Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was forced by a court order to surrender his guns as part of an ongoing domestic case.

ESPN reports that Suggs’ girlfriend and mother of his two-children, Candace Williams, filed a court order in November, but specifics of the case were not released. Even without specifics, some signs of disputes were obvious from court records.

Suggs filed a custody complaint on November 19, and Williams filed her court order after that. On November 21, 911 dispatchers received two calls from Suggs’ address, but those calls yielded no police reports.

The NFL reported that Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said the team was aware of the case but would not comment on the matter. Suggs’ attorney Warren Alperstein said the case should be resolved with a court hearing next week. Alperstein also stressed that Suggs’ guns were legal and that he had legal possession of them when they were surrendered.

“The guns were surrendered over to police pursuant to the court order, and they (Suggs and Williams) are resolving their issues,” Alperstein said. “All I can tell you is that he’s in rightful and lawful possession of the guns but turned them over pursuant to the requirements of the law.”

This isn’t the first case of domestic disputes between Suggs and Williams. Williams filed a complaint in December 2009 alleging that Suggs knocked her down and threw something at her. She was granted a protective order, but she later withdrew it and a major lawsuit as the two attempted to work things through.

Terrell Suggs’ guns were surrendered in the wake of a tragic gun-related murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs player Javon Belcher. The Detroit Free Press reports that three-quarters of NFL players own guns.

Terrell Suggs Gives Up Guns As Part Of Domestic Case is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former Los Angeles Angels right-hander Dan Haren has signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals for $13 million.

The Long Beach Press-Telegram reported that Haren, 32, will be joining his fifth team when he reports to Washington. Haren is 119-96 since his debut in 2003.

Sports Illustrated reports that the Angels had tried to trade Haren to the Chicago Cubs, but the team ended up declining to pick up his option and buying him out of his contract, making him a free agent. Had the Angels picked up the option, Haren would have been paid $15.5 million. His new contract with Washington, plus the $3.5 million buyout from the Angels, actually mean that Haren will make about $1 million more this year than if he had remained in Los Angeles.

The Nationals were not put off from signing Haren despite his age and recent injuries. While Haren has pitched more than 200 innings in his career, back and hip injuries saw him limited to 177 innings last season and a 4.33 ERA while going 12-13.

Haren’s final record as an Angel 33-27. Los Angeles acquired Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline in 2010 in exchange for Joe Saunders and minor league pitchers Rafael Rodriguez, Patrick Corbin, and Tyler Skaggs.

Haren, a graduate of Bishop Amat High School who attended Pepperdine University, is a three-time All-Star pitcher. His best season so far came in 2007 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. That year Haren went 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA.

The signing is expected to bolster the Nationals’ already able bullpen. With the addition, Washington’s rotation will now be Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Ross Detwiler, and Gio Gonzalez and Haren.

Dan Haren Signs One-Year, $13 Million Contract With Nationals is a post from: The Inquisitr

Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum was accidentally shot in the back and ear by baseball Hall of Famer Robin Yount while the pair was out quail hunting recently.

The good new for Sveum is that he was hit with BBs. Still, he called the incident a “bloody scene,” but he was not badly hurt. USA Today reported that Sveum and Yount were teammates in Milwaukee in the late 1980s. Yount and Sveum go on hunts together regularly, but this time there was a bit of a breakdown in each man knowing where the other was.

Big League Stew reports that Yount and Sveum were about 50 yards apart when Sveum claims Yount lost track of where he was. Yount was firing at a bird.

“He got the bird up and lost track of where I was,” Sveum said.” He pulled the trigger and was like, ‘Uh, oh… I got drilled with pellets in the back and then one stuck in the ear.”

In case this story left you thinking Yount is a bad shot, that isn’t so. While he may not have meant to hit Sveum with his shot, Yount must have known what he was doing because he still came away with the bird.

The incident has led Sveum to nickname Yount “Dick Cheney,” calling to mind the former vice president’s now-famous mishap. In 2006 while hunting, Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington. That incident led to far more serious injury than anything Yount’s BBs could do to Sveum.

If you had to choose between Robin Yount and Dick Cheney for a hunting partner, who would you choose?

Chicago Cubs Manager Dale Sveum Accidentally Shot By Robin Yount is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch was hospitalized on Tuesday, marking the second hospital admission for the 87-year-old in the last three months. Koch’s recent hospitalization stems from a respiratory infection.

The Associated Press, citing Koch’s spokesperson George Arzt, reported that Koch is being treated with antibiotics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Arzt and Koch were having lunch Tuesday when the former New York mayor complained that he wasn’t feeling well and planned to call a doctor.

CNN reported that Koch was hospitalized in early September and treated for anemia after complaining of weakness while staying with friends in North Carolina. He underwent a blood transfusion and was in the hospital for three days, keeping up with the Democratic National Convention via media reports.

A long-time Democrat, Ed Koch was a three-term mayor of New York City from January 1978 to December 1989. His terms as mayor saw New York step back from near bankruptcy. He was also famous for greeting his constituents by saying “How’m I doing?”

Koch made news for his political views again back in 2011 when he protested President Barack Obama‘s request that Israel return to pre-1967 borders by supporting a Republican candidate for Congress. When the president later spoke on Israel’s behalf, Koch reported he was once again a supporter of the president.

Prior to his three terms served as mayor of New York City, Koch served a term in the US House of Representatives. After his political career, he had many roles, including serving as judge on The People’s Court, television show.

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch Hospitalized is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has been named Sports Illustrated‘s 2012 Sportsmen of the Year.

James’ biographers will likely remember 2012 as a watershed year for LBJ. The year saw LeBron win an Olympic gold medal and NBA Championship while claiming both regular season and NBA Finals MVP awards. Despite the success, ESPN reports that James was surprised to find out he’d won the honor, believing that he was still viewed negatively as a result of his decision to leave Cleveland via a contrived live television special.

“I remember just like yesterday when I signed here and basically, like the roof caved in,” James said. “To see that I and my team and everyone around me was able to patch that roof up, to come to this point, to come to this point and receive such a prestigious award, it’s huge.”

Sports Illustrated notes that James, averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals last season as he led the Heat to an NBA Championship. His teammate with the Heat, Dwayne Wade, was also named Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsman of the Year in 2006.

“Welcome to the club,” Wade tweeted. “We have been expecting you… Congrats to my brother from another.”

LeBron James’ bringing home a Sportsman of the Year award puts him in elite company. A selection of previous winners of the award include Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Arthur Ashe, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, and Michael Phelps. Duke men’s basketball coach (who also coached the men’s Olympic team) Mike Krzyzewski and former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt shared award last year.

LeBron James Named Sportsman Of The Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

An aquarium on the resort island of Sentosa in Singapore opened in late November and claims to be the world’s largest aquarium.

The S.E.A. Aquarium, ABC News reports, houses 100,000 marine animals of more than 800 species. The aquatic life is housed in nearly 12 million gallons of water. With numerous zones of the world represented and nearly 50 habitats, the world’s largest aquarium is sure to get plenty of positive attention.

Positive attention aside, ANI reports that animal rights activists have been lobbying for S.E.A. Aquarium to release its 25 dolphins, which were captured for the exhibit. Park officials say, however, that the dolphin capture was ecologically sound.

“We hold the belief that zoological organizations have a role to play in wildlife conservation and that to avert species crises, controlled wildlife collections can occur for quality zoological facilities to increase our understanding of the species and for breeding purposes,” a spokesman told ANI.

The cost of admission will be $24 for an adult, and among the displays is a 118-by-27 feet glass viewing panel into the “Open Ocean” exhibit, which is the world’s largest viewing panel in an aquarium. S.E.A. Aquarium will also have interactive exhibits for kids and adults. There are plans to add shark and dolphin encounters in the future.

In addition to the S.E.A. Aquarium, the resort also opened Adventure Cove Waterpark last month.

If S.E.A. Aquarium’s claims about its size are correct, the facility will replace Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium as the world’s largest aquarium. Georgia Aquarium, which opened in 2005, boasts more than 10 million gallons of water.

World’s Largest Aquarium Opens In Singapore is a post from: The Inquisitr

If all the 1.25 billion Catholics in the world chose to become followers of Pope Benedict XVI‘s new Twitter account, @Pontifex, he would easily overtake Lady Gaga as the most followed personality on Twitter.

Reuters reported that the Vatican announced the @Pontifex handle Monday morning, and, despite not having tweeted a single word, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church had already more than 30,000 followers as of 7:45 am.

“The handle is a good one. It means ‘pope’ and it also means ‘bridge builder’,” said Greg Burke, senior media adviser to the Vatican. “The pope wants to reach out to everyone.”

While the 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI will not be the one typing the message on a Blackberry or iPad, the pope’s words on Twitter will be his own as opposed to something created by a PR team.

“He will tweet what he wants to tweet,” Burke said.

The pope’s messages on Twitter will likely be condensed messages from his weekly general audiences, other homilies, and messages on Church holidays. He will also respond to major world events.

The Atlantic Wire reported that the pope will tweet in eight languages. His first tweets will come December 12, the feast of the Madonna of Guadalupe, in the form of a Q&A. He will answer questions directed toward him with the hashtag ‘#askpontifex.’

The Pope, who was known by his given name of Joseph Ratzinger prior to his election to the papacy, has seen his Twitter following grow rapidly. At 7:45 am Monday @Pontifex had 32,270, and, just 15 minutes later, the total was up to 38,235.

Vatican Announces Pope’s Twitter Account: @Pontifex is a post from: The Inquisitr

VCU women’s volleyball coach James Finley led his team to a 25-6 record this season before losing in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. It was the best winning percentage the Rams put up in his eight-year tenure, and the next day he was fired. James Finley also happens to be gay, and he claims that was the reason for his termination.

The Associated Press reports that Finley has filed a complaint with VCU’s Office for Institutional Equity and will consider legal action if he is not reinstated. ESPN reports university spokesperson Pamela D. Lepley said an investigation is now underway, and will be completed within 45 days at which time the findings will be given to VCU president Michael Rao.

Finley claims he was told that his firing had nothing to do with his win-loss record (151-116), and he was even told by athletic director Ed McLaughlin and executive associate athletic director Jeff Cupps that they would help him find another job.

“I have felt completely not a part of the thing that I love,” Finley said. “For one person to do that, and to meet with me for the first time and to tell me I’m not a good representative of the university — somebody that doesn’t even know me because he’s never made an effort to get to know me — there’s no other conclusion that I can come to other than that he just doesn’t want a gay person representing his athletic department.”

A fifth-year senior on VCU’s volleyball team, Kristin Boyd, said the team wasn’t given much information either.

“(McLaughlin) wanted to go in a different direction and that he wanted better for us and he wanted somebody to better represent the school, so he wouldn’t really give anybody any more information other than that,” Boyd said. “Nobody really asked any questions because I think we were just overwhelmed and shocked and didn’t really know what to say.”

Finley said he wants his job back, and claims that VCU has a diverse and accepting culture where he and his partner have always felt welcome.

VCU Coach: I Was Fired For Being Gay is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Atlanta Braves have traded Tommy Hanson to the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Jordan Walden.

The Associated Press reports that the move will help bolster Atlanta Braves’ bullpen. Walden’s fastball has been clocked at nearly 100 miles per house and he recorded 48 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched this past season for the Angels. Walden served as the Angels’ closer in 2011, recording 32 saves and striking out 67 batters in 60.1 innings pitched. He was named an All-Star that season, making the team as an injury replacement. He was demoted from the closer role early in 2012.

The Angels had said earlier this week that Walden was “very available” after the team signed Ryan Madson.

Tommy Hanson will help the Angels offset the loss of Ervin Santana and Dan Haren. The 26-year old Hanson had a career-high 13 wins last season but a career-worst ERA at 4.48. MLB Trade Rumors reports that Hanson’s spent some time on the injured list last season with shoulder tendonitis, and added that his fast ball has been trending in the “wrong direction.”

Hanson has a 45-32 career record with Atlanta, the only team he had played for in his four-year career. In 2012, Hanson was the Braves’ Opening Day starter. He won 11 games as a rookie, 10 in 2010, 11 in 2011 and 13 last year. Tommy Hanson’s ERA has also been trending the wrong way. His ERA in each of his four seasons were as follows: 2.89, 3.33, 3.60, and 4.48.

Hanson was called up by Atlanta in 2009 when the team cut Tom Glavine. He finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting that season.

Braves Trade Tommy Hanson To Angels For Jordan Walden is a post from: The Inquisitr

It is no secret that Comedy Central personality Stephen Colbert is a big fan of JRR Tolkien’s 1937 book, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. Colbert already has secured some kind of role in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation, which has been extended to a trilogy, but now the host of The Colbert Report has announced that his show the week of December 3 will be all about The Hobbit.

E! reports that the The Colbert Report that will week feature guests Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf the Grey), Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins) and Andy Serkis (Smeagle/Gollum) and Jackson.

When E! reached out to Colbert about the announcement, the star of the faux news program showed his Tolkien street cred by speaking to them in Elvish, a language Tolkien developed that is spoken by the race of Elves in Middle Earth.

“Elen sila lumenn’ omentielvo (A star shines upon the hour of our meeting),” Colbert said. “I mean that sincerely.”

UPI notes that Colbert has used his extensive knowledge of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit on The Colbert Report before. He used it to decimate a Tea Party attempt to justify a position using a Lord of the Rings analogy.

Later he brandished a replica of Anduril, the sword which in the Lord of the Rings belongs to Aragorn and was given to Colbert by Viggo Mortensen. He brought out the sword, given to him by the Viggo Mortensen, not to make any kind of point, but to remind the American people that he owns it.

Stephen Colbert Plans ‘Hobbit’ Themed Week on ‘Colbert Report’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been out since injuring his throwing shoulder and dislocating a rib November 12 against Kansas City, and it seems unlikely he will be back in time for the Steelers’ matchup Sunday with AFC North Rival Baltimore.

NFL.com reports that, while Big Ben has managed to practice with the team some this week, his arm just isn’t where it needs to be yet. When Roethlisberger was asked if there was any chance he would play this weekend, he sounded cautiously optimistic, but other quotes suggested he was resigned to another week watching backup quarterback Charlie Batch.

”There’s always a chance,” Roethlisberger said, according to the Associated Press.

Batch completed 20 of 34 passes for 199 yards and three interceptions against the Browns in a 20-14 Steelers loss. Batch was the team’s third string quarterback but was pressed into service after injuries to Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich.

“I firmly believe that (Batch will play well),” Roethlisberger said. “They know what he’s capable of. He’s been doing it a long time. They respect him. I think he’s ready to rise to the occasion.”

Ben Roethlisberger has had a busy last few weeks. His injury against the Chiefs included a dislocated rib that doctors once said threatened to puncture his aorta, though reports say that threat has likely passed. Still, when he does return, he may wear special pads.

In addition to rehabbing his shoulder, Big Ben and his wife Ashley welcomed Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Jr., the couple’s newborn son, into the world on November 22. The timing of Ben’s injury was fortuitous, as it allowed him to be off work when Ben Jr. was born.

Ben Roethlisberger Unlikely To Play Sunday Against Ravens is a post from: The Inquisitr

President Barack Obama’s inauguration as president for a second time will take place in less than two months, and, when he does, he will make history again.

Since the 20th amendment in 1933, the US Constitution mandates that a president is sworn in at “noon on the 20th day of January” following a presidential election, but when that day falls on a Sunday, the rule is pretty much ignored and the inauguration is moved to the following Monday. This January 20 is a Sunday, making just the third time in history that a presidential inauguration has had to be moved to January 21, according to the Library of Congress. The second Obama inauguration marks the seventh time one was pushed back a day because the Constitutionally-mandated date fell on a Sunday.

The Associated Press reports that James Monroe was the first president to move his inauguration date for this reason. When he was re-elected, his second term inauguration date of March 4, the date of inaugurations prior to the 20th amendment, fell on a Sunday. He moved it to March 5, starting a tradition.

After Monroe, Zachary Taylor followed suit when he was elected in 1849. Rutherford B. Hayes did the same in 1877, as did Woodrow Wilson during his second inauguration in 1917.

Dwight D. Eisenhower’s second inauguration was the first to be held on January 21 in 1957, and Ronald Regan’s second inauguration in 1985 was done on the same date. ABC OTUS reports that Eisenhower and Reagan held private swearing-in ceremonies on Sundays that fell on January 20 but then held public events the next day.

With Obama’s inauguration, the third to be held on January 21, the president makes history for a second time. Obama’s first inauguration made him the first black president in US history, and his second adds him to the unique list of president’s not inaugurated on the Constitutionally-mandated day.

Obama will also be the first president ever inaugurated on Martin Luther King Day, which in 2013 falls on January 21.

Obama’s Jan. 21 Inauguration Date Unique In History is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Cincinnati Reds have re-signed reliever Jonathan Broxton.

The club announced on its website that Broxton agreed to a 3-year, $21 million dollar contract, paving the way for the Reds to move the highly touted Aroldis Chapman into a starting role. Chapman served as closer last season.

Only 28-years-old, Broxton’s new contract includes a $9 million option for a fourth year and has a limited no-trade clause. Broxton gets to pick 10 teams each year that would be acceptable in a trade, and if he is traded, the $21 million deal becomes $22 million.

The Associated Press reports Broxton joined the Reds last July in a trade with Kansas City. He had been the Royals closer, picking up 23 saves in 27 chances before the trade. He filled that role for the Reds late in the season when Chapman needed rest, earning four saves with a 2.82 ERA.

Chapman, known for his devastating fastballs that consistently top 100 MPH on the radar gun, had 38 saves in 43 chances, including a franchise single-season record 27 consecutive saves for the Reds last season. Overall, he went 5-5 with a 1.51 ERA, 23 walks and 122 strikeouts as the Reds went on to win the National League Central Division.

Broxton agreed to the deal because he wanted to settle in one place and reportedly did not insist on being the team’s No. 1 option at closer.

“As long as we’re winning at the end of the day, I don’t care if I pitch the seventh, eighth, ninth or 10th,” Broxton said. “It doesn’t matter to me. As long as we’re winning, I’m happy.”

The Reds re-signing of Broxton opens the door to Chapman starting, but it doesn’t mandate it. Team officials so far have only said that nothing is set in stone and that it all depends on what happens in spring training.

Reds Sign Closer Broxton To 3-Year, $21 Million Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

If someone gave you a gift straight from outer space, you’d probably take care of it. At the very least, if you did put it away, you’d remember where you set it, right? President Richard Nixon gave the each state a fragment of moon rock in a little desktop display as a gift and Minnesota put it away, apparently completely forgetting that their state had possession of extraterrestrial moon rocks.

The Star Tribune reports that Minnesota’s moon rocks were found with other military artifacts in a storage area at the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul, Minnesota. The historian who found them, Maj. Blane Iffert, had to go online in search of the history of the strange find.

“When I searched the Internet to find additional information about the moon rocks, I knew we had to find a better means to display this artifact,” Iffert said.

The Atlantic reports that Minnesotans shouldn’t feel too bad that their state government apparently lost the moon rocks. Nixon gave out approximately 193 moon rock gifts made from the samples brought back by Apollo 11 and Apollo 17, and at present less than 50 are accounted for. That doesn’t mean the others are lost, per se, but it does mean that neither NASA or the government know where they are.

The moon rocks are scheduled to be transferred to the Minnesota Historical Society in a ceremony on Wednesday.

“We are honored to have this in our collection to preserve for future generations,” Pat Gaarder, deputy director for the Minnesota Historical Society, said. “It is also exciting to think that our collection includes artifacts from across the globe and now with these moon rocks, the galaxy.”

The moon rocks found in St. Paul weren’t the only ones in the news lately. NASA’s David Wolf recently spoke at a Star Trek convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, and brought with him a moon rock from the Apollo 15 mission. When the company that was intended to guard the moon rock backed out, WishTV reports that The Shane Company, a jewelry store, kept the moon rock safe in its vault.

Forgotten Moon Rocks Found In National Guard Storage Unit is a post from: The Inquisitr

A reporter and author was being interviewed by Fox News, but the anchor quickly ended the interview when the subject criticized the network for “operating as a wing of the Republican Party.”

The Associated Press reports that Thomas Ricks, a veteran journalist and author of The Generals, was being interviewed by anchor Jon Scott. The interview was about Republican criticism of UN Ambassador Susan Rice’s comments about the attacks.

ThinkProgress notes that the interview with Fox News would last only one minute and 45 seconds. Scott sets up the interview by highlighting Ricks’ credentials, saying he has covered the military for decades. When Scott asks a question about John McCain backing off his previous statements about Rice, Ricks blasted Fox News.

“I think that Benghazi generally was hyped, by this network especially, and that now that the campaign is over, I think he’s backing off a little bit,” Ricks said. “They’re not going to stop Susan Rice from being secretary of state.”

Scott makes the point that the Benghazi attack led to the first death of an American ambassador in such a situation is hardly hype, but Ricks countered by asking the anchor how many contractors died in Iraq. Scott said he didn’t know, and Ricks said no one knows because no one cares, intimating perhaps that Fox News didn’t cover than because there was no political angle for the network. He then called Fox a “wing of the Republican Party.

Scott wrapped up the interview then and there, with the segment running about half as long as planned.

(Photo by Terry Ballard)

Fox Interview Ends After Author Criticizes Network is a post from: The Inquisitr

The 2012 Toronto Argonauts secured their place in Canadian Football League history on Sunday, winning the CFL’s 100th Grey Cup championship.

Quarterback Ricky Ray got off to a rough start but finished with 231 yards passing with three touchdown passes as the Argonauts topped the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 in Toronto. ESPN reports that this is Toronto’s 16th Grey Cup, and their first since 2004. The Argonauts led by as much as 24-6, and never trailed as more than 53,000 fans cheered them on.

Reuters reported that Chad Kackert, who rushed for 133 yards and had 195 yards of total offense, was named Most Outstanding Player in the contest. The Argonaut defense limited the Stampeders’ scoring to four field goals and a safety, until a garbage time touchdown in the final seconds.

Former All-Big Ten offensive lineman Gerald Cadogan (pictured below), who signed with the Argonauts on Oct. 30, reflected on the historic significance of being part of the 100th Grey Cup championship game. Cadogan had played on four NFL practice squads, and briefly was a member of the Calgary franchise before nearly retiring from professional football.

“Just very humbled and blessed to be a part of such a big event the 100th Grey Cup,” Cadogan told The Inquisitr. “I was the last person to be signed on the team this season and to be on this championship team is truly a blessing. I’m just thankful to God for this opportunity and also a thank you to my parents Maureen and Anthony Cadogan for that push to not retire from football just yet. A special thank you to Amy Hughes, and Scott Duty as well as Scott Gampp for their words of encouragement. You never know what God has in store for you. Trust God!”

The CFL’s website reports that the first ever Grey Cup was won by Toronto as well, but not by the Argonauts. The first Grey Cup game was a 26-6 victory by the University of Toronto over Toronto Parkdale. The University of Toronto went on to hold the title for several years, even defeating the Argonauts in the Grey Cup championship game in 1911.

The Argonauts won their first Grey Cup title in the game’s sixth installment, taking revenge on the University of Toronto. The Grey Cup is named for Albert Grey. There was no Grey Cup contested for two years as a result of World War I and another year was missed in 1919.

Most American’s know of their neighbors to the north’s football league from the early to mid-1990s expansion of Canadian Football League teams to the US. The Sacramento Gold Miners and others were a short-lived experiment but the 110-yard long, 65-yard wide field still found its way to American interest from time to time. Doug Flutie is perhaps the most famous CFL player of all time, and was also a successful NFL quarterback.

Argonauts Rout Stampeders In CFL’s 100th Grey Cup Championship is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ernie Warlick, one of the AFL’s forerunners as a pass catching tight end in the 1960s with the Buffalo Bills, has died at the age of 80. ESPN reports his death came after a brief illness and was confirmed by Amigone Funeral Home in Amherst, N.Y.

His cause of death was not released but his friend and teammate with the Buffalo Bills, Booker Edgerson, said Sunday that Warlick had been hospitalized over the past two weeks after complaining of shoulder pain.

Fox Sports reported that Warlick earned perhaps the best name a man who caught passes for a living could hope to earn — “Hands.” He played on two AFL championship teams with the Bills in the 1960s but started out with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. Warlick was a CFL All-Star three times in five seasons as a receiver and defensive back. As a tight end, he was named an American Football League All-Star in each of his four seasons in the AFL from 1962 to 1965.

In college Warlick was a standout at North Carolina Central where he also played basketball.

Ernie Warlick became a Buffalo staple after his playing days. He became a television broadcaster and later opened a hamburger stand before landing a job in sales.

”He’s going to be fondly remembered, and it was a great loss,” said Edgerson.

Warlick finished his four-year AFL career with 90 catches for 1,551 yards and four touchdowns at a time when very few tight ends were being used in a receiving role. One of Warlick’s four touchdowns was an 18-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring in Buffalo’s 23-0 victory over San Diego in the 1965 AFL Championship game.

Ernie Warlick is survived by his wife, Louise,as well as three children and five grandchildren.

Former Bills TE Ernie Warlick Dies is a post from: The Inquisitr

Despite not being eligible for a BCS National Title or Big Ten championship, the Ohio State Buckeyes made their case for a No. 1 final ranking in the Associated Press poll with a 26-21 victory over rival Michigan on Saturday.

The team ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll is named the Associated Press national champion, which is the only championship designation the Buckeyes are eligible for this year after NCAA sanctions banned the team from postseason play this season. Ranked No. 4 in the AP poll, with a few breaks, the top spot is attainable for undefeated Ohio State.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Braxton Miller went 14-of-18 for 189 yards and a touchdown in the win, which completed Ohio State’s sixth perfect season. The Buckeyes’ defense stepped up in the second half, forcing three turnovers after halftime. Michigan managed just 60 yards in the second half.

The Huffington Post reports Ohio State ends its season at 12-0 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten. Michigan’s regular season is over at 8-6 overall and 6-2 in the conference. The Wolverines are a lock to make a bowl, but a minor one.

Drew Basil’s 28-yard kick with 8:12 left in the third quarter gave Ohio State a 23-21 lead. Basil matched a career high with four field goals made in the contest before a crowd of 105,899, the largest to ever see the rivalry game when played in Columbus, Ohio.

The undefeated 2012 season ended as Ohio State honored the 10-year anniversary of the 2002 National Championship team led by Jim Tressel, who was in attendance. It was a bit of an ironic moment as the crowd roared its approval for Tressel, even though it was violations under his tenure that led to Ohio State’s current bowl ban.

(Photo by Bob Strickley)

Ohio State Tops Michigan To Cap Unbeaten Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

When it comes to holiday miracles, Christmas seems to get the lion’s share in pop culture. But for the family of Benjamin Pessah, Thanksgiving 2012 came with a miracle they will be thankful for for years to come as Pessah woke from a month-long coma just days before.

Benjamin Pessah was walking home from a Halloween party just before Halloween on Oct. 28 when a stranger inappropriately touched his girlfriend. He intervened, and the stranger shot him in the head. His family was told he didn’t have much of a chance. Californiality reports that doctors initially did not want to operate, finding Pessah’s brain to be too badly damaged. Since he was only 21-years-old, however, doctors went ahead with the procedure but still gave Pessah only a 25 percent chance at survival. It seemed he would need a miracle.

ABCNews Blogs reports Pessah was put into a medically induced coma where he remained for nearly a month. Just days before Thanksgiving, with his mom in the room, he awoke and faintly said, “Hi mom.” On Thanksgiving Day most families gathered around a table with a turkey and all the fixings, but Pessah was surrounded by his family in a California hospital room. With his parents, three brothers and hospital staff present, Pessah took his first steps since being shot in the head, causing the room to erupt in applause at the Thanksgiving miracle.

“Right now I couldn’t be more happy,” Nick Pessah, Benjamin’s older brother, said. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve been crying, I’ve been happy. He’s beaten all of his odds so I couldn’t have asked for a better Thanksgiving.”

Thanksgiving Miracle: Man Shot In Head Wakes From Month-Long Coma is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pope Benedict XVI appointed six new cardinals on Saturday and as many Vatican watchers have noted, none of the six were European.

Cardinals, sometimes called princes of the Church, are select Catholic bishops who as a group will form a conclave to elect the next pope in the event of Benedict XVI’s death or resignation. As a whole, cardinals are referred to as the College of Cardinals. The Associated Press reports that only cardinals under the age of 80 may participate in a conclave, and with the elevation of six on Saturday, there are now 12o cardinals eligible to vote.

In the ceremony, called consistory, wherein the the cardinals were created, Pope Benedict XVI did not specifically address criticisms that the College of Cardinals is not representative of the Church at large, but his appointments could be seen as a response. Critics within the Church have complained that Europe, where church attendance and influence are waning, has too many cardinals while the rest of the world where the faith is growing are under represented.

Saturday’s consistory created six new cardinals, and none of them were from Europe. Reuters reports that the new cardinals are: “American Archbishop James Michael Harvey, Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, a major archbishop of the Syro-Malankara rite in India, Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota, Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church in Lebanon, and Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja.”

In addition to electing a new pope when the old one leaves office, cardinals also serve as advisers to the pope, who is the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.25 billion Catholics.

Of the 120 voting-age cardinals, the largest block is from Italy, which has 28. In all 62 cardinals are from Europe, and 58 are from the rest of the world. North America has 14 cardinals with Harvey’s elevation.

Pope Appoints 6 New Cardinals To Elect His Successor, No Europeans is a post from: The Inquisitr

While the Democratic Party reportedly reinserted God into its platform at the request of President Barack Obama, it doesn’t seem as though he’s too interested in talking about the Almighty otherwise. For the fourth straight year, President Obama failed to mention God in his national Thanksgiving Day address given Thursday.

It should be noted, in Obama’s official written Thanksgiving Day proclamation released by the White House, the president did mention God twice. He referenced a “God-given bounty that enriches our lives,” in addition to one other mention.

“Let us spend this day by lifting up those we love, mindful of the grace bestowed upon us by God and by all who have made our lives richer with their presence,” the president wrote.

But in his speech, certain to be seen by more people than the official proclamation of Thanksgiving, God was again left out. The Daily Caller reported that the president did reference “blessings” and the “freedom to worship” in his address, but he stopped short of thanking God.

“But, most of all, it’s a time to give thanks — for each other, and for the incredible bounty we enjoy in this country,” Obama said. “It’s especially important this year.”

When President George Washington first proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving, God got a few more lines. Christian News dug up the proclamation of America’s first president issued in 1789, just 13 years after American independence.

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor,” Washington wrote. “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the people of these states to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”

Washington’s proclamation went even further, begging that God would pardon any national transgressions.

Obama, the Democratic Party, and God shared headlines a few months back when the party narrowly passed a voice vote at their convention to avoid dropping God from the party platform. The result of the vote drew audible boos from the crowd.

Obama Fails To Thank God In Fourth Straight Thanksgiving Address is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Auburn Tigers are 3-8 and winless in the Southeastern Conference, which already has head coach Gene Chizik’s job in jeopardy. Now, things are looking even bleaker as reports have emerged that Auburn is being investigated by the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations.

ESPN reports that the NCAA investigation focuses on recruiting violations, including the situation surrounding the recruitment of running back Jovon Robinson, who was ruled ineligible by the NCAA this season and is not currently enrolled at Auburn. The investigation, however, is not limited to Robinson.

Yahoo’s Pat Forde reports that Auburn assistant coaches Trooper Taylor and Curtis Luper are facing NCAA scrutiny and have been taken off the recruiting trail. Taylor is the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach and Luper coaches running backs and is the recruiting coordinator. When Chizik was asked to comment on which coaches were still involved in active recruiting, he declined.

Auburn is just two years removed from a national championship, winning the BCS title game against Oregon in 2011 22-19 with Chizik as head coach. Things haven’t gone as well since then. Auburn went 8-5 in Chizk’s first season with the Tigers before their 14-0 national title run in 2010. In 2011, it was right back to 8-5 and this season includes only three wins and an 0-7 record in the SEC.

Auburn’s wins this season haven’t exactly come against top notch competition either, defeating only Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State, and Alabama A&M.

Reports that the NCAA has interviewed several people in connection with the investigation into Auburn recruiting violations this week provide an unneeded distraction as the Tigers prepare to take on No. 2-ranked Alabama on Saturday.

(Photo by Carol Highsmith)

NCAA Investigating Auburn’s Football Program is a post from: The Inquisitr

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has not set a timetable for his return from rib and shoulder injuries, but the Steelers had a solid backup ready to go in Byron Leftwich. In last week’s 13-10 loss to Baltimore, however, Fox News reports that Leftwich also suffered fractured ribs leaving the Steelers to turn to 37-year-old Charlie Batch to lead the offense against the Browns on Sunday.

Batch, who was a starter early in his career with Detroit, has been a backup quarterback for the Steelers for 10 years, signing in 2002 to backup Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox. Batch has earned at least one start in five separate seasons with Pittsburgh and is 5-2 as a starter for the Steelers. Batch will be the Steelers third starting quarterback in as many weeks.

Leftwich took over against Kansas City two weeks ago after Big Ben went down with an injury. He completed 7 of 14 passes as Pittsburgh edged out the Chiefs 16-13 in overtime. Against Baltimore, Leftwich completed 18 of 39 passes for 201 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin revealed officially that Batch would get the start on Tuesday, but he hinted at it earlier.

“You know how it goes,” Tomlin told USA Today. “We’ll live to fight another day with who we have.”

Roethlisberger admitted last week that his rib injury is so serious that there is some concern the broken ribs could puncture his aorta. Because of that, he’s not expected back soon. With Leftwich on the shelf, Batch was the only remaining quarterback on the roster. The Steelers’ website reported that the team signed free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer to add some depth. Hoyer was a backup with New England the last three years and came into the league as an undrafted free agent.

There was no word on whether Hoyer would be competing with Batch going forward for a starting role if Leftwich cannot return the following week.

Steelers QB Woes Continue: Batch To Start For Injured Leftwich is a post from: The Inquisitr

Going into Tuesday’s contest against Faith Baptist Bible, Grinnell College’s Jack Taylor was averaging 23.5 points per game through two contests. His average now is 61.6 points per game after dropping 138 points in the Pioneers’ 179-104 victory.

USA Today reports that the 138 point total by Taylor is easily a new NCAA and collegiate record, eclipsing Rio Grande’s Bevo Francis who scored 113 in 1954 against Hillsdale for the NCAA record. ESPN notes that Francis scored 119 against a junior college the year before for the collegiate record. Grinnell is an NCAA Division III school located in Iowa. Incredibly, Taylor scored his 138 points without even playing the full 40 minutes. He played 36, going 52 of 108 from the floor and hitting on 27 of 71 3-pointers. He added seven free throws on 10 tries.

Grinnell’s website reports that Taylor is a transfer student from UW- La Cross. He may not have even hit his stride yet as the 5-10, 170-pound student-athlete is only a sophomore. Grinnell head coach David N. Arseneault made a prediction about Taylor in the team preview that looks on pace to be a very real possibility based on his 138-point performance.

“We felt like the biggest weakness we had a year ago was not having a scoring threat at the point guard position,” Arseneault said. “That hole has not only been filled, it has been filled by a very special player who just might be the next leading scorer in the nation. Jack Taylor, a transfer from UW-La Crosse, is the real deal and has a chance to become a special player in this program.”

Jack Taylor’s 138 points for Division III Grinnell was also a school record. The previous mark was 89 points.

Grinnell College’s Jack Taylor scores NCAA record 138 points is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to TMZ, a letter containing a suspicious white powder and addressed to X Factor co-host Khloe Kardashian Odom was sent to CBS on Tuesday, and now the FBI is investigating.

After the letter addressed to Kardashian and containing the white powder was discovered, the FBI, LAPD, and L.A. Fire Department showed up to take a look. The powder was determined to be harmless talcum powder, but that isn’t the end of the story. E! reports FBI Public Affairs Specialist Laura Eimiller confirmed that the bureau is still looking into the matter.

“The item was field tested with negative results,” Eimiller said. “We have a continuing investigation.”

The CBS studio where the Khloe Kardashian letter with white power is where X Factor is filmed. Interestingly, the studio has seen this sort of thing before. The same type of letters were sent to CBS addressed to Bristol Palin when she was participating on Dancing with the Stars. It was not clear if this letter was related to the previous two.

As a result of the letter, the CBS studio has increased safety measures.

“Khloe is fine,” a source told E!. “The studio has hired extra security. Khloe is heading to rehearsals right now. She is not worried.”

Khloe Kardashian Odom debuted as co-host of X Factor alongside Mario Lopez in late October, immediately drawing attention to her, endowments, after Simon Cowell commented on her state of dress.

“May I say Khloe, you’re looking very sexy tonight,” he said on the broadcast. “I think the air conditioning is on high.”

FBI Investigating White Powder Sent To Khloe Kardashian is a post from: The Inquisitr

When things are going rough at work, it helps to get a little pick me up.

Tim Tebow, got just such a gift from a secret admirer on Tuesday when a bouquet of balloons arrived at the New York Jets’ training facility for the star player. The gift, which included a large balloon that read “You’re Special,” arrived for Tebow on the heels of reports in recent weeks that other Jet players had dissed the backup quarterback behind closed doors.

Tebow, a virtual poster boy for positive attitude, called the gift “nice.” The photo of the secret admirer’s balloons was initially tweeted by the New York Post‘s Bart Hubbuch. Tebow added that such gifts aren’t all that unusual for him, and Deadspin noted it wasn’t the first time he’d received such a gift. Tebow, who was a starter before being traded to serve as a backup and wildcat QB in New York, added that it “happens sometimes.”

Fox Sports‘ report on the matter suggests that perhaps the anonymous gift had another source, like maybe a teammate.

Tebow was expected to give the Jets more than just media attention this season, but the New York Jets have struggled to incorporate the NFL’s best known backup into the offense. He has completed just 6 of 7 passes for 39 yards with no touchdowns. Tim Tebow also has 29 rushing attempts for 87 yards and no touchdowns. Tebow has also recorded two tackles this season.

Tim Tebow was a star quarterback and Heisman winner at Florida. After seeing limited time his first season, Tebow led Denver to a 7-4 record after taking over as starter from Kyle Orton. Since coming to New York this season, he has attempted passes in only five games.

Hopefully getting a bouquet of balloons was able to distract Tebow from his troubles at least for a moment.

Secret Admirer Sends Tim Tebow Bouquet Of Balloons is a post from: The Inquisitr

LONDON — Despite support of the outgoing and incoming Archbishops of Canterbury, Reuters reports the Church of England failed to approved canonical legislation that would have allowed women to be consecrated as bishops in a vote of the General Synod on Tuesday.

The Church of England’s General Synod is a three house body. It includes the House of Bishops, House of Clergy and House of the Laity. For the legislation to have passed, a two-third majority was needed in all three houses. The measure passed easily in the House of Bishops (44-3) and The House of Clergy (148-45), but in the House of Laity the majority was just four votes shy with 132-74 in favor of the measure.

“A clear majority of the General Synod today voted in favor of the legislation to consecrate women as Bishops,” Bishop of Norwich Graham James said in a statement released on the Synod’s website. “But the bar of approval is set very high in this Synod. Two-thirds of each house has to approve the legislation for it to pass. This ensures the majority is overwhelming. The majority in the house of laity was not quite enough. This leaves us with a problem. 42 out of 44 dioceses approved the legislation and more than three quarters of members of diocesan synods voted in favor. There will be many who wonder why the General Synod expressed its mind so differently.”

More than 100 members of the Church of England’s General Synod spoke during the six-hour debate in London. Many important figures supported the measure, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who is retiring at the end of December, and Bishop Justin Welby, who will ascend to the post after Williams.

One lay person, Jane Patterson, spoke up and asked the Synod not to “bow to cultural pressure.” Some members of the Church of England opposed to women bishops have left the Anglican Communion over the issue and Patter said passing the measure could lead more defections to the Roman Catholic Church. About 60 clergy, including five bishops and nearly 1,000 parishoners, have taken advantage of a process instituted by Pope Benedict XVI that allows Anglicans to convert to Catholicism while keeping some of their traditions.

In the Anglican Communion, and Church of England specifically, women may be ordained as deacons or priests. In several of the Anglican-affiliated churches, such as the US Episcopal Church, women may be consecrated as bishops. Supporters of the measure say it could be five years before the Church of England votes on the issue of women bishops again.

Church Of England Votes No To Women Bishops is a post from: The Inquisitr

Homestead, FL — A 13-year old girl in Homestead, Florida was shot and killed by another student while on a school bus Tuesday morning, and a suspect is in custody.

Citing Miami-Dade police, NBC News reports that the 13-year-old girl shot was on a bus bound for Somerset Academy Silver Palms. The bus was on its way to the school. A male student is in police custody, but his age and name have not been released. The circumstances by which the suspect came into police custody were not made clear. The victim, whose name has also not been release, was airlifted to Miami Children’s Hospital where she later died.

Somerset Academy Silver Palms is a K-12 charter school in Miami-Dade County. Florida-based Local 10 reports that the eight students on the bus were bound for three different charter schools: Somerset Academy Silver Palms, Summerville Charter School, and Palm Glades Preparatory Academy. The victim was reportedly a student at Palm Glades.

The Associated Press adds that among the other students on the bus was the 13-year-old girl’s 7-year-old sister. Police did not give a motive for why the student was shot, but the bus driver and the other children who were present have been giving interviews with police.

Grief counselors were en route to the school, which, according to its website, was operating as usual.

“At this time we are aware there’s a community situation,” a scrolling banner on the school’s site read. “Somerset Silver Palms is in normal education mode.”

Other than the banner, the website appeared to have no mention of the incident, instead looking like a typical school website with a notice about Jeans Day this Friday, a countdown to graduation (196 days), and a note about dance team practice. The Palm Glades Preparatory Academy website did not reference the 13-year-old girl’s shooting.

Police: 13-Year-Old Girl Shot On Florida School Bus Dies is a post from: The Inquisitr

Despite a No. 4 ranking and the possibility of an undefeated season, the Ohio State Buckeyes are banned from postseason participation as a result of NCAA sanctions. In response to the situation, Buckeyes fans started a federal petition on WhiteHouse.gov asking President Barack Obama to pardon the team, making them eligible to play in the Big Ten championship game, and potentially a national championship contest later.

Ohio State fell under NCAA sanctions last season because of players receiving free tattoos and other gifts in violation of NCAA rules. Among the sanctions were a one-year bowl ban, being enforced this year. The fans who started the petition, Fox Sports reports, feel the punishment isn’t fair. The petition, which has been removed from the site for violating the terms of participation, read:

“The Ohio State University football team is one win away from an undefeated season. However, due to imposed sanctions, they are not allowed to participate in their conference’s championship game or the following bowl season. While a punishment for past indiscretions is to be expected, a bowl season ban is too harsh for a few young men trading memorabilia for tattoos and some change. The offending players and coach who covered it up are no longer part of the program. Please exercise your executive power to pardon the NCAA’s excessive sanctions placed on The Ohio State Buckeyes to enable a rightful, satisfying culmination to the college football season for the American people.”

Larry Brown Sports reports that while Obama may be a bit preoccupied with the situation in Israel, avoiding the fiscal cliff, working with an opposition House, and the Petraeus scandal, Ohio did break for the president in the election. Winning Ohio secured Obama’s reelection, so perhaps Ohio State fans feel he could return the favor.

It wasn’t clear just what terms the petition violated, but it could be that the president has no jurisdiction over the NCAA since it is not a government agency. WhiteHouse.gov also notes in its terms that “to focus discussion, the platform is limited to a discrete set of topics, which may be adjusted over time.”

Either way, the petition has been removed and Ohio State will almost certainly not receive any reprieve. With a few breaks, however, Ohio State could still finish ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.

Ohio State fans unhappy with the petition’s removal can always sign one of three currently open petitions still on the site asking the president to allow the state of Ohio to succeed from the union.

Ohio State Fans Petition Obama For Pardon From NCAA Violations is a post from: The Inquisitr

Divisions in the Episcopal Church on the subject of gay marriage have led yet another diocese to break from the national US Episcopal Church.

Reuters reports Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina received a letter Oct. 15 from Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori saying he had “abandoned the church” and barring him from exercising his office. The local diocese however had previous stated that it would disassociate with the national church if it took exercised any hierarchical authority. It did, and the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina became the fifth US diocese to break from its mother Church.

Dioceses in San Joaquin, California; Quincy, Illinois; Fort Worth, Texas; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania have also left the US Episcopal Church since the 2003 ordination of the faith’s first openly gay bishop and trends in support of same sex marriage.

The South Carolina dispute has gone on for years and last Saturday a majority of parishes in the diocese voted at a convention for the break. The diocese presented a new constitution and claimed Lawrence as its bishop, removing all references to the national church.

The Item reports that the US Episcopal Church however does not accept the diocese secession.

“While some leaders have expressed a desire to leave the Episcopal Church, the diocese has not left,” Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote in a letter Thursday. “It cannot, by its own action. The alteration, dissolution, or departure of a diocese of The Episcopal Church requires the consent of the General Convention, which has not been consulted.”

The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina actually predates the US Episcopal Church by four years, forming in 1785. The US Episcopal Church formed in 1879.

Episcopalian Exodus Over Gay Issues Continues is a post from: The Inquisitr

It will be a battle of backup quarterbacks when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football tonight.

San Francisco QB Alex Smith has been ruled out of the Monday Night Football contest as a result of a concussion suffered eight days ago in the 49ers tie with St. Louis. Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler is also out as a result of a concussion.

The Associated Press reports that Colin Kaepernick will start in place of Smith. Kaepernick is a second-year quarterback who saw action last week after Smith left the game. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards against St. Louis with no touchdowns or interceptions. Kaepernick has completed 16 of 26 passes on the season for 206 yards.

Smith had hoped to play Monday and participated in practices on a limited basis throughout the week. The Washington Post reports that San Francisco medical director Dr. Dan Garza evaluated Smith but the quarterback did not pass tests under the NFL’s concussion treatment protocol to allow him back on the field for Monday night’s game.

Smith had made 28-consecutive starts for San Francisco, leading the team to a 6-2-1 record this season. Alex Smith has thrown for 1,731 yards and 13 touchdowns for the 49ers this season while completing 70 percent of his passes. Prior to his concussion, Smith was on pace for career highs in completion percentage and touchdowns.

Cutler will be replaced with Jason Campbell for Chicago. Campbell completed 11 of 19 passes for 94 yards in relief of Cutler last week against Houston.

Were you holding out hope for a strong Alex Smith Monday Night Football performance to save your fantasy team?

49ers QB Alex Smith Out For Monday Night Football Game Against Bears is a post from: The Inquisitr

A three-week old kitten trapped in a replica statue of President Abraham Lincoln at the Clermont President’s Hall of Fame in Clermont, Florida has been rescued. The cute, dark grey kitten was dehydrated but otherwise alright.

Paw Nation reports that the kitten’s meows could be heard around the statue for several days before the rescue, but initially it was unclear where the sound was coming from. After three days, the staff called in the Minneola Fire Department to see if indeed a kitten was trapped and to rescue it if so.

The rescue was quite the operation. To get the three-week-old kitten out the Lincoln statue, a representative of the Humane Society let out his own meow as a test, and the kitten responded. Firefighters then had to cut a hole in the back of the statue before lowering in a fireman. It was a few minutes before the man re-emerged, but, when he did he was holding a little ball of fur that appeared to be alright. Once out, it was given a warm blanket and a syringe of nutrients to start its recovery.

How the kitten go into the statue is still a mystery. The only hole in the statue is at the top, but it was believed to be too high for the small kitten to have reached. It was also unclear how long the kitten had been trapped.

The Associated Press reports that the kitten will be nursed to health before it is put up for adoption. The owner of the Clermont President’s Hall of Fame hopes to adopt the kitten. The three-week old kitten has been nicknamed Abe in honor of the former president.

Tiny Kitten Rescued After Getting Trapped In Lincoln Statue [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

When Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released in theaters, it will bear the American Humane Association’s acknowledgement that no animals were harmed during the filming of the movie. It seems the films animals were in more danger off the set, with as many as 27 animals dying as a result of unsafe conditions at the New Zealand farm where they were kept.

The Huffington Post reports that a spokesman for Jackson confirmed that horses, goats, chickens, and a sheep all died while at the farm near Wellington, New Zealand. The spokesman added that some died of natural causes.

NBC reports that five animal wranglers attached to the film said the farm was unsuitable to horses as a result of dangerous grounds that included sink holes and broken fencing. Wrangler Chris Langridge said the farm was full of “death traps.”

The animal deaths seemed to come from all kinds of causes. Some fell off cliffs, some contracted worms, and a dozen chickens were mauled to death by dogs. Animal rights advocacy group PETA has announced plans to protest the films premiere in response.

After the animal deaths, the farm moved to improve conditions. Specifically, after the second horse death, the horses were moved to stables.

“We do know those deaths were avoidable and we took steps to make sure it didn’t happen again,” a spokesman said.

The American Humane Association did investigate the farm at the production company’s request, and the AHA said the company then followed their safety recommendations. Unfortunately for the 27 animals that died on the farm, their investigation took place months after the first deaths.

Will the deaths of 27 animals related to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey affect your plans to see the film?

Up To 27 Animals Died On Unsafe Farm Linked To ‘Hobbit’ Film is a post from: The Inquisitr

A study of youths in the Minnesota area has yielded some unsettling results, showing that roughly five percent of high school and middle school students have used anabolic steroids to bulk up.

Minnesota Public Radio reports that the University of Minnesota surveyed 2,700 adolescents enrolled in middle school and high school in St. Paul and Minneapolis for the study. Marla Eisenberg was the lead author of the University of Minnesota study.

Reuters adds that more than one-third of boys and one-fifth of girls over used protein shakes or powders in addition to using non-steroid muscle enhancers like creatine. The majority of the students in the study were poor or middle class, meaning it isn’t only the wealthy who have found access to illegal steroids.

Another interesting factor, students who do not play sports were just as likely as their student-athlete counterparts to use steroids.

“We’ve got some young people and in some cases pretty young, young people — we’re looking at middle schoolers — who say they are using some of these pretty risky substances in order to increase their muscularity,” Eisenberg said. “And that’s something we need to be paying attention to.”

The study also found that Asian students were three to four times more likely to have used steroids in the past year than their white counterparts.

It was not clear if the findings would apply similarly to areas outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Even in the area of the study, the steroid use by youths was not concentrated in any one school.

“Rather than being driven by a particular school sports team coach or other features of a school’s social landscape, this diffusion suggests that muscle-enhancing behaviors are widespread and influenced by factors beyond school, likely encompassing social and cultural variables such as media messages and social norms of behavior more broadly,” the researchers wrote.

Did you use steroids in high school or middle school? Share your reasons below.

One In 20 Youth Has Used Steroids To Bulk Up is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rob Gronkowski had seven catches for 137 yards and two scores as the Patriots dominated Indianapolis 59-24 on Sunday, but, after New England’s final extra point, the tight end left the game.

Though initially some speculated Gronkowski had hurt his leg, Shutdown Corner reports he suffered a broken forearm on the play. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday to repair the arm, but he will still miss four to six weeks. At best, Gronkowski returns at the end of the regular season.

The Boston Globe reports that the typically reluctant to release information Patriots weren’t entirely forthcoming. Two and a half hours after the game, they didn’t confirm Gronkowski’s broken forearm.

“He left the game with an arm injury,” Patriots spokesman Stacey James said. “There was no update to that.”

Interestingly, the Patriots’ failure to confirm the injury may have been a violation of NFL policy.

‘‘Team personnel are responsible for reporting in-game injury information factually and accurately as soon as possible for the benefit of the network television audience and the other media covering our games,” the NFL’s media policy states.

Gronkowski set an NFL record for tight ends with 17 touchdowns last year, catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards before being injured in the postseason and not factoring in much to New England’s Super Bowl loss. Gronkowski has also gained some notoriety for his lifestyle off the field as a perceived party animal.

The Patriots are without their other first string tight end, Aaron Hernandez, as well. Hernandez has missed several weeks with a sprained right ankle.

Rob Gronkowski Has Broken Forearm, Will Miss 4 To 6 Weeks is a post from: The Inquisitr

It isn’t easy being Taylor Swift, or at least one might get that impression listening to her ever-expanding catalog of songs about lost love.

Her recent offering, All Too Well, off new album Red, is another such song. As Swift is the type who wears her heart on her sleeve, the music industry’s new favorite past time is figuring out which ex-boyfriend she’s singing about. In the case of All Too Well, Us Weekly reports the ex in question is none other than Jake Gyllenhaal.

Citing only an unnamed insider, Us Weekly says the song is about a Thanksgiving visit with the Gyllenhaal family. Back in 2010 Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal apparently stayed with his sister, Maggie Gyllenhall, over the Thanksgiving holiday and the song focuses on that.

Some of the lyrics include, “And your mother’s telling stories ’bout you on the t-ball team. You tell me about your past thinking your future was me.”

During the song Swift even mentions a particular scarf she owned that Jake apparently never returned. In the song, she implies he kept it because of her.

“But you keep my old scarf from that very first week. Cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me. You can’t get rid of it, cause you remember it all too well,” she sings.

Though its been two years since the two broke up, the relationship must have left a mark on Swift. WonderWall reports that the song All Too Well was initially 10 minutes long before she cut it down to its current length. At 5:29, the forlorn love song about Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift is the longest on the album.

Taylor Swift Song ‘All Too Well’ About Jake Gyllenhaal is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Coptic Pope Tawadros II was enthroned Sunday as the spiritual leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christians. He was elected Pope in early November.

Reuters reports that Coptic Christians make up about a tenth of Egypt’s 83 million people, making them one of the largest minority groups in the predominantly Muslim nation. Copts have long complained of facing increasing discrimination as the Egyptian government grows more Islamist, but in a show of good faith, the Muslim prime minister and a host of other cabinet officials attended the ceremony.

Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi did not attend.

The crowded cathedral burst into applause more than once, culminating with the Coptic papal crown Tawadros II’s head as he sat on the throne of St. Mark.

Mark, the evangelist and author of one of the four gospels, is credited for spreading Christianity to Egypt in the decade after Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. The Coptic Church, officially called the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, fell out of communion with the Catholic Church in 451 A.D. over the Council of Chaldeon.

The Catholic Pope Benedict XVI, sent a message of congratulations to Tawadros. He said he hoped the relationship between the Catholic and Coptic churches would grow “in a fraternal spirit of collaboration” as well as “through a deepening of the theological dialogue.”

Tawadros II has spoken of his desire to protect the rights of Christians in Egypt, saying he will oppose any new constitution that addresses only Islamic concerns. The Associated Press reports that while Pope Tawadros II did not speak during the televise ceremony, a speech read on his behalf said he pledged to work for the good of all Egypt, Copts and Muslims alike.

Tawadros II succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who led the church in Egypt for 40 years before his death in March.

New Coptic Pope Installed In Islamist-Run Egypt is a post from: The Inquisitr

Much of the focus on heart disease studies is on men, but heart disease strikes women as well.

Since women develop heart disease later than men, some of the same indicators are useful but they are not enough an now researchers have another marker to help them predict which women suffer a higher risk of heart disease. Early menstruation and puberty have now been linked to women likely to develop heart disease.

MedicineNet explains that the full report will be published in January’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Early menstruation is also linked to obesity and body fat distribution among women.

Women’s hearts are shielded by the hormone estrogen, until menopause. As a result, women develop heart disease nearly 10 years later than their male counterparts. Time notes that the new report confirms previous studies which suggested that menstruating before age 12 may contribute to a 23 percent greater risk of developing heart disease.

One thing that isn’t clear is what is the cause. Early menstruation has recently been tied to childhood obesity, and women who menstruate early are more likely to be obese later in life. As such, researchers admit that it is difficult to tell whether the later in life heart disease is linked to childhood obesity, or to reproductive factors or early puberty.

“Ultimately, the important question is whether female reproductive risk factors can be used to target lifestyle interventions in high-risk women to prevent the metabolic consequences of obesity and cardiovascular disease,” lead author Dr. Subbulaxmi Trikudanathan, of Harvard Medical School said.

One possible takeaway from the study is that doctors could begin discussing healthier lifestyle options with young patients who begin puberty early and show signs of obesity.

Early Puberty May Raise Heart Disease Risk In Women is a post from: The Inquisitr

The family that robs banks together, gets arrested together. Perhaps that could become a new idiom after a father, son, and daughter in Texas were arrested for the crime.

Ronald Scott Catt, 50, his 20-year-old son Hayden Scott Catt and 18-year-old daughter Abigail “Abby” Catt were all arrested last week and charged in connection a bank robbery. ABC News reports the trio is officially accused of robbing 1st Community Credit Union in Katy, Texas last month. KHOU Houston reports that the father and kids could be responsible for as many as six other bank robberies.

The family is originally from Portland, Oregon. Their crime spree likely started there as officials suspect their involvement in five robberies in that area. Ronald Scott Catt and Hayden Scott Catt were both implicated in one other Texas bank robbery as well. The father, son, and daughter were implicated in the other robberies because they used similar disguises.

Police say that Ronald and Hayden entered the bank with bright orange safety vests and dark sunglasses. Hayden Scott Catt wore a fake mustache, while his father Ronald wore a painters mask. Abby Catt drove the getaway car. The men were armed at the time of the robbery.

Detectives were able to arrest the father and kids bank robbing trio after examining surveillance tapes at an area Home Depot store. The tapes show the family purchasing the items used in the bank robberies.

The father and son were arrested together and placed in the Fort Bend County Jail with bonds of $140,000. The daughter was arrested later the same day and placed in jail with a $100,000 bond.

Father And Kids Arrested For Bank Robberies is a post from: The Inquisitr

An FBI shooting took place at a District Heights home on Nov. 15, with agents drawing the weapons and firing on an unarmed girl. The girl was hurt in the incident, but officials say her injury was the result of a fall, not gunfire. An investigation is now underway into the incident.

TheMaryland Gazette reports the incident took place Thursday morning as agents executed a search warrant on a District Heights area home. FBI agents arrived at the 6700 block of Kipling Parkway in District Heights between 6 and 6:30 am and Agent Shayne Stein, of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office confirmed a shot was fired. Stein believe it was an FBI agent who fired the shot.

In a separate story, Stein told the Washington Post that it was unclear how many shots were fired. It was also unclear exactly why the shots were fired and the woman appears to have been unarmed.

ABC affiliate WJLA reported a man residing in the home, Emory Hughley, was home at the time as was his 18-year-old daughter Myasisa and two of her friends who had stayed the night. He claims after waking up from the noise he walked into his living room to see 15 SWAT team personnel in his living room.

“I’m shouting ‘Nobody is armed, nobody has a gun!’ and then all of a sudden I heard ‘She’s got a gun!’ and they just opened fire,” he said. “I’ve got eight holes in my wall. One bullet went past my head, almost hit me, ricocheted off my brick wall and some of the shrap metal hit my little daughter in the back of her neck, all for nothing.”

Hughley said he does not know why his home was raided or why the FBI shooting took place as no guns were present in the home.

FBI Shooting In District Heights Under Investigation is a post from: The Inquisitr

Spain has approved a two-year moratorium on evicting needy people from their homes in the wake of a pair of suicides and various street protests.

Bloomberg reports the law was passed by royal decree and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said he plans to rush things into action after a woman named Amaia Egana became the second Spain suicide in less than two months. Egana lept to her death from her balcony when officials showed up to change the locks to her apartment.

The Associated Press reports that Spaniards are angry over the evictions. The Spanish government is negotiating bailouts for the banks, while some of those same agencies are repossessing homes and evicting people. Spain has seen nearly 400,000 eviction notices over back mortgages since the recession began in 2008. In an effort to combat the trend, Spain has suspended mortgage payments for those making less than $18,400 or less a year, or a family who’s primary earner has exhausted unemployment benefits.

To be safe from eviction, the AP reports a household “must have more than three children, or have children under the age of three, or be elderly, or have disabled people in the household, or be single parents with two children, or be victims of domestic violence.”

The Spain suicides and protest have spurred the government to action in a nation that suffers from 25 percent unemployment, a figure expected to rise.

Another problem is that the two-year delay is just that, a delay. If after two years payments cannot be made, a person could still be evicted. In Spain, even if one is evicted and loses their home, they still owe the money as Spain does not have bankruptcy program like the US that allows people to eliminate debt.

Many, like the Spain suicides, feel there is no other way out when financial or other problems strike close to home. Experts recommend those with suicidal thoughts reach out to those close to them for help and support.

Spain Suicides Spark New Eviction Law is a post from: The Inquisitr

An explosion has rocked a gulf coast oil rig, killing two people and seriously injuring several others. Two people were listed as missing and it was unknown if any petroleum was leaking into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the blast.

Reuters reports that production rig is located 17 miles offshore Grand Isle, Louisiana. The explosion happened Friday near midday.

Compiling news from various sources, MSN reports that a fire caused by the explosion has been put out, and that several vessels were sent to the rig. Some reports claim the four people airlifted to a suburban area hospital were in critical condition but Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally did not confirm, saying they were not aware of the patients’ conditions.

In the immediate aftermath of the blast, there were conflicting reports on how many people were aboard the platform when the explosion occurred. One report claimed there were at least six people on board, with two killed, two missing and four injured.

The cause of the blast is not yet known. Unlike the Deepwater Horizon exploratory drilling rig that burned and subsequently leaked tons of oil into the gulf, the rig that suffered an explosion Friday was a production platform. Also, the oil rig in question Friday was a shallow water platform whereas Deepwater Horizon, as the name implied, The platform, owned by Houston-based Black Elk, produced both oil and natural gas.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was the largest in US history. The explosion killed 11 people and the resulting uncontrolled well spilled nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Coast Oil Rig Fire Friday Kills Two is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former Houston Texans punter Brett Hartmann has sued venue-management company SMG and the Harris County Convention and Sports Corporation, blaming “unsafe turf”at Reliant Stadium for a possibly career-ending knee injury.

ESPN reports that Hartmann signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent after a college career at Central Michigan in 2011 and played in 12 games before suffering a torn ACL and fractured leg in a 17-10 win over Atlanta on December 4 of that year.

The Houston Press reports that the turf at Houston’s Reliant Stadium is unique among NFL stadiums. Where the turf at most NFL venues is laid out in a single sheet, Reliant Stadium’s is laid out in 1,200 8×8 squares of real grass. That creates a great deal of seams that can, and according to Hartmann’s lawyers, do cause injuries to players. Hartmann’s leg got caught in one of those seams in the final minute of the game, causing what may turn out to be a career-ending injury. The stadium also has a Astroturf that it uses for non-NFL events.

He was the leading rookie punter in the NFL at the time.

The lawsuit was filed in Harris County District Court does not name the Texans but does refer to comments critical of Reliant Stadium’s turf made by other NFL players.

Since the injury, and his subsequent release by the Texans, Hartmann claims he has not been contacted by another NFL team, and because of this he feels his career may be over prematurely. His medical bills were paid because of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, but the punter is now seeking unspecified damages.

“I just want other players that are going to be playing on the field and that are currently playing on the field to be safe,” Hartmann said. “I want to make sure their careers aren’t taken from there.”

The former punter’s concerns have been echoed by others, including former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy and Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick. Belichick called the turf responsible for the punter’s injury “terrible” and “inconsistent.”

Former Texans Punter Sues Over Turf-Related Injury is a post from: The Inquisitr

An F-22 Raptor jet crashed near US 98 on Tyndall Air Force Base Thursday afternoon. The pilot was able to eject safely and there were no injuries on the ground.

The News-Herald reports the plane crashed just south of Panama City took place about 3:30 pm and noted that Bay County Sheriff’s deputies and Mexico Beach Police officers were on the scene to assist with traffic control. A HAZMAT team was in place as well. A stretch of the highway was shut down after the accident, and an Air Force spokesman added that the pilot was under medical supervision.

“The pilot safely ejected and is in the hands of medical personnel,” said Herman Bell, Tyndall Air Force Base spokesman.

The Air Force Times reports the single-seat stealth fighter jet is part of a program that has been plagued with problems. The Raptor cost $190 million and since 2008 pilots have reported hypoxia-like symptoms. There has been at least one fatal crash involving an F-22 and the fleet was grounded for four months in 2011. The Air Force eventually acknowledged problems with the plane’s oxygen supply. The cause of this particular crash was not yet known.

Sources on the scene said the plane crashed and burned, the wreckage ending up in a wooded area near the highway and not far from the Air Force base’s drone runway.

Tyndall Air Force Base is located 12 miles east of Panama City, Florida. The 325th Fighter Wing is stationed there. Tyndall Air Force base had a population of nearly 3,000 at the time of the 2010 census.

The F-22 Raptor plane that crashed Thursday is manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

F-22 Raptor Jet Crashes At Tyndall Air Force Base is a post from: The Inquisitr

Women are more likely than men to suffer migraines and new research shows that those who do suffer the painful headaches are more likely to have lesions on their brain from poor blood flow.

CBS News reports the good news is that the lesions do not appear to be dangerous, though their full effect is not known.

“The fact that there is no evidence of cognitive loss among these women is good news,” Linda Porter, pain health science policy adviser in the Office of the Director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), said in a press release. “We’ve known for a while that women with migraine tend to have these brain changes as seen on MRI. This nine-year study is the first of its kind to provide long-term follow-up looking for associated risk.”

Time reports that women, or men, who suffer migraines should not be worried that each headache is causing them brain damage. The changes on the brain as a result are minimal, and no change in migraine treatments are recommended. The lesions are a result of poor brain flow.

The report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It studied 300 adults in the Nederlands and most suffered from migraines, though some did not. They scanned participants brains in 2000, and then again in 2009.

The lesions, referred to as hyperintensities, occurred in men at the same rates regardless of whether or not the men had migraine headaches. Women with migraines were almost twice as likely to have changes in the volume of widespread white matter. The white matter has been linked in the past to dementia and stroke, but cognitive tests by the researchers found no loss of mental function.

Migraines In Women Linked To Brain Lesions is a post from: The Inquisitr

Their snack lineup is legendary — Twinkies, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs — but Hostess has said that, if striking workers do not return today, the brand will liquidate, closing forever.

While the loss of iconic snack foods would be a shame in itself, a Hostess shutdown would also mean the loss of 18,000 jobs nationwide. The Wall Street Journal reports Hostess set a Thursday deadline for 5 pm.

“We simply do not have the financial resources to survive an ongoing national strike,” Chief Executive Gregory F. Rayburn said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

The national strike has been a contentious one. Hostess has already announced plans to shutter bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis, and Cincinnati in response to the baker’s strike, cutting more than 600 jobs. The strike is taking place at 24 of 33 Hostess plants.

CNN Money reports that the new contract at the heart of the dispute cuts salaries across the company by eight percent in the first year of the five-year agreement. Salaries then go back up three percent in the next three years and one percent in the final year. Hostess has also scaled back its pension plan and its contribution to employee health benefits.

Hostess filed for bankruptcy for the second time in January, and the company is now owned by a handful of investment firms.

While a Hostess liquidation would mean the loss of jobs and some of the company’s snack lineup, experts predict that the most iconic brands will likely live on. Other companies will likely be able to purchase the brands at auction, meaning that no matter what happens, Twinkies are likely to stick around.

Hostess May Close For Good If Strike Continues is a post from: The Inquisitr

The United Nations declared Wednesday that access to contraception constitutes a basic human right, a statement that could have far reaching implications.

The Associated Press reports that the UN Population Fund’s annual report for the first time Wednesday referred to contraceptive access as a right. Essentially, the statement means that legal, cultural, and religious objections to contraception constitute an infringement of the rights of people desiring contraception.

“Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women — and men — are denied this human right,” Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the UN Population Fund told AFP.

The UN report is non-binding an does not directly effect the laws of any nation. Still, the United Nations has considerable influence and the report will be used by those seeking to increase access to contraceptives.

While some consider abortion to be an effective part of so-called Family Planning, Osotimehin added that the UN is not calling for abortion to be a human right, just contraception. He added that 13 percent of maternal mortality worldwide is a result of unsafe abortions.

“Abortion should not be promoted as a method of contraception. Where it is legal, we advocate that it should be done safely,” he told AFP.

The UN report will be certain to run afoul of several major groups including the Roman Catholic Church. While studies have shown that Catholics do use condoms and other contraceptives, Church teaching declares the use of contraceptives as a sin. In the United States, Catholic Bishops have been active in opposing a mandate by President Barack Obama’s administration that would require all employers to pay for their employee’s contraceptive services.

UN Declares Access To Contraception A Human Right is a post from: The Inquisitr

In a 52-minute address that will likely be his last in Congress, Texas Representative Ron Paul has declared America’s Constitution a failure.

“Our Constitution, which was intended to limit government power and abuse, has failed,” the Republican representative said. “The Founders warned that a free society depends on a virtuous and moral people. The current crisis reflects that their concerns were justified.”

ABC News reports that for Libertarian-leaning Ron Paul, the “current crisis” includes the recession as well as government breaches in authority and restrictions on individual liberty. Paul, 77, is retiring from Congress at the end of the current term after severing several stints, adding up to 23 years, in the House of Representatives. He has been in Congress consecutively since 1997.

“This may well be the last time I speak on the House Floor, Paul began. “At the end of the year I’ll leave Congress after 23 years in office over a 36 year period. My goals in 1976 were the same as they are today: promote peace and prosperity by a strict adherence to the principles of individual liberty.”

According to The Blaze, Paul’s remarks seemed to acknowledge that he fell short of success in those goals.

“In spite of my efforts, the government has grown exponentially, taxes remain excessive, and the prolific increase of incomprehensible regulations continues,” Paul said. “Wars are constant and pursued without congressional declaration, deficits rise to the sky, poverty is rampant and dependency on the federal government is now worse than any time in our history.”

One of the things Paul laments in his farewell address to Congress is the lack of morality and the decline of religion among Americans. This, he claims, is part of why our Constitution has failed.

“The Founders were convinced that a free society could not exist without a moral people,” Representative Ron Paul said.” Just writing rules won’t work if the people choose to ignore them. Today the rule of law written in the Constitution has little meaning for most Americans, especially those who work in Washington DC. Benjamin Franklin claimed “only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” John Adams concurred: “Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Paul, who’s son Rand Paul currently serves as a US Senator from Kentucky, has inspired a generation of voters and politicians but still has failed to generate mainstream support in three presidential bids. With his time in Congress winding down, Paul seemed resigned to the fact that neither side of the aisle had heard his message. Just as he had throughout his career, however, Paul delivered in nonetheless.

“I have come to one firm conviction after these many years of trying to figure out ‘the plain truth of things.’ The best chance for achieving peace and prosperity, for the maximum number of people worldwide, is to pursue the cause of LIBERTY. If you find this to be a worthwhile message, spread it throughout the land.”

What are your thoughts on Ron Paul’s farewell address? Has our Constitution failed?

In Final Address, Ron Paul Declares ‘Our Constitution Has Failed’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Astronomers believe they have discovered a rogue planet, apparently wandering the cosmos without a star to orbit. The rogue planet is also just 100 light years from Earth, which is fairly nearby in interstellar terms.

Space reports that the rogue, or orphan planet, was discovered by an international team of astronomers using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea and the creatively named Very Large Telescope in Chile. The object has been designated CFBDSIR2149.

The planet is believe to be between four and seven times the size of Jupiter, and its origin is unknown.

“These objects are important, as they can either help us understand more about how planets may be ejected from planetary systems, or how very light objects can arise from the star formation process,” University of Grenoble, France astronomer Philippe Delorme told CBC News. “If this little object is a planet that has been ejected from its native system, it conjures up the striking image of orphaned worlds, drifting in the emptiness of space.”

Delorme was lead writer on the project.

The orphan planet appears to be a part of a stream of young stars known as the AB Doradus Moving Group. Those stars are between 50 million and 120 million years old and if CFBDSIR2149 is a part of that group, it is likely the same age. Furthermore, the planet’s temperature is thought to be 806 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is still a possibility that CFBDSIR2149 is not a rogue planet or orphaned planet, but rather a brown dwarf. A brown dwarf is an object larger than a planet but too small to become a full fledged star.

It has only been in the last year or so that scientists came to realize that rogue planets are a fairly common occurrence. A 2011 study even suggest that rogue planets may outnumber those like Earth that orbit stars.

The discover is likely of interest to those who subscribe to the Nibiru cataclysm theory. The Nibiru cataclysm is an proposed doomsday scenario wherein Earth will collide, or suffer a near miss, with a rouge planet or other large cosmic body in 2012. Believers in this theory often refer to the orphan planet in question as Planet X, though scientists have repeatedly debunked such claims.

Astronomers Discover Rogue Orphan Planet Near Earth is a post from: The Inquisitr

Previously, The Inquisitr reported Orlando Magic cheerleader Jamie Woode suffered an apparently serious injury during the a game against the Knicks. Now, reports state that while the 31-year old NBA cheerleader suffered three vertebrae fractures and a broken rib, there appears to be no neurological damage.

She is likely to make a full recovery.

The Associated Press reports Woode, a former UCF cheerleader, was unable to recover before going into a stunt that had her tossed high into the air. Her partner was unable to catch her, and she crashed hard onto the hardwood. Woode’s stunt partner, who has not been identified, appeared upset as paramedics tended to her on the court. The injured NBA cheerleader was motionless for a bit, but waved to the crowd as she was carted off on a stretcher.

A statement posted on the Orlando Magic website said Woode and her family are grateful for the support she received.

“Orlando Magic Stunt Team Member Jamie and her family wish to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” the statement said. “She is in stable condition after suffering three vertebrae fractures and a broken rib while falling during a performance in the Magic’s game against the Knicks on Tuesday night.”

It is unlikely Woode will be making any public appearances anytime soon as the statement also expressed the family’s desire for privacy.

The game resumed after the injury to Woode with the Knicks going on to win 99-89. Carmelo Anthony led New York in scoring with 25 points, eight rebounds and two assists. J.J. Reddick led Orland with 18 points.

Injured Magic Cheerleader In Stable Condition is a post from: The Inquisitr