Sarah Kaufman: The silent, violent showstopper

Esther Lin, Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

One of the greatest fights of 2012 came on the same fight card as one of the most memorable. Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis fought in Columbus in March of that year, a Strikeforce event that was headlined by Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. Everyone remembers Rousey contorting Tate’s arm into alarming states of disfigurement en-route to winning the bantamweight belt.

Less remembered was the ridiculous fight Kaufman gave Davis (and vice-versa).

In the encounter, the former bantamweight champion Kaufman and Davis stood toe-to-toe and traded dukes, kicks and elbows, tossed, rag-dolled, and strafed each other, clawed, kneed and pummeled one another to the edge of physical endurance. It wasn’t the tired old cliché of Bonnar-Griffin, which was the right fight at the right time; it was quieter due to its placement. This was two smiling forward-moving heathens doing it for the joy of fighting. It was clear that both Davis and Kaufman were enjoying themselves capitally from bell to bell.

As Kaufman gets set to make her UFC debut on Saturday night in Houston against Jessica Eye, the British Columbian war horse wouldn’t mind giving the fans another hissing live wire of a fight like that one with Davis. Or even Leslie Smith, who was her latest casualty from the Invicta cage last April.

The only thing she needs is an accommodating opponent.

"Honestly, with both Alexis and Leslie, we all have such similar styles we all like to get in there and throw down, and those are the fights I like," Kaufman told MMA Fighting. "To me that’s fun. Getting hit, hitting back, having that challenge of who can go longer and faster and harder…those are the fights I love. And the fans love them, too.

"Those are the fights you make your name off of. Granted, if I got a five-second knockout, how happy would I be? Wee, happy! But I also love feeling when I leave like I was in a fight."

If Kaufman isn’t shotgun to the UFC’s bantamweight title, she’s at least in the vehicle. She defeated Miesha Tate -- who will get her rematch with Rousey at UFC 168 in December -- back in 2009. So there’s leverage for a title push were she to get past Eye.

But it’s complicated in the new wilderness of the women’s bantamweight division. Kaufman already fought Rousey in August 2012 and lost via armbar in less than a minute. That loss exists on historical record, even if the UFC doesn’t like to carry over history from other promotions (even the ones Zuffa owns). And then there’s the hovering presence of Cat Zingano, who was supposed to be in the contender’s seat right now before a knee injury forced her to the sidelines.

Where Kaufman sits in the division is…somewhere near the top.

"I could see with a good win [over Eye], depending on when Cat Zingano is back, giving me a fight with Cat, or giving me a title shot right away," Kaufman says. "I’ve already fought Liz Carmouche. I’ve already fought Alexis Davis. I’ve already fought Miesha Tate. But, honestly, I feel like Cat Zingano would be a pretty interesting fight for that next shot at the title."

Not that she’s looking past Eye, who is coming off a victory over Carina Damm and is riding a seven-fight winning streak overall. Eye is also making her UFC debut, and has looked better each time out in her NAAFS and Bellator bouts.

"I think she’s a great opponent, and that it’s a very exciting fight for the fans – and it’s a very exciting fight for me," Kaufman says. "It’s going to get me in there and give me the opportunity to let loose a little bit, and have some fun. By ‘have fun’ I mean serious and focused, but I like fighting. I don’t like to have to worry too much about, what if they try and stall the fight to wrestle me down? Or whatever the case may be. I like those exciting fights and the opportunity to let loose. It’s what I like to do -- let loose and have fun in the cage."

Kaufman was supposed to have made her UFC debut in August against Sarah McMann, but McMann was forced to pull out with a personal issue. She calls the bait-and-switch "very frustrating," though she’s had enough experience in the spotlight to know how to roll with the punches.

"If five people are watching, or if five million people are watching, I want to perform the same," she says. "I’m ready. I’ve performed at some of the biggest stages of the world already, and so this is the next step up for me."

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/10/18/4848338/sarah-kaufman-the-silent-violent-showstopper
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Factbox: German coalition watch: Merkel to focus on Social Democrats after Greens end talks

Chancellor Angela Merkel led her conservatives to their best result in over two decades in a German election on September 22 but must still find a coalition partner to secure a third term.

A second round of exploratory talks with the Greens saw the environmentalist party conclude that further talks with the conservatives would be fruitless, leaving Merkel to focus on negotiations with the Social Democrats (SPD).

Below are key coalition-related quotes from senior officials, as well as areas of potential compromise on policy and personnel.

COALITION CHATTER

HERMANN GROEHE (CDU)

"Representatives of the CDU/CSU and the Greens led further intensive exploratory talks again today to find out whether it would make sense to enter coalition negotiations to build a government together... I inform you that the exploratory talks will not be continued and that coalition talks will not be entered into."

"I want to stress also that even in areas where there were differences, there were none which we would have viewed as insurmountable. And at the same time there is a clear no from us to the massive tax increases that the Greens see as inevitable - and which from our conviction … are out of the question."

"After these talks the Greens do not find themselves able to enter coalition talks. We respect this decision of course. We will approach the representatives of the SPD tomorrow with a view to scheduling the explorative talks we had already eyed for Thursday."

ALEXANDER DOBRINDT (CSU)

"The talks were very serious, to be honest, more serious than expected at the beginning. The mood was good, factual and quiet. We noticed that the Greens made a long part of the journey towards us but some distance remained and the Greens were not willing to bridge that distance. My feeling was that the Greens have understood the election result ... but were unable to take on the responsibility."

"From our side we did not see any problems that would have been insurmountable... We made clear what is not doable with us on taxes. That's a clear statement that can't be changed and the Greens made clear that that is a threshold they can't cross."

CEM OEZDEMIR (GREENS)

"Of course there's a regret that the bridge can't be built strongly enough to last for four years. We appreciate the shift (from the CDU/CSU) but for us it is not enough yet."

"The door has not been nailed shut with nails you can't pull out but that's a hypothetical question and one should not give hypothetical answers to hypothetical questions."

CLAUDIA ROTH, GREENS

"When we asked how should investment in the future, in education, climate policy and such be financed? We did not present our party program with all our own financial estimates but asked how do you want to finance it? We didn't say it had to be done exactly as we proposed ... but how does the other side want to solve the challenges? We negotiated twice and discussed all points from A to Z in depth and don't think that there can be substantial change in a third round of talks."

POTENTIAL POLICY COMPROMISES

TAXES - During the campaign, the SPD urged a hike in tax rates on incomes above 100,000 euros to 49 from 42 percent to pay for higher investments in infrastructure, education and research. Merkel and her conservatives are open to higher public investment but have ruled out financing this through tax hikes or higher debt. Both sides have signaled a readiness to compromise, but finding the required revenues will be difficult. One solution for bringing more cash in longer-term would be to close tax loopholes for multinational corporations.

WAGES - The SPD has made a nationwide minimum wage one of its main demands in exploratory coalition talks. The CDU/CSU, which only supports "wage floors" on a regional or sectoral basis, may have to accept some form of blanket minimum wage, but it could end up lower than the 8.50 euros the SPD wants.

EUROPE - No insurmountable differences. The SPD would seek symbolic steps to promote growth in struggling euro zone states, but is unlikely to press for more German taxpayer money to be used for this purpose. It will push for a financial transactions tax and faster movement towards a banking union, where banks themselves shoulder the costs of restructuring. The SPD is not expected to push hard for debt mutualisation, despite having backed the idea of a debt redemption fund during its campaign.

ENERGY - The SPD and CDU/CSU could reach a compromise on scaling back subsidies for renewable energy. The Greens, however, would be a more difficult partner for the conservatives as they oppose lower renewables incentives.

BARGAINING FOR CABINET POSTS

* Finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has signaled a desire to stay in his post, and is said to have the support of Merkel. Unless the SPD or Greens insist on the finance ministry as a condition for entering a coalition with Merkel, Schaeuble is given a good chance of continuing in his current position.

* For the SPD, much will depend on party chairman Sigmar Gabriel, whose name has been linked to various ministries -- including labor, finance and foreign. He could also decide to opt out of government and take over the SPD leadership in parliament, though this could meet resistance from the party and incumbent Frank-Walter Steinmeier who is keen to stay put.

* If Gabriel is not in the cabinet, Steinmeier is seen as a candidate for the top SPD ministry, which could end up being foreign, finance or a new ministry grouping energy and infrastructure. SPD parliamentary whip Thomas Oppermann has also been mentioned as a possible finance minister, though interior or defense might be better fits. Chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrueck has made clear he will not have a role in a Merkel cabinet.

* Were the SPD to claim the finance ministry, one source said Merkel might want to shift Schaeuble to the foreign ministry. But the extensive travel involved in this post may prove too much of a burden for the wheelchair-bound Schaeuble.

* Apart from Schaeuble, the other member of Merkel's CDU who is seen as a lock for the cabinet is Ursula von der Leyen, who may be keen on the foreign ministry. If she were to get this post, or move into the parliamentary leadership role held by Volker Kauder, many would see it as a sign she was being groomed to succeed Merkel.

* It remains unclear whether the SPD's pre-election proposal to group together responsibility for all energy-related issues in one ministry -- they are currently shared between the economy and environment ministries -- will see the light of day. Merkel is likely to want someone she trusts to oversee her "Energiewende" shift from nuclear to renewable power.

(Compiled by Berlin bureau)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/factbox-german-coalition-watch-merkel-focus-social-democrats-234339387--sector.html
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U.S. nuclear arms modernization plan misguided: scientists' group

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Obama administration plan to spend $60 billion over the next 25 years to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal is misguided and violates the spirit of its pledge not to develop new nuclear arms, a Union of Concerned Scientists report said on Thursday.

The 81-page report by the independent nonprofit said the $60 billion for upgrading warheads is a fraction of what Washington plans to spend on its nuclear deterrent in the coming decades, on top of billions for new manufacturing facilities and billions more for delivery systems like submarines.

The spending comes despite President Barack Obama's endorsement of the goal of a world without nuclear weapons and his negotiation of the "New START" treaty with Russia, which committed the former Cold War rivals to reducing deployed strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 each by 2018.

But Obama also has insisted that the United States must be confident that its remaining weapons will work as it attempts negotiate smaller and smaller nuclear arsenals with other atomic weapons states.

And he has come under pressure from Republicans to address the problems of the aging U.S. nuclear complex.

The Pentagon and the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is responsible for the maintenance and reliability of the arsenal, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report.

The United States produced its last nuclear weapon, based on 1970s technology, in 1990 and halted underground nuclear testing in 1992. Since then it has relied on computer simulation for testing and has refurbished older weapons to extend their life.

But concern about security and reliability has prompted the NNSA and the Pentagon to push for additional efforts to modernize the weapons. A plan released in June by the NNSA, which is part of the Department of Energy, calls for a new manufacturing complex to reconfigure and upgrade the arms.

MIX AND MATCH

The United States has seven warhead types. The new program would reduce the number of types and make some interchangeable on different weapons. There would be three warhead types for long-range missiles and two for bombs and cruise missiles.

"NNSA's plan violates the spirit if not the letter of the administration's pledge to not develop new nuclear weapons. It sends the wrong message to the rest of the world," said Philip Coyle, a researcher at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation who co-authored the report.

Lisbeth Gronlund, a co-director of UCS's Global Security Program who worked on the report, said in an interview that modernization efforts by NNSA could undermine confidence in the reliability of the arsenal.

Weapons in the U.S. arsenal have elements for a primary and secondary explosion. Under the new approach, Gronlund said, some primary and secondary elements would be mixed and matched, even though they may not have been physically tested together.

"People could well raise this as a concern and suggest we need to resume testing," she said. "So I don't see any reason to go down that road."

Gronlund said the idea behind moving to a smaller number of interchangeable warheads was that it would make it easier to reduce the size of the nuclear "hedge," the non-deployed warheads that are held in reserve.

The United States is thought to have as many as 2,650 non-deployed warheads, plus about 3,000 waiting to be dismantled, according to The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

"The claim is that this (modernization) would allow them to eventually reduce the hedge," Gronlund said, but that would only be done after 25 years, which she described as "a little lame."

With the United States already cutting deployed warheads under New START, it is a "very realistic assumption" that Washington would reduce the number of non-deployed weapons over the next 25 years as well, she said.

(Editing by Xavier Briand)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-nuclear-arms-modernization-plan-misguided-scientists-group-001519636.html
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In Theaters This Weekend: Reviews of '12 Years a Slave,' 'The Fifth Estate' and More

Steve McQueen's biopic 12 Years a Slave, which has received high praise from film critics, hits theaters on Friday.

The historical drama stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. Ejiofor is joined by a star-studded cast including Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt. The Fox Searchlight Film first debuted at the Telluride Film Festival in August where the cast and crew received a standing ovation.

Read what The Hollywood Reporter's film critics have to say about all the films opening this weekend and find out how they are expected to perform at the box office.

PHOTOS: Benedict Cumberbatch: Exclusive Portraits of 'The Fifth Estate's' Leading Man 

12 Years a Slave

Steve McQueen's slave drama stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Benedict Cumberbatch. Read Todd McCarthy's review here.

The Fifth Estate

Bill Condon's look at WikiLeaks centers on the falling-out between Julian Assange and a key ally. Read John DeFore's review here.

Carrie

Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore star in Kimberly Peirce's remake of the 1976 horror classic, based on the novel by Stephen King. Read David Rooney's review here.

Escape Plan

Aging action heroes Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger take the screen together in this pulpy retro-actioner from director Mikael Hafstrom. Read Todd McCarthy's review here.

PHOTOS: '12 Years a Slave': Exclusive Portraits of Star-Producer Brad Pitt and His Cast 

Kill Your Darlings

Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan head the ensemble in this jazzy exploration of the birth of the Beat Generation via a violent footnote. Read David Rooney's review here.

All Is Lost

Robert Redford leads a rugged survival-at-sea story from the Margin Call director. Read Todd McCarthy's review here.

Haunter

Vincenzo Natali offers the ghost's side of the story in a sober, supernatural take on Groundhog Day. Read John DeFore's review here.

I'm in Love With a Church Girl

A former drug kingpin romances a religious woman in this faith-based drama. Read Frank Scheck's review here.

VIDEO: 'Carrie'-Inspired Coffee Shop Prank Goes Viral

American Promise

This special jury prize-winning documentary follows two African American boys, who start out at New York's Dalton School, over 13 years. Read Duane Byrge's review here.

Big Ass Spider!

A King Kong-sized spider terrorizes downtown L.A. in Mike Mendez's fun cheapie. Read John DeFore's review here.

2 Jacks

Danny Huston and his nephew Jack star in this modern-day adaptation of Tolstoy's short story The Two Hussars. Read Frank Scheck's review here.

The Human Scale

Adreas M. Dalsgaard's doc looks at efforts to make cities pedestrian-friendly. Read John DeFore's review here.

STORY: Daniel Radcliffe on Why First-Time Directors Beat 'Somebody Who's Done 10 Films and Couldn't Give a Shit' 

The Snitch Cartel

Colombia's foreign language Oscar entry is lively but doesn’t offer nearly enough fresh variations on the Scarface formula. Read Stephen Farber's review here.

Torn

Jeremiah Birnbaum's drama explores the unlikely friendship between two mothers after their sons are killed in a shopping mall explosion. Read Frank Scheck's review here.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/film/~3/aVSPhDg60ko/story01.htm
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LAX airport blasts suspect pleads not guilty

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A baggage handler accused of setting off dry ice bottle blasts at Los Angeles International Airport pleaded not guilty Thursday to two charges of possessing a destructive device in a public place.

Dicarlo Bennett, 28, an employee of an airport service company, could face up to six years in prison if convicted.

Bennett said little beyond acknowledging his name during a brief hearing before Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz.

Police said he set off the blasts Sunday for his own amusement in areas of the airport accessible only to employees.

He was ordered held on $1 million bail. Another hearing to review his bail was set for Oct. 23.

Investigators believe the bombs were set "out of a desire to construct and experience a device exploding," said Los Angeles police Lt. John Karle. He called it foolish and negligent behavior.

Police primarily relied on interviews with witnesses and physical evidence but also reviewed surveillance video before arresting Bennett.

Airport officials changed their policy on how dry ice is discarded after an abandoned container of dry ice from a plane was used to fashion and explode the bombs.

The airport will now require employees to return dry ice — often used to keep food fresh — to a warehouse and not leave it out on the tarmac, said Los Angeles Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon.

Airport officials plan to meet with law enforcement authorities in the coming days to examine other potential security enhancements at one of the nation's busiest airports.

Cameras cover some of these restricted-access areas, but Downing said there isn't as much camera coverage as in public-access areas.

The union representing police at LAX said the incident highlights the need for the installation of more security cameras at the airport.

___

AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch and AP writer Raquel Maria Dillon contributed to this report.

___

Tami Abdollah can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/latams

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lax-airport-blasts-suspect-pleads-not-guilty-222720863.html
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Instagram Becomes Concerned for Lady Gaga's Well Being

Setting off a few scares this week on Instagram, Lady Gaga tweeted about a strange message sent to her from the Instagram community on Wednesday (October 16). She wrote, “OMG at this email INSTAGRAM just sent me… what the actual hell. hahahaha.”

She also posted a screenshot of a message she’d received from the social media platform, which read: “Members of the Instagram community have raised concerns for your well-being after seeing posts you’ve shared. We’re reaching out to provide you with some important safety information.”

The singer superstar gave no details about which of her Instagram posts threw up the red flags, but her most recent pictures, from October 13th and 14th, are of notebooks filled with song lyrics.

Stay linked to GossipCenter for more updates about the status of Lady Gaga’s health, music, personal life, and much more!

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/lady-gaga/instagram-becomes-concerned-lady-gagas-well-being-944292
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What The World's Newspapers Are Saying

Oded Balilty/AP

A newsstand in Rome.

Oded Balilty/AP

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican led the website of Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper.

At the end of their 25-minute meeting, the pope gave Abbas a pen, which the Palestinian Authority president said he hoped to use "to sign the peace agreement with Israel."

The pope replied: "Hurry, hurry," according to the newspaper.

—

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan recently called for a national dialogue in his ethnically and religiously divided country.

He announced the formation of a committee that would hold discussions on resolving differences in Nigeria. But, as the Vanguard newspaper reports, Nigerian lawmakers say that the committee's final outcome must first pass through them to become law.

Here's how Reuters describes Nigeria's religious makeup:

"Nigeria's nearly 170 million people and 250 ethnic groups, split roughly evenly between Islam, which dominates in the north, and Christianity, prevalent in the south, mostly live side by side in peace. But the country suffers bouts of bloodshed over land where the two religions meet in the middle.

"The oil producing Niger Delta is a haven for criminal gangs who steal oil and kidnap, while the Boko Haram insurgency has killed thousands and destablised swathes of the north."

—

La Tercera reports on Chile's efforts to win a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council.

The General Assembly elects five new countries to the council on Thursday. Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are looking for spots. All are virtually guaranteed a place on the 15-member council because none of the races are contested.

This would be Chile's fifth time on the council. The previous occasion was in 2003 and 2004. That was when Chile refused to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Chile's term would last from January 2014 to December 2015.

—

From the Philippines, a story of hope amid the earthquake that killed more than 100 people. The Inquirer reports:

"Two statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary stand — without any blemish — amid the ruins of two churches in Maribojoc and Loon towns following Tuesday's devastating earthquake. It was enough for residents to raise their hopes that life will get better."

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/17/236139792/what-the-worlds-newspapers-are-saying?ft=1&f=1009
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