Florida’s Leo Nunez has been playing under an assumed name

AP: Florida’s Leo Nunez has been playing under an assumed name

Being ‘an absolute jerk’ cost Kris Humphries a Kansas offer

Turns out it isn't just Kim Kardashian's sisters that Kris Humphries has rubbed the wrong way.

The former University of Minnesota star and new Mr. Kardashian apparently has a long history of bad first impressions dating all the way back to when he took an official visit to Kansas during his senior year of high school.

In an excerpt from the soon-to-be-released book"Beyond the Phog: Untold Stories from Kansas Basketball's Most Dominant Decade," former guard Keith Langford told author Jason King of Yahoo! Sportswhy Humphries never became a Jayhawk. Langford said he and his teammates were so disgusted with Humphries' arrogance that they encouraged then-Kansas coach Roy Williams to stop recruiting him.

Kris Humphries came on a visit and tried to commit. He really wanted to come here. But no one on the team liked Kris Humphries. He was arrogant. He told everyone he was going to come in and be the leading scorer as a freshman and that we'd all have to take a backseat to him. We were trying to be respectful and not say anything. But he was an absolute jerk. It was tough, because Roy was really excited about him. Kris Humphries was a big deal. He was a one-and-done or a two-and-done kind of player. Roy wanted him to commit on his visit. But we told him, "Coach, you can't bring this guy in. You can't do it." You'd figure Roy would say something like, "Let's work on him," or "Let's give him another chance." Instead he told Humphries, "Sorry, but you can't come."

That Williams would turn down a McDonald's All-American for his team demonstrates why he's so revered by his players and how confident he was that he could attract enough top prospects to be selective. Langford said current Kansas coach Bill Self did the same thing when future Louisville star Terrence Williams didn't mesh well with the team.

After Kansas turned down Humphries, the 6-foot-9 Minneapolis native eventually chose Duke before changing his mind and attending hometown Minnesota instead. Humphries scored 21.7 points and grabbed 10.1 rebounds a game in his lone season with the Gophers, but the team struggled, flailing its way to a 12-18 record and a 3-13 mark in Big Ten play.

In defense of Humphries, his former coach still thinks highly of him. Ex-Minnesota coach and current Long Beach State coach Dan Monson reconnected with Humphries in March when the NBA forward called to personally invite him to his wedding.

Here's what Monson told ESPN.com that Humphries said to him during that conversation: "I've been thinking a lot about you. I'm in a really good place professionally. I've met somebody special. I've been reflecting back, and you had a lot to do with that. I never got a chance to thank you."

So perhaps Humphries has matured since his younger days. Now all he has to do is focus on winning over his sisters-in-law.

Runner carries injured foe half mile to help in middle of race

Josh Ripley didn't have to stop. Running in a recent cross country meet for Andover (Minn.) High, the junior varsity runner was making his way through the trail at the Applejack Invite when he heard a loud scream during the first mile of a two-mile race. Most of the other kids running didn't pay much attention to Lakeville South runner Mark Paulauskas, who was writhing in pain at the time, as they passed by.

The only person who decided to pay attention was Ripley. As an Anoka-Hennepin school district releasereported, Ripley immediately noticed Paulauskas holding his bloody ankle. Then, instead of running back and calling for help, he did the only thing he could think of: He carried the injured runner a half mile back to coaches and family members.

"I didn't think about my race, I knew I needed to stop and help him," Ripley said in the school district release. "It was something I would expect my other teammates to do. I'm nothing special; I was just in the right place at the right time."

It was a good thing Ripley had the foresight to carry Paulauskas so he could be rushed to the emergency room. When Paulauskas arrived at the hospital, doctors realized he had been accidentally spiked by another runner's shoe during the race. The injury required 20 stitches and a walking boot to keep the wounded area from opening up.

Andover cross country coach Scott Clark couldn't believe what he heard when word got to him that Ripley was carrying another runner back to the starting line.

"Then Josh comes jogging into view carrying a runner," Clark said. "I noticed the blood on the runner's ankle as Josh handed him off to one of the coaches from Lakeville. Josh was tired and you could tell his focus was off as he started back on the course."

Amazingly, the story gets even better from there.

After dropping Paulauskas off with his coaches, Ripley proceeded to go back and finish the race -- even after carrying a kid for a half mile on the running trail. Admittedly he was a bit winded, but still completed the course as scheduled.

It's safe to say the average athlete would have taken a breather and called off the rest of the race after such a harrowing and intense experience. Luckily, Ripley is clearly not the average athlete. Fittingly, he'll be honored at a school board meeting next week. Talk about an incredible example of sportsmanship.

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Rotana to sue UAE singer Hussein Al-Jasmi

RIYADH: News sources confirmed that the board of directors of production company “Rotana” has unanimously agreed to sue prominent UAE singer Hussein Al-Jasmi.

It was said that Al-Jasmi had broken the terms of the contract between him and Rotana by releasing a number of singles and selling them to different radio stations without getting prior approval from the company.

Al-Jasmi, however, stressed that he was convinced with what he did, and he did not believe to be at fault, as releasing the singles was something he benefited from.

Officials at the company attempted to reach a compromise with Al-Jasmi to avoid legal actions, but negotiations between the two parties fizzled out. As a result, Rotana decided to take legal actions against Al-Jasmi and filed a lawsuit.

Close contacts to the singer stated that Al-Jasmi was forced to produce a number of singles financed by him due to the fact that the company kept delaying the release of his album.

Al-Jasmi had stated that he had to release new songs to sing at concerts he had scheduled for, as he could not keep singing old songs from the album that was released in 2009. To protect his fame and the expectations of his fans, Al-Jasmi had been forced to act in this way.

India hiring outlook falls steeply - Manpower

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prospects for job seekers are gloomier in most major economies than they were three months ago, as weak U.S. and European economies begin to affect employers' confidence in other parts of the world, according to a quarterly hiring survey by ManpowerGroup.

Manpower Chief Executive Jeff Joerres describes the global jobs climate as tenuous, comparing it to a ball atop a hill: given a slight nudge, it could roll either forward or back.

"A collection of little things on the margin can move the ball," Joerres said.

The global staffing services company said the fourth-quarter hiring outlook is lower in 21 of 39 countries and territories, including the United States. Prospects are stronger in 13 economies and unchanged in five others versus the third-quarter.

When compared with the fourth quarter of last year, the job outlook is stronger in most countries and territories, the United States among them. The U.S. index, however, declined sequentially for the first time in nine quarters, suggesting the unemployment rate is likely to go higher.

The U.S. net employment outlook -- which measures the difference between employers who say they expect to add jobs and those planning to cut them -- was down one point from three months ago. Of the 13 U.S. industry sectors Manpower tracks, only one -- education and health services -- showed stronger hiring plans.

"Companies remain on the sidelines when it comes to hiring," Joerres said. "Until there's more visibility (about) demand improvement, we're going to see companies completely resistant to adding workers for the fear that they'll have to reduce that same cost."

U.S. President Barack Obama 's plan to stimulate jobs growth can help sentiment but will probably not boost hiring in the near term, Joerres said. Lower payroll costs will not induce a company to hire but could help those employers that were going to add workers anyway: instead of taking on nine workers, a manager might offer jobs to 10.

Obama has proposed a $447 billion jobs plan, involving tax cuts and public works spending, that he hopes will help rescue a faltering U.S. economy.

"Much of what was proposed makes sense," Joerres said. "Other things are to try to look like we're doing things and probably don't have a lot of efficacy."

Manpower's U.S. survey dates back to 1962 and is based on interviews with 18,000 employers. It is considered a leading indicator of labor market trends.

The survey results follow a disappointing U.S. jobs report that showed zero new jobs were created in August and the unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent.

INDIA, CHINA FEEL U.S. SLOWDOWN

Manpower's global survey, which polled more than 65,000 employers, found evidence slow U.S. growth was affecting job creation elsewhere. India's hiring outlook fell steeply from the third quarter, partly because its information technology industry relies on U.S. sales.

Employers in China are also expecting less robust hiring in the next three months.

"Even the emerging economies, with their growing middle classes, still can't avoid the effect of the U.S. slowdown," Joerres said. "China has a great middle class demographic but they still rely a lot on export goods to the U.S."

Rising labour costs have also made Chinese companies, especially small businesses, more reluctant to add workers, the survey found. Europe's austerity programs are also hurting demand for goods produced in emerging markets, Manpower said.

The weakest hiring outlooks are in Mediterranean countries hit by an ongoing debt crisis, including Greece, Italy and Spain. These countries' problems are affecting confidence in northern Europe, including the Netherlands. Central European economies such as Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic showed mostly lower readings.

In Asia-Pacific, spending on reconstruction after a destructive March earthquake lifted Japanese employers' optimism to its highest reading in three years. Sentiment in Hong Kong , Taiwan and Singapore was little changed and dipped in Australia.

In the Americas, employers in Canada and Mexico are less optimistic than three months ago, but the outlook brightened in Colombia and Brazil.

Tehran rocks, but only under ground

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Clad head-to-toe in black -- the international uniform of heavy metal -- Mahyar Dean looks the archetype hard rock guitar hero.

But along with the mandatory Marshall amplifier and out-sized drum kit, his group, Angband, also boasts a couple of goatskin percussion instruments that have been a familiar part of Persian music for centuries.

In a country where western music is banned, Dean is part of Iran's booming underground scene -- making rock, Iranian style.

"We are trying not to get far from our roots, by using Persian percussion," Dean said, pointing out the daf -- a traditional hand-held drum which looks like a super-sized tambourine with metal chains on one side of the skin that add a scratchy, shimmering sound.

But as Iranian as Angband wants to be, it has had to look further afield to get its music released, signing with a German label, Pure Steel Records.

To be produced within Iran, music must be approved by the Ministry of Culture and Guidance, which checks lyrics and music to ensure they conform to the moral standards deemed acceptable in the Islamic Republic.

Classical Persian music and some forms of pop have prospered under the system, but genres like rock and hip-hop have remained almost exclusively underground.

Many Iranian bands do not bother asking for the mandatory government permits to release their music and seek contracts with foreign companies or put their music on websites blocked by the state but still accessible to anyone with a modicum of technical nous.

The 37-year-old founder of Angband plays down the disadvantages of being a rocker in Iran.

"In addition to becoming internationally known, better CD quality is another reason why we want to have our albums on foreign labels," he said, playing with his long wavy hair.

HARD ROCK, SOFT WAR

Many Iranian clerics regard western music as haram, forbidden by Islam.

"Haram music has never been halal (religiously permissible) and it will never be," influential cleric Ahmad Khatami said in July, according to the ISNA news agency.

For the conservatives, western music, movies and television are seen as part of a deliberate "soft war" waged by the West to corrupt Iran's youth.

But access to the Internet and illegal satellite television mean western culture is popular among young Iranians, in a country where 70 percent of the population is under 30 and has no real memory of the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah and ushered in an Islamic government.

"Underground music is a mirror of our society's situation... We express in our music the parts of reality that we are not allowed to say," said Ali, a 28-year-old Tehrani who composes rap music.

"This honesty and sense of freedom are why young people are becoming more hungry for banned underground music."

In a home studio in central Tehran, its walls and ceiling covered with insulators to avoid the music being heard outside the apartment, a four-piece rock band "Wednesday Call" is rehearsing.

"Initially we thought that we would be able to obtain permits to release our albums but after (political) conditions changed, it is not even something that crosses our mind anymore," said the band's guitarist, 32-year-old Arin.

In the 1990s, particularly under the two terms of the reformist President Mohammad Khatami, authorities began relaxing restrictions imposed after the revolution. That trend was reversed by hard line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who came to power in 2005.

Musicians' struggle against censorship was the subject of a 2009 movie "No One Knows About Persian Cats," which won the Special Jury prize at Cannes but, like the music it depicted, was banned by the Iranian government.

In the film, a young woman singer Negar (Negar Shaghaghi) and her musician boyfriend, Ashkan (Ashkan Koshanejad), buy false passports and visas and emigrate to London to pursue their ambitions.

In real life, too, many Iranian musicians have left the country in order to continue practicing their art.

Singer-songwriter Mohsen Namjoo, dubbed "Iran's Bob Dylan" by the New York Times due to his protest songs, was sentenced to five years' jail in absentia for insulting religious sanctities. Namjoo lives in California but his music is still heard in Iran.

"I love Namjoo's work and I dream that one day he can have a concert in Iran," said Nahal, a 24-year-old private sector employee who downloads all his works.

With 24-hour MTV-style Persian music channels beamed into Iranian homes by satellite, mostly from Los Angeles, home to a huge Iranian émigré community, the state has hit back, not only by cracking down on illegal satellite dishes, but also, according to some media reports, by offering an alternative.

Reformist daily Sharq, quoting a local website, reported that a new music channel, to be called "Iranian" would be launched in the next few month, broadcasting exclusively Iranian music.

"I have heard that the channel will be run by private sector and it will broadcast authorised music of musicians inside the country," said rapper Ali.

"So it will not help Iran's underground music to show itself."

Eight fashion rules for businessmen

You saw that Shahrukh ad on telly "The Belmonte Academy of Style". Yup we actually need one of those.

The reason's simple enough. Most executives as they start climbing up the corporate ladder get into these blind spots in which they have precious little idea about how they need to upgrade as far as their wardrobe is concerned.

Treat this article as a million dollar crash course on the basics of fashion and grooming that will stand you in good stead no matter how high you climb up the success ladder. It will ease your path and get you noticed as you have your head to the ground working to make a place for yourself in the big, bad world of business.

Must know fashion rules for the business savvy:

Rule 1: Look the part to get the part

Dressing to suit the part is the first rule of the game. If you aspire to be the CEO of a company but wear open-toed sandals to work, it will be a long time before you get anywhere near the CEO’s office, let alone run the organization.

To look the part, ensure that you have the basics of any business wardrobe in place, and you can be assured that you can alter your look by mixing and matching your separates. Without breaking the bank, it is entirely possibly to invest in a few stylish separates that will go a long way in spiffing up your appearance.

If for instance, you happen to have an important client meeting to go to with your boss, borrow a rich friend’s Tag Heur watch or expensive necktie and update your look with one touch of class.

Rule 2: Stick to the norm

Do your research. Even before joining the company you would have got an idea of the dress code of the organization during the interview or by a brief given to you by the human resource personnel. Stick to the company’s line of thought in this regard and don’t veer away from their accepted dress codes.

If the organization is conservative, stock up on formal clothing, and if the company policy is relaxed when it comes to work wear, you can buy more casual Friday dressing items of clothing.

Rule 3: First impressions count

You might be worried about not getting taken seriously because of a variety of reasons - whether it is about looking too young, too old, too boyish and so on. But if you want to change that perception, your choice of clothes is the first step.

Dress in a more mature manner in dark suits, warm tones, and wear formal accessories. Stick to a conservative haircut and go for the clean- shaven look.On the other hand, if you think you appear older than you are, try out a more contemporary haircut and update your wardrobe to the latest trends but in conservative colours.

Rule 4: Don’t flash

Avoid flashy jewellery like rings, body piercings, and so on, like the plague. The only accepted jewellery in a business setting would be a wedding band and a wrist watch.

Rule 5: Colors are the clincher

Offices requiring business attire will expect conservative suits in dark shades. Stick to pinstripes in gray, blue and black when it comes to suits. Patterns are ok when it comes to shirts but make sure they aren’t loud or bizarre. Invest in formal shirts in safe colours like white, pastel shades, navy, black and burgundy.

Rule 6: It’s a perfect fit

There’s nothing worse than ill-fitting clothing, whether too loose or too tight! Ensure that your shirt is fitted and that it flatters your body type and minimises any flaws. You can guarantee this if you get your clothes tailored by a good tailor. Suggestions for styles, colors and cuts can come from a tailor who’s good at his work and he can actually up your fashion anté considerably at work.

Rule 7: Good grooming counts

No matter how fashionable your clothes or how well they fit, if you don’t take care to groom yourself well, it is all a wasted effort. Your hair should be washed and combed neatly. Your nails should be clean and trimmed. Take care to see that your teeth don’t have bits of food sticking in it. And use deodorant or perfume to kill any possibilities of body odor.

Rule 8: Leave no stone unturned

Other important points to keep in mind are to always wear dark socks, keeps your shoes shined, keep your pockets empty, avoid bulky bags and not chew gum in meetings.

With these basic tips, you are sure to make a big impression when it comes to good grooming and sense of style. Though it might seem superficial, the care one takes with one’s appearance is actually a reflection of the type of person a man is, and seniors at work often make decisions based on the nitty-gritty of a person’s appearance. You wouldn’t want to risk your chances now, would you? After all, it pays to be prepared! 

The cheapest ways to get your currency exchanged

International travel, whether for business or pleasure, carries with it an inherent need for preparation. One of the biggest concerns for the unseasoned traveler is how to obtain the different types of currency that need to be used in a foreign county. The simplest solution is not always the best for your bottom line when it comes to fees and the possibility of being scammed. There are several ways to exchange currency, either before you leave or after you arrive, and all come with their own risks associated with them.

Traveler's Checks
The most advertised way to pay when traveling internationally is to purchase traveler's checks. American Express and AAA.com are the most popular places to offer these financial instruments and come with reasonable rates. While easily available, travelers checks carry the burden of having to keep physical money on your person at all times. The risk of accidentally losing them or worse, having them stolen, is a huge deterrent. In addition, many retail stores in foreign countries do not accept travelers checks.

Banks
Before leaving the country, visiting the bank and exchanging currency there is a quick and easy solution. Bear in mind that exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis so if you purchase it too far in advance, it may not hold the same value when you finally leave the country. The other downside to using a bank is essentially the same problem with traveler's checks, carrying large amounts of cash can lead to difficult situations.

Opening an account in a foreign country is generally not advisable unless you travel to that country often. Foreign countries have many of the same procedures as domestic banks when it comes to necessary forms of ID. You will need a drivers license, social security card, passport and birth certificate handy in order to fill out an application. Many foreign banks will also do a credit check which can take weeks to complete so if you need money immediately, you will have to make other arrangements.

Currency Exchanges
If you don't want to carry large amounts of money with you, there are currency exchanges available once you arrive in the foreign country. They are generally small kiosks set up in areas with a lot of traffic, particularly tourist traffic. While the location and accessibility is convenient, the fees and possibility of being scammed are higher. Usually they will list their fees and prices but vendors will often take advantage of the unwary customer who doesn't understand the foreign currency. Finweb.com suggests asking for a receipt and not allowing yourself to be rushed will help you avoid trouble.

Depending on the hotel, currency exchanges can be done directly by the front desk there. They may not list their fees or exchange rates however, and can be the most expensive way to get money. Airports will also have an exchange on location and while their fees can be high, they are more reputable than kiosks.

ATMs
In today's global economy, many banks operate internationally and accounts can be easily accessed through ATMs. The fees can be a small as 1%, and are available any time of day or night. ATMs eliminate the need to procure large amounts of foreign currency in advance, although multiple transactions can be pricey if your bank charges a withdraw fee in addition to normal exchange expenses.

The Bottom Line
Before rushing out and exchanging currency, decide what is best for you in your given situation. Knowing the different options available will help you decide which route is the most convenient, safe and economical for you.

Could Obama’s jobs bill help end jobless benefits as we know them?

A popular idea in President Obama's new jobs bill could represent a step toward fundamentally transforming the existing system of federal jobless benefits. Some critics say such a move is long overdue--but others worry that a major overhaul could threaten a program that since the Depression has been a core component of the social safety net.

Obama's jobs measure, sent to Congress Monday, contains a provision that would encourage states to replicate a voluntary Georgia program that allows jobless workers to continue collecting unemployment benefits while training with potential employers. (Last month, we looked at how effective the Georgia program has been.)

The initiative was one of the few from the president's plan that drew an enthusiastic response from Republicans. After Obama talked up the idea in his speech to Congress last week, Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the number two Republican in the House, noted in response that it had originally come from the GOP, and called it "something that we should be able to get to work on right away."

But Cantor and his party seem to see the idea as more than a short-term fix for unemployment. He described the proposed overhaul as "reforming the unemployment benefit program in this country"--a goal Obama had not mentioned in his speech. And Cantor used similar language when first pushing the idea back in 2009 in a jobs plan of his own (pdf), calling on Washington to "reform the unemployment system."

So if, as looks likely, Congress passes a version of the idea, at least one party will view it as a step toward radically transforming the system. How? Currently, jobless benefits are treated as a temporary lifeline for those who can't find work. But those advocating a new approach to disbursing jobless benefits want them to be linked more closely to work or training. The idea--similar to the thinking behind the 1996 welfare reform law--is to encourage the jobless to remain productive, and to keep them connected with the workforce. One major backer of an overhaul--and of the Georgia program specifically--is the American Institute for Full Employment, an Oregon-based group that helps states re-fashion both their welfare and jobless benefit programs with those ideas in mind.

The debate also resembles the one that took place over President Bush's failed 2005 effort to turn Social Security into a system of private accounts. Supporters of the idea presented it as a way to update the program for the 21st century, while opponents warned that it could jeopardize the system's long-term future. But for several reasons, jobless benefits lack the almost sacred "third rail" status that Social Security enjoys, so a concerted effort to transform unemployment insurance could ultimately prove more successful.

Advocates of change say the current system, which was created in the 1930s in response to the Great Depression, is poorly suited to today's information-age economy. "The unemployment security system is overwhelmed, underfunded, and in many ways obsolete," Michael Thurmond, who developed and implemented Georgia Works over the last decade when he served as the state's labor commissioner, told The Lookout. "So the question is: How can we re-envision this unemployment security system to address the 21st century issues that we face today? And Georgia Works is part of that."

At the heart of the effort is a debate about the cause of the current jobs crisis, in which nearly 14 million Americans are officially unemployed, and more than 6 million have been jobless for more than six months. Many economists say the jobless crisis arises from a simple lack of demand from employers. But Thurmond and others argue that today, part of the problem is structural--an inefficient system for linking the jobless to openings. That "friction" is in part what an overhaul would aim to fix, by linking the jobless with potential employers.

"What this does is reconnect particularly the long-term unemployed with the workplace," said Thurmond, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully last year for a U.S. Senate seat.

There's also a fiscal payoff. By moving people off unemployment benefits more quickly, the program aims to lower the cost of unemployment insurance for states and the federal government. At least nine states recently began cutting jobless benefits to save money.

It's not clear that such voluntary programs like Georgia Works can attract enough participants--workers or employers--to have a major impact, even if applied nationally. As we reported, only 700 Georgians a year have found jobs through Georgia Works since it launched in 2003.

But some advocates for the jobless raise a more basic concern. To them, the idea of connecting jobless benefits to work-training programs run by potential employers represents a slippery slope that could undermine the system over the long term.

In recent years, some states have instituted "Work First" programs, which place many recipients of welfare, food stamps, and other benefits into work or work-training programs. Maurice Emsellem, an expert on unemployment insurance at the National Employment Law Project, a labor-backed group, told The Lookout that he views Georgia Works and similar programs as a step toward applying that concept to jobless benefits.

"It's kind of moving in the direction of Work First programs," Emsellem said.

Shifting to a Work-First-style setup would end the system of unemployment insurance as we know it, and fly in the face of its original purpose, Emsellem warned. "That's not what the unemployment program is about. It's there to help people find a good job, not just any job," he said, noting that studies show people who receive jobless benefits while out of work tend to ultimately find better jobs than those who don't.

Thurmond noted in response that recipients are already required to look for a job, so adding additional requirements wouldn't fundamentally transform the system. And in any case, he said he only supports a voluntary approach, like that taken by Georgia Works, rather than a system that mandates that the jobless train or work in exchange for benefits.

But not everyone agrees. Cantor's proposal from 2009 recommended that some benefit recipients "should be expected to engage in education, training, or enhanced job search as a condition of eligibility."

To Emsellem, that would spell the end of the system as we know it. "This is an insurance program--a program that was set up so that it would be there no matter your situation, so that you could count on it when hard times hit," he said. "You start requiring folks to take a job and it's a whole different program."

NBA labor: Talks fail to make progress

NEW YORK (AP)—The long looks on players’ faces and the anger in Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver’s voice made it obvious: There was no progress Tuesday in talks to end the NBA lockout.

And with less than three weeks until training camps, the latest setback may be a tough one.

“I think coming out of today, obviously because of the calendar, we can’t come out of here feeling as though training camps and the season is going to start on time at this point,” players’ association presidentDerek Fisher(notes) of the Lakers said.

Still divided over the salary cap structure, owners and players decided to pass on talking again Wednesday, and no further meetings are scheduled at this point.

“Well, we did not have a great day, I think it’s fair to say that,” Commissioner David Stern said. “On the other hand, we did say that it is our collective task to decide what we want on the one hand on each side, and two, what each side needs if we choose to work ourselves in such a way as to have the season start on time. That’s still our goal.”

Training camps have been expected to open Oct. 3 and the regular season’s opening night is scheduled for Nov. 1.

“We’re a bit pessimistic and discouraged at one, the ability to start on time, and we’re not so sure that there may not be further damages or delay trying to get the season started,” union executive director Billy Hunter said. “The owners are not inclined at this stage to move off the position where they’ve anchored themselves.”

Stern and Silver countered that the union insisted the current soft cap system remain exactly as it is before they would agree to discuss anything else.

“Frankly, we’re having trouble understanding why the label of a hard cap is what’s breaking apart these negotiations right now, and that’s what we discussed for a long time as a committee and then discussed together with the players,” said Silver, his voice rising as he spoke.

After three meetings among small groups in the last two weeks, full bargaining committees returned to the table Tuesday. They could also have met Wednesday, but Stern said it was best the two sides step away and meet with their own membership groups on Thursday.

Though owners are seeking an overhaul of the league’s financial system after saying they lost $300 million last season and hundreds of millions more in each year of the previous collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap appears to have emerged as the biggest obstacle to a new deal.

The current system allows teams to exceed the ceiling through the use of various exceptions if they are willing to pay a luxury tax, giving big-market teams such as the Lakers—who can take on added payroll—an advantage over the little guys.

But Hunter said a hard cap is “highly untenable,” referring to it as a “blood issue” to the players. He added the players were prepared to make a “significant” financial move, but they would only agree to give on dollars if they got a win on the system.

“For us, if we give on one, we have to have the other. It can’t be just a total capitulation,” he said.

The league said players wanted owners to guarantee they would concede on the cap as a condition of talking about anything further, but Stern said “all of the owners were completely unified in the view that we needed a system that at the end of the day allowed 30 teams to compete.”

Added Silver: “That should be the goal of both the owners and the players in this negotiation, not to come in and say that that’s off the table, and we won’t discuss it and it’s a precondition of us making an economic move.”

The recent meetings had been cordial, sparking hopes that progress was being made. Instead, Fisher and Hunter sat in the middle of a row of players who looked dejected, and now may have to wonder if they need to look harder at finding a job overseas.

A sign of how the day went: Owners spent the majority of about five hours behind closed doors caucusing among themselves.

“We can’t find a place with the league and our owners where we can reach a deal sooner rather than later,” Fisher said.

Besides the cap, the other main issue remains the division of revenues. Players were guaranteed 57 percent under the old deal and had offered to lower that to 54.3 percent before owners locked them out on July 1. They say the league’s proposal would have them a percentage in the 40s, and Hunter said if the owners are serious about a hard cap, he’ll give it to them if players get 65 percent.

Owners are scheduled to meet Thursday in Dallas, and Stern again said there won’t be any decisions to cancel training camps at that session. But that would have to come sometime later this month without a deal. The opening of camps was postponed on Sept. 24 during the 1998 lockout, which reduced the season to 50 games.

The union will update players Thursday in Las Vegas, and Fisher said he will tell them that “the way it looks right now we may not start on time.” He stressed that players are still committed to the process and “not walking away from the table,” but Hunter repeated that they “have instructed us that they’re prepared to sit out” rather than accept owners’ current proposals.

Progress should come eventually over finances. Settling the cap issue could take longer.

“We know how to negotiate over dollars when the time comes, but they so conditioned any discussion on our acceptance of the status quo, which sees a team like the Lakers with well over $100 million in payroll and Sacramento at 45,” Stern said. “That’s not an acceptable alternative for us. That can’t be the outcome that we agree to.”

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

6 Credit Report Items That Scare Lenders

You pay your bills on time and never miss a payment. If you're still having trouble with credit, something on your credit report could be scaring lenders.

Everyone knows the big gremlins that haunt credit reports: items such as bankruptcies, foreclosures and even late or missed payments. Less dramatic items can also spark some anxiety in skittish lenders.

When you apply for a loan or a card account, lenders review your credit score and pull your credit report. Or they may take that report and pump it through one of their own scoring systems.

If they don't like what they see, you could be rejected. Or you may get approved with less-favorable terms. And it isn't just new applicants who have to run the gauntlet. Credit card issuers periodically review their current customers' files, too.

Even more confusing is that different lenders zero in on different credit report items. So it's entirely possible that, even for the same loan, no two lenders will see your credit history in exactly the same light.

Think there could be something heinous lurking on your credit report? Here are six items that could scare lenders.

1. Multiplying Lines of Credit

Opening one new card is normal. Opening three in a short amount of time could signal something bad is going on in your financial life.

When it comes to credit card issuers, "the account monitoring window has shrunk," says Norm Magnuson, vice president of public affairs for the Consumer Data Industry Association, the trade association for credit reporting companies. "It used to be months and months. Now you find companies doing account monitoring monthly or every other month."

And the one thing those issuers don't want to see is that you're asking everyone in town to lend you money.

"That would raise some questions," he says. "It could be an indicator of something that's going on. I don't think it's in the best interest of any consumer to go out there and be a collector of credit lines."

2. A Housing Short Sale

"People are told short sales won't hurt their credit," says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for credit bureau Experian. "But there is no such thing as a 'short sale' in terms of how the sale is reported to us."

"The way the account is closed out is that it is settled for a lesser amount than you agreed to pay originally," she says. "The status is 'settled.' And it's just as negative as a foreclosure."

One tip: Negotiate so the lender doesn't report the difference between your mortgage and what you repaid as "balance owed" on your credit report, says John Ulzheimer, formerly of FICO, now president of consumer education for SmartCredit.com. Your credit score will take a heavyweight hit, but this action will slightly soften the blow, he says.

Sweet's advice is not to discount the notion of a short sale, just go into it with your eyes open.

"It may be the right decision to get out of the house," she says. It may be "better than a foreclosure in terms of the economy, moving the house and moving on with your life. Just don't expect to walk away with no impact to your credit history."

3. Someone Else's Debt

Here's something you might not know: When you co-sign on the dotted line to help someone else get a loan or a card, that entire debt goes on your credit report.

While the fact you've co-signed is neither good nor bad, it does mean that -- as far as any potential lenders are concerned -- you're carrying that debt yourself. And it will be included in your existing debt load when you apply for a home mortgage, credit card or any other form of credit, says Ulzheimer.

And if the person you co-signed for stops paying, pays late or misses payments, that bad behavior will likely go on your credit report.

So when someone tells you that co-signing is painless because you'll never have to part with a dime, you can tell them that's not true. Co-signing means agreeing not only to repay the obligation if necessary, but also to allow the debt -- and any nonpayment -- to count against you the next time you apply for credit yourself.

Co-signing for a friend or family member "plays well at the Thanksgiving table, but it doesn't play well in the underwriting office," says Ulzheimer.

4. Minimum Payments

While creditors make money when you carry a balance, lenders who view your credit report don't like to see you paying just the minimums.

"It suggests you're under financial stress," says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association. "You may be defaulting," she says.

Paying minimums once in a while doesn't necessarily signal a problem, she says. For instance, paying minimums in January, after holiday spending. Or paying minimums one month as you wait for your annual bonus to arrive.

But consistently paying minimums month after month signals that you can't pay off the full balance, and your current and future lenders will see that as a giant red "stop" sign when it comes to granting additional credit.

5. A Lot of Inquiries

This is similar to soliciting a lot of new credit. When lending standards tightened, a lot of borrowers, especially subprime borrowers, were having trouble getting credit, says Sweet. That meant that they had to apply multiple times to try and get what they wanted.

And, with the VantageScore at least, that "actually influenced the impact of inquiries -- they are more important than they used to be," she says.

With the FICO score, the impact of inquiries has remained about the same, according to Ulzheimer. Every time you allow a potential lender to pull your credit report, your score can take a small hit. The exact impact varies with the consumer, the score and the number of inquiries.

And if you're applying for a home, auto or student loan, you can minimize the damage by making all of your applications within a two-week period. When you do that, the score bundles all the similar inquiries and treats them as one. Unfortunately, there is no similar grace period for credit card applications.

6. Cash Advances

"Cash advances, in many cases, indicate desperation," says Ulzheimer. "Either you've lost your job or are underemployed. Nobody takes out cash advances against a credit card because they want money sitting in a bank somewhere."

Because the interest rate is generally higher than for the credit card charges, "you're generally borrowing from Peter to pay Paul," he says.

How it hurts: First, the cash advance is immediately added to your debt balance, which lowers your available credit and can lower your credit score, says Ulzheimer. And all potential lenders will see your score.

Second, larger card issuers regularly re-evaluate their customer's behavior. To do that they often pull the credit report, the FICO score and the customer's account history and put those three ingredients through their own scoring systems, says Ulzheimer. Many of the those scoring models penalize for cash advances, which are often seen as risky, he says. Since your account history is available only to that issuer, only your behavior score with that card is likely to be affected, he says.

However, if the issuer slices your credit line or cancels your account, that could impact your credit score. And that could affect your relationship with other lenders.

Winklevoss twins appear in nutty TV commercial, muse over idea theft

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss may have seen their hopes of partial ownership in Facebook go down the drain, but they're making the best of their newfound celebrity in a new ad for Wonderful Pistachios. The twins are a household name due to their much publicized claim of being the original founders of Facebook, which has repeatedly been met with resistance from judges as well as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

In the brief commercial, one of the "Winklevii" cracks a nut in a unique way, and the other admires his technique. The twins then celebrate their new finding, and consider the fact that someone might steal it. "Who would do that?" they say in unison before the announcer steps in to close the ad.

The former Olympic rowing hopefuls probably aren't hurting for money — they received a generous settlement from Facebook in the form of stock which is now valued at well over $100 million. With their case for ownership of the social network now decidedly dead, the twins have nothing left to do but make light of the situation. The short nut advertisement achieves that soundly.

The Winklevoss brothers aren't the first celebrities to appear in lighthearted Wonderful Pistachios ads. Comedian Lewis Black, NFL star Chad Ocho Cinco, and Jersey Shore's Snooki have also cracked nuts for the company. Though the twins' version most certainly wins the award for being the most passive-aggressive.

(Source)

Glenn Close's Big Screen Transformation: Will 'Albert Nobbs' Finally Land the Actress an Oscar?

• 
  Albert Nobbs

Could Albert Nobbs nab its main star a Best Actor Oscar at next year’s Academy Awards? Not possible, but close! Glenn Close, that is.

The actress is getting lots of awards-season buzz after her gender-swapping role as the titular Albert Nobbs in Rodrigo Garcia’s new movie which premieres at the Toronto Film Festival September 11.

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Close has been nominated five times at the Oscars, but has never won. Historically, stepping this far outside of the box has worked for others (see: Charlize Theron in Monster or Marion Cotillardfor La Vie en Rose), so why not Close?

The film, set in 19th century Ireland, is about a woman who passes herself off as a man in order to work at an elegant hotel in Dublin. To pull it off, Close changed her voice, posture (Charlie Chaplinwas an inspiration), and kept her eyes open wide. Even her fashion choices were affected. Close said her shoes were too big for her, her pants were too long and her suit was too roomy, to emphasize the character's discomfort in her own skin.

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The film has been a pet-project for Close since she first played the character on the stage in New York in 1982.

She also worked with a makeup artist to transform her features from feminine to masculine. Close said the 20 year gap between playing the character on stage and the start of filming added a "lived-in" aspect to her visage.

Some are saying this transformative performance, for which even her voice changed, is the actress’ best shot at the golden statue in years. The actress is so passionate about the project, she even co-wrote the adaptation. She told the Hollywood Reporter it was a very rare and tricky character to play because of her purity.  "I loved Nobbs because in her ignorance, she tries to create a life for herself," Close said.

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This isn't the first time Close has cross-dressed on film. She had a brief cameo in Steven Spielberg'sHook back in 1991. She was almost unrecognizable as pirate (she even wore a beard) who gets sentenced to punishment in Captain Hook's "Boo" box.

But Close hasn't given the only performance garnering awards buzz at this year’s festival.

Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender are getting good reviews forDavid Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method. George Clooney is packing a double punch with The Descendents and The Ides of March and his buddy Brad Pitt stars alongside Oscar-winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Bennett Miller's Moneyball.

Breaking Dawn’ Exclusive Preview: Bella’s Not Looking So Good as Her Baby Bump Gets Bigger

First things first: Are you sitting down? Great, because we just got our hands on an exclusive new clip from "Breaking Dawn: Part 1," featuring Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli), and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).

The 15-second theatrical trailer preview opens with some familiar snippets: Bella finds out that she's pregnant, and the baby is quite the kicker.

The following scene is where the never-seen-before footage begins. We're back in Forks, Washington, and a worried Carlisle informs Bella that "the fetus is too strong and fast growing." Anyone who has read the "Breaking Dawn" novel knows what's coming next is not going to be a pretty sight, as evident in the quick cut to what the unusual pregnancy has done to Bella. In place of a mother-to-be glow, her complexion is pale and sickly, and the bags under her eyes indicate she's had very little rest since discovering she's pregnant. Edward tells Bella, "It's crushing you from the inside out." No wonder the poor girl looks completely miserable and distraught; that baby -- who's only getting bigger and bigger -- is literally killing her!

The Cullens aren't the only ones worried about Bella. Jacob and the rest of the wolfpack have found out that Bella's in trouble, and they're determined to rescue her from the vampires before she becomes one. "Get ready, we're coming for Bella," warns Jacob. But Edward isn't about to let the wolves take the mother of his unborn half-human, half-vampire child away that easily. "You're not going to touch her," he says. We hear werewolf growls and the clip ends with a standoff between the werewolves and the vampires. Once again, the fight over Bella continues.

Harry Potter + Emma Watson

2 Hot 2 Handle

Emma Watson channels her inner punk at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.

photo by INFDaily.com