Rudy Giuliani: Ferguson officer Darren Wilson should be "commended"

President Barack Obama on Ferguson and Race Relations

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said officer Darren Wilson should be commended for fatally shooting Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, last August in Ferguson, Missouri.

A man committed a robbery, attempted to assault a police officer, and the police officer, to save his life, shot him, Giuliani told Fox News on Thursday. The police officer did his duty. The police officer should be commended for what he did. He did exactly what you should do.

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Wilson was cleared of any charges by a local grand jury last fall. The Justice Department last week released a report on his shooting of Brown and said that it did not have sufficient evidence to try Wilson for civil rights violations. Wilson resigned from the force in November.

Giuliani spoke at length during the interview about his belief that Ferguson had been overtaken by an atmosphere of unbalance since Browns shooting. He said that this atmosphere has been perpetuated by comments from members of the Obama administration, as well as the Justice Departments scathing report on the Ferguson Police Department, released last week.

This atmosphere, Giuliani continued, led to the shooting early Thursday of two Ferguson police officers, both of whom are now recovering.

The New York Republican claimed that the report is an allegation and that there is no proof yet that its findings are true.

The Justice Department, in a statement upon the reports release, said it reviewed 35,000 pages of police records and conducted hundreds of hours of interviews with officers and people in the community for the investigation.

The report found that though African-Americans make up 67 percent of Fergusons population, they are the subject of 85 percent of vehicle stops and 93 percent of arrests. In addition, the investigation stated that police are far more likely to use force on African-Americans than on whites.

In the wake of Thursdays shootings, Giuliani defended the Ferguson police, claiming that they were out in harms way Wednesday night to protect local businesses because the people were rioting.

Had there been no rioting last night, said Giuliani, this wouldnt have happened.

Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/rudy-giuliani-ferguson-shooting-response-darren-wilson-116016.html

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Blue Devils look for revenge against NC State in ACC tournament quarterfinals

Virginia Tech vs Wake Forest | 2015 ACC Men"s Tournament Highlights

The Blue Devils will open the ACC tournament Thursday in hopes of solidifying their position as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament and will try to exact a little revenge in the process.

No. 2 Duke will face N.C. State at 7 p.m. in the ACC tournament quarterfinals at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Wolfpack defeated Pitt 81-70 Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinals, where the Blue Devils have been waiting after receiving a double-bye. Both squads are playing some of their best basketball heading toward the NCAA tournament, as the Wolfpack have won six of their last seven and Duke has won 11 straight en route to claiming the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.

The game will be the second clash between the two teams this season, as N.C. State upset the then-No. 2 Blue Devils 87-75 in Raleigh Jan. 11, a victory that sent the Wolfpack faithful pouring onto the court following the final buzzer. Although Thursday"s game will more than likely not feature a court storming, the possibility of a second straight upset remains a serious threat to Duke"s bid at a No. 1 seed.

Okafor went for 23 points in the teams" first meeting and has been the backbone of the Blue Devil offense all year, but it will be the backcourts, not the big men, that decide this game.

Duke boasts what some have been recently calling the best backcourt in America in freshman Tyus Jones and senior Quinn Cook, a duo that combined for 27.8 points and 8.5 assists per game in the regular season. Cook enters the game having scored 20 points in five of his past eight contests and has been an offensive catalyst for the Blue Devils all season, with an improved three-point shot to go along with his nifty finishes in the lane.

Jones has been a floor general in every sense of the wordhe owns a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratioand has been Duke"s best performer down the stretch. And although both Blue Devils have proved time and again that they are up to the challenge of facing the top guards in the conference, the Wolfpack boasts a formidable trio capable of hurting Duke in a variety of ways.

N.C. State sophomore Anthony "Cat" Barber scored just four points on 1-of-3 shooting in the first contest between the two, but if his Wednesday performance signaled anything, it"s that a lot has changed since January.

The Wolfpack point guard poured in a career-high 34 points on 9-of-13 shootingincluding 4-of-5 from long rangein the second-round win against Pittsburgh.

In the first matchup, Cook and Jones primarily guarded Barberand did so with successwith Cook sometimes stepping over to cover the larger Trevor Lacey. The redshirt junior Alabama transfer is averaging 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 rebounds per game and has kept the Wolfpack afloat in many of their close games this season. Lacey is N.C. State"s go-to playmaker and seems to have a consistent green light from head coach Mark Gottfriedthe last time he was held to single-digits was a nine-point effort in a Jan. 7 loss at Virginia.

The 6-foot-3 guard has displayed an uncanny talent for converting tough shots and consistently picks up the Wolfpack during runs by their opponent. Although Barber"s herculean effort against the Panthers will draw attention to the point guard Thursday, Lacey made his presence felt with a 21-point outing in the upset win back in January.

Lacey was guarded one-on-one by five different Blue Devils in the first meetingCook, Jones, Rasheed Sulaimon, Matt Jones and Justise Winslow.

Sulaimon stuck with Lacey the best out of the five Blue Devils thanks to the Houston native"s combination of size and quickness. Cook and Tyus Jones both give up at least three inches and 20 pounds to the redshirt juniorsomething he took advantage of often by rising up to knock down contested jumpersand Matt Jones struggled to stay with Lacey"s quick first step.

With the physicality that Wolfpack big men BeeJay Anya, Kyle Washington and Abdul-Malik Abu bring in the paint, Winslow will likely be occupied with Abu or swingman Ralston Turner for the majority of the night if Duke plays man-to-man defense.

Turner is the third guard rounding out N.C. State"s backcourt, and although he contributed just four of the trio"s combined 59 points Wednesday, the Muscle Shoals, Ala., native is not the be overlooked. Turner scored 16 points in the January contest and held Winslow to 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting on the other end of the court.

Turner shoots 37.7 percent from downtown and knocked down four 3-pointers in January"s win. Cook and Matt Jones both struggled to fight around screens and Turner took advantage of the daylight he was granted.

With all three Wolfpack guards coming on strong as of late, Duke may opt to play a zone rather than give Lacey the one-on-one matchups he has won all year or expose Okafor in the pick-and-roll between Barber and the N.C. State bigs. The Blue Devil zone has minimized Duke"s issues with players who excel at those skill sets in past gamesthe Blue Devils" commanding win at then-No. 6 Louisville being a prime example.

But even with the improvements on defense, Duke"s offenseone that ranks third in the nation in points scoredmust be running on all cylinders to produce a different result in the rematch.

Duke shot just 24-of-65 from the field in Raleigh, well below its season average of 50.2 percent. Part of the low shooting percentage was due to the Wolfpack bigsnamely Washington and Anyacombining to swat away 10 shots. N.C. State averages 5.5 blocks per game and had a field day against a Blue Devil team that with the exceptions of Winslow and Okaforplay below the rim.

If the Blue Devils hope to avoid another upset Thursday and continue on their way to locking up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, they will need to slow down the Wolfpack backcourt and play aggressive. With wins against Louisville, Duke and North Carolina during the regular season, N.C. State appears to have a spot in the Big Dance wrapped up, so as much as Thursday"s rematch will be about seeding for the Wolfpack, it will be about revenge for the Blue Devils.

The winner between the two will take on the winner of Thursday"s Notre Dame-Miami contest in the semifinals Friday at 9 p.m.

Source: http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2015/03/12/blue-devils-look-revenge-against-nc-state-acc-tournament-quarterfinals

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Author Terry Pratchett Was No Stranger To Death

Terry Pratchett"s The Colour of Magic Part 1 2009

Terry Pratchett authored more than 70 books. Rob Wilkins/Courtesy of Doubleday hide caption

itoggle caption Rob Wilkins/Courtesy of Doubleday

Terry Pratchett authored more than 70 books.

Rob Wilkins/Courtesy of Doubleday

Fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett was prolific: He wrote more than 70 books, dozens of them about the Discworld a flat planet borne through space by four elephants on the back of a giant turtle. Pratchett died Thursday at age 66. He had been suffering from early-onset Alzheimer"s disease.

Pratchett was no stranger to death. The big guy with the scythe and the booming voice was a constant and vital presence in the Discworld books and their screen adaptations. "HUMAN BEINGS MAKE LIFE SO INTERESTING," Death says in Pratchett"s 1996 book Hogfather, and while it"s Death speaking there in his characteristic capitals, that one sentence sums up what was marvelous about Pratchett: He found human beings so interesting.

Few writers were as insightful and just plain good as Pratchett was at winkling out all the secret scraps of human nature and then disguising them as broad comic fantasy.

"He really had the gift of making fun of human foolishness without being cruel," says fantasy author Delia Sherman, who has taught college classes on Pratchett"s work. "He was just so compassionate, even to the most horrible of his characters. He allowed them to be fully human, even if they were rocks who walked."

Pratchett originally wanted to be a journalist. He left school at the age of 17 to write for his local paper, where, among other things, he wrote a series of stories about the tiny people that live in your carpet. The stories became his first novel, The Carpet People. His first Discworld book, The Color of Magic, came out in 1983. But his imagination didn"t stop at creating an entire world he wrote books about cats, meditations on JRR Tolkien and, famously, a 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, called Good Omens, about what might have happened if the Antichrist had been raised as an ordinary little boy.

Pratchett was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer"s disease in 2007, a situation he referred to with characteristic humor as his "embuggerance." The disease left him unable to read or write, but he soldiered on using special dictation software. It"s really not a problem, he told NPR in 2013: "I"m a bit of a techie anyway, so talking to the computer is no big deal. Sooner or later, everybody talks to their computers; they say, "You b*****d!" "

After his diagnosis, Pratchett became an inspiration to dementia patients and an advocate for physician-assisted suicide for those suffering terminal illnesses. In 2011, he told NPR, "I believe everyone should have a good death. ... The ideal death, I think, is what was the ideal Victorian death: You know, your grandchildren around you, a bit of sobbing because, after all, tears are appropriate on a death bed and you say goodbye to your loved ones."

According to his publisher, Pratchett had that good death. In the end, he didn"t choose assisted suicide, but died of natural causes with his cat asleep on his bed and his family around him.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2015/03/12/392574719/author-terry-pratchett-was-no-stranger-to-death

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Why Darrelle Revis left Patriots for Jets

ESPN First Take - How Much Better Does Darrelle Revis Make The Jets ?

The money mattered.

The Patriots lost superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Jets because their rivals offered substantially more money, a source told the Herald yesterday.

Surely, Revis was enticed by the possibility of winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Patriots, and there had been a strong feeling around Revis for several months that he would have returned to the Pats if the money was close because winning was his priority.

But when the dust settled Tuesday night and the Patriots were left with a crater in their secondary, their unwillingness to approach the Jets five-year, $70 million offer, which included $39 million in fully guaranteed money, was the trump card. As the sayings go around locker rooms, players cant pay for groceries with Super Bowl rings, and legacies arent accepted at the cash register.

So, after multiple conversations, here is how the Patriots lost Revis one year after he was the highest-profile free agent acquisition in franchise history.

To set the stage, Revis and the Patriots both viewed their two-year, $32 million pact as a one-year, $12 million contract. The Pats added the second year to split up the cap implications, with a $7 million hit in 2014 and an assumed $5 million in dead money against the cap in 2015. That was the price of doing business.

As the season progressed, there was some quiet discussion the Patriots would consider exercising Revis option, which would come with a $25 million cap hit in 2015, if negotiations werent progressing and it was financially feasible to do so. Though Revis preferred a long-term deal, he would not have been ticked over that outcome because he would have earned $20 million in cash to defend the crown. Of course, as the Patriots were significantly up against the cap, the option was not seriously considered.

Revis had no desire to enter negotiations during the season, but both sides began to work together at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, where impending Pats free agents were universally given the impression Revis was the priority.

The Pats had both the cap room and the cash flow. After declining the options for Revis, Brandon Browner and Vince Wilfork, NFLPA records showed the Patriots had $17 million in cap space. Revis will have a $16 million cap hit in 2015 with the Jets, but the Patriots could have chopped down that number by a considerable margin if they gave him a signing bonus. And because Tom Brady gave the team a break last season by slashing the full guarantees in his contract, the Patriots had an additional $24 million in cash flow because it was freed up from the leagues escrow account.

Early this week, though, the Patriots came to the realization they were not going to meet Revis contractual wishes. Now, unlike Browner, the Pats did not give Revis permission to explore his value around the league while still under contract. So, if Revis did have discussions with the Jets prior to Tuesday at 4 p.m., that would be viewed as tampering, which is a charge the Pats already filed due to Jets owner Woody Johnsons comments about his interest in Revis in December.

It took less than five hours after he officially became a free agent for Revis agency to announce his agreement with the Jets, so that appeared relatively quick for such a substantial contract. However, remember it only took the Patriots five hours to agree to their deal with Revis last year after he was cut by the Buccaneers.

The Patriots played a strategic poker game Monday and Tuesday after relinquishing their hope on Revis. Publicly, they gave off the impression they were still in on Revis, but they essentially hoped the Jets would be bidding against themselves. The Patriots did not make any additional offers for Revis on Tuesday before the deadline.

So, why release Browner at the same time if they knew Revis was gone? They simply didnt feel he was a fit in their system.

And that is how Revis spurned the Patriots to return to the Jets.

Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2015/03/why_darrelle_revis_left_patriots_for_jets

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Sam Bradford wants DeMarco Murray, DeMarco wants Chip Kelly

ESPN First Take - How Will DeMarco Murray"s Free Agency Play Out Dallas Cowboys ?

Earlier today, reports came out that the Eagles were still interested in free-agent running back DeMarco Murray even after agreeing to sign Ryan Mathews (see story).

As talented as Murray is, it was a confusing fit given the Eagles" backfield depth. But a reason for the maintained interest was revealed this afternoon by ESPN"s Chris Mortensen.

Murray himself called Chip Kelly and personally expressed interest in playing for the Eagles.

Bradford"s presence can only help. The Eagles" new QB said at his press conference Wednesday afternoon that he"s been contacting Murray in an attempt to recruit his former Sooners teammate to the Eagles.

Murray, the NFL"s leading rusher in 2014, is in line for a huge payday. And, given Kelly"s explanation Wednesday afternoon that money was a main factor in trading LeSean McCoy to Buffalo, he seems to be out of the Birds" price range.

Mathews" agreement is for $11.5 million over three years with $5 million guaranteed. Darren Sproles has cap hits the next two seasons of $4.1 million and $4.5 million. Chris Polk is also on the roster. If the Eagles were to add Murray, they"d be committing a heck of a lot of money to a position many believe to be expendable.

Then again, Murray is anything but an interchangeable part. He totaled 2,261 yards in 2014 and scored 13 touchdowns for the Cowboys. For his career, he"s average 4.8 yards per carry. And most importantly, he played all 16 regular-season games for the first time in his four-year career.

UPDATE:6:07 - NFL analyst LaDainian Tomlinson has an update on the possibility of the Eagles signing Murray.

Stay tuned.

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/sam-bradford-wants-demarco-murray-demarco-wants-chip-kelly

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4 Things To Know: Fighting ISIS, "Blurred Lines" Verdict & More

Blurred Lines, but a clear-cut verdict: Marvin Gaye"s estate awarded 7.4 million dollars

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) These are the four stories you need to be aware of for Wednesday, March 11.

Senate Committee To Consider Battling ISIS

A U.S. Senate committee will take up war with the Islamic State.

The committee will consider the presidents request for Congress to authorize military force.

The biggest fight will be about the plans ban on the use of troops on the ground.

Many Democrats think thats too open-ended while Republicans oppose it for being a restriction on forces.

New Study On Kids & Sugary Drinks

Parents may be buying into health claims too often when it comes to kids drinks.

A new study argues that parents are still giving their kids too many fruit and sports drinks.

Ninety-six percent of parents said they gave their kids a sugary drink in last month.

The beverage association says theres nothing wrong with having these drinks its about moderation and balance.

Blurred Lines Verdict Sides With Marvin Gaye Family

A jury has ruled that the biggest hit song of 2013 was a copy.

The jury awarded Marvin Gayes children over $7 million saying Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams was a copy of the 1977 hit Got to Give it Up.

Williams and Thicke have each made about $5 million.

Barrio Partners With Minnesota Twins

A well-known local restaurant chain is coming to Target Field.

Barrio will partner with the Twins to open a Latin-themed restaurant and bar.

The Twins say it will be open by the April 13t home opener inside Gate 6.

Source: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/03/11/4-things-to-know-fighting-isis-blurred-lines-verdict-more/

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Exclusive! See Zoolander"s Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson Prep for the Valentino ...

Zoolander 2: Stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson Go All ‘Blue Steel’ on Fashion Week Runway

Are you ready for your close-up? Because these two really, really ridiculously good-looking male models are. By now you may have heard that Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson gave a live teaser for Zoolander 2 at Valentinos show today (yes, the sequel is finally in the works), but you probably havent seen just how the actors pulled it off. After all, every good supermodel walk-off requires some backstage prepthe best hair, the best makeup . . . the right angles on a selfie stick. Lift the lid on their antics with this behind-the-scenes look at Derek Zoolander and Hansels epic Paris Fashion Week stunt.

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Photographed by Kevin Tachman

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Watch Anna Wintour Talk Runway Walks with Derek Zoolander and Hansel Backstage at Valentino

See exclusive photos of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilsons return to the runway:

Photographed by Kevin Tachman

Zoolander 2 will open in theaters nationwide on February 12, 2016

Source: http://www.vogue.com/12323182/zoolander-2-valentino-ben-stiller-owen-wilson-selfie/

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