Orlando Sentinel

 
 
 
 
 
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    Orlando Business News - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Teen without hands says SeaWorld, Universal kept her off rides

    27 Jan 2012 | 8:28 pm
    Parents of Katie Champagne, 17, say she is more than capable of riding Central Florida's roller coasters.Though she was born without hands, Katie Champagne does things many with two cannot. At age 17, she's a masterful equestrian and an aspiring artist and photographer.

  • Church Street merchants locked out of All-Star action

    27 Jan 2012 | 5:32 pm
    Next month's NBA All-Star Game may pump up to $100 million into the local economy, but the shops and restaurants across the street from the Amway Center won't be in the midst of the action.

  • 500 celebrate the start of SunRail

    27 Jan 2012 | 5:14 pm
    ALTAMONTE SPRINGS — Florida's top transportation administrator promised Friday to do his part to boost ridership on the SunRail commuter train.

  • Growth quickens, but speed bumps ahead

    27 Jan 2012 | 4:30 pm
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy grew at its fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in the fourth quarter, but a rebuilding of stocks by businesses and slower business spending warned of weaker growth in early 2012.

  • Wet 'n Wild to add playground for younger set

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm
    Wet 'n Wild became the latest Central Florida park to target the young kids demographic Friday, with an announcement that its first new attraction in more than four years will be a giant water playground.
 
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    Space News - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Is Gingrich's 'grandiose' space vision realistic?

    26 Jan 2012 | 5:27 pm
    Twice now Newt Gingrich has come to Central Florida promising to renew John F. Kennedy's vision for America's unchallenged leadership in space, fueled by commercial innovation, bold plans, and a "just do it" mentality.

  • Sun hurls strong geomagnetic storm toward Earth

    23 Jan 2012 | 3:04 pm
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The strongest geomagnetic storm in more than six years was forecast to hit Earth's magnetic field on Tuesday, and it could affect airline routes, power grids and satellites, the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center said.

  • Lisa Nowak: Records sealed in NASA astronaut's love-triangle arrest

    18 Jan 2012 | 6:40 pm
    Judge Marc Lubet closed the case to public view in DecemberRecords of former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak's arrest in Orlando live in cyberspace but an Orange County judge has sealed her criminal case forever.

  • NASA chief meets with astronauts about artifact sales

    9 Jan 2012 | 4:50 pm
    WASHINGTON -- Hoping to settle a feud inside the NASA family, NASA Chief Charlie Bolden met Monday with several Apollo astronauts upset with how the agency recently has blocked them from selling space artifacts from their personal collections.

  • NASA questions sale of Apollo 13 checklist

    5 Jan 2012 | 7:19 pm
    WASHINGTON — A famous NASA artifact is again at the center of a national drama, although this time the stakes aren't life-or-death.
 
 
 
 
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    SOUNDBOARD - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • For Steve Garron, Potsie CD is a legacy

    26 Jan 2012 | 9:29 am
    It's customary for local bands to celebrate a CD release with a show, but that's not in the cards for Potsie

  • DJ Avicii hungers for activism

    26 Jan 2012 | 9:29 am
    House music isn't known for its connection to social or political causes, but Swedish DJ Avicii is looking to change that notion on his House for Hunger Tour, which stops tonight at UCF Arena.

  • Guitar expo in Kissimmee

    19 Jan 2012 | 9:41 am
    It's the annual Orlando International Guitar & Music Expo (guitarexpo.net), unfolding from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Exhibition Building at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.

  • Wynn, Believers back with new CD

    19 Jan 2012 | 9:41 am
    "Brothers and Sisters," the new album from Thomas Wynn and the Believers, has plenty of the muscular, Southern-flavored rock that always has defined the band's style

  • Evanescence back after long hiatus

    12 Jan 2012 | 1:37 pm
    Performing at the Nobel Peace Prize concert isn't one of the things that aspiring rock stars would even dare to imagine in long-ago daydreams in front of the bedroom mirror
 
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    Simply Living - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Witnessing snake devour tree frog brings home realities of nature

    22 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    People have it easy. If we're hungry, we go to the store, select food, go home and prepare a meal. If we're pressed for time, feeling lazy or indulgent, we eat at a restaurant.

  • Farmers markets offer bargains, entertainment

    15 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    A Sunday morning spent perusing the farmers market in downtown Clermont can be a thrifty as well as fun experience.

  • Laptop turns treadmill into Web workout

    8 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    A year ago this week, I replaced the desk and chair in my office with a treadmill. For the past 365 days, whenever I've wanted to check email, write a column, do online research or see what's new on Facebook, I've done so upright. My fingers tap the keyboard while my feet pad along on a band of movable floor.

  • Mother-of-thousands can be a prodigious pest

    4 Jan 2012 | 8:23 am
    There's a plant growing in my yard that I can't get rid of. Some people call it Mexican hat plant, devil's backbone or alligator plant. Others know it as "mother-of-thousands," though in my experience, "mother-of-millions" might be more appropriate.

  • It's Halloween — a holiday of broken rules

    30 Oct 2011 | 9:39 pm
    I often found myself smiling as I drove through town these past few weeks. The reason for these sudden bursts of levity was tonight's holiday, Halloween.
 
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    INSIDE HIGH SCHOOLS - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Controversial legislation will be tweaked, coach says

    25 Jan 2012 | 12:56 pm
    Private-school members in FHSAA want to have a choice in their futureMuch of the debate about legislative proposals that could impact Florida high school athletics boil down to one key point still to be clarified:

  • Orange County boys basketball teams are dominating

    18 Jan 2012 | 5:45 pm
    The Metro Conference has first-place teams in seven districtsBoys basketball is big in Orange County, with stellar coaching and a competitive grind that toughens every team.

  • Public vs. private = good basketball Saturday at OCP

    4 Jan 2012 | 2:51 pm
    The Showdown in O-Town boys basketball event at Orlando Christian Prep features several ranked teams in Central Florida.In a lot of high school sports circles, "public vs. private" carries negative weight.

  • Game organizer wishes top recruiters could see area talent

    14 Dec 2011 | 1:21 pm
    Per NCAA rules, the FHSAA has not sanctioned Division I recruiters to watch all-star game practices, such as the Central Florida High School All-Star Football Game.Chip Humble 's holiday wish is for major-college recruiters to be allowed again to attend his Central Florida High School All-Star Football Game, which turns 13 years old with Thursday night's 7:30 kickoff at Lake Brantley.

  • DP is next area team in Plant's path to Citrus Bowl

    22 Nov 2011 | 11:00 pm
    Tampa Plant will host Dr. Phillips on Friday night in a region semifinal and could host another area team in a state semifinal.The general consensus is that Tampa Plant (10-1) will erase every Central Florida football contender in Class 8A and end a streak that has seen five different area schools reach the big-school state championship game over the past five seasons.
 
 
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    Capitol View - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Costs of running private prisons hard to quantify

    27 Jan 2012 | 4:36 pm
    TALLAHASSEE — Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature is fast-tracking the most sweeping prison privatization plan in the country. Lawmakers had to respond after a circuit judge last summer dared to declare their last attempt had unconstitutionally used the state's budget as a vehicle for implementing policy.

  • Prisons may be privatized before taxpayers know consequences

    20 Jan 2012 | 3:35 pm
    TALLAHASSEE – Outsourcing government services has been on the conservative agenda for three decades, which is a blessing for Florida policymakers because it means there are lots of successes and missteps around the country to emulate or avoid.

  • 'Accountability budgeting' is latest Scott reform effort

    14 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    TALLAHASSEE – Now that Gov. Rick Scott has passed his first year as governor, it's time to start giving him some serious job evaluations. But it is impossible to evaluate his performance without something to measure.

  • Florida lawmakers seek checks as session beckons

    7 Jan 2012 | 3:01 am
    TALLAHASSEE — The earlier-than-usual lawmaking season has produced a late push to shake down lobbyists and industries for campaign cash before the ban on fundraising during the 60-day session.

  • Florida privatization push can be rush job

    1 Oct 2011 | 3:52 pm
    TALLAHASSEE — What do policymakers do when they discover they've grown the size of government too much to avoid culpability for its bulging budgets? In Florida, and virtually everywhere else in America during the past four decades, the answer has been a simple one: privatize.
 
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    FOOD - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Sweet! You-pick strawberry opportunities

    25 Jan 2012 | 9:33 am
    The growers and foodies I talked to this week said the strawberries are at their best right now, making this the perfect time to collect, preserve and cook

  • Coming next week:The Foodie Awards

    19 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Next week in Calendar, we'll reveal the winners of the 14th annual Foodie Awards , your favorite places to eat and drink in 2011. There are nine new categories, including best food truck, bar menu and coffeehouse. Of course, I get to note my picks as well. But the main focus is our readers' takes of what's hot in the Central Florida dining scene . It's your turn to be the critic and I am enjoying the company at the table.

  • La Casa de Las Paellas delivers

    19 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    The emphasis is on quality seafood and authentic Dominican, Puerto Rican and Spanish fare

  • Taste of Orlando at South Beach festival

    18 Jan 2012 | 9:03 am
    Local strawberries are coming in with gorgeous color and exquisite flavor. Check out my blog today for recipes and how to extend the season

  • A few new kids on the block

    12 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Atlantis Cove opened this week at 11025 International Drive (407-809-2662) near SeaWorld. Executive chef Jason Bruner's menu highlights seafood, steak and sushi.
 
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    Washington Post Writer's Group - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Newt Gingrich in Wonderland

    25 Jan 2012 | 10:31 am
    WASHINGTON -- When it comes to Newt Gingrich's post-speaker activities on the Hill, it all depends on what your definition of "lobbying" is.

  • The perils of projection

    20 Jan 2012 | 5:31 pm
    WASHINGTON -- Newt Gingrich's standing ovation Thursday night, when he attacked CNN moderator John King for asking about allegations that Gingrich wanted an "open marriage" with his second wife, told us little about South Carolina, but much about human nature.

  • The cruel gaze of inspection

    18 Jan 2012 | 11:43 am
    WASHINGTON -- My recent column about Michelle Obama, which I wrote to counter the negative responses to Jodi Kantor's new book, "The Obamas," apparently has been misinterpreted by some. I did not intend to indict Kantor, who, in fact, wrote a mostly complimentary portrait of the first couple. Nor did I intend to cast doubt on her reporting. Kantor is a thorough reporter, and she has provided a provocative, insightful peek behind the draperies at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The purpose of reporting, after all, is to tell what you have learned.

  • Angry women

    16 Jan 2012 | 11:58 am
    WASHINGTON -- I can't speak for Michelle Obama, but call me an angry white woman. If the first lady isn't angry, she certainly has every right to be.

  • Pious baloney 2.0

    12 Jan 2012 | 2:47 pm
    WASHINGTON -- One thing we've learned since the Republican primary season began: There's an awful lot of pious baloney out there.
 
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    Diversions - OrlandoSentinel.com

  • Ticked off! @ rate increase

    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I'm ticked off that I just received my new home insurance policy and again they raised the rates because they say my home is worth more than it was the previous year as they have done the past three years.

  • Ticked off! @ ads, brats

    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I am ticked off at political TV ads. I don't care how bad the other guy is. What are you going to do to fix things?

  • Ticked off! @ sales tax

    24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I'm ticked off that just because I am a male, other guys especially at work always want to talk to me about sports. I do not follow them and could care less about them. Leave me alone!

  • Ticked off! @ errors, stealers

    23 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I'm ticked off and embarrassed because a family member's wedding website is full of spelling and punctuation errors. If you're old enough to get married, you should be old enough to know how to spell.

  • Ticked off! @ gifts, groups

    22 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Someone in their car enters the driveway of a lodge and then drives all the way across their front lawn instead of continuing on the circular drive. What's wrong with this picture? I bet she wouldn't appreciate folks doing this to her lawn!
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    Animal Crazy - Orlando Sentinel

  • Join Orange Animal Services, Dawn Brancheau Foundation for dog play yard dedication Sunday

    gail smith
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:32 pm
       (Courtesy Orange County Animal Services)  The public is welcome this Sunday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. at Orange County Animal Services for the dedication of the new, state-of-the-art dog play yard donated by the Dawn Brancheau Foundation.  Dawn was a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando who died during a performance.   “This is the first dog-centered community service project the Foundation has supported,” Amber Cavett, The Dawn Brancheau Foundation representative, said when the grant was announced. “Dawn loved her dogs Jake, Ruger and Maggie, and also cared for and found homes for the…

  • Beware of animal ‘rescue group’ called Needful Souls

    gail smith
    20 Jan 2012 | 3:33 pm
    We received a news tip at the Sentinel warning of a group called Needful Souls that purportedly is an animal rescue organization and is becoming active in Florida. I am not familiar with the group, but a quick Google search indicates there are a lot of disturbing allegations about the group and definitely enough evidence to proceed with great caution if you encounter it. The simplest advice I have is: Google the name and read for yourself. I asked Kat Kennedy, program coordinator, marketing and public relations, for Orange County Animal Services, whether she was familiar with this group…

  • Quick, easy way to help out The Cat Protection Society

    gail smith
    19 Jan 2012 | 10:59 pm
    Please help our good friends at The Cat Protection Society win 2,012 pounds of cat litter. Just go this link and fill in the following information. All the kitties and cat protectors thank you very much! worldsbestcatlitter and vote for The Cat Protection Society 2700 Getford Rd. Eustis, FL  32726 (352) 589-6228 www.thecatprotectionsociety.org     (under the URL space)

  • Bok Tower Gardens to host Winter Dog Day on Saturday

    gail smith
    12 Jan 2012 | 4:03 pm
    (Photo by Stacy Nichols) Looking for a great outing this weekend? Bok Tower Gardens will become “Bark Tower Gardens” on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Winter Dog Day. Leashed and friendly dogs are invited to visit to help support the Humane Society of Polk County, which will receive 50 percent of the event’s proceeds. Dog admission, including a doggie gift bag, is $5 per dog. Regular human admission rates apply. Call 863-676-1408 or visit boktowergardens.org for more information. “Many of our members, visitors and staff are dog lovers who enjoy a chance to get out…

  • Orange Animal Services celebrates new year with $20.12 adoption fees

    gail smith
    9 Jan 2012 | 11:12 pm
    To ring in the new year, Orange Animal Services has reduced adoption fees to $20.12 during the month of January. One of the shelter’s New Year resolutions is to find forever homes for 400 animals during the month of January.    “We did a similar promotion last year and were amazed with the results: 396 animals were adopted. We’re hoping this year is even more successful,” said Dil Luther, division manager of Orange County Animal Services. The shelter will encourage adopters to round up their adoption fee to $25, making a $4.88 donation to the shelter.   “It surprises…
 
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    The Chain Gang - Orlando Sentinel

  • Smart For-us e-pickup powers e-bikes

    Liam Miller
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:40 pm
    Smart revealed an electric two-seater, the For-us pickup, at the 2012 North American International Auto Show as well as the Smart e-bike, with a battery-powered motor that can recharge using the car’s power supply. Read more and see photos by clicking here.

  • Recalls: Handlebars, some Giant bikes

    Liam Miller
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:26 pm
    The Consumer Product Safety Commission says: Bicycle handlebars made by Nitto Co Ltd. of Japan can break while the user is riding the bike, resulting in loss of control and a fall hazard. This recall involves Nitto aluminum bicycle handlebars with model number B259AA. They were sold in the following colors: red, blue, black, gold, green, pink and silver. "NITTO" and "B259" are printed at the end of the handlebars. Sold by bicycle specialty stores and dealers nationwide from January 2008 through July 2011 for $60 to $80. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled  handlebars and…

  • Davids World employee fights to recover

    mary shanklin
    23 Jan 2012 | 9:03 am
    Nick Vollman, a 33-year-old employee of David’s World Cycle, was critically injured in a recent accident on Edgewater. His family asks that everyone keep him in their prayers. A note from them: Dear David’s World Cycle Friends and Family, Here is an update written by Nick’s father. Please please keep praying for him. God answers prayers and we have to keep Nick in the forefront of our thoughts to get him well. Nick remains in critical but stable condition in the ICU at ORMC. He has a slight temperature (101) and remains heavily sedated. He currently has a ventilator tube…

  • Free Bike Mechanic Clinic

    mary shanklin
    23 Jan 2012 | 8:53 am
    Join us Friday January 27 at 6 pm at South Lake Bicyle for a free Mechanics Bike Clinic. We will go over: A: Bike Tire Repair B: Bike Cleaning C: General Tune Up. In addition we will go over in detail: Proper removal of the back wheel, Gear Positioning for dismounting, Skewer Proper alignment / Proper tightness, Tube Installation Mounting, etc. FREE bring your own Bottle and South Lake will provide you a a $15.00 value of advanced liquid solution cleaning for your bike. Any questions, do not hesitate to contact South Lake Bicycles at: Tel: 352-394-3848 Email: southlakebicycles@gmail.com Web:…

  • Bridge over Red Bug

    jeff kunerth
    22 Jan 2012 | 4:33 pm
    Red Bug bridge being assembled on Jan. 20 Here’s a picture taken Friday night of the Cross-Seminole Trail bridge over Red Bug Lake Road, courtesy of friend of the blog Jim Robison. According to Seminole County, the project began on May 24, 2011 and is scheduled for completion by June 1, 2012. The bridge is a major link in the trail which connects to Orange County’s Cady Way Trail to the west and extends the Cross-Seminole north-east into downtown Oviedo.
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    Chopping Block - Seminoles Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • With Signing Day near, what other FSU targets are still out there?

    Coley Harvey
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:13 pm
    Florida State has offered Valdosta, Ga. native Josh Harvey-Clemons, along with several other still uncommitted recruits. The Seminoles are hopeful Harvey-Clemons and a few other ESPNU150 prospects will sign with them next Wednesday. (Photo from Georgia's "Dawg Post"/scout.com) In case some of the more recent Chopping Block blogs haven’t convinced you of this fact just yet, we’ll say it again: National Signing Day is near. Last year’s Signing Day was one Tallahassee won’t forget for quite some time. Florida State landed a class that was lauded by most…

  • The preseason honors continue to roll in for FSU baseball

    Coley Harvey
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am
    Florida State outfielder James Ramsey is expected to play another major role for the Seminoles this season. The offense should be sound, but what about the pitching? The nation's coaches don't appear worried about FSU's pitching. They believe the 'Noles are currently the ninth-best team in the country. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel) In exactly three weeks from Friday, Florida State’s baseball team will kick off its 2012 season. And it will do so with a number of high rankings. Already this preseason the Seminoles have picked up a No. 13 ranking from Collegiate Baseball…

  • Evaluating Florida State’s commits: A look at the RBs | VIDEO

    Coley Harvey
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am
    Florida State early enrollee Mario Pender is the lone running back currently committed to the Seminoles. Although they lost two seniors off last season's team, the Seminoles are only bringing in Pender to buoy what should be a deep backfield. (Photo from the Cape Coral Daily Breeze) National Signing Day is less than a week away, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. For Florida State, that means the Seminoles are mere days away from knowing whether or not they will have a second straight recruiting class to be lauded among the nation’s best. Last year’s recruiting efforts landed the…

  • Evaluating Florida State’s commits: A look at LBs/DBs | VIDEO

    Coley Harvey
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:39 pm
    Florida State commit Markuss Eligwe (right) could be one of two outside linebackers the Seminoles sway in this year's recruiting class. Here, the Stone Mountain, Ga. product poses with his U.S. Army All-American jersey. (Photo: WXIA-TV Atlanta/11alive.com) National Signing Day is officially less than a week away, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. For Florida State, that means the Seminoles are mere days away from knowing whether or not they will have a second straight recruiting class lauded among the nation’s best. Last year’s recruiting efforts landed the Seminoles a class that…

  • FSU to be one of 13 schools to host ESPN cameras on Signing Day

    Coley Harvey
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:11 pm
    According to this news release on ESPN’s media page, the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader will have cameras and reporters set up at Florida State next Wednesday during the school’s National Signing Day festivities. As part of the cable network’s 10 hours of Signing Day coverage, ESPN will be broadcasting from FSU and 12 other schools: Alabama, LSU, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Oregon, Michigan and Texas. Throughout the day, the network also will check in with cameras placed at the Signing Day parties of some of the…
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    The Dish - Orlando Sentinel

  • Recall alert: Winn-Dixie recalls Leasa sprouts

    hmcpherson
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:54 pm
    Winn-Dixie has issued a voluntary recall of LEASA brand sprouts because of potential salmonella exposure. Winn-Dixie has issued a voluntary recall of LEASA brand sprouts because of potential salmonella exposure. The Class I voluntary recall of LEASA Living alfalfa sprouts sold in a 6-ounce packages sold with a UPC code of 7546555912. The products were pulled from shelves in stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. According to the Federal Drug Administration, the product is potentially contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal…

  • Food Truck Crazy plans March 31 Food Truck Wars event

    hmcpherson
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:15 pm
    SAVE THE DATE: Food Truck Crazy's “Food Truck Wars” March 31. Liz Otts’ Food Truck Crazy has organized a free March 31 event at the Oviedo Mall called “Food Truck Wars.” From noon-6 pm 30-40 mobile vendors from throughout Florida that will compete for awards and prizes. The City of Oviedo and the Oviedo Mall are the sponsors of Food Truck Wars. Participating food trucks will go to battle in five categories: 1. People’s Choice Award 2. The Chef-Off, judged by nationally renowned chefs 3. The Largest Food Item, judged by Liz Otts’ Food Truck Crazy team 4. Food Truck…

  • Test Kitchen bonus: Mojito madness

    hmcpherson
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:08 am
    Citrus mojito with tangerine garnishCITRUS MOJITO Yield: 1 serving 12 fresh mint leaves 1/2 of a lime, cut in wedges 4 teaspoons sugar or equivalent sugar substitute 7 ounces club soda 1 1/2 ounces citrus-infused rum Tangerine or Mandarin orange segments for garnish 1. Crush the mint leaves and lime in tall glass. Add sugar. 2. Fill glass with ice. Top with rum and soda. 3. Garnish with fruit Sake mojitoBenihana’s Sake Mojito Yield: 1 serving. 4 to 6 lime wedges 6 to 8 mint leaves 2 ounces rum 1/2 ounce sake 2 ounces sour mix 1 ounce mint syrup (see note) Club soda Lime and mint for…

  • Scott McKenzie & the Morning Mix recipe of the week: Chicken Artichoke Casserole

    hmcpherson
    25 Jan 2012 | 5:30 am
    Chicken Artichoke Casserole The more the merrier in the Orlando Sentinel test kitchen! That’s why we have teamed with the fabulous folks over at Orlando’s WOMX Mix 105.1 to offer the morning show’s Recipe of the Week. Today’s recipe is Chicken Artichoke Casserole. This dish gives a new twist to a classic Southern favorite, adding artichokes and mushrooms to a recipe that will leave your family asking for seconds. Serve with a fresh green salad. Every Wednesday, you can find more recipes picked exclusively for Scott McKenzie & the Morning Mix here and at mix1051.com. Chicken…

  • Test kitchen bonus: Florida strawberries

    hmcpherson
    18 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Every year it makes its entrance like a model on a fashion house runway. From its stylish, vibrant green cap to its rosy complexion, the strawberry is a head turner along roadside stands and in supermarket produce bins. As berries go, it’s one of the plus-size models, dwarfing raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. But that heft is jam-packed with good-for-you elements. Nutritionally, strawberries are packed with more vitamin C than any other member of the berry family. In addition, a half-cup provides more fiber than a slice of whole wheat bread. They’re also low in sodium…
 
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    OrlandoSentinel.com - Frugal Force

  • Orlando's daily deals for January 27

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am
    Orlando's daily deals for January 27:HotDealsOrlando is offering 50% off authentic Cuban food and drink at Latin Bistro Cuban Café ($20 Value). Check this deal out at HotDealsOrlando.com.Groupon is offering $79 for $500 at MedSlim Laser. Check this deal out at Groupon.com.Living Social is offering One ($59), Two ($99), or Three ($145) Two-Hour House Cleanings from TeamOne Maids. Check this deal out at LivingSocial.com.ODeals Daily is offering $10 Worth of Frozen Yogurt from Menchies in Altamonte Springs for Only $5. Check this deal out at Orlando.ODealsDaily.com.Eversave Orlando…

  • Orlando's daily deals for January 26

    26 Jan 2012 | 8:18 am
    Orlando's daily deals for January 26:HotDealsOrlando is offering $10 for $20 of Gourmet Food, Gifts and Tea at The British Shoppe. Check this deal out at HotDealsOrlando.com.Groupon is offering $18 for $39 at Polonia Polish Restaurant. Check this deal out at Groupon.com.Living Social is offering $25 for Introductory Scuba Class with One Hour of Classroom Time and 1.5 Hours of Pool Time from The Dive Station. Check this deal out at LivingSocial.com.ODeals Daily is offering $10 Worth of Frozen Yogurt from Menchies in Altamonte Springs for Only $5. Check this deal out at…

  • Get free pancakes at IHOP on Feb. 28

    25 Jan 2012 | 10:49 am
    I know it's a bit early for this, but this is an announcement to mark your calendar!  I'll send a reminder later in February.On February 28, 2012, guests are invited to celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP and enjoy a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes between 7a.m. and 10 p.m.  In return for the free pancakes, guests are asked to consider leaving a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other designated local charities. Get more details at: http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/  

  • Orlando's daily deals for January 25

    25 Jan 2012 | 10:06 am
    Orlando's daily deals for January 25:HotDealsOrlando is offering $70 for a One-Hour Cleansing Facial and Microdermabrasion at A New Image Salon & Spa ($140 Value). Check this deal out at HotDealsOrlando.com.Groupon is offering $99 for $480 at Amber Skin Clinic & Day Spa. Check this deal out at Groupon.com.Living Social is offering $41 for Wild Ginger KeraTriplex Protein Treatment, Haircut, Blow Dry, and Glass of Wine at Urban Hair Lounge. Check this deal out at LivingSocial.com.ODeals Daily is offering $20 Worth of Unique Italian Fare for Just $10 at Brick and Fire Pizza and…

  • Orlando's daily deals for January 24

    24 Jan 2012 | 9:15 am
    Orlando's daily deals for January 24:HotDealsOrlando is offering 54% off a 30-minute aromatherapy massage, 30-minute oxygen bar session & Peppermint heated foot wrap at Renaissance Massage ($150 value). Check this deal out at HotDealsOrlando.com.Groupon is offering $25 for $50 at Eternal Youth Wellness Boutique. Check this deal out at Groupon.com.Living Social is offering $5 for $10 to Spend on Boba Tea and Smoothies at Chewy Boba Company. Check this deal out at LivingSocial.com.ODeals Daily is offering Cellulite Reduction OR Skin Tightening at Elase Medical Spa For $99 ($750 Value).
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    Knights Notepad - Orlando Sentinel

  • UCF Basketball Roundup: Tristan Spurlock blossoming into strong sixth man, Knights prepare for big game

    Iliana Limón
    28 Jan 2012 | 1:48 am
    UCF sophomore guard Tristan Spurlock celebrates the Knights' win over Memphis. Credit: Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel. Here’s a roundup of the latest UCF basketball news: – I wrote an article about UCF sophomore guard Tristan Spurlock, who was a bit timid when he first had an opportunity to play significant minutes for the Knights are the start of this season but has since developed into a key spark for UCF coming off the bench. “Tristan really was like  freshman because he didn’t get a lot of opportunities to play at Virginia and had to sit out all of last…

  • UCF softball team hosting celebrity golf tournament fund-raiser

    Iliana Limón
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:29 am
    The UCF softball team is looking for more people to participate in the program’s celebrity golf tournament fund-raiser on Monday, Jan. 30 at the Tuscawilla Country Club in Winter Springs. The tournament will feature former Major League Baseball player Gary Sheffield. Registration for the event begins at 10 a.m. and with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Sheffield is a nine-time MLB All-Star who played for 10 teams since signing with the Milwaukee Brewers in the amateur draft in 1986 and ending his career with the New York Mets in 2009. The event will showcase many MLB stars, local Orlando…

  • UCF junior D.J. Hicks named preseason C-USA player of the year, Knights picked to finish second

    Iliana Limón
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:34 am
    D.J. Hicks UCF junior utility player D.J. Hicks, a graduate of Altamonte springs’ Lake Brantley High, was named Conference USA preseason baseball player of the year. Junior shortstop Darnell Sweeney and junior outfielder Ronnie Richardson joined Hicks on the preseason All-C-USA baseball team. The Knights also were picked to finish second behind national power Rice, earning one first-place vote. The preseson awards were voted on by the league’s coaches. Hicks was a third team NAtional College Baseball Writers Association All-American, a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy…

  • Check out the transcript of our weekly UCF athletics live chat

    Iliana Limón
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:16 am
    I wanted to take a few minutes and clarify an issue raised in today’s live chat. A reader asked repeatedly for my thoughts on quarterback prospect videos posted on YouTube. At the time, I was scrolling back and forth between UCF’s football schedule being released and working to move quickly through a slew of questions piling up in the live chat queue. I looked briefly at the first video clip and responded that I thought the individual workout was something that was not on par with a Division I quarterback prospect. Once I had a chance to look at all three video links later in the…

  • UCF loses its composure at Tulsa, but defeat doesn’t torpedo Knights’ shot at NCAA Tournament

    Iliana Limón
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:46 pm
    The UCF men’s basketball team had a pretty rough visit to Tulsa. After clearly feeling a lot of the officials’ calls did not go their way, the Knights lost their composure late in the contest and fell 66-61 at Tulsa. UCF coach Donnie Jones said after the game his players have to find a way to keep their emotions in check regardless of what happens on the court. Instead, team leaders Marcus Jordan and Keith Clanton picked up technical fouls in the final 15 seconds of the game. “I thought we fought hard to overcome some adversity, and those two technical fouls I the only thing…
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    Orlando Sentinel’s Magic BasketBlog

  • Dwight Howard questions teammates’ desire

    brian schmitz
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:33 pm
    Dwight Howard critical of teammates' desireMagic star Dwight Howard says if his teammates should stay home or in the lockeroom if they don’t want to play hard. Howard was frustrated and disgusted with his team’s play after a 93-67 loss to the hapless New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, the Magic’s third loss in four games. “Looked like guys didn’t want to play,” he said. “I told them at halftime, if you don’t want to play, just stay in the lockerroom. It doesn’t make sense for a teams we should beat to just demolish us. “You bring…

  • Losing to the Celtics twice can’t help the Magic keep Dwight Howard

    Josh Robbins
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:35 pm
    Dwight Howard walks down the court at the end of the Magic's loss to the Celtics on Thursday (Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel) Ever since the NBA lockout ended, Orlando Magic officials have tried to convince Dwight Howard to remain with the franchise long-term. The Magic hope that winning can make Howard believe the team is a bona fide championship contender. And, for a while, it looked the franchise had generated a compelling argument. The Magic won five consecutive games, including all three on a West Coast road trip and another at Madison Square Garden. Now, however, that momentum may…

  • Jason Richardson: Magic need to shake “soft” label

    brian schmitz
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:15 am
    The Magic have been accused of being the kid who gets sand kicked in its face before. And they did nothing to stop the reputation in two losses to the Celtics this week. A guy who just arrived last season — shooting guard Jason Richardson — said after the Magic blew a 27-point lead, “The guys know that we didn’t come out in the second half like we were supposed to. To go and give up a lead like that? “We have to figure out a way to maintain stuff like that, lik ehow to play with leads like that or when teams put pressure on us. “It’s folding like…

  • Dwight Howard calls out teammates to “change”

    brian schmitz
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:45 am
    Dwight Howard says team has to change its waysThe way the Magic have lost the past two games to the Celtics, you wouldn’t be surprised if Dwight Howard expanded his trade-request list to Memphis, Sacramento or the Harlem Globetrotters. Howard intimated that teammates didn’t stick to their roles Thursday night’s loss to Boston. “We didn’t play the right way and we have to change,” he said. “Everybody just can’t come down (the floor) and feel like they have to take the game over. You just have to play team-ball and play the way we want to play. We…

  • Celtics play mind games with fragile Magic

    brian schmitz
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:27 pm
    Doc Rivers steers Celtics to another win over former teamThe Boston Celtics did it again to the Magic, and the Thursday night meltdown was much worse than the Monday night massacre. In this rematch, the Magic jumped to a 27-point lead only to collapse against the Celtics’ will, defensive pressure and championship pedigree. The Magic never were in Monday night’s lopsided loss, and nobody would be talking about it much if the Magic hadn’t broken the club record for fewest points scored in a game, with 56. If they score 60, it would have been remembered as just a dreadful…
 
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    Moms At Work - Orlando Sentinel

  • Eating out doesn’t have to break you

    koshii eslinger
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:23 am
    Now that my daughter has outgrown the temper-tantrum stage and is actually showing a lot of maturity when it comes to manners and such, we’ve been eating out a bit more. Now, if you don’t plan ahead, do a little bit of research and order smartly, you’ll end up spending more than you planned. Here are a few tips to eating out on a budget: 1. When ordering for your child(ren), don’t limit yourself to the kids’ menu. There may be appetizers or soups or salads that the little ones will enjoy just fine. Also, what I usually do is order something that I know both she…

  • Model walks runway while pregnant

    anika palm
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:05 am
    Alessandra Ambrosio looks great while pregnant (Getty Images/Yahoo) Did you look great during your pregnancy? I didn’t. I was not one of those women for whom pregnancy provided an almost supernatural glow that enhanced my looks. In fact, in the first couple of months of my pregnancy, before I revealed that I was expecting, several people — strangers and co-workers alike — told me I didn’t look well and asked whether I was ill. Photos taken throughout my pregnancy also reveal that I didn’t look good during that time. I am, as you can imagine, amazed by women who…

  • Naming sons for fathers a baby-name tradition that seems to be fading (so long, Junior)

    lesliepostal
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:58 am
    My son shares a first name with his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  Because they all have (or had) different middle names, there are no Jrs. or numbers at the end of my boy’s moniker. Which is, frankly, the way I like it. Because while I appreciate (and appreciated) my husband’s desire to keep a family naming tradition going — and to honor his own Dad — I was uncomfortable with Junior and anyone calling my son “little” so-and-so. So we call our son by a middle name. Yeah, that creates its own issues, at times, but at least day-to-day he…

  • How do you deal with your child’s ‘bad’ grades?

    Lisa Cianci
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:58 am
    How much do grades matter? It’s the end of another grading period, and for many high-schoolers and their parents, it is a time marked by lots of angst. As parents, we want what’s best for our kids, and for many of us, that means getting good grades and getting into college. This is where the trouble starts. The stakes are SO high for kids now — much more so than when I was in school. Grades matter; they play a large role in determining which university your child can get into. But do you chastise a child for getting a B?  How about a C? Do you take away his cell phone or…

  • My daughter has discovered … lying!

    koshii eslinger
    19 Jan 2012 | 7:51 am
    Me: Did you wash your hands? Her: Yes (Immediately she hides her hands behind her back) Me: Let me ask you one more time. Did you wash your hands? Her: Yes, I did. Me: So, if I smell them, they’ll smell like the cranberry handwash that’s in the bathroom, right? Her: No, because I only used a tiny, tiny bit of soap. YOU said to not waste soap. Me: Ok, so then the sink will be wet from the water you used, right? Or are you trying not to waste water either? Her: Wait, no….Mommy…..please don’t go in there! Me: Why not? Is it because you’re lying? Her: Yes, but…
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    Mr. Lucky Florida Lottery Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • Florida Lottery needs to get a new station to show drawings in Orlando

    gary taylor
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:12 am
    Did you tune in to WKMG-Ch. 6 at10:59 p.m. last night for the Powerball drawing? I did. And when they went straight to news without showing the drawing, I assumed there was some delay in holding the drawing. Not so, said Florida Lottery spokeswoman Connie Barnes. “The Powerball drawing was conducted on time last night,” she told me this morning. WKMG already delays the Lotto and Fantasy 5 drawings by several minutes on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Why can’t they adjust their schedule to show them live? On the other nights, they read the results and often talk so fast…

  • Unbelievable: Two Quick Pick jackpot winners at the same store

    gary taylor
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am
    From time to time, there will be more than one jackpot-winning ticket purchased at the same store. It happens when people play a set of numbers more than once. According to the Florida Lottery, four tickets split Wednesday night’s Fantasy 5 jackpot and all were Quick Picks. The Lottery says two of them were purchased at the University BP, 10860 Miromar Outlet Drive, Estero. What are the odds of the Lottery’s computer spitting out two winning Quick Picks at the same store? The other winning tickets were bought in Miami and Jay. I checked with Lottery spokeswoman Connie Barnes to…

  • Lottery results for Powerball, Florida Lotto, Fantasy 5

    Liam Miller
    25 Jan 2012 | 10:34 pm
    Powerball’s jackpot was at $120 million Wednesday night, while Florida Lotto was at $8 million. Did you win? See the winning numbers plus Fantasy 5 by clicking here.

  • Lottery results for Powerball, Florida Lotto, Fantasy 5

    Liam Miller
    21 Jan 2012 | 10:57 pm
    Powerball’s jackpot was at $100 million Saturday night, while Florida Lotto had hit $6 million. Did you win? Find out those winning numbers and Fantasy 5  here.

  • Lottery results for Powerball, Florida Lotto, Fantasy 5

    Liam Miller
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:38 pm
    Powerball’s jackpot was $80 million Wednesday night, while Florida Lotto was $5 million. Did you win? See those winning numbers plus Fantasy 5 by clicking here.
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    College Gridiron 365 Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • Five players to watch at the Senior Bowl

    matt murschel
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am
    With 105 players in attendance, the Senior Bowl will be the place to be when it comes to watching some of the future stars of the NFL on display. The game kicks off Saturday at 3 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., with coverage on NFL Network. Here are five players to keep an eye on during the game: Doug Martin helped power the Boise State running attack last season. (Chris Butler/Idaho Statesman/MCT) Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas Buzz: An explosive return man, Adams will look to impress NFL scouts with the same sort of blazing speed that helped him have  four returns for touchdowns…

  • Poll: Should NCAA increase bowl eligibility to seven wins?

    matt murschel
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:30 pm
    Florida celebrates a 24-17 victory over Ohio State in the Gator Bowl. If bowl eligibility were to increase to seven wins, the Gators would not have qualified for the postseason. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT) Could seven be the lucky number in college football’s postseason future? According to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com, there is “growing support” for a movement among commissioners, athletic directors and bowl officials to require teams to have seven victories, or a winning record, when the new BCS cycle begins in 2014. Currently, teams only need to have six wins to become…

  • ESPN, CBS announce National Signing Day coverage

    matt murschel
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm
    National Signing Day is just around the corner and that means wall-to-wall coverage over the next couple of days. ESPNU will have 10-hours of live coverage starting at 9 a.m. ET with its seventh annual ESPNU National Signing Day Special with live look-ins on SportsCenter throughout the day. The program will also be simulcast on ESPN3 for those who wish to view it on their computers or mobile devices. Senior national recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill along with Craig Haubert will be joined by former Miami coaches Randy Shannon and Butch Davis among others to discuss the days happenings. Several…

  • Poll: Is Navy joining the Big East a good move?

    matt murschel
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:51 am
    The Big East Conference and Navy are expected to announce the addition of the Midshipmen in football only beginning in 2015. The move is just the latest in a round of expansion the league has undergone in the past three months. The Big East has already announced the addition of Boise State, San Diego State, SMU, Houston, and UCF to the league starting in 2013. The conference had extended an invitation to Navy late last year however the school didn’t believe that it could work out all of its scheduling issues before the 2013-14 season, like the rest of the schools. With the defections of…

  • Grading the new head coaching hires

    matt murschel
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am
    Ohio State hired Urban Meyer to resurrect its football program. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/MCT) With 26 coaching changes in college football, there will be a lot of new faces and several old ones on the sidelines in 2012-13. Here is a quick breakdown of each with a grade on the hire: Urban Meyer (Ohio State) Grade: A+ Buzz: To steal a metaphor from baseball, this one was a home run for the Buckeyes and it needed to be. Meyer’s presence restores some of the luster that Ohio State lost during the tattoo scandal the cost Jim Tressel his job. A aggressive recruiter, Meyer will restock…
 
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    Open Mike - Orlando Sentinel

  • Who made best coaching hire — Bucs, Dolphins or Jaguars?

    mike bianchi
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:54 am
    If you read my column in this morning’s Orlando Sentinel, you know I like the Tampa Bay Bucs’ hiring of Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, but my question to Open Mike Nation this morning is this: Which of the state’s NFL teams — the Bucs (Sciano), Jaguars (Mike Mularkey)  or Dolphins (Joe Philbin) — made the best head-coaching hire. If you have time, please vote in the poll below. Who made best head-coaching hire — Bucs, Dolphins or Jaguars (NOTE TO READERS): On our Open Mike radio show this morning, we will discuss this question, the Magic’s…

  • Magic should let Daniel Orton actually play in a game

    mike bianchi
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:45 am
    Shouldn't Magic allow former first-round draft pick Daniel Orton to play in at least 1 game? Magic GM Otis Smith told the Sentinel’s Josh Robbins that the team will not exercise its contractual option on former first-round draft pick Daniel Orton for the 2012-13 season. Obviously, Orton, a 6-foot-10 center out of Kentucky who was taken with the 29th overall pick , hasn’t panned out. No crime in that. There are many late first-round picks who never make it in the NBA. But I wonder how many first-round picks have been on a team’s roster for two years and not played in a…

  • Is Tim Tebow actually being anti-Christian with his public praying?

    mike bianchi
    25 Jan 2012 | 2:39 am
    Does Tebowing actually go against the teachings of Jesus Christ? Does Tim Tebow and his  public praying actually go against the teachings of Jesus Christ? It sounds insane, but one renowned conservative columnist thinks so. Cal Thomas, a long-time political voice for the Christian right, wrote an interesting column that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel a few days ago. In it, Thomas wrote: “The Kingdom of God functions best, said the One who ought to know, when it is invisible, or hidden. In his numerous parables, Jesus spoke of it being like a treasure hidden in a field (Matthew…

  • Should NCAA, other universities honor memory of Joe Paterno?

    mike bianchi
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:46 am
    Should NCAA and other universities officially honor the memory of Penn State icon Joe Paterno? Should the NCAA and other institutions outside of Penn State officially honor the memory of Joe Paterno? That was the question submitted to me by one of my editors yesterday. After thinking about it long and hard, here’s my answer: Maybe we should ask Jerry Sandusky’s alleged victims how they feel about it. The key word here is “memory”  when you ask if Paterno’s memory should be honored by the NCAA in some official way. What memory of Joe Paterno are we talking about?

  • Joe Paterno will be remembered more for sex abuse scandal than coaching greatness

    mike bianchi
    23 Jan 2012 | 4:14 am
    Will Joe Paterno be remembered for all of those victories or for one monumental oversight? Will Penn State coach Joe Paterno be remembered more for being the winningest major college coach in history or will he be remembered for being fired amid sexual abuse scandal at Penn State that happened under his watch? If you read my blog after Paterno passed away on Sunday, you know where I stand. Now I want to know where you stand. If you have time, please vote in the poll below. (NOTE TO READERS): On our Open Mike radio show this morning, we will be discussing Paterno’s legacy, the NFL…
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    The Other Football - Orlando Sentinel

  • 2012 Orlando City season schedule set

    brant parsons
    11 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pm
    Date Opponent Time 4/7 at Charlotte Eagles 7:00 pm 4/15 vs. Wilmington Hammerheads 6:00 pm 4/21 at Richmond Kickers 7:00 pm 4/28 vs. Richmond Kickers 7:30 pm 5/5 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:30 pm 5/11 at Antigua Barracuda FC 7:00 pm 5/13 at Antigua Barracuda FC 4:30 pm 5/24 vs. Los Angeles Blues 7:00 pm 5/26 vs. Charlotte Eagles 7:30 pm 6/2 at Wilmington Hammerheads 7:30 pm 6/9 vs. Charleston Battery 7:30 pm 6/17 vs. Antigua Barracuda FC 6:00 pm 6/22 vs. Harrisburg City Islanders 7:30 pm 6/29 at Dayton Dutch Lions 8:00 pm 6/30 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:00 pm 7/6 at Los Angeles Blues 10:30…

  • Transfer rumors: Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, Blackburn, Manchester United

    brant parsons
    1 Dec 2011 | 11:27 am

  • Manchester City are agents’ favorite club

    brant parsons
    1 Dec 2011 | 5:05 am
    Nobody shelled out more to agents than Manchester City last year – in fact, nobody came close. The Premier League leaders paid £9.7million to agents, the most of the £71.8million total paid. Tottenham (£7.6million) and Liverpool (£7million) round out the top three. Care to guess who the final three were? I’ll answer in the comments in a bit.

  • Transfer rumors: Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, Blackburn, Manchester United, QPR, Tottenham

    brant parsons
    1 Dec 2011 | 4:11 am
    As always, here is our collection of the best transfer rumors we found. Lukas Podolski is being linked with Arsenalas help to keep Robin van Persie around after this season. Eduardo Vargas’ agent has added Arsenal and Liverpool to the names of clubs interestedin the Universidad de Chile winger. A price may have been set for Chelsea and Liverpoolin their chase of River Plate striker Lucas Ocampos. Andy Polo has been rumored to a sure thing for Real Madrid, but then why would he be learning English? Juventus striker Amauri wants out of Serie A, does that mean he’s on his way to…

  • Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all linked with £43m star

    brant parsons
    1 Dec 2011 | 3:47 am
    Eden Hazard is leaving Lille at the end of the season and that means clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid are lining up to inquire about his services. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder won’t come cheap, especially since Barcelona and Liverpool have been added to the mix of suitors too. Hazard’s club in France won’t sell him for cheap though. Lille president Michel Seydoux: “The price is €50million [£43m] – and we’d like to make that clear in advance. We are at a stage when the club is having discussions about what to do. It depends on the…
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    Central Florida Political Pulse - Orlando Sentinel

  • Photos: Romney rallies energized central Florida crowds

    joe burbank
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:12 pm
    GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney, coming off a decisive win in the Jacksonville debate over his main rival, Newt Gingrich, brought his increasingly energized campaign to central Florida, Friday, with events on Florida’s space coast and in Orlando. Romney first talked space to an enthusiastic crowd at Astrotech Corp. in Cape Canaveral. He then went on to a rousing rally with a screaming crowd at Lanco Paint Co. in south Orlando. Romney was welcomed to the stage by Sen. John McCain and Puerto Rico governor Luis Fortuño. Click here for the photo gallery from Mitt Romney’s…

  • Private prisons are a hard bargain to quantify

    aaron deslatte
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:54 pm
    TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature is fast-tracking the most sweeping prison privatization plan in the country. Lawmakers had to respond after a circuit judge last summer dared to declare their last attempt had unconstitutionally used the state’s budget as a vehicle for implementing policy. The rationale for handing over more than 19,000 prisoners to private enterprise is to inject competition into a public-service delivery system, according to Senate Budget Chairman J.D. Alexander, the most visible architect of the initiative. That puts the public sector…

  • Friday redistricting spat a prelude to the courtroom?

    aaron deslatte
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:44 pm
    TALLAHASSEE — Florida House leaders passed redistricting maps Friday and lambasted civil-rights groups that had backed the Fair Districts reforms and plan to argue in court the Legislature has thwarted the will of voters with “incumbent protection” plans. The House Redistricting Committee advanced new maps for Florida’s 160 state House and Senate seats and 27 congressional seats, keeping them on pace to clear the full Legislature by next week and begin the lengthy legal review that will determine whether they meet constitutional muster. But in an eleventh-hour bit of…

  • Romney names National Hispanic Steering Committee

    bshaw
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:57 pm
    Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has released the names of a 28-member National Hispanic Steering Committee that includes prominent Latinos from all over the country and Puerto Rico. Central Floridians on the list are former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, now a banker, and Bertica Cabrera Morris, an Orlando-based consultant. Read the release below the jump: Boston, MA – Mitt Romney today announced his national Hispanic Steering Committee. “President Obama’s policies have been especially devastating to Hispanic families. Over 2.5 million Hispanics are unemployed today, with the…

  • Gingrich adds Hispanic rally to his Saturday Orlando sched

    scottpowers
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:28 pm
    GOP Presidential candidate Newt Gingrichhas added a Hispanic townhall meeting to his Saturday schedule in Orlando. Gingrich’s schedule now includes three events in Orlando Saturday. The Liberty Counsel and Lincoln Day dinner both are ticketed items. The schedule is: Hispanic Townhall Meeting; 2:30-3:30 pm; Location: Centro de La Familia, 4365 Kennedy Ave. Orange County Liberty Counsel Forum; 4:00-5:00 pm; Location: Aloma Baptist Church, 1815 State Road 436.  Orange County Lincoln Day Dinner; 5:30-6:30 pm, Location: Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd. Orlando, FL 32819
 
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    Sentinel School Zone - Orlando Sentinel

  • School rankings coming Monday, superintendents say

    lesliepostal
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pm
    Florida released its first-ever school district rankings this week and will follow that up with individual school rankings this Monday. The state’s superintendents association said in an email this evening that it expects the new school rankings at the start of the school week. Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said Monday that the individual school rankings would be out soon, listing  Florida’s more than 3,000 schools within the categories of elementary, middle and high. The Florida Association of District School Superintendents doesn’t like the rankings because…

  • Class of Chinese students visits Union Park Elementary

    lroth
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:32 pm
    Four of the Chinese visitors to Union Park Elementary Forty students visiting from China spent the day at Union Park Elementary in Orange County on Wednesday, visiting the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes. The visiting students, from Chongqing Bashu Primary School, put on a show for their hosts by singing, doing magic and reading poetry. In return,  a musical ensemble of Union Park students performed for their visitors.  Even though most of the Chinese students don’t speak English, they attended classes with help from Union Park’s students. The visit was arranged by both…

  • UCF approves controversial land purchase in Lake Nona

    denise balona
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:48 am
    UCF trustees said yes yesterday to a controversial land purchase — 25 acres for $15.1 million for a teaching hospital and clinic in Lake Nona’s Medical City. The teaching hospital will be at least partially paid for with money the university will collect through a major fundraising campaign UCF plans to kick off in about a year. Officials said they have no timeline yet for when the teaching hospital would be built.

  • Education bills: Expand virtual schooling, create “family charter academies,” add new acceleration options for students

    lesliepostal
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:44 am
    This was not supposed to be a year of big education bills for the Legislature, given how much happened last year (merit pay, most notably) and how many other big-ticket items (redistricting, gambling, insurance reform) are on lawmaker’s plates. Still, there seem to be plenty of education bills getting plenty of attention. Here’s three more that seem interesting, though no telling how far they’ll go yet (and two are still in the proposal state): Virtual education: A proposed committee bill  (see 12-01) could expand enrollment at the Florida Virtual School since it would…

  • Two Bethune-Cookman University board members resign

    denise balona
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:15 am
    Two members of Bethune-Cookman University’s board resigned yesterday, the historically black university in Daytona Beach announced. On Thursday, the board accepted the resignations of Chairman Larry Handfield and board member Randolph Bracy. Lee Rhyant, who served as first vice-chairman, will become chairman, according to the university. Earlier this week, the university announced that longtime president Trudie Kibbe Reed has decided to retire.
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    Soundboard Music Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • Pre-sale on Friday for Nickelback at May 4 at Amway Center

    jimabbott
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:47 pm
    If you want to get a jump on tickets for Nickelback’s May 4 show at Amway Center, on a  bill that includes Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days, then have the credit card ready for a pre-sale on Friday. The pre-sale runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday (Jan. 27), or until the available tickets sell out. It’s online only, with a  4-ticket limit. The password is NOW. The general on-sale opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Tickets: $57.75-$103.70.

  • Van Halen offers preview of “Blood and Fire”

    jimabbott
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:36 pm
    A taste of the upcoming Van Halen studio release is offered in a 90-second preview of “Blood and Fire,” one of the tracks on the new “A Different Kind of Truth,” due Feb. 7. The discussion about this song among Van Halen loyalists centers around how much of the new song has been borrowed or re-purposed from some of the band’s early 1980s work, specifically a “1984″ instrumental outtake, ”Ripley.” Depending on your perspective, that’s either totally lazy or totally awesome, apparently. From the snippet I heard, the song is OK, but…

  • Springsteen to make only Florida stop on March 23 in Tampa

    jimabbott
    24 Jan 2012 | 3:24 pm
    The first leg of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s Wrecking Ball Tour includes just one stop in Florida, a March 23 date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa. The tour coincides with the release of Springsteen’s 17th studio album ‘Wrecking Ball’ on March 6. It’ll be the first E Street trek without saxolphonist Clarence Clemons. TICKETS: Tickets for the show go on sale this Saturday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. at the McDonald’s Ticket Office at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Ticketmaster outlets and at www.Ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone call…

  • Eddie Vedder solo tour comes to Orlando on May 16

    jimabbott
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:05 pm
    Eddie Vedder gets additional cool points for being a ukulele guy and it’s a pretty good bet you’ll hear that intrument when the Pearl Jam frontman brings his solo tour to Orlando for a May 16 date at Carr Performing Arts Centre. Vedder starts the 13-city solo tour in April in Las Vegas and the Orlando show will be the final concert on this leg of the trek.  Glen Hansard (The Swell Season, The Frames) is joining Vedder on the road.  Tickets for the Orlando date go on sale Friday, Feb. 3, with a pre-sale for eligible members of Pearl Jam’s Ten Club starting…

  • Concert review: Jason Aldean at Amway Center

    jimabbott
    22 Jan 2012 | 10:11 pm
    In the good old days, country music stars were content to imitate the Eagles or Lynyrd Skynyrd – accessorized by a big cowboy hat, of course. That’s no longer enough, as singer Jason Aldean proved with his rap-injected hit “Dirt Road Anthem.” Aldean – who performed Sunday for a record-setting sell-out Amway Center – snagged best-album honors at this year’s CMA Awards with “My Kinda Party,” the top-selling country release of 2011. Now, Aldean is taking his party on the road. In Orlando, he headlined a rowdy, exceedingly generous, 2-1/2-hour show that was a little bit country,…
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    Swamp Things - Gators Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • Former Gators making impression at Senior Bowl

    Rachel George
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:36 pm
    Chris Rainey might be the Florida player drafted the highest, according to ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. (Photo by Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel) With a few former Gators preparing for the Senior Bowl, it seems much is going well as they get ready try out in front of NFL scouts. Reports out of Mobile, Ala. this week indicate that Chris Rainey, Jaye Howard and Janoris Jenkins might have helped their draft stock. Howard excelled before getting hurt on Wednesday. Jenkins, who was dismissed from the team in April and spent last season at North Alabama, is using the game as a chance to clean…

  • Billy Donovan not sure if Patric Young will start vs. MSU

    Rachel George
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:50 pm
    Center Patric Young led the Gators with 15 points in the win at Ole Miss on Thursday. (Photo by Spruce Derden, US Presswire) With a quick turnaround between games, Florida coach Billy Donovan was not sure if center Patric Young would return to the starting line-up. The sophomore has come off the bench in the past three games because of ankle tendinitis but has played significant minutes in the last two games. Donovan said he would speak to the coaching staff and to Young on Friday night about it. Young has said he’s slow to get going in games because of the ankle, but he added that he…

  • Florida baseball team gets another preseason No. 1 ranking

    Rachel George
    26 Jan 2012 | 7:48 pm
    The Florida baseball team got another preseason No. 1 ranking on Thursday, this time from the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ poll. The Gators were already ranked No. 1 by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. UF finished with a school-record 53 wins last year and as the runner-up in the College World Series. South Carolina, which defeated the Gators in the championship series for its second consecutive title, comes into the season ranked No. 2 in the coaches’ poll. Before advancing to the CWS, Florida won a share of the SEC regular season title with South Carolina and Vanderbilt. It…

  • Chatting Gators football, basketball with So Fried Sports

    Rachel George
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:36 pm
    As Florida’s football recruiting heads toward signing day and basketball continues through the SEC schedule, I joined Lisa Cornwell and R.J. Hawk at So Fried Sports to chat about both. You can check out both videos below as we cover the latest on the Gators.

  • Florida P David Lerner a finalist for Uplifting Athlete Rare Disease Champion Award

    Rachel George
    26 Jan 2012 | 1:32 pm
    David Lerner Florida punter David Lerner is one of four finalists for the Uplifting Athlete Rare Disease Champion Award. The Gators’ redshirt junior was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease before the start of fall camp. Lerner received the Dick Schapp Sportsman of the Year Award in December. He played in the Gators’ first six games, recording 27 punts for 1,040 yards (38.5 yards per punt). Despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s in July, Lerner did not miss a day of camp although he lost nearly 15 pounds. He won the starting punting job and received a scholarship before the…
 
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    Taking Names the Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • Comic, pundit Ben Stein goes pro-casino – sets off Malarkey Meter

    scottmaxwell
    26 Jan 2012 | 7:47 pm
    The pro-casino crowd taps Ben Stein in their newest ad. See for yourself what happened when we ran some of his claims through the Malarkey Meter.

  • Tavistock land sales – helping community or helping themselves?

    scottmaxwell
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am
    Beth Kassab had a good column in today’s paper about Tavistock trying to get UCF to pay top-dollar — translation: above-market — prices for land in the burgeoning Medical City in east Orange County. We are used to having private companies try to take advantage (and succeed) of taxpayers. And as Beth said: “You can’t blame Tavistock for trying to turn a profit.” But you CAN stop viewing Tavistock’s efforts in this endeavors as some sort of benevolent team player — an image the company seems to covet. Team players don’t try to take taxpayers…

  • OPD Chief Rooney: “If we mess up, we come clean.”

    scottmaxwell
    19 Jan 2012 | 6:21 pm
    On Sunday, I wrote about the Orlando Police Department shooting from November 2010, where multiple officers claimed they shot an unarmed man because he was trying to “ram” them with his car … only to have the FDLE determine the ramming never happened. Instead, FDLE determined one of the cop cars was actually shoving the suspect’s/victim’s car from behind — contradicting testimony from the officers (including the ones shoving his car) who claimed the suspect was trying to escape and injure the officers. More than a year had passed since the incident.

  • Orange County tax breaks for biz – yay or nay?

    scottmaxwell
    19 Jan 2012 | 10:06 am
    I’m getting a lotta email from residents looking for insight on the upcoming vote to give property-tax breaks to businesses that are willing to expand or move to Orange County. Well, today’s newspaper had a piece summarizing it in basic terms. (Read it here.) And you can read the full ballot language, along with the county’s explanation, for yourself here. But basically, it would give companies that relocate or expand in Orange County a tax break of up to 100 percent on their property taxes for up to 10 years. So for those who’ve asked, here are the pros and cons as I…

  • Bill Nelson talks tough on snakes … ’sure as heck’

    scottmaxwell
    17 Jan 2012 | 9:01 am
    Just perused the latest news release from the state’s senior U.S. senator. Sounds to me like someone just finished an intro-to-writing-thriller-novellas course. MIAMI – Even when Burmese and Rock pythons started turning up in the Everglades in large numbers a few years ago, most folks laughed off the threat from the huge, non-native snakes as just another Florida nuisance — little worse than some swamp acreage salesman.  But not the state’s senior U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.  Not the nation’s interior secretary.  And today, the general public’s nonchalance has vanished…
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    Theme Park Rangers - Orlando Sentinel

  • SeaWorld Orlando: Free Fun Card for Florida teachers

    dewayne bevil
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:58 pm
    SeaWorld Orlando again is offering a free “Teacher Study Pass” that gives active and certified Florida school teachers entry to the theme park through the rest of the year. To receive the pass, teachers must pre-register at www.SeaWorldOrlandoTeachers.com. When they go to SeaWorld, they then must bring Florida teaching certificate, recent paystub and photo ID. The pass has no black-out dates. SeaWorld presents its “Study Pass” as part thank-you card, part educational inspiration. It says the park provides experiences that can enhance an educator’s curriculum,…

  • Universal Studios: Superstar Parade auditions set

    dewayne bevil
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:38 am
    When I first read that Universal’s Superstar Parade would feature “hundreds of energetic street performers,” I thought “Wow, there weren’t that many jorts-wearing skippers for the Jaws ride. They’re going to have to hire some folks.” Now they are. Auditions for roles in the Universal Studios parade, which was announced this week and will debut sometime in the spring, will be Feb. 4-7. Universal is seeking dancers, animated character performers, drummers, roller skaters, stilt walkers and what the media release calls “candidates with a…

  • Fun Spot USA: Singers wanted for commercial

    dewayne bevil
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:20 pm
    Fun Spot Attractions is gearing up for another television commercial, and it’s looking for several singers to do a sing-a-long with their spokesman John Jr., the guy known for saying “It’s HUGE!” The taping will be 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6., at the Kissimmee location off Highway 192. The attraction seeks 30 people between the ages of 10 and 25 to sing a variation on the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”  Some soloist slots will be available. Performers will wear clothing appropriate for attending a ballgame — but it should be…

  • SeaWorld Orlando: Additional show for Doodlebops, Choo Choo Soul

    dewayne bevil
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:52 am
    SeaWorld Orlando has added a third showing of its Just for Kids festival entertainment this Saturday and next Saturday.  The children’s entertainers now will perform at 11 a.m.., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. This Saturday’s guest is the Doodlebops, and Choo Choo Soul will be at the theme park on Feb. 4. The concerts are included in regular park admission, but guests must get tickets to attend. Ticket distribution begins at across from the Nautilus Theater at 9 a.m. on show days. If you arrive after all tickets have been given away (the theater holds about 2,000 spectators), there will…

  • Online extra: More details on Universal’s Superstar Parade

    dewayne bevil
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:12 pm
    Among Universal Orlando’s announcements Wednesday was news of its first-ever daily parade for Universal Studios. Here are nuggets about “Universal’s Superstar Parade,” which will debut sometime this spring and feature characters from “Hop,” “Despicable Me,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Dora the Explorer.” Click here for photo gallery of upcoming Universal Orlando attracions. + The floats for are all-new and self-propelled. Translation: No trucks hauling them as in the Mardi Gras parade. + Worried about that sharp turn in the parade route? I always do. Never fear, says…
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    Tom's Digs - Orlando Sentinel

  • Save Money — Start Your Own Seedlings

    tom maccubbin
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:44 am
    Saving money is just one reason to start your own plants from seed. Here is maybe an even better reason. You can select the flowers and varieties you like. To be frank, I cannot always find the flowering stock, California poppies, tomato types and my favorite cabbage when I want them. So, my answer is to start my own. Week old tomato seedlings Yes, the packets of seeds have gone up in price too, but I can usually find what I want for about $2 or less. Most transplants now cost at least 99 cents and some $4. You can save money. And one packet of seed can last for more than one sowing. Just…

  • Camellia Show & Plant Care Tips

    tom maccubbin
    19 Jan 2012 | 10:07 am
    Gardeners in need of winter color can’t miss by planting camellias. They are in bloom from September through March with some of the best varieties making their debut during the winter months. This weekend we have a Camellia japonica blooming in January chance to see camellias at their best when the 66th Annual Camellia Show & Festival takes place at Mead Botanical Gardens in Winter Park, Saturday, January 21. Now here is something special. You can enter your blooms too between 7 AM and 10 AM on Saturday morning. I would cut long stems and take the blooms with stems in water to Mead…

  • Time Out from Most Lawn Care After the Cold

    tom maccubbin
    13 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am
    More cold is on the way this weekend. In some portions of the state the temperatures will be well below freezing for at least a short period of time. In most of Central Florida and south it is only going to be cool. At these Brown lawns need little care temperatures your lawn does not grow very much but is going to be ready to grow when the good warm temperatures return. So what should you be doing? Very little care is needed at this time. It is pretty safe to say you don’t really need to do anything. You do not want to push the lawn into growth as that could lead to more damage during the…

  • What’s Next After the Cold?

    tom maccubbin
    9 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pm
    You know Florida, it can be cold one day and warm the next. In fact we could go the rest of the winter without another freeze. It has happened Tomatoes a loss at just below freezing before. But I guess what we all want to know is what do we do with the cold damaged plants? My tomatoes are toast. That means they did not survive even with the covers we added. And it only dropped a few degrees below freezing. These are some really cold sensitive plants which also include coleus, marigolds, pentas and such. All are being pulled out and replaced in just a month or two. By the way, now is the time…

  • Tomato Time Again – My Favorites

    tom maccubbin
    2 Jan 2012 | 8:09 am
    Twice a year I talk about starting tomatoes from seed. And, at this time of the year it takes six weeks to have tomato transplants by March 1. I will be sowing my seeds around mid January. Do get your seeds now from the Start tomato seeds in mid January to have fruits like these during spring garden center or you might order from a popular Florida tomato seed source at www.tomatogrowers.com  — The company lists about 400 varieties. Here are the varieties that are easy to find that I will be growing with some comments. All are indeterminate types except where noted. This means they grow…
 
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    The TV Guy - Orlando Sentinel

  • Super Bowl ad: Matthew Broderick apes Ferris Bueller

    halboedeker
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:58 am
    Would Ferris Bueller help promote Honda? Probably not. But Matthew Broderick, who played Ferris, will in a Super Bowl commercial. This preview is sweeping the Internet and upping interest in the ad, which will premiere Feb. 5 on NBC during the big game. Stunningly effective promotion, wouldn’t you say? It could make you want to hear “Twist and Shout” all over again or see “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the John Hughes film that came out in 1986.

  • Gov. Rick Scott on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’

    halboedeker
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:46 am
    Florida Gov. Rick Scott at a Tea Party rally last year in Eustis. Photo credit: Joe Burbank/Orlando SentinelHere’s the guest list for the Sunday morning programs, which will preview Tuesday’s GOP presidential primary in Florida: Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will be a guest on ABC’s “This Week” and “Fox News Sunday.” House Speaker John Boehner is another guest on “This Week,” at 11 a.m. on WFTV-Channel 9. The panel will be George Will, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, radio host Laura Ingraham and Austan Goolsbee, former…

  • ‘American Idol,’ ‘Big Bang Theory’ outdraw GOP debate

    halboedeker
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:38 am
    Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) teach everyone about flags on 'The Big Bang Theory.' Photo credit: Monty Brinton/CBS This post has been updated: The GOP presidential debate on CNN made a strong showing in the Orlando TV market. The two-hour event from Jacksonville placed third in total viewers with 166,900. It was a close race for No. 1 between two popular series. “American Idol” was tops with 213,200 viewers. “The Big Bang Theory” amused 202,000, and the CBS sitcom was more popular than “Idol” in the 25-to-54 age group. Is that…

  • Greg Warmoth welcomes Bob Martinez to ‘Central Florida Spotlight’

    halboedeker
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:12 am
    WFTV anchor Greg Warmoth on the station's news set. Photo credit: Orlando SentinelLocal public-affairs programs will preview Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary. WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Greg Warmoth debuts as interim moderator of “Central Florida Spotlight.” He welcomes former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis. The program airs at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on WFTV and repeats at 4 p.m. Sunday on sister station WRDQ-Channel 27. WKMG-Channel 6 anchor Lauren Rowe will moderate “Flashpoint” at 8 a.m. Sunday on the CBS affiliate. Her guests are…

  • PBS tonight: Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Florida’s senior voters

    halboedeker
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:10 am
    Tony Bennett sings with Lady Gaga in the 'Great Performances' special on PBS. PBS offers a double bill tonight that should interest many Florida viewers. You’ll get to hear Tony Bennett sing, but first “Need to Know” looks at the power of Florida’s elderly voters. Jeff Greenfield reports on the issue days before Tuesday’s Florida primary. “Need to Know” notes that the state’s senior voters turn out in greater numbers than other groups. The program, at 8:30 p.m. on WUCF TV, also offers a Jon Meacham essay about the country’s…
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    Central Florida Varsity the Blog - Orlando Sentinel

  • Return of Guito Ervilus makes Oak Ridge bigger basketball team

    Buddy Collings
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:09 pm
    Oak Ridge regained its boys basketball big man, Guito Ervilus (6-5, 225), this week. After recovering from ACL surgery and committing to a USF football scholarship offer last week Ervilus decided to return to the court rather than sit out the season as originally planned. He played in a loss to University on Tuesday and a district win at Celebration on Wednesday for the Pioneers (12-8). “He is rusty, but he provided us a tough inside presence,” said Oak Ridge basketball coach Alex Jackson. “We have become a bigger team overnight.”

  • Jones basketball coach Jerry Howard first in Orange with 500 wins

    Buddy Collings
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:26 pm
    Jones boys basketball coach Jerry Howard notched career win No. 500 when the Tigers (14-7) routed Ocoee 64-31 on Wednesday. He is the first coach in Orange County history to reach that plateau. Howard is 245-105 in 11 seasons at Jones and 500-232 overall, including 12 years at Wymore Tech. “I really don’t even think about milestones like that. I never have,” Howard said. “I think about getting my teams to final fours.” He has done that five times in the past nine years, including a 2005-06 state championship season.

  • West Orange senior DerRenae Freeman to sign with FSU for track

    Buddy Collings
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:23 pm
    West Orange senior Der’Renae Freeman, the 2011 Class 4A state long champion, is signing with FSU for track and field on Wednesday. Freeman has a best of 20 feet, 3/4 inches.

  • Jim Bernhardt back in the college game as Penn State assistant

    Buddy Collings
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:13 pm
    Former UCF recruiting coordinator Jim Bernhardt, who was a high school head football coach for Bishop Moore, Dr. Phillips, Seminole and Daytona Beach Father Lopez, is back in college coaching as the director of player development and research for Penn State.

  • OCP, Montverde move into MAIT basketball semifinals

    Buddy Collings
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:47 am
    Host Montverde Academy (17-3) and small-school power Orlando Christian Prep (18-3) advanced to opposite semifinals with Thursday victories at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament. If they meet in Saturday night’s final it will be their second time around. OCP lost its season opener 74-62 at home against the Eagles. Here are MAIT details: Thursday’s scores Orlando Christian Prep 59, Snellville, Ga., Shiloh 55 Mount Vernon, N.Y., 69, Leesburg 57 Philadelphia Roman Catholic 58, Philadelphia Imhotep 40 Montverde Academy 68, Miami Monsignor Pace 37 Friday’s games Shiloh vs.
 
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    The Write Stuff - Orlando Sentinel

  • Red Huber signing shuttle calendars on Janaury 19

    tburton
    18 Jan 2012 | 12:24 pm
    This photo of space shuttle Discovery from March 11, 2009 is part of the 2012 space shuttle calendar. (Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Sentinel senior staff photographer Red Huber will be signing copies of his 2012 Space Shuttle calendar on Thursday, January 19. Huber will be in the main lobby of the Sentinel at 633 North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando from noon until 3 p.m. Huber signed calendars for the public in December and there was a line out the door for several hours as hundreds of people had their calendars signed. Huber is widely known for his coverage of the space shuttle…

  • NASA tries to settle fight over its artifacts

    Mark Matthews
    9 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pm
    WASHINGTON — Hoping to settle a feud inside the NASA family, NASA Chief Charlie Bolden met Monday with several Apollo astronauts upset with how the agency recently has blocked them from selling space artifacts from their personal collections. While no final agreement was reached, NASA officials said talks were moving in the right direction. “These are American heroes, fellow astronauts, and personal friends who have acted in good faith, and we have committed to work together to find the right policy and legal paths forward to address outstanding ownership questions,” said Bolden, a…

  • NASA adds Orion test flight

    Mark Matthews
    8 Nov 2011 | 11:06 am
    WASHINGTON  — NASA today announced plans to add an unmanned test flight in 2014 to the development of its Orion crew capsule; a move that could bring some action to Florida a little earlier than expected. Agency officials hope to blast the Orion from Cape Canaveral aboard a yet-unnamed rocket — although industry and NASA sources suspect it will be the Delta IV — on a test mission that would entail two orbits around Earth before a plunge back for an ocean landing. “President Obama and Congress have laid out an ambitious space exploration plan, and NASA is moving out…

  • Commercial advocates call for more funding, less rules

    Mark Matthews
    8 Nov 2011 | 10:28 am
    WASHINGTON – A coalition of more than three dozen space leaders – including Frank DiBello, the head of Space Florida – are calling on Congress to fully fund commercial spaceflight in the 2012 budget and limit regulations that they argue could impede spacecraft development. The letter comes as Congress is going through the final round of debate on how much money it should give to NASA next year and how much it should spend on commercial spaceflight. President Barack Obama has proposed $850 million while the Senate and House have suggested levels closer to $500 million and $300 million…

  • Free shuttle wallpaper download for November

    tburton
    1 Nov 2011 | 3:38 pm
    While you are waiting for delivery of your 2012 space shuttle calendar, you can upgrade your computer desktop with this free wallpaper download, showing one of the rare times when two shuttles were on the launch pads at the same time. The wallpaper also has a handy November calendar imprinted on it and as always, it’s another great and historic photo by Red Huber of the Orlando Sentinel. Go to the gallery here and select the right size for you monitor. photo by Red Huber
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