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RUSH: There's something fascinating happening with Obamacare out there, ladies and gentlemen. There's a story in the New Republic, and the New Republic, of course, is a liberal left-wing journal of opinion. The headline of this story: "Obamacare in Red and Blue America." The upshot of this is -- and the New Republic is mad as they can be about this. People that live in red states are not signing up. People that live in red states are doing everything they can to avoid Obamacare. They're not signing up. People in red states refuse to expand Medicare, and both of these refusals are thwarting and foiling Obamacare.
On the contrary, people that live in blue states are embracing it, to a degree. I mean, nobody is really fully embracing Obamacare, and that is the dirty little secret. But I just love this. This kind of thing encourages me, and it gives me faith that the people in this country, and particularly the states, are going to be our salvation. The states are going to be the brakes.
It used to be that the Senate put the brakes on things, and the Senate is now under Harry Reid's leadership, the Senate is an embarrassment. The Senate is a total dereliction of its constitutional role and responsibility now. Well, not total, but it's embarrassing what Harry Reid's done. But the states, the people in the states are where the brakes are going to be applied, as much as they can be, anyway.
Here's a pull quote: "The end result will almost surely be fewer people in Republican-leaning states getting health insurance. And this is a familiar pattern. As a general rule, income supports and public services in red states are a lot less generous than they are in the blue states. Conservatives consider this a virtue -- because, among other things, it means those states can get away with lower taxes. That's certainly true. But exposing more people to financial hardship because of illness, making it harder for them to get medical care -- those things extract a price, too."
But there's no guarantee those things are gonna happen. Let me break this down. What is happening in the red states where conservatives live, they are, if you want to use the word, living or imposing their values, and they are not supporting subsidies, income supports, and public services. They're being a lot less generous. There's a lot less welfare to able-bodied people than is taking place in the blue states. And the people in Republican states, red states, are happy. They think this is smart. They think this is politically virtuous. And it is. They're right.
Reducing the role of government; reducing the size of government; empowering individuals; enhancing individual freedom. And, of course, you're not reading about this because this is not favorable to the whole concept of Obamacare. So the Drive-Bys are not writing about it. The New Republic, for however they did it, and whatever made them aware of it, is reporting on it. And they're not happy about it because they view it as conservatives, red states, Republicans undermining our young, courageous president trying to bring health care to the masses.
Now, what's happening is that people in red states and red districts, even in blue states, but in Republican areas, they are simply living their values. They're not signing up for this. They're not signing up, and they're making political, ideological decisions not to sign up. They are not supporting the vast increase in subsidy type spending and so forth. And again, conservatives consider this a virtue because, among other things, it means those states can get away with lower taxes. Folks, that's like showing Dracula the cross.
The left knows it can't compete. They either have to force everybody onto Obamacare or, failing that, they have got to demonize the people who refuse to, who find a better way. And if that better way involves lower taxes that's the greatest thing -- well, it's hard to say it's the greatest. It's one of the most powerful ways to undermine creeping liberalism, socialism is finding a way to cut taxes for some because that provides an alternative illustration of what life could be outside the bounds of control of the left, or a Democrat state or what have you. And the New Republic acknowledges that's certainly true: "States can get away with lower taxes. But --" and this is where it gets serious for them. "-- exposing more people to financial hardship because of illness, making it harder for them to get medical care -- those things extract a price, too."
New Republic is saying (summarized), "Okay, you conservatives. You're not subsidizing people, and you're not signing up for Obamacare. Well, you're just putting yourselves at greater risk for bankruptcy when you do get sick! You're exposing more people to financial hardship and bankruptcy because of illness, and that's the price you're going to pay," and that's not how these people look at it.
They're obviously not obsessed with pessimism every day. They're not running around living their lives like the left wants them to: In palpable fear that they're one illness away from bankruptcy. They're out living their lives, they're trying to maintain control of their lives, and they're doing what they can to resist this onslaught from Washington -- and as I say: To the Drive-By Media, it's a nonstory. Even if they're aware of it, they wouldn't report it, not this way.
The New Republic is trying to report it as really mean, really unfair, really selfish of these people in the red states. Let me give you another pull quote. "Of the ten states that have the higher percentages," these are people signed up for Obamacare, "eight are solidly 'blue,' in the sense that they voted for the Democratic president in the last three presidential elections. Of the ten states that have the lowest percentages, six are solidly red. What does this mean exactly? Technology would appear to be the big factor.
"States running their own exchanges," i.e., the red states that didn't sign up for Obamacare, that don't have Obamacare exchanges. They're doing it themselves; they're running it an entirely different way. "States running their own exchanges tended, with a few exceptions, to be more successful than states that are relying on HealthCare.gov, which had so many problems for the first two months.
"And the states running their own exchanges have tended to be blue states, because those are the states where officials were eager to implement the program. The one red state that's gotten high enrollment is Kentucky, which has a Democratic governor who has been an outspoken Obamacare supporter." So the red state story is that they're not signing up. They're not signing on to the whole concept of Obamacare -- and, as such, their taxes are lower, their subsidies are lower, and this is what has the left irritated.
"[A] red-blue divide in health insurance coverage is going to remain, thanks to a more familiar and ultimately more significant distinction between the states. The architects of Obamacare assumed that all states would expand their Medicaid programs, so that all people with incomes below or just above the poverty line would qualify. But the Supreme Court in 2012 made it easier for states to opt out of the expansion and about half the states have done just that," and then they've got a map here.
"You can see the pattern in the map below, which comes from the Advisory Board. And you'll notice it looks pretty similar to a map of the last presidential election... The end result will almost surely be fewer people in Republican-leaning states getting health insurance." No. Getting Obamacare health insurance. So it's just a nice little surprise, something a little uplifting in the news.
People in the red states, Republican states, are simply refusing to play, and in the process, showing a different way while thwarting Obamacare -- which, in order for it to really succeed as the dream holds, has got to encompass everybody. Everybody has to be under the foot of Obamacare. If there are people who aren't -- who escape it, who take care of themselves, handle it themselves in a way that is much more attractive to what Obamacare is -- that's what the Regime can't afford.
RUSH: Tom in Schaumburg, Illinois, you're next. It's great to have you, sir. Hi.
CALLER: Thanks for taking my call, Rush. It's a great day in America and thanks for your book Rush Revere. I have to tell you that on Christmas Day, my eight-year-old granddaughter not only read the entire book --
RUSH: Whoa.
CALLER: -- later on that evening she read it out loud to my five-year-old grandson, and at that point I had to say, "Well, I'm doing my part to introduce them to the truth," and thank you very much for that.
RUSH: Thank you. She's eight years old and she's reading it out loud.
CALLER: Well, her mother, my daughter, is a teacher with a master's degree and they're learning quite a bit at home as well as in school.
RUSH: That's great. That's great.
CALLER: So.
RUSH: Thank you so much.
CALLER: Thank you so much for that. The reason I called is to tell you, it is a great day in America because I believe Obamacare has been fixed. It's been fixed by the doctors in Illinois and here's what they're starting to do. You come in for an appointment and you're hit with a multipage questionnaire. None of questions have anything to do with your medical history. They have everything to do with your financial ability.
They want to know about the equity in your home as well as the equity in your car, what your family income is, and what condition are you really in -- and the last page of the application, you're faced with the following thing. You get to list all your major bank credit cards along with credit card numbers, expiration dates and the three digit code on the back of the card.
Then you have to sign up an agreement allowing the doctor to bill your credit card whatever amount of money Obamacare won't pay of the bill for the treatment that you receive -- and when you sign this, it has to be witnessed by the receptionist at the desk and then it is immediately notarized by the office manager, so it's a done deal. If Obamacare wants to pay 40% for $150 visit, the other $110 goes right on your credit card.
RUSH: It's amazing. How about that?
RUSH: We were up against it on time there with our last caller, Tom, but let me tell you what he was talking about because we have talked here on the program about how more and more doctors and hospitals are (in one way or another) opting out of Obamacare, and one of the things that more and more doctors are doing is demanding to be paid up front before you get any treatment, which is why all of the data that Sherman described that his doctor requested was financial.
The doctor wanted to know if his credit card, the patient's credit card was charged, that it would be good, that the guy had the ability to pay. This is how -- and, folks, this is only dynamic reaction to statism. So here comes Obama with his massive attempt to control health care, and what the left and a lot of government people never stop to figure is that some people are just not gonna be sheep and bow down and grab the ankles and do it.
They're gonna find ways around it that will preserve their freedom, save them money -- or, in this case, keep them in business. So cash for hire is one of the dynamic responses to Obamacare. If a doctor can create a patient clientele capable of paying on their own at least a portion of care that the Obamacare will not cover, and then get reimbursed for the rest, then they'll do it. That's why Tom was saying that it was a great day because Obamacare is over.
The doctors that he's encountering in Illinois are already finding alternatives to it. Now, it's a bit... Well, what's the word? I tell you, it doesn't mean that Obamacare is over and has been defeated by any stretch. Once the left sees the dynamic reaction, they immediately try to tamp it down and penalize it or stop it one way or the other. It's a never-ending game and cycle.
What he was saying was that there are some doctors who say, "To hell with this," and are finding alternatives and they're getting around it. In other words, they're mining for patients who will play ball that way, and if they have their own resources and are able to cover their own health care, they'll do it, as a way of extricating themselves from this system that's gonna make it bad for everybody. So that's why he was optimistic about it.


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subset: commoncrawl


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- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Kosovo
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Romania
- Serbia
- All Balkan Countries
A top-level team which will negotiate Kosovo's crucial Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU is ready to start talks soon, officials in Pristina said.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on Monday that Kosovo was ready to begin talks about the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU "as soon as possible".
"It's encouraging to see an ambitious agenda for an agreement which includes the main elements of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement like for the other countries in the region, including political dialogue, the trade aspect, cooperation policies, justice, freedom and security issues and other important issues," Thaci said.
He made his comments during the first meeting of the negotiating team for the SAA – a pre-accession pact seen as the first step towards possible EU membership. An SAA sees the aspiring country reforming its legislation in an attempt to meet EU standards.
Kosovo's SAA negotiations with the EU will be led by European integration minister Vlora Citaku, while six other ministers (foreign affairs, justice, finance, trade, agriculture and economic development) are also part of the team.
Gezim Kasapolli, deputy minister of European integration, will deal with legislation and cooperation issues with the EU, while Bernard Nikaj, deputy minister for trade and industry, is mandated to negotiate trade issues with Brussels.
In July, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule announced that SAA negotiations with Kosovo could finish by spring 2014, but the process will involve raising "difficult" issues.
Citaku said Kosovo was interested in starting talks about the SAA in autumn this year in order to maintain the planned pace of the process.
"Today, the ministry of European integration will present an analysis of all Stabilisation and Association Agreements [reached by other] countries in the region and, at the same time, the institutions responsible for harmonising legislation [in accordance with EU demands] will be set," Citaku said.
The Council of the European Union authorised the European Commission to open negotiations on signing an SAA with Kosovo on June 28.
A Hungarian ministerial decision that the country's diplomats should ignore Romania's National Day celebrations on December 1 - because they mark Hungary's loss of Transylvania - has breathed new life into an old dispute.
After accusations of genocide, ethnic cleansing, brutal detentions and a punishing siege, lawyers in the four-year trial of Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic begin to present their closing arguments next week.
Wartime Sarajevo-based correspondent Kevin Sullivan's new novel The Longest Winter tries to reflect the humanity and courage of people living in the Bosnian capital during the 1992-95 siege.


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What is in this article?:
- 2013 Healthcare Foodservice Market Outlook
- Accountable Care is on the Cusp
- Unprecedented Access to Healthcare Databases
- Healthcare Campuses Become Hubs
The Healthcare segment has shown some of the strongest growth in the U.S. foodservice market over the past year and is poised to do the same in 2013
Accountable Care is on the Cusp
The Accountable Care Act is creating waves across the healthcare segment, including healthcare insurance markets, especially with its expansion of Medicaid in states that embrace that option. Both for-profit and not-for-profit insurance organizations and hospitals are maneuvering to tap the increased spending this represents, despite its many uncertainties. (You can read how Florida's largest insurer, Florida Blue, is responding to this opportunity here.)
Some of the Act's requirements were buttressed in a major report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in September. It concluded that America's health system has become too complex and costly and that a variety of inefficiencies and other factors in it are hindering progress in improving health outcomes, costs and equity. The IOM estimate suggests 30 percent of healthcare spending—more than $750 billion—is wasted on unnecessary services each year (Access the report, as well as various infographics, associated presentations and executive summaries here.)
A key recommendation of the IOM report is that healthcare systems implement payment models that link performance to patient outcomes and better healthcare delivery team coordination.
It is clear that a strong emphasis on cost management will continue to drive the overall healthcare environment. And while foodservice departments are not major contributors to hospital cost structures, they remain under the same scrutiny as other departments in terms of offering potential cost savings via FTE cutbacks and other measures.
Meanwhile, Accountable Care will
Carrots and Sticks
On the carrot side, pay for performance incentives are being tried as a way to improve Medicare outcomes while reducing costs. (For example, a major initiative begun last October will test whether a pilot project run by the Premier hospital network several years ago along these lines can pay dividends nationally). Nearly $1 billion in bonus Medicare payments will be paid out this year to the most highly rated hospitals as part of such efforts. And because this will be measured partly by patient surveys, hospitals are focused intently right now on improving the patient experience, which will mean a greater emphasis on face time with patients (including spoken menu and room service meal programs).
On the stick side, reimbursement penalties for hospitals that have too many readmissions will give administrators a strong taste of what Accountable Care will be like in coming years. By October of 2015, Medicare re-admission penalties can go as high as three percent of reimbursements and the (now limited) list of conditions covered by re-admission evaluations is set to expand.
Last fall, Medicare began implementing its first round of penalties for those hospitals it rated as having excessive re-admission rates. More than 2,000 hospitals were affected, with several hundred hit with the maximum penalty—a one percent reduction in Medicare payments for all regular Medicare patients in 2013.
The policy is controversial: hospitals with large percentages of patients who are sicker than average, who come from high risk groups or who live in poverty or other circumstances where post hospitalization care is limited believe they will face penalties for re-admission rates beyond their control.
Similar policies are being tried in New York City in plans to pay public hospital doctors based on patient discharge rates and followup outcomes and more programs along these lines are likely coming down the pike.
"Big systems are preparing for the lost revenue because of the ne re-admission regulations," says Maggie Stefanek, RD, senior associate at Innovative Hospital Solutions, a foodservice consulting organization.
"What this means for foodservice is that efficiency has to improve. The buzzwords are 'faster, better, cheaper.'" Cost containment efforts "means there will be much more accountability in terms of hitting your financial and performance key performance indicators."
Multi-department management remains an important trend, especially in smaller systems.
Frequently, such changes are implemented via matrix-type management relationships that complicate lines of authority. It also means more directors will struggle to maintain food quality as larger campuses and regional networks require more satellite production and cross campus transport from central kitchens.
One result is that as systems consolidate, foodservice directors often find themselves managing services and logistics at multiple locations and on larger campuses. Stefanek notes that even as cashless payments and sophisticated point-of-sale (POS) systems are becoming more important to retail initiatives, "implementation has been complicated by the integration issues resulting from consolidation."
In such an environment, getting administrations to understand that expanded foodservice retail operations can more than pay for themselves can be difficult and remains a major challenge for directors. But the idea that well-run retail food outlets can generate meaningful added revenue is a concept whose time may finally be coming.
Stefanek believes the interest in retail programs will also grow as administrations "begin to focus on this as a wellness industry, rather than ain illness industry. increasingly, there will be an interest in connecting healthy choices with wellness outcomes on a clinical basis. In retail, that means loyalty and pricing programs to change meal choice behaviors."


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MC Pro Overview
Professionals need precise, customizable workstation control to keep up with today's fast-paced editorial/production schedules and ever-expanding project sizes. With the compact and ergonomic Avid MC Pro (previously Euphonix MC Pro) control surface, you can speed up your post or music work and get a deep, rich editing experience over many applications using EUCON Ethernet control. What's more, the surface automatically detects your current application (when working with multiple apps) and resets all controls to match, so you can focus on your work. And with its programmable SmartSwitches, you can perform complex tasks/keystrokes with a single button press. For those looking for a complete editing/mixing solution, MC Pro is also the heart of the System 5-MC.
- Get instant, customizable push button access to hundreds of commands
- Perform complex macros with the programmable SmartSwitches, with integrated LCDs to show the current function
- Get easy access to for the system setup and file operations with the touchscreen
- Navigate and edit with the integrated USB keyboard/trackball and jog wheel
- Control settings and more with high-resolution faders (or joysticks) and rotary controls
- Monitor surround sound with Studio Monitor Express
- Get deep hands-on control of Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Pyramix and more through high-speed EUCON control
MC Pro Hardware Features
- Touch Screen VGA Output (1024×768)
- Keyboard and Mouse Serial Inputs
- 100 MB Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) Connector: EtherCon RJ45
- 1/4″ Stereo headphone in (back) pass through to out (front)
- 1/4″ footswitch programmable from touchscreen
- Serial & VGA service ports
- Integral phantom powered electret talkback microphone
- 65 programmable SmartSwitches
- Backlight brightness controls
- Internal MC Pro Hard drive
- USB port on the MC Pro for external USB drives
- Files can be stored on the host workstation
Overall Size
- 37.5″ (952.5mm) wide, 20.7″ (526mm) deep, 3.6″ (91.5mm) high – 36″ (914.5mm) wide without endcaps
- 40 lbs (18.2 kg)
- External Table Top 150 Watt PSU with On/OFF Switch
- DC Outputs: +5V @ 15 Amps, +12 V @ 8 Amps
- Input: 100 – 240 VAC 50/60 Hz
- Typical Power Consumption 80 Watts
- AC Input Connector: IEC with On/OFF Switch
- DC Output Connector: 12 Pin Locking Circular
- Environmental
- Ambient Temperature Operating: +5°C to +35°C
- Non-operating temperature: -40°C to +70°C
- Operating Altitude: -100 to 10,000 ft.(-30 to 3,048 m)
- Relative Humidity: 20% to 85%, non-condensing
Recommended Height:
- MC Pro should be positioned so the user's forearms are horizontal when fingers rest on the keyboard.


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The hottest news on technology from around the Web and exclusive articles.
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Tablet magazines failed. Here's why.
gigaom.com / Social Media / October 7
They were supposed to change the way we consume our daily news, our weekly magazines, and our favorite publications. Other than some lukewarm success for some companies (some of which changed their business model in order to succeed), the overall revolution failed.
"We're starting a new magazine," the entrepreneur told me. "We have a potent niche to cover, and advertisers are dying for us to deliver interactive ads."
Another woman I met with wanted to launch a tablet magazine about renewable energy. "It's global and I have all the right connections to get it out there," she said. "And I've found an out-of-the-box software solution to power it."
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In an acknowledgment of conventional-gamer-wisdom about the Sony PSP, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves acknowledged that PSP piracy has boosted hardware sales, although he is no way endorsing the homebrew piracy scene.
"There is a piracy problem on PSP. We know about it, we know how it's done," Reeves said at a conference in London. "It sometimes fuels the growth of hardware sales, but on balance we are not happy about it," he said.
Reeves went on to say that Sony is getting ready to introduce new measures to thwart PSP piracy.
So, reader, ever considered buying a PSP because you knew you could pirate stuff?
Next Generation: Sony: PSP "Piracy Problem" Has Fueled Sales


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Etta D. Pisano, M.D.Vice President for Medical AffairsDean, College of Medicine
Dear Colleagues:
Academy of Medical Educators – New Members
The Academy of Medical Educators (AME) has recently announced several new members-
Dr. Laura Kasman (Microbiology and Immunology) – Master Teacher
Dr. Diann Krywko (Medicine/Emergency Medicine) – Master Teacher
Dr. Jean Peng (Radiation Oncology) – Mentored Teaching Fellow
Please join me in congratulating these individuals on their selection and in thanking them for their commitment to our educational mission. More information about AME and the application process can be found at http://www.musc.edu/com/faculty/Academy_of_Medical_Educators/. The next deadlines for application are October 21 and November 18. Questions about AME may be directed to the AME Co-Directors, Drs. Debra Hazen-Martin, Leonie Gordon, and Paul McDermott.
Faculty Affairs Roundtables
The College of Medicine Faculty Affairs Team invites faculty to attend the next sessions in the series of Faculty Affairs Roundtables. These sessions will be presented by Marc Chimowitz and Tom Hulsey on the topic of "Mentoring and the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Process" and will be offered twice – on November 4 at 4:00 p.m. and on November 21 at 12:00 p.m. in the 601 Clinical Sciences Building conference room. These sessions are intended to be highly participatory and foster discussion.
Interested faculty are encouraged to participate in this event; please RSVP to Mary McConnell (email@example.com) for these sessions. For more information about the Faculty Affairs Team and services provided, please go to http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/faculty/.
New MUSC physician, researcher transforming treatment of sickle cell disease
Dr. Julie Kanter-Washko, who recently joined MUSC as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and director of Sickle Cell Disease Research Center, was profiled in the Post & Courier earlier this week. In that article, she explains the "Catch 22" in the treatment of the disease and what she'd like to do to change the care of sickle cell patients. Read her story at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/cominfo_comm/headlines/.
2013 Diabetes Symposium Research Awards
Congratulations to second year College of Medicine students Bradley Ketner and David Cykert for their 2013 Diabetes Symposium poster presentation awards. Bradley received 2nd place for the Community category and David received 2nd place in the Diabetes Management and Education category. Bradley and David completed their summer research projects with Dr. Leonard Egede, Professor in our Department of Medicine.
"What's the Buzz"
Continuing with our new College of Medicine "What's the Buzz?" video series, Dr. Pisano discusses the MUSC President Search. The "What's the Buzz?" series consists of short videos addressing some of the most talked about issues within or affecting the College. The idea is to provide you with information in a transparent and easily accessible way, and to do so "face-to-face". This week's edition can be found at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/theBuzz/2013_10_17_Buzz_PresSearch.
If you'd like to have issues of interest or concern addressed in this forum, you can send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com, drop a note in the comment box in the lobby of 601 Clinical Sciences Building, post a question to one of our COM discussion forums, or send me an email directly. All topics are welcome. I hope you will find these videos an easy way to stay informed and have issues addressed in a convenient and timely way.
Discussion Forums
As a reminder, we have created new electronic discussion platforms focusing on education, research, clinical affairs, and general information from the Dean's Office and the College of Medicine. These forums are intended to serve several purposes. First, they are another way for my office to share important information with faculty, staff, and students. Second, they are meant to encourage discussion about issues within the college and to empower everyone within the college to voice their opinions. These "discussion forums" are intended to be not only channels for messages to be sent out, but channels for YOUR ideas, comments and questions to be heard by college leadership. Your voice matters and we are pleased there is a new way for it to be heard. You can access these forums by using the following links and your net ID and password:
As always....
Let's work together to meet our strategic planning goal - to be in the Top 25 among academic medical centers for reputation, quality, service, efficiency and financial performance by 2015. I look forward to hearing from you - either in person or via email.
Etta D. Pisano, MD
Vice President for Medical Affairs
Dean, College of Medicine


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Hollywood Dirt: Lindsay Lohan Gets Slap On The Wrist & 'A-list' Celeb Being Sued For Giving STD!!!
CELEBRITY COURT – LINDSAY LOHAN: As expected, LINDSAY LOHAN pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor theft charge yesterday, and – as expected – she won't get any jail time beyond the 120 days she was already sentenced to for violating her probation.
RadarOnline reported earlier this week that Linds would likely not set foot in a jail cell, and would instead get an ankle bracelet strapped on her and do the home confinement thing, but there's no word yet if that's going to happen for real.
In fact, she won't know if she'll get home detention until she shows up at the jail to be booked, which she has until June 17th to do so. But even if she doesn't, she'll probably only end up serving about two weeks. Besides the 480 hours of community service we already knew about, the judge also ordered Lindsay to attend some kind of shoplifting program and undergo psychiatric counseling.
HER STATEMENT: Following her sentencing yesterday, LINDSAY LOHAN released the following statement …"I am glad to be able to put this past me and move on with my life and my career. I support the judge's decision and hold myself accountable for being in this situation." Then she told us to leave her alone and focus on more important issues "such as homelessness and domestic violence instead of on me."
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: "Tootie" from "The Facts of Life" is having a birthday today. Click here to see who else the wait staff at Applebees will be singing "Happy Birthday" to today.
CHARLIE'S SHEEN-ANIGANS: CHARLIE SHEEN — tired of being told no everytime he asks DENISE RICHARDS to let him spend time with their daughters, Sam and Lola — dragged her to a law office to try to work something out. She said no. A source told TMZ it ain't gonna happen until Charlie stops being Charlie. Quote, "Denise wants Charlie to be healthy. She wants the girls to see him, but certain behaviors need to be shut down."
GUESS WHO DON'T SUE – WHICH CELEB GAVE SOME ONE HERPES???!!!: A 20 million dollar lawsuit was filed this week accusing a, quote, "A-list celebrity" of giving someone HERPES. The celebrity, however, isn't named. Neither is the plaintiff. Here's what we do know from the court papers:
The person claims to have met the A-lister in Vegas, and went to his penthouse for, quote, "an evening of prolonged sex and illicit drug use." And the whole thing was videotaped. The plaintiff goes on to state that before the bumping of the uglies took place, the celebrity clearly stated he did NOT have any STDs.
There only real clue to the identity of the celebrity is a statement identifying him as someone who has, quote, "appeared widely on television and film", and has a net worth of at least $100 million. Hmmm. Worth 100 million, parties in Vegas, and videotapes his sexual exploits? Who could the winning actor be??? Guess who, don't sue!!!
KATIE HOLMES IN DENIAL: KATIE HOLMES is denying "OK!" magazine's claim that she's been fetused again by the mantastic TOM CRUISE …
Her rep even told the tab she most definitely wasn't pregnant when the magazine asked him to comment on the story. As you can see, they ran with it anyway.
SNAPSHOT: Man, NATALIE PORTMAN has really let herself go!!! Eat a salad, Natalie!!!
ROMANCE REPORT: The New York Post's Page Six hits us up with this "exclusive": LEONARDO DiCAPRIO and his supermodel girlfriend, BAR REFAELI, are kaput. Over. Dunzo. Splitsville.
The gossip site claims the pair broke up late last week because, according to their source, "Neither were ready to settle down, and both have busy careers that have been taking them in different directions." The insider adds no third party was involved,it was amicable, they're still friends, blah blah blah, yada yada yada.
2.) It's official: RACHEL McADAMS and MICHAEL SHEEN – no relation to Charlie – are an item!!! They announced their coupledom to the world by appearing in public together for the first time at a red carpet event last night.
There have been rumors of mutual naughty bits sharing since October of last year, but the actors were careful to not be photographed together until their coming out last night.
Click here to go to Mike & Tricia's Facebook page and hit up the comment section on this or any other of our recent post. (If you're signed in to Facebook right now you can comment in the box below.)
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Skip to comments.Feds feel shirked for shutdown work, sue for double pay
Posted on 11/04/2013 6:52:32 PM PST by markomalley
Some federal workers who were required to remain on the job during the government shutdown said Monday that they have filed a lawsuit demanding double pay, arguing that the governments failure to pay them on time is a violation of labor laws.
The five workers, all employed by the Bureau of Prisons and required to work during the shutdown, said their paychecks in early October didnt include money for Oct. 1 through Oct. 5. The workers said that meant they didnt earn the minimum wage for their work, and they also werent paid overtime both of which are labor violations.
The minimum wage applicable to essential employees is $7.25 per hour, or $290 for a 40-hour week, the workers said in their lawsuit, filed in federal claims court late last month. Many essential employees were paid less than $290 for work performed during the week.
The federal employees have since been paid for the time they worked, but their lawsuit says many of them had to make tough spending choices and incurred debts and interest costs.
The workers said they are entitled to compensatory damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act that should double the amount they have been paid.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I can't wait for the collapse.
no. Give us back your unemployment money. You people are parasites. ALL OF YOU! and the HOST is getting pissed.
I'm guessing between 50 years and never. Progreesives can push the pain forever.
Well if a collapse is what it takes to humble these proud liberals, a collapse is what they will get. What I mean is that the liberals will not be able to hang together forever. Their selfish wishes will override their desire to "screw the conservative." For conservatives to lay back from politics during this period is probably actually a very wise move.
A good burst of gospel power could clear up a collapse situation mighty quick.
America has been too proud... of itself, that is. When America was prouder of God than it was of itself, there was hope, and the most egregious evils were averted by grace.
>>I cant wait for the collapse.
I was thinking the same thing. I want to see a world where skilled tradesmen are paid like gummint employees and useless paper pushers and bosses stand in line for farm work.
Once American brags on God again, then its woes will literally supernaturally begin to dissolve.
The Feds can suck eggs. Let the whole thing crumble, wall off the major cities, and rebuild.
If the tradesmen give glory to God, this and more will happen.
If they just want to be their little potty selves, then this might be called conservative but it does not conserve the most important thing of all.
Better yet, lay off 80% of them.
No, invade the major cities. With gospel.
gov workers vs gov in court
notice taxpayers are not represented at all
Bet they're happy there's no Reagan anymore to show them the door.
God represents the honest.
It is a pity that God is a last resort to us. God should be the first resort.
The doggedly evil will cause their own selves to deteriorate.
>>If the tradesmen give glory to God, this and more will happen.
>>If they just want to be their little potty selves, then this might be called conservative but it does not conserve the most important thing of all.
Are you actually saying that America's problem is skilled tradesmen who don't glorify God? Does that mean that useless paper pushers and bosses do glorify God?
You know what? The greatest hurdle for Conservatism to overcome is the impression that it is only for businessmen. Your kind of comment (I assume that potty means petty) just blows my mind! When someone like you hears the word "tradesmen", you assume "union thug" and that equates to ungodly men.
I am an industrial electrician during the week and a lay preacher on some weekends and I teach bible study on Wednesday night. My job has NOTHING to do with my faith.
tough spending choices, incurred debt and interest = compensatory damages.
The 'bragging on God' boat left the harbor and sunk of the coast. Sorry.
What a load of poo. The government was "shut down" for 2 1/2 weeks. The full pay checks hit the bank a week after that. If you can't survive that long without a pay check you are doing something wrong.
OMG! The downtrodden federal employees who worked for their pay during the shutdown are embittered because they did not get a free paid vacation as some other federal employees did. So they want to be reimbursed by getting double pay for the time they worked?
My Goodness, don't give these spoiled, OVERPAID "overlords" a penny extra; they should feel fortunate to have a job. And DO NOT GIVE THESE SPOILED BRATS A 1% PAY RAISE; THEY DO NOT DESERVE IT. Ungrateful, spoiled creatures living off the sweat and wealth created by the actual productive citizens of our country.
Like when I have to pay taxes? Can I sue for double my taxes back?
Sorry, God is there to put the spiritual hammer down on impossibility nay sayers like you unless and until you accept His greatness once more. He does not rest upon us.
The normal plan of God's work, chastisement and invitation, remains. He didn't get senile on that throne in heaven.
I am personally privy to seeing the invitation part start to come into fruition. The Holy Spirit is getting things ready. In the meantime, Obamacare is going to turn into the chastisement.
So. Will you be part of the problem or will you be part of the solution. I have never seen so many negative nellies in my life.
In other words: dead rock would do well to rest once more upon the Living Rock. So many people pack up their marbles on God and go away when the times get a little tough. Well they are going to miss out on blessings.
Your job has NOTHING to do with your faith?
You are cruising for divine, purely supernatural bruising as long as you keep that attitude. As the world sinks, so will you.
Did God create and is He sustaining, the world?
Is your job in the world?
This should be enough said.
Your "faith" looks like something you pride yourself on, rather than something you give glory to God for helping you every day with.
The greed never abates.
It will once it has managed to destroy itself.
This move is so obvious that Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Helen Keller saw it coming.
When the first complaint about "It isn't fair, I had to work and they let those people that didn't have to work know they weren't going to lose any money. It isn't fair, that I had to come in to get paid and they got to stay home".
This is a far cry from when the FIRST GOVT SHUTDOWN in modern times was announced that when the word went out that non essential personnel were to stay home, people were coming in from sick leave and vacation lest they be thought of as non essential.
Mayor Gray from DC hit it on the head - When told he could face censure if he didn't lay people off -
IF THEY AREN'T ESSENTIAL, THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON THE PAYROLL. Pretty good talk, especially for a Lib or at the very least a D.
So I take it that you are not one of those "salvation by works" types?
ah-badda-bing, a-bodda-boom
>>Your job has NOTHING to do with your faith?
My Christian faith is what I am. That is what my purpose on Earth is. My job is how I pay for food and housing and stuff. My original comment was about how our present society looks down on skilled tradesmen and celebrates people who move paper around or manage skilled tradesmen. When the big collapse happens, the demand for people who can fix things will be much greater than for those who manage things.
But, all of those people can be Christian or they can choose to not be Christian. Their job has NOTHING to do with their faith. You aren't honestly saying that "Oh, he's a manager, so he is closer to God.", are you?
Of course not. That would be silly and unChristian.
>>Your faith looks like something you pride yourself on, rather than something you give glory to God for helping you every day with.
Since my post was about jobs, you really don't know anything about my faith. You've never heard my testimony and you don't know just how much I do praise God for what he did for me. I don't even know why you chose to pick this fight, except that I recall some issue we had in the past where you did some similar immature thing. I forgot all about it until now. Apparently you do not forgive. YOu need to work on that.
>>So I take it that you are not one of those "salvation by works" types?
LOL. Nope. Pure Salvation by Grace!
You are the one who is reading an old grudge into what I said and accusing things that are nonsense.
I found you saying that your faith has nothing to do with your job.
Nope. It does.
"With no returning"
Ahem, God still begs to be greater than Satan.
What happened in Nineveh should show that you shouldn't be naysaying, lest you find yourself naysaying against the Lord.
Please stop being a theological bully. It is sickening.
When I point out the truth of the power of God's spirit, that "makes me a sickening theological bully"?
If you buck the Lord's plan, you'll probably get more than just sick.
Buddy, I don't know if you were aware but God is busy seeking to BLESS in this world. Curses are earned by us by refusing the blessings.
I have excellent reason to be very adamant about this!
Do you want to see salvation happen here? Then quit singing the blues, literally for Christ's sake!
Bully's go to Hell. Save yourself.
What do you mean "save myself."
I am already saved by the Cross!
However when I try to tell others about this, it seems THEY get cross.
Yeah, a lot of folks thought Jesus was a bully too. Like the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus was upsetting their grim apple cart. That's why they crucified Him. You don't crucify what you think is a mild nuisance. THINK, buddy. THINK.
Heaven has no place for theological thugs such as yourself. Prepare for you doom.
You should prepare for yours, with that grim mindset of yours. God isn't grim. "His chastisement is for a moment and His lovingkindness is forever."
I mean, if I am a "thug for happiness" what is your idea of a heaven dweller? Someone who is perpetually playing blues on that harp???
God was telling the world to cheer up clear back from Cain! (Read it for yourself.)
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Top USA, international teams battle Tuesday in Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor
TAYLOR, MICHIGAN – Four key games are scheduled for Tuesday as teams strive for the championship of the 32nd annual Junior League World Series at Taylor's Heritage Park.
Teams from Mexico and Florida are seeking their third straight wins on Day Three of the weeklong World Series for the best teams of 13- and 14-year-old players from around the globe. Italy and New York want to remain unbeaten. Chinese Taipei, Aruba, Ohio and California need wins to keep their world championship hopes alive.
Tuesday's Schedule
11 AM – Tainan City, Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific champion) vs. San Nicolas de Los Garza, Nuevo Leon (Mexico national champion)
2 PM – Manhattan Beach, California (USA West champion) vs. Rockledge, Florida (USA Southeast champion)
5 PM – Oranjestad, Aruba (Latin America champion) vs. Lazio, Italy (Europe/Middle East/Africa champion)
8 PM – Franklin Square, New York (USA East champion) vs. North Canton, Ohio (USA Central champion)
The USA Southwest champions from Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Canadian national champions from Calgary, Alberta, have the day off before returning to action Wednesday.
The 10 teams compete in one of two pools – USA or International – and play four games in round-robin format over the first five days of the World Series. The top two teams in the International Pool will play at 5 p.m. Friday, followed by the USA championship game at 8 p.m.
The USA and International title holders play for the world championship at 11 a.m. Saturday in a game televised live by ESPN2.
The Junior League World Series has been held in Taylor since it was founded in 1981. The event is the older brother of the more famous Little League World Series for 12-year-olds, held annually in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
World Series Field is located at Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road. Admission is just $5 per carload per day or $10 for the entire week. Both fees include parking.
Here are the results of Monday's games:
Michael Hall's two-run walk-off single in the seventh inning led Rockledge, Florida, to a 7-6 victory over North Canton, Ohio, to kick off Day Two of the Junior League World Series. Hall drove in Blake Beyel from third base and Drew Parrish from second to complete a comeback for the USA Southeast champions, who became the first team to earn a second win. Hall pitched the last four innings for Florida, allowing one run on three hits to earn the victory. Teammate Kevin Clanton hit a grand slam in the third inning to give Rockledge an early lead. Parrish went 2-for-4 and scored twice. Ohio's Jerid Seemann, Nicholas Hillyer and Benjamin Kiesling had two hits apiece. The USA Central champs are 0-1.
Lazio, Italy, made its World Series debut with a 14-1 victory over the Canadian national champions from Calgary, Alberta. The game was halted by the five-inning mercy rule. Italy, the champions of the Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, scored seven runs in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth. Only five of Italy's runs were earned. Italy's Giorgio Bressi and Francesco Novaga each went 2-for-4, scored twice and knocked in two runs. Taylor Roberge had two doubles for Canada, which fell to 0-2 in the International Pool.
The Mexican national champions stunned the Latin American champions from Oranjestad, Aruba, in an extra-inning 7-5 game that left Mexico alone in first place in the International Pool of the World Series. Trailing 5-2, Mexico scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game and added two more in the top of the eighth when Jesus Solis scored on a sacrifice fly by Edwin Villerreal and then Jose Diaz singled home Carlos Iruegas. It was Mexico's only lead of the game. Mexico outhit Aruba 14-9. Villerreal, Raul Martinez and Jorge Leo had two hits apiece for the winners and teammate Pedro Tovar hit a solo home run. Aruba was led by Edmar Tromp and Jeandrick Odubar, who each went 3-for-4. Sharif Arends knocked in three runs for Aruba, which fell to 1-1.
Corpus Christi, Texas, players his three home runs in the seventh inning en route to a 16-1 victory over Manhattan Beach, California. Catcher Ricky Arevalo had two home runs in the inning – a two-run blast and a grand slam. He had three hits, scored two runs and had seven RBI. Teammate Nathan Rabe, who had the other two-run homer in the seventh, went 4-for-5, scored four times and knocked in four runs. Texas third baseman Reece Barrett added a two-run homer in the third inning. He scored three runs and had three RBI. All told, the USA Southwest champs had 14 hits and 12 walks off six California pitchers. Texas' Mason Weber, Kalani Ibarra and Rabe combined on a one-hitter. They had 12 strikeouts, but did walk 10. Texas evened its record at 1-1. California fell to 0-2.
Here are the pool play standings after one day of games:
USA Pool
Florida 2-0
New York 1-0
Texas 1-1
Ohio 0-1
California 0-2
International Pool
Mexico 2-0
Italy 1-0
Aruba 1-1
Chinese Taipei 0-1
Canada 0-2
Wednesday's Schedule
11 AM – Aruba vs. Canada
2 PM – New York vs. Texas
5 PM – California vs. Ohio
8 PM – Chinese Taipei vs. Italy
There are several ways to follow the games during the week:
•The games are broadcast live on the Internet on streaming video with play by play at www.justin.tv/jlws2012.
•Statistics can be found at http://juniorlbws2012.bbstats.pointstreak.com.
•The World Series website is www.cityoftaylor.com/worldseries. The site features the complete schedule, results and history of the series.
•The World Series Facebook page, which is nearing 2,000 fans, is www.facebook.com/juniorleagueworldseries.


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Mosaic Covenant
The Mosaic Covenant is found in Exodus 19 through 24. In this covenant, God promises:
- To make Israel His special possession among the people of the land.
- To make Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. God followed this up with requirements and laws.


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Ekouevi, Didier Ka,b; Coffie, Patrick Aa,b,c; Becquet, Renaudb,c; Tonwe-Gold, Besiginb,d; Horo, Appolinairea; Thiebaut, Rodolpheb,c; Leroy, Valérianeb,c; Blanche, Stéphaned; Dabis, Françoisb; Abrams, Elaine Jf
aANRS 1201/1202 DITRAME PLUS Project, PACCI Collaboration, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, France
bInstitut de Santé Publique d'Epidémiologie et de Développement (ISPED), Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, France
cINSERM, Unité 897, Centre de recherche 'Epidémiologie et Biostatistique', Bordeaux, France
dMTCT-Plus Programme, ACONDA, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, France
eService de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
fMTCT-Plus Initiative, International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Received 11 March, 2008
Revised 29 May, 2008
Accepted 1 June, 2008
Correspondence to Didier Koumavi Ekouevi, MD, PhD, 18 BP 1954, Abidjan 18, Côte d'Ivoire. E-mail: email@example.com
Background: Pregnancy outcomes in women receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in Africa are not well described.
Methods: HIV-1-infected pregnant women in the ANRS Ditrame Plus and the MTCT-Plus projects were included. Between March 2001 and July 2003, when HAART was not yet available, women eligible for HAART received a short-course antiretroviral regimen, zidovudine (ZDV) or (ZDV + lamivudine) and single dose of nevirapine for preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT group). Between August 2003 and August 2007, eligible women for HAART received it (HAART group). The frequencies of low birth weight (LBW) (<2500 g), stillbirth and infant mortality are reported. Risk factors associated with LBW were investigated using a logistic regression model.
Results: Of the 326 HIV-infected pregnant women, 175 women received short-course antiretroviral (median CD4 cell count 177 cells/μl) and 151 received HAART (median CD4 cell count 182 cells/μl). At 12 months, three paediatric infections (2.3%) occurred in the HAART group vs. 25 (16.1%) in the PMTCT group (P < 0.001). The rate of LBW was 22.3% in the HAART group and 12.4% in the PMTCT group (P = 0.02). In multivariable analysis (n = 309), after adjustment on maternal CD4 cell count, WHO stage, age and maternal BMI, HAART initiated before pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–7.51] and during pregnancy (adjusted OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.15–4.65) and maternal BMI at delivery (adjusted OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.20–4.91) were associated with LBW.
Conclusion: HAART in pregnant African women with advanced HIV disease substantially reduced mother-to-child transmission, but was associated with LBW.
The association between highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) use during pregnancy and adverse infant outcomes, particularly preterm delivery (PTD), has been hotly debated over the last decade, particularly in developed countries where HAART is frequently used for prevention of mother-to-child transmission [1–3]. Studies from Europe and the UK have reported an increased risk of PTD among women receiving HAART during pregnancy [1,2]. However, studies from the United States [3], Latin American and the Caribbean [4] as well as a recent meta-analysis of 14 perinatal studies [5,6] did not show any significant association between HAART during pregnancy and PTD in developed countries. To date, experience with HAART during pregnancy in Africa has been relatively limited and information about pregnancy outcomes is lacking [7]. Our aim was to evaluate pregnancy outcomes in women with advanced HIV disease who were treated with HAART during pregnancy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
This study was conducted within two sequential PMTCT programmes located in the same antenatal clinics in Abidjan: the Ditrame Plus Study, March 2001–July 2003 [8] and the MTCT-Plus Programme, August 2003–August 2007 [9].
Pregnant women identified as HIV-1 infected were referred for enrolment in these two programmes and all eligible women for HAART and their infants were included. In the Ditrame Plus Study, HAART was not yet available for pregnant women and they received, for preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), an intrapartum single dose of nevirapine (NVP) after short-course ZDV (scZDV) initiated at 36 weeks gestation or sc[ZDV + lamivudine (3TC)] initiated at 32 weeks gestation until 3 days postpartum (referred as the PMTCT group). In the MTCT-Plus Programme, we included women on HAART before pregnancy and pregnant women who meet eligibility criteria [WHO clinical stage 2 or 3 and lymphocytes T CD4+ (CD4) cell count <350 cells/μl, or WHO 4 or CD4 cell count <200 cells/μl]. They received HAART [ZDV or stavudine (d4T) + 3TC + NVP] in antepartum and continued it in labour and after delivery (HAART group).
In both groups, infants received ZDV syrup for 7 days + sdNVP (single dose of nevirapine ) syrup on day 2 or 3. Women were counselled to either replacement feed or to practice exclusive breastfeeding for 4–6 months. The breast-milk substitutes were free of charge in the PMTCT group but were purchased by the mothers in the HAART group. All women initiated multivitamin supplementation at their enrolment in the programme [10].
Maternal sociodemographic, clinical and biological characteristics were recorded at the enrolment. During follow-up, clinical information, drug intake and tolerance data were collected. At delivery, anthropometric data of infants was collected in the maternity ward by the midwife who was neither aware of the womens' HIV status nor of their antiretroviral regimen.
Plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load testing for early diagnosis of paediatric HIV-1 infection was performed using a quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR technique targeted in the HIV-1 LTR gene, as previously validated [11]. The quantification limit of this method was 300 copies/ml with 200 μl of plasma. The algorithm used for defining HIV infection in infants was reported previously [8,9]. CD4 cell counts were measured by a dual-platform flow cytometry technique with an automated blood cell counter (MaxM; Beckman Coulter, Miami, Florida, USA).
The following pregnancy outcomes were investigated. Stillborn was defined as the death of a fetus at any time after the 20th week of pregnancy. Infant mortality was defined as born-alive infants who died before their first birthday. Low birth weight (LBW), and very low birth weight (VLBW) were defined as birth weight less than 2500 g and less than 2000 g, respectively.
All singleton infants were included in the following analyses [12]. Group comparisons used Student's t-test or nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-test for continuous variables, and χ2 test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to study the relation between LBW and explanatory variables. A survival analysis was conducted to estimate infant mortality with Kaplan–Meier probabilities. Determinants of survival were explored using a Cox model.
Overall, 358 HIV-infected pregnant women eligible for HAART were included in this study (Fig. 1). At enrolment the median maternal age was 28 years, interquartile range (IQR) 25–32, median CD4 cell count was 179 cells/μl (IQR 120–252) and median maternal BMI at delivery was 23.8 kg/m2 (IQR 21.8–26.3). There were no statistically significant differences between women receiving HAART and those eligible for HAART but who did not receive it, except for WHO stage (P < 0.001), parity (P = 0.001) and age (P = 0.039).
The median duration on HAART was 11.7 weeks whereas the median exposure time to short-course antiretroviral drugs (sc-ART) prophylaxis was 4.9 weeks. The most common antiretroviral regimen used was ZDV + 3TC + NVP (87%) in the HAART group and ZDV + sdNVP (54.2%) in the PMTCT group.
Among the 326 singleton infants, the overall stillbirth rate was 3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–5.6] (Fig. 1). There was no significant difference between the HAART and PMTCT groups (3.3 vs. 2.9%; P = 0.85).
Anthropometric data were available for 309 infants. The median birth weight was 3000 g (IQR 2700–3250 g). Overall, 52 (16.8%) infants had LBW, with a significantly higher proportion in the HAART group compared with the PMTCT group (22.3 vs. 12.4%; P = 0.020). In the PMTCT group, the frequency of LBW did not vary by sc-ART regimen [12.3% with short course (ZDV + 3TC) + sdNVP and 9.4% with scZDV + sdNVP; P = 0.60]. Similarly, in the HAART group, the frequency of LBW was not different between women who initiated HAART before pregnancy and those who initiated HAART during pregnancy (25.0 vs. 21.5%, P = 0.68). The rate of VLBW was similar between groups (P = 0.974). There was no significant difference between groups for height or head circumference at birth (P = 0.279).
Among the 305 infants tested for HIV-infection, 28 infants were identified as HIV-infected at 12 months [Kaplan–Meier estimates: 9.6%, 95% CI (6.7–13.7)]. In the HAART group, 65% of the women initiated breastfeeding for 4.7 months in median (IQR 3.3–6.3), while this proportion was 48% in the PMTCT group, but with a similar duration (4.3 months in median, IQR 3.5–6.5). The estimated transmission risk was 2.3% (95% CI 0.7–6.9) in the HAART group, and 16.1% (95% CI 11.2–22.9%) in the PMTCT group (P < 0.001).
A multivariable analysis (Table 1) demonstrated that HAART initiated before pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.88, 95% CI (1.10–7.51)] and during pregnancy [aOR 2.12, 95% CI (1.15–4.65)] and maternal BMI (<25 kg/m2) [aOR 2.43, 95% CI (1.20–4.91)] were associated with LBW.
At age 1 year, the overall infant survival rate was 0.93 [95% CI (0.87–0.96)] among HIV-uninfected infants and was similar in the HAART and PMTCT groups (P = 0.78). Neither LBW (aOR 1.5, P = 0.38) nor the maternal exposure to HAART (aOR 1.1, P = 0.85) was statistically associated with infant mortality in HIV-uninfected infants. The only factor associated with infant mortality was paediatric HIV infection (aOR 11.9, 95% CI 4.8–29.5) in the Cox model after adjustment on infant feeding practices, LBW, exposure to HAART regimens and maternal characteristics at enrolment.
In this West African study, HAART for pregnant women with advanced HIV disease demonstrated a very low rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission (2.3%) in comparison with that in a historical cohort of HAART eligible women who only received short-course PMTCT regimens (16.1%). At the same time, the frequency of LBW was significantly higher in the HAART group; 22.3% compared with 12.4% in PMTCT group. The impact of HAART on infant outcomes has been examined in multiple studies in developed countries where most women received HAART for PMTCT as well as maternal treatment. One study [13] from the UK noted that the birth weight was significantly lower in infants exposed to HAART in utero compared with those exposed to sc-ART prophylaxis. Furthermore, a study from the United States noted that babies born to women initiating protease inhibitor-based HAART had twice the risk for LBW in comparison with those exposed to other antiretroviral drug combinations [3]. However, other studies from Europe, USA, Latin America and Caribbean did not find this association [4,14,15]. We believe that these are the first data from Africa associating HAART during pregnancy with LBW.
In our analysis, babies born to women receiving HAART were at a higher risk for LBW compared with those mothers who received sc-ART with only one or two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The complexity as well as the duration of treatment may contribute to this finding. Women were exposed to HAART for 11.7 weeks during pregnancy compared with 4.9 weeks of sc-ART. Due to the nature of the data set we were unable to examine the relationship between duration of exposure and LBW. We were also unable to study PTD rates because the majority of HIV-infected women did not know the date of their last menstruation and did not have an obstetrical ultrasound examination in the first trimester. Furthermore, the association between HAART and PTD was inconsistently reported [1–3]. Differences in methodologies, HAART regimens and care practices, make these studies difficult to compare [16]. There are few data on biological mechanisms explaining the potential effect of HAART on the occurrence of PTD or LBW. One hypothesis is that they could be the consequence of the effect of HAART on the modulation of Th1 and Th2 response [17].
In addition, low maternal BMI was a risk factor for having an infant with LBW; this is consistent with data already reported in Rwanda [18].
Infant mortality rates for uninfected infants in these cohorts were comparable for women receiving HAART and those receiving antiretroviral therapy prophylaxis. This differs from findings in a study in Uganda, which reported a high incidence of mortality in infants born to women who received HAART (25.7 per 100 person-years vs. 7.7 in children exposed to maternal sdNVP) [19]. We believe that there are several reasons for our good infant outcomes. First, despite an increased rate of LBW, the rate of VLBW was not increased. Second, the transmission rate was low in the HAART cohort, diminishing the risk of infant death. Finally, infants born to mothers enrolled in both cohorts were closely followed with a full array of comprehensive services that likely contributed to low mortality rates.
The strength of this study is that we had adequately controlled for WHO stage and maternal CD4 cell count, although we compared two sequential cohorts of women with advanced HIV disease and so were unable to take into account changes in HIV care over time and could not assess variables such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse which contribute to poor birth outcomes. Furthermore, 87% of women in the HAART group received the same regimen: ZDV/3TC/NVP. Finally, all HIV-infected women were followed-up in the same clinical sites by the same clinical teams since 2001.
Further larger scale international pharmaco-vigilance systems should be established to assess pregnancy outcomes in the context of this wider use of antiretroviral regimen in pregnant women.
This study was partly reported during the 3rd IAS Conference on HIV pathogenesis and treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 24–27 July 2005 (abstract TuFo0202) and was reported at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Boston MA (USA), February 3–6, 2008 (abstract 641).
The authors thank the Secretariat of the MTCT-Plus Initiative at Columbia University, the ACONDA Côte d'Ivoire team, the CeDReS team, the Ditrame Plus study clinic team, as well as all the patients and families enrolled in this programme.
The primary sponsor of the Ditrame Plus project was the French Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS), France. The MTCT-Plus Initiative is supported by several private US organizations (www.mtctplus.org). D.K.E. was a fellow of the French Charity Sidaction and is now a fellow of the European and Developing Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP). R.B. was a fellow of the French Ministry of Education, Research and Technology and is now funded by the French Charity Sidaction. Zidovudine and lamivudine were provided by Glaxo-Smith Kline International.
Contribution of the authors: D.K.E. designed the study, conducted data analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. P.A.C. prepared and conducted data analysis and participated in manuscript writing. R.B. contributed to data monitoring and was particularly in-charge of HIV-free survival analysis. B.T.-G. was the study coordinator of all aspects of the project on site and contributed to the writing manuscript. A.H. supervised clinically the antenatal and obstetrical phases of the study in Ditrame Plus project. R.T. participated in statistical analysis. V.L. was the coprimary investigator of the Ditrame Plus project and participated in manuscript writing. S.B. participated in the design of the study and manuscript writing. F.D. was coprimary investigator of Ditrame Plus project and edited the manuscript. E.J.A. is the director of the MTCT-Plus Programme of the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health (New York, New York, USA), designed the study and writing the manuscript.
This article has been cited 7 time(s).
Africa; antiretroviral drugs; HIV; mother-to-child transmission; pregnancy outcomes
© 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
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Candies C Fran is made of high quality Plastic, manufactured by in China in 2008.
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Well, according to my experience, it is awesome. I have to say that their customer service is really very nice. They answered every one of my questions very carefully and patiently. During the whole process, they always informed me of
What to do with calcium deposits from eyelids?
Calcium deposits can be formed in three different positions in the eye: the cornea, conjunctiva and retina. To have a simple solution to the problem by yourself, you can pinch the external deposit of calcium gently by using tweezers. Also,
Can you wear glasses while skydiving?
It is really dangerious to skydiving when you wear regular glasses. The glasses may fall off from your nose that make you blurred vision. So, if you need vision aids, you can buy sports goggles that can better shield your
How are sunglasses made? By what material?
Generally speaking, sunglasses are made from three types of materials, including optical glass, optical resin and natural materials. Sunglasses made by different types of materials may differ in some functions from each other, but they all have some similar functions,
How long does an eye stye last?
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Schooling Schooler: USC Forfeits Reflect Poorly on the MCLA
by Jac Coyne | LaxMagazine.com | Coyne Archive | Twitter
Colorado State is the No. 2 team in the country and has hurdled every obstacle all season. For some reason, Nick believes that BYU will be the team to take down the Rams on Saturday.
Nick has a bee in his bonnet, so he'll kick things off today.
SCHOOLER: Instead of complaining about how I lost my lead this week, I will join Jac in a rant about how pathetic USC is. Two forfeits against divisional opponents?! (That's me yelling.) That has to be the most pathetic thing I have ever heard of. And to top it off, the reason for forfeiting was because half of the team went to "Coachella," a large music festival in California.
Thankfully, my day was not ruined. I hung out in Isla Vista with all the bikini-clad women in the perfect board-short weather. The beer was flowing and I was happy. However, when I got to the field, only half-smiles could be found. Parents had traveled from all corners of the country to support the seniors in their last home game. There was still a celebration and catered BBQ, but what they really wanted to do was play their last game at The Pit.
Not only has USC embarrassed the MCLA and SLC, they ruined what would have been a memorable experience for the Gaucho seniors. Maybe a little more than two hours notice before forfeiting? The Trojans had to have known sooner.
I feel bad for USC's coach, Brett Tietjen. How do you work with players like that? The MCLA is a serious organization. If USC does not take all games seriously, it does not deserve to be part of the league. I hope the MCLA and SLC appropriately punish the Trojans and we never see anything like this again. Deliberately forfeiting against the top two teams in your division is uncalled for.
Shame on you USC.
COYNE: If growing up in Berkeley teaches you one thing, it's how to write a rant dripping with indignation. Sadly, Nick is absolutely correct.
Initially I assumed the game was forfeited because of somewhat understandable reasons – injuries, academic conflicts, etc. They aren't great excuses, because typically they speak to a lack of depth, but sometimes they are a reality in the MCLA. However, if Nick's information about the forfeiture is correct, and it was due to nothing more than the players opting to attend a concert, this raises more troubling issues than a ruined Senior Day or a non-eventful tailgate.
It makes the MCLA look unserious, and that is a label that a non-varsity league cannot afford to wear. It resurrects ugly stereotypes that a lot of people in a lot of different parts of the country have worked hard to put to bed.
On that note, I'm clinging to a one-game lead -- 33-22 to 32-23 -- although Nick and I disagree on four contests this week.
Onto the games...
No. 8 Colorado (8-4) at No. 7 Boston College (9-2) – 7 p.m., Friday
COYNE: This is a great late-season, interconference duel, and the Buffaloes should be lauded for making this trip. It is these types of sojourns that legitimize the league as a whole, so kudos to Mike Ryder and CU for bringing their show to Beantown. They might even pick up a recruit or two with a good showing.
Will they? It's an extremely tough question. I've gone back and forth about this, and there is a laundry list of pros and cons for both teams. I'm going to play a hunch and take the Buffs in what constitutes an upset. Both teams are headed to Denver, and could potentially see each other in the first two rounds, but I see CU racing out to a quick start and coasting home for an 11-7 victory.
SCHOOLER: Boston College has a great defense and a very balanced offense. They are going to need that defense to be solid against James Blackburn and the Buffalo offense. As long as the Eagles can hold Blackburn to fewer than three points, I can see Boston College winning this game and moving up in the national rankings. BC wins, 10-8.
No. 2 Colorado State (10-1) at No. 5 BYU (13-2) – 7 p.m. MDT, Saturday
COYNE: Brigham Young gets Colorado State on its own field on the back-end of a double down, which is usually a red flag, even for a team as strong as Colorado State. The Cougars also have the motivation of needing this win to get back into the driver's seat for a semifinal seed in Denver. Everything is there to call the upset.
Alas, the Rams will win. The reasons are three-fold. First, Colorado State has excellent depth, especially in the midfield, which will help with any potential fatigue issues. Second, while he struggled against Colorado, the Rams still have the better faceoff man, allowing them to dictate tempo if necessary. Third, Utah doesn't have the horses to make CSU sweat on Friday night. The Rams sweep the weekend, including a 13-9 win over BYU on Saturday.
SCHOOLER: Colorado State can be defeated and this is the weekend that it will happen. Ted Ferrin is an animal. The Rams will attempt to slow down the Cougar offense by controlling possession time, but the Cougs are just as disciplined as Colorado State. BYU suffered its only losses in the state of Michigan. That place has been a sort of graveyard for MCLA teams this season, so I do not think too much about those games. BYU takes this game, 6-5.
No. 13 UC Santa Barbara (9-4) at No. 4 Chapman (10-3) – 7 p.m. PDT, Saturday
COYNE: This game wasn't going to make the list, but Schooler actually requested it for the sole purpose of picking UCSB. When it comes to the Gauchos, our boy Nick is like a moth to the flame, even though we're in a tight competition with very few weeks left. I guess he's starting to warm up to Sarah Palin after her speech in Wisconsin.
Is UCSB a good team? Yes. Will the Gauchos make the national tournament? Probably. Will they win this game? Absolutely not. They haven't played a meaningful game in a month, and they haven't played a game at all in two weeks after USC bailed on them. Chapman doesn't have the tools like it did in past seasons, but dispatching UCSB will not be a problem. Panthers, 12-8.
SCHOOLER: In the glory days, the Gauchos owned this rivalry. It wasn't even much of a rivalry because UCSB dominated so many times. I remember a game where the lone goal scored by Chapman was tossed in by one of the Gaucho defenders.
Unfortunately, those days are long gone, and UCSB has been a lost team since its embarrassing defeat at the hands of Michigan a month ago. The Gauchos rebounded by crushing UCLA a few weeks ago, but UCLA is a bush-league team.
There is potential. I have seen glimpses of it all season, so if there is any time to rebound, it is now. I'm hoping that the Gauchos are fired up and ready to play after having USC ruin their Senior Day last weekend. Gauchos take this game in a nailbiter, 13-12.
Coyne's Pick
Buffalo (8-3) at Boston University (4-2) – 8:30 p.m., Friday
COYNE: The Bulls provided me my one-game margin this week thanks to their victory over Rhode Island (which, oddly enough, was Schooler's selection last week), so I'm going to choose one of their games again this week. I really liked the way Buffalo used balanced scoring – at least five different players scored in each of last weekend's three wins, including eight against URI – to win crucial conference games.
BU is the only thing standing between the Bulls and the No. 2 seed in the PCLL tournament. Both the Terriers and Bulls lost by a goal against Boston College, so whichever team can grab the easiest route to that rematch will be in the best shape. This game looks like a toss-up, so I'll take the team that doesn't have a seven-hour drive and is playing at home. BU, 11-10.
SCHOOLER: The PCLL has easily been the most exciting conference to follow this season. There are a bunch of teams in contention for the AQ, and they could send two teams for the first time since Northeastern and Boston College went in 2007. These teams are very evenly matched and since I went against Buffalo last week, I will try my luck again. The ferocious Terriers take this in a one goal game.
Schooler's Pick
No. 24 California (6-6) at No. 25 Stanford (8-2) – 2 p.m. PDT, Saturday
SCHOOLER: A game close to my heart. I grew up with this rivalry. The football games were especially exciting for me because the Big Game, as it is called, always brought me $25 for selling the parking spot in our driveway. If I could put all of that money down on this game, I would. Bears take this one, 13-10.
COYNE: The teams who will compete in the four-team WCLL tournament have been set, and these two are among that group, so it's not a do-or-die game for either team. However, there is plenty at stake. The winner will grab the No. 3 seed, and thus avoids playing Cal Poly – the overwhelming favorite to walk away with the automatic qualifier – in the first round. Granted, the winner gets UC Davis, which is no small task, but the Aggies are more vulnerable than the Mustangs.
These teams are about as close as their rankings, so no easy pick here, but the Cardinal duo of Jack Farr (18g, 20a) and Sammy Romer (25g, 18a) will prove to be too much for the Cal back-line. I like Stanford on the Farm, 9-7.
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Dstat graph using Vmstax
Actually, it is not a so good solution to analyze your servers : a lot of things is missing like network traffics, load per cpu, io per disk and others. Mpstat, iostat, ifstat can be used together but this is inconvenient because you have to manage several log ouputs.
Dstat is a versatile replacement for vmstat, iostat, netstat and ifstat. You can configure it with a bunch of options and you can even developp your own plugins for your specific needs. So, you have only one command to monitor what ever you want.
Here is an example of dstat output :
To draw charts from dstat output with Vmstax :
1) First, capture the dstat output : you have to use the output option. It will produce a csv log file that can be uploaded inside Vmstax. Here is an example :
2) Then, start Vmstax, upload the dstat.csv file and export the graphs as png. Pay attention to choose the 'dstat' format inside the upload combo box.
Here is some example graphs :
Limitations : Vmstax is not able to graph all the available options of dstat. If you think one is missing, contact the author and talk about it.
Links :
DStat home page
One Response to "Dstat graph using Vmstax"
Subir on
March 19th, 2016 5:54 am
The website http://vmstax.michenux.net/ is broken and does not work. This was very helpful. Any reason it is not working now.
Thanks for the help.
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Trot Nixon
And Trot Nixon puts the Indians ahead in the 11th!
I'm surprised he didn't start tonight. Say what you will about him, but he knows the right field of Fenway Park better than anyone and Gutierrez didn't look good last night (or tonight, for that matter). But it seems kind of poetic, and I'm okay with it.


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With news of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's engagement, a custom-designed ring and general wedding bell jubilation for one of Hollywood's biggest couples, this was sort of inevitable. So, since the nosy want to know: Pitt's constantly scrutinized ex Jennifer Aniston has told those close to her that she couldn't care less about his engagement to Jolie.
"She doesn't care. She really doesn't. She's happy with Justin [Theroux]. She'll probably marry him. She's moved on. People don't want to believe it, but she has," a source told E! News correspondent Marc Malkin.
Aniston, 43, married Pitt, 48, in 2000; the couple divorced in 2005, after rumors began to fly that Pitt had fallen for Jolie, his "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star. Aniston and Pitt's subsequent breakup was famously splashed all over tabloid headlines and remarkably continues to retain impact even today: according to Google Insights, a top-related search term for Aniston is "Brad Pitt."
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated that Aniston and Pitt were married in 1998. They were married in 2000.
More:Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Engaged Jennifer Aniston Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie Engaged Jennifer Aniston Brad Pitt Engaged
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Today, I woke up in the middle of the night to a figure holding a knife above me. After I screamed in terror, the figure burst into laughter. It was my mom. She did this as payback for me not washing the dishes last night after making food. FML
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Republicans Elect Shortridge New Party Chair [AUDIO]
ST. CLOUD – Minnesota Republicans have elected political consultant Pat Shortridge as their new state party chair.
Shortridge defeated Todd McIntyre and Terry McCall at a meeting of the party's State Central Committee in St. Cloud.
He says digging the party out of it's nearly $1.3 million debt is his first priority.
Shortridge was the only one of the three candidates that stated he would not take a salary for the position. He says he'll do it for free, part-time.
Shortridge will serve the remainder of former GOP Chair Tony Sutton's term, which expires in April 2013. Sutton resigned Dec. 2 amid internal criticism of party finances


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"Dateline NBC"
6 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Katie Couric lives every kid's dream: She tours Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a preview of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
"Malcolm in the Middle"
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox
Fox's whole Sunday-night lineup (except for "Futurama," because of a football game) returns, but this is the one you can't miss. The family goes on a houseboat with Stevie's anal-retentive parents.
8 p.m. Tuesday, NBC
Bill Gates drops in to help Dr. Crane celebrate his 2,000th radio program (and, in the real world, the show celebrates its 200th episode).
"Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration"
8 p.m. Tuesday, CBS
The King of Self-Promotion hijacks a network to push his latest. (See review in this week's AudioFile.)
"Bernie Mac"
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Fox
One of the "Kings of Comedy" gets his own, unsentimental sitcom about how his life goes horribly wrong when three kids are suddenly thrust upon him.
"General Hospital"
2 p.m. Friday, ABC
Luke and Laura celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, even though they got divorced last year. Happy anniversary, indeed.
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By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers
With potential voters You-Tubing questions for debating Democrats on Monday and Dick Cheney's short-lived presidency on Saturday, it's possible you missed an example of good government by the House of Representatives.
On a voice vote Monday, the House passed the Campaign Expenditure Transparency Act. The measure, co-sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Michael Castle, R-Del., bans spouses from being paid members of campaign staffs. It would not bar other family members from working on a lawmaker's campaign but would require disclosure.
It's not a perfect bill, but I and others are happy with a solid first step toward Congressional accountability.
The left-leaning watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reported about 72 current House members spent $5.1 million in campaign funds to pay relatives (or relatives' companies or employers) in the past six years. On average, that means those House members gave their families $70,833 to help them keep a $165,200-a-year job.
Do more math, and it could be construed as an artificial 7.1 percent pay raise ($70,833 divided over six years, divided by $165,200) for the family.
When you have the salary, benefits package and overall clout of a member of Congress, it's reasonable to assume family members would help you keep your job. When a family does so while pocketing campaign contributions, voters lose regardless of election results.
Maybe some of these spouses and family members are qualified, but it's a slippery slope. The Bible's book of 1 Corinthians warns the appearance of sin is more than enough motivation for others to sin as well. Translated into Washington language, Schiff said the practice "has shown the potential to foster corruption."
By scaling back nepotism, we create opportunity. I think of two old college friends — one a member of the College Republicans, the other the College Democrats. Both ended up working in a video rental store early on.
I'm not saying that's a bad job, but I doubt either one would rather do that than make a similar salary helping a candidate whose ideology matched theirs.
Even if the ideologies don't exactly match, that's fine. Go to a youth sporting event and you might find the parents who think their 11-year-old is a future first-round draft pick. That "family can do no wrong" attitude usually manifests itself in other areas, and it creates a candidate surrounded by yes-men, unwilling to shift on issues important to constituents.
A necessary voice of change is more likely to come from a passionate staff member than somebody who shares blood and holiday meals with the candidate.
I'm fairly certain we'll never completely eliminate nepotism from Washington. George W. Bush's political career was undoubtedly helped by his father being president, his grandfather being a senator and his brother being a governor.
Should Hillary Clinton win the 2008 election, conventional wisdom says Bill Clinton will be granted at least an ambassadorship — whether that would gain or cost her votes is anyone's guess.
Still, any step our government can take to eliminate yes-men and spread government involvement outward means better representation and better democracy. That's a good step in my book, and it's my hope the Senate agrees and follows the example set by the House of Representatives.


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Emergency Preparedness
You and your family members may not be in the same place when an emergency happens. Planning ahead, talking about- and practicing - what to do during and after an emergency will help you remain calm, think clearly and react appropriately. Discuss how you will get to a safe place, get in touch with each other and get back to each other.
Your plans should include:
Phone numbers of a pre-designated contact person for family members to call should you become separated.
Where to meet if separated.
Potential sheter locations for you and your pets
How to be safe if you remain in your home during a disaster.
Be sure to assemble an emergency preparedness kit and keep it in a convenient, readily-accessible location. You should have one for your home, office and automobile.
Self preparedness not only increases your and your family's ability to survive, but also reduces the workload of first responders, emergency medical services, fire fighters and law enforcement.
« this page last modified 08/25/15 »


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The eIDnative library version 2.5 is available for download.
The eIDnative library version 2.4 is available for download.
The eID Viewer and SIS Viewer applications are FREE applications for Microsoft Windows that use the eIDnative Library to access the Belgian Electronic Id and SIS Card.
Please find out more on our product page.
The eIDnative Library is a Software Development Kit (SDK) for the Belgian Electronic ID Card. It includes a native API for Microsoft .NET, native Win32, Visual Basic 6.0, VBA and Java (Windows platform only).
The library has been developed by Serhiy Perevoznyk and started as a freeware SDK for the Belgian electronic ID card. Ortus intends to use the library to develop freeware applications as well as commercial applications.
Ortus maintains a free version of the eIDNative Library for the community and looks for input from users for future improvements.
"I'm happy to transfer eIDNative Library to Ortus for continued development", says Serhiy Perevoznyk, developer of the library.
"Ortus has lots of experience with similar projects and can put a full development team at work to move eIDNative Library forward."
About Serhiy Perevoznyk
Serhiy Perevoznyk is a senior software architect who masters Embarcadero Delphi, C#, C++ and Java. He is an authority in a lot of developer communities.
About Ortus
Ortus is a Belgian software company founded on 18 May 1999 as a private limited company.
Using Embarcadero development tools Ortus builds software for the developer community and the end-user market.