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Islamic date display script for IE only
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Currently Windows Phone 7 is in competition for 3rd play in the smartphone market, with Windows Phone 7 edging upwards slowly, and RIM plunging downwards rather rapidly.
Now the company has decided to accelerate its fate by failing for the 3rd day to fix connectivity issues in its data centre, with problems expanding from the Middle East and Europe to now also enveloping USA.
"It's a blow upon a bruise. It comes at a bad time,†said Richard Windsor, global technology specialist at Nomura.
"One possibility could be that it encourages client companies to look more at other options such as allowing users to connect their own devices to the corporate server and save themselves the cost of buying everyone a BlackBerry.â€
RIM routes all data through its data centres, meaning not only email and BBM is affected, but services as simple as browsing the web is virtually impossible, and users can not even turn to alternative systems such as WhatsApp for their messaging fix.
The failure comes at a crucial time when numerous new smartphones, including the iPhone 4S and new Windows Phone 7.5 handsets with great messaging features, which are not dependent on a centralized and vulnerable data centre, are being released.
Following a dismal set of quarterly results and a plunge in its share price, some investors are now calling for a breakup or sale, with Jaguar investment group saying 8% of investors are called for a change in leadership in the company.
If there is one reassuring element it is that as users leave for other platforms less and less people in the future will be affected by these outages.
Via The Star.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Apple IPM for Beginners is a new series of simplified factsheets and scouting guides that make integrated pest management easier for beginners.
Topics include:
- Choosing Sprays
- Apple Scab
- Fire Blight
- Powdery Mildew
- Apple Rust Diseases
- Summer Diseases
- Plum Curculio
- Worms in Fruit
- Aphids and Leafhoppers
- Mites
- Trunk Borers
Deborah I. Breth, Cornell Cooperative Extension Lake Ontario Fruit Program edited the publication with contributions from CCE educators, growers and others.
You can download the free online version. Or to order hard copies, download and complete this form


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Learning About Your GT5 Driver and Getting Your First Gran Turismo 5 Car
Many people will start off GT5 by going into A-Spec, but for the purpose of this guide I'm going to assume that A-Spec doesn't exist and everything that you're doing is in B-Spec. A-Spec gets a lot easier when you have a wide variety of cars to choose from, and only by going through B-Spec can you get a lot of the special prize cars in the game. Before we get into the more advanced things however, lets take care of the basics.
Your Driver
The first thing you need to setup in B-Spec racing is your Driver. If you've spent any time reading online forums on B-Spec, you'd quickly discover that the internet has decided to affectionately nickname him "Bob". In this section of the guide I'll walk you through setting up your GT5 driver and figuring out how best to utilize him.
Bob's Stats
Bob has several key characteristics that are randomized and can be 're-rolled' as often as you like, but will only go so high. These are Braking, Cornering, Accuracy, Strength, Mental Strength, and Personality. These are all very important, and will determine how your GT5 driver performs throughout his career.
Stats That Effect Your Top Speed
Braking: In arcade racing games you might hardly touch the brake, but in GT5 the braking skill is very important for Bob. If Bob doesn't know how to brake properly, he'll enter a turn too fast and will spin out even if his Cornering stat is high. A good Braking skill also ensures that Bob controls his slow-down enough that he's not overdoing it and leaving the corner slower then he needs to.
Cornering: Cornering and Braking go hand in hand. Spinning out is never a good thing, but if Bob takes a turn too sharply it will happen every time, costing you valuable seconds getting your car stabilized or back on the track. The higher your Cornering skill, the faster Bob can take corners and improve his Driving Line throughout the course.
Accuracy: Accuracy is your ability to stay on target. While Cornering will determine how fast you can take a corner, your Accuracy stat will determine how well you are following your Driving Line. Just because Bob can take a corner a little wide doesn't mean you want him to. This stat also determines Bob's ability to navigate between cars for passing.
Stats That Change During a Race
Strength: Strength determines just how long Bob can drive. During the race you will see Bob's Strength stat constantly going down.
The higher the Strength stat, the less likely Bob is to make mistakes. Strength is also a skill that will decrease near the end of your racer's career. Once you see Bob's strength stat being grayed out, you'll know that you'll need to start training a new Bob or two.
Mental Strength: Mental Strength is how tough Bob is mentally. Things like being stuck in a certain position for a long period, being lapped, getting into a crash, and how low your physical strength is getting all have an effect on your Mental Strength. I've found however that the largest factor is how low your Strength is getting during the race. The lower your Mental Strength, the more likely you are to make mistakes like bumping into other drivers or spinning out in turns.
Stats That Effect How You Drive
Personality: The Personality trait determines how Bob acts while behind the wheel. A Bob that's very Cool will not be bothered as much by changing conditions and will slowly determine the best thing to do. A very Hot Bob will, in contrast, make more snap decisions and fly by the seat of his pants. How this plays out during the race is that the hotter Bob's personality, the more rapidly his pace changes during the race, whether he's affected by how close cars are to him, or to the commands to increase or lower the pace you give him. If you like to have a Hot driver, you might want to focus on the Accuracy skill as he'll want to pass often, and you might consider Cornering as your high stat if your Bob is Cool.
Experience: While not a stat you can change, Experience is very important. When starting out, Bob doesn't really know what he's doing. He doesn't know the tracks, he isn't used to the cars, and he's not used to passing other drivers. As you drive more cars, drive the tracks, and get used to racing overall, your experience will go up. Bob will take corners better, be more accurate in his driving line, and know when to pass others.
Getting a Car
Getting your first Gran Turismo 5 car and picking your first car is a bit different. While you start out with $20,000 in cash and can immediately buy something to race with, you should hold off. While I'm going to assume you are not interested in A-Spec right away, you should go for the License tests. It will show the basics on how to drive, and getting either a Bronze, Silver, or Gold across each level of tests will reward you with different cars. Even if you didn't want the cars, I'd say go through the first set of tests anyway. It will give you a good grasp of the basics and will give you a better grasp on when you should be giving certain orders to Bob.
Even after you get your first car, Bob is not going to drive very well at all. The goal is not to win these races however; it's to get additional cash and experience. You can only buy cars that are equal or less than your B-Spec level, and you'll do a lot better with a good level 3 to 5 car then you are getting a level 0 vehicle.
Picking Your Car
The Used Car Dealership is a great place to pick your first car, but the selection rotates. Each race counts as the passing of one day, and each day 6 new cars are added to the list, while the 6 oldest are removed from the list. This is the other reason you will want to wait. After each race take a quick look into the Used Car Dealership and you might snag something that works a lot better for you than what's there on the first day. As an added tip, doing License tests also counts as a race day, but takes a lot shorter real time.
One additional note, don't sell any of your cars. You don't get enough of a return out of them to really make that much of a difference, and you can only get the prize cars once… sell those and they're gone forever.
There are a ton of upgrades for your car, but you should stick to the cheap ones for now. Get the best tires that are allowed for the first race, Sports: Hard, and get any upgrade that's $1000 or less, including the oil change.
Car Picking Tip
If you are having trouble deciding and feeling a little overwhelmed by the vast number of Gran Turismo 5 car selections, the Honda Civic Type R '08 is a good solid car that you can get once you're at level 2 and costs under 30K. It's an FF type too, so you can use it in the FF Challenge immediately.
Before You Start
Before you start the race, you'll want to know how to control your b-spec driver. The only interaction you will have with your driver is through the Headset on screen. When you select it, four different options will be available: Pace Down, Maintain Pace, Pace Up, and Overtake. Before you can grasp what these do, you need to understand the display directly right of the headset. This shows your Driver's name, his current Strength and Mental Strength, whether he is going to Pit or not, and his disposition.
Similar to the Cool and Hot Personality scale, this shows your driver's mental state during the race. When in the Blue section, your driver is feeling at ease, he's taking his time, making sure to take corners perfectly, and conserving his Strength. When in the Red your driver is feeling the need to be more aggressive, take turns more closely and shave every second he can to get further ahead, which uses more energy to control the car. Usually you want Bob to be somewhere in the middle… not so laid back that he falls to the back of the pack, but not so aggressive that he's spinning out on turns and bumping other cars. That's where your controls come in.
In Race Controls
Pace Down: When you tell your driver to Pace Down, you are telling him that he's being too aggressive and that he needs to slow down. If Bob is in a pack of other cars, he's going to resist this as he wants to get more aggressive. You may need to repeat this command several times to get him into the proper frame of mind.
Maintain Pace: Unlike the Up and Down commands, this command doesn't attempt to stop Bob's natural tendencies; it merely keeps him more stable so he races at the pace that you want him to.
Pace Up: When you tell your Driver to Pace Up, you're telling him that he's not being aggressive enough and that he sho
uld be taking more risks. Usually you want him to pace up when he's in the very front of the pack, or behind the pack. You want him to pace up if the others are catching up, or you need to catch up to the others. Don't be too aggressive though, or the mistakes will cost you even more time.
Overtake: When you tell your Driver to Overtake, you're telling him that now is a good time to try and pass whoever is in front of you. It doesn't matter whether Bob is Hot or Cool, he'll immediately attempt to improve his place in the race.
Driving Tip
Cars need to be broken in, and B-Spec drivers need experience to be used to their full potential. While it doesn't affect you much on the beginner races, on later ones it will. Especially where your choices are very limited, like in NASCAR… you'll be wondering why that car that is the same as yours is faster than yours. Running through the races several times, recording the maximum speeds you can go, and getting experience for your driver is just as much a key to your success and as important as tuning, regular oil changes, and breaking in your vehicle.
Starting Your Racing Career
Given that you are at level 0 right now, you don't have much of a choice in what you're able to enter into for your first GT5 race. Click on the Sunday Cup, and you'll see three different track options available. It doesn't really matter which one you pick, just select one. Once the track loads, click on the green flag to set things in motion.
The countdown will start and Bob will start to drive… horribly. Remember, this is okay. Do not expect to win your first 5 races, simply experiment with the controls. Learn what happens when you push him all the way into the Red; learn what happens when he's all the way in the Blue. Learn what happens when you get him to overtake in different spots. All of this will teach you the controls and get you more comfortable with your Bob. Even though you aren't winning, you are earning money and gaining experience.
When you finally do win, your same car is ready for the FF Challenge if it's an FF type, or ready for the World Compact Car Race if it's not.
Now, sometimes finding out is half the fun, so I'm not going to go through every single race and tell you what you should get. However, I am going to give you several tips that you should definitely know about so you know where to save and where to spend. In lots of cases, you'll want to skip races and come back to them later with a car you've won from another race.
Once you have a few races under your belt
At Level 6 you get access to the NR-A Roadster Cup. Spend your money here to win the Mazda Furai Concept'08, a very solid vehicle for easy wins in most Japan-only races. A good option for this race is the Mazda Roadster RS (NC) '07 from the Dealership for only $25K.
At Level 15 you can get two very good vehicles; the Dodge Viper for 100K, or the Corvette ZR1 (C6) '09 for $184,800. The Viper is cheaper, but the Corvette is one of the few cars that can get a racing upgrade. Both of these cars would be very good choices in helping you get gold in the GT World Championship. The prize for this championship is the Pagani Zonda R '09. It's a $2.6 Million dollar car that you normally can't buy 'til you are at level 23. This car will help you all the way to the Extreme Series of races.
The Classic Muscle Car Championship gets you the Shelby AC Cobra 427 '66, a vehicle that will help you win the earlier World Classic Car Series without investing a few hundred thousand dollars.
Things will start getting harder
The Extreme Series is where you are going to start getting your butt handed to you in a lot of GT5 race courses. For the Like the Wind, NASCAR Series, and several other races you won't have the right car to win. It's not that you couldn't win with the cars you have, but that Bob can't win with the cars you have. Slipstreaming is important, and Bob just can't do it like a player can. Concentrate on the Schwarzwald League B, European Championship, American Championship, and the Dream Car Championship for now. The Dream Car Championship is your real money-maker, giving you over $800K per gold cup, although the American Championship can net you close to 100K every 15 minutes. For both of these it's recommended you get the Gran Turismo Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car from the Dealership. Once you are winning regularly in the Dream Car Championship, you can play around with the different cars and see what works best for you in the races you haven't won yet.
There are a great many different styles for tuning, and you should keep in mind that in GT5 tuning will differ greatly depending on the type of vehicle that you are driving. For instance, if you are driving an MR type vehicle like the Pagani Zonda R '09, you might set your Toe Angle at 0.00 in front, and -.85 in back. An FR vehicle like you find in NASCAR is completely different… you'd likely want a -0.10 on front and 0.30 in back. These small tweeks will make sure that you'll be able to take turns better. In NASCAR the difference is so pronounced that you can have a 10-second gap ahead of the pack with one setup, and be struggling to be at the back of the pack and having spent tires with the other.
A good indication that your Suspension is off is during the race. If you see yourself edging out towards a wall, off the edge of the track, or find that your tires are getting red and blowing smoke when your competition isn't… those are all good indicators that your wheels aren't getting the proper amount of traction for that race
Don't forget your regular maintenance either. The maximum HP of your vehicle will go down every day you race. You can get it up with an Oil Change, but eventually the oil change won't bring it back completely. That's when you can perform the engine restoration on your car. It's expensive, and realistically you shouldn't need it unless you are using one car a great deal. The same thing with restoring your rigidity. You won't need to do this often at all unless you get into a significant wreck.
Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car Tuning Guide
Given that I've suggested you use one car for the Extreme and above races, I'm going to give you my specific GT5 tuning of the Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car. This is a 'Set it and Forget it' build that will get you successfully through pretty much any race that you can enter.
Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car
- Downforce: 50 / 70
- Gear Ratios 1st: 3.629 2nd: 2.275 3rd: 1.592 4th: 1.174 5th: 0.913 6th: 0.748 Final Gear: 3.360
- Top speed: 267 mph
Fully Customizable LSD
- Initial Torque: 10
- Acceleration Sensitivity: 20
- Braking Sensitivity: 15
- Ride Height Adjustment (mm): -25 / -25
- Spring Rate (kgf/mm): 16.0 / 13.5
- Dampers (Extension): 9 / 7
- Dampers (Compression): 9 / 7
- Anti-Roll Bars: 3 / 5
- Camber Angle (-): 2.0 / 1.5
- Toe Angle: 0.00 / -0.85
Brake Balance Controller
- Brake Balance: 5 / 5
Pay Attention to the Weather
This setup will let you start up a race and not have to watch as Bob wins over and over again… although don't just automatically hit 'X' and start him going on every track. In some of those events weather can change and the other cars will start the race with whatever tires they had in the last race if its a series. Put on Rain tires where appropriate, and change them out for your regular ones the race after… in both cases you can gain a lot of extra time out in front and make your Bob look positively bored as he crosses the finish line.
Endurance Series and Beyond
Soon after this you'll hit the Endurance Series. The Ford GT LM Spec II Test Car is also a great car for this, and you'll want to go through these pretty quickly. You can set it and wake up with a ton of extra experience points… and when you hit level 35… you're going to get a very nice surprise.
Two Troublesome Race Courses
There are two races that are very troublesome to get right for one reason or another in GT5: Daytona and Cote D'Azur. In the Cote D'Azur race you have the issue of 'the wall'. There is one specific turn that Bob will try and pass another car on the inside, and he hits the wall that gets him stuck at the back of the pack. In NASCAR it can be tough to get your car all set up properly, but the hardest to tune for is Daytona. I've included two setups that I've used multiple times on each to win in these tough races and can work for you… as long as your driver is leveled up enough.
Toyota 7 Race Car '70 Cote D'Azur Specific Tuning Guide
- Downforce: 60 / 85
- Gear Ratios 1st: 3.012 2nd: 1.962 3rd: 1.393 4th: 1.047 5th: 0.834 Final Gear: 4.285
- Top speed: 180 mph
Fully Customizable LSD
- Initial Torque: 30
- Acceleration Sensitivity: 60
- Braking Sensitivity: 40
- Ride Height Adjustment (mm): -25 / -25
- Spring Rate (kgf/mm): 13.8 / 15.8
- Dampers (Extension): 10 / 10
- Dampers (Compression): 9 / 9
- Anti-Roll Bars: 6 / 6
- Camber Angle (-): 1.5 / 1.5
- Toe Angle: 0.00 / 0.20
Brake Balance Controller
- Brake Balance: 5 / 5
NASCAR Daytona Specific Tuning Guide
Just as a note, you won't win this one when you do it as the fifth race of the cup. You need a fresh oil change, and the car must be broken in before you will win this race. You can use this for the entire series, although you'd want to set the Transmission down to around the 170mph range for the fourth race, then back up for the race that gives people the most trouble in GT5: Daytona.
- Downforce: 40 / 50
- Gear Ratios 1st: 2.424 2nd: 1.585 3rd: 1.158 4th: 0.899 Final Gear: 3.500
- Top speed: 242 mph
Fully Customizable LSD
- Initial Torque: 60
- Acceleration Sensitivity: 60
- Braking Sensitivity: 15
- Ride Height Adjustment (mm): 10 / 10
- Spring Rate (kgf/mm): 14.0 / 10.0
- Dampers (Extension): 6 / 5
- Dampers (Compression): 6 / 5
- Anti-Roll Bars: 6 / 6
- Camber Angle (-): 3.5 / 2.0
- Toe Angle: -0.10 / 0.30
Brake Balance Controller
- Brake Balance: 0 / 0
Save driving everyone.
- Images and content are all from Gran Turismo 5. Additional information can be found at the Gran Turismo website.


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Tel: 01432 509050 or 07941 921830
(Monday to Friday 9 till 6)
Hand carved and beautifully finished Louis Rattan Low Foot Board King Size Bed. Finished in an antique off white. This version has a low footboard which may handy for the taller occupant. Supplied semi assembled (five minute job to put together with the help of a friend) as head and footboard, side rails and centre rail and slats. Suitable for a 150 x 200cm king size mattress.
This piece of furniture is made using a solid mahogany frame with hardwood slats. The rattan is hand woven in two layers to increase strength.
*** Please note the rattan on some of our stock may be natural and not white as shown in the photo. Please ask us to confirm availability before ordering. ***
Need a mattress or a bed base? We have bedbases and quality hand made in the UK mattresses available from stock at very competitive prices. Visit our mattress and bedbase section for more info. If a bedbase is not used we recommend a full mattress protector.
Sizes 120H x 174W x 210L cm (Kingsize)
Other useful measurements: Footboard Height - 65cm Gap between floor and bottom of side rail - 20cm Height from floor to top of slats - 34cm
Available from stock.
Delivery & Collections (by appointment only)White Hall FarmWhite Hall RoadHampton BishopHereford HR1 4LB
01432 509050 / 07941 921830


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Beth Yank wrote a very informative review of The Catholic Homeschool Companion over at Love2Learn.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should let you know that I occasionally contribute to Love2Learn.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Review of Companion
Labels: Shameless Self Promotion
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Our prepared foods and deli manager Beth (Prisco) Guzauskas is always creating exciting new offerings in her department. In order to make the cut in Beth's department, an item must be made with fresh ingredients, be easy to take home and serve, have a memorably good texture and taste, and be available at an affordable price. This is no doubt a tall order, but one that Beth takes great pride and satisfaction fulfilling time and again.
If you have something special that you can't find in the deli, gourmet cheese, bakery or café, drop us a note or share it with Beth or her staff on your next visit.
Deli Meats & Cheese – We offer a wide selection of sliced-to-order deli meats and cheeses, with a complete line of Boar's Head gluten-free, heart healthy products always featured.
Homemade Salads – No, they don't come in a big plastic tub or can from a factory. We make over two dozen homemade Prisco exclusive salads fresh, with all natural ingredients, in store.
Artisan Breads – We offer a wide selection of fresh, baked-on-premises breads, including several Cuisine de France varieties.
Prisco's Café – Our Café features LavAzza coffee (Italy's most popular brand), handmade pastries, pizza by the slice, panini sandwiches, soups, house specialty salads, wraps, and a gelato bar.


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how your disability affects you
If you have contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and you meet the eligibility criteria to apply for this benefit, the DWP will send you a form to complete. This form is designed to find out how your condition affects you in relation to 12 everyday activities. Your answers will be used to assess whether you are eligible to receive PIP and if so, at what rate your benefit will be paid.
This information is specific to epilepsy. It explains the different activities assessed for PIP, and what these might mean for someone with epilepsy, including some examples of how epilepsy might affect each activity. These suggestions may or may not apply to you, but they might help you think about how your condition affects you. We cannot guarantee that these suggestions will help you to get a good outcome from your application.
This information might also be helpful if you are filling in the PIP form on behalf of someone else.
As this information only includes examples relating to epilepsy, if you have other disabilities or conditions that affect your daily activities, remember to include how these other conditions affect you, in your answer to each question.
Please note: this guide has been prepared using information from the DWP and Disability Rights UK and Citizens Advice.
How your condition affects you
Having epilepsy does not necessarily mean that you will receive PIP. Being eligible for PIP does not depend on what condition you have, but on how your condition affects you. Although epilepsy is a physical condition, it can also have sensory (affecting your senses), cognitive (such as your thinking, understanding, concentration and memory) and psychological (such as impact on mood) effects. Being eligible for PIP also includes any help you need, whether or not you currently get that help.
It is useful to think about how your epilepsy affects you in all these ways when you are filling in your form. For example, your epilepsy may affect your mood, your thinking or your memory, which may in turn affect how well you recover from seizures.
Your answers to each section or 'activity' on the PIP form need to explain fully and clearly how your condition affects you and your ability to do that activity. So, for example, rather than saying 'I can't do this because I have epilepsy…' you might say 'my epilepsy means that I can't do this because…' and give specific examples.
When completing the form, it is important that you answer all of the questions honestly and as fully as possible. Try to avoid 'putting on a brave face' and be clear about explaining any difficulties you have, even if it feels embarrassing or uncomfortable to do so. Equally, be honest about how likely problems are, or how frequently they occur. Where you can, include real-life examples of how your condition affects you, so that the DWP assessors can understand how your epilepsy impacts on your daily life.
How your condition affects you could include the following:
- how your epilepsy and seizures affect you, for example, during or after seizures;
- how long it takes for you to recover after a seizure, for example, if you feel drowsy or disorientated after a seizure you can include the time it takes for you to feel 'back to normal' again;
- how your epilepsy and seizures affect people around you, for example if you have to rely on help from people around you;
- how any medication or treatment for your epilepsy affects you, for example if it makes you tired or causes headaches or nausea (feeling sick); and
- whether your condition affects your concentration, memory, motivation or mood.
Taken from our PIP - the assessment criteria factsheet. Download this factsheet using the link below.


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As a member of The Sydney Bee Club, you can borrow (hire) the below equipment for free (with a refundable $200 cash only deposit). The hire period is 7 days. A fine of $10 per day will apply for late returns.
To arrange to borrow the club gear you need to book it via the booking system link below. This handles all the gear reservations The urban beehive don't take phone bookings. You should also check The Urban Beehive opening hours here as they are not open seven days.
Click here to access the Gear hire booking system


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Actress Sean Young has checked into rehab to seek treatment for alcoholism, The Insider reports.
The 48-year-old entered a treatment facility by herself on Monday, the location of which is undisclosed.
According to the entertainment news magazine, Sean has quietly battled alcoholism for many years.
She is best known for her roles in No Way Out, Fatal Attraction and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
For more on Sean, tune in to The Insider tonight!
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!
Sound off in the comments below!
Join the conversation


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OIP: Why do you think big puffy coats are the trend?
Self: Um, I don't know...fashion?
OIP: No, it's because they're stuffed with cheap polyester so that clothing companies don't have to pay more to use real materials that actually keep a person warm, like wool.
Self: Oh...
Friend of mine: I'm so relieved that I'm done with those taxes.
OIP: Did you pay the higher or the lower amount?
FoM: I went to talk to the tax authority and they said I only owed the lower amount.
OIP: Pay the higher amount. They always say the lower amount and then notify you seven years later that you've been running up interest the whole time on the amount you didn't pay.
OIP: Take it from me as a farmer, all the panic about pesticides is in the hands of the chemical companies. As soon as the patent expires on a good pesticide or herbicide that has been around for forty years, suddenly you start seeing on the news how horrible it is, and it has to be made illegal so you're forced to buy expensive new ones.
Self: Yeah, I always try to buy organic stuff, you know, to not support them.
OIP: Ha! You're playing right into their hands.
Self: ...I don't see how the organic movement could possibly be in the service of big chem.
OIP: Of course it is! This way they channel all the people who could potentially lobby for less chemical use, or the use of only certain chemicals, into the totally unreasonable expectation of using no chemicals at all. They're even happy to make concessions for this small, noisy, niche market group. And once they've diverted all the most concerned citizens into a very small niche, they are free to charge ahead with merrily poisoning the rest of the population, passing off the concerned citizens as crazy, exacting, and elite.
Self: ...
Self: Well it sure is great that everyone recycles so much here!
OIP: Of course we do, otherwise we get fined. That way the city forces all of us to divide the valuable from the non-valuable trash for them for free, and then forces us to pay them so that they can sell it to companies who make horrible polyester clothing out of it. So the city and the companies make a tidy profit, and we do the work and pay them for the privilege!
Self: IS NOTHING SACRED?!


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ADELAIDE (Reuters) – Australia's Richie Porte won his first Tour Down Under on Sunday when he finished behind compatriot Caleb Ewan in a bunch sprint on the final 90-kilometre sixth stage around the streets of Adelaide.
Orica-Scott's Ewan outsprinted world champion Peter Sagan to clinch his fourth stage on this year's Tour, joining Germany's Andre Greipel (2028) and Australia's Robbie McEwen (2002) as the only riders to have won four stages in the same race.
The 31-year-old Porte, who had finished second in the race the last two years, was 48 seconds ahead of Colombian climber Esteban Chavas, with Australia's Jay McCarthy given third overall, three seconds further back.
Nathan Haas, who had started the final stage in third, was credited with the same time as McCarthy, who took the podium on countback.
Porte, who broke his shoulder in a crash during the Rio Olympics road race, said having a break after the Games had been key to him claiming his first Tour Down Under title.
"After crashing in Rio and injuring myself in a nasty crash, it wasn't too hard to motivate myself for this race," Porte told reporters. "I had a good break and I came here fresh, physically and mentally.
"It's incredible to come back here and win … after being so close in the last two years.
"I owe each day of racing successfully here to my team mates. They took me to the line every day and it's a massive credit to them. It was a dream for me to win this race."
BMC's Porte had extended his lead to 48 seconds when he won the 151.5 kilometer fifth stage from McLaren Vale to the summit of Willunga Hill on Saturday.
While essentially a procession for Porte's victory, the final stage, which comprised 20 laps on central Adelaide streets, featured an early breakaway by Belgium's Tomas De Gendt and Italy's Gianluca Brambilla, who established a 30-second lead before they were hauled in.
Seven others managed to get away from the peloton about halfway through the stage, establishing a 58-second gap and held on until the penultimate lap when the last of the seven — New Zealand's Jack Bauer — was reeled in for a final bunch sprint.
The six-stage race around South Australia is the first event on the 2017 UCI WorldTour calendar.
(Writing by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


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*6 egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar
1 pound mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
2 teaspoons dark rum
24 packaged ladyfingers
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish
Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs, shellfish and meat may increase the risk of foodborne illness.
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The Case
A healthy 42-year-old woman presents to the hospital with acute-onset pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath. She has not had any recent surgeries, takes no medications, and is very active. A lung ventilation-perfusion scan reveals a high probability of pulmonary embolism (PE). The patient's history is notable for two second-trimester pregnancy losses. The patient is started on low-molecular heparin and warfarin (LMHW).
Should this patient be tested for thrombophilia?
Thrombophilia can now be identified in more than half of all patients presenting with VTE, and testing for underlying causes of thrombophilia has become widespread.1 Physicians believe that thrombophilia testing frequently changes management of patients with VTE.2
Thrombophilias can be classified into three major categories: deficiency of natural inhibitors of coagulation, abnormal function or elevated level of coagulation factors, and acquired thrombophilias (see Table 1).
The prevalence of specific thrombophilias varies widely. For example, the prevalence of activated protein C resistance (the factor V Leiden mutation) is 3% to 7%. In comparison, the prevalence of antithrombin deficiency is estimated at 0.02%. Each thrombophilia is associated with an increased VTE risk, but the level of risk associated with a given thrombophilia varies greatly.1
Before testing for thrombophilia in acute VTE, assess the risk of recurrent VTE by determining if the thrombosis was provoked or unprovoked. A VTE event is considered provoked if it occurs in the setting of pregnancy within the previous three months; estrogen therapy; immobility from acute illness for more than one week; travel lasting for more than six hours; leg trauma, fracture, or surgery within the previous three months; or active malignancy (see Table 2,).3 Unprovoked VTE has a recurrence rate of 7.4% per patient year, compared with 3.3% per patient year for a provoked VTE; the risk is even lower (0.7% per patient year) if the risk factor for the provoked VTE was surgical.4
Testing for thrombophilia is indicated if the results would add significant prognostic information beyond the clinical history, or if it would change patient management—in particular, the intensity or the duration of anticoagulation.
Review of the Data
Does presence of thrombophilia alter the intensity of anticoagulation for VTE?
If thrombophilia increases the risk of VTE recurrence while on anticoagulation, then a more intense level of anticoagulation might prevent future VTE. There are no studies investigating higher intensity of anticoagulation, but if standard anticoagulation were insufficient for patients with identifiable thrombophilia, one might expect to observe increased recurrence rates among patients with thrombophilia treated with standard warfarin therapy.
In a substudy of the Extended Low-Intensity Anticoagulation for Unprovoked Venous ThromboEmbolism (ELATE) trial, the risk of recurrence of VTE among treated subjects was very low overall, and the presence of thrombophilic abnormalities was not associated with significantly higher risk.5 Observational studies have found VTE recurrence rates are low in patients treated with warfarin, with or without thrombophilia.6-8
The impact of the initial level of anticoagulation on recurrence after the completion of the treatment period has been evaluated. Although one study suggested that patients with substandard levels of anticoagulation were at an increased risk of subsequent VTE, this was not confirmed in the Leiden Thrombophilia Study (LETS). 9,10
In sum, the majority of data do not suggest a significantly increased risk of recurrent VTE in patients with thrombophilia treated with standard anticoagulation. Therefore, treatment with warfarin to a goal INR of 2 to 3 is sufficient.
Does presence of thrombophilia alter duration of VTE treatment?
A major decision clinicians face when caring for VTE patients is the duration of anticoagulation treatment. The current ACCP recommendation for treatment of a provoked VTE is three months, with treatment for an unprovoked VTE three months or lifelong.11 If the presence of thrombophilia increases the risk of recurrence after cessation of anticoagulation treatment, longer duration of treatment might be indicated. One of the goals of thrombophilia testing should be to identify those patients.
Overall, the recurrence rate after first VTE is high, with a cumulative incidence of 25% at five years, 30% at eight years, and 56% at 20 years.12,13
Deficiency of natural inhibitors of coagulation.
Deficiency of a natural inhibitor of coagulation has been associated with a risk of recurrence of VTE of as much as 10% per year, according to some studies.6,14 However, the estimates are based on studies that include individuals from thrombosis-prone families, and selection bias might have contributed to the high recurrence rates.1 In the unselected population represented in the LETS study, only a modest elevation was seen in the estimated risk of recurrence for patients with inhibitor deficiencies.15
Testing for deficiency of inhibitors offers little prognostic information beyond that obtained when determining whether a VTE event is provoked or unprovoked. In studies that have separately examined subjects with provoked vs. unprovoked VTE, deficiency of an inhibitor is not associated with increased risk of recurrence.15,16
Abnormal function or level of anticoagulation factors.
Factor V Leiden (FVL) is the most common cause of inherited thrombophilia and is associated with as much as a sixfold increase in VTE risk, while the prothrombin gene mutation is associated with a twofold increase.17,18
In contrast, the evidence associating these mutations with recurrent VTE risk is not as consistent. Although a study conducted at a referral center in Italy found an increased risk of recurrence with either Factor V Leiden or prothrombin gene mutation, a large meta-analysis of 23 studies found increased risk only with Factor V Leiden.19,20 Another meta-analysis demonstrated only a modest increased risk of recurrence in subjects with Factor V Leiden or prothrombin gene mutation, and a prospective study from Austria found no increased risk of recurrence with Factor V Leiden two years after discontinuation of anticoagulation.18,21 Additionally, when using patients with unprovoked VTE as reference, there was no increased risk of recurrence among patients homozygous for Factor V Leiden or the prothrombin gene mutation.22
In summary, although Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene defects are associated with increased risk of recurrent VTE, the magnitude of the risk increase is modest and, therefore, should not alter duration of therapy.
Acquired thrombophilia.
It appears that the only thrombophilic state that might have a significant impact on the risk of recurrence is the antiphospholipid syndrome. The cessation of warfarin therapy in patients with thrombosis associated with antiphospholipid antibodies carries a 69% risk of recurrent thrombosis within a year.23 Some studies have suggested that the presence of specific antibodies (i.e. anticardiolipin antibodies) is associated with increased risk in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.24
However, at present, all patients with VTE and antiphospholipid syndrome should be candidates for lifelong anticoagulation. Antiphospholipid antibody testing should be performed in patients with a suggestive history, including those with recurrent fetal loss or a single fetal loss after 10 weeks, or known collagen vascular disease.25
The role of provoked vs. unprovoked VTE.
Identifying whether a VTE is provoked or unprovoked has been shown to be an important predictor of recurrence. For example, one prospective, cohort study found two-year recurrence rates of zero in patients with a surgery or pregnancy-related VTE, 9% with other provoked VTE, and 19% with unprovoked VTE.26 In the same study, thrombophilia testing failed to reliably predict recurrence risk. Patients with unprovoked VTE who were tested and found to not have a defect were at equally high risk of recurrent VTE as those found to have a thrombophilia.27
The most significant predictor for VTE recurrence is whether the first event was provoked, and thrombophilia testing offers little additional prognostic information.28
VTE as a multifactorial disorder.
It is becoming increasingly clear that VTE is multifactorial disorder, caused by the interactions of genotypic, phenotypic, and environmental factors. In the case of an unprovoked VTE, the patient already carries a significantly elevated risk for recurrence, and further testing for known causes of thrombophilia appears to add very little additional information. The optimal duration of anticoagulation for unprovoked VTE is unclear, but current guidelines suggest at least three months—and clinicians should consider lifelong treatment.
In the vast majority of cases, testing for thrombophilia has no impact on the management of VTE and is not warranted. In patients with antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome, given the high risk of recurrence, long-term anticoagulation after a first VTE might be indicated. In select patients with a clinical picture suggestive of antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome, or a strong family history, testing should be considered.
Back to the Case
Our patient appears to have an unprovoked VTE. She should receive regular anticoagulation with warfarin, with a goal INR of 2 to 3, for at least three months. Lifelong anticoagulation therapy should be considered. Testing for heritable thrombophilia will not change the current management or treatment duration and, hence, is not indicated. However, the patient's history is suggestive of antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome, so she should be tested. If the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome is made, lifelong anticoagulation should be considered.
Bottom Line
Unprovoked VTE provides the strongest predictor for recurrence. Thrombophilia testing adds little in predicting recurrence and rarely is indicated.
Dr. Stehlikova is a clinical hospitalist in the division of hospital medicine, department of medicine, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. Dr. Martin is director of the Einstein Hospitalist Service. Dr. Janakiram is a fellow in the department of hematology at Einstein, and Dr. Korcak is an instructor at Einstein in the department of medicine and director of the Weiler Medical Service. Dr. Galhotra is associate director for inpatient quality in the department of medicine at Einstein; Dr. Averbukh is an academic hospitalist; and Dr. Southern is chief of the division of hospital medicine at Einstein.
- Middeldorp S, van Hylckama Vlieg A. Does thrombophilia testing help in the clinical management of patients? Br J Haematol. 2008;143:321-335.
- Coppens M, van Mourik JA, Eckmann CM, Büller HR, Middeldorp S. Current practise of testing for inherited thrombophilia. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5:1979-1981.
- Prandoni P, Noventa F, Ghirarduzzi A, et al. The risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. A prospective cohort study in 1,626 patients. Haematologica. 2007;92:199-205.
- Iorio A, Kearon C, Filippucci E, et al. Risk of recurrence after a first episode of symptomatic venous thromboembolism provoked by a transient risk factor: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170:1710-1716.
- Kearon C, Julian JA, Kovacs MJ, et al. Influence of thrombophilia on risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism while on warfarin: results from a randomized trial. Blood. 2008;112:4432-4436.
- Vossen CY, Walker ID, Svensson P, et al. Recurrence rate after a first venous thrombosis in patients with familial thrombophilia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005;25:1992-1997.
- Brown K, Luddington R, Williamson D, Baker P, Baglin T. Risk of venous thromboembolism associated with a G to A transition at position 20210 in the 3'-untranslated region of the prothrombin gene. Br J Haematol. 1997;98:907-909.
- Schulman S, Tengborn L. Treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with congenital deficiency of antithrombin III. Thromb Haemost. 1992;68:634-636.
- Palareti G, Legnani C, Cosmi B, Guazzaloca G, Cini M, Mattarozzi S. Poor anticoagulation quality in the first 3 months after unprovoked venous thromboembolism is a risk factor for long-term recurrence. J Thromb Haemost. 2005;3:955-961.
- Gadisseur AP, Christiansen SC, van der Meer FJ, Rosendaal FR. The quality of oral anticoagulant therapy and recurrent venous thrombotic events in the Leiden Thrombophilia Study. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5:931-936.
- Kearon C, Kahn SR, Agnelli G, Goldhaber S, Raskob GE, Comerota AJ. Antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolic disease: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). Chest. 2008;133:454S-545S.
- Prandoni P, Lensing AW, Cogo A, et al. The long-term clinical course of acute deep venous thrombosis. Ann Intern Med. 1996;125:1-7.
- Laczkovics C, Grafenhofer H, Kaider A, et al. Risk of recurrence after a first venous thromboembolic event in young women. Haematologica. 2007;92:1201-1207.
- Brouwer JL, Lijfering WM, Ten Kate MK, Kluin-Nelemans HC, Veeger NJ, van der Meer J. High long-term absolute risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients with hereditary deficiencies of protein S, protein C or antithrombin. Thromb Haemost. 2009;101:93-99.
- Christiansen SC, Cannegieter SC, Koster T, Vandenbroucke JP, Rosendaal FR. Thrombophilia, clinical factors, and recurrent venous thrombotic events. JAMA. 2005;293:2352-2361.
- De Stefano V, Simioni P, Rossi E, et al. The risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients with inherited deficiency of natural anticoagulants antithrombin, protein C and protein S. Haematologica. 2006;91:695-698.
- Price DT, Ridker PM. Factor V Leiden mutation and the risks for thromboembolic disease: a clinical perspective. Ann Intern Med. 1997;127:895-903.
- Ho WK, Hankey GJ, Quinlan DJ, Eikelboom JW. Risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients with common thrombophilia: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:729-736.
- Simioni P, Prandoni P, Lensing AW, et al. Risk for subsequent venous thromboembolic complications in carriers of the prothrombin or the factor V gene mutation with a first episode of deep-vein thrombosis. Blood. 2000;96:3329-3333.
- Segal JB, Brotman DJ, Necochea AJ, et al. Predictive value of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A in adults with venous thromboembolism and in family members of those with a mutation: a systematic review. JAMA. 2009;301:2472-2485.
- Eichinger S, Pabinger I, Stumpflen A, et al. The risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients with and without factor V Leiden. Thromb Haemost. 1997;77:624-628.
- Lijfering WM, Middeldorp S, Veeger NJ, et al. Risk of recurrent venous thrombosis in homozygous carriers and double heterozygous carriers of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A. Circulation. 2010;121(15):1706-1712.
- Khamashta MA, Cuadrado MJ, Mujic F, Taub NA, Hunt BJ, Hughes GR. The management of thrombosis in the antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:993-997.
- Schulman S, Svenungsson E, Granqvist S. Anticardiolipin antibodies predict early recurrence of thromboembolism and death among patients with venous thromboembolism following anticoagulant therapy. Duration of Anticoagulation Study Group. Am J Med. 1998;104:332-338.
- Pengo V, Tripodi A, Reber G, et al. Update of the guidelines for lupus anticoagulant detection. Subcommittee on Lupus Anticoagulant/Antiphospholipid Antibody of the Scientific and Standardisation Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. J Thromb Haemost. 2009;7:1737-1740.
- Baglin T, Luddington R, Brown K, Baglin C. Incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism in relation to clinical and thrombophilic risk factors: prospective cohort study. Lancet. 2003;362:523-526.
- Rosendaal FR. Once and only once. Circulation. 2010;121:1688-1690.
- Dalen JE. Should patients with venous thromboembolism be screened for thrombophilia? Am J Med. 2008;121:458-463.


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Smart Legal Marketing Tips for 2012 (Part 2)
In a recent post, we looked at pro-active marketing strategies law firms can devise now to stay one step ahead of the game in 2012. Here are more tips for leveraging your current client base to get more clients and other results-oriented marketing strategies for the coming year.
Have a "What do you need?" conversation with the client.
When was the last time you or senior members of your firm got out and actually talked to clients? It's vitally important to keep each client convinced that he or she is your firm's top priority—and this is only possible if you truly know and understand what they need and what keeps them up at night.
Initiate a conversation with your clients where they do most of the talking and you do most of the listening. Make it clear this isn't a sales call, but rather an opportunity to deepen your understanding of their legal needs and challenges. This personalized approach is always appreciated and goes a long way toward solidifying relationships. It can lead to referrals, too.
Explore growth opportunities through partnering.
What other industries or professionals seek to attract the same type of clients as you? Look for businesses with the same targeted audience that aren't in competition with you and explore opportunities to combine marketing efforts. Such efforts might include co-sponsoring a seminar, hosting a special "information event" for targeted clients or joining forces at an industry trade show.
Of course, such joint arrangements require a similar outlook in terms of business practices, marketing strategies and budget outlays. You might be surprised at how much traction you can gain by partnering with a company that offers a "value-add" to your clients—just as your firm offers the same value to their clients.
In either case, it's a great way to spread the word about your firm.
Keep a close eye on ROI.
In a relationship-oriented field, it's sometimes difficult to measure a firm's return on investment. But building and maintaining relationships is often where new business comes from. So make sure your marketing efforts are aligned with actual, measurable results.
For example, when a new client approaches you for representation, find out why they chose you over your competitors. Track this information and factor it into your marketing efforts. Track other efforts as well, including:
- Response to your email campaigns
- Client interest in your newsletters and other giveaways
- Response to targeted advertising (print and electronic) that always includes a "call-to-action"
Over time, anywhere from six to 12 months, an analysis of ROI will show trends that can help you refine your marketing strategies. Some of your efforts will work, others won't. The important thing is keeping track of successes and building on those—not throwing money away on campaigns with no results.
Look for ideas from within.
If you aren't using the resources of an outside marketing agency, encourage ideas from within. In a talent pool of skilled lawyers and other practitioners, there's no telling who may come up with a great marketing scheme for your firm. The best thing you can do is foster an environment where new ideas are welcome and appreciated.
Interested in learning field-tested techniques that successful law firms use to grow their client base and increase billings? Find out more with "28 Marketing Secrets of the Top Law Firms."


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Hello all!
Seems like I've had a bit of success as of late covering writing on my blog. In honor of that, I decided besides doing a writing prompt every Tuesday and Wednesday, I would also give some tips for writing. Some of these may be about writing fiction, while others may cover other topics in writing as well.
However, today's is going to focus a bit on world building. As of right now, I write for my own group called Pantheon Productions while also striving to become a best selling author. Both of these things are new challenges for me and so it has led to my life being engulfed in the world of writing. With both Pantheon Productions and my novel still in the beginning stages, I find myself really in the midst of world building and I decided I would share some things that I've personally learned while doing it.
The first is to think as broad as possible. There is a reason that world building is called "world building." When I went into my first book, A Monstrous Tomorrow, I spent more time figuring the state of the planet I was creating over the finer details. Much like character development, the more you know about your world, the easier it is to write things.
This has lead to me asking some of the more bizarre questions in my writing career. Questions along the lines of "if it's hot on the northern side of the planet, is it naturally cold on the southern?" "How long are days versus nights?" "What kind of plants and animals exist here?" All of this has been fun to do so far.
With that world building though, there is also the decisions to make in how characters will react and how believable to make it. I love writing in science fiction and horror and one of my favorite things to do in both of those is to make it feel as real as possible. That's why as my projects come out for Pantheon Productions, or exerts come out of my manuscript, you'll find that a lot of it is written to have the reader as immersed as possible. I want the reader or viewer to feel like somewhere nearby, the events I write are happening.
That's what I think makes good world building overall. This can be said to be the same for about every genre and that's the main point. As a writer, if you go in and take the time to understand every detail of your world, to a point that it feels real even to you, then you've done a good job.
That's all I have to say on the subject for now. Check back in tomorrow for an exercise to help begin creating your very own world.