rimblr.com

By Pramit Mohapatra
All fighters made weight today for UFC 84. Here were some of the highlights of the weigh-ins, which appeared to attract a very strong Memorial Day weekend crowd in Las Vegas:
Most noticeably absent from the event: Dana White was not present at the event so Marc Ratner, UFC VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs, assumed White’s position in the posedown pictures. It was an odd site for sure.
Most memorable weigh-in garb: Kazuhiro Nakamura wore traditional Japanese garb from head to toe and kept his hat on during the posedown with Rameau Sokoudjou.
Most mysterious modelesque Croatian: Light heavyweight newcomer Goran Reljic earned himself a catcall or two at the weigh-ins. He also caused a slight stir by gently headbutting Wilson Gouveia in the posedown pic.
Most likely not to be employeed by the UFC after UFC 84: Former UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz probably cemented his exit from the promotion by wearing a black t-shirt with large white lettering on the front that read “Dana is my bitch.”
Most booed fighter: Former lightweight champ Sean Sherk earned a large number of boos both during his weigh-ins and afterwards in his interview with Joe Rogan. Current champ BJ Penn appears to have the crowd in his corner heading into tomorrow night’s title fight showdown.

fightticker.com

Investment group buys biodiesel plant
DANVILLE — An investment group has bought a stalled eastern Illinois biodiesel plant and plans to begin production by early next year.
Blackhawk Biofuels said it bought the plant in Danville from Biofuels Company of America, whose owners included agribusiness giant Bunge. The sale price wasn’t immediately available. Blackhawk is based in Freeport, about 30 miles west of Rockford.
Blackhawk’s Quentin Davis said work previously stopped on the plant with construction almost completed. He wasn’t sure why.
The state of Illinois provided $4.8 million of the more than $30 million in construction costs and is backing part of Blackhawk’s financing.
Davis said the plant will produce up to 45 million gallons of biodiesel a year and employ 15 people.
R. Kelly jury chosen as sides argue over race
CHICAGO — Jury selection was completed at R. Kelly’s child pornography trial Thursday, despite contentious exchanges when prosecutors and defense attorneys accused each other of trying to stack the panel alongracial lines.
Sixteen jurors, including four alternates, were chosen by Thursday afternoon to assess allegations that the R&B superstar, who is black, videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13 years old.
Eight of the selected jurors are white, four are black, with two black alternates, one Latino alternate and one white alternate.
Defense attorneys objected several times as prosecutors used challenges to have several blacks dismissed from the jury pool.
“I think they’re using these (challenges) to get rid of African Americans,” said Sam Adam Sr., one of Kelly’s attorneys.
Prosecutor Shauna Boliker shot back, telling the judge that the defense had “used all six of their pre-emptories (pre-emptory challenges) on whites.”
Psychic to examine weathered skull
WAUKEGAN — The services of a psychic and forensic experts have been enlisted by the Lake County coroner’s office to take a look at a skull discovered in a ravine 16 years ago.

thonline.com

. In the study, recurrent stroke event rates for Aggrenox(R) and clopidogrel were similar (9.0% and 8.8%, respectively; HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92-1.11). The study did not meet its primary endpoint of non-inferiority for AGGRENOX versus clopidogrel.(1)
In further exploratory analysis of the main secondary endpoint of the composite of stroke, myocardial infarction or vascular death, AGGRENOX and clopidogrel showed similar outcomes (13.1% versus 13.1%).(1)
In PRoFESS, the AGGRENOX arm had a higher number of hemorrhagic strokes compared to clopidogrel (0.8% and 0.4%, respectively) while ischemic stroke recurrences were less frequent in the AGGRENOX arm compared to the clopidogrel arm (7.7% and 7.9%, respectively).(1)
A post-hoc analysis showed comparable numbers of death and disabling strokes and a similar neurological outcome as measured by the modified Rankin Scale(2) at three months after the recurrent stroke and at the end of the PRoFESS trial between the two treatment arms.(1)
Major hemorrhagic events were observed more frequently in the AGGRENOX group compared with clopidogrel (4.1% versus 3.6%; HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.32). The benefit-risk ratio expressed as the combination of recurrent stroke and major hemorrhage was not significantly different between AGGRENOX and clopidogrel (11.7% and 11.4% respectively; HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.95-1.11).(1)
"Given the high prevalence of stroke and recurrent stroke in aging societies, physicians need a range of treatment options so they can offer patients a regimen tailored to their individual needs," said Professor
, one of the three principal investigators of the study. "Landmark trials like PRoFESS will help clinicians make evidence-based treatment choices and ensure that patients receive optimal therapy for their condition."
The other regimen tested in PRoFESS investigated whether Micardis(R) tablets, combined with standard antiplatelet therapy, can further reduce the risk of recurrent stroke. At the end of the study, the results demonstrated that 8.7% of patients experienced recurrent stroke in the MICARDIS arm versus 9.2% in the placebo arm (p=0.23). Thus, the primary endpoint of superiority of MICARDIS versus placebo could not be statistically confirmed. The mean follow-up period was 2.5 years, and it is unclear whether a longer follow-up period would have yielded statistical significance. The PRoFESS results continue to support the safety and tolerability profile of MICARDIS.

earthtimes.org

Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, May 9 at 1 p.m. ET to say a tearful goodbye to Syesha … wait, no, Nanny Brooke. Sorry, the notes are a little mixed up. (Nothing to see here, move along.) So … are you back to watching all your pre-strike shows?
The transcript follows.
Lisa Watches So You Don’t Have To: "American Idol"
On TV discussion transcripts
De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.
"How I Met Your Mother": What are the chances they ditch the premise and stop focusing on Ted, by far the most boring character on the show? More Barney and Lily, please.
Lisa de Moraes: Hi. I agree, and it’s a shame they haven’t. There’s that famous story — and, who knows, it may even be true — that the focus of "Family Ties" originally was supposed to be very much on the former-hippie Keaton parents and how they coped with having a conservative son and idiot daughter … only Michael J. Fox so clearly stole every scene, it quickly became his show and the parents became more supporting roles — kind of his straight men. That might be harder to do with this show because, sadly, it’s not called "Friends," it’s called "How I Met Your Mother," and the gimmick is that the show starts every week with the guy — supposed to be Ted — talking to his bored children about how he met their mother. Of course, they always could employ the cable network school of name changing and start calling the show "HIMYM" only, like the Discovery company does with TLC. I mean, does anyone still think that’s The Learning Channel? Ditto A&E — surely no one there still pretends it’s about Arts & Entertainment.

washingtonpost.com

April 23, 2008 5:00 pm ET
James Truganza - IR
Ken McBride - President and CEO
Kyle Huebner - CFO
George Sutton - Craig-Hallum
Kevin Liu - B. Riley & Co.
Mike Crawford - Riley Investment Management
Thanks very much for holding everyone. Welcome to the Stamps.com First Quarter 2008 Financial Results Conference Call. Just a reminder, today’s conference is being recorded. Now the time for opening remarks and introductions, I will turn the call over to Mr. James [Truganza]. Please go ahead, sir.
Good afternoon. On the call today is Ken McBride, CEO, and Kyle Huebner, CFO. Agenda for today’s call is as follows; they will review the results of our first quarter and talk about the business outlook. Then we will discuss financial results and talk about our guidance. At first, the Safe Harbor Statement. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This release contains forward-looking statements of our expectations and financial guidance that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors and the company’s ability to complete and ship its products, maintain desirable economics for its products, and obtain or maintain regulatory approval, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements, are detailed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by Stamps.com including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31st 2007, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. Stamps.com undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
In addition, today’s call is not a proxy statement or solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Stamps.com and does not constitute an offer of any securities of Stamps.com for sale. Any solicitation of proxies will be made only by a definitive proxy statement mail by Stamps.com to all of its shareholders of record on the record date for its stockholders’ meeting and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

seekingalpha.com

Here are the sports results from Saturday:
BOSTON - Marco Sturm scored the winner with only 2:37 left in regulation to cap a wild third period, and the Boston Bruins handed the Montreal Canadiens a 5-4 loss Saturday to force a Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.
Phil Kessel scored twice while Vladimir Sobotka and Milan Lucic also scored for the Bruins. There were five goals scored and three leads taken in the final 10 minutes of regulation as the two teams exploded for an offensive display.
CALGARY - Peering outside at the blizzard conditions Saturday morning, the Calgary Flames must have thought it was December again.
“Feels like Christmas, doesn’t it?” quipped Flames left-winger Alex Tanguay after practice Saturday as he prepared to head out into the cold wind chills and 10-15 centimetres of snow that had recently fallen.
BUCHAREST, Romania - Montreal-based boxer Adrian Diaconu beat Chris Henry by unanimous decision on Saturday to capture the WBC interim light-heavyweight title.
Fighting at the Sala Polivalenta in his native Romania, Diaconu improved to 25-0 (15 KO) with scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 116-113.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. - Amber Holland of Regina captured her first career Grand Slam title Saturday with a 6-4 victory over Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay, Ont., in the women’s finals of the Tylenol Players’ Championship Saturday.
“We did not play as well during the first half of the game,” said Holland. “But in ends six, seven and eight, we played really well and our team didn’t miss any shots.”
VICTORIA - Frederick Reid of Markham, Ont., advanced to the final in the men’s under-19 division at the 2008 Canadian junior squash championships with a three-set win over Vancouver’s Ryan Herden on Saturday.
Herden was coming off a big five game upset of second-seed Tyler Hamilton of Dundas, Ont., in Friday night’s quarter-final, but Reid beat him 9-1, 9-2, 9-1.

ckwstv.com

I can’t really say I came away inspired last night, but “Inspiration” was the theme of the evening on American Idol. It started out with an inspirational song: Aerosmith’s “Dream On”. The problem is that no one can sing this song better than Steven Tyler. Michael Johns attempted to hit high notes out of his vocal range, and although Simon enjoyed the performance, to me, it came close to listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. I like this guy and I don’t think this will get him bumped from the show. Simon called him a “wannabe” (ouch) and though I wouldn’t go that far, I feel that he just didn’t pull it off. Disclaimer: I'm an Aerosmith fan. Update (4/10/08): I'm sorry to report that Michael Johns left the show tonight. This only reinforces the theory that song selection is essential. We all knew he wasn't going to win anyway.
Next up was Syesha Mercado who sang Fantasia’s “I Believe”. All I can say is the girl can sing. But we probably knew that already. This was followed by Jason Castro’s Tiny-Tim like performance of “Over the Rainbow”. Yes, the beloved classic, only a freaky alternative version of it. The judges seemed to like it but it left me confused.
Kristy Lee Cook sang “Anyway” by Martina McBride. Cook needed to go home before this performance but she sang a song that fits into her genre. Or maybe she just had a good night. This was followed by an interesting performance by David Cook. He sang “Innocent” by Our Lady Peace and I am not familiar with the song so I’m not going to comment beyond that.

cs.newhampshire.com

The University has student groups for everyone from squirrel enthusiasts to jet engine connoisseurs, but there’s one population of students you won’t find handing out quarter sheets on the Diag - those who choose to remain celibate until marriage.
While pro-abstinence groups at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities have garnered media attention in recent weeks, no such groups exist at the University of Michigan. Students here claim that abstinence groups at other schools have misled students, paying more attention to the negatives of sex rather than the positives of celibacy until marriage.
An article in the New York Times Magazine published last Thursday highlighted a group at Harvard University called True Love Revolution, which brings together students who abstain from sex before marriage.
Harvard student Janie Fredell, the group’s leader, said in the article that her group’s message is especially important in an environment where the “hook up culture” dominates. According to its website, TLR is not religiously affiliated.
An organization at Princeton University, called the Anscombe Society, is similar to TLR in its viewpoints and activities. On Valentine’s Day, the group put an advertisement in the school’s newspaper, listing the group’s reasons for promoting chastity. The group’s success at Princeton inspired an offshoot at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Chinyere Neale, a health educator with the University of Michigan’s Health Services, said she has found that high school students are more likely to make abstinence pledges than college students because they’re told more frequently told not to have sex.
While the group welcomes both males and females, TLR’s message is mostly directed toward women. In addition to viewing abstinence as an “empowering” act for women, the group says there are emotional benefits to waiting to have sex until marriage.
LSA junior Amanda Grigg, an executive board member of the campus feminist group F-Word, said there should be a campus abstinence group, but that it shouldn’t mislead students - something Grigg accuses TLR of doing.

michigandaily.com

Twelve of the 22 were defensive backs, including Houston’s Robinson, who ranks among the top 25 in the 40-yard dash (4.34) and 20-yard shuttle (3.78). Six of the remaining 11 defensive backs also excelled in those categories. Three others ranked among the best in 10-yard splits. Two ranked high in the vertical jump.
Bench press appeared to be a strong indicator for defensive tackles who rank among the top 25. Ngata, Igor Olshansky, Vince Wilfork and Gabe Watson managed at least 36 repetitions of 225 pounds. All four have started at least 65 percent of their regular-season NFL games.
This list of 22 consistent starters featured three receivers, including two — Chris Chambers and Santana Moss — who rank among the 25 best since 2000 in more than one category.
Chambers, drafted 52nd overall by Miami in 2001, holds the third-best vertical jump (45 inches) and 18th-best time in the 40 (4.33). Moss, chosen 16th overall by the Jets, also in 2001, ranks sixth in the 40 (4.31) and 12th in the vertical jump (42 inches).
Six of the combine’s 128 highest achievers since 2000 have appeared in Pro Bowls.
Chambers, Moss and return specialist Dante’ Hall rank among the top 25 in two categories apiece. Hall holds the fourth-best mark in the 20-yard shuttle (3.82) and the 14th best time in the three-cone drill (6.62).
Newman, drafted fifth overall by Dallas in 2003, holds the fifth-best 20-yard shuttle time (3.83).
Former Iowa safety Bob Sanders, chosen 44th overall by Indianapolis in 2004, ranks tied for 22nd with a 41½-inch vertical jump.
Wilfork, chosen 24th overall by New England in 2004, made his Pro Bowl debut this month.
We leave you with the 17 players who went undrafted despite posting combine marks that still rank among the 25 best since 2000:
Mike Kudla, DE, Ohio State (2006) Skinny: He cranked out 45 reps in the bench press at the 2006 combine, more than anyone since 2000, but he has never played in a regular-season NFL game.
Sedrick Curry, CB, Texas A&M (2000) Skinny: He finished the three-cone drill in 6.45 seconds, a mark no one has topped in seven subsequent combines, but Curry never played in a regular-season NFL game.
Derek Wake, OLB, Penn State (2005) Skinny: His 45 ½-inch vertical leap ranks second, but he never played in a regular-season NFL game.
Chris McKenzie, CB, Arizona State (2005) Skinny: His 45-inch vertical is tied for third-best. McKenzie also owns the ninth-best 40 time (4.32), but he never started a game and was out of the NFL in 2007.
Anthony Arline, CB, Baylor (2007) Skinny: His 10-yard time (1.46) ranks tied for fifth-best, but he has not appeared in a regular-season game.
Kenny Scott, CB, Georgia Tech (2007) Skinny: He also needed only 1.46 seconds to cover 10 yards, but his next NFL game will be his first.
Trent Gamble, FS, Wyoming (2000) Skinny: His 6.6-second time in the three-cone drill stands tied for ninth. He also needed only 3.9 seconds to finish the 20-yard shuttle, tied for 21st. Gamble started one NFL game in four seasons with the Dolphins.
Jason Hebert, FS, Rice (2002) Skinny: His 20-yard shuttle time (3.86) is tied for 12th-best since 2000. Hebert never played in a regular-season game.
Kendrick Starling, WR, San Jose State (2004) Skinny: He owns the 15th-best time in the 20-yard shuttle (3.88), but no NFL starts. Starling was out of the league in 2007.
Ryan Tolhurst, WR, Richmond (2002) Skinny: He holds the 15th-best time in the 20-yard shuttle (3.88) and the 24th-best time in the three-cone drill (6.65), but Tolhurst never played in a regular-season game.
Ketric Sanford, RB, Houston (2000) Skinny: His three-cone time (6.63) is tied for 17th-best since 2000, but Sanford never played in an NFL game.
Liam Ezekiel, LB, Northeastern (2005) Skinny: He impressed with 36 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press, but Ezekiel played in only two NFL games.
Matt Farmer, WR, Air Force (2000) Skinny: His three-cone time (6.63) is tied for the 17th-best at combine since 2000, but Farmer never played in the NFL.
Keith Brown, RB, UCLA (2000) Skinny: His three-cone time (6.64) is tied for 20th, but he never played in the NFL.
Tony Fisher, RB, Notre Dame (2002) Skinny: His 41 ½-inch vertical leap tied for 22nd-best. Fisher started five games, but he is out of the league.
Tim Bulman, DT, Boston College (2005) Skinny: His 35 reps in the bench press are tied for 23rd-best. Bulman has started one game and remains on Houston’s roster.
Will Bartholomew, FB, Tennessee (2002) Skinny: His 35 bench-press reps are tied for 23rd, but Bartholomew never played in the NFL.
Mike Sando covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

sports.espn.go.com

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Texas and Ohio: Two states, two debates, one chance for Hillary Rodham Clinton to save her moribund candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The former first lady suffered another bruising night Tuesday, badly losing the Wisconsin primary and the Hawaii caucuses to Barack Obama. The Illinois senator has now crushed Clinton in 10 straight contests, amassing a growing delegate lead and building support among women and white working class voters who have long formed the core of Clinton’s candidacy.
Clinton aides have tried gamely for weeks to downplay her chances in Wisconsin and shift focus to Ohio and Texas, two large, delegate-rich states holding primaries March 4. Texas offers a large population of Hispanic voters who have so far rallied to her candidacy, while Ohio is home to millions of blue collar Democrats her strategists believe are receptive to her populist economic pitch.
The New York senator is also banking on a strong showing in two nationally televised debates, hoping to remind voters of her detailed mastery of issues.
But Democratic strategist Garry South said Clinton’s hope for a Texas and Ohio comeback has dwindled with each Obama victory.
“Hillary Clinton is honestly hanging by a thread. You can’t just keep cherry picking states,” South said. “Momentum is overused more than any other word in campaigns, but there is a momentum factor. And at the moment she doesn’t have it.”
Clinton’s top advisers in Ohio and Texas nonetheless gave an upbeat assessment Tuesday, telling reporters the outcome in Wisconsin would have little bearing on her chances in the two states.
“Texas is one of those great independent states,” state director Ace Smith said, while Ohio director Robby Mook added, “I don’t think Ohio voters are worried about the horse race.”
But strategists say a win or even a close showing in Wisconsin could have been a game changer for Clinton — a chance to slow Obama’s momentum in a place that seemed tailor-made to her strengths. While the state is home to many of the college-educated Democrats who have typically favored Obama, it also has a large population of elderly and blue collar voters who have formed the core of Clinton’s base.
Exit polls in the state indicate that base is eroding, with Obama making significant inroads among less educated voters, whites and women while maintaining strength among younger, better educated voters and blacks. Only elderly white voters stuck with Clinton.
Obama spent most of last week in Wisconsin, generating days of TV news and front page headlines. He also advertised heavily there on television.
Clinton stayed away until Saturday but ran her first negative television ads in the state, ripping the Illinois senator for refusing to debate her there.
“The notion that your Democratic voters in Wisconsin, a big Midwestern state, are so different than they are in Ohio, another big Midwestern state, that you can ignore one and win big in the other is a really strange strategy,” South said.
While polls in Ohio and Texas currently appear favorable to Clinton, Obama benefits from a two-week lag time until voters in both states go to the polls. He has ample time and money to chip away at her lead, especially in Ohio where he has attacked Clinton for her past support of trade deals like NAFTA that have disproportionally hurt working class voters. Clinton has become a NAFTA critic even though she has previously helped champion the measure as a product of her husband’s presidency.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Beth Fouhy covers presidential politics for The Associated Press.

nj.com