James Avery, star of fresh prince of Bel-Air; dies at 68

James Avery, the veteran TV actor who portrayed Uncle Phil on the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel- Air,” has died. He was reportedly 68 years old. Avery’s publicist told The Associated Press that the
actor died Tuesday in Glendale, Calif., in the wake
of complications from open heart surgery. On “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which helped
launch rapper-actor Will Smith to superstardom, Avery played Philip Banks, the rich relation who
provides a stable home environment to Smith’s
rapping, puckish character–and who must also
endure his constant hijinks. The show ran from
1990-1996, and is fondly remembered for bringing
hip-hop culture (or at least an easygoing version of it) to prime time, and for its jaunty rap theme song. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Avery also
appeared on such TV shows as “L.A. Law” and “The
Closer.” While “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” took the form of
a traditional sitcom, from a social standpoint it was
also breakthrough television. Smith became one of
the first rap stars to achieve acting success on a hit
television show, and went on to become a movie
star as well. The Banks family was also one of the few wealthy African-American families ever to be
featured on television.  Uncle Phil lives in a
mansion, and is law firm partner and later becomes
a judge. The program, by showing a wide range of
black characters and capturing wide mainstream
viewership while doing so, opened the door to richer, more diverse portrait of black life on TV. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Avery’s son on
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” had a note posted on
his Twitter page reading “I’m deeply saddened to
say that James Avery has passed away. He was a
second father to me. I will miss him greatly.”

Mother admits to killing daughter and poisoning other kids

 -- An Arizona mother has admitted to suffocating her 13-year-old daughter and trying to kill her other children by poisoning them, police said Tuesday. Officers in Casa Grande, Arizona, responded to a 911 call on Christmas Day. A man said that his ex-wife, 35-year-old Connie Villa, had stabbed him but that he had managed to escape and was driving himself to a hospital. When officers arrived at the home, they found Villa with stab wounds, holding a knife to her chest. They managed to subdue her and conducted a sweep of the home. Police found the body of Aniarael Macias, Villa's daughter, in the bathroom. "Although an autopsy for Aniarael was conducted ... the results of which did not identify a cause of death, investigators feel the evidence found at the scene of the crime along with interviews and medical information of the surviving children, give our Department cause to believe Connie Villa was attempting to end the lives of all of her children and her ex-husband, Adam Villa," police said in a statement. Connie Villa faces one count of first degree murder in the death of her daughter. She is also being charged with four counts of attempted murder of her ex-husband and her three surviving children, ages 3, 5 and 8. In an interview, she admitted she tried to kill her children by forcing them to ingest prescription narcotic drugs, police said. The kids had trace amounts of opiates in their systems. Police also said that she told them she was unsuccessful in forcing her oldest daughter to ingest the drugs, and so she suffocated Aniarael. Connie Villa reportedly told investigators she wanted to kill her children and ex-husband because she did not want him to have custody of them.

New year's twin babies born in seperate years

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As people around the world partied their way into the new year, two mothers gave birth to two of the last babies of 2013 and two of the first babies of 2014. While born just minutes apart, their twin babies entered the world in two different years.
On Dec. 31, 2013, at 11:58 p.m., Yaleni Santos Tohalino gave birth to baby girl Lorraine Yaleni Begazo, who weighed at 6 pounds, 4.9 ounces, at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C.
Soon after, her twin brother Brandon Ferdinando Begazo was born on Jan. 1, 2014, at 12:01 a.m., weighing at 5 pounds, 10.4 ounces.
"I feel wonderful full of joy and happiness and a full sense of realization," the twins' father, Warren Begazo, told ABCNews.com. "This is her first children ever, and they're beautiful and she's really happy."

(Courtesy Melanie Salgueiro and Angelica Rodriguez.)

In Toronto, two fraternal twin sisters were also born in 2013 and in 2014, respectively. At Trillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital, older sister Gabriela Salgueiro was born on Dec. 31, 2013, at 11:52 p.m., weighing 6 pounds, 16 ounces.
On Jan. 1, 2014, at 12:00:38 a.m., younger twin Sophia Salgueiro was born, weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces.
"They kind of got that golden ticket. They've got different birthdays," the twins' mother, Lindsay Salgueiro, told ABCNews.com. "They're going to be best friends for life."
"We really did celebrate New Year's Eve," Begazo said.
"Not a bad way to end the year and not a bad a way to start the year off," said Salgueiro.
Both the mothers and babies are healthy and looking forward to going home.

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NEWS

Suspected rapist stoned to death

A man who allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl at
knifepoint was stoned to death in the Crossroads
informal settlement in Cape Town, according to
a report. The Star newspaper reported the 32-year-old was
dragged from a shebeen, near the victim's house,
beaten with sjamboks, and stoned to death around
11am on Sunday. Two men with knives apparently confronted the girl
and her friend while they were on their way to visit
another friend on Saturday afternoon, the victim's
aunt told the paper. They were forced into a shack
and raped. "My niece told me the suspect and his accomplice
threatened to kill them if they told anyone about the
incidents," the aunt was quoted as saying. A local resident told the newspaper people were fed
up with the man. "During the day before he raped the girl, he robbed
people of their phones. He was always carrying a
knife with him. "We don't regret his killing because if we do not
react to these incidents, no one would," the
resident, who did not want to be named, said. The raped teenager was taken away from the area
after her family apparently received death threats
from the dead man's friends. Police spokesman Lt-Col Andre Traut said no
arrests had yet been made for the murder.

Feds May Require Cars to Talk to
Each Other to Avoid Crashes........Federal officials will decided in the "coming weeks"
whether to require new cars to include smart
technology that would alert drivers of a coming
crash, even in vehicles that are two or three cars
away. The vehicle-to-vehicle -- or V2V -- technology has
undergone testing in recent years and has already
been installed in some cars that are on the road. A recent study by the Government Accountability
Office determined that if the gizmos were widely
deployed, "V2V technologies could provide warnings
to drivers in as much as 76 percent of potential
multi-vehicle collisions." In 2011, there were 5.3 million car crashes that
injured 2.2 million people and killed 32,000,
according to the GAO. "The continued progress of V2V technology
development hinges on a decision that the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to
make in late 2013 on how to proceed. ... One option
would be to pursue a rule requiring their inclusion in
new vehicles," the GAO wrote in a November study. The year ended without NHTSA's expected
decision, and this week the agency would say only
that it expected "to announce a decision in the
coming weeks." Putting smart cars on the road comes with
complications beyond cost, which is expected to be
"modest relative to the price of a new vehicle,"
according to the GAO. What could make cost a factor are the
communication system safeguards that would be
necessary for the widespread use of these cars. "Widespread technology depends on other cars
having the same system so they can talk to each
other," said David Wise, director of the GAO's
Physical Infrastructure Team, who wrote the GAO
study. But it also requires that the system be secure. "Privacy is the real challenge," Wise said. He said
the V2V will likely rely on GPS-type data that could
track a person's movements. "Who has access and how do you secure the data?"
Wise asked rhetorically. He also raised the specter
of someone hacking the system and causing havoc
on the road. "The cost is in the communication security system,"
he said. There is also the issue of liability if a car that has
the V2V system is involved in a crash, the GAO
report said. If NHTSA decides to require new cars to be smart
cars, it could still be a generation before they
become commonplace on the road, Wise said. "It takes 20 years for the country's fleet of cars to
turn over," he sa

Formula One legend Michael
Schumacher showing 'slight
improvement,' doctors say Michael Schumacher improving slightly
after ski accident Doctors say the Formula One racing legend who
suffered a critical head injury skiing in the French
Alps is showing signs of improvement, though they
caution it's too early to make speculations. An
investigation is being conducted at the site of the
accident where initial reports say the impact of Schumacher's fall shattered his helmet. By Jason Cumming, Staff Writer, NBC News Doctors treating Michael Schumacher said Tuesday
that new scans showed "slight improvement" in the
Formula One icon's condition after he underwent a
second operation to relieve pressure on his brain. "We can't say he is out of danger but ... we have gained
a bit of time," Dr. Jean-Francois Payen, the doctor in
charge of Grenoble University Hospital's intensive care
unit, told a press conference. "The coming hours are
crucial." The seven-time Formula One world champion suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel on Sunday.  Initial findings
indicated the blow was so hard that Schumacher's
helmet shattered. Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters, file Formula One icon Michael Schumacher
skis in January 2006. The crash left Schumacher, 44, with internal bleeding
and injuries including contusions and lesions. Emmanuel Gay, head of the hospital's neurosurgery
service, said the latest operation involved removing a
large hematoma - the medical term for a build-up of
blood - from the left-hand side of Schumacher's brain. Doctors offered no predictions Tuesday on whether or
when they would bring the German out of an induced
coma, intended to relieve swelling. "We cannot tell you any more on the future," said
Gerard Saillant, a surgeon and friend of the family. Schumacher is the most successful Formula One driver
of all time with a record 91 race victories in a career
spanning more than two decades. He retired last year. Schumi, as his fans affectionately call him, was
famously aggressive on the track and no less intense
off-hours. In retirement, he remained an avid skier,
skydiver and horseback rider. Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, confirmed that
his helmet cracked on impact. "It looks like probably that initiating a corner, he was
hitting a stone which he had not seen and was
catapulted down on a rock," Kehm said. "That is
extremely and very unfortunate ... really very, very bad
luck. Michael was not at high speed." Citing Kehm, Germany's Bild tabloid also reported
Tuesday that a journalist tried to gain access to
Schumacher's hospital room by dressing up as a
priest.

10 Tips to Help You Achieve Your
New Year's Health Goals With the new year comes the opportunity for a fresh
start. For many people, this means leading a
healthier lifestyle and losing weight. If this is your
goal, follow these tips to stay on track. 1. Find Your Motivation
What is motivating you to lose weight? Do you want
to look better in your clothes, feel more energetic, or
simply improve your health? Get clear about what
you want, and then use that to inspire you
throughout your journey. 2. Have a Plan
If you were to go on a long road trip, you wouldn't
just jump in the car and go. If you did, you'd arrive
hungry, tired, and fatigued. That's the same way
you'd feel if you jumped into a whole new lifestyle
with no planning. Before January 1st arrives, outline the changes you want to implement and decide how
you'll fit them into your schedule. Keep in mind that
it may be best to take steps rather than tackle
everything at once. 3. Make Goals
Goals help measure progress. If you don't know
where you want to end up, you won't really know
how to get there. When making your goals, you
need to make SMART goals: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely For example, a SMART goal would be something
like, "I will walk for 15 minutes 3 days for one
week." Or, "I will prepare one new healthy recipe
each week for the month of January." 4. Track What You Eat
Looking closely at what you eat is often an eye-
opening experience. Use FitDay's free online Calorie Counter and Fitness Log to keep track of everything you put into your body. You don't have to do it for
the rest of your life, but it is a great habit to start.
Tracking will help you tweak your diet so that you
can still enjoy foods you love without sabotaging
your weight loss or healthy eating efforts. 5. Use Reliable Resources
It may be tempting to try a fad diet, but these are
usually unrealistic, difficult to maintain, and
sometimes even dangerous. Instead, find a reliable
source of information to help you understand
nutrition. The USDA offers a number of tools and resources, or you can consult a registered dietitian
in your area. An RD is specially trained and can give
you tips and tricks to help you achieve your specific
goals. 6. Eat Breakfast Every Day
Surely you've heard that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day. It is! Eat a big healthy
breakfast as early as possible. It will give you more
energy, lead you to make healthier choices during
the day, and keep you feeling full so you eat less later on. 7. Fill Up on Vegetables
Vegetables are filled with nutrients, water, fiber, and
very few calories. If you fill half of your plate with
vegetables, you'll get fuller faster and cut down your
calories without feeling deprived. Use herbs and
spices to jazz up vegetables instead of using butter and/or salt to flavor them. 8. Exercise
In order to burn calories at a faster rate and build a
healthy body, you'll need to incorporate exercise into
your life. Take it slow at first, and then increase
your time and/or intensity once you feel
comfortable. If you haven't exercised in a while, talk to your doctor to make sure that you are healthy
enough to begin an exercise plan. 9. Take It Slow
A major mistake many people make when trying to
tackle a health resolution is trying to do everything
at once. This is almost always a recipe for disaster.
Spend a few weeks just trying to achieve 1-2 goals
at a time. When you have established new good habits, put a couple more goals on your plate.
Remember: You want to make permanent changes,
and these will take time to implement. 10. Be Prepared for Lapses
A lapse is when you temporarily "fall off the wagon."
This is a normal part of the process; no one is
perfect. It is important for you to take a moment to
recognize that you got sidetracked, but don't use it
as an excuse to throw in the towel. Every day is a new chance to start over, so return to your healthy
lifestyle immediately. Mandy Seay is a bilingual registered and licensed
dietitian who holds both a bachelor's degree in
nutrition and in journalism. After gaining 30 pounds
while living abroad, Mandy worked to lose the weight
and regain her health. It was here that she
discovered her passion for nutrition and went on to pursue a career as a dietitian. Mandy currently
works as a nutrition consultant and freelance writer
in Austin, Texas, where she specializes in diabetes,
weight management and general and preventive
nutrition. She recently published her first book, Your Best Health, a personalized program to losing weight and gaining a healthy lifestyle. Please visit
Mandy's website at Nutritionistics.com

Personal Finance

TOP 10 TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR FINANCES
1. Track your monthly spending.
Many people do not know how much they spend each month on food, clothing, housing, or entertainment. Whether you are paying with cash, a debit card or credit card, total your expenditures at the end the month to gain a better picture of how you’re spending your income.
2. Develop a household budget you can follow.
Using the data you’ve compiled by tracking your monthly expenses, develop a realistic budget so that it’s easier live with. Track how well you follow it each month – that means continuing to track your monthly expenses.
3. Be sure to budget for savings.
Your savings are a Rainy Day Fund, which is important when unforeseen expenses or emergencies arise. Be sure to budget part of your monthly paycheck for deposit into a savings account – ideally at least 10% of each check. If you find or earn extra money – put that away in a savings account, too!
4. Pay your monthly bills on time and avoid late charges.
Take inventory of your regular monthly bills and make reminders for yourself on when each bill is due. That way you can avoid costly late fees, which can also damage your credit score. The best approach is to pay bills as soon as they arrive.
5. Review your credit report.
The details of your credit report can have an enormous impact on your financial future. Obtain a free report once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com, and check it for accuracy. Be sure to dispute any errors.
6. Obtain your credit score.
Your three-digit credit score tells lenders and businesses how well you manage your credit and your finances. Scores range between 500 and 850. The higher the number, the better the rating and the better chance you have of obtaining credit at a better rate. You can purchase your credit score through any of the nationwide credit reporting agencies after receiving your free annual credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.
7. Eliminate credit card debt.
Credit cards can make it easy to pile on debt. If your debt adds up faster than you can pay it off, you’re likely living beyond your means. Stop using the credit cards and pay off existing balances – the sooner you do, the less you’ll pay in interest. Remember: not all debt is bad; taking on loans for higher education or to buy a home is really an investment in your future.
8. Take advantage of free money.
If your employer offers a contribution match for retirement savings or heath savings accounts, be sure that you’re contributing enough to obtain the maximum match amount. Otherwise, you’re missing an opportunity for free money. Maximizing your contributions can lower your taxable income.
9. Assess your insurance policies.
Insurance is an important tool for protecting against financial hardships, and the premiums you pay can be one of your top household expenses. Talk with your provider to be sure you have the appropriate level of protection – that way, you’re not paying too much for coverage.
10. Use legitimate financial institutions.
Millions of people do not rely on traditional banks or financial institutions to manage their money. Open a checking and/or savings account at an FDIC- insured bank, savings and loan, or credit union. Be sure to research whether there are any fees for their services before choosing an institution. 

Three siblings burnt to death

 WARRI — TRAGEDY struck, Monday, as three kids
of same parents were burnt to death in an inferno
which consumed 10 make-shift houses at Oroke
Estate in Ovwian, Udu Council Area of Delta State. An eye witness said the source of the fire could not
be ascertained but suggested it could be from
candle light or generating sets as there was power
outage at time of the incident. Our source said the tragic incident occurred at about
9.43 p.m while both parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jakpor
Emuruohwose and their eldest daughter, aged
11years, were away Father of the victims, a graduate of Petroleum
Training Institute, Mr. Emuruohwose, 38, is a native
of Okonohwoakpo-Egbo of Kokori Inland, Ethiope
East Council Area of Delta State. The victims, two boys and a girl, ages between 9
and 3, were in great health and hopeful before the
tragic incident which has left both young parent
stunned. Our source said the fire started from
Emuruohwose’s side of the all zinc estate and the
kids ran inside to the room as the fire was billowing. According to the source, “Two of the kids died in the
fire and the other one died in the hospital from
severe burns. Property worth millions of Naira were
destroyed in the fire. “We made frantic efforts to quench the fire but it
was beyond our power.  By the time the fire service
came, the havoc was already done and angry mob
chased them away, pelting them with stones in
anger. “Out of fear, the fire service officials drove away as
their vehicle windsreens were shattered.  Maybe,
they would have assisted but for the angry youths.” Our correspondent visited the scene, yesterday,
sympathisers were seen discussing the incident.

Good night's sleep crucial for brain health ......Lack of a good night's sleep may damage your brain in a similar way to being hit on the head, a new study has warned. Lack of a good night's sleep may damage your brain
in a similar way to being hit on the head, a new study
has warned. The study from Uppsala University, Sweden, shows
that one night of sleep deprivation increases morning
blood concentrations of molecules NSE and S-100B
in healthy young men. These molecules are typically found in the brain.
Thus, their rise in blood after sleep loss may indicate
that a lack of sleep may result in loss of brain tissue,
researchers said. Fifteen normal-weight men participated in the study.
In one condition they were sleep-deprived for one
night, while in the other condition they slept for
approximately 8 hours. "We observed that a night of total sleep loss was
followed by increased blood concentrations of NSE
and S-100B. These brain molecules typically rise in
blood under conditions of brain damage," said sleep
researcher Christian Benedict at the Department of
Neuroscience, Uppsala University, who led the study. "Thus, our results indicate that a lack of sleep may
promote neurodegenerative processes," said
Benedict. "In conclusion, the findings of our trial indicate that a
good night's sleep may be critical for maintaining
brain health," said Benedict. The findings are published in the journal SLEEP.