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(based on 183 ratings)
About the StoryMany strange tales have been told of the fabulous treasure, exotic creatures, and diabolical puzzles in the Great Underground Empire. As an aspiring adventurer, you will undoubtedly want to locate these treasures and deposit them in your trophy case.
[--blurb from The Z-Files Catalogue]
Game Details
Language: English, Castilian (en, es)
Current Version: Release 1
License: Former commercial
Development System: ZIL
Forgiveness Rating: Cruel
Baf's Guide ID: 987
Adapted from Zork, by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling
Translated to Italian in ZORK I ITA, by Whovian (Bruno Bucciotti) [programming] Ragfox [translation]
Pork 1: The Great Underground Sewer System, by AnonymousFollowed by sequel Zork II, by Dave Lebling, Marc Blank
Zork: A Troll's-Eye View, by Dylan O'Donnell
Followed by prequel Zork Zero, by Steve Meretzky
Remade as Mini-Zork, by Anonymous
Referenced in:
Go West, by Hulk Handsome
Life on Gue Street, by Chris Charla
22nd Place - Interactive Fiction Top 50 of All Time (2011 edition)
41st Place - Interactive Fiction Top 50 of All Time (2015 edition)
36th Place - Interactive Fiction Top 50 of All Time (2019 edition)
Editorial Reviews
Baf's Guide
-- Carl Muckenhoupt
Adventure Classic Gaming
I have replayed this game several times over in order to write this article, and I have found the gameplay to be as absorbing as it is the first time I have played many years ago. While on the whole it is very much a game of "find object and use object in the right place", it does not necessarily mean that it is a doodle. It is not at all! There are some quite tricky puzzles to be solved, and I have been stuck a few times even though that I am playing the game the second time around. Although the treasures in the game are easy to find, getting them back safely to the trophy case can be an entirely different matter. Certain puzzles must be be solved in order, but there is no clue as to what that order is�it is up to you to work it out. In some cases, timing is also important. The text descriptions can either be in "verbose" or "brief" mode. Even in the brief mode, there is still enough to keep pulling you further into the game. For me, the game defines the whole addictive syndrome of "must solve just one more piece of the puzzle" which other imitators never manage to capture.
-- Karen Tyers
See the full review
Gaming Enthusiast
Time for an absolute classic and the beginning of a highly popular series of games Zork I [...] even after 30 years is still enjoyable to play.
-- Toddziak
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Mr. Bill's Adventureland
Zork creates a wondrous, magical realm that is a veritable feast for the imagination. You find that you have stumbled upon the ancient ruins of a vast empire lying far underground. Yes, you will find many more treasures for your trophy case. But to do so you will have to search far and wide, solve diabolical puzzles, and defend your treasures (and yourself!) from a few very nasty characters... and one monster, a vicious GRUE that lurks in the dark!
-- Mr. Bill & Lela
See the full review
Zork I does work, in the end, though it's hard to pinpoint just why. Collect-the-treasures as a plot is a weary old device, and it doesn't only seem that way to IF players -- it had, after all, been the subject of innumerable fantasy novels and games before IF hit the scene. But its recurring presence points to some appeal that Zork I managed to tap into -- the allure of getting rich, and of obtaining things as diverse as the coffin of Ramses II, a songbird's bauble, and a dead adventurer's bag of coins, keeps the intrigue of finding the next treasure alive, somehow. Vital to the enterprise is, of course, the humor, even if the barrage of self-reference becomes wearying; responses like "Only Santa Claus climbs down chimneys" make the game feel more intelligent than a "You can't do that" response would have, and moments like the description of the vampire bat and the behavior of the thief break up the traipsing-from-room-to-room feel that sometimes plagued Colossal Cave.
-- Duncan Stevens
See the full review
Member Reviews
|Average Rating:
Number of Reviews: 17
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Most Helpful Member Reviews
The thing that makes Zork I look dated isn't the technology; it's the genre. Zork is a story-less treasure hunt in a big cave full of wacky incongruities and anachronisms; it's an unapologetic puzzle-fest; it's a slightly unfair, one-sided contest between a smirking author and a frustrated player. This sort of game went of out style years ago (among IF enthusiasts, I mean - the whole of IF went out of style even earlier among the broader gaming population). Some IFers look at it and say, good riddance: this sort of thing went out of style because it was inferior to what IF has evolved into. I tend to disagree; I think this sort of game actually went out of style because it was done to death, in large part by imitators of this very game. Zork I isn't inferior to modern IF; it's just different from modern IF.
The appeal of Zork I is that of a crossword, or of one of those evil little entangled-wire-loop puzzles. And the thing is, Zork has a ton of that kind of appeal. Once you get into the game, it's really good at doling out just enough positive feedback to keep you going, while keeping the challenges numerous and difficult. Maybe you have to have the right personality type, but if you do, it can become an obsession to beat the thing, to get that last lousy point. The game is unfair, but just a little; its designers had a good feel for just how far they could push their luck before players would feel cheated. It's the kind of game you really want to solve on your own, without looking at hints or walkthroughs, because it always feels like the answers are just within reach.
If you're still convinced that modern IF is just objectively superior to the likes of Zork I, here's something to consider. Modern IF dogma ranks immersiveness as one of the great virtues a work can have. Some look at Zork I's sparse room descriptions and irrational map and scoff. But Zork suggests that there's more to immersion than pretty descriptions. For many IFers, Zork I and its ilk have created some of the most intense subjective feelings of immersion they've had from any sort of game, just because they spent so much time walking back and forth and back and forth across the map. The obsessive play, I think, makes up for the thin text, and then some.
The game has no real story to speak of. You are an AFGNCAAP wandering around the cave complex in the basement of someone's house collecting valuable items and putting them in his treasure box.
The game had some well thought out puzzles, and plenty of amusing things to do when you were bored. It also had cute little extras, like mirrors you could teleport with or walls you could teleport through, or various solutions to puzzles (proving you used the hints- because why would you think about that otherwise?).
The game created the inventory management and light puzzle (Damn you!), though you do find a permanent light source eventually. It included ramdomized battles as well, which I don't see much in IF anymore (and it was well implemented). It also includes the dreaded maze puzzle, difficult to map because some guy is stealing and moving your stuff. And then there's that infamous egg puzzle, which had me endlessly confused!
It's a great testament to the game that even some 20 years later I'm still marvelling at the ideas and puzzles they used. The Dam puzzle, the coal basket puzzle, performing the ritual to enter hades, they still amaze me at how well thought out they were. It's easy to think of them and see them in games now, but these guys came up with it from scratch, no one had done this before, and that's why this game may be the most influential game in IF ever.
Please, play it through. Give it a chance. Ignore it's annoyances (they're due to it's age) and learn where it all started.
Enter the contemporary reviewer, who most likely has no such difficulties. Instead, many writers understandably take for granted that a reader will know just what IF is, and focus on whether "Zork 1" is a good game and attempt to answer the question of whether or not, as a piece of IF, it "holds up" in comparison to the works of today. "Holding up" is a problematic thing to measure. Certainly, were one able to visit the Globe Theater of Elizabethian times, one could complain that the actor portraying Ophelia is a man, but complaining thus would reveal a lack of understanding. "Zork 1" lacks the "AGAIN" command and many other modern conveniences, but pointing out said absences, while a helpful heads-up to the prospective player, is a misdirection, unless additionally explaining that "Zork's" publisher later invented these conveniences. One would hardly fault Intel for producing the Pentium II before producing the Pentium III.
Whether the modern player can ENJOY "Zork 1," then, is really a question about the player as opposed to one about "Zork." Can one adequately bring to to the GUE an understanding of IF's history? Can one know and marvel at the difference between, as an example, "Zork 1" and Sierra's "The Wizard and the Princess?" Can one, quite simply, accept "Zork 1" on "Zork 1's" terms? If not, players will probably find more rewarding entertainment elsewhere. If so, then there is much to do and enjoy in "Zork 1." The game world is vast, and many puzzles are quite challenging, affording a real sense of satisfaction when solved. Most of them do, that is. Some seemed, even at the time, unfair, especially when considering the fact that the most-readily available hints were, pre-InvisiClues, available via postal mail. Even guessing at the objective of "Zork 1" is difficult at first. The playfulness of the narrator will either amuse or grate, depending on the player's perspective--at times the narrator seems the primary antagonist.
Easily rendering the game unwinnable? Check. Save and restore combat? O mai oui. Guess the verb? Yes indeed. Inventory management? Certainly. One-dimensional NPC's? Present. "Zork" does not speak contemporary IF, in the same way that John Donne did not write in contemporary English. Donne is not for everyone, and neither is "Zork." Recommending "Zork," again, is a question of what interests a reader of IF. It ultimately has nothing to do with "Zork," which is and always will be "Zork"--the first but not best large example of z-code and all that it promises.
Perhaps a compelling piece of meta-IF could be crafted to simulate the experience of an early-eighties player confronting a game that troubles itself to provide responses to commands that do not advance the story, or includes objects as complex as the jewel-encrusted egg. Barring that, the player will have to bring his or her own sense of history to the piece, which may or may not be sufficient motivation to see beyond its now-dated technical and narrative techniques. Not every fan of "Black Ops" likes "Space Invaders," no matter how great an improvement it is, technically, over "Pong." Those who wish to know the giant upon whose shoulders "Anchorhead" stands will enjoy seeing firstand, or at least appreciate, how far IF has come, though one hardly need love "Zork" to love "Anchorhead." Which type of IF reader are you?
I myself still like "Pong," and occasionally see, depicted in hideous, pale blue text, a brief description of that silly white house and its boarded door. I see it in my dreams, all these years later. Five stars.
Again, from the 1984 packaging: "For the first time, youre more than a passive reader." Does what it says on the tin.
See All 17 Member Reviews
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Recommended ListsZork I appears in the following Recommended Lists:
Ficção interativa by Emily Short
IF presented so far at the 13ª Jornada Nacional de Literatura in Passo Fundo, 2009. These works were chosen for a variety of reasons: to illustrate the history of interactive fiction, to teach new players how to interact, to demonstrate...
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These are games with memorable stories, whose characters live long after the window has closed, and in which the puzzles are an integral part of the game.
The Canonical Infocom Games by wfaulk
This is a list of the canonical Infocom games in order of release, as according to the Infocom Fact Sheet.
PollsThe following polls include votes for Zork I:
Bugs that you can take advantage of by Fredrik
Bugs are an annoyance, usually, but in some rare cases, bugs can actually make the life of an adventurer easier. Some bugs can help you in certain situations, perhaps even to bypass puzzles, and they can sometimes provide positively...
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I'm looking for games for middle-schoolers, that are hard and fun but still appropriate.
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This is version 28 of this page, edited by cas on 26 November 2019 at 4:32pm. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item


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The Associated Press photo made the "Most E-mailed" list today at Yahoo.
Update 6/11 - Performance now showing on YouTube.
Update 6/12 - Danger mouse (half of Gnarles Barkley) spoke recently at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. He revealed that the costumes were originals, sent over by Lucasfilm
Caption: Singer Thomas 'Cee-lo' Calloway of Gnarls Barkley performs at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards in Culver City, Calif., on Saturday, June 3, 2006. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Producer Danger Mouse and rap artist Cee-Lo make up Gnarls Barkley. In April, their first album, St. Elsewhere, was released and available for download on iTunes. The hit song is called "Crazy," which hit #1 in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand; it's highest point thus far is #35 in the U.S.
At the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, Hayden Christensen won for "Best Villain." Hayden vs. Ewan McGregor lost to -- what a surprise -- Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt in the "Best Fight" category. McGregor was also nominated as Obi-Wan Kenobi, but lost to Christian Bale (Batman Begins) for Best Hero.
In addendum: Gnarls Barkley is Alternative / Soul / Experimental music.

subset: commoncrawl


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2009-10 Conference Primers: #14 – West CoastPosted by rtmsf on October 23rd, 2009
Michael Vernetti is the RTC correspondent for the West Coast Conference. Click here for all of our 2009-10 Season Preview materials.
Predicted Order of Finish:
- Portland (11-3)
- Gonzaga (10-4)
- Saint Mary's (8-6)
- San Diego (7-7)
- Santa Clara (6-8)
- Loyola Marymount (6-8)
- Pepperdine (3-11)
All-Conference Team:
- Matt Bouldin (G), Gonzaga
- Kevin Foster (G), Santa Clara
- Dior Lowhorn (F), USF
- Kevin Young (F), Loyola
- Omar Samhan (C), Saint Mary's
6th man. Nik Raivio, Portland
Impact newcomer. Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's
- Going International. The 2010 season marks the WCC's most pronounced bow to international athletes, with every team having at least two foreign-born players and two of the predicted top three finishers – Gonzaga and Saint Mary's – pinning their season hopes on the performance of foreigners. Saint Mary's gave the trend its biggest boost by establishing an Australian pipeline that produced Daniel Kickert, the Gaels' all-time leading scorer, and Patty Mills, who opted for the NBA after two sensational seasons. The Gaels continue as the Koala's best friend this year, with five Aussies expected to make contributions and one, freshman guard Matthew Dellavedova, looming as a potential star. Gonzaga's Pacific Northwest pipeline that supplied stars Adam Morrison, Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp, among others, may be temporarily clogged, but the Zags have turned to Canada (Manny Arop, Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk), Germany (Elias Harris), and Sudan by way of Canada (Bol Kong), to maintain their position atop the conference. USF joined the crowd in a big way this off-season, luring a Czech (Tomas Bruha), two Frenchmen (Moustapha Diarra, Nikola Stojiljkovic) and a Canadian (Perris Blackwell).
- Room at the Top: Gonzaga, with nine WCC titles in a row, and Saint Mary's, a perennial runner-up under Randy Bennett, have dominated the conference in recent years. But Gonzaga lost four of its main contributors from last year's Sweet Sixteen team (Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo and Micah Downs) and Saint Mary's said goodbye to Mills, all-time leading rebounder and shot-blocker Diamon Simpson, starting forward Ian O'Leary and a trio of valuable back-ups in Yusef Smith, Lucas Walker and Carlin Hughes. That's why Portland, with all five starters back from last year's 19-13 team that finished third in the conference, can't wait to shove its way into the top spot. Santa Clara's Kerry Keating and USF's confident newcomer Rex Walters, entering his second year, have recruited aggressively and well, indicating that they, too, are up to challenging Gonzaga and Saint Mary's in the next few years.
- Multiple NCAA Bids: The conference was shocked last year when Saint Mary's, 25-6 overall and second place in the conference behind Gonzaga, did not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, leaving the Zags as the sole WCC entrant. Just the year before, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and San Diego received bids, the first time in anyone's memory that three teams had gone to The Dance. Whether the conference elevates itself in the NCAA Selection Committee's eyes in 2009-10 is one of the biggest question marks looming over the season.


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Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano, Endy Chavez and Dustin Ackley homered as the Seattle Mariners routed the Chicago White Sox, 13-3, in the opener of a four-game series. Ackley knocked in four runs and scored twice for the Mariners, who have won three in a row. Chavez had three RBI and scored a pair of runs. "We had a good night," said Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. "I think we're coming (offensively). We're getting there." Seattle starter Roenis Elias (9-9) took a no-hitter into the fifth and allowed two runs on two hits with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Elias had lost four of his previous five decisions. Dayan Viciedo hit a two-run homer for the White Sox, who have dropped three straight. Scott Carroll (4-7) gave up seven runs on seven hits with three walks over five-plus innings. "It starts with me on the mound. I didn't have a good performance, and it transitions over to guys pressing I guess, trying to make things happen without good starting pitching," said Carroll. The Mariners took a 1-0 lead on Ackley's homer in the first. Chavez added a two-run homer in the fourth. Mike Zunino hit a two-out single and crossed the plate on Chavez's blast to right. Elias' no-hit bid came to an end in the fifth when Conor Gillaspie hit a one- out double to right. Moises Sierra worked a two-out walk before Gordon Beckham popped out to first. The home run parade continued in the bottom half. Ackley walked and scored on Cano's blast to right. The White Sox hit a home run of their own in the sixth. Jose Abreu was hit by a pitch and crossed the plate on Viciedo's shot to right-center field. But the Mariners responded with three runs in the home half. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ackley hit a two-run single to left off Daniel Webb. Austin Jackson then scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-2. Seattle tacked on three more runs in the seventh. Logan Morrison's RBI double, Chavez's run-scoring single and Ackley's RBI groundout made it an 11-2 contest. Alexei Ramirez hit an RBI double in the top of the eighth. But Seager hit a two-run homer in the bottom half. Game Notes Chicago went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven ... The Mariners had 12 hits, compared to five for the White Sox ... Utility man Willie Bloomquist of the Mariners will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Friday.
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What Is It Really?
NAC (N- acetylcysteine) is a derivative of the naturally occurring amino acid cysteine. In the United States, NAC is available by prescription as an aerosol drug (similar to aerosolized pentamidine) to treat bronchitis. NAC is also used in liquid form in very high doses to treat Tylenol overdoses. In Europe, NAC is very commonly used for bronchitis, and is produced in two oral forms.
The Theory Behind NAC
One reason PWAs take NAC is to try to pump up levels of glutathione (GSH). GSH is a vital protein that cells need to function. Many studies have documented low GSH in people with HIV. Dr. Luc Montagnier's work with CD4 cells from PWAs suggests that even cells without HIV can grow weak and die, but with added GSH can regain their vigor. This is where NAC comes in. NAC is broken down by the body into cysteine. Researchers have also noted that low levels of cysteine in PWAs. The body uses cysteine to replace glutathione. Taking NAC may be a way to add cysteine, so that your body can replenish depleted GSH levels. It is still unclear whether NAC is converted to GSH in PWAs.
More Theory Behind Taking NAC
Whether or not NAC is converted to GSH, it might help protect the body from the effects of excess TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor). TNF is a naturally occurring protein in your body. It's often elevated in people with HIV and may be a part of HIV disease. It can turn on latent HIV, and increase HIV reproduction. It can cause a generalized inflammatory response that may be critical to AIDS-related weight loss. Both GSH and NAC interfere with TNF in the test tube.
NAC and GSH are also anti-oxidants -substances that mop up free radicals, volatile particles produced naturally in the body, especially when you have an infection. Too many free radicals can cause inflammation and damage organs; and like TNF, may turn on and speed the spread of HIV. How much these free radicals contribute to HIV disease is unclear.
There are reports that taking NAC with dapsone reduces some of that drug's toxicity without reducing its effectiveness. There are ongoing studies in Canada to see whether NAC may decrease PWAs' allergic reactions to Bactrim/Septra.
NAC Studies in PWAs
Studies of NAC seem to have raised more questions than they've answered. An NIH study was disappointing: after 12 weeks of taking up to 9600 mg a day, NAC had no effect on CD4 cell counts or p24 (a sloppy marker of HIV activity). However, PWAs in the study had regular GSH levels, so NAC shouldn't have done much for them anyway. More research is needed to see what NAC can do for PWAs who have low GSH levels.
This NIH study created a storm of controversy. The researchers reported that NAC was very poorly absorbed - it did not get into the blood, and that people in the study had no change in their intracellular GSH levels. Other researchers protested that the NIH didn't follow the proper procedures for measuring NAC or GSH levels.
A later study in HIV positive people with low GSH reported increased intracellular GSH 4 hours after taking a single dose of NAC (figured as @1800 mg if you weigh 130 pounds). A small study at Stanford also reported that 7 PWAs taking 1000-2000 mg for up to 12 weeks had an immediate increase in intracellular GSH. There's an on-going study at Stanford using 8000 mg/day to sort this out.
2 New Studies (summer '94)
15 people with HIV in Brazil took either 400 mg iv twice a day, or 600 mg capsules twice a day. The 8 people on iv NAC fared best, moving from an average of 256 CD4 cells to 501. The 7 people taking the oral dose went from 403 CD4s to 563, and 1449 CD8s to 2376.
Much more interesting was a one-year, three arm Mexican study of 300 people with HIV. The study compared AZT (500 mg) to AZT/ddC and AZT/ddC/NAC (NAC-1500 mg/day). There were significant differences in opportunistic infections and CD4 counts between the AZT-only group and the other two groups. AZT only: 62% developed new OIs, and their CD4's slipped from an average of 247 to 181 over the course of the year. AZT/ddC: 32% got OIs and their CD4s rose steadily from 175 to 294. AZT/ddC/NAC: 23% developed OIs and their CD4 cells went from 148 to 356. The difference between taking AZT/ddC or the NAC combo was not statistically significant, but adding NAC seemed to show a trend toward greater response.
No one knows what the best dose of NAC is. Most PWAs in America take between 1200-1800 mg a day based upon test tube data, and the advice of American researchers who have been studying NAC in HIV disease for years. This may not be the best dose in the body. A German researcher who has also been working with PWAs and NAC for several years maintains that people should take 400-600 mg three times a week, preferably two hours after exercise (the less is more theory). Who's right? Only large clinical trials will tell.
Side Effects and Toxicity
NAC has been used safely at doses up to 11,000 mg a day, but side effects can occur. A few clients from the Health Group have also reported some stomach upset and diarrhea while on NAC. One patient in the NIH study had an anaphylactoid reaction (a severe bronchial spasm) in the highest IV dose group. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and weight loss were also seen in this study, but these effects were not necessarily caused by NAC.
No drug interactions were reported from the NIH study. However, the Martindale Extra Pharmacopoeia reports that some antibiotics, including amphotericin, ampicillin, erythromycin and tetracycline may be incompatible or inactivated when mixed with NAC.
PWAs with a history of ulcers should perhaps avoid NAC, since it can reduce mucous that they need to protect their stomachs.
NAC is a chelating agent, and may purge minerals from your body. Nutritionists recommend keeping track of minerals and taking some supplements if necessary.
What We Carry
The Health Group imports pharmaceutical grade NAC from Switzerland and Germany. In the US, several companies make NAC and sell it through health food stores. Is there a difference between imported NAC and health food store NAC? We don't know. Health food store NAC can be cheaper. Health food products are manufactured with no FDA monitoring to guarantee the quality. We paid an independent laboratory to test one brand of health store NAC. It was fine. But this tells us nothing about the product's shelf-life, or even other jars of the same product.
Pharmaceutical grade NAC is guaranteed to have a standard amount of NAC in each tablet. It is also packaged in air tight wrapping (the capsules) or with a dessicant in the lid (effervescents) so that the NAC will not degrade once it is exposed to air. The third difference is that pharmaceutical grade NAC also contains a mild buffer, so it's gentler on the digestive system.
We carry two kind of NAC: 800 mg effervescent tablets and 200 mg capsules. The effervescent form is cheaper per mg.
- Effervescent NAC comes as fizzy tablets which you dissolve in 8 oz. of water, like alka seltzer. The tablets are made by Elan SA in Switzerland, where they are approved for bronchitis. This brand of NAC comes in tubes of 10 x 800 mg tablets. Each tube costs $8.50. This NAC contains Nutrasweet (aspartame).
- Capsules: Fluimucil Kapseln are regular capsules, swallowed like any other pill. The capsules are made by Inpharzam, a subsidiary of the Zambon Group, in Germany. The capsules (200 mg each) come 15 to a box for $14.00 per box and have no sweetener.


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Washington's selection of Alexander Ovechkin left no suspense for the second overall pick as General Manager Craig Patrick, Head Scout Greg Malone, European scout Mark Kelley, Assistant GM Ed Johnston and Head Coach Ed Olczyk strode up to the podium to announce in honor of the late Herb Brooks, they had selected Russian center Evgeni Malkin from Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Super League. Malkin was a no-brainer as the Penguins love the 17-year old's projection to be a dominating two-way center comparable to the likes of Joe Thornton and Vincent LeCavalier.
Many scouts believe the 6'3" 186 pound center will grow into a 6'4" 220 pound monster of dazzling puck skills and determination to be great. He scored 3 goals and 9 assists in 34 games for Metallurg in a league full of grown men. Though many believe Malkin could step right into the NHL, the 17-year old didn't mince words at the draft telling reporters after his selection, "I think I'll probably play one more season in the Russian Super League, I need to pick up some strength and some muscle mass."
Another year of gaining mental and physical strength may not be the biggest obstacle to Malkin's arrival in Pittsburgh as the National Hockey League's transfer agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation has expired and the Russian Hockey Federation along with the Russian team owners have made it known they will not relinquish a player's right without being paid a more financially pleasing sum of money.
The old agreement used to pay Russian teams $200,000 for the transfer, now Moscow Dynamo wants $2 million from Washington for Ovechkin and same can be expected for Malkin. The NHL has told the IIHF it will not sign a new agreement without Russia included so the league has two very important agreements to bargain against two sides determined to dig deep into the trench as the league barters with the NHLPA for a new collective bargaining agreement.
One thought brought up by Penguins' radio play-by-play broadcaster Paul Steigerwald during draft weekend was the Penguins signing Malkin before he turned eighteen so he could get out of his contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk because he is considered a minor when he signed the deal. No word has leaked from the Penguins or his agent regarding the possibility of such as move but one thing is for sure, Metallurg will battle hard to keep their star and signing him will cost the Penguins more now than later under a new CBA.
While off-ice questions are the only negatives for Malkin, Penguins have to be ecstatic drafting the top Swedish player with the first pick in the second round selecting left-wing Johannes Salmonsson from Djurgarden of the Swedish Elite League.
Before last year, Salmonsson was considered a top ten prospect for the draft but after his shoulder popped out of place on five different occasions during the season, he struggled to show his offensive skills scoring zero goals and tallying three assists in 25 games. He managed to net one assist in six games at World Juniors.
In April, doctors were able to surgically repair his strained shoulder and after his selection by Pittsburgh, he told reporters, "No problems. I can do anything" as his health is no problem and next year he promised, "I will have a lot of goals. I will take revenge."
Scouts like Salmonsson's 6'2" 183 pound frame, his skill set projects to be a top two line forward with blazing speed and a nose for the physical action in the dirty areas. The Penguins believe Salmonsson will benefit playing all of next year with Djurgarden on the top two lines, rather than coming to North America with the labor uncertainty and their depth at left-wing.
Another neat factoid about Salmonsson is he's a long time fan of the Penguins and Mario Lemieux.
As the Penguins selected two known prospects with their first two picks, Alex Goligoski was a complete surprise to many as the Penguins led by Chuck Grillo decided to go for the high school defensemen because they really liked him and didn't want to lose him if someone else decided to make a reach later on in the draft.
The 5'11" 180 lb right-handed shooting high school defensemen possesses what some say as the best skating ability of any defenseman in the draft and tons of offensive potential as he prepares to play for the University of Minnesota in 2004-05. Goligoski will be able to go to college for four years strengthening his muscles and improving his defensive play learning under Gophers head coach Don Lucia.
The theme of the first two rounds was the Penguins' desire to attack their need for skill and goal scoring ability, a plan that continued throughout the draft as the scouting staff addressed the organization's lack of scorers at all levels by selecting more skill than grit.
In the third round, Pittsburgh selected right-wing Nicholas Johnson of the St. Albert Saints in the Alberta Junior 'A' Hockey League. This 18-year old scored 35 goals, 36 assists in 51 games winning the Canadian Junior 'A' Player of the Year award joining a list of previous winners such as Atlanta's Dany Heatley and Phoenix's Mike Comrie. He was also named the AJHL Most Dedicated Player and unanimous First Team All-AJHL. Johnson will play for the Dartmouth College Big Green of the Eastern College Athletic Conference in 2004-05 joining Pittsburgh area defenseman Grant Lewis who was drafted this year by the Atlanta Thrashers in the second round, 40th overall.
Also in the third round, 85th overall, Penguins drafted center Brian Gifford out of Moorhead in the United States High School West league. The 6'1" 173 pound center, who was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award, scored 19 goals and assisted on 37 others. Gifford will be heading to the Indiana Ice of the USHL to work on his lack of strength and gaining more speed while being the go-to-guy and leader of the team. At Moorehead, he was the captain and is expected to don the "A" on his jersey for the Ice but his time in the USHL will be short as Gifford would like to get a college scholarship.
On day two, Pittsburgh drafted 5'10" 183 lb Sault St. Marie Greyhounds center Tyler Kennedy in the fourth round, 99th overall. Speed and hard work is Kennedy's game on the ice but like the Penguins Konstantin Koltsov, putting the puck into the net isn't his forte. Kennedy was named the team's Most Gentlemanly Player this season as he finished the season scoring 16 goals, 26 assists, and 28 PIMs in 63 games. In October he was named the OHL Player of the Week scoring 2 goals and 5 assists in three games and last year he was named the Greyhounds Rookie of the Year winning the Pepsi Canada Trophy.
In the fifth round, 130th overall, Pens selected Slovakian defenseman Michal Sersen out of Rimouski of the QMJHL. The 6'1" 200 pound left-handed blueliner scored 7 goals, 18 assists, and +20 rating in 45 games to tie for second among league rookie defensemen even though he missed significant time due to an injury. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2003 CHL Import Draft projects to be an excellent puck-moving defenseman but scouts believe he needs to add a bit of snarl to his game to make it to the NHL.
Pittsburgh went for another project selecting 6'3 201 pound right-wing Moises Gutierrez in the sixth round, 164 overall. Born in San Diego, California and much like New Jersey's Scott Gomez, is a Mexican-American who moved to Alaska in his youth and picked up hockey. Last season, Gutierrez played for Kamloops of the WHL scoring 7 goals, 12 assists, and 107 PIMs in 71 games and was also a Gold Medal winner for Team USA at the 2003 U-18 World Cup. He has excellent speed and skill to go along with his noticeable size to be a possible second day steal if he's given more ice time this year in Kamloops.
In the 7th round, 194th overall, defenseman Chris Peluso of Brainerd High School was likely another Chuck Grillo recommendation. Peluso, a puck-moving defenseman, listed at 5'11" 180 pounds scored 10 goals and 33 assists in 25 games last year. The young defenseman, nephew of former NHL tough guy Mike Peluso, will play for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL next season and then decide which college to attend.
Also in the 7th round, Pittsburgh selected center Jordan Morrison at 222nd overall. Morrison scored 15 goals and 30 assists in 66 games for Peterborough of the OHL. He was the Petes first round pick, and 12th overall in the 2002 OHL draft. Morrison listed at 5'11" and 167 pounds must gain a considerable amount of weight to even consider a jump to the NHL.
Penguins finally went for a goalie in the 8th round, 228th overall, selecting Notre Dame freshman David Brown. He was passed over in the 2003 NHL Draft and not going until late into this draft will give Brown plenty of ammunition to improve his prospect status. He has been known to be a bit aggressive and confident but those knocks didn't slow the start of his collegiate career last season as he earned three consecutive shutouts for the Fighting Irish. Brown finished the season with a record of 14-7-3 and single-season school records with 2.32 GAA, .925 SV% and 4 shutouts. He was named CCHA's rookie of the week three times and defensive player of the week once plus was named Hockey Commissioner's Association's rookie of the month for October.
Pittsburgh finished their draft selections by tabbing Brown University center Brian Ihnacak with their 9th round pick, 259th overall. The 5'11" 178 pound center scored 10 goals, and 20 assists in 31 games, named ECAC's co-rookie of the year and Ivy League rookie of the year, and was Brown's first 30-point freshman in almost 30 years. All the accolades and successful first season means nothing for Ihnacak as scouts believe he must add some muscle to his body to be able to use his offensive skills to the best of his ability. It doesn't hurt his father Peter Ihnacak played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for eight years.
The Penguins left Raleigh drafting two top ten talents and a few offensive projects in the mold of five centers, one left-wing, two right-wingers, three defensemen, and one goaltender. Five of the players drafted were under 6' tall as the team drafted for speed and skill addressing the organization's biggest need for goals scorers. Though the team can expect a return in one or two years for Malkin and Salmonsson, the remaining draft picks could take four or five years to develop and work their way into the NHL, something an organization with deeply loaded prospect pockets can afford to wait on.


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This is usually the first thing out of peoples mouths when I tell them that I can't eat any gluten. Actually, it is more like the 2nd thing, after they ask what exactly gluten is. I don't usually run around telling everyone I meet that I can't have gluten. It most often comes up in conversations pertaining to my son when his friend's parents want to have him over or take him out to eat. Talk about a way to scare off new friends in a hurry! LOL! It has also come up at restaurants when servers or managers get curious and ask what I eat since I can't have bread and pasta. I love to educate people on Celiac and the gluten-free diet. The more people that know about it, I feel, the better off all of us who have to follow a gluten-free diet will be. Not only that, but for those who ask about symptoms and how we figured out we had Celiac, they are now more aware of the disease and if it might be something that effects them or their friends & family. Now, my husband does not share my love of educating the public on Celiac and the gluten-free diet. He rolls his eyes and smiles (a little fake-like) when he detects me going into my spiel to the server, manager or parent of Jon's friend. What can I say, I am passionate about things that involve myself or my family, and I like to help people.
Anyway, back to the question. What do you eat? When I first started my blog, I came up with a list of favorites for Jon & I. This shares more of the foods we use to replace the gluten-filled ones we can't have. It doesn't really show what we eat day-to-day. So, I thought that I would share a menu and some photos of what I eat day-to-day.
First up, breakfast. Breakfast for me is usually the same every day. What can I say, I am a creature of habit and I don't like change. I typically have 2 brown rice cakes topped with either Skippy Natural Peanut Butter or Almond butter and some kind of 100% fruit spread. This picture shows me also having a bowl of fresh fruit with it, I have stopped that b/c the fruit was bothering my stomach for some reason. I now have 2-3 egg whites and grape tomatoes topped with fresh basil.
Jon usually has pancakes or cinnamon toast. Here are a picture of some pancakes. I usually make these once a week and package into individual ziplocks, 3 per bag, and freeze.
Snacks for me are usually one in the AM and one in the late afternoon. I usually eat every 3 hours or so. 3 bigger meals and 2 snacks. I find this helps keep my blood sugar stable and I don't end up absolutely starving by my next meal. I also find that I need the energy to keep going. I usually go to the gym 6 days a week and I have to keep refueling throughout the day. Snacks vary day-to-day. I like cereal (Rice Chex, Envirokidz Gluten-Free Cereals, GF Oatmeal), Lara Bars, Cheese & Crackers (Diamond Nut Thins and Laughing Cow Swiss is my fav) or Enjoy Life Snack Bars. Jon will have cereal, Lara Bars, cookies, Nabisco Fruit Snacks or Carnation Instant Breakfast.
Cream Hill Estates GF Oats with Enjoy Life Granola & Blueberries
Lunches also vary day-to-day, but most times consist of sandwiches, veggies, salads and maybe some chips of some sort. If we have leftovers, sometimes I will eat those. I make my sandwiches on Pamela's Amazing Wheat Free Bread most of the time. If I have bagels or GF French Rolls from Trader Joe's, I will use those for melts or a bigger sandwich. Here is an example of what I had yesterday. I made a sandwich on Pamela's Bread with cream cheese, Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin sliced Cracked Pepper Turkey and fresh spinach; on the side I had a veggie medley of okra, zucchini, yellow squash & grape tomatoes; I also sliced up a garden tomato and topped with fresh grated parmesan and fresh basil and completed my meal with some Smart Puffs, Wisconsin Cheddar, made by Robert's American Gourmet.
Afternoon snacks are much like the ones in the AM. Sometimes I will get a non-fat Latte from Starbucks or Caribou as my "snack". Like now, they have the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Dinners obviously vary day to day. There are so many options out there that I never get bored and often find myself faced with too many choices and recipes when I do my weekly meal planning. I try to plan out meals on Sundays (watch for the weekly posts on Mondays) and then go shopping for the week. I start by seeing what meats I have in my freezer or what meats are on sale and build my menu around those. This helps me from buying too much food or letting things go bad b/c I forget they are there. We eat lots of brown rice (jasmine, short grain and basmati), potatoes (baked, mashed, sweet, roasted) and veggies. I make corn bread, foccacia or rolls to go with our meals if needed. I try to serve a meat or meat substitute, 1 -2 veggies and/or rice/potato. One staple that doesn't change is salad. I will eat a salad with dinner 9 times out of 10. It is a great way to get a good 2-3 servings of fresh veggies for me and I love them! I use spinach mixed with other darker salad greens or romaine and add in all kinds of fresh veggies like mushrooms, tomatoes or grape tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, cucumber, green beans, black beans and occasionally cheese. I switch up my dressings to keep it interesting. I really like Kraft's Light French dressing. I also use T. Marzetti's Light Honey French (YUM), Kraft's Light Ranch, Balsamic Vinaigrette and Ken's Steakhouse Raspberry Walnut Spray. Here is a shot of a typical salad with the Light French dressing:
Desserts are not every night treats, but we do have something several times per week. I like Trader Joe's Meringue Cookies or Edy's Slow Churned Ice Creams (Pumpkin is a current fav). If I have been a baking fool, we will eat those goodies for dessert.
So, as can be seen here, there is plenty for those who have to follow a gluten-free diet to eat. I don't miss many (read: any) meals. When I was first on the gluten-free diet, I easily got discouraged and frustrated when it came to eating and found myself eating the same thing every day….brown rice, black beans, cheese and tortilla chips. I quickly realized that I couldn't live on that forever and embraced the opportunity to concentrate on all of the foods I could have. 🙂
Filed under: Family, Gluten-Free, Gluten-free Products | Tagged: Gluten-Free, meals, salads, sandwiches, snacks | 1 Comment »


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Hearings and Business Meetings
May 03 2007
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests: To Receive Testimony on Current Legislation (SD-366)
SD-366 Energy Committee Hearing Room 02:30 PMThe purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 205 and H.R. 865, to grant rights-of-way for electric transmission lines over certain Native allotments in the State of Alaska; S.390, to direct the exchange of certain land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties, Utah; S.647, to designate certain land in the State of Oregon as wilderness; S.1139, to establish the National Landscape Conservation System; H.R. 276, to designate the Piedras Blancas Light Station and the surrounding public land as an Outstanding Natural Area to be administered as a part of the National Landscape Conservation System; and H.R. 356, to remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States.
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Witness Panel 1
Natural Resources and the Environment: Department of Agriculture
Acting DirectorBureau of Land Managment
Witness Panel 2
PresidentNational Trust for Historic Preservation
ChairmanThe Confederate Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
ChairClackamas County Board of Commissioners
Executive DirectorOutdoor Industry Conservation Alliance
DirectorUtah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
Board MemberGrand Canyon Trust


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The Playoff Picture
Jeremy Moore tripled with one out in the top of the 9th, and scored on Jay Brossman's single, to give the Quakes the lead run Thursday and an eventual 3-0 win at Lake Elsinore.
The last will be first, and the first will be last.
— Matthew 20:16
Unlikely upsets last night have two Angels affiliates moving up to the next round of their leagues' playoffs.
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes finished 2009 with an overall record of 61-79, the worst ever in California League history for a team that qualified for the post-season. They faced Lake Elsinore (73-67) in a best-of-three series between the South Division's two wild-card teams, while High Desert (who won both halves of the season) got a bye.
The Storm got the home field advantage, which meant Games #2 and #3 would be at The Diamond. The Quakes hosted Game #1 at The Epicenter on Wednesday and won 6-5, forcing Lake Elsinore to win both remaining games at home. But Manuel Flores pitched seven shutout innings last night, the Quakes scored three runs in the top of the 9th led by a Jeremy Moore triple, and the Storm lost 3-0 to be eliminated.
The Quakes advance to a best-of-five series against the Mavericks (83-57) which starts Saturday in High Desert. Games #1 and #2 are in Adelanto, #3 and #4 in Rancho on Monday and Tuesday, and #5 in High Desert. Of course, #4 and #5 are only if necessary.
It's the first time a Quakes team has advanced in the playoffs since becoming an Angels affiliate for the 2001 season. It's also the first time an Angels affiliate has advanced since they were affiliated with Lake Elsinore in 1996, when they went on to an improbable California League pennant. The Storm that year were 35-35 in the first half to finish third in the South Division, and in the second half were 40-30 to finish second. They were the division's wild card and faced Rancho Cucamonga in a best-of-three series similar to this week's pairing. The Storm took that series, no big upset as the Quakes were only 31-39 in the second half. But Lake Elsinore went on to knock off High Desert (41-29 in the second half) for the South Division title. They then faced the San Jose Giants, who had won both halves of the North Division with an overall 89-51 record. The Storm upset San Jose three games to two to win the pennant.
That also happens to be the only ring I have from a pennant winner. The Storm allowed certain fans who'd helped the team to order replica rings personalized with their names. So I have a Storm 1996 pennant ring in the drawer.
It wasn't that much of an upset, because the teams were more evenly matched, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels (78-60 overall) eliminated the Peoria Chiefs (81-57 overall) last night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, to win their best-of-three series 2-0. Peoria was 43-26 in the second half, the Kernels 38-30. C.R. was only 18-17 in August-September while Peoria was red-hot at 25-11. Head-to-head, the Chiefs beat the Kernels eight games to three this year. But the Kernels won 6-4 Wednesday at Peoria, then last night fought back from an early 4-0 deficit to win 9-8.
It was literally a "walk-off" win, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the 9th. The Kernels drew four walks to force in one run to tie the game at 8-8, then Matt Crawford was hit by a pitch to force in Dwayne Bailey with the winning run.
The Kernels move on to face the Burlington Bees (64-75 overall), who upset Kane County (76-64 overall) in their best-of-three series. The three-game series begins Saturday at Burlington, with Games #2 and (if necessary) #3 at The Vet.
Not to be overlooked are Tom Kotchman's Orem Owlz. Their 4-3 win last night against rival Ogden gave them a 31-6 record in the second half, a Pioneer League record for best second-half record. The Owlz finish their regular season tonight at Ogden, then face the Raptors in a best-of-three series for the South Division title. Game #1 is Saturday at Orem, with Games #2 and (if necessary) #3 in Ogden.


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Kenny Doughty has been added to the cast of Bong Joon-Ho's "Snow Piercer" and while I've never seen a movie he's been in he kind of looks like he's terminally ill so I'm going to hold back on the comments. The movie tells the tale of a group of people trapped on a train after the world has frozen over. I've talked about this a lot this morning. I still have no idea how trains work when the world is frozen.
Everything I know about Atilla the Hun I learned from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and even that I don't remember too well. I think I remember him messing up a sporting goods store or something. But Warner Bros. is going to fix that for me with a new film that will tell the full story of Mr. Hun. I wonder if they'll get to the part where he's taken to the future to help two kids get an A on their history final. I hope so.
Stick with me here, because I'm going to try to explain the new movie "Bloodloss". It's a found footage flick about a filmmaker who's investigation into his sister's disappearance leads him into the underworld culture of real life "vampires". Alright now that I write it down I guess it's not that confusing. it's also not that interesting. I'm sorry I ever brought it up.
David Slade, the guy who brought you "30 Days Of Night" has been tapped by the people behind the new "Hannibal" series to direct the show's pilot. the NBC show will follow the "Red Dragon" story line and tell the story of a budding romance between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter. I think. I don't know, I've never read the book but I do love a good romance.
Brace yourself. David Slade, director of "30 Days of Night", will be directing the third film in the "Twilight" franchise, subtitled "Eclipse". Uh... what? Slade has not made a statement yet, but I'm sure someone is tracking him down right now to ask him what the hell he's thinking.
Rumors are that Rooney Mara is in final negotiations to play "Nancy" in the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm St." No confirmation yet, but the source seems reliable from what I read at the link.
The director of "S. Darko" says he's in the process of remaking the 1978 film "The Eyes of Laura Mars". That may be the most obscure sentence I've ever written.
"Chaos Experiment" is about a scientist working on a theory that humanity will devolve into violence by 2012 due to global warming, and attempting to prove that by locking a bunch of half-naked people in a sauna. Not exactly the most scientific experiment, but it is a really good way for filmmakers to force their stars to be in their underwear for 90 minutes.
A body cast of Arnold Schwarzenegger, taken at the time of the first "Terminator" film, is being used to create a fully functional CGI character of Arnie for "Terminator Salvation". THAT, should be interesting.
"Wolverine" producer looking for a writer so she can make a "Constantine" sequel. Huh, I'm one of the few that enjoyed the first "Constantine", and that sentence STILL makes my head hurt.


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Skol Records announce first official CD reissue of the legendary same titled SOLAR EAGLE debut EP, coupled with the "Charter To Nowhere" album tape (both originally released in 1988 in micro quantity), on the "2 on 1" CD album. Both releases have mystical status between Heavy Metal collectors worldwide, and their original pressings available in sale are a true rarity. SOLAR EAGLE was a Canadian band, hailing from Ontario, active in the second half of the '80s. Skol Records' release will include all their recordings from that period, and the CD package – which will be limited to 500 copies – will include thick booklet with all lyrics, liner notes written by band's guitarist Axe Renwick, and lot of band photos. SOLAR EAGLE's style can be described as traditional '80s Heavy / Power Metal, comparable to acts such as (early) CRIMSON GLORY, MEDIEVAL STEEL or JAG PANZER. The "Solar Eagle / Charter To Nowhere" CD will be available on June 27, 2014, and will be distributed in North and South America by Shadow Kingdom Records.
Skol Records is a new record label founded by producer, artist manager and ex music journalist Bart Gabriel. Within last 3 years Skol Records managed to reissue albums of several underground Heavy Metal legends, such as S.A. SLAYER, DAMMAJ, TAIST OF IRON, SATAN'S HOST or BURNING STARR.
More information: www.skolrecords.com
SOLAR EAGLE online: www.facebook.com/solareagleofficial


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GCH CH Promenade Pay It Forward
We go next to the west coast where the Wine Country Kennel Club is hosting two shows in Napa CA. Today's final was in the hands of judge Alberto Berrios who chose his Best and Reserve from Field Spaniel. GCH CH Promenade Pay It Forward, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, GCH CH M & M's Fear the Beard, the Siberian Husky, GCH CH Topaz Bad Action, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Absolutely Talk of the Town, the Pomeranian, GCH CH CR Chase What Matters, the Bulldog, GCH CH Majestic I'm Her Man!, and the Beauceron, CH Bijou Noir Du Chateau Rocher HT.
GCH CH M & M's Fear the Beard
He chose the Field Spaniel, Gideon, as his BIS and the PBGV, Wilson, as his RBIS. Gideon is the Number Nine Sporting Dog with Five BIS and 24 Sporting Groups this year.


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Monday, March 31, 2008
Weekend by the Bay
Anyone remember this post? (To save you the trouble, it was about a friendship I made online, with a man who trained where I did about ten years earlier, and who eventually sent me a key to the fabled and loved Chief Resident room in the fabled and loved San Francisco General Hospital, of which I was the last occupier before it was torn down.) We've corresponded for over a year, but until Saturday, we'd never met.
This weekend in San Francisco a "distinguished professorship" in honor of one of the early Chiefs of Surgery at UCSF was celebrated. The professor died many years ago, while I was in training; in fact, I was a pall-bearer at his funeral. The professorship was financed by his daughter and her husband, the former being Dianne Feinstein, US Senator. Hosted by the two of them was a fancy dinner at a fancy hotel, with the attendees mostly surgeons who'd been trained by him, many years before me. There, I was the young guy.
Ordinarily I'd not be attracted to such a gathering; I feel out of place amongst strangers, especially those more glamorous than I (which includes pretty much everyone) and having connections to one another that don't include me. (We trained at the same place, but not at the same time.) But at the urging of JB -- the keymaster -- and with the knowledge that a couple of my old professors, now frail and failing and not likely to reappear, would be there, I took a one day trip to SF. Mostly, I'm glad I did, even though it began with a flight made stressful by that fearsome announcement midway to SFO: "If there is any medical person on board, please turn on your call light."
It wasn't the first time I've responded to such a plea. Stalling for a few seconds to see if any other lights went on, I chimed in with the reluctance that comes from fear of the unknown. A steward came and leaned to me (I'd noted his unusually cool and amusing delivery of the safety speech, and his friendly handling of the delay in takeoff occasioned by the usual SF morning weather.) "We have a lady who looks pretty gray. What sort of medical person are you," he asked. "I'm a physician," I replied. "A surgeon, actually. I could take out her appendix if needed." He smiled and led the way to the back of the plane.
In a seat leaning back as far as they go (meaning pretty much vertical) was a thirty-something woman looking indeed quite peaked, already with flimsy and ineffective-looking oxygen mask on her face but with an adequate albeit quite slow pulse, felt under the skin of a clammy wrist. I asked a few questions, determined that she was in prior fine health, no meds or allergies, no clots, had flown in the past with no problems. Ever notice how in the movies -- or even in televised fights of some kinds -- when a person goes down they sit him up, or even try to get him up walking? Pretty basic: when fainting or otherwise woozy, lie the hell down and stay there! Conveniently, the woman's seat was right across from the galley area. After the stewardess spent a couple minutes trying to remove the arm of the seat before discovering it wasn't designed to come off, I helped the lady (she was cognating marginally but able to supply a little leg work) over the armrest and onto the floor and kneeled down beside her, readjusted her silly mask and took the offered sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. There was, of course, no way to hear a damn thing in that rackety galley, but I checked her pressure by palpation and it was good enough. She'd picked up her pulse rate a little, too, complained that her fingers were tingling. About this time her friend came down the aisle and said they'd been out drinking a lot last night.
I was handed a headset. The crew had been in contact with the ground, connecting with some sort of emergency physician, with whom they wished me to speak. As I had when doing my required flying in Vietnam, sitting in the copilot seat and given control of stick and rudder, mic pressed against my lips properly near as confirmed by the frequent kissing of it (pilots did it, so I did, too, singing out "roger one-five-niner" and "rollout" while taking directions from the spies in the back of the plane), I donned the set and knowingly tucked the phone close to mouth. There was a button to push when talking. It was all so familiar... I gave my assessment, thumbing the button like a veteran, and the doc on earth said "sounds like a vagal thing." I agreed, but added that I thought there was a measure of dehydration, hung-overness, and hyperventilation.
"Think she can just check in with her own doc when she's on the ground?"
"Doubt it. She's better lying there, but I don't think she'll be getting up and out on her own power."
"OK, so you want EMTs there?"
"I think it's best."
After reassuring her that I was sure it wasn't serious, she was in no danger, there wasn't more I could do. Thought about getting her to drink some juice, but figured better to let her lie. I returned to my seat after filling out some forms; came back a couple of times to check on her. Interestingly, and rightly I'd say even though it probably broke some rules, they kept her lying there for the landing. We were held in our seats until the EMTs came aboard, checked her, exited and returned with a gurney/wheelchair hybrid (I felt vindicated at that point) and rolled her out. The stewardess thanked me earnestly, offered me a Starbuck's gift card as a reward. For five bucks.
A few hours later I met JB at my hotel. He was more compact and wiry than I'd have guessed. In his seventies, he bristled with contained energy, had a perfect voice: just grainy enough and quietly powerful, confident, in charge. He'd sat himself down with a couple of ladies in the lobby, unknown to him, and was chatting away when I came down, missing him at first, expecting him to be alone. His baldness was semi-encircled in the grandfatherly way. Obviously fit, wearing cowboy boots to the ball, and a Panama sort of hat sporting service medals and insigniae from his time in Vietnam (where, unlike me, he'd served as a fully trained surgeon, well in the thick of it, the real deal), he'd brought a copy of my book for signing. It was heavily annotated and curled from re-reading, underlined, with lists of questions at the back. I'd planned to tell him of my airborne adventure, but his stories were much better, and I lost mine in the moment. After the night's ceremonies and a detour into the bar for one more round, we parted company in a fully exchanged hug. Worth the trip. I want to spend more time with JB.
13 comments:
- Eric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiver said...
Gee. . . that's the same reward you get for giving up an exit row seat and sitting between lap children in the name of weight and balance.
Eric, Ballast
- SeaSpray said...
Awesome trip!
Next time I go to the doctor's office I am going to try to barter with a Starbuck's certificate and see what that gets me. ;)
- rlbates said...
Glad you got to meet JB in person! Did you get pictures to share?
- Unknown said...
I laughed out loud at the $5 Starbucks gift card! Thanks for sharing the story.
- Sid Schwab said...
ramona: pictures were taken, but not by me. I hope to get copies at some point.
- Jeffrey Parks MD FACS said...
cool story....
I wonder if there are many JB's among today's 30-year-olds. I fear not.
- #1 Dinosaur said...
[A] Starbuck's gift card as a reward. For five bucks.
Welcome to my world; the one where we're supposed to make do with $5.00 co-pays.
- Sid Schwab said...
dino: hey, the coffee's not bad. For five bucks you can get a decent half a cup.
- JP said...
Fun post to read, Dr. Schwab. I'd also like to hear one of those entertaining stories of JB's you mentioned...
I am unable to find your email address on the blog and so I am posting it as a comment here.
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I got a similar call on a Southwest flight from LA to SF. An elderly lady upfront was short of breath. I went up and found myself next to an anesthesiologist from Stanford. Without an OR, we really couldn't do much. I took her pulse (fast) and gave her some oxygen. We lay her down and waited for the plane to land. The paramedics arrived and shipped her off to I don't know where. I ended up getting a free round trip ticket from Southwest, but I never got the chance to use it.
My cousin on a flight from Malaysia to LA had to deal with somebody with chest pain and ended up getting a Singapore Airlines watch.
- Chrysalis said...
What a great thing, to have been able to meet up, and enjoy each other's company. I remember the other posting that you did about him. Great post to read! Glad the woman made it off the plane safely.


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From: "Mucha, Kevin S (Kevin)" <kmucha@x???xx.xxxx
Date: Fri Dec 3, 1999 4:53 pm
Subject: Comments?
I have sent Dan a few quick drawings (gifs) to upload to the site today as I
am curious for comments that anyone may have. I began describing my
scenario in part yesterday. This is a garage special. The structure is
wood framed, wood sided. I closed off the garage door through framing and
two layers of 3/4 plywood on the exterior. Inside I constructed a metal
stud frame completely detached (2" gap) from the existing structure using
roofing rubber as an isolation barrier between the walls and the floor. 6
inches of insulation went in and then the first layer of 5/8" gypsum. I
then used resilient channel and put up another layer of 5/8" on the walls
and 3/8" on the ceiling. The middle wall has rc on both sides and two
layers of 5/8" on the tracking side and one on the control room. The
original rafters (4) in the building spanned the width at the wall height of
9'. I removed these and put in a total of 10 doubled ties at a height of
ten and a half feet. My plans are to then attach either plywood or masonite
to the bottom of the ties with the cavity lined with 4" of 703 for a panel
resonator. I have some airplane noise to deal with and I think this will
further help as most of the noise is already reduced (thanks to Dan for some
tips on this in a r.a.p. thread). I also feel this will help against
boominess in the room due to it's limited dimensions. Finally, I will have
a polycylindrical diffuser behind the mix position and two bass traps
(rolled fiberglass in wire construction) in the two corners of the tracking
room. A wood floor will also be installed. I understand the dimensions are
no where near optimal but it's what I had to deal with. I have not yet
completed construction yet so I have not yet determined what other
acoustical treatment will be needed. Sorry for the lengthy post but I
admire the knowledge found in this group and welcome any comments.
Kevin S. Mucha
Netcare Networking Services
Training Manager
Lucent Technologies


text:
134 players attended the first day of the 31st London Open, held again at ISH, Great Portland Street.
Again it is being run by Geoff Kaniuk and the others from CLGC. The only problem on day 1 being the Internet
was down so no live broadcast could be made on IGS-PandaNet.
The main tournament was again a major in the Toyota-Pandanet European Go Tour.
Pei Zhao, the young Chinese lady from Germany, took the lead beating Chinese boy Li Shen and Britain's
Tony Goddard. Tony, a former 5 dan from Sheffield, previously beat Christoph Gerlach (6 dan Germany) in round 3.
French teenagers Antoine Fenech and Thomas Hubert complete the group on 3 wins.
In the evening an 8-player Pair Go event was won by Finland's Suvi Leppanen (3 kyu) and Teemu Rovio (1 dan) with 4/4. On 3/4 were Germany's Pei Zhao (6 dan) and Olivier Marteaux (1 kyu), London's Nuo Jia (2 dan) and Hao Wang (1 dan), and Edwina Lee (4 kyu) and "Erik".
Day three started with big clash between the German 6 dans: Pei Zhao and Christoph Gerlach. Pei won this and then beat France's Antoine Fenech (4 dan) in the afternoon. She is now on 6/6, two points ahead of the rest. UK's Tony Goddard lost to Fenech in the morning but beat Li Shen in the afternoon. So on 4/6 were Gerlach, Goddard, Shen, Fenech, Nechanicky and Hubert. Jun Tarumi (3 dan) is on 4/4. Stephan Kunne (13 kyu France) and Ken Dackombe (22 kyu UK) were still unbeaten.
During the evening was the Lightning Tournament. 54 players started in groups, winners going forwards to a knockout. Reaching the semi-finals were George Leach (5 kyu UK) and Radek Nechanicky (6 dan Czechia), but the finalists were Hichem Aktouche (7 kyu France) and Christoph Gerlach (6 dan Germany). It was the 6 dan who won.
Pei Zhao won her seventh game as expected putting her safe on 7 wins. Jun Tarumi (3 dan Germany) won his fifth in a row as he missed day two due to illness. This earnt him the honour of playing Pei in the last round. The Czech 6 dan Radek Nechanicky beat Tony Goddard in the morning and got young Li Shen in the afternoon. Radek won this by 2.5 points. Li had beaten Christoph Gerlach in the morning, who won his afternoon game. As it turned out Pei lost to Jun, but because of his missed games he could not earn one of the prize places. So the order was:
1. Pei Zhao 6 dan Germany 7/8 2. Radek Nechaicky 6 dan Czechia 6/8 3. Christoph Gerlach 6 dan Germany 5/8 4. Tony Goddard 5 dan UK 5/8 5= Li Shen 5 dan UK 5/8 5= Antoine Fenech 4 dan France 5/8 Jun Tarumi 3 dan Germany 6/6Winning 7/8 were George Leach (5 kyu UK), Jan Behrens (6 kyu Germany), Stephan Kunne (13 kyu France) and Ken Dackombe (22 kyu UK). Topping the list of 6/8 players was Nuo Jia (2 dan UK). All on 6 got plaques and all on 5 a certificate.
Winning the Continuous 9x9 was Hichem Aktouche (7 kyu France) with 28/28 reported at the prize giving (but actually not as amazing), with Arnaud Knippel (2 dan France) getting an honorable mention.
30 players gathered at the UCW club in Edinburgh, nearly double last year's entry. This included a contingent of 8 from Durham, all in matching T-shirts. Best of the three shodans and recipient of the whisky was Gordon Guo (1 dan Edinburgh) with 4/4. Second was Jens Andersch (1 dan Newcastle) on 3/4. Nine other players scored 3/4, the prizes going to those who travelled from Durham: Jim Cook (2 kyu Edinburgh), Chris Morris (5 kyu Durham), Edwin Brady (5 kyu Durham), Rich Philp (5 kyu Dundee), Jenny Radcliffe (10 kyu Durham), Colin Doherty (12 kyu Dundee), Jennifer Gray (12 kyu Durham), Quinton Connell (14 kyu Glasgow) and Kian Mehrabi (18 kyu Edinburgh). It was decided that Scottish championship semifinals will be Allan Crossman v Rich Philp and Donald Macleod v Jim Cook.
30 players took part. Peter Fisher (5 kyu Leicester) was the winner, beating Jil Segerman (8 kyu Brighton) in the final. Ken Dackombe (22 kyu Bromley) beat his elder sister Kay Dackombe (18 kyu Bromley) to also win 4 games. Their father Brian Dackombe (2 kyu Bromley) also won 3/4, as did Greg Bakker (12 kyu West Surrey), Nick Fry (15 kyu Twickenham), Richard Scholefield (13 kyu Milton Keynes), Ed Blockley (2 kyu Worcester) and Brian Brunswick (1 dan Epsom). Ron Bell (4 kyu Reading) won a prize for the third year running in the 13x13 with 3/6, in which the most wins prize went to Roger Daniel (3 kyu London) with 9/16, and best percentage was Pauline Bailey (17 kyu West Surrey) with 71. Paul Blockley used his schoolboy knowledge to win the flags of nations quiz. On the previous day some 24 students were taught various subjects by teachers Brian Brunswick, Paul Barnard, Tony Atkins, Matthew Cocke and Natasha Regan. Organiser Steve Bailey was the best at pits card game.
Tony Goddard (4 dan Sheffield) made a welcome return to tournament Go and won the Three Peaks for the first time. The tournament was held as usual in the Marton Arms in the beautiful North Yorkshire country. 51 players took part and youngsters William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge) and Jonathan Englefield (9 kyu High Wycombe) were among those who won 4/5. Others winning 4 were: David Horan (12 kyu Chester), John Herman (5 kyu Manchester), Roger Murby (4 kyu Cambridge), Baron Allday (1 dan West Wales) and runner up David Ward (4 dan Cambridge).
The Cambridge Junior Chess and Go Club were again the hosts of this event at the Meadows Community Centre, Cambridge. 23 entered the main event and David Ward (4 dan Cambridge) was winner of the national title on 13x13 boards. Second and best Junior was William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge) and third was Tim Hunt (3 dan Milton Keynes). Players with prizes for 5/7 (including handicap games) were Matthew Woodcraft (1 dan Cambridge) and Alistair Turnbull (13 kyu Cambridge). The afternoon ended with a charity doubles event for Children in Need. Simon Goss (2 dan Bracknell) and Matthew Harris (22 kyu Cambridge), and Matthew Reid (1 kyu Cambridge) and Simon Matcham (beginner Witchford) won both games. There was also a Chess problems competition and a beginners 9x9 event won by Daniel Simons from Witchford.
82 players took part in the 35th Wessex held as always in the Marlborough Town Hall. There was no 13x13 tournament as it had become unpopular, but Oxford won the team prize. Winner was Francis Roads (4 dan Wanstead) who had been trying to win for more than 30 years. Winners of the trophies for the other divisions (some by tie-break) were: 2 Niall Cardin (2 dan Oxford), 3 David M King (1 kyu Swindon), 4 Jackie Chai (3 kyu Bournemouth), 5 Chris Poerschke (4 kyu Bath), 6 Bill Streeten (5 kyu Wanstead), 7 Thomas Brand (7 kyu Brighton), 8 James Birkett (10 kyu Bristol), 9 Eleanor Thomas (11 kyu Bath), 10 Dave Siegwart (15 kyu Winchester). Of these Francis and James were the only ones winning 4/4.
The second Fuseki Follow-On was held in Guildford. More of a training session than a tournament, players had to complete a game of Shusaku starting from move 30, playing twice as black and twice as white. 12 players from 1 dan to 18 kyu took part and those winning 3 games got prizes: Jim Sadler (1 dan Brighton), Brian Brunswick (1 dan Epsom), Ron Bell (4 kyu Reading), Peter Fisher (5 kyu Leicester) and Anna Griffiths (6 kyu Epsom).
The Autumn team event was held at the ISH, home of the Central London Go Club. The Nippon Club were the team to beat this time and won the trophy by winning 16 games out of 24, beating three teams and drawing with the fourth. Cambridge were second with 14 wins out of 24. Third were the Globetrotters with 11/22, fourth were Wanstead with 10/24 and CLGC were fifth with 7/22. Players winning 4/4 were Ishikawa and Kikusui from the Nippon Club, Alex Rix from CLGC, Young Kim from Globetrotters and William Brooks from Cambridge.
72 players attended Wanstead. Winner was again Young Kim (5 dan Central London). Also winning 4/4 were Paul Maidowski (1 kyu Cambridge), Steve Bailey (3 kyu West Surrey) and Simon Mader (5 kyu Cambridge). The following won for 3/4: Alex Webb (19 kyu Oxford), Pauline Bailey (16 kyu West Surrey), Rasa Norinkeviciute (12 kyu Eastbourne), Nicola Hurden (9 kyu Bracknell), Xinyi Lu (9kyu Maidenhead), Andy Marden (8 kyu), Mark Todkill (6 kyu North London), Patrick Donovan (6 kyu Eastbourne), Tuong Nguyen (5 kyu CLGC), Chris Goldsmith (5 kyu Cambridge), Philippe Bourrez (4 kyu West Surrey), Martin Harvey (3 kyu Manchester), Simon Goss (2 dan Bracknell), Alistair Wall (4 dan Wanstead) and Joonghoon Jo (3 dan).
48 players attended the Open University for the 16th Milton Keynes Tournament. Unbeaten winner was Alex Rix (4 dan CLGC). Also on 3/3 were Matthew Reid (1 kyu Cambridge), Greg Pallis (8 kyu Oxford) and Stuart Patterson (16 kyu Leamington). The Team Prize was jointly won by the Oxford and Leamington teams, both winning 2/3 of their games. The Milton Keynes Go Board event was won by William Brooks with 8.5/9 and second was Jonathan Englefield with 6.5/8.
13 players took part in the Cornish Handicap Tournament on the Saturday in Penzance. Winner of the Go Bowls trophy on 5/5 was young Jonathan Englefield (9 kyu High Wycombe). He beat Elinor Brooks (6 kyu Swindon) in the final. 18 players took part in the Cornwall Tournament on the Sunday. Winner of the Devon Go Stone for the first time was Toby Manning (3 dan) from Leicester who beat Bracknell player Ian Marsh (1 dan) in the final. The players who each won a wooden stone for 3/3 were Mark Todkill (6 kyu North London) and Peter Fisher (5 kyu Leicester).
20 players attended the Northern at Renold Building, UMIST, in Manchester. It was held as part of the MSO. Gold medal winner was Carl-Johan Ragnarsson, a 3 dan from Lund in Sweden, who was unbeaten. Second was local Manchester player Erik Yangran Zhang (3 dan) on 5/6 and third was Tim Hunt (3 dan Milton Keynes) on 4/6. Ian Davis (4 kyu Belfast) put in a noteworthy 4/6 result and John Nicholas (7 kyu Manchester) won a very creditable 5/6.
Held at the Renold Building at UMIST in Manchester the 8th MSO had Go events over four days of the last weekend. The
main event of the weekend was the Northern. Matthew Macfadyen (6 dan Leamington) won games 2 and 3 of
the British Championship during the same weekend against David Ward. The day before the Northern had the 13x13
followed by the Lightning. The Bank Holiday Monday had the Rapid to finish the weekend. Top player was
Carl-Johan Ragnarsson from Sweden who took home two golds and a silver.
Rapidplay on 30/08/04 was won by Xiaoming Xie (3 dan Manchester) on tie break from Tim Hunt (3 dan Milton Keynes), both on 4/5. Taking bronze was Kunio Kashiwagi (1 dan Manchester) on tie-break from Simon Goss (2 dan Bracknell) on 3/5. 8 players took part.
Lightning on evening of 27/08/04 was won as last year by Piers Shepperson (5 dan Slough) with 6/6. Second was Carl-Johan Ragnarsson (3 dan Sweden) on 5/6. Third on 4/6 was Paco Garcia de la Banda (4 dan Spain). 12 players took part.
The 10-player 13x13 was won by Carl-Johan Ragnarsson (3 dan Sweden) with 6/6. Silver went to Tim Hunt (3 dan Milton Keynes) with 5/6. Bronze went to Ian Davis (4 kyu Belfast) who won 3/6 and stayed in the even group longest before elimination to the handicap group.
More than 45 Go players and family attended the 7th Isle of Man Go Week at the Cherry Orchard in Port Erin,
and enjoyed a fun week of Go, seaside, sunshine and friendship. First in the 43-player Championship event was
the defending champion, Piers Shepperson (5 dan Slough) with 5/5. Second was Matthew Cocke (5 dan Norwich) and
third Francis Roads (4 dan Wanstead), both on 4/5. Also on 4/5 were David M. King (1 kyu Swindon) who was fourth,
and two 5 kyus, Bill Streeten (Wanstead) and Tom Blockley (Worcester). Jonathan Englefield (9 kyu Bracknell) won 3.5.
In the 30 player Afternoon Tournament the winner was Tony Atkins (3 dan Bracknell) on SOS tie-break from Francis Roads (4 dan Wanstead), both on 2.5/3. The only player on 3/3 was Andy Price (11 kyu Leamington).
In the 27 player Handicap event, Bill Streeten (5 kyu Wanstead) won on tie-break from Paul Barnard (1 dan Swindon), both on 5/6. Doubles winners were mother and son, Pauline and Steve Bailey (West Surrey). Tim Hunt (3 dan Milton Keynes) beat organiser Steve Jones (1 dan Man) to win the 24 player 13x13 event. William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge) held on to the lightning title, by beating Jil Segerman (7 kyu Brighton) in the final between the top two players of the continuous stage.
After two months of play, the BGA KGS Tournament came to end with Stuart Barthropp (2 dan) as the deserved winner,
reclaiming the lead in a last hour clash with Paul Taylor. William Brooks worked hard to win the tournament loyalty prize,
clocking up a massive sixty games over the two months. The tournament attracted a respectable 47 participants and hopes to
improve on that next year.The Category winners were as follows:
Again 39 players attended the third tournament at Letchworth Garden City, with the same venue of the 1907 Meeting House. Winner was Andrew Jones (3 dan Wanstead). He beat Young Kim (5 dan London) in the last round. The only other player with 3 wins was Matthew Reid (1 kyu Cambridge). Nicola Hurden got a prize for being the top DDK (11 kyu Bracknell). William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge) won the continuous 9x9 with runner up Phil Beck (1 dan Cambridge).
The best players from 23 school heats met for the finals of the first Challenge in Manchester. Section winners were:
U16 Boys - William Brooks (The Perse School, Cambridge), U14 Boys - Matthew Hathrell (Finham Park School, Coventry), U12 Boys - Costas Televantos (Aston), U10 Boys - Duncan Bell (Balgowan Primary School), Girls - Hetty Boardman-Weston (Loughborough).
Other prize winners: Rajinder Poonian (7 wins), Jamie Wall (6 wins), James Hoyle (6 wins), Raminder Poonian (6 wins).
Overall top place medal winners: Gold - William Brooks, Silver - Hetty Boardman-Weston, Bronze - Matthew Hathrell.
Champion School - Loughborough; Champion Primary School - Balgowan Primary School, Beckenham.
The Scottish Open was again held at Pollock Halls at the Edinburgh University and 17 players took part. Winner as last year and for the fourth time was Wanstead's Francis Roads (4 dan) with 5/6. Second was Gerry Mills (1 dan Monmouth). 15-year old Vojta Kovarik (10 kyu Prague) won 6/6 and three players recorded 4/6: Donald Spy (14 kyu Dundee), Phil Blamire (5 kyu Edinburgh) and Allan Crossman (3 kyu Edinburgh).
The 12th Welsh Open at Barmouth was won as always by Matthew Macfadyen (6 dan Leamington) putting him on 58 wins unbeaten at that event. Richard Hunter (4 dan Tokyo) and Francis Roads (4 dan Wanstead) were equal second with 3/5. Martin Harvey (3 kyu Manchester) scored 4.5 and Roger Peck (4 kyu Milton Keynes) scored 4, to win a prize each. 32 players took part and enjoyed the seaside air and entertainment.
40 players entered, a good number of local East Midlands players in their midst. In the main tournament Zixin Wu (4 dan) from Nottingham club was the tournament winner with 3/3, beating Francis Roads in the final round. Winning prizes for 3/3 were Thomas Hawley (10 kyu Nottingham), Hetty Boardman-Weston (14 kyu Loughborough), Johannes Kling (15 kyu Nottingham) and Wilson Hao (23 kyu Loughborough). Loughborough School in fact were the best team and won the team prize. In the continuous 13x13 the prizes went to youngsters William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge) for the most games won and James Hoyle (27 kyu Loughborough) for most games played.
Kirsty Healey and Matthew Macfadyen retained the Pair Go Championship for a fourth year. This year at Foxcombe Lodge Hotel, Boars Hill near Oxford, they beat Natasha Regan and Matthew Cocke in the final. Third were Sue Paterson and Jim Sadler, Jackie Chai and Francis Roads. Helen and Martin Harvey got the fighting spirit prize. In the 5-pair handicap group the Guildford mother and son, Pauline and Steve Bailey, were runaway winners with 4/4. Best dressed pair were judged by a member of public as Natasha and Matthew. Geography quiz winners were Anna Griffiths and Tony Atkins; Pair Go photo year quiz winners were Elinor Brooks and Erik Hall. Photos
Best of the 53 players was Jon Diamond (5 dan) who beat Piers Shepperson (5 dan) in the last round. Winners of 3 games were William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge), Matthew Selby (3 kyu Epsom) and Nicola Hurden (10 kyu Bracknell). William Brooks also won the 13x13. Jim Clare won the Go Problems competition and Tony Atkins won the caption competition.
30 kyu players (including a 1 dan ghost) played the Bar-Low which was part of the Cambridge MSO weekend. Winner was Jong Ug Kim (1 kyu Epsom) with 5/5. The ghost, Matthew Woodcraft (1 dan Cambridge), scored 4/5 as might be expected only losing to the winner. A large group of 9 players who started above the bar (6 kyu) won 3/5 to come third. Best junior player was Kay Dackombe (18 kyu Bromley) who won 3 games. Other popular games at the Olympiad weekend were Tantrix and of course Chess, but the were only 6 shogi players for the British Championship.
The event was part of the Cambridge MSO weekend and played days 2 and 3 there, whilst days 1 and 4 were in Trinity College. This year the 8 players between 3 and 5 dan were quite evenly matched. Alex Rix won his first 5 games before losing to David Ward who was also doing well. Matthew Cocke lost early to Des Cann and later to Tim Hunt. In the last round Alex Rix lost to Matthew by half a point and David Ward won on time against Andrew Jones. So Matthew Cocke and David Ward had to play off for first place, selected ahead of Alex Rix on qualifying order (all on 5 wins). Piers Shepperson won 4, Alex Selby and Des Cann 3, Tim Hunt 2 and Andrew Jones 1. In an exciting play off David Ward won by half a point against Matthew Cocke, so becoming the new challenger to Matthew Macfadyen.
4 teams of 6 players attended the Nippon Club in Piccadilly for the spring International Match. The Out of Town team, headed by David Ward (4 dan Cambridge) and Jim Clare (3 dan Reading) won the match, beating Wanstead, Central London and Oriental teams.
38 players attended the first Durham Go Tournament, which was held to celebrate 10 years of Durham Go Club. Appropriately, the club's founder Simon Shiu (4 dan Bristol) was the winner, with 6/6. Second was Gang Xiong (2 dan Durham) with 4/6. Also on four wins were Alan Thornton (2 dan St Albans), Paul Taylor (1 dan Cambridge), Daniel Gilder (3 dan Manchester), William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge), Claas Roever (3 kyu Dublin), Chris Morris (6 kyu Durham), Celia Marshall (11 kyu Isle of Man), Russell Haswell (15 kyu Newcastle) and James Liu (21 kyu Durham). The 13x13 tournament was won by Peter Nuttall (19 kyu Durham) with 4 wins, on a tie break from William Brooks. The lightning tournament was won by Matthew Holton (2 dan Teesside) with 3 wins. Durham Go Club also took the opportunity to publicly express their gratitude for a bequest of Go equipment and books they received earlier this year after the sad death of Brian Wilson, a keen local Go player.
Six teams competed for the Broken Go Stone Trophy and a handmade chocolate egg by Annie Hall. Swindon's Christian Scarff (2 dan), Paul Barnard (1 dan) and Matthew Griffiths (11 kyu) won, aided by Paul and Matthew winning 3/3. Also on 3/3 were Alistair Wall (4 dan Royal Standard) and Jong Ug Kim (2 kyu Epsom). Bill Streeten and David Hall won the 10x10.
Tim Hunt, Andrew Grant, Roger Peck and Fred Holroyd ran the 37th British Go Congress in the very comfortable surroundings of the Holiday Inn at Milton Keynes. The weekend featured the British Lightning, British Open and the BGA AGM.
The British Lightning had 19 players. None of them managed to score 5/5. On 4/5 were Steve Bailey (3 kyu West Surrey), Michael Charles (2 dan St Albans), Jonathan Chin (1 dan Cambridge) and David M King (1 kyu Swindon). David won the event on the CUSP tie-break.
The British Open had 67 players. T Mark Hall (4 dan London) won it for the second year running with five wins out of six. Second, topping a group with 4/6 on tie-break, was Dan Gilder (3 dan Manchester). On 5/6 was Frederic Smadja (13 kyu London). Martin Li (5 dan Borlange (Sweden)) and Fred Holroyd (4 kyu Milton Keynes) got 4/5. There were 14 people with 4/6 who all won Easter Eggs. They were: Andy Price (12 kyu Leamington), Jonathan Englefield (9 kyu Maidenhead), Anna Griffiths (7 kyu Epsom), Peter Fisher (5 kyu Leicester), Tom Widdicombe (2 kyu Devon), Helen Harvey (1 kyu Manchester), William Brooks (1 kyu Cambridge), Phil Beck (1 dan Cambridge), Gerry Mills (1 dan Monmouth), Jonathan Chin (1 dan Cambridge), Michael Charles (2 dan St Albans), Ulf Olsson (4 dan Gothenburg (Sweden)) and Young Kim (5 dan London). Azan Aziz Marwah (10 kyu London) scored 3/3.
The Nippon Club Team Trophy was won by the Central London team of Piers Shepperson (5 dan), Mike Nash (1 kyu), Frederic Smadja (13 kyu), Mark Todkill (7 kyu) and Azan Aziz Marwah (10 kyu) by a narrow margin. They scored 16 wins out of 27 (59.26%). Second was Cambridge with 20 wins out of 34 (58.82%).
31 players took part in the third four round rapid play event held at the Oddfellows in Leamington. Winner was Des Cann (4 dan Milton Keynes). Second and third with three wins were Paul Barnard (1 dan Swindon) and Nick Wedd (2 kyu Oxford). Both Nadeem Rahim (11 kyu) and Neil Dowse (16 kyu) won four wins for Aston School. Others on three wins were: Chris Kirkham (2 kyu Manchester), Ron Bell (4 kyu Reading), Peter Fisher (4 kyu Leicester), Nicola Hurden (11 kyu Bracknell), Ewart Shaw (14 kyu Leamington) and Zac Tsai 14 kyu Birmingham). Between games games from the Candidates were analysed.
20 players from 2 kyu to 5 dan played in the Candidates' Tournament in Leamington Spa. Piers Shepperson, Alex Rix, Min Yang, Tim Hunt and John Hobson (by tie break from Andrew Jones and Alex Selby) qualified for the Challenger's League. They will join Matthew Cocke, Dave Ward and Des Cann in the Challenger's League an 8 player all-play all tournament to be held in early May. Subsequently it has been discovered that John Hobson and Min Yang are unable to take part and so Andrew Jones and Alex Selby are invited to play as reserves.
87 players attended despite a snowy start to Leap Day. Last year's winner, Young Kim (5 dan London), lost in the last round to Li Shen (5 dan London). This won the 12 year old 100 pounds. The others winning all three were Jonathan Chin (1 dan Cambridge), Brian Brunswick (1 dan Epsom), Paul Taylor (best kyu player, 1 kyu Cambridge), Matthew Woodcraft (1 kyu Cambridge), Roger Peck (4 kyu Milton Keynes), Paul Russell (4 kyu Cambridge), Chris Goldsmith (6 kyu Cambridge), Tony Pitchford (7 kyu Cambridge), Garry Sturley (10 Kyu Cambridge) and Richard Scholefield (13 kyu Milton Keynes). Nobody played in the continuous 13x13, CB1A from Cambridge won the team prize. Paul Smith also ran a Novices' Tournament.
70 players attended the Oxford Tournament at St. Edmund Hall. Winner was the Chinese player from Cardiff, Wenhao Li (5 dan). He beat two 5 dans, Young Kim and J.K. Shim, and then Alistair Wall in the last round. Players on 3/3 were Niall Cardin (1 dan Oxford), David M King (1 kyu Swindon), Elinor Brooks (6 kyu Swindon), and Richard Scholefield (14 kyu Milton Keynes). William Brooks (2 kyu Cambridge) won the 9x9 side event with 3/4. Prizes were sponsored by Hoyles Games Shop.
Held during the Crewe Chess Congress at Bentley Motors Works Restaurant, Pyms Lane, Crewe, Cheshire, 24 players attended. Winner of the open section was Andrew Morris (1 dan Lancaster); second was Baron Allday (1 dan West Wales). Winner of the handicap section was Ed Blockley (2 kyu Worcester) on 5/5. On 4/5 were Steve Bailey (3 kyu West Surrey) and John Nicholas (8 kyu Manchester). Paul Blockley (13 kyu Worcester) was best youth player with 3/5. 10x10 winner was Richard Newman-Thomson (9 kyu Lancaster) with 6/6.
A record 51 children attended this event at King Edward VI School, Aston.
There were lots of locals, groups from Bloxham, Loughborough and others from around the country.
Winners [runners up] were:
In the 2004 varsity match Cambridge beat Oxford 11-5. This event was first held in 1967 according to the Cambridge Club page.
86 players attended the HQ of HITACHI Europe Ltd for the 13th Maidenhead Tournament. Winner for second year running was Chinese boy Li Shen (5 dan London), aged 12, who forced Young Kim to take second. Winning 3/3 were Chris Dawson (1 dan Maidenhead), James Aspden (1 dan Oxford), Matt Piatkus (2 kyu Oxford), Xin Yi Lu (11 kyu Maidenhead) and Matt Griffiths (12 kyu Swindon). Mike Charles (2 dan St Albans) won 2.5. Thanks to generous sponsorship from HITACHI all on 2/3 got prizes too. Team winners were Oxford (75 percent) and 9x9 winner was William Brooks (2 kyu Cambridge) with 9/9 wins. A special prize went to young Matthew Knight who played 12 9x9 games during the day.


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This article is a a group of guilds information page
The contents herein are entirely player made and in no way represent official World of Warcraft history or occurrences which are accurate for all realms. The characters and events listed are of an independent nature and applied for roleplaying, fictional, speculative, or opinions from a limited playerbase only. Guild pages must comply with the personal article policy.


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Microscopic Pituitary Surgery
A surgical microscope is a device that helps a surgeon see the pituitary region better. The microscope shines light on the pituitary region from nearly 10 to nearly 16 inches away (25 to 40 centimeters). The surgeon looks through the eyepieces in the micrscope to see the pituitary gland. The microscope is fixed to a large stand that allows the surgeon to move it a little bit at a time.
The microscope offers a surgeon several advantages during pituitary surgery, including:
- Being able to see with both eyes
- Being able to shine light on the area
- Ease of movement
At the same time, there are disadvantages to microscope surgery, including:
- A relatively limited field of view, especially when the endonasal approach is used
- Limited vision to the sides
- Limited vision directly on top of the pituitary gland
Most neurosurgeons are familiar and comfortable with the microscope. The microscope is used routinely for transphenoidal surgery. This is called microscopic endonasal surgery. In some situations, both the microscope and the endoscope are used during pituitary surgery.


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Einstein On The Beach, the opera from which Knee Play 3 was extracted, was a seminal work that broke all the rules, being non-linear, non-narrative, episodic, dreamlike and five hours long. Knee Play 3 is one of the number songs composed for scene changes, using numbers and solfege syllables as text.
American composer Philip Glass is widely known as one of the most celebrated, influential and prolific of the modern composers. He is frequently referred to as a minimalist, though he prefers to call himself a composer of 'music with repetitive structures.'
Glass' operas, among them the renowned Einstein On The Beach, are performed across the globe, and he has created work for small and large ensembles, film and experimental theatre, and founded his own performing group, The Philip Glass Ensemble.
This eight minute piece is the third Knee Play from Einstein On The Beach and is scored for unaccompanied SATB chorus.