MEXICO CITY(AP) —Miguel Sabah scored in the 82nd minute, lifting Mexico to a 2-1 victory over the United States in a World Cup qualifier Wednesday.
The win strengthened Mexico’s chances of reaching next year’s World Cup in South Africa. The Mexicans entered the game fourth in CONCACAF qualifying, with only the top three teams automatically advancing. Mexico now has nine points.
Sabah, a substitute, was all alone in front of the net when he beat goalkeeper Tim Howard, bringing Mexico’s home record against the Americans to 23-0-1. The United States entered the game second in qualifying behind Costa Rica with 10 points and took its first lead at Azteca on Charlie Davies’ goal in the 9th minute.
Israel Castro tied it 10 minutes later.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Website of the Day: Get Rid of Things
I was sitting on my couch the other day and found myself staring at my bookshelf. Although some of you may think you can never have enough books, the truth is, I have more than enough books. In fact, I started cleaning out said bookshelf and have now narrowed down my library to just about half the amount of novels, instruction manuals, and reference titles than when I started. But the only problem? What the heck do I do with all these books that are now living in a box in the middle of my apartment?
According to Get Rid of Things I could use the paper for scrapbooking, paper maché, or I could even dye my own paper for crafts if I wanted to. Sure, I could sell the books online (if I had the time), but this sounds way more fun. And that's the cool thing about Get Rid of Things — it doesn't just state the obvious ways you can get rid of unwanted books, but you'll find useful tidbits on how to get rid of cellulite, weird smells, and your husband. Just please read that last one with caution.
According to Get Rid of Things I could use the paper for scrapbooking, paper maché, or I could even dye my own paper for crafts if I wanted to. Sure, I could sell the books online (if I had the time), but this sounds way more fun. And that's the cool thing about Get Rid of Things — it doesn't just state the obvious ways you can get rid of unwanted books, but you'll find useful tidbits on how to get rid of cellulite, weird smells, and your husband. Just please read that last one with caution.
Do Tell: What's the Strangest Place You Ever Met Someone?
Now that we've all dished about how our parents met, I've been trying to think of the craziest places I've met men I've dated. Then I realized, all of mine are pretty boring: the dorm, the gym, the office, weddings, bars . . . ho hum.
But I do have friends with great stories, including a guy who got a girl's number through a car window while riding across the Golden Gate Bridge (thankfully, he wasn't driving). So I'm hoping you guys have some more interesting stories about the weirder places you've met your mates and dates. What's the most unusual place you've met a potential love interest?
A science-fiction convention. It was my first one, and he was the celebrity they'd flown in to host it. We ended up getting married.
I've met men in many different places -- outside a courtroom (an attorney), in a doctor's office (yes, the doctor), in a grocery aisle, when I was driving (another driver), etc. They were all unexpected places where I met someone, and received an offer. I declined most of them, as I was either attached or married at the time.
my first summer home from college, I met a boy who I ended up dating for the rest of the summer (cue "Grease" soundtrack) at one of his classmate's "Getting Out of Juvie" Party. no lie. my boy was not in juvie but it was still a really hilarious pretense.
I met my current boyfriend at a keg Smiling and my ex boyfriend while working on a homecoming float.
I once had a guy rear end me at a red light so he could get my number (he was definitely cute and he didn't damage my car but for a few scratches which he paid to have buffed out).
At Chuck-e-Cheese with my little brother. The guy was playing with the basketball game, and lost one of the balls...I tossed it back to him and he made a semi-crude remark about it. Nothing came of it, I'm in a committed long term relationship, and it was kind of creepy.
Weird thing was, a few months later when I brought my brother to school, the guy was there with his two daughters..turns out they're classmates. Talk about awkward..
"I once had a guy rear end me at a red light so he could get my number (he was definitely cute and he didn't damage my car but for a few scratches which he paid to have buffed out)."
OMG, that happened to me, too! I was pissed at the time, so of course, I turned him down. Also, I was married. But I would have rejected him anyways, even if I was unmarried and available. I was so mad.
i was at a gay bar on Halloween last year with my tranny friends. i somehow got to talking to the guy next to me who was straight but there with his gay brother.
But I do have friends with great stories, including a guy who got a girl's number through a car window while riding across the Golden Gate Bridge (thankfully, he wasn't driving). So I'm hoping you guys have some more interesting stories about the weirder places you've met your mates and dates. What's the most unusual place you've met a potential love interest?
A science-fiction convention. It was my first one, and he was the celebrity they'd flown in to host it. We ended up getting married.
I've met men in many different places -- outside a courtroom (an attorney), in a doctor's office (yes, the doctor), in a grocery aisle, when I was driving (another driver), etc. They were all unexpected places where I met someone, and received an offer. I declined most of them, as I was either attached or married at the time.
my first summer home from college, I met a boy who I ended up dating for the rest of the summer (cue "Grease" soundtrack) at one of his classmate's "Getting Out of Juvie" Party. no lie. my boy was not in juvie but it was still a really hilarious pretense.
I met my current boyfriend at a keg Smiling and my ex boyfriend while working on a homecoming float.
I once had a guy rear end me at a red light so he could get my number (he was definitely cute and he didn't damage my car but for a few scratches which he paid to have buffed out).
At Chuck-e-Cheese with my little brother. The guy was playing with the basketball game, and lost one of the balls...I tossed it back to him and he made a semi-crude remark about it. Nothing came of it, I'm in a committed long term relationship, and it was kind of creepy.
Weird thing was, a few months later when I brought my brother to school, the guy was there with his two daughters..turns out they're classmates. Talk about awkward..
"I once had a guy rear end me at a red light so he could get my number (he was definitely cute and he didn't damage my car but for a few scratches which he paid to have buffed out)."
OMG, that happened to me, too! I was pissed at the time, so of course, I turned him down. Also, I was married. But I would have rejected him anyways, even if I was unmarried and available. I was so mad.
i was at a gay bar on Halloween last year with my tranny friends. i somehow got to talking to the guy next to me who was straight but there with his gay brother.
OMG! 1 in 10 Teens Post Nude Pics Online
A study has uncovered a shocking predictable reality: teenagers do stupid things! The new survey results out yesterday from Common Sense Media reveal that one in 10 teens have posted a nude or seminude photo of themselves or someone else online. And thanks to technology, these teens will be stuck with their mistakes well past their carefree youth.
Just like a crazy tattoo you get when you're young, the images teens post online can stay with them forever. "Deleting" a photo will never get rid of the embarrassing pic completely, so when these kids get older, they'll never know what a curious future employer or college admissions officer will come across.
I guess these oversharing teens just have to hope that the people deciding their futures also have embarrassing photos of themselves floating around on the Internet. And judging by this survey, it won't be long until many do . . . we just have to wait for today's teens to grow up and become the employers and admissions officers!
Just like a crazy tattoo you get when you're young, the images teens post online can stay with them forever. "Deleting" a photo will never get rid of the embarrassing pic completely, so when these kids get older, they'll never know what a curious future employer or college admissions officer will come across.
I guess these oversharing teens just have to hope that the people deciding their futures also have embarrassing photos of themselves floating around on the Internet. And judging by this survey, it won't be long until many do . . . we just have to wait for today's teens to grow up and become the employers and admissions officers!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Woods to be fined for criticism of rules official
CHASKA, Minn. (AP)—Tiger Woods will be fined by the PGA Tour for his public criticism of a rules official after winning the Bridgestone Invitational, a tour official said Monday.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the tour does not publicize fines.
Woods was bothered after his four-shot victory Sunday because he and Padraig Harrington were put on the clock at the par-5 16th. He said that caused Harrington to rush three difficult shots, leading to triple bogey.
European Tour chief referee John Paramor told Woods and Harrington they were being timed.
Woods said he told Harrington after it was over, “I’m sorry that John got in the way of a great battle.”
Paramor said the final pairing was well behind most of the back nine, but officials gave them time to catch up. They were still 17 minutes out of position on the 16th tee, when they were put on the clock.
Woods hooked his tee shot, punched out to 178 yards and hit an 8-iron that stopped a foot from the hole for birdie. From the right trees, Harrington hit a 5-iron to the edge of a bunker, went over the green, then hit a flop shot too hard and into the water. The four-shot swing took the drama from one of the most compelling final rounds of the year.
“I don’t think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it,” Woods said. “But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it.”
Harrington conceded he was rushed, although he said it would be unfair to give the final group preferential treatment.
Section VI-D in the PGA Tour’s player handbook says, “It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players, or PGA Tour.”
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the tour does not publicize fines.
Woods was bothered after his four-shot victory Sunday because he and Padraig Harrington were put on the clock at the par-5 16th. He said that caused Harrington to rush three difficult shots, leading to triple bogey.
European Tour chief referee John Paramor told Woods and Harrington they were being timed.
Woods said he told Harrington after it was over, “I’m sorry that John got in the way of a great battle.”
Paramor said the final pairing was well behind most of the back nine, but officials gave them time to catch up. They were still 17 minutes out of position on the 16th tee, when they were put on the clock.
Woods hooked his tee shot, punched out to 178 yards and hit an 8-iron that stopped a foot from the hole for birdie. From the right trees, Harrington hit a 5-iron to the edge of a bunker, went over the green, then hit a flop shot too hard and into the water. The four-shot swing took the drama from one of the most compelling final rounds of the year.
“I don’t think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it,” Woods said. “But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it.”
Harrington conceded he was rushed, although he said it would be unfair to give the final group preferential treatment.
Section VI-D in the PGA Tour’s player handbook says, “It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players, or PGA Tour.”
U.S. recession seen ending in third quarter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression will probably end in the third quarter, but uncertainty exists over the speed and duration of the economic recovery, according to the most recent survey of private economists.
The Blue Chip Economic Indicators survey of private economists released on Monday showed about 90 percent of the respondents surveyed believe the economic downturn will be declared to have ended this quarter.
This upbeat assessment followed recent government data showing gross domestic product (GDP) contracted at a shallow 1.0 percent rate in the second quarter after sinking 6.4 percent in the January-March quarter.
Recent data, including housing and key labor market indicators, have suggested a bottoming in the recession and the economy close to turning the corner. The economy slipped into recession in December 2007.
The Blue Chip survey's findings are broadly in line with a Reuters poll published last month, which predicted growth in the third quarter, though a brisk pace of expansion was not expected until late 2010.
"Debate now centers on the speed, strength and durability of the recovery," the survey said.
It showed nearly two-thirds of respondents believed the economy was set for a U-shaped recovery, marked by below-trend growth in gross domestic product before stronger growth took hold in the second half of 2010.
About 17 percent of the respondents anticipated a V-shaped rebound, where growth pulled back to its trend rate on a sustained basis, while the same percentage fretted that a W-shaped recovery could follow, the survey showed.
"In their view, GDP growth will pop higher for a quarter or two only to falter again before a lasting recovery takes hold," the survey said.
HIGHER GDP GROWTH
Growth in the second half was expected to garner support from a reduction in the pace of business inventory liquidation, marginal improvements in consumer spending and residential investment. The survey predicted that non-residential investment, however, would remain a drag on GDP.
Despite the improved economic picture, unemployment was expected to remain a problem, with the jobless rate predicted to peak at just over 10 percent late this year or early 2010, the survey showed. It was seen falling only slowly thereafter.
Government data on Friday showed the unemployment rate nudged down to 9.4 percent in July from 9.5 percent in June, but mostly because many people dropped out of the labor force.
"About 70 percent of the panelists believe the jobless rate will not dip below 7.0 percent on a sustained basis until the second half of 2012 or later," the survey said.
However, job losses could fade late this year or early 2010 and payrolls start to expand as companies rebuild inventories, which should lengthen the workweek, according to the survey.
The weak labor market, together with excess capacity in many business sectors were seen dampening inflation pressures.
"Consumer price inflation, excluding food and energy costs, will increase by slightly less in 2010 than in 2009," the survey said.
The Blue Chip Economic Indicators survey of private economists released on Monday showed about 90 percent of the respondents surveyed believe the economic downturn will be declared to have ended this quarter.
This upbeat assessment followed recent government data showing gross domestic product (GDP) contracted at a shallow 1.0 percent rate in the second quarter after sinking 6.4 percent in the January-March quarter.
Recent data, including housing and key labor market indicators, have suggested a bottoming in the recession and the economy close to turning the corner. The economy slipped into recession in December 2007.
The Blue Chip survey's findings are broadly in line with a Reuters poll published last month, which predicted growth in the third quarter, though a brisk pace of expansion was not expected until late 2010.
"Debate now centers on the speed, strength and durability of the recovery," the survey said.
It showed nearly two-thirds of respondents believed the economy was set for a U-shaped recovery, marked by below-trend growth in gross domestic product before stronger growth took hold in the second half of 2010.
About 17 percent of the respondents anticipated a V-shaped rebound, where growth pulled back to its trend rate on a sustained basis, while the same percentage fretted that a W-shaped recovery could follow, the survey showed.
"In their view, GDP growth will pop higher for a quarter or two only to falter again before a lasting recovery takes hold," the survey said.
HIGHER GDP GROWTH
Growth in the second half was expected to garner support from a reduction in the pace of business inventory liquidation, marginal improvements in consumer spending and residential investment. The survey predicted that non-residential investment, however, would remain a drag on GDP.
Despite the improved economic picture, unemployment was expected to remain a problem, with the jobless rate predicted to peak at just over 10 percent late this year or early 2010, the survey showed. It was seen falling only slowly thereafter.
Government data on Friday showed the unemployment rate nudged down to 9.4 percent in July from 9.5 percent in June, but mostly because many people dropped out of the labor force.
"About 70 percent of the panelists believe the jobless rate will not dip below 7.0 percent on a sustained basis until the second half of 2012 or later," the survey said.
However, job losses could fade late this year or early 2010 and payrolls start to expand as companies rebuild inventories, which should lengthen the workweek, according to the survey.
The weak labor market, together with excess capacity in many business sectors were seen dampening inflation pressures.
"Consumer price inflation, excluding food and energy costs, will increase by slightly less in 2010 than in 2009," the survey said.
Saturn's Rings to Disappear Tuesday
In a celestial feat any magician would appreciate, Saturn will make its wide but thin ring system disappear from our view Aug. 11.
Saturn's rings, loaded with ice and mud, boulders and tiny moons, is 170,000 miles wide. But the shimmering setup is only about 30 feet thick. The rings harbor 35 trillion-trillion tons of ice, dust and rock, scientists estimate.
The rings shine because they reflect sunlight. But every 15 years, the rings turn edge-on to the sun and reflect almost no sunlight.
"The light reflecting off this extremely narrow band is so small that for all intents and purposes the rings simply vanish," explained Linda Spilker, deputy project scientist for the Cassini Saturn mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Mysterious rings
The rings remain a bit of a mystery. Scientists are not sure when or how they formed, though likely a collision of other objects was involved.
Saturn's equator is tilted relative to its orbit around the sun by 27 degrees – similar to the 23-degree tilt of the Earth. As Saturn circles the sun, first one hemisphere and then the other is tilted sunward. This causes seasons on Saturn, just as Earth's tilt causes seasons on our planet.
While Earth goes around the sun once every 365 days or so, Saturn's annual orbit takes 29.7 years. So every 15 years, the attitude shift puts the gas giant planet's equator, and its ring plane, directly in line with sunlight. Scientists call it an equinox, and this one marks the arrival of spring to the giant planet's northern hemisphere. (On Earth, equinoxes occur in March and September.)
"Whenever equinox occurs on Saturn, sunlight will hit Saturn's thin rings, the ring plane, edge-on," Spilker said.
Galileo puzzled
Galileo Galilei was the first to notice the rings and their then-mysterious transformation in the 17th century. Through one of the first telescopes, which he built himself, Galileo discovered Saturn's rings. He didn't know what they were, though, since all he could see were two lobes attached to the planet like ears. He entered the newfound setup in his notebook as a tiny drawing, mid-sentence, to serve as a noun.
By December 1612, Galileo had studied the phenomenon for more than two years, and the lobes (he thought they might be moons) were getting thinner. Then they disappeared.
"I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel," he wrote in a letter.
Dutch mathematician Christiaan Huygens, using a better telescope, figured out what the rings were in 1655.
"Galileo had every right to be mystified by the rings," Spilker said. "While we know how Saturn pulls off its ring-plane crossing illusion, we are still fascinated and mystified by Saturn's rings, and equinox is a great time for us to learn more."
Up-close view
The edge-on setup casts shadows across the rings in a unique way that can reveal moonlets and other structures otherwise not visible.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has a front-row seat to the event.
Cassini is watching for topographic features – perhaps some tiny moons or warps in the rings, and it has already spotted some mystery features in the days leading up to the equinox. In one new image, an object seems to have punched through one of the rings, dragging material with it to leave a visible scar. The craft's near-infrared and ultraviolet instruments will be on the hunt for signs of seasonal change on the planet.
"We are not sure what we will find," Spilker said. "Like any great magician, Saturn never fails to impress."
* Gallery: Saturn at its Best
* Video: Rare Views of Saturn's Eclipsing Rings and Moons
* Gallery: Cassini's Latest Snapshots of Saturn
This article is part of SPACE.com's weekly Mystery Monday series.
Saturn's rings, loaded with ice and mud, boulders and tiny moons, is 170,000 miles wide. But the shimmering setup is only about 30 feet thick. The rings harbor 35 trillion-trillion tons of ice, dust and rock, scientists estimate.
The rings shine because they reflect sunlight. But every 15 years, the rings turn edge-on to the sun and reflect almost no sunlight.
"The light reflecting off this extremely narrow band is so small that for all intents and purposes the rings simply vanish," explained Linda Spilker, deputy project scientist for the Cassini Saturn mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Mysterious rings
The rings remain a bit of a mystery. Scientists are not sure when or how they formed, though likely a collision of other objects was involved.
Saturn's equator is tilted relative to its orbit around the sun by 27 degrees – similar to the 23-degree tilt of the Earth. As Saturn circles the sun, first one hemisphere and then the other is tilted sunward. This causes seasons on Saturn, just as Earth's tilt causes seasons on our planet.
While Earth goes around the sun once every 365 days or so, Saturn's annual orbit takes 29.7 years. So every 15 years, the attitude shift puts the gas giant planet's equator, and its ring plane, directly in line with sunlight. Scientists call it an equinox, and this one marks the arrival of spring to the giant planet's northern hemisphere. (On Earth, equinoxes occur in March and September.)
"Whenever equinox occurs on Saturn, sunlight will hit Saturn's thin rings, the ring plane, edge-on," Spilker said.
Galileo puzzled
Galileo Galilei was the first to notice the rings and their then-mysterious transformation in the 17th century. Through one of the first telescopes, which he built himself, Galileo discovered Saturn's rings. He didn't know what they were, though, since all he could see were two lobes attached to the planet like ears. He entered the newfound setup in his notebook as a tiny drawing, mid-sentence, to serve as a noun.
By December 1612, Galileo had studied the phenomenon for more than two years, and the lobes (he thought they might be moons) were getting thinner. Then they disappeared.
"I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel," he wrote in a letter.
Dutch mathematician Christiaan Huygens, using a better telescope, figured out what the rings were in 1655.
"Galileo had every right to be mystified by the rings," Spilker said. "While we know how Saturn pulls off its ring-plane crossing illusion, we are still fascinated and mystified by Saturn's rings, and equinox is a great time for us to learn more."
Up-close view
The edge-on setup casts shadows across the rings in a unique way that can reveal moonlets and other structures otherwise not visible.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has a front-row seat to the event.
Cassini is watching for topographic features – perhaps some tiny moons or warps in the rings, and it has already spotted some mystery features in the days leading up to the equinox. In one new image, an object seems to have punched through one of the rings, dragging material with it to leave a visible scar. The craft's near-infrared and ultraviolet instruments will be on the hunt for signs of seasonal change on the planet.
"We are not sure what we will find," Spilker said. "Like any great magician, Saturn never fails to impress."
* Gallery: Saturn at its Best
* Video: Rare Views of Saturn's Eclipsing Rings and Moons
* Gallery: Cassini's Latest Snapshots of Saturn
This article is part of SPACE.com's weekly Mystery Monday series.
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