#when winter officially started on Dec 21 it was still warm

[actual-corpse]

Winter has begun.

And it. Is. Angery

[itismetheperson]

moving back after harvey | a year and a half later

I don't know if I've officially announced this on the blog yet but I have moved! This post has actually been a long time coming. If you're a newer follower you might not know that in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey struck Houston me and my family were flooded out of our house and had to evacuate. You can find my full flooding story here. I thought today I would give a rundown of the past few years of my life and my thoughts on everything. :)

*I'll be linking to insta posts throughout this post where I talk about the topic so click on the links if you're interested in that.

Dec 21, 2017

Every since we flooded we've been working on rebuilding. After saving everything we could from the flooded house it was torn down. Saying goodbye was a bit intense. That was actually around Christmas of 2017 so we were at my grandparents house when it officially got demolished. I remember coming back and seeing my old house not there and being like wow. It's just gone. It took a couple of hours and all of those memories were just. Gone. 

Jan 2, 2018

One of the big things I've had to learn from this process is that just because the physical thing is gone doesn't mean the feeling is. The memory and feeling are still in your heart and head. I have moved 7 times in my life. I feel like I shouldn't get attached to houses by now. The thing is. This was going to be our forever home. But hey. God had other plans. And I think it worked out OK. 

Jun 4, 2018

Over the next few months we settle into our rented house and have lots and lots of meetings. After lots of decisions with architects and builders and contractors it's building time! Over this whole building process we visited a lottt. It was kind of insane to see the development.

Jun 25, 2018

I remember when we first saw the first part done. I don't know if it has registered in my mind that we were building a new house until that point haha. Since we didn't want to flood again we built the house 6 feet up. You're currently looking at me standing on the first floor. 

Aug 6, 2018 

Bye the time we returned from South Carolina that summer the house was almost done! It was slightly the same feeling of when we drove up to see our house demolished. Surprised and just generally not knowing how to feel. But wow. It looked cool haha. My parents have good taste. 

Dec 20, 2018 

My dad has an actual job (as a professor) but pretty much building the house became his second job. The garage was a workshop and if my dad was home he was either grading papers or building something. And we of course wanted to move in as soon as possible so there wasn't much of a break. I think us children definitely got it the best in this whole process. My parents always seemed crazy stressed. Which makes sense but it was just a lot to be around haha.  

This was also around the time I started being a whole lot healthier (might do a health journey video/post later) and so I would go on walks with my mom a lot around the neighborhood. At the beginning it was totally deserted except for the workers. Everyone in my neighborhood flooded. Some decided to just remodel, some decided to raise there house, and some decided to totally rebuild like us. After around 6 months the people who just remodeled started to move in! It would always make me so happy to see a new family. Whenever I saw a house torn down it made me happy. Just seeing progress made me happy. Around winter of 2018 things actually kind of returned to normal. There were kids at the park and people walking and it just made me smile so so much. We still hadn't moved back in though. 

Feb 15, 2019

Fast forward to February of 2019 and it was finally moving time. It seemed like for two solid weeks we were packing. We had only lived in the house for like a year. I'm not sure why we were packing so much. 

Feb 16, 2019

Moving day was honestly really fun. All of the friends came and helped and we ate foods and everyone helped me set up my room (y'all will be getting a room tour soon give me time to finalize everything). Everyone that came also knew the importance of it to us so it was just generally really nice. 

After we moved in and settled in we had a house warming party! It was mostly me saying hi to adults I didn't know at all but it was also like wow. This is a legit house. With life.

I love the new house. Plus at this point I would say over half of the neighborhood has moved back. There are still so many empty lots and houses under construction but there is also life. And people. 

I'm more sympathetic of natural disasters now. I'm guessing everyone who has been through one is. Whenever I see news about a new storm or tornado or anything I turn away. At my orthodontist office (I don't know if I've mentioned that on the blog either but yeah I have braces) the TV in the waiting room is always just playing the weather and it's like no. I really don't want to know. 

I want to end this by saying that this event wasn't normal. If you don't live in Houston you probably don't know this but we had three 500 year floods in 3 years (here's my post from Febuary of 2017). That. Doesn't. Make. Sense. Global warming is a thing my friendsss. I am not an expert on this subject but I have been trying to educate myself as I think all of y'all should as well. Do your part! Follow tollydollposh. I promise you'll be happy you did. 

Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? 

via Blogger https://ift.tt/2OtY7OJ

[click2watch]

Wall Street Crypto Products May Have to Wait as US Regulators Confront Backlog

The U.S. government may be open again, but don’t hold your breath for regulatory approvals of crypto investment products.

The shutdown, which began on Dec. 22, 2018 and ended on Jan. 25, forced federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), to shutter their doors. This in turn delayed product launches and caused some companies to pull proposals.

Now that they’re back to work, though, the SEC, CFTC and other regulators have five weeks of work to catch up on. And the industry’s advocates in Washington, D.C. are under no illusions that a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) or similar applications will get expedited treatment.

Kristin Smith of the Blockchain Association likened the reopening to starting a car after not driving it for an entire winter, explaining that it would take time for the various regulators and agencies to begin operating at full strength again:

“Everything still works but you need to give it time to warm up. It’s been frustrating, but I think at worst you’ve seen companies delay rather than cancel plans and now folks are eager to pick up where they left off.”

SEC chairman Jay Clayton announced in a public statement that the regulator was “returning to normal operations.” During the shutdown, the agency monitored markets but only took action “to prevent imminent threats to property,” he noted.

That being said, while the agency’s 4,500 employees are back on duty, he noted that the leaders of the SEC’s various divisions needed to determine how best to transition back to business as usual. Some of these divisions would, therefore, be making their own separate announcements about how they might do so.

Lasting consequences

The shutdown – which was the longest in U.S. history – will likely have “some repercussions for the space” as well, said Steve Ehrlich, chief operating officer of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance.

The foremost issue, he said, is the fact that the reopening may be short-lived. The truce between Congress and U.S. President Donald Trump is temporary, and if the two branches of government cannot agree to a permanent budget and a compromise on the proposed border wall by February 15, the government will shut down again.

“I can’t imagine any company trusting that the government will not be shut down again following the 21-day reprieve,” Ehrlich told CoinDesk via email. “Until there is more certainty that the government will not get shut down again in 21 days, federal regulators will focus their activities on serving the broadest segment of the population and addressing their highest priorities, which may not include crypto.”

Indeed, the Senate and House conference committees only began meeting Wednesday to discuss how to avoid shutting down the government again.

More broadly, companies looking to conduct business or base themselves in the U.S. might have second thoughts, Ehrlich said, adding:

“Without the comfort of knowing that the political climate will be calmer for the indefinite future, there will be companies that seek to avoid domiciling themselves in the U.S. or will de-risk themselves by avoiding serving U.S. customers … Those companies that are committed to the U.S. will also face challenges.”

Templum Markets CEO Vince Molinari told CoinDesk that the SEC “made an incredible effort to keep up with their immense workload,” but given how few staffers were on duty during the shutdown (fewer than 300), a 21-day reprieve would not “materially affect” the agency’s backlog.

“It would be impossible for any agency to catch up immediately after so many weeks sidelined, despite their best efforts,” he said.

Indeed, while NYSE Arca and Bitwise Asset Management have filed a rule change proposal for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the SEC has not yet published the document for review in the Federal Register. This indicates the regulator is not currently examining the document and there is no timeline for when a decision approving or rejecting the proposal may come.

Too late for some

The shutdown has already resulted in several planned product launches or hoped-for approvals being delayed.

“Conversations that had been ongoing between startups and relevant regulators such as the SEC (including its newly created FinHUB) about business models and plans have likely lost critical momentum and will take time to recover,” Ehrlich added.

Indeed, the VanEck/SolidX bitcoin ETF proposal was withdrawn by Cboe earlier this month. VanEck CEO Jan van Eck cited the government shutdown as the reason for this decision, explaining that while the companies behind the proposal had been working with the SEC to answer questions about the space, those conversations had been put on pause when the government shut down.

The ETF was re-filed on Thursday, but like NYSE Arca’s, it has not yet been published in the Federal Register.

Bitcoin futures exchange Bakkt, developed by the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, is perhaps the other most-anticipated product launch, but it too is dependent on regulatory approval. The company is waiting on the CFTC to green-light its proposal, but first, the commissioners must release it for public comment. After the 30-day public comment period concludes, the commissioners must then vote to approve Bakkt’s offerings.

As such, there is currently no timeline for when Bakkt may go live. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment when reached.

Similarly, trading platform ErisX is waiting on the CFTC to grant its derivatives clearing organization application. Conversations between the firm and the regulator halted, though CEO Thomas Chippas told CoinDesk during the shutdown that he looked forward to “re-engaging with [CFTC] staff” once the government reopened. ErisX declined to comment on what the reopening would mean for this effort.

In another example of the lingering aftereffects of the shutdown, Ehrlich said he expected that anticipated guidance on token sales from the SEC would be delayed, adding:

“Plus their restarts could be delayed by the mountains of paperwork that officials will need to address.”

Capitol Hill image via Shutterstock

This news post is collected from CoinDesk

Recommended Read

Editor choice

BinBot Pro – Safest & Highly Recommended Binary Options Auto Trading Robot

Do you live in a country like USA or Canada where using automated trading systems is a problem? If you do then now we ...

9.5

Demo & Pro Version Try It Now

Read full review

The post Wall Street Crypto Products May Have to Wait as US Regulators Confront Backlog appeared first on Click 2 Watch.

More Details Here → https://click2.watch/wall-street-crypto-products-may-have-to-wait-as-us-regulators-confront-backlog

[megadarkbouquettidalwavethings]

Bright lights of Times Square beckon, even on a frigid New Year’s Eve

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers are making the annual pilgrimage to New York’s Times Square on Sunday to witness the giant New Year’s Eve ball drop at midnight, undeterred by bitter cold and an unprecedented security operation.

The temperature in midtown Manhattan is expected to plunge to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 degrees Celsius) in the waning hours of 2017, with a “Real Feel” of 4F (minus 15C), according to AccuWeather.com.

If forecasts prove accurate, 2017 would match 1962 as the second-coldest New Year’s Eve on record. Top honors go to 1917, when the mercury in Times Square dropped to 1F (-17C) and the wind chill came in at -18F (-28C).

Madry Cox, 16, and his sister, Mattison, 19, traveled from Lubbock, Texas, to New York with their father for what he called a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to see the glittering spectacle that unfolds in Times Square every Dec. 31.

“It’s worth bearing the cold to see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve,” he said. “It’ll be great.”

Mattison Cox said she plans on wearing plenty of clothes, while still managing to look “a little bit cute,” and drinking coffee to stay warm.

“I’ve only seen it in the movies,” she said. “It’s nice to come witness in person.”

This year, police expect roughly 2 million people to crowd into the general vicinity of Times Square, the bow-tie-shaped plaza formed by the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan. That is roughly the same number as last year, when the temperature at midnight was a comfortable 44F (7C).

A limited number of people will have access to fenced-off viewing areas within the square, giving them an unobstructed view of the giant crystal ball mounted on a pole atop a building at the southern end of the square.

After hours of waiting, the throng will witness the ball’s one-minute descent ending at the stroke of midnight, when a barrage of fireworks and confetti will punctuate the moment.

“This event every year, New Year’s Eve, is one of the things that people all over the country, all over the world, most associate with New York City,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters last week. He said the annual rite of winter was a source of pride for the city and “a huge, joyous event.”

New Year’s Eve ball is seen at the roof of One Times Square building during the New Year’s Eve Ball test, before the official 2017 New Year Celebration at Times Square, Manhattan, New York, U.S., December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Revelers will count down the final hours of 2017 with a lineup of musical acts including Nick Jonas and Neil Diamond.

Mariah Carey is returning as well, no doubt hoping to make amends for last year’s highly criticized performance marred by technical difficulties. Andy Grammer will perform his hit song “Fresh Eyes” and John Lennon’s “Imagine” just before midnight.

Then comes the ball drop, a tradition that dates to 1907, three years after New Yorkers started gathering en masse in Times Square to usher in the new year.

The lighted ball, actually a geodesic sphere 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter and covered by illuminated crystals, will descend 70 feet (21 meters) in the final 60 seconds.

SHOW OF FORCE

Thousands of police will be on hand, some of them heavily armed, others undercover. The show of force is part of a beefed-up security plan that follows a spate of attacks in the city and around the world that authorities have labeled as terrorist.

The New York Police Department has provided officers with specialized training to stop any suicide bombers in response to an attempted bombing in a Times Square subway station walkway on Dec. 11.

Police will also deploy observation teams trained to spot snipers, increase the number of explosive-detecting dogs and position more officers throughout the area this year.

People who want to see the New Year’s Eve musical acts and other entertainment up close in Times Square will have to pass by dogs trained to detect explosives and heavily armed officers, go through a magnetometer to check for weapons, have their bags inspected, and then repeat all those steps a second time.

Police will again use dump trucks filled with sand, police cars and cement blocks to close streets starting at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Sunday. About 125 parking garages in the area will be emptied of all cars and sealed.

(This version of the story was refiled to correct the location of ball to the southern end of Times Square)

Editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The post Bright lights of Times Square beckon, even on a frigid New Year’s Eve appeared first on Sports News, Transfers, Scores | Watch Live Sport.

[yahoo-big-league-stew-blog]

Alex Rodriguez is thriving a year after his last game with the Yankees

You can argue about many things in Alex Rodriguez’s baseball career, but you can’t deny it was successful. Over 22 years, Rodriguez was one of the best players of his era. He was drafted No. 1 overall, made countless All-Star Games, won a World Series ring, made over $300 million and retired with the fourth most home runs all-time.

There were rough times, sure. A-Rod admitted to using steroids during his career and received a 162-game suspension. He feuded with the league, the New York Yankees, Bud Selig and Derek Jeter. He took a weird picture in which it looked like he was kissing his own reflection. He slapped a ball. He reportedly had a painting made of himself as a centaur. (OK, that one is actually awesome.)

[Now’s the time to sign up for Fantasy Football! Join for free]

Despite his stumbles, A-Rod’s accomplishments during his playing career are impossible to completely dismiss. Even with all the warts, he still had a fantastic career.

And yet, his life seems even better now. Despite being forced out of the game last August, A-Rod is thriving. He’s become a respected analyst, a legitimate television star, a family man and the person who has captured Jennifer Lopez’s heart.

After 22 seasons of everyone hating on him, A-Rod turned around his entire image in just one year. Alex Rodriguez is … gulp … likable now.

How did that happen? Great question. With Rodriguez now officially a year removed from his final game with the Yankees, let’s retrace everything he’s accomplished during the #YearofRod.

Alex Rodriguez played his last game with the Yankees on Aug. 12, 2016. (AP)

AUG. 12, 2016: RODRIGUEZ PLAYS HIS FINAL MLB GAME Days after Rodriguez is essentially forced into retirement by the Yankees, he goes out and hits an RBI double off Tampa Bay Rays starter Chris Archer in his final MLB game. Rodriguez receives a standing ovation from fans every time he steps to the plate, and is honored before the game while surrounded by family members. Rodriguez even gets to play third base one more time.

AUG. 13, 2016: THE YANKEES RELEASE A-ROD The Yankees cut bait with Rodriguez the day after his final game. The team still owes him $27 million of the $275 million deal he signed in 2007. He’s expected to serve in an advisory role with the club.

AUG. 15, 2016: RODRIGUEZ SAYS HE’LL SIT OUT THE REST OF THE SEASON Though A-Rod expressed a desire to continue playing baseball in the days leading to his sendoff in New York, he decides to put off a possible comeback until at least 2017. The Miami Marlins apparently considered signing Rodriguez as he attempted to pursue 700 home runs, but their interest proved to be overblown. Rodriguez decides he’ll sit out for the rest of the season and contemplate his career in the winter.

SEP. 29, 2016: A-ROD RETURNS TO FOX SPORTS TO ANALYZE THE POSTSEASON Rodriguez announces he’ll participate in the postseason, but as a broadcaster. After a successful stint on Fox Sports during the 2015 playoffs, Rodriguez signs on again with the network.

OCT. 8, 2016: RODRIGUEZ HINTS AT A POSSIBLE RETURN IN 2017 While filling time on Fox Sports during a rain delay, Rodriguez is asked about Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz possibly putting on his spikes for the last time. When Pete Rose asks, “how’s that feel,” A-Rod responds with a cryptic “stay tuned.” There were a lot of rumors regarding whether A-Rod would attempt a comeback following his final game. While most signs pointed to no, this is the first indication that maybe he would put on his uniform one more time.

Alex Rodriguez doesn’t appreciate hearing about Derek Jeter. (Screen shot via Fox)

OCT. 21, 2016: A-ROD GIVES THE MOST AWKWARD SMILE EVER AT DEREK JETER COMMENT Live television is a glorious thing. The whole world knows about the falling out between Rodriguez and Jeter. That’s no secret. It’s always weird when the two have to talk about each other (more on that later). Well, this was one of those moments. Pete Rose – who is either incredibly oblivious or the world’s greatest troll – puts A-Rod on the spot by saying he was inspired by Jeter. A-Rod has no way out. He’s on live television. He just has to suck it up and take the hit. He accomplishes this by giving possibly the most awkward half-smile we’ve ever seen, offers up only an “I love it” and then abruptly turns his head to another camera as if he’s doing a Ben Wyatt reaction shot on “Parks and Rec.”

OCT. 25, 2016: A-ROD STARTS GETTING RECOGNITION FOR HIS EXCELLENT WORK ON FOX SPORTS This is one of the first moments the public perception of A-Rod starts to change. At this point, he’s been a part of Fox Sports’ broadcasts for a few weeks. He’s come off as knowledgable and entertaining. People are starting to warm up to him. A behind the scenes look reveals it’s all genuine. A-Rod works hard, prepares and takes his job as an analyst seriously. He welcomes jabs from Rose and is willing to make fun of himself. His personality starts to emerge. It’s a refreshing look for someone who was known as robotic during his playing career.

DEC. 15, 2016: A-ROD STEPS UP HIS GAME AT A-ROD CORP A-Rod isn’t spending his offseason exclusively on television. No, it’s an offseason filled with business for the former third baseman. Rodriguez re-commits himself to A-Rod Corp. What does A-Rod Corp. do? We have no idea. Do we love it way too much? Yes, we do.

JAN. 5, 2017: A-ROD PRETTY MUCH SAYS HE’S RETIRED The dream is dead. With four home runs to go before 700, Rodriguez decides he’s done playing baseball. A-Rod doesn’t officially retire, but his spokesman says there are no plans for Rodriguez to try and play in 2017. He’ll focus on being a special advisor for the Yankees instead.

MARCH 7, 2017: RODRIGUEZ SIGNS ON FULL-TIME WITH FOX SPORTS Rodriguez really makes it clear he’s not going to play baseball in 2017. He signs on with Fox Sports full-time. On top of strictly working in studio, Rodriguez will also be allowed to call games from the broadcast booth in his new role.

MARCH 8, 2017: HE AND J-LO BECOME THE NEW CELEBRITY POWER COUPLE Rodriguez begins dating one of the few people who might be more recognizable than him. It’s revealed music icon Jennifer Lopez and A-Rod have been dating for a few months. The move ensures that, even in retirement, A-Rod can’t avoid the tabloids.

MARCH 25, 2017: A-ROD ADMITS HE WAS A JERK  This is a prime example of Rodriguez being more candid and honest since he retired. While speaking to students at the University of Miami, Rodriguez recounts some of the mistakes he made during his playing days. He says that during 2013, when he was fighting his suspension, he made mistakes, was a “big jerk” and “made an ass” of himself on the radio.

MARCH 28, 2017: A-ROD SENDS OUT POSSIBLY HIS FINEST TWEET With the regular season nearly here, analyst A-Rod lets everyone know what’s on his mind with one of his strangest tweets.

Who will win the World Series this year? #mlb pic.twitter.com/4knU1LluGx

— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) March 29, 2017

That birthed a meme, of course. How could it not? Just look at that picture. The best part is, we have no idea whether it was meant to be serious or whether A-Rod was making a joke. In the past, we would assume the former. But Rodriguez has been pretty self-aware in retirement. He may have been in on it.

MAY 2, 2017: A-ROD RE-UNITES WITH JETER FOR A PAINFULLY AWKWARD INTERVIEW “So, are you guys friends now?” That kicks off one of the most cringeworthy interview segments we’ve seen in some time. It’s pretty clear Jeter is not happy almost immediately. He was reportedly furious after the interview, as he didn’t know he would be doing it with Rodriguez. A-Rod handles things a little better, though he can’t do enough to save the interview. It’s an unwatchable mess, but you can’t look away.

MAY 6, 2017: A-ROD DECLINES TO GET IN ON THE MARLINS BIDDING Maybe we know why things were so icy in that interview with Jeter. Rodriguez reportedly met with one of the rival groups looking to purchase the Marlins. He passed on the opportunity, but many think Rodriguez wouldn’t mind becoming an owner eventually. Fans unfortunately miss out on A-Rod vs. Jeter Part … whatever Part we’re on at this point.

Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter still aren’t great friends. (AP Photo)

MAY 15, 2017: A-ROD HAS MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THAN GO TO DEREK JETER DAY Rodriguez was one of the significant no-shows at Derek Jeter’s number retirement ceremony at Yankee Stadium. He had better things to do than hang out with his old frenemy. Jeter Day fell on Mother’s Day, so A-Rod spent time with J-Lo, his mother and his daughters. For once, there was no controversy.

MAY 18, 2017: A PICTURE OF A-ROD’S NOTEBOOK INCLUDES SOME STRANGE NOTES A-Rod’s broadcast booth debut is briefly derailed after a picture of him preparing for the contest reveals some personal musings from his notebook. Bullet points saying “Child, birth control, baby and pull out stuff” are seen in the soon to be deleted tweet. But nothing truly gets scrubbed from the internet.

JUNE 19, 2017: A-ROD AND J-LO GO TO FRANCE Hey, everyone needs a vacation at some point. OK, well, this was technically a #baecation according to J-Lo. A number of entertaining pictures went up on social media, including the two of them enjoying each other’s company, Rodriguez flipping the double bird and A-Rod sitting in a white suit. There are worse ways to relax.

JULY 11, 2017: A-ROD DOES IN-GAME INTERVIEWS AT THE ALL-STAR GAME, WITH MIXED RESULTS Hey, look, there’s A-Rod back on the field. Only this time, he’s doing interviews … with players … during inning breaks. The All-Star Game experimented with a few things this year. While A-Rod’s between-inning interviews with a few players was rocky, he seemed to get more comfortable with the idea as it went along. Despite being put in a tough spot, he does well, confirming he’s made progress as a broadcaster.

JULY 12, 2017: A-ROD MAKES HIS PLAY TO BE THE NEXT COMMISSIONER A-Rod reveals four ways baseball can be better and more fan-friendly in the future. They include more cameras on the field to give fans a better look at everything, integration with Google to provide more in-depth stats and facts, more affordable games so families can go to the park and more players being mic’d up. Watch out, Rob Manfred, A-Rod might be coming for your job.

AUG. 3, 2017: RODRIGUEZ ADMITS THE SUSPENSION WAS THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO HIM In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” Rodriguez says his 2014 suspension may have been a good thing. It forced him to re-evaluate his life and come to the conclusion he wanted to be a different person. That seems to be in line with the narrative surrounding A-Rod around this time. It was said he embraced a leadership and mentor role with the Yankees once he returned from his suspension.

AUG. 12, 2017: ALEX RODRIGUEZ IS DOING JUST FINE A year after his final game with the Yankees, life is pretty good for Rodriguez. He’s regarded as a tremendous analyst, and the public perception around him is changing. It’s too premature to say whether he’s done enough for people to vote him into the Hall of Fame, but that seems less outlandish than it did a year ago. After a career full of hatred and jeers, A-Rod has started to slowly win over some of his biggest critics. He’s done that by finally being himself.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik

[dorukhaber06]

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers go way back, as in the 1967 NFL championship game played in such frigid conditions at Lambeau Field that it is known in league annals as the “Ice Bowl.”

#gallery-0-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has more recent memories, and they’re painful for reasons other than the cold.

Two of the league’s marquee franchises share a postseason history that dates back five decades. They have met seven previous times in the playoffs , with Dallas holding a 4-3 edge going into the divisional round game on Sunday against the Packers at AT&T Stadium.

While the teams may not be heated divisional rivals, their postseason meetings often leave an impression.

“I hope the Cowboys don’t spoil it, or I’ll be really (angry) if they do,” said former Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer.

He was one of the blockers for Hall of Famer Bart Starr’s game-winning, 1-yard quarterback sneak with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Green Bay’s 21-17 win in the Ice Bowl.

Each team has made 32 postseason appearances, tied with the New York Giants for most in NFL history.

Dallas and Green Bay have unique owners. For the Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones is part-showman, part-personnel executive and part-spokesman. Dallas plays in a cavernous, modern stadium in a sprawling suburb.

Green Bay plays in the league’s smallest market. Lambeau Field is the league’s longest-tenured stadium, situated in the middle of a blue-collar neighborhood. It’s the only publicly owned franchise in the NFL.

“Part of it is, I don’t think the organizations could be more different. Their stadium and our stadium — ours is iconic, an older stadium. Their (stadium) is glitzy,” Packers president Mark Murphy said. “But I have tremendous respect for the Dallas organization and Jerry.”

A look back at some postseason highlights of postseason between the teams:

NEW YEAR’S DAY: Fifty years ago on Jan. 1, the teams met in the 1966 NFL championship game, which took on new meaning since the winner would represent the league in the first Super Bowl against the AFL winner. Starr was 19 of 28 for 304 yards and four touchdown passes in the 34-27 victory at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Packers went on to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

After joining the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1960, Dallas started a streak of 20 straight winning seasons in 1966.

ICE BOWL: The temperature was minus-13 at kickoff on Dec. 31, 1967, when the Cowboys and Packers met at Lambeau in a classic NFL championship game . Cowboys equipment staff gave players a salve to rub on to keep warm, and put Saran Wrap around feet in an attempt to add another layer of warmth.

There wasn’t much of a rivalry then because the Cowboys were still relatively new to the league, Kramer said, though the seeds of a rivalry were planted.

DALLAS DOMINATION: The Cowboys dominated in the mid-1990s with a star-studded lineup led by the Hall of Fame trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Dallas hosted the Packers and another future Hall of Famer, quarterback Brett Favre, for three straight seasons, from 1993-95, all Cowboys victories.

Kramer remembers a weekend in which he attended one of those playoff games and got frustrated by the brash and confident Cowboys. His anger boiled over in a radio interview.

“There wasn’t anything about any of them that I liked,” Kramer recalled this week. He has become friends with former Dallas players, though his heart remains with the Packers.

The loss in the 1995 NFC title game served as a learning experience for Green Bay. The Packers went on to beat New England in the Super Bowl in the 1996 season.

“Every year, you got better, you learned from your mistakes,” former center Frank Winters said. “From a motivational point … you tried to overcome those adversities, tried to learn from them and move forward.”

They didn’t face the Cowboys in the playoffs that year after Dallas was knocked out by Carolina. The Packers returned to the Super Bowl the following season, losing to Denver.

“I think the signature ‘win’ for the Packers was a loss, and that was the NFC championship in 1995 in Dallas,” former Packers linebacker George Koonce said. “That really prepared us and got us focused to really get us ready to win a championship.”

OVERTURNED CATCH: The Cowboys returned to Lambeau for a postseason game on Jan. 11, 2015. They left with a 26-21 loss after Bryant’s leaping, 31-yard catch to the Packers 1 on fourth-and-2 with 4 1/2 minutes left was overturned by officials.

Cornerback Sam Shields had solid coverage. Coach Mike McCarthy saw otherwise and threw a challenge flag.

Replays showed that Bryant bobbled the ball as he rolled into the end zone, with part of it touching the field. After reviewing the play, officials overturned the call, saying Bryant didn’t maintain control all the way to the ground.

“Still to this day,” Bryant said when asked if fans still come up to him about the call. “Still to this day they (will) be like . ‘I just want the world to know that Dez Bryant still caught it.’”

As for Bryant, that call is history .

“It’s already erased … I’m just thinking about this game,” Bryant said. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be a fun game Sunday.”

Playoff #history for Packers and #Cowboys dates back decades

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers go way back, as in the 1967 NFL championship game played in such frigid conditions at Lambeau Field that it is known in league annals as the “Ice Bowl.”

Playoff #history for Packers and #Cowboys dates back decades The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers go way back, as in the 1967 NFL championship game played in such frigid conditions at Lambeau Field that it is known in league annals as the "Ice Bowl."

[megadarkbouquettidalwavethings]

Bright lights of Times Square beckon, even on a frigid New Year’s Eve

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers are making the annual pilgrimage to New York’s Times Square on Sunday to witness the giant New Year’s Eve ball drop at midnight, undeterred by bitter cold and an unprecedented security operation.

The temperature in midtown Manhattan is expected to plunge to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 degrees Celsius) in the waning hours of 2017, with a “Real Feel” of 4F (minus 15C), according to AccuWeather.com.

If forecasts prove accurate, 2017 would match 1962 as the second-coldest New Year’s Eve on record. Top honors go to 1917, when the mercury in Times Square dropped to 1 F (-17C) and the wind chill came in at -18 F (-28C).

Madry Cox, 16, and his sister, Mattison, 19, traveled from Lubbock, Texas, to New York with their father for what he called a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to see the glittering spectacle that unfolds in Times Square every Dec. 31.

“It’s worth bearing the cold to see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve,” he said. “It’ll be great.”

Mattison Cox said she plans on wearing plenty of clothes, while still managing to look “a little bit cute,” and drinking coffee to stay warm.

“I’ve only seen it in the movies,” she said. “It’s nice to come witness in person.”

This year, police expect roughly 2 million people to crowd into the general vicinity of Times Square, the bow-tie-shaped plaza formed by the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan. That is roughly the same number as last year, when the temperature at midnight was a comfortable 44F (7C).

A limited number of people will have access to fenced-off viewing areas within the square, giving them an unobstructed view of the giant crystal ball mounted on a pole atop a building at the northern end of the square.

After hours of waiting, the throng will witness the ball’s one-minute descent ending at the stroke of midnight, when a barrage of fireworks and confetti will punctuate the moment.

New Year’s Eve ball is seen at the roof of One Times Square building during the New Year’s Eve Ball test, before the official 2017 New Year Celebration at Times Square, Manhattan, New York, U.S., December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

“This event every year, New Year’s Eve, is one of the things that people all over the country, all over the world, most associate with New York City,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters last week. He said the annual rite of winter was a source of pride for the city and “a huge, joyous event.”

Revelers will count down the final hours of 2017 with a lineup of musical acts including Nick Jonas and Neil Diamond.

Mariah Carey is returning as well, no doubt hoping to make amends for last year’s highly criticized performance marred by technical difficulties. Andy Grammer will perform his hit song “Fresh Eyes” and John Lennon’s “Imagine” just before midnight.

Then comes the ball drop, a tradition that dates to 1907, three years after New Yorkers started gathering en masse in Times Square to usher in the new year.

The lighted ball, actually a geodesic sphere 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter and covered by illuminated crystals, will descend 70 feet (21 meters) in the final 60 seconds.

SHOW OF FORCE

Thousands of police will be on hand, some of them heavily armed, others undercover. The show of force is part of a beefed-up security plan that follows a spate of attacks in the city and around the world that authorities have labeled as terrorist.

The New York Police Department has provided officers with specialized training to stop any suicide bombers in response to an attempted bombing in a Times Square subway station walkway on Dec. 11.

Police will also deploy observation teams trained to spot snipers, increase the number of explosive-detecting dogs and position more officers throughout the area this year.

People who want to see the New Year’s Eve musical acts and other entertainment up close in Times Square will have to pass by dogs trained to detect explosives and heavily armed officers, go through a magnetometer to check for weapons, have their bags inspected, and then repeat all those steps a second time.

Police will again use dump trucks filled with sand, police cars and cement blocks to close streets starting at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Sunday. About 125 parking garages in the area will be emptied of all cars and sealed.

Editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The post Bright lights of Times Square beckon, even on a frigid New Year’s Eve appeared first on dailygate.

[dorukhaber06]

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers go way back, as in the 1967 NFL championship game played in such frigid conditions at Lambeau Field that it is known in league annals as the “Ice Bowl.”

#gallery-0-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has more recent memories, and they’re painful for reasons other than the cold.

Two of the league’s marquee franchises share a postseason history that dates back five decades. They have met seven previous times in the playoffs , with Dallas holding a 4-3 edge going into the divisional round game on Sunday against the Packers at AT&T Stadium.

While the teams may not be heated divisional rivals, their postseason meetings often leave an impression.

“I hope the Cowboys don’t spoil it, or I’ll be really (angry) if they do,” said former Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer.

He was one of the blockers for Hall of Famer Bart Starr’s game-winning, 1-yard quarterback sneak with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Green Bay’s 21-17 win in the Ice Bowl.

Each team has made 32 postseason appearances, tied with the New York Giants for most in NFL history.

Dallas and Green Bay have unique owners. For the Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones is part-showman, part-personnel executive and part-spokesman. Dallas plays in a cavernous, modern stadium in a sprawling suburb.

Green Bay plays in the league’s smallest market. Lambeau Field is the league’s longest-tenured stadium, situated in the middle of a blue-collar neighborhood. It’s the only publicly owned franchise in the NFL.

“Part of it is, I don’t think the organizations could be more different. Their stadium and our stadium — ours is iconic, an older stadium. Their (stadium) is glitzy,” Packers president Mark Murphy said. “But I have tremendous respect for the Dallas organization and Jerry.”

A look back at some postseason highlights of postseason between the teams:

NEW YEAR’S DAY: Fifty years ago on Jan. 1, the teams met in the 1966 NFL championship game, which took on new meaning since the winner would represent the league in the first Super Bowl against the AFL winner. Starr was 19 of 28 for 304 yards and four touchdown passes in the 34-27 victory at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Packers went on to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

After joining the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1960, Dallas started a streak of 20 straight winning seasons in 1966.

ICE BOWL: The temperature was minus-13 at kickoff on Dec. 31, 1967, when the Cowboys and Packers met at Lambeau in a classic NFL championship game . Cowboys equipment staff gave players a salve to rub on to keep warm, and put Saran Wrap around feet in an attempt to add another layer of warmth.

There wasn’t much of a rivalry then because the Cowboys were still relatively new to the league, Kramer said, though the seeds of a rivalry were planted.

DALLAS DOMINATION: The Cowboys dominated in the mid-1990s with a star-studded lineup led by the Hall of Fame trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Dallas hosted the Packers and another future Hall of Famer, quarterback Brett Favre, for three straight seasons, from 1993-95, all Cowboys victories.

Kramer remembers a weekend in which he attended one of those playoff games and got frustrated by the brash and confident Cowboys. His anger boiled over in a radio interview.

“There wasn’t anything about any of them that I liked,” Kramer recalled this week. He has become friends with former Dallas players, though his heart remains with the Packers.

The loss in the 1995 NFC title game served as a learning experience for Green Bay. The Packers went on to beat New England in the Super Bowl in the 1996 season.

“Every year, you got better, you learned from your mistakes,” former center Frank Winters said. “From a motivational point … you tried to overcome those adversities, tried to learn from them and move forward.”

They didn’t face the Cowboys in the playoffs that year after Dallas was knocked out by Carolina. The Packers returned to the Super Bowl the following season, losing to Denver.

“I think the signature ‘win’ for the Packers was a loss, and that was the NFC championship in 1995 in Dallas,” former Packers linebacker George Koonce said. “That really prepared us and got us focused to really get us ready to win a championship.”

OVERTURNED CATCH: The Cowboys returned to Lambeau for a postseason game on Jan. 11, 2015. They left with a 26-21 loss after Bryant’s leaping, 31-yard catch to the Packers 1 on fourth-and-2 with 4 1/2 minutes left was overturned by officials.

Cornerback Sam Shields had solid coverage. Coach Mike McCarthy saw otherwise and threw a challenge flag.

Replays showed that Bryant bobbled the ball as he rolled into the end zone, with part of it touching the field. After reviewing the play, officials overturned the call, saying Bryant didn’t maintain control all the way to the ground.

“Still to this day,” Bryant said when asked if fans still come up to him about the call. “Still to this day they (will) be like . ‘I just want the world to know that Dez Bryant still caught it.'”

As for Bryant, that call is history .

“It’s already erased … I’m just thinking about this game,” Bryant said. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be a fun game Sunday.”

Playoff #history for Packers and #Cowboys dates back decades The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers go way back, as in the 1967 NFL championship game played in such frigid conditions at Lambeau Field that it is known in league annals as the "Ice Bowl."