Norman Borlaug

Norman Borlaug

Nobel laureate Norman E. Borlaug, an agricultural scientist who helped develop disease-resistant wheat used to fight famine in poor countries, died Saturday. He was 95. Borlaug died from cancer complications in Dallas, Texas, a spokeswoman for Texas A&M University said. A 1970 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Borlaug was a distinguished professor of international agriculture at the university.

Borlaug started at Texas A&M in 1984, after working as a scientist in a program that introduced scientific techniques for preventing famine in Mexico, according to the university. Until recently, he traveled worldwide working for improvements in agricultural science and food policy, said Kathleen Phillips, a university spokeswoman. Borlaug was known as a champion of high-yield crop varieties, and other science and agricultural innovations to help fight hunger in developing nations.

"We all eat at least three times a day in privileged nations, and yet we take food for granted," Borlaug said recently in an interview posted on the university's Web site. "There has been great progress, and food is more equitably distributed. But hunger is a commonplace, and famine appears all too often." He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006, according to the university's Web site.

Bernard Berrian

Bernard Berrian

Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian, listed as questionable on the injury report Friday, will be active for the Vikings' regular-season opener today against the Browns. Berrian injured his hamstring in the first quarter of the Vikings' exhibition opener at Indianapolis and did not play in the final three preseason games. He was limited all last week in practice, raising the possibility that he might sit out today. However, Berrian tested the hamstring in pregame warmups and obviously felt he was good to go.

Part of the issue is that Berrian has never suffered a hamstring injury in his career before this and did not know exactly what to expect. As expected, Sage Rosenfels has been designated the Vikings' third quarterback for today's game, meaning Tarvaris Jackson will be the backup to Brett Favre. If Rosenfels enters before the fourth quarter, Favre and Jackson would not be eligible to return to the game.

The biggest surprise on the Vikings' inactive list is defensive tackle Fred Evans, who is listed as the backup nose tackle to Pat Williams and started late last season after Williams suffered a shoulder injury. Evans was not listed on the injury report last week, so his absence evidently isn't injury related. The Vikings other inactives are wide receivers Jaymar Johnson and Greg Lewis; cornerback Asher Allen; safety Jamarca Sanford; linebacker Erin Henderson and center Kory Litchtensteiger. Henderson is expected to miss about a month because of a calf injury. Lewis was signed last week after wide receiver Bobby Wade was released.

Shaun Cassidy

Shaun Cassidy

Just take a close look at Shaun Cassidy’s face. The answer to the question, “What’s so cute about him?” is written right there. Start with his eyes, (isn’t that the best place?). Dreamy is the word for them. Big and hazel and so alive. Expressive, too. You can always tell what he’s feeling just by looking into them– they give away his innermost secrets! Have you ever noticed the cute little tilt of his head Shaun gives if he doesn’t understand something? Instead of asking, “What?”, he just sort of tilts his head and looks at you with the question in his eyes. Hmmmm–wonderful!Shaun Cassidy

Of course, his eyes are sexy and very romantic, but they’re just plain cute, too–especially when he closes them for a second and gives you an unintentinal look at his long, long, long, slightly naturally curly eyelashes! When he blinks them, it’s soooo cute it makes you want to reach out and touch his eyelids, and then plant a kiss on them. Well, you asked for it! Shaun’s just not cute, he’s CUTE and a lot more…when doubting friends ask, “Oh yeah? What’s so cute about him?”, this will prove it!