text
stringlengths 5
144k
| label
int64 0
9
| id
int64 0
100k
| label_text
stringclasses 10
values |
|---|---|---|---|
ROCHESTER, N.Y. Two missing New York college students have been found safe after police say they were abducted and held hostage. Rochester police say a SWAT team rescued the two University of Rochester students around 9:20 p.m. Sunday. Nicholas Kollias and Ani Okeke Ewo were last seen around 2 a.m. Saturday near the school. They were reported missing Saturday evening and police issued an alert Sunday evening. Police say the two college seniors from Illinois had been forcibly abducted and held against their will. Both students were taken to the hospital, where one is recovering from a gunshot wound. Police say the student was shot in the leg before they began their rescue operation. His injury is non-life-threatening. Four people have been taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing. | 5 | 97,500 | news |
In today's Flip Side, the Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi & CineSport's Chad Cutler discuss how playing next to Martavis Bryant can make Antonio Bryant one of the best receivers in Steelers' history. | 1 | 97,501 | sports |
The market is rallying on the conclusion that the Fed will hike in December, says Uwe Parpart, MD and head of research at Reorient Financial Markets. | 3 | 97,502 | finance |
Tom Coughlin is making it too easy for John Mara and Steve Tisch to fire him, write him a check for the $7 million to cover the last year of his contract and mail him a save-the-date card for his 2016 induction into the Giants' Ring of Honor. Mara and Tisch love Coughlin, maybe the most honorable man in sports, and it will be an emotional decision if they fire/retire him after the season if Coughlin becomes the first Giants coach since Alex Webster to miss the playoffs four years in a row. Emotion is one thing, but this is a cut-throat brutal business. Coughlin's decision Sunday to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Jets' 4-yard line with the Giants already holding a 10-point lead with just under nine minutes remaining blew up on him and could eventually cost him his job. Coughlin has four games left to get the Giants into the playoffs. He should have taken the three points and 13-point lead to force the Jets to score two TDs to beat him, but after his defense has burned him so many times this season being unable to come up with one stop, he clearly has lost faith in them. Maybe it would be different if Jason Pierre-Paul wasn't playing one-handed, but the Giants don't have a defensive player that Coughlin can count on to make a big play. He was trying to put the game away right then and take the pressure off his defense, but as soon as the strategy didn't work, the vibes in MetLife changed and energized the Jets, who had lost five straight to the Giants. "I thought that was the play at the time," Coughlin said. "I still do. I stand by it." It may be that no team has suffered more throw-up-in-your-mouth losses that's an old Bill Parcells line than the 2015 New York Football Giants. Sunday's stunning 23-20 overtime loss to the Jets was just the latest in season of more excruciating losses than I can remember any team ever enduring. Every button Coughlin pushes in a crucial situation implodes. Mara wasn't in the locker room to clarify Coughlin's situation and surely won't until after the season. Is this all his fault? Nope. Most of the blame deserves to be dumped on the desk of GM Jerry Reese, who has supplied Coughlin with a flawed roster. But the culture, the atmosphere, the attitude something needs to change around the Giants and the quickest way to do that is by changing coaches. The NFC East has been pleading with the Giants to play for its honor ever since Tony Romo broke his collarbone in the second game of the year. But the Giants are just not good enough to have their coach's back. Their first TD came on an 80-yard punt return by Dwayne Harris. The offense basically made one play: Odell Beckham Jr. slipped through the Jets secondary for a 72-yard touchdown after catching a quick slant from Eli Manning. But later in the second quarter, Beckham had a TD punched out of his hands in the end zone by safety Calvin Pryor, just like what happened against the Patriots. Even so, they were comfortably up 20-10 when Coughlin faced the crucial fourth-down decision. He has been coaching aggressively all year in crunch time and it's rarely worked. The Jets had scored only 10 points nearly halfway through the fourth quarter, so the fear factor they would score two TDs in the final eight minutes was not so high. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not that kind of QB. The decision: Coughlin went for it. The upside: If the Giants could convert the first down and score or simply score on fourth down, they would have led by 17 and the game would be over. Of course, Rueben Randle broke off his route, Manning was picked off, the Jets drove for a field goal, the Giants went three-and-out, the Jets scored the tying TD on Fitzpatrick's nine-yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall with 27 seconds left, the Jets won the toss to start overtime, got a field goal, then the game ended when Josh Brown missed from 48 yards, breaking his team record streak of 29 in a row. Going for it on fourth down may have been Coughlin's last desperate attempt to save his job. "To try and go up 17 right there is a great opportunity to extend the lead," Manning said. "It didn't work out, but that's football. I like the call. I think it's the right call." The Giants have lost to the Cowboys, Falcons and Jets after holding 10-point leads in the fourth quarter. They had a 10-point third quarter lead on the Patriots and lost. They led the Saints by seven late in the fourth quarter and lost. "We've been in position to win games and haven't won," Coughlin said. "I'm taking full responsibility for that." Coughlin had a hard time calling the team up in the middle of the locker room for its post-game chat. "You're up 10 points," he said. "Didn't finish. Had opportunities." Will changing coaches turn things around? Only if the Giants get better players. This is a league of coaches and quarterbacks. You have them, you win. The Giants have the best coach and the best quarterback in the NFC East and they are 5-7 with a three-game losing streak. If Sunday began Coughlin's audition to keep his job, he's not supplying his bosses with any good reasons to keep him. He's making this too easy. | 1 | 97,503 | sports |
That ripple U.S. Soccer feels has nothing to do with the buckling turf its Women's World Cup champions refused to play on. The U.S. women forced the cancellation of Sunday's game against Trinidad & Tobago after discovering the field they were supposed to play on at Aloha Stadium was "not suitable to hold an international soccer match." Sharp rocks were ingrained across the field, the team wrote on The Players' Tribune on Sunday night, and the artificial playing surface was pulling up out of the ground. "This decision wasn't about `turf vs. grass.' This was about field conditions and player safety," the players wrote. "It's as simple as that. Soccer is our job. Our bodies are our jobs. And nothing should ever be put in competition with our protection and safety as players." Just as they never should have been put in a position where they were forced to refuse to play. It's no secret that FIFA is stuck in the 1950s when it comes to women's soccer. The Women's World Cup was played on artificial turf this summer, something that would be unfathomable for the men's tournament. As champions, the Americans got $2 million, a whopping $33 million less than Germany did for winning the men's tournament in 2014. It wasn't until 2013 that FIFA's powerful Executive Committee had its first female member. Two years later, there are only three. Here in America, however, this summer's World Cup has changed the game and U.S. Soccer would be wise to realize it. The women's run in Canada drew blockbuster ratings on Fox, with the final against Japan the most-watched soccer game men's or women's in U.S. history. When New York City threw the World Cup champs a ticker-tape parade the first for a women's team crowds 10 deep turned out. The most recognizable and marketable American player is not Michael Bradley or Tim Howard or Clint Dempsey. It's Alex Morgan. No coincidence that Morgan was the most vocal of the U.S. women to speak out about the sub-par playing surface. "No one's really going to protect us but ourselves," Morgan told FoxSoccer.com. "The team needs to be a little more vocal … about whether this is good for our bodies and whether we should be playing on it if the men wouldn't be playing on it," she added. For decades, the American women largely stayed quiet about inequality issues with U.S. Soccer, grateful for resources and support that players in other countries could only dream of. But their success this summer and the rock star-like response it brought showed the U.S. women they have more power than they realized. They are the most successful team U.S. Soccer has. It is their names and faces the general American public know. And at next summer's Rio Olympics, it is the U.S. women who will be favored to bring home another title. The Americans know there is still a long ways to go in developing the women's game internationally. Here in the United States, however, they are every bit as important to their federation as the men's team. U.S. Soccer should no longer be surprised that they expect to be treated accordingly. | 1 | 97,504 | sports |
With Friday's strong jobs report and a high likelihood of a interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, it wouldn't be hard to assume the US economy is on solid footing. According to JP Morgan's economics team, US GDP is on track to grow 2-1/4% in 2016. "Fed rate hikes won't break the back of growth," they said in a new note to clients. But that's not to say it may all turn around in the next few years. "Our longer-run indicators, however, continue to suggest an elevated risk that the expansion is nearing its end, and our preferred model now puts the probability of recession within three years at an eye-catching 76%," they continued. The economists Michael Feroli, Daniel Silver, Jesse Edgerton, and Robert Mellman use a combination of 9 different indicators from consumer sentiment to the unemployment rate to develop a short- and long-term recession probability. "When we first wrote, only manufacturing sentiment was signaling an above-average probability of imminent recession," they said. "But recent weakening in the Richmond Fed services survey and the ISM nonmanufacturing index have now pushed the nonmanufacturing sentiment probability up somewhat as well." In the short term, the note says that the 6-month likelihood is only 5%, but within a year it stands at 23%, in two years 48%, and in three years the "eye-popping" 76%. The biggest increase in the recession probability, according to the economists, has come from corporations. "The particularly sharp moves in predicted recession probabilities since mid-2014 have been driven most prominently by our measure of the decline in margins," said the note. "Indeed, on most (but not all) of the occasions when this variable fell to its current level, a recession began within a few years. Although continued expansion remains our baseline forecast, we will more carefully investigate the risks of recession emanating from the corporate sector." As other economists have pointed out the current earnings of corporations are also in territories normally associated with impending recessions . Along with manufacturing's recession-level performance and a number of other signs , the idea of recession in the near future has begun to creep into the back of investors' minds. For now, said the JP Morgan economists there isn't a high chance that the economy suddenly plunges downhill, but being wary may not be a bad idea. NOW WATCH: The biggest security mistakes people make when buying things online --- Also watch: Deep Dive: Yield Curve, Likelihood of a U.S. Recession | 3 | 97,505 | finance |
Davidson won't retire Stephen Curry's number because he didn't graduate from the school. The crew reacts to the interesting decision. | 1 | 97,506 | sports |
The Ducks beat the Penguins 2-1 on Sunday. Corey Perry and Chris Stewart scored in the second period for the Ducks, and Olli Maatta scored for the Penguins in the loss. | 1 | 97,507 | sports |
Clemson, Michigan State, Alabama and Oklahoma will be the participants for the college football championship. Clemson will play Oklahoma in the first round while Michigan State will play Alabama. | 1 | 97,508 | sports |
At a church, a mosque, a makeshift street-corner memorial and other sites, they gathered Sunday to mourn the 14 victims of the San Bernardino massacre. Residents struggled to come to terms with the violence and hoped the community would unite in mourning and not be divided by the disclosure that the killers were a religious Muslim couple. There were American flags, a poster that read "Pray for the world," balloons, candles and cards. Muslim community members said they are feeling both grief over the loss and fear of a backlash against their community. They encouraged community members to come together and not live in fear. | 8 | 97,509 | video |
WASHINGTON Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is rolling out a plan to slow down the impact of climate change, vowing to cut U.S. carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030. The Democratic presidential candidate said in a proposal released Monday that he would seek to impose a tax on carbon dioxide pollution, long a non-starter with majority Republicans in Congress, and aim to slash carbon pollution in the U.S. by 80 percent by 2050 compared to levels in 1990. The proposal, he said, would put "people before the profits of polluters." Sanders has made efforts to reduce global warming a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and his 16-page proposal, released as negotiators meet at the U.N. climate conference in Paris, provides the first extensive details on how he would seek to address it. Democrats view climate change as part of a winning formula against Republicans in the 2016 elections and Sanders' primary opponents, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, have offered wide-ranging environmental plans. Many Republican candidates have been dismissive of global warming despite public support for efforts to combat it. Sanders' plan sets goals of creating a 100 percent clean energy system sustained by wind and solar power but does not specify a timetable for doing so. It estimated the clean energy sector would create 10 million jobs and his plan would also seek to protect low-income and minority communities which have been adversely affected by massive storms like Hurricane Katrina. It would seek to repeal billions in tax subsidies to oil, gas and other fossil fuel producers, which President Barack Obama has unsuccessfully sought throughout his presidency. It would also attempt to build upon Obama's work to promote more fuel efficiency in the nation's fleet of cars and trucks. Sanders would seek to raise fuel efficiency standards to 65 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2025, a higher level compared with current plans to reach 54.5 miles per gallon for the 2025 model year. Annie Leonard, executive director of Greenpeace USA, said in a statement provided by the campaign that Sanders' plan showed he "has broken free of the corporate and 1 percent money that has held back climate policy for far too long." | 5 | 97,510 | news |
Syria's government said a U.S.-led military coalition carried out a deadly air strike on a Syrian army camp, but coalition officials said the report was false. Syria said four coalition jets killed three of its soldiers and wounded 13 in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor on Sunday evening, calling it an act of aggression, the first time Damascus has made such an accusation. Any such strike by U.S.-led coalition planes, which have focused their fire on Islamic State targets, would further complicate the increasingly regional conflict. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group earlier reported that jets likely to be from the coalition hit part of the Saeqa military camp near the town of Ayyash in Deir al-Zor province, killing four Syrian army personnel. But a U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States is certain that Russia was responsible for the deadly strike on the Syrian army camp. The official flatly dismissed claims that U.S.-led coalition jets were responsible. Russia, a key ally of Syria, is waging its own air campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad, and has also been striking in Deir al-Zor. A second U.S. military official said indications pointed to a strike carried out by a Russian TU-22 bomber. Brett McGurk, U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy to the coalition, also denied claims of coalition responsibility, saying on Twitter: "Reports of coalition involvement are false." Colonel Steve Warren, a Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said the alliance had conducted four strikes in the Deir al-Zor province on Sunday, all against oil well heads. "Our strikes were approximately 55 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Ayyash. We did not strike any vehicles or personnel targets. We have no indication any Syrian soldiers were near our strikes," he said. A U.S. defense official, who declined to be named, dismissed the idea that the coalition would target the Syrian military. "We are not at war with the Assad regime and have no reason to target the Syrian Army," the official said. "We are aware that Russia conducted long-range bomber strikes into Syria (on Sunday)." Another U.S. defense official said Deir al-Zor was among the locations Russia had targeted on Sunday. Russian officials were not immediately available for comment. The U.S.-led coalition first launched air strikes against Islamic State in Syria in September 2014, after beginning aerial operations against the group in neighboring Iraq the previous month. Its strikes have regularly targeted Deir al-Zor province in eastern Syria, most of which is held by Islamic State, including oilfields that are a source of income for the militant group. The province links Islamic State's de facto capital in Raqqa with territory controlled by the group in Iraq. 'FLAGRANT AGGRESSION' Britain joined the United States and its allies last week in the bombing campaign against Islamic State in Syria, ahead of proposed international peace talks later this month. Syria's fragmented opposition is set to meet in Riyadh this week in an effort to unify ahead of the talks. Syria's Foreign Ministry said jets fired nine missiles at the camp, state TV reported. The ministry sent letters to the U.N. Secretary General and the head of the U.N. Security Council condemning the "flagrant aggression," state news agency SANA said. It urged the United Nations to take "immediate action and take the necessary measures to prevent a repeat" of the incident, it said. The ministry said three armored vehicles, four military cars, a weapons cache and ammunition had also been destroyed. The strikes "confirm once again that the American coalition lacks the seriousness and trust (needed) to fight terrorism in an effective way," it said. The Syrian government has only a limited presence in Deir al-Zor province, which is mainly controlled by Islamic State. Russia's air strikes have hit some Islamic State targets, but the United States and its allies say most of them have hit other foreign-backed rebel groups. In Deir al-Zor city, another air strike overnight killed a woman and two of her children, the Observatory said. (Additional reporting Tom Perry and Mariam Karouny in Beirut, and Phil Stewart and Jonathan Landay in Washington; editing by Nick Macfie, G Crosse and Tom Heneghan) | 5 | 97,511 | news |
Will Shelby Miller remain with Braves? The right-hander's future is the topic that figures to define the franchise's week at the winter meetings in Nashville. | 1 | 97,512 | sports |
Singer Keith Urban is mourning the loss of his beloved father Robert Urban. Less than a week after telling fans that his dad was in hospice care, the American Idol host began to remember his dad for all of his influence. Urban said in a statement to E! News, "My Dad's love of country music and America set me on my life's journey, and shaped so much of who I am today." While anytime is a difficult time to lose a parent, Robert's death comes after his son visited an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in his honor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Urban family during this difficult time. | 6 | 97,513 | entertainment |
The Eagles held on for an improbable 35-28 win over the Patriots on Sunday. CineSport's Chad Cutler and the Inquirer's Jeff McLane discuss how Philadelphia's special teams factored in the win. | 1 | 97,514 | sports |
Daily doses of the antiretroviral drug Truvada significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV, research has shown. The number of annual HIV diagnoses declined by 19 percent between 2005 and 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Sunday evening, but diagnoses jumped 6 percent among men who have sex with other men. Though they represent only about 2 percent of the population, men who have sex with other men accounted for nearly 67 percent of all HIV diagnoses in 2014 -- 26,612 cases, according to the CDC report. The rise was driven by sizable increases among African Americans (from 8,235 diagnoses in 2005 to 10,080 last year) and Latinos (from 5,492 to 6,829). Among whites, the number fell considerably (from 9,966 to 8,207). Still, the report showed that the rate of increase among black gay and bisexual men has slowed in recent years. The data were released as a CDC-sponsored conference focused on preventing HIV infections began in Atlanta. About 40,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States last year, and an estimated 1.2 million are currently living with the virus, according to the report. "Although we are encouraged by the recent slowing of the epidemic among black gay and bisexual men especially young men they continue to face a disproportionately high HIV burden and we must address it," Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said in a release. "Much more must be done to reduce new infections and to reverse the increases among Latino men." [ More African Americans still die of HIV than whites and Latinos combined ] The overall decline in annual HIV cases was driven by heterosexuals (a 35 percent drop) and people who use injection drugs (a 63 percent drop). Cases among women decreased by 40 percent, from 12,499 in 2005 to 7,533 in 2014, with steady, marked declines among whites, blacks and Latinos. The South bears a greater share of the HIV burden, the CDC found. About 44 percent of people who are infected live in a southern state, though the region accounts for just 37 percent of the U.S. population. In 2012, seven of the 10 states with the highest HIV death rates were Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Kentucky, Delaware and Maryland. In fact, Louisiana's rate of 30.8 deaths for every 1,000 people living with the virus was more than three times higher than Vermont's rate of 7.9 deaths, the nation's lowest. Not surprisingly, the proportion of people with HIV who are aware of their positive status is generally lowest across the South. [ This entire magazine was printed using HIV-positive blood ] | 5 | 97,515 | news |
Singer-songwriter Carole King, Star Wars creator George Lucas and actress Cicely Tyson are among the latest recipients of the coveted Kennedy Center Honors awards. Singer-songwriter Carole King, Star Wars creator George Lucas and actress Cicely Tyson are among the latest recipients of the coveted Kennedy Center Honors awards. U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Kennedy Center Honorees Cicely Tyson, Seiji Ozawa, Rita Moreno, George Lucas and Carole King attend a reception at the White House Kennedy Center Honorees (L-R) Cicely Tyson, Seiji Ozawa, Rita Moreno, George Lucas and Carole King attend a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Kennedy Center Honorees Rita Moreno and George Lucas attend a reception at the White House Kennedy Center Honorees Rita Moreno (L) and George Lucas attend a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Japanese conductor and Kennedy Center Honors honoree Seiji Ozawa attends a reception at the White House Japanese conductor and Kennedy Center Honors honoree Seiji Ozawa attends a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree Carole King arrives at a reception at the White House The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree Carole King (L) arrives at a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree Rita Moreno arrives at a reception at the White House The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree Rita Moreno (L) arrives at a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree George Lucas arrives at a reception at the White House The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree George Lucas (L) arrives at a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree Cicely Tyson arrives at a reception at the White House The 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree Cicely Tyson (L) arrives at a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Singer Usher and director Martin Scorsese attend the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception Singer Usher (R) and director Martin Scorsese attend the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Singer Usher attends the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House Singer Usher (L) attends the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Singer Usher attends the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House Singer Usher attends the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Kennedy Center Honorees George Lucas and Carole King attend a reception at the White House Kennedy Center Honorees George Lucas (L) and Carole King attend a reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson walk the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson walk the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Violinist Joshua Bell poses at the red carpet with his girlfriend Larisa Martinez before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Violinist Joshua Bell poses at the red carpet with his girlfriend Larisa Martinez before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Actress Kerry Washington walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Actress Kerry Washington walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Actress Rosie Perez walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Actress Rosie Perez walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Actress and singer Rita Moreno walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Kennedy Center Honoree actress and singer Rita Moreno walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Actress Gina Rodriguez walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Actress Gina Rodriguez walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Actress Cecily Tyson walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Kennedy Center Honoree and actress Cecily Tyson walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. The Late Show host Stephen Colbert poses at the red carpet with his daughter Madeline Colbert before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington The Late Show host Stephen Colbert poses at the red carpet with his daughter Madeline Colbert before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Film director Steven Spielberg walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Film director Steven Spielberg walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma attends the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception Cellist Yo-Yo Ma attends the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Actress Lynda Carter walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Actress Lynda Carter walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. Film director Martin Scorsese walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Film director Martin Scorsese walks the red carpet before the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. U.S. President Barack Obama with first lady Michelle Obama greets the Kennedy Center Honorees U.S. President Barack Obama (R) with first lady Michelle Obama greets the Kennedy Center Honorees at the Kennedy Center in Washington December 6, 2015. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington December 6, 2015. Kerry shares a laugh with Kennedy Center Honorees after a gala dinner at the US State Department U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) shares a laugh with Kennedy Center Honorees singer-songwriter Carole King (R) and actress Rita Moreno (back to camera) along with Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz (L), after a gala dinner at the U.S. State Department, in Washington, December 5, 2015. Kennedy Center Honorees gather for group photo after a gala dinner at the US State Department Kennedy Center Honorees (L-R, standing) actress and singer Rita Moreno, filmmaker George Lucas, (L-R, seated) Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, singer-songwriter Carole King and actress Cicely Tyson gather for a group photo after a gala dinner at the U.S. State Department, in Washington, December 5, 2015. | 6 | 97,516 | entertainment |
Today, female leaders are perceived to be more effective at taking initiative, demonstrating integrity and honesty and working for results than are their male counterparts, according to a survey from leadership consultancy Zenger Folkman. Related: How Your Business Can Build Lasting Partnerships With Nonprofits Given this avowed power female leaders have, it may be timely to celebrate some of the women making an impact in the nonprofit sector. Certainly, issues like the lack of access to education and healthcare have existed for decades, even centuries, but progress is possible through new ideas and the willingness to implement them. Those ideas and their implementation are coming from the women behind the organizations listed below. These leaders are taking risks and innovating; they're game-changers within their respective causes. And their entrepreneurial spirit is pushing them to not just ideate, but take action -- as well as tackle historic problems using new solutions. Under their leadership, these organizations are inciting significant changes, like creating the world's largest sports movement for people with intellectual disabilities, and bringing surgical care to thousands of people in underserved communities. Driven by their founders' desire to see results, social change is coming from the following ten organizations: 1. Movemeant Foundation At the Movemeant Foundation , Jenny Gaither is changing the way women perceive their own bodies. After becoming a SoulCycle instructor in 2010, she faced the uncomfortable truth that she herself struggled with body-image issues. Her personal struggles inspired her to start the Movemeant Foundation, which empowers young women to feel confident in their bodies by equipping them with the tools to be active. Through positive mentorship, health education and grants that encourage fitness and physical movement, the organization is shifting women's focus from "slimming down" to discovering their strength and self-esteem. In addition, Movemeant events raise large-scale awareness for positive body images. Its flagship outdoor event, "Dare to Bare," and other projects are empowering women to feel confident, whole and capable of anything. 2. Women for Women International Women for Women International (WfWI) supports marginalized women in countries affected by conflict and war. Since 1993, the organization has served nearly 429,000 women, by equipping them with life, business and vocational skills. With these tools, women can earn income, improve their health and well-being and learn about their legal rights to create a sustainable difference in their own lives and the lives of those around them. The organization was founded by 23-year-old Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi-American humanitarian and entrepreneur. Under her leadership, from 1993 to 2011, WfWI grew to distribute more than $118 million in aid and loans to women in eight conflict locations. Among other accolades, Salbi has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (2007) and a Clinton Global Initiative Leader (2010). Jennifer Windsor is now WfWI's CEO and leads 550 staff members across 11 international offices, working to empower women to strengthen themselves, their families and, ultimately, their communities. Related: Leaning In: The 10 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Businesses 3. Keep A Breast Foundation When her friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, Shaney Jo Darden committed to raise awareness for the cause through art and creative-action sports culture. Her efforts resulted in the Keep A Breast Foundation (KAB), an organization that provides young people with breast cancer education and support. The organization is setting out to achieve its mission through art, education, awareness and action. From hosting traveling education booths at music tours, to promoting fundraising through its DIY Action program, the organization provides multiple channels for people to learn and play a part in the mission. 4. Special Olympics In the 1950s and early 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw the mistreatment of people and children with intellectual disabilities and decided to take action. She invited youth with intellectual disabilities to a summer day camp in her own backyard, and the idea behind her efforts eventually grew into the Special Olympics movement. Since 1968, Special Olympics has fostered acceptance and changed lives around the world. With more than 4.5 million athletes across 170 countries, it is now the world's largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. The organization provides year-round athletic training and competition that allows children and adults to find joy, develop confidence and discover new strengths through the power of sport. 5. Camp Kesem Millions of children live with a parent who has cancer. Camp Kesem , a nationwide community spearheaded by college student leaders, is supporting this often-neglected population through innovative, fun-filled programs. Iris Rave, herself a lifelong camper, started the first Camp Kesem chapter at Stanford University with four student leaders in 2000. They chose kesem , Hebrew for "magic," precisely because they sought to bring magic to families affected by cancer. In the years since, the organization has empowered 6,642 student leaders nationwide to provide transformative camp experiences for more than 11,352 children. Ninety-eight percent of the parents involved have said they believe Camp Kesem positively affected their families, noting their children's new confidence, support network and increase in self-esteem. The organization's one-week sleep-away camps host fun activities while giving these children the extra attention they need -- and creating a lasting community to support them. 6. The Malala Fund As a young schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai spoke out for female education. When she was shot in the head in 2012 by a Taliban gunman and survived, her voice only became louder, and today she is a leading advocate of female rights and education. She is also the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace prize . The Malala Fund is the organization Yousafzai helps lead. It provides girls with 12 years of education to achieve their potential and create positive change within their families and communities. The organization works with local leaders and partners to increase safe, quality education for girls and also advocates for policy changes and resources that prioritize girls' education. 7. Samahope Millions of people worldwide lack access to basic surgical care. Local doctors and resources are stretched thin to provide medical care on a large scale. To address this issue, Samahope enables supporters worldwide to fund these doctors through crowdfunding. Donations underwrite treatments for birth injuries, burns, birth defects, blindness and trauma-based injuries. The platform has activated more than 3,000 donors to impact the lives of over 6,000 patients. Leila Janah and Shivani Garg Patel launched the organization in 2012. Janah is an award-winning social entrepreneur and founder of the nonprofit Sama Group, which leverages technology and social business to connect people to work, education and healthcare. Samahope, its medical care arm, is one of three initiatives. Janah is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a 2012 TechFellow and the youngest recipient of the Heinz Award. Patel, a social entrepreneur, was a former Microsoft product manager, McKinsey consultant and contributor to the Grameen Foundation, World Bank and World Health Organization. 8. National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest feminist organization in the United States. In 1966, the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women gathered hundreds of representatives in Washington, D.C. Though the conference theme was "Targets for Action," delegates were frustrated because they lacked the authority to pass a resolution to end sex discrimination in employment. As an alternative solution, Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique , and 27 other women set up NOW, to establish women as equal partners of men in American society. Since its inception, NOW has taken action on multiple issues to advance women's rights. Its victories include putting more women in political positions; increasing their educational, employment, and business opportunities; and driving stricter laws against harassment and discrimination. NOW has hundreds of thousands of members and more than 500 local and campus partners nationwide. 9. Dressember IN 2009, Blythe Hill wore dresses for the entire month of December -- dubbing those 31 days " Dressember " as a protest against exploitation of women because of their femininity. But she had no idea that her actions would evolve into a global community fighting for the freedom of all women. She was approached by women friends who wanted to do the same thing. The next year, her friends' friends were up for the challenge, too. The movement continued until Hill realized that she could use Dressember to fund-raise for anti-trafficking efforts. In 2013, Dressember's fifth year, the organization aligned with International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that works to rescue victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and modern-day slavery. That year, 1,233 registered participants around the world rallied to collectively raise over $165,000. Participation doubled the next year, and the campaign raised more than $465,000. Starting in 2015, the campaign will increase its partnerships with other anti-trafficking organizations. 10. Girls Who Code Seventy-four percent of middle schools girls express interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), but only 0.4 percent of high school girls choose computer science as their major. Girls Who Code aims to empower girls with the computer science education and skill sets needed to pursue 21st century opportunities. The deputy public advocate of New York City, Reshma Saujani, the organization's founder and CEO, started Girls Who Code to close the gender gap in technology. In 2014, its programs served 375 girls in multiple cities. Some 90 percent continued to pursue computer science or a closely related field as their major or minor, and 77 percent changed paths because of their time with Girls Who Code. By moving toward gender parity in computing fields, more girls will be equipped with the tools they need to innovate and incite social change. These are just a few of the incredible organizations women leaders have launched. The problems they tackle are deeply ingrained into society, but their own drive and resourcefulness are pushing their missions forward and creating a widespread impact. By risking their time, money and effort, these women are building these organizations and achieving significant change. Related: How Two Ambitious Women Found Success With a Cause-Driven Company | 3 | 97,517 | finance |
Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season saw another MVP performance from Cam Newton, a statement win from the surging Seattle Seahawks and huge days from both the top picks in the 2015 draft and last year's banner crop of receivers. The week also gave us a handful of blowouts, a missed opportunity in Chicago and some uncharacteristic mistakes from the defending champions. And don't forget, another unpredictable week in the NFL begun with one of the craziest collapses of all-time. Here is the rest of the best and worst from Week 13: Best: QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers Super Cam continues doing MVP-type things. He almost single-handedly kept the Panthers perfect on Sunday, throwing five touchdowns including the game-winner to Jericho Cotchery with under two minutes left as Carolina came from behind to beat the Saints in New Orleans. Through 12 games, Newton has 25 touchdown passes and another seven rushing, plus over 3,200 total yards. He still misses some easy plays, but he counters those mistakes with 45-yard touchdowns off his back foot against a blitz. If the season ended today, Cam would be the league's MVP. Best: Seattle Seahawks Say hello to the team no one wants to play in the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks won their third straight game on Sunday, dismantling the previously 8 3 Vikings in Minnesota by 31 points. It looked too easy at times. Quarterback Russell Wilson gained 325 total yards and scored four touchdowns, including three passing. Rookie Thomas Rawls rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, receiver Doug Baldwin caught two more scores and the Seattle defense held Minnesota to just 125 total yards. The Seahawks have now won five of six games since starting 2 4. The reigning conference champions have transformed back into a Super Bowl contender. Best: Top QB picks What a day it was for Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, the top two picks in the 2015 draft. Winston threw the game-winning score after extending his late drive with a wild 20-yard run on 3rd-and-19, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 23-19 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Mariota was just as good if not better, throwing for 268 yards and three scores and rushing for 110 yards (including an 87-yard touchdown) to propel the Titans to a 42-39 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Winston's Buccaneers are 6 6 and in the NFC playoff race, while Mariota's Titans eclipsed last year's win total with still four games to play. Now 13 weeks in, it looks like both clubs picked franchise-changing quarterbacks. Best: Second-year WRs Last season's historic crop of rookie receivers was at it again Sunday. Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 12 overall pick) had six catches for 139 yards and a 72-yard touchdown, Allen Robinson (No. 61) caught 10 passes for 153 yards and a career-high three scores, Sammy Watkins (No. 4) went over 100 yards receiving for the second straight game, Mike Evans (No. 7) caught the game-winning touchdown for Tampa Bay, John Brown (No. 91) and Brandin Cooks (No. 20) had over 100 receiving yards, Jordan Matthews (No. 42) hauled in a touchdown during Philadelphia's upset win and Martavis Bryant (No. 118) produced another long score. Add in Thursday night, when Eric Ebron (No. 9) had a score and Davante Adams (No. 53) caught a touchdown to help set up Richard Rodgers' (No. 98) game-winning Hail Mary, and Week 13 was another showcase for the 2014 class of pass-catchers. Even James White (No. 130), a running back from run-heavy Wisconsin, caught 10 passes with a touchdown for New England. Best: Philadelphia Eagles/Kansas City Chiefs Remember when the Eagles were done? Well, Philadelphia went into New England and beat the Patriots. Chip Kelly's club came back from 14-0 to go ahead 35-14, before holding on late for a 35-28 win. The week's most improbable win improved the Eagles to 5 7, which is very much alive in the NFC East. Remember when the Chiefs were done? Well, Kansas City won its sixth straight game on Sunday, using 20 points in the fourth quarter to take down the Raiders in Oakland. Alex Smith threw two touchdowns to Jeremy Maclin, while the Kansas City defense intercepted Derek Carr three times. The Chiefs are now 7 5 after a 1 5 start. Kansas City doesn't play a team with a winning record over the final four weeks. Worst: QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings The Vikings had a chance to get a statement win on Sunday, but Minnesota remains incapable of throwing the ball consistently when Adrian Peterson is taken away. The Seahawks held Peterson to just 18 yards, and Bridgewater responded to the challenge with only 118 passing yards on 28 attempts. He also threw a bad interception late in the first half, which helped Seattle create a 21-0 lead in the first half. The Vikings offense didn't score; in fact, the furthest Bridgewater's offense advanced on Sunday was the Seattle 36-yard line. Minnesota is now averaging less than 12 points per game when Peterson rushes for fewer than 98 yards this season. The Vikings are still right in the playoff race, but they'll need much, much more from their quarterback to make anything of it. Worst: K Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears Gould's ugly miss of a chip-shot field goal might cost the Bears a chance to make a postseason run. After the San Francisco 49ers tied the game at 20 late Sunday, Chicago received a 74-yard kickoff return from Deonte Thompson to set up the Bears with a chance to win the game in regulation. But with two seconds left, Gould missed his 36-yard game-winner wide left. The 49ers went on to win in overtime on a 71-yard touchdown from Blaine Gabbert to Torrey Smith. Gould also missed a 40-yard kick in the third quarter. The Bears really should be 6 6. Chicago's season is now on the brink at 5 7. Worst: Cleveland Browns The Browns lost for the second time in six days. Sunday didn't have the excruciating heartbreak of last Monday night, when the Ravens stunned Cleveland with a touchdown return of a blocked field goal as time expired. Instead, the Browns welcomed the Bengals to Cleveland and got rocked by 34 points. Austin Davis became the team's 24th different starting quarterback since 1999, but his offense managed just three points. If there's an upside, it's that the Browns are now the clear front runner for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. Another lost season can't end soon enough. Worst: St. Louis Rams The Rams are becoming a frequent visitor to this space. St. Louis hit a new rock bottom on Sunday, allowing 524 yards and gaining just 212 during a 27-3 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Now losers of five straight games, the Rams finished with nine first downs and seven penalties for 104 yards. Arizona held St. Louis to 1-for-12 on third down and possessed the ball for almost 40 minutes. Jeff Fisher's club has officially flatlined. Worst: Patriots special teams New England has lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2012, and the Patriots can thank their special teams. The Eagles came back from 14-0 down to rattle off 35 straight points, with seven coming off a punt block returned for a touchdown before the half and another seven via Darren Sproles' 83-yard punt return for a score in the third quarter. Philadelphia also scored a touchdown off a short field after New England's attempted drop kick. Meanwhile, the Patriots had three punt returns for three yards and a long kickoff return of just 18 yards. Suddenly, New England is now 10 2 and the third seed in the AFC. Bonus worst: Detroit Lions It's old news now, but the Lions can't escape a mention here. Up 20-0 in the third quarter on Thursday night, Detroit blew their lead and a potential fourth straight win, capping off the stunning collapse by allowing one of the most improbable Hail Mary completions in NFL history. Just when the Lions give you an ounce of hope, they crush your soul in new, cruel ways only Detroit can conceive. | 1 | 97,518 | sports |
Why is Oklahoma favored vs. Clemson? FOX Sports College Football analyst Joel Klatt has the answer. | 1 | 97,519 | sports |
COLUMBUS, Ohio In a vacuum, the MLS postseason functions as a five- or six-match sprint. In reality, the path to a title is a long and winding one. As much as the Portland Timbers' run to the 2015 MLS Cup crown may seem like a talented team getting hot at the right time, the seeds were sown long ago and no one understands that better than Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace. For the two Timbers on the score sheet Sunday, the 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew marked the culmination of particularly trying journeys. Valeri and Wallace have been with Portland for the entirety of Caleb Porter's three-year reign. They've seen the Timbers finish atop the Western Conference and then miss the playoff entirely. And they had to battle back from major knee injuries to stand on the championship stage at Mapfre Stadium. "They're two unbelievable guys in the locker room," Timbers veteran Jack Jewsbury told Goal USA. "They're good people even more so than good players." It was just 13 months ago that Valeri went down with a torn ACL in the 2014 season finale as the Timbers fell one point short of a playoff berth. Portland certainly was happy to have him on the field Sunday: As Columbus' Steve Clark took a touch across goal less than 30 seconds into the MLS Cup final, Valeri identified the poor decision, applied pressure and blocked the goalkeeper's clearance into the back of the net for a shock 1-0 lead. The strike got Portland off to a dream start, and ultimately earned MLS Cup MVP honors for Valeri. "This is special," Valeri said. "For me, it was a long, long year. I worked hard. I got my second [torn] ACL in my life, and that's not fun. I knew that this could happen because when you work hard and sacrifice my sacrifice and the sacrifice of the team you can see it in every training and every game." While the Argentine playmaker returned from injury in May, he didn't hit his stride until August. Once Valeri got going, he was a creative force to be reckoned with to the tune of nine assists over his final 14 matches of 2015. Although Darlington Nagbe got plenty of publicity for his play once Portland shifted from a defensive-minded 4-2-3-1 to a more proactive 4-3-3, Valeri quietly took his game to another level as well. "We were maybe putting the reins a little bit on a guy like Valeri," Porter said. "Me and Diego, we like to have a lot of soccer chats. This guy is a genius in terms of the game and tactics, and I remember having a conversation just talking about how we can still be good defensively but push our lines a little higher." Wallace, like Valeri, suffered a torn ACL in a season finale his injury coming in the second leg of the 2013 Western Conference final as the Timbers fell to Real Salt Lake. The blow was a sour end to a stellar year for Wallace, who had notched career highs with seven goals and six assists. The Costa Rica international came back to log 17 matches in 2014 and was a solid role player for Portland this campaign, swapping in and out of the starting lineup. But Wallace started five straight matches to end the regular season providing three assists to lock down a place in the first XI for the playoffs. "Everybody has their own journeys," Wallace said. "Me personally, going through the injury, it was just another reason for me to get hungry and to keep fighting. It never slowed me down. Since I came here to this club, the mission was to win championships, and today I can see that we are the best team in MLS." Wallace's seventh-minute strike came after a bit of confusion. Columbus midfielder Tony Tchani thought the ball had gone out for a throw-in and promptly found himself stripped by Nagbe, who played Lucas Melano down the right flank. As the winger whipped in a cross, Wallace slipped away from Crew right back Harrison Afful and nodded home his second goal of the playoffs. "I'm especially proud of Rodney," defender Nat Borchers said. "He was kind of in and out of the lineup a good three-quarters of the year, and Caleb decided to go with him toward the end. A guy like that, he's a champion. I love playing with a guy like that: He fights, he battles, he's good on the ball and he scores goals, he gets the game-winner it's incredible." In late October, the Timbers were inches from early elimination as a Sporting Kansas City penalty kick rattled both posts before ricocheting out. Now they're MLS Cup champions. Some have called Portland a team of destiny. As Valeri and Wallace exemplified, this also is a team of mental fortitude. "These guys are humble guys," Porter said. "They're not weak they're confident. Can we find guys that are confident and have humility? Those are the type of guys that I want in my locker room." | 1 | 97,520 | sports |
Fed's tightening cycle is expected to be very gradual, says Omar Slim, VP and portfolio manager at PineBridge Investments. | 3 | 97,521 | finance |
COLUMBUS, Ohio For all the successes of Caleb Porter's relatively young coaching career, he has endured some painful disappointments during the past four years the kind that might shake a coach's faith in his ability. Porter never wavered, though, and his determination was rewarded Sunday as his Portland Timbers played an excellent match on their way to an MLS Cup victory against the Columbus Crew. "I'm a fighter. When I was a player, I wasn't the greatest player but I fought for everything I got. It's the same with coaching," Porter told Goal USA. "That's always the way I'm going to be. I'm a growth-mindset person, so there's no failure, there's feedback. That's why I continue to improve and get better because when I do fall short I don't make excuses. I look at myself and I change, and I'm real proud of the evolution." Less than four years ago, it was Porter who suffered a crushing failure as coach of the U.S. Under-23 National Team when it failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. A year later, he took over as Timbers head coach and enjoyed success right away, guiding Portland to within a game of the MLS Cup final. Even that success was tinged with the pain of defeat in the form of a home loss to Real Salt Lake that eliminated the Timbers. The 2014 season proved to be even more challenging, as the Timbers failed to qualify for the playoffs, missing the postseason by a single point. Portland showed improvements in 2015, but the results didn't always come through, and when Portland looked like a team that might miss the playoffs again, questions began to arise about whether he was the right man to lead the Timbers. His boss never had a doubt. "I never questioned him once," Timbers owner Merritt Paulson told Goal USA. "The only thing that I saw was a story here and there questioning him. It's about results, I know, but we led the league in shots, we had the best defense in the league. It was a total anomaly that we weren't finishing. We have good players, and players that can finish, but for whatever reason we were in a rut. "I never had a question in my mind that we would turn it around and it did turn around." "The important thing is Caleb and Merritt had a belief," Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson told Goal USA. "I think where every bit of adversity we faced we either take a step forward or stay where we are. We always believed. You never heard any of us saying we were worried about missing the playoffs. We always believed we would make it, and we knew if we made it we could win the whole thing." Portland's players also bought into Porter's belief, and responded positively to his decision later in the year to change up tactics and personnel. His decision to make Darlington Nagbe a central midfielder and bench captain Will Johnson helped transform the Timbers into a more dangerous team, and the results show his move was key to the late-season turnaround. "Caleb Porter is a winner. There is no doubt about that," Timbers defender Nat Borchers told Goal USA. "What impressed me the most about what he did is that he realized what wasn't going right, he made the right changes and we're obviously here because of those changes." Porter's Timbers finished the year playing some of the best soccer in the league, and even after those earlier struggles, still managed to finish tied for the third-most points in MLS. They went on to defeat higher seeds in Vancouver and FC Dallas before thoroughly outplaying the Crew in Sunday's final. Porter's fingerprints were all over the team, not only from a tactical standpoint, but in terms of the personnel he helped develop. Jorge Villafana, a reclamation project he showed enough faith in to trade for and eventually hand a starting role, dominated Crew standout Ethan Finlay, shutting down the Best XI midfielder and limiting the Crew's attacking options. Darlington Nagbe, the first draft pick in Timbers history, and a player who has long struggled to live up to expectations, enjoyed a breakout 2015 with the help of Porter, who helped him find a home in central midfield. Then you have Rodney Wallace, the longest-serving Timbers player, and a player who was much-maligned by Timbers fans before Porter arrived. Porter helped him find a home as a dangerous winger, and it was Wallace who delivered the MLS Cup-winning goal on Sunday. "He came in and turned things around for this club," Wallace said of Porter. "We were close in 2013 and that was just a small taste of what this club could do, and tonight shows the complete picture of what we put together with him as the coach and the belief the players have in him." Just as his players helped reward Porter's faith in them, they also helped reward Paulson's faith in Porter, who was seen as somewhat of a risky hire after the Olympic qualify debacle in 2012. "I never doubted my decision about hiring Caleb," Paulson told Goal USA. "In fact, I felt lucky because I got the best coach in the league. I've got the guy I want, and now I've got to keep him here. "I never doubted my decision, not only because he's a great coach, but because he's the right fit," Paulson said. "He works well with me, he works well with Gavin. He's an uber-competitive guy. He can be a pain in the ass. I can be a pain in the ass, but in the end he's like family." Porter and his Timbers family celebrated their championship well into Sunday night, and even as the champagne soaked into his suit, Porter couldn't help but reflect on the more trying times of his coaching careers, which helped mold him into a coach who now has an MLS Cup title to go with the NCAA title he won at Akron in 2010. "I've had a lot of lows, a lot of bitter disappointments that could've derailed me," Porter said. "There are times when you question, 'How did that happen?' But really what it is is it's just football. It's a very cruel sport, but if you do things right eventually it turns, it always turns." | 1 | 97,522 | sports |
French shipping company CMA CGM SA has offered to buy Temasek Holding's shares in Neptune Orient Lines for S$2.26 billion ($1.61 billion), the Singapore shipping firm said in a filing to the Singapore Exchange on Monday. The world's third largest container shipping line is offering $1.30 a share or 6 per cent above NOL's last closing price on the Singapore exchange to acquire Temasek's 67 percent stake in an all-cash deal, NOL said in a filing to the exchange on Tuesday. CMA's offer will value NOL at S$3.4 billion. The merger between NOL and privately-held CMA would be the biggest container shipping deal in years. The deal is a sign of further consolidation in the global shipping industry on the back of a collapse in freight rates as growth in China slows, reducing the country's appetite for commodities just as a backlog of large vessels come into service. Key shipping indicator, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), a measure of freight rates for shipping bulk cargoes such as iron ore, coal and grains tanked to a new record low last week, is hovering near record lows. "The acquisition will enable the offer or to cement its position among the global leaders in the container shipping industry…The combination of CMA CGM and the NOL Group will create a powerful and dynamic new entity; and the combined group's clients will have access to an enlarged and well balanced shipping coverage across the strategic trades of global commerce, and to an extended range of products and services," CMA said in a statement. NOL announced a trading halt this morning ahead of the announcement. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook . --- Watch it again: Should you invest in dry bulk shipping? | 3 | 97,523 | finance |
It's no longer a rare feat to 3D print blood vessels . Printing vessels that act like the real deal, however, has been tricky... until now. Lawrence Livermore researchers have successfully 3D printed blood vessels that deliver nutrients and self-assemble like they would in a human body. The key is to print an initial structure out of cells and other organic material, and then to augment it with bio ink and other body-friendly materials. With enough time, everything joins up and behaves naturally. Right now, the actual structures don't bear much resemblance to what you'd find in a person -- you get a "spaghetti bowl" of vessels. Scientists hope to organize these vessels the way they exist in nature, though. If that happens, you could one day see artificial tissue samples and even transplants that are about as realistic as you can get. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/06/scientists-3d-print-live-blood-vessels/ | 5 | 97,524 | news |
Tyler Tate's trick of the week features Greg Long surfing the biggest wave of the year. | 1 | 97,525 | sports |
Australia's government has announced a A$1.1b (£530m, $801m) innovation plan to replace the faltering mining boom with an "ideas boom". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull unveiled 24 measures on Monday aimed at creating economic growth. Many of the measures are focused on supporting entrepreneurial businesses. Early stage investors will get tax breaks and a A$200m fund will co-invest in businesses that develop technology from Australian research. Immigration rules will also be changed to encourage entrepreneurs to relocate to Australia, and bankruptcy laws will be softened to encourage enterprises to take risks. A further A$36m is being provided to support Australian entrepreneurs to establish a presence in Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv and other technology hubs. "Our future growth will depend on a different type of boom - an ideas boom," Mr Turnbull said. "Collaboration between industry and researchers is the lowest in the OECD and the number of SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] bringing new ideas to market is also low by international standards." The initiative, dubbed the National Innovation and Science Agenda, also provides A$99m to promote digital literacy and science, engineering and mathematics skills. Children will be taught basic computer coding in primary and high school. National Innovation and Science Agenda: major initiatives A$200m early-stage innovation fund to co-invest in companies creating new services and products based off Australian research. Reduction of default bankruptcy period from three years to one year. Establishment of five "landing pads" in Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv and other locations to support global expansion of Australian businesses. A$26m to support development of quantum computing. A$13m to expand opportunities for women in science, technology and engineering jobs. A$99m to support science and technology education. | 3 | 97,526 | finance |
WASHINGTON President Barack Obama appears to be playing catchup to the national mood on terrorism. His prime-time speech Sunday on the threat posed by Islamic State militants and their admirers may have been only his third address ever from the Oval Office. But he has spoken at least a dozen times about terrorism in the weeks since the Paris attacks and the mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. And it apparently hasn't worked. The unusual venue of a prime-time TV address came as aides sought a way for Obama to reassert himself on the issue of national security. Despite frequent comments in past days, he's faced criticism from Republicans for what seemed a dispassionate response to the back-to-back attacks, doubts about his strategy from members of both major parties, and the defection of 47 Democrats in the House of Representatives who did not accept his assurance that his administration already is doing an adequate job screening refugees from Syria. Yet much of Obama's failure to drive the conversation his way that his strategy against the Islamic State is working however slowly stems from his own rhetoric, particularly his reluctance to speak in anger or alarm about terrorism. Last week, for example, his White House lagged behind his own FBI director in saying flatly that the San Bernardino attack was an Islamic jihadist-inspired "act of terrorism." On Sunday, Obama strived to use clearer language to assure the country. "This was an act of terrorism," he said of the California attacks. "We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us," he added, sharpening his wording from his traditional phrasing of "degrade and ultimately destroy." He also implored Americans not to scapegoat Muslims for the actions of a "death cult," but called out Muslim leaders and nations to do more themselves. "It's a real problem that Muslims must confront without excuse," he said. Obama's usual reticence also on display in the aftermath of the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, shooting and his administration's initial focus on a video-inspired demonstration after the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya is seen as deliberate caution by his White House and dismissed as insufficient to the task by his critics. Before Obama spoke, a senior administration official knowledgeable about the speech but not authorized to speak publicly as a matter of practice said that the president "felt compelled" to deliver a speech to address fears prompted by both recent attacks. "We recognized that there are very real and legitimate fears in the United States and around the world about the nature of this terrorist threat," the official said. Republicans were unmoved: "President Obama is a wartime president who doesn't seem to realize it," said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. Obama's customary hesitancy followed by acknowledgment reflects an inherent tension in Obama's presidency: He campaigned for the White House, and has spent much of his seven years in office promising to turn the page on war and the threat of terrorism only to be forced to react by events in a convulsing Middle East. He again ruled out a ground war Sunday. John Hudak, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution who studies the presidency, said Obama's "overly cautious" tendency comes from a naturally deliberative personality as well as a rare attitude for a politician that if he doesn't have anything to say then he won't say anything. Americans often want to hear from their presidents, though, in the way Bill Clinton spoke after the Oklahoma City bombing and George W. Bush after 9/11. "After a series of tragedies, Americans are looking for someone somewhere to make them feel better," Hudak said. "A president has the opportunity to make them feel better. … His biggest weakness is not being able to do that." Critics complain that Obama has a tendency to react slowly or awkwardly. When a Muslim Army doctor killed 13 and wounded 30 others at Fort Hood, Obama didn't comment until the following day. And his administration long called it an act of workplace violence, not Islamic-inspired terrorism. After a would-be terrorist tried to blow up a Detroit-bound jetliner on Christmas Day 2009, a vacationing Obama didn't make a public comment until four days later. When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April 2010, Obama didn't speak publicly on it until nine days later. Republicans complain that Obama hasn't been forceful enough. "If I am elected president we will utterly destroy ISIS," Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz said Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. "We won't degrade them. We will utterly destroy them. We will carpet bomb them into oblivion." Even prominent Democrats have criticized Obama's strategy as weak, or have raised doubts about his assurances in past weeks. In the House of Representatives, 47 Democrats brushed aside White House assurances that it is adequately screening refugees coming from Syria to the U.S., and voted for a bill that would require the administration to certify that any refugee has been fully vetted and is not a terrorist before they could be admitted to the U.S. And on the campaign trail, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton said Sunday that Obama's approach needs bolstering. "We're not winning," she said on ABC News. Jens David Ohlin, a law professor at Cornell University who studies war, said Obama is trying to strike a balance between his own cautious nature and what the American people want to hear in time of crises. "Obama is often aggressive in his actions but rhetoric is always measured," he said. "He's not going to get on a soapbox and beat his chest." | 5 | 97,527 | news |
Check out Sunday's Top NHL Plays, including Justin Faulk's game-winning goal, an assist from Patrick Kane and a stick save from Cory Schneider. | 1 | 97,528 | sports |
Take a look back at some of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham's most memorable receptions over the past two years. | 1 | 97,529 | sports |
As much as college football needs an eight-team playoff, there are more pressing concerns right now. Like fixing the rest of the bowl system. Unless you're an alum of, say, Nebraska, Nevada or Auburn, you may not have realized what an overgrown mess the bowls havebecome. And I'm not just talking about the names of some of these games. (The Cure Bowl? Is that similar to the old Fight Hunger Bowl? Or are organizers just huge Robert Smith fans?) With a whopping 40 of them this year, bowl games have become college football's equivalent of the participation trophy. Seriously. There are 127 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, which means only about a third will miss out on the headphones, sunglasses, watches, gift cards and whatever else is stuffed into those goodie bags. There are so many bowl games the NCAA had to amend its rules again just so there'd be enough teams to fill all of them. Long gone are the days when teams had to have seven wins to earn a trip to a bowl game. Now you don't even need a winning record. It's so bad, in fact, that more than a dozen teams with records of .500 or below "earned" the privilege of playing in the postseason. Of those, three are 5-7. But hey, they were selected based on their Academic Progress Rate, so that makes it all OK. Tell that to the folks who somehow get suckered into buying tickets for the unfortunately named Cure Bowl, which pits 5-7 San Jose State vs. 6-6 Georgia State. Or the Mediocrity Bowl, aka the Independence Bowl, where either Tulsa (6-6) or Virginia Tech (6-6) will finish with a winning record only because somebody has to. Then there's the travesty of the Arizona Bowl, which features Nevada against Colorado State. For those unfamiliar with football beyond the Mississippi River, Nevada and Colorado State are both members of the Mountain West Conference, making the Arizona Bowl no better than a glorified regular-season game. MWC Craig Thompson was understandably livid about it, issuing a statement Sunday in which he blistered the NCAA and his fellow commissioners for favoring conference agreements with the bowls over, oh, I don't know, common sense. Instead of placing the teams with better and I use that term loosely records first, the commissioners and bowls stuck to their historical partnerships and back-up agreements. Which is how 7-5 Colorado State wound up playing a conference opponent while a 5-7 Nebraska team plays UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl. "Clearly, the system is broken," Thompson said in his statement. "There is an excess of bowl games due in part to a disparate allocation of openings vs. conference bowl histories. The result is teams with sub-.500 records participating in bowl games. There is consensus change is needed and this year's outcome must not be repeated." Not that the NCAA, the other conferences or the bowls really care. With the exception of the biggies Citrus, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Outback, Peach, Rose and Sugar bowl games exist solely to provide programming for the broadcast partners of the NCAA and its conferences. The stadium can be half-empty and it won't matter so long as the TV cameras are rolling and the rights fees have been paid. The same universities who are crying poor over paying the full cost of attendance happily go along with the charade and expense of these meaningless games because it gives them bragging rights. Who cares that no one knows what or where the Belk Bowl is? If the alums and donors are happy and proud, they're more likely to keep writing those big, fat checks. One of the arguments against the creation and now expansion of the College Football Playoff is that it would come at the expense of the other bowls. That a playoff would gut the time-honored traditions fans have come to know and love. Please. The bowl system and everyone connected with it sold their souls long ago, making this year's debacle as inevitable as it is embarrassing. | 1 | 97,530 | sports |
1072EN-FRANCE-SHOOTING_U2_PARIS_O_ | 8 | 97,531 | video |
Russell Westbrook records his third triple-double of the season with 19 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in the Thunder's win over the Kings. | 1 | 97,532 | sports |
Looking to put your craft skills to use during the holiday season? Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) has some ideas for do-it-yourself holiday cards. | 8 | 97,533 | video |
As authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett mused in Good Omens , "civilization is 24 hours and two meals away from barbarism." Human history is indeed filled with moments of violence that broke out because groups of people found themselves running on empty. Some scholars even argue that human warfare itself may have evolved alongside our move from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle into an agricultural one, given that any growing population (even a prehistoric one) will likely strain its available resources sooner or later. Whether the cause of conflict was threats to a nation's entire grain supply or simply the loss of a lone pig, these foods all ended up in the same place throughout history: smack in the middle of war. 1. PASTRIES Prior to the Pastry War, a.k.a. the First Franco-Mexican War, tensions were high in the new Mexican republic as competing leadership factions, European nationals, and just about everybody else struggled for a better place in the new order. Clashes in the street reportedly destroyed the bakery of one French chef, and one thing led to another until the French government demanded 600,000 pesos as reparations for his losses and other French businesses that had been destroyed. King Louis-Phillippe was already miffed at Mexico over the matter of un-repaid loans, so he allowed these pastries to be the ones that broke the camel's back. He dispatched his fleet to Veracruz, and kicked off what would be a three-month conflict between the countries from 1838 to 1839. 2. RICE World War II took an enormous toll on the stability, economics, and resources of French Indochina, and was one of several major factors (including colonial occupation and unseasonable weather) leading to the Vietnamese Famine of 1945. As war was waging in Southeast Asia, some regions of Vietnam had rice surpluses, but the effects of the war made transportation between regions much more difficult. Meanwhile, both the French and the Japanese were more concerned about fighting then averting famine, with the French being accused of storing harvests past the point of edibility. The scarcity of the regional staple crop caused physical and financial "rice war" struggles throughout the region, drove many (understandably) angry Vietnamese peasants to foment rebellion and seek independence, and led into the almost eight-year First Indochina War. Current estimates of the number of north Vietnamese lives lost during the 1945 famine are typically between one and two million. 3. A SINGLE PIG Often enough, reasons given for the eruption of a war will involve some minute detail or other that leaders have chosen for their "breaking point." In the case of the Pig War , an 1859 conflict between British and American forces on the West Coast of what's now Washington state, the "shot heard round the world" was fired at one very special porker. Also called the Pig Episode and the San Juan Boundary Dispute, the confrontation occurred at the tail end of the period in which the U.K. and U.S. were expanding into the lumber- (and possibly gold-) rich Pacific Northwest of present-day Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. As the finer points of the border lines were being drawn, the San Juan Islands, located between Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland, were disputed territory. With tensions running high, representatives of the British Hudson Bay Company on the small island chain suddenly found themselves living next door to U.S. settlers. When a British pig (worth either $10 or $100, depending which party you asked) started rooting around in a nearby American's garden and was shot for its trespass, both competing powers were ready to throw down. Fortunately, no shots were fired, and there were no casualties except for the pig. 4. BREAD, GRAIN, AND FLOUR As age-old staple crops for many millions of people, wheat and other grains have often been the focus of serious conflict when their supplies are threatened or running low. Food Republic points out, for example, that when the broad Roman Empire's increasing demanding for bread "was leading to social unrest at home," Roman forces responded by doing "what they do best: they brandished their imperial muscle and took other people's grains, in this case Egypt's, to placate their citizens." The struggle for access to grain-based food didn't end there, though, and has followed Western culture throughout history. To name just a few examples: In the spring of 1775 (shortly before the French Revolution would finally erupt), the Kingdom of France was host to an ongoing series of riots referred to as the Flour War, when the price of flour skyrocketed thanks to a combination of poor harvests and new government trade policies. In 1917, when Russia's "average working woman was spending 40 hours per week " in bread lines, groups of such sick-and-tired women kicked off riots that quickly grew to over 100,000 people, and which led to the country's first of two revolutions that year. Conflict over bread and grain continues today, and was a perhaps lesser-known factor in the recent Arab Spring. Noting that Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco are the world's absolute largest wheat importers, Salon explains that the movement "started in Tunisia when rising food prices, high unemployment, and a widening gap between rich and poor triggered deadly riots and finally the flight of the country's autocratic ruler Zine Ben Ali," whose last act as ruler ("too little too late," Salon says) was "a vow to reduce the price of sugar, milk, and bread." And with wheat and corn prices almost doubling through 2010 and 2011, "it was not just the standard of living of the [region's] poor that was threatened, but their very lives as climate-change driven food prices triggered political violence." 5. BLUE CRABS After the partitioning of Korea, questions remained about the maritime boundary between the two countries a matter of significant concern in a region that has, in recent years, fostered increasing competition and conflict for the seafood on which it relies. In particular, extremely valuable blue crabs can be found along this disputed line, and have sparked a number of clashes [ PDF ] between North and South Korea. 6. SUGAR AND SPICE (NOT ALWAYS SO NICE) When many of us Yanks think of our split from Britain in the Revolutionary War and the foods that spurred it, tea (and a certain party with it) often comes to mind. When it comes to clashing over edible resources, though, England, France, and the soon-to-be U.S.A. were much more concerned about the fate of two other commodities: spice and sugar. As one financial advising firm explained to Business Insider : From a European perspective the U.S. revolt was a sideshow to a larger British/French conflict fought mainly over the agriculturally rich East and West Indies trade routes. While the British lost to the colonists at Yorktown, the Royal Navy's victory over a French [and] Spanish fleet at the Battle of the Saintes was bigger news at home as it secured [sugar-rich] Jamaica as a British possession. 7. SALT Frankly, salt has been a source of conflict among humans for about as long as we've been utilizing it. Trouble tends to arise whenever one group (usually a ruling and/or powerful one) puts strain on another group's access to this vital resource something we've relied on through the millennia for preserving our food, treating our ailments, and balancing our bodily fluids. There was the Salt War of 1482-84, for example, involving the duke of Ferrara, salt mining, and the Papal forces of Sixtus IV, and also the Salt War of 1540, involving the rightly fed-up denizens of Perugia, a new salt tax, and the Papal forces of Paul III. In 1648, too, the people of Moscow responded to Tsar Alexei I's new universal salt tax with days of violent uprising. Of course, as Mohandas Gandhi and co.'s famous Salt March across India proved, the struggle for fair access to salt or anything else, for that matter doesn't always have to get rough. | 0 | 97,534 | foodanddrink |
NEW DELHI/ALMATY, Dec 7 (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude struck Tajikistan on Monday, shaking buildings as far away as the Indian capital of New Delhi and in Pakistan, the U.S. Geological Survey and witnesses 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. The epicentre of the quake was 111 km (65 miles) southwest of Karakul, the USGS said, a sparsely populated mountainous area. A Dushanbe resident told Reuters by telephone the quake had been felt in the capital, but described it as moderate. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi, Olzhas Auyezov in Almaty and Polina Devitt in Moscow, Editing by Douglas Busvine and Angus MacSwan) | 5 | 97,535 | news |
Talal Shaheer, a former classmate of Tashfeen Malik, has told the BBC about his "disbelief". | 8 | 97,536 | video |
AN AFRICAN elephant detects dangerous TNT using its extraordinary sense of smell. Shot in November, this fascinating footage shows Chishuru, a 17-year-old male bull, carefully checking a row of white plastic buckets one of which contains the explosive material. The huge animal raises its right leg to signal that he has found the tiny amount of TNT which is placed on a piece of filter paper. This amazing research is being carried out in Bela Bela in the Limpopo Province of South Africa by wildlife organisation Adventures with Elephants. Producer: Mark Hodge, Nick Johnson Editor: Sonia Estal | 8 | 97,537 | video |
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Monday after equities surged Friday following the strong jobs report, which supports an interest rate hike this month, and dovish comments from the European Central Bank. Ahead of next week's key Fed policy announcement which seems bound to bring the first hike in the fed funds rate since 2006 it also looks set to be a less eventful week, kicking off with just consumer credit figures for October at 3:00 p.m. ET on Monday. Arguably the week's US data highlights come on Friday, with November retail sales figures, which are expected to report a further modest increase, as well as the preliminary reading of the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey for December. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard is the only Fed official on the calendar with a speech Monday. The Fed goes quiet in the week before its rates meeting. Markets are prepping for a rate hike December 16, after Friday's 211,000 November nonfarm payrolls showed a continuing solid trend of job creation. "The imminent start of the Fed rate-hiking cycle will be sugar-coated in dovish reassurances about the speed of tightening. The market expects as much, but history warns us that the dollar rallies ahead of the first rate hike and often weakens afterwards. This presents a chance to buy, as monetary policy divergence will still be the big theme of 2016," said analysts led by Patrick Legland, global head of research at Societe Generale. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said quantitative easing was unlimited on Friday, helping stocks close around 2 percent higher. "There is no particular limit to how we can deploy any of our tools," he said. His comments, made in New York came after markets were disappointed by the ECB on Thursday following its monthly policy meeting, where it pledged to extend its bond-buying program, but fell short of expectations of greater stimulus. European equities were trading higher on Monday after Draghi's dovish tone and the solid jobs report from the U.S, with French and German stocks both trading close to 2 percent higher. Meanwhile in oil markets, prices edged closer to 2015 lows on Monday after OPEC failed to agree on a production curb to stem sliding prices and a stronger dollar made it more expensive to hold crude positions. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ended its policy meeting on Friday without agreeing to lower production. Brent crude, the globally traded benchmark, fell 31 cents at $42.69 a barrel early on Monday, close to their 2015 low of $42.23. U.S. crude was trading at $39.49 a barrel, down 49 cents. --- Watch: Market Outlook: Where to Put Your Money in 2016 | 3 | 97,538 | finance |
ATLANTA The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles plans to hear from supporters for a death row inmate scheduled to die this week. A clemency hearing for Brian Keith Terrell is scheduled for Monday. Terrell is set for execution Tuesday at 7 p.m. He was convicted in the 1992 slaying of a close friend of his mother. Terrell was on parole in June 1992 when prosecutors say he stole and forged checks belonging to the friend of his mother, 70-year-old John Watson. Prosecutors say Terrell was supposed to return the money but instead shot Watson multiple times and then severely beat him. Terrell's lawyers say that their client is innocent, that no physical evidence connects him to the crime, and that prosecutors used false and misleading testimony to get the conviction. | 5 | 97,539 | news |
Former Rutgers coach Mike Rice (you know, the one who threw basketballs at his players ) has been named the interim coach at a New Jersey high school, NJ.com reported . "I'm excited and thankful for the opportunity," Rice said in a text to the website. "Whatever I can do to help the Patrick School student-athletes and (former coach) Chris (Chavannes), I will." MORE: Highest paid college basketball coaches | Coaches then and now Rice was fired in 2013 when video emerged of him physically and verbally abusing his players at practice. The abuses included violent grabbing and shoving of players, and also throwing basketballs at them. He officially has been out of basketball since his firing, although he has coached AAU teams and run a camp at the Hoop Group Headquarters during the summer. But this is different. He's taking over an impressive high school basketball team that has won 13 state titles. Chavannes, the team's former coach and school principal, believes the situation will be good for Rice. "I think Mike could use a program such as one with our profile level to help get himself back out there," he said. "And I think for the program, it's a good situation for me to take some time off and the players maintain that certain level that they've had. It's just a nice transition." | 1 | 97,540 | sports |
American International Group (AIG.N) is seeking to raise about $750 million by selling part of its stake in China's state-run PICC Property and Casualty Co Ltd (2328.HK), according to a term sheet of the deal seen by IFR on Monday. AIG is offering between 355 million and 365 million shares in PICC Property and Casualty in a range of HK$16.08-HK$16.38 each, IFR, a Thomson Reuters publication reported. That represents a discount of 4.3-6.1 percent to PICC Property's last traded price. The deal has a $250 million up-size option, IFR said. AIG first acquired a stake in PICC Property and Casualty as a cornerstone investor in 2003, ahead of the Chinese insurer's IPO. AIG was not available for an immediate comment. Citigroup (C.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) are managing the sale, IFR said. (Reporting by Fiona Lau at IFR; Writing by Denny Thomas; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) --- Watch it again: Carl Icahn Targets AIG CEO Peter Hancock | 3 | 97,541 | finance |
New York City's Strongest has decided to jump into the calendar business. But unlike the cheesecake-laden versions featuring buff firefighters and cheeky cabbies , this calendar portrays members of the Sanitation Department as "glamorous heroes" according to photographer Michael Anton. "I really studied the style and lighting of old Hollywood glamour photos," said Anton, who has been the department's photographer since 2007. "I want people to look at sanitation workers the way I look at them." Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said she believed the calendar was also a way to show the diversity of the jobs and people in the department that removes more than 10,500 tons of trash and 1,760 tons of recyclables every day. It also personalizes what many view as a "faceless" job. The calendar retails for $14.95 and will be on sale at the CityStore starting this week. "This celebrates the people I think do a heroic job every day, especially during the snow season," said Garcia. "I would really like New Yorkers to think about the people who are doing it." She pointed out the department also boasts female members in posts that were not traditionally seen as employment for women. The calendar starts in January with a stunning portrait of Deputy Chief Cherry Bailey of the Bronx Borough Office, framed by glowing light and a collection truck. "He made me look like a million bucks," said Bailey, 39, with a laugh. She already has orders to send a dozen copies of the calendar to family members in Barbados. The calendar features images of supervisors, mechanics and enforcement agents along with helpful tips on reducing waste. "When people hear sanitation, they only think about garbage," she said. "They don't see the supervisors or mechanics or the women employees on the job. I think this is a great idea." Jorge Lembert, a 16 year veteran, admitted it was "a little surreal" but exciting to find himself as the face of September the month of his birthday and when he started working for the agency in 1999. "We take our jobs seriously and we work very hard," said Lembert, 37, a superintendent in the Queens East Borough Office. "Hopefully this helps make people more aware of what we do." | 5 | 97,542 | news |
Oscar Pistorius is set to appear in court Tuesday for a bail hearing that could send him back to jail after he was convicted for murder on appeal for shooting dead his girlfriend, South African officials said. "It's a bail application. His (earlier) conviction has been overturned so his sentence from before has been scrapped, now he has to apply for bail," Lusanda Ntuli, spokeswoman for the justice ministry, told AFP. | 5 | 97,543 | news |
John Kerry has branded its members psychopathic monsters, François Hollande calls them barbarians, and David Cameron describes them as a death cult. But Islamic State is much more than that. As newly obtained documents demonstrate, Isis is also made up of bureaucrats, civil servants and jobsworths. Hundreds if not thousands of cadres have set themselves to work creating rules and regulations on everything from fishing and dress codes to the sale of counterfeit brands and university admission systems. [Related: The Isis papers: leaked documents show how Isis is building its state ] About 340 official documents, notices, receipts, and internal memos seen by the Guardian show that they have been trying to rebuild everything from roads to nurseries to hotels to marketplaces, from the Euphrates to the Tigris. They have also established 16 centralised departments including one for public health and a natural resources department that oversees oil and antiquities. This has been the plan all along. A 24-page statecraft blueprint obtained by the Guardian, written in the months after Isis's declaration of a caliphate, shows how deliberate the state-building exercise has been, and how central it is to its overall aims. [ Islamic State blueprint] Examined together the Isis papers build a highly detailed picture of what is going on in the militants' putative state. In the early days after the declaration of the caliphate in June 2014, the emphasis was on regulations on dress and behaviour. These included a prohibition on selling and displaying tight-fitting and "ornamented" garments. Fatwas were issued on playing billiards and table football. And in one of the more bizarre rulings, Isis banned rooftop pigeon-keeping because it was deemed a waste of time. Then around the turn of this year, Isis appeared to seize the momentum, issuing a slew of documents directly relating to state building and job creation. It posted notices advertising job opportunities within the newly established department of zakat or tithes akin to a social services department. On the education front, there were announcements about the beginning of the school term, the opening of a kindergarten and recruitment for teachers. Isis's civil servants also issued agricultural plans for the summer growing season and a plethora of civil regulations, those that have nothing to do with a specific ideology, such for drivers (they must carry "a comprehensive repair toolkit" at all times) and shop owners (they must not block the pavement with goods without a licence). During the past five months there has been a noticeable rise in the number of documents relating to security measures and military mobilisation; Isis is becoming increasingly paranoid. There has been a complete prohibition on private Wi-Fi networks, notices have been issued to checkpoints to crack down on smuggling of gold, copper and iron, and at the start of October the group issued an amnesty for military deserters presumably because it needs more soldiers. At the same time, fearing traitors in their midst, the department of public security has ordered anyone previously associated with "enemies of the state" to immediately register themselves. That is the general chronological progression of Isis, but there are several themes that cut across this timeline. In trying to assert its jurisdiction across what were once two separate countries, Isis is engaged in a programme of unification. This is apparent in the issuing of standard work IDs and the campaign to, as the group puts it, "break the borders". [ Map of Isis territory ] To that end Isis has created a new district, Euphrates Province, which falls over both sides of the international boundary, and has been busily issuing regulations like the rest of the group's dozen or so provinces. Where Isis struggles on this front is with tertiary education the differences in the Syrian and Iraqi secondary systems have made it too hard to create a unified university admissions system and the currency, where it still deals in Syrian pounds, Iraqi dinars and the ubiquitous US dollar. In wider economic matters, Isis appears to have little patience with Adam Smith's " invisible hand " and has been enforcing rent and price controls on a whole variety of goods and services from caesarean sections ($70/£46) to sugar (70 cents per kg). But the caliphate is not implementing Soviet-style levels of economic control. It allows private citizens to own property, run businesses and carry out state projects such as road building. A copy of a payment order goes into some fascinating detail. In return for having asphalted the Iraq-Syria highway that runs alongside the right bank of the Euphrates river and planting it with trees, "so as not to expose the forces of the Islamic State" to aerial assault, someone going by the name of Abu Dujana al-Libi was paid $100,000. One of the most striking documents reveals how Isis is making its money. A six-page monthly financial statement for Deir ez-Zor province for January 2015 shows total monthly revenue was $8.4m (£5.6m) handsome for a terrorist group, but pitiful for a state. [Related: Islamic State document reveals 'constitution' and plan for governing ] Taxes generated 23.7% of its income while oil and gas sales made up 27.7%. If that figure is correct then, as Tamimi notes, daily revenues from Isis's most oil rich province yielded $66,400 dollars a day nothing like estimates of $3m a day that have been bandied around. But topping both oil sales and taxes are "confiscations". Isis has been fining smugglers of outlawed goods such as cigarettes including the electronic kind and auctioning off property seized from designated enemies of the state. This activity made up a whopping 45% of its income, almost as much as natural resources and taxes put together. [ Revenue Expenses ] On the expenditure side, 63.5% of the province's cash was spent on soldiers' salaries and upkeep for military bases. And only 17.7% was used for public services. The last and strongest of the themes that comes through from the documents is Isis's desire to portray itself as a utopia for true believers. This can be split into two; a drive to create positives and attempts to do away with negatives. To that second end it has initiated an anti-corruption drive. There are standard complaint forms which even have suggestion boxes. And at some point in 2014 Isis opened a "complaints office" in its self-declared capital of Raqqa. Caliphate-wide rules also forbid Isis members from being involved in state investments or to "exploit their position ... and work in the state for personal interests". This sort of cronyism plagues governments throughout the Middle East and Asia, so their attempts to explicitly outlaw it are very noteworthy. Isis have also been busy promoting the positives of life under the caliphate and buoying morale. It regularly awards $100 prizes for excellence in religious studies and in May, it doled out free passes to an amusement park and its newly renovated five-star hotel in Mosul, to celebrate its military victory which saw Isis take the ancient city of Palmyra from Assad's forces. The group's department of zakat has been raising a tithe tax in order to distribute the cash to destitute families. One undated set of statistics from Isis's Aleppo province shows they registered 2,502 families with each family receiving an average of $260. Whether that is monthly or annually is unclear. Of course, the theory of statecraft has been sorely tested by the sobering realities of aerial bombardment from without and disenchantment from within. The coalition airstrikes are believed to be seriously degrading Isis's economic infrastructure particularly oil and gas installations. Just as critical for the group, it clearly has a long way to go to win over local Sunni populations despite acting as a bulwark against the spread of Shia. A former nurse who reluctantly fled Raqqa this autumn after Isis tried to arrest him said bureaucracy was the first matter the group wanted to deal with when it arrived at his hospital. The group was quick to change the rubber stamps and the headed note paper so people knew this was an Islamic State hospital and then it dealt with the people. "They kicked out all the administration team out and they put [in their own] administrators but they kept the workers at the hospital, [the] doctors, nurses and cleaners," he said. One area in which Isis seem to be having the greatest difficulties is in health. Over 2015 Isis has issued several warning to departed doctors to return to work or have their property confiscated. The nurse from Raqqa, who now lives in the Turkish city of Gazientap, confirmed that this punishment is indeed meted out. "As soon as some one flees they take everything from him; home, clinic, everything that person has." Blueprint The overarching document sets out a theory of government, a civil servant's handbook. Entitled Principles in the Administration of the Islamic State it is Isis's blueprint for statecraft. The memorandum is marked for internal use only and is meant to be a foundation text for the "cadres of administrators" which Isis wishes to train. Each of the 24 pages is decorated with a sword and its final page is signed by "Abu Abdullah al Masri [Father of Abdullah the Egyptian]". The Guardian has not been able to discover any further information about the author but the anti-Isis organisation, Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered, references a man with the same nomme de guerre working as the chief of the electricity grid. Charlie Winter, a senior research associate at Georgia State University, says the document tells a story "totally consistent" with his own research into Isis's propaganda. "It is exacting and comprehensive, something which is testament to the fact that, at the highest levels, IS is focused on entrenching its political longevity, not just military relevance," he said. Split into 10 chapters and written in a bureaucratic style, the document begins with a potted history of the caliphate and what came before it, stressing that well trained administrators are at the heart of Isis's survival and separate it from all other jihadi groups. "The state requires an Islamic system of life, a Qur'anic constitution and a system to implement it," it says, and goes on: "There must not be suppression of the role of qualifications, skills of expertise and the training of the current generation on administering the state." Isis appears to have numerous categories of civil servants including those for statistics, finance, admin and accounts. The blueprint then goes on to lay out plans for future departments, including the military, education, public services and media relations. The chapter focussing on media strategy sets out the need for a central media organisation supported by provincial and auxiliary agencies. Winter says that the way has grown to understand how the media offices function is precisely what is laid out. "It is exactly the structure I had mapped out." There's also a long section on how to administer military camps, specifying three types: "first preparation" camps for regular initiates; continuation camps for veterans who will be sent there annually for two weeks; and camps for children. Describing the camps for veterans it says they will be taught the "latest arts of using weapons, military planning and military technologies … along with detailed commentary on the technologies of enemy use … and how the soldiers of the state can take advantage of them". It specifies that children should receive training in light arms and religious indoctrination and that "outstanding individuals" will be given security assignments such as manning checkpoints. The main body of the text discusses the centrality of natural resources. While committees will, it says, "administer production projects", the blueprint is explicit about allowing individuals to invest in all areas of economic life, except in the sensitive areas of oil or gas extraction. Describing the importance of education, it describes it as "the foundational brick on which Islamic society is built.". One further paragraph hints at the desire to be self-sufficient in the future by "raising a knowledgeable Islamic generation capable of bearing the Ummah [Islamic Nation] and its future without needing the expertise of the west." The retired general Stanley McChrystal , who led coalition forces in Afghanistan and was credited with leading the special operations units in Iraq that killed Isis's founding member Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2006, described the playbook as required reading. He said: "It seems a far cry from something produced by an organisation that routinely commits horrific acts of seemingly mindless brutality. And that may be the most chilling aspect. If the west sees Isis as an almost stereotypical band of psychopathic killers, we risk dramatically underestimating them." Lt Gen Mike Flynn, who retired in August 2014 after three years as the US's chief military intelligence gatherer, heading up the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), said that a "totally incoherent" and "piecemeal" western military strategy has given Isis time to organise itself. Describing the playbook as a "very legitimate document", he added: "The tendency for the Islamic State to act as a state is growing. And any time that they get to do that is to their advantage." The source The documents have come to light via a 23-year-old researcher from Cardiff, Aymenn al-Tamimi. Tamimi spends his nights scouring Facebook, Twitter and internet forums in order to compile his trove of primary source material -about 300 documents relating to the state Isis is attempting to build. "It occurred to me one evening to do something on Isis administration ... because for a time some documents had come out, not released officially by [Isis]; exam timetables and pharmaceutical price controls," he said. Tamimi believes the records say more about Isis than the propaganda it releases everyday. Most of his archive is made up of photos of official pronouncements that have been pinned to notice boards or documents that have been handed to people individually such as education texts, receipts or forms. When Tamimi finds a document, he then meticulously verifies, translates into English, and logs it on his website alongside the original where it is open to scrutiny from around the globe. But it is not just through the internet that he makes his discoveries. Since beginning this work at the start of the year, journalists and fellow analysts pass him documents and he has on one occasion travelled inside Syria to cultivate insider connections. The connections have now borne fruit. One source, a trader working inside Isis territory, gave him about 30 officially stamped memos, pronouncements and internal Isis texts including the two most significant finds to date, the monthly financial statement and the statecraft playbook. Separately, the Guardian has also obtained documents from Kurdish forces who seized the town of Tel Abyad on the Turkish border during this summer and materials dating from 2013 relating to local Isis military structure, discovered by Free Syrian Army forces fighting in Aleppo province. Additional reporting by Mona Mahmood, Alice Ross and Muhammed Almahmoud . | 5 | 97,544 | news |
MADRID The team that calls itself the best in the world is entangled in an ordeal that only amateur clubs are used to dealing with. Real Madrid inexplicably fielded an ineligible player in a Copa del Rey match last week, prompting its embarrassing elimination from the competition. To make it worse, the club is defiantly trying to shift blame and avoid punishment on a technicality. The mistake and the attempt to dodge responsibility dents Madrid's grandiose reputation, and exposes the fragility of the Spanish giant. It further deepens the crisis sparked by a demoralizing 4-0 home loss to rival Barcelona two weeks ago, and raises questions about the future of its leaders. Fans have had enough and are not being easily satisfied by wins on the field. The calls for the resignation of coach Rafa Benitez and president Florentino Perez have become a constant at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The team's disqualification from the Copa del Rey because of a bureaucratic misstep is proving to be too much to the team's demanding supporters. And although some might be happy that the club is doing everything it can to get reinstated, the attempt is seen by the rest of the soccer world as an act of desperation. The Copa del Rey game against Cadiz wasn't even over when the shocking news of Madrid's mistake began spreading across Spain: The team fielded Russian-born player Denis Cheryshev, who was carrying over a one-game suspension from last season for accumulation of yellow cards while playing on loan for Villarreal. Social media exploded with users talking about the potential problem, and the mistake quickly became the focus of Spanish media covering the game. Cheryshev had already scored Madrid's first goal in the 3-1 victory, and was substituted early in the second half, apparently after team officials realized the problem. For the second time in less than a month, president Perez was forced to come out and speak publicly about a difficult situation involving his team. He had already done it to display his support to coach Benitez after the humiliating home loss to Barcelona. But instead of trying to explain how a team as powerful and wealthy as Madrid didn't notice that Cheryshev was suspended, Perez stood tall in front of reporters and said that his team did nothing wrong and shouldn't be punished. He said the club would appeal and explore "every avenue" to reverse the Spanish federation's decision. "We believe that the ban should not take effect because the player was not personally notified, which is what the code says," Perez said. "Quite honestly, if we were not told by the player, who is the individual who needs to know about it, if we were not told by either the federation or Villarreal, who are aware of it, it was impossible for us to know about it." So, basically, it was everybody else's fault for not telling the almighty club that Cheryshev was ineligible. Perez also briefly mentioned a by-law which allowed for an interpretation that the player's previous bookings should have been voided at the start of this round in the competition, but the focus was clearly on the fact that Cheryshev allegedly was not notified. So, apparently, it wasn't his staff who should've checked the players' eligibility, it was somebody else's mistake that hurt his team. The federation disputed Madrid's claim, saying that "there is no doubt that the player was notified in person and that the imposition of a one-match suspension derived from an accumulation of yellow cards was published." Perez had already faced an embarrassing bureaucratic oversight earlier this year, when a late fax ruined Madrid's attempt to secure the transfer of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea at the end of the summer transfer market. Real Madrid remained optimistic it would be restored in the Copa del Rey and continued selling tickets for the return match at the Bernabeu on Dec. 16. If the appeal does work, it could take some pressure off Perez, at least momentarily. But it wouldn't change the fact that Madrid made a mistake uncharacteristic of a team of its significance. When it claims the right to call itself the best team in the world, it also needs to know that it has the responsibility to act accordingly. It means it needs to take responsibility for its mistakes instead of trying to blame others when things go wrong. ___ Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni | 1 | 97,545 | sports |
A man pulled over for a routine traffic violation attempts to snort cocaine while the officer checks his record. The policeman returns to find the man in an odd situation. Keleigh Nealon (@keleighnealon) has the story! | 8 | 97,546 | video |
Personal beverage system company Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR) has agreed to be taken private by an investor group led by JAB Holding for $92 a share in cash. The companies value the total equity of the deal at about $13.9 billion, representing a premium of approximately 77.9 percent over Keurig's closing stock price on December 4. The agreement was unanimously approved by Keurig's board of directors. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016. This is the latest in a string of coffee deals by JAB as it seeks to become a formidable competitor to Nestle, which operates the world's biggest coffee business. JAB formed a joint venture in July called Jacobs Douwe Egberts now the largest pure-play coffee company by combining its D.E. Master Blenders 1753 business with the coffee business of Mondelez International (MDLZ) . On Nov. 17, billionaire investor David Einhorn said in a letter he had re-entered a short position on Keurig at $102.08 a share. It was unclear whether he still had that position. Greenlight Capital Einhorn's hedge fund did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. What are Keurig's shares doing now? (Get the latest quote here.) (GMCR) Reuters contributed to this report. | 3 | 97,547 | finance |
You use your Internet connection to do all kinds of things. But you use it for one thing much more than anything else: To stream video and music. If you're reading this site (or if you work at a giant TV and broadband provider ), the odds are you know that already. But it's always useful to see it in a chart, so here you go. Here's the latest breakdown of "fixed access" for the purposes of this piece, read it as "home broadband" Internet usage during peak evening hours from Sandvine , the broadband services company. That big red bar in the middle is the one to focus on. It shows you that "real-time entertainment" streaming video and audio occupy a third of the Web traffic coming to your house: Again, it's not surprising to learn that broadband is moving from "the thing that brings you Web sites and email" to "the thing that brings you video." But change over time drives it home: Sandvine says that five years ago, video/audio represented 35 percent of prime time usage. Now it has doubled, to 70 percent. Much of the increase comes from YouTube and Netflix , which already accounted for more than half of your broadband usage a couple of years ago, and continue to grow. But now those services are joined by relatively new entrants, like Amazon* and Hulu, which barely registered a couple of years ago and now account for nearly 6 percent of usage. What's that? You've heard that mobile is the future of the Internet, and you'd like to see what's going on there, too? Same story, but different: Video and audio primarily YouTube dominate mobile usage, too. But social basically Facebook and Snapchat are also big. Video/audio accounts for 41 percent of mobile traffic, and social eats up 22 percent. * I've asked Amazon about Sandvine's numbers for years, in large part because Netflix has pointed to Sandvine as a reasonable proxy for its command of the streaming video market. And until today, Amazon has never commented on the record about Sandvine's estimates. Today, though, Amazon's PR agency has sent out a note pointing out that "Amazon now represents one the top three sources of video traffic in North America, up from rank #8 on Sandvine's 2014 report." So there you go. | 5 | 97,548 | news |
Jar Jar Binks will definitely not appear in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Lucasfilm Ltd. president Kathleen Kennedy has confirmed the unpopular alien, who was one of the main supporting characters in the 1999 'Star Wars' film 'The Phantom Menace', will not be in the forthcoming flick. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday (06.12.15), Kathleen, 62, said: ''Jar Jar is definitely not in the movie.'' While the filmmakers gave little away at the event, Kennedy also revealed there will not be any Ewoks from 1983's 'Return of the Jedi', which she joked was down to actor Harrison Ford who plays Han Solo in the film. Speaking about the lack of the teddy bear-like creatures in the film, she quipped: ''That's because Harrison insisted on it.'' Elsewhere, Ford revealed he wanted 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas to kill off Han Solo in the original movie 'A New Hope'. He said: ''I did say that I wanted Han Solo to die in the original, but that wasn't because I thought I didn't want to play the character. ''I didn't anticipate at that point that there would ever be another film. ''So I thought it would be great if he sacrificed himself and lent some gravitas to the enterprise.'' | 6 | 97,549 | entertainment |
Kevin Durant's return hasn't vaulted the Thunder back to the top of the Western Conference, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. Case in point: Sunday night's 98-95 win over the Kings. Durant scored 20 points, accounting for the game's final four points that included a go-ahead jumper with 23 seconds left to secure the win. MORE: Nick Young ejected | LeBron James tells heckling Heat fans to count the rings Durant wasn't perfect he had 10 turnovers but he was present. Last season, teams could collapse on Russell Westbrook with Durant out due to injury. Not so this season. And what about Westbrook? He had another triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) Sunday, his 14th since the start of last season and second this year. Only Kings guard Rajon Rondo (four), who was held to seven points in the loss, and the Warriors' Draymond Green (three) have more this season. The Thunder (12-8) also got help from their supporting cast as Enes Kanter (14 points, 10 rebounds), Serge Ibaka (12 points) and Dion Waiters (10 points) all stepped up offensively. MORE: Stephen Curry's wife getting unfairly bashed | Ben Simmons calls LeBron a mentor Oklahoma City may not be back to contender status just yet, like in 2013-14 when Durant won MVP and the Thunder made the conference finals, but with three quarters of the season still remaining, they've got plenty of time to move forward. Stud of the night Two nights after saying he "sucked," Mavericks forward Wesley Matthews went all the way off in a 116-104 win against the Wizards. Matthews hit 10 of 17 from the 3-point line on his way to a 36-point field day, adding six rebounds and five assists. Dud of the night Why is Kobe Bryant doing this to himself? Why is he doing it to us? Bryant's numbers were just plain ugly again Sunday as hit on only 2 of 15 field-goal attempts for five points as the Lakers fell 111-91 to the Pistons. Tweet of the night It doesn't look like Larry Bird is trying to give up the belt to Stephen Curry just yet. Larry Bird on Dan Patrick Show when asked who was a better clutch shooter between Bird and Steph Curry: "Dan. (Long pause.) Come on man. " Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) December 7, 2015 Looking ahead Wizards (8-10) at Heat (12-6), 7:30 p.m.: The big question is whether John Wall's right leg will keep him out against the Heat. Wall injured his leg in the fourth quarter of his team's loss to the Mavs on Sunday. | 1 | 97,550 | sports |
The suited lawyer whispered in the ear of the hulking suspect in the mass shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado, then Robert Lewis Dear answered "no questions" after briefly shaking his big, bearded head. It was the most the public has heard from Dear, who was trussed in handcuffs, leg irons and strapped into a thick, padded smock while speaking last week to the judge by video from jail, and that is exactly how Daniel King wants it. The public defender for Dear, 57, who police say surrendered after killing three people and wounding nine in the Nov. 27 clinic rampage, King most recently represented Colorado movie massacre gunman James Holmes. Within hours of taking on Dear's case, King's team had filed motions seeking to seal evidence, visit the crime scene, have defense experts observe forensic tests, and the imposition of a gag order to prevent anyone in law enforcement from disclosing details of the crime. Colorado's public defenders have successfully had several death sentences overturned on appeal, and are widely viewed as among the nation's most effective death penalty litigators. Dear is being held without bond on suspicion of first-degree murder pending the filing of formal charges on Wednesday. That will set in motion months, if not years, of legal maneuvering in Colorado's latest high-profile murder case, with the state public defender's office again at the forefront. DEATH PENALTY CASE? In addition to Holmes, who was convicted this summer of multiple murders but spared capital punishment after jurors could not agree unanimously that he should be executed, King also defended one of Colorado's current three death-row inmates, whose case is under appeal. His early appearance alongside Dear seems to indicate that the defense anticipates El Paso County District Attorney Dan May will seek the death penalty, legal analysts said. "Given that there were three victims, including a police officer, and an experienced lawyer like King was there, it appears the public defenders are bracing for a death penalty case," said Colorado criminal defense lawyer Zak Malkinson. Since there is no doubt Dear was the shooter in Colorado Springs, another insanity defense like the one raised in the Holmes trial is a possibility, said Malkinson, who served for seven years as a California public defender before entering private practice. While some may view the clinic rampage as an obvious contender for a death penalty case, the decision to seek a defendant's execution is not so clear-cut, said Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler, who prosecuted Holmes. "The size and scope of the crime, the aggravators, but also the mitigating factors such as mental health, are all things to be considered," Brauchler said. Before deciding to seek execution in the Holmes case, Brauchler said he consulted several other prosecutors, including May. The other prosecutors also sat in on a meeting at which King tried unsuccessfully to persuade Brauchler to take the death penalty off the table. CONSERVATIVE JURY POOL May said he has not decided if he will seek Dear's execution, and has 63 days after Dear ultimately enters a plea, which is likely months away, to announce his intentions. Whether or not May seeks capital punishment, a jury pool will be drawn from one of the most conservative areas of the state, should the case go to trial. Colorado Springs and the surrounding El Paso County are Republican strongholds with a large Evangelical Christian presence. They are also home to six military installations, including the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Army's mountain post, Fort Carson. Colorado's longest-serving death-row inmate, Nathan Dunlap, was convicted and sentenced to death by an El Paso County jury after his trial was moved there from the Denver area. But Colorado has executed just one inmate in nearly 50 years, largely due to the efforts of its public defenders. The same month Holmes' life was spared, public defenders persuaded a Denver jury not to condemn Dexter Lewis to death after he was convicted of multiple murders for stabbing to death five people inside a bar during a botched robbery. (Reporting by Keith Coffman and Daniel Wallis, Editing by Franklin Paul) | 5 | 97,551 | news |
Filmmaker George Lucas was among the recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors and joined other honorees at a special White House reception on Sunday before the award ceremony. | 8 | 97,552 | video |
There's a reason the Philadelphia Eagles came out strong against New England after the Patriots' attempted drop kick in the second quarter. The Patriots were up 14-0 on Sunday after a Danny Amendola touchdown midway through the second frame when head coach Bill Belichick tried something a little out of the ordinary. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski pitched the kickoff to special-teamer Nate Ebner, who attempted a drop kick that the Eagles' Seyi Ajirotutu jumped on at Philly's 41-yard line. The Eagles went on to score 35 unanswered points, and wide receiver Jordan Matthews provided a little context for that after the game. "I don't think anything surprises you with the Patriots," Matthews said, per CSN Philly. "I mean, they ran like a triple reverse pass to Tom Brady, so nothing can really surprise you. But in a sense it is kind of like, man, you know, that's disrespectful. They're trying to go ahead and get the ball back that quickly so they can put points on us. We've got men in our locker room, too. " … When a team's trying to do that and trying to impose their will on us the way they were trying to, it was important for us to go out and score that next drive. And we were able to go do that." While it might be a little much for a team to be offended by its opponent trying to win, there's no doubt the spark worked for the Eagles in their 35-28 victory over the Patriots. Plus, not everyone on the team saw it as a need for revenge. "They were pulling out all the stops," tight end Zach Ertz said, per CSN Philly. "They have a lot of respect for us. Ultimately, it didn't really work for them. (Ajirotutu) made a great play recovering the ball. It was kind of a surprise, but we kind of expected the unexpected against these guys." | 1 | 97,553 | sports |
Apple has long been known for simplicity. Then came this year. The tech titan's 2015 was punctuated by high-risk, big-ticket launches that have taken it into entirely new areas. It's no longer just that iPhone company, even if its revenue suggests otherwise. Apple this year introduced a smartwatch, a subscription music service, an updated streaming-TV box and a larger tablet aimed at the workplace. For consumers, and particularly for Apple fans, all the activity may have been dizzying. The array of new products and services came on top of the annual upgrade to the iPhone franchise, which still accounts for roughly two-thirds of total sales for the Cupertino, California-based company. The September release of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus helped push Apple to its "most successful year yet," CEO Tim Cook said on a call with analysts in October. It could also be called Apple's most complicated year yet, with a growing sprawl of product lines and variations. The biggest question at the start of 2015 focused on the Apple Watch . The wearable, initially teased in the latter half of 2014, marked the first new device category to emerge under Cook. It arrived after other tech companies had tried, and failed, to make wearables the next hot thing. The Apple Watch hit the market in April with no shortage of hype, complete with celebrity endorsements and in-store appointments for fittings. Despite a dominant market share and reassuring comments from executives, the gadget has yet to prove itself essential to consumers. Apple fans, meanwhile, had been patiently waiting for the company to show off something thrilling in the home entertainment department ever since Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs teased back in 2011 that Apple's co-founder had "cracked TV." Though it didn't produce a full television, the world's most valuable company finally unveiled in September an updated Apple TV streaming box, its first revamp of the product in three years. The company sees iPhone-like promise in the new Apple TV, fueled by its push to get developers to build apps for the device. Then there was Beats, which Apple acquired last year for $3 billion. Apple morphed the music service into a $9.99-a-month subscription offering called Apple Music that includes a fresh angle, with former BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe heading up the dedicated Beats Radio channel. After the initial three-month free trial, Cook said, 6.5 million customers opted to become paying subscribers. It isn't exclusive to iOS users either. Apple launched an Android version of the service last month. Apple also got into the jumbo-tablet business with its 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the option of an attachable keyboard and a stylus that Apple dubs the Pencil. The iPad Pro is Apple's take on an area already carved out by Microsoft's Surface Pro, which itself got an update this year. The jury is still out on whether the new entry will reinvigorate interest in tablets, which has waned over the past several years. Perhaps Apple's biggest achievement in 2015 wasn't what it did, but the eco-minded way it went about its business. Environmental nonprofit Greenpeace independently praised the company for its green credentials, putting Apple at the top of the list of tech industry giants doing their bit for the planet. Among the actions that earned Apple the accolade were its use of renewable energy and sustainable power and its decision to buy up forests to protect them. Of course, there were the customary updates to its core smartphone, tablet and computer lineups. Apple's iPhone 6S offered more internal upgrades and a new marquee feature called 3D Touch, a pressure-sensitive display that performs different tasks depending on how hard you press on the screen. The new 12-inch MacBook , meanwhile, was all minimalism and nifty engineering but suffered from underwhelming battery life and performance. And so a year of experimentation has come and gone. Apple's next challenge: showing us why we need all these new products and services. Apple declined to comment. | 5 | 97,554 | news |
South Korea's Catholic Church said Monday it had reached agreement with North Korea to send priests there on "a regular basis," seeking an opening in a country with a long history of tight religious control. The agreement, which should see priests leading services in Pyongyang on major holy days from next year, followed a visit to the North Korean capital by South Korean bishops last week. Pyongyang's state-run Korean Catholic Association (KCA) has no ties with the Vatican and is often referred to as the "Church of Silence" by Catholics in the South. Although religious freedom is enshrined in the North's constitution, all religious activity is subject to extremely tight restrictions and completely banned outside of state-sanctioned institutions. There is no resident Catholic priest anywhere in the country and just one Catholic church building in Pyongyang, Changchung Cathedral. But experts say it holds no confessions, baptisms or sacraments. The South's Catholic Bishop's Conference of Korea (CBCK) said in a statement that priests from the Seoul archdiocese would visit the cathedral "on major Holy Days each year and hold a mass on a regular basis". CBCK spokesman Lee Young-Sik told AFP the first visit was scheduled for Easter in March 2016. "And then we will iron out details on how frequently they would visit and lead a mass there," Lee said. The KCA claims there are 3,000 Catholics in the country, while the UN estimates around 800. In the early 20th century, Pyongyang was a regional missionary hub with scores of churches and a thriving Christian community that earned it the title of "Jerusalem of the East". For North Korea's founder leader Kim Il-Sung, Christianity threatened his monopoly on ideology and had to be effectively eradicated, a goal he reportedly achieved with executions and labour camps. The current regime allows Catholic organisations to run aid projects in North Korea, but direct relations with the Vatican are non-existent. When Pope Francis visited South Korea last year, he held a special mass in Seoul dedicated to reunification of the two Koreas. "All Koreans are brothers and sisters, members of one family, one people," the pope said in an address that was cloaked in a religious context and avoided any overt political statement or mention of religious oppression in the North. | 5 | 97,555 | news |
Screen grab One of the biggest challenges posed by ISIS (also known as ISIL, the Islamic State, and Daesh) is just how well funded the group is, pulling in hundreds of millions every year. A report assessing the UK's risk of money laundering and terrorist financing released by the government earlier this year spells out clearly just how groups like ISIS, Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab, and Boko Haram raise the money needed to operate a terrorist group. We've rounded up all the ways terrorists finance their activities below, drawing on the report and other investigations, and ranked them based on how profitable each activity is estimated to be. 6. Scamming banks REUTERS/Stringer One way terrorists can get funds is by scamming banks. The key dangers are fraud and complicit employees helping terrorists gain access to bank accounts and loans. Fraudulent loan applications provide a key source of funds for jihadists wanting to travel to Syria to join ISIS, funding their journey. A recent New York Times report on the Paris terrorist attacks notes that one future jihadist got €15,000 (£10,700, $16,200) from ING Belgium. The UK government report adds: "The use of the banking sector by terrorists remains a threat, in particular in the context of Syria. Individuals can use cash machines/ATMs to withdraw funds in neighbouring countries where there is a formal banking sector and then carry funds into Syria." There is also some evidence that the UK's student loan system has been abused to fund terrorism, according to the report. But it concludes that the banking system is only a "medium" risk the funds raised through these means are comparatively low. 5. Selling antiques and artifacts REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani ISIS has wasted no time in looting the heritage of the parts of Syria and Iraq it has taken control of. While the destruction of antiques and artifacts has generated more headlines, UNESCO warned earlier this year that ISIS is looting antiques and artifacts on an "industrial scale." Many of these "blood antiques" are thought to end up on the market in London, according to The Guardian , one of the biggest international markets. 4. Donations REUTERS/Stringer Terrorist organisations enjoy a stream of donations from supporters in countries around the world. These can either take the form of small operators collecting from local communities or, largely in the Gulf states, big ticket donations. "Private donations originating from the Gulf are a vital funding stream for AQ [Al Qaeda] and AQ affiliated groups," according to the report. In the case of small operators, the report notes that there are some instances of fundraisers abusing the charity sector. In one case in 2013, two men were convicted of "fraudulently presenting themselves as charity fundraisers using high visibility vests and collections buckets bearing the name of the charity Muslim Aid." Once raised, donations are passed to a network of facilitators who move the money to terrorist groups without detection. They do this by making a series of small transfers at money transfer shops, small enough to not need identification documents, or by using cash couriers who take the funds across borders on their person. 3. Ransoms REUTERS/Social media via Reuters TV The UK government's report estimates ISIS raised an estimated $35 million (£23 million) to $45 million (£29.8 million) between September 2013 and September 2014 through ransoming hostages. Al Qaeda is even more prolific, raising at least $125 million (£82.9 million) from kidnappings since 2008, including $66 million (£43.8 million) just in 2013, according to the New York Times . Britain and the US have a strict policy of not paying ransoms to terrorist groups but other European nations have paid up, leading the New York Times to conclude last year that "Europe has become an inadvertent underwriter of Al Qaeda." 2. Oil Screenshot/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxF6WKfOpss#t=10 A big advantage ISIS has over other groups is its access to oil. The group has taken control of existing fields in Syria and Iraq, and is exporting its oil via Turkey. A recent Financial Times investigation into ISIS's oil trading operation found "a sprawling operation almost akin to a state oil company" that employs engineers, trainers, and managers. The group is believed to be making an estimated $50 million (£33 million) a month from this trade , equivalent to $600 million (£398 million) a year. Britain has made disrupting ISIS's oil trade a key priority of its recently launched bombing campaign in Syria . 1. Taxation @7our/Twitter As well as oil, ISIS territory gives it access to other revenue streams others groups don't have taxation. ISIS is thought to make as much as $900 million (£597 million) a year from residents and businessmen in its territory, according to a recent New York Times investigation . ISIS charges import taxes, rent for businesses, fines for breaking laws, utility bills, and income tax. Taxation is thought to be the group's main source of revenue. | 3 | 97,556 | finance |
It is as much as many largest chief executive officers make. Lee Bollinger of Columbia University took home $4.6 million in 2013, the latest period for which data were available, and he was not alone in the $1 million plus category. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education : Mr. Bollinger earned just over $4.6 million, including $1.26 million in compensation that had been set aside over 11 years. Such deferred payments, which are often forfeited if a leader resigns before a specific date, are a common retention tool benefiting college presidents. Behind him on the list, Amy Gutmann of the University of Pennsylvania made $3.06 million. About $500,000 of this was for leading a fund-raising campaign that brought in $4.3 billion over five years. The next president on the list is from a college no one has heard of: The third-highest-paid president was Nido R. Qubein of High Point University, which is perhaps known best for its free ice cream, campus putting green, and dormitories with outdoor hot tubs. The university has the smallest endowment, $42 million, among the 10 highest-paid presidents. Mr. Qubein earned just over $2.9 million, with slightly over $1.6 million of it in the form of compensation deferred for three years. High Point, a liberal-arts campus in North Carolina, has been on a construction spree in recent years. While building new academic centers, it has also provided extravagant student amenities as a way to gain national recognition. Ivy League presidents who preside over huge endowments, extraordinary faculties and brilliant students fell well down the list. Richard C. Levin of Yale made $1.1 million. Shirley Tilghman of Princeton made $931,000. Drew Gilpin Faust of Harvard made $930,000.Methodology: The Chronicle's executive-compensation package has been updated with information on private-college presidents for the 2013 calendar year. The update provides data on 558 chief executives at 497 private nonprofit colleges in the United States. The median salary for leaders in office for the full year was $436,429. Thirty-two of the presidents earned more than $1 million. The most recent data on public-college presidents, also from 2013, include information on 238 chief executives at 220 public universities and systems in the United States. The median salary for those in office for the full year was $428,250. | 3 | 97,557 | finance |
Common reproductive issues like infertility are misconstrued as conditions that only affect women. Not only does this prevent men from getting checked out, but it also hinders a doctor's chance of identifying other complications down the road. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found that men struggling with infertility are also at an increased risk for complications unrelated to reproductive health, including diabetes and heart disease. "For members of this group of reproductive-age men, they usually don't go to the doctor unless there is a big problem," said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, assistant professor of urology and director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Stanford, in a statement . "A lot of time fertility is one of the first things that brings them to the doctor, so in some ways that might be an opportunity to engage the health care system and see what's going on with their general health." Eisenberg and his colleagues gathered the medical records for more than 115,000 reproductive-aged men from an anonymous insurance claims database that were filed between 2001 and 2009. Each participant had their medical visits examined before and after fertility testing to help determine if any complications arose after their fertility was evaluated. The general health of men diagnosed with infertility was compared to men who were not diagnosed with infertility and men who underwent a vasectomy. The research team was not surprised to learn that infertile men had higher rates of most diseases that were screened for in the study, including heart disease and diabetes. Furthermore, men with the most severe form of male infertility had an added risk for renal disease and alcohol abuse. These results stayed the same when researchers accounted for obesity, smoking, and health care utilization. Eisenberg hopes these findings will persuade men to get tested for infertility and seek follow-up care for potential complications. "I think it's important to know that sperm counts and fertility may tell a little more than just about reproductive potential," Eisenberg explained. "There may be some other aspects that men could be alerted to about overall health." Although the Stanford research team could not provide an exact mechanism for how infertility affects a man's health outside of reproduction, they did settle on some theories that could explain. For example, infertile men have lower levels of circulating testosterone compared to fertile men, which is something that has also been linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Another explanation was that harmful environmental influences may affect both reproductive and general health. "Exposures that occur in utero can have lasting effects on the rest of your life," he said. "So maybe some of these same exposures that set men up later in life for things like heart disease could also set them up for things like lower sperm count." A similar study conducted by the same Stanford research team back in 2014 found a connection between infertility and hypertension which could also explain why infertile men face a higher risk for diabetes and heart disease. Among 9,387 men (average age 38), 44 percent suffered from infertility that was caused by disease of the circulatory system, such as hypertension, vascular disease, and heart disease. Blockages that prevent sperm from joining with semen were deemed similar to the artery blockages that result in heart complications. Source: Baker L, Cullen M, Li S, Eisenberg M, et al. Increased risk of incident chronic medical conditions in infertile men: Analysis of United States claims data. Fertility and Sterility . 2015. | 7 | 97,558 | health |
Mike RIce was fired by Rutgers in 2013. Joe Robbins Joe Robbins/Getty Images More than 32 months after he had been fired by Rutgers, Mike Rice has received another head coaching job. On Sunday, Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com and SNY reported that Rice was named interim head coach of the Patrick School, a prep powerhouse in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Rice will serve in that role through December and will stay on as a special assistant to head coach (and the school's principal) Chris Chavannes. Rice was fired in April 2013 when a video surfaced of him verbally and physically abusing his players in practices. The hours of practice footage, leaked by former assistant Eric Murdock, showed Rice pushing and throwing basketballs at players, while also using homophobic slurs directed at this team. "I'm excited and thankful for the opportunity," Rice told SNY.tv Sunday. "Whatever I can do to help The Patrick School student-athletes and Chris, I will." "In recent years, Mike has built a diversified resume in the game," Chavannes said in a statement. "He has attended an extensive anger management program as well as a GLSEN workshop in Chicago focusing on LGBT issues that high school students face. Further, he has worked with John Lucas Enterprises, including the NBA pre-draft camp, the NBA players Association camp and his grade school and middle school camps." Rice was originally suspended three games in December 2012, but when the video surfaced he was quickly removed from his position. He was 44 51 at Rutgers, taking over the program after leading Robert Morris to back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 2009 and 2010. The Patrick School opened once St. Patrick High School, which produced Kyrie Irving and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, closed in 2012. The team's current roster includes Harvard commit Bryce Aiken. | 1 | 97,559 | sports |
Adobe's Lightroom is now entirely free to use on mobile. The Android app is dropping its requirement for a Creative Cloud subscription today, following the iOS version going free in October. That's great news for mobile photographers, who'll now have access to the powerful tools inside of Lightroom even if they can't afford or don't want to use the desktop version as well. Adobe wants to hook people on mobile Though you can now get much of the power of Lightroom without paying, there are still a number of useful mobile features that only come through using the desktop app, too. One of Lightroom for mobile's strongest features is its ability to perform edits on small, local files and then sync them all back to RAW files on the desktop. Adobe has been trying to make apps that are as essential to photo and video editing on mobile as Photoshop, Lightroom, and others in its Creative Cloud suite have become on the desktop. In doing that, it's been making all of its mobile apps free to use, hoping to hook users on mobile who might later subscribe to get the full suite of desktop apps. Lightroom was the notable exception to that policy, requiring a Creative Cloud subscription to use it. With that now dropped, Adobe's opening up yet another very capable editing app for people to get hooked on. | 5 | 97,560 | news |
VIDEO: The USPS has actually been taking pictures of every piece of mail since 2013. | 8 | 97,561 | video |
'Tis the season for holiday cookies to be baked or bought when tins of homemade or store-bought sweets are exchanged at cookie swaps, are given as gifts and appear at workplaces, tempting people with treats all month long. But dieters beware. When a huge array of holiday cookies is out on display, people do not have just one cookie and feel satisfied, said Libby Mills, a nutrition and cooking coach in Philadelphia and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "When there's more than one kind available, people are more apt to try one of each," she said. Those extra calories can add up to too many, at a time when people are already frequently celebrating around food and beverages , Mills said. This is a good reason to be smart about the size of cookie that you eat or bake, and to stick with a smaller cookie, said Sara Haas, a dietitian and chef in Chicago and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Moderation is the thing that people forget about around the holidays ," she said. The more additions a cookie has such as chocolate chips, nuts, fruits, toffee pieces and icing the more calories it contains, Haas said. A calorie-friendly cookie tends to be plainer, such as a ginger snap or a meringue, she said. There are ways to make holiday cookies just a tad healthier. Some people may be hesitant at first to modify their traditional holiday cookie recipes, because they've come to trust and enjoy the way the treats taste and don't want to mess with a good thing, Haas said. But others might be willing to experiment a bit to lighten up their cookies or make minor tweaks to them as long as they still taste good, she said. Here are nine ideas for making holiday cookies a little bit healthier, without skimping on taste or making them unrecognizable as cookies. Switch the flour. Making cookies with whole-wheat flour in place of all-purpose (white) flour can improve the fiber content of the cookie about fourfold, Mills said. But this switch will also make the cookie denser and give it a slightly nutty taste, she noted. So if using all whole-wheat flour feels too extreme, people can go with a half whole-wheat and half all-purpose flour combination in their recipes. This gives the cookies a healthier nutrition profile, but keeps them closer to their original taste, Mills said. Stores may also carry "finely milled whole-wheat flours," which have the look and feel of all-purpose flour, but are healthier and can be used in place of it in cookie recipes, she said. Amp up nutrition. Replace some of the all-purpose flour in a recipe with oat flour by using one-fourth to one-half cup of it to boost a cookie's soluble fiber content, Mills said. For an extra dose of healthiness, she also recommended adding 2 to 4 tablespoons of ground-up flax meal (also sold as flaxseed flour)to the dry ingredients. Besides its nutty taste, flax contains beneficial omega-3 fatty acids , which can help reduce inflammation. Flax goes well in fruit thumbprint cookies and in spice cookies, like molasses or gingerbread, Mills told Live Science. Tinkering with a recipe's ingredients might not always be successful when baking cakes and breads, but cookies are very forgiving, Mills said. In a cookie recipe, the salt can be reduced to a minimum of one-half teaspoon to reduce sodium and still get a flavor enhancement. Cut some sugar. Some holiday cookies can be cloyingly sweet, Haas said. But people can use one-quarter to one-third less sugar than called for in a recipe without noticing much difference, she said. She encouraged bakers to start by using one-fourth less sugar, which Haas said won't mess with the crumb, texture or browning of a cookie. If using one-third less sugar, some taste differences may be noticeable, and people may want to use a sugar substitute that's suitable for baking to make up for some of the sweetness, Haas said. Another way to cut back on sweetness and calories is to drizzle icing on top of cookies instead of spreading it on thickly, Haas said. And spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg can also evoke sweetness without adding sugar, she said. Swap some fat. Up to one-half the butter or shortening in a cookie recipe can be replaced with a fruit or vegetable puree, Mills said. Fruit purees that work well include applesauce, or pear, prunes or pumpkin puree , while pureed zucchini or beets are good choices among veggies. Besides adding flavor, using fruits or vegetables will change the cookie's texture, making it a lot denser and resulting in a chewier cookie instead of a crispy one, Mills said. Another option is to cut the butter in a recipe by up to one-half and to make up the difference with a nonflavored oil, like canola, soybean, grape-seed or avocado oil, Mills said. She noted that she would not advise this approach for peanut butter cookies. However, when this method of reducing fat in a cookie is used, the dough might not spread as much during baking as it would if it contained the full amount of fat, Mills said. She suggested that bakers may have to press the cookies down into circles before putting them in the oven. Make smaller cookies. Cookies used to be small, but now they've grown in size so people's sense of a normal portion is distorted, Haas said. When baking her own holiday cookies, she keeps them small. "It's a nice way to remind people of a normal cookie portion, and then people can try many different kinds of them," Haas told Live Science. Use dark chocolate . Instead of using milk chocolate chips, swap them for dark chocolate , which has a more intense flavor, Mills suggested. Chopping or shaving pieces of dark chocolate from a bar with 70 to 80 percent cacao or cocoa (the label may list the percentage as either cacao or cocoa) [1] can offer more health-promoting antioxidants than can a package of milk chocolate chips, she said. Cut some ingredients. To cut back on calories, people can use half the raisins that are called for in a recipe, Mills said. And even though nuts often contain healthy fats, they can be left out of a cookie dough completely or used in much smaller amounts to achieve a nutty taste, she said. If nuts or dried fruits are omitted from cookie recipes, flavors can be heightened by adding a couple of drops of orange or almond extract, Mills said. Create DIY fruit fillings. Although there are plenty of all-fruit or low-sugar fruit fillings sold in supermarkets, it's not that hard to make your own, Haas said. Buy frozen raspberries or dried apricots, for example, and simmer the fruit on the stove with water and a little sugar, she said. Add these fillings to thumbprint or crescent cookies. Tinker with toppings. Because people "feast" on cookies with their eyes before they even eat them, Mills suggested lightly brushing the tops of cookies with a little water (or using a spray bottle) and sprinkling a small amount of regular or colored sugar on top. "If people visually see the sugar, and it's the first sensation that hits their tongue, they may not notice if the rest of the cookie is not as sweet," she said. To make a thinner icing that will be closer to a shell coating, Mills suggested mixing a little liquid, such as orange juice, with powdered sugar and drizzling the mixture on top. Following some of these suggestions is not likely to dramatically change a cookie's flavor, texture or likability, Mills said. Your holiday cookies will still be delicious and not lumps of coal, she said. More on MSN Coffee or Tea? An RD Weighs in on Which Is Healthier The Simple Trick for Finding Joy Amid Holiday Chaos | 7 | 97,562 | health |
The Dodgers missed out on the top free-agent starting pitchers available, but they got the best reliever by trading for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman is headed to Los Angeles for a pair of prospects pending medical review, Fox Sports reported Monday morning. The prospects were not immediately identified. Reports later Monday indicated the trade may have hit a snag but no official word came from either team. MORE: Biggest bargains in the free agent bin | Best and worst Hot Stove rumors Chapman, who turns 28 in February, perennially has been the most dominant reliever in baseball. He led all closers (minimum 50 appearances) with a 1.63 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings last season, converting 33 of 36 save opportunities for the last-place Reds. The addition of Chapman instantly gives the Dodgers the best 1-2 bullpen punch in baseball, coupled with incumbent closer Kenley Jansen, who is likely to assume a setup role with Chapman in tow. The Dodgers also may be inclined to put together a separate trade and flip Jansen, who also is entering the final year of his contract. Chapman is expected to make more than $12 million this season in his final year of arbitration. It's possible he'll seek to double that per annum in his next contract, be it with the Dodgers or another team. Los Angeles presumably plans to get to work on locking him up long term after further depleting an already shallow prospect pool, but it's no sure thing. CBS Sports reported Chapman has intended to test the open market regardless of where he plays in 2016. Data curated by PointAfter | 1 | 97,563 | sports |
An improved Rafael Nadal will show up for the 2016 season, the world's former top tennis player said Monday after his worst season in a decade. The 29-year-old Spaniard, now ranked number five, declared himself healthy and optimistic for next year after a late 2015 rally that saw him beat all but two of the world's top 10 players he has faced since October. "I think it's obvious that I did not have the best season possible, but I am number five in the world so actually it's not a disaster," he told reporters in Manila. "I don't know if I'm going to win it (number one) back, (but) I'm working hard to create opportunities to compete for the best tournaments and I'm working so hard to try to make that happen." He had surgery to remove his appendix in late 2014 after various problems with his knees, hamstrings and back. Nadal's world ranking sunk to number 10 earlier this year when his long reign as a French Open champion ended. He also had embarrassingly early exits from Wimbledon and the US Open. But the left-hander, with 14 Grand Slam titles to his name including a record nine French Open crowns, has since enjoyed a resurgence in form. He defeated the likes of Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Stan Wawrinka in the group stages of the season-ending World Tour Finals in London before losing to world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. "I think I finished it very well this season and I want to continue it that way," he said Monday. Nadal is in the Philippine capital this week to play in a parallel International Premier Tennis League tour, which promotes a shortened, speeded-up version of the game. Showing few signs of his struggles in the previous months, the Spaniard swiftly won over the crowd with his signature intensity over two sets, grunting, chasing and diving after seemingly lost causes all over the court. He beat world number six Tomas Berdych 6-5 (7/3) in the men's singles after teaming up with Croatian Ivan Dodig to defeat Berdych and Canadian Daniel Nestor in the men's doubles, 6-3. Even as he nears 30, Nadal rejected suggestions it might be time to adjust his playing style, maybe in the mould of his great rival Roger Federer, to make him last longer in the tour. "I'm not Federer, I'm Rafael Nadal. He has his style and I have my own style. I for sure try to improve many things during all my career and for sure I'm working hard to be a better player. "And if I am a better player for sure I will have the chance to play a bit longer." Nadal said he was treating the IPTL tour, which began in Japan and will also have stops in India, Dubai and Singapore this month, as part of his preparation for the 2016 season. Nadal is expected to compete next month in the Australian Open, which he has won just once. | 1 | 97,564 | sports |
Brian Patrick Flynn shares ideas for designing a pet-friendly family room. | 4 | 97,565 | lifestyle |
With locations in more than 100 countries worldwide, McDonald's is universally known for its burgers and fries. But for a growing number of people in Hong Kong, the golden arches have come to mean something very different: shelter. The heartbreaking plight of "McRefugees" made headlines earlier this year after a middle-age woman was found unresponsive in one outlet of the fast-food chain. It reportedly took hours for other patrons and staff who are used to seeing people slumped over, asleep on the booths and tables to realize that she was dead. Now, Hong Kong's previously "invisible" homeless population is finally getting the attention it deserves. Experts say a major wealth gap and rising rents are fueling a homelessness crisis that has been steadily worsening over the past decade. Government surveys suggest the number of homeless people have more than doubled since 2007, according to The Associated Press. Professor Wong Hung of the Chinese University of Hong Kong has attributed the rise to what he calls the "new homeless" fairly young, employed people who have turned to sleeping on the streets or in other public spaces because they can't afford an apartment. Some have come to Hong Kong for jobs, leaving their families behind in more affordable places. Many resort to scrounging out makeshift sleeping quarters in restaurants or parks when they're not at work. "They just sleep near their working site the cost of travel isn't worthwhile," Wong said in an article published by the university. "And it is not worth renting a flat on Hong Kong side or Kowloon. Maybe half or one-third of their income would go to rent." With nowhere to go, some of those who are homeless have turned to McDonald's and other fast-food establishments that are open around-the-clock throughout the city. One 2013 survey by an advocacy group found dozens of people sleeping in 24-hour restaurants across the city one night. A McDonald's representative told the AP earlier this year that its locations "welcome all walks of life to visit our restaurants any time" and that they try to be "accommodating and caring" to all customers, including those who stay for extended periods. Though the company's rules have allowed a safe space for those in need to get a night's sleep, advocates and policy experts say a broader solution is needed to help get people off the streets. Click through for photos of Hong Kong's so-called McRefugees.Captions have been provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. An alarm clock is seen on a table as a man sleeps on a pillow at a 24-hour McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong. . A group of people sleep at night in a 24-hour McDonald's branch in Hong Kong on October 29. . A man sleeps with his belongings, surrounded by empty soda cups, at at a 24-hour McDonald's location in Hong Kong. . Benches and booths become beds for Hong Kong's homeless. . A man who has been spending his nights inside a McDonald's prays outside one restaurant. . The homeless crisis means customers at McDonald's visit and eat next to sleeping patrons. . Women sleep in chairs at a 24-hour McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong. A company representative told the AP earlier this year that the chain's locations "welcome all walks of life to visit our restaurants any time." . A woman sleeps with her belongings at night in a 24-hour McDonald's location in Hong Kong. One 2013 survey by an advocacy group found dozens of people sleeping in 24-hour restaurants across the city in one night. . Two men sleep with their belongings at night in a 24-hour McDonald's branch in Hong Kong. . A woman and a man sleep at night in a 24-hour McDonald's in Hong Kong. . | 5 | 97,566 | news |
Officials caught and killed a large anaconda spotted in Florida. Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) has the story. | 8 | 97,567 | video |
FOX Sports college football insider Bruce Feldman joins Colin Cowherd to talk about Will Muschamp being hired by South Carolina. | 1 | 97,568 | sports |
Celebrity couples who have called it quits this year. Celebrity couples who have called it quits this year. Actors Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield pose for photographs at the world premiere of The Amazing Spiderman 2 in central London Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield split in October after dating for four years. Beckinsale and her husband Len Wiseman arrive at the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in West Hollywood Kate Beckinsale and husband Len Wiseman announced their divorce in November after 11 years of marriage. Cast member Halle Berry and husband Olivier Martinez pose at premiere of TV series "Extant" in Los Angeles Halle Berry and husband Olivier Martinez announced their divorce in October after two years of marriage. Actor Brian Austin Green and his wife, actress Megan Fox, arrive at the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green separated in August after eleven years together, five of them as husband and wife. Big Sean and Ariana Grande arrive at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Big Sean and Ariana Grande split in April after dating for eight months. Actor Ben Affleck and his wife, actress Jennifer Garner arrive at the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in West Hollywood Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner split in June after ten years of marriage. Singer Stefani and musician Rossdale arrive on the red carpet for the screening of the film The Tree of Life by director Terrence Malick in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival Singer Gwen Stefani and musician Gavin Rossdale filed for divorce in August after 13 years of marriage. Actor Dempsey and wife Jillian at premiere of film "Enchanted" in Hollywood Patrick Dempsey and wife Jillian split in January after 15 years of marriage. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert arrive at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Country artists Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert announced their divorce in July after four years of marriage. U.S team member Woods celebrates with girlfriend Vonn after Woods won his match and the U.S. won the Presidents Cup on the18th hole in the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn split in May after almost three years together. Actors Sean Penn and Charlize Theron speak together prior to the French fashion house Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014-2015 fashion show by Belgian designer Raf Simons in Paris Sean Penn and Charlize Theron split in June after nearly a year and a half together. Scott Disick attends the Jill Stuart Spring/Summer 2012 show during New York Fashion Week Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick split in July after nine years together. Singers Lavigne and Kroeger arrive on the red carpet for the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto Musicians Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger announced their separation after two years of marriage. Musician Nick Jonas and Olivia Culpo arrive at the 2014 MTV Music Video Awards in Inglewood Nick Jonas and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo split in June after dating for two years. Singer Cody Simpson and model Gigi Hadid arrive at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills Singer Cody Simpson and model Gigi Hadid split in May after two years together. Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend Irina laugh during the Madrid Open final match between Djokovic and Nadal Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Shayk split in January after five years together. | 6 | 97,569 | entertainment |
Will bowl season be forever changed after this year? The AP's Ralph Russo and CineSport's Noah Coslov chat about the playoff and the three 5-win teams playing in bowl games. | 1 | 97,570 | sports |
I'm a sucker for a new engine design, particularly when the concept offers simple solutions to thorny problems and especially when its inventor is a renowned race driver/team owner/engine tinkerer with a record of achievement like Dan Gurney. While all his 51 race wins (and 47 podium finishes) were achieved in four-wheelers (F1, Indy Car, NASCAR, Trans Am, and Can Am), the perennial champion also enjoys riding two-wheelers. The trouble is, his 6-foot-4-inch frame rides too high off the ground on conventional bikes. So he invented the Alligator bike, which has a low seat nestled down between the engine and the rear tire. Gurney's All American Racers firm built a small run of 36 Alligators in 2002, but he was less than thrilled with the engine choices available to him at the time. Most were either too wide to comfortably wrap his legs around or vibrated so much that the engine couldn't serve as a stressed chassis member but rather required extensive rubber isolation and chassis reinforcement. More motorcycles on MSN That inspired Gurney and former AMA Grand National Flat Track and Road Race motorcycle ace Chuck Palmgren to get creative and brainstorm their ideal big twin. Instead of sharing a common crankshaft, each cylinder gets its own crank, turned 90 degrees and geared together so that the cranks are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bike and the power takeoff is ideal for a chain or belt drive. This design solves two motorcycle problems. First, the two counter-rotating and counter-weighted cranks completely cancel all the big primary shaking forces. And because these weighted shafts spin in opposite directions, their gyroscopic effects cancel each other out, so the bike is equally easy to bend into a left or right turn. The basic idea isn't new. The 1939 British Velocette Roarer racing prototype and its DOA production follow-up Model O featured a similar counter-rotating crank tandem-twin layout, but the patent application for AAR's MC4S "Moment-Canceling" engine enumerates ample differentiation from such predecessor designs, defining an oversquare bore/stroke ratio of as much as 1.78 or greater with a short enough stroke to keep average piston speeds below 4,200 feet/minute (to ensure long-term reliability even at high rpm), a compression ratio of between 9.1:1 and 13.5:1 (for safe operation on 91-octane pump gas), and combustion-chamber squish area of between 24 and 35 percent of the total piston area. (This outer ring of the piston comes very close to the cylinder head, squishing air toward the center to promote turbulence for optimal fuel mixing.) Twin-cam, four-valve heads with variable valve timing are also envisioned (featuring up to 50 degrees of variability to promote low-end torque and high-end power), and the patent carefully describes the valvetrain (narrow 16.6-degree included angle between intake and exhaust, with a Venturi effect designed into the intake tract to improve airflow and cylinder filling). Extensive computer simulations have been run on a 1.8-liter engine (5.0-by-2.8-inch bore and stroke) running 9.5:1 compression and with the special tapered venturi intakes. Those simulations suggest a peak output of 262 hp at around 8,000 rpm on 91-octane fuel. Pretty impressive. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook So what are Gurney's plans for the engine? "Our philosophy right now is to build five prototype engines, and then we'll see," he says. "If they live up to the simulations or close to it, it'll generate a lot of interest. I don't anticipate manufacturing it ourselves, but we might be able to get a license agreement that makes sense." The first prototype should be running by mid-2016. The patent protects combinations of four, six, or eight such cylinders (sharing the same two counter-rotating shafts) for use in automotive, marine, or aircraft use, but I'm more skeptical of their success. Such "U engines" pioneered by Bugatti's 1915 U-16 aircraft engine fell out of favor before World War II, owing mostly to issues of weight, complexity, and friction. But a smooth-running 262-hp tandem-twin 'Gator could have some serious legs. Read more Technologue columns here: Mil-Spec Ute: Battle-Ready But Needs a Nickname Sit. Stay. Good Passenger. You're Probably Transporting Your Pooch All Wrong Keep on Truckin' ... At Double-Digit MPG Ultra-High-Smallness Steel | 9 | 97,571 | autos |
Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuels, the main driver of man-made climate change, are set to decline this year for the first time in a period of global economic growth, said a study Monday. The "surprising" findings were published as 195 nations entered the final phase of UN talks in Paris for an accord to roll back heat-trapping carbon emissions, blamed for dangerous climate change. Thanks mainly to changes in China, the worldwide growth in emissions from fossil fuels-derived energy flattened in 2014 and is set to drop slightly -- by about 0.6 percent -- this year, said the study in the journal Nature Climate Change. The decline will come even though the global economy grew this year, by an expected 3.1 percent, following expansion of 3.4 percent in 2014, the authors noted. "Unlike past periods with little or no emissions growth, global gross domestic product (GDP) grew substantially in both years," they wrote. Previous periods of decline were temporary and have occurred during economic slowdowns, notably in 2009 after the global financial crisis. Decoupling economic growth from emissions generated by oil, coal and gas is a key goal in the bid to tackle global warming. Carbon-curbing strategies focus on improving energy efficiency from traditional fossil fuels and on shifting to low- or zero-carbon sources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal or nuclear. The study was conducted by 70 scientists, led by Corinne Le Quere of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research at the University of East Anglia in England. Analysts who were not involved in the research hailed its signficance. "The trend of rapid global emissions growth has been broken," said Michael Grubb at University College London. "This keeps 2C in play," he added. UN member nations have vowed to cap global warming to a maximum of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-Industrial Revolution levels. - Long-term problem - However, the study cautioned that 2015 was unlikely to be the emissions "peak year" followed by a period of long-term decline. "Energy needs for growing economies still rely primarily on coal, and emissions decreases in some industrial countries are still modest at best," said Le Quere. "Even if emissions were to peak soon, global emissions would still take years to decline substantively," said the authors. Greenhouse gases linger in the atmosphere for decades or even centuries, depending on their type. The research team said their projection for 2015 fell within a range of statistical uncertainty, from a decline of 1.6 percent to a small rise of 0.5 percent. National carbon-curbing pledges would slow runaway warming -- projected to hit 4C or more -- to about 3C, according multiple reviews. But even at this level, humanity would be on a collision course with mass migration and increased poverty caused by rising seas, drought and violent storms. The expected drop in 2015 was attributed largely to decreased coal use in China, the world's number one greenhouse gas emitter. After rising nearly seven percent per year in the previous decade, China's emissions growth slowed to 1.2 percent in 2014 and could be minus 3.9 percent in 2015. - Breaking dependency - China's energy needs continue to expand rapidly. But nearly 60 percent of the increase in primary energy use in the last two years was met by renewable and nuclear power. CO2 emissions from the European Union have also declined by 2.4 per year in the past decade, and the United States by 1.4 percent, said the authors. A key contributor to projected future emissions is India, the study showed. More than 300 million Indians still do not yet have access to electricity. "For global CO2 emissions to peak quickly, part of India's new energy needs must come from low-carbon technologies," the researchers wrote. India has pledged -- contingent on financial aid from rich countries -- to generate 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. African countries are also confronted by a difficult choice as they seek to eradicate poverty, between abundant, cheap coal and pricier green technologies. "A real wild card in future emissions is whether today's low-income economies lock in a high-carbon development path, or develop clean energy systems from the very beginning with the help of the advanced economies," commented Jim Williams, director of the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project. | 5 | 97,572 | news |
Researchers have produced the first ever 3D prints of images contained in dolphin echolocation including one of a human being seen from a dolphin's perspective. | 8 | 97,573 | video |
Firefighters in Australia went back into a home to save a dog who was hiding under the bed. Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) reports on his rescue. | 8 | 97,574 | video |
Wal-Mart Puerto Rico (Wal-Mart PR), the Puerto Rico arm of the venerable Wal-Mart chain, has filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in a bid to overturn certain new tax laws the retailer says are discriminatory and violate federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. The case is Wal-Mart Puerto Rico Inc. v. Zaragoza-Gomez , 15-cv-3018, U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico (San Juan). According to the complaint, more Puerto Ricans work for Wal-Mart PR than for any other private employer in the Commonwealth : Wal-Mart PR operates 55 Walmart Stores, Walmart Supercenters, Sam's Clubs, Super Ahorros, and Amigos stores, employing nearly 15,000 people in Puerto Rico. Wal-Mart PR also asserts that it collects more sales tax on behalf of the Commonwealth than any other company or entity, collecting approximately $100 million in sales tax annually. In May of this year, Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro García-Padilla signed Act 72-2015 (Act 72) into law. One of the changes as a result of Act 72 was an increase in the Tangible Property Component (TPC) of the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Like the federal AMT, Puerto Rico's AMT is payable whenever the "tentative minimum tax" exceeds the taxpayer's "regular" income tax: in other words, you figure the tax both ways and pay the higher amount. The TPC piece of the AMT imposes a tax on the value of property transferred to an entity doing business in Puerto Rico from a related party outside of Puerto Rico. Under the new tax scheme, the rate of tax (previously 2%) is boosted: the rate of tax now varies from 2.5% to 6.5%, depending on an entity's gross revenues inside the Commonwealth. Property transferred from a related party located in Puerto Rico is exempt from the TPC which means that it only affects commerce flowing into Puerto Rico from outside of the Commonwealth. Wal-Mart PR says that Puerto Rico's Governor, Alejandro García Padilla, admitted that was the plan, when he characterized the Act as "a tax on transfers of foreign stores." The result, Wal-Mart PR claims, raises the company's estimated income tax to "an astonishing and unsustainable 91.5% of its net income." That rate of tax, claims Wal-Mart PR, is "three times the average effective tax rate that WalMart's affiliated companies pay worldwide," making it one of the highest taxes in the world. Further, Wal-Mart PR alleges that it was targeted by the tax increase and is the only entity in Puerto Rico subject to such a high tax burden. Wal-Mart PR claims that the new law violates the Commerce Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. While Wal-Mart PR believes that the previous AMT was discriminatory, it had not affected Wal-Mart PR since the company's "tentative minimum tax" had generally been lower than Wal-Mart PR's regular income tax, meaning that it was not subject to the AMT. The company did pay the AMT in 2015 "based entirely on Wal-Mart PR's purchases of goods and services from related entities in the mainland United States." The AMT tax worked out to about one-seventh of Wal-Mart PR's total income-tax burden for that year. That was before the new scheme. Now, according to the complaint, the TPC piece makes the AMT "a very real and crushing burden on interstate commerce" for companies that acquire goods and services from outside of the Commonwealth, companies like Wal-Mart PR. According to the company, its total tax liability will rise to approximately $45.1 million next year, nearly 91.5% of Wal-Mart PR's estimated net income. Of that $45.1 million tax bill, $25.9 million, or 57.4%, is the result of the AMT. Wal-Mart PR warns that "further increases in this rate, even above 100%, are possible" under the new scheme. The company did not pursue an administrative remedy, nor did it file in a lower court, because not only would it take awhile but was potentially dangerous considering Puerto Rico's current financial status. The company noted that "there is a substantial risk that the Commonwealth, even if ordered to do so by the Puerto Rico courts, will be unable to refund the $155 million of unconstitutional tax payments that Wal-Mart PR would be forced to make during its six-year process of requesting a refund through Puerto Rico's administrative and court systems." The Commonwealth is currently struggling to restructure $70 billion in debt. The combination of factors, according to Wal-Mart PR, left the company no choice but to file for immediate relief. Wal-Mart PR is ultimately owned by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The corporate family is collectively referred to as "Wal-Mart." Wal-Mart operates retail stores in various formats around the world. It is ranked at #20 on Forbes' list of the World's Most Valuable Brands and #16 on Forbes' list of the World's Most Valuable Companies. | 3 | 97,575 | finance |
Michael Vick, still trying to change how people perceive him, will introduce a bill at the Pennsylvania State House that advocates for animal safety. The Steelers quarterback will travel from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg on Tuesday and use his status to make change, Yahoo! Sports reports . The piece of legislation he'll introduce is the " PA House Bill 1516 ," nicknamed the "Pets in Cars" bill. MORE: NFL players doing good | Honeybadger locks himself in hot car The bill allows an official (such as police officer, firefighter or security guard) to remove pets from hazardous conditions in vehicles, such as "extreme heat" or an "unattended motor vehicle," meaning the vehicle is out of the operator's sight. Vick is using his voice to sponsor the bill. "I was part of the problem. Now, I'm an unlikely advocate." he told Yahoo. "But I want to ask my fans to be advocates, too. I have five million fans on social media, and we can use those numbers to make real changes to the laws. "When I was in Leavenworth (Penitentiary), I wanted to change everything about the direction of my life. There is no excuse for my past, but it would be even worse if I did nothing about it. I can reach people that most activists can't reach." The past to which Vick refers is the 18 months he spent in prison for financing a dogfighting ring. Since then, he's worked hard to change his image. He's worked with the Humane Society of the United States and delivered speeches to schools and community groups about the mistakes he made. In 2009, he was given the Ed Block Courage Award in Philadelphia. Vick also went to Capitol Hill in 2011, when he supported legislation that would criminalize spectators and others who organize dogfighting. Vick talked about his past actions when he was brought on to be a backup in Pittsburgh earlier this year. "You still have people who feel a certain type of way about what happened," he said in August. "But I think you have to look at the right I'm trying to do. You can't take back what happened in the past. Everybody is different when they're 20 than when they're 35." | 1 | 97,576 | sports |
In a new Reddit thread, one user asked the married people in the group to tell them about times when something that's traditionally considered a "red flag" in a relationship, turned out to be not that important. The answers are interesting and eye-opening, to say the least. While some of the things below can be legit signals to run for the hills as fast as you freaking can , they aren't always . And as another user points out, "I broke off an engagement over four years ago and every relationship I've had since then I break off when I see a red flag. It's nice to know that some red flags are okay and acceptable." 1. She's a collector. "Collecting literally 1000's of elephants. Cuddly toys/posters/ ornaments, Everything. Even in our house today they are everywhere, you can point in any direction in nearly every room and you'll find another one. It's the worst safari I've ever been on." 2. Our families thought we were too young and wrong for each other. "Both of our families saying we were making a huge mistake because we were young and so wrong for each other. My family refused to call her anything other than 'that whore' and refused to accept that I was serious about her. They all wanted me to get back with my ex. Her family liked to remind us that I was trash and not good enough for her every few minutes. It's tough to hear that from people who are supposed to love you and we ended up cutting ourselves off from family for a few years because of it, some we still don't talk to. I know that this isn't like some of the other replies but it is a huge red flag when literally everyone around you thinks you're making a bad decision and would rather ruin your relationship than see you happy. We just celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary and it still feels like we're playing house." 3. We were young. I met my wife when I was 22 and she was 21. She had never had a boyfriend and made it pretty clear she planned on marrying the first guy she got serious with. Not because she was desperate to get married; she just didn't plan on getting serious unless it was someone she could see marrying. In hindsight that could scared me off, but I was too crazy about her to care. 4. She didn't know much about some stuff. "She saw LOTR and asked me if it was based on a true story. We watched Ray (movie of Ray Charles' life) and asked me if he lived long enough to SEE the movie." 5. Your spouse is just like your parent. "That my husband was exactly like my mother.Turns out my mother is pretty awesome." 6. He had some serious obstacles to overcome. "He did very poorly in college, isn't good at budgeting money, was a heavy smoker, had some trouble with addiction to prescription medication, and went through a 2-yr period of depression ~3yrs into our relationship. Could have cut & run because things were looking pretty damn bad. Instead I stayed and helped him all I could. Now we have been together almost 11yrs, got married 8 months ago, he is has beaten his depression and addiction, has an awesome career that lets him work from home. Couldn't be happier that I stayed with the adorable, sweet, smart, dead-beat. Our relationship is my proudest accomplishment." 7. The sex wasn't mind-blowing. "That we don't have the best chemistry in bed. I had many boyfriends before my husband and have a very liberal way of approaching sexual life (kind of like 'whatever makes you happy if no one gets hurt!'), and he's very conservative and 'vanilla'. I definitely had better sex in my life than with my husband. But I had never loved or felt loved as much as with him, and we've been happy for 5 years, expecting our first child, enjoying every moment of being together and having a good and loving sexual life." 8. A history of breakups and makeups. " He broke up with me three times during the three years before he proposed. Never for more than 48 hours, but still. We fixed some issues each time and haven't had even a glimmer of doubt since." 9. Mother-in-law wasn't for it. "My future mil spending half an hour trying to convince me not to marry her son because he wasn't good enough for me (immediately following our engagement announcement, to her). In hind sight she was really right about his housekeeping habits, but more than a decade in, while very annoying it's hardly a deal breaker! Her son has been the best thing to happen to me and I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without him. (Edit: my mil is very sweet and very kind to us both, I think she was just having a hard time with the idea of one of her children getting married. And genuinely concerned for me, lol.)" 10. We both were divorcees. "She was just coming off of her divorce (rebound). I always despised how divorced people were seen as damaged goods and didn't put it in my dating profile because I didn't think it made me less of a person. When we got together romantically, (we had known each other for years before), we both had it so much easier. We have many times called ours marriage 2.0." 11. We met online and moved in together fast. "I guess I met him on a Internet forum and like 3 months later he sold everything he had to move clear across the country to be with me. It was damn fast imo and it sucked for the first year because he couldn't get a job. I had to work 4 jobs. Never again. 7 years later and I still love him, but now it's his turn to work multiple jobs." 12. She lies a lot. "A huge red flag for sure. But once I noticed, I also noticed that they're all pretty much defensive lies to excuse herself to protect her pride - if she's late because she actually procrastinated, she'll fib that she fell asleep or the dog was sick. If she forgot to walk the dog, she'll fib that she tried to walk him but he was too tired, if she didn't put the laundry away she'll fib that her sister called and she got distracted by that. I especially noticed it when she involves me in the lie, like if we don't feel like going out to the club with some friends instead of just saying 'hey feeling drained from work gonna sit this out' she asks me to say 'the dog hurt his paw really badly so we have to take him to the vet'. It really bothered me when we first started dating because I thought she was lazy and trying to trick me into doing all the chores. Once I learned WHY she's such a chronic liar I got way more forgiving of it. Her mother is such a nitpicking, character judging witch of a woman, and she's grown up her whole life having to deflect blame instead of accepting a fault and moving on, because instead of accepting an apology her family will hound her for making the mistake, and anyone else in the family gets similar treatment . If the mistake is 'Someone else's fault' then she doesn't get hounded, so she started instinctively doing that. She's terrified I'll 'hate' her like her family does and think she's useless and lazy so she tries to deflect blame So now we're working on it. When I come home and the dishes aren't done because 'I had a really bad headache and took some Advil and accidentally fell asleep ' when I know she just got distracted by Facebook because she hates washing dishes I'll just nod and and ask her to dry while I wash. If I'm really tired then I'll ask her to just do half and I'll finish up. And we don't make up excuses to our friends anymore." 13. He lied about something big. "He lied about graduating college. Come to find out he was trying to finish school (24 years old). I told a friend and she said, 'OMG, he will always be a liar! He probably cheats too. Dump him!!' Turns out he was just embarrassed to tell me the truth. I kept my distance for a while, but after seeing him bust his hump to finish school while working full-time, I knew it was a one time mistake. Married almost 8 years and 3 kids later, he works just as hard as ever, and is very honest and trustworthy. That friend, however, is still single." 14. She didn't believe in sex before marriage . "I started dating my wife when she was a senior in high school and I was just starting college. On the second date she made it clear that she was saving herself for marriage. Now the only reason this was a red flag for me is because A) girls like that where I'm from are almost always cray B) sex (for me) is a very important aspect of a serious relationship I fell in love, ignored my 'red flag' (which in hindsight was a dumb red flag in the first place) and married her. She's not crazy, marriage is amazing, and the sex is utterly mind blowing. I wouldn't trade our marriage for anything!" 15. "She's a huge Nickelback fan. Still is." This might be the only real deal breaker in the whole list. Follow Laura on Twitter . | 4 | 97,577 | lifestyle |
Michigan State is No. 1 in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll for the first time since early in the 2013-14 season. The Spartans (9-0) jumped from third to a runaway first following last week's losses by then-Nos. 1 and 2 Kentucky and Maryland. Michigan State received 62 first-place votes Monday from the 65-member national media panel. Kansas (6-1), which had one first-place vote, moved from fourth to second, while North Carolina, the preseason No. 1, jumped from ninth to third and received two votes for No. 1. Iowa State moved up one spot to fourth and was followed by Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, Duke, Villanova and Virginia. Butler, at No. 18, and Utah, at No. 25, are the week's newcomers, both having been ranked earlier this season. They replace Syracuse, which was No. 14, and Texas A&M, which was 18th. | 1 | 97,578 | sports |
Hey muchachos! Heading to Mexico? Don't forget these expert tips before you go! | 2 | 97,579 | travel |
Michele Fiore is a State Assemblywoman from Nevada who loves guns. She decided to turn her Christmas card into a political statement. Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) reports. | 8 | 97,580 | video |
By Tripfilms filmmaker Eszter. On this episode of You, Me & Sicily we'll take you to one of the most important cities in ancient antiquity... Siracusa. We are zigzagging Sicily to bring you the best stories!Share your travel videos on Tripfilms.com! | 2 | 97,581 | travel |
CHICAGO A dashcam video of another 2014 fatal shooting of a black man by a Chicago police officer became public Monday, with Cook County's top prosecutor explaining in unusual detail her reasons for not charging the officer. Here are the key parts of the case: THE ANNOUNCEMENT Anita Alvarez, the county state's attorney, cited "the totality of the evidence" when announcing she would not charge Officer George Hernandez in the death of 25-year-old Ronald Johnson III, who Hernandez shot in the back as he fled from officers. The shooting occurred just eight days before Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is white, shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was black, 16 times. Alvarez charged Van Dyke with first-degree murder last month, hours before the release of dashcam video of McDonald's death, which led to days of protests and the ouster of the city's police chief. On Monday, Alvarez's news conference came about two hours after the U.S. Justice Department announced it would investigate the Chicago Police Department for patterns of racial disparity in the use of force in the aftermath of McDonald's shooting. Johnson's family and its attorney rejected Alvarez's decision, calling it a "joke" and dismissing authorities' assertions that Johnson was armed. They have sued the city over the death. ___ THE EVIDENCE Alvarez said officers encountered Johnson after responding to reports of shots fired in a city neighborhood. She played 911 calls and radio traffic among officers as a way of explaining what Hernandez knew about the scene when he arrived: Shots had been fired and men with guns could be seen running into a building. Alvarez said Hernandez would have been able to see a man struggle with a plainclothes officer before breaking away and fleeing on foot and could hear officers shouting for the man Johnson to stop and drop his weapon. He was running in the direction of other officers. Hernandez fired five times, Alvarez said, hitting Johnson twice. Digital images of Johnson's hand show he was holding something, though it is unclear what, Alvarez said. She also added that DNA recovered from a gun found next to Johnson's body matched Johnson's DNA, and a matching bullet was found in a car where Johnson was sitting earlier that night. ___ THE PRESENTATION It's rare for Alvarez to go to such lengths to explain why charges were not warranted, but she has come under heavy criticism in recent weeks for waiting more than a year to charge Van Dyke. Before showing the dashcam video in the Johnson case, she and Assistant State's Attorney Lynn McCarthy showed a long PowerPoint presentation that included radio communications and maps of the part of the city where the shooting happened. There were photographs of the gun she said was recovered near Johnson's body in a grassy area of a park, and digitally magnified images of Johnson's hand while he was running to show he was holding an object. She also, unusually, showed a video of an unrelated shooting incident to illustrate her point that an officer could be in fear for his life from a man running away; it showed an assailant shooting an officer over his shoulder. ___ THE REACTION The attorney representing Johnson's family countered Alvarez's video presentation with one of his own later Monday including parts of video and audio of a deposition that he took from Hernandez a month ago. Attorney Michael Oppenheimer, who represents Johnson's mother, Dorothy Holmes, dismissed Alvarez's presentation as an "infomercial," said a witness was coerced into false testimony and said the investigation Alvarez relied on was incomplete and didn't include comments from key witnesses including Hernandez himself. The audio Oppenheimer presented of what he said was Hernandez's deposition had the officer saying that he wasn't concerned about charges being filed against him. Oppenheimer also suggested that police could have planted the gun found next to Johnson's body. Phone and email messages seeking comment on Oppenheimer's claims were left for Alvarez's spokeswoman and were not immediately returned. | 5 | 97,582 | news |
A large debt given at the end of someone's life could spell trouble for the lender's family. Moneyologist Quentin Fottrell discusses what not to do when lending friends money. Photo: Getty | 3 | 97,583 | finance |
(Bloomberg) -- Staples Inc. will face a challenge by U.S. antitrust officials, who said for the second time in 20 years that the office supply chain's proposed takeover of Office Depot Inc. will squelch competition and should be blocked. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint Monday seeking to block the combination, which would leave just one national retailer of office supplies and raise prices for corporate customers who buy under contract, the agency said in a statement. "The commission has reason to believe that the proposed merger between Staples and Office Depot is likely to eliminate beneficial competition that large companies rely on to reduce the costs of office supplies," said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. "The FTC's complaint alleges that Staples and Office Depot are often the top two bidders for large business customers." During its investigation, the FTC zeroed in on the market for corporate customers that buy office products in large quantities through contracts that ensure steady deliveries and discounted prices. Two years ago, when the agency approved Office Depot's merger with Office Max, it found that retail consumers have numerous options due to competition from Amazon.com Inc. and big-box retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The $6.3 billion deal, announced in February, would combine the two biggest office-supply retailers in the U.S., reducing the industry to a single major chain. The tie-up is part of a merger wave sweeping across industries from beer to drug stores to pharmaceuticals that's under scrutiny from antitrust officials at the FTC and the Justice Department. The Office Depot takeover is still facing an in-depth review in the European Union after regulators there said in September that the deal may reduce choice and raise prices. The merger would create a retail chain with about $39 billion in revenue and thousands of stores. The two companies agreed to the transaction following pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, which owns about 8 percent of Office Depot. Starboard had pressed the companies to combine to better weather competition from retailers including Target Corp. Ron Sargent, chief executive officer of Framingham, Massachusetts-based Staples, said when the merger was announced it would allow the company to cut costs and reap at least $1 billion in synergies. The FTC's decision is the second time it has weighed in on a combination of Staples and Office Depot. In 1997, the commission successfully sued to block their proposed merger, saying the tie-up would have hurt competition. But in 2013, the agency opened the door to a second attempt by Staples when it approved the combination of Office Depot and OfficeMax. In that case, the FTC said the market for office supplies had changed significantly. "Our decision highlights that yesterday's market dynamics may be very different from the market dynamics of today," the FTC wrote about the approval. "In this case, significant developments in the market for consumable office supplies have led us to approve a merger when we had blocked a similar merger sixteen years ago." To contact the reporter on this story: David McLaughlin in Washington at [email protected] To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at [email protected] Jeffrey D Grocott | 3 | 97,584 | finance |
Viacom Inc (VIAB.O) Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said he speaks with Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone several times a week and that the 92-year-old media mogul is in charge of his own healthcare. While Redstone recently gave Dauman power of attorney over his advanced healthcare directive, "he is fully in charge of his own healthcare decisions," Dauman said, speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York Monday. "Contrary to what some people have suggested, no one other than Sumner Redstone is making healthcare decisions for him as it relates to his physical condition," Dauman said. Dauman spent the first several minutes of his session at the conference discussing what he called "misinformation," stemming from a lawsuit filed by one of Redstone's former girlfriends that raised new questions about the billionaire's competence and ability to run Viacom and CBS Corp (CBS.N). The lawsuit, filed by Manuela Herzer, describes Redstone as mentally vacant, "listless", prone to uncontrollable crying spells and demands he receive a mental examination to determine whether he could still make decisions for himself. Redstone had chosen Herzer to make him health care decisions in case he was not able to. But she was replaced by Dauman on Oct. 16. Dauman emphasized that there is a plan in place for when Redstone dies, noting that Redstone set up a seven person trust, that includes himself and Redstone's daughter Shari Redstone, to oversee his voting stake in both CBS and Viacom. Redstone, who is executive chairman of both Viacom and CBS, stepped down as CEO in 2006. Dauman said he speaks to Redstone several times a week and meets with him frequently. He declined to comment on Redstone's "personal" litigation. Redstone controls about 80 percent of the voting shares in CBS (CBS.N) and Viacom through a holding company, National Amusements. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Bernard Orr) | 3 | 97,585 | finance |
Ever wonder what happens when you saw into a giant rubber band ball? Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari takes a look at a video of a father and son who find out. | 8 | 97,586 | video |
The Chicago Cubs are bolstering their bullpen by re-signing right-handed reliever Trevor Cahill to a one-year, $4.25 million contract. ESPN.com's Buster Olney was first to report, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal confirmed the source later via Twitter . Cahill, a former starter in during his first six seasons in the league with Oakland and Arizona, has found a home in the Cubs' bullpen after coming to the club in a trade from the Atlanta Braves during the 2015 season. While with the Braves early in the season, Cahill struggled, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 36 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. After a trade to Chicago, the 2010 All Star notched a 2.12 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 11 appearances. He also appeared in six postseason games for the Cubs, giving up just two earned runs over 5.1 innings. While Cahill, 27, is past his days as a viable starter in the majors, his return at an affordable price for the bullpen leaves funds available for the Cubs to address additional needs at other positions. | 1 | 97,587 | sports |
Kim Kardashian hasn't even named her second baby yet, but she is already thinking about the consequences of having a third. The 35-year-old gave birth to her first son on Saturday and has already taken to her website to discuss her weight-loss plan. "I'm not worried about after giving birth to my second child…I'm just worried about number three, that's when your body really starts to slip," she wrote on kimkardashianwest.com. The Keeping up with the Kardashians star said she will be realistic about getting back in shape after the birth of her son. "I'm focused and I love the challenge of getting my body back and feeling good again, but I am going to be a little bit more realistic," she wrote. The new-born is Kim and husband Kanye West's second child together. Their eldest, daughter North, is 2 years old. | 6 | 97,588 | entertainment |
Turkey has summoned the Russian ambassador after a serviceman on a Russian naval ship allegedly brandished a rocket launcher while the vessel passed through Istanbul at the weekend. Images published in Turkish media appeared to show the Russian on deck, resting the launcher on his shoulder. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply since Turkey last month shot down a Russian fighter jet, which it said was in its airspace. The Russian jet pilot was killed. Turkey has expressed outrage over the images of the alleged rocket launcher. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the incident a "provocation". The pictures showed the Russian serviceman on board the Caesar Kunikov as it passed through the Bosphorus strait. "The showing off of a missile by a soldier on a Russian warship, or other things such as anti-aircraft weapons, is pure provocation," said Mr Cavusoglu on Sunday, according to Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News. Turkey is obliged to allow all merchant ships through the strait, which runs through Istanbul, during peacetime. Military vessels belonging to Black Sea countries also enjoy unhindered access. For Russia it is the only passage its Black Sea fleet can use to access the Mediterranean and the rest of the world's oceans. | 5 | 97,589 | news |
U.S. carmaker Ford's (F.N) Russian unit is considering expanding exports as weak sales in its home market look set to continue for another year at least, its chief executive told Reuters. Russia's auto industry is a major casualty of the economic crisis precipitated by the collapse in oil prices and Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. Car sales are down over 30 percent year on year in the first 10 months of 2015 as consumer purchasing power has been eroded and business activity contracted. That has prompted local carmakers to eye exports to minimize losses, while Ford's rival General Motors Co (GM.N) quit Russia. "Export is something we're looking at," said Mark Ovenden, president and CEO of Ford Sollers, Ford's joint venture with Russian partners. "I'd like to look at it beyond a few thousand (vehicles) ... and see whether there is a more strategic export opportunity for us." Ford Sollers already exports into former Soviet countries such as Kazakhstan in small volumes, but Ovenden said the company could also target markets in Eastern Europe and beyond. Ford has a presence in Eastern Europe with a factory in Romania but it does not produce all of the models there that it produces in Russia, where it makes the Fiesta, Focus, EcoSport and Transit, among others. It is considering all of its model types for exports as well as engines made at a $275 million powertrain plant it launched in the Russian republic of Tatarstan this year. Ford sold around 30,500 cars in Russia in the first 10 months of the year, roughly 40 percent less than in the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Association of European Businesses lobby group. It can produce as many as 350,000 cars a year in Russia and hence has considerable potential to ramp up exports. Ovenden said he expected total Russian car sales this year of around 1.5 to 1.6 million units and the same amount next year, well below the 2.5 million units sold in 2014 and the 3.5 million Russian carmakers are capable of producing per year. "The challenge everyone will face is that when domestic demand is volatile, how do you continue to fill the capacity?" he said in an interview at Ford's offices on the outskirts of Moscow. "That's where I think you need to develop the export capability." Russia-based car manufacturers exported some 80,000 units in the first 10 months of the year, according to customs data, a comparatively small amount. Exports to traditional markets in the former Soviet Union are sharply lower as their economies are in the doldrums too. While several producers including Volkswagen (VOWF_p.DE) and Nissan (7201.T) have said they could ramp up exports from Russia, they are yet to announce final decisions. Ovenden said Russia-based carmakers would need continued government support for these plans to come to fruition, however. He said this could take the form of freight support or duty repayments for imported parts that have become more expensive due to the weaker rouble. Russia's government has said it could provide support measures worth around 50 billion roubles ($726.3 million) for auto producers in 2016, according to recent comments by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. That compares with 2015 measures worth 43 billion roubles. ($1 = 68.8450 roubles) (Editing by Anna Willard) | 3 | 97,590 | finance |
Why Brussels Grand Place is a top gathering place. Magnificent architecture, cool jazz festivals and more. | 2 | 97,591 | travel |
For some time now, people with unexplained and recurring headaches, dizziness and skin irritation have been blaming their often severe discomfort on sensitivity to electromagnetic field sources, a condition sometimes called electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In a recent case, the family of a 15-year-old girl in the United Kingdom who died by suicide said the girl had suffered from an allergy to Wi-Fi signals. The signals at her school made her nauseated, gave her blinding headaches and made it difficult for her to concentrate, the teen's mother said in a U.K. court on Nov. 19, according to a news story about the case in the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mirror. Participants in a survey of people claiming to be suffering from EHS described physical symptoms such as headache and fatigue that appeared whenever they were close to devices that emit electromagnetic signals, such as Wi-Fi stations, cellphones and computer screens. Removing or insulating themselves from the signals alleviated their symptoms, according to the survey findings. However, scientifically controlled tests in which people were exposed to electromagnetic signals but were not told when the signals were turned on or off overwhelmingly showed that study participants were unable to determine when the signals were present, according to a 2009 review of 46 such studies published in the journal Bioelectromagnetics . What about the symptoms? "People who say they have EHS are clearly ill," said Dr. James Rubin, a senior lecturer in psychology at King's College London, who has researched EHS and was the author of that review. "But the science suggests that it isn't [electromagnetic signaling] that is causing the illness," Rubin told Live Science in an email. And although the WHO states on its website that people suffering from EHS exhibit "a variety of nonspecific symptoms," the agency also says that "EHS is not a medical diagnosis." "There is no scientific basis to link EHS symptoms to EMF (electromagnetic frequency) exposure," the WHO says on its website. The symptoms of EHS can vary from person to person, but are usually very generalized, meaning they could have many causes. For example, a headache might tell you that you're coming down with a cold, or that you've had too much caffeine. Dizziness may indicate the onset of stomach flu, or a lack of sleep. While distracting and unpleasant, these indicators are not usually helpful in pinpointing what's causing them, which can make it difficult for doctors to identify and treat the source of the trouble. [ 8 Strange Signs You're Having an Allergic Reaction ] Determining disability In some cases, people who report having EHS say the symptoms are debilitating and impact their lives dramatically. The parents of one 12-year-old boy recently filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts against his private school, claiming that a new "industrial-capacity Wi-Fi" system at the school led to their child's health problems, Courthousenews.com reported . The boy suffered from headaches, itchy skin and rashes, and eventually nose bleeds, dizziness and heart palpitations, the suit said, according to Courthousenews. The symptoms, which doctors could not diagnose, arose only during school hours. School officials rejected the conclusion that his ailments stemmed from Wi-Fi exposure, and an evaluation of the Wi-Fi system found that the levels were well within safety parameters established by the Federal Communications Commission. But the boy's parents asserted that his symptoms were representative of EHS and qualified as a disability and, as such, that the school should be required to take action to accommodate it. [ 9 Weirdest Allergies ] In another case, in France, a disability settlement was awarded to a woman who claimed that her EHS was so severe that she had to live without electricity in a renovated barn in the mountains to protect herself from electromagnetic signals, according to an Agence France-Presse report. But while the court ruled that her symptoms qualified as disabling, it did not formally recognize EHS as a medical condition. Testing reactions In Rubin's 2009 paper, he looked at studies analyzing symptoms and investigating triggers in more than 1,000 people who reported having electromagnetic hypersensitivity. He concluded in the paper that "repeated experiments have been unable to replicate this phenomenon under controlled conditions." It may be that Wi-Fi isn't the culprit, but that something else is to blame for people's symptoms, Rubin said. A number of health and environmental conditions, different for each individual, could be responsible. Another factor at play could be the "nocebo effect," in which a person's belief that exposure to EMF triggers symptoms actually causes the real symptoms to appear, even if no exposure occur has occurred, he added. Regardless of whether Wi-Fi "allergies" are real, the suffering certainly is, Rubin said. Follow Mindy Weisberger on Twitter and Google+ . Follow us @livescience , Facebook & Google+ . Original article on LiveScience . | 5 | 97,592 | news |
Nicki Minaj is celebrating a birthday! Take a look back at some of her stunning signature looks over the years. | 8 | 97,593 | video |
The Paris terror attacks, the legalization of same-sex marriage in the US and Bruce Jenner's transformation to Caitlyn sent people rushing to Twitter this past year. The microblogging site published on Sunday its annual analysis of the top tweets, trends and hashtags from the past year. The diversity of the 2015 topics underscores Twitter's role as a soapbox for people's passions about politics, news, entertainment, sports and, well, gossip. As always, breaking news spreads quickly on Twitter, which then acts as a public forum for thoughts, riffs and self-expression in 140-character tidbits and short videos. The site itself has tried to tap into that interest by introducing in the fall the Moments feature, which highlights trending events in the hopes of triggering conversations and driving more traffic. Among the most influential topics this year were the November terrorist attacks in Paris , with people adopting the hashtag #PrayForParis to show their support for those affected by the violence. #BlackLivesMatter was another popular hashtag that represented concerns over police violence on African-Americans , while #MarriageEquality marked interest in the legalization of same-sex marriage in the US and in Ireland. Some of the most retweeted tweets from the year included President Obama's endorsement of the Supreme Court's ruling to legalize gay marriage , the last message from the late "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy and the first message from Jenner introducing herself on Twitter as a woman . In the world of technology, the top trending topics revealed interest in Apple's iPad and iPhone , music app SoundCloud , Google's Android software and live-video app Periscope . Emojis found their way into Twitter's zeitgeist for 2015. The most popular emoji this past year was one with tears of joy streaming down its face. "As always, the world united this year in moments of triumph, activism, support, and fascination," the company said in a blog post Sunday, "and Twitter is where we gathered for all of it." | 5 | 97,594 | news |
Fantasy football rankings for Week 14: Quarterbacks Here's a sneak peek at our fantasy football quarterback rankings for Week 14, featuring Cam Newton and Tom Brady fighting for the top spot and fantasy sleepers Jameis Winston and Tyrod Taylor in the top 10. Check back for injury updates and analysis throughout the week to spot the best sleepers and values for your fantasy football playoffs and daily fantasy football contests. MORE: Best waiver wire pickups for Week 14 1 Tom Brady, Patriots Patriots at Texans 2 Cam Newton, Panthers Panthers vs. Falcons 3 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers Steelers at Bengals 4 Carson Palmer, Cardinals Cardinals vs. Vikings 5 Russell Wilson, Seahawks Seahawks at Ravens 6 Drew Brees, Saints Saints at Buccaneers 7 Andy Dalton, Bengals Bengals vs. Steelers 8 Aaron Rodgers, Packers Packers vs. Cowboys 9 Jameis Winston, Buccaneers Buccaneers vs. Saints 10 Tyrod Taylor, Bills Bills at Eagles 11 Blake Bortles, Jaguars Jaguars vs. Colts 12 Eli Manning, Giants Giants at Dolphins 13 Marcus Mariota, Titans Titans at Jets 14 Philip Rivers, Chargers Chargers at Chiefs 15 Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins Dolphins vs. Giants 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets Jets vs. Titans 17 Jay Cutler, Bears Bears vs. Redskins 18 Derek Carr, Raiders Raiders at Broncos 19 Matthew Stafford, Lions Lions at Rams 20 Sam Bradford, Eagles Eagles vs. Bills 21 Matt Ryan, Falcons Falcons at Panthers 22 Brian Hoyer, Texans Texans vs. Patriots 23 Brock Osweiler, Broncos Broncos vs. Raiders 24 Alex Smith, Chiefs Chiefs vs. Chargers 25 Kirk Cousins, Redskins Redskins at Bears 26 Blaine Gabbert, 49ers 49ers at Browns 27 Johnny Manziel, Browns Browns vs. 49ers 28 Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings Vikings at Cardinals 29 Matt Cassel, Cowboys Cowboys at Packers 30 Matt Hasselbeck, Colts Colts at Jaguars 31 Matt Schaub, Ravens Ravens vs. Seahawks 32 Nick Foles, Rams Rams vs. Lions | 1 | 97,595 | sports |
ATHENS, Ga. Kirby Smart will continue in his current role as Alabama's defensive coordinator through the College Football Playoff as he also begins work as Georgia's coach. Smart, the former Georgia player and assistant, returned to his alma mater on Monday for his introductory news conference. He was formally approved as Richt's successor during a meeting by the Georgia athletic association executive committee on Sunday. He then quickly began meeting with Georgia recruits. Smart will have about one week for more recruiting and his search for assistants before No. 2 Alabama begins practice for the playoff semifinal against Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Eve. If Alabama plays in national championship game on Jan. 11 that could keep Smart from devoting his full attention on Georgia for more than a month. "First off, both President (Jere) Morehead and (athletic director) Greg (McGarity) were very supportive of me doing this the right way," Smart said of splitting time between Georgia and Alabama. "It's very important for me to finish things the right way over there. "I don't think it would be doing justice to walk away from those kids. Regulating my time will be very critical in the next month. It will be a challenge, but a challenge I'm up to." Smart's hiring came one week after Mark Richt's 15-year run as Georgia's coach ended. Like Smart, Richt also returned to his alma mater when he was hired as Miami's new coach. Bryan McClendon, who was Richt's assistant head coach and also works with the receivers, will serve as Georgia's interim head coach for the TaxSlayer Bowl matchup against Penn State in Jacksonville on Jan. 2. Smart played at Georgia in the 1990s. He was an administrative assistant at Georgia in 1999 before returning as running backs coach under Richt for one season in 2005. Hired by Alabama in 2007, Smart has been Nick Saban's defensive coordinator since 2008. Smart, who turns 40 on Dec. 23, was widely expected to be Georgia's first choice as soon as Richt was fired. Smart, regarded as one of the top assistants in the country, consistently kept Alabama's defense among the top-ranked units in the nation. Led by its defense, Alabama won its second straight Southeastern Conference championship on Saturday night in Atlanta, beating Florida 29-15. Following the SEC championship game, Smart headed straight to Athens and was interviewed early Sunday by Morehead. The athletic association then ratified Smart, the pick by McGarity. Smart has agreed to a six-year contract worth at least $3.75 million a year. The base salary is $400,000 and the deal also includes $3.35 million from apparel deals, television and radio appearances, and other endorsements. He also could earn performance bonuses of up to $1.6 million if the Bulldogs win a national championship. The deal includes other perks, including $1,800 a month to purchase or lease up to two cars and up to $5,000 a year to cover insurance on the vehicles. If Smart took another job, he would owe the university anywhere from the full value of his deal in the first year to just the current base salary should he depart in Year 6. Smart was earning $1.5 million per year at Alabama as the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the country. Richt was 145-51 with two SEC championships in 15 seasons at Georgia. The Bulldogs played in five SEC championship games under Richt. Only Vince Dooley (201) won more games at Georgia. As a star defensive back at Georgia, Smart had 13 interceptions, the fourth-most in school history. He led the Bulldogs with six picks in 1997 and five in 1998. He graduated with a degree in finance and added a master's degree from Florida State in 2003. | 1 | 97,596 | sports |
Show your kid's favorite teacher some gratitude with these thoughtful presents. The quest to find the perfect present for your child's teacher can be tough, but there are many items that will brighten a teacher's day. Check out these affordable recommendations that are sure to bring a smile to any educator's face. Paper Clip Holder BUY NOW: $10, amazon.com Any organized teacher would appreciate this pretty and handy piece for their classroom desk. Funny Answers BUY NOW: $10, uncommongoods.com Consider their funny bone tickled with this clever collection of wrong responses. Inspirational Paperweight BUY NOW: $36, uncommongoods.com A little motivation can go a long way! Perfectly Personal BUY NOW: $7, anthropologie.com Elegant and simple, this monogrammed mug is a great gift for any educator-and as a bonus you can pack it with tea, coffee, or even a gift card. The monogram adds a personal touch, making it extra special to receive. Ring Her Bell BUY NOW: $25, personalizationmall.com This personalized apple so much better than a fresh apple! It's a brass bell, perfect for getting attention in the classroom. Best Teacher Ever Wine Glass BUY NOW: $13, amazon.com Give your child's teacher a gift she really wants. This colorful glass will remind her how appreciated she is as she unwinds with some wine. DIY Apple Jars Paint a Mason jar to look like an apple, and fill it with yummy treats. This craft will take under 15 minutes to pull together, and your kids can help make these, too. Get the tutorial at The 36th Avenue . Grass Pen Stand BUY NOW: $12, amazon.com Yes, this looks like a pot of grass, but it's really a pen stand. Great for displaying pens, pencils, and notes, this gift will add a little life to any teacher's desk-and there's no watering needed. Lather & Lotion Gift Set BUY NOW: $20, bathandbodyworks.com Every teacher could use some pampering. That's why this aromatherapy 2-pack is the perfect gift. Nifty Notes BUY NOW: $6, zazzle.com If there is anyone who can appreciate Post-it Notes, it's definitely a teacher. This holiday, make them special by personalizing them! Magnificent Magnets BUY NOW: $4, zazzle.com Here is a little something that will remind teachers just how great they truly are. Customize the magnet with a special note and image, for a gift that can only come from you. Pretty Picture Frame BUY NOW: $19, personalizationmall.com Show teachers your appreciation and support for everything they do with this exclusive frame. Add your child's class photo for an extra personal touch! Beautiful Jewelry BUY NOW: $23, etsy.com Dainty and effortless, this necklace makes a wonderful personalized gift for your child's favorite teacher. The jewelry is hand-stamped with the letter of your choice and available in either silver or gold. The Perfect Poster BUY NOW: $13, zazzle.com Math teachers will love this whimsical poster of their favorite saying on it. It's also a handy reminder during tests, quizzes, and other assignments done in the classroom. Customized Candy Jars BUY NOW: $16, personalizationmall.com These cute candy jars feature this lovely verse in the shape of an apple: "Teachers inspire dreams, shape lives and give us hope for the future." Plus, you can engrave any name in the center. Get Crafty Every teacher loves their morning cup of tea or coffee. Be creative and help your child make a mug cozy for them. This handmade gift is not only inexpensive and easy to make, but also very thoughtful. Get the tutorial at tipjunkie.com . Tasty Homemade Treats There is nothing more meaningful to a teacher then when a student spends a little time in the kitchen making-or helping Mom bake-edible treats. Tiger Butter Fudge makes a scrumptious gift. Be sure to have some fun with the presentation by putting these goodies in a decorated bag tied with a ribbon. | 4 | 97,597 | lifestyle |
Love at first bite! | 8 | 97,598 | video |
Just days after being placed in hospice care, Keith Urban's father Robert has passed away. In a statement, the 48-year-old country singer remembers his dad saying, "I've been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support that Nicole and I, and our family, have received since my dad's passing on Saturday night…his long battle with cancer is now over and he is finally at peace." Click to see more of Keith's touching words about his dad. Rest in peace. | 8 | 97,599 | video |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.