Author: Serkadis

Hot dog! On a day Christopher Smith desperately needed some good news, he received it Thursday.

The 37-year-old’s house at 214 Esser St. in Sunnyland was destroyed by a fire that was reported about 1:35 p.m.

With the house, Smith believed he also had lost an Australian shepherd named Blue.

Blue, about 4 months old, was feared dead inside a home Northern Tazewell Fire Chief Ray Kiddy said was believed to be a total loss.

But about an hour after the fire began, the dog darted out of the one-bedroom, single-story house with major smoke and fire damage.

“There was a dog in there, and he just ran out of there about five minutes ago, which is amazing,” Kiddy said well after the fire was knocked down.

“I was pretty surprised. As much smoke and fire as there was in there, it’s amazing he was able to survive.”

The occupant’s father and owner of the home, Ed Smith, who lives directly behind the house on Loren Street, said the house has been in the family since the 1950s.

The Smiths rescued two cats from the home before being too overcome by smoke to find the dog.

Presumed dead, Blue’s appearance outside caused a fuss.

While being held by Christopher Smith’s girlfriend, Cindy Baker, Blue was petted by firefighters.

“He came out and he was wiggling,” Ed Smith said. “He looked happy. For the boy’s sake, I hope he makes it. He’s had a really bad day.”

A trip to the veterinarian showed the dog’s lungs had suffered some damage from smoke inhalation, but Blue was expected to survive, Ed Smith said. As a precaution, Blue was headed to the Tri-County Animal Emergency Clinic. He was given a clean bill of health and released.

It was unknown how Blue survived thick smoke and flames.

“Smoke was all over the house,” Ed Smith said. “You couldn’t go in. The dog must have hid under something.”

Northern Tazewell, East Peoria and Morton firefighters were called to the fire. They arrived to find the front of the house on fire.

Kiddy said the fire is believed to have started in the fireplace and spread to the structure of the single-level home, where Christopher Smith was home by himself.

Ed Smith said his son built a fire in the fireplace, which hasn’t been used for more than a decade, and it apparently spread to a nearby closet.

Ryan Ori can be reached at [email protected].

Read the original article from Journal Star.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

CHICAGO — Sandra Simmons says she’s done nothing wrong and the CTA is trying to make an example of her.

The CTA bus driver acknowledges that she distributed a flier a few weeks ago that tells workers to refuse overtime, which they’re entitled to do.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.

Simmons has the support of her union.

Amalgamated Transit Union vice-president Larry Muhammad said union executives have issued at least two memos stating the same thing as her flyer — that drivers can refuse overtime.

Simmons said one of the reasons she passed out the flier was to inform the the new, young drivers about exactly the union’s memos.

“They don’t understand that overtime is, is very stressful, very tiresome and the last thing you want as a bus operator is driving up and down the street, stressful and tired,” she said.

A CTA representative contacted by FOX Chicago would not go on camera and would not refer directly to Sandra Simmons by name, but said a driver who passed out fliers engaged in an “illegal job action” and “encouraged other employees to violate rules.”

Leaders of the bus drivers’ union allege CTA executives are pressing for overtime because of the recent layoff of more than 1,000 bus drivers and train operators.

“They’re so short right now, that they want to use Ms. Simmons as an example, to make these people know, you better work this overtime or else you’ll get what she’s going to get,” said Larry Muhammad.

“We understand the CTA is going through a hard time, but don’t try to make an example out of one of the workers, just to make that point.”

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

The latest numbers from Media Create have been released, reflecting results for the hardware sales for the dates February 8th to the 14th. Taking the top spot this week is Sony’s PSP.
 
 
 

This is the Best. Opening. Line in a blog post EVAR:

For some reason, there aren’t that many curling video games. But with the growing popularity of the sport, hopefully that will change in the future. (Emphasis mine.)

Yes, I admit it. I spent my lunch hour today with several co-workers transfixed by the USA vs. Denmark match of the curling competition. Now I know what you’re thinking – who is this person and what the hell has she done with the guttersnipe blogger known as “watertiger”? Why isn’t she castigating asshole Republicans for being, well, asshole Republicans? Why isn’t she catapulting invective at Sarah Palin  for being a conniving, greedy, hypocritical beeyotch?

I’ll tell you why. Because even the most venomous, spiteful and mean-spirited of us needs a break every now and then.

And because I learned more about the sport of curling by watching last Sunday’s episode of  “The Simpsons” than I’d ever known before . . . which, I admit, was next to nothing.

And because the latest curling fashion trend (pictured above) makes golf wear look positively . . . tasteful.  Okay, maybe “tasteful” is the wrong word.

And because there is something hypnotic about the leisurely, contemplative pace of the game amid the frenzy and breakneck speed and potential for violence of hockey, downhill racing, and short track. While hard-bodied, fearless and young athletes are hurtling themselves down the sides of mountains or performing outrageous, gravity-defying McTwists in the half-pipe, the curling “sweepers” quietly glide over the ice to the “house” to discuss strategy over the “rocks”, like billiards players eyeing the geometry of the pool table after the initial break.

I likened it earlier to watching a chess match in the middle of a hurricane that’s been amped up on Red Bull all day. Given the non-stop, frenetic, exhausting nature of American politics (and the general backstabbing douchebaggery of American politicians), having the chance to meditate on a “hackweight takeout” is welcome indeed.

And because it will only be moments before I’ll be back to swearing a blue streak about those two-faced crazies in South Carolina.

(photo credit: Getty Images, via Gawker)

 

Former FCC chair Michael Powell really, really, really wants to believe that there’s viable competition in the broadband market, but he seems to have a history of using tiny experiments (that may go nowhere) as if they prove that there’s real competition. You may recall that when he was in charge of the FCC he declared broadband-over-powerlines “the great broadband hope” despite years and years of failed trials. Following his pronouncements on how BPL would present a viable “third” entrant into the competitive space, the prospects for BPL have continued to dwindle.

Now he’s claiming that Google’s latest decision to offer high speed broadband in very limited trials, shows that the market is generating competition just fine without unnecessary interference from the government via any sort of broadband stimulus plan.

Of course, there are a few problems with this. First, Google has only announced stuff, it hasn’t done anything yet, and even if it does, it appears the trials will be quite limited. But the bigger issue is this myth that the current market is this free and open market unencumbered by bad gov’t regulation. The history of the broadband market is the history of government’s subsidizing and favoring large incumbent telcos. The idea that suddenly everyone wants to “protect the free market” for internet access, when the market has never been a free market is pretty silly. What they mean is actually to protect the market for incumbents. Unless, of course, the incumbents are willing to pay back all the subsidies and preferential treatment they’ve received from the government over the years?

On the whole, I do agree with Powell’s position that we should be careful how we implement any national broadband plan, and that the focus should be on more competition — but I wouldn’t take Google’s announcement alone to be any sort of “evidence” of a free market in internet access.

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If not for federally subsidized school lunches, many kids would have nothing to eat.

But FOX Chicago News discovered billions of dollars worth of good food gets thrown away by schools each year — food that is never opened, never cooked and perfectly edible.

Our cameras found some of those lunches in the garbage at Chicago-area schools. Lunches paid for with your tax dollars.

Sources told FOX Chicago News the most food is thrown away on days when kids don’t like what’s on the menu.

Studies estimate kids all across the us waste about $2 billion in taxpayer money through the national school lunch program.

At $2.40 a meal that adds up to a lot of wasted lunches.

Federal studies show girls waste more than boys, and younger kids waste more than older ones. The foods they throw away most often are predictable — salad, fruit and vegetables.

Studies also found the length of the lunch period also plays into how much food is wasted. If lunch periods are too short, too early, or too late, kids waste more food.

But if school kids can’t or won’t eat those subsidized lunches, soup kitchens say they are happy to take the unwanted food off the schools’ hands.

Still, many schools hesitate to donate their unwanted food even though the federal government encourages them to donate.

Some schools are concerned about liability issues if someone becomes sick from eating donated food, even though a federal law protects food donors from lawsuits.

There is one catch to donating school lunches to food pantries — leftover food must be kept refrigerated when it’s picked up and delivered. And recipients must be a bonafide non-profit like a soup kitchen.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

You’ll have to do a lot of convincing before Square Enix agrees to bring Final Fantasy to handhelds. Producer Yoshinori Kitase said that right now, the consoles are their best bet, thereby shooting down rumors that they

There isn’t enough for teenagers to do in Peoria, so Barry Dorsey wants to do something about it.

Dorsey of Peoria wants to reopen 815 SW Adams St. and call it Club Rio, named in honor of Mario McGee, who, at age 19, was shot and killed Feb. 7, 2009, at his mother’s house on Corrington Avenue.

But Dorsey’s plans need approval from a skeptical city, which is unsure about exactly what will be opening inside a place once called The Rock Christian Entertainment Complex, Club Incognito, Izm, The Taste, among other names and ownerships.

It has been closed since the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Teddy Jackson in 2008 while he worked as a security guard.

“The teens have nothing to do on the weekends,” said Dorsey, who also said this would be the first club he’s operated.

“If we can get good security, get the teens in and to eat and drink and mingle, I think it would personally bring down the crime rate of the younger generation.”

Mordecai Harris, a promoter with MoWaun Entertainment and a supporter of the project, said the venue can serve as a place for teens to go, and for the city to avoid the constant complaint that there isn’t enough in Peoria for them to do.

“A lot of venues in Peoria will not open their doors for anything that has to do with youths,” Harris said. “I think it’s crucial for the city.”

Dorsey needs approval from City Hall before he can open the club, which has been closed for more than one year. On Monday, a meeting will be held among city department officials to analyze Dorsey’s application to see whether the club should open.

Exactly what the club will be is undetermined. Dorsey and Harris said it will be geared toward youths, but Harris also said people of all ages can go to it.

Dorsey said there could be arcade games and pool tables; Harris said live bands and entertainment could perform there as well.

Determining what it is could play a part in if the City Council has a say on whether the club opens.

A youth dance hall license is required to open a teen club in Peoria, and it’s up to the City Council to approve it.

None currently exists within city limits, and the most recent request for one – the Adrenaline at 7620 N. University St. – was denied in 2008 because the proposed club would have been closer than 500 feet to residents.

That doesn’t appear to be an issue with Club Rio, according to at-large City Councilman Eric Turner.

But Turner said he’s concerned about the club being a liability for the city.

“You get 200 to 300 kids in these buildings, you are setting yourself up for a major disaster,” Turner said. “If (a fire) occurs, then people will blame the city.”

Peoria Fire Capt. Dan McGann said the building’s former owners upgraded the building’s sprinkler system and fire alarms. He said another safety check will be conducted by the Fire Department.

He said capacity inside the club will be about 250 to 300 people.

The club has been the site of shootings in the past, including an incident in 2004 at Club Incognito during a post-party for hip-hop artist Ja Rule and the 2008 fatal shooting.

Dorsey, who didn’t find out about the 2008 shooting until after he leased the building, said there have been problems at other clubs in the city, such as at Club Apollo and L.A. Connections, and that they haven’t received the same scrutiny as 815 SW Adams St.

Herman Hobson, 18, an Illinois Central College student and Dorsey’s stepson, doesn’t believe youths will be frightened of the club. He said the place would help keep teens out of trouble.

“I plan on opening the facility to give them something to do,” Dorsey said.

John Sharp can be reached at [email protected].

Read the original article from Journal Star.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

St. Joseph, Mich. — Winter seldom stops the heartiest of Michigan’s fisherman from casting a line, but Don Steinmetz sees a snag on the horizon.

It’s called the Asian carp.

“I looked at photographs taken on the Illinois River, and it’s kinda scary, the numbers that are in there,” Steinmetz said.

“It’s kinda wiped out all fishing in the Illinois River along certain areas. I would just hate to see that happen to Lake Michigan.”

Many in Michigan fear the Asian carp’s voracious appetite would undercut the food chain and wipe out their fish tourism and commercial fishing industries.

Those businesses account for 50,000 jobs in Michigan and inject $4 billion a year into the state’s economy.

Scientists have yet to find an Asian carp in Lake Michigan, but biologists warn of the fishes’ inevtiable advance without the right stopgap.

“We believe that the best alternative here is to keep the carp out,” said Kelley Smith, chief of the fisheries division at Michigan Department of Natural Resources. And how we do that is the issue.”

At a packed town hall meeting in the town of St. Joseph on Thursday, concerned residents listened to the warnings of biologists who said the fish has been stop to catch in Illinois.

The biologists said the best short term fix to stop the Asian carp’s advance is to close Chicago’s locks. That’s the same position supported by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, who is suing Illinois to mandate the shutdown.

“Anyone who cares about health of the great lakes ought to be concerned about this,” Cox said.

“It’s a shame it got in Illinois waters, but they are there, and for health of rest of the great lake states, we can’t allow them to advance any further.”

Illinois shipping and boating interests which say the lawsuit is an assault on their multi-billion dollar industries.

“Is this really about a fish or is this about political priorities,” Steinmetz said. “This is really about a fish. This is no different that how we fought invasive species the past six or seven years ”

Steinmetz said he can relate to the dilemma on the Illinois side of the lake, but he asks Chicagoans to consider the greater good of the region.

“I’m a transplant to Michigan,” he said. “So I can understand their problems with this, but there’s a lot more to this than the city of Chicago.”

On Wednesday, biologists unleashed their latest weapon against the Asian carp problem, launching what they’re calling “search and destroy” missions.

Over the next six months, Michigan’s department of resources plans to send a team to Chicago’s waterways to pitch in.

The Michigan DNR called this fight against this fish its most significant priority.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Crown Point, Ind. — A northwest Indiana woman has been charged with robbery for allegedly holding up a man at knifepoint after he’d paid her to perform a sex act.

Amy Crystal Startup, 31, of the 5100 block of Mulberry Avenue in Portage was charged in Lake Superior Court after police traced her through the phone number she’d written on a matchbook and given to the victim.

The 72-year-old victim told police he was driving Feb. 12 in the 500 block of Melton Road (U.S. 20) in Gary when he saw Startup walking along the road.

He offered her a ride and she agreed. Eventually, the two agreed on sex in exchange for money, police reports said.

Startup is accused of pulling a knife, taking the man’s wallet from his coat pocket, removing the money, climbing out of his car and fleeing.

The man called police, who used the phone number Startup had given the man to contact her.

Startup returned the call and agreed to meet in 10 minutes to perform sex for money. Officers went to the location and arrested her.

The charge, filed Tuesday, is punishable by a maximum 20 years in prison.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

STREAMTEK’s Static Elimination Ion Bar is a shock-less superior performing medium range ionization static elimination bar with a market-leading compact and durable design.

Quality engineered with replacement static bar users and original equipment manufacturers in mind, it delivers high positive and negative ion output in cramped quarters. The bar can be operated by most all power units with output voltage ranging from 4,000 volts to 8,000 volts.

TEMPSENS has setup a modern plant, to produce quality cables with high standard of manufacturing process conforming to national & international specifications. We provide wide range of thermocouple and extension cables . We optimize and add new technology to adapt ourselves to the changes in a demanding world which is constantly advancing.
Our cables are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001. Thorough inspection is performed on every incoming shipment of raw material & complete records are maintained including Test Certificates and chemical analysis. On completion of manufacturing, every coil of cable undergoes a series of Quality Assurance Tests

Reliable, robust and easily interpretable method /
reduced operating costs

Shimadzu, one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of analytical instrumentation, introduces both PPSQ 30A and 33A Edman Sequencer models to the European market. Great demand, proprietary reasons and changes in competitive environment have strengthened Shimadzu`s decision. Shimadzu has included Edman sequencers in its product program for more than 20 years and, having installed several hundred instruments in Asia, is highly experienced in this product segment.

Edman degradation has been developed by Pehr Edman and is a longstanding established method whereby an amino acid is sequentially cleaved from the N-terminus of a protein, derivatized and separated via HPLC to determine its retention time. By comparing the retention times with those of standard amino acids, the N-terminal sequence can be determined.

Quality control of drugs
Although in recent years various mass spectrometric methods have replaced Edman degradation for the identification of proteins, this technique is still very useful. More and more protein-based drugs are being developed, and particularly in these cases it is necessary to accurately determine the N-terminus for quality control.

In spite of longer analysis times, Edman degradation is reliable, robust and its results are easily interpretable. In addition, Edman degradation also enables unequivocal differentiation between isobaric amino acids such as isoleucine or leucine that have the same mass but different structure. Possible impurities can be more effectively determined and quantified via Edman degradation. Identification of proteins that are not included in databases can also be carried out very effectively via Edman degradation.

Considerably lower operating costs
The PPSQ series operates under isocratic separation conditions leading to high reproducibilities. The operating costs are also clearly reduced as HPLC solvents can be recycled and the required reagents can be purchased all over Europe from WAKO Chemicals. Shimadzu’s extensive European service network is an additional reason for deciding to replace an existing system or to a acquire a new system.

Ion Science introduces the new ground breaking PhoCheck Tiger photoionisation detector (PID) for rapid, accurate detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A significant development in PID, the instrument’s powerful software and performance features set new industry standards for hand held VOC detection.

The instrument’s revolutionary PID technology provides a dynamic detection range of 1 parts per billion (ppb) to 20,000 parts per million (ppm), offering the widest measurement range on the market. PhoCheck Tiger is pre programmed with over 450 response factors.

Ready to use right out of the box, PhoCheck Tiger’s advanced software features mean the instrument requires no complicated programming and set up procedures to perform both basic and advanced functions.

The instrument has the fastest response time on the market and is just as quick to clear down. PhoCheck Tiger can be connected directly to a PC via the USB offering extremely fast data download capabilities. Wireless data download via a Bluetooth interface is available as an option.

The instrument’s patented Fence Electrode Technology has received independent verification for best performing PID for speed and accuracy, effectively minimising contamination effects. The instrument’s exceptional performance in high humidity environments is achieved without impairing other features.

PhoCheck Tiger has been designed for the safe replacement of batteries in hazardous environments. Long life rechargeable Li-ion batteries give up to 30 hours of use. Fast battery charging allows the instrument to be fully charged in 6.5 hours, while 8 hours of use can be achieved from 1.5 hours charge.

The unique six pin miniPID detector cell with anti-contamination design dramatically extends run time in the field. Low cost filters and lamps can be easily changed in seconds, minimising instrument downtime. Inexpensive disposable parts mean PhoCheck Tiger has the lowest running costs on the market.

PhoCheck Tiger is a fully upgradeable instrument with multiple functions to choose from. A base unit can be upgraded with data logging, health and safety and ppb options, remotely, without needing to be returned to the factory.

PhoCheck Tiger offers simple, one handed operation. Its rugged design and protective, removable rubber boot withstand the harshest environments. The large, clear back-lit display allows for easy viewing in any light condition. An integrated torch is designed for directing the instrument’s probe into dimly lit areas.

Simple key pad operation and icon driven menu mean ease of use across global markets. The illuminated software keys are large enough to be operated even when wearing the thickest gloves.

The instrument has two 95 bBA audible alarms, two bright flashing LEDs and a vibration alarm. Each function can be selected, switched off or turned down as required.

IECEx, UL and CSA approved, PhoCheck Tiger is globally certified as intrinsically safe for use in hazardous areas. Designed to IP65, the rugged PhoCheck Tiger provides optimal resistance to moisture, dust and contamination.

Target industries and applications for PhoCheck Tiger include Industrial Safety, Environmental, Petrochemical, Chemical, Indoor Air Quality, and Hazardous Materials.

PhoCheck Tiger is available from Ion Science or through its global network of distributors. The instrument comes with a five year warranty as standard.

The Basic belt conveyors by Montech AG deliver all key functions without expensive accessories.

If you are looking for a belt conveyor without control for simple applications, the Basic model by Montech is the right solution. The Basic belt conveyors deliver all essential functions without expensive accessories. The conveyor can run at five different speeds and, optionally, it is available in single- and dual-belt versions. The Basic conveyors are available with drives installed at the end or in the middle, and frame widths between 45 and 800 mm; they can carry loads up to 40 kg.

“With the Basic belt conveyor, we have developed a solution that offers the standard Montech quality at an unbeatable price,” said Gianluca Aloisi, Manager Conveyors & Automation at Montech. The Basic belt conveyors are deployed as feeding and discharge belts on production plants or to link different manufacturing lines.

In addition to tried-and-tested models with halogen and xenon flash lamps, R. STAHL’s 6162 line of signal beacons now also includes energy-saving LED-based continuous beacons and rotating beacons. With little self-heating, these new models are suitable for use in Ex zones 1, 2, 21, and 22. They fulfill the requirements of temperature class T6 and surface temperature for dust explosions protection T80 °C, and come with an integrated “increased safety” wiring space. Thanks to innovative, bright LED technology with a power consumption of merely 60-200 mA, the maintenance-free lamps reach a lifetime of 50,000 hours. The rotating beacon features no moving parts. All beacons are designed for 24 V DC and 230 V AC supply voltages. Their glass hoods have a grooved structure which ensures optimal light distribution. A robust, saltwater-proof aluminum housing provides IP66 protection for all models. The glass hoods are available in the colors signal yellow, clear, red, blue, and orange. A wide range of mounting options enables easy installation and application flexibility.

They said there was going to be a demo before the release of God of War III, right? Well that day is almost upon us and yet there’s still no demo in sight. Not according to this

First came photos of Tiger Woods jogging. Far more compelling will be the sound of his voice.

Woods has not been heard in the 78 days since a magazine released a voicemail that he allegedly left one of the women to whom he has been romantically linked, pleading with her to remove his number from her cell phone.

That changes at 10 a.m. CST Friday when Woods makes his first public appearance since crashing his car into a tree outside his Florida home Nov. 27, sparking sordid revelations of infidelity. The appearance will be streamed live on pjstar.com.

The big question is what will he say? The topic was intriguing Americans — Woods was a trendy subject on Twitter a full day before his appearance.

Almost as intriguing is which “friends, colleagues and close associates” will be in the Sunset Room on the second floor of the Mediterranean-style clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, who made the clubhouse available and is offering logistical help, has said he would attend, and as many as four other members of his executive staff will be in the room.

Security was tight by Thursday afternoon, with the main road to the clubhouse blocked off. Media were headquartered roughly a mile away at the Sawgrass Marriott, where seven satellite trucks were parked.

Inside, a couple of adjacent ballrooms where reporters will be able to watch the Woods’ event looked like they were set up for a Super Bowl party. Flat-screen TVs stood along the walls and there was a big video screen in the center of the room.

A British bookmaker has set odds at 4-to-7 that Woods wife, Elin, will be with him. William Hill didn’t stop there, however. It offers 8-to-1 odds that Woods will announce he is getting a divorce, 12-to-1 odds that his wife is pregnant and 100-to-1 odds that he is retiring.

“While Tiger feels that what happened is fundamentally a matter between he and his wife, he also recognizes that he has hurt and let down a lot of other people who were close to him,” his agent, Mark Steinberg, said in an e-mail Wednesday. “He also let down his fans. He wants to begin the process of making amends and that’s what he’s going to discuss.”

Instead of going on “Oprah” or another national television show to break the ice, Woods essentially will be speaking to the lone camera allowed in the room. It will be televised live via satellite.

Three networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — will carry the statement live. ESPN will have it live on all its platforms, including Internet streaming, radio and mobile. The Golf Channel will start coverage at 10:30 a.m. — call it a 30-minute pregame show.

Steinberg invited three reporters from wire services — The Associated Press, Reuters and Bloomberg — and he turned to the Golf Writers Association of America to come up with a pool of three reporters.

GWAA president Vartan Kupelian, who is retired from The Detroit News and now contributes to pgatour.com, asked the group’s officers. That means Kupelian is going, along with second vice president Bob Harig of espn.com. Kupelian said the first vice president, Mark Soltau, declined. Along with working for Golf Digest, Soltau is the editor of tigerwoods.com.

Kupelian said he still does not have a third GWAA member, and he is lobbying Woods’ camp for a larger pool. A large faction of the GWAA board wants to boycott the appearance because of Steinberg’s rules — no questions are allowed.

“This is not a press conference,” Steinberg said Wednesday, the same day photos of Woods jogging in Florida were released.

Woods has always been about control, even in better times. He refused to go into the media center before a PGA Tour event if he was not the defending champion. If he agreed to a 10-minute interview to pitch a product he endorses, it was common for a company employee to be in the room making sure it didn’t go one second beyond that.

But having not heard from Woods — except for three statements on his Web site — in three months, this event has taken on a life of its own.

Conversation raged online, as many took glee in speculating on what Woods will say Friday.

One of the most popular threads on Twitter carried the tag “tigershouldsay.” Suggestions were predominantly sarcastic, such as: “At least I didn’t use steroids.”

Live events during work hours on weekdays have traditionally meant for robust traffic on the Web, since many viewers will be at work in front of computers, rather than home in front of TVs.

The PGA Tour will have two tournaments in progress Friday, including the third round of the Accenture Match Play Championship, the first title sponsor to drop Woods during this sex scandal. Some players did not think it was a coincidence.

Most of them, however, will be just like everyone else — curious what Woods has to say, and how he says it.

“It has to be held at some stage,” Padraig Harrington said. “The sooner he makes a statement, the better. And the sooner he’s back to playing golf — he’s pretty good at playing golf — the better.”

Read the original article from Journal Star.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Crown Point, Ind. — A south suburban man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal beating of his 5-month-old son in a northwest Indiana apartment.

With relatives of the victim sobbing in court, Ryne Anthony Le Val White, 25, of Monee, was sentenced in Lake County (Ind.) Superior Court, according to the Lake County Prosecutor’s office. He had pleaded guilty on Dec. 16 to neglect of a dependent.

Prosecutors said that on Aug. 21, 2008, White was watching his son, Ryne Anthony White Jr., while the child’s mother went on a job interview.

White’s 9-month-old daughter from another relationship was also present at the Oak Knoll Renaissance apartment in Gary.

The child died of blunt force trauma, according to a release from the prosecutor’s office.

Deputy Prosecutor Judith Massa had argued for a 40-year sentence because of White’s past criminal history — two felony drug convictions in Illinois — and because, “This was his own son, his own baby.”

“This was a tragic and violent death,” Massa said. “Nothing can bring this little baby back to his family but there has to be consequences.

The victim’s grandmother, Quintella Logan told the court through tears that she dearly loved the grandson she would never see again, according to the release. “I just don’t understand,” she said.

The child’s mother, Le’Neka Logan, sobbed as she said, “Nothing I can say can make it any better. Words can only go so far. I hurt every day. There is nothing I can do to get him back.”

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

So you all heard of 3D like a dozen times by now (OK, maybe more than that), and you are pretty much aware that one has to have a 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray player in order to be able to engulf yourself into this new three dimensional viewing experience. However, if you would like to enjoy some 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound you gotta have an AV receiver, right? Well, for that matter I learned that my current high end receiver (STR-DA6400ES) will not pass through 3D because its HDMI spec is not at 1.4 version. Yup, that simple! So Sony today would like to put a smiley face on you and let you know that its new AV receivers coming out in summer will be happy to serve 3D to your home theater set up. One of its four receivers STR-DN1010 will do just that and will be around 5 Benjamins. Read on the press release below for more details and meanwhile can anyone answer this question for me: how come my mighty and ever updatable PS3 can get a sweet 3D firmware upgrade and be able to play and pass 3D content while my other Sony equipment cannot get such royal treatment?

SONY INTRODUCES ITS FIRST 3D COMPATIBLE AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER

Three Powerful Models with Expanded Connectivity Also Join Line-up

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18, 2010 – Sony today announced its first A/V receiver capable of supporting 3D audio and video.

Featuring HDMI™ 1.4 3D pass-through technology, ample high definition connectivity and compatibility with all of the latest Blu-ray Disc™ audio formats, the new STR-DN1010 A/V receiver is designed to create a simple solution for controlling any high definition or 3D capable home theater.

“It’s important for consumers to understand the role that audio plays in the in-home 3D experience,” said Neal Manowitz, director of Sony’s Home Audio and Video division. “By streamlining connectivity and supporting 3D hardware and software, the STR-DN1010 receiver will provide a simplified approach to 3D home theater control and performance, ensuring the best possible user experience.”

The 7.1 channel STR-DN1010 A/V receiver (110 watts power per channel @8-Ohms, 1kHz, 1% THD) features full high definition 1080/24p support and seven HD inputs in total (four HDMI and three component) allowing for connection to a wide variety of HD devices. The receiver’s HDMI 3D pass-through technology supports 3D video from connected devices and passes them through to a 3D compatible high definition television, while decoding high-resolution audio codecs.

The receiver also features an icon-driven menu system for simple device and content navigation and has the ability to upscale analog video sources to 1080p resolution via HDMI. The model also boasts a sleek piano black gloss design that matches Sony’s line of Blu-ray Disc players and televisions.

The STR-DN1010 is compatible with all advanced audio codecs, including Dolby® TrueHD, dts®-HD Master Audio and features wireless 2nd zone capabilities through Sony’s S-AIR® wireless technology. With the addition of an S-AIR transmitter (model EZW-T100) and separate S-AIR speakers (sold separately), the receiver can also drive wireless audio in up to 10 additional rooms.

The STR-DN1010 A/V receiver also features a Digital Media Port (DMP) input for simple connection to external sources including an iPod® and iPhone® (compatible DMP accessories required and sold separately) and is compatible with both Deep Color™ and x.v.Color™.

The STR-DN1010 A/V receiver will be available this June for about $500.

Sony also introduced the new STR-DH810, STR-DH710 and STR-DH510 A/V receiver models to its core line-up. Specifications are as follows:

STR-DH810 A/V Receiver

Available in March for about $400

· 7.1 channel (110 watts power per channel @8-Ohms, 1 kHz, 1% THD)

· Seven HD connections (4 HDMI / 3 component)

· Upscales incoming analog video signals to 1080p

· 2nd Zone wireless audio (S-AIR ready)

· Compatible with Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD Master Audio

· Fully assignable audio and video inputs

· Audio Return Channel using just one cable for TV audio

· Stand by pass-through of Audio & Video via HDMI connected devices

· Universal Remote

STR-DH710 A/V Receiver

Available in March for about $300

· 7.1 channel (105 watts power per channel @8-Ohms, 1 kHz, 1% THD)

· Six HD connections (3 HDMI / 3 component)

· 2nd Zone wireless audio (S-AIR ready)

· Compatible with Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD Master Audio

· Fully assignable inputs allows for use of all connections

· Audio Return Channel using just one cable for TV audio

· Stand by pass-through of Audio & Video via HDMI connected devices

STR-DH510 A/V Receiver

Available in March for about $230

· 5.1 channel (100 watts power per channel @8-Ohms, 1 kHz, 1% THD)

· Five HD connections (3 HDMI / 2 component)

· HDMI Repeater for simplified audio and video signal management

· Blu-ray Disc Audio Decoding (Linear PCM Only)

· Audio Return Channel using just one cable for TV audio

· Stand by pass-through of Audio & Video via HDMI connected devices