More dinosaur-smuggling cases likely

Mongolia's claim to a tyrannosaur skeleton that experts agree was smuggled out of the country has captured international attention. However, this dinosaur's situation does not appear unique.

Other fossils from the same species of Mongolian dinosaur, as well as other specimens linked to that fossil-rich country, are not difficult to find in auction house catalogs or on eBay.

They may not be for long: According to Robert Painter, the Houston-based attorney representing the Mongolian president in the tyrannosaur case, the Mongolian government is putting plans in place to monitor sales such as the $1.1 million purchase in May of the tyrannosaur at auction, in the hope of intercepting material taken illegally from within its borders.

Not the only one
The dinosaur skeleton, which Heritage Auctions put up for bid May 20 in New York, is a type of tyrannosaur called Tarbosaurus bataar. Its remains are plentiful in the Nemegt Formation within Mongolia's share of the Gobi Desert, where the only clearly identifiable Tarbosaurus fossils have been found. [ Up For Auction: A Natural History Gallery ]

Mongolian law in place since 1924 declares vertebrate fossils excavated within its borders to be state property and makes smuggling valuable artifacts, including fossils, a crime.

In the same auction, Heritage offered Tarbosaurus teeth and the skull of an armored dinosaur, called an ankylosaurid, which paleontologists said are also likely from Mongolia.

Mongolia's president, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, recently enlisted the U.S. Attorney's Office in his fight to have the skeleton returned to his country. No other items have been drawn into the court case.?

Easy to find
A cursory scan of recent catalogs from auction houses with a presence in the U.S. revealed that these sorts of offerings are not unusual. The auction house I.M. Chait offered the skull of a Tarbosaurus, also known as Tyrannosaurus bataar, for sale March 24, 2011, and a Tarbosaurus leg this past May 6. Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers in Los Angeles offered two dinosaur eggs from Mongolia's Gobi Desert on June 2. Bonhams offered a Tarbosaurus skull on May 17, 2011, and, later in the year, on Dec. 11, offered a frilled Protoceratops skeleton found in the Djadokhta Formation, which is located primarily in Mongolia. (The remainder of the formation is in China, which also forbids the export of fossils.)

LiveScience attempted to contact these auctions houses. The only reply came from a representative of ?Skinner. "I can tell you that Skinner consignors are contractually obliged to state that they have free and clear title to the material they consign with us," Skinner's marketing director, Kate de Bethune, wrote in an email.

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Asked for comment on the Tarbosaurus teeth and the ankylosaurid skull, Heritage Auctions? co-Chairman Jim Halperin released a statement, saying: "Numerous unsupported allegations regarding these fossils have been reported in the news media ? all of which Heritage Auctions hopes will soon be clarified."

As for the Tarbosaurus skeleton, Heritage Auctions has defended Eric Prokopi, the Florida fossil dealer who sought to sell it through the auction house, and cooperated with the Mongolian investigation into the origin of the dinosaur. Prokopi has questioned whether the fossils truly came from Mongolia. "Other than (from) the diggers, there is no way for anyone to know for certain when or where the specimen was collected," Prokopi said in a statement. [ Image Gallery: Dinosaur Fossils ]

Auction houses aren't alone. A search for "dinosaur fossils mongolia" on eBay Wednesday yielded about 20 results, most of them claws.

Not a shock
While it's impossible to be 100 percent certain the Tarbosaurus fossils sprinkled around public auctions and eBay are from Mongolia, "we can be reasonably certain," said Mark Norell, a paleontologist with the American Museum of Natural History in New York who worked in Mongolia in 1990.

"I see it all the time, so it is not anything terribly shocking that some place would have Mongolia fossils for sale," Norell told LiveScience. While other specimens have not provoked attention from the Mongolian government, the nearly complete Tarbosaurus skeleton was too big to pass by unnoticed, he said.?

Paleontologists note that China and other countries have laws similar to Mongolia's that prohibit the export of fossils. However, fossils of Chinese origin are also easily found in the pages of auction catalogs and on eBay.

A watershed case?
The removal of fossils has been a problem for Mongolia during the last 15 to 20 years, amid the "chaos, poverty and corruption" during the country's transition from communism and a planned economy to democracy and a market economy, according to Puntsag Tsagaan, senior adviser to the Mongolian president.

"But now Mongolia has successfully overcome the transition, and it is one of the most fastest growing economies and maturing democracies in this part of the world," Tsagaan told LiveScience.

This loss of dinosaur fossils is likely to be a national priority in the wake of the parliamentary election that took place Thursday, Tsagaan said by email.

Work to that effect has already begun, according to Robert Painter, the Houston-based attorney representing Elbegdorj in the tyrannosaur case.

Elbegdorj has put together a working group to monitor auctions by well-known auction houses and eBay sales in the United States and elsewhere, Painter told LiveScience in an email.

"We hope that vigorous enforcement will help close this global marketplace for illicit fossils smuggled out of Mongolia," Painter wrote.

Follow Wynne Parry on Twitter @Wynne_Parry or LiveScience ?@livescience.? We're also on Facebook and ?Google+.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48014513/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Google to hand over $25 Play credit with each Nexus 7 tablet purchase

Among the premature Google Play leaks this morning is a line about a purchase bonus, to ship alongside each Nexus 7 tablet. As a temporary incentive, Mountain View is offering customers a $25 credit to spend on Play store content, along with additional content, including a copy of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. We're just minutes away from the start of Google's I/O conference keynote, where we expect to hear full details about the tablet and bonus cash, along with a handful of other devices, such as the Nexus Q.

Google to hand over $25 Play credit with each Nexus 7 tablet purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USAID cuts funding for Elmo on Pakistan TV

The US cut $20 million for Pakistani version of Sesame Street. USAID alleges fraud against the show's producers, but the cutbacks come as the US is pulling back foreign aid.

By Scott Baldauf,?Staff writer / June 6, 2012

Pakistan?s version of Sesame Street ? complete with an Elmo who squeals in Urdu ? is facing a cutback in support from USAID, America?s Agency for International Development.

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Pakistan?s version of Sesame Street ? complete with an Elmo who squeals in Urdu ? is facing a cutback in support from USAID, America?s Agency for International Development.

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The cutbacks come amid allegations of fraud by the Lahore-based theater group that produces the children?s show, the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, but it also comes at a time when the US-Pakistani relationship is strained, and when the US government is cutting back dramatically on foreign aid worldwide.

USAID allocated $20 million for the production of Sim Sim Hamara (which means ?Our Street? in Urdu), and $6.7 million of that was used to produce the first season, which premiered in 2011. The remainder of the contract has been terminated, pending the results of an investigation into the fraud charges.

"We did launch an investigation into the allegations. We also sent the theater workshop a letter that terminates the project agreement," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a news briefing in Washington on June 5. "No one is questioning, obviously, the value and positive impact of this kind of programming for children. But this is about allegations of corruption."

Faizaan Peerzada, Rafi Peer?s chief operating officer, denied the fraud charges, saying in a statement, ?Rafi Peer is proud of its association with the project and the quality of children?s educational television programming created within Pakistan as a result.?

Whatever the ultimate result of the investigation, the shutdown of funds into children?s broadcasting in Pakistan come at an unfortunate time in the US-Pakistani relationship.

NATO airstrikes and US special forces raids on Pakistani territory have strained Pakistani patience with the US-led war on terror, and Pakistan has shut off NATO?s use of Pakistani roads and ports to resupply its troops in Afghanistan. The US, meanwhile, has grown increasingly frustrated with what it sees as signs of either Pakistani collusion with militant groups such as the Taliban, or incompetence in bringing them under control.

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Arizona implements immigration law

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Maroon 5 Get In The Ring For 'One More Night' Video Tonight!

New video, directed by Peter Berg, premieres at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by a Q&A with the band on MTV.com.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino

Adam Levine in Maroon 5's "One More Night" music video
Photo:

In Maroon 5's brand-new "One More Night" video, frontman Adam Levine plays a boxer who takes a licking both in and out of the ring. And while one aspect of his performance was all acting (that would be his scenes with actress Minka Kelly), the other was very real indeed.

That's according to "One More Night" director Peter Berg, who sat down with MTV News to talk about the clip ahead of its debut — tonight (June 25) at 7:53 p.m. on MTV as part of "MTV First: Maroon 5" — and made it very clear that Levine pulled no punches during the filming. In fact, he even took a couple punches from one of the best in the business.

"Adam Levine learned how to box here, at the world-famous Wild Card Boxing Gym, home of Manny Pacquiao and [trainer] Freddie Roach," Berg said. "The idea for the video was Adam's. He called me and said, 'I wrote this treatment. Would you read it?' He had this idea, sort of comparing fighting to love, and so I called Freddie, who was a friend of mine, and I said, 'I need you to train this guy.' "

"Of course, Freddie was working Manny Pacquiao at the time [for this month's bout against Tim Bradley], so we had to find one of his trainers, and so we found this great trainer and put him through a 10-day boxing program," he continued. "And the truth is, this kid is just a natural athlete. He took to it very quickly, and we were able to get into sparring scenarios in the ring. ... We had to see how Adam would react to somebody punching him in the face, whether he'd run out screaming and call his bodyguards. But I remember the first time he got cracked in the head, he had a big smile on his face."

Levine definitely wasn't smiling through his scenes with Kelly, who plays the mother of his newborn child. We won't spoil how their relationship plays out, but let's just say she doesn't think his boxing career is going to succeed anytime soon. Though, as Berg explained, shooting those scenes was about as tough as the "One More Night" video got, because from the first sparring session to the final edit, he was definitely feeling the love on this one.

"Minka's a fan of Maroon 5 and she said she'd do it, and we had a great time shooting the video," he said. "I was always a Maroon 5 fan, and now they're in my heart and they're a part of my family."

Don't miss the premiere of Maroon 5's "One More Night" video during "MTV First: Maroon 5" tonight at 7:53 p.m. on MTV, followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the band on MTV.com.

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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Smt. Gursharan Kaur arrive at Waterkloof Airbase Pretoria, South Africa on June 22, 2012.

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No warm welcome for Paraguay's new president

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Argentina withdraws its ambassador to Paraguay
• Several leaders condemn the impeachment of former president Lugo
• President Federico Franco says the process was constitutional
• Some leaders say they refuse to recognize the Franco government

(CNN) -- Don't worry if you did not hear the news about Paraguay impeaching its president.

After all, it happened so fast that even Paraguay's neighbors are figuring out how to react.

Paraguay, the small South American nation known as an "island surrounded by land," often goes unnoticed outside of South America. But there is an absorbing story behind the impeachment of Fernando Lugo that has turned into a regional crisis that is still unfolding.

The impeachment procedures appear to have been carried out in accordance with the Paraguayan Constitution, but some Latin American presidents are calling it a coup d'etat and refuse to recognize the new president, Federico Franco.

Paraguay swears in new leader after impeachment

Lugo went from president to disgraced leader in less than 48 hours. In the United States, nearly three months passed in 1998 between the time lawmakers announced they were considering impeaching Bill Clinton and the actual vote. In Lugo's case, it took one day.

Clinton's lawyers spent 30 hours over two days on his defense, not counting witnesses they called. Before the Paraguayan Senate, Lugo's defense team had two hours.

The biggest difference: Clinton survived, Lugo was swept out.

Eight days ago, there was no reason to believe that Lugo would find himself out of a job before his term ended in August 2013. He was an unpopular president among lawmakers, and many had concerns about his credibility as a leader after the former Catholic bishop admitted to having fathered at least two children. In all, four women claim they had babies by Lugo while he was bishop.

There had been calls in the past for his impeachment, but the scandals did not rock his position too much.

That changed on June 15, when police and landless peasants clashed in eastern Paraguay, resulting in 17 deaths.

Peasants fired on police who were trying to evict them from private property, initiating the deadly confrontation, local authorities and state-run media said.

The violence occurred in Curuguaty, a remote community about 240 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, near the Brazilian border.

In response to the incident, Lugo replaced his national police chief and interior minister. The country's liberal party, which backed Lugo, were incensed to learn that the new minister was from another party.

As the outcry over the deadly clash continued, the liberal party announced Thursday that it was withdrawing its support of Lugo, and an impeachment vote was heard in the lower chamber of congress that day. The vote in favor of impeachment was 76-1.

The next day, Lugo's defense team had two hours to defend Lugo from what it call vague charges of incompetence. The Senate impeached the president in a 39-4 vote.

That was it.

"Paraguayan history (and) its democracy that has been deeply wounded," Lugo said after accepting his fate.

But the swiftness of the action has led to condemnation, or at least criticism from other Latin American countries.

"If indeed it is recognized that the impeachment process happened according to the procedure established in the Paraguayan Constitution, Mexico considers that the process did not offer President Lugo the space and time for a proper defense," Mexico's foreign ministry said.

The presidents of Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic said they will not recognize Franco's administration, and Argentina on Saturday withdrew its ambassador to Paraguay.

Bolivia "will not recognize a government that does not rise from the ballot box and the will of the people," Bolivian President Evo Morales said.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said, "I have no doubt that President Fernando Lugo was not given a right to his defense, it happened from one day to the next, and the sentence was decided before the trial."

As of Friday night, not a single international leader had called him to congratulate him on his being sworn in as president, Franco told CNN en Espa?ol.

"Of course it worries me. I am aware that I am assuming the presidency in an unfavorable condition," he said.

Franco reiterated that the impeachment happened within the parameters of the constitution, and pointed to the large margins by which Lugo was voted out of office.

"It means that here we have a unanimous position. The Paraguayan people, I think, are satisfied with this decision," he said.

Despite the cold shoulder from neighboring countries, Franco said he will reach out and explain the legality of Lugo's ouster and seeks to have good international relations.

His goal is for Paraguay to be recognized internationally by the time he hands the government over to the next president next year, he said.

"I have the duty and the responsibility to initiate a process that the next government can continue," he said, especially when it comes to important domestic issues such as security and family agriculture.

Most of the countries opposed to Franco's presidency belong to the Union of South American Nations, known as UNASUR. The foreign ministers of that regional body were in Paraguay to study the issue.

The UNASUR ministers "have an attitude of respect for the sovereignty of Paraguay, but also an attitude of respect for democracy," Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said.

Brazil is one of Paraguay's most important neighbors, and Rousseff declined to give a strong position one way or another over the recent events.

"From this situation I am sure there will be a consequence," is all she said.

In a news conference Saturday, Franco said he hopes relations with Brazil will remain "harmonious," according to Brazil's state-run Agencia Brasil news agency.

The United States also weighed in a more neutral manner.

"We urge all Paraguayans to act peacefully, with calm and responsibility, in the spirit of Paraguay's democratic principles," State Department spokeswoman Darla Jordan said.

CNN's Fernando del Rincon contributed to this report.

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Romney's immigration promises hard to deliver (The Arizona Republic)

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95% Moonrise Kingdom

From the very beginning, it's difficult to properly find what to expect from Moonrise Kingdom. Is it about young love? Triumph through adversity? Is it just a showpiece for the artistic vision of Wes Anderson? Whatever the expectations, what's marvelous about Anderson's most recent film is that they're greatly exceeded. It's really all of the things mentioned above, put together in the most delicate and skillful manner to create quite possibly the best film of 2012 so far. The story occurs in 1965 on New Penzance Island, just off the coast of New England. Though the cast includes big names like Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, the main protagonists here are the young Sam and Suzy, played by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward respectively. They have been communicating via letters for over a year after a chance meeting in a church play one night. Slowly but surely, their correspondence leads to them growing ever closer, resulting in them wanting to meet again. The plan is to then go on their very own adventure out in the wilderness, all the while discovering bit by bit what love truly is. This is a deliberately simplified look at the plot, which is populated with many more clever characters and side-plots that tie everything together. Sam had to escape from camp, where he was part of a troupe of scouts, led by Scout Master Ward (Norton). This calls Captain Sharp of the police (Bruce Willis) to action, and a frantic search ensues. However, with that being said, the innocence of young love still lies at the movie's heart. Sam and Suzy are both unusual when compared to those around them, but when they're together they compliment each other rather than clash; when they talk to each other it's with genuine compassion and interest. It can almost be bizarre to see their intimate connection due to their young age (about 12 years of age), but the film is more a testament to the fact that love doesn't take age into the equation when it comes simply to the desire of being together. Love's manifestation here is a refreshing antithesis to the traditional representation in Hollywood, it reminds you of how simple love can be when the extraneous baggage of modern life is stripped away. This is ingeniously contrasted with the troubled connection between Suzy's parents (Murray and McDormand), which is falling apart at the seams. Their desire for adventure has been depleted, leaving just an empty shell of a relationship held together by their kids and home. It may sound hokey, but love is not only the central focus of the film but also what makes it so special. Few movies have ever spoken so directly and artfully to what makes love both special and hazardous. Needless to say, Gilman and Hayward's performances are extremely affecting, which is impressive considering these are their first roles in the movies. They at times seem a bit stilted but it eventually becomes apparent that that is part of their character. At the same time, their awkward mannerisms seem to melt away when they're together. It will be really interesting to see more from them in the future. The aforementioned supporting cast does an amazing job on their own, with many of them expanding their talents further than they've ever had to before. Bruce Willis is and has always been a great actor, but this reviewer never knew he could have a more mellow side that's in full display here. Bill Murray has already proven himself to be a great dramatic actor (as in Lost in Translation) and continues this image to perfection here, while retaining a slightly comic character as well. Frances McDormand and Edward Norton are both memorable as well, though their roles aren't given as much attention when all is said and done. Tilda Swinton is a noteworthy surprise, since after her masterclass performance last year in We Need To Talk About Kevin, she takes on a more light-hearted and funny role as Social Services. Just Social Services. These sorts of quirks are what make Moonrise Kingdom particularly admirable. It deals with often complex and almost depressing subjects, but looks at them with artistic vision and attention to the comical aspects (though these won't be mentioned here to avoid spoilers). The movie starts off with a camera going through the rooms of a quaint little home (where Suzy lives) with simple pans and rotations to portray the day-to-day life of a family in the 60s. Meanwhile, we hear a program on a music player talking about classical music, interspersed with orchestral pieces from a range of famous songwriters. It's an amazing way to start a film and it only gets better from there. The camera sometimes mimics older tendencies, such as awkward zooms towards the faces of our lead characters and a more foggy camera in between. The best thing about these creative decisions is that they don't impede the narrative. You don't stop and think: "Well, he's really showing off". It only improves the movie's uniqueness, and for fans of photography and visual arts, it makes for a whole new angle of enjoyment. The music is particularly entertaining, since it's a blend of music from the 40s to 60s (such as Hank Williams' Ramblin' Man) to orchestrated classical pieces, which accompany Alexandre Desplat's great soundtrack. It perfectly places you into the movie's time period, and is good enough to warrant listening to outside of the theater as well. It really is difficult to describe in words what makes Moonrise Kingdom really special. Understanding that takes the full visual/aural/narrative combination that you can only experience by watching the film. However, to put it in simpler terms, MK is about discovery and perseverance. The discovery of new things, the will to go into the unknown; the perseverance to hold on to what you love, not let go and lose sight of what was important to you in the first place. Though these aren't new emphases, the way Anderson and his coworkers approach it is so unforgettable, so colorful, careful and touching, that it really sits with you. If there's one film you shouldn't miss out on this year, it's Moonrise Kingdom.

June 19, 2012

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Money in the Bank 2012 poster

All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2012 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2012 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.

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State of the Union: Big Ten Recruiting Update 6.19.12

The recruiting boards are heating up all over the country, with recruits across the spectrum committing this week. With so many schools gaining ground, several Big Ten schools fell in overall rankings, despite, in most cases, staying the same or gaining commits.

Team	# of commits	Avg Rivals ranking	Avg 247 ranking	Avg Scout ranking	Avg ESPN ranking	247 team rank	recruiting rank in B1G
Michigan	21	3.74	3.85	4.0	3.82	2	1
Ohio State	11	4.0	3.82	4.0	4.0	11	2
Penn State	11	3.55	3.45	3.6	3.64	14	3
Nebraska	11	3.3	3.3	3.3	3.29	23	4
Illinois	10	2.9	2.8	2.9	3.5	29	5
Iowa	9	3.13	3.0	2.89	3.25	32	6
Wisconsin	8	3.13	3.33	3.14	3.4	41	7
Michigan State	6	3.4	3.17	3.33	3.5	51	8
Northwestern	6	3.25	3.25	3.0	3.33	59	9
Minnesota	2	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	87	10
Purdue	2	3.5	3.0	3.0	NR	89	11
Indiana	1	3.0	3.0	2.0	NR	97	12

A more detailed breakdown of each class, including how many recruits for each school were ranked by each service, after the jump.

MICHIGAN

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Bosch, Kyle	OT/OG	Wheaton, IL	St Francis	6'5", 282	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	2/18/2012
Butt, Jake	DE, TE	Pickerington, OH	Pickerington North	6'6", 225	4	4	4	4	2/19/2012
Charlton, Taco	OLB	Pickerington, OH	Pickerington Central	6'6", 245	4	4	3	4	2/18/2012
Conley, Gareon	ATH	Massillon, OH	Washington	6'2", 165	3	4	4	4	3/10/2012
Dawson, David	OT	Detroit, MI	Cass Technical	6'5", 305	4	4	4	4	2/18/2012
Dukes, Jaron	WR	Columbus, OH	Marion-Franklin	6'5", 197	3	3	4	4	2/22/2012
Fox, Chris	OT/DT	Parker, CO	Ponderosa	6'6", 300	4	4	4	4	2/18/2012
Gedeon, Ben	LB	Hudson, OH	Hudson	6'3", 215	4	4	4	4	4/10/2012
Hill, Khalid	TE	Detroit, MI	Crockett	6'2", 235	3	3	3	3	2/6/2012
Hurst Jr, Maurice	DT	Westwood, MA	Xaverian Bros	6'2", 305	3	4	4	3	6/2/2012
Kugler, Patrick	OT/OG	Wexford, PA	North Allegheny	6'4", 270	4	4	5	4	2/25/2012
Lewis, Jourdan	CB	Detroit, MI	Cass Technical	5'10", 170	4	4	4	4	2/18/2012
McCray, Michael	LB	Trotwood, OH	Trotwood-Madison	6'2", 220	4	4	4	4	3/5/2012
Morris, Shane	QB	Warren, MI	De La Salle Collegiate	6'3", 190	4	4	5	4	5/10/2011
Poggi, Henry	DT	Baltimore, MD	Gilman School	6'4", 260	4	4	4	4	6/4/2012
Shallman, Wyatt	FB, DE	Novi, MI	Catholic Central	6'3", 245	4	4	4	3	2/18/2012
Smith, Deveon	RB	Warren, OH	Howland	5'11", 210	3	4	4	4	3/17/2012
Sypniewski, Scott	OL	Ottawa, IL	Marquette	6'1", 230	NR	NR	NR	NR	6/6/2012
Thomas, Dymonte	RB/Saf	Alliance, OH	Marlington	6'1", 175	4	4	5	4	9/10/2011
Tuley-Tillman, Logan	OT	Peoria, IL	Manual	6'7", 300	4	4	4	4	2/19/2012
York, Csont'e	WR	Harper Woods, MI	Chandler Park Academy	6'3", 185	NR	3	3	NR	5/9/2012

There was no change in the Wolverines' class this week.

OHIO STATE

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Barrett, JT	QB	Wichita Falls, TX	Rider	6'2", 205	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4/18/2012
Baugh, Marcus	TE	Riverside, CA	J W North	6'4", 200	4	4	4	4	4/10/2012
Bosa, Joey	DE	Fort Lauderdale, FL	St Thomas Aquinas	6'5", 260	4	4	5	4	4/23/2012
Burrows, Cameron	CB/Saf	Dayton, OH	Trotwood-Madison	6'2", 195	5	4	4	4	1/19/2012
Elliott, Ezekiel	RB	Saint Louis, MO	John Burroughs School	6'0", 195	4	3	4	4	4/1/2012
Lisle, Evan	OL	Centerville, OH	Centerville	6'6", 265	4	4	4	4	2/28/2012
Marshall, Jalin	QB/Ath	Middletown, OH	Middletown	6'0", 190	4	5	5	4	1/30/2012
Price, Billy	DT	Youngstown, OH	Fitch	6'4", 300	4	4	4	4	2/13/2012
Sprinkle, Tracy	DE	Elyria, OH	Elyria	6'4", 250	3	3	3	NR	4/17/2012
Thompson, Jayme	S	Toledo, OH	Central Catholic	6'2", 190	4	3	3	4	4/1/2012
Woodard, Eli	CB	Voorhees, NJ	Eastern	6'1", 185	4	4	4	4	2/16/2012

There was no change in the Buckeyes' class this week.

PENN STATE

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Bell, Brandon	LB	Mays Landing, NJ	Oakcrest	6'1", 224	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	6/14/2012
Breneman, Adam	TE	Camp Hill, PA	Cedar Cliff	6'5", 220	4	4	5	4	3/9/2012
Cothran, Curtis	DE	Newtown, PA	Council Rock	6'5", 230	3	3	3	3	3/26/2012
Douglas, Ross	Ath	Avon, OH	Avon	5'10", 180	4	4	3	4	2/29/2012
Fuller, Will	WR	Philadelphia, PA	Roman Catholic	6'1", 170	3	3	4	3	6/6/2012
Hackenberg, Christian	QB	Fork Union, VA	Fork Union Military Academy	6'4", 215	4	4	4	4	2/29/2012
Mahon, Brendan	OL	Randolph, NJ	Randolph	6'5", 302	4	3	3	4	3/17/2012
Nelson, Andrew	OT	Hershey, PA	Hershey	6'5", 265	3	3	3	4	4/15/2012
Robinson, Neiko	S	Bratt, FL	Northview	5'11", 170	3	3	NR	3	6/4/2012
Sickels, Garrett	DE	Little Silver, NJ	Red Bank Reg	6'4", 230	4	4	4	4	3/4/2012
Webb, Greg	DT	Sicklerville, NJ	Timber Creek	6'2", 290	4	4	4	4	4/5/2012

The Nittany Lions finally picked up a linebacker in the 2013 class with New Jersey's Brandon Bell. In addition, Cothran gained 3 star ratings from Rivals and ESPN, Nelson got 3 and 4 stars from Rivals and ESPN, respectively, and Robinson picked up three stars from Scout and ESPN.

NEBRASKA

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Banderas, Josh	LB	Lincoln, NE	Lincoln Southwest	6'2", 220	4 stars	4 stars	3 stars	4 stars	4/12/2012
Dixon, Tre'Vell	Ath	Baldwin, LA	West St Mary	6'0", 180	4	3	3	4	1/23/2012
Gerry, Nathan	Ath	Sioux Falls, SD	Washington	6'2", 206	3	3	3	3	6/16/2012
Gladney, Kevin	WR	Akron, OH	Firestone Senior	6'4", 182	3	3	3	3	6/11/2012
Hart, Greg	TE	Dayton, OH	Archbishop Alter	6'5", 225	3	3	3	3	5/16/2012
Lacouture, Christian	DE	College Station, TX	A&M Consolidated	6'5", 255	3	3	4	3	5/5/2012
Love, Courtney	LB	Youngstown, OH	Cardinal Mooney	6'1", 215	3	4	3	NR	4/22/2012
McWilson, Marcus	S	Youngstown, OH	Cardinal Mooney	6'0", 195	4	4	4	NR	2/26/2012
Miller, Gabriel	OL	Mishawaka, IN	Penn	6'0", 235	NR	NR	NR	NR	6/17/2012
Natter, AJ	DE	Milton, WI	Milton	6'5", 240	3	3	4	NR	4/16/2012
Samuelson, Dan	OL	Plymouth, IN	Plymouth	6'5", 275	3	3	3	NR	5/22/2012

The Huskers picked up two commitments this week, including potential long snapper Miller.

ILLINOIS

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Bailey, Aaron	QB	Bolingbrook, IL	Bolingbrook	6'2", 215	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4/25/2012
Cazley, Dillan	DB	Charleston, IL	Charleston	5'10", 165	3	2	3	3	2/28/2012
Chadwell, Jesse	OL	Clarkston, MI	Clarkston	6'5", 260	2	3	3	NR	3/15/2012
Clements, Jarrod	DE	Trotwood, OH	Trotwood-Madison	6'2", 275	3	3	3	NR	5/1/2012
Dawson, Reon	ATH	Trotwood, OH	Trotwood-Madison	6'2", 175	3	3	3	NR	5/26/2012
DiLauro, Christian	TE	Uniontown, OH	Green	6'5", 240	3	3	3	NR	4/13/2012
Foster, Kendrick	RB	Peoria, IL	Richwoods	5'8", 182	3	2	2	NR	4/12/2012
Gibbs, Kenton	DT	Detroit, MI	Cass Tech	6'2", 290	3	3	3	NR	5/5/2012
Jackson, Merrick	DT	Belleville, IL	Althoff Catholic	6'2", 310	3	3	3	NR	4/30/2012
Schmidt, Austin	OL	Galena, OH	Olentangy	6'6", 270	2	2	2	NR	5/5/2012

There was no change in the Illini's class this week.

IOWA

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Bazata, Nathan	DT	Howells, NE	Nowells Jr/Sr	6'2", 270	3 stars	3 stars	2 stars	NR	4/22/2012
Goebel, Colin	OG	Naperville, IL	Naperville	6'4", 275	3	3	3	3 stars	4/21/2012
Gressel, Brant	DT	Centerville, OH	Centerville	6'2", 280	3	3	3	NR	4/23/2012
Hill, Delano	DB	Detroit, MI	Cass Technical	6'1", 190	3	3	3	3	4/14/2012
Kenney, David	DE	Indianapolis, IN	Pike	6'2", 250	4	3	4	4	4/4/2012
Kenny, John	LB	Carmel, IN	Carmel	6'2", 210	3	3	3	NR	4/27/2012
Rucker, Malik	DB	New Hope, MN	Cooper	6'0", 175	3	3	3	3	6/15/2012
Shimonek, Nic	QB	Corisicana, TX	Mildred Independent School	6'4", 205	NR	3	2	NR	5/17/2012
Willies, Derrick	WR	Rock Island, IL	Rock Island	6'3", 190	3	3	3	NR	4/10/2012

The Hawkeyes picked up their second DB commit this week in Rucker.

WISCONSIN

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Biegel, Hayden	OL	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	Lincoln	6'6", 240	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	6/17/2012
Dooley, Garret	LB	Rochester, IL	Rochester	6'2", 215	3	3	3	4	2/27/2012
Keeler, Jack	OL	Barrington, IL	Barrington	6'7", 285	3	3	3	4	5/3/2012
Obasih, Chikwe	DE	Brookfield, WI	Central	6'3", 240	4	4	3	NR	4/29/2012
Peavy, Jazz	WR	Kenosha, WI	Tremper	6'1", 175	3	NR	NR	NR	6/17/2012
Ramesh, Austin	RB/Ath	Eagle River, WI	Northland Pines	6'2", 221	3	4	3	3	3/24/2012
Watt, TJ	Ath	Pewaukee, WI	Pewaukee	6'4", 200	3	NR	3	NR	4/1/2012
Wheelwright, Rob	WR	Columbus, OH	Walnut Ridge	6'3", 185	3	3	4	3	4/29/2012

The Badgers added two in-state players to their haul this week.

MICHIGAN STATE

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Holmes, Gerald	RB	Flint, MI	Carman-Ainsworth	6'1", 209	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	2/5/2012
Jones, Shane	LB	Cincinnati, OH	Moeller	6'1", 220	4	3	3	NR	4/16/2012
Powell, Jalyn	S	Marion, OH	Harding	6'1", 185	3	3	3	NR	2/26/2012
Reschke, Jon	ILB	Bloomfield Hills, MI	Brother Rice	6'2", 223	4	4	4	NR	2/17/2012
Shelton, R.J.	APB	Beaver Dam, WI	Beaver Dam	5'11", 187	3	3	3	3	2/26/2012
Terry, Damion	QB	Erie, PA	Cathedral Prep	6'4", 210	NR	3	4	4	4/16/2012

The Spartans' class actually decreased this week, when Texas O-lineman Caleb Benenoch decommitted from Michigan State.

NORTHWESTERN

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Alviti, Matt	QB	Park Ridge, IL	Maine South	6'0", 176	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4/14/2012
Coverdale, Sam	OT	Chagrin Falls, OH	Kenston	6'7", 275	3	3	3	3	6/11/2012
King, Blake	OL	Minooka, IL	Minooka Community	6'5", 270	NR	3	NR	NR	5/3/2012
Lancaster, Tyler	OL	Plainfield, IL	Plainfield East	6'4", 280	NR	NR	NR	NR	6/8/2012
North, Brad	OL	Allen, TX	Allen	6'3", 280	3	3	3	3	6/8/2012
Wilson, Macon	WR	Houston, TX	Kinkaid	6'1", 180	3	NR	2	NR	6/8/2012

There was no change in the Wildcats' class this week.

MINNESOTA

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Brookins, Keelon	CB	Oakdale, MN	Tartan	5'11", 175	3 stars	3 stars	3 stars	NR	2/26/2012
Mayes, Alex	OT	Van Alstyne, TX	Van Alstyne	6'6", 275	3	3	3	3 stars	6/18/2012

After nearly four months without a pickup, the Golden Gophers finally secured their second verbal commitment this week.

PURDUE

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Etling, Danny	QB	Terre Haute, IN	Terre Haute South Vigo School	6'3", 210	4 stars	3 stars	3 stars	NR	4/17/2012
Gregory, Randy	DE	Yuma, AZ	Arizona Western CC	6'6", 230	3	NR	NR	NR	5/9/2012

There was no change in the Boilermakers' class this week.

INDIANA

Name	Position	Hometown	High School	Height/Weight	Rivals grade	247 grade	Scout grade	ESPN grade	Date Committed
Griffith, Isaac	WR	Fort Wayne, IN	Homestead	6'0", 185	3 stars	3 stars	2 stars	NR stars	6/11/2012

There was no change in the Hoosiers' class this week..

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Hebrew National hot dogs not kosher, lawsuit claims

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Wildfire destroys most homes in Colo. history

A Erickson Air Crane firefighting helicopter flys to a pond to refill its tank while fighting the High Park wildfire, west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, June 15, 2012. The wildfire started Saturday and has burned over 50,000 acres. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

A Erickson Air Crane firefighting helicopter flys to a pond to refill its tank while fighting the High Park wildfire, west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, June 15, 2012. The wildfire started Saturday and has burned over 50,000 acres. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

A Erickson Air Crane firefighting helicopter refills its tank in a rancher's pond while fighting the High Park wildfire west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, June 15, 2012. The wildfire started Saturday and has burned over 50,000 acres. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

A thunderhead builds over the High Park wildfire and Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, June 15, 2012. Rain could assist in fighting the wildfire that started Saturday and has burned over 50,000 acres. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

A sign warns motorist of the closure of Highway 14 through Poudre Canyon as columns of smoke rise in the distance from the High Park wildfire west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, June 15, 2012. The wildfire started Saturday and has burned over 50,000 acres. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

DENVER (AP) ? Additional crews were joining the fight Saturday against a wildfire in northern Colorado that has scorched about 85 square miles and destroyed at least 181 homes, the most in state history.

The High Park Fire burning 15 miles west of Fort Collins surpasses the Fourmile Canyon wildfire, which destroyed 169 homes west of Boulder in September 2010.

More than 1,630 personnel are working on the Fort Collins-area fire, officials said in a news release Saturday night. The figure represents an increase of more than 100 firefighters from a day earlier.

The lightning-caused blaze, which is believed to have killed a 62-year-old woman whose body was found in her cabin, was 20 percent contained. The fire's incident commander said full containment could be two to four weeks away.

Fire information officer Brett Haberstick said hot and dry conditions were expected to continue, but crews have made progress in containing a 200-acre spot fire that erupted Thursday afternoon north of the Cache La Poudre River, a critical line of defense against northward growth.

"Two 20-person hotshot crews worked throughout the day to secure lines around the perimeter of this spot fire," the officials said in a release.

Firefighters have extinguished other incursions north of the river, but the most recent one appeared to be more serious.

National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Fredin said some rain was expected in the fire zone Saturday evening, but it will not be enough to put the fire out.

"We need a rain that will really last all day," he said. "But it's better than dry wind at this point."

But crews were bracing for difficult conditions Sunday with wind gusts expected to hit 50 mph along ridge tops and in Poudre Canyon and temperatures in the 90s.

The fire was reported June 9 and has since raced through large swaths of private and U.S. Forest Service land. It was 45 percent contained late Saturday.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who oversees the Forest Service, met with fire managers in Fort Collins on Saturday and said "fighting this fire is going to require us to be aggressive, persistent and also patient.

"We're going to continue to work to make our forests more resilient. We're going to continue to ensure that adequate resources are provided for fighting fires and we are going to continue to make sure that we encourage appropriate stewardship of our forests," he said.

Vilsack praised Congress for allowing the government to contract additional aircraft ? particularly heavy tankers ? to fight wildfires across the West. But he called on lawmakers for budget certainty to help plan for future fires.

Vilsack is scheduled to hold a news conference with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell in Albuquerque on Sunday.

Meanwhile in New Mexico, questions were being raised about whether bureaucratic red tape prevented firefighters from saving more homes affected by the Little Bear Fire after federal officials released transcripts of the firefighters' response.

Congressman Steve Pearce said Friday in an interview with KOB-TV (http://bit.ly/Mga1yx ) that he believed federal officials could have done more after lightning sparked the fire outside the resort town of Ruidoso on June 4. Days later, high winds sent embers more than a mile from the blaze's end, causing the inferno to grow.

But officials released transcripts of the response on the Lincoln National Forest website that suggested firefighters were attacking the blaze as soon as it was a quarter of an acre.

The fire has destroyed 224 homes. It had burned 59 square miles and was 60 percent contained as of Saturday night.

In Arizona, the Northern Arizona Incident Management Team took command of the 1,500 acre blaze in the Tonto National Forest. Officials said the fire was 15 percent contained and firefighters continued to battle unseasonably dry fuels, high temperatures and low humidity.

___

Associated Press writer Russell Contreras in Albuquerque contributed to this report.

Associated Press

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'Rock Of Ages,' 'That's My Boy' Can't Beat 'Madagascar 3': Weekend Box-Office Predictions

Experts predict new movies from Tom Cruise and Adam Sandler, both with lackluster reviews, won't top last weekend's #1 movie.
By Ryan J. Downey

Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta in "Rock of Ages"
Photo:

Two years ago, an animated "threequel" topped the box office against new movies from Tom Cruise and Adam Sandler. If industry-watcher prognostication proves correct, it'll be d?jà vu this weekend as another big-budget cartoon trounces the two stars.

Experts predict last weekend's #1 movie, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," is likely to beat back new competition from Cruise and his singing compatriots in "Rock of Ages" as well as "That's My Boy," which pairs Sandler with fellow "Saturday Night Live" veteran Andy Samberg.

"I think this frame will shape up just like the weekend of June 25 to June 27, 2010," BoxOfficeGuru.com editor Gitesh Pandya told MTV News. That summer, "Toy Story 3" remained #1 for a second consecutive weekend against Cruise's "Knight and Day" and Sandler's "Grown Ups."

Edward Douglas, who writes "The Weekend Warrior" for ComingSoon.net, agreed, predicting between $30 and $35 million for "Madagascar 3." Movie City News Editor David Poland didn't see a $30 million opening as out of the realm of possibility for Sandler, but countered that "Madagascar" certainly wouldn't drop any lower than that. " 'Rock of Ages' has no chance [at being #1]," he added.

Both of the weekend's big new movies failed to impress critics. "Rock of Ages" had a "rotten" 49 percent critical average on Rotten Tomatoes at press time. "That's My Boy" stood at 15 percent, which is on par with other Sandler comedies ("Grown Ups" had just 10 percent).

" 'Rock of Ages' will get hurt by bad reviews more than 'That's My Boy,' " Pandya predicted. "One of the favorite exercises of film critics is to think of new ways to rip apart the latest Sandler film, so audiences would be shocked by anything other than bad reviews."

Douglas agreed: "It will have less of an effect on 'That's My Boy.' Not only because both Sandler and Samberg have their own dedicated fans, but also because the movie's going to get a significant bump on Father's Day when fathers and their teen and older sons make this their first choice."

"Rock of Ages" arrives armed with a slew of recognizable hair-metal songs from the '80s written by platinum-plus acts like Def Leppard and Poison, as well as built-in support from the fans who saw the show on Broadway. And while the film boasts a large ensemble that includes Malin Akerman and this year's MTV Movie Awards host, Russell Brand, shirtless shots of Cruise as rocker Stacee Jaxx certainly played a big part in marketing.

Pandya said Cruise's star power, the built-in Broadway buzz and the songs are all equal draws for the film, but Poland disagreed: "Broadway buzz, with very few exceptions, is good for less than $20 million total, in my opinion," he said. "And who is coming to hear the songs sung by this cast?"

Douglas noted, "Even with bad reviews, most of the critics have been impressed with Cruise in the role of Stacee Jaxx. It's just not enough to overcome other problems.

"The Broadway show certainly has its fanbase, as do the actual songs, but I believe that's a fairly small group that may go out to see it on Friday. And I really don't think the fans of the Broadway show are going to like the movie at all. It's just too different."

"Knight and Day" was one of only a handful of mainstream-targeted Cruise movies to fail to crack $100 million. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," however, took in nearly $210 million. So, what will the success or failure of "Rock of Ages" mean for his career?

"Honestly? Absolutely nothing," Douglas reasoned. "I don't think it's only being sold based on Cruise, and he's a supporting character at best rather than the lead. He has already increased his Q-rating with the success of 'Ghost Protocol,' so there's very little that can actually hurt him. While Cruise will contribute to the film opening well, I don't think he'll get blamed if it doesn't have significant legs."

Pandya explained, "Cruise has shrewdly put himself into a win-win situation with 'Rock of Ages,' because if the film does well, he can take some credit due to his buzz-worthy role. However, if it tanks, then it's not his fault since it's an ensemble with a big cast and not resting on his shoulders. There's only upside here for him, so I think this is a great move for his career."

As for Sandler's career, "Jack and Jill" opened with $25 million last year, and like "Knight and Day," finished around $75 million. "Just Go With It" took in $104 million earlier in 2011. In 2009, the more highbrow dramedy "Funny People" opened with $22 million.

"I see 'That's My Boy' opening closer to 'Funny People' and not near his bigger PG-13 hits, which had more appeal," Pandya said. "There's no major female star here, plus the R rating may cut down on some of his younger teen business."

Poland pointed out that "Jack and Jill" was the first broad Adam Sandler comedy (i.e. not a "Punch Drunk Love"-type movie) that didn't break $100 million domestically since "Little Nicky" collected just $40 million in 2000.

"It's definitely not a 'Little Nicky' because Sandler isn't really playing a character as he did in that," Douglas said. "He's just playing an exaggerated version of his 'Big Daddy' character in some ways. And it's a much bigger deal that he's paired with Andy Samberg, who is pretty hot right now. In some ways, it should have a similar effect as when Sandler did 'Grown Ups' because the combined star power will make up for any misgivings people will have about seeing an Adam Sandler movie.

"I'd say this is more in the range of 'Just Go With It' or 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,' " he added.

The last big movie to do battle with "Madagascar" was "Prometheus," which settled for a nevertheless-strong #2 opening. While the brainy sci-fi movie presented audiences with juicy questions about its story (many handily answered by co-writer David Lindelof in a series of emails with MTV News' own Josh Horowitz), the remaining head scratcher for box-office watchers is how much it will decline in its second weekend. Despite a Friday-to-Saturday drop last weekend, though, predictions were optimistic.

"As people seem to be forgetting, there were a number of huge sports events on Saturday, which probably cut into its male-driven business," Douglas noted. "While there may be a large Friday-to-Friday drop this week, the Saturday-to-Saturday won't be so bad, and I can see it actually doing decent business for Father's Day, so I don't see a catastrophic second-weekend drop — definitely sub-55 percent."

Poland predicted, "I see a drop in the mid-40s [percentage wise], as it is still the must-see studio movie for adults."

As for the biggest box-office story of the year thus far, "Marvel's The Avengers" should pass $600 million domestically this summer. "I'd say by the end of July it should be there, if not sooner," Douglas said.

"Disney will jump through every hoop to be able to say it topped 'Titanic' domestically, even if it means a re-release," Poland explained. "But it probably won't be necessary. Looks to me like they can get to $600 million before 'The Amazing Spider-Man' lands in theaters."

It's not all about the big-budget summer flicks, of course. This weekend's smaller releases include "Your Sister's Sister" with Emily Blunt, "The Woman in the Fifth" with Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas, and hip-hop documentary "The Art of Rap."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Videos

• MTV Rough Cut: 'Rock Of Ages'
• MTV Rough Cut: 'That's My Boy'

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