Steve Davis

Red Bulls coach Hans Backe says his team's top priority is to be the best team in the MLS regular season.

If only the rest of us could gain an inner peace regarding the MLS playoffs as New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe has.

The latest round of fussing and debating over the postseason structure commenced last week when the league announced a belated, revised format for 2011. This one was a double whammy. Not only were some of the unpopular elements retained, but the postseason for the 18-team league also was expanded to 10 clubs.

Opening statements set in Ariz. sweat lodge case

Associated Press Published: Monday, February 28, 2011 10:02 AM MST

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Felicia Fonseca/Associated Press, James Arthur Ray, right, listens to a prosecutor speak during a hearing on Friday in Camp Verde. Ray is facing three counts of manslaugther. At his left is defense attorney Luis Li.

Czech author Arnost Lustig, survivor of three Nazi concentration camps, loses battle with cancer

Czech author Arnost Lustig died after a five-year fight with cancer.

Czech author Arnost Lustig, a survivor of three Nazi concentration camps who channeled the horrors of the Holocaust into his acclaimed work, died after a five-year fight with cancer.

Cycling champ Lance Armstrong backs California tobacco tax initiative to fund cancer research

Cycling champ Lance Armstrong backs California tobacco tax initiative to fund cancer research

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Cycling champ and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong said Monday is backing a proposed tax on tobacco in California to fund research on cancer and tobacco-related illnesses.

The seven-time Tour de France winner joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to urge support for the California Cancer Research Act that would increase taxes on cigarettes by $1 a pack to raise more than $500 million a year.

Live review, photos - Soundwave Festival, Sydney 2011

It could only get better, was the opinion most people who attended the Sydney leg of Soundwave last year . Bolstering the chances of this was a late shift from the public transport-challenged Eastern Creek Raceway to the far more accessible and festival-friendly Sydney Showground, the home of the Big Day Out for the past decade. It was a fantastic outcome. While a busy weekend at the wider Sydney Olympic Park site, with an Ultimate Fighting Championship event next door at Acer Arena and the sci-fi Armageddon Expo nearby, meant stage sound got capped at sometimes disappointing levels, the trade-off for proper amenities and absence of stifling dust clouds felt worth it. Plentiful – and rarely crowded – bars (albeit serving dreaded mid-strength alcohol), and equally abundant and good toilet facilities, are a rare treat at a festival. Blessed with both, it was a fair trade-off for any sound beefs.

Review: The Three Fishes, Mitton

Address: The Three Fishes, Mitton Road, Mitton, nr Whalley, BB7 9PQ.

Lancashire Telegraph review by Anna Mansell from February 26. 2011.

IT’S not often a single dish inspires a whole review.

But when that dish combines some of my favourite things — and breaks every rule of the diet book in each little mouthful, then I’ll break with convention.

Hyundai to Ramp Up Production in Europe, Add 1,000 Jobs - WSJ.com

Hyundai Motor Co. plans to add a third shift this summer at its plant in the Czech Republic due to surging demand and create 1,000 new jobs there, marking the latest sign that the South Korean auto maker is plotting further inroads in Europe.

"This extra capacity will cover the predicted increase in demand for our cars built in Europe," Hyundai's chief operating officer for Europe, Allan Rushforth, said in an interview ahead of this week's Geneva motor show.

Hyundai отмечает 25-летнюю годовщину работы в США.

В конце февраля компания Hyundai Motor America, предлагающая полную линейку продуктов Hyundai, получивших многочисленные награды, отметила 25-летнюю годовщину работы на американском рынке. Компания стремится ставить перед собой амбициозные цели и реализовывать новые возможности, которые будут появляться в будущем.

Finamauto - Флагман КIA K9 получит

Сквозь камуфляж прослеживаются черты Maserati Quattroporte, обратите внимание на решетку радиатора.

К слову сказать, над дизайном автомобилей KIA трудится Питер Шрайер, пришедший в компанию из Audi, а спортивная модель TT – его рук дело.

По всей видимости, новый седан займет нишевое место на рынке между Hyundai Genesis и Equus. Как было известно ранее, новый седан класса люкс будет построен на платформе Hyundai Genesis, а в серию автомобиль выйдет уже в этом году. Точные технические характеристики пока неизвестны, однако, есть предположение, что для K9 будет разработан новый двигатель V8 и 8-ми ступенчатая автоматическая трансмиссия.

Источник: http://finamauto.ru

2012 Hyundai Veloster: A brand new coupe

- Hyundai revolutionizes the coupe with the all-new Veloster at the Canadian International Auto Show

- Advanced Technology Three Door-Coupe Features Hyundai Blue Link® and Up to 40 MPG

Hyundai introduced its cutting-edge Veloster three-door coupe in a Canadian debut at the Toronto Auto Show. The 2012 Veloster delivers innovation to the compact coupe segment with a unique third door for easy rear-seat access, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, Pandora internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display, and a new 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine mated to Hyundai’s first EcoShift™ dual-clutch transmission.

PR-USA.net - The Spotlight Shines on Hyundai as the Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of the 83rd Academy Awards

Hyundai once again joins Hollywood's biggest night as the exclusive automotive sponsor of the 83rd Academy Awards, broadcast on Sunday, February 27 on ABC. Nine Hyundai ads will air throughout the coverage – two pre-show and seven during the awards ceremony itself. In accordance with Academy rules, and to ensure that Hyundai's long-time "voice" gets to enjoy the spotlight for his second consecutive Oscar nomination, Hyundai cast a guest star for a portion of the evening.  Jason Bateman provides the voiceover for four ads surrounding the "Best Actor" award presentation.

Hyundai's Oscars commercials: Free iPads to Equus buyers - National Commercials | Examiner.com

Hyundai has released its line-up of Oscars commercials, and, as previously reported, it's a series of old and new spots highlighting popular models.

This is Hyundai's third year as the exclusive vehicle sponsor of the Oscars. The company is running nine Oscars commercials, from the pre-show through the actual Academy Awards.

Academy Awards: Hyundai offers free iPad with Equus

Hyundai is arguably the current most talked about manufacturer in the auto industry, and now there’s another reason. The South Korean carmaker promoted during the Academy Awards commercials its unique top-of-the-line Equus feature — a free 16GB WiFi Apple iPad.

Hyundai, the exclusive auto advertiser during the Oscars telecast, says in promotional copy for the new offer:

Packers waiting for free agency - Sacramento Living - Sacramento Food and Wine, Home, Health | Sacramento Bee

INDIANAPOLIS -- There's a reason the Green Bay Packers don't appear close to signing any of their impending free agents.

It's because they aren't.

They aren't alone, however, because agents say teams are holding off on doing any deals with their own players until they know what the next collective bargaining agreement looks like.

Taylor's Bradford City reign ends in dramatic fashion

A bulging Valley Parade stood as one to salute their team after the most dramatic of victories.

This was the type of finale that attracted Taylor to the job. He dreamed of awakening the giant, as he had done with Hull.

Only the celebrations at the final whistle were as much an outpouring of relief as joy.

Word From the Birds BlogHaley wary of Fitz’s tackling skills «

Haley wary of Fitz’s tackling skills Posted by Darren Urban on February 27, 2011 – 8:49 am

Had a chance to talk to Chiefs coach (and former Cardinals offensive coordinator) Todd Haley yesterday when he opened the conversation about the long-past pickup basketball games we both used to take part in. Haley (who was wearing his NFC championship ring) isn’t playing hoops right now after tearing his quad muscle in his right leg — he’s rehabbing now — and that led to discussion about when he hurt it.

Popham named most outstanding

Photo by Nate Heckenberger West Chester Rustin's Evan Harkins looks for an opening against Fred Alderman of Garnet Valley during their final at 119 pounds. Harkins won the match, and the crown, 1-0.

Photo by Nate Heckenberger Unionville's Mason Popham, left, shoots in on West Chester Rustin's Steve Quinn in the first period of their 135-pound championship bout at the Class AAA District 1 South Tournament on Saturday. Popham won the title by technical fall.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Cardinals expecting more from Wells in 2011

Here are  some whispers we've been hearing from around the NFC:

• Cardinals GM Rod Graves said that the team is satisfied with former first-round RB Beanie Wells — up to a point. "We are satisfied with him, but we're looking for more from Beanie. His injuries have been legitimate injuries, but we are expecting he is going to make an even larger contribution to our football team. Beanie is a very talented player, and I think we're fortunate to have both him and Tim Hightower and LaRod Stephens-Howling. "He (Wells) has the talent to be an every-down player, and we expect his contributions are going to be felt even more this season."

College Football: The Top 20 SEC Football Games of All Time

The SEC is arguably the greatest conference in America when it comes to college football.

Alabama claims 13 national titles; Tennessee claims six; LSU, Florida and Ole Miss claim three; Auburn and Georgia both claim two.

The SEC is packed with prestige, but one reason why teams like Auburn and Georgia don't have more championships, quiet frankly, is because the competition is too tough.

49ers Quarterbacks: Long Look Back, Brief Look Forward - Niners Nation

I've been putting off doing this post on quarterbacks because there is simply so much to say, and I haven't had enough time to really sit and get into it. Well, I still don't have enough time, but we'll find a way through this somehow! The quarterback position for the 49ers has been one of need ever since Jeff Garcia left. Do you remember him? He was the last good quarterback to don a 49ers uniform. (But Ninjames, what of the mighty Super Bowl-winning Trent Diler?! Shut up. You just shut your face.) They've had an option here or there, but it's largely been one whole steaming pile of ... disappointment.

'Survivor Redemption Island' Episode 1 Recap

Ryan Christopher DeVault , Yahoo! Contributor Network

Feb 27, 2011 "Contribute content like this. Start Here ."

The "Survivor: Redemption Island" episode 1 recap comes from the season premiere on Feb. 16, 2011. There are 18 cast members for the 2011 "Survivor" season, with Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz joining eight of them on each side.

Watch this!

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• Robin Roberts kicks off ABC’s “Oscar’s Red Carpet Live” with Tim Gunn, Krista Smith and Maria Menounos at 7 p.m. on WCVB (Ch. 5). Anne Hathaway and James Franco co-host the 83rd annual Academy Awards at

• Aron Ralston, the man James Franco played in “127 Hours,” competes in NBC’s “Minute to Win It” at 10:06 p.m. on WHDH (Ch. 7).

Film scout burns rubber to Bakersfield car collectors

Dan Thompson may not have a role in the latest installment of "The Fast and the Furious" movie franchise, but an old love will: His 1968 Dodge Charger.

And she'll look a lot hotter than when Thompson had her.

As a classic car collector and restoration expert, the Bakersfield resident is on Hollywood's radar, which explains the call he got last week from his buddy Brian Frick, a local mechanic who said the film's producers were looking for owners of circa-1970 Chargers. Terry Woodcock, the Hollywood scout on the hunt for the mean machines, once lived in Bakersfield and still has connections among local car enthusiasts.

KansasCity.com

103 : Perez, Junction City, def. Stone, Manhattan, 9-3.

112 : Calderon, Garden City, def. Bonilla, Goddard, 7-5. 6. Joms, SM East.

119 : Norris, Manhattan, def. Parise, BV West, 7-6; 4. Haralson, Lawrence.

125 : Humphrey, SM South, def. Beasley, Campus, 9-4; 3. Whitmore, SM Northwest; 4. Blanco, Olathe Northwest.

Me and My Car: His own chase after 'Bullitt'

DO YOU REMEMBER the movie "Bullitt?" The 1968 Warner Bros. movie starred Steve McQueen and is legendary for its car chase through San Francisco with McQueen (the good guy) in a Highlander Green Ford Mustang chasing two hit men in a Jewel Black Dodge Charger R/T.

Lafayette resident Frank Panacci was a kid when the movie was made, but he remembers it well, as he was allowed on the set. His father was a San Francisco motorcycle officer at the time and was assigned to crowd control during the filming and became acquainted with McQueen.

Edwards takes Phoenix pole

Carl Edwards carried momentum from his second place in the Daytona 500 by setting a new track record in Saturday's qualifying at Phoenix.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader set a time of 26.224 seconds at an average speed of 137.279 mph, beating the mark that he had set back in November when the series last raced at the one-mile oval. Roush Fenway racer Edwards got a perfect exit out of Turn 4 on his second lap, improving on the previous benchmark - also under the existing track record - of Red Bull's Kasey Kahne.

Cheat Sheet: Kyle Busch's quest for Phoenix sweep highlights NASCAR Sprint Cup race - NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN

The stage is set in the Arizona desert. It’s time to buckle up for the second race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season (Coverage begins on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET).

What can you expect to see at Phoenix International Raceway when the green flag drops at about 3:15 p.m. ET? Here’s your cheat sheet for what to watch on FOX this afternoon.

THEATER REVIEW: “The Fantasticks” is fantastic at Welk Resorts Theatre

Photo credit: Moink.com Scene from "The Fantasticks."

OK, sharpen those verbal knives, you whingers and members of the theatrical Sophistication Patrol. This is about “The Fantasticks,” the little musical that could – and did, to the tune of a 42-year run in New York.

Heights wrestling ends Goddard's bid for four-straight titles

Since 2006, the only 6A school to win a state wrestling title not named Goddard was the 2007 Manhattan Indians.

Now add the 2011 Wichita Heights Falcons to that list.

“It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had as a coach in my life,” said Heights head coach Mike Church.  “To see the look on the kids’ faces when they win that state championship, to know that we could all join together and get to that is an awesome feeling.  I’m so happy for this school and this City League to bring one back to the public schools.  I’m happy that we had the opportunity to take care of it and win it.”

Dixon Claims Pomona Pole With Record Pass

Info Manager | , RacinToday.com Saturday, 26 February 2011

2010 Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon is on pole at Winternationals. (File photo courtesy of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series)

Larry Dixon had a national-record pass of 3.770 at 324.98 mph to claim the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel on Saturday at the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.

Readers Take On Muni-Market Woes

While some investors are buying, others don't like the uncertainty of municipal bonds.

Is it time to be worried about municipal bonds, or have the recent negative headlines created a buying opportunity in this usually sleepy asset class?

Poster $unshine , a seller of munis seven months ago, has been scooping them up recently, even for tax-advantaged accounts. "I purchased selected closed-end funds during the frenzy following the Whitney report. I have even purchased some close-end funds for my IRA, as the rate of return is higher and safer than REITs."

Softball Comes Up Short on Second Day of USF Invitational - WMUBroncos.com—Official Web Site of Western Michigan Athletics

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Western Michigan softball team dropped its second one-run game of this young 2011 season, falling to Central Connecticut State, 2-1, during the Broncos first game on Saturday at the USF Invitational.  WMU ran into the fifth-ranked team in the country in its second game of the day, falling to Alabama, 12-4, in six innings.

College Hoops Hangout - Carroll County Times: Colleges

What's going on: McDaniel lost its final two games of an up-and-down season, falling to Haverford in the first round of the Centenniel tournament. ... The Green Terror still haven't won a postseason game since 1961.

Team leaders: G Devon Lesniak (Jr.) 14.7 ppg, 1.9 apg; G Cullen Murray-Kemp (Jr.) 8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg; F Louis Sarris-Grau (Jr.) 7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg; G Mike Jarboe (Sr.) 6.4 ppg, 2.8 apg.

A Corporate Sleuth Tries the Credit Rating Field | TheLedger.com

Fortunes plundered, ransoms paid, deals cut — the uncovering of such secrets, and the million smaller confidences that are his history, have made Mr. Kroll a rich man.

It was nearly 40 years ago, when he practically invented the business known as corporate intelligence, that he first came to the attention of crafty boardrooms. At a time when “private eye” still conjured images of cheating spouses and seedy hotels, Mr. Kroll built a sort of private C.I.A. and went corporate. If a Fortune 500 company or an A-list investment house wanted the dirt, it hired Kroll Inc. to dig it up.

SLIDESHOW: Winter Track Meet of Champion Girls Winners and Complete Results

TOMS RIVER -- Champions of the 43rd annual NJSIAA Winter Track Meet of Champions on Saturday in Toms River.

43rd annual NJSIAA Girls Winter Track Meet of Champions

    55 Hurdles: 1. Fiona Paladino, Montgomery senior, 8.20; 2. Iana Amsterdam, Essex County Tech sophomore, 8.24; 3. Samantha Jensen, Central Regional junior, 8.40; 4. Kelly Berg, Freehold Township senior, 8.44; 5. Adrienne Williams, Notre Dame junior, 8.47; 6. Patrycja Dziekonska, West Windsor-Plainsboro North freshman, 8.49; 7. Ashleigh Delemos, West Windsor-Plainsboro South senior, 8.50; 8. Mel Lewis, Midland Park senior, 8.64; 9. Kiana Winston, Columbia sophomore, 8.58 (trials) 10. Gifty Amankauh, Essex County Tech sophomore, 8.59 (trials).

Kobasew seeks larger role, not deal | StarTribune.com

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — With the Wild in the thick of the cutthroat Western Conference playoff race, General Manager Chuck Fletcher has said he's not actively looking to trade his potential unrestricted free agents by Monday's deadline.

Those players are Andrew Brunette, John Madden, Antti Miettinen, Jose Theodore and Chuck Kobasew.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Saturday Combine notebook

Following is a recap of some of the news that came out of the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday.

Cam Newton addressed his past briefly at the beginning of his press conference on Saturday, explaining the statement he made last week that he was an "entertainer and icon" was for promotional reasons only. Other than that, however, Newton was all about looking forward.

Running back a position for New Orleans Saints to mull for the NFL draft

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

INDIANAPOLIS - The New Orleans Saints have long believed that a team can't have too many quality running backs, but that point was painfully driven home last season when they were down to their eighth tailback by the end of their playoff game at Seattle.

Minnesota Wild use great defense, goaltending to get to Pierre-Marc Bouchard's goal in OT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — What the Wild needed Friday night, they got.

Hampered by numerous injuries and 24 hours after losing to the Los Angeles Kings, the Wild got a goal from Pierre-Marc Bouchard with 6.3 seconds remaining in overtime to topple the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in front of 13,617 at the Honda Center.

Oilers' Penner mentioned as Wild seek forward help

Ravaged by center injuries, the Minnesota Wild recalled Warren Peters for Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. They are hunting for forward help and, according to the Edmonton Journal, are interested in the Edmonton Oilers' Dustin Penner.

The Wild played Friday without captain Mikko Koivu, who has a broken finger. They also have lost ailing Kyle Brodziak and Cody Almond, who the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports has a lower-body injury.

Warriors: Al Attles is franchise's classiest face

He comes to games and sits alone, a couple dozen rows above the floor, generally limiting his interaction to greetings that convey his authentic decency.

He comes to most practices and sits alone on a balcony, sometimes joking with players or lending an ear to any coach seeking one.

He doesn't mind company for a few minutes, but he won't seek it. To anyone who might ask, he'll tell about the remarkable season of one of the unlikeliest championship teams in American sports history.

Wild Win 3-2 Overtime Heart-Stopper Over Ducks

In this second game of a back-to-back, the Wild needed a win to try and favorably separate themselves from the 387 other teams they are tied with. Win they did, but was it a deserved win? It was for at least one Wild player, that’s for sure.

The Wild started the game tired, which is strange, because usually, to be this tired, you have to actually have played more recently than a day… maybe the warm-up was a bit much? Anyway, the speed just wasn’t there, they were being out shot, out-hit and basically out worked, but it was John Madden who opened up the scoring with a beautiful top-corner snipe on a two-on-one with Andrew Brunette in which he smartly elected to shoot instead of pass… wouldn’t it be nice if more of our players had that shoot-first mentality? The pass would’ve been blocked too..Despite Anaheim controlling the flow, it was the Wild who lead 1-0 after one period

Shot suppression another Flames specialty

Not only are the Calgary Flames getting the job done with the puck — prior to Friday night’s game with the San Jose Sharks, they were seventh in the NHL in team scoring (2.89 goals per game) — they’re successful limiting scoring chances against them as well.

The Flames are third in the league in shots against per game — 28.1, behind only the Los Angeles Kings (27.7) and the New Jersey Devils (26.9).

Bouchard scores in OT to lift Wild over Ducks

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored on Minnesota's second breakaway of overtime against Dan Ellis, Jose Theodore made 19 of his 46 saves in the second period, and the Wild sent the Anaheim Ducks to their fifth straight loss with a 3-2 victory on Friday night.

Ellis, making his Ducks debut after joining them in a trade from Tampa Bay on Thursday, fanned on a 55-foot slap shot by Clayton Stoner that sneaked between his pads with 4:57 left in the third period as Minnesota grabbed a 2-1 lead.

Merola's buzzer 3 lifts Manhasset in 2 OTs

Photo credit: Kathy Kmonicek | Manhasset's Head Coach George Bruns rushes in with his team to celebrate Daniel Merola's winning basket as he hugged by Dan Connolly (15). (Feb. 25, 2011)

Web links Photos: Recent high school sports events Blog: High School Boys Basketball

PR-USA.net - Consumer Electronics Show CEO Gary Shapiro to Appear on “Tim Connolly’s Winning Strategies” on

Gary Shapiro is President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which owns the International CES, the world’s largest annual technology trade show. Through his leadership of the CEA and the International CES, Mr. Shapiro has led the technology industry through seismic shifts, including the transition from analog to digital television, and the move to wireless, personal computers and the internet. He has received many awards, including the Pinnacle Award, and was recognized repeatedly as one of the 100 most influential people in Washington by Washington Life Magazine. Mr. Shapiro will discuss his new book The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream on Tim Connolly’s Winning Strategies, Broadcast Live on CBS RADIO 650 AM Houston and CRN Digital Talk Radio network, on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Listen live on www.winningstrategies.net, CBS Radio 650 AM Houston (http://houston.cbslocal.com/station/talk-650/) or CRN Digital Talk Radio Network on CRN 4, with local affiliate stations listed at www.crntalk.com.

At Bat: Lineup of Infosec Subcommittees' New Leaders

Like managers handing umpires their teams' opening-day lineups (spring training is underway, after all), congressional committee chairs are issuing the rosters of members of subcommittees with IT security oversight for the 112th Congress, including their chairmen (and they're all men) and ranking members.

Middlesbrough

Queens Park Rangers maintained their drive towards automatic promotion with a straightforward win at Middlesbrough.

Midfield playmaker Adel Taarabt, an influential figure for the visitors, squared a ball for Heidar Helguson, who fired in from 12 yards.

Faltering Bulldogs lose in Colorado

Goals 18 seconds apart early in the third period sparked No. 19 Colorado College to a 5-4 win over No. 7 Minnesota Duluth on Friday night in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association men’s game at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Goals 18 seconds apart early in the third period sparked No. 19 Colorado College to a 5-4 win over No. 7 Minnesota Duluth on Friday night in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association men’s game at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.

State Wrestling Results: Division I

Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:47 pm by Tom Quinlan in General , Wrestling

96 : Kyle Kelly (IV-Chenango Forks) dec. Robert Person (VIII-Bellmore JFK), 5-2; John Stramiello (IX-Pine Bush) dec. Shawn Berman (II-Albany) , 9-6; Nathan Marshall (X-Massena) dec. Bryan Ruggeri (V-Fairport), 8-2; Nick Piccininni (XI-Ward Melville) pinned Tom Hill (III-Fulton), :26; Freddy Dunau (C-St. Anthony’s) dec. Barton Peters (V-Brockport), 6-4; Austin Acquard (VI-Iroquois) dec. Josh Antoine (P-Grand Street Campus), 4-3; Dylan Realbuto (I-Somers) pinned Dominic Inzana (II-Saratoga) , 3:37; Blaise Benderoth (I-North Rockland) dec. Anthony Orefice (VI-Lockport), 4-2.

San Francisco 49ers 2010 Season in Review: Week 8, VS Denver Broncos (London, England)

Nocal81 Note: Sorry if this game recap didn't go into as much detail as previous weeks. I had a hard time finding video highlights or videos of the entire game online. I am not sure there was some type of copyright because the game was in London, but online video feeds were not as abundant as in previous weeks

Southeastern Conference flexing its muscle at NFL Scouting Combine

By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

INDIANAPOLIS -- There's a reason SEC teams have won five consecutive national football championships.

Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is one of the top prospects. Four of the top five overall prospects and seven of the top 11 on NFLDraftScout's board are from SEC schools.

Children’s choir going to provincial festival, recording CD

Children’s choir going to provincial festival, recording CD. CONCERT: The Oakville Children's Choir performed recently at St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church. Submitted photo

The Oakville Children’s Choir is keeping ever busy with a number of upcoming events.

The choir will be perform at the Ontario Vocal Festival on Tuesday, March 1 with the hopes of getting invited to MusicFest Canada. In addition to that the young choristers will also record a CD, which is expected to be out in December.

TV Ratings: ‘NCIS’ Ties ‘Glee’; ‘No Ordinary Family’ & ‘V’ In Trouble [Updated]

Ratings from Tuesday night were promising…for CBS. Veteran cop show ‘NCIS’ tied Fox’s ‘Glee’ in the 18-49 demographic, while over on ABC, ‘No Ordinary Family’ and ‘V’ are seeing ratings slump.

[ UPDATE: Fox reached out to us and provided updated Nielsen ratings where it shows that NCIS & Glee actually tied each other in the 18-49 demo.]

'Next Great Restaurant' will have Minneapolis location

Get ready for a new hot restaurant chain to debut in Minneapolis. In the upcoming reality series "America's Next Great Restaurant," contestants will vie to get the backing to open the restaurant of their dreams. The winning concept will open in three locations — Hollywood, New York City and Minneapolis.

Tuned In: Comedian/host Joel McHale praises Independent Spirit

Joel McHale -- "Studio films aren't terrible ... but with independent film you are more constrained by money, but you have [fewer] constraints as far as the art."

For movie buffs, it's a weekend of celebration with the Oscars on Sunday. But these are perilous times for the movie business, not just because of the changing technological landscape (improved 3-D! illegal downloading online! legal downloading online!) but also because of perceptions.

UFC 127: BJ Penn Vs Jon Fitch Bottom Line

By Ben Bieker

B.J. “The Prodigy” Penn (16-7-1, #7 Welterweight) VS. Jon Fitch (23-3-0-1, #2 Welterweight)

B.J. Penn has had an up and down career at Welterweight. People don’t know, but his record is only 3-3. Two of those wins are over Matt Hughes and the other is over Duane Ludwig, who is a Lightweight himself. He has been dominated by GSP twice, and got submitted by Matt Hughes. People like to make Jon Fitch out to be GSP light. If that is true then he wins this fight. No one has really been able to defend Jon’s takedowns besides GSP. Beyond that he has gotten good wrestlers in mike Pierce, Diego Sanchez, Paulo YThiago, and Thiago Alves down. People at one time thought B.J. had really good takedown defense, but Frankie Edgar proved he can be brought down. This fight is an easy pick in Jon as he his 21-1 in his last 23 fights, while B.J. is only 3-3 since 2009.

What's Happening: Local briefs - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin

The Colchester Business Association will hold its next dinner meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 1 at the Colchester Senior Center, 95 Norwich Ave. RivereastNews is sponsoring the meeting. Anyone interested in learning more about the CBA is invited to attend. CBA members, local businesses and guests also are invited. Nancy Riella of Riella & Lepak, PC will give a presentation titled, “Exit Tax Strategy.” Reserve dinner seats by calling (860) 537-0340 or e-mailing info@colchesterctbusiness.com by Feb. 24. The cost is $15 per person. New members receive their first meal for free.

Club News

      The Canyon Lake Tennis ClubÂ’s next tournament will be the St. PatrickÂ’s Day Team Mixer on Saturday, March 12, at 8 a.m. Members are encouraged to wear their lucky green. The cost is $10 per person. The deadline to sign up is March 9. For more information or to sign up, contact Tournament Directors Rob and Kristy Toups at 244-9795.

Christian Siriano's Send the Trend Delivers Monthly Discounted Chic Jewelry - Fantabulously Frugal in Chicago

Christian Siriano has got to be the most busy Project Runway alum ever.  He's everywhere!

Christian is also my favorite alum because he's not afraid to design for the people.  Sure, he's dressed Victoria Beckham and Heidi Klum, but he also has a line of shoes for Payless, and now he's developed Send the Trend.

Ocean City Maryland News | OC MD Newspapers | Maryland Coast Dispatch - Things To Do Around Town

Auditions For Female Verision Of The Odd Couple

The Ocean Pines Players will stage Neil Simon’s Odd Couple at Carousel Hotel & Oceanfront resort on June 10-12 and 17-19. The cast needs 6 women and 2 men who can speak with a Spanish accent, age 30-55. Experienced actor, backstage help needed. To schedule an audition, 410-208-0747, 410-250-0544 or 410-641-8173.

The News & Record - South Boston, Virginia

NR Community Calendar for Feb. 24, 2011 SOUTHERN VIRGINIA MEAT GOAT ASSOCIATION MEETS FEB. 24

The Southern Virginia Meat Goat Association will meet Thursday, February 24, 7:00 p.m. at the Halifax County Agricultural Center, Farm Way Lane, in Halifax. Dr. Kevin Pelzer, from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, will be the speaker. Interested persons are invited. For more information about SVMGA, go to http://www.svmga.org .

Greensboro-area religion calendar : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

Country Ham Supper, 5-7:30 p.m., Monticello UCC, 5001 N.C. 150 East, Browns Summit. http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-MonticelloUCC.

Indoor Community Yard Sale for Blankets and Tools, 7:30 a.m.-noon, Peace United Church of Christ, 2714 W. Market St., Greensboro. Rent a space for $10 a table to raise money for the mission of the month, Church World Services Blankets and Tools Disaster Relief.

Library plans bus trip to Lancaster theater

Western Pocono Community Library is sponsoring a bus trip to Lancaster's Sight and Sound Millennium Theater on April 5 to see "Joseph" in its final season on the East Coast.

The bus will leave Western Pocono Community Library at 2000 Pilgrim Way in Brodheadsville at 10 a.m. Patrons are encouraged to take a bagged lunch and drink with you to eat on the way. Show starts at 1 p.m. After the show , it's dinner at Shady Maple Smorgasbord for dinner, arriving back at the library around 8 p.m.

Cherokee Tribune - How would HOPE cuts affect local students

College-bound Cherokee County students may be impacted by a possible hike in out-of-pocket expenses at Georgia universities this coming fall.

Gov. Nathan Deal on Tuesday announced a plan to make cuts to the state's lottery-funded HOPE scholarship program.

The proposals in HB 236 would cut the tuition scholarship from 100 percent to 90 percent for students who meet the 3.0 grade point average requirement.

Town Commons: What's happening on the South Shore Feb. 24-March 4, 2011

Pianist Mana Tokuno in concert at James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West St., Norwell, on Feb. 27, 3 p.m. The program will include works by Sonata No. 7 by Mozart; Beethoven Sonata No. 5; Two Rhapsodies by Brahms and Four Impromptus by Schubert. A complimentary reception is included with the ticket price. $20/$18 senior/$10 student. Tickets available by calling and at the door space permitting. Information: www.jameslibrary.org, 781-659-7100.   

Source: http://www.wickedlocal.com

Cherokee teacher busted for child porn

A Cherokee County middle school teacher discussed his students in sexually charged conversations with an undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, according to an affidavit obtained by the AJC.

Raymond "Robin" Watts, 55,  faces federal charges of possessing and distributing child pornography after sharing more than 1,000 explicit images of underage boys with the undercover agent, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Authorities uncovered additional illegal images on the Mill Creek Middle School teacher's personal computer after executing a search warrant of his Kingston home.

Schools spent millions on now-optional new math

Some school systems invested millions of dollars in the new and soon-to-be-optional integrated math curriculum for high schools, a survey of metro districts by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed.

Bob Andres bandres@ajc.com New state school Superintendent John Barge says returning to the traditional model of teaching won’t mean that student learning is compromised.

PTOs a boon for schools, especially today

By DANIEL TALBOT Special Writer The Tahlequah Daily Press Thu Feb 24, 2011, 10:27 AM CST

TAHLEQUAH — Schools that run smoothly often have big support systems backing them.

Volunteers work tirelessly to fill gaps that seem to be growing daily due to lack of funding.

Parent-Teacher Association affiliates, along with the less formal parent-teacher organizations, have important functions in the education system. When parents team up with teachers in local schools, the students directly benefit.

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Predicting the NJSIAA basketball tournament | Cape May County

Hundreds of high school basketball teams will begin playing state tournament games early next week. By the end of the week, about three-quarters of them will have had their seasons ended.

The wild, emotional ride through the NJSIAA basketball playoffs is one of the most thrilling periods of the scholastic sports year.

Region to add 3 million in 30 years, ARC says

Metro Atlanta is expected to add 3 million people and 1.5 million jobs by 2040, according to a projection released Wednesday by the Atlanta Regional Commission.

If that happens, growth across the 20-county metropolitan region -- from Hall County in the north to Spalding County in the south -- would match the population and employment explosion of the last three decades, an era that placed Atlanta among the nation's biggest metro areas.

Nashville Scene

It's going amazing, man. I've actually been on the road nonstop since I was last in Nashville a year ago and just haven't stopped [touring].

What kind of crowds do you normally encounter?

They've just been amazing crowds, all different types of people, people that follow me on the Web or know my MTV show, or all of my movies, or just have heard that I am doing stand-up, and a lot of people that are in the stand-up comedy crowd too, so it's been a good cross-section of people.

Parker, Neal help Spurs hold off Thunder | capsules, san, help - NBA Capsules - Brownsville Herald

Now, while the Nets hope they can keep their new All-Star long-term and turn him into a face-of-the-franchise player the way Jason Kidd was years ago, small-market teams are left to wonder what the future holds for them.

Is there something the NBA should do to protect teams from losing their stars?

"I think this is a relatively recent phenomenon, but one that I believe is being watched very closely," Jazz CEO Greg Miller said after trading away his All-Star point guard in exchange for rookie Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris, two first-round draft picks and cash.

Bodine: Seeks Balance On Arizona One-Miler

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series fans may feel a bit of déjà vu on Friday night when SPEED broadcasts race number two of the 2011 season at Phoenix International Raceway. The Arizona one-mile circuit last hosted the Truck Series in November as the second-to-last race in 2010. Todd Bodine returns with the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra. He and the Germain Racing crew have a new game plan for racing at this desert venue.

Let’s talk about athletes and Presidential Medals

Athletes are honored more than enough in our culture. The endless accolades are further adorned with mindless riches and a veritable free pass, smoothing the path to most anything one’s heart may desire. All of this goes with the territory.

The truest of “America’s guests” are the blissfully anointed who play our games well. Which is why we are so astounded when the likes of a Rocket, a Tiger, or a Big Ben come along and rain on their own parades. “Don’t insult us,” is about all we ask. Otherwise we’re willing to worship most any thinly disguised fool or pathological egomaniac as long as he or she can secure for us a pennant, a title, or a gold medal.

Doesn’t anyone want to play for the Bulls?

It seems the Bulls would be more alluring to NBA stars, but Amare Stoudemire (clockwise from top left), Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have all passed on coming to Chicago.

Doesn’t anybody want to play for the Bulls?

Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks; Deron Williams reportedly to the Nets; LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami with Dywane Wade staying put; Amare Stoudamire to the Knicks; Chris Paul rumored to be heading to the Knicks. Do the Bulls have bad breath or something?

Knicks perform as advertised with Melo-Amare tandem

It didn’t take long for the new-look New York Knicks to show the rest of the NBA the challenge it’ll face when trying to defend the revamped squad, which now features two of the premier scorers in the game.

New Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (left) smiles as he and frontcourt mate Amare Stoudemire walk off the court during a timeout Wednesday. Anthony contributed 27 points and 10 rebounds in his Knicks debut. (AP Photo)

Pujols is one guy who deserves a 10-year deal

Let's pretend for a moment that we hit the lottery big time -- say a couple hundred million dollars -- and we've decided we want to build a professional baseball team from scratch.

We'd have to start somewhere to put this team together, so nine out of 10 of us are going to start with the most important part of the game -- the pitching. I'd like to have at least two of these five guys: Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez, C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Ubaldo Jimenez.

Miami Heat talking points: The East keeps getting tougher

The issue: The West, dominant for more than a decade, has been decimated.

Three young franchise players have gone East since the summer: Carmelo Anthony from Denver to New York, Deron Williams from Utah to New Jersey, Amare Stoudemire from Phoenix to New Jersey.

Add to that the career-threatening injuries to Yao Ming and Brandon Roy, as well as Greg Oden, which have foiled any intention Houston and Portland, respectively, had to contend.

Deron Williams to New Jersey: Part of a trend that will make life harder for Miami Heat

Point guard Deron Williams joins the New Jersey Nets after he was traded from the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011.

Carmelo Anthony plays in his first game with the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011. Anthony, Amare' Stoudemire and the Knicks take on the Miami Heat on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011.

Isiah Thomas’ split loyalties unfair to FIU

The Miami Heat is of course king of basketball around here, and across town down in the deep shadows and echo of a near-empty gymnasium is the Florida International University men’s team, the two oddly intertwined by the backroom maneuvering of one Isiah Thomas.

What a strange tale – how Thomas, while ostensibly devoted to the FIU team he coaches, has been the behind-the-curtain puppeteer making New York Knicks owner James Dolan dance. The Knickerbockers deny it, but the city’s media is convinced with good reason that Thomas served as Dolan’s confidante and de facto general manager in pushing this week’s trade for Carmelo Anthony to happen.

LeBron James of Miami Heat says trades shift power to Eastern Conference - ESPN New York

MIAMI -- When LeBron James joined forces with stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh last summer, he expected others to follow suit .

Now, with Carmelo Anthony joining Amare Stoudemire and the Knicks and Deron Williams headed to the New Jersey Nets, James' prediction is coming true.

We took two of the best players in the West and brought them to the East.

Do-Nothing Dallas Mavericks Shut Out Again While Stars Are on the Move | Bleacher Report

Alll Star Deron Williams Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Over the past several years, the Dallas Mavericks have devolved from an ultra-aggressive, in-the-middle-of-everything franchise into a team that is rarely recognized as a serious threat when the top names in the game are on the move.

Knicks win Anthony’s debut

Carmelo Anthony had 27 points and 10 rebounds, hitting a pair of clutch buckets down the stretch as the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-108 on Wednesday night in his Knicks debut.

Anthony made only 10 of 25 shots but was at his best in the closing minutes, helping New York hold on after fellow star Amare Stoudemire fouled out.

The Rant: The West is not the best - Northern Star Online: Sports

Apparently the Western Conference isn't where it's at anymore in the NBA.

In the past 72 hours, we've seen Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams jump ship from the one-time powerhouse conference in the West to the up-and-coming Eastern Conference.

The Nuggets and Jazz must have looked at their disgruntled stars and thought, "If you can't pay or make them happy, then maybe a team in the East can."

JCJC in the pink after DH sweep

By Shawn Wansley, JCJC Sports Information Director Laurel Leader-Call The Laurel Leader-Call Wed Feb 23, 2011, 11:22 AM CST

ELLISVILLE — The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats whipped the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles here twice Tuesday on “Pink Out the Park Day” at Community Bank Park.

High-wage industries trailing on new jobs

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Higher-wage industries have been lagging when it comes to private job creation, according to a new report from a worker advocacy group.

Higher-wage industries constitute 14% of recent private-job growth, though they accounted for 40% of private job losses during the labor-market’s downturn, according to the report from the New York-based National Employment Law Project. Meanwhile, lower-wage industries are responsible for 49% of recent growth, compared with 23% of losses, while midrange-wage industries constitute 37% of growth, compared with 36% of losses.

The Screening Room

Unlike most reality-TV "stars," Jack Rebney never went looking for fame. But he found it, thanks to some profanity-packed outtakes from a promotional film he made for a line of Winnebagos in the late 1980s.

Many of those caustic clips turn up throughout documentarian Ben Steinbauer’s “Winnebago Man,” an attempt to chart the curious course of Rebney´s life from a career as a TV news producer to a Winnebago pitchman and, finally, as a recluse in the California mountains. The movie is hampered somewhat by Steinbauer´s awkwardness as an interviewer: He never gets many details out of Rebney (although he succeeds in getting on his nerves multiple times) and he doesn´t examine what´s behind Rebney´s long friendship with the extremely mildmannered, ever-smiling Keith Gordon, who has apparently tolerated Rebney´s tantrums for 35 years. While Rebney may be, as his fans have called him, "The Angriest Man in the World," Steinbauer has difficulty finding the roots of that rage.

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Brooklyn Eagle, Bay Ridge Eagle Brooklyn, NY :: daily paper in Brooklyn

Long Island University head basketball coach Jim Ferry was asked last weekend how his Blackbirds have managed an NCAA-leading 13 road wins thus far this season.

“Unselfishness travels,” Ferry noted succinctly, re-emphasizing LIU’s ability to share the basketball and outwork its opponent on a nightly basis.

David RUSH Launches RUSH[ED] Webseries & Soundtrack w/ DJ Whoo Kid

David RUSH Launches  RUSH[ED] Series & Soundtrack w/ DJ Whoo Kid

New Single “Party Like We Do”- EP Project on Pitbull’s Mr. 305 & XBMG

Highland Park, NJ – Even with the best laid plans, life can come from any angle and knock us off of our path.  David RUSH is a shining example of maintaining balance and positive energy despite all odds. Diagnosed with a potentially fatal kidney disease in 2007, RUSH was given only a year to live. Four years later, the energetic songwriter/lyricist is celebrating life like only he knows how.

Critics Corner reviews 676 Lil B tracks

ack review, it is best consumed in accordance with the album, which can be found via a quick Google search.

Also, we reviewed the new Radiohead album track by track and then hid those reviews in the body of the Lil B review. Can you find them?

Gather round, boys and girls, for we are here to spin you a tale of misery and woe. And #swag.

Soldier faces international scrutiny, death penalty

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (WISH) - An Indiana soldier charged with murder is making international headlines. I-Team 8 investigated how the Indiana soldier is sitting within two of the more controversial aspects of the war in Afghanistan. It includes the controversy of the strained relationship between the U.S. and Afghan President Karzai and how the military treats soldiers with mental instability in the war zone.

Virginia Hastings and Annie Bradley's films shine at Women's Day film fest

Virginia Hastings and Annie Bradley's films shine at Women's Day film fest. Women in Film: Promotional postcard for Pudge, a film by Muskoka-born Annie Bradley.

MUSKOKA - On March 8, the Muskoka YWCA will celebrate International Women’s Day with a film festival.

The Women in Film Festival: The 100-Mile Movie is being organized by YWCA Muskoka, Spinning Reels and Reel Alternatives Huntsville.

Washington Redskins: Solving the Quarterback Problem in DC | Bleacher Report

Change the color of the helemet and darken the jersey and you have the Redskins 2011 starter. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Listen, being an NFL general manager is not an easy job.  If it were, you wouldn't see as many draft and free agent busts in the NFL. 

Marriage: The Gold Standard?

Feb 23rd, 2011 | By click here | Category: Current Affairs

Tags: Election 2011 , Fine Gael , Lucinda Creighton , marriage equality

So, people have finally learned what Fine Gael’s attitudes towards equality are. It seems to have been a revelation for many.

It's My Quarterback, And I Need It Now: NFL Teams Who Need To Draft a QB Now

After a whirlwind 2010 season full of many attractions, from the high flying Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, to the cheese-head champion Green bay Packers, the offseason buzz has gotten off to a fast start.

At least the rumors and speculations, anyway.

With an uncertain CBA looming and a lockout imminent, many wonder if there will even be an NFL Draft, or a 2011 season in the NFL for that matter. Will we see the replacements once again? Only time will tell.

NFL Rumors: The Top 10 QB Needy Teams and Where They Will Turn | Bleacher Report

The Redskins signed Donovan McNabb, and not long after, he began clashing with head coach Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan disliked him so much that he started Rex Grossman over him.  That says a lot.

Now McNabb is gone, and your starting quarterback going into the 2011/2012 season is Rex Grossman.  This is a man who has failed at every stop he has made in the NFL.  Shanahan does believe in him, though.

Frugal Family: Deals You Won't Want to Miss - Catonsville, MD Patch

Welcome back my fair frugal friends.  As I sit here in the midst of winter’s last stand, ready to embark on yet another penny pinching adventure, I’m wondering if you’ve got what it takes.  Can you handle the vast amounts of deals and steals awaiting you in this week’s column?  I have faith in you.  You can do it. 

Report from Madison: Fascists and Unions in the U.S. North

Under national or federal law, each juridical, political and territorial division of the U.S. State that is called a “state” is the institution from which public sector workers have wrested union recognition and collective bargaining rights. In Wisconsin, this is what is at issue.

In the last round of the electoral cycle, the Republican party swept state elections, taking the governor's office, and both bodies of a two house legislature, the lower one by a large margin.

Netflix shares drop as Amazon unveils streaming service

Your cloud computing questions answered by peers and other trusted voices. See what's being asked.

Source: http://www.itworld.com

Countdown remains on track for Thursday's shuttle launch

STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION

The shuttle Discovery's countdown is ticking smoothly toward launch Thursday on a space station re-supply mission. There are no technical problems of any significance at pad 39A and forecasters are continuing to predict an 80 percent chance of good weather.

To Stop Pirates, Nations Must End Catch and Release Policy

The murder of four Americans by Somali pirates is not a remarkable event. Unfortunately, many others, mostly sailors, have been murdered, tortured and imprisoned for months. Eight were killed in 2010, 10 in 2009, and 11 in 2008.  

But this time the victims are Americans, so it hits closer to home.

The two couples, Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle, of Seattle, and the yacht's owners, Jean and Scott Adam of Marina del Rey, Calif., were on an around-the-world sailing trip when they were captured by pirates Friday.

Business Watch - WSJ.com

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a unit of German auto maker BMW, aims to sell more than 100 cars in India in 2011 as demand for premium vehicles rise in the country, its chief executive said, after selling 80 cars in the country in 2010.

MAN executive-board member and head of its diesel and turbo division, Klaus Stahlmann, is a suspect in a bribery investigation, public prosecutors in Munich said, following the German engineering company's announcement of his planned departure.

United States Equestrian Federation

Wellington, FL – The 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction is right around the corner, and fans of the magnificent Lusitano breed are thrilled to learn that the horses taking part in this year’s highly anticipated auction have settled in Florida. Hosted by the Lusitano Collection, the auction is considered the social event of the season and will take place February 23-26, in Wellington, FL, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The auction features Lusitanos from two top breeders: Interagro Lusitanos, the largest exporter of Lusitano horses in the world and winner of the prestigious “Best Breeder of the Year” Award by ABPSL in 2009/2010 and Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga, named the 2010 Best Breeder and Best Exhibitor at the 29th Lusitano International Horse Show in Brazil.

Barnes & Noble Reports Fiscal 2011 Third Quarter Financial Results

--Barnes & Noble Comparable Store Sales Increase 7.3%

Total sales for the third quarter were $2.3 billion, a 7% increase compared to the prior year period. Barnes & Noble.com comparable sales increased 64% as compared to a year ago. Barnes & Noble comparable store sales increased 7.3%, exceeding the company's forecast for an increase of 5% to 7%. Online and bookstore sales benefited from strong consumer demand for NOOK(TM) products and related accessories as well as the company's expanded Toys & Games selection.

Upcoming HTC Inspire 4G Accessories: Cases, Car Kits, Desktop Chargers

If you haven't yet found the HTC Inspire 4G accessory that you've been looking for, don't fret, because the HTCPedia Shop is set to get a whole new shipment of products. Read below to see what's on the horizon.

If you want serious protection, there are a pair of TPU cases coming up. Made from thermoplastic polyurethane, these cases provide the strength of a hard case matched with the flexibility of a silicone case. For your HTC Inspire you'll be able choose between aTPU hexagon caseand aTPU duotone case.

Cheesy '90s TV Stars: Where are they now?

Everyone loves the '90s ... and the cheesy shows that hit your television screen during that decade are a good indication why. The '90s were jam-packed with teen idols and heartthrobs, kids morphing into liquids, and even medicine women and preteen doctors.

Justin Bieber News: The Biebs new haircut makes Beatles bangs un-cool?

Holiday News!

Is the Post Office open closed on Presidents Day? That depends…

Post offices around the country will be closed on Presidents Day 2011, the federal holiday, Monday, February 21 and every third Monday of the month of February in the known future. Normal Postal Services will resume February 22, 2011, but until then only the self serve stamp machines and postal mail drop boxes inside their facilities will work. That is right — the doors are unlocked but there is nobody at home in the back room to help you if you say the stamp machines are broke.

Tabernacle fire final report likely in 2-3 weeks

PROVO -- More than two months have passed since Provo's iconic tabernacle was burned to a cinder, and now the end is finally in sight for authorities investigating the cause of the blaze.

Chief Lynn Schofield of the Provo fire department said investigators will likely have a final report on the fire that destroyed the building within two to three weeks. The report should provide information about the cause and chronology of the blaze.

Wells Departs for Spain with United States U-23 National Team

Redshirt junior Ingrid Wells will play with the United States U-23 National Team in Spain for the next two weeks.

WASHINGTON - Georgetown University women's soccer player Ingrid Wells (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) departed today for what will be two dreams weeks for the redshirt junior.

Cleveland Daily Banner - Area growth becomes envy of nation

If economic development and community progress were measured in miles then Cleveland and Bradley County may have circled the globe in 2010.

Engines signaling certain growth and increased hiring revved with the earlier 2008 announcement that Volkswagen was coming to Enterprise South, a location whose hiring base would reach out to Cleveland and Bradley County workers, but that was just the beginning.

Airlines post first job gain since '08 | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com

Employment at U.S. airlines rose 0.2 percent in December, the first time since June 2008 that passenger carriers created more jobs to keep pace with rising demand for travel.

Hiring by companies such as Delta Air Lines Inc. is starting to show up in data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which said last week that the industry workforce climbed to 379,651 from 378,953 a year earlier.

Washington Redskins: Hopelessly Mediocre | Bleacher Report

Win McNamee/Getty Images

The 1980's were a magical decade.  So magical, in fact, we look upon them with a wonderment of nostalgia like no other decade.

After all some great things came out of the 80's, like, the Transformers, The Empire Strikes Back, Back to the Future, Ronald Regan and most importantly two Super Bowl Victories by the Washington Redskins.

She lost her Marine; another eases the pain

Adrienne Johnson reached over and rested her hand on the arm of Bill Pederson of Mauston, Wis., as she shared stories about her son, Dane, a Marine who was killed in a motorcycle accident about five years ago. Pederson had been driving by the home, noticed the U.S. Marine Corps flag in her front yard and 'wanted to greet the Marine and wish him a 'happy birthday' as it was almost the 150th anniversary of the Marines. The two have become friends. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

NHL duds become dudes

We’d say “Give your head a shake,” but somehow that no longer seems an appropriate thing to say in the hockey world.

This week marks the three-quarter pole in what has become the most debated season of the National Hockey League since there was no season back in the 2004-05 lockout year.

It is fascinating to go back to the quarter pole in the fall, when the experts weighed in on the surprises and disappointments in a season that was then 20 games old. The two biggest disappointments, East and West, were Ilya Kovalchuk and the Calgary Flames.

High winds topple U.S. National Christmas tree

The National Christmas Tree is seen with the White House in the background after U.S. President Barack Obama and his family helped light it, in Washington December 9, 2010. REUTERS/Molly Riley

America's National Christmas Tree has come tumbling down in a windstorm that battered the US capital.

Lena Dunham: They all want a piece of this comic talent

Lena Dunham has had the sort of year most recent college graduates can only dream about. In the space of 12 months the 24-year-old New Yorker has won both the South by Southwest festival's Best Narrative Feature award and the New York Film Critics Next Generation award for her second film Tiny Furniture, seen the film go on to garner rave reviews on its cinema opening, and been signed up by HBO to write, direct and co-star in a new comedy series.

Nolen's absence hurts U's NCAA bid | StarTribune.com

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith can't answer the most pressing question about his program. Teammates aren't sure, either. And judging by his tweets, even starting point guard and defensive ace Al Nolen doesn't know whether he'll play for the Gophers again.

"No, there's no real word and it's hard to diagnose. He's getting the bone stem [treatment], they're doing everything they can," Smith said Monday about Nolen's recovery from a broken foot suffered during a Jan. 22 victory at Michigan. "The healing process is an unknown quantity. But he looks good. I think he's upbeat, and I think his mentality and our mentality is that he will get back ... in the postseason play; Big Ten tournament, hopefully."

Leg. sticks to slate for new U regents

New regents include two former state reps and a businessman.

Four new members — including two former Republican state legislators — were named to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents on Monday, bringing a close to the political and contentious selection process that began in November.

Former Speaker of the House Steven Sviggum headlined the list of new regents along with Laura Brod, who served in the House from 2002 to 2010. Incumbent David Larson, a Cargill executive, and David McMillan, an executive with a northern Minnesota utilities company, were also chosen.

UW looks to keep Seattle U in line

The Washington Huskies face a pair of goals tonight: trying to prove themselves one of the top 68 teams in the NCAA and the best within the Seattle city limits.

The Washington Huskies face a pair of goals tonight: trying to prove themselves one of the top 68 teams in the NCAA and the best within the Seattle city limits.

Seattle U. provides one shining example of college hoops virtue

Redhawks tangle with Washington Huskies on Tuesday at KeyArena

This time of year, college basketball players sweat until their skin itches — until their egos vanish — for a chance to have one shining moment.

They all want in the NCAA tournament, and they'll dive, elbow, scrape, bite and sacrifice just to shimmy in the most joyous dance in sports. Even if their team isn't good enough to win the national title, there's always celebrated consolation in simply being invited, more so than in any other sport's postseason. Everyone would jump into the bleachers just to be featured in that unabashedly maudlin song at the end of the championship game.

Pastner: U of M now in survival mode

University of Memphis coach Josh Pastner was on a roll.

For more than 18 minutes Monday, he went on and on with local media about how losing stinks, how Conference USA is a better league and how he despises negativity.

"Everyone needs to cut out all the negativity. I cannot stand losing, but I also cannot stand negativity," Pastner said.

Explore the roots of compassion at Clark U. Feb. 28

Are human beings conditioned to feel compassion?

Noted biological anthropologist Barbara J. King will examine the deep roots of compassion in an illustrated talk Monday, Feb. 28 at Clark University in Worcester.

The chancellor professor of anthropology at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., she will focus on the origins of the human religious impulse to explain the development and possible limits of the expression of compassion in the world today.

The Amazing Race 18 Recap: Unfinished Roadblocks and U-Turn Business

The new season of The Amazing Race premiered on Sunday night under the title of "Unfinished Business" that saw eleven previous teams from The Amazing Race compete for a second chance at the million dollar prize. The season kicked into gear in the desert outside Palm Springs, California where the eleven teams waited for their instructions from host Phil Keoghan.

Sustain U's 'One Shirt' Campaign Kicks off - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com

MORGANTOWN  -- A campaign that began at WVU last year has expanded to more than 100 college campuses in 40 states.

Monday night volunteers from WVU placed door hangers on doorknobs all around Morgantown asking residents to give away their old and unwanted clothes.

"We want people to bring clothes and donate as much as possible and showcase the generosity of Morgantown and surrounding area.," said Chris Yura, Sustain U

The Lowdown: Mike Badger | Altsounds.com Features

Back in 1980, in the dark and deserted ruins of the once almighty port of Liverpool, a young chap named Mike Badger, upset about the destruction of the North by then prime minister Margaret Thatcher, found time was on his hands, and subsequently, found a band that would only see the charts after his departure. Unlike similar cases though - like Beatles Pete Best, who was famously sacked just before the big breakthrough and subsequently only released novelty albums with questionable titles like ‘Best of the Beatles’ - Badger knew what he was heading for. He had a vision all along.

Celebrity Mug Shots: Real Housewives of Miami star gets DUI and bad PR?

Holiday News!

Is the Post Office open closed on Presidents Day? That depends…

Post offices around the country will be closed on Presidents Day 2011, the federal holiday, Monday, February 21 and every third Monday of the month of February in the known future. Normal Postal Services will resume February 22, 2011, but until then only the self serve stamp machines and postal mail drop boxes inside their facilities will work. That is right — the doors are unlocked but there is nobody at home in the back room to help you if you say the stamp machines are broke.

RHYS, Gruff - Hotel Shampoo

CÂ’est avec sourire que lÂ’on accepte de chroniquer le nouvel opus de Gruff Rhys , chansonnier écossais à lÂ’esprit barré mais également petit génie  : leader des Super Furry Animals , groupe de pop britannique très connu outre-Manche, mais aussi moitié avec Boom Bip de Neon Neon , projet électro-pop majeur de ces dernières années. Doté dÂ’une voix dÂ’ange, il est aussi un mélodiste hors pair. Son précédent opus, " Candylion " (2007) démontrait toute l’étendue de son talent.

PR-USA.net - SophiasStyle.com Announces President’s Day Sale + Free Shipping

Discount children’s clothing boutique SophiasStyle.com announced today the details of their annual President’s Day Sale. In honor of the holiday, the online clothier has marked down hundreds of popular clothing items an additional 50-80%.

Purchases of $50 or more are also eligible for Free U.S. Standard Shipping when customers enter promotion code SHIP50 at the checkout. The markdowns and free shipping code both expire on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST.

EditorsCloset.com Features Stella McCartney, Miu Miu, a Designer Shoe Blowout & More!

HOLLYWOOD, FL., February 21, 2011 — Editors’ Closet, one of the leading and most popular members-only private sale websites featuring limited time offers on some of the most sought after designer labels, announced its luxury brand sales for the week of February 21st, 2011. Beginning today, members of Editors’ Closet will enjoy exclusive discounts up to 80% off on such designer brands as Stella McCartney, Current/Elliott, and Jean Paul Gaultier just to name a few. Additionally this week, Editors’ Closet will feature a Designer Shoe Blowout, showcasing top luxury labels, such as Alexandra Neel, Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen and more, at incredibly low prices. Also, don’t forget to check out the daily “Editors’ Pick”, a drastically reduced item personally selected by one of their expert buyers. See below for this week’s full lineup; each trunk show opens at 11:00 a.m. EST.

What's Open, What's Closed on Presidents Day - South Orange, NJ Patch

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Where to Find the Best President's Day Sales

Major retailers are offering a number of online and offline President’s Day sales that will run through Monday.You will have through Tuesday to take advantage of a number of discounts from Sears.  Some of the discounts include 20% off Craftsman power lawn and garden items with an additional 5% instant savings.  All tools are on sale as well, up to 20% of the everyday price.Of all the retailers, Kmart is putting up some of the biggest discounts on electronics, specifically the Sylvania 32’ 720p HDTV which is priced at $279.99, $100 off it’s normal price.  Any online order over $39 will ship for free through today.In Walmart and on walmart.com you will find a large number of clearance items heavily discounted.  Many of these items will be specific to your local store and until they run out online so don’t wait around to grab these up.Toys R Us and Babies R Us are offering an online sale that includes free shipping on order of $75 or more.  Savings of up to 20% can be found on many items ranging from power toys to video games to cribs and baby gear.  The sale runs through Monday only both in-store and online. This entry was posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 at 2:28 pm and is filed under Featured Ronnie says : Office Max also has some major clearance on items such as digital photo frames (more than 50% off), printers and some other random stuff.

President’s Day Sales Rival Black Friday Deals

Posted on 21 February 2011. This article was written by: Kathy Wolfe

Many major retailers, including home improvement and department stores, are having great President’s Day sales. In most cases these special sales are the best that have been offered to shoppers since Black Friday, and the majority of these deals are available both in-store and online.

Deal of the Day – Sharp AQUOS 46” 1080p Edge-lit LED HDTV

by Janet Cloninger on February 21, 2011 · 0 comments

Today’s LogicBUY deal offers 27% savings on the 46” Sharp AQUOS LC-46LE620UT 1080p HDTV . This 120Hz edge-lit LED TV has ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners and a 5.5ms response time. This TV has 4 HDMI and 2 HD component inputs, two 8W speakers, and a tabletop stand.

PR-USA.net - Blanket America BUY 1, GIVE 1 Patchwork Heritage Quilt on Sale for 70% Off on President's Day

Textile manufacturer Blanket America is offering its popular Patchwork Heritage Quilt at a 70 percent discount in honor of President's Day. Available at www.BlanketAmerica.com for just $39.99 with free shipping, the quilt sports a patchwork design featuring stripes, florals and calico prints in 13 different colors representing the country's original 13 colonies. The back includes a picture of the Statue of Liberty, the full text of President Barack Obama's historic 2009 inaugural address and Obama's signature.

A Day Off, But This Time Not Because Snow - Livingston, NJ Patch

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International Forecaster February 2011 (#6) - Gold, Silver, Economy + More

The Fed tells us there is no inflation. Somewhere down the road we are told interest rates will be allowed to rise. After nine months of monetary injections employment is yet to really improve. The concept of an exit strategy seems to have been lost in the shuffle. It isnÂ’t mentioned anymore. As a result of these failures QE2 continues and talk of QE3 is heard on Wall Street. After three years of QE1, QE2 and stimulus all that has been accomplished is the bailout in the financial sectors of the US and Europe and the purchase of Treasury and Agency securities.

Two UIC students charged with beating, robbing female cabbie

A pair of University of Illinois at Chicago students beat up and robbed a female taxi driver in the early hours of Saturday, prosecutors allege.

South Korean national Sung Won Chung, 22, of the 1100 block of West 14th Place, and Alexander Choi, 19, the 3100 block of West Medill, were both ordered held on bail of $125,000 Sunday by Judge Jackie Portman.

Ag summit yields helpful information

KEOKUK, Feb 20, 2011 (The Hawk Eye - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The goal of the inaugural Tri-State Agriculture Summit was to provide area farmers with as much useful information as possible at Wednesday morning's gathering at the Holiday Inn Express in Keokuk. Grain markets, land values, and technology were among the subjects covered by the event organized by the Extension services at Iowa State University, Western Illinois University, University of Illinois and the University of Missouri.

Harris Lewin, new research vice chancellor, to receive Wolf Prize

Harris Lewin, newly appointed vice chancellor of research at the University of California, Davis, has been named a recipient of the 2011 Wolf Prize in Agriculture.

Lewin, a UC Davis alumnus who is currently an animal sciences professor at the University of Illinois, shares the prize with James R. Cook of Washington State University. Lewin will assume his new post at UC Davis on March 30.

The Eastern Echo

“I thought our defense was outstanding throughout,” coach AnnMarie Gilbert said. “It was one of our defensive efforts. In putting two halves together, I would definitely rank this as our best effort.”

In an off-shooting game for both teams, the Eagles shot 29 percent and the Huskies shot 20 percent.

Cassie Schrock led the Eagles with a game-high 19 points to go with four assists and four steals.

Soil and water management seminar offers continuing education - My Web Times

Managing soils will be the focus of a soil and water management seminar sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The workshop will be at the University of Illinois Extension's La Salle County office, 1689 N. 31st Road, Suite 2, Ottawa. Presentations will be delivered via PowerPoint and teleconference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Prairie Stars finish strong - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

After struggling through the season, the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team needed something to hang its hat on.

UIS found it in the final two games of the season. The Prairie Stars’ season came full circle Saturday as they won 78-70 in the finale against the Lewis Flyers at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

The Golden Age

From 2003-06, the Tigers had a three-season string of success unlike the program has ever seen

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Source: http://www.recordnet.com

Lots of good options await Sabres at the deadline - Inside the NHL - The Buffalo News

In the three days leading into the NHL trade deadline last season, teams made 40 trades involving 68 players including a record 31 swaps and 51 players on March 3 alone. The move that made the biggest splash was made a month earlier when Ilya Kovalchuk was shipped from Atlanta to New Jersey.

Chicago was quiet in acquiring Nick Boynton, Hannu Toivonen and Danny Richmond and promptly giving their three newcomers a bus ticket to AHL Rockford. Boynton surfaced for seven games during the season and three more in the playoffs, making a minor contribution during their run to the Stanley Cup.

On U.S.-Taliban talks, look at 2014 and work back | Analysis & Opinion |

According to Steve Coll in the New Yorker, the United States has begun its first direct talks with the Taliban to see whether it is possible to reach a political settlement to the Afghan war.  He writes that after the Sept. 11 2001 attacks on New York and Washington the United States rejected direct talks with Taliban leaders, on the grounds that they were as much to blame for terrorism as Al Qaeda. However, last year, he says, a small number of officials in the Obama administration—among them the late Richard Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan—argued that it was time to try talking to the Taliban again.

Polpourri: Public servants to pay more toward health care, but how much?

By The Grand Rapids Press staff

Among the numerous sticking points for Democrats in Gov. Rick Snyder’s blow-it-up-and-start-over budget is a plan to make public employees pay 20 percent of their health care.

Rep. Roy Schmidt, D-Grand Rapids, who enjoys strong labor support, talked mostly in measured tones about the budget in a taping of WGVU’s West Michigan Week. But he was not about to commit to the 20-percent figure.

US entering talks with Taliban - report

Washington - The United States has entered into direct talks with leaders of the Taliban in Afghanistan, but contacts are exploratory and not yet a peace negotiation, according to an article on Saturday in The New Yorker magazine.

The article, citing people briefed on the talks, said the talks are to assess who in the Taliban leadership, if anyone, might engage in formal peace negotiations and under what conditions.

UPI NewsTrack TopNews

Feb. 19, 2011 (United Press International) -- Report: U.S. talking directly with Taliban

NEW YORK, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A New Yorker magazine writer says the United States has entered into "direct, secret talks with senior Afghan Taliban leaders."

The Voice of America Saturday said Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Coll, writing in The New Yorker, described the talks as being of "an exploratory nature."

‘Amerika praat direct met Talibaan’

De Amerikaanse regering is in directe gesprekken verwikkeld met de Talibaan. Dat is de laatste bijdrage van de onlangs overleden topdiplomaat Richard Holbrooke, de man die ook vrede in ex-Joegoslavië bereikte door directe onderhandelingen met Milosevic.

Dit opzienbare bericht staat in het komende nummer van het weekblad The New Yorker . De schrijver is Steve Coll , een van de best ingevoerde Amerikaanse auteurs over nationale veiligheidskwesties. De oud-adjuncthoofdredacteur van The Washington Post en winnaar van de Pulitzerprijs is tegenwoordig o.m. verbonden aan The New America Foundation, een denktank die zichzelf plaatst in ‘het radicale midden’.

Amerykanie prowadzą bezpośrednie negocjacje z talibami

O prowadzonych w wielkiej tajemnicy rozmowach doniósł znany dziennikarz z tygodnika "New Yorker"

Amerykańscy şołnierze na patrolu w Kandaharze na południu Afganistanu. To rejon...

Według Steve'a Colla, autora uwaşanej za doskonałą historii kontaktów USA z mudşahedinami i później z Al-Kaidą, to jest jeszcze nie są negocjacje pokojowe, lecz "wzajemne badanie się".

Revelan conversaciones de EU con los talibanes

The New Yorker publicó que el gobierno de Barack Obama ha mantenido encuentros con el grupo insurgente para tratar de pacificar Afganistán

DESCONOCIDO. La revista aseguró que en las conversaciones no ha participado el Mullah Omar, el prácticamente desconocido líder de los talibanes (Foto: Archivo EL UNIVERSAL )

Florida Marlins believe starting rotation gives them a chance to challenge Philadelphia Phillies

Florida Marlins' player Hanley Ramirez signs autographs before taking batting practice at the team's new ballpark in Miami, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011. The Marlins new stadium, 19 months into construction, had its first seat installed. After the installation, several players took batting practice at the stadium. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Expectations high as Phils hold first full workout - MLB - SI.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - For all those people predicting the Philadelphia Phillies will win the World Series, the players quickly point out there's a long way to go until October.

To be exact, Game 1 of the World Series is 242 days away. Everyone is picking the Phillies to be there, even the manager of the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Philadelphia Phillies: To Accommodate The Gods

I’ll start by announcing that I understand competition within a unit, like a pitching rotation. In the 80’s I was part of a six-piece band that had talented members, and every single musician, singer and songwriter lived up to their endowments. The music is divided into parts: lead crooner and instrument, rhythm section plus backing vocals. A team is also divided: starters, regulars, the bullpen and the bench. It is human nature to perform at maximum potential when others are doing that. When I reviewed the 9 three-ace staffs, I found that only 1 historic hurler had a down season in their biggest season, but the other 26 excelled that year. I had the same experience in music when original songs were introduced, as everybody performed to the level of the material.

NL East Preview

Posted by Jim Clark on Feb 19, 2011 in Sports & Recreation | 0 comments

Sports with Jim Clark:

Almost every sane baseball publication is predicting the Philadelphia Phillies to win the National league this year.

With their awesome pitching staff, all-stars all over the field, team speed and power, I would be an imbecile to go with any other team. They should easily win the division. I do expect the Atlanta Braves to keep things interesting for a while and sneak in to win the NL Wild Card.

MLB's All Time Top Starting Rotations — Where Will The 2011 Phillies Fit In?

The 2011 Major League Baseball season has not as of yet seen pitch one, but already there is speculation the fantastic Philadelphia five (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton) can accomplish things that align them with the greatest starting staffs of all time, if not plant them firmly atop the list.

PHILLIES: Pennsy product McGuire turns to Phils for another shot

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Mike McGuire's major league dream got sidelined during the first week of Phillies spring training. The Ridley High School alum and Phils minor league right-hander underwent surgery Monday to remove a blood clot from his left arm.

The 24-year-old McGuire, who signed with the Phillies as a free agent in July, won't be ready to report when minor league camp opens early next month. But he should be able to continue on with the 2011 season, said Phillies assistant general manager Chuck LaMar.

Playing the ‘What if’ game with Cliff Lee | The Yankee Analysts

Brian Cashman was recently interviewed by Larry Stone of the Seattle Times about what went down in the ill-fated Cliff Lee negotiations. Given how things have played out since, we now have some context to put those trade talks into. But as Brian lays out, we are are still left with many unanswered questions. He begins:

Jimmy Rollins Guarantees 100 Wins for Philadelphia Phillies | Larry Brown Sports

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been known to be a confident guy. He’s cocky, he has swagger, and he generally backs it up on the field. Of course it’s easy to front as a tough guy when you have a bunch of 6’5″ 250 pound giants backing you up, and that’s the case for Rollins.

Expectations high as Phils hold first full workout - MLB - SI.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - For all those people predicting the Philadelphia Phillies will win the World Series, the players quickly point out there's a long way to go until October.

To be exact, Game 1 of the World Series is 242 days away.

"Everybody in the National League would tell you the road to the World Series has to go through Philadelphia, with the quality of their staff,'' Bruce Bochy, the manager of defending World Series champion San Francisco, told reporters earlier in the week.

The Vampire Diaries

Holy moly, did you know there are only seven episodes left of this season? Wait, hold on, let me do some quick mathÂ… 22 minus 15 equals 7. Yeah! There are only SEVEN episodes left, you guys!! Don't get me wrong, SO MUCH has happened on this show that it's hilarious we're only in the SECOND season. But still, seven episodes does not seem like very many, particularly with all the plot this show has laboriously set up over the last few weeks.

A horse-drawn trek toward a 'do-over' in life

Bridles jingle and heavy hooves tap a metronomic clip-clop as the ungainly wagon claims yet another mile.

It glides past a row of Main Street houses, past roadsigns touting this business, that fraternal group, the local team who were champions. Vehicles, horseless ones, slow to take in the outlandish muscles of the four giant draft horses, two white, one dark, and one dapple gray.

INDYCAR: 20 Questions With Randy Bernard, Feb, Pt 2

Marshall Pruett and IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard conclude their final batch of Q&A items for February's edition of '20 Questions.'

Marshall Pruett  |  Posted February 18, 2011   Fremont, CA

In part two of SPEED.com’s '20 Questions' interview for the month of February with IndyCar’s CEO, topics ranging from side-by-side restarts to digital media to financing the 2012 Indy car were covered. Randy Bernard was also kind enough to let us push our list of questions out to 22 by the end of our conversation.

Gambling with the Lake

Like roulette? Like others to play the odds for you? Like to wager with your property values? If so, you could be in luck if you plan to move in the next two to four years; have decided water recreation is a thing of the past; live out of sight and smell of Candlewood Lake; enjoy scraping shelled critters off your boats and docks; have become immune to property-value dives; cast cautionary advice to the winds.

'Outsourced' Recap: 'Guess Who's Coming to Delhi'

Todd gets up for work and Tonya, who has spent the night, tells him that her mother will be visiting for the next couple of days. Tonya wants Todd to meet her because he is the only "nice" guy she's ever dated. Todd then gets a message from his boss, Jerry, who says that he, too, is in India and will be at the office in an hour.

Week's end — wrap-up

•Picasso!

•The consent agreement that allows billboard advertising of beverage alcohol makes sense. Although correct in principle, the move was destined to generate controversy. It seems strange that the state did not formally announce the agreement when it was reached. The Anti- Saloon League is not amused.

ESPN

The "Baseball Tonight Goodyear Bus Tour" is one week old and John Kruk has not strangled me yet, that will come in March when I'm recording spring training box score lines on the way to Jupiter.

In the first week on the bus, we saw the two defending league champions, the Giants and the Rangers as well as the Reds and Angels. We heard ofBronson Arroyo's meeting with Eddie Vedder,Cody Ross' meeting with Jerry Rice and we had separate interviews with the Wilsons, the Giants'Brianand the Rangers'C.J., who are so … well, let's just say if Tom Hanks were stuck on the desert island with these Wilsons, he probably would have stayed.

Mock Draft 2.0: Nick Fairley Replaces AJ Green in Top Spot

Those changes -- in draft order, apparent team needs, player stock, etc. -- are well displayed in our Mock Draft 2.0, which features 29 picks varying from the first go-round. Just three teams held steady from Mock Draft 1.1 to this latest incarnation. So who goes No. 1? Where's Cam Newton headed? What do the 2010 playoff teams look for in Round 1?

Honor roll announcements

Gresham High, Dexter McCarty Middle, Portland Lutheran

The following students were named to the winter honor roll for the 2010-11 school year at Gresham High School.

4.0 – Nathan Allen, Jacob Amano, Kama Bell, Trista Benitez, Adam Ciecalone, Mychele Clawson, Ryan Compton, Ariana Cooley, Devon D’Amico, Monica DePiero, Kayley Deyoe, Evan Donohue, Haley Downey, Allison Gallegos, Sarah Greear, Alex Hagel, Tyler Hanefeld, Cody Hanset, Tanner Hemenway, Conner House, Bahar Kasimi, Nicholas Lal, Cori Lehr, Katlin Macomber, Aaron Madrosen, Michael Nunziato, Addison Pang, Joshua Parmenter, Travis Pederson, Michelle Poon, Riley Protz, Brian Quach, Heather Ries, Matthew Serino, Krissy Stewart, Julia Strohmaier, Erin Urbanowicz, Maria Wendt and Karen Zhou.

Vikings lose on field and at ticket counter

Feb. 18--Not only did the Vikings not make the playoffs this past year, but the collapse of the Metrodome roof made it a bad year financially for the team.

The Vikings lost more than $10 million in gate receipts as a result of the roof collapse at the Metrodome that forced the game against the Giants to be moved to Detroit and the one against the Bears to move to TCF Bank Stadium, according to information provided by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which runs the Dome.

The Need For Speed

If you know what movie the title of this article comes from, then congratulations.  If you remember the title of this article because you sat in the movie theater and watched it, happy as hell to have finally gotten your drivers license, then congratulations on being as old as I am.  Regardless of whether you remember Top Gun or not, or heard the rumors of a “ God please no remake ” one thing is for certain, the Miami Dolphins do indeed have a “need for speed “.

Boilermakers Open In Florida At BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge

Purdue in search of a strong showing in its third appearance at the season-opening event.

Kevin Plawecki went 8-for-12 with four RBIs at the 2010 Challenge

Game Notes | Wecasts of UConn & ND Games | Listen Live to All Games

Game Day Central with GameTracker Links & Interactive Live Blog

George Stevens Academy Honor Roll

HIGH HONORS: Anthony Binaco, Jiajun Chen, Loriman Looke, Philip Shaheen, Nicholas Steenberg.

HONORS: Alicia Allen, Harry Bowden, Emilio Codega, Aphelion Crampton, Alexander Heilner, Keenan Hilsinger, Savannah Leaf, Greggory Lynde, Fionnbharr McMahon-Allwine, Nicholas Niehoff, Charlotte Reiter, Oliver Scott, Cloie Slagle, Chelsey Staples, Jinran Tian, Yinong Wang, Justin Willis, Caroline Yates.

The Twilight Zone: Season Three - Blu-ray Review - Monsters and Critics

The third season of the Twilight Zone on Blu-ray arrived at my doorstep.  A six-year-old redheaded boy delivered it.  He had a fierce look and told me that it was real good and that if I didn’t say so that he’d send me to the cornfield. 

Purdue's Cross leaves for Wisconsin job

The intra-conference job hopping just keeps on going in the Big Ten.

Purdue's DeMontie Cross is the latest assistant to leave one Big Ten program for another just weeks after arriving. Cross, hired Jan. 25 as Purdue's linebackers coach after five seasons with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, is leaving to take a position with Wisconsin.

Friday (Another Gophers fold down the stretch) edition: Wha' Happened?

We're starting to see a pattern with the Gophers men's basketball team under Tubby Smith, and this year it could be worse than ever:

2007-08 season:  3-5 down the stretch of Big Ten play, a nice little run to get to the Big Ten tournament semifinal game, a loss there and a home loss in the first round of the NIT.

Boilers win second road game of Big Ten season - Lafayette Purdue Boilermakers | Examiner.com

Road wins in the Big Ten conference have been tough to come by for the Purdue women’s basketball team over the past couple of seasons.  On Thursday night in Minneapolis, the Boilers earned one of those road victories with a 70-60 win over the Gophers.

Purdue is now 8-6 in conference play and guaranteed of no worse than a .500 finish in regular season conference action.

Battle to the end: Penn State holds off late-charging Minnesota

UNIVERSITY PARK — Another big second-half lead had come and gone, and another winnable home game was slipping away from Penn State.

Penn State's Talor Battle shoots against Minnesota's Maverick Ahanmisi on Thursday, February 17, 2011. CDT/Christopher Weddle

Men’s hoops fall short in Evanston - The Daily Iowan

Close, but no cigar.

The Iowa men’s basketball team (10-16, 3-11 Big Ten) fought Northwestern (15-10, 5-9) until the final seconds of the matchup in Evanston, Ill., but finally fell, 73-70, late Thursday evening.

The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie with three seconds left in the game, but Jarryd Cole fumbled away Zach McCabe’s full-court in-bounds pass, and the Wildcats recovered as time expired.

Ohio State no longer undefeated, but it remains the class of Big Ten basketball

Ohio State is no longer undefeated. Unlike most team in the Big Ten Conference, though, the Buckeyes have no reason to be concerned about March.

The Buckeyes still lead the AnnArbor.com Big Ten power rankings, as they have all season. What is interesting is how many teams in the league are slumping at the wrong time.

No. 34 DePaul Prepares for Two Big Ten Duals

The Blue Demons play at No. 47 Indiana on Saturday, before hosting No. 48 Iowa on Sunday

Freshman Christiana Raymond boasts a 17-10 singles mark this seaon.

CHICAGO – The No. 34 DePaul women’s tennis team continues its challenging slate this weekend when it travels to No. 47 Indiana on Saturday and then hosts No. 48 Iowa on Sunday at the Lakeshore Athletic Club.  Saturday’s first serve is scheduled for 10 a.m. (CST) while Sunday’s match begins at 1 p.m.

HDNet Keeps the Party Going and Extends 'Naughty But Nice with Rob Shuter'

AOL PopEater's Shuter Continues to Mix Drinks With Celeb Dish - Breaking the Latest Industry News and Gossip - Only on HDNet! HDNet

DALLAS, Feb. 16, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ -- Can't get enough of "Naughty But Nice with Rob Shuter?" Well, neither can HDNet!  The network has just extended the celebrity talk show by adding 26 new episodes to the mix.  "Naughty But Nice with Rob Shuter," hosted by one of the most widely read gossip columnists in the world, airs on HDNet every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT with a same-day encore presentation at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Justin Bieber is mobbed by thousands at premiere of Never Say Never | The Sun |Features

JUSTIN BIEBER was mobbed by thousands of hysterical Beliebers at the London premiere of his debut movie Never Say Never on Wednesday night.

The film - already a smash hit in the US - was the latest achievement for the superstar who has already flogged ten million albums worldwide.

And this week he scooped a Brit Award for Best International Breakthrough Act. Now, he is believed to be about to bank his first £60million and has become a global phenomenon.

Cash Warren Is the Hottest Baby Daddy Alive

Attention ladies, add one more to the Sexy Baby Daddy List: Cash Warren . Yup, his wife Jessica Alba announced via a Facebook status update that she's pregnant with baby #2 . So their daughter, Honor, will be a big sis and we get more pics of Cash Warren. Yum!

Baseball Opens 2011 Season At The Third Annual BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge In Tampa -

Game 1:  vs. Penn State - Fri. Feb. 18 - 10:00 a.m. - Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park

Game 2:  vs. Michigan State - Sat. Feb. 19 - 10:00 a.m. - Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park

Game 3:  vs. Iowa - Sun. Feb. 20 - 1:00 p.m. - Walter Fuller (Naimoli) Complex

Charley Walters: Former North Stars coach Lorne Henning says Wild are 'playing playoff hockey' - NHL News | FOX Sports on MSN

Lorne Henning, who coached the North Stars for two seasons (1985-87), was in town Tuesday night as assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks, watching his team outscore the Wild 4-1 despite getting outshot 29-14.

Henning, 56, said the Wild are a playoff team.

"For sure," he said. "They're playing playoff hockey now. They play hard, they play tight, and they've got great goaltending."

Fernando Montiel's Back on HBO

By Steve Kim, MaxBoxing (Feb 17, 2011) Special to Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Chris Farina / Top Rank)

- Tweet This Saturday night, WBC/WBO bantamweight titlist Fernando Montiel faces Nonito Donaire in the main event on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark.” For Montiel, it’s not clear what is the bigger achievement for him: facing the “Filipino Flash” in one of the more significant bantam bouts in recent memory or the fact he’s back on the “Network of Champions” after basically being banned by the network after disappointing outings versus Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson in 2003 and Jhonny Gonzalez three years later, his only two professional losses.

Games We're Watching

Sarah Spain is a SportsCenter Anchor for Chicago's ESPN1000 and a reporter for ESPNChicago.com. She's a proud Cornell alum and a huge Chicago sports fan.

NBA: Talk about a marquee matchup! The NBA-best Spurs finish off their nine-game rodeo road trip with a visit to the ballin' Chicago Bulls. The Bulls' 19-6 mark since Dec. 26 is bested only by the Spurs' 21-5 mark in that stretch. Derrick Rose and company have won nine of their last 11, 15 of their last 16 at home and hope to take a four-game win streak into the All Star break, but they'll certainly have their hands full with San Antonio. ... The Mavs look to win their 13th game in 14 tries tonight when they visit the Suns. Dallas has won five of the teams' last six meetings, averaging a robust 113.8 points on 50.1 percent shooting in those contests.

North Dakota State Names Jason Reed Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach

FARGO, N.D. - Jason Reed , an assistant coach the past four seasons at Western Michigan, has been named assistant women's volleyball coach at North Dakota State.  NDSU head coach Kari Thompson made the announcement Thursday.

"Coach Reed will be a great asset to our program.  He has a wealth of experience and a strong passion for the game," Thompson said.  "He comes from a very successful program and his defensive expertise will be important in continuing our success at NDSU."

Arizona Sports News from USA Today

Newton, Lysacek highlight AAU Sullivan Award semifinalists by Roxanna Scott on Feb. 16, 2011, under USA Today Sports

Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek headline the list of 2010 AAU Sullivan Award semifinalists. The list also includes athletes in baton twirling, golf, volleyball and wrestling among other sports.

Muggle Quidditch brings wizarding sport down to Earth in York County

When Harry Potter and his friends mount their brooms on the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, magic carries them into the air.

For Muggle Quidditch players, things are a little different.

“You have to get past the whole ‘I’m running around with a broom’ thing,” said Mary Beth Henry, a member of the Three Broomsticks Muggle Quidditch team at Penn State University in State College. Flying “would be really cool, of course, but don’t spend too much time worrying about it.”

Penn State Basketball Practicing In Squalor - The Pitt Stop - SB Nation Pittsburgh

This piece by Nate Bauer on Penn State men's basketball's practice conditions is a must-read - and be sure to check out the picture of a practice hoop that's tilted like a family photograph after an earthquake. Bauer:

Hoops that had been visibly lower than regulation height last week appeared to be rectified at today's practice, but once again, one of the peripheral hoops remained cockeyed (as pictured), and, multiple holes for volleyball net stanchions needed to be taped over as to prevent tripping over their caps.

Men's Volleyball Hosts Ohio State & Loyola This Weekend - Ball State

CARDINALS WELCOME LEAGUE LEADERS TO WORTHEN: The Ball State men's volleyball team welcomes the top two teams in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association standings to Worthen Arena this weekend, with matches versus No. 6 Ohio State Friday and No. 13 Loyola Saturday . . . Admission to the matches, which both start at 7:30 p.m., is free.

Daily Bruin :: Men's volleyball hopes to end losing streak against Hawai'i

Every team fears it – they know the potential havoc it can wreak on a season.

But after starting the season with a 7-2 record, the No. 7 UCLA men’s volleyball team dropped its fifth consecutive game and has failed to avoid what all teams strive to elude – a losing streak.

They previously defeated solid teams like No. 11 Penn State, No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 2 Long Beach State.

Men's

The 11th-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (9-3, 4-0 EIVA) hosts Mount Olive and Lees McRae this weekend. The Nittany Lions welcome MOC to the South Gym of Rec Hall on Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Penn State's match with Lees McRae will take place in the main gym of Rec Hall on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.

Religious lawmakers propose bill providing legal immunity to rabbis - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Lawmakers from Shas, National Union and the United Torah Judaism proposed a bill on Wednesday that would give rabbis immunity against legal responsibility for comments or opinions voiced about the Torah, books and religious rulings.

The bill entitled "Dov Lior Law" was sponsored by Michael Ben Ari (National Union), Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, Avraham Michaeli (Shas), Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and Israel Eichler (United Torah Judaism).

NBA Tradegasm: Steve Nash Edition

NBA trade deadline! It’s happening! Real soon! Hide your kids! Hide your wife!

As I write this, we are coming up to being two weeks away from the February 24th NBA trade deadline. You all know at this point enough about the Carmelo Anthony to New York rumors/truths. They’ve been going on for a while. And really, they keep getting more outlandish, with the Denver Nuggets reportedly asking the Knicks for everything in return for Melo. But if Newsday’s Alan Hahn is to be believed (and he should, he knows these things), the Nuggets and the Knicks are now going to be hammering out the actual details of a trade until at least the 22nd. So let’s put this one to bed for now. There are, believe it or not, other possible trades out there. And they could be huge.

Welcome to the Jungle: The Bulgarian Hinterland, 2020

» Northwest Folklife Festival to Highlight Bulgarian Culture

» Head of Bulgarian Secret Police Resigns after Eavesdropping Scandal

» Bulgarian Spending Caps to Smooth Path to Euro, Djankov Says

"Those who know me are aware that whenever someone submits a resignation, I sign it." Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov comments on Thursday demands that he should not to accept the resignation of the head of the State Agency ...

Source: http://www.novinite.com

NBA Power Rankings: Are the Celtics, Spurs, and Heat Obvious List-Toppers?

This has been a busy NBA season so far. We’ve seen new unions and epic break-ups. We’ve seen brawls and epic falls and most of all we’ve seen solid competition throughout the league. Below you will see the NBA Power Rankings. I took stats, health, chemistry, and experience all into consideration.

Action Hit 'Unstoppable' Available This Week On DVD

(RTTNews) - After a strong box office run back in November, director Tony Scott's action-thriller "Unstoppable" is the most well-known movie to hit DVD this week followed by Woody Allen's latest, "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger." Also hitting the home market this week is acclaimed documentary "Waiting for Superman" and new Blu-ray editions of some older classics like "Network," "Last Tango in Paris" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

The Chicago Code “Punches Back”

 is a brand new show that made its season premier Monday, Feb. 7 on FOX. The show takes place in Chicago, IL and follows the story of some cops trying to take down the corruption that has taken over City Hall. Shawn Ryan, the critically acclaimed creator of the FX series  The Shield , directs the show.