Cancer-Fighting Compound Might Double as Reversible Male Contraceptive

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A protein-blocking compound has been found to impair sperm production in mice without the use of hormones

By Roxanne Khamsi

The discovery of a hormone-free way to immobilize sperm in mice could lead to the development of oral contraceptives for men. (This image actually shows Eucalyptus macrocarpa stamens under high magnification, which somewhat resemble sperm cells swimming en masse.) Image: flickr/Squil

Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...

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From Nature Medicine's "Spoonful of Medicine" blog:

The serendipitous finding that a potential cancer-fighting compound temporarily halts sperm production in mice has seeded new hopes for a reversible male contraceptive pill. At a time when the only non-hormonal contraceptive choices for men consist of condoms and vasectomies, the finding, published today in the journal Cell, has stirred the interest of pharmaceutical companies, although its quite far from entering clinical trials.

Several new contraceptives that rely on steroid hormones are in the works to reduce sperm production in men. However, most products developed to date seem to carry undesirable side effects, such as acne and perturbations of cholesterol levels. So, scientists have sought to halt sperm production with compounds that do not alter hormones, targeting everything from calcium ion channels on the tails of sperm to the production of retinoic acid, a metabolite of Vitamin A that has a role in their development. A team led by Dolores Mruk at the Population Councils Center for Biomedical Research in New York has even reported in Nature Medicine on the discovery of a chemical compound known as Adjudin that can stop sperm-forming cells from adhering to the Sertoli cells that nurture them.

The new findings announced today also describe a non-hormonal drug for stopping spermbut contraception was the furthest thing from the minds of James Bradner and his colleagues at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who initially developed the experimental compound.

As we reported last year, Bradners team had investigated a small molecule called JQ1 for its ability to thwart cancer by acting on a protein named BRD4. They showed success in mice with multiple myeloma, and other groups soon reported similar findings in animal models of leukemia and lymphoma. Bradner has been downright evangelical about the drug ever since, shipping it to more than 250 labs worldwide, according to a profile of Bradner published last week in Nature.

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Cancer-Fighting Compound Might Double as Reversible Male Contraceptive

New Jersey Medical School Researchers Develop DNA Sequencing Tests for Hereditary Diseases

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Newswise NEWARKScientists at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ-NJMS) have developed new DNA sequencing tests that hold significant promise for decreasing costs associated with diagnosing cancer and hereditary diseases, including cysticfibrosis.

Officials at the New Jersey Department of Health approved the use of the new Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Carrier and Diagnosis Test, which was created at the Institute for Genomic Medicine at UMDNJ-NJMS. Using a semiconductor mechanism that was developed by San Francisco-based Ion Torrent, the microchip tests the entire gene for mutations. IGM now offers this certified Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory service for hospitals as well as obstetrics and gynecology practices throughout the Garden State.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation web site, More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. This chronic disease impacts the lungs and the digestive system. It occurs when a child inherits one defective CF genefrom each parent. Statistics show New Jersey averages 125,000 births of children who are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis annually.

We believe the adaptation of this new sequencing technology will drastically improve our ability to analyze genetic disorders, said Marvin N. Schwalb, PhD, director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine. Traditional CF sequencing testing costs thousands of dollars making the test unavailable for carrier screening. This new test costs less than $200. Most importantly, the genetic carrier test we developed improves the diagnosis rate to 98 percent. While the test provides significant improvement for all populations, the improved rate is particularly valuable for minorities because current carrier screening methods only detects approximately 65% of mutations in these populations.

The new technology provides many advances including the ability to test as many as 96 samples on a single platform and the fact that the equipment cost 1/10 as much as the previous technology.

IGM has developed another test, which was also approved by the NJHSS, for mitochondrial DNA. Mutations in mitochondria cause a wide variety of diseases, such eye and neuromuscular system disorders and possible cancer.

Schwalb, a professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at NJMS, said, We are proud of the fact that the IGM is a world leader in the advancement of genetic diagnosis. DNA sequencing will keep us very busy for a while. In the state of New Jersey, there is nothing thatcompares to this advancement and this is just the beginning.

To arrange an interview with Dr. Marvin Schwalb, contact Kaylyn Kendall Dines at 973-972-1216.

About New Jersey Medical School:

Founded in 1954 as the Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry, UMDNJNew Jersey Medical School was the state's first medical school. Today, it is part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. NJMS has four mission areas: education, research, clinical care, and community outreach. It has 22 academic departments and more than 60 centers and institutes. In addition to offering the MD degree to its students, NJMS also offers, MD/PhD, MD/MPH, and MD/MBA degrees through collaborations with other institutions of higher education.

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New Jersey Medical School Researchers Develop DNA Sequencing Tests for Hereditary Diseases

UCR Medical School: Funding bill stalls in committee

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Posted on | August 16, 2012 | Comments

UC Riverside School of Medicine Research Building

Legislation that would give the UC Riverside Medical School $15 million finally made it to committee Thursday, quickly stalled, and is likely dead for the year.

The bill by Assemblyman Jeff Miller, R-Corona, emerged earlier this summer and had co-authors from across Inland Southern California. It proposed to allocate $15 million to help open the medical school from the states expected settlement of an overbilling case with the Senior Care Action Network (SCAN.)

The bill idled in the Senate Rules Committee for several weeks. Thursday, it was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where majority Democrats voted to place it on the suspense file. Later, it was among dozens of bills left on suspense.

There are significant costs, the panels chairwoman, state Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, said during the hearing.

Miller is the Republican candidate for Riverside Countys 31st Senate District, a top fall target of Senate Democrats. In a statement a short while ago, Miller blamed partisan politics for the bills demise.

It is extremely disappointing to see Sacramento Democrats put partisan politics first and block the vital funding needed to get the UC Riverside Medical School off the ground, said Miller. Its clear that the political bosses are more interested in playing political games than improving health care.

Earlier, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, denied that the SD-31 race had anything to do with the bill.

My thoughts are it is premature and there ought to be a public-policy discussion about how to spend those proceeds, he said of the SCAN settlement. Without mentioning Miller, Steinberg alluded to legislative Republicans blanket opposition to new tax revenue.

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UCR Medical School: Funding bill stalls in committee

Liberty Tax to Report Fiscal 2013 First Quarter Results on August 29

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

JTH Holding, Inc. (TAX) the parent company of Liberty Tax Service, will report fiscal 2013 first quarter results on Wednesday, August 29, before the market opens. At that time, a copy of the press release will be available on the companys investor relations website at http://www.libertytax.com.

At 8:30 a.m. eastern, the company will host a conference call for analysts, investors and shareholders. To access the call, please dial the number below approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time:

U.S./Canada (866) 713-8307 or International (617) 597-5307

Participant passcode: 39414021

The call will also be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and public. The link to the webcast may be accessed on the companys investor relations web site at http://www.libertytax.com.

A replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. eastern on August 29, 2012 and continuing until September 5, 2012, by dialing (888) 286-8010 (U.S./Canada) or (617) 801-6888 (International). The participant passcode is 92585839.

About JTH Holding, Inc.

JTH Holding, Inc. is the parent company of Liberty Tax Service. Liberty Tax Service is the fastest-growing retail tax preparation company in the industrys history. Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, a pioneer in the tax industry, Liberty Tax Service has prepared over 10 million individual income tax returns. With 43 years of tax industry experience, Hewitt stands as the most experienced CEO in the tax preparation business, having also founded Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Liberty Tax Service is the only tax franchise on the recently released Forbes Top 20 Franchises for the Buck.

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Liberty Tax to Report Fiscal 2013 First Quarter Results on August 29

Liberty 79, Sun 66

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UpdatedAug 16, 2012 10:43 PM ET

The New York Liberty's goal for the second half of the season is to win 11 of their remaining games. They got off to a good start in their return from the WNBA's Olympic break.

Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points to lead the Liberty to a 79-66 victory over the first-place Connecticut Sun on Thursday night.

Plenette Pierson, returning after missing the New York's last eight games before the hiatus due to a left knee strain, had 16 points to help the Liberty (7-12) snap a three-game skid.

''If we win 11 games we give ourselves a chance to make a playoff push,'' Pondexter said. ''It's attainable. Right now we got 10 to go. I really feel we have a chance to win some games on the road.''

The Liberty, who have 15 games remaining, play their next five on the road - starting with a rematch against Connecticut on Saturday night. They then close with seven of their last 10 at home.

Renee Montgomery scored 16 points, and Allison Hightower and Mistie Mims added 12 each for the Sun (15-5), who snapped a five-game winning streak.

''We struggled tonight,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. ''We shot terrible in the second half and we turned it over.''

Tina Charles, who helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the London Games, had just four points and 12 rebounds, while fellow Olympian Asjha Jones sat out due to a strained left Achilles' tendon - an injury she was dealing with before the break.

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Liberty 79, Sun 66

Pondexter, Pierson help Liberty beat Sun 79-66

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Liberty's goal for the second half of the season is to win 11 of their remaining games. They got off to a good start in their return from the WNBA's Olympic break.

Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points to lead the Liberty to a 79-66 victory over the first-place Connecticut Sun on Thursday night.

Plenette Pierson, returning after missing the New York's last eight games before the hiatus due to a left knee strain, had 16 points to help the Liberty (7-12) snap a three-game skid.

''If we win 11 games we give ourselves a chance to make a playoff push,'' Pondexter said. ''It's attainable. Right now we got 10 to go. I really feel we have a chance to win some games on the road.''

The Liberty, who have 15 games remaining, play their next five on the road - starting with a rematch against Connecticut on Saturday night. They then close with seven of their last 10 at home.

Renee Montgomery scored 16 points, and Allison Hightower and Mistie Mims added 12 each for the Sun (15-5), who snapped a five-game winning streak.

''We struggled tonight,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. ''We shot terrible in the second half and we turned it over.''

Tina Charles, who helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the London Games, had just four points and 12 rebounds, while fellow Olympian Asjha Jones sat out due to a strained left Achilles' tendon - an injury she was dealing with before the break.

Connecticut dropped to 8-2 on the road and had its lead over second-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference cut to three games.

While the Olympic break helped teams like the Liberty get healthy and refreshed, Thibault believes it disrupted the Sun's momentum.

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Pondexter, Pierson help Liberty beat Sun 79-66

Libertarian candidate makes third gubernatorial run

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Libertarian candidate Barbara Howe is no stranger to running for statewide political office.

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Japan on the Diaoyu Islands to show a sense of proportion—tomslong8.17

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Hong Kong vessel carrying 14 Diaoyu Richland II "failed to dock in Taiwan, but also failed to defend the Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan ship to join, whether it will go alone to the Diaoyu Islands Moncler Jackets Outlet, as well as the Japanese side will deal with the Chinese side Henzhao Paul fishing people, are cause for concern. Sino-Japanese relations are likely to face a test.

Diaoyu Islands is typical of the disputed islands, it's controversial and much higher than the South Kuril Islands and Dokdo, one of the highest in East Asia. The status of the South Kuril Islands, is a World War II left directly above has a large number of Russian residents. Dokdo is Korea firmly in control, the Korean garrison and port facilities. The Diaoyu Islands are a typical desert island with nothing.

In Japan since its Diaoyu Islands have full "actual control", but in reality it is not. Not only civil Diaoyu Islands are China, they had boarded over the Diaoyu Islands Moncler Outlet, and the Chinese enforcement vessels in recent years has been to expand the norm of sovereignty patrol in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands. China announced that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory, never compromise. Japan's so-called "actual control" is false, and China development and utilization of the Diaoyu Islands to stop has been in the actual work.

                              Russian space enterprises responsible for the rocket failure to resign If Japan dispute over sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands as the nature of the South Kuril Islands and Dokdo is self-deception. It has the potential to mislead the mood of the Japanese society, inspire extreme nationalism around the Diaoyu Islands, and eventually the Sino-Japanese relations toward the abyss.

Of course China should also exercise restraint, to see some practical consequences of China is not under the control of the Diaoyu Islands. The Diaoyu Islands should be at this stage is to expand and strengthen the Diaoyu Islands dispute, Japan is trying to Diaoyu Islands by "actual control" legalization dashed lay a solid foundation for future negotiations. China is now on the "back" the Diaoyu Islands, so the reality conditions are not met.

In fact, the understanding of Chinese society on the Diaoyu Islands is generally accurate, the civil Diaoyu both expressed feelings of patriotism, there are quite a sense of proportion. Solution by the two sides had a period of time of the Diaoyu Islands issue difficult to have a similar judgment, thus avoiding the island became the powder keg moment does not stop roaring.

But the recent few years the Japanese have begun acting out of line, the Japanese right-wing recently come up with by the government "bought" the farce of the Diaoyu Islands, Japan's politicians to apply for landing more and more Japanese society seems to be the Diaoyu Islands as a vent China dissatisfaction emotional and injured sense of the object passed on between Russia and South Korea, Japan's activism continued to stimulate the Chinese society Cheap Moncler Jackets.

Japan to make a choice: either to lower the stance, take the initiative to create the conditions so that the Diaoyu Islands, the situation in the disputed state of recovery of low-intensity, or to greet China's determination to go forward to engage with China on the Diaoyu Islands, the comprehensive strength of the escalating confrontation. Whether Japan is how to select, China will fight.

Japan to give up any illusions that China will be soft down. Become stronger and stronger the Diaoyutai voices and will of the Chinese society, China's national strength is growing, the importance of Japan is not greater than the importance of China to Japan, China concessions to Japan on the Diaoyu Islands simply makes no sense.

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Japan on the Diaoyu Islands to show a sense of proportion—tomslong8.17

Islands Trust invites public to participate in town hall meeting

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Islands Trust invites public to participate in town hall meeting

Japanese Group Heads to Disputed Islands After Chinese Arrested

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By Takashi Hirokawa and Isabel Reynolds - 2012-08-17T03:17:47Z

Japan said it will deport 14 Chinese nationals arrested for visiting an island in the East China Sea claimed by both countries, defusing an incident that revived tensions between Asias two biggest economies.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the group of activists from Hong Kong were sent to immigration authorities to begin the deportation process. China demanded their release after they planted a Chinese flag on one of the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.

The arrests reignited bilateral animosity at a time when Japan is mired in a separate territorial dispute with South Korea. Both involve sovereignty over areas with energy reserves and all three countries are seeking to bolster domestic support ahead of leadership contests this year.

Standard rules of the road are to charge these people and release them to China, said Brad Glosserman, executive director of Pacific Forum CSIS, a Honolulu-based research institute. Were in the middle of political transition and uncertainty. Everyone needs to be dialing back their rhetoric.

The decision to deport the activists preceded a trip beginning tomorrow to the islands by a Japanese group including opposition lawmakers. The group is scheduled to arrive in the area by boat on Aug. 19 and will travel around the area without landing.

Territory is not just a physical thing, its also about sovereignty and pride, said Satoru Mizushima, the head of Ganbare Nippon, the group organizing its 10th tour around the uninhabited islands that are administered by Japan. The government should be in charge of this, but they are doing nothing, so China is making these claims.

Opposition Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers Yoshitaka Shindo and Eriko Yamatani are among the group of about 150.

Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun called his Japanese counterpart yesterday and asked for the immediate release of the illegally arrested activists, according to a statement posted on Chinas Foreign Ministry website.

The collision of a Chinese fishing boat with two Japanese Coast Guard vessels near the islands in September 2010, sent bilateral relations to the lowest level in at least five years. The captain of the boat was detained for 17 days before being released.

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Japanese Group Heads to Disputed Islands After Chinese Arrested

KentuckyOne Health cancels contract with Medicaid provider Coventry Cares

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Kentucky's largest health care system on Thursday said it is terminating contracts at all its facilities with Medicaid managed care provider Coventry Cares.

KentuckyOne Health which formed earlier this year to operate Saint Joseph Health System and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare said the terminations will be effective Nov. 1 for Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare and Dec. 1 for Saint Joseph Health System.

Coventry is one of four companies hired by the state to manage care for the 560,000 Kentuckians enrolled in the federal-state health insurance program for the poor and disabled. Coventry has given notice in recent months to many Kentucky hospitals and health care providers that it intends to terminate or renegotiate contracts.

KentuckyOne decided to stop working with Coventry after the Medicaid provider sent a contract termination letter to Our Lady of Peace hospital in Louisville on April 27 that was effective July 18, said KentuckyOne spokeswoman Barbara Mackovic.

Our Lady of Peace is one of the largest private, non-profit psychiatric hospitals in the country and works with all four Medicaid managed care companies to serve a high-risk patients with intellectual disabilities, Mackovic said.

"Many of the children served by Our Lady of Peace have no other facility to meet their highly specialized mental and behavioral health needs," she said. "In addition, 75 percent of patients at Our Lady of Peace are children and adolescents, many of which have developmental delays with dual diagnosis."

CoventryCares also terminated its contract with Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville, another of KentuckyOne's facilities, she said.

"We feel CoventryCare's actions will ultimately hinder and prevent the care our communities need and deserve," Mackovic said. "That is especially true when a plan would put our most vulnerable patient populations at Our Lady of Peace at risk."

Officials with CoventryCares did not immediately answer a telephone call and an e-mail seeking comment.

Mackovic said KentuckyOne will continue contracts with Kentucky Spirit, WellCare and Passport, the other managed care organizations.

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KentuckyOne Health cancels contract with Medicaid provider Coventry Cares

Prosperous Native-American tribes grow anxious about legalization of Internet gambling

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Public release date: 16-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2156 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, August 16, 2012Every year tribal gaming generates billions of dollars in revenue, creates tens of thousands of jobs, and boosts the economies of many Native American communities. In the state of California alone, tribal gaming has brought in $7.5 billion annually. However, because of the aggressive movement to legalize Internet gambling, which effectively would give states the power to regulate and tax online gambling even on reservations, the financial success of these communities could change. In "Native American Off-Reservation Gaming," an expert roundtable published in Gaming Law Review and Economics, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers, panelists discuss and debate the issues of tribal gaming, focusing on the impactboth positive and negativeon both tribes and their surrounding communities. The full tables of content for Gaming Law Review and Economics are available online.

"Though some tribes have been incredibly successful financially from casino and resort businesses, experts have observed that the Native American gaming revenues are already going flat," says Joseph M. Kelly, PhD, JD, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Gaming Law Review and Economics, professor of business law at SUNY College at Buffalo, and co-author of the article, 'Enforcement of Native American Gambling Debts.' "There is concern amongst many of these tribes that state legalization of online gambling might have a negative impact on their revenues. Many tribal experts instead would prefer federal regulation."

###

About the Journal

Gaming Law Review and Economics: Regulation, Compliance, and Policy is the only authoritative peer-reviewed journal covering traditional land-based, Internet, and wireless gaming law in one of the fastest growing economic leisure industries. The Journal provides the latest developments in legislative, regulatory, and judicial decisions affecting gaming at both the state and federal level in the U.S. and in more than 75 countries, as well as coverage of economic issues associated with the exponential growth of casinos and gaming practices. Topics include legal aspects of all forms of gaming, including casino games, lotteries, sports books, and horse racing; new regulations in Internet and wireless gaming; legal restrictions on gaming and advertising; gaming license requirements within and across jurisdictions; legal aspects of credit and collection of debts; litigation in application, citing, and employment issues concerning casino operations; gaming tax issues; and intellectual property. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed online at the Gaming Law Review and Economics: Regulation, Compliance, and Policy website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science, biomedical research, and law including Election Law Journal and Biotechnology Law Report. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801 http://www.liebertpub.com Phone: (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax (914) 740-2101

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Prosperous Native-American tribes grow anxious about legalization of Internet gambling

Freedom Game to Help Fund Memorial in Independence

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August 16, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom FLORENCE, KY - Every Tuesday night when the Florence Freedom are home, the team has partnered with different Northern Kentucky communities by hosting their night at the ballpark; giving discounts to residents and raising support for a charity that hits close to home.

On Tuesday, August 21, residents of Northern Kentucky can rally together to support the city of Independence as they raise support for the building of the Memorial Oaks of South Kenton military veterans and first responders memorial, which is currently under construction on the campus of Simon Kenton High School in Independence.

"It's location on the Simon Kenton High School campus will serve as a daily reminder to our young people of the honor of service to country and community," Independence City Council member Chris Reinersman said.

This project is funded completely with community support and without any public funding.

"It has been my great privilege to work with our local veterans, firefighters, police officers and other community leaders to see this project come to fruition, however support is still needed," Reinersman continued.

The night is being sponsored by Kwik Kopy Printing and All Signs of Northern Kentucky.

To assist the memorial fund, residents can enjoy $2 off $10 reserved tickets for the August 21 event buy purchasing their tickets online at FlorenceFreedom.com. Click the "Community Tab' at the top for the discounted link. Then, the Freedom will donate $3 of every ticket sold to benefit the building campaign.

The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all their home games at the Home of the Florence Freedom located at 7950 Freedom Way, in Florence, KY. The Freedom box office may be reached Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm and on Saturday from 10am-2pm.

Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board... Digg this story Add to Del.icio.us

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom Game to Help Fund Memorial in Independence

Freedom comes with responsibility — Tay Tian Yan

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AUG 17 The controversies over the section 114A of the Evidence Act are not hard to comprehend. The key lies with the correlation between the freedom accorded and accountability.

To enjoy freedom of expression, one is ethically bound to shoulder the responsibility of exercising such a freedom.

This is a basic social norm and the core spirit of a community ruled by law. Any orderly democratic society cannot do away with this prerequisite.

That said, there is often a grey zone standing in the way of freedom and responsibility. It is at times next to impossible to draw a distinct line between the two opposing attributes.

Several days ago, a friend forwarded me a joke that somewhat epitomises such a conflict.

A Beijing reporter asks a visiting leader: What do you think of the hostesses here?

Appearing shocked, the leader asks: You mean you have hostesses in Beijing as well?

The newspaper headline the following morning: Visiting Leader asks for Beijing hostesses.

The leader rings up to clarify: Please, Im not interested in hostesses!

Another days headline: Uninterested in local hostesses, the Leader has higher tastes for after-dark pleasure.

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Freedom comes with responsibility — Tay Tian Yan

Ronda Rousey to Cyborg: "Stop Doping, Lose the Weight" and Fight Me at 135

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The beef between Strikeforce bantamweight title holder "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey and Cris "Cyborg" Santos is well-documented, and after Cyborg's recent call out, Rousey was quick to respond.

"As long as she makes 135, I don't care if she's injecting horse semen into her eyeballs but thats the only way I feel it would be a fair fight," Rousey said on TSN Radio's The MMA Report with John Pollack (transcribed by MMA Fighting).

"Shes never had a fair fight in her life and I see how the prospect of that would scare the hell out of her and why she would insist at fighting heavier."

Santos, who has served nine months of a one-yearsuspension issued by the California State Athletic State Commission for testing positive for the steroidstanozolol, made it clear she would like to fight Rousey in her return fight at either 145 pounds or a catch weight of 140 pounds.

Rousey, a former Olympic bronze medalist in Judo, also stated that Cyborg could make bantamweight "easily" if she "cut out all the doping."

The current face of women's MMA also hinted that she would be open to a 140-pound catch weight bout...if she believed Cyborg was professional enough to make the 140-pound weight limit

"She has a history of coming in overweight to fights and I wouldn't doubt that if we agreed to some sort of catchweight at 140, shed show up at 145 anyway and be like 'ah whatever, fight or not.' Shes done this many times before. I don't owe her anything. She's completely defamed, and anything shes ever done is nothing because she is a big old cheater and she's been doping her whole life."

The 25-year-old champion's comments are a little off base here, as Cyborg has only missed weight once, when she faced Hitomi Akano at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz in April 2009.

Santos weighed in at 151 pounds for a bout scheduled to take place at featherweight (145 pounds).

Although the Brazilian is a former Strikeforce champion in her own right, that doesn't make Rousey think she owes Cyborg anything.

Originally posted here:

Ronda Rousey to Cyborg: "Stop Doping, Lose the Weight" and Fight Me at 135

Strikeforce champ Rousey welcomes Carano fight but gunning for 'Cyborg' grudge match

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by John Morgan on Aug 16, 2012 at 3:25 pm ET

And while Rousey currently has Sarah Kaufman to contend with, the Strikeforce female bantamweight champion said she welcomes future fights with both Carano and Santos.

Of course, the motivation would be completely different. After all, Rousey considers herself a Carano fan. "Cyborg" is just somebody "Rowdy" would love to beat up.

"I would like to fight both of them," Rousey said on Thursday. "I would say I would equally like to fight both of them, but I strongly dislike Cris 'Cyborg,' whereas I really like Gina Carano. If I was to pick which one I would actually want to beat up, I would want to beat up Cris 'Cyborg' the most, whereas I would just want to win over Gina."

Both fights are more fantasy than fact right now. Carano hasn't competed since an August 2009 loss to Santos and has instead been focused on a budding film career. Still, many view the Strikeforce and EliteXC star as a sort of groundbreaker in the women's division after attracting mainstream attention during her three-year MMA run.

But there are always rumors that Carano could one day fight again, and Rousey said she would honored to oppose her.

"Gina is a cool chick," Rousey said. "I have so much respect for her."

Meanwhile, former Strikeforce female featherweight champion Santos tested positive for stanozolol metabolites following her December 2011 win over Hiroko Yamanaka. She was then stripped of the title and placed under suspension for one year.

Prior to "Cyborg's" suspension, MMA pundits and Strikeforce officials alike had already begun to consider the possibility of a Santos vs. Rousey affair. However, Rousey, who began her career at 145 pounds, has since dropped to bantamweight, where she promptly earned Strikeforce gold.

Santos has remained non-committal about a potential drop to 135 pounds to meet Rousey, and the two have since engaged in a very public war of words.

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Strikeforce champ Rousey welcomes Carano fight but gunning for 'Cyborg' grudge match

Deep-water seaweed drifts ashore to Pinellas beaches

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Welcome to Florida and its beaches, with white sand and warm breezes . . . and clumps of seaweed rotting in the sun.

With the Republican National Convention 10 days out, this is not exactly the first impression we wanted to make. But in recent weeks, beachgoers, fishermen and experts have reported unusually large clusters of seaweed dumped in patches between St. Pete Beach and at least as far north as Clearwater. It's squishy and slimy and doesn't smell good.

Some locals call the seaweed a fact of life. Experts call it sargassum or "gulfweed," a brown algae of a variety normally found in deeper water. Tropical Storm Debby might at least be partially responsible for pushing it inland.

Some cities are cleaning it up. Others are letting nature do the job.

Either way, it won't be washing out with the next tide.

Clearwater Beach has had thick bands pile up in recent weeks, prompting complaints from at least one resident. While city employees rake the beach daily, officials got a special permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to remove larger amounts of seaweed than usual, said city spokeswoman Joelle Castelli.

On Thursday afternoon, northern stretches of the beach still had large amounts of seaweed on them. The most heavily visited portion of the beach around Pier 60 was relatively free of seaweed, however, with several beachgoers professing surprise that anyone had complained.

"I live up here, so I look out on the beach all the time," said Walt Chase, who lives in a residential building that abuts the sand north of Pier 60 on Mandalay Avenue. He said he had noticed no excess seaweed or bad smell.

Neither did Rick Falkenstein, co-owner of the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant on St. Pete Beach.

"The gulf sheds, like a dog," Falkenstein said. "It's nothing new and nothing to be concerned about."

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Deep-water seaweed drifts ashore to Pinellas beaches