Real Madrid and Tottenham target Diego Forlan says he never came close to leaving Atletico Madrid

"I have renewed my contract, but despite my deal here there are always rumours," the Uruguay international told the Spanish Sport newspaper.

Tottenham were reportedly in talks with Atletico over a £9 million bid for the striker, but baulked at the player's £80,000-a-week wage demands, while Atletico are said to have rejected a bid for Real Madrid, who then turned their attention to Emmanuel Adebayor.

"In this case, what is certain is that Real Madrid on Monday called [Atletico chief executive] Gil Marín, and [Atletico's general manager] Miguel Angel Gil rejected the offer they made," said Forlan.

"I have a contract [until 2013], I'm fine, very comfortable, I have my house here and leaving never crossed my mind," said the 31-year-old.

"I'd love to fulfill my contract, like I always said. Obviously, you don't know how things will turn out, this is football, after all, and there are twists and turns. But my idea was always to fulfill my contract."

"I'm fine here. I will not talk about my future, because as always, whatever I will say will be misunderstood. You try to be as honest as possible, but anyone who knows me knows how I feel. I have a contract with Atletico Madrid , I want out of this situation, and I hope we qualify for the Champions League, " he added.

"I am very calm. My commitment has always been the same, it has not changed. I've had bad times,but that does not mean that my commitment has waned."

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Usher Gets Sick, Walks Offstage Mid-Show In Berlin

Singer cancels kick off date of European leg of his OMG Tour due to illness.
By Gil Kaufman

Usher (file)
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage

Usher was forced to delay the kick off of his European OMG Tour on Wednesday night in Berlin because of illness. In a statement released to fans, the singer apologized for the last-minute scratch, saying he felt he was suffering from a "sinus complication." Although the gig was rescheduled for Thursday night at the O2 World arena in Berlin, his German fans apparently weren't appeased by his effort.

"I am truly sorry to all my fans in Berlin who were inconvenienced by tonight's postponement of the show," the singer said in a statement about Wednesday's aborted concert. "I was ill and felt that I would not have been able to give them the show that they properly deserve. ... I am looking forward to performing tomorrow and giving Berliners a great show."

According to the statement, the singer received treatment from doctors for a sinus issue that affected his balance, but a visibly still-ailing Usher was unable to finish the Thursday make-up show, reportedly abandoning the stage after just five songs.

On Friday (January 14), a follow-up statement from his spokesperson confirmed that he was too ill to play Thursday night's Berlin date and has been forced to reschedule the next three dates on the tour as well. The Rotterdam show originally scheduled for this week has been moved to March 1 and a show in Antwerp, also slated for this week, has been bumped to March 7.

The statement also updated the singer's condition: "Usher is suffering from upper respiratory illness, which is currently preventing him from performing a proper show. After consultation with doctors, he has been advised to reschedule the upcoming dates in order to get the rest he needs to ensure a complete recovery."

Footage posted on YouTube that was purportedly taken at the make-up performance in Berlin shows Usher standing silently at the microphone seemingly unable to sing, with fans booing him at first and then chanting, "Usher, Usher," as he approaches the microphone and apologizes to them for his struggles. "I appreciate your support," he told the fans wearily.

"I have been very excited about my European Tour and I deeply regret having to reschedule the shows," the singer said in the new statement. "I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused my fans. My fans are the best in the world and I am looking forward to getting better so that I can give them the show they deserve."

Usher wrapped up the North American leg of his tour in December and his overseas dates are slated to last through the spring.

What do you think of the fans' reaction to Usher's walking offstage mid-show? Tell us in the comments.

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"Maria und Martha"

Das Lukasevangelium stellt Martha zusammen mit ihrer Schwester Maria vor.
Gemeinsam bewohnen sie ein Haus; dort kehrt Jesus ein:

Eine Frau namens Martha nahm ihn freundlich auf.
Maria setzt sich Jesus zu Füßen und hört ihm zu, während ihre Schwester für die Bewirtung sorgt.
Schließlich beklagt Martha sich darüber.
Jesus antwortet ihr:  
Martha, Martha, du machst dir viele Sorgen und Mühen. Aber nur eines ist notwendig. Maria hat das Bessere gewählt, das soll ihr nicht genommen werden.

Martha und Maria sind hier offensichtlich als Typus gezeichnet, die bestimmte Anteile des "christlichen Lebens" darstellen.  Maria steht für die Hinwendung zu Gott, der Seele oder dem eigenen Inneren, Martha für die sogenannte tätige Nächstenliebe.

Auch hier geht es wieder um eine Entscheidung.

Nicht um gut oder schlecht, 

sondern um die Weisheit zu erkennen, was im Jetzt angemessen ist und über konditioniertes Verhalten

hinaus zu gehen.

Nach soviel Jahren "Wanderschaft" und Konzentration auf das Außen

braucht es immer und immer wieder die bewusste Entscheidung etwas zu lassen oder nicht zu tun und dafür die  Hinwendung an das Innere, 

um so langsam und mit der Zeit eine Balance zwischen Innen und Außen herzustellen..

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Du kannst nicht zwei Herren dienen

Ich kann nicht gleichzeitig mein Inneres fühlen

und in meinem Verstand sein.

Ich kann nicht das tun, was mein Ego will

und gleichzeitig das, was mein Herz oder meine Seele möchte.

Ich kann nicht anders, ich muss wählen.

Ich kann nicht mit immer neuen Worten und Ideen vollgestopft sein,

den Verstand immer weiter füttern

und dann glauben oder denken,

so Frieden oder Stille zu erfahren.

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TILTING AT WINDMILLS?

Very recently a wonderful Noongar friend said to me: 'it's not culture that will save our people, it's education'. Having been an Aboriginal Art lecturer for 4 years now I have to say that I absolutely agree with her. This evening a piece of random ABC journalism about a young man in Africa demonstrated just why. It inspired me so much I had to share it.

William Kamkwamba had to drop out of school because his parents could not afford the minimal fees. But he had a passion for science and engineering, he wanted to learn so much he decided to educate himself. He went to the local school library every day. One of the books he checked out explained how to build a windmill to generate electricity and pump water.

At age 14, amidst poverty and famine, this Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home and irrigate vegetables. He had to scrounge the bits to make it, the footage showed him cutting, heating and flattening PVC pipe to make the blades. He wired these to bamboo sticks, built a rickety 12 meter tower from gum saplings, mounted an old bike upside down at the top and finished it with a few more bits. One evening William climbed the structure with a bulb in one hand to try it out.

'He.... told me that he did not know if his windmill would actually work....a lot of his family and friends thought that he was absolutely crazy....However, when the wind began to turn the rotor blades and the improvised windmill started to generate enough electricity to power the light bulbs and the radios, everyone realized that William had managed to create something they had never dreamed was possible'.

William's story does not end with his windmill….he was invited to speak at the prestigious TED Global Conference. From there, he was introduced to computers, the internet, google, and blogging. He is now studying to become an electrical engineer, taking 10 courses to make up for lost time.

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Report: Charlie Sheen Checks into Rehab

After spending Thursday hospitalized for a reported hernia, Charlie Sheen has left Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Now, Radaronline.com reports that the 45-year-old has checked himself into rehab.

"Charlie Sheen has voluntarily entered an undisclosed rehabilitation center today," an unnamed rep of the actor told the site. "He is most grateful to all who have expressed their concern."

Earlier Stan Rosenfeld, a rep for the actor, said that Sheen would "be on the set of Two and a Half Men on Tuesday." This statement was released prior to the sitcom star's admission to a rehab facility.

CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

Do you think Charlie Sheen's time in rehab will be successful? Chime in below!

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Holly Madison Wants To Visit Hugh Hefner At Playboy Mansion

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