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Group contends popular Zhu Zhu Pets toys unsafe

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:13:53 +0000

ST. LOUIS – A consumer group contends one of the holiday season’s must-have toys is unsafe.
But the maker of the robotic Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters defended its product Saturday against a study by San Francisco-based GoodGuide that said higher-than-allowed levels of the chemical antimony were found in the toy.
Good Guide named Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters one of the top-selling toys with low ratings after finding antimony, which can cause health problems, on the hair and nose of one of the toy hamsters, called Mr. Squiggles.
The group assigned the toy, aimed at 3- to 10-year-olds, a rating of 5.2 on a 10-point scale.
But the toy’s maker, St. Louis-based Cepia LLC, insisted in a statement that its product is safe and has passed rigorous testing. The company said it was contacting GoodGuide to share its testing data and determine how the report was founded.
“I have been in the toy industry for more than 35 years, and being a father of children myself, I would never allow any substandard or unsafe product to hit the shelves,” Russ Hornsby, Cepia’s CEO, said in the statement.
Zhu Zhu Pets, which retail for about $10, have become this season’s toy craze, following in the footsteps of Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Kids. The items fetch $40 or more on resale Web sites like eBay and Craigslist.
That’s what brought it to GoodGuide’s attention. GoodGuide CEO Dara O’Rourke told The Associated Press on Saturday that his group bought three of each of the year’s 30 hottest toys and tested them multiple times.
Antimony was measured at 93 parts per million in the hamster’s fur and at 106 parts per million in its nose. Both readings exceed the allowable level of 60 parts per million, said O’Rourke, an associate professor of environmental science at the University of California, Berkeley.
O’Rourke said GoodGuide’s test results, released Friday, also indicated the possibility that some toys contained phthalates, chemicals that were subject to tougher standards in the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act passed last year.

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admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:31:47 +0000

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Austrian news agency: Artist Hrdlicka dead

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:19:54 +0000

VIENNA – Austrian artist Alfred Hrdlicka, whose controversial works in metal, paint and pencil alienated as much as attracted the public died Saturday, Austrian media reported. He was 81.
The Austria Press Agency cited gallery owner Ernst Hilger as announcing Hrdlicka’s death in the daily Die Presse. Telephone calls late Saturday to Hilger’s private number as well to his downtown Vienna gallery, which frequently exhibited Hrdlicka’s works, were not returned.
Hrdlicka’s sculptures, drawings and paintings are known as much for their artistic subtlety as their controversial themes. His religious works, in particular, drew protest from believers who considered them blasphemous.
Among his better-known works are his cast iron sculpture of a prostrate figure covered by barbed wire in downtown Vienna. The starkly disturbing “Memorial Against War and Fascism” has been occasionally defaced since it was unveiled in 1991.
Known to have been deeply influenced by his studies of the mentally ill during the late 1960s, Hrdlicka turned to a figurative expressive style meant to provoke his audience to confront the world’s anguish, pain and misery. For him, art was agitprop and he understood his life as an artist as a mission to educate the public to oppose war and violence.
An atheist who espoused communist beliefs, he married religious themes with topics considered taboo among believers. One of his last exhibitions “Religion, Flesh and Power” was exhibited last year in the museum of Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral. A central work based on the Last Supper was removed on orders of Vienna’s Cardinal Cristoph Schoenborn after protests that it depicted Jesus and his apostles as homosexuals at an orgy.
Born in Vienna Feb. 27, 1928, Hrdlicka first was apprenticed as a dental technician before starting studies at the Academy of Fine Arts under Josef Dobrowsky and Albert Paris Guetersloh. Later he participated in Fritz Wotruba’s sculpture class until 1957.
Just seven years later, after a series of exhibitions in Austria, he was chosen to represent Austria in the Biennale in Venice. He taught at fine art academies in Stuttgart, Hamburg and Berlin, before returning to the Austrian capital and a professorship at the University for Applied Arts in Vienna.
His oft-cited dictum, “all art comes from flesh” is reflected in his later works. For Hrdlicka, art that avoided the human condition was nothing more than decoration and not to be taken seriously.
Hrdlicka was also sought after as a set designer on opera and theater stages across Europe.

Arizona gets late TD, beats USC 21-17

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:17:20 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Juron Criner stumbled into the end zone with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Nick Foles with 3:14 to play, and Arizona wrapped up its best regular season in a decade Saturday with a 21-17 victory over not-so-mighty Southern California.
Foles passed for 239 yards and two TDs and ran for another score for the Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10), who finally beat No. 20 USC for the first time in coach Mike Stoops’ tenure by scoring the final touchdown in a defense-dominated game.
After Jordan Congdon made a 37-yard field goal with 7:13 left to put the Trojans (8-4, 5-4) ahead, Arizona converted three straight third downs on the decisive drive. Criner then caught a long fade pass and fought through a tackle into the end zone, silencing the nearly half-empty Coliseum crowd watching USC’s second home loss in three games.
The Trojans were 47-1 at the Coliseum before last month’s loss to Stanford, but their second home defeat finished off the most embarrassing season of coach Pete Carroll’s remarkable tenure.
Arizona secured a share of second place in the Pac-10 with its first eight-win regular season since 1998 by knocking off a ranked team for the sixth straight season under Stoops, who has finally beaten every team in the conference.
Foles struggled in a 22-of-40 performance, but made several big throws— including an early TD pass to Delashaun Dean set up by an interception—while the Wildcats played again without leading rusher Nic Grigsby, who has a sprained shoulder.
Not even Senior Day could coax any consistency out of the dismal USC offense led by Matt Barkley, who went 20 of 37 for 144 yards with the 12th interception of his rocky freshman season. Allen Bradford rushed for 66 yards and a tying touchdown late in the third quarter, and Ronald Johnson caught a TD pass.
After beginning the season in search of their eighth straight Pac-10 title and BCS bowl berth, the Trojans are likely to finish in sixth place. A victory over Arizona likely would have put them in the Holiday Bowl, but now they could be headed for a more humbling trip to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl.
USC couldn’t get a first down on its ensuing drive after Criner’s catch, with Barkley throwing three straight incompletions—including a fourth-down throw over the head of Damian Williams, who was open down the middle. USC got the ball back with seven seconds left, but Barkley was sacked by Earl Mitchell.
Both teams already played their traditional season-ending rivalry games last week, with USC beating UCLA 28-7 and Arizona holding off Arizona State 20-17.
With USC wrapping up its least successful season since 2001, the Coliseum had tens of thousands of empty seats under appropriately cloudy skies. The Trojans were mostly lifeless early, trailing 14-7 at halftime and managing just 120 yards of offense in the first half.
Joe McKnight managed just 35 yards while playing with a bruised thigh, but still became the Trojans’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005 with a short rush in the fourth quarter.
Stafon Johnson, the USC tailback who nearly died in a weightlifting accident that ended his season in September, was the last of USC’s seniors to take the field in pregame introductions. Johnson, who wore his jersey and a stocking cap as he posed for pictures with his mother and teammates, still hasn’t decided whether he’ll attempt to return for another season.

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Ruskell done running Seattle Seahawks

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:45:33 +0000

RENTON, Wash. (AP)—Tim Ruskell has been pushed out as president and general manager of the Seahawks, leaving the door open for Mike Holmgren’s possible return to Seattle.
Ruskell announced his resignation Thursday, weeks before his five-year contract with the team ends. He asked the team if he was going to be retained so he could begin planning for offseason moves. Owner Paul Allen, the ailing Microsoft Corp. tycoon, and Seahawks chief executive officer Tod Leiweke told Ruskell no, so he left.
“Obviously there’s great sadness today but I will leave here with great memories of this place and the people. It’s been the people for me,” Ruskell said, his voice breaking and holding back tears during a news conference attended by his sister and the team’s staff.
The team’s ownership gave Ruskell full authority to shape the franchise soon after he arrived before the 2005 season. Seattle made its only Super Bowl that season.
Since then, he has presided over failed top draft choices, expensive free-agent busts—and the awkward ouster of popular coach and former GM Mike Holmgren at the end of his contract this past January.
Ruskell brought in his own coach for 2009, Jim Mora. The 4-7 Seahawks are on their way to a second straight season without a playoff berth. Last season they finished 4-12, their worst record since 1991.
“Quite simply, we didn’t win enough games,” Leiweke said. “I work for a man, Mr. Paul Allen, who has exacting standards.”
Ruskell understood that.
“It didn’t happen quickly enough,” he said, “but it wasn’t because we didn’t do it right.”
Seahawks vice president for player personnel Ruston Webster will serve as interim general manager.
Leiweke added that he expects Mora to remain the coach, Webster would be a good GM candidate, and “stability is something we will try to push for.”
No conceivable candidate knows the Seahawks better than Holmgren, who became their longest-tenured and winningest coach from 1999-2008. The first four years, he was also their GM.
Holmgren has declared his desire to return to the NFL after one year away. He took 2009 off as a promise to his wife and family but now says he wants to return to football. He hasn’t specified where, or whether it is to coach or be an executive.
But the former Super Bowl-winning coach has long coveted a second chance to be a GM. He’s often said how much he admires the position Bill Parcells, a good friend and another former coach, now has atop the Miami Dolphins’ franchise. Holmgren still owns a home in the Seattle area.
When asked whether Holmgren is a candidate, Leiweke said, “I’m just not going to go there. I’m just not going to talk about that today.”
Ruskell arrived in February 2005 as a veteran of 20 years in scouting following a stint in Atlanta as the assistant GM, when Mora was the Falcons’ coach. Ruskell presided over three consecutive NFC West titles to begin his Seattle tenure, including that Super Bowl season of 2005 when he overhauled the defense and scored a major coup in drafting overlooked linebacker Lofa Tatupu(notes).
But the Seahawks have regressed since then.
Ruskell was part of the decision that allowed perennial Pro Bowl offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson(notes) to leave for Minnesota as a free agent soon after the 2006 Super Bowl; Seattle’s line hasn’t been the same since.
Ruskell signed running back Shaun Alexander(notes) to a $62 million, eight-year contract with $15.1 million guaranteed even though Alexander was about to turn 30—an age at which most running backs begin to decline. Just over two years and several injuries later, Alexander was released.
To replace him, Ruskell spent millions on veteran running backs Julius Jones(notes), T.J. Duckett(notes) and Edgerrin James(notes). Jones is fighting for his job with emerging Justin Forsett(notes), a seventh-round draft choice in 2008 whom the Seahawks cut last year then brought back. Duckett and James were released this season.
Seattle is 29th in the league in rushing.
Ruskell traded a first-round draft choice to New England in 2006 for wide receiver Deion Branch(notes), then gave the former Super Bowl MVP a $39 million contract with $13 million guaranteed. Branch has had seasons with 53, 49, 30 and now 26 catches—plus two knee surgeries, including a reconstructive surgery.

Polanco, Phillies agree to $18M, 3-yr contract

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:42:47 +0000

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Placido Polanco(notes) is putting aside his Gold Glove and switching positions to have a chance at winning a championship.
Polanco returned to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, agreeing to an $18 million, three-year contract.
The 34-year-old free agent won Gold Gloves at second base for the Detroit Tigers in 2007 and this year, but will shift to third base, which hasn’t been his primary position since 2002. He replaces Pedro Feliz(notes), who became a free agent after the Phillies declined his $5.5 million option.
“I always wanted to be here, I never wanted to leave,” Polanco said. “One of the reasons I wanted to come back is because it’s pretty obvious the team is committed to winning. And I want to win. That’s it. They asked me if I was willing to play another position and I was like, ‘Sure.’ I can play third base. I played in college, in St. Louis and I also played some third here. I feel pretty confident about it.”
Polanco first joined the Phillies in the trade that sent Scott Rolen(notes) to St. Louis in July 2002. He hit .297 with 38 homers and 160 RBIs in parts of four seasons in Philadelphia. Once Chase Utley(notes) become the regular second baseman, Polanco’s role was reduced. He was traded to Detroit in June 2005 for reliever Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramon Martinez(notes).
Polanco batted .285 for the Tigers last season with 31 doubles, 10 homers and 72 RBIs. He hit .341 and made the All-Star team in 2007.
“For him to come back to Philadelphia to change positions, it’s just one of the things he’s about,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “He’s not only a tremendous professional and a championship-type player, but he’s a championship-type person, and that’s what we’re trying to do here, bring championship-type people, both talent-wise and personnel-wise.”
Polanco gets a $500,00 signing bonus, $5 million next season, $5.25 million in 2011 and $6.25 million in 2012. The deal includes a $5.5 million mutual option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout.
“The Phillies were always my first choice,” he said. “I played here, I know most of the guys here, I know the city. And they have a pretty good team that’s committed to win. I thank all of the other teams that expressed interest in me, but the Phillies were always my first choice.”
Polanco is a .303 hitter with 90 homers, 579 RBIs and 71 stolen bases in 12 seasons.
He joins a potent lineup that features five All-Stars—Utley, Shane Victorino(notes), Ryan Howard(notes), Jayson Werth(notes) and Raul Ibanez(notes)—and former MVP Jimmy Rollins(notes). He’s an ideal No. 2 hitter, but that’s been Victorino’s spot in the order.
“I want to win and you look around and we have a lot of great players,” Polanco said. “It seems like you could flip this lineup around and it would still be good, you know? Whatever Charlie wants me to do, I’d be more than happy to do it. I just know everyone here plays to win. Chase, Victorino, Rollins, Howard, everybody.”
The NL champions also agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with infielder Juan Castro(notes), who hit .277 with one home run and nine RBIs in 57 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
The 37-year-old Castro replaces utilityman Eric Bruntlett(notes), who became a free agent. Castro made 19 starts at shortstop, eight at second base and two at third base, while also appearing in left field for two games.
Castro’s contract includes a $700,000 salary next year, and the deal has a $750,000 club option for 2011 with a $50,000 buyout.
“In Juan Castro, we have a versatile guy who can play multiple positions and is coming off a year in which he swung the bat fairly well,” Amaro said. “We’re very happy to add him to our club, as he will give Charlie options.”

Arum goes to Philippines for fight meet

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:38:54 +0000

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Promoter Bob Arum flew Wednesday to the Philippines with a proposed contract for a March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The contract was agreed to by Mayweather’s representatives, but the boxer has yet to sign. Arum was to present the proposal to Pacquiao, but there are no guarantees he will agree.
Still, the fact Arum would make the trip to the Philippines to try and get his fighter to sign for the bout was an indication that the megafight was moving forward. It would match the two fighters regarded as the best pound-for-pound in the world in a bout at 66.7 kilograms (147 pounds).
The fight was originally projected for May, but Pacquiao’s candidacy for Congress in the Philippines forced promoters to move it forward to March. The Philippine national elections are in May, and Pacquiao wanted to be at home to campaign.
Promoters for both fighters had agreed to a blackout on negotiations for the bout, so no one would comment on the record. A person close to the promotion spoke on terms his identity would remain confidential.
If the fight is made, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever, assuming pay-per-view projections are accurate.
Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Dallas Cowboys’ stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have fought their biggest fights. There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort.
Oddsmakers are already taking bets on the fight, with most making the undefeated Mayweather a slight favorite.