Lakers Rumors 2014: 3 College Players L.A. May Target In NBA Draft getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Lakers Rumors 2014: 3 College Players L.A. May Target In NBA Draft

The 2013-2014 NBA season is far from over, but the Los Angeles Lakers already have one eye on the draft. Through 58 games, L.A. is 20 games under .500. They have the worst record in the Western Conference, and are assured to miss the playoffs.

On the bright side, the Lakers could leave the 2014 NBA Draft with their best player, since they acquired Kobe Bryant on draft day in 1996. They’ll be in the draft lottery with one of the best chances to win the No.1 overall pick. As it stands, only three teams have a worse record than Los Angeles. That would guarantee them no worse than the No.8 selection.

It’s an important draft for the Lakers, who have a lot of holes to fill. Not only have they been bad this year, but their roster is very much uncertain for 2014-2015. The team has only $35 million committed to players next season, most of which will go to Bryant and Steve Nash.

Whoever the Lakers take in the first round will likely have a major role on the team. Luckily for Los Angeles, they’ll have a high pick in year that features the best draft class since, maybe, 2003.

Below are three college players the Lakers could target in June.

Jabari Parker

The Duke freshman was hyped as one of the nation’s best players coming out of high school, and he has not disappointed at the next level. Averaging 18.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, Parker is likely to be named the ACC Player of the Year. The Lakers need another scorer, and Parker has the potential to be a great offensive NBA player. He can mature under the tutelage of Bryant, especially on the defensive end, where he has been subpar, at times.

Bryant’s time as an elite player might not last much longer, and Parker could eventually replace him as the face of the franchise. Most mock drafts project him going in the top three, so the ping pong balls will have to bounce in the Lakers’ favor.

Noah Vonleh

In the offseason, the Lakers will be looking for multiple big men. Pau Gasol is likely to sign elsewhere as a free agent, leaving a big hole in the frontcourt. Vonleh stands at 6’10, weighing 240 pounds. At 18 years old, he’ll only get stronger and improve his inside game. He’s averaging 11.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in his first season with Indiana.

Vonleh is very green, but his talent and versatility will make him a high pick. He could be off the board by No.5.

Dante Exum

The Lakers need to sure up the point guard position, and Exum could be the answer. Steve Nash is still under contract for another year, but injuries have made him a shell of his old self. Kendall Marshall has had some big games, but he was bad with the Phoenix Suns and still has a lot to prove. L.A. hasn’t had an All-Star point guard since Nick Van Exel, and the Australian basketball player could be the perfect fit.

Exum has expressed a desire to play for the Lakers, and he could get his wish. Mock drafts are predicting him to go somewhere in the middle of the lottery.

Lakers Rumors 2014: 3 College Players L.A. May Target In NBA Draft

Canadian Grain 'Crisis' Affects More Than Just Your Morning Bowl Of Cheerios getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Canadian Grain 'Crisis' Affects More Than Just Your Morning Bowl Of Cheerios

In a speech at a conference on Friday, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said weather, railway issues and a record crop have led to a grain crisis that will impact food markets around the world.

While grain-shipping issues may not generate excitement among the general public, the situation in Canada hit closer to home than you think. Wall said General Mills runs the risk of running out of oats to produce their much-loved Cheerios cereal by mid- to late March.

Wall criticized the federal government and Canada’s two national railways – Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) - for causing a grain back-up that has left billions of dollars in grain undelivered across Canada.

Rail is the main method of grain transportation in Canada. CN and CP transport the grain to ports where it’s loaded onto ships that take it across the world.

CN and CP also ship oil across Canada, and its oil shipments are leaving few trains left for the massive amount of grain that needs to be transported. The two rail lines also cite weather and the need to use shorter trains in winter as a reason for their inability to get grain to ports.

That leaves international buyers without their grain, so naturally they’re turning to other providers. Earlier in February, Japan announced it would be buying grain from the U.S. after Canadian grain was late two months in a row. The Japanese had a ship waiting in Vancouver for three weeks before it went to Seattle for its grain.

Wall said the delays are hurting Canada’s international reputation. “What’s at stake is the brand for our country in terms of reliability,” said Wall to a crowd of fellow conservatives in Ottawa.

“The Great Grain Crisis of 2013-14,” as iPolitics calls it, won’t just affect your morning bowl of cereal either. Wall says there’s another way to get grain (and oil) moving across Canada, none other than the Keystone XL oil pipeline that everyone is talking about.

With oil moving via the Keystone XL, the railways will be free to move more grain. Wall is intent on doing what he can to make the Keystone XL look as good as possible for legislators from the U.S. and Canada, but the Keystone isn’t a viable short-term solution. For that, officials are looking to change regulations to get more grain moving.

CN and CP officials told government representatives they’re ready to deploy thousands of more grain cars per week, but Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is skeptical of the claim. For now it looks like the only way to get grain moving, farmers paid, and Cheerios to consumers is to enact emergency legislation to ease revenue caps and get the railways to provide adequate service to grain producers.

Canadian Grain 'Crisis' Affects More Than Just Your Morning Bowl Of Cheerios

Everything You Need To Know About Mardi Gras In New Orleans [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Everything You Need To Know About Mardi Gras In New Orleans [VIDEO]

There are plenty of parades to see and you can expect to see a strong police presence. While flashing is not encouraged there is no doubt there will be plenty of skin on show. Police are warning against peeing in the streets and engaging in criminal activity. They have put regulations in place to ensure the safety of residents and the visitors.

Beads are a huge part of the celebration; the history can be traced back to the late 19th Century when strings of beads and toys were thrown from floats. The colors however became popular in the 1960’s and have been the ultimate symbol of the parade since.

Reporter Zoe Mintz gave us the low down on the festivities this weekend and where you can watch the parades. No doubt the whole city will be nursing a serious hangover next week, so Zoe shared with us her tip on how to combat even the worst hangover; First things first it begins with hydration, and drinking plenty of water, best to have Advil before you sleep and drinking a sports drink is key in replacing vitamins and electrolytes

Everything You Need To Know About Mardi Gras In New Orleans [VIDEO]

Jeremy Lin News: After Trade Rumors, Rockets Guard Struggling For Minutes? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Jeremy Lin News: After Trade Rumors, Rockets Guard Struggling For Minutes?

The NBA trade deadline came and went last week, and Jeremy Lin is still a Houston Rocket despite some speculation that he could have wound up back in New York or in Boston.

About a month before the deadline the Rockets and Brooklyn Nets apparently discussed a trade that would’ve sent Lin to the Barclays Center and Deron Williams to Houston. Another move involved the Celtics, but nothing materialized.

It’s unclear if the trade chatter affected Lin’s game, but over the last five games he’s particularly struggled with his shot. Thankfully for Lin and Houston, the 25-year-old has worked his way out of shooting slumps before.

Going 12-for-40 from the field for exactly 30 percent shooting has limited Lin to an average of 7.4 points in the last five games, but the Rockets third ranked offense has managed to hide Lin’s limited production.

Houston’s gone 8-2 in its last 10 games, and has one of the best records in the NBA since the turn of the year, namely thanks to the continued production from the NBA’ fifth leading scorer in James Harden and center Dwight Howard overpowering opponents in February with averages of 22.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game for by far his best month as a Rocket.

Lin had similar troubles with his shot during his first month as a Rocket last season, notching a poor 37.3 percent from the field and nearly three turnovers per game. He slowly worked out the kinks and in the final month of the season Lin was on fire for 17.3 points and 6.9 assists per game, helping Houston notch their first two playoff wins in four years.

Other than Lin perhaps no one understands his resiliency more than Houston head coach Kevin McHale, and the former Celtic and Hall of Famer is unlikely to make a rash decision by denying Lin minutes.

After experimenting with his lineup for the first two months of the season, head coach Kevin McHale struck the right balance between Lin and second-year point guard Patrick Beverley, but of late he’s given the latter more court time since his return from a wrist injury.

However both Beverley and Lin have struggled of late, with Beverley committing eight turnovers in the last three games and fouling out in Houston’s huge loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Lin played 19 minutes against the Clippers, his fourth lowest total of the season.

L.A. and Houston are in a dead heat for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, with less than a month and half left in the regular season.

That kind of pressure was what drove Lin to emerge as one of the best young guards in the league during his torrid outburst with the New York Knicks two years ago. Houston could especially use a boost of “Linsanity” in its remaining 28 games, 11 of which are against playoff contenders including two against the defending champion Miami Heat.

Jeremy Lin News: After Trade Rumors, Rockets Guard Struggling For Minutes?

Derrick Rose Injury Update: Return For Chicago Bulls Star A Possibility In 2014? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Derrick Rose Injury Update: Return For Chicago Bulls Star A Possibility In 2014?

Last season, Derrick Rose would not rule out a return to the court following his torn ACL. This year, though, the Chicago Bulls star seems prepared to watch his team from the sidelines.

It has been assumed for months that Rose will miss the rest of the 2013-2014 NBA season, having undergone knee surgery in late November to repair his torn meniscus. At first, the point guard was reluctant to close the door on a return in the playoffs, but now he has all but guaranteed that he won’t suit up any time soon.

"I'm not keeping it open," Rose said at a charity event two weeks ago. "I just said that right now I haven't thought about it. I can't think about it right now when I'm not running yet. When I get off the Alter-G, that's when I can say if I'm coming back or not [this year]."

Rose is finally off the Alter-G, an anti-gravity treadmill, and running on her own. Head coach Tom Thibodeau says his star player is doing different movements, like lateral slides, but still nowhere near ready to practice.

“He’s out for the season,’’ Thibodeau said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “I don’t know what else you guys want...and again, I think that’s a step-by-step thing. He’s doing great; he’s out for the season. Nothing has changed there.’’

Chicago will almost assuredly make the playoffs. Through 57 games, they are the No.4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite their injuries, the Bulls might be expected to reach the second round, considering they could have home-court advantage in their first series. However, the Indiana Pacers or Miami Heat would be heavy favorites in the conference semifinals.

Rose might be done for the season, but the Sun-Times reports that he is ahead of schedule. If he continues on this pace, Rose plans to play for USA Basketball in July.

“Yeah, for sure,” said Rose. "If my leg is feeling healthy and I’m there, I’m all in. Of course, I want to play for that team. Playing for that team helped the year I won MVP, just getting in a groove. So I’m excited if I am able to play in it.’’

This is the third straight year in which Rose an injury has hampered Rose. In last three years, he’s played just 49 total games.

Derrick Rose Injury Update: Return For Chicago Bulls Star A Possibility In 2014?

When Is March Madness? An Early Look At The NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® When Is March Madness? An Early Look At The NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament

Words like "bracketology" and "bubble" re-enter the sports vernacular in two short weeks, as the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, better known as March Madness, is just around the corner.

The excitement begins when the draw is announced on March 16 during "Selection Sunday." The first round of the tournament will commence on Tuesday, March 18 at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio with the last four teams in the 68-squad field to battle for the second round.

From there, the tournament goes national, touching all corners of the country from San Diego, Calif. to Buffalo, N.Y.

After the teams are pared down to 16 in the first weekend, the remaining teams will vie for a shot at the Final Four, which will be held this year on starting on Saturday, April 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The national championship game will be played on Monday, April 7.

The surefire locks for the four top overall seeds in each region are likely to include No. 1 Florida, No. 4 Syracuse, No. 3 Arizona and perhaps No. 2 Wichita State, which remains the nation’s only undefeated team at 29-0.

An excellent No. 8 RPI rank in all games helps Wichita State’s chances, as does its non-conference No. 2 RPI mark, but the NCAA Selection Committee could hold its 103rd strength of schedule and a lack of victories over ranked opponents against them.

In its best tournament run in nearly 50 years last season, Wichita State fell to eventual champion Louisville in the national semifinal by a narrow four points.

The No. 7 Cardinals and head coach Rick Pitino are once again in contention to capture the school’s fourth overall NCAA championship. Led by senior guard Russ Smith’s 17.7 points and 4.5 assists per game, Louisville will attempt to be the first back-to-back champion since Florida in 2007.

The No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks could be in line for another deep tournament run behind super freshmen Andrew Wiggins and seven-footer Joel Embiid, two of the top prospects expected to declare for the 2014 NBA Draft this summer.

The Jayhawks have outright won or shared the Big-12 regular season title for the last 10 years, and stand as the biggest threat to Wichita State’s chances for a top overall seed.

Teams on the outside looking in include the 20-10 Brigham Young Cougars, the 19-9 Missouri Tigers, the 18-8 Oregon Ducks and the 18-11 St. John’s Red Storm. A solid showing with an upset or two in upcoming conference tournaments should pad each school’s resume for the Selection Committee.

When Is March Madness? An Early Look At The NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament

Israel Warns Lebanese Government It Is Responsible For Hezbollah Attacks getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Israel Warns Lebanese Government It Is Responsible For Hezbollah Attacks

Israel warned Lebanon on Friday that it will hold its government responsible if Hezbollah retaliated following an alleged Israeli strike on the Shiite terrorist organization’s stronghold earlier this week, Lebanese media reports.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah threatened Israel by saying it would “choose the time and place and the proper way to respond." Following the threats, Israel beefed up security along its border and sent a letter through United Nations UNIFIL forces demanding they curb any attacks.

“It is self-evident that we see Lebanon as responsible for any attack on Israel from the territory of Lebanon," Yuval Steinitz, the strategic affairs minister, said on Friday. "It is the duty of the Lebanese government to prevent any terrorist attack -- whether a terrorist or missile attack, or any other kind -- on the State of Israel," he told Israel Radio, as reported by Haaretz, an Israeli daily.

In the past, Israel launched several attacks on Syrian shipments to Hezbollah, for which Israel has never claimed responsibility.

In 2013, Israel struck a warehouse containing Russian-made Yakhont missiles near the Syrian port city of Latakia. The missiles were reported to be destined for Hezbollah. Israel refused to comment on the incident.

Hezbollah was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. It has increased its role in fighting against Syrian rebel forces in recent weeks.

Israel Warns Lebanese Government It Is Responsible For Hezbollah Attacks

Oscars 2014: Can 'Gravity' Or 'Her' Become The First Sci-Fi Film To Win Best Picture At The Academy Awards? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Oscars 2014: Can 'Gravity' Or 'Her' Become The First Sci-Fi Film To Win Best Picture At The Academy Awards?

The Academy Awards, more popularly known as the Oscars is an annual American award ceremony held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that celebrates and honors works and achievements in the film industry. While the Oscars are given to works in various categories, the Oscar for “Best Picture” is among one of the most coveted awards that filmmakers have hoped to win since the award encompasses all the efforts put together in making a film.

Various films have joined the ranks of films awarded “Best Picture” since the inception of the Academy Awards ceremony. However, science fiction films have notably been absent from that list of winners, despite a growing number of nominations for “Best Picture” in recent years. Is it possible that this trend might change in 2014?

This year, not one but two science fiction films have been nominated for the “Best Picture” category this year at the 86th annual Academy Awards. On one end is “Gravity,” a space sci-fi thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men”) that follows two astronauts trying to make their way back to Earth after a mid-orbit debris collision cripples their space shuttle. On the other end is “Her,” a sci-fi romance drama directed by Spike Jonze (“Where the Wild Things Are”) that explores the relationship of a man named Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) with the artificial intelligent personality of his phone’s operating system (Scarlett Johansson).

While both films have been praised significantly by critics and moviegoers alike, many critics appear to have put their support behind “12 Years a Slave” a historical epic drama film directed by British filmmaker Steve McQueen.

Despite the lack of “Best Picture” awards to sci-fi films by the Academy, several films in the science fiction genre have taken home awards for best achievement in cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and especially visual effects.

It is yet to be seen if “Gravity” or “Her” can break the historic trend, but in the meantime take a look back at some of the best science fiction films that have been nominated for “Best Picture” or other Academy Award categories over the years here.

Be sure to check out the Academy Awards ceremony on March 2.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Won: Best Effects (Visual Effects)

Nominated: Best Director, Best Writing, Best Art Direction

A Clockwork Orange (1971) Nominated

Nominated: Best Director, Best Writing (Screenplay Based on material from Another Medium) , Best Film Editing

Star Wars (1977) Nominated

Won: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film editing, Best Effects (Visual Effects), Best Original Score

Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Alec Guinness), Best Director, Best Writing

E.T. (1982) Nominated

Won: Best Sound, Best Effects (Visual Effects), Best Effects (Sound Effects Editing), Best Original Score

Nominated: Best Writing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

Avatar (2009) Nominated

Won: Best Cinematography, Best Effects (Visual Effects), Best Art Director

Nominated: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing

District 9 (2009) Nominated

Nominated: Best Writing, Best Film Editing, Best Effects (Visual Effects)

Inception (2010) Nominated

Won: Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Effects (Visual Effects)

Nominated: Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Original Score, Best Art Direction

Oscars 2014: Can 'Gravity' Or 'Her' Become The First Sci-Fi Film To Win Best Picture At The Academy Awards?

Real Madrid Vs. Atletico Madrid: Prediction And Tactical Analysis For Crucial La Liga Derby getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Real Madrid Vs. Atletico Madrid: Prediction And Tactical Analysis For Crucial La Liga Derby

Just three points separate Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ahead of their meeting at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, yet it is hard not to think that the two teams are now heading in different directions this season.

Real Madrid enjoyed a dream couple of days last weekend as their 3-0 win over Elche was followed by defeats for Atletico and Barcelona. For the first time this season it took Madrid clear at the top of the Primera Division and above their city rivals.

It is just reward for a run of form that is currently only matched in Europe’s major leagues by the all-conquering Bayern Munich. Madrid have now gone 27 games unbeaten in all competitions since losing the Clasico in October. But the side has really taken shape under Carlo Ancelotti since he switched to a 4-3-3 formation in January.

Following the signing of Gareth Bale, Ancelotti was handed an array of attacking talent that would be the envy of almost every coach in the world. His initial problem was getting the best out of the likes of Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Angel di Maria, while maintaining some semblance of balance to the team. There were initial issues of a varying nature with Bale, Benzema and Di Maria. Meanwhile, even when the front players were firing, the defense was worryingly open, no better illustrated than in the extraordinary 7-3 victory over Sevilla.

But Ancelotti, who has often lacked a tactical identity through his much-traveled career, has again shown an ability to adapt to the players at his disposal. With Xabi Alonso back anchoring the midfield, Luka Modric has been outstanding to his right, helping Madrid to control games far more than they did last season, while feeding incisive passes forward. To their left, Di Maria, seemingly the victim of a campaign to force him out of the club earlier in the season, has adapted superbly to a midfield role that he has often played with Argentina.

Up front, while youngster Jese Rodriguez has been outstanding of late, the first-choice front three came to the fore with two goals apiece in an outstanding 6-1 demolition of Schalke in Germany on Wednesday. With Ronaldo having just enjoyed three matches off in La Liga due to suspension and Bale having missed much of the earlier part of the season due to niggling injuries, there is s sense that Madrid are still approaching their peak at just the right time.

In contrast, Atletico appear to be starting to run on fumes. Unlike their neighbors, Atletico simply don’t have a squad capable of being rotated and continuing to perform at a high level. Fatigue has long been seen as the chief obstacle that would prevent Atletico’s incredible season ending in a first championship since 1996. Furthering the difficulties is that under Diego Simeone, Atletico, while developing other facets of their game, are a team built to play with the ferocious intensity of their coach.

And there is evidence that the predicted tiredness is now coming to the fore. Atletico have lost four of their last six matches and on Sunday they lost 3-0 to Osasuna, with all the goals coming inside the first half.

It should not be a surprise. Comparing the statistics of the two probable starting lineups on Saturday makes for stark reading. While Madrid’s 11 players have made an average of just 18 starts in all competitions this campaign, while Atletico’s have made 31. It is a huge difference and a huge mountain for Simeone to overcome if he is to keep his side in title contention. His plan to inject fresh impetus into the squad with the loan signing of Diego has so far backfired.

He may now reflect that it would have been wise to have used the Copa del Rey as a chance to give more of his players a rest. They ultimately crashed out at the semifinal stage to Real Madrid, with a 3-0 defeat after an intense battle in the first leg being decisive.

Madrid went onto win return match at the Calderon, too, meaning that they have now seemingly put the two previous back-to-back defeats to Atletico behind them. Still, there was no sign that the inferiority complex that contributed heavily to Atletico going 13 years without a win against their foes, before snapping it in last season’s Copa del Rey final, has returned.

And there remains the strong possibility that Atletico will raise their level for the big occasion in front of their passionate fans at the Calderon on Sunday. There are few teams better equipped to test Madrid’s new found solidity than Atletico. Their counter-attacks can be deadly with Koke and Arda Turan supplying Diego Costa. At the back, a phenomenally well drilled unit and an excellent central defensive partnership of Miranda and Diego Godin will make life far harder than a shambolic Schalke side did in midweek.

But Madrid are just a better all-round team right now. Their defense has been very solid of late and they can both control the game better than Atletico while also retaining the option of striking with devastation on the break. The visitors have to start as favorites, but having had a midweek off for the first time in 2014, Atletico may do just enough to secure a share of the points with which Madrid may not be all that disappointed.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid Vs. Atletico Madrid: Prediction And Tactical Analysis For Crucial La Liga Derby

'Titanfall' Release Date Nearing: GameStop UK Offers Price Cut, Special Trade-In Offer For US Buyers getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® 'Titanfall' Release Date Nearing: GameStop UK Offers Price Cut, Special Trade-In Offer For US Buyers

GameStop UK is currently taking preorders for a discounted next-gen Xbox One “Titanfall” bundle, which will be available for £370. Yes, you read that correctly - the £30 discount is on top of the £30 price cut Microsoft announced on Feb. 24 for UK buyers.

Today, Microsoft will slash the price of the Xbox One in the U.K., from £429.99 to £399.99. Xbox U.K. Marketing Director Harvey Eagle confirmed Microsoft won’t be reducing the console’s price tag anywhere else. "We are very happy with the success of Xbox One," Eagle said to GameSpot on Feb. 24. "It's been our fastest-selling ever console in the U.K., and I think we've seen already that both [the Xbox One and PS4] have been tremendously successful in a short period of time and that's only good for the industry. We are just a few months into a generation that's going to last for many years to come. We see this therefore as a marathon, and it's something we're committed to for the long haul."

Eagle added that “we're doing this because it will generate sales, absolutely. I think it's a great deal for people in the UK to get a next-gen machine for £399 including Kinect, including ‘Titanfall,’ in the box. Yeah, it's a great deal and hopefully lots of people will take up the offer."

The bundle will come with a standard Xbox One, wireless controller, wired headset, “Titanfall” download code and a one-month Xbox Live Gold subscription. Unfortunately, the bundle won’t come with the limited edition “Titanfall” controller.

In the US, GameStop is holding a special trade in-offer for those wishing to purchase the bundle. Buyers will receive 50% extra in-store credit toward “Titanfall” when they trade in any console, along with 30% extra store credit when they trade in any item toward the game. Along with the special promotion, GameStop has launched a “Titan Academy” page via the store’s main website. It shows trailers, gameplay and an exclusive digital asset pack featuring themed skins for players’ social media profiles.

Microsoft is already rolling out the updates for the upcoming first-person shooter. “In many ways, the launch of ‘Titanfall’ will enable us to deliver the first truly next generation multiplayer game -- one that will take advantage of the new party and chat improvements we’re delivering, build on the power of the cloud in a way only Microsoft can and connect fans on Xbox Live, home of the best multiplayer and service in gaming,” Corporate Vice President Yusuf Mehdi said in a blog post on Feb. 24. “With Xbox One, we invested in features like multiplayer alerts so you never miss a match while watching TV and so much more.”

Will you buy the "Titanfall" bundle at GameStop? Leave a comment below or Tweet me!

'Titanfall' Release Date Nearing: GameStop UK Offers Price Cut, Special Trade-In Offer For US Buyers

Richie Incognito Enters Psychiatric Care Facility Amid Mental Health Concerns, Smashed Ferrari Incident: Report [PHOTO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Richie Incognito Enters Psychiatric Care Facility Amid Mental Health Concerns, Smashed Ferrari Incident: Report [PHOTO]

Former Miami Dolphins offensive line Richie Incognito will receive professional counseling in order to deal with “severe mental stress,” according to a report.

Incognito’s recent erratic behavior includes smashing his own $300,000 Ferrari with a baseball bat and several emotional Twitter rants. According to the NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington, Incognito’s problems stem from the fallout generated by private investigator Ted Wells’ report regarding the Jonathan Martin bullying scandal.

In February, Wells released a report detailing Incognito’s systematic verbal abuse of Martin and multiple other Dolphins employees. According to Darlington, the public scrutiny generated by the report has caused Incognito significant mental distress.

“After a very long few weeks, I can report Richie Incognito has accepted professional help in wake of severe mental stress from Wells report,” Darlington tweeted on Friday. “Incognito is currently being treated at a facility in Arizona after what has been some very stressful times for him & those closest to him.”

Sources familiar with the situation say that police officials in Scottsdale, Ariz., filed a petition to have Incognito admitted to a psychiatric care unit, TMZ reports. Incognito did not voluntarily submit to the program, but reportedly admitted that requires help to deal with the stress in his life.

News out Incognito’s choice to seek help came just hours after the 30-year-old’s bizarre admission that he had smashed his own Ferrari with a baseball bat. In an interview with Fox 10 in Phoenix, Ariz., he referred to the act as a “piece of art.”

“That was just me venting,” Incognito told Fox 10. That was self-expression, that’s a piece of art. The happiest day of my life was when I got that car, and now the second-happiest day is going to be when I donate it to charity.”

Richie Incognito Enters Psychiatric Care Facility Amid Mental Health Concerns, Smashed Ferrari Incident: Report [PHOTO]

European Central Bank (ECB) March 6 Meeting Preview: Further Stimulus Action? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® European Central Bank (ECB) March 6 Meeting Preview: Further Stimulus Action?

It looks touch and go whether the European Central Bank will add additional policy stimulus at the Governing Council meeting on March 6. Having successfully navigated major threats to banks and sovereigns, the ECB is now facing a non-negligible risk that deflation may take root in the euro zone.

Although the just-released February’s euro zone consumer prices figures are a bit stronger than expected, this hardly transforms the basic picture that inflation is well below the ECB’s 2 percent ceiling and inflation will likely stay very low or fall further, according to Capital Economics analyst Jonathan Loynes.

Euro area CPI inflation was stable at 0.8 percent in February, where it has been since December. This is marginally above the four-year low rate of 0.7 percent seen in October. Inflation had come down sharply to October’s low from 1.1 percent in September, 1.3 percent in August and 1.6 percent in July 2013.

February’s results “certainly don’t rule out further policy action from the ECB next week,” Loynes said. “Not only is there still a large degree of slack in the economy, but the strength of the euro is bearing down on import prices.”

Much will likely depend on whether the ECB staff’s new forecasts show euro zone consumer price inflation still below 2.0 percent in 2016, according to Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight. “Any future spike up in euro zone money market rates would also likely trigger ECB action over the coming months,” Archer said.

Meanwhile, the continued high level of unemployment across the single-currency bloc (unchanged at 12 percent in January) will ensure that wage pressures remain subdued.

While unemployment for January was down from a record high of 12.1 percent seen between April and September 2013, it was still up from 11.9 percent at the end of 2012 and a low of 9.9 percent in the early months of 2011.

“The euro zone jobs problem is far from over as unemployment remains damagingly high and it seems unlikely to come down markedly for some time to come,” Archer said. “Economic activity will likely remain too limited in the near term at least to generate many jobs.”

“Add in the recent further falls in liquidity in the banking sector and the likelihood of further rises in the euro in the event of inaction and we still think there is a very good chance of either a small interest rate cut or possibly even some form of quantitative easing next week,” Loynes said.

“February’s inaction was not a signal that the ECB has run out of policy ammunition or is unprepared to deploy its remaining weapons,” Loynes added. “Rather, the decision appeared to be mainly driven by matters of timing.”

European Central Bank (ECB) March 6 Meeting Preview: Further Stimulus Action?

Bitcoin Trade Volume Soars In China Following The Fall Of Mt. Gox getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Bitcoin Trade Volume Soars In China Following The Fall Of Mt. Gox

Mt. Gox may have fallen, but it’s not all over yet for bitcoin. The digital currency had a good week in China, with the opening of the first bitcoin retail store, and a surge in trading volume at the Beijing-based Huobi.com, now the largest bitcoin trading platform in the world by volume.

The Japan-based Mt. Gox once hosted 80 percent of the world’s bitcoin trades, but was obliged to file for bankruptcy on Friday, after losing nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of the virtual currency. Allegedly, 744,408 bitcoins, or 6 percent of all bitcoins in circulation, have been lost, Market Watch reported.

This may be the biggest of a series of setbacks bitcoin has experienced in recent months, but thankfully, elsewhere in the world, the virtual currency is still doing OK. The fall of Mt. Gox provided a surprising impetus for Chinese bitcoin enthusiasts. On Monday when Mt. Gox was shut down, bitcoin value plunged more than 12 percent. On BitStamp, another exchange, the virtual currency was trading at $568.03 on Friday, compared to $1,132 in its peak in 2013.

Beijing-based Huobi.com benefitted from the price slash, with 110,992 bitcoins changing hands in the past 24 hours alone, and about 1.38 bitcoins traded in the past seven days, which accounts for 54 percent of total trade volume during that period in the world.

Another beneficiary of the Mt. Gox fall is ANXBTC Exchange, who opened a bitcoin retail store in Hong Kong on Friday. For the first time, buyers can simply walk into the store, pay cash and send bitcoins to their virtual wallets, instead of buying with credit cards on online exchanges, said Ken Lo, CEO of ANXBTC. Lo also forecasted a bright future for the virtual currency in the Chinese markets at the opening ceremony of the store.

“Many people here think the bitcoin is undervalued, and rush to buy the currency,” Hugh Madden, CTO of ANXBTC, told MarketWatch, “This is partly why we set up the first bitcoin retail store in the city.”

Bitcoin has not been faring well in China for some months. At the end of a seemingly sensational year in China, bitcoin value began tumbling in the Chinese markets when China first banned financial institutions from trading in bitcoin in December, then restricted BTC China, then the world’s biggest exchange by trading volume, from accepting deposits in yuan. In Janauary, e-commerce giant Alibaba banned bitcoins from its online shopping sites.

Photos from Reuters

Bitcoin Trade Volume Soars In China Following The Fall Of Mt. Gox

Jeff Gordon 'Test Drive 2': NASCAR Star Poses As Taxi Driver, Takes Writer On Police Car Chase In Pepsi Max Prank [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Jeff Gordon 'Test Drive 2': NASCAR Star Poses As Taxi Driver, Takes Writer On Police Car Chase In Pepsi Max Prank [VIDEO]

NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon terrorizes a civilian yet again in the sequel to Pepsi Max’s popular “Test Drive” campaign.

In “Test Drive,” Gordon, the winningest active driver in NASCAR history, goes undercover and shows off his high-speed skills for an unsuspecting bystander. In 2013, the 42-year-old posed as an average person interested in buying a used car. However, when a salesman consented to a test drive, Gordon performed donuts, made illegal lane changes, drove at high speeds and generally did anything he could to scare the poor guy.

The original “Test Drive” prank was so funny, the used car salesman’s reaction so perfect, that several Internet writers—including Jalopnik’s Travis Okulski—accused Pepsi Max of hiring an actor for the role (which they had—the first commercial was fake). In response, Gordon and the Pepsi Max decided to dispel the rumors wrong by luring Okulski into taking part in “Test Drive 2.”

Okulski describes the entire scenario on Jalopnik, but here are the basics: Matt Hardigree, the site’s editor, informed Okulski that he would be sent to Charlotte to review the new Corvette Z06, well before the rest of the media would have a chance to test the vehicle. He was instructed not to tell anyone about the opportunity.

The Jalopnik writer flew down to Charlotte, only to find that a production assistant had booked the wrong hotel for him. So Okulski climbed into a cab and chatted with “Travis,” his driver.

Before long, Travis got antsy—he noticed a cop car in his rear-view mirror. “There’s a cop behind me. I get nervous when cops are on me. I just got out after 10 years in jail,” he told Okulski. Sure enough, the police lights flashed and Travis took Okulski on a wild car chase.

The unsuspecting writer spent several minutes screaming for help and begging Travis to pull over and let him out of the taxi—until the car pulled into an abandoned warehouse. Confetti fell from the rafters as Gordon exited the vehicle and revealed that the entire car chase was an elaborate prank.

Pepsi Max’s entire “Test Drive 2” commercial can be viewed below. To his credit, Okulski took the entire thing in stride:

Jeff Gordon 'Test Drive 2': NASCAR Star Poses As Taxi Driver, Takes Writer On Police Car Chase In Pepsi Max Prank [VIDEO]

Liverpool Transfer News: Real Madrid's Isco And Barcelona's Krkic On Reds' Radar getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Liverpool Transfer News: Real Madrid's Isco And Barcelona's Krkic On Reds' Radar

Apparently unsatisfied with boasting the two top goal scorers in the English Premier League in Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, it appears Liverpool’s summer transfer plans center on further bolstering their already stellar attack.

Brendan Rodgers side has been linked to numerous rumors for players all over Europe, and clearly the club will be very busy this summer, especially if Champions League is in the cards.

The most recent rumor could turn into the steal of the summer should the Reds pull it off. According to Daily Mirror, Liverpool looks to buy low on talented but struggling striker Bojan Krkic, who’s currently on loan to Ajax via Spanish giants Barcelona. A reported fee of £5 million has been floated.

Originally a highly sought after prospect as rising through Barcelona’s youth academy, the 23-year-old eventually jumped shipped to Roma following a £35 million deal. However he struggled in Serie A, totaling seven goals in 33 appearances over the course of two years.

Afterwards Krkic went on loan to Milan, before returning to Nou Camp only to be loaned off again this time to the Dutch. Krkic’s totaled 16 appearances and scored two goals for Ajax this season.

Bouncing around Europe has deflated Krkic’s value, but there’s no denying his versatility. Krkic’s capable of spreading all over the attack and midfield, and the Reds might believe they can coax his talent to the surface with reported plans of a long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard and the possibility of moving on from Joe Allen.

A swing to the cheaper or more cost effective side of the transfer market has followed speculation that Liverpool would purge Real Madrid for both French national Karim Benzema, and 21-year-old rising star Isco.

However it seems Isco would garner the biggest offer, with Caught Offside reporting the Reds are planning a record £37 million bid.

Again such uncharacteristically expensive moves hinge on whether Liverpool qualifies for UCL, but such planning could also be enough to keep Suarez’s attention. The Uruguayan has kept quiet for much of this season, following a nasty back-and-forth with the club over his contract and their lack of play in the world’s top tournaments last summer.

An extended Anfield stay should be an excellent move for Isco, who’s garnered little pitch time in Madrid since he switched from Malaga last summer. Isco’s made 19 total appearances and netted seven goals in this year’s campaign.

Liverpool Transfer News: Real Madrid's Isco And Barcelona's Krkic On Reds' Radar

Jury Awards Shayla Stevens, Ex-Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, $6.4M For Da Brat Attack getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Jury Awards Shayla Stevens, Ex-Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, $6.4M For Da Brat Attack

Former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader Shayla Stevens was awarded $6.4 million in damages from Da Brat after a Georgia jury found the rapper liable for attacking Stevens with a bottle of rum back in 2007.

Da Brat, real name Shawntae Harris, served about three years in prison for the attack. Aside from a criminal conviction, the Atlanta-based rapper was also found liable in a civil suit filed in 2009 by Stevens. A Cobb County jury awarded the ex-Falcons cheerleader and waitress $3.7 million in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday.

The jury said Da Brat, 39, was responsible for Stevens’ injuries from the 2007 Atlanta nightclub incident, including permanent facial scarring, neurological impairment and severe mental pain, TMZ reported. The assault occurred at a Halloween party at Studio 72, a club owned by hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri.

Da Brat’s attorney, B.J. Bernstein, said he thought the jury’s verdict was excessive.

“I’m baffled,” the told the Journal-Constitution. “She owned up to what happened when it happened and was punished.”

Stevens’ attorney Mark Link, disagreed. He pointed out that his client’s injuries are ones Stevens will have to deal with for the rest of her life.

“She has a brain injury and is a brain injury survivor,” Link told the Journal-Constitution. “It’s not something that will ever go away. She has a scar on her face. She had so much going for her and for it come to an abrupt stop because of this attack.”

Bernstein wouldn’t say whether Da Brat is thinking of appealing the jury’s decision. She is still on probation for the assault after spending about three years in Arrendale State Prison.

Jury Awards Shayla Stevens, Ex-Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, $6.4M For Da Brat Attack

Utah Valley, New Mexico State Brawl: College Basketball Fans Storm Court, Players Fight After Overtime Game [VIDEO] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Utah Valley, New Mexico State Brawl: College Basketball Fans Storm Court, Players Fight After Overtime Game [VIDEO]

A thrilling overtime college basketball game ended in violence on Thursday after fans stormed the court in the midst of a postgame brawl between opposing players.

Utah Valley (17-10) defeated New Mexico State (21-9) in a 66-61 overtime thriller to maintain their spot atop the WAC on Thursday, Deadspin reports. The win was enough to prompt the hometown crowd to storm the court—a college basketball tradition associated with upset victories.

However, players from both teams had yet to leave the court, and New Mexico State’s K.C. Ross-Miller’s frustration boiled over into violence. He picked up the basketball and threw it at Utah Valley’s Holton Hunsaker, an action which drew a stunned response from the rest of Hunsaker’s teammates.

New Mexico State’s coaching staff rushed to pull away Ross-Miller and diffuse a potential postgame brawl, but several other players had already jumped into the fray. As fans rushed onto the court to celebrate, players from both teams exchanged punches and shoves before various officials managed to separate them. Several fans found themselves at the center of the postgame brawl; Deadspin notes that a few of them threw punches at New Mexico State players.

NCAA officials have yet to announce any fines or suspensions for those involved in the fight. A video of the Utah Valley-New Mexico State brawl can be viewed below.

Utah Valley, New Mexico State Brawl: College Basketball Fans Storm Court, Players Fight After Overtime Game [VIDEO]

Oscars 2014 Betting Odds And Best Prop Bets: 'Gravity' And '12 Years A Slave' Are Big Favorites At The 86th Academy Awards getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Oscars 2014 Betting Odds And Best Prop Bets: 'Gravity' And '12 Years A Slave' Are Big Favorites At The 86th Academy Awards

It seems like everyone is an expert when it comes to the Oscars 2014. Whether it is who will win the Academy Award for Best Picture or Best Actor, which movie is the favorite to win the most awards or which film got snubbed from the nominations, there is plenty of speculation and oddsmakers have weighed in on who they think will win on March 2.

Oscars 2014 betting lines have been set up at Paddy Power, Bovada and other bookmakers. There are the obvious categories as well as some interesting prop bets for those looking to wager on multiple outcomes.

For the night's biggest award, Best Picture, "12 Years a Slave" is a heavy favorite with "Gravity" right behind it. Paddy Power has "12 Years a Slave" at 1/6 odds, meaning a $2 bet will yield $2.37, and other oddsmakers have similar odds, with the best odds around the Internet at 2/7, according to OddsChecker. To date, "12 Years a Slave" has won Best Film at BAFTA 2014 and the Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes. "Gravity" has 7/2 odds at Paddy Power and the best odds are 4/1 odds.

For those looking for an underdog, "American Hustle" has 12/1 to 19/1 odds while "Dallas Buyers Club" has 12/1 to 40/1 odds. "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Her," "Captain Phillips," "Philomena" and "Nebraska" are all heavy underdogs with Paddy Power pegging "Wolf" at 50/1 odds and the other four Best Picture nominees at 200/1 odds.

Oddsmakers seem to be in agreement when it comes to the Oscars 2014 Best Director category. Alfonso Cuaron has won the Best Director award, or its equivalent, at BAFTA 2014, the Golden Globes and the DGA Awards for "Gravity" and the oddsmakers expect to hear his name announced on Sunday. The best odds for Cuaron are at 1/16, a $2 bet yields $2.12, according to OddsChecker. Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave") is a distant second followed by David O. Russell ("American Hustle"), Martin Scorsese ("The Wolf of Wall Street") and Alexander Payne ("Nebraska").

The Oscars 2014 Best Acting categories all feature tight races, according to the betting lines. Best Actor is the most intriguing category and features a three-man race at the top. Matthew McConaughey ("Dallas Buyers Club") the favorite following wins at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild but there is plenty of action on Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Wolf of Wall Street") while Chiwetel Ejiofor ("12 Years a Slave") falling behind.

Best Actress is a bit clearer with Cate Blanchett ("Blue Jasmine") the favorite but there can be some interesting bets as oddsmakers seem split on Sandra Bullock ("Gravity") and Amy Adams ("American Hustle") battling for second place. Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress also feature heavy favorites with Jared Leto ("Dallas Buyers Club") and Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave") are expected to win on Sunday.

For those looking for more interesting Oscars 2014 bets, there are several prop bets to choose from. Bovado has a few including the total Oscar wins for Gravity, if the same film will win Best Picture and Best Director and an over/under on the total viewing audience for the Oscars 2014.

Oscars 2014 will air on March 12 at 7 p.m. EST on ABC.

Oscars 2014 Betting Odds And Best Prop Bets: 'Gravity' And '12 Years A Slave' Are Big Favorites At The 86th Academy Awards

US Q4 GDP Revised Down To 2.4% From 3.2% On Lower Consumer Spending getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® US Q4 GDP Revised Down To 2.4% From 3.2% On Lower Consumer Spending

The U.S. economy grew at a 2.4 percent annualized rate in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said Friday, revising down its initial estimate of a 3.2 percent increase in the nation's economic performance.

The drop in fourth-quarter gross domestic product growth was largely due to a smaller-than-expected boost from Americans buying bit-ticket items such as autos.

Consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the U.S. economy, slowed to a 2.6 percent rise from 3.3 percent in the third quarter. Export, inventory accumulation and government spending also contributed to the downward revision in GDP.

Capital Economics' Paul Ashworth now expects the first-quarter 2014 GDP growth to be close to 2.0 percent. "Once the weather effects begin to unwind in the second quarter, however, we would anticipate a pick-up in GDP growth to nearer 3 percent over the remaining three quarters of this year," Ashworth said in a note.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, which has been trimming the amount of money it is injecting into the economy through monthly bond purchases, views the recent soft patch as a cold weather-related temporary phase. Fed Chair Janet Yellen told lawmakers Thursday that it will take a "significant" change in the outlook for the economy to prompt the central bank to consider pausing or changing the pace of tapering.

US Q4 GDP Revised Down To 2.4% From 3.2% On Lower Consumer Spending

Wind Farms Along The Coast May Counter Force Of Hurricanes, Researchers Say getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Wind Farms Along The Coast May Counter Force Of Hurricanes, Researchers Say

Offshore wind farms may have more benefit than generating renewable electricity. A new study finds wind turbines could blunt the force of hurricanes before the storms hit land, preventing damage to cities and homes as well as to the turbines themselves.

The research, published online this week in the journal Nature Climate Change, concludes that wind turbines could reduce hurricanes’ wind speeds by 56-92 mph and wave heights and the resulting storm surge flooding by 6 to 79 percent.

"The little turbines can fight back the beast," Cristina Archer, a co-author of the study and associate professor at the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, told CBS News.

Archer and Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, found in a previous study that there is more than enough wind to support energy needs worldwide and not affect the global climate.

Archer and Jacobson worked with Willet Kempton, Archer’s colleague at the University of Delaware, to simulate the effect wind turbines may have had during three hurricanes: Sandy and Isaac, which swept New York and New Orleans respectively in 2012, and Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005.

They used computer models to calculate that wind farms off the coasts of New Orleans and New York would have reduced Katrina’s winds by 98 mph and Sandy’s by 87 mph. The wind turbines would have reduced storm surge by up to 34 percent for Sandy and 79 percent for Katrina.

The wind turbines would slow down the outer rotation winds of a hurricane, decreasing wave height that then reduces the movement of air toward the center of the hurricane. This would increase the central pressure, which slows the winds of the entire hurricane and dissipates the storm faster, the study explains.

Although the wind farms could not completely dissipate a hurricane or prevent the storm from forming, they would prevent significant damage to coastal cities, which could save lives, and they generate electricity in both normal and hurricane-like conditions.

The paper, titled “Taming Hurricanes with Arrays of Offshore Wind Turbines,” will be published in print in March.

Wind Farms Along The Coast May Counter Force Of Hurricanes, Researchers Say

China's Insurance Companies In Competition With E-Commerce Giants To Sell Policies Online getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® China's Insurance Companies In Competition With E-Commerce Giants To Sell Policies Online

Internet finance has become the newest battleground in China, as more Chinese than ever are getting online for the first time. Traditional insurers, hoping to take advantage of this new lucrative sector, are however frustrated by costs and competition from e-commerce giants.

Increasingly, insurers are diversifying their sales channels through providing third-party online payment services, according to Wang Guojun, an insurance professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday.

Ping An Insurance Co of China Ltd (SHA:601318), China’s second-largest insurance company, was the first to adopt third-party payment business last month, launching a mobile payment and social networking platform named Yiwallet.

“Ping An aims to develop an integrated financial service platform,” Wang said. “Providing third-party payment services will not only benefit its online insurance sales but also its other internet financial business.”

Other companies, like Taikang Life Insurance, PICC Property & Casualty Co., Ltd. (HKG:2328) and China Pacific Property Insurance, instead partnered with e-commerce giants like Alibaba, to sell insurance policies on Taobao, China’s eBay-like online retail platform under the Alibaba banner.

The benefit of doing this instead of running a third party payment platform on their own is lower costs, Wang said. But a third-party payment service like Ping An now offers can be used to link up various businesses in the financial industry, including insurance, banking, trust and securities, a Ping An spokesman told the South China Morning Post.

Online insurance sales surged to 29.1 billion yuan ($474 million) last year, a whopping 810 percent increase from just 3.2 billion yuan in 2011, according to data from the Insurnace Association of China.

“The market potential for e-commerce [in the insurance industry] is huge,” said Zhang Meng, an analyst with the Beijing-based information technology consultancy Analysys. “We can see that insurance companies, agencies are selling insurance policies online, while these products are also available on Taobao and online retailer Jingdong.”

China's Insurance Companies In Competition With E-Commerce Giants To Sell Policies Online

Is Ryanair Serious About $10 Flights Between US And Europe? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Is Ryanair Serious About $10 Flights Between US And Europe?

Ryanair, Europe’s biggest and most profitable airline, just announced a new business model that would see the no-frills carrier work to expand into the United States with airfare as low as $10 on select transatlantic flights.

The airline’s colorful and headline-loving chief executive, Michael O’Leary, spoke of his ambitious plans at the Irish Hotels Federation conference in Meath earlier this week, saying that he’d offer tickets from Europe to New York and Boston for just 10 euros ($13.70) and flights back starting at only $10 (7.30 euros).

If it sounds way too good to be true, keep in mind that a $10 fare comes with a big asterisks that will likely make the price look about 25 percent heftier when all is said and done. O’Leary himself is the first to admit that he’ll charge for everything from booking to baggage and seat selection.

“We can make money on 99 cent fares in Europe,” he enthused at the hotels conference, according to the Irish Independent. “Not every seat will be 10-euro of course, there will also need to be a very high number of business or premium seats.”

O’Leary has said in the past that the “15 percent of the public who will pay for the frills” help subsidize ultra-low fares for the rest of the passengers.

The ever outspoken CEO anticipates flights between up to 14 major European cities and as many as 14 U.S. destinations. But don’t expect to see the bargain-basement tickets advertised anytime soon.

Ryanair won’t commence flights to the U.S. until it secures a fleet of between 30 and 50 long-haul aircraft, O’Leary said. Intense competition for new aircraft orders fueled by the rapidly expanding (and state-backed) Gulf carriers means it could take up to five years before his dream becomes a reality.

Currently, the lowest one-way fares for flights between London and New York hover around $250 if booked months in advance. However, analysts say the Ryanair plan could massively undercut even the cheapest deals now on sale.

“If Ryanair were to enter the North Atlantic market, they could single-handedly control pricing. They would be the undisputed pricing leader,” Henry Harteveldt, an airline analyst with Hudson Crossing, explained to International Business Times. “If they were to offer a business class product, as O’Leary has mentioned, they would certainly pose a major challenge to established airlines.”

Ryainair, like Spirit Airlines in the U.S., is famous for its unbundled fare structure and ultra-low prices. It often flies to smaller, cheaper airports like London Stansted, has a track record of gimmicky fares offset by wild fees and has mulled charges for things as basic as using the toilet.

Despite its questionable customer service practices and punitive fees, Harteveldt said Ryanair could still attract a considerable consumer base for transatlantic flights. “It isn’t like standard economy is that great when you fly on any of the existing airlines running between the U.K. and U.S., where legroom and amenities are both minimal. Certainly there is in-flight entertainment, but there are not many creature comforts.”

Harteveldt said it would be interesting to see the product offering, as current flights do not have reclining seats or window shades. Also, which airports would Ryanair choose to fly to: the major airports or regional alternatives like Providence instead of Boston Logan and Islip instead of New York JFK?

O’Leary has talked about entering the long-haul market for years, and Harteveldt cautioned that it’s best not to make too much of it until the airline makes an official announcement. Long-haul operations, after all, are extremely complex and very dissimilar from inter-European flying, offering a different level of productivity.

Moreover, any shift away from Ryanair’s core European strategy would likely pave the way for a separate division charged with operating the long-haul flights, as has been the case for similar budget carriers like AirAsia and Jetstar. Ryanair would also need to reconfigure its ticketing systems away from the current point-to-point structure to be a credible competitor.

Nevertheless, Harteveldt said if Ryanair does make its U.S.-to-Europe flights work one day, it would be “a credible threat to any airline it competes with.”

Is Ryanair Serious About $10 Flights Between US And Europe?

Earnings Preview: Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), Joy Global Inc (JOY), Staples Inc (SPLS) getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Earnings Preview: Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), Joy Global Inc (JOY), Staples Inc (SPLS)

The fourth-quarter earnings season is getting into its final weeks. Earnings for the companies in the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) that have reported results so far grew 8.5 percent on average in the fourth quarter, according to FactSet Research, with 72 percent of the S&P 500 topping expectations.

We ran a screen and produced a list of 9 notable companies set to report their earnings between March 3 and March 7. We've highlighted their expected reporting dates and times, along with analysts' earnings-per-share (fully reported) and revenue estimates from Reuters, as well as the stocks' trailing 12-month performances.

Monday Before Markets Open, or BMO:

Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ:DNDN) is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutics that may significantly improve cancer treatment options for patients. Dendreon Corp. has a market capitalization of $466.16 million. It is expected to report a loss of 37 cents a share in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 on revenue of $73.59 million, compared with a loss of 26 cents a share on revenue of $85.49 million in the year-ago period. The company is trading at around $2.95 per share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lost 47.0 percent.

Tuesday BMO:

RadioShack Corp. (NYSE:RSH) is engaged in the retail sale of consumer electronics goods and services through its RadioShack store chain. The company has a market capitalization of $259.92 million. It is expected to report a loss of 12 cents a share in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 on revenue of $1.12 billion, compared with a loss of 63 cents a share on revenue of $1.30 billion in the year-ago period. RadioShack Corporation is trading at around $2.60 per share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lost 20.9 percent.

Wednesday BMO:

PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ:PETM) supplies products, services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. Petsmart Inc. has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion. It is expected to report FY 2013 fourth-quarter EPS of $1.22 on revenue of $1.83 billion, compared with a profit of $1.24 a share on revenue of $1.88 billion in the year-ago period. The company is trading at around $66.27 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 3.8 percent.

Thursday BMO:

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST) with its subsidiaries is engaged in the operation of membership warehouses. The company has a market capitalization of $50.92 billion. It is expected to report FY 2014 second-quarter EPS of $1.16 on revenue of $26.67 billion, compared with a profit of $1.24 a share on revenue of $24.87 billion in the year-ago period. Costco Wholesale Corporation is trading at around $115.92 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 15.0 percent.

Joy Global Inc. (NYSE:JOY) is a manufacturer and servicer of high productivity mining equipment for the extraction of coal and other minerals and ores. The company has a market capitalization of $5.69 billion. It is expected to report FY 2014 first-quarter EPS of 62 cents on revenue of $835.38 million, compared with a profit of $1.33 a share on revenue of $1.15 billion in the year-ago period. Joy Global Inc. is trading at around $55.74 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lost 12.1 percent.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is a retailer in the U.S. The company has a market capitalization of $20.72 billion. It is expected to report FY 2013 fourth-quarter EPS of 74 cents on revenue of $23.18 billion, compared with a profit of 88 cents a share on revenue of $24.15 billion in the year-ago period. The Kroger Co. is trading at around $40.13 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 38.3 percent.

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) is an office products company that has a market capitalization of $8.79 billion. It is expected to report FY 2013 fourth-quarter EPS of 40 cents on revenue of $5.98 billion, compared with a profit of 12 cents a share on revenue of $6.57 billion in the year-ago period. Staples Inc. is trading at around $13.44 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 1.4 percent.

Thursday After Markets Close, or AMC:

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE:HRB) through its subsidiaries provides tax preparation and banking services. The company has a market capitalization of $8.71 billion. It is expected to report a loss of 10 cents a share in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 on revenue of $519.31 million, compared with a loss of 7 cents a share on revenue of $471.98 million in the year-ago period. H&R Block Inc. is trading at around $31.80 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 27.7 percent.

Friday BMO:

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE:FL) is a global retailer of shoes and apparel. The company has a market capitalization of $6.13 billion. It is expected to report FY 2013 fourth-quarter EPS of 76 cents on revenue of $1.76 billion, compared with a profit of 68 cents a share on revenue of $1.71 billion in the year-ago period. Foot Locker Inc. is trading at around $41.77 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 23.1 percent.

Earnings Preview: Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), Joy Global Inc (JOY), Staples Inc (SPLS)

What Does 'My Brother's Keeper' Mean? President Obama Launches New Initiative getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® What Does 'My Brother's Keeper' Mean? President Obama Launches New Initiative

President Barak Obama has a message for minority men like him: If he could do it, so can you. The president took center stage at the White House to reveal a new initiative called “My Brother’s Keeper.”

"No excuses. Government, and private sector, and philanthropy, and all the faith communities, we all have a responsibility to help provide you the tools you need. We've got to help you knock down some of the barriers that you experience," Obama said, as quoted by CNN.

He even compared himself to the young men of today, with one exception: "The only difference is that I grew up in an environment that was a little bit more forgiving. So when I made a mistake, the consequences were not as severe," the president said.

"But you've got responsibilities too. And I know you can meet the challenge, many of you already are, if you make the effort."

The main point of the program is to help young men and boys of color succeed. President Obama explained it "goes to the very heart of why I ran for President," and he went on to speak about his own father, drugs and race.

As per White House officials, the president was more emotional about the initiative than they had expected. "I didn't have a dad in the house, and I was angry about it, even though I didn't necessarily realize it at the time. I made bad choices. I got high without always thinking about the harm that it could do. I didn't always take school as seriously as I should have. I made excuses. Sometimes I sold myself short," Obama said.

He reinforced how important it was to have a strong support system: "I had people who encouraged me, not just my mom and grandparents, but wonderful teachers and community leaders. And they pushed me to work hard, and study hard, and make the most of myself. And if I didn't listen, they said it again. And if I didn't listen, they said it a third time -- and they would give me second chances and third chances."

He continued, "They never gave up on me, and so I didn't give up on myself."

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in the program to help young minority men succeed. The president talked about statistics and how they are not in favor of these young people of color.

"The worst part is we've become numb to these statistics. We're not surprised by them. We take them as the norm. We just assume this is an inevitable part of American life, instead of the outrage that it is," Obama said.

"But these statistics should break our hearts, and they should compel us to act."

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What Does 'My Brother's Keeper' Mean? President Obama Launches New Initiative

High Hopes For Marijuana In Alaska: The Last Frontier Could Become The Third US State To Legalize The Sale And Recreational Use of Marijuana getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® High Hopes For Marijuana In Alaska: The Last Frontier Could Become The Third US State To Legalize The Sale And Recreational Use of Marijuana

Under a proposal that qualified Wednesday for a statewide ballot, Alaska voters this summer will get to determine whether the Last Frontier will become the third state to legalize the sale of marijuana and its recreational use.

On Aug. 17, the marijuana initiative -- as well as a measure to increase the state's minimum wage by $2 an hour to $9.75 by January 2016 -- will be put on Alaska's primary election ballot.

A petition campaign for the marijuana initiative had gathered more than 36,000 signatures from registered voters, almost 6,000 more than legally required to qualify, Alaska Lieutenant Gov. Mead Treadwell formally certified.

Alaska would collect a tax of $50 per ounce of marijuana at the wholesale level under the measure.

The effort to make recreational marijuana use legal in Alaska -- one of 20 states that allow medical marijuana -- joins a wider effort in the U.S. to nix prohibition of pot, which continues to be classified as an illegal narcotic under federal law.

Passage of the marijuana initiative would permit adults 21 and older to possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of pot for their own use and to grow up to six cannabis plants for personal consumption, Reuters reported.

The initiative also paves the way for state-regulated commercial sales of marijuana utilizing a structure similar to the ones used in Colorado and Washington state. In 2012, voters in those states were the first to legalize recreational pot use. Pot sales there take after the system used by many U.S. states when it comes to alcohol sales.

Oregon activists are also gathering signatures to add a legalization measure to the 2014 ballot in that state.

"A bipartisan tidal wave of public support for regulating marijuana like alcohol in Alaska has pushed this issue onto the ballot, and we will be running an aggressive campaign designed to build momentum on that," campaign spokesman Taylor Bickford said.

Efforts at prohibition have failed, and the signatures collected by the pro-marijuana campaign underscore the desire for a more "sensible approach," Bickford said, according to Reuters.

"There is more public dialogue about marijuana taking place than ever before," Mason Tvert, spokesman for the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Project, said. "It won't be long before we see similar steps being taken in other states."

High Hopes For Marijuana In Alaska: The Last Frontier Could Become The Third US State To Legalize The Sale And Recreational Use of Marijuana

Confidential Clinton White House Papers To Be Released Friday Afternoon getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Confidential Clinton White House Papers To Be Released Friday Afternoon

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library will release 4,000-5,000 pages of previously confidential memos from former President Clinton’s administration on Friday at 1 p.m. ET.

The records are part of a larger set of 33,000 pages set for release over the next two weeks, says CNN. They will be available both at the Clinton Library and on its website.

The documents to be released have been requested for public release under the Freedom of Information Act but were withheld for their sensitive nature.

The Presidential Records Act of 1978 allows such documents to be withheld for up to 12 years after that president leaves office. The current and former U.S. presidents are given 30 days to assert executive privilege to withhold certain documents from release. The 12-year exemption for these documents actually ran out in January 2013.

President George W. Bush signed an executive order that allowed POTUS to indefinitely withhold documents from public release, but President Barack Obama reinstated the 30-day review period on his first full day in office.

A White House aide told Politico that the delay is not because they are holding the documents up, but that the process to coordinate between entities and release these documents has taken more than a year.

“The White House has cleared … roughly 25,000 pages,” said the unnamed aide, “There have been no executive privilege assertions on Clinton materials to date.”

The aide went on to say that former President Clinton also was not asserting executive privilege over any documents, which would have to be supported by President Obama to be valid.

A National Archives spokesman, however, said that some documents still await approval. The White House has extended the deadline for the records until March 26.

With former First Lady Hillary Clinton potentially running for president in 2016, there has been unusually high interest in the Clinton documents, as they may reveal the inner workings of the Clinton White House.

Confidential Clinton White House Papers To Be Released Friday Afternoon

Samsung Galaxy S5 For T-Mobile Gets 100K Pre-Sale Inquiries, Carrier’s Pricing Leaked? getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Samsung Galaxy S5 For T-Mobile Gets 100K Pre-Sale Inquiries, Carrier’s Pricing Leaked?

It appears that T-Mobile users cannot wait to get their hands on the recently announced Samsung Galaxy S5. The mobile network had a pre-registration page set up not long after the Galaxy S5 was announced on Monday and has garnered over 100,000 pre-sale inquiries in two days from consumers interested in the upcoming device.

T-Mobile CMO Mike Sievert tweeted about the accolade on Wednesday, stating that it is a new pre-registration record for the carrier. However, some commentators are a little more cynical, noting that the contest to win a free Galaxy S5 handset, which consumers are automatically entered into when pre-registering for the device, may be the reason for the influx if inquiries. Even so, Sievert believes the Galaxy S5 launch will “be big” for T-Mobile.

High interest in an upcoming Galaxy flagship is nothing new. Shortly after the Samsung Galaxy S4 was announced, reports indicated that the popular European retailer Carphone Warehouse garnered four times the pre-sale interest for the Galaxy S4 than it received for the Samsung Galaxy S3; though the retailer did not share its exact sales figures. Notably, pre-sale interest is not a precise indicator of how the phone will fare once on the market.

This time around, Samsung has adopted a “back to the basics” strategy for the Galaxy S5; in addition to a host of new features, the manufacturer is putting an emphasis on features, which it says are most important to its customers. These features include: a simple yet powerful camera, faster and seamless connectivity, and to track fitness. The Samsung Galaxy S5 features a 16-megapixel camera with fast autofocus tech, selective focus and HDR rich tone; full LTE coverage (up to 8 bands in any region), as well as WiFi MIMO 802.11ac, a download booster, which prompts speeds up to 400Mbps; and a built in heart rate monitor and updated to the S-Health apps. Though the outlook for the Galaxy S5 was uncertain prior to its unveiling, Forbes suggests that the public response to the Galaxy S5 thus far has been positive.

Meanwhile, the price of the T-Mobile Galaxy S5 model leaked on the network’s website on Wednesday, TMoNews reported. A visitor to T-Mobile.com stumbled upon a placeholder for the Galaxy S5, which lists a retail price of $672 for the upcoming device. Samsung recently indicated its approximate retail value for the Galaxy S5 at $700, within the rules of its Galaxy S5 give away. T-Mobile similarly listed it ARV for the Galaxy S5 at $668 (alongside a S-View Flip Cover), while Sprint listed its ARV for the Galaxy S5 at $649. While approximate retail value may not be definitive pricing for a device, it can be a decent indicator of how much a device will ultimately cost. TMoNews says that the placeholder price may similarly not be the actual price of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but is likely not far off. If accurate, that retail price would be broken down into 24 monthly payments of $28 under T-Mobile’s Uncarrier program.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 For T-Mobile Gets 100K Pre-Sale Inquiries, Carrier’s Pricing Leaked?

Almost 100 Vehicles Involved In Toronto Pileup getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Almost 100 Vehicles Involved In Toronto Pileup

Sudden weather changes caused a 96-car pileup on a highway running through Toronto, Ontario, on Thursday morning. Only minor injuries were reported.

The enormous wreck happened at 9 a.m. Thursday morning and prompted the Ontario Provincial Police to shut down the highway for most of the day.

That stretch of Highway 400 services 80,000 vehicles a day, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

A number of highways and roads are closed around Toronto and its suburbs according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The MOT has also advised commuters of multiple snow squall warnings around the province.

Aerial footage of the huge accident can be seen via CTV.

While a 96-car pileup is a very serious problem for everyone tasked with cleaning up such a massive accident -- not to mention for the drivers and passengers involved -- the Toronto mega-pileup is actually considered peanuts compared with some of the largest, most dangerous pileups in history.

The largest reported vehicle pileup took place in Finland in 2005. The more than 300 cars, three deaths and over 60 injuries confirmed make it one of the biggest multi-vehicle wrecks ever. That accident was caused by heavy snowfall and a bout of clear weather that gave drivers a false sense of security.

One of the most deadly confirmed pileups occurred outside Calhoun, Tenn. Ninety-nine vehicles were involved, between both south-bound and north-bound lanes. Twelve people died and 42 more were injured. The massive wreck got triggered when a tractor-trailer rear-ended another tractor-trailer in thick fog on one side of the highway, causing multiple cars and trucks to pile on to one another. Yet, on the other side of the highway, three cars started another chain-reaction of accidents.

In Japan in 2011, 14 supercars were involved in arguable the most expensive-per-vehicle crash ever. The total cost in damages was estimated to be around $4.3 million. Among the wrecked exotic vehicles in that accident were eight Ferraris and a Lamborghini.

Almost 100 Vehicles Involved In Toronto Pileup

Arsenal Transfer News: Robin Van Persie, Isco And Joel Campbell Involved In Recent Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Robin Van Persie, Isco And Joel Campbell Involved In Recent Rumors

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Joel Campbell could still have a future at the club following his loan spell with Olympiakos. The 21-year-old scored a fine goal in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United this week in the last-16 of the Champions League. Signed by the Gunners in 2011, the failure to get a work permit meant he was sent on loan to French side Lorient and then to Spain with Real Betis. Now with the Greek Champions, Wenger believes that Campbell has adjusted to life in Europe.

“I will decide that later. Why not?” Wenger said when asked whether the player had a future at the Emirates Stadium, according to Arsenal’s official website. “We bought him to bring him here.

“He was good, convincing going forward [against Man United]. He looks like he has adapted a bit better to the physical side of the European game. We always knew that he had the talent to create something special. He did rely a bit too much on that. But he's now been out with three different clubs; he was with Lorient, Real Betis and now Olympiakos. He has learned the toughness of the European leagues.”

After scoring against the Premier League champions, Campbell revealed his determination to make it at Arsenal.

"I am still hopeful of playing for Arsenal but I have not been given the chance yet, I hope to keep working at Olympiakos," he told ESPN. "I am making sure that I take this opportunity. Thank God I scored a goal and celebrated it with my father, girlfriend and cousins.

"There are many things I can improve on though; I am 21 and I have to keep working."

Tuesday’s match in Piraeus has unsurprisingly led to much comment about the state of affairs at Manchester United. Notably, from an Arsenal perspective, there has been further speculation about the future of Robin van Persie.

The Guardian is one of the publications to claim that the 30-year-old will consider his future at Old Trafford this summer. After two almost injury-free years, Van Persie, who was disappointed with departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, has had a series of niggling injuries under David Moyes. The new manager’s tactics have also contributed to Van Persie often cutting an isolated figure in recent matches. Recent reports out of Italy claimed that his agent had met with Wenger and that both parties were keen for him to return to the Emirates next season. It seems likely that United will resist any attempt from Van Persie to leave, however, especially to a fellow Premier League club.

In other news, there have been reports in Spain that Arsenal are interested in signing Real Madrid’s Isco. Following his €30 million (£24.7m) transfer from Malaga last summer, Isco made an impressive initial impact at the Bernabeu. But since coach Carlo Ancelotti switched to a 4-3-3 formation last month, the 21-year-old has found himself out of favor.

Sports daily Mundo Deportivo has reported that Manchester City and his ex-Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini, who Isco rejected to join Madrid last summer, are again interested. Arsenal are now claimed to have joined the hunt for the Spain international, who it is said will cost €36 million (£29.6m). With an abundance of playmakers already at the club, it seems highly unlikely that Arsenal will splash out to such a degree on another, however.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Robin Van Persie, Isco And Joel Campbell Involved In Recent Rumors