Pressure builds as retailers near the holiday finish line (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO_offpwDFC3_pzFSS_6UQ_C4ms6pY54U5AUqWAgenkzB3QEEJ69xK8GJPO-7iP7VbgysqnpIcNqwmmeEyqKZAkkC-mXHBdGdByTyH6qcUMdUN1IGGKWC4yx2uYH1_IdaBlWqNNrFt_U/s1600/2013-12-21T063120Z_1_CBRE9BK0I4F00_RTROPTP_3_USA-RETAIL_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO_offpwDFC3_pzFSS_6UQ_C4ms6pY54U5AUqWAgenkzB3QEEJ69xK8GJPO-7iP7VbgysqnpIcNqwmmeEyqKZAkkC-mXHBdGdByTyH6qcUMdUN1IGGKWC4yx2uYH1_IdaBlWqNNrFt_U/s320/2013-12-21T063120Z_1_CBRE9BK0I4F00_RTROPTP_3_USA-RETAIL_original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1345" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After buying and remodeling a home, Karin Gilles and her husband, Dave Muilenburg, are not splurging on holiday gifts this year - no matter how drastically retailers slash prices to lift sales in a shopping season that peaks this weekend.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1343" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The couple, instead, is focusing on "a few, more-meaningful gifts," said Gilles, 41, who works in public relations for a technology company in California's Silicon Valley.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1341" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">That approach is not unusual. Many Americans are either spending less or making more practical purchases - some because they haven't benefited from the economic recovery, and others because they have purchased new cars, homes or appliances, leaving less for discretionary items.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1347" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Holiday sales are expected to be the same or only slightly stronger than last year, according to the quarterly Global Retail Manufacturers and Importers Survey by Capital Business Credit, which provides funding to retailers' suppliers.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1349" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">For the final weekend leading up to Christmas, retailers are planning for longer hours and even more aggressive advertising and discounts. Saturday is expected to be the second busiest shopping day of the holiday season, after Black Friday.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"You'll see heavier promotions than last year, pretty much across the board," said Charles O'Shea, senior analyst at Moody's Investors Service.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The biggest discounts, he said, would be at apparel stores - especially those competing for shoppers who are also interested in buying video game consoles.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"These next few days will determine quite a few things." said O'Shea. "Is 50 percent off enough, or do you have to go 60 percent off?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">A new Ipsos/Reuters poll released on Friday found that consumers plan to spend about a third less this year than last year on items such as jewelry, toys and electronics. Eight percent said they would spend more on jewelry, 13 percent more on toys and 17 percent more on electronics.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Sales of major appliances, however, rose 18.1 percent in the month ended November 23, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers,</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Santa is still going to come, but the goodies in his bag are going to be slightly different," said Patty Edwards, managing director of investments for the Private Client Reserve at U.S. Bank. "There's more of a focus on necessities. We're seeing more need-driven shopping than want-driven shopping.'"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">SPENDING LESS</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Thom Blischok, chief retail strategist and a senior executive adviser with Booz & Company's retail practice in San Francisco, said many U.S. shoppers are holding back this season because they have fewer discretionary dollars.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Sixty-five percent of (Americans) are survivalists. They are living from paycheck to paycheck," he said. "Those folks simply don't have any money to celebrate Christmas."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">People with annual income of $70,000 and up account for 33 percent of U.S. households, but 45 percent of spending, according to U.S. Census data crunched by AlixPartners. That group has seen the most benefit from the improving economy as rising home and stock prices bolster their net worth.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But even those with higher incomes are holding back.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The era of 'living large' is now officially in the rear-view mirror," said Ryan McConnell, who heads the Futures Company's US Yankelovich Monitor survey of consumer attitudes and values.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Responses to the 2013 survey suggested that the "hangover effect" of the so-called Great Recession remained prevalent with 61 percent of respondents agreeing with the statement: "I'll never spend my money as freely as I did before the recession."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Albert Sandoval, who does budgeting at a university in Flagstaff, Arizona, agrees with that sentiment. He and his wife feel better about the economy and recently purchased a new car and a 55-inch flat-screen TV. But, both were value-priced model close-outs.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Sandoval, 47, said they changed their shopping habits after the economy tanked in 2008: "If we can't find a deal, we won't buy it."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">FINAL PUSH</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Competing for shoppers led major retailers to significantly ramp up the frequency of their promotions in the first part of December, according to data prepared for Reuters by Market Track, a firm that provides market research for top retailers and manufacturers.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">A group of eight major retail chains, including J.C. Penney Co Inc (<a data-rapid_p="8" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=jcp" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">JCP</a>), Wal-Mart Stores Inc (<a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=wmt" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">WMT</a>) and Best Buy Co Inc (<a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=bby" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">BBY</a>), increased the number of circulars they published between December 3 and December 18 nearly 16 percent over the comparable period a year earlier.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Those retailers, which also include Sears (<a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=shld" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">SHLD</a>) and Kmart, Macy's Inc (NYS:M), Kohl's Corp (<a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=kss" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">KSS</a>) and Target Corp (<a data-rapid_p="13" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=tgt" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">TGT</a>), ramped up the online deals even more, increasing the number of promotional emails by 54.5 percent, according to the Market Track data.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The battle for shoppers has also led to the most discount-driven season since the recession, according to analysts and executives.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1354" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"There is a quicker turnover of promotions this year, and now several times, within a day," eBay Enterprise (<a data-rapid_p="14" href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ebay" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;">EBAY</a>) CEO Chris Saridakis said. "It's an all-out war."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1354" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">By Phil Wahba, Dhanya Skariachan and Lisa Baertlein</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612596996_1352" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">(Editing by Jilian Mincer and Gunna Dickson)</div></div>

Pressure builds as retailers near the holiday finish line (BLOG)

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After buying and remodeling a home, Karin Gilles and her husband, Dave Muilenburg, are not splurging on hol...

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Mike Will Made It Remixes Future With Diddy, Schoolboy Q – Premiere (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhr2j2V81J8HZOI02O8LjrUkc1b_IvOAK77v91U9-sSxxp-KBjpK0yzLFmnzgwLRwlc7QgSujLK7SLm7gEADX-r-sWSllOapmYDshYPbIu3tc17lqtGkrhiru3epcCW5WRzLEjG5xFj4/s1600/Mike_Will_Made_It_Remixes-7d51f537b6cb9c46eea6125a231133a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhr2j2V81J8HZOI02O8LjrUkc1b_IvOAK77v91U9-sSxxp-KBjpK0yzLFmnzgwLRwlc7QgSujLK7SLm7gEADX-r-sWSllOapmYDshYPbIu3tc17lqtGkrhiru3epcCW5WRzLEjG5xFj4/s320/Mike_Will_Made_It_Remixes-7d51f537b6cb9c46eea6125a231133a3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_1717" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Producer Mike WiLL Made-It went from big to huge in a few short years. He started his career with eccentric MC Gucci Mane and then quickly worked his way up the latter, producing beats for Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and <a data-rapid_p="8" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_2302" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Kanye West</a>. Earlier this year, he served as the co-executive producer on Miley Cyrus’ <a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/bangerz-20131004" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><em>Bangerz</em></a>album. Now, he's closing out the year with a remix of Future's "Sh!t," which adds P. Diddy and Schoolboy Q to the mix and is off the upcoming <em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_1838">#MikeWiLLBeenTrill</em> mixtape.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_1848" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><a class="inStoryLink" data-rapid_p="10" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-2013-20131204" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_1853" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">See Which Tracks Made Our 100 Best Songs of 2013 List</a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_1716" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Sh!t" has been released in several versions, including one with a controversial Drake verse. This incarnation is still rooted in Mike Will Made It's thick trap beats, with a simple drum part driving the song forward through layered synth beds that create a massive sound. Future starts the attack, calling out faux-gangstas with a loose, explosive delivery that makes him sound at times more like a barking Rottweiler than an MC. Diddy is in classic form, delivering unadorned, literal lines that make it clear that Diddy gets what Diddy wants. Schoolboy Q's pinched voice contrasts with the deeper tones of hte other MCs. He spits out raspy, rapid verses that quickly abandon the beat only to snap back in line. Haters watch out.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_2317" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><em>#MikeWiLLBeenTrill</em> will be available <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/24891/mikewillbeentrill.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a> on December 23rd.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387612000796_2317" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">-Rolling Stone</div></div>

Mike Will Made It Remixes Future With Diddy, Schoolboy Q – Premiere (BLOG)

Producer Mike WiLL Made-It went from big to huge in a few short years. He started his career with eccentric MC Gucci Mane and then quickly w...

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The Weight Loss Salt Lake City Citizens Seek Calls For Hard Work

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Roxy Albright</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Yes, there are many great ideas for getting the weight loss Salt Lake City citizens may want. But what is the most important idea? Get ready to work hard. There are some helpful products, services and information available that can aid you in losing some weight, but a good effort is almost always necessary from you to get results. This short article will talk about some ways to have a more successful journey toward the weight loss Salt Lake City residents are often after. We will even talk about how the lip injections Utah beauty centers can offer could potentially contribute to your efforts. There are lots of little tricks that may help you out, but a strong commitment to taking action and working hard will do the most for you.<br /> <br /> To begin, we will talk about how adjusting to and maintaining a quality and healthy diet will frequently help to earn better results. Further, we are going to have a look at some things you can certainly do to further your weight loss in Salt Lake City through action. To conclude, we should talk about how enhancing your self-confidence can further success in reducing the surplus weight.<br /> <br /> We often hear about how a healthy diet is a major part of getting the weight loss Salt Lake City residents may be seeking. You should think thoroughly about what you're eating each week. Write down the drink and food from your own past week. Look for healthy things that are missing and that you could use more of, but also look at the non-healthy items you could omit from your daily diet. This is a valuable activity.<br /> <br /> You often hear all over the place that exercise is a large part of being healthy, but many people find it difficult to fit it into their busy lifestyle. There are some approaches to this dilemma that can help you be more active and contribute to the weight loss Salt Lake City residents want. Think about opportunities all around you. If you reside in Utah, you likely have plenty of mountains near you that abound with ways to be active and thrive. Biking, kayaking, and hiking are among the many activities that could be available not too far from you. Or you may need activities at home. Buying a pedometer to measure the number of steps you are taking each day might help you get a bit more movement in. Just try to keep yourself busy with things that call for physical activity. Many projects around the home can provide decent workouts.<br /> <br /> Growing in confidence in yourself and your appearance may help to improve your efforts. Having treatments done such as the facials, laser skin resurfacing, or lip injections Utah providers can perform may help boost your confidence. Perhaps you just need a new haircut. Whatever you do, the more confidence you find in yourself, the more you will typically want to work hard at losing weight and improving you.<br /> <br /> The weight loss Salt Lake City inhabitants want could or could not include interesting options like getting the lip injections Utah medical aesthetics centers provide, but consulting with a physician and expending a good amount of effort at it are both things that should really be involved.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Learn more about <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/vive-weight-loss'>weight loss Salt Lake City</a>. Stop by Lucy Cho's site where you can find out all about this and options like <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/lip-augmentation'>lip injections Utah</a> and what they can do for you.</div><br /> </div><br />

The Weight Loss Salt Lake City Citizens Seek Calls For Hard Work

By Roxy Albright Yes, there are many great ideas for getting the weight loss Salt Lake City citizens may want. But what is the most import...

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Eagles QB Foles fined $10K for illegal block (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRe5xDOGcZZcLlRXsmnfodbZLZs5dZOotYjK7aOyS-J4Z4pFvTkwVSUHVcScf6F7dW4PQL5S3qxCnmA3ciF1uh8_sSacqs5mGx5cd5u3g6nkEzSk2QOIxBw_75ODVSk_W9_bdDLJLfKY/s1600/201312151433523814953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRe5xDOGcZZcLlRXsmnfodbZLZs5dZOotYjK7aOyS-J4Z4pFvTkwVSUHVcScf6F7dW4PQL5S3qxCnmA3ciF1uh8_sSacqs5mGx5cd5u3g6nkEzSk2QOIxBw_75ODVSk_W9_bdDLJLfKY/s320/201312151433523814953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_3970" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">NEW YORK (AP) -- <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="8" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/phi" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Philadelphia Eagles</a> quarterback Nick Foles was fined $10,000 by the NFL on Friday for an illegal peel-back block on Minnesota's <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="9" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9045" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Erin Henderson</a> during the Eagles' loss Sunday.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_3988" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Foles went down low at Henderson's knees, drawing a penalty and negating <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="10" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8826" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_3997" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">DeSean Jackson</a>'s 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5302" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Arizona's <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="11" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9532" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5301" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Marcus Benard</a> was fined $15,750 for roughing the passer on a hit on Tennessee's <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="12" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7426" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Ryan Fitzpatrick</a>. Cardinals linebacker <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="13" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24022" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5319" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Daryl Washington</a> was also docked $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5330" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Also in that game, Titans defensive end <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="14" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7762" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Kamerion Wimbley</a> was fined $10,000 for hitting Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer in the knee area.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5340" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Fined $7,875 by the NFL were: Indianapolis' Gosder Cherilus (for punching Houston's J.J. Watt), Cincinnati's Dre Kirkpatrick (facemask), Baltimore's Matt Elam (hitting a quarterback who slid feet-first) and St. Louis' Eugene Sims (for a hit on New Orleans' Darren Sproles).</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5350" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">---</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611619321_5360" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org</div></div>

Eagles QB Foles fined $10K for illegal block (BLOG)

NEW YORK (AP) --  Philadelphia Eagles  quarterback Nick Foles was fined $10,000 by the NFL on Friday for an illegal peel-back block on Minne...

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Pacers snap 2-game skid by routing Houston 114-81 (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gfhIY0NUS7EhhEEBpCTAN22PbnbCkkFZjAQn1gVHkdlziZW3vC8gTOAh9vdblEHnTC5RnJn4bSfZUPwJ9Jtx_Q3XnRHPqR8hkHUJ_44unY8KjQkZSt3szFffwSy8xaxogcO7JBhkT_s/s1600/111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gfhIY0NUS7EhhEEBpCTAN22PbnbCkkFZjAQn1gVHkdlziZW3vC8gTOAh9vdblEHnTC5RnJn4bSfZUPwJ9Jtx_Q3XnRHPqR8hkHUJ_44unY8KjQkZSt3szFffwSy8xaxogcO7JBhkT_s/s320/111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8639" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Pacers responded to Friday night's challenge like a champion.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8614" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''This team doesn't like losing,'' coach Frank Vogel said. ''We talked about playing mad for four quarters.''After taking two big hits this week - losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season - Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="13" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4725" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8629" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Paul George</a> finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, Lance Stephenson added 16 points and six assists, and the defense completely shut down Houston in a 114-81 rout.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8668" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">By following Vogel's plan, the Pacers continued to add to an already strong resume.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8678" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">While some try to discount Indiana's quick start because they're playing in the struggling Eastern Conference, the Pacers still have a firm grip on the conference's best record (21-5) and have already beaten three of the Western Conference's top teams - the Clippers, Spurs and now the Rockets.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The way Indiana has been winning is just as impressive.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediasportsmatcharticlescore_container"><div class="yom-mod yom-app yom-scores yom-sports-match-score yom-sports-scorething js" id="mediasportsmatcharticlescore" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); color: #f0f0f0; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 10px; zoom: 1;"><div class="hd" style="color: black; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: capitalize; zoom: 1;"><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Fri, Dec 20, 2013</h3></div><div class="bd" style="color: black; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; min-width: 280px; padding: 0px; zoom: 1;"><div class="yom-sports-scorething-day"><table class="nba boxes" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px !important; margin: 0px auto; width: 280px;"><tbody class=" final game link" data-index="0" data-url="/nba/houston-rockets-indiana-pacers-2013122011/" style="background-color: inherit; border: none;"><tr class="team away " style="background-color: inherit; border: none;"><th class="" style="background-color: inherit; border: none; font-weight: normal; padding: 3px 8px 1px; width: 140px;"><span class="logo yom-logo-nba large hou" style="background-color: #cc1144; background-image: url(http://l.yimg.com/os/mit/media/m/sports/images/team-logos/sprites/nba-40-1550761.png); background-position: -1040px 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 40px; margin-right: 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;"></span><span style="color: #3f3f3f; display: inline-block; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin: 13px 0px 0px 5px; max-width: 92px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;">Houston</span></th><td class="score" style="background-color: inherit; border: none; padding: 3px 0px 0px; text-align: right; width: 1px;"><span style="border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 22px; padding: 15px 10px 11px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">81</span></td><td class="links" colspan="1" rowspan="2" style="background-color: inherit; border: none; padding: 5px;"><span class="meta" style="color: #888888; display: block; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><a class="no-pjax" data-rapid_p="14" data-ylk="lt:s;sec:mod-sch;slk:game;itc:0;ltxt:;tar:sports.yahoo.com;" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/houston-rockets-indiana-pacers-2013122011/" style="color: #888888; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Final</a></span></td></tr><tr class="team home winner" style="background-color: inherit; border: none;"><th class="" style="background-color: inherit; border: none; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 3px; width: 140px;"><span class="logo yom-logo-nba large ind" style="background-color: #1c365c; background-image: url(http://l.yimg.com/os/mit/media/m/sports/images/team-logos/sprites/nba-40-1550761.png); background-position: -320px 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 40px; margin-right: 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;"></span><span style="color: #3f3f3f; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 13px 0px 0px 5px; max-width: 92px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;">Indiana</span></th><td class="score" style="background-color: inherit; border: none; padding: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: right; width: 1px;"><span style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; padding: 15px 10px 11px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">114</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8688" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Despite taking Dwight Howard's best shot Friday - Houston's center had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks - Indiana still managed to manhandle the usually potent Rockets' offense. Houston (17-10) entered the game second in scoring average and third in field goal percentage. It left Indianapolis having shot 38.1 percent in the game, compiling a season-low in points and losing to Indiana for the fourth straight time.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8698" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Even James Harden, the league's No. 6 scorer, couldn't get started. He was just 3 of 14 from the field and scored only 12 points, primarily against George. It was a disturbing twist for Houston, which had won three of its previous five, had beaten Chicago by 25 points on Wednesday and was trying to keep pace with division-leading San Antonio.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Heck, it couldn't even figure out how to beat the Pacers' stout defense.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''We had no answers for them. They played way better than we did,'' coach Kevin McHale said. ''We weren't moving, we weren't attacking, they had us on our heels all night.''</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But Indiana also had something else - motivation.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediasportsgameleaders_container"><div class="yom-mod yom-app yom-game-leaders" data-gid="nba.g.2013122011" id="mediasportsgameleaders" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); color: #f0f0f0; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1px; padding: 10px; zoom: 1;"><div class="hd" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 5px 0px 5px 5px; position: relative; text-transform: capitalize; zoom: 1;"><h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Game Leaders</h3></div><div class="bd league-nba" style="color: black; margin: 0px; min-width: 280px; padding: 0px; zoom: 1;"><ul class="players" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="clear: both; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 280px;"><a data-rapid_p="15" data-ylk="lt:s;" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/" style="color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Dwight Howard"><img alt="Dwight Howard" class="photo" height="66" src="http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/PjOJVrb5lusNQaYIehQuUQ--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTg2MDtjcj0xO2N3PTY2MDtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9MjE1O3E9MTAwO3c9MTY1/http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/i/us/sp/v/nba/players_l/20121217/3818.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(127, 127, 127); float: left; height: 66px; margin: 0px 8px 8px 0px; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important; width: 50px;" title="" width="50" /></a><div class="name" style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><a data-rapid_p="16" data-ylk="lt:s;" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/" style="color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Dwight Howard">Dwight Howard</a></div><div class="number team" style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2px;">#12, <a class="team" data-rapid_p="17" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/hou/" style="color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Houston</a></div><div class="stats" style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px !important; margin: 0px; width: auto !important;"><tbody style="border: 0px;"><tr style="background-color: transparent;" title="Points Scored: 19"><th class="stat" scope="row" style="background-color: #e3e7ec; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px;">Pts:</th><td class="value" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;">19</td></tr><tr style="background-color: transparent;" title="Total Rebounds: 12"><th class="stat" scope="row" style="background-color: #e3e7ec; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px;">Reb:</th><td class="value" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;">12</td></tr><tr style="background-color: transparent;" title="Assists: 2"><th class="stat" scope="row" style="background-color: #e3e7ec; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px;">Ast:</th><td class="value" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;">2</td></tr></tbody></table></div></li><li style="clear: both; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 280px;"><a data-rapid_p="18" data-ylk="lt:s;" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4725/" style="color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Paul George"><img alt="Paul George" class="photo" height="66" src="http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/fR7eilJJEvVNpVZd12iAOA--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTg2MDtjcj0xO2N3PTY2MDtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9MjE1O3E9MTAwO3c9MTY1/http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/i/us/sp/v/nba/players_l/20121217/4725.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(127, 127, 127); float: left; height: 66px; margin: 0px 8px 8px 0px; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important; width: 50px;" title="" width="50" /></a><div class="name" style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><a data-rapid_p="19" data-ylk="lt:s;" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4725/" style="color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Paul George">Paul George</a></div><div class="number team" style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2px;">#24, <a class="team" data-rapid_p="20" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/ind/" style="color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Indiana</a></div><div class="stats" style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px !important; margin: 0px; width: auto !important;"><tbody style="border: 0px;"><tr style="background-color: transparent;" title="Points Scored: 24"><th class="stat" scope="row" style="background-color: #e3e7ec; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px;">Pts:</th><td class="value" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;">24</td></tr><tr style="background-color: transparent;" title="Total Rebounds: 9"><th class="stat" scope="row" style="background-color: #e3e7ec; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px;">Reb:</th><td class="value" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;">9</td></tr><tr style="background-color: transparent;" title="Assists: 4"><th class="stat" scope="row" style="background-color: #e3e7ec; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px;">Ast:</th><td class="value" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;">4</td></tr></tbody></table></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Pacers were determined to make someone pay for this week's earlier stumbles, and they didn't care much about who showed up Friday.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Not only did the Pacers finish with a season high 12 3-pointers, but they also had a season high point total, their largest victory margin (33) of the season and their second best field goal percentage of the season (53.1).</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Six players scored in double figures and they did all that on a night Roy Hibbert finished with nine points, six rebounds and one block.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">How did they do it? The same way the Pacers usually win - with a balanced and a relentless defense.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''It's a good feeling because when we're at our best, we feel like we're unstoppable,'' George said. ''It was good to come out and play with high energy against a high-energy team.''</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="21" data-uuid="6d41b69e-c976-38ce-9368-6cd3eb42cf2f" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/pacers-snap-2-game-skid-photo-034932173--nba.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Pacers snap 2-game skid by routing Houston 114-81"></a><br /><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 451px; left: 0px; 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transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></a></div><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="21" data-uuid="6d41b69e-c976-38ce-9368-6cd3eb42cf2f" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/pacers-snap-2-game-skid-photo-034932173--nba.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Pacers snap 2-game skid by routing Houston 114-81"><img alt="Pacers snap 2-game skid by routing Houston 114-81" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="451" src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/KdT0IaEfnC7cEVdm6DCidQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTQ1MTtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/Sports/ap/201312202042745233552" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></a></div><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="21" data-uuid="6d41b69e-c976-38ce-9368-6cd3eb42cf2f" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/pacers-snap-2-game-skid-photo-034932173--nba.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Pacers snap 2-game skid by routing Houston 114-81"></a><br /><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">INDIANAPOLIS - DECEMBER 20: <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="22" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3943" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Danny Granger</a> #33 of the Indiana Pacers drives against the Houston Rocke …</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Rockets never had a chance on a celebratory night for the Pacers.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8710" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Indiana fans gave former All-Star Danny Granger a standing ovation when he made his season debut in the first quarter and chanted his name when he finally made his first basket, a 3-pointer, early in the fourth. Granger missed all but five games last season because of a left knee injury and he was sidelined all of this season by a strained left calf. If he is healthy, and he looked rusty on offense in his first game back, he would give the Pacers even more scoring punch as they try to dethrone two-time defending champion Miami.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8720" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But by the time Granger made his entrance, Indiana was already taking control.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Indiana went ahead 12-11 early in the first and spent the rest of the night pulling away.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">It led 25-20 after one, made it 41-29 early in the second and then fended off Houston's only real challenge, a 10-0 run that made it 41-39, by closing the half on a 17-6 burst to make it 56-45. Indiana quickly made it 64-49 in the third, sealed the game with a 17-4 spurt.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''They played harder than we did,'' Howard said. ''They brought a lot of extra energy at the beginning of the third quarter and that's what set us apart.''</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">And before it ended, the Pacers led by as many as 36.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''We always say that good teams will bounce back,'' said George Hill, who had 12 points. ''That showed we're a good team.''</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387611333314_8734" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">NOTES: Reserve Luis Scola finished with 13 points and made his first 3-pointer since joining the Pacers during the offseason. ... Houston played without guard Jeremy Lin (back) and Omar Asik (thigh). Asik, who has been the subject of trade rumors, did not make the trip. ... The Rockets were just 13 of 24 from the free throw line.</div></div>

Pacers snap 2-game skid by routing Houston 114-81 (BLOG)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Pacers responded to Friday night's challenge like a champion. ''This team doesn't like losing,'...

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Reagan shooter granted more time outside hospital (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRMl2w3wfFuAqzmCh6EZpeATQy88T4t3g-uu8u4vAIeZ4ydrCsphcGvFP4fWBBZg6qxQymOu6-BCr8ZZA4Red1MhtO_wyvkVtyHwwsZ-ZzfxNCwSXBBu4dcFZP27yT8G8gxa5aIiArOg/s1600/222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRMl2w3wfFuAqzmCh6EZpeATQy88T4t3g-uu8u4vAIeZ4ydrCsphcGvFP4fWBBZg6qxQymOu6-BCr8ZZA4Red1MhtO_wyvkVtyHwwsZ-ZzfxNCwSXBBu4dcFZP27yT8G8gxa5aIiArOg/s320/222.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_5728" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan will get to spend more time outside a mental hospital where he has been confined for most of the past three decades, a judge ruled Friday.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"><section class="yom-mod " data-ylk="mid:mediacontentrelatedstory;mpos:1;elm:hdln;elmt:ct;cat:Related Stories;rspns:nav;t1:a3;itc:0;sec:lst-ct;" id="mediacontentrelatedstory" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></section></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_5734" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">John Hinckley will be allowed to visit his mother's home in Williamsburg, Va., for up to 17 days at a time. Hinckley has been allowed to spend increasing amounts of time at his mother's house in recent years, but previous visits were capped at 10 days. Hinckley must make at least eight successful 17-day visits away from the hospital before any requests to increase his time in Williamsburg beyond that will even be considered, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman said in his ruling.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_6202" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In court hearings before the ruling, Hinckley's lawyer, Barry Levine, had asked for his visits to be expanded to 17 and 24 days, arguing that there is no evidence Hinckley is a danger to himself or others. Attorneys for the U.S. government, however, argued that Hinckley is "capable of great violence" and told the judge that granting expanded privileges was "premature and ill conceived."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_6208" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Friedman wrote that Hinckley's depression and psychotic disorder are in full remission and that he had not displayed violent behavior in more than 29 years.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_6214" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, the court is confident that under appropriate conditions, Mr. Hinckley will not likely be a danger to himself or others if his visits to Williamsburg are expanded from ten days to seventeen days," Friedman wrote. "Mr. Hinckley has been making 10-day visits to Williamsburg for nearly four years, without in any way decompensating or doing anything that might suggest a risk of danger."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_6220" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Still, the judge said Hinckley continues to be "guarded, defensive and sometimes secretive" and is occasionally deceptive, such as when he visited a Barnes & Noble bookstore — instead of a movie theater, as had been scheduled — and then lied about it during 2011 visits to Williamsburg.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Though Freidman permitted Hinckley to spend even more time away from the hospital, he denied requests from the hospital to increase the length of visits to 24 days after only two 17-day visits and to release him on permanent convalescent leave with his mother in Williamsburg.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Levine called the judge's ruling positive news for both Hinckley and a victory for mental health advocates, saying the evidence was indisputable that Hinckley's mental illness was in remission.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"In 1981, John was ravaged by mental disease. With good mental health therapy, John is free of that disease," he said, adding that Hinckley has long proved that he is not a danger to himself or others.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Friedman's ruling is two years in the making and comes after a series of hearings on the issue. In late 2011 and early 2012, attorneys for Hinckley and the government spent a total of two weeks discussing whether Hinckley should be allowed to spend more time away from St. Elizabeths Hospital, the mental health facility in Washington where he has lived for decades.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">There were additional follow-up hearings early this year. Those hearings were called because a treatment facility near Hinckley's mother's home, where he was going to attend group programs while there, withdrew its participation.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Throughout the hearings, both sides have attempted to paint strikingly different pictures of Hinckley. His brother and sister described him as a person who likes taking long walks and has an interest in music, particularly Bob Dylan and the Beatles. And doctors said the mental illness that led a jury to find him insane at the time he shot Reagan in 1981 has been in remission for years.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">At the same time, Secret Service agents trailing Hinckley during his visits to his mother's home testified they caught him browsing in a bookstore when he had said he would be attending a movie and looked at shelves that contained books about Reagan.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Friedman said there was no evidence that Hinckley had ever touched, picked up or read any books on presidential assassinations, and that the agents' testimony "do not show anything other than a possible but unconfirmed expression of brief interest in the covers of such books by Mr. Hinckley."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_6228" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">___</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_6234" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Follow Jessica Gresko at http://twitter.com/jessicagresko</div></div>

Reagan shooter granted more time outside hospital (BLOG)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan will get to spend more time outside a mental hospital where h...

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A West Hollywood Personal Trainer Suggests A Number Of Fun Activities For Kids

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Michael Petry</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>West Hollywood, also known as Weho, is an affluent city in California that is located in the County of Los Angeles. In accordance with a census done in 2010, the total number of population in West Hollywood is at 34,399 and out of which, there are about 6 % of children that are below the age of 18 and are living with their parents.<br /> <br /> A number of the parents in Weho have recognized the significance of health and fitness not only for themselves but for their children too. They understand really well that a healthy way of life should start at a young age. So to help these parents, a West Hollywood personal trainer provided a list of some physical activities that parents can do along with the kids.<br /> <br /> Relay Racing<br /> <br /> Relay racing is a popular activity among kids, and your kids will surely enjoy this game. To make it more fun, gather the kids in the neighborhood and organize a mini boot camp in your place in order for your kids to enjoy it even more. Prepare some equipment to use for the mini boot camp, such as ladders for them to jump over, a skipping rope, some rubber tires on the trees, crawling areas and several other adventurous things that you can think of.<br /> <br /> Plan some challenges for the competing teams to play with, just make sure that they are the kind of challenges that are safe for the kids and something that will not lead to any injuries. The West Hollywood personal trainer said that you can do this activity once or twice a month to help your kids to stay active.<br /> <br /> Swimming<br /> <br /> Another favorite activity of the kids is swimming. So if you live in a coastal area in West Hollywood where several beaches are to be found nearby, schedule a weekly beach outing for the kids. You can also enroll them in a swimming school in your local area if they are not adept at swimming yet.<br /> <br /> Relay Racing<br /> <br /> Relay racing is a popular activity among kids, and your kids will surely enjoy this game. To make it more fun, gather the kids in the neighborhood and organize a mini boot camp in your place in order for your kids to enjoy it even more. Prepare some equipment to use for the mini boot camp, such as ladders for them to jump over, a skipping rope, some rubber tires on the trees, crawling areas and several other adventurous things that you can think of.<br /> <br /> Invest on a good bicycle for your kids or for the entire family. Cycling is a fun activity which you can do as a group and it is a healthy exercise, too. Your kids will certainly enjoy cycling along with you and your hubby in the nearby park. Also, if your kid's school is just within the village, encourage them to cycle going to school to help them exercise. The West Hollywood personal trainer strongly recommends that you encourage your kids to take up bicycling so they will grow healthy and physically fit.<br /> <br /> Other Activities<br /> <br /> Aside from the activities above, there are numerous other fun activities that your kids will certainly love and among these are:<br /> <br /> * Bowling<br /> <br /> * Dancing<br /> <br /> * Martial arts<br /> <br /> * Skating<br /> <br /> * Skating<br /> <br /> Research shows that a lot of kids suffer from obesity nowadays. If you do not want this to happen, the West Hollywood personal trainer recommends that you encourage your children to exercise while they are still young.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Being in excellent shape with the aid of <a href="https://plus.google.com/100349319569853932791/about">West Hollywood Personal Trainer</a> not just boosts your own entire body but also your well being as well. The advantages that one can receive from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-west-hollywood/">Personal Trainer West Hollywood</a> are limitless.</div><br /> </div><br />

A West Hollywood Personal Trainer Suggests A Number Of Fun Activities For Kids

By Michael Petry West Hollywood, also known as Weho, is an affluent city in California that is located in the County of Los Angeles. In ac...

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Mass. police find heroin stamped with 'Obamacare' (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI33q-l5KHyukvo4oaaoKQ3KQnZBfBcATJ338OblL3C-qR02qiUdpheKlUarOqopLLUNESy4wuXlYCfDklKrhJwkK4JkG0WzDgGqioaqANpAqZuFX1RQMG-9wlTBuNVmUWJMDEz2UR58/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI33q-l5KHyukvo4oaaoKQ3KQnZBfBcATJ338OblL3C-qR02qiUdpheKlUarOqopLLUNESy4wuXlYCfDklKrhJwkK4JkG0WzDgGqioaqANpAqZuFX1RQMG-9wlTBuNVmUWJMDEz2UR58/s320/22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_3342" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">HATFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts state police say they've stopped a car carrying 1,250 packets of heroin stamped "Obamacare" and "Kurt Cobain" and arrested the four people inside it.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_3314" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Police say a trooper was making a traffic stop in Northampton when another car passed and he noticed several violations. He stopped the car a short time later in nearby Hatfield and found the driver wasn't licensed to drive it. A state police dog found the bags of heroin.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_3352" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The four arrested people have been charged with heroin trafficking.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_3358" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">State police Lt. Daniel Richard says it's not unusual for heroin to be stamped with numbers, words or symbols to identify who's selling it. But he says the "Obamacare" stamp is one he hadn't heard of.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_3358" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">-AP</div></div>

Mass. police find heroin stamped with 'Obamacare' (BLOG)

HATFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts state police say they've stopped a car carrying 1,250 packets of heroin stamped "Obamacare&quo...

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The BMW i8 might get the coolest key of all time (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0MgFs6OSBqMhTiHMzRZ2MP4UvDEZPuJjEW4A6fKZ2tFx56kc53wtmQsWxZZyNCcl3i21VcqdrNHo6ejtkzvjF0Isf-drxx5OS4Mf4m-8NrZQSVbWi9y2gwnMzRrh4u29r72B38azv50/s1600/bmw-i8-smart-key-fob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0MgFs6OSBqMhTiHMzRZ2MP4UvDEZPuJjEW4A6fKZ2tFx56kc53wtmQsWxZZyNCcl3i21VcqdrNHo6ejtkzvjF0Isf-drxx5OS4Mf4m-8NrZQSVbWi9y2gwnMzRrh4u29r72B38azv50/s320/bmw-i8-smart-key-fob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_1121" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The eco-friendly <a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://bgr.com/tag/bmw/" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="BGR.com">BMW</a> i8 may have one more feature that will impress potential buyers, a smart key fob that looks – and performs – like no ordinary <a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://bgr.com/tag/cars/" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="BGR.com">car</a> key. One BMW insider shared the image above with <em>Bimmerfile</em>, which shows what the i8 smart key could look like. According to the publication, the key will include its own high-resolution LCD screen which will reportedly be able to display various useful information such as charge levels, time on a charge and the distance the vehicle can travel before requiring recharging and/or refueling.<span id="more-2177382"></span></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_1097" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In addition to the usual keys you’d find on a car key, the i8 key will apparently also offer user customizable buttons that will trigger certain actions. In a world filled with a variety of smart devices that use displays of all sorts and sizes, <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://bgr.com/2013/12/13/internet-of-things-devices/" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_1128" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Your entire world will soon be connected">with many of them connected to the Internet</a>, smart keys and <a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://bgr.com/2013/10/30/self-driving-cars-save-lives-money/" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Self-driving cars could cut down on injuries by 90%, save $450 billion">smarter cars</a> should not surprise anyone. However, the BMW i8 key concept above is yet to be confirmed by the German car-maker.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387610636751_1097" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">-BGR</div></div>

The BMW i8 might get the coolest key of all time (BLOG)

The eco-friendly  BMW  i8 may have one more feature that will impress potential buyers, a smart key fob that looks – and performs – like no ...

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Google slapped with $1.2 million fine for breaking privacy laws (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVbHVVlcjCfJ8yJkBhWgaoo8gyf8BzurPOiTfRh7M44iitz1yGKmNQBvMM07qCo3RDP9wiCGq34ypeqcUlLyynJUdilsRJR9_wzaDnP49b6j88GTdkFoLYMzrqVtR33zOMsJp_zmfq-c/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVbHVVlcjCfJ8yJkBhWgaoo8gyf8BzurPOiTfRh7M44iitz1yGKmNQBvMM07qCo3RDP9wiCGq34ypeqcUlLyynJUdilsRJR9_wzaDnP49b6j88GTdkFoLYMzrqVtR33zOMsJp_zmfq-c/s320/11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: apres-regular-webfont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Google is in trouble once again, and this time it’s not for something nearly as subtle as<a href="http://bgr.com/2013/12/10/google-barge-construction-stopped/" style="color: #0080ff; text-decoration: none;">giant, mysterious barges</a> floating in U.S. waters. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/19/us-spain-google-privacy-idUSBRE9BI12Z20131219" rel="nofollow" style="color: #0080ff; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Reuters</em> reports</a> that <a href="http://bgr.com/tag/google" style="color: #0080ff; text-decoration: none;">Google</a> is being fined €900,000 ($1.23 million USD) for breaking Spain’s data protection law, the maximum fine possible under the law. Spain’s privacy watchdog started its investigation after Google changed the privacy policies on its cloud-based services without informing users.<span id="more-2179377"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: apres-regular-webfont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">“Inspections have shown that Google compiles personal information through close to one hundred services and products it offers in Spain, without providing in many cases the adequate information about the data that is being gathered, why it is gathered and without obtaining the consent of the owners,” said the Spanish Agency for Data Protection in a statement.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: apres-regular-webfont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">This is not the first fine that Google has been asked to pay for a breach of privacy this year. In fact, <a href="http://bgr.com/2013/11/29/google-privacy-policy-breach-dutch-law/" style="color: #0080ff; text-decoration: none;">a Dutch regulator accused Google of breaking a nearly identical law</a> just last month. Google is currently working with Spain to resolve the issue.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: apres-regular-webfont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">-BGR</div></div>

Google slapped with $1.2 million fine for breaking privacy laws (BLOG)

Google is in trouble once again, and this time it’s not for something nearly as subtle as giant, mysterious barges  floating in U.S. waters....

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US spacewalkers get ready for orbiting lab repairs (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfUyGfBeCmg6xBFo3qFe4PafYHNSTeLu7hARp67rfilo3r4j0iC6gJatpWc6MY6Fmnps9i-UM9YyrFeEyw-0vVQUAGSTNfGNlqwRMZdzw1XKb1cHgmRLyjJll4ibBQwI6MwOuHf5qKVA/s1600/f11d1523c6a2c80571361e8855519d1cbfdb778f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfUyGfBeCmg6xBFo3qFe4PafYHNSTeLu7hARp67rfilo3r4j0iC6gJatpWc6MY6Fmnps9i-UM9YyrFeEyw-0vVQUAGSTNfGNlqwRMZdzw1XKb1cHgmRLyjJll4ibBQwI6MwOuHf5qKVA/s320/f11d1523c6a2c80571361e8855519d1cbfdb778f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_3945" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Washington (AFP) - Two American astronauts are to step out Saturday on the first of three spacewalks to replace a broken cooling pump at the orbiting International Space Station.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_3975" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">As the ISS spins around the Earth at a speed of five miles (eight kilometers) per second, veteran spacewalker Rick Mastracchio will lead the way, followed by Mike Hopkins, making his first venture outside the global research lab.The spacewalk is set to begin at 7:10 am (1210 GMT) and last six and a half hours, NASA said.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_3994" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">From the inside, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata will operate the station's 50-foot (15-meter) robotic arm, hoisting Mastracchio and hefty equipment from one section of the lab to another.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_4003" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"There are quite a bit of arm maneuvers throughout all of these EVAs so I'm sure Koichi will be getting a workout," said lead spacewalk officer Allison Bolinger, using the NASA acronym for spacewalk: extravehicular activity (EVA).</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_4012" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">While Mastracchio, 53, soars around with his boots attached to a foot-plate on the robotic arm, Hopkins, 44, will be the designated free-floating astronaut of the day.</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="13" data-uuid="12679159-6e27-3eee-9bf2-34ccfd5bc026" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/mikhail-tyurin-roscosmos-bottom-flight-engineer-koichi-wakata-photo-022612758.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos (Bottom), Flight Engineer&nbsp;&hellip;"></a><br /><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 381px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="13" data-uuid="12679159-6e27-3eee-9bf2-34ccfd5bc026" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/mikhail-tyurin-roscosmos-bottom-flight-engineer-koichi-wakata-photo-022612758.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos (Bottom), Flight Engineer&nbsp;&hellip;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></a></div><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="13" data-uuid="12679159-6e27-3eee-9bf2-34ccfd5bc026" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/mikhail-tyurin-roscosmos-bottom-flight-engineer-koichi-wakata-photo-022612758.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos (Bottom), Flight Engineer&nbsp;&hellip;"><img alt="Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos (Bottom), Flight Engineer&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="381" src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/TcCVBohkha1kYl.5z7x3WQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTM4MTtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/d190b9b58589c8ed102c6bd04fb08cc0a0f03a4a.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></a></div><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="13" data-uuid="12679159-6e27-3eee-9bf2-34ccfd5bc026" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/mikhail-tyurin-roscosmos-bottom-flight-engineer-koichi-wakata-photo-022612758.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos (Bottom), Flight Engineer&nbsp;&hellip;"></a><br /><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos (Bottom), Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata and Flight Engineer Rick Mastrac …</div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_4021" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The men's first task is to disconnect the ammonia pump, which is about the size of a refrigerator.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_4030" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">On the second spacewalk, set for Monday, the astronauts are to remove the pump so it can be replaced with a spare that was already stowed at the ISS.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">A third spacewalk is planned for Christmas Day, when the failed pump will be shuttled away and final installations made on its replacement.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">However, there is a chance the astronauts will be able to complete all their work in two spacewalks, NASA has said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">If not, the Christmas Day outing would be the first since 1974, when a pair of NASA astronauts "stepped outside the Skylab space station to retrieve film from a telescope and photograph Comet Kohoutek," the US space agency said.</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="14" data-uuid="c011d057-685f-397e-9659-a5a8eed652bb" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/people-photographs-russia-39-soyuz-tma-11m-spacecraft-photo-022612020.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="People take photographs as Russia&#39;s Soyuz TMA-11M&nbsp;&hellip;"></a><br /><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="14" data-uuid="c011d057-685f-397e-9659-a5a8eed652bb" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/people-photographs-russia-39-soyuz-tma-11m-spacecraft-photo-022612020.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="People take photographs as Russia&#39;s Soyuz TMA-11M&nbsp;&hellip;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></a></div><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="14" data-uuid="c011d057-685f-397e-9659-a5a8eed652bb" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/people-photographs-russia-39-soyuz-tma-11m-spacecraft-photo-022612020.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="People take photographs as Russia&#39;s Soyuz TMA-11M&nbsp;&hellip;"><img alt="People take photographs as Russia&#39;s Soyuz TMA-11M&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="200" src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/fqWlpcFzrGiWzVBDCl0Wiw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTIwMDtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/e6235787d06d1c8be2acf7d0f8e7d31998b91109.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></a></div><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="14" data-uuid="c011d057-685f-397e-9659-a5a8eed652bb" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/people-photographs-russia-39-soyuz-tma-11m-spacecraft-photo-022612020.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="People take photographs as Russia&#39;s Soyuz TMA-11M&nbsp;&hellip;"></a><br /><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">People take photographs as Russia's Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft blasts off from the Russian leased  …</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The urgent spacewalks were called for this week due to a faulty valve that caused a partial shutdown in the system that regulates equipment temperature at the space station.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Engineers tried to fix the problem from the ground, but eventually decided they needed to replace the ammonia pump.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The six-man crew was never in danger, but NASA wanted to fix the problem sooner rather than later, agency officials said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The spacewalks meant the first regular commercial cargo supply mission by Orbital Sciences' Cygnus craft, which had been planned for earlier in the week, was postponed until next year.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">NASA also had to rig up some last-minute contingency gear inside the American-made spacesuits, which have not been used since a helmet water leak nearly drowned a European astronaut in July.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Now the helmets carry an extra absorption pad and a snorkel inside, just in case.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_4058" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The investigation into the cause of the helmet leak is ongoing. Hopkins will be wearing the suit that had the problem, though its inner water pump has been replaced.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1387609612062_4068" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Dina Contella, International Space Station flight director, told reporters on Wednesday the space agency is "confident that this suit is a very clean suit and ready to go."</div></div>

US spacewalkers get ready for orbiting lab repairs (BLOG)

Washington (AFP) - Two American astronauts are to step out Saturday on the first of three spacewalks to replace a broken cooling pump at the...

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Little Known Secrets Of Acai Berry Tablets That You Need To Know.

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Olav Zhang</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Acai tablets weight loss diets recommend include the powerful Acai berry from the special palm tree grown in Brazil. The fruit of this Amazon River basin palm tree has produced the world's most nutritious food, according to recent research.<br /> <br /> Well my friend, you're not the only one who has been experiencing some form of depression lately. In fact, when I learned that I was suffering from hypertension because I was 10 pounds overweight, I became a bag of nerves just waiting to explode.<br /> <br /> Acai tablets weight loss programs recommend still offer the other benefits of the Acai berry, since it contains high nutritional contents in Vitamin A, C and E, contains Omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, protein and a high amount of polyphenols, which are considered good for your overall health. This miracle berry sustained Brazilian tribesmen for centuries, especially during the long periods between successful hunts, and yet they still maintained their youthful appearance, had high amounts of stamina and energy and were considered in good overall health, according to recent research.<br /> <br /> The step in processing the tablet will extract water from the fruit without using heat, thereby preserving the antioxidants, fiber, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.<br /> <br /> Acai berry tablets also have the following wonderful benefits that I would definitely like to share with you... scroll down please!<br /> <br /> The first step in processing Acai Berries is to separate the seed, mash the remaining flesh to a puree which retains the nutritional benefits of the Acai Berry.<br /> <br /> Most manufacturers will clarify the puree by mixing it with other fruits. Whatever your preference is, always choose the all-natural and 100 percent pure products.<br /> <br /> They will cleanse your colon, remove the hazardous toxins that have been sitting in your system for years, and give you loads of extra energy throughout the day. You will feel healthier and more energized.<br /> <br /> They are easy to be stored, you are also able to take them anywhere with you. You can also ensure that you do take the correct dosage, therefore seeing the best results from the product.<br /> <br /> The Benefits that you can see from using Acai Berries in Capsule form are; Fast Weight Loss due to your metabolism being increased, An increase in energy, Detox the body of harmful toxins<br /> <br /> Be sure to look for certified or gold label Acai, to make sure it is officially processed according to Brazilian ISO standards. In the United States, it is typically received as a fresh, freeze-dried concentrated powder or fresh frozen puree, and then made into products in USDA plants. The reason for this is that Acai is the most potent in the fresh state.<br /> <br /> For most Acai tablets weight loss formula, you will usually find Acai or Acai powder concentrate, as an active ingredient. For weight loss, the Acai tablets weight loss formula offer a safe, nutritious way to lose weight and gain other benefits.<br /> <br /> Therefore you are benefiting from a product that contains 100% Acai Berry. To see results you need to take at least 1000mg a day, however you can get products that give you 1500mg, this being even more effective.<br /> <br /> The acai berry challenge transforms ordinary men and women into extraordinary success stories. Millions of people have started using acai berry in order to lose weight with proven results.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>If you would like to get a free bottle offer of<a href="http://youtu.be/7V2erlcBwZo"> acai berry tablets</a> then you need to go to the official website.</div><br /> </div><br />

Little Known Secrets Of Acai Berry Tablets That You Need To Know.

By Olav Zhang Acai tablets weight loss diets recommend include the powerful Acai berry from the special palm tree grown in Brazil. The fru...

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Beyonce's Album Sales Cross 1 Million In iTunes (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_EJdUHE8zQPY6fwSOWATdkF3eYbybcadPyVSd-aKCvYtkHKfZWPCBpmW4L131TmFryTH5eL4UEjbObeiPS95qTVlI9B10ofX7ov2dDvsy1QdAIUrkZYBYOkUKTGX_cs7eMbAdHyKb4o/s1600/maxresdefault-578x280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_EJdUHE8zQPY6fwSOWATdkF3eYbybcadPyVSd-aKCvYtkHKfZWPCBpmW4L131TmFryTH5eL4UEjbObeiPS95qTVlI9B10ofX7ov2dDvsy1QdAIUrkZYBYOkUKTGX_cs7eMbAdHyKb4o/s320/maxresdefault-578x280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The good news keeps coming for Mrs. Carter: Apple and Columbia Records tell The Huffington Post that Beyonce's self-titled album has sold over 1 million copies in the worldwide iTunes Store.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The millionth sale came around 11:15 am PST on Wednesday, a source with knowledge of the matter told HuffPost.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"Beyoncé," released as a surprise shot as Thursday ticked over into Friday of last week, became the fastest-selling album to ever hit iTunes. The singer's fifth solo album <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/16/beyonce-album-sales-weekend_n_4453500.html?ir=Entertainment" style="border: 0px; color: #b10000; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">moved 828,773 copies over the course of its first weekend</a>. The LP remains an iTunes exclusive, though physical copies are expected to be in stores by Christmas.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The 14-track "visual album" came with videos for every single song, a stunning expanse of material that was recorded in large part while Beyonce was touring the globe as part of her Mrs. Carter World Tour. The mammoth effort was kept under wraps, and news of its release spread across social media like wildfire, providing extremely efficient and organic marketing for the label.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"Beyoncé" (which comes with 17 videos) is currently only available as a $15.99 package. Songs are not available for individual purchase until Dec. 20. In the time since its release, the album has spawned vigorous debates about feminism, consumerism, parenthood and sexual representation, as bloggers and Twitter users write and pick apart a myriad of thought-pieces on Beyonce's music and messaging.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The RIAA has yet to certify the album platinum, though that's expected to happen soon.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Huffington Post.</div></div>

Beyonce's Album Sales Cross 1 Million In iTunes (BLOG)

The good news keeps coming for Mrs. Carter: Apple and Columbia Records tell The Huffington Post that Beyonce's self-titled album has sol...

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NFL MVP Race: Jamaal Charles, Russel Wilson May Be Fighting For 2nd Place Behind Peyton Manning (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdxEeq3vVA8-TlQMJqA5liEcn1Nxd93YpV5a8ykbsHqW8qCOP4bGhF_V7f714rSDta2ofLNC1xX0gVVmEPoaqaw0cJPKfcQRz4Dfmal6t6XQNyXl2GTTb3FXPSqGmU5k8PTXEceruDyU/s1600/n-JAMAAL-CHARLES-large570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdxEeq3vVA8-TlQMJqA5liEcn1Nxd93YpV5a8ykbsHqW8qCOP4bGhF_V7f714rSDta2ofLNC1xX0gVVmEPoaqaw0cJPKfcQRz4Dfmal6t6XQNyXl2GTTb3FXPSqGmU5k8PTXEceruDyU/s320/n-JAMAAL-CHARLES-large570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">It’s a foregone conclusion that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for 2013. The future Hall of Famer is set to put the finishing touches on one of the best quarterback seasons in NFL history while positioning the Denver Broncos for home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Manning is on pace to break the single season yardage record Saints signal-caller Drew Brees set in 2011 (5,476 passing yards) as well as Tom Brady’s mark of 50 touchdown passes.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">With Manning as a virtual lock to win the award, here are five players who also deserve consideration.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-race-for-second.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Jamaal Charles-Kansas City Chiefs</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The Chiefs’ offense revolves around Charles. He accounts for 38.4 percent of the offense’s yards and is the only NFL running back currently leading his team in receptions (65), receiving yards (665) and receiving touchdowns (seven). Charles has a league-leading 18 touchdowns. With three more receiving touchdowns, he will become the first player in NFL history to hit double figures in rushing touchdowns and receiving touchdowns in the same season. Charles is also second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,836) and fourth in rushing (1,181 yards).</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-race-for-second.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Russell Wilson-Seattle Seahawks</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Russell WilsonWilson has guided the Seahawks to the NFL's best record through 15 weeks.<br />The NFC’s road to the Super Bowl will go through Seattle thanks, in large part, to Wilson guiding the Seahawks to an NFL-best 12-2 record. Wilson has more wins (23) than any quarterback in NFL history through his first two seasons. His raw numbers may not wow anybody because the Seahawks have the second-fewest passing attempts in the NFL. Nonetheless, Wilson makes the most of his opportunities. He is sixth in the NFL with a 105 passing rating, eighth in completion percentage (64.7%) and tied for second with four game-winning drives. Wilson’s running ability adds another dimension to Seattle’s offense. He ranks second among quarterbacks with 508 rushing yards.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-race-for-second.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Tom Brady-New England Patriots</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Brady has kept the Patriots afloat despite wholesale changes to the receiving corps, <a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Rob-Gronkowski-to-have-surgery-in-two-weeks.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Rob Gronkowski’s limited availability</a> and injuries to key defensive players. The Patriots are on track for the second seed in the AFC playoffs. Although Brady has engineered five fourth quarter quarterbacks and five game-winning drives, which both top the NFL, his mediocre first half of the season can’t be ignored. He completed 55.7 percent of his passes, tossed nine touchdowns and six interceptions with a 74.9 passing rating over the first eight games of the season. Brady has rebounded during the season’s second half with a 66.8 completion percentage, 103 passing rating and 14 touchdown passes.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-race-for-second.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Philip Rivers-San Diego Chargers</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Rivers is arguably having the best season of any quarterback besides Peyton Manning. He is leading the NFL with a career best 69.9 percent completion percentage after flirting with Drew Brees’ single-season record of 71.2 percent for a majority of the season. Rivers is also posting a career best 106.9 passing rating, which is fifth in the NFL. He is in the top-five in passing yards (4,048) and touchdown passes (28) as well. San Diego’s 7-7 record while taking a backseat to the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West will likely keep Rivers’ season from being fully appreciated.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-race-for-second.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">LeSean McCoy-Philadelphia Eagles</strong></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The Eagles have the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack because of McCoy. He leads the NFL in both total yards from scrimmage (1,850) and in rushing (1,343). McCoy’s five yards per carry average is also fifth in the NFL and third among running backs. Although Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense didn’t hit its stride until Nick Foles took over at quarterback, McCoy has been the constant throughout the season. He opens up the passing game for Foles.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Follow me on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/corryjoel" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">@corryjoel</a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Joel Corry is a former sports agent who helped found Premier Sports & Entertainment, a sports management firm that represents professional athletes and coaches. Prior to his tenure at Premier, Joel worked for Management Plus Enterprises, which represented Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ronnie Lott. You can email Joel at jccorry@gmail.com</em></div></div>

NFL MVP Race: Jamaal Charles, Russel Wilson May Be Fighting For 2nd Place Behind Peyton Manning (BLOG)

It’s a foregone conclusion that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for 2013. The future Hall of...

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