For just a few days, John Wayne Airport is offering an extra-special destination: World War II. Scores of local residents turned out Friday for the arrival of three vintage military planes, which will be at the runway-adjacent Lyon Air Museum through...

N L F 3 / : F - LYON / Fest. NUITS SONORES, Le Clacson on 2011-06-02

I know, not the sexiest pickups of the week...but wait, look at these numbers:

Since taking over as the starting third baseman for the not-as-fat Panda in San Francisco on April 30, Mike Fontenot is hitting .350 with hits in 5 of 6 games. He has a steal, a homer and 4 RBI. Back in the pre-season, I highlighted Fontenot as a guy who could put up decent numbers if given a chance at an everyday role, and he hasn't disappointed yet.

I'm not saying everyone should stampede each other trying to sign Fontenot, but he definitely should not be available in NL-Only leagues. He will put up a decent cheap mix of steals, and possibly some more power -- he has batted third in the SF lineup since Tuesday and has all 4 RBI in that span.

Another player who will benefit from a recent injury is Mark Melancon, who is taking over at closer in Houston for the injured Brandon Lyon. Once again, here is a guy who I have not really seen pitch, but he is someone who will be scooped up in just about every competitive league by this weekend.

Unlike the ridiculous situation in St. Louis where Tony LaRussa is once again effing with the greater fantasy baseball community, the situation is much more clear-cut in Houston. Melancon is a Tommy John survivor (missed all of 2007 as a Yankees farmhand), and came over to the Astros in the Lance Berkman deal last year. He has already been officially "named" the closer, and he has proven he can handle somewhat-pressurized situations - 3 holds with a sub-2.00 ERA.

Sure, he might not be getting a ton of chances, but when you need saves, you'll take em from anywhere....won't you? And since he hasn't posted a save yet, he may be flying under the radar in your league right now. This is where you take advantage of the people who don't constantly read player/team updates -- and believe me, odds are there are quite a few in your league.

Despite ample opportunity over the past few weeks, the teams at the top and bottom of the Ligue 1 table have largely refused to create any real separation. The title looks a two-horse race at the moment, but Lyon are still close enough that they'd scarcely consider themselves out of the running altogether. They'll have a massive chance to close the gap this weekend as send-place Marseille come to pay a visit while Lille will look at the tough tasks ahead of their closest rivals and their clash with relegation threatened Nancy as an opportunity to create a bit of breathing room.

Saturday

AJ Auxerre vs, Montpellier

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

Auxerre have a chance to put themselves in a much safer position with the teams below them in the relegation battle all facing tough tests in their own right and Montepellier a an hilariously impotent team away from home. Montepellier are playing to stay in the top of the table. That doesn't really seem fair, does it? The Montpellier players should all have to shave off an eyebrow if they lose, just to ensure they have something more tangible than pride to play for.

Pick: Auxerre, 2-0

Arles vs. St. Etienne

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

Arles have scored only four goals away this season. Luckily for Arles they're playing at home. Unluckily for Arles they're still Arles.

Poor Arles.

Pick: St. Etienne, 3-1

AS Monaco vs. PSG

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

PSG are still clinging onto their title hopes by a thread and they're behind Lyon only on goal difference for the final Champions League spot. Monaco remain just a point off the drop but they have the edge over their felllow bottom-table sides in terms of goal difference. PSG score a lot of goals, while Monaco are a very stingy defensive club. It's the irresistible force meets the immovable object and based on my understanding of physics, the result will be the explosion of the universe due to mathematical paradox. Luckily, this means your mother will never find out you forgot to but her a present.

Pick: Draw, 1-1

Bordeaux vs. Sochaux

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

This one's for all the marbles. I mean that literally; the winning team gets every single marble in the entire univers. They're calling it the Coupe du Marbre. I was surprised to find out the FFF had that much sway, but there you go. My nephew Jimmy is going to be really bummed out. He spent all the money he made mowing lawns on a real swell collection of catseyes.

Pick: Draw, 2-2

Brest vs. Nice

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

Ha! Get it?

*nudges you in a really irritating manner while raising eyebrows suggestively*

Pick: Brest, 1-0

Caen vs. Lens

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

Lens are, in reality, well and truly screwed while Caen can get themselves really close to safety with a win in this game. If I were Lens I'd put eleven men behind the ball and just give Caen raspberries the entire game.

Pick: Caen, 1-0

Lorient vs. Toulouse

Time: 19:00 CEST/1:00 PM EDT

Lorient and Toulouse both have rather vibrant and pleasant primary colors, so I find it interesting that were one to mix them together they would end up with a dull, drab earth tone. All the life, sapped right out of them, the sum of the vivid parts a staid, almost deathly whole.

This has been Philisophical Musings On The Elements Of Design Against The Backdrop Of French Association Football.

Pick: Lorient, 3-2

Nancy vs. Lille

Time: 21:00 CEST/3:00 PM EDT

This is one of those games that will see the vast majority of truly disinterested fans pulling desperately for Nancy to manage the upset, to knock the king of the league in waiting off their throne and simultaneously pull themselves from the depth.

Well too bad, vast majority of truly disinterested fans. You're probably going to get boring, predictable and depressing.

Pick: Lille, 2-0

Sunday

Valenciennes vs. Stade Rennes

Time: 17:00 CEST/11:00 AM EDT

I keep wanting to predict Stades Rennes to lose, just because oh my God be more boring, but the reality is that sometimes boring can be good, at least in terms of results. I mean I doubt anyone thinks watching Arles play could be described as boring, and look how far that's gotten them. The utilitarian in me likes boring. Draws are efficient results. Good on you, Stades Rennes.

Pick: Valenciennes, 18-1

Lyon vs. Marseille

Time: 21:00 CEST/3:00 PM EDT

This should be a fantastic game, but how often do the most intriguing matchups turn out to be all that great? It seems like whenever a marquee game ends up being even slightly entertaining no one will ever shut up about it. So you know what? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this game is going to be awful. Thanks for ruining my mental image of how my Sunday is going to go, Lyon and Marseille. Bunch of jerks.

Pick: Lyon, 2-0

While an official announcement hasn’t been made yet, multiple tipsters have confirmed to us the lucky pair: Valedictorian: Margot Lazow Salutatorian: Elizabeth Lyon Margot is a Biochemistry major and the president of the CU American Medical Students Association; she’ll tell you all about applying to med school the right way. Elizabeth is a Classics major [...]

Filed under: Europe, France, Photo of the Day

Every now and then an image shows up in the Flickr Gadling group pool that knocks my socks off. This is one such photo, snapped by Flickr user baby_mongster. It depicts a short woman in a light raincoat against the straight-forward 1970s modernism of the Lyon metro system. This composition, reduced to black-and-white simplicity, is starkly beautiful.

A modern setting that also looks old-fashioned is doubly appealing. It says: Here is the future, and it looks somewhat old.

Got an image that depicts something modern that is no longer all that shiny? We thought so. Submit it to the Gadling group pool on Flickr. If we dig the image we'll select it for a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - Lyon metro originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quatre adolescents de 14 à 16 ans ont été mis en examen vendredi pour «viol aggravé» après s'en être pris mercredi à une jeune fille de 14 ans devant la gare de la Part-Dieu à Lyon, sous les yeux...

L'Olympique Lyonnais annonce vendredi avoir obtenu une ligne de crédit de 57 millions d'euros sur trois ans auprès d'un...

Early last evening, we learned that the Royals called up the best first base prospect in baseball-Eric Hosmer, and demoted Kila Ka'aihue to AAA. Hosmer will play first base everyday and many Fake Teams readers, and prospect experts like Kevin Goldstein and Keith Law think he will hit right away at the big league level. As Kenny stated in his fanpost, the one he posted minutes before my Hosmer story last night, Hosmer should be picked up in all leagues. Royals Review questions the promotion, as I did, so head on over and check out what Royals fans think about the decision to promote Hosmer.

Astros closer Brandon Lyon was diagnosed with a partially torn rotator cuff that will not require surgery at this time, so fantasy owners should go out and add Mark Melancon if they need a closer. Melancon has pitched 15+ innings this year in relief with a 1.72 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 3.02 xFIP. He was a solid strikeout pitcher in the minors and last year when he had a K/9 of 9.28, but this year has seen it slip to 6.89. He also walks 3.45 batters per nine innings.

Astros outfielder Jason Bourgeois went 1-2 with a run scored, RBI, 2 walks and 2 SBs and is now hitting .391-.429-.500 with 11 SBs in just 46 at bats this season. Bourgeois has attempted 13 SBs and has been on base a total of 21 times, 3 via the walk, and 18 hits. Yet 4 of his hits have gone for extra bases (3 doubles and a triple), so he has been on first base 17 times and attempted 13 SBs. Gotta love the SBO%. Of course, this all assumes, he has not attempted to steal 3B. Even still, a very nice SBO%.

Reds outfielder Jay Bruce went 3-4 with a HR and 3 runs scored. Bruce has started the season hitting. 257-.328-.459 with 6 HRs, 15 RBIs, 19 runs scored and 4 SBs. Does he reach the 30 HR level in 2011?

More Roto Roundup after the jump:

Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan went 3-4 with a run scored and 3 RBIs on Thursday. Hanigan is hitting .246-.313-.393 with 2 HRs, 11 RBIs and an excellent 4-6 K/BB rate. 

Red starter Homer Bailey came off the DL to pitch a gem on Thursday, holding the Astros to one run on 4 hits, a walk and 7 strikeouts in 6 IP. Bailey was once the Reds top prospect but has yet to reach his potential due to sub-par performance and injury. Is 2011 the year he puts it all together?

Tigers starter Rick Porcello is another former top prospect who has struggled in the big leagues. Yet Porcello held the Yankees to two runs in 7 IP on Thursday, giving up 10 base runners while striking out 3. Porcello is now 2-2 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. After starting the season giving up 10 runs in his first 2 starts, he has given up just 6 runs in his last 4 starts covering 26+ IP.

Giants stater Jonathan Sanchez put up all kinds of crooked numbers on Thursday, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, 6 walks and 6 strikeouts. He threw 93 pitches, only 48 for strikes, of which 10 were first pitch strikes to the 24 batters he faced. For the season, Sanchez is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 46-26 K/BB rate. Not the Sanchez from 2010.

Rays starter David Price gave up just one unearned run and striking out 10 in 8 2/3rd innings on Thursday and was the Fake Teams Fantasy Player of the Day.

Red Sox starter John Lackey got knocked around by the Angels on Thursday, giving up 8 runs on 10 hits, 3 walks and just 1 strikeout in 4 IP. Lackey has been "lacking" this year, and last, as he is now 2-4 on the season, with a 7.16 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a .317 BAA. Lackey has had 3 solid starts and 3 horrific starts this season, and you may want to bench Lackey till he can become a more consistent starter.

Angels shortstop Erick Aybar went 4-6 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and 2 SBs on Thursday. He is hitting .342-.364-.425 with 7 SBs this season.

Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo went 1-3 with a HR, 2 walks and 2 RBIs on Thursday and is now hitting .255-.288-.500 with 6 HRs and 17 RBIs on the season. He has homered in 3 of his last 4 games with 10 RBIs. With Kendrys Morales not close to returning, Trumbo should get more playing time going forward. He needs to learn to take a walk to become an everyday regular.

Trumbo's teammate Peter Bourjos went 3-4 with 4 runs scored vs the Red Sox and is now hitting .307-.350-.482 with 2 HRs, 9 RBIs and just 3 SBs this season. Where are the SBs? His 35-7 K/BB rate in 114 at bats needs to improve for sure.

Lance Berkman went 1-2 with a HR and 4 RBIs yesterday, and I still can't believe how well he is hitting this season. He is now hitting .392-.462-.775 with 10 HRs and 32 RBIs. I think the phrase "you can't stop Lance Berkman, you only hope to contain him" is certainly appropriate at this point. He will probably win owners many championships this season as he was probably a late round pick in most drafts this season.

It appears Tony LaRussa agrees with me, as he again went to Eduardo Sanchez in the 9th inning yesterday. Sanchez got the ball in the 9th inning, a day after giving up a game winning HR to Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton on Wednesday. Sanchez earned his 3rd save of the season, but he did walk 2 and induced Mike Stanton to hit into a double play after walking the leadoff batter. As I mentioned to another fantasy owner yesterday, it says alot for TLR to go back to Sanchez after he gave up the HR on Wednesday.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is going to get some game action in the next few days as he was assigned to the Phillies extended spring training. He will then rehab with one of the Phillies minor league affiliates. Utley is probably a few weeks away, but this is music to fantasy owners.

Royals outfielder Melky Cabrera went 3-4 with a HR, 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs on Thursday and is now hitting .293-.317-.466 with 3 HRs, 20 runs scored, 20 RBIs and 3 SBs. Cabrera is having a solid start to the season after a sub-par season last year.

Poll

Will Eric Hosmer hit better than .280 with the Royals this season?

• Yes
• No

  51 votes | Results

Brandon Lyon was sent for an MRI to look at his shoulder and by GAW they found a tear in the rotator cuff that doesn’t need surgery. But he needs to go on the DL. The proper diagnosis is most likely suckagus mondo, but they prefer to use Big Words. On the other hand, now HOW [...]Read the full original article...

Quatre adolescents de 14 à 16 ans ont été présentés vendredi au parquet de Lyon après le viol collectif mercredi d'une jeune fille de 14 ans devant la gare de la Part-Dieu, sous les yeux d'une dizaine d'autres mineurs dont certains ont filmé la scène avec leurs téléphones portables.Une information...

Dimanche, la métropole lyonnaise devrait gagner sa place dans le gratin du rugby hexagonal. Son président, Yvan Patet, porte un projet ambitieux : celui de faire du LOU une équipe capable de jouer la Coupe d'Europe d'ici quelques années.

 Après avoir purgé ses trois matches de suspension Loic Rémy retrouvera Lyon et ... Stéphane Lannoy dimanche prochain....

Dimanche, la métropole lyonnaise devrait gagner sa place dans le gratin du rugby hexagonal. Son président, Yvan Patet, porte un projet ambitieux : celui de faire du LOU une équipe capable de jouer la Coupe d'Europe d'ici quelques années.

Hey vous avez remarqué ? Les terrasses-trottoir sont de sortie, le 8 mai tombe un dimanche, Kate et William sont mariés depuis une semaine, Ben Laden est mort depuis 5 jours et les Bons Plans de Lyon69 viennent d’être publiés. Alors qu’est-ce qu’on fait ce week-end ? Vendredi 6 mai La bonne nouvelle du vendredi, [...]

After what we've seen of Lyon, the type of injury he has, and the fact that he's been hiding it while directly causing losses, I think his future lies elsewhere in the bullpen. If Melancon can continue doing what he's been doing, he may wind up being the closer for the bulk of the season.

L'OL devra encore faire sans Jérémy Toulalan pour la réception de Marseille, dimanche. Victime d'une entorse au genou...

Eric Chavez and Nyjer Morgan can`t bear to be off the DL, Brandon Lyon gets cuffed around, and a trio of pitchers face elbow injuries.

Ligue 1 leaders Lille travel to Nancy on Saturday in a potentially season-defining clash for either side.Nancy occupy a place in the bottom three as it stands - sitting in 18th on 38 points - with five teams on 39 points well within their reach with a result on the weekend. Lille's attentions, however, are at the other end of the table, as they head Marseille by one point at the top of the French top flight. Rudi Garcia's side can go four points clear before Didier Deschamps' men take on the third-placed Lyon at Stade de Gerland on Sunday

- Une adolescente de 14 ans a été victime d'un viol collectif mercredi devant la gare de la Part-Dieu à Lyon par un groupe de jeunes mineurs dont quatre, âgés de 14 à 16 ans, seront présentés vendredi devant le parquet pour "viol aggravé", a-t-on appris de source policière.Ces derniers, désignés par... -

Notre partenaire Neos-SDI organise un petit déjeuner pour expliquer aux clients les tenants et aboutissants de l’offre Office 365 et répondre aux problématiques suivantes:

· Quels impacts sur les usages?

· Quel poste de travail pour quel collaborateur?

· Quelles contraintes techniques ?

· Quel retour sur investissement?

· Quel accompagnement au changement?

· Comment s’articulent BPOS et Office 365?

Les dates:

Jeudi 12 Mai 8h30-9h45 à Paris

Mercredi 25 Mai 8h30-9h45 à Lyon

Pour vous inscrire, envoyez un Email à cette adresse

Lyon: Une jeune fille de 14 ans violée par quatre mineurs 20minutes.fr C'est un salarié travaillant à proximité de la place Charles-Béraudier, à Lyon, qui a donné l'alerte. Quatre adolescents de 14 à 16 ans, suspectés d'avoir violé une jeune fille de 14 ans dans un recoin de cette place proche de la gare de la Part-Dieu ... Lyon: une adolescente de 14 ans violée par4 mineurs devant la gare ...Le Point Part-Dieu : quatre jeunes soupçonnés de violLyonCapitale.fr Lyon : violée par quatre adolescents devant la gare de la Part-DieuLe Progrès Europe1 -Lyon Mag -Lyon 1ère 23 autres articles »

Air Transat offers low fares to the best European destinations. The offer is limited. Hurry up and book now!

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The Astros announced that Astros closer Brandon Lyon was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis and a partial tear of his right rotator cuff on Thursday. Lyon will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. The injury is expected to be treated without surgery.

19 Vote(s)

So Brandon Lyon has a well-timed two week (at least) vacation. How do you feel about that?

20minutes.fr

DEUX JOURS DE SURSIS POUR LES ROMS 20minutes.fr Ils ne savent pas où ils iront demain matin. Une soixantaine de Roms est hébergée dans un gymnase de Vénissieux depuis mercredi soir, après l'incendie de l'usine désaffectée qu'ils squattaient depuis dix mois, sur la même commune. ... Vénissieux : un squat occupé par soixante-trois Roms part en fuméeLe Progrès Vénissieux : incendie dans un squat, 82 personnes relogéesLyonCapitale.fr Un incendie a ravagé un squat à Vénissieux mercrediLyon Mag Lyon 1ère -Lyon Webzine -Lyon Info 12 autres articles »

Brandon Lyon, HOU - Lyon will have his pitching shoulder checked out in Houston today to see why he feels the shoulder is weak. This comes after Lyon got hammered Wednesday afternoon and blew the save. Lyon has a history of injuries, but more so being inconsistent. I'm not sure if his recent blow up isn't just Brandon Lyon. I did not expect him to keep the closer job past mid-May, so I'm not shocked that Mark Melancon is taking over for him. Jonathan Broxton, LAD - I reported on Broxton's elbow issues yesterday and last week. He clearly has an injury to his elbow and we will know more of the extent of the injury later today after he has an MRI. I believe he is heading to the DL no matter what and I suspect he will miss at least a month. Hong-Chih Kuo and Vincente Padilla will take his place for closing out games. Neftali Feliz, TEX - Feliz should be ready to return Friday to face the New York Yankees and if a save opportunity presents itself, he will enter the game as the Rangers closer. In his final rehab tune-up, Feliz hit 100 M.P.H. and is 100% according to himself and the Rangers. Andrew Bailey, OAK - Bailey face live batters Wednesday and threw 25 pitches with no problems and he reported he felt great. He could start a rehab stint by next week and return to the majors with in two weeks. I have not gotten word as to when he will return to the closer role and replace Brian Fuentes. While Fuentes has been effective as Oakland's closer, Bailey will take the role when they feel he is ready. David Aardsma, SEA - Aardsma suffered a minor setback on his return from hip surgery. He reported forearm....

Brandon Lyon: Lyon (shoulder) has been diagnosed with biceps tendinitis and a partial tear of his rotator cuff, reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. He will not need surgery, but will go on the 15-day disabled list.Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

16 Vote(s)

'Extremely rare' planes coming to JWA - OCRegister | Included in the Wings of Freedom Tour, which is appearing at the Lyon Air Museum, is the B-17 "Flying Fortress," one of only 11 such aircraft in flying condition in the United States, according to promoters. The B-17 "Flying Fortress" will be among the ...
   
World War II Planes and Pilots Share Experiences at Palomar Airport - Patch.com | On display, through were the B-17 and B-24 bombers and a P-51 Mustang fighter. There were no shortage of veterans at Palomar Airport to tell their amazing stories and experiences. Ed Davidson, of La Jolla, recounted his WW II experiences as a pilot of ...

Naval History & Heritage Command  - photos of the 1st Carrier Qualified Jet Squadron. Happy Birthday VF-17A. (ak)

It's not a bird. It's not a plane. It's JetMan in a Grand Canyon flyover! - USA TODAY | If the red rock splendor of the Grand Canyon alone isn't enough to knock your socks off, you might want to high-tail it over there on May 6 when Yves Rossy -- aka JetMan -- straps on a wing powered by four jet engines and jumps out of a helicopter for his own bird's-eye flyover of the rugged chasm. ...

Timeless Voices - Robin "Bob" Webb from eaavideo.org | Bob Webb joined the Royal Air Force in 1943 and spent the next 14 years as an engineer/mechanic. In 1957 he joined the British Overseas Airways Corporation as a flight engineer, finishing the last 8 years of his 26-year career on the Concorde.

He attacked the Yamato, world’s biggest battleship from War Tales | It was Ensign Woody Lindskog’s lucky day. The Navy pilot was plucked from Wasile Bay off Halmahera Island in the South Pacific by an Army Air Corps Catalina flying boat, right under the nose of a Japanese gun emplacement and thousands of enemy troops after his Hellcat fighter was hit by an antiaircraft flak and [...]

Herman 'Rex' Reheis - AugustaGazette.com | He then went through flight training and piloted a B-25 low-level strafer-bomber called “Seabiscuit” during 11 months of campaigns in the South Pacific in the 500th Bomb Squadron, rising to Captain. After the end of World War II, he served in the Air ...

WWII veterans honored with DC trip - Richmond-News | A World War II veteran from New Richmond was honored for his service to the country during a special trip Saturday. A World War II veteran from New Richmond was honored for his service to the country during a special trip Saturday. ...

100-year-old Jacksonville man says do what you love, and adventure will follow - Jacksonville.com | ... In 1927, he was 17, too young for the Army Air Corps. No problem: He lied about his age. He was too skinny, too. So the recruiter gave him 50 cents and told him to buy as many bananas as he could. Brown stuffed the bananas in him, one after the other, then was weighed again. Heavy enough this time. ...

Shirley grandfather aims to break wing walk record - Birmingham Mail | The grandfather from Shirley, who already holds the world record for the oldest person to do the loop-the-loop and the oldest person to wing walk across the English Channel, is about to undertake his greatest adventure yet. Daredevil Tom, who is due to ...

The Boeing Archives PART 3b: Interview With Boeing Historian Michael Lombardi from Airline Reporter | This is the second part to my interview with Boeing Historian Michael Lombardi. Here is the continuation of our exclusive interview:  ...
   
Aviation Museum Faces Another Roadblock in Lease Arrangement - Patch.com | The Horsham Land Reuse Authority hopes to sign the lease at its May 18 meeting; meanwhile residents request that an airport study be undertaken. By Theresa Katalinas | Email the author | 6:00am As the military clears off the 1100-acre base, ...

Poplar Grove air museum gears up for additions - Rockford Register Star | Bob Grist, 77, of Chicago laughs as his friend Bill Gwozdz, 67, of Berwyn toys with his camera during their visit Tuesday, May 3, 2011, to the Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum in Poplar Grove. By Betsy Lopez POPLAR GROVE — The Vintage Wings & Wheels ...

Yorkshire Air Museum to play host to the Battlegroup North and Military Wheels ... - The Press, York | HUNDREDS of historic military vehicles from across Britain will be helping draw the crowds to the Yorkshire Air Museum this weekend. The museum, at Elvington, near York, will play host to the Battlegroup North and Military Wheels And ...

World’s largest (model) airport opens in Hamburg (Daily Mail) from Boeing and Aerospace News | Knuffingen Airport only cost around $5 million and took six years to build and yet is the world’s largest airport. OK, model airport. Knuffingen, based on Hamburg’s airport, just opened to the public at Miniatur Wunderland, in Hamburg. The airport features 40 aircraft that take off, land and taxi, with jetways that pull up to [...]

After 100 years, Goodyear ditches blimps for zeppelins [Planelopnik] from Jalopnik | After building blimps for almost 100 years, Goodyear's teaming up with Ze Germans and canning their three blips for a fleet of Teutonic zeppelins set to go into operation in 2013. The zeppelins will be longer, fly faster, and hold more people. None of which will help make it anything but a more novel way of providing a stadium shot before football and baseball telecasts go to commercial. ...

More than 130 local events now part of EAA’s International Learn to Fly Day - Planenews | EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis.: More than 130 events will help dreams of flight become a reality for tens of thousands of future aviators during the second annual International Learn to Fly Day on Saturday, May 21.  International Learn to Fly Day is an aviation community-wide effort helping people of all ages take that first step to ...

Warren girl gets to be Pilot for a Day - Vindy.com | Eleven-year-old Ashley Moorhead offered an apt description after the turbo-prop engines of the huge C-130 Hercules aircraft fired up.  “It was real loud. We had to wear earplugs,” said an excited Ashley after being named Pilot for a Day on Wednesday at the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. ...

South Korean Navy’s first female P-3C pilot from Warplanes Online Community | The Korean Navy has commissioned its first female pilot of a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. Lt. Jg. Lee Joo-yeon, 26, finished her copilot training for a P-3C aircraft on April 22nd. After a year of basic aviation training, she completed her first flight mission last Tuesday. ...

Air Force: F-22 Raptor pulls out of air show - Shreveport Times | The Air Force's cutting-edge fight aircraft, which was to have been the start of the 2011 Barksdale Air Force base "Defenders of Liberty" air show and open house, will not be able to make it to the show this year, the Air Force said today. ...

BREAKING: USAF orders F-22 fleet stand-down from The DEW Line | Got a tip today that all F-22s have been parked. Air Combat Command confirmed a few minutes ago, and our news article is posted here and is excerpted below. ...

50 years of US spaceflight: Alan Shepard, May 5, 1961 from Boing Boing | On May 5, 1961, NASA astronaut Alan Shepard piloted his Freedom 7 Mercury capsule in a 15-minute suborbital flight, becoming America's first astronaut. In this image, he is shown being hoisted aboard a U.S. Marine helicopter after splashdown. The flight carried him to an altitude of 116 statute miles.  ...

Alan B. Shepard, Jr. Honored at 50th Anniversary Celebration of Freedom 7 Flight from Spaceports | The Golden Anniversary of the flight of the first American in space was commemorated with a special ceremony at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Complex 5/6 blockhouse near NASA's Kennedy Space Center. That's where, on May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., began his historic, 15-minute mission aboard his Freedom 7 capsule. ...

Last combat veteran of WW1, Claude Choules, dies agd 110 from Military Photos | The world's last known combat veteran of World War I, Claude Choules, has died in Australia aged 110.  Known to his comrades as Chuckles, British-born Mr Choules joined the Royal Navy at 15 and went on to serve on HMS Revenge. ...

Paris blogger Heather Stimmler-Hall on the latest boutique hotels on the Right Bank

Le Citizen

The first designer boutique hotel on the Canal St Martin is just a few steps from the hipster hangout Hôtel du Nord (which is actually a restaurant and bar, not a hotel) and walking distance to the newly trendy North Marais district. Opened in 2010, rooms feature crisp white linens, parquet floors, and high-end amenities such as iPads and a thoughtfully chosen selection of gourmet snacks in the minibar. Request one of the "City K" rooms with a king size bed.
• 96 quai de Jemmapes, 10th, +33 1 8362 5550, lecitizenhotel.com. Métro: Jacques Bonsergent. Doubles from €179

Hôtel Mansart

Even blasé Parisians will be impressed with your ritzy address just off the posh place Vendôme. Rooms lean toward the spacious side for a hotel in this price range, with décor classically Parisian and elegant in some rooms and more luxuriously contemporary in others if you're willing to splash out a bit more cash. Oil paintings, antique furnishings and Toile de Jouy fabrics are paired with mod cons such as free Wi-Fi and air conditioning in each room.
• 5 rue des Capucines, 1st, +33 1 4261 5028, paris-hotel-mansart.com. Métro: Opéra. Doubles from €145

Hostellerie du Marais

Ancient wooden beams, exposed stone walls and a decidedly medieval style prevail in the old fashioned lobby, but the rooms in this recently renovated boutique hotel in the Marais district feature a contemporary new design with air conditioning, flatscreen TVs, and sleek fixtures. The juxtaposition suits the neighbourhood's unique mix of upscale shops, art galleries and 17th-century aristocratic mansions. Book a room on the top floor for views over Paris rooftops (and less traffic noise).
• 30 rue de Turenne, 3rd, +33 1 4272 7347, hostelleriedumarais.com. Métro: Chemin Vert. Doubles from €112

Castex Hôtel

Also in the Marais, the Castex makes the most of its 17th-century setting of old tile floors, wood beamed ceilings and exposed stone walls with wrought iron decorative flourishes and solid dark wood furnishings. The result is surprisingly minimalist without feeling sparse, and cosy without feeling stuffy. As in many budget hotels, what you gain in historical cachet you lose in space, but the central Paris location just a block from the Bastille Métro and easy walking distance to Notre Dame and the place des Vosges will do wonders to help you forget the cramped shower stall.
• 5 rue Castex, 4th, +33 1 4272 3152, castexhotelparis.com. Métro: Bastille. Doubles from €160

Hôtel Amour

One of the first designer budget hotels is still going strong in the South Pigalle (aka "SoPi") district, with its unique artist-decorated rooms that focus more on style than useless amenities (you'll find Kiehl's toiletries but no television or telephone). Young musicians, club promoters and trendsetters hang out in the lobby's brasserie and large private garden terrace. Private parties are encouraged in the biggest room, with an extended balcony overlooking the terrace and a stocked wet bar.
• 8 rue Navarin, 9th, +33 1 4878 3180, hotelamourparis.fr. Métro: Pigalle. Doubles from €155

Monterosa

The Monterosa is a fresh and stylish new design boutique hotel in the Nouvelle Athènes district, an area populated by artists, musicians and writers in the 19th century. Rooms have air conditioning, flatscreen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast (complimentary in 2011) is served in a bright dining room off the lobby. Located right between the charming Musée de la Vie Romantique and the Atelier Gustave Moreau, the hotel is also convenient for Les Grands Magasins department stores on the Boulevard Haussmann and the nightlife of Montmartre.
• 29, rue La Bruyère, 9th, +33 1 4874 8790, astotel.com/uk/hotel-monterosa-paris.php. Métro: Saint-Georges. Doubles from €189

Taylor Hotel

It may not seem like the prettiest neighbourhood at first sight, but this charming and spotless little hotel is right between two of the city's up-and-coming districts, the north Marais and the Canal St Martin, with easy access to the Gare de l'Est, Gare du Nord and main Métro stations. The pastel fabrics and whitewashed wooden furnishings make for a welcoming, feminine atmosphere. Parquet flooring, fluffy bathrobes and free Wi-Fi found in each room. Book the lover's theme package in the Bubble Room (as in bubbly) for a sexy tryst … with accessories.
• 6 rue Taylor, 10th, +33 1 4240 1101, paris-hotel-taylor.com. Métro: Jacques Bonsergent. Doubles from €86, four-person suites from €162

Color Design Hôtel

Budget doesn't have to mean bland. This hotel takes colour therapy seriously, with each floor featuring a different palette to fit your mood. Rooms are decorated with a neutral base of pale grey and white, accented by splashes of bright colour and intricate mosaic-tiled bathrooms. Air conditioning and Wi-Fi are included, with iPods on request. Located just behind the Bastille Opera house within an easy walk to the Marais and Aligre market, the hotel is also convenient for anyone heading in or out of Paris by train at the Gare de Lyon station.
• 35 rue des Citeaux, 12th, +33 1 4307 7728, colordesignhotel.parishotels.it. Métro: Ledru-Rollin. Doubles from €137

L'Adresse

Rooms in chocolate velour, black stone, or silver satin give this hotel a contemporary, sexy vibe. Leather, suede, and snakeskin fabrics mix with chrome, marble and dark wood. Extras include an iPhone charger, iPod docking, flatscreen TVs and Nespresso machines, with entrance to the local gym included in the room rate. And despite its address on the edge of town, you'll find it conveniently located just a block from the Palais des Congrès and the Line 1 Métro, two stops from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées.
• 22 rue de Débarcadère, 17th, +33 1 5805 0888, ladresse-hotel.com. Métro: Porte Maillot. Doubles from €180

Mama Shelter

The outlying location of this rule-breaking budget design hotel only adds to its stylish, counterculture reputation. Rooms are decorated by Philippe Starck in a funky minimalist style with iMacs, microwaves, free movies on demand and high quality bedding. All rooms have the same amenities – you pay extra for size or balcony space. The hotel's gourmet restaurant, pizzeria, cocktail bar and rooftop summer terrace attract Paris's alternative fashion and music crowd, giving Mama Shelter tons of street cred. It's also convenient for Roissy-CDG airport and the east Parisian nightlife scene. If the taxi fares are equally as frightening as public transport, rent one of the hotel's scooters or Smart Cars.
• 109 rue de Bagnolet, 20th, +33 1 4348 4848, mamashelter.com. Métro: Porte de Bagnolet. Doubles from €129 (look for the Sunday specials for just €79)

• Heather Stimmler-Hall is the author of the Paris blog secretsofparis.com

Bevan/ Lyon/Berger/Ludus Baroque/Neville-Towle
(Delphian, 2CDs)

Founded by Richard Neville-Towle in 1997, Ludus Baroque is a period ensemble based at Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk, where this recording of Alexander's Feast was made last year. It's a fine interpretation that mines the work's rich ambiguities for all they are worth. Handel's great setting of Dryden examines "the Power of Musick" to provoke in turn desire, sorrow, heroism and irrational violence, before demanding we view it as a heaven-sent gift capable of turning our thoughts to the divine. Neville-Towle keeps the tone worldly, sensuous and exultant until near the end, when there's a vague but telling sense of sadness, as well as calm when contemplation gradually replaces action. The playing is sharply focused, the choral singing tremendous in its elan and warmth. The soloists are rather closely recorded, which doesn't help soprano Sophie Bevan, who takes a while to settle. Ed Lyon is the forthright tenor, but it is baritone William Berger who steals the show with his terrific performance of Revenge Timotheus Cries, the aria that embodies music's potential for emotive danger as well as its beauty. Recommended.

Rating: 4/5

Local food blogger Alexander Lobrano reveals the best places in Paris to taste bistro classics like coq au vin and tarte tatin

Josephine "Chez Dumonet"

For a delicious sepia-toned experience of pre-war Paris, this beautiful art-nouveau bistro on a chic street in Saint Germain is worth the wound to your wallet. The fact is that old-fashioned bistro cooking in Paris has become almost as expensive as it is rare – thank France's 35-hour working week for making slow cooking so pricey. But if you're craving old-school dishes like morel mushrooms stuffed with foie gras, truffles and country ham; millefeuille of boned pigeon; and bœuf bourguignon, you won't do better than this 1880 vintage dining room. Note that many dishes are served in half portions, the boeuf bourguignon is so ample it feeds two, and the reasonably priced house Bordeaux is what all the regulars drink.
• 117 rue du Cherche Midi, 6th, +33 1 4548 5240. Métro: Duroc or Sèvres-Babylone. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner. Average à la carte €50

A la Biche au Bois

It's miraculous that this really good traditional French bistro hasn't become a major tourist destination, a reprieve explained by its location in a workaday part of Paris near the Gare de Lyon that's impervious to trends and also by its ardent crowd of exigent regulars. Many of those gents with giggle-inducing matching ties and socks come here daily at noon, and they'd know in a flash if the kitchen stopped making its superb frites from freshly peeled and cut potatoes or the cheeses on offer were pasteurised. So no one makes a big deal about the very good and reasonably priced food here, because they see it as a French birthright. In season, this is the place to go wild for game, and otherwise they serve oeufs mayonnaise, coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, and other great Gallic monument-type dishes.
• 45 avenue Ledru-Rollin, 12th, +33 1 4343 3438. Métro: Gare de Lyon. Open Tues-Sat lunch and dinner, Mon dinner only. Average à la carte €35

Le Baratin

For anyone craving a taste of la vie bohème in Paris as much as a really good meal, Argentine-born Raquel Carena's funky bistro in the rough-and-tumble Belleville quarter is the perfect choice. During the past 20 years, rising property prices have driven most working artists and creative types over the périphérique (the Paris ring road) into the suburbs or into the provinces, but ethnically eclectic and bracingly scruffy Belleville still has an edge. The self-taught Carena moved to Paris some 25 years ago, and her cooking is a delicious hybrid of the kitchens of France, South America, North Africa, Spain and other countries, as shown by dishes like tuna tartare with pitted black cherries, and ox cheeks braised with citrus fruit, carrots, onion and red wine. Her slightly gruff husband runs the mostly organic and biodynamic wine list, and this crowded little dining room is where many of the great chefs of Paris head on their nights off, Joel Robuchon, Yannick Alléno and Jean-François Piège among them.
• 3 rue Jouye-Rouve, 20th, +33 1 4349 3970. Métro: Belleville or Pyrénées. Open Tues-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner only. Average €40

Les Bistronomes

Now over 20 years old, the New Bistro movement in France – which started in the early-1990s recession, when ambitious young chefs opened bistros instead of formal restaurants – has added a whole new generation of bistros to the culinary landscape of Paris, and they just keep getting better. A perfect example is the recently opened Les Bistronomes, a pretty restaurant with a beamed ceiling and oatmeal-and-taupe striped wallpaper next to the Palais Royal. Like so many New Bistro chefs, Cyril Aveline earned haute cuisine credentials – he was most recently sous-chef at the three-star Le Bristol – before going out on his own, and this pedigree is reflected in the impeccable technique and clever use of the occasional luxury product that make his bistro food so good. At a recent lunch, a rustic starter of foie gras and duck breast-studded pate en croute was more than worthy of Michelin accolades, as was his chicken with a supreme sauce and basmati rice. Courteous, well-organised service and an affordable but interesting wine list are other winning attributes of this excellent bistro.
• 34 rue de Richelieu, 1st, + 33 1 4260 5966, lesbistronomes.fr. Métro: Pyramides. Open Tues-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner only. Set lunch €26 two courses, €35 three courses, average à la carte €50

Le Bistrot Paul Bert

With the sort of old-fashioned film noir Paris bistros the world craves becoming scarce as hen's teeth, restaurateur Bertrand Aboyneau deserves a fancy French chest fob for creating a new old-fashioned bistro 14 years ago. In 1997, the back-of-beyond Bastille neighbourhood was beginning to gather some serious gastronomic credentials as a herd of trendy young types in search of cheap flats and atmosphere charged into the quarter. With its delicious trad Gallic grub, retro atmosphere – created by old enamel adverts and cracked tile floors – and excellent wine list, this place became the roaring hit it still is today. So expect a happy, noisy international crowd and great grub like terrine de campagne, marinated herring, steak tartare, and veal chops.
• 18 rue Paul-Bert, 11th, +33 1 4372 2401. Métro: Faidherbe-Chaligny. Open Tues-Sat lunch and dinner. Average €40

Christophe

Hidden away in the Latin Quarter, young chef Christophe Philippe's simply decorated bistro with poppy-coloured walls and bare wooden tables is a find for two reasons – his modern French bistro cooking is delicious, and he's open for both lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday, when most Paris bistros are closed. Philippe, who's originally from Menton, on the Riviera, brings a southern touch to the traditional bistro register, using the lemons his Mum occasionally sends him to make a superb citrus millefeuille, and he also sources his menu from some of the best suppliers in Paris, including butcher Hugo Desnoyer. Don't-miss dishes include his escargots in Provençale butter, steak with potato puree, and unctuous chocolate mousse.
• 8 rue Descartes, 5th, +33 1 4326 7249. Métro: Maubert-Mutualité or Cardinal Lemoine. Open Fri-Tues lunch and dinner. Average €45

Frenchie

The news that chef Gregory Marchand is expanding his tiny bistro in Le Sentier, Paris's old garment district, into a twin space opposite the original address in the small pedestrian lane where it's located has Paris abuzz, which tells you a lot about the impact the place has had since it opened in 2009. Originally from Nantes, Marchand cooked at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London and Danny Meyer's Gramercy Tavern in New York before returning to Paris to open his own place. The atmosphere at his tiny exposed-brick space with factory lamps and a minuscule kitchen nods at his Anglo-American experience as much as his brief market-driven menus do. Marchand, who picked up the nickname "Frenchie" in London, says his stints abroad "unleashed" his gastronomic imagination, but he still displays the deeply disciplined skills of a classically trained French chef. Think hip Gallic comfort food like cream of mushroom soup with a poached egg and grilled bacon, ox cheeks with swede, and white chocolate pannacotta with raspberries.
• 5 rue du Nil, 2nd, +33 1 4039 9619, frenchie-restaurant.com. Métro: Bonne Nouvelle or Réamur Sebastapol. Open Mon-Fri dinner only. Average à la carte €40

Le Pantruche

A perfect example of the excellent neighbourhood bistros that remain the bedrock of Paris's credentials as a gastronomic mecca, this new place in the trendy 9th arrondissement also offers excellent value. Talented chef Franck Baranger worked in the kitchens of Christian Constant (Les Cocottes, Le Violon d'Ingres) and three-star chef Eric Frechon at the Hotel Bristol before deciding to set up shop in bohemian "So-Pi" (South of Pigalle). Large aluminium suspension lamps over the bar are about as much decor as this place has, but service is friendly and Baranger's contemporary French cooking is precise, often delicate and delicious, as seen in starters like his succulent terrine de foie gras or coddled egg on a bed of creamed baby leeks and main courses such as a rib chop of free-range pork with potato puree or cod with tandoori spices on a bed of lemon-spiked braised cabbage.
• 3 rue Victor Massé, 9th, + 33 1 4878 5560, lepantruche.com. Métro: Pigalle or Saint-Georges. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner. Set lunch €17, set dinner €32, average à la carte €35

La Régalade Saint-Honoré

When young chef Yves Camdeborde opened the original La Regalade in a remote 14th arrondissement location in 1992, no one saw a revolution coming, but this lusty bistro completely reset the pendulum on Paris bistro cooking. Today it's owned by talented chef Bruno Doucet, and a few months ago he launched a much more convenient Right Bank branch that's been a roaring hit. The 1950s-vintage dining room, a former cafe, doesn't offer much by way of eye candy, but you come for the food. Doucet changes his menu often but dishes like chicken-broth-and coconut-milk soup with grilled shrimp and spaghettini, free-range pork belly by Basque producer Eric Ospital on a bed of lentils, and cod steak on a bed of wilted spinach with chopped hard-boiled egg and tomato and tiny croutons in a light vinaigrette show off his talent. And the €33 prix-fixe menu makes this place is one of the best buys in Paris right now.
• 123 rue Saint-Honoré, 1st, +33 1 4221 9240. Métro: Louvre-Rivoli. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner

Chez Georges

Yes, it's expensive, and yes, at least half of the dining room will be speaking a language other than French – usually various colonial permutations of English – but this is only because the entire English-speaking world comes to Paris on an enthralled mission to eat the great bistro dishes so lovingly described by writers like Elizabeth David and Julia Child. The hard fact of the matter is that this sort of cooking is harder and harder to find in Paris. So tune out the prattle from New Jersey and Melbourne and enjoy such brilliant old-fashioned bistro dishes as celeriac rémoulade, grilled turbot with béarnaise sauce, duck breast with cèpe mushrooms, cassoulet, and pot-au-feu (beef and marrow bones simmered with root vegetables). And for proof that a recent change of ownership at this 1964-vintage address hasn't changed the place a jot, order the tarte tatin with ivory-coloured crème fraîche for dessert.
• 1 rue du Mail, 2nd arrondissement, +33 1 4260 0711. Métro: Bourse. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner. Average €60

• Prices are per person excluding wine. Alexander Lobrano is the author of Hungry for Paris

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award-winning Dirty Tackle...

Chris Cohen teaches Didier Drogba a few guitar chords and sings a very special song with him. But Drogs takes it a bit too far (as he tends to do). [YouTube]

The new Lyon shirt is glorious. [The Beautiful Gear]

Your stupid rage. [Run of Play]

The Busquets allegations, a.k.a. "Mes que un what, exactly?" [BFB]

The first football films. [IBWM]

Javier Hernandez: A love letter. [Surreal Football]

Benny Feilhaber addresses his webcam accident. [Kickette]

Porto taking referees out to dinner. [The Spoiler]

Hulk will cost exactly €100 million. [Football Italia]

Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia prove that football isn't their strongest sport. [DBG]

The secret to Ryan Giggs' longevity. [Studs Up]

Brandon Lyon’s poor pitching was due to a torn rotator cuff.

• Box score| Photos from Great American Ball Park CINCINNATI – The Astros never made their 24-hour closer soap opera relevant. With Brandon Lyon back in Houston getting his shoulder examined after having blown his fourth save in eight tries, the new appointee Mark Melancon never left the bullpen until the Reds were celebrating a [...]

A day after blowing his fourth save in eight chances, Brandon Lyon was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis and a partial tear of his rotator cuff and placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The city of Santa Ana has ordered the owners of Saddleback Inn to demolish the once popular business-lunch locale. Calling the four shuttered buildings at East First and Lyon streets a threat to public safety, the city has given owner Saddleback Inn LLC and its landlord, the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, 60 days to demolish the site. They have 10 days to respond to the order. If the hotel owner and landlord fail to comply with the demolition order, the city is authorized to demolish the buildings on its own and bill the owners for the costs, according to the Orange County...

Aneury Rodriguez pitched GREAT, giving up only a triple to the RF wall that Hunter (ahem) didn’t get to. Wilton Lopez, back from the DL, pitched a hitless, shutout inning, as did Fulchino. Abad and Melancon pitched another. Then brought in to slam the door with a 2 run lead in a 1-hit game, Brandon Lyon [...]Read the full original article...

Happy Thursday.  Some news that broke just as I was getting ready to schedule this to publish: Brandon Lyon is being flown back to Houston to be examined for shoulder problems, according to Astros rep Alyson Footer.  Also, don't forget that we've got another early game today.

Rotoprofessor goes digging for rebound candidates by looking at the five pitchers with the lowest strand rates.

RotoGraphs continues to update their positional rankings; today they rerank second basemen and closers.

RotoExperts updates their closer chart and tries to make some sense out of the Cardinals' bullpen, among others.

Roto Hardball updates their Top 20 Prospects for 2011.

COSFBA has some streaming candidates for you, if you're into that sort of thing.

KFFL and RotoGraphs have some waiver wire recommendations.  Lester's Legends has some recommendations for those that need RBI help.

RotoExperts notes that there has been a power surge of sorts this year.

RotoGraphs profiles Adrian Gonzalez and David DeJesus, two players who have recently suffered arm injuries.

Lester's Legends likes Adam Dunn to bounceback.

KFFL is the latest site to dig into Yovani Gallardo's rough start, and the outlook here is a bit more rosy than I've seen elsewhere.  Remember: It's always good to get a wide variety of opinions before you do something drastic, so read up if you're a Gallardo owner.

The Hardball Times thinks about Francisco Liriano's no-hitter.  Some good philosophical stuff here about benching cold starting pitchers.

RotoGraphs recommends Freddy Garcia for those in AL-Only leagues.

Johnny Cueto is about ready to get activated from the DL, and Roto Hardball has some notes on him.

Michael Pineda gave up 4 runs last night, including his first two home runs as a major leaguer, but he also threw 77 of 97 pitches for strikes.  He's going to be fine.

RotoRob digs into some of the Rangers relievers, and also Sean Green for some reason.  In any case, Neftali Feliz might be activated on Friday, so you'll be able to stop worrying about Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes soon.

Rotoprofessor has a comprehensive injury report.

John Sickels' Prospect of the Day is 2B Jemile Weeks, brother of Rickie.

Baseball America and KFFL have prospect roundups.

CINCINNATI — As Brandon Lyon awaits an MRI on his shoulder in the midst of his recent struggles, the injuries don’t stop at the border of the 25-man roster. • Catcher Carlos Corporan, who excelled in the big league spring training and had been the Astros’ primary backup plan in case of injury to either of their [...]

Mark Melancon: Melancon will step in as the Astros' closer while Brandon Lyon (shoulder) is sidelined, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

19 Vote(s)

Astros closer Brandon Lyon returned to Houston on Thursday to have a test on his weakened pitching shoulder.

Lyon suffering from shoulder weakness

The Astros announced Thursday morning that closer Brandon Lyon would travel to Houston to visit a doctor about weakness in his pitching shoulder. Lyon continued his poor 2011 campaign, blowing his fourth save of the season on Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati without getting a single out. He has blown four saves this season and is sporting a 7.15 ERA. In his absence, Wilton Lopez is a possible al

14 Vote(s)

The Astros announced Thursday morning that closer Brandon Lyon would travel to Houston to visit a doctor about weakness in his pitching shoulder. Lyon continued his poor 2011 campaign, blowing his fourth save of the season on Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati without getting a single out. He has blown four saves this season and is sporting a 7.15 ERA.

19 Vote(s)

Brandon Lyon: Lyon has flown back to Houston to be examined for shoulder weakness, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

10 Vote(s)

The Astros have sent struggling closer Brandon Lyon back to Houston to have his right shoulder examined for weakness. Lyon failed to retire any of the five batters he faced during a 3-2 loss to the Reds on Wednesday afternoon. He came into the game trying to finish off a one-hitter, but gave up a walk, four hits and three runs.

12 Vote(s)