The Rolling Stones, the world’s top-earning music act last year, have signed a long-term, exclusive worldwide contract with Vivendi SA’s Universal Music, dealing a major blow to the group’s former recording company, EMI Group PLC.

Universal said on Friday that the new deal covered both future albums by the Stones and their back catalog including such albums as "Sticky Fingers" and "Black and Blue" and songs "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up."

Universal, the world’s biggest recording company, did not disclose terms of the deal.

The Stones’ departure from EMI, where they’d been for more than 20 years, is a low point in a bumpy ride for Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd., the private equity firm that bought the London-based recording company last year.

New EMI boss Guy Hands failed to re-sign British band Radiohead. Other major artists, including Coldplay and Robbie Williams, have expressed unhappiness with some changes at the company since the buyout.

"Universal are forward-thinking, creative and hands-on music people," the Stones said in a statement. "We really look forward to working with them."

The British group has already had some experience of working with Universal after the company, a subsidiary of French media and telecommunication giant Vivendi SA, in March released the soundtrack album from "Shine A Light," director Martin Scorsese’s film of the Stones’ 2006 performance at the Beacon Theater in New York.

Universal will now release all new recordings by the group through its Polydor label and take over full digital and physical rights. It added that it will "begin planning an unprecedented, long-term campaign to reposition the Rolling Stones’ entire catalog for the digital age."

The Stones topped Forbes magazine’s list of wealthy music acts last year, reportedly earning some $88 million between June 2006 and June 2007, mostly from their "Bigger Bang Tour."

EMI, whose artists also include the Beastie Boys, Norah Jones and Kylie Minogue, announced plans this year to cut more than one-third of its work force to offset a drop in CD sales revenue and the departure of several major artists, including Paul McCartney.

EMI has struggled more than the other major labels — Universal, Sony BMG and Warner Music Group — as digital music downloading has gained in popularity.

The company blamed disappointing North American results for a series of damaging profit warnings, but industry experts also pointed to internal control problems and the company’s lack of new music.
From: rss.cnn.com

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Steve Spurrier is hoping Tommy Beecher can shut South Carolina’s revolving door at quarterback. Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville isn’t used to having a full-fledged quarterback battle going into August.

Outside of Florida with Tim Tebow and Georgia with Matthew Stafford, it’s a common issue facing Southeastern Conference coaches these days. At least seven are either seeking a No. 1 quarterback or preparing to start a new one.

Spurrier proclaimed Beecher the starter after spring practice and said Friday at SEC media days that he has told the junior that he doesn’t need to worry about getting yanked for throwing an interception or two.

He doesn’t want to keep constantly wondering, "Who’s the quarterback?"

"We’re tired of that and I’m tired of it," said Spurrier, who started both Chris Smelley and now-departed Blake Mitchell at times last season. "It’s time to get one of those guys."

Tuberville’s own quarterback remains TBA. Sophomore Kodi Burns and junior college transfer Chris Todd are vying to replace three-year starter Brandon Cox.

"I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Chris Todd is not our starting quarterback," Tuberville said. "Kodi would be as of today, but Chris has worked very hard."

Despite that unsettled position, the Tigers were picked by reporters covering the league to win the SEC Western Division over defending national champion LSU. LSU lost its presumed starter when coach Les Miles booted Ryan Perrilloux from the team, creating a race between Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee.

"Our quarterback situation is up in the air," Tuberville said. "Theirs is more up in the air because of losing Perrilloux."

Kentucky also has an ongoing race to replace Andre’ Woodson, between sophomore Mike Hartline and junior Curtis Pulley. Mackenzi Adams and Chris Nickson are trying to claim the job at Vanderbilt.

Mississippi and Tennessee will also have new starters, but there’s less uncertainty.

Junior Jonathan Crompton, who has made one career start, is expected to replace Erik Ainge for the Volunteers. He does have some backfield help in preseason All-SEC tailback Arian Foster and his backup Monterio Hardesty.

"We don’t want to put it all on Crompton," Foster said. "We both want to aid him in his maturation process and try to help him grow as a quarterback. It’s good to have a couple of running backs back there that know what they’re doing and know what’s going on."

At Ole Miss, sophomore Jevan Snead sat out last season after transferring from the University of Texas. He saw some action as a freshman for the Longhorns two years ago.

"You’re hoping he can just take right back up where he left off, but more importantly you’re hoping that supporting class will be able to take some things off of him," Rebels coach Houston Nutt said. "But overall you just love him under the center. You love him with the ball in his hands because of his decision-making."

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said Hartline and Pulley finished spring practice "in a virtual tie."

"It’s going to be an interesting competition," Brooks said. "I feel good about both of them, and it’s conceivable that both of them could see action."

Besides Stafford and Tebow, the league’s other returning starters whose jobs seem pretty secure are Casey Dick (Arkansas), Wesley Carroll (Mississippi State) and John Parker Wilson at Alabama. Nickson and Adams both started at times last season for Vandy.

Spurrier seems to be settled on Beecher, who has 194 yards passing in his career. Besides the athletic credentials, he also posted the team’s highest grade point average for the last academic year.

"We need to give him every opportunity to see if he can take us a long way," Spurrier said. "He’s very smart. He can run. He can make all the throws. He just hasn’t played all that much yet.

"This summer I think he’s accepted the fact that he’s the quarterback, and I think he’s done a pretty good job to get the guys ready to throw the ball around."

At Auburn, either Burns or Todd will be operating the Tigers’ new spread offense. Burns and Cox split time with solid results in the Chick-fil-A Bowl after Tony Franklin took over as offensive coordinator.

"The quarterback situation is in good hands," Tuberville said. "I like what they’ve done this summer. Every time I’ve looked out the window, they’re out there throwing. The receivers have really raved about all the quarterbacks and how they’re throwing the football."

From: rss.cnn.com

The calm response was a stark contrast to the hundreds of angry customers who waited for hours earlier this month in Southern California to demand their money after IndyMac Bank’s assets were seized.

The 28 branches of the 1st National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank N.A. — owned by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based First National Bank Holding Co. — were closed Friday by the FDIC. First National Bank of Nevada also operates as First National Bank of Arizona.

But Mutual of Omaha Bank bought all the two banks’ deposits, even those over the amount protected by FDIC insurance limits. IndyMac customers had to take a loss on whatever amount they had in the bank over the insurance limits.

One 1st National Bank of Arizona in downtown Phoenix didn’t even have a note outside to tell customers about the trouble Saturday. But there were no customers outside to tell.

“I feel like the Maytag repairman — there’s just not much to do on the customer side of things,” Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. spokesman David Barr said. “There’s going to be no impact on the depositors whatsoever, except basically a name change,” Barr said.

Insurance limits are typically $100,000, but some accounts, such as joint accounts, can have more money protected, Barr said.

On Monday, Mutual of Omaha will open the banks as its own branches, Barr said. During the weekend, accountholders can access their funds by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards.

Jeff Schmid, chairman and CEO of Mutual of Omaha Bank, said the acquisition of the new accounts aligns with the company’s growth strategy to get aggressive with banking.

“We’re very optimistic about these markets,” said Schmid, who was in Scottsdale on Saturday to speak with his new employees. “This could be our finest hour.”

Mutual of Omaha Bank has $800 million in assets and operates 14 retail branches in Nebraska and Colorado. It’s a subsidiary of Mutual of Omaha, a 99-year-old insurance and financial services company with more than $19 billion in total assets.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said in a news release that 1st National was undercapitalized and had experienced substantial dissipation of assets and earnings “due to unsafe and unsound practices.”

Those practices “also weakened the bank’s condition and seriously prejudiced the interests of the bank’s depositors and the deposit insurance fund.”

Another news release said First Heritage was critically undercapitalized and was likely to incur losses that would deplete all or nearly all of its capital.

As of June 30, the closed banks had total assets of $3.6 billion. That’s down from $4.1 billion six months earlier. Most of the assets are in 1st National, while First Heritage N.A. accounts for $254 million.

The FDIC said the takeover of the failed banks was the least costly resolution.

Calls to 1st National executive vice president Joe Martony were not returned Saturday. No one could be reached at the First Heritage N.A.

1st National has 10 branches in Nevada and 15 branches in Arizona. First Heritage N.A. has three branches in Southern California.

From: us.rd.yahoo.com

“XXX State of the Union”
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Gallery of photos from the Sony Pictures movie, “XXX State of the Union,” starring Ice Cube, Scott Speedman, Nona Gaye and Sunny Mabrey.

Click on any thumbnail to view a larger photo.

Photos Sony Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

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From: movies.about.com

Hills Hoist A Hills Hoist is an inexpensive rotary clothes line developed and marketed by Australian, Lance Hill in 1945. However, Lance Hill finally patented his rotary clothes line on March 22, 1956.

Hills Hoist
The Hills Hoist is a rotary clothes line fitted with a hoist operated by a crown and pinion winding mechanism which allows the frame to be raised and lowered. It was developed and marketed by Lance Hill in 1945 after he returned from the war.

Hills Hoist
A man called Lance Hill decided to make a less expensive rotary clothesline.

Lance Hill
Lance Hill invented the Hill’s Hoist because his wife asked him if he could think of something better than the old clothes line and prop that she had.

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Australian Inventions

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From: inventors.about.com

Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander Mick Swift said the husband returned home from a night shift early Thursday and heard the family pet, named “Rabbit,” scratching at the couple’s bedroom door half an hour after he had gone to bed.

Swift said the husband, whose identity has not been released, discovered a fire in a back room and smoke spreading quickly through the house. He was able to escape the house with his wife unharmed.

Swift said the rabbit saved the couple from injury.

He said the blaze caused substantial damage to the house before it was extinguished by four crews of firefighters.

From: us.rd.yahoo.com

Poached chicken breasts are succulent and tender, making them a great alternative to store-bought rotisserie chicken, which can sometimes be dry and high in sodium. Use poached chicken in your favorite soup recipes, in salads, burritos or as a salad filling. Ingredients:2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)1 1/2 – 2 cups fat free, low sodium chicken broth, or water2 tsp dried mixed herbs1 bay leafPreparation: Place chicken breasts in bottom of a small, heavy-bottomed pot. They should fit in a single layer but fit quite snugly. Cover chicken with broth or water. Add herbs and bay leaf.

Bring to a boil, then quickly reduce heat to low so that the water is barely at a simmer. Partly cover and gently simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat completely, and allow chicken to remain in hot water for 15-20 minutes.

Slice or shred chicken.

Serves 3-4 people

Per Serving: Calories 121, Calories from Fat 13, Total Fat 1.4g (sat 0.4mg), Cholesterol 65mg, Sodium 96mg, Carbohydrate 0.4g, Fiber 0g, Protein 26.6g

From: lowfatcooking.about.com