Only later, after searching the archives, do I discover why my colleagues fixed me with such vacant stares: I wrote that story back in 1996. Even our most loyal readers, the ones who keep piles of old HCNs in their garages and bathrooms alongside boxes of National Geographics, have likely forgotten my majestic prose and would appreciate a fresh take on the subject.

I went through a similar process when Terry Greene Sterling first pitched this issue's cover story on the Salton Sea. Contributing editor Michelle Nijhuis did a fine piece on Southern California's accidental inland sea back in 2000. What more was there to say? Plenty, it turns out. Seven years ago, Salton Sea boosters were cautiously optimistic that federal and state money would pump new life into the drying, irrigation-fed body of water and the struggling tourism and retirement economy it supports.

Disney's king of the villains

Movie debut: Tiger Lily bound for Hollywood Jonathon Rhys Meyers: August Rush strikes a chord What's on: Leigh Paatsch's Film Reviews Best Actor: Day-Lewis 'knighted' by Dame Helen In the ring: Foxx to play Tyson on big screen Stepping in : Farrell's Heath role trauma Definitely Maybe: Ryan Reynolds is kidding around Telling stories: Talking from the heart Wedding talk: Kidman's big bucks are 'hard-earned' Video backing: Jack comes down for Hill Baring all: Barton sheds girl-next-door image Lucky Bana: All the king's women Podcast: Disney's king of the villains Podcast: Python still bites Feast of Love: Radha explores a dark romance .

Jail bird: Ferocious goose terrorizes north Chico street

Chico police Sgt. Linda McKinnon (in car window) had to lock a Canada goose in the back seat of her patrol car Thursday after the animal reportedly attacked several north Chico residents. The goose was later released near Horseshoe Lake in upper Bidwell Park.(Ty Barbour/Enterprise-Record)<p class='dotPhoto'>All Chico E-R photos are available <a href='http://chicoer.mycapture.com/'>here</a>.</p> .

Democratic Debate: Obama Wins Fixed Fight

Coming back from the break, Hillary was helped back into her seat by a stagehand, and I could swear I heard her say, "Cut me, Mick, cut me!"Obama scored big when they played the "Celestial Choir" clip (by "mistake"), and remarked with aplomb, "Sounds good!"Russert did launch into a couple of ridiculous "Gotcha's" on Obama, along the lines of, "Farrakhan endorsed you, your pastor likes Farrakhan, doesn't that then mean you have Cooties?"Obama answered well, but Hillary went back at him and forced him to reject Farrakhan's endorsement, an unusual surrender for one of these debates. These two candidates agree on much of the substance, so much of these debates rest on the perception game. Obama was cool and confident, while Hillary was clearly pressing. The only silver lining here is the possibility that the moderators' unbalanced pressure on Hillary engenders support for her, a thin hope indeed.Update: TFitz, I saw you on the preview, hope you make it here.

Your Place: Garage door balky? Some WD-40 won't hurt

Question: When the temperature is very cold, my garage door opens about a foot and then stops. If I disconnect the automatic opener, I can open the door manually without a problem. If I reconnect the opener, the door opens normally. Do you have any ideas about the cause of the problem and any possible solutions? Answer: The cold is probably to blame. When this happened a few years ago with my garage door, I lubricated the drive in the middle - where the emergency release is attached - and it fixed the problem. I think the original lubricant on the screw drive either wore off or got thicker because of the colder temperatures. I sprayed WD-40 on the screw drive, and the door opened just fine. Your problem may not be exactly like mine, but my solution is worth a try. Q: Within six months of moving into my home, I was diagnosed with asthma and eventually developed a sinus infection that recurred for 10 months.

June 2006

Ante up the cost of three or four kids and the sum gives new meaning to the term: mid life crisis.

"(Higher) education is at a crisis point, the result of uncontrolled cost increases over the past 20 years that have greatly exceeded the rate of inflation or annual consumer price indexes," the Houston Chronicle observes in an editorial. "Tuition forces parents to pull all-nighters, too," adds Paul Daugherty in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Forced to kill

All fatally shot someone while trying to protect themselves. None was charged. But all four say the killings altered their lives.May 19, 2000Roy Parker, asleep upstairs at home, heard the doorbell ring, then loud banging. Clutching a revolver, he ran to the sunroom. "Stop!" Parker yelled. Outside, a man threw an iron patio chair against the window, shattering it. Parker fired two shots, safety bullets that are designed to disintegrate on impact. The man swung the chair again. The remaining bullets were real. Parker aimed a third time and fired.Parker said he never second-guessed his actions.He said officers who responded to the shooting of Mitchell Regis, 24, told him they would have done the same thing. Parker said he never wrestled with guilt.But after the initial shock wore off, Parker found his mind replaying the event, the loop endless.