Lazy Koi's Blog

News & Notes On Lindsey Lohan/WWE, WrestleMania, More

2008-02-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

News & Notes On Lindsey Lohan/WWE, WrestleMania, More

World Wrestling Entertainment has released the first-ever T-shit for WWE Tag-Team Champion, The Miz.

Mick Foley, Superstar Graham, Christy Hemme, Gail Kim and Molly Holly are all scheduled to appear as guests for this May's Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey.

One in four WWE WrestleMania 24 themed covers will be featured on the March 2008 edition of WWE Magazine.

TMZ picked up on Lindsey Lohan being backstage on this week’s edition of WWE Monday Night RAW.
source: http://www.prowrestling.com/

Still voting in Wisconsin, exit polls

2008-02-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

Still voting in Wisconsin, exit polls

The polls are still open in Wisconsin, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each locked in a very close battle for Democratic delegates.

Wisconsin offers 74 national convention delegates, and an early test of support in industrial states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Exit polls show independents cast about one-quarter of the ballots in the Democratic race, and roughly 15% of the electorate were first-time voters. Obama has run well among independents in earlier primaries.

The economy -- trade in particular -- is a key issue in Wisconsin. Seven in 10 of the Democratic primary voters said U.S. trade with other countries winds up costing jobs in the state. Fewer than one in five said it creates more jobs than it loses.

GOP front-runner John McCain is hoping to inch closer to wrapping up the GOP nomination. Republicans are voting in Wisconsin and holding a caucus in Washington state. There are 56 delegates at stake.

source: http://www.kpvi.com/

Painted guns resembling toys pose threat to officers

2008-02-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Painted guns resembling toys pose threat to officers

Hello Kitty stickers are part of the latest danger to police officers nationwide.

Automatic weapons painted pink and covered in Hello Kitty and flower stickers are an example of a growing threat - real guns painted to look like toys, according to a notice recently circulated among officers at the Gainesville Police Department.

The sole purpose of these guns is to fool the observer, said Lt. Rob Koehler of GPD’s Tactical Impact Unit.

"If you saw this, your initial impulse would be, ‘This is a toy,’" Koehler said.

Koehler said these types of guns are especially dangerous to police because they can prevent officers from taking appropriate action, such as using force or avoiding danger.

That moment when an officer first sees someone with a gun could mean everything in terms of how he or she responds, Koehler said.

"It gives the advantage to the carrier," he said. "That moment the person sees it could mean everything."

Although guns have been customized with camouflage print for quite some time, hot pink and neon green paint jobs are relatively new, according to the release.

These guns are not only a problem for officers, but for children as well.

In the past, officers have misjudged toy guns for real ones with tragic results, according to a news release from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The colorful guns are also more easily mistaken for toys by children, who may find their parents’ firearms, according to the release.

"Can you imagine a child finding a pastel blue or pink Glock, fully loaded?" the release stated.
Guns can be painted professionally or with at-home kits available on the Internet.

Although GPD officers have not encountered a painted gun locally, the weapons are a growing concern elsewhere in the country.

These "designer guns," as the notice calls them, have become such a problem that New York City lawmakers are working on passing legislation to ban guns colored to look like toys.
source: http://www.alligator.org/

How the Flat Belly Diet Can Help Women

2008-02-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

How the Flat Belly Diet Can Help Women

With spring quickly approaching, everyone, including myself, is very eager to attempt to lose weight. There always seems to be new fad diets that are released to anyone who will listen. So what is the latest craze for this year? The Flat Belly Diet seems to be the most popular so far for 2008.

It does have many things that appear to be beneficial at first glance. The one problem that many women seem to have a problem with is losing their belly weight. Belly fat is actually the most dangerous fat on your body, especially for women who have just recently had a baby. In a new book titled the Flat Belly Diet the editors, Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass, say they have found the secret.

The Flat Belly diet is basically a diet that focuses on Monounsaturated Fatty Acids also known as Mufa. Scientist have found that by using a particular nutrition plan and a few motivational tips you can lose up to 15 pounds in just 32 days. The monounsaturated fatty acids are considered to be good fats. By basing your diet on these so called good diets, you can very easily lose the belly fat, according to their book. Your focus when you are on this diet are the five flat belly foods which include, oil, nuts & seeds and chocolate, olives, and avocados. All they recommend is one serving of these foods per meal in addition to watching your calorie intake.

What I really like about this diet is that it seems very easy to achieve. Especially since they mention that exercise is optional and not necessary to lose the belly fat. This diet focuses on health and energy. The total calorie intake for the day is about 1600 which means that you can eat about 400 calories at each of your meals. It is recommended that you have at least four small meals a day. The best part is that it is very easy to stick with this diet just by including the five ingredients in your daily foods. For example when it comes to the oil you can use peanut or canola oil to make stir-fry. Or you can use olive oil to pan fry your food. Or your can choose to use the nuts and seeds as part of a salad. You can visit their official website for some recipe ideas by clicking here.
source: http://www.associatedcontent.com

Shuttle beats weather odds, launches to space station

2008-02-07T14:37:00.001-08:00

Shuttle beats weather odds, launches to space station

The shuttle Atlantis charged into orbit this afternoon, headed for the international space station with seven astronauts on a long-delayed mission to deliver a $2.1 billion European science module.

The ship lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 1:45 p.m. CST, roaring away ahead of stormy weather whose approach threatened to delay the 11-day mission earlier in the day.

There were no problems with the erratic fuel gauges that thwarted two launch attempts in early December.

"We have a good system, and we are ready to fly," said NASA launch director Doug Lyons as the liftoff neared.

"Best of luck up there," Lyons told the Atlantis astronauts as their liftoff neared.

"We are looking forward to a great flight," said Atlantis commander Steve Frick.

The launch placed the shuttle on course to dock with the 220-mile-high space station on Saturday, just before noon. Two of the astronauts will embark on a spacewalk Sunday to assist as the school-bus-sized Columbus lab module is hoisted out of the shuttle's cargo bay with a robot arm and attached to the space station.

Frick's crew includes pilot Alan Poindexter, robot arm operator Leland Melvin, spacewalkers Rex Walheim, Stan Love and European Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel of Germany. Leopold Eyharts, another European Space Agency astronaut from France, will remain aboard the station until late March, commissioning the new European lab.

Eyharts will replace American Dan Tani, who moved aboard the station in October. Tani returns to Earth aboard Atlantis.

The fliers will spend Friday examining the shuttle's heat shield for possible damage from launch debris. Using the shutte's camera and laser-tipped robot arm, they will survey the wing leading edges and the nose of the ship.

A cold front that marched through the southeastern United States earlier this week spawning deadly tornadoes took aim at Florida today, triggering rain showers, low clouds and high winds.

The front slowed just enough for Atlantis to depart, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Patrick Barrett, a meteorologist. NASA's mission management gave the final approval after watching a thunderstorm veer away from the shuttleport.

The four fuel gauges are part of a safety system that is designed to shut off the shuttle's three rocket engines if there was a fuel leak. Computer commands triggered by the gauges stop the engines from running dry and exploding.

The December delay prompted a round of troubleshooting that placed the source of the problem in a fuel tank electrical connector.

Engineers settled on a repair strategy that included soldering narrow electrical connectors to overcome the interruption of current flow that caused the gauge problem.

Early today, the gauges were immersed in hydrogen as the shuttle's fuel tank was filled with propellents.

The gauges functioned flawlessly throughout the final hours of the countdown and Atlantis' climb to orbit.

source: http://www.chron.com

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers to Rock Super Bowl Halftime Show

2008-02-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers to Rock Super Bowl Halftime Show

Being selected to entertain the crowd and the huge worldwide audience for the Super Bowl has become almost as prestigious as playing in the National Football League's annual championship game. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer reports from Super Bowl 42, to be played Sunday in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, that this year's halftime music will feature American rock legends Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers talk to reporters during press conference, 31 Jan 2006

In recent years, the halftime show has seen the likes of The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Prince. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are considered one of the America's great rock and roll bands and they are already members of Rock and Roll's Hall of Fame.

The group is still going strong after releasing its debut album back in 1976 and has sold more than 50 million records. And the band members took this occasion to announce they will tour the United States and Canada in the upcoming months.

Petty said it did not take long for he and his bandmates to say yes when they were invited to be the Super Bowl halftime musical performers.

Tom Petty, left, and wife, center, are escorted by security guards, 31 Jan 2008

"It's mind-blowing [awesome]," Petty said. "It's something that I never even dreamed of. It never crossed my mind, but it's very exciting. We've had quite a week already. It's really something."

Organizers say 56 carts of equipment must be hauled onto the field to put on the Super Bowl halftime show, and without some three thousand local volunteers, it could not be done.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will get to play for 12 minutes. Petty said it was really hard to select what songs from the band's lengthy career to perform.

"We tried to pick the ones that would take you somewhere in that amount of time," he explained. "It's a little bit of a challenge and we've had to kind of rearrange some things, make some a little bit shorter to fit in. But I think we've chosen a good set."

It is also an honor to be the Super Bowl pre-game entertainment. Nine-time Grammy award-winning Rhythm and Blues singer Alicia Keys will sing before the big match-up between the undefeated New England Patriots and New York Giants.

She says she has given a lot of thought to her performance because of the diverse audience.

Alicia Keys talks to reporters during press conference, 31 Jan 2008

"It feels wonderful to be in your country and representing so many groups of people, all walks of life," Keys said. "And music goes along with that, so I think for like something that I'm going to do for the pre-show, I'm just basically going to take you by your neck (grab your attention) and demand that you watch me."

This year's National Anthem at the Super Bowl will be sung by Jordan Sparks, a native of Phoenix who currently lives in Glendale, where Sunday's game will be played. Last year at the age of 17 she became the youngest winner of the popular television show American Idol, and she has already released two albums.

Sparks said she is thrilled to have been selected to sing the anthem.

Jordan Sparks answers reporters' questions during press conference, 31 Jan 2008

"I'm a huge, humungous football fan. So to be able to sing at the Super Bowl and I get to be at one. I've never been to a Super Bowl before so I am just like, it's a whole bunch of firsts for me," Sparks said.

Jordan's father, Phillippi Sparks, is a former NFL player for both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. She said she can now joke that while her Dad never made it to the Super Bower in his career, she - as a teenager - already has.

source: http://www.voanews.com

Exxon Mobil posts record profits

2008-02-01T23:40:00.000-08:00

Exxon Mobil posts record profits

Oil giant Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Corp. posts the biggest annual and quarterly profits by a U.S. company, breaking records it held for both periods.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://money.cnn.com

‘Lost’ linked to ‘Eli Stone’

2008-01-31T23:36:00.000-08:00

‘Lost’ linked to ‘Eli Stone’

Wow. ABC really, really, really wants “Lost” fans to stick around for tomorrow night’s premiere of “Eli Stone.”

It’s not enough that the network scheduled the new legal drama—about a lawyer whose hallucinations may just be prophecies—to debut right after the highly anticipated return of the island mystery.
And it wasn’t enough that ABC cleverly scheduled “Lost” to end at 10:02 p.m., forcing lots of folks who planned to tape the show to set their DVRs for “Eli,” too, just to make sure they caught those crucial final moments.
Now, here’s the latest press release, hot off the presses from Oceanic Air (otherwise known as the ABC marketing department).
If you watch “Eli,” you’ll get a chance to win a “golden pass” on the fictional airline.
No idea exactly what that means—obviously, you’re supposed to tune in to find out.
“Lost” fans know from May’s finale that Jack says the folks who made it off the island got a “golden pass” from Oceanic that let him fly anytime, anyplace, anywhere for free.
Granted, Jack’s been using it in a desperate hope that his plane will crash, returning him to the island. Hopefully, whomever wins this free ride—if there actually is one—will have a more cheerful attitude.
Anyway, here’s the rest of the release—interpret at will!
Oceanic Airlines is excited to announce your chance to get the Golden Pass. The Golden Pass truly is an adventure of a lifetime, allowing you to fly anywhere in the world, anytime you want, and as many times as you want.
For more information on how to get your Golden Pass, tune in to the premiere of “Eli Stone” on ABC Television Thursday, January 31 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET)
About Oceanic Airlines – Taking You Places You Never Imagined
Oceanic Airlines is a major airline carrier and offers the highest caliber of service for international and domestic flights. Destinations include Los Angeles, London, Sydney and South Korea.
Check back here on Friday for a recap of the “Lost” premiere—and discuss what’s the dealio with Oceanic’s golden ticket…

Source: http://remote.lohudblogs.com

Precocious rookies playing prominent roles in Giants' success

2008-01-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Precocious rookies playing prominent roles in Giants' success
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese wants you to believe his coaches are mainly responsible for the success of his first draft class.
Well, that's not entirely true. It's one thing for coach Tom Coughlin and his staff to get the most of their first-year players, which they obviously have done. But let's not kid ourselves. Reese picked some serious talent last April, and those moves could very well make the difference in this year's Super Bowl.
Just check the roster. First-round pick Aaron Ross has blossomed into a gritty cornerback with the quickness to shut down opposing receivers and the toughness to take on hard-charging runners. Second-round pick Steve Smith has shown a knack for moving the chains with clutch catches in the postseason, while a fifth-round pick, tight end Kevin Boss, has lessened the loss of injured starter Jeremy Shockey.
And then there's seventh-round pick Ahmad Bradshaw. He has become a nice counterpart to bruising running back Brandon Jacobs, and Bradshaw might even be tougher to bring down.
Most teams are happy if their first-day picks show some consistency in their first year. The Giants already have a foundation of youth that could help them prosper for many seasons to come.
"They have done a really nice job of bringing in guys who have played in big games and are used to making big plays," Smith said during Tuesday's media day. "The key thing is that I think we all want to be a focal point of this team's success."
That confidence is one the main qualities that connected this group of players when they entered the NFL. They haven't appeared to be caught up in most of the distractions that can impede a young player's progress -- adapting to life in a new city, or learning to handle the money and fame that come with being a pro athlete -- and they didn't have much interest in talking about their college exploits once they became pros. They came looking for an opportunity, plain and simple. And they found the Giants were more than willing to accommodate them, despite a wealth of veteran experience.
Reese admits he wasn't so certain his draft class would mature quickly. What he did know, however, was that he had seen enough of them to know they had a chance to be special.
"It was easy for me to pick these guys because I was still the pro personnel director when we started evaluating these kids," said Reese, who replaced Ernie Accorsi last January after spending the previous 13 years in the Giants' scouting department. "I studied these kids. I worked them out. I knew a lot about what they could do because I saw them so much."
Looking back on that draft, Reese said all his key rookies displayed characteristics that made them extremely appealing. Ross had been a standout at Texas, where he also returned kicks and helped the Longhorns win a national championship. Smith was just as much a winner during his days at USC. He was that steady possession receiver with soft hands and a knack for getting open. Whenever the Trojans played a big game -- and Smith won two national titles during his college career -- he always seemed to turn up on the highlight reel.
As for the less heralded players, Reese latched onto their intangibles. Boss didn't have access at Western Oregon to the kind of resources bigger schools offer (such as a quality weight room), but he managed just fine. He dominated at the Division II level, and Reese loved that Boss didn't cower in the midst of more high-profile prospects at the NFL combine.
Bradshaw also had a brashness to him that belied his raw skills as a runner, but he was a quick learner when he left Marshall. After winning the kick return job in preseason, he honed his skills, watching film of Tiki Barber's technique as both a pass protector and patient runner.
In all those players -- as well as safety Michael Johnson, a seventh-round pick who started five games earlier this season when injuries depleted the secondary -- Reese saw a level of maturity that gave him great optimism.
"We could see we had a good draft class as soon as we got into training camp," Reese said. "None of these guys were big-eyed once they got in here."
Added Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce: "All these guys came in with the right mentality. Most rookies just want to enjoy the moment of being in the NFL. But they all came in looking for ways to help us win games."
Now comes the hardest part. These rookies have proved they can deal with the speed and the spotlight of the NFL's regular season. They have learned how to thrive in the postseason, where any play can create or crush a team's momentum. The Super Bowl is an entirely different beast, however. It requires a level of focus and discipline you just don't see in your average rookie.
That's exactly why so many of the Giants' first-year players were paying close attention during a speech 15-year defensive end Michael Strahan gave in the days that followed New York's NFC championship game victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Strahan implored his teammates to limit the distractions of the week -- such as loved ones seeking tickets and party promoters offering all kinds of fun-filled nights -- so the Giants could concentrate on the New England Patriots. There will be plenty of time for nightlife after the season ends. The only thing that really matters is leaving Phoenix with the Lombardi Trophy in their clutches.
Well, it's safe to say the rookies heard every word of what Strahan was saying. It's also likely they have repeated it among themselves a few times since that day. Because if there is one thing we have learned from watching the Giants' first-year players, it's that they have a knack for growing up in a hurry. And that's one quality that will be real handy when they hit the field for their first Super Bowl.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com

DANE WILLIAMS RIP: Hurley Employee Found Dead

2008-01-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

DANE WILLIAMS RIP: Hurley Employee Found Dead
According to a report published by CBS News, the body of Dane Williams, Huntington Beach local and member of the Hurley marketing department, was found dead in the City Heights section of San Diego, 20 miles from where he was last seen. Dane went missing on Saturday morning near 1 a.m. after attending the ASR tradeshow. Dane was 23. The knowledge of his death comes as a deep shock to us at Surfer and our deepest condolences go out to all of his friends and family. Stay tuned to Surfermag.com for more information.

Source: http://surfermag.com

Video of Adolf Hitler as Dallas Cowboys Fan

2008-01-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

Video of Adolf Hitler as Dallas Cowboys Fan

A comedic parody of Adolf Hitler as a Dallas Cowboys fan is available on Finditt.com.

The video portrays an actor as Adolf Hitler, showing disgust and anger after being informed that the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants in the 2007 NFC Playoffs.

A group of men walk into his office and give Hitler the information, to which he responds in a tirade.

The piece of satire has circulated through the Internet and has been seen on blogs, as well as YouTube.

In recent team news, owner Jerry Jones has made plans to pay Terrell Owens a $3 million roster bonus, which means the All-Pro wide receiver will be back for the final season of his three-year, $25 million contract. According to Jones, a contract extension is down the line for Owens.

Quarterback Tony Romo has reportedly dumped his girlfriend, singer Jessica Simpson. Romo has been reported as saying that she was too much of a diva and he believes that she was indded the bad luck charm that she was rumored to be. Simpson's appearance at a Cowboys home was deemed the reason for Romo's worst game of his career.

In the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Romo had a career-low 22.2 quarterback rating, completing just 13-of-36 passes for 214 yards and three interceptions. The Eagles won 10-6.

Source: http://www.transworldnews.com

Snarky: BLACKOUT backstage at SAG!

2008-01-27T22:22:00.000-08:00

BLACKOUT backstage at SAG!

"It's in honor of 'The Sopranos'!" a snarky journo just said when a blackout befell the press room backstage at the Shrine Auditorium during the SAG fest. Very funny (for those who saw the final episode, anyway).

"Three members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association were seen running from the scene of the crime," snarled another journo, suggesting sabotage from the folks who had their Golden Globes torpedoed.

Whoever is to blame, this isn't funny. We've only got emergency generator lights on right now. Very peculiar: we were just told that only this room is affected, not the main auditorium. I'm still able to type because I have a strong computer battery and Verizon wireless modem card.

source: http://goldderby.latimes.com/

New Kids On The Block to reunite?

2008-01-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

New Kids On The Block to reunite?

Boy band New Kids On The Block are set to reform, according to reports.
After months of speculation, People.com claims the group, which sold over 50 million albums in the early 1990s, is about to reunite.
New Kids On The Block's website - previously dormant - is now fully functional, featuring pictures of bandmembers Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Jordan Knight. Fans are invited to sign up to the site for more information.
An announcement about the reunion is expected to be made in February.

Soucre: http://www.kutv.com

Snowboarder carries extreme burden

2008-01-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

Snowboarder carries extreme burden

Hospitalized father's legal troubles heavy on Fresno X-Gamer's mind

By MAREK WARSZAWSKI

When pro snowboarder Andy Finch starts sliding down the halfpipe at this weekend's Winter X Games, he knows his wife, Amber, will be at the bottom cheering him on.

Finch knows his mother, Joanie, will be home in Fresno watching on television, crossing her fingers that her 26-year-old daredevil son doesn't get hurt.

And Finch knows his father, Cliff, will be lying in bed at the Palo Alto veterans hospital, battling constant pain and partial paralysis on his right side -- and facing attempted murder charges back in Fresno.

Soon, most of the country will also know about Cliff Finch's ordeal.

One of the world's top snowboarders and a 2004 Olympian, Andy Finch has long been adept at launching his body in the air and making it spin two or three times before landing.

But since that September day when his father was shot seven times by police officers after leading them on a high-speed chase across Fresno, Finch has had to learn a new technique: how to perform those aerial maneuvers while keeping his mind grounded and focused on the task at hand.

"It's pretty easy not to think about my dad when I'm over in Europe, but here it's going to be a little bit different," Finch said Wednesday by phone from Aspen, Colo. "It's going to be a little more real."

Things will get a lot more real Saturday evening as Finch prepares for his qualifying run in men's superpipe. That's when ESPN is scheduled to broadcast a feature story on Finch and his family situation.

Cliff Finch, who police said shot at officers before they returned fire, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and evading police and posted $125,000 bail. A pre-preliminary hearing is scheduled today in Fresno County Superior Court.

Although Andy Finch said doctors have not determined what caused his father's behavior, some family members believe Cliff Finch might have been suffering from a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder from his days in Vietnam.

Andy said, "He, to me, was the dream father -- what every kid would love to have. That's what makes this so tough.

"My father respects the police. In his right mind he'd never do anything like that."

Part of the ESPN feature was filmed at Fresno's Veterans Administration hospital, where Cliff Finch was in recovery before being transferred to Palo Alto last week to take advantage of that facility's spinal cord injury unit, and part of it was filmed at Andy Finch's house in Truckee.

The feature will be seen not only by the millions of households that subscribe to the cable sports network but also live at the Winter X Games on several Jumbotron screens stationed around the halfpipe.

"It's going to be on right before I ride," Finch said. "That'll be a little weird."

Those thoughts are echoed by fellow Fresno native Eric Asistin, a friend of Andy's who will be in attendance this weekend in Aspen.

"If it were me, I'm not sure I would've done (the ESPN feature)," Asistin said. "But this is Andy we're talking about. He finds the good in any situation."

Despite the mental strain, Finch is enjoying one of his best seasons in pro snowboarding. The 1999 Bullard High graduate is ranked second in the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour standings.

Finch earned one of the biggest victories of his career Jan. 5 in the halfpipe at the O'Neill Evolution in Davos, Switzerland. The following weekend, despite a badly bruised lower back, he placed fifth at the Burton European Open in Laax, Switzerland.

A man of deep religious convictions, Finch credits his faith and the support of his wife, Amber Shelhamer, with keeping him focused on his career through difficult times.

Known for his reckless, go-for-broke style, Finch said he will keep a recent promise he made to his father about taking it easy in practice this week.

After earning a silver medal at the 2005 Winter X Games, Finch has since been unable to compete in the finals because of injuries he suffered during training runs.

"Every year I do something silly that busts me up a little bit," he said. "It's a habit I've got to break."

Finch said the 8-inch diameter bruise on his lower back, which caused him to miss a week of filming in France with his main sponsor, Rip Curl, will be 100 percent healed when he competes in the elimination round Saturday evening.

The finals are scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

"The X Games are definitely on my list of (contests) I want to win," Finch said. "I only have a couple left, and this is the one I really want."

This year, there's even more incentive than usual.

source: http://www.modbee.com/sports/

The Amityville Horror

2008-01-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Amityville Horror

Mike James, for those who don't know, is from Amityville, and he is a horror when it comes to basketball this year, which means he is a great short for us.

He has played in 29 games, averaging about 17 minutes per game. He hits 1/3 of his 3 pointers. He averages only 1.7 rebounds per game. James also has a 78% FT percentage. And this is my favorite one, he averages 2.7 points per game!

The bottom line is, he does earn $PT! He hasn't played in that many games, only 29 of his team's 41.

So, if he continues on his average, he will end at 58 games. James averages about $.58 per game, but that is hard to achieve when he's not playing, and it it terrible anyway so it doesn't matter whether he plays or not.

So, my main point is:

$.58 x 58 games = $33.64

Woo hoo! So it turns out Mike James is a better short than PT says he is huh?

Mike James would be a 53% short to the floor.

Now, I know that doesn't pass the other great shorts, but he should at least be mentioned in the same sentence when there are posts about NBA's great shorts.

Source: http://www.protrade.com

Seven Laws of Noah

2008-01-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

Seven Laws of Noah
This will be a (hopefully) brief discussion of theology. In particular, I intend to discuss a kind of "bridge" between the three Abrahamic religions, which are so often at odds. Name, I believe that the Seven Laws of Noah may provide a bridge of understanding between Jews, Christians and Muslims that upholds the One G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in a manner that is universal and not tribal. In other words, a common view of Hebraic theology is that it is tribal, when in fact it is universalist in nature.
The Rabbinical view of Torah is that the Israelite is bound to 613 Laws of Moses. These are the Prohibitions and Affirmations passed down to Moses while the Israelites wandered in to the desert. One of the central questions of Paulian Christianity is the question of whether the "Gentile" is under the Torah, or under Grace. This view ultimately split Judaism and Christianity in a way that may have even been more basic than the split over the Trinity, or questions of salvation that seem to concern the Church so much. However, Paul and his Rabbinical opposition BOTH respected the Torah as their central starting point. In addition, there are several passages in the New Testament suggesting that the Nazarene and Paul both respected Rabbinical teachings.
Thus, it is important to understand that Rabbinical Judaism and early Christianity would both have agreed that Torah Law is complex. It cannot be understood simply, as so many believe today. Christianity "split off" from Judaism somewhere around...well, it is hard to say. Let us guess the second century. The transition may have been very smooth, or it might have been accelerated with the destruction of the Temple, depending on one's interpretations. However, even some later Christian teachers still understood that the teachings of the Rabbis on points of Torah were valid. Thus, the question for so many Gentiles who approach Judaism, Christian and Muslims Monotheists primarily, is whether the Jewish understanding of Torah is universal or not.
The answer is yes---and no. The Gentiles Nations are not understood by the Rabbis as being under the 613 Laws of Moses. This is very simple from any reading of the Scriptures. However, at the same time, there are seven Universal Commandments that are understood as binding on all men and women everywhere. Under Oral Tradition, they are said to have been given to Noah. These Laws are for everyone, Jew and Gentiles, according to the exegetics of the Rabbis. I will list them in an informal order:

1) No Murder (Genesis 9:6)
2) No Stealing
3) No Fornication/Adultery
4) Uphold the Divine Name/No Blasphemy
5) No Idolatry
6) No Blood with Meat/Animal Cruelty (Genesis 9)
7) Courts of Justice to uphold these other Six Laws.

These Laws are violated by the Nations all of the time. We only need to look at the JRC to know that some institutions believe that they *ARE* G-d, rather than uphold G-d. Tyrants have always held to a view very similar to this concept. Yet, the understanding in Hebraic thought---Orthodox Hebraic thought---is that these Laws are binding on the entire globe, leaders and people alike, without respect to persons.
Rule number "7", the Commandment of Courts of Justice, is considered to be problematic by many. There is a lot of commotion about it on the internet. Many will argue that it gives governments license to overthrow democracy for the sake of suppressing idolatry, that it would revive the Inquisition or the Taliban. This is a complicated question. Remember that Orthodox Judaism is different from Reformed Judaism, the latter being a product of the Enlightenment. Orthodox Judaism originated in a world that was pre-liberal, and in which most governments were tied in to some form of religion or cosmogony. There was no such thing as a "secular" government. I question whether even the Enlightenment actually held to such a view.
The propaganda on the internet holds that these Laws were passed in order to give the government power to suppress certain religions that are deemed "idolatrous," or to repress people generally. My response to this is that anything that is of the Light WILL be misused for purposes of darkness. This is part of how the world works. Darkness will always use the things of Light to mask itself. Just as the Christian, New Testament admonition to uphold legitimate authorities, "Romans 13: 1-7", has been misused by some to suggest that tyrannies should be upheld (a blatant misuse), so it is that many agendas may misuse the Seven Laws of Noah for their own purposes. The misuse of the Seven Laws of Noah by certain forces in the world no more implies a "Jewish conspiracy" than the misuse of "Romans 13" by H*tler implies a Lutheran conspiracy. If anything, it implies that there is a powerful truth that the spirit of ignorance would want distorted. Spiritual Ignorance works by distorting Truth to its purposes.
In my view, knowledge of these Laws is a bridge between faiths, not a dividing line. Some within the Orthodox/Noahide camp will view my position as theologically liberal. I simply see it as the work of HaShem on Earth. I my view, Courts of Justice to uphold the other Six Laws cannot be fully implemented until the Messianic Age to come. However, the bridge of understanding between and among Monotheistic faiths can begin now. Obviously, you and I will still disagree on whether the Trinity is truly Monotheistic, or who is the final Prophet, et al. Yet, the former camp must admit that the New Testament was steeped in a culture of unquestioned Rabbinical assumptions. No genuine scholar denies that. The latter camp needs to consider what "People of the Book" really means.
My purpose is not to proselytize or to convince anyone. Again, I posted this in the special interests area because philosophy and theology have been special interests of mine. That's a fairly "Aspie" thing to do. I do not care to even start a debate---although you are free to do so. Rather, it is a discussion of interest. In my view, the internet has too many proselytizers and not enough informed discussion on theology/philosophy.
Let me leave you with one thought. Genuine Kabbalistic Rabbis (to be distinguished from New Age distortionists and commercializers) have believed that in the Messianic Age the number "7" will assume the properties of the number "8". "7" is understood to be the number of completion, since G-d rested on the Sabbath. "8" is a kind of new beginning. Some Christians have adopted this view to justify a Sunday Sabbath, a view that I disagree with, since I uphold Saturday, yet which is interesting in light of the 7--->8 view of the Messianic Age.
There are "7" Noahide Laws. 7 is a prime number. It is the fourth prime number. One is excluded from the list of primes today, so seven is the fourth prime number. There is a completeness in this, since 4 is the first square number among natural numbers that is different from the number being squared. It is also the first square of a prime. The fourth prime number would thus have the sense of being foundational. I do not believe in numerology, but I do believe in symbolism, as long as one is liberal and not pushy about interpretations.
8 is 2^3, or the third power of the very first recognized prime. Again, one is no longer considered prime, so we exclude it. 2 and 3? How interesting that 2+3=5, which is one more than 4. What does this mean? Oh, the rationalists will probably say, "Nothing." I can respect that. I might be on a limb. However, if we follow a certain symbolism we can at least say that with 5 we have one more than the foundational number 4, just as 8 is one more than the foundational number 7. To my mind, this implies an age of Love and Miracles, in which we have "one more" than what is foundational. We live in a "foundational" existence. I pray that the time in which we are "one more than foundational" comes speedily and in our days.
I apologize that I dwelt a great deal on Christianity to the exclusion of Islam. And, the Eastern philosophies deserve a separate conversation, particularly the "Brahmanistic" and Buddhist paths, which have incorporated concepts that parallel Monotheism in certain key respects. This is not complete. However, it is "foundational."

A True Monotheist

Hillel says, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?" Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14
source: http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/

lake superior: 1,000 foot ship sinks

2008-01-17T19:41:00.000-08:00

lake superior: 1,000 foot ship sinks
The U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of
Natural Resources in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, have approved the salvage plan for the motor vessel Walter J. McCarthy Jr.

The 1,000-foot vessel, operated by the American Steamship Company, struck a submerged object, Monday, while backing into Hallet Dock #8, in Superior, Wisconsin.

The object punctured the stern causing flooding in the engine room.

American Steamship requested to de-ballast and re-float the vessel as quickly as possible to ensure freezing temperatures do not cause structural damage.

De-ballasting involves removing water in designated tanks to help stabilize the vessel.

The vessel will utilize shore power to operate internal and external pumps.

Engineers, involved in the salvage, believe it will take two to three days to complete the de-ballasting.

Once re-floated, an evaluation of the damage will begin.

The plan includes repairing the damage and properly disposing the remaining water at a waste treatment facility.

The salvage plan does not require divers; however they may be used in future operations.

Approximately 450 gallons of miscellaneous oils have been removed from the flooded engine room.

Adjacent tanks, engines and generators contain an additional 2,500-3,000 gallons of oil and fuel, but pose no threat for release.

EMR, Inc. has been hired to act as the vessel's pollution control company and will monitor clean up efforts in conjunction with local Coast Guard officials.

Water samples were collected, Tuesday, from both inside and outside the vessel and tested to determine quantity and type of pollutants in the water.

Results were passed to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday afternoon.

Wisconsin DNR issued a permit to allow for release of lake water trapped within the engine room.

All levels in the initial tests met Wisconsin thresholds for legal release.

Throughout salvaging, water samples will be taken to ensure environmental impact is minimal.
source: http://www.sootoday.com

Texas town reports UFO sightings

2008-01-14T22:17:00.000-08:00

Texas town reports UFO sightings

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — In this farming community where nightfall usually brings clear, starry skies, residents are abuzz over reported sightings of what many believe is a UFO.

Several dozen people — including a pilot, county constable and business owners — insist they have seen a large silent object with bright lights flying low and fast. Some reported seeing fighter jets chasing it.

"People wonder what in the world it is because this is the Bible Belt, and everyone is afraid it's the end of times," said Steve Allen, a freight company owner and pilot who said the object he saw last week was a mile long and half a mile wide. "It was positively, absolutely nothing from these parts."

While federal officials insist there's a logical explanation, locals swear it was larger, quieter, faster and lower to the ground than an airplane. They also said the object's lights changed configuration, unlike those of a plane. People in several towns who reported seeing it over several weeks have offered similar descriptions of the object.

Machinist Ricky Sorrells said friends made fun of him when he told them he saw a flat, metallic object hovering about 300 feet over a pasture behind his Dublin, Texas, home. But he decided to come forward after reading similar accounts in the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.
source: http://www.santafenewmexican.com

Another Dallas episode

2008-01-14T07:02:00.000-08:00

Another Dallas episode
I was holding up pretty well until Terrell Owens began to sob. That's when I felt my throat get tight and tears well in my eyes.

"We lost as a team, man," he said.

I turned away. I couldn't look at the pain on this man's face. Typically, T.O. wasn't crying for himself.

He's not the type to get wrapped up in individual accomplishments. At least that's what he seemed to be saying Sunday afternoon.

He was crying because he knew Dallas quarterback Tony Romo was going to be roasted for that Mexican vacation with Jessica Simpson.

"This is not about Tony," T.O. said.

I felt a chill run down my spine. I thought for a second he was giving me the Roger Clemens stare-down until I noticed a guy from the Dallas Morning News standing next to me.

"You guys can point the finger at him," T.O. said. "You can talk about the vacation, and if you do that, it's really unfair. That's my teammate. That's my quarterback."

T.O. went on to say he never had a problem with a quarterback, and a columnist from Philadelphia quickly got on the phone to his editor and announced he had breaking news.

Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb will choke on their waffles this morning when they read this. Then again, a lot of strange stuff happened as the Cowboys extended their playoff victory drought to 11 years.

source: http://www.chron.com/

Summer Glau Plays Terminator In The Sarah Connor Chronicles

2008-01-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

Summer Glau Plays Terminator In The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Summer Glau is a beautiful actress who will take over the character of the Terminator, made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the Fox television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicle News Round-Up

Plenty of news on the internet at the moment about our Summer, so here's a quick round-up of some of the stories.

Terminators Let Loose In 'Sarah Connor Chronicles' But the real ...
SyFyPortal - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
... that there will be two new Terminators: a female model, played by "Serenity's" Summer Glau, and a male model named Cromartie, played by Owain Yeoman. ...

Headey Spills Secrets On Connor Chronicles
Cinema Blend - USA
Serenity’s Summer Glau will play the female terminator while Owain Yeoman will play the male. Just like in T2 and T3,one terminator will be good and the ...

'Sarah Conner' News
Firefox News - Maricopa,AZ,USA
More details have come out about the upcoming 'Terminator'-spinoff series The Sarah Connor Chronicles starring Summer Glau. Shooting has just wrapped up for ...

Sarah Connor reveals all
yourTV.com.au - Australia
John Connor is set to be played by Thomas Dekker, who currently stars in Heroes, while Cameron will be played by Summer Glau, who starred in Firefly. ...

The trailer for "The Sarah Connor Chronicles” has already hit online. The preview shows heavy influence from the films, especially "Terminator 2: Judgment Day” of course. Lena Headey and Thomas Dekker, who play Sarah and John Connor in the series, certainly seem to know their characters well enough.

The scene-stealer of the trailer is certainly Summer Glau as the friendly terminatrix apparently sent back to help John and his mother protect the future and its hero. Clearly, "Firefly” and "Serenity” played a great part in landing Glau the role, because she has been cast as one hell of a fighter. The beginning that the trailer paints seems to showcase her as the initial hero of the show, which would certainly be a nice refreshing touch to keep the familiar material from seeming dry and becoming dull after the pilot.

The promo features some nice special effects considering its for a television production, but of course the budget and schedule probably won’t allow for the kind of production values fans have come accustomed to that made the second "Terminator” film the blockbuster that spawned this new series. My expectations aren’t high, but I want to see a consistent standard of quality and interest upheld, and if Glau is killed in the pilot or a few episodes in, an asset to the show’s foundation may be lost. The trailer makes me feel confident, but not confident enough to bet on "Chronicles” just yet without knowing where they intend to take this and if it stays on the same old road or if it will become something dynamic and more exciting.

source: http://www.huliq.com

TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES: B+

2008-01-13T17:41:00.000-08:00

TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES: B+

The ’bots are back and there’s gonna be trouble.

Those unstoppable androids return to destroy mankind’s last savior in “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”

In the dregs of the writers strike, with most dramas sputtering, the new Fox series (debuting tonight at 8 and moving into its regular time slot tomorrow at 9 p.m. on WFXT, Ch. 25) is a megawatt jolt to the heart, crackling with exhilarating stunts, plot swerves and, most unexpectedly, a touch of humanity. It’s everything “Bionic Woman” should have been.

The first two episodes continuing the big-budget “Terminator” blockbusters present a richly reimagined life for Sarah Connor and her teenaged son John, destined one day to lead humanity’s resistance fighters against relentless cybernetic enemies.

The series opens in 1999, approximately two years after the events depicted in the 1991 film “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Hey, this is a story that hinges on time travel and if you can’t make allowances for that, you’ll fry your own circuits. (I can already hear purists grumbling about why they should bother investing in the series since we know from the 2003 film “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” that Sarah died of cancer some time before that film.)

The creators of this TV series aren’t asking you to forget the less-successful film - by the conclusion of tomorrow’s episode, they’ve found a way to cleverly address it and ensure you’ll be hooked by this adaptation.

Sarah (Lena Headey, “300”) has settled with her teenage son (Thomas Dekker, “Heroes”) in a small town. In a bit of black humor, Sarah’s fear of commitment prompts her latest attempt to duck for cover. When her boyfriend (Dean Winters, “Rescue Me”) proposes, she panics and tells John they have to hit the road again.

“Half an hour. One bag. Plus the gun. I’ll make pancakes,” says this determined mother.

Haven’t we learned by now that moms are right about everything?

In New Mexico, a substitute teacher (Owain Yeoman, a decent substitute for a certain California governor) yanks out a gun hidden inside his leg. Fortunately for John, his future self sent back another cybernetic protector in the form of a beautiful teenager named Cameron (Summer Glau, “Firefly”).

FBI agent James Ellison (Richard T. Jones) also is on Sarah’s trail. He starts out all Scully, but one suspects as the evidence mounts that he will move in Mulder’s direction.

Director David Nutter has a firm grasp on the electrifying action sequences but displays a deft touch in the smaller moments. John is stuck between his slightly unhinged mother and the ultimate hot girl. They don’t let him get away with anything. His longing for a father figure is palpable and creates complications tomorrow.

Headey won’t make anyone forget Linda Hamilton’s memorable turn in the second film and her voice-overs are unconvincing. Give her time to grow into the role.

I’d like to give her time - and some pasta - to help her grow into her jeans. Headey looks remarkably like actress Lara Flynn Boyle. She’s a twig of an action heroine.

When Cameron tells John, “Come with me if you want to live,” you can almost hear a generation of male viewers answering yes to that familiar call. “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” jumps to a great start.

source: http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment

Alice Fraasa on the Internet

2008-01-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

Chances are you’ve seen Alice Fraasa on the Internet, but you can’t figure out where.

Fraasa, a 19-year-old sophomore at Auburn University, is the face of Snorg Tees, a successful Georgia-based company that sells T-shirts imprinted with funny, occasionally rude, comments and sayings.

The company uses photos of a wide-eyed, laughing Fraasa to lure thousands of people daily to its Internet store. Most get there from social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace or other youth-oriented domains where the banner ads are featured.

One click on Alice and potential customers are browsing T-shirts imprinted with phrases like “I’m kind of a big deal” and “Your mom goes to college.”

After nearly four years as an anonymous face on the Web, Fraasa is used to getting cockeyed glances of half recognition, the odd looks of people who vaguely recognize her but can’t figure out why.

“It always happens,” said Fraasa. “I’m a familiar face.”

The brothers who launched the company 3 1/2 years ago credit much of its success to Fraasa, who’s paid in free T-shirts. Millions of people each month see ads featuring Alice, and about 500,000 are interested enough to click, taking them to Snorgtees.com, said Snorg Tees co-founder Matt Flynn.

“We can’t find anyone like her,” he said. “We have three main models that we use, but she is the Snorg Tees girl. There is something about her that draws people in.”

The company has eight employees in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, but it all started in the Flynns’ home in Marietta, Ga.

Flynn and his brother Bryan were neighbors of Fraasa, and they knew her through her brother. Without money to hire professional photographers or models when they started Snorg Tees in their basement, they asked her to pose in a T-shirt. Matt snapped away while Bryan danced to make Fraasa laugh.

Fraasa’s photos first started appearing on Snorg Tees ads on Facebook when she was a high school junior. Not many people seemed to notice at first.

But Fraasa was recognized more often as Facebook and Myspace grew wildly popular, and things really took off when a segment of The Daily Show on Comedy Central showed a Myspace page that included her photograph.

“It wasn’t until I got to Auburn that random people just started recognizing me in class, at parties, just all kind of places,” she said.

A few weirdos have tried to contact her, Fraasa said, but most of the experience has been good. She’s both floored and flattered by fan groups that have sprung up on the Internet.

“We’ve gotten people from Australia e-mail us asking who she is,” said Flynn.

A tomboy who played sports growing up and loves Harry Potter books, Fraasa doesn’t have any training as a model. She is a communications major at Auburn, but she’s not sure why so many people click on her picture.

“It just seems like I’m the girl next door, like I’d be easy to date, like I’m attainable,” she said with a laugh, flashing that same huge grin that’s on the ads.

Flynn isn’t sure what’s behind Fraasa’s clickability, either. But she’s got free T-shirts for life if she’ll just keep posing.

“There are a few things that we can look at with the business and say, ‘Man, we were lucky,’ like growing up down the street from Alice,” Flynn said.
source: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com

I like your idea of sleepovers

2008-01-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

I like your idea of sleepovers ("Let's spend the night together," Jan. 6). I am in my 50th year in real estate and specialize in serving buyers rather than sellers.

Rather than prenegotiate the sleepover with the seller before the offer, I am going to suggest to my buyers that we make the offer with a $25,000 earnest money check and "subject to final approval after a sleepover."

Gives the seller something a little more tangible to hang his hat on than a "would-you-if-we" preoffer proposal, and yet, it doesn't hurt my buyer. If the seller accepts it, it locks in the seller, but if my buyers back out, they get their $25,000 back.

source: http://www.sfgate.com

Seahawks | Rituals of recovery

2008-01-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

Seahawks | Rituals of recovery

Patrick Kerney gets paid to provide pressure. It's part of his job description as a defensive end, a player who spends a good deal of his time chasing the quarterback.

This, however, is a much more literal application of pressure: Kerney zipping himself into the hyperbaric chamber in the basement of his Bellevue home. He puts a mask over his mouth, grabs his iPod or a good book and spends a few hours each week breathing air that's 80 percent oxygen with the belief that this aids the healing process.

"You're always fixing something," Kerney said. "That's the way you have to approach it to stay on the field."

An NFL player's body is his business, and it requires investment and constant upkeep. Players spend half their week preparing for the next game, and the other half recovering from the last one. The 16-game schedule grinds away like a file for four months.

Most players receive weekly deep-tissue massages. Many spend 15 minutes each day alternating between hot and cold tubs, the 60-degree swing in temperature stimulating circulation to flush out soreness almost as if they are cars getting their oil changed.

Players drink protein shakes or add powdered supplements to their post-practice Gatorade. Linebacker Kevin Bentley orders organic food from a company in San Diego. The meals are individually packaged, the calories counted.

Kerney has someone who cooks for him, and he eats four meals a day loaded with carbs and high in protein. He's in bed well before midnight every day, and when it comes to focusing on his body, he has found it helps to broaden his mind.

"I've had great results with what's called alternative medicine," Kerney said.

He sleeps on a sheet lined with silver threading that plugs into an electrical outlet. It is supposed to eliminate free radicals, and while they might sound like roaming left-wing militants, they're actually highly reactive compounds that can damage cells in the body.

Before every game, when Kerney's getting dressed in the locker room, he takes one graphite glove, wraps it in a wet towel and places it around his neck. Another graphite glove goes in a wet towel around his ankles. The gloves are wired to his microcurrent machine, which includes a program that aims to fire up his adrenal glands.

And in the days after each game, Kerney spends time in the hyperbaric chamber he bought last year. The pressurized environment inflates to 4 pounds of air per square inch, enough to make ears pop, which is supposed to aid the healing process by increasing the amount of oxygen that goes into the body.

"The longer you're in this league, the more this becomes a 24-hour-a-day job," Kerney said.

Chamber music

A hyperbaric chamber requires both a prescription and an open mind.

Kerney's got both.

He suffered a ruptured triceps on the first play last year in Atlanta. Teammate John Abraham suffered an injured groin muscle later that same game, and suddenly the Falcons were staring at the possibility of being without both their starting defensive ends the next week.

"I knew a triceps [injury] was more playable," Kerney said.

Falcons teammate Travis Hall swore by his hyperbaric chamber, which can cost about $20,000. Hall lived halfway between Kerney's house and the Falcons' practice facility. Kerney spent the next few weeks sleeping in the chamber in Hall's basement.

"Ten o'clock, him and his wife and kids would get a knock on the front door," Kerney said. "And here I'd come, walk down to the basement."

The concept is pretty simple. Oxygen is essential to the body's healing process, and a hyperbaric chamber is oxygen-rich and inflated, allowing the body to take in more of it. Terrell Owens credited it with helping him heal from a broken ankle in time for the Super Bowl during the 2004 season. Michael Jackson is rumored to have slept in one.

Dr. Justin Rothmier of the Sports Medicine Clinic in Seattle said there isn't all that much evidence for the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen in treating injuries. It's more conceptual than anything else.

Kerney will stick with the lessons of experience after he spent a good chunk of September 2006 in Hall's hyperbaric chamber and played his way through that triceps injury.

"I was able to be out there every Sunday while having it heal at the same time," Kerney said. "That sold me on it."

He ordered his own, which looks like a giant, yellow duffel bag. There's a zipper on top that is reinforced with six safety belts that look like they're from an airplane seat. Kerney puts on a mask, buckles the belts and zips himself in; then the chamber inflates until it looks like a small submarine. There's even a circular porthole to allow a peek inside.

Sometimes Kerney reads in there. Sometimes he listens to music. He can send text messages or watch a DVD. There's more than enough room, even for someone who is 6 feet 5 and 272 pounds like Kerney. Tight end Marcus Pollard came over when he was recovering from a knee injury and watched "Tombstone" on a portable DVD player he took inside the chamber.

Kerney's season ended last year with a torn pectoral muscle, and he credits the hyperbaric chamber with speeding his recovery, which ended ahead of schedule by more than two months. Every Monday and Tuesday, Kerney will spend at least a couple of hours zipped up, sucking down pressurized oxygen.

"Coming out of it, you feel great," he said.

source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

When stars went down, Volek, Turner, Sproles came up big for Bolts

2008-01-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

When stars went down, Volek, Turner, Sproles came up big for Bolts

The victorious players filed into the locker room one after another, hollering, "How about the Chargers?!"

Yes, how about the Chargers, especially ones the fans don't usually hear a lot about?

How about Michael "The Burner" Turner taking over for injured LaDainian Tomlinson and bulling his way for 77 yards, essentially a $2.35 million insurance policy paying off?

How about speedy little Darren Sproles catching a screen pass from Philip Rivers and racing 56 yards untouched down the left sideline for a touchdown?

How about Billy Volek—yes, Billy Volek—coming in after Philip Rivers got hurt? Volek not only calmly led the winning drive, but he scored the go-ahead touchdown as well, on a 1-yard sneak with 4:50 to play.

How about this—Chargers 28, Indianapolis Colts 24?

The Chargers kept their composure even as their star players were limping off the field, stunning last season's Super Bowl champions in the divisional round Sunday.

Their reward is a trip to face unbeaten New England in the AFC championship game next Sunday, the third time the Chargers will play the Patriots since the end of the 2006 season.

"Nobody ever flinched," said Rivers, who injured his right knee after releasing the TD pass to Sproles on the last play of the third quarter.

"No one seemed rattled," said Tomlinson, the two-time NFL rushing champion who had only 28 yards on seven carries. "Guys just kept playing.

It was really amazing to watch, to be honest with you."

While the Chargers stood around in their huddle, waiting for play to resume after getting the ball on a punt early in the fourth quarter, left tackle Marcus McNeill and Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates—playing with a dislocated left big toe—bounced along to the music blaring at the RCA Dome.

The Chargers led 21-17, and Volek was just taking over for Rivers.

"You've got to keep your cool," McNeill said. "We wanted to keep ourselves loose, especially when the game is on the line and it is crunch time. You don't want nobody playing uptight. You want everybody loose, flying around doing what they have to do.

"When we were bouncing around like that, everybody was feeling good, kind of gets your mind off of, 'Oh, we have to do this, we have to do that.' We just go out there and play."

The Chargers will be in the AFC championship game for the first time in 13 years. They stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-13 on Jan. 15, 1995, at Three Rivers Stadium. Two weeks later they were embarrassed 49-26 in their only Super Bowl by the San Francisco 49ers.

San Diego collapsed against New England in the playoffs last year, then were schooled 38-14 at Foxborough on Sept. 16.

source: http://www.orovillemr.com/news/

Colts-Chargers: Bob Sanders Makes First Stupid Play of His NFL Career

2008-01-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

Colts-Chargers: Bob Sanders Makes First Stupid Play of His NFL Career

I've always thought that Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders, in addition to being a tough player who gets the most out of his physical attributes, is one of the NFL's smartest players. Part of the reason Sanders can deliver so many of those punishing hits is that he's so good at reading offenses and knowing where the ball carrier will be.

But Sanders committed a very stupid penalty late in the first half of today's playoff game against the San Diego Chargers. After Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding missed a 48-yard field goal, Sanders went up to him, patted him on the head and shoulders, and said something in his ear. As a result, Sanders was flagged for taunting, and instead of getting the ball at the 38-yard line with 1:45 to go in the first half, the Colts got the ball at the 24-yard line.

Sanders and Kaeding were teammates at Iowa, and they might be friends -- they're celebrating together in this picture -- but Sanders needs to know that the referee isn't going to stop to contemplate whether it was a friendly gesture or not.
source: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse

Chargers QB Rivers, RB Tomlinson leave game against Colts

2008-01-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

Chargers QB Rivers, RB Tomlinson leave game against Colts

The Chargers topped the Colts, 28-24, in Sunday's AFC Divisional playoff matchup, despite losing quarterback Philip Rivers and running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and playing much of the game without tight end Antonio Gates.

Tomlinson left in the second quarter with a left leg injury. Tomlinson was injured at the end of an eight-yard gain deep in Indy territory. He fumbled forward on the play, but the Chargers recovered and Philip Rivers threw a 14- yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson on the next play.

Tomlinson finished with 28 yards on seven carries, and was relieved by Michael Turner, who rushed 17 times for 71 yards.

Rivers suffered a right knee injury after throwing a screen pass to Darren Sproles that the back turned into a 56-yard score on the last play of the third quarter. The QB landed awkwardly on his right foot, and limped off the field and to the locker room.

Rivers finished with 264 yards on 14-of-19 passing with three scores and an interception. Career backup Billy Volek relieved Rivers, completing 3-of-4 passes for 48 yards, and his one-yard touchdown run with 4:50 remaining was the eventual game-winner.

Both Rivers and Tomlinson stood on the sidelines as Volek led the Chargers to the win, and both indicated after the game that they expect to play next Sunday, when the Chargers travel to New England to take on the 17-0 Patriots for a spot in Super Bowl XLII.

Gates was limited due to a dislocated big left toe that he suffered in San Diego's win over Tennessee in the first round of the playoffs. He finished with only two catches for 28 yards.

Indianapolis also suffered two injuries during the contest, as running back Joseph Addai and safety Bob Sanders both left at points; Addai with a head injury and Sanders with a shoulder injury. Both returned to action.

source: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/

Pam Oliver

2008-01-13T15:35:00.000-08:00

Pam Oliver
There’s sympathy in these quarters for Fox’s Pam Oliver, who was outraged that Eagles QB Donovan McNabb accused her of misquoting him. Oliver said McNabb told her, “The next place I go, I will win.” But it’s also a lesson for Oliver to use a tape recorder in pregame interviews.
source: http://www.profootballweekly.com

Will Tony Dungy now retire to Tampa? TK says ..........

2008-01-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Will Tony Dungy now retire to Tampa? TK says ...........

It was not the kind of way Tony Dungy would have liked to finish his NFL career. A loss at home, against the Chargers, a team that won without their starting quarterback Phillip Rivers and running back LaDainian Tomlinson on the game winning drive.

Yet, if you know Tony, when it's time in his heart, it will be time. My guess is it's that time. Not to say it won't be a difficult decision that will have it degree of second thoughts. But in the end, my guess is Tony will call it a career in the NFL and embark on a new one - a ministry.

As the NFL will lose a good man on the sidelines, Tampa will gain one, full-time.

source: http://community.abcactionnews.com

Indianapolis Colts Losing At Lucas Oil Stadium

2008-01-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

Indianapolis Colts Losing At Lucas Oil Stadium

The scene is the Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of Indianapolis Colts. This is the 3rd quarter update and Indianapolis Colts are losing 28-24 in their own Luas Oil field.

San Diego Chargers Lead Colts, 21-17, after Third Quarter of AFC Divisional Playoff

INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts throughout the season were one of the most resilient teams in the NFL, overcoming adversity and injury to win a fifth consecutive AFC South title.

They entered the fourth quarter Sunday needing that resiliency again.

The Colts, after leading by seven points after the first quarter and three at halftime, fell behind the San Diego Chargers, 21-17, in front of 56,950 fans in an AFC Divisional Playoff game at the RCA Dome Sunday.

The Chargers, who won seven consecutive games entering Sunday’s game, took a 14-10 lead on the first drive of the second half, with quarterback
Philip Rivers passing 30 yards to wide receiver Chris Chambers with 11:33 remaining in the quarter.

Two possessions later, the Colts retook the lead when quarterback Peyton Manning passed nine yards to wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who evaded a defender and dove into the end zone just inside the pylon. Officials initially ruled Wayne out of bounds at the 2, but after review, the play was ruled a touchdown.

On the next series, the Chargers took the lead again, when running back/returner Darren Sproles turned a short pass from Rivers into a 56-yard touchdown on the final play of the third quarter.

Rivers completed 6 of 8 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter.

Source: By Indianapolis Colts News Release

Backup QB Volek's TD lifts Chargers over Colts

2008-01-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

Backup QB Volek's TD lifts Chargers over Colts

Gone — Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Adam Vinatieri and the rest of the Colts.

By stunning Indianapolis, the San Diego Chargers just knocked off New England’s biggest road block to the Super Bowl.

Now San Diego must avoid a repeat of its last performance at New England.

That will be especially difficult without an injured LaDainian Tomlinson, who departed in the first half with a bruised left knee, and starting quarterback Philip Rivers, who went out in the third quarter with a damaged right knee in the Chargers’ stunning 28-24 victory Sunday.

With Billy Volek at quarterback and Michael Turner as the main runner, San Diego went 78 yards on eight plays, with Volek sneaking in from the 1 with 4:50 remaining for the lead. The Chargers’ big-play defense then held on downs at its 7, and stopped Indy again in the final moments to preserve their eighth straight win.

To make it nine in a row and advance to their second Super Bowl — the other was a loss to San Francisco after the 1994 season — the Chargers will need all the resourcefulness they showed at Indianapolis. Being undermanned against undefeated New England hardly is an enticing prospect.

Still, with All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie getting an interception and fumble recovery, and linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips plaguing Manning, the Chargers showed they have the ability to throw off any offense. Maybe even the most prolific attack in NFL history.

The Chargers didn’t come close against the Patriots in Week 2, falling 38-14. That was the beginning of a slide to 5-5 for San Diego, but the Chargers (13-5) are rolling now.

“A lot’s happened since then,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ll definitely start all over on the preparations. It’s like it’s a new team.”

It was a gutty showing by Rivers, who threw for three scores — he banged his right knee on a 56-yard screen pass TD by Darren Sproles to end the third quarter. And Turner, who could be a starter elsewhere but usually sits behind league rushing leader Tomlinson, gave the offense the balance it desperately needed in the late stages of the upset, rushing for 71 yards.

The Chargers’ opportunistic defense, which led the league in takeaways (48) and turnover margin (plus-24), grabbed two interceptions — both on tipped balls — and a fumble. While San Diego couldn’t stop Manning’s offense from steadily marching downfield most of the game, it could make the key plays that get you closer to the Super Bowl.

Still, if Tomlinson is limited or sidelined, how much chance do the Chargers have against the perfect Patriots? Not to mention perhaps missing Rivers or tight end Antonio Gates, who courageously played much of the day on a dislocated toe.

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com