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The Year of Living Anxiously
From the bouncing Bud Dome -- first here, then there, then nowhere -- to October's Great Flood and Biblical Ship Channel fire, 1994 yielded exciting new sources of anxiety. Rabid bats were sighted in The Woodlands. NASA scientists discovered the existence of an insatiable black hole. We confronted the awful prospect of new city area codes and $3-an-hour parking meters. We faced a political future saddled with los dos dorky Steves -- Mansfield and Stockman. When we weren't worrying about the bad guys (as in teens toting guns) we were worrying about the good guys (as in cops ripping into high-speed chases). Even the staid 'burb of Southside Place had their constabulary running amok. What could go wrong next?
Plenty. Bad pennies we'd forgotten about for years turned up: former Oilers general manager Ladd Herzeg, in hiding since a court awarded his ex-lover $100,000-plus in child support, phoned home to say he wasn't a deadbeat dad. And President's First Lady founder Richard Minns -- on the run from either (he says) bad publicity or (she says) a judgment won by a former lover paralyzed in a botched hit attempt -- landed in our downtown jail after being nabbed on passport fraud charges during a plane stopover in Dallas. The Minns case put federal Judge Lynn Hughes in a famously bad temper. But then, tempers wore thin at our courthouses in general, where a move to let crime victims have their say resulted in courtroom scream therapy and the Republican tide that swept away dozens of sitting judges left fear and loathing in its wake.
Small wonder that a civic identity crisis seemed constantly brewing. Were we MVP City or the Execution Capital of the Western World? Could we fight back the barely suppressed hysteria engendered by the demise of Tony's restaurant and the news that our beloved Tex-Mex food was even worse for us than we'd always suspected? More to the point, could we recover from the emotional roller coaster of Rockets Manic Depression? In the wake of the famous "Choke City" headlines, it was as if the city believed its fate was inextricably linked to that of its athletic teams, and doomed, like them, to labor under the curse of last-second disappointments. Then came the Rockets' revival, complete with florid resurrection imagery, and suddenly it was "NBA Title Leaves City All Aglow," and our 19th nervous breakdown evaporated in a feel-good haze.
In the end, when we're lying on the couch picking over the carcass of '94, we'll no doubt discover what Houstonians always do -- that we were having fun, albeit in our own peculiar way.
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By Alison Cook
If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You A Congressman?
When asked why Sheila Jackson Lee trounced him so handily in the Democratic primary, then-U. S. Representative Craig Washington snapped, "Ask me a more intelligent question. I have an IQ of 200."
He Would Have Voted, But He Was Too Busy Thinking Lame-duck
Craig Washington missed so many U.S. House votes after his primary defeat that when he finally deigned to appear, the Houston Post headlined: "Rep. Washington shows up for vote."
Le Boss, C'est Moi
Harris County District Clerk Katherine Tyra, who requires those on her payroll to resign if they run for office, herself ran for county judge this spring -- without resigning. Said Tyra, "It is just a decision that I made."
Chicken Coop Seeks Fox
At the behest of state Senator (and firemen's fund lobbyist) John Whitmire, the fire department hired Gene Mooney -- a parolee whose rap sheet includes theft, burglary, auto theft and drug possession -- to handle $5.8 million in paychecks, plus thousands of bucks daily in travel and expense checks.
And Mattress Mac Will Be Our Next Senator
When a fire department personnel worker fired parolee Mooney on his first day for failing to disclose his eight felony convictions, assistant chief Dennis Holder warned the hatchet person to "watch out, because Senator Whitmire is going to become mayor one day."
Year Of The Pseudo-Woman
During the Democratic primary, Lynn Thrower, a male judicial hopeful, campaigned against opponent Dinah Bailey with hot pink yard signs.
The Cows Are Considering A Class Action Suit
At one of Spring Valley's City Council meetings, semi-professional mayoral hecklers forsook their usual booing and hissing for the pleasure of mooing like cows.
Candy-Apple Red They Could Have Lived With
Citing a junk-car nuisance ordinance, Baytown officials threatened to tow off a 1975 Mustang that Martha Barnett had painted iridescent purple and filled with flowers to draw attention to her body shop.
Unclear On The Concept
County Commissioner El Franco Lee urged a written code of ethics for county employees, then got his commissioner colleagues to hire Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton -- the prominent law firm that has contributed to his political campaigns for 15 years -- to help with the project.
The Joy Of Self-Interest
A committee appointed by Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Michael Charlton disqualified a potential Charlton opponent for using the term "party chair" instead of "county chair" on his application. Charlton then refused to reveal the names of the helpful committee members.
Next Time He'll Run As "Law And Order" Eide
Republican businessman and failed congressional candidate Harold Eide got himself listed on the ballot as Harold (Oilman) Eide.
But He Doesn't Do Windows
Republican County Commissioner Steve Radack was caught red-handed by Channel 11 news cameras ripping down the campaign signs of the Democratic candidate for county judge, Vince Ryan. Ryan labeled Radack a "whacked out whacker"; Radack said he was just keeping the public right of way clean.
Standards Are Standards
Lake Jackson's City Council -- facing a shortage of the plant-and-flower names for which the community's streets traditionally are named -- nevertheless ruled that adjectives to describe the flora would not be allowed. Okay: Oak. Not okay: Bending Oaks, River Oak, Harvard Oak.
Creative Resume Writing 101
Newly elected court of criminal appeals Judge Steve Mansfield and U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman proved once again that Houston is the home of the self-made man -- the more self-made the better, as Mansfield managed to redefine almost everything about himself during his campaign, from his state of birth to his legal experience, and Stockman embroidered both his credentials and his outsider status in defeating Democratic warhorse Jack Brooks.
l994 DUD-O-RAMA
* Oilers owner Bud Adams wanted it, but scarcely anyone else did: a $235 million downtown sports dome that would have required $150 million in taxpayer support. Adams said he'd pick up his toys and play elsewhere if Houston wouldn't go along; perhaps the Oilers' abysmal season is his reward.
* Morticians Brian Dooley and Virginia Lynch asked Commissioners Court to create a morgue gift store selling personalized toe tags, beach towels adorned with chalk body outlines, coffee mugs, T-shirts and related morgue memorabilia.
* Galveston's foundering Star of Texas gambling ship finally sailed into the sunset, leaving behind $140,000 in unpaid dockage fees and disgruntled Filipino crewmen who claimed the ship's owners wouldn't send them back home as promised.
* Metro's 100-plus Hungarian-made Ikarus buses proved unequal to the Houston heat and spent most of their time in the shop. (Maybe the name was a clue.)
* After three days, space shuttle astronauts gave up on releasing U of H's Wake Shield Facility satellite, designed to create an ultra-pure vacuum, which clung to the shuttle arm instead of floating free.
* Former Secretary of State James Baker kept his presidential trial balloons in the air -- even when it meant publicly endorsing Oliver North's Virginia Senate ambitions.
* All the hype and cappuccino and picture hats in the world couldn't save the Sam Houston Race Park from having to cut purses drastically and pare the race schedule when attendance and wagering lagged far behind projections, causing a $5 million loss during one three-month period. Even Mayor Bob doesn't want to annex it anymore.
* On October 25, to much fanfare, KIKK/ 95.7 FM disc jockey Country Jones ascended the roof of the Texas Longhorn Saloon and vowed to remain there until the Oilers won a game; only a month later he disgraced his profession by quietly slipping down to spend Thanksgiving with his family.
Next Comes The Lovely Barbed Wire Topiary
The city of Pasadena abandoned a 12-block beautification project when thieves abducted half the new hibiscus plants. City fathers announced plans to replace them with cacti.
Pinata-Man, Spare That Tree
Park police ordered Easter Sunday picnickers to remove their volleyball nets and pinatas from city park trees, citing an obscure tree-abuse rule.
There's No Emergency Like A Dental Emergency
A 42-year-old Pasadena woman dialed 911 to report that her estranged husband was holding her top denture hostage until she agreed to drop divorce proceedings.
Laundering Done Here
Vice officers shut down a $13 million bookmaking enterprise -- the biggest in Houston's history -- that was operating out of the Best Auto Wash on Richmond.
Scoot Camp
Harris County's sieve-like new juvenile boot camp had to be abandoned for more secure quarters after ten boys escaped over its 10-foot barbed wire fence -- five of them just days after the camp had opened.
O Ye Of Little Aptitude
Eight Kingwood teenagers were arrested when a videotape they had made of themselves burning a home air conditioner and blowing up mailboxes fell into the hands of a constable.
What Large Pills You Have, Grandma
For the second time in six years, 82-year-old "Big Mama" Sally Evans Hubbard -- who has 72 grandchildren and great-grandchildren -- was delivered to jail in a wheelchair for selling marijuana and tranquilizers out of her Heights-area home.
The Case For Enchiladas
After fixing corned beef and cabbage for dinner, 30-year-old Bryant Ballentine was stabbed to death in a quarrel with his older brother, who complained the meal was too bland.
With Friends Like These...
After quadriplegic HPD officer Bill Storrs filed an EEOC complaint because he couldn't use the northeast substation bathrooms, Police Chief Sam Nuchia transferred him to the southeast station -- where his commute was 30 minutes longer and he had to be helped through five doors instead of one to get to his desk. A spokesman said Nuchia was just trying to help Storrs out.
Get Out Of Jail Free -- Hell, Make That At A Profit
At the HPD's new Southeast Command Center, nicknamed "The Emerald Palace," a man was robbed on the front plaza by a miscreant who had just been released from the center's jail.
No, "N" Is For Numskull
When a black Houston musician asked an HPD officer why he'd written "N" in the box reserved for race on her speeding ticket, she was told that it stood for "Negro."
Even Snakes Don't Like To Be Used
A Houston man trying to sell two rattlesnakes to a Pasadena pet shop owner fled the store with seven boa constrictors and pythons. When the hotly pursuing owner whacked the snake thief's truck with his van, the snakenapper was bitten by his own rattler.
What Was That "N" For Again?
Baytown police called to the San Jacinto Mall at 11 p.m. found two teenagers dressed in head-to-toe ninja regalia -- including samurai swords and throwing stars. The pair had stolen the martial arts gear at Lam's before loading shopping bags with $80,000 of Sears loot.
The Airbag Did It
State District Judge Richard Bianchi's lawyer insisted the reason the judge failed sobriety tests at the scene of a one-car accident -- dropping letters of the alphabet, not to mention registering .11 and .12 on the breathalyzer -- was that his airbag had knocked him silly when he hit the guardrail.
He Was Only In It For The Coffee
When cop groupie Timmie Griffin, who used a fake badge to arrest and then rob victims, was busted by the real police, they found among his possessions two convenience-store coffee cups that cops use for free refills.
Snoop Doggy Dogg Calling For Mr. Jackson
Seventeen-year-old Waymond Jackson, wanted for the slaying of a Houston convenience store clerk, was lying on the floor composing lyrics to a rap song that began, "On the run ... got to strap with that gun," when Eagle Lake police broke in and arrested him.
But Mr. Dogg Passed On The Rap Song
The FBI was called in to investigate the disappearance of a million catfish fingerlings -- worth about $100,000 -- from the spawning ponds of a Houston aquaculture company.
Mayor Bob's diminutive co-chief of staff Dave Walden is a hatchet man of rare verbal style: he's smart, quick and -- most important in the manufacture of memorable sound bites -- mean (even Lanier concedes that "the warm milk of human kindness runs gently through his veins"). He's the kind of guy who dotes on the movie Apocalypse Now, and when favorite target George Greanias, the city controller, predicts that an issue may blow up in the administration's face, Walden is apt to deadpan, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." A warm-and-fuzzy 1994 Walden sampler:
* On a rumored federal post for vanquished Lanier opponent Kathy Whitmire: "It's like me getting sent out to be center on an NBA basketball team."
* On Lloyd Kelley, the loose-lipped new councilman: "Lloyd came waltzing in and thought he'd be the new leader on City Council but ended up dancing by himself. He wants to do the twist, but everyone else is doing the funky chicken."
* On Greanias' criticism of city attorney Benjamin Hall: "George is so unfamiliar with the law. If you want to hide something from him, you put it in the law book or the Bible."
* On Greanias' various efforts to confound Lanier and company: "George is here so little doing his job that he has the smallest grease spot in the city hall parking garage."
If They Wore The Organza, They Would Have Been Recognized
Uniformed HPD officers donned ski masks for July raids on several local gay bars.
Elyse, If You're Looking For A Downtown Theme For Spring...
For Valentine's Day, Macy's ran an ad for boxer shorts embellished with large, shine-in-the-dark bananas and the legend, "Is your underwear glowing or are you happy to see me?"
Or Maybe She Can Just Go With The Hakeem Line
Hakeem Olajuwon guested on the David Letterman show clad in a radioactive-yellow blazer and luau-style shirt from his new line of clothing, "Dream Wear."
Preventive Dressing, Part 1
Sam Houston High School required students to wear see-through backpacks made of clear plastic, the better to determine whether contraband weaponry was inside.
Preventive Dressing, Part 2
The Deer Park school district issued silent panic beepers to teachers posted to classrooms in outlying buildings or at the end of long hallways.
First Spandex Bike Shorts, Now This
The city's two police unions spatted over the propriety of a fundraising calendar for which local models posed cheesecake-style in skimpy mock-cop uniforms -- including hot pants and a bra with a gold badge attached.
Oh! We Thought That Was Horse Asses
In honor of the new race track, Houston florist Scherry Lindley created blooming "horsages" in jockey colors.
Ready, Set, Totter
Superstar photographer Annie Leibovitz shot a Pirelli tire ad featuring Houston sprinter Carl Lewis posed in a racing start position -- wearing a tank suit and spike heels.
He Drew The Line At A Wonderbra
KTRK/Channel 13 anchorman Dave Ward appeared at the Houston Chronicle's Best-Dressed List luncheon wearing high heels, red sequined gown, boa, lipstick and wig.
I Pledge To You My Holy Trout
At model Marilyn Smith's wedding to Hakeem Olajuwon's brother, Akinola, the bridesmaids wore black veils and black gowns with fishtails.
The Look That Says, "Arrest Me"
Clad in Looney Tunes shorts and a Charles Manson T-shirt, Mike Starr -- founding member of the Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains -- was nabbed at Intercontinental Airport for stealing a suitcase. Next fashion statement: a Harris County jail jumpsuit.
The Look That Says, "Convict Me"
The high school nickname that Tyrone Jerrols acquired for wearing a trench coat every day -- "Hitman" -- followed him into court, where he was tried and convicted for murdering one of his drug customers.
Or Maybe It's That Banana Thing
The Houston Astros finally ditched those cheesy orange-and-yellow stripes and started looking like a real baseball team in gray, white and midnight blue -- right down to skintight nylon stirrup pants that showed visible panty lines.
Don't Hold That Line
It was revealed that among the University of Houston's past athletic infractions, silicone spray was applied to football uniforms to make players more slippery.
Paul Bunyan Is Spinning In His Grave
A La Marque nuclear family -- mom, pop and stepdaughter -- were denied entrance to a Mall of the Mainland video arcade because they were wearing flannel shirts, which the security officer on duty deemed gang-related apparel.
* Police chief Sam Nuchia, explaining why he changed the wording of a Public Integrity Review Group letter to say that certain witnesses had been interviewed for an ethics probe, when in fact they had not: "I can't tell you why I did that. It's not accurate. It's not incorrect, but it's not accurate. To tell you the honest truth, I don't know what I was thinking when I did that."
* Unsuccessful congressional candidate Beverley Clark, after hounding opponent Ken Bentsen to take a drug test, declared that "if they were to wake me up at
2 o'clock at night and ask me to take a drug test, I would say, sleepily, 'OK, pass me a urine cup.'"
* KRBE/104 FM disc jockey Psycho Robbie on his continuing "Cool Feelings" shtick: "Everybody understands that cool feelings aren't cool feelings, but they're cool feelings -- if you understand that. Kind of like when you say, "that's pretty bad," it's not bad."
* After selling one of the Inner Loop's last remaining undeveloped land tracts for a fancy new shopping center at Holcombe and Buffalo Speedway, Betty Ann West Stedman reminisced that her late father, Wesley West, "always said when he died the Bellaire property would go to heaven with him. The day he died, I just had to look up and be sure it wasn't going to heaven with him, trailing behind like a kite."
* Boutique owner Carrie Schindewolf, wife of Mayor Lanier's co-chief of staff, said she was qualified for an appointive position on the influential planning & zoning commission "because I'm me."
* Languishing in Salt Lake City during the Rockets' NBA playoffs with the Jazz, the Rockets' Vernon Maxwell opined, "Nothing against the city [sic] of Utah, but there is no way any of us wants to go back .... That's the most boring place in the world, if you ask me." Added Mario Elie: "It's like being in Pittsfield, Mass. I think they've only got one mall in Salt Lake, and the stuff they sell isn't exactly to my taste."
In a year when Houston's Marryin' Man, Harold Farb, got back together -- again! -- with Diane Lokey, ex-wife number four, anything could happen. And it did.
Sam Cassell & Madonna
Fresh from his Madison Square Garden exploits, the Rockets' egg-headed shootist got collected by the omnivorous Herself, who accompanied him to a Rangers' hockey game and the nightspot Rouge -- not wearing her John Starks Knicks' jersey.
Robert Horry & Tiffani Dawn Murphy
All in the family: the daughter of former Houston Rockets' star Calvin Murphy sued current Houston Rockets' star Horry for paternity of her infant son.
J. Howard Marshall & Anna Nicole Smith
When Houston does May-December, we do it big. As in excessively geriatric oilman Marshall, one of America's richest men, and Guess? Jeans poster girl Anna Nicole Smith, owner of two of America' s largest man-made breasts. Their improbable nuptials at the White Dove wedding chapel launched an international media blitz that improved Houston's economy, if not its image.
Robert Eckels & Jet Winkley
Bob & Elyse Jr.? The city's latest power couple teams the newly elected Republican county judge with Metro's director of governmental affairs. And they're mediagenic, too.
Michele Collins & Kenneth Smith
These two HPD cops ended a quarrelsome dinner date with an exchange of gunfire, sending Smith to Ben Taub for emergency abdominal surgery.
Ben Reyes & Marc Campos
Ain't love... er, expediency... grand? After feuding noisily for eons, the city councilman and the consultant finally wound up on the same side of the political bed during Reyes' failed bid for Gene Green's congressional seat.
State Representative Glenn & Helen Vickery
Nastiest divorce of the year honors go to the local pol who convinced his wife that because of a malpractice suit against him, they had to split to protect their assets. Actually he wanted to marry her best friend. Her court award: $9 million.
David B. Chalmers & Marlene Kent Cooke
Whoops! Jack Kent Cooke, the excessively geriatric billionaire owner of the Washington Redskins, suddenly claimed that his Bolivian-born wife had never been legally divorced from Chalmers, the low-profile president of Houston's Coral Petroleum. Perhaps Cooke's change of heart had something to do with the episode in which Marlene hurtled through Georgetown with a man pounding on the hood of her Jaguar and later threw a gold shoe at an arresting officer.
Gail Gross & The Dalai Lama
Richard Gere has nothing on the Houston beauty-book authoress who attended a New York symposium with His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso and took in his niece as a houseguest while sending her to the University of Houston.
The Hurwitz Trajectory
The new year began famously for the mayor's First Friend, who holidayed with the Laniers in Vegas, then won the mayor's nod to build a possible downtown casino. Next came the debut of the opulent $84 million race track developed by Hurwitz's Maxxam Inc. -- and a flood of hype hailing him as an economic savior and a latter-day prince. Oops -- soon the race track was wallowing in red ink, the downtown casino plan was on life support, Maxxam's lumber division was drawing increased fire for chopping down California redwoods and Prince Hurwitz was looking suspiciously froglike
Toxic Sea Creatures
Memo to the gals planning next year's "An Evening with King Neptune" charity gala: think again. '94 featured the usual oyster scares, plus alarms about dioxin-laden Ship Channel crabs, Lake Livingston fish and almost a ton of finny creatures killed by Dow Chemical's discharge of hazardous chemicals into the Brazos River. Icing on the aquatic cake: marauding jellyfish inflicted over 1,000 stings to Galveston beachgoers over Memorial Day.
Casino Madness
Tt was brief and giddy and semi-surreal: this spring, half of Houston -- from financier Charles Hurwitz to the Taub family to Mattress Mac -- was scrambling madly for position in the Great Casino Race, with pols and lobbyists aplenty cashing in on the push to legalize gambling. But by late fall, after legal setbacks and conspicuous lack of action on Hurwitz's proposed downtown casino site, half of Houston -- from City Council to Mayor Bob -- was scurrying to distance itself from the gaming issue.
Trunk Wrapping
Something there is that compels Houstonians to gird their tree trunks with jillions of tiny lights come the holiday season, a practice which has now spread from the public corridors (Highland Village, the park at City Hall) to the nabes, cloaking the city in what naysayers label "electrified stumps" and "trees wearing support hose."
Poison Clouds
Let us count the ways in which toxic shrouds of vapor snaked through our beleaguered, petrochemicalized realm: a Texas City cloud of ammonia gas sent more than 1,200 people to the hospital; a sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide cloud escaped from Crosby's Elf Atochem plant; a nitrogen tetroxide leak at NASA caused respiratory problems for 46 workers; a persistent fire at a Baytown tire recycling plant (its third in eight years) spewed forth carbon monoxide and particulate matter; and a mysterious cloud perfumed with mercaptan, the natural-gas flag, brightened the holiday season for an entire day in much of the city.
Surrendering To The Inevitable
Maybe it was the Zeitgeist; maybe it was self-preservation. Whatever. The holier-than-thou Randall's grocery chain announced that after 28 teetotaling years, it would lift its ban on selling beer and wine, and the Astrodome -- after a 29-year holdout -- agreed to allow fans to tailgate in the parking lot.
The Mac Factor
What does Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale want? The excitable Gallery Furniture huckster spent the year trying to get it: hosting the warm-fuzzy Astrodome homecoming party for the Rockets; buying out Oilers' stadium tickets so TV viewers could see their team up close and losing at home; giving lavishly to charity; emceeing galas; throwing press luncheons for Bela Karolyi's gymnasts. Do we love him yet?
Ethnic Cleansing
No way around the fact that this is precisely what happened to Harris County's various courthouses in November's Republican sweep. Every minority judicial candidate who had an opponent lost.
River Oaks Concrete Creep
Don't look now, but neo-New-Brutalism is threatening to invade Houston's least minimal neighborhood. In the newly hot Baja River Oaks real-estate territory bounded by Kirby, San Felipe, Shepherd and Westheimer, defense lawyer Mike DeGeurin built a concrete mansion some call "Fort DeGeurin," while a few streets away, heiress Olive Neuhaus moved into a stucco-and-cinder-block tower on a block that also boasts a concrete box by architect Carlos Jimenez. Are Lynn and Oscar next?
The Allen Syndrome
Not since the Allen Brothers worked their seminal real-estate scam has a Houstonian confounded the public interest as efficiently as Vinson & Elkins lawyer Joe B. Allen. The Lanier buddy and lobbyist supreme got City Council to roll over and play dead by A) giving Sanus Health Plan Inc. a fat city contract despite employee groups' protests and notoriously low customer-satisfaction ratings; and B) refusing to annex three industrial plants that would have added millions to city revenues.
Post Oak Arches
Love 'em or hate 'em (it's hard to be neutral), the stainless-steel arches now spanning Post Oak are impossible to ignore -- especially in concert with those shiny silver Big Bird light fixtures and those shiny silver Christmas-tree skirts.
Oilers Jokes
With local sportswriters calling the shoulda-been-contenders "national laughingstocks" for plummeting toward the NFL's worst-ever losing streak, lampoons of our poor, pitiable pigskinners were inevitable. Most popular: "Have you heard the O.J. Simpson trial is being moved to Houston? They want to get it as far away as possible from professional football."
Those Pesky City Contracts
The lucrative briar patch of city contracts was especially thorny for public figures -- whether they accepted contracts themselves or were perceived to have influenced the process. Among the Houstonians who may think twice (but don't count on it) before jumping in again are fire Chief Eddie Corral; port commissioner Betti Maldonado; school trustee Paula Arnold; state Representative Ron Wilson; former city attorney Ben Hall; Maxxam CEO Charles Hurwitz; and Councilwoman Martha Wong.
Really Weird Auctions
The long-ago thrills of the John Connally bankruptcy auction seem eminently tasteful compared to the circus-like sell-off of Teresa Rodriguez's gilded-and-glittered worldly goods, which she obtained through an investment scheme that allegedly bilked scores of prominent Houstonians. No less eyebrow-raising was the sale of the late Jewell Diane "Lady" Walker's flamboyant wardrobe (envied by no less a clotheshorse than Liberace), which she obtained through the largesse of sugar daddy supreme J. Howard Marshall.
* The federal Department of Transportation ruled that union-buster Frank Lorenzo, who drove Eastern Airlines out of business and Continental to the brink, was unfit to run a new airline.
* After city officials proposed an ordinance to control rates on police-ordered towings, Houston wrecker drivers staged a City Hall park-in to fight for their right to gouge the public.
* Channel 13's mad-dog investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino revealed why goldfish are his pets of choice: "Fish are perfect. They don't bark ... or need walking. If you don't feed them for a few days, they can eat each other."
* The Better Business Bureau kicked out Gallery Furniture's "Mattress Mac" McIngvale for badmouthing competitors through deceptive in-store displays and running an ad for a "solid oak" entertainment center that had plywood shelves and sides. "We didn't say it was solid oak all the way through," said McIngvale.
* Federal marshals and customs agents raided discount stores along Harwin Drive's mind-boggling cut-rate strip, hauling off truckloads of counterfeit Chanel jackets, Mighty Morphin Power Ranger toys, Dooney & Burke handbags, Rolex watches and much, much more.
* Marvin Zindler's wife disclosed that the overwrought Channel 13 consumer reporter tracks birdseed through the house and leaves his socks everywhere.
* Police Chief Sam Nuchia, after the standard initial denials that anything was amiss, conceded that a wild-and-woolly police chase that led from Houston to Huntsville had involved not three, but up to 30 squad cars.
* Julie Farb, the L.A. Realtor who was twice married to and divorced from Harold Farb, celebrated the birth of twins delivered by a surrogate mother and named the girl Kelli, after the daughter of Houston chums Vince and Mary K. Kickerillo. The eggs were Julie's; no word on the provenance of the sperm.
* Whitney Neuhaus-Broach, the woman who advertised her "Womb for Rent" on a Houston billboard last fall, was arrested when she failed to show up in New Orleans for her trial on mail fraud and money-laundering charges.
* The Center for Science in the Public Interest announced that most Mexican-restaurant dishes load diners with a full day's fat and salt at a single sitting. Sample stat: beef and cheese nachos with sour cream and guacamole equal 1,362 calories, 89 grams of fat and 2,426 grams of sodium.
* Any lingering doubt that golf addles the brain was dispelled by news that 1) Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole spent up to $43,000 in campaign funds on golf-related expenses including clubs, clothing, greens fees and memberships; 2) county Criminal Court Judge Jim Barkley, who used to operate a golf boutique out of his chambers, has spent thousands in campaign funds on golf dues; and 3) Lake Jackson officials had to be dissuaded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from building a golf course in the middle of rare mature bottomland forest near protected wetlands.
Houstonians have won a certain reputation in Texas for our, um, unfettered revels, and 1994 showed why. Sure, it was hard to top last year's benefit at which a noted plastic surgeon and an Oilers place-kicker used a silicon breast implant as a football -- now that's entertainment! -- but from the ineffably titled "Mystique d'Elegance" ball to the society bingo party at Anthony's restaurant, our fellow citizens gave it their all.
Next Year They'll Just Have A Whooping Crane Shoot
The warden at Sugar Land's Jester prison unit canceled a "Live Celebrity Slave Auction" fundraiser after prison employees and state Representative Ron Wilson protested.
Too Bad, Because The Door Prize Was A Date With Kato Kaelin
On the Richmond strip, Peter's Wildlife canceled plans for an O.J. Simpson-themed "Slash N' Dash" soiree -- complete with Simpson masks, free valet parking for Ford Broncos and a gift certificate for a hunting knife -- after women's and victims' rights groups objected.
Gee, You Don't Act A Day Older
The Texas City High School Class of 1975 ended up in court when feuding classmates couldn't agree on which hotel to use for their 20th reunion or whether to hire professional party planners with $2,800 left over from their 10th reunion.
After All, They've Got Rhythm
At the annual Star Serve celebrity waiter dinner, pajama-clad partiers challenged four prominent African-Americans taking part -- Rodney Ellis, El Franco Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee and Judge John Peavy -- to raise charity dollars by singing James Brown's "I Feel Good."
Sound Smart Or Bust
The U of H Honors College threw a benefit dinner dubbed "The Great Conversation" at which professors, deans and administrators led guests at 40 tables in such discussions as "Fear of Physics" and "The History of Horror: from Dracula to Lorena Bobbitt."
Tony Vallone Was Home With A Headache That Night
Several Houston couples took over Anthony's restaurant for a private party at which 120 guests were entertained by female impersonators vamping as Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Cher, Patsy Cline and Reba McEntire.
There's A Reason They Call It The Bounding Main
Stiff winds during the Lakewood Yacht Club's festive Harvest Moon Regatta drove five sailboats aground between Clear Lake and Corpus Christi; the Coast Guard had to tow in two more damaged boats and rescue five skippers who had lost their bearings.
If You're Black, Get Back
After the Rockets won the NBA championship, and while celebrants poured onto Richmond Avenue, police cars cruised black neighborhoods on the other side of town broadcasting the message "Stay out of the street! Stay out of the street!"
Don't Invitems
Comedian Jerry Lewis grew surly at Tony Vallone's Grotto when he couldn't get a table at a distance from other diners; early-to-bedder Bob Lanier turned down President Clinton's offer of a personal Oval Office tour, telling the leader of the free world, "I don't do tours at midnight"; and imperious visiting jeweler Nicola Bulgari declined to glad-hand the socialites who turned out to celebrate his store's grand opening at the Ritz-Carlton, irking potential clients.
As usual, the pretenders were many for membership in the city's popular testosterone club, but they couldn't lay a glove on the real paragon of local manliness: 45-year old George Foreman, whose comeback heavyweight title bout gave hope to broken-down baby boomers everywhere.
Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones, But Names Really Piss Me Off
Visiting state District Judge Jon Hughes stepped off the bench to punch out attorney Joseph Rumbaut after the two called each other liars in open court.
They're Great Wrapped In Bacon And Barbecued
During a manly dove-hunting photo op on the Hockley prairie northwest of Houston, gubernatorial candidate George W. Bush mistakenly murdered a killdeer.
Then They Both Went To The 20th Reunion Of Texas City High School's Class of 1975
During an Oilers/New York Jets game shown on national TV, then-Oilers defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan screamed that a play by his nemesis, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, was "a high school call" and proceeded to punch Gilbride out.
All That Free Coffee Takes Its Toll
Four Houston cops grew irritated when All-Star Florida Marlins baseball player Gary Sheffield banged against their International House of Pancakes booth. A struggle ensued, but charges against Sheffield (the latest in a series of dustups between Houston police and star athletes) were dropped.
She Had A Mean Right Fingernail
Houston Oilers linebacker Lamar Lathon pleaded no contest to choking a topless dancer at a local club. "I pushed her off of me when she attacked me," complained the 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pound Lathon, insisting that the dancer verbally abused him.
And Then He Showed Her His Glorious Gap-Toothed Smile
An Amarillo dancer said that Roy Stuart, suspected in a string of rapes and murders between West Texas and Houston, asked her for a date after splitting a cricket lengthwise with his pocketknife and squeezing its blood onto the table.
Have Gun, Will Whine
The Rockets' Vernon Maxwell, unsated by two previous arrests for altercations at Richmond Avenue bars, was fined $1,500 for carrying a handgun after a motorist complained someone in Maxwell's Porsche had waved a pistol at him in a cafeteria parking lot. Could it be the same someone -- in a sports car with Maxwell's license plate -- who fired a gun in the air after cutting off another area motorist? Maxwell said he was being harassed because, "I'm a black man making a lot of money in Texas."
* Barbara Bush, A Memoir, by Barbara Bush: Our famously white-haired and stout ex-first lady tried to wrest the writerly reins away from Millie, with mixed success. She evidenced a marvelous memory for everyone who had ever supped at the Bush White House, even if the readers had to wonder who she was effusively thanking. And she also evidenced a curious bathroom fixation, pointing out that while she and Poppy lived in China their toilet had "The Victory" written in English on its side; noting that "we all remember the grim and minute details of Jimmy Carter's hemorrhoid operation"; and recounting a talk about the Kurds and the Turks with Danielle Mitterand in which she worried she would ask the French president's wife to "tell me more about the Turds."
* Done In Oil: An Autobiography, by J. Howard Marshall: Everybody's favorite bridegroom recounts his oil field triumphs (but not, alas, his amours with the late Houston stripper Lady Walker and his latest sugar baby, ex-stripper Anna Nicole).
* Dangerous Games, by Robert Bentley: The saga of transsexual and would-be Harris County Democratic chair Leslie Perez, who as a male transvestite prostitute shot a man during a three-way sexual tryst, went to prison, escaped from a mental institution, was caught while playing Bobo the Clown in a carnival, did more time, adopted the name "Perez" from a prison lover, had a sex change operation and ran for party office in the guise of a Hispanic woman.
* Ode to Harris County Jail, by Richard Minns: The heartfelt outpourings of the ex-health-spa tycoon as he languished in the county clink awaiting his trial on passport-fraud charges. A highlight from the 76-line opus: "The roaches play in my cell night and day / Though I loathe their company. / The walls are gray, there's no night or day / And only the roaches are free."
* The Cheerleader's Guide to Life, by Cindy Villareal: The director of the Derrick Dolls and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader wrote this perky how-to tome -- including a helpful chapter called "Life after Cheerleading" -- hoping to rehabilitate cheering's image in the post Wanda Holloway era.
* Bonna Comes to America, by Francie Willis: The socialite and owner of the Urban Retreat beauty salon recounts the misadventures of a plucky Vietnamese potbellied boat pig.
Mattress Mac Has Already Bought Space
Houston bullfighter Kirk Farrell devised a controversial plan to sell space for advertisers' logos among the pearled designs on his matador's suit of lights.
Menu: Flying Fish & Jumping Beans Seasoned With Loco Weed
Lexie Masterson, of the prominent River Oaks clan, worked on a pilot for a TV food show that would feature her parachuting from a plane and picnicking on the way down.
They Ran Out Of Elmer's
NASA confirmed that one of its contractors had used super glue as a bonding agent on a critical space shuttle part.
Tastes Great, Less Filling
The outmanned, outspent Houston Post made lemonade out of its anemic condition with an ad campaign that touted its brevity as a time-saver for busy Houstonians. Quoth the ads: "It's the only Houston paper that gives you what you want -- without wasting your time."
Jean-Paul Sartre Couldn't Have Said It Better
Houston singer Mickey Cohen developed a patented anti-auto-theft device that thrusts the driver's seat under the dashboard, explaining, "My motto is, if you can't sit in a car, you can't steal a car."
A Winning Ticket In Every Pot
The feisty La Politquera newsletter tried to boost voter turnout in an obscure HISD trustee election by conducting a $500 lottery for participants.
But George W. Says It Works Great For Killdeer
A 71-year-old Houston man and his two sons were convicted of manufacturing barbecue pits from 55-gallon drums that had contained toxic chemicals.
They Forgot The Donkey Food For Themselves
Richmond State School employees bought Hot-Shot Power Mites -- hand-held cattle prods sold at feed stores -- to use on their mentally retarded residents.
She'll Never Run Out Of Material
A Houston woman appeared on a cable channel displaying tiny vignettes she assembled from roach carcasses.
Let Them Eat Exhaust
Blue-chip downtown firm Fulbright & Jaworski proposed to cooperate with federal employer mandates to reduce vehicle usage by sending fax-and-computer-equipped limos to pick up top lawyers at home.
Let Them Eat Punitive Damages
Lordly downtown firm Vinson & Elkins got nailed with the biggest legal malpractice verdict in Texas history -- $35 million in actual and punitive damages, plus attorney fees and interest, for mismanaging the estate of the late oilman W.T. Moran.
Memo To Ron: Just Say No
Criticized for agreeing to defend Houston's ban on alcohol in city parks for $25,000, lawyer-legislator Ron Wilson (who had torpedoed the same ban in the House) first said he'd cut his rate from $225 an hour to $175, and then, when his rates were criticized as exorbitant for a neophyte attorney, said heÕd do the work for free.
Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Forget About Wanda Holloway
Cheerleader lawsuits emerged as a growth industry, as a Pasadena mom sued because her daughter was kept off the high school squad for excessive detentions and a state district judge heard injunction arguments against the Pasadena school district, where a 12-year-old straight-A student was prevented from trying out because her teachers said she lacked leadership ability.
They're Taking Over The City Morgue Boutique Instead
Hakeem Olajuwon was sued by the operators of his Hakeem the Dream Fan Team club for allegedly failing to pay them for appearances the club arranged and withholding the club's share of proceeds from sales of T-shirts, hats, jerseys and coffee mugs.
From Each According To His Ability...
Lawyer Gary Miller billed accused pyramid scamster Teresa Rodriguez $225 for discussing her case with a Houston Chronicle reporter for an hour. He didn't charge anything for his conversations with the Post.
He Thought The Bow Tie Was Loaded
In the anal-retentive mini-suburb of Southside Place, officer James McBeth was accused of pummeling a motorist he'd stopped for an expired inspection sticker. The official explanation was that the motorist had appeared threatening. Unfortunately for McBeth, that motorist was a frail, 65-year-old cardiologist given to bow ties and braces.
No, But His Accountant Understands
After defending U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison against charges she abused her public office for political advantage, well-paid attorney Dick DeGuerin told a Republican group he was voting for Hutchison and said he thought his late father, a lifelong Democrat and friend of Lyndon Johnson's, would understand.
The Good News Is He's Been Retained To Help Steve Mansfield And Steve Stockman Re-Draft Their Resumes
An Arizona law school refused to grant a diploma to parolee Michael Lee Davis, who participated in the notorious 1979 murders of Houston's Wanstrath family, on the grounds that he failed to disclose he had attended South Texas College of Law years before.
Guess What He Has On His Powerbook
An attorney who kept a log of droning laser-printer noises he heard accused state District Judge Scott Brister of using his computer and printer to prepare campaign literature while he presided over a trial. Asked a day later if he had been working on his campaign while on the bench, Brister claimed not to remember.
But He Granted The "Motion To Exclude Mean Adult"
Attorney Norman Riedmuller, annoyed by the presence of opposing counsel's four-month-old, breast-fed baby during a deposition, made a "Motion to Exclude Gurgling Infant" that was denied by the judge, who said, "I wasn't going to rule against the child having breakfast."
Guaranteed to have a happy New Year:
* Warren Moon, who had the quiet pleasure of watching the playoff-caliber football team from which he was so unceremoniously dumped slide straight into the cellar. What made it even sweeter was that his new team, the Minnesota Vikings, won its division.
* Exiled coach Buddy Ryan, whose new team, the Arizona Cardinals, whomped the hapless Oilers 30-12; afterward, Ryan took a few more shots at the run-and-shoot offense he loves to hate and called the Oilers "a team that never had any discipline."
* Wayne Dolcefino, who, though reviled by many, sued by a few and considered the scariest face on local TV, wound up winning a regional Emmy.
* Socialites Snubbed By Nicola Bulgari during his Houston visit, who savored a recent New York magazine expose of allegations that the tony jeweler overcharged assorted celebrities for their gems.
In the spirit of Bob Lanier -- whose sacred mayoral mantra is "Just look at the math" -- we invite you to match the numbers of '94 with the people, places and things that spawned them. (Answers upside-down below)
____1. Number of Jehovah's Witnesses who scrubbed the Astrodome clean for the Astros' opening day.
___2. Pennzoil's nasty-surprise, IRS-adjusted tax bill for its megabucks lawsuit settlement from Texaco.
___3. Weight of the Greco-Roman frieze looming above the hottest tables at the hot new Anthony's restaurant.
___ 4. Estate-tax dollars Houston oilman John W. Mecom finally had to fork over to keep the IRS from entering his mother's River Oaks mansion and seizing her furniture.
___ 5. Dollars coughed up per vote by Gene Fontenot, the conspicuously Christian doc who poured more than $2.1 million of his own money on his futile congressional campaign.
___ 6. Bucks paid by businessman Mike Anzilotti for the one-month residential electric charges that won him "highest bill" honors in a local contest.
___ 7. Parking-fine dollars paid by state District Judge (and City Council hopeful) John W. Peavy Jr. after word leaked that he had 47 tickets outstanding on three cars.
___ 8. Number of wayward industrial barrels recovered from the San Jacinto River after October's great flood.
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Posted 4 years ago
(604 items)
Four images a mid 50s Ford Mainline, which was somewhat customized as evidenced by that Continental spare! and fender skirts. This specimen looks as good as when it first hit the streets. With all of the chrome, and the eye-popping paint, this machine certainly evokes the 1950s!
Though I'm a MOPAR man, I must give this beauty its due....

subset: commoncrawl


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Burton Park Glove
A super lightweight and low-profile staple for spring riding, hiking, shoveling, or driving. Touchscreen-compatible, too!
Hiking back up for another hit, or just shoveling out that quarterpipe in your driveway, the low-profile Burton Park Glove is the perfect accessory to crank up the session. DRYRIDE Ultrashell™ water-resistant stretch fabric shucks off slush and sweat, while the Screen Grab® Suede Palm with Sticky Icky™ Grip let's your crack off countless selfies without dropping your device. Keeps a cold beverage glued to your palm pretty good too.
Screen Grab® Suede Palm
Screen Grab® Suede Palm
This Burton-exclusive creates gloves and mitts with touchscreen-compatible tech built right in, meaning it will never fray, wear out, or wash off. Any device, any finger—get total touchscreen control without ever exposing your fingers to the cold.
Sticky Icky™ Grip Palm
Sticky Icky™ Grip Palm
With our Sticky Icky Grip Palm, if you grab it, you own it. Guaranteed not to slip, with Sticky Icky you'll be able to get a firm handle on whatever tools you choose to deploy.
DRYRIDE Ultrashell™ Water-Resistant Stretch Fabric
DRYRIDE Ultrashell™ Water-Resistant Stretch Fabric
You'll find DRYRIDE Ultrashell™ fabrics throughout the Burton glove line. Built around the demands of high-energy riding, DRYRIDE Ultrashell fabrics are both bomber and breathable to keep hands dry and protected. Offered in various performance levels and stretch in some styles, with Ultrashell 2L coated offering a drier, more breathable level of performance.
- Low-Profile Cuff
- Neoprene Flex Zones
Ergonomic Pre-Curved Fit
Ergonomic Pre-Curved Fit
The superior dexterity of this articulated fit means your hands will always be warm and nimble no matter what kind of action you get into. Featured on every single glove and mitt we make.
- Removable Wrist Leash
1-Year Warranty
1-Year Warranty
All Burton gloves and mitts are backed by a one-year warranty from date of purchase. Our W48 Warranty Program ensures that should you have a problem, we'll have your claim repaired or replaced and on its way back to you within two business days of receiving it.


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Structured Treatment Interruptions With or Without Pegylated Interferon Alpha for HIV-Infected Patients After Prolonged Viral Suppression
This study has been terminated.
French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis
Information provided by:
French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: August 1, 2005
Last updated: August 15, 2005
Last verified: August 2005
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the adjunctional of interferon alfa to structured treatment interruptions correlated with a long time off treatment in HIV-1 infection.
|HIV Infections
|Drug: Interferon alfa-2b Procedure: Structured treatment interruptions
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Multi-Center Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Structured Treatment Interruptions With or Without Pegylated Interferon Alpha for HIV-Infected Patients After Prolonged Viral Suppression (ANRS 105 INTERVAC)
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDS
Drug Information available for: Interferon Interferon Alfa-2a Interferon Alfa-2bU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Proportion of patients who did not reach the criteria to resume antiretroviral treatment at week 72 [W 72] (viral load over 30000 cp/ml at two consecutive monthly samples and/or CD4 count below 350/mm3 at two consecutive monthly samples)
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Viral rebound one and 3 months after stopping all antiviral treatments
- Specific anti-HIV CD4 and CD8 response
- Proviral HIV DNA at baseline and during follow-up
- Description of genetic HIV viral mutations during procedure
- Safety
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|December 2001
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|January 2005
The limitations of the drugs used against HIV include their toxicity, their tolerability, their propensity to induce resistance when not taken with absolute regularity and their cost. Treatment interruption in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in the setting of chronic infection is associated with viral rebound and rapid CD4 T cell decrease conducting to antiretroviral therapy restart. In patients with high CD4+ cell counts (patients receiving treatment of chronic infection with controlled viremia and patients who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) now in whom treatment would not have been started based on current guidelines), the investigators evaluated whether the adjunctional of interferon alfa 2b to 3 structured treatment interruptions correlated with a long time off treatment. HAART was interrupted for 4 weeks, restarted and continued for 12 weeks. After 3 such cycles treatment was indefinitely suspended 48 weeks after study entry. Another aim of this study was to assess the immunological and virological factors associated with the duration of treatment interruption (proviral HIV DNA at baseline and during follow-up, plasma HIV RNA at baseline and during follow-up, CD4 T cell and CD8 T cell HIV specific responses at baseline and after 6 months of interruption).
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Males and non pregnant females
- Confirmed laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection
- Have been on the same continuous HAART regimen for at least 6 months prior to inclusion
- Viral load below 50 cp/ml for at least 6 months
- CD4 over 350 cells/mm3
- Previous viral load over 10000 cp/ml in their history
- No CD4 cell count under 100/mm3 in their history
- For women of reproductive ages: negative serum pregnancy test
- Signed written consent to participate.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Already had interferon or interleukin-2 (IL-2)
- Positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) PCR
- Under treatment with abacavir during screening
- Serious psychiatric history, suicide attempt, or severe depression
- History of thyroid abnormality
- Opportunistic infection ongoing
- Lymphoma or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) under chemotherapy
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00125814
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00125814
|Service de Medecine Interne
|Clamart, France, 92140
Sponsors and Collaborators
French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis
|Principal Investigator:
|François Boue, MD
|Hopital Antoine Beclere service de Medecine Interne Clamart France
|Study Chair:
|Dominique Costagliola
More Information
Keywords provided by French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 20, 2017
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00125814 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|August 1, 2005
|Last Updated:
|August 15, 2005
Keywords provided by French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis:
Interferon Alfa-2b
HIV infections
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Antineoplastic Agents
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 20, 2017


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The Classic Slip-Ons need no one to sing their praises; they have become such a part of skate culture and contemporary style, effortlessly proving their iconoclastic relevance from the skate spot to the big screen and every walk of life around the globe. Their popularity comes from unmatched quality, and they have hence become a big time influence on our Off The Wall efforts to innovate, every step of the way.
(based on 92 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Feels too small
Feels true to size
92% (78 reviews)
(78 reviews)
Feels too large
Feels too narrow
Feels true to width
98% (82 reviews)
(82 reviews)
Feels too wide
Most Liked Positive Review
You can't beat the origional!
I bought my first Vans on a trip to LA back in the early 80's when there wasn't a lot of skate stuff out. I loved the cool comfort back then so why change...Read complete review
I bought my first Vans on a trip to LA back in the early 80's when there wasn't a lot of skate stuff out. I loved the cool comfort back then so why change when you have shoes that feel great and look cool too. One thing I like is that I have always been able to get the same great fit even as Vans have evolved and made more styles. Tons of other shoes are comfortable, but you can't beat the origional! Buy Vans, sk8 vans. Amen.
Most Liked Negative Review
Uppers wear out quickly
Almost perfect.I would love to give these shoes a 5. They are quite attractive and you can wear them with almost anything. I'd sport these with a suit. However.....Read complete review
Almost perfect.I would love to give these shoes a 5. They are quite attractive and you can wear them with almost anything. I'd sport these with a suit. However...Somehow I've managed to wear through the black fabric on the outside of my black/black pretty quickly (3-4 months of moderate use) and now I have a little white line on the top of both shoes. If the inside liners were the same color as the uppers this wouldn't be an issue. Or just make the upper more resilient.It is really quite noticeable on my shoes. I'm cheap and I'll probably try to color it in with a black marker. This may only be an issue with the black/black.So buy these shoes. They are awesome, just don't expect them to last forever.(I wish vans came in a wide size for people that need a very large toe box)
Reviewed by 92 customers
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
By Xrr
from Melbourne, austealia
About Me Casual, Comfortable, Style Driven
Comments about Solid Colors Slip-On:
Its cool
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Awesome shoes
By iCARUS
from san diego, ca
About Me Casual, Comfortable, Outdoor Enthusiast
I have been rockin vans for years now, but I usually wear the eras or sk8 hi's. I decided I wanted something different so i got the chilli pepper slip ons. Usually i wear black shoes but I wanted to switch it up a little and I am stoked that I did. These shoes are light weight, so ridiculously comfortable and look awesome. I love them.
Love My Chilli Pepper Classic Slip-ons
By Lisa
from Dana Point, CA
About Me Casual, Comfortable
Purchase these for a custom hand-drawn design. Worked out great.
Brown slip on/red slip on
By Katie
from Florida
About Me Casual, Comfortable, Environmentalist, Outdoor Enthusiast
Very comfy. Easy on and easy off.
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Great Shoes as always, made for my feet.
By Vans Man
from Santa Maria, CA
About Me Casual
Shoes look great, feel great. Only complaint I have is I wanted the original red classic. Chile pepper red isn't bad. Just a creature of habit after my 25 plus years of wearing Vans. There made to fit my feet perfect every time.


text:
Hypertension - medicines
Treating high blood pressure will help prevent problems such as heart disease, stroke, loss of eyesight, chronic kidney disease, and other blood vessel diseases.
You may need to take medicines to lower your blood pressure if lifestyle changes are not enough to bring your blood pressure to the target level.
Ask your doctor what your blood pressure target should be, based on your risk factors and other medical problems.
Several types of medicine are used to treat high blood pressure. Your health care provider will decide which type of medicine is right for you. You may need to take more than one type.
Each type of blood pressure medicine listed below comes in different brand and generic names.
One or more of these blood pressure medicines are often used to treat high blood pressure:
Blood pressure medicines that are not used as often include:
Most blood pressure medicines are easy to take, but all medicines have side effects. Most of these are mild and may go away over time.
Some common side effects of high blood pressure medicines include:
Tell your health care provider as soon as possible if you have side effects or the side effects are causing you problems. Most of the time, making changes to the dose of medicine or when you take it can help reduce side effects.
Never change the dose or stop taking a medicine on your own. Always talk to your health care provider first.
Taking more than one medicine may change how your body absorbs or uses a drug. Vitamins or supplements, different foods, or alcohol may also change how a drug acts in your body.
Always ask your health care provider whether you need to avoid any foods, drinks, vitamins or supplements, or any other medicines while you are taking blood pressure medicine.
Kaplan NM. Systemic hypertension: Treatment. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 46.
Victor RG. Arterial hypertension. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 67.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch)
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


text:
Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak relishing Chile clash in World Cup
Vitoria: The Socceroos might have the equivalent of cabin fever, having been in camp since early May and on the ground in Brazil for nearly a fortnight.
But relief is at hand. The phoney war is concluding, the hard yards have been done in training and the tapering, to freshen for Friday night's (Saturday morning AEST) opening World Cup game against Chile, has begun.
And for captain Mile Jedinak that match cannot now come soon enough.
The Crystal Palace skipper blew the cobwebs out of his system last Friday night in Salvador when he led the side in their 1-0 friendly defeat to Croatia. He says not too much should be read into that defeat as it was part of a measured programme to ensure the team was cherry ripe for Friday's fixture.
''The hard work is done but still going. Its great that its finally coming round, we are just getting that final preparation in, its all about looking forward to Friday and getting everyone on the same page. We have been working towards that for three or four weeks and you can see the progress and its very encouraging,'' he said on Monday after a training session in Vitoria.
''I think everyone should be happy with the way things have been going. I know we didn't get the result we wanted against Croatia, but the performance was an improvement, its different opposition to what we are probably going to face.
''When I haven't trained with the boys I have been able to look on from a distance and see the hard work people have been putting in and every day people are getting more and more confident, more familiar with each other.
''We know the inexperience in the squad, but that's out the window now. We are all working towards one goal and the signs are very encouraging.''
Australia should get a boost with the pessimistic news out of the Chile camp that the South Americans star player, Arturo Vidal, is likely to miss the game. Vidal had knee surgery before the World Cup and although he played 15 minutes against Northern Ireland in Chile's 2-0 warm up match win he is not expected to be ready for the start of the tournament.
Chilean journalists are suggesting the Juventus midfielder will miss the Australia game, and quite possibly their next match, against Spain, as well.
Jedinak acknowledges it is an advantage for the Socceroos, but says they need to be wary as Chile still has many other top players.
''They are a very good side aren't they? We all know that. Its going to be on how we try to exploit them, its going to be difficult but we have to be up for the challenge.
''Its (Vidal) one player. He is a very important player, but they have many players at a very good level and many players in his position where they are very strong.
''We have to prepare how we would normally, whether he is playing or not. You have to prepare something for both scenarios. We know what they are like going forward, an aggressive press going forward, but we have to work on things like that. Its up to us to go out there and try and stop that.
''Everyone is preparing in different ways against different opposition. In the end its still up to us to execute our plan on the day. If we see something isn't working for them maybe we can exploit that, but its still up to us to execute it, and that's why we have been putting it in on the training grounds.''
The match with Chile looms as a vital game for both sides. The latter, with matches against The Netherlands and World Champions Spain to come, will be desperate to get off to a flying start against group outsiders Australia, while the Socceroos know that a result against the Chileans - a draw or a win - means they will be in contention right to the last match against the titleholders Spain.
''When you mention it like that it probably seems that way, but you have to treat every game as if its going to be your last. We need to have that sort of mentality, you get something out of the game and you never know where that will take you, '' Jedinak says.
''But our sole focus has to be on the first game and that's the way its been and the way it should be.''
The team might have been together for an age and have been the first side to arrive in Brazil, but Jedinak says the togetherness and the time spent together working under a new coach has been invaluable.
''Its been a great experience so far. I remember having the experience in South Africa four years ago and now, its a little bit different, but with the weather and having the game here in Salvador, its given us an opportunity. I think we have benefited from it, and under the trying circumstances where we are in at the moment it will put us in good stead moving forward.''
Tucked away in coastal Vitoria it is hard to imagine that a World Cup is just around the corner, so quiet and calm is the ambience of this small city. Jedinak acknowledges that the enormity of the experience they are about to have may come home to the younger players closer to the game. He knows his role will be to calm nerves and keep a steady hand on the tiller.
''I have tried to do my talking on the pitch and when we are in training, but there might come a time when you have to say something in front of the group, whether that's before the game or whenever. We have all got a lot to think about at the minute so you don't want to be crowding people's minds.
''We all know the importance of the game, it might hit some guys at other times, sooner rather than later, some just before we walk out. We will have to gauge that, maybe once we are in the stadium on Thursday before we play on the Friday.''
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Well Being
50 Cute and Tasty Christmas Cookie Ideas
I love baking Christmas cookies, and every year I'm on the hunt for cute new Christmas cookie ideas. I thought I'd do a little roundup of some of the best holiday cookies I've found this year. If you have a favorite please be sure to add it to the comment section. I'm always on the lookout to add to my collection.
It's not too early to get started on holiday baking. Many cookie recipes can be made ahead, then frozen for a few weeks. Then just pull them out a day or two ahead of when you need them, ice them, and you're ready to go.
Cookies are great for holiday gatherings, just make an assortment, put them on a holiday tray, and watch them disappear. They also make great gifts wrapped in a decorative cookie tin, and don't forget to put a few out for Santa!
Here's a variety of fun Christmas cookies. I tried to include a little bit of everything.
- Snow Globe Cookies
- Frosted Reindeer Cookie
- The Best Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Candy Cane Cookies
- Tiffany Snowflake Butter Cookies
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
- Eggnog Snickerdoodles
- Cookie Skates
- Stained Glass Cookies
- Gingerbread Men
- Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies
- Brown Sugar Shortbread Christmas Trees
- Almond Crescents
- Christmas Eve Mice
- Swedish Christmas Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Christmas Shortbread Wreath
- Chocolate Peppermint Meringue Kisses
- Santa's Snowflakes
- Christmas Cookie Ornaments
- Lemony Glazed Cream Cheese Cookies
- Christmas Chocolate Chip Butter Cookies
- Classic Christmas Spritz Cookies
- Mint Cookie Pops
- Christmas Biscotti
- Chocolate Blossoms
- Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies
- Poinsettia Cookies
- Meringue Snowflakes
- Snowball Cookies
- Jolly Santa Cookies
- Holiday Ribbon Cookies
- Colorful Christmas Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- Meringue Santa Hats
- Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
- Christmas Cookie Train
- Pecan Tassies
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Almond Snow Cookies
- Christmas Shortbread Cookies
- Peppermint and Vanilla Butter Cookies
- Holiday Wreaths
- Gingersnap Cookies
- Chili Pepper Christmas Cookies
- Gingerbread People
- Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies
- Beautiful Snowflake Cookies
- Gingerbread House Cookies
- Holiday Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Your favorite Christmas or holiday cookie recipe- share the recipe or a link to the recipe in the comment section.
Looking for more Christmas cookie ideas? Check out Baking Delight's 50 Best Cookie Recipes, there are some awesome cookies on that list!
Christmas cookie decorating tips, check out these links for more decorating how to's:
- Painting Cookies
- Make Your Own Colored Sugar Sprinkles
Enjoy, and let me know how your cookies turn out.
Image via istockphoto.com
Hey, Blisstree reader and baker. Check out these these five new Christmas cookie posts we just published:
12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Mint Chocolate Thumbprints
Healthy Baking That Actually Tastes Good: 10 Sugarless, Flourless Cookie Recipes
Holiday Baking: 10 Politically Correct Cookie Cutters That Won't Offend Anyone
Best Christmas Cookies to Ship for the Holidays: One Girl Cookies


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'Tis the season to be ghouly...
For a great selection of action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, SmallJoes.com, PastGenerationToys.com, ZoloWorld.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
For a great selection of pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
The latest addition to the ever-expanding Living Dead Dolls line is Nohell, dressed for the season in a festive red and white holiday dress with real bells on her boots and removable hat.
This 10-inch tall Living Dead Doll comes in a specially colored coffin and has a removable holiday hat.
Nohell will be available at retail in November priced at a SRP of $30.


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Rangers recall LHP Aaron Poreda from Round Rock
Oakland, CA - The Texas Rangers announced today that left-handed pitcher Aaron Poreda has been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League. Poreda (#49) will be in the bullpen for Tuesday's game in Oakland.
To make room on the active roster, left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross, Jr. has been optioned to Round Rock.
Poreda is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA (11.2 IP, 12 H, 4 R-ER, 4 BB, 20 SO) and 2 saves in 11 overall relief appearances for the Express. The left-hander has allowed just one run in 9.2 innings in his last 9 games. In 4 outings since being optioned by Texas on June 5, he has issued one run in 5.1 innings with 11 strikeouts. He lost at El Paso in his last game on Sunday, allowing 2 hits and a run in 1.1 innings.
This will be Poreda's third stint with Texas in 2014. He is 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 overall relief appearances in his first major league action since 2009. Poreda was 2-0 in 15 outings between April 19 and May 28 and returned for one day on June 5, allowing 2 hits in 0.1 scoreless innings vs. Baltimore.
Poreda is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 30 career relief appearances with the White Sox (2009), Padres (2009), and Rangers. He missed all of 2013 after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery in October 2012.
Ross is 2-4, 5.61 in 18 games/9 starts with the Rangers this season. He opened the season in the Texas rotation and was 1-4, 4.78 in 9 starts before moving to the bullpen on May 20. Ross is 1-0, 9.00 (12 ER/12.0 IP) in 9 relief appearances since that time, allowing 9 hits and 8 runs in 3.1 innings in his last 4 outings.


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Oakland University police have issued a campus safety alert because the Auburn Hills Police Department is investigating allegations of sexual assault near the Beacon Hill Apartments.
The assault reportedly took place at between 11 and 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in a grassy area on the north side of Walton Boulevard near the entrance of the Beacon Hill Apartments.
Police say a 29-year-old woman reported that three white males, two whom were on bicycles and one on foot, approached her.
Lt. Ryan Gagnon of the Auburn Hills Police Department said the victim was walking westbound on Walton Boulevard from a concert featuring the bands fun. and Tegan and Sara that was at the Meadow Brook Music Festival earlier in the evening.
The woman, who is not a student at Oakland University, talked with the suspects.
"She had a conversation with them and by surprise they basically grabbed her and forcefully touched her," Gagnon said. "She screamed and they ran off."
All three suspects are described as between 20 and 21 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall and average weight, clean shaven and with medium-length dark hair.
One suspect was wearing a white T-shirt, with an unknown pattern, another suspect was wearing a maroon or brown shirt and the third suspect was wearing a white T-shirt with an unknown graphic on it.
The suspects then fled the area following the contact with the victim.
The victim was seen at a local hospital, police said.
Oakland University was advised about the incident. Auburn Hills police are still �investigating the alleged assault and looking at surveillance video in the area.
OUPD is advising members of the campus community to walk in groups and remain on alert. They also ask that community members be on the lookout and report any suspicious activity.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Auburn Hills Police Department at 248-370-9444 or OUPD at 248-370-3333.


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Bees boss Uwe Rosler has told Antonio German to make the most of his second chance in the pro ranks.
The 20-year-old netted a late equaliser as Brentford held Preston North End to a 1-1 draw at Deepdale on Saturday.
German has been at Griffin Park since January after impressing Rosler while on trial from non-League outfit Bromley.
He had started his career at west London rivals QPR, but was left Loftus Road when the Hoops arrived in the Premier League in 2011.
German, signed on an 18-month deal in January, slipped into the non-League game after a brief spell at Stockport County.
And Rosler admitted only hard graft would see him carve out a future with the Bees.
"He has been in the Championship with QPR, people have forgotten that," he said.
"He has lost his way a little bit, but now he has a chance to work his way up again.
"But that only comes through daily hard work."
Keeper Moore was again in impressive form for the Bees at the weekend, but - with the exception of German's strike - it was Brentford's defensive display that caught the manager's eye.
"Simon Moore was very solid, but I don't think he had three or four unbelievable saves," he added.
"The shots from outside the box were quite comfortable and I expect that from a talented keeper like Simon. Overall I would say he had a good strong performance.
"Apart from his one mistake, Harlee Dean had an outstanding game. The two centre halves and the two full backs were very strong.
"Other players deserved to be mentioned, especially Harlee. He has been a little up and down over the months, but at a difficult place to go he has shown what a special talent he is."
Brentford are at Swindon Town on Tuesday night.


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This activity can be done with one other person, or with a group. Either way, you'll want to prepare the clues in advance.
To prepare the clues, you need to gather fun facts about mammals. You can make as many clues as you want per animal, depending on how many people will participate in the activity.
Write the clues on cards, such as recipe cards or scraps of cardboard. Punch two holes in the corner of the card and thread in the holes a twist tie.
Next take cotton swabs and dab them in a scent. We found that lemon and peppermint worked well. Vanilla discolored the swab, thus giving a visual hint (which you don't want to do). Other scents you could use might be orange, chocolate or cinnamon.
Punch one more hole in each clue card, and string on a piece of string that is long enough so you can hang it like an ornament some where outside.
Start the activity with your participants by discussing the importance of the sense of smell, for most mammals. They use their noses to detect predators or prey, to distinguish between family and non-family, to find mates and to recognize their territories.
Now give the participants the jars with the scented cotton batting inside. Don't tell them what the smells are.
At this point, you could divide the participants into teams. You could have one team take the first jar, and the second team take the other. But it's fun to do with one child as well.
The participants will walk around the space with their jar in hand. They can smell each clue. When they find a matching clue, they can take the clue and hang it from their arm.
You should tell the participants how many clues are hidden for their mammal. Once they find them all, they can sit down, read the clues together, and guess the mammal.
You could have them write their guess on the bottom of the jar. Then pick up your scents and see if they match.
Another way to play this game is to make matching jars with cotton ball scents. Divide the group into two teams. Team 1 will be the mammal mothers and Team 2 will be the babies.
Use the clue cards you made for the original activity. But instead of having them collect the cards and guess their mammal, they will instead choose to follow a trail based on the scents. This works well if you do the activity in a place where there is a spot and many trails leading from it. Participants choose their trail by following their assigned scent.


text:
RefrigeratorScience brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
On a hot summer day, a man who had no air conditioning decided that he would cool off his home by leaving the door to his refrigerator open. Does he succeed in cooling off his home?
HintDo an energy balance.
AnswerNo. All a refrigerator does is take heat from inside the unit and pump it to the back. So doing an energy balance would lead to the conclusion that no cooling overall takes place. Further investigation would reveal that the home would actually heat up since refrigerators need an electric motor to operate. This would generate additional heat, making the home hotter.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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text:
Village Hotel St David's, Nr Chester, Deeside
- Free WiFi and free parking
Main amenities
- 140 guestrooms
- Restaurant and bar/lounge
- Full-service spa
- Indoor pool
- Breakfast available
- Fitness center
- Business center
- Terrace
- 24-hour front desk
- Daily housekeeping
- ATM/banking services
- Conference space
- Free WiFi and free parking
For families
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Terrace
- Daily housekeeping
- Iron/ironing board
What's around
- In Ewloe
- Chester Cathedral (8.4 mi / 13.6 km)
- Deva Stadium (7.3 mi / 11.7 km)
- University of Chester (7.9 mi / 12.8 km)
- Chester City Walls (8.2 mi / 13.2 km)
- Chester Town Hall (8.4 mi / 13.5 km)
- Eastgate Clock (8.6 mi / 13.8 km)
- St Peter's Church (8.6 mi / 13.8 km)
- Blue Planet Aquarium (9.2 mi / 14.8 km)
- Chester Zoo (11.2 mi / 18.1 km)
- Grosvenor Museum (10.2 mi / 16.3 km)
Village Hotel St David's, Nr Chester, Deeside
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117from $60
- Family Room
- Double Room
- Double Double
- Twin Room
- Club Room
More great choices
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 140 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 2 floors
- Check-in time starts at 3 PM
- Check-out time is 11 AM
- Express check-in/out
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- No cribs (infant beds)
- Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Free self parking
In the hotel
- Full breakfast (surcharge)
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Coffee shop/café
- Room service (during limited hours)
- Indoor pool
- Pool sun loungers
- Fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Fitness classes on site
- Pilates classes on site
- Spa tub
- Steam room
- Sauna
- Business center
- Number of meeting rooms - 9
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms 9
- 24-hour front desk
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Luggage storage
- Wedding services
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built 1991
- Elevator/lift
- ATM/banking
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Terrace
- Television in common areas
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
In the room
- Iron/ironing board
- Private bathroom
- Bathtub or shower
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Flat-screen TV
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Phone
- Daily housekeeping
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Also popular with travelers from the USA
Special features
Village Spa has 4 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include massages, facials, body wraps, and body scrubs. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy.
The spa is open daily. Children under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa without adult supervision.
DiningVillage Grill - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available.
Village Pub - This pub specializes in British cuisine and serves lunch and dinner. A children's menu is available.
Starbucks - This coffee shop specializes in British cuisine and serves light fare only.
Village Hotel St David's, Nr Chester, Deeside's small print
Also known as
- Village Urban Chester St David's
- Village Urban Chester St David's Deeside
- Village Urban Resort Chester St David's
- Village Urban Resort Chester St David's Deeside
- Village Hotel St David's Nr Chester Deeside
- Village Hotel St David's Nr Chester
- Village St David's Nr Chester Deeside
- Village St David's Nr Chester
Children may access the hotel pool during limited hours. For more details, please contact the office using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
Children under 16 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool, health club, fitness facility, or spa tub without adult supervision.
Children under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa without adult supervision.
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.
Optional extras
Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge of GBP 15
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge of GBP 15
Facility access costs GBP 5.00 per accommodation, per night. Facilities include fitness facilities, a sauna, and a swimming pool.
Full breakfast is offered for an extra charge of GBP 10.00 per person (approximately)
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


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Gender Confusion in Your Child's School
Part of the Protecting Your Child's Heart at School Series
Series About:
Are "safe school" and "anti-bias" lessons in public schools really that safe for students and families with a Christian worldview?
It's a valid question considering the content in one teacher training kit that's been promoted by a national homosexual advocacy group — GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) — as a way to "end bias" in public schools. Not all "safe school" programs are suspect, but this one certainly raises alarms.
The training materials encourage classroom teachers to discuss this question: "How can we fight the traditional definitions of family?" Another question deals with "transgender" issues.
These topics put many teachers who want to respect the values of community parents in an uncomfortable, and even unfair, position. It also transforms school personnel into political activists for a sexual agenda, rather than neutral educators of our children.
This illustrates why it's a good idea for parents to pay attention and ask questions when "anti-bias" or "safe school" trainings comes to their child's school. What are other signs that some of these influences might be seeping into your school?
Watch this video to learn more:


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|Trad, 2 pitches, 180'
|YDS: 5.5 French: 4b Ewbanks: 13 UIAA: IV+ ZA: 11 British: MS 4a [details]
|John Wharton, F. Adams, B. Adams, Al Alvarez, 1958
|Page Views:
|Submitted By:
|Bob Hayes on Jul 9, 2006
|Comments on Ursula
|Add Comment
|Show which comments —
Comments displayed oldest to newest — Skip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Sep 6, 2017
By JSH
Sep 2, 2007
I enjoy Ursula a lot. That said, it's not a route I'll recommend for a new leader - to paraphrase Dizzzy, there's only a little bit of 5.7 on it ;-) and protecting it well isn't trivial - the most obvious placements are nuts in the corner, which will get a significant outward pull. It's also hard to avoid rope drag - use long slings on everything you place at & after the top of the corner. You won't be able to see your second, so consider that as well.
Carefully inspect the sling salad that is the rap station above P1 - the slung constriction has sharp edges, and I've seen it chop through a few slings over the years.
By gblauer Blauer
From: Wayne, PA
Apr 6, 2010
P2 is all that and more. It's a fun, happy jug haul from the start to the finish. I think this is one of the nicer 5.5's at the gunks.
Let's talk about P1. The photo above shows what I think is a 5.7 variation. If you climb directly into the alcove, clip the pin in the alcove and then pull the move to get out of the alcove it's 5.5 all the way. If you do the 5.7 variation, it's really thin.
By doligo
Jul 19, 2010
rating: 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
|Best 5.5 I've been on. Takes a lot of small to medium nuts on P1. Build a gear anchor in the horizontals on the belay ledge and step down so you can see your second. This also lets you get some of the shade coming from the trees.
By marcin
Nov 4, 2011
|I really enjoyed that climb. Looks like we got into 5.7 variation on P1. So it got tricky but definitely worth trying. We used mostly nuts on P1 and camalots on P2. Great station on the end of P1 to make an anchor. At the end of P2 there is a solid tree.
By Kevin Heckeler
From: Upstate New York
Apr 30, 2012
rating: 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
This is one of the better 5.5 routes at the Gunks. Pitch 1 is thin, committing, and generally well protected. I followed the route properly last year but thought it felt more like 5.7 After following on it and then leading it again this year, Pitch 1 is definitely only 5.5 The 5.7 "variation" is to the right of the route as described.
Pitch 2 I feel is PG at the start and stout for 5.5 Even as a solid 5.6/7 leader at the Gunks I felt this was on the hard side, and the gear above the initial piton/pin wss either far left/right, or just wasn't there for a few moves. There's actually two cruxy moves off the belay ledge and it moderated after that. I feel the start of Pitch 2 is PG-ish.
By BrianRH
From: Jersey City, NJ
Jul 8, 2012
|the variation on pitch 1 that breaks left and goes up to the roof and ends at some slings (on a couple of pitons and a nut) goes about 5.7 G and stays pretty dry, making it a nice variation for rainy days.
By Logan Schiff
From: Brooklyn, NY
Jul 25, 2012
rating: 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
|Great climb but stiff for the grade. I agree with Kevin that pitch 2 feels like PG at the start getting over the initial crux move.
By John Gassel
From: Boston, MA
Oct 1, 2012
rating: 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
Just did this route yesterday and really enjoyed it. My new favorite 5.5's at the Gunks. I linked pitches together on doubles and had no issues with rope drag. Makes an awesome ~180ft pitch.
Felt that the first pitch crux as very tough for the grade. Gear placement mid-crux is tricky, best to just push through it, so 5.5ish leaders beware.
Second pitch has some large wobbly blocks.
By Simon L
From: Hartford, CT
Nov 12, 2012
rating: 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
|Great climb with a whole mix of variety. P1 takes small gear, as of 11th Nov 2012 there are fresh slings at the belay/rap station. P2 is quite a bit longer, nice crux move pulling a small overhang then sustained juggy climbing up the face. Takes lots of tricams and cams in C4 0.4 range. Couple of loose blocks to watch out for. Trees at top for anchor, slung for rappel as of 11th Nov 2012.
By JSH
Apr 8, 2013
|That P1 rappel pinch eats slings for breakfast -- they HAVE to be replaced often. Inspect carefully.
By Dana Bartlett
From: CT
May 17, 2013
That P1 rappel pinch eats slings for breakfast
That's for sure.
By Ron Birk
From: Boston, MA
Jun 18, 2013
I climbed Ursula last weekend and the slings at the rap station after P1 are indeed in bad shape because of the sharp coarse rock they wrap.
I tried smoothing it out a little with my nut tool (and it got a little better), but it's nowhere as good as a file would be. Someone should really file that one small tiny edge at the anchor and the issue with the slings needed to be replaced every few months would no longer be an issue.
By kenr
Aug 4, 2013
P1 - felt to me like it was hard to point to any single move as harder than 5.5, but it's very sustained. Also seemed like several stances in a row for placing protection were fairly sloping and not as positive as you'd normally expect for placing pro on a Gunks 5.5.
Not a good choice as an early lead for someone whose previous experience is mostly indoors.
By ARMoss
Aug 17, 2013
rating: 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
|Great route! Not a 5.5!! Fun, fidgety first pitch followed by a steep, exposed second pitch not unlike High Exposure. Like nearly everyone else has said in one way or another, calling this a 5.5 is a great way to get a new leader seriously hurt.
By Derick L
From: Philadelphia, PA
May 19, 2014
|Guy climbing before I led this added a new blue sling at the top of P1 on 5/18/14. I added a grey one at the top of P2.
By Justin Compton
From: Lafayette, CO
May 22, 2014
rating: 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
|If you're climbing with a 70m the easiest descent is to walk north 40 ft and scramble down to a tree with slings around it. It's one rap to the ground and you can see the tree with the slings around it if you look north after topping out the second pitch.
By Pawel Janowski
From: WA
Jun 8, 2014
rating: 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
|The rappel option Justin Compton speaks about is also good for a 60m. You'll have to very easily downclimb the last 7 or 8 feet, and it's a single rappel. Better than rappeling down Ursula over parties that are coming up.
By Gunkiemike
May 22, 2015
|The tree in the above 2 comments is now dead. Probably will be useably solid for another year though.
By WillamR
Jun 21, 2015
rating: 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
|This is my 3rd season leading, and I'm breaking into the 5.9 range, and I would not call this a gimme at even 5.7 on the route I used. This was the last climb of a fairly big day, but I was hoping for the happy 5.5 that the local guide told us this would be. I echo the comments above. 5.5 leaders be warned.
By Jon Po
From: Mahwah, NJ
Feb 22, 2016
rating: 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
|Perhaps one of the biggest sandbags I know of in the Gunks... Great route but it's not 5.5
By Pierce L
From: NY
Sep 6, 2017
|My 4th trad lead. I found it fairly nice. I think the route is pretty close to 5.6. Used a standard rack used mostly my nuts maybe 1 small x4 cam and a marginal #3 on the second pitch. Rapped using a 60 and 70 together to get to the ground didn't stop at the ledge.


text: ANSI/BHMA A156.6 - 2010 American National Standard * required fields From* To* Message cancel A156.6 – 2010 includes strength and finish tests, as well as dimensional and material criteria for architectural door hardware. Included in the architectural door hardware category are door protection plates, door edgings, push plates, door pulls, push bars, and pull bars. The revision to this standard clarifies that door edging mortise applications are limited to wood and laminate door materials, the door squareness tolerance, and updates the editions of each referenced standard and its formatting. For more information or to purchase additional copies of the standard, visit www.buildershardware.com.


text:
Prize Recipient
R. Bruce Partridge
Haverford College
"For his internationally recognized research in the study of the cosmic microwave background radiation and for his enthusiastic, conscientious and outstanding commitment to the guidance of the graduate students participating in his research."
Selection Committee:
J.J. Whitmore, Chair; J.P. Gollub; M. Brodsky; L.R. Hunter; T.M. Helliwell


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FamousWhy.com is your daily source for keeping your computer up-to-date with the most recent drivers and software. We strongly recommend you to stay updated to avoid a lot of problems like system crashes and others.
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November 7, 2013
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Rereading Nate Silver: 4. Pitcher Breakouts
In which Nate introduces us to his projection system's attitude toward pitchers, undoubtedly surprising many at the time if not our more modern audience.
PECOTA Speaks
Abstract: Nate repeats his exercise from a week earlier, using PECOTA to go over Peter Gammons' industry-sourced "breakout" list, this time with pitchers. PECOTA, and Nate, are predictably cautious, noting that nearly every breakout candidate carries a great deal of risk, particularly those pitchers who haven't cleared the injury Nexus. For instance, Jake Peavy's breakout rate as a 22-year-old was 8 percent, according to PECOTA. But when Nate forced the system to age him three years, giving him all the same stats and history but declaring him 25 years old, the system tripled that breakout rate, while substantially cutting his collapse rate.
Key Quote: "The Breakout scores are driven by a half-century of empirical data, and over the long run, ought to be roughly accurate; one out of five players with a Breakout score of 20% will go on to have a breakout season, and so on. PECOTA has no way to distinguish the one player from the other four; a good scout might. Scouting and statistical analysis are sometimes presented as opposing approaches to player evaluation, but there is no reason why that need be the case. Baseball has reluctantly entered the information era, and the ability of teams to use both types of analysis in concert with one another will be a key driver of success."
Joke (?) I didn't get but that probably tells you a bit about Nate Silver: "I tested the injury nexus theory by prematurely aging Peavy by exactly three years and re-running his PECOTA projection; all of his other statistics and attributes were left intact (as a college sophomore, I tried a similar trick with a scanner and an early build of Photoshop, but without so much success)."
Tables: 0
On the Nate Silver Must-Read Scale: 1
Sam Miller is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @SamMillerBB
3 comments have been left for this article.
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Josh A
I think the joke is that he scanned a picture of himself and tried to age the photo in photoshop, no?
Nov 07, 2013 13:19 PM
Sam Miller
BP staff
Ooh, college sophomore equals 19ish years old, too young to go to bars or casinos, so it makes sense! Now the question is whether it was a joke or an honest effort recalled.
Nov 07, 2013 13:39 PM
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