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The husband-and-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris made waves with their debut Little Miss Sunshine, including four Oscar nominations. And now they're back six years later, with the fantasy movie Ruby Sparks — about a creatively blocked writer (Paul Dano) who writes about her dream girl and somehow brings her to life. Why did Dayton and Faris go from the off-kilter realism of Sunshine to the dark fantasy of Ruby Sparks? And how does this film relate to the long tradition of magical romantic comedies?
We spoke to Dayton and Faris yesterday, along with Zoe Kazan, who wrote the screenplay and stars as Ruby. Here's what they told us.
In Ruby Sparks, Calvin (Dano) is a young author who's struggling to come up with a follow-up to his long-ago bestselling debut. At his therapist's urging, he writes about the perfect, beautiful girl he's been dreaming about — and then somehow, Ruby Sparks becomes real, and she's his girlfriend. For a while, their relationship is perfect, but when problems start appearing, Calvin is tempted to go back to his typewriter and write more stuff about Ruby — because anything he writes about her becomes true.
Dayton says that after they finished making this movie, he finally went and watched Weird Science for the first time — just to make sure there was no "glaring reference" or unintentional shout-out to Weird Science in their film. They were aware that people were going to be comparing the two films, and wanted to make sure that their film stood on its own. And in the end, the two films have almost nothing in common.
In fact, Ruby Sparks is deconstructing or examining the male fantasy of having the perfect girlfriend, who conforms to your wishes. There's a long tradition of romantic comedies where a man has a strange power, the classic example of What Women Want. Ruby Sparks "goes right to the heart of" that trope, says Dayton. "That was attractive to us."
The most important thing to the directors was telling the story well — not lecturing the audience, adds Faris. But they did like the fact that it's a dark story. "It's important to the story that she is his dream girl and things are going to go badly," she adds. "Just the story by its nature deconstructs that."
"We thought of it as a genre-bending film," says Dayton. "I like romantic comedies. Good ones are hard to find, but when they work it's a really pleasing form. But this clearly was something different, and we liked that it went to a darker place — and that it also explored very real things that happen between people, even though the concept was somewhat fantastic."
"There were certain traps we had to avoid falling into with the fantasy girl," adds Faris. "We always said that once she appears in his life, even though she came from a dream, she's absolutely real and he has to deal with that." Even when she's just appearing in his dreams, she's giving him a hard time and challenging him — and part of why she's his fantasy is the notion that she challenges him.
Whereas Little Miss Sunshine was a movie about family relationships, in Ruby Sparks, it's all about romantic love. Plus "we're exploring issues of control," says Faris.
The big struggle in the film involves Calvin wanting to love Ruby for being her own person, but also knowing that he secretly has control over her, if he chooses to exercise it. "We were interested in exploring control when it comes to the creative process," says Faris. Adds Dayton: "Certainly in film-making, if you control something too much, you kind of take the life out of the work."
As for how this movie connects to the long tradition of fantasy movies and stories in which magic is connected to creativity (through music or writing or whatever), Faris says: "We love the tradition of magical realism, in that life is full of magic and there isn't a clear line between what is real and what is imagined... We liked the way that this movie speaks about magic, and the way that magic is a part of life. You don't have to explain any of it. There's no stardust or lightning bolts, to explain any of it."
We also spoke to Zoe Kazan, who plays Ruby and wrote the movie's script. She explains the movie's genesis:
I had been thinking a lot about the Pygmalion myth, I guess, and I was walking home from work one night and I saw a mannequin ain a trash heap and I thought it was a person — and it scared me, and I sort of flashed to that myth, and that uncanny feeling of thinking something is real when it's not, and woke up the next morning with the seeds of this in my brain. So it's a lot of thought distilled into a moment of inspiration. I wrote about 20 pages. That was the summer of 2009. I put it away for several months. I had some time in the spring of 2010, and wrote it very quickly — like in less than a month — and then we sent it to producers, and then we sent it to Jonathan and Valerie. I worked with them for about nine months rewriting it. It was very fast, actually — that's pretty much as fast as something could be turned around. We were in production a year later.
When I was about five pages in, I showed it to Paul. He asked if I was writing it for the two of us. And it hadn't occurred to me, and as soon as he said it, it seemed like that's exctly what I was doing. And then I had to put it of my head, because I didn't want my own vanity to get in the way of hearing the characters.
You're always trying to get out of the way of inspiration. Later, when you're rewriting, then you have to take charge.
Kazan finds the comparison to Weird Science and similar stories really annoying — because the important distinction, for her, is that Calvin doesn't set out to create Ruby intentionally. He creates her because "his need for her is so great." And if he set out, on purpose, to create "somebody he could control completely," then "he would be a sociopath." Calvin only starts to control Ruby when he's afraid he's about to lose her forever — and we all do crazy things because of love.
"I keep thinking about how dangerous it is to love somebody and give them your heart," says Kazan. Most people, if they had the ability to control their partners, would inevitably give in to temptation sometimes.
She also doesn't really like people comparing Ruby Sparks to Stranger Than Fiction, which also has an author controlling a person's life. "I know people keep comparing this movie to that movie," says Kazan. "I really think there's so little in common, besides some superficial conceits." Stranger Than Fiction is about identity, with a main character who's living his life in an unconscious way, and learns to wake up and embrace his free will when it's in danger of being taken away forever. "That movie is about free will and identity, and ultimately it's about God," says Kazan.
Meanwhile, Ruby Sparks is "a metaphor for what we do in a relationship," says Kazan. Lots of creative people have experienced the notion of an idea or a character coming to you in a dream. "I, as a writer, have experienced that kind of inspiration where you feel like you're being visited." She adds:
It's not unlike going out into the world — you're going for a run and you run into someone, and you look at them, and you think, "Oh my God, you're already on the map. I know you already." And that feeling of compulsion in love is something I've experienced multiple times, and it's always shocking to me. And it does feel like, "Did I dream you up? Why do I feel this feeling of compulsion towards you?" And the thing we do to each other, where we try to box around the other person — because loving someone with a free will is terrifying. So we try to bring them down to size, so that they're digestible, and so they're not so frightening to us. And when we first meet someone, we come at them with every preconceived notion of love we've ever had. I find that fascinating, and that's really at the center of the metaphor of this film.
In the end, even though Calvin literally has control over Ruby through his typewriter, he really tries not to exercise it — and meanwhile, Ruby has huge power of him. "Her power over him causes him to react negatively." And Calvin is just as much a prisoner of other people's expectations as Ruby is shaped by Calvin's. Adds Kazan: "People exert control over the things they can, when they feel powerless in some ways, whether that be over their children and over their bodies." And yet, in order to be a creative person, you have to release control over the characters and ideas in your head.
Ruby's not Calvin's ideal woman — just an idealized version of a woman that he could love, sort of like Annie Hall for Woody Allen. "That male impulse to put a woman on the pedestal is interesting to me."
"He would never fall in love with her if he thought he was making her," Kazan says.
Ruby Sparks is in theaters tomorrow.


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One Family's Search to Explain a Fatal Neurological Disorder
By Nissa Mollema, Harry Orr
With their help, researchers are advancing the 70-year effort to understand—and treat—hereditary ataxia.
With their help, researchers are advancing the 70-year effort to understand—and treat—hereditary ataxia.
Ten-year-old Henry Schut noticed that his father was having increasing difficulties with his daily chores on their farm in rural Minnesota in the early 1900s. His father grew highly agitated by his display of clumsiness as he attempted to hook up the horses for plowing. Henry soon learned why his father was so distressed.
People were whispering about a mysterious disorder that plagued his family: About half of the children born into it developed symptoms of the disease in adulthood. Affected individuals first experienced walking difficulties, then hand incoordination, then slurred speech, and finally, labored breathing. The disorder was lethal within around 10 years of the onset of symptoms.
True to this distressing history, Henry's father's condition quickly progressed until he was extremely debilitated. Henry, along with his three younger brothers and one sister, was running all of the farm operations before their father passed away in 1924 at the age of 46. Several of Henry's uncles also passed away within the next few years because of the disease. Henry and many of his cousins were suddenly growing up in single-parent households. As life moved on after the family tragedies, Henry could not stop thinking about his father's condition. His eight aunts and uncles had many children, and he knew his siblings and cousins could eventually become ill with the disorder. He wondered what it was and who might be affected by it. He wondered if there was a cure; he wanted to prevent such a tragedy from happening again within the family. If he married and began a family of his own, he was concerned that he could pass the illness to his children, but there was no way for him to know.
Years after Henry's father and uncles had passed away, Henry's fears began to be realized: One of his close cousins, Bert, was showing early signs of the disease at age 20. Consultations with their local medical doctors proved extremely unhelpful in deciphering the disorder. In Henry's small town, rumors were spreading about the possibility that the family illness was contagious. At Henry's encouragement, Bert made the trip from western Minnesota to the university hospital in Minneapolis. The family hoped that medical specialists could give them an accurate diagnosis and possibly provide a treatment.
During this trip in about 1930, the doctors diagnosed Bert with ataxia. This diagnosis unified under one umbrella those affected by similar symptoms, but they still did not know what caused the disease, how to identify those who would be diagnosed later in life, or how to cure it.
Once diagnosed, family members researched what ataxia was. Ataxia is derived from the Greek term for "lack of order," and means having little control over muscle movements. Patients with ataxia walk with a wide stance and shuffling, small steps in an attempt to maintain balance. Their fine motor skills are also lost: They struggle to bring an outstretched finger to touch their noses. Henry's father lost the ability to tie his shoes, dress himself, and feed himself as the disease progressed. Ataxia robbed him of his ability to control both his fine and gross muscle movements, making each motion challenging and inefficient.
A variety of causes can result in ataxic symptoms. People who have had too much alcohol display temporary ataxia—they stagger and have difficulty keeping their balance. Permanent forms of ataxia, in contrast, can be debilitating and sometimes deadly. A traumatic brain injury, such as stroke or head trauma, may trigger ataxia. As the patient recovers from the injury, the ataxia may improve. More complex forms of permanent ataxia are caused by genetic mutations. In these cases, mutations that cause the disorder are passed from parent to child. Sporadic cases of ataxia, in which a patient with no family history of the disorder is diagnosed with the disease, are more mysterious. Hereditary and sporadic ataxias currently affect roughly 150,000 people in the United States and are typically progressive in nature, making the individual more disabled as the disease advances.
Whatever factor caused the disease became more toxic to the body as it passed from parent to child.
The doctors at the University of Minnesota took a particular interest in the ataxia that ran in Henry's family during Bert's visit to the hospital. At the time, the only form of hereditary ataxia that was known was Friedreich's ataxia, which was described in 1863. The pattern of inheritance seen in Henry's family was different from that seen in Friedreich's ataxia. Unlike Friedreich's ataxia, the ataxia in Henry's family affected members in each generation, instead of skipping generations.
Family members with ataxia also presented with a variety of symptoms that differed from Friedreich's ataxia, suggesting that they had a form of ataxia that had never been diagnosed. In this new ataxic disorder, slow, progressive symptom onset began between the ages of 20 and 30. Patients usually noticed problems with their lower limbs first and began having difficulty keeping their balance while walking. The university doctors suspected that the symptoms of ataxia were the result of degeneration in the brain or spinal cord.
To better understand the genetic nature of the disease, the doctors asked Henry to create a family tree documenting which individuals were affected or unaffected by the disorder. The Schuts' family tree supported the fact that only family members with ataxia could pass the disorder to their children and that the disease displayed a dominant mode of inheritance (50 percent of children were affected).
Although the family now had a diagnosis for the disease and a better understanding of how it was inherited, no one had information about the cause of the disease or how to treat it. Clinicians advised the affected family members to eat well and exercise, yet this did little to prevent progression of the disorder. For 10 years, Bert continued to become more disabled, until he passed away from ataxia in 1939 at the age of 30. At the encouragement of physicians, Bert's brain was sent to University of Minnesota to be studied. As doctors had previously predicted, extensive degeneration was seen within the spinal cord, which controls involuntary functions, and within the cerebellum, which controls voluntary movement. Physicians named the disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) because of the regions involved. But they still had no treatment or explanation for why it was occurring.
Henry dreamed of attending medical school to study ataxia and help his family. However, financial hardships during the Great Depression forced him to abandon his efforts to obtain a college degree. He returned home to the farm in 1934 and married in 1935. His cousin Ed also returned home to be closer to family after he was diagnosed with ataxia. He was a willing research participant and worked with Dr. Rossen at St. Peter's Hospital, where he donated cerebrospinal fluid for research. He was even directed to consume calf brains in hopes of identifying a potential treatment. Unfortunately, these efforts did not improve his condition.
Henry's younger brother, John, made it his goal to find a cure for the family disorder and studied to become a medical doctor. He began practicing as a neurologist in the mid-1940s. Dr. John, as family members called him, completed a comprehensive study of the ataxia that ran in his family, which was published in Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry in 1950. This article described the symptoms of the disease, the multigenerational nature of the disorder, and an interesting phenomenon regarding the ataxia in his family—family members were showing symptoms of the disorder at earlier and earlier ages, an effect called genetic anticipation. Genetic anticipation is common in some hereditary neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington's disease, but at the time no one knew why this accelerated timing would occur. In the hereditary ataxia that affected the Schut family, each generation that inherited ataxia was more severely affected by the disorder. Whatever factor caused the disease became more toxic to the body as it passed from parent to child.
In 1949 Dr. John returned to a medical residency program to become a certified neurologist. Meanwhile, his older sister, Elsie, had become severely affected by ataxia, and he was determined to do all he could to help her. With each minor illness, her lungs became filled with fluid that her body was unable to expel. She coughed, gasping for breath, and Dr. John frantically aspirated her lungs so that she could take another gulp of air. Her death in 1953, at age 36, was especially difficult for him; he had done everything he could to keep her alive. Now Dr. John was even more determined to identify the cause of ataxia, and time was beginning to run out: He himself was showing symptoms of the disease. He suspected that there must be a genetic factor. This idea was based on the observations that multiple generations within the family were affected and that the disease symptoms increased in severity as ataxia passed from generation to generation. If he identified the factor underlying the hereditary ataxia by finding genetic association, he could potentially treat the disorder.
Such research called for resources, so in 1957 Henry and Dr. John founded the National Ataxia Foundation to raise funds. Ataxia was nearly unheard of, so raising awareness about the disorder was necessary. Dr. John worked with another relative to educate the public about ataxia. Soon, he secured private and government funding to conduct genome association studies. At the time, no other families with SCA1 were known, so the studies focused only on affected members of his own kin.
Dr. John examined blood and cerebrospinal fluid from affected and unaffected individuals, but he did not find a blood factor associated with the disorder. However, in the cerebrospinal fluid from ataxic patients, he saw higher levels of compounds attributed to death of neuronal cells. These compounds were possible by-products of the disease, but alone they could not explain the cause of ataxia. Dr. John kept studying ataxia but made little progress. At the time, science lacked the necessary tools to identify the factor causing the disorder.
As more cousins became disabled by ataxia and his own illness worsened, the lack of answers was increasingly frustrating for Dr. John; conversely, the possibility of identifying genetic underpinnings became ever more tantalizing. Without a genetic test, it was impossible to determine whether a family member was affected by the disorder. The typical age of SCA1 onset corresponded perfectly to the period in an adult's life when he or she is considering marriage and children. If a family member reached 33 years of age and remained symptom-free, then it was unlikely he or she would develop ataxia. Otherwise, he or she risked passing the disorder to the next generation. On the advice of Dr. John, at-risk family members who had a parent with ataxia delayed having children or avoided conceiving altogether.
Dr. John's ataxia worsened to the point where he was unable to conduct his research. This infuriated him and made him determined to do everything he could to stay alive to focus on finding a cure. His spirits brightened when Henry's son Larry entered the University of Minnesota Medical College in 1958. Henry had remained unaffected by the disorder, so his children were at no risk of developing ataxia. Yet he and his children were closely tied to the disorder, because three of Henry's four siblings were affected. Antibiotics and new medical interventions kept Dr. John alive for longer than any other family member with the disorder; he eventually passed away at age 51 after fighting ataxia for 23 years.
The field of ataxia research remained quiet for about 10 years. Dr. Larry Schut was practicing medicine in Golden Valley, Minnesota, but in the 1970s he received a phone call from the National Genetics Foundation regarding two brothers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who had a rare and incurable disorder. This phone call resulted in the diagnosis of 12 more people afflicted with SCA1 and the opening of several clinics sponsored by the National Ataxia Foundation. With a larger group of people to contribute to the research, Larry felt that there was new hope of identifying the underlying cause of SCA1. The Schut family assembled during a reunion, and Larry collected blood from the affected and unaffected members in attendance. In continuation of the genome association studies started by his uncle, Larry collaborated with Dr. Elving Anderson at the University of Minnesota. In 1984 they found a genetic region correlated with SCA1 located on chromosome 6. The region was near the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, an area of the genome filled with many genes related to immune system function.
That same year, Larry recruited the help of one of us (Harry Orr) to zero in on the genetic region with which SCA1 was associated. At the time, Orr had been studying the HLA complex since 1976, was also trained in neuroscience and genetics, and had an interest in the SCA1 research. The Orr lab was well equipped to analyze the genetic region associated with SCA1, and they began work on genetic mapping of the region in 1985. Genetic mapping during these early days of molecular research was challenging, labor intensive, and limited by an incomplete understanding of the human genome. Larry helped by providing blood samples from family members and giving us a detailed family tree.
Our lab then used restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) to reduce the genetic region in question. In RFLP mapping, size differences in DNA of the same region are identified by cutting at specific sequences with the use of particular enzymes. If a size difference was noted between affected and unaffected individuals, that region of the DNA was further scrutinized to see how the sequences differed. After almost 10 years of work on the project, we were able to reduce the genetic region in question down to a more manageable span that was associated with the disorder.
At this point we were close to a breakthrough, but we needed help to quickly hunt down the specific sequence of DNA responsible for causing ataxia. A phone call from Huda Zoghbi of Baylor College of Medicine, who was investigating the genetic cause of ataxia in a different family, started a 20-year scientific collaboration with us that still flourishes. Several Schut family members also volunteered their time by working in the lab, and Larry continued to collect samples and update the family tree. In 1993, our collaborative efforts paid off: A stretch of DNA that was much longer than the same stretch in unaffected individuals was isolated by RFLP mapping.
Subsequent analysis showed that the three-base sequence CAG, which codes for the amino acid glutamine, was repeated at this location in those with ataxia. Normally, this region of DNA has 28 to 35 CAGs repeated, interrupted by a sequence that codes for two other amino acids. In patients with SCA1, a mutation resulted in loss of this nonglutamine interruption and more than 35 uninterrupted CAG repeats.
The size of the repeat and the age of SCA1 onset were directly correlated—those with the longest repeats had the earliest onset of symptoms. The repeat disorder found in SCA1 is not unique; other well-known neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also derive from expansions in stretches of repetitive DNA. This discovery now linked ataxia studies to a much larger body of research on these other diseases. Once the mutation responsible for the development of SCA1 was discovered, researchers could generate a genetic test to identify carriers of the disorder so that family members could receive genetic counseling before conceiving children. Before the identification of the mutation, Larry had been tenaciously counseling presymptomatic Schut family members to wait to have children, and now only a handful of family members were potential carriers of SCA1. However, as SCA1 research gained more media attention, many other affected families were identified around the country. Although the development of a genetic test came too late for many of the Schut family members, it was life changing for other families affected by SCA1.
In 1994, the gene harboring the expanded CAG stretch that caused SCA1 was finally sequenced and named ATXN1 (commonly called Ataxin-1). ATXN1 is a large gene and is translated to protein in both the unaffected and disease versions. However, the protein produced in the SCA1 version is slightly different.
We were unsure what the mutant protein did to cause disease once it was in the nucleus. The list of unknowns was getting longer, not shorter.
Researchers knew that the brainstem and cerebellum were the two areas severely affected in SCA1. Within the cerebellum, they discovered that Ataxin-1 protein was highly expressed within Purkinje cells, which are intricate and highly connected nerve cells critical for coordinating body movements. After they receive signals from planning centers of the brain, Purkinje cells sort out those messages and relay them through the spinal cord to muscles, causing movement. The underlying cause of the ataxia was degeneration of the Purkinje cells in SCA1 patients, and the mutation in Ataxin-1 was somehow involved in causing these cells to die.
Identification of the gene and mutation causing this rare form of ataxia was incredibly exciting for the Schut family and other families affected by SCA1, but many questions about the disease remained to be answered.
As medical interest in ataxia grew in the mid-1990s, researchers still had little knowledge about the normal function of the Ataxin-1 gene, let alone how the diseased gene was initiating the neural degeneration that resulted in ataxia and SCA1. To find answers to such challenging questions about the disease, the Orr lab turned to animal models. Our team identified a related gene in mice that we named Sca1.
Mouse Sca1 and human ATXN1 are strikingly similar; however, the mouse gene contains only two CAG repeats. To mimic the human disease in the mouse model, we created a transgenic mouse that expressed the human ATXN1 gene with 82 CAG repeats. Eighty-two was the highest number of repeats observed in a human SCA1 patient, and this individual experienced disease onset when younger than five years old. As seen in human SCA1 patients, transgenic mice with 82 CAG repeats had progressive ataxia and degeneration of the Purkinje cells.
The mice proved to be an excellent model system to study the disease, and they allowed us a closer look at what might cause cell death. We observed clumps of proteins called aggregates forming within the Purkinje cells of diseased animals. It made sense to conclude that the aggregates forming in the nucleus were toxic and resulted in cell death. However, questions remained about what, if anything, these aggregates were doing. Were the aggregates causing the disease, or were they a result of it? Was the expanded Ataxin-1 protein clumping together to form aggregates, or was another protein?
To get some answers to these questions, in 1998 we generated another transgenic mouse model that expressed the expanded human ATXN1 gene, but with an added mutation that prevented it from interacting with itself and forming aggregates. We discovered that mice with this mutation still developed ataxia and underwent Purkinje cell death, but they did not form aggregates in their Purkinje cells. The finding showed that aggregates were not the cause of cell death and disease.
That same year, we also created a mouse completely lacking the normal Sca1 gene to study loss of Ataxin-1 function. These mice did not develop ataxia or have any Purkinje cell death, which indicated that the mutation in Ataxin-1 was not causing a nonfunctional protein. However, mutant Ataxin-1 was doing something to instigate the disease.
Ataxin-1 is normally located in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of Purkinje cells. We next discovered that Ataxin-1 had to enter the cell nucleus to cause disease. Once it entered the nucleus, the expanded Ataxin-1 protein had difficulty transporting back out. If we kept Ataxin-1 out of the nucleus, we could potentially halt progression of the disease. This seemed like a simple task, but again we faced another hurdle: We did not know what controlled Ataxin-1's entrance into the nucleus. We knew there could be other genes or factors involved in regulating Ataxin-1. And we were unsure what the mutant protein did to cause disease once it was in the nucleus. The list of unknowns was getting longer, not shorter.
Researchers quickly appreciated the complexity of the disorder and our limited understanding of the disease. Undeterred by the challenge, the field of ataxia research continued growing quickly. Each research team tackled different critical questions about the disease. We are still asking these and many other questions. We are not certain whether the mutant Ataxin-1 protein retains much of its normal function, or whether it develops entirely new functions. The complexity of Ataxin-1 biology makes development of a cure slow going.
Our lab, along with Zohgbi's lab, is carrying out high-throughput screens, a current method for rapidly identifying important compounds in a biochemical pathway, to find molecules that reduce the levels of Ataxin-1 protein. We also are investigating the effects of modifying the Ataxin-1 protein and the implications for its biological activity. For example, like many enzymes, Ataxin-1 is turned "on" or "off" depending on whether a phosphate group is added to it or not, which regulates its interaction with other molecules that block Ataxin-1 from entering the nucleus. By suppressing the activities of proteins responsible for adding a phosphate group to Ataxin-1, we may be able to improve the condition of the cerebellar Purkinje cells and reduce the severity of ataxia. We are conducting these studies in mouse models, and we still have much to accomplish before a potential treatment for SCA1 could go through clinical trials in humans.
Understanding the biology behind SCA1 will spur drug discovery and progress in research of other related neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the fight of one family struggling with this rare disorder is also affecting other areas of disease research.
Because the family has received genetic counseling, Schut family reunions are no longer opportunities to collect blood samples for genetic testing; instead, they can focus on food and socializing, just as other families do. Only one family member is currently affected by the disease, and another is untested for ataxia and under the age of eighteen. Larry Schut continues to work as a neurologist and to have an interest in a variety of newly identified forms of spinocerebellar ataxia. The family remains active with the National Ataxia Foundation, which in contrast to its humble beginnings, today spends over $1 million annually to support ataxia research.
Despite all these advances, there are currently no clinical-stage treatments for hereditary and sporadic ataxias, and there is still only limited public awareness about the disease. Even in families where hereditary ataxia has presented in multiple generations, patients may struggle for an accurate diagnosis because the disease can be mistaken for other movement disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Educating the public and providing support for patients affected by ataxia is a major goal of the National Ataxia Foundation.
SCA1 remains at large in other families across the United States, including hundreds of at-risk individuals who may pass the disorder along to their children. Thankfully, the fate for these families is much better than what was faced a century ago, or even 50 years ago. Families have a genetic test for the disease, and government assistance provides help for those affected by this debilitating disorder. Researchers continue to progress toward the next breakthrough to understanding this disease. Decades of dedication from patients, families, and the research community brought scientists closer to understanding hereditary forms of ataxia and identifying a treatment for the disease.
One of us (Nissa Mollema) began researching ataxia after finishing her Ph.D. in 2010 and joining the Orr lab shortly thereafter. Only a few months into the job, a conversation with her mother-in-law led her to discover that perhaps something beyond scientific interest had directed her to find a place in ataxia research. Mollema learned that her husband's great-grandmother had seven siblings affected by SCA1, and that one of these siblings was Henry and John Schut's father.
Reflecting on the early days of ataxia research, Mollema was struck by how the discoveries that paved the way for her research were driven by a simple desire to improve life for the next generation and to prevent the suffering the current generation faced. Questions about SCA1 and a host of related neurodegenerative diseases remain, but collaboration and determination continue to advance our understanding of the larger scientific puzzle.
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This story is about a girl named Katy who was bullied...
The boys 235464245
- by LaurenMarie
- Rating:
- Published: 19 Feb 2014
- Updated: 16 Mar 2014
- Status: Complete
2 years poor Florence has been away protecting her daughter Noelle giving her the life she needed. Florence's parents have always wanted to meet Noelle with everyone else what happens when she visits will her world come crashing down. What will happen? What will be discovered?
And most of all will Harry find out.
And most of all will Harry find out.
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The Leviathans, the Chitauri's living warships, were invented for the Avengers movie and had to be designed from scratch. Avengers concept artist Phil Saunders has shared some of the early sketches for the Leviathans, including ones in which the ships had massive horns and this top one, which appears inspired by H.R. Giger's Alien xenomorph.
Saunders explains that originally the script called for two Chitauri craft, a "Jumbo" and a "Chariot." It wasn't clear at first if the Jumbo would be biological, mechanical, or both, but it was supposed to be whale or dragon-like from the beginning. Saunders began with a sort of mechanical parasitic worm, and went through many iterations of Leviathans before reaching the finished product. You can see some of those early designs as well as the Chariots below.
Avengers Alien Craft Round 1 and More Leviathans [Phil Saunders via Comic Book Movie]


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Piedra Vista grabbed hold of the game in the second quarter, and the Durango High School football team just couldnt quite wrestle it back before the Panthers ran away with victory.
Piedra Vista scored 43 points before halftime, 36 in the second quarter, then used the running clock after the break to secure a 43-6 victory over the Demons on Friday in Farmington.
Junior quarterback Isaiah Valdez was the main catalyst for the Panthers. The signal caller threw four touchdown passes, including two in the final three minutes of the half, to help boost the Panthers to 3-0 before giving way to his understudy after intermission.
Kolt Munoz returned an interception 17 yards for a score to open the second-quarter barrage, and Valdez hit Beau Clifton a couple of minutes later to lift the Piedra Vista lead to 22-0.
Valdez found Bryson Martinez for a 76-yard score, then Clifton again from 63 yards to boost the lead to 36-0.
After a DHS fumble, Valdez again hit Martinez from 16 yards out to cap the Piedra Vista scoring.
DHS got on the board in the fourth quarter when Jeremy Szura, getting his first start at quarterback after battling an injury the first two weeks, ran in for a score from 11 yards out to deny Piedra Vista the shutout.
Durango (1-2) will host Farmington at 7 p.m. Friday at DHS Stadium.


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Discover for free which first names would suit you or your baby !
Meaning of name Béatrice
Etymology : French form of BEATRIX
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Origin : French
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Who is she?
Beneath the aloof and sometimes glacial exterior, Béatrice is more sensitive and emotional than the average person. Her intuition is considerably well developed, and she applies it with mastery in her personal interactions. Indeed, she tends to be passive, even a little lazy at times and is often far away in a daydream; although her faculties of observation are excellent. She is very attentive to the needs of others, but often forgets about herself. She is generally shy, and can be very touching, however she is just as capable of showing quite formidable character. She is discreet, modest even, to such an extent that she can appear frosty and distant. She holds her privacy dear and tends to be rather secretive, which is why Béatrice is often such an enigma to those around her! This is probably just a protective mechanism, because she is sensitive and generally feels vulnerable. If she experiences emotional upheaval, she may react by becoming withdrawn and hiding away from the world, and could even experience periods of depression. Yet she is also capable of great courage and determination if she happens to be touched by a particular cause (usually of a social nature). Actually, she is such a complex creature because she is divided between two rather antagonistic frequencies of vibration. The energies of the 9 are conducive to a certain spirituality and concern for others wellbeing, inciting her to join groups or associations with similar ideals... Then there are those of the 7, which tend to induce scepticism, egocentricity and push her to flee the world and live as a hermit - even in the family home... Parents, beware, because Béatrice can be rather manipulative, and underneath the cool reserve, wisdom and kindness, she could have a surprise or two up her sleeve! Furthermore, she can often be of quite mercurial temperament. On the other hand, she has an enormous need for affection. Magic and the supernatural: the weird, wonderful and fantastic have a special place in her heart, as do tales and legends. If she suffers an emotional disappointment, she is inclined to escape into her inner world of daydreams. It would be desirable for her to develop an artistic hobby, and to participate in group activities to help develop her sense of solidarity.
What does she like?
She treasures her privacy and you are not to pry, and she is probably the keeper of many secrets. Because she is such a sentimental sort, she is attracted to life as half of a couple. She possesses a profound sense of friendship and can be counted on to give sound advice. She dreads loneliness and tends to be conciliatory and patient in her relationships with others. Where her heart is concerned, she is much more tender, loving and affectionate than she appears to be; however the smallest heartache could signify the return of the ice queen.
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What does she do?
Where her career is concerned, Béatrice could be drawn to the social professions (law or medicine), communications and creation (media, cinema, theatre, music), anything to do with foreign travel, or the social sciences (psychology, graphology, pedagogy...), or in connection with esotericism or spirituality.
Discover others girls first names : Bea Beáta Beate
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It sometimes happens that two different first names have the same meaning. This has nothing surprising: both first names have the same figures of numerology. It is as in astrology: two persons belonging to the same sign present the same characteristic...
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Your Name Horoscope !
Thanks to the numerology, we propose you daily a horoscope personalized for your first name. Love, money , Shape: discover what waits for you for today. In Bonus every day find your daily lucky figure .. Horoscope of the first names
Love :Couples: Harmony will once again reign between the two of you. Singles: Make the most of your own company, you are unlikely to meet "the one" today.
Money :Today is a perfect day to clarify your financial objectives.
Health:You're lacking in calcium and vitamin D Béatrice . Get enough sunshine and eat plenty of brocolli to keep your bones healthy!
Your Lucky number : 49


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10 Things to Know for Today
Photo: AP
FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2012 file photo, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt arrives for a seminar at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Schmidt is preparing to travel to one of the last frontiers of cyberspace: North Korea. He will be traveling to North Korea on a private trip led by former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that could take place as early as this month, sources told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The sources, two people familiar with the group's plans, asked not to be named because the visit had not been made public. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)


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Acai berry is a great supplement which helps you in reducing weight very easily. As a matter of fact, it has been endorsed as the super food, but renowned celebrities, who have been benefited immensely from it. The best thing about Acai fruit is that it is completely natural and you can easily eat it without getting scared of any side effects. There are great reviews on Acai berry over the internet because the product has proven to be very successful for people who were trying to get rid of those extra pounds but had lost all hopes.
Reviews on Acai berry are very positive and helps other people to take the initiative as well. The product increases the energy levels and enhances the immune system so that you become healthier and lose all the extra fats in your body. The product also helps in curbing your hunger and reduces your appetite with the high availability of fiber and good calories. These pills are extremely effective and being used by people with great confidence all over the globe.
The main ingredient in Acai berry is called anthocyanin which is also available in red wine. It makes you stronger and helps you to reduce weight without putting in the effort. Reviews on Acai berry also claims that it slows down the aging process and relives join pain. Another great feature of this fruit supplements is that it not only makes you lose weight but also makes sure that your body is in good shape. You don't get this surety with other medicines which you use to lose weight. Although they make you lose weight but internally you tend to lose all your body power and immune system.
Reviews on Acai berry products are seen as a plus sign for the product. There are great many fans all over the world who admire the effectiveness of Acai berry supplements. If you are also interested in cutting down some kgs then you must get your hands on these effective pills. They would make sure that you lose weight in the healthiest way without effecting your heart and immune system. All of the factors have contributed greatly to the success of this products. If you want to buy the products online then look for sellers that offer free bottles and trials for free. This way you would be able to get the most reliable supplier over the internet.


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You can't become a princess - you have to be born one. But with determination and hard work, you can become a lawyer, a judge, and even a Supreme Court Justice. Exhibits A through D, your honor: Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan.
Fashionable Garments, Ethically Produced
All of our clothes are designed in Seattle, ethically cut and sewn abroad in Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production-certified facilities so you know they're sweatshop-free and guaranteed free of child labor, and then screen printed with tons of love in the USA.
Sizing and Fit
Our baseball tees run true to size. The fit is relaxed and loose. Your shirt will shrink a little the first time it is washed.
Fabric Content
Baseball tees with grey bodies: 60% cotton / 40% polyester
Black and white baseball tees: 100% cotton


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Stocks slip in midday trading on Wall Street
Stocks are edging lower on Wall Street after a drop in U.S. consumer prices and a strong survey of Chinese manufacturing failed to excite investors.
The Dow Jones industrial average was off 23 points at 13,146 shortly before midday Friday.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged down 4 points to 1,416 while the Nasdaq composite dipped 15 points to 2,976.
Of the 10 industries in the S&P 500 index, technology and energy stocks are down the most.
Adobe jumped 7 percent after the maker of Photoshop editing software and other applications reported results that beat analysts' expectations.
Best Buy sank 15 percent after the struggling electronics retailer and one of its founders, Richard Schulze, agreed to give Schulze more time to assemble a bid for the company.


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Those sharp-eyed sentinels at the NCAA have handed down yet another blow for justice by suspending a Boise State football player for the improper benefit of driving a borrowed 1990 Toyota Camry with 177,000 miles. Has the NCAA looked up the definition of "benefit" lately?
According to the Idaho Statesmen, Broncos wide receiver Geraldo Boldewijn received use of the car and driver's insurance coverage from an unnamed source; the NCAA required Boldewijn to pay $700 to a charity of his choice before he could be reinstated next week. Two other players were investigated, with one reinstated and the other's case still unresolved.
For the record: Boise State's football team brought in $14.5 million to the school last year, and its coach is paid $1.6 million a year, much of it from outside boosters. Bet that $700 really taught Geraldo Boldewijn a lesson.


text: Earlier this year, there was a symposium in Berlin that looked at sustainable transportation. Porsche brought along three Porsche Boxsters, each one running on battery power and called the Boxster E. Two cars had just one electric motor that turns the rear axle, but the third had a second electric motor that drives the front wheels as well, making it an all-wheel drive Boxster. Total power comes to 241 hp and 393 lb-ft of torque, zero to 60 mph is a claimed 5.5 seconds and top speed is 124 mph. That compares rather well to a conventional Boxster S. Porsche claims the Boxster E has all the driving dynamics for which the marque is rightfully revered. The battery pack, using lithium iron phosphate technology, goes where the engine would usually sit, so the car's excellent chassis balance is retained. And the high-voltage equipment is housed in such a way to protect it in the event of a collision. Sadly, there's no special Porsche exhaust note, but engineers have developed an "Active Sound Design" system, so a speedy Boxster cannot take unsuspecting pedestrians by surprise. Range is 107 miles and charging via a normal socket would take nine hours. If this ever went into production, it would be one less reason to buy a Tesla.


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24-Hour Emergency Garage Door Repair Service
Call today and ask about our free estimates, lifetime warranties and the deals and discounts we offer.
New Garage Doors in Charlotte, NC
Do you require a new garage door? Rely only on the expert garage door service provider — A1 Garage Door Service in Charlotte, NC . We know that installing a garage door is usually a big decision. As such, we provide FREE advice in terms of materials, brands, styles, colors and other technical specifications in order for you to determine the most appropriate garage door to install. We will also help you ensure that your new garage door will add to the value and curb appeal of your home.
Just contact us at 704-288-0530.
Garage Door Installation in Charlotte, NC
Purchasing and installing or replacing your garage door in Charlotte, NC is a big decision. This is because it is usually a considerable investment, will affect the overall aesthetics or look and feel of your home as well as ensure your safety and security.
To help you make an informed decision, contact A1 Garage Door Service in Charlotte, NC at (704) 288-0530. We will guide you every step of the way.
A1 Garage Door Service in Charlotte, NC will give you the most comprehensive listing of materials and choices for your garage door investment. We will give you different choices in terms of:
- Materials — You can select from different options such as wood, steel or aluminum. We will also advise you on the different considerations such as cost, noise factor, insulating properties of the materials, including its maintenance.
- Aesthetics — You can choose from our wide array of designs, styles and colors.
Garage Door Brands in Charlotte, NC
A1 Garage Door Service in Charlotte, NC carries different brands and makes of garage doors. We are confident that whatever brand or type of garage door you are interested in, we can supply it. Furthermore, we are experienced in installing any type of garage door; including maintaining, replacing or repairing any of its components.
Among the brands that we have in our inventory are:
- CLOPAY® — This is a United States brand of residential garage doors, the only one backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal which is the most recognized consumer product insignia in the country. The Seal is an endorsement of the quality and durability of the Clopay® brand. Each of their various types of garage doors have patented Safe-T-Brackets, as well as sturdy tracks, rollers and hinges. Their garage doors are made to last a lifetime with their strong hardware and durable springs.
Garage Door Materials in Charlotte, NC
Whatever material you want for your garage door — wood, steel, aluminum, copper, vinyl etc. — trust that we have it for you. What's more, our team of technicians in Charlotte, NC are fully trained and experienced in installing whatever type of garage door you prefer.
Our arsenal of garage doors in Charlotte, NC comes in the following materials:
- Wood — A wood garage door is usually considered to be the best because its beauty can dramatically improve the aesthetic appeal of your home leading to increased property value. Plus, the graining, knots and shading of wood garage doors usually differ from one to the next making each wooden door truly unique. What's more, the beauty of wood is long-lasting and with proper maintenance, it can even look better as it gets old.
- Steel — A steel garage door is low-maintenance yet high-performing and long-lasting. It is also legendary in durability and quality.
Garage Door Styles in Charlotte, NC
The garage doors that we at A1 Garage Door Service in Charlotte, NC carry come in three main styles:
- Carriage House — The carriage house garage door design is very traditional. Its name refers to the original out-buildings of large manors of old where carriages where stored or kept. Through the years, the carriages were replaced by cars but the carriage house term itself is still being used to refer to the classic garage door designs. Originally, carriage house garage doors only used wood for its material. However, now different types of materials — steel, aluminum, vinyl, fibreglass etc. can be configured to take on the carriage house design.
Garage Door Colors in Charlotte, NC
A1 Garage Door Service in Charlotte, NC has a collection of garage doors in different colors. Do you want to express subtlety, elegance or boldness? Do it with our differently-colored garage doors:
- Blue — The biggest come on of having a blue garage door is that it can be very soothing, refreshing and calming. At the end of the day, it would be nice for a tired homeowner to come home to a relaxing blue garage door. There can be many shades of blue that can be used for a garage door — you can have a deep blue door, a stormy hue, turquoise, aqua, marine blue, midnight blue — the choices are endless.
- Black — This is a popular choice for garage doors because it is very elegant and timeless. Depending on how your garage door is used or positioned in the overall architectural scheme, a black door can add flair and drama. What's more, it can hide dirt and imperfections.
Custom Garage Doors in Milwaukee
Do you want a specially customized garage door just for you? We can help you out. A1 Garage Door Service in Milwaukee offers customized garage doors that harmonize with and reflect the character and personality of your home. We will work closely with you to develop a design that will have an impact and will enhance the natural beauty of your home.
We determine the appropriate size, height and width, shape, kind of wood, surface treatment, windows, glass, finish, paint or stain, decorative hardware and all the other things that need to be considered. Then we provide you with our proposal. Whatever type of home you have — traditional, colonial, Victorian, Mediterranean, modern, contemporary, ranch, Spanish colonial or a pristine craftsman bungalow — we will make sure that your garage door will only serve to enhance its beauty while ensuring function and security.
Call A1 Garage Door Service now in Milwaukee at (414) 847-1026 for your customized garage door.
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Do you know a little girl that would lovvee a princess party? This PRINCESS CASTLE BIRTHDAY PARTY submitted by Lisa Komer of Fancy That is absolutely darling. SO much inspiration can be found throughout these lovely photos. I simply adore the vintage inspired princess castle by Melissa & Doug {found at Target.com} and love how Lisa used it as a dessert display! The rosette flowers hanging on the wall behind the table are so cute, too.
Here is what Lisa said about the party- "Introducing our latest party theme – A Princess party in pinks, aqua and purple! Our inspiration started with the Castle Play Set. I was cleaning our my daughters room and saw the castle in the corner and inspiration hit me! Sweets include crown lollipops, cupcakes with a fondant crown and chocolate dipped Oreo cookies. The milk is served in little jars that I dipped in sanding sugar and finished with our paper straws. Favors include lollipops, bubbles, chocolate bars and wands from our new princess favor collection. The craft activity is making a wood bead necklace. One of my favorite details are the cupcake castles at each place setting!"
Vendor Credits:
Cupcakes and Oreo cookies- Bliss Bake Shop
Yarn garland and table styling- Inkberry
Photography- Tori Ava Photography
Clear cupcake pedestals- The Pastry Pedestal
Table styling, venue, polka dot cupcake cups, crown lollipops, wands, paper straws, bubbles, milk jars, castle cupcake holders, white vases, custom cupcake wrappers, wooden necklace craft, and favor boxes- Fancy That


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Originally Published inToday's Chicago Woman
Can flex schedules benefit both employer and employee?
In today's fast-paced, Blackberry-addicted, iPad-dependent work world, the term "9 to 5" might conjure up images of the classic Dolly Parton tune rather than time spent in the office. Indeed, the rise of flextime policies at companies across the country has all but rendered the term obsolete.
The way Bridget Lipezker, a 15-year veteran of Deloitte, sees it, while you may not be punching the 9-to-5 clock, make no mistake, the job is still getting done.
"We're working around the clock so that it meets the needs of the clients," she says. "It isn't about working more hours, it's working in a smarter way."
"Flextime," or a variable work schedule, has become part of our cultural lexicon over the past few years, as more companies have begun to offer employees the option to reduce their physical time in the office. Forrester Research estimates a whopping 34 million people worked from home in 2011 on a regular basis; it expects the telecommuting population to nearly double by 2016. Technological advances such as iPhones and Blackberry's have made it possible for employees to set up their offices from almost anywhere.
Among the factors driving the trend at many Chicago-area companies are recruitment and retention, increased productivity and loyalty, and a decrease in absenteeism and turnover.
Of course, you can't forget the bottom line. Jennifer Kenedy, managing partner of the Chicago office for Locke Lord, LLP, says offering the attorneys at her firm flextime makes dollars and sense.
"If you're in an industry that cares about retaining top talent and not losing the large financial investment…it just makes sense," says Ms. Kenedy, who chairs Locke Lord's Flexible Work Arrangement Committee, which steers the flextime application process at the firm. "Let's face it, when we hire people in any industry, we're investing a significant amount of money and time into training those individuals. If they decide they have to leave because their family life is making demands on them, you're not only losing a valued employee, you're also losing a big investment."
Theresa Duckett and Katherine Harris are two Locke Lord associates who have taken advantage of the firm's flextime policy out of a desire to stay home with their young children. Ms. Harris is in the office Monday-Thursday, while Ms. Duckett is in three days a week. Both say the key to flextime is flexibility.
"We're still attorneys," Ms. Harris says. "You still need to be available. If the client needs something on Saturday, I get back to the client on Saturday."
"It took five years getting work done at 11 o'clock at night," Ms. Duckett agrees. "Sometimes that's just as efficient as being in the office."
Carrie Hightman, executive vice president and chief legal officer at NiSource, says that while her company doesn't have a formal policy in place to grant employees flextime, it does empower management to tailor each situation to the individual.
"We decided to have the most inclusive approach possible, because standard policies oftentimes are less flexible," Ms. Hightman explains. "We want managers to be equipped with concepts and ideas so that when their employee comes to them with a need [for flexibility], they can say, 'Here are some ideas.'"
Beyond Parenting
While many may think of childcare as the primary reason to take advantage of flextime, Ms. Hightman notes that there are myriad reasons why an employee might adjust their time in the office. These may include caring for aging parents, ongoing individual health issues or coaching Little League. In fact, one NiSource employee found himself needing to take extended time off on two separate occasions: once to care for his mother during a long-term hospital stay and the other when his wife fell and broke one leg and one ankle. Another NiSource employee considered it "the best Christmas gift ever" when her flextime request was granted after the birth of her son in November.
"What we've learned is there are lots of very unique and interesting situations that arise that require employees to seek flextime arrangements, and you can't always anticipate what those situations will be," Ms. Hightman says. "At the same time, we want to make sure we can meet our obligations of providing safe and reliable energy services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
Deloitte, considered a pioneer in the concept of flextime (stretching back to the early '90s) offers a variety of formal opportunities through its Mass Career Customization program as well as informal situations, such as job sharing and sabbaticals. In fact, the firm has found that flextime programs have played a big part in eliminating the turnover gap. Much like NiSource and Locke Lord, Deloitte doesn't subscribe to the theory that one size fits all.
"Twenty years ago, when a lot of these flexible work arrangements were first out there, I think there was much more of an approach to make it cookie-cutter, because managers didn't know how to manage a different model," Stacy Janiak, managing partner for Deloitte's Chicago office, believes. "It has evolved and will continue to evolve as the impact on what it means to be a productive employee continues to evolve."
Ms. Lipezker, who currently works full time and has worked flextime at different points in her career with the firm due to the birth of her children, credits flextime for helping her to achieve professional goals.
"I've kept moving up in my career because I was able to create a sense of balance," she says. "I'm able to have a meaningful career and continue growing as a professional while having a very involved family life."
Ms. Harris, who's on the partnership track at Locke Lord, echoes that sentiment – with a caveat.
"You get delayed a little bit," she confesses. "We're getting less experience because we aren't working 100 percent of the time, so partnership gets slowed down a little bit. Still, for me, it's allowed me to be a better mom and a better lawyer."
While the benefits of flextime are hard to dispute – ranging from a powerful recruitment and retention tool to being a key driver in employee engagement – there are challenges associated. Transparency with clients and co-workers, meeting deadlines and being reliable and available were all cited as major factors employees must be mindful of when entering into a flextime arrangement. For the foreseeable future, the trend toward virtual work environments will likely continue, with even greater ubiquity and enthusiasm.
"The possibilities are endless, depending on where technology goes and how much more connected and accessible we all are," Ms. Janiak says. "It's only going to increase…the ability to do your job anywhere, anytime."


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Calvary Chapel of OKC teaches the Bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book. You will receive the whole counsel of the Word of God. Excellent praise and worship.
Calvary Chapel of OKC is an inter-denominational church welcoming all "denominations', such as Baptist Church, Catholic Church, Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City, Oklahoma.
What is Calvary Chapel OKC?
As a non-denominational fellowship, we are asked that question often. In light of all the "various winds of doctrine" that are blowing about today, it is a valid one. Due to our non-traditional approach to worship and ministry in many areas, answering that question is not always as simple as it might seem.
We Believe worship of God should be Spiritual. Therefore: We remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship services.
We Believe worship of God should be Inspirational. Therefore: We give a great place to music in our worship. Our worship is contemporary and orderful.
We Believe worship of God should be Intelligent. Therefore: Our services are designed with great emphasis upon teaching the whole counsel of the Word of God verse by verse, that He might instruct us how He would be worshipped.
We Believe worship of God is Fruitful. Therefore: We look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have truly been worshipping Him. We strongly believe that the purpose of Calvary Chapel of OKC through the pastor and teachers is summed up in "for the perfecting of the saints" (Eph. 4:12).
Dress Code - Come as you feel most comfortable (coat/tie, jeans, t-shirts, flip-flops or sandals, etc.). We desire to de-emphasize this aspect of Sunday worship. Please don't dress immodestly.
Music/Worship - Contemporary praise and worship with an occasional old hymn.
Please bring your Bible - Since we teach book-by-book, verse-by-verse, we want you to read God's Word for yourself (Acts 17:11) - don't just take our word for it! If you don't have a Bible to bring, come anyway - we have some you can use.
If you would like to learn more about pastor Ken Merrihew, please visit the "Meet the Pastor" page.
It is our prayer that this site will answer whatever questions you might have. If you would like to view our Statement of Faith, please read it here.
If you have any questions or prayer requests, please use our Contact page for information on how to reach Calvary Chapel of Oklahoma City.
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Representatives from the Ohio EPA will meet with Fayette village council members for a special session at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Opera House.
Village administrator Tom Spiess explained that the meeting is part of an on-going process established in the judicial consent order of 2001 regarding cleanup of the former Fayette Tubular Products site. The order requires that council members receive periodic updates.
The briefing for council will precede a public information meeting not yet scheduled by the Ohio EPA.
Spiess asked the agency about the subject of the meeting but was given no details. He speculates the topic might be about how the contaminated property could be used in the future.
The contaminants involved along with the level of cleanup determine future land use.
Councilor Craig Rower requested that the Ohio EPA send someone this time who can answer questions about the issue.


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Message Board
Don Freeman Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Freeman has written!
Author Freeman's Book Reviews
Corduroy is a toy bear who sits on a shelf in a toy department of a large store. He dreams about someone taking him home, but nobody wants to buy him. People keep running around without even noticing Corduroy. Then one day his dream almost comes true: a young girl stops and looks at him, and tells her mother that she wants this bear. But the mother refuses to buy him. They've already spent all the money, she says, and besides, he's missing a button. The ...


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"Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts hosts a two-hour countdown of couples who have graced television with their amazing chemistry, hilarity, friendship and, in many cases, sexual tension. Whether it's Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Laverne and Shirley, Tony and Carmela Soprano, Homer and Bart Simpson, Mulder and Scully or Lucy and Ethel, there is no shortage of indelible duos on television. Who will be No. 1? Find out on "TV's Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by The Paley Center for Media," airing SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
This couples cavalcade includes all-new reminiscences by some of television's most beloved actors and personalities including Megan Mullally, Edie Falco, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, Garry Marshall (creator of "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley"), Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson), Ed Asner, Vanna White, Penn & Teller, Chris Hardwick, Tom Smothers, Adam Carolla, Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet.
The 30 duos were selected by a poll conducted by Nielsen Media Research. They are (in alphabetical order):
· Archie Bunker and Michael "Meathead" Stivic ("All in the Family")
· Beavis and Butthead ("Beavis and Butthead")
· Bert and Ernie ("Sesame Street")
· Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett ("Modern Family")
· James T. Kirk "Captain Kirk" and Mr. Spock ("Star Trek")
· Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani ("Friends")
· Cliff and Clair Huxtable ("The Cosby Show")
· Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson ("Cheers")
· Dan and Roseanne Conner ("Roseanne")
· Dana Scully and Fox Mulder ("X-Files")
· David Addison and Maddie Hayes ("Moonlighting")
· Dwight Schrute and Michael Scott ("The Office")
· George and Weezy Jefferson ("The Jeffersons")
· George Costanza and Jerry Seinfeld ("Seinfeld")
· Homer and Bart Simpson ("The Simpsons")
· Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon ("30 Rock")
· Jack McFarland and Karen Walker ("Will & Grace")
· John Locke and Jack Shephard ("Lost")
· Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon ("The Tonight Show")
· Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy ("The Muppet Show")
· Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper ("Wonder Years")
· Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney ("Laverne & Shirley")
· Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz ("I Love Lucy")
· Meredith Grey and Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd ("Grey's Anatomy")
· Pat Sajak and Vanna White ("Wheel of Fortune")
· Ralph and Alice Kramden ("The Honeymooners")
· Richie Cunningham and Arthur Fonzarelli ("Happy Days")
· Sam Malone and Diane Chambers ("Cheers")
· Tony and Carmela Soprano ("The Sopranos")
· Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar ("Saturday Night Live")
"TV's Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by The Paley Center for Media" is executive-produced by Ryan Seacrest, Adam Sher and Greg Heller for Ryan Seacrest Productions ("Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Emmy-winning "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution") and by Pat Mitchell, Diane Lewis and John Wolters for The Paley Center for Media. The executive in charge is Robert Norris.
"TV's Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by The Paley Center for Media" will be broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.


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DOVER — A small insect notorious for generating big headaches around the Seacoast is once again giving homeowners reason to gripe.
Stink bugs — small, smelly pests that can damage crops and overwhelm buildings — have been a recent source of frustration as they congregate in masses outside and inside homes in preparation for the winter months.
"I'm not sure why, but this has been a great year for them," said Alan Eaton, an entomologist at the University of New Hampshire's Cooperative Extension program. "They search for cracks or crevasses to hide in and form huge masses on buildings."
And these masses have been visible as of late, with large numbers invading homes in search of overwintering sites.
As Eaton explained, most of these stink bugs are known as the western conifer seed bug — an insect which has expanded eastward since first being detected in Pennsylvania in 1992.
The western conifer seed bug is a relative of the brown marmorated stink bug — another insect that has contributed to this sudden influx. The brown marmorated stink bug, however, is currently only present in eight municipalities statewide. Therefore, Eaton credited the western conifer seed bug as the primary source of these recent headaches.
"Sealing holes, cracks, and other openings is the best approach," Eaton said. "There are a lot of places people might not think about that are actually great for these insects."
Although neither bites, is poisonous, or spreads disease, these dime-sized bugs emit terrible odors when triggered and are classified as agricultural pests. Stink bugs can cause widespread damage to fruit and vegetable crops, including peaches, apples, green beans, soybeans, cherries, raspberries, and pears, among others.
And once inside homes, neither insect needs much space to feel comfortable and secure — they've been known to settle around window sills, picture frames, and behind television screens. Once nestled in their new locations, these insects pass the winter months in a deep hibernation, returning once again around May or June.
For now, effective strategies to reduce these insects remain unclear — although sprays are somewhat effective, researchers have said numbers are too big to eradicate entire populations.
And although Eaton said Sept. 15 is normally the deadline to seal up any holes, crevasses, or cracks the bugs may take advantage of, he noted it's still worth the effort to take precautionary measures today.
A stinky little problem: True to its name, malodorous bug invades many area homes
DOVER — A small insect notorious for generating big headaches around the Seacoast is once again giving homeowners reason to gripe.


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Export 3 results:Author Title Type [ Year]
Filters: Author is Matheny, Ashley M. [Clear All Filters]
Species-specific transpiration responses to intermediate disturbance in a northern hardwood forest. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. :n/a-n/a.. 2014.
Modeling forest carbon cycle response to tree mortality: Effects of plant functional type and disturbance intensity. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. :n/a-n/a.. 2015.
Observations of stem water storage in trees of opposing hydraulic strategies. Ecosphere. 6(9):art165.. 2015.


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Matt Kemp named National League Player of the Week
Kemp becomes the first player in baseball history to take home the honor three consecutive times
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp has been named National League Player of the Week for the period of April 9-15, 2012. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Kemp becomes the first player to win back-to-back National League Player of the Week honors to begin a season and the first player to win the award for three consecutive weeks (dating back to the week of September 25, 2011) since the award's inception in 1974. The only other player to capture consecutive Player of the Week awards to begin a season was Tony Armas, who accomplished the feat in the American League in 1981 while with the Oakland Athletics.
In six games last week, the right-handed hitting slugger led all Major Leaguers with a .545 (12-for-22) batting average, four home runs, a 1.182 slugging percentage, .615 on-base percentage and 26 total bases. His seven runs scored tied for first in the National League while his 12 hits and eight RBI both tied for second. His torrid start has helped the Dodgers to a Major League-best 9-1 record, marking the club's best start through 10 games since 1981.
Kemp played a key role in the Dodgers' sweep of their weekend series with the San Diego Padres at Chavez Ravine, going a combined 7-for-10 with four homers and seven RBI in the three game set. Kemp went 3-for-4 with a home run on Sunday as the Dodgers edged the Friars, 5-4. In Saturday's tilt, the Oklahoma native belted two homers and drove in four en route to a 6-1 Dodgers' victory. Kemp also notched multi-hit efforts on April 11th and 12th, leading the Dodgers to a three-game sweep of the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. The 27-year-old already has seven multi-hit games on the young season and currently leads the Majors in hitting (.487), home runs (6) and RBI (16).
This is his fourth career weekly award, having won previously for the weeks of May 4, 2008; September 25, 2011; and April 8, 2012.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Kemp's Dodger teammates Andre Ethier (.304, 2 HR,7 RBI, 1.000 SLG, .471 OBP) and Javy Guerra (1-0, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 3 SO, 4.0 IP); rookie Matt Carpenter (.500,HR, 8 RBI, 2 3B, 1.000 SLG, .471 OBP) and Jake Westbrook (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Miami's Omar Infante (.381, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 12 H, 7 R, .905 SLG); Washington's Adam LaRoche (.310, 9 H, 8 RBI) and Jayson Werth (.467, 14 H, 4 RBI, .600 SLG); Houston's J.D. Martinez (.391, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .739 SLG); San Francisco's Matt Cain (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 SO, 9.0 IP, CG, SHO) and Barry Zito (1-0, 1.13 ERA, 8 SO, 16.0 IP, CG, SHO); and Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel (0-0, 0.00, 4 SV, 6 SO, 4.0 IP).
In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Matt Kemp will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.


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The Mindful Brain
Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being
Leading neurobiologist Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., presents a new framework for maintaining mental health and well-being. Three human experiences have been documented as promoting well-being: secure attachment, mindfulness meditation, and effective psychotherapy. Siegel's unifying theory shows that the effects of these three experiences have a similar neural mechanism. Siegel uses theory, science, and anecdote to reveal how to transform the brain as well as promote well-being.
"A notable science title that smartly combines the personal, the clinical and the spiritual."
- Publishers Weekly
"The Mindful Brain marks a major landmark in the merging field of contemplative neuroscience."
- Daniel Goleman, author of Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships
"This is the first book I've read that successfully, intelligently, and interestingly integrates the two different perspectives of mindfulness theory and practice: mindfulness derived from meditation, and mindfulness without meditation, as I've studied it. Bravo!"
- Ellen J. Langer, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity
"A brilliant and visionary wedding of mindfulness and neurobiology. Siegel's book stands out for its skillful weaving together of the interpersonal, the inner world, the latest science, and practical applications, all envisioned as a whole."
- Jack Kornfield, Ph.D., founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Center, and author of A Path With Heart