minneapolis marathon

minneapolis marathon

The first edition of the Minneapolis Marathon stepped off at 7 a.m. today from downtown with a larger-than-expected crowd for its two events.

Organizers had expected their field to be around 2,500 for the half-marathon and 1,000 in a 10-kilometer race.

But organizers told KSTP-TV this morning that about 5,000 runners showed up for the start.

This is the first year for the Minneapolis event. Stillwater had it's first marathon earlier this month.

There are 10 marathons in Minnesota (if you count the Fargo Marathon, which dips into Moorhead), including two trail marathons.

Grandma's Marathon and the Twin Cities Marathon are the big dogs. Grandma's had a record 9,904 registered runners last year, and Twin Cities caps its field at 11,000. Grandma's has a half-marathon (6,600 runners) and a 5-kilometer race the night before (1,500 runners); Twin Cities has a 10-mile race (6,500) and 5K (2,500).

Based on number of finishers, Twin Cities is the 10th-largest marathon in America and Grandma's is the 11th. The world's largest is the New York City Marathon, which had 37,790 finishers last year. An estimated 420,000 people ran marathons in the United States last year.

Grandma's Marathon, which runs June 20, is at 85 percent capacity, with registration closing in two weeks. The Twin Cities Marathon, running Oct. 4, is expected to sell out well before October.

britain s got talent final winner 2009

britain s got talent final winner 2009

Susan Boyle lost Britain's Got Talent to the ten-person dance crew Diversity. "Lads, I wish you all the best," said Boyle graciously. It was a stunning loss. Boyle took second place in the voting.

Boyle chose to sing again the song that first brought her fame, "I Dreamed a Dream." Dressed in a blue gown and saying that this performance represented "forty years of doin,'" the Scottish sensation gave this final performance:

Given all the publicity Boyle received here in the States, it wasn't clear to many of us just how close the competition has been all along. To American eyes, the hiphop dance-troupe Diversity looks pretty ordinary, don't you agree? But judge Simon Cowell hailed them as "the only act tonight I'd give a '10' to" and "sheer and utter perfection." Judge for yourself:

pentecost sunday

pentecost sunday

Asbury United Methodist Church, 2128 S. Main St., will hear the Rev. Jerry Rigdon's sermon "Pentecost" during the 9:45 a.m. service Sunday. Everyone is asked to wear something red. Burlington Baptist Church, 1225 Hagemann Ave., will hear the Rev. Kendall Adams' sermon "Walking in Wisdom" at the 10:15 a.m. service Sunday. Scripture is Ephesians 5:15-21.

Calvary Baptist Church, 2710 West Ave., will hear the Rev. Dean Graber on Sunday morning as he brings a new series on the Book of Acts. Graduates will be honored.

Community of Christ, 901 S. 12th St., will have the sixth and final session of 40 Days of Love at the 10:45 a.m. service Sunday.

Des Moines County Catholic Parishes will observe Pentecost Sunday. Scripture is Acts 2:1-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13.

tickets for charity

tickets for charity

PERTH, Australia (AP) — An Australian student worried about her parents' money problems rifled through a pile of her lottery tickets Thursday and discovered that she had won 13 million Australian dollars ($10 million) 10 months ago, a state lottery agency said.

The student, living in the west coast city of Perth, received the winning ticket for a draw on July 22 last year as a gift from her father, Western Australia state agency Lotterywest said.

She had been unaware that it would have expired after 12 months, it said in a statement.

"I woke up this morning worried about our finances. Something made me think to check the tickets and I thought that if I win something, then I could help mom and dad out," Lotterywest quoted her as saying. She declined to be identified by name.

"The people close to me will be looked after and I might give some to research or a charity of some kind. It's nice to have this much to fulfill my dreams and the dreams of the people around me," she told the agency.

honduras earthquake

honduras earthquake

Tegucigalpa, May 28 (DPA) At least one person was killed and scores of others were injured when a 7.1-magnitude quake hit Honduras early Thursday, radio reports said.

A 15-year-old boy died when his house collapsed in La Lima 265 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa, the police said, adding that several people were also injured in San Pedro Sula in the north.

The quake, which measured at least 7.1 points, was followed by several aftershocks.

Following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning in the Caribbean comprising Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and other Caribbean areas except for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

However, only government agencies had the authority to take decisions on official alerts, the centre said.

The 30-second quake was caused by a collision between the Caribbean and North American plates, said seismography expert Gonzalo Cruz from the Honduras National Autonomous University.

US seismology officials said the quake struck at a depth of 10 km and some 320 km northeast of the capital Tegucigalpa.

sara jane moore

sara jane moore

Sara Jane Moore, the woman who tried to assassinate President Ford in San Francisco in 1975, emerged in public this morning and offered an apology for her actions.

In an interview on the "Today" show, Moore, now 80, described what life has been like since she was released from prison at the end of 2007 and tried to explain why she tried to kill Ford.

“I still believe if I hadn’t done it, someone else would.... It was a time people don't remember. We had a war in this country, the Vietnam War,” she told "Today." “The only way it was going to change was by revolution.”

The only woman to fire a shot at a president said it was only later, while spending time in solitary confinement, that she “had begun to realize that I'd been used.” “I think that I was misled, that I was mistaken. I think I made a serious error,” she told "Today's" co-host Matt Lauer. “I had to learn later that everyone else didn't feel that way.”

Moore said she realized in prison that what she had done was wrong. "I think it was a serious error," she said.

The terms of her parole are very strict, requiring that she complete paperwork when she travels and let her parole officer know where she is at all times, Moore said.

She said she knew some people didn't think she should have been paroled.

“We have a Constitution, and we have laws. Regardless of who you are, there were conditions to be met for me to be paroled, and I met those conditions," she told "Today." “If people object to that, write your congressman and ask that your law be changed.”

jet america airlines

jet america airlines

Low cost airlines start to fly in the travelers' radar as Jet America Airlines introduces 9 dollar fares and will start operations on July 13. One wonders how is Jet America going to make money with 9 dollar fares? Or is this only to create some initial buzz?
Jet America Airlines 9 dollar fares will get the discount travelers from Newark, NJ to Toledo. There will be only nine seats in each flight that will cost nine dollars each. According to Tampabay Jet America Airlines will make money from additional fees, just like other low cost airlines.
Jet America Airlines opens for business today and some aspects of its business is modeled by other low cost successful European airlines such as Ryanair. Tampabay.com writes that "Jet America will charge an additional $20 for a round-trip with an assigned seat, $20 to buy a ticket by phone and $10 to book on the Web site (www.jetamerica.com). The airline will begin with one leased jet and grow to four planes in a year, said chief executive John Weikle, former boss at now-defunct Skybus. The four initial cities — Toledo, Ohio, South Bend, Ind., Lansing, Mich., and Melbourne on Florida's east coast — are subsidizing Jet America by waiving airport fees and helping with marketing and advertising."
According to Jaunted.com Jet Ameria Airlines is on track to deliver passengers on July 13 in a Boeing 737-800 jet from Toledo to Newark, N.J., Melbourne, Fla., Lansing, Mich., and South Bend, Ind.
By the way, don't confuse Jet America Airlines with the private jet service Jet America LTD. The later's website is Jetamerica.net while the website of Jet America Airlines is Jetamerica.com, which we could not access at this point. Probably many travelers are trying to book a flight.

mike tyson s baby

mike tyson s baby

Mike Tyson's four-year-old daughter died May 26 of injuries sustained in a freak home accident. The champion boxer immediately flew to Arizona.
Exodus Tyson was found Monday morning hanged from a cord that was connected to a treadmill in the family’s activity room in their Phoenix, Arizona home. She was discovered when her mother, who was cleaning in another room, sent the girl’s seven-year-old brother in to check on her.Police are treating the case as an accident, saying it appears the child was playing on or near the treadmill and became tangled in the cord. The girl’s mother was administering CPR when paramedics arrived on the scene. Exodus died a day later of her injuries.Tyson was in Las Vegas at the time of the incident but rushed to his daughter’s side upon being notified of the tragedy.“Mike was very dedicated to that baby,'' said Sig Rogish, a longtime friend of Tyson and his former agent. “I think every parent's greatest fear is that they live beyond their children. I know Mike has had his troubles in his life, but he's always been a good father.”The troubles Rogish refers to are numerous. Tyson’s father left the family when Mike was two; his mother died when he was 16. By the age of 13 he had been arrested 38 times, but was saved from a life on the streets after juvenile hall when a counselor discovered his boxing talent.His short-lived marriage to actress Robin Givens ended amidst allegations of physical and emotional abuse and mental illness. He was convicted of raping a beauty queen and spent three years in prison for the crime. He was stripped of his boxing license for a year after biting off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a match, went to prison again on new assault charges, filed for bankruptcy in 2003 after squandering nearly $300 million -- around the same time his second marriage ended due to his reported infidelities -- and was arrested again in 2006 on charges of DUI and felony drug possession.Tyson knows his life has been one big tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. In 2005 he told USA Today:"My whole life has been a waste -- I've been a failure. I just want to escape. I'm really embarrassed with myself and my life. I want to be a missionary. I think I could do that while keeping my dignity without letting people know they chased me out of the country. I want to get this part of my life over as soon as possible. In this country nothing good is going to come of me. People put me so high; I wanted to tear that image down."

sink the vandenberg

sink the vandenberg

A ship last used by the U.S. Air Force to track missiles and spacecraft will soon become the world's second-largest intentionally sunk artificial reef.
Crews plan to sink the decommissioned Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg on Wednesday morning about seven miles off Key West. Officials hope it will attract fish and divers and relieve recreational pressure on nearby natural reefs.
Explosives will be detonated to flood the 17,000-ton, 523-foot-long ship that was first built as a cargo ship in World War II. It's expected to settle on the sandy bottom in 140 feet of clear water.
Officials in the Florida Keys expect it to generate up to $8 million in tourism-related revenue, mostly from divers and related businesses.

dream 9 results

dream 9 results

DREAM 9 Results: What everyone wants to know is, how did Jose Canseco do in his mixed martial arts debut at Yokohama Arena? Well to be hinest, there’s not much to talk about as Canseco did exactly how everyone expected him to against Korean giant, Hing Man Choi.

In his anticipated MMA debut in Japan’s DREAM 9 “Super Hulk Tournament”, the former Major League Baseball slugger/steroid-freak came out swinging and kicking against the 7’2” 330-pound Choi.

However, that didn’t last very long, as Canseco was knocked down after about a minute into the fight and then tapped out after getting pounded on the head a few times. The fight was stopped at the 1 minute 17 second mark of the first round.

Choi will advance to the second round of the Super Hulk Tournament , while Canseco will leave him with a quick paycheck and a lingering migraine headache.

"That's a big man," Canseco said. "I ran into one of his left jabs and that almost knocked me out. You have no idea how scary it was facing a man that big."

Just seconds into the fight, Canseco claims he reinjured his knee and that didn’t allow him to do much against the giant. "I hurt my knee back home real bad but I didn't want to disappoint the fans," he said. "I knew that at some point during the fight my knee was going to give out and once I was down I knew I wasn't going to get up. He's just too heavy to move."

wisconsin no call list

wisconsin no call list

Wisconsinites who want to be on the most updated do-not-call list have until this weekend to sign up.

The no-call list is updated quarterly. Names drop off the list after two years unless people sign up again.

Glen Loyd is a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. He says people who sign up by Sunday will be on the July 1 no-call list. Otherwise they have to wait until the October list comes out.

The list protects cell phones and land lines from unwanted telemarketer calls. Registration is free.

Loyd says he can never remember when he signed up so he just signs up every year.

He advises people not to wait until the last minute. He says the agency gets as many as 100,000 registrations in one day, which bogs the system down.

sotomayor

sotomayor

Judge Sotomayor's most high-profile case, Ricci v. DeStefano, concerns white firefighters in New Haven who were denied promotions after an examination yielded no black firefighters eligible for advancement. Joining an unsigned opinion of a three-judge panel of the appeals court, Judge Sotomayor upheld the rejection of a lawsuit by white firefighters, one of them Hispanic, claiming race discrimination and, as part of the full appeals court, she declined to rehear the case. The Supreme Court is currently considering the case, and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is the likely swing vote. Among the questions in the case is whether the law should treat diversity in the work force differently from diversity in the classroom. Judge Sotomayor dissented in part in an earlier case, Gant v. Wallingford Board of Education, finding that race discrimination had occurred when a school demoted a black child from first grade to kindergarten.

rock of ages

rock of ages

Constantine Maroulis lost "American Idol" during the fourth season, landing in sixth place, but he now has the chance to win a Tony Award on June 7. Maroulis will compete in the race for best musical actor for his role in "Rock of Ages." He's up against Gavin Creel ("Hair"), Brian d'Arcy James ("Shrek: The Musical"), J. Robert Spencer ("Next to Normal") and the three performers (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish) who alternate in the lead role in "Billy Elliot."

"Rock of Ages" is set in a Hollywood rock club in the late 1980s and features hit songs from Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar and others. It premiered at the Vanguard Hollywood in January 2006 and later found its way to off-Broadway last October. It opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in March.

susan boyle site youtube.com memories

susan boyle site youtube.com memories

Susan Boyle, a solteirona escocesa cuja voz magnífica se tornou a sensação do YouTube, voltou a encantar o público novamente no domingo, quando se classificou para a final do programa de talentos "Brittain's Got Talent".

Cantando "Memory" do musical "Cats", a mulher de 48 anos superou o nervosismo inicial para produzir mais uma apresentação sublime que lhe garantiu a vitória na votação pelo telefone.

"Você é uma dama especial, eu devo dizer isto, você realmente é", disse Simon Cowell, um dos três jurados do programa, após a nova performance de Boyle.

Vestindo um vestido brilhoso, Boyle estava mais arrumada e enfeitada do que na sua primeira aparição no programa, no mês passado, quando seu jeito deselegante e seu modo peculiar provocou risos na plateia, que supôs que ela não sabia cantar.

Desta vez, seu cabelo estava arrumado, suas sobrancelhas estavam feitas e ela parecia estar no caminho de se tornar uma estrela.

"Que pressão?", disse ela quando questionada posteriormente se estava nervosa. "Foi muito bom hoje à noite, eu realmente gostei... Estou muito feliz em estar aqui e obrigada a todos pelo seu apoio."

Boyle deixou os juízes de boca aberta no mês passado com sua interpretação de "I Dreamed a Dream" do musical "Os Miseráveis", que quase imediatamente se tornou a sensação da Internet, visto mais de 60 milhões de vezes no YouTube.

Com aparições nos programas de televisão da Oprah Winfrey e Larry King, Boyle -- que foi ridicularizada por nunca ter sido beijada -- se tornou uma sensação global, com sua idade e aparência conflitando com a imagem da maioria das celebridades modernas.

Boyle, que cantava em corais quando era jovem, mas que sempre sonhou com uma carreira no West End de Londres, tentou calar a boca deles, dizendo que não presta atenção ao furor global.Desde a sua apresentação em abril, equipes de televisão de todos os cantos do mundo acamparam em frente a sua casa na Escócia e jornais dedicaram páginas sobre ela.Um fã dedicou a ela um site "Nunca julgue um livro pela capa".O sucesso de Boyle fez dela a favorita a ganhar a disputa, que dará ao vencedor um ato no Royal Variety Show e receberá prêmio de 100 mil libras.

kathy coleman

kathy coleman

Alumni Weekend is fast approaching and boasts a schedule to interest everyone – and one of the premier events is the celebration of this year’s alumni award winners. All of the award winners plan to be present on Hiram’s campus, where they will accept their awards during Saturday’s reception. The Alumni Executive Board awards these honors. We welcome you to join us in recognizing and celebrating these deserving alumni.

Mandy Mehlman ’02 is the winner of the Recent Graduate Service to Humanity Award. Menlman, who was nominated by Amber Pasternak ’01, is a Homework Help Coordinator at the Worthington Public Libraries, and is also a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Franklin County.

Pasternak tells us of Mehlman’s accomplishments. Mehlman participated in Teach for America and spent two years teaching fifth grade in an underserved school in New York City while earning her master’s degree. Her commitment to humanitarian service continued, says Paternak, noting that Mehlman “joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to a site in Guatemala. There she worked with local schools to help solve hygiene issues. She stayed several months beyond her two year commitment so she could see a project through to completion.” Mehlman’s background in education, fluency in Spanish and familiarity with Latin American culture have served her well in her missions.
For her extraordinary service to humanity, Mehlman had earned this award.

Alumni Achievement Award is presented to Thomas Reuschling ’64. Reuschling, who was nominated by David Majick ’65, is professor of business and president emeritus, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Fla. In fact, for the better part of the last 40 years, Reuschling has been successfully serving higher education as a professor, director and dean of several colleges and universities. He has received numerous awards, fellowships and honoraria for teaching and leadership.

macdella cooper

macdella cooper

It's no secret that Citigroup board Chairman Richard Parsons has been working for months to repair the financial giant.

But, until now, even his closest associates didn't know he also was wrestling with a personal crisis - how to tell his wife and three children he has fathered a child with another woman.

Parsons and model-philanthropist MacDella Cooper are the parents of a baby girl named Ella.

The 61-year-old former Time Warner chairman said only: "This is a private matter, and I prefer not to talk about it at this time."

Cooper, 32, also declined to discuss the circumstances of her daughter's birth.

"My private life is private," the striking beauty said. "I'm sure you can draw your own conclusions."

Cooper gave birth last August, according to a source, who said Parsons will support the child and has set up a trust fund for her education.

The widely admired executive is said to have become close to the former model - who says she has worked for Ralph Lauren and appeared in Glamour magazine - through his support of her MacDella Cooper Foundation, which she founded in 2004 to help orphans and abandoned children in her homeland of Liberia.

Besides making donations, Parsons was the keynote speaker at her foundation's gala in October 2007.

oleksandra nikolayenko

oleksandra nikolayenko

Oleksandra Nikolayenko-Ruffin (Ukrainian: July 3, 1981 Budapest Hungary) is a Ukrainian model and actress. She is married to Phil Ruffin. She has received more beauty awards than any other woman in the Ukraine.^[1]
She holds “Miss Odesa”, “Miss Ukraine South”, “Miss Ukraine”, “Miss Student”, “Miss Tourism-Europe”, “First vice-Miss Tourism-Planet”, “Miss American Dream” and “Miss Tourism International” titles.^[1] She was the 2004 Miss Ukraine Universe winner, and represented Ukraine at the Miss Universe 2004 in Ecuador. She was invited to judge the Miss Universe 2005 finals in Thailand and later became director of the Miss Ukraine Universe pageant.
She studied at the Odesa National Law Academy, and worked for Savrox Models Agency in Odesa.^[2] She takes an active part in charitable projects. She speaks Ukrainian, Russian and English.

hanalei bay

hanalei bay

f life is a beach, Hanalei Bay must be heaven.

This remote, two-mile crescent-shaped beach on Kauai where the emerald mountains meet the sparkling sea was selected No. 1 on "Dr. Beach" Stephen P. Leatherman's 2009 list of top 10 beaches, which was released Friday.

Hanalei beat out other shores stretching from San Diego to Cape Cod.

"The sheer beauty of Hanalei Bay is breathtaking," said Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. "It's really an idyllic setting."

Hanalei features postcard views from every angle and is untouched by the feverish development that has transformed the coastlines of other islands. It's cherished by both locals and tourists as the perfect spot to swim, surf, snorkel or simply escape and unwind.

"It's just gorgeous," said Annie Meredith, who regularly surfs in the bay. "You've got green mountains, white sand, blue ocean — that's kind of hard to beat."

The runner-up on Leatherman's list was Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla., followed by Coopers Beach in Southampton, N.Y., on Long Island; Coronado Beach in San Diego; Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii; Main Beach in East Hampton, N.Y., on Long Island; Cape Hatteras in Outer Banks, N.C.; Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Fla.; Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Mass.; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, S.C.

Leatherman based his selections on 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities. And Hanalei is his personal favorite "getaway beach" in Hawaii.

"If I want to get away from it all and forget about the rest of the world, Hanalei is about the best place to go, as far as I know," he said.

sat scores

sat scores

I just took the SAT for the first time and I did OK - I got a 2000. I did really well in reading and writing, but I only got a 550 in math. I want to go to a good school, maybe not an Ivy, but somewhere with a good reputation, like Tufts University. Should I retake it to improve my SAT scores?

- Trying for the Perfect Score

Dear Trying,

It might not be a bad idea. Think hard about why you did not perform as well as you would have liked. Is math difficult for you? Was it your last section and you were tired? Were you having an "off" day? If you can really focus why you did poorly on the math and learn study tips to improve your SAT scores, you might be able to bring your test up by 100 points or so. However, know that with more effort going into the math, your high scores in reading and writing might slip. The CollegeBoard, the organization that administers the SATs, now allows you to choose which scores you send by test date with "Score Choice" However, you can't select which section you want to report: if you improve by 100 on one area, and "slide" in another area by 100 your score will stay the same.

Check with your top-choice colleges about their own score reporting policy. Many schools (including Tufts) only look at your highest score from each section, even if they come from multiple tests. In that case, it might be a good idea to actually have the CollegeBoard send all of your scores (not just the best overall) to your colleges. That way you can pick and choose the best scores from each section of the SATs.

In general, know that it is very rare to make a big improvement (more than 200 points) on your SATs the second time around. Each time you retake the test, your chances of improving actually diminish. My rule of thumb is if you're not happy with your score the first time around, buckle down to study and try again. If you're not happy the second time around, maybe just buck up and accept your SAT scores for what they are.

bryce dallas howard

bryce dallas howard

Here we have the fourth Terminator movie – which is also the film, in case anyone has forgotten, from which an audio tape of actor Christian Bale spectacularly losing his cool was leaked on to the internet. Bale's central complaint in his epic rant was that his attempt to get into character was being ruined by cinematographer Shane Hurlbut fiddling around in his eyeline; well, we can now report that Bale gets pretty deep into his role of future resistance leader John Connor, essaying a comprehensive range of growls, yells and strange barking sounds as he hurtles around a grimy post-apocalyptic landscape.

1. Terminator Salvation
2. Release: 2009
3. Country: USA
4. Directors: McG
5. Cast: Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Christian Bale, Sam Worthington
6. More on this film

Exactly what he's trying to do is never entirely clear; partly because, since the first Terminator film back in 1984, the convoluted backwards-and-forwards narrative superstructure has become ever more clotted and confused. Hitherto, Terminator films have generally been set in the present day, with one eye on vague future events from which time travellers are constantly popping back. Added to this, the series has always had a tenuous relationship with reality, as near-future science fiction tends to do. Judgment Day — the nuclear holocaust that paved the way for the whole machine-human war thing in this series' mythology – is now technically in the past: it was supposed to have happened in July 2004.

navy advancement center

navy advancement center


Advancement.cnet.navy.mil is the CNET Navy Advancement Center covered on TV today. The CNET Navy Advancement Center is one of several sites suggested by the Navy officially that provide “Education opportunities for active duty Navy personnel”.

The CNET Navy Advancement Center unfortunately has crashed today. This is the second time the site has crashed, last time on November 19, 2008

Advancement.cnet.navy.mil features downloads of all the Naval Correspondence courses that include:

Nonresident Training Courses
Knowledge Online, Redirect Medals
SIPS Provides Sailors Round the Clock Access

Says the Navy’s official site:

The following is an alphabetical listing of what is available on this, the official web site of the United States Navy. If more information is available at other web sites, those links have been provided to better serve our users. For a list of Navy commands with web sites, please see our list of Navy Web sites. To find a subject here, select the first letter of the subject from the right-side menu bar.

The Navy also suggests the following sites:
Navy College Program
Naval Postgraduate School
Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
Voluntary Education Programs

marie blanchard

marie blanchard

A district judge approved the outlay of “limited” public funds Monday to substantiate claims from a man convicted of vehicular manslaughter that there is a witness who can exonerate him. A Bonner County jury convicted Paul James Cavanaugh of the charge four years ago, but he continues to maintain he was a passenger in the pickup truck which struck Sarah Marie Jones, a pedestrian who walking to meet her boyfriend on Blanchard Cutoff Road.

Jones, 18, was fatally injured when she was hit on March 10, 2005.

Cavanaugh, 49, testified at trial he was not driving, but could not remember who was behind the wheel because was heavily intoxicated and experiencing periodic blackouts. Jurors, however, were not convinced by the testimony.

Cavanaugh was sentenced to serve eight to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and is seeking a new trial in 1st District Court.

Cavanaugh alleges Charlene Renee Coleman saw another woman, Lisha Kim Hegel, driving his truck on the night in question. Hegel, 49, was never charged in connection with the case and Coleman, 32, declined to testify on Cavanaugh’s behalf, according to court documents.

Michael Waldrup, Cavanaugh’s defense counsel, said he’s contacted two other witnesses, neither of whom were able to corroborate his client’s claims that he wasn’t driving.

“I’m kind of at the end of what I can do by myself,” Waldrup said during a Monday hearing which addressed the defense’s request for additional investigative funds.

Deputy Prosecutor Roger Hanlon told Judge Steve Verby that Coleman was contacted by a sheriff’s deputy during the run-up to Cavanaugh’s trial and she denied making the statements attributed to her.

Hanlon expressed doubt that additional investigation would reveal anything different. However, Hanlon did not object to the defense request for additional funds.

Verby approved the expenditure of investigative funds, but did not specify an amount. The outcome of the additional investigation is expected to be taken up at a June 15 hearing.

kathryn darden

kathryn darden

Former Atlanta Braves and current Boston Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz has married Kathryn Darden, the second marriage for each.

The wedding was Saturday night at Smoltz's house in Alpharetta in front of about 70 family and friends.

Smoltz had four children by his previous marriage and she has two.

The couple is in Fort Myers, Fla., where Smoltz is rehabilitating from shoulder surgery.

oscar meyer

oscar meyer

Oscar Mayer to Give Away up to $1 Million in Hot Dogs To Celebrate Taste Test Victory; Chef Rocco DiSpirito Heats-Up Times Square Celebration to Kick-Off Giveaway

MADISON, Wis., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- It's official! As compared to the leading beef franks, the best-tasting beef hot dog has a name; its O-S-C-A-R. That's right, Oscar Mayer Jumbo Beef Franks beat Ball Park(R) and Hebrew National(R) in a national taste test(1).

To celebrate the win and kick-off barbeque season, the Oscar Mayer brand will give away up to $1 million worth of hot dogs and let everyone in America in on the game on one very special day. On May 20, starting at 9 a.m. EDT, simply log on to OSCARMAYER.com for a free coupon for a whole pack of Oscar Mayer Jumbo Beef Franks. That's right, Oscar Mayer is giving away up to $1 million worth of hot dogs, while supplies last.

To help spread the word, the Oscar Mayer brand invited chef Rocco DiSpirito to host a pre-giveaway grill-out yesterday in Times Square. Flanked by the world famous Wienermobile vehicles, Rocco gave New Yorkers a taste of the dog that knocked the others out of the park and helped donate 20,000 hot dogs to Feeding America. Oscar Mayer has committed to donating a minimum of $100,000 worth of hot dogs to Feeding America(2) throughout summer.

The "Best In Taste" Dog

Oscar Mayer Jumbo Beef Franks are made with quality cuts of 100% pure beef to deliver a beefy, juicy hot dog with a taste the whole family will love. The brand also launched two new 'dogs' this season, Oscar Mayer Premium Beef & Cheddar Franks and Oscar Mayer Jalapeno & Cheddar Franks.

In Search of Our Best-Dressed Dog - All Summer Long

Although these beefy, juicy champs have little need for improvement, everyone has their favorite topping combination. Whether mustard only, pickle and ketchup, chili, cheese and onions or "the works," preferences differ from person to person and city to city.

To harness the passion for how Americans dress their 'dogs,' the Wienermobile vehicles are cruising the country asking hot dog fans how they'd top the best-tasting Oscar Mayer Jumbo Beef Franks. Those who visit Wienermobile events will get the chance to dress a larger-than-life Jumbo Beef Frank with their favorite topping combinations, and get their photo taken with their creation.

On-site, hot dog fans can also enter a sweepstakes(3) for a chance to win a Labor Day grill-out, complete with a visit from the Wienermobile, a top of the line grill and most importantly - bragging rights! Oscar Mayer Premium Beef Franks are available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99. Visit OSCARMAYER.com for more information on Oscar Mayer Jumbo Beef Franks or the national taste test.

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com) makes today delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 employees work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is the world's second largest food company with annual revenues of $42 billion. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.

    (1) As compared to the leading beef franks of Ball Park and Hebrew
       National brands
   (2) Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity
   (3) NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  See Official Rules posted at Kraft
       Wienermobile vehicle events.  Ends 8/3/09.

palm pre

palm pre

Sprint Nextel and Palm announced on Tuesday an official release date and pricing for the Palm Pre.

The Pre will be available nationwide on June 6 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract on Sprint's Everything Data plan or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plan. In addition to Sprint stores, the Pre will be sold online and at Best Buy, RadioShack, and some Wal-mart stores.

Accessories for Palm's Web OS-based smartphone will also be available on June 6, including the Touchstone Charging Kit (Touchstone dock and Touchstone back cover), which will retail for $69.99. Alternatively, you can buy the dock and back cover separately for $49.99 and $19.99, respectively. The Pre will provide access to such Sprint content as Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, and Nascar Sprint Cup Mobile Live.

Interestingly, the release date is a Saturday, which in some ways is a good move since it allows for weekend sales. Making the Pre available at other retailers is also a nice move. However, June 6 is two days before the start of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, where we'll most likely see a new iPhone announcement.

That said, I'm curious: will you wait to hear about the new iPhone before making a purchase? What do you think about the Pre's pricing? Are you like me and just happy to finally know the price and release date? Please share your thoughts.

afpaas

afpaas

As the Air Force gears up for its second test of the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System, Air Force Materiel Command leaders are reminding people to participate during the May 19-21 exercise.

The new system is designed to improve the way the Air Force keeps track of its people. It will be used whenever a situation arises, such as a natural disaster, that calls for commanders and supervisors to account for their people. Airmen and their families, as well as civilians, can call or log into the system to report their whereabouts and well-being.

Once submitted, the information is accessible to a variety of pre-approved trusted agents, who then use it to gauge accountability force-wide.

"The May exercise will evaluate AFPAAS to ensure the Air Force is truly ready for the 2009 hurricane season," said Tim Beyland, Air Force Manpower and Personnel assistant deputy chief of staff.

The Air Force implemented the system April 1 and plans to test it in the upcoming exercise. The requirement to report in using the system applies to active-duty Airmen, their family members, Guardsmen, Reservists, and contractors overseas. Non bargaining-unit employees should update their information and participate during the exercise.

However, civilian employees in bargaining-unit jobs are not required to use the system. For the upcoming exercise, bargaining-unit employees should report their status according to already-established procedures, such as an office recall plan, and follow local policies. To find out more about local policies and procedures, employees should ask supervisors or contact their local civilian personnel flight.

"Protection of privacy is paramount, and only pre-approved trusted agents, commanders and their designated representatives with CAC access, roles and permissions can view personal information," said Brian Angell, Air Force Personnel Center Personnel Readiness Cell Operations chief.

klippel trenaunay syndrome

klippel trenaunay syndrome

Carla Sosenko, a well known copy editor and freelance writer has publicly announced that she is suffering from a rare disease called Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS). Carla says she was born with the disease, which is a congenital circulatory disorder characterized by hemangiomas, arteriovenous abscesses, and varicose veins, mainly on the limbs.

The disease is painful and life-threatening but there are several treatments that work with varying success.
Surgical: Debulking is the most widely used treatment for the syndrome, but it is very invasive and is generally only used as a last resort.

Non-Surgical: Sclerotherapy is a treatment for individual veins in the affected area. Sclerotherapy involved injecting checmicles into the veins that will open them up to allow normal blood flow to resume.

Compression garments and massage therapy are also used to treat Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome.

Professional golfer Casey Martin is another celebrated public figure who has the genetic defect – Martin successfully sued the PGA in 2001 under the Americans with Disabilities Act – he is now allowed to use a golf cart in professional tournaments.

Mayo Clinic has reported the largest experience in managing KTS with major surgery.

In 39 years at Mayo clinic the surgery team evaluated 252 consecutive cases of KTS, of which only 145 (57.5%) could be treated by primary surgery.

The immediate success rate for treating varicose veins was only 40%, excision of vascular malformation was possible in 60%, debulking operations in 65%, and correction of bone deformity and limb length correction (epiphysiodesis) had 90 % success. All the procedures demonstrated high recurrence rate in the follow up. Mayo clinic studies demonstrate that primary surgical management of KTS has limitations and non-surgical approaches need to be developed in order to offer a better quality of life for these patients.

Major surgery including amputation and debulking surgery does not seem to offer any benefit on a long-term basis.

jenna morasca

jenna morasca

He survived Africa, but now he'll face an even more frightening foe: cancer.

Ethan Zohn, the winner of Survivor: Africa, the series' third cycle, has begun a fierce battle with the disease, the 35-year-old tells People.

"This is the ultimate game of Survivor and there's really only one outcome, and that's to win," he says. "There's no other option."

Night sweats and strange itching led the reality-TV star to think he had some sort of skin condition until, on April 30, he was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin's disease. Shortly after a swollen lymph node and a mass on the left side of his chest were found, doctors declared Zohn had a rare form of the disease called CD20-positive Hodgkin's lymphoma.

He began chemotherapy treatments last Friday.

"My life flashed before my eyes," Zohn says of hearing his diagnosis. Both he and his longtime girlfriend, Survivor season-six winner Jenna Morasca, have lost parents to cancer.

However, the pair have good reason to be hopeful—survival rates are up to 90 percent.

Still, not unlike Farrah Fawcett, Zohn will lose his signature curly hair within the next few weeks. However, instead of watching it fall out Izzie-style, he's planning a date with an electric razor.

"My hair is my identity," he told the magazine. "I'll get a Mohawk or something fun that I've always wanted to do…I'll roll with the punches as it comes to me. That's how I work," he says. "I'm not getting voted out of this one.

tony kornheiser

tony kornheiser

After three seasons in ESPN's "Monday Night Football" booth, Tony Kornheiser is out.

He will be replaced by Jon Gruden.

In a statement, ESPN said Kornheiser had "decided to step down." Still, during last season there were rumblings throughout the television industry that ESPN brass was looking to replace Kornheiser, who teamed with Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski.

"Jon is one of the best football minds in the game," said Norby Williamson, an ESPN executive VP. "(We) will create a must-watch Monday Night Football booth."

Tony Kornheiser (from l.) poses with current Monday Night Football play-by-play man Mike Tirico and former MNF analyst Joe Theismann.

Gruden spent 11 seasone as an NFL coach with Tampa and Oakland.

Kornheiser said it was his MNF travel schedule that led to his decision.

"I am totally grateful for the MNF opportunity," he said. "My fear of planes is legendary and true...I kept looking at the schedule the past month and wanted to find a way to quietly extricate myself."

armed forces day

armed forces day

The event will be held at the Airport beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.

They are asking that members of the Armed Forces, Veteran’s and their families come out and enjoy this free celebration.

Food vendors will be there but military members and their families (who show ID) will be treated to a free lunch grilled out by Wal-mart team members.

You can also take part in a free helicopter ride given by the Army heritage Foundation.

All guests are asked to enter through the south gate (closest to Glenn Ave/ Airport Motors).

They ask that you don’t bring any pets to this event because the runways will be active.

wax myrtle

wax myrtle

Many Barefoot Resort residents have learned the hard way about being "Fire-Wise," and that includes having landscaping that's fire resistant.

The Wax Myrtle Plant, what Myrtle Beach was named after, is a beautiful plant - but also pretty flammable.

You should avoid planting it right next to your house.

Then there's pine straw, used all over the Grand Strand. And it may have been what caused some of the homes in North Myrtle Beach to catch fire.

Pine straw is everywhere at Barefoot Resort.

It's around every tree, every flower bed, nearly every home, including, I'm sorry to say, my own.

But many homeowners in Barefoot, like Phil Polito, are waking up to this potential fire hazard. "I never thought about it before, but this serves as a prime example. We do not need pine straw," said Phil.

"Mulches that are light and fluffy dry out quickly, " said regional forester Debbie Price. She says pine straw ignites easily and can be carried by the wind.

She says heavier mulches are better. "Bark mulches, cypress mulch, they all hold more moisture than lighter mulches. They also do not ignite as readily, so hardwood bark, pine bark would both be better selections."

Also, think about what plants you have next to your home. Some are less flammable than others.

"Azalea, gardenia, loropetulum, barberry, all those are common, nice looking, landscape plants that would be less likely to ignite and burn if there is a wildfire," suggested Price.

So, forestry officials advise you to keep pine straw away from your home, even though the Forestry Commission itself sells pine straw to the public.

They sell it to raise a little revenue. Debbie Price said, "There are things you can do if you do have it, not saying wholesale you got to get rid of it."

There's a Barefoot Resort Homeowners Association meeting coming up on Wednesday. Several homeowners say they're going to insist to the property manager that in common areas maintained by the homeowners association, pine straw has to go.

duck duck

duck duck

(NECN/KATU: Yamhill County, Calif.) - Where ever you find Potato and Tomato the pot bellied pigs, you'll find Henry the duck.

The boar is very stand-offish, he doesn't want to be messed with at all," Jamie Cheslock said. "The female when she's tucked in and lying down she likes to be scratched on her tummy. She'll roll over and grunt with pleasure."

And Henry, he is just along for the ride. Cheslock has been caring for the threesome, now the humane society wants to find them a permanent home.

"They came together, they've been through a lot together," Cheslock said. "I think it would be best if they stay together."

The animals were found mistreated and malnourished in Molalla. Ora Mitchell, the former owner, was sentenced to jail time and community service for neglecting them.

Cheslock will help make sure their new home is a good one.

"Where they can roam around. A sheltered area with bedding and food and water, for them to get out of the weather and not get too hot in the summer," Cheslock said. "He was inseparable with the boar and would sleep on top of him and pick on the female. Then in the last month he changed his mind and decided that the female was his friend."

Cheslock cares for a lot of mistreated animals on her farm. While she has grown especially fond of this bunch, she will not be sad to see them go.

"No, it's not hard at all for me to see them go. Especially when they go to a really good

ally bank

ally bank

GMAC's conversion to a bank holding company in December formed the central plank of its survival plan, as prohibitive borrowing costs fueled by the funding freeze in credit markets and losses piling up at its auto-finance and mortgage units forced the lender to drastically shrink its lending operations in 2008.

The company's executives hope that the rebranding of GMAC Bank will spur retail deposit growth, a key funding source for GMAC amid the continuing credit squeeze. Aside from federal help, GMAC LLC, the lender affiliated with General Motors Corp., has few avenues to raise capital.

The name change marks a shift away from the GMAC brand that underscored the lender's association with the auto maker. GMAC, set up in 1919 to provide financing to buyers of GM vehicles, initially was an acronym for General Motors Acceptance Corp.

"We certainly value our relationship with GM and GM continues to be an important customer," said Sanjay Gupta, GMAC's chief marketing officer. "In addition to that, GMAC wants to grow as a bank holding company. The launch of Ally Bank provides a new platform to increase deposits."

The new name was culled from a shortlist of about a dozen names. "Ally conveys the sense of a trusted partner, the attributes we are trying to convey" Mr. Gupta said.

GMAC is jointly owned by GM and an investor group led by private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP. The auto maker and the investor group will significantly scale back their ownership in GMAC by the end of this month as a condition of the lender becoming a bank holding company.

gm dealer closing list

gm dealer closing list

GM dealerships around the nation are awaiting the least of closing of the 1200 car dealerships across the country. GM dealer closing is not surprise, the company had in April announced the goal to reduce the size of it's dealerships.

In April 28 update GM had said that it aims for dealership closings to reduce the list of the current dealer network from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010. The GM dealership closing list is not yet published at General Motors' website, but the news is already being reported by the mainstream media.

According to the Today Show the number of GM dealers included in the closing list is 1200, however; ABC News reports 1100. This is not a small difference. When you consider that each GM dealership may be employing 10 to 20 people or more, we are talking about 100 to 200 more families possibly going unemployed around the nation.

good morning america jon and kate

good morning america jon and kate

Confession time: I have absolutely no idea who these Jon and Kate people are or what plus eight they have. Is it eight spider monkeys? Eight chimneys? Eight copies of The Secret? All right, I'm exaggerating -- I realize they have eight children. But all of a sudden Jon and Kate are everywhere and I feel like I have missed out on some kind of pop culture phenomenon.

The only hitch? I honestly don't care. First of all, I stopped watching TLC the first time they got rid of Paige Davis on Trading Spaces; it just felt like a betrayal. Second, watching a show with this many children stresses me out and makes me feel like I'm babysitting. Third (and this one makes me a bad person, I know), I like watching TV shows with younger, attractive people, and judging from the photos of Kate, with her odd wedge cut, female-softball-player-esque hairdo, I think this show falls out of my comfort zone. I liken my avoidance of this show to that of people who stay away from The Hills, one of my personal faves. But I get that it's not for everyone.

Am I the only one out there who doesn't care about Jon & Kate Plus 8? Or am I missing out? Speak to me, PopWatchers!

rules of thumb

rules of thumb

Alan Webber, co-founder of Fast Company magazine and author of “Rules of Thumb, 52 Truths for Winning at Business Without Losing Your Self”, says a lifetime of meeting and listening to people helped him become a successful innovator and leader.

To make sure you remember what folks tell you, in his book he suggests carrying a stack of 3x5 cards so you can write it all down and create your own 52 rules for succeeding in business and, Webber says, life.

Weber, 60, is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and says he’s a “global detective” traveling, speaking and moderating conferences. The former editorial director of Harvard Business Review now serves on the board of several non-profits, including one helping indigenous groups in Tanzania, and is working on a new business to help solve social problems. Excerpts from the interview:

Levinson: Bookstore shelves are lined with these kinds of books. Do we really need another one?

Webber: I believe this is a different kind of book. Here’s what’s original about it. It’s a cross between a memoir and a how-to. I call it a mem-to. I didn’t set out to architect a new category. It’s kind of the way my brain works. It’s what I do, to see the cross-section of something. What this book does is to take 40 years of work experience, interesting human beings that I’ve worked for, with, 40 years of 3X5 cards that I carry with me and lessons that I’ve learned. I tell you how I learned it. It’s personal, it’s not abstract, it’s not theory, it’s grounded in real experience and from that I attempt to make the next leap which is ‘so if I were you, what would I make of it.’

biggest loser season 7

biggest loser season 7

The 3-hour season finale of the Biggest Loser revealed 48-year old Helen lost the largest percent of weight (55%) and won the challenge. You only had to tune in during the last 10 minutes to find this out.

She beat out Tara and Mike for the $250,000 grand prize. They all looked amazingly slim. Mike lost 207, Tara lost 155 and Helen lost 140 pounds.

The rest of the show was a lengthy weigh-in of the other 19 contestants who were eliminated over the past 18 weeks of the season. Sixty-four year old Jerry, who left after 2 weeks on the ranch, won the at-home prize of $100,00. He lost nearly 50% of his weight.

Season 7 was a landmark season. It had the heaviest, oldest, youngest and sickest contestants. Tara never fell below the yellow line and also won a record number of challenges.

Season 8 starts in September. Casting for season 9 is now open. Family member teams of 2 who each have over 100 pounds to lose are needed.

frontier communications

frontier communications

Frontier Communications Corp. (FTR) has a proven track record of integration, and should be able to quickly absorb Verizon Communications Inc.'s (VZ) rural assets, according to Frontier Chief Executive Maggie Wilderotter.

While the deal is structured as a tax-free spin-off and merger, Frontier will have to raise roughly $3.3 billion in funds through a debt offering, the proceeds of which will be paid to Verizon. Even though Frontier is raising debt, the acquisition of Verizon's assets allows the company to approach investment grade rating, she said during a conference call on Tuesday.

Verizon Chief Executive Ivan Seidenberg said he sees the deal creating value for both sides, noting that he expects approval to happen in a year.

Verizon has paid less attention to the rural areas as it focuses on wireless, FiOS and its global enterprise businesses. Chief Financial Officer Donald Shassian said he does expect revenue decline in the 3.5% to 4% range with the Verizon territories before the company takes over.

Wilderotter noted that the deal will be accretive to Frontier on a free cash flow basis by the second year, noting the $500 million in merger cost savings.

Further value could be created by building out high-speed Internet access to Verizon's territory, which could yield more revenue for the company, Wilderotter said.

"Rural America is our business," she said, noting the company's "manical focus on local."

One of the biggest integration hurdles is the conversion of billing systems from Verizon to Frontier. Wilderotter said she is confident that the conversion will be smooth. She added that ahead of the deal closing, Frontier will set up its products, promotions and offerings in the Verizon system.

"We can hit the ground running," she said.

Wilderotter said she doesn't foresee any problems with the unions representing the 11,000 Verizon employees moving to Frontier.

bags by chilli

bags by chilli

Bags by Chilli is bringing a new fashion trend. You can advertise yourself or put your child's picture on your handbag. Imagine walking on the street and your hand bag shows your face.

However, it's not cheap. Bags by Chilli range from $140 to $340 dollars. The collection at bagsbychilli.com shows the price range of various products.

Bags by Chilli hand bags are perfect for carrying all of your never-leave-home-without-it basics. They have also great sizes for the younger fashion forward ladies on your gift list. This classic bag features a "snap flap closure" and an interior zipper pocket.

jesse james singer

jesse james singer

Lead singer and guitarist James Mercer began working with Plummer about a year ago, in what "intended to be a side project," but on the basis of the work they did together, Mercer made the decision to shuffle the band's lineup. Lewis was brought in three weeks ago to learn the band's current tour set, and both new members will participate in recording the follow-up to 2007's "Wincing the Night Away."

Mercer says he has written 30 songs since the last album, but the band is playing only two of them live: "Double Bubble" and "The Rifle's Spiral." Both songs were written by Mercer and then fleshed out by his new band mates, who added the drums, bass lines and keyboard parts.

"The last record was another attempt to change and find something interesting and new for us to experiment with," Mercer says. "(The new album) is forming in my mind and how I want it to feel. There seems to be less dwelling on lack of confidence about things and more affirmative feelings in the songs."

In past work, Mercer's lyrics have reflected a witty, cerebral and almost cryptic approach, a quality that helped gain the Shins' notoriety in its early years. This time around, Mercer sees his writing moving in a direction that addresses uncertainty and how people grapple with it.

michael landon

michael landon

Mark Landon was the oldest of nine babies and was adopted by Michael Landon after the actor married his father, Dodie Levy-Fraser, in 1956. Mark Fraser Landon was born October 1, 1948. she was 60 years elderly when she died.

Mark Landon, Michael Landon’s oldest son was found dead atabout noon inside his West Hollywood home on Sweetzer Avenue Monday. Police say the cause of death was not immediately clear, but there is no sign of foul play and an investigation is ongoing.

Michael Landon starred in several movies and TV shows, including such classics as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie and Touched by an Angel.

Mark appeared in two movies, including “Us” a CBS TV movie written and directed by his brother in 1991 before she died of cancer at the age 54. The film was a pilot intended to be another series for Michael Landon. It aired a few months after his death.

space shuttle launch

space shuttle launch

Space shuttle Atlantis was fueled Monday for one last flight to the Hubble Space Telescope, an extraordinarily ambitious repair mission that NASA hopes will lift the celebrated observatory to new scientific heights.

The seven astronauts who will attempt the complicated, riskier than usual job shouted, waved and raised their fists as they headed out to the pad, eager to get going after waiting seven months to fly. Their flight was delayed last fall, two weeks before the scheduled launch, after the orbiting telescope broke down.

"Let's go!" commander Scott Altman said. "Yeah!"

Near perfect weather was forecast for the afternoon liftoff. NASA also was keeping an eye on the weather at the emergency landing strip in Spain, where there was a slight chance of rain.

As the sun rose in a clear sky, NASA finished loading Atlantis' big external fuel tank. A mile away on the other pad stood shuttle Endeavour, primed for a rescue in case Atlantis is battered by launch debris or space junk.

Many of the expected 30,000 people began gathering at Kennedy Space Center for the launch — scheduled for just after 2 p.m. EDT — including space center workers and guests. The Hubble scientists and managers were euphoric to finally be so close to liftoff.

nia 24

nia 24

"My Life in Ruins": "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" screenwriter and star Nia Vardalos returns to her Greek roots as a disenchanted tour guide trying to get back her mojo — or "kefi," as the Greeks call it — in the cradle of civilization (June 19).

— "I Hate Valentine's Day": Nia Vardalos reunites with her "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" co-star John Corbett as a commitment-phobic, Valentine's Day-hating tapas restaurant owner who is pursued by Corbett's carefree florist (July 3).

— "The Ugly Truth": Katherine Heigl plays a romantically challenged morning show producer who reluctantly agrees to follow the love advice of a chauvinistic shock jock (Gerard Butler) who was hired to boost her show's sagging ratings (July 24).

gary dell abate first pitch

gary dell abate first pitch

Howard Stern's long time producer Gary Dell'Abate is infamously known as Baba Booey. The history of the nickname comes from a mistake Dell'Abate made in the studio many years ago.

Saturday, Baba Booey messed up again. Big time. Watch it.

Ouch, Gary.

This pitch just makes me cringe. I watched it live about 15 times. As someone who pitched for 10 years, he should have called me and not a sports psychologist, as he claims. The key is to put zip on the ball, Gary. And throw over the top. I really can't decide what it looked like -- maybe a boomerang throw? But I've never thrown a boomerang. It just looks horrible.

Howard Stern through the years

Continuing to pile on, it's one of the most unathletic things I've ever seen from a grown man.

It ranks second to this pitch.

free printable mothers day cards

free printable mothers day cards

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) May 10, 2009 - On 10th May, 2009 people across the world honor the most important woman in their life, “The Mother”. First celebrated in the year 1850, Mother’s day has become the day when we honor and thank our mother for giving us life, raising us and being a source of emotional support and love. As everybody starts thinking about the best way to make this day memorable for their mothers, keeping with its tradition, Free Printable.com introduces all new ‘Free’ printable cards for the occasion.

The creative team at FreePrintable.com has come up with a brand new range of mother’s day cards. These are a mixture of exciting new themes as well as time tested vintage themed cards including theme designs such as angel design, flower designs, sketched design, graphic design and simple text designs. In addition to this range of pre designed cards Free Printable is also providing Coloring Cards for the occasion. “What better way to express your love and gratitude to your mother than giving her a self colored card with our felt emotions in it...” said Erik,owner and head of creative team at Free Printable, expressing his view on the Mother’s day greeting cards. The coloring cards have been introduced especially for kids, who can express their love in a more personalized way.

how to make scrambled eggs

how to make scrambled eggs

Recently I bought a dozen eggs at a supermarket. Imagine my surprise when I cracked one of those eggs the next morning to make scrambled eggs for my husband. It had three yolks. How often does this happen?

Why can't your husband make his own scrambled eggs? It's not exactly rocket science, is it?

Tell him it's his turn to fix breakfast while you go out for a walk or stay in bed a bit longer or just sit around watching to see what kind of mess he makes of things.

I suppose, however, that is neither here nor there.

Multiple-yolk eggs are fairly rare. I know this because when I order my Saturday-morning corned-beef hash with an egg over easy, it has never arrived with more than one yolk, much less with two or three, yolks. Maybe they are holding out on me, but I doubt it.

Anyway, one thing I read said a triple-yolk egg is a one-in-a-billion occurrence, but I don't know if that is really true.

I did find out that double yolks occur about once in 1,000 eggs. And that there is such a thing as an egg with four yolks, but that sort of thing is extremely rare.

how to make french toast

how to make french toast

The sun rose on a cloudless, cool morning in Central Illinois. I brewed some coffee and pulled one of the weathered Adirondack chairs fo face east... waiting for Mom to get up. My dog, Spyke, stalked an unseen critter rummaging in the thick ivy by the side wall and birds twittered in the trees.

It wasn't long before I heard the screen door creak open and Mom strolled over to join me. We sat and enjoyed the dew on the grass marveling at the one glistening drop clinging to the top of nearly every blade.

We laughed as Spyke tilted his head from side to side, impossibly large ears keenly atuned to his prey... we never learned the identity of the critter but that wasn't the point. The point is spending time with loved ones and enjoying the bounty in small things.

I have been richly blessed with parents that are fabulous.

I've been blessed with the best parents I know. However, today is the day we honor and express gratitude for our mothers.

dimaggio

dimaggio

Here is Chico's final game story from last night, which appeared online only.

Everywhere they go, the Nats create turmoil! No wait, everywhere the Nats go, turmoil already exists. Oh well, close enough. The D-Backs have a new manager in time for tonight's game, and they've made some coaching changes as well.

Kirk Kenney writes about Strasburg's place in college baseball history.

This is the perfect time to mention again that Chico will be at tonight's Air Force-San Diego State game, which begins at 9 p.m. ET. Chico will blog from that and write something more on Strasburg for the Sunday paper. Freelancer Jack Magruder, who's written often for The Post, will cover the Nats-D-backs game tonight, so that means less blogging on the Nats and more on Strasburg. If I can stay awake long enough, I'll try to post lineups.

Come on, Bill Plaschke, tell us what you really think about Manny.

Oh, and here's Sally Jenkins and Tom Boswell on the Manny situation, in case you missed that.

The Boston Globe has Dom DiMaggio's obit. And here's a Dan Shaughnessy column from two years ago, when Dom DiMaggio turned 90.

Their team is having its best spring in ages, but Royals fans aren't able to listen to Paul Splittorff tell them about it. That's not right.

mars chocolate

mars chocolate

Mars Snackfood US yesterday unveiled the Mars "Real Chocolate Relief Act," a national effort aimed at cheering up Americans concerned about such pressing problems as the economy with free, full-sized samples of Mars chocolate products, product discounts and coupons, as well as the advent of Free Chocolate Fridays.

"Brands like M&Ms, Snickers, Dove Chocolate, Twix, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers are loved by Americans," stated Michele Kessler, vice president at Hackettstown, N.J.-based Mars Snackfood US. "That's why we've created the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act. It's our way of giving Americans a small treat during challenging times."

As part of the campaign, every week through the end of September, Mars will give away a quarter-of-a-million full-size packages of M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, Dove and 3 Musketeers chocolate candy on Free Chocolate Fridays. Americans can claim one of 250,000 full-value coupons each Friday beginning today at 9 a.m. EST by visiting RealChocolate.com. Coupons, which will be mailed to consumers, are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis and are redeemable for any full-size Mars chocolate product. The coupons are limited to one per person, per week, according to Mars.

ellis island

ellis island

The Statue of Liberty's crown will reopen to the general public on July 4, the first time since before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar made the announcement this morning on NBC's "Today Show," which had its four main anchors begin the show live from the top of the famed New York landmark.

"Today we're announcing that on the Fourth of July we will open up the crown of the Statue of Liberty to the entire people of America," Salazar told NBC's Matt Lauer.

Salazar said his mandated review of logistical and safety concerns has concluded and that "improvements are going to happen" before the crown reopens in early July. The statue will remain open for the next two years then close for renovations in order to permanently repair security and safety concerns.

Visitors will be able to access the crown in groups of 10 at a time, guided by a National Park Service ranger, according to the Interior Department.

"We'll follow that up with more rehab and ultimately increase the number who can come up here," Salazar said from within the crown.

kevin grubb

kevin grubb

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia police are investigating after former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb was found dead in a Richmond-area motel room.

Henrico County Police spokesman Lt. Doug Perry said Thursday that personnel at the Alpine Motel discovered the Mechanicsville native in his room Wednesday.

Investigators did not speculate on the cause of death, but officials said there doesn't appear to be anything unusual or suspicious at the scene.

The 31-year-old was suspended from NASCAR indefinitely in 2006 because he refused to submit to a random drug test following the Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

Grubb was previously suspended in March 2004 for failing a drug test. But he agreed to random testing as part of his reinstatement. Grubb's career began with NASCAR's lower-tier series in 1997.

duke nukem forever

duke nukem forever

Is Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms finally shuttering? Seems like it. Game On just received a somewhat cryptic form-email from development studios Deep Silver and Apogee Entertainment (a legal alias for 3D Realms) stating, simply, that "Deep Silver and Apogee Software are not affected by the situation at 3D Realms" and that "Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned." No further details were offered, or reference made to what the "situation at 3D Realms" actually is.

Judging from the anonymous scuttlebutt ping-ponging around the blogosphere, the "situation" is apparently that development studio 3D Realms — founded in 1987 and the guys responsible for the irreverent Duke Nukem series — is shutting down. It seems an anonymous source pinged Kotaku and Shacknews to deliver the not-really-bombshell news that the studio is closing due to funding issues, and that employees at 3D Realms as well as Apogee have already seen pink slips.

prejean photo

prejean photo

Carrie Prejean says steamy photographs of her "have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith."

Prejean — the 21-year-old Miss USA runner-up whose remarks on same-sex marriage garnered harsh critism — said in a statement today that the images that ended up on the internet on Monday were "mean-spirited attacks."

I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others’ opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks.