Dictionary Adds Terms Like Chick Flick

Dictionary Adds Terms Like Chick Flick

By ADAM GORLICK, Associated Press Writer
Mon Oct 3, 6:59 AM ET

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Go ahead, treat yourself. Check out the latest chick flick, get a bikini wax or enjoy an ice cream that might give you a brain freeze.

And if you're not sure what you're getting yourself into, it might be wise to consult the latest edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary which formally defines those terms that have taken root in American conversation.

The words are joined by 15 other new entries that make up the 1,664 pages of the newly published book. So if you're not interested in movies meant to appeal to women, discreet hair removal procedures or running the risk of feeling a sudden shooting pain in the head caused by ingesting very cold food, maybe there's another endeavor to catch your fancy.

Try steganography, the "art or practice of concealing a message, image, or file within another message, image, or file." That may not be the latest craze among hobbyists, but it's an activity that caught the attention of Merriam-Webster's lexicographers.

"We have editors who spend a part of each day reading magazines and newspapers, looking for evidence of how words are being more commonly used," said John Morse, Merriam-Webster's president and publisher. "We're looking for words that show up in the contexts that the average adult might encounter."

The new words offer explanations of emerging technologies and careers, thereby reflecting changes and developments in American society. You could try your hand at being a cybrarian (a person who finds, collects, and manages information available on the Internet,) or as a hospitalist ("a physician who specializes in treating hospitalized patients of other physicians in order to minimize the number of hospital visits by other physicians.")

The Springfield-based dictionary publisher has an ongoing list of about 17 million words it monitors. Every year, a few of them make it into print, followed by a succinct definition. Once a decade, the Collegiate Dictionary is completely rewritten, with some old words tossed out to accommodate the influx of about 10,000 of the latest nouns, verbs and adjectives. The last rewrite was done in 2003.

It takes about 10 years for a promising word to get into the dictionary from the time it first gets noticed. But some have a speedy rise to Merriam-Webster legitimacy, depending on the urgency of their meaning and impact

Among this year's fastest climbers is SARS, the acronym for the severe acute respiratory syndrome that began making headlines just two years ago with an outbreak in China.

"That was enough of a public health concern to get it in the dictionary right away," Morse said. "Now, one of two things could happen. Either we'll never hear about SARS again, and if so, I've wasted three lines of type in the dictionary. Or it will come back, and everyone will go to the dictionary in a time of need to see how SARS is defined."

Merriam-Webster is also recognizing civil unions, which have been talked about enough in social and political circles to earn a place in the Collegiate's latest edition.

The dictionary dates the term's genesis to 1992. But a Vermont lawmaker insists it wasn't really coined until 2000, when his state became the country's first to establish the legal rights of same-sex couples.

"We needed to decide a name for this, and we just didn't have one," said Bill Lippert, a Democrat who now chairs the Legislature's House Judiciary Committee. "Somewhere, someone said `civil union,' and we all said `oh, that sounds good.' It was a name that did what we wanted it to do. It was new, it designated that the fact that this was a civil act, and it suggested the bringing together of a union."

Others terms seem like they've been a long time coming.

Merriam-Webster traces the bikini wax's origins to 1985, and some spa owners say it's about time the hair-removal procedure made it into the dictionary.

"Bikini waxes are now old hat," said Shannon Fluery, owner of the Brooks and Butterfield Day Spa in Northampton, where as many as 40 women come in for a bikini wax each week. "It's not such a taboo as it used to be. People wouldn't talk about it too much and just did them at home. But salons have definitely picked up on them, and now they're very, very common."

At last, Merriam-Webster agreed.

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Following is a partial list of new words and their definitions being entered into this year's edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

Amuse-bouche (noun): a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants.

Battle dress uniform (noun): a military uniform for field service.

DHS (abbreviation) : Department of Homeland Security.

Hazmat (noun): a material (as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions.

Metadata (noun): data that provide information about other data.

Otology (noun): a science that deals with the ear and its diseases.

Retronym (noun): a term consisting of a noun and a modifier which specifies the original meaning of the noun. ("Film camera," for instance).

Tide pool (noun): a pool of salt water left (as in a rock basin) by an ebbing tide, called also tidal pool.

Wi-Fi (certification mark): used to certify the interoperability of wireless computer networking devices.

Zaibatsu (noun): a powerful financial and industrial conglomerate of Japan.

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On the Net: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Can Friends Become Lovers?

Can Friends Become Lovers?

Brought to you by Kimberly Dawn Neumann and Match.com!

Pretty much everyone has had a close friend who's fantastic, funny, always there when we need a sympathetic ear... and who also makes our heart do little flips and wonder "What if...?" True, anyone who's watched When Harry Met Sally knows that getting passionate with a pal is a tricky endeavor. But if it works, it's also totally romantic. So if your buddy's been on your mind all too often of late and you want to see if you can be more than just amigos, read on for some step-by-step advice from relationship experts and real people on how to proceed without losing face--or the friendship.

Step 1: Look before you leap
The most important thing you should do before you act is this: THINK! You might absolutely be on the verge of something wonderful, but then again, it might be a fleeting moment of loneliness or lust that leads you astray. "I have had a few friendships that could have been more at one time, but I always try to let that first impulse pass," says Jennifer of Brooklyn, NY. "If it is meant to be, that feeling will happen again. If it was a passing fancy, then there will be no awkward conversation over what happened 'that night.'"

While waiting for repeated waves of more-than-friendly feelings is a wise idea, you should also ask yourself this: Why haven't you dated this person before? "Sometimes it's simply that you met when one of you was involved in a relationship or something else distracting, like writing a doctoral dissertation, caring for an older parent or whatever life put on your plate," says Joni Mantell, a psychotherapist and relationship coach in New York City. If that's the case -- and if this hurdle has since disappeared -- then it might be a prime time to redefine your relationship. If, on the other hand, you two have had windows of opportunity to get intimate in the past and passed them up, then maybe it was for good reason.

The bottom line: Figuring out what's triggered your change of heart is crucial. "It might be because your friend comes through for you in a crisis like no one in your life ever did, and this makes you realize how special this person is to you," says Mantell. If that's the case, does that necessarily mean a romantic relationship is in the cards? Another possibility is that you have given some thought to your patterns in relationships (in therapy or by yourself), and you realize you would rather date a "nice" man or woman instead of the more exciting, dangerous prospects you were pursuing. "In other words, you are growing up and letting go of old baggage," says Mantell. That's a good reason to seriously consider giving this a shot.

Step 2: Test the waters
So you've decided that your emotions are the real deal... but what about your friend's feelings? Are you two on the same page, or is the object of your affection blissfully unaware that you two could click that way? To determine the answer, ask yourself these questions: Are you the first person they share good (or bad) news with and vice versa? Are they jealous or critical of your dates and partners? Are they possessive about spending time with just you rather than along with others? Do they compliment you as a date would (i.e. "You look beautiful in that dress" or "Man, you're looking handsome today")? Is the amount of time you are spending together increasing? A "yes" to several of these could mean the attraction is indeed mutual.

You can also try dropping hints, which can not only help you gauge their reaction but plant the seed in their minds if they haven't yet entertained the thought of coupledom. Laurie Puhn, author of Instant Persuasion: How To Change Your Words And Change Your Life, suggests trying something like, "You know, I date, but none of the people I go out with really compare to you," or "I was talking to Jane the other night and when she bumped into us she thought we were on a date. Isn?t that funny?" "If the other person says something like 'Yeah, I was thinking that too. It does seem like we're dating' or, if they smile, it's a good reaction," says Puhn. If they look uncomfortable or change the topic, that's not a good sign--but since your comment was so innocuous, it should easily blow over.

Step 3: Make your move
You're pretty sure the sparks are there on both sides... now what? Should you lunge in for a lip-lock the next time you're together, and pray your pal doesn't recoil? Understandably, that prospect can be terrifying, so consider a more subtle move like taking their arm or reaching for their hand during a movie or while consider this stealthy move: "Say, 'I wonder what it would be like if we were dating,'" suggests Mantell. "This style of musing and imagining is good for a safe but playful start which could lead to a kiss or a conversation about you two dating at the very least." If they do say, "Let's just be friends," Mantell suggests that you be ready to reassure them it's OK. But recognize that there is the possibility things may be weird after that. If you decide you can still hang out together, you can alleviate your buddy's discomfort (and your own) by talking about other people you?re interested in, whether that's some new coworker or a cutie?s profile you saw online.

Step 4: Steam things up!
It happened: You two are kissing--and maybe more. While it might be nice to think that you'll click instantly since you know each other so well, familiarity can work against you. "The first contact might be awkward," says Mantell. "Our society is more accustomed to romance built on pure fantasy, and that is harder to do with a friend." Mantell urges that transitioning couples shouldn't give up right away if the chemistry is off. "Acknowledge the uneasiness, make a joke saying something like 'Well, we know each other too well to be relaxed.'" Another option is to promise each other you'll go really slowly until you get used to this new way of interacting. "A classic sex therapy technique is foreplay only, no intercourse, until both people are really comfortable," says Mantell. Try it until you have to break the no-intercourse rule... and then you know the technique worked.

One major caveat: While having sex doesn't have to mean you two are officially an item, the fact that you're already so close can raise romantic expectations. So whether you're interested in pursuing a serious relationship with this person or just out to satisfy your curiosity and keep things casual, it's crucial that you communicate your expectations and hopes -- and have a handle on theirs -- before getting hot and heavy. Just say, "I'm really attracted to you but want to make sure we're on the same page so nobody's feelings get hurt..." and explain your stance from there. You two may forge ahead even if you don't see eye-to-eye, but at least it's on the table. Everyone you sleep with deserves that much, but friends especially do, don't you think?

Step 5: Announce your new status
If you two do seem to be hitting it off, you may start wondering whether to make your budding relationship public--after all, you may be excited, worried, or otherwise dying to talk about it with someone other than the pal you just got passionate with! But breaking the news also requires some caution. The rule of thumb here? Find out how your new amour feels about it and always defer to the wishes of the more private party. Keep in mind that as soon as you involve friends and family, there will be more pressure on your evolving relationship, so it's OK to give yourselves time to adjust.

Also keep in mind that there's a difference between keeping your relationship private and keeping it an airtight secret. In other words, you may want to let certain people in on the news--especially those close to you both. Those are the people who might feel deceived or left out if they learn your couple status later on. In those instances, one of you (both may feel like you're ganging up) should take that person aside and say, "You know how John/Jane and I hang out all the time? We kind of both realized that we liked each other, and now we're dating." Answer their questions, but keep in mind that you shouldn't spill all the details; when in doubt ask yourself, "Would I talk about that if my new partner were in this room?" If the answer is no, keep your lip zipped.

Also know that while you may try to be discreet, people will probably start getting an inkling that something has shifted, and it can be damaging to deny it, says Joyce Catlett, author of Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships. "Don't try to hide the status of your new relationship by holding back physical expressions of your tenderness and affection when other people are around," says Catlett. "Protecting yourself this way can have negative consequences and can make you feel more self-conscious or awkward, even during those times when the two of you are alone." The bottom line is, you and your pal-turned-paramour should be ecstatic that you've found a soul mate so close to home. Who cares if you're fodder for the gossip mill for awhile?

Kimberly Dawn Neumann is a writer and Broadway performer in New York City who has never crossed that line with a "friend" but after writing this piece, she's now wondering if she should've gone for it with a couple of them.

Did You Hear? Karen Williams mentioned for open U.S. Supreme Court slot?

4th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Karen Williams

By NANCY C. WOOTEN, T&D Features Editor

Orangeburg's own federal appellate court judge, Judge Karen Williams of the Richmond, Va.-based 4th Circuit, has been mentioned as a possible replacement to retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor by respected news sources.

Justice O'Connor, 75, appointed as the first woman on the court in 1981, said Friday she will retire upon the naming of a successor. President George W. Bush will nominate a replacement and thereby affect the future direction of American law.

Because Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, 80, who suffers from thyroid cancer, had been expected to retire, short lists of possible successors had been prepared earlier in this week. When O'Connor made her announcement, those lists, as well as new ones, made their way onto wire reports, Web news sites and blogs.

Judge Williams was named on the CBS News Midday Report Friday as one of three women on a list prepared after the O'Connor announcement.

Greg Stohr, a reporter for Bloomberg.com, an online news service, reported that the departure of the court's first female justice may put pressure on Bush to nominate a woman to accompany the only remaining female on the bench, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The list of possibilities Stohr provided, in addition to Judge Williams, was Judges Edith Jones and Edith Brown Clement of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Susan Black of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit and Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington.

Judge Williams also was listed on campaignline.blogspot.com among eight female judges whom President Bush might choose to fill the seat. On the University of Pittsburgh's Law Web site, known as jurist.law.pitt.edu, Judge Williams is listed as a potential Bush nominee in a mini-Guide to future Supreme Court appointments obviously written before the O'Connor announcement.

Williams is the former Karen Johnson of Orangeburg. She married Charles H. Williams, son of the late state Sen. Marshall Williams, and graduated from Columbia College. The Williamses have four children and four grandchildren. After teaching school, she graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law and practiced in the law firm of Williams and Williams. At the proposal of U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, Williams was nominated to the appeals court by President George H.W. Bush, father of the current president. She has remained very active in the Orangeburg community as a member of First Baptist Church and various civic organizations.

Most news sources expect President George W. Bush to nominate a judicial conservative, and the Fourth Circuit is known as the most conservative of the appeals courts. Two other Fourth Circuit judges, both males, had been on the short list prepared when Rehnquist was expected to be the first to retire: Judges J. Michael Luttig and James Harvie Wilkinson III. Now that O'Connor is retiring, the pressure to appoint a woman will be greater. The past six Supreme Court nominees have come from one of the Circuit Courts of Appeals. Judge Williams is the only Circuit Court appointee of the senior President Bush who is under 55.

Source: http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2005/07/01/news/doc42c6133da9553066639155.prt

Paris Hilton, Greek Heir End Engagement

Paris Hilton, Greek Heir End Engagement

By Associated Press
Sat Oct 1, 1:21 AM

LOS ANGELES - Paris Hilton has ended her five-month engagement to a Greek shipping heir. The celebutante-turned-model broke off the wedding plans with Paris Latsis, according to a report posted Friday on Us Weekly's Web site, which quoted a statement it said Hilton released to the magazine.

"I'm sad to announce that I've called off my engagement. Over the last couple months I've realized that this is the right decision for me. We remain best of friends, and I'll always love him. I hope people will respect my privacy during this emotional time," Hilton told the magazine.

Hilton's publicist did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

Hilton, 24 and Latsis, 22, became engaged in the spring.

"I'm so in love and grateful to have found such an honest and loyal person," she told Us Weekly at the time. "I feel like we were meant to be, and I'm happy to have found someone to spend the rest of my life with. He's amazing in every way."

Latsis gave the 24-year-old hotel heiress a 24 carat, $5 million diamond engagement ring. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the ring.

___

On the Net:

http://www.usmagazine.com/

Roberts Starts Work at Supreme Court

Roberts Starts Work at Supreme Court

Fri Sep 30,11:08 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Chief Justice John Roberts was getting ready for his first bench appearance and dealing with personnel matters on Friday, his first day on the job.

Roberts, 50, was confirmed by the Senate a day earlier as the nation's youngest chief justice in two centuries.

His new office suite in the Supreme Court faces away from the Capitol. The space had also been used by William H. Rehnquist, the chief justice who died on Sept. 3 after a yearlong battle with thyroid cancer.

Roberts has asked Rehnquist's staff to stay, and he has hired Rehnquist's three law clerks. In addition, he will bring two law clerks and a secretary from his previous job as an appeals court judge.

Roberts, who had been a Supreme Court law clerk in 1980-81, made the rounds of the court on Friday, greeting employees.

One of his first actions was to make public his policy for dealing with cases in which a relative is a lawyer. Roberts, whose wife is a partner at a Washington law firm, said he would follow the recusal practice used by most of the other justices. The justices stay out of cases if they have a direct financial interest, through the relative.

Among Roberts' first duties Monday will be presiding over arguments in two cases.

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On the Net:

Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov

Carson Desk to Head for Auction Block

Carson Desk to Head for Auction Block

Thu Sep 29, 7:53 AM ET

DALLAS - The rosewood desk Johnny Carson sat behind for countless celebrity interviews is among several "Tonight Show" items headed for the auction block.

"If the microphone was his pen and sword, the desk was his field of battle," said Doug Norwine, director of Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers' music and entertainment memorabilia. "This is a desk with a story."

In April, Heritage Galleries sold Carson's on-air microphone at auction for $50,787.

Among the unique features of the gold-colored, inlaid top desk: a hidden, sliding ashtray holder Carson used to conceal his lit cigarettes; a trash bin; and a lining of orange shag carpet with a burn mark from the time Carson set fire to his index cards after his jokes kept tanking.

Carson, who hosted "The Tonight Show" from 1962 to 1992, used the desk between 1974 and 1981. He died in January at age 79.

The auction will be held on Oct. 8. A minimum reserve won't be announced until seven days before the auction.

Other memorabilia up for grabs: a studio clock, a 3-foot-square section of flooring Carson stood on to deliver his monologue from August 1985 to May 1992, and audio recordings he made in 1949 at the University of Nebraska for his senior thesis, "How to Write Comedy for Radio."

Norwine said the items were consigned by "someone connected to the entertainment industry" who wants to remain anonymous.

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On the Net:

http://www.HeritageGalleries.com

Overdue Credit Card Bills Hit Record High

Overdue Credit Card Bills Hit Record High

By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer
Wed Sep 28, 7:01 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Charge it! That familiar refrain is producing an unwanted response for more Americans: Your bill is overdue! Surging energy prices, low personal savings and the higher cost of borrowing have combined to produce a record level of overdue credit card bills.

The American Bankers Association reported Wednesday that the percentage of credit card accounts 30 or more days past due climbed to an all-time high of 4.81 percent in the April-to-June period. It could grow in the months ahead, experts said.

The previous high of 4.76 percent came during the first three months of the year, in keeping with a generally steady rise over the past several years.

"The last two quarters have not been pretty," said Jim Chessen, the association's chief economist.

Chessen and other analysts mostly blamed high prices for gasoline and other energy products, but said that low savings and higher borrowing costs also played a role.

"The rise in gas prices is really stretching budgets to the breaking point for some people," Chessen said. "Gas prices are taking huge chunks out of wallets, leaving some individuals with little left to meet their financial obligations."

Pump prices were high before hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast. After Katrina, prices jumped past $3 a gallon. Prices have moderated since but remain high.

The personal savings rate dipped to a record low of negative 0.6 percent in July. The negative percentage means that people did not have enough left over after paying their taxes to cover all of their spending in July. As a result, they dipped into savings to cover the shortfall.

When people have less money available money to pay for energy costs or emergencies such as a big car repair, many resort to credit. That option is getting more expensive, too.

The Federal Reserve has been tightening credit since June 2004. That has caused commercial banks' prime lending rate to rise to 6.75 percent, the highest in four years. These rates are used for many short-term consumer loans, including credit cards and popular home equity lines of credit.

Late payments may be bad news for consumers, but credit card companies do not necessarily mind them because late fees are a source of revenue.

"Credit card companies are increasingly addicted to their fees," said Daniel Ray, editor-in-chief at Bankrate.com, an online financial service. "Six years ago, all fees — including late fees — contributed only a minor portion to overall revenue. Today it accounts for more than 30 percent."

About half of all credit problems stem from poor money management. Credit problems due to the loss of a job, sickness or divorce play less of a role, said personal finance expert Susan Tiffany, director of consumer publishing at the Credit Union National Association.

"That tells us people have some ability to do a better job. They are not completely helpless in the situation, and that's good," said Tiffany, whose trade group also is involved in efforts to improve people's financial literacy.

Getting back on the road to financial health takes discipline and hard choices about what can be cut back or eliminated. If credit card problems are plaguing a family, all the members should work together to come up with a plan and pare down spending.

From an economic perspective, the current rise in delinquent credit card payments is not overly worrisome. But if the trend were to continue for a sustained period, it could spell trouble for the overall economy, said Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Bank of America's Investment Strategies Group.

"It's a flashing yellow light that we need to watch," she said.

___

On the Net:

American Bankers Association: http://www.aba.com/

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Bill's Comment: DUH!

Brown Blames 'Dysfunctional' Louisiana

Brown Blames 'Dysfunctional' Louisiana

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Sep 27,12:30 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Former FEMA director Michael Brown aggressively defended his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday and blamed most coordination failures on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

He also said that in the days before the storm, he expressed his concerns that "this is going to be a bad one" in phone conversations and e-mails with President Bush, White House chief of staff Andy Card and deputy chief of staff Joe Hagin.

And he blamed the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for not acquiring better equipment ahead of the storm.

His efforts to shift blame drew sharp criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike.

"I'm happy you left," said Rep. Christopher Shays (news, bio, voting record), R-Conn. "That kind of look in the lights like a deer tells me you weren't capable of doing that job."

Rep. Gene Taylor (news, bio, voting record), D-Miss., told Brown: "The disconnect was, people thought there was some federal expertise out there. There wasn't. Not from you."

Brown appeared before a special congressional panel set up by House Republican leaders to investigate the catastrophe.

"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional," two days before the storm hit, Brown told the panel.

Brown, who for many became a symbol of government failures in the natural disaster that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, rejected accusations that he was too inexperienced for the job.

"I've overseen over 150 presidentially declared disasters. I know what I'm doing, and I think I do a pretty darn good job of it," he said.

Brown resigned as the head of FEMA earlier this month after being removed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff from responsibility in the stricken areas. Brown will remain on the FEMA payroll for two more weeks, advising the agency, said Russ Knocke, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

Brown, who joined FEMA in 2001 and ran it for more than two years, was previously an attorney who held several local government and private posts, including leading the International Arabian Horse Association.

Brown's testimony drew a scathing response from Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record), D-La.

"I find it absolutely stunning that this hearing would start out with you, Mr. Brown, laying the blame for FEMA's failings at the feet of the governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans."

And in a testy exchange, Shays compared Brown's performance unfavorably with that of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"So I guess you want me to be the superhero, to step in there and take everyone out of New Orleans," Brown said.

"What I wanted you to do is do your job and coordinate," Shays retorted.

"I'm happy to be called not a Rudy Giuliani...a scapegoat ... if it means that FEMA that I knew when I came here is going to be able to be reborn," Brown said.

Criticized by Shays for not acquiring better equipment in advance that would have let different emergency agencies communicate with each other, Brown blamed the Department of Homeland Security.

"We put that money in our budget request and it was removed by the Department of Homeland Security" before the budget was finalized, he said.

Brown also said he was "just tired and misspoke" when a television interviewer appeared to be the first to tell him that there were desperate residents at the New Orleans Convention Center.

Brown testified that he had already learned, one day before the interview, that people were flocking to the center.

Brown in his opening statement said he had made several "specific mistakes" in dealing with the storm, and listed two.

One, he said, was not having more media briefings.

As to the other, he said: "I very strongly personally regret that I was unable to persuade Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin to sit down, get over their differences, and work together. I just couldn't pull that off."

Both Blanco and Nagin are Democrats.

In Baton Rouge, La., Blanco's press secretary, Denise Bottcher, ridiculed Brown's line of attack. "Mike Brown wasn't engaged then, and he surely isn't now. He should have been watching CNN instead of the Disney Channel," Bottcher said.

"The people of FEMA are being tired of being beat up, and they don't deserve it," Brown said.

The hearing was largely boycotted by Democrats, who want an independent investigation conducted into government failures, not one run by congressional Republicans.

But several Democrats from the stricken region, including Jefferson and Taylor, attended.

Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., cautioned against too narrowly assigning blame.

"At the end of the day, I suspect that we'll find that government at all levels failed the people of Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama and the Gulf Coast," said Davis.

He pushed Brown on what he and the agency he led should have done to evacuate New Orleans, restore order in the city and improve communication among law enforcement agencies.

Brown said: "Those are not FEMA roles. FEMA doesn't evacuate communities. FEMA does not do law enforcement. FEMA does not do communications."

In part of his testimony, Brown pumped his hand up and down for emphasis.

Brown said the lack of a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans before the storm was "the tipping point for all the other things that went wrong." Brown said he had personally pushed Louisiana Gov. Blanco to order such an evacuation.

He did not have the authority to order the city evacuated on his own, Brown said.

When asked by Rep. Harold Rogers (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky, whether the lack of an ordered evacuation was "the proximate cause of most people's misery," Brown said, "Yes."

Don Adams of 'Get Smart' Dies at 82

Don Adams of 'Get Smart' Dies at 82

By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer
Mon Sep 26, 6:46 PM ET


LOS ANGELES - Don Adams, the wry-voiced comedian who starred as the fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the 1960s TV spoof of James Bond movies, "Get Smart," has died. He was 82.

Adams died of a lung infection late Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his friend and former agent Bruce Tufeld said Monday, adding that the actor broke his hip a year ago and had been in ill health since.

As the inept Agent 86 of the super-secret federal agency CONTROL, Adams captured TV viewers with his antics in combatting the evil agents of KAOS. When his explanations failed to convince the villains or his boss, he tried another tack:

"Would you believe ... ?"

It became a national catchphrase.

Smart was also prone to spilling things on the desk or person of his boss — the Chief (actor Edward Platt). Smart's apologetic "Sorry about that, chief" also entered the American lexicon.

The spy gadgets, which aped those of the Bond movies, were a popular feature, especially the pre-cellphone telephone in a shoe.

Smart's beautiful partner, Agent 99, played by Barbara Feldon, was as brainy as he was dense, and a plot romance led to marriage and the birth of twins later in the series.

"He had this prodigious energy, so as an actor working with him it was like being plugged into an electric current," Feldon said from New York. "He would start and a scene would just take off and you were there for the ride. It was great fun acting with him."

Adams was very intelligent, she said, a quality that suited the satiric show that had comedy geniuses Mel Brooks and Buck Henry behind it.

"He wrote poetry, he had an interest in history ... He had that other side to him that does not come through Maxwell Smart," she said. "Don in person was anything but bumbling."

Adams had an "amazing memory" that allowed him to take an unusual approach to filming, Feldon said.

Instead of learning his lines ahead of time he would have a script assistant read his part to him just once or twice. He invariably got it right but that didn't stop people from placing bets on it, she recounted.

Adams, who had been under contract to NBC, was lukewarm about doing a spy spoof. When he learned that Brooks and Henry had written the pilot script, he accepted immediately. "Get Smart" debuted on NBC in September 1965 and scored No. 12 among the season's most-watched series and No. 22 in its second season.

"Get Smart" twice won the Emmy for best comedy series with three Emmys for Adams as comedy actor.

CBS picked up the show but the ratings fell off as the jokes seemed repetitive, and it was canceled after four seasons. The show lived on in syndication and a cartoon series. In 1995 the Fox network revived the series with Smart as chief and 99 as a congresswoman. It lasted seven episodes.

Adams never had another showcase to display his comic talent.

"It was a special show that became a cult classic of sorts, and I made a lot of money for it," he remarked of "Get Smart" in a 1995 interview. "But it also hindered me career-wise because I was typed. The character was so strong, particularly because of that distinctive voice, that nobody could picture me in any other type of role."

He was born Donald James Yarmy in New York City on April 13, 1923, Tufeld said, although some sources say 1926 or '27. The actor's father was a Hungarian Jew who ran a few small restaurants in the Bronx.

In a 1959 interview Adams said he never cared about being funny as a kid: "Sometimes I wonder how I got into comedy at all. I did movie star impressions as a kid in high school. Somehow they just got out of hand."

In 1941, he dropped out of school to join the Marines. In Guadalcanal he survived the deadly blackwater fever and was returned to the States to become a drill instructor, acquiring the clipped delivery that served him well as a comedian.

After the war he worked in New York as a commercial artist by day, doing standup comedy in clubs at night, taking the surname of his first wife, Adelaide Adams. His following grew, and soon he was appearing on the Ed Sullivan and late-night TV shows. Bill Dana, who had helped him develop comedy routines, cast him as his sidekick on Dana's show. That led to the NBC contract and "Get Smart."

Adams, who married and divorced three times and had seven children, served as the voice for the popular cartoon series, "Inspector Gadget" as well as the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo. In 1980, he appeared as Maxwell Smart in a feature film, "The Nude Bomb," about a madman whose bomb destroyed people's clothing.

Tufeld said funeral arrangements were incomplete.