Pats claim AFC's top seed

/

By HOWARD ULMAN

updated 4:53 p.m. ET Jan. 1, 2012

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Falling behind means nothing to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. And because no deficit seems too big for them, the Patriots own home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Brady led the Patriots back from three touchdowns as they scored 49 straight points for a 49-21 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Brady finished the regular season with the second most yards passing in NFL history, 5,235, after throwing for 338. Drew Brees, who last week broke Dan Marino's record of 5,084 with the Miami Dolphins in 1984, added 389 Sunday for the Saints and ended with 5,486.

The Patriots (13-3) finished the season with eight straight wins. But for the second game in a row, they fell behind early. They beat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 after trailing 17-0 at halftime then rallied after the Bills (6-10) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, drawing boos from the home fans.

That changed to a steady stream of cheers as the Patriots dominated the next three quarters.

But it didn't look good for the team that earned the top seed in the conference with a defense that set the NFL record for most yards passing allowed, 4,727. The previous mark of 4,541 was set by the Atlanta Falcons in 1995.

The Bills took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on a 4-yard run by Tashard Choice and Ryan Fitzpatrick's scoring passes of 18 yards to Stevie Johnson and 15 yards to C.J. Spiller.

Johnson was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct when he lifted his jersey to reveal a T-shirt with the words "Happy New Year." After that, he was benched by coach Chan Gailey.

The pass to Spiller gave Fitzpatrick 13 completions in 16 attempts for 156 yards and two touchdowns. At that point, Brady had thrown twice, both incompletions.

He finished with 23 completions in 35 attempts for three touchdowns ? two to Rob Gronkowski ? and one interception. Fitzpatrick ended at 29 for 46 for 307 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Sunday's deficit was the Patriots biggest of the season, but they had Brady to lead them back.

A 1-yard run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis and a 39-yard pass to Aaron Hernandez, which put Brady over the 5,000-yard mark, cut the lead to 21-14.

Field goals of 41 and 20 yards by Stephen Gostkowski made it 21-20 and the Patriots went ahead to stay 28-21 on Brady's 17-yard scoring pass to Gronkowski with 1:32 left in the third quarter and a 2-point conversion run by Danny Woodhead.

They kept rolling with a 3-yard touchdown run by Green-Ellis, a 7-yard scoring pass to Gronkowski with 3:07 left in the game and a 21-yard interception return for another touchdown by Sterling Moore just 12 seconds later.

In the teams' first meeting in Week 3, the Bills overcame a 21-0 deficit for a 34-31 victory in which Brady threw four interceptions. But on Sunday, the Patriots avoided being swept by an AFC East opponent for the first time since 2000 and by the Bills since 1999.

Buffalo had snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 40-21 win over the Denver Broncos in its previous game but heads into the offseason with the memory of a 5-2 start that it couldn't sustain.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, meanwhile, became the only coach in NFL history with at least 13 regular-season wins in five different seasons.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement

More newsJohn Grieshop / Getty Images

Ravens' win also boosts Bengals

??Ray Rice ran Baltimore to a 24-16 victory over Cincinnati and clinched the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, but the Bengals also got into the postseason thanks to other teams' losses.

Steelers escape against Browns

??Isaac Redman replaced an injured Rashard Mendenhall and ran for a touchdown as Pittsburgh limped into the AFC playoffs with a 13-9 win Sunday over Cleveland, the Steelers' 16th victory in 17 games against the Browns.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45784580/ns/sports-nfl/

yvette prieto hypertrophic cardiomyopathy maurice sendak kaye stevens michael jordan engaged kid cudi kasey kahne

Iran test-fires long-range missile which could hit Israel and U.S. bases in show of military power

• Also produces first nuclear rod, marking further step in atomic programme

By Nick Enoch

Last updated at 1:18 PM on 2nd January 2012

Iran said today it had successfully test-fired a long-range missile during its naval exercise in the Gulf - flexing its military muscle to show it could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the region if attacked.

The announcement came amid rising tension over Iran's disputed nuclear programme which Western powers believe is working on developing atomic bombs.

Tehran denies the accusation and last week said it would stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if the West carried out threats to impose sanctions on its oil exports.

Scroll down for video

An Iranian navy vessel launches a missile during a drill in the sea of Oman during naval exercises yesterday

Iran's navy test-fired long-range missiles which it said could hit U.S. and Israeli bases in the region

'We have test-fired a long-range shore-to-sea missile called Qader (meaning 'capable'), which managed to successfully destroy predetermined targets in the Gulf,' deputy Navy Commander Mahmoud Mousavi told the official news agency IRNA.

Iran earlier said it would test-fire two long-range missiles on Monday - Qader and another system called Nour ('light') - to display its resolve to counter any attack by enemies such as Israel or the United States.

?

Mousavi said observers from the country's closest Arab ally, Syria, would attend the last day of its ten-day naval exercise.

The European Union is considering a ban - already in place by the U.S.- on imports of Iranian crude.

Iranian warships take part in the naval drill during the 10-day exercise

An Iranian warship launches a missile in an unknown location

The U.S. Fifth Fleet reacted to Iran's threat to stop oil flows, saying it will not allow any disruption of traffic in the Gulf.

America and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to resolve the Islamic state's nuclear row with the West.

Iran said it had no intention to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Ammunition is carried on one of the warships during the war game on the Sea of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran

An Iranian navy warship fires its forward gun during the military exercise

'No order has been given for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But we are prepared for various scenarios,' state television quoted navy chief Habibollah Sayyari as saying.

Iranian scientists have also produced the nation's first nuclear fuel rod, a feat of engineering the West has doubted Tehran capable of, the country's nuclear agency said yesterday.

The announcement marks another step in Tehran's efforts to achieve proficiency in the entire nuclear fuel cycle - from exploring uranium ore to producing nuclear fuel.

This is despite U.N. sanctions and measures by the U.S. and others to get it to halt aspects of its atomic work that could provide a possible pathway to weapons production.

Tehran has long said it is forced to seek a way to manufacture the fuel rods on its own, since the sanctions ban it from buying them on foreign markets.?

Iran's Navy chief Habibollah Sayyari (second right) sits next to a revolutionary guard commander during the war game

Military personnel pray as they stand behind a cleric on one of the ships

Nuclear fuel rods are tubes containing pellets of enriched uranium that provide fuel for nuclear reactors.

Iran's atomic energy agency's website said the first domestically made rod has already been inserted into the core of Tehran's research nuclear reactor.

But it was unclear if the rod contained pellets or was inserted empty, as part of a test.

'Scientists and researchers at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran have succeeded in producing and testing the first sample of a nuclear fuel rod,' said the announcement.

The U.S. and some of its European allies accuse Iran of using its nuclear programme as a cover to develop atomic weapons.

Iran denies the charge, saying the programme is for peaceful purposes only and is geared toward generating electricity and producing medical radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.

Although the rods are easier to make, Iran is also seeking to produce the pellets with enriched uranium. But so far it is not known whether Iranian nuclear scientists have been able to overcome the technical hurdles to do so.

Tehran focused on domestic production of nuclear fuel rods and pellets in 2010, after talks with the West on a nuclear fuel swap deal ended in failure as Iran backed down on shipping a major part of its stock of enriched uranium abroad in return for fuel.

The announcement on the fuel rod came just a day after Tehran proposed a new round of talks on its nuclear programme with six world powers.

The last round of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany was held in January in Istanbul, Turkey, but it ended in failure.

The U.N. has imposed four rounds of sanctions on Tehran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can lead to making a nuclear weapon. Separately, the U.S. and the European Union have imposed their own tough economic and financial penalties.

?

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080968/Iran-test-fires-long-range-missile-hit-Israel-U-S-bases-military-power.html?ITO=1490

wheel of fortune today show smokin joe conrad murray verdict tappan zee bridge jessica chastain jessica chastain

Gene Lavanchy via Twitter: Happy New Year everyone! Back in the saddle, rested...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/fox25news/posts/10150479320323122

tom bradley penn state tom bradley penn state grace potter grace potter ryan mathews the band perry faith hill

Kim Jong-un appointed supreme commander of North Korea's military

North Korea's state news agency KCNA said the appointment was made at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party on Friday.

KCNA said the Political Bureau members "courteously proclaimed the dear comrade Kim Jong-un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, assumed the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army" according to a will made by Kim Jong-il on Oct. 8.

Since the death of Kim Jong-il this month aged 69, North Korean state media have dubbed the junior Kim in his late 20s, as "Supreme Commander".

But the announcement on the politburo's decision meant an official approval of his control of one of the world's most powerful armed forces.

Kim Jong-un was not only named a four-star general but also given the vice-chairmanship of the ruling party's central military commission by his father last year.

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/564430/s/1b67adc9/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cnews0Cworldnews0Casia0Cnorthkorea0C898580A70CKim0EJong0Eun0Eappointed0Esupreme0Ecommander0Eof0ENorth0EKoreas0Emilitary0Bhtml/story01.htm

austin rivers ows kindle fire review community matt schaub fire island fire island

Ron Paul?s Words: Opposes Israel as Aggressors; Israel?s Arabs their Victims

By: Arlen Williams
Gulag Bound

Ron Paul on Gaza, ?To me, I look at it like a concentration camp and people are making homemade bombs, and like they?re the aggressors??

Paul went on to decry America?s support of Israel over the Arab League nations and lets slip his personal opinion that Israel is essentially the villain and that ?Palestinians? are their victims.

Ron Paul at 2:04 in the recording, emphasis added:

You know, if Israel has a problem that they have to deal with, I don?t think it should be any of our business. It?s just that it?s our business and we will be blamed because we support Israel blindly, so, and we give them the money and we give them the weapons. That should be the contention that we approach here and Congress should know about and the American People should know about. And then, if I personally favor one side or the other side, it?s really pretty academic, because politically, I don?t want to be involved. I want to say ?Well, you know I think the Palestinians have been ripped off and therefore all the blame is on Israel,? I?ve sort of stepped in a little bit more than I want to. I can have a personal opinion but politically, my position is that America would be much better off we we just minded our own business and of course I always tie this into the financial calamity that our foreign policy creates.

Reposted from Atlas Shrugs in its entirety. We doubt they will mind, for this short post of links and video.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Ron Paul on Iranian TV, 2009 Defends Hamas and Suicide Bombing, Bashes Israel

This interview with Iran?s state-run PressTV ran on January 5, 2009. Ron Paul says that the U.S. should stop supporting Israel, defends Hamas, excuses suicide bombing, and calls Gaza a concentration camp: ?To me i look at it like it?s a concentration camp, and people are making bombs, like, they?re the aggressors?? (Video hat tip Jack)

Previously at Atlas:

Bolton: If You?re Thinking Of Voting For Ron Paul, ?Think Again?

Ron Paul: U.S. Shouldn?t Have Fought Hitler Just to Save Jews From Holocaust

Ron Paul Walks Out On CNN Interview When Asked About His Newsletter Blaming Israel for 1993 WTC Attack

Ron Paul?s Racist Newsletters

Source: http://www.trevorloudon.com/2011/12/ron-paul%E2%80%99s-words-opposes-israel-as-aggressors-israel%E2%80%99s-arabs-their-victims/

cyber monday deals war eagle war eagle pawn stars restrepo nba news nba news

Report: Kim K. gets $600K for New Year's gig

LOS ANGELES?? Detractors may slug New Year's Eve as "amateur night," but for celebs and the pop culture industry, it's a professional night on the clock.

While Jay-Z, Kanye West and Coldplay headlined the opening of the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas a year ago, one of the big draws this year is Kim Kardashian at TAO inside the Venetian.

TAO is paying the reality mogul $600,000 for a series of appearances beginning on New Year's Eve, according to multiple reports.

This year, Kardashian filmed several scenes for her E! reality show inside the club.

Having a good time on New Year's Eve doesn't come cheap -- for the bookers.

The average New Year's Eve fee for relevant talent is $100,000," Jack Colton, a Las Vegas nightlife expert and creator of the popular nightlife website JackColton.com, told TheWrap. "An A-List celebrity moves up to $250,000, and for a major grab can go as high as $1 million. Your Lady Gaga's and Jay-Zs would be considered major grabs," Colton said.

"It's a talent arms race, especially in bigger cities," added publicist Melissa Berger, whose clients include frequently booked "Dancing With the Stars" coach Karina Smirnoff.

"It's like 'Who are you' if you don't have someone like Deadmau5 on New Year's Eve," adds talent manager Mike Petolino.

Of course, it's not always about money. For some talent, like Kardashian, it's a question of performing in their favorite place. Breakout DJ and producer Kaskade told TheWrap at November's "Twilight" premiere that his favorite U.S. venue is Marquee (inside Las Vegas' Cosmopolitan). On Saturday night, he'll be commanding $250 a ticket for his performance there.

For other celebs, a highly promoted appearance is a professional calling card to corporate America. "When you go to Vegas, you want to be on the same radar as venues that have Jay-Z hosting the weekend after you," says Berger. "It sets a dynamic, and could even show brands and businesses that the talent is a good fit to be a part of their company."

Then there's the plain old visibility factor. Black Eyed Peas front woman Fergie, to quote one of her own songs, "just can't get enough." After a 2011 that included monster promotional appearances on the Super Bowl halftime show, "American Idol" and countless award shows, Fergie takes on one last gig as she opens the Las Vegas outpost of 1 OAK at the Mirage. In a two-for-one booking, husband Josh Duhamel is expected by her side.

1. More Entertainment stories
   1. As year closes, open your eyes to 5 standouts

      While some people spent 2011 "winning," GTL-ing and marrying (and quickly divorcing), there were events in pop culture hap...

   2. Rancic on double mastectomy: 'It was hell'
   3. Movies to look forward to in 2012
   4. Say what? Funniest movie lines of 2011
   5. Roaches take over on 'Hoarding: Buried Alive'

Across the strip, Axl Rose and the latest incarnation of Guns 'N Roses will play the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

And coasting on his "Dancing With the Stars" fame, brother Rob Kardashian hosts at Tryst inside the Wynn, with ticket prices starting $175, lower than his sister's $225 opening price at TAO.

Even those who cover celebrity news are cashing in.

"Extra" host Mario Lopez plays hooky from L.A. outdoor mall "The Grove" (where he tapes "Extra") to headline "Big Bang NYE" at another outdoor mall complex, Hollywood and Highland.

Tom Cruise's son Connor, who's recently started accepting publicity heavy red carpet gigs as "DJ C-Squared," is a late addition to the performing talent at that L.A. bash.

As for the party patrons who shell out for the experience, it comes down to the Facebook effect -- sharing the experience in real-time or the day after online, a promotional windfall for all involved. "Even a picture from a distance or to hear a celeb you see in magazines speaking on the microphone, you can say 'I was there!"' says Berger.

Copyright 2011 by TheWrap.com

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45828574/ns/today-entertainment/

chiefs kc chiefs kc chiefs judy garland duggars kyle orton kyle orton

Verizon Kills $2 Fee Plan Amid Consumer Outrage (Mashable)

The public has spoken and they don't want to pay fees. Verizon is the most recent company to announce a fee, in this case a $2 fee to pay your bills online, and back-out less than a week after it was reported. The public has proven that if a strong consumer backlash is instigated, companies will respond. The interwebs got word of the fee on Thursday. Soon after, many on Twitter were tweeting their outrage about the proposed "convenience fee."

[More from Mashable: Top 10 iOS Apps of 2011]

Then, to make matters more sticky for Verizon, the FCC got involved. FCC officials would not comment on the exact nature of their investigation but did say in an email shortly before Verizon backed out of the fee plan, "On behalf of American consumers, we're concerned about Verizon's actions and are looking into the matter."

A Verizon spokesperson soon thereafter issued a statement on their website saying they were not going forward with the fee.

[More from Mashable: Meet the Writer Being Sued for His 17,000 Twitter Followers]

"The company made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions," the statement read.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20111230/tc_mashable/verizon_kills_2_fee_plan_amid_consumer_outrage

christina aguilera tony stewart amas music awards 2011 music awards 2011 jill biden jill biden