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Suzuki GSXS1000 and GSXS1000F recall
Radiator hose clearance concern
The Suzuki GSX-S1000F
And the naked GSX-S1000
SUZUKI has launched a recall of the GSX-S1000 and GSX-S1000F over a potentially faulty radiator hose.
The recall affects 174 bikes in the UK, which will be fitted with a new hose free of charge.
A release just issued buy Suzuki says: 'The recall affects 174 registered motorcycles in the UK, and has been instigated due to a radiator hose clearance concern.'
The GSX-S1000 and GSX-S1000F are naked and faired versions of the same machine, using a 2005 GSX-R1000 engine. The GSX-S1000 is the naked variant while the GSX-S1000F has full-fairing and is billed as 'comfortable sports bike' by Suzuki.
Suzuki's release includes no details of issues that may arise as a result of the 'radiator hose clearance concern'.
It says: 'Despite no reported issues in the UK, customer safety and satisfaction is the highest priority, and Suzuki has elected to commence a recall to fit a new component to avoid any potential issues in future.
'Customers affected with officially imported and registered machines will receive a letter from Suzuki shortly after the modification parts arrive, advising them to contact their local authorised Suzuki dealership, who will carry out the fitment of the new component free of charge. The work will take less than one hour to complete.'
|Thread Tools


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The Changer
A silver Volkswagen zoomed past the bleak tower block. Over the block a bright yellow light suddenly appeared in a whirlpool of light. The yellow vortex of light suddenly enlarged as a figure jumped through it, the whirlpool closing quickly behind it. It climbed up onto the chimney and perched there for about a minute, surveying its surroundings, and then quickly jumped down as it saw a boy; no less than thirteen years of age enter the building. It hid behind the chimney until the exact moment when the front door shut behind him, when he quickly slipped into a third floor window.
At last. I thought with a sigh of relief as I opened the door on a Friday afternoon. 'Back my PS3'. I opened the door called to check if anyone was home. "Hello" I announced to the silent house.
I then ran to the front room, chucked off my bag, coat and shoes and turned on the TV. As I started to play I looked warily around the room. 'Stop it' I thought, your scaring yourself. His granddad had only let him stay home alone a few weeks before and I still hadn't got used to it. Warily, I turned back to the welcoming TV screen.
Shortly afterwards I heard a bump upstairs. BUMP. 'Probably nothing' I thought. . BUMP.I looked towards the ceiling and then quickly turned back to the screen. I would beat my highscore.BUMP.I switched off the TV and started to climb the stairs
I reached the top of the stairs and stepped onto the landing, I could hear banging coming from his grandparent's room down the hall and as I creeped down the hall I jumped when a figure stepped out of my grandparent's room.
It was dressed in a ragged, hooded black robe. It was levitating across the floor, dragging my fear stricken and struggling grandfather behind it, whose eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and panic.
As I saw the gruesome sight I felt a tsunami of anger come over me.
"First my mum and dad disappear before I was born, leaving with no piece evidence that they were even real, then you comes out of nowhere and has the liberty to take my only living family member left. Are you for real?"
As I got angrier, my vision started to take on a greyish tint, my sense of smell and hearing started to improve, I smelt the cheesy nachos I had had after school and he could hear a child running down the road. Suddenly, I was warm as if wrapped in a fur coat. Strangely, I also seemed to suddenly grow an extra 5 feet.
"That's right, unleash your anger. Feel the burn" answered the thing, its breath cutting into my skin like a knife. "You have courage I'll give you that, I somehow have no doubt that one day we will have an epic battle however this is not the time, I am a busy man".
The figure obviously wasn't as scared as I was that I had suddenly grown and was … hairy? I am embarrassed and angry to say that I fainted the moment I looked at my hands, allowing the kidnapper to get away. After I awoke I ran to the window but the figure had already disappeared. I turned around and knees in despair.
Since the kidnapping my life took a turn for the worse, I was sent to an orphanage and no one believed his story. I tried again and again to change but it didn't work. Even I was starting to believe I made it up and I kept having nightmares about the strange figure.

subset: commoncrawl


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American Express India Walk-In For Sales Executive/Officer
Company Name: American Express India
Position: Sales Executive/Officer
Education: Any Graduate/ Any Postgraduate
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A leader in global payments , Established in 1850 and headquartered in New York City,is a leading card issuer, innovative payment provider and renowned travel services company that provides award-winning service, cutting-edge information and expense management expertise.
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- Time : 9 AM 6 PM
- Walkin Address : American Express, Salarpuria Tech Point. No 3, Level 5,110ft Road,Srinivagilu,Koramangala Road, Bangalore-47


text:
Get your FREE TechTarget study immediately after completing this form.
Cloud computing can help you save costs, increase flexibility and improve efficiency. But security concerns and other perceived drawbacks make many organizations wary.
To determine what the future holds for the growth of cloud computing, TechTarget surveyed IT decision makers about:
- Their current involvement with cloud computing
- Reasons for adopting the cloud
- Concerns about cloud computing


text:
evaporative emisson system,manufacturer controlled auxiliary emission controls,manufacturer controlledauxiliary emission contols
1 Answer
For the EVAP system to set a trouble code it may be as simple as a loose or faulty gas cap. Or it could be a faulty vent valve which can run into big bucks if the gas tank has to be removed to replace it. It may be a bad purge valve or faulty vacuum hose. Again, not too much to fix. HTH. -Jim
Your Answer
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30 reviews | 5 out of 5
We bought toy story and toy story 2 for our daughters birthday and she loved them. Walmart had the cheapest prices for the two movies and on top of that you get free movie tickets...you cant beat it! LOVED IT!
Great Picture quality. Perfect combination. Blu-ray for home. DVD for the Car and Digital copy to store on my laptop or iPod.
My 2 year old son got all the Toy Story movies for his Birthday last month in March... He absolutely loves them... I'm really glad I got them all because he watches them on repeat so at least I get to rotate them all... I'm so happy with my purchase... Although I do believe part one is his favorite ☺
Bought this for my son. Out of all three movies this is his favorite. I love the DVD and Bluray combo. One for the car and the other for the house. Picture is great and the colors are vivid with Bluray.
I bought the movie for my 5 year old son and he just loves it. He can't stop watching Toy Story 2 and he is really looking forward to Toy Story 3 to come out in the theaters. The price was unbelievable.
I loved these movies when they first came out and now I get to share them with my son. Can't wait to see Toy Story 3! Got a free movie ticket with this purchase!
My grandson loves the movie!
My grandchildren and I loved it and watched before seeing Toy Story 3...
The pirces was good and the Delivery to my close Wal Mart Store was Fast
My 22 month old keeps watching this video over and over.
Excellent. cheapest price. Convenient ship to store
Great price...dvd + blu ray...great movie...
one of the best sequels ever


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Bee Concerned: Big study—Selective pollinators are declining
By Susan Milius, 15:55 PM April 15, 2008
A million records from insect-spotting hobbyists in Europe contain the broadest evidence so far of a decline among some of the region's pollinators and the wild plants that need them, says an international research team.
The new study shows that since the 1980s, bees have dwindled in diversity in Britain and the Netherlands, as have wild plants that are at the mercy of insects that transport pollen, says Koos Biesmeijer of the University of Leeds in England. The team's unusual study strongly ...
Source URL: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bee-concerned-big-study—selective-pollinators-are-declining


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There are a lot of people disturbed tonight about Kathy Sierra's latest post, me included. Some of it seems too weirdly insider; I don't know anything about the mean kids blog or the people she's talking about. But the experience of feeling threatened doesn't require you to know anyone to get the gist, and really, the problem is the anonymity. People hide behind anonymity to create hate and let their crazy out.
In one of those weird coicidences, an email newsletter from Kore Press came into my email inbox, and it links to their blog, Persephone Speaks. And the post, the "Other Room," provides this other counterpoint.
In the "Other Room," an accomplished female writer weeps (in part because it's safe, she is surrounded by friends) as she finally admits:
"When my turn rolled around, tears poured down my face as I said, haltingly, in a voice that sounded to me quite unlike my own: "I write . . . because . . .I write because. . . because I believe I have something to say that's worth hearing." And then I lay my head down on the table and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed, while one of my friends said "I am so damned proud of you, Rob, for admitting that."
She goes on to talk about how students and teachers in her experience who were female "talk about giving themselves permission to write, about the necessity of giving themselves permission to write – as though in our natural state we are somehow bereft of that permission. "
In my MFA class , which was largely women, this experience is borne out (we didn't weep so much as drink, but it was something we talked about over and over those long nights – the audacity of being creative in the face of nothing in real life that encourages you, but also particularly in the face of that annoying literary critic Harold Bloom).
We are told by our professors to read the English canon (mostly dudes), and while the male writers have the rather Freudian tradition and get to kill their literary father like Darth Vader (again, read Bloom), women tend not to be even reading a literary mother til the last 100 years or so. (Sorry Sappho, but folks tend to read Anne Sexton if at all).
Maybe the kids growing up now won't have that feeling. The youngest folk in my MFA class are now in their 30s. But then, what will they learn from the Internet?
This woman writing for Kore's blog isn't citing violence or anything like that when she talks about how hard it is to take her rightful place. Scary and hard. If it's that hard to feel ok without violence, well, it's not too odd then that Kathy's ready to stop emoting and emitting for a while.
The thing that no one talks about perhaps because we don't look back long enough, is that there's a tradition of women not being able to write, being silenced. Anonymous harassers come out of that tradition; the Internet did not invent it.
But now I think is the time to break with it.


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I'm a serious Atlanta Braves Fan - never miss a game!
But in a season there is a 163 games and although we've won 11 division titles, during any given season we always slump at some point, most often for us it's in the post season.
Yet ask any baseball analysts about slumping - "If you're going to do it, better early then late".
There's no denying that President Bush seems to be in a slump. Polls aside, because looking at the internals of many of these polls you will see that they are a 'little off" weighted with Democrats and so-called Independents, nevertheless, I wish the numbers were better.
Yet after getting nothing but bad press since the beginning of the year by a more than compliant press, I'm surprised they haven't hung him yet!
But beginning last Friday, on Veteran's Day, the President began to hit back and hit HARD. It's about time. Some like Rick Moran think it's too little too late. Maybe, but we've got three years left in the season, plenty time to go on a home run tear.
For too long this administration didn't fight back, with the ill informed moonbat left thowing out every conceivable half baked theory with no challenge except by us bloggers. Frankly, I was getting a little frustrated. In fact, I put my frustration to very terse letters to the RNC as I'm sort of an "Area Commander" here in South Florida for the RNC. Unless you missed that I said "South Florida"? Enemy territory?
Every President that has had a second term has had a slump. Some, like the last one had a lot more than a slump....
In any case, they all rebounded, and now that Bush is fighting back - not with rhetoric, but with the truth. When you hit these leftist nutcases with the truth they either resort to calling you a Nazi or imploding like Senator Rockefeller did on Fox News Sunday (Cripes he look like he was having a stroke!).
So team Bush is in a slump, but he got a hit on Friday, and a couple of more over the weekend, and last night he smacked it right over the fence.
The Slump is over!
Filed under: judith miller valerie plame karl rove Valerie Plame PlameGate john hannahcheney libby joe wilson jordon terrorismjohn
Another Baseball AnalogyPosted by Jack Moss
I'm a serious Atlanta Braves Fan - never miss a game!


text:
W2KSG: Reading Event Logs
The scripting guide use WMI to read classic event logs. We have get-eventlog. Much easier.
# Listing 12.8
Get-EventLog -LogName System
# Listing 12.9
Get-EventLog -LogName System | Where {$_.EventId -eq 7036}
Listing 12.10
Get-EventLog -LogName System | Where {$_.Timewritten -gt ((Get-Date).Adddays(-2))}
Listing 12.8 shows how to read a specific log. There could be a lot of data there!! We can restrict the data by eventid (Listing 12.9) or date (Listing 12.10)
|Share this post :
Technorati Tags: PowerShell,Event Logs


text:
In Between SK1 chair by Sami Kallio
The interplay between positive and negative space is central to the design of the new In Between chair from &Tradition. Its back and side panels provide a concrete shape and support, but forms are created equally by the gaps in between.
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view all products by &tradition
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text: Slysoft Anydvd & Anydvd Hd 220.127.116.11 Final.Incl.CLASSIC KEY SlySoft Anydvd HD.6526.Final.Incl.HD.KEY AnyDVD is a driver, which unprotects DVD-Movies automatically in the background. This DVD appears unprotected and region code free for all applications and the Windows operating system as well. With AnyDVD's help copy tools like CloneDVD, Pinnacle Instant Copy, InterVideo DVD-Copy, etc. are able to copy CSS protected Movies. With the help of AnyDVD you can watch movies with non matching region codes with every DVD Player Software you like! AnyDVD decrypts not just DVDs: AnyDVD allows you also to play, copy and rip protected Audio CDs! But AnyDVD does much more, of course. For example, it is possible to control the rotational speed of your DVD drive, so you can watch DVDs on your PC with far less noise! Update Log - New (DVD): Added workaround for a weird authoring error found on some DVDs, e.g. "The Closet", UK - Change: Autoplay is no longer disabled while settings dialog is shown - Fix (Blu-ray): Message "MFR: File is too big!" with some discs - Fix (Blu-ray): Playback issues with Panasonic Blu-ray players - Fix: Security vulnerability of the driver interface - Some minor fixes and improvements - Updated languages Classic Key and Setup Code: http://rapidshare.com/files/206337088/AnyDVD6526.rar HD Key and Setup Code: http://rapidshare.com/files/206653928/Anydvd6526.HD.rar


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For sale is a beautiful and old hand painted roses porcelain vase from Austria. This is a huge vase at 18 inches tall x 28.5 inches in circumference. The body is full of roses and foliage as background and is in overall excellent condition, no damages to the porcelain. Only the wear to the gold on the handles mostly and some at the top. This is an outstanding and large piece sold at a great price, the size that it is.
Rare and Old Pieces For You!


text:
Mar 2, 2010 at 8:50 am #1255953
Jim W.BPL Member
@jimqpublicLocale: So-Cal
I think this belongs here in Chaff.
Can anyone tell me when and why the US military started calling soldiers "Warfighters"? Is there politics behind the change? (Don't want to be associated with any blue helmeted "Peacekeepers"?)
I kept running across the term when researching cross over technology for backpacking. (Marine ECWCS garments and Permethrin fabric treatment studies to be specific).Mar 2, 2010 at 8:52 am #1580512
To intimidate the opposing forces with its scary intonation.Mar 2, 2010 at 9:12 am #1580526
Methinks that term is used to denote someone 'who means business' — a doer (fighter) who gets the war business done — as opposed to administrators in uniform.
Me also thinks this term is used more as a consequence of frustration toward Iraq and Afghanistan.Mar 2, 2010 at 9:26 am #1580530
Keith SelboSpectator
@herman666Locale: Northern Virginia
Check out the entry in Wikipedia. It's at least plausible.Mar 2, 2010 at 9:47 am #1580542
We had to come up with a term to cover all branches of service, and "servicemembers" was too cumbersome and not intimidating enough.
It's sort of a product of the "friendly rivalry" between the branches of service. You can't call them all "soldiers."
If you call a Marine a "soldier" you'd better expect to get at least an earful. If you call one a "sailor", well, I hope you have health insurance…
The heirs of the Army Air Corps also get snitty about being referred to as "soldiers."
So "warfighters" covers soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen (sometimes), and marines.Mar 2, 2010 at 9:50 am #1580549
Marines take offense to soldier? Just askingMar 2, 2010 at 9:53 am #1580552
Not like they take offense to being told that they are in the Navy, but yes, in general. They are Marines, not soldiers. They tend to cut innocent civilians some slack when they make this mistake, but I would certainly get the stinkeye if I tried to call them that.
Incidentally, calling a Marine a "jarhead" is kinda like using the N-word in American society nowadays. Only a jarhead is allowed to use the word "jarhead"- otherwise it is an insult. This has gotten milder and milder over the years, though, and you can probably find Marines who don't mind being called a jarhead. But if you want to be familiar with them and still remain safe it is better to call them "leatherneck."Mar 2, 2010 at 9:55 am #1580554
Hmm. Very telling. So the military isn't there to defend the country against anything. They're there to wage war. Seems honest, if disturbing. If there was no desire to promote war then I would think the "war" part would be completely unnecessary, as "fighters" gets the whole meaning across in itself.
"Warmongers" would seem to be less disingenuous. And it's an established term.Mar 2, 2010 at 10:02 am #1580556
So you think that war cannot be defensive? Rather narrow a viewpoint, there, Miguel. :o)
But I'm not one to play semantic games. Yes, the purpose of a military is to wage war, be it defensive or not. We also get other tasks on occasion, though. Peacekeeping, humanitarian missions, operations short of war, etc. I'm not a pacifist, obviously. (Though my Hippocratic oath does place some limits on me. I can discuss the Geneva Conventions regarding medical personnel, if you like.)
But, wow, we're going to get into another holy war, here, aren't we…? :o)
EDIT– So, you edited that one under me, eh, Miguel? Are you calling me names? Well, at least you have the balls to do it in public. I'll give you that. I do take offense to being called a warmonger. My opinions about appropriate uses for the military might surprise you. If I'm misinterpreting that comment, I recommend you clarify it right quick or the holy war is about to start.
P.S.- My apologies in advance, Jim. I hope that I amswered your question. With more and more joint operations nowadays they just needed a word that covered everybody.Mar 2, 2010 at 10:08 am #1580561
Dave TMember
another gun/military/war thread on backpacking light.Mar 2, 2010 at 10:11 am #1580563
Well, I think this one is different. The gun holy wars get heated and rude, but I think both sides have their points. Here, I was just called a name at random, without provocation. This wasn't a debate on foreign policy and the military, for example.
Do you disargee? That I was just flat-out called a warmonger, along with every other military member on the planet?
If Miguel only meant the leadership- like Bush- he sure a hell could have made that more clear. (And I might not disagree with him.) And if this was a miscommunication that he corrects, I'll be quite satisfied, and maybe a bit chagrined. But I'm waiting for the answer.
Well, maybe I should have waited a bit longer, to see if Miguel rethinks that. Especially considering my own re-re-re-editing habit. :o)
Unfortunately, I have to run to a case, so it may take me a while to get back. Later.Mar 2, 2010 at 10:12 am #1580564
I'm SO out of this thread.
Have fun fellas!Mar 2, 2010 at 10:21 am #1580569
What next? Rename the DOD back to DOW — just so folks know we mean business — again?Mar 2, 2010 at 10:26 am #1580573
Could so many (certainly not all, but MANY) of the residents of "first world" nations (yeah, that means all of us) enjoy the privileged consumers lifestyles we lead without the aid of the warfighters, soldiers, warmongers (or whatever your beliefs/affiliations dictate you call them)?
Is there a way to do it, in this world, without a gigantic military?
If the U.S. didn't have the largest military on the planet, who would?Mar 2, 2010 at 11:11 am #1580597
The Swiss lifestyle isn't all that shabby. Ditto the Norwegians, Swedes, so on and so forth.
I am not naive. We need to defend ourselves. And I certainly appreciate folks out there defending me and my lifestyle.
But this notion that we HAVE TO BE the biggest, baddest and meanest out there is arrogant — and frankly non-sustainable. Anyone who studies history knows this.
Right now, China is building infrastructure like gangbusters! We struggle just to patch what we have and this talk about a high speed rail system is still more dream than reality! And yet, driven by fear (and our own arrogant foreign policies) — we continue to borrow just so we can continue to spend more on defense than the next 10 countries combined!!
With our crumbling education and infrastructure — even as we sink ever deeper into debt ($12 trillion now and counting) — we are screwing our children and grandchildren big time.
So, yeah, keep funding that GIGANTIC military. But know this: not a single country or empire has ever lasted by outspending its 'enemies'. So get used to the dead end.
A better idea? Stop trying to call all the shots and making enemies and competitors at every turn! Instead, learn to live with others — methinks a neighborhood of nations with upper middle class shoppers that trade with each other — Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, etc. — will make for a much more stable world. And less arrogant too.Mar 2, 2010 at 11:16 am #1580598
Dean, WHAT are you talking about? I didn't even know that anyone had written anything while I was writing my earlier post. Have you EVER known me to call anyone names, even when I was furious?
Please remember, too, it's the middle of the night here, so people in the Eastern Hemisphere are going to respond pretty slowly. I'm only up because I wasn't able to sleep.
I was merely and privately thinking carefully about my wording, not wanting to (as I apparently and inadvertently did) offend anyone. I edited the post several times. I was merely looking at the meaning of the original word posted. After all, words do have connotations and nuances, as the military so very well knows. There is a very good reasoning behind why the word "warfighter" was chosen over "fighter". And THAT is semantics, not what I was trying to do. I'm merely trying to pull the curtain away from the double-speak.
The reason for my post was tongue-in-cheek, though (which I know doesn't go over very well in this medium). I was trying to flush out the germ of yet another war thread here on BPL. Didn't do a very good job.Mar 2, 2010 at 11:29 am #1580606
Very well put, Ben. I'm in complete agreement with you. I just don't think it's going to make any difference to those who see it differently. Europe, after thousands of years of constant war is finally learning the meaning of getting along and living with one another. Maybe Americans haven't experienced enough tragedies or had enough of their people die or enough of their land taken from them or lost enough wars to have matured enough to understand what folly it is to long for war and fighting all the time. The British are learning, The Italians learned. The GERMANS learned! The French are learning. Maybe you have to go through enough heartbreak and hardship and shame to really know the value of peace. Americans haven't experience enough loss yet, perhaps (you'd think the American Civil War, one of the bloodiest in history, would have taught them something). But what a sad way to have to learn.Mar 2, 2010 at 12:50 pm #1580658
Ben makes excellent points.
But I do have to wonder…
Does much of Europe even need a large military when they are allied with the largest military on the planet?
Therefor I think asking things like:
"Why can't the U.S. be more like ("peace loving" country X)?"
-is not taking geopolitics into account.
I think one could easily make the argument that ("peace loving" country x) gets to avoid building a giant military (and thus appear very peaceful) because they live in a state of security that is a by-product of being allied to with the largest military on the planet. WAY more of the world benefits from U.S. hegemony than would like to admit it- of course, at the expense of those who don't.
I'm not arguing for or against philosophy or any country. I'm simply raising questions based on how I see it.Mar 2, 2010 at 1:03 pm #1580670
And Ben:
Where do the resources come from that support your "neighborhood" of nations full of middle class shoppers?
Well, I reckon we'll get them from other places on Earth. And then those people might one day say:
"Hey, maybe WE should be exploiting our OWN resources to be more like THEM." And they decide not to sell anymore.
And now how does the neighborhood of middle-class consumer nations get the resources to support its lifestyle?
Maybe by going out and fighting for them…?
Wait, this is beginning to sound a little familiar….Mar 2, 2010 at 1:16 pm #1580680
The neighborhood of nations isn't around yet. But I take heart that nations like China and India are rapidly developing their own economies and improving the livelihoods (and purchasing power) of their own people. This bodes well for the world economy.
Every country has something that others covet. As anyone who has studied even Economics 101 knows — it's not a zero-sum game (i.e. your gain is my loss). Having each country producing what it does best and trading is the way to enlarge the entire economic pie — to the benefit of everyone!
So here's what I am saying:
1. We need to defend ourselves. No one is saying to dismantle our military.
2. But more is better only to a point — beyond that, we run the real risk of exhausting our resources!
3. We now have $12.5 trillion debt while AT THE SAME TIME our education and infrastructure systems are crumbling. The military machine is critical for today but education and infrastructure are critical for our future economy!
4. We must learn to spend within our means, devote some resources to our military — but devote more resources and better ways to invest in our future.
5. If (or is it when) our children lose out in education and technology — our standard of living will start falling dramatically — and our military hardware will simply rot away because we can no longer afford to maintain them. Our debts will still be around though — and that is going to be truly sad for our children!
Better to build a world where it is more profitable to trade than to attack. Why? Because more countries will have the incentive to maintain the status quo — and not just one (or a few) have's defending against the many have-not's.
As for your method — maintaining the most GIGANTIC military machine — that has always proven to be a dead end. Many have tried — and all have failed — either destroyed outright — or simply burned themselves out. After studying up on Economics, read a few about History too.Mar 2, 2010 at 1:32 pm #1580694
Trust me Ben, I'm not arguing for the method I describe, it's just the way I see things going.
I'm just concerned that the world has been working within a certain framework for so long, I have a hard time seeing it switching to a collaborative, non-violent model. Maybe it will be a change forced upon the world by the unsustainability of the current system. Who knows.
But I think we essentially agree.
I never said what I see happening is sustainable, nor do I think it is wise. But it certainly is the model the world seems to be embracing, and I don't see it ending without a MAJOR shift in politics, economics, etc.
I must say, you're damned right about education! I'm a teacher and well-acquainted with educational budget issues (I'll be out on Thursday's statewide rally and am very involved in organizing at my site).Mar 2, 2010 at 1:35 pm #1580698
I really think that if we throw out the minority of unqualified teachers — AND maybe 80% of all the school administrators — and give back some power, discretion, responsibility and accountability to the teachers — our education system will improve quickly and dramatically. Not a substitute for starving the system of resources, but a pretty darn good first step.
Best of luck with your rally!Mar 2, 2010 at 1:56 pm #1580710
Jim W.BPL Member
@jimqpublicLocale: So-Cal
You know…
I almost asked the question in a PM to Dean, but thought that would be rather forward of me. Should have gone with my gut.
Thanks for the cross-service answer. I had presumed that all branches would accept the generic "soldier" term.
For what it's worth, the question came up as I was trying to come up with a pattern to make a midlayer garment that has the best attributes of a Patagonia R1 Hoody and the military ECWCS midlayer. It will have R-1 type Powerdry (5.3 osy) body and arms, 3 osy Powerdry X-static side/underarm gussets, and 6 osy Powerstretch hood, wrists, and hem. Unfortunately the fabrics mismatch so I won't win a style award.Mar 2, 2010 at 1:57 pm #1580711
Roger CaffinModerator
@rcaffinLocale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe
I would have thought that the origin of the term is perfectly obvious:
A politically-correct committee!
CheersMar 2, 2010 at 2:03 pm #1580719
DougBPL Member
"I'm just concerned that the world has been working within a certain framework for so long, I have a hard time seeing it switching to a collaborative, non-violent model. Maybe it will be a change forced upon the world by the unsustainability of the current system. Who knows."
I saw a documentary recently, narrated by Keanu Reeves, where aliens came down to earth to force us to stop destroying things. We either changed or died. We only lived because a pretty woman and a smart-mouthed kid saved the day. We're still destroying things. I'm not sure when the aliens are coming again.
At least I think it was a documentary…..
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If Testaccio is the undiscovered Rome, then Ostiense is the undiscovered Testaccio. Its urban metamorphosis hasn't quite reached the height of its northern neighbor, but co-ed crowds are beginning to recognize Ostiense's restaurant and nightlife scene as the next cool place to coexist. Hidden markets snuggle up to cramped trattorias where waitstaff call out your order rather than ring it in. It's these little enclaves that elevate Ostiense's ever-rising street cred. Add in the neighborhood's massive train station that ensures easy accessibility, and you'll wonder how Ostiense has kept quiet for so long.See places to stay Save this neighborhood
On the Map
Ostiense is bordered by Portuense, San Paolo, Garbatella, EUR, Roma Centro, Testaccio, Monteverde Vecchio, and Ripa
Real Rome In Real Time
Ostiense Station is the new hub for the national high-speed trains, and here there is the new great food "hub" Eataly, where you can taste and buy healthy and top quality Italian food. Moreover, Ostiense has a great night life!"
Ostiense's Student Body
The zone is constantly changing and it is currently one of the trendiest areas of the city. Staying is a pleasure!"
Green Retreats In Ostiense
Airbnb works with local photographers to capture the spirit of neighborhoods all around the world. The photography on this page includes work by:
Thomas Toti
Thomas Toti is a photographer and director of photography. He has been burning film since he was 15 years old. A fascination for different cultures has led him to travel and this passion manifests itself in his work, where he applies a fresh approach to every shoot. He is intrigued by Rome and loved shooting for Airbnb as it allowed him to pay homage to both the city and its tourists.
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Fantastic Short Term Rental apto By Vincenzo
Una casa al Gazometro - Ostiense By Margherita


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Kitchen Design tool
Where is a good FREE kitchen design tool online?
Heck, I dunno.... we just use WillieT and AndyGump! :laughing:
Seriously though.... try Google Sketchup. It's free, although there's a learning curve.... but they have good tutorials.
Graph paper and a pencil. It's analog, but it works. If you're doing this for a customer, you need the pretty pictures. As a homeowner, you just need to know it fits.
Once you know exactly the setup you want and the cabinets you've decided upon, the kitchen company will do a rendition for you. The ones I deal with don't charge for the service. I think the big boxes do.
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|Reviews for Frozen
| ladycybele chapter 1 . 4/6/2015
you made me cry T.T this is just sooo good.. very dramatic.. nicely written
| caseyedith chapter 1 . 2/4/2010
Very cute! I love the emphasis on the cooking in this. And your eloquent words about the tears, and remembering and forgetting were well done. Really well done. You've written this couple very nicely.
| Crewel chapter 1 . 8/14/2009
Welcome Back! Welcome Home! I missed your SxM ficiton so much. I'm so glad you wrote SxM fiction again. Your writing style changed. Your wrote their relationship more detail. Good try. Thank you for spending much effort on writing their fiction. Thank you so much.
| hitokiri angel chapter 1 . 8/4/2009
Aww! Super kawaii! I really love it! Please make a sequel please! T_T This section of fanfiction is almost dead. T.T
| Nyako chapter 1 . 8/4/2009
i'm glad you're back! This really is very well written and I like the way you protray Sano and Megumi
| roosterboy chapter 1 . 8/3/2009
I see you didnt forget this couple Im glad you did return
Amazing fic like always
| Akanke chapter 1 . 8/3/2009
I'm so glad to see a new fic. Thank you for your hard work
| Lara chapter 1 . 8/3/2009
Im so glad you come back Thank you for this fic Love it so much Hope read more soon


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Misugikai Otokoyama Hospital, Yawata, Kyoto, Japan
SESSION TYPE: Heart Failure Posters
PRESENTED ON: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate three years effects of adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) on sleep apnea (SA), quality of life (QOL) and cardiac function in patients with stable congestive heart failure (CHF) and SA treated with bi-level positive airway pressure (PAP).
METHODS: Subjects were 8 patients with CHF and SA who were treated with bi-level PAP and converted to ASV. We performed pulse oxymetory, nasal airflow, chest and abdominal wall motion and electrocardiographic monitoring system (TEIJIN, Morpheus C) before bi-level PAP (B), on room air (Control;C), and after 1 year (1Y) and 3 years (3Y) of domiciliary ASV. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and minimum symptom appearing activity (METs) by specific activity scale, chest rentogenogrm, Doppler echocardiography, respiratory function and urinary noradrenaline (NAd) were compared before and after 1 year and 3 years of domiciliary ASV.
RESULTS: Apnea hypopnea index (AHI;/h) improved from 32(B) and 23(C) to 6(1Y) and 7(3Y). Central apnea index (CAI;/h) decreased from 10.2(B) and 6.7(C) to 0.5(1Y) and 0.2(3Y). Oxygen desaturation index more than 4% (4%ODI;/h) improved from 27(C) to 4(1Y) and 10(3Y). NYHA and METs had improved tendency in 3Y from 2.6(B) and 2.4(C) to 2.4(1Y) and 2.3(3Y), and from 4.3(C) to 4.4(1Y) and 4.8(3Y), respectively. Cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR;%) reduced from 55(B) and 55(C) to 52(1Y) and 52(3Y). End-systolic left ventricular diameter decreased in 1Y. Percent fractional shortening (%FS;%) and ejection fraction (EF;%) improved from 29(B) and 28(C) to 35(1Y) and 34(3Y), and 53(B) and 53(C) to 62(1Y) and 60(3Y), respectively. Mitral regurgitation and estimated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVsP;mmHg) improved in 3Y. Urinary NAd improved in 3Y from 156(C) to 78(3Y). Percent vital capacity (%) improved from 93(C) to 98(1Y) and 100(3Y).
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that 3 years of domiciliary ASV is useful for improving SA, QOL and cardiac function in patients with stable CHF.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Three years of domiciliary ASV is the useful therapy for treating stable CHF.
DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Hitoshi Koito, Munmitsu Ohtagaki, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Miwako Satoh
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Clay County boy's dream of being a K-9 policeman becomes a reality
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -
Jacob was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy days after his first birthday. SMA is a genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.
Related Headlines
Jacob is a typical 4-year-old boy mentally, but unable to physically do many things. Jacob has never been able to roll over, crawl or walk, but is able to sit up for short periods of time.
A photo shoot was held in October by Southern Sisters Photography, and sponsored by Dreams Come True, in which children were asked what they would like to be when they grow up. Jacob posed for some photos and said his dream is to be a K-9 policeman.
One Clay County Sheriff's Office deputy saw the photos and decided to make Jacob's dream come true.
CCSO officers and Sheriff Rick Beseler donated their time Saturday to make Jacob an honorary junior sergeant. Jacob was sworn in by Beseler, along with his new K-9 partner. The CCSO K-9 officers have volunteered their time to work with and help train Jacob's new "police dog" to become his new service dog.
Jacob even had his wheelchair transformed into a patrol car for the event.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office posted photos from Saturday's event on its Facebook page and wrote, "Little Jacob's health may fail him, but his spirit is strong -- and that smile!"


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|Reviews for Urbs: Superhero Conversations
| Dilvish 2.0 chapter 1 . 3/11/2006
That was hilarious.
Personally, I think that Buffy and Sara bicker because they respect each other. Now that the Giles issue is over, it's, well, fun mostly. In fact, they're very much alike, and they have very few equals, so them bickering about anything and everything is not really surprising and can even be seen as the greatest compliment to each other: they are equals.
| Luc Star chapter 1 . 3/10/2006
LOL. Oh man. I loved this chapter. It was one of the few that I've read from you that have actually fallen under the category of being real funny. Anyways, you are right, Buffy and Sarah did need to put aside their differences. And in order to do that, they did need to get to the root of the problem. I think this was a very important chapter and the confrontation in this was a long time coming. Not to mention Giles's intervention to set the two women on the path to being at least civil to each other.
Great work. I hope to read more from you soon. As for taking time with it, don't worry, I know how real life can get in the way. Take care. Later.
Ps. Please check out Six Sharp Claws and a Mister Pointy.


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Watch Styled to Rock OnlineTag: putlocker Styled to Rock, watch Styled to Rock, putlocker Styled to Rock TV series links
Set to air in Summer 2012, Sky Living will air "Styled To Rock" featuring Rihanna, Nicola Roberts, Lysa Cooper and Henry Holland celebrating the extraordinary talent and creativity that the UK fashion scene has to offer. Over ten weeks, designers selected by Rihanna will be challenged to create outfits for A-listers, parties, shoots and other high profile events all in the hope of launching some aspiring fashion designers careers.
Release Date: August 14, 2012 (US)
Genre: Fashion, Make-up, Celebrities, Reality Series
External Link: Official Website, Watch Styled to Rock on Putlocker
Share Styled to Rock TV Show page on Facebook Twitter Google+
Most recent episode: Styled To Rock Season 1 Episode 10


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BlogShare This +
Health Department to Offer Free Vegetable Landscaping Class on Saturday, April 29
Master Gardener, Terese Zinn, will show you how to incorporate vegetables into your everyday landscaping. After the presentation, you will be able to plant vegetable seeds that you can later transplant into your own flowerbed/landscape.Read More »
Mayor Scaffidi will Step Down to Host 620 WTMJ Radio Show
Mayor Scaffidi shared the news that he will be stepping down from his role as mayor to accept a position with AM620 WTMJ. We would like to congratulate him on his new job, and thank him for his service to our city!Read More »
January is National Radon Action Month
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced over long periods of time from decaying uranium in the earth. Find out why you should test your home during cold winter months.Read More »
Health Department: UW Madison / Meningitis Information
If you are a UW-Madison student and you received the first recommended vaccine against meningococcal disease serogroup B, you need another shot.Read More »
Health Department: Winter Weather Safety Tips
With the snow season here, please remember to be prepared so you get through it safely.Read More »
Police Department: Keep Your Deliveries Safe!
We have had suspicious activity in Oak Creek and reports from South Milwaukee, where thieves have followed delivery trucks and stolen the packages after a delivery was made.Read More »
Bitter Cold Moves into Wisconsin: Dangerous Wind Chills Expected
With the dangerous frigid weather approaching please take some time to take precautions to protect yourself, family members, and neighbors.Read More »
Oak Creek Logo Apparel Now Available
We are pleased to announce that the city is working with Lands' End Business Outfitters to bring you the ability to purchase city branded logo apparel for personal use.Read More »
Coming Next Spring: Health Department to offer "Stepping On" Class
Join us for seven consecutive Thursdays this fall for a this year's "Stepping On" class. The cost is $20 and includes a 5lb adjustable ankle weight and light snack.Read More »
City of Oak Creek Launches New Online Geographic Information System
The GIS web application will allow users to search for information based on a Parcel number, Owner name, or Address. Residential users will be able to view their property information as well.Read More »


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To estimate the cost-effectiveness of surgically induced weight loss relative to conventional therapy for the management of recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes in class I/II obese patients.
This study builds on a within-trial cost-efficacy analysis. The analysis compares the lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) between the two intervention groups. Intervention costs were extrapolated based on observed resource utilization during the trial. The proportion of patients in each intervention group with remission of diabetes at 2 years was the same as that observed in the trial. Health care costs for patients with type 2 diabetes and outcome variables required to derive estimates of QALYs were sourced from published literature. A health care system perspective was adopted. Costs and outcomes were discounted annually at 3%. Costs are presented in 2006 Australian dollars (AUD) (currency exchange: 1 AUD = 0.74 USD).
The mean number of years in diabetes remission over a lifetime was 11.4 for surgical therapy patients and 2.1 for conventional therapy patients. Over the remainder of their lifetime, surgical and conventional therapy patients lived 15.7 and 14.5 discounted QALYs, respectively. The mean discounted lifetime costs were 98,900 AUD per surgical therapy patient and 101,400 AUD per conventional therapy patient. Relative to conventional therapy, surgically induced weight loss was associated with a mean health care saving of 2,400 AUD and 1.2 additional QALYs per patient.
Surgically induced weight loss is a dominant intervention (it both saves health care costs and generates health benefits) for managing recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes in class I/II obese patients in Australia.
Previous studies have concluded that surgically induced weight loss is a cost-effective intervention for managing severe obesity (1,2). However, no published studies have assessed the cost-effectiveness of surgically induced weight loss as an intervention for managing type 2 diabetes in obese patients.
A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) confirmed observational evidence (3–5) that surgically induced weight loss leads to the remission of type 2 diabetes in the majority of obese patients. The 2-year RCT, which compared diabetes-related outcomes in 60 obese (mean BMI 37 kg/m2) adults with recently diagnosed (<2 years) type 2 diabetes randomized to either surgical therapy (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding [LAGB]) or conventional therapy, has previously been reported (6).
Previously, we reported the within-trial mean intervention costs as 13,400 AUD and 3,400 AUD per patient for surgical therapy and conventional therapy, respectively. The cost-efficacy for surgical therapy compared with conventional therapy was 16,600 AUD per case of type 2 diabetes remitted (7). The key strength of this study was the certainty of the results: the analysis was based directly on observed trial cost and efficacy data. The key limitations of this analysis were the short time horizon for analysis (2 years) and the disease-specific outcome metric (cases of type 2 diabetes remitted). Decreasing surgical therapy costs over time and the future cost burden of treating type 2 diabetes warrant analyses over a longer time horizon. Expansion of the benefit measurement to capture quality of life and life expectancy gains is also required to enable comparison with other cost-effectiveness analyses.
This study builds on the within-trial cost-efficacy analysis by extrapolating costs and outcomes from those observed over the 2-year trial to the lifetime of the trial population. It aims to determine the cost-effectiveness of surgically induced weight loss relative to conventional therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes in class I and II obese patients.
An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken, where the net costs and effectiveness of surgical therapy compared with conventional therapy were calculated and expressed as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Costs include the lifetime cost of the interventions and the health care costs to treat type 2 diabetes. Effectiveness results are expressed as the number of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained. Analysis was undertaken from a health care system perspective. The use of health care resources by government, private insurers, and patients is included in the cost analysis. Outcomes are primarily acquired by patients (rather than government and private insurers); therefore, QALYs are used as the unit of measure on the benefits side of the analysis. Discounted (3% per annum) costs and QALYs were estimated. Costs are reported in 2006 Australian dollars (AUD). Costs sourced from alternative years are presented in 2006 values by applying the relevant price deflators (8). The midyear 2006 currency exchange rate, according to the XE currency Web site (9) was 1 AUD to 0.74 USD.
A Markov model that is representative of the natural history of type 2 diabetes for patients managed by either surgical therapy or conventional was constructed using TreeAge Pro Suite 2008 with links to Excel. Three health states were defined: type 2 diabetes remission, type 2 diabetes, and death. Health state transitions were limited to maintenance of the current health state or deterioration (Fig. 1). The model cycle length was 1 year, and half-cycle corrections were applied. Modeling was applied from the end of the 2-year RCT, with surgical and conventional therapy groups entering the model with their end-of-RCT mean age, mean BMI, diabetes status, and accumulated RCT intervention costs (see Table 2). The model was run until patients died or reached 99 years of age. Results of the model were generated using Monte Carlo simulation. Mean results are based on 20,000 random walks of the model.
The conventional therapy intervention was assumed to be implemented for the 2-year trial period. The surgical therapy intervention was assumed to be a lifetime program to monitor and maintain weight loss and the LAGB. Patients exiting the trial in type 2 diabetes remission (regardless of assigned intervention) were assumed to be monitored for maintenance of remission.
The trial intervention effect (type 2 diabetes status at end of trial) was applied as the relative risk of remission for surgical relative to conventional therapy patients. Uncertainty around the intervention effect was captured by assuming a normal probability distribution around the log of the relative risk reported for the RCT (6). Univariate probabilistic uncertainty analysis was undertaken to examine the effect of uncertainty around the relative risk using a Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation for 1,000 cohorts, each involving 20,000 iterations, was used to estimate the 95% uncertainty interval (UI) around the mean ICER and probabilities of acceptable cost-effectiveness. All patients were assumed to have a mean duration of type 2 diabetes of 3 years at the end of the trial. Therefore, benefits associated with diabetes remission accumulated after the trial period only.
Surgical therapy maintenance costs were applied each year that surgical patients remained alive. The frequency of outpatient medical consultations and investigations was estimated by surgical experts at the Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Monash University, who have maintained a database of 4,500 LAGB patients over 14 years.
Surgical therapy complication costs were applied each year that surgical patients remained alive. Lifetime complication rates were estimated based on published data (10) and consultation with the authors to extrapolate results over the lifetime. The cumulative probability of a complication was estimated to be 17% every 10 years. To derive annual costs, it was assumed that complication rates were independent and constant over time. Resource use for surgical procedures to mitigate complications was estimated by trial surgeons based on the LAGB surgery for trial patients (7) (with adaptations to operating time, length of admission, and prosthesis requirements [details available on request]). Surgical costs were sourced from a private hospital and private medical specialists to reflect private provision as is commonly practiced in Australia. LAGB prostheses were valued based on commercial prices.
Diabetes remission–monitoring costs were applied each year that patients were in the type 2 diabetes remission health state. Medication and outpatient consultation resource use was extrapolated from the surgical intervention group during the last 6 months of the trial. Medical investigations and pathology requirements were estimated by a physician with expertise in diabetes management. Unless otherwise specified, unit costs for all resources were obtained from the Australian 2006 Medicare Benefits Schedule (11) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (12).
Mean annual health care costs for patients with type 2 diabetes were sourced from the DiabCo$t study (13), which collected self-reported medication (antidiabetes, insulin, hypoglycemic, lipid lowering, and blood pressure lowering), ambulatory consultation (general practitioner consultations, outpatient consultations, emergency ambulance, and emergency admissions), and in-hospital costs from 10,600 patients from the Australian Diabetes Supplies and Services Register in 2001. Some costs unrelated to type 2 diabetes are likely included because of the study's wide cost inclusion criteria. It is difficult to quantify this proportion; thus, a worst-case scenario estimate of 43%, as reported by the American Diabetes Association, was assumed (14). Health care costs for patients with type 2 diabetes (mean 5,000 AUD) were applied at 100% to patients with type 2 diabetes and 43% for patients in diabetes remission. The costs were provided disaggregated by diabetes duration and patient age and assigned based on these variables to simulate the escalation of costs with disease duration and aging (cost for diabetes remission based on a fixed duration of 5–10 years of disease).
Utility-based weights reflecting 1 year of quality-adjusted survival associated with type 2 diabetes status were assigned each year patients were alive. A mean utility weight equivalent to 0.80 (age range 51–65 years) reflecting the type 2 diabetes health state was sourced from the DiabCo$t study, which administered the EuroQol 5-domain (EQ-5D) questionnaire to the same population sample as that of the cost survey described above (13). Utility weights were assigned based on duration of disease.
As a result of an absence of evidence regarding the quality-adjusted survival associated with remission from type 2 diabetes, it was assumed that these patients have a similar quality of life to that of the general population. A fixed utility weight for the Australian general population (age range 51–65 years) of 0.84, also estimated using the EQ-5D (15), was assigned to these patients.
Annual probabilities for relapse of type 2 diabetes were applied to patients in the diabetes remission health state. The Swedish Obese Study (SOS) and the Greenville Series report that, for patients achieving diabetes remission after surgically induced weight loss, the mean duration of remission is 10 years and substantially greater than 16 years, respectively (3,5). An estimate at the lower end of this range (13 years) is adopted for the primary analysis and was converted to a constant annual probability for relapse.
Annual mortality probabilities were applied each year that patients were alive and were assigned based on type 2 diabetes status and age. Because of an absence of evidence regarding mortality risks for patients in remission from type 2 diabetes, this risk was assumed to be the same as that for patients without diabetes. Age-specific annual mortality probabilities for patients with and without diabetes were sourced from a 2008 study by Magliano et al. (16), which combined data from a national Australian cohort study (AusDiab) with national Australian mortality data. All model inputs and sources are summarized in Tables 1 and and22.
The impact of model variable uncertainty on the ICER was tested. Values tested reflected worst-case scenarios (i.e., decreasing cost-effectiveness of surgical therapy) and are described in Tables 1 and and2.2. The impact of combinations of variables likely to be related were tested, including 1) combining all intervention costs in worst-case scenarios and 2) combining intervention effect and duration of diabetes remission in worst-case scenarios. Uncertainty in modeling assumptions was also tested, including 1) adding an additional LAGB surgical event to the lifetime intervention cost for each surgical patient (i.e., reflecting a routine LAGB replacement), 2) applying fixed health care treatment costs and utilities associated with type 2 diabetes (i.e., excluding the effects of disease duration and age), 3) applying type 2 diabetes mortality probabilities to all patients (i.e., assuming that the mortality probability of the population free of diabetes is not transferable to patients in type 2 diabetes remission), and 4) introducing a 0.03% probability of postoperative mortality for LAGB patients (i.e., superseding the actual zero mortality found in a trial with a probability reported by a systematic review [(17)]). Threshold analysis was undertaken to identify the minimum duration of diabetes remission required to deem surgical therapy cost-effective, assuming a willingness to pay threshold of 50,000 AUD per QALY (18).
Based on the assumptions and model parameters described, and relative to conventional therapy patients, surgical therapy patients gained a mean 9.4 additional years in diabetes remission, 1.6 additional life-years (undiscounted), and 1.2 discounted QALYs.
Mean discounted costs per patient were as follows: 98,900 AUD for surgical therapy and 101,400 AUD for conventional therapy. The health care cost to treat type 2 diabetes was the overwhelming cost driver and cost differential between the two intervention groups.
Relative to conventional therapy, surgically induced weight loss was a dominant alternative (associated with health care savings and health benefits) for managing type 2 diabetes in obese patients. On average, surgical therapy was associated with health care savings of 2,400 AUD and an additional 1.2 discounted QALYs per patient (95% CI dominant to 48,400 per QALY for ICER). The probability of surgical therapy being dominant and cost-effective was 57 and 98%, respectively. Results are summarized in Table 3.
Uncertainty in model values and assumptions either maintained the dominant status of surgical therapy or shifted it into a very cost-effective status (< 7,000 AUD per QALY), with the following exceptions. Worst-case scenarios for the intervention effect and the annual cost of treating type 2 diabetes shifted the economic status of surgical therapy from dominant to cost-effective (39,700 AUD and 13,400 AUD per QALY, respectively). Combining the intervention effect and duration of diabetes remission in worst-case scenarios also shifted the economic status of surgical therapy to cost-effective (48,200 AUD per QALY). Detailed uncertainty results are listed in an online appendix (available at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/dc08-1749/DC1). Threshold analysis indicated that surgical therapy is cost-effective when the mean duration of remission from type 2 diabetes is at least 2 years and dominant when the mean duration of remission is at least 10 years.
Discounted results from this analysis suggest that both health gains and health care cost savings are likely realized by substituting conventional therapy with surgical therapy for obese patients presenting with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Strictly from a cost perspective (disregarding quality of life and life expectancy benefits of diabetes remission), this analysis suggests that after 10 years the return on investment of surgical therapy is fully recovered through savings in health care costs to treat type 2 diabetes in the surgical group.
These results underestimate the potential benefits of surgical therapy. First, this analysis captures only one benefit: the remission of type 2 diabetes. The surgical intervention also facilitated significant and sustained weight loss (mean BMI from 37 to 29 kg/m2). The analysis did not seek to capture non–diabetes-related 1) health care cost savings associated with a reduction in obesity-related morbidity (19), 2) improvements in quality of life attributable to weight loss after bariatric surgery (20), or 3) survival benefits of weight loss after bariatric surgery (19,21). Second, the analysis did not endeavor to capture the substantial benefits from glycemic control demonstrated by surgical patients who did not achieve type 2 diabetes remission. Third, we did not apply a differential duration of diabetes remission to conventional therapy patients, despite evidence that nonsurgical interventions fail to demonstrate maintenance of weight loss over time (22), which may correlate with faster diabetes relapse. Finally, no benefits were applied to the trial period.
Previous studies have found surgically induced weight loss to be a cost-effective intervention for managing obesity (1,2). This study finds surgically induced weight loss for managing type 2 diabetes in the obese population to be superior from an economic perspective because it is generates both cost savings and health benefits. The cost-saving result is consistent with findings from a 2008 U.S. study by Cremieux et al. (23), which found, based on a third-party payer perspective of actual patient costs, that the initial investment in bariatric surgery was offset by downstream health care savings after 4 years.
Resource assumptions employed by our study differ from previous economic evaluations of LAGB surgery. Efficiency gains in LAGB surgery techniques are captured by adopting significantly lower (actual RCT) mean operating and admission durations. Safety gains are captured by including (actual RCT) zero operative mortality. We employed a more comprehensive approach to estimating complication rates, including all serious perioperative complications and extrapolating rates over the lifetime of patients. Optimal schedules for maintaining weight loss are captured through a rigorous postoperative follow-up schedule (20 consultations in the first 2 years and 4 per year thereafter per patient), as discussed in the associated cost-efficacy analysis (7).
The transferability of diabetes remission duration results from the Greenville Series and SOS to this RCT is uncertain—the Greenville Series because research suggests that the surgical technique employed, gastric bypass surgery, contributes to diabetes remission through mechanisms independent of weight loss (24) and the SOS study because weight loss (the driver of type 2 diabetes remission through LAGB [(6)]) was poorly sustained, contrary to sustained weight loss anticipated for the LAGB trial population (25). Additionally, the duration of type 2 diabetes for patients in our RCT (all recently diagnosed) was likely substantially shorter than that of the Greenville and SOS studies, which may correlate with improved diabetes remission outcomes for our trial patients.
To simulate outcomes in the period after the trial, we made assumptions about the costs, diabetes relapse rate, and mortality rate for patients in remission from diabetes. While our assumptions were based on the best available data, the possibility that some were wrong was tested by extensive uncertainty analyses.
The generalizability of cost-effectiveness results to other populations may be limited due to different intervention effects, complication rates, or health care costs. Results are only directly transferable to the clinical population with class I and II obesity and recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes in Australia.
In conclusion, the RCT demonstrated the health benefits of substantial weight loss for the obese patient with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. The present study shows that this benefit can be achieved with associated cost savings. Substantial weight loss should be sought in all such patients, and if nonsurgical measures are unsuccessful, the option of LAGB should be discussed.
A.P. is funded by a VicHealth Research Fellowship.
This study was funded by Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, with support from Allergan Health. Allergan Health provides the University with an unrestricted research grant for conducting obesity-related research. J.B.D. is a paid consultant for Allergan, the manufacturer of the Lap Band, which was used in this study; he has received research grant support from Allergan. P.O. is the director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education, which receives an unrestricted research grant from Allergan. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this study were reported.
We thank the DiabCo$t study and, in particular, Professor Stephen Colagiuri, who provided access to detailed type 2 diabetes costs and utility data; the AusDiab Steering Committee for providing mortality data from the AusDiab study; Dr. Wendy Brown, who contributed expert advice on lifetime LAGB intervention pathways; Medicare Australia, which provided pharmaceutical and medical service expenditure data for consenting trial patients; and Sanda Younie, who reviewed the TreeAge model.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


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March 1 – April 9
Seattle, WA United States
Take a stand for life
From March 1 to April 9, our community will take part in 40 Days for Life … a groundbreaking, coordinated international mobilization. We pray that, with God's help, this will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our city — and beyond.
Vigil Location
Public right-of-way outside
Planned Parenthood
2001 E Madison
Seattle, Washington 98122
Local Events
No events


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Population genetic diversity and structure of two rare vernal pool grasses in central California
- First Online:
- Received:
- Accepted:
DOI: 10.1007/s10592-011-0269-y
- Cite this article as:
- Gordon, S.P., Sloop, C.M., Davis, H.G. et al. Conserv Genet (2012) 13: 117. doi:10.1007/s10592-011-0269-y
- Citations
- 277 Downloads
Vernal pool ecosystems are declining throughout California, with only 10% of historic habitat remaining. This has endangered many specialist endemic plant species, leaving extant populations fragmented, isolated, and threatened or endangered. Recovery plans for the increasing number of endangered vernal pool species require information on their genetic and ecological status to guide conservation and restoration efforts. Federally threatened Neostapfia colusana (Colusa grass) and federally endangered Tuctoria greenei (Greene's tuctoria) are two endemic vernal pool grasses of high conservation concern in central California. Remaining populations are highly fragmented due to range-wide habitat destruction. Using five polymorphic microsatellite markers for each species, we performed genetic surveys of 240 individuals from eight vernal pools for N. colusana, and 317 individuals from 13 vernal pools for T. greenei. We detected high within-population genetic diversity for both species, with average allelic diversities of 24 alleles/locus (mean Hobs = 0.68, mean Hexp = 0.71) for N. colusana, and 19 alleles/locus (mean Hobs = 0.77, and mean Hexp = 0.79) for T. greenei. Bayesian clustering and AMOVA indicated two genetically distinct population groups for N. colusana (Fst = 0.268, P < 0.0001), and three for T. greenei (Fst = 0.11, P < 0.0001). We found very slight temporal genetic structure at one N. colusana (Fst = 0.013, P < 0.05) and two T. greenei (Fst = 0.015, Fst = 0.018, P < 0.05) pools. These estimates of population genetic diversity and structure are critical measures for both species that will help inform recovery management actions.


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Guest - Feb 23 2013 08:36 AM


text: As we head down the home stretch in the race for Governor, both major party candidates are outlining their plans for repairing the state's economy.Republican candidate Paul Lepage went first as he rolled out his entire policy agenda at a press conference at Dysarts in Hermon. He says the first order of business is job creation. "Maine desperately needs new jobs and better jobs," LePage told a crowd of supporters. "We know how they're created. Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the backbone of our state." The Waterville Mayor says he wants to make life easier for business owners. "We're going to remove the red tape so entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Maine can be given the easy pass to create jobs."In his 16-page plan titled, "Turning the Page," the Republican candidate also says tweaking the welfare system is a top priority. "I have one goal. That the transition does not become the final destination. and that welfare becomes a brief stop along the way to a better life."Meanwhile, in downtown Bangor, Democrat Libby Mitchell announced part of her platform, focusing on job creation and helping small businesses. She feels all we need to thrive is right here. "I do see opportunities for Maine both in industries that we have, our natural resource based industries, the forest products, the fisheries, the farms," she said." "There's huge opportunities there and in tourism. But there are also manufacturing opportunities I would like to see flow out of the new green energy"Mitchell spoke at the Democratic headquarters on State Street in Bangor where she also outlined her plan for business to grow in Maine. "Which is why I'm suggesting that we look at business growth as a whole not just one business at a time and be sure that government is providing the help that is necessary."Voters now have a lot to digest from both of these candidates before they head to the polls in November. You can see both plans in their entirety on the candidates websites: Paul Lepage's plan is at www.lepage2010.com.Libby Mitchell's can be found at www.libbymitchellforgovernor.com.


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I'm glad that David Cameron stumped up on the taxpayers' behalf overnight to relieve some very elderly trustees at the Bomber Command memorial trust of the risk that they might be stuck with a nasty £550,000 bill. The payout will cover the unexpected costs of the memorial's opening ceremony on the edge of London's Hyde Park this summer. A bit like a teenage party on Facebook, the launch got a bit out of hand.
All right, I know what you may be thinking. There are better things to spend money on when times are hard than a memorial to people who shouldn't have been carpet-bombing German cities night after night in the way they did during the second world war. It is a controversy that pre-figures in a relatively low-tech way the one raging today about the Obama administration's use of drones to kill its enemies in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
If you are, you may have a point about the efficacy of Bomber Command's record. But yesterday I happened to drive past an old wartime aerodrome in the East Midlands and saw a simple plaque in a hedgerow. Measuring about 3ft x 4ft, marked by the British and American flags, it memorialised the many thousands of bomb crews who never made it back. The casualty rate was nearly one in two. You cannot deny their courage.
As for the money, well, in the big picture it's detail when set against, say, the cost of the west coast rail franchise fiasco or a spot of bankers' tax avoidance. Ahead of his party conference, Cameron is in enough trouble with his party and the tabloids not to want to quibble. Incidentally, a rail man at Labour's conference told me that Britain's rail network has still to recover from gross over-use and lack of repair in the two wars, then being starved of investment during the impoverished post-war decades.
So old men, the memorial's trustees who simply did their duty 70 years ago at great personal risk, don't deserve to be forced to sell their homes by people demanding money for insurance or other unplanned expenditure. I can't help wondering if some demanding payment are what people in 1939-45 might have called spivs or war profiteers, making money from other people's troubles via the black market and other dodgy activity. The entrepreneurial spirit doesn't always whistle patriotic tunes.
I'm still uneasy on several counts, not least of all the strange surge of memorialising so long after the event and the dubious uses put to it: jingoism is always a tabloid temptation. There's also the aesthetics of the current craze. I was quite shocked when I first saw the new Bomber Command memorial – it's at the Piccadilly end of the park – by how large and insensitive it is – not the bronze fliers at its centre, but the pompous neo-classical columns around it.
Hopelessly misjudged, I'd say. You'll know what I mean if you've ever seen the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on the Mall in Washington DC, its eloquent, sorrowful subtlety – 57,000 (about the same number as Bomber Command lost) names all there on a polished black wall, set low in a dip in the ground. Not a good war, but a good memorial.
But returning to Bomber Command's role, was it justified? Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones makes a pretty efficient assault on the dodgy aesthetics of morally dodgy policies here, more confidently than I would.
By 1945, Churchill himself, no faintheart, was troubled by what the RAF – later joined by the USAF - had done in carpet-bombing German cities, at a time (in the early years at least) when Britain was taking a pounding from bombers and U-boats and had no other way of hitting back than by bomber raids that disproved Hitler's boasts.
Historians have argued ever since about Dresden, Hamburg and other cities, Hiroshima too, of course. My qualms are usually settled by the sound of revisionist German historians – in Japan they don't need to revise a view which never included much contrition – arguing that the city bombings were war crimes.
What I say is, let's not blame wars of European conquest entirely on Hitler or Kaiser Bill. Let's share it with Bismarck, a domestic tyrant and foreign aggressor, who doesn't get his share of the stick because of Germany's economic and cultural brilliance during his ascendancy. It all ended in tears, not all of which have yet been shed (have they, Mrs Merkel?).
The more interesting question is, not "was it legal?" but was it wise? I heard an American professor on the radio today making that distinction about the drone raids which the Obama administration – not looking so durable after this week's debate with Mitt Romney – has used so widely.
If the intelligence is good and the right target hit why risk American lives, goes the argument. Yes, but it isn't always good and civilians get killed, as they did in Hamburg, Berlin and the rest, as they did in London too, during the Blitz of 1940-41, which was arguably less discriminating than drones. Even when the war was as good as lost, London suffered the V1 and V2 raids of 1944-45, the frightening last flourish of German aerial aggression that had begun at Guernica and other towns in Republican Spain's civil war (1936-39).
The American professor was confident that, in international law as well as US law, the drone attacks are justified, though others disagree. There is also a primitive sense of unfairness in drone attacks launched from Arizona, which – this is absurd, but heartfelt – did not apply in quite the same way to Bomber Command, which took its chances and suffered heavy losses of its own.
But is it/was it wise? Does it create more militants than it kills, as the professor put it? Did it weaken German industrial capacity or did they patch it up? Did it destroy civilian morale or did it stiffen citizen resolve? After Vietnam, Lebanon and other air-based failures, it's commonplace today to dismiss the case that bombing works.
But I suspect that's a retro-fitted verdict. Such issues are rarely black or white. After years of war and deep suffering the desire for revenge was very powerful and very human. Few spoke against it. They may have been the wiser few, but it took time to heal the wounds.
As the current tussle between Berlin and Athens – occasionally between London and Dublin too – reminds us, it sometimes takes even longer to forget than forgive. That's a more subtle debate and Cameron, squeezed by the tabloids ahead of his party conference, may be forgiven for not giving it much thought on Thursday.


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Gearing up for riding season!
Check out the freshly updated events page! We'll continue to update Facebook events with more specific details as they are determined. Particularly for the early season trail maintenance as snow is always a factor. Possible additions to the calendar include Trail Crew leader training, some collaborative days with Town of… Read More →


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Real Madrid's new president, Florentino Pérez, is expected to commence his attempts to sign Xabi Alonso by offering the Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo as a makeweight in a deal to bring the Liverpool playmaker to the Bernabéu.
Pérez's reappointment to the Real presidency yesterday coincided with reports that a £22m deal has been agreed in principle with Alonso and Liverpool. The suggestion was immediately denied by the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez, who repeated that the 27-year-old is not for sale, although that resolve will be tested in the coming weeks, with Real among several parties, including Arsenal, who are keen on the Spain international.
Despite public assertions to the contrary, the prospect of Alonso leaving Anfield remains alive. His relationship with Benítez was badly strained by the manager's attempts to sell him last summer, to fund the aborted deal for Gareth Barry, and Benítez must sell to meet all his current transfer requirements.
Negredo plays for Almería, where his 19 goals this season made him the club's leading scorer for the second campaign in succession, and has been monitored by Liverpool scouts for several months. The 23-year-old has a buyout clause of around £12m but, as a product of Real's youth system, he would cost his former club only £4.4m under the terms of his move to Almería in 2007.
Though Pérez would not struggle to finance a straight cash deal for Alonso as he embarks on another lavish spending spree this summer, re-signing Negredo and offering him as a cut-price option to Liverpool may make such a move appeal to Benítez. Depending on the striker's valuation as a makeweight, he could theoretically enable the Liverpool manager to strengthen his attack and fund a renewed bid for Barry with the Alonso money. The former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, a target for Benítez in the past, has also been mentioned as part of a Real bid for the midfielder.
"The situation is clear, we do not want to sell our best players and that includes Xabi," Benítez reiterated yesterday. "He had a very good season for us and can be an important player in the future. There is no agreement with Real and we want him to be part of our plans going forward. Xabi himself told our club magazine only two weeks ago that he was looking forward to his sixth season as a Liverpool player. Why should he want to leave now?"
Alonso may ultimately have to declare a desire to leave Liverpool for Benítez to accept Real's impending offer. The Liverpool manager added: "Xabi's agent came to see me recently to talk about the future. It was a surprise for me and I pointed out to him there were three years left on Xabi's contract. I asked him if the player was happy in Liverpool and he said yes. It was a short meeting."
Pérez has insisted that Madrid will buy Spanish players as well as international ones, even though he purchased only one Spaniard during his first spell at the club – Sergio Ramos from Sevilla. Alonso heads the list together with Valencia's David Villa and David Silva.
Pérez, who in the absence of opposition was presented as Real's president without even having to go to the polls, wants to make his first big-name signing soon and will today formally unveil Manuel Pellegrini as his coach. Madrid opted to take Pellegrini from Villarreal after Arsène Wenger and Jose Mourinho turned down the job. Madrid will pay about €4m (£3.4m) to get the 55-year-old Chilean, who led Villarreal in two Champions League campaigns, reaching the 2006 semi-finals and this year's quarter-finals.
Pellegrini had been the preferred choice of Madrid's new sporting director, Jorge Valdano, who was attracted by the neat possession game played by Villarreal. Pérez had initially been keen to appoint a higher-profile manager.
Pérez has admitted he sees star players as the best way to kick-start Madrid's economic recovery as he looks to resurrect the galáctico model that saw him sign Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham. He believes marketing remains the key to the club's financial health and that players such as Cristiano Ronaldo are essential. Madrid remain keen to sign the Manchester United winger but their immediate priorities are Milan's Kaka and Franck Ribéry of Bayern Munich. The club's outlay this summer could be as high as €300m.


text: BOSTON, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ASRteam.com announced today that it will host "App Developers Meet Employers & Entrepreneurs" event in Boston area. Entrepreneurs and employers in search of app developers are challenged with finding the right candidates, while app developers struggle to find the right contract, entrepreneur, or employer. "The purpose of this event is to solve this problem. We hope that this event will provide a healthy and productive environment so that app developers, entrepreneurs, and employers get together to discuss their projects and challenges," said Farzad Wafapoor, directing manager of ASRteam. Matthew Kenney, VP of Digital Services at ASRteam, encourages recruiters and employers to attend. "Demand for mobile app developers is on the rise," said Matthew Kenney. "If you are an entrepreneur with an app idea or an employer in search for a developer, this event is just perfect for that." Each attendee will have the option to give a one-minute presentation. Those who do not want to give presentations can simply attend and reach out to others for hiring a developer or finding a job. Seats are limited and registrations will close on April 23 rd, 2013. The event will take place on May 7 th, 2013. Individuals and companies interested can see more details and register online via this link: http://appdeveloperboston.eventbrite.com Advance Systems & Research ( ASRteam.com) is a video & interactive development company serving educational institutions, publishers, and other businesses. The company hosts several events in support of local businesses and communities throughout the year. For more information on ASRteam visit http://www.ASRteam.com Contact: Name: Farzad WafapoorPhone: 617-481-6083 Email This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com. SOURCE ASRteam.com


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Come To Jessie J's Party
Posted 08.05.2013 | Entertainment
Read More: Jessie J It's My Party Song, New Jessie J, Video, Jessie J, Jessie J It's My Party, It's My Party Jessie J, Jessie J Song, New Jessie J Song, It's My Party, Entertainment News
You're invited to Jessie J's party. The 25-year-old British singer released a catchy new track called "It's My Party" this week. Expected to be featur...