Texas filibuster star Davis still weighing future

Texas filibuster star Wendy Davis says she hasn't decided whether she'll be a candidate for statewide office next year.

The Democratic state senator gained national fame for her filibuster last week against Texas abortion restrictions. She's gotten encouragement from fellow Democrats to seek higher office - perhaps even run for governor.

The Harvard-trained lawyer told The Associated Press she has been fielding congratulatory phone calls from around the world since her marathon filibuster that helped run out the clock on the special session and kill the abortion bill.

Her focus now is on another session set to begin Monday, when Republicans will try to push the bill through again.

Perry has promised the law will pass and Texas will remain a Republican stronghold.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52356985/ns/local_news-indianapolis_in/

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Egyptians stream into streets to demand Mursi quit

By Shaimaa Fayed and Yasmine Saleh

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptians poured onto the streets on Sunday, swelling crowds that opposition leaders hope will number into the millions by evening and persuade Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to resign.

Waving national flags, tens of thousands gathered on Cairo's Tahrir Square, seat of the 2011 uprising against his predecessor Hosni Mubarak.

"The people want the fall of the regime!" they chanted - this time not against an ageing dictator but against their first ever elected leader, who took office only a year ago to the day.

As the working day ended and the heat of the sun eased, more joined them on the otherwise deserted streets of the capital. Many are angry at Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, saying it has hijacked the revolution through a series of electoral victories to monopolize power and push through Islamic law.

Others are simply frustrated by the economic crisis, deepened by political deadlock, over which Mursi has presided.

In other cities, thousands of protesters also gathered.

Security sources said three Brotherhood offices were set on fire by demonstrators in towns in the Nile Delta - the latest in over a week of street violence in which hundreds have been hurt and several killed, including an American student.

Over 10,000 Mursi supporters also congregated in the capital, by a mosque not far from the suburban presidential palace. Mursi himself is working elsewhere. But liberal protest organizers plan a sit-in outside the palace from Sunday evening.

Interviewed by a British newspaper, Mursi repeated his determination to ride out what he sees as an undemocratic attack on his electoral legitimacy. But he also offered to revise the new, Islamist-inspired constitution, saying clauses on religious authority, which fueled liberal resentment, were not his choice.

He made a similar offer last week, after the head of the army issued a strong call for politicians to compromise. But the opposition dismissed it was too little too late. They hope Mursi will resign in the face of large numbers on the streets.

Some also seem to believe the army might force the president's hand. In Cairo, demonstrators stopped to shake hands and take photographs with soldiers guarding key buildings.

While many Egyptians are angry at Mursi over the economy, many others fear that more turmoil will make life worse.

Mursi and the Brotherhood can hope protests fizzle out like previous outbursts. If they do not, some form of compromise, possibly arbitrated by the army, may be on the cards.

VIOLENCE

Both sides insist they plan no violence but accuse the other - and agents provocateurs from the old regime - of planning it.

Helicopter gunships flew over Cairo. The U.S.-equipped army, though showing little sign of wanting power, warns it may step in if deadlocked politicians let violence slip out of control.

U.S. President Barack Obama called for dialogue and warned trouble in the biggest Arab nation could unsettle an already turbulent Middle East. Washington has evacuated non-essential personnel and reinforced security at its diplomatic missions.

In an interview with London's Guardian newspaper, Mursi repeated accusations against what he sees as attempts by entrenched interests from the Mubarak era to foil his attempt to govern. But he dismissed the demands that he give up and resign.

If that became the norm, he said, "well, there will be people or opponents opposing the new president too, and a week or a month later, they will ask him to step down".

Liberal leaders say nearly half the voting population - 22 million people - has signed a petition calling for new elections, although there is no obvious challenger to Mursi.

The opposition, fractious and defeated in a series of ballots last year, hope that by putting millions on the streets they can force Mursi to relent and hand over to a technocrat administration that can organize new elections.

"We all feel we're walking on a dead-end road and that the country will collapse," said Mohamed ElBaradei, a former U.N. nuclear watchdog chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and now liberal party leader in his homeland.

ARMY ROLE

Religious authorities have warned of "civil war". The army insists it will respect the "will of the people".

Islamists interpret that to mean army support for election results. Opponents believe that the army may heed the popular will as expressed on the streets, as it did in early 2011 when the generals decided Mubarak's time was up.

A military source said the army was using its helicopters to monitor the numbers out on the streets. Its estimate on Tahrir in mid-afternoon was 40-50,000, with a few thousands at similar protest sites in other major cities.

It put the number at the Islamists' Cairo camp at 17,000. Having staged shows of force earlier this month, the Brotherhood has not called on its supporters to go out on Sunday.

Among the Islamists in Cairo, Ahmed Hosny, 37, said: "I came here to say, 'We are with you Mursi, with the legitimate order and against the thugs'.

"This is our revolution and no one will take it from us."

At Tahrir Square, banners ranged from "The Revolution Goes On", "Out, Out Like Mubarak" to "Obama Backs Terrorism" - a reference to liberal anger at perceived U.S. support for Mursi's legitimacy and its criticism of protests as bad for the economy.

"I am here to bring down Mursi and the Brotherhood," said Ahmed Ali al-Badri, a feed merchant in a white robe. "Just look at this country. It's gone backwards for 20 years. There's no diesel, gasoline, electricity. Life is just too expensive."

The Egyptian army, half a million strong and financed by Washington since it backed a peace treaty with Israel three decades ago, says it has deployed to protect key installations.

Among these is the Suez Canal. Cities along the waterway vital to global trade are bastions of anti-government sentiment. A bomb killed a protester in Port Said on Friday. A police general was gunned down in Sinai, close to the Israeli border.

Observers note similarities with protests in Turkey this month, where an Islamist prime minister with a strong electoral mandate has been confronted in the streets by angry secularists.

For many Egyptians, though, all the turmoil that has followed the Arab Spring has just made life harder. Standing by his lonely barrow at an eerily quiet downtown Cairo street market, 23-year-old Zeeka was afraid more violence was coming.

"We're not for one side or the other," he said. "What's happening now in Egypt is shameful. There is no work, thugs are everywhere ... I won't go out to any protest.

"It's nothing to do with me. I'm a tomato guy."

(Reporting by Asma Alsharif, Alexander Dziadosz, Shaimaa Fayed, Maggie Fick, Alastair Macdonald, Shadia Nasralla, Tom Perry and Yasmine Saleh in Cairo, Yusri Mohamed in Ismailia and Abdelrahman Youssef in Alexandria; Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Anna Willard)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-protests-set-showdown-violence-feared-003343388.html

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Map of Myrstrarkia

This map will be updated as the story goes on, depending on the victories each nation receives, as well as the defeats.

Nations the Story's Focused On
Republic of Benjlakk
Kingdom of Metargo
Federation of Mysticara

NPC Countries
Green area: Aphulan Union (Aphula)
Red Area: Betaku Kingdom (Betaku)
Orange Area: Gammafran Republic (Gammafra)
Lime Area: Elveran Alliance (Elvera)
Gold/Light Orange Area: Caninisian Empire (Caninisia)
Pink Area (Barely noticeable for some odd reason): Feliniri States (Felinir)
Purple Area: Omegaran Republic (Omegara)
Grey Area: Dwarvaran Union (Dwarvara)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/cjYG0cS0BlA/viewtopic.php

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95% Blancanieves

All Critics (56) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (3)

The Brothers Grimm would have been surprised, possibly amused.

A sensual and sophisticated retelling of a beloved fairytale re-imagined as a homage to European silent cinema, Spanish writer-director Pablo Berger's black-and-white Blancanieves will leave you transfixed.

Most films are experiences to be ignored or at best forgotten. "Blancanieves" is a little classic to be treasured.

It is a full-bodied silent film of the sort that might have been made by the greatest directors of the 1920s, if such details as the kinky sadomasochism of this film's evil stepmother could have been slipped past the censors.

Blancanieves, which won 10 Goyas (Spain's equivalent of the Oscars) and was a smash hit in its native Spain, has traces of a kinky undertone and an uncommon willingness to embrace the darkness inherent in this fairy tale.

As if bewitched, the legend of Snow White is transferred to Seville in the early twentieth century and transformed into high melodrama.

Berger's stunning, if slightly overlong, film captures just how effective silent-era storytelling can still be.

Blancanieves is painstakingly crafted, emotionally gripping at times, and more authentically Grimm than most interpretations, and it puts a slightly unsettling new spin on Prince Charming and the proverbial happily-ever-after ending.

The film is -- to understate the matter -- overconceptualized.

Like The Artist, Blancanieves is delightfully novel, but it also feels trapped by its innovative gimmickry.

A boldly conceived fairy tale from Spain

Succeeds in all its cinematic experiments

The story might be familiar, but Berger's film is so beautifully shot and so wonderfully scored - and so distinctively Spanish - that it stands as its own film.

Blancanieves holds to the structure, but not strictures, of the source fairy tale.

A new, purely silent movie from Spain that never once speaks and doesn't need to speak. What's more, it seems to get the infinite possibilities of silence, and how much passion can come from it.

Berger's film doesn't show loyalty to any traditional version of Snow White. Berger's Blancanieves takes a darker approach, which seems appropriate.

A completely enchanting fairy tale about the vicissitudes of fate, in live action and glorious black and white.

The fun in the Spanish "Blancanieves" is the way it plays with our expectations.

May not have much depth to its characters or particular surprise, but its lovely depiction of family's ability to harm and mend has the flair of flamenco and the sorrow of opera.

No, "Blancanieves" isn't subtle, but it's an unforgettable time at the movies.

Inspired filmmaking steeped in the imagery of silent film history, a dark Iberian strain of Roman Catholicism and the magic of fairy tales.

... lusty and heartfelt, fiery flamenco and spirited country jig. Don't go expecting a Disney-fied fable. Berger seasons with S&M and the kind of macabre touches you'd expect in vintage Browning or Bunuel.

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blancanieves/

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Netflix Renews 'Orange Is the New Black' Ahead of Its Premiere

By Tim Kenneally

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Orange Is the New Black" has already earned a second season, before its first season has begun.

Netflix has given a second season to the dramedy from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan, which will premiere next year, , and will begin production later this summer..

The first season of the series, meanwhile, will premiere on July 11.

Produced by Lionsgate Television, "Orange Is the New Black" is based on the Piper Kerman memoir of the same name. Set in a women's prison, the series stars Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman, whose relationship with drug runner Alex (Laura Prepon of "That '70s Show") earns her a 15-month stint in a federal penitentiary. Jason Biggs also stars, as Chapman's fiance Larry.

The 13-episode first season of the series also stars Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Taryn Manning and others.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/netflix-renews-orange-black-ahead-premiere-202838121.html

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Reusable e-Ink Luggage Tags Improve the Chances Of Your Bag Arriving

Outside of the fear of flying, the most anxious part of traveling around the world is hoping your bags get to the same destination as you do. The paper tags in use today work, but if they get accidentally torn off your luggage, who knows where it might end up. So starting next month, British Airways will begin testing a brilliant re-usable luggage tag featuring an e-ink display that can be reprogrammed again and again using your smartphone.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/huxcostRIEA/reusable-e-ink-luggage-tags-improve-the-chances-of-your-596337769

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Jackson's teenage son describes upbringing, death

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Michael Jackson's oldest son described the frantic efforts to revive his father to a jury, a scene of tears and agony that ended a dozen idyllic years being raised by one of pop music's superstars.

Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr. told the panel Wednesday how he knew there was trouble in the singer's rented mansion when heard screaming upstairs and went into his father's bedroom. His father was laying halfway off the bed, eyes rolled up into the back of his head as his physician tried CPR.

His sister Paris screamed for her father and Prince, now 16, told jurors that he was crying. On the ride to a hospital, the teenager recounted how he tried to calm the fears of his sister and younger brother by telling them that angels were watching over their father and everything would be fine.

It wasn't until his father's doctor, Conrad Murray, came out of the emergency room and said he had died that Prince knew his father was gone.

"Nothing will ever be the same," the teenager told jurors. He said while his younger brother doesn't totally realize the loss, his sister has had the hardest time of them all and he has had many sleepless nights since his father died four years ago.

His voice wavered at times and tears appeared to form in his eyes, but Prince remained composed as he publicly recounted for the first time what he saw the day his father died.

The re-telling of the scene in Jackson's bedroom came after nearly an hour of Prince describing happier times, showing photos of him and his sister when they were younger and a series of videos of the children filmed by their father.

He testified in a lawsuit accusing concert promoter AEG Live LLC of negligently hiring Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson an overdose of the anesthetic propofol.

AEG denies it hired the physician or bears any responsibility for the entertainer's death.

Wearing a black suit with a dark grey tie and his long brown hair tucked behind his ears, Prince testified that he saw AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips at the family's rented mansion in a heated conversation with Murray in the days before his father died. The teenager said Phillips grabbed Murray's elbow.

Phillips "looked aggressive to me," Prince testified.

His father wasn't at home at the time and was probably rehearsing, he said.

He said he saw his father cry after phone conversations with Phillips, and wanted more time to rehearse and was unhappy with pressure to perform his 50 scheduled comeback concerts titled "This Is It."

Murray's attorney Valerie Wass and AEG defense attorney Marvin S. Putnam later denied outside court that the meeting Prince described ever happened.

Putnam said Prince would be re-called to the witness stand during the defense case later in the trial.

"I think as the testimony will show when he is called in our defense that's not what happened," Putnam said. "He was a 12-year-old boy who has had to endure this great tragedy."

The testimony began with the teenager showing jurors roughly 15 minutes of private family photos and home videos.

He described growing up on Neverland Ranch and narrated videos of the property's petting zoos, amusement park and other amenities. After his father's acquittal of child molestation charges, Prince described living in the Middle East, Ireland and Las Vegas.

Prince is the first Jackson family member to testify during the trial, now in its ninth week. On Thursday his cousins, TJ and Taj Jackson, who are Tito Jackson's sons, will take the witness stand.

Prince Jackson, his sister Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and brother Prince Michael "Blanket" Jackson are plaintiffs in the case against AEG, which their grandmother and primary caretaker filed in August 2010.

Another image showed Michael Jackson playing piano with his son while Prince was still a toddler.

Plaintiffs' attorney Brian Panish asked Prince whether he was interested in pursuing a career in music. "I can never play an instrument and I definitely cannot sing," Prince said to laughter from the jury.

He said he wanted to study film or business when he goes to college.

His testimony also included details that AEG's lawyers will likely point to later in the case to bolster their contention that Jackson was secretive about using propofol as a sleep aid.

Prince said none of the household staff were allowed upstairs at the mansion, and the singer kept his bedroom locked while receiving treatments from Murray.

During cross-examination, Putnam played a clip from a deposition of Prince in which the teen said he discovered the bedroom was locked when he and his siblings were playing hide-and-seek and couldn't get inside.

Prince also said his father gave him and his sister Paris a stack of $100 bills on a few occasions to give to Murray. He said his father told him that Murray wouldn't take the money from him, and the doctor wouldn't take the full amount from the children.

The teenager said his understanding was that the money was meant to tide Murray over until he got paid by AEG Live.

He never saw or knew how Murray was treating his father.

"I was 12. To my understanding he was supposed to make sure my dad stayed healthy," Prince testified.

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jacksons-teenage-son-describes-upbringing-death-084136382.html

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Gaming Equality: New Game Jam Event Reminds Us Women Are ...

In response to a rather inflammatory quote posted on Gamasutra?about female game charactersl, iamagamer.ca is getting together a Game Jam to promote gender equality in the industry.

This recent article may have been the catalyst to set the event in motion, but the gender issue in gaming has gained considerable momentum for awhile now. This Game Jam event, is looking to raise awareness of females in gaming, on all levels, and is just another step in reminding people women are gamers all the same.

The Game Jam event will be happening on July 12th-14th in Vancouver, BC (Canada). The Jam itself already has over 150 participants signed up, with open invitation to any walks of life able to contribute to game creation. The goal is to come up with some fun ideas and projects for new video games, involving, starring, and putting women in a positive light.

The project sounds like a great idea as a community endeavor, and really drives home it isn?t just women who realize the industry has some broken standards and bad habits to get over. With such companies such as Microsoft, The Centre for Digital Media, and Radial Games sponsoring the event, this Game Jam is already off to a good start.

If you don?t have the means to make it, or aren?t in the Vancouver area, fear not! Iamagamer is still accepting donations and support through their website at iamagamer.ca. If you at all want to make a different in helping some gamers and developers create something awesome, or truly believe in furthering the gender equality issue, than iamagamer would really appreciate the support.

Article from Gamersyndrome.com

Related posts:

1. Umloud!: Music, Gaming, and Charity Event
2. That?s one small step for man, one giant leap for Australian gamers?
3. Top Ten Strongest Women in Gaming!
4. Stylish women in gaming
5. Valve Unveils Gaming Headset

Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2013/news/gaming-equality-new-game-jam-event-reminds-us-women-are-gamers-too/

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Ask A VC: General Atlantic's Brett Rochkind On Spotting Startups That Have IPO Potential

In this week's Ask A VC episode, General Atlantic Managing Director Brett Rochkind?joined us in the studio to talk about international investing and more.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/O0lBgAkRkWg/

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The Scalia Glossary

Justice Antonin Scalia speaks at the fifth annual Ava Maria School of Law lecture on Jan. 25, 2005

Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

?Words do have a limited range of meaning, and no interpretation that goes beyond that range is permissible,? Antonin Scalia said in a speech at Princeton University in 1995. But as the Supreme Court?s most flamboyant wordsmith, Justice Scalia routinely pushes the boundaries of vocabulary, metaphor, and hyperbole. In an enraged dissent in today?s ruling that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, Scalia added to his 27-year history of bold rhetorical flourishes, railing that the court?s ?jaw-dropping? decision has its ?diseased root? in its own hubris and ?black-robed supremacy,? etc. In honor of this classic dissent, we have compiled a starter glossary of Nino-isms, culled from the 77-year-old justice?s most famous opinions; Scalia-watchers should add their favorites in the comments.

Argle-bargle (n.) Majority opinion that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. (United States v. Windsor, 2013; see also use of tutti-frutti in Sykes v. United States, 2011)

Bulldozer (n.) Mechanical form of the court?s fantasy that students may feel coerced to participate in school-led prayers; its metaphorical upright blade clears ground for ?social engineering.? (Lee v. Weisman, 1992)

Cheek (n.) Misappropriated authority by which the court struck down DOMA. (ibid.)

Cheops? Pyramid (n.) Architectural form of the court?s ?judicial arrogance? on Miranda rights. (Dickerson v. United States, 2000)

Fairyland castle (n.) Architectural form of the court?s fantasy that the Constitution places restrictions on law enforcement, specifically pertaining to the right of the accused to have counsel present during interrogation. (Minnick v. Mississippi, 1990)

Homosexual sodomy (n.) A same-sex relationship. (United States v. Windsor)

Interior decorating (n.) ?A rock-hard science compared to psychology practiced by amateurs.? (Lee v. Weisman)

Kulturkampf (n.) A modest attempt by Coloradans ?to preserve traditional sexual mores against the efforts of a politically powerful minority,? mistaken by a majority of the court ?for a fit of spite.? (Romer v. Evans, 1996)

Lynch mob (n.) Epithet commonly used by opponents of marriage equality to describe DOMA?s supporters. (United States v. Windsor)

Mansion (n.) Architectural form ?constructed overnight? by Roe v. Wade, which ?must be disassembled doorjamb by doorjamb.? (Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 1989)

Monster (n.) Zombie-like corporeal form of the court?s three-part criteria, also known as the ?Lemon test,? for evaluating government action related to the establishment clause. (Lamb?s Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District, 1993)

Nietzschean (adj.) Of, like, or referring to German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, who foresaw the Supreme Court as an ?imperial judiciary.? (Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 1992)

Officer Krupke (n.) Protagonist of Justice Scalia?s dissent in Chicago v. Morales. (1999)

Philippics of Demosthenes (n.) Historical precedent for the court?s fantasy that U.S. Senate floor speeches are well-attended. (Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 2006)

Platonic golf (n.) Perfect but elusive version of golf that the court assigned itself to define when it ruled that the PGA must allow a disabled golfer to ride in a cart. (PGA Tour v. Martin, 2001)

Spirits from the vasty deep (n.) Pool of job applicants, via Shakespeare. (Johnson v. Transportation Agency, 1986)

Stupid (adj.) What young people are not, which is why they won?t pay for health insurance. (Oral arguments, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 2012)

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/06/justice_scalia_s_doma_dissent_a_glossary_of_argle_bargle.html

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Federer, Sharapova lose in wild day at Wimbledon

Roger Federer of Switzerland grimaces during a press conference after his defeat to Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in a Men's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships, Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/AELTC, Thomas Lovelock)

Roger Federer of Switzerland grimaces during a press conference after his defeat to Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in a Men's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships, Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/AELTC, Thomas Lovelock)

Roger Federer of Switzerland, back, looks to Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine after he lost in their Men's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine reacts as he wins against Roger Federer of Switzerland in their Men's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Maria Sharapova of Russia slips on the court during her Women's second round singles match against Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugalat the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal reacts after winning a point against Maria Sharapova of Russia during their Women's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

LONDON (AP) ? The day began, oddly enough, with word that Roger Federer's orange-soled shoes did not conform to Wimbledon's all-white dress code and would need to be replaced.

It ended, shockingly enough, with Federer losing in the second round at the All England Club, his earliest Grand Slam exit in a decade. It ended his record streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals in 36 consecutive major tournaments.

And in between? Oh, there was so much more to this unpredictable Wednesday, including four-time major champion Maria Sharapova's loss to a qualifier, and the injuries that forced seven players to leave because of withdrawals or mid-match retirements, believed to be the most in a single day at a Grand Slam tournament in the 45-year Open era.

In that group: second-seeded Victoria Azarenka; sixth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga; Steve Darcis, the man who stunned 12-time major champion Rafael Nadal in the first round; and 18th-seeded John Isner, who will forever be remembered for winning a 70-68 fifth set in the longest match ever, more than 11 hours. This time, Isner lasted all of 15 minutes, stopping in the third game after hurting his left knee.

Federer, Sharapova and Azarenka were three of seven players who have been ranked No. 1 that departed in a span of about 8? hours. They also were among 12 seeded players heading home.

Most remarkable of all, of course, was Federer's 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5) loss to 116th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky in the day's last match on Centre Court. Federer hadn't been beaten this early at a Grand Slam tournament since the first round of the French Open on May 26, 2003, back before he owned a single trophy from any of the sport's most important sites.

Now his collection is 17 total, with seven from Wimbledon, including last year's.

"This is a setback, a disappointment, whatever you want to call it," Federer said. "Got to get over this one. Some haven't hurt this much, that's for sure."

In addition to the hard-to-believe results and the slew of injuries, there was all manner of sliding and tumbling on the revered grass courts, prompting questions about whether something made them more slippery.

"Very black day," summed up 10th-seeded Marin Cilic, who said a bad left knee forced him to pull out of his match.

One had to wonder what Thursday might bring. The Day 4 schedule featured defending champion Serena Williams, who took a 32-match winning streak into the second round against Caroline Garcia; last year's runner-up, No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska; 2011 Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic; and 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.

They were to take the court knowing that after three days of the two-week tournament ? merely halfway through the second round ? a total of five of the 10 highest-seeded women were gone, along with four of the top 10 men.

"Bizarre," said 17th-seeded Sloane Stephens of the U.S., who stuck around by winning her match 8-6 in the third set. "I don't know what's going on."

No one did.

One hypothesis making the rounds: The grass is different because there is a new head groundsman at the All England Club, Neil Stubley (keep in mind, though, that he's been helping prepare the courts here for more than 15 years, albeit with a less distinguished title).

Another popular idea was that the recent weather ? it's been in the 60s and humid, but without a drop of rain so far ? is affecting traction.

"I don't know if it's the court or the weather. I can't figure it out," said two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka, who said she bruised a bone in her right leg when she slipped on the turf in her victory Monday and couldn't face Flavia Pennetta on Wednesday. "It would be great if the club or somebody who takes care of the court just would examine or try to find an issue so that wouldn't happen."

Sharapova managed to finish her match, at least, despite losing her footing a few times, but told the chair umpire the conditions were dangerous.

"After I buckled my knee three times, that's obviously my first reaction. And because I've just never fallen that many times in a match before," said the four-time major champion, noting that she thought she might have strained a muscle in her left hip.

"I just noticed a few more players falling a bit more than usual," Sharapova added.

The All England Club took the unusual step of issuing a statement in response to Wednesday's events ? and complaints.

"There has been some suggestion that the court surface is to blame. We have no reason to think this is the case. Indeed, many players have complimented us on the very good condition of the courts," the statement read. "The court preparation has been to exactly the same meticulous standard as in previous years and it is well known that grass surfaces tend to be more lush at the start of an event. The factual evidence, which is independently checked, is that the courts are almost identical to last year, as dry and firm as they should be, and we expect them to continue to play to their usual high quality."

Hours earlier, the club confirmed it had reminded Federer ? and other players ? that rules are rules, so the neon bottoms of his sneakers simply would not be tolerated. He complied, wearing white soles Wednesday, at the tournament only two other men have won as many as seven times (Willie Renshaw, whose titles came in the 1880s, and Pete Sampras).

"Beating Roger here on his court, where he's a legend, is, I think, having definitely a special place in my career," Stakhovsky said.

That's something of an understatement.

Stakhovsky owns a losing record for his career (108-121) and at Grand Slams (12-18) and never has been past the third round at a major tournament. Until Wednesday, he was best known, if at all, for grabbing his cellphone to take a photo of a disputed ball mark in the clay during a first-round loss at the French Open last month.

Federer's consistent brilliance extends beyond Wimbledon, of course: He reached 23 Grand Slam semifinals in a row in one stretch, which also included 10 straight finals.

Not since a third-round loss at the 2004 French Open had Federer failed to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam. That means he'd won 141 consecutive matches in the first through fourth rounds at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open (he advanced four times via an opponent's withdrawal).

On Wednesday, though, the third-seeded Federer simply was unable to derail Stakhovsky's serve-and-volley style, breaking the 27-year-old Ukrainian only once.

Still, there actually was a real chance for Federer to get back in the thick of things. Ahead 6-5 in the fourth, he held a set point as Stakhovsky served at 30-40. But Stakhovsky came up with this sequence: volley winner, 111 mph ace, serve-and-volley winner.

"I had my opportunities, had the foot in the door. When I had the chance, I couldn't do it," said Federer, who is 122-18 on grass over his career, while Stakhovsky is 13-12. "It's very frustrating, very disappointing. I'm going to accept it and move forward from here. I have no choice."

In the closing tiebreaker, with spectators roaring after every point, Stakhovsky raced to a 5-2 lead, and the match ended with Federer pushing a backhand wide on a 13-stroke exchange. Stakhovsky dropped to his back, then later bowed to the stadium's four sides. He sat in his sideline chair, purple Wimbledon towel draped over his head, as Federer quickly headed for the locker room. Stakhovsky peeked out and saw Federer leaving, then applauded right along with the fans' standing ovation.

"You're playing the guy and then you're playing his legend," Stakhovsky said. "You're playing two of them. When you're beating one, you still have the other one who is pressing you. You're saying, 'Am I about to beat him? Is it possible?'"

On this wildest of days, it was.

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-06-27-TEN-Wimbledon/id-f053b251b751448cac6303d4f63c9b0e

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Drayson Racing sets electric land speed record at 204.2MPH (video)

Nissan's ZEOD RC may sound fast at 186MPH, but it's a slow poke next to Drayson Racing's B12/69EV. The modified Le Mans car just broke the FIA's land speed record, hitting 204.2MPH on a course at the former RAF Elvington base in Yorkshire. While Drayson is quick to admit that the 850HP racer is unusual, it sees the project as groundwork for both a 2015 Formula E car and technologies that could filter down to regular vehicles. The speed record also gives electric racing more credibility at a crucial moment -- when EVs are just starting to rival gas-powered counterparts on the track, any leap in performance can help.

Filed under: Transportation

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Via: Pocket-lint

Source: BBC, Drayson Racing Technologies

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/27/drayson-racing-sets-electric-land-speed-record-at-204mph/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Pope names commission of inquiry to look into Vatican bank amid new money-laundering probe

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican security forces on Tuesday rescued 52 kidnapped migrants, mostly Guatemalans, who were being held in a house in the violent state of Tamaulipas near the U.S. border. The migrants had been held for several days in a house in the city of Reynosa, where they were found by a group of federal and state police, officials said. The group was made up of 48 men from Guatemala, two from El Salvador and two more from Mexico, a press release from the state government said. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-names-commission-inquiry-look-104924063.html

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Devo drummer Alan Myers dies from cancer

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Alan Myers, the drummer for U.S. new wave band, Devo, on their most popular songs, including the 1980 mainstream hit "Whip It," has died, the band said on its website.

Myers died on Monday from cancer in Los Angeles, the band said.

"I think he probably influenced a lot of drummers that are out there now because he was really great at being very precise and minimalist," Mark Mothersbaugh, the singer and founder of Devo and now a TV and film composer, told Reuters.

"His minimalist style really suited what we were doing well," said Mothersbaugh, a founder of the band famous for their eccentric flower-pot hats and bright jump suits. "We always regretted it when he left."

Mothersbaugh said he did not know Myers exact age but thought he was about 60.

Myers joined Devo in 1976 but left after their 1984 album, "Shout," to pursue jazz and music "off the beaten path," Mothersbaugh said.

The drummer was part of the band when they crossed over from avant-garde art school rock to mainstream success with the 1980 hit "Whip It," which was helped by heavy play during the early days of MTV.

He was the drummer on the band's influential 1978 debut album "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" that was produced by British recording pioneer Brian Eno.

When Devo reformed in 2009, Myers was working in Los Angeles as an electrician and playing music in various groups.

Devo, whose name is a contraction of "de-evolution," formed in 1972 in Akron, Ohio, and moved to Los Angeles later in the decade.

Besides "Whip It," Devo also recorded off-beat covers of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and Allen Toussaint's "Working in the Coal Mine."

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Sandra Maler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/devo-drummer-alan-myers-dies-cancer-222749409.html

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Hernandez charged with murder

Reuters

A stunning, surreal day has taken yet another stunning, surreal turn.

Aaron Hernandez has been charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd.

It?s one of several charges filed today against Hernandez, arising directly from the June 17 discovery of Odin Lloyd?s body less than a mile from Hernandez?s home.

Lloyd, according to the prosecutor, was shot multiple times.

The prosecutor also explained that there was no evidence of a robbery, and that Lloyd?s phone showed communications with Hernandez in the hours preceding his death.? Lloyd?s sister told authorities that Lloyd left his home that morning at 2:30 a.m. in a car believed to belong to Hernandez.

The prosecutor told the court that roughly six to eight hours of footage were missing from Hernandez?s surveillance system after the murder.? The prosecutor likewise outlined a series of text messages indicating a desire by Hernandez to meet with Lloyd, along with instructions that one or more others urging them to return to the area, presumably for the meeting with Lloyd.

Text messages and public surveillance cameras, per the prosecutor, indicate that Hernandez picked up Lloyd at 2:30 a.m. ET and drove back to North Attleboro.? The prosecutor claims that Hernandez then told Lloyd he was upset that Lloyd had said certain things to others, making it hard for Hernandez to trust him.

Likewise, the prosecutor explained that Lloyd sent text messages while in the car with Hernandez, making others aware that he was with Hernandez.

The prosecutor said that workers at the industrial park heard gunshots, and that surveillance cameras allow prosecutors to piece together that the car Hernandez was driving was at the industrial park, and within minutes thereafter at Hernandez?s home.

The prosecutor said that Hernandez?s surveillance system shows a person getting out of the car with a gun after the shooting, and walking through the house with the gun.? Shortly after that, the surveillance system shuts down.

Perhaps most importantly, the prosecutor said a shell casing was found in the car rented by Hernandez.? It matches the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting, according to the prosecutor.

The prosecutor called it an ?execution,? and he characterized Hernandez as the person who orchestrated the crime, had the motive and means to kill Lloyd, and engaged in efforts to cover up the crime, including telling his fianc?e to stop talking to police.

The prosecutor concluded his remarks by asking that Hernandez be jailed without bail.

Hernandez?s lawyer, Michael Fee, then called the case ?weak? and ?circumstantial.?? He argued that Hernandez is not a flight risk, and that it would be impractical for him to flee.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/26/aaron-hernandez-charged-with-murder/

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98% Before Midnight

All Critics (146) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (142) | Rotten (3)

Hawke and Delpy remain as charming as ever, and their combined goofiness is more endearing than annoying.

Love is messy here, life cannot be controlled, satisfaction is far from guaranteed. Romance is rocky at best. But romance still is.

Though "Before Midnight" is often uncomfortable to watch, it's never less than mesmerizing - and ultimately, a joy to walk with this prickly but fascinating couple again.

"Before Midnight" is heartbreaking, but not because of Jesse and Celine. It's the filmmakers' passions that seem to have cooled.

Before Midnight is fascinating to watch, and so long as Celine and Jesse are communicating, there's still hope.

How (Jesse and Celine) try to rekindle that flame is what drives Midnight, a film that feels so authentic it's like overhearing a conversation you're not sure you should be hearing.

Loving words mix with personal attacks, the magic moments with the unintended slights, as we witness the occasional desperation of imperfect people doing the best they can when life moves beyond meet-cute and courtship. That's authentic.

Linklater and his players bring an end to the fantasy and welcome the thrilling ups and bitter downs of reality to this love story.

Like the first two films, it reflects the real world in a way that seems almost preternatural. It's just that, here, the real world is a harsher, more disappointing place.

The duo, clearly so comfortable in their characters' skin, indulge in intelligent banter, sharp humour and emotional truths.

So much better written than contemporary novels, this film is a literary as well as cinematic achievement to cherish. For grown-ups.

As before, it's often very funny, with Jesse and Celine swapping Woody Allen-esque one-liners - nicely snarky, appealingly abrasive.

The acting, the dialogue and direction are superb.

None of the films is faultless in itself, but, tinted with complementary tones, the complete cycle comes as close to perfection as any trilogy in cinema history.

Marvelous. It's impossible to shake the feeling that we are merely eavesdropping on reality. Witty, wise, and -- most important of all -- truly romantic in ways that movies usually aren't.

It's been 18 years since Hawke, Delpy and Linklater introduced us to Jesse and Celine, and their story just gets richer, funnier and more punchy each time we see them. In 1995's Before Sunrise, they were idealistic 23-year-olds.

Hawke and Delpy are as believably real as any screen couple can ever be.

This is one of the few sequels for which the cliche 'eagerly awaited' is truly applicable.

Predictably, it's just as great as the first two.

By the end, Before Midnight inches towards a dawn of charm. But it's a troubled trip.

As an organic experiment in collaboration between actors and director, it is a triumph, co-created and co-owned by Delpy, Linklater and Hawke.

Hawke and Delpy, who are both credited on the script too, have never found co-stars to bounce off more nimbly or bring out richer nuances in their acting.

The performances and dialogue are wonderfully naturalistic; a reminder that the best special effects are often the cheapest.

Before Midnight is about the nature of long-term relationships, and the way love deepens and grows but also finds itself subject to the complications of maturity. Smart, insightful, and poignant.

For those who witnessed Jesse and Celine's tentative getting together as inter railing students almost twenty years ago, it's reassuring to see them still in love.

Brilliantly directed, superbly written and impeccably acted, this is a thoroughly enjoyable, thought-provoking and emotionally engaging drama that perfectly complements the previous two films.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/before_midnight_2013/

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State regulators warn virtual currency exchanges: WSJ

(Reuters) - State regulators are warning virtual currency exchanges and other companies that deal with Bitcoin that they could be shut down if their activities run counter to money transmission laws, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Banking regulators in California, New York and Virginia in recent weeks have issued letters saying the companies need to follow the state rules or prove that the rules do not apply to them, the Journal said.

"Virtual currency firms inhabit an evolving and sometimes murky corner of the financial world," Benjamin Lawsky, superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services, told the WSJ in an interview.

"The extent and nature of their operations morph constantly, so it's important for regulators to ask the hard questions and stay ahead of the curve in order to root out dangerous or illegal activity," Lawsky said.

Spokespeople for California banking department and Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions declined to comment to the Journal. (http://link.reuters.com/wuq29t)

Most money transmission rules require companies to provide detailed financial data, business strategy and information about the management. States also usually require companies to put up a bond of several million dollars.

Digital currency is electronic money that can be passed between individuals without the use of the traditional banking or money transfer system.

Bitcoin, which has been embraced by a number of venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, exists through an open-source software program that any users with enough skill and computing power can access. It is not managed by a single company or government. Users can buy bitcoins through exchanges that convert real money into the virtual currency.

None of the parties could immediately be reached for comment by Reuters outside of regular U.S. business hours.

(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/state-regulators-warn-virtual-currency-exchanges-wsj-042043274.html

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New cycling sponsor vows 'zero tolerance'

PARIS (AP) ? The new sponsor of the Tour de France cycling team now renamed Belkin is vowing "zero tolerance" for doping.

Chet Pipkin, founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based consumer technology company Belkin, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the team is committed to "doing things in a very visible and up front and honest way."

The Belkin Pro Cycling Team used to be called Rabobank, after its former sponsor. But the Dutch lender ended 17 years of cycling sponsorship last October, pulling 15 million euros ($20 million) per year from the team. The bank said it was no longer convinced that the doping-tainted sport can become "clean and honest."

Pipkin wouldn't give a dollar figure but said Belkin's sponsorship of the team is "the biggest one we have ever made in the marketing arena."

Belkin signed as title sponsor through 2015.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-06-24-CYC-Tour-de-France-New-Sponsor/id-a8cefd8cfddf407f9c613ca833ebfd19

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US tones down demands that Russia expel NSA leaker (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Comic Con 2013: MTV Is Giving You An Inside Look!

Josh Horowitz and Steven Smith will take fans behind the scenes of the San Diego convention beginning July 18.
By Todd Gilchrist

Tyler Hoechlin
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1709457/mtv-san-diego-comic-con-2013.jhtml

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Texas Senate set for filibuster finale on abortion

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? A sweeping bill that would effectively shut down most abortion clinics across the nation's second most-populous state has stalled in the Texas Senate ? and a Democratic filibuster that will only need to last a seemingly manageable 13 hours Tuesday looks like it will be enough to talk the hotly contested measure to death.

After thwarting two attempts Monday by majority Republicans to bring the abortion bill to a floor vote ahead of its scheduled time Tuesday morning, Democrats are turning to Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, to stage the marathon speech.

"We want to do whatever we can for women in this state," Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, leader of the Senate Democrats.

The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Also, doctors would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles ? a tall order in rural communities.

Although Texas is just the latest of several conservative states to try to enact tough limits on abortions, the scope of its effort is notable because of the combination of bills being considered and the size of the state.

When combined in a state 773 miles wide and 790 miles long and with 26 million people, the measures would become the most stringent set of laws to impact the largest number of people in the nation.

"If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas governor Ann Richards.

Outnumbered 19-11 ? with San Antonio Sen. Leticia Van de Putte missing to attend the funeral of her father, who died last week in a car crash ? Senate Democrats held firm Monday their razor-thin margin of a single vote to block the bill from moving forward.

That's key since the 30-day special legislative session ends at midnight Tuesday, meaning the filibuster Democrats have promised only needs to last the better part of one day, instead of two.

Davis gave a filibuster at the end of the 2011 session to temporarily block $5.4 billion cuts to public schools, and said she was preparing for her upcoming one speech but refused to say exactly how.

She will have to speak nonstop, remain standing, refrain from bathroom breaks or even leaning on anything. Other Democrats can give her voice a break by offering questions to keep conversation moving.

"Democrats chose not to negotiate, and we could not get the block undone," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a Republican who controls the flow of Senate legislation. He refused to declare the issue dead ? but others were less optimistic.

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said the Democrats never should have been allowed to put Republicans "in a box" and complained that many in the Senate GOP were "flying by the seat of their pants."

But the bill's bogging down began with Gov. Rick Perry, who summoned lawmakers back to work immediately after the regular legislative session ended May 27, but didn't add abortion to the special session to-do list until late in the process. The Legislature can only take up issues at the governor's direction during the extra session.

Then, House Democrats succeeded in stalling nearly all night Sunday, keeping the bill from reaching the Senate until 11 a.m. Monday.

The measure only passed the lower chamber after a raucous debate that saw more than 800 women's rights activists pack the public gallery and surrounding Capitol, imploring lawmakers not to approve it.

While supporters say it will protect women's health, abortion rights groups warn the practical effect of the bill would be to shutter most abortion providers statewide ? making it very difficult for Texas women to have the procedure.

Debate ranged from lawmakers waving coat-hangers on the floor and claiming the new rules are so draconian that women are going to be forced to head to drug war-torn Mexico to have abortions, to the bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Jodie Laubenberg of Spring, errantly suggesting that emergency room rape kits could be used to terminate pregnancies.

In the end, though, the bill passed by more than 60 votes as Republicans and some conservative Democrats approved it.

Still, Legislature rules prohibit the Senate from taking up a bill for 24 hours after it clears the House. Republicans struggled to find a way to break the Democratic roadblock, but the vote swung Monday on Sen. Eddie Lucio, a Brownsville Democrat who voted for the abortion bill when it first passed the Senate a week ago but pledged not to approve suspending the rule with Republicans unless Van de Putte was able to make it to the chamber.

She didn't show and Lucio voted with his party, despite his support for the bill.

If the abortion restrictions go down, though, other measure could also fall with it. A proposal to fund major transportation projects as well as a bill to have Texas more closely conform with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision banning mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole for offenders younger than 18 might not get votes. Current state law only allows a life sentence without parole for 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder.

Watson said Democrats are willing to pass the transportation and 17-year-old sentencing measures but won't budge on abortion.

"Let's get those up, let's get those out of here," Watson said. "Let's not make these victims of red-meat politics."

Patrick said that if the filibuster succeeds, he hopes Perry will summon lawmakers back for a second or even third special session.

"If the majority can't pass the legislation that they believe is important and the people believe is important," he said, "than that's of great concern to me."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-senate-set-filibuster-finale-abortion-071515450.html

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Heat celebrate with parade through downtown Miami

MIAMI (AP) ? The last piece of confetti had landed, the Miami Heat championship celebration was officially over and many in the crowd of revelers were starting to make their way to the exits.

Players and coaches remained on the stage.

They were in no hurry to leave. Every member of the NBA champions stood and watched a giant video board play highlights of Miami's march through the playoffs, from LeBron James' MVP-caliber plays on both ends to Ray Allen's season-saving 3-pointer in Game 6 of the NBA Finals and countless moments in between.

"It's a special group," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You know what? This season started over nine months ago with that trip to China and we were able to experience so many cool things together in the regular season. But at times, it just seems to be going by so fast."

So maybe that's why the Heat aren't ready to stop celebrating this title just yet.

With an estimated 400,000 people lining the downtown Miami streets, the Heat held their parade and an in-arena rally afterward Monday. James stood atop a double-decker bus with a cigar in his mouth for the parade. Shane Battier blew kisses to the crowd, Dwyane Wade raised three fingers aloft and Chris Andersen flapped his arms in a nod to his "Birdman" moniker.

"It's the ultimate," James told Sun Sports, the Heat broadcast partner. "It's the ultimate. This is what I came down here, to be able to have a parade at the end of the year. I'm extremely blessed, man. It doesn't get any better than this."

Several players held super-soaker squirt guns and sprayed water on fans, confetti dotted the streets, and horns honked from all directions. Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and team president Pat Riley stood in the front of one bus, while Spoelstra ? his championship cap turned backward ? waved and clapped at fans.

"Miami parties better than any city in the world," Spoelstra said. "But it took nine months, nine months of incredible sacrifice, not only by these men right here but everybody in our organization, grinding it out every single day, ups and downs, highs and lows. And to have a culmination like Game 7 in front of all of you here is incredible."

Wade said that without the fans, Miami wouldn't have found a way to win the title.

"It's humbling. It's very humbling to be here," Wade said, gazing out at the enormous crowd. "I envision a lot of things. I can't say I envisioned this. This parade down Biscayne Boulevard was once a vision by Coach Riley and now we've taken this ride three times. It's special."

When Riley got hired by the Heat, he talked at his introductory news conference about his vision of a parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It took Riley until 2006 to deliver on that hope, but now with three parades in eight seasons, the Heat are getting used to these celebrations.

"Their names are going to be respected and honored," Riley said. "And that's all we have. All we have is the name on the front of the shirt, which is the Heat, and the name on the back of the shirt. And that's why we play."

Miami became the sixth franchise in NBA history to win consecutive championships, after topping the San Antonio Spurs in this year's finals for the third title overall for the Heat franchise, needing a Game 7 to get it done. Wade and Udonis Haslem ? a Miami native who said "this is what it's all about" ? are the only players to be part of all three titles, and Wade insisted Monday that the city is going to be his home now for good.

"This is my home. They've treated me well since Day One," Wade said. "I'll be here for probably the rest of my life in this amazing city. I thank the Miamians for accepting me as one of their own."

Miami needed to win Games 6 and 7 of the finals to capture the title, and needed a huge late comeback in Game 6 just to force the ultimate game. Down by five with less than a half-minute left in regulation, James and Ray Allen made 3-pointers ? Allen's coming with 5.2 seconds left ? to force overtime, and the Heat ultimately prevailed to get into Game 7.

"I have to say that is the biggest shot I ever hit in my career," Allen said.

Along the parade route, one vehicle carried a number of uniformed military personnel. The Heat have honored military members before every home game in Miami for the past several seasons.

Police reported no major problems, and bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs were spotted working their way through the crowd. City officials banned fans from carrying backpacks, though several were spotted along the route and some people were searched randomly for security reasons. The huge crowds and parking difficulty did not seem to take away from the fans' celebratory mood.

"It's the excitement of something that doesn't come around too often, even though we've been lucky to experience it two years in a row," said Heat fan Blake Thames, who made the trip down from Palm Beach County.

Some fans began arriving before sunrise Monday, and traffic into downtown was extremely heavy as people hoped to get close enough for a glimpse of the celebration.

"It hasn't hit me yet," James said. "This is unbelievable to be a part of such a great franchise and to be able to go back-to-back."

Players spent the weekend celebrating. Some are planning to start vacations later this week, while others will remain in South Florida for at least a few more days.

"All the fans that we're seeing here is who supported us throughout the whole season, man," James said. "This is the least we could do is ride through the city and show our appreciation."

___

Associated Press Writers Jennifer Kay and Kelli Kennedy in Miami contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/heat-celebrate-parade-downtown-miami-152238430.html

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