Hot Mormon Muffins Calendar

The "Hot Mormon Muffins: A Taste of Motherhood" calendar features 12 mothers who claim membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in vintage pinup picture poses. Each month also has a muffin recipe.

It's a companion piece to "Men on a Mission," the three-year series of calendars that featured 12 male church missionaries who doffed their signature white shirts.

Last year, a dustup over the calendar ultimately cost its creator, Las Vegas entrepreneur Chad Hardy, his membership in the church and his diploma from the church-owned Brigham Young University.

Hardy said the projects are designed to shake up stereotypes that paint Mormons in general as stuffy or hyper-conservative and mothers in particular as homemakers from another era.

"I also want them to be open, accepting of other people, know that everybody is not the same and that it's OK to make your own choices," said Roberts, who works as a restaurant server and confessed to having a few tattoos, generally considered taboo among Mormons.

Roberts said her turn as a calendar model was an accident. Last year, she read news reports about Hardy and his disciplinary problems with the church and BYU.

"That made me mad, I did not agree with that," said Roberts, who applied for the job on a whim after she heard a women's version of the calendar was in the works.

She said the $15.95 calendar's pinup poses and slightly revealing outfits aren't in keeping with the message of modesty promoted by the church, but she's not ashamed of the pictures.

"The pictures are tasteful, and it's fun. I don't see why people can't have a sense of humor," she said. "I just don't think it's a big deal."

The women featured in the calendar range in age from 26 to 53. Some have as many as four children. Several are stay-at-home moms, while others are students, real estate agents, cosmetologists and dance instructors. One is a former Miss Utah and another is a breast cancer survivor, according to biographies on the calendar Web site.

Hardy and a business partner created the first "Men on a Mission" calendar for 2008. The 2009 version drew the attention of the church, and Hardy was excommunicated in July 2008 after a church court.

Hardy participated in graduation ceremonies at BYU in Provo a month later, but his diploma was withheld. He lost an appeal of the decision in March.

Real Chance Of Love 2 Winner

NEW YORK - Pedro Martinez spent much of the spring aboard his yacht off the coast of the Dominican Republic, fishing for bonito and grouper and waiting for a contending team to make what he considered a respectful offer for his services.He had become the Caribbean version of Roger Clemens, a man happy to play half the season with the proper financial incentive. But far more fish bit than did teams.

Baseball executives rolled their eyes when Martinez demanded $5 million; mindful that he had pitched poorly for the Mets in 2008 after spending three months on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. The fear was that Martinez had wrung every inning out of his right arm and could not compete with a fastball that only rarely brushed 90 miles per hour.That even the Mets, a team desperate for pitching, passed on Martinez seemed like a warning sign.

“I knew there were doubts in me,’’ Martinez said. “But I did not doubt myself. I knew I could still pitch. But I was willing to wait for the right situation.’’Martinez retreated from his financial demands and when the Phillies asked he twice traveled from his home in Santo Domingo to face teenage prospects at the team’s complex in Guanuma in early July. The Phillies, impressed by what they saw, offered Martinez $1 million.

Desire trumped pride and Martinez accepted. Four months later, he was spinning in joyous circles on the infield grass at Citizens Bank Park after the Phillies clinched their return to the World Series. Now Martinez will face the Yankees in either Game 2 or Game 3 of the Word Series later this week.

Eagles Vs Redskins Score

The Eagles vs Redskins score for week 7 Monday Night Football was closer than the game was. Philadelphia won 27-17 over Washington.Going into Monday night's Eagles vs Redskins game, it was expected that the Eagles would win. But that was no guarantee after their performance the week before in the loss to the Raiders.Except for a few big plays, the Eagles offense continued to be mediocre during the Monday night Eagles vs Redskins game. The Eagles defense stepped up to the plate and performed.

The Redskins continued to show just how bad the whole organization is performing during the Monday night game. During the week, play-calling duties had been taken away from embattled head coach Jim Zorn. The Redskin offense fared no better with Sherm Lewis calling the plays.It did not take the Eagle offense long to strike. DeSean Jackson ran for a 67 yard touchdown on only the fourth Eagle play. Jackson would later add a 57 yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Jackson only touched the ball three times on offense. His touchdowns in the Eagles vs Redskins game made Jackson the third player in NFL history to have five touchdowns of 50+ yards through six games.Jackson touchdown catch also gave Eagles' quarterback, Donvan McNabb his 200th touchdown pass for his career. McNabb also surpassed 30,000 yards passing or his career during Monday night's game.

Blake Griffin

The Los Angeles Lakers look to defend their NBA title starting tonight when the new NBA season officially kicks off.

The Lakers will play the Clippers tonight while the Boston Celtics take on LeBron James and Cleveland. The Clippers got some bad news when it was learned that rookie Blake Griffin will not play tonight and could miss up to six weeks with an injured knee.

Washington and Gilbert Arenas will open its season at Dallas tonight and Houston will play at Portland.

The Lakers will have a bit of a new look this year with the addition of Ron Artest, an excellent defender, a very competent offensive player, and someone who comes with baggage as well from off the court incidents to not getting along with teammates on the court. Still, when motivated, he can help any team he plays for and perhaps playing for a title will motivate him in LA.

After 25 years of deprivation, capped by a uniquely miserable 19-63 season in 2008-09, that's something people who love the Clippers desperately need to believe, which is why news that Griffin will miss up to six weeks with a broken kneecap is so devastating.

When the Clippers won the draft lottery in May, the wounds from the 2008-09 season were still raw. The pick would provide something of a salve, but the team was still carrying a load of weighty, unmovable contracts. But once the Memphis Grizzlies willfully took Zach Randolph off the Clippers' hands, the long-term prospects of the team suddenly appeared rosier.

Torchlight

AS Bonfire Night approaches, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is warning people not to take risks with fireworks.

The fire service said that although most people treat fireworks appropriately, a small minority treat them as toys and forget that they are actually explosives. They want people to make sure they stay safe this November 5 by following this advice:

* Keep fireworks in a closed metal box and take them out one at a time.

* Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on each firework. Read them by torchlight, never use a naked flame.

* Light fireworks at arm’s length using a safety firework lighter or fuse wick.

* Stand back after lighting and never go back to a firework once lit – it may go off in your face.

* Keep a bucket of water handy and douse used fireworks with water or place them in a metal container.

* Keep children under control and keep pets indoors.

Bonfires present additional hazards when it’s dark.