Since you can grab generic dryer sheets for a couple of bucks this can be cheaper and longer lasting than carrying around both car air fresheners and Febreeze. Photo by Trent Hamm
Keep an open bock of dryer sheets in your car for 2 simple reasons. | Reddit
kevin kolb sarah shahi george clooney rutgers dharun ravi george clooney arrested ravi
Two grants have been awarded, totalling some ?30m. One of the grants, for ?19m will help develop new technology that makes super computers more efficient. The technology is also expected to improve battery life for devices including mobile phones, laptops and tablet computers.
A second grant of ?11m is to fund the advanced computing capability for the world's largest radio telescope. This is to allow new research into the origins of the universe.
The grants have been awarded to the Hartree Centre?at Sci Tech Daresbury and its partners.
The Treasury said that development at Daresbury is expected to create 10,000 high quality jobs across hundreds of technology companies.
"Britain is in a global race and we are in a position to lead the way in science and technology," said Osborne. "Projects like the Daresbury development are crucial to boosting the economy and putting the UK at the forefront of the big data revolution."
Science minister David Willetts said added that scientific discovery would now become data-driven.
"This ?30m investment will support one of the world's leading high performance computing software centres," he said.
"It will help ensure that UK science and industry stay at the very forefront of research and development."
Source: http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=22048
People Water Fred Willard Emmy nominations 2012 Ramadan 2012 Michelle Jenneke batman Colorado Shooting News
ATLANTA ? A student opened fire at his middle school Thursday afternoon, wounding a 14-year-old in the neck before an armed officer working at the school was able to get the gun away, police said.
Multiple shots were fired in the courtyard of Price Middle School just south of downtown about 1:50 p.m. and the one boy was hit, Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said. In the aftermath, a teacher received minor cuts, he said.
The wounded boy was taken "alert, conscious and breathing" to Grady Memorial Hospital, said police spokesman Carlos Campos. Grady Heath System Spokeswoman Denise Simpson said the teen had been discharged from the hospital Thursday night. Campos said charges against the shooter were pending.
Police swarmed the school of about 400 students after reports of the shooting while a crowd of anxious parents gathered in the streets, awaiting word on their children. Students were kept at the locked-down school for more than two hours before being dismissed.
Investigators believe the shooting was not random and that something occurred between the two students that may have led to it.
Schools Superintendent Erroll Davis said the school does have metal detectors.
"The obvious question is how did this get past a metal detector?" Davis asked about the gun. "That's something we do not know yet."
The armed resource officer who took the gun away was off-duty and at the school, but police didn't release details on him or whether he is regularly at Price. Since 20 children and six adults were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in December, calls for armed officers in every school have resonated across the country.
Hours after the Atlanta shooting, several school buses loaded with children pulled away from the school and stopped in front of a church about a half-block away. Parents tried boarding the buses. Police who initially tried to stop the parents, relented and screamed, "Let them off!" about the students.
James Bolton was at work when his sister called saying a teen had been shot at his son's school and was in the crowd as parents began swarming the fleet of buses.
"Move, I see my son, I see mine!" he said, running up to embrace James Bolton Jr. "As long as I got this one back I'm OK," he said, holding his son's head against his chest as parents nearby frantically searched for their children.
Bolton Jr. said he was in class when the intercom sounded and a school official announced the building was under immediate lockdown.
"They told us we had to be quiet," Bolton told The Associated Press. "They said something went on in the courtyard." Bolton said he was unaware that anyone had been shot until a reporter asked him about it.
Shakita Walker, whose daughter is an eighth-grader at the school, said she received a text from her that said, "Ma somebody's shooting and somebody got shot." Walker, who works at another school, said she jumped in her car and was thinking "just hurry up and get there."
Walker said her daughter called to tell her that they were being kept in the gymnasium, but she said she was anxious to see her to make sure she was OK.
The fear and anxiety was palpable in the crowd, as one person yelled, "Does anyone know what happened?"
Superintendent Davis sympathized with concerned parents who complained that it took too long for students to be released from the building. He said emergency procedures were followed according to protocol and school district officials would meet Friday to review their response. Calls to the school district were not immediately returned.
Mayor Kasim Reed condemned gun violence in a statement shortly after the shooting and said counselors were at the school to meet with students, faculty and family members.
"Gun violence in and around our schools is simply unconscionable and must end," Reed said. "Too many young people are being harmed, and too many families are suffering from unimaginable and unnecessary grief."
Outside the school, Laquanda Pittman said she still hasn't heard from her sixth-grade son. She said she heard the news of the shooting on TV and immediately came to the school.
"All types of stuff went through my head. I'm wondering whether it was my child who got shot, is my child OK, did he see what happened?" Pittman said.
She said she just wants to see her son.
"As a parent, you just think you can send your child to school and you hope they come home OK," she said.
"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/price-middle-school-shoot_n_2595189.html
Feb. 1, 2013 ? A study published in Conservation Letters this week found that freshwater ecosystems in the Amazon are highly vulnerable to environmental degradation. River, lake and wetland ecosystems -- encompassing approximately one-fifth of the Amazon basin area -- are being increasingly degraded by deforestation, pollution, construction of dams and waterways, and over-harvesting of plant and animal species.
The study was led by Dr. Leandro Castello, a research associate at the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC), in collaboration with scientists from various institutions in the United States and Brazil. These included the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
Damage to Amazon freshwater ecosystems greatly impacts Amazonians, who historically have been so dependent on freshwater ecosystem goods and services that they have been called 'water peoples.' Current per capita fish consumption in the Brazilian Amazon averages 94 kg/yr in riverine populations, which is almost six times the world average. Increasing fishing pressure has shrunk the size of harvested species, partly due to the progressive depletion of high-value, large-bodied species. A century ago, the mean maximum body length of the main species harvested in the basin was ~206 cm -- today it is ~79 cm.
Science and policy in the Amazon have focused largely on forests and their associated biodiversity and carbon stocks. Three decades of effort have generated an understanding of some key biophysical transitions in the basin, and established a network of protected areas, largely designed to preserve forests and their biodiversity. Little attention has been paid to freshwater ecosystems, which through the hydrological cycle are interconnected to other ecosystems at local and distant locations, being highly sensitive to a broad array of human impacts.
"Despite some terrestrial protections that are high by global standards, this paper shows key gaps in protection for the Amazon's freshwater systems and species," commented Robin Abell, the Senior Freshwater Conservation Biologist at World Wildlife Fund. The Madeira River basin, for example, is threatened by oil exploration, deforestation and dams in its headwaters, even though protected areas cover 26% of the catchment area. "The pressures that the authors detail need to be addressed now, before conservation opportunities are lost. Restoration can be far costlier than proactive protection," cautioned Abell.
The principal threat to most Amazon freshwater ecosystems is large-scale alteration of the basin's natural hydrology. "There are a total of 154 hydroelectric dams in operation, 21 in construction, and plans to construct 277 additional dams in the future. There are also thousands of small dams located in small streams to provide water for cattle," noted coauthor Marcia Macedo of WHRC. "These infrastructure projects, together with deforestation-induced changes to regional rainfall, could fundamentally change the hydrology of Amazon freshwater systems," she added. The study suggests that, if uncontrolled, such hydrological alterations could disrupt fish migrations and associated fishery yields, threatening riverine livelihoods and food security.
Adequate protection of Amazon freshwater ecosystems requires broadening the forest-centric focus of prevailing environmental management and conservation strategies to encompass aquatic ecosystems. By building upon existing protected areas, it is possible to develop a river catchment-based conservation framework that protects both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, effectively protecting the Amazon river-forest system. The Amazon watershed spans six countries, with Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru accounting for most of the area. Therefore, "A pan-Amazonian, catchment-based approach is critical, in addition to national conservation and management efforts," said coauthor Dr. Laura Hess of Earth Research Institute, UCSB.
"There are environmental issues everywhere, but the case with Amazon freshwater ecosystems is different, because no one talks about it. Their problem has been concealed," said Castello. Emphasizing the need for a shift, he added, "Significant strides in Amazon conservation have been on deforestation because deforestation has been studied and monitored year after year. We now need to do the same for these aquatic ecosystems."
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Woods Hole Research Center.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/wuUvyhI0kzE/130201100034.htm
close encounters of the third kind beyonce and jay z baby droid 4 tom brady sister dad shoots daughters laptop brandon jennings the vow review
FILE - In this July 29, 2011 file photo, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos speaks with reporters at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. The Marine Corps commandant said Thursday Jan. 31, 2013, the infantry side is skeptical about how women will perform in those units and some positions may end up being closed if not enough females fail to meet the rigorous standards. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)
FILE - In this July 29, 2011 file photo, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos speaks with reporters at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. The Marine Corps commandant said Thursday Jan. 31, 2013, the infantry side is skeptical about how women will perform in those units and some positions may end up being closed if not enough females fail to meet the rigorous standards. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)
SAN DIEGO (AP) ? The head of the Marine Corps ? the most male of all military branches ? said Thursday the infantry side is skeptical about how women will perform in those units, and some combat positions may end up being closed again if not enough females meet the rigorous, physically demanding standards.
Gen. James Amos made the remarks to reporters at a defense conference in San Diego hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute and the defense trade group AFCEA.
Amos says most Marines support the Defense Department's lifting of the ban last week, which opened thousands of positions to women.
He pointed out that over the past decade, many male service members already have been fighting alongside women in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Women who serve in supply troops, as clerks and with military police have ended up on the unmarked front lines of modern warfare, blurring the distinction between combat and noncombat jobs. More than 150 women have been killed in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in support roles.
Many of the positions opened by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's announcement are in Army and Marine infantry units and in potentially elite commando jobs. It will be up to the military service chiefs to recommend and defend whether women should be excluded from any of those more demanding and deadly positions, such as Navy commandos or the Army's Delta Force.
The infantry units are smaller and spend more grueling time in battle.
"I think from the infantry side of the house, you know they're more skeptical," Amos said. "It's been an all-male organization throughout the history of the U.S. Marine Corps so I don't think that should be any surprise."
Military officials say they will not lower standards, but they are reviewing them to ensure they are necessary in making a warfighter and not just difficult to be difficult.
When asked by The Associated Press about whether women will be allowed to someday serve as SEALs, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert said it will be up to special operations commands to determine how they will transition the standards to females.
"It is a matter of what are the expectations, and is it feasible to change the standards they have right now, physical standards," Greenert said. "They would say early on 'No, we can't do that,' but I think that's really to be determined."
Amos said his branch also wants to gauge how much interest there is among women to join the infantry units and whether enough can qualify for those units. If there is little interest or few can pass the infantry officers school, then certain positions may be closed to women.
Still, he emphasized, that doesn't mean he is expecting that to happen. He said military leaders want to ensure the military continues to be an effective war-fighting force. And if the data and analysis support closing some positions, he believes the defense secretary will support that.
"I have every expectation that the secretary of defense will honor that," Amos said. "It's a commonsense approach to this thing."
The Marine Corps opened its tough infantry course at Quantico, Va., to female volunteers last fall. Two tried unsuccessfully in the first session. In the second session, none signed up. Amos said two female lieutenants have signed up for the third session that will start in March.
Amos said he met with them Monday.
"They're stalwart," he said. "It looks like they're in great shape and they're excited about it."
Amos said he also met with one of the female officers who almost made it to the second-week mark of the course last fall. He said she was forced to drop out because of a stress fracture that was so severe it could have left her permanently injured.
"She did anything but quit," Amos said, adding that the woman was cheered on by her male counterparts. "She's a phenomenal officer."
The woman is now in flight training school in Pensacola, Fla. Amos said she was part of the team so he is optimistic that "we're going about it the right way."
"It's just a very, very difficult course, and it's a very small community," he added.
Women make up about 7 percent of the Marine Corps, compared with about 14 percent overall among the military's 1.4 million active military personnel.
Associated Pressweather dallas pat summitt real housewives of atlanta colton bo ryan the last waltz earth day activities
FILE - In this Nov. 13, 1995, file photo, Cleveland Browns fan Lisa Vann, left, cries as her friend Jeanne Jolluck yells as the Browns lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-3, in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. Modell was among the most important figures in the NFL as owner of the Cleveland Browns, who became the Ravens after he took the team to Baltimore in 1996. Cleveland fans hope Modell, who died in 1012, is not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday when a committee choses this year?s class from a list of 15 finalists that includes coach Bill Parcells, former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr., single-season sacks leader Michael Strahan and Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden.(AP Photo/Gene Puskar, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 13, 1995, file photo, Cleveland Browns fan Lisa Vann, left, cries as her friend Jeanne Jolluck yells as the Browns lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-3, in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. Modell was among the most important figures in the NFL as owner of the Cleveland Browns, who became the Ravens after he took the team to Baltimore in 1996. Cleveland fans hope Modell, who died in 1012, is not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday when a committee choses this year?s class from a list of 15 finalists that includes coach Bill Parcells, former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr., single-season sacks leader Michael Strahan and Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden.(AP Photo/Gene Puskar, File)
An abandoned housing project in New Orleans' Ninth Ward is pictured Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Some parts of the Big Easy, such as the Ninth Ward and Treme, don't look a whole lot different than they did the day after Hurricane Katrina came ashore more than seven years ago. (AP Photo/Paul Newberry)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, right, greets New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson as Benson's wife Gayle, and daughter Rita Benson LaBlanc, left, look on before an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game news conference at the New Orleans Convention Center, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2012, file photo, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis reacts as he is introduced before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Baltimore. Ravens fans will rock the building during Ray Lewis' pregame Squirrel Dance, a YouTube sensation that Lewis will perform for the final time before retiring. Will there be smoke and flames to accompany the star linebacker's ritual? (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Around the Super Bowl and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of everything surrounding the game:
___
MODELL HOF DEBATE
One of the liveliest debates this weekend in New Orleans could be not about the Super Bowl itself, but on whether late Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell should be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of fame.
In Cleveland, many fans haven't forgiven Modell for deciding to relocate his Browns franchise to Baltimore 17 years ago. But his supporters contend he helped create America's most popular sport.
Modell will be considered for enshrinement along with coach Bill Parcells, former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., single-season sacks leader Michael Strahan, offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, running back Jerome Bettis, wide receivers Cris Carter, Tim Brown and Andre Reed, defensive standouts Charles Haley and Kevin Greene, guard Will Shields and defensive back Aeneas Williams.
Also up for consideration, two senior nominees: defensive tackle Curley Culp and linebacker Dave Robinson.
Voters will select between four and seven new members.
The Ravens' unexpected run to the championship game has been, in part, fueled by the team dedicating its season to Modell. Baltimore's players have worn patches with "Art" on their jerseys to honor Modell, who died on Sept. 6, just four days ahead of the opener.
? Tom Withers ? http://twitter.com/twithersAP
___
BROTHERLY ADVICE: BOB BRYAN
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh are hardly the only high-profile siblings who've squared off in their arena of expertise. The AP is asking some others who can relate how to handle going against a family member in the Super Bowl.
Tennis player Bob Bryan and twin brother Mike are the world's best doubles team, having won a record 13th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last weekend. Their 20-2 record going into this weekend's Davis Cup matches against Brazil are the best of any U.S. doubles team in the 100-plus year history of the event.
When they were younger, however, the Bryans played singles and often found themselves facing each other in the finals of a tournament.
"We would flip a coin for the match," Bob Bryan said before he and Mike were to take the court in Jacksonville, Fla., for Davis Cup play against Brazil. "(Our parents) didn't want us to become rivals or be competitive against each other, which actually worked out great. We had all our trophies in the same trophy case and shared victories together.
"With both sons in the final (our parents) could sit back, get some lemonade and enjoy the match. There was no pressure on them because the family had pretty much taken home all the hardware," he added. "I saw an interview with the Harbaughs' parents and got the same sense. You could see there was no pressure or stress on their face. They felt like they've already won."
But Bob Bryan said he wouldn't want to be in John or Jim Harbaugh's spot this weekend. When he and his brother played each other, it was impossible to muster the cutthroat attitude athletes need.
"You don't have that killer instinct against that family member," he said.
In fact, playing WITH his brother has made their success that much more rewarding.
"Really, the reason we pulled the plug on singles so early is because we didn't get nearly the same amount of joy from winning," Bob Bryan said. "Now, when we're winning tournaments, we get to talk about it together forever. For the rest of our lives."
? Nancy Armour ? http://www.twitter.com/nrarmour
___
QUICKQUOTE: CEE LO GREEN
Cee Lo Green explains why it seems there's more entertainment at this year's Super Bowl than others in recent history:
"The Super Bowl has become such a big event in itself. So many people come from everywhere, looking to not only be a part of the Super Bowl but also the festivities leading up to the game. There's so much to do from parties, concerts and events like our ESPN event where Goodie will be performing. It's so much to do."
___
TALE OF 2 CITIES
In some ways, New Orleans has gotten better since Hurricane Katrina. The restaurant scene, for instance.
But drive just a few miles outside the French Quarter and a different picture emerges.
This is definitely a tale of two cities.
Some parts of the Big Easy, such as the Ninth Ward and Treme, don't look a whole lot different than they did the day after Katrina came ashore ? more than seven years ago. On a ride-along with three advocates for the homeless group Unity of Greater New Orleans, it didn't take long to realize just how much is left to do in this unique American city.
There are still thousands of abandoned homes and buildings ? more than 10,000, according to some counts, maybe as many as 15,000. Many of the houses are still adorned with the spray-painted "X'' that became a symbol of the devastation during those awful days back in 2005, when it was used by searchers to let everyone know the structure had been checked and how many bodies could be found inside.
Christopher Weaver barely escaped the floodwaters after the levee just a block away from his house in the Lower Ninth Ward came crashing down. He's returned to a rebuilt home, but most of his neighborhood is marked by vacant, overgrown lots or abandoned homes that still bear the scars of Katrina.
With the Super Bowl blimp flying off in the distance, Weaver was asked what life is like for people like him.
He shook his head and looked at the abandoned lots across the street, obscured by weeds that are taller than he is.
"You can see it for yourself," Weaver said. "It sucks."
? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963
___
STAT OF THE DAY: $100M COIN TOSS
The stat of the day today is about gambling on a simple question: Heads or tails? Bettors worldwide are expected to wager $100 million on that coin toss outcome at the Super Bowl.
That's according to gambling expert R.J. Bell of Pregame.com, which tracks betting trends in casinos in Nevada and elsewhere.
Bell says in the past 46 Super Bowls, the coin has fallen heads 23 times and tails 23 times. But the NFC has won 14 of the past 15 Super Bowl tosses.
Suckers might think that means the Ravens are due for the AFC, but Baltimore's chances of winning the toss this time: Still 50 percent.
? Oskar Garcia ? http://twitter.com/oskargarcia
___
TROUT CRASHES SUPER BOWL ADS
A rising baseball star is crashing the Super Bowl with his first major national commercial.
Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, last year's American League rookie of the year and runner-up for the league's MVP, will be featured in a new ad for Subway, along with Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin, Justin Tuck of the New York Giants, Olympic speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno, and boxer Laila Ali, among others.
The ad marks Jared Fogle's 15-year anniversary of losing 245 pounds by eating Subway.
Trout says being part of a Super Bowl ad is "an incredible feeling."
The endorsement is a natural for Trout, who grew up eating the restaurant chain's sandwiches (His favorite: chicken teriyaki with hot peppers and oregano)
Since his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles, isn't playing, Trout says he enjoys checking out the commercials.
"Some get pretty creative, some of them get a laugh, some prove a point," he said. "I'm sure I'll be getting a lot of text messages during the Super Bowl just to mess with me a little bit."
As for the game, Trout says he thinks San Francisco to win even though he wants Baltimore to prevail.
"I've got a lot of 49ers fans on the Angels, and I know I'll hear it when I get to the spring," he said.
Pitchers and catchers report this month, and soon Trout will be playing alongside slugger Josh Hamilton. Trout said he texted the former Rangers superstar to welcome him to the Angels.
"The next thing he said to me was, 'Get your legs loose.' I was pretty excited. It will be pretty fun."
? Beth Harris ? http://twitter.com/bethharrisap
___
STATE OF THE NFL
Player safety, the New Orleans Saints bounty program, cold-weather Super Bowls, even his popularity among New Orleans restaurant owners ? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell touched on a wide range of topics Friday during the annual "State of the NFL." Among the highlights:
PLAYER SAFETY
Goodell defended the league, which has come under increasing scrutiny following new studies about the long-term effects of concussions as well as recent suicides by former NFL players. President Barack Obama recently said if he had a son, he's not sure he'd let him play football. And the NFL is being sued by thousands of former players.
Goodell says steps the league has taken in recent seasons have made the game safer, and more steps are likely going forward.
"We will not relent on this," he said.
Neurosurgeons will be part of gameday medical staffs beginning next season, he said. The league is also looking at eliminating certain low blocks and will continue to impose harsh punishments for illegal hits ? particularly for players who are repeat offenders.
Proper tackling technique also needs to be emphasized, getting players to get away from using their heads and return to using their shoulders and arms.
"The No. 1 issue is, take the head out of the game," Goodell said.
Asked specifically about Obama's concerns, Goodell said "I welcome" the comments because it keeps attention on the dangers of head trauma.
"What we are doing is leading the way to try and make sure people understand you need to treat these injuries seriously," he said.
SAINTS BOUNTIES
Goodell refused to apologize for his harsh treatment of the Saints' bounty program, even if it means he's not the most popular man in New Orleans this week.
Coach Sean Payton was suspended for the season, and four current or former Saints players were punished after an investigation found the club had had a performance pool offering cash rewards for key plays, including big hits. The player suspensions eventually were overturned.
"There's no question that there was a bounty program in place for three years. I think that is bad for the players, it's bad for the game," Goodell said. "I don't believe bounties are going to be part of football going forward, and I think that's good for everybody."
His only regret was not convincing teams, players and coaches that everyone shares in the responsibility of making the game safer.
"I wasn't able to make that point clearly enough with the union and with others," he said. "But that is something we're going to be incredibly relentless on."
ROONEY RULE
Despite eight coaching vacancies and openings for seven general managers, no minorities were hired for the NFL's most high-profile positions this off-season. Goodell says that's unacceptable.
"There was full compliance of the Rooney Rule. In fact, I believe there were a record number of interviews," Goodell said. "But we didn't have the outcome we wanted. It's very important to the success of the league to do that, and we're committed to find that solution."
Goodell said the league needs to look at whether the rule needs to be expanded or adapted.
COLD-WEATHER SUPER BOWLS
Next year's Super Bowl in New York is unlikely to be the last played outdoors in a cold-weather city, judging by Goodell's remarks.
"The game of football is made to be played in the elements," he said. "Now, we hope they will not be extreme, but we will be prepared if that's the case. Some of the most classic games in history were played in extreme conditions."
? Nancy Armour ? http://www.twitter.com/nrarmour
___
WHAT'S IN A NAME? FOR HARBAUGHS, DEFINITELY A 'J'
Jack and Jackie Harbaugh weren't trying to be cute when they gave all three of their kids names that start with the letter "J."
John, the eldest, was a given. He's named after Jack, whose given name is also John. Jim's name came from Jackie's doctor in Perrysburg, Ohio, who also was named Jim.
"They came in and said, 'What are you going to name this baby?' and I said that I liked the name Jim," Jackie Harbaugh said.
As for Joani, their third child and only daughter, her full name is Joani Marie and it comes from Jackie Harbaugh's mother's middle name and the first name of Jack Harbaugh's mother.
So it really wasn't planned, this whole family of J Harbaughs?
"No," Jackie Harbaugh said. "We aren't very creative."
? Nancy Armour ? http://twitter.com/nrarmour
___
SALSA VS SQUIRREL
Which dance do you prefer: Victor Cruz' touchdown salsa or Ray Lewis' game entrance squirrel?
Cruz breaks it down: "The Ray Lewis slide has a little more intensity, a little more swagger fire under it. The salsa is just for swagger, for flavor, a little bit, but it's two completely different joints."
Cruz did his interpretation of the Lewis dance and said he likes them both.
"It's unique to each other's character, each other's personality," he said.
Lewis might trade dance props for any holdover luck from Cruz' trip to the Super Bowl last year; the wide receiver won a title with New York.
Cruz said he plans to tweet during Sunday's game from his (at)teamvic account, about the game and the entertainment.
"I'm looking forward to Alicia Keys ... singing the national anthem, as well as Beyonce at half time," Cruz said. "I feel like they picked some good performers this year."
? Nekesa Mumbi Moody ? http://twitter.com/nekesamumbi
___
FAN TAKES: GOODELL
Fans at the NFL Experience are here for fun but also have some strong thoughts about Commissioner Roger Goodell as he talks about the state of the league.
Many are torn with the Super Bowl in town as they heal from Goodell's disciplining of the New Orleans Saints in a bounty scandal.
Despite mixed feelings, the party's not stopping.
Here's what some folks said Friday as a local brass band, the Brass-O-Holics, jammed on a stage.
? "He's the grinch who stole our Christmas, but it's Mardi Gras, so it's all good in the neighborhood. Welcome, Roger." ?Stephanie Arwood, a New Orleans resident in a Marcus Colston jersey with her young son.
? "There's a lot of anger toward Roger Goodell. I hope the Saints fans have mercy on him while he's here, truthfully. ... Katrina's a perfect example of how we'll pick up and move on, but we're not going to move on until the season's over with. Especially while he's here, I think we'll take every opportunity to give back to him what he gave to us." ?Sammie Mitchell, a New Orleans resident sporting a gold Saints jersey as he took pictures with friends and family.
? "I don't have any hard feelings. ... "It's time to move on and get ready for next season. We just have to move forward." ?Edwin Cowart of Gretna, La., sporting a Jimmy Graham Saints jersey. He says he's following the lead of coaches and players in moving on.
? Stacey Plaisance
___
5 KEY PLAYERS: BALTIMORE
We asked AP pro football writer Barry Wilner to pick five key players for each team in this Super Bowl. You'll want to pay attention to these guys on Sunday.
First, for the Baltimore Ravens:
?JOE FLACCO (QB, JERSEY NO. 5): Flacco is on a personal streak this postseason with eight touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. He outplayed top draftee Andrew Luck, then Peyton Manning, then Tom Brady in leading the Ravens to the Super Bowl. And he's been successful in the playoffs over his five-year career ? he has an 8-4 playoff record and an NFL record by leading his team to playoff wins in each of his first five seasons.
?RAY RICE (RB, JERSEY NO. 27): Rice has been the hub of the Ravens' offense throughout his career ? a threat to break long gains on runs or screen passes. This season, he rushed for 1,143 yards and nine TDs, caught 61 passes for 478 yards. He has two touchdowns in the postseason.
?RAY LEWIS (ILB, JERSEY NO. 52): Lewis has been the emotional engine for Baltimore his entire career, and retires after this game. Teammate Bernard Pollard calls him "The Raven." Lewis missed 10 games this year with a torn right triceps, but has been sensational in playoffs with 44 tackles. He was the MVP of the 2001 Super Bowl, the Ravens' only championship, and Defensive Player of Year in 2000 and 2003.
?PAUL KRUGER (DE, JERSEY NO. 99): Kruger had a breakout season and has been among the best defenders in playoffs. He led Baltimore with nine sacks and has 2? in the postseason. He's very disruptive and also can drop into coverage, though that's not his strength. He doesn't get double-teamed as much with Terrell Suggs getting healthier.
?CARY WILLIAMS (CB, JERSEY No. 29): Williams is a very up-and-down defender who has two picks in postseason, including one in the end zone in the AFC championship. A so-so tackler, better as coverage man, yet made 75 tackles during the season. Williams joined the Ravens in 2009 after Tennessee cut him.
? Barry Wilner
___
HGH TESTING
Repeating something the league has been saying for more than a year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he hopes there will be HGH testing soon ? before the start of the 2013 season if he has his way.
Your turn, players' union.
The league and union paved the way for testing two seasons ago in the collective bargaining agreement. But the sides have been at an impasse, with the NFL Players Association saying it needs more information about the validity of a test that is used by Olympic sports and Major League Baseball. The union also has issues with the appeals process, saying the league won't agree to the independent arbitrator that Major League Baseball's drug-testing program has.
___
EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Super Bowl Watch" shows you the Super Bowl and the events surrounding the game through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across New Orleans and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.
Associated PressVictoria Soto nbc sports morgan freeman westboro baptist church Survivor Philippines Fashion Island shooting Victor Cruz
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Photo: AP
Japan?s hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament on Thursday that he intends to change the country?s post-second world war constitution, lowering the bar for further amendments.
?I will start with amending Article 96 of the constitution, a move that many factions [inside his Liberal Democratic Party] support ? Abe told upper house lawmakers, referring to the clause stipulating amendments require a two-thirds majority in parliament.
In the run-up to his landslide election victory in December, Abe said he wanted to study the possibility of altering the definition of Japan?s armed forces contained in the document.
The country?s well-funded and well-equipped military is referred to as the Self-Defence Forces, and barred from taking aggressive action. Its role is limited to defence of the nation.
Abe has said he would like to look into making the SDF into a full-fledged military, a plan that sets alarm bells ringing in Asian countries subject to Japan?s sometimes-brutal occupation in the first half of the 20th century.
US occupying forces imposed the constitution in the aftermath of the second world war, but its war-renouncing Article Nine is held dear by many Japanese.
Japan's Abe to change post-war constitution | South China Morning Post
Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/china-far-east/232465-japans-abe-change-post-war-constitution.html
josh hamilton alicia keys Susan Rice American Airlines the Who jon bon jovi jon bon jovi
