Today's word of the day (verse)

1 John 4:20 KJV

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

Jose 

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Jose 

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Hollywood kicks off 2014 awards season with Golden Globes

In a year widely regarded as a bountiful one for high-quality films and acting, the Golden Globes weigh in on Sunday with the first big honors of the Hollywood awards season, which culminates in seven weeks with the Oscars.

Two starkly different American stories lead nominations for the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards with seven nods apiece - the brutal depiction of pre-Civil War slavery "12 Years a Slave" and 1970s corruption caper "American Hustle." They will compete for best motion picture in different categories, drama and comedy or musical, respectively.

"Gravity," starring Sandra Bullock as an astronaut lost in space and life, also ranks high in experts' predictions and could give "12 Years a Slave" a challenge for the night's most coveted award, best drama.

Golden Globes are also given out for television, where established dramas like "Breaking Bad" and "Downton Abbey" will compete with the likes of Netflix newcomer "House of Cards."

The Golden Globes, under the purview of some 90 journalists in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have outsized clout in the awards race as buzz around these first honors influences members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in their voting for the Oscars, which will be handed out March 2.

"You can just see the Oscar voter who starts to hear the buzz build for '12 Years a Slave,' and has been dreading picking up the (DVD) screener to watch the movie," said Keith Simanton, managing editor for the IMDB movie site.

"But he reaches for it, and says to his wife, 'Maybe we ought to watch it.'"

Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, but voting has already concluded. The Globes have a mixed record when it comes to predicting the Oscar best picture, though last year's best drama winner, "Argo," did go on to win the Academy Award for best movie.

The Golden Globes follow a very good year for film, both commercially and critically. North American box office receipts totaled a record $10.9 billion in 2013 and top performers went beyond the typical blockbuster action movies to include acclaimed films such as "Gravity."

Sunday night could also boost the fortunes of smaller films that have fared well among critics, including Joel and Ethan Coen's paean to 1960s folk music "Inside Llewyn Davis," Spike Jonze's quirky computer-age romance "Her," and Alexander Payne's homage to the heartland "Nebraska."

OSCAR-WINNING WOMEN COMPETE

The intense competition extends to the acting races, where Britain's Chiwetel Ejiofor will compete for best actor in a drama for his role as the free man sold into slavery in "12 Years a Slave." Matthew McConaughey is also considered a frontrunner for his portrayal of an unlikely AIDS activist in "Dallas Buyers Club," for which he lost 50 pounds.

Leonardo DiCaprio will get his shot at best actor in a comedy or musical for his turn as a swindling stockbroker in Martin Scorsese's tale of American greed, "The Wolf of Wall Street." He has stiff competition from veteran actor Bruce Dern as a cantankerous and delusional father in "Nebraska."

For best actress in a drama, it's a battle between Oscar winners, with Bullock going up against Cate Blanchett for her riches-to-rags role in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine" and Judi Dench for her turn as a mother looking for a long-lost son in adoption drama "Philomena."

The HFPA will also honor Woody Allen with the Cecil B DeMille award recognizing outstanding contribution to the entertainment field. Allen, famously averse to awards shows, is not expected to collect the honor, but one of his favorite actresses, Diane Keaton, will reportedly stand in for him.

While considered a warm-up for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes live telecast on Comcast Corp's NBC network offers many of the same ingredients, such as the glamour of the red carpet for Hollywood's leading ladies and the dense concentration of Tinseltown's top talent in one room.

But the Globes serve up cocktails and an air of whimsy and unpredictability in contrast to the more tightly scripted Academy Awards.

Comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return to host the Golden Globes for the second consecutive year.
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GRACIE GOLD SETS STANDARD

She grew into her name Saturday, and finally got to write her own play-on-words headline after enduring so many over the past couple of years. Her choice was as simple and elegant as her silhouette on the ice.

"Grace Gets Gold," said the new national figure skating champion.

Gracie Gold half-apologized for the cliché. She shouldn't have. On a night when the top women's results couldn't have made things harder for the U.S. Olympic selection committee, Gold set the standard and emerged as the one sure thing.

Only one significant flaw marred Gold's free skate. She couldn't hang onto the landing of a triple flip jump and touched first one hand, then another, to the ice before the near-sellout crowd at TD Garden. Otherwise, her success ratio and jumps, including three clean combinations, were high. As she launched into her final double axel, she knew what she'd accomplished and punctuated it with a double fist-pump.

"The nerves are something I've battled with and let them get into my head, but tonight I felt strangely calm," Gold said.

Change in an Olympic season isn't generally prescribed, but it appears to have been an elixir for Gold. The 18-year-old moved from Illinois to Southern California in September to work with veteran coach Frank Carroll. In November, at his urging, she scrapped her short program and debuted new music and choreography at the national championships. That move, so risky on paper, worked just fine on ice as Gold scored a personal best and confirmed it with the free skate.

Carroll, who helped Gold find a quiet corner to compose herself while her rivals were performing, said she was able to please her harshest critic -- herself.

"What made me happiest was to see her miss the [triple] flip a little bit," Carroll said. "She didn't go down, which she's worked hard on. And then to go out and skate perfectly after that ... I thought her performance was brilliant tonight, and I was so happy to see her overcome that little tiny flaw and not go bonkers."

Carroll, in his own words, "didn't leap at the chance" to take Gold in hand only four months before nationals. In September, he was still hoping that longtime pupil Evan Lysacek would come back from a hip injury in time to defend his Olympic gold medal, and Carroll also has surprise 2013 world silver medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan in his stable. But as it became clear that Lysacek's chances were dwindling, Carroll decided Gold was a project worth setting his alarm a little earlier for in the mornings.

Gold beamed from the podium, secure about her Olympic berth. The other skaters who stood under the spotlights at the awards ceremony were not as fortunate, as there are three legitimate candidates for the two remaining slots.

Two-time defending U.S. champion Ashley Wagner crash-landed twice -- most tellingly, on her opening combination -- and glided to the boards pale and in shock. "They called my name and I felt like lead," she said, referring to the metal that sinks, rather than the winning margin she had envisioned.

Pre-nationals, Wagner was considered a dark horse for the Olympic podium. Even after a wobbly short program that deposited her in fourth place, many speculated she was a lock for the team based on two strong seasons of international competition.

"I get so much media attention for the skater that I am and then that skater doesn't even show up on the day that it counts," she said.

Almost as stunning was 2010 Olympian Mirai Nagasu's confirmation of her short program with a sound and stirring free skate. Nagasu, who came to Boston without a coach and with outside expectations diminished by three seasons of erratic results, wiped away tears on the medal stand.

"It's been quite a roller-coaster ride since the last Olympic nationals," Nagasu said afterward in a slightly tremulous voice. "As the only person who's already been to the Olympics, I really wanted to go back again. I think I did my best and hopefully they pick me to the team. I haven't always been the most consistent skater, but I know that under pressure, I'm pretty good most of the time. I know I have it in me, so hopefully I can prove myself again."

Fifteen-year-old U.S. junior champion Polina Edmunds finished second and continued to state her case both with her feet and her comments, pointing out that the last skater her age to represent the United States, Tara Lipinski, won an Olympic gold medal.

"This was the night to prove yourself, and I think I did that," said Edmunds.

By that measure, the new national champion is a wizened veteran. In a few weeks, Gold will have to try to mine even more of her talent, especially in her new short program, which Carroll said she can improve. But Saturday night, she may be the only medalist who is sleepless with excitement rather than uncertainty.

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Seahawks hold on, beat Saints 23-15

Rain fell. Wind blew.

And the Saints came marching in hoping for a little revenge and a spot in the NFC title game.

When it finally ended, though, it was the Seahawks who were marching on to within a game of the Super Bowl, thanks to a 23-15 victory Saturday in front of a CenturyLink Field record of crowd of 68,388.

And afterward, in a locker room that was happy but understanding that work remains, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson reminded his teammates of just how close they now are to the goal they set the minute they walked off the field in Atlanta a year ago.

“We’ve got 60 minutes left of football,’’ Wilson said. “That’s 60 minutes of your life. The best 60 minutes you can possibly play and then you play in the Super Bowl. That’s pretty awesome to think about.’’

And ultimately, that reality was all that really mattered on a day that began as a party and ended with some unexpected anxiety as the Saints three times in the fourth quarter had the ball with a chance to tie the game.

“This was an interesting finish to this game,’’ said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Indeed, Seattle led 16-0 at half, seemingly on their way to another victory as easy as their 34-7 beatdown of the Saints on Dec. 2.

Instead, the Saints finally began to creep back in as the Seahawks managed a mere one first down in the third quarter.

Even after Marshawn Lynch’s 31-yard touchdown run with 2:40 left put Seattle ahead 23-8 and seemed to seal it, the Saints created a little heartburn with a touchdown and then a recovery of an onside kick that slid through the hands of Seahawks receiver Golden Tate with 24 seconds left.

“That could have been bad,’’ Tate said. “That could have been real bad.’’

The game, though, ended in somewhat fitting fashion for a mistake-prone Saints team — a penalty for an illegal forward pass on the final play.

Seattle won despite being outgained 409-277 in total yardage and with Wilson completing just 9 of 18 attempts for 103 yards on a day when the passing attack was at times conservative by design due to the elements, and then hamstrung by yet another injury to hard-luck receiver Percy Harvin, who left in the second quarter with a concussion in just his second game of the season.

Ultimately, Seattle won in the style Carroll prides himself on most — with defense and a solid running game.

While the Saints’ Drew Brees ended up with 309 passing yards, only 34 came in the first half as the Seahawks grabbed a lead they would never relinquish. The defense helped set up Seattle’s first touchdown by forcing a New Orleans fumble at the 24.

The defense also held Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who got in at least two pregame shouting matches with Seattle players, to just one catch for 8 yards.

Of the pregame jousting, Seattle safety Earl Thomas said: “Just some chatter. But you love those moments. I’m never going to forget those guys trying to run through our drills. But they don’t understand what’s coming.’’

And while the passing game struggled, Seattle rushed for 174 yards, averaging 5.0 yards a carry.

“This is exactly why you make a commitment to be a balanced offense and a balanced football team,’’ Carroll said.

Two field goals by Steven Hauschka, who had little trouble kicking through the wind and the rain, gave Seattle a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Hauschka’s second kick came after his counterpart, Shayne Graham, missed a 45-yarder.

Michael Bennett then forced a Mark Ingram fumble on the first play of the second quarter to set up a 15-yard touchdown run by Lynch to make it 13-0. And another Hauschka field goal then made it 16-0 at halftime.

That forced New Orleans, which came in committed to the run more than it had in December, to begin altering its strategy.

The Saints moved at times, getting inside Seattle territory on five of its first six drives of the second half.

But New Orleans could score only two touchdowns, once failing on a fourth down and then seeing Graham miss another field goal from 48 yards with the score 16-8 and just 3:51 left in the game.

At that point, Seattle had just two first downs in the second half. Carroll said the Seahawks were careful in what they called in the third quarter when they were going into the wind.

“We didn’t want to make crucial mistakes when we were backed up,’’ Carroll said. “So we just played good grind-it-out football.’’

But facing a third-and-three at their own 45 and 2:57 left, the Seahawks decided to throw caution to all that wind blowing around. Wilson, seeing New Orleans ready to blitz, dropped back and threw 24 yards to Doug Baldwin, who was in man coverage down the sideline.

“It couldn’t have been more clutch,’’ Carroll said.

Lynch then busted free on a power running play the Seahawks had saved up for this week, throwing a stiff-arm on New Orleans cornerback Keenan Lewis as he ran into the end zone.

“Ah man, this feels awesome,’’ said fullback Michael Robinson. “But this don’t mean nothing if we don’t win next week.’’

Looking ahead to the NFC title game
The Seahawks will play host to either the 49ers or Panthers next Sunday in the NFC Championship Game at 3:30 p.m. Seattle faced both teams this season, going 2-1 against them.
Opponent (date)	Result	Note
Carolina (Sept 8, 2013)	W, 12-7	Earl Thomas forces a fumble that preserves road victory.
San Francisco (Sept. 15, 2013)	W, 29-3	Seattle defense smothers 49ers in Sunday night showdown.
San Francisco (Dec. 8, 2013)	L, 19-17	Phil Dawson’s FG with 26 seconds left wins it.

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Romans 13:10 KJV

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Jose 

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The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, announced today a last minute but much anticipated consignment that will be a part of the 1400 cars to be auctioned during the company's Scottsdale auction. Simon Cowell's pristine 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4, purchased new at Bugatti Beverly Hills, will be offered at the 43^rd Annual Scottsdale Auction, Jan. 12-19, 2014.

Mr. Cowell's Veyron is the first certified, pre-owned vehicle in the new program being offered by Bugatti. The vehicle includes a full one-year, extended factory warranty offered directly through Bugatti. Four brand new tires and a complete service make Mr. Cowell's Veyron the perfect certified, pre-owned vehicle. The Veyron has 1300 miles, all of which were personally driven by Simon Cowell. The custom black paint with black interior is one of only a handful of black on black Veyrons in America. With over 1000 horsepower at 6000 RPM, the 8.0 L W16-Cylinder, ALL wheel drive, 7-speed automated dual clutch transmission made this car in 2008 the fastest street legal car in America with a top speed of 253.81 mph.

"This is an impressive vehicle, the first certified, pre-owned Bugatti Veyron," said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. "We appreciate Mr. Cowell's late entry and are excited to see the strong interest there will be in the chance to bid on such an exceptional vehicle. Celebrities have trusted Barrett-Jackson to handle the sales of their cars for decades and Mr. Cowell has followed suit."

The Bugatti Veyron is unquestionably one of the most stunning and expensive cars in the world. Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, announced that they will be selling none other that Simon Cowell’s 2008 Bugatti.
Cowell’s car is one of 1400 vehicles due to be sold at the 43rd Annual Scottsdale Auction. But there is no doubt his Bugatti is one of the most exclusive cars to be sold there.

The black Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is in immaculate condition, and is the first certified, pre-owned car in the new program that Bugatti are offering.
The car itself has a full one-year factory warranty, four new tires, a full service and, perhaps most importantly, only 1300 real miles on the clock. The fact that all of those miles were personally driven by Simon Cowell himself will no doubt just add to the charm of the car.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1091246/bugatti-veyron/#uFHHIk6DoLMgF299.99jos

The Bugatti Veyron is unquestionably one of the most stunning and expensive cars in the world. Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, announced that they will be selling none other that Simon Cowell’s 2008 Bugatti.
Cowell’s car is one of 1400 vehicles due to be sold at the 43rd Annual Scottsdale Auction. But there is no doubt his Bugatti is one of the most exclusive cars to be sold there.

The black Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is in immaculate condition, and is the first certified, pre-owned car in the new program that Bugatti are offering.
The car itself has a full one-year factory warranty, four new tires, a full service and, perhaps most importantly, only 1300 real miles on the clock. The fact that all of those miles were personally driven by Simon Cowell himself will no doubt just add to the charm of the car.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1091246/bugatti-veyron/#uFHHIk6DoLMgF299.99

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Roddy Piper pitches match against Hulk Hogan

Could WrestleMania 30 feature tag match with Roddy Piper and CM Punk versus Hulk Hogan and John Cena?

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper took to Twitter Friday, pushing for a match against fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 30.In a series of tweets, Piper, 59, suggested getting back in the ring with his old pal Hogan, 60, for the special anniversary Wrestlemania.

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Luke 6:37 KJV

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Jose A. Aviles

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Article: Ariel Sharon, former Israeli PM, dies at 85

Ariel Sharon, former Israeli PM, dies at 85
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/israeli-media-reports-death-ariel-sharon

Jose

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Ephesians 6:12 KJV

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Jose

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Matthew 5:14 KJV

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

Jose A. Aviles

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Matthew 28:5, 6 KJV

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Jose A. Aviles

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Isaiah 29:13 KJV

"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"

Jose

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Hillary Clinton Debuts New Haircut, Bangs: See the Picture

New year, new mayor, new hair! Hillary Clinton debuted a new haircut at the inauguration of New York City's new mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday, Jan. 1, complete with a fresh set of bangs.

 The former Secretary of State, 66, cozied up beside husband Bill Clinton as the power couple watched the ceremony take place on the steps of City Hall. Wearing a long, black wool coat and leather gloves, the blonde political player debuted a shaggy, short bob with choppy, layered, side-swept bangs grazing her forehead.

Former President Clinton smiled beside his chic wife in a gray wool coat and checkered scarf; the two sat beside New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Not since Michelle Obama revealed her bangs last January -- which the First Lady subsequently removed due to the style's "irritating" nature -- have bangs created so much buzz!

Clinton's new look, however, was actually not her first attempt at rocking choppy, layered locks. In July, the stylish mother-of-one revealed lauded, lightly-styled, wavy, side bangs that designer Oscar de la Renta later said he had inspired. "I told her a while back she should cut her hair," the American designer told Gotham magazine back in August. "She said she couldn’t do it then because when she arrived in a foreign country and asked for a hairdresser, Homeland Security would have to check the person out."

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Melissa Harris-Perry Gives Tear-Filled Apology to Mitt Romney for Black Grandchild Jokes

Perry broke into tears on Saturday while apologizing to Mitt Romney and his family for comments made on her MSNBC show about the former Republican presidential candidate’s adopted, African-American grandchild, Kiernan Romney.

“I am deeply sorry that we suggested that interracial families are in any way funny, or deserving of ridicule,” Harris-Perry said at the beginning of the morning edition of the ”Melissa Harris-Perry” show.

Her voice cracking and her eyes welling over, Harris-Perry said she apologized to the Romney family “without reservation or qualification” and added, “My intention was not malicious, but I broke the ground rule that families are off-limits. For that, I am sorry.”

Harris-Perry has been fiercely criticized for presiding over a segment last weekend that used an image of the Romney family to illustrate what it claimed was the monochromatic nature of the Republican Party.

“It sums up the diversity of the Republican Party and the [Republican National Committee], where they have the whole convention and they find the one black person,” panelist Dean Obeidallah joked.

During the segment, Harris-Perry said she would like to see the Romney’s African-American grandchild grow up and get married to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s daughter, North.

“Can you imagine Mitt Romney and Kanye West as in-laws?” she mused.

The MSNBC host said that her comments were glib and not representative of the ideals her show espouses.

“On this program, we are dedicated to advocating for a wide diversity of families, it is one of our core principles,” Harris-Perry said. “And I am reminded that when we do so, it must be with the utmost respect. We’re genuinely appreciative of everyone who offered serious criticisms of last Sunday’s program, and I am reminded that our fiercest critics can sometimes be our best teachers.”

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Lacey Chabert Secretly Marries Longtime Boyfriend

Not only did Lacey Chabert attend her friend Kaley Cuoco’s wedding this week, she had a wedding of her own. The Mean Girls and Party of Five actress shared the news of her marriage, via Twitter, on Friday.

“Just wanted to share some personal news with you guys…” Chabert tweeted. She then added: “I’m starting off 2014 as a Mrs! Over the holidays, my best friend & love of my life…we became husband & wife! #soblessed #love.”

Although Chabert has been keeping her new hubby’s name under wraps, it has been speculated that the groom’s name is David Nehdar. The couple reportedly married on Sunday, December 22.

Chabert took to her Instagram account to share some photos of her big day. “Here’s a pic of my maid of honor and I..my sweet sister Crissy @keekeetaylor I love you!” she wrote. She then shared a photo of her dancing, in her wedding gown, with a caption that read: “Happy day! Photo by my friend Steve Blum and his camera phone ”

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Today's word of the day (verse)

1 John 1:7 KJV

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Jose

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Today's word of the day (verse)

Matthew 6:3, 4 KJV

"But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."

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Vikings LB Erin Henderson arrested for DUI again

Vikings LB Erin Henderson arrested for DUI again
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/vikings/2014/01/02/erin-henderson-arrested-dui-linebacker/4289711/

Jose

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