Senin, 16 Mei 2011

Aztecs fall to BYU, 9-3, In Series Finale - The Official Site of Aztec Athletics

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

May 14, 2011

Box Score

SAN DIEGO - Brigham Young pounded out 19 hits and got a solid pitching performance by Matthew Neil as it defeated San Diego State, 9-3, to capture the final game of their three-game conference series at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Even with the loss, the Aztecs maintained their slim hold on fourth place in the Mountain West Conference standings by percentage points over BYU and UNLV.

SDSU freshman left-hander Mitch Bluman struggled from the outset in his third start of the season as he escaped runners on third base in each of the first two innings. He was not as fortunate in the third when the Cougars got to him for a pair of runs on a walk and three hits for a 2-0 lead.

One of those hits was recorded by BYU right fielder Jaycob Brugman, who tortured the Aztecs all afternoon. Brugman would end his day with four hits including the double along with a two-run homer and four RBI.

Brigham Young starter Matthew Neil held the Aztec hitless over the first four innings, but they did manage answer BYU's two-run outburst by scoring a run in bottom of the third. Dillon Bryant's grounder was misplayed by BYU first baseman Austin Hall for a two-base error. A ground out by Evan Potter moved Bryant to third and sacrifice fly by Cody Smith made it a 2-1 game.

But the visitors took control of the contest with four runs in the next frame, a rally that began with a leadoff triple by Bret Lopez and ended with Brugman's two-run blast to right. The Cougars would touch up Aztec pitching on the day for a hit total that included five doubles along with the triple and home run.

Freshman DH Ben Vasko did his part to get SDSU back into the contest with a solo home run, his second of the season, to lead off the fifth. He was the lone Aztec to reach base more than once in the game as he also drew a walk and was hit by pitch.

San Diego State's other run came in the bottom of the seventh when it put men on first and second on a single by Jomel Torres and hit by pitch to Vasko. A wild pitch moved both runners up before a grounder to short by Tim Zier brought Torres home for the final 9-3 score.

Neil's day ended after that inning and he would be credited with the win to improve to 5-4. His line included three runs (two earned) on two hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. SDSU's Bluman took the loss to fall to 0-1 although he gave up just a pair of runs with three strikeouts during his 2.1 innings.

Up next for San Diego State is a three-game conference series at UNLV next weekend to conclude the 2011 regular season. The first contest of that set is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m. at Earl Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

luxury firm mattress

Minggu, 15 Mei 2011

Samuel trust's director Andrew Kroger resigns - The Australian

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

COMPETITION tsar Graeme Samuel's blind trust has again been restructured, following the resignation of former stockbroker Andrew Kroger as sole director of the trust companies.

Mr Kroger, who is often overseas, stepped down as a director of Lyngrae and Samfa, part of the structure that holds Mr Samuel's 25 per cent interest in the old DFO holding company Austexx.

He declined to comment when contacted by the Australian.

The new director of Lyngrae and Samfa is Peter Still, who, among other things, is listed in ASIC records as the principal executive officer of the Canned Fruits Industry Council of Australia from 1991-95.

Mr Still could not be reached for comment.

As DFO's predicament has worsened, Lyngrae and Samfa company officers have been turned over a number of times.

Last August, with the discount shopping centre empire on the brink, Mr Samuel publicly lamented the loss of his family fortune, saying it was "distressing indeed" for his children and grandchildren as beneficiaries of his estate.

The month before, in July, Austexx chief executive Geoff Porz stepped down as a director of the trust companies.

Ex-ACTU boss Bill Kelty followed him out the door days later.

Packer family confidant Guy Jalland came in as a director in July, only to resign last October, leaving Mr Kroger as the sole director.

As trustees, however, Mr Jalland and Mr Kroger represented Mr Samuel's interests in protracted workout negotiations of the DFO South Wharf project in Melbourne's Docklands precinct.

They were able to negotiate a $5 million benefit for Mr Samuel in return for allowing Austexx to take on more debt to complete South Wharf.

The negotiations culminated in the $498m sale of four DFO centres, including South Wharf, to CFS Retail Property Trust in September.

While the transaction settled last December, the $5m is understood to be still sitting in a law firm's trust account.

Disbursement of the money, as well as further funds, won't occur until all parties have agreed.

Mr Samuel is due to step down as chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission at the end of July, to be replaced by Rod Sims.

He remains embroiled in a Victorian Supreme Court case, where lenders are seeking to recover $7.7m in unpaid interest under personal guarantees signed by his business partners, David Golberger and David Wieland.

They have joined Mr Samuel as a defendant, seeking to rely on an indemnity provided by the ACCC chief if the court enforces their personal guarantees.

Mr Samuel is defending the proceedings, while Mr Goldberger and Mr Wieland are resisting the lenders' move to enforce the guarantees.

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

ortho firm mattress extra firm mattress best firm mattress

Harold Camping Describes How May 21 Judgment Day Will Unfold - HULIQ

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

Harold Camping is the 89-year-old founder of Family Radio, but he is also the man who prophesized that May 21 would be the exact date of the Rapture, or Judgment Day, based on clues he says are written throughout the Bible, and in a recent interview, he said still more about his confidence.

You've probably seen the signs and billboards stating May 21 will be the end of the world. Some of his follwers have become so convinced of the date, that they have spent all their savings. After all, they will have no more need for savings after May 21, will they?

In the interview, published in New York magazine, Harold Camping said he is absolutely 100 percent positive that May 21 will be Judgment Day. He said that there's nothing in the Bible that has ever been prophesized by God that has not happened. Thus, he's sure that May 21 will be the date, although he didn't give details as to what exact information in the bible gave him the date.

When asked about his earlier prediction, one which gave the year 1994 as an earlier Day of Reckoning, he said his information also gave him 2011 as a possibility. He said that he hadn't completed his study of the Bible at that time, and that is why, given the possibilities, that he wrote the book 1994?, including a question mark in the title to make sure it was clear that the date was in question. In the book, he said, he also indicated that 2011 was also a good possibility for the End of Days.

Parts of the world will have plenty of warning that the end is nigh. The reason is that, accoding to Harold Camping's prediction, when May 21 is reached, at "about" (his word) 6 p.m., there will be a huge earthquake "that?s going to make the last earthquake in Japan seem like nothing in comparison." Thus, other parts of the globe will see the end come as the clock ticks to 6 p.m. Assuming it happens first in the parts of the world that the sun rises first in, the rest of the world will see it coming.

Harold Camping is not the slightest bit worried that it won't happen. He's 100 percent certain, and when asked about any doubts, he says, "It?s going to happen. It?s going to happen. I don?t even think about those kind of issues. The Bible is not ? God is not playing games. I don?t even want to think about that question at all. It is going to happen."

As far as if he has begun thinking of possible responses to followers if the Rapture doesn't happen (and we note that should occur early Friday morning in the Pacific Time Zone in the U.S., if the first quakes don't occur), he said that he hasn't thought of that at all, because it's going to happen.

Of course, plenty of others have predicted dates for the end of the world. The last such to gain major publicity was the one supposedly prophesized by the Mayan Calendar. Ironically, that too is a 21: Dec. 21, 2012.

Image Source: Wikimedia

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

firm mattress queen memory foam firm mattress ortho firm mattress

Next stop Baku: Azerbaijan wins Eurovision - AFP

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

Next stop Baku: Azerbaijan wins Eurovision

DUESSELDORF, Germany ? Azerbaijan scored a spectacular first-ever victory in the 56th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, Europe's annual pop extravaganza watched by tens of millions of people.

In Duesseldorf, Germany, Azerbaijani duo Ell and Nikki and their love song "Running Scared" was voted the best of the 25 finalists by voters and "expert" juries in 43 countries in Europe and beyond.

It was only the fourth time that Azerbaijan has competed. Second was Italy, and Sweden came third. Switzerland came last.

"Thank you, we love you," said Ell, real name Eldar Gasimov. "Thanks to God and to my grandad... Our dream came true."

"From the first day I believed we could do it... The world needs more true love."

"I can hardly imagine how people are feeling back home today," said Nikki, 20, whose full name is Nigar Jamal, and who lives in London -- and has an accent to prove it.

They saw off strong competition from Germany's Lena, who was hoping to become the first person in Eurovision's long history to win two years running, Irish twins Jedward and French tenor Amaury Vassili, the bookies' favourite.

A number from Zdob si Zbub, a difficult-to-pronounce group of lively Moldovans in "cosmic" pointy hats was also a strong contender, as were songs by Sjonni's Friends from Iceland and from Italian crooner Raphael Gualazzi.

Often cringe-worthy but always watchable, Eurovision is a cherished institution, with 43 nations -- including some from outside Europe -- competing, then whittled down to 25 for the grand final.

"It's amazing. This competition brings Europe together and brings countries together. This is what I went into music for," said Lee Ryan, 27, a member of this year's British entry, newly reformed boy band Blue.

Despite Europe's linguistic diversity, "Running Scared" was the 23rd song sung in English to win. French songs have won 14 times, Dutch and Hebrew songs three times each. Norway's 2011 entry was partly in Swahili.

The TV show, one of the world's longest-running, is now broadcast not only in Europe, but also in Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Korea, New Zealand and the United States, even though they do not participate.

Eurovision tradition dictates that Azerbaijan's victory means that the 2012 competition will be held the resource-rich former Soviet republic often criticised by campaign groups for having a poor human rights record.

Earlier this month, a young opposition activist was jailed for two and half years on drugs charges in Azerbaijan after using social networking website Facebook to call for an uprising like those in the Arab world.

Jabbar Savalan, 20, was the first activist to be imprisoned since government opponents began a series of thwarted protests this year in the mainly Muslim state which is an important supplier of oil and gas to the West.

Rights group Amnesty International said that the activist's imprisonment showed how far the authorities were willing to go to silence dissenting voices, saying the environment for freedom of expression was "fragile."

But the governing party of President Ilham Aliyev says that a discredited and unpopular opposition has been trying to stir up confrontation which could damage the country, and analysts believe that widespread political unrest is unlikely.

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

cheap firm mattress firm mattress review extra firm mattress reviews

Baku 'one of the most beautiful cities in the world' - Ilham Aliyev - News.Az

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

'We?ll make additions to current state budget to do this work without delay', said President Ilham Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev continued his visits to inspect redevelopment work in Baku's suburban villages with a trip to Mardakan settlement in Khazar District of Baku on Thursday.

Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalibov briefed the president on work done in the area, the presidential website reported.

The intra-roads have begun to be renovated as a first step in Mardakan settlement. The roads with an area of 16,500 square meters have been covered with new asphalt with an area of 19,000 square meters to be asphalted in future. It was noted that water and gas supply lines in Mardakan will be renovated. The state program envisages creating sanitation system here, too, alongside with other Baku suburban settlements.

The lightening system in the settlement is also expected to be renewed. It was noted that it is planned to overhaul secondary school No. 181, a nursery No. 91 and kindergarten No. 221, Joint Municipal Hospital No. 26 and Tuberculosis Sanatorium No. 2 and supply them with the state of the art equipment.

After viewing the work done, the head of the state met Mardakan residents.

President Ilham Aliyev said greeting the public members:

?As you know, a special program has been designed to develop suburban villages of Baku. The program will be approved at the beginning of this month and the work will be carried out at a fast pace soon. Certain part of the work has already begun. New roads are being laid to Mardakan. These will wide-ranging works. Infrastructure projects are planned to be implemented in all settlements.

The program has been published in the press and everyone can get familiar with it. Certain orders have been issued with regard to each settlement. As to Mardakan, school and kindergartens are expected to be repaired here. A hospital will be renovated, new roads will be laid and gas supply project will be realized. Water supply and sanitation projects will also be implemented.

So, all socioeconomic issues in each village should be tackled by the time the program is realized in 2013. As you know, I have examined the situation in several settlements and listened to wishes of residents. The program has already been approved. Of course, we all should control realization of this program.

I want works in all settlements to be conducted at a fast pace in short period of time so that all urgent issues are resolved. We are aware of these problems. Therefore, I considered it important to adopt a special state program on redevelopment of Baku and its suburbs and we did it. All state bodies have been instructed to step up efforts. The requests and wishes of local residents should also be taken into consideration.�

We try to cover all issues by the new program. However, experience shows that sometimes it is possible to do this. Additions were also made to the State Program on Socioeconomic Development of Regions adopted in 2004 over time.

The same can happen with the current program. So, when additional proposals are made, they will also be considered. We did our best so that the program addresses all major infrastructure problems facing the people. The work is already underway. I am sure that all instructions will be fulfilled in time.?

RESIDENT: Mr. President. We are very happy to meet you in our settlement. This is one of the memorable moments. Your visit gives much enthusiasm. Our district and settlement becomes prettier every passing day. Much is being done both in the settlement and the entire district. We believe that our district will be much more beautiful like our country and Baku once the program is fully implemented. We are confident that our district will not lag behind other districts.

We appreciate your domestic and foreign policies. We will always support you. You policy convinces us that our republic has a great future.

There are a number of proposals at the moment. You already noted that the hospital should be repaired. The hospital No. 26 is the largest in our district. This is an old hospital reconstructed roughly in 1892. But many years have passed, and it does not meet modern requirements. We want the hospital to be included into the program, to be renovated so that our residents, veteran could receive good treatment there. We are grateful to you. Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. The issue you mentioned will be settled. The complete overhaul of the hospital No. 26 and its supply with modern equipment will be included into the state program. I am sure that the works will begin soon. This hospital indeed has a great history. It used to be the central hospital of the district and nearby areas, but now it needs to be repaired at the high level. We will together open it after it is repaired. As to the works in the district, they are carried out in a proper manner. Khazar is a large and old district. Mardakan is a settlement with a long history. It has rich history and culture. I want works here to be conducted at a high level.

Now we also creating a grand entry into Mardakan and a beautiful bridge is being built. You are well aware that the cars stuck in traffic jams on Mardakan circle for several minutes, and maybe half an hour before. Although the distance to Mardakan has not reduced, now you can drive faster on this road as there are no circles. Beautiful bridges, overpasses have been built instead and the road has been enlarged. Now it is very convenient to enter the city from here.

Internal roads in Mardakan will also be renovated. You know very well that these roads are not wide enough. But the project of reconstruction of main streets is being developed and will be submitted soon. We will view it together in order to reconstruct this street for vehicles and pedestrians at a higher level. All these issues will be resolved. I just want them to be resolved quickly.

The program adopted is a great program. This is a project that requires a lot of work from both technical and financial standpoint. Large funds are needed to implement this program. We will make additions to the state budget this year to carry out this work without delay. However, despite this, the term of the program is only two and a half years. Why? Because I want these issues to be resolved quickly.

Of course, there must be a strong public control which will depend on you. Work is under way, roads, water lines will be built, gas lines will re-routed. We must make sure that they are of good quality, because public funds are allocated and work is underway. In some cases, the work done does not satisfy us because public control is weak. Executives are sometimes irresponsible about their work.

Therefore, public control has to be very strong. I ask all of you and inhabitants of all villages make sure to inform me if any issues are resolved in a wrong manner or there are any shortcomings. Now one can send a letter via e-mail, that is, information could be delivered in various ways. We must make sure that the work is done at a high level and wishes of the inhabitants are taken into account.

RESIDENT: Distinguished President, Khazar is a large district. This is one of the major parts of Absheron. We see your visit as a continuation of May holidays. On behalf of Mardakan residents, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to our settlement.

Great work is being done in our district in accordance with your instructions. Sanitation is one of the issues facing us. The measures taken by you, the decrees issues and checking fulfillment of orders on the ground point to your care about the people.

I express my deep gratitude to you once again on behalf of entire Khazar District.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. The questions you raised are very important. Unfortunately, sanitation issue is urgent not only in Mardakan, but also in all settlements. Sewerage lines were not laid in previous times. This requires hard work and large financial sources. But this program has already started to be implemented. All appropriate instructions have been given. Azersu Joint Stock Company is dealing with this issue. We will try to build sanitation and water lines in all residential areas in the country. This is very complicated and big work as there were no lines previously. They must be re-routed, pipes must be laid and modern cleaning equipment must be installed. This issue is our priority in Baku suburbs. I know that people are mostly concerned about drinking water and sanitation. We faced shortage of electricity at one time. This issue was eventually solved. Now there is no such problem.

The gas supply works are done rapidly. Certain work has already been done and all gas supply projects across the country will be realized. All settlements will be supplied with gas.

Today Azerbaijan?s realities are acknowledged and studied by other countries. Our experience and redevelopment work draws attention.

Baku is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This is true. Foreign guests who trip to Baku also acknowledge this.�

Beautiful parks are laid in Baku, buildings are built and restored, roads are laid and a new infrastructure is created. Baku has really turned into a beautiful city. We need to work so that the Baku suburbs are distinguished for their modernity, beauty and cleanness. There is every opportunity to do this. There is already a specific program which will help to solve the issues you raised. It should cover redevelopment in all settlements.

Road is comfort and landscaping. Painting and restoration of buildings, building fences and planting trees mean improvement. Several million trees were planted last year alone. That means health.

RESIDENT: Distinguished President, let me greet you in Mardakan and convey the gratitude of residents of our settlement for your visit.

Mr. President, you have ruled Azerbaijan for already eight years. During these years you have done much for the republic and Azerbaijani people. Today, the Azerbaijani people live peacefully and safely. This is the result of your policy. Thanks to your policies, the ongoing terrible events in the world have not affected us and, we believe, it will not. This is your policy. Of course, a man who has learnt from our great leader is able to carry out this policy. You pursue the correct, accurate and balanced policy among major countries of the world, famous politicians. We sincerely welcome this. Thank you for working in the name of a prosperous life for the Azerbaijani people with the entire family.

The work done by Mehriban khanim is also evident. Azerbaijani women are known abroad in the face of Mehriban khanim.

Mr. President, as I noted, it is impossible to name all the work done. The redevelopment program of suburban villages drafted upon your decree was discussed with us and submitted to the Presidential Administration.

This is a result of your successful policies, good deeds done in the name of Azerbaijani people and motherland.

However, much needs to be done yet. The school, before which we stand today, was built by the late Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev in its time.

We've studied in this old school building. This building was built later. An old building needs to be restored. We do not want to lose it. Mardakan population knows this school as Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev School. It does not meet today's requirements. True, it I being used today, but it is not for today. This was built at the beginning of the century.

Mr. President, you will still do much for the motherland. We wish you good health, unwavering commitment and inexhaustible strength. God bless you.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. I am very grateful to you. I will continue to strive to serve my own people. We have to solve all the problems facing the country. As for this school, of course, it will be repaired.

Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiev did a lot for the people of Azerbaijan. We revere his memory. I really appreciate what he has done. Personalities like him represented the people of Azerbaijan at the proper level at the time. Of course, he was a wealthy man and achieved great financial opportunities on his own. But he used these opportunities to improve the lives of his people. He wanted the Azerbaijani youth to study, to be literate and educated. He wanted social issues have to be resolved in Azerbaijan. Through his funds, he laid major water supply system, built schools and sent orphans, poor children abroad to receive higher education. We must be respectful to cultural, spiritual and material heritage of such an outstanding person.

We have renovated his home in Baku for this very purpose. Now it also houses the Museum of History of Azerbaijan. But at the same time, we have restored it as the house of Haji Zeynalabdin. At one time, we improved also his grave here in Mardakan.

Pir Hasan sanctuary was upgraded a few years ago at our initiative. Once again, I want to say that he is one of the most prominent figures in Azerbaijan?s history. His charitable mission served the development of Azerbaijani people. I often meet with modern entrepreneurs. They are also supported by the state. I want the entrepreneurship to develop so that people will become richer. Every time I advise them to pay attention to issues of social responsibility. Wealthy, rich people should extend a helping hand to those who have no opportunities. This will be a good deed before Allah and his own conscience.

This school is sure to be repaired. The appropriate order will be signed and we'll create a beautiful memorial to him. Now I was told about the problems that have arisen in connection with the construction of this school. They will be eliminated if there any deficiencies.1 news.az

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

best firm mattress for back pain simmons beautyrest extra firm mattress best medium firm mattress

Could new treaty get van der Sloot back to Holland? - CBS42

This full rss is powered by Adsense IdBirmingham, Ala (WIAT) What will a new extradition treaty between Peru and The Netherlands mean for the Holloway family's six year quest to find out what happened to Natalee Holloway on a graduation trip to Aruba?

Will it complicate efforts to extradite Joran van der Sloot from Peru's Castro Castro prison to face wire fraud and extortion charges here in Birmingham?

Peru and The Netherlands agreed on an extradition treaty Thursday. �It still requires ratification by the Dutch Parliament and the Peruvian Congress.

�Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal and his Peruvian opposite number Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde signed a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons and the enforcement of criminal judgments. �"The treaty allows residents of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have been sentenced to prison by final and irrevocable judgment in Peru" to serve their sentence in the Netherlands, said Rosenthal.

The Dutch government says there are 117 Dutch citizens in prison in Peru, 113 on drug charges. �And then there's Joran van der Sloot.�

Van der Sloot's Peruvian lawyer, Max Altez, says how the proposed treaty affects his client depends on the length of sentence van der Sloot gets in his pending murder trial.

He's awaiting trial on charges he murdered a Peruvian college student he met at a poker tournament. �Peruvian investigators say van der Sloot confessed he killed Stephany Flores after she found material relating to Natalee Holloway on his laptop. �Flores body was found in van der Sloot's Lima hotel room five years to the day of Natalee's disappearance.

Altez said he would advise Van der Sloot to apply for extradition if he's convicted "under the violent emotion defense" -- meaning a jury could determine he snapped and killed Flores, but didn't plan it out. In that case, he'd likely get a three-to-five year sentence, which he wouldn't appeal, Altez said.

"If he gets a higher sentence" -- such as what amounts to premeditated murder -- "we will probably appeal" and not request extradition, said Altez. That's because once Van der Sloot leaves Peru to serve his time in the Netherlands, it would be more difficult to appeal his sentence.

Natalee vanished on a trip to Aruba in 2005 with other Mountain Brook High School grads. �She was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot and two of his friends. �Although he's still considered the prime suspect in the case, he was questioned but never charged by Aruban police.

A federal grand jury here in Alabama has indicted van der Sloot on wire fraud and extortion charges claiming he falsely promised to tell the Holloway family about Natalee's fate in exchange for money. �The feds say van der Sloot took the money but delivered no information.

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

best extra firm mattress simmons beautyrest luxury firm mattress cushion firm mattress

Sabtu, 14 Mei 2011

Box Office: Can Apatow's 'Bridesmaids' Crack $20M? - TheWrap

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

By Daniel Frankel

Hey, they said the original "Hangover" was supposed to open to only around $20 million, and look what it did...

Yes, it's not always easy to predict the box-office performance of R-rated comedies, let alone R-rated comedies targeted to a female audience, a pretty rare cinematic bird.

For its part, Universal is conservatively projecting an opening in the low teens for its Judd Apatow-produced "Bridesmaids," a $32.5 million comedy featuring an ensemble cast that includes "Saturday Night Live's" Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne and "The Office's" Ellie Kemper.

Starting out in 2,917 locations -- alongside one other major-studio wide release, Sony's 3D-converted action-horror film "Priest" -- "Bridesmaids" is widely predicted by box-office watchers outside its studio to do about $16 million-$18 million, with its tracking generally regarded as soft.

Still, there are several reasons to suggest that the Paul Feig-directed movie might outperform its dour pre-release forecast.

For one, the tracking for the movie's target demo, females under 25, is fairly strong, with 89 percent of young women polled reporting awareness of the film and a solid 20 percent registering "unaided awareness," meaning they found out about it independent of promotion.

Further, according to tracking firm NRG, 36 percent of young women report having "definite interest" in seeing the film.

The movie's "first-choice" co-efficient among those same younger females isn't so strong -- only around 10 percent -- but that might be explained by the impending arrival of big-ticket tentpoles including the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.

Further, the tracking data suggests "Bridesmaids" might draw a fairly broad audience, with older women reporting even stronger response, and even 14 percent of young men signaling "definite interest," according to NRG.

OK, so that's a lot of tracking mumbo-jumbo ... but why shouldn't this movie with fairly broad appeal and great reviews (90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes as of Thursday afternoon) defy the gravity of pre-release expectations and excede, say, $20 million for the weekend?

"This is an out-of-the-box comedy -- there are no comps for this," noted Nikki Rocco, president of domestic distribution for Universal, which co-produced "Bridesmaids" with Relativity. "You could say 'Sex and the City' is comparable, but that was on television for seven years and was already a known commodity. We're in uncharted waters here."

Certainly, producer Apatow is no stranger of such undiscovered box-office realms, having released quirky comedies several years ago, "Knocked Up" and "Superbad," that outperformed opening expectations.

Of course, Apatow's more recent eclectic efforts, most notably the Adam Sandler dramedy "Funny People" two years ago for Universal, have missed the mark wildly, further complicating the forecast for "Bridesmaids."

With Marvel/Paramount's "Thor" expected to once again lead the domestic box office after opening to just over $65 million last weekend, Sony will release the Sam Raimi/Michael DeLuca-produced "Priest" into 2,864 U.S. and Canadian locations.

The film is commanding soft reviews -- 21 percent, according to Rotten Tomatoes -- and tracking isn't all that great, with the strongest group of survey responders, men 25 and older, registering only 73 percent total awareness, according to NRG.

Related Wrap Stories This full rss is powered by Adsense Id

simmons plush firm mattress extra firm mattress pad simmons boardwalk firm mattress