Notre Dame, Alabama arrive for BCS title game

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) ? Brian Kelly walked off the tarmac, hopped aboard one of Notre Dame's team buses that bore his image on the side and grinned broadly as he sat in the driver's seat.

Soon, the Notre Dame coach will know if his team ? or Alabama ? will finish college football's season in that proverbial spot.

The top-ranked Fighting Irish landed in South Florida on Wednesday, not long before the arrival of the second-ranked Crimson Tide. The teams meet Monday night to decide the BCS championship, a matchup that was set more than a month ago, the hype growing with each passing day.

"Going to play the national championship game in Miami, it's not like any trip that they've had before," Kelly said. "It's not like any trip that I've had before. And so there was an anticipation that when we got on the buses to the airport that they were really excited about this trip. It's something that you dream about when you play this game and when you coach this game."

For Notre Dame ? at least for this current batch of Fighting Irish ? this is all new, as one of the game's most storied programs has not won the national title since the 1988 season. For Alabama, the hubbub that goes with the BCS title game is familiar, as the Tide is trying to win its second straight crown and third in four years.

And for Alabama coach Nick Saban, it was a return to his former home. Saban coached the Miami Dolphins before going to the Crimson Tide, famously saying toward the end of his tenure in South Florida that he wasn't "going to be the Alabama coach."

He was hired by the Tide not long afterward.

Grand welcomes were executed for both teams, including water cannon sprays over their planes and greetings from local officials and members of the Orange Bowl Committee. Notre Dame landed in Fort Lauderdale, Alabama in Miami, the teams about equidistant from Sun Life Stadium ? the site of Monday's showdown for the title.

Police escorts awaited the bus caravans, and all players were getting a gift bag that some started digging through immediately, even before leaving the airport.

"It's 'Rudy' vs. 'Forrest Gump,'" Notre Dame wide receiver Robby Toma said, referring to the still-popular films that featured the Irish and the Tide. "Both very storied programs, a bunch of national championships and we're excited to compete with the best because that's how you become the best."

And work is left in both Notre Dame's and Alabama's quest to finish at No. 1. Both teams are set to return to the practice field on Thursday, with workouts scheduled throughout the remainder of the week.

"We've got to do a little work this week," Kelly said. "But we feel good about our preparation."

Dozens of players, coaches and guests on the Notre Dame flight took photos of the mass of reporters, Broward Sheriff's officers and fans when they deplaned, a few carrying video cameras and a couple even tossed oranges ? a nod to the Orange Bowl Committee ? from one hand to another.

Kelly said Notre Dame will find ways to mix fun and relaxation with the element of it being a business trip as well.

"All the people that were looking out the window were pretty much amazed to see the kind of draw that this game has," Kelly said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-02-FBC-T25-BCS-Team-Arrivals/id-56df820e54f642c8bd12f8789f6269f3

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Getting more than anticipated from a New Year's Day swim | Health ...

I almost didn?t go for a swim this morning. After all, I?d had a good and joyous run, it?s New Year?s Day, and my arms are a little sore from (finally) using the weight machines at the gym.

But what the heck. I was feeling perky, so off I went. As I was changing into my swimsuit, a woman walked into the dressing room. She was taking tiny steps, as if she were afraid she?d lose her balance if her feet were any farther apart. We said our hellos, exchanged smiles and I wished her a happy new year.

?Happy New Year to you, too!? she said.

As I was pulling open the door that leads to the showers that leads to the pool, she spoke again.

?We?re not usually here at the same time, but when we are, I love watching you swim. You?re so fast,? she said.

I will interject here and say I am not that fast. But when you walk the length of the pool and someone swims by, that person?s pace ? and this sounds obvious even to those of us who know little to nothing about physics ? will seem speedy.

I thanked her, told her how much I love swimming, and eased into the pool. I was taking my usual sweet time getting started ? spitting into my goggles, waving my arms around, splashing my shoulders with water ? and saw her. She waved and, before giving me a thumbs-up, asked if she could use one of the two kickboards I?d put at the end of my lane. Sure, I said, and started swimming.

When I finished, I used my kickboard for an up-and-back to finish up.

?How do you do that?? she asked.

?Using two kickboards really helps,? I said. ?Plus, sometimes it seems easier to just kick from your knees, but if you use your whole leg as much as possible, that?ll get you to the end faster.?

?I used to swim all the time,? she said. ?But once I got this? (I didn?t know what she meant yet) ?I just couldn?t.?

Turns out she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 25, not long after giving birth to her second child. Now, her children are grown ? one daughter was with her in the pool ? and she has grandchildren. I said what an inspiration she must be to them.

?I?m determined to keep going, no matter what,? she said. ?I told my doctor I?m not going to end up in a wheelchair like other people my age. I?m going to keep fighting.?

She took the kickboards from the end of the pool and they floated in front of her. She asked me how I hold them when I kick, and I got back in the water to show her. I told her to give a good push off the end, and she?d be fine.

She thanked me and told me again how much she liked watching me swim. I thanked her, put on my flipflops, took my towel from the hook and went to shower.

When I took off my watch, I checked to see how long my workout took today. It was faster than I?d swum in a long, long time. In retrospect, I guess I shouldn?t have been surprised. Sure, it?s nice to believe in yourself. But sometimes it?s even nicer to have someone ? a total stranger, even ? believing in you.

Source: http://healthblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/getting-more-than-anticipated-from-a-new-years-day-swim.html/

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Heavy clashes in suburbs of Syrian capital

BEIRUT (AP) ? Activists and state media are reporting heavy clashes and shelling in suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus and other parts of the country.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says some of the heaviest fighting is taking place in the Damascus suburb of Daraya.

The fighting showed rebel strength in the area of capital as the 22-month civil war drags on.

The Observatory and activist Mohammed Saeed, who is based near Damascus, say Syrian warplanes took part in bombing Daraya on Tuesday.

State-run news agency SANA said troops killed "tens of terrorists" in Daraya and nearby areas. The regime refers to rebels as "terrorists."

Daraya is few miles (kilometers) from the strategic military air base of Mazzeh, a western neighborhood of the capital.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/heavy-clashes-suburbs-syrian-capital-141230790.html

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Samsung Smart Tango Corner Clean robotic vacuum hits Flickr ahead of CES launch

There's no doubt that Samsung's holding its juiciest bits for the stage in Vegas, but the company has been letting a few items slip on by, with an update to its robotic vacuum line representing the latest pre-CES tease. The Smart Tango Corner Clean maintains a traditional circular design, but includes the "world's very first pop-out brush," which enables the bot to whip debris out of corners and otherwise inaccessible spots along its mapped-out path. On the navigation front, the new cleaner appears to include Samsung's camera-equipped Visionary Mapping System, with a front-mounted lens. There's also a built-in LCD for programming and error code readouts, along with a handful of controls on the top and a standard removable dust bin in the rear. There's no hint of pricing or availability -- or even a model number to speak of -- but if you're in the market for an autonomous vac, you might as well hold out on your purchase for one more week.

Filed under: Household, Samsung

Comments

Source: Samsung Tomorrow (Flickr)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/5EmcYfK5oW4/

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Chiefs' Lilja says he's retiring - KansasCity.com

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star

Updated: 2012-12-31T22:19:18Z

After nine NFL seasons, his body told him it was time to go. Aches in his knees, his toe, his back.

Ryan Lilja listened. The Chiefs offensive lineman said on Monday he has played his last NFL game.?I?m physically ready to shut it down and kind of move on with my life and transition to whatever is next for me and my family,? Lilja said as he and his teammates cleared out their lockers. ?It?s been a great career and it?s gone by really fast. I made a ton of dynamite relationships and friends over the years and have some great experiences but I?m ready to shut it down.?As for possibly reconsidering his decision after the disappointment of the Chiefs? 2-14 season has faded, Lilja said he didn?t think that would happen.?Not likely,? he said. ?I?ve got some plans to do stuff with my body, a couple of operations that I probably wouldn?t be doing if I was playing football again. Knee and toe, specifically.?Lilja is a son of Kansas City, having attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and later Kansas State. He began his career with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004 but was signed by Indianapolis when the Chiefs tried to put him on their practice squad.He played six years for the Colts and was a member of both of their Super Bowl teams. The Chiefs signed him as a free agent in 2010 and he played three seasons in Kansas City.A guard for his first eight seasons, Lilja moved to center early this season after Rodney Hudson was lost for the year because of a broken leg.Lilja said he bought 34 tickets for family and friends for the season?s final home game against Indianapolis. That served as his retirement party. He indicated he had made the decision long ago to retire now.?Probably a year,? he said. ?Physically you hit a wall and your body kind of tells you to start thinking about it. I wanted to be in a place where I was at peace with my decision and could move forward and never regret it. I?m there.?

To reach Adam Teicher, call 816-234-4875 or send email to ateicher@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/adamteicher.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/31/3988845/chiefs-lilja-says-hes-retiring.html

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How to Finance Your Dodge Purchase

Purchasing a Dodge can be a fantastic opportunity for your needs. This manufacturer?s vehicles are known for being long-term vehicles, the type that you do not feel the need to trade in after just a few years. As you are making a long-term commitment, you really do want to invest in the wrong car. At the same time, you do not want to invest in the wrong type of financing for your purchase. Luckily, there are several options available to most car buyers. All you have to do is to consider the options carefully.

The Goal Is Affordability

Though there are plenty of reasons to select one financing company over another, there is no doubt that your Dodge purchase will come down to price. Most companies are reputable especially if you select a lender that?s nationally available or one that you know well from personal use. The bottom line, then, is who is the most affordable vehicle financing company. For this, you want to look at and compare interest rates. The lower the rate is, the better off you are.

Look at Fees Too

Be sure to consider any fees for obtaining the loan. You should pay for things like the title and taxes out of pocket to avoid the additional costs of rolling them into the loan. At the same time, check out other fees, such as loan origination fees or application fees you may need to pay. Ask to see the fee schedule of the lender before you agree to the loan.

Compare as Many Lenders as You Want

Don?t settle for just the first lender you find. For example, the Dodge dealership may offer in-house financing. You may have a local bank or credit union. There are often national lenders available, too. Determine which one of these companies has the best price option for you. Don?t assume that you are getting the best deal from the initial application you place.

Know Your Budget

You should buy the amount of car you can afford. You want to think about the monthly payment. Can you make it easily? If not, you may want to increase the terms to lower the actual monthly payment. You can also reduce interest charges and accumulation by making a sizable down payment at the start. The fact is you do not want to end up with a car that you cannot afford to make payments on.

The right Dodge is available for you. Once you find the right vehicle, you?ll need to think about all of your financing options. By taking the time to compare numerous loans from various lenders, you will find an affordable solution that fits your bottom line.

Interested in financing options for a new Dodge Huntsville AL? For more options and special prices, please visit: http://www.championofathens.com.

Source: http://www.articlesrx.com/how-to-finance-your-dodge-purchase/10351

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Samsung still needs to plug hole in Android devices

Samsung is apparently still working on an update for a software flaw that could allow attackers to siphon personal data from a phone.

The vulnerability affects Samsung's S II and S III phones and several models of its Galaxy line, including the Note, Note II, Note Plus and Note 10.1, all of which use the Korean company's Exynos 4210 and 4412 model processors.

Exploit shared

The flaw and an exploit was disclosed in mid-December on XDA Developers, a forum for mobile developers. Samsung's engineers apparently made a poor configuration mistake involving the Android kernel and failed to restrict kernel address space mapped to userspace via the /dev/exynos-mem device driver.

An application incorporating the exploit was created by a developer nicknamed Chainfire on the forum.

Chainfire's application allows users to modify the phone to make the exploit ineffective, but the fix also disables a device's camera in some instances depending on the device's firmware version.

Chainfire warned that other application-based fixes that have been developed are seriously flawed, so users should not depend on those to provide protection until Samsung issues an update.

"The only true solution is a kernel fix that simply removes the exploitable memory device, but that requires a non-universal device update," Chainfire wrote.

Samsung downplayed the seriousness of the issue, saying in a statement that "the issue may arise only when a malicious application is operated on the affected devices; however, this does not affect most devices operating credible and authenticated applications."

Samsung's devices can be updated over the air by operators, or users can do it with a desktop computer using the company's Kies software, according to a spokesperson.

Play Store scans for hacks

Android applications submitted to Google's Play store are checked for malicious behavior, but there are many websites around the Internet offering Android applications, many of which purport to be a legitimate but are actually malicious software and could incorporate this exploit.

Since an exploit has been published, Trend Micro said that it is only a matter of time before hackers begin to use it.

Samsung said it "will continue to closely monitor the situation until the software fix has been made available to all affected mobile devices." It did not specify when the fix would be available.

Send news tips and comments to jeremy_kirk@idg.com. Follow me on Twitter: @jeremy_kirk

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2023265/samsung-still-needs-to-plug-hole-in-android-devices.html

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