer had a steal lead to a nice lay-up, and Ivan Cruz-Uceda hit a big corner three. Miami was led by Ja'Quan Newton's 14 points. | 1 | 97,214 | sports |
Kansas State defensive back Morgan Burns came into the Wildcats' game against West Virginia as the three-time reigning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. In this "Keurig Rewind," the senior blocked a punt, had a kickoff return that set up a touchdown and returned his FBS-best fourth kickoff for a touchdown in a 24-23 victory over the Mountaineers. | 1 | 97,215 | sports |
MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade scored 19 points and took the fourth quarter off, Tyler Johnson added 19 more and the Miami Heat took advantage of Cleveland's decision to hold out LeBron James on the way to beating the Cavaliers 99-84 on Saturday night. Goran Dragic scored 17 points, Chris Bosh added 14 and Gerald Green had 12 for the Heat, who held Cleveland to 36 percent shooting and sent the Cavaliers to their third straight loss. Richard Jefferson started in place of James and led Cleveland with 16 points. James was given the night off to rest, the first game he has missed for the Cavaliers this season. Heat fans serenaded him with a "LeBron is tired" chant in MIAMI (AP) -- Dressed in a navy coat with a gold crest, a resting LeBron James sported a good look on the Cleveland bench. On the court, the Miami Heat looked better. Dwyane Wade scored 19 points and took the fourth quarter off, Tyler Johnson added 19 more and the Heat had little trouble on the way to beating the Cavaliers 99-84 on Saturday night, sending Cleveland to its third straight loss. "It would have been great to play against LeBron," said Wade, who acknowledged disappointment that James got the night off to rest. "We'll see him next time." Goran Dragic scored 17 points, Chris Bosh added 14 and Gerald Green had 12 for Miami, which actually passed Cleveland -- still without Kyrie Irving, though presumably not for much longer -- by percentage points in the Eastern Conference standings. "A good professional win," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I liked our guys' approach." And the Heat fans who revered James for four seasons during his Miami stint even did a little serenading in the fourth quarter, with chants of "LeBron is tired" echoing through the sold-out arena. If James noticed, he didn't flinch from his seat on the sideline. But when Bosh drove the lane for a two-handed slam moments later, James looked up at the massive screens over center court for a replay. "It's totally different," Cleveland's J.R. Smith said of playing without James. "He's like a coach on the floor on top of being the best player." The Cavs lost in overtime at New Orleans on Friday night, and weren't settled in their Miami hotel until about 5 a.m. Coach David Blatt insisted it was his decision to sit James after the four-time MVP -- who talked about wanting to play all 82 games this season -- logged 45 minutes in the New Orleans game. "It was a situation I felt was not worth risking," Blatt said. Richard Jefferson, who started in place of James, scored 16 for Cleveland. Smith added 12, while Jared Cunningham and Matthew Dellavedova each had 11 for the Cavaliers. Kevin Love finished with only five points, shooting 2 for 11. Miami's lead was 16-12 when James joined the Cavs' bench midway through the first quarter, and the Heat immediately went on a 14-2 run. The Heat would eventually lead by as much as 27. "From the first minute until the end, we played hard on defense and the offense is clicking a little better," Dragic said. TIP-INS Cavaliers: James never before missed a game with rest as the listed reason in November or December. ... It was the fourth time in the last two seasons that the Cavs were without James and Irving; all four have road games and probably not surprisingly, Cleveland is 0-4 in those contests. ... Smith tripped over teammate Timofey Mozgov's feet in the third quarter, forcing him briefly to the bench. Heat: Miami set season highs for first-quarter (34) and first-half (60) scoring. ... Dragic's 15 first-half points represented another season high. ... Actor Adrien Brody, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and designer Tommy Hilfiger were among those in the crowd. ... Miami struggled again from the line, shooting 18 for 29. ... Hassan Whiteside had five more blocks, raising his NBA-leading average to 4.56 per game. GREEN RISES Green is a former slam dunk champion, and provided a big-time reminder why in the first half. Moments after elevating over Mozgov for a defensive rebound, Green spotted up in the right corner and Dragic found him with a pass from the lane. Green drove past a closing-out Jefferson, and then took one dribble and soared by Mozgov and Dellavedova for the slam and a 53-37 Miami lead. IMPERFECT 10 The loss was Cleveland's 10th straight in Miami, which includes the 7-0 record the Heat had against the Cavs when James played in South Florida. Starters on Jan. 25, 2010, when Cleveland last prevailed in Miami: James, J.J. Hickson, Shaquille O'Neal, Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker for the Cavs; Wade, Quentin Richardson, Jermaine O'Neal, Michael Beasley and Rafer Alston for the Heat. UP NEXT Cavaliers: Host Portland on Tuesday. Heat: Host Washington on Monday.the fourth quarter. | 1 | 97,216 | sports |
Watch No. 5 Michigan State march down the field late in the 4th quarter to defeat No. 4 Iowa in a thriller. | 1 | 97,217 | sports |
WASHINGTON The day before Thanksgiving, President Obama reassured Americans that there was "no specific and credible intelligence indicating a plot on the homeland." Seven days later came an explosion of gunfire and the deadliest terrorist attack in America since Sept. 11, 2001. What may be most disturbing is not that Mr. Obama was wrong, but that apparently he was right. By all accounts so far, the government had no concrete intelligence warning of the assault on Wednesday that killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif. Swift, ruthless and deadly, the attack appeared to reflect an evolution of the terrorist threat that Mr. Obama and federal officials have long dreaded: homegrown, self-radicalized individuals operating undetected before striking one of many soft targets that can never be fully protected in a country as sprawling as the United States. Sign Up For NYT Now's Morning Briefing Newsletter "We have moved to an entirely new phase in the global terrorist threat and in our homeland security efforts," Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security, said in an interview on Saturday. Terrorists have "in effect outsourced attempts to attack our homeland. We've seen this not just here but in other places. This requires a whole new approach, in my view." As Mr. Obama prepared to address the nation on Sunday night, Mr. Johnson said the government should continue to augment airline security by placing more agents in overseas departure airports and further toughen standards for the visa waiver program that allows visitors from certain friendly nations easy entry into the country. He and other officials said the government needed to reach out even more to Muslim communities to help identify threats that might otherwise escape notice. Unable to curb the availability of guns at home or extremist propaganda from overseas, the authorities may have to rely more on encouraging Americans to watch one another and report suspicions. Federal and local governments already have programs urging friends, families and neighbors to identify people targeted for recruitment. The attack may reignite the privacy-versus-security debate over encryption software sold by private-sector providers over government objections. And some administration officials said they needed to escalate efforts to stimulate contrary Muslim voices to counter extremist propaganda disseminated by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. "We can work with the private sector to get additional messengers with alternative voices out there," said Lisa Monaco, the president's counterterrorism adviser. "Frankly, we've got to do a better job of approaching this in a way that allows us to the phrase has been used break the brand of ISIL's message." The San Bernardino attack has already inflamed the political debate less than two months before the first voting in the 2016 presidential primaries, and it may reshape Mr. Obama's last year in office. While Republican candidates quickly denounced the president, politicians were not the only ones asserting that his administration should shift course. John D. Cohen, a professor at Rutgers University and a senior Homeland Security Department counterterrorism official until last year, said the administration needed to "wake up" to the threat and change an approach that is "ill-suited to deter these kinds of attacks." Alberto M. Fernandez, who until earlier this year led the State Department unit that counters militant propaganda, said, "The administration seems to be really flailing and tone deaf to this latest challenge." He called the San Bernardino attack "D.I.Y. jihad," and said it "forces the administration to look at where it does not want to go and is weakest, at jihadist ideology and its dissemination." Others, however, cautioned against overreaction, warning that the focus on Muslims could lead to the kind of anger and alienation that creates more potential for terrorist recruitment. Some experts urged officials to keep the danger posed by terrorism in perspective. The death toll from jihadist terrorism on American soil since the Sept. 11 attacks 45 people is about the same as the 48 killed in terrorist attacks motivated by white supremacist and other right-wing extremist ideologies, according to New America , a research organization in Washington. And both tolls are tiny compared with the tally of conventional murders, more than 200,000 over the same period. But the disproportionate focus they draw in the news media and their effect on public fear demand the attention of any administration. In his weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday, Mr. Obama warned of the Islamic State's efforts to inspire people in Europe and the United States to carry out attacks. "We know that ISIL and other terrorist groups are actively encouraging people, around the world and in our country, to commit terrible acts of violence, oftentimes as lone-wolf actors," he said. He urged the country to uphold its values, which administration officials said means not discriminating against or demonizing Muslims. "We are strong," the president said. "And we are resilient. And we will not be terrorized." Ms. Monaco said the government should be careful not to take actions that feed into the Islamic State's message of Western persecution of Muslims. "ISIL appeals to that and are doing so through social media," she said. "If we do things that play into that, that is letting ISIL win." Mr. Johnson, who has met with Muslim communities in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and elsewhere, said the government needs the Muslim community. "The overarching message to them is, help us help you help us to identify someone in your community who may be heading in the wrong direction and how can we help you amplify the countermessage to the Islamic State message," he said. In the case of Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the couple identified as the attackers in San Bernardino, all the usual defenses that presidents and counterterrorism officials have built up since Sept. 11 airport screenings, expansive surveillance, drone strikes proved no match for a husband and wife assembling weapons of war in the apartment they lived in with their 6-month-old baby. Unlike the perpetrators of the attacks in Paris last month, this couple seemed to have been inspired by the Islamic State but were not acting directly on its orders. On Saturday, law enforcement officers searched the home of a friend believed to have sold two of the weapons used in the massacre, seeking information about whether he had prior knowledge of the attack. If investigators confirm that the attack was inspired by the Islamic State, it will demonstrate the power of the militant group's message. Through social media, the group can reach past the government's defenses to the nation's heart in encouraging supporters to take up arms in cities, suburbs or small towns. John P. Carlin, the assistant attorney general for national security, said in an interview on Saturday that the Islamic State was adapting. "It's a different iteration of the threat," he said. "Al Qaeda really put a premium on large-scale catastrophic attacks with large loss of life. I think ISIL is trying to explore this as well, but this tactic of small-scale attacks that might fail but still inspire terror" is relatively new for the group. He added that homegrown terrorists were harder to spot, partly because they act with less preparation and thus shorten the time between ignition and explosion. "We used to have a long time from flash to bang because Al Qaeda would spend years planning," he said. "Now we see a much shorter time from flash to bang." James B. Comey, the director of the F.B.I., had warned in recent months that the Islamic State was seeking to "crowdsource" terrorism by inspiring followers in the West. His agents have been tracking people drawn to the group, but they cannot turn off the Internet in the home of every potential militant. "When you invest in a narrative, a poisonous narrative that resonates with troubled souls, with unmoored people, and you do it in a slick way through social media, you buzz in their pocket 24 hours a day, saying come or kill, come or kill, that has an impact," Mr. Comey said at a news conference on Friday. Federal authorities have charged more than 75 people in cases linked to terrorism in the last two years, about three-quarters linked to the Islamic State and almost all with a social media connection, Mr. Carlin said. More than 60 of those were cases related to foreign fighters seeking to join the war in Syria, while about 15 were homegrown extremists. In more than half the cases, the suspects were under 25; in a third of the cases, they were under 21. What has made the San Bernardino attack all the more alarming is that Mr. Farook and Ms. Malik tripped none of the usual wires that would alert the authorities. They did not fit the model of the Paris attackers, many of whom were raised in France or Belgium, where Muslims are not as well assimilated economically, politically and socially as they are in the United States. While counterterrorism experts never thought that greater Muslim assimilation in this country meant there could not be an attack here, the assumption that the United States was less vulnerable than Europe has been shaken by San Bernardino. "The couple was not on any radar and had no real connections to terrorist suspects," said Matthew G. Olsen, a former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. "And what's really troubling is that they appeared to be a well-integrated and stable couple, with a baby and a job. This is not the typical profile of someone we've assumed would be susceptible to ISIS recruitment and ideology." While it would be a worrisome intelligence failure if the government missed obvious warning signs, William McCants, a former State Department official who worked on countering violent extremism, said the alternative that there were no signs at all would be worse. "It would mean that ISIS fans are learning to be less vocal in their fandom to avoid detection, making them much harder to identify and stop an attack," said Mr. McCants, author of " The ISIS Apocalypse ," a new history of the Islamic State. As a result, the San Bernardino massacre may presage a bitter new reality in the United States. "It'll gradually dawn on people," said Bruce Jones, a former United Nations official and the director of foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, "that we'll be living for a long time with the possibility of low-level attacks that can never be predicted and can rarely be prevented." J | 5 | 97,218 | news |
The Kings beat the Penguins 5-3 on Saturday. Drew Doughty and Milan Lucic scored as part of a four-goal second period. Jonathan Quick and Marc-Andre Fleury both had ridiculous saves. | 1 | 97,219 | sports |
Big Sean 's Hollywood Hills home was reportedly burglarized while he was out of the country last week. While the rapper was in Dubai, thieves broke into his Los Angeles-area house and stole $150,000 worth of jewelry -- as well as unpublished music -- from a safe, according to TMZ . It is said that Sean and his camp believe that the crime was an inside job, as it seems like the burglars knew that he was out of town and were familiar with the layout of his house. Sean, who has not commented on the incident, is scheduled to join Rihanna on the European leg of her Anti world tour in 2016. Earlier this week, Lana Del Rey 's Malibu home was also invaded . A 19-year-old man was spotted by a construction worker at her house and arrested for felony burglary after allegedly taking a book. | 6 | 97,220 | entertainment |
The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million contract. The 30-year-old went 11-13 with a career worst 4.96 ERA last season. | 1 | 97,221 | sports |
MIAMI (AP) -- Dressed in a navy coat with a gold crest, a resting LeBron James sported a good look on the Cleveland bench. On the court, the Miami Heat looked better. Dwyane Wade scored 19 points and took the fourth quarter off, Tyler Johnson added 19 more and the Heat had little trouble on the way to beating the Cavaliers 99-84 on Saturday night, sending Cleveland to its third straight loss. BOX SCORE: HEAT 99, CAVALIERS 84 "It would have been great to play against LeBron," said Wade, who acknowledged disappointment that James got the night off to rest. "We'll see him next time." Goran Dragic scored 17 points, Chris Bosh added 14 and Gerald Green had 12 for Miami, which actually passed Cleveland -- still without Kyrie Irving, though presumably not for much longer -- by percentage points in the Eastern Conference standings. "A good professional win," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I liked our guys' approach." And the Heat fans who revered James for four seasons during his Miami stint even did a little serenading in the fourth quarter, with chants of "LeBron is tired" echoing through the sold-out arena. If James noticed, he didn't flinch from his seat on the sideline. But when Bosh drove the lane for a two-handed slam moments later, James looked up at the massive screens over center court for a replay. "It's totally different," Cleveland's J.R. Smith said of playing without James. "He's like a coach on the floor on top of being the best player." The Cavs lost in overtime at New Orleans on Friday night, and weren't settled in their Miami hotel until about 5 a.m. Coach David Blatt insisted it was his decision to sit James after the four-time MVP -- who talked about wanting to play all 82 games this season -- logged 45 minutes in the New Orleans game. "It was a situation I felt was not worth risking," Blatt said. Richard Jefferson, who started in place of James, scored 16 for Cleveland. Smith added 12, while Jared Cunningham and Matthew Dellavedova each had 11 for the Cavaliers. Kevin Love finished with only five points, shooting 2 for 11. Miami's lead was 16-12 when James joined the Cavs' bench midway through the first quarter, and the Heat immediately went on a 14-2 run. The Heat would eventually lead by as much as 27. "From the first minute until the end, we played hard on defense and the offense is clicking a little better," Dragic said. TIP-INS Cavaliers: James never before missed a game with rest as the listed reason in November or December. ... It was the fourth time in the last two seasons that the Cavs were without James and Irving; all four have road games and probably not surprisingly, Cleveland is 0-4 in those contests. ... Smith tripped over teammate Timofey Mozgov's feet in the third quarter, forcing him briefly to the bench. Heat: Miami set season highs for first-quarter (34) and first-half (60) scoring. ... Dragic's 15 first-half points represented another season high. ... Actor Adrien Brody, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and designer Tommy Hilfiger were among those in the crowd. ... Miami struggled again from the line, shooting 18 for 29. ... Hassan Whiteside had five more blocks, raising his NBA-leading average to 4.56 per game. GREEN RISES Green is a former slam dunk champion, and provided a big-time reminder why in the first half. Moments after elevating over Mozgov for a defensive rebound, Green spotted up in the right corner and Dragic found him with a pass from the lane. Green drove past a closing-out Jefferson, and then took one dribble and soared by Mozgov and Dellavedova for the slam and a 53-37 Miami lead. IMPERFECT 10 The loss was Cleveland's 10th straight in Miami, which includes the 7-0 record the Heat had against the Cavs when James played in South Florida. Starters on Jan. 25, 2010, when Cleveland last prevailed in Miami: James, J.J. Hickson, Shaquille O'Neal, Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker for the Cavs; Wade, Quentin Richardson, Jermaine O'Neal, Michael Beasley and Rafer Alston for the Heat. UP NEXT Cavaliers: Host Portland on Tuesday. Heat: Host Washington on Monday. | 1 | 97,222 | sports |
The Warriors moved to 21-0 with a 112-109 win over the Raptors. Steph Curry dropped 44 points, his seventh 40-point game of the year. A late turnover by Cory Joseph sealed it for Golden State. | 1 | 97,223 | sports |
Donald Trump says he believes the mother and sister of Syed Farook, one of the alleged shooters in the San Bernardino massacre, knew that a terror attack was being planned. "I believe the that the sister of the killer, I watched her interview, I think she knew what was going on," Trump told reporters after a speech in Iowa on Saturday. "I think his mother knew what was going on." The GOP front-runner said the family members had been in the apartment of the alleged attackers, which authorities said contained thousands of rounds of ammunition, 12 pipe bombs and materials to make several improvised explosive devices (IEDs). "She went into the apartment," Trump said of Farook's mother. "Anybody that went in to that house or that apartment knew what was going on. They didn't tell authorities. They knew what was going on. The mother knew. "I think the sister interviewed, I think she knew," he added. "We better get a little tough, and a little smart, or we're in trouble." Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, are suspected of killing 14 people and wounding 21 at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., on Wednesday. Authorities said Malik pledged her allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) during the attack. Trump called the couple " chick s--t " earlier at the Iowa rally. The FBI is investigating it as an " act of terror ," but the lawyers representing the Farook family pushed back on the characterization on Friday, describing Malik as a " typical housewife ." Farook's brother is a decorated Navy veteran who received several commendations for his role in the war on terror. The suspect's brother-in-law said he was " in shock " after the attack. The landlord of Farook's apartment also said he had never suspected the couple of being terrorists. President Obama will deliver a rare address from the Oval Office on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. discussing the San Bernardino attack and the broader terror threat to the U.S. | 5 | 97,224 | news |
Clemson's Dabo Swinney was as excited as we've seen him following his team's 45-37 win over North Carolina in the ACC Football Championship game. ACC Digital Network's Jeff Fischel caught up with Dabo and he talked about how excited he is to celebrate with Tigers' fans at the upcoming pizza party, and the coach heaped praise on his team and game MVP Deshaun Watson. | 1 | 97,225 | sports |
It has been one of the most storied newsrooms in American journalism, but The Washington Post has decided it's time for a change to meet the needs of the digital era. The Post officially leaves its headquarters building in downtown Washington on December 14 as it migrates its 700-person newsroom staff three blocks away to offices designed as the newsroom of the future. It will mark a fresh beginning for a newspaper with a grand tradition but which is undergoing major changes under Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder who bought the daily in 2013. "There are a lot of bittersweet feelings about leaving this place," said Tracy Grant, the deputy managing editor coordinating the transition for the newsroom. "It may be a mouse-infested pit, but it's our mouse-infested pit and we feel affection for it." The Post building, a short distance from the White House on 15th Street NW, was inaugurated in 1972 and was the scene of groundbreaking reporting on the Watergate scandal by young reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974. The newspaper has won dozens of Pulitzer awards and other prizes over the past 43 years, making the daily one of the most respected in the country. - 'Bigger than the building' - "There's a strong attachment to the history of the organization, and the building is part of that," said Robert Mitchell, an editor at the Washington Post news service who has been with the paper nearly 20 years. "But the organization is bigger than the building. I think most people are excited about the move." Some longtime staffers, however, expect a letdown as the newspaper leaves its longtime headquarters. Senior editor Marc Fisher said that "it is a comedown to be going into a rented space in someone else's building as opposed to having our own building, which is a landmark and an institution." Fisher, a 29-year Post veteran who recalls reporting on deadline under legendary editor Ben Bradlee, points out that in the current building "there's a certain grandeur and power you get just by walking through the place, and it won't be the case in a rented space in a lawyer's building." The Post was founded in 1877 but its modern era began with the 1933 sale to businessman Eugene Meyer, who drafted a set of principles including "to tell the truth as nearly as the truth may be ascertained." The 1972 building was designed to fill 20th-century needs, with a typographic composing room and massive printing presses which have long since departed. "It was well constructed as a factory and production facility but our needs have changed," Grant said. "It was not ideally suited for a newsroom in the 21st century. It also had a lot more square footage than was required." The Post, which had begun searching for a new location even before the sale to Bezos, has leased 242,000 square feet (22,500 square meters) in a building at 1301 K Street NW, a short walk away from the current headquarters. The move comes at a time of continuing upheaval in the newspaper industry, which has been retrenching as readers move from print to digital, which is far less lucrative. Other major newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press and the Miami Herald, have in recent years sold their downtown headquarters, and the famed Tribune Tower in Chicago is up for sale. The New York Times meanwhile raised cash with a sale and leaseback of its building, which had been completed only in 2007. Daily print circulation at The Washington Post has dropped from a peak of around one million to less than 400,000. But Grant points out that online, the newspaper reaches some 67 million readers around the world, recently surpassing The Times in unique monthly visitors. - Embedded teams - "There has never been a better time to reach more people," Grant said. "What really matters is that we do journalism of the highest order. We need to tell stories that matter to people, tell stories that have an impact." She said that the new offices will be more adapted to digital storytelling, with video teams and online specialists "embedded" with journalists to be able to deliver news on multiple platforms. "We want to be thinking across platforms as we are conceiving stories," Grant said. "In the old space that was very hard to reconfigure." As the 1,400 journalists and other employees change offices, the newspaper will also bring a number of mementos to remind staffers of The Post's tradition. These include the 61 Pulitzers, the plaque with Eugene Meyer's "seven principles," and the original printing plate of the "Nixon Resigns" front page. "The legacy of The Post is very important to us. We want to take things that provide cherished memories," Grant said. "We have a rich tradition and we are taking a lot of that with us." | 3 | 97,226 | finance |
BEIJING China's campaign of island building in the South China Sea might soon quadruple the number of airstrips available to the People's Liberation Army in the highly contested and strategically vital region. That could be bad news for other regional contenders, especially the U.S., the Philippines and Vietnam. The island construction work that is creating vast amounts of new acreage by piling sand on top of coral reefs is now moving into the construction stage, with buildings, harbors and, most importantly, runways appearing in recent months. China now operates one airfield at Woody Island in the Paracel island chain, and satellite photos show what appears to be work on two, possibly three, additional airstrips on newly built islands in the Spratly archipelago to the east. The bases could have a "significant impact on the local balance of power" by helping bolster the forward presence of Chinese coast guard and navy forces, said Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia. As with most South China Sea developments, China has remained opaque about its plans for the island airstrips. At a recent monthly briefing, Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian declined to say how many China planned to build or what their purpose would be, repeating only that all military infrastructure was "purely for defensive purposes." Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea and its islands and has created seven new features in the Spratlys since last year that are permanently above water totaling more than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) in area, according to satellite photos collected by U.S. government agencies and private groups including the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. While China insists its island building works are justified and don't constitute a threat to stability, further militarization of the region seems assured given China's increasingly robust assertions of its territorial claims. Those perceptions were reinforced with the deployment in October of advanced J-11BH/BHS fighters of the navy air force to Woody Island that was revealed online in China in October. China's military has declined to comment on the reports. The island's 2.4-kilometer (1.49-mile) long runway will soon be eclipsed by one more than 3 kilometers (10,000 feet) long on the reclaimed island built atop Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys, the satellite photos show. Another runway is being built on Subi Reef, with signs of similar work underway on nearby Mischief Reef. Patrols by fighter jets based on the islands, most likely temporarily given the salty climate and frequent storms, could serve to intimidate other claimants, especially the Philippines and Vietnam. That could also complicate regular operations by U.S. forces which insist on freedom of navigation and overflight over the entire sea. "In periods of tension, the intimidation value of air patrols from the islands would be considerable," Graham said. The airfields would allow Chinese aircraft to refuel, repair and if necessary, rearm without having to fly the more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the nearest Chinese air base on Hainan island, said Hans Kristensen, a China security expert with the Federation of American Scientists. They would also be highly vulnerable to bombing in an actual conflict, although their presence alone would require additional planning and effort by opponents. Short of that, the issue grows murkier and more troublesome, especially if China were to announce a zone of air control over all or part of the South China Sea. In that case, the airstrips could be launching points for patrols, enforcement operations and possibly strikes. China announced an initial air defense identification zone over much of the East China Sea in late 2013, a designation the U.S., Japan and others refused to recognize. In early December, China conducted what its air force spokesman Shen Jinke described as the latest "routine patrol" through the zone, featuring aircraft including H-6K long-range bombers, fighter jets and early warning aircraft. Questioned on plans for a South China Sea zone, Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that would depend on threats to China's interests and security. "Therefore we will take into consideration a number of factors in making the decision," Wu said. Other countries also operate airstrips on their South China Sea holdings, but their size and level of sophistication are dwarfed by China's new developments. Vietnam's strip on Spratly island is just 550 meters (1.8 feet), just long enough to accommodate slow-moving cargo and surveillance planes. Those operated by the Philippines on Thitu Island, also known as Pagasa, and Taiwan on Itu Aba, or Taiping Island, and Malaysia on Swallow Reef, are about twice as long, allowing them to land fighters as well. Yet, only Fiery Cross Reef is long enough to accommodate bombers like the H-6K, whose air launched cruise missiles increase its destructive power. Lying astride busy sea lanes, rich fisheries and a potential wealth of mineral deposits, the Chinese airfields would also boost China's position over strategic resources it craves to fuel economic growth. The new airstrips will also come in handy as China develops its aircraft carrier program, particularly for training pilots in simulated night landings or to recover planes in difficult conditions. However, their usefulness is constrained by the need for large amounts of jet fuel on hand, along with the need to reinforce strips built on sand to handle bombers and other heavy aircraft. "If we start to see satellite evidence of fuel storage going in on a large scale in the artificial islands, that will be the clearest indicator that China is planning to develop them as active air bases," Graham said. | 5 | 97,227 | news |
Clemson's Deshaun Watson throws the deep pass to Artavis Scott who goes up top and displays amazing footwork for the beautiful touchdown catch in this ACC Must See Moment! | 1 | 97,228 | sports |
The Bruins beat the Canucks 4-0 on Saturday. Brad Marchand and Torey Krug were among the scorers for Boston while Brandon Prust took a run at Marchand, angering the Bruins bench. | 1 | 97,229 | sports |
David Price and Zack Greinke signed massive deals with new teams over the last week, but in some ways the 2015-2016 Hot Stove barely has begun. Here are five questions confronting the baseball industry as it gathers in Nashville for the winter meetings: 1. How will the Dodgers respond? The Dodgers' payroll exceeded $300 million this year, a record for any North American professional sports franchise. Yet, division rivals have outbid them for two marquee free-agent starting pitchers -- Greinke (Diamondbacks) and Jeff Samardzija (Giants) -- in as many days. Did Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi suddenly forget they're running a multibillion-dollar enterprise, not the low-budget Rays or A's? Now Dodgers officials are in the uncomfortable position of walking into a sprawling hotel, in which every agent and rival team executive knows they're desperate to add a pitcher. Not exactly a favorable environment for deal-making. The Dodgers appear likely to land at least one of Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Hisashi Iwakuma, with our Ken Rosenthal reporting Saturday that the Dodgers were making a push for Iwakuma. Teams can't keep outbidding the Dodgers . . . Right? 2. Who will be the first big-name outfielder to sign? While the free-agent pitching market has produced a torrent of major news in recent days, the top outfielders have yet to sign. Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon and Dexter Fowler all remain available, with Chris Davis (primarily an infielder) unsigned, as well. One potential complication: Several teams with the most obvious needs for outfielders -- the Orioles, Indians, Royals, Brewers and Padres -- have yet to signal that they're prepared to spend big dollars this winter. The Mariners, perpetually in need of outfield help, likely are set after signing Nori Aoki and Franklin Gutierrez and trading for Leonys Martin. Still, we're destined to see action -- likely beginning this week. The Angels, Giants, Cubs, Mets and Cardinals are among the major-market teams interested in outfielders. 3. Will we see a true winter meetings blockbuster? One of the biggest baseball trades in a generation occurred at Nashville's Opryland Hotel eight years ago, when Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis went from the Marlins to the Tigers in exchange for six prospects. That trade wasn't seriously discussed until after those meetings began -- a reminder that massive deals can materialize quickly while the entire industry is gathered beneath one roof. The Marlins and A's have been steadfast in saying Jose Fernandez and Sonny Gray, respectively, are off-limits -- but you can be certain those teams will be asked again (and again) this week. White Sox ace Chris Sale is the more plausible blockbuster candidate, given his team's frustrating 2015 season and unlikelihood of contention in 2016. The Braves have been hyperactive on the trade market this offseason but somehow haven't traded Freddie Freeman or Shelby Miller. Watch them closely. 4. How does Kenta Maeda fit into the pitching marketplace? While not a superstar on the level of Yu Darvish or Masahiro Tanaka, Maeda has been among the very best pitchers in Japan for the past several years and is viewed as a possible No. 2 starter in the major leagues. The Hiroshima Carp are expected to formally post him this week. MLB clubs then will have one month to negotiate with Maeda; the team that signs him will need to send the Carp a $20 million posting fee, in addition to Maeda's contract amount. The Diamondbacks have scouted Maeda closely and haven't stopped looking at starting pitchers even after landing Greinke. The Padres are another intriguing possibility; San Diego general manager A.J. Preller has expertise in international markets and could trade Tyson Ross, James Shields or Andrew Cashner for offense if he signs Maeda. 5. After postseason berths, will Astros and Cubs trade prospects? Privately, those in the Astros and Cubs organizations might tell you they didn't expect to reach the playoffs this year. Well, they did -- and held onto much of their deep prospect bases in the process. Now comes the tricky part: Will they peel off a top player from their highly rated farm systems in order to acquire a difference-maker for 2016? The Astros have spoken with the Reds about closer Aroldis Chapman since prior to the July non-waiver trade deadline. The Cubs, meanwhile, need an everyday center fielder and pitching depth; sources say Theo Epstein has been especially active in trade conversations recently. And even as the industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars on free agents, prospects will be a universally accepted currency at the Opryland this week. | 1 | 97,230 | sports |
FBI agents raid a home in Riverside near the Californian city of San Bernardino where 14 people were shot dead. The owner, Enrique Marquez Jr, is suspected to be linked to the couple who opened fire at a social services center during a holiday party. | 8 | 97,231 | video |
At least 18 people died when a train collided with a bus in the Indonesian capital city. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). | 8 | 97,232 | video |
Bill Haas was put in a difficult situation during Saturday's round of the Hero World Challenge. And "play it as it lies" he did. Haas' drive on the par-4 18th got caught in a plant and rested about three inches above the waste area. Instead of taking an unplayable, Haas took a mighty swing. Amazingly, Haas advanced the ball -- although he took the plant with him -- and then got up and down for par and a third-round 68. He starts the final round at 15-under and four shots behind leader Bubba Watson. You can watch the video below thanks to the PGA Tour's twitter account. Haas: 1 Plant: 0 https://t.co/MSA0OhZKc4 PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 5, 2015 | 1 | 97,233 | sports |
Welcome to Week 13 of the NFL season! There are 14 games scheduled for Sunday, and news is trickling out about whether or not players listed as questionable on injury reports earlier this week will be starting. Stay up do date on who's playing, and who's sitting out in Week 13. Danny Amendola | WR, Patriots Knee, questionable Amendola is expected to play today, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. With Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman inactive , he'll be Tom Brady's top target, alongside wide receiver Brandon LaFell and tight end Scott Chandler. Tyler Eifert | TE, Bengals Neck, doubtful Eifert will sit with a neck stinger, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter , and Tyler Kroft will start in his place. Michael Floyd | WR, Cardinals Hamstring, questionable Floyd was good to go with the same injury last week, and is expected to play again this week against the Rams. Martellus Bennett | TE, Bears Ribs, probable Bennett is battling cracked ribs, but will play, reports NFL.com's Ian Rapoport . Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TE, Buccaneers Shoulder, questionable He has been cleared for contact this week and is expected to play in just his third game of the season, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport . Andre Ellington | RB, Cardinals Toe, Inactive Ellington will miss this week, and likely next week, with Arizona's next game coming on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter . | 1 | 97,234 | sports |
'Good Dinosaur' image courtesy of Walt Disney This is holdover news for this weekend's box office. For the third weekend in a row, the top movie of the weekend is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2 , which earned $18.6 million in its third weekend (-64%) for a $227.112m domestic cume. The film is still trailing the last Hunger Games picture by about 14%, although it seems to have the same relative strength regarding legs. Of course, it passed $500m worldwide today, with a new $523m global total, so there are few tears to be shed for Katniss and friends. By the way, the film's overseas total of $296.8m has surpassed the foreign cume for the first Hunger Games . Walt Disney's The Good Dinosaur dropped a troubling 60% in its second weekend for a $15.51 million haul. That's way below the post-Thanksgiving drops for Toy Story 2 (-51%), Tangled (-55%), and Frozen (-53%). Heck, that's a post-Thanksgiving drop that is noticeably worse than DreamWorks Animation's The Penguins of Madagascar last year (-57%) and miles lower than the 43% drop for DWA's Rise of the Guardians .cLast year's DreamWorks Animation release ended up with just $83m domestic off a $35m Wed-Sun debut. If it continues to follow suit, The Good Dinosaur will have a mere $130m domestic total. I presumed last weekend that the Pixar film would hold at least as well as conventional Disney Thanksgiving releases, but I may have been wrong. The culprit is indifference, and (strictly financially speaking) Pixar may have been better off releasing whatever they had back in May 2014. In November of 2015, it became "just that other Pixar movie." But we'll see how the film plays overseas (it has $131m worldwide thus far) before passing any real judgment. It has earned $75.95m thus far. Might I advise a bonus Star Wars clip preceding all Good Dinosaur prints next weekend? It can't hurt… Holding tougher is Creed . The acclaimed and buzzy Rocky sequel dropped 48% for a $15.54 million second weekend for a rousing new $65.138m domestic cume. That is closer to the 46% second-weekend drop of Four Christmases than (for example) the 52% drop for Unbreakable on this same respective weekend. That's a solid and promising hold for the popular crowd-pleaser and critical darling, especially as it makes itself known in the year-end awards rush. Writer/director Ryan Coogler is probably going to direct Marvel's Black Panther after all, so he's got that going for him. Of course, now Warner Bros./Time Warner Inc. has to focus on In the Heart of the Sea and Point Break (both of which opened overseas this weekend), but those are arguably more international plays than this distinctly American drama. Spectre earned another $5.425 million on its fifth weekend (-58%) for a new $184.5m domestic cume as it races towards $800m worldwide. The 007 film sits with $792m thus far, passing the $788m total of Fast & Furious 6 . Its $607m foreign total is larger than the worldwide cumes of every 007 film save Skyfall . The Night Before is holding up well with a $4.92m weekend (-41%) and a $32m domestic cume. See what I say about successful Christmas movies usually opening in November? Sadly (and skipping around a bit), Love the Coopers has no such luck, as the film will earn around $1.5m (-52%) for a $22.6m domestic cume. The Peanuts Movie got butchered post-Thanksgiving with around $3.35 million this weekend (-66%) for a new $121m domestic total. This one is slowly opening around the world this month, and it will be interesting to see if Fox can work its overseas magic on a property that is more of an American cultural touchstone. In better news for Fox, The Martian will top $220m domestic today and is still killing it in China ($13.7m, -60%, $75m total). Spotlight continues to be the most popular "little" Oscar movie with an estimated $2.9 million weekend (-34%) and a new $16.6m cume. Meanwhile, the other "best friggin movie out right now" option Brooklyn , earned $2.43m for the weekend (-38%) and a $11.2m cume. For all the (justified) talk about an overcrowded Oscar season (which I've been complaining about for years), it's good to see that the two best films in the race are the ones holding up the strongest. Maybe the system worked. Oh, and rounding out the top ten was The Secret In Her Eyes , which earned $1.95m (-56%) for a new $17.241m domestic cume for the Julia Roberts/Nicole Kidman/Chewitel Ejiofor thriller. Victor Frankenstein dropped like a rock a rock as expected. It's just a bad movie and has no reason for existing. It fell 72% in its second weekend for a mere $685k weekend and $5m domestic gross. Legend expanded into 86 theaters and earned $264k for the weekend (-11%) and a $907k cume as Universal/Comcast Corp. expands it next weekend. If I check it out, I'll be sure to bring my hearing aids for them accents. Oh, and Goosebumps will be topping $78m today while Bridge of Spies will have $68m by the end of this weekend. In Oscar movies that I got around to seeing this week, Carol grossed $147,241 (-25%) on four screens for a $36,810 p.s.a. and $817,119 cume. The Cate Blanchett/Rooney Mara romantic drama is pretty much as good as you've heard and it will expand accordingly on Friday after the Golden Globe nominations. Not anywhere near as good was The Danish Girl , which has an incredible first thirty minutes before sucking all of the joy and entertainment value out of the film. Alicia Vikander and Amber Heard are great, Eddie Redmayne is fine, but the Tom Hooper film is tremendously dull for the majority of its 120 minutes. Anyway, the Focus Features release grossed $106k for the weekend (-45%). That's a solid $26.5k p.s.a. on four screens and a new $352k cume. It expands to 23 theaters on Friday. Also of note, Room earned $209,000 in 175 theaters for a $1,195 p.s.a. for a new $3.7m domestic cume. If it gets the expected Oscar nominations, it'll pick back up accordingly next month. Trumbo earned $997k this weekend (-38%) for a new $4.1m domestic cume. That one has come to a nearby arthouse theater, so I may check it out tomorrow if time allows. Finally, (the pretty darn good) Suffragette is still kicking with $146k in 193 theaters for a $4.3m domestic cume. That's enough older movie box office news for this weekend. Join me next time when Warner Bros. releases Ron Howard's In the Heart of the Sea while Legend goes somewhat wide. RENTRAK (NASDAQ: RENT) | 6 | 97,235 | entertainment |
Jimmy Carter is cancer free. The 91-year-old former president made the announcement at the Sunday school class he was teaching at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "He said he got a scan this week and the cancer was gone," Jill Stuckey, a friend and fellow churchgoer, told the Journal-Constitution by phone. "The church, everybody here, just erupted in applause." Carter was diagnosed with melanoma earlier this year and has undergone several radiation treatments. Last month, doctors said the former president was responding well to treatment and the cancer was showing no signs of worsening. Speaking about the cancer in August, Carter seemed resigned about his fate. "Now it's in the hands of God," he said . "And I'll be prepared for anything that comes." | 5 | 97,236 | news |
If nothing else, the sidelines at South Carolina will be entertaining. Gamecock fans, get an entertaining look at your new head coach with the top three Will Muschamp meltdowns as defensive coordinator at Auburn. | 1 | 97,237 | sports |
Jon Bon Jovi's inability to close a deal on the Bills didn't dim his hopes of owning an NFL franchise. According to CBS Sports , the musician's desire to break into NFL ownership is strong as ever, and he is keeping tabs on the situation in Nashville, where some expect the Titans to be sold within the next year. MORE: NFL's richest owners | Week 13 schedule, scores | Picks Bon Jovi spent much of 2014 working with a Toronto-based group to buy the Bills, but Sabres owner Terry Pegula ultimately won out . The rocker would hardly be a lock for the Titans should the franchise hit the market; CBS mentions several others who might have interest, including former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Bon Jovi owned the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul from 2004-08. | 1 | 97,238 | sports |
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, British air strikes on Islamic State will fail to defeat the militant group. Hours after the British lawmakers approved the bombing of Islamic State targets in Syria on Wednesday, the Royal Air Force struck the oilfields that Cameron's government says are being used to fund attacks on the West. Assad said in the interview that was conducted before the vote in the British parliament, "They are going to fail again. You cannot cut out part of the cancer. You have to extract it. This kind of operation is like cutting out part of the cancer. That will make it spread in the body faster." Assad ridiculed Cameron's assertion that there are as many as 70,000 Western-backed opposition fighters in Syria who would open a political solution to the civil war and could retake territory from jihadists weakened by the air strikes. He said that this is a new episode in a long series of David Cameron's classical farce. there is no 70,000. There is no 7,000. | 5 | 97,239 | news |
A monitoring group said, that in a series of air strikes believed to be carried out by a U.S.-led coalition targeting the jihadists, at least 32 Islamic State fighters were killed and 40 more wounded in Syria's Raqqa province on Sunday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, that more than 15 explosions hit Islamic State positions in the countryside of Raqqa province and near its capital, Raqqa city. Raqqa is Islamic State's Syrian stronghold. | 5 | 97,240 | news |
In the graveyard of NFL careers gone by, Brandon Marshall has already picked out his plot. His career, he says, will end as a Jet whenever the time comes. Marshall has said this before , but his explanation in a recent story from the New York Daily News sheds more light on why a wide receiver still at the top of his game would so willingly leave the game, would so willingly end his career in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey before deigning to wear a new jersey. MORE: Fantasy WRs, ranked for Week 13 | NFL players whose retirements surprised us "Once the Jets say, 'We don't need you anymore,' I'm going to venture off into that world," Marshall told Manish Mehta of NYDN. "I'm not playing for another team. Four is all I need. It's too hard to make new friends and relationships and deal with different egos. I don't like the business already. So I'm not trying to deal with that." This isn't to say that Marshall has struggled to find his place in the Jets locker room. Devin Smith, a rookie and Jets receiver, told Mehta that Marshall "has a leadership role" and "his voice is listened to first." But Marshall has belonged to four teams, with stops in Denver, Miami and Chicago. And he has publicly, courageously, dealt with borderline personality disorder once an obstacle and mask behind which he committed acts of domestic violence, but since, a vehicle through which he has helped countless others, from fellow football players who seek him out , to those who simply needed a mental health advocate on a national stage. Given that context, it's understandable that Marshall might struggle with the concept of constant flux, of having to find his fit into a fifth locker room. For some, it isn't as easy. That said, Marshall obviously still fits into any offensive system, on any field. At 31 years old, Marshall is having one of the best years of his already impressive career. His 84.6 yards per game total would be his best mark since 2012, and the second-best per-game average of his career. His 931 yards (7th in NFL), 71 receptions (8th) and 9 touchdowns (2nd) all place him among the top targets in the league. Marshall currently sits two touchdowns and about 700 yards from ranking top 30 among all receivers, all time, in both categories. He'll finish his career with a complicated legacy. A troubled past. A history of speaking out. Admirable advocacy and periods of purest play on the field. But one thing, if you choose to believe Brandon Marshall, is certain and simple. His career ends with Gang Green. | 1 | 97,241 | sports |
A late Gonzalo Higuain double was not enough to help Napoli return to the top of Serie A as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Bologna on Sunday. Mattia Destro was the star of he show for Bologna netted two to fire his side to victory over the vsitors approached the game looking for a win to ensure they leapfrog Inter and get back into pole-position. Destro opened the scoring in just 14 minutes before Luca Rossettini added a second seven minutes later. Bologna found themselves 3-0 up on the hour mark as Destro was once again on target to secure the win. Gonzalo Higuain pulled one back for Napoli, and it appeared to be nothing more than a consolation goal, but his second just minutes later gave Maurizio Sarri's men hope of earning a draw. The Partenopei approached the game looking to extend their 18 game unbeaten run, taking on a side sitting third bottom in the table. And it was Sarri's men who enjoyed the brighter start, with a lovely team move ending in Higuain knocking it wide to Jose Callejon, but his cross flew past Insigne at the back post. Bologna almost broke the deadlock shortly afterwards with a Franco Brienza free kick, but Pepe Reina was able to keep it out. The two sides exchanged attacks in a bright spell and the opening goal came within a quarter of an hour when Destro latched onto a lofted pass and held off two Napoli defenders before knocking it under Reina. Bologna looked even better after the goal and it did not take long before they found themselves 2-0 up, with Rossettini beating Reina with a powerful header from a Brienza corner. Insigne and Callejon both passed up chances to halve the deficit for Napoli before the break, only to be denied by Antonio Mirante. Napoli upped the tempo after the break as Higuain, Callejon and Allan were all unlucky, allowing the home side to seize their opportunity to go further ahead, as Destro capitalised on a poor Hamsik pass and fired past Reina. The hosts looked like adding more to their tally as the game wore on, but it was Napoli who pulled one back in the 87th minute. Insigne's cross fell to Higuain and the Argentine poked it home for his 13th goal of the season. Number 14 came just three minutes later when the ex-Real Madrid man took on a Hamsik pass and smashed it home. Napoli pressed forward for the surprise equaliser, but Bologna were able to hold on for the three points and move away from the relegation zone. | 1 | 97,242 | sports |
Turkey accused Russia of a "provocation" on Sunday after a serviceman on the deck of a Russian naval ship allegedly held a rocket launcher on his shoulder while the vessel passed through Istanbul. Relations have deteriorated sharply since Turkey last week became the first NATO member in more than half a century to down a Russian plane, which it said had violated its airspace while flying sorties over Syria. The pilot was killed. The NTV news channel broadcast photographs that it said showed a serviceman brandishing a rocket launcher on the deck of the landing ship Caesar Kunikov as it passed on Saturday through the Bosphorus Strait, which bisects the city of Istanbul. It said the ship was believed to be en route to Syria. "For a Russian soldier to display a rocket launcher or something similar while passing on a Russian warship is a provocation," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters, according to the Hurriyet news site. "If we perceive a threatening situation, we will give the necessary response." The Bosphorus offers the only passage to the world's oceans for the Russian Black Sea fleet. A World War One-era treaty obliges Turkey to allow all ships to pass during peacetime. Turkey had considered Russia a strategic partner as its main energy supplier, despite deep differences over Syria. But since Turkey shot the plane down, Moscow has introduced economic sanctions including a ban on Turkish foods and other products worth as much as $1 billion. NTV said three NATO frigates with Canadian, Spanish and Portuguese flags had been moored in Istanbul as the Caesar Kunikov passed through. (Reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Kevin Liffey) | 5 | 97,243 | news |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - A fascinating contrast of football philosophies will be on display today when the Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) take the field at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots (10-1). On one sideline, there will be Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who in less than three full seasons has come to be known best for discarding top-level players almost always for culture/conformity or size parameter reasons. On the other, there will be Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who over the course of building the most powerful NFL dynasty of the Super Bowl era has established a reputation as a collector of misfits he often molds into champions or, at the very least, near-misses. RELATED: Five NFL games that matter most in Week 13 Since Kelly has taken over the Eagles, he has jettisoned, among others, wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin; running back LeSean McCoy and guard Evan Mathis. All had their best seasons under Kelly and all save Maclin have qualified for multiple Pro Bowls. None except McCoy, who was recklessly traded straight up for damaged linebacker Kiko Alonso, netted any player in return. Belichick in the same time frame has won a Super Bowl with players such as running back LeGarrette Blount, who was banished from the Pittsburgh Steelers in disgrace and as recently as this year served a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy; wide receiver Danny Amendola, not good enough for the Eagles to keep in 2009 or, at 5-foot-11 tall enough for them to reacquire in 2013; Patrick Chung, whose one season with the Eagles in 2013 was hideously poor; defensive lineman Alan Branch, who washed out in Buffalo in 2013 at age 28; and wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who was never the force during his first four seasons in Carolina that he was last season for the Super Bowl champs. These are not role players, either. Blount is the Patriots' leading rusher, Amendola has more catches for more yards this season than all but one Eagle. Chung has been a starter for each of the past two seasons and has played for two Super Bowl teams over a six-year career. Branch is a starter who already has two forced fumbles, which equaled his career total in eight previous seasons coming in. LaFell contributed career highs in catches (74), yards (953) and touchdowns (seven) to last year's championship squad. Also on the roster and playing a big role before going on injured reserve last month was running back Dion Lewis, who in seven games (six starts) was averaging 4.8 yards on 49 rushing attempts and also had caught 36 passes for 388 yards. Lewis spent two seasons as a rarely used backup with the Eagles before Kelly shipped him to Cleveland in 2013 for linebacker Emmanuel Acho, who is out of a job after the Eagles cut him for a second time last week. Lewis was out of football all of last year, after spending 2013 on injured reserve with a fractured fibula. Every one of the above players were signed as free agents, which means Kelly - and others - had equal access without having to give up so much as a draft pick. But that's not all. The Patriots are so skilled (or perhaps just so well-drilled) under Belichick that they are not hampered by an offensive line that features two first-year players as starters: fourth-round draft pick Shaq Mason at left guard and undrafted free agent David Andrews at center. The rest of their line consists of left tackle Marcus Cannon, who has started just 14 games over five seasons, first-year starter Josh Kline at right guard, and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who is the only real established solid player in the group. When the Patriots traded six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick before last season began, their offensive line performed at a championship level, unlike the Eagles' current outfit. Of course the Pats have quarterback Tom Brady. And of course the Eagles don't. Big difference, right? Certainly. Except this New England team (and offense, in particular) would still be good with just about any competent quarterback. Although there's no way to prove it, the Patriots did win 11 games with Matt Cassel - another player Kelly could have had for nothing as recently as a month ago - while Brady sat out all of 2008 with a knee injury. That year, two Patriots receivers went over 1,000 yards: Wes Welker and Randy Moss, perhaps the most selfish diva to ever play the game and someone Kelly would never accept on his team in any lifetime before or after this one. Under Belichick the year before, Moss and the Patriots landed in the Super Bowl with an 18-0 record. | 1 | 97,244 | sports |
A24 Science fiction has always been a genre in which you can stretch the imagination with ideas that are only possible in the mind. But there are cases where real science is needed, and can be used impressively. Author Brian Clegg uses his new book "Ten Billion Tomorrows" to show how a host of fictional topics has led to new discoveries in science and technology. Here Clegg tells us about 10 movies in history that have influenced people to think about science beyond the classrooms and laboratories. 1. "Woman in the Moon" (1929) Universum Film Fritz Lang's classic 1929 film is one of the first to travel to the moon, and what's featured would become staples for space movies to come, from the look of the rocket ships to the countdown to blast-off. "It was the first time there was a countdown before a rocket launch in a movie," Clegg said. "In fact, NASA got the idea of a shuttle countdown from the film." 2. "Destination Moon" (1950) Eagle-Lion Films "Destination Moon" is one of the first times the US got a dose of what was beyond the sky. Though it might look silly now, for kids in the 1950s, it sparked ideas that would change entertainment and technology for decades to come. "It also has this documentary quality to it, so the fact that human beings were making this was quite inspirational in the 1950s," Clegg said. 3. "Forbidden Planet" (1956) MGM Six years later, one of the major films in the sc-fi genre was released. Depicting for the first time a story set beyond our solar system, it has Leslie Nielsen playing the captain of a crew that investigates the fate of an expedition sent decades earlier. "You can see 'Star Trek' and 'Lost in Space' were hugely inspired by it," Clegg said. "But as previous films only had humans, in this there's a robot, going a step forward in that thinking of technology." 4. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) MGM Considered one of the greatest movies of all time (not just in the sci-fi genre), Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of the Arthur C. Clarke story of life beyond earth dazzled audiences when it was released in 1968 with its impressive practical graphics of outer space. "It's only 12 years after 'Forbidden Planet' and yet the spaceship has gone from being a streamlined rocket to one that is a collection of modules," Clegg said of one of the breakthroughs about space travel shown in the movie. "You don't have to be streamlined in space." 5. "Star Trek" (TV shows and movies) NBC The landmark franchise that began in 1966 has expanded our ideas of science fiction for decades. Clegg notes a big reason for that was the creators would often hire sci-fi writers. He mentions one major thing from the show that inspired the gaming world. "The people who created games like 'Doom' and 'Quake,' the first-person shoot-'em-up games, were inspired by the show's holodeck ," he said. 6. "Jurassic Park" (1993) Universal via YouTube Though "Jurassic Park" was a landmark achievement for computer graphic effects in movies, Clegg points out that it also was a breakthrough for how scientists were portrayed in sci-fi movies. "Like with 'E.T.' and 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' Spielberg makes scientists one of the good guys," he said. "They were usually the evil person in the plot, but in 'Jurassic Park' it's the business man who is the bad guy." 7. "Contact" (1997) Warner Bros. In "Contact," Jodie Foster plays a scientist who, after searching for most of her life (using the SETI program ), has finally made contact with alien life. The movie stands out among Hollywood movies because the main scientist is a woman, but Clegg also points out the real science in it. "The SETI program really did exist," he said, and "Contact" enlightened many Americans who were previously ignorant to its search. 8. "Inception" (2010) Warner Bros. Leonardo DiCaprio's journey into the unconscious puzzled the heck out of people who saw it. And that's why Clegg likes it. "It's one of the rare movies that looks at the measure of consciousness in the mind and dreaming," Clegg said. "It's the total opposite of space, it's internal science." 9. "Ex Machina" (2015) A24/"Ex Machina" One of the critical darlings of 2015, "Ex Machina" uses artificial intelligence and our obsession with the internet to tell a sci-fi movie for the modern age. "The robot in movies comes from that 1950s idea," Clegg said. "But here the robot is much closer to human. And with the use of the Turing test , your reality of the story increases." 10. "The Martian" (2015) Giles Keyte/Fox This year also had one of the biggest science-heavy movies in some time. Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars was both a crowd-pleaser and used a lot of smarts to tell the story. "What's fun is there's a human side," Clegg said. "It's not cold and clinical. The character comes through." | 6 | 97,245 | entertainment |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. A U.S. shipment of much-needed groceries and other astronaut supplies rocketed toward the International Space Station for the first time in months Sunday, reigniting NASA's commercial delivery service. If the Orbital ATK capsule arrives at the space station Wednesday as planned, it will represent the first U.S. delivery since spring. "Santa is on his way!" Tory Bruno, president of rocket maker United Launch Alliance, announced via Twitter. More than anyone, perhaps, the six space station astronauts were thrilled following all the weather-related delays. They managed to photograph the rising rocket from their windows as both craft sailed over the Atlantic. "Caught something good on the horizon," commander Scott Kelly reported in a tweet. To NASA's relief, the weather cooperated after three days of high wind and cloudy skies that kept the Atlas V rocket firmly on the ground. Everything came together on the fourth launch attempt, allowing the unmanned Atlas to blast off with 7,400 pounds of space station cargo, not to mention some Christmas presents for the awaiting crew. Just before liftoff, Bruno urged, "Everyone cross your fingers and think happy weather thoughts." It apparently worked. The Atlas soared through clouds and, 21 minutes later, ended up placing the Cygnus cargo carrier in the perfect orbit. Ecstatic launch controllers applauded, shook hands and hugged one another. "We're real happy to be back in space," said Frank Culbertson, president of Orbital's space systems group. United Launch Alliance manager Vernon Thorp couldn't help but notice all the number fours in Sunday's launch equation. Liftoff occurred at 4:44 p.m. on the fourth launch attempt, and Orbital's designation for the mission was yep number four. "I guess the numbers just all lined up right today," Thorp told reporters. The space station astronauts two of them, including Kelly, deep into a one-year mission have gone without American shipments since April. Two private companies contracted for more than $3.5 billion by NASA to replenish the 250-mile-high lab are stuck on Earth with grounded rockets. Orbital ATK bought the United Launch Alliance's rocket, the veteran Atlas V, for this supply mission. Orbital's previous grocery run, its fourth, ended in a fiery explosion seconds after liftoff in October 2014. SpaceX, the other supplier, suffered a launch failure in June on its eighth trip. Russia also lost a supply ship earlier this year. But it picked up the slack and has another resupply mission scheduled just before Christmas; Japan has chipped in as well. 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. This is the first time that the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V has served the space station. Normally used for hefty satellite launches, it is the mighty successor to the Atlas used to put John Glenn into orbit in 1962. Boeing intends to use the Atlas V to boost the Starliner capsules it's building to ferry astronauts to the space station beginning in 2017. Orbital plans to use another Atlas rocket for a supply run in March, then return its own Antares rocket to flight from Virginia in May. SpaceX also part of NASA's commercial crew effort aims to restart station deliveries in January with its Falcon rockets. While acknowledging 2015 has been a difficult year because of the disrupted supply chain, Shireman said commercial space is inevitable and will drive down launch costs. NASA's 30-year shuttle program proved expensive and complicated, and, on two flights, deadly. "It is our future," Shireman stressed last week. The Cygnus launched Sunday is named after Mercury 7 astronaut Deke Slayton, a pioneer in commercial spaceflight before his death in 1993. ___ Online: Orbital ATK: https://www.orbitalatk.com/ NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html | 5 | 97,246 | news |
The U.S. Women's National Team match against Trinidad & Tobago in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday was canceled due to unsuitable playing conditions related to the artificial turf in Aloha Stadium, U.S. Soccer announced . According to the press release, the poor condition of the field were discovered during a training session on Saturday and there was no option other than to cancel play. Former U.S. soccer star Julie Foudy tweeted a photo showing the turf being lifted just under where goalie Hope Solo would have been standing. One of the reasons @ussoccer canceled today's game in Hawaii. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/uKJUMmOCA5 Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) December 6, 2015 Jenny Taft of Fox Sports 1 also reported that small pieces of sharp plastic were found mixed in with the rubber pellets normally found in artificial turf. • Artificial turf controversy a constant in backdrop of Women's World Cup "We extend our sincere apologies to those fans who were scheduled to attend the U.S. Women's National Team match in Hawaii," said U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe. "Player safety is our number one priority at all times and after a thorough inspection throughout the day, we determined it was in the best interest for both teams to not play the match." The scheduled match was part of the team's 2015 Victory Tour and would have been the first women's international match in Hawaii. The USWNT plays its next match against Trinidad & Tobago on Dec. 10, in San Antonio, Texas. | 1 | 97,247 | sports |
Actors Who Are Insanely Smart IRL Actors and actresses portray different kind of characters everyday. Some of them smart, some of them dumb. But, in real life, a lot of your favorite celebrities are certified geniuses. These are the 14 celebrities who could kill it in a game of " Jeopardy ." Natalie Portman It's no secret that Natalie Portman took time off from acting to earn her degree at Harvard. What a lot of people don't know is that she has had two of her research papers published in scientific journals. One on " Frontal Lobe Activation during Object Permanence: Data from Near-Infrared Spectroscopy ," and the other on " A Simple Method To Demonstrate the Enzymatic Production of Hydrogen from Sugar ." Weird Al Yankovic Weird Al Yankovic is better at more things than puns. He graduated form high school as valedictorian at only 16. Emma Watson Emma Watson famously put her acting career on hold to attend the prestigious Brown University. Matt Damon Matt Damon did a little multi-tasking in his college years. He attended Harvard while writing " Good Will Hunting ." He eventually dropped out to pursue acting. Good choice. Sharon Stone Sharon Stone graduated high school at the age of 15 and has an IQ of 156. Nolan Gould Nolan Gould may play a dumb teenager on " Modern Family ," but in real life he is a Mensa member and has an IQ of 150. He also graduated from high school at the age of 13. Mayim Bialik Mayim Bialik doesn't just play a neuroscientist on " The Big Bang Theory ," she is also one in real life. The actress got her Ph.D in neurobiology from UCLA. Geena Davis Geena Davis has an IQ of 140 and is also a Mensa member. She plays piano, flute, drums, and the organ and is fluent in Swedish. Ken Jeong Before getting into acting, Ken Jeong went to college and became a doctor of internal medicine . No big deal. Now he plays one on " Dr. Ken ." Cindy Crawford Cindy Crawford is beauty and brains. The model graduated from high school as valedictorian and then went on to get a scholarship at Northwestern University for chemical engineering. Quentin Tarantino Quentin Tarantino didn't graduate from high school, but that doesn't really mean anything. The director has an IQ of 160 and is a member of Mensa. No wonder his movies are so good. Steve Martin Steve Martin has an IQ of 142 and is a Mensa member . Ashley Rickards Ashley Rickards graduated high school at 15, is a Mensa member and once dated a guy who spoke five languages and could solve a Rubik's cube with his eyes closed. Danica McKellar Danica McKellar graduated summa cum laude in mathematics from UCLA. If that isn't enough, while there she helped create a mathematical proof relating to magnetic fields and other things we don't understand. | 6 | 97,248 | entertainment |
South Carolina has officially announced Will Muschamp will be its next football coach, replacing the Gamecocks' all-time wins leader Steve Spurrier. The school said Sunday evening on its football Twitter feed, introducing "our new Head Coach, Will Muschamp!" South Carolina has scheduled an introductory news conference for Muschamp on Monday morning. University trustees will vote on Muschamp's contract before he meets the media. The 44-year-old Muschamp spent this past season as Auburn's defensive coordinator after being fired after four seasons as coach of the Gators. He is the second straight Florida coach to hold South Carolina's permanent job, following Spurrier, who left in mid-October after 10-plus seasons in Columbia. Spurrier won 86 games at South Carolina. Muschamp spent four seasons with the Gators, leading them to an 11-3 season in 2012. But he was just 10-13 the next two seasons and was let go by Florida. Muschamp said then that Florida's next coach would inherit a big-time roster and was proven correct as Jim McElwain led the Gators to the SEC Eastern Division crown in his first season. Spurrier believed South Carolina's players needed a change from his style. They'll have one in the fiery Muschamp, nicknamed "Coach Boom." Just last month, Muschamp drew a 15-yard penalty in Auburn's Iron Bowl loss to Alabama for yelling at officials, who had called a Tiger defender for a late hit. Muschamp's competitiveness was on display for TV cameras and social media posters to see and showcase. Muschamp's hiring caps a strange period in Gamecock football. Spurrier's departure halfway through the season was stunning. Interim coach Shawn Elliott won his debut as coach, carrying Spurrier's visor onto the field. But Elliott, interviewed formally by Tanner, lost the team's final games including a defeat to FCS opponent Citadel. Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez turned down an offer to become South Carolina's head coach, said a Twitter post Saturday night from Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne. "Great news! (at)CoachRodAZ did not commit to the offer from S. Carolina. He's an Arizona Wildcat. (hash)BearDown," Byrne tweeted. Muschamp has also been coach-in-waiting at Texas in the final years of Mack Brown before bolting for the Florida job. He also coached under Nick Saban at LSU and was the Tigers defensive coordinator in 2003 when they won the BCS championship. South Carolina players spoke out about the hire on social media. Quarterback Perry Orth posted, "Alright Coach Muschamp, let's ride," on Twitter. Defensive lineman Bryson Allen-Williams also welcomed Muschamp on Twitter, "First guy to offer me a scholarship is now my headcoach , welcome to the family (at)CoachWMuschamp." Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, Muschamp's newest state rival, said Sunday that South Carolina's new hire is a "great one." Swinney said they got to know when he was at Alabama and Muschamp worked at Auburn. "He's a guy that I know is going to be thankful to have another opportunity," Swinney said Sunday. "And I guarantee you that he'll do a great job for South Carolina." | 1 | 97,249 | sports |
Johnny Manziel heads into Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals second on the depth chart behind Austin Davis, but that could change at some point within the next week. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that there is a decent chance Manziel will get his starting job back this season and possibly as early as Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers. Davis, who played well against the Baltimore Ravens last week and brought the Browns back from behind late in the game, could probably secure the job for at least another week if he plays well against the Bengals. If Cleveland somehow pulls off the upset, Mike Pettine will almost certainly stick with Davis in the short-term. Rapoport notes that there are some close to the team who believe Pettine is simply trying to "exert his presence" by keeping Manziel on the bench. If the Browns still believe that Manziel could be their quarterback of the future, the higher-ups may pressure Pettine into giving the 22-year-old a chance down the stretch. One Browns reporter has speculated that the team will part ways with Manziel after the season , but there's a reason he hasn't been waived despite his growing list of off-field concerns. Why is Manziel is still on Cleveland's roster after that embarrassing incident with his girlfriend and the video that showed him partying during the bye week? Common sense would tell you the Browns have not given up on their former first-round pick. | 1 | 97,250 | sports |
After months of silence, Jason Pierre-Paul has opened up about his new life. In an exclusive interview with the New York Post , the Giants defensive lineman discussed his fiancée, son and fans before giving us a glimpse into his July 4 fireworks accident that left him with a mangled right hand and threatened to bring his football career to an end. MORE: Week 13 Start and Sit | Year of the ref: NFL's questionable calls | Week 13 picks "It wasn't scary at all. I just went straight to the hospital. Didn't panic, no nothing, I just went straight to the hospital. One of my friends took me there," Pierre-Paul said. "It wasn't painful at all. It was no pain, no nothing at the time. I was just like, 'I gotta get my hand treated.' I lost a lot of blood." Pierre-Paul, who lost his index finger and the tip of his thumb in the incident, was determined to continue playing football despite his damaged hand. He stayed mentally strong as he worked out and rehabilitated his hand after undergoing multiple surgeries and having his finger amputated, though he nearly lost his entire hand. "Even the doctors counted me out," Pierre-Paul said. "They were like, 'Yeah, we're gonna have to cut his whole hand off' and, you know … I just told the doctor not to cut my hand and passed out. "It's easier to take a shortcut out. I knew for a fact that my hand … I might say it's severely damaged or whatever, but I knew it wasn't that bad, like I can still play football." Pierre-Paul was quick to change the subject back to football after answering several questions about the accident, saying he plans to tell the full story in detail when the season is finished. "That's a story I'm gonna give at the end of the season," Pierre-Paul said. "That's a big story right there." After missing the first eight games of the season, Pierre-Paul made his season debut in the team's Week 10 win over the Buccaneers. He has yet to record a sack in the three games he's played since returning from his hand injury. Pierre-Paul had 53 tackles, 12.5 sacks and six passes deflected last season. | 1 | 97,251 | sports |
Verizon is turning on Wi-Fi calling for devices on its network next week, starting with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Additional devices including iPhones will be updated to support the service "early next year." Verizon is the last of the big four US carriers to flip the switch on Wi-Fi calling, perhaps in part because it waited until it could get an official waiver from the FCC to do it. AT&T also received a waiver (and also had some squabbles with T-Mobile over its lack of official approval). Verizon is positioning Wi-Fi calling as part of its "Advanced Calling" feature , which is the branding the carrier is applying to both VoLTE HD Voice calls and its own video calling service. What's less clear is whether Verizon handsets will default to using Wi-Fi if it's available or if it will only resort to a Wi-Fi network "When a customer uses Advanced Calling on our 4G LTE network and travels outside of coverage," as Verizon's implies. The Wi-Fi calling feature will require a software update for compatible phones so if you have a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, keep an eye out for that next week (it's going to be rolled out "in phases," Verizon says). | 3 | 97,252 | finance |
A lot has changed since the days when a fat belly indicated a fat wallet. Now, people pay more for the healthy stuff while the least expensive foods are often the ones packed with waist-widening calories. A lot has changed since the days when a fat belly indicated a fat wallet. Now, people pay more for the healthy stuff while the least expensive foods are often the ones packed with waist-widening calories. But just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't lose a few pounds without breaking the bank. To prove it's possible, we checked in with some of the nation's leading weight loss experts and asked them how to get lean for less. The following tips are simple things that fit easily into your life, won't empty your wallet, and can help whittle down your waistline without emptying your wallet. Once you see how affordable it is to take control of the chub, be sure to check out 42 Ways to Lose 5 Inches of Belly Fat . 1. Cook In Bulk Cook at home and cook in bulk, suggests registered dietitian Lauren Minchen. "Depending on how frequently you eat out, cooking your food at home can save you hundreds of dollars a month. And cooking in bulk is great if you're time strapped. It saves you time while allowing you to monitor the ingredients, calories, and portions in your meals. Win win win!" Not sure what to make? Soups are super easy to make and will last you all week. These 20 Best-Ever Fat Burning Soups are many of our editor's go-tos. 2. Get Competitive Register for a race or competition. They'll cost you anywhere from $35 to $125 dollars, but the training aspect, which can last for months, is practically free. "There's no better way to motivate yourself to get up from your office chair than knowing you have a race coming up," says registered dietitian nutritionist Michelle Dudash. "Plus, running is one of the cheapest sports you can do because the only special equipment you need is good pair of running shoes and a training program, which you can get online for free." Looking for a healthy way to recover after your workouts? Whip up one of these 23 Best Protein Shake Recipes . 3. Make Eggs Your BFF "Eggs are very inexpensive and have been shown over and over to help with weight loss," says registered dietitian Cassie Bjork. "What's more, eggs are considered the most bioavailable source of protein, which means your body digests, absorbs and uses the protein in eggs better than in any other food in the world." A pricey cut of steak can't even claim that! To learn more about eggs' magical weight loss powers, check out our exclusive report What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Eggs . 4. Know What's In Season "If you are going to buy fresh produce, it's important to know what's in season and what isn't," says registered dietitian Leah Kaufman. Things that are out of season will cost you far more cash than produce that's just hitting its peak. Registered dietitian nutritionist Sarah Koszyk agrees: "For the winter season, try Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, kale, turnips, persimmons, tangerines and kiwis." Broccoli, berries, tomatoes and salad greens will be cheapest in the summer, while asparagus, cauliflower and spinach are easiest on your wallet in the spring. And if you're curious which fruits and veggies pack the biggest nutritional punch, check out these 50 Healthiest Foods on the Planet . 5. Head to the Freezer "Whether you're on a budget or not, frozen vegetables are a great buy," says Kaufman. "They're cheaper than fresh vegetables and contain just as many nutrients." Wondering how stocking up on the stuff can help you slim down? "Vegetables are vital for weight loss because they're low in calories and high in fiber. Consuming fiber keeps you feeling fuller longer so you will feel satisfied and won't be tempted to snack." But fair warning, not all frozen foods are created equal: If you want those last five pounds to come off quickly steer clear of these 48 Worst Frozen Foods in America ! 6. Ditch the Dollar Menu Pre-made meals may save you time but they aren't necessarily the healthiest picks and they'll seriously cut into your budget. "By cutting back on on pre-made meals, packaged and processed snacks you'll have a lot of room leftover in your food budget for the nourishing, real foods that fuel your body with the nutrients it needs for weight loss, " says Bjork. 7. Be Prepared Grabbing a quick snack, whether it be a KIND bar or a piece of fruit costs far more at a coffee shop, airport or gas station than it does at a grocery store or farmer's market, warns Dudash. To avoid spending unnecessary cash when hunger strikes, she recommends building a clean eating arsenal stocked with grab-and-go pieces of fruit, like apples, pears and bananas. 8. Stick to Tap Water "Don't blow your budget on sugar-laden beverages that will only stand in the way of your weight loss goal. Instead, sip tap water. This simple swap will save you calories and cash, and supports weight loss by nourishing your cells and flushing out toxins," explains Bjork. Can't stand the taste of regular H20? Whip up a batch of one of these 50 Best Detox Waters for Fat Burning and Weight Loss . 9. Adopt a Plant-Based Diet Research shows that switching to a plant-based diet not only promotes weight loss but also lowers your cholesterol, reduces hypertension and extends lifespan. There's more good news: A meat-free diet can also save you thousands yes, thousands of dollars. "I recently switched from a moderate animal protein diet to a plant based diet and so far I've saved about $40 per week, which will easily add up to savings of $2,000 per year," says the owner of Naples Personal Training, Dr. Sean M. Wells. That's enough cash to spend on a tropical vacation! (Hawaii, anyone?) Looking for an easy-to-made addition to your plant-based diet? Consider making some of these 50 Best Overnight Oats Recipes . 10. Make Mondays Special Can't imagine giving up your favorite burgers and fillets for good? Consider adopting Meatless Mondays the campaign that encourages people to kick off their week sans meat. "I'm an advocate for Meatless Monday for both budgeting and ethical reasons," says personal trainer Ajia Cherry. Although there are many vegetarian and vegan sources of protein, Cherry is a big fan of beans. "Beans, especially dried black beans, are inexpensive and contain heart-healthy antioxidants, filling fiber, iron and muscle-building protein." Nutritionist Tammy Lakatos Shames, who's also a proponent of going meat-free once a week, likes to swap ground beef for mushrooms. "If you're not ready for a complete swap, you can start by mixing meat with mushrooms, it will boost your meal's fiber and stretch you dollar further," she explains. 11. See the World As Your Gym Drop the excuses about how you can't get to the gym you can work out anywhere, really. "Shedding pounds and getting healthy doesn't require a gym, boutique fitness studio or a CrossFit box," says Wells. "Join a local soccer league or walking group or do bodyweight calisthenics at home. My next door neighbor loves to use his tree for pull ups and dips. If you're willing to get creative you can save anywhere from $50 to 300 per month that's a car payment!" For more trim down tricks from the nation's foremost fitness experts check out these 25 Weight Loss Tips From The World's Fittest Men . 12. Plan Around Sales Before scouring Pinterest for recipes you want to make, check your local market to see what's on sale, suggests registered dietitian Ilyse Schapiro. "After you know what the best deals are, then plan your meals for the week. Also, sign up for a bonus card at your local market. Rewards programs can save you a lot of money in the long run." 13. Don't Take Shortcuts "Skip the pricey pills and detox juices. They'll cost you an arm and a leg and most of them don't work," warns registered dietitian nutritionist Marisa Moore. A cheaper, more effective solution? These 22 Best Teas for Weight Loss ! 14. Think Local "Not only is the food from a farmers market tastier, it's cheaper, too," says Schapiro. "Food bought locally doesn't have to travel long distances, so the prices tend to be lower. And if you shop at the end of the day, you may get even better deals because the farmers want to get rid of their stock. For even more cheap ways to shed the pounds, check out these 40 Ways to Lose 4 Inches of Body Fat . 15. Make Your Own Protein Shake "Commercial bars and workout drinks can be very expensive. What's worse, they offer little more to your body than what basic fruits, vegetables and nuts can provide," says Wells. "Ounce for ounce, homemade smoothies or snacks will not only be cheaper but probably healthier for you, too." 16. Be Resourceful You may not have enough leftovers to squeeze out a second meal, but that doesn't mean you should throw the food out! "Wasted food is wasted money, says Schapiro. "Leftover fruits and vegetables can always be added to a smoothie or protein shake and vegetable and grain scraps can be added to a soup, a stir-fry, or omelet." 17. Roll Up Your Sleeves Love fancy coffee drinks? Learn how to make slimmed-down versions of your favorites at home, suggests Minchen. Not only will making your drinks save you thousands of dollars, it will also help keep excess fat off of your frame, too. Our Healthy Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Copycat Recipe is a great way to get into the make-it-yourself groove! 18. Tune Into You Tube Celebs may pay her the big bucks to whip them into shape, but celebrity trainer Kit Rich says it's possible to get into your skinny jeans without spending a dime. "The cheapest and easiest ways to lose weight through exercise is by doing YouTube workout videos. There are a lot of fun and effective programs available for free!" And to see the results of your sweat session shine through even faster, check out these 7 Ways to Make Your Workout 500% More Effective . 19. Slip Into Your PJS Getting a proper night's rest is totally free and it offers major weight loss perks. "When you don't get enough sleep, levels of the hormone leptin drop, which increases appetite. This surge in appetite makes comfort food more appealing, which can derail weight loss efforts," explains personal trainer to the stars Jay Cardiello. "I tell all of my celebrity and professional-athlete clients to get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep per night." Want to lose even more weight while you sleep? Check out these 30 Things to Do 30 Minutes Before Bed to Get Lean . 20. Order An App The average restaurant meal contains a whopping 1,128 calories, according to a 2013 University of Toronto study of 19 sit-down restaurant chains. And those numbers have likely increased since then! To save money and calories while dining out, registered dietitian Yasi Ansari suggests ordering a healthy appetizer (like seared scallops, mushroom caps or a salad) or splitting an entree with a friend. Looking for more ways to lean out? Be sure to check out these 20 Weight Loss Tricks You Haven't Tried . 21. Make a List "Spend a couple of minutes each morning writing out a list of reasons you want to live a fitter and healthier life," suggests author of the top model fitness guide, Methodology X Dan Roberts. "It won't be conscious, but doing this exercise will help you make better decisions when choosing food and snacks throughout the day." 22. Stop Reading Labels Foods stamped with an "All Natural" label tend to cost more, but since the claim isn't regulated by the FDA, it doesn't really mean anything. "Instead, read ingredients and then decide which products are worth more of your hard-earned cash," suggests Cardiello. 23. Save Cash On Snacks "The average snack bar or bag of chips will cost you two dollars, but a piece of fruit will only cost you 50 cents. Stick with a piece of fruit to save calories, fat and cash on snacks," says certified dietitian nutritionist Dana James. 24. Catch a Can There's no doubt that protein sources like chicken breasts, tuna and salmon are healthy, but they're not the most economical. For that reason, Dudash recommends buying the canned varieties. Not convinced? Consider this: A four pack of canned tuna from Walmart is less than $4. It doesn't get much cheaper than that! Eat This! Tip Worried about the mercury in the tuna? Don't be. Generally speaking, the smaller the fish, the lower the mercury level. Since canned chunk light tuna is harvested from the smallest fish, it's safe to consume two to three times a week. 25. Use Your Non-Dominate Hand Been a righty your entire life? Eat dinner with your left hand. "It takes roughly 15 minutes for your brain to realize that you're full," says Cardiello. "To give your mind time to catch up to your mouth, simply switch your fork to non-dominate hand. It may be frustrating, but it's a simple and unnoticeable way to curb overeating and lose weight." And for even more must-try slim down tricks, check out these 20 Weight Loss Tricks You Haven't Tried . | 7 | 97,253 | health |
Jay Glazer has the latest on the NFL teams possibly relocating to Los Angeles. | 1 | 97,254 | sports |
This year, Prince George totally gets it. Now that he's 2, the third in line to the British throne has figured out what Christmas and Santa Claus are all about, his father Prince William shared in a new interview. "George will be bouncing around like a rabbit," William explained to Britain's The Big Issue magazine in an interview that will be released Dec. 7, as reported by E! News . "I think George will be extremely bouncy this year because he's suddenly worked out what Christmas is all about," William added. "If I get any sleep on Christmas Eve, it'll be good." The holiday marks the Duke of Cambridge and wife Duchess Kate's first Christmas with George's little sister, 7-month-old Princess Charlotte. "So that will be two children," William continued. "One who suddenly appreciates Christmas, which could be quite challenging. But I'm looking forward to it." William confirmed that he and Kate, both 33, will mark the holiday like most people. "We'll go to church as a family on Christmas Day, as we always do," he said. "Then we'll watch George try to tackle his presents as he tries to unwrap them." He also spoke about what a meaningful time of year this is for him now that he's a dad. "It's a very different experience at Christmas," William explained, "having a family of your own." He and Kate, who are expected to celebrate Christmas at Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk, England, are also hoping for snow this year to make things extra special for their family of four. "It'd be nice if we got a white Christmas because we haven't had one in many years," he told the magazine, which is sold to raise money for the homeless. This particular interview was an especially personal one for the prince, who's serves as patron of the U.K. homelessness charity Centrepoint, as his mother Princess Diana once did. E! reports that the young journalist who interviewed William for The Big Issue, 24-year-old Sophia Kichou, met the prince several years ago at a Centrepoint hostel when she was homeless and told him she hoped to one day be a reporter. William said he'd grant her an interview when that happened -- and this was him making good on that promise. | 6 | 97,255 | entertainment |
The Boston Society of Film Critics, voting Sunday, named Spotlight the best picture of the year, also awarding the film for its ensemble cast and script. The Beantown critics also hailed 45 Years' Charlotte Rampling as best actress, and equally named Love & Mercy actor Paul Dano and The Revenant star Leonardo DiCaprio winners in the best actor category. The group also named Todd Haynes best director for Carol. Kristen Stewart and Mark Rylance were also named winners for their roles in Clouds of Sils Maria and Bridge of Spies, respectively, and Marielle Heller was named best new filmmaker for The Diary of a Teenage Girl. See a list of the announced winners below. Best Picture: Spotlight Best Director: Todd Haynes, Carol Best Actor (tie): Paul Dano, Love & Mercy and Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria Best Screenplay: Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight Best Cinematography: Edward Lachman, Carol Best Documentary: Amy Best Animated Film (tie): Anomalisa and Inside Out Best Film Editing: Margaret Sixel, Mad Max: Fury Road Best New Filmmaker: Marielle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl Best Ensemble Cast: Spotlight Best Use of Music in a Film: Love & Mercy | 6 | 97,256 | entertainment |
Donald J. Trump is having trouble keeping some details straight about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Three times during the last week Mr. Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate, has made remarks that do not align with the timeline and details of the hijacking of the planes, two of which crashed into the World Trade Center towers, a third into the Pentagon, and a fourth after passengers fought back into a field near Shanksville, Pa. In an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," Mr. Trump, a native New Yorker whose primary home is in Manhattan, described how some of the Sept. 11 hijackers sent family members to the Middle East before the attacks. "And those wives went home to watch their husbands knock down the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and wherever the third plane was going, except we had some very, very brave passengers, wherever that third plane was going." The plane that dove into the Pennsylvania field the last of the four to crash is generally described as the fourth plane. On Tuesday night, speaking at a campaign rally in New Hampshire, Mr. Trump interrupted a young man's question about the American nuclear bombings of Japan at the end of World War II and shifted the focus to the earlier Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Trump said "the only thing that was worse" than Pearl Harbor was the Sept. 11 attacks, which killed "innocent civilians having dinner." The plane crashes on Sept. 11 occurred between 8:45 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. And on Monday night, at a rally in Macon, Ga., Mr. Trump decried 9/11 as "an attack on innocent people working in an office and having lunch up on top of the world." Mr. Trump spoke off the cuff when he made these remarks, as he typically does in his speeches, in which he also usually takes credit for not needing a TelePrompter to express his thoughts. Find out what you need to know about the 2016 presidential race today, and get politics news updates via Facebook , Twitter and the First Draft newsletter . | 5 | 97,257 | news |
It's all too perfect. Everything fit and everyone is happy. Three favorites, three conference champions, one neat College Football Playoff package. MORE: CFP: How teach team wins (or loses) national title | Nike releases new unis for playoff teams And somehow, Oklahoma has gotten lost in all of this. The team that's playing better than anyone since an unthinkable loss to Texas; the team with the hottest player in the game and toughest November road to the playoff, is the team to beat in the CFP. They're not the most complete team (Clemson) or playoff-hardened (Alabama), or the team with the most thrilling finish of the season (Michigan State). They're just the forgotten while sitting home on championship weekend. 'We feel really good about where we are right now," says Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. Why wouldn't he? Since early October, the Sooners have been in win or walk mode and have not only gotten better each week, but developed a unique chemistry not seen in Norman since that magical 2000 team that won it all. That OU team had a scrappy quarterback and an underrated run game and a defense that could force opponents into the uncomfortable. What team does that sound like? That team played an ACC team full of skilled athletes and the Heisman Trophy winner in the BCS National Championship Game. Oklahoma will play No. 1 Clemson (and maybe the Heisman winner) in the Orange Bowl CFP semifinal, the same place the Sooners won its only national title under coach Bob Stoops. "That team had to prove itself every week," said OU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, the Sooners' defensive coordinator on the 2000 team. "And that's not unlike this team. That's the stuff that keeps teams focused on the same goal no matter what's going on outside." PATHS TO THE PLAYOFF: Clemson | Alabama | Michigan State | Oklahoma Oklahoma hasn't been this zeroed in since the end of the 2013 season, when a loss to Texas and an embarrassing loss to Baylor had the Sooners rolling into the Sugar Bowl as a significant underdog against an Alabama team that was a Kick Six from playing for it all. That bowl game ended in Alabama's worst loss under Nick Saban, and underscored a turn OU had made back toward the elite of the game. Then quarterback Trevor Knight regressed as s sophomore in 2014, and suddenly Bob Stoops couldn't coach again. But now we know why Stoops and the Oklahoma administration tried so hard to get then walk-on transfer Baker Mayfield eligible last season. Why would the Sooners push so hard for Mayfield, when Knight was the Sugar Bowl hero, you ask? Because no matter how good Knight was, he wasn't Mayfield. There's a difference between a player who gets hot, and a player who can carry a team. A player who's infectious; whose personality and playing style fuels his team. A player who can be the difference between a five-loss season and losing a bowl game by 34 points, to playing that same team a year later in the national semifinals with a chance to win it all. "This team will not back down from anything," Mayfield said. "Nothing will distract us from where we're headed." Least of all being lost in the championship weekend moment. | 1 | 97,258 | sports |
Indigenous people take to the water in Paris to call for climate change, while hundreds form the shape of Eiffel Tower to promote renewable energy. Deborah Lutterbeck reports. | 8 | 97,259 | video |
Can't wait for this year's Cotton Bowl? Campus Insiders' Shae Peppler and Jordan Cornette offer their preview and predictions of the game between the Crimson Tide and Spartans. | 1 | 97,260 | sports |
The Dolphins defeated the Ravens 15-13 on Sunday. Lamar Miller rushed for 113 yards, while Ryan Tannehill threw a touchdown pass. | 1 | 97,261 | sports |
David Price wasn't the only one who received a hero's welcome this week. The Boston Red Sox introduced Price, who signed a seven-year, $217 million contract , at a press conference Friday, before which the pitcher's family received flowers. Price's dog, Astro, wasn't in attendance for the ceremony, unfortunately, but the Sox still have big plans for the pooch. Astro is PUMPED! #respect RT @RedSox : It wouldn't be right to welcome @DAVIDprice24 without Astro! #WelcomePrice pic.twitter.com/mYnnvB5wDV David Price (@DAVIDprice24) December 5, 2015 Astro has been around since Price's days with the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-hander isn't shy about bringing him places, either, so don't be surprised if the awesome French bulldog pops up at Fenway Park this season and beyond. | 1 | 97,262 | sports |
Can't wait for this year's Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual? Campus Insiders' Ray Crawford and Pete Fiutak offer their preview and predictions of the game between the Cardinal and the Hawkeyes. | 1 | 97,263 | sports |
Sepp Blatter is being investigated by the FBI over the $100 million ISL bribes scandal, according to BBC Panorama . Panorama said that during the 1990s, FIFA's now defunct sports marketing company ISL paid that sum in bribes to numerous officials including former FIFA president Joao Havelange and Brazil's former FIFA member Ricardo Teixeira, who was indicted by US authorities on corruption charges last week. According to Panorama , a letter apparently written by Havelange suggests Blatter, who is currently suspended from his position as FIFA president, was aware of the payments but took no action. The letter quoted by Panorama says: "I emphasize that Mr. Blatter had full knowledge of all activities" and was "always apprised" of them. The letter is included in an FBI request to the Swiss authorities for help with their investigation, asking for the ISL file and the request states "among other things, the prosecutor is investigating Havelange's statements implicating Blatter." The program, to be screened on Monday, also claims Qatar spent $176 million on its 2022 World Cup bid. It quotes former England 2018 bid chairman Lord Triesman saying he was given the figure by sources close to British intelligence. Triesman said: "I was told by two sources that have always been very reliable with good information, good intelligence that the sum that Qatar had spent on their bid was $176 million." England spent $31 million its bid for the 2018 World Cup and the USA about $15 million on its 2022 bid. | 1 | 97,264 | sports |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Former New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma has formally retired from the NFL, more than a year after playing his last game. Vilma, who made the announcement in conjunction with the Saints before Sunday's game against Carolina, says he's fortunate to retire as a member of the club with which he won a Super Bowl in the 2009 season. Vilma began his NFL career with the New York Jets, who drafted him out of Miami in 2004. The Saints traded for Vilma in 2008, and he remained with New Orleans six seasons. He hasn't played since finishing the 2013 season on injured reserve because of chronic knee problems. He played in 125 NFL games, posting 990 total tackles, 10 1/2 sacks, 12 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries. He also was at the center of the Saints' 2012 bounty scandal, but successfully appealed his suspension. --- Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL | 1 | 97,265 | sports |
NASHVILLE -- The Arizona Diamondbacks, with the most stunning move of the winter, will make it official Monday by announcing on the first day of baseball's annual winter meetings that they nearly spent as much for Zack Greinke than their owner did for the entire franchise. Yep, $206 million doesn't get what it used to any longer, but that's the price of business these days in an industry swimming in money. If a small-market team like the Diamondbacks, who have struggled for years just to get out of debt, can throw out that kind of money, you can just imagine the dollar signs dancing in the heads of starting pitcher Johnny Cueto and outfielders Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton. It's a whole different world out there when Oakland Athletics, who signed pitcher Ryan Madson to a three-year, $22 million contract Sunday, are outspending the New York Yankees these days. Where else could you have the Los Angeles Dodgers out-bid by a staggering $51 million by the Diamondbacks for Greinke's services, and the St. Louis Cardinals willing to spend a franchise-record $180 million for David Price, and losing out to the Boston Red Sox by $37 million? The Diamondbacks, who were shunned by Cueto last month when they offered $120 million, actually didn't even enter the Greinke sweepstakes until Friday morning, concluding the deal in less than 12 hours. The Diamondbacks had only mentioned Greinke in passing, GM Dave Stewart told USA TODAY Sports, when owner Ken Kendrick telephoned and president Derrick Hall uttered the words in Stewart's office: "Let's go for it.'' Kendrick paid $238 million for the Diamondbacks in 2004. This time, he determined the going rate for a franchise-altering arm was worth nearly that much. "It was just an amazing day,'' Stewart said. "I was very much surprised. We had Price and Greinke both rated as a No. 1 in our meetings, but by the time we decided to go for it, Price was already off the board. So we decided to give it our best shot, and gave him a historical contract. "Now, we get that No. 1 starter who's got a great track record, who can be a role model and leader to our staff.'' And, oh yeah, not to mention keeping him away from their division powerhouse rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. "I don't know so much about getting him away from the Giants and Dodgers,'' Stewart said, "but we needed that kind of guy in our rotation. Just the fact that we got him is impactful in itself. This guy has an unbelievable ability to do the right things on the mound. Even when he doesn't have his good stuff, he pitches.'' The Diamondbacks, who haven't finished above .500 in four years, reaching the postseason just once since 2007, are instant contenders once again, thanks to their game-changing local TV deal worth in excess of $2 billion. They've engaged in talks with the Atlanta Braves about starter Shelby Miller, and still are seeking a second baseman such as Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds or free agent Howie Kendrick. "We feel good about our chances,'' Stewart said, "and we definitely have gotten better. But we still have got other things to do. You can never be too deep in pitching, so we're going to look at other possibilities. "But I know what a guy like this means for a team. You look at what guys like Pedro Martinez, Bret Saberhagen and Jack Morris have been over the years, and the tremendous impact they had on their staffs, and we believe we have that guy in Zack.'' It's the D'backs' staggering move that now has the market rocking. The Giants already responded quickly by signing Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million contract, and aren't done, seeing another starter and a bat. The Dodgers now have Cueto squarely in their sights if they can't pry Jose Fernandez from the Miami Marlins. The Cardinals still are desperate for a starter, and could turn to free agent Mike Leake, who finished last season with the Giants after spending his career with the Reds. The Chicago Cubs, after grabbing John Lackey away from the St. Louis Cardinals, are now trying to see if they can grab Miller from the Braves or Tyson Ross from the San Diego Padres, using power-hitter Jorge Soler as trade bait. The Reds are shopping All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman to the highest bidder, while the Washington Nationals have two closers for sale in Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen. This could turn out to be a feeding frenzy simultaneously on the free-agent and trade markets. Come on, does anyone now think that Cueto made a bad business decision by turning down $120 million? Now you believe that Heyward will become baseball's next $200 million player? Can power-hitter Chris Davis top $150 million? Is it too late to give that executive of the year award to Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels, whose acquisition of ace Cole Hamels at the trade deadline with control of him through 2019, looks like a stroke of brilliance? And will the Padres, who stole the show at last year's winter meetings, be up to their old tricks, only this time dumping off many of the same players they acquired a year ago? They are willing to trade everyone from Matt Kemp to James Shields. You go to bed, and teams may be unrecognizable by morning. This could a doozy of a week. | 1 | 97,266 | sports |
To its critics, President Obama's strategy to combat the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq is weak and incoherent. Even some of the staunchest U.S. allies and partners in the fight worry that the time for what they see as the administration's incremental approach has long since passed. The White House maintains that its strategy is comprehensive and that it's working. Sharp increases in airstrikes and Obama's recent decision to deploy Special Operations troops, officials say, are part of a fundamental change in the military's mission developed this fall, along with a new diplomatic push to end the distraction of Syria's civil war. In his Sunday-night address to the nation following last week's San Bernardino, Calif., shooting, Obama outlined the elements of the strategy, assuring Americans that there is a viable plan underway to decimate the Islamic State where it lives. "We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us," he said, using an alternative name for the militants. But the White House is clearly frustrated by its failure to communicate the elements of that plan and what it believes has been accomplished. "Yes, there is a strategy," Secretary of State John F. Kerry snapped in a speech Saturday. "I know the criticism. We all hear them. . . . But that doesn't mean it's wisdom." The administration's insistence that its prudence and patience will pay off vs. charges of too little, too late have been the two opposing narratives of the 18-month battle against the Islamic State and the four-year Syrian war it has now overshadowed. An examination of the recent course of events on the military and diplomatic fronts and interviews with a broad range of stakeholders and experts provide fuel for both arguments. For more than a year after the Islamic State blitzkrieg swept across Syria and through Iraq to the Baghdad suburbs in the early summer of 2014, U.S. military operations, including airstrikes and training of local ground troops, were in what a coalition spokesman, Col. Steve Warren, called "crisis mode, just trying to keep the barbarians off the gate." The Iraqi army had fallen apart. In Syria, as civil war raged in the west, the militants consolidated their control over the north-central and eastern areas of the country, with virtually free access to Syria's border with Turkey to infiltrate tens of thousands of foreign fighters and equipment. Airstrikes begun by the United States and its coalition partners Europeans in Iraq and Arab states in Syria were tactical, focused on targets of opportunity and the need to prevent collapse. While domestic critics and allies in the region called for more strikes, more support for Syrian rebels, more U.S. boots on the ground and no-fly zones, the administration demurred. In a broad assessment in August, the Pentagon determined it had succeeded in its initial goals of stopping further Islamic State expansion and reestablishing the foundations of a viable Iraqi military. Amid repeated failures in Syria to organize and arm a rebel force to fight against the militants in Syria, it found hope in the establishment of a Syrian Kurdish and Arab force that has driven the militants from much of the Turkish border. Adoption of what the military says is its first real operational strategy, following the chaos of the initial year, was marked by September's change of command of the Baghdad-based headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State. "You have done what was necessary," U.S. Central Command Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III told departing Lt. Gen. James L. Terry. The new commander, Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, was charged with "operationalizing" the mission, Warren said. "We always wanted to get into a position where we could apply multiple points of pressure at once, across the whole battle space," said a senior administration official. "We're now in position to actually do it. It's not going to be perfect, it's not going to be linear, it's going to be extremely hard." Military and administration officials, most speaking on the condition of anonymity about internal decision-making, listed the elements of the comprehensive offensive against "core ISIL" on the ground in both Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, the focus has been on cutting Islamic State supply lines into Mosul, the militant bastion in the northwest, in preparation for an eventual ground assault, and applying simultaneous pressure along militant front lines stretching south to the city of Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad. "These are not blitzkrieg gains," Warren said, "but painstaking, incremental work against a dug-in enemy" now made more effective with the ability to integrate airstrikes with a more organized and robust ground force. Obama has authorized a new, Iraq-based Special Operations task force to conduct ground raids against Islamic State leadership targets in both Iraq and Syria. Administration officials have described a snowballing cycle in which more raids will take more leaders off the battlefield and provide more intelligence to plan still more raids. But it is unclear when the force, initially to number about 100, will be deployed. Syria, with its separate wars against the Islamic State and between forces of President Bashar al-Assad and rebels seeking to unseat him, is far more complicated. Regional allies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, who once flew strike missions along with U.S. warplanes, have largely dropped out, an absence the United States hopes to make up with new agreements with France and Britain. The "whole battle space" concept includes simultaneous airstrikes along the eastern border with Iraq to further cut militant supply lines, on Islamic State-controlled oil fields, and in the north-central area, where Syrian Kurdish and Arab forces who have captured a wide swath of territory along the border from the militants are organizing to attack the de facto militant capital of Raqqa. Obama has authorized the deployment of 50 Special Operations troops, the first official U.S. boots on the ground in Syria, to join those forces to assess their readiness and help develop tactical plans, although the Americans are not expected to arrive for several months, defense officials said. In southern Syria, anti-Assad rebels have met with significant success against government forces, but the Islamic State, sensing an opening, has begun moving into the area. The United States is sending more money and equipment, including heavy, long-range artillery, to Jordan, both to protect its own border and to engage militant targets inside Syria. But given the new threat to the homeland, the administration's claims of incremental success have left scornful critics asking why it does not do more. Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday what he hoped to hear in Obama's speech, presidential hopeful Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) replied: "That he's going to change his strategy and come up with a regional army to go in destroy the caliphate in Raqqa. . . . The president doesn't have a strategy." Mutual frustration has also been ongoing between the United States, as coalition leader, and regional allies, with some calling for a more aggressive U.S. policy. The United Arab Emirates said last week that it was willing to send ground forces into Syria something Obama has consistently refused if others would do the same as part of an international force. But the region's governments, including Turkey, are also deeply divided among themselves, leaving the administration as both whipping boy for their complaints and mediator for their disagreements as it tries to implement a broad strategy. In recent weeks, as Kerry has launched a diplomatic effort to bring the civil war to an end in order to shift attention to the counterterrorism fight, Obama himself has intervened in a series of conversations with regional leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi King Salman. Nowhere is the dissention more acute than in northwest Syria, where rebel groups separately backed by the United States and Europe, the Persian Gulf Arab states and Turkey are locked in a melange of battles, often beside forces of al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, against Assad's military. The entry of Russian warplanes and Iranian troops on Assad's side in western Syria has further complicated the situation, increasing the conundrum of how to take back the nearby, remaining 60-mile strip of the Syria-Turkey border in Islamic State hands. The coalition has said it is ready to launch an all-out air offensive to drive the militants out of the area, located north of Aleppo, Syria's most-populous city, but not until there are opposition forces on the ground ready to occupy the terrain. And the more the rebels are engaged in the Russian-aided fight against Assad, the less willing they are to switch their attention to the border. U.S. officials say that a small force of opposition fighters in the area, including about 130 Syrians trained by the Americans in Jordan who are in direct communication with U.S. forces, have had some success. But their operations are still rudimentary. To delineate their lines from those of the Islamic State and avoid their own casualties from coalition airstrikes, they light tires on fire and warn pilots to avoid the smoke. | 5 | 97,267 | news |
The Justice Department is expected to launch an investigation into the Chicago Police Department this week. | 8 | 97,268 | video |
Can't wait for this year's Fiesta Bowl? Campus Insiders' Shae Peppler and Jordan Cornette offer their preview and predictions of the game between the Irish and Buckeyes. | 1 | 97,269 | sports |
As the U.K. is on alert after a high-profile stabbing, we examine why the country is a more difficult target for terrorists than the rest of Europe. | 8 | 97,270 | video |
The hashtag makes it clear: terrorism and Islam have nothing in common. | 8 | 97,271 | video |
Suddenly the Seattle Seahawks are thundering toward the playoffs. They may just be the team no one wants to face in the season's final weeks. In what could be a first-round playoff matchup, the Seahawks trampled NFC North leader Minnesota 38-7. Seattle's defense swarmed all over the Vikings in their home stadium. They held Minnesota to just 125 total yards, including just 18 on eight carries by Adrian Peterson. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes and the surprising Thomas Rawls ran for 101 yards. Rawls has taken on the rushing burden following Marshawn Lynch's absence. | 1 | 97,272 | sports |
The Broncos rolled Sunday against the Chargers, but Sunday's 17-3 win at Qualcomm Stadium did more than give Denver its 10th victory of the season. It put the Broncos into the driver's seat in the AFC. The Broncos are the No. 2 seed in the conference after the Patriots were upset by the Eagles. The Broncos beat the Patriots Nov. 27 and both teams are 10-2, tied with the Bengals for the best record in the conference. The Bengals visit Mile High on Dec. 28, when the Broncos could possibly clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. BOX SCORE: BRONCOS 17, CHARGERS 3 WATCH: Broncos-Chargers highlights MORE: The biggest surprises from NFL Week 13 | Tom Brady throws 100-yard pick six to Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins Denver's top-ranked defense was again dominant against the injury-depleted Chargers. The Broncos held the Chargers (3-9) to 272 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers. The Chargers saw both wide receiver Dontrelle Inman and cornerback Brandon Flowers carted off the field in the first quarter. Inman suffered a neck injury while Flowers had a knee injury. Neither returned to the game. The Broncos offense scored just one touchdown, but it was all the defense needed. After Demaryius Thomas caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brock Osweiler, Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan returned a Philip Rivers interception 25 yards to give the Broncos a 14-0 first-quarter lead. All of the scoring took place in the first half and the Chargers defense limited Denver to 293 yards and picked off Osweiler, who threw for 166 yards. The Broncos defense held Rivers to 202 yards passing and no touchdowns a week after he threw four scores. | 1 | 97,273 | sports |
Some 25 years ago or more, this Judge traded ownership, and its new (and current owner) put the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge the safest place on his property he could find a cow barn. What would you do if you opened a rickety-old barn door, and there, untouched by human hands for decades, was a documented 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge one of the most collectible coupes in muscle-car history? We will let you ponder that question for now and tell you that the photos in this feature are real. Here's the backstory: Some 25 years ago or more, this 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge traded ownership, and its new (and current owner) put it in the safest place on his property he could find a cow barn. He planned on restoring it, but his out-of-state job was an excuse to procrastinate, and the years passed and passed and passed. More classic cars on MSN Autos What havoc does 25 years in a cow barn wreck upon a muscle car? According to the owner's uncle (both men prefer that their names and the location of 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge are not disclosed to the public), The Judge is covered up to the rockers in mud and cow manure, and rat excrement litters both its exterior and interior. "I hope he will get to it sometime, but I can tell you [it won't be anytime] in the near future," the uncle says. So let's go back to the question. What would you do if you were the first person to discover this 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge in its location and in the condition it is in? Rare GTO left in barn 22 years, used as cat box Follow MSN Autos on Facebook | 9 | 97,274 | autos |
Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman were born in the pages of DC Comics well before I entered this world and will live on long after I've exited it. I can't even fathom them being put out to pasture, but artist Eddie Liu has! Liu has put together a series of artwork depicting Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman as they could appear at retirement age. They say that's the golden years, but Father Time hasn't treated them like gold. Diana Prince is a chain-smoker, Barry Allen has a smutty-mustache, and Batman and Superman sport fully-gray beards that surround their wrinkled skin. | 6 | 97,275 | entertainment |
The stomach flu is no joke. In what's purported to be the first global estimate of its kind, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report Thursday detailing the global toll on human health that foodborne illnesses inflict annually. What they found was that close to one-tenth of the world, or 600 million people, become ill from some type of food poisoning every year, with nearly half a million (420,000) dying as a result. Of the deaths, one-third tragically occurred among children under the age of five. "Until now, estimates of foodborne diseases were vague and imprecise. This concealed the true human costs of contaminated food. This report sets the record straight," said Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, in a statement . "Knowing which foodborne pathogens are causing the biggest problems in which parts of the world can generate targeted action by the public, governments, and the food industry." A Heavy Toll The authors focused on 31 different agents known to cause illness when ingested alongside food, ranging from the biological (bacteria, viruses, and other parasites) to the environmental (chemicals). From there, the researchers further divided them into diseases that primarily cause severe diarrhea (diarrhoeal) or don't, with 11 agents belonging to the former category. In addition to calculating the sheer number of people made sick or dead from these stomach bugs in 2010, they also determined their burden on people's overall health and productivity via a measure called the Disability Adjusted Life Year, or DALY (previously discussed on Medical Daily here ). "The global burden of foodborne disease by these 31 hazards was 33 million DALYs in 2010," the WHO reported in its executive summary. "40 percent of the foodborne disease burden was among children under five years of age." Over half of these DALYs, or 18 million, were caused by diarrhoeal diseases. Though these illnesses can occur virtually anywhere, the researchers did find that each region of the world catered to their own particular gallery of rogues. For instance, in the United States and surrounding nations, 95 percent of cases came via the Norovirus , the Campylobacter and E. coli genus of bacteria, and non-typhoidal Salmonella ; whereas in Southeast Asia, Salmonella typhi , or typhoid fever, proved to be much more prevalent; Typhoid, coincidentally, did make a rare appearance stateside this year. In South and Central America, the pork tapeworm ( Taenia solium ) and the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii "contributed significantly to the foodborne disease burden." It was the region of Africa, however, that bore the largest burden of disease, with 70 percent of foodborne illnesses coming via diarrhoeal diseases. The region was also particularly sensitive to accidental cyanide and aflatoxin poisoning, a byproduct of certain fungi. Despite the extensive findings, there are still large data gaps that make it difficult to tally the full brunt of foodborne illness globally, and WHO researchers are hopeful their report can inspire nations around the world to take more of a proactive stance on the monitoring, prevention, and treatment of these nasty bugs. "These estimates are the result of a decade of work, including input from more than 100 experts from around the world. They are conservative, and more needs to be done to improve the availability of data on the burden of foodborne diseases," said Dr Kazuaki Miyagishima, director of WHO's department of food safety and zoonoses. "But based on what we know now, it is apparent that the global burden of foodborne diseases is considerable, affecting people all over the world particularly children under 5 years of age and people in low-income areas." Source: Foodborne diseases burden epidemiology reference group 2007-2015. WHO estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases. World Health Organization. 2015. | 7 | 97,276 | health |
I'm a bit sad that this is the first time in two months I don't have some sort of Walking Dead commentary post to share with you tonight. After a ( somewhat anti-climactic ) mid-season finale, The Walking Dead will finish out the rest of season six in 2016, returning in mid-February as it usually does. But two and a half months is a long time to go without your Walking Dead fix, so I wanted to recommend a bunch of other shows you can watch in the meantime. I'm trying to stay within the full hour drama/action genre, though admittedly, there are really no other shows like The Walking Dead out there, other than the obvious ( Fear the Walking Dead ). I tried to go with shows that are currently still airing, meaning I won't say that now's the time you should finally get around to watching The Wire or Battlestar Galactica (though you should). Some of these shows have been on for years, some don't even premiere for a couple weeks yet. But all of them I recommend giving a shot. The Leftovers (HBO) The Leftovers is probably best recommended as a replacement for the LOST -shaped hole in your heart, rather than The Walking Dead , but it's one of the best shows on TV right now, and it's really not to be missed. The name is iffy, the cast is unknown and the concept seems like those crappy Left Behind movies brought to TV, but this is the power of HBO, who rarely greenlights bad shows. The Leftovers is full of powerful performances, fantastic writing and musings on philosophy and religion so complex and maddening it can make your head explode. If you go in expecting to be confused and amazed simultaneously, you won't be disappointed. Arrow/The Flash (The CW) This is the first pairing of a few comic book based shows I'll be recommending, considering The Walking Dead was also a comic before it was a show. Arrow is on season four while its spin-off, The Flash is on season two, and they will soon spawn a lovechild, Legends of Tomorrow , pulling characters from each. The DC TV universe is expanding rapidly based on the success of these two shows, and both have their strengths and weaknesses ( Arrow season two and The Flash season one are probably the highlights). Now's a great time to see what the fuss has been about, even as everyone is drooling over the upcoming Batman V. Superman . This is where the more compelling DC action is, in my opinion. Daredevil/Jessica Jones (Netflix) Netflix's corner of the Marvel universe may be the most well-produced superhero fare on TV right now. Daredevil has already gotten its fair share of accolades after season one, and now Jessica Jones is getting even more. Daredevil is a more traditional superhero origin story (albeit a well-made one) while Jessica Jones is like nothing you've probably ever seen in the genre. Jones has given us Kilgrave, arguably one of the best on-film comic book villains since Loki, and it's not to be missed. Luke Cage, Iron Fist and more seasons of Daredevil/Jones are on the way. Agents of SHIELD/Agent Carter (ABC) I'm not quite as head over heels about this pairing as I am the last two, but I would recommend it regardless. Despite their shared universe (the MCU) and similar titles, the two shows are really quite different from one another. The second half of Agents of SHIELD season one is honestly some of the best TV I've ever seen, and Agent Carter is simply delightful. I could watch Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter) read the phonebook and by hypnotized, but she's supported by a great cast and the show is returning this winter for season two. It's one of the more charming corners of the Marvel universe at the moment. Gotham (FOX) Yeah, I know, I'm amazed it made this list too. Gotham was a show I was pretty much hate-watching for most of season one, but I swear to you, in season two, the show has really found its groove. It's essentially a slightly toned down version of the Keaton/Burton-era Batman, combining goofy with terrifying, and it just plain works, now that it's found the right tone. The problem is that you have to push past a lot of awfulness in season one to get to the good stuff, but honestly, for as much of a struggle as it was, it was totally worth it. Season two has been a blast, and I actually look forward to the show each week now. Fargo (FX) We will move on from comic book fare to one of the best shows on TV right now. Fargo doing sort of an anthology thing, where two seasons now have taken place in the "Fargo" movie universe, but telling different stories in different decades. Season one was after the events of the film, while season two is well before. Both boast amazing casts, stellar directing and writing, and quite honestly you would be hard pressed to find many better shows on air right now. Season two is about to wrap up this week, so you can watch both over winter break easily. The Americans (FX) The Americans is known in most TV critic circles as a show that seems to be sliding under everyone's radar, despite being simply fantastic. The Cold War drama about Russian sleeper agents is not quite action packed, but the twisting, turning, heart-wrenching plotlines are fantastic, and the duo of Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are without question the most compelling couple on TV right now for all sorts of reasons. It may take a while for your interest to spool up, but give it a chance, and stick with it for the long haul. Banshee (Cinemax) If you're missing the brutal, bloody, crazy violence of The Walking Dead , Banshee might be for you. It's a hard show to describe. It's almost a western, at least in terms of the set-up where a criminal assumes the identity of a dead sheriff, and hides out in a small town while clearing out the local unsavory elements. It boasts some of the flat-out best fight scenes in all of TV history, and I don't say that lightly. The plot can be kind of out-there at times, but I've been watching for years, and I can't tear myself away from it. I believe it has one season left before its taking its final bow in 2016. Better Call Saul (AMC) I bet AMC wishes there was more than one of their shows on this recommended list, but now that Breaking Bad and Mad Men are gone, here we are. I'm not exactly ready to recommend Halt and Catch Fire or Into the Badlands at this point. Better Call Saul is not, and will never be Breaking Bad , and being a prequel, it really loses a lot of tension. With that said, these are some of the most talented cast members of Breaking Bad (Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks) under the direction of Vince Gilligan, so the quality is going to be there. Season one is short and you can watch it in a weekend. Season two is coming in February and will be airing the same night as The Walking Dead . Mr. Robot (USA) Mr. Robot was taking the public by storm a few months ago when it first aired, and while I didn't think it finished quite as strongly as it started, I would easily recommend it all the same. Rami Malek is one of the best up and coming actors around, and the show that's been built around him is as trippy as The Leftovers and as well-filmed as Fargo . Its social commentary may be a bit overwrought, but the way it messes with the audience is something I've seen few shows ever replicate. Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz) Well, I'm going to actually recommend a show I've never seen, just because of how highly it's been recommend to me . Turns out if you want gory, insane zombie action outside of The Walking Dead family, Ash vs .Evil Dead might be your best bet. This series has graduated from cult classic to a quality film reboot to now apparently a very good TV show. It's the one on this list that I'm going to be watching in The Walking Dead's absence, considering I'm caught up with most of these others. The Expanse (Syfy) Can I recommend a show when I've only seen the pilot, which has yet to actually air? Yeah, I can. I've read all the Expanse books by James S.A. Corey, and I was more than pumped to learn it was getting its own show. Syfy has been really trying hard to crawl back to the glory days of Battlestar Galactica , and from what I can tell, The Expanse finally might be their ticket. The show starts up in mid-December, but the pilot makes me wish all of season one was out tomorrow. Read the books, watch the show. Game of Thrones (HBO) Do I really have to sell you Game of Thrones at this point? I feel like the target audiences for The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones almost entirely overlap at this point (which is a huge chunk of the country), and both are battling for being the dominant pop culture franchise on TV right now. If you've been putting off watching Game of Thrones , now is the time to start, considering you will be able to watch season six spoiler free, now that the show has surpassed the events of the book, and is drifting into almost entirely uncharted waters. Those are my recommendations. How about yours? Follow me on Twitter , on Facebook , and on Tumblr . Pick up my sci-fi novels, The Last Exodus and The Exiled Earthborn , which are now in print and online. Why do people still love The Walking Dead? Watch below: | 6 | 97,277 | entertainment |
Crude oil (@CL16F) slid nearly 3 percent on Friday, as Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refused to cut production levels despite an ongoing supply glut that has pressed down mightily on prices. And at this point, traders don't appear to see crude oil rising back above $50 per barrel any time soon. With the most widely traded Brent crude (@LCO.1) contract trading just above $40, the first futures contract that shows oil above $50 expires in the second half of 2017. Crude oil for December 2017 delivery (which is more liquid than other far-in-the-future contracts) is trading at just $51 per barrel. Futures contracts don't reflect pure expectations of where that commodity will trade; they also reflect things like the costs of storing that commodity, the extra price that users will pay to have access to the commodity for convenience reasons, and prevailing interest rates. Yet the crude oil futures curve clearly reflects expectations that the commodity's plunge below $50 is not a short-term phenomenon. "The futures curve is telling you that the market is totally oversupplied, and will remain so for a long time," commented Andy Hecht, a commodities trader and the author of How to Make Money with Commodities . The latest bad news for crude came on Friday, when the OPEC decided to take a "wait and watch" approach to production levels, rather than taking action as oil prices continue to plummet. That spelled bad news for oil bulls who may have been hoping the oil cartel might signal a policy shift. "In a nutshell, it tells me that it will take a long time to work through the surplus and traders feel prices won't rise significantly for a while," agreed Anthony Grisanti, a New York-based trader with GRZ Energy. For Helima Croft, head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, crude's weakness is a "sign of OPEC's utter powerlessness." "I saw them throwing their hands up," Croft said in Friday interview on CNBC's " Fast Money ." The options market doesn't expect a swift rise back to $50 either. Based on options pricing, there only about a 20 percent chance of oil trading at $50, or above when the March West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract expires. At this point, the one thing that could prove the market consensus wrong is a shift drop in supply caused by geopolitical reasons, says Hecht. "The only positive, though it's a big positive, is that the geopolitical premium for oil is non-existent," Hecht said. "That's what the market's discounting too heavily and it's a huge risk to anyone who's short oil now." By CNBC's Alex Rosenberg. Watch " Futures Now " Tuesdays & Thursdays 1 p.m. ET exclusively on FuturesNow.CNBC.com ! | 3 | 97,278 | finance |
The Jets rallied from ten points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Giants 23-20 on Sunday. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns in the win. | 1 | 97,279 | sports |
Fox 5's entertainment reporter Kevin McCarthy got the scoop on Star Wars the Force Awakens. In an interview with co-screenwriter JJ Abrams McCarthy was able to pry loose the second spoken word from the film. McCarthy told Abrams he loved how the screenwriter told Kimmel the first spoken word in Star Wars: This. He followed up his praise asking Abrams for the second spoken word. Abrams said, "I can't be little-by-little be doling out," but revealed the second spoken word anyway: "Will." Abrams promised he would not going to let the third word slip. | 8 | 97,280 | video |
It wasn't a particularly neighborly football game, until the New York Giants started bearing gifts to the New York Jets. A couple of comically tragic decisions by the Giants coach Tom Coughlin and his assistants, and one by quarterback Eli Manning, enabled the Jets' comeback from 10 points down in the final nine minutes to force overtime and steal a 23-20 victory that helped the Jets maintain solid footing in the AFC wild card race with a 7-5 record. MORE: Jets-Giants team, player stats | Sunday NFL scoreboard Coughlin chose not to try for a touchdown on fourth down from the Jets' 2-yard line in the first half, then in the fourth quarter declined the opportunity for an easy field goal and 13-point lead. The attempt to pick up a first down or touchdown on fourth-and-2 from the 4-yard line ended disastrously on an Eli Manning interception with 8:50 left. The Jets drove comfortably for a field goal, then raced the clock in the final two minutes. Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick kept alive the game-tying drive with a fourth-down scramble and then threw the tying touchdown pass from the 9-yard line to wideout Brandon Marshall. In between, the Giants made no great use of their penultimate possession. Manning made a timing mistake not his first this season by throwing away the ball under pressure to save a sack on third down. That preserved about five yards of field position but also gifted the Jets with an extra 30-some seconds to pursue a tie. It was interesting that the tying touchdown, on Fitzpatrick's pass to Marshall, came with 27 seconds left. It was curious, as well, that the Giants opted to spend the remaining time in regulation on a nowhere kickoff return by Dwayne Harris, then two running plays that screamed capitulation. In the overtime period, the Jets received the kickoff and drove to the Giants' 8-yard line, but a delay penalty and incomplete pass forced a 31-yard field goal from Randy Bullock. It seemed a disappointment at the time, but it stood as the game winner when the Giants' response became a 48-yard field goal attempt from Josh Brown who missed for the first time all season. PHOTOS: Must-see Week 13 action shots The Giants could not afford to squander this game. They began the day tied atop the NFC East division with a 5-6 record. Now they are on a three-game losing streak that didn't have to be. Even though they named it twice, even though it is the largest city in the U.S., even though there was an annexation of an entire adjacent state for the real estate necessary to build a stadium, New York, New York is not big enough for both the Giants and Jets. At least it's not big enough for the two of them to play nicely together. There was the moment Jason Pierre-Paul used the wrap on his damaged right hand to club a Jets offensive lineman. There was the moment Willie Colon, who could earn a false start flag merely getting out of bed during his years with the Steelers, managed to pick up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty while standing on the sidelines in sweats because he's currently on injured reserve. And there were the two moments near the end of the first half in which Jets star wideout Brandon Marshall went over the edge, first slugging defensive back Tremaine McBride while starting into a pass pattern curiously, the officials flagged the Giants for illegal hands to the face then pushing him in the facemask after a play concluded. There were various little post-play shoving matches that resembled the action in front of a hockey goal after play is blown dead. There were 16 penalties assessed for a composite 121 yards. The Giants had steamed toward the final period with a 20-10 lead that could have been more than twice as large. The Giants settled for a field goal following a Chris Ivory fumble that set them up at the Jets' 10 with 10:56 left in the first half, and Odell Beckham Jr. dropped a sure touchdown pass. They had a big third-quarter completion to inside the 5-yard line wiped out by a holding penalty. They then wiped out 6:10 of the fourth quarter with a drive that took them to the Jets' four, where they landed after Manning found wideout Rueben Randle for 16 yards on third-and-18. Rather than take the field goal, the Giants coaches chose to go for it on fourth down; the Giants would either bury their rivals or leave them in terrible field position. Except it failed, in spectacular fashion. Manning's throw under pressure was intercepted by safety Rontez Miles and returned 11 yards to the 14. No score, and no huge field position advantage. The Jets were disappointed to drive nearly the entire field before stalling at the Giants' six and cutting their deficit to a single touchdown with Bullock's short field goal. But they were back in a game that could have been settled. "What a great team win," Fitzgerald told CBS after the game. He didn't specify which team had won it for the Jets. | 1 | 97,281 | sports |
We asked four experts - who've helped everyone from celebs to everyday women get their diets back on track - to tell us the mistakes they see their clients make over and over when it comes to healthy eating. Read on for the top four mistakes women make when it comes to nutrition, as well as our tips to be sure you're not making these same choices! Only counting calories: When it comes to losing weight, it can be easy to fall in a quality vs. quantity trap - focusing on calorie counting instead of the whole picture. "Many [diet] programs focus on what I call the 'surface' evaluations of foods - how many calories, grams of carbs, protein, etc. a food has," says Kimberly Snyder, a celebrity nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox Solution . "Too many women feel like they have to micromanage and count everything they eat in order to look their best, [but] that's simply not true," she advises. Our tip: Instead of counting calories, focus on adding more whole foods, especially vegetables and fruits, into your diet. A green juice or smoothie in the morning is an excellent way to get a lot of nutrients into your diet in one go; check out Kimberly's recipe for her Glowing Green Smoothie to start. Not being consistent: Busy lives tend to mess up our carefully constructed healthy eating schedules, which doesn't do a body good. "I see many clients who eat erratically in terms of the timing, composition, and quality of their meals. Some days they may graze all day and on others go long stretches without eating, and some days may include kale salad and lentils, while others include frozen dinners and processed snack foods," says Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian and author of S.A.S.S. Yourself Slim . Our tip: Before your busy life gets the better of you, block out time on the weekend to prepare lunches and shop for dinner so you won't go the takeout route on the weekdays. Not drinking enough water: Getting adequate hydration is a simple part of a nutrition plan that many women neglect the most, says registered dietitian Erin Palinski, a spokesperson for ZICO Coconut Water . "In order for your body to function properly, you need to be properly hydrated, otherwise you can run into issues like fatigue, headaches, even dizziness and more dangerous long-term issues like kidney and liver function, cholesterol problems, and muscle damage," Erin says. And not only that, but she's seen that "many people also mistake thirst for hunger and can overeat as a result." Our tip: Make your water bottle a fixture on your desk at work. If you're tired of drinking plain water, add healthy, no-calorie additions like lemon slices, ginger, cucumber, or mint to your water to make it more appealing. Eating emotionally: "Women let nutrition go before anything else," says vegan nutritionist Melissa Costello, author of the Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook . "We have a lot on our plates - kids, works, husbands." A hectic schedule can upend any healthy eating goals, leading you to eat emotionally, "which usually always tends to be something that is not so healthy for us, like sugar, candy, or processed foods," warns Melissa. Our tip: If you find yourself reaching for what's convenient or what you crave, make healthy snacks easily accessible - and more convenient than the junk food option. This snack center you can keep in your fridge includes healthy options like string cheese, already-washed fruit and veggies, and preportioned nuts and pretzels to make choosing a lower-calorie, more-nutritious snack easy. | 7 | 97,282 | health |
Odell Beckham Jr. catches 6 balls for 149 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 loss to the New York Jets in Week 13 of NFL action. | 1 | 97,283 | sports |
For the second time in three weeks, the NFL will investigate to see if a team and game officials mishandled a player with a possible concussion. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Matt Schaub clutched his head after a second-quarter hit against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The game referee, John Parry, helped Schaub up off the turf but did not stop the game, and Schaub was not immediately evaluated for a concussion. Schaub remained in the game on the Ravens' series, which culminated a few plays later when he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. "We will look into this as per our normal procedures," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told USA TODAY Sports. Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters after the game that Schaub was evaluated for a concussion on the sideline and was cleared. The NFL investigated the procedures that led to St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum remaining in the game after suffering a head injury in a game against the Ravens and decided not to punish the team. But the incident did lead the NFL to hold a conference call with the head athletic trainers of all teams to go over the league's concussion protocol. Keenum missed the last two games because of that concussion. Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones . | 1 | 97,284 | sports |
PARIS They came to be with friends, to share their grief and move on, raising a glass to life, on a terrace where five people died in a hail of gunfire. Just three weeks after Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris, A La Bonne Biere became the first of six cafes, bars and restaurants attacked during the bloodbath to reopen. Neighborhood residents and shopkeepers quickly filled its small round tables on a cobblestone street lined with Turkish and Vietnamese restaurants, theaters and other popular nightspots. More of the establishments are expected to follow in the coming weeks. City cleaning crews have already cleared piles of wilted roses and candle stubs from the pavement outside the nearby Carillon bar and Petit Cambodge restaurant, where 15 people died. For some in the neighborhood, one of the city's hippest and most diverse, it was too soon. "It makes me a little sad to see the flowers disappear, the candles disappear," said Melanie Sapci, a recent university graduate who brought a visiting aunt to pay their respects at the shuttered sites Sunday. "But at the same time, I want them to reopen. We need to move past this." (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) Remi Feraud, mayor of the 10th arrondissement, said he had received numerous appeals to remove the mounds of flowers, notes and candles that had filled neighborhood streets in the days after the attack, so residents and their children wouldn't have to feel like they were living in a memorial. But he said space had been set aside in front of the stricken eateries to leave tributes to those who died. "We reached a good compromise that doesn't erase what happened, that allows people to come and gather, but also the neighborhood to find the beginning of a normal life," Feraud told French television last week. (END OPTIONAL TRIM) Every day, visitors from near and far continue to visit the attack sites, taking a moment to reflect on the many notes and photographs, and to leave fresh flowers for those who died. Some residents want to string garlands across the streets, decked with drawings and poems. A memorial plaque is also envisaged. Two of the owners of the Bataclan concert hall, where 90 people were massacred a short walk away, say they want to reopen by the end of next year. A La Bonne Biere threw open its doors on a bright and sunny morning Friday. The bullet-shattered windows had been replaced. The smell of fresh paint lingered in the air. Above the entrance, a white banner was emblazoned with the hashtag slogan that has become a cry of defiance for many Parisians: "Je suis en terrace" "I'm out on a terrace." One of the managers, Audrey Bily, said: "We want to show them that we are stronger than they are, so we want to start again. We want to make this neighborhood live again." By nightfall, the place was buzzing. Customers crowded the bar and spilled onto the terrace outside. (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) Catherine Pommier found a spot inside to sip a cup of coffee after work, a daily ritual before Nov. 13. "I live 200 yards away. I heard the gunfire. I saw the people running," said Pommier, a computer technician. "I hesitated a lot before coming tonight … . But I thought we have to keep living. It's important that the restaurants in the neighborhood don't close, and that the people who did this don't win." At the next table, a couple with a friend from the suburbs were enjoying a pre-theater drink. "This is our heritage. The bars, the restaurants, they are the soul of the city," said Marie-Laure Truttmann, who caught a train into Paris to catch a show by a popular comedian. "Besides, our economy needs to pick up … . If nobody goes to the restaurants, to the stores, there are businesses that are going to fail." (END OPTIONAL TRIM) Nearby shopkeepers have taken a hit. Moroccan-born baker Ahmed Meziane said his receipts were down about 30 percent since the attacks. He owns the Boulangerie Lina, a bakery across the street from the cafe. He was baking bread when the gunmen sprayed his store with bullets. He rushed outside to help a woman who had been shot in a car, then hid more than a dozen people in a courtyard behind his bakery until the morning. Barely 24 hours later, he was back at work. "Even in times of war, the bakery has to open and make bread," he said. Meziane was also one of the first to show up when the cafe opened Friday morning and was back again that night. "This is going to help the whole neighborhood," he said. Patrick Aeberhard, a cardiologist who helped found the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders, lives across the street. He was on his way home from a funeral when he heard the gunfire. In front of the cafe, a young woman had been shot in the thigh and her companion had a bullet wound in his shoulder. Other people were splayed on the sidewalk, dead. He treated the woman using napkins to fashion a tourniquet, then went inside to see who else he could help. A longtime friend and neighbor, an anesthesiologist, showed up, then a few first responders. But with all the other attacks happening that night, it took more than an hour for ambulances to arrive. "The restaurant was transformed into a hospital," Aeberhard said. He returned Friday, hoping to find out who lived and who died. But restaurant staff said they had had no news of the customers who were taken to the hospital. "It's a bit surreal," he said, surveying the wood-paneled room brimming with people. But he said it was good to see the place come to life again. For three weeks, there has been a pall over the neighborhood. "This will help us get back to normal," he said. For others, the emotion was still too raw. One young man teared up as soon as he stepped into the cafe. Aeberhard tried to talk to him but a few minutes later, the man hurried out the door. Outside, three friends were in the mood to celebrate. They nabbed a table on the terrace and ordered a bottle of champagne. "People were waiting for this," said Anne-Valerie Moyal, a 46-year-old clothing wholesaler who has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years. She admitted to some trepidation before heading out Friday night; two suspects are still on the loose. But she said she was tired of being afraid. "I'm not stopping my life for a bunch of degenerates," retorted her friend, Douniyazed Tafzi. "Ladies, let's drink." The women raised their glasses for a toast: "To life." | 5 | 97,285 | news |
Week 14's best fantasy football waiver wire pickups largely consist of underowned quarterbacks with good matchups next week and rookie wide recievers who look like they're finally ready to break out. We see it every year, and DeVante Parker and Dorial Green-Beckham are the type of explosive rookie wideouts who can peak at the right time and help owners win their fantasy playoffs. We also have a few "no-name" backup running backs (David Cobb, Bilal Powell) who could emerge these final few weeks, plus a few TEs (Charles Clay, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Richard Rodgers) who can get the job done if you lost a stud TE during the recent rash of injuries. Either way, we got a little something for everyone -- even people who want to pick up a Browns' wide receiver. 1 DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins Parker took advantage of garbage time in Week 12 to notch his first NFL touchdown, but he came through in the first half of Week 13's game against Baltimore, catching a 38-yard score. Parker led the Dolphins in catches (three), targets (five) and yards (65) and looks like he's worth picking up and using in favorable matchups. 2 Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Titans DGB is a favorite of fantasy owners, largely because of his immense physical gifts, so anytime he has a halfway-decent game, people get excited. Green-Beckham looked the part in Week 13, catching five of six targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. He's now had at least five targets in three straight games and could be poised for a big finish to his rookie season. 3 Bilal Powell, RB, Jets Powell took over for Chris Ivory late in Week 13's win against the Giants, and he finished with 14 touches (eight catches) for 108 total yards. Matchups will likely dictate Powell's usage over the final couple weeks, but he's definitely worth owning in PPR leagues. 4 Tyrod Taylor, QB, Bills Taylor once again showed fantasy owners that his high floor also comes with a high ceiling. He lit up the Texans for 211 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, and four total TDs in Week 13. Taylor now has seven TDs in his past two games, and it seems like he (and the Bills) have finally figured out how to consistently take advantage of Sammy Watkins' talents. Expect another big showing from Taylor next week against the Eagles. 5 Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans Sure, it was against the Jaguars, but Mariota turned in his second straight three-TD performance in Week 13. Unlike Week 12's ugly passing line against the Raiders, Mariota was an efficient 20 of 29 against Jacksonville, and he also added 112 yards and a score on the ground. Mariota clearly has immense upside in any given week. 6 Richard Rodgers, TE, Packers Miracle catches aside, Rodgers has had at least five targets in five straight games, catching 25 for 234 yards and four TDs in that span. He's not always consistent, but he gets opportunities, and Aaron Rodgers seems to trust him around the goal line. With some many good TEs banged up, Rodgers should be owned in most leagues. 7 Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Jets Fitzpatrick pushed his string of multiple-TD games to five in Week 13, and he added a season-high 390 passing yards. There's plenty of talent around Fitzpatrick -- especially if receiving back Bilal Powell continues to play more like he did against the Giants -- so fantasy owners should get used to decent numbers from the veteran signal-caller. The Jets next face the Titans, a team Blake Bortles just lit up for five touchdowns. 8 Darren Sproles, RB, Eagles Sproles is one of the most maddening and inconsistent players in fantasy, but he should be owned in more than 41 percent of Yahoo leagues like he was prior to Week 13. Just a week after posting six touches for 10 yards, Sproles essentially operated as Philadelphia's feature back, getting 19 touches (15 carries) for 100 total yards and punt-return touchdown. The exact opposite could happen next week, but Sproles is worth the gamble, at least as a backup. 9 Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) returned to the field in Week 13, notching his first action since Week 2. His stats weren't overly impressive (three catches, 31), but he looked healthy and was targeted six games, including a few in the red zone. ASJ seems like a fantasy ghost story at this point, but he has some potential value going forward. 10 Charles Clay, TE, Bills Clay had been quiet for the past, oh, six weeks, but he took advantage of some sloppy Texans' coverage in Week 13, catching four of seven targets for 66 yards and a TD. It's certainly possible that Clay's nice showing was simply the result of one fluky play, but he's had at least seven targets in two straight games. The TE position is getting thinner by the day, so Clay is worth keeping an eye on. 11 Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers Winston turned in his second multi-TD effort in his past three games in Week 13, but his real appeal is that he faces the Saints in Week 14. Take advantage. 12 James White, RB, Patriots Ready to play Patriots' RB roulette? White scored for the third time in the past three weeks in Week 13, but keep in mind he had just five touches for six yards in Week 12. The upside is obviously there, but White, who had 10 catches for 115 yards against the Eagles (much of it in quasi-garbage time), is obviously a risk in any given week. 13 Tedd Ginn Jr., WR, Panthers Ginn didn't see a target in Week 12, but he made up for it in Week 13 (kind of), catching five of 10 targets for 80 yards and two TDs. He should've had two more touchdowns, but he dropped a pair of would-be long scores. Of course, that's the problem with Ginn -- his shaky hands -- but his Week 12 shutout notwithstanding, he's seen at least seven targets in three of the past four games. He can run by almost anyone, and the Panthers clearly aren't afraid to throw to him. He's just got to catch 'em. 14 Rashad Greene, WR, Jaguars Greene looked to be on his way to a good game against the Jaguars before a shoulder injury ended his day early. He ultimately caught two balls for 15 yards and a TD and will continue to be a factor in the Jags passing game as long as he's healthy and Allen Hurns (concussion) is out. 15 David Cobb, RB, Titans Cobb matched Antonio Andrews with 13 carries in Week 13, and even though Andrews had 18 more yards and a TD, the usage is worth noting. Fantasy owners have been waiting all season for Cobb to get his shot in Tennessee, and he might be on the verge of becoming the primary back. 16 Brian Hartline, WR, Browns Garbage time or not, Hartline is getting targets and yards for the Browns. He's had at least nine targets in each of the past four games and posted at least 74 yards in three straight games. With Travis Benjamin suffering a shoulder injury in Week 13, Hartline could be in line for a bigger role -- and continue to pick up cheap points for fantasy owners. 17 Chris Polk, RB, Texans Look, we don't want to write about the Texans' RB situation any more than you want to read about it, but we feel obligated to tell you that Polk led the team in carries (12) and yards (61) in Week 13. As we've seen before this season, it doesn't necessarily mean Polk will be the featured back next week, but there's at least some potential flex value here. | 1 | 97,286 | sports |
The Chiefs beat the Raiders 34-20 on Sunday. Jeremy Maclin had nine grabs for 95 yards and two TD in the win. | 1 | 97,287 | sports |
The Blackhawks defeated the Jets 3-1 on Sunday. Patrick Kane broke Bobby Hull's franchise record of 21 consecutive games with a point by notching an assist, while Teuvo Teravainen lit the lamp. | 1 | 97,288 | sports |
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Clobbering a rival isn't enough. Winning the division and clinching a playoff spot isn't satisfying. Not for these Cincinnati Bengals. Not anymore. Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Bengals moved closer to a playoff berth and the AFC North title with a 37-3 win Sunday over the woeful Cleveland Browns, who dropped their seventh straight and have four more weeks to play in this dismal season. BOX SCORE: BENGALS 37, BROWNS 3 WATCH: Bengals-Browns highlights Dalton connected with A.J. Green for a 23-yard TD pass in the second quarter and the Bengals moved to 10-2 for just the second time in team history. The Bengals were also 10-2 in 1975, but making history is not what Dalton and his teammates are after. "It's a new year," said the quarterback, who notched his 50th career win. "It's a new mentality for us. We've been playing really well and there's some new pieces. For us, we have bigger goals than just making the playoffs. " Cincinnati needed a complex scenario to clinch a playoff berth this week, and even if that doesn't happen, the Bengals are still poised to make the postseason for the fifth season in a row. They've yet to win a playoff game with Dalton, their red-haired, rifle-armed QB, but Cincinnati is determined to end that streak and appear to have all the ingredients to make a Super Bowl run. And as for being 10-2, Dalton quipped that only means one thing. "It gives us a chance to be 11-2," he said. The Browns (2-10) lost for the second time in six days and had two more starters go down with injuries in a season that can't end soon enough. Cleveland QB Austin Davis passed for 231 yards in his first start this season. Green finished with 128 yards on five catches as the Bengals completed a season sweep of their northern Ohio neighbors. Cleveland has been outscored 98-13 in its past three games with Cincinnati. Dalton finished 14 of 19 for 220 yards. He eclipsed 3,000 yards this season, joining Peyton Manning as the only QBs in league history to pass for at least 3,000 yards in each of their first five seasons. Dalton's 21-yard TD pass to Marvin Jones late in the third quarter made it 34-3, and sent the few Browns fans who bothered staying for the second half heading toward the exits. Cleveland's having another disastrous season, and coach Mike Pettine's future is in serious doubt. The Browns are 2-15 in their past 17 games under Pettine, who earlier this week expressed disappointment at his team's status and said he may soon have discussions about what's next with owner Jimmy Haslam. Following the game, Pettine's office door remained closed long after the players had left. Pettine stopped to sign a few autographs and talked to some friends before climbing into the passenger seat of his pickup truck for the drive home. "It's tough, it's frustrating," said Pettine. "You find out who you are." Davis was the Browns' 24th starting quarterback since 1999, and he suffered the same fate as so many before him. He completed 25 of 37 passes, but lost wide receivers Travis Benjamin and Marlon Moore to injuries and was continuously harassed by Bengals defensive linemen. Pettine picked Davis to play ahead over demoted QB Johnny Manziel, who could get a start next week against San Francisco. Pettine said he'd wait before deciding who will play against the 49ers. It was Cleveland's most lopsided loss since a 41-0 drubbing by Pittsburgh on Dec. 24, 2005. "Part of being a professional is showing up to work when things are tough and when there is adversity," Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas said. "We will find out the character of our teammates moving forward." Dalton's 3-yard sneak capped an 84-yard drive, which started with his 57-yard pass to Green, to give the Bengals a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Cincinnati went up 14-0 on Dalton's strike to Green. Jeremy Hill's 1-yard TD run made it 27-3, and the Bengals back celebrated by leaping into Cleveland's stands. That move irritated Browns linebacker Chris Kirksey, who confronted Hill and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct -- one of the few times the Browns showed any fight. "At least I didn't get pushed back this time," cracked Hill, who was rebuffed by fans last season. This season, the Bengals are winning everything. NOTES: Bengals TE Tyler Eifert, who leads the league with 12 TD catches, sat out with a neck injury. ... Bengals S Reggie Nelson recorded his league-leading seventh interception. ... Green joined Randy Moss as the only receivers to have 1,000 yards in each of their first five seasons. | 1 | 97,289 | sports |
American Billy Kemper wins the Pe'ahi Challenge surfing event in Hawaii with waves reaching 50 feet and higher. | 1 | 97,290 | sports |
NASA is currently in the process of developing a small, portable laboratory that could be sent to other planets and moons in search of signs of life. | 8 | 97,291 | video |
A 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster was left to rust in a shed in California for 41 years. And it recently sold on eBay for $152,701. | 9 | 97,292 | autos |
ANAHEIM, Calif. The Penguins' California trip that started out so hot cooled considerably Sunday night with a second consecutive loss. The Penguins lost, 2-1, to the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center, despite winning a coach's challenge that overturned a first-period goal by the Ducks. BOX SCORE: DUCKS 2, PENGUINS 1 Evgeni Malkin drew a slashing penalty with 1:20 left in the game and the Penguins pulled goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to attack 6-on-4, but could not convert. It was emblematic of their night. The Penguins dropped to 14-10-2, and 1-2 on their Western swing, which ends Wednesday night in Denver. "I think we had, on the night, three or four posts," said coach Mike Johnston. "It was tough both ways to get scoring chances. You could see it was that type of game from the beginning with the low shots, the low scoring chances. … We just have to capitalize on the chances we get in games like that. I thought they capitalized, we didn't." The Ducks got second-period goals from Corey Perry and Chris Stewart, and 23 saves by goalie John Gibson, a Whitehall native. Beau Bennett hit the crossbar in a 2-on-1 chance with Sidney Crosby in the second period. Ian Cole came close to scoring his first of the season but hit the post, and Malkin's line challenged Gibson with a sequence of three back-to-back-to-back shots. "I mean, we had some decent ones. [Malkin's] line, a couple guys had that sequence. Beau hit the post on 2-on-1," said Crosby. "Games are going to be tight sometimes. Score was evidence of that [Sunday night]. Got to find a way to get ourselves back into it and get it tied up." The Penguins took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Olli Maatta at 3:02 of the first period. Chris Kunitz carried the puck into the zone and found Crosby, who left the puck for Maatta at the top of the slot. After a quick deke, Maatta fired a wrister around traffic to give the Penguins the early lead. The Ducks' Rickard Rakell appeared to even things up with a power-play goal at 7:30, but the Penguins challenged the possession. The puck had apparently left the Penguins zone 28 second earlier on a missed offside call, a play Penguins center Matt Cullen was involved in at the blue line. "I thought it was out," said Cullen. "The puck kind of deflected off my stick and changed angle. I was right on top of the blue line and had a pretty good look at it. It was very close, but was out in my mind." Perry tied it with a score just 36 seconds into the second period and Anaheim's fourth line scored the go-ahead goal when Stewart finished a pass from Nate Thompson that made it 2-1 at 15:49. Johnston said he was satisfied with the effort, but needs his team to finish. "I thought the effort was fine, but we have to execute still," said Johnston. "The execution there when you get a chance, when you have an open opportunity because you don't get many of them you've got to execute on those plays." The Penguins again played without top defenseman Kris Letang, out a second consecutive game with a lingering injury. Johnston kept Bennett on the top line with Crosby and Kunitz after moving him there to end Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. Johnston also shifted his defense slightly, pairing Maatta with David Warsofsky and Rob Scuderi with Cole. The Penguins had just two power plays, and both came in the final period. Brian Dumoulin drew a hooking penalty at 2:10 of the third period and Malkin drew the late slashing penalty. "I think both teams were playing good neutral-zone defense and neither team was particularly crisp trying to go through the neutral zone and it created a bit of a ping-pong match," said defenseman Ben Lovejoy. "We had some chances and we weren't able to solve John Gibson more than once." It was the first set of back-to-back starts this season for Fleury, who finished with 23 saves. Jenn Menendez: [email protected] and Twitter @JennMenendez. | 1 | 97,293 | sports |
COLUMBUS, Ohio Two days before he became an MLS champion, Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter was asked if he believed in destiny. "That's a deep question," he said. But it's not one that necessarily come out of nowhere. There was something special and a bit supernatural about the run his team was on. Portland missed the playoffs in 2014 and as this October opened, it was in seventh place in the Western Conference, winner of one of its previous six games and outside the league's generous postseason picture. Two months later, it entered the MLS Cup final here at MAPFRE Stadium on an eight-game unbeaten streak. The Timbers survived a knockout-round penalty kick shootout against Sporting Kansas City that featured a potential match-winning effort from the visitors that hit both goalposts and bounced out. Portland beat second-seeded Vancouver on the road to clinch the conference semifinal, then survived a scare at FC Dallas when veteran defender Nat Borchers blocked a goal-bound shot that could have sent the series to overtime. The bounces clearly were going the Timbers' way. Was it fate? "I think when you put the work in, then you earn it maybe not short term, but long term," Porter said in response to the destiny question. "To succeed, you're going to have to suffer some." In other words, you're going to have to work hard, leave no stone unturned, admit failure, address weaknesses and capitalize on opponents' mistakes. In short: you've got to make your own luck. And on Sunday night here in Columbus, that's exactly what the Timbers did. Their 2-1 triumph over the Columbus Crew, which brought the soccer-mad city of Portland its first league title in 40 years, was gritty rather than glamorous. But it was fashioned from the stuff that championships are made of defensive commitment, tactical flexibility and intelligence and the composure necessary to anticipate and then master key moments. • STRAUS: How Portland GM Wilkinson built an MLS Cup winner "We've been a successful MLS team," Portland owner Merritt Paulson told SI.com in the victorious visitors locker room on Sunday evening. "We had every chance to win it in 2013 and we just worked our way to this thing, worked our way, worked our way, and stuff started coming around. We started getting some bounces. You work hard enough and you've got enough quality in between the lines and coaching the team, and it's going to work out." MLS Cup MVP Diego Valeri is highly regarded as a creative attacking force and he's a two-time member of MLS's Best XI. But "defending isn't his strength, always," Porter admitted Sunday night. Nevertheless, it was Valeri's hustle and pressure off the ball that staked the Timbers (18-11-11) to a stunning first-minute lead. Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark misplayed a pass from midfielder Wil Trapp and surely figured he had time to recover. But the Argentine midfielder had chased down the play. Valeri slid and knocked Clark's clearance into the net. Twenty-seven seconds had elapsed, and already host Columbus (17-14-8) would be chasing the game. • WATCH: Timbers jump out to 2 0 lead seven minutes into MLS Cup final "We know that they take risks to play," Valeri said. "That's their way and we know that aggressiveness in the first 20 minutes for us has to be there. And we tried to press them because most of the situations that they create come from the back line, so we tried to press, to be aggressive." Six minutes later, Portland doubled its lead on another make-your-own-luck play. The Timbers played a pass beyond the touchline but the assistant referee on the stadium's east side failed to raise his flag. Nevertheless, Columbus midfield Tony Tchani slowed up and rolled the ball back toward the sideline, believing the play was dead. Portland's Darlington Nagbe had other ideas. He collected the ball and tore through midfield unopposed. By the time the Crew collected itself, the newly-minted U.S. national teamer had slipped a pass to Lucas Melano. The Argentine's cross was perfect and Rodney Wallace headed home at the left post. "I think you could see a little bit of nerves," Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter said of the brutal start. GALLERY: 20 years of MLS Cup champions Portland, meanwhile, was prepared. "Obviously, there are mistakes that happened but those are things that we talked about pregame in terms of trying to force them into positions that maybe they're a bit uncomfortable in early in the game and try to capitalize," said veteran midfielder Jack Jewsbury, who's been with the Timbers since they entered MLS in 2011 and earned a couple minutes of priceless playing time on Sunday. "Even early on in the season when the results weren't going our way, we believed in our system and the approach that we were taking. For whatever reason, it kind of turned at the right time for us." Columbus pulled a goal back in the 18th minute when Kei Kamara rifled a low bid through traffic, but that would be the Crew's only shot on goal. This was a team that had scored 58 times during the regular season, the second-highest total in MLS. But it was neutralized on home turf in the biggest game of all. That was a testament to the Timbers' organization and the club's commitment to focusing on improving its defending. English veteran Liam Ridgewell signed last year and then Nat Borchers arrived from Real Salt Lake over the winter. Both center backs were outstanding on Sunday. Meanwhile, left back Jorge Villafaña shut down dangerous Columbus winger Ethan Finlay. "The way we defended in that second half, I know personally, two or three years ago, that's a club I didn't have in my bag. To be able to absorb, not just absorb and be up against it but to do it comfortably we were never in danger. We were comfortable and tight," said Porter, a coach enamored of proactive, possession soccer who won a championship thanks to pragmatism. "We had a game plan. We wanted to press them. We wanted to put them under pressure," Borchers said. "They were saying things like our defense isn't that tough and they were saying things like they like the match-up. And that's great. We liked the match-up as well and I thought we executed our game plan well. It was just a fantastic group effort." • SI.com's Complete coverage of the 2015 MLS Cup Porter made a significant change toward the end of the regular season as well, moving Nagbe from the right flank to a central position next to Valeri. It allowed Nagbe to find the ball more frequently and attack the defense from a variety of spots. It also opened the door for contributors like Melano and Dairon Asprilla, who scored critical playoff goals. The tactical shift was another example of Porter's ability to impartially assess his team and his own coaching and make a decision that helped the club. "There's no failure. There's just feedback," Porter said Sunday. "If you're a growth-mindset person, then you take the feedback and you learn from it and you get better … Privately and internally in this locker room, we have a group that looks at ourselves in the mirror and if it's not working, there's honesty and we change it. We correct it. We're not naive. We're humble and we knew what we needed to do to win games." In the 60th minute on Sunday, Wallace took a shot that hit Crew captain Michael Parkhurst on the goal line. Kamara tried to clear the ball but wound up striking the underside of his own crossbar. The ball fell, hit Parkhurst on the upper arm then bounced off the right post and rolled away. There was no handball call and no goal. Eleven minutes later, Portland striker Fanendo Adi sent a header off the same post that then bounced off Clark and out for a corner kick. "I worried the woodwork was going to come back after the Kansas City game to get us, because I don't know how a couple of those balls didn't go in," Paulson said. But Portland didn't need any more bounces. They'd fashioned enough of their own good fortune to see out the game and win a long-awaited championship. "You see it with this group that when we got rolling and we got confident, it was going to take something special to stop us," Jewsbury said. "I had a poster on my wall when I was young that said, 'Some succeed because they're destined to but most succeed because they're determined to," Porter said. "I've had a lot of [ebbs and] flows. I've had some bitter disappointments that could've derailed me. There are times you question, how did that happen? But I think really what it is, it's just football. It's a very cruel sport. But if you do things right, eventually it turns. It always turns." | 1 | 97,294 | sports |
Baylor beat Vanderbilt 69-67 on Sunday. Lester Medford hit a go-ahead three with 42 seconds left, Ishmail Wainwright had a ridiculous slam, and Taurean Prince had a career-high 30 points. | 1 | 97,295 | sports |
Here's how to create a resume that will open the door to your desired MBA program. | 3 | 97,296 | finance |
A typical flu shot with a little more oomph may better protect cancer patients especially vulnerable to infection, new preliminary research presented Sunday at the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology has found. Since people with certain cancers of the immune system are known to be especially susceptible to flu infection, and oftentimes receive little protection from the standard flu shot , researchers from Yale University decided to test a novel vaccine strategy among a group of 51 such patients (median age 75). In addition to providing their volunteers with a high-dose version of the vaccine, the researchers gave them an additional booster shot 30 days apart. Not only did two volunteers (4 percent) subsequently come down with the flu, but also there were no serious side effects reported afterwards. "These results suggest that this novel vaccination strategy is safe and may have a clinical benefit [for these patients]," the authors concluded. A Smart Boost The type of cancer the patients in the study were suffering from are more specifically known as plasma-cell disorders . Though PCDs come in varying flavors , it generally involves the uncontrollable replication of cells responsible for creating antibodies. While antibodies are an important part of fighting infection, the ones produced by renegade clones are as defective as the source, oftentimes haphazardly attacking the body itself. Worse still, because a cancerous plasma cell only produces one particular type of antibody at an alarming rate, it effectively shuts or slows down the production of other antibodies, greatly weakening the immune system. People living with PCDs are believed to face ten times higher risk of flu infection than the general population, with 20 percent expected to have the flu within any given year. Meanwhile, according to the authors, previous studies have shown that the level of protection conferred by a standard flu shot ranges from 5 to 19 percent as measured by their hemaglutination antibody inhibition (HAI) titers. Building on earlier promising research that provided patients with booster doses of the standard flu shot, the current authors decided to up the stakes by switching to a high-dose version approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 known as Fluzone® . Of the 51 PCD patients (41 of which were actively being treated for their PCD), only 7 percent had HAI levels suggestible of protection against the 3 seasonal strains of influenza prior to the first flu shot. Afterwards, however, that jumped up to 33 percent among a smaller sample of 30 patients. Though it will take time to determine how much protection the second shot provides, the fact that only two volunteers developed flu lends credibility to the authors' theory that the booster dose significantly buffers patients against infection. In addition to eventually presenting these secondary results, the authors are planning to continue their research via a randomized trial set during this ongoing flu season in order to compare "this novel vaccination strategy to standard of care vaccination in patients with plasma cell disorders." Source: Branagan A et al. Fluzone® High-Dose Influenza Vaccine with a Booster Is Associated with Low Rates of Influenza Infection in Patients with Plasma Cell Disorders. 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. 2015. | 7 | 97,297 | health |
The Grizzlies pulled out the 95-93 win over the Suns on Sunday night. Jeff Green's late dunk at the buzzer lifted the Grizzlies to victory. | 1 | 97,298 | sports |
What is the best under-the-radar bowl game? Clement makes his case for the Birmingham Bowl between Auburn and Memphis. | 1 | 97,299 | sports |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.