Black History Month 2014: 30 Inspirational Quotes From Black American Leaders getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Black History Month 2014: 30 Inspirational Quotes From Black American Leaders

Since 1962, Black History Month has remained an important moment for America to celebrate the achievements and contributions black Americans have played in U.S. history.

Arising out of "Negro History Week" of the 1960s, February has since been designated as Black History Month by every U.S. president since 1976.

In honor of this year's Black History Month, we've gathered 30 inspirational quotes from some of the most influential black personalities of all time.

1. "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise." - Maya Angelou

2. "We should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice." - Carter Woodson

3. "Do not call for black power or green power. Call for brain power." - Barbara Jordan

4. "Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated." - Coretta Scott King

5. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

6. "I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge." - Oprah Winfrey

7. "Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us." - Susan L. Taylor, journalist

8. "Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong." - Ella Fitzgerald

9. "In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute." - Thurgood Marshall, first African American on the U.S. Supreme Court

10. "Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." - Wilma Rudolph

11. "Have a vision. Be demanding."
 - Colin Powell, the first African American appointed as the U.S. Secretary of State

12. "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." - President Barack Obama

13. "For Africa to me ... is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place." - Maya Angelou

14. "The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself--the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at." - Jesse Owens

15. "When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." - Audre Lorde

16. "Freedom is never given; it is won." - A. Philip Randolph

17. Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.
 - Carol Moseley-Braun

18. "Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness." – Ola Joseph

19. "Where there is no vision, there is no hope." – George Washington Carver

20. "You really can change the world if you care enough." – Marian Wright Edelman

21. "Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place." – Zora Neale Hurston

22. "Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard." – Colin Powell

23. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

24. "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." - Booker T. Washington

25. "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."
- Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

26. "The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression." - W.E.B. Du Bois

27. "I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminshes fear." - Rosa Parks

28. "I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only increased my desire to be free, and set me thinking of plans to gain my freedom." - Frederick Douglass

29. "The past is a ghost, the future a dream. All we ever have is now." - Bill Cosby

30. "For I am my mother's daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart." - Mary McLeod Bethune

Black History Month 2014: 30 Inspirational Quotes From Black American Leaders

President Obama Elaborates Upon His Stance On Marijuana, Takes Aim At Harsh Legal Penalties getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® President Obama Elaborates Upon His Stance On Marijuana, Takes Aim At Harsh Legal Penalties

President Obama further described his recent stance on marijuana legalization in an interview with CNN on Friday. The president did not outline exact plans, but aimed his criticism at harsh, criminal sentencing and alluded to softer legal ramifications for individual users as a potential step forward.

"My concern is when you have very heavy criminal penalties for individual users that have been applied unevenly, in some cases with racial disparity, I think that is a problem. Over the long term, I think if we can deal with some of the criminal-penalty issues then we can really tackle what is a problem not just for marijuana, but also alcohol, also cigarettes, also harder drugs, and that is try to make sure that our kids don’t get into these habits in the first place."

The President did not specify if he was referring to federal or state penalties for marijuana, but did say “the incarceration model [the federal government has] taken particularly around marijuana does not seem to produce the kind of results we’ve set.”

That stance echoes the Obama administration’s move to reform the federal government’s legal stance on nonviolent drug offenses last year. Those plans include changes to mandatory minimum sentences. Forty-seven percent of current federal inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses.

Obama could set his sights on changing marijuana’s federal scheduling, but claimed that was the job of Congress and not his. Marijuana is currently a schedule I narcotic, meaning it has no currently accepted medical use in the U.S. and a high potential for abuse. Heroin, LSD, and MDMA are all schedule I controlled substances.

Obama’s recent about-face on marijuana is seen as a major ideological victory for the pro-marijuana camp. Obama candidly said he doesn’t think marijuana is “more dangerous than alcohol” in an interview with The New Yorker magazine on Monday. While he may be softening his line on pot, Obama offered CNN a cautionary disclaimer to the pro-legalization camp:

“Those who think legalization is a panacea, I think they have to ask themselves some tough questions, too, if we start having a situation where big corporations with a lot of resources and distribution and marketing arms are suddenly going out there peddling marijuana, then the levels of abuse are going to be higher.”

President Obama Elaborates Upon His Stance On Marijuana, Takes Aim At Harsh Legal Penalties

Super Bowl 2014 Weather Update: Latest Temperatures, Conditions For Game Between The Broncos And Seahawks getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Super Bowl 2014 Weather Update: Latest Temperatures, Conditions For Game Between The Broncos And Seahawks

For the first time in Super Bowl history, the game will be played in a cold-weather city. Unfortunately for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, they won’t be playing in unusually warm temperatures for in New York/New Jersey area.

On the day of Super Bowl XLVIII, the AccuWeather forecast predicts a high of 49 degrees Fahrenheit in East Rutherford, N.J., the location of MetLife Stadium.

The contest won’t kickoff until 6:30 p.m. ET when temperatures will dip into the low 40s and mid-30s. By the fourth quarter, the players may be experiencing freezing temperatures, considering a low of 29 degrees is expected.

However, the weather will be warmer on Sunday compared to what the area has experienced over the past week, when temperatures routinely dipped well below historical averages. On Thursday, East Rutherford experienced a high of 31 degrees with a low of 10 degrees.

While 2014 will turn out to be the coldest Super Bowl of all time, the weather might not be nearly as bad some were thinking. East Rutherford received several inches of snow in late January, but the weekend should come and go without any type of storm. During the day, there’s a 30 percent chance of rain showers, but the night will see just an eight percent chance of precipitation. There had been talk that the game could be postponed due to a snowstorm, but that appears very unlikely now.

Despite the very small chance of any kind of weather disaster, some still disagree with the league’s choice to bring the game to MetLife Stadium. Before this year, every Super Bowl was played in a dome or an outdoor stadium in a warm-weather city. Former Super Bowl winning head coach Mike Ditka doesn’t think the change is necessary.

“The World Series wouldn’t be played in inclement weather,’’ Ditka said, according to the Seattle Times. “People say ‘It’s cold and that’s the way football was meant to be.’ Well, yeah, it was meant to be that way. I played it that way 50 years ago. But now, it’s different. So, let’s make it right for the fans, the sponsors and the players.’’

Even though some may not like the location of the game, the cold weather may not have much of an effect on the final score. The Broncos have played four games outdoors in Denver since the start of December. The Seahawks battled the rain en route to their first playoff win this year.

Super Bowl 2014 Weather Update: Latest Temperatures, Conditions For Game Between The Broncos And Seahawks

NFL News: Award Predictions For MVP, Rookie Of The Year, And Others getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® NFL News: Award Predictions For MVP, Rookie Of The Year, And Others

The show will be broadcast by FOX beginning at 8 p.m. ET and will be hosted by actor Alec Baldwin at Radio City Music Hall in New York, less than 24 hours before the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks decide the next NFL champion.

As voted on by members of the Associated Press, the top honors include league MVP, Coach of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, as well as Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year. The latest inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame will also be introduced on Saturday, the newest addition to the award show.

Below are our predictions for each of the top awards.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers; Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers; Giovanni Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Lacy was already named overall rookie of the year by the Pro Football Writers Association after carrying the Green Bay defense while Aaron Rodgers was sidelined for most of the second half of the season. The PRWA dubbed Allen the offensive rookie of the year after he joined rare company by posting a 1,000-yard receiving season (the list includes Randy Moss and Cris Collinsworth). Bernard’s explosiveness and tackle-breaking strength provided plenty of highlights, but he shared his carries with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Strangely enough, none of the nominees were first round picks.

Pick: Lacy in a very tight race.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Kiko Alonso, LB, Buffalo Bills; Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina Panthers; Sheldon Richardson, DT, New York Jets

Maybe the hardest selection of the night, Alonso led the Bills in tackles (159) and interceptions (4); Lotulelei was a largely unheralded hero as part of the NFL’s second ranked overall defense with 42 combined tackles and three sacks, and Richardson made sure the league knew he was with 77 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Pick: Alonso’s stats are too gaudy to ignore, but Richardson will cipher off his fair share of votes.

Comeback Player of the Year

Nominees: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers; Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers; Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos

Rivers was the NFL’s most accurate passer and enjoyed a huge resurgence in his career with 4,478 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and a 105.5 rating. Matthews played in all 16 games for the first time in his four year career and blew past his career-best with 1,255 yards. Moreno notched his first career 1,000-yard season, adding 10 touchdowns, and pulled in another 60 receptions for 548 yards and three touchdowns.

Pick: Fairly or not, quarterbacks typically beat out every other position, so Rivers takes the closest vote of the evening.

Offensive Player of the Year

Nominees: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos; Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs; LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles; Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

Manning broke the records for passing yards and touchdowns in a single season for the AFC’s best team; Charles led the Chiefs in rushing and receiving with 1,980 total yards and 19 touchdowns from scrimmage; McCoy led the league in rushing with a career-best 1,607 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFL’s top ranked rushing attack; Gordon played with three different starting quarterbacks and still topped the league with 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine scores.

Pick: Manning’s year overshadows Gordon and Charles, but not by much. Gordon could even get the second total number of votes, but all three are very deserving.

Defensive Player of the Year

Nominees: Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts; Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers; Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams; Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks; NaVarro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers

The absolute deepest field of all the awards. Sherman and Mathis respectively led the league in interceptions and sacks, with the corner the leader of the NFL’s best defense. In just his second year Kuechly brought the Panthers back to the playoffs as the tackle and picks leader; Quinn lost out by half a sack for the overall lead; and Bowman stood out among eight 49ers picked for the Pro Bowl.

Pick: It will come down to Mathis or Kuechly. The best bet is Kuechly since Carolina made the playoffs.

Coach of the Year

Nominees: Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers; Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs; Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles; Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers; Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

All the candidates except one (Philbin) brought their teams back to the playoffs, and three (McCoy, Reid, Kelly) were in their first years in town. Rivera saved his job, and Philbin staved off the Incognito-Martin bullying scandal and kept Miami in the playoff hunt till very late in the season.

Pick: Reid improved the Chiefs record by nine games this year -- he’ll walk away handily.

MVP

Nominees: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos; Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs; Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers; Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles; Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots; Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

For the other nominees they could have easily make a case in any other year. Foles emerged as Philadelphia’s starter of the future and was highest rated passer in the league. Newton finally showed the leadership skills asked of him and took Carolina back to the playoffs; Brady broke in a new batch of receivers and the Pats won the AFC East for a fifth straight year; and Wilson led Seattle’s charge to the best record in the NFC.

But Manning’s performance shattered the NFL’s all-time marks for points, yards, and touchdowns in a single season.

Pick: Manning will win in a blowout for this fifth overall MVP.

NFL News: Award Predictions For MVP, Rookie Of The Year, And Others

The Dark Side Of The Super Bowl: Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Drugs And Illegal Gambling [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® The Dark Side Of The Super Bowl: Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Drugs And Illegal Gambling [VIDEO]

Those engaged in such criminal acts can expect to make trillions of dollars around the country, and the issue of human trafficking in particular is now a concern for New York and New Jersey. On Wednesday evening, just days before the big game, an NYPD operation busted a huge sex-and-drugs ring near Super Bowl Boulevard that had 18 different operators and suppliers.

The operation was created to derive a huge profit from the Super Bowl through sex-and-drug parties. Reporter Christopher Harress was able to investigate the story of Clemmie Greenlee who became a victim of human trafficking when she was abducted at the age of 12 in Nashville.

Her story confirms the cold facts about human trafficking and how the vicious cycle was repeated when her son became a drug user himself, and was murdered at a young age. Now, after rehabilitation, she has dedicated her life to tell her story as a warning to the world.

But not everyone is as fortunate as Clemmie, as human trafficking has become one of the world’s most serious problems. This Super Bowl Sunday is no exception. The black market will use this highly publicized event to make bank: by renting out apartment for an inflated price, buying drugs for a party or prostitution.

The Dark Side Of The Super Bowl: Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Drugs And Illegal Gambling [VIDEO]

Super Bowl 2014: What Is The Point Spread For The Denver Broncos Vs. Seattle Seahawks? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Super Bowl 2014: What Is The Point Spread For The Denver Broncos Vs. Seattle Seahawks?

For much of the regular season, the Denver Broncos were betting favorites to win Super Bowl XLVIII. Towards the end of the year and into the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks were given the best odds of winning it all. On Sunday, the two teams will meet to determine the best team in the NFL.

For almost the entire week, Las Vegas casinos have had the Broncos favored by 2.5 points. Denver has not been an underdog the entire season. Seattle has been favored in 17 of 18 contests, which includes the playoffs.

In the regular season, no team was better at covering the betting line than the Seahawks. Seattle went 11-5 against the spread. They pushed the eight-point spread in their divisional round game against the New Orleans Saints and covered in their win over the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks covered the one time they were underdogs, but they failed to win the game.

Denver was nearly as good as Seattle in the regular season, covering 10 of 16 games. They’ve gone 1-1 in the playoffs. When the Broncos win, their games usually aren’t close. All of their victories, except for one, have come by at least a touchdown.

The current point spread is very small by usual Super Bowl standards. Only two other Super Bowls have ever seen a smaller betting line. In 1973, the undefeated Miami Dolphins were favored by one point and beat the Washington Redskins by a touchdown. Nine years later, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21, when the oddsmakers separated the teams by just a point.

In the game’s 47-year history, the favorite has a record of 26-19-2 against the spread. However, the underdogs have been dominant in recent history. Since 2002, the team getting points has not only covered nine of 12 contests, but they’ve won outright half the time. With a betting line set at less than a field goal, it’s not likely that the Seahawks would lose the game, but still cover the spread.

Many of the earliest Super Bowl betting lines were set in the double-digits. Before the merger, each NFL team was favored by at least 12 points. From 1994-2002, seven underdogs were expected to lose by double-digits. Since 2003, that number has fallen to one.

Super Bowl 2014: What Is The Point Spread For The Denver Broncos Vs. Seattle Seahawks?

NFL News: Awards Predictions For MVP, Rookie Of The Year, And Others getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® NFL News: Awards Predictions For MVP, Rookie Of The Year, And Others

The show will be broadcast by FOX beginning at 8 p.m. ET and will be hosted by actor Alec Baldwin at Radio City Music Hall in New York, less than 24 hours before the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks decide the next NFL champion.

As voted on by members of the Associated Press, the top honors include league MVP, Coach of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, as well as Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year. The latest inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame will also be introduced on Saturday, the newest addition to the award show.

Below are our predictions for each of the top awards.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers; Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers; Giovanni Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Lacy was already named overall rookie of the year by the Pro Football Writers Association after carrying the Green Bay defense while Aaron Rodgers was sidelined for most of the second half of the season. The PRWA dubbed Allen the offensive rookie of the year after he joined rare company by posting a 1,000-yard receiving season (the list includes Randy Moss and Cris Collinsworth). Bernard’s explosiveness and tackle-breaking strength provided plenty of highlights, but he shared his carries with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Strangely enough, none of the nominees were first round picks.

Pick: Lacy in a very tight race.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Kiko Alonso, LB, Buffalo Bills; Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina Panthers; Sheldon Richardson, DT, New York Jets

Maybe the hardest selection of the night, Alonso led the Bills in tackles (159) and interceptions (4); Lotulelei was a largely unheralded hero as part of the NFL’s second ranked overall defense with 42 combined tackles and three sacks, and Richardson made sure the league knew he was with 77 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Pick: Alonso’s stats are too gaudy to ignore, but Richardson will cipher off his fair share of votes.

Comeback Player of the Year

Nominees: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers; Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers; Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos

Rivers was the NFL’s most accurate passer and enjoyed a huge resurgence in his career with 4,478 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and a 105.5 rating. Matthews played in all 16 games for the first time in his four year career and blew past his career-best with 1,255 yards. Moreno notched his first career 1,000-yard season, adding 10 touchdowns, and pulled in another 60 receptions for 548 yards and three touchdowns.

Pick: Fairly or not QBs typically beat out every other position, so Rivers takes the closest vote of the evening.

Offensive Player of the Year

Nominees: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos; Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs; LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles; Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

Manning broke the records for passing yards and touchdowns in a single season for the AFC’s best team; Charles led the Chiefs in rushing and receiving with 1,980 total yards and 19 touchdowns from scrimmage; McCoy led the league in rushing with a career-best 1,607 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFL’s top ranked rushing attack; Gordon played with three different starting quarterbacks and still topped the league with 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine scores.

Pick: Manning’s year overshadows Gordon and Charles, but not by much. Gordon could even get the second total number of votes, but all three are very deserving.

Defensive Player of the Year

Nominees: Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts; Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers; Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams; Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks; NaVarro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers

The absolute deepest field of all the awards. Sherman and Mathis respectively led the league in interceptions and sacks, with the corner the leader of the NFL’s best defense. In just his second year Kuechly brought the Panthers back to the playoffs as the tackle and picks leader; Quinn lost out by half a sack for the overall lead; and Bowman stood out among eight 49ers picked for the Pro Bowl.

Pick: It’ll come down to Mathis or Kuechley. Best bet is Kuechly since Carolina made the playoffs.

Coach of the Year

Nominees: Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers; Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs; Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles; Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers; Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

All the candidates except one (Philbin) brought their teams back to the playoffs, and three (McCoy, Reid, Kelly) were in their first years in town. Rivera saved his job, and Philbin staved off the Incognito-Martin bullying scandal and kept Miami in the playoff hunt till very late in the season.

Pick: Reid improved the Chiefs record by nine games this year, he’ll walk away handily.

MVP

Nominees: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos; Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs; Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers; Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles; Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots; Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

For the other nominees they could have easily make a case in any other year. Foles emerged as Philadelphia’s starter of the future and was highest rated passer in the league. Newton finally showed the leadership skills asked of him and took Carolina back to the playoffs; Brady broke in a new batch of receivers and the Pats won the AFC East for a fifth straight year; and Wilson led Seattle’s charge to the best record in the NFC.

But Manning’s performance shattered the NFL’s all-time marks for points, yards, and touchdowns in a single season.

Pick: Manning in a blowout for this fifth overall MVP.

NFL News: Awards Predictions For MVP, Rookie Of The Year, And Others

Auto Parts Price Fixing: Executives Agree To Prison Time For Shafting Ford, Toyota And Subaru On Ignition Coils To Cars Made In US getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Auto Parts Price Fixing: Executives Agree To Prison Time For Shafting Ford, Toyota And Subaru On Ignition Coils To Cars Made In US

The U.S. Justice department announced Friday the latest in a year-long series of investigations and hearings: Two former Japanese auto executives have pleaded guilty and agreed to prison time for dishonest pricing of parts used by Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) and Fuji Heavy Industries (TYO:7270) the company that owns the Subaru brand.

Shigehiko Ikenaga and Tatsuo Ikenaga, the former president and vice president of Osaka-based Diamond Electric Mfg. Co. Ltd. admitted to participating in a global conspiracy to fix the price of ignition coils used in vehicles made in the U.S. and elsewhere, the U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday.

Shigehiko, president of Diamond Electric when the antitrust crimes took place between July 2003 and February 2010, agreed to serve 16 months in U.S. prison. Tatsuo, who was promoted to Diamond Electric’s vice president in 2008, and also served as the company’s president of U.S. operations based in Eleanor, West Virginia, agreed to serve 13 month in U.S. prison. Both have agree to pay $5,000 apiece and to cooperate with authorities in the ongoing investigation.

In September, Diamond Electric pleaded guilty for its participation and paid a $19 criminal penalty. Diamond Electric and co-conspirators at other parts suppliers held meetings and conducted communications to coordinate bids sent to auto manufacturers, in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of a decade in prison and a criminal penalty up to $1 million per individual.

“The division’s ongoing investigation has resulted in more than two dozen executives serving prison time for their participation in illegal, auto parts conspiracies,” Brent Snyder, U.S. deputy dssistant attorney general for the antitrust division’s criminal enforcement program, announced in a statement Friday afternoon.

So far 28 people and 24 companies have been charged in the U.S. government’s ongoing investigation into bid-rigging that artificially inflated the price of parts to manufacturers.

Auto Parts Price Fixing: Executives Agree To Prison Time For Shafting Ford, Toyota And Subaru On Ignition Coils To Cars Made In US

Super Bowl Pay Checks: How Much Do The Cheer Leaders And Players Bank? [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Super Bowl Pay Checks: How Much Do The Cheer Leaders And Players Bank? [VIDEO]

Super Bowl weekend is finally here, as thousands of people have flocked to New York and New Jersey to see the biggest game of the year. But even if you are watching the game from the comfort of your own home, or at your local bar, your hard earn tax dollars are still paying for it.

While it is difficult to estimate how much the people of New Jersey and New York are paying its fair to assume it’s a lot when you consider the amount of transit, security and promotions that go into making the game what it is.

We are all aware of the ridiculous pay some of the players get, and that doesn’t include all the cash they get from sponsors and endorsement deals. You should consider the fact that these footballers will not have long careers on the field. The average time spent playing professional football is only 3.5 years.

When was the last time you saw a man with gray hair running with a football at the Super Bowl? Their careers are short, and injuries are a constant threat.

So they better make bank, and they do! In 2012 it was estimated that the minimum salary for rookie players was $390,000 a year. Very few players make it to the Super Bowl but when they do you better believe they get paid for it.

The winning team will receive a $92,000 bonus, and the losing team will receive $49,000. That is certainly more than most people make in a year, not to mention the fact that these players will be on the world’s biggest stage on Sunday and stand to make a lot more money with endorsements after the game- especially if they give a ‘star’ performance.

But some of the hardest working people on the field aside from the football players are the cheerleaders. They are flexible, coordinated, beautiful and talented dancers- but how much are the cheerleaders of the game really getting paid?

This issue came into light when an anonymous Oakland Raiders cheerleader filed a lawsuit for their pay which she alleges is below minimum wage and violates California labor laws. Now the issue has been brought into the media spot light as people are outraged that these hard working dancers are not being compensated fairly.

A petition on change.com now has 61,000 signatures supporting the cheer leaders, and the fact that they should be getting paid more than $1,250 for an entire season. Yes the cheerleaders get to work at the biggest game of the year, but with all the potential dangers of their flips, not to mention the agony of smiling while doing it, is the pay adequate?

Super Bowl Pay Checks: How Much Do The Cheer Leaders And Players Bank? [VIDEO]

‘How I Met Your Dad’ Rumors: Character List For ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Spinoff Released; Who is Replacing The Gang? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® ‘How I Met Your Dad’ Rumors: Character List For ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Spinoff Released; Who is Replacing The Gang?

Haveeee you met Sally? Ted, Barney, Robin, Lily and Marshall’s tale is coming to an end soon, but fortunately “How I Met Your Mother” fans will have a new group of friends to laugh with. CBS’ spinoff series, “How I Met Your Dad,” has released the character list for their new show to help viewers with their mourning process.

According to TV Line, the “Father” spinoff will be about a woman “reliving the events of her past to her kids” – similar to what Ted has been doing for the past nine seasons of “How I Met Your Mother.” But who is the new Ted? Her name is Sally!

TV Line reveals that Sally is far from the opposite of Ted. “Vibrant, messy and unpredictable,” Sally is already married when she’s introduced to viewers. However we’ll meet her as she considers divorcing her husband of one year, Gavin. Like Ted, she’ll turn to her group of friends for support during her rough time … and it’s an eccentric, fun sounding batch!

Sally’s best friend is Juliet, a “sexy, flamboyant, energetic, party-girl,” who sounds like the Barney of the group. Juliet is a fashion blogger and is absolutely ecstatic that her best friend has ended things with her “terminally boring” husband.” Looks like Juliet is happy to have a wing-woman!

“How I Met Your Dad” will also be introducing a married couple similar to Lily and Marshall -- Sally’s older gay brother, Danny, and his husband, Todd. Like Marshall, Danny is also a lawyer but with a Type A personality. Sally’s close to her brother (although they don’t have a lot in common) and considers Todd to be one of her best friends from college. Similar to Ted, Sally will be moving in with the pair.

And then there is the Robin of the group – Frank! Frank works for Juliet’s fashion blog as the head of IT. Where Ted was the one crushing on Robin, “How I Met Your Dad” will have the roles reversed with Sally and Todd. The “hot nerd” has “genuine feelings” for her, but “for the moment” it’s only a one-sided flirt fest.

TV Line reports that the series will also be using a narrator to tell the story.

In mid-January show creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays revealed to Entertainment Weekly that while they’re meeting with actors, nobody has been cast yet. The update came shortly after a report on E! Online claimed that “How I Met Your Dad” tapped Lyndsy Fonseca – Ted’s daughter, Penny – to play the lead.

What do you think of the new “How I Met Your Dad” scoop? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or send a tweet to @AmandaTVScoop.

‘How I Met Your Dad’ Rumors: Character List For ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Spinoff Released; Who is Replacing The Gang?

NBA Trade Rumors: Kyrie Irving On The Block After Reportedly Wanting Out Of Cleveland? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® NBA Trade Rumors: Kyrie Irving On The Block After Reportedly Wanting Out Of Cleveland?

Before the start of the 2013-2014 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a lot of excitement surrounding their young team. More than halfway through the year, though, that enthusiasm is dwindling.

Even in a weak Eastern Conference, the Cavs currently find themselves out of the playoffs. At 16-30, they hold 11th seed and trail the Indiana Pacers by 19.5 games in the Central Division. In addition to Cleveland’s losing record, a report has surfaced that the team’s best player no longer wants to be a Cavalier.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN, Kyrie Irving is not happy in Cleveland. The point guard leads the team in scoring and assists, but it hasn’t translated into many wins.

“Kyrie Irving has been telling people privately he wants out,” reports Ford. “Cleveland can’t afford to lose him and LeBron. They know the urgency. I expect them to be major players at the deadline.”

Ford indicates that Cleveland could be looking to make a move because of Irving. Perhaps the Cavs will look to add talent in order to satisfy the 21-year-old, who has yet to play for a winning team in his three-year career. The organization acquired Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls, but the Cavs are just 4-7 with him in the lineup.

Irving might want to leave Cleveland, but he won’t become a free agent until the summer of 2016 at the earliest. He’s set to make a little more than $7 million next year, and if he takes a $9.1 million qualifying offer in 2015-2016, he’ll be free to go at season’s end.

Because of his contract situation, the Cavs have little incentive to trade Irving anytime soon. He’s obligated to play for them at cheap price, and having him at point guard makes Cleveland a much more attractive option for free agents. The summer of 2014 will feature the best free agent class in history, with the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony becoming available. It’s not likely that the Cavs will trade their best player, especially when they might have a legitimate shot to bring back James.

However, if Ford is right that Cleveland will be active at the deadline, there would be teams lining up to trade for one of the best young players in the NBA. Only a few, though, could offer something that the Cavs would even consider in exchange for Irving.

The Boston Celtics might have what it takes to land Irving. A swap between Irving and Rajon Rondo could satisfy both parties if indeed the Cavs try to move their young star. Rondo has been involved in trade rumors for over a year, and it’s not inconceivable that Boston would look to move him.

The Toronto Raptors could also work themselves into a trade conversation. Kyle Lowry has been as good as any point guard in the Eastern Conference this year, and the organization has stockpiled draft picks with trades involving the likes of Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay.

Irving denies the report that he doesn’t want to be in Cleveland. In response, he said he’s “pretty sure” he’ll be with the Cavs for a long time.

NBA Trade Rumors: Kyrie Irving On The Block After Reportedly Wanting Out Of Cleveland?

The Scent Of Love: How Smells Affect Attraction In Humans And Animals getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® The Scent Of Love: How Smells Affect Attraction In Humans And Animals

Call it “love at first sniff.” In animals and humans, scent plays a bigger role in romance than you might think.

Take the Coquerel’s sifaka, a type of lemur. New research published in the journal Animal Behavior shows that two sifakas start mimicking the other’s scent-marking behavior early on in courtship.

"It's like singing a duet, but with smells instead of sounds," Duke University scientist Christine Drea, co-author of the lemur study, said in a statement.

Sifaka couples that had babies together also smell more like each other than couples without kids. Drea and her colleagues think this might happen because the lemurs are exchanging odor-producing bacteria through their domestic rituals: mating, grooming, and other kinds of contact. The daily routine of being a couple weds a lemur pairs’ individual scents into one.

But lemurs aren’t the only creatures that bond through scent. Humans, despite our nasal shortcomings -- some scientists argue we’re actually relatively decent smellers, but we’re still leagues behind cats, dogs and other critters – can still perk up at telltale smells, even if we don’t always know it.

We may be sending each other scent messages all the time, in unexpected ways. Israeli researchers performed an experiment where women watched a sad movie scene, and collected the resulting tears. When they wafted the sad-tainted tears under the noses of some male subjects, the response wasn’t, as they expected, a surge in empathy, but a decline in testosterone levels and sexual arousal.

And pair bonds may increase our sensitivity to a partner’s scent. Researchers collected sweat from volunteers to capture their body odor while they were in a neutral mood, or in a variety of heightened states – fear, happiness, or arousal. Then they gave the sweat samples to another person – either a stranger to the first subject, or a romantic partner. Though participants couldn’t distinguish between specific emotions conveyed through sweat, they could distinguish between neutral and moody odors – and the romantic partners were able to do it better than strangers, with those in the longest-term relationships performing the best.

But the power of scent doesn’t mean that you can use it as an instant shortcut to romance -- yet.

“There’s really nothing that you can spray on and the opposite sex will fall for you,” Johan Lundstrom, an assistant member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, told the New York Times in 2011. “It’s completely a placebo effect.”

That hasn’t stopped fragrance makers from touting perfumes designed to lure the opposite sex. Harvey Prince, for example, sells a fragrance with notes of pumpkin pie, lavender and jasmine – supposedly a recipe for attracting men. For the gents, there’s colognes spiked with “pheromones” that sellers claim will turn the ladies’ heads.

But humans "use all sorts of cues” in selecting a partner, Columbia University biologist Stuart Firestein told ABC News. “A pheromone alone is unlikely to do it. It's part of a whole package.”

Depending on the situation, your synthetic scent may attract a partner you weren’t expecting. Zookeepers and biologists have discovered that tigers, cheetahs, jaguars and other big cats go wild for the smell of Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men. ­­In one Bronx Zoo experiment, cheetahs stuck around sniffing Obsession-sprayed objects for more than 11 minutes – longer than they usually linger over a meal, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Obsession is "a combination of this lickable vanilla heart married to this fresh green top note—it creates tension," fragrance designer Ann Gottlieb, who created the Calvin Klein scent, told the WSJ in 2010. But the key kitty-attracting component may be a synthetic replica of the musk produced by the cat-like civet.

"It sparks curiosity with humans and, apparently, animals,” Gottlieb said.

The Scent Of Love: How Smells Affect Attraction In Humans And Animals

Xbox One Games Release: Rumors Suggest 'Gears Of War' Coming In Two Years, 'Halo 5' Beta In 2014 getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Xbox One Games Release: Rumors Suggest 'Gears Of War' Coming In Two Years, 'Halo 5' Beta In 2014

A massive Xbox One rumor dump has been leaked online. The post was created on Jan. 29 and contained many juicy details about upcoming plans for the Xbox One. The rumors hinted at an upcoming disc-free Xbox One, “Halo 5” in 2015 and “Forza 5” hitting shelves sometimes during 2015.

The thread, which was posted by user ntkrnl, included details about Microsoft’s future plans, giving details about anticipated titles “Gears of War 4” and “Titanfall” DLC. This is what the forum poster included in his entry:

Forza Horizon: "Fall 2014, probably September. Super sexy weather system and... shit tons of co-op/social stuff. 1080P and open-world, so you can road trip with your bros."

White Xbone incoming.

Why all the leaks? Scared you might get caught? "I am incapable of fear. Plus, this is such exciting stuff, and me talking about it ahead of time isn't going to hurt anything, truthfully. We're all chomping at the bit for it to come out. This is not bad. "

Halo Anniversary 2 will be 1080p, iffy on the 60fps, maybe not.

Quantum Break is Holiday 2014

Multiplayer confirmed for HA2, same devs as Halo Anniversary.

Sunset Overdrive is Fall 2014

Is not Phil Spencer

Black Tusk cancelled project was called "Shangheist." May have involved stealing stuff from the Chinese (though I think that may have been a reference to the name and maybe not the gameplay? Not sure...)

Fable Legends is Summer 2015

Halo 2 Anniversary includes beta for Halo 5

Gears of War will probably need a 2.5 year dev time.

First Titanfall DLC is 45 days from release, then another one 120 days from release.

No Crackdown 3 news this year most likely, since it's a 2016 title.

A list w/dates of the rest of the Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries that Xbone will release in this year.

No info/idea on what Rare's up to, sadly.

$399 XB1 this year? "Maybe one without an Optical Disc Drive."

All of these allegations were made by ntkrnl, who has chosen to remain anonymous. Tech site Kotaku verified that ntkrnl is linked to Microsoft, though all claims remain unproven. The Verge was able to verify a number of the claims, including the white Xbox One and a disc drive-less Xbox One going through the testing process, but many of the rumors remain just gaming gossip.

What do you think of the info dump? True or false? Which of these allegations are you hoping to be true?

Xbox One Games Release: Rumors Suggest 'Gears Of War' Coming In Two Years, 'Halo 5' Beta In 2014

Super Bowl Halftime Show Live Stream: Where To Watch Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform Online And On TV getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Super Bowl Halftime Show Live Stream: Where To Watch Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform Online And On TV

This Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVIII matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET, but the real action won’t start until about an hour and a half later.

This year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show will feature two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Bruno Mars, an appearance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and tens of thousands of screaming fans. The exact start time of the performance depends on how the game’s first half progresses, but Mars is expected to take the stage shortly after 8 p.m. ET.

Fox has the honor of broadcasting Super Bowl XLVIII and plans to use the mega-event to test drive it’s new “Fox Sports Go” service. As such, the network will offer an online Super Bowl Halftime Show live stream for paid subscribers, Variety reports. Fans can access the online live stream by going to FoxSports.com, by downloading the Fox Sports Go or NFL Mobile apps, or by clicking here or here. Or, if you prefer to watch the big event on TV, the Super Bowl will air on FOX. (Check your local listings for channel).

This year’s performers will have a hard time surpassing the popularity of last year’s halftime show—over 100 million viewers tuned in to see Beyonce perform in the Superdome. At his Super Bowl preview press conference, Mars revealed that his excitement over the opportunity.

"No matter where I perform, it's my job to uplift the people -- whether I'm performing at a graduation party, wedding, bar mitzvah, Grammys, Super Bowl, I'm gonna give it all I got," Mars said, via the Hollywood Reporter. "I don't trapeze and all that stuff. I hope to get people dancing and get people smiling. if you ever come to my shows, it's just us up there with these songs and our instruments. I hope that's enough."

Mars also explained his decision to share his spotlight with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "The first band I thought of was the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- I've been a fan of theirs for such a long time, I admire their career," he said. "They're a soulful band -- and not just musically, but as people. I sat down with Flea, and he's so passionate about music. Even to this day, doing it for so long, he's still so passionate about creating music and performing. I want to surround myself with guys like that forever, and it's an honor to share the stage with them.”

The 28-year-old crooner was tight-lipped about his setlist, saying that he wouldn’t reveal which of his hit songs he plans to play until the Super Bowl halftime show begins. “It's only a couple days away, [fans] can hold tight,” he said.

Still, with hit songs like “Just The Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out Of Heaven,” and “When I Was Your Man” to choose from, Mars won’t have any trouble keeping the MetLife Stadium crowd on its feet.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers also haven’t revealed their setlist, but shot down some of the more bizarre rumors that are circulating about their halftime show performance. Drummer Chad Smith talked about the setlist with Spin.

“Obviously I can't tell you what we're going to do, it would ruin the surprise. Come on, you gotta watch. It's gonna be great. Bruno Mars, we met them, his band are great people. Today I'm going to rehearse with them outside in the beautiful weather here in New Jersey, it'll be a real spectacle, I'm looking forward to it."

Super Bowl Halftime Show Live Stream: Where To Watch Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform Online And On TV

Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Move For Strikers After Draxler Deal Fails getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Move For Strikers After Draxler Deal Fails

With any deal for Julian Draxler now almost certainly having to wait until at least the summer, Arsenal appear to be making a mad dash to try and sign a striker before the close of the transfer window on Friday evening.

Recruiting a striker has been the focus of Arsenal’s attention throughout the window and, while midfielder Kim Kallstrom is poised to arrive on loan, that remains the case on deadline day. Currently, the much-maligned Nicklas Bendtner and the inexperienced and currently injured Yaya Sanogo provide the only natural backup to first-choice front man Olivier Giroud. With the Gunners still well-positioned to end their decade-long wait for a Premier League title, Arsene Wenger would be taking a significant risk if the deadline comes and goes without a striker arriving.

Several names have now come into the frame to fill that void in the dying hours of the window. Sky Sports has reported that Arsenal have had an approach for former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou rejected by Lille. The Ivorian was primarily used as a squad player at Chelsea and would not have been a signing to wow fans at the Emirates, although he has scored at an impressive rate in Ligue 1. Yet, despite the 28-year-old having made it clear that he would welcome a return to the Premier League, Lille are seemingly not interested in doing business when they are well positioned to secure a place in the Champions League.

According to Goal.com, Arsenal also attempted a late deal for Lazio’s veteran striker Miroslav Klose. Yet, once again they are said to have had their advances rejected. At age 35, the striker continues to score regularly and remains an important part of the Germany squad. His experience and scoring ability would certainly have made him a good short-term solution, but Lazio were understandably reluctant to lose his services at this stage.

It could well be that Arsenal ultimately find Juventus more acquiescing. There have been unconfirmed reports for weeks that the Gunners were interested in Mirko Vucinic, with the Montenegrin forward known to be available. Through his agent, Vucinic claimed on Thursday that he was staying in Turin, however Juventus’s loan signing of Southampton striker Dani Osvaldo could yet alter the situation.

If Wenger is not keen on Vucinic then they could instead look at his Juventus teammate, who also appears to be surplus to requirements, Fabio Quagliarella. The Daily Mail believes that a deal for the 31-year-old, who has also been linked with Norwich and Cardiff, could be a possibility. The one-time Italy international has started just three times in Serie A this season, while also making 11 substitute appearances, and has only a single goal to his name.

Follow Jason Le Miere on Twitter

Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Move For Strikers After Draxler Deal Fails

Nintendo Will Give You A Discount [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Nintendo Will Give You A Discount [VIDEO]

Well, it looks like Nintendo might take a page from Apple’s book.

Nintendo has plans to experiment with a “flexible spending system” in an effort to boost sales. Company president Satoru Iwata said that Nintendo is now capable of offering discounts to customers who play many of their products, so the customers can then afford to purchase extra Nintendo games.

“We [Nintendo] can create a situation where these consumers can enjoy our software at cheaper price points when they purchase more," he said.

How does Iwata plan to do this? NNID - the Nintendo Network ID. The system links player accounts across the Wii U and 3DS systems, tracking downloads and purchases. It’s comparable to the way Apple ID works, except Nintendo is proposing customers get an attainable discount.

Nintendo would offer discounts to players who purchase a number of games on either the Wii U or 3DS (or both), in an attempt to build “long-term relationships with individual consumers, unaffected by the lifespans of systems,” according to Iwata.

There’s no word yet on the exact discount amounts, but it’s likely that the qualifying transactions would only be Nintendo eShop purchases since retail purchases, especially at physical stores, would be much harder to track for individuals.

Nintendo Will Give You A Discount [VIDEO]

Liverpool Transfer News: 2 Players Involved In Deadline-Day Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Liverpool Transfer News: 2 Players Involved In Deadline-Day Rumors

Liverpool’s attempts to sign Ukraine international Yevhen Konoplyanka look set to go right to the wire on transfer deadline day. Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Liverpool have representatives in Ukraine, believed to include managing director Ian Ayre, trying to tie up a deal with Dnipro, yet had no new information on an agreement being imminent when speaking at a press conference on Friday.

“There's obviously an interest in the player but there's no update,” he said. "We'll see how it evolves. It is obviously a little complicated but the staff that are over there have done brilliant work in terms of giving us every chance to get a player.

"But we need to see how that develops over the course of the day. I just think it's all happened so quickly and the timeline on everything makes it tight. We've had a list with a number of players on it, so we'll see how it all develops.”

It appeared there was a willingness for all parties to make a deal happen, with this likely to be the last chance for Dnipro to get full value for a player who has 18 months remaining on his contract. However, latest reports, including from Russian journalist Artur Petrosyan, suggest that Dnipro are now having second thoughts about cashing in. What does appear clear is that Konoplyanka is keen on making the move to Anfield.

“I’m excited about it and soon everyone will know where I will play,” he said, according to the Daily Star, when asked of Liverpool’s interest. “Is it very serious with Liverpool? I am shocked myself at how serious it is. I think in the near future everything will become clear.”

While time appears to be the biggest obstacle to getting a deal done before Friday’s 11 p.m. GMT deadline, Liverpool will also doubtless fear watching yet another transfer target be stolen away by a rival club. Already having lost out on Mohamed Salah to Chelsea in January, it has been widely reported that Tottenham have an interest in Konoplyanka.

Konoplyanka is certainly the main focus of Liverpool’s attention on deadline day, yet there have been reports that they also made an approach for Micah Richards. According to the Daily Mail, the Reds made a bid to take the one-time England international on loan from Manchester City, but the Premier League leaders turned them down flat.

The interest makes sense, with Liverpool currently weakened defensively by injuries to Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Mamadou Sakho and Jose Enrique. Richards, who has been plagued by injuries himself in recent years and has started just two Premier League matches this season, can play at right-back or center-back.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool have either the incentive or the time to attempt to bring in an alternative defensive target.

Follow Jason Le Miere on Twitter

Liverpool Transfer News: 2 Players Involved In Deadline-Day Rumors

Will Peyton Manning Retire After Super Bowl 48? Outcome, Neck Health Determine Broncos QB's Return Next Season [PHOTO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Will Peyton Manning Retire After Super Bowl 48? Outcome, Neck Health Determine Broncos QB's Return Next Season [PHOTO]

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning may be focused solely on his team’s Super Bowl XLVIII matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, but football pundits are beginning to wonder if Sunday’s game might be the 37-year-old’s last appearance in the NFL.

The possibility of Manning’s possible retirement was a major topic at Wednesday’s Super Bowl Media Day, as reporters asked if a second Super Bowl victory might prompt him to ride off into the sunset and retire as a champion. However, the Broncos quarterback seems more concerned with finding a way to exploit Seattle’s league-best secondary than examining his future in the NFL.

“I really have no plans beyond this game,” Manning told reporters, via the Sporting News. “I had no plans, coming into this season, beyond this year. I think that it is the healthy way to approach your career at this stage. I still enjoy playing football.”

Still, Manning did give some indication that the 2013 NFL season will not be his last. When asked what he thought his legacy within the football world will be, Manning declined to give an answer. “I’ve been being asked about my legacy since I was about 25 years old. I’m not sure you can have a legavy when you’re 25 years old. Even 37,” Manning said, via the New York Times. “I’d like to have to be, like, 70 to have a legacy. I’m not even 100 percent sure what the word even means.”

Manning went on to say that he “still in the middle of [his] career,” then thought better of that statement. “Let me rephrase that. I’m down in the homestretch of my career, but I’m still in it,” he said. “It’s not over yet. And so it’s still playing out.”

The 13-time Pro Bowl selection might not be saying that he’ll retire after the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. Ultimately, Manning’s decision hinges on two key elements—the outcome of Super Bowl XLVIII, and, more importantly, the stability of his surgically-repaired neck.

Manning certainly wouldn’t be the first NFL legend to walk away from the game after a Super Bowl victory. Former Broncos quarterback and current senior vice president John Elway won a pair of Super Bowls in 1998 and 1999 before retiring from the league. Just last season, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis decided to hang up the cleats after his team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. But Manning points out that both of those men based their decision on their dwindling skill level rather than a desire to go out on top.

“I know that there have been a number of players who have walked away as champions. I’m sure that is is a great feeling for those people,” Manning said, via CBS News. “John Elway, Ray Lewis did it last year, and [former New York Giants star] Michael Strahan. In talking to Ray Lewis, and talking to John Elway, they couldn’t play anymore. It was all they had to give. They truly left it all out there. I certainly had a career change with years ago with my injury and with changing teams. I’ve been truly on a one-year-at-a-time basis.”

Just two years ago, Manning underwent four major neck surgeries—the injury was considered so severe that the Indianapolis Colts were willing to part ways with him in the prime of his career. In retrospect, those surgeries were undoubtedly successful, but the continued health of Manning’s neck will be the main factor in determining whether or not he will return next season.

Sources close to Manning told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that he will undergo a physical exam in March, as required by the five-year, $96 million contract he signed before the 2012 season. If the tests reveal that Manning’s neck is healthy, he plans to return to the field next season, regardless of the outcome of Super Bowl XLVIII, ESPN reports. However, if the tests reveal structural damage or a risk of future injury, Manning will consider retirement.

Manning’s 2013 season quelled any doubt as to whether the aging legend can continue to play at a high level. His 55 touchdowns and 5,477 passing yards were both single-season NFL records, and his status among the league’s all-time great quarterbacks is unquestioned. Based on his recent success, it seems unlikely that Manning would chose to leave the football behind when he’s still capable of dominating the league’s best defenses. Still, at 37-years-old, retirement is certainly within the realm of possibility.

Will Peyton Manning Retire After Super Bowl 48? Outcome, Neck Health Determine Broncos QB's Return Next Season [PHOTO]

Third Nintendo Health And Fitness Platform In The Works getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Third Nintendo Health And Fitness Platform In The Works

Nintendo’s next console will focus on improving peoples’ lives and health, said Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata. “What Nintendo will try to achieve in the next 10 years is a platform business that improves people’s [quality of life] in enjoyable ways,” Iwata stated at a media briefing for investors held on Jan. 30.

The device will run software similar to “Wii Fit” and “Brain Age” - self-improvement games and applications that have proved to be very lucrative for Nintendo. Wii Fit, which launched in 2007, sold over a quarter million units within the first week of its launch. The game has sold 22.67 million copies as of March 2012 and is the sixth best-selling Wii game of all time.

Iwata claimed that the focus is to develop a platform that’s not just a gaming machine, but one that’s centered on “quality of life” apps. “As those who are already suffering from illness can seek medical care, our new business domain would… enable people to monitor their health,” Iwata said. “However, what is generally good for health requires some kind of effort to be made by the individual, and… it is sometimes difficult to stay focused and engaged, and it is not uncommon to give up after a few days.”

Iwata stated he will choose a “small, select team of developers…release some application on smart devices this year that is capable of attracting consumer attention and communicating the value of our entertainment offerings.” His goal is to drive buyers to Nintendo platforms, which would increase the brand’s sales of paid games.

Iwata also stressed that Nintendo would not place its games on smartphones. “Many people say that releasing Nintendo’s software assets for smart devices would expand our business. However, we believe that we cannot show our strength as an integrated hardware-software business in this field, and therefore it would difficult to continue the same scale of business in the medium- to long term.”

Would you use a Nintendo device that focuses on health? Leave a comment below.

Third Nintendo Health And Fitness Platform In The Works

The Week In Science: Monarch Migration Imperiled, Drone-Delivered Beer On Ice getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® The Week In Science: Monarch Migration Imperiled, Drone-Delivered Beer On Ice

Researchers have created the sonic equivalent of a one-way mirror. The “acoustic circulator” allows someone to listen in to sound waves without being heard. [LiveScience]

The mass winter migration of monarch butterflies from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico may soon be a thing of the past. The most recent counts show that the smallest number of migrating monarchs yet. Potential culprits for the decline include logging in Mexico, which has decimated the monarchs’ favored winter home, the oyamel fir tree; and herbicide-heavy industrial farming, which is wiping out milkweed plants where the butterflies lay their eggs. [Washington Post]

Happy Chinese New Year! Here’s a good explanation for why the Year of the Horse didn’t start on January 1: it comes down to astronomy. [Christian Science Monitor]

A climate scientist’s defamation lawsuit could deal a killing blow to conservative publication National Review. Writer Mark Steyn accused Penn State scientist Michael Mann of fraud and compared him to Jerry Sandusky, the Penn State assistant football coach and convicted child molester. Defamation suits are hard to win in the U.S., but National Review has suffered from some setbacks: judges have refused to dismiss the case, prompting Steyn to write a furious blog post. Steyn and the law firm representing him have also parted ways. And, like most publications, National Review likely doesn’t have vast cash reserves to keep funding a lawsuit or pay for a substantial settlement. [The Week]

The U.S. military spent $5 billion trying to develop a “universal camouflage” pattern that would work across all environments that a soldier might encounter. But this effort seems to be largely wasted; an in-depth examination of the science of camouflage explains why. [Gizmodo]

Maybe streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have killed your desire for Blu-ray discs. No matter; Facebook might be basing its data storage system on them soon. Blu-ray discs might be a better way for the company to put vast amounts of data in long-term storage (discs are certified as reliable for at least 50 years, with some rated for 1,000 years) and could be better-suited for recovering data after a crash than hard disk drives. [Ars Technica]

Scientific American calls for an end to the U.S. ban on psychoactive drug research. [Scientific American]

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded the idea of drone-delivered beer – for now. A microbrewery in Minnesota planned on testing the service for ice fisherman, but the FAA has put the kibosh on all commercial drone projects until their policies are reviewed and possibly changed next year. [The Verge]

The Week In Science: Monarch Migration Imperiled, Drone-Delivered Beer On Ice

VIDEO Tim Tebow Super Bowl Commercial: Former NFL QB Stars In T-Mobile Ad getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® VIDEO Tim Tebow Super Bowl Commercial: Former NFL QB Stars In T-Mobile Ad

Over the last year former Denver Broncos quarterback and Heisman winner Tim Tebow has faced his fair share of criticism for not making another NFL team.

But Tebow’s embraced all the shots taken at him over the last year in a new commercial for cell phone service provider T-Mobile.

During Tebow’s stint on Friday on ABC’s Good Morning America, the producers showed the full commercial featuring all the things the 26-year-old has done since the New York Jets released him after last season.

Apparently Tebow’s delivered a baby, hunted and tackled Big Foot, taken the stage as a stand-up comedian, honed his mental skills against the world’s top chess players, and ridden bulls like a rodeo cowboy.

When he was originally selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft by Denver, Tebow looked past the criticism that said he couldn’t make it the league. Instead he led the Broncos to their first playoff victory in years, and became a superstar around the country.

Unfortunately for Tebow the Broncos signed quarterback Peyton Manning back in 2012 and quickly traded the former Florida Gator to New York.

The Jets insisted they would use Tebow’s unique skill set, featuring a powerful running game with a limited arm, but he only threw for 39 yards and rushed for another 102 yards, scoring zero touchdowns in 12 games.

Numerous stories linked Tebow to a return, but thus far no NFL team has tried to sign him. However Tebow has remained close to the game he loves, and last month he signed a multi-year deal with ESPN to be a college football analyst.

It’s also not the first time Tebow’s been featured in a commercial during Super Bowl week. Tebow and his family were the main focus of an ad for Focus on the Family back in 2010.

VIDEO Tim Tebow Super Bowl Commercial: Former NFL QB Stars In T-Mobile Ad

‘The Bachelor’ 2014 Spoilers: What Will Happen In Episode 5? Synopsis Teases Clare's 'Daring Offer' For Juan Pablo [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® ‘The Bachelor’ 2014 Spoilers: What Will Happen In Episode 5? Synopsis Teases Clare's 'Daring Offer' For Juan Pablo [VIDEO]

“Hello Vietnam!” On Monday, Feb. 3, “The Bachelor” will be leaving Seoul, South Korea and heading on over to Vietnam. Eleven girls remain in the running for Juan Pablo’s heart, but jealousy is going to flare when the single dad is caught paying extra attention to one lucky lady.

The end of episode 4 found Lauren and Elise getting sent home. With Renee, Chelsie, Kelly, Danielle, Cassandra, Alli and Clare still in the game, not one, but two of the bachelorette’s will hit the jackpot when they land one-on-one dates with Juan Pablo in episode 5. The rest of the girls will have a group date with the bachelor … but by the end of the episode only eight women will be moving forward into week 6.

First One-On-One Date

Juan Pablo’s first one-on-one date for episode 5 will be with 32-year-old single mom Renee. The real estate agent has been busy helping the rest of the girls in the house deal with their insecurities for the past few weeks, however this time she’ll be getting some much needed (and wanted!) alone time with the bachelor. The pair will have a magical day exploring the city of Hoi A, but Juan Pablo has a surprise up his sleeves to make it that much more special … gifting Renee with a tailor-made dress to wear to their romantic dinner date! Renee’s been dying to kiss the bachelor. Will she find enough courage tonight and let him know how she’s feeling?

Group Date

Nine of the girls get whisked away to the countryside for some fun in the sun with Juan Pablo. The ladies pair up for their date, but the one woman left alone gets the pleasure of pairing up with the bachelor. While that lucky lady is happy with her partner (and shows it by stealing a “romantic kiss”), the rest of the bachelorette’s are upset by the extra attention that she’s receiving from the single dad.

That’s not the only thing upsetting Andi though. The 26-year-old assistant district attorney has developed feelings for Juan Pablo, but doubts the strength of their connection since she hasn’t had a one-on-one date yet. Andi will voice her concerns – but Juan Pablo’s response remains a mystery for now.

The group date drama will continue into the beachside cocktail party when Juan Pablo brings Clare to his private pool for some one-on-one time. However Clare makes a “daring offer” in attempt to extend her time with him. Could that be why she’s crying in the promo video for episode 5?

Second One-On-One Date

With the group date drama behind him, Juan Pablo will be taking Nikki on her first one-on-one date. But like Chelsie’s tandem jump adventure, Nikki’s extremely frightened of the day he has planned for them – rappelling 100 feet into a dark cave named “hell.” The bachelorette must face her fears in order to get to the surprise at the bottom … a candlelit dinner for two!

The Rose Ceremony

As Juan Pablo gets to know his bachelorette’s better it becomes harder for him to eliminate them. That proves to be true in episode 5 because the synopsis teases that it’s the “most dramatic cocktail party of the season.” The bachelor will try to reassure some women that they share a connection and he wants them to stay … however a “face off” with Clare will leave her in tears. But she won’t be the only one crying – the bachelor will shed some tears as well.

Episode 5 of “The Bachelor” will air on ABC on Monday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. What do you think will happen? Who do you think will get sent home? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or send a tweet to @AmandaTVScoop.

Watch the preview for episode 5 of “The Bachelor” below:

‘The Bachelor’ 2014 Spoilers: What Will Happen In Episode 5? Synopsis Teases Clare's 'Daring Offer' For Juan Pablo [VIDEO]

Why China Surpassed France As World’s Biggest Red Wine Consumer getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Why China Surpassed France As World’s Biggest Red Wine Consumer

If wine only came in shades of white and pink, perhaps it never would’ve taken off quite like it has in China. But red is not only the national color; it’s a hue that’s considered extremely lucky -- and luck is something an increasing number of Chinese want to drink to.

“Apart from its virtues with regard to health, which have been widely lauded as an alternative to the impact of excessive consumption of rice-based spirits, the popularity of red wine is largely due to the symbolic importance of its color,” Bordeaux-based exhibition company Vinexpo explained in a new study.

“Red is a very positive hue in Chinese culture, associated with wealth, power and good luck. In business circles, these three values are fundamental. Red wine is therefore an obvious choice for business hospitality, where partners can drink to each others’ health.”

The London-based firm International Wine and Spirit Research, which conducted the study for Vinexpo, found that Chinese are so fixated with red wine, that they now consume more of it than any country on earth, eclipsing traditional wine-drinking nations like Italy and France.

While the United States still holds the mantle as the world’s top drinker of whites, roses and sparkling, Chinese consumers drank their way to a record 155 million 9-litre cases (1.865 billion bottles) of red wine last year following a staggering growth of 136 percent between 2007 and 2013. During that same time, consumption in France decreased by 18 percent to 150 million cases, and Italy fell 5.8 percent to 141 million cases -- though both countries still drink more red wine on a per capita bases.

The decrease in European consumption doesn’t reflect quite as dramatic an increase in exportation to China as one might expect, though imports have multiplied by seven and account for nearly a fifth of all products in stores. The rest of the red wine consumed in China, more than 80 percent, bears a made in China label. In fact, China has mushroomed almost overnight into the world’s fifth largest producer with wines from Ningxia and Shandong provinces now popping up on shelves in the West.

Hong Kong is the undisputed hub of the region’s rapidly expanding wine industry and home to high stakes auctions attended by a growing number of Chinese with an insatiable appetite for Western luxuries. Sotheby’s wine sales in the city last year, for example, totaled $25.5 million, compared to $20 million in London and just $12.5 million in New York.

Chinese are not only driving new sales, they’re actually redefining the types of grape varietals planted the world over. "In 2000, white wine grapes were more widely grown; however, in the decade to 2010 red wine grapes increased their share of the global vine-bearing area from 49 percent to 55 percent,” Kym Anderson of the University Of Adelaide School Of Economics noted earlier this month upon the release of the world’s first-ever database of wine grape regions and varietals.

"This shift is consistent with what we know about changes in wine consumption, with numerous countries moving away from white, and consumption rising in recent years in China where red wine is preferred."

Twenty years ago, the most widely grown grape in the world was a white wine variety from Spain called Airen. Now it’s Cabernet Sauvignon, while the fastest-expanding wine grape varietals are Tempranillo and Syrah. All three of those grapes have one thing in common: The wines they produce are a lucky shade of red.

Why China Surpassed France As World’s Biggest Red Wine Consumer

Shakira And Rihanna Sizzle In Raunchy Music Video 'Can't Remember To Forget You' [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Shakira And Rihanna Sizzle In Raunchy Music Video 'Can't Remember To Forget You' [VIDEO]

Shakira unveiled a raunchy music video of “Can’t Remember to Forget You” in collaboration with Rihanna on Thursday.

In the video, the two singers are shown in bodysuits, cuddling and smoking cigars on a bed, as they sing of post-breakup longing. The video also features a steamy, synchronized dance by the singers.

“Working with her was utopia,” Shakira reportedly said about working with Rihanna in the music video, during an interview for Glamour magazine’s February issue. “She’s the sexiest woman on the planet. And at the end of the day, we’re both just basically Caribbean girls. The chemistry was so good and so real. She taught me dance moves. She was a sweet teacher.”

Shakira also reportedly said: “This song ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’ combines both the reggae and the rock spirit, that’s why I thought Rihanna was perfect. She was the other half of this.”

The video is directed by Joseph Kahn, who was also part of Mariah Carey and Miguel’s “#Beautiful,” as well as “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna. The song was co-produced by John Hill and Kid Harpoon.

Shakira told People magazine: “Luckily, since my last album [Sale el Sol] I've entered one of the happiest phases of my life. It was definitely a time of change, of rebirth, of self-discovery ... and of course, becoming a mother, which turned my world on its head in the best of ways.”

“I’m always looking for that song I still haven't written, new sounds ... music has infinite possibilities, more than I can explore in a lifetime. I'm grateful to still be as passionate about doing what I do,” she added.

Shakira has a son, Milan, with her partner Gerard Pique, a Spanish soccer player.

“Can’t Remember to Forget You” will appear in Shakira’s self-titled tenth studio album that is slated for a March 25 release.

Check out the video here:

Shakira And Rihanna Sizzle In Raunchy Music Video 'Can't Remember To Forget You' [VIDEO]

Hackers Compromise Yahoo Email Accounts and Passwords getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Hackers Compromise Yahoo Email Accounts and Passwords

Yahoo announced Thursday that hackers compromised usernames and passwords from customers using its email service. The company said the data stolen includes information on people that those users have recently corresponded with.

Jay Rossiter, Yahoo’s senior vice president of Platforms and Personalization Products, said in Yahoo’s Tumblr blog that the information was “likely collected from a third-party database compromise” and that they “have no evidence that [the information] was obtained directly from Yahoo’s systems.”

According to Yahoo, the usernames and passwords were used to gain access to the names and email addresses of users’ most recent sent mail.

The Associated Press speculates that this would allow attackers to send spam and scam messages to others using people’s real names in order to appear more legitimate. The usernames and passwords could also be used to gain access to third-party accounts if account holders have the same email logins and passwords for multiple sites.

This is among the latest in a number of recent high-profile security breaches. Target, Neiman Marcus and Michael’s were recently hacked for their customer’s financial information.

Yahoo said they are working with federal law enforcement in an investigation into the attack and have put new measures in place to prevent future attacks. Impacted users will be notified via email or text message.

Hackers Compromise Yahoo Email Accounts and Passwords

Japan Inflation Accelerated In December as Abe Sought Wage Increases; Manufacturing January PMI Approaches 8-Year High getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Japan Inflation Accelerated In December as Abe Sought Wage Increases; Manufacturing January PMI Approaches 8-Year High

Inflation in Japan picked up speed in December, placing pressure on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government to encourage wage gains as he attempts to free the nation from the deflationary debility that has lasted 15 years.

Prices excluding those of fresh food climbed 1.3 percent from a year before, said Japan's statistics bureau.

According to other data, 103 jobs were available for every 100 person hunting for employment, thus revealing a tightening in the labor market that might put pressure on companies to raise salaries.

Tokyo Metro Co., Coca-Cola (Japan) Co. and other companies have announced price increases, so the challenge for Japanese policymakers is to encourage wage increases while maintaining an exit from deflation after an April rise in the country's sales tax that's predicted to spur contraction.

Many economists believe the Bank of Japan will expand presently prominent easing in the first half of 2014, Bloomberg reported.

“Consumers will be hit in the pocket from rising prices and the upcoming sales-tax hike,” Masamichi Adachi, a senior economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Tokyo, said. “The onus is now on companies to convert their profits into wage increases and capital spending.”

As for Japanese manufacturing activity, the Markit/JMMA Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to a seasonally adjusted 56.6 in January, from 55.2 in the previous month.

It was the fastest pace that Japanese manufacturing activity has grown in almost eight years, as new orders expanded at a record rate -- and it was a sign of muscular domestic demand prior to an increase in the sales tax in April.

For the 11th consecutive month, the index stayed higher than the 50 threshold separating expansion from contraction, and it reached the loftiest level since February 2006.

"Evidence from panelists suggested that the upcoming rise in the sales tax was a key factor driving the recent expansion, as customers order early to avoid the higher tariff," Claudia Tillbrooke, economist at Markit, noted.

"However, the continued expansion of employment, suggests a degree of confidence in the longevity of the current upturn."

The PMI index's output component climbed to 61.1 from 58.3 in the prior month to reach the highest spot since it was created back in October 2001.

The index for new export orders fell to 52.8 in January from 55.7 in the previous month.

In April, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government will raise the 5 percent sales tax to 8 percent in order to pay for climbing welfare costs, according to Reuters.

Sales of apartments, houses, cars and durable goods have been increasing since mid-2013 as the Japanese pubilc eyes relatively expensive items before the tax increase.

Japan Inflation Accelerated In December as Abe Sought Wage Increases; Manufacturing January PMI Approaches 8-Year High