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Exhausted firefighters said they had finally brought Australia's largest "megablaze" under control Monday | Firefighters said they finally had the upper hand in the fight against the vast Gospers Mtn fire on Sydney's northwestern outskirts, which has been burning out of control for almost 3 months
https://phys.org/news/2020-01-australian-megablaze-brought.html

Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial had 41 witnesses, Clinton's had 3, and now some GOP senators want zero
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/12/opinions/senate-trump-impeachment-witnesses-obeidallah/index.html

Trump authorized Soleimani's killing 7 months ago, with conditions | The timing raises new questions about the Trump administration's stated justification for taking out the top Iranian general.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-authorized-soleimani-s-killing-7-months-ago-conditions-n1113271

Texas Democrats launch largest voter registration campaign to hobble GOP's grip on the state
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/texas-democrats-launch-largest-voter-registration-campaign-hobble/story?id=68150180

If the Seahawks had an average NFL quarterback they’d be 4-12. Russell Wilson is incredible.

Deshaun Watson became the first QB in NFL history to lose a playoff game with 300+ pass yards, 3+ total TDs and 0 giveaways.

The Chiefs are the first team in NFL history to lead at halftime after trailing by 24+ points

Bill O'Brien's decision to call a fake punt on fourth and 4 at his 31 with a 24-7 lead midway through the second quarter will go down as one of the worst in playoff history if the Texans blow this game as they're trying so hard to do.

The Chiefs have a 4 game losing streak against 1 AFC team. That team? The Tennessee Titans

Where does faking a punt up 17 on the road in the playoffs at your own 35 yard line rank on the dumb coaching scale? Is it off the charts? I think it might be.
https://twitter.com/claytravis/status/1216469643633795073?s=21

Deshaun Watson deserves better than Bill O’Brien. Kicking the FG on 4th & 1 when the Chiefs were reeling, only to go for fake punt when the Chiefs had a little life will go down in history as the most incongruous, indefensible, consecutive 4th down calls in playoff history.

Terrell Suggs said “you can’t spot a team 24 points but it’s nice to have the fastest man on the planet and the reigning MVP on your team. Ya’ll have a good night.”
https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV/status/1216513434717773825?s=20

The Texans have allowed 51 points today. That is the most points they've ever allowed in a game in franchise history

Over the last four years, Clowney has 46 penalties, seven more than any other defensive player.
https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/1216526814761406464

Lamar Jackson is the first quarterback to enter the postseason on a 10+ game winning streak and go one and done since Peyton Manning in 2012

In 6 years with Miami Ryan Tannehill made the playoffs once...and didn’t play due to injury. Now he’s one game away from playing in the Super Bowl...in Miami.

The 14-2 Ravens, 13-3 Saints and 12-4 Patriots have all gone 1 and done in the playoffs

Derrick Henry has more touchdown passes in these playoffs than Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson combined

The Ravens trying to tackle Derrick Henry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-0vzjTvesw

The Kansas City Chiefs scored 3 TD‘s in 3:24 minutes

Ridiculous irony is Lamar Jackson losing this game to a QB who actually used to be a wide receiver

My fave NFL quarterback Kerry Collins QB'd 3 different teams to 10 Win Seasons in His Career.

Ryan Tannehill 2019 Cap charge to Titans: $1.85 million; 2019 Cap charge to Dolphins: $18.5 million
https://twitter.com/andrewbrandt/status/1216203477258514432?s=21

Lamar Jackson on critics saying he’s 0-2 in the postseason: “I don’t care what they say. This is my second year in the league.”

“Kirk threw a very catchable ball. I appreciate it.” - Sherman on his INT

Don’t look now but @ryantannehill1 is one win away from playing in the Super Bowl in @HardRockStadium in Miami.

Derrick Henry has 588 rushing yards.... in his last 3 games.

DeMar DeRozan absolutely filthy posterizer on Boucher
https://streamable.com/t6g22

Demar Derozan crashed Siakam's postgame media scrum
https://streamable.com/yn0rp

Pepsi Center crowd cheers, Denver players smile, Kawhi hangs his head, PatBev still arguing with the refs after the game's overHighlights
https://streamable.com/yii6x

New York Knicks (11-27) upsets Miami Heat (27-12) 121-124 with Julius Randle leading the way with 26\8\4

Nets are up by 22 with 7 seconds left and Atlanta just want a mercy layup. Jarrett Allen had other ideas
https://streamable.com/gzns0

Kyrie Irving in his first game back from injury: 21 points, 10/11 FG, 1/1 3PT in just 20 minutes

Kyle Lowry making sure the kids are alright
https://streamable.com/dyzrg

Rudy Gay cocks it back on RHJ
https://streamable.com/skh88

DeAndre Jordan doesn't like Vince Carter's defense on Spencer Dinwiddie
https://streamable.com/ds9m7

Patrick Beverley fouls out and Doc Rivers cannot believe it, Rivers gets ejected as well
https://streamable.com/aukqw

Vince Carter checks out to a huge standing ovation in his last game in BrooklynHighlights
https://streamable.com/b7xa1

The Memphis Grizzlies (18-22) defeat the Golden State Warriors (9-32) 122-102 behind 31 and 19 from Jonas ValanciunasPost Game Thread

Nikola Jokic ends his night with a line of 20/15/6 leading the Nuggets to the victory over the Clippers

The Utah Jazz (27-12) extend their winning streak to 9, as the Washington Wizards (13-26) fall just short 127-116

The Phoenix Suns (16-23) defeat the Charlotte Hornets (15-27) 100-92 in an absolute thriller of a game.

Patrick Beverley commits a horrendous flop while guarding Nikola Jokic
https://streamable.com/9a27n

Kyrie Irving drops 21 points (10/11 FGs) in 20 minutes on his first game back from a long term injury
https://streamable.com/k313d

RJ Barrett’s last 11 games - 34/45 (76%) from the FT Line

Michael Porter Jr takes it coast to coast through heavy traffic and still finishes it
https://streamable.com/fags1

Kelly Oubre 25/15/1/3/2, +22

Block by JV leading to Ja Morant alley-oop dunk.Highlights
https://streamable.com/e5pp4

Kyle Lowry gets a clutch 3 to cut the lead to 1 but Pascal Siakam cannot sink the game winner
https://streamable.com/o3sb9

Joe Ingles in his first 10 games of the season: 3PT% of 26.83 on 4.6 3PA per game. Joe Ingles in the last 10 games: 3PT% of 50.24 on 7.2 3PA per game.

Pascal Siakam returns from injury with the first points over DeRozan
https://streamable.com/rxldr

Mikal Bridges strips Bacon, Oubre Jr. picks it up in the chaos and slams it down
https://streamable.com/rco6e

Cam Reddish dunks on two Nets in transition
https://streamable.com/l316b

Magic is 1st in Opponent Points Per Game at 103.3ppg, and also dead last in Points Per Game at 103.5ppg

Mikal Bridges with the dagger dunk
https://streamable.com/xrq33

Royce O’Neale hits the dagger to put away the Wizards
https://streamable.com/z2cat

JV meets Spellman at the rim with a monster block
https://streamable.com/3wmtk

Jimmy Butler with the sweet backdoor assist to a cutting Kendrick Nunn
https://streamable.com/dnagx

Serge Ibaka hits the big 3 to tie it up at 100
https://streamable.com/zias8

Terrell Suggs said “you can’t spot a team 24 points but it’s nice to have the fastest man on the planet and the reigning MVP on your team. Ya’ll have a good night.”
https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV/status/1216513434717773825?s=20

Cory Booker Drops Out of Presidential Race
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/us/politics/cory-booker-drops-out.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/democrat-cory-booker-drops-out-of-2020-presidential-race.html

The Grizzlies top 3PT shooter by percentage are Valanciunas (45%), Clarke (42.1%) and Jackson Jr (41.6%). The first two don't shoot a ton but their bigs have a versatility that is underrated.

In his last 20 games, Nikola Jokic has averaged 24/10/6 on 56% FG and 44% on 3's in under 32 minutes of play per game

Need to hide how much they’re stealing from us? I thought they were rich. Why can’t they pay their own expenses
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/mnuchin-wants-to-delay-trumps-secret-service-travel-spending-report-till-after-election.html

The Twitter Electorate Isn’t the Real Electorate
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/01/jeremy-corbyn-labour-twitter-primary/604690/

Bernie Sanders told Elizabeth Warren in private 2018 meeting that a woman can't win
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/13/politics/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-meeting/index.html

Footage of Turner, Sirota, and Sanders all praising Biden, now in a single video
https://www.twitter.com/josecanyousee/status/1216481723522772992

Per sources, MLB’s penalties for #Astros include: *One-year suspensions for GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch. *Losses of 1st and 2nd round draft picks in both 2020 and ‘21. *A fine of $5M.News
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1216796031200976896?s=19

More on penalties: MLB has placed former #Astros assistant GM Brandon Taubman on its ineligible list. Discipline for #RedSox manager Alex Cora, the Houston bench coach in 2017, will be determined after MLB completes its investigation of Boston.
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1216796065405505537

The fine is comical, even the Rays could take that without batting an eyelid. The draft picks aren't even a loss, slap in the wrist for cheating their way to a WS title, that's incredibly light. The punishment was overhyped and I fail to see how it has a truly significant impact on the franchise moving forward.bMLB not vacating the World Series title says it loud and clear to every team in baseball: teams are allowed to cheat to win. Fines and suspensions are forgotten with time. The only lasting memory would have been a vacated title. Because every time someone looked at a list of World Series winners, the blank spot would be seen.

Permanently ban Cora and Hinch at bare minimum. Discipline for the players involved, they cheated. Much larger fine. Strip the World Series title, they didn’t earn it. I honestly don’t think I’m being unreasonable here.

As we try to digest the significance of these #Astros penalties, remember this: We haven’t seen multiple suspensions of this length for the same team since the Black Sox - a century ago.
https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/1216805501792608257

From the report: "Some Astros players told my investigators that they did not believe the sign-stealing scheme was effective, and it was more distracting than useful to hitters." So... why would they keep doing it?
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1216803494302273541

So, by MLB's accounting, AJ Hinch literally smashed video monitors that were part of a cheating scheme the league says was "arranged" by Alex Cora, Hinch's bench coach.
https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1216803114310946817?s=21

Beltran fully cooperated with investigation and admitted to everything.
https://twitter.com/martinonyc/status/1216799112663830529?s=21

Of all the things in MLB's investigation and Rob Manfred's nine-page letter, this might be the most damning. The Astros, who won the 2017 World Series, used their sign-stealing scheme that postseason.
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1216802507944538113?s=19

Key part of the report is that the #Astros continued to cheat after the 9/15/17 Apple Watch punishment by the Commissioner and warning that future illegalities would be dealt with in a harsher manner. And the report says the Astros continued to cheat through the postseason.
https://twitter.com/joelsherman1/status/1216800724207702016?s=21

From MLB Report: Cora arranged for a video room technician to install a monitor displaying the center field camera feed immediately outside of the Astros’ dugout.
https://twitter.com/joelsherman1/status/1216799140203704322?s=21

Even though Astros manager AJ Hinch disagreed with the use of video -- going so far as to damage a monitor used in the scheme multiple times to show his disapproval -- he was still suspended for a year.
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1216799541200138246?s=19

Should either Luhnow or Hinch be found to engage in “any future material violations” of Major League rules in the future, the offender will be placed on the permanently ineligible list.

Manfred: "Although Luhnow denies having any awareness that his replay review room staff was decoding and transmitting signs, there is both documentary and testimonial evidence that indicates Luhnow had some knowledge of those efforts, but he did not give it much attention."
https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/1216803191637061632?s=09

During their year-long suspension, neither A.J. Hinch nor Jeff Luhnow is allowed to attend spring training or attend any major/minor league stadiums affiliated with the Astros. If they do so, they will be put on the permanently ineligible list
https://twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1216798706101575680

According to the original story, the system was put in place by a player who "was currently struggling and had benefited from a similar system with a prior team.". That person is new Mets coach Carlos Beltran. The MLB report that just came out says Beltran was one of the players who suggested this, and he was certainly struggling that year. Carlos had just spent 3 years with the Yankees, and had a 52 game stint with Texas before his time in Houston.

Republicans to remove designation of China as currency manipulator. Their grand solution to addressing China's PROVEN currency manipulation - something REPUBLICANS SCREAMED ENDLESSLY ABOUT DURING THE OBAMA YEARS - is to just remove them from the list.
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/478008-trump-administration-to-remove-designation-of-china-as-currency

The world's total debt load reached a record $253 trillion in 2019
https://www.axios.com/world-total-debt-load-91ab8c0a-db67-40cb-940e-a36ac58b629f.html

New Zealand schools to teach students about climate crisis, activism and 'eco anxiety' - Changes to the curriculum will put the country at the forefront of climate crisis education worldwide
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/13/new-zealand-schools-to-teach-students-about-climate-crisis-activism-and-eco-anxiety

EU Commission bans Bayer pesticide linked to harming bees
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-bayer-pesticide/eu-commission-bans-bayer-pesticide-linked-to-harming-bees-idUSKBN1ZC136

Ocean heat hit record high in 2019, showing “irrefutable and accelerating” heating of the planet
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/13/ocean-temperatures-hit-record-high-as-rate-of-heating-accelerates

Activists placed hundreds of painted-red women’s shoes on Mexico City’s main square Saturday to call attention to gender-based violence in a country where, on average, 10 women and girls are murdered each day and less than 10% of the cases are solved. “Unfortunately women are not safe anywhere.”
https://apnews.com/bbd6e02268849ee6d34cdd110865c041

A 2015 memo from Erik Prince to Trump campaign: 'National disgrace' that Soleimani 'not already dead’
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/11/politics/erik-prince-trump-campaign-qasem-soleimani/index.html

7 billion-year-old grain of stardust found in Victorian meteorite older than the solar system
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-01-14/earths-oldest-stardust-found-in-murchison-meteorite/11863486

"5 Hiroshima Bombs of Heat, Every Second": The World's Oceans Absorbed Record-Level Heat Last Year
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3a8q9w/5-hiroshima-bombs-of-heat-every-second-the-worlds-oceans-absorbed-record-level-heat-last-year

McConnell Doesn’t Have the Votes to Dismiss Impeachment Articles or Block Witnesses
https://lawandcrime.com/impeachment/mcconnell-doesnt-have-the-votes-to-dismiss-impeachment-charges-or-block-witnesses-reports/

Russians Hacked Ukrainian Gas Company Burisma at Center of Impeachment
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/us/politics/russian-hackers-burisma-ukraine.html
https://businessinsider.com/russia-hacked-burisma-biden-dirt-report-2020-1

https://twitter.com/BauerOutage/status/1216799554349125632

MLB had a better idea of what was going on than they let on. All video clubhouse monitors in 2019 except the replay monitor were put on a 10-second delay and only one person was allowed to view replay monitor with a screen protecting looking at it from side.”
https://twitter.com/bradfo/status/1216821047951003655

Yep agreed: I’m all for stealing signs... I use to love watching coaches trying to pick up patterns from opposing coaches...zooming in on catchers fingers w a camera 👎🏻 get a guy on second and do it the old fashion way!
https://twitter.com/Weave1036/status/1216831995059138561

Astros owner Jim Crane has fired AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow
https://twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1216813387608293376?s=19

According to Manfred's statement, Astros players panicked when White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar noticed his signs were being stolen via trash can bangs. Before the game ended, they removed the monitor from the dugout tunnel hiding it in an office and used a portable monitor from there on out.
https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/cglrhmlrwwbkacty27l7.pdf

Jim Crane on Hinch/Luhnow: "Neither one of them started this, but neither one of them did anything about it."
https://twitter.com/chandler_rome/status/1216814169929814016?s=21

You might say they got canned. 🗑 🗑

COWARD LIAR: I will not assess discipline against individual Astros players. I made the decision in September 2017 that I would hold a Club’s General Manager and Field Manager accountable for misconduct of this kind, and I will not depart from that decision. Assessing discipline of players for this type of conduct is both difficult and impractical. It is difficult because virtually all of the Astros’ players had some involvement or knowledge of the scheme, and I am not in a position based on the investigative record to determine with any degree of certainty every player who should be held accountable, or their relative degree of culpability. It is impractical given the large number of players involved, and the fact that many of those players now play for other Clubs.
https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/cglrhmlrwwbkacty27l7.pdf

The best discipline would have been simply vacating the title since the entire fucking team and crew were guilty. You punish all of them by vacating the title and making it meaningless. MLB Commissioner is a LYING COWARD.

Trump Campaign Adviser George Nader Pleads Guilty to Child Porn, Sex Trafficking
https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-campaign-adviser-pleads-guilty-to-child-porn-sex-trafficking/

Two blocks lead to two momentous Grizzlies buckets to seal the game
https://streamable.com/f81mv

Demar DeRozan's last 10 games: 27 PPG, 5 APG, 6 RPG, 63% FG, 87% FT

Jonas Valančiūnas had his second game of the season with 14+ second chance points yesterday against the warriors. The rest of the league combined has 1 of these games.

I’d like my career numbers against Altuve, Springer, and Correa erased from the record books. Seriously though, it’s bad. Can they do that?
https://twitter.com/PJHughes45/status/1216804200392187905

Manfred did not discipline any players because it was, in his words, “impractical.” Doing nothing because it is “impractical” is weak, convenient, spineless ... and wrong.

Trevor Bauer and the Indians were right about the Astros all along.