Mo. golfer survives fall into Ill. course sinkhole

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mark Mihal was having good opening day on the links when he noticed an unusual depression on the fairway of the 14th hole at Annbriar Golf Club in southern Illinois.

Remarking to his friends how awkward it would be to have to hit out of it, he went over for a closer look.

One step onto the pocked section and the 43-year-old mortgage broker was plunging into a sinkhold. He landed 18 feet down with a painful thud, and his friends managed to hoist him to safety with a rope after about 20 minutes. But Friday's experience gave Mihal quite a fright, particularly after the much-publicized recent death of a man in Florida whose body hasn't been found since a sinkhole swallowed him and his bedroom.

"I feel lucky just to come out of it with a shoulder injury, falling that far and not knowing what I was going to hit," Mihal, from the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, told The Associated Press before heading off to learn whether he'll need surgery. "It was absolutely crazy."
Mihal said it was a real downer on what had been a fine outing.
With winter finally nearing an end, "it was the first day to get to play in a long time," he said. "So I wasn't expecting too much."
Golfing with buddies, Mihal was waiting to hit his third shot, some 100 yards from the pin on the par 5, when he noticed a bathtub-looking indentation about knee deep just behind him on the fairway. At just one over par for the round, the golfer with a 6 handicap was on a roll.
Mihal said he was completely surprised when the ground gave way beneath him.
"It didn't look unstable," he said. "And then I was gone. I was just freefalling. It felt like forever, but it was just a second or two, and I didn't know what I was going to hit. And all I saw was darkness."
His golfing buddies didn't see him vanish into the earth but noticed he wasn't visible, figuring he had tripped and fallen out of sight down a hill. But one of them heard Mihal's moans and went to investigate.
"He just thought it was some crazy magic trick or something," Mihal said.
Hardly.
Getting panicky and knowing his shoulder "was busted," Mihal assessed his dilemma in pitch darkness as he rested on a mound of mud, wondering if the ground would give way more and send him deeper into the pit that was 10-feet wide at the opening, then broadened out into the shape of a bell below the surface.
"I was looking around, clinging to the mud pile, trying to see if there was a way out," he said. "At that point, I started yelling, "I need a ladder and a rope, and you guys need to get me out of here.'"
A ladder that was hustled to the scene was too short, and Mihal's damaged shoulder crimped his ability to climb.
"At some point, I said, 'I need to get out of here. Now,'" Mihal recalled.
One of his golf partners, a real-estate agent, made his way into the hole, converted his sweater into a splint for Mihal and tied a rope around his friend, who was pulled to safety.
"I felt fortunate I didn't break both legs, or worse," Mihal said.
While disturbing, such sink-holes aren't uncommon in southwestern Illinois, where old underground mines frequently cause the earth to settle. In Mihal's case, the sinkhole's culprit was subsurface limestone that dissolves from acidic rainwater, snowmelt and carbon dioxide, eventually causing the ground to collapse, said Sam Panno, a senior geochemist with the Illinois State Geological Survey.
That region "is riddled with sinkholes," with as many as 15,000 recorded, Panno said.
The one Mihal survived has him debating whether returning to Annbriar is a long shot.
"It's a great course. I love the course," Mihal said, having played Annbriar a couple dozen times over the past decade. "But I would have a tough time probably walking down that hole again."
The 20-year-old course proclaims on its website that "each year new golfers are tested by our challenging 18 holes of golf."
There's no mention of its newest — and most challenging — hole.

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Older Friends Sharing Time Are Sharing Kisses As Well

DEAR ABBY: I am a semi-retired widow in my 60s. A few months ago I started spending time with a man I work with. We would see each other once or twice a month, strictly as friends. Our "dates" ended with a platonic hug.

About a month ago, a hug turned into an embrace. A week later, the embrace became a passionate kiss. Since then, whenever we get together -- now once or twice a week -- we spend a good portion of our time together "making out." We love the way each other kisses.
The problem is, we're still just friends. There is no desire on the part of either of us to take the relationship up a notch. What do we do? We should not be kissing a friend the way we do, but we can't seem to stop.
We're not hurting anyone. We have tried meeting only in public places, but there is still the goodnight kiss. I never thought I'd need this kind of advice at my age. Must we stop spending time together? -- FLABBERGASTED IN WISCONSIN
DEAR FLABBERGASTED: Not in my opinion. I assume you're both eligible. This is the way relationships develop, and you would be foolish not to see where it leads. As of now, a kiss is still a kiss. Let me hear from you in a month.

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DEAR ABBY: I am writing on behalf of hairstylists. We are busy people. Our time is money. We rarely even stop for lunch. Clients who come in talking on their cellphones are a real problem for us because they slow us down.
I have had clients jump up from my chair to answer their cellphone in the middle of a haircut -- hair flying everywhere. I have had to do a haircut around a cellphone, with the client switching the phone from ear to ear! These are not even important calls -- just casual conversations.
The lack of courtesy is ridiculous, and it seems to be getting worse. I would like people who do this to think twice before subjecting their stylist to it. They should put their phones on silent, get their hair cut or colored, and talk on their own time! -- FED UP IN NEBRASKA
DEAR FED UP: You are not helpless. This is happening because you have allowed it. If you can't find the gumption to tell your customers you don't want them using their cellphones while they're in your chair, then post a sign on your mirror that reads "Cellphones Not Allowed."
DEAR ABBY: I am a new bride. I love my husband very much, but I've encountered a problem I don't know how to handle. My husband and I were together for six years before we got married and were engaged for three. We eloped to Las Vegas (it wasn't planned) and had a "proper" celebration with friends and family later.
My husband makes comments that suggest I dragged him and tricked him into marrying me. I know he's only kidding, but it's very hurtful. I don't know how to let him know his comments really hurt my feelings. It makes me feel like he's ashamed of our marriage. -- NEWLYWED IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR NEWLYWED: The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The next time your husband does it, speak up. Explain that his attempts at humor are hurtful, not to mention insulting. Ask him if he regrets marrying you. (If the answer is yes, it's important that you know it now.) Clear communication is the key to a strong marriage, and so is respect for one's partner, which he appears to be lacking.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order "How to Have a Lovely Wedding." Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

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"Jersey Boys" production company prevails in Ed Sullivan copyright appeal

By Greg Gilman

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The producers of "Jersey Boys" have prevailed in a lawsuit alleging that the use of a seven-second clip from "The Ed Sullivan Show" was copyright infringement.

On Monday, an appellate court in California upheld a lower court's decision to award $155,000 in attorney fees to defendants Dodger Productions and Dodgers Theatricals, Ltd.

In the hit Broadway production that dramatizes the rise and eventual breakup of '60s rock 'n' roll band The Four Seasons, the quick clip of Ed Sullivan introducing the foursome is used as a transition to a live rendition of the song they performed on the late-night show. Afterward, the actor portraying Four Seasons member Bob Gaudio reflects on the band's career in comparison to the Beatles.

SOFA Entertainment, Inc., who filed the appeal in February, claimed the defendant could not justify its unlicensed use of the clip as "fair use," but Judge Stephen S. Trott ruled the company "is mistaken."

"By using the clip for its biographical significance, Dodger has imbued it with new meaning and did so without usurping whatever demand there is for the original clip," Trott wrote. "Dodger is entitled to prevail on its fair use defense as a matter of law."

And since SOFA previously tried and failed to prove copyright infringement of another property, Judge Trott believes the company should be known better.

"In light of the education SOFA received as the plaintiff in Elvis Presley Enterprises, SOFA should have known from the outset that its chances of success in this case were slim to none," Trott concluded. "Therefore, we conclude that the district court's award of attorney fees to Dodger was justified."

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Bolshoi ballet chief: threats preceded acid attack

MOSCOW (AP) — The artistic director of the Bolshoi ballet said the dancer arrested on suspicion of giving the go-ahead to an acid attack that badly burned his eyes and face had long threatened him.

Dressed in black and wearing shades, Sergei Filin told Russian state television in remarks broadcast Tuesday that someone whom he wouldn't name might have pushed leading soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko into staging the attack.

"It appears that someone had worked really well on that and pushed him into doing it, since every time, every moment, my every meeting with Pavel Dmitrichenko meant another threat, another show of dislike," Filin said.

He added that Dmitrichenko, who has recently starred in the title part of "Ivan the Terrible," was part of a "narrow circle of people who openly disliked me and threatened me and many other people."

Filin, 42, spoke energetically and skin on his face no longer looked red and swollen as in early February, when he was last seen in public before flying to Germany for continuing treatment.
Dmitrichenko told a Moscow court last week that he gave his blessing to the Jan. 17 attack, but never expected that the assailant would go as far as to throw acid in Filin's face. He said he was angry at Filin for what he described as corruption and favoritism at the theater.
Dmitrichenko was arrested by police along with the alleged perpetrator of the attack and another man accused of serving as a getaway driver.
On Thursday, 300 Bolshoi employees, including some of the leading dancers, issued an open letter defending 29-year-old Dmitrichenko. They said that police failed to produce any evidence of Dmitrichenko's guilt and argued that Dmitrichenko had been pressured into slandering himself by police.
"We think that the conclusions drawn by investigators look hasty to us, their proof unconvincing and Pavel's confession ... was a result of crude pressure on him," the letter said.
"Regrettably, the history of our country saw many occasions when investigators used unlawful and sometimes illegal means to obtain the results they needed," it added.
Rights groups say Russian police routinely use torture to extract false confessions from those they have arbitrarily rounded up, brutality that long has caused public outrage and drawn calls for an overhaul of the force.
Dmitrichenko's lawyer, Alexander Barkanov, didn't make any allegations of police abuse in the case when he attended a court session last week. Moscow police insisted in Tuesday's statement that they have been honestly doing their job and pledged to conduct a fair probe.
Reacting to the open letter by Bolshoi artists, Bolshoi general director Anatoly Iksanov called a news conference to say that Dmitrichenko won't be fired unless found guilty.
"If the court proves his innocence, then, sure, we will have no legal grounds to fire Dmitrichenko," he said.
Iksanov said he shares the ballet troupe's concern that the "investigation could be biased" and said he believes Dmitrichenko when the dancer says he was plotting the attack, but not the violent form that it took.

The Bolshoi's director pledged to keep Dmitrichenko on payroll for the time being, but added that it is virtually impossible for a dancer to return to work after a year's break. It is unclear when his trial could start and how long it could last.

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Teenaged Olympic athlete Douglas to publish second memoir

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas, not yet 18, will publish her second memoir next month, publisher Zondervan said on Tuesday.

Douglas, 17, a gold medal winner at the 2012 Summer Olympics in both team and individual all-around gymnastics competition, will publish "Raising the Bar", a follow-up to her 2012 best-selling memoir "Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith", on April 30, the publishers said in a release.

Zondervan is a division of HarperCollins that specializes in Christian-oriented books.
The book will offer a behind-the-scenes look into Douglas' life, including color photos, personal stories and details on the athlete's present-day life - from walking red carpets and appearing on TV shows such as "The Vampire Diaries" while also making time for friends, family and training.
"'Raising the Bar' explores what it's like to be an everyday teen with a not-so-everyday life," Zondervan said.
Douglas, who began training at age 6 and became the Virginia State Champion just 2 years later, made history last year when she became the first U.S. gymnast to take home a team and an individual gold medal in the same games. She was first African-American to win the individual gold.

Since the 2012 London Olympics thrust the young gymnast into the public eye, Douglas has appeared at the Democratic National Convention, the MTV Video Awards, on the cover of Time magazine and on special edition boxes of corn flake cereal, along with her gold medal.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Richard Chang)

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Preparing for Springtime Backyard Play

Warm weather is around the corner. Swing-N-Slide reminds everyone to prep your outdoor swing set for backyard play.

Chattanooga, TN (PRWEB) March 12, 2013

Warm weather is coming soon and the kids are ready to get outside and play! Swing-N-Slide wants to remind families that compliant backyard recreation is the safest way to play. Outdoor play is important for building a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Checking your play set for wear and tear will allow for longer and more productive play time.     Swing-N-Slide suggests using the following quick check list to inspect your play set for a spring and summer filled with fun and creative play!
Print & Play Checklist

Before Play Season

• At the start of play season, check all metal parts for rust or other deterioration

-To prevent deterioration of materials, remove plastic swing seats and other plastic accessories and take indoors during off seasons

• Provide your children with a soft landing – proper surfacing is key


• Replace any deteriorated parts with new parts for compliant play


• Lubricate metallic moving parts


• Check all protective coverings on bolts, pipes, edges and corners – replace if loose, cracked or missing


• Keep your play surface compliant by checking its depth and raking it to avoid compaction


• Tighten all hardware


• Sand down any splinters in the wood


• Replace any deteriorating wood parts


• Cut off all protruding threaded ends of bolts and other fasteners and remove any sharp edges


• Ensure equipment is on level ground, no less than six feet from any structure or obstruction such as a fence, garage or tree


• Adjust all swings for a minimum 8'' clearance between the swing and the ground surface


• Use a water seal on your gym set to protect wood and prevent cracking and warping

During Play Season

• Check all nuts and bolts twice monthly for tightness and tighten as required.


• Oil all metallic moving parts monthly during usage period


• Check all hardware and equipment for sharp edges twice monthly


• Check swing seats and chains monthly during the usage season for evidence of deterioration


• Remind your children of safe play rules including appropriate swinging space, sharing with others and being polite to other children

Playsets can last for many years if they are properly cared for and monitored. It’s important to replace deteriorated swings and parts or upgrade for your growing child. Swing-N-Slide offers many alternatives to your basic swing seat including a heavy duty swing seat, the innovative Vortex Ring Swing, the modern Wind Rider Glider or even a multi-child swing like the Mega Rider or the 2 For Fun Glider.

The most important aspect in play is safety. Swing-N-Slide tests and adheres to the ASTM International regulations for residential play. To learn more on playset safety visit http://www.swing-n-slide.com for ASTM compliance information and how Swing-N-Slide meets or exceeds regulations for safe backyard play.
About Swing-N-Slide

Swing-N-Slide, PlayCore’s consumer products division, is a leading U.S. manufacturer of residential backyard playground equipment and related accessories. Swing-N-Slide designs, manufactures and distributes play sets to home centers, hardware stores and play set retailers across the nation. Safety and quality have been the cornerstone of Swing-N-Slide’s vision to provide children and their families with a safer play environment. For more information visit http://www.swing-n-slide.com

About PlayCore

PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, education, and partnerships. The company infuses this learning into its complete family of brands – GameTime, UltraSite, UltraShelter, UltraPlay, GT Grandstands, Snug, Play and Park Structures, TotTurf, Everlast Climbing, and Swing-N-Slide. PlayCore combines best-in-class planning and education programs with the most comprehensive array of recreation products available to create play solutions that match the unique needs of each community served. PlayCore's corporate headquarters is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. More information is available about PlayCore, Inc. at http://www.PlayCore.com.
Georgia Tippens
PlayCore
423-648-5570
Email Information

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Wonders in Space: #5 Space Jump

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner made history with his amazing space jump on Oct. 14. After floating to the edge of Earth's atmosphere in a balloon-lifted capsule, Baumgartner performed a record-breaking free-fall jump, covering 23 miles at 834 mph before opening his parachute and dropping safely to terra firma. Baumgartner, who wanted to set a record and practiced five years for the jump, said he didn't enjoy the experience until his chute opened.

"When my parachute opened, this was the first moment where I enjoyed it a lot because I knew it was over and I'm alive,'' he said after the monumental leap.

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