We just got our hands on the Windows Phone 7 during an interview at GDC, and given our unnatural obsession with bolstering our online notoriety, the most prevalent question in our mind was: just how many Gamerscore points can we crank outta this thing? The answer: A beefy 200 Gamerscore points per game, which will be added to your total Gamerscore, as displayed on your Xbox Live Gamertag profile.

We'll be writing up our impressions of the platform, as well as our interview with its creators, later today. For now, rest assured knowing that when you unlock an Achievement in a Windows Phone 7 game, it totally makes that satisfying "bloop-bloop" noise.

Cablevision's 3.1 million subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut had their access to the Academy Awards telecast restored Sunday night after the cable operator reached a deal with ABC's parent company in a dispute over fees.

"It is a deal that is fair to our customers and in line with our other programming agreements," Cablevision Systems Corp. spokesman Charles Schueler said in a phone interview with The Associated Press after the signal had been restored. He declined to disclose details of the deal.

Let's get it out of the way quickly. The answer to the question we all want to ask is: "I can't. I'm sorry about that. This is ‘Lost.' I would tell you, but I can't."

Is Dogen really dead? Of course, The Times did not get to the bottom of that mystery (another one!) during a phone interview with Hiroyuki Sanada, the actor who plays him, or an e-mail exchange with executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. "Lost" fans saw Temple Master Dogen drown at the hands of the infected Sayid (Naveen Andrews) in Tuesday's episode, but whether viewers will see Dogen again -- well, that's a question for the birds at this point.

In an exclusive phone interview from Venice, Italy, Jon Voight raved to UsMagazine.com about his "holiday" with his daughter Angelina Jolie, her partner Brad Pitt and their six children.

See how the Jolie-Pitt kids have grown up

"It's nice to have something that's positive!" Voight, 71, told Us of getting together Sunday in Venice with his once-estranged daughter. He says their boat ride down the ancient city's Grand Canal was "lovely...the weather wasn't so bad for the journey. It's a very beautiful trip. A lot of fun."

The daughter of the deranged Texan who piloted a plane into an IRS building in Texas says her dad is a hero.

"I think too many people lay around and wait for things to happen. But if nobody comes out and speaks up on behalf of injustice, then nothing will ever be accomplished," Samantha Bell, Joseph Stack's daughter from his first marriage, told "Good Morning America" in a phone interview that aired Monday morning.

HAVANA - Relatives in eastern Cuba claim to have held a 125th birthday party for a woman named Juana Bautista de la Candelaria Rodriguez, but it is not clear if she is really that old.

The state-run news agency Prensa Latina reported on the party last weekend in the city of Bayamo in Granma province, attended by Rodriguez's family, including 15 great-grand children and four great-great-grandchildren.

Pete Carroll created a stir last season when he tabbed a true freshman to start at quarterback for USC.

New Coach Lane Kiffin might have topped his mentor Thursday, offering a scholarship to a 13-year-old quarterback -- and receiving a commitment in return.

David Sills is only a seventh-grader, but he said in a phone interview from Delaware, "It's always been my dream to go to USC."

Kiffin could not be reached for comment.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The head of Taylor Swift's record label is fired up and defending his superstar against critical comments about her Grammy-night performance.

"She is the voice of this generation. She speaks directly to (her fans), and they speak directly back to her," said Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta in a phone interview. "This is not 'American Idol.' This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note. This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It's not about that technically perfect performance."

nashville, tennessee — the head of taylor swift's record label is fired up and defending his superstar against critical comments about her grammy-night performance. "she is the voice of this generation. she speaks directly to (her fans

label chief defends swift's grammy performance nashville, tenn. — the head of taylor swift's record label is fired up and defending his superstar against critical comments about her grammy-night performance. 'she is the voice of this generation. she

Jamaica's bid to have its bobsled team compete in this month's Olympics has come up short.

The list of nations who qualified and entered bobsled events at the Vancouver Games, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, failed to include Jamaica - which had spent the last few weeks hoping that a slot opened in the field.

Those hopes were dashed, and on Wednesday, the Jamaicans acknowledged that all chance for 2010 was gone.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The head of Taylor Swift's record label is fired up and ready to defend his superstar from people who are criticizing her Grammy-night performance.

"She is the voice of this generation. She speaks directly to (her fans), and they speak directly back to her," said Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta in a phone interview. "This is not `American Idol.' This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note. This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It's not about that technically perfect performance."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Snubbed by the Carolina Panthers since the end of the season, the agent for five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers is convinced his client will play elsewhere in 2010.

Carl Carey said Sunday night the Panthers have "not made a single inquiry this offseason" regarding the impending unrestricted free agent.

"And we don't expect to hear from them," Carey told The Associated Press in a phone interview, setting the stage for Peppers to become one of the top defensive players to hit the market in years ahead of a potential season without a salary cap.

SAN FRANCISCO - Brian Wilson and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $4,437,500, one-year deal on Saturday, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

The Giants confirmed to The Associated Press that the sides settled at the midpoint of what each proposed in arbitration.

Wilson has spent the past two of his four major league seasons as San Francisco's full-time closer, recording 79 saves during that span and going to the All-Star game in 2008. The hard-throwing right-hander has a career record of 11-13 with a 3.73 ERA and 86 saves.

Minnesota is sticking with football coach Tim Brewster, his vow to advance the program unfulfilled through three topsy-turvy seasons.

Brewster and the university agreed Friday to a two-year contract extension through the 2013 season. Both sides declined to reveal terms of the deal before Brewster, who was out of town, signs it next week.

"I'm really pleased, obviously," Brewster said in a phone interview. "It's a nice compliment to our program. We're just continuing the process of building the program that can compete for a championship. We've taken some very positive steps."

CINCINNATI -- Chad Ochocinco hopes to show a Pro Bowl audience that he can kick it as well as catch it. The Bengals receiver made some kickoffs Thursday during practice for the Pro Bowl in Miami, hoping to convince the coaches that he's capable of going toe-to-toe. He showed off his punting skills during warmups a day earlier.

Ochocinco told The Associated Press in a phone interview after practice that he's also planning to kick field goals during practice this week. He wants to persuade AFC coaches that he could be more than a just receiver during the game on Sunday.

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics added another veteran arm to their young rotation, agreeing to terms Tuesday with free-agent righty Ben Sheets on a $10 million, one-year contract.

The 31-year-old Sheets has been plagued by injuries. The four-time NL All-Star didn't pitch in the majors last season while recovering from elbow surgery but last week held a pitching session for several scouts in Louisiana.

(CNN) - South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, under fire for drawing a comparison between needy people and "stray animals," said Monday that he regrets his choice of words.

In a phone interview with CNN, Bauer, a Republican candidate for governor, said, "I wish I had used a different metaphor." Bauer told an audience Friday that people receiving government assistance are like "stray animals" because "they breed" and "don't know any better."

The terminations represent about 10 percent of the warehouse-club operator's 110,000 staffers across its 600 stores. About 10,000 members of the demonstration department, most part-time workers, were let go. The company also cut its new-business membership representative positions, affecting about 2 staffers per store, or about 1,200 staffers in total.

Employees were told the news at mandatory meetings yesterday morning.

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Sunday it is cutting about 11,200 jobs at its Sam's Club warehouse division as it outsources its product-sampling department to marketing company Shopper Events in an effort to win more customers and boost lagging sales.

The terminations represent about 10 percent of the warehouse club operator's 110,000 staffers across its 600 stores. About 10,000 members of the demonstration department, most part-time workers, were let go. Employees were told the news at mandatory meetings on Sunday morning.