The MaineSail Journal: "Spring"

"Spring" By Doug Mills

A sure sign of spring is when the North End Shipyard  in Rockland begins it's haul out season.

McMurtry wins Nastia Liukin Cup in third attempt

Worcester, Massachusetts - Alex McMurtry of Midlothian, Va./Richmond Olympiad Gymnastics, won the all-around title at the 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup Friday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. McMurtry, competing in her third-straight Nastia Liukin Cup, proved the third time is the charm and posted a 38.450 to capture the overall crown. Aja-Monet Sims of Clermont, Fla./Brandy Johnson's, 38.175, and Samantha Partyka of Katy, Texas/Champions Gymnastics Academy, 38.075, finished second and third respectively.

Proceeds from the event go to the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation.

"I'm really excited. I knew I had a good chance since this is my third year back," McMurtry said, "I was second last year at the Nastia Liukin Cup, so moving up one spot feels really good."

McMurtry came from behind in dramatic fashion to take the all-around title. After starting with an 8.925 on the uneven bars, she performed nearly flawlessly on the last three events. On the balance beam, where she dismounted with a nearly stuck two-and-a-half twist, McMurtry earned a 9.750. Earning a 9.800 on floor exercise, McMurtry received one of the loudest ovations of the night from the crowd of more than 1,300. Her tumbling was sky-high, performing a tuck full-twisting double back and triple full. In the final rotation, McMurtry was almost perfect, scoring 9.975 for her double twisting Yurchenko.

McMurtry had the highest scores of the competition on vault, beam and floor.

Sims earned her highest score of the night, 9.675, on the balance beam, where she executed a front aerial, a back handspring to layout stepout series and double back dismount. Sims also scored 9.600, vault; 9.350, bars; and 9.550, floor.

Posting scores of 9.825, vault; 9.325, bars; 9.300, balance beam; and 9.625, floor exercise, Partyka earned the bronze medal in the all-around.

Ashton Locklear of Huntersville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics, earned the highest score of the night on the uneven bars, a 9.475.

Each of the 34 gymnasts in the field qualified through one of the designated invitationals that comprised the Nastia Liukin Cup Series. A selected number of gymnasts from each invitational advanced to the Nastia Liukin Cup.

The Nastia Liukin Cup participants received a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the AT&T American Cup; and both met and had their photo taken with Liukin. For more information, go to www.nastialiukincup.com.

About Nastia Liukin
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin's total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games, held by Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Shannon Miller (1992). Liukin's Olympic medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin was the third of four U.S. women to win the Olympic all-around crown. She also won nine World medals in her career. Liukin has graced many magazine covers and appeared on various shows, including "Gossip Girl," "Make It or Break it," and the feature film, "Stick It." She was also chosen as one of 2009's most influential women by MSN Lifestyle. Liukin is now attending college in New York City. Last fall, she was a member of the creative team and a cast member for the Kellogg's Tour of Olympic Champions, a national, 40-city tour that followed the 2012 Olympic Games. Liukin was coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988 including two gold.

Abigail Breslin Visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Stunning

Actress Abigail Breslin, 16, looked stunning in a black dress as she sat down with Jay Leno for a The Tonight Show interview. Abigail Kathleen Breslin born on April 14, 1996 is an American actress. She is one of the youngest actresses ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.

You can watch her interview with Jay Leno tonight at 11:30pm on NBC.

Sophia Bush Harper's BAZAAR Celebration Beautiful

West Hollywood, California - Actress Sophia Bush, 30, looked beautiful in a orange off one shoulder dress as she attends the Harper's BAZAAR celebration for the new Bravo series 'Dukes of Melrose' at The Terrace at Sunset Tower on February 28, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. Sophia Anna Bush is an American actress, director, and spokesperson. She starred in the CW television series One Tree Hill where she portrayed Brooke Davis.

Jessica Lowndes Harper's BAZAAR Celebration Lovely

West Hollywood, California - Jessica Lowndes, 24, looked lovely in a black floor length dress as she attended the Harper's BAZAAR celebration for the new Bravo series 'Dukes of Melrose' at The Terrace at Sunset Tower on February 28, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. Jessica Lowndes is a Canadian actress, pop singer and songwriter. She is best known for her role as Adrianna Tate-Duncan on TV series 90210.

Yosemite Today

El Capitan and the Yosemite Valley at 11:55 AM today.

Yosemite Weather Today: Sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 32. East northeast wind around 5 mph.

Senators Udall, Collins to Introduce Bipartisan Plan to Strategically Implement Otherwise-Arbitrary Sequestration Cuts

Legislation Would Allow Executive Branch to Direct Cuts But Give House, Senate Appropriate Oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Following the U.S. Senate's failure to pass either the Democratic or Republican proposals to avert the arbitrary, automatic, indiscriminate budget cuts, commonly called sequestration, Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced that they will introduce a plan to allow the federal government to propose more targeted cuts while also allowing for appropriate congressional oversight.

            The bipartisan legislation would allow individual federal departments and agencies to propose how they each would more strategically implement the otherwise-thoughtless, automatic cuts. The bill would require that the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives appropriations committees work with the administration to provide oversight and ultimately approve the spending plans.

            "Blunt, shortsighted budget cuts are not the responsible way to reduce the deficit," Udall said. "This bipartisan plan ensures that the White House and Congress would work together to replace arbitrary cuts with smarter, focused spending reductions. Although I would have preferred that Congress had passed a comprehensive and balanced deficit-reduction plan to replace the sequester, the Udall-Collins plan is the only immediate way to temper the effects the sequester will have on our economy and national security."

            "Rather than dueling partisan plans that everyone knows have no chance of passing, our bipartisan plan would help mitigate the harmful effects of sequestration by allowing agency heads more flexibility to set priorities in reducing their budgets," Collins said. "While I continue to talk with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and with the White House, on how we could produce a sound, long-term fiscal plan to replace the indiscriminate cuts of sequestration, I believe our plan shows that it is possible to work together on a responsible, thoughtful plan to reduce our deficit, protect the jobs of hard-working Americans, and avoid mindless, meat-ax spending cuts."

            The Udall-Collins bill does the following:

• It empowers the executive branch to work with Congress and propose the best way to administer what would otherwise be automatic, arbitrary budget cuts required under the Budget Control Act;
• The Administration's spending proposal for a given department would be given to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for review and approval, providing appropriate Congressional oversight and input.
• Finally, the legislation provides authorities for the Department of Defense to start new projects and programs that have been approved, but have been on hold due to the inability of Congress to adopt a full-year defense appropriations bill.