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dimanche 5 janvier 2014

Nobel Prize-Winning Writers Say NSA Surveillance Power 'Is Being Systemically Abused'

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Some of the world's most famous writers have signed an open appeal against the National Security Agency that says the U.S. government's mass surveillance chills freedom of thought.

Nobel laureates Orhan Pamuk, J.M. Coetzee, Elfriede Jelinek, Günter Grass and Tomas Transtr?mer are among hundreds of "writers against mass surveillance" worldwide who have signed the open appeal, which calls on governments and corporations to respect citizens' privacy rights.

"Surveillance violates the private sphere and compromises freedom of thought and opinion," the appeal says. "As we have seen, this power is being systemically abused."

Other notable signers include Richard Ford, Margaret Atwood, Umberto Eco, Yann Martel, Dave Eggers, Colum McCann, Sapphire, Ian McEwan, and Don DeLillo. In Europe the appeal was released on Tuesday -- Human Rights Day.

The writers' statement asks the United Nations to create an international bill of digital rights. The U.S., along with surveillance partners that include the United Kingdom and Australia, have sought to weaken a U.N. resolution that would express support for digital privacy.

"We are really very worried about mass surveillance," said Janne Teller, a Danish writer who helped organize the open message. "We think it's undermining democracy totally, and we are shocked that more people aren't up in arms about it,"

Teller said she doesn't believe writers are threatened more than ordinary citizens by mass surveillance, but their work makes them particularly attuned to its dangers.

"I think it's quite significant when you have 560 or so of the greatest contemporary writers, from all across the world, expressing a very serious concern, because these are people who always work on the big philosophical questions of life," Teller said. "Hopefully their concern matters to politicians."

Last month, the writers' rights group PEN released survey results that found a "chilling effect" from disclosures of the NSA's mass surveillance. American writers polled by the group said they have avoided mentioning controversial topics and criticizing the government.

Teller, who lives in New York, said she hopes Americans will join the writers' outrage over mass surveillance by adding their names to a public version of the appeal.

"This undermines all the freedoms and values that I otherwise love about America," Teller said. "So I can't understand why Americans can accept mass surveillance in this way, it's totally against the freedom ideals."

Read the full document, "A Stand for Democracy in the Digital Age," below. A full list of signatories is available here.

In recent months, the extent of mass surveillance has become common knowledge. With a few clicks of the mouse the state can access your mobile device, your e-mail, your social networking and Internet searches. It can follow your political leanings and activities and, in partnership with Internet corporations, it collects and stores your data, and thus can predict your consumption and behaviour.
The basic pillar of democracy is the inviolable integrity of the individual. Human integrity extends beyond the physical body. In their thoughts and in their personal environments and communications, all humans have the right to remain unobserved and unmolested.
This fundamental human right has been rendered null and void through abuse of technological developments by states and corporations for mass surveillance purposes.
A person under surveillance is no longer free; a society under surveillance is no longer a democracy. To maintain any validity, our democratic rights must apply in virtual as in real space.
* Surveillance violates the private sphere and compromises freedom of thought and opinion.
* Mass surveillance treats every citizen as a potential suspect. It overturns one of our historical triumphs, the presumption of innocence.
* Surveillance makes the individual transparent, while the state and the corporation operate in secret. As we have seen, this power is being systemically abused.
* Surveillance is theft. This data is not public property: it belongs to us. When it is used to predict our behaviour, we are robbed of something else: the principle of free will crucial to democratic liberty.
WE DEMAND THE RIGHT for all people, as democratic citizens, to determine to what extent their personal data may be collected, stored and processed, and by whom; to obtain information on where their data is stored and how it is being used; to obtain the deletion of their data if it has been illegally collected and stored.
WE CALL ON ALL STATES AND CORPORATIONS to respect these rights.
WE CALL ON ALL CITIZENS to stand up and defend these rights.
WE CALL ON THE UNITED NATIONS to acknowledge the central importance of protecting civil rights in the digital age, and to create an International Bill of Digital Rights.
WE CALL ON GOVERNMENTS to sign and adhere to such a convention.

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Satanist Monument Plan Dismissed As 'Publicity Stunt' By Oklahoma Lawmakers

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislative leaders in Oklahoma sought to ease public concern Monday over a plan by a group of satanists to erect a monument at the state Capitol.

Both House Speaker T.W. Shannon and Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman suggested that such a plan was far from a reality, and members of the committee that would need to approve the monument sounded skeptical. But a constitutional law professor says the state could be on legally questionable ground if it rejects the New York-based Satanic Temple's request to put an homage to Satan near a Ten Commandments monument that's already at the Capitol.

The Associated Press reported Sunday about the Satanic Temple's plans to donate such a memorial. The Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission would have to approve such plans.

"That's Oklahoma's house. It's not the Satanic club of New York's house," said Capitol architect Duane Mass, who serves on the commission.

Officials with Satanic Temple suggest that Oklahoma opened the door to other religions when it allowed the Ten Commandments monument, with a sectarian message, to be placed at the Capitol.

"The whole point is that we're a religiously pluralistic society, so if there's going to be one, there will be others, or at least we'll make the effort for such," said Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple. "Or there will be neither. Those are the only real options."

The Republican-controlled Legislature in 2009 authorized the placement of the privately funded Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol, and former Democratic Gov. Brad Henry signed the bill into law. It was placed on the north steps of the building last year, and the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has sued to have it removed.

At Big Truck Tacos, a restaurant about a mile from the Capitol, 26-year-old Matthew Burrell questioned what the satanists had done to deserve a monument.

"Monuments are built in response to something great being done," Burrell said. "What have satanists given to society that actually benefits the city or the state?"

Bingman suggested the idea sounded like a "political stunt," while Shannon spokesman Joe Griffin said the Capitol was not an appropriate place for such a monument.

"Anything displayed at the Capitol should be a representation of the values of Oklahomans and this nation," Griffin said. "The left-hand path philosophies of this organization do not align with the values of Oklahomans nor the ideals this country or its laws are founded upon."

But Joseph Thai, a constitutional law professor at the University of Oklahoma, said the decision to place the Ten Commandments monument at the Capitol could put the state in a difficult position.

"The state can disown the Ten Commandments monument erected at the Capitol with private funds as private speech, but then it cannot reject other privately donated religious monuments — even a satanic one — on the basis of viewpoint," Thai said.

Or the state could decide to exclude other religious monuments by taking ownership of the Ten Commandments monument as official state speech, but Thai said that could become legally problematic because of the sectarian message on the granite statute.

"The Legislature has put the state between a rock and a hard place, constitutionally speaking," Thai said.

___

Sean Murphy can be reached at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy

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Nation Laughs At LA's Definition Of 'Cold' On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' (VIDEO)

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While winter brings snow and rainstorms to the rest of the nation, the only thing Los Angeles has had to endure so far is a little drizzle and a slight "cold snap."

You'd never know it, though, from the overly-dramatic weather reporting of Southern California's local news stations. The "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show compiled a video of the week's most ridiculous clips to mock LA's definition of the cold --which is anything below 70 degrees.

h/t LAist

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This Is What The Next Generation Of Engineers Looks Like

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In college and during her career, Kimberly Bryant often found herself the only black female scientist in the room. The biotech engineer founded the Bay Area non-profit Black Girls CODE in 2011 so that today's young girls will never find themselves in that position. Bryant realized that it wasn't a lack of interest in science that led to a dearth of diversity in her field; it was a lack of access. Black Girls CODE's goal is to drive access and exposure, closing the digital divide.

Black Girls CODE introduces young girls of color to computer programming, mobile app development, robotics and other STEM fields, so the girls can learn how to build the tools they want to see in the world. The non-profit is a global organization, with chapters in Oakland, Calif., Atlanta, New York and even South Africa, with expansion to eight more cities planned for next year. Every chapter targets girls of color between the ages of 7 and 17, formative years for capturing the girls' interest in STEM and building their self-confidence.

Read the whole story at mashable.com

vendredi 3 janvier 2014

World War II Reunions Poignant For Dwindling Veterans

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DAYTON, Ohio -- DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Paul Young rarely talked about his service during World War II — about the B-25 bomber he piloted, about his 57 missions, about the dangers he faced or the fears he overcame.

"Some things you just don't talk about," he said.

But Susan Frymier had a hunch that if she could journey from Fort Wayne, Ind., with her 92-year-old dad for a reunion of his comrades in the 57th Bomb wing, he would open up.

She was right: On a private tour at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, amid fellow veterans of flights over southern Europe and Germany, Young rattled off vivid details of his plane, crewmates, training and some of his most harrowing missions.

"Dad, you can't remember what you ate yesterday, but you remember everything about World War II," his daughter said, beaming.

When Young came home from the war, more than 70 years ago, there were 16 million veterans like him — young soldiers, sailors and Marines who returned to work, raise families, build lives. Over the decades, children grew up, married, had children of their own; careers were built and faded into retirement; love affairs followed the path from the altar to the homestead and often, sadly, to the graveyard.

Through it all, the veterans would occasionally get together to remember the greatest formative experience of their lives. But as the years wore on, there were fewer and fewer of them. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, just a little over 1 million remain. The ones who remain are in their 80s and 90s, and many are infirm or fragile.

So the reunions, when they are held, are more sparsely attended — yearly reminders of the passing of the Greatest Generation.

—When veterans of the Battle of the Bulge gathered in Kansas City this summer, only 40 came, according to organizers, down from 63 last year and 350 in 2004.

—Of the 80 members of Doolittle's Raiders who set out on their daring attack on mainland Japan in 1942, 73 survived. Seventy-one years later, only four remain; they decided this year's April reunion in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., would be their last, though they agreed to meet Nov. 9 for a final toast in honor of those who have gone before them.

—A half-century ago, when retired Army First Lt. Frank Towers went to his first reunion of the 30th Infantry Division — soldiers who landed at the beaches of Normandy and fought across France and Germany — he was surrounded by 1,000 other veterans.

"Now if I get 50, I'm lucky," said Towers, who is working on plans for a reunion next February in Savannah, Ga. "Age has taken its toll on us. A lot of our members have passed away, and many of them who are left are in health situations where they can't travel."

So why persist?

"It's a matter of camaraderie," Towers said. "We spent basically a year or more together through hell or high water. We became a band of brothers. We can relate to each other in ways we can't relate to (anyone else). You weren't there. These guys were there. They know the horrors we went through."

___

As many as 11,000 people served in the 57th Bomb Wing that flew missions over German-held Europe from North Africa and the island of Corsica during most of the war. Hundreds survive, according to wing historians and reunion organizers. Only nine veterans made it to this fall's event.

George Williams, 90, recalled earlier reunions with his comrades, "having a great time yukking it up and talking about things." No one else from his squadron came to this one.

"All of a sudden, it's lonesome," said Williams, a native of Visalia, Calif., who moved after his wife's death to Springfield, Mo., where his son lives. "All of the people you ran around with are on the wrong side of the grass. You wonder why you're so lucky."

But in a Holiday Inn hospitality suite with patriotic bunting, bowls of pretzels and chips with soft drinks at their tables, the stories flowed easily.

Williams remembered the tension of his first mission, his hand ready at the tag that would release him to bail out if necessary. It went without incident, and upon their return to base, a flight surgeon measured out two ounces of whiskey for each crewman. "Sixty-nine to go," he said then, because 70 missions was considered the tour of duty. Sometimes on later missions, he would pour the two ounces into a beer bottle to save up for a night when he needed numbing.

Robert Crouse, of Clinton, Tenn., is 89 years old, but he remembers as if it happened yesterday the time a shell blew out the cockpit windshield ("you could stick your head through it"), disabling much of the control panel. Another plane escorted the bomber, its pilot calling out altitude and air speed as Crouse's plane limped back to base, riddled with holes.

Young recalled flying a damaged plane back to base, hearing his tail gunner's panicked yells as Plexiglass shattered over him. "You could feel the plane vibrate; you fly through the smoke, you smell the smoke and you hear the flak hitting the plane like hail on a tin roof."

Not all the memories are bad ones. There was the late-war mission when they hit a spaghetti factory instead of the intended target ("Spaghetti was flying everywhere," recalled Crouse, chuckling). There was Williams' first Thanksgiving meal overseas: a Spam turkey, spiced and baked to perfection by an innovative cook.

"I still love Spam," he said.

Then there was R&R in Rome, hosted by the Red Cross. Young men not long removed from high school toured the Colosseum and other historic sites they had read about. They visited the Vatican; some met Pope Pius XII. Williams got a papal blessing of a rosary for his engineer's fiancee.

"It was pretty good," Williams said of his war experience, "except when they were shooting at us."

___

Some of the veterans fear that their service will be forgotten after they are gone. Crouse and others have written memoirs, and many of the reunion groups now have websites, magazines and other publications in which they recount their stories.

"You just hope that the young people appreciate it," said Young. "That it was very important, if you wanted to continue the freedom that we have."

Their children remember. Some are joining them at the reunions; others keep coming after their fathers are gone.

At this year's reunion, Bob Marino led a memorial service and read the names of 42 members of the 57th Bomb Wing who died in the past year. A bugler played "Taps."

Marino, 72, a retired IRS attorney and Air Force veteran from Basking Ridge, N.J., helped organize the gathering. His Brooklyn-native father, Capt. Benjamin Marino, died in 1967 and left numerous photos from the war, and Marino set about trying to identify and organize them. To learn more about his father's experiences, he corresponded with other veterans — including Joseph Heller, who was inspired by his wartime experiences with the 57th to write his classic novel "Catch-22."

"He never talked about any of this," Marino said, turning the pages on a massive scrapbook as veterans dropped by to look at the photos. "Once in a while, something came out. I wish I had sat down and talked to him about it."

This was precisely the gift Susan Frymier received at the reunion in Dayton.

She watched as the father who had long avoided talking about the war proudly pulled from his wallet a well-worn, black-and-white snapshot of the plane he piloted, nicknamed "Heaven Can Wait" with a scantily clad, shapely female painted near the cockpit.

She listened as he described German anti-aircraft artillery fire zeroing in on his plane. "I had to get out of there. All the flak ... they were awfully close." He described "red-lining" a landing, running the engines beyond safe speed. His voice suddenly choked.

"Oh, Dad!" said his daughter, and she hugged him tightly.

___

Contact reporter Dan Sewell at http://www.twitter.com/dansewell

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U.S. Dispatches Aid For Philippine Typhoon Recovery

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MANILA, Philippines -- MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A US military plane carrying relief supplies and a contingent of Marines has left the Philippine capital en route to the country's typhoon-devastated eastern seaboard.

The C-130 left Manila's Vilamor air base on Monday loaded with bottled water, generators wrapped in plastic, a forklift and two trucks.

It was the first American relief flight to the region, where thousands are feared dead and tens of thousands more homeless as a result of Friday's typhoon.

The flight was headed for Tacloban, a city badly hit by the storm and in desperate need of assistance.

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lundi 11 novembre 2013

Texas And 5 Other States Resist Processing Benefits For Gay Couples

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On the morning of Sept. 3, the first day the Pentagon said they could, Alicia Butler and her spouse, Judith Chedville, who is a Texas Army National Guard officer, went to Austin’s Camp Mabry so Ms. Butler could get a military spouse identification card and register for the same federal marriage benefits provided to wives and husbands of heterosexual service members.

Read the whole story at The New York Times

Will Blackmon Touchdown: Jaguars CB Helps Seal Team's 1st Win Of Season With Fumble Return TD (VIDEO)

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Down 22-20 with 3:13 left in the game, Tennessee had a chance to deny Jacksonville of its first win of the season. That's when Jaguars cornerback Will Blackmon stepped in.

Titans back-up quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick dropped back on 3rd and 9 but immediately faced pressure. Blackmon got around the offensive line, took the ball out of Fitzpatrick's hands and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown.

The Titans scored in the final minute, but it wasn't enough as the Jaguars won their first game of the season, 29-27

“We have the ability. When we do the things we can control, it’s cool when it comes together," Blackmon said after the game, per Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union

ALSO: PHOTOS FROM NFL'S WEEK 10

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints congratulates Darren Sproles #43 following a touchdown during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 10, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

In this photograph taken with a fisheye lens, a United States flag covers the field at MetLife Stadium as the New York Giants observe the NFL's Salute to Service before a football game between the Giants and the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Paul Kazdan)

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin celebrates a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

A man enjoys a beer while watching the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, left, makes a touchdown catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning fumbles as he is hit by San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Tourek Williams during the third quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in San Diego. The Chargers recovered the fumble and scored a touchdown a few plays later. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley (98) celebrates after making a tackle against Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Chicago. The Lions won 21-19. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green reaches for a bobbled ball for a touchdown to tie the game as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey Graham looks during the second half of a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) celebrates his touchdown with teammate wide receiver Mohamed Sanu during the second half of a NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. Green grabbed a bobbled ball in the end zone to tie the game and send it into overtime. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders wearing Digital Camouflage uniforms in Salute to Service perform during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck fumbles as he's hit by St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn being blocked by tackle Anthony Castonzo during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. The Rams recovered and ran in for a touchdown. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is sacked by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo sits on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: Fans pose before a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys on November 10, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver David Reed reaches into the end zone for an apparent touchdown after loosing his helmet under St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. It was ruled a touchdown on the field but reversed on review. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) makes a touchdown reception against Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes the ball during the first half of a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Buffalo Bills' EJ Manuel passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) gets past Tennessee Titans defenders Karl Klug (97) and Jurrell Casey (99) to score a touchdown on a 6-yard run in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints takes the field before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 10, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco reacts to tight end Dallas Clark touch down catch during the first half of a NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs into Atlanta Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas crosses the goal line ahead of San Diego Chargers strong safety Marcus Gilchrist with an 85 yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday Nov. 10, 2013 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: Jeff Heath #38 of the Dallas Cowboys breaks up a pass intended for Lance Moore #16 of the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 10, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) works against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis, left, and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin sit on the bench in the final minutes of the second half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. The Rams defeated the Colts 38-8. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne hands the ball off to running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. Jones-Drew scored a touchdown on the play with a 6-yard run. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) runs as Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Omar Gaither (53) hits the turf during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Jacksonville Jaguars' LaRoy Reynolds (56) and J. T. Thomas (52) celebrate as they leave the field after they defeated the Tennessee Titans 29-27 in an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) is sacked by Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Sio Moore (55) and defensive end Jason Hunter (93) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith can't hang onto a pass under pressure from Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman (23) during the first half of a NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Green Bay Packers' Datone Jones tackles Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Chicago Bears defensive end David Bass (91) and teammates warm up near a goal post commemorating the NFL's "Salute to Service" before a football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

New York Giants guard David Diehl (66) gestures toward the crowd as he and teammates leave the field after warming up before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews wears a club on his hand during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: New Orleans Saints cheerleaders perform before a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys on November 10, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers' Ryan Clark runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers scrambles away from the Denver Broncos defense in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday Nov. 10, 2013 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck throws against the St. Louis Rams during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kris Durham (18) makes a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith, right, is tackled by San Francisco 49ers' NaVorro Bowman (53) during the third quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Green Bay Packers' Andrew Quarless is tripped up by Philadelphia Eagles' Roc Carmichael (21) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Cassius Vaughn (32) recovers a fumble between \teammate strong safety Antoine Bethea, right, and St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Joplo Bartu (59) hits Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Cassius Vaughn, left, celebrates with teammate defensive end Ricky Jean Francois after recovering a fumble by the St. Louis Rams during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Scott Tolzien takes a snap during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. Tolzien replaced an injured Seneca Wallace. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) trips over Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas (26) after making a reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) jumps into the arms of tackle Jake Long as he celebrates a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Broncos Top Chargers: Peyton Manning Throws 4 Touchdown Passes In Denver's 28-20 Win (VIDEO)

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SAN DIEGO -- SAN DIEGO (AP) — Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos sent a big "get well soon" message to coach John Fox.

What could possibly make Fox feel better than a 28-20 win against the San Diego Chargers?

Manning threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns, three to Demaryius Thomas, as he efficiently led the Broncos through their first game since Fox had heart surgery.

Fox had had his aortic valve replaced last Monday in Charlotte, N.C., and was released Friday to his offseason home there, where he'll continue his recovery and begin rehab soon.

Fox planned to watch the game on TV there, a team spokesman said. If he watched, he probably didn't like seeing Manning hurting his right ankle when he was hit by Corey Liuget in the closing minutes, but the QB stayed in the game.

With interim coach Jack Del Rio in charge, Manning kept the Broncos (8-1) rolling. He threw touchdown passes of 11, 7 and 34 yards to Thomas on consecutive drives spanning the second and third quarters, staking the Broncos to a 28-6 lead.

Julius Thomas had a 74-yard catch-and-run on Denver's first drive, turning a short pass into the second-longest play by a tight end in team history.

The Broncos' scoring drives lasted 57 seconds; 2 minutes, 27 seconds, 1:25, and 3:26.

Manning has thrown for 3,249 yards and 33 touchdowns in nine games. He completed 25 of 36 passes against the Chargers.

The Chargers (4-5) closed the gap late in the second half but couldn't catch up.

Manning's big afternoon was marred only when rookie linebacker Tourek Williams hit Manning from behind and knocked the ball loose, with Donald Butler recovering at the Denver 11 midway through the third quarter. Two plays later, Philip Rivers found Danny Woodhead for a 7-yard scoring pass.

The Chargers pulled to 28-20 on Ryan Mathews' 1-yard touchdown run on third down with 10:42 to play. A week earlier, the Chargers had the ball first-and-goal from the Washington 1 before Woodhead was stuffed and Rivers threw two incompletions before settling for a field goal to force overtime. The Redskins won 30-24.

San Diego settled for field goals of 26 and 40 yards by Nick Novak in the second quarter. Novak was wide left on a 37-yard attempt with 1:38 left before halftime.

That gave Manning enough time to move the Broncos 73 yards in nine plays, all passes, capped by his 7-yard scoring throw to Demaryius Thomas for a 21-6 lead before halftime. Manning threw only one incompletion that drive.

The Broncos got the opening kickoff of the second half and went 78 yards in eight plays, with Thomas' 34-yard TD catch giving the Broncos a 28-6 lead.

The Chargers finished the game without left tackle King Dunlap, who sustained his third concussion this season, and center Nick Hardwick, who had a stinger. Rookie right tackle D.J. Fluker moved to left tackle.

Rivers completed 19 of 29 passes for 218 yards.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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Jonathan Martin's Threatening Text Message To Richie Incognito Was This Meme, Claims His Lawyer

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Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito (68) and tackle Jonathan Martin (71) stand on the field during practice in Davie, Fla. on July 24, 2013.

Attempting to provide context for his treatment of teammate Jonathan Martin, Richie Incognito claimed he also received a threatening text message. The suspended Miami Dolphins guard made this revelation when he sat down with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports to discuss the Dolphins' bullying scandal involving him and Martin. A second-year offensive tackle, Martin abruptly left the Dolphins on Oct. 28 to receive treatment for emotional distress. Incognito, once named the NFL's dirtiest player in a poll of his peers, was subsequently suspended by the Dolphins on Nov. 2 for unspecified misconduct related to alleged mistreatment of Martin.

"People don't know how John and I communicate to one another," Incognito explained to Glazer. "For instance, a week before this went down, Jonathan Martin texts me on my phone: 'I will murder your whole effing family.' Now, did I think Jonathan Martin was going to murder my family? Not one bit. I knew it was coming from a brother. I knew it was coming from a friend. I knew it was coming from a teammate."

Hours after the interview aired on FOX on Sunday afternoon, David Cornwell, an attorney for Martin, shared a profane Internet meme featuring a smiling woman and a dog on Twitter and indicated this was the message that Incognito mentioned to Glazer.

WARNING: Image Below Contains Strong Language

JMart's text 2 Richie Incognito. U decide..... pic.twitter.com/IrgdNnhGe2
— David Cornwell (@wmdavidcornwell) November 10, 2013

Is that what viewers had in mind as Incognito recalled the text message?

Incognito referenced the text from Martin when asked about the threatening voice and text messages he had reportedly sent that included racial slurs. Speaking with Glazer, Incognito confirmed leaving the following voicemail for Martin, who is bi-racial.

“Hey, wassup, you half n—– piece of [expletive] . . . I saw you on Twitter, you been training ten weeks. [I want to] [expletive] in your [expletive] mouth. [I'm going to] slap your [expletive] mouth. [I'm going to] slap your real mother across the face (laughter). [Expletive] you, you’re still a rookie. I’ll kill you.”

Although he did expressed embarrassment over the voicemail, Incognito cited the text from Martin as evidence that both players traded similar threats in jest. He portrayed a locker room culture where such language was acceptable.

"When I see that voicemail, when I see those words come across the screen, I'm embarrassed by it," Incognito said after he was presented with a transcript of the offensive voicemail he left for Martin. "I'm embarrassed by my actions. But what I want people to know is, the way Jonathan and the rest of the offensive line and how our teammates, how we communicate it's vulgar. It's not right."

[H/T Deadspin]

Miley Cyrus Smokes A Joint On Stage At The EMAs

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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 10: Miley Cyrus accepts award onstage during the MTV EMA's 2013 at the Ziggo Dome on November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Miley Cyrus kept her MTV Europe Music Awards performances pretty tame, but we're guessing she knew she'd get people talking with her EMAs acceptance speech.

All eyes were on the 20-year-old singer as she went to collect the award for Best Video for "Wrecking Ball," telling the crowd she didn't think she would be able to fit the award in her purse as she put the trophy on the ground.

Cyrus went on to thank her fans for making the award happen, before she started digging through her bag and pulled out what appeared to be a joint. "I couldn't fit this award in my bag, but I did find this," she said holding up the joint before sparking it up.

Cyrus isn't shy about her love of marijuana. In September she told Rolling Stone, "I think weed is the best drug on earth," and since she's been in Amsterdam for the EMAs, she's reportedly been hitting up the city's famous coffee shops that allow patrons to enjoy all the weed they want.

Though it's sold openly in cafes, marijuana still isn't legal in the Netherlands, however smokers in possession of less than five grams of cannabis have no fear of prosecution, according to the Associated Press.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled the song "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus.

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Cory Booker Goes To Washington A Celebrity And Senator

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WASHINGTON -- WASHINGTON (AP) — When the U.S. Senate passed a bill to ban job discrimination against gay and transgender people, its newest member's first impulse was to yell with joy. Then he remembered where he was.

Instead, Cory Booker reached into his pocket for his phone.

"I got it all out via Twitter," said Booker, who has 1.4 million followers.

Booker, the 44-year-old Democratic former mayor of Newark, N.J., came into Congress as a rare freshman senator with celebrity status. He has been dubbed a rock star mayor by Oprah Winfrey, been called a hero for pulling a neighbor out of her burning home in 2012 and hobnobbed with Matt Damon.

During his first week in Congress, Booker tried to balance immersion in his new job with already standing out from his 99 colleagues on the staid Senate floor. Booker allowed The Associated Press to shadow his comings and goings.

"The model I've encouraged him to follow is Al Franken or Hillary Clinton," said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat and a friend of Booker's. "People who came to the Senate with big national profiles but demonstrated a willingness to do the work, dig in, go visit every corner of their state and really focus on home-state interests."

Coons came into the Senate after a special election in 2010. He is helping Booker, who also won a special election, navigate and knows what it's like to start the job with no orientation and a skeleton staff.

After a swearing-in Oct. 31 filled with media and supporters, Booker has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. He's studying the minutiae of Senate rules and has attended multitudes of meetings. He has worked out at the Senate gym to meet colleagues and attended a bipartisan prayer breakfast.

Known for his soaring oratory and confidence, he is now listening and asking questions, sometimes seeming overwhelmed or confused — and showing glimmers of his cheeky sense of humor amid the business of the day.

In his first committee hearing Wednesday, he joked that "I still have that new senator smell" after telling the leader of the Federal Emergency Management Agency that higher flood insurance rates would devastate parts of New Jersey.

He asked Vice President Joe Biden if he could crash on his couch. And he answered a Twitter question about his thoughts on workplace romances with: "Don't! Especially if u have 99 colleagues in 1 of the world's most august bodies."

He went to the White House twice. He joined a group of Democratic senators Wednesday and, hours after being sworn in, had a private visit with President Barack Obama.

"There was a guy with a football, and I grabbed it, and the president and I had a little catch," said Booker, who played football at Stanford. Obama, he said, complimented his spiral.

Booker was the first to arrive at a Democratic caucus lunch Tuesday, piling his plate with greens and vegetables. He peeled plastic wrap off of a bowl of dressing as Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu arrived. The two headed toward the back of the room and sat down.

"Sen. Menendez came in and said, 'That's my seat.' And of course I panicked," Booker said. "At first I'm like, 'Oh my God, did I really sit in his seat?' And another senator came in and tried to play the same trick on me."

Booker and his mother, Carolyn, met privately with Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Booker's father, Cary, suffered a stroke in August shortly after moving to Las Vegas and days before Booker's Democratic primary. Reid visited his bedside, and when he died Oct. 10, Reid reached out to Booker and his family.

In many ways, Booker is just another guy getting used to a new job — learning the rules and his colleagues, just as they've all had to do at some point.

He took his first vote minutes after being sworn in and thought votes were cast by pushing a button or pulling a lever. Instead, he learned, "you raise your hand." On one vote, Booker missed his name while chatting with colleagues and flagged down the Senate clerk, voting yes with a thumbs-up.

He brought a congressional directory Thursday morning and watched each speaker intently, occasionally flipping through to match a senator with a photo. He is also learning how to navigate the labyrinth that is the Capitol and its office buildings.

"Is this the way home?" he asked his chief of staff as the two traversed the Senate basement.

He said he plans to advocate for New Jersey residents, hoping to ensure they receive unclaimed earned-income credits and helping victims of Superstorm Sandy. He met with an ethics officer to see how he can leverage private-public partnerships for New Jersey, as he did in Newark — most famously with a $100 million donation from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to the city schools.

And though he's been minding his manners, he's still the same Cory Booker. A stalwart supporter of gay rights, he finally let out that yell upon walking into his office after the job discrimination vote.

"Call everybody in New Jersey," Booker said to his staff, "and tell them we're one step closer to an equal nation."

___

Follow Zezima at www.twitter.com/katiezez

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'Downton Abbey' Renewed For Fifth Season

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NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — "Downton Abbey" will return for a fourth season in January, but now PBS is announcing the series will be back for at least one more after that.

"Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton says Downton fans can "rest easy knowing that a fifth season is on the way."

The celebrated British costume drama focusing on the elite Crawley family will air its fourth season on "Masterpiece" beginning Jan. 5. Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Jim Carter are among its stars.

Earlier this year, more than 24 million viewers watched the third season of the series in the U.S., making it the most-watched drama in PBS history.

Elizabeth Warren Is Hillary Clinton's Nightmare | New Republic

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FILE - In this March 7, 2013 file photo, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., pauses while questioning a witness at Senate Banking Committee hearing on anti-money laundering on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Massachusetts Democrat is working on a book she plans to call "Rigged." During a brief telephone interview Tuesday, March 19, 2013, with The Associated Press, she said "Rigged" will be a "first-hand" account of her battles for the middle class. She will write about helping to set up the Consum

www.newrepublic.com:

We're three years from the next presidential election, and Hillary Clinton is, once again, the inevitable Democratic nominee.

Read the whole story at www.newrepublic.com

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LSU Fan Acts Like A Dinosaur On National TV

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A Lousiana State University student acted like a dinosaur on national television this weekend.

After a touchdown in the LSU game against Alabama, CBS cameras switched to a celebrating Tigers fan section and slowly focused on engineering student Caleb Bates. He wasn't cheering, he was just pretending to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

We're guessing this is one of the ways Bates strives to serve as a "role model for students in every aspect of University life," per his LinkedIn page.

It was inevitable that people would begin making .GIFs of Bates' dinosaur imitation spliced with footage from "Jurassic Park."

Now, of course, Bates is milking his new reputation as a faux-dino.

Tried to get out of bed this morning but my tiny arms were making it really difficult.
— Caleb Bates (@calebates) November 10, 2013

You're gonna hear me rrroooo oh oh oh oh oh a or!
— Caleb Bates (@calebates) November 10, 2013

Apparently no one told Bates it wasn't possible for him to a dinosaur.

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Lionel Messi the greatest player of all time?

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Few can argue that Lionel Messi has made an outstanding impact for Barcelona these past 10 years. His mesmerising runs with the ball glued to his feet have carved open some of the worlds best defences and left some heavyweight defenders and goalkeepers floored by his mind boggling genius that some of us can only dream of doing ourselves .

He has racked up 388 appearances and 324 goals for Barcelona, he is also a four times world player of the year, A 3 times winner of the champions league and has scored a breathtaking 73 goals in all competitions in the 2011-2012 season.

Few can argue that he has earned his place among the all time greats of world football. But to be called the greatest of all time Lionel Messi needs to weave his magic on the one place he has not done it yet. On the biggest stage of them all the World Cup.

Fabregas challenges Barca to thrive without Messi

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Cesc Fabregas has challenged his Barcelona team-mates to prove they can thrive without Lionel Messi when they face Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Argentina forward Messi injured his thigh in the 2-0 win over Almeria on Saturday and will miss the Group H clash against the Scottish champions as a result.

Former Arsenal midfielder Fabregas acknowledged losing the player widely recognised as the best in the world was a significant blow, but he is adamant a club of Barca's stature should be able to cope with his absence.

"It is a test because we always want him in our team," Fabregas said on Monday. "Obviously Lionel is the best player in the world, I don't even have to say that, and you obviously will miss a player of his talent and dedication.

"We rely on him a lot. He is the best player, the one that scores more goals, the one that does the attacking tasks. He is always there for us, he gives assists, he is the best.

"He can win a game at any moment so we are sad for that but you cannot feel sorry for yourselves because you are missing a great player.

"Without Messi we will have to take more responsibility. I think we all have to step up and make sure that we don't feel his absence, and show we can play great football without him.

"When he is not there we have to adapt the situation and players like Neymar, myself if I play, Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello, Pedro Rodriguez; we have to step up and do the job that a striker is made for which is scoring goals and giving assists."

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino also insisted the absence of Messi will not be used as an excuse should his side lose in Glasgow.

"Messi is the best player in the world but we have a great team and his absence cannot be an excuse if we don't get a good result tomorrow night," Martino said.

And Fabregas believes 21-year-old Brazilian striker Neymar could be the one Barcelona player capable of one day reaching the levels of Messi.

"He is a very talented player, very quick and has the skills to get away from you easily," the Spain international said.

"He is already a star but this boy will have a lot to say in the future of football.

"It is up to him. Everything is in his hands.

"He came here to learn, to compete, to fight, to grow up as a player and a person.

"He is still a boy and in the future we will be talking about him as one of the greatest."

Puyol fit and raring to go for Clasico clash

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Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has insisted he is ready to face Real Madrid on Saturday should he be selected by Gerardo Martino, despite playing just one game since returning from knee surgery.

Puyol made his comeback after seven months out in the 0-0 draw with Osasuna last weekend and completed the 90 minutes without any physical problems.

Martino reverted to his tried and trusted central defensive partnership of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano for the 1-1 Champions League draw with AC Milan on Tuesday.

However, with Pique struggling with a hamstring strain, Puyol is readying himself to make his first appearance at the Camp Nou since March.

"Just to return to training with my teammates and be feeling good is a great joy for me so imagine what it would be like to be involved in a Clasico," he said.

"It is a game that everyone wants to play in, I just have to prepare myself and wait to see what the manager decides.

"During the Osasuna game I felt very good sensations.

"Afterwards, I had my doubts as to how the knee would react, but in the recovery sessions everything went well."

With Barca already holding a three point advantage over Real at the top of La Liga, a win for the Catalans would be a serious blow to Madrid's title hopes.

However, Puyol insists that nothing will be decided on Saturday with 28 league games still to come.

"There is a long way to go and the league will not be resolved in the Clasico, but it is a good match to gain confidence.

"People speak about the game a huge amount before, after they analyse everything, but in the end it is another game of football with three points up for grabs.

"Madrid is always a team that demands the most of you. They have great players and they arrive with confidence."

Messi returns to Barcelona training

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World Player of the Year Lionel Messi returned to full training with his Barcelona teammates on Monday for the first time since suffering a thigh injury two weeks ago.

The Argentine was forced off with the problem in the 2-0 win over Almeria on September 29 after scoring his 11th goal in just nine appearances this season to give his side the lead in that game.

Messi stayed in Barcelona to continue his recuperation process rather than travelling to represent his country with Alejandro Sabella's men set to take on Copa America champions Uruguay in Montevideo on Tuesday.

And it is expected that the 26-year-old will be fit enough to start Barca's match away to Osasuna on Saturday ahead of a big week for the Spanish champions as they travel to AC Milan in the Champions League before hosting Real Madrid on October 26.

There was further good news on the injury front for Barca boss Gerardo Martino as centre-backs Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano also took part in the training session.

Puyol hasn't played since undergoing knee surgery in March, but is expected to be given the green light to return to action later this week.

And Mascherano should also feature against Osasuna after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Neymar, Bale set for Clasico debut this weekend

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Neymar and Gareth Bale will get their first taste of a clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid since joining the Spanish giants in Saturday's first El Clasico of the season.

The Catalans currently hold a three point lead over Madrid at the top of the table, but it is Carlo Ancelotti's men who have enjoyed a significantly better week in the run up to the match.

Barca dropped their first points of the season with a 0-0 away at Osasuna last weekend and were then held 1-1 by AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday.

Madrid took advantage of that rare slip-up by their rivals with a 2-0 win over Malaga and just about sealed their place in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday by beating Juventus 2-1.

The Malaga match in particular saw a marked improvement in Real's performance to those earlier in the campaign and Madrid haven't been beaten in their last five encounters against Barcelona.

However, Real defender Sergio Ramos doesn't believe last season's meetings between the two will be a big factor come kick-off at the Camp Nou.

"On Saturday we have an important game and it would be a notable step to win in the Camp Nou, but we know meetings there are always difficult and anything can happen.

"When evaluating a Clasico you don't have to look at the previous results, nor even the last one. These games are always of the highest level and intensity.

"There are things that we have to continue improving, but it is always nice to arrive at the Clasico after a victory."

Ancelotti has some selection dilemmas for his own first experience of a Clasico, particularly in the case of Bale.

The Welshman was introduced as a substitute with 25 minutes to go against Juventus as he continues his comeback from injury, but failed to make any significant impact on the tie.

Ancelotti blamed his mediocre showing on the overall failure of the team to maintain the intensity they showed in the opening period and insisted that Bale is now fit enough to start.

However, it seems more likely that Bale will again be used as an impact substitute with Ancelotti also keen to keep faith with the under fire Karim Benzema.

There is no doubt that Neymar will join world player of the year Lionel Messi in attack for the hosts and the Brazilian admitted that it is for this kind of game that he swapped Brazil for Barcelona in June.

"A Clasico is the most important game for any player," he told Barca TV.

"It is the game that every player wants to participate in and show their best football. This will be my first one and I want to make a great debut, preferably with a victory."

Gerardo Martino must decide whether to recall Pedro Rodriguez and Cesc Fabregas after they were both dropped to the bench at Milan.

However, the Argentine may be forced into a change at the back as Gerard Pique is struggling with a hamstring injury meaning Carles Puyol may continue his comeback alongside Javier Mascherano.

Should Barca's winless streak against Real continue, then Atletico Madrid will have the chance to move top of the table with a win over Real Betis on Sunday.

Diego Simeone's men continued their 100 percent record in the Champions League with a 3-0 midweek demolition of Austria Vienna and the Argentine even had the luxury of resting a few of his key stars.

The likes of David Villa, Diego Godin and Mario Suarez should return to join Diego Costa, who took his tally to 12 goals in 12 games this season with a double in the Austrian capital.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday:

Rayo Vallecano v Valladolid (1800)

Saturday:

Malaga v Celta Vigo (1400), Barcelona v Real Madrid (1600), Elche v Granada (1800), Levante v Espanyol (2000)

Sunday:

Sevilla v Osasuna (1000), Villarreal v Valencia (1500), Real Sociedad v Almeria (1700), Atletico Madrid v Real Betis (1900)

Monday:

Getafe v Athletic Bilbao (1900)