Wicked: That’s the description of the weather in New England, or as they say in some parts, “wicket.” Boston and other coastal cities all the way up into Maine are digging out today from at least two feet of snow.

A sea wall broke in Marshfield, Mass., flooding homes and knocking a couple of them off their foundations.

In Newport, Rhode Island’s replica tall ship Providence was badly damaged when high winds blew it off its blocks in dry dock. The 110-foot ship’s mast snapped off and the hull is lying on its side in a tangle of rigging.

The National Weather Service is feeling a little sheepish about its forecast that New York City would receive an “historic” snowfall overnight Monday. It turned out to be quite a bit less when the center of the storm passed nearly 100 miles east, burying the tip of Long Island. New York City shut down entirely in advance of what became an average snowstorm making city and state leaders look like they over reacted to the forecast. But nothing kills a political career faster than not reacting to a snowstorm

Nation: Two former Vanderbilt University football players have been convicted of raping a fellow student in June 2013. The prosecution case included photos and video taken during the attack. But the defense for Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey, both 21, had argued that amid the college culture of drunkenness and casual sex they didn’t know what they were doing. Their conviction is considered a big win in the fight against rape on college campuses. Two other defendants are awaiting trial.

World: Two Israeli soldiers were killed and seven wounded today in a missile attack on a military convoy near the Lebanon border.

>Jordan is reported to have agreed to release a convicted female terrorist in trade for one of its fighter pilots shot down and captured by ISIS. The Islamic State has threatened to behead the pilot.

>President Obama cut short his visit to India to pay his respects to the late Saudi King Abdullah and meet his successor King Salman. Obama is being criticized for rushing to kiss the Saudi ring after skipping a march against terrorism in Paris attended by other world leaders.

Moneybeat: Apple Computer made $18 billion in its first fiscal quarter, the largest profit ever made by a publicly held company. Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones in the last three months of 2014. Apple CEO Tim Cook described the demand for his company’s phones as “staggering.”

Billions and Billions: A team of astronomers reports finding a new solar system that is 11.2 billion years old and has five planets smaller than earth. The universe is estimated to be 13.8 billion years old and our own solar system 4.5 billion. The astronomers find it interesting that planets nearly the size of earth developed so early in the expansion of the universe.

The Sports Page: Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, protesting a mandatory appearance at the Super Bowl media day, told reporters “I’m just here so I don’t get fined, so y’all can sit here and ask me all the questions y’all want to, I’m going to answer with the same answer.” And then for one hour he proceeded to answer every question with “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”

Chopsticks: Chinese authorities are investigating a story that senior security officials attending a banquet in Shenzhenate an endangered giant salamander for dinner. A local newspaper says it was tipped off and its reporters were beaten up when they went to photograph people leaving the party. Under recent laws the dinner guests could face up to 10 years in prison for dining on the government dime and killing an endangered creature. Giant salamanders, which grow to nearly six feet, are considered a delicacy. But if you’ve seen one, it seems like eating it should be punishment enough.

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