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Kazerouni, N Neely DrPH, MPH; Currier, Bob PhD; Malm, Linda; Riggle, Susan; Hodgkinson, Christina; Smith, Sylvia†; Tempelis, Corinna MPH; Lorey, Fred PhD; Davis, Amber MA; Jelliffe-Pawlowski, Laura PhD; Walton-Haynes, Lynn DDS, MPH; Roberson, Marie PhD
From the Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California.
Supported by funding from the Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health.
From the California statewide registry for chromosomal defects.
Corresponding author: N. Neely Kazerouni, DrPH, MPH, Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, F-175, MS-8200, Richmond, CA 94804; e-mail: email@example.com.
Financial Disclosure The authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.
OBJECTIVE: To examine screening performance of California's triple-marker screening program, using data from a statewide registry for chromosomal defects.
METHODS: This study included 752,686 women who received a screening risk and had an expected date of delivery between July 2005 and the end of June 2007. Follow-up diagnostic services for screen-positive women were performed at state-approved centers. Data on diagnostic outcomes from these visits were entered into the California Chromosomal Defect Registry (CCDR). Other CCDR sources include mandatory reporting by all cytogenetic laboratories and hospitals and outcome data forms submitted by prenatal care providers.
RESULTS: The observed detection rate for Down syndrome (N=1,217) was 77.4%. It varied significantly by gestational dating method and maternal age. The rates for women aged younger than 35 years and 35 years and older were 62.4% and 94.0%, respectively. The detection rates were 81.3% for ultrasound-dated pregnancies and 67.5% for last menstrual period–dated pregnancies. For Turner syndrome, trisomy 18, triploidy, and trisomy 13, the detection rates were 79.4%, 82.5%, 98.1%, and 36.0%, respectively. The positive rate for Down syndrome was 5.4%. Of women with a Down syndrome fetus who were screen positive, only 49.5% opted for amniocentesis. Of women who obtained results from amniocentesis indicating a Down syndrome fetus, 61.4% had an elective termination, 26.2% had a live birth, 4.5% had a death or miscarriage, and 7.9% had an unknown outcome.
CONCLUSION: The observed performance of this large triple-marker screening program exceeds generally predicted detection rates for Down syndrome. This study methodology will be used to measure the performance of subsequent screening enhancements.
The California Expanded AFP Program is one of the largest, most comprehensive chromosomal disorder prenatal screening programs in the world.1 The large program size, centralized laboratory, and standardized patient follow-up systems allow for optimal laboratory quality control measures and for the use of optimal population characteristics for risk assessment. The Program also maintains the California Chromosomal Defect Registry (CCDR) of all chromosome disorders detected in the state that are diagnosed prenatally or before 1 year of age. This study attempts to validate the use of this CCDR data for evaluation of screening performance. The use of CCDR data eliminates the need to obtain outcome data for all women so that screening data from all women participating in the Program can be used.
The screening results of 752,686 women and 1,217 Down syndrome cases are included. There are limitations to directly comparing the reported detection rates of various studies of chromosomal disorder screening strategies that include different populations. These limitations include variable maternal age ranges among studies, low statistical power, and different cutoffs and screen-positive rates. The very large numbers in this study allow us to set a relatively precise baseline for screening detection rates for Down syndrome and other chromosomal disorders, using triple-marker screening in the second trimester. In addition, this study documents screening participant's choices with respect to use of diagnostic testing and pregnancy options in the context of second-trimester screening. The California program added inhibin in mid 2007 and will add first-trimester markers used in a coordinated step-wise protocol with the option of full integrated screening in early 2009. This study establishes Program baseline screening performance and a methodology to evaluate future protocol changes.
This study was found to be exempt by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, from the State of California Health and Human Services Agency. The California Expanded AFP Program is a statewide program authorized by the state legislature and implemented by state regulations.2 These regulations require that all women seen by prenatal care providers by the 140th day of gestation be provided with a booklet prepared by the Department. This booklet describes the prenatal birth defect screening program. Prenatal care providers are required to offer the women an opportunity to participate in the program. Follow-up diagnostic services of genetic counseling, ultrasonography, and amniocentesis are offered at state-approved prenatal diagnosis centers, and the cost of these services is covered by the Expanded AFP Program. The operation of this Program has been described in detail previously.1
In July of 1995, the Program implemented triple-marker screening for birth defects, including chromosomal abnormalities, using an automated analytical system, (AutoDELFIA, PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA), which measures intact human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Software for the risk analysis was created specifically for the California program, and risk calculations for Down syndrome are based on the standard multivariable Gaussian algorithm.3 The test request form did not ask for information on the egg donor's age. Therefore this risk was calculated using the maternal age. Because the proportion of in vitro fertilization cases using donor eggs is expected to be very small, we did not expect risk based on maternal age to affect the overall study results. Risks for trisomy 18 are calculated using a published algorithm.4 Marker medians are based on California population measures. Medians are continuously monitored and adjusted as necessary for kit lot variation. Changes in kit lots are preceded by a variance evaluation before acceptance to limit major changes in medians. The large volume of samples tested allows for detection of small but statistically significant changes in medians, which can be adjusted to improve screening performance. Adjustments to multiples of the medians (MoMs) for weight and race are also based on California population measures. Adjustments also occur for type 1 diabetes. There are seven regional screening laboratories which use the same kit lots for the same time period. Analytical results are transmitted to the central site in Richmond, CA, for a secondary quality control review and for calculation of risk and transmittal of results to follow-up coordinators and prenatal care providers.
The CCDR has been in existence since 1985 when the California legislature passed regulations that mandate reporting of all chromosome abnormalities detected prenatally or before 1 year of age.2 In mid 2005, a major restructuring of the CCDR database and screen interfaces occurred, along with a restructuring of the clinical screening information system. The restructuring allowed the integration of CCDR data with that of the prenatal screening program and newborn screening program data. All data are stored in linked tables in a large structured query language relational database.
The CCDR receives data from a variety of sources. Diagnostic reports are received for all screen-positive patients who receive follow-up services from the program. These reports are tied to payment for services, and compliance with filing the reports is virtually complete. Outcome of pregnancy forms are sent to prenatal care providers of the screen-positive women when a karyotype has not been obtained from a Prenatal Diagnosis Center. The program coordinators also receive reports of chromosomal abnormalities from prenatal care providers and are able to enter this information into screening information system for CCDR monitor review and confirmation. Reporting by all cytogenic laboratories is mandatory, so compliance is very good for laboratories within the state. Reporting by laboratories located in other states is not complete, but cases not reported by laboratories in other states can be captured through other sources. The CCDR also receives reports from hospitals on live births with known chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, the majority of cases have been reported from multiple sources. The software allows for the input of all the records and links the records to the woman's demographic profile. The demographic profile links to both the CCDR and the screening information. Although all original reports from multiple sources are maintained in the system, a single consolidated record is created by a CCDR monitor for analytic purposes.
The expected liveborn prevalence for each of the maternal ages in the screening program was calculated using the individual year rates ascertained by Morris et al.5 California Chromosomal Defect Registry cases were counted if the live birth occurred between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2007. If the live birth date was not available, we used the estimated date of delivery within this time period. Because a portion of the pregnancies detected at mid trimester would have aborted spontaneously or resulted in a stillbirth if continued, all elective terminations, fetal demises, and those with unknown outcomes were adjusted by a factor of 0.77.6 This adjustment was necessary to make comparisons with liveborn prevalence rates. The estimated ascertainment rate of the CCDR was determined by comparing the expected number of liveborn cases with the adjusted number of registry cases.
A second method of estimating CCDR ascertainment used birth certificate data available for infants delivered in 2006. An attempt was made to match the mothers listed on the birth certificate files with the women who participated in the Expanded AFP screening program. We conducted a record linkage, matching birth certificate information on the mother and neonate with that of women participating in the screening program with expected delivery in 2006. The rate of CCDR ascertainment was estimated as the percentage of total cases listed on the birth certificate data that had been previously reported to the registry in 2006.
The screen-positive rate was calculated as the percentage of women offered diagnostic services from the Expanded AFP Program. Interpretation factors such as maternal age, gestational age, race, weight, and diabetic status are verbally confirmed with the prenatal care provider before referral to a prenatal diagnostic center. Gestational age was determined by ultrasound measurements of the biparietal diameter (as per American College of Medical Genetics Standards and Guidelines7) before the woman was offered the option of amniocentesis. The midtrimester risk cutoff used for Down syndrome is 1:190 and for trisomy 18 is 1:100. The detection rate was defined as the percentage of total registry cases that received a screen-positive result and were offered amniocentesis via the Program. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals (95% CIs) and χ2P values were calculated using SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC).8
A total of 752,686 women were successfully screened (Table 1) by the Expanded AFP screening program and had an expected date of delivery or a live birth between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2007. The screen-positive rate for Down syndrome for this group was 5.4%. The overall screen-positive rate for all screened disorders (Down syndrome, trisomy 18, neural tube defects, and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome) was 6.6%. Using the Morris et al5 Down syndrome prevalence rates by single year of maternal age, we estimated the expected number of liveborn cases, in the absence of termination, to be 1,326 in this 2-year group (Table 1). The number of live birth cases reported to the registry was 711. In addition, 506 electively terminated, miscarried, or prenatally diagnosed and lost to follow-up cases were reported to the registry. These 506 cases were adjusted for an estimated 23% that would have been lost before term,6 yielding an adjusted registry ascertainment of 1,100 liveborn equivalent cases. Comparison of the expected number of liveborn Down syndrome cases with the adjusted registry case ascertainment yielded an overall estimated registry case ascertainment rate of 83% for the 2-year period. The rate of ascertainment for the women aged younger than 35 years was calculated to be 91% (95% CI 88.9–93.3%) and was 75% (95% CI 72.1–78.6%) for women aged 35 years and older (Table 1). Currently, many women in the 35 years and older group have first-trimester screening and only participate in the Expanded AFP Program if they have screen-negative first-trimester screening results. Thus, the actual number of expected Down syndrome cases in the 35 years and older group could be less than the number estimated by using the Morris et al5 prevalence rates. Therefore, the registry ascertainment rate of 91% in the women aged younger than 35 years may be the most accurate estimate.
The registry ascertainment rate was also estimated using birth certificate data in 2006. Among successfully screened Expanded AFP participants who could be matched to the mothers on birth certificate files (72.3% match rate), only 100 were actually coded as Down syndrome, and 27 of those cases were clearly erroneously coded upon investigation. All but 15 of the 73 cases coded correctly as Down syndrome (n=58) had already been reported to the CCDR. This would indicate a 79.5% (95% CI 70.2–88.7%) CCDR ascertainment rate. But, with a 72.3% match rate, it would be expected that a total of 267 cases, based on 369 live births reported to the registry in 2006, would be listed on the birth certificate files.
The low percentage, 22% (58 of 267), of the expected cases determined by the CCDR data in 2006, which appear correctly coded on the birth certificate data, limits the validity of this approach. In addition, 27% of the cases coded on the birth certificate files as Down syndrome were erroneously coded. Considering these limitations and extensive efforts in using the birth certificate data and a relatively high CCDR ascertainment rate, we chose not to use this case finding approach for the study's entire time period and instead focused our efforts on the completeness of the CCDR reports.
The age distribution of the screened population was similar to that of the 2006 pregnant population in the United States, as determined by 2006 data from the National Center for Health Statistics.9 The mean age of the California screening population was 27.8 years and the U.S. mean was 27.5 years. The U.S. data indicated that 14.3% of the women were aged 35 years or older, and 13.7% of the women in this California screening population were aged older than 35 years (Table 2). California has a diverse racial composition. The majority of the screened women are Hispanic, 54.9%, primarily originating from Mexico and Central America. Whites represent 23.6%, Asians 9.1%, African Americans 5.1%, and other races 7.3% of the population (Table 2).
The observed detection rate for Down syndrome for the 2-year period was 77.4% (95% CI 75.0–79.7%). This assumes that any underascertainment of cases would be proportionally split in a similar ratio to the cases that were reported to the CCDR (Table 3). The detection rates varied considerably by maternal age (Table 1) and by gestational dating method (Table 4). The observed detection rate was 62.4% (95% CI 58.6–66.1%) for women aged younger than 35 years and 94.0% (95% CI 92.0–95.9%) for women aged older than 35 years. If the pregnancy was dated by ultrasonography, the detection rate was 81.3% (95% CI 78.8–83.8%), but it was reduced to 67.5% (95% CI 62.0–72.9%) for last menstrual period (LMP)-dated pregnancies.
As shown in Table 3, for trisomy 18, triploidy, and trisomy 13, the detection rates were 82.5%, 98.1%, and 36.0%, respectively (note the 95% CI in the table). The detection rate for Turner syndrome was calculated as 79.4%, and the detection rate for Klinefelter syndrome was calculated at 36.6%. However, these two disorders often are not diagnosed in the first year of life. These detection rates do not reflect cases diagnosed subsequent to the first year of life. The detection rate for all other chromosome abnormalities was 51.4%. This includes all reported abnormalities, except balanced translocations and Robertsonian balanced translocations.
Although more than 90% of the screen-positive patients received follow-up services at the state-approved prenatal diagnosis centers,1 not all screen-positive women chose to have amniocentesis. The rate of acceptance of diagnostic services is not significantly different among groups other than trisomy 21 (Table 5).
Table 6 lists the pregnancy outcomes by disorder for the women who chose to have amniocentesis through the State Expanded AFP Program. The elective termination rate for trisomy 21 was 61% and the fetal demise/spontaneous abortion rate was 4.5% (Table 6). However, because of the link of CCDR data to the state's newborn screening data, we expect that most of the 7.9% of cases that were lost to follow-up represent either elective terminations or pregnancy losses.
Previous detection rates for Down syndrome using triple-marker screening have been estimated to be approximately 60% at a 5% false-positive rate,3,10 and 69% if the pregnancy is dated by ultrasonography.11 The Serum, Urine and Ultrasound Screening Study, which used ultrasound dating, estimated a 74% detection rate at a 5% false-positive rate.12 If inhibin is added (quadruple screening), the estimated detection rate increases to 81%.12 The results from the California program are higher than previously reported for triple-marker screening. The results indicate an overall Program detection rate for Down syndrome of 77.4% at a 5.4% screen-positive rate. For women aged younger than 35 years, the detection rate was 62.4% at a 3.1% screen-positive rate. Women aged 35 years and older had a detection rate of 94.0% at a screen-positive rate of 19.3%. If gestational age is determined by ultrasonography, the overall detection rate is 81.3%, which approaches that of reported rates for both quadruple screening and combined first-trimester screening, especially when the higher first-trimester loss rate is considered.13–15 Clinicians should note that the detection rate is only 67.5% when LMP is used to determine gestational age. Combined first-trimester screening uses nuchal translucency combined with maternal age, serum markers pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, and either total hCG or free β-hCG. Four major studies have reported detection rates of 79%, 85%, 83%, and 90% at a 5% false-positive rate for combined first-trimester screening.12,16–18 Although there are significant advantages to first-trimester screening, it is reassuring that nearly equivalent detection rates at similar screen-positive rates can be obtained in the second trimester, with just triple-marker screening. Many women are not able to meet the strict timelines necessary for first-trimester screening, and there are not enough practitioners properly trained to make the nuchal translucency measurements necessary for the calculation of a first-trimester risk.
No specific screening algorithms or cutoffs are employed for the detection of chromosomal disorders other than Down syndrome and trisomy 18. Cases detected were screen positive for trisomy 21, trisomy18, or neural tube defects. Despite this, 70.8% (235 of 332) of the other most common aneuploidies (trisomy 13, Turner syndrome, and triploidy) are detected by the California program. The First and Second Trimester Evaluation of Risk trial reported a 44% detection rate for these same aneuploidies with second-trimester quadruple screening based on a total of 16 cases with an overall screen-positive rate of 8.9%.19
The higher-than-expected detection rate for Down syndrome through the California Program is likely a reflection of multiple factors. The centralized, large-volume screening program allows for quality control measures not possible with small-volume laboratories. The California population-specific measures are used for risk analysis. Separate medians for pregnancies dated by ultrasonography, LMP, and physical examination are used to improve the screening performance.7 Coordinated follow-up of screen-positive cases improves ascertainment of MoM adjustment factors. All test request forms with missing information, such as weight and race, elicit follow-up calls to the provider to obtain missing information before a risk is calculated. Provider education on the benefits of ultrasound dating has resulted in 74.8% of the Down syndrome–affected pregnancies being dated by ultrasonography. Follow-up of screen-positive cases occurs only at state-approved prenatal diagnostic centers where standardized protocol is used. Prenatal diagnostic centers must redate and recalculate the risk of a Down syndrome screen-positive pregnancy if a prenatal diagnostic center ultrasonogram indicates a dating change of 14 days or more. This eliminates many false-positive cases resulting from incorrect gestational dating.
Tables 5 and 6 reflect the range of choices made by women participating in the Program. Even though the screening program designates women at high risk of having a pregnancy affected with Down syndrome status, 50.5% of those actually affected will decline amniocentesis. Of those women with a definite diagnosis of a Down syndrome pregnancy, at least 26.2% continue the pregnancy. Because our CCDR database is linked to the state's newborn screening database, when we were unable to locate a liveborn for the unknown category in Table 6, we assumed the majority of these cases were either fetal demises or elective terminations. However, the women could have moved out of state or changed names and other identifiers to the extent that locating records in the newborn screening database was not possible.
The California Expanded AFP Program added inhibin as a fourth marker in July 2007. The program also expects to add first-trimester markers (nuchal translucency, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, and total hCG) in early 2009. The California program will be one of coordinated step-wise testing in accordance with the current guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine.20 Women who obtain a nuchal translucency measurement and have a first-trimester blood sample sent to the program will receive a risk calculation. Those at highest risk will be offered diagnostic services through the Program. For women who choose not to receive diagnostic services based on their first-trimester risk, a second-trimester sample will be obtained and a revised risk will be calculated using both the first- and second-trimester markers. For women who are unable to obtain a first-trimester sample, the existing quadruple marker program still will be available. Modeled projections indicate that for the women able to get a nuchal translucency measurement and a first-trimester sample, approximately 75% of Down syndrome fetuses can be detected in the first trimester by the step-wise protocol at a 2.5% screen-positive rate. This study establishes baseline screening performance and methodology to evaluate these improvements to California's prenatal screening program.
This article has been cited 3 time(s).
© 2009 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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Perrysburg Township Fire Department plans to seek renewal of two levies in 2014.
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The Perrysburg Township Fire Department plans to seek renewal of two levies, combined for 3 mills, and the township trustees would like the issues to be on the November general election ballot.
One levy is for 1 mill and the other is for 2 mill. Each mill would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $100 a year, or $300 for both levies.
The 1 mill levy generates $525,580 and the other levy generates $915,771 each year for the fire department.
"It covers our day-to-day operations," Fire Chief Tom Brice said. "It needs to pass for people to expect the same services. Without it, we would have to make huge cuts. It is almost half our budget."
The fire department also has a 4-mill levy that was approved by voters last year.
Township Administrator Walt Celley said that, if the renewals were going to be voted on in May, the township would need to get moving quickly to get them on the ballot. Trustees Gary Britten and Bob Mack both said they wanted the levy votes to be on the November ballot.
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The ownership of the team belongs to Tom Hicks and the General Manager is Joe Nieuwendyk. The Head Coach for the Stars is Marc Crawford and the Captain of the team is Brenden Morrow. The Dallas Stars have filled their victory caps with many feathers over the years. From the Stanley Cup to the President's Trophy, the team has seen it all. It has been the champion of the Western Conference more than once and is one of the top regular seasonal teams. Over the years, the Dallas Stars have seen many of its valuable players achieve laurels such as earning the honor of taking the Conn Smythe Trophy. This trophy is reserved for one player amongst those competing in the playoffs for a particular season. In 1999, it found a place on Joe Nieuwendyk's mantelpiece. The laurels have not stopped since then and will surely continue for ages to come.
The Dallas Stars wear two different colored jerseys which bears their trademark star logo. One is white whereas the other is black, featuring the players' number on the chest. The bicep portion of the jerseys has the smaller version of the star logo above the players' number. The Dallas Stars have an immense fan following which means they need a lot of attention of cable TV networks, radio broadcasts and primetime broadcasts alike. Many channels such as the KTCK radio channel and Fox Sports Southwest (FSN) are responsible for fulfilling minute to minute live action once the team hits the ice. The National Hockey League has only three teams including the Dallas Stars which simultaneously broadcast on radio as well as TV. This is not just for an odd game, but for the entire season! From their birth in Dallas to date, the team has respected the importance of media coverage.
The Stars are amongst the only three National Hockey League teams to simulcast the complete season of their games on television and on radio. The team has been broadcasting its games through these means of media ever since they arrived in Dallas in 1993. It is not every day that one gets the chance to witness some really amazing ice hockey games live. The Dallas Stars have been great at providing unbelievably great entertainment to their fans and also to those who just love the game of ice hockey. The rich and amazing history of this team would have simply anyone to want to go and watch a game of theirs.
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Raiders too much for Tigers, 16-5
Matthew Bailey and Joey Laeck each had two hits and scored two runs to lead Liberty-Raleigh past Elkins 16-5 Wednesday night in non-conference action.
Jordan Atkins notched the win for the Raiders in seven innings of work.
Ben Lonergan took the loss for the Tigers in three innings of work. He gave up six runs on four hits, walked three and struck out four.
Colby Gainer had two hits, including a home run, and finished with two RBIs, while Caleb Riggleman added two hits and two RBIs for the Tigers (0-4). Ryan Summerfield added one hit and scored two runs.Elkins will host East Fairmont at 7 p.m. today for a Big 10 Conference matchup.
Petersburg 9,
Southern (Md.) 2
PETERSBURG – Doug Lambert had two hits and an RBI to lead Petersburg past Southern (Md.) 9-2 Wednesday in non-conference play.
Trevor Harman added two hits, while Brandon George had one hit and two RBIs, and Bret Reel a triple and three runs scored for the Vikings (8-1).
Justin?Smith also had an RBI double for Petersburg.
Brandon George notched the win for Petersburg in six innings of work. He gave up two runs on five hits, walked two and struck out 11.
Petersburg will host Frankfort at 5 p.m. today.
High School?Softball
Bridgeport 8, Elkins 7
BRIDGEPORT – The Elkins High School softball lost to Bridgeport 8-7 Wednesday in Big 10 Conference action.
Michaela Lewis-Lambert took the loss for the Lady Tigers (1-1) in seven innings of work.
She gave up seven runs on 11 hits, walked one and struck out six.
Amy Fincham had two hits, an RBI and scored a run, while Madison Collett added two hits and two RBIs for the Lady Tigers.
Hailey Collins chipped in with two hits and an RBI for Elkins.
Lewis-Lambert and Jordan Hart both had RBI singles for the Lady Tigers.
Elkins will host East Fairmont at 5 p.m. today for a Big 10 Conference matchup.
Lincoln 15,
Buckhannon-Upshur 6
TENNERTON -? Lincoln defeated Buckhannon-Upshur 15-6 Wednesday in Big 10 Conference action.
Casey Frederick had two hits, Julie Tenney and Brooklyn Waddell had two hits each for the Lady Bucs.
Claire Davis had one hit and drove in two runs for the Lady Bucs (3-4).
Destiny Unrue took the loss for B-U in 3 1/3 innings of work.
B-U will host Fairmont Senior at 4:30 p.m. today for a Big 10 Conference tilt.
High School Tennis
Elkins Splits with
SHINNSTON – The Elkins High School Tennis team split a pair of matches with Lincoln Wednesday in Big 10 Conference action.
The Elkins boys won their match, 4-3.
Taking wins for the Tigers were Jacob Schoonover and Ryan Henson in singles, while Jonathan Gainer-Schoonover and Sean Cain-Tommy Cain won in doubles.
Elkins lost the girls match, 4-3.
Kayla Carr and Taylor Gadd won in singles, while Bradley Gutta-Caitlin Gutta won in doubles.
Elkins will host Martinsburg Friday at 4 p.m. in a non-conference matchup.
Middle School Softball
Elkins 13,
Doddridge County 1
Haley Collett had two hits, including a triple, to lead Elkins past Doddridge County 13-1 Wednesday ?in?middle school softball play.
Susan Riggleman added a hit and an RBI for the Lady Hornets (3-1).
Korri Evans notched the win for Elkins in two innings of work. She fanned five.
The Lady Hornets will travel to North?Marion today.
College Golf
CHARLESTON – The Davis & Elkins College golf team tied for first at the West Virginia Conference Southern Regional on Tuesday.
Bluefield State and Davis ?& Elkins were followed by Charleston, Concord and Pitt-Johnstown.
Top finisher for the Senators was Cameron Buist, who finished fifth with a score of 154, followed by Christopher Young in sixth with a score of 155, Sabastian Bendsen eighth with a 156 and Phil Rutherford 25th with a 165.
Buist and Young were named to first team all-conference, while Bendsen and Rutherford were named to second team all-conference.
D&E's Wally Edgell was named Coach of the Year in the conference.
D&E will travel to Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday.


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Mijn Peelland Ebook
Reportage over het gebouw aan de Burg. Roefslaan
by Melanie Rijkers
Other versions of this book
Print Book
About the Ebook
My Peelland is a photobook of memories.
The Peelland College was in the same building for over 40 years, and in 2005 it moved to brand new location.
Just before it was changed into the Alfrink College, I wandered around and took photos of 'Traces Of Silence'. The photos not only tell my story, but also the story of thousands of young people who were once a student here.
I'd like to share our memories with you.
More photos here: www.mery.com
follow: www.twitter.com/mery71 & www.facebook.com/melanierijkers weblog: http://photographerwanted.blogspot.com
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About the Creator
MeRy/Melanie Rijkers [1971], a true ZIENer and visionair, storyteller and personal branding coach, loves to SEE you. She doesn't 'take' a photo, but SEES it. Storytelling and traveling to events are her favorite. Please join one of her Miksang Contemplative Photography Workhops or Bali Retreats. Melanie's married to photographer Hans van Nunen [1967], and they are living and working in Breda as Artstudio23. Studio address: Backer & Rueb building, Speelhuislaan 173, Breda, the Netherlands. Member of GKf, professional photographers of the Netherlands, DuPro since 2014. Hans joined Artstudio23 fulltime in 2007, after having worked as a professional decorator for 15 years. Specialised in weddings, portraits & business photography. Perfect teacher for basiscursus and more courses in photo techniques, leader of photowalk ZIEN and much more. Fotocursus en workshops in Breda. Trouwreportages, familie-, baby- en kinderportretten, bedrijfsfotografie, evenementen en eigen ontwerp fotoboeken.
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The Brain
A special train has been commissioned to convey secret NATO funds from Paris to Brussels. Criminals on both sides of the channel plan to hijack the train: on the French side, Arthur (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a resourceful small-time crook and his pal Anatole (Bourvil); on the English side, the Brain (David Niven), a brilliant super criminal wanted all over the world. Standing in their way is Scanapicco (Eli Wallach), a gangster who wants "the Brain" dead for more than one reason. This is the original uncut and un-dubbed French version of the film. The US version was 15 minutes shorter and was dubbed in English.
Actors: Jean-Paul Belmondo, David Niven, Eli Wallach, Bourvil
Olive Price: $18.99
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December 8, 2016 Disclaimer: Please read.
Statements and opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors, not Truthdig. Truthdig takes no responsibility for such statements or opinions.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Casts Doubt on Bush v. Gore
Posted on Apr 29, 2013
In an instance of too little and way too late, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is questioning whether the tribunal should have agreed to hear Bush v. Gore, the controversial case that decided the 2000 presidential election and put George W. Bush into office.
"It took the case and decided it at a time when it was still a big election issue," O'Connor, who stepped down from the court in 2006, told the Chicago Tribune editorial board Friday. "Maybe the court should have said, 'We're not going to take it, goodbye.' "
"Obviously the court did reach a decision and thought it had to reach a decision," she added. "It turned out the election authorities in Florida hadn't done a real good job there and kind of messed it up. And probably the Supreme Court added to the problem at the end of the day."
Gee, you think?
All these years later, it appears O'Connor is having a case of buyer's remorse. She was, after all, one of the five justices—all appointed to the court by Republican presidents—who voted in favor of shutting down the recount in Florida.
It should also be pointed out that this isn't the first time O'Connor has expressed discontent over the court's vote.
—Posted by Tracy Bloom.
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Ian Thomsen: Storylines to watch during the 2013 NBA playoffsHere are the top storylines for the next two months: Can anyone beat the Heat? Not so long as they remain healthy. The overbearing role played by Miami, the possible end of the Celtics as we know them, the strong, the weak and the wild card of Derrick Ros… (more)Source: CNNSI.com
Celtics-Knicks opening storylinesBy Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff It's on. The playoffs start for the Celtics Saturday at 3 p.m., and I'm joining Gary Washburn and Baxter Holmes on the beat for the remainder of the season. In addition to game and...Source: boston.com


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Looks like he should have a cigar but he's making do with a cigarette:
Click to expand
Remember Gurbaksh "G" Chahal and all his troubles? Well, if you don't, watch one-minute of this video from the NBC. Good times.
(Remember when he proudly pointed out his flat-panel TV ("BAM!") and "great mirror?" And the zebra pelt on the kitchen floor?*)
But now, there's sadness in his life owing to his slightly older-model Ferrari getting cracked up while in the custody of his Ferrari dealership. Of course, the dealership has offered to fix it up and/or offered to let him buy a newer, unused Ferrari at a higher price, but that's not good enough for G.
Read all about it via Ryan Tate of Gawker.
Also via Ryan, an excerpt from the FB:
See that "why does this crap always happen to me?"
Does this make "G" the "definition of a douchelord?"
At the Adam Carolla / Danny Bonaduce bachelor party, Key Club L.A. Photo via Anthony Citrano – Click to expand.
Chin up, G!
*Apparently, the people behind the Secret Millionaire show wanted to show a big delta between the lifestyle of his real-life SoMA pad vs. the Tenderloin hovel that he shacked-up in during the filming of the show. Well, some people got carried away with the made-for-TV furnishings. So that's where the zebra pelt and chandelier came in. Ironically, you might prefer to live in that hovel on Larkin Street – it's not that bad, right across the street from Homeland Security. Typical Americans watching had no idea that the rent on that supposedly unlivable apartment in the Tenderloin was more than their flyover country mortgage payments…
Didn't Seinfeld have an ep. where a cigar store Indian played a role?
Now, tell me, is this P.C.?
I can't tell, srsly.
Appears that area phony and Secret Millionare Gurbaksh "G" Chahal is running into a little trouble these days.
Via Curbed SF, the partially pay-walled San Francisco Business Times, and, finally the SocketSite FTW, here's the latest lawsuit against poor, misunderstood G.
Perhaps he's abusing the staff at Yelp-rated Infinity Towers because of buyer's remorse? You know, the nearby One Rincon building in SoMA is newer and taller – maybe that could account for G's petulance.
Keep it real, G.


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WI Republicans – snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Why is it that in almost every scenario imaginable, where a stiff spine, adherence to principle and with public support behind them ensures political victory, there always seems to emerge a group willing to compromise (unnecessarily) before the fight is over?
With Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker maintaining a hard line on his budget bill and Democratic senators refusing to return to Madison to vote, attention is turning to a group of moderate Republican senators to negotiate a compromise to the stalemate that has drawn thousands of protesters to the state capital for a sixth straight day.
The proposal, written by Sen. Dale Schultz and first floated in the Republican caucus early last week, calls for most collective bargaining rights of public employee unions to be eliminated – per Mr. Walker's bill – but then reinstated in 2013, said Mr. Schultzs's chief of staff Todd Allbaugh.
"Dale is committed to find a way to preserve collective bargaining in the future," said Mr. Allbaugh in a telephone interview.
Really? Why? Because one of the major reasons the state is having to rescind the sweetheart deals made to state workers is the result of the so-called "collective bargaining" done in the past.
Consider this – in the private sector, corporations compete against other corporations for market share. The demands of competitiveness help keep union demands in check as both sides in a negotiation understand that going to far will cripple the corporation in terms of its competition and may cost everyone their job. So private sector union members have been paying a higher portion of their wages toward their own pension and health care than public union members.
There's also an healthy adversarial relationship between labor and management that lends to checking the benefits allowed.
There is no competitive atmosphere within the public sector nor is there much of any adversarial relationship present. In short, there are none of the checks on those unions that a competitive atmosphere puts on private sector unions.
Secondly, the public sector unions have become huge players in state and national politics. What happens is the guy they help elect is the guy with whom they often end up sitting across the negotiations table. What do you think the union extracts as promises from politicians they support for election? Well of course, sweetheart deals like those enjoyed by the unions members in Wisconsin where the taxpayer is dunned for their pension and health care benefits instead of the union member.
The bill in question is an important one. It would also remove the requirement that state employees must join the union to hold a job in state government. That, of course, scares the living daylights out of the union leadership. Why?
Because it breaks their monopoly control on government employees, it removes their ability to use the state to require and collect union dues for them and it threatens their ability to fund political activities and further extend their power.
And then there's the accountability "problem" they'll suddenly face. The Wisconsin bill would require the union to hold a yearly recertification vote by secret ballot. Until now, with mandated membership and the state collecting dues for the union (via payroll deduction), the union has had no need or requirement to be accountable to its members. Members have had no choice but to join the union regardless of whether they wanted to or agreed with the union's direction. With the passage of this bill the union would suddenly have an accountability requirement. As you might imagine, they want nothing to do with that.
With all of the liberty enhancing aspects of this bill as they pertain to the Wisconsin public service unions, why in the world are some "moderate" Republicans getting wobbly in the knees (thankfully Gov. Walker is standing his ground)? They have a strong case, they have a voter mandate, they have public opinion on their side, union members are acting like spoiled children and their political opponents have shut down state government.
But with Democratic senators indicating they are willing to remain away from the capital indefinitely, state government remains shut down with no end in sight.
That's bad on them. So why is Dale Schultz trying to entice them back to the table with an absurdity like suspending collective bargaining rights for only 2 years? It shouldn't be their side that is showing signs of giving in, it should be the Democrats who've run off to another state to avoid doing their job. Let public pressure work on them.
It is to the advantage of the state GOP to let the Democrats carry out this travesty for as long as they wish. Let the so-called public servants stay off the job and throw their selfish tantrums in the capitol. It doesn't reflect well on them and the public will finally tire of it.
But if the GOP there capitulates and compromises it will most likely turn the public opinion tables on them and encourage the unions and Democrats there and elsewhere to duplicate the tactics that forced the compromise.
For once, I'd like to see the GOP stand its ground – firmly – and invite the opposition to give it their best shot. I think Democrats have badly misread this situation and are in the middle of hurting themselves. What's the old political axiom: when your opponent is in the middle of self-destruction, get out of their way and let the process continue – or something like that. WI "moderate" Republicans need to grow a pair and stand their ground. What they're proposing is in the best interest of the state and its citizens, and that is what they were elected to concern themselves with.
Observations: The QandO Podcast for 20 Feb 11
In this podcast, Bruce, Michael, and Dale discuss the demonstrations by public employee unions in Wisconsin, and the wave of protests across the Mideast.
The direct link to the podcast can be found here.
As a reminder, if you are an iTunes user, don't forget to subscribe to the QandO podcast, Observations, through iTunes. For those of you who don't have iTunes, you can subscribe at Podcast Alley. And, of course, for you newsreader subscriber types, our podcast RSS Feed is here. For podcasts from 2005 to 2010, they can be accessed through the RSS Archive Feed.
Madison equals Cairo? Not even close
It's a cold day in hell here as I favorably quote someone who I usually savage. And I have to revise my thoughts on the left not getting irony – apparently some do. Who am I taking about? Joe Klein. Yup that Joe Klein, TIME's Joe Klein. He actually gets it:
Revolutions everywhere–in the middle east, in the middle west. But there is a difference: in the middle east, the protesters are marching for democracy; in the middle west, they're protesting against it. I mean, Isn't it, well, a bit ironic that the protesters in Madison, blocking the state senate chamber, are chanting "Freedom, Democracy, Union" while trying to prevent a vote? Isn't it ironic that the Democratic Senators have fled the democratic process? Isn't it interesting that some of those who–rightly–protest the assorted Republican efforts to stymie majority rule in the U.S. Senate are celebrating the Democratic efforts to stymie the same in the Wisconsin Senate?
An election was held in Wisconsin last November. The Republicans won. In a democracy, there are consequences to elections and no one, not even the public employees unions, are exempt from that.
I know … you're wondering, "what did they do with the real Joe Klein", but hey give the devil his due (keeping with the cold day in hell metaphor) – he's exactly right.
The other Klein, the Ezra type, not so much.
Let's be clear: Whatever fiscal problems Wisconsin is — or is not — facing at the moment, they're not caused by labor unions.
That, sir, is irrelevant. Whatever "fiscal problems" are present need to be solved by having across the board spending cuts and that's the point of requiring public service labor union members to pitch in a little more on their benefits. Essentially what Wisconsin is trying to do is put state employees on an even par with private employees in terms of benefits.
Here's the bottom line of what is triggering these protests:
Besides limiting collective-bargaining rights for most workers—excepting police, firefighters and others involved in public safety—it would require government workers, who currently contribute little or nothing to their pensions, to contribute 5.8% of their pay to pensions, and pay at least 12.6% of health-care premiums, up from an average of 6%.
Wow. No more free lunch. Can't imagine that, can you? You know, actually having to pitch in for your pension and health-care? Privately employed citizens have been doing that forever. So why are the public sector folks exempt? Well that's the dirty little secret isn't it?
Let's go to Matt Welch for the answer:
We are witnessing the logical conclusion of the Democratic Party's philosophy, and it is this: Your tax dollars exist to make public sector unions happy. When we run out of other people's money to pay for those contracts and promises (most of which are negotiated outside of public view, often between union officials and the politicians that union officials helped elect), then we just need to raise taxes to cover a shortfall that is obviously Wall Street's fault. Anyone who doesn't agree is a bully, and might just bear an uncanny resemblance to Hitler.
There is Wisconsin in a nutshell – distilled as well as you'll find it anywhere. These deals were mostly pay for play and the state's taxpayers were sold down the river. I noted some months ago that the Democrats have become the party of public service unions instead of the party of the blue collar worker. They are dependent on the money and machine those powerful unions provide to stay in power.
And when that machine falters? Well, you get tantrums like this. Remember the union protesters in Illinois a few months ago clamoring for the governor there to raise taxes instead of cutting their benefits? Just like Ezra Klein they want to lay off the fiscal mess on others instead of recognizing its reality and understanding that the free ride has come to an end. It doesn't matter if the unions had anything to do with the mess – the mess says everything is on the table. That's the only way out of the mess.
But, this is Armageddon for the Democrats and their stakeholders. If states succeed in breaking the hold public service unions have on government, Democrats stand to lose substantial power. That explains why President Obama has entered the fray. While he wouldn't back the protesters in Iran because it might be seen as meddling in the internal affairs of the state, he has no qualms whatsoever of meddling in the internal affairs of the state of Wisconsin. Apparently elections only have consequences when he wins.
What has the unions so terrified of the Walker plan? Well here's the plan:
His plan allows workers to quit their union without losing their job. He requires unions to demonstrate their support through an annual secret-ballot vote. He also ends the unfair taxpayer subsidy to union fundraising: The state and local government would stop collecting union dues with their payroll systems.
Under that plan, union membership would be an actual choice instead of a mandated requirement to hold a job. Horror of horrors. How dare a governor advance something which actually enhances freedom (choice = freedom) – why that makes him a dictator, of course and akin to Hitler.
Make no mistake, these protests in Madison aren't about democracy, freedom or liberty. They're about the left's power and something they love to project on the right and Wall Street – selfishness. The protests are a collective tantrum from adolescents who refuse to acknowledge that their special-interest Candyland no longer exists and while it did, it existed on the back of the tax payers who were made to unwillingly subsidizing their way of life.
This is the wrong fight, in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Democrats are on the wrong side. Public sector unions are not popular and despite Ezra Klein's denial, are held responsible for some of the fiscal problems the states face (like pensions):
A new poll from the Washington-based Clarus Group asked:
Do you think government employees should be represented by labor unions that bargain for higher pay, benefits and pensions … or do you think government employees should not be represented by labor unions?
A full 64% of the respondents said "no."
That includes 42% of Democrats, and an overwhelming majority of Republicans. Only 49% of Democrats think public workers should be in unions at all.
So, as you watch these "protests" keep them in context. They're an astroturfed attempt, orchestrated from the highest office in the land, to keep the power current structure in place that underpins the political power of the Democrats. This isn't about rights or liberty or freedom, this is about power and money. And it has finally unmasked the left in this country and revealed what it is really all about.
Wisconsin heats up while "civility" takes a holiday on the left
Wisconsin is a great example of special interest constituency politics. I'm not talking about politics that focus on the constituents in your district or state if you're an elected representative or senator. I'm talking about special-interest constituents who provide you money and backing when you seek election or reelection – whether from your district or not.
That's pretty much what is going on in Wisconsin boils down too. Wisconsin's Republican Governor, Scott Walker has proposed a number of ways to "repair" the budget. In summary, those aimed at public service unions place limits on their existing power:
It would require most public workers to pay half their pension costs – typically 5.8% of pay for state workers – and at least 12% of their health care costs. It applies to most state and local employees but does not apply to police, firefighters and state troopers, who would continue to bargain for their benefits.
Except for police, firefighters and troopers, raises would be limited to inflation unless a bigger increase was approved in a referendum. The non-law enforcement unions would lose their rights to bargain over anything but wages, would have to hold annual elections to keep their organizations intact and would lose the ability to have union dues deducted from state paychecks.
Apparently such limits are simply outrageous. Unions hold annual elections? Public workers pay more toward their pensions and health care costs? And, of course, the bargaining "rights" curtailed in everything but wages?
So that's prompted an astroturf campaign which has involved organizations outside Wisconsin, to include the White House. The one thing public sector unions can do effectively it seems is "flash mobs". Reports of advertisements in Illinois aimed at recruiting activists for protests in Wisconsin were common.
The Democratic National Committee also has involved themselves in the local fight.
The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America arm — the remnant of the 2008 Obama campaign — is playing an active role in organizing protests against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's attempt to strip most public employees of collective bargaining rights.
OfA Wisconsin's field efforts include filling buses and building turnout for the rallies this week in Madison, organizing 15 rapid response phone banks urging supporters to call their state legislators, and working on planning and producing rallies, a Democratic Party official in Washington said.
So anyone who thinks this is all "spontaneous" might want to buy a clue.
Meanwhile, all the Democratic state senators in Wisconsin have run off to Rockford, Ill to avoid having to do their jobs. You see, Republicans hold a majority, but are one short of a quorum needed to pass legislation. So without the Democrats, the Senate is unable to act on legislation. Democrats have issued a "list of demands":
"We demand that the provisions that completely eliminate the ability of workers… to negotiate on a fair basis with their employers be removed from the budget repair bill and any other future budget," Miller said.
He also demanded legislative oversight on changes to the state's medical programs, which are targeted for changes in the bill. The bill would also require union members to contribute to their health care and pensions.
My guess is there's some negotiating room there, but if I were the governor I'd tell Dems that there'll be no talk about their demands until they act like adults and show back up in the capital ready to do their jobs. And Governor Walker has laid out the alternative fairly clearly:
Walker said the only alternative would be layoffs of 10,000 to 12,000 state and local employees.
Of course, without a quorum, that isn't the strongest hand in the world. But what Democrats are doing sure seems like a childish tantrum in my eyes. Republicans may not have a quorum and state government may grind to a halt because of it, but I doubt that voters are going to blame members of the GOP for that.
All of this has spawned the usual misinformation as charges and counter-charges fly. Ed Schultz provides an example of a completely false statement about the controversy according to Politifact Wisconsin. Said Shultz:
Under changes being debated, state employees in Wisconsin "who earn $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year might have 20 percent of their income just disappear overnight."
Not true. Although state employees would have to pay a higher percentage for their benefits (in the 6 to 11% range) none are looking at "20 percent of their income disappear[ing] over night".
Unions have been losing favor in the eyes of the American public for years, with a fairly sharp downturn in their popularity in 2007. Since then their favorability rating has stayed about the same, but unfavorable numbers continue to build:
Americans' attitudes about labor unions changed only slightly over the past year, following a sharp downturn between early 2007 and early 2010. Currently, 45% say they have a favorable opinion about labor unions, while nearly as many (41%) say they have an unfavorable opinion.
In January 2007, 58% said they had a favorable opinion of unions; 31% had an unfavorable opinion.
Tantrums like this, astroturfing and the plain old uncivil behavior aren't going to help their case. Ann Althouse has some examples of the latter. It appears that Adolph Hitler has made a comeback among the left in Wisconsin. Civility is only a requirement for those on the right, apparently. The left – well it's the left and any insult and comparison, no matter how outrageous, is perfectly fine. Godwin's law is in effect in Wisconsin.
I think Wisconsin is only the beginning of these sorts of spectacles and fights. Entrenched bureaucracies and unions aren't going to give up their power easily and go quietly in the night. How they conduct themselves in this sort of fight will be important though. The point, one assumes, is to bring visibility to their arguments and persuade the public to back them. If that's the case, I don't think the way the Wisconsin protesters (and legislators) are prosecuting their case will be held up as a model to be emulated.
Cuts are coming – whether made willingly or forced by reality. There's no escaping that. Gov. Walker is trying to get ahead of that curve.
Human nature says no one wants to see their ox gored, regardless of reality's demands. But in a battle for public opinion, acting like children, calling people Nazis and importing out-of-state protesters in what is really a local fight doesn't seem to be the best way to get the public on your side.


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Hello Pref. Penners (JimBob, Steve Duffy 2 and UrbaneFox). A little tip from my experiences there.... on one occasion, they let the Elites go in front of us, then they released the Red penners behind us and only then did they let us off. I was almost crushed/ trampled over by the surge from behind. I'd like to think it was a one-off cock-up (it's only happened to me 1 in 3x in PP), but I mention it anyway as it was pretty scary.
Ali 38 - about 8 years or so ago, a persistent joke was made about the Bristol Stool chart and it's sometime implication for the running community and every year, someone would roll the chart out at some point. It's the sort of thing that can be pretty hard to wipe away (so to speak) and can leave stains for years.... erm, well. The joke warped a bit and someone thought that a picture of a three-legged stool would be a good symbol to wave about on a flag if people from the group wanted to identify themselves or be recognised.
This image has never been flushed away, even if the joke is a bit shit
Here we go...
I've run Paris Marathon 5x I think and been there every year since 2009. 2012 was my favourite year where I picked up a couple of good things - a PB (never bettered) and I made a new friend (never bettered too)... this was the very first photo taken with Marathon Maus/ TinkerBEL, freshly arrived on her trip from Canberra.
Can any other current forumites see themselves there? Hello RR & Eggy - you don't seem to be on the runner's list this year...
Orbutt wrote (see)
Hi Amandalou and welcome. We often get Aussies joining our thread. One liked it so much she stayed I missed last year's marathon with an injury and made the mistake of not going to support. It was horrible watching the thread get ready and going, knowing that I could have been there.
Hi Amandalou and welcome. We often get Aussies joining our thread. One liked it so much she stayed I missed last year's marathon with an injury and made the mistake of not going to support. It was horrible watching the thread get ready and going, knowing that I could have been there.
Please sir - I think I know who that is!
Wishing all Paris preparers happy and injury free training.
Too many kind words. I love to help people out and share what I've learned/ discover from others. It's just too frustrating to be a non-runner and hang out with running buddies. Running gives people an opportunity to discover strength and qualities of character they never imagined were possible. I wish you all tremendous success realising your goals.
Thank you and see you around.
Well, as one famous Scouser sang, "You say hello and I say goodbye".
I joined this thread in 2008 and have posted thousands of messages since. I've run Paris Marathon or been there spectating and supporting every year but one since then.
I set my best marathon time in Paris in 2012, after a 7 week taper period due to a mystery virus and was proud to notch up a 2h54 race. I had to have an operation on my left knee the following year and have been beset by meniscal problems. Today the doc at the Sports Lab I visit each year advised me to quit competitive running, saying I could become a jogger now and then if I wanted, nothing too far, nothing too fast.
So it's time to focus my competitive instincts somewhere else. I have very mixed emotions. I'm sad that I'll never run like I did before. I felt free and I felt strong. But I am happy that I can still use my body without much pain and I have choices. Many people don't have life or health choices at all. I'm probably going to be spending a lot more time on two wheels, chaffing at how much extra time it takes to get top fitness!
Perhaps I'll stick my head back in from time to time. I've made some great friends here and have enjoyed talking, sharing and helping. For those who have been around a few years, you'll know the truth of it when I say that this forum has been instrumental in changing my life. 'Au revoir' it is.
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|Relive some of the epic battles on the lawns of Wimbledon with this Wimbledon collection of Greatest Matches Vol. 1. Included in this set is the 2001 fourth round thriller between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. This five-setter marked the changing of the guard on Wimbledon's center court. The dramatic 5-set thriller between Federer and Rafael Nadal in the 2007 final showcases the current world's best while two classics in the 1980 and 1981 finals between Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe showcase champions of the wooden racquet era.
Includes the following 4 DVDs:


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The Danish ocean carrier's plan to acquire Hamburg Süd in 2017 caps a landmark year for consolidation in the container shipping industry, noted Mario Cordero, the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration today announced a final rule establishing a national database for the drug and alcohol testing records of commercial truck and bus drivers.
Transportation and logistics companies added 8,900 positions last month, following a revised 12,200-job increase in October, according to recent preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Registration takes less than 1 minute.
The Bonn, Germany-based parcel carrier said it will impose a 4.9 percent general average price increase for its U.S. account holders, effective Jan. 2.
The total bill for bankruptcies and bailouts in South Korea's ocean freight transportation and shipbuilding sector could also result in redundancies and layoffs of around 10,000 workers, according to a recent report from the International Monetary Fund.
Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co. has confirmed it is looking to buy the now insolvent South Korean shipping company's 54 percent stake in the Southern California container terminal.


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By Liz Plosser
More than 1.3 million people successfully quit smoking each year, according the American Heart Association. And that's great news, because smoking puts puffers at risk for a number of life-threatening illnesses, like heart disease and lung cancer. More good news: Of the more than four in five smokers who say they want to quit each year, 20 to 40 percent of them actually do it.
Whether you're gearing up to quit for the first or fifteenth time, there are a few strategies that can help increase your odds of success. First, set a quit date—it should be within two weeks—and tell your family, friends, and coworkers about your decision. This makes you accountable when you're tempted to light up. Then, identify your triggers. Anticipating potential challenges can help you sidestep them. Begin by removing tobacco-related products from your environment—ditch the lighter in your handbag and toss the ashtray in your kitchen. Once you've set your quit date, you can get a head start by avoiding smoking in places where you spend a lot of time, like your car or outside of your office. You'll thank us later, when you're less tempted to light up the second you walk outside for your lunch break.
Next, figure out what kind of quitting support you need based on your personality. Check out the examples below to see if any of them sound like you, then read on to learn which cessation options might help you. (As always, check in with your doctor before taking any drug or medication, even if it's over-the-counter.)
If you don't think you can quit cold turkey
You may want to try: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
The goal of NRT is to help wean yourself off of nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes, and avoid withdrawal symptoms by gradually reducing your exposure to the chemical. The small dose of nicotine you'll get from an NRT product is much safer and healthier than the much higher levels of nicotine—and tar and other additives—you'd be inhaling if you lit up. Your choices include the nicotine patch, a small, bandage-like patch (it's very discreet) that supplies a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day. Nicotine gum, which is just as it sounds, gum that provides a dose of nicotine (and also gives you an oral fix). Similarly, nicotine lozenges help soothe cravings by dissolving slowly in your mouth. A nicotine nasal spray is best for people who are having serious withdrawal symptoms or are battling a pack-a-day-or-more habit. And finally, there's a nicotine inhaler, a fake cigarette that delivers nicotine every time you inhale. Many ex-smokers say this is one of the most effective therapies because aside from the nicotine hit, you also get the hand-mouth movement of smoking a real cigarette.
If extra support makes you feel warm and fuzzy
You may want to try: A support group
Kudos for telling your friends and family about your decision to quit. Next up: Tell a stranger. If you subscribe to the there's-strength-in-numbers thinking, then check out a cessation website, such as Quitnet.com, which has thousands of members trying to kick the habit and will email you tips and reminders about quitting. (The site also has a feature that helps you calculate how much moolah you're saving by skipping the smokes, in case you needed a little more incentive.) Or dial up a quitline (call 800-QUIT NOW to find the quitline for your state) staffed by trained counselors who will help you choose a path for quitting and provide you with coping mechanisms. There are also support groups, such as SMART Recovery (smartrecovery.org), which sponsors face-to-face meetings in cities across the country and holds at least 16 online meetings a week.
If you're open to alternative therapies
You may want to try: Hypnosis or acupuncture
So-called alternative medicine—such as hypnosis and acupuncture—is hardly alternative these days: A 2007 government survey found that 38 percent of Americans had used some form of complementary therapy within the past year. Results from a 2008 study reported that those who wore nicotine patches and also participated in two hour-long hypnotherapy sessions were more almost 10 percent more likely to quit smoking than those who used the patches alone. As for acupuncture, studies have been inconclusive on how effective the Chinese therapy is for smoking cessation. The thinking is that the small needles inserted into areas that affect energy flow to the mouth, lungs and respiratory system as well as parts of the brain that generate cravings for tobacco smoke ultimately decrease your desire to smoke. At the very least, acupuncture is very relaxing, so there's no harm in trying it.
If you've tried everything else to no avail or you want to fast-forward to the most aggressive options
You may want to try: Prescription meds
Bupropion (Zyban) is a mild prescription antidepressant that's thought to reduce the urge to smoke by elevating levels of a feel-good hormone called dopamine and simultaneously thwarting withdrawal symptoms. Your other medication option is Varenicline (Chantix). This drug targets one of the same brain receptors as nicotine, which decreases your desire to light up. In clinical trials, it helped 44 percent of smokers quit after 12 weeks. Caveat: The FDA issued a warning about reported links to depression and suicide. Make sure to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor. There's another drug option on the horizon: An anti-smoking vaccine. In theory, injecting the vaccine would plug up nicotine receptors, totally nixing the pleasurable feeling that comes from puffing, and effectively squelching the addiction. Drug companies are currently testing their vaccines in clinical trials, so it'll be at least a year or two before one is approved and available to smokers.


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Today, my girlfriend confronted me for forgetting to take the trash out. At some point during the argument, I tried to calm her down, and the words "I should of" escaped my lips. She spent the next ten minutes calling me stupid and laughing at how my grammar goes to hell when I'm distressed. FML
by Gus / 11/30/2012 at 2:30pm / Canada (British Columbia) / Love
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I'd wear them mostly with jeans. I actually did nearly exactly that color combo for a pair of trickers MTO chukkas. My entire pallette are greys, blacks, and blues, eith occasional browns and burgundies thrown in, and several "black" things, but my main concern is whether they are too close to what I already have.
I would say this, but don't you have like 100 belts and 5+ pairs of CPs etc? Subtle uniform changes seem to be your thing.


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Ningin | GirlyBubble | ZiggyTek | Wirebot | FlauntMe | SwanDiary | Rekuru | CrazySingleLife | HTCYou | OMGHaute | Reelwire.com | Funsauce.com
May is going to be so memorable for Ziggytek that we're giving away one Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB external hard drive. You'll need that much space, that's how memorable May will be for us. Entering to win is simple:
1. Fan us on Facebook.
2. Share this post on Facebook. (Use the convenient Facebook share button on the top right.)
3. Leave a comment on this post telling us what you want ZiggyTek to give out next.
A prize winner will be determined by random drawing after the contest closes. Winners will be notified via the ZiggyTek private message system (not Facebook).
In summary:
Start Date: Now
End Date: June 13, 11:59 EST
Prize: One Western Digital 2TB External Hard Drive
Task: See above.
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any kind of ipod would be fine for me ^^
06/24/10 6:00 am
Total Posts:
hmm.. wow. your really nice.
hmm. samsung ultratouch?
06/2/10 10:18 am
Total Posts:
haha i think people already mentioned the almost rediculously higher options - though if the amazing ziggytek pulled it off -jaw-droppping-
but I'd be fine with a really HD webcam? :]
06/2/10 9:36 am
Total Posts:
I wouldn't mind more hard drives
Perhaps a 1TB Western Digital Passport?
yeah ipod would be nice ^^
Infinia would be nice to be a giveaway^_^
05/25/10 5:58 am
Total Posts:
Ipods, mine just died so I need a new one
sorry admin. for my post earlier(advertisement) I forgot po. regarding Asus. wont happen again. tnx
05/24/10 6:35 pm
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A 23-inch HD LED or LCD Gaming Monitor; built-in speakers not required
i want an ipad please^^
A Samsung hi-end fone or a sony handycam
an ipad or a digicam would be great
for sale: Asus Xonar USB portable Lap top speaker b/new. 2.3k only. firstname.lastname@example.com 09172742807
an ipad please, thanks!
05/23/10 6:46 am
Total Posts:
a core i7 processor!
wow that really awesome…Really big space for everything(multimedia,mp3,movie)…wish i could have that one..wat a amazing things dobe by Ziggytek…
videocard for gaming would like ati 5000 series or nvidia 400 series
I want an Iphone next!! xD
an iPad or MacBook please?
05/18/10 10:55 pm
Total Posts:
did everything… now, iPad! @xhabb polariod camera yay~ that too please?
wow this is awesome! thanks guys!! next you should do a flip HD camera or something like that, I like the idea of the polaroid too, man I miss them!!
Shared~~~~~I want iPad XD
Polaroid camera sounds nice. XDD
ipad? laptop? anything would be fine. thanks a lot! :))
laptop, or more external hard drives!:) i really need one. haha.:)<3
awesome laptop or… a Polaroid
05/18/10 1:14 am
Total Posts:
Oh wow… ipad sounds nice. but anything is fine! you're too generous ^__^
How about a nice laptop?
05/17/10 10:41 pm
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That's great. I'm a filmmaker, so my computer is always full of videos- and I dare not part with any of them ^^
Um, an Ipad would be cool.
Perfect! My computer's about to explode keke ^^
Anything would be awesome! An ipad would be O___O
I don't think I will ever fill up 2TB in my lifetime! Lol. Hmm. Perhaps a MP3 device giveaway? Zune, maybe?
05/17/10 7:37 pm
Total Posts:
why not Ipads…everyone is giving them away so why not
Maybe an iPad? Seems to be the popular contest item of late. :]
I guess you know better…
but what about those Ipads..
are those really that great??
05/17/10 6:53 pm
Total Posts:
More external hard drives? :]
Anything would be fine ^_^
anything would be nice
05/17/10 6:43 pm
Total Posts:
an OC'ed 5870 would definitely be nice!
Something cute, like a pink netbook!
05/17/10 5:15 pm
Total Posts:
a video card of HD 5800 series of ATI Radeon ^_^


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It was like a moment out of a sitcom itself.
Dan Swartwout, a comedian who has performed alongside and met many celebrities, had never been starstruck until he saw him, the man who, years earlier, regularly provided Swartwout with competition at Columbus-area Buffalo Wild Wings' NTN trivia contests. Handshaking and proclamations of fandom ensued.
"This guy used to write down on a pad of paper all the questions he got wrong so he could learn the answers," Swartwout said admirably.
Swartwout, aka Swarty, wasn't easy to beat. In July 2003 he was the No. 1 ranked NTN player in the country, and he has racked up more than a million PlayersPlus Points since he started playing NTN in college.
His steel trap of a memory helped him get through law school, and he often summons his pop culture prowess when writing jokes for his standup comedy routines.
"I have to find the right level of obscurity," Swartwout said. "I have to force myself back sometimes. I could have the best Degrassi bit ever but it would be over a lot of people's heads."


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FBC Scottsboros Colonel leads relief volunteers with precisioncomment (0)
September 1, 2011
By Leigh Pritchett
Feeding a large number of hungry disaster relief workers is an enormous task.
It requires planning menus, procuring food items, lining up preparers, anticipating condiments, scheduling a cleanup crew, enlisting drivers and delivering the meals to the feeding site — all on schedule.
For this, military precision is almost a must.
Enter Larry H. "Mac" McKinnon.
The retired sergeant first class has 36 years of service in the Army and Army National Guard. And though he spent years as an enlisted man, his ability to organize, mobilize "troops" and execute a plan has, in civilian life, garnered him the nickname "Colonel."
When storms swept through Alabama on April 27, McKinnon's church — First Baptist, Scottsboro — responded on two fronts immediately.
The Tennessee River Baptist Association church served as a center for collecting and distributing donated items for displaced people. It also assisted Happy Home Baptist Church, Henagar, in Sand Mountain Baptist Association with feeding disaster relief volunteers working in that area.
A certain number of meals needed to be prepared at First, Scottsboro, and then delivered to Happy Home Baptist to feed the volunteers. Some meals also had to be taken to volunteers working in remote areas.
Kevin Wilburn, pastor of First, Scottsboro, felt that McKinnon's military background particularly gifted him for the task of feeding an army.
"I knew if I got him, I got M.M., his wife. So that's why I did it," a chuckling Wilburn said of getting McKinnon to lead the effort.
McKinnon said it was a tremendous responsibility to prepare 80 meals three times a day and deliver them to where they were needed when they were expected.
In the early days of this ministry, "we were feeding National Guard folks, too," Wilburn added.
McKinnon said the final tally on meals prepared at First, Scottsboro, was more than 1,000.
"It was a pretty big effort by a lot of people," he said.
Plus his wife was at his side. "She was my right hand in the kitchen," McKinnon said.
For any given meal, 30 or more volunteers were needed to cook, deliver, clean up and take care of administrative tasks, McKinnon said.
Some volunteers were from First, Scottsboro; others were from other churches and the community.
Also "Calvary Baptist Church (Scottsboro) helped us deliver food," Wilburn said.
Individuals, businesses and churches donated items to feed disaster relief crews, while First, Scottsboro, purchased some. But McKinnon said the desserts — those "many delicious desserts" — came from the community and First, Scottsboro, members.
While the food service volunteers worked on a rotating schedule, McKinnon was on-site constantly.
"Somebody has to be," he explained. "That keeps the continuity going."
During this effort, his day began about 4 a.m. Before food service volunteers began arriving, McKinnon planned menus, listed jobs necessary for preparing each meal and decided who would do which task and what was needed to complete the meal, right down to providing relief workers with sanitizer for washing their hands and plenty of liquids for hydrating. His crew also sent extra food to Happy Home, to make certain there was enough for everyone.
He even made charts that allowed the food service volunteers to see "the big picture" and know what was transpiring at any given moment.
"He does the right thing the right way to get people mobilized to serve," Wilburn said. "He tried to let everyone have a part in what's happening."
Each day, McKinnon's food service platoon prepared a traditional hot breakfast; a sandwich lunch with fruit and dessert; and a sit-down-type evening meal.
"We really tried to fix some really good meals," he said.
When all was quiet on the kitchen front, McKinnon finally would go home.
"Generally my day would end about 8 o'clock that night," he said.
Nonetheless McKinnon's 16-hour days did not close before he verified that he had a head count for the next day's meals, as well as all that was needed to prepare them.
Yes, the days were long and filled to the brim with activity. But McKinnon — whose military service took him to such places as Europe, Panama and Ecuador — counted it a blessing to be able to assist in this way.
"It was a personal pleasure to me to be able to serve my community," he said.