Aaron Rodgers Gay Rumors: Packers QB May Have Had 'Falling Out' With Personal Assistant Kevin Lanflisi Over Alleged Relationship, Report Says getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Aaron Rodgers Gay Rumors: Packers QB May Have Had 'Falling Out' With Personal Assistant Kevin Lanflisi Over Alleged Relationship, Report Says

A viral Internet rumor suggests that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may have been involved in a gay relationship with his former roommate and personal assistant, Kevin Lanflisi.

In an email to The Fame Driven, a gossip website, a so-called “spy” claimed that Rodgers had recently had a “falling out” with Lanflisi, his close friend and personal assistant. According to the source, a series of tweets from Lanflisi’s Twitter account provide evidence that the duo were more than just friends. It’s unclear if the tweets ever actually existed, but The Fame Driven purports to have screenshots of the posts, as well as several photos of the two men together, which can be viewed here.

“Aaron has attended numerous sports award shows with Kevin, always color coordinated and without any double female dates, including the ESPY’s. Kevin was also the first person Aaron embraced when the Packers won the Super-bowl in 2011,” the source allegedly told The Fame Driven. “There has been speculation for years here in Wisconsin that Aaron is gay which I always brushed off, but after looking at Kevin’s twitter I’m inclined to believe Aaron and Kevin were more than just roommates/friends, I believe they were lovers.”

The Fame Driven goes on to claim that Rodgers’ friendship with Lanflisi deteriorated after he refused to publicly acknowledge their alleged relationship. He has since moved out of Rodgers’ home and now lives in California, the site reports.

Lanflisi’s Twitter account does contain several references to Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, but the majority of them fail to provide much detail regarding their friendship. In a tweet from Sept. 19, 2011, Lanflisi referred to Rodgers as a mentor. “Blessed to be where I’m at. I love being able to learn, laugh, and be mentored by such an amazing man @AaronRodgers12,” he wrote.

The Fame Driven also cites several cryptic tweets posted to Lanflisi’s account in December as evidence of their “falling out,” noting that they were posted just one day after Rodgers’ 30th birthday. “All that time spent on "us" is now spent on "me." Which means I have more time to exercise, read, write, dream and save ..,” Lanflisi wrote. “.. So I probably look better, smell better, speak better and have extra money in my pocket. Damn, I'd probably fall back in love with me too.” However, those tweets could refer to just about anything.

Rodgers has made public reference to his apparent roommate on a few occasions. In a 2008 interview with The Sporting News, the Packers quarterback discussed his friendship with his roommate; according to The Fame Driven, Lanflisi is that roommate. “I've got a roommate, a guy I met in town. He works for the Packers now as an athletic trainer, but he was interning when I met him and we just hit it off. He's been great for me as far as great conversations outside of football. Our friendship goes a lot deeper than what we do,” Rodgers said.

In a 2012 interview with Milwaukee Magazine, Rodgers claimed that he judges people based on how they treat people who aren’t famous, mentioning Lanflisi by name. “I kind of judge how those people are based on how they are to people like Kevin,” Rodgers said. “Kevin, he’s not a famous person. I want to see if they give Kevin the time of day, or if they big-time him.”

Still, there isn’t any hard evidence whatsoever that Rodgers is gay, or that Lanflisi is anything more than his personal assistant. The rumors, while provocative, are total hearsay, and it’s highly unlikely that Rodgers will publicly respond to them. Furthermore, Rodgers has been linked to high school sweetheart Destiny Newton for years, and the pair was even rumored to have gotten engaged last year.

In September, The Fame Driven posted a similar story in which it claimed that former NHL star Sean Avery was in a gay relationship with “Bravo” executive Andy Cohen. Both men dismissed the story as baseless, and in November, Avery became engaged to his on-and-off girlfriend Hilary Rhoda, a Victoria’s Secret model.

Aaron Rodgers Gay Rumors: Packers QB May Have Had 'Falling Out' With Personal Assistant Kevin Lanflisi Over Alleged Relationship, Report Says

Mars One Selects First Astronaut Candidates Out Of A Pool Of 200,000, 1,058 Hopefuls Represent 107 Countries getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Mars One Selects First Astronaut Candidates Out Of A Pool Of 200,000, 1,058 Hopefuls Represent 107 Countries

Mars One sent out the call for applicants willing to become the first human colonists on Mars. More than 200,000 applied and the organization has whittled down its candidate pool to just 1,058 individuals. The astronaut hopefuls are at the beginning of a selection process that could see them land on the red planet in 2020.

Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp said he was overwhelmed by the number of applicants and the response to the foundation’s attempt to settle a human colony on Mars. With 200,000 applicants, Lansdorp and the selection committee had to sort through all the candidates to determine which individuals were truly serious about becoming an astronaut and securing a one-way ticket to Mars.

While the mission may be a serious one that’s not to say the applicant pool was boring by any stretch of the imagination. Lansdorp said in a statement, “The challenge with 200,000 applicants is separating those who we feel are physically and mentally adept to become human ambassadors on Mars from those who are obviously taking the mission much less seriously. We even had a couple of applicants submit their videos in the nude!”

Being an astronaut is no easy task but the application process was not limited to rocket scientists or individuals with military. Instead, Mars One was looking for individuals over the age 18, in good health with a strong grasp of the English language and have the “five key characteristics of an astronaut” which are resiliency, adaptability, curiosity, ability to trust and creativity/resourcefulness.

The 1,058 selected candidates will be notified by email, notes Mars One. Of the selected candidates, 586 were male and 472 were female. In terms of age, 357 candidates were under the age of 25; 415 were between the age of 26 and 35; 177 between 36 and 45; 83 between 46 and 55; and 26 over the age of 56, with the max age set at 81.

In terms of nationality, 107 countries were represented in the candidate pool. The United States had the most candidates, 297, followed by Canada (75), India (62), Russia (52), Australia (43), China (40) and Great Britain (40). Per region, North and South America had 458 candidates, Europe had 282 candidates, Asia had 218 candidates, Africa had 54 candidates and Oceania had 46 candidates.

The majority of candidates were employed, 813, while 164 candidates were still in school and 81 candidates were unemployed.

While there will be plenty of time to celebrate, there are several rounds left in the selection process. Round 2 will consist of a medical assessment by a doctor followed by an interview with the Mars One selection committee.

The pool will be narrowed down further before the start of Round 3. Candidate groups of 20-40 applicants will be separated by region and these groups will be compete in tasks and challenges that simulate life on Mars. The potential astronauts will need to demonstrate the ability to work together and adapt to conditions on an alien world. The final round will feature groups of four candidates that will face new challenges and training in a Mars One outpost. Six groups of four will become employed Mars One astronauts.

“We expect to begin understanding what is motivating our candidates to take this giant leap for humankind. This is where it really gets exciting for Mars One, our applicants, and the communities they’re a part of,” said Norbert Kraft, Chief Medical Office of Mars One.

Josh Richards was one of the selected Mars One applicants and shared the news on Instagram.

Mars One Selects First Astronaut Candidates Out Of A Pool Of 200,000, 1,058 Hopefuls Represent 107 Countries

NFL Playoff Schedule: Start Times, TV Schedule And News For Wild Card Weekend getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® NFL Playoff Schedule: Start Times, TV Schedule And News For Wild Card Weekend

With the conclusion of the 2013 NFL regular season, the playoffs are set to begin. Eight teams will be in action during wild-card weekend.

Of the four contests scheduled for the first round of the 2014 playoffs, three are rematches from this season. In the AFC, the Chiefs and Colts will play each other just two weeks after Indianapolis left Kansas City with a 23-7 win. The Bengals will host the Chargers, and Cincinnati went on the road to beat San Diego on Dec. 1. The third rematch dates back to Week One when the 49ers beat the Packers.

The primetime matchup on Saturday is the only game that hasn’t been seen in 2013. The Eagles will host the Saints, even though Philadelphia won one less game at 10-6. New Orleans was in control of the NFC South for much of the season, but lost the division title to the Panthers, who finished the season by winning 11 of their final 12 games.

Carolina gets a bye was the No.2 seed in the conference. The Seahawks will also have a week off to prepare for their game, since they are the No.1 seed and will have home-field advantage throughout. If either of the road teams win, Seattle is guaranteed a rematch in their first playoff game.

The Broncos and Patriots have byes in the AFC. It’s the second straight year that both teams were the top two seeds. Denver lost its first playoff game to Baltimore, while New England fell to the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

This year’s wild-card weekend looks a lot different than last year’s. Only the Bengals, Colts and Packers competed in the first round of last year’s postseason.

Below are the dates, start times and TV channels for each contest in the upcoming round of games.

Saturday, Jan. 4

No.5 Kansas City Chiefs at No.4 Indianapolis Colts, 4:35 p.m. ET, NBC

No.6 New Orleans Saints at No.3 Philadelphia Eagles, 8:10 p.m. ET, NBC

Sunday, Jan. 5

No.6 San Diego Chargers at No.3 Cincinnati Bengals, 1:05 p.m. ET, CBS

No.5 San Francisco 49ers at No.4 Green Bay Packers, 4:40 p.m. ET, FOX

NFL Playoff Schedule: Start Times, TV Schedule And News For Wild Card Weekend

Kerry Washington Marriage Trouble? Husband Nnamdi Asomugha Complains About 'Scandal' Actress' Busy Schedule, Report Says getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Kerry Washington Marriage Trouble? Husband Nnamdi Asomugha Complains About 'Scandal' Actress' Busy Schedule, Report Says

“Scandal” actress Kerry Washington and her husband, recently retired NFL star Nnamdi Asomugha, may be experiencing marriage trouble, according to a report.

The couple, who married in June 2013, has been fighting over Washington’s hectic schedule, the National Enquirer reports. A source close to the situation claims that the 36-year-old actress’ career ambitions are wearing on Asomugha’s patience.

“Nnamdi is complaining she has time to promote her TV show, business ventures and charities, but she rarely spares an evening to be home with him,” the source reportedly told the National Enquirer. “Instead of slowing down during her show’s Christmas hiatus, Kerry funneled her extra time into her fashion consultation business and her responsibilities as a creative consultant for Neutrogena cosmetics.”

The report also claims that Asomugha is skeptical that Washington will be able to balance the demands of her career and marriage, especially after the upcoming birth of their child. “Kerry feels she can balance a public life and private life with Nnamdi and their baby,” the source continued, according to the Enquirer. “But Nnamdi is not convinced. They’ve had several blow-ups, and each time Kerry swears she’s going to slow down. But in the end she may lose something that doesn’t come along very often – a loving husband.”

It’s unclear if there is any truth to the rumors. Neither Washington nor Asomugha has addressed the story.

The rumors regarding alleged marital problems came to light just days after Asomugha decided to retire from the NFL after 11 seasons. The former Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles star was once considered to be the league's premier cornerback, earning All-Pro honors on four occasions.

Washington and Asomugha were married in June in a surprise ceremony, People.com reported. In October, Washington announced that she was pregnant with her first child.

[h/t Jocks And Stiletto Jill]

Kerry Washington Marriage Trouble? Husband Nnamdi Asomugha Complains About 'Scandal' Actress' Busy Schedule, Report Says

Antarctic Ship Rescue: Rescue Of Stranded Russian Vessel Akademik Shokalskiy Delayed By Weather getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Antarctic Ship Rescue: Rescue Of Stranded Russian Vessel Akademik Shokalskiy Delayed By Weather

The MV Akademik Shokalskiy, a Russian expedition vessel carrying 74 passengers, has been trapped in ice since Christmas and a third attempt to free the ship was delayed due to poor weather conditions. The area around the vessel had winds up to 30 knots, over 34 miles per hour, and snow showers, which decreased visibility.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, AMSA, launched the Aurora Australis icebreaker in an attempt to break through the ice and free the Akademik Shokalskiy. The icebreaker was set to reach the stranded vessel at Midnight Australian Eastern Daylight Time, AEDT. A previous attempt by the Chinese icebreaker, Xue Long, also known as Snow Dragon, failed to reach the ship which is stranded 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Tasmania.

In its first update on the rescue mission, AMSA stated the Aurora Australis was within 10 nautical miles of the ship but had to call off the mission due to poor visibility. Per the AMSA statement, “RCC Australia is in regular contact with the Akademik Shokalskiy and the 74 people on board are reported to remain safe and well with supplies for several weeks.”

Colin Cosier and Nicky Phillips, journalists aboard the Aurora Australis, discussed the rescue attempt and shared video of the icebreaker in action in the Sydney Morning Herald. Cosier also shared photos of ice covering the deck of the ship on Twitter.

On Christmas, the Akademik Shokalskiy sent a distress signal after it became trapped in ice as thick as three meters, 9 feet. The vessel is carrying students and researchers, led by Chris Turney, a professor from the University of New South Wales. As part of the Spirit of Mawson, the trip was slated to follow the footsteps of the famed Antarctic explorer. The expedition was in its second leg and was updating data collected by Mawson as well as analyzing the effects of climate change on the subantarctic islands.

As a result of the poor weather, the Aurora Australis returned to open waters and the AMSA has not ruled out another rescue attempt by the icebreaker. If the ship cannot break through, the Xue Long is equipped with a helicopter. A video of life aboard the Akademik Shokalskiy, courtesy of Turney, can be viewed below.

Antarctic Ship Rescue: Rescue Of Stranded Russian Vessel Akademik Shokalskiy Delayed By Weather

Mike Ditka Falls Asleep On ESPN 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' Gets Woken Up By Keyshawn Johnson [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Mike Ditka Falls Asleep On ESPN 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' Gets Woken Up By Keyshawn Johnson [VIDEO]

Chris Berman, Keyshawn Johnson and the rest of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown team broke down an exciting slate of Week 17 games this weekend, but analyst Mike Ditka still had a hard time staying awake.

The on-air faux paus occurred while the Sunday NFL Countdown crew discussed the day’s upcoming matchup between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. The show cut away to a shot of ESPN reporter Josina Anderson, who reported live from outside the Dolphins locker room. When the camera returned to the “Countdown” set, Ditka appeared to have fallen asleep, Deadspin reports.

Johnson noticed that Ditka had fallen asleep and quickly woke his Sunday NFL Countdown colleague up. The 74-year-old woke up in time to deliver his prediction for the Jets-Dolphins game, so no harm was done. Still, Ditka likely had to deal with some good-natured ribbing during the commercial break.

Ditka isn’t the first television personality to fall asleep during a live broadcast. In April 2012, college basketball coaching legend Bob Knight seemed to nod off during a segment of ESPN’s College GameDay, Larry Brown Sports notes.

More recently, prominent New York sports radio host Mike Francesa fell asleep during a live interview. A video of the incident showed Francesa slumping over onto his desk, only to wake up seconds later with a bewildered look on his face. At the time, Francesa vehemently denied that he had dozed off.

A video of Ditka’s apparent nap on Sunday NFL Countdown can be viewed below.

[h/t Deadspin, Larry Brown Sports]

Mike Ditka Falls Asleep On ESPN 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' Gets Woken Up By Keyshawn Johnson [VIDEO]

US Stock Futures Suggest Mixed Start; Pending Homes Sales Data, Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey Due getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® US Stock Futures Suggest Mixed Start; Pending Homes Sales Data, Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey Due

Monday marks the penultimate day of trading for 2013 and, while stock futures signal a mixed beginning to the trading session, markets are expected to sustain the rally at least through the end of the year.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.02 percent and futures on the S&P 500 were up 0.01 percent while those on the Nasdaq 100 were down 0.01 percent.

“There are clear expectations the market is going to rally and will continue to do that through the end of the year. There is also an institutional imperative at the end of the year to be fully invested,” Brad McMillan, chief investment officer at Waltham, Mass.-based Commonwealth Financial Network, told MarketWatch.

On the data front, the pending home sales index for November is expected at 10 a.m. EST. The Dallas Federal Reserve’s manufacturing survey for December is scheduled to be released at 10:30 a.m. EST, and the business activity index is expected to shoot up to 4.0 from a 1.9 reading in the previous month, according to a Wall Street Journal consensus estimate.

In Europe, markets were mostly flat to negative with the Stoxx Europe 600 index trading down 0.06 percent while the FTSE 100 was down 0.12 percent. Germany’s DAX-30 was down 0.07 percent while France's CAC-40 was down 0.05 percent.

In Asia, markets saw mixed results. Japan’s Nikkei ended the day up 0.7 percent while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 ended in positive territory, up 0.61 percent. The Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.18 percent while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was nearly flat, ending up 0.01 percent. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite index ended the day up 0.45 percent while India’s BSE Sensex was down 0.24 percent.

US Stock Futures Suggest Mixed Start; Pending Homes Sales Data, Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey Due