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Poor 401(k) outcomes can be the result of a lousy plan, employee decision errors or a combination. The good news is that most 401(k) problems can be fixed or worked around.
Let's talk about plan issues first. Then we'll get to the possibility of "operator error."
What makes for a lousy plan? And, how can you make the best of it?
High fees
The most prevalent 401(k) fees are the expenses associated with the plan's investments. They are commonly expressed as the investments' annual "expense ratio." Often, allowances are built into the expense ratio to pay a plan's other service providers as well. These would be the people providing education and/or advice, keeping the plan's records, sending statements, maintaining the website and call center, legal and compliance, custodial and trustee services, etc. It's unrealistic to think they should work for free, but any fees paid out of plan assets must be "reasonable." Recent Department of Labor fee disclosure mandates have made it easier to identify excessive fees and we have seen a great deal of interest in the marketplace, on the part of employers, in benchmarking their plan's fees to ensure that they are reasonable. This is a positive trend for retirement savers.
How would you know if your plan has high fees? There is no single magic number to measure against. A plan with thousands of participants and lots of assets would likely have an average expense ratio well under 1% per year. A smaller plan or one with small average balances can legitimately be much more expensive, as a percentage of the assets in the plan. This is generalizing, but if your plan's expenses are much more than 1.50% annually, you should ask why. You can find expense information on the fee disclosure form provided by your employer last August, and possibly updated since.
Note: Sometimes high expenses are unavoidable because poor demographics collide with the economic realities. It could cost roughly $10,000 annually to maintain a good quality 401(k) plan for 100 employees. A newer plan with only $1 million of accumulated savings could take 1.00% of assets annually just for plan administration. A mature 100 person plan with $10 million of assets would need to consume only 0.10% annually on administrative costs. After advisory and money management costs, the total investment expense ratio might be 0.85% for the mature plan and 1.75% annually for the plan with the smaller asset base. All things equal, both could be reasonable.
Strategies: Check your fee disclosure statement to learn the details of your plan's fee structure. You can politely ask your employer what they have done to determine if your plan fees are reasonable. Within the menu of available offerings, see if there are better choices you can make. Remember, cheaper isn't always better. If you have a moderate risk tolerance, don't shift all your money into the plan's stock index fund, just because it's cheaper. (More on this below.)
If your plan's expenses are really high, you could consider limiting your 401(k) contributions to the amount necessary to capture any available employer match, and then saving additional amounts in an IRA, annuity or other account. Beware though; the most favorable tax treatment is likely to be in your 401(k), it has the highest level of creditor protection, the discipline of automatic payroll deduction investing is compelling, and "outside" investments may have their own sets of fees, costs and restrictions. For most people, making the most of their 401(k) is the best path.
Ask the plan's advisor for help picking the right investment mix, and keep reminding yourself that you are going to have a lot more money at retirement if you keep at it, the fee level notwithstanding. Over time, as the plan's assets grow, the expense ratio should drop. If it doesn't, you have every right to politely complain.
Mediocre investment choices
Be realistic in judging the quality of your plan's investment menu. Don't expect great results from your stock funds if the market isn't doing well. "When the tide goes out, all boats fall with it." You should judge your plan's funds based upon risk-adjusted, relative performance against the funds' peers. If you're into this, you can do a lot of research on sites such as Morningstar. They will list peer rankings, and risk-adjusted measures of return such as alpha and Sharpe Ratio. Remember, even the best managers go through prolonged periods of underperformance, so don't pull the trigger too quickly if the manager has a strong long-term record. That makes it important to look at manager tenure. A fund may have great five and 10-year numbers, but if the current manager is new, make sure you discount the performance achieved under the prior manager.
The trend in 401(k) design has been toward "open investment architecture." This allows a plan to offer investments from a wide variety of fund managers — more of an all-star approach. It acknowledges the reality that no single fund company has the best experts in each of the investment types typically offered on a 401(k) menu. However, there are still a number of plans out there that are captive to a single fund family, and these tend to have the worst menus of any of the plans we are asked to come in and evaluate. If most or all of the funds on your 401(k) plan menu are from the same provider, it may be appropriate to ask your employer to take a look at some new options, either on the current provider's platform or by moving to another provider.
Your employer may have made the best decision at the time the current provider was selected, but two things may have changed since. First, the retirement plans marketplace has evolved a great deal in recent years, and it has become more price-competitive. Second, your plan may have grown to the point where it has a better negotiating position. Again, the trend is in favor of retirement savers.
Strategies: If your investment options aren't great, don't despair. As indicated above, you can ask your employer to upgrade the menu. In the meantime, some of your options are probably less mediocre than others. Adjust your investment mix, within your risk tolerance, so that it avoids the worst of the options. If you have investments outside of the plan, coordinate your overall mix to take advantage of whatever flexibility exists. For example, if you want a 60/40 overall mix, take advantage of your plan's stable value fund for the 40% fixed income allocation and use stock funds outside the plan for as much of the 60% allocation as you can.
Be forward thinking. Bonds have been in a 30-year bull market. That is unlikely to continue indefinitely. At some point, interest rates will start going up and bond prices will start going down. If your plan's bond offerings are lousy, don't worry excessively about that, because you should be rethinking their use anyway. Likewise, if your international holdings have done poorly, patience may see them turn around. Likewise with lower-risk equity funds, which have been underperforming their more aggressive peers. Think ahead and think long-term. You will have a lot more money at retirement if you keep plugging along as opposed to sidelining yourself because your options aren't ideal.
No help
Most people are not gifted with 401(k) expertise. Unless they are helped, they won't necessarily understand how imperative it is to save; they don't know the right amount to save; they don't know what investments to pick and they don't know how to avoid emotionally-driven decision errors.
The majority of large employer plans use the services of an advisor to help the committee to make their decisions. Sometimes this advisor is available to give advice to individual employees. More often, the plan's service provider (usually a mutual fund or insurance company) offers informational and educational materials to help plan participants, but they don't actually give individualized advice. Smaller plans are a mixed bag when it comes to resources; some are great and some offer little or nothing.
Strategies: Ask your HR Department what resources are available to help you to make good 401(k) decisions, and take advantage of them. If the pickings are slim, you can hire an advisor or planner to give you a strategy or you can do some independent research.
A Google search of "retirement planning" or "retirement calculator" will yield a wealth of information. As very general guidelines: you should absolutely participate in your employer's plan; you should contribute as much as you can afford, hopefully a double-digit percent of your earnings; you should use a diversified mix of investments matched to your risk tolerance; and you should stick with your plan through thick and thin, over your whole working life.
OK, we've used a lot of ink to discuss your plan's possible shortcomings. Now, it's your turn to sit in the hot seat. Let's talk about "operator error", the poor decisions we make surrounding retirement saving.
Failing to take meaningful and consistent action
People like to play the blame game. There are a lot of lousy 401(k) plans out there, and there are a lot of pretty good ones. Either way, it's your ultimate responsibility to provide for your own future security, 401(k) flaws notwithstanding. Think about it; demographers say we will routinely be living into our 90s, which means we have about 40 working years to amass savings to cover 30 non-working years. Want to quibble? Maybe we have 45 working years to cover 25 years in retirement. Either way, the math simply doesn't work unless we make this a lifelong priority.
There is an old adage that you should "pay yourself first." Take your 10% (or other appropriate amount) off the top of each paycheck to go directly into your 401(k) account. Otherwise, if you wait to see what's available for saving at the end of the month, guess what? That's right. If you think about it, you are saying that your future safety and security is the least important priority in your life. That's pathetic! Is a restaurant meal, a game ticket or the latest gadget really worth more to you than avoiding poverty in your old age? Of course not, but most people haven't had that conversation with themselves.
Strategies: Sit yourself down and think about your priorities. In its current form, Social Security will replace less (maybe much less) than half of the income you will need in retirement. It replaces one-third of pre-retirement income between $9,000 and $55,000, and just 15% of income above that, subject to an overall benefit limit of about $30,000 per year. Unless you think it is going to be more generous in the future, you need to start packing it away now!
Ask your plan's advisor or go to an online retirement calculator and do a "gap analysis" to see what percent you need to save, and start doing it.
Take the emotion out of your investment decisions
Studies repeatedly show that individual investors' returns lag those of the general market by a wide margin. That's because they fail to manage emotional risk. Having an investment mix that is more aggressive than one's risk tolerance can lead to an emotionally-driven decision to sell during periods of market weakness. Conversely, having an investment mix less aggressive than one's risk tolerance can lead to poverty in old age because of inadequate savings accumulation.
Strategies: Complete a risk profiling exercise. If your plan doesn't make one available, seek one online. They range in complexity from 2 minutes to 20 minutes, so just find one you are comfortable with and complete it. If your plan has an advisor, ask them for help. If not, you'll have to do a little translation between the results and your plan's menu. At a high level, though, it's not that complicated. If you score "conservative" on the risk quiz, you should probably limit your equity (stock fund) exposure to no more than about 25% to 30% of your account value. You should be able to figure out which of your plan's options are stock funds and which are income oriented. If you are unsure, ask your HR Department what resources are available. Similarly, a "moderate" score might indicate a roughly 60% exposure to stocks, and "aggressive" might point you toward at least 80% stocks.
Think about investing as a form of shopping. If you are still in the accumulation phase, that means you are a buyer every pay cycle. Be happy when stocks go on sale. You get more shares for your money, and ultimately, he/she with the most shares wins!
You are an intelligent human being, not a sheep. Don't engage in "flock-think." If others are flocking for the exits because of inflammatory headlines, don't follow them. Stay behind and quietly accumulate some of the shares they are selling at discounted prices.
Remember what you are doing. Through stock funds, you are investing in baskets of businesses selected by the managers. A diversified 401(k) portfolio might hold fractional interests in 1,000 businesses, many of which are household names. These companies may have good and bad years, but over time, the value of most of them is likely to grow. This is not gambling. Yes, the markets have periodic fits, but we still own the businesses and they will keep cranking out their goods and services regardless of today's share prices.
Think long-term. Your time frame is not only the years until your retirement, but also the years until you die. Over time, about a third of years are losers in the market. Take advantage of them to buy additional shares. Stick around to make the money during the balance of the years, when the market is going up.
Get real
Wishful thinking doesn't work. You need to put in time and money if you are going to have a great outcome. Don't cap your deposits at the employer match level. By all means, take advantage of the match, but if your gap analysis says you need to save 10%, do it. Don't stop at "X"% because that's where the match leaves off. If there's no match, do it anyway.
Summarizing, your plan might not be as lousy as you think. Even if it is, you will retire in more comfort by using it, as opposed to boycotting it. You might be able to provoke improvements in your plan if you go about asking in a constructive and diplomatic manner.
A lot of poor 401(k) outcomes are the result of operator error. You can turn that part of the problem around on a dime by following the strategies outlined above.


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Washington, D.C. -- Priests for Life, a New York-based international pro-life organization of Catholic clergy and laity, today announced the formal filing of a lawsuit against the Obama Administration, seeking to permanently block the implementation of the HHS mandate that imposes clear violations of conscience upon any and all citizens who morally object to abortion and contraception.
One part of the lawsuit seeks injunctive relief from the "forced speech" aspect of the controversial Health and Human Services ruling. According to the HHS regulations, virtually all U.S. employers will not only be forced to pay for 100% of an employee's prescription for abortion-causing drugs, but also be forced to instruct the employee on how to obtain these morally-objectionable prescriptions and get them for free.
"This falls under the forbidden rubric of 'forced speech'—a corollary violation of every citizen's right to free speech under the Constitution," says lead attorney Charles LiMandri.
The Obama Administration has received significant backlash against the HHS ruling because it requires employers to pay for abortion-related and other morally objectionable services.
"No matter what religion someone professes, requiring them to instruct their employees how to obtain abortion-inducing drugs -- whether this instruction is given by them or someone they hire —is an outrage not to mention an egregious violation of civil rights and constitutional protections. We will not allow the Obama Administration to get away with this," says Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life.
The so-called "accommodation" offered by the Administration does not solve the moral or legal problems employers face, and against which Priests for Life is objecting. Moreover, these "accommodations" have not been translated into policy. At this point, they are simply a Presidential speech.
The Priests for Life lawsuit, the first to be launched subsequent to the announcement of the "accommodations," addresses policy as it currently stands.
This new lawsuit seeks injunctive relief from the HHS rules – first on behalf of Priests for Life, and then extending universally since all organizations and companies will be affected by the tyrannical HHS decree. Priests for Life is particularly well placed to pursue this litigation because its primary purposes are to promote and protect life whereas the primary purposes of the abortion/contraception/sterilization mandate are to prevent and destroy life.
According to Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, "It has been suggested by the Administration that some groups have an extension of a year before the mandate goes into effect, so they can adapt to it. We don't need a year, we don't need a moment, because the mandate is unjust. You don't adapt to injustice; you oppose it. Hence we're launching this lawsuit. "
Priests for Life has retained noted civil rights attorney Charles LiMandri of San Diego to represent them in their lawsuit against Obama. LiMandri achieved national distinction by saving the famous "Mt. Soledad Cross" – a historic war memorial that had been erected on public property many decades ago, which local atheists sought to have torn down. He has also fought for the rights of San Diego firefighters who were forced to participate in a vulgar "gay pride" parade against their will or else face termination. He was also the General Counsel for the National Organization for Marriage--California during the Proposition 8 Campaign to save traditional marriage.
LiMandri remarks, "This is the first time in history any administration has used brute force to compel someone to violate his conscience or moral convictions. It's unheard of. It's also antithetical to the core American principles of religious liberty and freedom from invasions of privacy. We intend to fight the ill-conceived HHS edict and challenge it on constitutional grounds. This case could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And we'll be happy to take it there if need be. We will stand our ground, and we won't back down."
Additionally, the American Freedom Law Center based in New York is joining forces with Mr. Limandri assisting with their extensive experience in religious liberty cases. The American Freedom Law Center is a Judeo-Christian law firm that fights for faith and freedom. It accomplishes its mission through litigation, public policy initiatives, and related activities.
Priests for Life is the largest Catholic pro-life organization in the United States. It is a private association of the faithful and an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation. Under the Obama Administration's new HHS rules, it is treated like any other corporation and therefore must comply with these new conscience-violating mandates, decrees, and punitive measures.
Priests for Life applauds the members of Congress who have introduced legislation to address the HHS policy, and will also support the efforts of the Church, and many other groups, to pass such legislation.
Further details of the lawsuit will be forthcoming.
Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
"The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit." (2 Tim. 1:7)-30-
"The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit." (2 Tim. 1:7)
"The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit." (2 Tim. 1:7)

subset: commoncrawl


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chapter 267 (or is it 277) has nothing much going on for me... but it crushed my hopes of having a rukia X kaien couple....
speaking of the royal family.... is byakuya one of them or is he just a noble?
It\'s been like years since I\'ve been here... >.> wow
^ byakuya is just part of a noble family
Watching Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash.
LunaticGear522 wrote:
kyocool wrote:
peregrine829 wrote:
This may be the improper forum to post this question, but it's been bugging me for a while and I haven't found a more on-topic forum that's been updated recently.
Someone explain this to me. Yamamoto-Genryuusai is, by a wide margin, the strongest Captain. Why doesn't he just deal with direct threats to Soul Society personally? He was perfectly willing to kill his own students (8th and 13th Captains, whom he considered adopted sons) for disobeying an execution order that was invalid to begin with. But whenever the very existence of Soul Society is threatened by...I don't know...maybe immortal spirit particle absorbing superhumans riding a vengence kick (re: Bount), he stands around with his thumb up his ass. He may have had good intentions, but his judgement leaves much to be desired.
Well if i recall right from the manga (which has been a few months..soo someone please correct me if im wrong) General yamamoto is the sole person who knows where the king lives...soo he cant just rush into every battle because if he were to perish no one would be able to potentially save the king. Also as a general he must be the one to give battle orders and you cant always give proper orders while out on the battle field sometimes it takes someone viewing from the outside in to make the best decision.
Also The dealing with Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake..i felt he took those matters into his own hands for the very reason he though of them as his adotpive sons...soo he felt somehow he failed them and needed to be the one to handle it himself...not to mention im sure he was well aware every other captian under his command was in battle outside of those two soo if he didnt attempt to stop them then who could have? Also i wouldnt even bother with the bounto arc if i were you because its not in the main story line soo everything can be dismissed are far as im concerned. I hope that gave you a better idea...again this is mostly specualtion but there is some evidence to back it up
Trevor (OP)
sorry but i think your mistaken. i'm almost positive that he said that not even he knows or has any access to the dimension to where the royal family lives.
oooo and did any of you read the latest chapter? i was OMG! NOOO! Rukia can't die! MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER! (yes that's right rukia gets owned and it looks as if she dies. and that Kaien guy, its not really him its just this hollow who ate the hollow who ate Kaien if that makes sense.)
Well actually he states the exact location of where the king is and mentions how its passed down from captian to captian by word of mouth.He also mentions the special forces portect the castle but he never says he has no access ofrknowledge of where it is.....Masumoto says that neither her nor Toshiru do though.
Trevor (OP)
who thinks Rukia has the potential to reach Bankai in order to defeat kaien, that would be awesome
it would be kewl if his whole body transformed =P
Ragnorak_1 wrote:
who thinks Rukia has the potential to reach Bankai in order to defeat kaien, that would be awesome
Although that would be sweet its too predictable i think someone is going to save her...
Trevor (OP)
Xrn_the_Nigma wrote:
Which is also predictable to say the least.......
Now if she dies then that wouldn't be predictable would it......?
I can only hope..... i hate rukia
Seriously though if rukia reaches bankai im going to be severely pissed its becomming too much like DBZ in the sense bankais are supposed to be this awesome technique that only the highest level death god can achieve but yet everyone and their mother seems to be able to do it
Trevor (OP)
Xrn_the_Nigma wrote:
I'm not really a fan of that happening at all.....
Although when Ikkaku reached Bankai that was pretty damn cool.......
They should only have a select few who can reach it and have some awesome abilities....
I mean Mayuri can use it and his sucks, pretty damn bad at that......You since Uryuu beat his ass earlier in the series.....
Yea ikkakus bankai was totally seeable though i mean hes in the 11th squad and you basically feel hes holding back and probabaly had it. But rukia...gimme a god damn break all she ever does is bitch and she beat Droy thats the only person ive seen her defeat in the entire series.. and that one sand hallow when they first came into hueco mundo. (soo she what like 2-30? Haha yea mayuri is my favorite captian but his bankai does infact suck although i like his jizou shikai...( i mean paralyzing peoples limbs but yet they can still feel pain there....thats pretty vicious)
Trevor (OP)
finally ulquiorra vs ichigo ive waiting for this damn but it looks like it won't be a very long fight
srtkool wrote:
finally ulquiorra vs ichigo ive waiting for this damn but it looks like it won't be a very long fight
just finish reading chapter 269....i wonder how the fight will go
there r 269 volumes of manga of bvleach since march 30th, 2007. and i read up to 266 on anime-eden.com, chad gets practically left for dead by the dstrongest espada. rukia is going against her former vice captain, kaien (SP?). ichigo is heading towards the place where inoune is, renji is going against an espada who is like a scientist. and i think the strongest espada is going after ichigo
enjoying summer!
so i get why chad got his hollow-oreinted powers from bein around ichigo.but inoue got her bizarre time-distortion powers from ichigo why??
eyesofcrimson wrote:
so i get why chad got his hollow-oreinted powers from bein around ichigo.but inoue got her bizarre time-distortion powers from ichigo why??
They didn't get their powers from ichigo. It's merely that their encounter with him stimulated their awareness of their spiritual powers. I'm pretty sure each person's ability has to do with their own personality/preferences/past. Chad has his shield because of his grandfather's "blablabla protect people" thing. Inoue's little pixies come from her hairpins which she got from her brother.
stimulated their awareness? im pretty sure its because his spirit power is constantly at full and bled out into the people around him.what i got from that was that they kinda absorbed his spirit power. i know abou tthe shield an the hairpin thing, but hairpins have really nothing ata ll to do with controlling time do they
I'm pretty sure they did not absorb his spiritual powers. Rather, I think it's that his reiatsu and their encounter with him while he was in shinigami form that let their untapped powers surface.


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Megamind (US - BD)
Gabe enjoys the story of a slightly pathetic blue headed supervillain...
After decades of losing battles to his arch enemy Metro Man (Brad Pitt), blue alien supervillain Megamind (Will Ferrell) finally gains the upper hand after kidnapping ace reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey). After trapping him in a copper topped observatory, Megamind blasts Metro Man with a heat ray, which blows up the entire hillside, and sends a flaming nigh-invulnerable superhero corpse into the air. Megamind assumes he's achieved his life goal, and puts his awkwardly evil mark on Metrocity, but soon finds his life is empty without a nemesis to conquer, and goes about finding a means to create a new superhero to do battle with.
DreamWorks Animation was on a decent roll there for a while with fun, smart films that aren't entirely dependant on pop culture jokes or simplified spoofs, specifically Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon (we'll pretend the Shrek films are their own little studio subset). Megamind doesn't live up to this new standard, which is likely set to compete with Pixar (who ironically seems to have taken a page from the DreamWorks playbook, and is spending time on unneeded sequels lately), but it's a stronger representation of the studio's original, more adult aimed entertainment model than garbage like Shark's Tale or Bee Movie.
Megamind is very much a spoof of the superhero genre, specifically a spoof of Superman, to the point that I'm not sure how DreamWorks didn't end up with a lawsuit against them (the alliterative heroine name, the dying planet origin story, Megamind even does a mean Marlon Brando as Jor-El). This ground has been covered in animation before, including a Batman: The Animated Series episode where the Joker laments his assumed dead foe, and Lex Luthor's oddly homoerotic freak out following Superman's 'death' in Superman: Doomsday. There are even some existential comparisons to be made between Megamind and The Incredibles' villain Syndrome (more on The Incredibles in a minute), but Megamind's real problem upon release was Universal's Despicable Me, another 3D animated adventure concerning a likeable supervillain on his way to salvation. Comparing the films back to back (which I did, because I'm that committed to this process) I don't have a clear frontrunner in mind. Despicable Me is less conventional, but a little on the sappy side, while Megamind isn't particularly novel, but has a delightful cynical streak. The writers remember to write a decent story too, with a solid third act twist that I would've loved…if only the goddamned trailers hadn't given it entirely away.
The comedy works, despite its relatively short shelf life, thanks to snappy dialogue, solid performances (most of the actors' voices disappear into the characters, even Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt), and a good natured embracement of animation's rubbery possibilities. I give the DreamWorks team a lot of crap for years of iffy storytelling, but besides the Shrek series they've been pretty good about aping classic Looney Tunes' elasticity and slapstick. Despicable Me took this and an extremely stylized look more interesting visual places, but can't match the extreme scale of Megamind's action sequences. Despite some minor originality issues, and a not particularly overwhelming style, Megamind features some of the most exciting and awesome battle scenes in superhero cinema history. The filmmakers don't quite reach the nail-biting heights of Brad Bird's The Incredibles, but the incredible scope of these fisticuffs shames the vast majority of 'real' superhero films.
This Megamind Blu-ray doesn't disappoint. The 1080p, 2.35:1 digital transfer exceeds the high expectations set by other DreamWorks Animation Blu-rays due to its big budget and continuing advances in the field of CG animation. The beginning of the film features a scene where Metro Man gives a speech in front of a new museum named in his honour. This sequence encompasses everything great about this transfer, and will probably end up on the new television sets at your local electronics store soon enough. From one angle the building and background is semi-monochromatic, and features tiny contrasting details, while from the other angle features colourful throngs of Metro Man's adoring fans (about half a million total people according to the audio commentary). The tiny characters, who stand around front of a crystal clear reflecting pool, create a sea of competing hues and movement without any noticeable blocking or compression artefacts. The included DVD copy looks fine, great even for a standard definition transfer, but this early sequence really highlights the differences between the formats, especially on a decent sized set. Super impressive close-up details include Hal's curly red hair, the scales on the Tighten cape, some incredibly tiny rain drops, and flecks of dirt and dust falling off of the mass destruction of Metrocity. Oh, and it's also a kind of amazingly colourful movie. From Megamind's big blue head, to Roxanne's rich red dress, and giant orange fireballs, the bright, sharply contrasted palette impresses on every level.
CG animated movies always featured busy surround sound tracks, and 3D movies always take directional effects to an extreme, so 3D CG animated movies tend to be generally the most aurally aggressive movies. Well, except for disaster movies and superhero movies, which Megamind happens to be as well. This Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track easily matches the audio expectations that come strapped to all these styles. The early scene in which Megamind attempts to frighten Roxanne with varying violent implements features a bevy of zippy noises that run like an electric toy car set around the five channels. The two massive scale battle scenes easily match intensely loud live action stuff like 2012 or Spider-Man 3, including couch shaking bass, and ear-drum shattering explosions. The only thing I didn't like about this particular mix, besides the fact that TrueHD is generally slightly quieter on my system than DTS-HD Master Audio, is that the music is delegated pretty much directly into stereo channels, and isn't ever loud enough for the sound effects. This is a relatively common problem for big budget action movies, but even the licensed rock and pop music (and this is a really fun soundtrack including AC/DC, Ozzie Osborn, and Guns and Roses) is pretty low on the track, except for the comparatively noisy LFE support.
The Blu-ray exclusive extras begin with another 'Animator's Corner' PiP option, which adds a visual component to the commentary track (which can be listened to separate from the PiP stuff). This includes footage of the crew as they record the commentary, storyboards, early animation, interviews with the animators from their desks, and occasional cast interviews. The story behind the film is actually pretty interesting, mostly because the script was bumping around Hollywood for quite some time, and was originally conceived as a live action film. The commentators don't discuss everything that was changed over the years, but beyond the rather dry technical discussions, and actor back patting, there's quite a bit of the alternate script and take talk. The PiP option doesn't really add a lot, but is a nice option for those watching the film a third or fourth time. There's also a pop up trivia track option for those on their fifth or sixth viewing. The other Blu-ray exclusives are a digital comic book creator (as seen on other DreamWorks Animation releases), and 'Behind the Mind' galleries that include conception art of hideouts, inventions, vehicles, and costumes.
The most heavily advertised extra is a new animated short entitled The Button of Doom (15:50, HD). This mini-sequel to the film sees Megamind and Minion selling their evil concoctions for cash. One of the items is the 'Button of Doom', which they proceed to accidentally activate. It's a fun little short, but doesn't really add anything too special to the film's mythology. The behind the scenes stuff follows along usual DreamWorks Animation lines, starting with a 'Meet the Cast of Megamind' (9:20, HD) featurette, which includes the usual cast and crew interviews, coupled with scenes from the film, and footage of the actors doing their voice work. 'Inside Megamind's Lair' (7:20, HD) is a fluffy making-of featurette that includes some decent discussion concerning the artistic choices. 'Animatorman' (2:00, HD) takes a brief and amusing look at the animator's video reference acting, while 'You Can Draw Megamind' (13:50, HD) gives one of the storyboard artists a shot to teach the audience to sketch the supervillain.
The extras are wrapped up by a single deleted scene, 'Megamind Rap' trailer (1:00, HD), 'The Reign of Megamind Video Comic Book', 'Spot the Difference' game, 'World of DreamWorks Animation', and trailers.
Megamind isn't destined for long term greatness like Kung Fu Panda or How to Train Your Dragon, but along with Monsters VS. Aliens it represents DreamWorks Animations' continuing improvement over the last few years. Comic book fans aren't going to be surprised by the story, which has been similarly told several times since superheroes starting getting all introspective and post modern in the 1980s, but will enjoy the comedy and large scale action despite familiarity. I enjoyed this one a tiny bit more than Universal's Despicable Me, which shares some basic narrative elements, but think that the kiddies might disagree with me, as Megamind's best gags and character traits are aimed at older audiences. This Blu-ray collection features reference level video and audio, and some informative, if not somewhat slight extra features.
*Note: The images on this page are not representative of the Blu-ray image quality.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Chris Gould Editor Join Date: May 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,171
You callin' me a kiddie Gabe?
mc_serenity Member Join Date: December 2006 Location: United States Posts: 824
And what, pray tell, is so unnecessary about Toy Story 3? If anything, it breaks that third movie curse and proves that sequels aren't always a bad thing.
Cars 2, however, looks entirely unnecessary. I wish they had kept it in its summer 2012 spot and pushed the original Pixar movie "Brave" in its June 2011 spot.
Cars 2, however, looks entirely unnecessary. I wish they had kept it in its summer 2012 spot and pushed the original Pixar movie "Brave" in its June 2011 spot.
Gabe Powers Editor Join Date: September 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,721
I really did watch them back to back, and I'm thinking Despicable Me really is more youngin friendly. I have a feeling I'm going to forget both of them in a year though, neither had me swooning like Up or How to Train Your Dragon.
In other words, yes, I'm calling you a kiddie.
You can read my thoughts on TS3 on that review, serenity. It's a good movie, don't get me wrong, but it's good despite the fact that it didn't need to be made. I'd much rather Pixar didn't make any sequels, or Dreamworks for that matter, as I'm afraid endless HtTYD and Kung Fu Panda sequels will sully the original and exciting experience of the originals (it certainly happened with Shrek).
In other words, yes, I'm calling you a kiddie.
You can read my thoughts on TS3 on that review, serenity. It's a good movie, don't get me wrong, but it's good despite the fact that it didn't need to be made. I'd much rather Pixar didn't make any sequels, or Dreamworks for that matter, as I'm afraid endless HtTYD and Kung Fu Panda sequels will sully the original and exciting experience of the originals (it certainly happened with Shrek).
Disciple Member Join Date: April 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 775
Gabe Powers wrote: ...it certainly happened with Shrek.I can agree with you on Shrek 3 (or Shrek the Third or whatever they called it), that was a really bad film. I love Shrek 2 though and I have to say Forever After really surprised me in terms of how good it actually was. Forever After is a great film and so much better than the third. If you haven't seen it, give it a chance.
hogaburger Contributor Join Date: April 2007 Location: United States Posts: 1,153
Never watched this one, but I did enjoy "Despicable Me". I'll give this one a rent soon.
On a slightly related note, I finally watched "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" recently and I loved it. Can't believe I didn't watch it sooner.
On a slightly related note, I finally watched "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" recently and I loved it. Can't believe I didn't watch it sooner.
horrorfan25 Member Join Date: November 2007 Location: United States Posts: 1,080
Megamind was surprisingly REALLY good, and I had pretty low expectations. Then again I saw it in IMAX 3D, which might have helped matters :D
chris burge Member Join Date: June 2005 Location: United States Posts: 215
i loved this movie. Really fun flick.
tool487 Member Join Date: April 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 8
I loved Despicable Me however, I enjoyed Megamind even more - it was funnier! It's a shame they couldn't have push back its release a few months in order to skip the comparison between DM and this incredible movie!
Some material may not be suitable for children
Disc Details
Release Date: 25th February 2011
Discs: 2
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 2.35:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 English, Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish, French and Portuguese
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Extras: Filmmakers Commentary, Animator's Corner Enhanced Viewing Mode, Trivia Track, Megamind: The Button of Doom, Comic Creator, Meeth the Cast, Lost Scene, Megamind's Lair, Animatorman, Learn to Draw Megamind, The Reign of Megamind Digital Comic, DVD Copy
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Tom McGrath
Cast: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation and Comedy
Length: 96 minutes
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text: James Leroy with Denim Add new comment Your name Subject Comment * Switch to plain text editorMore information about text formats Text format Filtered HTMLPlain text Filtered HTMLWeb page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <b>Lines and paragraphs break automatically.Plain textNo HTML tags allowed.Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.Lines and paragraphs break automatically. What code is in the image? * Enter the characters shown in the image. Home page By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy. Leave this field blank


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|Arts & Crafts
|Health & Beauty
|Indoor Activities
|Outdoor Activities
|Walking & Cycling
|Shops & Gifts
The principal road through Carrick is the A77 that links Ayr and Stranraer and passes through Maybole and Girvan. Secondary roads are the A714 from Newton Stewart and the A719 coast road from Ayr.
If coming from the north use the A77. The A719 offers a spectacular coastal route and is not much slower than the A77. Journey time from Glasgow would be about 75 minutes to Maybole and 90 minutes to Girvan.
If coming from the east the A70 is a useful connector to the M74 and journey time to Ayr is around an hour from Junction 12. Maybole and Girvan are around 15 and 30 minutes drive from Ayr.
If coming from the south the M6 is the main road to southwest Scotland then one can either take the M74 to junction 12, or the A76 and A70 to Ayr or alternatively the A75 to Newton Stewart and the A714. From Newton Stewart travel time is around 55 minutes to Girvan and 70 minutes to Maybole.
The Main bus operator in and around Carrick is Stagecoach. Timetables and Route plans can be found at their West of Scotland website.
Phone: 01563 533442.
Website: http://www.saylsa.org.uk/
Email: email@example.com
The railway runs through some of the most attractive scenery and covers a relatively undiscovered part of Scotland. Stopping at Maybole Girvan and Barrhill the line spans nearly 60 miles between Ayr and Stranraer. However, visitors will find a host of activities and places of interest to visit along the route as well as fantastic views from the carriage window. Line, walking and cycle guides can be downloaded from the Saylsa website.
The nearest airport is Prestwick largely served by Ryan Air and Whizz. Ryan Air operates predominantly to holiday destinations in the Mediterranean both Ryan Air and Whizz also serve Poland. The other major airport is Glasgow situated near Paisley.
From Preswick you can catch the train to direct to Carrick or pick up a hire car from either airport.
ScotRail operates all rail services in Carrick. There are three rail stations in Carrick, Maybole, Girvan and Barrhill. There are 15 services every weekday including Saturdays between Ayr, Maybole and Girvan and six services between Ayr, Barrhill and on to Stranraer. On Sundays there are three services calling at all Carrick's stations.
From the north most journeys will involve travelling on the Glasgow Central to Ayr line and changing at Ayr. There are a small number of direct services some via Paisley and some via Kilmarnock.
From the south you may find it more convenient to travel from Carlisle and change at Kilmarnock.
Look out for cheap ticket deals. The SPT daytripper ticket offers good value and ScotRail often offers the Club55 ticket in addition to Young Person and Senior Citizen tickets for pass holders.
Staff on our trains and at Carrick's only staffed station, Girvan, are particularly helpful and friendly and we welcome people to come by train.
Maybole and Barrhill stations are unstaffed and Girvan is staffed only until 2pm each weekday, but is open all day on a Sunday.
The National Rail Enquiries offers advice on a variety of tickets to reach Scotland from the south and for travelling around Scotland. Sleeper tickets can be booked through First ScotRail Telesales on (Tel: 08457 550033) or via First Scotrail.
For timetable information and fares contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or via Network Rail's Journeyplanner.
Looking for local businesses in Carrick Ayrshire?


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I'll just add that I try to eschew 'meaning' in my photos.
Sensible chap.Jeremy
That sounds faintly patronising, though I'm sure it really isn't.
Hi mates !My first "fashion" photography, please be kind H3DII-39 - 100mm at f2.2 - 50 Isomade with the available light
Great shot. I keep coming back and looking at this image. I love it! Perfect light, perfect style perfect location. Do you mind me asking what you lit this with?
if i read the description properly he used an 'available light'. i have searched calumet/B&H for one of those but no luck
Fantastic. Without the hand it's pretty. With the hand it's really human.
Absolutely not.Jeremy


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How do I connect a MIDI keyboard to my computer?
This guide will show the different methods you can use to connect your MIDI Keyboard to your computer.
The Edirol PCR-M1, the world slimmest MIDI Keyboard...view more
How do I connect a MIDI keyboard to my computer?
The first thing to do is to make sure that your MIDI keyboard has MIDI ports on the back. It is very rare to find a modern midi keyboard without MIDI ports.
Here are your options:
USB to USB
Every modern MIDI controller keyboard we sell excluding those by Fatar now come with a USB connection for easy use with computers. Some keyboard are even 'class complient' which means you don't even need to install any software. The cable you need for a USB to USB connection is just a standard USB cable which should be included with your keyboard. For USB Cables in stock at Dolphin: CLICK HERE
MIDI to MIDI
Some of the audio interfaces we sell such as the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 or the Tascam US-122 combine Audio & MIDI I/O enabling your to connect your keyboard directly to your sound card. For MIDI Cables in stock at Dolphin: CLICK HERE.
MIDI to USB port
If your sound card doesn't have MIDI connections and your keyboard doesn't have USB then the next best option is a USB to MIDI interface such as the M-Audio Uno or the Edirol UM 1X.
These devices come equipped with a USB connection for your computer, and a 1 In/ 1 Out 16 channel MIDI connection to your MIDI keyboard. However if you had more than one MIDI device to connect such as a second keyboard or a sound module then mutli port options are avalible such as the M-Audio Midisport 2x2.
Dolphin offers a wide range of MIDI Interfaces that cover all price points - please look at the MIDI Interfaces in stock - CLICK HERE
MIDI to soundcard gameport
If you are using a standard computer sound card rather than a music sound card, then it may have a joystick port.
If you have a joystick port then all you need is a cable that has a 15 pin 'D' connector at one end and MIDI connectors on the other.
If you need any further help, please call us on 0844 815 0888 and speak to one of our experts. We'll be glad to help and direct you to the best gear for your needs.
More about MIDI...
MIDI data is not the same as sound data. What is transmitted over the wire is information on how to play a song, not the physical sound data itself. MIDI can be thought of better as a player-piano roll than a compact disk: just as the piano-roll instructs the player-piano to create the sounds, MIDI data tells a MIDI device which notes to play, patches (instruments) to use, and other information to help the instrument recreate the song. When you listen to a MIDI file, you're hearing an actual 'performance' by the instrument, not a 'recording' of a past performance.
MIDI was not designed to be used with personal computers, but since it is a digital interface, they actually work very well together. Combining at least one MIDI instrument with a personal computer and a MIDI interface (a device that allows the computer to "speak" MIDI) allows for many interesting applications.
Notation Software
With a music notation software, such as Coda Finale or Sibelius, music can be played on a music keyboard or other MIDI instrument, and immediately be displayed on the computer screen. Mistakes can be corrected, and other musical symbols, such as dynamic markings, tempo changes, and even lyrics, can be entered to make a complete score. In effect, you have a music "word processor", and the advantages parallel those of using a word processor over a typewriter.
Another very popular piece of software is the Audio/MIDI sequencer. This software allows you to create songs one "track" at a time, similar to a multi-track tape player, using a MIDI device. The difference is the sequencer doesn't record the sound but the actual "notes" and other MIDI information. Therefore, if a performer makes a few mistakes in an otherwise great performance, s/he can correct the wrong notes via the computer and all is well!
Related Products
M-Audio UNO USB Bus-Powered MIDI Interface
M-Audio's smallest and simplest USB MIDI interface, USB Uno offers basic 1 x 1 operation and bus-powered mobility—and even comes with it's own built-in USB and MIDI cables. What could be simpler? Features 1-in/1-out MIDI interface 16 MIDI input channels 16 MIDI output channels Bus-powered—requires no external power supply …
Web Price:24.00
Availability:in stock
M-Audio USB Midisport 2x2 Anniversary Edition
The USB MIDISPORT 2x2 is a compact multi-port MIDI interface providing 32 x 32 MIDI channel addressing. The 2x2 is ideal for connecting a number of MIDI devices to your computer, as well as eliminating delays associated with long MIDI Thru chains. Bus-powered operation means that you can use it anywhere. Standalone functionality also gives you MIDI throughput even…
Web Price:49.00
Availability:Call 0844 815 0888


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I am sure everyone is busy watching their brand-new copies Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Vol. 6 which was released yesterday. What?? Don't have a copy yet?? Look no further than the Amazon link box thingy on your right! Or, if you head to a Best Buy store, they have a version of this DVD set packaged with an exclusive pocket-sized edition of Jerry Beck's book Looney Tunes: The Ultimate Visual Guide. (Yeah, I am sure most of our readers already own the full-size edition, but the freebie could make a nice stocking stuffer this holiday season).
When your eyeballs need a break from all those cartoons, head on over to the annual Golden Collection Talkback thread on the Golden Age Cartoons Forums.
I don't THINK you need much convincing to buy this DVD set if you're reading this blog, but just in case you haven't snagged a copy yet, here are some images that will remove any doubts you may have! On the left, the old VHS and TV versions we all know and love(d). On the right, the new DVD!
(click images to enlarge.)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
2 comments:
Thanks for uploading the screenshots from the original and Volume 6. I can't wait for November. The suspense is killing me!
- October 24, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Jon, Matthew:
I just took a look at the version of Russian Rhapsody that's on Youtube (it must be from a VHS or a laserdisc from the pre-Dubbed version days.)
Hitler's uniform is clearly brown on the youtube copy (just like on the restored DVD). So I think the discrepancy in colors doesn't mean that the DVD's are wrong.
- October 31, 2008 at 5:30 PM
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New Car Review
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander: New Car Review
We've always seen the Mitsubishi Outlander crossover SUV as an unsung hero of sorts, and that was before this year's comprehensive redesign. With the debut of the new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, it's time to give this well-rounded truck its due. The reinvented Outlander looks distinctive, gets good fuel economy and even offers a zesty V6 engine. The only real problem is that a lot of shoppers don't even know it exists.
That's a shame, because the Outlander has never been better. Although the engines are essentially carry-overs, just about everything else is fresh for 2014, including the rather classy interior. The formerly optional third-row seat is now standard across the line, providing room for two extra kids in a pinch. Once you've seen all the features Mitsubishi includes in the affordable Outlander SE, we suspect you'll be firmly with us in wondering why this crossover doesn't get more credit.
Our advice? Don't let the Outlander's low profile scare you away. This is a fully competitive crossover with more-than-competitive pricing. Let the test drive be your guide.
What's New for 2014?
The 2014 Outlander is an all-new model.
What We Like
Good 4-cylinder fuel economy; standard 3-row seating; strong optional V6; well-equipped SE is a great value; pleasant interior
What We Don't
Forgettable 4-cylinder acceleration; third row's strictly for kids; Bluetooth isn't standard on base ES
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The Outlander's base engine is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that makes 166 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic (CVT). Fuel economy with front-wheel drive is 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, which is pretty impressive for a crossover. Even with optional all-wheel drive, the 4-cylinder Outlander achieves a respectable 24 mpg city/29 mpg hwy.
Standard on Outlander GT is a 3.0-liter V6 that pumps out 224 hp and 215 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is mandatory, as is a 6-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy remains a strong point at 20 mpg city/28 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options
The Outlander is offered in three trim levels: ES, SE and GT.
Note that the ES only features front-wheel drive (FWD), while the SE can be had with FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD) and the GT comes only with AWD.
The ES ($23,820) starts with 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, full power accessories, a monochromatic driver information display, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, single-zone automatic climate control and a 6-speaker CD audio system.
The SE ($24,620) steps up in a big way with 18-in alloy wheels, fog lights, color-keyed side-mirror housings with LED turn-signal indicators, keyless entry/ignition, a color driver information display, upgraded gauges, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, FUSE voice-command functionality, a digital HD radio, a 6.1-in touchscreen interface and a rearview camera. AWD adds $2,000 to the SE's price.
The GT ($28,620) scores the exclusive V6 engine, chrome exterior trim, automatic xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers, wood-grain trim and paddle shifters.
Offered on SE and GT is a pair of impressive options packages. The Premium package adds a 9-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, satellite radio, leather upholstery, a sunroof, a power tailgate and an 8-way power driver's seat. The Touring package consists of the Premium package plus a navigation system (with a higher-resolution 7-in screen), adaptive cruise control with frontal collision mitigation and a lane-departure warning system.
All Outlanders can be equipped with a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and blue LED interior lighting, among other piecemeal options. Also, Bluetooth can be added to the base ES for a fee.
In terms of cargo capacity, the 2014 Outlander provides about 34 cu ft behind the second-row seat and 63 cu ft with both rear rows folded flat. The first number is just fine by class standards, but the second is a bit below average. Take a look for yourself at the dealership and see if you think it's adequate.
The 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander is outfitted with 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, stability control, hill-start assist and seven airbags (front, front-side, driver knee, full-length side-curtain).
Available electronic driving aids include a lane-departure warning system and adaptive cruise control with frontal collision mitigation. However, these aids are only obtainable via the pricey Touring package.
In government crash testing, the 2014 Outlander AWD received five stars out of five overall, including four stars for front impacts and five stars for side impacts. In an unusual twist, the Outlander FWD dropped to four stars overall.
In crash testing by the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Outlander came up aces, earning the top Good rating in every category.
Behind the Wheel
In our interior evaluation, we were pleasantly surprised by the Outlander's upgrades relative to its predecessor. Soft-touch materials are in abundant supply, and they're complemented by crisp gauges (especially in SE and GT) and an overall sense of restraint that's rare these days. Remarkably, even the base ES gets standard automatic climate control, although the barely pricier SE has so many desirable extras that we think it's a no-brainer upgrade.
Seat comfort is solid for everyone except the poor kids stuck in the cramped third row, but we're not complaining, because we know a lot of parents will be grateful just to have those two extra seat belts if needed. The second row deserves special mention for its sliding/reclining seats with generous legroom. Overall, this is a well-thought-out and nicely executed cabin that could frankly teach the Honda CR-V a lesson or two about perceived quality.
Under the hood, the base 4-cylinder engine seems rather uninspired when you give it the spurs, though the same could be said for most base engines in this class. More troubling is the CVT's tendency to maintain a high engine speed during acceleration, which can produce an intrusive drone. The V6, by contrast, is a joy, providing eager thrust along with a cool little snarl above 4,000 rpm. Remember, the V6 uses a conventional 6-speed automatic instead of the CVT, and that only helps its cause.
On the road, the Outlander feels somewhat softer and more compliant than it used to, but the handling is still safe and secure during spirited driving. Where the 2014 model really shines, though, is on the highway, where improved noise suppression noticeably boosts the refinement factor.
Other Cars to Consider
Ford Escape -- The sleek Escape provides sharper handling than the Outlander, though in other respects this is a fairly close race.
Mazda CX-5 -- Stylish, sporty and eminently practical, the CX-5 is a media darling for good reason. Like the others, however, it's strictly a 2-row vehicle.
Toyota RAV4 -- The RAV ditched its muscular V6 this time around, and the third-row seat is gone, too. But if you're cool with 4-cylinder power and two rows, the latest RAV4 is a strong contender.
AutoTrader's Advice
Did you see all of the standard features that Mitsubishi throws in with the SE? For an extra 800 bucks, you get features that would typically raise the price by thousands. If you can't spring for the V6-powered GT, the sub-$25,000 SE is a mighty nice consolation prize.


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|NYU Psychology
|Suzan Uysal
Dr. Suzan Uysal is a clinical neuropsychologist. She has been an adjunct faculty member at New York University since 1991, where she teaches a graduate level course in neuropsychology. She has a clinical practice in adult neuropsychological evaluation in Westchester County with a primary focus on neurologic disorders and age-related diseases. She is a faculty member of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine where she conducts neurocognitive outcomes research in the Department of Anesthesiology, and teaches a course in functional neuroanatomy in Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr. Uysal earned her PhD from New York University, and did her postdoctoral training at New York University Medical Center and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Uysal S, Mazzeffi M, Lin H-M, Fischer GW, Griepp RB, Adams DH, Reich DL. Internet-based assessment of postoperative neurocognitive function in cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011;141:777-81.
Reich DL, Horn LM, Hossain S, Uysal S. Using jugular bulb oxyhemoglobin saturation to guide onset of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest does not affect post-operative neuropsychological function. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2004;25:401-8.
Reich DL, Uysal S. Invited commentary. Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:1635.
Reich DL, Uysal S. Con: Retrograde cerebral perfusion is not an optimal method of neuroprotection in thoracic aortic surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2003;17:768-9.
Reich DL, Uysal S, Ergin MA, Griepp RB. Retrograde cerebral perfusion as a method of neuroprotection during thoracic aortic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1774-82.
Reich DL, Uysal S, Ergin MA, Bodian CA, Hossain S, Griepp RB: Retrograde cerebral perfusion during thoracic aortic surgery and late neuropsychological dysfunction. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2001;19:594-600.
Soong WAL, Uysal S, Reich DL. Cerebral protection during surgery of the aortic arch. Sem Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2001;5:286-92.
Perrine K, Devinsky O, Uysal S, Santschi C, Doyle WK. Cortical mapping of right hemisphere functions. Epilepsy Behav 2000;1:7-16.
Hibbard MR, Bogdany J, Uysal S, Kepler K, Silver JM, Gordon WG, Haddad L. Axis II psychopathology in individuals with traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj 2000;14:45-61.
Reich DL, Uysal S, Sliwinski M, Ergin MA, Kahn RA, Konstadt SN, McCullough J, Hibbard MR, Gordon WA, Griepp RB. Neuropsychological outcome following deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in adults. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:156-63.
Ergin MA, Uysal S, Reich DL, Apaydin A, Lansman SL, McCullough JN, Griepp RB. Temporary neurological dysfunction after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: A clinical marker for long-term functional deficit. Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:1887-90.
Reich DL, Uysal S, Bodian CA, Gabriele S, Hibbard M, Gordon A, Sliwinski M, Kayne RD. The relationship of cognitive, personality, and academic measures to anesthesiology resident clinical performance. Anesth Analg 1999;88:1092-100.
Hibbard MR, Uysal S, Kepler K, Bogdany J, Silver J. Axis I psychopathology in individuals with traumatic brain injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 1998;13:24-39.
Hibbard MR, Uysal S, Sliwinski M., Gordon WA. Undiagnosed health issues in individuals with traumatic brain injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 1998;13:47-57.
Uysal S, Hibbard MR, Robillard D, Pappadopulos E, Jaffe M. The impact of parental traumatic brain injury on parenting and child behavior. J Head Trauma Rehabil 1998;13:57-71.
Friedhoff AJ, Carr KD, Uysal S, Armour M, Schweitzer J. Repeated inescapable stress produces a neuroleptic-like effect on the conditioned avoidance response. Neuropsychopharmacology 1995;13:129-38.
Sanchez LE, Adams PB, Uysal S, Hallin A, Campbell M, Small AM. A comparison of live and videotape ratings: Clomipramine and haloperidol in autism. Psychopharmacol Bull 1995;31:371-378.
Perrine K, Devinsky O, Uysal S, Luciano DJ, Dogali M. Left temporal neocortex mediation of verbal memory: Evidence from functional mapping with cortical stimulation. Neurology 1994; 44:1845-50.
Perrine K, Uysal S, Dogali M, Luciano DJ, Devinsky O. Functional mapping of memory and other nonlinguistic cognitive abilities in adults. Adv Neurol 1993;63:165-77.
Carr KD, Uysal S. Evidence of a supraspinal opioid analgesic mechanism engaged by lateral hypothalamic electrical stimulation. Brain Res 1985;335:55-62.


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Judgment Fund
The Judgment Fund was established to pay court judgments and Justice Department compromise settlements of actual or imminent lawsuits against the government.
It is administered by the Judgment Fund Section, which is a part of the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The Judgment Fund Internet Claims System (JFICS) is the application used to process all Judgment Fund claims.
The Judgment Fund is a permanent, indefinite appropriation available to pay judicially and administratively ordered monetary awards against the United States. The Judgment Fund is also available to pay amounts owed under compromise agreements negotiated by the U.S. Department of Justice in settlement of claims arising under actual or imminent litigation, if a judgment on the merits would be payable from the Judgment Fund. The statutory authority for the Judgment Fund is 31 U.S.C. 1304.
If funds for paying an award are otherwise provided for in the appropriations of the defendant agency, the Judgment Fund may not pay an award. A federal agency may request that payment of an award be made on its behalf from the Judgment Fund only in those instances where funds are not legally available to pay the award from the agency's own appropriations.
Amounts paid vary significantly from year-to-year. Federal agencies are not required to reimburse the Judgment Fund except when cases are filed under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA) or the No FEAR Act (Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act).
Refer to our frequently asked questions for more information. We can also be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com or 202-874-6664.


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It is possible that the main title of the report Osteogenesis Imperfecta is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a group of rare disorders affecting the connective tissue and characterized by extremely fragile bones that break or fracture easily (brittle bones), often without apparent cause. The specific symptoms and physical findings associated with OI vary greatly from case to case. The severity of OI also varies greatly, even among individuals of the same family. OI may be a mild disorder or may result in severe complications. Four main types of OI have been identified. OI type I is the most common and the mildest form of the disorder. OI type II is the most severe. In most cases, the various forms of osteogenesis imperfecta are inherited as autosomal dominant traits.
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
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Tel: (888)663-4637
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Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
804 W. Diamond Ave, Suite 210
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Tel: (301)947-0083
Fax: (301)947-0456
Tel: (800)981-2663
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Coalition for Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue
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Canadian Osteogenesis Imperfecta Society
208 Ramona Blvd
Ontario, L3P 2K8
Tel: 905-294-5340
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Internet: http://www.oif.org
Children's Brittle Bone Foundation
7701 95th Street
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Internet: http://www.cbbf.org
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Fax: (866)760-5947
Tel: (800)370-2943
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
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Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
Email: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
Let Them Hear Foundation
1900 University Avenue, Suite 101
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Tel: (650)462-3143
Fax: (650)462-3144
Tel: (877)735-2929
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.letthemhear.org
European Skeletal Dysplasia Network
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research
Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Manchester
Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PT
Tel: 44 161 275 5642
Fax: 44 161 275 5082
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.esdn.org
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
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For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email firstname.lastname@example.com
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Sleuthing and Spoilers A site for fans of The Bachelor & Bachelorette who enjoy sleuthing and discussing spoilers for this show and others! http: //www. bachandbachettefans. net/forum
bachelor, spoilers, rachel, lindsay, #bachelorette, spoiler, nick, viall, higgins, kaitlyn, shawn, andi, dorfman, catherine, sean, desire, bryan, peter
Free forum : The place to hang out and talk about the show and our other interests!
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Free forum : A Fansite dedicated to Jeremy Anderson, from Abc's Bachelorette 4 TV show


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DOVER — At the end of the challenging 3.1-mile run, mud flecked the red running shirts and caked the spiked running shoes. There was sweat, some tears, but mostly smiles, especially after the Coe-Brown Northwood Academy girls cross country team got word they had earned second place at Saturday's New England championship at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland, Maine.
That's second place with five underclassmen doing the scoring (three of those freshmen), spearheading the best regional finish in school history. Last year, the Bears were third in Rhode Island.
"Once again we couldn't predict what the top-five would be if we looked at it beforehand," said co-coach Tim Cox. "They had the right temperament. They were enjoying themselves. They were loose and focused and they followed through."
The Bears scored 132 points to finish behind champion Barrington, R.I., which ran a great race with a score of 75 (all five of its scoring runners in the top-50). Two-time defending champion Champlain Valley, Vt., took third with 176. La Salle, R.I. (185) and Ridgefield, Conn. (218) rounded out the top five.
Freshmen Elisabeth Danis (17th, 19:47.04) and Brooke Laskowsky (37th, 20:09.59) were the Bears' top two runners, followed by sophomores Hannah Parker (43rd, 20:15.58) and Katie Scannell (62nd, 20:40.68), and freshman Meg Scannell (78th, 20:48.54).
Junior Jessie Carney, who has been battling a viral and nutrition problem for several weeks, ran better than expected to place 98th. Parker was diagnosed with a bacterial infection last Thursday, coming off a rough Meet of Champions where she struggled with a stomach virus. She's on antibiotics now and could be back at full strength for the team's trip to the Nike Cross National Northeast Regional on Nov. 24 in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Carney and Parker were the Bears' strongest runners for most of the season. For Coe-Brown to do as well as it did with them at less than 100 percent spoke to the team's depth.
"It's been a roller coaster," Cox said. "We knew Barrington would be very hard to beat. We knew they would be tough to beat, even with a perfect race. We had a plan. We followed it."
Coe-Brown had to readjust at race time when they saw their starting box put them at a disadvantage, requiring them to make a left hand turn over the first 250 meters. Others boxes were a straight shot.
Parker was asked to lead over that first stretch, using her height and her ability as a plower to get her team in a good position. But once out, the plan was for her to pull back.
"She's a thoroughbred and she took it easy," Cox said. "That's hard to do."
"Hannah is so experienced," co-coach Brent Tkaczyk added. "She led that first 800 meters and let the freshmen tuck in behind her
Danis and Laskowsky got out beautifully. "Not too fast, not too slow," Cox said. "They were out of the masses."
Cox said there were mud tips all through the course. Coe-Brown's runners were told to relax through the mud and not to veer.
Catching Barrington wasn't going to happen, but holding off Champlain Valley, which had two runners in the top eight, became the focus.
"Hannah moved up and gave us the thumbs up," Cox said. "Katie Scannell was a steady fourth and a spark plug. He sister (Meg) was seventh the last two weeks and she was coming on. That was the key the second half. With a half-mile to go, Meg saw her sister's red shirt and went. I wasn't sure where we were with Champlain Valley second and eighth. But Hannah was laughing and giggling. That was victory. Jessie gave it everything she's got. It gave us enough to go into the woods and be proud. Hope for second and maybe third. It was a sweet finish to the New Englands. I couldn't be more happy."
Although Carney did not run her best, her presence was integral to the Bears' success.
"She's been the leader all year long," Tkaczyk added. "She keeps them focused. She makes sure things are getting done the right way."
The Bears now turn their attention to the Nike Cross, which draws top teams from all six New England states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There's time to get healthier and make a legitimate run at qualifying for the Nike Cross Nationals.
"They're raring to go for another one," Cox said. "We'll get to see some of the best teams around. It will be a tall order to qualify. But we'll gain the experience and get the opportunity. The course is perfect for us — 1.5 miles up and 1.5 miles down hill."
The top two teams from the eight regional races (and then four at-large teams) qualify for the national race on Dec. 1 in Portland, Ore.
Second to one: Coe-Brown's depth sparks spirited N.E x-c. finish
DOVER — At the end of the challenging 3.1-mile run, mud flecked the red running shirts and caked the spiked running shoes. There was sweat, some tears, but mostly smiles, especially after the Coe-Brown Northwood Academy girls cross country team got word they had earned second place at Saturday's New England championship at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland, Maine.


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Sunday Brunch
Political opera
00:00 / 00:00
29 July 2018
Episode 1
55 minutes
We speak to composer Keith Burstein on his politically charged work, and to one of the oldest art shippers in London. Plus: feline literature, weekend papers and chef Aurelie Altemaire.
29 July 2018
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Sunday Brunch - latest episodes
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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he personally pocketed about $35,000 per year for his work with mortgage giant Freddie Mac.
For the first time on Monday, Gingrich pegged his own personal earnings from an extended consulting contract between his firm and Freddie Mac. His namesake firm, the Gingrich Group, earned at least an estimated $1.6 million, according to an initial Bloomberg News report on the relationship.
"I hope, starting today, we can clear up this and frankly I hope my friends will take down the ads that are fundamentally inaccurate," Gingrich explained to supporters during a question-and-answer session with supporters in Iowa. "One, the contract. Freddie Mac hired Gingrich Group, which is a firm which had offices in three cities. Of the total contract, it was a six year period contract, of the total amount they keep talking about I probably got about $35,000 a year."
As if to minimize just how much he earned as a result of the contract, Gingrich said his yearly take-home from working with Freddie Mac was less than what he would earn in fees for delivering a single speech.
"Now that's less than I was making per speech so that's what my particular interest in it was that amount," he said.
The former speaker's work for the troubled mortgage giant, which was taken into government conservatorship in 2008 along with its counterpart, Fannie Mae, has emerged as a point of scrutiny for Gingrich's foes in the Republican presidential primary.
"For weeks now, Speaker Gingrich has struggled to explain exactly what he did in return for $1.6 million in fees from Freddie Mac," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in an email this morning to reporters. "Not only has he distanced himself from his past work, but he is also distancing himself from the money he earned -- saying it was for 'overhead' or that he didn't 'personally' receive it."
Texas Rep. Ron Paul has also vocally criticized Gingrich's work for Freddie Mac, having highlighted that relationship in television ads running in Iowa.
Gingrich has repeatedly denied having lobbied on Freddie Mac's behalf, and sought to highlight work he had done that might have conflicted with the lender's financial interests.
"Both Congressman Rick Lazio, who was the Chairman of the House reform effort when I was the Speaker, and Congressman JC Watts, who was the head for a number of years of the Freddie Mac watch committee, have both come out publicly and said it is bologna to suggest that I any way tried to use any influence with anybody on the Freddie Mac issue," he said. "So I just want to come down to what did we provide. We provided strategic advice."
The total extent of how much wealth Gingrich might have gained as a result of the contract, though, is murky. Whatever fees were collected by the Gingrich Group could have contributed to building the value of the former speaker's consulting practice.
NBC's Chuck Todd has more.


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ATHERTON, Calif. (AP) ? Conceding the fraught politics of guns, President Barack Obama said Thursday that passing legislation curbing access to firearms would be a tougher slog than an immigration overhaul.
Obama told an intimate group of high-dollar donors Thursday he is optimistic immigration legislation can succeed within the next few months, because the impact of the November election is breaking through partisan gridlock.
"People spoke out through the ballot box," he said. "It's going to be tougher to get the kind of gun legislation to reduce gun violence through the Senate and the House that so many of us, I think, want to see, particularly after the tragedy of Newtown. And I still think it can get done if people are activated and involved."
It was Obama's most candid assessment yet on the prospects of gun legislation in Congress, an issue he has been pushing since a gunman shot and killed 20 children and six educators in a Newtown, Conn., elementary school in December.
Obama has been pushing Congress to act on both the gun and immigration issues. Senators are preparing a bipartisan immigration bill that's expected to be released as early as next week. But in the face of stiff opposition from the National Rifle Association, efforts in Congress to curb gun violence are in danger of losing steam.
Obama has called for expanding background checks for gun buyers and has supported bans on certain assault weapons and limits on the capacity of ammunition magazines. But lately, he has been emphasizing the background checks over the other measures, insisting simply that lawmakers get a chance to vote on the assault weapons ban and the magazine limits.
Obama spoke at a campaign event in California for the Democratic National Committee. It was one of four fundraisers he's doing for Democrats this week.
Obama made his remarks on the same day Connecticut's governor, Dannel P. Malloy, signed into law new restrictions on weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines similar to the ones used by the shooter in the Newtown mass murder.
Obama is going to Hartford, Conn., on Monday to continue his push for federal gun legislation.
Follow Jim Kuhnhenn on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jkuhnhennAssociated Press
Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-04-04-US-Obama-Guns-Immigration/id-26c09b27e5aa4dfeb2ec94243862b88a
jill biden jill biden martin luther king jr baltimore ravens ravens Ravens vs Patriots 49ers Vs Falcons


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The review reads a little on the negative side
and then you gave it 80%! Most games would be proud with that.
Infinity Blade certainly wowed the crowd of coders at last June's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, prompting cheers from the audience when an early version of the Unreal 3 Engine-based game was shown running on the iPad. Six months on, and the game is finally here. Yes, it's as pretty to look at as the demo suggested, …
and then you gave it 80%! Most games would be proud with that.
Actual score for weak game: 50%
Corrected for the presence of a lower case 'i' in front of the platform name: 80%
I thought the correction was for the ZOMG pixels and texels and grafxxx! Might have scored 90% or more if there was blood and dismemberment.
Seems to be how it works for video game reviews.
It's not that you can't achieve art in a self consciously constricted piece of genre media, it's just that they seem cynically to have sat down and decided what game the sort of audience that puts a lot of weight on graphics would want to buy.
How can you give a game that has no gameplay 80%?
A bit shallow aren't you?
I suppose you think Paris Hilton is 80% too?
I've not had as much fun since playing Way of the Exploding Fist on the Commodore 64.
It's that good!
International Karate was better.
When the "screen saver" came on and the guy dropped his judo trousers! Classic!
One thing I'm a bit unclear on with this game is why they spent time making that lovely castle and surrounding scenery in Epic Citadel when the castle in this game is totally different. Based on Epic Citadel I was expecting a point and tap adventure with some exploring and NPCs, but Infinity Blade is basically just a succession of battles, with only a couple of opportunities to leave the beaten track.
On the bright side, the graphics are stunning, and are definitely the best I've ever seen on a mobile device, somewhere between an Xbox 1 and an Xbox 360 in terms of graphics I'd say. Also I believe ChAIR only had a few months to make the whole game, so they clearly tried their best to provide as much depth as possible with the time they had. I suppose my main disappointment comes from expecting to love the game as much as Shadow Complex, but given the development time I suppose that wasn't realistic.
Now I just hope Bioware spends some time making a portable Mass Effect game using the Unreal Engine, it could be amazing!
Epic Citadel was the proof of concept of the engine, with little more than a panning camera. they did not overlay a game logic on top of it. This is an entirely re-done system, getting a basic fighting engine up an running withing the unreal environment. AI logic for movement has to come later (if not P2P)
Keep in mind, this is the premiere game on this engine. non-rail versions of multiple games are coming soon, the engine has already been licensed "by multiple firms" for iOS development.
They wanted to milk it before the fuss over Citadel died down, so they rushed out a lacklustre RPG ( if you can all it that ), a linear "run'n'gun / hack'n'slash" adventure.
I believe from what I read that the cutscenes do not allow audio if your box is set to British English, but plays perfectly well in all other zones! So not only is is a bit naff, but it's not even written to work in English speaking zones properly.
Call me when Obsidian/Bethesda release a Fallout variant on the iPhone. Fallout is a proper "Westernized" RPG, by a proper company, not a tinpot, £4 beat-em-up-cum-RPG rip off!
Sorry but you're talking out your arse or at least "what you read" is wrong.
The speech track is in "the language of the Gods" with English subtitles (according to Epic on their own forums) .
The "God King" doesn't speak English in any other regions.
... It's a £3.50 handheld game. Were you expecting Dragon Age mobile?
In all honestly, it's pretty entertaining. You can drop in for a quick 5-10 minute game and be entertained by the fluid combat and awesome graphics. The RPG mechanic is there to satisfy the need for levelling up and buying better gear.
Remember that this is only the first iteration of the first game to use the Unreal 3 engine- Multiplayer will add a new dimension; There's plenty of opportunity for updates. I wouldn't write it off yet.
Fair to say I'm finding it pretty engaging.
Those that play it through one bloodline, get beaten by the God King and then declare it done are rather missing the point of the game.
As complete each bloodline, levelling up your character and your items, the game responds by becoming harder. The bad guys get fancier moves, better weapons and armour and they get much faster.
There's not much wrong with the gameplay IMHO. Yes it is basically just a little series of one-on-one battles leading up to a big boss a la Streetfighter/Soulcalibur, with added RPG-alike elements for levelling equipment and stats.
But that mechanic is only really a disappointment to those folk that played the Epic Citadel tech demo (and subsequently didn't read any reviews) who decided that was what this game was going to be a multi-player open-ended MMORPG sandbox.
The combat gameplay works very well: parrying, dodging and blocking all take a bit of skill to master and timing can be critical, especially against the higher level enemies. The experience system means there is some room for being tactical with your equipment choices (i.e. fighting with the worst sword to maximise your experience).
All in all, for £3, on a phone, it's a pretty impressive achievement.
Further expansion is on the way too, they've just released an update with more weapons, new bad guy and a Santa party helm :)


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The increased pressure from the percolation in conventional units often times forces the fuel from the pump system into the engine.
The new carburetor has a ball type check valve built into the plunger head. As a consequence, any fuel percolation in the pump system by-passes the ball and allows the fuel to circulate back into the float bowl rather than into the engine.
To the service mechanic a unit which can be serviced quickly and economically is advantageous to both the customer and himself. The Model "B" Carburetor has been designed with simplicity of construction and a maximum ease of service.
In this new carburetor both the Idle Tube and Pump Jet are pressed into the Cover Passage at the factory and need never be replaced or serviced.
Clean to the eye and clean for service is the external view of the Model "B" Carburetor, for there are no external rods to adjust, bend or become distorted.
In many instances, the entire unit will not have to be removed from the engine. All of the main metering parts are in the Cover Assembly. By the simple removal of the four cover screws, it is possible to service or inspect the Float, Float Valve Assembly, Main Well Support Assembly and the Power Valve Assembly.
Adjustments require time, both for the customer and the mechanic. The new Model "B" Carburetor with its fixed type main metering jet does not require any adjustments for the part throttle or power mixtures.
Since Carburetion is dependent upon both compression and ignition, the carburetor should always be adjusted last in engine tune-up. The fuel systems within the carburetor are basically simple and can be readily traced and understood.


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|Audrey Hepburn
Actress – fashion icon – humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn was known as being all of these. She was born May 4, 1929 to Joseph Ruston and Baroness Ella van Heemstra, a Dutch aristocrat, in Ixelles, Belgium, a Brussels suburb. She moved to London in 1948 and performed as a chorus girl in West End musicals.
|Hepburn & Gregory Peck in
"Roman Holiday"
|As Holly Golightly in
"Breakfast at Tiffany's"
|Humphry Bogart & Hepburn
in "Sabrina"
|Givenchy & Hepburn
Besides her acting, Hepburn was known for her gamine figure. Hubert de Givenchy was so smitten with her that he designed her costumes for "Sabrina" without receiving any wardrobe credit in the film. The two formed a life-long friendship and Givenchy often referred to Hepburn as his muse for many designs. She made 'the little black dress' a fashion staple when she wore Givenchy's design in the 1961 movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's." That same year, she was inducted into the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame.
|Son Sean & Hepburn
|Hepburn and child
|Hepburn with child
|Presidential Medal
of Freedom
|Audrey Hepburn
|Grave of Audrey Hepburn -
photo by Alexandra Spurk
|Tolochenaz Cemetery
~ Joy


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Larry Hagman may have been best known for his role as the delightfully despicable oil man J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," but his six-decade career contained many other memorable moments on screen. After all, the actor -- who died Friday at a Dallas hospital -- appeared in more than 80 TV productions and about 20 films.
Although his first TV credits came in 1957 on such now largely forgotten series as "Decoy," "Goodyear Playhouse" and "Studio One in Hollywood," Hagman appeared in the daytime soap opera "The Edge of Night" from 1961 to 1963.
Then came a bit of magic, courtesy of a genie.
PHOTOS: Celebrity reactions | Life in pictures
Starting in 1965 and running for five seasons, "I Dream of Jeannie" starred Hagman as the beleaguered astronaut Tony Nelson, whose space capsule lands on an island in the South Pacific. (An appropriate location, given that Hagman's mother Mary Martin starred in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the same name.) While waiting to be rescued on the island, Nelson finds a mysterious bottle containing the 2,000-year-old Jeannie.
"I liked the premise of 'Jeannie,' " Hagman wrote in his 2001 autobiography, "Hello Darlin'." "It was good, wholesome, escapist fun, with a healthy dose of sexual tension."


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Home Recording Studio Packages This Summer
Home Recording Studio Packages This Summer
Want to work on your studio tan this summer? Thanks to some great offers from the folks at sE Electronics, Presonus and Focusrite we've been able to put together a couple of packages that save you hundreds on recording studio essentials.
Don't hang around though as these deals won't be around forever and end on the 31st of July. Get in touch with our sales team on 0151 448 2080 to get a great deal on your studio.