Hanging

Officials at Phylicia Barnes' school said Monday that Union Academy has been in mourning since learning about her death. Barnes, a senior at the North Carolina school, was 16 when she disappeared from her half sister's apartment in Baltimore on Dec. 28. Her body was discovered last week in the Susquehanna River near Conowingo Dam, about 40 miles north of the city. On Thursday, the state medical examiner identified the body as Barnes. As Union Academy, students returned from spring break Monday, flags were at half-staff and grief counselors were on duty.

A day after Kevin Gregg squandered a one-run lead in a loss to the New York Yankees, Orioles manager Buck Showalter wouldn't change his stance on the team's closer situation. He also didn't publicly endorse Gregg as his exclusive closer, even though all signs point to that being the case. Gregg has been on the mound in both of the Orioles' ninth-inning save opportunities, and he's also warmed up two other times for a save situation that never came. "In my mind, I know where we are, just because we don't make a formal announcement on what we're doing every day," Showalter said.

The wind was blowing in at Bright House Field on Wednesday afternoon, which made it a little easier for a couple of the Orioles' young starters to match up against the big-swinging Philadelphia Phillies. Chris Tillman and Zach Britton both struggled with their emotions in their 2011 exhibition debuts, but they still held things together in the early innings and the Orioles held off a late Phillies rally to remain undefeated with a 6-5 victory. "I was a little jumpy ... too excited," Tillman said.

While medical science remains uncertain whether prayer has the power to heal, experts are pretty sure meditation works. Yet another study released last month — this one in the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging — reports that those who meditated for about 30 minutes a day for eight weeks had measurable changes in brain density in areas related to memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. Exactly what those brain changes mean is not clear, but there also have been studies confirming that meditation can reduce blood pressure — in healthy people as well as in those with heart disease.

Remember when a walk-in closet was considered a luxury item in a home? Now, what makes any fashion fan salivate is the idea of a closet room. Baltimore interior designer Amanda Austin says more and more homeowners are converting a room to a closet. "No one likes to dig for things; having things stashed underneath the bed," says Austin, who has created her own closet room. "I do think people are willing to have a smaller bedroom for a larger closet. ... I think everybody wishes to live in a state of convenience and bliss.

Unless you've got a thing for waking up with the sunrise or the exhibitionist in you is dying to flirt with the neighbors, covering the windows of your home might be a good idea. From a strictly functional standpoint, a cheap blanket or bedsheet nailed to the window trim would do for blocking out daylight or providing privacy. But like most aspects of a house, window treatments have been elevated above the purely practical and often are key to defining the interior decor of any home.

If you don't think the Cleveland Browns are a dangerous team, you obviously did not see them throw a fourth-quarter scare into the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium or spank the New England Patriots and defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints this season. If you're worried that the Ravens won't enter Sunday's game at Cleveland Browns Stadium with the same intensity that they showed against the Saints last week, you probably weren't listening to Ray Lewis or Le'Ron McClain over the past week.

Francisco "Paco" Lobo wears out tuxedos the way marathoners do running shoes. The longtime Tio Pepe maitre d' keeps three tuxes in his wardrobe at any given time, and every year, at least two succumb to the rigors of dry cleaning. Lobo himself has held up far better. At 74, he is trim and lively and able to charm hungry, impatient crowds for 10 and 12 hours a day, five days a week, in the elegant Mount Vernon basement restaurant. His hair has gone silver, but the size of his tux jacket, 44 regular, hasn't budged since he started at Tio's more than 40 years ago — no small feat given the occupational hazards of a place that dishes up off-the-menu, twice-fried potatoes known as pommes soufflés before diners even have a chance to order.

Are there moral victories in college basketball? Maryland hung in Thursday night against a bigger, experienced Pittsburgh team before falling, 79-70, at Madison Square Garden in the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. "You're just trying to find out how good you are as a team," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We have some guys, this is their first big game and it happened to be at Madison Square Garden. I thought we did a good job overall. " Ultimately, the Terps fell under the weight of Pitt's size -- the fifth-ranked Panthers outrebounded Maryland, 49-28.

The junk phone calls aren't over. Charity fundraisers — mining holiday benevolence and tax deadlines — have seized the auto-dialers from the politicians. Your reaction, however, ought to be the same. Ignore them. Yes, even if it's your favorite nonprofit and you always give money, just say no. Politely decline and hang up. Then, if you want to support the organization, write a check and send it to the charity's address, found on their website. Or donate online by credit card.