We've all rolled our eyes now and then at an interview question in football but, when you're Cristiano Ronaldo, you probably ought to know what to expect by now. The Real Madrid forward has failed to score away from home since putting one past Eibar in La Liga on November 29. While the Spanish giants have had a winter break between now and then, it still makes four games on the road without scoring for the Portuguese. When your tally at home for the season (21 goals) nearly doubles that in away games (11), people are bound to talk - but Cristiano quite clearly did not want to hear it! Asked why the goals on his travels had dried up, Ronaldo angrily challenged the journalist in question as to how much recent form meant in context of his wider achievements and doubled down on his disdain by making his exit even while his adversary attempted to follow up. He growled: "Why have I struggled to score away from home? Can you name one player who has scored more away from home than me since I've been in Spain? "No, you can't; there aren't any. Bye everyone." Of course, the reporters at the press conference should have known that Ronaldo would be cranky; it's been over a year since he won any Ballons d'Or. watch here
AC Milan manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has hinted Mario Balotelli's career at San Siro could be over following a lacklustre display against Genoa. Goals from Carlos Bacca and Keisuke Honda secured a 2-1 victory for the Rossoneri, but on-loan Liverpool striker Balotelli has been criticised for not putting enough effort in. And Mihajlovic singled out the Italy international, as well as some of his team-mates, as players who may not be selected again while he is in charge. "We had to win and we did it. It was a good performance and we hardly ever ran risks," he toldMediaset Premium.
"We should've scored a third goal and not risked at the end. It is also my fault, as those who don't sacrifice themselves for the team to the 94th minute will no longer set foot on the field.
"It wasn't just Balotelli, there were another two or three as well as him, they know who I'm talking about." source:goal.com
Barcelona forward Neymar has had assets frozen back in his native Brazil.
The 24-year-old is facing charges of tax evasion between 2011 and 2013, but has denied any wrongdoing. The federal court in the state of Sao Paulo has intervened to block £34.5 million worth of his assets, however, with a yacht, a jet, properties and three companies belonging to his family all affected. The authorities have ordered Neymar, who is accused of setting up companies as a means of paying a lower rate of tax, to hand over £11 million - the figure he is said to owe.
"He can still appeal the decision, but it is a step forward," said Iagaro Jung Martins, an auditor with the federal tax agency. "If he pays what he owes, the case is closed. Our legislation isn't too harsh."
Neymar is also facing allegations of corruption and fraud in Spain, an issue that relates to his transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013. source:goal.com
Was paying off your student loan debt for good one of your resolutions for 2016?
Seven out of 10 seniors who graduated from public and nonprofit colleges in 2014 had an average student loan debt of $28,950, according to the most recent numbers crunched by the Institute for college Access & Success.
In her second edition release of CliffsNotes Graduation Debt, author Reyna Gobel explains that student loan minimum payments are typically figured for a 25 to 30-year term so you could be paying it for most of your adult life.
The debt could even hamper your ability to move out of your parent’s house, buy a car, buy a house or even start a family.
So, how do you know if your student loan debt is realistically payable before 20 or 30 years pass, given your starting salary? The simple formula cited by Mark Kantrowitz, student loan expert and publisher of edvisors.com is, “If your total student loan debt is less than your starting annual income, you will be able to repay it in 10 years or less.”
Kantrowitz says that paying 10 percent of your monthly income toward student loan debt is manageable, and paying 15 percent is stretching that limit.
Many young adults graduating with student loan debt just want it gone, above all else, and they are willing to stretch. They are proof positive that it can be done, by using extreme student debt payoff strategies.
Name: Zina Kumok Balance: $28,000 Current profession: Personal finance writer/blogger in Denver, Colorado Starting salary after graduation:$28,000 in an entry level newspaper reporting job Time to payoff: 3 years
Why she did it: “As soon as I made that first payment and saw how half went to interest, I realized I wanted to be debt-free as soon as possible. It was so hard to learn how little my $28,000 income really was.”
How she did it: “My strategy was extreme budget-cutting to make as many additional payments toward principal as possible. Once I moved in with roommates and cut my rent payment, it was even easier.”
Extreme student debt payoff secrets: “I signed up for auto-debit and on that day every month I would also put in my extra payment for whatever I could so it would automatically go to principal. That included birthday money, a bonus or holiday gift money. I also used the ‘snowball method‘ of debt payment where you pay off the smallest loans first to free up money from that payment as well as use the momentum for seeing it paid off to put toward paying off the next smallest loan and I just kept going.”
Professional opinion: Edvisors urges you to take advantage of auto-debit programs for 2 reasons.
1. Auto-debit, which automatically transfers loan payments your bank account to the lender, helps you avoid late payments
2. Signing up often makes the borrower eligible for a discount on the loan’s interest rate (0.25% to 0.50%)
Student loan payoff strategy #2: Keep college costs low
Name: Micah Fraim Balance: $11,000 Current profession: Certified Public Accountant, owner of Micah Fraim CPA in Roanoke, Virginia Starting salary after graduation:$40,000 in an entry level accounting job Time to payoff: 6 months
Why he did it: “While mortgage debt and other types of debt can be a financial tool, I naturally hate consumer debt and student loan debt which is just a drain on income.”
How he did it: “My goal was to pay it off in one year at $1,000 per month, with a one-month grace period. Because I lived at home and paid only $400 rent to my parents, every other dime went to the student loans in a bi-weekly plan and I paid it off even faster than my goal.”
Extreme student debt payoff secrets: “First keep your college costs low. Then, pay all your other bills immediately so you can’t spend that money on something else, so you can see immediately how much you have left over from each paycheck to pay biweekly toward your student debt.”
Professional opinion: Gobel encourages borrowers to make bi-weekly payments. If you do, you’ll pay the equivalent of 13 monthly payments per year instead of 12.
Name: Nick Santora Balance: $60,000, Current profession: Cyber security specialist, owner of Curricula, a cyber security training program for corporations in Atlanta, Georgia. Starting salary after graduation:$50,000 in an entry level cyber security job Time to pay off: 5 years
Why he did it: “I wanted to challenge myself to get that loan paid off by the time I turned 30.” How he did it: “I paid a ‘bill to myself’ every month of $1,000, the amount I would need to pay the loans off in 5 years.”
Extreme student debt payoff secrets: “I lived with roommates so my rent was only $500 per month. Along with a decent starting salary I received bonuses and raises every year and I used all of that to attack my student loans aggressively. It was me against the student loans. Without that aggressive focus, goals can fall apart.”
Professional opinion: Gobel advises borrowers to put any raises or bonuses towards student loans instead of lifestyle boosts. The only exceptions to that rule are if you have no emergency fund or you have much higher interest credit card debt to pay off as well.
Student loan payoff strategy #4: Earn extra income
Name: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Balance: $40,000 Current profession: Personal finance blogger currently writing and traveling around in an RV Starting salary after graduation:$50,000 as an entry level financial analyst Time to pay off: 7 months
Why she did it: “I received my first student loan payment bill around 5 months after I graduated and I realized that I needed a plan to get out of student loan debt.”
How she did it: “I am queen of the ‘side hustle’ to drum up extra cash. My blog was one of my original and most successful side hustles, so much so that I quit my day job after my blog income surpassed it. I’ve also done mystery shopping, surveys, virtual assisting, and freelance writing for others all to pay off my student loan debt fast. I think everyone really does have time for a side hustle and they should use it.”
Extreme student debt payoff secrets: “Towards the end of my student loan debt payoff journey, I decided to dip into my emergency fund to make final payoff so much quicker. Also, I knew my new higher and growing income could support repaying the emergency fund very quickly.”
Professional opinion: Using an emergency fund to pay off student loan debt is only advised if you still have some emergency fund and your current income can replace it quickly. Gobel cautions that you could be at the mercy of an emergency that uses up your cash and delays another debt payment, putting you behind and adding fees and interest.
Student loan payoff strategy #5: Pay down the principal
Name: Jonna Reczek Balance: $12,000 Current profession: Public Relations account associate in New York, N.Y. Starting salary after graduation:$38,000 as an entry level public relations account associate Time to pay off: Recently graduated and still paying
Why she did it: “I had a discussion with my dad who explained how paying longer results in paying more interest. That’s when I knew I had to pay them off as quickly as possible.”
How she did it: “I used the 6-month grace period to find a good job as soon as possible and build up a savings base. Once the $2,000 loan became payable, I decided to just pay it with the savings I had amassed to avoid stretching it out with its higher interest rate. Now, I can devote all my extra money to the other, lower-rate, $10,000 loan.”
Extreme student debt payoff secrets: “I am currently living with a family friend so I only pay $500 monthly rent which includes everything. I also front-load all my payments so the extra amount goes towards principal. Since I’m newly out on my own, I just learned that opening my mail every day is actually very important. I recently found a letter with a November time-stamp containing a notification that my first loan installment would be due in February.”
Professional opinion: Gobel suggests always being aware of all your student loans (you may have many), their specific interest rates, loan terms and payment dates. She advises using the National Student Loan Data System as your first step in adopting an extreme student loan debt payoff plan.
Any extra amount you can put toward student loan debt is good.
Gobel explains (with a chart in her book) that even $5 reduces the amount you owe and the length of the loan and amount of interest you will ultimately pay. She also advises borrowers to check with each loan servicer to ensure that none of these extreme payment strategies voids any specific direct-debit or other borrower benefits attached to your current payment plan.
Lil Wayne got paid $60,000 to make a very special appearance at Ace of Diamonds strip club after the Grammys, but he immediately spread that wealth around ... to a special lady.
Wayne strolled in and immediately got some face time with a stripper named NoForeign. They chatted at his table before she was called to the pole.
Wayne was laser-focused enjoying her performance -- then literally threw two bricks of cash worth $12,000 onstage for NoForeign and her comrade in heels, Malaaysiaaaa.
Wayne posted a hot pic of NoForeign a few weeks ago, so pretty clear Weezy was on a mission. And if $12k doesn't sound like that much ... that's a nice fat 20 percent tip off his appearance fee.
THROWIN' BRICKSTMZ.com
Lil Wayne got paid $60,000 to make a very special appearance at Ace of Diamonds strip club after the Grammys, but he immediately spread that wealth around ... to a special lady.
Both Adele and Lionel Richie performed at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, and both singers have iconic songs called “Hello.” Richie poked fun at the overlap a few months ago on Instagram, posting a side by side comparison pic of himself and Adele on identical old school phones. Now, he’s finally had the chance to meet the star he’s been playing phone tag with since October.
During an interview with Nancy O’Dell at the Grammys red carpet pre-show, Richie said, “I have not had a chance to meet [Adele] yet, but I’m here tonight to meet her backstage. I’m looking for her. And my opening line is going to be, ’Hello. It’s me.’ She’s going to say, ‘No, no. Is it me you’re looking for?’”
O’Dell then asked the most important question of the evening: Will Richie and Adele collaborate on a “Hello” mash-up? “We have to,” he replied. “Don’t worry—it’s coming.”
Though he’s a revered actor and activist, much of the public conversation surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio is focused on one of two things: his seemingly never-ending campaign for an Oscar and his playboy-esque dating life.
As far as that Oscar business goes, Leo’s actually making significant strides toward winning one of the little golden guys. His grueling, grunt-heavy performance in The Revenant has already earned him a Golden Globe, and he’s widely considered the frontrunner in this year’s Academy Awards race.
As for that dating thing, though… let’s just say Leo has a “type” and he sticks to it (twenty-something, drop-dead-gorgeous models, please form an orderly queue at DiCaprio’s door).
The actor’s reputation as a serial dater is the subject of a new spoof video from Mashable, which imagines the exit interview process that all of Leo’s exes have to complete before breaking off from him for good. Apparently, Leo needs feedback on his many flings, and for whatever reason, insists upon knowing if their sex life was more “Titanic, Body of Lies, Catch Me If You Can, or The Basketball Diaries.” At least The Revenant wasn’t an option?
The last two weeks have seen the major moves of Rihanna, Kanye, and Beyoncé dominate our music media. Theirs are the only stories we are all talking about, and for good reason — their artistry and industriousness heralds the shape of the future of music. Yet all of the collective noise made by music’s biggest players wasn’t heard on Monday night’s Grammys telecast.
It’s no surprise that Kanye nixed his Grammys invite, even amid all that he seeks in terms of Grammy recognition. He wants the world. How else to explain why he tweeted about wanting to be the creative director of the historic French fashion house Hermès? More than any other artist, he is in a position to survey all that the music industry can muster for an artist of his magnitude — no wonder he has set his sights elsewhere.
Taking last night’s Grammys as evidence, what unreaped riches lie ahead for Kanye West? If he enters the industry’s good graces, he might end up like Lionel Richie and see a country bro (Luke Bryant) and nouveau-retro pop star (Meghan Trainor) ruin his greatest songs with the sheer force of their impassioned mediocrity. Or witness one of the decade’s least-understood pop stars perform a sprawling tribute in the form of a hammy Vegas-grade medley. Between those performances was a parade of guitars, despite EDM and rap remaining the modes of pushing musical boundaries. Kendrick Lamar, the only evidence of either on the Grammys stage, was forced to carry that weight — a frustratingly trademark Grammys move.
Even if Kanye tweets that he wants to win a hundred Grammys, it’s clear it’s not the dubious honor he seeks — what he wants is the legacy. Kanye appears fixated on white institutions, but in America those are the markers of record that allow one a staged Grammy tribute rather than a two-second memorial compilation clip. Recorded music is the time for the season, but amid watching the Motorhead tribute–cum–Joe Perry relethon, I checked my Twitter feed just praying for more Kanye tweets. No wonder Rihanna didn’t show up; why give any more time to a business that needed to create a hashtag (#supportmusic) to prop itself up?
"How about these, to tone down a sparkly cocktail dress?"
I was trying on some orthopedic style flats with my friend Rachel as we were perusing the shoe sale in Bloomingdales. It got the laugh I hoped for. And then a question followed, one I get quite a lot:
"Susie, how are you always so happy?"
It's always a compliment when I am asked this.
The answer?
I'm human. I'm not always happy.
But I have a few tricks (after being a self-help junkie for so many years!) that I keep up my sleeve that keep me going. These tricks are what Tony Robbins refers to as being "emotionally fit" -- things I do to remain buoyant, resilient, focused on the good in my life. I remind myself everyday that my time on planet earth is limited and I want to spend it being vibrant, present and fully alive. I hope one of my tips might help you feel even a smidge the same way this week!
1. I make sure my spare time is occupied with projects I love.The underutilized mind is not a happy mind. I write almost every day and ensure that I'm always working on multiple projects that inspire and stretch me. Aside from my valued downtime and meditation, I'm a very busy person, which leaves little opportunity for rumination and overthinking.
2. I give as much as I can.It gives me a lot of joy to compliment others, make other people feel special and dial up the kindness wherever I go. Try this! It never fails to give me a boost, as we always keep what we give away.
3. I focus on and visualize what I want.My mind can easily veer into "worst-case scenario" mode unless I consciously disinvite those thoughts. I consistently remind myself why I'm doing what I'm doing and what it is I want to achieve.
Visualize what you want clearly and you'll notice an immediate shift in how you feel. Visualization also makes you incredibly creative in terms of taking action and making your dreams a reality. That is one of the reasons I love vision boards and host vision board events.
4. I ask for what I want (and don't feel guilty about getting it).Whether it's a better table at a restaurant or the rates I command for different projects, asking for what I want ensures that I feel assertive, authentic and true to myself. Silencing your desires is like taking a weakening drug. The only cure is to identify what matters to you, give yourself permission to know you deserve it and honor yourself by asking for it. I regularly ask myself, "What do I really want?" and allow my heart to lead the way.
5. I think of how happy my past self would have been to have my current life.Five or 10 years ago if someone told me that I would have the life that I enjoy now, I would have been extremely happy. I'm sure A LOT of you would feel the same way about where you are in your life. I remind myself regularly that while I'll always be working toward something new, I'm still doing OK in the present moment.
6. I consume inspirational material EVERY single day.If I miss a day, I notice it. I listen to podcasts, I read loads of books, and I make it a point to go to read inspirational articles and videos. External inspiration massively feeds internal inspiration. I can't live without it.
It's a simple list, but it works for me.
What do you do to stay happy? I'd love to hear your tips -- there might be no more important topic than this one! source:huffingtonpost
