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Our lives began to revolve around the tantrums. I began to feel weird about having people over because I wasn't sure how Miles would act toward other kids. I got nervous taking him to the church nursery. I felt like I couldn't leave our kids in the same room unsupervised ever and that just wore me all the way out. People told me he was just trying to test his boundaries. But my gut was telling me that there was so much more going on than that. I could feel my sweet, tiny Miles shutting down when we were at home. He still totally put on a show for strangers and latched on to anyone at the grocery store who would show him an ounce of attention, but at home, he just turned into someone different. At home, I found myself saying in my head (and out loud to a few people), "This kid hates me." Miles seemed to have no problem loving all over my husband. It was just me (and Noah) that he just couldn't handle. (We're the people that he is around all day every day) And as a mother, that is defeating. Kids are supposed to love their mothers. And mothers are supposed to love their children. That is supposed to just be a given- not something you have to work at every minute of the day. If you've never had to live with them before, let me tell you- survival behaviors are hard to love and even harder to like.
I wondered where that little boy who just melted into me in Africa had gone. He had been replaced by a child who genuinely seemed tormented most of the time. I could still find glimpses of that earlier child, so I knew that we still had hope. We started researching and going to doctors and adoption experts and finally found out last week that Miles has extreme post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And he is on the attachment disorder spectrum. No one is calling it RAD, because he does recognize that we are here to keep him safe and he does seek us out to meet his needs for food- but that is about it. The PTSD just takes him from a normal kid one minute to a child that needs a straight jacket the next. We're working on figuring out the triggers for him. Hunger is a huge one. Before meals, right when he starts to get hungry, he goes off the deep end. The hunger takes him right back to a state of fear and chaos. It is just heartbreaking to watch.
We're still trying to push papers through the state to qualify him for services- which seems to just be taking forever. The state just can not understand why we don't know our own son's birthday or exact age. Doctors from 2 different clinics have submitted statements on our behalf about his estimated age, but the state just can't figure out what to do with that. When we finally get that pushed through, the last clinic we saw suggested that he be therapatized like crazy. He is a really smart kid, but at 2 1/2- he only has the social/emotional capability of a child less than half his age. So he's got a lot of catching up and a lot of brain reprogramming to do.
And to add to it, we also found out that Miles has latent tuberculosis. If you know us in real life, do not panic, it is not contagious. He will just need to be medicated for 9 months to keep himself from developing active TB. His first TB tests after coming home were negative. Malnutrition affects all kinds of blood tests. When we brought Miles home 4 months ago, he was older than 2 and only weighed 12.5 pounds. If you are the praying kind of person, please pray that this TB test was the only false negative test that he will have in the coming months when we do more rounds of testing.
We are also hoping to have some clear discernment about Miles' eyes. The doctors are suggesting that we have Miles' eyelids tacked up since their droopiness is affecting his vision. He walks around most of the time with his head tilted back so he can see out the bottom of his eyelids. I love those sleepy eyes, but I also want my son to be able to see properly. The surgery is very easy, but is also very painful. At this point, while he is having so much trouble attaching, I am not sure that putting him through something painful is the right thing to do. When he had his 2 stitches in his head taken out he wouldn't look at me for days and only let me hold him if a dog was around for a whole week. I can only imagine how much more intensified that would be with a really painful surgery. I'm thinking it may be a better idea to just hold off on it for a while.
I do apologize for being such a downer for the last several weeks. That is not the intention, because I am actually feeling pretty good right now. But, this blog is an open book about my life and that means taking the good with the bad. However, now that you know what we are up against in our home, I'll try to keep it positive!
Last week was my first day of having my summer babysitter- which was Amazing with a capital "A". I laid by the pool all day with my best friend and talked about everything under the sun. I got burned to a crisp in the hot sun and finally stopped looking like a vampire. (Next to Miles, though, most everyone looks like a vampire). The kids did great with the sitter (who is just about the prettiest teenager I've ever seen. Seriously- she looks like Beyonce before Beyonce started making her hair that crazy shade of blonde.) So all in all- that whole situation is going to just be glorious. I felt totally energized by my time away and can't wait to do it again this week.
I also started trying to take better care of myself. Eating better, coupled with insane amounts of stress have so far resulted in a 15 pound weight loss. Go me! My mii on the Wii now only says I'm overweight instead of obese. Woop Woop!
So see... it's not all bad! In all things there is HOPE!
**I'm announcing the Mom's retreat for 2010 this week. Holy cow- I'd love to get away. Wouldn't you? Stay tuned for details!**
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HEOA Net Price Calculator
In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), every college in the United States is required to post a Net Price Calculator on its website that uses college data to provide estimated net price information to current and prospective students and their families based on a student's individual circumstances.
We're pleased to be a part of this and have provided a link to the Calculator below. We welcome you to give it a try.

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Artist description:
I'm really happy with the hair and the roses~♥ ^_^
Java Draw Created Nov 19, 2010 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2010 Hairei.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
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add collection and 5h :) very nice
Wow, thats so pretty! I love the colors :)
amazing 5 h
She's so cute!! The roses have a lot of detail and her hair is so pretty the way it's flowing :D Her eyes are very soft too and she gives off a very elegant feeling!!
hi do you want to contribute two anime drawings for my story?I am planning to publish it as a real novel.My novel is already being edited by an editor.Please reply I want to know if you are interested.
perfect!! :o
i love the details u do.................u do u do the hair? is awesome....
This is SO lovely, great job.
This is gorgeous.. 5/5
AMAZING~ I am totally in love with your style and absolutely everything ^^ your amazing :D


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I really hope you all like the ProBoards forum as much as I do. If anyone has any questions at all, PLEASE don't hesitate to ask.
I've spent some time copying and pasting some of the threads from here to the new forum. If any of you want to give it a try, I would greatly appreciate some help.
Here's how to do it:
Open two tabs: One with the "old" forum: www.quakerparrots.com and one with the "new" forum: www.quakerparrotforum.com.
With the "new" forum active, and the section where you want to create your thread open, click "Create Thread" (located at the top right area of the section).
In the "Subject" line, type the same subject as on the "old" thread. In this case, the thread title was too long "Quaker Won't Cuddle Anymore, Only Preens And Nibbles My Hair...?" so I had to shorten it.
With the "old" forum active and the thread you want to copy open, click and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse down to highlight the area you want to copy and paste. Highlight from the poster's name to where it says "'Report', 'Multiquote' and 'Quote'". Press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the highlighted section.
NOTE: I like to copy and paste the original post seperate from the replies.
With the "new" forum active and your new post open, click anywhere in the body area (make sure the cursor is at the top) and press Ctrl+V on your keyboard to paste the highlighted section from the "old" forum to your new post.
It will look something like this:
Click "Create Thread" (located at the bottom right).
Once the thread is created, go back to the "old" forum, highlight all of the replies at once (if there are multiple pages, post each page seperately), press Ctrl+C to copy, make the "new" forum active and go to the thread you just created, click anywhere in the "Quick Reply" box and press Ctrl+V to paste the replies you highlighted, then click "Post Quick Reply".
Hopefully this makes sense.
You'll be seeing this a whole lot, but I mean it....if you have questions about anything, please ask!


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Copyright StatementThe contents of all material available on this World Wide Web site are copyrighted by SSM Health Care (SSMHC) unless otherwise indicated. Copyright is not claimed as to any part of an original work prepared by a U.S. or state government officer or employee as part of that person's official duties. All rights are reserved and content may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with the prior written agreement of SSMHC or as indicated below. Users may download pages or other content for their own personal use on a single computer, but no part of such content may be otherwise or subsequently reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with the prior written agreement of and with express attribution to, SSMHC.
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This dessert spread that the ladies over at Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations and Canvas and Canopy created is a confectionary dream straight from the scenes of a Marie Antoinette movie! And, Elizabeth and I love it! Love. It. Everything on the table is so perfectly dainty and feminine (hello, lace table cloth and ribbons galore! And, do we spy little meringues that are adding to the "delectable drama" that Vanessa and Courtnie created? We can't imagine anyone being able to refuse nibbling from this table at least once. Maybe, twice. Okay, fine -- three times. (I mean, it is a baby shower afterall. We personally can't think of a better time to over-indulge. Plus, we wouldn't want to be "rude"). :) So, consider this our plea for one of you to replicate this dessert table at your upcoming baby shower!
From Vanessa and Courtnie... Sinfully delicious and temptingly tantalizing, this White Sugar Dessert bar entices the palate with heirloom ceramic pieces topped with an array of confections. Jawbreakers, cupcakes and pile of sugar-dusted donuts topped with butterflies made for delectable drama, while meringues, nonpareils and mini-marshmallows were delicate and dainty. Vintage lace served as the textural base, while individual tags with ribbon tied everything together. The all white, candy-couture was nestled under a birch branch canopy for utterly sweet shelter!
Photography: Cary Pennington Photography / Planning & Event Design: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations and Canvas and Canopy / Invitations & Event Graphics: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations / Dessert Bar Styling: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations


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It's Bobo's birthday, but sadly no one showed up to his party. A big game hunter figures it's the perfect opportunity to capture the fearsome monster—by throwing Bobo the birthday party of his dreams.
Matthew Furnell, Jarrod Hasenjager, Miro Kolenic, Romy Latter, Aarin Lehmkuhl, and Sarah Scrimgeour made the wonderfully cartoony Big Game at the Animation School in Cape Town, South Africa.
For those having issues with Vimeo, you can also watch the short on YouTube.
[via Vimeo Staff Picks]


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Sign in
Plenary by Derek Dick2015-10-23 14:16
Derek Dick, who is better known in the media as "Fish", made his name as a singer and songwriter first coming to attention as the frontman of the progressive rock band "Marillion" in the 1980s, who sold millions of albums and graced world stages in a dynamic rise to fame in the 80s.
Plenary by Steven L. Thorne2015-10-23 11:04
Awareness, appropriacy, and living language use
Applications of corpus analysis in EAP: research, learning, and teaching2015-10-22 15:35
The talk outlines recent research employing corpus analysis for EAP, considers the effectiveness of learner investigations of corpora in 'data-driven learning', and explores the kinds of discoveries teachers can make from corpora.
Global Business Etiquette 1012012-03-13 13:30
Hi all,
My name is Nikolina. I am originally from Croatia, currently living in France.
I would like to invite all of you to my presentation on Tuesday, 20 March at 10 40 am. It will take place in room Gala 1. Looking forward to seeing you all there.
Here is the abstract:
Interview with David Graddol2015-10-28 12:38
David talks about his exploration of the changing role of English around the world and the impact that global change is having on how and when English is taught.
Interview with Duncan Foord2015-10-26 13:52
Duncan talks about the changing needs of our learners and how teachers' roles can now move into coaching to support learning outside the classroom.
Interview with Chia Suan Chong2012-03-19 13:13
Chia Suan Chong, from IH London, talks about how her attitudes towards English as a Lingua Franca have changed following some research she conducted recently.


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Studying for the LSAT / Re: scantron question...???« on: June 13, 2006, 12:13:26 PM »
it will be no problem - just check your digital image of your scantron on lsac's website, if their is a problem, call them and I'm sure they will fix the error. if there is any error at all (which is unlikely), i doubt it will affect your score, just the ability of the machine to read the sheet.


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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Simple Words, Profound Words
Before a ceremony starts, I usually line up with the groom and his groomsmen. I always reassure the groom that he has nothing to be nervous about. All he has to do is hold his bride's hand and look into her eyes. I'll take care of everything else.
I told this to a groom last Saturday. He smiled and said, "Why should I be nervous? I'm marrying the woman I love."
He said it all. . .
Monday, July 26, 2010
My Wedding Hero
Over the weekend, by chance, I met up with a woman whose wedding I officiated last year. She is one of my wedding heroes. Why? Well, everything that could have gone wrong with her wedding did. And by "everything" I am not really exaggerating.
Shortly before the ceremony, the zipper on her dress broke. The flowers were not the ones she had ordered. The tablecloths were not the color she had ordered. The musicians were late. The shuttle van from the hotel broke down and guests were stranded for a half-hour. The ceremony was delayed an hour.
Through it all she remained calm. Not once did she get angry. How did she do it? I was in awe of her. She told me that it was the happiest day of her life and she wasn't going to let anything ruin her happiness.
She told me that the ceremony was beautiful (thank you!) and that she and her guests had a blast at the reception.
She is my hero. May I suggest that you keep this bride in mind as you plan and live out your own celebration. . .
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These little pieces of art are masterfully created and add a splash of color to any table.
This unique item comes with the certificate of authenticity and Trade Mark verifying its origin and creation as the Island of Murano, in Italy.
Size: 4'5x2'5 cm 1x1'8In.
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S&P upgrades U.S. outlook, but investors yawn
The Standard & Poor's ratings agency said Monday it's getting more optimistic about the U.S. economy. But investors just yawned.
Stocks budged higher when trading opened, shortly after the S&P agency raised its outlook for the U.S. government's debt rating and credited the strengths of the economy. But the gains proved both modest and fickle, and the market spent most of the day flitting between small gains and losses.
At day's end, the Dow Jones industrial average (DJI) and the S&P 500 (SPX) were lower, but just barely. The Nasdaq composite (COMP) was slightly higher. It was a marked change from Friday, when the Dow jumped 207 points after a jobs report that investors viewed as positive.
Trading volume was light, and there were no major economic reports or company announcements. The 10 industry sectors in the S&P were split down the middle, with half rising and half falling, but none moved dramatically. The best performer, telecommunications, was up 0.8 percent. The worst, consumer discretionary, was down 0.3 percent.
Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) slid after a company employee said he had leaked information about secret government surveillance programs. The consulting company's stock dropped 46 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $17.54.
The S&P's statement harkened back to August 2011, when the agency slashed its rating of the U.S. government's debt because Congress was in a heated battle over whether to raise government spending limits. The downgrade, an embarrassment to the U.S., also sent the stock market into a tailspin. The Dow plunged 634 points, or more than 5 percent, on the first trading day after the downgrade. The market had triple-digit swings throughout that fall.
On Monday, S&P upgraded its outlook on the U.S. debt rating to stable from negative. That doesn't restore the U.S. government's top-shelf credit rating, but it does mean that S&P is unlikely to cut the rating again in the near future.
S&P cited the Federal Reserve's willingness to keep interest rates low, which is meant to spur borrowing and spending, and its bond-purchasing program, which is meant to encourage investors to buy stocks and other riskier assets. S&P also noted approvingly that Congress had agreed to raise some taxes this year, notably the Social Security tax that most workers pay, which has helped shrink the government's budget deficit.
The reaction from investors was a far cry from two summers ago. Some doubted S&P's assessment that the economy is improving, and said the Fed is only artificially propping it up.
Ed Butowsky, managing partner of Chapwood Investments in Dallas, said that the unemployment rate is still too high, economic growth too weak and the government's budget deficit too heavy for the economy to be considered healthy.
"It defies economic logic as to why the S&P did this," Butowsky said. "We continue to print money, we continue to spend money. What are they looking at?"
Others agreed with the S&P's assessment, but said it was old news.
Jerry Webman, chief economist at OppenheimerFunds in New York, thinks the economy is strong enough to drive sustainable earnings growth, but not so strong that the Fed might pull the plug on its stimulus measures, a sentiment that seemed to drive Friday's rally. Still, he thinks investors shouldn't draw too many conclusions from a single S&P report.
"On the question of what's moving the U.S. stock market," Webman said, "the answer is 'not much.' "
The Dow closed down 9.53 points, at 15,238.59, a loss of 0.06 percent. The S&P 500 index was essentially flat, falling 0.57 point, to 1,642.81, or 0.03 percent. The Nasdaq composite edged up 4.55 points to 3,473.77, a gain of 0.1 percent.
Outside the U.S., Japan's Nikkei stock index soared 4.9 percent after a report that the world's No. 3 economy is growing faster than expected. But there were also reminders that the global economy is far from cured. In the Netherlands, the central bank warned that the government needs to cut spending. Courts in Germany are poised to consider whether Germany is legally allowed to bail out struggling European countries, as it has been doing.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 2.21 percent from 2.18 percent late Friday, a sign that investors were more willing to put their money in the stock market. In commodities trading, the price of crude oil fell 26 cents to $95.77 per barrel, and gold edged up $3 to $1,386 an ounce.
Among companies making big moves:
Facebook (FB) jumped after Stifel Nicolaus analysts upgraded the stock to buy from hold, saying the company is one of the most compelling investments in the Internet sector. The stock rose $1.04, or 4.5 percent, to $24.33.
B&G Foods (BGS), whose brands include Cream of Wheat and Mrs. Dash, jumped after announcing it would buy Robert's American Gourmet Food, whose brands include Pirate's Booty and Smart Puffs. B&G Foods rose $1.99, or 6.8 percent, to $31.17.
Apricus Biosciences (APRI) soared after reporting that its impotence drug, Vitaros, has been approved in 10 European countries. The stock shot up 17 cents, or 6.6 percent, to $2.73.


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Kaye Cowher, the wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers coach and current CBS pro football analyst Bill Cowher, died yesterday in North Carolina after battling skin cancer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. She was 54 years old.
The former Kaye Young was on North Carolina State's women's basketball team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in 1978. That same year, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology. Kaye and her twin sister Faye then played for the Women's Professional Basketball League until the league folded in 1981
She met her future husband Bill Cowher as classmates at North Carolina State in 1976; they later married five years later. The couple have three children: Meagan, Lauren and Lindsay.
U.S. & World
According to the Post-Gazette, Faye Cowher was always present in the press box during Steelers games and "was considered as resolute and steely as her more famous husband."
She was regarded as influential in her husband's decision to leave football in 2007, so that her family could move to her native North Carolina.
No information on Faye Cowher's death has been released. Services are scheduled in North Carolina for Monday, said the Post-Gazette.


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The Stiletto Fireplace Door features a classic style that is sure to enhance any homes' decor.
This door features a slim ½" frame that is simplistic and classic. This door features full-vision glass doors that allow you to see your fire without any obstructions blocking your view. This door is well made and provides a sense of safety to your gathering area around the hearth. You will enjoy the comfort and peace of mind that this classic door brings to your hearth. The handles are placed near the top for easy gripping so that you will be able to easily tend your fire.
Add this timeless door to your fireplace and you will enjoy many relaxing hours gathered around your fire with your family and friends.
By completing the steps below you will be able to customize your door to your personal tastes and needs.


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Yao Ming began his basketball career playing for the Shanghai Sharks, but after leading them to a victory in the CBA championship at the age of 22, he became the No. 1 drafted player in the NBA. During his career, Yao Ming has been selected as an NBA all-star in all eight of his seasons, and through his hard work has developed into one of the best centers in the NBA, earning All-NBA recognition five times. In addition, as a key player on the Chinese national basketball team, Yao Ming has played in 3 Olympic Games from 2000 to 2008, leading the national team to its best record in China's history.
Through his great influence as a worldwide superstar, Yao has become a bridge between China and America. He has shown the West the wisdom, honesty and diligence of the Chinese people and thereby brought China closer to the rest of the world. Moreover, Yao Ming has been proactively involved in charity and public welfare activities including his founding of the "Yao Foundation" in May of 2008. This foundation is aimed at helping children find warmth and hope in life. In 2017,Yao Ming was elected as the new President of Chinese Basketball Association. In his new position, Yao is fully committed to further develop Chinese basketball industry.


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The medium bullring saddlebag has a unique design that many have fallen in love with. The long flap and the bullring closure is sure to turn heads your way. Its spacious interior will not disappoint you either. This can easily be used to go out on that special date and carry all that's important for you while looking apart from the rest.
- We hold a rating of 9.8 on Trust Pilot closing in on 10.
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Learn all the fine details in our technical specifications and read our complete description to get the full story.


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At this time of year, chestnuts begin appearing in grocery stores and city pushcarts draw you in with their wonderful aroma. This tree has an interesting story, from food to industry, and to its near demise. So settle back, perhaps with a cup of warm cider and a roasted chestnut or two, and learn about this fascinating food item.
Chestnut, or Castanea, is a genus of deciduous Northern Hemisphere trees found in Europe, North America, and Asia. It is a member of the beech family, Fagaceae, a family which also includes oaks. There are twelve species overall, four of which are most prominent: the European chestnut (Castanea sativa); the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), which sadly has been ravaged by introduced disease; and two species of Asian chestnut (Castanea crenata and C. mollissima). The nuts ripen within a spiny husk and are further protected by a leathery shell which must be pierced prior to cooking lest the nuts explode from a buildup of steam!
Chestnuts for Food
Humans have eaten chestnuts for thousands of years. And why not! They are high in fiber and a good source of protein; boast minerals including potassium, magnesium, and iron; and are an excellent source of Vitamin C and B6. They may be dried and ground into high-starch, gluten-free flour which makes a good substitute for wheat flour in baking. A tradition of chestnut cake is found in many cuisines of Europe. Marrons glacés, or candied chestnuts, are a winter holiday favorite in France and Italy. The first recipe for them may be found in La Varenne's cookbook Le parfaict confiturier published in the 1660s.
Today chestnuts are cultivated commercially in Asia and Europe, with the bulk of the world's production coming from Korea and China. However, people have gathered wild chestnuts from the woods for millennia to supplement their food supplies. "Chestnutting" was a common early winter activity in New England, as we learn from Thoreau:
"Went a-chestnutting this afternoon to Smith's wood-lot near the Turnpike. Carried four ladies.
I raked. We got six and a half quarts, the ground being bare and the leaves not frozen. The fourth remarkably mild day. I found thirty-five chestnuts in a little pile under the end of a stick under the leaves, near—within a foot of—what I should call a gallery of a meadow mouse. These galleries were quite common as I raked. There was no nest nor apparent cavity about this store. Aunt M. found another with sixteen in it. Many chestnuts are still in the burs on the ground."
– Henry David Thoreau, January 10, 1853
Some eighty years later, a young Jimmy Carter and his family would engage in the same activity, "chestnutting" in the woods around their farm in Plains, Georgia. Unfortunately their harvest was already in decline due to chestnut blight.
Chestnuts for Timber
Chestnut timber is durable, especially when harvested young, and has many characteristics of oak, making it useful for furniture and woodwork. It has good resistance to rot and has long been used for fence posts. It was a traditional material in England for making hop poles, the supporting structures for hop bines prior to the adoption of wire supports in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Hop poles ten to eighteen feet long were set into the ground with their tops tipped slightly outwards around a hop plant. The bines, or hop vines, were then trained up and then allowed to hang down. The cone shape allowed for plenty of air movement which prevented mildew in damp conditions. Poles were produced from coppiced trees which often could be found along the margins of the hop gardens where they acted as windbreaks. Old poles which had outlived their usefulness would often be given over to charcoal burners and "recycled" into charcoal. Think of this when you sip your next pint.
We'll leave chestnuts for now, but please check our next post to learn about the challenges faced by American chestnuts since the arrival of bark blight fungus, and the steps being taken to revive the species.
USDA Nutrient Database [link] FAO Corporate Document Repository, "Chestnut Production Statistics." [link] Carter, Jimmy. "Chestnuts in My Life," in Mighty giants : an American chestnut anthology / Chris Bolgiano, editor ; Glenn Novak, contributing editor. Bennington, Vt. : American Chestnut Foundation : Images from the Past, Inc., c2007. pp. 7-14.
– Lisa Pearson, Head of Library and Archives


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Once Upon a Time in the West
A new home, decked out for the holidays, in Utah's sky country
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Molly Morris was sitting on the front porch of the family's Chevy Chase, Maryland, home when her husband, Bill, returned from a hot-yoga class and put this question to her: What would you think if we moved into a condo in Utah for one year?
"I honestly thought he was going through a midlife crisis, so I decided I'd go along with it. I can do anything for a year," Molly says with a laugh. "We both grew up in the D.C. area, and we really had no idea what it was like to live someplace else."
While Molly and Bill and their two sons, Duncan and Christopher (now 15 and 13), had vacationed in Sun Valley, Idaho, they had never been to Utah. But in June 2005, they loaded up a U-Haul and drove more than 2,000 miles to Park City. They chose Park City because the real estate market was favorable to buyers at the time, and it had direct flights from Washington, making it easy for Bill to stay connected with his commercial real estate business.
"We were curious to know what life might be like in another place, and we thought it would be telling for us to slow down and take a step back from our busy lives in D.C.," Bill explains. "We expected the adventure would confirm that we were blissfully happy back East and that we would be looking forward to re-entry in D.C. to pick up where we left off a year before."
But that's not how the story played out. "Once we got out here, it was like a different world. It was life-altering. After four months, we decided we weren't going back," Molly says. "And we hadn't even lived through one winter here!" Bill works from his home office and enjoys dinner with the family every night. "That never happened in D.C.," Molly relates. "Billy was always at the office or board meetings. We hardly ever saw him.
"Having those family dinners is truly a blessing. Communication is so much better with all of us, especially with the kids," she adds. Year-round, there's always some sort of outdoor activity for the family to enjoy-such as skiing, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing, often right outside their back door. The boys catch a public school bus a few blocks from home rather than their mother driving them nearly an hour each way to attend intensely competitive private schools. "Everything here is within a five-mile radius. Before, we were spending at least two hours every day in traffic," Molly says. "This is just a wonderful way to bring up the boys. They can be outside 365 days a year."
After deciding to make Utah their home, the Morrises bought a choice lot with knockout views of Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts. They sold their Chevy Chase house and phoned Bill's life-long friend and D.C.-based architect George Myers and another D.C. friend, interior designer Elizabeth Hague.
Molly and Bill's message to both designers was emphatic: no typical timbered mountain home with a sprawling open floor plan. Instead, they asked for a traditional Eastern aesthetic in keeping with the family antiques, Oriental rugs, and other furnishings that they were moving across the country.
"They really wanted a more East Coast home with defined rooms and traditional spaces," says Myers. After visiting the site, the architect sketched a French country, stone-and-stucco home, lining up main living areas to take advantage of the mountain views. The topography of the site did present challenges. "We had to gradually step this house up a slope," Myers says. "We tried to make it seem seamless so you weren't really aware of that."
Two- and three-step stairs connect rooms in several areas, suggestive of an old house that has been added on to over the years. The multi-paned windows, gables, stair balusters, and door and window casings painted off-white reflect Eastern architecture, while rough-hewn ceiling beams (salvaged from a Utah railroad trestle) are a nod to the West.
Molly worked long-distance with Hague to pull together the family's existing furnishings-coming from both the Chevy Chase home and the Utah condo-into the new house. "Most all the furniture pieces are things we already had," Molly says. Even fabrics were reused. Hague creatively (and economically) re-sized draperies, adapting those from the previous dining room for the master suite's sitting room. "That's where that wonderful color of blue we used in the bedroom came from," Molly says.
The mahogany dining table, chairs, and sideboard were also from the Chevy Chase house. In keeping with the more relaxed living out West, Hague dressed down the chairs with flirty skirted slipcovers for the seats.
Molly's love for rugs is obvious, with richly patterned Orientals warming nearly every room. "Not only are they beautiful, they're very forgiving and don't show dirt or soil," she says. With two teenaged boys, a Tibetan terrier, and outdoor activities playing such a big role in their lives, "forgiving" fabrics and surfaces were required. Hague selected updated chenilles and heavy-duty cotton and cotton-linen blends for upholstery that could withstand the wear and tear.
The fabrics and rugs inspired the designer's paint choices, which numbered more than 30-most in subtle variations on blues and corals. "Beth's taste in colors is exquisite, and the way they transition from one room to the next is really awesome," Bill says.
"I selected wall and ceiling colors that would most complement the various textiles that I specified for the space," Hague says. "I frequently choose a less dominant color from a textile and use that on the wall so the color is pulled out of the fabric and made to pop."
In the kitchen, the designer finished white cabinets with a gray glaze that echoes the weathered hues of the ceiling beams. Fabrics on the seating pieces in the dining nook are grayed-down greens plucked from the room's rugs. Molly, who loves to bake (especially during the holidays when she goes into pie- and cookie-baking mode), made sure there was plenty of room in the kitchen to gather. "The kitchen is my happy place," she says.
While Park City is their home now, the Morrises haven't lost touch with their D.C. friends, many of whom visit. "The quality of the time we have with them is so much better than if we were back East. They're on vacation and relaxed," Molly says, sheepishly adding, "We're lucky. We always feel like we're on vacation."
Photography: John Granen
Produced by Barbara Mundall
Architect: George T. Myers, GTM Architects, 7735 Old Georgetown Rd., Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814; 240/333-2000, gtmarchitects.com
Interior designer: Elizabeth Hague, associate designer, project manager: Chris Wohlgemuth, Elizabeth Hague Inc. Interiors, 1804 45th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20007; 202/333-0039, elizabethhagueinteriors.com
Builder: Rob Schumacher, Schumacher Construction Inc., P.O. Box 4078, Park City, UT 84060; 435/901-0728.
Florist: Amanda Hansen, Decoration Inc., 444 South 500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; 877/534-1126, decorationinc.com
A two-sided fireplace flanked by steps connects the living and dining rooms. The mirror above the mantel is a 19th-century French antique from Marston Luce.
Wall paint ("Sea Salt" #SW6204): Sherwin-Williams, 800/474-3794.
Ceiling paint ("Honey Harbour" #920): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667, benjaminmoore.com
Sofa ("Lawson"): Charles Stewart Co., 828/322-9464, charlesstewartcompany.com
Sofa leather ("Nubuck Bison"): Moore & Giles, 434/846-5281, mooreandgiles.com Pillows: Barclay Butera, Park City showroom, 435/649-5549, barclaybutera.com
Side pine table: Kim Faison Antiques, 804/282-3736, kimfaisonantiques.com
Tole green can on table: Tone on Tone, 240/497-0800, tone-on-tone.com
Chairs (custom): Marita Bradley Designs, 703/944-9922. Chair fabric (discontinued): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, leejofa.com
Coffee table: owner's collection.
Orange tray on table: Right at Home, 435/658-2111.
Rug (antique, Heriz): Mark Keshishian & Sons Inc., 301/654-4044, orientalcarpets.net
Drapery and window shades ("Seaglass"/Butterscotch #DL-1008-02); pillows on window seat ("Surf"/Butterscotch #DL-1011-05): DeLany & Long Ltd., 203/532-0010, delanyandlong.com
Pillows on windowseat ("Piedmont Stripe"): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, leejofa.com
Lamp on table behind sofa (Victorian tea cannister lamp): Tone on Tone, 240/497-0800, tone-on-tone.com
Mantel: Tartaruga Design Inc., 877/762-0418, tartarugadesign.com
Mirror: Marston Luce Antiques, 202/333-6800, marstonluce.com
Sconces: owner's collection.
Corner wood-armed chair: antique.
Hues in the antique Heriz rug from Mark Keshishian & Sons inspired color choices for furniture and paint.
A locally grown Fraser fir is laden with favorite ornaments. Decorating the tree "is always a very emotional event and tradition at Christmastime," Molly says.
"We have details such as the exposed ceiling beams that make the house feel more relaxed, like a French country house," Molly says.
Wall paint ("Pale Smoke" #1584); ceiling paint ("Ivory White" #925): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Fireplace (honed French limestone): Tartaruga Design Inc., 877/762-0418. Mirror: Details, 801/364-8963.
Dining table (mahogany Regency-style); chairs (carved mahogany neo-classical-style shield-back chairs): Washington Square Antiques, 703/836-3214, washingtonsquareantiques.com
Chair fabric ("Woodcut"/Green, Blue #2007159.513, by Suzanne Rheinstein): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, leejofa.com
Rug: Mark Keshishian & Sons Inc., 301/654-4044.
Chandelier ("Innocence," with custom faux finish #9255): Currey & Co., 877/768-6428, curreyco.com
A silvered mirror above the dining-room side of the fireplace is part of the pretty mix of silver, gold and white. A boxwood wreath tops the mirror, and a mix of votive candles and julep cups filled with tulips and amaryllis keep things young and light.
Designer Elizabeth Hague relaxed the formal look of the Regency-style mahogany dining set by covering chair seats with flirty skirts in a Lee Jofa fabric.
Sideboard (George III inlaid mahogany): Washington Square Antiques, 703/836-3214.
Mirror (custom): through Elizabeth Hague Interiors, 202/333-0039.
The sideboard is a George III inlaid mahogany bowfront that the Morrises purchased at an antiques shop in Alexandria, Virginia. Molly filled the silver-footed urns with hydrangeas, her favorite flower. The silver coffee server is an heirloom from her mother.
Paperwhites emerge from containers on the dining table.
China ("Chinese Bouquet"/Green): Herend, 800/643-7363, herendusa.com Flatware ("Strasbourg"): Gorham Silver, 877/482-6515, gorham1831silver.com Placemats: owner's collection.
Linen napkins: Libeco Home, libeco.com
Glasses with dots; green stemware: owner's collecton.
Swags of local greenery and pinecones both huge and tiny trim out the stair railing-to which florist Amanda Hansen added magnolia and a lovely tangerine ribbon.
Family room walls are painted "Bryce Canyon," a warm coral hue from Benjamin Moore.
Wall paint ("Bryce Canyon" #098): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Sofa ("Charles of London"): Charles Stewart Co., 828/322-9464, charlesstewartcompany.com
Sofa fabric ("Solace"/Aspen #7960, discontinued): Pindler & Pindler, 805/531-9090, pindler.com
Window-seat fabric ("Market Check"/Sage #JW2909, by Jasper): Michael S Smith Inc., 310/315-3018, michaelsmithinc.com. Available through John Rosselli & Assoc., 212/593-2060, johnrosselliassociates.com
Pillows on window seat; chair: owner's collection.
Chair fabric ("Moghul Paisley"/Champagne #LCF 18362F): Ralph Lauren Home, 888/475-7674, ralphlaurenhome.com
Rug (antique, Heriz): Mark Keshishian & Sons Inc., 301/654-4044.
Coffee table: Random Harvest Antiques & Home Furnishings, 301/280-2777.
A window seat with checked fabric in sand, red, and gold offers a cozy reading niche.
The kitchen is the home's center and has ample space for Molly and Bill to cook side by side.
Wall paint ("Country White" #898): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667. Floors: 8-inch oak.
Cabinetry: Craftsman Kitchens, 801/293-8001, craftsmankitchen.com
Cabinetry paint ("Mountain Peak White" #OC-121, with custom gray glaze): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Hanging pendants over island ("Gwenwood Hanging Pendant" #DC-2100, by Darryl Carter): Urban Electric Co., 843/723-8140, urbanelectricco.com
Paint on hanging pendants (custom, "Blue Lace" #1625, with bronze accents): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Countertops (Crema Marfil honed marble): Dal-Tile, 801/487-3590, dal-tile.com
Cabinetry hardware (distressed antique nickel finish): Baldwin Hardware, 800/566-1986, baldwinhardware.com
Rangetop: Wolf, 800/222-7820, subzero-wolf.com
Backsplash (biscuit-colored subway tile, 3x6-inch brick pattern #MT-11 3x6 Biscuit): Contempo Tile, 888/468-8453.
Stools: owner's collection.
Faucet: Rohl, 800/777-9762, rohlhome.com
Red mixer: KitchenAid, 800/422-1230, kitchenaid.com
The circa-1720 oak dresser used as a kitchen hutch was found at the same Alexandria, Virginia, antiques shop that sold the Morrises the dining-room sideboard. Molly uses the hutch to display antique Imari plates and silver pieces.
Since their move to Park City, the Morris family nearly always eat dinner together, gathered around an antique French table.
Chandelier: Random Harvest Antiques & Home Furnishings, 301/280-2777, randomharvesthome.com.
Table; chairs: The Gables Antiques, 404/231-0734, thegablesantiques.com Slipcovered chair (#189-41); chair fabric ("Destin"/Rain): Lee Industries, 800/892-7150, leeindustries.com
Window-seat fabric, blue pillows on window seat (custom, "Tapa"/Lapis #TP3): Peter Fasano Ltd., 413/528-6872, peterfasano.com
Plates and mugs ("Petit Singe"): Juliska, 888/414-8448, juliska.com
Blue-fluted bowls ("Latte Bowls"): Anthropologie, 800/309-2500, anthropologie.com
Candlesticks: Cactus & Tropicals, 801/485-2542, cactusandtropicals.com
Chair-seat cushions (by Hodsell McKenzie): discontinued.
Shades ("Middleton Linen"): Schumacher, 800/523-1200, fschumacher.com
Evergreen wreaths hang at the windows, which offer stunning views of Park City's ski resorts.
In the serene master bedroom, the white matelassé coverlet from Peacock Alley looks crisp and dreamy with bed skirt, shams, and a slipper chair covered in a floral from Colefax and Fowler. All the furnishings were brought from the Morrises' previous home in Maryland.
Wall paint ("Buttermilk" #919): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667. Headboard; slipper chair: owner's collection.
Headboard fabric (custom, aqua linen): Peter Fasano Ltd., 413/528-6872.
Bed-skirt, pillow, and slipper-chair fabric ("Fairburn"/Aqua #F3214-02, by Colefax and Fowler): Cowtan & Tout, 212/647-6900.
Matelassé coverlet: Peacock Alley, 800/496-2880, peacockalley.com
Wall lights (double swing-arm wall lamps, gunmetal finish, by Hinson & Co.): Donghia, 914/662-2377, donghia.com
Plaid fabric on lampshade ("Milton Check"/Aqua #J0505-710, by GP&J Baker): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, leejofa.com
Drapery; wooden settee: owner's collection.
Settee fabric ("Milton Check"/Aqua, by GP&J Baker): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, leejofa.com
Bedside table: Scott Antique Market, scottantiquemarket.com
The headboard is upholstered in a soft aqua linen from Peter Fasano. The pine bedside table is topped with family photos and a vase of cut amaryllis mixed with tulips and eucalyptus berries.
Bedside table: Scott Antique Market, scottantiquemarket.com
Headboard; slipper chair: owner's collection.
Headboard fabric (custom, aqua linen): Peter Fasano Ltd., 413/528-6872. Matelassé coverlet: Peacock Alley, 800/496-2880, peacockalley.com
Bedside table: Scott Antique Market, scottantiquemarket.com
Wall light (double swing-arm wall lamp, gunmetal finish, by Hinson & Co.): Donghia, 914/662-2377, donghia.com
The master sitting room's walls are painted Benjamin Moore "Serene Breeze." Armchairs covered in an aqua-and-cream fabric from Vervain invite relaxation.
Wall paint ("Serene Breeze" #449): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Upholstered sofa; pillows on sofa: owner's collection.
Drapery ("Boxwood"/Grey, Green #10506-04, by Colefax and Fowler): Cowtan & Tout, 212/647-6900.
Lounge chairs: owner's collection.
Chair fabric ("Chapelle"/Aqua #0513806): Vervain, 800/611-8686, vervain.com Coffee table (pine chest); mirror: owner's collection.
Mantel (custom): George T. Myers, GTM Architects, 240/333-2000, gtmarchitects.com
Fireplace surround: slate.
Carpet: discontinued.
Molly and Bill Morris and sons Duncan (standing) and Christopher, with Tibetan terrier Sammy.


text:
Export 2034 results:
Issues and challenges in implementing clinical practice guideline for the management of chronic insomnia. J Sleep Res. 2017;26(6):673-674.
Is it time to get some SHUT-i? Ann Transl Med. 2017;5(16):336.
Ketamine and Imipramine Reverse Transcriptional Signatures of Susceptibility and Induce Resilience-Specific Gene Expression Profiles. Biol Psychiatry. 2017;81(4):285-295.
Language disturbances after non-thalamic subcortical stroke: a review of the literature. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2017;15(2):173-184.
The Lausanne-Geneva cohort study of offspring of parents with mood disorders: methodology, findings, current sample characteristics, and perspectives. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2017.
Live imaging of the innate immune response in neonates reveals differential TLR2 dependent activation patterns in sterile inflammation and infection. Brain Behav Immun. 2017;65:312-327.
Longitudinal differences in white matter integrity in youth at high familial risk for bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord. 2017;19(3):158-167.
Long-Term Maintenance of Therapeutic Gains Associated With Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Delivered Alone or Combined With Zolpidem. Sleep. 2017;40(3).
The making of a mammalian peroxisome, version 2.0: mitochondria get into the mix. Cell Death Differ. 2017;24(7):1148-1152.
Measurement of narcolepsy symptoms: The Narcolepsy Severity Scale. Neurology. 2017;88(14):1358-1365.
Mechanisms of Drug Binding to Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2017.
Mediators and treatment matching in behavior therapy, cognitive therapy and cognitive behavior therapy for chronic insomnia. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017;85(10):975-987.
Memory for emotional images differs according to the presence of depressive symptoms in individuals at risk for dementia. Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29(4):673-685.
The Mental Number Line in Dyscalculia: Impaired Number Sense or Access From Symbolic Numbers? J Learn Disabil. 2017;50(6):672-683.
Mermaid health - identifying health issues related to mermaiding. Int Marit Health. 2017;68(1):12-18.
Metaflumizone inhibits the honeybee NaV 1 channel by targeting recovery from slow inactivation. FEBS Lett. 2017.
Methodological standards and functional correlates of depth in vivo electrophysiological recordings in control rodents. A TASK1-WG3 report of the AES/ILAE Translational Task Force of the ILAE. Epilepsia. 2017;58 Suppl 4:28-39.
The methyltransferase SETDB1 regulates a large neuron-specific topological chromatin domain. Nat Genet. 2017;49(8):1239-1250.
MicroRNAs 146a/b-5 and 425-3p and 24-3p are markers of antidepressant response and regulate MAPK/Wnt-system genes. Nat Commun. 2017;8:15497.
Miniaturized FDDA and CMOS Based Potentiostat for Bio-Applications. Sensors (Basel). 2017;17(4).
The Moderating Effect of Frequent Singing on Voice Aging. J Voice. 2017;31(1):112.e1-112.e12.
Molecular imaging of nestin in neuroinflammatory conditions reveals marked signal induction in activated microglia. J Neuroinflammation. 2017;14(1):45.
Motion-free endoscopic system for brain imaging at variable focal depth using liquid crystal lenses. J Biophotonics. 2017;10(6-7):762-774.
Motor imagery ability of patients with lower-limb amputation: exploring the course of rehabilitation effects. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017.


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Conan O'Brien took a crew to the Detroit Auto Show to continue the havoc we started. A man of his height sure puts the size of the Lotus Elise into perspective.
Points to note about this bit:
- The Lotus Elise looks small enough to fit in Conan's pocket, thus reminding us why we would trade our eye teeth for one.
- Smart cars make terrible party favors, everyone gets saddled with unexpected tax bills
- Conan made one error in reporting, the Lotus Hyster isn't planned for production till the 2010 calendar year
- We've met Richard Duff before, one of the designers for the Buick LaCrosse, and despite his portrayal, he's not nearly as nerdy as he seems. Well, not quite as nerdy. Augbert.
- Slow motion video playback can make anything funny


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MOVIE REVIEW- Roughed up: 'Caspian' not a must-sea-- er, see
The wonder evoked by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been replaced by thunder in the second installment, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The fantastic elements are taken for granted, so we can get down to the business of fighting. And fighting. And fighting. Once a playground, the kingdom of Narnia now resembles the yard of a rough, inner city school at recess.The second film presumes familiarity with the first, which is referenced but not in a way that will fill in the blanks for newcomers.
It's only one year later in London, where World War II is still raging, but more than 1300 years have passed in Narnia. The land has been taken over by the Telmarines, who speak with Italianesque accents, and the remnants of Narnian civilization have taken refuge in forest caves festooned with drawings of their English saviors and a shrine to the real hero, Aslan the lion.
In the opening scene, a child is born to evil King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), who murdered his brother to get the throne and is about to murder his nephew, Prince Caspian X (Ben Barnes), to ensure that his new son will succeed him. Caspian escapes into the forest and, when all seems lost, blows the horn that summons "the Kings and Queens of old" (the Pevensies) back to Narnia. This time their gateway is a London tube station, a bit more mundane than a wardrobe.
"Everything you know is about to change," Caspian is told by his mentor, Dr. Cornelius (Vincent Grass); and indeed the prince will later say, "Two days ago I didn't believe in talking animals and dwarves and centaurs."
There are different talking animals, dwarves, and centaurs this time around. James McAvoy's Faun is missed, but Liam Neeson voices Aslan again when he makes his climactic appearance. Eddie Izzard speaks for Reepicheep, a mouse with an attitude not unlike Puss in Boots in the Shrek sequels (the films share director Andrew Adamson), and Ken Stott voices Trufflehunter the badger.
Tilda Swinton makes a welcome but too brief return as the White Witch. Two dwarves move front and center, Peter Dinklage as Trumpkin the Red Dwarf, and Warwick Davis as Nikabrik the Black Dwarf. (That the latter is less heroic makes one wonder if there's not a touch of racism in the color-coding; even his name is suspect.)
The English children, now aged 12-21, find a very different Narnia. Their old stomping grounds have become ruins. Trumpkin warns them, "You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember."
Indeed, after some early skirmishes, when the movie really gets going there's one big, senseless battle after another. A showdown in the royal bedchamber threatens to wrap things up in under 90 minutes, but Caspian wusses out and leaves King Miraz to fight another day in the movie's second half. Miraz and Peter fight mano-a-mano (well, swordo-a-swordo) to spare their armies, but of course the armies will fight too.
Despite the amount of violence, it's kept bloodless to qualify for a PG rating, which leaves some of the fighting rather inconclusive. People can fall 50 feet and walk away unscathed.
Barnes, formerly of the boy band Hyrise, is an unexceptional actor who was plucked for the star-making title role from the London stage where he was doing The History Boys. You gotta love the movies when they go to so much trouble to find an English actor, then make him speak with a "Mediterranean" accent.
An early face wound makes Prince Caspian look like he has cold sores when the Pevensies arrive, but he heals in time for a mild flirtation with Susan– not enough that this can be considered a chick flick by any stretch of the imagination.
Aslan, who obviously doesn't see many sequels, tells Lucy, "Things never happen the same way twice." In this case he's right. Prince Caspian is darker, more violent and less magical than The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, presuming the audience has grown up a bit in the interim.
When I was a boy, galloping horses and clanging swords went a long way toward giving me a good time at the movies. Youngsters who are still at that point will love Prince Caspian, but those of us who demand a little more will find very little more.


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- WiFi
- Car park
- Air conditioning
- Swimming pool
- Spa
- Rural
- Accessible
- Sports
Choose your room
This hotel has a spa with an indoor pool, sauna and a range of treatments. It is located in the Extremaduran town of Hervás and offers great views of the Ambroz Valley.
The rooms at Hotel Spa Sinagoga feature air conditioning, central heating and parquet floors. Each one has free Wi-Fi and flat-screen satellite TV.
The Sinagoga?s restaurant serves traditional food from Extremadura, specialising in rice dishes. There is also a café where you can get a snack or a drink.
Staff at the 24-hour reception can provide information about what to see and do in Extremadura. The hotel organises quad biking and zip-line trips, as well as hunting.
The Jerte Valley is 36 km from the hotel, and Plasencia is 30 km away. With good access to the A66 Motorway, Hotel Spa Sinagoga is around an hour?s drive from Salamanca.


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Barbarian Trivia (ZX Spectrum)
Published by
Developed by
Also For
Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iPad, iPhone, MSX | Combined View
Cover artThe box cover artwork and Barbarian/Psygnosis logos were created by Roger Dean. The painting used for the cover, called Red Dragon III, was later used again as a cover for Steve Howe on the 1994 album Not Necessarily Acoustic. At the back of the CD booklet under the artwork credits you can find the message "Hello Psygnosis".
DebuggerIn the PC version, the developers apparently forgot to remove a debugger of sorts from the game. When you are asked to select the control method ("Press 1, 2 or 3"), press 4. Then start the game as usual, and...
SpeechBarbarian features speech through the PC Speaker, but was done using the technically inferior 1-bit method as opposed to the more sophisticated 6- and 8-bit methods employed by other games. As a result, the speech is quite loud and distorted.
Information also contributed by Blood, Jaromir Krol, Servo
Contributed by Donny K. (453) on Aug 27, 1999. [revised by : Patrick Bregger (244042)]. -- edit trivia


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text: Your coffee maker is supposed to be an object of salvation, a safe harbor from the usual shitstorm of the morning. But that may not be so for owners of a popular coffee maker sold by Black & Decker, which is now being recalled because 68 people have reported suffering from cuts and burns after the handle broke while they were using it. Ouch. That's certainly not the eye-opener you'd hope for from a coffee pot. In case you are wondering if your precious supply of wake-up juice is in danger, it's the under-cabinet models from Black & Decker's Spacemaker line that are affected. There are nine models involved, and officials say there are nearly 160,000 of these coffee makers sold. Should you be one of the unlucky ones who bought this injury machine, you are advised to stop using it immediately and get the free replacement being offered by the company. Or maybe its just better to crawl back into bed and stay put, safe from all the dangers the morning brings.


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MindFire needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 125 designs submitted by 40 freelance designers.
We're looking to build a super-cool and easily memorable online brand for a new shopping site. ShopBetter.com will incorporate all available deals, coupons, discounts, etc. for every major online merchant along with detailed merchant descriptions, product price comparison features, and even video product reviews with many if not all web 2.0 features built in for a unique social shopping experience.
Desired Color Scheme:
It's wide open.
Desired Style:
We like clean, simple, colorful (though not overly bright like neon), modern, & fun.
Accepted File Formats:
We are really looking for a new approach to a shopping site image. We do not want to have dollar sign ($), shopping cart, or price tag type icons. We like the idea of possibly including a fresh icon design of some sort with the name, but we could also see using just the name ShopBetter.com in a creative and visually interesting way. Fortunately, the name kind of says it all. Our target audience will be online shoppers of all types, so our demographic is about as wide as it gets. We are looking for real creativity that can appeal to all in mass. Uniformity, symetry, and fun should be evident in the design. Get creative!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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new patients(832) 658-6464
Schedule an appointment online with ScheduleNow
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Memorial Hermann Medical Group is in your neighborhood. Use the menu on the left side of this page to find a Memorial Hermann Medical Group close to home or work. Easily locate what you are searching for by browsing practices by a specific location in the greater Houston-area or view our extended hours.


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"Without a moment's hesitation, without a heartbeat, he brought the weapon up to waist level and began firing what looked to me to be a fully stocked AK-47," Puroll said of the alleged smuggler. "He was firing from the hip. I saw the first round go off, a micro-flash from what I believe was the first round, and I felt the impact. "
(GPS coordinates show that Puroll was about 14 feet above where he said the first shooter was, a significant detail for the forensic pathologists who analyzed the gunshot-wound photos. "It's almost a level shot if you think about it," Dr. Vincent Di Maio says. "It definitely would be difficult for a shot coming distinctly uphill like that to cross his body as it did.")
Puroll continued, "When I saw him, I had dropped my cell phone and my GPS to the ground and grabbed my rifle, which was slung in front of me, and began to bring it up. Before I could get it up to shoot, his first round struck me in the side. I felt it. It felt like being popped with a wet towel . . . I knew I'd been hit, and I knew if I went down or stopped shooting there was a good chance I was gonna be killed."
Puroll said he fired at his assailant and saw him fall to the ground: "He immediately went out of my sight. I never saw him again . . . No one spoke a word."
The deputy said, "Before I could do anything else, I started taking fire from my right; a rifle and a pistol began firing off to my right, as close or closer to me than [the first shooter] was. Everything occurred within a 25- to 30-yard circle, at most."
Puroll said he dropped to the ground, as more rounds whizzed over his head. He said he emptied his rifle while he was sitting there and then laid that weapon on the ground and drew his pistol.
(Detective Nelson speculates that the smugglers may have had "brass catchers" on the end of their AK-47s to snare the used shell casings, which would keep their DNA from discovery — and would account for the paucity of AK-47 shell casings. But Luke Haag, technical director of the Phoenix Police Department's crime lab for 17 years before retiring, tells New Times, "I have yet to be aware of a crime scene in my 45 years in the business in which a brass catcher was used. And getting DNA off fired cartridges is virtually impossible. It sounds like . . . this is scrambling for an explanation.")
During the firefight, Puroll said, he took a fresh M-16 ammunition magazine out of his pocket with his left hand and reloaded the rifle:
"At this time, my pistol went empty. I laid it on the ground and picked my rifle back up . . . Everybody quit shooting at this point."
Puroll said he took the opportunity to reload his Glock, "and I thought I put the pistol back in the holster. I picked up my rifle. I picked up the cell phone that was on the ground and put it in my shirt pocket. Grabbed my pack — my pack has water in it and my survival gear. I knew I had to get out of there before they could pinpoint just where I was."
The deputy's statement about the backpack raises questions about how, when, where, and, specifically, why Deputy Puroll took it off his back.
Was he carrying it for some reason when he crested the hill (along with his phone and possibly his GPS unit)? Says Weaver Barkman, the former homicide detective, "Carrying a pack into a situation like he has described is out of the realm of reality. And the likelihood of him taking off when he's being fired at and he's trying to save his life? Improbable."
Asked about the backpack, which later showed no sign of damage from gunfire, Sergeant Hausman says, "I honestly don't know how to answer that."
Puroll described how shots continued to sail over his head as he retreated about 50 yards and moved off the dirt trail.
It was only then, the deputy insisted, that he made his "I've been hit!" call to dispatch.
(Cell phone records and dispatch recordings refute that. They show that Puroll called at 4:04 p.m. from the spot where he emptied his M-16 and Glock. The spot is precisely where he dropped the Glock and the GPS unit, not more than 50 yards back.)
Shortly before the helicopter picked him up, Puroll recalled, he heard in the distance "four distinct pistol shots. Boom, boom, boom, boom. And I remember thinking, 'Gunmen are shooting the guys carrying the backpacks. They don't want anybody to identify them.'
"That just flashed in my head. Or the guy that I had shot was wounded bad, and he was a liability and a burden to them."
Investigators found no signs of blood at the shooting scene and recovered no bodies from the area.
Sergeant Hausman had but one question of the deputy at the end of the interview — about the first shooter's intent.
"He was intending to kill me," Puroll replied.
Sergeant Brian Messing is standing on a dirt road in the Vekol Valley, a few yards from where Deputy Puroll parked his SUV on April 30.
At dawn, Messing and a county SWAT team, along with case investigators Hausman and Nelson, had led a New Times reporter to the shooting site near Antelope Peak.
Everyone but the sergeant and the reporter left the area after returning to the Vija Truck Stop a few hours later.
Messing tries to explain himself and his role in this complicated and significant case.
"I wonder," he says, "did [the alleged smugglers] hear me on the phone when I was speaking with Louie? Did I screw up? It kind of eats you up."


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I just have the Holo Yoda.
Early Bird- No, but I'm thinking about it.Lava Vader- NoHolo Yoda- yesC3 Vader- No, no interestTarget Clone- yesAnakin's Fighter- No, not sure if I'll buy it at all.I sincerely hope Target doesn't get any more exclusive figures. I thought the vehicles were difficult to obtain, but it's nothing comapred to the debacles that have been the Lava Vader and Clone releases.
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Whenever a reboot or remake of a movie comes out, people complain that it's "not original." When creators turn a book or comic into a TV show, critics sneer at Hollywood for having "no new ideas." But they're wrong. What remake-mania demonstrates is that pop culture behaves the way folklore has for thousands of years.
That means remakes are part of humanity's oldest storytelling tradition. They are also, arguably, vital to civilization.
How Folklore Works
Today the term "folklore" has come to mean any beliefs that are traditional or based on superstition, but it has a very specific meaning to anthropologists who study it. Folklore refers to storytelling traditions that aren't written down. They are oral traditions, tales that are shared by talking, singing, acting, or whatever else you can do. That means folk tales, songs, and bits of wisdom are passed from one person to the other in an elaborate game of telephone. Your grandmother tells you a story, you tell it to your friend, she tells it to her son, and so on. This game of telephone, however, lasts for centuries and spreads over whole continents. And along the way, the folklore gets changed.
As an interesting aside, anthropologists also talk about "folkways," which are things like recipes, manners, and games that are part of oral tradition too. They aren't stories or narratives, but they are still an oral tradition.
When you hear a folk tale, you aren't hearing the folk tale. You are hearing what's called a "variant." Because folk tales change each time they are told, anthropologists describe them as variations, or variants. Usually a popular folk tale will have regional variants that are recognizable. Take, for example, a common folk tale about a woman who kills herself after her lover leaves her at the altar. Her ghost dresses in white and tries to lure men to their doom at a particularly dangerous curve in the road. People retell this story over and over, and as it spreads it changes. A century after the first morbid person told the tale, you've got a variant with a happy ending that people tell in Germany (the ghost is sent to heaven), and a variant with a horrific ending in Hungary (the ghost eats a little boy). It's the same folk tale, but with two variants.
Often we don't realize this about folk tales and folk songs because today most of our information comes from books put together by anthropologists who listened to one or two variants of the stories and wrote them down. The infamous fairy tales recorded by the Brothers Grimm were simply the regional variants the brothers heard from peasants they talked to in Germany. The same goes for the incredible volume Folk Songs of North America, put together by folklorist Alan Lomax. As folk traditions died out, many of the variants of popular stories and songs were lost because nobody ever wrote them down or recorded them.
Originality is a Myth
If you look at remakes and reboots in the context of how most people enjoyed stories for thousands of years, it's easy to see that they are a natural part of human storytelling. When we hear a good story, we long to retell it in a slightly different way. Historically, people might have heard different people performing the same folk tales and songs over and over again in their lives. What made these stories entertaining was hearing the familiar tales tweaked slightly. The fun was in the variants. But it was also in hearing the story again.
The idea that "originality" is what makes stories good is actually a twentieth century idea propagated by a bunch of radical artists and thinkers who called themselves Modernists. They wanted to jettison what they considered the superstitious, narrow-minded thinking of people who loved folklore. So they embraced art and narrative that valued weirdness and novelty over storytelling. Novelists like James Joyce and William Faulkner wrote deliberately difficult stories that tried to express ideas about human experience too complex for oral traditions. Philosophers like Theodor Adorno praised Modernism for refusing to use the tropes of pop culture that make a story easy to follow. Decades later, punk and indie rock embraced Modernist values too, scorning pop music as unoriginal. Even today, many of us are taught the Modernist perspective in school, and wind up believing that what makes a story "good" is originality.
Why Remakes Are Good
While there's no denying that Modernist stories can be fascinating and beautiful, that doesn't make them better than folklore. In fact, when it comes to storytelling, one could argue that folklore has had a much more profound influence on civilization than Modernism. We've been telling and retelling stories for thousands of years. We enjoy seeing remakes of our favorite stories because there is pleasure in seeing a twist on a beloved story. But this isn't just about enjoyment. It's also about how we learn. By sharing stories, we explain to each other how we see the world, as well as how we define good and evil (after all, folklore usually has a hero and a Big Bad).
By retelling stories as variants, we do something profoundly important. We show how our views of the world change over time. We reveal that our definitions of good and evil aren't fixed; they can change to reflect new information. If you don't believe me, just compare the novel Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Oh yes, both are variants on the same story, about vampires from another world invading a nice city. Both are about gangs of vampire hunters who track down and kill the vamps. You could even argue that Buffy is a variant on Mina Harker, who is a heroine in the novel. In Dracula, the vampires are unambiguously evil, grotesque Eastern European monsters who want to steal our women and have no place in London. But in Buffy, you can see that our relationship to the vamps, those "others," has become a lot more complicated. Some vamps are good. Some humans are evil. Women aren't there to be "stolen" by anybody.
Unlike "original" stories, which remain frozen in the amber of history, folk tales are alive. They change with us, and pass along new stories about our evolving civilization. Every variant, no matter how bad, is a sign that our stories are still vital. And if you don't like this remake or reboot — well, there will always be another. Maybe you'll make it yourself.


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Naomi Watts snubbed the lead role in Diana "twice" before accepting the part.
The 44-year-old actress admitted she was worried it would be career suicide but couldn't bring herself to completely walk away from the biopic after she first rejected it.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, she said: "I thought that too, believe me. And I turned it down twice.
"I was a little bit torn, but once I'd said no, I wasn't completely at peace."
While the star usually feels content after turning down a role, she explained this felt different and she was drawn towards learning more about Princess Diana.
She added: "Sometimes when you say no, you feel free, but this just wasn't the case. There was something very intriguing about this woman's life. It was extraordinary.
"She always lived a privileged life, but there was nothing ordinary about the construct she moved into. I liked the idea that there was this fame - no one at that level can really survive it, I think. It's a very dark thing, but it's kind of true.
"I think there's also something going on with playing real-life characters. People are drawn to that, and audiences. For actors, it's definitely interesting."
Diana is due to open on Friday, 20 September.


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The Carlsbad Unified School District has severed ties with the outside law firm that hired former school board member Kelli Moors just days after she voted to approve a $100,000 contract with the law firm.
The school board voted 4-0 on Wednesday to cancel its contract with Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLC, whose principal partners had a relationship with the district dating back before the firm's creation in 2006.
School district officials said they made the decision to eliminate any questions of conflicts of interest surrounding the contract.
"It just seemed like the appropriate thing to do," school board President Elisa Williamson said. "Everyone just came to the conclusion that there were other firms that could do the work, and we just needed to move on from this."
Wednesday's decision came three weeks after U-T Watchdog reported that Moors voted on July 25 for the contract, then went on to announce on Aug. 5 that she had accepted a job with the firm, which provided legal services related to special education and personnel matters.
Moors told the Watchdog that she was in talks with the law firm before the July 24 vote.
School district officials said they were not aware Moors was in employment discussions with the law firm at the time of the July 24 vote.
State law prohibits elected officials from participating in or influencing any decision that would financially benefit a prospective employer.
This week, the state Fair Political Practices Commission confirmed that it is reviewing an ethics complaint regarding Moors' vote.
Carlsbad Superintendent Suzette Lovely said the board's consensus was that they wanted to move past the controversy.
"Enough questions were raised that brought us to this place, and the board spoke about their interest to move forward," Lovely said. "I think it was the right decision because we don't want something to cloud an issue going forward."
The board directed Lovely to return at a future meeting with a recommendation for a new firm.
Representatives with Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost issued a statement saying they would support the board's decision.
"We encouraged the district to bring our contract back for a revote, and we are pleased that they did so. We respect the Board of Education's commitment to integrity and responsive governance," the statement said. "We will support the board's direction and work swiftly to facilitate a transition to new counsel. We hope that this will allow the board and district staff to return their full energy to student achievement."
Moors, a former spokeswoman and business development manager at Tri-City Medical Center, did not return calls for comment. She was elected in 2000 and had been elected to her fourth term in November.


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Mark has just unloaded his sack and lies on the bed, enjoying the chill. Harry, his lover, shows up, and starts boasting about his latest cosmetic purchases.
The guys indulge in makeup kinks and Mark suggests a game. Whoever makes the other one come, has the right to take anything from that man's cosmetic belongings.
Both use their sexiest clothing for the game. Harry loses, not knowing Mark has spent his load an hour before.


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Not long ago, if a superstar was traded to L.A. and the limo arrived at the Clippers' front door, he would've prayed that it was a mix-up and he'd simply gotten the wrong directions to the Lakers' offices. This actually happened to Chris Paul, except the praying part. In his case, that came with a twist.
Two years after the NBA nixed the Paul trade to the Lakers and then OK'd the one to the Clippers, he's thanking the basketball gods for getting it … right?
"I feel blessed," Paul said.
Really. That's what he said. Blessed. Same goes for Chauncey Billups and Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford, solid and classy veterans who arrived in the last year or two, not kicking and screaming, but jumping and cheering. Same goes for Blake Griffin, who signed up for five more years of Clipper duty last summer, and not by knifepoint (although the $95 million helped). In short time, the Clippers somehow went from abomination to destination, which in NBA terms means a place to be.
"If you talk to guys like Chauncey and Grant, who've been around many different teams, they know how teams take care of their guys," said Griffin. "I wanted to be here. The Clippers have done everything I've asked. Why wouldn't it be a destination?"
This happened because of drastic change. A $50 million practice facility, more competent management and a commitment to winning, combined with the perks that only L.A. can offer, is all but guaranteed to convince Paul to sign a long-term contract extension next summer. Yes, the Clippers have changed, with one very important exception: The signature on the checks. That remains the same.
The most embarrassing owner in the NBA is still in charge, which makes you wonder if Donald Sterling, in his own eccentric way, will find a way to screw this up.
Most people, as they grow older, they get wiser. Sterling, he gets luckier. Because, based on some of his words and actions, there's no way he deserves what he now has, a winning team and a terrific franchise player and person in Paul. That, and a chance to make a run at a championship. For the first time since his bungled reign of ownership began in 1981, Sterling has the most exciting and maybe best team in town, a team that Billups says is "the most talented I've ever been on." And remember, Billups won a championship in Detroit.
These Clippers are giving the franchise a refreshing dose of credibility. Also, because they're packing the Staples Center, they're helping Sterling work toward his next billion dollars. If that's not disturbing enough, can you imagine a scene where Sterling is tearing up while accepting the trophy from David Stern in June? Nothing would be more shocking, or sadder, because Sterling doesn't exactly fit the mold of the lovable but unfortunate owner who's never won a thing.
Really, would you be happy for a guy who has done little besides mismanaged a franchise until now? Shed a tear? Develop a lump in your throat? Feel his pain turned into joy? Or just cringe?
This is the awkward part about admiring what the Clippers are doing right now, because that runs the risk of suggesting that it reflects well on Sterling. Well, not exactly. The quirky Paul trade fell in his favor. His team, once again, was lousy enough to get the No. 1 draft pick, and it was a no-brainer that they used it to take Griffin. Billups was amnestied from the Knicks and mistakenly considered too washed-up by most teams.
If anything, Sterling should be thrilled that his most important players are adopting a don't-know, don't-wanna-know stance about his past, and even if they did, they can't do anything about it, anyway.
Remember, this is man, in a position of power, who was punished by the U.S. Justice Department and investigated twice in the last six years by the state of California on multiple accusations of housing discrimination based on race. Elgin Baylor's lawsuit against Sterling was unsuccessful, but the longtime Clippers G.M. also made a number of alarming racist claims against Sterling and gave us a behind-the-scenes peek at how Sterling does business and treats people. Plus, two seasons ago, in full view of the fans, Sterling heckled his starting point guard, Baron Davis, from courtside.
If this were the '60s, there's no way Bill Russell, for instance, would play for Sterling under any circumstances, even if it meant money and championships, as much as Russell loved both. But these are different times, different players, different levels of tolerance. Ask any of the current Clippers about Sterling and they do nothing more sinister than shrug.
Paul: "He's been great to me."
Billups: "I actually looked forward to meeting him and having the chance to pick his brain about being successful in business. And as an owner, he wants to win and wants to be on top. He's been great."
Hill: "I don't go off perceptions. I always give somebody a clean slate. He's very supportive and given us everything we need to win. As a player that's all you want from your boss. I guess things have happened, but I don't know the truth and it wouldn't affect how I feel about the team or the commitment, anyway."
Players are too focused on the immediate benefits, the money and livelihood and winning, to care too deeply whether the owner is possibly racist and definitely a bit off. And that's understandable. Careers are at stake, and if Sterling doesn't affect them in a negative way, then they won't worry too much. Owners don't connect to the players on a daily basis the way a coach or a general manager does, unless the private charter is late or the check doesn't clear on the 1st and 15th.
And as they said, Sterling is great to them, which is also understandable, since they make him wealthier and now are giving him a legitimate chance to win big.
Anyway, maybe karma has already stuck it to Sterling, keeping him from reaching the Promised Land for three decades now. That's almost Cubs-like, but at least folks want to hug the Cubs.
Make no mistake, there's joy for the players and coaches. Imagine, Vinny Del Negro, all but fitted for a blindfold and cigarette last spring, is now the longest-tenured coach in Los Angeles. Paul is a civic treasure who does wonders for the Clippers on and off the court. Billups might be the most respected player, from a leadership standpoint, in the NBA, while Griffin is thrilling to watch and good to know. They've made the Clippers a destination franchise and, for now at least, the fun and stable team in town.
"I believe in this team 100 percent," said Griffin.
Too bad they're doing all they can to enrich and reward an owner who suddenly finds himself in the right place at the right time. Donald Sterling can't be laughed at anymore, but if he wins it all, that should be enough to make everyone cry.


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"My Kid's a Star"
Are you convinced your child's going to be the next big star? Dr. Phil has advice to keep you from pushing your children beyond their limits, possibly stunting their emotional growth and robbing them of their childhood.
Julie has practically forced her family into bankruptcy by placing her daughters in hundreds of glitz beauty pageants. Her sister, Jamie, says that the pageants have torn their family apart.
"That just kind of creeps me out."
Bridget is so determined that her 9-year-old daughter become a singing sensation, that she keeps her on a grueling schedule and punishes her when she makes mistakes. Her mother-in-law, LaJean, says Bridget is being too critical.