Captivity

Mystic, Connecticut.--Terry Anderson doesn't talk like a man who spent 2,455 days as a hostage in Lebanon. He speaks gently, his demeanor is serene.It is apparent that Mr. Anderson accomplished something extraordinary despite his seven years of imprisonment by radical Shiite Muslims. He emerged from his captivity a whole person, respectful of others, more tolerant, more forgiving -- even toward his captors -- than anyone could have expected.''I think I was a pretty good journalist,'' Mr. Anderson said of his former career.

A 22-year-old Baltimore County woman was locked for nearly nine months inside a Reisterstown apartment bathroom, where she was beaten and starved. On Tuesday, she sat quietly in the corner of a courtroom and listened as her captors were sentenced. Germaine A. Smith-Bey, 31, and, Kimberly Stacy King, 39, were sentenced in Baltimore County Circuit Court for their role in keeping the woman, now 25, tied up for months in their apartment on Brookebury Drive, where she became emaciated and suffered injuries that covered her body.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore does not display a killer whale, like the big, lovable star of the film "Free Willy." But the kids-oriented movie opening in area theaters today seems likely to renew debate over capturing and displaying all marine mammals, such as the seven dolphins currently occupying the Inner Harbor attraction."

Setting a new high with Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," director Jerry Vess marks his seventh Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre directorial assignment by adding sparkle to the opening of the outdoor theater's 47th season under the stars. Not only has Vess gathered a stellar cast to lend extra zest to Porter's timeless classic, but as set designer he has also created a fabulous tri-level cruise ship SS America complete with realistic smokestacks and portholes. A construction crew of four along with several artist-painters helped Vess.

WASHINGTON -- Some former hostages have bounced back to resume normal lives, with no apparent lingering aftereffects from their ordeal. Others remain troubled or angry over their experiences in captivity, and some are still under medical or psychological care.In the years since their release, some have hit the lecture circuit, written books or launched personal campaigns in behalf of their imprisoned "brothers." Others have chosen to avoid publicity and to return to the solitude of work, family and friends.

The city's first Captivity Film Festival, a scaled-back version of what had been envisioned as a grand celebration of African-American cinema, kicks off tonight with a free outdoor showing of Ossie Davis' "Cotton Comes to Harlem." While acknowledging he was unable to put together the showcase event he had hoped for, festival organizer and Heritage Cinema founder Michael Johnson stressed that the weekend will feature an eclectic mix. Included on the schedule are a Gil-Scott Heron concert film, a collection of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids cartoons, a panel discussion on the African-American Image in Motion Pictures and an appearance by Paul Robeson Jr., who will introduce one of his father's films.

Captivity is another one of those "torture porn" thrillers you've been hearing about. Some character or other is taken prisoner by some often faceless, often-motiveless villain. And tortured. Videotaped, too. Think Saw. These are its spawn. Captivity (After Dark Films) Starring Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies. Directed by Roland Joffe. Rated R. Time 85 minutes.

LONDON -- Two of the longest-held hostages in Lebanon were freed yesterday from chained captivity and said they expected the last three U.S. hostages to be released soon.Terry Waite, Britain's last and most prominent hostage in Lebanon, was freed from captivity after 1,763 days in the hands of Islamic Jihad.Church bells throughout England were rung to celebrate his release.Emerging with Mr. Waite from an even longer night of confinement -- 2,353 days -- was a Scottish-born U.S. citizen, Thomas Sutherland.

JERUSALEM -- For nearly four months in solitary confinement, BBC correspondent Alan Johnston felt "buried alive" but buoyed by international support he knew was out there by listening to his network's radio broadcasts. In his first lengthy remarks after being freed by Palestinian kidnappers in the Gaza Strip, Johnston said yesterday that coverage of vigils and expressions of worldwide encouragement helped him fight despair and stay focused as days of captivity turned into weeks and months.

OAK HARBOR, Wash. - On Day 1 of their captivity, the crew of the downed Navy surveillance plane stepped onto Chinese soil to find startled soldiers wielding weapons. By Day 11, the crew's anxiety had given way to tedium. In between stretched long hours of interrogations and uncertainty relieved by card games and skits to keep up morale. Still sleep-deprived and wrung out from Saturday's welcome home celebrations at Whidbey Island Naval Station, members of the EP-3E electronic monitoring plane detailed yesterday their captivity on China's Hainan Island and what information their captors attempted to extract from them.

"My friend down there, she was wondering: Are you alone?" -- random blonde to Don Draper It was a somehow infuritatly quiet end to the season. Sorry to those who had Pete Campbell killing himself as a sure bet in your office pool. That didn't happen. Though he was punched again. Twice. Still, there was a beauty in the understated season finale. Though I expected something a bit more major to happen (perhaps Don and Megan breaking up? Perhaps her revealing she's not really French or that she, in fact, really loves Howard Johnson)

People aren't the only ones at risk from eating mercury-contaminated fish, since coal-burning power plants have liberally sprinkled the toxic metal across the earth's waters.  But it appears that captive dolphins have a little less to worry about in that regard than their wild counterparts. A new study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the National Aquarium in Baltimore found that the aquarium's captive bottlenose dolphins have lower levels of mercury in their bodies than wild dolphins tested off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida.

Just what is this little cub up to? Good thing its mama is there to catch him or her. The spectacled bear, just four months old, was playing at the zoo in Cali. (Tremarctos ornatus), born in captivity four months ago, is seen with its mother at the zoo in Cali Zoo in Colombia.

Ten years ago, Nini Sarmiento and Rob Degenhard were scouring flea markets, antiques stores and yard sales searching for midcentury modern pieces to furnish their Rodgers Forge townhouse. They were having such a good time — and becoming so good at it — that one vendor suggested they try selling furniture themselves. And so Home Anthology was born. Today their Catonsville store has become a destination for those seeking midcentury modern, vintage, and retro furniture and accessories.

A few weeks ago I would have admitted that I'd never heard of a squirrel monkey. Now they're an Unleashed favorite! The other day, we featured these sporty squirrel monkeys . Now we've got Masha, giving a ride to her one-and-a-half month-old cub. The two are residents of the Royev Ruchey zoo in Siberia. The cub is the first squirrel monkey born in captivity there.

Don't look now, but Maryland's state insect is fluttering away. The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, named for the state's founding Calvert family, has dwindled to just a handful of places, mostly in Western Maryland. Experts worry that the butterfly, once fairly common, may disappear entirely from the state. Pockets of dedicated butterfly lovers, though, are trying to slow or even reverse the decline by breeding the species in captivity. One such nursery is in a tent in back of an old maintenance shed at Black Hill Regional Park in Montgomery County.

In yesterday's editions, the maximum length of a boa constrictor was incorrectly reported. While most boas do not often exceed 10 feet while in captivity, other varieties can reach lengths of more than 30 feet.* The Sun regrets the error.

Just what is this little cub up to? Good thing its mama is there to catch him or her. The spectacled bear, just four months old, was playing at the zoo in Cali. (Tremarctos ornatus), born in captivity four months ago, is seen with its mother at the zoo in Cali Zoo in Colombia.

The problem: Graffiti advertising bail bondsmen remained on a wall near Central Booking for weeks. The backstory: Baltimore's bail bondsmen often employ memorable marketing methods to get their names and contact information ingrained in the memory of potential customers. But some companies may have moved beyond free pens and vinyl-wrapped vehicles and into a less sanctioned medium — graffiti. Several weeks ago, Baltimore Sun business reporter and BaltTech blogger Gus Sentementes noticed phone numbers advertising bail bondsmen painted on the wall that forms the on-ramp to Interstate 83 along the west side of the Fallsway.

Historic, charming Cape May offers the ideal mix of stroll-worthy town, arts, restaurants and stunning beaches, with plenty of Victorian architecture to make your getaway feel like a step back in time. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at one of the many bed-and-breakfasts in town, head out for a day of fun. (For a listing of B&Bs, go to capemay.com/capemaybedandbreakfasts.html.) Take a trolley ride Stroll over to the Mid-Atlantic Center for Arts for information on local events and to buy tickets for a history-filled trolley ride.