Amazon Echo Auto Review: Meet Your New Co-Pilot!

Among the newest additions to the Echo range of products is the Amazon Echo Auto, which is undoubtedly another hit for the brand. This device brings the smart features to your car, as Alexa becomes your virtual co-pilot.

The Echo Auto works in a similar fashion as other products in this smart line and can be controlled with your voice. Just like every other Echo product, the Echo Auto allows users to play music through their car’s speakers. The Echo Auto keeps you updated on the latest news, opens up your garage door, provides full GPS functionality, sets reminders, and offers many other features. Although the Amazon Echo Auto hasn’t hit the market yet, it is already creating buzz.

FEATURES

Review Price: $24.99

Length:  3.3″

Width: 1.9″”

Height:   0.5″

Weight: 1.6 oz

Output: 3.5 mm

Power:   Micro-USB

Bluetooth Connectivity

Auxiliary Adaptability

Cordless: Cordless speaker functionality, but requires power cord.

Warranty: 1-Year limited

DISCUSSION

The Amazon Echo Auto is projected to have a simple and compact design. Even though it hasn’t hit the market yet, it is likely to be similar to the previous Echo design due to prior success as a product.. The Echo Auto shares similar features to other Echo devices; it notifies you with a blue light when it’s taking your commands and responding to them. Also, it features an action and mute button, as did the 1st generation Echo Plus. The design of the Echo Auto features an 8-microphone array, which allows the device to take your commands from anywhere inside the car, easily tuning out traffic volume. It also features a Micro-USB power port, which can be plugged into the vehicle’s inputs. As soon as you turn on your engine, the Echo Auto will power up.

The design of the Echo Auto allows it to be very subtle. It is really small, and won’t cause any distraction. As a recommendation, Amazon advises that you set up the Echo Auto and install it on your car’s dashboard prior to use. We can’t rate the performance of the Amazon Echo Auto because it hasn’t been released yet. According to Amazon, the Echo Auto will be released later in 2018. So, we expect it to hit the market around Black Friday, or later in December. The features of the Echo Auto include: Hands-free voice control, music streaming, GPS,  set location-based routines,and smart home controls(like Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats). The device offers over 50,000+ skills. The Amazon Echo Auto can be connected to Bluetooth through the Alexa app on your smartphone. Then again, if your car is not Bluetooth compatible, you can connect to the Echo Auto with an auxiliary cord.

Unfortunately, we have not tried out the Echo Auto. However, from the specifications, we’re confident that the user experience will be similar to other products in the Echo series which are quite easy and straightforward. All you have to do is plug it in, place it on your dashboard, and then connect it with your phone or car via the Alexa app. After that, you’re good to go! As Echo lovers wait patiently for its release, the Echo Auto has received some high praise and created anticipation. The only downside to using the Echo Auto is that it uses your mobile data, and this may be an obvious problem for some users. Besides the fact that Echo Auto will make your car smarter and cooler, we’re excited about the sturdy new design that the Echo range of products has to offer.

CONCLUSION

The Amazon Echo Auto is a great addition to the series and would make sense in every vehicle. if you’re looking specifically to add an Alexa-enabled virtual assistant to your car, this is a valuable option for you. The variety of features available through the new Echo Auto are really quite impressive as a device in 2019. Things like controlling the music, GPS, news updates, and a lot more are skills that Alexa has no problem performing. This is also a good value buy if you’re a lover of tech, and want to connect your Alexa enabled vehicle to your smart home. The Amazon Echo Auto allows you to operate a few different smart home features right from the comfort of your car.

source: usa.inquirer.net

WATCH: Microsoft introduces HoloLens 2 with enhanced immersion

To open the Mobile World Congress this year, Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens 2 with better hand tracking and improved direct hologram manipulation without complementary hand controllers.

Three years after the release of the first HoloLens, Microsoft debuted the HoloLens 2 complete with an enhanced immersive experience and finished with a more comfortable headset design.


Most significantly, user interaction with the holograms, which are now more vibrant and more realistic, has been considerably improved without the addition of dedicated controllers, thanks to built-in AI tech and a new time-of-flight sensor.

The original HoloLens could only recognize basic tap and click gestures, but the second generation has been upgraded to recognize 21 points of articulation per hand. In the same way, you would manipulate objects in the real world, you can manipulate objects in the holographic world; the control has become more natural and instinctive.

Control has been further enhanced with integrated eye-tracking sensors which offer “enterprise-grade” authentication via iris recognition: it is easy for multiple people to log in and out quickly and efficiently. This is especially useful considering that a single headset is typically used by many.

Plus, if several people are using a device, it is now easier to adjust the fit. The headset has been redesigned to comfortably mold to anybody’s head, glasses or no glasses.

Like the first, the HoloLens 2 is targeted at businesses and academic settings including construction sites, factories, operating rooms and classrooms, so do not expect this headset to be popping up even in your tech-savvy friends’ homes. The price tag of $3,500 (about P182,000) certainly limits consumer accessibility, though Microsoft did say at the MWC that the upcoming HoloLens 3 may be more tailored and priced for the average person.

Enthusiasts can preorder the HoloLens 2, but the official launch date has not been announced. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Bon Appetit launches new food streaming channel

Gourmet United States magazine Bon Appetit has launched a new streaming channel for its three million YouTube subscribers and nearly 2.3 million Facebook followers.

Thanks in part to the magazine’s breakout stars like Brad Leone and Claire Saffitz and some witty editing, the magazine has managed to parlay its print presence into a series of popular videos which, on YouTube alone, has garnered more than 420 million views.

This week, the Conde Nast title launched a channel that can be streamed on TV via devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.

Fan-favorite Brad Leone, who largely focuses on fermented foods as host of the show “It’s Alive” is particularly popular with the ladies and gents for his good looks, boyish antics and humor. New on the streaming channel, “It’s Alive” hits the road for original shows that take Leone to different food destinations, starting with Texas.

Pastry chef Claire Saffitz also generates millions of views for videos in which she attempts to recreate junk foods like Snickers candy bars, Pringles chips and Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

Her video on making instant ramen published in November 2018, for instance, has so far racked up more than 7 million views.

Along with new and old shows, the channel will also stream all 24 episodes of Jamie Oliver’s series “The Naked Chef” which marks its 20th anniversary this year.

The channel is free to stream and download. JB

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Rami Malek wins best actor Oscar for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

LOS ANGELES — Rami Malek had difficult moments making “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but he has an Oscar to show for it.

Malek, receiving the best actor trophy Sunday for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, called it a “monumental moment.” He thanked members of the band in attendance.


“I may not have been the obvious choice, but I guess it worked out,” Malek said. “Thank you, Queen, thank you, guys, for allowing me to be the tiniest part of your phenomenal, extraordinary legacy. I am forever in your debt.

Malek speculated about what he would have made of the honor as a child.

“I think his curly haired mind would have been blown,” he said. “That kid was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out.”

He lauded “Bohemian Rhapsody” for telling the story of a gay man and an immigrant who lived his life as “unapologetically himself.” Mercury, who was born in Zanzibar to parents from India, moved to England with his family as a teenager.

Malek noted that he himself is the son of immigrants, from Egypt, and a first-generation American. He gave a shout-out to his mother — “I love you, lady” — and regretted that his father was not alive.

“My dad didn’t get to see me do any of this, but I think he’s looking down on me right now,” he said.

Malek, who was best known for his award-winning role as a disturbed hacker in TV’s “Mr. Robot,” was the front-runner coming into the Oscars, having collected an armful of awards including Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild trophies.

He has spoken, briefly but publicly, about the difficulty of working with director Bryan Singer before Singer was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It was “not pleasant, not pleasant at all,” he said earlier this month at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Singer’s firing came amidst sexual abuse allegations against the director, which he has categorically denied and weren’t cited as the reason for his being dropped from the film.


The other nominees in the category were Christian Bale for “Vice”; Bradley Cooper in “A Star Is Born”; Willem Dafoe with “At Eternity’s Gate” and Viggo Mortensen in “Green Book.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Miley Cyrus on being queer in hetero relationship with Hemsworth: ‘People fall in love with people’

Miley Cyrus recently talked about her heterosexual relationship with Liam Hemsworth, to whom she got married in December 2018.

Cyrus said the reason she and Hemsworth married is not old-fashioned, as per an exclusive interview for the cover story of Vanity Fair’s March issue.


"I actually think it’s kind of New Age,” she was quoted as saying. “We’re redefining, to be f****** frank, what it looks like for someone that’s a queer person like myself to be in a hetero relationship.”

Cyrus is openly queer and takes pride in her identity. And if there is one thing she preaches to others, it is this: “People fall in love with people, not gender, not looks, not whatever.”

She also shared that being in love for her exists on almost a spiritual level.

“It has nothing to do with sexuality,” she said. “Relationships and partnerships in a new generation — I don’t think they have so much to do with sexuality or gender.” She added that sex and gender are just a small part of relationships. 

To drive her point home, Cyrus echoed the words of her favorite woman in the world, Hillary Clinton. A lot of people use marriage perhaps for some kind of cure, Cyrus said, but “we’re stronger together.”

“That’ll make me get emotional. That’s what she meant by it…,” she said in the report. “Like, who gives a f*** if he’s a guy, if I’m a girl, or if he was a woman—who gives a f***? We really are stronger together. One is the loneliest number.”  Cody Cepeda /ra

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Mixed martial arts star Georges St-Pierre retires at 37

MONTREAL, Canada—Georges St-Pierre retired Thursday after a career in which he put mixed martial arts on the map in Canada and helped fuel the UFC’s worldwide expansion.

The 37-year-old Canadian made the announcement at the Bell Centre. St-Pierre, a two-division champion, leaves with a record of 26-2-0 and a 13-fight winning streak.


“It takes a lot of discipline to become and stay champion,” he said in a statement. “It also takes a lot of discipline to stop while still feeling that you’re in the best physical and mental shape of your life. But I’ve always planned to leave the sport when I’m at the top and in good health.”

He has fought just once since stepping away from the sport in late 2013 after nine straight welterweight title defenses. But in November 2017 he dethroned middleweight champion Michael “The Count” Bisping in his comeback bout at UFC 217.

St-Pierre gave up the 185-pound crown a month later, citing concerns with ulcerative colitis. Despite limited activity, he is eighth in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. He was nominated for best fighter at the ESPY Awards in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2018.

He thanked family, fans and coaches as well as trainers, training partners, sponsors and agents. He also made it a point to laud his opponents.

“All of them are incredible athletes who brought out the best in me,” he said. “I retire from competition with great pride at having had a positive impact on my sport. I intend to keep training and practicing martial arts for as long as I live and I look forward to watching the new generation of champions carry our sport into the future.”

St-Pierre debuted on the big stage with a unanimous decision over Karo Parisyan in 2004. He won his first welterweight championship by knockout over Matt Hughes in 2006. After losing the title to Matt Serra, he recaptured the belt by TKO in their rematch in Montreal.

“Georges has cemented his legacy as one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters ever,” UFC President Dana White said. “He beat all the top guys during his welterweight title reign and even went up a weight class to win the middleweight championship. He spent years as one of the biggest names in MMA and remains one of the best ambassadors for the sport.”

In 2011, St-Pierre set the largest UFC gate outside the U.S. at more than $12 million when he headlined UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The crowd of 55,724 was the second-largest attendance in UFC history.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Teachers go on strike in Oakland, California

OAKLAND, California  — Teachers in Oakland, California, went on strike Thursday, part of a national wave of discontent by educators over classroom conditions, pay and other issues. Recent walkouts have taken place in West Virginia, Los Angeles and Denver.

The city’s 3,000 teachers want a 12 percent retroactive raise covering 2017 to 2020 to compensate for what they say are the among the lowest salaries for public school teachers in the expensive San Francisco Bay Area. They also want the district to hire more counselors to support students and more full-time nurses.

Kindergarten teacher Kaki Blackburn, 30, was among dozens picketing outside Manzanita Community School with signs saying “On strike For a Living Wage.”

Blackburn, who has 29 kids in her class, said her main concerns were class size and wages. She said her salary makes it impossible to afford an apartment on her own.

“There’s no way I’d be able to live here without a roommate,” she said. “This is not what I went to Brown University to get a master’s for.”

The union leader said the educators were forced to strike because administrators did not listen to their demands for two years.

“For two years we have been negotiating with the Oakland Unified School District to make our students a priority over outside consultants and central office administrators,” said Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown.

The district initially offered a 5 percent raise covering 2017 to 2020, saying it is squeezed by rising costs and a budget crisis.

In negotiations Wednesday aimed at averting a strike, the district increased its proposal to a 7 percent raise over four years and a one-time 1.5 percent bonus. The offer went higher than the recommendation of an independent fact-finding report that suggested a compromise 6 percent retroactive raise.

But union officials rejected the offer.

Oakland Unified School District spokesman John Sasaki said school administrators hope to get a counter proposal from the union when negotiations resume Friday.


“We haven’t heard any proposal since last May so we’re hoping they have something for us when we meet tomorrow,” Sasaki said.

Teachers have been working without a contract since 2017 and have said their salaries have not kept up with the cost of living.

A starting salary in the district is $46,500 a year and the average salary is $63,000, according to the union. In neighboring Berkeley, a starting teacher makes $51,000 a year and the average salary is $75,000, the union said.

The walkout affects 36,000 students at 86 schools.

The district said schools would remain open, staffed by non-union employees and substitute teachers. However, parents should not expect teaching as usual, it said.

Manzanita Principal Eyana Spencer said 14 of the school’s 450 students turned up for school Thursday and were placed in one classroom to play games.

Thousands marched to city hall for a rally, chanting “We are Oakland!” Some held signs saying “Kids Deserve Better.”

“If teachers are worried about how to pay their bills how can they focus on a lesson plan?” said Viviana Rodriguez, whose fifth-grade son joined her at the protest.

Nearly 600 teachers left their jobs at Oakland public schools last year, according to the union, which has said the district cannot retain teachers or attract experienced new teachers.

The union has also called for the district to scrap plans to close as many as 24 schools that serve primarily African-American and Latino students. The union fears further students will be lost to charter schools that drain more than $57 million a year from the district.

Recent strikes across the nation have built on a wave of teacher activism that began last spring. Unions for West Virginia teachers, who staged a nine-day walkout last year, ended another two-day strike Wednesday. Last week, teachers in Denver ended a three-day walkout after reaching a tentative deal raising their wages.

Teachers in Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest school district, staged a six-day strike last month that ended when they settled on a 6-percent raise with promises of smaller class sizes and the addition of nurses and counselors.

source: usa.inquirer.net

Cristiano Ronaldo held scoreless in Madrid as Atletico beats Juventus

MADRID— Atletico Madrid’s vaunted center-back pairing finally got the better of Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday, even providing the goals after holding their long-time rival scoreless for once.

In a match where Atletico had more trouble with video review than Ronaldo, the Spanish team kept the Portugal star in check but had to overcome two key VAR decisions to defeat Juventus 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League’s round of 16.

Central defenders Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin scored late to give Atletico the win, after the hosts had a penalty kick taken away and a goal disallowed by VAR.

Ronaldo, jeered nearly every time he touched the ball, had a quiet performance in his first match in the Spanish capital since leaving Real Madrid last summer. He came close to scoring with a booming shot from a free kick less than 10 minutes into the match, but had few opportunities after that.

Heavily marked from the start, Ronaldo wasn’t able to add to his good record against the old rival, which he helped eliminate in four straight seasons in the Champions League while playing for Real Madrid.

Atletico had a first-half penalty reversed by VAR after it determined that Diego Costa was fouled outside the area, and the referee also consulted video replays on the pitchside monitor before disallowing a second-half goal by Alvaro Morata for a push on Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini.

“We hope the VAR keeps improving and helping make things right, but do you really believe that a person who is 1.87-meters tall can fall that way in a game action like the one with Morata?” said Simeone, who celebrated his team’s first goal with an obscene gesture and could face UEFA sanctions.

The hosts dominated after an even first half at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, and both Costa and Antoine Griezmann missed clear scoring chances before Gimenez found the net after getting to a loose ball inside the area in the 78th and Godin added to the lead with an angled volley in the 83rd after defenders failed to fully clear a free kick cross by Griezmann. The shot seemed to take a slight deflection off Ronaldo, who was the closest player to Godin but wasn’t able to block the effort.

“Luckily we were able to overcome the calls that went against us with the VAR,” Godin said. “It was a great result, scoring twice and not conceding, but we will have to be prepared for the final 90 minutes in Turin.”

Ronaldo was loudly booed when his name was announced before the match, and he drew even louder jeers from the Atletico crowd when he prompted the game to be interrupted because he remained on the ground after getting his foot stepped on later in the first half.

Ronaldo almost scored when his long-range free kick forced Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak to make a difficult save in the ninth minute. He had another attempt with a deflected shot a few minutes later, but didn’t come close to the Atletico goal again until a late header sailed over the crossbar.

“Ronaldo played a good match, he is used to this type of match,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “The entire team had a letdown in the second half. It’s a lesson we need to learn going into the return match.”

Ronaldo had not played in Madrid since joining Juventus in a blockbuster transfer at the end of last season. He had played with Real Madrid for nearly a decade, leading the Spanish powerhouse to four Champions League titles in five seasons, including in the last three.

Entering Wednesday’s match, Ronaldo had scored 22 goals in 31 matches against Atletico in all competitions. In the Champions League, he helped Madrid beat Atletico in two finals (2014 and 2016), one quarterfinal (2015) and one semifinal (2017). He had scored four goals in six Champions League games against the city rival.

Atletico Madrid is back in the round of 16 after failing to make it out of the group stage last season.

Juventus was runner-up in the Champions League in 2015 and 2017. Last year, it was eliminated by Ronaldo’s Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.

This year’s Champions League final will be played at Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Best Mortgage Rates: Wells Fargo Home Loans

With unparalleled experience in the mortgage arena, The Wells Fargo home loan team is here to assist you with every step of the home purchasing process. Whether you are in the market for a new home or looking to refinance your home, the expert mortgage team at Wells Fargo will help you find a home loan that is suitable to your financial needs.

Purchasing a New Home

When starting the home buying process, you need to first decide what price range you can afford. A big part of the Wells Fargo mortgage rates are determined based on your income, debts, and other financial data. This can be determined by looking into your current financial situation which includes both your gross annual income and credit score. The team of experts  at Wells Fargo can help you find ways to increase your credit score. Often times there are items placed on a credit score that can easily be disputed and rectified, even during the purchase of a new home.

Home buyers also have the option to get prequalified on a home loan. This can give them an up-to-date estimation of what they can afford. This estimation is helpful when making your final home buying decision. A Wells Fargo mortgage rates expert will walk your through the prequalification process and answer any questions that you may have.

Wells Fargo Mortgage Rates

When it comes to home loans, there are several options available to home buyers.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage guarantees that monthly payments and interest rates will remain the same over the course of the loan’s life.
Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM): This is when you have a lower initial interest rate than compared to fixed-rate. The rates and monthly interest rates are subject to change after the initial fixed-rate period.

Jumbo Loans

These are for customers who need financing for higher loan amounts. They provide financing above standard Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan amounts.

Your First Mortgage

This is meant for first-time or repeat home buyers who have limited cash available for a down payment. Keep in mind that Wells Fargo mortgage rates are dependent on your credit score.

Government Loan Options

Eligible customers have availability to loans such as FHA, VA, and the Guaranteed Rural Housing. They offer low down payments, down payment assistance programs, and provide options for home buyers with credit concerns. Wells Fargo mortgage rates can fluctuate because of different loan programs.

New Home Loans

The home buyers who purchase a newly constructed home receive:

“Builder Best” extended rate lock program
A dedicated team that is specialized in home financing for new home builds.

Cash Out Refinance

This is utilized for home owners who want to access available equity from their home.This will replace your existing mortgage with a new loan that’s larger than original loan balance. Also, when you close this type of loan, you will be able to access the money you borrowed to pay for any major purchases.

Home Equity Line of Credit

This is meant for the homeowners who want ongoing access to the available equity in their home. During the “draw period” you can borrow money as you need,  up to your available line of credit. Relationship discounts can be accessed and your interest rate may be lower than other unsecured forms of credit.

Closing on Homes

It is recommended that home buyers hire a home inspector to conduct a house inspection on the home they are considering to purchase. This includes not only items that can be seen in plain sight, but also the overall structural integrity of the home, inside and out.

Home buyers themselves are also encouraged to get involved in the inspection process. Look around for any major repairs in walls, flooring, the foundation, and any other areas that need to be addressed.
Closing on a house generally takes anywhere from 30-90 days.

What is Included in the Origination Cost?

This includes all charges that lenders and brokers included during the entire transaction. These include application fees, processing expenses, underwriting fees, as well as payments to the lender.

What is Included in the Closing Costs?

Your down payment, prepaid property tax costs, and insurance escrow amounts are all included in the closing cost.

Calculate!

Wells Fargo mortgage rates offers several home lending online calculators in order to determine how much house you can afford. These tools allow you to see the different loan options and show you how committing to a larger down payment can help save you money and time. This last task can be completed by using an amortization calculator.

Refinancing

Refinancing is a great option for homeowners that want to lower their monthly payment. For example, if you are paying a certain amount for a twenty year loan, the Wells Fargo mortgage rate advisor could work with you to lower your down payment by extending the loan out over more time. Our team of experts are ready to help you achieve your refinance goals! Refinancing can allow you to take money from your home equity and place it towards other expenses. Many homeowners will choose this option to fund home improvements or a potential remodel.

Rent vs. Buy

This decision is ultimately left up to the individual. However, looking into several factors associated with this process can help a potential home buyer make a better purchase decision. Gross annual Income, tax credits, credit scoring, down payment amounts, and the size of the home are all variables taken into consideration when determining whether you should rent or buy a property.

Wells Fargo mortgage advisors are qualified and eager to work with home buyers. The team of experts will help you with the entire process, from the initial online applications to closing day. We want to make your home purchasing goals come to life. Come by any Wells Fargo branch or search for a local Wells Fargo mortgage consultant today!

source: usa.inquirer.net

Tencent investment in Reddit sparks censorship worry

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Reddit confirmed Monday a new funding round that included a $150 million investment by Chinese technology behemoth Tencent, prompting concerns that “the front page of the internet” might wind up censored.

San Francisco-based Reddit raised a total of $300 million at a $3 billion valuation, with investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Sequoia and Tencent, the company’s CEO told CNBC.

The TechCrunch website reported about the funding round last week, but that information was unconfirmed until now.


Reddit said it planned to use the money for international expansion and to enhance its digital ad platform to better compete in a market where Facebook and Google currently take in most of the revenue.

“We are the only company at our scale that is still a private company, so we have had a lot of investor attention in the last year,” Reddit chief executive Steve Huffman told CNBC.

News of Tencent buying into the popular social news website, which is banned in China, prompted concerns by some users that the platform could be vulnerable to the kind of online censorship that takes place in that country.

Reddit users protested, some posting pictures known to be banned in China, such as cartoon character “Winnie the Pooh.”


A “Pooh” picture voted to near the top of the Reddit home page bore the caption: “Since Reddit took a $150 million investment from Chinese Censorship company Tencent, please welcome our leader President Xi.”

Images of the storybook bear were reportedly banned online in China after bloggers used them to represent President Xi Jinping in posts.

Reddit was co-founded by Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis superstar Serena Williams. Reddit is ranked among the most visited US websites, and has more than 138,000 “communities” for discussions on various topics.

The site boasts that, on average, more than 330 million people use it each month, contending that half of those users range in age from 18 to 24 years old.


Reddit is also known for ask-me-anything (AMA) sessions with well-known people such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former US president Barack Obama.

Tencent has invested in a broad array of companies, including Tesla, Snapchat-parent Snap and Epic Games — the maker of popular video game “Fortnite.” /ee

source: technology.inquirer.net

Amazon CEO Caught up in Toxic Politics: Extortion Claims

The stunning extortion claims made by Amazon and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos against the Trump-friendly National Enquirer tabloid — have spotlighted a fierce behind-the-scenes media feud, taking place in an ever more toxic US political climate.

The story recounted by Bezos — the world’s richest man — touches on political intrigue, sexual indiscretion, the murder of a Saudi journalist and bitter charges of media bias. The supermarket tabloid last month reported Bezos had an extramarital affair with a former news anchor, publishing a trove of private text messages. The report appeared days after Bezos and his wife Mackenzie announced their divorce. That prompted Bezos to launch an investigation into the Enquirer, and how it was able to obtain such intimate material.


In a post on the online platform Medium, Bezos said Enquirer publisher American Media Inc (AMI), led by David Pecker, a friend of President Donald Trump, was now threatening to publish intimate photos of him, if he did not call off the probe. “Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I’ve decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten,” Bezos wrote. Bezos maintained that the Enquirer demanded that he and his security consultant Gavin de Becker, who is leading the probe, publically state they had “no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI’s coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces.”

The revelations appear to show the gossip tabloid trying to smear Bezos — who Trump has repeatedly attacked as the owner of The Washington Post, a paper he claims is biased against him. Bezos meanwhile hinted he may have been targeted by pro-Trump forces in part because of the Post’s coverage of the murder of its contributor Jamal Khashoggi, who was strangled and dismembered by Saudi agents in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate in October. “The Post’s essential and unrelenting coverage of the murder of its columnist Jamal Khashoggi is undoubtedly unpopular in certain circles,” he wrote. Although Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is accused of ordering the assassination, the Trump administration has maintained there is no irrefutable evidence of his involvement, while stressing the importance of the strategic partnership between Washington and Riyadh. Pointing at connections between Pecker, AMI and the government of Saudi Arabia, Bezos said he learned that “Pecker is ‘apoplectic’ about our investigation,” and that “the Saudi angle seems to hit a particularly sensitive nerve.”

American Media said in an emailed statement that it “believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr Bezos” and made “good faith negotiations” with the US billionaire but had decided nonetheless to “promptly and thoroughly investigate the claims” by the Amazon CEO. Bezos pointed out that Pecker recently entered into an immunity deal with federal prosecutors on his role in so-called “catch and kill” stories — in which reports are quashed by paying off sources — about Trump and his alleged mistresses. But Pecker and his Enquirer colleagues could face fresh criminal investigations based on the Bezos allegations, according to former federal prosecutor Jacob Frenkel. The allegations “easily could fall into possible violations of federal criminal statutes involving extortion or wire fraud,” the attorney said.

The case highlights a politically-tinged feud between the Post owner and the supermarket tabloid, with Bezos asserting that he would not be intimidated. Releasing the email exchanges, he said, shows “the precise details of their extortionate proposal: They will publish the personal photos unless Gavin de Becker and I make the specific false public statement to the press… And there’s an associated threat: They’ll keep the photos on hand and publish them in the future if we ever deviate from that lie.” The disclosures are also likely to deepen the rift between Bezos and Trump, who claims that the tech entrepreneur is using the newspaper for his own purposes. Taking aim last month at Bezos, Trump alluded to Enquirer reporting of the billionaire’s relationship with the former news anchor and entertainment reporter, Lauren Sanchez.  “So sorry to hear the news about Jeff Bozo being taken down by a competitor whose reporting, I understand, is far more accurate than the reporting in his lobbyist newspaper, the Amazon Washington Post,” he tweeted.

source: usa.inquirer.net

DeMarcus Cousins hits winning free throws to lift Warriors past Heat

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Durant scored 39 points and DeMarcus Cousins made two free throws with 5.4 seconds to play that helped the Golden State Warriors cap a comeback from a 19-point deficit in the first quarter to beat the Miami Heat 120-118 on Sunday night.

Cousins rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Durant and drew a foul, setting the stage for his winning free throws that gave the Warriors their 11th double-digit comeback of the season, and second straight after rallying from 17 points down in the first quarter Friday in Phoenix.

Miami overcame an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on a 3-pointer by Justise Winslow. Josh Richardson and Dwyane Wade then had back-to-back steals and layups to put the Heat up 118-115 with 51.5 seconds to play.

Durant then tied it with a 3-pointer and Cousins made his big shots after both teams missed from long range to give the Warriors their 15th win in 16 games.

Klay Thompson scored 29 points and Stephen Curry added 25 for Golden State.

Richardson helped shoot Miami to the big early lead and finished with a career-high 37 points with help from eight 3-pointers. Waiters added 24 and Winslow had 22 in Miami’s fifth loss in six games.

The Warriors went on a 12-0 run early in the third quarter starting with a 3-pointer from Curry to take a 66-61 lead. But Miami wouldn’t go away and the Warriors needed to fight until the final horn to secure the win.

The Heat went on a 24-2 run early in the first quarter and quickly built a 19-point lead against the slow-starting Warriors. But Golden State scored the final six points of the frame, including a 3-pointer from Jonas Jerebko to cut the deficit to 10 points after one.

TIP-INS

Heat: Wade played despite a scary fall Friday in Sacramento that left him with a bruised back. “Any one of us would probably be in a body brace right now. But he’s built like Captain America,” coach Eric Spoelstra said. Wade got a standing ovation following a video tribute during the first quarter timeout in his final regular season game in the Bay Area before retiring after the season. Wade finished with 10 points.

Warriors: F Andre Iguodala sat out after tweaking his left hamstring on Friday. … The Warriors have scored at least 100 points in 26 straight games, their longest streak since a 36-gamer in 2016-17. … Draymond Green was called for his 11th technical foul early in the fourth quarter when he wanted a goaltending called when Bam Adebayo blocked Shaun Livingston’s shot. Durant was called for his 10th later in the quarter.

FREE AGENCY TALK

The Warriors have grown tired of talk about NBA free agency, but coach Steve Kerr was happy to chime in when it came to baseball’s market. When asked about the possibility that free agent slugger Bryce Harper could sign with the San Francisco Giants, the noted Los Angeles Dodgers fan was all in favor of it.

“I’d love it if Bryce Harper came here,” Kerr said. “Does my opinion matter? Bryce, come to the Giants. Let’s go!”

UP NEXT

Heat: Visit Denver on Monday.

Warriors: Host Utah on Tuesday.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pistons’ lack of flexibility evident in deadline moves

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.— Ed Stefanski can maintain a sense of humor about the challenges facing the Detroit Pistons.

“I wouldn’t be here if things were rosy, is the way I look at it,” said Stefanski, a senior executive with the Pistons. “And I tell that in our meetings when people want to say, oh, you know, this and that. I said, ‘You guys wouldn’t be here if things were good.'”


Stefanski arrived as part of a front office overhaul last offseason, and this week was his first trade deadline with Detroit. The Pistons acquired guard Svi Mykhailiuk from the Lakers and center Thon Maker from the Bucks, giving up Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson in the process. The moves netted Detroit a couple young players but did little to change the overall outlook for the franchise.

The Pistons have a lot of money tied up in Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, and although Griffin has remained healthy and played like a star this season, Detroit was 24-29 heading into Friday night’s matchup with New York — and would not make the playoffs if the season ended now.

“To get the players that you would want, that extra star or so, we don’t have that flexibility. It’s not happening,” Stefanski said Friday. “But we’re starting it. These are, say, smaller moves on the sides, but we, again, don’t have that flexibility.”

The Pistons did make a huge deal last year around this time, acquiring Griffin. They gave up a first-round draft pick in that trade and still didn’t make the playoffs, and that was the end of Stan Van Gundy’s tenure as coach and president of basketball operations.

Dwane Casey took over as coach, but the results haven’t been much different. Stefanski stressed the need for players on team-friendly contracts. Bullock, on the other hand, has emerged as a solid outside shooter and figures to become more expensive soon.

Detroit is still close enough to a postseason spot that the team isn’t throwing in the towel.

“We’re going for the playoffs, and that’s (owner) Tom Gores from the top,” Stefanski said. “We’re a competitive organization. I preach to these guys, when you put that Pistons uniform on, you’re representing people. You’re representing a lot of guys from the past. We’re going to try to win every game. Now, we did sell with Reggie, that’s obvious, but we feel we got a good return, but we’re also looking hard at the buyout market to be a buyer.”

So the Pistons will move forward with the same basic core, hoping for significant development from their young players. They didn’t have a first-round pick last year. Johnson, who was just traded, was a first-rounder in 2015. Luke Kennard, a first rounder in 2017, is still with Detroit. He’s shown some ability but has not become a star by any means.

Maker was the 10th pick in the 2016 draft.

“You’ve got length and size with Thon,” Casey said. “Svi is a big-time 3-point shooter — again, opportunity … he did it more so in the G League than he did with the Lakers.”

One way Detroit could try to improve its flexibility is by moving one of its biggest contracts, but it’s not always easy to find a deal that works. Right now, a full rebuild doesn’t appear imminent. The Pistons are moving forward with Griffin, Drummond and Jackson, and they didn’t do anything drastic to give those three more help.

“We’re not going at warp speed, because we don’t have the ability, flexibility-wise, to go at warp speed,” Stefanski said. “Would I want to go at warp speed? Yes. But we don’t have it. We have to make good decisions. We can’t bring in players that we’re not sure of on pretty expensive contracts.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Once indisputable, Real Madrid’s Marcelo a target of critics

MADRID — It’s not a good sign that nearly every time Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari is asked about Marcelo he mentions the player’s great past with the club.

Clearly, it has become harder to talk about the player’s current achievements.


Marcelo was an indisputable starter for more than a decade with Real Madrid, considered by many the best left back in the world. But this season, the Brazilian’s performances have come in for criticism.

The clamor for dropping Marcelo only increased after a lackluster display on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semifinal against Barcelona. He struggled on defense and added little in attack.

Solari again avoided talking about Marcelo’s performance.

“Marcelo is our second captain (after Sergio Ramos), he is 100 percent committed to Real Madrid, always puts the club first,” Solari said briefly. “We always work to make sure that all of our players are at their best.”

Marcelo’s fitness is often brought up by his critics, who say the 30-year-old player hasn’t been able to keep up with opposing attackers like he used to. Some blamed him for not doing enough to keep Barcelona from scoring the second-half equalizer at Camp Nou Stadium. He didn’t follow Malcom into the area and the forward was free to pick up a loose ball and score.

Marcelo never seemed comfortable against Malcom and had trouble containing him. He also made little impact on attack, which has been one of his greatest attributes.

Marcelo’s struggles aren’t new. Last year, Solari didn’t hide his frustration with the player’s performances, saying he wanted to see “greater effort,” especially on defense.

It seemed a vote of confidence by Solari to pick Marcelo for Wednesday’s clasico, but the Brazilian wasn’t able to make the most of it. He hasn’t played as often since the coach took over and started giving more minutes to young left back Sergio Reguilon from the youth squad.

Marcelo has played only three league matches this year, with most of his appearances in the Copa del Rey. He was ordinary against Girona in the Copa round of 16, where Madrid conceded three times in the two-game series.

Not long ago there were widespread rumors about Marcelo joining his friend Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, and talks about him trying to move to midfield, where his physical condition wouldn’t be so crucial and he would be able to make better use of his great skills with the ball.

Marcelo joined Real Madrid from Brazilian club Fluminense in 2007 and quickly became the obvious substitute to fellow Brazilian left back Roberto Carlos. Marcelo helped Real Madrid win four Spanish leagues and four Champions Leagues, in addition to four Club World Cups. He played in two World Cups for Brazil, being one of the captains in the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Solari gave no hints about whether he would keep Marcelo in the lineup on Saturday for the league derby at Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid can pass Atletico for second place with a win at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. The club then travels to the Netherlands to face Ajax in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

“We are going step by step,” the coach said. “We just finished this match and now we will have a few days to work and start thinking about the league match.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Super Car: Lamborghini Urus, The Ultimate SUV

The Lamborghini Urus, it’s the ultimate combination of the soul of an extreme performance vehicle with the Lamborghini backing and the functionality of an SUV, what more could you possibly want?  Aside from of course a lower price point. However, if you’re looking into this vehicle, who looks at the price tag anyways? The world’s first ever super sport utility vehicle, a truly groundbreaking feat.  The Lamborghini Urus’ distinctive silhouette has a coupe line that shows the true super sport roots, while the proportions show strength, solidity and of course safety. At the heart of the Urus’, its success is due to the advanced design, extraordinary driving dynamics and extreme performance.  All the prior features allowed Lamborghini to launch the first ever Super Sport Utility Vehicle, remaining loyal to its true DNA. It is incredibly versatile and can meet whatever needs you might possibly need, from style to off road, the Lamborghini Urus’ does exactly what you need it to.

Lamborghini Urus 2019

Here’s what Lamborghini had to say about their groundbreaking exterior design, “Lamborghini Urus has a cutting-edge, distinct and streamlined design with multiple souls: sporty, elegant and off-road.  Its muscular surfaces make it appear strong and self-secure, while the mixed tires allow a luxury super sports car look. All the surfaces are designed with a clear attention to functionality” They’ve really outdone themselves with the Lamborghini Urus 2019, the world’s first ever super sport utility vehicle.  It’s the lowest SUV in its class and they made sure to keep some of the iconic items and body features that Lamborghini is so well known for. For example, the “Y” and the hexagon elements, the front bonnet with center peak and the cross lines on the rear door.

Lamborghini Urus integrates a V8 bi-turbo engine with a maximum power output of 478 kW / 650 HP, it gives them the best weight-to-power ratio on the SUV market.  There is a permanent 4-wheel drive system and has a standard 8 gear automatic transmission. No matter where you’re going the Urus can be truly enjoyed, whether that’s the snow, the dirt or the highway, its versatility is truly unparalleled.  Most of the torque however is directed towards the rear axle so the performance is mostly sporty.

What truly makes this SUV so special is the fact that it has an Anima system that controls the dynamics and the power distribution to all of the wheels.  Here are the modes and the description from Lamborghini on what they do. “The vehicle adapts according to the driving mode selected. There are three on-road modes: STRADA for easiness of driving, comfort and safety; SPORT for agility, responsiveness and fun to drive; CORSA for precision and maximum performance.  The three off-road modes enhance the Urus performance even more: NEVE ensures ease and safety even on slippery surfaces; TERRA ensures comfort and ease in off-road conditions; SABBIA is perfect for sandy surfaces. Finally, the EGO mode enables the driver to redefine the vehicle’s dynamics according to preferences and needs in terms of steering, suspension and traction.” The 2019 Lamborghini Urus really is a ground-breaking vehicle.  The fuel capacity of the tank is 19-21 gallons and the fuel economy is 14 mpg.

Lamborghini Urus Interior

In the Lamborghini Urus interior, you’ll see the luxury of Italian craftsmanship meeting state of the art technological advances.  The aeronautic design and driver-based instrument concept with three TFT screens, (one for the instruments, one for infotainment and one for comfort functions, including virtual keyboard feature with handwriting recognition) puts the driver first and truly makes the experience one of a kind.  The dashboard architecture follows the “Y” theme inspired by iconic Lamborghini models. The interior can be customized, starting from the five-seater architecture with bench seat, or four seats with two individual back seats and can be made even more elegant or sportier, through the selection of different kinds of colors and materials, such as: natural leather, Alcantara®, wood finish, aluminum or carbon – with the option for further sophistication on select materials through contrast stitching or Q-citra.  Urus features the largest range of any options ever offered on a Lamborghini, multiple souls converging to create a one of a kind vehicle. The Lamborghini Urus Interior is the first ever 5 seater super sports car.

Conclusion

All in all, this really is a one of a kind vehicle.  The 2019 Lamborghini URUS, the first ever super sport utility vehicle.  Truly a treat to drive, get out and test one today.

source: usa.inquirer.net

Super Bowl Ad Winners: Bud Light, Amazon

NEW YORK (AP) — This year some of the Super Bowl ads that grabbed the greatest buzz were surprises, like Bud Light’s “Game of Thrones” teaser. Other crowd-pleasers focused on humor, like Amazon’s take on celebrity product testers.

While the New England Patriots bested the L.A. Rams on Sunday in Atlanta during Super Bowl 53, brands were also winning and losing off the field. Some spots, like Google’s ad about its translation service, charmed many viewers. But others like Mint Mobile’s ad about “chunky milk” fell flat.

BEST

Amazon

The Amazon ad was an early crowd pleaser when it was released well ahead of the game. Harrison Ford, Forest Whitaker and other celebrities test out rejected Amazon products that feature its Alexa digital assistant, such as a talking electric toothbrush and a dog collar.

Bud Light

Bud Light’s crossover with Game of Thrones was a hit because it came as such a surprise. What started out as the “Bud Knight” in a jousting tournament morphs into a promo for the next “Game of Thrones” season.

“It was somewhat confusing at first,” said Mark DiMassimo, chief of ad agency DiMassimo Goldstein. “But it was super engaging and fun and surprising.”

Stella Artois

To tout its partnership with Water.org, which helps provide clean water to the developing world, the beer maker shows two 1990s icons giving up their signature drinks for a philanthropy-supporting brew. “The Dude” — a Jeff Bridges character from “The Big Lebowski” —forgoes his White Russian, while Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City” eschews her cosmopolitan. The 1990s nostalgia was a hit with viewers.

Hulu

Hulu kicked off the evening’s surprises during the first break with an ad that started out like Ronald Reagan’s 1984 campaign ad “Morning in America.” But it was soon revealed to be a teaser for the next season of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” ”Wake up America, morning’s over,” a voiceover stated.

“It was a great misdirect and great placement,” DiMassimo said.

Google

An ad promoting its Google Translate service pointed out that although “words can hurt and sometimes divide,” the most translated words in the world are “How are you,” ”Thank you” and “I love you.”

Kim Whitler, marketing professor at the University of Virginia, said the ad was an example of how the night’s “most powerful ads focused on unity, positivity and commonality.”

Microsoft

Another heart-tugger was Microsoft’s ad showing a disabled child talking excitedly about the fun he had using an adaptive Xbox controller designed for players with mobility limitations.


“It combined true emotion, great storytelling, and relevant product innovation with an insight about their category (gaming) as a great equalizer,” DiMassimo said.

WORST

Mint Mobile

The wireless provider was trying to stand out from larger rivals Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. But the “gross-out” route may not have been the way to do it.

The ad compares Mint Mobile’s $20-a-month wireless plan with “chunky milk,” then it shows a fake ad with a family drinking the unappetizing beverage. A mint-colored cartoon fox says the milk is “not right,” but Mint Mobile’s plan “is right.”

“The ad could be confusing. People might just remember that Mint’s pricing is ‘not right,'” said Northwestern University marketing professor Tim Calkins.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines created a trailer for a six-minute short directed by Ridley Scott, known for directing Apple’s iconic “1984” ad. It was the storied director’s first return to the Super Bowl in decades. But some viewers took to Twitter to express confusion over what exactly the ad was trying to promote.

source: usa.inquirer.net

It’s all in the genes: Why some people stay thin no matter what they eat

JAKARTA — It’s the question we are all dying to have answered: How can some people eat whatever they want and never seem to gain any weight?

We all know that one person. They gorge on cookies, cake, burgers and candy, but somehow manage to maintain their trim figure without lifting a finger in the gym. For those struggling to keep a healthy figure, it can be maddening to watch.

Finally, scientists might have uncovered one of the secrets about that fortunate person who seems utterly blessed in ways you wish you were.

A report by Science Alert has put it down to some people having different genetic coding that helps them stay the same weight for life. For most of us, this is not the case, and we must rely on a balanced diet alongside regular exercise to maintain a healthy figure.

Previous research has linked genetics to obesity, however, this is the first study to look at genes related to genetic thinness.

The results suggest there is indeed a “thin” mix of genes that can be inherited – or more specifically, an absence of obesity-associated genes.

“This research shows for the first time that healthy thin people are generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a person’s chances of being overweight and not because they are morally superior, as some people like to suggest,” said Sadaf Farooqui, a member of the research team from the University of Cambridge.

“It’s easy to rush to judgement and criticize people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more complex. We have far less control over our weight than we might wish to think.”

To carry out the study, researchers compared DNA from 1,622 people with a low body mass index, 1,985 severely obese people and 10,433 people of normal weight. The patterns were clear in the coding across the three groups. Lifestyle factors were also considered, ruling out things that could be significantly contributing to participants’ weight, such as eating disorders.

Researchers found that thin people had fewer genetic variants that increase the chances of developing obesity.

Of the naturally thin people in the study, 74 percent had a family history of staying thin and healthy, confirming that the “thin” genes are not unhealthy ones to have.

Of course, the study does not show that thinness and obesity are all based on a person’s genetics. It does, however, show that people gain weight differently, and sometimes genetics can be to blame.

It does seem unfair to some that in terms of weight, we are not all on a level playing field. It is still important to bear in mind the food and lifestyle choices we make, as researchers confirmed that diet and exercise are hugely important to our overall health.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Neymar celebrates birthday in style and on crutches

Neymar celebrated his 27th birthday with a glittering party in Paris on Monday evening joined by family, Paris Saint-Germain teammates and a smattering of celebrities.

DJ Bob Sinclair, Brazilian singer Wesley Safadao and world surf champion Gabriel Medina were among the 200 guests at the fashionable Pavillon Gabriel near the Champs-Elysees.

The world’s most expensive footballer, nursing a right foot injury, greeted his guests leaning on distinctive red crutches in keeping with the color theme for the “Nuit Rouge (Red Night).”

Among his club colleagues in attendance were captain Thiago Silva and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Neymar, who turns 27 on Tuesday, will miss both legs of Paris Saint-Germain’s upcoming Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United with a metatarsal injury suffered last month.

Neymar is in good company when it comes to famous footballers sharing his big day, as Cristiano Ronaldo turns 34 on Tuesday, Carlos Tevez is 35, and former Romania great Gheorghe Hagi is 54.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Patriots defeat Rams in lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever

ATLANTA (AP) — That super shootout everyone expected turned into a defensive standoff. The New England Patriots showed they can win that type of championship game, too.

So after Tom Brady led one classic drive to win the Patriots their record-tying sixth Super Bowl, he perfectly summed up the 13-3 victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams.

“Finally got a touchdown and the defense played the best game of the year,” Brady said.

In a season in which all sorts of offensive records were set, this Super Bowl rewrote the defensive record book.

“How about our defense? How about our defense?” he said. “They played unbelievable.”

So well that their leader linebacker Dont’a Hightower, joked they had extra incentive.

“I’m tired of hearing about Brady,” he said with a laugh. “I won one today — we all got one. It feels good for us to get it all. Shout out to him getting his, but this is a team game and it feels good to win.”

But the defense still needed vintage Brady for one drive. He threw two perfect passes to Rob Gronkowski to set up rookie Sony Michel’s 2-yard score — the only touchdown in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever. That put New England up 10-3. A late field goal clinched it 13-3.

No Super Bowl had gone into the fourth quarter without a touchdown. This one did, tied 3-3 — even though these teams had combined to average over 60 points a game.

When the Patriots needed a score, Brady, the oldest winning quarterback in a Super Bowl at 41, completed four straight passes, including a pair covering 47 yards to Gronkowski. The second, on which the star tight end beat two defenders, ended at the Los Angeles 2, the only time either team was inside the 20-yard line. Michel ran off left tackle for his sixth postseason touchdown.

“He knows to trust in me and throw that ball,” Gronkowski said, “and I’m going to grab it.”

Julian Edelman, the outstanding receiver who missed the 2017 season with a knee injury, was the game’s MVP with 10 receptions for 141 yards.

With 4:17 left, All-Pro Stephon Gilmore picked off an ill-advised pass by Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who seemed overwhelmed by the big stage all night, at the New England 2.

Stephen Gostkowski made a 41-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining, completing a 72-yard march that took more than three minutes off the clock and included 26-yard runs by Michel and Rex Burkhead.

It was a workmanlike conclusion for the Patriots (14-5), whose losses all came away from New England. They beat the top two offenses in the Chiefs and Rams (15-4) in the postseason, and tied Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl titles.

“We’re a relentless team,” Hightower said after New England allowed the fewest points in a Super Bowl (tied with Dallas in 1972 against Miami). “We didn’t give up. A lot was thrown at us. When we play like we did tonight, we can’t be beat.”

The Rams, who reached the NFL championship game with the aid of a major officiating error in the conference title victory at New Orleans, never really threatened to reach the end zone.

“Last time I checked, defense wins championships,” Rams running back C.J. Anderson said.

At 66, Bill Belichick became the oldest winning Super Bowl coach. The Patriots beat the Rams, then representing St. Louis, to begin their dynastic run in the 2002 game. They also have beaten Carolina and Philadelphia (2004 and ’05, the last back-to-back championships); the Seahawks in 2015; and the Falcons in 2017 in the only overtime in Super Bowl history.

They have lost three times, including to Philadelphia a year ago. New England is the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to win a Super Bowl the year after losing one.

How the Patriots accomplished it was atypical. The 10-point margin was their biggest in winning a championship. 



“This whole year, it was the biggest team win, the biggest team Super Bowl that I’ve ever been a part of,” said Gronkowski, who could be headed for retirement.

Brady, who has won four Super Bowl MVP trophies, wasn’t particularly sharp — except when throwing to Edelman. He was the steadiest offensive player on the field.

“It just matters that we won,” Edelman said. “It was a crazy year. We had a resilient bunch of guys.”

Brady passed Hall of Famer Charles Haley to become the only player with six Super Bowl titles.

All those suspicions about the Patriots declining this season became moot as the defense made the 24-year-old Goff look awful and turned All-Pro running back Todd Gurley into a nonfactor.

It wasn’t a typical New England championship win. The 2 1/2-point favorite Patriots moved the ball well, ran down the clock, but made uncharacteristic gaffes on offense. Goff and the Rams made more.

“I think we expected to score a lot more points than that,” Goff said. “It sucks that’s the way it worked out, but we’ll use this as a learning experience.”

A painful one.

LA’s second-ranked offense managed 57 total yards for the first half. The Rams were completely overmatched on the line and were particularly unable to handle the elusive Edelman, who had seven receptions for 93 yards.

Coach Sean McVay, whose Rams never had been blanked in a first half, let out a long, deep sigh just before halftime, recognizing how badly his team was manhandled, even though it trailed just 3-0. 



It was the lowest score at halftime since Super Bowl 9, which Pittsburgh led 2-0 over Minnesota.

McVay, the youngest Super Bowl head coach at 33, admitted he was outcoached. He had no answers as Gurley, coming off knee issues, managed 35 yards rushing, Goff went 19 for 38 for 229 yards and was sacked four times. Brandin Cooks, a Patriots receiver last season, did have eight receptions for 120 yards.

“They did a great job. I’m disappointed that I didn’t do a better job of adjusting,” McVay said. “I know there is a handful of decisions that I’m going to wish that I could have back, for sure.”

KICKING GAME

Gostkowski’s 46-yard miss wide left in the first quarter was the first unsuccessful field goal in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Falcons, by an NFL player all season.

The Rams’ Johnny Hekker had a 65-yard punt in the third quarter, the longest in a Super Bowl. It was his eighth punt of the game — with 1 1-2 periods remaining — the most for LA in McVay’s two seasons in charge.

Greg Zuerlein tied it with 2:11 left in the third quarter on the first drive on which Los Angeles gained more than one first down. His 53-yarder was the second-longest field goal in a Super Bowl.

COIN TOSS

McVay deferred after winning the coin toss. In their previous two playoff games, the Patriots marched right downfield to a touchdown with the opening kickoff, setting an immediate tone. This time, after Cordarrelle Patterson’s 38-yard kickoff return and four successful runs, Brady’s first pass was tipped by receiver Chris Hogan and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman. Linebacker Cory Littleton made a diving interception. It was the first time Brady was picked on his initial throw in a postseason game.

INJURIES 



New England lost safety Patrick Chung on the third play of the second half when his right forearm was caught between Gurley’s shoulder pad and the helmet of teammate Jonathan Jones. Chung writhed in pain before walking off with an air cast on.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Lionel Messi has injury scare after scoring 2 goals in Barcelona draw

BARCELONA, Spain — Nothing can silence the Camp Nou crowd like the thought of an injury to Lionel Messi — especially four days before a clash against Real Madrid.

So a chill ran through Barcelona’s supporters during the Spanish league match against Valencia on Saturday when Messi sat down on the sideline, his right leg stretched before him, and received a massage from a team trainer.

Little did it matter that the team’s all-time leading scorer had just struck two goals to lead Barcelona back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw. Any hint of Messi being sidelined with the season entering its critical phase with titles on the line immediately overshadowed yet another outstanding performance by the Argentine.

Messi may have been hurt when Valencia defender Antonio Lato ran into him.

The scare comes before Barcelona hosts Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.

“Please don’t let it be anything serious,” Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena said. “We hope he will be back in full form on Wednesday.”

Coach Ernesto Valverde said Messi was undergoing medical exams.

“He is bothered by something, but we will have to wait to see what the doctors say,” Valverde said. “I imagine that it is not that bad.”

Messi missed Barcelona’s first clasico against Madrid in October due to a broken right arm. His teammates did fine without him, routing their fierce rival 5-1 and sealing the fate of coach Julen Lopetegui.

Madrid, however, is playing much better now. It has won four straight before hosting Alaves on Sunday.

Before his fitness put a damper on a thrilling match, Messi extended his scoring run to nine straight games across all competitions. His double took his league-leading tally to 21 goals in 22 rounds.

Barcelona’s winning streak in la Liga ended at eight matches in a row. It leads second-placed Atletico Madrid by six points before its closest title rival visits Real Betis on Sunday.

TRADING BLOWS

Valencia took advantage of Sergi Roberto playing out of position as a fill-in left back for Jordi Alba. Daniel Wass led several attacks from Roberto’s side, starting with a pass for Dani Parejo to test Marc-Andre ter Stegen before Denis Chershev put the rebound off the post.

Parejo started a move that produced Kevin Gameiro’s opener in the 24th minute when he tackled Messi. That sprung a counterattack led by Rodrigo Moreno, who slipped a pass forward to set up Gameiro.

Parejo doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after Roberto knocked down Wass trying to dispute a cross.

Valencia lost Gameiro to injury shortly after when the striker asked to be substituted after being shaken up when he knocked heads with Gerard Pique.

Messi got his first goal from the penalty spot in the 39th after Nelson Semedo was fouled by Lato.

Messi struck again in the 64th when Arturo Vidal laid the ball off for him on the edge of the area. Messi quickly unleashed a curling, left-foot strike around two defenders, who impeded goalie Neto from seeing the ball until it was too late to react.

“We played at a good pace, counterattacked well, scored twice and could have scored more,” Parejo said. “The team’s performance was magnificent.”

SEVILLE SLIDE 



Celta Vigo broke a five-match losing streak and escaped the relegation zone by beating Sevilla 1-0 at home thanks to Okay Yokuslu’s second-half goal.

Fourth-place Sevilla has won only one of its last six league games.

BASQUE DERBY

Real Sociedad defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 to deal its northern Basque Country rival its first defeat since the arrival of coach Gaizka Garitano.

Garitano had kept Bilbao unbeaten through seven league games since replacing Eduardo Berizzo in December.

FAN VIOLENCE

Getafe’s 0-0 draw at Levante was marred by 11 Getafe fans being arrested for provoking a clash with rival supporters outside the stadium in Valencia.

Getafe, which condemned the violence, rose to fifth as the small Madrid-based club continued its impressive season on the field.

source: sports.inquirer.net