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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- With Seattle well in control at Minnesota, Russell Wilson raced around left end for 53 yards. Holding by the Seahawks wiped out the touchdown, so he passed for a score on the next play. At just the right time, Wilson and the two-time defending NFC champion Seahawks have found their rhythm. BOX SCORE: SEAHAWKS 38, VIKINGS 7 VIDEO: COMPLETE SEAHAWKS-VIKINGS HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO: HIGHLIGHTS OF WILSON'S SENSATIONAL DAY Wilson threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another, Seattle's defense didn't allow a score, and the surging Seahawks won their third straight game Sunday with a 38-7 romp over the Vikings. "Everybody's fired up on the sidelines. It's special to watch. It really is," said Wilson, who has passed for 11 touchdowns without an interception, and an average of 293 yards with a 76.7 completion rate during the winning streak. Doug Baldwin had two touchdowns and 94 yards receiving and Thomas Rawls rushed for 101 yards and a score as the Seahawks (7-5) did whatever they wanted against an injury-depleted Vikings defense. Rawls, who has 712 yards, has the most rushing yards by an undrafted player in his first six career starts since the 1970 merger. Seattle had 433 yards to Minnesota's 125, the lowest total by any NFL team this season, according to STATS. That all starts with Wilson. "It's hard to even explain how he's playing. It's just phenomenal," Baldwin said. "He's trusting the line, staying in the pocket, making his reads. He's delivering the ball with stupid accuracy, and it's unbelievable to watch." Following a 2-4 start, with losses by a total of 17 points all to teams that were undefeated at the time, the Seahawks have climbed deeper into the playoffs picture. "It's a grind, you know? We faced a little bit of adversity at first," Rawls said, "but I think we're on schedule." League rushing leader Adrian Peterson was limited to 18 yards on eight carries, the third-lowest single-game total of his career, and the Vikings (8-4) needed a 101-yard kickoff return by Cordarrelle Peterson in the third quarter to keep from being blanked. "We were outcoached in so many ways," Peterson said, frustrated by the lack of carries. "And outplayed as players." The Vikings fell back into a first-place tie with Green Bay for the NFC North lead three days after the Packers beat Detroit on a desperation pass on the last play. The Vikings, who lost 30-13 to Green Bay in their previous home game, took their most lopsided loss in Minnesota since a 34-3 defeat by Chicago on Nov. 25, 1984. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer hinted he saw signs of a clunker coming in practice during the week. "We're not quite as good as we think we are," Zimmer said. Wilson, who finished 21 for 27 for 274 yards, was in command in the pocket and at his elusive best when the rush came. He netted 51 yards on nine rushes. The Seahawks had touchdown drives of 81 and 98 yards in the first half, fueled by penalties, missed tackles and overruns by the Vikings. On the first march, holding call on Terence Newman that saved the Seahawks from a punt. Linebacker Anthony Barr (groin) and safety Harrison Smith (hamstring) limped off with injuries, too. With nose tackle Linval Joseph (foot) already ruled out, the Vikings were suddenly without their most indispensable player at each level of the defense. It sure showed. The Seahawks' star-laden lineup on defense, vulnerable at times this season, backed Wilson with a clutch performance. Teddy Bridgewater's overthrown pass for Stefon Diggs late in the second quarter was intercepted and returned 25 yards by Earl Thomas, Diggs took a facemask penalty and the Seahawks had the ball at the 20 with 68 seconds remaining before halftime. Wilson dropped back, saw Baldwin open and, boom, put the Seahawks up 21-0 with another crisply thrown pass. "He's definitely got some elite skills," Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said Wilson should be in the mix for the NFL MVP award if he keeps on this track. "When he plays like that we're a very difficult team to beat," Sherman said. NOTES: This was the lowest yardage total for the Vikings since they had 104 on Dec. 21, 2006 at Green Bay. ... During the winning streak, all with starter Marshawn Lynch out, Rawls has 459 total yards and four TDs. ... Bridgewater went 17 for 28 for 118 yards. | 1 | 97,400 | sports |
Las Vegas assemblywoman Michele Fiore posted a picture to Facebook of herself and other family members carrying assorted firearms. | 5 | 97,401 | news |
FOX NFL Sunday spotlights the NFL's ties to the United States military. | 1 | 97,402 | sports |
Serena Williams said Sunday she was ready to rejoin the women's tennis tour after a bout with pain and injuries that caused the world number one to cut short her 2015 season. The 34-year-old American was largely rusty as she lost in mixed doubles before beating Ana Ivanovic while playing at the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) tournament in Manila. Williams last played in a competitive match in a shock semi-final loss to Italian Roberta Vinci at the US Open in September, missing out on a calendar-year sweep of the Grand Slams. "I never lacked motivation. I just was really injured," she told reporters in the Philippine capital Sunday without discussing the nature of the injury. "I've always been motivated, so I just had to get better -- you know, be able to just walk without being in pain." Williams has said she played injured most of the year as she racked up her Grand Slam win count to 21 by taking Wimbledon as well as the Australian and the French Open crowns. After her loss to Vinci she pulled out of the China Open and the year-ending WTA Finals, saying she needed "time to heal". She cited injuries to "my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart". Her coach Patrick Mouratoglou has also told ESPN she was lacking "motivation" after the US Open loss. "It was good to be back here," Williams said Sunday as she played two sets in the IPTL's abbreviated format representing the Philippine Mavericks team against Ivanovic's UAE Royals. The teams play five sets of men's and women's singles, men's and mixed doubles as well as one for "legends" or retired men's players. "It's a good opportunity for me to get some more tennis in and get ready. I felt really good." Williams begins her 2016 season at the Hopman Cup in Perth on January 3 before defending her Australian Open title later that month. She is one Grand Slam win shy of equalling Steffi Graf's record 22 titles. The German also swept all four Grand Slam titles in 1988. | 1 | 97,403 | sports |
Jay Glazer tells us about Andy Reid's personal connection to Pearl Harbor. | 1 | 97,404 | sports |
Rock band U2 have written a song in tribute to Paris after the recent attacks that left 130 people dead. The group were due to play in the French capital in the days after the attacks, but the gigs were cancelled. They are due to play the first rescheduled show on Sunday. Before the gig, singer Bono revealed that the new song, titled Streets of Surrender, contains lines about Paris being the "city of liberty" and having "streets of love and pride". U2 are due to perform at the 16,000-capacity AccorHotels Arena on Sunday and Monday. Bono told CNN he originally started writing the song for Italian singer Zucchero. He recited some of the lyrics: "Every man has two cities he needs to be. The one he can touch and the one he can't see. "The one where a stranger's a friend. Every man's got one city of liberty. "For me it's Paris. I love it. Every time I get lost down these ancient streets, I find myself again. "You're free, baby, baby, free now and for ever. It's Christmas time, you can decide to forget or to remember. "You're free, baby, baby. I didn't come here to fight you. I came down these streets of love and pride to surrender. The streets of surrender." 'Act of defiance' His bandmate The Edge told the channel: "We think of music as the sound of freedom. We think rock and roll has a part to play, so going back to Paris to us is not just symbolic. "I think we're actually starting the process of resistance, of defiance against this movement." Bono and The Edge both have houses in France. The guitarist said: "It seemed like the target was culture and every kind of expression of the best of humanity - great music, restaurants, French food - everything that we hold dear." Bono said his camp had tried to help the Eagles of Death Metal after the violence. "We tried to find a plane for them to get out and things like that," he said. "Turns out the best way to help them was finding them phones, because their phones had been left in the venue." Some reports suggest the Eagles of Death Metal, whose gig at the Bataclan venue was attacked by gunmen on 13 November, would join U2 on stage. However U2 released a statement saying that was incorrect. | 6 | 97,405 | entertainment |
Alabama's path to College Football Playoff With Alabama's 29-15 win over Florida Saturday, the Tide earned its second consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff and the No. 2 seed. Alabama will play Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. An early-season loss to Ole Miss seemed to derail Alabama's playoff hopes, but coach Nick Saban once again had his team clicking en route to its second straight Southeastern Conference championship and berth in the playoff. MORE: Best of 2015, from Baker Mayfield to Derrick Henry | It's time Alabama gets tested in way the SEC can't It wasn't always pretty, but the Tide enters the playoff playing some of the best football in the country. Here's how they got there. 1 Alabama 35, Wisconsin 17 Date: Sept. 5 Record: 1-0 Alabama got a little revenge on the Big Ten by outclassing No. 20 Wisconsin, 35-17. Jake Coker was a solid game manager in his first start, and Heisman contender Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns. MORE: SN Power Rankings 2 Alabama 37, Middle Tennessee 10 Date: Sept. 12 Record: 2-0 The Tide followed up its Wisconsin win with a similarly dominant performance against Middle Tennessee. Alabama allowed Coker to air the ball out a little more in preparation for Ole Miss in Week 3, while Henry scored three more touchdowns and 96 yards rushing to his season. MORE: College Football Playoff Rankings 3 Ole Miss 43, Alabama 37 Date: Sept. 19 Record: 2-1 Alabama on a day where quarterback Cooper Bateman got the start over Coker turned the ball over five times and couldn't adequately corral quarterback Chad Kelly en route to its second loss to Ole Miss in two years. Coker would start every game for the remainder of the season. MORE: SEC not so big and bad in down year 4 Alabama 34, Louisiana Monroe 0 Date: Sept. 26 Record: 3-1 Alabama overcame its loss to Ole Miss to secure its only shutout of the season. Coker had his best day of the season, throwing for three touchdowns on a day where Henry rushed 13 times for only 52 yards. MORE: Meet the new FBS coaches for 2016 5 Alabama 38, Georgia 10 Date: Oct. 3 Record: 4-1 The Tide shut up all the talk of its fallen dynasty with a blowout road win over undefeated, eighth-ranked Georgia. Alabama scored on offense, defense and special teams while Henry outran Nick Chubb for 148 yards and a score. MORE: Five things we learned from Alabama-Georgia 6 Alabama 27, Arkansas 14 Date: Oct. 10 Record: 5-1 Bret Bielema's Arkansas team was able to match Alabama's physicality for three quarters before Coker (24 of 33, 262 yards, two touchdowns) and Henry (95 yards, one touchdown) helped the Tide pull away down the stretch. MORE: Five things we learned from Alabama-Arkansas 7 Alabama 31, Texas A&M 23 Date: Oct. 17 Record: 6-1 Derrick Henry rushed for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the Tide secondary that stole the show. Eddie Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick accounted for four interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. MORE: Five things we learned from Alabama-Texas A&M 8 Alabama 19, Tennessee 14 Date: Oct. 24 Record: 7-1 Alabama looked fatigued against a Volunteer squad hell-bent on its first win over the Tide since 2006. Henry capped off a Coker-led fourth-quarter comeback with a touchdown, proving Alabama could go the distance in tough games. MORE: 'Bama Pope officiates tailgate wedding at Alabama-Tennessee game 9 Alabama 30, LSU 16 Date: Nov. 7 Record: 8-1 Alabama silenced dissenters to its No. 4 College Football Playoff ranking by handing No. 2 LSU its first loss of the season, in dominant fashion. Henry usurped Leonard Fournette as the Heisman favorite by rushing for 210 yards and three touchdowns, to Fournette's 31 yards. MORE: Five things we learned from Alabama-LSU 10 Alabama 31, Mississippi State 6 Date: Nov. 14 Record: 9-1 Alabama sacked Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott nine times and held the Bulldogs to their only game without a touchdown all season. Henry, meanwhile, earned his second consecutive 200-yard game, and third of the season. MORE: Five things we learned from Alabama-Mississippi State 11 Alabama 56, Charleston Southern 6 Date: Nov. 21 Record: 10-1 Alabama's eighth consecutive 10-win season was secured by thrashing FCS opponent Charleston Southern; the score was 49-0 at the half. Defensive back Cyrus Jones became the first 'Bama player in history to return two punts for a touchdown in a game, and nearly returned a fumble for a score as well. 12 Alabama 29, Auburn 13 Date: Nov. 28 Record: 11-1 Though the Tide looked sluggish against Auburn, Henry had a record-breaking day, rushing 46 times for 271 yards and a touchdown (his 17th straight game with a score). Kicker Adam Griffith redeemed himself in the 2013 Kick Six debacle by going 5 of 5 on field goals, including a 50-yarder. MORE: Five things we learned from Alabama-Auburn 13 Alabama 29, Florida 15 Date: Dec. 5 Record: 12-1 Alabama seemed disinterested in the early going, but found a way to pound out a win in the second half. The Tide defensive front was suffocating as ever, Henry ran for 189 yards and a touchdown and Jake Coker was of 18 of 26 for 204 yards and two touchdowns. MORE: Alabama vs. Florida: When they meet, it matters | 1 | 97,406 | sports |
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is the new head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, the school announced Sunday . The decision was approved by the Executive Committee of the UGA Athletic Association Board of Directors. Smart will be introduced at a news conference in Athens on Monday. According to a report in AL.com , Smart will remain with the Crimson through the Playoff. Alabama is No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings and will face Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, a national semifinal, on Dec. 31. "It was critical to identify a person who would focus on a specific, defined process of developing championship football teams on and off the playing field," athletics director McGarity said in a statement. "Someone who understands the true meaning of a student-athlete by actually experiencing it himself --- someone who competed at the highest levels on the playing field, was mentored by some of the very best in the game, and understood the specific ingredients necessary to excel at the highest levels of college athletics Kirby Smart fits that profile. I believe Kirby Smart is the perfect fit for the University of Georgia." Smart, who got his start in coaching as a Georgia administrative assistant in 1999, has served on the Alabama staff the past nine years, the past seven as defensive coordinator. "It's an honor and privilege to return home to the University of Georgia and my home state," Smart said in a statement. "I also want to thank Coach Saban. I have been fortunate to spend 11 seasons with him as my mentor and have learned a tremendous amount from him as a coach and teacher. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity at Georgia and promise high energy, effort every day, and hard work every minute on the part of all our coaches, staff and student-athletes." As a player, Smart was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia, where he was a first team all-SEC pick as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, which was fourth in Georgia annals, and led the Bulldogs with six interceptions in 1997 and five in 1998. | 1 | 97,407 | sports |
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says latest MRI shows no sign of cancer after taking Keytruda, the newly approved immunotherapy treatment. Former President Jimmy Carter announced on Sunday his cancer is gone. NBC News reported Carter, 91, began his Sunday school class at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., with good news, explaining an MRI he had earlier in the week "didn't find any cancer at all." NBC said the class gasped and applauded, to which Carter added how much he appreciates the people who have prayed for him. Later on The Carter Center released a similar statement on Carter's behalf. Doctors first found a melanoma in Carter's liver back in August. The same day he successfully underwent surgery to remove part of the organ, doctors found the melanoma had spread to four parts of his brain. For this, he received four rounds of radiation in an effort to "control" his cancer, making him a candidate for Merck & Co's Keytruda (pembrolizumab). NBC cited this (then) new powerful immune-boosting drug "had proved promising in other patients." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for Keytruda to treat patients with advanced, non-small cell lung cancer; it can also treat advanced skin cancer. Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the office of hematology and oncology products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, had said Keytuda would give "physicians the ability to target specific patients who may be most likely to benefit from this drug." Keytuda works by targeting the cellular pathway known as PD-1/PD-L1, which are the proteins found on the body's immune cells and some cancer cells. When this pathway is blocked, the drug can help the body's immune system spot and attack cancer cells something the proteins disable it from doing, Reuters reported. Healthcare providers inject the drug intravenously usually once every 3 weeks. However, a patient's doctor will determine how long candidates should receive injection. One caveat: Keytruda is not cheap. Reuters found the drugs can cost $150,000 a year. But when looking at melanoma treatment over the past years, Keytruda is one of the biggest advancements made since 2001, chief science officer of the Melanoma Research Alliance Louise Perkins said. Up until 2011, decades went by with no advances, Perkins explained; since then there have been as many as eight different treatments approved for melanoma. If Carter had gotten sick five years ago, co-director of the melanoma program at NYU Langone Medical Center Dr. Anna Pavlick said doctors would "have given him six months to live." The drug so far has a "very low rate" of side effects , but common ones can include nausea, loss of appetite, itching or rash, cough, joint pain, or feeling tired. Carter said he plans to continue with his tri-weekly immunotherapy treatments. | 7 | 97,408 | health |
The Minnesota Vikings were trailing 35-0 during the second half of their matchup with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but that didn't stop Cordarrelle Patterson from celebrating an explosive play he made on special teams. Patterson returned a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown and held the ball in the air for the last 30 yards. Then, he jumped into a section of the stands at TCF Bank Stadium where the Vikings fans hadn't left yet. With four return touchdowns in three NFL seasons, Patterson's game-breaking plays on special teams are usually worth celebrating. This one, however, just cut Seattle's lead to 28 points and saved the Vikings from the embarrassment of a shutout. Cordarrelle Patterson 💨💨:101 yards UNTOUCHED to the house and busts out the Prime Time high step. #SEAvsMIN https://t.co/8wLj5czDXy NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2015 Patterson's showboating was a pretty embarrassing moment for a Vikings team that has been very composed this season. | 1 | 97,409 | sports |
Kirby Smart is officially headed home. Georgia announced Sunday that the Alabama defensive coordinator, a 1999 UGA grad who grew up in the state and is married to a former Georgia women's basketball player, will be its next head coach. MORE: Meet the final four | Clemson's path to the CFP | UNC coach on controversial offside call In making the announcement Sunday, athletic director Greg McGarity called Smart a "perfect fit" to replace Mark Richt at Georgia. "It's an honor and privilege to return home to the University of Georgia and my home state," Smart said in a release. "I'm deeply appreciative of the faith President (Jere) Morehead, Greg McGarity, and the Athletic Board Executive Committee have demonstrated in asking me to lead one of the truly great college football programs in the country. "I also want to thank Coach Saban. I have been fortunate to spend 11 seasons with him as my mentor and have learned a tremendous amount from him as a coach and teacher. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity at Georgia and promise high energy, effort every day, and hard work every minute on the part of all our coaches, staff and student-athletes." Smart, who turns 40 this month, will perform double duty for at least the next few weeks. Tide players said he told them Saturday that he will continue to coach Alabama's defense as it shoots for a fourth national title in the last seven seasons the previous three featured Smart's defense in a starring role. Whenever that run ends, Smart will turn his full attention to replacing Richt. Like his predecessor, he takes the job with no experience as a head coach. The program he inherits is in far better shape than the one Richt took over in 2001. PHOTOS: Tide rolls in SEC title game | Clemson shines bright in ACC Expectations and pressure will be high for the Bulldogs, who went 9-3 this season but disappointed with ugly losses to Alabama and Florida. Smart's top priority as head coach will be finding a starting quarterback for 2016. Five-star recruit Jacob Eason had long been committed to the Bulldogs but reopened his recruitment when Richt was fired. He visited Florida last week. Smart, at least, is well-versed in what it takes to run a winning program after serving on Nick Saban's staff since the coach's final year with the Dolphins before jumping to Tuscaloosa. He also knows the turf in Athens as well as anyone. Smart played defensive back for the Bulldogs from 1995-98 and led the team in interceptions in 1997 and 1998 while playing in the same secondary with future All-Pro corner Champ Bailey. His wife, the former Mary Beth Lycett, was known for her shooting touch during her time on Georgia's nationally ranked basketball team. Smart's father, Sonny, was a longtime high school football coach in Georgia, so family ties run deep in the Peach State. | 1 | 97,410 | sports |
Can't wait for this year's College Football Playoff Games? Campus Insiders' Jordan Cornette and Pete Fiutak preview the College Football Playoff bowl games and offer their predictions. | 1 | 97,411 | sports |
Celebrities are taking endorsement deals to a whole new level by becoming more than a brand's pretty face, but part of its management team as well. Recent history, however, suggests that these deals do not always have the desired effect. "This is a relatively new thing," said Margaret Campbell, a marketing professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who led a study on the downside of celebrity endorsements. "Companies that do this are striving to increase their creativity or innovation credibility." This week, Nick Cannon became the latest celebrity to move into the C-suite. The host of "America's Got Talent" landed a gig at RadioShack (RSHCQ) as its chief creative officer, effective immediately. Cannon will work to help develop exclusive products with the beleaguered electronic retailer, which earlier this year was sold to hedge fund Standard General after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. ("America's Got Talent" is broadcast by CNBC-parent NBC Universal.) The goal, as RadioShack phrased it in a statement, is to "transform the retailer into the must-visit electronics destination." "Nick actually came to us," Michael Tatelman, RadioShack's chief marketing officer, told CNBC in a telephone interview. He said Cannon met with company executives a few months ago and delivered a presentation that won over executives. "He's more than 'America's Got Talent,' " he added. Cannon, however, is far from the only boldface name to try to revive a faltering brand. Observers point out that the road to corporate redemption has been littered with discarded celebrities, many of whom have enjoyed painfully short tenures as creative officers. "Making a celebrity part of the C-suite does not guarantee or even increase the chances of endorsement success," said Jeetendr Sehdev, professor of marketing at the University of California, whose specialty includes celebrity branding. Sehdev said one of the factors that must fall into place is that the match-up between celebrity and brand has to make sense to "savvy" consumers. The goal is to achieve a more authentic celebrity endorsement that can better resonate with consumers, experts say. Cannon perhaps best known to tabloid readers as the estranged husband of chart-topping singer Mariah Carey has developed an executive resume. His experience includes being CEO at teen publication Celebrity High , chairman at Nickelodeon's TeenNick, as well as a consumer electronics entrepreneur who has launched his own brand of tablets and headphones. Those accomplishments, said Tatelman, are proof that "he's a really savvy guy and has really great instincts from a marketing perspective." Yet Cannon follows in a line of celebrity creative appointments that ended in fairly short order, or produced less than impressive results. In 2005, at a time when big brands started bestowing titles on big name acts, Gwen Stefani joined forces with HP (HPQ) , under the then-stewardship of now GOP presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina, in a creative capacity with a limited edition line of digital cameras five years before Lady Gaga was named Polaroid's creative director. Stefani's arrangement ended in 2014. Separately, Justin Timberlake became a triple-threat marketer at both Callaway Golf and MySpace in 2011, then two years later at Bud Light Platinum (ABI-BE) . Around that time, Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am went to Intel (INTC) to become "director of creative innovation," a post that lasted a year . He was followed by Alicia Keys, who became "global creative director" for BlackBerry (BB-CA) in 2013, before departing a year later. Just last year, pop singer Rihanna was elevated to a creative director role at sneaker maker Puma. Marketing experts say that brands benefit from celebrity executives in the form of buzz, while the stars themselves benefit from promotional support and additional revenue streams. Timberlake, for example, has since reportedly stepped back from his duties at the Facebook (FB) -predecessor MySpace, and Lady Gaga and Keys have each left their posts at their respective struggling companies. "I saw Alicia Keys at BlackBerry. I saw will.i.am at Intel," Tatelman said, but insisted "Nick holds the promise of being a very influential creative partner." Cannon is already "really involved" and the two "talk a lot," he added. Yet brands that "seem to be most successful are those where the celebrity is not just a creative director 'in name only,' " said Denise Lee Yohn, brand consultant and author of "What Great Brands Do." Yohn, who has written about celebrities-turned-creative directors for Harvard Business Review , added that "without that level of substance, the role seems to lack authenticity and fails to generate sustaining value for either party." "RadioShack is in dire need of a brand reinvention," said Sehdev, the University of California professor, "and Nick Cannon doesn't seem to be the celebrity that will radically change audiences' perspective of the brand." | 3 | 97,412 | finance |
Jimmy Carter, 91, revealed his cancer is gone in front of a Sunday School class he was teaching at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. | 5 | 97,413 | news |
FOX NFL Sunday spotlights Bill Belichick's connection to the US Navy. | 1 | 97,414 | sports |
PARIS (AP) -- Michel Platini is hopeful that a new memo allegedly showing a payment agreement with suspended FIFA boss Sepp Blatter will clear his name in a corruption case and re-ignite the Frenchman's bid to become the next president of world soccer's governing body. Facing a possible life ban for corruption, the suspended UEFA president was charged over a controversial $2 million payment from FIFA in 2011 that Blatter said he approved as backdated salary for work by Platini as a presidential adviser from 1998-2002. Platini's communication team claimed Sunday that a 23-page memo they obtained earlier this week shows that UEFA's executive committee was aware of a deal with Blatter as early as November 1998. Blatter and Platini are expected to appear before the FIFA ethics committee within two weeks. The document, which was leaked to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, is an agenda for a UEFA executive committee meeting dated Nov. 12, 1998. At the time, Platini was not a member of the UEFA executive committee and had contributed to Blatter's successful campaign for the FIFA presidency. In an annex to the memo, a small note related to Platini's role with Blatter mentions that he is expected to become the federation's next director of sports. According to Platini's communication team, the former soccer great's payment for his work with Blatter is clearly mentioned in the note, which reads: "There has been talk about Sfr 1 million as salary." Platini previously said he had a verbal agreement with Blatter to be paid one million Swiss Francs per year. "Contrary to the thesis on which the case is built, this document demonstrates that Platini's contract with FIFA was not kept secret, and that many people within UEFA and FIFA were aware of it since 1998," Platini's lawyer Thibaud d'Ales said. The document was distributed during a meeting attended by then UEFA president Lennart Johansson, who lost to Blatter in the 1998 FIFA election, as well as three members of FIFA, Platini's advisers said. Both Blatter and Platini deny any wrongdoing and claim they had a verbal contract for Platini to receive the money. Under Swiss law, FIFA did not need to pay the money after five years had passed since Platini's job ended. The two presidents face separate hearings -- likely at FIFA headquarters -- before the ethics court led by German judge Joachim Eckert. Like Platini, Blatter is also serving a 90-day interim ban pending the verdict. Platini wants to clear his name and stand as a candidate to succeed Blatter in the FIFA presidential election on Feb. 26. | 1 | 97,415 | sports |
No one is arguing that Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State or Oklahoma shouldn't be in the playoff. How did that happen? | 1 | 97,416 | sports |
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, one of the most highly regarded classical music conductors of recent times and a pioneer in early music, has announced his retirement. "My bodily strength requires me to cancel my future plans," the Austrian said in a hand-written farewell letter to the audience of the hallowed Musikverein concert hall in Vienna on Saturday. Harnoncourt, who turned on 86 on Sunday, had already cancelled, due to ill health, plans to conduct two concerts at the Musikverein by the Concentus Musicus, the ensemble he created in 1953. "An unbelievably deep relationship has developed between us on the stage and you in the hall -- we have become a happy community of pioneers!", Harnoncourt wrote in the letter, printed in the Musikverein concert programme. Count Nikolaus de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt was born in Berlin in 1929 to a granddaughter of a Habsburg Archduke and an Austrian count. He grew up in Graz, southern Austria. Training as a cellist, his intensive research into historical instruments and period performance practice led him to set up the Concentus Musicus, which began giving concerts in 1957. Organised by the musicians themselves, with help from their wives and partners, they specialised in renaissance and baroque music as well as classical works by the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Haydn. in 1969 he quit the Vienna Symphony Orchestra after his insistent questioning in the stuffy Vienna of the time raised hackles as it ran contrary to the norms of the established classical music scene. Conducting both orchestral works and operas, Harnoncourt's ideas gained wider currency, and now even the world's greatest modern-instrument orchestras like the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics use key elements of period practice. | 6 | 97,417 | entertainment |
Presidential Candidate and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that a one-state solution in the Middle East is a prescription for endless conflict in the region. (Dec. 6) | 8 | 97,418 | video |
Homebuyers in England and Wales are typically paying £4,500 less in stamp duty than before the government overhauled the system a year ago, according to research by Halifax. The switch from a "slab" structure to a progressive tax, where buyers only pay each higher rate of tax on the portion of the price that goes over each threshold, was the surprise measure in 2014's autumn statement. The change, which benefits anyone spending less than £938,000 on a property, has reduced the bill on an average-priced house by more than half, the UK's largest lender said. Buyers who spend £273,531 on a home the average price drawn from data from Halifax, HMRC and Land Registry now face a bill of £3,676, compared with £8,205 under the old system. The bank said the change had made an impact on sales at the top end of the market, with the number of transactions on homes costing more than £1.5m dropping by 20%, compared with a 10% fall in sales below the £938,000 level. Had the £125,000 threshold at which the duty starts risen in line with house prices since it was set in 2006, it would now stand at £157,000. Between August and October across England and Wales, just under a third of purchases by first-time buyers were of homes costing less than £125,000, so there was no stamp duty to pay. However, in London not a single first-time buyer purchase was free of stamp duty, and the average price paid by new entrants to the market was £381,022. During 2014-15, UK homebuyers paid a total of £7.5bn in stamp duty, Halifax said, comfortably more than the previous record of £6.7bn in the housing boom of 2007-08. The increase has been driven by rising prices, particularly in London, where stamp duty receipts were just over £3bn during the year, compared with £1.9bn in 2007-08. Craig McKinlay, the mortgages director at Halifax, said the changes made to stamp duty a year ago had been of significant benefit to many buyers. However, he added: "The failure to index the start point for stamp duty in line with house price inflation has dragged more buyers into the tax net in recent years.Buyers in London have been particularly badly affected with the capital accounting for an increasing and disproportionately large share of stamp duty revenues." | 3 | 97,419 | finance |
The actor broke in multiple sketches Saturday night, but it just makes us love him more. | 8 | 97,420 | video |
Can't wait for this year's Allstate Sugar Bowl? Campus Insiders' Ray Crawford and Pete Fiutak offer their preview and predictions of the game between the Cowboys and the Rebels. | 1 | 97,421 | sports |
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Nate Britt knew he'd get fewer minutes for No. 9 North Carolina once Marcus Paige returned from a hand injury that had sidelined the senior since preseason. He's focused on providing a boost when he's out there. BOX SCORE: NORTH CAROLINA 98, DAVIDSON 65 Britt matched his career high with 17 points and North Carolina rolled to a huge first-half lead to beat Davidson 98-65 on Sunday. The junior played just 10 minutes in Paige's debut earlier this week, tallying five points and three assists in a win against No. 2 Maryland. He played longer stretches with the Tar Heels up huge from the start Sunday, making 6 of 8 shots and 2 of 3 3-pointers in 16 minutes. "I've always felt like I have to be efficient," Britt said. "I know my role is not to take a bunch of shots on the offensive end. I'm just kind of knocking down open shots and taking whatever is there." Justin Jackson added 15 points to help the Tar Heels (7-1), who scored the first 10 points and led by 25 before the break. They shot 51 percent for the game and led by at least 20 points throughout the second half. Britt led five players in double figures, including Paige (13) and backcourtmate Joel Berry II (11 points). "My first game back, (Nate's) minutes were down," Paige said. "He said he wasn't worried about it. I talked to him about it and said, `No matter how the rotation goes, you're still a really key part of this team.'" Davidson had its first 5-0 start since the 1968-69 season and was coming off a 109-74 win against Charlotte in which junior Jack Gibbs scored a career-high 41 points on 14-for-17 shooting. But Davidson made just 8 of 34 shots (24 percent) and 3 of 16 3-point tries in the opening half as the game quickly got away. Gibbs finished with 19 points on 7-for-20 shooting to lead Davidson, which shot 34 percent. "North Carolina knocked us on our heels in the opening minutes of the game," Wildcats coach Bob McKillop said. "They kept us on our heels throughout the game. They overpowered us in transition. They overpowered us on the glass. They created chaos for our offense. They're a terrific team." TIP-INS Davidson: Davidson finished 8 of 31 (26 percent) from 3-point range. ... Jordan Barham scored 11 points. ... Davidson shot 46 percent after halftime. UNC: Brice Johnson had 13 points and nine rebounds. ... Kennedy Meeks had 10 rebounds. ... UNC finished with a 52-31 rebounding advantage, 18 second-chance points and 16 points off turnovers. BELFORD INJURED Davidson starting forward Jake Belford didn't play in the second half due to a concussion. He went down in the paint on a rebound on the final play of the first half and laid on the court for several minutes after both teams left for the locker rooms. He was able to walk off the court with assistance, but McKillop said he was taken to a hospital for evaluation. 3-POINT SHOOTING One of the biggest questions about UNC, the preseason No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25, was who could help Paige with outside shooting. That hasn't been a problem so far. The Tar Heels made 17 3s over the past two games and hit eight more Sunday, the benefits of an offseason spent working on their shooting. "Just coming in, we knew we were going to be able to have an inside and outside attack," said Berry, who has a team-high 15 3s. UP NEXT Davidson hosts Eastern Washington on Wednesday. UNC travels to Texas on Saturday. ------ Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the AP's college basketball site at http://collegebasketball.ap.org | 1 | 97,422 | sports |
By turns withering and mocking, Republican presidential candidates blasted President Obama's address on terrorism on Sunday night, saying that he was incapable of defeating the Islamic State, misguided in his focus on new gun control laws and showing weakness in the face of lethal threats. "People are really scared and worried," Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said on Fox News, describing a couple that decided not to travel for the New Year's holiday. He said that Americans have "a growing sense that we have a president who is completely overwhelmed by" the Islamic State. "Nothing that happened in the speech tonight is going to assuage people's fears," Mr. Rubio added. "He honestly believes that there is a coalition fighting against ISIS. This is absurd. There is no such coalition. A lot of countries that have put their names on a piece of paper." Another candidate, Donald J. Trump, posted on Twitter to comment on Mr. Obama's speech in real time, and his review was predictably hostile starting with knocking Mr. Obama's podium in the Oval Office as "odd." Mr. Trump criticized Mr. Obama for not seizing oil reserves in Iraq, chided him for using the term "ISIL" instead of "ISIS" and complained that Mr. Obama's speech was not more expansive. "That all there is? We need a new President FAST!" he wrote in one of his tweets . Sign Up For NYT Now's Morning Briefing Newsletter Mr. Obama had not even begun speaking when one Republican candidate, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, issued a statement calling on the president to use the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" a demand that has become a conservative talking point and that Mr. Obama rejected in the speech as divisive rhetoric that demonized Muslims. Mr. Cruz pressed Mr. Obama to lay out "a plan for decisive action for victory over evil." Echoing other Republicans, Mr. Cruz argued that the lessons from the shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., last week had nothing to do with a need for new gun control laws, which many Democrats favor and most Republicans oppose. Rather, he said, the shootings underscored the need to stop accepting refugees from countries "with a significant Al Qaeda or ISIS presence, such as Syria." The United States accepts relatively few refugees from those countries now, although Mr. Obama has proposed allowing 10,000 of them to resettle across the 50 states after completing rigorous screening. After the speech, Mr. Cruz said as president he would "direct the Department of Defense to destroy ISIS." Echoing other Republicans who portrayed Mr. Obama as preoccupied with new gun control laws, Mr. Cruz invoked the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 74 years ago Monday as he unfavorably compared Mr. Obama's leadership to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's. "In response to Pearl Harbor, FDR did not give a partisan speech, rather he called on Americans to unite and 'win through to absolute victory,'" Mr. Cruz said. The leading Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, pulled some attention away from Mr. Obama 10 minutes before his speech. Her campaign emailed reporters the text of a speech she made earlier on Sunday outlining her positions against the Islamic State and demanding that Arab nations and Turkey "carry their share of the burden" in fighting militants. Fifteen minutes after Mr. Obama finished speaking, the first strike came from the Republican National Committee, which issued a politically loaded statement that linked Mr. Obama with Mrs. Clinton. "We will defeat ISIS, but we cannot do so by continuing the current approach," said Reince Priebus, the committee's chairman. "The path laid out by President Obama and supported by Hillary Clinton has not worked, and ISIS has only gained in strength. The attacks in San Bernardino should serve as a wakeup call for Obama and Clinton that the way to victory is not through the status quo but refocusing our efforts to defeat ISIS." Another Democratic candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, offered full-throated support for Mr. Obama, saying his strategy was "right." "ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers," Mr. Sanders said. "Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people." Another Republican candidate, Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio, said "bolder action" was needed against the Islamic State and focused his alternative strategy on organizing an international coalition of ground forces to fight in Iraq and Syria. "We must stop delaying and do it," Mr. Kasich said. "We delayed in helping the Syrian rebels, and look where it got us. And when we decided to act, it was too little," a reference to the years of civil war in Syria. Many of the Republicans did not grapple with the substance of Mr. Obama's remarks, instead trying to paint him and by extension Mrs. Clinton as lacking the ideas and resolve to fight and win a war against the Islamic State. Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, who watched for eight years as his brother, President George W. Bush, struggled to prosecute wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, said Mr. Obama had put "self-imposed restraints" on the American intelligence community and military that was curtailing investigations and airstrikes aimed at defeating the Islamic State. "This is the war of our time. It should not be business as usual. We need a war-time Commander-in-Chief who is ready to lead this country and the free world to victory," Mr. Bush said. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky belittled Mr. Obama for proposing laws limiting the sale of assault weapons and barring suspected terrorists and other people on no-fly lists from buying gun. "Let me be clear: disarming more law-abiding citizens will not stop mass murderers and terrorists," Mr. Paul said. "We should be advocating for more concealed carry ability for law-abiding Americans and an end to unconstitutional gun-free zones." He also called for greater border security and a hold on immigration, visas, and refugees from "countries with active terror networks." None of the Republicans used the moment of Mr. Obama's speech to take a new or surprising stand on war strategy or gun control, or offer much more than familiar partisan attacks on the president. But their party's most reliable stable of voters, who begin casting ballots for a presidential nominee in February, haven't been crying out for a bipartisan consensus on fighting the Islamic State. Instead, if rising poll numbers are any measure, many conservatives seem to be rewarding candidates like Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz who talk the toughest about more aggressive airstrikes and other military and inteillgence-gathering options against the militants. 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 | 97,423 | news |
Carrie Fisher is fuming over a rumor that Disney banned the toy Princess Leia doll dressed in the metal bikini. The actress who portrayed Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" film said she thinks the rumor is stupid. The rumor may be linked to a father who took offense at the scantily clad Princess who appeared in "Return of the Jedi." In an interview with the Wall STreet Journal, Fisher responded to the father who wondered how to explain the outfit to his kid. Fisher said "Tell them that a giant slug captured me and forced me to wear that stupid outfit, and then I killed him because I didn't like it. And then I took it off. Backstage." | 8 | 97,424 | video |
The Baltimore Ravens visit South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season. | 1 | 97,425 | sports |
The entire 2015-16 college football bowl schedule has been set. Here is everything you'll need for the entire bowl schedule this year, which begins on Dec. 19th with the Celebration Bowl and Cure Bowl: Bowl Matchup Date Time (ET) Watch Celebration Bowl Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T Dec. 19 12 p.m. ABC Cure Bowl San Jose State vs. Georgia State Dec. 19 12 p.m. CBSSN Gildan New Mexico Bowl Arizona vs. New Mexico Dec. 19 2 p.m. ESPN Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl BYU vs. Utah Dec. 19 3:30 p.m. ABC Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Ohio vs. Appalachian State Dec. 19 5:30 p.m. ESPN R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech Dec. 19 9 p.m. ESPN Miami Beach Bowl South Florida vs. Western Kentucky Dec. 21 2:30 p.m. ESPN Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Akron vs. Utah State Dec. 22 3:30 p.m. ESPN Marmot Boca Raton Bowl Temple vs. Toledo Dec. 22 7 p.m. ESPN San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Boise State vs. Northern Illinois Dec. 23 4:30 p.m. ESPN GoDaddy Bowl Bowling Green vs. Georgia Southern Dec. 23 8 p.m. ESPN Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan Dec. 24 12 p.m. ESPN Hawai'i Bowl Cincinnati vs. San Diego State Dec. 24 8 p.m. ESPN St. Petersburg Bowl Marshall vs. Connecticut Dec. 26 11 a.m. ESPN Hyundai Sun Bowl Miami vs. Washington State Dec. 26 2 p.m. CBS Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl Washington vs. Southern Miss Dec. 26 2:20 p.m. ESPN New Era Pinstripe Bowl Duke vs. Indiana Dec. 26 3:30 p.m. ABC Camping World Independence Bowl Virginia Tech vs. Tulsa Dec. 26 5:45 p.m. ESPN Foster Farms Bowl Nebraska vs. UCLA Dec. 26 9:15 p.m. ESPN Military Bowl presented By Northrop Grumman Pittsburgh vs. Navy Dec. 28 2:30 p.m. ESPN Quick Lane Bowl Central Michigan vs. Minnesota Dec. 28 5 p.m. ESPN2 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Air Force vs. California Dec. 29 2 p.m. ESPN Russell Athletic Bowl North Carolina vs. Baylor Dec. 29 5:30 p.m. ESPN NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl Colorado State vs. Nevada Dec. 29 7:30 p.m. TBA AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl Texas Tech vs. LSU Dec. 29 9 p.m. ESPN Birmingham Bowl Memphis vs. Auburn Dec. 30 12 p.m. ESPN Belk Bowl North Carolina State vs. Mississippi State Dec. 30 3:30 p.m. ESPN Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Louisville vs. Texas A&M Dec. 30 7 p.m. ESPN Holiday Bowl Wisconsin vs. USC Dec. 30 10:30 p.m. ESPN Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Houston vs. Florida State Dec. 31 12 p.m. ESPN Capital One Orange Bowl No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Oklahoma Dec. 31 4 p.m. ESPN Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State Dec. 31 8 p.m. ESPN Outback Bowl Northwestern vs. Tennessee Jan. 1 12 p.m. ESPN2 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl Michigan vs. Florida Jan. 1 1 p.m. ABC Fiesta Bowl Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Jan. 1 1 p.m. ESPN Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual Iowa vs. Stanford Jan. 1 5 p.m. ESPN Allstate Sugar Bowl Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss Jan. 1 8:30 p.m. ESPN TaxSlayer Bowl Georgia vs. Penn State Jan. 2 12 p.m. ESPN AutoZone Liberty Bowl Kansas State vs. Arkansas Jan. 2 3:20 p.m. ESPN Valero Alamo Bowl TCU vs. Oregon Jan. 2 6:45 p.m. ESPN Cactus Bowl West Virginia vs. Arizona State Jan. 2 10:15 p.m. ESPN College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T Clemson/Oklahoma vs. Alabama/Michigan State Jan. 11 8:30 p.m. ESPN | 1 | 97,426 | sports |
The Bengals are one step closer to a fifth straight trip to the playoffs. Cincinnati did its part Sunday with a 37-3 rout of the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. The Bengals needed to win Sunday, have the Texans lose to the Bills and the Giants beat the Jets in Sunday's early games to clinch a playoff berth. The Texans lost 30-21 at Buffalo but the Jets pulled out a 23-20 overtime win over the Giants. MORE: Best photos from Week 13 | 23 gifts for Johnny Football on his 23rd birthday The Bengals (10-2) dominated the Browns even without tight end Tyler Eifert, who has a league-high 12 receiving touchdowns. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 220 yards with two touchdowns against the Browns (2-10) and has the Bengals on the cusp of a playoff berth for the fifth straight season. The Bengals can clinch a postseason berth if the Steelers beat the Colts Sunday night. But a Colts victory would also move the Bengals a step closer to clinching the AFC North for the second time in three seasons. Dalton has led the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his five NFL seasons, but the knock on the former TCU quarterback has been an inability to play well in the postseason. A first-round playoff exit has awaited the Bengals in each season with Dalton throwing just one touchdown to six interceptions in the four losses. But, with only six interceptions through 12 games this season, Dalton is on pace for a career-low in picks in one of his best statistical seasons, giving the Bengals some optimism for January. | 1 | 97,427 | sports |
Not since the days of Steve McNair have the Titans had a quarterback or a player, for that matter to excite the Tennessee faithful like Marcus Mariota. Mariota, the promising rookie from Oregon, had another breakout game Sunday, leading the Titans to a 42-39 shootout victory over AFC South rival Jacksonville . MORE: Best photos from Week 13's theatrics | Johnny Manziel's birthday gifts Mariota already had some spectacular performances in his rookie season. He tossed four TD passes in his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Buccaneers. He threw for 367 yards and two TDs against Andrew Luck and the Colts. He matched Drew Brees with 371 and four TDs in a win over the Saints. But Mariota had his biggest and most exciting day day as a pro Sunday. He threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns, but his biggest play was a spectacular 87-yard touchdown run , the longest rushing TD in the NFL this season. Mariota showed off his dual-threat skills by scrambling out of the pocket, eluding Jaguar defenders and then outrunning the whole Jacksonville defense. Mariota wound up rushing nine times for 112 yards, giving him 381 yards of total offense. He led the Titans to 467 yards of total offense. Mariota's big day was reminiscent of some of McNair's greatest performances, including his 71-yard TD run for the Oilers. McNair's best passing day a career-high five TD passes came, ironically, against the Jaguars (who else?). More importantly, Mariota led the Titans to their third win of the season on a day when Blake Bortles, another blossoming quarterback, tossed five TD passes in the most entertaining game of the day. In another season gone bad for Tennessee, Mariota keeps flashing signs of greatness and giving Titans fans hope for the future. | 1 | 97,428 | sports |
A surge in the share of Americans defaulting on their student debt is generating support for an obvious but controversial idea: restrict who can borrow for higher education. For decades, the federal government has imposed no underwriting standards in its student-loan program. Just about any American can borrow as much as $57,500 for college and essentially unlimited amounts for graduate school with little regard for the person's ability to repay. Everyone taking out federal loans in a given year pays the same interest rate. Supporters of that no-questions-asked policy say it guarantees every American a shot at a degree and a secure middle-class income. Imposing underwriting standards would deny a higher education to many poor people who can't get loans from private lenders, they argue. But a sharp rise in delinquencies in the $1.2 trillion federal student-loan program is drawing comparisons to subprime mortgage lending, which added to the housing crisis. It is also stirring debate on other ways to allot student aid. New research shows a preponderance of the millions of borrowers who have defaulted on student loans in recent years are poor, were unprepared for college, and attended troubled schools that offered little hope of leading to a decent job. "It's not a gift to a poor person who is not going to be able to complete a degree program to give them a loan," said Caroline Hoxby, a Stanford University economics professor, who calls the soaring load of student debt "a self-inflicted wound on the part of the federal government." As of Sept. 30, just over 7 million borrowers had gone at least a year without making a payment on their federal student loans, Education Department figures show. The student-loan delinquency rate has jumped to around 12%, roughly double its level before the recession, according to the New York Federal Reserve. When excluding borrowers still in school, roughly a quarter of all student debt is at least 90 days behind on payments. The comparable number for home-mortgage debt never exceeded 9% after the housing crash. A recent Brookings Institution study by Treasury Department economist Adam Looney and Stanford's Constantine Yannelis attributes the rise in both borrowing and defaults since the recession largely to "nontraditional students" who enrolled at for-profit schools and community colleges. Those schools typically have low or no academic standards for enrolling. Such students made up more than two-thirds of defaults among those who left school in 2011, the study found, analyzing government tax records and student-loan figures. The defaulted borrowers tend to be older, from lower-income families, and more likely to be first-generation college-goers compared with students who attend four-year schools. Likewise, an October paper by Federal Reserve researchers linked defaults to those who had weak credit scores. About 30% of those who had credit scores of between 500 and 599 a year before they left school eventually became delinquent on their loans. But among those with a score of 680 to 729, only 9% became delinquent, according to the paper, by Fed economists Alvaro Mezza and Kamila Sommer. They and other researchers aren't advocating underwriting based on credit scores they point out that doing so would penalize high-achieving students from poor families, who are more likely to have bad credit. But some economists say the government should target more aid toward such borrowers in the form of grants, which don't have to be repaid, rather than loans. They also advocate underwriting criteria based on borrowers' high-school grades and test scores, colleges' graduation and job-placement rates, and the earnings potential of various majors. One underappreciated problem is just how many students take on loans when they aren't ready for college-level coursework, which makes them more likely to drop out. The average amount owed by those who default is relatively low just under $9,000 largely because many borrowers have dropped out after one or two years, leaving them without a path to a good job. Neal McCluskey of the libertarian Cato Institute said the government should strive to avoid "saddling people with debt who have very little likelihood of completing a degree and being able to pay it back." The way to do that, he said, is to lend only to students who meet minimum test and grade-point-average requirements. Others suggest giving less-accomplished students grants to cover the first year, then loans to cover subsequent years if they have demonstrated they can handle college-level work. Policy makers aren't contemplating such big steps, but some plans might have a similar effect on a smaller scale. The Obama administration is implementing new rules that would cut off funding at career-training schools that leave students with high debt burdens and weak incomes. The plan, though, wouldn't apply to most public or nonprofit four-year schools. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has called for colleges to be held liable when their students default on loans, an idea that has gained traction among members of both parties as a way to control costs. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a GOP presidential candidate, has pushed to have all schools publish detailed data on their graduates so that future borrowers can make better borrowing decisions. Such plans, in a sense, are roundabout ways to keep borrowers from making bad investments, and make students think more carefully about which school to attend and what to study. | 3 | 97,429 | finance |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Portland Timbers had a plan to attack early in their first MLS Cup appearance. They didn't expect it to work to perfection so quickly. Diego Valeri scored 27 seconds after the opening whistle for the fastest goal in MLS Cup history to stun the Columbus Crew and thier home fans. BOX SCORE: TIMBERS 2, CREW 1 A second goal in the seventh minute by Rodney Wallace provided all the scoring the Timbers needed to beat the Crew 2-1 on Sunday for their first league title. The first goal came when Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp sent a back pass to goalkeeper Steve Clark, who tried to move the ball from his right foot to the left for a clearance. But Clark didn't see Valeri closing and the midfielder poked the ball away from him and into the goal. "We knew the aggressiveness the first 20 minutes from us had to be there," Valeri said. "We tried to be aggressive and pressure them." The Crew had barely recovered when a mental gaffe gave Portland a controversial second goal. Crew midfielder Tony Tchani and several teammates stopped playing when the ball rolled several feet over the right boundary. Instead of a stoppage for a throw-in, Portland's Darlington Nagbe kept going with the ball and sent a pass wide to Lucas Melano, who found Wallace for the header. Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter said he did not see the play, but knew one thing, "In professional sports you play to either the ball is out of bounds or to the whistle." Crew captain Michael Parkhurst immediately gathered his teammates at midfield to settle them down before play resumed. "Of course, I'm disappointed with the loss," Parkhurst said. "No one envisioned that. We just said this is not how our season is going to end." Kei Kamara, the Crew star who tied for the MLS regular-season lead in goals with 22, made it 2-1 in the 18th minute off a poor punch of the ball by Timbers goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey. But that was the only shot on target among the nine Columbus took in the match. "We were never in danger," Portland coach Caleb Porte said. "We were comfortable. We were tight. We saw the game out. We shut it down. That's a part of winning." The victory capped a three-year mission for Porter, who led the University of Akron to an NCAA title in 2010 before leaving in August 2012 to join the Timbers. "All I could think about (at the final whistle) was sharing that moment with my players," he said. "We've been through a long season and shared the highs and lows." Portland was 6-0-3 in its last nine games in regular season and playoffs. HISTORY Even though Portland has been in MLS since 2011, the Timbers as a club have been in existence for 40 years back to the North American Soccer League. The last time the Timbers played for a championship was a loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 1975 NASL Cup. ONE FOR TWO The Crew won the 2008 title, beating New York 3-1 in Carson, California. ELITE CLUB The Timbers are the 13th club to reach the MLS Cup and the 10th to win it. | 1 | 97,430 | sports |
As more details emerge surrounding San Bernadino shooters Tashfeen Malik and Syed Rizwan Farook, the married couple's political views are taking central stage. Over the weekend, Farook's father told a reporter with Italian newspaper La Stampa that his son was "obsessed with Israel" and shared the ideology of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose goal was to create an Islamic state. The elder Farook also told the journalist "I would always tell him: Stay calm, have patience, in two years Israel won't even exist," and added that he had never met his son's wife. | 8 | 97,431 | video |
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Marcus Peters and Tyvon Branch made the Oakland Coliseum feel just like home. Peters, an Oakland native who grew up attending Raiders games, set up Kansas City's go-ahead score with an interception and former Oakland safety Tyvon Branch put the game away with an interception return for a touchdown that gave the Chiefs their sixth straight win, 34-20 on Sunday. "It was a whole lot more than I expected," said Peters, who gave the ball from his interception to his mother. "It was hard, man, I can't lie, to come out there and stay focused. My nerves were up and down. "Early in the game my emotions were everywhere so it took for coach and the other leaders on the team to just bring me back. I made some silly mistakes early, but they reeled me in." BOX SCORE: CHIEFS 34, RAIDERS 20 WATCH: Chiefs-Raiders highlights Peters and Branch helped key a momentum-changing fourth quarter as Kansas City (7-5) turned three interceptions by Derek Carr into three touchdowns to remain in the AFC wild-card lead. Alex Smith threw two TD passes to Jeremy Maclin after Carr's first two interceptions to lead the opportunistic Chiefs to another win. "We knew we dug ourselves in a hole in the beginning of the year, but we've been battling back every week -- just working hard and believing in each other and coming out with victories," said linebacker Josh Mauga, whose interception started the fourth-quarter barrage. Carr became the third Raiders quarterback since the team moved back to Oakland in 1995 to throw three fourth-quarter interceptions to send the Raiders to their fourth loss in five games and likely a 13th season without a playoff berth. "I played a lot of football in my life, won a lot of games, lost a lot of games. But today was probably one of the hardest losses I've been a part of in my career," safety Charles Woodson said. "That was a tough loss." The game turned odd late in the third quarter after the Raiders took a 20-14 lead on a 5-yard TD pass from Carr to Lee Smith. But Sebastian Janikowski hit the upright on the extra point, ending a streak of 225 straight makes. The Raiders then forced a punt and were driving to make it a two-score game when Carr tried to make something out of nothing and it cost him. He tried to throw the ball away to avoid a sack, but was hit on the play and the ball went right to Mauga, who rumbled 65 yards to the 2 on the return. "The only thing in my mind was try to get as close to the goal line or even score," Mauga said. "I was hoping I could score, but I ran out of gas." Maclin then scored on a 1-yard pass from Smith. But the holder Dustin Colquitt couldn't get the snap down and the Chiefs missed the extra point, keeping the game tied at 20. Carr then threw another interception on the next possession after Michael Crabtree tripped and Peters returned it 58 yards to the 13. Maclin then took a short pass and ran 13 yards for the go-ahead score only to have kicker Cairo Santos miss the point after attempt. The botched kicks proved contagious as Janikowski hit the upright again on Oakland's ensuing possession on a 49-yard field goal try. The Raiders got another chance, but Branch scooped up a pass that deflected off Cooper's hands and ran it back 38 yards for the score. "I'm pretty ticked off, especially on how some of them happened," Carr said. "I get pretty upset. Those things will happen. It just (stinks) that it happened all back to back like that." The Raiders took a 14-7 lead going into the half after Woodson ripped the ball away from Kelce with the Chiefs in field goal range and returned it 38 yards to the Kansas City 36. It was Woodson's second fumble recovery of the game and set up Michael Crabtree's 25-yard TD catch. NOTES: Former Raiders WR Tim Brown was presented with his Hall of Fame ring at halftime. ... Chiefs DL Mike DeVito left the game with a concussion. ... Raiders S Nate Allen left with a knee injury. | 1 | 97,432 | sports |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers displayed composure in the clutch. That's what unbeaten teams do. Newton passed for five touchdowns, capped by a 15-yard scoring strike to Jerricho Cotchery with 1:05 to go, and the Panthers clinched the NFC South with a 41-38 victory over the Saints on Sunday. "I expected us to win the football game," Newton said, adding he wasn't pleased by how tight the game got at the end against the reeling Saints (4-8), who've lost four straight. "We've got to find ways moving forward not to put ourselves in this position. This was a wakeup call for us. And moving forward, we know we can't just win games by us showing up." BOX SCORE: PANTHERS 41, SAINTS 38 WATCH: Panthers-Saints highlights Carolina, the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL, has the ninth 12-0 start in the Super Bowl era. The Panthers have won 16 straight regular-season games, a streak that began in the Superdome last season. Newton, who was 28 of 41 for 331 yards, twice had to lead the Panthers back from fourth-quarter deficits. "That is one of the things that we get out of this that we will certainly build on, that (Newton) was able to win a shootout and take a drive in the fourth quarter to give us a chance," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said after capturing his third successive division title. "It goes back to his whole development as a quarterback in this league. I am really proud of what he did and the confidence with which he played." Newton was sacked once but hit numerous other times, including on his 10 rushes for 49 yards. Newton was ordered to undergo concussion testing during the third quarter, right after his 13-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. capped a touchdown drive during which he took a heavy hit from linebacker Michael Mauti. "I was fine. I was even teasing him," Newton said of his interview with a neurologist, adding that officials on the field also checked on him. "The referee did an unbelievable job with making sure I was all right. Numerous times he asked me to look him in his eye just to see if I was focused." Drew Brees passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Saints linebacker Stephone Anthony returned a fumble 31 yards for a score, and also became the first NFL player to return a blocked extra-point kick for 2 points. The league made a rule change to allow such plays for the first time this season. "There were a lot of good things, but still too many of the little things that get you beat," Brees said. Carolina led 27-16 after Newton's 13-yard pass to Devin Funchess, but New Orleans rallied to take a 31-27 lead on Brees' 54-yard TD to Brandin Cooks and 24-yard scoring pass to Brandon Coleman. The Panthers went back in front on Newton's 45-yard pass to Ginn. But New Orleans answered with Mark Ingram's 9-yard run with 5:21 left, forcing Newton to put together one more touchdown drive. He narrowly pulled it off, finding tight end Greg Olsen for a first down as he rolled left on a fourth-and-4. Olsen had to fall to the field to make a, rolling fingertip grab of the underthrown pass, which was so close to hitting the turf that fans in the Superdome were roaring at replays as Saints coach Sean Payton asked for a review. Olsen finished with nine catches for 129 yards. Cooks had six catches for 104 yards for the Saints. New Orleans' defense produced three turnovers and a touchdown in the first half. However, the Saints' offense was unable to convert cornerback Delvin Breaux's interception or Kenny Vaccaro's recovery of Olsen's fumble into points. One of those possessions ended in Kai Forbath's missed 38-yard field goal. Anthony scored when he ripped the ball away from Jonathan Stewart as the running back tried to push through a pile of players. Carolina players seemed to think the play was over and watched as Anthony raced 31 yards for a 14-0 Saints lead. "I even thought the play was over," Anthony said. "I didn't know whether I should keep running or not. I didn't hear a whistle, and I kind of waited, then I kept going." Early in the second quarter, Carolina cut the lead in half on Mike Tolbert's 12-yard touchdown catch, set up by Newton's 30-yard bootleg on fourth-and-1 a couple plays earlier. Stewart scored on a 5-yard run shortly before halftime, but Graham Gano's extra point kick was blocked by Kevin Williams and returned 82 yards by Anthony to give New Orleans a 16-13 lead. NOTES: Breaux left the game in the first half with what Payton said was a hamstring injury. ... Panthers safety Kurt Coleman's interception of Brees was his sixth this season and fifth in his last six games. \ | 1 | 97,433 | sports |
How long has Ryan Fitzpatrick been at this? Ten years, Brandon Marshall said during his field goal filibuster along the New York Jets bench. Technically he is correct, though this is Fitzpatrick's 11th season. Not one of those he has completed came to a conclusion inside the NFL playoffs. That's not easy to do, you know. A dozen teams make the playoffs every year, which is more than a third of the league, and one would imagine Fitzpatrick would have somehow ended up at least by accident on one of those. BOX SCORE: JETS 23, GIANTS 20, OT MORE: Jets vs. Giants stats, scoreboard | Giants hand Jets win in spectacular fashion The train wreck known as the 2015 New York Giants helped keep alive the possibility he'll get there this time. A series of failed gambles and miscalculations by the Giants in Sunday afternoon's game at the MetLife Stadium helped rescue the Jets from a dire fourth-quarter situation and allowed them to steal a 23-20 overtime victory. The game ended on a 48-yard field goal try by the Giants' Josh Brown, who'd been perfect this season. As Brown readied for the kick that would tie the game, Fitzpatrick was in the Jets' bench area trying to concentrate on how he'd handle the Jets' next series and Marshall was yapping at him about how he'd been in the league for 10 years and maybe he was due and … what was he talking about? Fitzpatrick admitted he didn't really know what Marshall was talking about. But Marshall was right. Fitzpatrick was due for some magic. Brown hooked his kick. That result put the Jets in a solid position in the AFC Wild Card race with four regular-season games remaining. "I'd never really been in this situation," Fitzpatrick said. "Other than Christmas, December never really is a fun time for me." Fitzpatrick has played 108 career games, a lot of them in Buffalo (when things were dire) and Cincinnati (when things were dire) and some in Tennessee and Houston (maybe not dire, but hardly delightful). That doesn't put him in Takeo Spikes territory; poor guy played 219 games without reaching the playoffs. MORE: Brandon Marshall defennds wife in trash-talking exchange Of the last 11 Fitzpatrick appearances, the Jets have won six, plus another while he rested with an injury. Which means they are 7-5 and feeling reasonably secure with games remaining against the Titans, Cowboys, Patriots and Bills. There wasn't any time in Sunday's game when the Jets could feel comfortable, unless they looked big-picture and recalled whose coaching staff was on the opposite sideline. The Giants had lost three times in 2015 inside the final 10 seconds, and now comes this one in overtime. "Obviously I made the decision to be very aggressive at the end of the game," Coughlin said afterward. "I've done it all year long. We don't have a lot to show for it." On this occasion, with the Giants ahead 20-10 and facing a fourth-and-2 from the NYJ 4 inside the final 9 minutes of regulation, Coughlin chose not to secure the three points available with an easy field goal and instead tried to put the game away. But quarterback Eli Manning handled that situation and the pressure of an oncoming Jets rush as poorly as he could. The interception he threw allowed the Jets to return the ball out of field-position Hell. After Fitzpatrick drove the Jets for a field goal that put them one score down Fitzpatrick completed seven passes for 80 yards the Giants failed to produce a first down and blundered particularly on their third-down play, Manning throwing the ball away and stopping the clock merely to avoid a short sack. This time Fitzpatrick led a 71-yard touchdown march that ended on a 9-yard strike to Marshall that was perfectly timed and perfect placed. Included in that drive was a 15-yard scramble by Fitzpatrick on fourth-and-6 that saved the game. He finished with 390 passing yards, attempting 50 and completing 36. "We just had a lot of crucial plays. Those guys rose to the occasion," Fitzpatrick said. "This was a big one. We were down and we needed it. You just try to build off the last game to the next one. If we go out and lay and egg in the next game, then this one you forget about it." Before Sunday, Fitzpatrick was 20-26 in regular-season NFL games played after Dec. 1. Now he's 21-26. It'll be impossible to reach .500 in that department in the near future, but not nearly as difficult to make the playoffs as it might have been. | 1 | 97,434 | sports |
If Tom Brady is bringing the Patriots to the line of scrimmage at the other team's 5-yard line, you can expect a lot of things to happen, nearly all of them bad for the other team. One of the very few exceptions is an interception and a 100-yard return for a touchdown. But that's what the Eagles pulled off Sunday in Foxborough. On third-and-goal from the Eagles' five midway through the third quarter and the game surprisingly tied at 14 Brady threw under pressure toward Danny Amendola at the goal line. Problem was, Amendola was blanketed by two Eagles. MORE: Blaine Gabbert among NFL Week 13 surprises | It's about time Ryan Fitzpatrick caught a break The pass deflected off Walter Thurmond and straight to Malcolm Jenkins, who took off from the goal line down the left sideline. The Patriot with the best shot at Jenkins was ... Tom Brady. He whiffed. Another tackler had to hurdle the fallen Brady, and that was all Jenkins needed. He went coast-to-coast to the end zone, giving the Eagles a shocking 21-14 lead. As if that wasn't enough, two possessions later, the Patriots ran a trick play that ended with Brady catching a pass from Amendola and taking it down the sidelines for 36 yards. It was the second reception of Brady's career. On the very next play, from the Eagles' 39 ... Brady threw an interception in the end zone, to Bryon Maxwell. | 1 | 97,435 | sports |
A spokesman for Lufthansa said a Jordanian-American male passenger was restrained by crew members on a Belgrade-bound Lufthansa flight on Sunday after fumbling with the emergency exit door. The spokesman said the man, a Jordanian with a U.S. passport, kept changing seats after takeoff from Frankfurt and started tampering with the emergency exit door. The man was arrested by Serbian police after the LH 1406 service landed on time in Belgrade. | 2 | 97,436 | travel |
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Even when he's having a frustrating game, Kevin Durant is Oklahoma City's go-to player in tight situations. He came through on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings. Durant committed 10 turnovers, but hit the go-ahead jumper with 23 seconds left and two free throws with 4.4 seconds left to cap a 20-point, nine-rebound outing for the Thunder a 98-95 win over the Kings. BOX SCORE: THUNDER 98, KINGS 95 Russell Westbrook had his third triple-double of the season with 19 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds and the Thunder won their fourth straight home game. Since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City, it is 14-0 against Sacramento in Chesapeake Energy Arena and 23-4 overall. Oklahoma City trailed 95-94 before Durant buried a 15-footer. At the other end, the Thunder's Steven Adams forced Rudy Gay into a turnover with 5.3 seconds left. Durant followed with his free throws to put Oklahoma City up by three, and Marco Belinelli air-balled a 3-point attempt at the buzzer for Sacramento. "That's what your best player does," Westbrook said of Durant hitting the key shot. "He's not going to play perfect every night, but you can see he closed the game for us and did a good job defensively." Durant said he knows he's expected to take the big shot. "I've been trusted my whole career, taking those shots," he said. "I've failed plenty and plenty of times I've made shots as well. I just try to stay focused and stay disciplined in what I do and they went down for me." NBA assists leader Rajon Rondo had 10 to go with seven points for the Kings. Gay scored 20 points for Sacramento, but coach George Karl was critical of his decision to try and play for the final shot after Durant's late basket, saying that's not what was discussed during a timeout. Sacramento rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to lead 93-86 with 3:06 left after a 3-pointer by Belinelli but managed only two points the rest of the way. "The momentum was on our side and we kind of gave it back to them," Karl said. Belinelli and Darren Collison finished with 16 points each for the Kings. Oklahoma City jumped to an 11-2 lead as the Kings missed six of their first seven shots, and the Thunder never trailed in the first half. They couldn't pull away, though, and Sacramento tied the game on three occasions. The Thunder led 51-48 at halftime. Both teams started the third quarter 1 for 7 from the field before Serge Ibaka made three straight baskets and Andre Roberson's put-back gave Oklahoma City its biggest lead to that point at 62-51 at the 6:14 mark. About 2 minutes later, Westbrook came up with a breakaway two-handed dunk off a steal and let out a roar after putting the Thunder up 66-52. Sacramento went 7 minutes between baskets in the quarter, going 6 of 19 from the field. A 3-pointer by Collison pulled the Kings within 84-81 with 6:38 left and they took their first lead at 85-84 on a jumper by Gay with 5:29 left. TIP-INS Kings: Omri Casspi started for the second straight game in place of rookie Willie Cauley-Stein, who is out for four to six weeks with a dislocated right index finger suffered Thursday night in a loss to the Boston Celtics in Mexico City. Karl said he may adjust who starts in that spot game-to-game depending on matchups. ... The Kings were 7 of 23 from the field in the second quarter but still matched the Thunder with 23 points. ... One night after recording a season-high 35 assists in a loss at Houston, the Kings had 20 assists against the Thunder. Thunder: Ibaka picked up three fouls in the first 6 minutes and sat out the rest of the first half. ... Official Marc Davis lectured the scorers' table workers at halftime. Davis changed two foul calls in the first half, one from Durant to Ibaka several minutes after it occurred, another from a block on Cousins to a charge on Westbrook after Karl complained. ... Durant's five-game streak of scoring 25 or more points ended. ... Enes Kanter also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. ... The Thunder wore their alternate orange uniforms. DEFENDING DEMARCUS Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds but went 5 of 20 from the field and 3 of 9 from the free-throw line, his third straight subpar performance. Karl hasn't been able to pinpoint what's wrong. "Nothing that I'm aware of, other than (over) 82 games, it's difficult to be a great player every night," he said. "That just doesn't happen all the time. Matchups sometimes are poor. This team has got three really big guys and Dwight Howard is a pretty good big guy. When you're the first priority of a scouting report, it's sometimes tough to be great." Thunder center Steven Adams said Oklahoma City "just contested shots. That's pretty much it. We were just trying to be physical and make him make tough shots over us." UP NEXT Kings: Host Utah on Tuesday night. Thunder: Visit Memphis on Tuesday night. | 1 | 97,437 | sports |
The Timbers beat the Crew 2-1 on Sunday to win the MLS Cup. Francis Maxwell breaks down the result. | 1 | 97,438 | sports |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek groaned as Courtney Lee's inbound pass floated toward the rim Hornacek watched Jeff Green dunk with 0.5 seconds left, helping the Memphis Grizzlies escape with a 95-93 win over the Suns on Sunday. BOX SCORE: GRIZZLIES 95, SUNS 93 "They just made a play," Hornacek said. The Lee-to-Green connection helped Memphis avoid squandering a 93-87 lead with 1:30 remaining, giving the Grizzlies their ninth win in their last 12 games. "We felt like we didn't play great," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "Towards the end, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot." The Suns' last chance to tie the game came on Eric Bledsoe's 22-footer from the right corner as the horn sounded. The two-point attempt was long, sending Phoenix to its fourth straight loss despite a late rally that pulled the Suns even. Marc Gasol led Memphis with 22 points, and Lee scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half to match his season high. Mike Conley had 12 points and Mario Chalmers finished with 11. Green and Zach Randolph scored 10 points apiece. Bledsoe led the Suns with 23 points and six assists and also had seven rebounds. Brandon Knight scored 17 points and Mirza Teletovic had 14. Alex Len had 12 points, while Jon Leuer finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Phoenix erased Memphis' six-point lead with 90 seconds left on two baskets inside by Len and another by P. J. Tucker. Len tied the game at 93 when he tipped in a missed free throw by Leuer with 11.9 seconds remaining. During the next Grizzlies' possession, Len initially was called for a goaltend on Conley's drive with 2.1 seconds left -- a play reviewed by officials and overturned to keep the game tied. On the ensuing inbound play, Knight fumbled the pass out of bounds, giving the ball back to the Grizzlies with 0.8 seconds left. Lee, inbounding from the left sideline, lobbed the ball to Green, covered by Tucker but curling to the right side of the basket for the winning field goal. "I told (Jeff) I was going to throw it to him if I saw P.J. Tucker's numbers," Lee said. "He went up and made the play." TIP-INS Suns: Tyson Chandler missed his fifth straight game with a right hamstring injury. ... Leuer played more than two seasons with the Grizzlies and was given a nice ovation when he was introduced in the Phoenix starting lineup. ... The Suns entered the game with the third-best percentage from 3-point range but made only one of their first 13 shots from outside the arc. They finished 9 of 31. ... Phoenix will wrap up a six-game trip Monday in Chicago. The journey carried them 5,770 miles. Grizzlies: Memphis has won eight straight in the series. ... Memphis is now 11-1 when leading at the half. ... Matt Barnes and Len were assessed double technicals in the third when they got tied up together. ... Lee had a season-best six assists, including the game-winner. SUNS DROUGHT After building an early 10-point lead, Phoenix went more than 6 minutes without scoring. Memphis outscored the Suns 18-4 the rest of the first quarter. CLOSE FOR THE SUNS During the four-game losing streak, the Suns have lost by three, five, three and two points. "There's no way that game doesn't go into overtime, at least," Tucker said. "But the fate of the Suns right now is crazy." ANATOMY OF A WINNING PLAY On the winning basket, Green came out of the left corner across the middle. Conley brushed Tucker -- who was chasing Green -- enough to slow him up, and Leuer wasn't able to get to the basket in time to contest Green's dunk on the lob from Lee. "(The play) got morphed between (former Memphis coach) Lionel Hollins and (former assistant) Johnny Davis. Then I tweaked it a little bit," Joerger said. UP NEXT Suns: Travel to Chicago Bulls on Monday night. Grizzlies: Host Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. | 1 | 97,439 | sports |
No. 1 Clemson clinched a College Football Playoff spot on Sunday, and Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney threw a pizza party for 20,000 Clemson fans. | 1 | 97,440 | sports |
NEW YORK The Warriors have found all sorts of ways to win during their record-setting start to the season, but victory No. 22 definitely took a unique method. They achieved it by overcoming boredom. The Warriors battled fits of seeming disinterest that made Sunday's 114-98 victory harder to come by than it probably should have been against the five-win Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. "I felt like we played pretty close to perfect in the first quarter, and I feel like we had a letdown because of that," Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton said. "…Mentally, I felt like we had a little bit of letdown in the second and third quarters, which, obviously, you don't like to see." After leading by 17 points in the first quarter, the Warriors started mindlessly tossing the ball around on offense and lackadaisically rotating on defense just long enough to let the Nets sneak to three points down at halftime and then take a third-quarter lead. But it's got to be scary to the rest of the league that the Warriors can look bored and still win. On the road. In the second game of a back-to-back set. The Warriors (22-0) tied the 1969-70 New York Knicks for the league's best-ever road start at 12-0 and got past the midway point of their two-week, seven-game road grind at 4-0. They have finished .500 or better on 14 of their past 18 road trips of at least three games. With games still remaining at Indiana, Boston and Milwaukee, it suddenly looked like the Nets (5-15) might be the team that ended the Warriors' winning streak. Brooklyn took the Warriors into overtime in the teams' first meeting, losing 107-99 at Oracle Arena on Nov. 14, and snapped the Warriors' 10-game winning streak with a 102-98 victory on Jan. 8, 2014. The Nets couldn't repeat the feat this time as the Warriors rode another jaw-dropping third quarter from Stephen Curry and a bounce-back effort from the second unit to extend their winning streak to 26 games, including the final four games of the 2014-15 regular season. "Steph knows he's going to be on the court for most of the game, and he's going to have the ball in his hands for most of the game," Walton said. "He can pick and choose when he wants to get aggressive and take over and when he wants to get his teammates involved. That's his call out there, and he does a great job judging when to do both." After taking just six first-half shots, Curry finished with 28 points and five rebounds. Draymond Green had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Klay Thompson added 21 points, his fourth straight game with at least 20. The Warriors' bench outscored the Nets' reserves 40-30, led by Festus Ezeli's 12 points and Leandro Barbosa's 11. Early on, it didn't look like the Warriors would need Curry's brilliance or an especially good game from the reserves to run Brooklyn off its homecourt. They jumped out to leads of 9-0 and 25-8 before Curry subbed out less than 10 minutes into the game. The first half's final 93 seconds were as ugly as the opening run was pretty. The Warriors committed three turnovers in a 21-second blooper reel, fouled a three-point shooter and let Brooklyn close on a 12-0 run to go into the locker room down 57-54. The Nets took their first lead on a short jumper by Thaddeus Young (25 points, 14 rebounds) that made it 58-57 a minute into the third quarter. There were four lead changes and three ties in the quarter, the last of which came when Curry made a driving bank shot to knot it 76-76. That launched an electrifying, 2-minute and 10-second sequence from Curry, who scored 11 points and lobbed an alley-oop to Ezeli. He heard "M-V-P" chants as he led the Warriors to an 87-80 lead going into the fourth quarter. "It was a show," said Warriors reserve big man Marreese Speights. "We're just like fans on the bench, enjoying the show every time he gets going. It's something that we've never seen in this league: a guy who can shoot like that and score that many points in that many minutes." Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron | 1 | 97,441 | sports |
Ecstatic opposition leaders vowed on Monday to use their new majority in Venezuela's legislature to free jailed opponents of the Socialist government but also said they would not move to dismantle popular welfare policies. The opposition Democratic Unity coalition won more than twice the number of National Assembly seats as the Socialists in elections on Sunday that punished President Nicolas Maduro's government for the country's deep economic and social crisis. It was the first time in 16 years the "Chavismo" movement, named for former socialist President Hugo Chavez, lost its majority in the 167-member assembly, and gives the opposition a platform to further erode Maduro's power in the OPEC nation. The 53-year-old president, who was handpicked by Chavez but lacks his charisma and political guile, quickly accepted defeat in a speech to the nation that calmed fears of violence. Aware that victory owed more to public discontent with Maduro than love for the opposition, coalition head Jesus Torrealba urged Venezuelans to bury their differences. "We have been divided for years and the country has won nothing with this historic mistake ... The Democratic Unity is not here to mistreat anyone," Torrealba, who was mocked by Maduro as an "evil Shrek" during the campaign, told supporters in a victory speech in the early hours of Monday. Reiterating that an Amnesty Law will be the opposition's priority when the new assembly begins work on Jan. 5, Torrealba promised to return the rights of "those who have been unjustly persecuted, jailed, blocked from politics or exiled". Venezuela's best-known jailed politician is Leopoldo Lopez, sentenced to nearly 14 years on charges of promoting political violence in 2014 that killed 43 people. But the opposition has a list of what it says are more than 70 other political prisoners. Torrealba also reassured despondent government supporters the coalition would not try to dismantle welfare programs that were wildly popular during Chavez's 1999-2013 rule and which Maduro repeatedly warned they want to end. With 99 seats to the Socialists' 46 in counting so far - and results not yet in for the remaining 22 seats - the opposition looks certain to reach a three-fifths majority, meaning they could in theory have ministers fired after a censure vote. With two-thirds, they could try and shake up institutions like the courts widely viewed as pro-government. "The sheer scale of its victory could potentially give the opposition real teeth as it tries to alter the course of government policy under Mr Maduro," said Fiona Mackie, Latin America analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit. AMNESTY LAW? Even with just a simple majority, the opposition can exercise control over the budget, begin investigations that could embarrass the government, and pass the amnesty law. Torrealba has also said the assembly will open an investigation into the arrest of two relatives of Maduro, cousins of his wife, caught in a sting in Haiti and indicted in a New York court on charges of cocaine smuggling. The United States, which has had an acrimonious relationship with Venezuela under both Chavez and Maduro, has long accused the Socialists of complicity in the drug trade, as well as human rights abuses. The government calls that lies and frequently recalls U.S. support for a short-lived 2002 coup against Chavez. A former bus driver and foreign minister who narrowly won election in 2013 after Chavez died from cancer, Maduro may face a backlash in the ruling party and from grassroots supporters who think he has betrayed his predecessor's legacy. Though his term ends in 2019, hardline opposition leaders want to oust him in a recall referendum next year. They would require nearly 4 million signatures to force the recall vote. "I can't see this government finishing its term because it is too weak," said opposition leader Henry Ramos, touted as a possible leader for the new assembly. "Internal frictions are beginning. They're blaming each other for this huge defeat." Maduro, whose government has replaced Cuba as the most vocal adversary of the United States in Latin America, blamed an "economic war" waged by business leaders and other opponents out to sabotage the economy and bring him down. "In Venezuela, a counter-revolution won, not the opposition," he said in a speech in the early hours. "The economic war has triumphed for now." Venezuelans have not in large bought that argument, though, blaming him for the world's highest inflation, shortages from milk to medicines, and a devalued currency that trades on the black market at nearly 150 times its strongest official rate. Maduro's persistence with policies like complex currency controls have contributed to Venezuela's economic distortions but, unlike Chavez, he also had the misfortune to see a plunge in the price of Venezuela's only significant export, oil. "This is Nicolas Maduro's defeat, not Chavez's," said Humberto Lopez, 57, a diehard Chavista well-known to Venezuelans for dressing like Argentine revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara at government rallies. "I'm not hugely surprised." Underlining the unprecedented mood in Venezuela, videos circulating online seemed to show five prominent socialist politicians - including Chavez's brother Adan - being booed at voting centers on Sunday, with crowds yelling "the government will fall!" or "thief!". Foreign markets reacted positively, with dollar bonds rising strongly on hopes of business-friendly change. The government's defeat was another disappointment for Latin America's bloc of left-wing governments following last month's swing to the center-right in Argentina's presidential election. But words of consolation came from the Venezuelan government's closest ally, Communist-run Cuba. "I'm sure new victories for the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution will come under your leadership," President Raul Castro wrote to Maduro, referring to Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar as well as his late friend Chavez. (Additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Corina Pons in Caracas, Daniel Trotta in Havana, and Sujata Rao in London; Editing by Kieran Murray) | 5 | 97,442 | news |
Justin Theroux had a brush with death on his honeymoon. During his appearance on Live! With Kelly and Michael, the Leftovers star opened up about his near death experience while in Bora Bora with wife Jennifer Aniston. He admits he got pretty spooked when a scuba diving expedition didn't go as he planned. The actor explained that he went down "pretty deep" and noticed that his oxygen tank was in the red. When he motioned to his instructor that he was running out of air, he says he was told it was fine and to keep swimming. When the instructor realized the severity of the situation he quickly attached Theroux to his emergency respirator, causing water to pour into his mouth. For a moment, Theroux says he thought someone was trying to kill him. | 8 | 97,443 | video |
The New England Patriots have lost Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. And now they are in danger of losing their grasp on a first-round playoff bye. The Patriots were stunned at home by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, 35-28. It was the Patriots' second consecutive loss after winning their first 10 games, and they are now tied in the AFC with the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos, who beat the Patriots last week, at 10-2. The two game losing streak is New England's first since 2012. BOX SCORE: EAGLES 35, PATRIOTS 28 VIDEO: Eagles-Patriots highlights The loss to the Broncos last week was almost understandable it came in overtime, on the road, in a blizzard, against the NFL's No. 1 defense and after losing Gronkowski to a knee injury late in the fourth quarter. Sunday's loss to the reeling Eagles was far more baffling, even after a furious fourth-quarter rally in which the Patriots cut Philadelphia's lead from 21 points to seven in the game's final minutes. This was a game in which quarterback Tom Brady, the likely front-runner to win the NFL's MVP award, threw two interceptions, including one that was returned 99 yards by Malcolm Jenkins for a touchdown. He had thrown just four interceptions in the Patriots' first 11 games. "That's about as bad as you can do as a quarterback," Brady said of the 99-yard interception. Though the Patriots got receiver Danny Amendola back after he missed one game with a knee injury, it was clear Brady missed the combination of Edelman and Gronkowski. He was out of sync with backup tight end Scott Chandler and had no one who could consistently create separation from the Eagles defense in the middle of the field. "We can't do anything about what happened," Brady said. "We just have to play better football." The special teams meltdown is troubling, but the Patriots can't be pleased with the defensive performance. The Eagles had been held to less than 20 points in each of their previous three games, though two of those losses came with backup quarterback Mark Sanchez. With starter Sam Bradford back, the Eagles had their biggest offensive day in weeks. Bradford threw for just 120 yards but had a pair of touchdowns, while running backs Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner and DeMarco Murray combined for 129 rushing yards. Philadelphia also scored a touchdown off a blocked punt, completing an all-around failure of a day for Bill Belichick's team. Philadelphia's 35 points were the most allowed by New England all season, and the most since the Buffalo Bills scored 32 in Week 2. New England has now allowed 62 points in the past two games. That's not a formula for a team that is peaking in time for the playoffs. Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones . | 1 | 97,444 | sports |
The Miami Heat finish off a four-game homestand when they welcome John Wall and the Wizards into town. | 1 | 97,445 | sports |
Mike and Jim Ring haven't received a lot of attention from the classic truck world, but they aren't lonely. The brothers and their shop, Ringbrothers, have been well known in the hot rod world ever since Reactor , their 1967 Mustang Fastback stunned everybody at the 2006 SEMA Show. Ringbrothers' muscle car era street machines have continued to impress enthusiasts. At the 2014 SEMA Show, the Recoil 1966 Chevelle won several top awards. As in 2006, everybody was impressed, but in 2014, nobody was surprised. We expect to be impressed by Ringbrothers now. R ecoil drew more attention at the 2015 Car Craft Summer Nationals in Milwaukee. We were there too, and while the crowd at the Ringbrothers rig was swarming around the Chevelle, we were checking out the cool 1958 Ford F-100 on display just a few feet away. It's the Ringbrothers shop truck and though it may have been a wallflower at Car Craft 's party, it's a true standout. First, let's talk about those wheels. HRE Performance Wheels look great on European sports cars and American performance cars. They look great on F-100 shop trucks too. These forged three-piece 18- and 20-inchers are from the HRE Classic Series Street Collection. The Street Collection also includes a four-style line of Ringbrothers Edition performance wheels. Shooting the centers with bright red paint makes those 19-spokes stand out and goes a long way in contributing to the character of the truck. Wrapping the wheels are a set of 255- and 305-series Nitto performance tires. Baer disc brakes feature 15-inch front rotors and 14-inch rears. The Ringbrothers logo was custom machined onto the Baer calipers. The body, as purchased, was dark tan and in decent shape. Most of the sheetmetal work performed at Ringbrothers was perfecting it for a fresh paintjob, with a few exceptions. The driprails were shaved, the front fenders were flared, and most notably the stock rear window was replaced by wraparound glass. Custom Cab script emblems were added at the top of the doors and the 1958 hood side emblems were replaced by 1956 emblems. In the front, the stock grille was re-chromed. In the bed, the steel floor was raised 6 inches, with rebuilt wheels tubs for the fat Nitto rubber. Chad Hagerty is the painter at Ringbrothers and finished the shop truck in BASF Jeep Liberty gray, with some contrasting white used on the top of the cab. More classic trucks on MSN Autos To power the truck, Ringbrothers turned to Ford Performance for a fresh Coyote 5.0L modular engine. It's the perfect choice. The engine was transferred directly from the crate to the engine compartment, where it looks like it was designed for the F-100. Flowmaster mufflers, part of the fabricated exhaust system, give the Coyote the right growl. Mark Bowler built the Ford AOD-E/4R70W to back up the engine. Ringbrothers has used Bowler Performance Transmissions for many of their builds, but this may be the shop's first column-shifted application. Underneath, the original 1958 frame was strengthened with boxing plates from front to back. A 2005 Ford Crown Victoria contributed its aluminum frontend to the F-100. It's a popular transplant that provides IFS plus rack-and-pinion steering. John's Industries supplied the 4.10-geared Ford 9-inch rearend with Positraction. A four-link locates the rear and Afco coilovers smooth out the ride. For all the mechanical upgrades, the view from the driver's seat is still classic truck. The shifter steering column is topped with a 1940 Ford wheel. Custom gauges from Classic Instruments were installed in the stock dash. Steve Pearson at Upholstery Unlimited has worked with Ringbrothers on previous projects. Covering the stock F-100 bench in gray vinyl was probably one of his easier assignments from Mike and Jim Ring, and the results look great. Climate is controlled by a Vintage Air underdash system. A remotely controlled Pioneer stereo was installed behind the seat, keeping the cab well supplied with tunes. Wiring the truck was made easy with a Painless Performance harness. Mike and Jim Ring were back at the SEMA Show in 2015 with a pair of wild 1965 Mustangs, creating another big buzz and attracting more awards. The pickup wasn't at that party and may never get the kind of glory that other Ringbrothers creations do. That doesn't mean it's not getting attention. While those cars are winning awards in various classes, this 1958 F-100 is being driven every day, doing its job as a shop truck in a class by itself. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook 1958 Ford F-100 Mike & Jim Ring CHASSIS Frame: stock 1958 Ford, boxed Rearend / Ratio: John's Industries Ford 9-inch with Posi / 4.10:1 Rear suspension: four-link, Afco coilovers Rear brakes: Baer Brakes with 14-inch rotors Front suspension: 2005 Ford Crown Victoria frontend with stock suspension Front brakes: Brakes with 15-inch rotors Front wheels: HRE Performance Wheels, 309 model, 20x12 Rear wheels: HRE Performance Wheels, 309 model, 18x8 Front tires: 255-series Nitto performance radials Rear tires: 305-series Nitto performance radials DRIVETRAIN Engine: 2014 Ford Performance 5.0L Ti-VCT Coyote Exhaust / Mufflers: Ringbrothers / Flowmaster Transmission: Bowler Performance Transmissions Ford AOD-E/4R70W Shifter: stock column shift Fasteners: Automotive Racing Products BODY Style: 1958 Ford F-100 Styleside pickup Modifications: wraparound rear window, shaved driprails Fenders front / rear: original steel, front flared Hood: original Grille: stock, chromed Bed: stock steel, raised 6 inches Paint type / Color: BASF / Jeep Liberty gray, white top Headlights / Taillights: stock 1958 Ford F-100 Bumpers: stock replacement Bodywork / Paint: Ringbrothers / Chad Hagerty INTERIOR Dashboard: stock Gauges: Classic Instruments Steering wheel: 1940 Ford Steering column: stock Seats: stock bench Upholstery by: Steve Pearson at Upholstery Unlimited Material: gray vinyl Carpet / color: Upholstery Unlimited / gray Wiring: Painless Performance | 9 | 97,446 | autos |
A frustrating season for the Lakers continues. Early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup against the Pistons Kobe Bryant's final career game in Detroit Nick Young was ejected for losing his cool and shoving Anthony Tolliver. MORE: Nowitzki trolls Gasol | Kid loses his mind over Curry autograph | LeBron to Heat fans: Count the rings Young took exception to Tolliver's hard foul on a fast break dunk attempt and had to be restrained by Pistons forward Marcus Morris. Young was assessed a flagrant two foul, sending him home for the night. Lakers' Nick Young ejected for shoving Pistons' Anthony Tolliver pic.twitter.com/0CG0PaEFOX Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) December 7, 2015 With the loss, the Lakers are 3-17 on the season. It doesn't seem to be bothering Bryant too much. | 1 | 97,447 | sports |
The Devils topped the Panthers 4-2 Sunday behind 34 saves from Corey Schneider. Lee Stempniak and Kyle Palmieri lit the lamp in the win. | 1 | 97,448 | sports |
The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico threw a parade for UFC 193 winner Holly Holm on Sunday. Holm defeated the then-unbeaten Ronda Rousey. | 1 | 97,449 | sports |
REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer France is reportedly considering tough new laws following the Paris terror attacks that would crack down on anonymous web browsing technology Tor, as well as free WiFi in public places. French newspaper Le Monde saw documents indicating that France wants to stop terrorists from remaining anonymous online through Tor. Tor is a specialist web browser that can be used to remain virtually anonymous online. It bounces a user's internet connection around lots of different servers, making it tough for law enforcement to identify which websites a user is visiting. In the wake of the Paris attacks, France wants to make sure that terrorists can't communicate secretly over the internet. Le Monde reports that the legislation blocking access to the Tor web browser could be passed as early as January. Motherboard reports that France could use two different tactics to stop people using Tor: Legal and technological blocks. A legal approach would be to outlaw the use of Tor, hoping it would dissuade people from downloading the software. However, once you've got Tor, the nature of it is that you're hidden from the government. So another approach that France could use would be to block any French internet addresses trying to connect to Tor servers. Another legal measure reportedly being considered by France is a ban on free public WiFi networks. It's much more difficult to track down an internet user who logged on using a public WiFi network because so many people are on the network at once. One technique that people use to stay anonymous online is a combination of Tor and free public Wifi. Ross Ulbricht, the man behind the deep web drug marketplace The Silk Road, was arrested in a public library in October 2013. He used the free WiFi there because it's tougher for law enforcement to keep tabs on someone using a crowded router. | 3 | 97,450 | finance |
If you enjoyed toning your legs with our Squat Challenge, your core loved the Crunch Challenge, and your upper body felt pumped doing the Push-Up Challenge, get ready for a total-body fitness challenge that combines exercises from all three of these challenges to strengthen and firm your entire body. This is a short workout anyone can fit into their busy day because it only takes a few intense minutes. This challenge only involves three exercises: sumo squats, T push-ups, and V crunches. Below are descriptions of how to do each move, and below that is the two-week plan. Instead of completing a certain amount of reps, by the end of the two weeks, you'll be able to do a minute of each exercise twice through. The beauty of this challenge is to get you in the habit of strength training four to five times a week. And once you reach the 14th day, keep going, with the mind-set that a little bit of time spent toning your muscles goes a long way. Sumo Squat Stand with your feet wide, toes pointing out. Hold your hands comfortably in front of your chest to help you stay balanced, and bend your knees, lowering your hips deeply so your thighs are parallel with the floor. Make sure to keep weight back in your heelsThen rise back up, straightening the legs completely and squeezing the glutes at the top of the movement to get the most out of the exercise.This counts as one rep.Complete as many reps as you can safely and effectively in the time stated each day. T Push-Up Begin in plank position.Take a breath in, and then exhale to bend your elbows, lowering into a push-up.Inhale to straighten your arms, and at the top of your push-up, lift your left arm straight up overhead, rotating your torso to stack your shoulders, and turn your heels to the right, making a T shape with your body. Exhale to place your left palm back on the ground, and lower into a push-up.Inhale to straighten your arms, and lift your right arm up overhead, rotating your torso and turning heels to the left.Exhale to place your right hand back on the ground.Doing a T push-up on both sides counts as one rep.Complete as many reps as you can safely and effectively in the time stated each day. This is a challenging move, so hold plank position a few seconds longer if you need to rest between push-ups, or do the push-up portion with one or both knees down. V Crunch Lie on your back, and lift your legs and arms up so they are extended toward the ceiling. Lift your upper back off the floor, reaching your hands toward your feet.Lower your legs toward the floor while reaching your arms overhead, keeping your shoulders off the mat and lower back pressed into the mat.Repeat the crunch motion to complete one rep.Complete as many reps as you can safely and effectively in the time stated each day.The Two-Week Plan Safely and effectively complete as many reps as you can of sumo squats, T push-ups, and V crunches for the time designated below. Feel free to adjust the times based on your ability level. Day Time Day 130 seconds eachDay 230 seconds each, repeat twiceDay 335 seconds eachDay 4RestDay 540 seconds eachDay 640 seconds each, repeat twiceDay 745 seconds eachDay 8RestDay 950 seconds eachDay 1050 seconds each, repeat twiceDay 1155 seconds eachDay 12RestDay 1360 seconds eachDay 1460 seconds each, repeat twice | 7 | 97,451 | health |
Patrick Kane extended his point streak to 22 games, which broke Bobby Hull's 44-year old mark. The Devils ended the Panthers' five-game winning streak. | 1 | 97,452 | sports |
Check out this week's best highlights, including a late Flames win, Grayson Allen's circus shot and Stanford's TD pass to Kevin Hogan. | 1 | 97,453 | sports |
The Oilers beat the Sabres 4-2 on Sunday. Taylor Hall scored his 11th goal of the season in the win. | 1 | 97,454 | sports |
NEW YORK Business economists are slightly less bullish about prospects for economic growth next year, according to a survey published Monday. The National Association for Business Economics says the average forecast is for growth of 2.6 percent next year, down slightly from 2.7 percent in its previous survey conducted in September. But they expect the jobs market to continue strengthening, with the unemployment rate dropping to 4.7 percent by the end of 2016. The rate now stands at 5 percent. The survey conducted Nov. 6-18 among a panel of 49 business economists struck a slightly downbeat note as experts lowered earlier forecasts on a variety of measures of economic health, including housing starts and industrial production. Further out, two-thirds of those surveyed expect potential economic growth between 2 and 2.5 percent over the next five years. Highlights of the association's survey: Lower growth: In addition to the lowered forecast for gross domestic product next year, economists cut their expectation for this year. GDP is now expected to grow 2.4 percent in 2015. A year ago, economists expected robust growth of 3.1 percent this year, which would have been the strongest since 2005. More hiring: Employers are expected to continue hiring more than 200,000 workers each month through next year. Pay for workers is expected to pick up, too. The average forecast is for hourly compensation to rise 2.8 percent next year, up from 2.2 percent expected this year. Fed hike: Most of the economists in the survey believe the Federal Reserve will begin raising short-term rates from record lows at its next two-day meeting starting Dec. 15. They expect steady, but modest increases next year. Higher borrowing rates: The yield on a key government bond that impacts rates on car loans, mortgages and other types of loans is expected to rise sharply, but not as fast as earlier forecasts. Economists expect the yield on the 10-year Treasury note to rise to 2.88 percent by the end of next year versus 2.27 percent on Friday. They had earlier forecast the yield to rise to 3 percent. --- Watch more on markets: 'Strong jobs data cemented Fed hike expectations' | 3 | 97,455 | finance |
The best of the best from Sunday's NBA action comes straight at you in the Top 10. | 1 | 97,456 | sports |
The father of San Bernardino suspect Syed Rizwan Farook told an Italian newspaper that his son expressed support for the Islamic State group and was obsessed with Israel. The father, who is also named Syed Farook, told La Stampa that his son took on an overly conservative outlook on Islam and at least once expressed support for ideas promoted by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State militant group, also known as ISIL or ISIS. "He said he shared the ideology of al-Baghdadi to create an Islamic state, and he was obsessed with Israel," the father told a reporter in an interview outside the home of this other son, Syed Raheel Farook, in Corona, Calif. The father said he counseled his son to be patient because, he said, in time political changes in the Middle East will accomplish his desires. "I kept telling him always: stay calm, be patient, in two years Israel will no longer exist," the elder Farook told the newspaper. "Geopolitics is changing: Russia, China, America too, nobody wants the Jews there." But Syed Rizwan Farook was not dissuaded, the father said. The FBI said it is investigating contacts that Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, had with other suspected radicals before he and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 29, embarked on Wednesday's shooting rampage that killed 14 people and injured 21 others at a holiday gathering for San Bernardino County health department employees, where Farook worked. Shortly before the attack began, Malik posted to Facebook a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State, according to the FBI. The father said his family was destroyed when his son sided against him with his equally religious mother. "Rizwan was the mama's boy, and she is very religious like him," he said. "Once we had a dispute about the historical figure of Jesus, my son yelled that I was an unbeliever and decided that marriage with my wife had to end." | 5 | 97,457 | news |
The iPad Pro: Just a bigger iPad or a genre-defining productivity tool that's challenging the status quo? As one of two leading lights in the tablet/laptop hybrid arena, the iPad Pro improves on the conventional iPad in three ways: size, stylus (known as the Pencil) and raw power. But do these improvement amount to a laptop killer? Apple might like to think so, but the lack of a desktop OS will always place limitations on how well a device like this can challenge traditional PCs. This is where Microsoft has done so well to corner this unique market by building a device that can be both a PC and mobile device with things like a full-sized USB port, versatile OS and a clever design. But you can't dismiss the iPad Pro's laptop killing credentials because, well, it's made by Apple. And, in typical Apple fashion, it's been made exceptionally well. The additional features -especially the Pencil- are great experiences, as is the device in general. Here's why you should make the iPad Pro the cause of your next bout of Buyer's Remorse. If you're not familiar with my buying guides, then check out yesterday's Microsoft Surface Pro 4 run-down, as well as guides for the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium , iPhone 6S , Nexus 6P and the Surface Pro 4 . Keyboard The iPad Pro's Smart Cover keyboard is a nifty bit of kit. The Smart Connector tech boils down to three small dots that connect the iPad to the keyboard, which, visually is minimalism at its finest. The keys themselves are covered in a woven fabric that's easy to wipe clean and surprisingly comfortable to type on. It registers keys well and delivers accurate results most of the time. Whilst it was a bit jarring coming from the Surface Pro 4's more responsive keys, the soft-touch certainly surprised me by how much I liked typing on it. But there are some potential drawbacks: the Smart Cover isn't backlit and can only prop the iPad up at one angle. The hard base layer isn't that robust- meaning you might find yourself looking for a hard surface to type on, rather than simply resting the keyboard on your lap. There's also the price: you're looking at paying $169, on top of the iPad Pro's already expensive price-tag. If, however, you don't fancy forking out for the official keyboard, Apple has opened up its Smart Connector tech to third parties like Logitech. Pencil Costing $99, this might be the coolest -and most expensive- pencil you'll ever own. With no buttons the stylus feels comfortable, like a regular pen. It's also incredibly pressure-sensitive: it doesn't rely on Bluetooth connectivity, rather the iPad Pro senses when the stylus is near the display, scanning for a "tip signal" 240 times per second. The rubberised tip of the stylus also detects pressure and tilt- meaning it can do shading like a real pencil. And it does all this with next to no lag. Although, unlike the Surface Pro 4, the iPad Pro has nowhere to clip or attach the Pencil. And with that price, the Pencil is an expensive accessory to lose. Display In typical Apple fashion the iPad Pro's LCD display is incredibly sharp, bright (the brightest of all iPads) and has good colour accuracy. The 2732 x 2048 resolution is also the highest yet on any Apple mobile device. But, that's diluted by size of the screen, which gives the iPad Pro a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch (ppi). For reference, the iPhone 6S has a pixel density of 326 because it's much smaller. But in day-to-day terms, you're not going to notice the lower ppi because your eyes more likely to be further away from the display when you're using the iPad Pro in comparison to the iPhone 6S. Also, the iPad Pro's ppi is higher than both the 13-inch and 15-inch Macbook Pros signalling Apple's insistence that the Pro is the go to device for graphics work. Elsewhere, the Pro's giant, powerful display isn't the power consuming behemoth you'd expect, that's thanks to type of display technology used…. Battery life While most Windows laptops will make it 5-6 hours on a charge, some of Apple's laptops like the Air can mange 12 hours at peak. With the iPad Pro Apple has developed some fairly awesome display technology to make the claimed 10-hour battery life possible on the iPad Pro. The screen runs at 60Hz peak, but to save power when there's no animation happening on screen scrolling through web pages for example it can downclock itself to 30Hz which saves energy. The display also has pixels which stay "charged" (illuminated) for twice as long as other panels, again, saving power. Obviously, this battery life is simply a possibility, and relies on you not using particular features all day long: but there's no denying the iPad Pro offers a lot of juice in particular occasions, if you're on a long-haul flight for example. Laptop replacement? There's definitely justification for the iPad Pro replacing your laptop. You'll need to spring for the optional keyboard, but once you have that it works just like any laptop does. For a start Google Docs, Microsoft Office are all here. And, with Split Screen mode, you can run two apps at once, having, for example, Slack and Gmail up side-by-side. Plus, when the work day is done there is a whole selection of games to play and video to watch on the gorgeous screen. There are some situations when a full laptop might be preferable. I wouldn't, for example, recommend a lot of Excel work. When you measure i0S 9 (rather than full OS X) on the iPad Pro against Microsoft's work in building two OS' into one, with Windows 10 on the Surface Pro 4, you can really see how far ahead Microsoft is in this area. But, on its own merit, the iPad Pro remains a very serviceable machine. | 5 | 97,458 | news |
The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group denied Monday its planes carried out air strikes that killed at least three Syrian regime troops a day earlier. "We've seen those Syrian reports but we did not conduct any strikes in that part of Deir Ezzor yesterday. So we see no evidence," said Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the coalition. He said the coalition's only strikes in Deir Ezzor on Sunday were some 55 kilometres (34 miles) southeast of the area where the troops were allegedly killed, near the town of Ayyash. "We struck 55 km away from the area that the Syrians say was struck. That was the only area in Deir Ezzor we struck yesterday," he told AFP. "There were no human beings in the area that we struck yesterday, all we struck was a wellhead," he added. Syria's government on Monday strongly condemned what it said were US-led strikes that killed at least three Syrian soldiers at an army base. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, also reported the strikes, saying four troops had been killed and 13 wounded. | 5 | 97,459 | news |
Before you hit all of those holiday parties, there are a few must-have items you'll want to gift yourself! Krystin Goodwin (@krystingoodwin) has a few festive accessories to play up your holiday look! | 8 | 97,460 | video |
Family members and former classmates back in Pakistan told NBC News Sunday that Tashfeen Malik, the woman who with her husband gunned down 14 people at a California office party was "innocent" and a "girl next door" when she was here. Others who crossed paths with her said she made little impact or impression at all. Little is known about Malik, the mother of a 6-month-old baby girl who was killed in a shootout with police Wednesday after the attack on employees celebrating the holiday season at San Bernardino's Inland Regional Center. | 8 | 97,461 | video |
U2 pay tribute to victims of the Paris attacks as they return to perform at shows postponed in the wake of the November bloodshed. Paul Chapman reports. | 8 | 97,462 | video |
As crude oil prices continue their dramatic decline after a refusal by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut production, the key question now is, how much lower can oil go? U.S. WTI crude oil futures traded under $40 a barrel on Monday, while Brent oil future are hovered around $42 a barrel, having tanked more than 4 percent since OPEC's decision on Friday to keep its production ceiling at about 30 million barrels a day. Oil has now lost more than 50 percent over the past 18 months. "There is no question that prices are going to continue to fall. The emotional impact of the latest OPEC meeting would suggest that prices might accelerate in their fall but I think the direction is obvious, they will get lower," Warren Gilman, chairman and CEO of CEF Holdings,told CNBC's Capital Connection. CEF is a Hong Kong-based investment firm owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing's Chueng Kong Holdings and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, "Where the bottom is will be a combination of factors: There will be geopolitical events, there'll be budgetary events, there'll be supply-demand fundamentals, and there'll be herd mentality…but there's no question that oil is heading down to the low $30s (a barrel). Will they break the $30s to the $20s? That's quite a possibility in 2016," he added Despite talk that OPEC linchpin Saudi Arabia is suffering budgetary and currency constraints as a result of the oil price slump, the production cartel would be able to hold out for another 18 months, said Gilman. "Saudi Arabia has a great deal of borrowing capacity. Whether it needs to defend its currency or whether it needs to borrow to make up for lost government revenues, it will do so and I believe it has capacity to do that for several years to come," said Gilman. Although the Saudi nation budget is a point of stress, what will really influence country's oil output decisions for the next year or two is changes to supply and demand as a reaction to low prices, he added. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects U.S. crude oil production to fall by 400,000 barrels per day in 2016 as low prices discourage production. Gilman said he expected the market to rebalance by end-2016 or mid-2017 as OPEC holds fast to its strategy of defending market share by squeezing out higher-cost producers. Some observers believe, however, that OPEC's production level is now less relevant to controlling oil prices, because burgeoning output from outside the cartel would fill in any cuts it made. "Why should it be up to OPEC to cut production when surplus production is coming from all over the world," said Vandana Hari, Asia editorial director at Platts, told CNBC. --- Watch: OPEC's Decision to Keep Pumping Sends Oil Below $40 | 3 | 97,463 | finance |
Something rather interesting is happening at the Gmail.com domain right now. Google has started notifying users of its experimental 'Inbox By Gmail' service that this has replaced their their Gmail account… The pop-up appears when Inbox users login and states "Thanks for trying Inbox! To make it easier we've updated Gmail to redirect you here". In plain URL terms this means the standalone inbox.google.com address for the beta service disappears and Inbox instead resides at gmail.com. The good news is any user who doesn't want Inbox to replace Gmail has the option to "Turn it Off" which pushes both services back to their dedicated domains. That said, what's quite clear is: 1. After 14 months of testing, Google clearly considers Inbox ready for prime time, and 2. In repositioning it over the gmail.com URL, Google sees Inbox as a replacement for Gmail rather than the separate service it has been until this point. Interestingly Inbox users report Google has been performing this quiet migration for some time. It started several months ago notifying a very small number of users and the response has obviously been positive enough for the migration to now to be expanded in larger numbers. The Beginning Of The End For Gmail? The move has prompted several high profile industry observes to ask a very straightforward question: I suspect the reality is somewhere in the middle: Google is looking to change the 11 year old service which has amassed over 900 million users and Inbox's deeper trawling of user data allows it to offer a much wider range of intelligent automated features (including smart recognition of images, tickets, reminders and more). All this ties in with Google's aim of advancing machine learning and the question of why none of it ever appeared in Gmail seems to have been answered. That said Google also appears determined to tread very lightly with this. The opt out option is made very clear, reversing the merger can also be made in Settings and there's a even a back-to-Gmail icon shortcut added to the Inbox menu which reverses the move for those who do switch and regret it. None of this is surprising considering Google has been burned in this sector before. Its brilliant, radical and widely misunderstood Wave hybrid email/messaging service was canned in 2012 after just three years. Google failed to build on initial excitement and arguably held off for too long in showing how its advancements could be integrated into Gmail as users eventually tired of having two disconnected accounts. So far Inbox hasn't made that mistake. It uses standard gmail accounts and Google played it safe by operating it as a standalone Gmail alternative. But the two were never going to be remain permanently separated. Google doesn't create major services for them to remain niche. It has shown that with many ruthless culls in the past, including that of the beloved Google Reader in 2013. Even so the stakes couldn't be higher. Gmail accounts are at the core of every single Google service as well as the Android operating system. This is one move Google cannot afford to get wrong… ___ Follow Gordon on Twitter , Facebook and Google+ | 5 | 97,464 | news |
In a manmade lake in the Panama Canal sits an island whose compact jungle is teeming with researchers studying biodiversity and climate change -- a tropical outcrop hailed as vital for understanding the world's forests. Barro Colorado Island is 15.6 square kilometers (six square miles), roughly four times the size of New York's Central Park. Located in Gatun Lake, created in the early 20th century, it is run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and currently boasts 350 scientific projects under way, by scientists from around the world. "Barro Colorado is probably the most studied tropical forest in the world. It has given us many ideas about how forests work in other parts of the world," William Laurance, an associate STRI researcher and Australian professor in tropical conservation, told AFP. "If somebody asks what is the Mecca for researching tropical biology, I answer Barro Colorado," added Camilo Zalamea, a Colombian biologist and botanist who trained in France. - Many species - Some of the scientists live on the island, using its lab, research station, greenhouses, insectarium, and conference room. Others make regular boat trips. More than 460 species of vertebrates live on the isle, including 72 types of bat, 500 sorts of butterfly, 400 varieties of ant, 384 bird species and five species of monkey. Some researchers say they have also seen deer, pumas and jaguars. Visitors walking the trails discover a thick jungle filled with 1,200 species of plants and trees, some of which are aged in hundreds of years. Scientists here use infrared gas pumped through plastic tubes and a dendrometer (measuring plant growth) to take various readings, including soil humidity, and the height, circumference and respiration of the trees. The data determines the growth of the trees, and how much carbon dioxide they consume from the atmosphere and put back into it. "With climate change, we are trying to understand how the forest is reacting to temperatures and how the carbon flow varies with temperature and soil humidity," explained Vanesa Rubio, a biologist and environmental engineer at work. According to scientists, deforestation and pollution make forests produce more carbon dioxide, a gas causing global warming. "The carbon cycle is changing," said Rubio. "Now it's going crazy." - Research raised in Paris? - Rolando Perez, a Panamanian botanist who has spent a quarter of a century identifying the trees on the island, said: "With climate change, droughts are stronger and the temperature is rising and it looks like many of these trees can't support that." He said the number of trees hasn't diminished, but rather he was seeing the jungle composition changing as plants better able to tolerate climate change take the place of others that can't. Zalamea, the Colombian scientist, believes research gleaned from the island will be part of the talks underway this week in Paris, at the UN climate change conference. A coalition of 62 countries with tropical forests is demanding that a climate change accord recognize the contribution these ecosystems make to the global environment and that international cooperation is needed to protect them. According to studies, climate change can be seen in increased tree and vine growth in tropical forests, which has reduced their storage of carbon and change the make-up of zones of vegetation. The UN estimates that deforestation and degradation represent around 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet there is skepticism among experts that the Paris conference will result in a pact. "I hope for an agreement but I have my doubts," said Laurance. "Different countries have competing interests and money talks." For Zalamea, part of the solution is to rein in "crazy" consumerism that she saw as unsustainable for the planet. | 5 | 97,465 | news |
It has been a season from hell for the Houston Rockets. A team expected to contend for a championship has been below .500 since Opening Night. They have already fired their head coach and even that hasn't really lit a fire under some of their players. Their main offseason acquisition has backfired spectacularly and there has been a litany of embarrassing losses. It has gotten to the point where the entire philosophy of the franchise is in question even though they won 56 games and made the Western Conference Finals a season ago. From the outside looking in, it's hard to fathom what has gone wrong and how things have gotten to this point. Yet, for all the doom and gloom surrounding the team, their 10-11 record has them at No. 8 in the West and they are only 2 games of the No. 3 seed. I got a chance to watch them up and close and personal when they came into Dallas on Friday, and caught their narrow win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, and in those games I saw a few glimmers of hope for a franchise that desperately needs them. 1.) Patrick Beverley is knocking down 3's: Beverley started the season on the bench and then missed a chunk of games with an ankle injury. They have been 5-1 since he returned to the starting line-up and they have found some of their identity from last season by putting two hard-nosed defenders who can space the floor around Harden. Beverley has been the Rockets heart and soul ever since emerging from obscurity in Europe to become one of the best defensive PG's in the NBA - he sets the tone defensively and he brings toughness and grit they desperately need. The key with him is his three-point shooting and he's 12-21 over the last 6 games. 2.) Splitting up Harden and Lawson: Beverley's return is important not just for what he brings but because it minimizes the disastrous pairing of Harden and Lawson. Neither guy could get into any type of rhythm playing with the other and they seemed to be in a competition to see who could take worse shots off the dribble and who could give less effort on defense. They both need the ball in their hands and need to be hidden on defense so it's not a huge surprise they have a net rating of -5.3 together (as opposed to +3.8 for Harden and Beverley). 3.) Donatas Motiejunas: The 7'0 Lithuanian made his return to the floor on Saturday after missing the last eight months with a back injury. He's not going to save the season by himself but his skill-set and his ability to stretch the floor from the three-point line is exactly what this team needs. He should be a good complement to the three other big men in the Rockets rotation - Dwight Howard, Clint Capela and Terrence Jones - all of whom are most effective playing in max space and operating in the paint. 4.) No Montrezl Harrell: The return of Donatas effectively removes Harrell from the rotation, which couldn't come soon enough. The Louisville rookie's energy was a pleasant surprise the first few weeks of the season but the book on him is out around the league and he has just been killing the Rockets. He can't space the floor and he has no idea how to play acceptable NBA defense, which is a deadly combination for a big man in the modern NBA. Houston's offensive rating is 4.9 points better without him on the floor and their defensive rating is 14.2 points worse when he is. Not playing a guy with a net rating of -19.3 is a pretty easy way of improving a team. 5.) The Howard + Capela combination: The Rockets busted out a starting line-up featuring both C's in their win over the Kings and it looked pretty good. One way to improve the defense is to flood the court with length, athleticism and shot-blocking and that's what those two guys can do. Capela is quick enough to guard on the perimeter and he might have just enough passing and cutting ability to make the tight spacing upfront work on offense for limited stretches. Playing those two together could be the Rockets twist on the Derrick Favors + Rudy Gobert tandem except they have two stretch big men to bring off the bench to prevent teams from packing the paint for all 48 minutes. 6.) I still believe in Terrence Jones: Jones has had a really tough start to the season and he has never been able to put it all together in Houston but he still has a very interesting combination of skills and he's coming off two strong games against Dallas (17 and 9 on 12 shots) and Sacramento (16 and 5 on 9 shots). A lot like what happened with Victor Oladipo in Orlando, losing his starting spot could be the best thing to happen to Jones in terms of jolting him out of any sense of complacency. His skill-set means he could fit with any of the other 3 big men and even play as a small-ball 5 so he will get plenty of opportunities even if he is coming off the bench. 7.) Whither KJ McDaniels? One of the oddest things about the Rockets difficult start is that it still hasn't removed the glue from McDaniels spot on the bench with both Kevin McHale and JB Bickerstaff even though the front office gave him a 3-year, $10 million contract in the offseason. McDaniels ability to guard multiple positions on the perimeter and protect the rim seems like the perfect fit for the modern NBA and it's not like the guys ahead of him have been playing well. Corey Brewer is shooting 22% from 3 and he has a net rating of -16.3 on the season - putting just about anyone in his spot would improve the team and at some point the Rockets have to see what they have in McDaniels. 8.) Professional pride: Harden has (rightly) gotten a lot of the blame for the Rockets poor start as he seemed to come into the season out of shape and his defensive effort has been downright embarrassing. He might want to front in his commercials that he doesn't care about his reputation** but anyone getting paid $200 million by a shoe company has a lot of reasons to care. He knows he can't be a superstar and miss the playoffs and he's capable of playing better than he has shown on defense. You have to think at some point he's going to buckle down and the same can be said for the rest of the team - there's no reason for a team with this much length and athleticism to be playing defense this poorly and they all know their reputations (and their money) is on the line if this continues all season. ** That's an easy thing for a lot of NBA stars to claim but they all check social media and they are all up on what people say about them. You know who actually doesn't care? Tim Duncan. You know why we know that? Because he's not constantly on our TV's trying to leverage his image in order to get us to buy overpriced garbage that we do not need. 9.) All these guys are in their prime: Harden is 26. Howard and Ariza are 30. Brewer is 29. Lawson is 28. Beverley is 27. Motiejunas is 26. Jones is 24. They didn't all get old over the summer and they didn't all forget how to play basketball. It kind of feels like they had the championship hangover (especially with Harden dating a Kardashian and hanging out in LA all summer) while the Warriors came back hungrier than ever. That's obviously not ideal but they have received a cold slap of reality from the rest of the league when it comes to thinking they could win on talent alone. The good news is there's still time for them to get it together. 10.) The middle of the West has fallen back: The Warriors and the Spurs have lapped the field and only 3.5 games separate No. 3 from No. 11. At the moment, the only team in the middle of the pack that looks capable of pulling away are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have a +5.5 point differential and a healthy Kevin Durant. Age has caught up to the Memphis Grizzlies a bit, the Los Angeles Clippers are barely playing better than the Rockets, Rudy Gobert is out indefinitely and the two highest paid players on the Dallas Mavericks - Wesley Matthews and Chandler Parsons - are shadows of themselves as they come back from offseason surgeries. None of those teams has a point differential higher than +1.4 and the Rockets are one hot streak away from being a Top 4 seed out West. Houston isn't as good as people thought they would be coming into the season and they aren't as bad as they have played in the first month. It's just hard for me to believe a team with this much talent and with a first-team All-NBA guard in the prime of his career is going to miss the playoffs, no matter what the numbers say. And once you get into the playoffs, you never know. | 1 | 97,466 | sports |
A man who allegedly stabbed two people at a London subway station appears in court Monday after the weekend attack that police described as an act of terror. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports. | 8 | 97,467 | video |
General Electric announced Monday that it has decided to cancel the agreement to sell its appliance division to the Swedish group Electrolux which had offered last year to buy it for $3.3 billion. The US conglomerate said in a statement that it was still interested in selling the appliance division, while Electrolux, which had wanted the acquisition to make it one of the world leaders in the appliance sector, said it was "disappointed" by the GE decision. --- Watch it again: GE's transformation fantastic for investors: Keith Sherin | 3 | 97,468 | finance |
An earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude struck in Tajikistan, shaking buildings as far away as the Indian capital of New Delhi and in Pakistan, the US Geological Survey and witnesses said. The epicentre of the quake was 111km southwest of Karakul, a sparsely populated mountainous area, at a depth of 28 kilometers, the US Geological Survey said. A spokesman for Tajikistan's Emergencies Committee said it had no information so far on any casualties or damage from the quake. The quake did not affect Russian military bases in Tajikistan, RIA news agency reported, citing Russia's defence ministry. A Dushanbe resident told Reuters news agency by telephone the quake had been felt in the capital, but described it as moderate. | 5 | 97,469 | news |
Sacramento WE'VE known since 1964 that cigarette smoking is harmful to your health. We've known for more than 40 years that alcohol damages the developing brain of a child. We've known since the mid-70s that asbestos causes cancer and other serious diseases. Knowing what we know now, we do not smoke in enclosed public spaces like airplanes; we have passed laws to keep children from smoking or drinking alcohol; and we do not use asbestos as an industrial product. As we become more intellectually sophisticated and advanced, with greater and broader access to information and knowledge, we have given up old practices in the name of safety and progress. That is, except when it comes to sports. Over the past two decades it has become clear that repetitive blows to the head in high-impact contact sports like football, ice hockey, mixed martial arts and boxing place athletes at risk of permanent brain damage. There is even a Hollywood movie, "Concussion," due out this Christmas Day, that dramatizes the story of my discoveries in this area of research. Why, then, do we continue to intentionally expose our children to this risk? If a child who plays football is subjected to advanced radiological and neurocognitive studies during the season and several months after the season, there can be evidence of brain damage at the cellular level of brain functioning, even if there were no documented concussions or reported symptoms. If that child continues to play over many seasons, these cellular injuries accumulate to cause irreversible brain damage, which we know now by the name Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or C.T.E., a disease that I first diagnosed in 2002. Depending on the severity of the condition, the child now has a risk of manifesting symptoms of C.T.E. like major depression, memory loss, suicidal thought and actions, loss of intelligence as well as dementia later in life. C.T.E. has also been linked to drug and alcohol abuse as the child enters his 20s, 30s and 40s. The risk of permanent impairment is heightened by the fact that the brain, unlike most other organs, does not have the capacity to cure itself following all types of injuries. In more than 30 years of looking at normal brain cells in the microscope, I have yet to see a neuron that naturally creates a new neuron to regenerate itself. We are born with a certain number of neurons. We can only lose them; we cannot create new neurons to replenish old or dying ones. In 2011, the two leading and governing professional pediatrics associations in the United States and Canada, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society, published a position paper recommending that children should no longer be allowed to engage in high-impact contact sports, exemplified by boxing, and willfully damage their developing brains. Since then, researchers have independently confirmed that the play of amateur or professional high-impact contact sports is the greatest risk factor for the development of C.T.E. Where does society at large stand now, knowing what we know? As physicians, it is our role to educate and inform an adult about the dangers of, for example, smoking. If that adult decides to smoke, he is free to do so, and I will be the first to defend that freedom. In the same way, if an adult chooses to play football, ice hockey, mixed martial arts or boxing, it is within his rights. However, as a society, the question we have to answer is, when we knowingly and willfully allow a child to play high-impact contact sports, are we endangering that child? Our children are minors who have not reached the age of consent. It is our moral duty as a society to protect the most vulnerable of us. The human brain becomes fully developed at about 18 to 25 years old. We should at least wait for our children to grow up, be provided with the information and education on the risk of play, and let them make their own decisions. No adult, not a parent or a coach, should be allowed to make this potentially life-altering decision for a child. We have a legal age for drinking alcohol; for joining the military; for voting; for smoking; for driving; and for consenting to have sex. We must have the same when it comes to protecting the organ that defines who we are as human beings. Bennet Omalu is the chief medical examiner of San Joaquin County, Calif., and an associate clinical professor of pathology at the University of California, Davis. He is working on a memoir. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter , and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter . | 1 | 97,470 | sports |
JERUSALEM U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry set off an uproar in Israel on Sunday after warning that the country, through its continued West Bank occupation, will become a "binational state." Kerry's words describe a scenario that would mark a failure of U.S. policy and end to Israel's existence as a country that is both Jewish and democratic. The U.S., the international community and many Israelis have endorsed the "two-state solution" establishing a Palestinian state and ending Israel's control over millions of Palestinians in territories occupied in the 1967 war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that "Israel will not be a binational state" and blamed the Palestinians for the failure of peace efforts. But despite Netanyahu's pledges, Jewish settlement of the West Bank continues apace, while confusion over his true intentions grows by the day. Meanwhile, Israel seems unable to stem a wave of stabbings and other attacks by Palestinian individuals, now in its third month, that has killed 19 Israelis and left over 100 Palestinians, most said by Israel to be attackers, dead. This situation has sharpened the country's half-century-old debate over the Palestinians. Opposition politicians, intellectuals and retired military commanders are issuing increasingly strident warnings that never-ending violence awaits if Israel continues to occupy millions of angry Palestinians who cannot vote in its national elections. "If Israel were the Titanic and the binational apartheid state its iceberg ... then the collision with the iceberg has already occurred," wrote columnist Rogel Alpher in the Haaretz daily. "Without a diplomatic solution, we will continue to slowly sink into an existence of knifings, hatred and fear." Here's a look at the potential "one-state" outcome: THE ARGUMENT FOR PULLING OUT OF THE WEST BANK Ever since Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza from Jordan and Egypt in 1967, the question of the territories' fate has hung in the air. Israel's more dovish left wing has favored a pullout from most of the areas, hoping this will bring Israel recognition and peace in the region. But over two decades of failed peace talks have convinced many a deal is not possible. The left still favors a pullout, but the rationale has shifted to something more like nationalism: without a pullout, Israel would no longer be a Jewish-majority democracy because half of its population in effect will be Palestinians, most of them without true democratic rights. That's because while Israel proper the area defined by 1949 cease-fire lines that ended the war surrounding Israel's establishment has roughly 6.3 million Jews and 1.7 million Palestinian citizens of Israel. Adding the West Bank and Gaza, demographers believe, would make the Arab and Jewish populations essentially equal. A pullout from the West Bank is complicated by the presence of Jewish settlers, numbering 400,000 and growing. Eventually the situation may become irreversible, with the Palestinians abandoning efforts to set up their own state and instead demanding annexation and voting rights as citizens of a single "binational" state. Israelis who fear this scenario and see a future of internecine conflict, global economic boycotts and increasing isolation want a pullout now, from at least most of the West Bank, even without an agreement with the Palestinians. "If the Israelis don't hurry up to implement the two-state solution on the ground, they will lose," said Ahmed Qurei, a longtime Palestinian negotiator. THE ARGUMENT FOR NOT PULLING OUT OF THE WEST BANK For some Jewish Israelis, the West Bank is literally the Promised Land full of biblical places like Hebron, Jericho, Bethlehem and Shilo that must be kept as a birthright, whatever the consequences. But this is a minority opinion, even among proponents of the occupation. The more common argument is rooted in security. Without the West Bank, Israel would be about 10 miles (about 15 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point, with the West Bank looming over population centers and surrounding Jerusalem on three sides. Meanwhile, Islamic radicals are on the march across the region. Such Israelis imagine a future in which some version of the Islamic State group seizes control of the West Bank and launches daily attacks at Israel. They conclude that prudence requires holding onto the West Bank; the Palestinians must be satisfied with their autonomy zones set up under interim agreements in the 1990s. THE IMPACT OF GAZA Israel pulled troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005 as part of a simple calculation: With the small but crowded territory neatly removed from the demographic equation, Jews still have a majority of some 60 percent. But the Islamic militants of Hamas seized control of Gaza, periodically firing rockets at Israel and leading the sides to three mini-wars to date. Many Israelis fear the West Bank will face a similar fate if Israeli withdraws. Meanwhile, the Palestinians and much of the world consider Gaza to still be occupied, since Israel blockades it and controls the airspace and sea access in an effort to minimize Hamas' ability to arm itself. KEEP THE ARMY, REMOVE THE SETTLERS? A paper published two weeks ago by a major Israeli think tank proposed a new unilateral solution in which settlers would be pulled out of most of the West Bank to create a situation more amenable to partition. The army would maintain its current positions until a better alternative emerged. The authors economist Avner Halevi and Gilead Sher, a former chief negotiator with the Palestinians said this would require removing about 100,000 settlers, while others living close to Israel's de facto border would remain pending a future negotiation. "The purpose of such a withdrawal would be to implement a temporary border that would create a reality of two nation-states," Sher and Halevi wrote. ___ A link to the think tank proposal: http://www.inss.org.il/index.aspx?id=4538&articleid=10981 | 5 | 97,471 | news |
Of all the shiny pieces of equipment at the gym, one of the most useful might be the little phone you keep in your pocket. If you load it up with music and download fitness and nutrition apps to keep you going, your smartphone becomes a handy tool that helps you stay healthy. And now that more and more personal trainers share some of their best workout routines through their Instagram accounts, staying fit is really easy and portable. "[Instagram is] especially great for fitness because it's driven by visuals, which helps people not only better understand movements, but inspires them to try the exercises and routines," Adam Campbell, the editor of Men's Health's website and social media accounts, told The Huffington Post. "Plus, by the very nature of the platform, it has to be presented in a very simple, easy-to-understand way. It's changed the way we present fitness content and has challenged us to continue to evolve our presentation to better serve our audience." We put together a full-body workout using nothing but Instagram posts thanks to trainers such as BJ Gaddour, the fitness director for Men's Health, and Harry Jameson, Esquire UK's personal trainer. This could not be more accessible, which means you're out of valid excuses for missing a workout. Instagram is good for a lot of things, but now it can be a great workout buddy, too. | 7 | 97,472 | health |
NASA's Hubble and Spitzer have been ridiculously successful at spotting distant objects , but some galaxies are too faint to spot directly. Thanks to gravitational lensing, the space telescopes have found the dimmest object ever from the early universe -- a galaxy that existed 13.4 billion years ago, or a mere 400 million years after the big bang. Dubbed "Tayna," or new-born, the object belongs to a new class of faint, newly formed galaxies that have evaded detection until now. It's roughly the size of the Magellanic Cloud near our own Milky Way galaxy, but makes new stars at around ten times the rate. While more distant galaxies have been found, astronomers believe that Tayna may be more representative of the early universe shortly after the big bang. The telescopes were only able to image the faint object thanks to another cluster of galaxies in front of it, around 4 billion light years away. First spotted by Hubble, they act as a secondary "telescope," boosting light from Tanya up to 20 times via a phenomenon called gravitational lensing . Once the James Webb telescope comes online, it will be able to image such galaxies directly, but Hubble (again) has given us a hint as to the rich array of objects we can expect to see with it. NASA/JPL Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/07/hubble-spots-faintest-galaxy/ | 5 | 97,473 | news |
Gatherings, memories and lots of laughs! Krystin Goodwin (@krystingoodwin) has a few hilarious ugly Christmas sweaters sure to have you laughing out loud. | 8 | 97,474 | video |
LE BOURGET, France The United Nations secretary-general called for a clean energy revolution to avoid a "climate catastrophe" as talks on a global warming pact entered their final week Monday with crunch issues on money and burden-sharing yet to be resolved. One of them, however, appeared to be untangling as the European Union softened its insistence that countries' targets to limit carbon pollution need to be legally binding, something U.S. negotiators reject because of opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress. "We need the United States on board and we have to find a solution," EU Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete told reporters on the sidelines of the conference. "We understand the concerns they have because of the political situation they have in the Congress." Many Republicans question whether climate change is happening and oppose emissions limits out of concern that it would hurt U.S. industry and jobs. Upon arrival in France, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that even without binding targets the deal could change the way world business thinks about energy. "I have absolute confidence in the ability of capital to move where the signal of the marketplace says 'go' after Paris," he said. Foreign and environment ministers joined the talks after lower-level negotiators who met last week delivered a draft agreement with multiple options left open. Warning that "the clock is ticking toward climate catastrophe," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told ministers the world expects more from them than "half-measures." "Your work here this week can help eradicate poverty, spark a clean energy revolution and provide jobs, opportunities and hope for tomorrow," he said. Touching on the sensitive issue of who should do what, Ban said wealthy nations must agree to lead, while "developing countries need to assume increasing responsibility in line with their capabilities." The Paris conference is the 21st time world governments have met to seek a joint solution to climate change and is aiming at the most ambitious, long-lasting accord yet. The talks are focused on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, primarily by shifting from oil, coal and gas to cleaner sources of energy. Fossil fuels still meet about 80 percent of the world's energy demand, though the share of renewable energy including hydro, solar and wind power is growing, particularly in electricity generation. India and other major developing countries insist on their right to use some fossil fuels to advance their economies just like Western nations have done since the Industrial Revolution. They argue the West therefore is historically responsible for raising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. "India is here to ensure that rich countries pay back their debt for overdraft that they have drawn on the carbon space," Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said. The Paris agreement would be the first to ask all countries to rein in their emissions; earlier pacts only required wealthy nations to do so. How to define countries' evolving responsibilities as their economies grow is the biggest challenge in the Paris talks. Another major issue is helping the poorest and most vulnerable countries cope with dangerous warming effects, from rising seas to intensifying droughts and heat waves. The U.S. and other developed countries say it's time that the most advanced developing countries pitch in. Many of them, including China, have done so but they want any Paris deal to clearly state that their contributions would be voluntary, rather than something that should be expected of them. China, the world's biggest carbon polluter, has domestic reasons to act. On Monday, Beijing issued its first ever red alert for smog, urging schools to close and invoking restrictions on factories and traffic. While smog is a different environmental problem, much of it is blamed on coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions, which also are key sources of carbon emissions. Meanwhile, a surprising new study suggested global carbon dioxide emissions may be dropping ever so slightly this year. The unexpected dip could either be a temporary blip or true hope that the world is about to turn the corner on carbon pollution as climate talks continue in Paris, said the authors of a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern said those findings had not made an impact on the negotiations. "People are pretty focused on the business at hand," he said. More than 180 countries have already presented national pledges for reining in carbon emissions after 2020, when the Paris deal would take effect. But scientific analyses show that won't be enough to meet the international goal of limiting warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F), compared to pre-industrial times. Many countries have called for a review of all targets within five years to see if there are ways of ramping them up. The draft, however, sets 2024 as the earliest date of such a reappraisal. Tuvalu Prime Minister Enela warned that his island nation and others face potential extinction if temperatures continue to rise. "Let's achieve a legally binding agreement," he said. "Let's do it for Tuvalu. If we save Tuvalu, we save the world." U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres said she's kept up at night by a vision of "the eyes of seven generations beyond me asking me, 'What did you do?' "The same question will be asked of each of you," Figueres told the ministers. "May we all be able to stand tall and clearly say, we did everything that was necessary." ___ Associated Press writers Matt Lee, Sylvie Corbet, Seth Borenstein and Athar Parvaiz in Le Bourget, France, contributed to this report. | 5 | 97,475 | news |
Don't you just want to name Kim and Kanye's New Baby?! Well just join the rest of the world and take it Twitter. | 8 | 97,476 | video |
While some bank customers choose to stick with just one bank, other depositors spread their business across two or more institutions. Both choices have benefits and drawbacks. One mistake that can hurt bank customers is overlooking this decision altogether. Many Americans might stick with the bank they've always had by default and simply haven't considered that there are better options. Customers of multiple banks, on the other hand, could be exposing themselves to more fees if they aren't choosing the best banks or the best offers. How and where you bank matters and can affect every part of your finances, from loans and investments to daily budgeting and long-term saving. A survey from GOBankingRates reveals how Americans manage their banking relationships. Here's a look at how many bank customers are monogamous in their bank relationship or cheat on their bank with several financial institutions and how you can make the best choice for your money . Survey: Do You Use One Bank or More? GOBankingRates asked over 5,000 respondents, "How many banks do you currently have an active bank account with?" in a Google Consumer Survey. Account types could include checking, savings, certificate of deposit or money market, and answer options ranged from one bank to five or more. The survey found that the majority of Americans, 53.9 percent, are customers of just one bank, and 46.1 percent are customers of more than one bank. Of bank customers who have relationships with more than one bank, the most common number of bank relationships is two. The majority just under 60 percent of non-monogamous bank customers report having accounts at two different banks. If you have accounts with more than two banks, you're in the minority: Roughly one in five (18.7 percent) Americans has accounts with three banks or more. One in 10 Americans (10.1 percent) is a customer of three banks. Banking with four banks is less common (3.1 percent), while it is slightly more common to bank with five or more financial institutions (5.5 percent). Read: 12 Influential Experts Give Their Top Money Tip for 2016 Number of Bank Account Relationships by Age Older millennials (ages 25 to 34) and young Gen Xers (ages 35 to 44) are the age groups most likely to have an account with more than one bank. Older millennials are slightly more likely to bank with multiple institutions (50.3 percent) than are young Gen Xers (49.4 percent). Young millennials, on the other hand, are the most likely to be customers of just one bank, with 63.7 percent giving this answer. Older Gen Xers (45 to 54) are the most likely to have five or more bank accounts, at 7 percent. Women Bank With Fewer Financial Institutions Than Men Do When it comes to gender differences, women are 11.4 percent more likely than men to bank with a single institution. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to have accounts with three or more banks and are nearly twice as likely as women to have accounts with four or more banks. Gender Number of Banks 1 2 3 4 5+ Female 56.70% 27.50% 9.60% 2.20% 4.00% Male 50.90% 27.40% 10.60% 4.00% 7.10% Should You Be Loyal to Your Bank? This GOBankingRates survey shows that most Americans are loyal to one bank and turn to that financial institution to meet all their needs from everyday checking to long-term savings. These people know that many banks and credit unions reward loyal customers, so they're less tempted to open an account with another bank simply to get a low promotional rate, for example. When You Should Stick With One Bank From simplicity to savings, there are several advantages of sticking with one bank for all your financial needs. Consider the following examples of why you should stay in your current banking relationship. 1. Your account balances tend to be lower. Account balances are important to your bank. Many banks have minimum balance requirements for customers to qualify for perks, like getting a monthly maintenance fee waived or snagging a higher interest rate. Yet a recent GOBankingRates survey found that the majority of Americans have relatively low account balances, with 62 percent keeping less than $1,000 in their savings accounts. If you're stretching already-thin funds across multiple bank accounts, you'll have a harder time meeting these minimum balance requirements, which could make you more likely to get hit with fees and miss out on potential bonuses. Keeping funds at one bank could help you meet these requirements even if your balances are typically lower. 2. You might find multiple banks and accounts confusing. If so, you should consider your money management style before taking on an additional bank relationship. For some people, tracking multiple bank accounts, and trying to understand more fine print and conditions for fees, wouldn't fit their financial habits. A single banking relationship could also be ideal if you're concerned about banking security risks . If fewer institutions have your personal information and accounts, you could be less exposed to potential identity theft or fraud. 3. You value a strong relationship with your bank. Sticking with one bank can help you build a strong relationship so that you have the clout to ask for perks when you want them. While loyalty to banks is waning, a third of bank customers still say they get excellent customer service and a personalized experience, according to a 2015 study from IBM . If you're among that happy third, you likely have good reasons to stay in a monogamous bank relationship. Why You Should Have Accounts With Multiple Banks Sticking with one bank has its benefits, but as 46 percent of Americans know, banking with different financial institutions can be a way to get the service you really need along with competitive rates. If you can keep track of everything, you might be able to reap the following benefits. 1. You can get the best of both worlds. Banking with different institutions can enable you to take advantage of different banks' offers when you can't find a single institution that will meet all of your needs. Having more than one bank can allow you to take advantage of better deals, products and features from lower checking account fees to competitive interest rates. A bank customer might turn to a major bank for checking services if he tends to travel a lot so he can have convenient nationwide access to branches and ATMs, for example. He might also turn to a local bank or credit union for a great deal on a loan because smaller financial institutions frequently offer lower interest rates. 2. You can get the most out of your money. If you've stuck with you're one bank out of habit, you might be missing out on opportunities to pay less, earn more and take advantage of some of the best bank account features and promotions. A bank customer might find that a local credit union offers free checking without the current minimum balance requirements of the big bank he is currently with, for instance. Or, he he might also open an account with an online-only bank that offers higher savings rates and better digital banking services. 3. You can manage money more effectively with different accounts. Accounts at separate banks make it easy to separate and earmark your money for specific purposes. A bank customer might keep "everyday" spending and savings in accounts with a big bank and use an online bank to hold a bigger emergency fund or other long-term savings, for example. Having money separated out can make it easier to track different types of funds and financial goals. Keeping money in more than one bank also can ensure you never pass the $250,000 limit on FDIC insurance, which guarantees your deposit even if the bank fails. Whether you like to go steady with your bank or enjoy the benefits of multiple banks, it's a good idea to take a look at your financial situation and assess whether your banking needs are being met. As you look for ways to pay fewer fees, earn more interest and get a better experience overall, consider whether you'd prefer sticking with one bank or spreading funds among multiple financial institutions. Methodology: GOBankingRates conducted a Google Consumer Survey from Nov. 2-5, 2015, which collected 5,001 answers to the question, "How many banks do you currently have an active bank account with (i.e. a checking, savings, CD or money market account)?" Answer options were "1," "2," "3," "4" and "5+." R esponses are representative of the U.S. online population, with a margin error of 1.6 percent. Analyses of answers by gender and age were based only on responses for which Google provided demographics data. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 46% of Americans Are Cheating on Their Bank, Survey Finds --- Watch: Can Central Banks Print Prosperity? | 3 | 97,477 | finance |
One way to channel your inner MacGyver: Get familiar with baking soda ASAP. You probably have a box of it tucked away in your kitchen cabinet for cooking and baking. But the unassuming ingredient can be used in so many different ways, from making DIY shampoo to clearing a clogged drain. Check out 23 tried-and-true uses for baking soda below. One way to channel your inner MacGyver: Get familiar with baking soda ASAP. You probably have a box of it tucked away in your kitchen cabinet for cooking and baking . But the unassuming ingredient can be used in so many different ways, from making DIY shampoo to clearing a clogged drain. Check out 23 tried-and-true uses for baking soda below. Grooming 1. Suds up. When it comes to shampoo, try DIY-ing from time to time or when you're in a pinch. Baking soda, when mixed with plenty of water (think 1 tablespoon of baking soda per one cup of water ), gives store-bought shampoo a run for its money. Don't be alarmed if you don't get tons of suds it's still working its magic. 2. …or make dry shampoo. Dry shampoo is basically a godsend, so running out of the stuff can make for the worst kind of morning. Luckily baking soda's a great alternative just work it into your roots to help soak up some oil, stat. A word to the wise: Brush thoroughly to avoid the telltale white residue. 3. Knock out BO. This may be your cue to ditch your deodorant baking soda can keep your pits so fresh and so clean. Use a makeup brush to smooth it under your arms, and consider adding a drop or two of an essential oil to the mix for a pleasantly fragrant formula that you can tailor to your preferences. You can also mix it with coconut oil and shea butter for a deodorant that resembles the kind you usually find in the store. 4. Zap your zits. Breakouts got you down? All you need is a baking soda paste mix one teaspoon baking soda with one teaspoon water. Dab it onto trouble areas, and in a few days you should be breakout free thanks to baking soda being both an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. 5. Soak in it. Slipping into a warm bath is relaxing enough on its own. Add baking soda to easily rinse away any oil and sweat on your skin. Bonus: It'll also help soothe sunburns and itchiness (including bug bites). Go on, take the time to treat yourself! 6. Clean hair brushes. Baking soda can leave your hair brush looking just as good as the day you bought it . Once you remove the strands of hair, make a paste with a cup of water and a teaspoon each of baking soda and shampoo. Dab the paste onto an unused toothbrush and start scrubbing those bristles to clean and disinfect. Health 7. Boost gum health. Baking soda can do your mouth a whole lot of good health experts believe it may help treat gingivitis . Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to whip up a paste that you'll work into your gums. Leave it on for a couple of minutes, then rinse it off. 8. Protect your teeth. This one's geared mostly toward moms-to-be experiencing morning sickness though it could come in handy if you've got a stomach bug. Not only is throwing up unpleasant (to say the least), but it could actually damage your teeth if you're not careful. Dental health experts suggest a pretty simple solution : Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water and rinse your mouth out before you brush your pearly whites. The baking soda rinse will neutralize the acid in your mouth after vomiting. 9. Soothe razor burn. Say sayonara to rashes after using a razor. To soothe irritation, add one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water, apply to the affected area, then let it dry before washing it off. 10. Relieve heartburn. There's no need to buy Tums or Alka-Seltzer when you have a box of baking soda at home. The next time you feel the first signs of heartburn, mix a half teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water . The drink should reduce acid buildup and soothe your stomach. Home 11. Clean your fridge. Don't forget your fridge during your next cleaning sesh. The USDA recommends wiping down the insides with a mixture of hot water and baking soda to get rid of any pesky germs and odors. 12. …and keep your fridge fresh. There's no excuse for a smelly fridge. All it takes to keep odors out is a box of baking soda. Just open it up and stash it on a shelf because no one wants to smell the leftovers from Taco Tuesday. 13. Get rid of grease. So you cooked up a storm, and your kitchen has seen better days. Clean up your counters and stovetop with three things: baking soda, vinegar , and a little elbow grease. Start by applying white vinegar to the greasy surface. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub it with a damp sponge or cloth that has baking soda sprinkled on it. 14. Wipe walls. Whether you've scuffed up your walls or they've fallen victim to crayon-carrying tots, rest easy you don't need a fresh coat of paint. Just put baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub away . 15. Clear the air. When a room smells more funky than fresh, you know you've got a problem. Luckily there's an easy fix as far as stamping out the smell goes. Just squeeze 10 drops of your favorite essential oil into a box of baking soda, and the bad odors will be gone in a few hours. 16. Stop carpet stains. Few things are better than a glass of red wine after a long day, except of course when that vino spills on your carpet. In that case, quickly grab vinegar and baking soda . Pour the vinegar over the stained area and then sprinkle baking soda on top. The two work together to soak up the stain so that spill can stay a secret. 17. Clean produce. Once you've gotten your fruits and veggies home, clean 'em! Add two to three tablespoons of baking soda to a bowl of cool water , then throw your produce in. See you never, dirt and pesticides. 18. …and just about everything else. Experts call baking soda an all-purpose cleaner for good reason: It works on just about every surface . Simply mix it with water or combine with liquid soap and essential oils for a cleaning paste that'll tackle everything from toilets to grimy surfaces. 19. Keep steel and silver shiny. You don't want those surfaces to lose their luster. To keep them bright , you'll need an alumnium pan (or a pan lined with aluminum foil), boiling water, and (you guessed it!) baking soda. Place the tarnished silver or steel in the pan, then pour in the boiling water and baking soda use a quarter cup for every four cups of boiling water. It'll start bubbling, and after a few minutes, most silver and steel will look good as new. 20. Care for your clothes. Smelly gym gear? Stained clothes? Knock them both out with a baking soda paste . Use one-part baking soda, one-part water and rub the resulting paste into the smelliest or stained areas. Let it sit for five minutes, then wash it off with cold water. 21. Clear clogged drains One of the worst things about cleaning the bathroom is dealing with gross drains. Those slimy hairballs? Shudder. Your plan of action : Pour one cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by one cup of hot vinegar. Finish up by pouring boiling water down the drain. No more showering with ankle-deep puddles at your feet. 22. Extinguish grease fires. Cooking oil gives an irresistible flavor to some of our favorite foods, but when that oil gets too hot, you can have a grease fire on your hands. And that's one type of fire you can't douse with water. Instead, extinguish it with baking soda . Be generous with the amount you throw on you'll need a lot to put it out. 23. Freshen up the litter box. Anyone with cats knows that cleaning the litter box is the worst part about having feline friends. But there's a simple way to eliminate those pesky odors: Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the litter box. The baking soda soaks up the scents, making your home the cat's meow. | 4 | 97,478 | lifestyle |
The Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-98 on Sunday to improve to 22-0 on the season, as they continue their record-setting win streak. How long can they go undefeated? | 1 | 97,479 | sports |
As winter approaches, many motorists will experience a low-pressure warning light on the dash or simply observe that the tires look a bit less full than they should. The main reason for this is the dropping temperatures, which cause the air to become denser and consequently lower the tire pressure. Of course, tires naturally lose pressure over time, and there can be a puncture. Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are a real boon to safety and convenience, and they have been required on all new cars since September 2007. By triggering a dashboard light to let you know when one or more tires is low on air, TPMS can take the guesswork out of wondering whether a tire is low. Colder temperatures will cause tire pressure to drop about 1 psi for every 10°F drop in air temperature. Getting a tire pressure warning light on a chilly morning doesn't necessarily indicate a puncture, just that your tires are running low pressure and you need to top them off as soon as possible. Drive a few miles and the tires will warm up, perhaps causing the warning light to turn off. Whether it goes off or not, your tire pressure needs to be checked with a gauge and topped off. This is a simple DIY chore, or you can ask a mechanic to have a look. (See our tire pressure gauge buying guide.) As a general rule, check the pressure monthly. Don't wait for the tire pressure warning light from to come on. It's meant to alert you of a tire losing air while your driving, not serve as a maintenance reminder. Even if your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, our recommendation is to use a gauge to check the pressure in all of your tires at least once per month, no matter what the weather is like. More from Consumer Reports: How to buy long-lasting tires Best cars for making it to 200,000 miles 5 of the least reliable cars from Consumer Reports' survey Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook | 9 | 97,480 | autos |
Free-agent pitcher Joakim Soria has signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reported Sunday. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirmed the deal was worth $25 million. Last season, Soria pitched for a 2.53 ERA with 24 saves in 30 opportunities. He started the season with the Detroit Tigers, but was traded at the deadline, finishing out the season with a 2.03 ERA for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Soria, 31, returns to Kansas City after making his major league debut there in 2007. He was an All Star twice and posted a 2.40 ERA with 160 saves over five seasons with the Royals. • 2015 MLB Free-Agent Tracker Soria's role with the Royals is yet to be determined. Free-agent Greg Holland closed out the most games for Kansas City last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in September. Wade Davis filled in for Holland, saving 17 games at the end of the season with a 0.94 ERA. Davis was expected to be the everyday closer going into 2016, and Tony Paul of the Detroit News reported Soria could be used as a starter. - Erin Flynn | 1 | 97,481 | sports |
A Los Angeles-based luxury products maker is going Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) one better. One order of magnitude that is. Brikk is offering its diamond-encrusted Lux (Apple) Watch Omni for $110,000 to $115,000, with a non-refundable deposit of $10,000. The Lux Watch Omni is available in 18K yellow or pink gold and 950 platinum, with either the 38mm or 42mm face. And about those diamonds: The Lux Watch Omni is a custom Apple Watch that is set with multiple rows of diamonds around the face, buttons and strap clasp as well as a full strap set with diamonds. ... The diamonds are color DE and clarity VVS and total 11.30 carats on the 38mm version and 12.30 carats on the 42mm version. All diamonds are natural and conflict free. The company has offices in Shenzhen and Hong Kong for its U.S.-made products, and it also sells the Lux Watch by appointment only in Los Angeles and Istanbul. According to the company's website, resellers and stores are coming soon to Shanghai, Macau, Beijing, Amsterdam, New York, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City and Riyadh. Brikk also offers a $150,000 Lux iPhone 6S Omni with a total of 40 carats of diamonds and two layers of gold or platinum. The larger Lux 6S Plus Omni costs $200,000. Customers can order the Lux Watch or iPhone at Brikk's website . | 3 | 97,482 | finance |
A man named Bud Weisser was arrested after sneaking into a Budweiser brewery. As Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) explains, the parents who named him after a beer are still at large. | 5 | 97,483 | news |
The standoff between major global energy producers that has created an oil glut is set to continue next year in full force, as much because of the U.S. as of OPEC. American shale drillers have only trimmed their pumping a little, and rising oil flows from the Gulf of Mexico are propping up U.S. production. The overall output of U.S. crude fell just 0.2% in September, the most recent monthly federal data available, and is down less than 3%, to 9.3 million barrels a day, from the peak in April. Some analysts see the potential for U.S. oil output to rise next year, even after Saudi Arabia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Friday again declined to reduce their near-record production of crude. With no end in sight for the glut, U.S. oil closed on Friday below $40 a barrel for the second time this month. The situation has surprised even seasoned oil traders. "It was anticipated that U.S. shale producers, the source of the explosive growth in supply in recent years, would be the first to fold," Andrew Hall, chief executive of the commodities hedge fund Astenbeck Capital Management LLC, wrote in a Dec. 1 letter to investors reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. "But this hasn't happened, at least not at the rate initially expected." He declined to comment further. For the past year, U.S. oil companies have been kept afloat by hedges financial contracts that locked in higher prices for their crude as well as an infusion of capital from Wall Street in the first half of the year that helped them keep pumping even as oil prices continued to fall. The companies also slashed costs and developed better techniques to produce more crude and natural gas per well. The opportunity for further productivity gains is waning, experts say, capital markets are closing and hedging contracts for most producers expire this year. These factors have led some analysts to predict that 2016 production could decline as much as 10%. But others predict rising oil output, in part because crude production is growing in the Gulf, where companies spent billions of dollars developing megaprojects that are now starting to produce oil. Just five years after the worst offshore spill in U.S. history shut down drilling there, companies are on track to pump about 10% more crude than they did in 2014. In September, they produced almost 1.7 million barrels a day, according to the latest federal data. The increase comes as several deep-water wells by companies like Chevron Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. have begun pulling oil up from the ocean floor. Combined, those wells are expected to produce hundreds of thousands of barrels a day when running at full capacity; a handful of projects slated to come online next year would add even more. Since most of the money to tap this oil and gas was spent before crude prices cratered, and since pipelines and other infrastructure to bring it to market are already in place, it makes economic sense for the companies to go ahead with the projects despite the glut, they say. Anadarko Petroleum says it expects its operations to expand in the Gulf, where it currently holds 2 million net acres. The company plans to bring a production platform online in the first half of 2016, which will be capable of producing as much as 80,000 barrels a day. "It's either free or very little marginal cost," said Anadarko CEO Al Walker. "For some of us, the Gulf of Mexico is still a very viable place for us to make investments." Like Anadarko, Shell has decided to continue investing in deep water despite low oil prices. Overall, its production in the region is up about 10% for the year, to 250,000 barrels a day a "big jump for us," said Wael Sawan, an executive vice president. Also likely to slow the decline of U.S. oil production: more than 1,200 wells that companies drilled but left untapped in the hopes of higher prices. Small or financially strapped producers, which must keep drilling to get the cash to pay interest on billions of dollars of debt, will probably begin tapping those wells soon, according to Rystad Energy, the Norwegian energy consultancy. It forecasts that these wells could help push up U.S. production in 2016 by about 200,000 barrels a day from the 2015 average. These wells "will be one of the main drivers for 2016 shale production," said Bielenis Villanueva-Triana, a senior analyst at Rystad. Some producers with low debt will opt to wait to produce more oil, but others won't have that option. "In the U.S., they have a desperate need for cash flow," said Gary Ross, head of global oil at consulting firm PIRA Energy Group. "It looks like this could carry on until at least the first quarter." | 3 | 97,484 | finance |
WASHINGTON President Obama sought on Sunday to calm jittery Americans after the terrorist attack last week in California, delivering a prime-time address designed to underscore the government's campaign against an evolving threat. Speaking from a lectern in the Oval Office, Mr. Obama acknowledged the heightened fears that followed an attack by a married couple last week in San Bernardino, Calif., which he called an act of terrorism that appeared to be inspired, but not directed, by members of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. "It is clear that the two of them had gone down the dark path of radicalization," Mr. Obama said, referring to Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik. "So this was an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people." Mr. Obama promised an intensification of airstrikes against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and said that a growing coalition of nations and an increasingly sophisticated effort to capture and kill the group's leaders would yield significant results. Sign Up For NYT Now's Morning Briefing Newsletter But the president's speech was not intended to announce a dramatic shift in strategy or new policies to combat the terrorist threat at home and overseas. Instead it was meant to inform Americans of the administration's efforts against the Islamic State and to urge people not to give in to fear or language that casts suspicion on all Muslims and mosques. "We cannot turn against one another by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam," Mr. Obama said, adding, "That does not mean denying the fact that an extremist ideology has spread within some Muslim communities. This is a real problem that Muslims must confront, without excuse." It was only the third speech Mr. Obama has delivered from the Oval Office, a setting meant to highlight the gravity of a subject. Mr. Obama's demeanor was serious but not grim or angry as he outlined a series of steps at home aimed at keeping the country safe. He called for tougher screening of travelers who come to the United States without visas and asked Congress to ban gun sales to people on the government's no-fly list, and for limits on assault weapons. "I know there are some who reject any gun safety measures," Mr. Obama said. "But the fact is that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies no matter how effective they are cannot identify every would-be mass shooter, whether that individual is motivated by ISIL or some other hateful ideology. What we can do and must do is make it harder for them to kill." The rampage last week, which killed 14 people, was the first time that terrorists inspired by the Islamic State have successfully struck in the United States. It came shortly after the Paris attacks; assaults in Beirut, Lebanon; and the takedown of a Russian airliner over Egypt, all attributed to elements of the Islamic State. "And I know that after so much war, many Americans are asking whether we are confronted by a cancer that has no immediate cure," Mr. Obama said. He added, "The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it." Republican leaders and presidential candidates panned and mocked the speech. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan called it "disappointing: no new plan, just a halfhearted attempt to defend and distract from a failing policy." Donald J. Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, posted on Twitter: "That all there is? We need a new President FAST!" Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said Mr. Obama "offered no changes to his reactive, indirect, and incremental strategy." Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida and a Republican presidential candidate, said: "This is the war of our time. It should not be business as usual." Mr. Obama's speech had offered a pointed rebuke to many Republicans, particularly those running for president who have called for restrictions on Muslim in the United States and suggested that only Christians be allowed in as refugees to the United States. "It is our responsibility to reject religious tests on who we admit into this country," Mr. Obama said. "It's our responsibility to reject proposals that Muslim-Americans should somehow be treated differently. Because when we travel down that road, we lose. That kind of divisiveness, that betrayal of our values plays into the hands of groups like ISIL." Mr. Obama also repeated his insistence that he would not send large numbers of ground troops to the Middle East. "We should not be drawn once more into a long and costly ground war in Iraq or Syria," Mr. Obama said. "That's what groups like ISIL want." He added: "But they also know that if we occupy foreign lands, they can maintain insurgencies for years, killing thousands of our troops, draining our resources, and using our presence to draw new recruits." The president has relied since the summer of 2014 on a combination of airstrikes, financial sanctions and targeted special operations to counter the growth of the Islamic State, while building a diplomatic coalition of dozens of nations and resisting any call for the reintroduction of large numbers of American ground troops in the Middle East. But despite thousands of airstrikes since then, the Islamic State militants continue to occupy large areas of land in the region. A sophisticated social media campaign by the terror network has succeeded in helping recruit believers across the globe, including, officials say, in the United States. After announcing that he would deliver Sunday's address, Mr. Obama had initially decided to cancel his previously scheduled appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors event, which honors pioneers in the arts, on Sunday evening. But a few hours before the speech, White House officials said he had reconsidered and would be going after all. In an effort to limit gun sales in the United States, Mr. Obama's staff is working on a proposal that would expand the definition of a "high-volume gun dealer" so more purchases would be subject to background checks. But aides say that proposal would face legal, practical and political challenges. An announcement is said to be at least a month away. Once it became clear that the attack in Southern California seemed different from other mass shootings with a connection to international terrorism and a jihadist element a presidential response that seemed limited to domestic concerns may have seemed insufficient to his advisers. But Sunday's speech offered political danger, as well, for a president who was elected on a promise to disentangle the United States from long military conflicts in the Middle East. Any promise to the American people to destroy the Islamic State carries with it the risk of a new and unpopular war. "We all want the president to do more and all feel he should do more, but the nasty truth is that doing more will further embed us in that region," said Rick Nelson, a former counterterrorism official in the administration of President George W. Bush. Juan Zarate, another counterterrorism official in Mr. Bush's administration, said Mr. Obama's basic problem was that his message until now that the United States was making progress against the Islamic State, and Americans should feel safe seemed contradicted by the recent spate of Islamic State-inspired attacks. "If you're making progress, terrorist threats shouldn't be appearing on your shores," Mr. Zarate said. "This threat seems to call for war, but that's exactly what Mr. Obama does not want to do. It's a real dilemma." The San Bernardino attack appears to present Mr. Obama's administration with the scenario that federal law enforcement officials have long dreaded: homegrown, self-radicalized individuals operating without any direction from or communications with foreign jihadists that would help make them detectable. Mr. Farook and Ms. Malik, the couple identified as the attackers in San Bernardino, appeared to have integrated into American society; he had a job and they had a 6-month-old daughter. Officials have said that they do not believe the couple were on any watch list of suspected militants. For the White House, the challenge is to help Americans understand how to assess the threat from similar attacks in the future, and how they compare to past cases of domestic terrorism, like the attack by Timothy McVeigh on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, which killed 168 people and injured more than 600. Like Mr. Farook and Ms. Malik, Mr. McVeigh became radicalized by reading extremist literature. But Mr. McVeigh's literature was homegrown, and that of Mr. Farook and Ms. Malik was written abroad. Indeed, the death toll from jihadist terrorism in the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, 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 a small fraction of the number of conventional murders, more than 200,000 in the same period. For Democrats, the common element for all of these deaths is the same guns. Follow the New York Times's politics and Washington coverage on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for the First Draft politics newsletter. | 5 | 97,485 | news |
In Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season there were 9 missed extra point attempts. This is more than the 8 missed in the entire 2014 season. | 1 | 97,486 | sports |
The Golden State Warriors moved to 22-0 on Sunday after a 114-98 win over the Nets. Steph Curry had 16 points in the third and a game-high 28 in the win. | 1 | 97,487 | sports |
Check out the best 120 Mixtape videos from the week, including a Baylor fan getting hit below the waist, Rasheed Wallace showing "ball don't lie" and more. | 1 | 97,488 | sports |
In honor of Super Bowl 50, here are 50 things we learned in Week 13: 1. Chip Kelly: Genius. Discuss. (Kidding). 2. Cam Newton: MVP. Discuss. (Not kidding). 3. The Saints and Panthers. Toe to toe. Division rivals. Cam Newton vs. Drew Brees. Great stuff. 4. Before the shocking result in Foxborough, the day, without warning, had turned into a bunch of magical QB scrambles that played key roles in their teams winning games: 5. Marcus Mariota ran 87 yards - yes, 87 yards! - for a touchdown. It was the third-longest run by a QB since 1960. 6. Jameis Winston, not to be outdone, picked up 20 yards on a third-and-19 scramble late in the game. What it made it special was Winston refusing to go down when hit by three Falcons and coming out of the scrum to pick up the first down and keep the drive alive. Wow. 7. And then Blaine Gabbert - yes, Blaine Gabbert! - ran down the middle of the field for 44 yards for a fourth-quarter TD against the Bears. Even Colin Kaepernick had to be impressed by that one. 8. And while all those were nice, our favorite scramble belonged to 33-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Jets. His 15-yard run on fourth-and-6 late in the fourth quarter kept the drive alive that allowed the Jets to tie the Giants at 21. They went on to win in OT. Old guys running! 9. Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he has run out of answers. That's a long way from telling us to kiss his butt. 10. Replay Review I: Odell Beckham Jr. did it again . One-handed catch over the middle, seemingly snatching the ball out of the air for a 22-yard gain. Spider-Man was jealous. 11. We have to get us some of those gloves Beckham uses. Just sayin'. 12. We'll give Beckham credit, though. That 72-yard TD catch at end of second quarter was all him. 13. The Saints made it possible for us to say we were alive the first time someone blocked an extra point and returned it for 2 points in the NFL . Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it? 14. Before we forget (because we know you want to know): For the record, the first points of the day were recorded by the Bears with a FG; Bills first with a TD on a Sammy Watkins catch. Hope you had them in the pool. 15. Panthers RB Mike Tolbert did the Carlton dance after his TD. Hope nobody was offended. 16. Speaking of touchdown celebrations, Antonio Brown's lunge at the goalpost brought us back to the days of the more colorful choreographed moments. And it was a needed jolt after a snoozer of a Sunday game. 17. That was a huge victory for Rex Ryan and the Bills. Almost makes us forget how disorganized their defense looked on Texans' first TD. Not a good look, Rex. 18. Nick Foles is a machine an interception machine, that is. 19. So Patriots fans booed the home team because they were tied with the Eagles at halftime. Spoiled a little? 20. Jay Cutler threw a pick-six. And somehow the world felt right again. 21. Matt Schaub threw a pick-six. And, yeah, we knew all was right with the world. That was Schaub's sixth pick-six in his last nine starts. 22. So former Saints linebacker and Bountygate figure Jonathan Vilma was honored on the field in New Orleans and made his retirement official. Roger Goodell did not attend. 23. Johnny Manziel turned 23 on Sunday. We're betting Mike Pettine didn't send him a card. 24. The Steelers are still on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, and that's probably the way the rest of the AFC likes it. 25. Replay Review II: Dwayne Harris' 80-yard punt return for Giants. Had a little bit of everything - except good tackling by the Jets. 26. Maybe there should be a committee that decides who wins the NFC East. 27. This was the sixth time this year Marcus Mariota has thrown more than one TD in a game. 28. Sam Bradford hasn't thrown an interception in his last three starts. Last time he did that was in 2010. 29. By the way, the Dolphins and Ravens played each other, ,n case you missed it. Make that … be glad you missed it. 30. Replay review III: Just catch the Bengals' first TD. It will make you laugh. Unless you live in Cleveland. 31. Brock Osweiler won another game as Broncos starting QB. Ho-hum. 32. We know the Vikings defense is banged up, but that shouldn't take away from the game Russell Wilson had. He is on a roll. And makes the Seahawks extremely dangerous. 33. So what we do with all those "the end of the Seahawks" stories we read after their rough start? 34. In our next two items, food for thought on why to fear the Seahawks (and why they're not your father's Seahawks, or even your older sibling's Seahawks): 35. Russell Wilson has thrown 11 touchdown passes in the past three games. That is how many he had in the first nine games. 36. They have scored at least 28 points in four consecutive games, the first time they have done that since 2005. 37. But one reason not to give the Seahawks that Super Bowl spot yet: The Cardinals won again, are 10-2, and aren't going away. 38. Adrian Peterson had 18 yards rushing on eight carries. Gulp. 39. We shouldn't go any further without mentioning the Chiefs and their six straight wins. 40. Odell Beckham Jr. has had more than 100 yards receiving in five straight games. 41. There was a Todd Gurley sighting in St. Louis. That is all. We didn't want you to forget about him, because it seems the Rams coaches have. 42. On one possession, the Vikings offense committed three straight penalties and faced first-and-38. And that is all you need to know of what kind of day they had. 43. Later, the Eagles committed penalties on three straight plays. And that is all you need to know of what kind of season they have had. 44. Marcus Mariota connected with Dorial Green-Beckham for a 47-yard TD. It was their best hook-up of season, and the Titans hope it's a sign of things to come. 45. How quickly the look of a division changes: The Packers win on a Hail Mary. Three days later, the Vikings blown out by Seahawks. And four days from now, the Vikings play the Cardinals in Arizona. 46. Quote of the day goes to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio who said of his team winning the Big Ten championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff: "I shot Kirk Cousins a text and said, 'You like that?'" 47. The Bengals' blowout of the Browns was so complete they even let Jeremy Hill score a touchdown. 48. Replay review IV: DeAndre Hopkins' touchdown catch that helped Texans tie Bills at 21 in the fourth quarter. (Don't miss the push off he got away with.) 49. LeSean McCoy plays in Philly next week. Get your popcorn ready. 50. Reporters were surprised to hear Eli Manning needed x-rays after the game. Why? "Just to see if anything was broken," Eli said. Oh. | 1 | 97,489 | sports |
Once your plane lands, another (sometimes more difficult) trip begins. You still have to get to your hotel, your client, or wherever point B is. For our money, airport-to-city trains are the best choice. Sure, you can book a taxi or car service, but that's often a road to nowhere fast, especially in traffic-choked capitals. With that in mind, here's a highly subjective guide to airport trains across the globe. Best new service: UPExpress , Toronto Toronto went big for the Union-Pearson Express, which launched in June 2015. It's the first dedicated express airport rail link in North America others are part of regular commuter services. New-generation Japanese-built trains are smooth-riding, emissions-reducing diesels; inside, the cars come in oh-so-tasteful muted green, pumpkin, and claret. UP's even got its own "in-flight" magazine, a cute digest designed by the ubiquitous Winkreative. Most importantly, the 25-minute ride to downtown's Union Station makes a huge improvement over the frozen-in-amber schlep over the city's clogged highways. Drawback: At $27.50 CDN one way, it's not cheap, but the favorable excange rates softens the bitefor US visitors.. Best value: CTA , Chicago O'Hare Though it's a long ride into town on the CTA's Blue Line subway and a transfer's inevitable it's hard to complain when the fare's just $5. You'll get the fare on Ventra, the contact-less fare cards that now work across the entire CTA system. The train's a very easy walk from anywhere at ORD to Terminal 2, where trains arrive and depart. Since the CTA's the nation's second-largest mass-transit network, it's a sure bet you'll be able to get to your destination without the help of a car. Just remember to bring reading material for the 50-odd-minute trip. Cheapest: MAX , Portland International Airport For $2.50 or $1.25 for those under 18 Portland's MAX light-rail train will get you downtown in less than 40 minutes. Smartly designed trains let you roll your bags aboard from the platform; the train runs from 4:45 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. daily. It's clean, it's smooth, and it's one of those services we'd actually pay more to use. It's also one of the reasons PDX has twice been named Best U.S. Airport in the Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards. Smartest: Airport Express , Hong Kong Hong Kong's Airport Express train seems designed with actual humans in mind. There's free Wi-Fi, and comp charging stations for your devices. A free shuttle bus takes you from the train station to your hotel. Dedicated porters happily help with bags. And best of all, a brilliant "in-town" check-in service lets you drop your bags at one of two stations up to a full day ahead of your flight. So if you have to check out of a hotel, have time to kill, but don't want to schlep a suitcase, you're free as a bird the rest of the day. It'll set you back about $28. Best traffic-beater: Beijing Airport Express Beijing's Airport Express can get crowded at rush hour; it's part of a commuter rail line. But there's no better way to beat the traffic in one of the world's most congested cities. You'll find signs in English directing you to ticket machines and windows; from Terminals 2 and 3, the train stops at Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen stations downtown, both transfer spots for the Beijing subway. Best of all, the ride's just 25 RNY about $4 at published time. Best for taxis: Changi , Singapore At Changi, one of the world's few beloved airports, taxis work beautifully. They're all metered, and well-organized stands operate at every terminal; you'll get where you're going in the city for about $30. The train, however, is an offshoot of a busy commuter rail line; there's no space for luggage, and cars get crowded. There's no direct link downtown, either you have to switch at Tanah Merah station to a city line. But if you can abide the inconvenience, it's just $1.25. Easiest to find: Schiphol , Amsterdam It doesn't get easier than this: At Amsterdam's Schiphol, the train station's directly below the terminals. As a bonus, trains run 24/7, and baggage trolleys are free. Moneysaving tip: For about $27, you can buy a three-day Amsterdam Travel Ticket, which includes the Schiphol train and unlimited transport on GVB, Amsterdam's main public-transport network. Look for kiosks at Schiphol Plaza, the big arrivals concourse. For first-class fiends: Heathrow Express , London London's Heathrow Express gets to central Paddington Station in just 15 minutes. If you're determined to go luxe in that quarter-hour, you can pony up for first-class seats at £53, or about $80 round-trip. You'll get a little more legroom, free newspapers and magazines, and at-seat power sockets don't forget that converter. But that's about it for goodies. A coach seat costs £35 return, or about $53 still no bargain, but at least it's fast. Priciest: Arlanda Express , Stockholm These speedy yellow-and-white trains jet you 25 miles into central Stockholm in just 20 minutes, but the fare is hefty. On the plus side, the express is hypermodern, impressively service-oriented, and scarily punctual an average of about 96 percent on time. But it'll cost you. At 280 Swedish krona one-way, that's about $32, making the Arlanda Express anything but a budget option. Considering taxi rates can start at 450 krona and head skyward from there, maybe it's not such a luxury. Best "airport train" that's not a train: Alilaguna boat from Marco Polo Airport, Venice This airport connection just cruises into the city literally. The Alilaguna public water-taxi service glides from Marco Polo Airport to the center of Venice in about 15 minutes. You'll find ticket counters at the arrivals hall and at the dock just off the airport. It's a bit of a schlep from the pier, though, so keep in mind if you're lugging heavy bags. And this is Italy! boats run about every hour, so you may face a wait if you just miss one. But you'll get beautiful views of classic buildings like the Tower of San Marco as you approach. Expect to pay about $15 one way. More from Condé Nast Traveler: The 2015 Friendliest and Unfriendliest Cities Around the World 100 Top Hotels & Resorts in the World 50 Things to Do in the U.S. Before You Die | 2 | 97,490 | travel |
The Thunder beat the Kings 98-95 on Sunday night using a 9-0 run to close out the game. Kevin Durant put OKC ahead for good and Russell Westbrook got his third triple-double of the season. | 1 | 97,491 | sports |
The Dodgers have reportedly added free agent right-handed pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to their starting rotation, adding the soon-to-be 35-year-old, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports , who says the agreement is believed to be for three years. Jim Bowden of ESPN was first to report the agreement . Iwakuma moved up the Dodgers' wish list over the weekend after losing Zack Greinke to the Diamondbacks on Friday, and with free agent target Jeff Samardzija signing with the Giants on Saturday. The Japanese right-hander was 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 20 starts for the Mariners in 2015, with 111 strikeouts and 21 walks in 129⅔ innings. He missed nearly two months with a right lat strain, but after returning from the disabled list in Seattle was 9-4 with a 3.10 ERA, with 100 strikeouts and 18 walks in 113⅓ innings. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi was in the Athletics front office when Oakland won the negotiating rights with Iwakuma after the 2010 season for a reported $19.1 million bid. But with one year before Iwakuma was to hit free agency in Japan, the A's were unable to reach an agreement with Iwakuma in their 30-day negotiating window. "Their offer was low and they weren't sincere," then-agent Don Nomura told the Associated Press at the time . After returning to Rakuten for one more season in Japan, Iwakuma signed as a free agent with the Mariners before 2012. In his four years in Seattle, among MLB pitchers with at least 400 total innings, Iwakuma ranks 15th in ERA (3.17) , 39th in FIP (3.62), 16th in xFIP (3.25) and 18th in K-BB% (16.3 percent) . Iwakuma pitched partially in relief in 2012, but was a full-time starter the last three seasons, averaging 27 starts and 176 innings per year. He also missed a month in 2014 with a sprained right middle finger. The Mariners did extend a qualifying offer to Iwakuma, who declined the one-year, $15.8 million offer. That means the Dodgers will have to forfeit their first-round draft pick in 2016, which given the other reported signings to date was the 23rd pick . Seattle would get a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds. | 1 | 97,492 | sports |
LOS ANGELES Authorities have arrested the mother of a baby who was buried alive near a Southern California bike path. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Bob Boese said Sunday the woman was arrested late last week. He declined to release the woman's identity, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Boese said tips from the public and media coverage of the baby's rescue led to the arrest. The girl was believed to be 24 to 36 hours old when she was found Nov. 27. Two sisters walking on a bike path near a riverbed in Compton heard the child's cry. Two deputies found her wrapped in what appears to be a hospital blanket, buried in a hole under loose dirt and piece of asphalt. She was taken to a hospital in stable condition. | 5 | 97,493 | news |
Here's how to make a toddler very, very happy this Christmas 20 Things Your Toddler Really Wants for Christmas Do you have no idea what to get your toddler for Christmas? Don't panic. Toddlers get a bad reputation for their terrible temper tantrums, but when it comes to the holidays, they are simpler to shop for than you'd think. The three-and-under crowd is usually more excited about the wrapping paper than the gift itself. Before you start practicing for your West Wide Story-style snap battle with another parent over the last must-have little kid toy of the season, check out this list of things that toddlers really want for Christmas. 1. Ten minutes alone with a roll of toilet paper 2. Your cellphone (not that plastic toy imposter, because they're on to your tricks!). 3. One of those bone-shaped cookies they think must be your favorite because you freak out whenever they sneak one from the box next to the dog food bag 4. A shirt with a cartoon character they recognize on the front. Not that one. Not that one. THAT one 5. Something huggable 6. A toy that takes six batteries, has no off button and is super easy for a parent to trip over and activate in the middle of the night 7. That mushy, half-eaten banana you threw out the other day because you thought they were finished but they weren't. 8. Whatever toy their older sibling is holding at this exact moment 9. "Up." 10. An empty box, size L 11. Grandma 12. The wedding vase you keep on the highest shelf and refer to as your "last nice thing" 13. Shoes that light up 14. Bubble wrap 15. For the cat to stay still long enough for a hug 16. A chance to climb the Christmas tree 17. Fifty-two binkies in a variety of colors 18. Juice, but only in a red cup 19. All-access pass to the big bed 20. To zipper their coat/buckle the car seat/close the door/turn off the light by themselves | 4 | 97,494 | lifestyle |
Johnny Manziel punishment by the Cleveland Browns may finally be coming to an end. Two weeks after being demoted to third string and then passed over as the starter in Week 13, Manziel may be back to starting in Cleveland. ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi reported Sunday night that he is hearing Manziel will get the next four games as the starter. He also says head coach Mike Pettine will make the announcement on Monday. Hearing #Browns will give next 4 games to QB Johnny Manziel. Pettine will announce Monday. Nothing official. We'll see. Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) December 7, 2015 Manziel started consecutive games for the Browns prior to the team's bye week, but then he was demoted to third string after reportedly lying to the coaches about partying during the bye . Josh McCown broke his collarbone against the Browns last week and was replaced by Austin Davis, who put the team in position to win the game. Davis was given the start Sunday against the Bengals, but he had pathetic results as the team lost 37-3. This report is not that surprising given that previous information stated Manziel could get the starting job back in Week 14 and that was before Davis went out and put up a stinker against Cincinnati. | 1 | 97,495 | sports |
WASHINGTON (AP) The technology that George Lucas brought to moviemaking came back to haunt him at the Kennedy Center Honors. As the tribute to Lucas began at Sunday night's gala honoring him and four others for contributing to American culture through the arts, the crowd was asked to welcome Carrie Fisher. But the star of the original "Star Wars" trilogy and the upcoming "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" didn't appear in person. Instead, one of Lucas' beloved creations, the feisty droid R2-D2, rolled onstage and projected her image. "I wanted to be there to help celebrate your Kennedy Center honor in person, but hey, since you invented video voicemail, I don't have to be," Fisher said. Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, fellow directors who along with Lucas brought new energy to American cinema in the 1970s, offered more conventional tributes to the "Star Wars" creator, hailing him for his technological wizardry and his commitment to storytelling. Lucas also created the "Indiana Jones" franchise, directed by Spielberg, and his special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, had a part in seven of the top 10 grossing movies of all time. "He's a pathfinder and a pioneer like Edison and Bell and Tesla and Jobs," Spielberg said. "George Lucas' 'Star Wars' absolutely changed films forever." "The Force Awakens," the seventh movie in the franchise and the first made without Lucas' involvement as director, producer or writer, opens Dec. 18 and is expected to be one of the highest-grossing films in history. As the crowd of Washington power brokers and Hollywood celebrities stood and applauded, Lucas waved from a balcony, wearing the honorees' signature rainbow-colored garland. Next to him were first lady Michelle Obama and his fellow honorees: singer-songwriter Carole King, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa and actress Cicely Tyson. President Barack Obama was a late arrival to the event after delivering a rare televised address in which he said America would overcome the threat posed by Islamic State militants. Moreno, a native of Puerto Rico who started dancing at age 9, became the first Latina to win an Academy Award when she was honored for her performance as Anita in "West Side Story." She was honored for her diverse and boundary-pushing career, including memorable stints on children's television. Moreno is one of a handful of artists to win an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony. At an earlier White House ceremony for the honorees, Obama said she pushed back against Hollywood typecasting. "She's still a leading lady of her era, a trailblazer with courage to break through barriers and forge new paths," Obama said. Tributes to Moreno came from her "Jane the Virgin" co-star, Gina Rodriguez, and Rosie Perez, who sang "Fever" with the overzealous Animal of "The Muppets" on drums a performance Moreno originated, winning an Emmy. They said Moreno paved the way for themselves and other Latino actors. "She was herself," Perez said. "She celebrated her heritage but did not stereotype it." Tyson, a longtime star of stage and screen, has said the honor validated her decision to turn down many roles as she tried to find meaningful work as a black woman. Her memorable performances include "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," which won her an Emmy, and the groundbreaking miniseries "Roots." She won a lead-actress Tony just two years ago and now, at age 90, she's starring on Broadway alongside James Earl Jones in "The Gin Game." "She turned down more roles than you could imagine because they didn't lift or serve us as a people," actor-director Tyler Perry said. "For six decades, she has been diligent in her pursuit to better us all." Ozawa, who was born in China to Japanese parents, began conducting as a teenager in Japan after World War II. He went on to lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 29 years. Violinist Itzhak Perlman and soprano Renee Fleming paid tribute to him during Sunday's honors, which also included a performance by past honoree Yo-Yo Ma. King was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame nearly 30 years ago for her broad influence on pop music, which helped shape the sounds of the 1960s and 70s. She has written more than 100 hit singles, including "The Loco-Motion," ''One Fine Day" and "I'm into Something Good." Her first solo album, "Tapestry," is one if the highest-selling albums of all time. Aretha Franklin, wearing a full-length fur coat over her evening gown, closed the show with a performance of a song that she immortalized: "Natural Woman," leading to a prolonged standing ovation. This marks the 38th year of the Kennedy Center Honors, and the event had new producers for the first time. Stephen Colbert of CBS' "The Late Show" hosted the gala for the second consecutive year. It will be broadcast Dec. 29 on CBS. ___ Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson contributed to this report. ___ Follow Ben Nuckols on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/ben-nuckols . | 6 | 97,496 | entertainment |
Troops and emergency services in north-west England are stretched to limit as they battle to cope with the aftermath of severe storms. Paul Chapman reports. | 8 | 97,497 | video |
Traveling by airplane is a lot different than it used to be. And we're not just talking about the elaborate and cumbersome security restrictions that get added every time some wacko sticks a bomb in his BVDs. There used to be a lot of amenities, but they were gradually eliminated after President Jimmy Carter signed the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978 and cost-effectiveness suddenly became a corporate concern. Here are 11 things that we never see on most commercial flights today that were common in days of yore. 1. Sleeping Berths In the late 1940s, the Boeing Stratocruiser was described by the company as being "just like the magic carpet." Besides a beautifully appointed ladies' lounge and reclining springy club chairs, every seat in the main cabin (not just First Class) could be adjusted and manipulated to form enough sleeping berths (above) to accommodate each passenger. 2. Pong In the early 1980s, Continental Airlines outfitted some of their DC-10s with what they called a "Pub" configuration. Besides a walk-up wet bar and circular tables surrounded by swivel chairs, the Pub area also included a two-player Pong game…which was probably cutting-edge gaming technology at the time. 3. Champagne in Coach In the 1970s, Southern Airways billed itself as "Route of the Aristocrats" due to its policy of offering First Class touches to every passenger. The company probably needed those cushy pillows and free-flowing booze to take the edge off of its multi-stop routes; even though it did eventually offer some non-stop flights, Southern's bread-and-butter was air service throughout the southeastern states. A typical flight might have originated in Albany, Georgia, then stopped in Valdosta, Dothan (Alabama), and Columbus before it finally landed at its final destination of Atlanta. 4. Table-side Meat Carving Pan Am's 707 Clippers used to offer restaurant-quality meals served seatside by an on-board chef on their Trans-Atlantic flights. 5. Pianos From 1970 to about 1974, American Airlines featured a piano lounge in the rear of their 747s. The instrument in question was a Wurlitzer electric piano that required frequent repairs due to over-enthusiastic music lovers spilling their cocktails on the keys. What could be more relaxing on a cross-country flight than a gaggle of intoxicated folks singing "Shine On Harvest Moon" off-key? 6. Flight Attendants in Hot Pants Some changes are for the better. 7. Fresh Cut Flower Arrangements Pan Am's 707 Clipper was advertised as being "vibration-free," so they could afford to have fresh flower arrangements on every tray table and not worry about the contents being spilled into a passenger's lap during turbulence. Pan Am continued to provide vased flowers during dinner service in First Class until the late 1970s. 8. In-Flight Fashion Shows What's worse than having a toddler kick the back of your seat non-stop during a six-hour flight? Having to look at flight attendants in the same drab uniforms throughout the journey. Or so thought the brass at Braniff International in 1965. To add an extra-colorful coating to their in-flight eye candy, they hired fashion designer Emilio Pucci to create a versatile and colorful quick-change uniform for the air hostesses. Flight attendants welcomed passengers aboard in one outfit, then changed to another for the meal service, and then stripped down to oh-so-sexy culottes for the "let me change into something more comfortable to help you relax" portion of the flight. 9. Peruvian Art Speaking of Braniff , the fashion-forward airline also hired New Mexico architect Alexander Girard to brighten up their fleet. Girard incorporated a monochromatic color scheme in which each plane was painted one color, from a palette that featured selections such as Metallic Purple and Lemon Yellow. When the company expanded their routes into Latin America, authentic art pieces from Brazil, Mexico and Peru were added as finishing touches inside the aircraft. 10. A Window at the End of Each Row of Seats The size, shape and placement of the windows on a plane are carefully designed to maintain the structural integrity of the aircraft. Windows that are too large would require a much higher level of pressurization in the cabin air. Rounded corners are less likely to develop fatigue cracks, and the space between windows is engineered so that the fuselage still remains sturdy. The windows are installed into the plane while it is still an empty shell, and are normally designed for a particular seat configuration and "pitch" (the distance from any seat to the exact point on the seat in front of or behind it). In the good ol' days, the standard seat pitch in Economy Class was 34 inches, but today the average is closer to 31 inches. Once an airline buys a craft, they're free to configure the seats inside however they please, and these days that means "crowded." Seats are revenue-generators, so over the years companies have added more rows inside their planes, which means that sometimes even when you're assigned an official window seat, you might get just a sliver of glass at the back of your shoulder 11. A Seat Assignment in 22I Or any row with an "I" designation. Watch the seat numbers the next time you're tripping down the aisle on a wide-bodied plane they usually run "HJK". Why no "I"? Blame computers. When airlines started installing computer equipment to handle their reservations and other records, problems were often created when a letter too closely resembled a numeral. Digital Equipment Corporation was the first company to eliminate confusing letters (in automobile VIN numbers, for example, not only the I but also O, Q, and S were nixed) and as a result such an alphanumeric system is now referred to as the DEC Alphabet. | 2 | 97,498 | travel |
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) 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) "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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 | 97,499 | entertainment |
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