Prime News of the World: 2014

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Divorce cake ideas for Giada De Laurentiis

Chef and reality TV starGiada De Laurentiis took to Facebook to announce her divorce on Tuesday. She married designer Todd Thompson in 2003.

After an amicable separation since July, Todd and I have decided to end our marriage, she wrote. Although our decision to separate comes with a great deal of sadness, our focus on the future and overwhelming desire for our familys happiness has given us the strength to move forward on separate, yet always connected paths.

Giada De Laurentiis announces her divorce on Facebook.

De Laurentiis, the 44-year-old host of cooking shows such as Giada at Home, and Thompson have one daughter. In 2011, she told Redbook that she often cooked for her soon-to-be ex.

I think it can be hard for any man to sometimes be upstaged by his wife, she said. So when Im home, I work very hard to be Todds wife and Jades mother. I have no problem going back to those traditional roles. I try to be Giada, the young girl that he met 20 years ago and fell in love with. All men want to be treated like kings in a relationship, and I think if women dont indulge that sometimes, their men are likely to stray and look for someone who can give that to them. Its simple. Its not brain surgery.

AsDe Laurentiis is known to love decadent Italian desserts, she may wish to try out a new trend in her time of trouble: the divorce cake. As the New York Times noted earlier this year: Event planners, bakers, lawyers and academics note the rise of divorce parties over the last several years, many with cakes featuring weapon-wielding brides or gloomy black frosting on inverted tiers. AndMental Floss was pushing the trend two years ago: With so many marriages not lasting forever, the market for divorce cakes is alive and well.

Some ideas from Instagram:

h/t USA Today

Justin Moyer is the deputy editor of the Morning Mix.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/31/divorce-cake-ideas-for-giada-de-laurentiis/

Happy New Year 2015 messages: Top 10 Best Emotional Messages for the New ...

Photo Courtesy: Wishes Info

Happy New Year 2015! Ring in the New Year by forgiving people and forgetting the negative vibes, and start afresh with a clean slate. Welcome the New Year with a positive attitude and make a resolution to be friends with new people and spread happiness.Heres a little help from us to aid you in doing that. We share with you a collection of the best emotional messages from the Web forWhatsapping and SMSing your loved ones, friends, colleagues and clients. Take a look and share!

- As the new year renews all the happiness and good tidings, hope the joyful spirit keeps glowing in the your heart forever! Happy New Year!

- On this New Year I wish that you have a wonderful January, a lovely February, a Peaceful March, a stress-free April, a fun-filled May, and Joy that lasts from June to November, and finally a happy December. May my wishes come true and may you have a charming and lucky New Year 2015.

- Let us leave behind sadness, regrets and painful moments and have a new start full of joy this new year.

- Wishing you a year that is filled with all the fragrance of roses, illuminated with all the lights of the world and be blessed with all the smiles on the planet. Hope this year will be the year when all your dreams come true. Happy New Year 2015

- It is never to late to start again but yes it is always very early when one gives up. Happy New Year.

- On this New Year, may you change your direction and not dates, change your commitments and not the Calendar, change your attitude and not the actions, and bring about a change in your faith, your force and your focus and not the fruit. May you live up to the promises you have made and may you create for you and your loved ones the most Happy New Year ever.

- Embrace simplicity and sincerity and you shall have a wonderful New Year ahead.

- Day by day teri khushiya ho jaye Double,Teri zindagi se delete ho jaye saare Trouble,Khuda rakhe hamesha tujhe Smart & Fit,Tera liye New Year ho Super-Duper Hit!

- May this New Year bring actual change in you not recurrence of old habits in a new package.

- We Wish in 2oo7 G*d gives You,12 Months of Happiness,52 Weeks of Fun,365 Days of Success,8760 Hours of Good Health,52600 Minutes of Good Luck,3153600 Seconds of Joy and thats all.

These messages will surely help you have new friends and win overeven your so-called enemies or frenemies. So pull out your smartphones and share these New Year messages right now!Happy New Year 2015!

Modified Date: December 31, 2014 9:36 PM

Source: http://www.india.com/top-n/happy-new-year-2015-messages-top-10-best-emotional-messages-for-the-new-year-in-english-and-hindi-whatsapp-and-sms-235967/

Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: LeBron James is Crazy to Already Want Out

Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: LeBron James is Crazy to Already Want Out | RantSports

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Brett Davis USA TODAY Sports

Theres only one thing I can say to LeBron James right about now.

Are you nuts?

In case youve been under a rock or in a cave, or you havent turned on ESPN to hear them breathlessly hyperventilate about the possibilities, James let it slip that he wouldnt think twice about declaring free agency and taking his talents to another team next season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, mind you, have an 18-12 record through the first 30 games. Only in Cleveland can that be considered a disappointment. This in a season where the Los Angeles Lakers are off to a rotten start. The Detroit Pistons, once one of the elite teams in the NBA, are stuck in the mud. The New York Knicks are the b**t of late-night talk-show jokes.

But no. Its all about Cleveland, because apparently when James sneezes, the rest of the league catches a cold.

Whoever floated this strategy about James testing free agency once again (what is this, The Decision, Part 100?) should think carefully.

James nearly shot his credibility out the window when he got caught up in the moment, tested free agency for the first time, and took his talents to the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. While they didnt win all the titles James promised, the Heat still won two crowns before coming up short.

You could almost tell James was desperate to rewrite history and disavow The Decision ever existed when he told Sports Illustrated that he was coming home. Instantly, northeast Ohio turned from a depressed basketball market to elation overnight, and downtown Cleveland became the hip place to be.

And yet, The King wants to throw that away, all because the Cavaliers havent gone 30-0.

There are a lot of things wrong with this Cavaliers team. James is trying to get everyone else involved, so hes sacrificing some shots in order to get the others involved. The problem is people like Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are acting like they dont have to play at 100 percent because James is back.

The logic of whether or not David Blatt is the right guy to coach this team could be best left for another column. The best way to end this column right now is to state the obvious.

LeBron James will never be happy if he keeps flitting from team to team trying to capture the magic he left behind in Miami. James wanted to return to give Cleveland a championship, and hed look like a petulant whiner if he left after one year. Never mind all the sponsors that would be at risk.

It took Michael Jordan years to realize he couldnt do it all alone. Once Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman joined Jordan, the Chicago Bulls dominated the NBA landscape. Jordan didnt leave when the going got tough.

If James wants to be known as the best to ever play the game, the first thing hed do is shut down the rumors and stay in Cleveland.

America doesnt want to see The Decision again.

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Source: http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/12/31/cleveland-cavaliers-rumors-lebron-james-is-crazy-to-already-want-out/

Playoff Panthers Cause Ticket Troubles

WCNC 12:16 p.m. EST December 30, 2014

Cam Newton(Photo: Kevin C. c*x, Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A limited number of tickets for the Carolina Panthers NFC Wild Card Playoff against Arizona sold out quickly.

The tickets went on sale at 8 p.m. Sunday and by Monday morning only single seat tickets were available. There are reports that 7,000 playoff tickets sold out in 15 minutes.

On TicketExchange and Stubhub Monday afternoon, Level 500 tickets were going for about $100 per ticket. The most expensive seats we found were in the lower level of Bank of America Stadium along the 50 yard line. Those are being sold for the premium price of $2,500 each.

With Panther fans buying playoff tickets in a hurry, they should exercise some caution when it comes to what's left.

Experts say Charlotte is a target for ticket counterfeiters.

"Last year for the playoff game, it was in the hundreds," said Tom Bartholomy with the Better Business Bureau. "We get special attention from the scammers."

Bartholomy says Panthers fans are a prime target, because hosting playoff games isn't common ground.

"If we're Green Bay or Seattle that makes the playoffs all the time, it's not as interesting to the counterfeiters because the demand is pretty well known," Bartholomy said.

If you're buying online, Bartholomy recommends NFL Ticket Exchange, or StubHub.

"They're able to authenticate them through the serial numbers that are on the tickets," Bartholomy said.

Avoid sites that don't, like craigslist.

"You can get the same tickets here for $50 less," Bartholomy said. "Well, there's a risk."

He says scalping on game day can be risky, too.

"By the time you get to the gate and find out it's not real, that guy's long gone," Bartholomy said.

If you're going to scalp, he recommends doing it from someone who's selling right outside the gate where police are nearby. As for warning signs on the tickets themselves, the ticket office doesn't have any hard-copy ones yet, but looking at ones from the regular season, always keep an eye out for the letters "PSL." It stands for Personal Seat License and 90% of real Panthers tickets have it, but then again, so could the counterfeits.

"Holding one real one and one counterfeit one in your hand, they look identical," Bartholomy said.

There is some hope Panthers fans: since the team didn't clinch their playoff berth until Sunday night, counterfeiters don't have much time to work with before kickoff on Saturday afternoon.

"With this quick of a turn, hopefully they'll make some mistakes," Bartholomy said.

Bartholomy says even paying attention to small details, like the back of the ticket can make a difference. The ticket office is open until 5:30 P.M. on weekdays and should have some examples later in the week.

-WCNC

Read or Share this story: http://on.wltx.com/1B1Y2BW

Source: http://www.wltx.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/12/30/carolina-panthers/21049835/

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

'Teen Mom' Star Maci Bookout Pregnant With Second Child

Congrats go out to Maci Bookout!

The "Teen Mom" star and her boyfriend Taylor McKinney are expecting their first child together, Bookout confirmed to InTouch Weekly. "We still can't believe it," the 23-year-old reality star, who suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, said. "It was a huge shock but we are very excited."

According to InTouch, Bookout will welcome a little girl in June. She is already mom to 6-year-old son Bentley with ex-boyfriend Ryan Edwards.

"This baby is such a blessing. I'm calling her my miracle baby," Bookout said of her second pregnancy, adding, "'Last time there was a lot of worry and concern. It was just me and Bentley facing the world together and I had to figure things out as I went. This time I'm able to be excited because I'm older and able to give my baby the stability of the relationship that Taylor and I have."

Bookout is an original member of MTV's***t docuseries "Teen Mom," which is set to air its fifth and final season in 2015. The show will star Bookout alongside Amber Portwood and Catelynn Lowell. (Farrah Abraham will not appear in Season 5.)

For more, pick up the new issue of InTouch Weekly on newsstands Tuesday.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/29/maci-bookout-pregnant_n_6391808.html

Chargers-Chiefs, Instant Analysis

Out with a whimper.

That's how it played out Sunday for the Chargers on a winter's day in the Midwest.

They went into Arrowhead Stadium with a playoff berth on the line and departed with a 19-7 defeat, largely because Chiefs defenders whipped them up front.

The Chargers' offense, overwhelmed by a Kansas City pass rush that amassed seven sacks, never really got going.

Worse, the Chargers died with their guns holstered.

Needing one yard to stay in the game, they handed off twice in a row to their least capable rusher, Donald Brown.

When the Chiefs stuffed Brown each time at their 20, freezing a 19-7 lead with 3:33 left, Philip Rivers clasped hands to facemask and screamed.

Rivers is a $91 million quarterback and the team's top playmaker. Why not have him decide the team's playoff fate? One wondered if Rivers regretted not changing the call to a quick pass.

Brown's best chance for the first down came on third-and-1. He was held to half a yard. He had no chance on fourth-and-1; safety Husain Abdullah, drafting off massive nose tackle Dontari Poe, stopped Brown in the backfield.

A victory would've given coach Mike McCoy two Wild Card berths in two seasons as head coach.

Undone in the end by their offense, which had only one touchdown in three of the last four games, the Chargers logged a 9-7 record for the second year in a row. They went against a tougher schedule this year, so consider San Diego improved from last season.

But against a Chiefs team that learned Thursday quarterback Alex Smith wouln't play, the Chargers never led and had 10 penalties and three turnovers.

The Chiefs (9-7) were the faster, more physical team. The same was true in their Week 7 win at San Diego, and for the AFC West-winning Broncos against San Diego. The Chargers' 0-4 record against their top two rivals was, in the end, too much to overcome.

The Chargers, in fairness, went with their fifth starter at center in Trevor Robinson and a first-time starter in rookie guard Jeremiah Sirles. In addition, D.J. Fluker was hindered by a knee injury that sidelined him for part of the second quarter.

NFL sack leader Justin Houston had four sacks, giving him 22 on the season.

The Chargers' defense was excellent for most of the second half. But for the second game in a row, San Diego's offense and defense looked a step slow for much of the first half.

The impression the game left is that General Manager Tom Telesco should invest in both lines this offseason. And if Houston leaves the Chiefs in March as an unrestricted free agent, so much the better.

Kansas City Chiefs 19, San Diego Chargers 7

Arrowhead Stadium, 12/28/2014

Source: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/28/chargers-chiefs-instant-analysis-krasovic-rivers/

Aaron Rodgers, Packers win fourth straight NFC North title

Packers Clinch NFC North With Win

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A heating pad wrapped around his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers could only watch helplessly on television monitors in the locker room as the Detroit Lions surged closer to his Green Bay Packers.

There was only one place that he wanted to be -- back on the turf with the rest of the Packers while they tried to secure a fourth straight NFC North title.

Green Bay's franchise quarterback is limping into the playoffs with a smile. Rodgers threw two touchdown passes to Randall Cobb, Eddie Lacy gashed Detroit's defense for 100 yards, and the Packers celebrated another division championship with a 30-20 victory Sunday.

Rodgers will appreciate a week off after the win, as the Packers (12-4) earned a bye. Detroit (11-5) starts the postseason at Dallas next Sunday. Green Bay will next play on the following Sunday.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Aaron Rodgers' 'gutsy' return from injury surprised, inspired Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- When Aaron Rodgers needed assistance getting off the field and was carted to the locker room late in the second quarter Sunday with a left calf injury, most Green Bay Packers players assumed that was the end of their star quarterback's night.

Randall Cobb saw Rodgers at halftime on top of the trainers table. Their conversation wasn't long, but as Cobb turned his attention to the second half it was with the assumption that he'd be catching passes from Rodgers' backup, Matt Flynn.

"I for sure thought he was done for the night," Cobb said.

As the Packers offense took the field to begin the third quarter, there was no sign of Rodgers anywhere. Flynn was behind center and got sacked on third down, forcing Green Bay to punt after a three-and-out series.

That was Rodgers' cue.

Emerging from the tunnel to a thunderous ovation and chants of "M-V-P" from the 78,408 fans in attendance, Rodgers slowly walked over to the Packers sideline.

"I had no idea if he was coming back out to play or not," right tackle Bryan Bulaga said. "I thought he was just coming back out to watch."

Rodgers grabbed a football on the sideline and began to throw. That didn't necessarily mean he was returning. Then Rodgers mixed in some jumping exercises in between passes. That was an encouraging sign. Then Rodgers grabbed his helmet. Getting closer.

Soon, Rodgers put the helmet on his head and jogged out to the field with the rest of the offense.

"That's just about as gutsy as it gets," Bulaga said. "That's the type of guy he is. He loves competition, he loves playing football."

Cobb described Rodgers' return as "dramatic," but there were still several issues to be addressed. The scoreboard was one of them. When Rodgers fell to the field untouched and further injured the left calf that he hurt a week earlier, his touchdown pass gave Green Bay a 14-0 lead. Rodgers only missed four offensive plays in total, but by the time he returned Detroit had come back to tie the game at 14.

There was also the fact that the Packers had to alter their offense so that Rodgers wouldn't have to test his calf injury any more than absolutely necessary.

"I don't think we moved him around," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think just the movement part of our game plan was (over with). ... He did everything from the pocket. We kept him in the gun."

It was possible, too, that Rodgers could have made his injury situation worse than it already was. That's a considerable risk to take considering Green Bay had already clinched a playoff spot and still had a chance to win this game without Rodgers.

"There was risk for sure," Rodgers said.

That didn't sway Rodgers from deciding to get back on the field.

"In this case I think it was kind of on me, see how I felt," Rodgers said. "But I trust Doc (Pat) McKenzie with my health. We had a long conversation at halftime."

Rodgers used heat and tape on his injured calf -- which he said was in a "different spot" than the area on his calf that was injured a week earlier, but he did not take any painkillers.

Basically playing on one leg and only able to walk slowly to the line of scrimmage after big gains, Rodgers led the Packers on two touchdown drives in the second half. He even took it upon himself to call a quarterback sneak and dive into the end zone for a touchdown run.

"Doc and I have a great trust between each other," Rodgers said. "We did a little fist pound and after I told him I felt good and Mike said 'OK,' and he just trusted I wasn't going to do anything stupid. I didn't feel like the quarterback sneak fell into the stupid category. He might have differed with his opinion there."

Rodgers' effort ignited Green Bay to a 30-20 victory. It gave the Packers their fourth consecutive division title and a first-round bye, as well as continuing their 23-year Wisconsin winning streak over the Lions.

"He's the leader of the team," Julius Peppers said. "When we see him come back out, it's a boost of energy."

Rodgers completed 11 of his 13 second-half passes for 129 yards.

"I don't think I did anything heroic tonight," Rodgers said. "I just have a strong desire to compete. I love the competitive nature of the game that we get to play, and I'm just blessed to be able to play this game."

Rodgers had to do more than outperform Detroit's defense. He had to deal with Ndamukong Suh, whose reputation as a dirty player added another chapter. Suh stepped backwards onto Rodgers' left leg. It can be debated whether Suh was initially pushed backwards into him, but the second step onto Rodgers' injured area makes that argument a more difficult one to win.

"I didn't see it live, I didn't see it on the Jumbotron, but from what I'm told, I'm told it was ridiculous," McCarthy said. "There's no place for that. That's where I'm at with it. I don't understand it, frankly."

Added Rodgers, "He'll probably say it was an accident. That's what (referee) Walt Anderson said. But we'll see."

Right guard T.J. Lang didn't see the play, but he approached Suh after hearing Rodgers' side of it.

"Later in the game I was blocking (Suh), and he's a guy that likes to play through the whistle sometimes, and so I kind of matched his effort, and he got a little upset at me," Lang said. "I won't say what he was saying to me. That's not safe for work language."

As the final seconds ticked off the clock at Lambeau Field, Rodgers had done everything that the Packers could have possibly hoped to get out of their leader. It might have also been just what Rodgers needed to secure the second Most Valuable Player award of his career.

"Aaron Rodgers, I don't know what to say about him," McCarthy said. "The fact that he can come back out after the calf injury and to perform on a limited game plan and play at the level he continues to play at, that he played at, I thought was extraordinary.

"It was clearly an MVP performance, another MVP performance by Aaron Rodgers."

Clay Matthews summed it up best.

"We needed him, and he's obviously the MVP for a reason," Matthews said. "If this doesn't solidify it today, I don't know what will."

Follow Paul Imig on Twitter

Source: http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/aaron-rodgers-gutsy-return-from-injury-surprised-inspired-green-bay-packers-122814

Michigan officials to meet Harbaugh

Updated: December 29, 2014, 12:43 AM ET

ESPN.com news servicesHarbaugh To Michigan Not A Done Deal

Multiple people at Michigan and in the Jim Harbaugh camp believe the formerSan Francisco 49ers coach will wind up as the Wolverines' next head coach, as many have reported, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Michigan has been telling its incoming recruits that it plans to have a head coach by the middle of the week, sources added.

Harbaugh and the Niners parted ways on Sunday via a mutual decision between the coach and the team.

[+] Enlarge

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesJim Harbaugh has one year remaining on his five-year, $25 million deal with the Niners.

Multiple people also insist that Harbaugh has no deal or agreement with Michigan at this time, even though Michigan officials are now in the Bay area, waiting to meet with the man they want to hire as quickly as possible. Michigan officials believe they will be taking Harbaugh and his wife to Ann Arbor with them on Monday, sources told Schefter.

According to ESPN sources and multiple reports, some Michigan officials have indicated that the school would be introducing its new coach Tuesday at a press conference and at the 3 p.m. basketball game with Illinois.

Harbaugh has also called multiple assistant coaches to gauge their interest in joining him at Michigan, sources tell ESPN's John Clayton.

The Oakland Raiders also are expected to make what one source described as "a concerted effort" to see whether they can keep Harbaugh in the Bay area, and they will use the idea that the team is projected to be about $50 million under the salary cap next season as a drawing card, in addition to a serious offer they are prepared to make. Signs continue to point to Michigan, but NFL teams are going to have their say.

Other teams such as the Jets and Bears could also make pitches.

With speculation that Harbaugh will be announced as coach at Michigan, asking prices for tickets for the basketball game at Michigan vs Illinois have skyrocketed.

A week ago, fans could have bought a ticket to the game for $15. The cheapest price on stubhub as of 10:20 pm on Sunday night for the game? $129.89.

The 49ers finished 8-8 this season and out of the playoff field after three straight trips to the NFC title game and a Super Bowl appearance.

Harbaugh didn't tell his players he was leaving Saturday night, a source told the San Francisco Chronicle, but he did express his appreciation for their support during the 49ers' tumultuous season.

In return, right tackle Anthony Davis showed his appreciation for Harbaugh on Twitter.

I just looked Harbaugh in his eyes and thanked him for leading us to some of the best times of our lives. Give Respect when it's Due.

Bam Davis (@AnthonyDavis76) December 28, 2014

49ers CEO Jed York was asked before Sunday's game by a group of beat writers if he had a sec to talk. "Nope," he said as he walked off with a reporter from the league-owned NFL Network.

Harbaugh and York met briefly at midfield during warmups and it appeared as though a demonstrative York was doing most of the talking. The session ended with a handshake and quick hug.

Harbaugh was met with loud cheers by the crowd.

Players awarded Harbaugh a game ball and gave him a Gatorade bath once the outcome of Sunday's contest was decided.

As a Harbaugh replacement, there are a few names the 49ers could come calling on, including Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase -- and they have ties to all three.

Quinn and Gase each served as quality control coaches for the 49ers, Quinn under former San Francisco head coaches Steve Mariucci and Jim Mora, and Gase under former 49ers coach Mike Nolan.

McDaniels has interviewed for the 49ers head-coaching job in the past.

ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez and Darren Rovell contributed to this report.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12086655/michigan-officials-town-meet-jim-harbaugh

Broncos clinch No. 2 seed and bye with win over Raiders

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Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14.(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing, Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

KUSA-The Broncos (12-4) took care of the Raiders (3-13) 47-14 on Sunday at Sports Authority Field to cap a perfect regular season at home (8-0) and clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs along with a first-round bye.

C.J. Anderson added three touchdowns on 13 carries and Demaryius Thomas notched his tenth 100-yard receiving game of the year (most all-time in Broncos franchise history) to lead the Broncos to their third consecutive season with at least a tie for the best record in the AFC.

Broncos running back CJ Anderson talks about 47-14 win over the Raiders. 9NEWS WEB EXTRA. 12/28/14.

Thomas became just the seventh player all-time in the NFL to have ten 100-yard receiving games in a single season on a night when he also became the all-time leader in receiving yards in a single season in Broncos history with 1,619.

Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas talks about win over Raiders. 9NEWS WEB EXTRA. 12/28/14.

Emmanuel Sanders added his 100th catch of the year to combine with Thomas to create the first Broncos duo since Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey in 2000 to have a wide receiver tandem with at least 100 individual catches.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders talks about the 47-14 win over the Raiders. 9NEWS WEB EXTRA. 12/28/14.

Peyton Manning finished the game 21 for 37 passing with 273 yards through the air after being pulled for the final two series in the fourth quarter.

Peyton Manning talks about the Broncos' 47-14 win over the Oakland Raiders. 9NEWS WEB EXTRA. 12/28/14.

Brock Osweiler threw for his first touchdown of his career, now in his third season as Manning's backup. He finished the contest, 2 for 2 passing for 39 yards and the touchdown.

Virgil Green caught Osweiler's six-point pass which was his first of his pro career, now in his fourth season with the Broncos out of Nevada.

Running back Ronnie Hillman also saw his first action in six weeks coming off of an ankle injury. The former San Diego St. standout finished the game with 56 yards on 15 carries.

Von Miller recorded his team-high 14th sack of the season, helping the Broncos defense to force five three-and-outs on the Raiders first six possessions.

Denver Broncos coach John Fox on the 47-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders. 9NEWS WEB EXTRA. 12/28/14.

Safety Josh Bush intercepted Derek Carr in his first game as a Bronco, while Tony Carter returned a Carr fumble for a touchdown in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to all but seal the victory.

Denver has now won seven straight games against Oakland.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the sidelines in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing, Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

1st Quarter Recap:

Denver's defense forced a three-and-out after a touch back to open the game. It was their 54th forced three-and-out this season which leads the NFL.

Connor Barth kicked a 49-yard field goal on the Broncos opening drive to score the first points of the game. He was perfect on the season (11/11) coming into last Monday's loss against Cincinnati where he missed his only attempt. He is now 12 of 13 on the season.

The Broncos would force their 55th three-and-out of the season on the Raiders second possession. Aqib Talib recorded his 1st sack of the season.

Peyton Manning would connect with Demaryius Thomas for a big gain over the middle that set up an 11-yard touchdown run by C.J. Anderson to give the Broncos a 10-0 lead with 5:37 remaining in the opening quarter.

Denver's defense would force their third consecutive three-and-out on the Raiders third possession.

Peyton Manning threw a backwards pass that was picked up by the Raiders defense and returned for a touchdown to give Oakland their first points of the game on possibly the most unusual play of the season.

The Broncos would possess the ball at the end of the 1st quarter.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) is tackled by Denver Broncos strong safety David Bruton (30) and defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) and middle linebacker Steven Johnson (53) in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14.(Photo: Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

2nd Quarter Recap:

Manning would find Demaryius Thomas wide open over the middle for the second time on the afternoon bringing the ball down to the Oakland one-yard-line. C.J. Anderson would add his second touchdown of the game from there to give the Broncos a 17-7 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

The Broncos defense would force Oakland to give the ball back on their fourth consecutive three-and-out, after an errant snap went through the hands of Derek Carr pinning the Raiders back near their own goal line.

The Broncos would be forced to punt on their next possession.

The Raiders would punt for the 5th time in five possessions, but managed to gain their first 1st down of the game on a 14-yard pass to Michael Rivera.

The Broncos would punt on their subsequent possession.

Oakland would punt for the sixth time in six possessions. Denver's defense posted their 5th three-and-out of the game.

Connor Barth would add his second field goal of the game to give Denver a 20-7 lead with 33 seconds remaining in the first half.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos mascot Miles signal a first down against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 40-14.(Photo: Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Broncos 1st Half Quick Stats:

P. Manning- 15/22, 199 yards, fumble

C. Anderson-8 carries, 27 yards, 2TDs

R. Hillman- 7 carries, 28 yards

D. Thomas- 7 catches 110 yards

V. Miller- 2 tackles, Sack

Raiders 1st Half Quick Stats:

D. Carr- 4/10, 34 yards

L. Murray-5 carries, 15 yards, 2 catches, 14 yards

M. Rivera- 1 catch, 14 yards

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) carries for a touchdown past Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) and free safety Charles Woodson (24) in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.(Photo: Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

3rd Quarter Recap:

Omar Bolden opened with 76 yard kick-off return that set up C.J. Anderson for a 25-yard touchdown, his third of the game.

Derek Carr would respond their ensuing possession finding Jamize Olawale on a one-yard TD pass to bring Oakland back within 13, 27-14

Connor Barth would add a 35-yard field goal on Denver's next possession to push the lead back up to 30-14.

Denver's defense would force Oakland to punt on their next possession and would possess the ball to begin the fourth quarter.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) prepares to pass against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.(Photo: Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

4th Quarter Recap:

Connor Barth would connect on his third field goal of the game to put Denver on top 33-14 with 10:18 to play.

Both the Raiders and Broncos would trade punts on their next possessions.

Larentee McCray would bring down Derek Carr from behind forcing a fumble that was picked up by Tony Carter and run in for a touchdown to give the Broncos a 40-14 lead with 4:48 remaining in the game.

Denver would force a three and out on Oakland's next possession.

Brock Osweiler would enter the game and find VIrgil Green on a one-yard touchdown pass, the first for both players in their pro careers to extend the Broncos lead to 47-14.

Josh Bush, in his first game for the Broncos picked off Derek Carr with 29 seconds remaining.

Brock Osweiler took a knee to end the game. Broncos win 47-17.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) reacts as he leaves the field following the win against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14.(Photo: Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Broncos Full Game Quick Stats:

P. Manning- 21/37, 274 yards

B. Osweiler- 2/2, 39 yards TD

C. Anderson- 13 carries, 87 yards, 3TDs

D. Thomas- 8 catches, 115 yards

V. Green- 3 catches, 46 yards, TD

Raiders Full Game Quick Stats:

D. Carr- 18/36, 156 yards, TD, INT

L. Murray- 10 carries, 37 yards, 4 catches, 60 yards

M. Rivera-2 catches, 26 yards

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) talks with Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) after the game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing, Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

(KUSA-TV 2014 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

Read or Share this story: http://www.9news.com/story/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/2014/12/28/live-game-blog-raiders--broncos/20973297/

Source: http://www.9news.com/story/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/2014/12/28/live-game-blog-raiders--broncos/20973297/

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Broncos look for offensive identity amid change in philosophy

There is no mystery. The answer isn't hiding.

It can be found somewhere between the huddle-up and hurry-up, the center and shotgun, the handoff and deep route, six offensive linemen in a bunch and five receivers split wide.

Or maybe those intervening areas aren't the answer but the problem.

What are the Broncos, exactly, on offense as they conclude their regular season Sunday against Oakland and get ready for another run at the postseason?

"You venture," said coach John Fox. "You adjust. Right now, we need to adjust back with the passing game."

For the 2012 and 2013 seasons and first 10 games of the 2014 season, there was no mistaken identity. The Broncos' offense was Peyton and his pass catchers. "Wide receiver heaven," as Emmanuel Sanders called it when he signed in March.

The pass accounted for 58.6 percent of the Broncos plays and a whopping 74.6 percent of the total offense and 77.7 percent of the touchdowns.

But there were no Lombardi Trophies in Manning's first two years, and the trend started pointing away from Arizona, site of Super Bowl XLIX, after the Broncos were dominated by New England and St. Louis within a period of three weeks near midseason. The play-calling ratio had become even more distorted toward the pass.

The offensive line was struggling to keep up, then was shaken up. There were times when the poised Manning seemed skittish in the pocket.

Fox decided the Broncos could not win it all on Manning's arm alone. In part out of necessity to help their fluid offensive line, a heavier dose of old-school running game was inserted into the game plan of offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

The tempo was slowed. Manning started taking the snap from center to help give running back C.J. Anderson a head of steam as he took the handoff.

A sixth offensive lineman, along with blocking tight end Virgil Green, took snaps away from slot receiver Wes Welker and receiving tight end Julius Thomas, who was down with an ankle injury.

In the four-week period from Games 11-14, plus most of the first half in Game 15 at Cincinnati on Monday night, the pass accounted for only 43.4 percent of the play calls and 56.2 percent of the yardage.

The Broncos were running the ball better. They had gone 4-0 since the transformation heading into their game at Cincinnati.

One big problem: Manning wasn't playing like Manning anymore.

"Everybody's comparing us to last year when we were pedal to the metal," Fox said. "We broke every record known to man. Well, we're not the same team this year. We're a different team. We can play like that, but it's not really what we want to do."

Change in the air

After starting the game at Cincinnati with 10 running plays and 10 passing plays, the Broncos were trailing 20-7 and their lone touchdown was an interception return by cornerback Aqib Talib.

The score dictated that the Broncos chuck their offensive balance and put the game on Manning's arm. Starting with 1:03 left in the first half, the Broncos called 34 passes in their next 43 plays. Manning got hot and directed touchdown drives during three consecutive possessions as the Broncos took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Then a heavy rain fell, and Broncos' hopes of victory were doused when Manning threw three interceptions.

There are times when the Broncos' offense seems like it's caught in between. Improved running but not a running team. A passing team but not like they were before.

So what is the Broncos' offensive identity as the regular season ends?

"I don't know if I have a real great answer for you on this general philosophy or a catchy phrase for your headline," said Manning, who occasionally tries to guess the narrative of a leading question. "We have to play better offensively than we did last week. We showed flashes, three consecutive drives in the third quarter ...

"We had a big emphasis on the red zone all last week. I thought we took that emphasis to the field, and that paid off for us with some touchdowns. We have to emphasize other things than just that, i.e. protecting the ball, and that starts with me."

Through seven games this season. Manning had 22 touchdown passes and just three interceptions while averaging 305 passing yards a game. In his next eight games, he threw an NFL-most 17 touchdowns and also an NFL-most 12 interceptions during that span while averaging 290 yards.

"People who play against us and know us know we're still a passing team," said Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas. "You still have to worry about (No.) 18 first. You're not going to put eight people in the box against 18 and try to take away the running game."

True, but Manning's relative rut has invited open questions about whether he's injured or, worse, whether he has begun to decline at the 38-year, 7-month mark.

More likely, Manning's passing numbers are down because the offense is running fewer plays while calling more running plays. The Broncos led the league last season with 71.6 plays per game.

In their past three games, the Broncos have averaged 58.7 plays. Where have you gone, "Hurry! Hurry!"?

"It's easy to say, 'Hey, just go up-tempo and you'll have the same success (as last year and earlier this season),' " Gase said. "But we've moved in and out of that this year. One game we've been good, and one game we haven't."

The foes know

Which leads to another explanation about why the Broncos' offense hasn't been in sync: Defenses have adjusted. With the offensive line in flux not one blocker who started in the Broncos' postseason run last season is starting at that same position this year opponents are becoming more aggressive with their pass rush.

As Manning senses pressure, opposing secondaries are squatting on the shorter routes. Perhaps as tight end Julius Thomas gets closer to 100 percent, the Broncos' passing game can better exploit where these hawkish defensive strategies are vulnerable.

Or the Broncos can return to its no-huddle, shotgun, pass-heavy ways, if only to jump-start Manning.

But should it be cold and blustery for the AFC championship game in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 18, Manning probably would be better off huddling up, getting under center and handing off to Anderson than throwing it to Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas or Sanders.

"We want to be multiple," Gase said.

"We're looking for that complete, dominant balance," Anderson said. "The Miami game, we were there. I think we're striving to get back to that."

Indeed, the Broncos' first attempt at offensive balance was their best. They scored 39 points to beat the Dolphins. Anderson rushed for 167 of the team's 201 yards rushing. Manning threw for a relatively modest 257 yards but also for four touchdowns.

It can be done. They just haven't done it lately. The work continues as the postseason nears.

Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_27215879/broncos-look-offensive-identity-amid-change-philosophy

Sea Search Underway for Missing AirAsia Jet

A massive search and rescue operation was suspended Sunday for an AirAsia Indonesia jet that lost contact with air traffic control over the Java Sea during a flight to Singapore shortly after the pilots requested a change of flight plan because of weather.

Darkness and bad weather forced the suspension of the search about 5:30 p.m. local time, said Indonesian transport officials. It will resume Monday morning.

Flight QZ8501, an Airbus A320, lost contact with air traffic control in Jakarta at 6:17 a.m. Sunday local time near Belitung Island, Indonesia, after the flight left Surabaya, Indonesian Air Transport Director Djoko Murjatmodjo said during a news conference Sunday. The flight, which had at least 161 people on board, was scheduled to land in Singapore at 7:57 a.m. local time.

Murjatmodjo said teams were searching the sea and mountainous areas in the region. The plane was several hours past the time when its fuel would have been exhausted.

We are deeply shocked and saddened by this incident," said Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia. "We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident. In the meantime, our main priority is keeping the families of our passengers and colleagues informed on the latest developments.

Widyatmoko said the airline had mobilized a support team to help families of the passengers.

The flight was piloted by Captain Iriyanto, who had a total of 20,537 flying hours, according to a statement from AirAsia. More than 6,000 of Iriyanto's flying hours were on an Airbus A320.

The first officer, Remi Emmanuel Plesel, had 2,275 flying hours with AirAsia Indonesia, according to the airline.

ABC News consultant Col. Stephen Ganyard said weather may have played a role in whatever happened to the plane but several questions remained.

"Were looking for clues and at this point there are very few clues," he said.

ABC News

PHOTO: An AirAsia plane went missing Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014 while en route to Singapore.

The six-year-old aircraft was on its submitted flight plan but the pilot requested a deviation because of en-route weather before communication with the aircraft was lost, AirAsia said.

Murjatmodjo said the pilot also requested to increase altitude to 38,000 feet from 32,000 feet to "avoid clouds." Thunderstorms were reported in the area with clouds up to 50,000 feet.

While ground control in Jakarta approved the pilot's request to divert the flight, the request to raise elevation hadn't been approved before losing contact with the plane, said Murjatmodjo.

The plane had been in the air for about 41 minutes when contact was lost.

The jet was flying at the regular cruising altitude for most jetliners - 32,000 feet - when the signal was lost, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. No distress reports came from the plane, officials said.

"At the present time, we unfortunately have no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board, but we will keep all parties informed as more information becomes available," AirAsia said.

Search for Survivors of AirAsia Flight 8501

The aircraft had undergone its last scheduled maintenance on November 16, 2014.

The flight manifest for the jet showed there were 155 passengers on board plus seven crew members, although the Indonesian transport ministry only reported six crew members.

Of the passengers, 149 were Indonesians, three were South Korean, and there was one traveler each from Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom, according to AirAsia.

AirAsia said the crew members consisted of six Indonesians and one person from France.

ABC News

AirAsia Airbus A320-200 Map flight path with times

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said it was informed about the missing plane by Jakarta ground control about half an hour after contact was lost.

The Singapore air force and the navy were activated with two C-130 ready to assist Indonesia authorities in the search, according to the aviation authority.

"We remain ready to provide any assistance to support the search and rescue effort," the CAAS said.

Malaysia and Australia have also offered assistance with the search effort.

A waiting area was set up at Changi Airport in Singapore, where the plane had been scheduled to land, with facilities and support for relatives and friends of the passengers on the plane. At Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, dozens of relatives sat in a room, many of them talking on mobile phones and crying. Some looked dazed, the Associated Press reported.

The White House said President Obama was briefed on the flight. A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. is "ready to assist in any way that's helpful."

This is the third air incident this year for Malaysian-based airlines.

Andy Wong/AP Photo

Relatives of passengers onboard the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that went missing on March 8, 2014, watch TV news about missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, during their year-end gathering at a house in Beijing, China Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014.

In July, another Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 on board.

In March, Malaysia Airlines flight 370, a wide-bodied Boeing 777 with 239 people on board, lost contact with air traffic control soon after taking off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. It hasn't been found.

Ganyard lamented the disappearance of another aircraft this year.

"Its really disheartening," said Ganyard. "It just shouldnt happen in this day and age."

Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here. To be notified about our live weekend digital reports, tap here.

With reporting by ABC News' Ben Gittelson and Gillian Mohney.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/International/sea-search-begins-missing-airasia-jet/story?id%3D27856490

Many stores open on Christmas Eve

USA, New Jersey, Jersey City, Couple with Christmas shopping(Photo: Tetra Images, Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

We're only hours away from Christmas morning, and lots of people will be out Christmas Eve to finish up some last-minute shopping.

Kohls has been open since 6 a.m. Friday, and they haven't shut their doors since. They'll stay open until 6 p.m.

Both malls are also open Wednesday. West Town Mall and Knoxville Center Mall opened early at 7 a.m. and will stay open until 6 p.m.

Other stores' Christmas Eve hours:

Best Buy: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Toys R Us: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tanger Outlets: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Target: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.; closed Christmas Day
Walmart: Closes at 8 p.m.

Read or Share this story: http://on.wbir.com/16Qy7Cc

Source: http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2014/12/24/many-stores-open-on-christmas-eve/20856237/

WATCH: 'Divergent' fans get sneak peek of 'Insurgent' sequel

LOS ANGELES The first film adaptation of Veronica Roths Divergent novels was one of the most popular new Hollywood franchises of 2014, grossing more than $150 million at the domestic box office.

Now, fans can close out the year with a look at the much-anticipated sequel, Insurgent, which is due out March 2015.

Shailene Woodley reprises the role of Tris, a teen living in a dystopian future where people are divided into categories based on character attributes. Tris and her fellow divergents, who dont fit into any of the categories, continue their struggle to survive as Jeanine Matthews (played by Kate Winslet) hunts them down.

A trailer released this week shows a greater emphasis on action scenes this go-around. Fans of the trilogy might also notice that Tris has a pixie cut in this installment, even though the characters hair is not that short in the book.

Woodley says director Robert Schwentke granted her request to keep her naturally short hair which she cut for her role in another young adult novel adaptation, The Fault in Our Stars instead of wearing a wig.

I think wigs always look wiggy, especially in an action movie, Woodley told Buzzfeed.

Source: http://kdvr.com/2014/12/13/watch-divergent-fans-get-sneak-peek-of-insurgent-sequel/

Saturday, December 27, 2014

A list of Omaha restaurants open on Christmas Day

For those looking to dine out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, here are some options, listed alphabetically:

Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, 712-328-8888.

Christmas Eve:Amerisports is open from 3 to 11 p.m.;Bella's is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.;Bourbon's is open from 4 to 8 p.m.;Heritage Buffet is open its regular hours; Star Club is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Christmas:Amerisports is open from 3 to 11 p.m.; Bella's is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Heritage Buffet is open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m.; Star Club is open from 2 to 8 p.m. The bar will stay open until 11 p.m.

Aromas Coffeehouse,1033 Jones St. and6051 Maple St., Christmas Eve from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.,402-934-7450 (downtown) and402-916-4190 (Benson).

Avoli Osteria, 5013 Underwood Ave., Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 402-933-7400.

B & B Classic Dogs,1020 Lincoln Rd., Bellevue, Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,402-905-9541.

Big Fred's Pizza Garden, 1101 S. 119th St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 402-333-4414.

Big Red Restaurant & Sports Bar, 8100 Cass St., Christmas Eve until 5 p.m., Christmas Day from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.,402-390-4245.

Bliss Old Market Bakery,1031 Jones St., Christmas Eve from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.,402-934-7450.

Brushi Bistro & Bar, 721 North 132nd St., Christmas Eve from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 402-884-6878.

Cascios Restaurant, 1620 S. 10th St., Christmas Eve from 4:30 to 8 p.m., 402-345-8313.

Chicago Dawg House,3157 Farnam St., Christmas Eve from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.,402-504-1234.

China Buffet, various locations in Omaha and Lincoln, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., chinabuffetmongoliangrill.net.

China Road, 4006 Twin Creek Dr., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 402-291-8855.

Dario's Brasserie, 4920 Underwood Ave., Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 402-933-0799.

Denny's,3509 South 84th St. and Flying J, 15010 Highway 31, open 24 hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,402-393-7343 (Omaha) and402-332-0400 (Gretna).

Dudley's Pizza & Tavern,2110 South 67th St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Christmas Day from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.,402-933-7511.

Harrahs 360 Steakhouse, 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 5 to 9 p.m., 712-329-6000.

Jaipur, 10922 Elm St., Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 5 to 9:30 p.m., 402-392-7331.

Legends Patio Bar and Grill, 6910 N. 102nd Cir., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Christmas Day from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., 402-884-1006.

Liberty Tavern, inside Hilton Omaha at 1001 Cass St., Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,402-998-4321.

Maharaja Indian Cuisine,617 North 114th St., Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (lunch buffet) and 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.,402-505-4488.

Old Dundee Bar & Grill,4964 Dodge St., Christmas Eve from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Christmas Day from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.,402-558-0801.

Omaha Prime, 415 S. 11th St., Christmas Eve from 4 to 9 p.m., 402-341-7040.

Pla Too Thai Cuisine, 12775 Q St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 402-895-7788.

Ray's Original Buffalo Wings,5423 S 36th St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,402-884-5300.

Salt 88, 3623 N. 129th St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 402-991-9088.

Sullivan's Steakhouse, 222 S 15th St.,Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 402-342-0077.

Szechuan Express,315 N 114th St.,Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (only carry-out after 4 p.m.), 402-330-9779.

The Bohemian Cafe, 1406 S. 13th St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 402-342-9838.

The Good Life Sports Bar and Grill, 1203 S. 180th St., Christmas Eve from noon to 7 p.m., Christmas Day from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., 402-933-2947.

The Grey Plume, 220 S. 31st Ave., Christmas Eve from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 402-763-4447.

The Mill Bar & Grill,13806 P St., Christmas Day from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.,402-933-6612.

Vincenzos, 15701 Pacific St., Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 402-498-3889.

Is your restaurant open Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Email details to Sarah Baker Hansen, sarah.bakerhansen@owh.com and include the name of the restaurant, address and phone number and holiday hours.

Source: http://www.omaha.com/a-list-of-omaha-restaurants-open-on-christmas-day/article_30a0645c-816b-11e4-85df-fffa210e9eb5.html

Updated: Restaurants open on Christmas Day

For those who are hoping to eat out on Christmas Day, there are a number of restaurants that will be open, including those listed below. I highly recommend that you call ahead to verify your specific location is actually open because some franchises will be closed. Also remember to verify the hours because many restaurants are only open for a small window of time on Christmas.

I confirmed that the following locations will be open on Christmas Day:

Banana Leaf Chinese Restaurant at 1026 Ryan Rd, Cary, NC (Open 11 am - 9:30 pm)

Boston Market at 4558-A Capital Blvd. in Raleigh

China Palace at 5210 Garrett Road, Durham (Open from 4 pm - 9 pm)

Crabtree Grill at 4500 Crabtree Dr.Raleigh, NC (in the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, Raleigh) - Dinner buffet from 4 - 8 pm. Reservations recommended at 919-781-7000.

Dave & Busters at Cary Town Center Mall in Cary ( open Christmas Day from 5pm-midnight)

Denny's at 7021 N Carolina 751 #901 in Durham (open 24/7)

Denny's at 3215 Wake Forest Road in Raleigh

Fujisan Japanese Steakhouse at 8411 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh, NC 27617 in Brier Creek Commons, Raleigh. (Open 4:30 - 10 pm) Reservations recommended at 806-2888.

IHOP at 1301 Kildaire Farm Rd. in Cary ( It appears that all IHOP locations will be open according to the e-mail I received from IHOP, but call your location to verify the hours)

McCormick and Schmicks at 4325 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612 (Open Christmas Day, reservations recommended)

Paparazzi at 8450 Honeycutt Road, Raleigh, NC in Lafayette Village. (Open 10:30 am - 3 pm for brunch buffet)

Red Lotus at 237 S. Elliott Road, Chapel Hill (open 4 pm - 9 pm - Reservations recommended if dining in at 919-968-7778)

Super Wok at 1401-L SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511 in Chatham Square (open 11 am - 9 pm)

TGI Fridays at 2002 Kildaire Farm Rd. in Cary (opens at 4 pm)

The Borough at 317 W Morgan St #117, Raleigh, NC 27601 (Open 4 p.m. until 2 a.m.)

The Great Wok, 2823 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, NC (open 11 am - 10 pm)

Village Draft House at428 Daniels Street, Raleigh, NC 27605 - Cameron Village Shopping Center, (Open from 6 p.m. until midnight)

Waffle House at 2237 Avent Ferry Rd in Raleigh (open 24/7)

You can also head to head to Offers.com for a list of restaurants that should be open. Some of the restaurants on the list include IHOP, Boston Market, Denny's, Waffle House, TGI Fridays and more. Be sure to call your specific location to verify if they are open before heading over for a snack.

I called a few specific locations of restaurant chains who are on the Offers.com list but they are not open here on Christmas Day. They include Starbucks on Tryon Rd in Cary, Panda Express in Apex and Boston Market in Cary.

Please post if you know of any other restaurants that will be open on Christmas Day.

Source: http://www.wral.com/updated-restaurants-open-on-christmas-day/14268144/

Friday, December 26, 2014

9 Restaurants Open On Christmas 2014

Chinese food is the classic Christmas-Day fallback for anyone who's not cooking. But if you're looking for more options, you've got them.

A slew of U.S. restaurant chains will remain open on Thursday, though their hours will vary by location.

Perhaps lo mein isnt your idea of a warm Christmas dinner. Or maybe you need a peppermint latte to power through gift-giving with your rowdy nephews.

Heres a list of chains that confirmed to The Huffington Post that they will remain open, at least in some places. Check your local listings before venturing outside, since hours may vary. All of the following quotes are from company spokespeople.

Applebees

Some Applebees and IHOP restaurants will be open, and some wont. Consumers need to check with their local restaurants.

Dennys

Dennys will be open. In fact, it is one of Americas Diners busiest days of the year.

Hooters

Select Hooters locations will be open on Christmas Day. To check for local hours please visit www.hooters.com/locations and call ahead.

IHOP

Some Applebees and IHOP restaurants will be open, and some wont. Consumers need to check with their local restaurants.

KFC

Some KFC restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day. It is really up to the franchise owner to determine operating hours on the Christmas holiday.

McDonalds

McDonald's did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story, but in 2012 the fast-food giant began pushing franchise stores to stay open on Christmas, and this year many locations will be open, according to the International Business Times.

P.F. Chang's

Some of P.F. Changs casino and mall locations are open, but guests are encouraged to call ahead.

Starbucks

Starbucks stores are a gathering place for the entire community and customers use our stores to connect over coffee in different ways every day. We are happy to welcome customers on Christmas Day in select store locations. Store hours vary by location, and stores will occasionally adjust their hours based on business and customer needs.

TGI Fridays

Most TGI Fridays restaurants will be open on Christmas. However, guests should call their local restaurant for holiday hours.

You might notice some chains are missing from the above list. Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Chipotle told HuffPost they will remain closed on the 25th. Sorry, burrito lovers.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/24/restaurants-open-christmas_n_6377420.html

'The Imitation Game' Cracks The Enigma Of Alan Turing

Credit: The Weinstein Company

Above: Benedict Cumberbatch plays mathematician Alan Turing in the film, "The Imitation Game," which recounts how the British broke the enigma code the Germans were using to encrypt messages during World War II.

Aired 12/24/14 on KPBS News.

KPBS film critic Beth Accomando reviews "The Imitation Game."

Transcript

Companion Viewing

"Enigma" (2001)

"Sherlock" (2010, BBC TV Series)

"The Turing Enigma" (2011)

Benedict Cumberbatch played a dragon in "The Hobbit" movies, as well as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC TV series. This Christmas you can find him playing the mathematician who helped break the Enigma code in "The Imitation Game" (opening Dec. 25 in select San Diego theaters).

It's Oscar bait season, that time of year when studios release all their "important" films in the hopes of getting Academy voters to bite. A lot of the films turn to true stories for inspiration, be it the life of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything" or the amazing tale of Louis Zamperini, the Olympian turned prisoner of war in Angelina Jolies "Unbroken." But the problem with these films is that they rely on the remarkable nature of their source material to distract from mediocre filmmaking. But unlike the overhyped and overrated "Unbroken" and "Theory of Everything," "The Imitation Game" delivers a genuinely good film about a fascinating true story.

"The Imitation Game" looks to the men and one woman who worked on breaking the Enigma code during World War II. Inspired by the real life story of mathematician and cryptanalyst Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the film recounts how Turing and his team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park raced against the clock to break the German's Enigma code. This team also included one woman Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). During the course of the team's work, Turing pioneered the Turing Machine, the model for a general purpose computer.

Based on Andrew Hodges' biography of Turing, the film moves between Turing's early days in school and his work at Bletchley Park in World War II. The film depicts him as both a genius, and as socially inept and awkward. One of the school scenes shows him talking with a friend about codes. As the friend explains what the code book is about Turing asks how that is different from talking, which he felt was difficult to decipher because people never say what they actually mean. As Turing grows up in the film, he seems to alternate between being the Asperger-ish nerd and the clever genius. Sometimes the film is a bit simplistic in its character psychology but at least it makes an attempt to create Turing as a flesh and blood character rather than a one-dimensional historic figure whose fate seems set from the start.

And that's why "The Imitation Game" succeeds where the other true life inspired films this holiday season fail. Director Morten Tyldum and screenwriter Graham Moore try to make the characters and their situation real in "The Imitation Game." We come to see Turing, Clarke, and the other team members as fallible and vulnerable, which allows the film to build dramatic tension in a way that "Unbroken" doesn't. In "Unbroken," director Jolie never lets us doubt that Zamperini will survive and triumph over all odds, his fate is written from the beginning. But in "The Imitation Game," we are riveted by the story, feel the urgency of what Turing is doing, and worry if he will succeed even though we know the outcome in advance.

The film is also compelling because it goes beyond being just a procedural historical thriller about Enigma. Its also a portrait of the narrow-minded morality of the the times that almost kept the most qualified people out of Bletchley Park because England at the time deemed homosexuality illegal and a single woman working away from home with a group of men inappropriate. The film looks to the less familiar part of the Enigma story, which was the aftermath. Turing was arrested and convicted on charges of homosexuality in 1952. So the film also packs some potent social commentary along with its nail-biting historical drama.

"The Imitation Game" is the best of the Oscar bait films out this holiday season. But it is not flawless. While it tries to offer some character insights, sometimes it becomes too pat or resorts to a kind of stereotyped shorthand. At times it resorts to nerd cliches that make Turing so socially awkward that he's unable to understand the simplest of jokes, yet Moore also gives him scenes that seem designed to make us think of Sherlock's supremely clever high functioning sociopath. The extremes are sometimes hard to straddle. The opening in particular, where Turing narrates with a Holmesian sense of absolute control, seems too calculated to pull us in with his Sherlock persona (the opening narration is also freakishly similar to Clive Owen's opening introduction to "The Inside Man"). Some of the complaints about the simplification of Turing's character can be found in this article by Christian Caryl. But the film does a far superior job in depicting Turing and his story than the earlier film "Enigma" (2001) starring Dougray Scott and Kate Winslet.

"The Imitation Game" (rated PG-13 for some sexual references, mature thematic material and historical smoking) is a tense historical thriller bolstered by exceptional work from Cumberbatch and the rest of the acting ensemble.

Watch the trailer.

Source: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/dec/24/imitation-game/

Madison area restaurants open Christmas Day include Indian, Cajun, Chinese ...

Christmas can be stressful enough without the added pressure of hosting a multi-course meal.

This holiday, a select few restaurants are open for those who don't celebrate or who simply don't want to cook.

Nadine Goff, the author behind theQuintessential Madisonblog, has compiled an extensive list of restaurants open on Christmas, with hours and phone numbers. (The list started in 2007 on Madison on the Cheap.)

The list includes more than a dozen local Chinese restaurants open for the holidays, often with normal hours. A few, like Hong Kong Cafe, P.F. Chang's and Imperial Garden West, will close Dec. 25, but many stay open for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Some, like Oriental Wok, Chiang Jiang in Sun Prairie, Great China and Tai's Asian Bistro, will be serving their regular menu.

Others add something special for the holiday. At World Buffet on West Broadway in Monona, the $12.95 all-you-can-eat price includes rib eye steak, baked salmon, crawfish and salt and pepper shrimp.

Fugu Asian on West Gilman Street changed its hours to open at noon on Christmas Day. The specials aren't set but could include crawfish, special hot pots and steamed whole fish.

On Goff's list are seven area Indian restaurants, as well as options for Persian, Italian, Cajun and continental European dining.

At Dhaba Indian Bistro, diners can mix-and-match tandoori, kebabs, biryani (rice) and curries, served family-style for dinner. Maharaja Indian Restaurant is beefing up its lunch buffet with four or five additional items.

Also open for Christmas on the west side is Swagat off of Old Sauk Road. Maharani and Marrakesh restaurants will be open downtown, as will Taj Indian Restaurant on South Park Street and Taste of India on Monroe.

For Japanese, both locations of Edo on South Park and Monona Drive are open Christmas Day, the latter until midnight. Takara, a sushi spot on South Whitney Way near Westgate Mall, will also be open.

A stalwart of Christmas Day dining is the hotel restaurant, though there seem to be fewer options this year. Capitol ChopHouse in the Hilton Monona Terrace, Jerome's inside Best Western Inn on the Park and Dayton Street Grill at the Madison Concourse (which is under construction) will all be closed.

Filling the void is the new Statehouse restaurant inside the Edgewater Hotel, which is serving a Christmas brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to the Edgewater's current menu, the meal will feature prime roast rib au jus, pan-seared Canadian salmon with fennel and sweet vermouth sauce, roasted squash salad with frisee, toasted hazelnuts, feta and maple apple vinaigrette and warm croissant bread pudding.

It costs a flat fee: $42.95 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $17.95 for children under 12. Kids under 5 years old eat free.

Have a Persian Christmas with Laila Borokhim at her cozy South Butler Street spot, Layla's Persian Restaurant. Borokhim said instead of traditional American dishes like turkey and ham, she'll be serving "a lamb dish, a chicken dish and a vegetarian dish," in addition to the regular menu.

The full menu will be posted on her Facebook page on Sunday. Because Layla's has only four tables, reservations for dinner (5-9 p.m.) are essential (216-4511).

Forequarter, the small, well-regarded Underground Food Collective restaurant on East Johnson Street, will be doing a Chinese menu on Christmas Day. There are no reservations and the menu is not set yet, but will include a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts, according to co-owner Mel Trudeau.

Give your holiday a Louisiana twist at Liliana's in Fitchburg. On Christmas Eve, chef Dave Heide is preparing a four-course dinner. Christmas Day brings a decadent buffet served from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Specialties on the latter menu are set to include Cajun-brined turkey breast, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, honey-glazed pit ham and tons of sides, from casseroles and smashed potatoes to a "huge" dessert buffet. Cost is $30 for adults and $15 for kids between 2 and 12 years old.

Toast to Christmas in Wisconsin with an Old Fashioned at the Avenue Bar on East Washington Avenue, where the Dec. 25 meal has become a tradition.

In addition to "holiday classics" like roast beef, ham, turkey and baked chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, Avenue diners can dig into steak, fried shrimp, walleye and cod or the "Avenue fish boil." The holiday menu will be on offer from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Christmas Day.

Gus's Diner in Sun Prairie serves Christmas dinner every year, serving prime rib, ham steak, chicken, stuffing and all the "traditional Christmas goodies." The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. but won't start serving prime rib until about 10 a.m.

The Club Tavern in Middleton will be open Christmas Day starting at 5 p.m. with the appetizer/late night menu, including chicken tenders, onion rings, potato skins and cheese curds.

In addition to its regular menu, Tully's II Food and Spirits in Monona will have an $8.99 Christmas Day special of ham or turkey, scalloped potatoes, vegetables and a roll. The restaurant will be open from 9 a.m. until bar time.

Three of the four local locations of the Great Dane Pub (the Cottage Grove branch has closed due to a recent fire) will serve its limited late night menu on Christmas Day from 5 p.m. until bar time. Selections include burgers, nachos, poutine and a giant pretzel with mustard.

RestaurantNews.com has a list of chain restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Local options could include Denny's, Dunkin' Donuts, Domino's Pizza, IHOP, Ruths Chris Steak House and Starbucks.

Unless otherwise noted, it's best to call ahead for reservations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining.

Source: http://host.madison.com/entertainment/dining/madison-area-restaurants-open-christmas-day-include-indian-cajun-chinese/article_2089331c-1d9f-5566-bfe6-0af9bc2ddfd9.html

Many stores open on Christmas Eve

USA, New Jersey, Jersey City, Couple with Christmas shopping(Photo: Tetra Images, Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

We're only hours away from Christmas morning, and lots of people will be out Christmas Eve to finish up some last-minute shopping.

Kohls has been open since 6 a.m. Friday, and they haven't shut their doors since. They'll stay open until 6 p.m.

Both malls are also open Wednesday. West Town Mall and Knoxville Center Mall opened early at 7 a.m. and will stay open until 6 p.m.

Other stores' Christmas Eve hours:

Best Buy: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Toys R Us: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tanger Outlets: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Target: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.; closed Christmas Day
Walmart: Closes at 8 p.m.

Read or Share this story: http://on.wbir.com/16Qy7Cc

Source: http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2014/12/24/many-stores-open-on-christmas-eve/20856237/

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Is Tim Burton's 'Big Eyes' A Sight Worth Seeing?

by Josh Wigler 10h ago

Tim Burton has his eye on the bigger picture this weekend, with the release of his latest film, Big Eyes.

Based on the true story of 1950s painter Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) and her nasty falling out with husband Walter (Christoph Waltz), Burtons latest is a far cry from the past few films in his resum at least, thats what the critics are saying. According to reviews, Burton has turned in a film that reflects his own journey as an artist, particularly in recent years.

Heres what you need to know about Big Eyes:

The PremiseA horror movie tucked inside a domestic drama wrapped up in a biopic, Tim Burtons Big Eyes tells the story of Margaret Keane, an artist whose characteristic style is summed up in the title. Starting in the 1950s, Ms. Keane who is still alive and who is played by Amy Adams with a whispery Tennessee accent and an air of patient melancholy painted thousands of pictures of waiflike figures with sad faces and oversized peepers. In the 1960s, she was both famous and almost entirely unknown. Her work was everywhere, devoured by the public and scorned by critics. But fans and detractors alike believed that the author of that work was her husband, Walter, who hogged the spotlight while his wife stayed home with the pigments and the canvases. How this arrangement came about and how it fell apart is Mr. Burtons main concern. A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Meet Mr. And Mrs. KeaneThe film traces the power struggle in the Keanes marriage and upends the June Cleaver subservience of the era as Margaret fights to reclaim the credit shes due. While I wish that Waltz would dial down his tendency to go cartoonishly broad, Adams is perfect. She makes her characters awakening a quietly aching roar of empowerment. Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

An Unrecognizable PortraitThe irony of Big Eyes, Tim Burtons film about the authorial stamp on a work of art, is that it is nearly bereft of what makes Burtons work so recognisable. The deeper implications of this are a matter for Burton and his shrink, but for us in the audience its a welcome recharge from a man whose last picture, Frankenweenie, was merely a longer version of one of his earlier projects. Jordan Hoffman, The Guardian

The Bigger PictureThis is rich stuff for Burton. Like Keane, whose paintings New York Times art critic John Canaday (Terence Stamp) decries as atrocities, Burtons faced his own creative paradox: The more money his films make, the more reviewers have dismissed them. Fairly, perhaps especially in the case of his soulless mega-hit Alice in Wonderland. Yet you cant help but sense Burton nodding in agreement when Walter bellows at Canaday, Just because people like my work, does that make it bad?

Fortunately for Burton, Big Eyes is actually good. Not great, but good enough the perfect middlebrow portrait of the ultimate middlebrow artist. Amy Nicholson, The Village Voice

The Final WordIt is tempting to proclaim that Big Eyesis exactly the kind of film that Tim Burton should be making. The film is at-a-glance a departure for the man who basically invented modern Hollywood quirk and made weird into box office gold. But while I could tell you that this based on a true story dramatic comedy feels like somewhat of a change of pace for the now 56-year old auteur who is best-known for big-budget fantasies and stop-motion animated fables, it still feels like a Tim Burton film in theme and spirit.Nonetheless, no matter how you classify the picture in terms of its director,Big Eyesis one of Tim Burtons best films in a long time. Scott Mendelson, Forbes

Big Eyes is in theaters now.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/2035215/tim-burton-big-eyes-reviews/

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

BYU Football GameDay: Cougar seniors ready to go out with a victory in Miami ...

Note: BYU football beat writer and sports editor Jared Lloyd will be at Marlins Park for all of the excitement of the Miami Beach Bowl football game between the BYU Cougars and Memphis Tigers. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @JaredrLloyd for all the updates.

End of 2nd OT

BYU wasn't able to hold the Tigers' offense who came out and scored a quick touchdown.

BYU then took control on offense, and Christian Stewart threw an interception to end the game.

End of first OT

BYU started on offense and thought they had the touchdown with a pass to Jordan Leslie, but officials called the pass incomplete, setting up a 45-yard field goal, which was good for Sampson.

On the Tiger's first offensive play in overtime, they fumbled the ball, taking them to a 2nd and 19. On 2nd down, they were tackled for a loss to lose an additional 3 yards. On 3rd and 22, the Tigers threw an incomplete pass, setting up the 55-yard field goal attempt.

Jake Elliot, Memphis' kicker made the 54-yard field goal to tie the game, sending the game to a second overtime.

End of Regulation

BYU looked to have the game in hand leading by seven with just more than a minute left in the game and Memphis on a 4th and 7. But the Tigers were able to convert with a long pass to gain the first down to the BYU 12-yard-line.

BYU couldn't get the stop as Memphis scored on a five-yard pass to tie the game at 45 with 45 seconds to play.

The final play of regulation was a deep pass to Jordan Leslie, who was double covered, but the ball was dropped, sending the game to overtime.

End of third

Things went all Memphis's way in the third quarter as the Tigers scored on their first possession, got an interception, then later drove for another TD to go up 10 heading to the final period.

The Cougars got very little offense in the third and have to get on track somehow or once again they will be on the short end of the scoreboard in a bowl game.

Half

The BYU football team surrendered a TD early in the second quarter and appeared to be in trouble -- but some gambles paid big dividends.

The Cougars went for it twice on fourth down on an offensive drive midway through the quarter and successfully converted both times -- including a gorgeous 23-yard TD pass from Christian Stewart to Jordan Leslie on fourth-and-3.

That and an interception by BYU senior Alani Fua that he nearly took to the house -- but set up another Cougar score -- swung the momentum back in favor of BYU.

The Cougars have a narrow edge now but have to turn around and be ready for whatever Memphis changes up at halftime.

End of first

It was an entertaining -- and at times disheartening -- opening quarter here for BYU.

The Cougars started the quarter with a fumble and ended it with an interception.

In between, BYU put together a couple of nice scoring drives and forced a fumble of its own -- but couldn't bring in a couple of interception opportunities and missed a wide-open receiver running down the field on what could've been a big play.

Both teams have had their ups and downs but Memphis has managed to do a little more with its opportunities so far.

The Cougars face a big series after the pick to start the second quarter.

Kickoff

It's 86 degrees with 63 percent humidity here in Miami at game time. It will be interesting to see if either team gets worn down.

GameDay

For a large group of excellent BYU football players and really good young men, this is it.

It's almost humorous to hear Cougar seniors like Christian Stewart, Jordan Leslie, Skye PoVey and others go through the same series of questions during the final weeks of the season:

What is it like knowing this is your last home game?
What is it like knowing this is your last regular season game?
And now, what is it like knowing this is your last game?

But there are no more tomorrows for these seniors as football players for BYU and so this game certainly means something extra.

"This is my last collegiate game and that's really important because you bust your b**t all your life to play football and this could be the last time I play football," Leslie said Saturday. "It starts to kind of hit you deep."

When you consider the overall time commitment that these guys have made to this game, it's not surprising that they feel the impact so heavily at this point.

"As a little kid, all you want to do is play in college and after that, all you want to do is go to the NFL." Leslie said. "When you are going through the years, it feels like it is going slow -- but once you get to the end, you realize it flew by. You look back and think about all the memories you've had."

There are still the dreams of playing at the next level but there is also a reality.

Most BYU players are blue-collar guys, not the flashy, high-profile athletes that have pro scouts drooling. They come to work, work hard, and have success because of what they do together.

"It's been a long road," PoVey said. "I've been through multiple injuries. I came in as a walk-on and no one ever thought I would really play. I've put a lot into it, put my heart and soul into this program. It will be fun and it will be emotional. I don't want it to end but you have to hang it up at some point."

PoVey said when he looks at the other seniors, he knows what they have been through and can be proud of everything they've accomplished.

"Coach (Bronco) Mendenhall prides himself in having a program where it isn't to make it through," PoVey said. "We train hard, we run hard, we practice hard. So at the end, it's very fulfilling."

I've been lucky enough to get to know a number of these guys over the years and I have confidence that, wherever life takes them, they will have the drive and discipline to be successful.

But first, it is time for these seniors to play one more game, one more chance to go out and have fun playing football.

Source: http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/blogs/jared-lloyd/byu-football-gameday-cougar-seniors-ready-to-go-out-with/article_54bb6939-4f0b-5e3a-bc79-c8088c9bae6d.html

Teen lied on witnessing shooting of Antonio Martin in Mo.

An online troll lied about watching his best friend die at the hands of a Berkeley, Mo., cop. just to boost his clout.

Twitter user @DesJuanTheThug tricked his way into news reports by the Huffington Post after claiming he witnessed the shooting of Antonio Martin late Tuesday night at a gas station.

The stunt garnered the attention of upset Internet users fooled by his deceit and even the shady group known as Anonymous, which teamed up to out the Twitter users identity and address.

Just minutes after 18-year-old Martin had been shot, the anonymous teen wrote: I cant believe my best friend just died in front of me.

The teen also goes by the moniker "Jesus Christo," but it's not clear if that's his real name.

Martin was killed just after 11:15 p.m. Tuesday for allegedly pointing a handgun at a Berkeley police officer at a Mobil gas station who was investigating a theft. The 34-year-old officer fired three shots at Martin fearing for his life as the teen raised the weapon, according to a statement released by St. Louis County Police.

As gunfire broke out, a second man seen with Martin at the gas station fled the scene.

The man claiming to be an 18-year-old witness sparked an overnight ruse with reporters and alleged he witnessed Martins death.

He said the unidentified officer shot Martin when both he and the suspect were ordered to the ground at gunpoint. The officer opened fire and killed Martin when he refused, Christo claimed.

Christos sad story quickly dissolved after he refused to speak to Huffington Post over the phone and began sharing sexually inappropriate tweets in what would have been a time of mourning.

He also plugged his Soundcloud and later SnapChat, but did not link to any known account for Soundcloud.

He owned up to his false account early Wednesday morning and told HuffPo to do a better job of finding credible sources.

Several of his tweets detailing his fake account of the shooting have since been deleted, but the initial post that started the fiasco has been shared more than 2,000 times.

The story published by Huffington Post now features a correction that states Christo was never at the gas station.

Two witnesses have provided statements to investigators on Martins shooting.

The shooting also led to a demostration with about 300 protesters, some of whom threw bricks and set off fireworks, at the gas station.

nhensley@nydailynews.com

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/teen-lied-witnessing-shooting-death-antonio-martin-article-1.2055873