Maybe they’ll start calling it Piercing.Paul Pierce certainly ripped apart the Atlanta Hawks.Almost single-handedly, Pierce wiped out an 11-point deficit in the second half, scoring 36 points to carry the Boston Celtics to a stunning 87-80 win Tuesday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, even with Rajon Rondo serving a suspension and Ray Allen sidelined again by an ailing ankle.”The only way we were going to win a game like this without Ray and Rondo,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “was if Paul had a game like this.”He also had a game-high 14 rebounds and, for good measure, threw in some Tebowing.after making a couple of foul shots with just over a minute remaining to clinch it, Pierce paused on his way back to the bench to copy the move named after NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, sinking to a knee and bowing his head for a brief prayer in the middle of the court.”It wasn’t pre-scripted,” Pierce said. “It just came to me.”Boston heads home for Game 3 on Friday night tied 1-1. Rondo will be back for the Celtics in that one, his short-handed team having claimed the home-court edge while he sat out as punishment for bumping an official in the opener.Pierce made sure the stellar point guard wasn’t missed, outscoring the Hawks all by himself over the last 15:08.”I have a lot of experience, a lot of confidence from being in those moments,” Pierce said. “You believe in yourself, your coach believes in you, your team believes in you, it’s a combination of all those things.”Pierce scored Boston’s first nine points but struggled mightily through the second and third quarters. He came through when the Celtics really needed him, especially with the Rondo-less offense a bit out of sync and Allen watching from the bench in a suit rather than a uniform.down the stretch, the Celtics simplified things: give the ball to Pierce and get out of the way.”With Rondo being out, I knew I had to step up my scoring,” said Pierce, who had only 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting in Game 1. “Everybody that played tonight contributed. That took a lot of pressure off me defensively so I could be more aggressive on the offensive end. It was a team win. I can’t take all the credit.”The Hawks appeared to be in control when they pushed out to a 65-54 lead late in the third quarter. from that point, Pierce outscored the Hawks all by himself, 18-15, including 13 points in the final quarter.”We expected him to come out and be aggressive offensively,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “He got going early.”The Celtics were up 74-72 when a quick spurt essentially finished the Hawks, especially when Josh Smith went out late in the game with a sprained left knee.Joe Johnson turned it over, part of another tough game for the Hawks star, sparking a fast break that ended with a give-and-go from Avery Bradley to Pierce for a dunk. after Jeff Teague missed badly on a jumper, Pierce came down and hit his first 3-pointer of the series after missing his first 10, stretching the lead to 79-72 with 3 1/2 minutes left.Smith had 16 points and 12 rebounds before he went out for good with 4:20 remaining, the state of his knee now becoming a major concern for the Hawks, who already have played most of the season without Al Horford.”He is one of our go-to guys down the stretch,” Drew said. “We were missing all of the things he brings to the table for us, especially down low.”Smith will be re-evaluated Wednesday. The Hawks surely can’t afford to lose him, too.”It was tough because he’s one of our best players,” Teague said. “It was a little different out there because we didn’t have any flow. one person goes down, somebody had to step up.”Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Bradley, who shifted over to take Rondo’s spot at the point, chipped in with 14 points but only three assists – a far cry from what the Celtics usually get out of that position.Johnson had 22 points for Atlanta but never got many open looks, hitting just 7 of 17 from the field.He had plenty of company in that dreadful fourth quarter. The Hawks made just 4 of 19 shots, missing all four of their 3-point attempts. They also turned it over five times.”Those guys made it tough for us down the stretch,” Atlanta’s Willie Green said. “But we’re not going to hang our heads at all. Tough loss, but that’s what the playoffs are about. now we have a chance to go up there and get one.”The game definitely appeared to be going the Hawks’ way by the third quarter. when Smith tried to pass the ball inside, Boston’s Greg Stiemsma got a hand on it, but the ball deflected into the corner – right to a wide-open Johnson, standing behind the arc. With no one around, he swished the 3 to push the Hawks to their 65-54 advantage.The Celtics, meanwhile, were struggling to do anything right. when they botched a three-on-one break and gave up a layup at the other end, Rivers stormed out of his seat and signaled for a timeout. He was so mad he didn’t even want to stand near his players as they trudged to the bench, remaining out near the foul line until he regained his composure.thanks to Pierce, the coach felt a lot better by the end.Notes: Teague scored 18 points but went 0 for 4 in the final quarter. … The Hawks shot just 35 percent (29 of 83). … Boston held a 45-40 edge on the boards, even while collecting just three rebounds at the offensive end.—Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Pierce leads Rondo-less Celtics past Hawks, 87-80

SEATTLE — Dan Savage, Seattle’s reigning journalist provocateur, has again stumbled into the cross hairs of political conservatives, this time for a speech involving the Bible, gays and what he called a “pansy-assed” protest by high-school students.

Savage’s speech, at a 3,000-student gathering of young journalists in Seattle, linked bullying of gay kids with biblical denunciations of homosexuality. Savage, noting the Bible also banned masturbation and the eating of shellfish, said, “We ignore the bull – in the Bible about all sorts of things.”

When about two dozen students, and some advisers, walked out, Savage said, “I have a right to defend myself and to point out the hypocrisy” of biblical commandments.

a short video clip of Savage’s hour-long speech, delivered last month, went viral this weekend, and conference organizers Monday denounced Savage for having “belittled the faith of others.”

Savage on Sunday apologized on the website of the stranger, where he is editorial director and writes a nationally syndicated sex-advice column.

In an interview, Savage said he regretted using vulgar terms and apologized for his description of the walkout, but defended his description of the Bible.

Savage said the speech is one he has repeatedly given in promoting “It gets better,” his hugely successful project to help gay, lesbian and transgender youths cope with bullying. the project has at least 40,000 videos – testimonials meant to offer encouragement – including one by President Barack Obama, and an accompanying book that debuted on the New York Times best-seller list.

Savage, 47, said he asked the organizers – the National Scholastic Press Association and Journalism Education Association – if he should “moderate” the speech. “They said, ‘No. be yourself; do what you do.’ “

“It wasn’t like I sneaked up on a Bible study class and commandeered the podium. I’m like the devil. You have to invite me in,” said Savage.

In the speech, Savage, citing Sam Harris’ “Letter to a Christian Nation,” said the Bible gave instructions about how to treat slaves. if the Bible erred “on the easiest moral question that humanity has ever faced … What are the odds that the Bible got something as complicated as human sexuality wrong? 100 percent,” said Savage. Students are heard cheering and clapping.

after the walkout, which came after Savage made comments about the Bible, he suggested the protesting students return. “It’s funny, as someone who is the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible, how pansy-assed some people react when you push back,” Savage said.

Rick Tuttle, a journalism adviser from Sutter Union High School in Northern California, told Fox News his students walked out of what they thought would be anti-bullying talk, but “what we got was a vulgar, profanity-laced attack on Christians.”

In a statement, the organizers said Savage “veered from the topic” of bullying. Student journalism “should not shy away from controversial topics and viewpoints. but it should promote and engage in civil discourse. Mr. Savage’s speech fell short of that standard, and for this our organizations apologize.”

Savage has a history of walking back from over-the-top political rhetoric, and apologized for sarcastically wishing in 2011 that Republicans “were all (expletive) dead” on HBO’s “Real Time with bill Maher.”

Savage said he gave the speech to the student journalists for free, got a standing ovation and signed books after the event.

He said he intended his derogatory remark to apply to the walkout, not the students themselves. “Pansies are some of my favorite people,” he said.

Sparks fly over Savage’s comments to students about Bible

The Blue Grass state of Kentucky takes pride in its rich tradition of thoroughbred horse racing. from the breeding farms to the retirement ones, Kentucky is #1 in the United States and every Kentuckian is well versed in the Sport of Kings. The Kentucky Derby is the one event which puts Louisville in the national spotlight every year, while the day before the Derby, affectionately referred to as Oaks Day, is for the locals.

Well, on Thursday upon his arrival in Louisville, H. Graham Motion who trained 2011 Derby winner Animal Kingdom and will saddle Went The Day Well this year, found out his “15 minutes of fame” did not leave a lasting impression on at least one Kentuckian. Graham tweeted, “The lady at the Hertz counter just asked me if I had ever been to a Kentucky Derby”.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on the sports fan base in Baltimore, who according to a survey on this website only 11% have any interest in horse racing.

Recapping selections from Day 16 (Friday, April 27th) had 7 winners (2 Top Selections) with $2 Exacta in the 1st ($6.00), 3rd ($56.80), 5th ($19.80) and 7th ($16.80) races; $1 Trifecta in the 1st ($6.30); $1 Pick-3 in races 3-5 ($155.20) and races 4-6 ($74.30).

Both the BEST BET of the Day (16 6-5-1) and LONGSHOT PICK (16 2-2-4) were disappointments as they ran 3rd in their respective races, but in a small field, so both paid a paltry $2,10 to SHOW.

Selections for Day 17 at Pimlico Saturday, April 28th card are posted below. The rain should hold off until the last few races, so selections are based on a Fast dirt track and Firm turf course.

Soup of The Day: Chicken Noodle

1st race post is 1:10pm EDT. Track Condition… Dirt: FAST Turf: FIRM

1st race – $8,000 Maiden Claiming F&M for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs#4 – Knockatuie (5-1)#8 – Café Rendezous (5-2)#3 – Bionic Bonnie (7-2)

3rd race – $33,000 Maidens for 3 y.o. & up – 5 furlongs on Turf#4 – Public Secret (2-1) ) BEST BET#6 – Gottalovethedrake (5-1)#5 – Pending Assest (3-1)

4th race – $5,000 Claiming for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs#5 – Milwaukee Chief (5-1)#7 – Muscadine (3-1)#2 – Ridge Armour (9-5)

5th race – $12,500 Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 5 furlongs on Turf#8 – Nashi (6-1)#3 – World gone wrong (2-1)#7 – Shanana (8-1)

6th race – $8,000 Maiden Claiming for F&M for 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs#5 – Alavicki (6-1)#7 – Northern Train (2-1)#4 – Landofmanycats (5-2)

7th race – $25,000 Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. & up NW2L – 1 1/16 on Turf#5 – Our Gin mill (4-1)#9 – Grace Alley (4-1)#8 – Clare Skies Ahead (8-1)

8th race – $25,000 Starter Allowance for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 mile#3 – Silly Kitty (8-1) $$$ LONGSHOT PICK $$$#6 – I Forgive you (2-1)#4 – Great Motion (4-1)

9th race – $25,000 Optional Claiming N2X for 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 mile#1/1A – Avenida Paseo / Piamento (7-2)#7 – Albrecht (3-1)#5 – Oilton (15-1)

10th race – $75,000 Henry S. Clark for 3 y.o. & up – 1 mile on Turf#3 – Concealed Identity (5-1)#10 – Humble and Hungry (4-1)#4 – Hudson Steele (3-1)

11th race – $5,000 Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs#5 – Parker’s Peaks (9-5)#8 – Hurricane Kitty (12-1)#4 – Indian Sugar (10-1)

Pimlico Saturday Selections; 7 Days & Counting Til Kentucky Derby 138

FOXBORO —  The devastating tornado that blew through Tuscaloosa, Ala., last spring struck about 75 yards from Dont’a Hightower’s apartment. Hightower, the former University of Alabama linebacker whom the Patriots drafted in the first round Thursday night, and his friends hightailed it to the complex’s clubhouse to ride out the storm in a bathroom. “One of my best friends started sliding away toward the door,” Hightower recalled on Friday, the one-year anniversary of the twister. “I kind of grabbed him, and we ducked up under the sink. five or 10 minutes later, it was over, and we came out and checked how everything was gone. “I couldn’t even explain to you how scary it was,” Hightower added. “You just never know when is your last breath. that definitely put me in perspective and made me change as far as my thinking perspective. I’m definitely blessed to be here today.” Hightower, for whom the Patriots traded up to draft at No. 25, and Chandler Jones, the former Syracuse defensive end for whom the Pats also moved up to take at No. 21, were formally introduced to New England Friday on the field at Gillette Stadium. It was the first time Hightower, who grew up in Tennessee, had traveled farther north than Kentucky. The brisk spring breeze that evening definitely got Hightower’s attention. Wait till December. “It’s definitely something I’m going to have to get used to,” he said. The 6-foot-3, 262-pound Hightower captained the country’s top defense last season, anchoring the unit at middle linebacker, leading the team with a career-high 85 tackles and winning the national championship. Hightower also played defensive end opposite Courtney Upshaw, a second-round pick of the Ravens, in the Crimson Tide’s nickel package. As Patriots coach bill Belichick noted, Hightower rarely came off the field. “It’s all about how you practice, and I definitely take pride in being on the field and all that, especially if it’s for four downs for special teams,” Hightower said. “I’m competitive, and I’m passionate about football. this is what I love to do. I’m going to do whatever I can to be on the field, whether it’s special teams for the first couple of games, or if I’m on the field for three downs and on punt return or something. I’m going to do what I can to get on the field.” Hightower started a number of games at weak-side outside linebacker in 2008 and 2010, after coming back from a torn ACL in his left knee and reconstructive surgery in 2009. Alabama coach Nick Saban, one of Belichick’s pals, has praised Hightower for his work in the film and weight rooms. He was an immediate contributor at Alabama, starting 12 games as a true freshman in ‘08. He finished his career with 234 tackles, 21 for loss, 5 sacks and 25 quarterback pressures. “I think I’m tough, physical, hard-nosed,” Hightower said. “I’m a big hitter. I’m going to get to the ball. When I get to the ball, I’m going to make sure whoever has the ball or whoever is around the ball, they’re going to feel me. I’m definitely going to be an intimidator, definitely want to be somebody who, not even the running back or quarterback, but even the offensive linemen want to know where I’m on the field at all times.” Joining Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) and Brandon Spikes (Florida), Hightower could give the Patriots’ linebacker corps an all-SEC flavor. while growing up in Tennessee, Hightower watched Mayo, and he faced Spikes’ Gators teams twice in the SEC title game. “I’m going to do exactly what I can to get on the field and as far as learning the playbook, I’m going to get into it as hard as I can,” Hightower said. “hopefully those guys can help me and take me under their wing and teach me some things. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there on the field with those guys.” Hightower hasn’t spent too much time with Belichick yet. He met him at the NFL Combine and caught up with him here Friday — but he already sees the similarities between him and Saban, which he hopes will make his transition to the NFL a little easier. “You can definitely tell those two are two peas in a pod,” Hightower said. “Everything about them from the way they run the organization to the way they get down and talk to you as a man and put everything out on the table and let you know what’s going on.” Articles Most Read Today

Worcester Telegram & Gazette – telegram.com – NFL Draft: Dont’a Hightower reflects on tornado

Not all earthquakes are created equal.

Experts say Monday’s 3.9 temblor centered in San Juan Capistrano was on a thrust fault under the San Joaquin Hills. Known as the “San Joaquin Thrust,” it was discovered 13 years ago and runs along the coast from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa to San Juan Capistrano.

Monday’s jolt had many residents surprised that it was an actual earthquake. Readers wrote in to Patch that it felt more like a “sonic boom” or thunder rather than the typical shaking and swaying associated with earthquakes.

“Earthquakes feel different depending on your distance from the fault, the size of the earthquake, and the type of material (soil or rock) beneath you,” said Lisa Grant Ludwig, associate director of the California Institute for Hazards Research at UC Irvine.

“If you are far from an earthquake, it feels more like a rolling or rocking motion. The Baja, California earthquake on Easter 2010 was experienced as rolling or wave-like motions by many residents of O.C.,”  Grant Ludwig said.

“If an earthquake is close, like the one [Monday], it feels more like a boom or jolt. at my location in Irvine, it was a noisy jolt.”

“I think there’s an under-appreciation of the seismic hazard in Orange County,” Grant Ludwig told the Los Angeles Times. “There is a general perception in Orange County that we don’t have as much earthquake hazard” –  in part because the county has not suffered a major, destructive quake since 1933, when the area was sparsely populated.

Grant Ludwig said the fault has existed for thousands of years, but it wasn’t investigated until after the 1994 Northridge earthquake highlighted the importance of blind thrust faults in urban areas of Southern California. Information about the San Joaquin Hills thrust fault was first published in 1999.

Some reports, including one in the Huffington Post, alluded to Monday’s quake as possibly being a result of a meteor that passed by earlier, but experts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena don’t buy it.

“It is highly unlikely that the earthquake and the meteor were related,” said Andrea Donnellan, principal research scientist at JPL.

Kate Hutton, staff seismologist at the California Institute of Technology Seismological Laboratory said an earthquake is “not a particularly uncommon event in the area,” adding that about 20 other temblors have been reported within 15 miles of Monday’s quake. she said Cal-Tech has been monitoring these earthquakes since 1933.

Unlike the famous San Andreas fault, which is visible from the ground, the fracture in the Earth’s crust that makes up the San Joaquin Hills thrust fault is entirely underground. Because there is no visible break in the Earth’s crust at ground level, the fault is perhaps more dangerous because it’s unclear exactly where the boundaries of the fault are, Grant Ludwig said.

Scientists discovered the San Joaquin Hills thrust fault after noticing evidence of ancient sea life in what are now the hills, she said. The researchers hypothesized that the land was once below sea level, but over hundreds of thousands of years, the fault caused the earth to move upward, creating the hilly terrain.

There were no reports of damage in Monday’s quake.

Are San Juan Residents Clueless About Quake Risk?

Former Virginia Tech running back David Wilson was certain he’d be shocked – either positively or negatively – by his National Football League draft position.

It’s safe to assume he was pleased with how the first round of the draft concluded. Wilson, a 5-foot-10, 206-pound native of Danville, was chosen by the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants with the final pick of the first round. He was the 32nd overall selection in the draft.

“I was sitting on the bed and the Giants had the last pick in the first round,” said Wilson according to comments gathered by the Giants’ official website – giants.com. “And then Tampa Bay traded (up), and I thought, ‘Maybe they’ll get a running back. I know they need a running back.’ At that point, I was hoping for anything. The Giants are Super Bowl champions, and I’m like ‘They probably won’t pick me…’ I was just hoping that something would happen, and I get the New Jersey call and I start screaming. I answered the phone and it was the New York Giants. it was the best call that I got in a long time.”

He’s the ninth first round pick in Tech history, and the first since 2008, when offensive tackle Duane Brown was picked 18th overall by the Houston Texans. Wilson is also just the second Tech running back ever to be chosen in the first round, joining Kevin Jones, who went 30th overall in ‘04 to the Detroit Lions.

Last season, Wilson ran for a Tech single-season record 1,709 yards. He came into the draft projected by most analysts to be anywhere from a first round to a third round pick.

He became the first running back taken by the Giants in the first round since 2000, when they selected former Wisconsin back Ron Dayne. The Giants needed a quality running back in this year’s draft, considering starting back Ahmad Bradshaw has struggled with foot injuries in recent seasons, and backup Brandon Jacobs was released and signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

No other Virginia-based players were chosen in the first round. The draft picks up again Friday night at 7 with the start of the second round.

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Former Virginia Tech RB David Wilson gets chosen by the New York Giants with the final pick of the NFL draft first round – ACC All Access – dailypress.com

every boy who has ever played organized football has dreamed of being selected in the NFL draft. For 253 college athletes, those dreams will become a reality this weekend. For some people, the NFL draft is the greatest part of the football season. this is where your favorite team can make or break their franchise. many know the top choices, but still up in the air is are the players from the smaller FCS schools that can make an impact in the league. three of UNH’s own hope to hear their name called over the weekend, with the hope that they can make that impact. Leading up to that moment when players find out whether or not they will be joining one of 32 NFL rosters, players have to go through intense evaluation. “It’s been a long process,” Brian McNally, UNH defensive end and NFL prospect, said. “You start off preparing for the pro day. Once the pro day happens, you wait and see what happens. Teams call, show interest in you, ask for [game] film.” then when the pro day arrives, the players are given a chance to showcase what skills they have that make them a valuable prospect. “[At the pro day] you go through everything you see at the NFL combine … the non-football drills. at the end, they put you through the actual football drills, what you’re going to be doing in a game-like situation,” McNally said. While McNally played defensive end during his career with the Wildcats, scouts wanted to see if he could play an outside linebacker position at UNH’s pro day. this practice is typical to the NFL draft scouting process, as teams look to see what players are versatile. “They put me in linebacker drills at first, looking to see how I could drop [into pass coverage],” McNally said. “Then they put me in defensive end drills to see how well I could rush the passer.” McNally feels as if his biggest contribution to an NFL squad would be his work ethic and desire to contribute. he hopes that NFL teams who are thinking about either drafting him, or potentially signing him as an undrafted free agent catch those traits. “The biggest thing I could bring to a team is just hard work. Whether it’s on the special teams [or] whether it’s on practice squad,” McNally said. “Whatever they want me to do, at this point in my career it doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m just helping the team win.” Another member of the UNH football team who is hoping to see his dream come true during this weekend’s NFL draft is defensive end James Jenkins. Jenkins, who was also a participant in UNH’s pro day back in March, has felt a decent amount of anxiety while participating in the draft process.  “[The draft process] has been nerve-wracking,” Jenkins said. “Trying to figure out what my position is and where I am in the draft pool. I’ve been talking to my agent and he’s been giving me some positive feedback.” from Jenkins’ discussions with his agent, getting his name out there for franchises at all levels is extremely important. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, if I’m going to go late in the draft or if I have be considered an undrafted free agent.” Jenkins said. “So far my agent has been putting my name out there for me. He’s spoken to about half of the teams in the league and a couple of guys in the Canadian Football League.” Jenkins said no matter where he goes, the chance of getting to play football on a professional level would be a dream come true. he is aware there are challenges up ahead, but is ready to receive his shot. “The biggest challenge [when adjusting to the NFL] would be being overwhelmed,” Jenkins said. “It’s always been a dream of mine getting to that next level. It would be a reality shock, like, ‘I’m here, now I have to do everything in my power to keep my position and let them know that I deserve to be here.’ Whether it’s offense, defense, special teams, or water boy, I’m going to do whatever I can to earn my spot.” McNally, Jenkins and quarterback Kevin Decker – UNH’s other NFL prospect who could not be reached for comment – all hope to be the first player from UNH to be drafted since cornerback Corey Graham was taken 168th overall in the 2007 draft by the Bears. NFL draft coverage continues this weekend on ESPN, with rounds two through three kicking off Friday at 7 p.m., and rounds four through seven continuing on Saturday at noon.

NFL draft a chance for UNH players to fulfill dreams

The city of new York is filled with mysteries that, when you know what they mean, can really help make a person feel like a real new Yorker. For example? We’ve been asked a few times over the years what exactly those odd rampart-like towers in the middle of the Hudson River off lower Manhattan are. The answer? Oh, nothing much. Just a feat of engineering that no less than Thomas Edison once thought was impossible.

So what are they? Ventilation shafts! Next time you are walking down the Hudson River Greenway, look closer. Not only are there two matching towers in the water, but there are also two more towers on land (one in Manhattan and one in new Jersey). those four towers together keep car drivers in the Holland Tunnel from asphyxiating on carbon monoxide. In total the four buildings house 84 fans—42 blowing and 42 sucking—which are capable, at full speed, of completely changing the tunnel’s air every 90 seconds [PDF].

See, when the Holland Tunnel was the first conceived its length of 1.6 miles made it the longest automobile tunnel ever. And considering how much worse car exhaust was then, people weren’t really sure how to keep the air under the hudson clean enough that it didn’t just become a giant suicide pit. The solution, transverse-flow ventilation, came from engineer Ole Singstad (who replaced original designer Clifford Milburn Holland). But it had skeptics! So to prove it would work Singstad, with help from Yale and the U. S. Bureau of Mines, put a bunch of students into cars with engines roaring in a custom 400′ test tunnel in a Pennsylvania mineshaft. they lived—and so we got those towers! Here’s how they work:In the Holland Tunnel’s transverse-flow system, fresh air is drawn from the outside through one of four ventilation buildings and blown by fans into a fresh air duct located under each tunnel roadway. The air enters the tunnel proper through narrow slots just above the curb, spaced 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m) apart. Exhaust fans (also located in the ventilation buildings) pull the exhaust-laden air through openings in the ceiling into an exhaust duct located above the ceiling slab, and discharges it into the open air through the roof of one of the ventilation buildings.And now, the next time somebody asks you what those towers are in the middle of the Hudson, you’ll know the answer! if you’re curious about other things you see around the city, let us know and we’ll do some investigating.

Previously: What are those tanks on the sidewalks?

What Is That? The Towers In the Middle Of The Hudson

How do you honor a man responsible for helping to develop the zipper? If you’re Google, you design your homepage with a giant interactive zipper in the middle. The latest Google Doodle honors engineer Gideon Sundback, born on this date in 1880.

Visit Google’s home page today and you’ll see this:

Google’s letters appear to be stitched on, as if the home page has become a giant virtual white sweatshirt. From there, you can click and hold to pull down on the zipper if you want a glimpse of Google’s search results and to see Google’s logo become askew.

Or you can just click once on the zipper and be taken directly to search results to discover more about Sundback.

So why would the Swedish-born Sundback be honored by Google? perhaps Google is recognizing him because he improved on an idea, much in the way Google CEO Larry Page had a new vision to improve search ranking, where links essentially became “votes”, which was the basis for PageRank and has lead the search giant to global domination in nearly every country in which it operates.

The zipper can be traced back to the 1850s. However, prior to Sundback, the designs of metal fasteners with interlocking teeth were deeply flawed. But through his work he ended up designing something that is ubiquitous in modern life.

What was the secret? Increasing the number of fastening elements per inch, as well as the design of the teeth for optimal separable zipping and locking. he also created a machine that helped produce his new creation.

While Sundback created the product, B.F. Goodrich was first to eventually coin the name “zipper”, when the product appeared on its boots for the first time in the 1920s. Sundback died in 1954 and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006. 

So happy birthday, Gideon Sundback. And thanks for helping to keep all of our pants where they belong for decades!

 more Recent Google Doodles

SES Toronto 2012 is June 11-13. Register before may 11 and save up to $300!

Google Unzips Gideon Sundback Doodle

First lady Michelle Obama today expressed her support for mothers of all stripes, after a Democratic strategist rankled Republicans by suggesting Ann Romney “has actually never worked a day in her life” because the wife of presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney had been a stay-at-home mom.

“Every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected,” Michelle Obama said via her Twitter account, as the controversy dominated the cable news networks and became the subject of the first question at the daily White House briefing.

Mitt Romney also personally engaged on the topic, sending out a tweet after watching his wife speak for herself during a television interview.

“Just watched @AnnDRomney on @FoxNews. her work raising our boys was tougher than any job I had,” he said.

The comment dovetailed with an anecdote both he and his wife often repeat on the trail, that when she once complained to him about the challenges of raising their five energetic sons, he told her from a business trip, “Remember this: your job is more important than mine.”

His staff sought to perpetuate the debate by arranging a conference call with his female supporters, and with numerous press releases highlighting the initial comments of CNN contributor Hilary Rosen and the Republican backlash to it.

The debate was part substantive and part theatrics, as the Obama and Romney campaigns settled into their new roles as general election opponents. Their fall match-up was all but ensured earlier this week when Romney’s most prominent lingering rival, Rick Santorum, announced he was suspending his campaign for the nomination.

It also was sparked at the end of a day when the Romney camp was seen as being on the defensive about its support for American women.

I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.

— Ann Romney (@AnnDRomney) April 12, 2012 the debate started when fact-checker PolitiFact challenged the Romney campaign’s assertion Wednesday that women account for 92 percent of those who have lost jobs during Obama’s presidency. while that statistic is accurate, it overlooks the fact that more men than women lost jobs early in the Great Recession.

The record downturn began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, covering approximately President George W. Bush’s last year in office and Obama’s first half-year.

Meanwhile, a Romney campaign conference call with reporters arranged to buttress the criticism hit a snag when aides were asked whether Romney supports the Lilly Ledbetter Act. It is aimed at helping women achieve equal pay, and was the first piece of legislation Obama signed as president.

‘‘We’ll get back to you on that,’’ campaign policy director Lanhee Chen said after an extended pause on the call.

Yet Wednesday night, Rosen was asked about the debate during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

Rosen said that Ann Romney, whose husband has a net worth estimated at up to $250 million, should not be Mitt Romney’s surrogate on women and the economy.

“His wife has actually never worked a day in her life,” Rosen said on CNN, where the strategist is a paid contributor. “She’s never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of women in this country are facing.”

The Romney campaign, sensing an opportunity to shift from defense to offense, immediately pounced. Ann Romney made her first tweet on a brand new Twitter account, responding directly to Rosen.

“I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work,” she said at 10:18 p.m. In the self-description for the account, Ann Romney labels herself, “Mom of five boys. Grandmother of 16.”

President Obama’s campaign team also appeared to immediately recognize the potential for a backlash.

Ann Romney’s history as a victim of multiple sclerosis and breast cancer, as well as her homespun comments on the campaign trail, have proven endearing to voters.

That has prompted her husband’s staff to give her increasingly high-profile speaking roles which, in turn, could allow her to match Michelle Obama’s popular persona in the general election campaign.

David Axelrod, the president’s top campaign strategist, sent out a tweet Wednesday night saying that Rosen’s comments were “inappropriate and offensive.”

Every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected. –mo

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 12, 2012 Campaign manager Jim Messina also tweeted, “I could not disagree with Hilary Rosen any more strongly. her comments were wrong and family should be off limits. She should apologize.”

And deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter, one of the highest-ranking women in the campaign, said on her Twitter account: “Families must be off limits on campaigns, and I personally believe stay at home moms work harder than most of us do.”

Nonetheless, the Romney campaign arranged for Ann Romney to appear today on Fox News, ensuring a new day of coverage.

“My career choice was to be a mother, and I think all of us need to know that we need to respect choices that women make,” she said. “Other women make other choices, to have a career and raise family, which I think Hilary Rosen has actually done herself. I respect that, that’s wonderful. But, you know, there are other people that have a choice. we have to respect women and all those choices that they make.”

The Romney campaign later emailed out excerpts from the interview and also arranged a midday conference call with women who support Mitt Romney.

US Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and US Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming highlighted their candidate’s support for women through the years.

The debate reached the White House briefing room, where it became the topic of the first question asked to Press Secretary Jay Carney.

“I think we can all agree – Democrats and Republicans – that raising children is an extremely difficult job,” Carney said.

While White House visitor logs show 35 visits by people named Hilary Rosen during Obama’s presidency, Carney said he could not verify they were all made by the CNN contributor.

“I know three, personally, women named Hilary Rosen,” the spokesman said.

He then pivoted to an attack on Romney’s support for a budget he said would hurt women’s causes, as well as to highlighting the president’s support for the Lilly Ledbetter Act.

Amid that activity, Michelle Obama offered her own tweet.

Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.

Michelle Obama tweets support for mothers after Democratic strategist criticizes Ann Romney

• (Photo: REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)Arizona Governor Jan Brewer speaks at a news conference following a hearing over the state’s SB1070 immigration law at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California November 1, 2010.

April 18, 2012|7:52 pm

Sponsored by State Representative Terri Proud, House bill 2563 was passed by a 21 to 9 vote in the state Senate last Thursday and signed by Brewer on Tuesday.

According to HB 2563, “A school district or charter school may offer an elective course pertaining to how the Bible has influenced western culture for pupils in grades nine through twelve.”

“A teacher who instructs a course offered under this section in its appropriate historical context and in good faith shall be immune from civil liability and disciplinary action,” reads the bill.

The Bible class elective would teach students, among other things, “the contents of the old Testament and the new Testament,” “the history recorded by the old Testament and the new Testament,” and the “influence of the old Testament and the new Testament on laws, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values and culture.”

HB 2563 was not without its critics, as church-state groups like Americans United for the Separation of Church and State openly opposed the bill’s passage. Joe Conn, spokesman for Americans United, told the Christian Post that he was “disappointed” by the signing of the bill.

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“This bill is not about improving academic achievement; it’s about introducing religious indoctrination into the schools and currying favor with conservative religious voters,” said Conn.

“I think most public schools will decide not to offer Bible courses. They are already strapped for funds, so I doubt if they’ll want to use scarce resources to intervene in such a controversial topic.”

While Conn believes that the “Bible obviously played an important role in history,” he also felt that having a social studies class about it would be difficult given the many Bible translations and interpretations.

“Many…denominations use different versions of the Bible and come to dramatically different theological understandings about what it means,” said Conn.

“It is very difficult for a public school to teach about the Bible without wandering into constitutional and religious difficulties.”

Rep. Proud, the chief sponsor of the bill, told CP in an earlier interview that she “worked with various attorneys and other individuals to ensure this bill is constitutionally sound.”

“Many professors from various universities like Harvard, Yale etc. have stated that biblical knowledge is a key factor to a successful education,” said Proud.

“As the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly said: ‘[It] might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion, or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization.’”

With the bill now officially a law, Arizona becomes the sixth state to allow school districts to create elective classes studying the Bible. the other states are Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina.

READ: CHRISTIAN KIDS ARE CAUGHT IN a CULTURAL CROSSFIRE

Ariz. Governor Signs Bill to Allow Bible Classes in Public Schools

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have acquired Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd and cash for reliever Michael Bowden and a player to be named later.

Byrd broke the news of his own trade to ESPNChicago.com’s Bruce Levine, with the clubs both announcing the deal officially Saturday night.

The 35-year-old outfielder, who has also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, is an 11-year veteran and experienced center fielder with a .278 batting average. but he had just three hits in his first 43 at-bats with the Cubs this season (.070), with no extra-base hits and 10 strikeouts.

“He’s been a good major league center fielder for a long time and he’s off to a tough start,” said Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington, who spoke with reporters late Saturday night. “Our hope is that a change of scenery and in a new environment we can get him going to help us and give (manager) Bobby (Valentine) another option in the outfield.”

The Cubs will send cash covering nearly all of Byrd’s pro-rated $6.5 million salary. to make room for Byrd on the roster, the Sox designated Nate Spears for assignment.

Byrd did not play in Chicago’s game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon.

The trade took on added urgency when Red Sox outfielder Jason Repko went down with what Valentine described as a slight separation of his left shoulder, an injury incurred when Repko ran into the center-field wall Friday.

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said Repko’s injury did not directly lead to the trade.

“No, we’ve been talking to them since the end of spring training,” Hoyer said in a conference call with Chicago media. “We’ve been trying to get relief pitching. In trading Marlon we felt we had outfield depth with some young guys that can play the position.”

The Red Sox already have two elite outfielders on the disabled list, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford. Repko was projected as a stopgap until Crawford’s return, which is believed to be still a couple of weeks away.

“Obviously with Ellsbury out and Crawford still coming back, we felt there was a need to add to the outfield,” Cherington said. “I think he knows he has to come in and perform to play, but it’s a fresh start and I think he’s excited to be here and we’re excited to have him.”

Cherington acknowledged the difficulty of finding outside help at this time of year, which explains in part why the Sox are adding a player who has performed this season as poorly as Byrd has to date.

“We don’t think his performance so far this year is reflective of who he is — he’s been a pretty consistent performer — but teams are not anxious to give away good players this time of year, players who are helping them and are part of their future. It’s a challenging time to make trades, but we felt this was a good fit for the team, made sense for the Cubs and Red Sox, and hope Marlon can help us.”

Last may 21, Byrd was struck near the left eye by a pitch by Red Sox reliever Alfredo Aceves and sustained multiple facial fractures, missing 39 games. At the time he was hurt, Byrd had posted a .308/.346/.419 line. after returning July 2, Byrd hit .255/.311/.380 for the rest of the season.

“He came back pretty quickly from it and performed pretty well when he first came back,” Cherington said, when asked about the impact of the beaning. “And then he tailed off a little bit at the end of the season. I don’t know. It’s hard for me to answer that one. but physically, he’s fine, he’s passed all the tests. from a scouting standpoint, there’s no obvious change in skills except his performance hasn’t been there.

“We get to know him better when he gets here and we get him in the lineup and try to get him going.”

Bowden was once regarded as a promising prospect, first as a starter, then as a reliever, with brief stints in the majors in each of the last four seasons. but the Red Sox designated him for assignment on April 15, even though they have the highest earned run average in the major leagues.

“This underscores (Bowden’s) slow start,” Hoyer said. “Small samples shouldn’t cloud your opinion on a player. We’ve known him since 2005. He’s a local kid. I know he’s excited to be coming to Chicago.”

Crawford had left wrist surgery in the offseason and then strained his left elbow during spring training. On Opening Day at Fenway Park, on April 13, center fielder and offensive sparkplug Ellsbury suffered a subluxation of his right (non-throwing) shoulder and was placed on the disabled list.

Crawford has begun playing in extended spring games as a hitter but has yet to play in the field, though he could be out there soon, according to Valentine. Crawford hit a home run Saturday, Valentine said, and will be evaluated in Boston in the next few days before getting clearance to play in the outfield. Crawford’s rehab has been overseen by former big league outfielder Brian McRae, who is a consultant to the Red Sox baseball operations department.

Ellsbury is expected to be lost for a minimum of six weeks, though he said earlier this week that surgery has been ruled out.

Repko’s momentum caused him to crash into the wall after gloving the ball. will he be placed on the DL?

“No,” said Valentine haltingly. “Not today. We’ll find out in a couple of days about ’slight’ — more ’slight’ or less ’slight.’ he has limited role duty (Saturday).”

In the meantime, Valentine has been forced to juggle his outfield. he had defensively challenged Cody Ross in center again Saturday, with Darnell McDonald in left and Ryan Sweeney in right. His outfield options off the bench were limited — utilityman Spears and infielder Mike Aviles, who had worked out in right field in the offseason. first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also has a little experience in the outfield.

Information from Sahadev Sharma, who contributes regularly to ESPNChicago.com, was used in this report.

Marlon Byrd traded to Red Sox

For more than 20 years the University of Colorado has the been the focal point for the unofficial pot smoking holiday known as 4/20 – which is this Friday, April 20th at 4:20 pm.

University officials call the annual event a “distraction” and they are taking extra efforts this year to crack down on those planning to light up.

The CU Student Government is organizing an alternative event as well in the form of a free concert from Wyclef Jean at the Coors Event Center. the free concert is for students only and is hoped to be an alternative to discourage students from the event.

On Thursday morning Boulder Attorney Robert Corry Jr. filed an emergency, temporary restraining order in Boulder District Court asking the court to prohibit CU from closing the campus to the public. Corry says he filed the complaint on behalf of non-student community members who want to attend the event.

KUNC’s Jackie Fortier has more in the audio clip above.

Update 4/20/2012 7:20am: After a judge ruled last night that CU had the right to close the campus, facilities personnel and campus police have started putting measures in place to quash the annual event.

Via Twitter this morning at 6:42am:

Something’s fishy: Fish fertilizer being sprayed on campus Quad to keep protesters off the lawn for #CU420. twitpic.com/9byope

— Gil Asakawa (@GilAsakawa) April 20, 2012

CU campus police were on station early in the morning as well at 4:20am to prevent any smokers from celebrating.

CUPD cars on Norlin at 4:21 a.m. (CUI/Robert R. Denton) #cu420 twitter.com/robertrdenton/…

— Rob Denton (@robertrdenton) April 20, 2012

The Boulder Daily Camera has more this morning on the bid to stop 420 at CU. KUNC’s Jackie Fortier will be reporting from the Boulder Campus later today as well. you can also follow on Twitter via the hashtag #CU420 as critics, reporters and supporters have been chiming in on the trending tag since yesterday.

Fertilizer can be smelled from the west side of campus near the hill. #CU420 twitter.com/robertrdenton/…

— Rob Denton (@robertrdenton) April 20, 2012

KUNC Digital Media Manager Jim Hill contributed to the web version of this story.

The Buzz on CU’s 4/20 Crackdown [Updated]

This year’s Earth Day comes with a faded shade of green.

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The portion of Americans concerned about the planet has dropped significantly in three years (from 43 percent to 34 percent). People are wasting more water and buying fewer all-natural products, according to a Harris poll. Only a quarter now describe themselves as “environmentally conscious.”

At the same time, the percentage of Americans who feel “green guilt” – defined as knowing they could do more for the environment – has risen from 12 percent to 29 percent during the same period, another survey finds.

And, as one might expect after a recession, Americans have flipped their views and now see economic growth as more important than environmental protection, by a 49 percent to 41 percent margin, per yet another survey.

The most surprising report on public opinion, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, reveals that young adults, known as Millennials, have less concern for the environment than any generation of the past four decades.

This shaky commitment to the environment may have two causes:

One is that the issues, such as climate change, have become just too big and complex to comprehend. It was easy to stop littering. But give up oil and that SUV?

And two, after four decades of government action to protect nature and cut pollution, everyday folk simply take less responsibility for doing much on their own unless pushed.

What can be done to bolster this sagging support for this little blue ball called Earth?

One of Britain’s most famous philosophers, Roger Scruton, offers some hope in a new book, “Green Philosophy: how to Think seriously about the Planet,” due out in the United States next month. he argues for a return to a love of home and one’s local community and surroundings, or what he calls “settlement” – and less focus on global schemes, coercive law, and alarmist rhetoric.

Environmental problems must be seen by “all of us in our everyday circumstances, and should not be confiscated by the state,” he writes. Once these big issues seem like our problems, then we can start to solve them with “our given moral equipment.”

“When problems pass to governments, they pass out of our hands.”

He sees small-scale civic actions tied to friendships and local connections as the best way to deal with the most fundamental issue: how to convince people – and companies – not to pass the costs of their consumption and pollution to future generations.

Or, as President Obama once described the problem, “We are borrowing this planet from our children and our grandchildren.”

Only when people are settled in a community and feel a spirit of cooperation, duty, and obligation will they start to respect the environment – and to sustain it for those to come.

Stronger communities based on a sense of place provide a moral constraint on individual ambition to pollute. without it, mr. Scruton says, the state rushes in to fill a vacuum, with rules, fines, and bureaucracy. then individuals take less responsibility in conserving their habitat.

His idea of bottom-up solutions based on loyalty to place is bearing out.

Much of the action on climate change, for example, is happening locally, in states and cities, rather than at the federal or global level. just look at the explosion of public bike-rentals in cities and state initiatives on energy conservation – despite the fact that 4 in 10 Americans say there is no proof of global warming.

Scruton’s book merely gives us the big picture, pointing out the trends already under way, such as the “local food,” “slow food,” and “local economy” movements.

When people stop treating each other as objects and form bonds of community, he proposes, then they will stop treating the planet as an object, suitable only to be used up for personal benefit.

Why Earth Day needs a regreening

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Mel Gibson is in the spotlight again for his violent temper. The latest recording of his explosive rant was toward a screenwriter over a film project.

In the recording, Gibson is heard screaming at the top of his lungs at screenwriter Joe Eszterhas. it was a rant full of expletives that’s part of a long public feud between the two men.

“I’ve got to work. You’re getting paid, I’m not,” Gibson screams. “I am earning money for a filthy (expletive) who takes advantage of me.”

according to the website TheWrap.com, the rant happened at Gibson’s home in Costa Rica. Gibson is angry the script for a movie he’s working on, “The Maccabees,” is not finished.

“Why don’t I have a first draft of ‘The Maccabees’? What the (expletive) have you been doing?” Gibson yells.

The recording was made by Eszterhas’ 15-year-old son, who was also staying at Gibson’s house.

Gibson’s temper has been in the spotlight in the past. it was an issue in his custody battle with his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

On March 1, Gibson’s attorney filed a letter with the court that Gibson had completed his yearlong anger management classes, ordered after he pleaded no contest to domestic violence involving Grigorieva.

Psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Haraszti says there’s a lot more going on with Gibson than anger management issues.

“The anger problem is just the tip of the iceberg. That’s … the hallmark of bipolar illness. when somebody’s in an acute episode, there’s irritability, poor impulse control and explosiveness, rage attacks,” he said.

The release of the recording comes after Eszterhas and Gibson attacked each other in a series of angry letters. In one letter Eszterhas tells Gibson, “I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason you won’t make ‘The Maccabees’ is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews.”

In a response, Gibson said, “In 25 years of script development, I have never seen a more substandard first draft or a more significant waste of time.”

In addition to talking about the script, in another part of the latest recording, Gibson then screams about lunch.

“Who wants to eat? Who the (expletive) wants to eat? Go have something to eat. Hooooraaaay,” Gibson says.

Representatives for Gibson and Eszterhas did not respond to requests for comment. there are reports that Gibson’s team is looking into whether making and releasing the recording broke any laws in Costa Rica.

(Copyright ©2012 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Mel Gibson’s explosive rant at screenwriter released

Trading was choppy Thursday. Earlier in the session, the Dow and the S&P 500 were up over 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq had climbed 0.9%.

On the economic front, first-time unemployment claims declined but were still higher than what analysts expected. Adding to the setback, existing home sales dipped 2.6%, a sign that the housing recovery remains on shaky ground. the Philadelphia Fed regional manufacturing index also fell, coming in below expectations.

“We’re getting some reminders that the U.S. economy is not in spectacular shape,” said Matt King, chief investment officer at Bell Investment Advisors. “It’s growing, but at a very slow rate. with every two steps forward, it’s taking one back.”

Corporate earnings, on the other hand, have been better than expected. Of the 105 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported quarterly results, more than 80% beat expectations, while 11% missed forecasts, according to Thomson Reuters. Analysts are expecting overall S&P 500 first-quarter earnings to climb 6%, with revenues edging up 5%.

Meanwhile, investors were also mildly relieved that an auction of €2.5 billion of Spanish 10-year bonds drew strong demand.

But Spain released a relatively low volume of bonds, helping to ensure that demand, noted Brian Barry, a fixed income analyst with Investec in London.

“They’re trying to manage expectations,” Barry said. “It’s not necessarily a ringing endorsement of Spanish bonds.” the yield on the 10-year note shot up to 5.92% following the auction. Italian bond yields also rose, underscoring the continuing concern about Europe’s fiscal situation.

“Europe is going to be a market worry for the next few years at least,” said King. “Policymakers have taken steps to address some issues, but what Europe has is a long-term problem.”

U.S. stocks closed down modestly Wednesday, as investors found new reasons to worry about Europe’s economy. Spain released data showing that its banks held more problem loans than expected, which added to concerns over the country’s finances.

Companies: Investors continue to parse through corporate earnings.

Ahead of Thursday’s open, Bank of America reported that its quarterly net income had declined sharply versus last year, though the drop came after an accounting adjustment of nearly $5 billion. after factoring out non-operating expenses, the company’s earnings more than doubled from a year ago, sending shares higher.

Morgan Stanley, too, reported a large accounting adjustment that cut into its earnings. Excluding this expense, earnings and revenue were up versus last year, and shares moved higher.

Nokia shares were down after the cellphone maker reported a steep first-quarter loss, struggling against strong competition in the mobile market.

After Thursday’s close, Microsoft reported lower first-quarter earnings that topped forecasts. Share rose in after-hours trading.

Shares of luxury luggage maker Tumi soared more than 47% in their stock market debut, after pricing above the expected range in the company’s initial public offering Wednesday. Splunk shares nearly doubled on their first day of trading, after also pricing above range on Wednesday.

Biotech firm Human Genome Sciences rejected a takeover bid from pharmaceutical maker GlaxoSmithKline. HGS said the offer — at $13 per share, or $2.6 billion — “does not reflect the value inherent” in the company. Shares of HGS soared 97%.

Shares of Sprint tumbled after new York’s attorney general filed a tax fraud lawsuit against the wireless carrier, accusing it of intentionally underpaying sales tax in the state for seven years. Under new York state law, Sprint could be on the hook for as much as $300 million, plus penalties, if it is found liable.

Shares of U.S. Airways surged more than 15% following a Bloomberg report that three of American Airlines’ largest unions have agreed to back a possible takeover from the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline. AMR Corp., parent company of American Airlines, went into bankruptcy last year and announced a quarterly net loss of $1.7 billion on Thursday.

World markets: European stocks finished lower. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged down slightly, while the DAX in Germany dropped 0.9% and France’s CAC 40 shed 2%.

Asian markets ended mixed. the Shanghai Composite slipped by 0.1% and Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.8%, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 1%.

Currencies and commodities: the dollar rose against the euro and the Japanese yen but slipped versus the British pound.

Oil for May fell 40 cents to settle at $102.27 a barrel. Gold futures for April delivery rose $1.80 to settle at $1,640.60 an ounce.

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