The Cardinals hang on to beat the Pirates today 6-5. Mark Mulder (6-4) pitched poorly but got the win going 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 9 hits, he had 6 K's. Rookie 1B Chris Duncan went 3 for 4 with a triple and double. LF So Taguchi went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Pirate starter Victor Santos (4-7) could only go 4.1 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, he had 4 K's. Pirate CF Jose Bautista went 3 for 5 with a home run and 2 RBIs.

notes: Mulder is 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA (8 starts) against the Pirates.....The Cardinals are 34-12 at Pittsburgh since PNC Park opened in 2001.......Mulder has given up 10 runs and 14 hits in eight innings over his last two starts.

US car dealer sues DaimlerChrysler over 1.7 million dollar junk car Thu Jun 15, 11:19 AM ET

Mark Johnston and his Mercedes AMG CLK-GTR Limited Edition Roadster


LOS ANGELES (AFP) - An exotic car dealer announced he filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against German carmaker DaimlerChrysler AG and its subsidiary Mercedes-Benz for a full refund on a malfunctioning rare automobile, calling it "the world's most expensive lemon."

Mark Johnston, owner of Grand Prix Motors in Los Angeles, bought a Mercedes Benz AMG CLK-GTR roadster, one of only five produced, and the only car of its kind in North America for 1.7 million dollars in 2003.

The Guinness Book of World Records lists the car as the most expensive production vehicle ever.

"The car turned out to be exotic in the worst possible way," said Johnston, a former Ferrari mechanic. "It just doesn't run."

The limited edition roadster is made of carbon fiber with an integrated steel roll cage and energy absorbing crash box. The 6.9 liter engine has 12 cylinders which can move the car from 0 to 124 miles per hour in 9.9 seconds.

But this car, which can reach top speeds of 200 miles per hour when functioning properly, cannot even make it ten blocks, says Johnston.

"The car is truly a work of art," said Johnston. "It just happens to be a work of art that won't work."

The dealer was test driving the car with a potential buyer when he claims the oil guage lit up, and the transmission failed. The car promptly broke down on a Beverly Hills street and was towed back to the showroom.

The auto manufacturer has been non-responsive to the owner's requests for a refund, according to Johnston.

Johnston expected to resell the car for between 2.5 and 3 million dollars, and believes it could someday fetch a price between 3 and 5 million dollars.

Lightning wipes out 70 goats, goatherd survives Thu Jun 15, 9:58 AM ET


SOFIA (Reuters) - Lightning killed an entire herd of 70 goats in central Bulgaria on Thursday, but their goatherd escaped unharmed, civil defence officials said.

The herd was sheltering under a large tree during a summer storm when the bolt struck, killing all of them.

"At least the goatherd managed to survive. He was under a different tree," civil defence officer Anastas Iribadzhakov told Reuters.

[03:16 NEWS: BoJ Leaves Policy Unch, As Eyed, Decision Unanimous] Tokyo, Jun 15. The BoJ noted that its most recent economic assessment would be released at 06:00 GMT (3:00 PM local) and that BoJ Gov Fukui s press conference would begin at 08:30 GMT (5:30 local). --Haruya.ida@thomson.com

Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Zach Duke had a better day at the plate than on the mound going 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs. Pirate 2B Jose Castillo went 2 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBIs. Sidney Ponson (4-2) only lasted 3.1 innings for the Cardinals allowing 6 runs on 7 hits. Cardinal 3B Scott Rolen continued his good hitting going 3 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBIs. Pittsburgh wins 9-7.

Gold hunter digs 60-foot-deep hole in yard 1 hour, 24 minutes ago


MONTCLAIR, Calif. - A homeowner digging for gold in his front yard said he got "carried away" and ended up with a 60-foot-deep hole, authorities said.


Norm Enrique, 63, began digging 10 days ago after his gold detector reported a positive hit near his front patio. He told authorities he only intended to go down 3 or 4 feet.

Fire officials called to the scene Tuesday found two men that Enrique hired were inside the unreinforced hole, using a bucket and rope to remove dirt.

"We told him, 'You're done,'" said Montclair Fire Capt. Rich Baldwin. "It's amazing no one got killed."

Authorities fenced off Enrique's property.

Officials from the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration likely will visit the property Wednesday to determine how to shore up and fill the hole, authorities said.

Enrique will be required to hire and pay for a licensed engineer, Baldwin said.

Rare Borneo Rhino Photographed for First Time

first ever photo of a rare Borneo rhino in the wild


Bjorn Carey
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Wed Jun 14, 1:00 PM ET


Scientists have captured the first-ever photo of the extremely endangered Borneo rhinoceros in the wild.


Conservationists believe the newly photographed rhino is one of the few of these beasts remaining in the wild, and probably belongs to the small population of 13 discovered last year in the interior forests of Sabah, Malaysia, which was the first confirmed sighting in 20 years.


A full-time rhino monitoring team, funded by Honda Malaysia, in February set up remote cameras, triggered when animals walk by, to observe the beasts and their habitats.


"This is an encouraging sign for the future of rhinoceros conservation work in Sabah," said Mahedi Andau, Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, which runs the project along with the World Wildlife Fund.


"While the total number of Borneo rhinos remaining is uncertain, we do know there are very, very few," Andau. "To capture a photo of one just a few months after placing camera traps in the area is extraordinary."


Besides being scarce, the rhinos in Sabah make their home in very dense jungle, making them difficult to spot in the wild. The animals are also very shy. For these two reasons, scientists know very little about their behavior and population structure.


Conservationists hope that the population of at least 13 rhinos found last year is viable and able to reproduce if protected from poaching.

Battle in the Brain: How We Make Tough Choices Bjorn Carey
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Wed Jun 14, 2:00 PM ET


If you've ever had a headache while trying to choose between a sure thing and a more risky option with higher rewards, it might be because conflicting parts of your brain are waging war against each other.


A new study found regions in the brain that are active when a person decides whether to exploit a known commodity or explore a potentially better option.


The finding, published in the June 15 issue of the journal Nature, suggests that in order to explore new and potentially rewarding options, the brain must override the desire for immediate profit.


The researchers analyzed study participants' brain activity as they played a gambling game with four animated slot machines. The machines had various reward patterns, and the machine with the highest payout alternated randomly during each session.


After the game, 11 of the 14 the participants reported occasionally trying the different machines to figure out which one currently had the highest payout (exploring), while sticking to their machine when they thought they were on the big money-maker (exploiting).


As the participants were deciding to explore for higher rewards, regions of the brain located behind the forehead and associated with logic became active. If they chose to exploit, regions deeper in the brain associated with pleasure and reward were more active.


"You have logic pitted against these areas that are more associated with pleasure than value," said study co-author Nathaniel Daw of University College London. "Do you want to wait 10 minutes to eat two cookies or eat one cookie now?"


Having that one cookie now caters to the immediate desire for pleasure, but waiting a little while for two cookies may be the more logical option.


"By exploring, you're forgoing the comfortable option in order to do something that might be better in the long run," Daw told LiveScience.


These types of decisions play an important role in an organism's survival ability. For example, should a deer stick to reliable but meager pastures or expose itself to predators in a search for potentially greener grass.

Hello

I'll take:

Goosen
Scott
Els
Donald
Olazabal

284

Thanks

[17:23 USD/JPY: BOJ Seen Keepings Rates Steady At Tonight"s Meeting] San Francisco, June 14. The second day of BOJ deliberations is tonight but the central bank is seen keeping rates steady, particularly in the wake of the recent fall in stock prices in Japan. The focus will be on comments from BOJ Fukui after the meeting and his outlook in the wake of market volatility, but the Japanese papers suggest that Fukui"s investment in the scandal-tainted Murakami fund may become the focus of the conference. The LDP has generally been supportive of Fukui but it is generally believed that the LDP can now use Fukui"s investment as leverage to pressure Fukui to keep rates steady. This factor helped push JGB yields to three-month lows overnight. Kozo Yamamoto, the chairman of the LDP panel on monetary policy stated last night that he does not think that the BOJ should raise rates this summer, citing the falling stock market and expectations of a downward revision of the CPI in August. USD/JPY remains bid, holding at 114.95/98 but is stalling ahead of 115.00. The inability of US ten-year bond yields to rise above 5.06%, despite hawkish comments from Fed"s Bies and Fisher, may be stalling USD/JPY gains.
Rhonda.staskow@Thomson.com

Chris Carpenter had his best start in a while. He went 7 innings allowing no runs on three hits and struck out a career high 13. 3B Scott Rolen went 4 for 4 with two doubles and a RBI and RF Juan Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a RBI. The Cardinals win over the Pirates 2-1.

note: Scott Rolen is hitting .481 (13 of 27) since 1B Albert Pujols went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right side on June 4.

Nice pictures Carlos. I hope everyone had a good time. Looks like you got a pit pass. I've never got that close to the cars.

Man eats 47 cheese sandwiches in 10 min. 34 minutes ago


LAS VEGAS - There's a rising star on the competitive eating circuit. California man Joey Chestnut downed 47 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes this weekend in Las Vegas to set a world record. That's eleven more sandwiches than the old record of 36.

Last month, Chestnut ate 50 hot dogs. Some say he's a threat to the reigning champ of food stuffing, Japan's Takeru Kobayashi.

Chestnut won the grilled cheese contest sponsored by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, the same group that runs the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at New York's Coney Island.

Monday, 12 June 2006 10:38:19 GMT
Written by Boris Schlossberg, Senior Currency Strategist

USD/JPY spent the first night of the week trading in a tight 114.00-114.35 range as the markets digested last week’s massive dollar rally and the hawkish rhetoric of Bernanke and Co. continued to resonate across the dealing desks from Tokyo to London. However, economic data released tonight suggests that Japan has turned the corner in its decade long struggle against deflation leading many market players to conclude that the BoJ will have to lift the Zero Rate Interest Policy sooner rather than later. Japanese GDP rose at a very healthy 3.2% level up materially from the initial estimate of 1.9%. Furthermore, the growth in GDP came from domestic demand indicating that the Japanese consumer is beginning to benefit from improved labor demand and stronger profitability of the corporate sector. On the corporate front the Corporate Goods Price Index rose for the 12th straight month to a record 0.7% from 0.2% expected. With CGPI increasing at 3.3% on annual basis the case for keeping short term rates at 0% is becoming tenuous buy the minute.



Traders, therefore will focus on this Wednesday’s BoJ meeting to gauge Governor Fukui’s intentions vis a vis the ZIRP. USD/JPY may yet rally to the 115.00 level buoyed in the short term by last week’s dollar strength, but should Mr. Fukui signal a change of posture by the Bank yen could strengthen materially as carry traders scurry for the exits.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 10, 2006

President's Radio Address


THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This was a good week for the cause of freedom. On Wednesday night in Iraq, U.S. military forces killed the terrorist Zarqawi.

The killing of Zarqawi is an important victory in the global war on terror. This Jordanian-born terrorist was the operational commander of al Qaida in Iraq. He led a campaign of car bombings, and kidnappings, and suicide attacks that has taken the lives of many American forces, international aid workers, and thousands of innocent Iraqis. Zarqawi had a long history of murder and bloodshed. Before September the 11th, 2001, he ran a camp in Afghanistan that trained terrorists -- until Coalition forces destroyed that camp. He fled to Iraq, where he received medical care and set up operations with terrorist associates.

After the fall of Saddam, Zarqawi went underground and declared his allegiance to Osama bin Laden, who called him the "Prince of al Qaida in Iraq" and instructed terrorists around the world to "listen to him and obey him." Zarqawi personally beheaded American hostages and other civilians in Iraq; he masterminded the destruction of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad; and he was responsible for the assassination of an American diplomat in Jordan and the bombing of hotels in Amman. His goals in Iraq were clear: He wanted to stop the rise of democracy, drive coalition forces out, incite a civil war, and turn that country into a safe haven from which al Qaida could launch new attacks on America and other free nations. Instead, Zarqawi died in the free and democratic Iraq that he fought so hard to prevent, and the world is better off because this violent man will never kill again.

Iraqis can be justly proud of their new government and its early steps to improve their security. And Americans can be enormously proud of the men and women of our Armed Forces, and the intelligence officers who support them. In the past three years, our troops have overthrown a cruel dictator, fought the terrorists and insurgents house to house, and trained Iraqi forces to defend their new democracy. All the while, they stayed on the trail of this brutal terrorist, persevering through years of near misses and false leads and never giving up hope. This week they got their man. And all Americans are grateful for their remarkable achievement.

Zarqawi is dead, but the difficult and necessary mission in Iraq continues. In the weeks ahead, violence in Iraq may escalate. The terrorists and insurgents will seek to prove that they can carry on without Zarqawi. And Coalition and Iraqi forces are seizing this moment to strike the enemies of freedom in Iraq at this time of uncertainty for their cause. The work ahead will require more sacrifice and the continued patience of the American people.

I'm encouraged by Prime Minister Maliki's determination to defeat our common enemies and bring security and rule of law to all Iraqis. This week he took another major step toward this objective when he completed the formation of his cabinet -- naming a new Minister of Defense, a new Minister of the Interior, and a new Minister of State for National Security. These new leaders will help the government address its top priorities: reconciliation, reconstruction, and putting an end to the kidnappings, beheadings, and suicide bombings.

As they pursue these goals, they will have America's full support. On Monday, I will convene my national security team and other key members of my Cabinet at Camp David to discuss the way ahead in Iraq. On Tuesday, Iraq's new Ambassador to the United States will join us, and we will have a teleconference discussion with Prime Minister Maliki and members of his cabinet. Together we will determine how to best deploy America's resources in Iraq and achieve our shared goal of an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself.

There's still difficult work ahead in Iraq. Yet this week, the ideology of terror has suffered a severe blow. Al Qaida has lost its leader in Iraq, the Iraqi people have completed a democratic government that is determined to defend them, and freedom has achieved a great victory in the heart of the Middle East.

Thank you for listening.

END

Triplets claim top honors at graduation Fri Jun 9, 6:10 PM ET


GARY, Ind. - Triplets who have taken nearly all their courses together for the past 12 years will graduate at the top of their Calumet High School class. Melinda Rosado is at the very top with a 4.41 GPA and is class valedictorian.

On her heels, just like she was at birth, is Maritza "Ritz" Rosado, who is salutatorian with a 4.39 grade point average. Maricella "Madi" Rosado, with a 4.19 average, ranks sixth out of 111 students who will graduate Sunday.

"They think alike," mother Christina Rosado said of her 18-year-old daughters.

Even after studying separately, the three would often miss the same question on an exam, they say. In-class essay assignments sometimes turned out eerily similar, even if the girls were sitting away from each other in the classroom.

"That's happened many times, even though we all have different ways of studying and study by ourselves," said Maritza Rosado, the self-professed talkative triplet, who was born a minute after her identical sister, Melinda.

Melinda describes herself as the shy one, while non-identical triplet Maricella loves her dramatic flair.

The three said their parents always made sure they followed a strict academic regimen.

"My mom always wanted us to do well. She would say let me see your book bag, what homework do you have," Maritza said. "She made sure we knew school and learning were important."

School Principal Leroy Miller said having siblings take the top spots at graduation is unusual.

"They're wonderful kids," he said. "They're well-behaved. They're studious. They definitely put their work first."

The girls have taken nearly all of their classes together for the last dozen years — something that's likely to continue when they all enroll at Indiana University Northwest in the fall.

They hope to pursue medical careers. Melinda wants to be a pediatrician, Maritza plans to study psychology and Maricella hopes to become a nurse.

Jack the cat chases black bear up tree



38 minutes ago


WEST MILFORD, N.J. - A black bear picked the wrong New Jersey yard for a jaunt earlier this week, running into a territorial tabby who ran the furry beast up a tree — twice.

Jack, a 15-pound orange-and-white cat, keeps a close vigil on his property, chasing small animals when he can, but his owners and neighbors say his latest escapade was surprising.

"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty,' never knowing he'd go after a bear," cat owner Donna Dickey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's newspapers.

Neighbor Suzanne Giovanetti first spotted Jack's accomplishment after her husband saw a bear climb a tree on the edge of their northern New Jersey home's back yard on Sunday. Giovanetti thought Jack was simply looking up at the bear, but soon realized the much larger animal was afraid of the hissing cat.

After about 15 minutes peering down at the cat from the tree, the bear descended and tried to run away, only to have Jack chase it up another tree.

At this point Dickey, who feared for her cat, called Jack back home and the bear scurried back to the woods.

"He doesn't want anybody in his yard," Dickey said.

Bear sightings are not unusual in West Milford, which experts consider one of the state's most bear-populated areas.

Pocono

Kahne (9)
Burton (31)
Biffle (16)

Belmont Stakes

race 11)$100 to win #11 (Steppenwolfer)

6th Race - BELMONT PARK - SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

Approx. Post 3:10PM
Race Type: ` HANDICAP STAKE Purse $200,000 (Up to $34,000 NYSBFOA)
Distance: Six Furlongs
Conditions: A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Race Name: The 28th Running of THE TRUE NORTH (Grade II) $200,000 (Up to $34,000 NYSBFOA)

PP Horse Name (L) Age Sex Wt Jockey Owner Trainer
1 Vicarage (L) 4 C 116 Velazquez, J Dogwood Stable Pletcher, T
2 Mach Speed (L) 5 G 113 Luzzi, M Reeley, R Testerman, V
3a Tiger (L) 5 G 116 Coa, E Moore, S Jerkens, J
4 Celtic Innis (L) 4 G 113 Velasquez, C Murray, Jr., E Keefe, T
5 Spanish Chestnut (O) 4 G 117 Leparoux, J Tabor, M Biancone, P
6 Uncle Camie (L) 6 H 115 Migliore, R Telesca, C Hushion, M
7a Voodoo (L) 8 G 114 Castellano, J Moore, S Jerkens, J
8 Anew (L) 5 G 113 Garcia, A Chrome Cowboy Racing Stable Asmussen, S
a -- Moore, Susan
--- 8---

7th Race - BELMONT PARK - SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

Approx. Post 3:50PM
Race Type: ` HANDICAP STAKE Purse $300,000 (Up to $41,000 NYSBFOA)
Distance: One Mile(Widener Turf)
Conditions: A HANDICAP FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Race Name: The 13th Running of THE JUST A GAME (Grade II) $300,000 (Up to $41,000 NYSBFOA)

PP Horse Name (L) Age Sex Wt Jockey Owner Trainer
1 Ozone Bere (FR) (L) 4 F 116 Castellano, J Seroul, J Clement, C
2 Gorella (FR) (L) 4 F 120 Leparoux, J Schwartz, M Biancone, P
3 Wend (L) 5 M 119 Prado, E Claiborne Farm Mott, W
4 Bright Abundance (L) 5 M 115 Migliore, R Kelly, J Clement, C
5 Mirabilis (L) 4 F 119 Gomez, G Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Frankel, R
6 Pommes Frites (L) 4 F 116 Velasquez, C Haras Santa Maria de Araras Mott, W
--- 6---

8th Race - BELMONT PARK - SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

Approx. Post 4:30PM
Race Type: ` STAKES Purse $250,000 (Includes $50,000 from the Breeders' Cup Fund)(Up to $34,000 NYSBFOA)
Distance: Seven Furlongs
Conditions: FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
Race Name: The 22nd Running of THE WOODY STEPHENS BREEDERS' CUP (Grade II) $250,000 (Includes $50,000 from the Breeders' Cup Fund)

PP Horse Name (L) Age Sex Wt Jockey Owner Trainer
1 Too Much Bling (L) 3 C 123 Gomez, G Stonerside Stable Baffert, B
2 Likely (L) 3 C 123 Leparoux, J Van Meter, T Biancone, P
3 Noonmark (L) 3 C 115 Bridgmohan, S Bolton, G Asmussen, S
4 Fabulous Strike (L) 3 G 119 Vega, H Downey, W Beattie, T
5 Keyed Entry (L) 3 C 123 Velazquez, J Starlight Stable LLC Pletcher, T
6 Doc Cheney (L) 3 C 115 Hill, C My Meadowview Farm Zito, N
7 Dontfearthereaper (L) 3 G 115 Espinoza, V Winged Foot Stables Dutrow, Jr., R
8 Saint Daimon 3 C 119 Samyn, J Hobeau Farm Jerkens, H
9 Songster (L) 3 C 123 Prado, E Darley Stable Albertrani, T
--- 9---

9th Race - BELMONT PARK - SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

Approx. Post 5:10PM
Race Type: ` STAKES Purse $250,000 (Up to $37,500 NYSBFOA)
Distance: One Mile
Conditions: FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Race Name: The 76th Running of THE ACORN (Grade I) $250,000 (Up to $37,500 NYSBFOA)

PP Horse Name (L) Age Sex Wt Jockey Owner Trainer
1 Last Romance (L) 3 F 121 Prado, E Goldfarb, S Dutrow, Jr., R
2 Adieu (L) 3 F 121 Gomez, G Tabor, M Pletcher, T
3 Bushfire (L) 3 F 121 Solis, A Homewrecker Stable LLC Kenneally, E
4 She's Excellent (L) 3 F 121 Jara, F Perez, R Ortiz, J
5 Wonder Lady Anne L (L) 3 F 121 Bejarano, R IEAH Stables Dutrow, Jr., R
6 Miraculous Miss (L) 3 F 121 Desormeaux, K Puglisi Stables Klesaris, S
7 Teammate (L) 3 F 121 Velasquez, C Allen, J Jerkens, H
8 Hello Liberty (L) 3 F 121 Arroyo, Jr., N Ferris, J Jones, J
9 Ermine (L) 3 F 121 Albarado, R Oxbow Racing LLC Werner, R
--- 9---

10th Race - BELMONT PARK - SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

Approx. Post 5:50PM
Race Type: ` HANDICAP STAKE Purse $400,000 (Up to $48,000 NYSBFOA)
Distance: One Mile And One Quarter(Inner Turf)
Conditions: A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Race Name: The 105th Running of THE MANHATTAN (Grade I) $400,000 (Up to $48,000 NYSBFOA)

PP Horse Name (L) Age Sex Wt Jockey Owner Trainer
1 Good Reward (L) 5 H 118 Castellano, J Phipps Stable McGaughey III, C
2 Relaxed Gesture (IRE) (L) 5 H 119 Desormeaux, K Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd. Clement, C
3 Sabre d'Argent (L) 6 H 114 Coa, E Darley Stable Albertrani, T
4 Cacique (IRE) (L) 5 H 120 Prado, E Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Frankel, R
5 Grey Swallow (IRE) (L) 5 H 122 Solis, A Vega F.Z.E. Weld, D
6 Interpatation (L) 4 G 113 Turner, T Mavorah, E Barbara, R
7 Silver Whistle (L) 4 C 116 Velasquez, C Stronach Stables Mott, W
8 English Channel (L) 4 C 122 Velazquez, J Scatuorchio, J Pletcher, T
9 Dreadnaught (L) 6 G 115 Gomez, G Trillium Stable Voss, T
Blinkers Off: Dreadnaught
--- 9---

11th Race - BELMONT PARK - SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2006

Approx. Post 6:33PM
Race Type: ` STAKES Purse $1,000,000 (Up to $70,000 NYSBFOA)
Distance: One Mile And One Half
Conditions: FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
Race Name: The 138th Running of THE BELMONT STAKES (Grade I) $1,000,000 (Up to $70,000 NYSBFOA)

PP Horse Name (L) Age Sex Wt Jockey Owner Trainer
1 Platinum Couple (L) 3 C 126 Espinoza, J Team Tristar Stable Lostritto, J
2 Sunriver (L) 3 C 126 Bejarano, R Jones, A Pletcher, T
3 Hemingway's Key (L) 3 C 126 Rose, J Kinsman Stable Zito, N
4 Bob and John (L) 3 C 126 Gomez, G Stonerside Stable Baffert, B
5 High Finance (L) 3 C 126 Coa, E West Point Stable Violette, Jr., R
6 Oh So Awesome (L1) 3 C 126 Smith, M Team Valor Stables LLC Jerkens, J
7 Deputy Glitters (L) 3 C 126 Prado, E Joseph Lacombe Stable, Inc. Albertrani, T
8 Jazil (L) 3 C 126 Jara, F Shadwell Stable McLaughlin, K
9 Bluegrass Cat (L) 3 C 126 Velazquez, J WinStar Farm LLC Pletcher, T
10 Double Galore (L) 3 C 126 Luzzi, M Cho, M Cho, M
11 Steppenwolfer (L) 3 C 126 Albarado, R Low, R Peitz, D
12 Sacred Light (L) 3 C 126 Espinoza, V Amerman Racing Stables LLC Hofmans, D
Blinkers On: Double Galore; Platinum Couple

Scientists breed allergy-free kitty


Wed Jun 7, 12:25 PM ET


LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US scientists claimed to have bred the world's first hypoallergenic kitten, opening the doors and arms of millions of pet lovers for whom cuddling a cat has, until now, been a curse.

At 4,000 dollars a head, the allergy-free felines don't come cheap.

But the biotechnology firm behind the project believes sensitive owners will happily fork out extra for the chance to have a cat that doesn't leave them wheezing and sneezing.

In a statement, the San Diego-based company, Allerca, said it had produced the cats using a technique known as genetic divergence.

After identifying the genes of kittens with proteins that provide less of a reaction in humans, they selectively bred litters over several generations to end up with an allergy-friendly "super cat."

The company said its customers are expected to take delivery of their hypoallergenic kittens in early 2007.

"For the first time, people who have been unable to own a cat because of their allergies can now enjoy a pet of their own without the associated risks and costs of allergy treatments," Allerca CEO Megan Young.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 30 million Americans suffer from some form of cat allergy.

Young said the company expected to be breeding 10,000 of the cats every year by 2009.

The American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) gave a cautious welcome to the Allerca announcement, saying it might help reduce the number of cats abandoned to shelters by allergic owners.

"But it will also be important to monitor the long term health of these cats to ensure that silencing the gene does not result in unforeseen effects on them," the ASPCA said in a statement.

Bizarre Survival Tactic: Gazelles Shrink Heart to Beat Heat Bjorn Carey
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Thu Jun 8, 5:00 PM ET


In an extreme way to beat the heat, a sand gazelle shrinks its liver and heart to cope with long periods of drought, a new study reveals.


The deserts of the Arabian Peninsula rank among the most severe environments in the world. It's extremely hot and unpredictable rains do little to quench the arid land.


While some of the region's animal inhabitants struggle under these conditions, the sand gazelle stands out as one of the most successful critters at dealing with this stress.


"We found that gazelles had the lowest total evaporative water loss ever measured in an arid zone ungulate [hoofed animal]," write the team of researchers from Ohio State University and the National Wildlife Research Center in Saudi Arabia.


Organs such as the liver and heart require significant amounts of oxygen to function. By shrinking these organs, the gazelles don't have to breathe as much and thus reduce the amount of water lost by respiratory evaporation.


Water-deprived sand gazelles also have a higher fat content in their brains. The researchers suggest that these stores might be beneficial for fueling brain metabolism during prolonged food and water deprivation.


The study, announced today, was published online May 19 in the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.

[18:28 USD/JPY: Dealings Subdued; Yield Spreads Supportive] San Francisco, June 8. USD/JPY activity remains subdued this afternoon with USD/JPY currently at 114.22 and still finding support ahead of 114.00/10. The market is still seen unwinding long JPY positions and a test of 115.00 is expected into coming sessions. Yield spreads have moved in favor of the JPY with the two-year spread widening to 425 bp today, up from 417 bp one week ago. The Nikkei is at a seven-month low, and this has seen Japanese yields edge back from recent highs with the stock losses dampening Japanese rate hike expectations.

Buying interest remains at 114.00/10 but with selling interest from 114.75 to 115.00 and option defense ahead of 115.00. The Japanese press for Thursday is focusing on the ECB rate rise, the steep fall in European stocks, the ongoing Murakami fund scandal and the news that China will remove foreign exchange quotas on overseas investments as of July 1st. Tonight sees the release of Japan machinery orders.
Rhonda.Staskow@Thomson.com

Man ends up in the wrong Manchester Wed Jun 7, 5:01 PM ET


MANCHESTER, N.H. - Before this week, Jim Hourihan of Liverpool, England, had never heard of Manchester, N.H. But thanks to a mix-up, he ended up there this week while trying to fly to another Manchester — the one on the other side of the Atlantic.

Hourihan boarded a Continental Airlines flight in Los Angeles on Monday, but it wasn't until he got on a connecting flight in Cleveland — a 50-seat regional jet — that he realized he was headed to New England instead of jolly old England.

"When I first saw the plane I thought, 'That's not going to Manchester, England,'" Hourihan told WMUR-TV. "And it was then that it dawned on me. There must be two Manchesters."

Tuesday evening, after a stay in Manchester, Continental booked Hourihan on a flight to Newark, N.J., to connect with a flight home, at no extra charge, said Brian O'Neill, assistant director at Manchester Boston Regional Airport.

Hourihan said he liked Manchester, but felt it could use a few more pubs.

Even with the detour, Hourihan said he was having a great journey home.

"He did receive the VIP treatment while he was here," O'Neill said.

He said he learned Hourihan is not the first passenger to have landed in the wrong Manchester.

The mix-up came as the airport spreads the word about its new name. It's just added "Boston Regional" to the name, so Manchester pops up for travelers and agents looking to book flights to the Boston area.

Previously, he said, Manchester might not show up until on page 11 or 12 of a computer flight search, but now it sometimes appears on the first or second page.

Umpire, fan brawl at pickup baseball game Wed Jun 7, 4:29 PM ET


HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - The umpire called a player safe on a close play at first base. The spectator didn't like it and threw a beer bottle. The umpire dodged it, then punched the fan, knocking out one of his teeth.

That's what Beaufort County deputies said happened at a three-inning pickup baseball game on Hilton Head Island Sunday night.

Tensions between the teams were high because about $3,400 was riding on the outcome, deputies said.

Rony Ruiz, 23, and several other fans stormed the field and began pushing the ump because a run scored on the play at first, cutting the lead of the team they were rooting for to 6-5 in the second inning, authorities said.

After Ruiz threw the bottle at 32-year-old umpire Nelson Montano, he punched Ruiz in the mouth, knocking out a tooth, according to a police report.

The men, whom Montano said are friends, appeared on Monday in municipal court, where they agreed to drop the charges.

And Ruiz's team ended up winning 7-5, Montano said.

Police: Mom asks son to sell pot for bail 2 hours, 23 minutes ago


SPENCER, Iowa - A woman who police say asked her son to sell marijuana to raise money to bail her out of jail faces an additional charge.

Elaine Baker is currently being held in the Clay County jail on two drug charges and child endangerment.

She made a call to her son, asking him to sell marijuana stashed in a refrigerator and post bond.

The call was monitored by police.

Authorities got a search warrant and found a small amount of marijuana in Baker's home on Monday.

Baker's son, Austin Tasich, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Baker was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

This is good news.

Former GOP rep. wins Calif. House race By ROBERT TANNER, AP National Writer
17 minutes ago


A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the House seat once held by jailed Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious special election race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member.

With all precincts reporting, Bilbray had 60,319 votes, or 49 percent, while Busby had 55,578 votes, or 45 percent.

"I think that we're going back to Washington," Bilbray told cheering supporters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060607/ap_on_el_ge/primaries_rdp_31

Defendant punches lawyer in court 32 minutes ago


HARTFORD, Conn. - A man convicted of assault and robbery sucker-punched his defense attorney in court Tuesday when a judge refused to let him withdraw his guilty pleas.

Juan Vasquez, 31, of Hartford, was charged with contempt of court after punching Public Defender Michael Isko in front of Hartford Superior Court Judge Thomas Miano and dozens of court employees and spectators Tuesday.

Isko suffered minor mouth injuries, and was checked at Hartford Hospital and released. It was not clear whether he would seek assault charges.

Vasquez was in court for a hearing on his motion to withdraw his guilty pleas, questioning the quality of Isko's representation.

When Miano rejected the request, Vasquez — who was not wearing handcuffs because his right arm was in a cast — quickly turned and punched Isko with the arm that was in the cast.

"It was a sound hit," Miano said. "It was obvious, clear and flagrant."

Court marshals restrained Vasquez and pulled him into a holding room, where they used pepper spray to subdue him.

Miano held a separate hearing later Tuesday on the new contempt charge, finding Vasquez guilty. Vasquez will serve six months of prison time consecutive to the sentence he eventually receives for the assault and robbery charges.

He awaits sentencing.

Real body found at Fla. fake crime scene 1 hour, 25 minutes ago


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Truth proved to be stranger than fiction for a high school criminology class investigating a fake crime scene when the students discovered a real body during a field trip.

Teacher Sue Messenger had been creating mock crime scenes with fake skeletons and other evidence for more than 20 years to give students in her forensics courses a firsthand look at what crime scene investigators do.

On Monday, however, 29 students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School got more of a jolt they expected when they discovered the real body in Fort Lauderdale's Holiday Park.

"The first thing we thought was, 'That's a real good dummy she set up,'" said student Juan Cantor, 15.

"I think they kind of went into shock and disbelief," Messenger said. "What are the odds that we would be out here?"

Police on Tuesday identified the body as David Wayne Bodie, 45, a homeless man who apparently died of natural causes.

Who's never been tempted to do this? Tue Jun 6, 8:26 AM ET


BELGRADE (Reuters) - A Serb man set his car on fire when he heard how much he had to pay to reclaim it after it was towed away for illegal parking.

An attendant told the daily Press the man was very calm.

"He went to his car, took a few things then opened the hood and set the engine on fire. When it was well ablaze he got back on his bike and rode off."

Man may reclaim bowling endurance title Mon Jun 5, 9:49 AM ET


MIDDLETOWN, Ohio - Dave Wilson spent a lot of time in the fast lane — bowling for more than four days straight in an attempt to reclaim his world record for the sport's endurance title.

Wilson, 40, of Mason, on Saturday finished the last of 481 games played over more 102 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds. He reported bowling a 236 in one game, but it wasn't strikes and spares he was after.

The feat raised more than $13,000 in pledges from spectators, which Wilson is donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Building Blocks Foundation, which helps children with medical needs.

Wilson is awaiting official confirmation from the Guinness World Records. He held the record for about five days last June after bowling for 64 hours, 22 minutes, but a Canadian broke it by going 100 hours.

The first thing he did after he finished? Drink a Guinness Stout to celebrate.

Wilson was allowed a 15-minute break after every eight hours of bowling, according to Guinness rules, but he skipped the last break after a donor pledged $1 for every pin he knocked down after 6 p.m. Saturday. Wilson finished at about 10 p.m. and collected $1,410 from that pledge.

Isn't it supposed to be harder than this? Mon Jun 5, 1:01 PM ET


ATHENS (Reuters) - A helicopter landed in the middle of the high security Athens Korydallos prison, picked up two prisoners and flew away in a Hollywood-style escape that has left Greek police stunned.

A criminal on the run hijacked the helicopter Sunday to get his brother out of prison, police said. Vassilis Paleokostas, 40, who was serving a 25-year sentence for kidnapping and bank robbery, and an Albanian convict escaped.

"The guards thought it was a surprise inspection by ministry officials and did nothing," a police official said.

The helicopter pilot, who said he was forced at gunpoint to undertake the mission, flew the inmates to a nearby cemetery and they made their escape on motorbikes. Greek police have launched a manhunt for the convicts.

Canadian terror probe expands to 7 nations By BETH DUFF-BROWN and ROB GILLIES, Associated Press Writers
1 hour, 56 minutes ago


TORONTO - Police said Monday more arrests are likely in an alleged plot to bomb buildings in Canada, while intelligence officers sought ties between the 17 suspects and Islamic terror cells in the United States and five other nations.

A court said authorities had charged all 12 adults arrested over the weekend with participating in a terrorist group. Other charges included importing weapons and planning a bombing. The charges against five minors were not made public.

The Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, is believed to be among targets the group discussed. Toronto Mayor David Miller said CN Tower, a downtown landmark, and the city's subway were not targets as had been the speculated in local media, but declined to identify sites that were.

A Muslim prayer leader who knew the oldest suspect, 43-year-old Qayyum Abdul Jamal, told The Associated Press on Monday that Jamal's sermons at a storefront mosque were "filled with hate" against Canada.

Authorities said more arrests were expected, possibly this week, as police pursue leads about a group that they say was inspired by the violent ideology of the al-Qaida terror network.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060605/ap_on_re_ca/canada_terrorism_arrests_34

[20:35 GMT June 5] EUR/USD made a false breakout to the topside overnight before closing on its lows today as Bernanke swept away expectations for a Fed pause, trying hard to win-back lost inflation fighting credibility. Combined with receding expectations that the ECB will tightening 50 bp, and the drying up of early interest to buy SEK for M&A purposes which filtered through to EUR/USD, the EUR looks set to ease further overnight. 1.2880/90 bids look likely to be tested before it is all over. With options-related selling seen earlier today ahead of 1.3000 barriers, buy-backs may be seen around those levels.

A US consulting shop sought to downplay the talk in the market of a 50 bp hike, helping turn the focus back on 25 bp on Thursday. Trichet did not comment on policy as it is so close to the meeting but did allow that European growth is
nearing trend and that employment has improved. Productivity remains very weak though, he said. Euro zone service sector PMI is due tomorrow. The US eased to 60.1, still strong but down from 63.0 in April. Jamie.Coleman@Thomson.com

Just finished To Tame A Land (1965 Western) by Louis L'Amour. One of my favorite writers. Another enjoyable book by Louis L'Amour. From the back cover:

Rye Tyler was twelve when his father was killed in an Indian raid. Taken in by a mysterious stranger with a taste for books and an instinct for survival, Rye is schooled in the hard lessons of life in the West. But after killing a man, he is forced to leave his new home. He rides lonely mountain passes and works on dusty cattle drives until he finds a job breaking horses. Then he meets Liza Hetrick, and in her eyes he sees his future. After establishing himself as marshal of Alta, he returns, only to discover that Liza has been kidnapped. Tracking her to Robber's Roost, Rye is forced to face the man who taught him all he knows about books, guns, and friendship. Two old friends--one woman: Who will walk away?

lol. That might be a good ideal.

Student-released fowl close school Fri Jun 2, 10:02 AM ET


FORT KENT, Maine - Six high school seniors in Fort Kent were charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief after a class prank went awry and ended up shutting down the school.

The six boys ordered 10 goslings and 45 chicks from an Indiana company and then set them loose in Community High School early Thursday morning, school officials said.

The pranksters put the birds in the school gym, in classrooms, in lockers, in offices and into a drawer of a teacher's desk, said Principal Tim Doak. But the animals left their mark on floors, chairs and tables, forcing administrators to cancel school Thursday and Friday to clean up the mess.

The school will expect full restitution for cleanup costs, which are expected to run into the thousands of dollars, said Sandra Bernstein, superintendent of School Administrative District 27. The canceled days will be added to the end of the school year.

"It's comical when you start thinking of chickens in your school, but it's just another chapter in the book of school administration," Doak said.

A teacher discovered the intruders before 6 a.m. after entering the building and hearing the birds running around the hallways, Bernstein said. When students arrived, they were taken to the school gym, which had been sterilized, before being sent home.

A crew of about 10 was enlisted to clean and disinfect all surfaces where the birds left a mess — about 70 percent of the school. The birds pose a public safety hazard because of salmonella bacteria, Bernstein said.

"It's not funny when it's a public health risk," she said. "Salmonella is a very dangerous bacteria that can cause serious illness, particularly with anyone vulnerable or with immune system problems."

The animals, none of which were harmed, were boxed up and taken to the police chief's house, where they were expected to stay until they find new homes.

A court date has not been set and the incident is still under investigation, said Fort Kent Police Chief Kenneth Michaud.

Man who put mouse in burrito sentenced Fri Jun 2, 2:22 PM ET


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - A man who stuffed a dead mouse into his Taco Bell burrito in a botched extortion attempt was sentenced Friday to 16 to 30 months in prison.

Ryan Daniel Goff, 20, pleaded guilty last month to a felony count of attempted false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000.

Sheriff's investigators said Goff complained to a restaurant employee in January that his burrito tasted "funny."

Goff reported finding the mouse to the local health department and Taco Bell's regional manager. According to court records, he allegedly told the manager: "It won't be a good day if the media finds out about this."

But investigators said his girlfriend told them he purchased frozen mice from a pet store and put one of them in his burrito.

Goff's sentencing was just the latest in several recent cases of alleged extortion over body parts and dead animals in restaurant food.

In January, Anna Ayala, 40, was sentenced to nine years in prison for planting a severed human finger in a bowl of chili at a Wendy's restaurant in California in an extortion scheme. Her husband, Jaime Plascencia, 44, who obtained the finger from someone who lost it in an accident, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.

In April, Carla Patterson, 38, and her 22-year-old son, Ricky, were convicted of trying to extort money from the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain by claiming they found a dead mouse in a bowl of soup in Virginia. Both are awaiting sentencing.

Robots help hospitalized students keep up By JIM FITZGERALD, Associated Press Writer
51 minutes ago

VALHALLA, N.Y. - Lying in his hospital room, on a mattress designed to protect his fragile skin, 13-year-old Achim Nurse poked his bandaged fingers at an orange button on what looked like a souped-up video game console.

Half a second later, in a social studies class discussing the Erie Canal, a 5-foot-tall steel-blue robot raised its hand.

"You have a question, Achim?" said the teacher.

Achim is using a pair of robots — one, called "Mr. Spike," at his bedside, and its mate, "Mrs. Candy," in the classroom — to keep up with his schoolwork and his friends for the months he will be bedridden at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, just north of New York City.

The robot in the classroom, which displays a live picture of Achim, provides what its inventors call "telepresence": It gives the boy an actual presence in the classroom, recognized by teachers and classmates. It can move from class to class on its four-wheel base and even stop at the lockers for a between-periods chat.

"The robot literally is embraced by students in the classroom as though that is the medically fragile student," said Andrew Summa, national director of the robot project, which is in use at six other hospitals around the country. Achim's teacher, Bob Langerfield, said his other students had become used to the robot — and were treating it as if it were Achim — after just a few days.

The program, called PEBBLES (for Providing Education By Bringing Learning Environments to Students), has great potential for expansion, supporters say. It could keep suspended students connected to their classrooms, for example, or even help young prisoners. Summa says it also has promise as a tool in treating autism because it gives the patient control of the social environment.

"I don't know where it's going to go next, but it does have considerable potential," Summa said.

The robots work in pairs. The one at Achim's bedside displayed a live picture of the social studies classroom. Achim could see Langerfield, his desk, the board, a map of the United States and the clock. He could hear Langerfield saying, "From 1830 to 1860 New York City grew at an astounding rate."

The second robot was in the back of the classroom, its "face" (and autofocus camera) aimed at the teacher. Its display showed Achim in his bed.

"If he's looking out the window, the teacher will know it," said Jim Desimone, who is the traumatic brain injury coordinator at Blythedale and the school's "robot guy."

Using the buttons and a joystick on the control box, Achim could zoom in to read what was on the board; swivel the robot's head to see and talk to a classmate; raise the robot's hand; adjust the volume; or log out, if a nurse came to take him away for tests or physical therapy.

At one point, when the teacher wanted Achim to see something printed on a piece of paper, he held it up to the classroom robot's "face."

The robots also have scanners and printers so the patient can receive whatever the teacher is handing out in class — a fact sheet, a homework assignment, a test.

Achim, whose severe rash arose from a case of bacterial meningitis, said that when he was offered the use of Mr. Spike, "I was out of my mind, saying, `A robot?' When I first saw it, it looked difficult."

But he picked up all the moves in 30 minutes, he said, and now finds it "cool" rather than strange.

"It's like a video game but the only thing is you have to go to school," he said.

"When you're in the hospital you're isolated, you're stuck here," said Desimone. "You don't have friends, you don't have anything except maybe a phone call from home. You fall behind at school. With this you have social interaction, which is a part of school. Yeah, we could have a teacher come into his hospital room and teach him, but that's not the same."

Each of the robots has a disk-shaped head, with a 15-inch screen showing the remote feed and a smaller screen that shows what the other robot is displaying.

The rod connecting the head to the trunk looks enough like a neck that the one in the Blythedale classroom had an ID card looped around it. The "shoulders" can hold up a T-shirt. The trunk slopes outward toward the 3-foot-by-3-foot wheelbase so the robot can fit under tables and desks. The bright orange plastic hand emerges from the trunk with a low whirr.

The robots aren't protected in class or in the hospital, and there has been no abuse, Desimone said.

"The kids see it as another kid, so they wouldn't pound on it," he said.

Blythedale has its own school, but that's rare and irrelevant to the use of the robots, which use wired or wireless Internet connections.

"You can have a child hospitalized in New York City and his classroom can be in New Zealand," Summa said. "We can connect any two points around the world."

The robot system was developed in Toronto by Telbotics Inc. with Ryerson University and the University of Toronto. It is managed in the U.S. by The Learning Collaborative Inc., under a federal grant. The 40 robots now in use are on loan to the hospitals, although Summa said they are available for sale at about $70,000 a pair.

Summa said one student used a robot so fully that it joined the boy's classmates to sing a song at a school show. He said a child in the audience asked, "What's that thing up on stage?" to which a friend of the student replied, "That's no thing. That's Jimmy."

Oriskany


The retired aircraft carrier Oriskany sinks after the Navy blasted holes in it off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, sending the warship to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico as the world's largest intentionally created artificial reef, May 17, 2006, . (Jeffrey P. Kraus/U.S. Navy photo/Handout/Reuters)