On Sunday, visitors to Wupatki National Monument can watch one of nature’s most spectacular events, an annular solar eclipse. Wupatki National Monument staff and Lowell Observatory will be celebrating this rare celestial event with an afternoon of family activities, ranger programs and a view of the eclipse over the 900-year-old Wupatki Pueblo.

Commonly referred to as a “Ring of Fire,” an annular eclipse occurs when the moon lines up between the earth and the sun, blocking all but a thin halo of the sun’s light. because the sun will not be completely blocked by the moon, this event cannot be viewed directly with the naked eye or sunglasses. Rangers at Wupatki will have safe eclipse glasses and solar telescopes available during the event. (Never look directly at the sun or an eclipse without special eye protection. Sunglasses are not sufficient to prevent severe eye damage.)

The full eclipse will be visible throughout much of northern Arizona. A total of 154 national parks and monuments in the West will offer full or partial views of the eclipse. for tips on safe viewing practices, eclipse resources and maps of viewing locations in the West, visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/features/eclipse/index.cfm.

Activities Prior to and during the eclipse (Visitor Center, Wupatki National Monument):

– Noon – 4 p.m.: Park Rangers and Volunteers will be giving short interpretive programs from the Wupatki Pueblo overlook (200 feet from the visitor center) throughout the afternoon. Learn about life in the pueblo and Wupatki’s connection to Sunset Crater Volcano.

– 1 – 4 p.m.: Stop by the eclipse activity table on the Visitor Center patio to make your own eclipse viewer.

– 5 p.m.: Eclipse presentation by Jeff Hall, director of Lowell Observatory

Wupatki Eclipse Times (Mountain Standard Time)

– 5:24 p.m.: Partial eclipse begins

– 6:30 p.m.: Annular eclipse begins

– 6:35 p.m.: Annular eclipse ends

– 7:10 p.m.: Sun sets while still partially eclipsed

Wupatki National Monument is 37 miles north of Flagstaff via Highway 89 and can be reached at 679-2365 and www.nps.gov/wupa.

Wupatki National Monuments is open daily, except Dec. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entrance fee is $5 per person for visitors 16 and older. America the beautiful Passes are honored and sold. Admission is free Sunday after 5 p.m.

Free Dutch oven cooking demonstration Friday

Going fishing this weekend and not sure how to fillet and cook your catch of the day? Join Game and Fish at noon on Friday and learn how to take care of and prepare your fish and game meat. The lunchtime talk will be held at the department’s Flagstaff Regional Office, located at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.

During this week’s talk, attendees will learn about the health benefits from fish and game meat along with tips on game and fish care and how to prepare some delicious meals. Information about indoor, outdoor and Dutch oven cooking will be presented. The group will also enjoy a taste of fish and game meat recipes and a chance to try Dutch oven desserts. The game and fish department will also have for sale “All Things Edible,” a cookbook put together by Game and Fish employees. Recipes include antelope stroganoff, stir fry duck and barbecue fish, just to name a few.

The lunchtime speaker series is getting close to the end, with only this Friday and one more talk to go. The final presentation takes place June 15. The topic will be 4FRI: What is the four Forest Restoration Initiative?

For more information, call the Flagstaff Game and Fish office at 774-5045.

Send around the Town news to Abbie Gripman at agripman@azdailysun.com or call her at 556-2241.

View solar eclipse at Wupatki on Sunday

Pastor and gospel singer Marvin Winans — who eulogized Whitney Houston at her new Jersey funeral back in February — was reportedly robbed and car-jacked Wednesday afternoon (May 16) at a Citgo gas station on the west side of Detroit.

Pastor Winans says he felt something was wrong when he came out of the gas station’s convenience store and he noticed several men following him.

He says as he was pumping gas, at least two of them men ambushed him, and took his purple Infiniti SUV, a couple hundred dollars in cash, and his watch. In addition to robbing him, the men punched him and even ripped off his pants.

“I’m just saddened that it has come to this,” Pastor Winans said, adding that he was not seriously injured.

He continued, “This kind of nonsense just has to stop … It’s just the savageness of what’s happening in the streets. We just have to take a look at ourselves and say this has to stop.”

Following the incident, Pastor Winans suffered minor injuries to his hand, which was bandaged as he spoke to local ABC news affiliate WXYZ in an interview later that night.

Of his injuries, Winans said, “given the gravity of the situation, it was minor.”

Winans said he was disturbed that something like this could happen “in the middle of the afternoon,” and at first, “nobody came to help.”

Pastor Winans, who leads the 4,500-member Perfecting Church on Detroit’s east side, believes his attackers didn’t recognize him, “and if they did, it didn’t make much difference,” he said.

In a message to his carjackers — who still haven’t been identified — Pastor Winans said, “Your life has to be bigger than sitting in a gas station and robbing innocent people.”

Pastor Marvin Winans Attacked, Robbed and Carjacked in Detroit

Worldwide sales of cellphone have fallen for the first time since 2009, as consumers choose to wait for Apple‘s next iPhone before upgrading, according to analyst firm Gartner.

The fall in sales is partly due to a downturn in the Asian markets.The fall in sales were revealed by Gartner on Wednesday in its latest quarterly report. The research firm claims that 419.1 million cellphone units were sold during the first quarter of 2012, representing a 2 percent fall, or some 20 million units, compared to the same period last year.

“We were not expecting a slowdown in Asia. China is usually a particularly big market in the first quarter, with the Chinese new Year normally leading to a sales boom,” said Gartner analyst Anshul Gupta in a statement.

“But this year consumers have held off upgrading, waiting for other high end devices, like the new Apple iPhone.”

Gupta warned that a new iPhone on the horizon will continue to have a negative impact cellphone sales, hitting the likes of Samsung and Apple who both enjoyed solid quarters despite the overall downturn.

Gartner also confirmed that Samsung is both the top handset and smartphone vendor in the world, overtaking Nokia and Apple respectively.

“Samsung took back the world’s number one smartphone position from Apple, selling 38 million smartphones worldwide,” Gartner said. “In addition, Samsung’s Android-based smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2012 represented more than 40 percent of Android-based smartphone sales worldwide; no other vendors achieved more than a 10-percent share of the market.”

Samsung’s Android-powered smartphones now account for more than 40 percent of all Android smartphone sales worldwide during the first quarter.

Apple also had an excellent quarter despite losing out to Samsung, seeing a 96.2 percent growth in smartphone sales.

Gartner claims that the growth of smartphone sales by Apple and Samsung means that the two companies now account for 49.3 percent of the entire market. during the same quarter in 2011 the two companies held a 29.3 percent share.

iPhone 5 Stalls Mobile Market Growth

Like it or not, eclipses of the sun and moon are historically associated with malefic events and influences, from earthquakes and plagues to the death of royalty. the solar eclipse in particular was cause for dread, supplication and sometimes animal sacrifices. before we look at why this is so, and what eclipses mean to us today, it’s important to make sure we understand the technical components of an eclipse.

A lunar eclipse is, of course, when the earth comes directly between the moon and the sun, causing the moon to fall into earth’s shadow. a solar eclipse throws the earth into the moon’s shadow, as moon comes directly between Earth and Sun.

Many people don’t realize that a lunar eclipse always occurs on a full moon, while a solar eclipse always occurs on a new moon – but it’s obvious if you visualize it. during the new moon, the moon is standing between the earth and the sun – we don’t see the white orb of the moon, because the moon is reflecting the sun’s light away from us, back toward the sun. on the other hand, the full moon occurs when the earth stands directly between the sun and the moon. We can see now that a new moon is necessary for a solar eclipse to occur, and a full moon is needed for a lunar eclipse. but it’s not that simple

The moon’s orbit is tilted (roughly 5 degrees) with respect to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. therefore, there are only two points where the moon’s path intersects the elliptic (Sun’s path through our sky). these two points of intersection are called the North and South Nodes of the moon, otherwise known as the Dragon’s Head and Dragon’s Tail. the moon passes over each Node once a month, while the Sun passes each Node once a day. when both heavenly bodies cross a Lunar node at the same time, it means that the Earth, Sun and Moon are on a single axis, and light must therefore be blocked in some way. the required alignment makes eclipses somewhat rare.

INTERPRETING ECLIPSES IN ASTROLOGY

While the mechanics of eclipses are no longer a mystery, their energetic and astrological signature remains one of upheaval, changing of fortunes, affliction, and/or the resurfacing of neglected areas of our lives. Mysteries and blind spots are the bread and butter of eclipses. because eclipses always occur on the Nodes, opportunities and blockages come into focus – powerful channels open through which we can pay off karmic debt, learn from the past, and progress into the new.

Eclipses are widely considered to be collective, planetary events first, and individual events second. in other words, eclipses are important to mundane astrology (general astrological interpretation, planetary in nature and not linked to an individual). when applying eclipses to individual interpretation, astrologers look for very close aspects between the eclipse and the natal chart. For instance, particular care is taken when an eclipse is closely conjunct an individual’s natal Sun or Moon.

An eclipse is also coloured and characterised by its house location and aspects to the other planets. For example, a solar eclipse conjunct Mars might reveal something being withheld or taken away in the realm of vitality and initiative – the earth might nod off. a lunar eclipse in favourable aspect to Jupiter could be interpreted positively as emotion is brushed aside in the name of science, academics or other forms of growth and exploration.

ENHANCED NEW AND FULL MOONS

A solar eclipse can be seen as a volatile new moon. the new moon is a time to start new projects and take first steps. the solar eclipse new moon indicates that special care should be taken, as the new moon energy could be amplified, distorted, or weakened by the eclipse.

Likewise, a lunar eclipse can be seen as a volatile full moon. the full moon is when things come to completion. We begin to let go, sweep up, express gratitude, and integrate lessons to prepare us for the next incarnation of the moon and life. the lunar eclipse full moon indicates that special care should be taken, as the full moon energy could be amplified, distorted, or weakened by the eclipse.

The energy of an eclipse lasts longer than the eclipse itself. the eclipse puts a stamp on the zodiacal degree where it occurred, but just how long the effects last is a matter of opinion amongst astrologers. one rule, old but still in use, says that for every hour of a solar eclipse, the energetic imprint is felt for one year; in the case of a lunar eclipse, every hour equals one month. during that time, the imprint is triggered or awakened by transiting planets.

THEMES OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE
The destiny of emperors, death of royalty, affairs of the the State, loss of leadership positions. a total solar eclipse occurred in China on October 22nd, 2134 BC. Famously, two court astrologers who failed to predict the event were executed by the emperor. in 682 AD, the Japanese Empress Suiko died on the day of a total solar eclipse.

Cultures throughout the world, including Asia, Africa and South America, have attributed solar eclipses to dragons or demons attacking the sun. Ancient Greece thought it to mean the gods were angry – the ancients generally didn’t greet solar eclipses with excitement or fascination. Many would gather and make noise, banging drums and yelling to scare the dragon off.

History also gives us instances where solar eclipses have a positive effect. in 585 BC, around the area now known as Turkey, two tribes were engaged in battle when they witnessed a total solar eclipse. both sides immediately stopped fighting and signed a peace agreement. This incident demonstrates an eclipse’s power to arrest our activity and force us to reconsider the path we are walking.

Solar eclipses have also born the fruit scientific discoveries, including the discovery of Helium and the confirmation of Einstein’s theory that gravitational fields bend light.

THEMES OF THE LUNAR ECLIPSE
Appraisal of habits, rethinking old ways, letting go of what no longer serves. the heightened energy of the full moon is well known – police stations are busier, psychiatric wards have their hands full, more babies are born than usual, and your inner wolf is howling. a lunar eclipse puts the brakes on all this, encouraging us to step back and view our habits and behaviors from a different angle. again, the themes of the lunar eclipse are based more in inner tides and changes than the more explicit implications of a solar eclipse.

There is usually an emotional and energetic build as the lunar eclipse draws near, and the suspension of these energies leaves us in a strange silence from which we can learn something about ourselves.

CONCLUSION
While there is no reason to freak out during an eclipse, it is good to understand the historical significance, current astrological and astronomical knowledge, and most importantly to exercise caution and be watchful. Celebrating an eclipse on a lawn chair with a six pack, without giving thought to inner work or what lessons the stars may be trying to impart, is not the best course of action. if you wish, find out where the eclipse falls on your birth chart and whether or not any strong aspects are made. during the build up and actual eclipse, be meditative and compassionate – look for ways in which you can be more honest with yourself.

Eclipses of the Sun

If you have not-so-stellar credit, the you may have to get financing for a new or used car through the dealership. this isn’t so bad, and you can still end up with a decent deal. Hear me out and I’ll explain why. first, you’ll have to accept the fact that you are going to be paying a high interest rate. A bankruptcy may have your loan at a 10 – 16% interest rate.

So how can you save money with this scenario? Ideally, you’ll be able to afford a down payment. but even if you can’t, just make sure the loan is not front loaded. A front loaded loan has all the interest in the first several payments of the loan, so paying it off early is of no use. so long as it’s a fixed rate loan, you’re fine. because now you can just make extra payments; you can ‘double up’ on your monthly payments and end up not much worse than if you got a low interest loan through your bank.

A word of caution here. Don’t fall victim to the following scam. most car dealers are honest, hard-working folks, but a few dealerships out there have given car dealers the reputation of, well, car salesman.

Here’s how it works: because they want to make the sale, they’ll offer you a competitive interest rate. After signing the papers, trading in your old car and driving home, you get a call from he dealership – a couple days or more later. A clause in the contract you signed says the interest rate is based on loan approval. so they inform you that the bank didn’t approve your loan at the low interest rate. but since you’ve gotten used to the car and it would be embarrassing to return it, you accept the higher payments.

If you are wondering why they would sell you the car at 5% APR if they knew you had bad credit, the simple reason is to sell the car.

Ideally, you could avoid any and all dealer car financing problems by getting your bank or other financial institution to approve a loan. even if you do have bad credit, go through your own bank first. It’s unlikely they will loan you money at any rate, but if they do, you’re better off with a high interest rate loan from the bank than from the dealership. For one thing, you’ll be able to easily refinance this loan for a lower interest rate after a year. but refinancing a bad credit car loan through the dealership could be asking for (more) trouble.

There is another ‘scam’ that corrupt dealerships have been known to pull on people who have bad credit. And that is they will take a Factory-to-Consumer Rebate and apply it to the price of the car. this makes them appear to you like they’re doing you a favor by getting you a lower price on the car. The reality is different, however: because the Factory-to-Consumer Rebate is for YOU, so that you can apply it towards your down payment.

Don’t let the dealer take this from you and use it as a negotiating tool on the car. The Factory-to-Consumer Rebate is for you–to take as cash–or to apply it to your down payment.

And as always, remember that when you are negotiating with a car dealer – even the honest ones (which the large majority are) – remember to haggle (negotiate) the price of the car – NOT the monthly payments even if you are crawling to them for help because you have bad credit – such as a bankruptcy, don’t let them get you to start talking monthly payments until you’ve already gotten the price of the car ironed out.

If you are asked how you will be paying for the car, answer, I’m not sure yet. (You don’t want them to know you will or will not be paying cash, financing it, or whatever until the price of the car has been negotiated.)

Bad Credit New Car Loan

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols welcomed his new hitting coach to town with a go-ahead three-run homer and Vernon Wells added a two-run shot to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Jim Eppard was with the Angels for the first time as hitting coach after replacing Mickey Hatcher, who was fired on Tuesday night by new general manager Jerry DiPoto 11/2 months into Hatcher’s 13th season on the job.

Jerome Williams (4-1) won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and 10 hits over eight innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Rays 2, Red Sox 1: Jeremy Hellickson pitched six solid innings, Luke Scott had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, and the Rays snapped the Red Sox’s five-game winning streak.

Hellickson (4-0) allowed one run and five hits en route to winning a career-best sixth consecutive decision, dating to Sept. 4. the right-hander struck out six and walked two.

Tampa Bay second baseman will Rhymes left in the eighth inning after being hit by a pitch near his right elbow and then fainting at first base.

Rhymes was at first when he gestured that he wanted to come out of the game, took a couple of steps and collapsed into the arms of first base coach George Hendrick. Trainers worked on Rhymes in the coach’s box before he was assisted to a utility cart and left the field.

‘He got kind of rubber-legged right there,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ‘… It was described to me as kind of an adrenalin rush that caused that reaction.”

Blue Jays 8, Yankees 1: Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive and the Blue Jays beat the Yankees.

Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson added solo home runs as the Blue Jays tagged Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda (3-5) for seven runs, matching a career-high.

Indians 9, Mariners 3: Ubaldo Jimenez overcame a shaky start to get the win and the Indians pounded out a season-best five doubles to beat Seattle.

Jimenez (4-3) gave up five hits and three runs over six innings.

Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (3-3) gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in only 3 2-3 innings. he and Jimenez combined for a 34-minute, 59-pitch first inning that ended with Cleveland ahead 4-1.

Travis Hafner hit his fifth homer and drove in three runs, while Shin-Soo Choo had three hits in Cleveland’s third straight win.

Twins 11, Tigers 7: Jamey Carroll hit a two-run double in the sixth to give Minnesota the lead, and the Twins outlasted the sloppy Tigers, who made four errors in the first three innings.

The Tigers still led 7-6 when Carroll came up with men on first and second in the sixth. His double off Duane Below (2-1) scored both runners.

Brian Dozier hit a three-run homer for Minnesota in the second, and Trevor Plouffe’s two-run shot in the ninth made it 11-7.

Rangers 4, Athletics 1: Yu Darvish pitched 7 2-3 strong innings and Adrian Beltre had a two-run homer to help the Rangers beat the Athletics.

Darvish (6-1) gave up one run and four hits while striking out seven. After giving up a run in the first, Darvish settled down and retired 11 of the last 15 batters he faced. he lowered his ERA to 2.60.

Orioles 4, Royals 3, 15 innings: Adam Jones homered with one out in the 15th inning, lifting the Orioles to a victory over the Royals.

Jones was hitless in six at-bats before connecting for his team-leading 12th home run — nine of them tying the game or giving the Orioles a lead. Jones sent a 2-2 pitch from Nate Adcock (0-1), the fifth Kansas City pitcher, far over the left field wall.

The Orioles improved to 5-0 in extra-inning road games.

AL: Pujols homers in Angels’ victory

I Am Legend is another fantastic movie starring by Will Smith. I am a big fan of Smith’s movies, and I enjoyed this one as well. Will Smith puts on an emotional performance as usual, and it really makes you get into the movie.

The movie is set in the year 2012, but there are repeated flashbacks to the year 2009 which is when the mutants first appeared. Robert Neville (played by Smith) is the last man on earth because he has hid from the mutants, and is immune to the virus. The mutants were a result of a relapse of a cancer cure.

After 1001 days in captivity we join Neville in trying to find a cure for these mutants, all while locking himself up during the night every night, so he doesn’t get killed by the mutants. I was surprised to find out that this was supposed to be a horror film, but that just added to the movie’s greatness. The mutants look a bit cheesy, but the scariest part, is knowing that this could happen, maybe not the mutation, but definitely the loss of pigment and raised aggression these mutants experience.

Robert tours the city by day in any car he wishes, hunting deer, and buying all the necessities he needs, and of course listening to his beyond favorite singer, Bob Marley. The fate of human kind rests on his shoulders, and he convinces himself he can save it. It’s just him and his dog, and thousands of mutants left, its up to him to find a cure, and become a Legend.

I Am Legend – The Next Movie In The Will Smith Saga

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UFC 146 has undergone two more shakeups.

Heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga and lightweight Evan Dunham have both been forced off the card due to injury.

Dave Herman (right) will step in for Gonzaga against Roy Nelson while former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner will fill in for Dunham against Brazilian standout Edson Barboza. Herman’s last outing saw him suffer a TKO loss to Stefan Struve in February.

After getting submitted by Shane Roller on the final WEC card on Dec. 16, 2010, Varner was not brought over to the UFC roster. Since then, he has won three of his past four bouts.

UFC 146, which takes place may 26 in Las Vegas, received a major blow last month when it was announced Alistair Overeem failed his pre-fight drug test. as a result, the UFC had to shuffle its all-heavyweight main card. Overeem was replaced by former titleholder Frank Mir, who was originally scheduled to face Cain Velasquez.

The new opponent marks Nelson’s third for the event. He was first set to take on Strikeforce veteran Antonio Silva, who has since been bumped up to fight Velasquez.

Vegas UFC a roll of the dice

“There’s going to be some loud music playing in the clubhouse, and there’s going to be some crazy stuff on the plane, too,” Matheny said after Yadier Molina ‘s RBI single with two outs in the ninth gave St. Louis a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs Tuesday. “I can’t tell you how proud I am about just the fight in this team. “That’s going to pay off.”

The Cubs shaded Molina to hit up the middle, and second baseman Darwin Barney could only get his glove partially of a grounder to the right side. Molina noticed the alignment.

“I’m just trying to put a ball in play, hopefully find a hole,” Molina said. “I didn’t try to hit the ball that way, but I just wanted to stay back a little bit more. we really needed this win.”

Although Molina has had numerous big hits through the right side during his career, the Cubs’ data called for a shift, and manager Dale Sveum said he’d do it again.

“It’s unfortunate,” Barney said. “One quarter of a step from maybe saving a run and having another chance.”

Alfonso Soriano , who hit 26 home runs last year, tied it the score for the fourth time when he hit his first of the season leading off the ninth against Jason Motte (2-1).

Matt Carpenter ‘s second homer in four games off James Russell had put the Cardinals up in the eighth. Chicago scored three runs in the first, and there were later four ties before the Cardinals won.

Matt Holliday also homered on a three-hit day, Allen Craig had three hits and two RBIs, and Tyler Greene stopped an 0-for-17 skid with three hits, including a double and triple for St. Louis.

“Today was a good day. It was good for the team to get the win and end this little funk we’ve been in,” Greene said. “You just keep working, keep pushing. You’ve got to believe in it and have confidence in it.”

The NL Central leaders are 9-8 at home after prevailing in a game that was tied at 3, 4, 5 and 6. the four-game losing streak, which began with three defeats against Atlanta, was the franchise’s worst since a seven-game slump June 10-17 last year against three teams.

The opposition scored first in all five games.

“We’ll take them anyway we can get them,” Matheny said. “The guys did a great job coming back. just a great atmosphere.”

The Cardinals won without two of their biggest bats. Lance Berkman was a late lineup scratch because it was a day game after a night game – plus he’s just a .206 career hitter against Maholm with one RBI. Carlos Beltran missed his second straight game with knee soreness.

Matheny wasn’t sure whether Beltran would be back Wednesday at San Francisco.

Bryan LaHair hit his 10th homer, half of them against the Cardinals, and Reed Johnson contributed his second go-ahead pinch hit in three days with a single in the seventh. LaHair has reached base safely in 32 consecutive games.

“I think we have to make an adjustment,” said Molina, the Cardinals catcher.

Holliday singled off Cubs closer Rafael Dolis (2-3) to start the ninth and advanced on David Freese ‘s one-out groundout. Holliday scored without a play on Molina’s hit.

Chicago has lost 10 of 14 in St. Louis dating to last June 3.

The Cardinals capitalized on Kerry Wood ‘s wildness to tie it in the seventh. Wood has 11 walks in 8 1-3 innings after issuing passes to Rafael Furcal and Holliday, and Craig tied with a one-out single. Craig had an RBI double in the first and has an extra-base hit in eight of his 12 games.

Holliday put the Cardinals ahead with his seventh homer in the fifth, a drive to left estimated at 445 feet. He also singled in the first and is 6 for 29 against Paul Maholm .

Maholm didn’t allow more than one run in each of his previous four starts but gave up two in the first.

Kyle Lohse trailed by a run after his first seven pitches produced three hits, including an RBI single for Starlin Castro . Soriano and Ian Stewart also drove in runs, and the Cubs had 11 swings and no misses while going up 3-0.

Lohse retired 14 in a row with the help of a double play before LaHair’s homer.

“It was kind of a perfect storm in that first, me being aggressive but a little bit up, and they’re swinging,” Lohse said.

NOTES: Jaime Garcia (2-2, 4.09) opposes Madison Bumgarner (5-2, 3.80) as the Cardinals begin a two-game series at San Francisco on Wednesday. … Matt Garza (2-1, 2.56) pitches for the Cubs on Wednesday at home against the Phillies and Vance Worley (3-2, 3.07). … Geovany Soto had his third two-hit game of the month Tuesday. He’s 2 for 24 in the other 11 games. … Since 1918, no Cubs lefty has gone five straight starts with at least six innings and one or fewer runs allowed. Maholm is among four Cubs lefties to do it five straight starts, and the first since Ken Holtzman in 1969. … both games were sold out, giving the Cardinals nine sellouts in 17 home games.

© 2011 STATS LLC

Cardinals avoid winless homestand, beat Cubs 7-6

Ballet West is about to reach its “Breaking Pointe,” thanks to a six-part TV series by BBC Worldwide Productions. unlike most dance shows on TV, this isn’t a competition. instead, it’s a documentary about competition within the company, closely following 10 dancers, from the corps to the second company through to the principals.

Executive producer Kate Shepherd promises it will be “unlike any other dance show you will ever see.”

“We don’t have to create drama,” said Ballet West artistic director Adam Sklute. “The drama is there. all the drama and the joy and everything about being a part of a major arts organization is already there.”

The TV show focuses more on dancers than dance. “It’s the blood, sweat and the tears,” said principal dancer Christiana Bennett. “I don’t think anything will be hidden. I think it’ll be a true representation of what goes on daily for us. the heartaches, the joy — it can switch so quickly.”

The film crew from BBC Worldwide Productions captured the company in rehearsals and in performance, but it also interviewed dancers and followed them home.

“This is not just about men in tights and girls dancing around in tutus,” Shepherd said. “There’s an incredible amount of hard work and dedication. We will get to see what it takes to be a professional ballet dancer. And they will be showing the world the amount of hard work and dedication that goes into performing onstage.”

The show offers a portrait of ballet dancers as incredible athletes whose work puts incredible strain on their bodies. Bennett had to quit dancing for a year because of an injury; so did dancer Rex Tilton, who broke his back — a hairline fracture brought on by the physical stress of brutal rehearsals and performances.

And within the company, their friends and co-workers are also their rivals.

“They’re incredibly competitive,” Shepherd said. “They take their art very, very seriously. They’re one big family. some of them live together. some of them are even married, but they’re going up for the same roles.”

Which can lead to conflicts with a group that is “very tight knit,” according to Bennett, whose husband, Chris Ruud, is also a principal dancer at Ballet West. “We’re the most dysfunctional family you’ll ever meet, but I think when things like this happen, we really do pull together.”

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And that’s the reason the show is titled “Breaking Pointe.” It’s not just about the dancers as dancers, it’s about them as people. Cameras capture their conversations, follow them home, and make them something more than just performers on the other side of the footlights.

“You’re just pushed to the brink of exhaustion and you’ve got to let it out somehow,” Bennett said. “Everybody has their weak moment. everybody has their bad days. That’s just part of being people.”

Viewers will see dancers in their most stressful moments.

“They’ll see us when we come off stage and we’ve just performed something extremely difficult,” Tilton said. “When you see someone when they’re tired and beat down, it’s a really revealing thing.”

And that’s where the drama comes in.

“They dedicate and give their lives up to ballet and, at the same time, they have fantastic personal lives, incredible backstories,” said Shepherd. “They’re all from very interesting places. And there is lots of drama inside and outside the company.”

The dancers are used to performing on stage, but appearing on a nationally telecast TV show is something different. Particularly when you’re not playing a part, but exposing your own life.

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Ballet West exposes itself — on TV