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The girl in the window | Aug. 3 Stirring story carried us from tragedy to hope I can't begin to describe the range of emotions I felt after reading the tragic and hopeful story of young Danielle.
It is difficult to understand how a mother could allow her child to live in such horrific conditions and then believe she is only guilty of having a dirty house. It is even more difficult to understand how prosecutors could offer her a plea agreement in exchange for waiving her parental rights. When did we decide that house arrest and probation was fair punishment for six years of the neglect and abuse of a child?
Let's also not forget the role that the Department of Children and Families played in this story. They were called to this home twice in 2002 and did nothing. Where was the follow-up over the next three years and how might have Danielle's life turned out if she had been removed from this home when she was 4 years old?
Thankfully this beautiful young girl has a glimmer of hope because Diane and Bernie Lierow made the decision to make her a part of their caring and loving family.
Phil Fraley, Crystal Beach
A failure of leadership
I do not work for the Department of Children and Families and neither do any of my family members. What needs to be remembered is that funding for DCF and other family programs was being hacked to pieces at that time. These cuts were made under a governor who would present himself as a family-values champion but when a child needed protection this is what occurred — on his watch.
Before cuts are made to a program, the question needs to be asked, "Why, to begin with, was this program ever put in place?" People didn't just dream up DCF for no good reason.
What you didn't report was how many budget cuts were made at that time resulting in too many cases per case manager. Tax cuts are being touted as the way to win an election, but tax cuts that result in a little girl's face in a window are tax cuts that are too deep.
The system failed due to a breakdown in leadership and comprehension from the top, and the broken childhood of Danielle is the grievous result.
Jim Fortinberry, Plant City
An unsung hero
We commend the St. Petersburg Times and reporter Lane DeGregory for doing an excellent job in telling the story of former foster child Danielle. Those who supported this amazing young lady and continue to work with Danielle and her family are a wonderfully dedicated team.
We'd like to let your readers know more about someone who was mentioned only briefly in the story. It is likely that Danielle might not have had the opportunity to find her family had it not been for the above-and-beyond dedication of her case manager, Ms. Garet White. Garet was in court the day Danielle's case was on the docket and specifically asked to have Danielle's case assigned to her. Garet stayed with Danielle in the hospital, fed her, changed her and comforted her long after Garet's normal work hours when Danielle was terrified of her new world.
In the beginning, when all was uncertain about what the future held for Danielle, Garet White refused to accept any plans that limited Danielle's options. This especially was evident in Garet's unwavering advocacy for Danielle's inclusion in the Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay adoption recruitment program. At every turn, Garet advocated for Danielle, and even facilitated ways Danielle could visit her potential parents and encouraged the Lierows to believe in Danielle.
Garet continues to be a treasured friend of the Lierow family and takes delight in Danielle's progress. Garet White is an unsung hero. She is the type of Hillsborough Kids Inc. care manager who lives the values of her job every day and puts children's welfare first.
Luanne Panacek, chief executive officer, Children's Board of Hillsborough County
A tale perfectly told
I just finished reading this amazing story. What a fine piece of writing, very fine. The way Lane DeGregory developed it was perfect. She answered all my questions, just as I was thinking them and made all the points that needed making. Nothing was lacking. Great and eloquent writing. I'm sure she'll get an award for this.
It must have been heartbreaking to follow this story so closely. The horror of this child's early life is staggering. Thank God she is now in a good place. God bless those people and Lane DeGregory, too, for telling their story. This is journalism at its best.
Marcella O'Steen, Balm
Such a caring family
Instead of starting off the day by complaining about the war, the economy, lack of health care, supposed global warming, etc., let's give some thought to little Dani and her family. What a wonderful story about such a caring family and a young girl who needs so much love. She is so lucky to have Bernie and Diane Lierow as her adoptive parents.
Thank God for such a wonderful, loving family, and thanks, God, for putting them in our midst for a time. What great examples they are to the rest of us.
Larry Fox, Largo
A stirring story
I have never read an article that caused me to experience such a range of emotions. They ranged from initial disgust at the conditions that Dani was forced to live in for years to the unbelievable, unconditional love that her adoptive parents have bestowed upon her. They are truly extraordinary people — especially William, who at 10 years old, possesses compassion and acceptance that most of us never gain in our lives.
My wish is that Dani continues to improve and have some realization of the life that she deserved before she was so severely neglected by her biological mother, who is obviously ill-equipped to be a parent.
I worry about how many other Danis are out there. This story is a reminder not to turn a blind eye to things that do not seem right. While some neighbors made phone calls, Dani remained too long in a home with deplorable conditions. I understand that the goal is to leave families intact where possible, but sometimes that can be a matter of life and death. Fortunately for Dani, she has a loving family now, but they will always wonder what could have been if this situation had been brought to light sooner.
Suzanne Inzina, Largo
Hoping to watch her grow
It is so wonderful to see that Dani has such a loving and caring family. She has really come a long way.
I was wondering if Diane and Bernie have considered having a Web site showing Dani and her ongoing progress. How nice it would be to watch this beautiful child grow and experience the many things the rest of us take for granted.
I wish Dani and her family continued love and happiness.
Lori Poag, Clearwater
Candidate replies The Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to respond. Here are some of the responses to the recommendations for the Aug. 26 primary races. Randall Jones | Democratic candidate for Pinellas County sheriff
My 18-year record of public service in law enforcement includes supervising deputies and new recruits as their field training corporal, expertise in community policing, crimes against children, domestic violence and property crimes.
I'm the only candidate who has a Tough on Crime Action Plan that will track down criminals who prey on our elderly, reduce the troubling crime rate, expand crime prevention and work closely with community groups to expand Crime Watch activities.
I was honored by former Sheriff Everett Rice who awarded me the "Golden Star Award" for outstanding investigation. I am also the recipient of the 2007 Sheriff's Distinguished Service Award.
I'm a lifelong resident of Pinellas. I graduated from Clearwater High School, and the Law Enforcement Academy of St. Petersburg College. I'm married to Lisa Jones. We have three beautiful children.
I want to be your sheriff so that I can lead a comprehensive broad-based initiative to reduce crime, make us safer, and keep Pinellas a desirable place to live, raise children, and enjoy retirement because your safety is my highest priority.
Frank Gregoire | Republican candidate for Pinellas County property appraiser
Facts omitted from your endorsement:
I have been a licensed real estate broker for more than 30 years and a state certified appraiser since 1989, the first year such a license was available in Florida. In addition to holding designations from two professional appraisal associations, I hold associate membership in a third. My appraisal experience in Pinellas County exceeds 30 years.
As owner and president of Gregoire & Gregoire, Inc., I have supervised staff and completed tens of thousands of appraisals of all types and classes of real property from Tierra Verde to Tarpon Springs. For the past 10 years my concentration has been as a valuation and appraisal standards expert witness.
The governor was satisfied enough with my education and appraisal credentials to appoint me to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board. The Florida Senate agreed by confirming my appointment unanimously. My peers on the appraisal board elected me chairman four times during my eight years of service.
Under my leadership, enforcement of valuation ethics, standards and integrity requirements were the focus of the appraisal board, something sorely needed in Pinellas County. Pinellas County deserves a property appraiser with an established commitment to restoring public trust in the office. Violet M. Assaid | Candidate for Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court judge, Group 6
I appreciate this opportunity to tell your readers and the voters of Pinellas and Pasco counties more about my qualifications for Circuit Court judge.
In addition to what your editorial staff wrote about me, I have defended death penalty cases since 1992, and have never had a client sentenced to death. I have written, argued and won capital appeals in the Appellate and Supreme Courts of Florida.
Since 1996 I have been board certified by the Florida Bar in criminal trial practice. I have taught mental health law to lawyers throughout the state. I supervise Pinellas Drug Court. I work in our Pasco County Public Defender's Offices to inspire greater interest in the mental health aspects of criminal law among attorneys and judges in those jurisdictions.
Justice is only as good as the people who serve her. I have spent my entire career being a loyal public servant. I want to do my part to maintain the high quality of the judiciary in my circuit. I proudly ask the citizens of Pinellas and Pasco counties to vote for me on Aug. 26.
Jason D. Montes | Candidate for Hillsborough Circuit Court judge, Group 1
I'm running for the 13th Judicial Circuit's Group 1 seat because I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the bench. I'm different in that I was raised and attended school right here in Hillsborough County, so folks who appear here are "my people." They will receive the firm, yet fair treatment they deserve irrespective of color or creed. My vision, integrity and passion for the people and law are why I'm seeking office — for no other reason.
My record as an Army veteran sets me apart as the only candidate running who has military experience. While I don't count myself among the heroes, I'm grateful to have served alongside some. My distinguished service as a lawyer for the state attorney and public defender is notable as well. My Florida education and professional credentials are solid. The business acumen and experience I accrued prior to being admitted to the Bar would be a welcome addition to any court.
It's a privilege to seek this office, and it's an honor to be respected for my thoughtful judgment and maturity among family, friends and colleagues.


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Here's our list of the 6 best apps on sale today.
This selection includes a total of 3 free apps valued at $7 and also price drops of 3 great iPhone and iPad games such as Wake Up Pro Alarm, Quantum Galaxy HD, iStroboSoft, Skill Game and many others.
Each of these apps are on sale or free for a limited time, so get them quick before the prices go up. You can check out our Price Drops section for real-time deals, as well as our top games price drops. Also look at yesterday's deals post, which include many deals that are still relevant.
Top 2 Best App Deals of the Day
Wake Up Pro Alarm
- Developer: AppInTheBox
- Version: 1.04
- iOS Universal
Now iPhone 5 and iPad 3 compatible Are you a serial snoozer, or do you just need a great alarm to wake you up and keep you up Wake Up Pro is so much...
- Developer: Peterson Tuners
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Usage questions Please contact us before posting an issue in the reviews. Peterson Support at info strobosoft.com or call 708.388.3311 M-F 8am-5pm...
Today's iPhone & iPad Games Price Drops
Quantum Galaxy HD
- Developer: Miles Godspeed
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ALL In-App Purchases are FREE as of February 3, 2015 until the XP saving bug is fixed Conquer the new Quantum Galaxy for the first time in new HD...
Princess Fairy Tale Coloring Wonderland for Kids and Family Preschool Ultimate Edition
- Developer: Eggroll Games LLC
- Version: 1.50
- iOS Universal
Travel to a magical land of colorful discovery with unicorns, rainbows, ponies and castles as you join the princess and help her fill the world with color....
Skill Game
- Developer: Sebastian Miedtank
- Version: 4.30
- iOS Universal
Check out the brand-new SKILL GAME 2 - it s FREE "I highly recommend Skill Game to anyone who likes puzzles." appadvice.com "The best game in the history...
Today's iPhone & iPad Apps Price Drops
Vox Comprehensive Spanish Dictionary and Verbs
- Developer: Ultralingua, Inc.
- Version: 2.70
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Top-selling dictionary app since 2008 Every translation you need PLUS verb conjugations in all tenses No internet connection required "For serious...
Hope you enjoyed today's post! Please leave a like or comment. For real-time price drops, check out our price drops section. Have a wonderful tuesday and see you again tomorrow for more great deals.

subset: commoncrawl


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Worthington eyes new faces
York manager Nigel Worthington hopes to draft in a couple more experienced players before next week's loan transfer deadline.
Last Updated: 20/03/13 5:50pm
York manager Nigel Worthington hopes to draft in a couple more experienced players before next week's loan transfer deadline.
The Minstermen slipped into the bottom two on Tuesday night as relegation rivals Accrington, Barnet, Plymouth and Torquay all won.
Latest loan signing Richard Cresswell is expected to go straight into the starting line-up at Torquay on Saturday following his return to the club on loan from Sheffield United, and Worthington is anxious to further strengthen before next Thursday's deadline.
"We've tried a number of avenues to try and bring in some more experienced players into the group and that's ongoing," Worthington said.
"We hope Richard can have an immediate impact here. He's a very experienced, high-quality player and he obviously lives in York.
"He also started his career here and has the football club at heart. That is the type of player we're looking to bring in here.
"We're hoping to use Richard's experience to help steady some nerves in the squad, while at the same time benefit from his fighting qualities.
"He's has had a very good career and we're hoping he can play a big part for us."


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Flipping the Research Coin
Randomized field trials are not the best or only way to address all important research questions, but they are often described as the "gold standard." This month's column explores why researchers and NCLB express enthusiasm for experimental research designs, why schools may hesitate to participate, and possible win-win solutions.
The researcher's view A randomized field trial is an experimental research design used to estimate the effect of an intervention or "treatment" (e.g., a math program) on a particular outcome (e.g., math achievement). Such trials are randomized and controlled.
Random selection refers to the way participants are selected from a defined population (e.g., high-poverty rural schools). Random assignment occurs when investigators use a random process like the toss of a coin to decide which participants are assigned to an "experimental" group (which gets the intervention) and which are assigned to a "control" group (which does not).
An experiment is controlled when investigators regulate all factors and conditions that could possibly influence the outcome or confound the results.
Researchers are especially fond of randomized field trials when evaluating educational programs because they can increase the validity of their findings. For example, if the experimental group improves while the control group does not, the difference isn't so easily attributed to factors such as prior achievement or classroom conditions.
The educator's view School and district leaders want rigorous research information to help them select programs. But here's the rub: randomized field trials can't be done without the participation of schools and teachers--and testing educational theories in the real world is challenging.
For example, in some cases, the ideal unit of study is individual students in the same classroom, but it's not always possible to simultaneously implement treatment and control programs (e.g., using textbook vs. computer-based exercises) without disrupting classroom flow. If the unit of study is the classroom or the school, teachers and principals may perceive a control-group designation as a "sentence to reform purgatory," even though researchers may find the "old way" works best. Also, researchers must get parental consent before involving children in a study, and parents may perceive a control-group designation as unfair--or an experimental-group designation as "using their child as a guinea pig."
Possible solutions How can random assignment be made feasible and palatable? What could be done to make educators more likely to consider serving as the control group for a year or more, based on a coin flip?
Johns Hopkins University researcher Robert Slavin has proposed a solution called "paired awards." Districts wishing to try an intervention would apply for a grant and, at the same time, identify pairs of schools (or teachers within schools) willing to participate in research. Those randomly selected as controls would continue using their regular programs for one year but would then be eligible to adopt the treatment under reduced costs or other concessions.
University of Memphis researcher Steve Ross recommends refining the paired-awards approach so that the treatment-control comparison lasts at least two years, citing the implementation dip: "Given new strategies to understand and put into practice, teachers may struggle for a while, with short-term negative effects on teaching and learning. It would seem ironic if increasing randomized field trial usage caused the effectiveness of many potentially valuable programs to be systematically underestimated."


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Kyle Busch breaks record, wins Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway
JOLIET, Ill. — Just when it appeared Kyle Busch couldn't be any stronger in a Nationwide Series race, he broke the record for most laps led on a 1.5-mile track in winning the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday.
Starting from the pole, Busch was out in front for 195 of the race's 200 laps, eclipsing the record of 194 laps led by the late Dale Earnhardt set at Charlotte in 1986.
"It was just a great day with a phenomenal race car," said Busch, who earned his 10th win in 20 Nationwide races this season, tied for second-most wins in a single season on NASCAR's junior circuit.
Busch holds the record for most Nationwide wins in a season, 13 in 2010.
He jumped out from the opening green flag and never looked back, widening his lead to seven-plus seconds at one point. No other drivers were able to mount a serious threat as Busch excelled in every aspect of the game, earning his fifth perfect driver rating of the season.
It was Busch's 61st career win in 264 career Nationwide Series starts, and his 123rd overall win across all three of NASCAR's top racing series.
Busch also won Friday's Camping World Truck Series race and will go for a second career weekend sweep in Sunday's opener of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Busch previously won races in all three series on the same weekend at Bristol in August 2010.
He will start Sunday's Geico 400 from the 12th position. He was seventh-fastest in Saturday's morning practice, but dropped to 19th in the final practice later in the afternoon.
"Not as good as I'd like them to be," Busch said when asked about his chances for a sweep. "It's going to be a bit of a challenge. I think we'll be a top-10 car. We'll just have to push hard and see if we can achieve the trifecta."
Joey Logano was runner-up to Busch Saturday, followed by Sam Hornish Jr., Austin Dillon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, Parker Kligerman, Kevin Harvick and Nelson Piquet Jr. rounded out the top 10
"I was hoping for a green-white-checker because that would have been the only way I'd have been able to beat [Busch]," Logano said.
The top four drivers in the Nationwide standings remained in the same position they had coming into the race.
Pedregon claims top spot: Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon raced to his fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season at the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals on Saturday.
Morgan Lucas led the Top Fuel field, Jason Line was quickest in Pro Stock and Matt Smith topped the Pro Stock Motorcycle division.
Pedregon retained the No. 1 qualifying position in his Toyota Camry Funny Car with the run of 3.980 seconds at 319.22 mph he posted Friday.


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From left: MPA's Shaunice Hawkins; Newsweek's Kevin Delaney; Meredith's E.J. Moralez-Gomez; Fortune's Brad Young; and moderator Elvira Perez of MPA
At Magazine Publishers of America's "Find Yourself In Magazines" event for those seeking to enter the industry, the mantra from industry panelists was one of encouragement: Magazines, they promised, are not going anywhere. On Friday, nearly 100 job-hungry college students and recent graduates crowded the Time & Life building for the event, designed to deliver guidance from magazine pros in editorial, marketing and sales.
Speakers included Parents executive editor and Ed2010 founder Chandra Turner, who's been sharing her advice a lot these days. In a keynote speech referencing the doom and gloom of recent mass media layoffs — Turner herself was let go when CosmoGirl! folded last October — she said the industry's current state was simply the next step in magazines' ongoing evolution. "I don't think that this is the end of magazines," she said. "We've had magazine genres die and come back, die and come back. Now, I think [the industry is] changing to be more tailored magazines, more niche magazines." She supplemented the prognosis with seven upbeat predictions for 2009.
So, what should mag-industry newbies expect?
Turner predicted that hiring freezes would thaw by graduation-time this May, more temporary and intern-level jobs will become available, more stories will be freelanced out (albeit by pubs that are paying less), and that the days of Devil Wears Prada expense-account diva-dom are over. Those factors will favor younger, less-experienced editorial employees, Turner said, because it'll mean easier access to writing and reporting opportunities at the entry level, with less coffee-fetching and Xeroxing. Turner advised attendees to master juggling new- and old-media skills — writing, editing, packaging and programming — a theme echoed by other speakers throughout the morning. "I used to tell people to be a specialist, but now you need to be a multi-specialist," Turner said. "Do everything, or at least make it look like you do everything."
Next up was a panel discussion moderated by ContextNext Media CEO Nathan Richardson, featuring Hearst Digital Media content director Beth Ellard, ESPN executive producer for multimedia Robbyn Footlick, Essence Communications director of digital development Lesley Pinckney and People en Español executive editor Nicole Raymond. The talk focused on ways to make oneself marketable in the digital age, and the name of the game was multi-platform — being able to work with content from magazines and the Internet, enhancing it with the best and newest in Web, video and photo applications.
"It's amazing that all of you aren't thinking about multi-platforms at all times," Footlick said. "If you want to succeed in the media business, you need to understand these media. And if you don't know it, learn it." (mediabistro.com, by the by, offers classes on many of the skills these pros deemed essential.) Once you've got the knowledge, you've got to show it off, urged Ellard. "Suggest a Web site that you think is really good to your manager," she said. "Show them you're paying attention."
A second panel discussion addressed how recent graduates can pursue marketing and sales careers in print magazines. Moderated by MPA vice president for education services Elvira Perez, the talk featured Newsweek director of brand development Kevin Delaney, Meredith Hispanic ventures account manager E.J. Moralez-Gomez, Fortune marketing director Brad Young and MPA membership vice president Shaunice Hawkins. While all agreed that magazines were in no danger of dying out "as long as there are bedrooms, bathrooms and beaches," Young quipped, panelists said the format might be shifting, referencing Amazon.com's Kindle e-book reader and other emerging technologies.
However, no advances negate the need for problem-solving skills, according to Moralez-Gomez, who said they were essential to magazine marketing and ad sales success. "Be resourceful," she advised. "If there's a problem, you need to bring options to the table. You need to offer solutions and you need to be able to state your case. When you do that, you get noticed."
Despite the numerous challenges it brings, Hawkins encouraged the crowd to see the recession as an opportunity to showcase new ideas and solutions. "This is where you get rid of all the fluff and you get down to your most creative thought," she said, calling the current downturn a "petri dish for innovation."
— Megan Stride


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CLAREMONT >> One step into the children's wing of the Claremont Library and patrons will notice the vast improvements made in recent months.
Although the newly renovated children's area has been available to people since mid-November, the community is invited to celebrate the grand opening Saturday.
The celebration also will recognize the collaboration between Friends of Claremont Library, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and the county library which funded the renovation.
"We really want to grab the children's attention when they are younger so they can become regular visitors," said Laura Bollinger , past president of Friends.
For years, the Friends of Claremont Library collected funds through various fundraisers to help make the renovations possible. The group gave more than $100,000 toward the project.
The renovation is also significant because the area had not been improved since the early 70s when the library first opened, she said.
Pastel blue and green walls have replaced the green painted walls and old bulletin boards and several bookshelves have been removed to add seating to provide a place for children to read.
"I'm hoping it will make more parents linger and use the library longer," Bollinger said of the reading area. "I remember we check out books and leave."
New computers line one wall of the area, there is now a section for study desks which feature charging stations. In the past, Bollinger said, she saw library patrons on the floor next to an electrical outlet trying to charge their electronic devices. The bookshelves were refurbished and the carpet was also replaced.
Lanore Pearlman, president of Friends of Claremont Library, said her favorite feature of the renovation is an interactive literacy wall, which she says is the only one of its kind in a Southern California library. The wall allows library patrons to spin wheels which then show different words and letters. They can also measure their height.
Most of the funds raised by the group came from book sales and past events such as a spelling bee, which Bollinger said, helped serve as an inspiration for the renovation. Bees adorn the wall where the computer stations are located and can be found in the interactive wall as well as the furniture.
The Friends said they opted to raise enough funds for one big project so that it could be a cohesive design, Pearlman said.
Bollinger said the Friends brought in a designer to help them come up with the sleek new interior design.
Spelling Bee, sponsored by this group as a fundraiser for many years, provided some inspiration for the designs.
"We've been looking at plans on paper for a while. It was exciting to see it in person," Bollinger said.
Saturday's event begins at 10 a.m. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, LA County Librarian Margaret Todd and Claremont City Council will attend the event.
The Claremont library is at 208 N. Harvard Ave.
For more information on the Friends of the Claremont Library, go to www.claremontlibrary.org.


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Learn how to get a new modern take on the French manicure. [Beauty High]
3.1 Phillip Lim and NARS will be collaborating on a new nail polish collection, which comes out in August. [Instagram]
And in man makeover news, Shia LaBeouf wore a paper bag over his head. [The Cut]
Jessica Simpson showed off her Weight Watchers slimdown via Instagram. [Us Weekly]


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If the roof on your home is not in great shape and has been known to have a few leaks here and there during thunderstorms, then it is time to invest in a new roof. Having a new roof installed not only makes your home more durable, but it can also add to the value of the home if you should ever put it up for sale. Keep in mind that if your roof is already in great shape and doesn't need replaced, don't have a new roof installed because you will not get an increase in your property value. The value of your home can only be increased if the roof is heavily damaged and is in need to replacement due to leaks and structural problems.
Having a new roof installed to your home can make selling your property a lot easier than if you put the house on the market while the roof is in disrepair. A new roof makes potential buyers know that that is one less thing to worry about after they purchase the house and they can also feel at ease knowing that the house does not have any water damage or current leaking problems. By making your home a lot more marketable by improving the roof, you can add thousands to the value of your home which can give you a bigger and better deal if you ever decide to sell your house.
By increasing the value of your home, you can also be eligible for better insurance rates and your property appraisal will go up as well. With a higher appraisal and incredible insurance discount potential, roof replacement is a great way to quickly add that value to your home without spending much of your own money. If you have a great insurance provider and find a roofing contractor that is willing to work with your insurance company, you may even get this huge investment done on your home for free. Of course, you have to check your insurance policy to see if this is possible and make sure the damage of the roof has been done by causes covered on your insurance. With a roof replacement that doesn't have to cost too much, you can be assured that your home will increase in value by thousands of dollars (maybe more depending on the square footage and location of the property), and will make your home a lot more marketable and appealing to realtors and potential buyers if you ever decide to put your home on the market.
More tips on adding resale value to your home:


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I am 29 years old, 5'4", 112 lbs, no children. My breast tissue width is 10.9cm wide. I have some breast tissue but really not enough to fit in an A cup bra. I am also into fitness and run a lot. I am having trouble deciding between the 250cc and 300cc silicone implants. I really need to know if 300cc is pushing it too far. If the width of a 300cc high profile implant is 11.1cm then it is wider than my breast tissue of 10.9 but is it too much? Thank you!
Will 300cc High Profile Silicone Be Too Wide for a Breast Tissue Width of 10.9cm?
Doctor Answers 9
Breast implant volume and width compared to breast width
Your question is quite appropriate and shows an excellent understanding of the issues of fitting breast implants to a breast width rather than a breast size as well as knowing what effect that will have.
The short answer to your question is that the implant you describe is too wide for your breast. However, it's not that simple. First I would have someone recheck the width of your breast across the center when you are upright and with your arms down. 10.9 cm is rather narrow for your weight unless you have a narrow chest like a 32-A.
The width (diameter) of the round gel or saline-filled implant should be about 3/4 to 1 cm less than the outer skin diameter of the breast to be sure it fits and looks right. If you are truly 10.9 cm in width across the breast then you need a high profile implant that is narrower than 10.9 or 11.1
The Allergan 300 cc high profile gel implant is 10.9 cm in diameter and the Mentor 300 cc high profile gel implant is 11.1 cm. The difference isn't much but if you want a better forward volume to width ratio I would use the Allergan. Unless your breast width is truly narrow for your chest, a high profile gel implant fitted to the width should make you look about two cup sizes larger. You can also be assured that it will fit and look right because it doesn't have to stretch or distort the breast dimensions like fitting a foot that is too big into too small a shoe.
And it's not that an implant that is the same or wider diameter than the breast width can't work. The tissues may accommodate and adjust but you're taking more of a chance of distortion or an unnatural look. It's better to know the implant will fit and look right before it's put in.
Implant sizing
There are several variables in determining implant size. When recommending implant size for my patients, I consider the followings: 1) patients' anatomy (height, weight, chest width, chest height, amount of breast tissue) and 2) patients' desired look/goal. Without knowing your chest measurement and breast tissue amount, I cannot give you any recommendation. You should visit with board-certified plastic surgeon who will examine you. Try implant sizers to get a rough estimate of the size you may want. As you know, bra/cup size will vary depending on the brand. Good luck with you.
Dr. Sugene Kim
I consider two factors when selecting implants for my patients:
1.Dimensional planning
2.Gel Implant Sizing system
Dimensional planning – The measurements of your chest wall are taken. Also, the breast dimensions including the height, width, and current dimensions of each breast form the basis of dimensional planning. Based on these measurements, the implant size is recommended. This will give you a unique breast implant that is suited for your body frame. However, there are some limitations of what size we can recommend. For instance, some implants may just be too big for a narrow chest wall. Your surgeon can review this with you during the consultation.
Gel Implant Sizing system – During the preliminary breast implant consultation, you will be provided with an option to "try on" a variety of implant shapes and sizes. You can also visualize the possible outcomes of your surgery which helps you to get that perfect size to give you the shape that you longed for. This way your preferences are known and you can then pick a range of implants that will "fit" just right to give a soft natural fuller look. Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Dr. Basu
You might also like...
Breast implant sizing
It is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. In my practice, the use of photographs of "goal" pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as "natural" or "C cup" or "fake looking" means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.
Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate.
I use intraoperative sizers and place the patient in the upright position to evaluate breast size. Use of these sizers also allow me to select the press implant profile (low, moderate, moderate plus, high-profile) that would most likely achieve the patient's goals. The patient's goal pictures are hanging on the wall, and allow for direct comparison.
I have found that this system is very helpful in improving the chances of achieving the patient's goals as consistently as possible.
By the way, the most common regret after this operation, is "I wish I was bigger".
I hope this helps.
Learn more: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/choosing-your-size.htm
High Profile implants for breast augmentation
This is a relatively modestly larger than your breast diameter and most likely would be a reasonable option for your breast augmentation. Make sure to wear supportive bras during exercise. My patients often wear two jog bras at the same time.
Learn more: http://www.bodysculptor.com/breast-surgery-chicago/
Is the implant too wide?
Based upon your chest wall diameter, I would think that the breast width of the implant should be OK for you, but I couldn't be sure without an exam.
Learn more: http://www.stevenwallachmd.com
Breast Augmentation Surgery: Do Not Get Hung Up on the Numbers
Breast augmentation surgery is a very predictable and satisfying operation if the patient is well informed and educated. The choice of breast implant size is a very individual decision with multiple variables, including skin quality, chest size, height and weight. The breast implant range you have selected sounds appropriate, but do not get hung up on a 0.2 cm base width discrepancy (look at 0.2cm on a ruler!) because in general base width is a very arbitrary measurement and depending on your breast envelope stretch should not contribute to a noticeable difference. You likely would do well with the 300cc breast implant based on what information you have included.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions.
Dr. Trussler
Learn more: http://www.drtrussler.com
Breast Implant and Chest/Breast Width
I believe that when choosing a breast implant in relation to a patient's chest width one can error 1 cm larger or smaller than the natural breast width. Your 300 cc implant based on your measurements should work out fine.
Dr. ES
Width and Profile determine implant appearance
If after a consultation in which we discussed the pros and cons of a low, moderate and high profile implant, you seemed to favor the higher profile, which it sounds like that is what happened at your consultation, an implant with a diameter of 11.1 cm would usually be fine on a patient with a 10.9 cm base breast width. Although I understand your concerns being a runner, I think most patients in your situation would still be happy with the larger implant. Obviously I can't really figure out what your reaction will be based on one paragraph, but in my experience, patients with concerns similar to yours -- and most patients do have the same concerns -- would still be happier with the larger implant of the 2 your describe.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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Val d'Isere: Katja Wirth wins snowy second training run; Stacey Cook fourth
Val d'Isere: Katja Wirth wins snowy second training run; Stacey Cook fourthVAL D'ISERE, FRANCE – Katja Wirth of Austria won the final training run for Saturday's women's World Cup downhill in Val d'Isere, France, finishing 13-hundredths of a second faster than Croatia's Janica Kostelic on Friday.
No sooner had the training run started than snow began to fall on the course. By the end of the training run, big flakes were blanketing the hill where the women hope to race this weekend (Saturday's downhill and a super G on Sunday). By the end of the run, racers were reporting wind gusts near the start.
Stacey Cook, a former www.skiracing.com columnist, finished fourth. Last season was Cook's first on the World Cup, but the Californian crashed hard in January at Santa Caterina and sat out most of the season with a serious concussion that affected her memory for months.
'I definitely had a good start in Lake Louise, and I've tried to carry some of the momentum I gained from that on' said Cook, who said maturity has helped her get over a problem she had of training well but not carrying the performance over to races. 'I've actually learned from my mistakes instead of doing them over and over again.'
Among the other Americans in the race, Caroline Lalive had the next-best finish in the run, finishing seventh. Lindsey Kildow was ninth, Bryna McCarty 14th, Kirsten Clark 15th, Julia Mancuso 20th and Libby Ludlow 42nd after running in the worst of the snowstorm.
Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who won the race's only other training run on Thursday, was 22nd on Friday. Several athletes stood up before the finish line to give themselves a more favorable seeding in the Saturday race.
On Thursday night, women's World Cup race director Atle Skaardal (who is new to the job this year), said forecasts called for anywhere from 15 to 50 centimeters of snow on Friday afternoon and Saturday.
Last year the Val d'Isere races were disrupted by a blizzard that knocked down fencing and led to the cancellation of all racing (the events were ultimately made up at Santa Caterina, Italy).
No American woman has ever won a World Cup at Val d'Isere. The last best result was Picabo Street's second-place finish in 1996. Jean Saubert won the giant slalom and combined in 1963, but that was in the pre-World Cup era.
Men raced super G in Val Gardena
While the women were training in Val d'Isere, the men were preparing to race super G at the other Val – Val Gardena, also known by it's German name, Groeden. Last year it was eventual title winner Michael Walchhofer of Austria who won the super G there, leading an Austrian sweep of the podium.
It is a big weekend on the World Cup. While the women will race a downhill (Saturday) and super G (Sunday) at Val d'Isere, the men's World Cup action will include a super G on Friday, the downhill on the famous Saslong course Saturday and a helicopter flight over the pass for Sunday's giant slalom at Alta Badia – one of the most difficult and prestigious giant slaloms on the circuit.


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Press Release
|Embargoed Until
|April 25, 2012
Sue Ducat
Essential Health Benefits
Bethesda, MD --A new Health Policy Brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation looks at essential health benefits--the core packages of benefits that so-called "qualified" health insurance plans must provide beginning in 2014.
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires that health insurance plans sold to individuals and small businesses provide a minimum package of services in 10 categories, including hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, ambulatory care, and prescription drugs. Depending on how states decide to proceed, these benefits may be required of all health insurance plans in the state as well.
Last December, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that rather than setting a national standard, each state can choose from a set of plans to determine its own minimum standard. HHS's decision has been criticized by consumer advocates and some provider groups who would have preferred a national standard. However, the decision was applauded by state governments and the business community for affording flexibility and maintaining the existing pattern of state regulation of benefits and insurance plans.
This policy brief explains the background for HHS's decision and outlines its policy implications. Some of the points covered include:
|About Health Affairs
Health Affairs is the leading journal at the intersection of health, health care, and policy. Published by Project HOPE, the peer-reviewed journal appears each month in print, with additional Web First papers published periodically and health policy briefs published twice monthly at www.healthaffairs.org. Read daily perspectives on Health Affairs Blog. Download weekly Narrative Matters podcasts on iTunes.


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Science Lessons
Mass, force, weight: This speedy animated movie gives you velocity on the rules governing acceleration and deceleration!
Acids and Bases
Why do acids eat through metal? Why does dishwashing liquid have a high pH? Tim and Moby talk acids and bases, ions and lemons.
Active Transport
Cells need nourishment, too! Tim and Moby introduce you to active transport, where substances move through gaps in a cell membrane.
Ada Lovelace
Meet Ada Lovelace, British mathematician and the first computer programmer!
Agricultural Revolution
How did domesticating plants and animals lead to a far more stable food supply? The agricultural revolution was a big step forward for us all!
Air Pollution
Cough, cough! Tim and Moby talk smog, soot, and CO2, plus show how to develop Earth awareness.
Alan Turing
Come crack top-secret codes with Alan Turing, the Mathematics visionary who conceived of the first computer and helped the Allies win World War II.
Albert Einstein
Tim and Moby introduce you to the Nobel-winning scientist Albert Einstein, the physicist who revolutionized our understanding of space and time.
There's life on that thar pond! Tim and Moby discuss algae, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll, plus algae's environmental impact.
Unless you're watching sci-fi, it's awfully hard to find an E.T. Tim and Moby learn why searching for extraterrestrial intelligence is so difficult.
Learn the life-cycle of amphibians, those super-adaptable creatures that include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Ribbit!
Are ants pests, or fascinating escoskeletal insects with a complex social network of drones and workers? Moby knows the answer!
Apollo Project
Houston, we have a movie! Find out about space exploration and the lunar landing as Tim and Moby introduce you to NASA's famous Apollo Project.
Creepy crawly arachnids are super cool! Spiders, tics and scorpions all belong to this group of arthropods--but who spins silk and who shoots venom?
Asexual Reproduction
Some creatures clone themselves to reproduce their genes. Mitosis and budding are cool, but just get a load of limb regeneration!
A shooting star may have wiped out the dinosaurs!? Find out more about the space rocks known as asteroids.
Atomic Model
Tim and Moby discuss how electrons and neutrons were discovered, what atoms are made of, and how long it took to create an atomic model!
Atoms are everything! Tim and Moby introduce you to atoms, which contain all the elements in the universe, and to the concepts of atomic number and atomic mass.
Autumn Leaves
Autumn leaves are more than than just pretty foliage: Learn why deciduous leaves change color in this animated movie!
Tim and Moby discuss the terrible power of avalanches, snowy natural disasters caused by opposing forces of stress and strength.
Microscopic bacterium exist everywhere--even on our bodies! Learn how these microorganisms can be good or harmful.
Cave-dwelling, fruit-eating mammals with a bad vampire rep! Is it true? Learn about the echolations of our bat-pals.
Cars, phones, remote controls—batteries help keep them on the go. But, do you know how they make electricity flow?
It can be learned, instinctive, reflexive or conditioned, but when is it good or bad? Tim and Moby talk behavior.
Benjamin Franklin
The famed inventor who was also a Founding Father, a scientist, and a diplomat. It takes a lot to get on the $100 bill--ask Tim and Moby!
Big Bang
The universe wasn't always here. Learn the scientific explanation of how it came to be in this animated movie!
Learn about cleaner-burning, entirely renewable fuels!
Ah, to have the wings of a dove! Learn all about birds and how they fly in this Tim and Moby movie.
Black Holes
Think your school day is long? Try living in a black hole, dense places in space where gravity prevents even light from escaping!
Body Chemistry
Tim and Moby talk about your body's main sources of fuel, proteins and carbohydrates, and how lipids can help or hurt us.
Building Basics
Find out how buildings are designed to withstand the effects of gravity, compression, and tension.
Throw an anchor into the ocean and it sinks. So why does a boat holding an anchor float? Discover the mysteries of buoyancy!
Learn about camouflage, the protective coloring that allows animals to survive by blending into the background.
Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle's not a cool new bike: It's how carbon moves around through different forms in the atmosphere. Find out why it's so important!
Carbon Dating
How old is that fossil in the window? Learn how scientists use a radioactive isotope called carbon-14 to find out the answer!
Carnivorous Plants
Dig into the weird science of carnivorous plants and learn where meat-eating marvels like the Venus Flytrap live. Bugs--they're what's for dinner!
Hello, kitty! Cats and the Internet go together like whisker and purr. Watch this movie to learn all about our feline friends.
Cell Specialization
Cell Specialization sounds pretty complicated. But once you learn the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic, you'll practically be a specialist yourself!
Cell Structures
Every cell is like a little factory, churning out life! Tim and Moby talk about the responsibilities of the nucleus, and good ol' lysosomes and ribosomes.
Did you know your body has building blocks? They're your cells! Learn about organelles and membranes, plus how big cells can get—over one meter long?!
Cellular Respiration
Cells are aerobic, too! They inhale and exhale and generate energy from glucose. Learn how mitochondria play a big role in how our bodies stay energized.
Charles Darwin
Meet the originator of the theory of evolution, a world-famous naturalist who introduced the ideas of mimicry, natural selection, and the survival of the fittest.
Chemical Bonds
Tim and Moby give a chemistry lesson in how atoms come together to form molecules. It's a nucleic miracle!
Chemical Equations
What does a chemical reaction look like on paper? A chemical equation! Tim and Moby introduce you to the formulas and symbols that make up the chemical language.
How do scientists order the millions of organisms and species on Earth? Class, family, species...We're not sure about Moby.
Climate Change
Human activity is kicking global warming into overdrive! Find out how you can help slow down climate change and get our planet off the hot seat.
Climate Types
Tim and Moby tell you all about the earth's different climate systems, from weather in the frozen poles to the steaming-hot tropics!
Clones are creatures that share the exact same DNA! Find out why scientists are working to perfect the technology, and about a sheep named Dolly.
We all know when it's overcast, but are those nimbus clouds or cumulus? Tim and Moby explain different cloud types and how clouds form.
Don't get stung! Dive into the ocean and learn about these wiggly invertebrates of the sea, including jellyfish, corals, and hydras.
Are we on the same wavelength about color? Tim and Moby explain why the grass is green and the sky is blue.
Tim and Moby tell you the cool story of comets, icy meteors that orbit the sky, and introduce you to Halley's and Hyakutake.
Compounds and Mixtures
Learn the difference between a compound and a mixture. Which is more difficult to undo, and where does sea water and salad dressing come into it?
Concept Mapping
Learn how to use concept maps to navigate your knowledge!
Salivating for a movie about conditioning? Tim and Moby will tell you about the process of behavioral conditioning, reflex and stimuli, and Pavlov's experiments. Now, fetch!
Conservation of Mass
Scotty won't be beaming you up anytime soon. Why? Because the conservation of mass makes it impossible! Tim and Moby explain thermodynamics.
Conserving Energy
Tim and Moby show you how insulation, recycling, and using renewable energy sources can preserve the planet and be easier than you think!
Whether the Big Dipper, or Orion's Belt, or Scorpio, these star patterns have always made humans wonder about the nature of the universe. Tim and Moby lie low and look up.
Meet Nicolaus Copernicus, the man who dared to theorize that the universe didn't revolve around him—or anyone else on Earth, either!
Multi-colored underwater beauty in barrier reefs--but don't cut yourself! Tim and Moby talk about coral, a radial resident of the world's seas and oceans.
Critical Reasoning
Not all arguments are created equal--learn how to spot the good ones and reject the bad ones!
Crystals aren't only rubies, emeralds, and diamonds! Tim and Moby introduce you to the mineral world, including some you probably keep in your kitchen cabinet.
Current Electricity
Tim and Moby trace electricity's path from the coils and turbines of the power plant into your home!
Dark Matter
What's all that dark, spooky stuff in outer space? All scientists know is that it's massive, gravitational, and dense! Tim and Moby shed some light on dark matter.
Daylight Saving Time
Look at your clock and remember: Spring forward, fall back, and never be late for school! Learn which founding father first proposed DST, and why our summer nights are so light.
Tim and Moby teach you about a complex biome, the land of hot sands and even hotter sun, of snow dunes and permafrost! How does anyone, apart from a cactus, adapt to desert life?
Do you smell a funny odor? Don't let it disturb your equilibrium, instead thank diffusion!
Tim and Moby take you on a dino-mite adventure through the world of the extinct
Distance, Rate, and Time
How long will it take you to get there, at 58 mph, with ten gallons in your tank, the wind in your hair, and a hundred kilometers to go? Tim and Moby figure it out.
DNA is your body's blueprint, and no one's got chromosomes quite like you--unless you have a clone! Ooh, do you?
Purebred or adorable mutt, terrier or hound, Tim and Moby tell you everything you need to know about our pals the canines.
Dolly the Sheep
It's not science fiction anymore: Scientists in Scotland cloned a sheep. Learn about Dolly, the world's first clone made from adult DNA.
Friendly flippered mammals of the sea, whose echolocations help them get around safely and avoid becoming prey!
Like movies of your subconscious, mixed in with a little wish-fulfillment and some weird neural noise!
Learn how local weather and climate conditions can lead to long-term water shortages.
From the oceans to the valleys, to the landforms, that we love! Tim and Moby talk about our blue, blue planet and its delicate atmosphere.
Earth's Atmosphere
It's the air you breathe, and so much more! In this movie, learn about the many layers of Earth's atmosphere!
Earth's Structure
We all know what happens on the surface of the earth, but what happens beneath the surface? Learn about your planet's internal structure!
Tim and Moby introduce you to the mechanics of earthquakes, natural disasters measured by seismograms and caused by tectonic shifts.
In ancient times, an eclipse was often a harbinger of impending doom! Now we know better. Check this out to learn about eclipses, both solar and lunar!
Tim and Moby talk ecosystems! Learn what communities, populations, and habitats really are, and about the importance of preserving our biomes.
Electric Circuits
Tim and Moby give you a working knowledge of electrical circuits, including the power source, terminals, and volts. It's all pretty shocking!
This movie generates more than a volt of knowledge about electricity! It's not just flipping a switch: Did you know magnets play an important role?
Electromagnetic Induction
Learn about a scientific discovery which changed our lives: How magnetic fields can create an electric current in a wire. It's how you have electricity right now!
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Somewhere, over the...electromagnetic spectrum? Learn about radars, light wavelengths, and radiation. You won't get this story over the radio!
Electricity and magnetism...two sides of the same coin.
Meet the elephant, an endangered animal found throughout Africa and Asia that's big on brainpower, big on appetite, and just plain BIG!
Energy Pyramid
Tim explains that predator eating prey is the food chain's way of distributing the sun's energy throughout entire ecosystems! What's a poor herbivore to do?
Energy Sources
Tim and Moby talk about diverse energy sources like coal, gas, windmills, solar power, uranium and corn. Wait--Corn? With or without butter?
Learn about how water, wind, and time creates erosion and re-shapes the land. Tim and Moby have a hint for you: Drip, drip, drip...
Visit one of the most unique environments on Earth, with ecosystems featuring wetlands and crocodiles, manatees and mangroves! But how is water pollution affecting the area?
Is there life out there? Maybe! That's why astronomers look for planets around other stars, and find the extraterrestrial world so fascinating. So do Tim and Moby!
You don't have to be a dodo to be confused by extinction! Tim and Moby give you the lowdown on extinct and endangered species, and the difference between the two.
Fibonacci Sequence
In movies, nature, code, and a math equation near you! Tim and Moby walk you through the series of numbers that make up the mysterious Fibonacci Sequence.
Fire, fire, burning bright, see what sets a fuel alight! Tim and Moby ignite the mystery of combustion, the chemical reaction that makes flame possible.
Cold-blooded, scaly, and tasty vertebrates! Tim and Moby fill you to the gills with information about our finned friends, the fish!
Do wings and rudders, lift and drag make you nervous? It shouldn't. Tim and Moby take off on an explanation of the mechanics of flight!
Surging forces of nature brought to us by storms, tides, and mankind! Tim and Moby explain one of the most common natural disasters, floods.
Food Chains
Predator or prey, consumer or producer? How about all of the above? Tim and Moby talk about how the food chain connects every species.
Forces constantly push and pull on everything in our world, including you! Find out how different forces make objects start, stop, stay, and go!
Forms of Energy
In this electric movie, Tim and Moby talk energy and introduce you to its different forms, including solar, nuclear, and potential energies.
Fossil Fuels
What makes cars go? Fossil fuels! What lights up gas grills and stoves? Fossil fuels! What's non-renewable and really bad for the environment? You know...
BrainPOP's dynamic duo will teach you about carbon dating and body fossils--which you might find in a tar pit--and trace fossils, which could be as simple as a set of footprints.
Fuel Cells
Are you ready for the future of energy? While they're still being perfected, fuel cells are one of the most promising energy technologies to come around in a long while--talk about cool tech!
Mold, yeast, and mushrooms, oh my! Learn about the diverse world of fungi, from truffles to penicillin.
What do stars call home? BrainPOP's starry pair talk about galaxies, constellations made of stars, gas, and dust and which make us ponder the nature of the universe.
Galileo Galilei
The amazing career of Galileo Galilei, the Italian mathematician, scientist and philosopher who got in big trouble for being non-heliocentric. Tim and Moby tell you how!
Game Theory
Tim and Moby negotiate their way through a movie on Game Theory, a field of economics that formulates mathematical strategies for complex situations.
Gas and Oil
Tim and Moby talk about our troublesome relationship with the car, and how refined fuels and carbon dioxide are contributing to the greenhouse effect.
Genetic Mutations
Some are good, some are bad--but genetic mutations are powerful changes deep within a body's chromosomal blueprint.
Hair, teeth, height--even those pesky allergies! Learn how all of these are part of your genetic inheritance.
Geologic Time
How do you measure billions of years? Tim and Moby look into eons, epochs, and periods. When geologists talk about a long time, they mean a lo-ong time.
George Washington Carver
Learn how George Washington Carver became a renowned scientist during the Jim Crow era
Giant Squid
Giant squid off the port bow--prepare the tartar sauce! Tim and Moby talk about the wriggly underwater world of squid, octopi, and mollusks.
How do cold-blooded creatures breathe underwater? Gills! But it's not actually water that fish are breathing. Tim and Moby teach you more.
See how drastically glaciers form and erode the land, and learn about the two kinds of glaciers, in this BrainPOP movie. Brrr--it's feeling chilly in here!
It controls the tides, helps planets orbit, and keeps us all on earth! Tim and Moby give gravity some love.
Greenhouse Effect
Learn what the greenhouse effect is, and how gases in Earth's atmosphere contribute to deforestation and melting icecaps. Someone, open a window!
What do wells, springs, and wetlands have in common? Tim and Moby discover Groundwater in this geyser of a BrainPOP movie.
You know about Farenheit and Celsius--but who's Kelvin? Tim and Moby give you a high degree of info on how things get hot.
Ever wonder why you look like your parents? Find out how dominant and recessive genetic traits work, and what peas have to do with it all!
Hibernation isn't just sleep--it's how animals go dormant and survive the winter. But do bears really hibernate? You'll be surprised!
Tim and Moby don protective beekeeper hats and introduce you to the buzzing, nectar-filled world of queens, workers, and drones.
Tim and Moby saddle up and talk about our equid friends! From workhorses to thoroughbreds, horses have helped people get work done since...when, exactly?
Human Evolution
From the Flintstones through Darwin, how did humans evolve? Tim and Moby discover our relationship to other primates, and hang with an 800-lb gorilla.
Humans and the Environment
Learn how everyday things we consume affect our environment on a large scale, and how renewable, natural energy resources can help undo the damage.
Whether you break a saturating sweat or just get a little dewy, we all know when it's humid! In this scientific BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby teach you how air holds water.
Batten down the hatches! Whether you call 'em hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons; they're pretty scary storms. Tim and Moby tell you what you should know.
Hybrid Cars
A pretty neat invention! Tim tells Moby how a hybrid car combines the engine of a gasoline-powered car with the motor of an electric car in one high-tech package. But what's regenerative braking?
Tim and Moby in a piston-packing movie about the engineering feats of hydraulics, which uses the power of liquid to move machines!
Ice Age
Learn how alligators could live in the Arctic, and meet some of the cro-magnons and woolly mammoths that roamed the Earth during the last ice age.
Memories, dreams, creativity, perceptions—All part of the world inside your head.
Inclined Plane
What do a doorstop, a ramp, and a screw have in common? Watch this movie to learn how this simple invention makes our lives easier!
Antennae here, exoskeletons there, insects can be found everywhere! Well, maybe not EVERYWHERE, but bugs can survive in almost any environment.
International Space Station
You'll shuttle out of here and rocket forward as Tim and Moby take you on an animated tour of the International Space Station!
What do you call an animal without a spine? An invertebrate, that's what! Have a little backbone and learn all about these fascinating creatures from Tim and Moby.
What gives ions their charge? And can you put anions in a salad? Find out in this shocking expose.
Isaac Newton
It isn't all about the apple! Sir Isaac Newton revolutionized the fields of physics, mathematics and astronomy.
Interested in chemistry? Learn why atomic number and an atom's mass are so important to understanding isotopes, which are variants of chemical elements!
Jacques Cousteau
Plunge into the undersea world of Jacques Cousteau, a pioneering filmmaker and conservationist who revealed the many wonders of the deep!
Jane Goodall
Meet Jane Goodall, the famous primatologist and anthropologist who studies chimps in the wild, and is an advocate of ecological preservation.
Tim and Moby discuss the largest planet in our solar system, also known as a big gas giant surrounded by orbiting moons: That's right, it's Jupiter!
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy relates to motion and speed and mass, and it helps us do practically everything. Get some momentum going and watch this animated movie!
Land Biomes
Deserts, forests, tundra...Tim and Moby tell us about all the Earth's different biomes and their delicate ecosystems! Anyone for a brief tropical holiday?
Leap Year
Hop on in and learn the compelling reason why February has 29 calendar days, but only once in every four years: It's all to do with the seasons and the sun!
Leonardo da Vinci
This movie paints a picture of the original Renaissance man: sculptor, architect, engineer, scientist, painter and mathematician. Leonardo!
From seesaws to tweezers to wheelbarrows, the lever has proven to be one of the best simple machines ever!
Life Cycle of Stars
Our sun wasn't always the way you see it today. And it won't always be this way in the future! Explore the awesome wonders of red giants, white dwarfs, and black holes in this animated movie!
Radiant, refractant, neon and very, very useful: Tim and Moby make sure you're on the same wavelength as they are about the illuminating subject of light!
You're drawn to this movie on on magnetism like a compass to the north, aren't you? Tim and Moby teach you how to create a magnetic field!
There are three types: marsupials, placentals, and monotremes. So what kind of mammal is Tim? And what three things do all mammals have in common?
Marie Curie
Tim and Moby explore the life of Marie Curie, the famous scientist who coined the term 'radioactivity,' and the first person ever awarded two Nobel Prizes.
Take the opportunity to learn about Mars and how it came to be known as the "Red Planet." But guess what planet Mars is most like? Earth!
Matter Changing States
Abracadabra! Watch magical Tim take ordinary ice cubes and turn them into water, then steam! But can he reverse the process? Nope!
Measuring Matter
Learn to measure matter in this movie on mass, volume, and density! But why is measuring matter so very important? Tim and Moby up your science skills.
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, so it takes a lot of solar heat! Take a (very) warm and wonderful voyage with Tim and Moby to find out more.
Catabolic, Anabolic, and Chloroblasts! No, not the names of Moby's cousins, but a movie about the metabolism, the chemical reactions that allow all cells to function.
Learn about the luster and conducting magic of the elements and alloys we call metal, what oxidation is, and why ductility and hardness are so important. This movie's pure gold!
Come learn how tadpoles become frogs and caterpillars blossom into butterflies, through the transformation known as metamorphosis! But how can it be incomplete?
Metric Units
Learn how easy it is to convert centimeters to meters or kilograms to milligrams. But what do King Henry and chocolate milk have to do with it?
Tim and Moby teach you how microscopes use convex and concave lenses to magnify objects we want to see super-close. It's like ocular magic!
Those seasonal flocks of birds over your head, intent on Florida? That's migration, the instinctive re-homing of animals caused by changing seasons.
Milky Way
Tim and Moby spout off fun facts about the galactic spiral of stars that is the Milky Way, the place Earth--and the rest of our solar system--calls its home.
Mineral Identification
Is this a diamond I see before me? Or Quartz? Maybe it's graphite? Learn how to identify similar-looking rocks using the Moh's hardness scale.
You'll find out how cells divide, how organisms grow, and what chromosomes do, as Tim and Moby explain the stages of mitosis in this BrainPOP movie.
Sorry, no furry critters involved in this movie! The mole's an important concept in chemistry which is ideal for counting tiny particles like atoms and molecules.
How do clams move? What makes squids ink? Is an octopus symmetrical? Tim and Moby help you wrap the tentacles of your mind around the lives of mollusks!
Throw a shrimp--or some termites--on the barbie and learn about monotremes, the weird and occasionally duck-billed group of mammals found mainly in Australia.
Space is vast, but we're lucky to have a close neighbor: It waxes, it wanes, it controls the tides! Watch this movie to learn about our planet's nearest companion, the moon.
Moon Phases
Kids aren't the only ones who go through phases: The moon has a few of its own. Waxing and waning you might have heard of, but what's a gibbous moon?
Ah! The beauty of a mountain's peak, the drama of a volcano's eruptions. Tim and Moby tell you how these are served up on (tectonic) plates!
A microscopic robot roaming through the human body, killing cancer cells--wasn't there an 80s movie about that? Tim and Moby wrap their tiny minds around the weird science of nanotechnology!
National Parks
National parks are treasures that belong to all of us. Experience the beauty and wonder of America's protected lands!
Natural Disasters
We can't control 'em, but we can be informed and prepared. Tim and Moby talk hurricane, earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
Natural Resources
We thought we could never use up the forests, trees, soil, plants and water. We were wrong. Learn how we can renew our precious natural resources!
Natural Selection
Find out how Darwin went to the Galapagos Islands and discovered how species adapted surprisingly, evolved differently, and yet are still connected.
Tim and Moby check out the little blue planet of Neptune and the funky clumpy rings that surround it.
Newton's Laws of Motion
How can anything find the momentum to accelerate from a resting point? And why would it bother? Isaac Newton figured it out, and Tim and Moby explain it in this movie!
Nikola Tesla
Step into the world of Nikola Tesla, the man who electrified our lives!
Nitrogen Cycle
Explore how gaseous nitrogen is transformed into proteins that can be used by plants, animals, and even people! Tim and Moby follow the path of a nitrogen molecule.
Nobel Prize
It's one dynamite prize! Learn about Sweden's annual Nobel Prizes, and people you know who's won (Hemingway, Curie, Einstein, Obama...)
North Pole
Grab your compass and a warm coat, and come on a little polar expedition with Tim and Moby. You'll meet Inuit and seals, see a few ice caps, and think about what global warming might do to it all!
Nuclear Energy
Unlock the awesome power of the atom with this movie on nuclear power! Learn the pros and cons of nuclear energy, plus some alternatives scientists are researching.
Ocean Currents
How does warm water from the tropics causes mild climates in Western Europe? What's a gyre? And the global conveyor belt? The answer's current, baby--ocean current.
Ocean Floor
Underwater mountains and shelves? Discover how ocean currents and the movement of tectonic plates forms trenches, valleys, plains, and ridges.
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian...it's really all one continuous oceanic mass that takes up more than 71% of the Earth. Know your salt about our oceans!
Organic Food
No hormones, radiation or genetic modification--but is organic food actually healthier? Tim and Moby chew the subject over.
Outer Solar System
Find out what kind of interstellar orbiting is going on in the far reaches of the solar system, and just what Tim and Moby have to say about it.
Ozone Layer
Trust us on this: You love the ozone layer! Find out how changes to the earth's atmosphere have affected the sun's rays, and what we can do about it.
What's black and white and endangered and so cute it hurts? Pandas! Find out what's being done to help our bamboo-eating pals.
Passive Transport
Tim and Moby teach you about passive transport and how cells' membranes get everything they need from their environment.
They're flightless, tuxedoed, and occasionally even emperors--plus, they drink saltwater. Talk about an odd bird. Tim and Moby do!
Periodic Table of Elements
Learn about all the elements on earth, plus their atomic mass and alkaline content, on the wondrous chart known as the Periodic Table of Elements!
pH Scale
How does acid eat through stuff? What happens when you combine an acid with a base? Tim and Moby explore these questions and more in this non-neutral movie on the pH scale!
Learn how solar energy is turned into chemical energy and how plants create glucose, their main source of fuel. But remember, you still have to water them!
Plant Growth
How does your garden grow? Flowers, fruit, and photosynthesis! Plus a whole mess of pollination. . .
There's a future in plastics, and also a past! From the rubber balls the ancient Mayans used, to the polymers of today, learn about this versatile (and non-renewable) stuff.
Plate Tectonics
How did one continent become seven? Join Tim and Moby on their expedition to explore plate tectonics!
Aww, let Pluto be a planet! No? Well, instead let's learn all about the dwarf planet Pluto, how it got demoted, and about its weird orbit and moons!
Hop from flower to flower as Tim and Moby explore pollination, pistil to stamen! And that's before we've even brought the birds and the bees into it...
Population Growth
Our population is exploding! Tim and Moby talk about how that affects our resources and environment in this animated BrainPOP movie.
Potential Energy
How do you know if an object has potential energy? Listen to Tim! Learn about forces, gravity, movement, and how energy can change or be transferred.
What's it take to get work done quickly? Power, dude. Power. Tim and Moby discuss power and its cousins, work, effort, and force!
Precision and Accuracy
Bull's Eye! Learn the difference between precision and accuracy, which are kind of like measurements of measurement!
Tim and Moby are bananas about the diverse group of mammals that includes monkeys, apes, marmosets, and you!
Property Changes
It's nothing about flipping houses. Find out the difference between chemical and physical changes, and learn some real-life examples. Ice cream, anyone?
Protists have only one single eukaryotic cell, and some of them move! So you might find a few in the bottom of that very old yogurt pot (or you could just watch this movie).
Little guys that make a big difference! Protozoa are single-celled forms of life that can live inside other organisms as parasites, or in a state of symbiosis.
Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring kickstarted the modern environmental movement and inspired millions. One book really can change the world!
When an atom gets unstable, watch out! In this movie you'll see what kinds of rays or particles radioactive decay can create. Gamma-ray alert!
Refraction, reflection, dispersion! Find out what's really going on inside raindrops as sunlight separates into the wondrous colors of a rainbow.
Glass, plastic, paper, aluminum: Why bother recycling them? This movie shows you exactly why, and how you can develop your earth awareness!
Refraction and Diffraction
Why do prisms do what they do to light? How do sound waves spread? And why do refraction and diffraction sound the same, but act so different? Answers inside.
Sometimes science is stranger than fiction! Stretch your brain to the limits of space and time in this animated movie!
Cold-blooded and hot off the presses! Learn all about reptiles in this BrainPOP movie.
Tim and Moby open the floodgates of information and explain how rivers forms, and what makes up a river system.
Say hello to DNA's little friend - RNA! Learn about the similarities the two share and how they work together to communicate with cells and create complex molecules like proteins.
Rock Cycle
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary: Boring rock names. But did you know one type can turn into another? And then back again? Roll with some rockin' knowledge.
Sally Ride
Follow Sally Ride's path to becoming the first American female astronaut, and her groundbreaking trip on the Challenger Shuttle. But how'd she get to know Moby?
Whether you call it sodium chloride or Sel de Mer, it gives life--and a tomato!-- its savor. Tim and Moby talk about this mineral and the interesting role it plays in health and in human history.
What satellites are, how they're launched into space. and how they transmit information to receiving stations like NASA. Oh, and also to your phone and tv!
There's more to Saturn than just rings! (Although we admit the rings ARE pretty cool.) Learn about the beautiful gas giant in this animated movie!
What's that lurking in the tall grass? Lions, cheetahs, and wildebeests love the Savannah, and you will too! Learn about the climate of this grassy biome.
Science Projects
We've come to the conclusion that science projects rock! Learn about hypotheses, how to conduct experiments, and other science skills.
Scientific Method
There's a scientific method to Tim and Moby's madness! Learn about observation, experimentation--and oh, those heady conclusions!
Scopes Monkey Trial
The trial that decided what kids learn about human history. Darwinism and creationism were the focus of this debate between modern and traditional world views. But where does the monkey come into it?
Spring into action! Find some summer love! Fall into this movie and learn about the seasons! Um. Uh, Winter! Winter, Winter, Winter.
Seed Plants
Fruit and flowers are pretty (or tasty) transports for gymnosperms and angiosperms, which keep plant life vibrant on Earth.
Seedless Plants
Move over, seed plants--the history of life on Earth would look a whole lot different if it weren't for ferns and mosses! Tim and Moby don't spore a single detail.
Learn all about the oceans' top predators!
Six Kingdoms
Sounds like a Tolkien book, but really the six kingdoms are about the classification of all species on earth. What kingdom do you belong in? How about Moby?
Ah, to sleep--perchance to dream, sleepwalk, snore, maybe drool a little! Tim and Moby walk you through nighttime Zzzzzzzz's.
Oh beautiful latticed icy crystals, how do you form? As you'd imagine, this winter-fresh snowflake movie is pretty cool!
What's the difference between dirt and soil? How about between weathering and erosion? Tim digs for answers in this movie about the earth on Earth!
Solar Energy
An earth-friendly renewable source of energy that comes to us straight from the sun! Tim and Moby discuss the pros and cons. But how does it make our calculators work?
Solar System
We've got moons, planets, dwarf planets, satellites, and constellations. What's your favorite object in our solar system? We like Earth, but that's 'cause we live there!
Solstice and Equinox
The longest day of the year? We love it! Follow planet Earth around the sun and the sun across the sky as we learn about solstices and equinoxes!
Shhh...Can you hear that? It's the sound of a swell movie about sound! Learn how pitch, frequency, and vibration influence everything you hear.
South Pole
Learn about the animals and plants on the South Pole, and why the continent has no permanent residents but still needs to be governed. Also, did you know there are actually three South Poles?
Space Flight
Take an orbit around this space flight movie and learn the two basic types of rocket, how they get the thrust to launch from Earth, and about NASA's shuttles and satellites.
Yep, they crawl, spin webs, and suck the blood out of their prey. But spiders do a lot of good, too! Learn all things arachnid in this BrainPOP movie.
Some sponges you use to clean the dishes, but some are ALIVE! So put down that loofah and thrill as Tim and Moby tell you all about this invertebrate animal!
Standard and Scientific Notation
Some numbers are too big or too small to fit on a page! Tim and Moby use decimal power, the power of tens, to show you about standard and scientific notation.
States of Matter
Solid, liquid and gas can be different states of the same matter. How? Tim and Moby show you how changes in temperature can really affect a molecule.
Static Electricity
It's shocking! It's current! This movie will spark your interest in static electricity (and teach how those charged atoms can make your hair stand on end).
Stat! Tim and Moby learn how statistical studies take a sampling of large bodies of information and turn it into odds and probabilities.
Stem Cells
Tim and Moby talk about Stem cells, unspecialized cells which continue to divide and give rise to specialized cells, which can be used to cure different diseases! But is it right?
Meet the folks who literally invented the wheel! Explore a typical Sumerian city-state, from the ziggurat at the center of town to the king who kept an eye on trade, politics, and religious ceremonies.
How cool would it be to have your very own star? Well, guess what - we do! So slather on the SPF and watch this movie about our life source, the sun.
You scratch my back, and I'll show you a movie on Symbiosis! It's a mutual relationship between species that can be beneficial or (hello, fleas!) parasitic.
If you're all about a sub-arctic forest biome, the Taiga is for you! And so's this movie on this ecosystem and its long, long winters.
Find out all about the optics of telescopes and how their stargazing abilities magnified our knowledge.
Feeling a little hot under the collar? Or are you cool as a cucumber? Get a degree of information about temperature in this animated movie!
Thomas Edison
The inventor who changed the world (but didn't really invent the lightbulb), this famous scientist was known as The Wizard of Menlo Park. Learn about Thomas Edison!
What's that rumbling in the distant sky? It's rain! It's lightening! It's a thunderstorm! Tim and Moby investigate these awe-inspiring storms.
Find out how the moon controls the gravity of tides on Earth, and how tides can provide us with renewable energy sources!
Time Zones
What does your degree of longitude and latitude have to do with what time it is? TIm and Moby talk about time.
Come out of your basement and click on this weather movie about twisters, the windy natural disasters caused by changes in air pressure and wind direction!
Tropical Rainforests
Welcome to the jungle! Learn about its species and its ecosystem. Tim and Moby give you the understory of the incredibly lush rainforest biome, known as the lungs of the earth.
A shifting of tectonic plates, an underwater earthquake, a tidal surge and then--Tsunami! Learn about these forces of nature from Tim and Moby.
What's cold and dry and fragile but neat all the same? Why, it's tundra! Learn about this biome here! And let Moby know if you see any reindeer.
Whether identical or fraternal, having a twin would be a pretty cool thing. But how do twins happen--and which one gets the top bunk?
Types of Rocks
What's lava got to do with it? Did you know there are types of semi-liquid which can form rocks? Tim and Moby talk igneous and marble, erosion and minerals.
Underwater World
Oh coral reefs, underwater canyons, and waving sea anemone. . . let's visit the world beneath the sea, for more than the halibut.
Learn about the seventh planet from the sun, a weird place with flipped seasons and loads of orbiting rings!
Meet our sulphuric sister, the second planet from the sun, Venus!
You crazy vertebrate, you probably haven't even thanked your spine and skeleton today! Tim and Moby put a little backbone into this animated movie.
Violent eruptions! Huge plumes of gas! Rivers of molten lava! This movie investigates all this stuff and more!
Wangari Maathai
Learn how a remarkable Kenyan woman fought for equality, democracy, and the environment… one tree at a time!
Waste Management
Where does the trash go after you leave it at the curb? It could be incinerated, to reduce 90% of its volume, or composted for use as fertilizer, or recycled for re-use! So what's holding you up? Take out the trash already!
Two-thirds of the earth is covered with it! It makes up most of your body weight! In this animated movie, Tim and Moby dive into the subject of water.
Water Cycle
See how surface water gets into the atmosphere and how water vapor condenses to form rain clouds. . .which then get your feet wet and turns into surface water again!
Water Pollution
How sewage, chemicals, and factory waste affects the water on our planet. Tim and Moby talk about how we can clean up our rivers, lakes, oceans, and seas!
Water Supply
The biggest difference between seawater and freshwater? Only the latter is drinkable! Learn how only a tiny fraction of the world's water is safe for humans, and how to conserve this resource.
Ocean waves and sound waves are really similar: They've got troughs and crests, and frequencies and interferences, but did you know earthquakes travel in waves, too?
Weathermen always going on about storm fronts and barometers, what does that mean exactly? Tim and Moby give you a hailstorm of weather information.
Learn how rocks break down into soil and how natural forces like wind and rain can actually change the shape of Earth's surface.
Wheel and Axle
Tim and Moby explain how the wheel and axle work as a simple machine, and have for around 7,000 years! Hey, if it ain't broke...
Brush up on wildfires—learn why they spread, how they can be helpful and what you can do to stay safe.
Where do those gusts come from? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. . . and in the jet streams, and the doldrums.
Wind Energy
Find out how those turbine blades turn air into electricity, and why wind power rocks Tim and Moby into earth awareness!
Tim and Moby put a lot of effort into this look into what makes work work.


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Ray Lewis Video: Watch Emotional Linebacker Celebrate After Ravens' WinJanuary 12, 2013
Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis lives on to play another day.
Most expected Lewis' amazing career to come to an end on Saturday. He informed his teammates before the playoffs began that this would be his last season in the NFL (h/t The Baltimore Sun).
His Ravens traveled to Denver as heavy underdogs to take on a red-hot Broncos team. But four quarters and two overtimes of inspired football later, the Ravens came out on top.
Lewis—widely known for his emotional leadership style—couldn't fight back tears as he soaked up the moment on the field and absorbed the fact that his team is headed to the AFC Championship game.
The Ravens defense was tasked with a great challenge heading into the game. With Peyton Manning at the helm, the Broncos have been one of the best offensive teams in the league. However, the Ravens were able to keep the MVP candidate in check, forcing him to throw two interceptions and sacking him three times.
Considering that two of Denver's touchdowns came on kickoff returns, the Ravens defense did an exceptional job of keeping the Broncos at bay.
Lewis' desire to extend his career for at least another week was apparent—the middle linebacker tallied a team-leading 17 tackles including one for a loss. He was also a key player in the Ravens coverage of Jacob Tamme, who was held to three catches for 44 yards.
The Ravens will look to continue their magical run next Sunday against the winner of this Sunday's divisional playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.


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Legends Born
Mistress of the Forest
A story often repeated by working class people is the legend of the cold-hearted Mistress of the Forest. It is mostly told after working hours in taverns and bars as a testament to the cruelty of nobility.
The Lady Meadren was a particularly vain woman, demanding nothing less than perfection from her servants and finding only fault with even the most dedicated and hard-working people. Her husband had died years before, leaving her with full control over his massive wealth and impressive, fertile swaths of land surrounded by dense expanses of forest. Farmers settled here and braved the Lady's scathing wrath only because the lands yielded miraculously plump vegetables in amazing numbers. While the men worked the fields, the Lady Meadren employed many of the wives and daughters of the farmsteads. Under her watch, they performed punishing amounts of work. Some left the manor in tears, unable to handle the constant physical and verbal abuse. Stronger women quickly became worn down, numb to the Lady's abuse and even to her jealous assaults that left ugly marks on the faces of the more beautiful women.
One day, the Lady Meadren was riding through the countryside when a beaten and bloodied guard came stumbling out from the treeline, shouting for help. He fumbled his way through the fields before collapsing at the hooves of the Lady's horse, begging for her aid. He explained that his caravan was attacked by a Bellvie. He alone had escaped and was in desperate need of first aid. The Lady whisked him away to her manor, set her servants to treat his wounds, and became engrossed in listening to his tale of the Bellvie. Her curiosity was sparked by the legend of the Forest Guardian, a supposed spirit that could be plied with the right scent to take and protect a woman as its own treasure. A woman as vain as the Lady Meadren could not pass an opportunity to attain what she believed was a transcendent place as a maiden of the forest. She believed she deserved to be protected by her own guardian, a spirit that would defend her like the treasure she was.
After gleaning all possible information from the man, she sent him on his way and began a wave of hirings, offering jobs to maidens in even the farthest farmsteads, offering quarters in the manor and generous pay. It was enough to tempt many women into taking a maid job in the manor. Many thought that maybe her act of goodwill towards the caravan guard had started a new chapter of generosity and possibly good will towards her people. Weeks passed before word spread that some of the women were not answering their letters. The farmers tried to visit their daughters and wives at the manor, but were turned away at the gate. Suspicious of what the Lady may be doing, the farmers laid in wait until late in the night when a lonely carriage pulled out of the manor and streaked off into the darkness towards the forest. The farmers quickly lost track of it in the dark.
At the first light of day, the men followed the tracks left by the carriage into the forest. It entered the treeline in a roughly chopped path for only a few hundred feet before suddenly opening into a clearing. The men coughed and choked as a great smell of decay rolled over them. They broke into the clearing to the sight of hundreds of bodies. The noxious smell of perfume and death suffocated everything. The men looked into the glassy eyes of their daughters and wives, shredded, sliced into pieces so small, some were unrecognizable. On the other side of the clearing stood Lady Meadren. She faced the Bellvie. Her perfume loomed even over the smell of death. The Bellvie circled her, the leaves dancing, flashing emerald in the light. It fluttered around her in what seemed to be celebration, making the air buzz with a warm note.
The farmers' disbelief and grief was interrupted suddenly by an earth shattering crack. The heavens above seemed to open through a jagged rent in the clouds and rain thundered down into the clearing. Water soon soaked the Lady Meadren. Her perfectly made face quickly began to run in huge streams of color, revealing the expression of horror beneath. The buzz of the Bellvie soured into a single violent note. The Lady Meadren opened her mouth to scream, but the Bellvie had already flooded it with tiny leaves of rending precision. Larger leaves scored her skin, slicing it loose from the bone. Her entire being convulsed before she disintegrated in a spectacular mist of blood and terror. The farmers scattered, returning to their homes and gathering what was left of their families. Together, they left those cursed lands fed by the blood of its people. They never looked back, and they never returned to the land of the Lady Meadren, the Mistress of the Forest.


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Full Version:
Sexually Abused From 5 To 13
Family Forums
Family Life And Health Forums
Abuse Recovery Help
Aug 8 2010, 06:41 PM
I was five years old when it all began and it didn't stop till i was thirteen years old and finally told my boyfriend. He then told me i had to tell my sisters or someone i trusted. So i called my sisters they were out here faster than i could imagine. I told them for eight years the man we trusted and called our grandfather the man that was supposed to support us, help us, and show us the world isn't all bad did the complete opposite of all of that. I told them how he would touch me all over very inappropriately and do things to me i had not yet even experienced with a boy my own age who i wanted to. This was probably one of the hardest moments through out the whole affair my parents asked question i moved out to my sisters for a while to feel more protected farther away from him. My mother seems to kind of shut out what happend for a while she still made me see the man who took my innocence from me at such a young age. she finally stopped my seeing him all together when he tried again and i told my boyfriend now of a year and seven months who took me straight to my sisters when he found out it happened it again. He knows my whole story and is completely supportive will listen to me talk, cry, or hear out my stories when i can't sleep or need someone to talk to. This whole situation has made me not want to trust men at all and i am afraid to go anywhere on my own i am a very shy person because opening up is hard for me to do when it comes to trusting people. I am trying to become i survivor of this and become a stronger person i feel that i already am becoming stronger and not so much as the victim anymore. I recently completely opened up and let God into my life and i feel he's already showing me the way to go and how to deal with this. Joining this site will hopefully add on into what God wants for me. Letting people know my story and seeing others. I will tell you three words that completely got me to the point where i realized God was what i really wanted in my life and it was when someone said "God knows too" he knows what you feel and how you feel and he is always there for you and the only one who can trully help you get through what your going through. I hope to find more of that here and hope all of you can also.
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