Saturday, April 30, 2011

Family escapes St. Paul house fire


A family safely escaped an early-morning fire at their St. Paul home, according to St. Paul Deputy Fire Chief Stan Jadwinski.

Around 4:08 a.m., firefighters were called to a home at 1317 Juno Ave. in the Highland Park neighborhood. Fire was coming out of a second-floor bedroom window, Jadwinski said.

"There was a lot of fire up there," he said. "It's very fortunate that the family got out."

The family that lived in the home got out themselves before crews arrived, Jadwinski said. The family's pets, too, got out safely.

Paramedics evaluated the family at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but investigators do not suspect arson, Jadwinski says, because of the time of the fire and the fact that the house was occupied.

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Maggie Daley out of the hospital


Maggie Daley is back home today after spending one night at Northwestern Memorial Hospital with flu-like symptoms.

Chicago's first lady was admitted to Northwestern on Thursday because of nausea and dehydration, just two days after she left the hospital following a 10-day stay for surgery to replace a metal rod in her right leg. The rod had been inserted last year because the leg was weakened by treatment for the cancer in Daley's bones.

She was released again today from the hospital, and was resting at home, according to Jacquelyn Heard, spokeswoman for Mayor Richard Daley.

Speaking to reporters at an unrelated press conference today, the mayor said his wife was feeling much better.

Earlier, speaking at a downtown luncheon of the National Summit of the Mayors, Richard Daley choked up while talking about the influence Maggie Daley and other members of his family have had on him.

Maggie Daley was first diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2002. It later spread to her bones.

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Rodeo performer pleads guilty to sexual contact with children


EAST TEXAS (KLTV) – Rodney Hayes, a retired East Texas rodeo performer, pleads guilty in federal court to transportation of minors with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Hayes is a resident of Linden, TX in Cass County. His stage name was the "Texas Kid," and he had a rodeo act that included child performers. Many of these children were under the age of 18 and traveled around the country with Hayes to perform at rodeos in other states.

According to information presented in court, Hayes had sexual contact with at least one child between March 2005 and June 2008. Because these children traveled across state lines with Hayes, he was indicted for transportation of minors with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity in 2010, pleading guilty Friday.

Hayes' sentencing date has not yet been set, but he will face federal prison time. In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender and be unable to have contact with his victims.

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Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal - Part of 2011 Madrid Masters


Federer and Nadal were finalists at the event last year with this year's draw pending.

Tennis fans wondering when either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal will play next are advised that both players will challenge for the Madrid Masters 2011 title in Madrid, Spain.

Federer and Nadal met in the final last year but we'll have to wait for the draw to see if that is possible for this year's event.

Federer is now ranked third on tour and he might be on the same half of the draw as top-ranked Nadal, a circumstance that would make a 'Fedal' final impossible. 

The draw for the tournament is still pending at this time but we'll link to it when it is available.

The tournament dates are May 2nd to May 8th so expect Federer and Nadal to be active during those dates.

Tennis fans looking for top players in action this week will find Novak Djokovic in contention for the ATP Belgrade title (BMW Open) while Juan Martin Del Potro threatens to take down the ATP Estoril title.

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Review: Ballet Met's '7 Deadly Sins' easy to indulge, enjoy


BalletMet Columbus succumbs to temptation this weekend with its world premiere of 7 Deadly Sins, which opened last night at the Riffe Center's Capitol Theatre.

In this substantial new ballet, sin can be fun, funny, disturbing or physically painful. You might want to look away at times during the two-hour-plus performance, but you can't. Desire manipulates the senses -- and by extension, sentient beings -- and when your guard is down, watch out.

The company gets plenty of help from Shadowbox Live's rock ensemble, performing everything from Beethoven and Liszt to an impersonation of Jimmy Swaggert.

Six choreographers created these original sins: Pride by Ma Cong; Sloth and Gluttony by James Kudelka; Lust by Gina Patterson; Wrath by Darrell Grand Moultrie; Greed by Jimmy Orrante; and Envy by Amy Seiwert. Such diversity provides the overall work with a huge range in movement styles but a strong focus to the individual "sins."

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Friday, April 29, 2011

Disney Cruise Line Arrives in San Francisco


Today, the Disney Wonder cruise ship sailed under San Francisco’s famous Golden Gate Bridge on its way to the Port of San Francisco, marking the first time that Disney Cruise Line has visited San Francisco.
The ship stopped in San Francisco for two days as part of a repositioning itinerary heading north to begin Disney Cruise Line’s first season of Alaska cruises. During the seven-night Alaskan cruise itinerary, the Disney Wonder will visit Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Tracy Arm Fjord.

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UE Students Build Hovercraft


Where they're going, they don't need roads.  A vehicle built by students at the University of Evansville isn't science fiction, it's just payoff for hard work and ingenuity.  The "hovercraft" is actually built from an older model - so you could say it's a classic.  UE President Thomas Kazee even took it for a hover after it was unveiled.  The hovercraft can reach up to 40 miles per hour and weighs roughly 800 pounds.  No word yet on how many miles per gallon it might get.

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In a Tale of Deliverance, It’s Moses to the Rescue


Immediacy is the goal of the Passover Seder, commemorating the biblical story of the Jews’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Through the retelling of that story and the explication of rituals and symbols, Seder participants are supposed to become convinced that the Exodus happened to them. Tradition relates that the wicked child asks on Passover, “What does all this mean to you?,” distancing himself from what should be utterly personal.

With a vivid story — those plagues! — and the imperative to find oneself in it, it’s a natural for dramatic adaptation, and the German Jewish composer Paul Dessau based his oratorio “Haggadah Shel Pesach,” written after he fled the Nazis in 1933, on the Seder’s “script.”

On Thursday Leon Botstein and his adventurous American Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Collegiate Chorale Singers and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, brought this rarely heard work to Carnegie Hall for its American premiere. The Exodus narrative must have seemed relevant and hopeful during the rise of Fascism, but Dessau’s sober “Haggadah,” despite stirring moments, only rarely achieves the intimacy and urgency the Seder aims for.

Filtering the influence of Bach’s and Mendelssohn’s classic oratorios through the innovations of Wagner, Mahler and Stravinsky, “Haggadah,” like the Seder itself, both shows and tells: the Exodus story is juxtaposed with explanations of symbols. Declamatory passages — they aren’t quite arias — alternate with choruses, as the orchestra chimes along sympathetically. Dessau’s score is best when it is strangest, as with the shimmering in the orchestra when the baby Moses is rescued from the Nile and the misty dissonances of the chorus’s “Midnight Hymn.”

But that hymn lingers too long. The plagues are represented, predictably, by eerie suspended string chords, and God is voiced by a stentorian male chorus, just as you would expect. The Egyptians pursue the Jews into the sea to standard-issue chase music. The work often has the feel of the film scores Dessau specialized in, an effective support for visuals but bland on its own.

The music’s firm squareness suited Mr. Botstein, never the most flexible of conductors. As always, he and his orchestra deserve immense credit for their bold programming and advocacy of overlooked works.

The choruses and soloists were generally solid, but the great baritone Sanford Sylvan, who sang Moses with his usual authority, clarity and nuance, was in another league. His diction was impeccable, his phrasing sensitive and honest. He is a riveting, communicative artist who appears too rarely in New York. When he sang, this ancient, familiar story felt as it should: truly immediate.

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Fraternity Hazing Scandal at Montclair State University


Fraternity hazing scandal at Montclair State University in New Jersey sent one student to the hospital and two others behind bars.

Police have arrested Joseph Cordasco, 20, and Christian Calderon, 21.

They're accused of physically and mentally abusing a pledge for the TKE (The Rho Zeta Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon) fraternity.

The incident happened in March off campus in Cedar Grove.

The student underwent emergency surgery after cuts he received became infected.

The university said it has a zero-tolerance policy towards hazing and has taken disciplinary action against the fraternity. 

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Poplar Bluff, Mo. residents return home after levee breach


People began returning to their homes in flood-ravaged Poplar Bluff, Missouri on Thursday as the Black River finally began receding in the region.

Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted, said Police Captain Mike McClain.

"Most people are relieved, and rightfully so," McClain said. "They are ready to go home."

McClain said about 500 homes and more than 1,000 people were evacuated in the city limits of Poplar Bluff, which has about 17,000 residents.

Many more voluntarily fled their homes in the surrounding area, said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs.
The levee south of Poplar Bluff remains breached in numerous places and few people who left their homes in that area are trying to return, Dobbs said.

"The water is slowly receding in some rural areas but not at a very rapid pace," Dobbs said. "There is still a lot of high water."

Many people were rescued from floodwaters but no injuries or deaths were reported in the Poplar Bluff area, said McClain and Dobbs.

Flooding continues in areas along swollen rivers in other states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service. More than 400 people have evacuated from Cairo, Illinois, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

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Bad times for Tressel, Ohio State


This has been a bad week for Jim Tressel, and his chances of remaining coach at Ohio State are waning with each new development in the Tattoogate crisis.

Last weekend, the NCAA sent Ohio State a formal notice of allegations listing 14 items that players Terrelle Pryor, Daniel Herron, Mike Adams, Devier Posey and Solomon Thomas sold or traded to tattoo-parlor owner Ed Rife, who is the focus of an ongoing federal drug investigation.

The NCAA letter discloses that the largest transaction involved a player giving Rife four tickets to the 2010 Rose Bowl game and two Rose Bowl watches in exchange for a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe.

On Monday, Ohio State made public the NCAA charges against Tressel, who knew since last spring about his players selling memorabilia but failed to report the violations to his bosses. It charged that Tressel "knowingly provided false information to the NCAA" by signing a compliance form last September stating he knew of no potential violations by his players.

The Tressel transgressions could lead to the five players being declared ineligible to play last season and result in all 12 of Ohio State's victories being taken away.

The NCAA has summoned Tressel, Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee, athletics director Gene Smith, faculty representative John Bruno and compliance director Doug Archie to a hearing on Aug. 12 in Indianapolis.
On Thursday, it was revealed that transactions between Buckeye players and the tattoo-parlor owner are far more extensive than previously made public by Ohio State officials. A letter sent by the U.S. Department of Justice on Dec. 7 shows that Rife bought or traded for tattoos 36 different football-related items totaling more than $14,000 since 2008.

These revelations were enough to convince Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany that he was wrong in supporting a decision to allow the five Ohio State players to compete in the Sugar Bowl game last January.
According to USA Today, Delany said if he knew last December what he knows now he "would have handled it differently."

Now that it is confirmed that Tressel withheld information and lied to keep players on the field, Delany said: "I would have done something differently, but that's not the information I had at the time that we were talking to the NCAA."

Delany went on to say that coaches should be held to higher standards than their players, "just because they're adults, the teachers, they're very different than kids."

Sounds ominous for Tressel, doesn't it?

Kirk Herbstreit, a well-respected ESPN college football analyst and former Ohio State quarterback, also weighed in on the scandal this week, calling it a "black eye" for the school and saying fans are willing to overlook Tressel's mistakes because he wins.

"The Ohio State fan base is just blindly supporting Ohio State and Jim Tressel," Herbstreit said. "It's almost gotten to the point where he has beaten Michigan, he wins 10 games, he goes to BCS bowl games and they'll support him no matter what he does.

"The bottom line is he broke the rules by the NCAA, and it's very difficult after you do that to go into future homes of recruits and say 'Hey, we're going to try to do things the right way' when you have this in your background."

Herbstreit, who has lived his entire life in Ohio, most recently in Columbus, said that a "vocal minority" of Buckeye fans drove him from his home state last month. He and his wife and children moved to Nashville.

Herbstreit is the best objective college football analyst in the business and I hope he keeps doing his job the way he has in the past, rather than the way of colleague Lou Holtz, who proclaims Notre Dame the national champion every August. Blind loyalty and bias marginalizes everything people like Holtz have to say.
As for Tressel, he and the five players in question have been suspended for the first five Buckeye games this fall.

Is that penalty enough to satisfy the NCAA?

More importantly, will Tressel still be the Ohio State coach when the NCAA gets around to making its final ruling on the case?

I think the noose is getting tighter.

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Looking at who fared better guarding Chris Paul


The debate surrounding how Derek Fisher matches up with elite point guards will never subside and will remain volatile at least to the day his contract with the Lakers expires after the 2012-2013 season.

In unsurprising fashion, he also became the topic of scrutiny throughout this first-round series against New Orleans, where he had the unenviable task of guarding Chris Paul. But just listen to the man himself, who said dropping a triple double and becoming a pest to the Lakers in their six-game series didn't exactly come easy.
"A lot of the credit goes to Derek Fisher," Paul told reporters in New Orleans. "I told him after the game that he played unbelievable defense for the entire series."

But this isn't just the Hornets' elite guard giving lip service. A look through NBA StatsCube shows there's an element of truth to that. Below are the following findings on how the Lakers matched up with Paul, who averaged 22.5 points on 54.5% shooting and 11.5 assists.

*Paul was his least effective when Kobe Bryant was on the floor. Paul averaged 17.3 points on a 50% clip from the field and from three-point range and posted 10.6 assists. Paul scored in the following ways: going five of 11 restricted area, eight of 11 in the paint, eight of 20 on midrange jumpers, zero of two from the corner 3 and six of 10 above the break.

*When Bryant was on the bench, Paul averaged 25.1 points on a 65% mark from the field and a 43% clip from three-point range with 7.7 assists. Paul scored in the following ways: going one for one from restricted area, four of seven in the paint, seven of eight on midrange jumpers, six of seven from the corner 3 and one of four above the break. Overall, Bryant finished with a defensive rating of 102.16.

*Fisher wasn't too far behind. When he was on the court, Paul averaged 18.1 points on 53% shooting and 50% from three-point range with 10.3 assists. His shots went like this: going five of 11 in the restricted area, nine of 12 in the paint, nine of 20 on midrange jumpers, going zero of 2 in corner 3 and six of 10 above the break
*When Fisher was on the bench, Paul averaged 22.3 points on 59% shooting with 8.5 assists. His scoring breakdown went as follows: one of one in the restricted area, three of six in the paint, six of eight in corner 3s and one of four above the break. He finished with an overall defensive rating of 101.18.

*Steve Blake proved to be the least effective from a points standpoint in guarding Paul. But Blake limited Paul from distributing. When Blake was on the court, Paul averaged 23.5 points on 60% shooting and 43% from three-point range with 3.7 assists. His shot breakdown was as follows: 1 of 1 from the restricted area, two of five in the paint, six of seven on midrange jumpers, two of three on corner 3s, and one of 4 above the break.
When Blake was on the bench, Paul averaged 17.9 points on 53% shooting and 50% from three-point range with 10.9 assists. His shot breakdown went as follows: he was five of 11 from restricted area, 10 of 13 in the paint, nine of 21 on midrange jumpers, zero of two on corner 3s and six of 10 above the break. Overall, Blake finished with a 85.91 defensive rating.

So what do these stats mean? Well, no one is going to pick up defensive player of the year honors for guarding Paul. But clearly Bryant's decision to guard Paul in Game 2 proved to be a key point in the series, limiting him to 20 points on five-of-11 shooting with nine assists, a huge dropoff from the 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting and 14 assists he posted in Game 1. It "cut off the head of the snake," as Lakers forward Matt Barnes called it, but Bryant guarding him couldn't be a long-term strategy because of concerns about his energy level and later his sprained left ankle. 

That's where Fisher and Blake came into play. By no means did they stop Paul, but it's not as if he had a field day either. As tough as it is for Fisher to keep pace with quick guards, his determined attitude in fighting through screens made Paul at least work for his points and force him to find the open man. Paul proved more effective in getting others involved when Fisher guarded him, but that at least put more pressure on the Hornets to have a solid supporting cast, which came with mixed results. Meanwhile, Blake allowed Paul to score more points individually but it came at the expense of distributing the ball. 

Of course, the Lakers' evolving approach on guarding Paul also points to the Hornets' reliance on him eventually catching up to them. For example, Bryant noticed Paul was tired in the Lakers' 98-80 Game 6 victory Thursday over New Orleans, where he posted only 10 points on four-of-nine shooting with 11 assists and five turnovers. But for a team that has largely struggled in defending the pick-and-roll, this matchup proved to be a useful learning exercise in ensuring that their main weakness wouldn't result in the team losing the series. 

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Total Gym: The Celebrity Workout You Can Do At Home


We turn to celebrities for fitness inspiration all the time. From challenging celebrity workouts like The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels’ 20-minute butt kicking routine to Madonna’s favorite class, barre3 to new gadgets like the ViPR But it can be hard to keep up with new classes and challenging moves only a personal trainer can teach you. Luckily, the  Total Gym (on sale for half price today!) is one piece of fitness equipment celebs are loving that can be used at home to tone the entire body. We hear Chuck Norris has been using the Total Gym for the last 30 years (is that how all Texas rangers stay in shape?), Wesley Snipes takes his Total Gym on location when he’s filming movies, and 63-year-old and fitter-than-ever Olivia Newton-John jumps on her Total Gym a few minutes every day. Here’s what two of our favorite fit females told us about their Total Gym. This may be one celebrity workout we can get behind!

Christie Brinkley who, at 56, has an amazing body has been using the Total Gym for 10 years. “I usually just jump on my Total Gym and do 15 minutes of my own little routine that I've developed. It gives me a little [workout for my] stomach, my arms, my upper body, and my lower body. It stretches and strengthens and then I'm out and about,” says Brinkley. If 15 minutes on the Total Gym helps Christie Brinkley look that good we’re willing to give it a try!

Dancing with the Stars pro Anna Trebunskay also turns to the Total Gym to make sure she stays in DWTSshape year round. “I have a Total Gym in my house—which is pretty cool because it uses your body weight for resistance (no weights required), and you can adjust it to be as hard or as easy as you want. I use it for 1-1.5 hours five days a week when I'm not dancing,” says Trebunskaya. So maybe we have to devote a little more than 15 minutes on the Total Gym if we want to pull off any of Anna’s Dancing with the Stars costumes but it’s still a quick total body workout!

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Patriots pick QB Ryan Mallett


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is annually unpredictable on draft day, but this year, he might have outdone himself by picking sliding quarterback Ryan Mallett in the third round (74th overall).

Few saw this one coming, even though Mallett took an April pre-draft visit to team headquarters at Gillette Stadium. That visit appeared to be more of a Belichick smokescreen, a case of trying to drum up interest in Mallett in a trade.

But Belichick was actually doing due diligence on one of the more talented quarterbacks in the draft, one who has been dogged by questions about his maturity.

"I just feel like he's a good player," Belichick said Friday, speaking about what induced him to select the Arkansas quarterback. "He's had a lot of production, he's won everywhere he's been -- high school, college. ... He's been a successful, productive quarterback all the way through his career."

Tom Brady is entrenched as the starter and the Patriots also have a promising backup in Brian Hoyer. Third-stringer Jonathan Crompton, a 2010 fifth-round draft choice of the Chargers, filled out the third spot on the depth chart entering the draft.

From a football standpoint, Hoyer's contract expires after the 2011 season and if he plays well in the preseason, he could draw Kevin Kolb-type interest around the NFL.

Belichick was unconcerned about any potential logjam at quarterback.

"I don't think you can have too much depth at that position," he said. "We got by the last two years with just two guys. You put your whole team at risk if you don't have a quarterback that can run [the offense]. It's good to have depth at that position and we'll see how it goes."

Mallett will now have the luxury of learning behind the scenes. Being around a pro like Brady should only help him. Mallett is considered a quarterback who can make all the throws, but he seemed to slip in the draft because of non-football-related questions. The Pro Football Weekly draft preview wrote, "issues still reside about his makeup and lack of maturity."

Belichick said the Patriots weren't worried about off-field issues: "Obviously we're comfortable. We took him."
Belichick cited Mallett's dedication to football and the film room as evidence of a strong work ethic.

"He's definitely a football guy," the coach said. "He is a great kid to talk to. He's very into football. You can't wear him out. If you want to talk about it, he'll be there, however many hours it is, he's ready to go watch the next film. He'll talk about a new technique, or a route, or a read, whatever. His father is a football coach, he's grown up in a football family, which I can definitely relate to that. Either you get sick of it or you marry into it and love it. It's one of the two. I think he's very much of a football person; both his parents are educators. He's a kid that's eager to learn and has a great thirst for knowledge for his position, which there's a lot going on there. He'll certainly get an opportunity to receive a lot of knowledge at that position around here."

Belichick likes Mallett's track record as a proven winner.

"He's been a winning quarterback all the way through his career," Belichick said. "He's won a lot of games. He's been a very productive guy, not just statistically, but more importantly wins and losses, doing things that it takes for his team to win."
Mallett started 13 games for Arkansas last season, setting school records with 3,869 yards passing and 32 touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the NCAA with 297.6 passing yards per game.

In 2009, Mallett started all 13 games, throwing for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns and was a second-team all-SEC selection.

Mallett sat out the 2008 season after transferring from Michigan, where he played 11 games as a true freshman in 2007.

"He did a good job at Michigan when they came in and changed offenses, which was definitely beyond his control," Belichick said.

Mallett gives the Patriots a highly touted in-house option to move up the ranks should that scenario unfold, though Belichick stopped short of dubbing him Brady's eventual successor.

"He'll come in, let him compete and we'll see what [he] can do," Belichick said. "It's the same for all the rookies."

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Bengals rebuild with Dalton and Green


With franchise quarterback Carson Palmer and former Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocincoaging and disgruntled, the team drafted their replacements in quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green. Cincinnati's urgency to replace the soon-to-be former faces of the franchise is the strongest sign yet that the Bengals are blowing up the core and starting over.

Technically, Palmer and Ochocinco are still under contract with Cincinnati. But behind closed doors, the team knows it's likely both veterans played their final game in a Bengals uniform. Palmer demanded a trade, put his house on the market and says he's willing to retire, while Ochocinco has joined the offseason campaign to get out of Cincinnati.

With both players well over 30 and past their prime, the Bengals appear willing to oblige.

"It seems like a lot of guys might not be around," Dalton admitted Friday when he was drafted. "But the guys that will be there will get in and have one goal in mind -- and that is to win a lot of ballgames."

At times Cincinnati can be unpredictable with personnel, but it executed a well-thought out plan to land new building blocks. Green is the draft's best receiver and Dalton was a top-five quarterback, depending on which team you survey.

If you want further proof the Bengals are moving on, head coach Marvin Lewis was already talking about Dalton's prospects of being the Week 1 starter in September.

Carson who?

Lewis called Dalton an "important, important piece" to the team.

Could the Dalton-Green combo match the Palmer-Ochocinco combo? Obviously, there are very big shoes to fill.

Palmer and Ochocinco have been one of the NFL's most prolific passing combinations for the past eight years. Palmer threw for 22,649 yards and 154 touchdowns in Cincinnati. Ochocinco is the franchise's all-time leading receiver with 10,783 career yards. And according to ESPN's Stats and Information, the 46 TD connections for Palmer and Ochocinco ties them for 26th all time for a quarterback-receiver pairing.

Dalton and Green may not pass those statistical milestones. But that doesn't mean this pair can't win, which is something Palmer and Ochocinco struggled with in Cincinnati. The veterans combined for just two playoff appearances and zero postseason wins. Cincinnati has not won a playoff game in 21 years.

If Dalton and Green can eventually win playoff games, Bengals fans will forget the days of Palmer and Ochocinco as fast as you can say "Pepto Bismol."

The key to making this all work will be Dalton.

Every quarterback prospect this year has holes. Dalton is considered undersized and doesn't have a cannon for an arm. He's far from the sure-fire No. 1 overall pick Palmer was eight years ago. But if Dalton can get Green the football consistently, good things will happen in the Bengals' new West Coast offense.

The Bengals believed in Dalton early in this pre-draft process. He set a Mountain West Conference record with 42 career victories at TCU. He was 13-0 in his senior year and led the Horned Frogs to a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.

"I feel like I'm a leader," Dalton said. "I know how to push guys; I know what it takes to push guys. I’m excited to come in, learn the different personalities of everybody there, get on the same page with everybody, and just get to work."

In 2001, the Bengals drafted Ochocinco in the second round, and they got Palmer in the first round two years later. This year the Bengals flip-flopped, using a first-rounder on a receiver (Green) and a second-rounder on a quarterback (Dalton).

The final step for the Bengals may be the hardest. It's time for Cincinnati to trade Ochocinco and Palmer, getting as much value for them as possible. Player transactions are on hold with labor uncertainty. But as soon as trading and free agency opens, the Bengals should put both players on the market.

The Bengals had a chance to trade Ochocinco two years ago and were scared to pull the trigger, but they seem more open to the idea now.

Cincinnati owner Mike Brown has said he will not trade Palmer. But with Dalton now in the fold and several teams probably willing to give up a sizable bounty for Palmer, it would be in Brown's best interest to let go of Palmer.

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Broncos select Canada’s ‘Big O’ in NFL draft


Orlando Franklin may not know what position he’ll play but, when the National Football League opens its 2011 training camps, the Toronto-raised offensive lineman will be a Denver Bronco.

Franklin, nicknamed the Big O, was taken Friday in the second round of the NFL Draft, 46th overall, by the Broncos. He was the second of back-to-back selections by Denver following UCLA safety Rahim Moore.

The 6-foot-6, 316-pound Franklin played offensive tackle at the University of Miami where he was a two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference all-star. But it’s possible that Franklin will end up at guard.

“He’s the most nasty, meanest, physical lineman in this draft,” said NFL.com draft host Rich Eisen. “The Broncos could play him inside or outside at tackle.”

ESPN’s report on Franklin stated he is “a better fit at guard, where he can use his short-area quickness and strong in-line power base to his advantage.” Denver has a lack of depth on the offensive line and Franklin will improve that, whatever his position.

Born in Jamaica, Franklin was raised in Toronto, where he played two years of high school football. However, when he told his mother he had a better chance of getting a university scholarship and playing professionally if he was in the United States, she moved the family south to Florida. Franklin played at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach and, indeed, earned an NCAA Division 1 scholarship at Miami.

“I find myself not really just doing [football] for myself,” Franklin was quoted as saying last month. “I just want to be able to pay back [his mom] for every sacrifice and everything she has done for me and my brother. The first thing I plan on buying my mom is a house, way before I buy myself anything.”

Oddly enough, Franklin is not yet eligible for the Canadian Football League draft slated for May 8. Given that he finished his high school football career in the United States, Franklin had to apply for non-import status. He has yet to do that.

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School's in session for 49ers' top pick


When Aldon Smith visited the 49ers for a pre-draft workout, coach Jim Harbaugh gave him a pop quiz. It was a list of about 50 questions regarding football and its history.

For example, there was: How wide is a football field?

"I got that one wrong," Smith said with a laugh Friday. "I said 50. I think it's 53."

The 49ers took Smith with the No. 7 pick Thursday, and now the Missouri defensive end has gone from answering the questions to prompting them:

Can he rescue the 49ers' pass rush? Was he worth such a high pick?
The 49ers raised eyebrows around the league by taking Smith so high, but they envision the 6-foot-4, 263-pounder as the quarterback-terrorizing machine they have long lacked.

Smith was formally introduced at 49ers headquarters Friday, holding up a ceremonial "No. 1" jersey and saying he was ready to take on the NFL. He said of his new home:

"I know that it's a great tradition here with the Super Bowls that have been won in the past," he said. "(We're) just continuing to build and get back towards that goal. That's the direction we're heading in right now."

Smith set a Missouri record with 11½ sacks in 2009, breaking the school mark set by Justin Smith in 2000. On Friday, while visiting the 49ers, the two Smiths chatted along the practice field. Aldon Smith also met new teammates Taylor Mays and Thaddeus Gibson.

Smith also showed off the huge wingspan that made Harbaugh such a fan. Smith said hisreach -- measured at 837/8 inches -- comes in handy on the playing field.

"It helps me fend off blocks," he said. "With the bigger tackles it helps me create space so they can't get their hands on me."

As Harbaugh listened to the press conference from the back of the room, he couldn't resist testing Smith one last time.

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Redskins take Jenkins, trade down again


In another move aimed at upgrading their 31st-ranked defense, the Washington Redskins used the 41st pick of the NFL draft Friday to select Clemson lineman Jarvis Jenkins.

The Redskins also had entered the draft’s second round with the 49th overall pick, but traded back three times to stockpile mid- to late-round draft picks. First they swapped that 49th pick with Indianapolis for the 53rd and 152nd (fifth round) selections, and then sent the 53rd pick to Chicago in exchange for the 62nd and 127th (fourth round) selections.

The Redskins then sent the 62nd pick to Miami and received the Dolphins’ 79th overall pick (a third-rounder), the 146th (a fifth-rounder) and the 217th (a seventh-rounder).

After entering the draft Thursday with a first and second round pick but none in the third and fourth rounds, Washington by virtue of four trades over two nights wound up with picks in every round.

The team was scheduled to use it’s third-rounder later Friday night, and will have ten selections--a fourth-round pick, four fifth-rounders, a sixth-rounder and four seventh-rounders--on the final day of the draft Saturday.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday night that the two second-round picks would give the Redskins flexibility if they wanted to move up in the second round or farther down in the draft to acquire additional picks and increase overall depth. Washington opted for the latter approach; if the team holds on to all those selections, it will have picks in every round for the first time since 1995.

The Redskins’ selection of Jenkins was their second move to bolster their defensive front in as many days. On Friday, they selected Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan 16th overall to play outside linebacker opposite Brian Orakpo in their 3-4 defense.

The 6-foot-3, 309-pound Jenkins played defensive tackle for the Tigers, but also has the ability to play end in the 3-4 defense, which is where the Redskins plan on using him.

“They told me they run a 3-4 defense under Mike Shanahan, and they told me I’m going to be a two-gap guy, and I can do that: two-gap or three,” Jenkins said. “I can get in and do whatever anybody asks me...I’m all about winning. I’ll sit there on two knees if that’s what they want me to do.”

Describing his strengths, Jenkins said: “I’m more of a run-stopper. I’m physical at the point of attack. I can take double-teams, and I can beat double-teams. I’ve been seeing them all through Clemson. I’ve got to work more on the pass-rush part. ... I’m the kind of guy that does the dirty work.”

A three-year starter for the Tigers, Jenkins recorded 158 tackles (31 for losses, the most in Clemson history). He earned first-team All-ACC honors and was rated by ESPN as one of the top five defensive tackles in the draft. He has been praised for his leadership skills and possesses good quickness and nimble footwork.

Jenkins said he was expecting to be taken behind fellow Clemson lineman Da’Quan Bowers, but the phone rang with Bowers, who has dropped in the draft because of knee problems, still on the board.

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School's in session for 49ers' top pick


When Aldon Smith visited the 49ers for a pre-draft workout, coach Jim Harbaugh gave him a pop quiz. It was a list of about 50 questions regarding football and its history.

For example, there was: How wide is a football field?

"I got that one wrong," Smith said with a laugh Friday. "I said 50. I think it's 53."

The 49ers took Smith with the No. 7 pick Thursday, and now the Missouri defensive end has gone from answering the questions to prompting them: Can he rescue the 49ers' pass rush? Was he worth such a high pick?

The 49ers raised eyebrows around the league by taking Smith so high, but they envision the 6-foot-4, 263-pounder as the quarterback-terrorizing machine they have long lacked.

Smith was formally introduced at 49ers headquarters Friday, holding up a ceremonial "No. 1" jersey and saying he was ready to take on the NFL. He said of his new home:

"I know that it's a great tradition here with the Super Bowls that have been won in the past," he said. "(We're) just continuing to build and get back towards that goal. That's the direction we're heading in right now."

Smith set a Missouri record with 11½ sacks in 2009, breaking the school mark set by Justin Smith in 2000.

On Friday, while visiting the 49ers, the two Smiths chatted along the practice field. Aldon Smith also met new teammates Taylor Mays and Thaddeus Gibson.

Smith also showed off the huge wingspan that made Harbaugh such a fan. Smith said hiseach -- measured at 837/8 inches -- comes in handy on the playing field.

"It helps me fend off blocks," he said. "With the bigger tackles it helps me create space so they can't get their hands on me."

As Harbaugh listened to the press conference from the back of the room, he couldn't resist testing Smith one last time.

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Storms cause widespread power outages in Williamson, Davidson


A wave of severe weather moved through Nashville Friday leaving downed trees and widespread power outages in its wake.

Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp. reported more than 3,000 customers were in the dark after storms passed through Williamson County.

The outages were in Franklin and Cool Springs. A spokesman said crews were working to restore power in the area.

As of 8:30 p.m., about 2,500 Nashville Electric Service customers were also without power. Earlier in the day, that number topped out at over 12,000.

The Metro Office of Emergency Management reported minor damage from high winds as the first line of storms moved through Nashville at about 10 a.m.
There were no reported injuries.

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Could That Swollen Tongue be Kawasaki Disease?


You may have heard on the news that cases of Kawasaki disease are on the rise, especially in China and Japan. Likewise, I have seen a significant increase in the number of my readers who are looking for swollen tongue causes. Are the two related? Actually, swollen tongue is a symptom of Kawasaki disease. The illness causes the tongue to become swollen and extremely red, something health care workers sometimes call "strawberry tongue". However, this rare autoimmune disorder, which targets children, is still not a real likely culprit. Kawasaki disease is rare - one article I read cited 2,000-4,000 cases in the United States each year, another said the incidence in the U.S. was 19 in 100,000 children.

There is a higher rate of Kawasaki disease among individuals with Asian ancestry but children of all races can get it. In addition to swollen tongue, symptoms of Kawasaki disease include: swollen lymph nodes, fever, skin rash, red eyes, and bright red chapped lips. Other symptoms may appear as the disease progresses and can involve the heart so it is important to get medical help. The cause of Kawasaki disease is not clear but scientists and doctors believe that their is an infectious etiology. Is there an underlying virus sweeping through China and Japan right now? Officials aren't really sure. Because the exact cause is unknown it may be difficult to stop the spread of the disease.

If your child has a swollen tongue your best bet is to go to the doctor. Besides Kawasaki disease a swollen tongue can be a symptom of other very serious illnesses like epiglottitis or a life threatening allergic reaction. For more information read What Causes a Swollen Tongue?

Kawasaki disease is treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and high doses of aspirin. The sooner you get treatment the more likely you are to make a full recovery. Without treatment most children recover eventually but may have cardiovascular problems that are permanent. If you suspect your child has Kawasaki disease you should get medical attention as soon as possible.

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MIX11: Drone hovercraft flies with Microsoft Surface


LAS VEGAS -- Most of Microsoft's MIX conference is about Web development and Windows Phone 7 this year, but several sessions have also focused on Microsoft's Surface.

In a Tuesday session on natural user interface, a developer showed a hovercraft drone remote-controlled by Microsoft Surface software. The Surface software is supposed to run on a large touchscreen tablet the size of a flat-screen television but in this case it was running on a Windows PC. Theoretically, you should be able to control the drone by adjusting the controls on the Surface screen with your fingers.

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Operation Flashpoint: Red River review - 8/10 in OPM


Official PlayStation Magazine has delivered its verdict on Codemasters' latest first-person shooter in a fresh Operation Flashpoint Red River review.

The mag awards the game an 8/10 score in its latest issue, describing it as a "hugely satisfying game" that makes you feel like "you own the battlefield". 



Unlike other shooters available Red river "requires an understanding of practical military tactics to enjoy", while the mag says the game "doesn't explain them very clearly" basic strategies can be honed from "trial and bloody error".

According to the magazine, beyond the early learning curve is a "smarter, more grown-up shooter" that - once everything drops into place - is "hugely rewarding" experience that has "authenticity" to it.

Playing with others is also "a great communal experience" that rewards thoughtful engagements with "a sense of unity and accomplishment". The review concludes by calling Red River " a welcome change".

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