pistachio recall

Barely two months after a huge recall of peanut-related products, federal officials said late Monday that a California processor would recall about one million pounds of pistachio products because of concerns about salmonella contamination.

The company, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, based in Terra Bella, Calif., decided to recall its 2008 crop after one of its customers, Kraft Foods, found several types of salmonella during routine analysis of the product. Kraft Foods alerted the Food and Drug Administration of its findings on March 24.
So far, no illnesses have been tied to the contaminated pistachios, though authorities were investigating at least two consumer complaints. F.D.A. officials warned consumers not to eat pistachios until the scope of the contamination was clear.
The pistachios were sent in 1,000- or 2,000-pound bags to about three dozen wholesalers, who repackaged them and resold them to other customers, said Dr. David Acheson, the F.D.A.’s associate commissioner for foods. As a result, authorities said the recall was likely to expand as the pistachios were traced to processed foods like ice cream and cake mixes.
The salmonella contamination of pistachios is not related to the recent salmonella outbreak tied to peanut products, which sickened hundreds and led to the recall of more than 3,800 products.
A spokesman for Setton declined to comment, saying the company’s own inquiry into the cause of the contamination was continuing. Setton says on its Web site that the California plant is the second-largest pistachio processor in the United States.
Kraft Foods said its inspectors visited the California plant where the pistachios were processed, and found that the plant was not keeping its roasted pistachios separate from the incoming flow of raw nuts. Like other nuts, raw pistachios can carry pathogens that are killed in the roasting process.
Kraft Foods on Wednesday recalled a trail mix containing pistachios marketed by its Back to Nature Foods unit.

nebbish

As midnight approached last night, Silvan Shalom's fate was still unclear. He waited in his office, just meters from Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu's, for the offer that would save him. But it tarried, and what did come in the end wasn't good.

A French-Jewish wheeler-dealer named Meir Haviv shuttled between him and Netanyahu, after inheriting the job from Reuven Rivlin, the new-old Knesset speaker. Looking at this ever-expanding cabinet, with its battalions of portfolio-less ministers and deputy ministers, it's clear that Rivlin cut the best deal: 90 MKs voted for him in an open ballot, sparing him the humiliating trek to bang down the leader's door.

Last night the hubbub around Netanyahu's office reached its peak: Moshe Kahlon came and went, as did Yuli Edelstein, three times in all. One chunk, and then another, was ripped out of the pitiful Communication Ministry, which should have been dismantled long ago. Everyone was panicked, breathless, as if it hadn't been six weeks since the election, seven days since the end of negotiations with Labor. One after the other, they came, and only Shalom, the nebbish, cooled his heels in his office. He wanted to leave the Knesset before midnight but was persuaded to stick around a bit longer.
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When these lines were written, Yuval Steinitz was Netanyahu's pick for finance minister. Steinitz is an honest politician but lacks any particular experience or knowledge of economics, and is a friend of the Netanyahus, especially of Sara. There are at least two more suitable Likud candidates for the post, Shalom and Dan Meridor.

Both have been finance minister before, both know the job well. Appointing Steinitz to this critical position, at such a critical time, is like asking a deckhand to captain the ship that's just a few miles from the Bermuda Triangle. Before deciding Shalom's fate, Netanyahu decided to dismantle his potential camp, to contain the damage in case Shalom would decide not to join the government.

Netanyahu informed Michael Eitan, Yossi Peled and Yuli Edelstein that he would appoint them as ministers without portfolio and told Gila Gamliel she would get a deputy minister post. All four are suspected of being potential Shalom allies who could make Netanyahu's life difficult if Shalom doesn't get a job.

jayne appel

Editor's note - Former Stanford guard Candice Wiggins checks in from Spain, where she is playing professionally during the WNBA offseason, with her observations about Cal and Stanford in the NCAA Tournament.
Cal
Didn't get a chance to see the game except highlights and write-ups. Cal played UConn tough in the first half, but the game slipped away in the second, with Tiffany Hayes having a spectacular game off the bench for UConn.
This was a tough team to face in the Sweet 16 for Cal, but the Bears had a good showing and should be very proud of the year they've had. UConn is one of those teams that you have to play 40 good minutes against, and any little slip-up can cost you the game.
Stanford
Stanford beat Ohio State (Saturday night), although it did come with its struggles, namely in containing Samantha Prahalis, the point guard for the Buckeyes.
Jayne (Appel) was Jayne, and I know personally that her presence does so much for the team. When Jayne scores inside, she gives her teammates confidence, and alleviates pressure on the perimeter players, and that's why it's no secret that when Jayne is scoring inside, the whole team builds off that.
Ros (Gold-Onwude) was really clutch as well, and Sweet 16 games are what she lives for. I was overall exceptionally impressed with how well the team played as a whole.
More than just physically, there is also a psychological aspect to the tournament. Getting to the national-championship game last year has Stanford playing with so much confidence.

stills disease

NEW YORK, March 30, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Biomarkers have become increasingly important to Alzheimer's disease research as a method for risk assessment, early detection, testing new therapies and eventual early intervention with better drugs once they are developed. As part of its ongoing research and development of biomarkers for Alzheimer's and other diseases, BARC Central Laboratory is pleased to announce it has joined the Alzheimer's Association Research Roundtable. As a Sponsor, BARC will be participating in the Roundtable presentations and related subcommittee meetings, with particular focus on the evolution of biochemical biomarkers as prognostic and diagnostic indicators.
A biomarker is a substance or characteristic that can be objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal body processes, disease processes, or the body's response(s) to a therapeutic intervention.
It is widely believed that Alzheimer's disease brain changes, including amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, begin many years before symptoms are evident or there is significant death of brain cells. It is critical to identify affected individuals while they are still cognitively normal so that future disease modifying therapies can preserve normal function. The testing and eventual use of such therapies requires identification of affected and "at risk" individuals in order to steer them to clinical trials, and to direct and monitor therapy.
"Alzheimer's disease is without question a growing epidemic and major public health concern. The Alzheimer's Association is the preeminent U.S. voluntary health organization in the research community's drive to eradicate Alzheimer's disease, and BARC looks forward to advancing early detection and treatment for Alzheimer's in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association and other Research Roundtable member companies," said Rudi Marien, CEO of the BARC Group.

"Discovery of measurable markers that track with the presence of Alzheimer's pathology and that predict the development of cognitive decline in people who are still cognitively normal, known as 'antecedent biomarkers,' are especially needed," said William Thies, PhD, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer's Association. "We are very pleased that BARC has chosen to become part of the Research Roundtable, and look forward to their valuable contributions to the group."
The Alzheimer's Association Research Roundtable is a consortium of scientists from the pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, imaging and cognitive testing industries along with Association staff and advisors. The Research Roundtable's mission is to facilitate the development and implementation of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease by collectively addressing obstacles to research and development, clinical care, and public health education.
About BARC
Bio Analytical Research Corporation (BACR
undefined, undefined, undefined%) is a leading global central laboratory and is currently running 400 different protocols involving more than 8,000 investigators worldwide. Our experience involves all major therapeutic areas including neurology, infectious disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular, gastroenterology, oncology, endocrinology, respiratory, dermatology and immunology. BARC performs more than 2,000 assays, including molecular diagnostics and genomics, and serves as a technology transfer channel by developing and clinically validating new laboratory tests on a global, multi-site GCP-certified platform for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. For more information, call (516) 719-1052 or visit www.barclab.com.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, the nonprofit world leader in Alzheimer's research and support, is the first and largest U.S. voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer's. For more than 25 years, the donor-supported Alzheimer's Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes. For more information, call (800) 272-3900 or visit www.alz.org.

rob reiner

Movie description:
Director Rob Reiner breathes vividly colored cinematic life into William Goldman's THE PRINCESS BRIDE, effectively evoking the wondrous, wide-eyed spirit of the witty 1973 novel. When a sick boy (Fred Savage) receives a visit from his doting grandfather (Peter Falk) who intends to read to him from his favorite book, he's not exactly pleased to be extracted from his world of video games.

However, his mood quickly changes as he, along with the viewer, is transported to a place out of time--to Florin, a kingdom in the ultimate imaginary land, complete with dashing heroes, cowardly princes, rhyming giants, shrieking eels, rodents of unusual size, fancy swordfights, and yes...even some kissing. The lovely Buttercup (Robin Wright) learns that "As you wish" really means "I love you" when she falls for her charming farmhand, Westley (Cary Elwes).

While trying to seek his fortune, however, Westley disappears at sea, an apparent victim of the Dread Pirate Roberts, who takes no prisoners. A few years later, Buttercup, engaged to the oily Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), is kidnapped by an oddball trio of rogues--brains, Vizzini (Wallace Shawn); brawn, Fezzik (André the Giant); and sword, Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin in a standout performance).

As they sail away toward the Cliffs of Insanity, they notice the pursuit of a man in black...and the adventure begins. A clever fairy tale for all ages, THE PRINCESS BRIDE is arguably one of the funniest and most entertaining films of all time.
Credits
Producer:
Arnold Scheinman, Rob Reiner
Cast:
André the Giant, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Cary Elwes, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Fred Savage, Mandy Patinkin, Mel Smith, Peter Falk, Robin Wright Penn, Wallace Shawn
Details
Sound:
HiFi Sound
Notes
Theatrical release: September 25, 1987. THE PRINCESS BRIDE was screened at the 1987 Toronto Festival of Festivals and London Film Festival. Shot at Lee International Studios in Shepperton, England, and in Ireland. Filming began August 1986, and was completed December 1986. Estimated budget: $16 million.Author William Goldman also wrote the screenplay for THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

The film features early starring roles for Cary Elwes and Robin Wright.Wright later married actor-director Sean Penn, changing her name to Robin Wright Penn. Christopher Guest (Count Rugen) plays Nignel Tufnel in director Rob Reiner's THIS IS SPINAL TAP. The hat of Marty DiBergi (Reiner) from THIS IS SPINAL TAP appears on the boy's (Fred Savage) bedpost. THE PRINCESS BRIDE features the first (and only) sizeable film role for professional wrestler André the Giant. It's his only major appearance playing a character other than himself.Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits composed the music for the film.
Editorial reviews
"...At heart, PRINCESS BRIDE celebrates the power of true love to triumph over adversity..."Variety - Jagr. "...THE PRINCESS BRIDE is a fun, sad, scary, witty fairy tale featuring the greatest performance ever given by a professional wrestler, the late Andre the Giant..."Entertainment Weekly - Marc Bernardin (09/14/2001)"Reiner's beautifully crafted fairytale pastiche still represents one of the high points of US comedy in the 1980s..."Sight and Sound - Danny Leigh (02/01/2001)"...Rob Reiner's uncategorisable blend of action, romance, spoof, swashbuckler and fairytale is purely and simply a corking movie..."Total Film - Ceri Thomas (05/01/2000)"...Sweetness and sincerity....A delightful cast and a cheery, earnest style that turns out to be ever more disarming..."New York Times - p.C10 - Janet Maslin 5 stars out of 5 --

"It was influential...the current crop of fractured fairy tales clearly owe a great debt to its groundbreaking balancing act of melodramatic pastiche, light-hearted send-up and the simple delights of a good yarn well told."Total Film - Neil Smith (11/01/2008)5 stars out of 5 -- "More swashbuckling than Errol Flynn, more romantic than Casablanca, funnier than virtually everything, THE PRINCESS BRIDE is -- like MARY POPPINS -- practically perfect in every way

Gunmen storm Pakistan police academy

At least 20 people were killed Monday after gunmen stormed a Pakistan police training school near the eastern city of Lahore, police officials told AFP.
"The number of killed is at least 20," police sub inspector Amjad Ahmad told AFP outside the police training ground in Manawan.
Other police officials said the number of casualties may be higher given the heavy crossfire between the attackers holed up at the training centre and paramilitary troops who fanned around the perimeter of the ground.
"The number of casualties may be more," said police official Rias ad Bajwa.
Television footage showed bodies of policemen lying face down on the parade ground as heavy gunfire rattled out of the training ground at Manawan outside Pakistan's cultural capital Lahore.
Paramilitary soldiers, armed and wearing flak jackets and helmets, opened fire and fanned out around the perimeter of the site, which was surrounded by scores of police cars and armoured vehicles, an AFP reporter said.
Police officials declined to say how many people had been killed or wounded but state television reported at least four dead.
"Unknown gunmen have attacked the police training school, we have called in elite forces," senior police official Mumtaz Sukhera told reporters.
"We do not know about casualties," Sukhera said.
A second senior police official, Inam Wahid, said that assailants wearing police uniform had occupied the training school.
"According to initial reports up to 20 policemen are injured," he told AFP.
Officials in Islamabad said the interior ministry chief was locked in an emergency meeting with senior police and security officials.
The attack came weeks after another attackers armed with guns and grenades mounted a coordinated assault on Sri Lanka's touring cricket team on March 3, killing eight people and wounding seven members of the squad.
Those attackers walked away unhindered by police and authorities have not announced any high-profile arrest in connection with the assault, which has at least temporarily ended Pakistani chances of hosting international sport.
Officials said that assault bore the hallmarks of the November 2008 attack on the Indian financial capital of Mumbai, which was blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants and killed 165 people.
Lahore is Pakistan's second largest city and capital of wheat-bowl Punjab province which also country's political nerve centre.
Extremists opposed to the Pakistan government's decision to side with the United States in its "war on terror" have carried out a series of bombings and other attacks that have killed nearly 1,700 people in less than two years.
Much of the unrest has been concentrated in northwest Pakistan, where the army has been bogged down fighting Taliban militants and Al-Qaeda extremists.
On Friday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a packaged mosque in a town in the northwestern tribal town of Jamrud, killing around 50 people.
US officials say northwest Pakistan has degenerated into a safe haven for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who fled the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and have regrouped to launch attacks on foreign troops across the border.
Such is the scale of extremist violence that US President Barack Obama has placed Pakistan at the heart of the fight against Al-Qaeda, tripling US aid to the nuclear-armed nation as part of a new strategy that also commits billions of dollars and thousands more troops to the Afghan war.
Obama said that Al-Qaeda and its allies were "a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within" and warned Islamabad to "demonstrate its commitment" to eliminating extremists on its soil.
Last month Zardari's government suspended Punjab's provincial assembly and administration, imposing central rule after a court ruling disqualifying its chief minister Shahbaz Sharif -- brother of Pakistan's opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.
The governor who assumed administrative powers shuffled the bureaucracy and police in order to establish his hold, but critics say the hurried transfers undermined the security apparatus.

langoustine

At 6:30 pm on a recent weeknight, I sat alone on a couch in the front of Le Bernardin [http://www.le-bernardin.com], awaiting the arrival of Alan, feeling eyes boring into the back of my head. I had the distinct feeling that I was out of place. The chef, Eric Ripert, had a disdain for me that I was planning to challenge.

Pistachio cheese sticks were politely placed in front of me, but I still felt treated like a curiosity. In the main dining room the atmosphere was pleasant, stuffy folks engaging in rich conversation, but this king-like restaurant practically shouted, "Stay away, middle-class folks!" A vast number of waitresses and waiters wandered around topping already filled glasses, bringing food. Two giant vases of colorful flowers stood in the center. Alan swooped in through the front door and we were immediately seated at the second-best table in the restaurant. Clearly, he had been here before.
The amuse-bouche, or welcome from the chef, was gently placed in front of us. My fork slipped through the plump, tender shrimp, so soft I had trouble picking them up. Poached in truffle foam, they were sweet with a hint of woody essence. Alan argued endlessly with world-famous sommelier Aldo Sohm about which wines were appropriate for his meal. Opening the menu, I scanned it, looking at our choices.
There were two tasting menus and a regular menu with a four-course meal for $109. The sections were Almost Raw, Barely Touched, and Lightly Cooked. Dessert would follow.
From the first section we chose an assortment of six Kumamoto oysters, each with a topping from light to complex; and yellowfin tuna with foie gras resting on a toasted baguette with shaved chives and olive oil. From the Barely Cooked section we ordered a warm octopus salad with a touch of paprika and olive oil, langoustine resting on lemon seaweed butter, and an extra course of peekytoe crab stuffed into a zucchini flower with black truffle sauce.
Finally, I asked for Surf and Turf, not regular lobster and steak, but escolar fish and seared Kobe beef. Alan said he would be happy with whatever I suggested, so I asked for lamb from the Upon Request section. (I heard a few laughs when I did this, but I pursued a craving for meat in this fish dinner.)
My first bite was of a plump Kumamoto oyster with green apples, a taste of fish and ocean united with sour apples and earth. The fabulous flavours battled long in my mouth. The second, oyster with shiso mint, was dizzying, but my favorite was oyster in ponzu sauce. Fresh soy and luxurious oysters seem made for each other. The tuna, sliced into thin fillets, was light as a flower and delicious as a warm summer day. The foie gras brought out the subtle flavor of the yellowfin.
Between dishes, I watched more people stream into this popular restaurant. Conversation grew louder, waiters became more frantic. The bread man kept returning with rolls, from sourdough to soft, sweet Parker House.
The octopus arrived, knocking out all thoughts of rolls. I had high expectations, perhaps a little too high. A subtle taste of octopus and olive oil crept into my mouth, but I had hoped for more zest. It needed to be pushed to the limit. I felt chef Ripert could have put a little more effort into this dish. The langoustine knocked out all doubts. Like the shrimp, the lobster was so tender and plump my fork slid right through. Sweet and spicy hit my taste buds. I was wrapped in a lemon-seaweed coma.
Down from heaven came the crab. It was enclosed in the zucchini flower, doused with black truffle sauce, topped with shaved truffles. It was out of this world. Each flavor - sour zucchini flower, sweet crab and woody truffle sauce - was a piece of a puzzle, and they fit together in a complex yet clear picture.
Finally, we had come to Lightly Cooked. Alan had claimed that the surf-and-turf was a signature dish of Le Bernadin. A bite of rich, silky beef followed by cool, refreshing fish was perfection. Escolar is delicate and delicious by itself, but it came with an anchovy sauce that rather bullied the fish.
As we relaxed and waited to order dessert, I discovered the décor. At first glance I thought Le Bernardin was modern, but it's really timeless.
As a "welcome" to an entire course called "Dessert", we were given an eggshell containing caramel, chocolate, cream, and sea salt. I tasted oceans of chocolate, skies of cream, and seas of salt. We ordered dark chocolate ganache with vanilla salt and sweet potato pearls, and a selection of sorbets. The pineapple put me in a warm, tropical place, the coconut was so creamy it was hard to imagine it contained no dairy, and the blood orange jerked me out of my creamy adventures and into bolder, tangier tastes.
But it was the chocolate ganache, so smooth and rich, that lingered with me for the rest of the night. That and a final thought. I realised with a pang how much it hurt to be mesmerised by a chef who hates me.

a new way forward

American personnel will seek to stabilize governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan while targeting the extremists who pose a continuing threat to global security, President Obama announced this morning.
The commander in chief spoke of what he called a "stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy" for the two nations, the result of a review he called for upon taking office. He said that U.S. policy will be dictated by "a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future."

"That is the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just," Obama said. Then, looking straight into the television cameras instead of at his teleprompter, he said: "To the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: we will defeat you."

Though today's announcement had been advertised as an Afghanistan policy, the role of Pakistan in fighting terrorism was paramount, and in fact, Obama spent the first half of his speech focusing on that nation. He said al Qaida and its "extremist allies" have left Afghanistan for Pakistan, a group that "almost certainly includes" Osama bin Laden, and is responsible for 9/11 and the death of thousands of Pakistanis since then.

"They have blown up buildings, derailed foreign investment, and threatened the stability of the state. So make no mistake: al Qaida and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within," he said.
He signaled a stronger role for America there, saying "we will not and cannot provide a blank check," and that the government "must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaida." And alluding to a high profile promise from early in his campaign, he said that the U.S. "will insist that action bet taken - one way or another - when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets."

Moving away from the "war on terror" branding used by the previous administration, Obama spoke of a "campaign against extremism" that won't be fought "with bullets or bombs alone." He urged support for two pieces of legislation that would direct aid to the Pakistani people and encourage economic development.
In Afghanistan, he said the U.S. must work to prevent al Qaida from establishing safe-haven again, fight a resurgent Taliban, and "promote a more capable and accountable" government. Having already announced sending 17,000 troops for combat operations, he said he would not shift focus to training Afghan security forces, with the goal of establishing an army of 134,000 and police force of 82,000 by 2011.
In addition to military forces, he announced a "dramatic increase" in civilian efforts to "advance security, opportunity and justice" throughout the country.
"At a time of economic crisis, it is tempting to believe that we can short-change this civilian effort. But make no mistake: our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don't invest in their future," he said, plugging his budget plan that increases foreign assistance programs.
Obama stressed that the new policy would take time, and that he has "no illusions that this will be easy."
"The world cannot afford the price that will come due if Afghanistan slides back into chaos or al Qaida operates unchecked," he added. "We have a shared responsibility to act - not because we seek to project power for its own sake, but because our own peace and security depends upon it."
Some have described the shift in policy as signaling that this is now "Obama's" war. But the president described this as an essential part of a war that America did not choose.

"Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed on September 11, 2001, for doing nothing more than going about their daily lives," he said. "Al Qaida and its allies have since killed thousands of people in many countries. Most of the blood on their hands is the blood of Muslims, who al Qaida has killed and maimed in far greater numbers than any other people. That is the future that al Qaida is offering to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan - a future without opportunity or hope; a future without justice or peace

a beautiful mind

MY boyfriend collected all sorts of beautiful things: Aalto glass, Eames chairs, exotic plants that he stole from botanical gardens. But he did not wish to add me to his permanent collection, so on the eve of my 34th birthday, he glanced around his tastefully appointed home and decided he had one clock — and one pregnant girlfriend — too many.

As parting gifts go, I have to say it was a beautiful clock, an early digital made by Lawson in the 1930s. Art Deco in its design with clean horizontal lines bisecting its compact bronze body, the clock had gently rotating Bakelite numbers that told perfect time, though once it was in my possession I never used the thing.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like it; it just jarred me. Its unfortunate association with my biological clock was, though not intended, unavoidable, because it arrived on the heels of an abortion I would deeply regret. Every time I looked at it, I thought of him, and the chance I had and the choice I made, and the sorrowful repercussions.
I finally sold that clock on eBay and donated the money to charity, to rid myself of the bad juju it carried for 15 years.
It isn’t very often that you’re called upon to make a decision that you know will affect the rest of your life, a decision that is irrevocable and defining. I chose to end the pregnancy for what I thought were good reasons, chief among them being my boyfriend’s emphatic unwillingness to be a father. Although his initial reaction to the news was muted, he came out strongly against it once I announced my desire to keep the baby.
Months earlier he’d referred to me as his love, “ma femme,” he called me. But lately things had been dicey.
I argued weakly with him that we could make it work. Without him, I didn’t see a way forward. I had no savings, and no family around to support or encourage me. I was terrified, and not just about being a single parent. I was afraid that with a baby I’d be off the market for good. And I wanted a husband as much as I wanted a baby, if not more. Maybe I knew instinctively that I wasn’t cut out for single parenthood. And I wanted what I wanted: husband, home, baby, in that order.
Even before the pregnancy test I’d been hinting at commitment, and he’d been making evasive noises. We were in “turnaround,” as they say in show business. From the moment I told him I was pregnant, it became my “problem,” as in “What are you going to do about the problem?”
He wanted things to stay as they were: easy, breezy and open-ended. I was 34, divorced and had not yet found my professional niche. I was working for a major film studio but drove a junk heap of a car and lived from paycheck to paycheck.
None of which appealed to him. Come to think of it, I’m hard pressed to say what about me did appeal to him, other than the fact that I was a pretty blonde who took him to screenings and the occasional premiere. I think we found each other exotic. He wasn’t my usual bad boy, and I wasn’t like the ditzy Hollywood princesses who bored him to death. All it took to impress him was my knowing the difference between Manet and Monet.
He was a charming architect with a BMW and perfect teeth. I thought I wanted him. Turns out what I really wanted was that baby. What he really wanted was to move on with minimal disruption or conflict, and he was willing to part with one of his precious possessions to send me off with a clear conscience. He had two of them. The clocks, that is. He knew I admired them. Thus, the parting gift. I imagine it was, in his way of thinking, a bargain.
When he wasn’t brooding or obsessively gardening, he was delightful. He could induce a gushing response in me with a mere touch. He could be tender and adventurous, and had an unerring eye for beautiful things. He taught me about scale, proportion, design and double-glazing. He had taste; what he didn’t have was an appetite for a family, at least with me. I was desperate and deluded enough to think I could change his mind.

shamwow guy

The news that ShamWow Guy was arrested for beating a prostitute is not all that surprising. Now that the story broke and the gruesome mugshot is making the rounds, some surprising details on ShamPow have come to light: did you know he produced a movie starring Joey Buttafuoco? Somebody get me a ShamWow to throw-up in.
Jason Cochran of WalletPop actually interviewed Vince Shlomi, a.k.a., ShamWow Guy, when he was promoting his film, if you can call it that:

He was [then] going by the name Vince Offer, and he told me he paid for production of his spectacularly tasteless film (The Underground Comedy Movie, which had cameos by the likes of Joey Buttafuoco and sketches like "The Miss America Bag Lady Pageant") through -- wait for it -- the sales of vegetable choppers at malls and flea markets across the country. The guy is so good at talking that he funded a movie out of his knack for the pitch. Unfortunately, he wasn't so good at making movies. In fact, Anna Nicole Smith reneged on a promise to appear in his movie -- she said it would hurt her career.

According to Lawrence Van Gelder of the New York Times, somebody masochistic enough to sit through The Underground Comedy Movie, called it, "a monument to ineptitude and self-delusion."
I would have said, it should have stayed underground.
Unfortunately Karen Black, (who was in Five Easy Pieces--one of my favorite movies!) was also in the sketch-filled "comedy"/warning-to-amateur-filmmakers.

indicted

Former Baptist minister Matt Baker is back in McLennan County after being transferred Friday to the county jail from the Kerr County Jail.

Baker, 37, was booked into the McLennan County Jail at 7:35 p.m., a jail spokeswoman said, and was still being held on a $500,000 bond.

He was indicted on a murder charge Wednesday in the April 2006 death of his 31-year-old wife, Kari, a teacher and the mother of his two daughters, and surrendered to Kerr County officials Thursday afternoon.
Baker is expected to remain jailed at least until a hearing Wednesday, when his attorney, Richard Ellison, of Kerrville, will ask 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother to reduce his bond.
Baker, who has denied the allegations, and his two daughters have been living with his parents in Kerrville since shortly after his wife’s death, which initially was ruled a suicide by sleeping—pill overdose.
Hewitt police, Texas Rangers and the district attorney’s office reopened the case at the urging of Kari Baker’s parents, Linda and James Dulin, who do not believe their daughter committed suicide.
The indictment against Baker alleges he gave her drugs and then suffocated her with a pillow. Officials say Baker then tried to make her death appear to be a suicide.
Hewitt police found a typed, unsigned note near her bed that they initially believed to be a suicide note.
Baker’s daughters will remain with his parents in Kerrville, Ellison has said

tom izzo

The beauty in Michigan State’s play lies in its scoring distribution. Nearly anyone can score at nearly any time. So when Kalin Lucas, the Spartans’ leading scorer almost by default, stood harassed and bothered for the first half, he hardly batted an eye.

The defensive-minded Spartans turned offensive when they needed it most, looking to Lucas who led second-seeded Michigan State to a 67-62 victory over third-seeded Kansas on Friday night in a Midwest Regional semifinal game.
On Sunday, the Spartans will play top-seeded Louisville and will try to advance to their second Final Four in five years.
Lucas provided the dramatics on Friday, converting crucial play after crucial play in the final minutes. With 48 seconds remaining in the game, he provided the Spartans with the lead for good at 63-60, pumping and leaning into Kansas’ Sherron Collins for a 3-point play. Michigan State had only gained possession after Lucas stole the ball from the normally steady-handed Collins.
Lucas sealed the game with four consecutive free throws, converting his shots after ill-timed fouls by Kansas. He ended with 18 points, 12 of which came in the second half.
“That’s all I tried to do, tried to create,” said Lucas, a sophomore who was named the Big Ten player of the year. “I just got lucky, got him with the bump and I scored.”

A few seconds earlier, Lucas, who also had seven assists, delivered the pass of the game. After Durrell Summers missed the second of two free throws, Lucas grabbed the rebound and whipped the ball to Raymar Morgan for a thunderous dunk that tied the game at 60-60 and forecasted what Lucas had in store the rest of the game.
The loss ended what had been an improbable but deep title defense for Kansas (27-8). The Jayhawks lost every statistical leader from last season’s title team, but still made it to the the Sweet 16.
Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo looked through Kansas’ earlier loss to the Spartans this season and saw the potential, where perhaps few others did. Izzo said then that the Jayhawks were good and would only improve.
That improvement nearly arrived quicker than even Izzo had imagined.
Collins, a junior point guard and the lone returning contributor from last season’s team, had 20 points. The sophomore center Cole Aldrich had 17 points and 14 rebounds.
“There’s no reason to say we didn’t produce in this area or whatever because when you go back and look at it, we’re up 5 with three minutes left with a bunch of young kids in a big-time game,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said. “So, they obviously played pretty well.”
In the second half, Izzo started Summers in place of Delvon Roe. That change and the openings in the paint that could not be found in the first half seemed to jumpstart the Spartans.

Lucas’s 3-pointer tied the score, 49-49, with 10 minutes 7 seconds left. Travis Walton followed it with a jumper and Self followed that with a timeout. Collins and Aldrich then answered every Michigan State play and Tyrel Reed seemed to swing momentum back to Kansas with a 3-pointer that broke a 53-53 tie with 4:58 left.
But it was Lucas who provided the final retort after a sluggish first half in which he made only 2 of 6 shots. In the final 48 seconds, he had 7 points.
“The type of person Kalin is, when he plays against another big-time guard, Sherron Collins, he wants to prove himself to the nation,” Walton said. “Today, I think he took it personal.”
The Spartans’ droughts in the first half nearly cost them later on, when they went large chunks without a field goal and faced a 32-19 deficit. Kansas pieced together an 11-0 run, forcing Izzo to take a timeout. His team refocused itself enough to end the half by outscoring Kansas, 10-4, punctuated by Goran Suton’s baseline jumper at the buzzer. Suton, who scored a team-high 20 points, originally had the shot called off by the officials, who said it came after the buzzer. After conferring, they overruled the call.

ralph wilson

The Buffalo Bills are frustrated, and it has nothing to do with recent headline-grabbing events involving the Bills-in-Toronto series or the controversial Terrell Owens signing.
The Bills are fed up with the ongoing Erie County financial flap that has stalled more than a year and a half’s worth of county-funded stadium improvements at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
At issue are about $2.9 million in improvements the county is obligated to fund each year under its lease with the Bills.
It’s early spring, the traditional launch of the construction season, but no huge repair crews are poised to descend on the stadium, less than five months before the Bills host two preseason games in August.
None of this year’s $2.9 million in improvements has gone past the wish-list stage. And the Bills still are waiting for almost $2 million worth of capital improvements — that were supposed to be done last year.
The Bills insist they’re frustrated, not angry. They’ve talked with all the parties involved, and they’re not mad at any one person. They’re just fed up with the situation.

An ongoing dispute between the county and its state-appointed control board has stalled the selling of about $89 million worth of bonds for capital-improvement projects across the county.

“We’ve talked with the control board,” Bills Treasurer Jeffrey C. Littmann said. “We’ve talked with the comptroller. We’ve talked with the county executive. They’re all supportive. They all understand. This is not a Bills issue. This is a county issue, and we’re caught up in it.”

As Littmann pointed out in two phone interviews while he was in California for National Football League meetings, the Bills are hardly alone waiting for capital improvement projects.

Also being held hostage on this list, county officials say, are road and bridge work throughout the county, replacing the Erie County Holding Center roof, roof repairs at the county correctional facility in Alden and capital improvements at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, the Botanical Gardens and all three Erie Community College campuses.
“There have been a lot of independent third parties that have been impacted by this,” County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz said.

What does it mean for the Bills?
No stairway is about to crumble, but the Bills consider the annual $2.9 million in capital improvements a key element in keeping the 36-year-old Ralph Wilson Stadium a viable NFL playpen, while some other teams have grandiose, spanking- new structures with all the amenities.
A couple of years ago, Littmann asked Joe Frandina, the Bills’ vice president of stadium operations, how long Ralph Wilson Stadium could last.
“Is the assumption that we control the maintenance, and she’s taken care of the way she should be taken care of?” Littmann remembers Frandina asking him.
Yes, Littmann answered.
“Then she’ll outlast you and me,” Frandina replied. Poloncarz noted that the county has advanced cash for about one-third of the 2007 and 2008 capital improvements throughout the county, $28 million out of $89 million worth. The Bills say that includes more than $750,000 of their stadium work.
The almost 30 capital improvements never done from last year’s list at the stadium include reconstructing parking Lot 1, repairing the Section 104 seating area, remodeling some restrooms and repairing the fieldhouse roof from storm damage.
“The goal now is we hope to get last year’s work done now,” Littmann said.
Poloncarz still holds out hope that the issue could be resolved soon, either through an agreement with the control board or through legislation in Albany.
“I would love to get this done as soon as possible,” he said.
Littmann also was asked about recent news that the Bills could play a second regular-season game in Toronto each year, starting in 2010.
While saying that’s only speculation at this point, Littmann said it’s all part of the Bills’ current plan to market their brand farther from Buffalo.
The Bills can’t compete with 2-million-square-foot “Taj Mahal” stadiums — Ralph Wilson Stadium is about 890,000 square feet—or with NFL franchises that sell personal-seat licenses or $500 club seats.

bo burnham

This Friday Comedy Central will premiere its latest "Comedy Central Presents" special, featuring up and coming comic Bo Burnham. Like most comics who have been featured on the series, Burnham is just starting to become well known. Like most featured comics he has had success in some of the most well known comedy clubs in the country. Like most featured comics he is not yet quite a household name but has shown promise in his work.

Yes, in several ways Bo Burnham is just like the many other comics who have been featured on "Comedy Central Presents," but there are two ways that Burnham is unique. One, he is only eighteen years old, and two, he got his start by posting videos on Youtube.While many YouTube videos are uploaded in hopes of getting discovered, Burnham began uploading his videos for a different reason. Having written a few songs about what he described as teenage angst, Burnham uploaded the videos onto Youtube so that his brother would be able to see them at college.Filmed in Burnham's bedroom, the two videos were done very simply.

in fact later said that instead of actually having a tripod, the camera filming was simply placed on a pile of books. The two videos both featured noting more than Burnham playing the piano and singing his two songs, "My Little Secret" and "My Whole Family Thinks I'm Gay." The videos had unexpected success, both of them now having over a million hits each. Since then, Burnham has gone on to release a total of 14 videos of himself singing comedic songs that he wrote.Burnham's comedy comes from his R-rated lyrics, most of them unprintable, which poke fun of anyone and everyone including himself.

He sings songs which talk about white supremacy, Helen Keller's disabilities, pedophilia, homosexuality and more, all with a tongue planted firmly in his cheek attitude. Burnham describes his on stage persona as a "more arrogant, stuck-up version [of] himself." In addition to their R-rated tone, Burnham's lyrics are also well known for their sly puns that always seem to work surprisingly well: "Lets rob an Asian kitchen, or stroll down the block, either way girl, we're taking a walk" (Wok).

hall and oates

For those of you who watch Dancing With The Stars, you are already aware that the crazy line-up includes Steve-O, Lil’ Kim, and Holly Madison. These people get to dress up and dance with professionals in hopes of entertaining us. This week, the stars will be dancing to the hit ‘ Maneater’ by Philadelphia natives Hall and Oates. Unfortunately only the professional dancers will be dancing for the song, because I’d really like to see Lil’ Kim pull that off. Tune in to ABC tonight at 9PM to watch it all go down.

college hill

A used book sale is planned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28.
The sale is sponsored by Sisters Together, the church women’s group.
Book donations are welcomed and can be made at the church from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays or Sunday mornings 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Books will be 50 cents and $1 each. Coffee and baked goods also will be available for purchase.
The church is at 900 N.E. Vivion Road, Kansas City, North. Call 816-453-2623.
Eagle Heights Baptist
A Worldview Conference is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 at the church.
Matt Olson and Jim Bennett, faculty members at Northland Baptist Bible College, Dunbar, Wis., will speak.
Topics will include: “Image vs. Word-based Cultures,” and “How to Maintain a Christian World View.”
The cost of the conference is $10 per person and includes lunch and refreshments. Call 816-454-7410 to register.
Olson and Bennett also will speak at the 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. worship services March 29. The church is at 5600 N. Brighton Ave. Kansas City, North.
Good Shepherd United Methodist
An Easter Egg Hunt with food, games and live music is planned 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 4.
The Egg Hunt will begin at noon for all children through fifth grade. Children with special needs will have their own egg hunt area.
Easter services planned are: Palm Sunday services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. April 5; Holy Week worship at 7 p.m. April 8.
Easter Day Services will be held at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. April 12. The sermon theme will be, “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down.”
The church is at 9555 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, North. Call 816-734-2216.
Northgate Baptist
A prayer workshop is planned 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 31 at the church.
Dr. Terry Lamberth, Director of Missions for the Clay-Platte Baptist Association will speak on “Moving Toward an Effective Church Prayer Ministry.”
The workshop is open to the public. Pre-register by March 26 by calling 816-453-4056.
The church is at 800 N.E. Vivion Road, Kansas City, North.
William Jewell College
Two special speaking events are planned this month.
Dr. Ken Miller, an expert on evolution, intelligent design and creationism, will present the Cope Lecture on Science, Technology and the Human Experience at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Gano Memorial Chapel on campus, 500 College Hill, Liberty.
Miller is a biology professor at Brown University. He has also taught at Harvard and has published more than 50 scientific papers. He is the author of “Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution.”
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Elizabeth R. Hoyt will speak as part of the Journeys of Mind & Faith lecture series at 7:30 p.m. March 31.
Hoyt, assistant professor of business administration at William Jewell, will speak on “A Religious Outsider’s Journey of Mind and Faith.”
The free lecture in will be held in the Yates-Gill College Union on the William Jewell Campus, 500 College Hill, Liberty. Call 816-781-7700.

the phantom tollbooth

Thuffering Thuccotash." The legendary animator is profiled in this documentary that features interviews with Jones and animated segments based on his childhood. Followed at 8 p.m. and midnight by the 1970 animated film that Jones co-directed, "The Phantom Tollbooth." 7:30 and 11:30 tonight, TCM.
Doug Knoop, Seattle Times staff
Also on today
Presidential News Conference, 5 p.m. (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox): President Barack Obama's address is affecting the prime-time schedule.
"Reaper," 8 p.m. (The CW): It turns out the Devil (Ray Wise) has another son, Morgan (guest star Armie Hammer).
"Last Restaurant Standing," 9 p.m. (BBC America): The remaining couples are forced out of their comfort zones to cater a fancy dinner party.
"NCIS," 9 p.m. (CBS): A young boy finds a murder weapon and the team must trace ownership of the gun to discover who was murdered.
"The Biggest Loser," 9 p.m. (NBC): Tonight is Part 1 of a two-part challenge. Contestants will be allowed to divide the amount of weight they've lost so far among their opponents; the most pounds will probably go to whoever is considered the biggest threat.
"The Real Housewives of New York City," 10 p.m. (Bravo): Good friends Jill and Bethenny go to lunch at Le Cirque. LuAnn, Kelly, Romona and the van Kempens attend the Russell Simmons fashion show and Kelly covers fashion week for her column.
"The Mentalist," 10 p.m. (CBS): The CBI team takes a trip to the Sierra foothills to investigate murders at a corporate retreat.

dolphin boat

Coast Guard crews continue an extensive search with numerous assets for four missing fishermen from the 71-foot fishing vessel Lady Mary 75 miles off the coast of Cape May.
An MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., hoisted three crewmembers out of the water and transported them to awaiting emergency medical personnel at the air station. Two were later pronounced deceased by the Atlantic City medical examiner.
The survivor, Jose Luis Ariese, said the vessel sank with seven people on board. Reportedly all seven had survival equipment before the vessel sank.
Two MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crews from Air Station Atlantic City, an MH-60J Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130J Hercules air crews from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and the Coast Guard Cutters Dependable and Finback from Cape May are on scene searching a 225 square nautical mile area for the four missing fishermen.

zang toi

New York based Malaysian fashion designer Zang Toi has signed on as The Encore sponsor of The School of American Ballet’s Winter Ball, taking place in New York on March 9th, 2009. In anticipation of the event, he has provided us with this exclusive preview of the beautiful gown he designed for Event Chair and philanthropist Pamela Joyner.
He describes Ms. Joyner’s couture gown as a silk and stain strapless “Diva Gown” with silver beading and embroidered French chantily lace. Zang has also designed the gown that Pamela Joyner’s daughter, Michelle Giuffrida, will wear.
The Winter Ball is The School of American Ballet’s highest profile annual benefit, and this year will serve as the School’s celebration of their 75th Anniversary. This glamorous black-tie dinner dance at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater dance is attended by 400 of New York City’s socialites and philanthropists, including event chairmen Chelsea Clinton, Stacey Bendet Eisner, Pamela Joyner, Coco Kopelman and New York City Ballet dancers Sara Mearns and Amar Ramasar.
There will be wonderful showing of San Francisco attendees including: Susan Dunlevy, Dr. Deepa Pakianathan, Janice & Jonathan Zakin, Fran Streets, Sandy Barrett, Alison Carlson, and Dayle Haddon, among others.
To honor the School’s 75th Anniversary, Van Cleef & Arpels has created a special Award of Excellence named after Claude Arpels, whose friendship with SAB co-founder George Balanchine inspired the ballet “Jewels” in 1967. The first award, which will become annual, will be presented to George Balanchine posthumously and will be accepted by SAB Artistic Director Peter Martins.
The Encore is the Winter Ball’s after-party. After dinner, 200 of the city’s philanthropic chic young professionals join the Winter Ball for dancing and dessert. A highlight of the Winter Ball is a pièce d’occasion performed by the School’s students, choreographed by Adam Hendrickson (SAB alumnus and New York City Ballet Soloist).
Drew Altizer will be in New York to photograph the event, so check back later to see more from this wonderful evening.

layoff the game

Casual games firm TiltFactor has released a new casual title based on the current economic crisis and, more specifically, the worrying level of unemployment sweeping to the global workplace.
Entitled ‘Layoff’ the game is based on the successful Bejeweled template, and sees players matching up lines of three or more like-minded workers – be they workmen, mechanics or office workers

walmart shooting gang initiation

Law enforcement officials say text messages and e-mails about a gang initiation shooting are likely a hoax।Various media outlets reported getting calls from residents about a communication that the shooting was scheduled to occur at a local Wal-Mart store Thursday night।Oklahoma City police Sgt। Jennifer Wardlow says there's no credible evidence of a threat, adding the hoax started in 2005 and occasionally resurfaces.Law enforcement and store officials in Tulsa, Lawton and Shawnee also said the hoax was similar to another communication a few years ago.The Web site www.snopes.com, which tracks American urban legends, traces the hoax to July 2005 in the Memphis, Tenn., area.Wardlow said police used the Web site to help confirm the messages as a होअक्स

vcu

It's the Bruins' ball with 48 seconds left. This is close. The upset would be an 11 seed over a 6 seed, and the first upset of the day if it happens. Stay tuned. The VCU fans are really into it.
BTW, it's fun to be in a bar where one side has the game just a few seconds behind the other. We see a VCU basket over here and there are cheers and then you hear more cheers just a few seconds लेटर.

gonzaga

It's not that Josh Heyvelt is reluctant to play the role of enforcer. But given a choice, the 6-foot-11, 260-pounder would just as soon feather in a rainbow three-pointer from the top of the key than mix it up beneath the rim.
Yet if the fourth-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs are going to continue to advance in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, their big man must duplicate a few more performances like the one he had Thursday in a 77-64 victory against No. 13 seed Akron at the Rose Garden.
"I read an article, I can't remember where I read it, but it said guards get you past the first round and then bigs get you into the deeper rounds," sophomore guard Matt Bouldin said. "He's really important just because a lot of teams tend to be guard heavy, and as long as he can battle them and rattle them, it really opens up a lot for the rest of the team."
When Heyvelt scores 22 points and collects eight rebounds as he did Thursday, then the Zags look like a national-championship contender.
But when he shies away from contact and fails to police the paint, Gonzaga doesn't have the muscle to withstand a physical attack like the beating Akron's McKnight brothers dished out in the first half. Older brother Chris McKnight banged against Heyvelt early on, giving away to younger brother Brett and bruising forward Nikola Cvetinovic.
"Akron's game was to give it to the McKnight brothers and just pound you, pound you and pound you," Heyvelt said. "That's no fun. You're constantly pushing and shoving and fighting. It wears you down and gets you tired."
Akron led 38-35 at halftime largely because the Zips outscored the Zags 16-14 in the lane. Inside the locker room, past first-round flameouts haunted Heyvelt, who admitted he was worried Gonzaga might extend its three-game tournament losing streak.
Trailing 49-43 with less than 15 minutes left in the second half, Bouldin whipped a pass to Heyvelt, who flushed a dunk that brought the red-, white- and blue-clad Zags fans to their feet and started the Bulldogs' comeback.
Nearly 6 ½ minutes later, Heyvelt drained a three-pointer that gave Gonzaga a 64-52 lead, capped a 21-3 run and sealed the victory.
Senior forward Micah Downs added 15 points; Bouldin chipped in 12 points, five assists and five rebounds; and Austin Daye finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
"We got going because we picked up on defense, just extending, forcing turnovers and getting out and running," said senior guard Jeremy Pargo, who had nine points and five assists. "But you've got to give a lot of credit to Josh. We've got a lot of guys on this team who can do a lot of things, but nobody can really do what he does."
Akron had just four points in the paint in the second half, and Heyvelt held the McKnight brothers to a combined 15 points and seven rebounds।

binghamton university

We have neither received an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC) complaint nor have we been advised that one is in process regarding this matter.
Binghamton University is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all of its employees. We have policies that prohibit harassment and we investigate allegations of such behavior promptly and thoroughly. Since this is an ongoing investigation and in fairness to all parties involved, we must maintain confidentiality.”
- Joseph Schultz, director of Human Resources, Binghamton University

american university

The third-seeded Villanova Wildcats have the advantage of opening the 2009 NCAA Tournament in front of a friendly Philadelphia crowd and against the 14th-seeded American University Eagles in East Region action.
Villanova plays some of its home games at the Wachovia Center, so the team knows the arena quite well. The winner will move on to the second round to take on either sixth-seeded UCLA or 11th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth.
American is making its second consecutive appearance in the "Big Dance" after winning the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles this season. The Eagles are riding the nation's second-longest active win streak with 13 consecutive victories, and they have won 19 of their last 20 outings. Their 24 overall wins are tied for the most in program history, and the team's 11 road wins are tops in the NCAA.
As for Villanova, it is making its fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament under the guidance of head coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats, who are 26-7 overall, went 13-5 versus Big East competition during the regular season. Villanova, which won its only national title back in 1985, has more wins as an underdog seed (13) in the NCAA Tournament than any other program, but the club will be playing the role of a heavy favorite tonight.
Villanova has won all eight previous meetings with American, and the most recent bout took place in 1993.
While American enters this game as a huge underdog, there is enough talent on the roster for the team to be competitive। Patriot League Player of the Year Derrick Mercer is a steady performer who averages 11।5 ppg and 4।4 apg. Mercer is the only player in league history to record 1,200 points and 500 assists and is the school's all-time leader in games played.

The top scorer for the Eagles is Garrison Carr, who is netting 17.8 ppg on the strength of 108 three- pointers. Brian Gilmore contributes 12.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg to bring balance to the floor. Strong defense has been an obvious key to AU's success this season, as the team is limiting opponents to 58.4 ppg on 39.4 percent shooting from the field. Offensively, the Eagles are scoring a modest 64.5 ppg.

Villanova is undoubtedly battle-tested, as the team played top-notch competition most nights during the Big East season. The Wildcats have a number of key contributors in the fold, and forward Dante Cunningham has been the team's most consistent player this season. Shooting 52.9 percent from the floor, Cunningham is averaging 16.0 ppg to go along with 7.2 rpg and 41 blocked shots. He can score on the interior and has a tremendous mid-range jumper. Scottie Reynolds is an explosive guard who is netting 15.5 ppg in addition to handing out 118 assists and coming up with 53 steals. Reynolds is a streaky player who can dominate a game when he is on track. Corey Fisher is the third and final double-digit scorer on the roster, as he brings 10.8 ppg to the mix. Villanova is generating 76.5 ppg while allowing just 67.0 ppg.
The Wildcats are the clear choice in this game, as they are superior to American in every aspect. Expect 'Nova to start fast and cruise to victory.

ncaa women s basketball tournament 2009

The selections are in, and LSU is back in familiar territory।The Lady Tigers (18-10) are the No। 6 seed in the Raleigh Regional of the 2009 NCAA tournament and will face No। 11 Green Bay (29-3) at 6 p।m। Sunday in the PMAC.LSU is in the NCAA tournament for the 11th straight season and 19th overall season since the tournaent’s founding in 1982.Coach Van Chancellor said although these Lady Tigers lack the experience of past LSU teams who advanced to five straight Final Four appearances, he sees something special in this group.“I don’t know if LSU has ever had a team that has accomplished any more than we have,” Chancellor said. “When we were 2-2 [in Southeastern Conference play] and let Mississippi State beat us out here, I never dreamed we would be here tonight. Our team has been down. It’s young, and it had a shot to cave in. This team has done a great job to be seeded sixth in any region.”Chancellor said Green Bay, the Horizon League champions, will be a difficult opponent for LSU.“They’re a team that plays hard and will not beat themselves,” Chancellor said. “It will be a great challenge for us because it will be different from any team we’ve played all year. They are well disciplined, and they are not going to turn the ball over. This is a real challenge in my mind.”LSU junior guard Allison Hightower said the team is simply happy to be back in the tournament.“Just coming from where we came from, a No. 6 seed is really good,” Hightower said. “We’ve come a long way, grown and matured and kept fighting.”LSU has won nine of its last 12 games, including a six-game winning streak against conference opponents. Two of those wins were at home against Florida and Tennessee, two other NCAA tournament teams.Chancellor said playing on their home court is definitely an advantage for the young Lady Tigers in their first-round game.“There’s no doubt playing at home helps you,” he said. “The fans come here, you sleep in your own beds, you play on our own court and you practice on your own court. It doesn’t win games, but it gives you a better shot of winning games.”LSU freshman forward LaSondra Barrett, SEC Co-Freshman of the Year, said being in the NCAA tournament for the first time is something special.“You never experience this in high school,” Barrett said. “This is so important to this program, and it is so important to continue that legacy. It’s something I will always look forward to every season, but this being my first time, it’s great.”If the Lady Tigers defeat Green Bay, they will face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Louisville and No. 14 Liberty in the second round.Chancellor said he is thrilled to be in the NCAA tournament with a team who has come so far.“It’s amazing. We could have just folded, but this team has had resiliency all year,” Chancellor said. “I’m just tickled to death to be in it.”

women s nit

PEORIA — In the end the numbers just didn’t add up for Bradley.
Despite posting a program record 21 wins, the Braves were on the outside looking in a the Women’s National Invitation Tournament when the 48-team bracket was announced on Monday.
Illinois State, the regular season champion, and Creighton will represent the Missouri Valley Conference.
“I knew we had a chance but I knew also that we were on the bubble,” Bradley coach Paula Buscher said. “Obviously we’re very disappointed. We wanted a chance to get back on the court. None of us had a great feeling after that last game.”
In not being selected, the Braves (21-10) become just the third Valley team to record a 20-win season and not qualify for either the WNIT or the NCAA Tournament. The 1993 Creighton and 2005 Northern Iowa teams did not make either tournament.
Illinois State was one of 16 teams to receive a bye and will host a second round game against either SMU or Louisiana Tech on March 21, 22 or 23.
Creighton will host California-Riverside on Saturday in the first round.
Bradley’s problems came in the last two weeks. Its RPI rating fell from 88 on March 2 to 114 after Sunday’s conclusions of the conference tournaments.
Losing two of its last three games — to Wichita State (214) to close the regular season and Evansville (153) in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament — ultimately doomed the Braves.
“You can sit and look at RPI and look at this game here or that game there (might have factored in),” Buscher said. “There are so many opportunities to second guess. Anytime have to sit and wait and see and not control your own destiny it’s unfortunate.”

siri pinter

Talk show host Carson Daly has a new full-time guest.
Daly's publicist Heather Lylis said the 35-year-old TV personality and girlfriend Siri Pinter are the proud parents of a baby boy. Jackson James Daly was born Sunday, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces. It's the first child for both the "Last Call with Carson Daly" host and Pinter, who has worked at Daly's show and "Last Comic Standing" as an associate producer.

dhani jones

As some of you may know, I'm a bit of a sports nut. Sports, travel and reality television, to a certain degree, are three of my favorite things.
So imagine my surprise (and excitement) when I found out that Dhani Jones (linebacker for the Bengals -- sports) was appearing on the Travel Channel (self-explanatory) for his new show (again) "Dhani Tackles the Globe" a show that premieres tonight.
The premise is this: Dhani travels around the world, competing in new and different sports.He learned about rugby in England; the martial art Muay Thai in Thailand; hurling in Ireland; dragon boat racing in Singapore; Schwingen (wrestling) in Switzerland; pelota in Spain; sailing in New Zealand; and surf lifeguard competitions in Australia.
Part reality TV, part travel show, each episode chronicles his weeklong attempt to master a new sport, interspersed with sightseeing trips and forays into the local culture.
"It allows the entree of, 'I'm an athlete, you're an athlete, we both compete. Let's meet each other on those terms,"' Jones said in a telephone interview from Ohio.It also allows us to see more reality television! WOO. No, seriously -- if there was one more reality television show that you should add to your "to watch" list ... Dhani Jones bouncing around the globe, swimming with sharks (kind of) and dragon boat racing(!) is definitely the play to make; by all accounts it's going to be one of the best new shows that the underrated Travel Channel drops. Oh, also, you can follow him on Twitter for more info.

wnit

The University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team was one of 48 teams selected to compete in the 2009 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), the organization announced Monday night. The Badgers (18-14) will host the winner of Chattanooga (22-9) vs. Kentucky (15-15) in a second-round game in the Kohl Center. Game times and dates will be announced on Tuesday by the WNIT
“We’re excited to be able to extend our season in the WNIT,” said Coach Lisa Stone. “Coming off the Big Ten Tournament, our team is playing well. We’re excited to be playing some new teams, teams that we haven’t played several times this season. We’ve had some rest and we’re ready to go.”
The Badgers are making their fifth appearance in the WNIT। Wisconsin is 13-3 in four WNIT appearances, having won the championship once (2000). UW has played in the championship game three times, losing at Arkansas in 1999 and at Wyoming in 2007. In 2008, the Badgers received a first-round bye before losing to Villanova in the second round.

The WNIT kicks off post-season play on Wednesday with 16 first-round games on the campuses of participating schools। While 32 teams play in the first round, 16 teams received a bye and begin their tournament with a second-round game. The WNIT championship game will be held on April 4 at 1 p.m. on the campus of the two final participating schools.

This year’s WNIT field features six teams from the Big East Conference, five teams from the Atlantic 10, three teams from the Southeastern and Big 12 conferences as well as two teams each from the Missouri Valley, America East and Big Ten. All other conferences have only one representative.
Thirty-one teams earned an automatic berth via their high finish in conference, while 17 teams were chosen at-large. The automatic berth in each conference goes to the team that finishes the highest in the regular-season standings that does not advance to the NCAA tournament. To be considered for the tournament, a team must have an overall record of .500 or better.
WNIT Tickets – All tickets are general admission:
Ticket prices: Adults - $8; Youth, Seniors & UW Students - $4
Tickets go on sale at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday and may be purchased on line at UWBadgers.com, over the phone at 1-800-GO BADGERS or in person at the McGinnis Family Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office at 1440 Monroe St. , during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tickets will not be mailed and must be picked up at will call or by printing tickets at home (internet orders only).
Should Wisconsin advance through the tournament, tickets for subsequent games will go on sale as soon as possible, online, over the phone or in person.

shakespeare of landscape

I seem to have spent a goodly portion of the last two decades watching Ian McShane, whether he was playing an amiable antiques dealer in the BBC dramedy Lovejoy, a demonic whoremaster in HBO's horse opera Deadwood or a deranged paterfamilias in the recent Broadway revival of Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming.

Actually, it’s safe to say that I’ll watch the routinely awesome British thesp in pretty much anything. The main problem with Kings—which finds McShane portraying, with his usual reptilian brilliance, the monarch of an imaginary but America-like country named Gilboa—is that I'm sure what kind of "thing" I'm watching him in.
The two-hour series premiere, which was directed by I Am Legend helmer Francis Lawrence, had a God-ish bent. The plot was inspired by the story of David and Goliath with McShane’s young co-star Christopher Egan playing a soldier named David who blows up an enemy country’s “Goliath” tank while rescuing the king’s son.

Eamon Walker from Oz, meanwhile, essays a priest who seems to represent the conscience of the morally dubious McShane. But you wouldn’t say Kings was a religious show. Nor is it really a political satire, despite the presence of a somewhat Dick Cheney-esque character—played by Dylan Baker—who is desperate for Gilboa to remain at war for financial reasons. Maybe what Kings creator—and Heroes writer—Michael Green was shooting for is a sort of alternative reality Sopranos and, certainly, this premiere had both fatalities and familial intrigue.

But one wonders if network restrictions might put off fans of David Chase’s far bloodier, far more foul-mouthed mob drama or, indeed, those of the equally adult entertainment that was Deadwood.
So, Popwatchers, am I just being dim? Have you figured out what kind of show Kings is supposed to be? Or, if not, will you be sticking around to find out?

bill davidson

Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson died Friday night. He was 86 years old.
Davidson owned the Pistons since 1974 and saw the team win the 1989, 1990 and 2004 NBA titles.
He was owner when the Pistons moved to The Palace of Auburn Hills, a privately owned and financed arena, in 1988, and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. Additionally, Davidson was the former owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. He is the only owner in history to win NBA and NHL championships in the same season (2004).

Davidson also owned the Detroit Shock, who brought home three WNBA championships. He also served two terms as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.

"The entire Palace family is mourning the loss of Mr. Davidson," said Tom Wilson, President of Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Pistons. "He was truly a pioneer in so many ways. His legacy will live forever."
Davidson acquired the Detroit Pistons in 1974 from the late Fred Zollner, the man who founded the team in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the 1940s.
Davidson's Pistons were the first professional sports team to own their own plane, Roundball One. Roundball Two, a newer, larger, multimillion-dollar aircraft was purchased and refurbished in the summer of 1998 for the organization.
The Pistons have played in the postseason in 19 of the past 25 years, including 11 of the past 13 seasons

the912project.com

You say you want a revolution well you know...it's all right.*Glenn Beck's Project 912 show yesterday evening at 5 PM EST [rebroadcast tonight at 9 PM EST on FNC] drew huge audiences nationwide. I received calls from as far south as Hawaii and as far north as Canada, and the flood of email alerts, blogs and sites announcing it brought so many people to that within minutes, the site shut down and as of 1 AM EST, remains closed with the 403 notice displayed, along with the ominous "Forbidden" message.

We who know little of the inner workings of bandwidth, traffic and server capacities were left to wonder whether, like so many other examples of recently scrubbed, shut down and removed material, the Beck site was also suppressed. Many are wondering how, amidst so much suppression and propagandizing, Beck's show even manages to stay on the air.

Only time will tell whether Apache is able to correct the problem or whether the White House On Air [WHOA] suppression team is at it again. Given their recent activity with Wickipedia, Youtube, Google and some of the social networking sites, it is hard not to at least wonder whether indeed, they decided to crash Beck's site as well. However, absent proof, it is folly to jump to conclusions, even though the temptation is there .

While we must be vigilant and proactive within our rights and laws, there is no reason to succumb to paranoia and panic. We are a nation of some 300 Million people--for the most part, hard working, law abiding, Americans who all want basically the same things: honest government, honest work for honest pay, respect for our Constitution and Bill of Rights and those who wrote and ratified them.

While it continues to look as though government no longer has our best interests at heart, most of us believe that we will not allow ourselves to fall victim to a series of despots, private banking cabals, corporate special interests and self serving public officials.

the 912 project

Glenn Beck unveiled his new website, The 912 Project, on his show earlier tonight. The website is dedicated to helping people find others who share our principles and values. Read about it below and see the 9 Principles and 12 values at the core of this movement. We also have the video from Beck’s You Are Not Alone Show ಬೆಲೌ.

It seems so simplistic to outline the principles and values that we, as Americans, live by. Yet, in the world as it has become recently, it has seemed to become necessary to actually take a look at what our core beliefs are.
I think that over the years, we have gotten fat, lazy and way too comfortable. I think that Americans have forgotten what its like to have to be uncomfortable or to have to struggle. We’ve forgotten that the entire world doesn’t live the way we live. We think we are sacrificing if we decide to stay at the Holiday Inn instead of the Hilton. When I read what people write about life during the Great Depression, I realize we don’t know what hardship is. When I read what people write about life during World War II, I realize we don’t know what its like for our nation to be at war. We aren’t making sacrifices, just the few who have gone to war have sacrificed for us. The rest of us have gone on with life as usual and have prospered.
We have so much prosperity that we have come to believe that is the norm. We have forgotten how to put others before ourselves. We have forgotten how to put our country before ourselves. We are selfish and petty and spoiled.
With the events of the past year, I think many of us have stepped back for a minute and looked at what has been happening around us. It is frightening to look at. Taking our freedom and prosperity for granted has put us on the verge of losing it all. We need to step back and go back to our core values.
Glenn Beck held a forum earlier tonight that we live blogged here. He thesis is that we need to remember we are not alone, we are not surrounded, in fact … We Surround Them. He laid out his list of nine principles and twelve values that are the core of our belief system. I’ve listed them below. They seem so commonsensical that it seems odd to have to list them. But apparently we do need to.
During his special he introduced his new website, The 912 Project (the912project.com). He describes it as a place for like-minded people to come together for reassurance that they are not alone. As Beck pointed out in his show, we have to support each other, we need to Unite, or Die.

danica mckellar

GLENN BECK, HOST: Now, joining me to help understand the math behind $1 trillion is Danica McKellar. She is the author and bestseller — what's the name of your — what's the name of your book?
DANICA MCKELLAR, AUTHOR, "KISS MY MATH": I got two books. I got "Math Doesn't Suck" and "Kiss My Math."
(LAUGHTER)
BECK: You are a — do you recognize her face, America? If you watched "The Wonder Years."

BECK: I think I love her more than — on "The Wonder Years."
OK. But here's the other problem. The other problem is, these numbers don't mean anything.
MCKELLAR: Yes. The numbers — because, you know, and part of the problem with numbers not meaning anything is because this country loves math illiteracy for whatever reason. People are proud to say, oh, I can't do math. But nobody would ever say, oh, I can't read. You'd never hear that.
BECK: So, you're — but now, you're a math genius.
MCKELLAR: I do love math. I didn't used to love math.
BECK: I hate math.
MCKELLAR: In middle school, I used to struggle with math. And what I want to do is take the stigma off of math, especially for girls, especially for kids, because our next generation is going to get into our next spring, whenever that is, they need to be comfortable with numbers

mathangi maya arulpragasam

NOT VOLCANIC ENOUGH20.

2 girlz (See #11)17. monif c (Dresses for woman shaped women)15. john krohn (Child conservative. Poor kid)14. dr. seuss birthday (Google clicky linky. Happy Birthday fine sir)13. pickens plan (Financial guru, has a plan to save America and the World!)11. kristy landers (”Singer” in the band 2 Girlz. Don’t care why now)10. jason taylor (Football player, cut from Washington Redskins)8. granville waiters (From previous day)7. ron insana (Ex-CNBC financial reporter. Returning)

jason and molly bachelor (SAM)Related Terms: 6.jason mesnick ex wife; 9.melissa rycroft; 12.jason mesnick; 16.the bachelor after the final rose; 18.molly malaney; 19.neil lane- Jason was the runner up on the bachelorette.- Has a son.- Was the bachelor this time round.- Why now?- Chose Melissa.- Dumped Melissa on air on live TV Special after tha last rose Ceremony.- Then they bought out Molly.- He asked Molly to date him- She said yes.- ANd they have been dating.-

And she is moving to Seattle…to be close to him.- Oh yay for drama.- And the world got mad at him for picking the wrong one and dumping her on live TV.- Btw. Melissa will be on Dancing with the stars…
2. nick schuyler (WES)- Two days prior, Schuyler, Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley - all football players - went out into the Gulf of Mexico on a fishing trip.- Today, Schuyler was rescued.- - In a storm, the boat capsized and the quartet spent 40 hours in the 60-degree sea.- - Hypothermia claimed each of his 3 friends one by one and he was to be the final to die, but the Coast Guard got to him first.- - That is all that is known of his story, so far, because he’s not talking.- - - Even though the media vultures - including Larry King and Katie Couric - are hounding him incessantly.- - - - Jesus, the guy watched 3 of his friends die and spent 40 hours expecting to die himself. Give him a GD break.

paula yates

Lauren Rapacki a Greene Mathematics Advancement Partnership Project (MAPP) coach and Shakamak teacher Carol McDonald presented an overview of the MAPP program to the MDS of Shakamak Board of School Trustees Thursday evening.
The 500,000 MAPP program was made possible by a grant written by the Greene County Grant and Professional Development Consortium. The goals of MAPP are to increase teachers' math content knowledge, improve quality of math lessons, and to increase understanding of Indiana Academic Standards.
Five Shakamak teachers in grades four and six are currently involved with MAPP including McDonald, and a total of 66 Greene County teachers are participating in the project.
The projected outcomes are to see increased competence in the teaching of mathematical concepts, to see an increase of students who pass the ISTEP and by 2010 to see all Greene County teachers proficient in using technology for instruction.
"The program creates a better relationship among Greene County teachers," noted McDonald. "We can share ideas, the teachers feel connected and we can get constructive feedback."
During the superintendent's report, CG Epple announced that Shakamak has six weather days to make up.
Five of those days will be before Memorial Day, and the last day will be on Tuesday, May 26. The graduation ceremony will remain on Saturday, May 23 at 2:30, but diplomas will not be distributed at the ceremony.
Epple encouraged everyone to mark March 30 on their calendar and visit Greene Academy's Open House between 6-8 p.m. on the WRV Campus in Switz City.
"We have had some success (with the Academy) and are looking for ways to improve the process," noted Epple.
Epple also announced that the school consolidation bill died in committee. However, he said it will be brought up again.
Stimulus money is expected to be distributed to schools, Epple said, and the estimated amount that Shakamak will receive is $448,000.
Epple added that it is soft money and several restrictions are attached to it.
Epple also presented the board a handout explaining the American Recovery Reinvestment Account (ARRA) and a total stimulus package.
Junior/Senior High Principal Vanessa Hodge reported that Mrs. Rogers and Ms. Scott, once again, held the mock job interviews to help prepare students for the future.
Hodge also said the school recognized senior ball players, cheerleaders, band and choir students at the last home basketball and Micajah Green, Levi Sims and Kayla Samm competed at the State Solo Contest.
She said the FFA had a successful week including fixing breakfast for the teachers and farmers within the community.
Hodge noted that during the Professional Development Day the staff was divided into four areas: ISTEP data, motivation, handbook, and seventh/eighth grade team meeting.
Hodge continued by saying the Business Professionals of America recently returned from their yearly conference, the Academic Honor Jacket Convocation took place this week, and spring sports have started practicing.
She also reported that the junior high has had the first session of testing and has finished the GQE retakes. The junior high will test again in April.
The Freshman Orientation will be April 6 in the high school cafeteria. Hodge said all parents and freshman need to attend to learn about the schedules and high school.
Parent/teacher conferences will begin next Thursday 1-7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium
Hodge also announced that Shakamak students competed Thursday in the Quiz Bowl at Eastern Greene.
Elementary Principal Mike Mogan also announced the parent/teacher conference and said he was looking forward to it.
Mogan said that there would be a Grand People Day in early May that would be for grandparents, favorite aunts, uncles, etc. and that there would be an honors banquet in mid May.
In other business, the board:
*Approved the resignation of yearbook advisor, Amanda Estey and the retirement of the following: Marilyn Walker, grade 3; Deborah Doan, elementary art; CG Epple, superintendent; Ruth Yates, elementary secretary.
*Authorized the administration to hire a junior high track coach if one should be found before next board meeting.
*Approved Brian Pilant as volunteer softball assistant, also approved the summer schedule and 2009-2010 school calendar.
*Vote 3-2 (Brian Stockrahm and James Yeryar voted against) to approve the one-year contract for Hodge.
* Approved resolution for Qualified Zone Academy Bond application to repair the school roof.
*Granted medical leaves for Paula Jones and Kelley Miller and approved Jessica Bush and Paige Wolf as subs.
During patron comments it was asked if a Spanish teacher could be hired. A patron also asked what the procedure was to make a school complaint.

orson charles

Orson Charles, a five-star tight end prospect from Tampa, Fla., took an unforgettable tour last April of the University of Florida football facility.And, in this case, unforgettable was not a good thing.

According to the Palm Beach Post's "Inside UF" blog, Charles bumped into the 2006 BCS Championship crystal, knocking it to the ground and shattering it."Nobody said anything for 10 minutes, then Florida assistant coach John Hevesy said, 'What do I do? Who do I call? Did you know that was $35,000!' " Charles said at the time.

"I just stood there with this baby look and said, 'Sorry.' Then he joked and said, 'You've got to commit to Florida now.' "Charles committed to Georgia. Talk about a bump-and-run specialist.

Trivia timeWhich British ice dancing team became the first skaters to receive nine perfect 6.0s in the world championships 25 years ago today?Twitter turns on a twitA little mobile-phone mischief has turned into a big headache for one college student. James Monsey, a Washington State senior, tried to mess with the mojo of Washington forward Jon Brockman before last weekend's UW-WSU basketball game.

Monsey prank called him two dozen times the night before, unaware that caller ID revealed his identity.Brockman, who had wisely switched his phone to silent, returned the favor the next day after pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds in a Washington victory."Requesting all dawg fans to call [Monsey's number] and tell him about the husky win. . . . " Brockman wrote on his Twitter page.

"[H]e called me 25 times last night . . . let him have it!"Monsey told the Seattle Weekly that, in the hours that followed the posting, he had received about 400 calls.You believe in mirakelen?By now, you know the Netherlands stunned the mighty Dominican Republic with a 2-1 victory in 11 innings Tuesday at the World Baseball Classic.But consider these numbers, courtesy of the New England Sports Network: The Dominican Republic roster consisted of 23 players in the big leagues, 1,801 career home runs in the majors and a team salary totaling $83.4 million.

The Netherlands squad has two major leaguers, 82 big league home runs and a team salary of $400,000.Trivia answerTorvill and Dean.Megabucks for megabytesA Yale student is seeking $1 million from US Airways for a video-game console he says was taken from his luggage. Jesse Maiman, 21, alleges that his modified Xbox 360 was removed from his checked baggage on a flight in December from New Haven, Conn., to Cincinnati. Since, he says, he has gotten "an unconscionable run-around" from the airlines, and filed suit this week in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.