Lance Armstrong Apology, Limited Doping Confession Coming In Oprah Interview: REPORT

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AP  |  By JIM VERTUNO

AUSTIN, Texas — Lance Armstrong will make a limited confession to doping during his televised interview with Oprah Winfrey next week, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Armstrong, who has long denied doping, will also offer an apology during the interview scheduled to be taped Monday at his home in Austin, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no authorization to speak publicly on the matter.

While not directly saying he would confess or apologize, Armstrong sent a text message to The Associated Press early Saturday that said: “I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I’ll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That’s all I can say.”

The 41-year-old Armstrong, who vehemently denied doping for years, has not spoken publicly about the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report last year that cast him as the leader of a sophisticated and brazen doping program on his U.S. Postal Service teams that included use of steroids, blood boosters and illegal blood transfusions.

The USADA report led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and given a lifetime ban from the sport.

Several outlets had reported that Armstrong was considering a confession. The interview will be broadcast Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network and oprah.com.

A confession would come at a time when Armstrong is still facing some legal troubles.

Armstrong faces a federal whistle-blower lawsuit filed by former teammate Floyd Landis accusing him of defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, but the U.S. Department of Justice has yet to announce if it will join the case. The British newspaper The Sunday Times is suing Armstrong to recover about $500,000 it paid him to settle a libel lawsuit.

A Dallas-based promotions company has threatened to sue Armstrong to recover more than $7.5 million it paid him as a bonus for winning the Tour de France.

But potential perjury charges stemming from his sworn testimony denying doping in a 2005 arbitration fight over the bonus payments have passed the statute of limitations.

Armstrong lost most of his personal sponsorship – worth tens of millions of dollars – after USADA issued its report and he left the board of the Livestrong cancer-fighting charity he founded in 1997. He is still said to be worth an estimated $100 million.

Livestrong might be one reason to issue an apology or make a confession. The charity supports cancer patients and still faces an image problem because of its association with its famous founder.

Armstrong could also be hoping a confession would allow him to return to competition in elite triathlon or running events, but World Anti-Doping Code rules state his lifetime ban cannot be reduced to less than eight years. WADA and U.S. Anti-Doping officials could agree to reduce the ban further depending on what new information Armstrong provides and his level of cooperation.

Armstrong met with USADA officials recently to explore a “pathway to redemption,” according to a report by “60 Minutes Sports” aired Wednesday on Showtime.

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AP Sports Columnist Jim Litke contributed to this report.

Destiny’s Child, ‘Nuclear’: Listen To The Trio’s Sleepy, Pharrell Williams-Produced Track

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The Huffington Post  |  By

Quite a bit of Destiny’s Child news this week. First Beyonce announced that trio had reunited for a new song and compilation album. Then we learned Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams would join Bey at the Super Bowl halftime show. And now, just in time for the weekend, the single is here. “Nuclear,” the only original song off the trio’s upcoming album “Love Songs,” hit the web Friday.

The Pharrell Williams-produced breakbeat track sounds like the ’90s, but in a slower, more … background-y way. Those pining for something a bit more “Say My Name” or “Jumpin’ Jumpin'” are sure to be disappointed. That said, if you’re looking for Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to morph into a single, blanket-like voice, you’re in luck. Give it a listen above and let us know what you think in the comments.

It’s Sony (which owns Legacy Recordings), also made a tumblr page for the group.

From our earlier reporting:

Beyonce announced that beloved girl-group Destiny’s Child will release “Love Songs” in late January, the band’s first album since 2004’s “Destiny Fulfilled.”The Amazon pre-order page for the album describes the project as a collection of previously recorded “romantic gems” — with the addition of “Nuclear,” a new song produced by Pharrell Williams. That song was written by Pharrell, Michelle Williams, James Fauntleroy and Lonny Bereal. Beyonce and Bereal provided vocal production.

“I am so proud to announce the first original Destiny’s Child music in eight years!” she wrote.

The group split in 2005 following their successful “Destiny Fulfilled and Lovin’ It Tour” to focus on their solo careers. Their last live performance was at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, where the group sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Eugene Patterson Dead: Pulitzer Prize Winner Dies At 89

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Eugene Patterson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editor and columnist whose impassioned words helped draw national attention to the civil rights movement as it unfolded across the South, has died at 89.

Patterson, who helped fellow whites to understand the problems of racial discrimination, died Saturday evening in Florida after complications from prostate cancer, according to B.J. Phillips, a family spokeswoman.

Patterson was editor of the Atlanta Constitution from 1960 to 1968, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1967 for editorial writing. His famous column of Sept, 16, 1963, about the Birmingham, Ala., church bombing that killed four girls – “A Flower for the Graves” – was considered so moving that he was asked by Walter Cronkite to read it nationally on the “CBS Evening News.”

“A Negro mother wept in the street Sunday morning in front of a Baptist Church in Birmingham,” Patterson began his column. “In her hand she held a shoe, one shoe, from the foot of her dead child. We hold that shoe with her.

“Every one of us in the white South holds that small shoe in his hand. … We who go on electing politicians who heat the kettles of hate. … (The bomber) feels right now that he has been a hero. He is only guilty of murder. He thinks he has pleased us. We of the white South who know better are the ones who must take a harsher judgment.”

“It was the high point of my life,” Patterson later said in a June 2006 interview from his home in St. Petersburg. “It was the only time I was absolutely sure I was right. They were not telling the truth to people and we tried to change that.”

Patterson also spoke of what he called his good fortune to work for the Atlanta newspaper and an “enlightened” leadership that encouraged his work.

“We were rather rare editors in the South at that time,” Patterson said of himself and Constitution Publisher Ralph McGill. Patterson worked under McGill, himself a Pulitzer winner in 1959, and then succeeded him at the helm of the Constitution four years later.

Editor Kevin G. Riley at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called Patterson’s contributions to the newspaper, Atlanta and the field of journalism “enormous.”

“We benefit still from his work and legacy,” Riley told The Associated Press via email.

In 1968, Patterson joined The Washington Post and served for three years as its managing editor, playing a central role in the publication of the Pentagon Papers. After leaving the Post he spent a year teaching at Duke University.

He became editor of The St. Petersburg Times and its Washington publication, Congressional Quarterly, in 1972 and was later chief executive officer of The St. Petersburg Times Co. Under Patterson’s leadership, the Times won two Pulitzer Prizes and became known as one of the top newspapers in the country.

Times owner Nelson Poynter, who died in 1978, chose Patterson to ensure his controlling stock in the newspaper company was used to fund a school for journalists then called the Modern Media Insititute. It is now known as the Poynter Institute, which owns the Tampa Bay Times (formerly The St. Petersburg Times).

“A person – one person – had to be entrusted with fulfilling what Mr. Poynter intended,” said Roy Peter Clark, the school’s first faculty member. ” … He had to be totally trustworthy, so Mr. Poynter chose Mr. Patterson.”

Patterson retired from the Times and Poynter in 1988.

A collection of Patterson’s Atlanta Constitution columns was published in book form in 2002 as “The Changing South of Gene Patterson: Journalism and Civil Rights, 1960-1968.”

Hank Klibanoff, director of the journalism program at Emory University and co-author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning book on press coverage of the civil rights movement, said Patterson wrote with deep-seated conviction about the troubled era.

Klibanoff said that when black churches were burned in southwestern Georgia in 1962, Patterson was “deeply disturbed” and wrote a column tweaking white people who claim to be religious but support segregation. He called on whites to raise money to rebuild the churches, sparking an effort that raised $10,000.

“When he sat down to write, that conviction came out. And it came out in just a very, very powerfully written way,” Klibanoff said of Patterson.

Patterson was born in 1923 in Georgia and grew up on a small farm. School, fishing and literature were his only means of escape.

He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1943 and served in the Army in Europe during World War II. His first reporting job was at the Temple (Texas) Daily Telegram. He also had stints for United Press in Atlanta, New York and London during his journalism career.

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Online:

Patterson’s column “A Flower for the Graves”:

Sofia Vergara Talks Golden Globes Wardrobe Malfunction Possibility

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Leigh.Weingus@huffingtonpost.com

Between her many nominations and choices of glamorous dresses, awards season is an exciting time time for “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara.

But Vergara, who has now scored three Golden Globe and three Emmy nods for her portrayal of Colombian-born bombshell Gloria on “Modern Family,” doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to keeping her curve-hugging gowns intact.

Two days before the 2013 Golden Globes, Vergara spoke with HuffPost TV via phone to discuss what she would do to prevent another slip.

“I always try, but some things happen that you cannot control,” she said. “You know, it’s a lot of a drama. You get in and out of cars and run because you’re late backstage, and you have to try to go to the bathroom with those dresses. It’s hard! They get a lot of wear and tear. It’s a big possibility that things happen.”

Just moments before “Modern Family” nabbed the award for Best Comedy at the 2012 Emmys, Vergara’s teal Zuhair Murad split down the rear.

David G. Wilson Visual Artist

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This is a painting that I executed on site at the Old Mill Centre. It was completed in July 1976, two months before emigrating to the USA.. I stood on the opposite side of the Street looking across at the building and painted this view. It was completed on the afternoon of the Official opening of the Old Mill Centre. I waited until Premier Patrick John had arrived and I signed it just as he was passing by to enter the compounds. © David G. Wilson, 1976.

Anthropomorphic Perception

 

I call my style ‘Anthropomorphic Perception: An exercise in Ultra-Perceptive Plausible Juxtaposition.’ It entails a quest to depict the human form by plausibly and strategically juxtaposing commonplace objects to create an alternative reality. My objective is to give the viewer a viaual experience of a parallel universe within any image that I behold. The use of inanimate objects to represent the human form is reminiscent of the cruel and reductive equation that the institution of slavery imposed upon my African ancestors depicting them as merchandise to be bought and sold, in the eyes of their slave-masters.

The kindling remark that set me on this path was the attempts by my late mother to teach my brother and me to read. In her efforts to help my late brother, Eddie, to identify the map of Italy, mom hinted, “Italy is kicking Sicily”. This created an instant obsession to perceive alternative realities within any image that I behelf. This process was later intensified when I begane to understand the double entendre lyricsof the Mighty Sparrow, my favorite Calypso singer. However, after having discovered the visual pun imagery of Salvador Dalí and his precursors such as Guiseppi Arcimboldo, Merion and even Andrea Mantegna, the final catalyst was Leonardo da Vinci’s suggestion which said that “the artist who wishes to enhance his faculties for creative invention may stare at a stain on the wall and therein perceive whatever he wishes to see.” I have used this technique to discover what I call ‘ mnemonic images’ in the images that inspire me. “Mnemonic objects” are the hidden images that my mind’s eye perceives within any observed image. They are frequently reminiscent of aspects of my personal life story and also aspects of the history of my community.

Mnemonic images are the component parts of my creations, which I discovered when I scrutinize the contours of a source image. They frequently have personal significance in my life. The ubiquitous ‘hand of bananas’ is a deferential reference to the “hand that fed me” which is the hand of my late father, Mr. Henzie A. Wilson, who worked for seventeen of my formative years within the Banana Industry in my native Commonwealth of Dominica. The boats in every painting were his working capital after he left the Banana Industry in 1969. The mountains which frequently double as eyebrows are The Cabrits, located in my hometown of Portsmouth, where I first observed my parents’ sweat from their brow trying to raise us in a decent home environment. That recurrent bay with boats moored therein is Portsmouth and it represents my mother’s face, because it was in that town that my mother first stimulated my imagination towards the perception of visual puns. The inconspicuous ‘Y’ that simulates a woman’s décoletage etched on vases and which represents a woman’s accentuated cleavage are a referencial tribute to those on which I have laid my head for the past thirty-two (32) years – Y for Yvonne. Every nude, whether she be in the form of fruits and vegetables (nutricious and delectable) or a table or an apparition between trees is none other than my muse whose sinuous contours beguiled me one Sunday morning in February 1978. My eyes have not receded into their suckets since.

There is a scientific aspect to my objective in creating these images that reflect another dimension.

George Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila Ad Has Him Bedding Cindy Crawford (VIDEO)

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The Huffington Post  |  By

Earlier this year, we learned that George Clooney is getting into the tequila business alongside businessman Randy Gerber, who happens to be married to former supermodel Cindy Crawford. The tequila, called Casamigos, was inspired by their homes in Mexico.

Now, a new ad has emerged that features the threesome plus Clooney’s flavor of the month, Stacy Keibler, in various compromising positions. The spot warns consumers to “drink responsibly,” and yes, you get to see George Clooney and Cindy Crawford in bed together. Start drooling.

Watch the ad below to see what we mean.

 

Five tips to improve your financial health in 2013

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(BPT) – Creating better financial habits tops many New Year’s resolution lists every year. If it is on your list for 2013, there are a few steps you could consider to help you pursue your goals.

According the Fall Merrill Edge Report, 77 percent of mass affluent Americans – those with $50,000 to $250,000 in investable assets – said they are going to track and manage their budget over the next six months. Another 65 percent said they are going to save for retirement and 61 percent said they are balancing their short- and long-term financial needs.

“When planning for the New Year, it’s more important than ever to think about your financial goals,” says Dean Athanasia president of Preferred and Small Business Banking at Bank of America. “As Americans take on more complex financial responsibilities, we encourage them to gain more control over their financial future by setting goals, seeking counsel and saving earlier for retirement as well as their children’s education.”

While your strategy should be catered to your unique financial situation, here are five common tips to help you improve your financial health in 2013.

Set your budget before you start spending

The most dangerous way to spend throughout the year is to swipe your credit card and wait until the end of the month to check the damage. Creating a budget before you spend is a great way to stay on track throughout the year. Once you have a full picture of where your money goes each month, you can find more places to save – perhaps you’re dining out on the town more than you expect.

Set a monthly meeting with your spouse

Regular discussions with your spouse about finances can lead to greater financial confidence, according the Merrill Edge Report. Sixty-nine percent of mass affluent couples are discussing their finances at least a few times per month, and 64 percent believe that these ongoing financial conversations will help them achieve their financial goals. In addition, couples say they discuss day-to-day purchases, such as groceries, nearly as much as they discuss large purchases, like a home or car.- Getting into the routine can be the hardest part, but scheduling a monthly meeting is an easy way to begin.

Raise your 401(k) contribution

Most major companies that offer 401(k) plans match a percentage of your contributions. Typically, these matches could range from 25 to 100 percent, up to 6 percent of your salary. Even if the match is at the low end, that’s a great return on investment. Contributing another 2 to 3 percent of your paycheck to your retirement savings could help you pursue your goal of long-term financial stability.

Create an emergency fund by setting an automatic deduction

Over the next six months, 47 percent of the mass affluent say they are creating an emergency fund, according to the Merrill Edge Report. You should work toward having three to six months of savings in an emergency account. That total is less daunting if you automatically deduct a contribution from your account each month. After a couple of months, most people begin to think of it as a bill they have to pay and in no time, you’ll have fully funded your account.

Open a college savings account

Eighty-four percent of mass affluent with young children are concerned about the rising cost of college, and half of all mass affluent parents (50 percent) wish they had started saving for their first child’s education earlier. The best time to start saving is now, and talking with your savings provider about opening a college savings account is a great way to get that started.

These are just five quick things you can do to help improve your finances in 2013. Adding these and more to your to-do list could help you be more organized and confident not only about next year, but in the years to follow.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Merrill Edge is available through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S), and consists of the Merrill Edge Advisory Center (investment guidance) and self-directed online investing. MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Investment products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed and may lose value.

This information should not be construed as investment advice. It is presented for information purposes only and is not intended to be either a specific offer by any Merrill Lynch entity to sell or provide, or a specific invitation for a consumer to apply for, any particular retail financial product or service that may be available through the Merrill Lynch family of companies.

Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC.

Ten lucky home decor trends for 2013

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(BPT) – Despite its negative reputation, the number 13 doesn’t always have to be unlucky. Take these top 10 decor trends for 2013 from design experts, manufacturers and trend forecasters across the country. They’re fresh, fun and sure to bring good fortune to any home.

A splash of color

Industry leader Pantone’s annual fashion color report sets the tone for home decor as well as clothing, and the spring 2013 report is no exception. Its softer-hued palette of Dusk Blue, Lemon Zest, African Violet, Grayed Jade, Linen and Tender Shoots is emboldened by Monaco Blue, Poppy Red, Emerald and Nectarine. Marc Thee, founder of the No. 1 residential interior design firm in the country, also sees a move toward pure color palettes such as cream and sea glass, khaki and white, or neutral with a pop of yellow.-

Not your mama’s wallpaper

Repositionable wallpaper is a decorating mainstay, says Todd Imholte, president of Murals Your Way, whose website, www.muralsyourway.com, is the top online destination for wall murals worldwide. The company’s10 collections of peel-and-stick wallpaper are available in such themes as Vintage, Dots, Flower Prints and Mostly Modern, and can be removed and reused hundreds of times without losing their adhering qualities. Because the company offers color matching, customers can match their repositionable wallpaper to an existing paint color, updated decor or the new Pantone color palette.

Cooking up smart ideas

Next year’s contemporary kitchen will include European frameless laminate cabinetry, multi-tasking appliances, hands-free faucets, and increased smartphone and tablet functionality, according to Jamie Gold, a certified independent kitchen and bath designer in San Diego, Calif. Value-oriented remodels will remain popular, she predicts, with homeowners incorporating existing flooring, fixtures, cabinets and/or appliances into their design plans to save money and retain favorite design elements.

Let it shine

Jeff Dross, senior product manager of Kichler Lighting, says energy-efficient LED products will continue to dominate lighting, and will be prevalent in coves, tray ceilings, toekicks, and under and above cabinets. Chrome and polished nickel will appeal to the emerging “Y” generation and baby boomers modernizing their retirement homes. Tall, slender outdoor lanterns in contemporary, cottage and transitional styles will work well for those in smaller urban spaces.

Heavy metal

Susan Goldstick of Susan Goldstick, Inc. predicts home furnishings will also shine in 2013. New metals such as rose gold and gun metal will be mixed, and pierced, hammered and oxidized textural metals will be especially popular. Vendors will add metal to their wood pieces, and faux animal print metalics will provide texture and reflective light in the textiles arena.

There’s no place like home

Even as the economy shows signs of improving, homeowners still find comfort in “cocooning” in the warmth and safety of their homes, says Graeme Smith, conceptual designer at Second Nature kitchens.- Adding an on-trend color such as cranberry or velvety chocolate to a soothing palette of muted tones and delicate detailing creates timeless interiors, and incorporating vintage pieces fosters a sense of nostalgia, heritage and solidity.

Woodn’t it be nice?

Next year’s trendy furniture will boast reclaimed wood or reclaimed-looking synthetic wood, according to Lenny Kharitonov, president of Unlimited Furniture Group, Inc. Combinations of wood and metal will be popular, such as a desk with a wood top and an iron base. Thee also sees a new freedom to mix metals, linen or stone into wood, with the juxtaposition of materials and finishes creating a beautiful combination.

Watch your step

Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director at Daltile, notes that one of the biggest style trends of the year will be porcelain tile that emulates the look of hardwood in high-traffic areas, offering the natural beauty of wood with the long-lasting durability and ease of maintenance of tile. Rectangular-sized tiles – particularly those in long, linear plank styles – will remain popular in floor and wall applications.

Back to nature

Consumers’ eco-friendly focus on using organic, sustainable materials will continue into 2013. Orange, Calif.-based Budget Blinds recommends woven wood shades made from bamboo, grasses, jute, reeds, rattan and other natural renewable resources for honest, simple beauty. Smith suggests using timber and wicker furniture, ribbed and woven finishes on accessories, and layered wool throws in the living area of the kitchen to bring a sense of the outdoor into the home.

You can judge a book by its cover

Exterior design and landscaping say just as much about a home as its interior architectural counterparts. Artist and designer Pablo Solomon touts stone, concrete and brick that blend into the environment, requires little upkeep, and is superior weather susceptible wood decks, rust-prone metals and dulling plastics. He also sees increased use of eco-friendly native plants to save water and reduce pesticides.

How age and ethnicity influence women’s financial security

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Everyone wants financial security, but a new study shows how we get there is strongly influenced by factors like gender, race and age

(BPT) – The need for retirement security cuts across all social, gender and ethnic lines. The fact is, everyone is going to age and will need support after leaving the workforce. Studies show that women approach this issue differently than men, and women of different ethnicities have varying viewpoints when it comes to setting financial goals.

According to Prudential Financial’s latest biennial study, “Financial Experience and Behaviors Among Women,” significant differences in the financial styles and priorities of women exist based on ethnicity. For example, while women are generally concerned about becoming a burden to their families later in life, this fear is particularly prevalent among African American women. Other unique differences highlighted by the study include:

* 73 percent of Hispanic women consider taking care of extended family a top priority.

* Asian women are most likely (47 percent) to use a financial professional.

* The top financial concerns for African American women include reducing personal debt and the desire to start a small business.

* Of all the groups surveyed, African Americans were most confident that they would not outlive their savings.

* 33 percent of Asian American and 31 percent of African American married women are the higher-income earners, compared with 19 percent of white women

A new generation gap

Prudential’s study also shows significant generational differences when it comes to women’s attitudes toward finances. Women under the age of 35 are more likely to feel in control when it comes to financial decision making, and a significant number (42 percent) recognize that they need to take charge of their financial goals. Younger women are also more likely than baby boomers to identify themselves as investment beginners and are less likely to say they are well prepared to make wise financial decisions. One thing everyone agrees on, though, is the fact that they are way behind or haven’t started planning for retirement, further demonstrating that most women, regardless of age, are very concerned about retirement security.

“With so many significant differences in financial priorities based on ethnicity and even age, it is clear that financial professionals today need to be knowledgeable and sensitive to the needs of diverse communities,” said Caroline Feeney, president of Agency Distribution at Prudential. “At a time when women are taking greater responsibility for their own and their families’ finances, clearly women of all ethnicities can benefit from meeting with a professional.”

Although it might seem intimidating, a qualified financial professional can offer an unbiased opinion and balanced perspective on your true financial situation. Whether you are young or old, single or married, Asian, White or African American, planning for your future can boost your financial security and provide much needed peace of mind.

Retirement planning? Tips for getting the most out of Social Security

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(BPT) – The majority of Americans support continuing the Social Security program, even if they are decades away from drawing benefits, a 2010 survey by AARP found. Nevertheless, with the program’s future financial viability an ongoing subject of political debate, many people may undervalue the role Social Security can play in their retirement planning.

“For years, financial services companies have downplayed the role of Social Security in bolstering financial security in retirement,” writes James Mahaney, vice president of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential, in the white paper “Innovative Strategies to Help Maximize Social Security Benefits.” “However, considering the increased financial risks retirees now shoulder, the tax preferences that Social Security receives, and the income options that Social Security now offers, a strong argument can be made that Social Security should play a greater role in a retiree’s financial planning.”

Each day, 10,000 Americans reach retirement age. With people living longer and fewer companies offering pensions, saving for retirement has become even more important for today’s workers. Yet, retirement savings rates remain low.

Social Security offers “regular income that is guaranteed to increase over time and continue for as long as you live,” Mahaney writes. “No other (retirement) vehicle can match the combination of inflation-fighting increases, longevity protection, investment risk elimination, and spousal coverage that Social Security can (offer).”

With Social Security accounting for approximately 40 percent of income for the average retiree, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, it makes sense to take steps to maximize potential Social Security benefits, Mahaney advises.

While most Americans realize they accrue Social Security benefits throughout their careers, many may be unaware that they can influence the amount they will receive upon retirement. Retirees can help maximize their Social Security benefits by avoiding four costly – and common – mistakes:

* Don’t underestimate the real value of Social Security.

* Don’t rush to collect Social Security – and then regret the reduced benefits for the rest of your life.

* Don’t overlook the various ways married couples can integrate their benefits.

* Don’t get blindsided by taxes.

Claiming benefits as soon as they’re eligible is a common mistake that can cost retirees tens of thousands of dollars over their lifetime. Although most everyone becomes eligible for benefits at age 62, delaying benefits until you reach Full Retirement Age (which varies depending on your birth year) or later may help ensure you receive the maximum amount you qualify for.

“Retirees often apply for Social Security benefits early,” Mahaney writes. “Most certainly didn’t stop to think that … they could have potentially doubled their initial payments if only they had waited until age 70.”

Another common mistake is forgetting that when you retire, the income received from IRA withdrawals often causes Social Security benefits to become taxed as well. Since Social Security income is taxed differently than IRA income, you can often reduce your taxes by choosing higher Social Security income and lower IRA withdrawals.

It’s never too early – or too late – to plan for retirement, experts agree. Talk to your financial advisor about your retirement strategy and how Social Security fits into it. You can also read the Prudential white paper, “Innovative Strategies to Help Maximize Social Security Benefits,” online at www.Prudential.com.

“It’s all about choices,” Mahaney concludes. “Those who understand how to evaluate their choices and optimize their decisions will be the ones to enjoy a more secure retirement. A larger amount of Social Security within a retirement income strategy may, indeed, be the golden ticket to the golden years.”

Prudential Financial, its affiliates, and their financial professionals do not render tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your personal circumstances.

2013 Oscar Nominations: ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ & More Hunt For Academy Awards

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By DAVID GERMAIN 01/10/13 11:21 AM ET EST AP

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Steven Spielberg has matched his personal best at the Academy Awards: 12 nominations for his Civil War saga “Lincoln,” including best picture, director and acting honors for Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones.

That ties the 12 nominations for his 1993 drama “Schindler’s List,” which won seven Oscars, including best picture and director.

Also among the nine nominees for best picture Thursday: the old-age love story “Amour”; the Iran hostage thriller “Argo”; the independent hit “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; the slave-revenge narrative “Django Unchained”; the musical “Les Miserables”; the shipwreck story “Life of Pi”; the lost-souls romance “Silver Linings Playbook”; and the Osama bin Laden manhunt chronicle “Zero Dark Thirty.”

“Life of Pi” surprisingly ran second with 11 nominations, ahead of “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Les Miserables,” which had been considered potential front-runners.

“I thought we’d get a few, so this is really great for us,” said “Life of Pi” director Ang Lee. “Eleven really surprised me. But it’s a good surprise. I’m very happily surprised.”

More surprising were snubs in the directing category, where three favorites missed out: Ben Affleck for “Argo” and past Oscar winners Kathryn Bigelow for “Zero Dark Thirty” and Tom Hooper for “Les Miserables.” Bigelow was the first woman ever the win the directing Oscar for 2009’s “The Hurt Locker,” while Hooper won a year later for “The King’s Speech.”

The best-picture category also had surprising omissions. The acclaimed first-love tale “Moonrise Kingdom” was left out and only got one nomination, for original screenplay. Also snubbed for best-picture was “The Master,” a critical favorite that did manage three acting nominations, for Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Two-time winner Spielberg earned his seventh directing nomination, and also in the mix are past winner Lee for “Life of Pi” and past nominee David O. Russell for “Silver Linings Playbook.” The other slots went to surprise picks who are first-time nominees: Michael Haneke for his French-language “Amour” and Benh Zeitlin for “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

Oscar directing contenders often are identical or at least usually line up closely with those for the Directors Guild of America Awards. But only Spielberg and Lee made both lists this time. The Directors Guild also nominated Affleck, Bigelow and Hooper, but not Haneke, Russell or Zeitlin.

Haneke’s “Amour” also was a best-picture surprise. The film, which won the top prize at last May’s Cannes Film Festival, mainly had been considered a favorite in the foreign-language category, where it also was nominated. “Amour” had five nominations, including original screenplay and best-actress for Emmanuelle Riva.

“It is fulfilling to discover that a film has found the audience and critical acclaim that `Amour’ has garnered,” Haneke said. “I have been very fortunate on both those fronts, but it is especially rewarding to discover that a film has found favor among one’s industry peers who know, in particular, the effort that goes into getting a film – any film – made.”

The year’s second-biggest box-office hit, “The Dark Knight Rises,” was shut out entirely, even for visual effects. The omission of its predecessor, “The Dark Knight,” from best-picture consideration for 2008 was largely responsible for the expansion of the Oscar category from five nominees to 10 the following year. “The Dark Knight” had earned eight nominations and won two Oscars.

Chronicling Abraham Lincoln’s final months as he engineers passage of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, “Lincoln” stars best-actor contender Day-Lewis in a monumental performance as the 16th president, supporting-actress nominee Field as the notoriously headstrong Mary Todd Lincoln and supporting-actor prospect Jones as abolitionist firebrand Thaddeus Stevens.

Joining Day-Lewis in the best-actor field are Bradley Cooper as a psychiatric patient trying to get his life back together in “Silver Linings Playbook”; Hugh Jackman as Victor Hugo’s tragic hero Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables”; Phoenix as a Navy vet who falls in with a cult in “The Master”; and Denzel Washington as a boozy airline pilot in “Flight.”

Cooper had been a bit of a longshot. John Hawkes, a potential best-actor favorite, missed out for his role as a man in an iron lung aiming to lose his virginity in “The Sessions.”

Nominated for best actress are Jessica Chastain as a CIA operative hunting bin Laden in “Zero Dark Thirty”; Jennifer Lawrence as a troubled young widow struggling to heal in “Silver Linings Playbook”; Riva as an ailing woman tended by her husband in “Amour”; Quvenzhane Wallis as a spirited girl on the Louisiana delta in “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; and Naomi Watts as a mother caught up in a devastating tsunami in “The Impossible.”

Best actress had a wild age range: Riva is the oldest nominee ever in the category at 85, while Wallis is the youngest ever at 9.

Along with Field, supporting-actress nominees are Adams as a cult leader’s devoted wife in “The Master”; Anne Hathaway as an outcast mother reduced to prostitution in “Les Miserables”; Helen Hunt as a sex surrogate in “The Sessions”; and Jacki Weaver as an unstable man’s doting mom in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Besides Jones, the supporting-actor contenders are Alan Arkin as a wily Hollywood producer in “Argo”; Robert De Niro as a football-obsessed patriarch in “Silver Linings Playbook”; Hoffman as a dynamic cult leader in “The Master”; and Christoph Waltz as a genteel bounty hunter in “Django Unchained.”

“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, who will host the Feb. 24 Oscars, joined Emma Stone to announce the Oscar lineup, and he scored a nomination himself. He’s up for original song for “Everybody Needs a Best Friend,” the tune he co-wrote for his big-screen directing debut “Ted.”

“That’s kind of cool I got nominated,” MacFarlane deadpanned at the announcement. “I get to go to the Oscars.”

Walt Disney predictably dominated the animated-feature category with three of the five nominees: “Brave,” “Frankenweenie” and “Wreck-It Ralph.” Also nominated were “ParaNorman” and “The Pirates! Band of Misfits.”

“I’m absolutely blown away,” “Wreck-It Ralph” director Rich Moore said. “It is weird at 5:30 in the morning to hear Emma Stone say your name. It’s surreal.”

“Lincoln” is Spielberg’s best awards prospect since his critical peak in the 1990s, when he won best-picture and directing Oscars for “Schindler’s List” and a second directing Oscar for “Saving Private Ryan.”

Spielberg’s latest film could vault him, Day-Lewis and Field to new heights among Hollywood’s super-elite of multiple Oscar winners.

A best-picture win for “Lincoln” would be Spielberg’s second, while another directing win would be his third, a feat achieved only by Frank Capra and William Wyler, who each earned three directing Oscars, and John Ford, who received four.

“Lincoln” also was the ninth best-picture nominee Spielberg has directed, moving him into a tie for second-place with Ford. Only Wyler directed more best-picture nominees, with 13.

Day-Lewis and Field both have two lead-acting Oscars already, he for “My Left Foot” and “There Will Be Blood” and she for “Norma Rae” and “Places in the Heart.” A third Oscar for either would put them in rare company with previous triple winners Ingrid Bergman, Walter Brennan, Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. Katharine Hepburn is the record-holder with four acting Oscars.

An Oscar for Jones would be his second supporting-actor prize; he previously won for “The Fugitive.”

“Lincoln” composer John Williams – whose five Oscars include three for the music of three earlier Spielberg films, “Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra-terrestrial” and “Schindler’s List” – earned his 43rd nomination for best score, extending his all-time record in the category.

The Oscars feature a best-picture field that ranges from five to 10 films depending on a complex formula of ballots from the 5,856 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Nominations in most categories are decided by ballots from members of specific academy branches – such as directors, writers or actors. All members are eligible to vote for best-picture nominees, and the entire academy can vote in every category for the actual Oscars, whose balloting begins Feb. 8.

Winners for the 85th Oscars will be announced Feb. 24 at a ceremony aired live on ABC from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.

___

AP entertainment writers Christy Lemire, Sandy Cohen, Anthony McCartney and Derrik Lang in Los Angeles and AP writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

First African-American Woman Ph.D. Graduate in Computer Science at University of Michigan

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“Bittersweet.” That’s how Kyla McMullen describes what it feels like to be the first African-American woman at the University of Michigan to graduate with a

doctorate in computer science.

“I don’t think there’s anything special about me,” says McMullen, with a modest laugh. She explains that while it is gratifying to be recognized as a “first,” her accomplishment points out a sad reality: not enough women and minorities are pursuing advanced degrees in computer science. Out of the more than 1,400 Americans who received Ph.D.s in computer science from 2010 to 2011, less than a quarter were female, and a mere 1.2 percent – 16 people – were African-American, according to the latest Computing Research Association Taulbee Survey. It’s a good thing staggering statistics like that did not deter McMullen.

McMullen’s passion for computer science started early and was nurtured throughout high school. “When I was little, I always liked gadgets,” she says. She remembers being fascinated by her family’s first computer because it seemed like magic. She admits to staying up all night, clicking through file folders, trying to figure out how it worked. Luckily for her, the high school in her hometown of Oxen Hill, Md., had a special computer science track. This meant exposure to a curriculum that most high schools lack, and the opportunity to take courses in computer programming and engineering early on.

It paid off. One day, she was sitting in calculus class when a guidance counselor called her to his office. She thought she was in trouble, but he wanted to recommend that she apply for UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholarship Program.

“It was an excellent opportunity,” says McMullen of the program. Though tough, she credits the program’s sense of community and her mentors as crucial ingredients to her success. She remembers her time at UMBC fondly; especially the hours spent burning the midnight oil with her two study buddies, Aimee Strang and Nwokedi Ibika,who is now, coincidentally, the first African-American to get a Ph.D. in computer science from Perdue University…

Long-Term Unemployed Winning Jobs Or Giving Up?

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Arthur Delaney
arthur@huffingtonpost.com

 

The number of Americans unemployed for 99 weeks or longer has averaged just shy of 2 million for the past two years, but their ranks may have begun to dwindle.

In December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted just 1.5 million “99ers,” the smallest number in any month since 2010. The fourth quarter of last year also saw the lowest average number of 99ers in two years. But it’s not clear that more of the very long-term unemployed are finding jobs.

“That decline is likely not due to an improving labor market, because it just hasn’t improved much over the last two years,” Heidi Shierholz of the labor-backed Economic Policy Institute said in an interview. “A lot of the decline in the unemployment rate we’ve seen is just due to people dropping out of the labor market.”

The people counted as unemployed for 99 weeks or more have been actively looking for work, or they wouldn’t be considered part of the workforce at all. One thing that may have kept so many people searching for so long is federal unemployment insurance, which from late 2009 through 2011 combined with state benefits to provide as many as 99 weeks of compensation. People are required to search for work — in other words, to remain attached to the workforce — as a condition of receiving benefits.

But the duration of benefits is shorter than before. In February 2012, Congress set in motion a gradual reduction of the maximum duration to 79 weeks in June, then to 73 weeks by September. As of December, the jobless in only nine states qualified for the full complement of benefits.

Jesse Rothstein, an associate professor of public policy and economics at the University of California, Berkeley, found in a 2011 research paper that the recent regimen of extended benefits did indeed keep people from giving up their job search as quickly as they otherwise might have. Rothstein and Shierholz said the dwindling long-term benefits might help explain why there were fewer 99ers at the end of last year, though it’s hard to be sure.

“I’ve been surprised at how little anybody’s paying attention — not just to the 99ers, but also the 79ers in the past year,” Rothstein said. (The term “99ers” has most commonly been a nickname for people who used up 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, though the estimate of how many people out of work for 99 weeks is not based on the insurance rolls.)

Oscars Nominations 2013: Seth MacFarlane & Emma Stone Announce Honorees

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The Huffington Post  |  By

Hollywood’s awards race just got serious. Seth MacFarlane and Emma Stone announced Oscar nominations for the 2013 Academy Awards on Thursday morning, adding a bit of levity to what will surely be taken quite seriously come Feb. 24, when MacFarlane hosts the actual awards broadcast.

In pre-announcement buzz, Kathryn Bigelow (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Tom Hooper (“Les Miserables”), Ben Affleck (“Argo”), Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”) and their films were all expected to receive nominations.

But MacFarlane did not read Bigelow, Affleck or Hooper’s names when ticking off those nominated for Best Directing. There was an audible gasp in the room as journalists realized that all three had been snubbed.

“Zero Dark Thirty” and “Argo” did, however, receive nods for Best Picture, where they’ll compete with “Amour,” “Django Unchained,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Les Miserables,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln” and “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Those who did get nominated for Achievement in Directing: Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”), David O. Russell (“Silver Linings”), Ang Lee (“Life of Pi”), Benh Zeitlin (“Beasts”) and Michael Haneke (“Amour”).

Plenty of familiar names dotted the acting categories. Daniel Day-Lewis (“Lincoln”), Hugh Jackman (“Les Miserables”), Joaquin Phoenix (“The Master”), Denzel Washington (“Flight”) and Bradley Cooper (“Silver Linings”) were all nominated for Best Actor. On the Actress side, Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings”), Emmanuelle Riva (“Amour”), Quvenzhane Wallis (“Beasts”) and Naomi Watts (“The Impossible”) will compete for the statuette. At just nine years old, Wallis is the youngest actress to ever be nominated in the category. Riva, 85, is the oldest.

Every nominee in the category of Best Supporting Actor has previously won an Oscar. Alan Arkin (“Argo”), Robert De Niro (“Silver Linings”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“The Master”), Tommy Lee Jones (“Lincoln”) and Christoph Waltz (“Django”) will face off for the hardware in that category. Amy Adams of “The Master” will compete with Sally Field (“Lincoln”), Anne Hathaway (“Les Mis”), Helen Hunt (“The Sessions”) and Jacki Weaver (“Silver Linings Playbook”) for Best Supporting Actress.

MacFarlane hosted the nominations announcement with ease, joking that those didn’t who know him could just “pretend” he’s Donnie Osmond. “I don’t know why we don’t wait until noon to do this, because the only people who are up right now are flying or in surgery,” he said before introducing Emma Stone with another quip. “Here to help me out, because there’s nothing creepier than a guy standing by himself in Hollywood at five in the morning, is Emma Stone.”

The Oscars are voted on by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, an interesting if somewhat quirky group made up of working professionals in cinema. More information on the voting process is available at the Academy’s website. It’s worth noting that the Golden Globes — which take place Sunday — are not voted on by members of the industry, but by the Hollywood Foreign Press.

A full list of nominees is available below. A live-blog of Oscars season follows, as does a gallery of those honored. Be sure to head back to HuffPost Entertainment for coverage of all things awards.

1. Best Picture: “Amour,” “Argo,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Django Unchained,” “Les Miserables,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Zero Dark Thirty.”

2. Actor: Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”; Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”; Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables”; Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”; Denzel Washington, “Flight.”

3. Actress: Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”; Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”; Emmanuelle Riva, “Amour”; Quvenzhane Wallis, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; Naomi Watts, “The Impossible.”

4. Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin, “Argo”; Robert De Niro, “Silver Linings Playbook”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”; Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln”; Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained.”

5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, “The Master”; Sally Field, “Lincoln”; Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”; Helen Hunt, “The Sessions”; Jacki Weaver, “Silver Linings Playbook.”

6. Directing: Michael Haneke, “Amour”; Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”; Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”; David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook.”

7. Foreign Language Film: “Amour,” Austria; “Kon-Tiki,” Norway; “No,” Chile; “A Royal Affair,” Denmark; “War Witch,” Canada.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio, “Argo”; Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; David Magee, “Life of Pi”; Tony Kushner, “Lincoln”; David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook.”

9. Original Screenplay: Michael Haneke, “Amour”; Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained”; John Gatins, “Flight”; Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, “Moonrise Kingdom”; Mark Boal, “Zero Dark Thirty.”

10. Animated Feature Film: “Brave”; “Frankenweenie”; “ParaNorman”; “The Pirates! Band of Misfits”; “Wreck-It Ralph.”

11. Production Design: “Anna Karenina,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Les Miserables,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln.”

12. Cinematography: “Anna Karenina,” “Django Unchained,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Skyfall.”

13. Sound Mixing: “Argo,” “Les Miserables,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Skyfall.”

14. Sound Editing: “Argo,” “Django Unchained,” “Life of Pi,” “Skyfall,” “Zero Dark Thirty.”

15. Original Score: “Anna Karenina,” Dario Marianelli; “Argo,” Alexandre Desplat; “Life of Pi,” Mychael Danna; “Lincoln,” John Williams; “Skyfall,” Thomas Newman.

16. Original Song: “Before My Time” from “Chasing Ice,” J. Ralph; “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from “Ted,” Walter Murphy and Seth MacFarlane; “Pi’s Lullaby” from “Life of Pi,” Mychael Danna and Bombay Jayashri; “Skyfall” from “Skyfall,” Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth; “Suddenly” from “Les Miserables,” Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil.

17. Costume: “Anna Karenina,” “Les Miserables,” “Lincoln,” “Mirror Mirror,” “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

18. Documentary Feature: “5 Broken Cameras,” “The Gatekeepers,” “How to Survive a Plague,” “The Invisible War,” “Searching for Sugar Man.”

19. Documentary (short subject): “Inocente,” “Kings Point,” “Mondays at Racine,” “Open Heart,” “Redemption.”

20. Film Editing: “Argo,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Zero Dark Thirty.”

21. Makeup and Hairstyling: “Hitchcock,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Les Miserables.”

22. Animated Short Film: “Adam and Dog,” “Fresh Guacamole,” “Head over Heels,” “Maggie Simpson in `The Longest Daycare,'” “Paperman.”

23. Live Action Short Film: “Asad,” “Buzkashi Boys,” “Curfew,” “Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw),” “Henry.”

24. Visual Effects: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Life of Pi,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Prometheus,” “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

Quvenzhané Wallis & Oscars: 9-Year-Old Is Youngest Best Actress Nominee Ever

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Actor Dwight Henry, actress Quvenzhane Wallis and crew of 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' arrive at the 2012 Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California on December 1, 2012.

The Huffington Post  |  By

Quvenzhané Wallis just made history. With the announcement of the nominees for the 85th annual Academy Awards this morning, the Louisiana-born Wallis, just 9 years old, is now the youngest ever nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Wallis, who was just 5 when she auditioned for the role in “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” has received major recognition and critical acclaim for her portrayal of the character Hushpuppy.

She beat out former record-holder Keisha Castle-Hughes who was nominated for “Whale Rider” at age 13. Wallis is up for the Best Actress honor against Jessica Chastain for “Zero Dark Thirty,” Jennifer Lawrence for “Siver Linings Playbook,” Naomi Watts for “The Impossible,” and Emmanuelle Riva for “Amour.” In an interesting twist, at age 85, Riva is now the oldest nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role. (Riva will turn 86 on Feb. 24, which is Oscar night.)

Since her breakout role in “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Wallis has now been cast in the upcoming movie “Twelve Years a Slave,” which also stars Paul Giamatti, Brad Pitt, and Michael Fassbender.

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” was nominated for a total of four awards. In addition to Wallis’ nod for Best Actress, “Beasts” was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director for Benh Zeitlin, and Best Adapted Screenplay.