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COAL: 2013 Ford Focus Electric – Good Intentions, But There Are Some Quirks
mdlaughlin
After the rather unfortunate end of the Volt, I was still interested in battery-electric vehicles but wanted something with a bit more range. The Nissan LEAF was a bit too oddly styled for me, and the choices were a bit limited. My eventual pick was a car that did everything it was supposed to do, but with some challenges along the way.
By 2013, electric drive vehicles were beginning to move beyond the image of glorified golf carts to some extent, largely thanks to the LEAF and the Volt. I had been very pleased with the performance of the Volt and had already invested in the 240 volt electric charging infrastructure at my house, so another electric vehicle purchase was logical. I had driven the Focus at a conference of the Society of Automotive Engineers in Detroit and liked it, as it combined the benefits of battery electric drive with the good handling of the basic Focus platform.
Finding one was a bit of a challenge, even though Maryland was a state that was receiving quite a bit of electric vehicle attention (a combination of regulations, proximity to DC, and interest from consumers). I did find one at a local dealer – it was essentially the only one available in the area at the time. It had been there awhile, which is why there were significant incentives and discounts on it, making it an attractive choice. The lease wasn't as subsidized as the Volt lease had been, so it cost a bit more a month, but I was getting the capability of doing my whole commute without gasoline, so I figured it was a good compromise. Electric range (on paper) was roughly 100 miles, roughly equivalent to the LEAF and quite a bit more than the Volt. I figured this should be sufficient to cover all the local travel that I needed to do, and we had a gasoline car for longer trips anyway. The only issue I had with the buying experience was that this dealership was a bit old-school and used stickers for dealer identification that were essentially impossible to peel off, so I left it even though I didn't want it.
The Focus Electric was equipped at the level of the gasoline Focus Titanium, with power leather seats, smart key entry, navigation system with a large infotainment screen, fairly large alloy wheels, LED running lights, and so on. The navigation system offered a useful feature of keeping track of your home base and showing the areas where you could drive with the charge remaining in the batteries. It also kept track of where you were and the available battery charge and put up a reminder when your available range was nearing the miles necessary to get you back home. Displays on either side of the speedometer gave range and driving style feedback as well as satellite radio channel or iPod information, which I found very handy. At this time, the Aston-Martin inspired grille was unique to the Focus Electric, as I recall, but used the hood and fenders from the gasoline Focus.
Handling and performance were quite good – the instantaneous torque of electric motors made stoplight races pretty entertaining, as long as you could keep the low rolling resistance tires from lighting up from a standing start. The car handled pretty well, and weight distribution was more balanced as the front-drive engine and transmission package was replaced by a smaller electric motor up front and batteries over the rear wheels.
There were some challenges, however. The Volt's internal controls for charging were pretty simple – tell it when you wanted the car to be recharged, and it was always ready. The Ford had a more complex charging scheme that sought to take time-of-use electricity rates for where the car was charging (including some ability to know via GPS where you were) to pick when to start and stop charging. As the charging station in my house also had some controls built in for time-of-use rates, the net effect on several occasions was that the settings of the car and the charger would conflict and the car wouldn't be charged. As my wife and I were carpooling at the time, that wasn't a big disaster as we could switch cars, but it was still an annoyance. I ended up bypassing all the time-of-use sophistication of the car and set it to "charge when plugged in" and set the charging station's controls to turn on at midnight and off at 8 am unless I said otherwise.
Packaging of the car was a challenge, too. Unlike the Volt, whose basic Cruze platform had been modified quite a bit to accommodate the T-shaped battery pack down the middle of the car in a relatively unobtrusive way, the Focus platform wasn't modified very much at all. The Focus was what was known in the industry as a "compliance car" designed to sell exactly as many units as regulations would require, so engineering was limited to making sure the powertrain worked well.
image via Cleantechnica
The main problem was that the battery pack was split into two parts, one under the rear seat where the gas tank was located in the gasoline Focus, and the other part in a large battery box over the rear wheels. This meant that the cargo area had a large hump in it so longer items had to rest on top of the box. Things like golf clubs had to be stacked on the folded-down rear seat as they wouldn't fit in the rear hatch.
The biggest problem I had with the car was one that would have been there whether it was a gasoline or electric Focus, that of the MyFord Touch system, which at the time was Microsoft-based. I consider myself to be pretty tech-savvy and not afraid of new technologies at home, at work, or in my car. A lot of ink has been spilled over the past few years about this system and its quirks, so I won't repeat those here. My experience was not unlike those of the others – I had several occasions where I was listening to a satellite radio station and wanted to change it, but the system wouldn't let me. Not only that, it wouldn't let me switch to an iPod source or to FM, or to turn the stereo off. The only way that I could get the system to work again was to stop the car, put it in Park, shut it off, open the door (to clear the retained accessory power feature), shut the door, turn the car back on again, and put it back in Drive. Needless to say, this particular dance raised a few eyebrows at traffic lights.
As far as the electric-only performance went, I rarely had any range anxiety and was able to take the car virtually everywhere I needed to go. I needed to recharge the car every day just to make sure all was well with a round trip to work, but once I got the settings for the car and charger down it was a simple matter of plugging the car in when I got home and letting it charge as it needed to. Things got a little dicey during one or two cold snowy winter evenings where I had to make a detour on the way home from the office for some reason, and the heavy use of the heat/defrost cut into range a bit more than I liked. Cooling the car in the summer with the A/C wasn't nearly as much of a concern. By the end of my ownership period, we had moved to a house much closer to our offices, and I was able to use the supplied 110 volt charger to top off the batteries after our short commutes for quite some time. This included a brief time in a temporary furnished apartment while we waited for our house to be built, where my only access to charging was at the commuter train station and at a restaurant parking garage across the street from the apartment complex. No issues at all here – I was able to drive the car for a whole week without charging it.
On the whole, I liked the car as it was fun to drive and allowed me to avoid gas stations with a simple plug-in every night. It definitely had some packaging quirks that a purpose-designed EV like a LEAF or Bolt doesn't have but was still functional. This was another in a very small list of cars that I ran to the end of its lease. I didn't love it, exactly, which means that the four photos in this COAL entry (taken with my smartphone) are the only four photos I have (with photobombs from the maligned Malibu and the red Thunderbird LX, now hidden most of the time under a car cover). Its replacement didn't end up being electric drive, but that had more to do with the deals I could make rather than any desire to go back to gasoline-powered cars or dislike of the car itself. More in the coming weeks on that.
Great! Is this our first all-electric COAL (true clean COAL!)? Did you find the advertised range to be generally realistic or hard to achieve on a typical day in this car?
These "compliance" cars will end up being an jnteresting footnote, given their relatively small sales numbers combined with compromises (trunk space format in this case) but still adequate range for many typical households that have more than one vehicle along with a predictable daily usage pattern.
johnh875
Nice one Jim.
That battery in the trunk is a pretty significant compromise, but then as a limited range runabout less of an issue than for a normal car I suppose.
Yeah, I really don't understand this lemming-like push towards electric vehicles. They are more expensive and have less utility than conventional cars. I certainly have no interest in them in their current state of development. Maybe sometime in the future when we have something like Mr. Fusion instead of lithium-ion batteries they'll make some kind of sense.
Lokki
Thank you for this article. I really like the COAL series, and it's alway great to read an unbiased of living with a particular car. I also have to compliment your writing abilities…this is a good read.
I think that the recent pure electric car is a result of a confluence of a sincere belief that we were running out of oil and advances in technology that made such vehicles practical. That is, engineers wanted to build them because they could, and circumstances encouraged and funded them.
The results generally seem to be good, with the vehicles being reasonable practical under a specific set of circumstances. That zone is not driving too many miles for range reasons, but not too few to realize any fuel cost savings, and not living too far north (requiring serious heat and losing range battery range to cold) or too deep in the south (requiring serious A/C and losing range to heat).
I've toyed with getting a pure electric as, since retiring, I only put about 8,000 miles a year on my main car( and a few thousand more are split between Mrs Lokki's car and the old Alfa). I wouldn't have any range anxiety and since I can schedule trips to match the charging no problems there either. Playing with the cool technology would just be another plus for me. On the rare occasions I need more space or range I could Uber or rent.
However, I can't pretend to justify it on cost savings. Because I drive so few miles a year now, I'd only save roughly, $1,000 in fuel costs (minus the small cost of electricity for the EV) per year over my current vehicle and there would be even less savings on a vehicle of equivalent capability to an EV. That is a smaller car the same size as an EV would get better mileage than my current car.
The best compromise seems to me to be either a Volt or Prius type vehicle.
So for me, an pure EV would essentially be a cool toy, like my old Alfa. I might get one for the fun of having one, but I can't rationally justify one.
Keep in mind that almost all of these compliance EVs are leased at very attractive rates. Fiat was offering 500Es for $99/month. Bolts can be had for $200/month. Leafs often somewhere in between. It's cheaper for the manufacturers to subsidize the leases on these than to buy ZEV credits from Tesla. And of course there are the $7500 federal tax credits and often significant state credits, which play into these leases. So combined with a very low subsidized lease and significantly lower fueling costs, I don't see why you think they're "expensive". They can be very cheap transportation, if the range issues are not a problem.
If they were as good or better than conventional vehicles they would not need to be subsidized. People would just naturally buy them in preference to cars with high-maintenance gasoline engines. (Low maintenance is the primary advantage of electric cars. Right now that is not enough to overcome their pricing and limitations.)
I do not approve of and reject government subsidies when comparison shopping. (Likewise when I get offers to install solar panels my question is always "how much without the subsidies?" My answer is always "no thanks.") The real purchase price of electric cars is still quite high and their utility is limited. This will of course change in the future but for my money right now I would not consider an electric car. Lithium-ion batteries are not a good long-term solution to the requirement of a high-density mobile power source.
There is no pressing need to force a transition to electric vehicles. It will happen naturally over time as the technology improves, and we are not going to run out of oil any time soon.
Paul, I realize you're the boss here and this is not a place to get into political wars so I won't say any more about it other than that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
MikePDX
"I do not approve of and reject government subsidies when comparison shopping." Then you must not buy gasoline either. Government subsidies of oil are well known.
Hmmmm – looks like GM offers a 39 month, 39K mile lease for $269 a month with $3139 down for a Volt here in Texas
There are 26 cars available in the 7.1 M population metroplex (DFW); can't seem to find anything for the Bolt – perhaps a search error.
http://www.chevydealer.com/Dallas/offers/chevrolet-volt
The e500 is available for $180 a month for 36 months with $2149 down – but the car seems to be only available in California and Oregon. There are none in Texas.
https://www.fiatusa.com/new-inventory.html?modelYearCode=IUX201704&radius=50&variation=500e%20(Available%20Only%20in%20CA%20and%20OR)&ax_src=drlp&ax_src_a_1=fiatusa&ax_src_a_2=current_offers&ax_src_a_3=fiat_500e&ax_src_a_4=2017&ax_src_a_5=sni&empty
Nissan is offering a special on the new Leaf until 31 March 18 – $229 a month for 36 months but… $3979 down seems a bit steep. It works out to about $365 a month if you include the down-payment.
https://insideevs.com/2018-nissan-leaf-lease-deal-229-per-month-4000/
So, while they're not outrageous, they're not all that wonderful.
A Prius leases for $309 a month for 36 months with $2,999 down
https://www.toyota.com/local-specials/#!/series/priusprime/year/2018/
The lease programs for these (and all cars) are always changing. And There have been $99/mo leases for the 500E and $200/mo leases for the Bolt. But maybe not currently. The one for the 500E did require a pretty hefty down payment.
I got my great lease deal of $89/month on a Fiat 500e on the last day of the month. They stayed late to write it up so it would count. So even the time-honored realities of selling cars applies to the lease you get on an electric.
Guy Ulrich
Well even $99 a month (how much down?) is more than I pay now for my 79 T-Bird each month. Since I'm a homebody and only live 5 miles from work, I only fill up once a month at a average of $36 and my insurance is only $32.50 a month. Not to mention why would I want a Fiat 500L ( they're ugly) and I'm sure my insurance bill would go up. And if I only had to charge once a week, that still adds some cost as well. Until my 'ol heap starts to nickel and dime me to death, which it shows no signs of doing yet, nothing else is cost effective.
Ah yes, the obvious comparison for those thinking of acquiring an electric vehicle if they should happen to fit their life circumstances: "Do I pop for an electric or do I look for a '79 T-Bird…Choices, choices, choices, what am I going to do?"
But seriously, in that vein, just think of the bucketloads of money you'd save if you rode a bicycle instead…Or invested in a good pair of walking shoes and a $10 umbrella. Sometimes it's obviously not all about the money.
Also, the 500L isn't available electric, the regular 500(e) is the one being discussed.
DanEKay
I guess because I own a Ford and am thinking of replacing it with a newer model of Ford my internet searches of Fiestas and Focuses has resulted in my starting to get "pop-ups" for a Focus electric. As far as I know, though, none of the 6 or 7 dealers in my "immediate" area even has one. From watching my odometer, it looks like I could get by with an EV or at least a hybrid as I rarely travel more than 45-55 miles a day.
It's a shame about MyFordTouch, that feature alone has probably killed Ford's reputation for many current and potential owners.
Finally, I am not sure if it is just "old school" auto dealers who add dealer identification to their cars that is difficult to remove. At one point, when I was living in Memphis, one of the large dealership groups had several of their dealers that RIVETED dealer nameplates to their new cars. That practice was eventually discontinued, and I guess it was only after they lost significant numbers of sales.
If it is that difficult to find one of these Fords at a Ford dealership, I would imagine that finding parts would be even worse, especially as it ages. I'd stay away for that reason alone.
I went on CarMax after posting my first comment. CarMax has 1 electric Focus within about 500-600 miles, and it is a 2013…a twin to this car right down to the colors. Mileage is about 38K.
From what I can read on the internet, including this article, the electric Focus is about as reliable as any other Focus. Parts? It is just a guess, but Ford has built electric only versions of several of it's vehicles. While you probably won't see one of these in a Pick-a-part for several years…I would think parts from other electric Fords would work.
Or maybe I am way of base.
I love a good long term assessment of an unusual car like this. Ford seems to be a little bipolar about its electrics. On the one hand they have been fairly aggressive in offering them but then they do not seem to go to any effort to let us know they are there. For example, I had completely forgotten about these, unlike the Volt, Bolt and Leaf and some others. The C-Max was virtually invisible from the start, for example.
These have intrigued me for a while and I was eager to read of your experiences with it. I'm glad it worked so well for you as there are no doubt many others whose work and living situation is similar.
Oddly, or not, the 2018 Focus Electric is only available in ten states as per Ford's website just now. Maryland and Oregon are two of those ten. Is it infrastructure, air quality concerns, or something else?
For the driving I generally do, these would be a great second car at some point although a hybrid would likely be a better fit. Just looks like it might be a while.
Because those are the ten states that signed on to the ZEV mandate. California received an exemption form the Clean Air Act to create ts own stricter emission standards, and other states are allowed to join it voluntarily. And those standards mandate a certain percentage of each manufacturer's sales to be ZEVs. That's the whole, total and only reason this car and other "compliance mobiles" exist. There's no EPA mandate for ZEVs.
The manufacturers either build EVs (at considerable expense) and sell them at considerable expense (losses) or they have to buy ZEV credits from Tesla, which obviously builds a whole lot more ZEVs than it needs to comply. 🙂
https://www.c2es.org/document/zev-program/
There is no viable market yet for EVs, except for Tesla, which shows healthy gross margins on its cars, but has net losses due to its rapid expansion costs. GM reportedly loses $9k on each Bolt. Sergio Marchionne said that FCA loses something like $20k on each Fiat 500E.
It's not unlike the 80s, 90s and 00s when the Big Three could not build small cars profitably, but had to build them at a loss to meet CAFE standards.
The presumption is that as battery cost continue to decline, EVs can become profitable for the legacy automakers. But this is why they're all rather scared of Tesla, because Tesla does show genuine healthy gross profit margins on its Model S and X, but nobody else can do that, yet.
This is great information and it colors in a few blank spots I had.
My concern until somewhat recently had been charging infrastructure – at least in this region of the Midwest as I've seen all of about two, with one of those being in Branson of all places.
However I'm seeing an ever increasing number of Teslas, so it will be interesting to see how / if / when electric vehicle consumption increases. With the loss per unit by Ford, GM, and FCA I'm curious to see how it plays out for them.
These are interesting times.
A Focus Electric could make sense for anyone anywhere depending on the driving they do but for you or me not as an ONLY car. While, as you said, they were only sold new in ten states, as used cars they are available anywhere.
The best usage case would be installing a 240V charger in your garage and charging overnight. If you have to travel with it, then go online and search for charging stations. I am not positive but the Navigation system may show you locations for chargers as many regular cars do for gasoline stations. I'm sure there are more than two in your state but likely not super visible wherever you go. Perhaps the CC-equipment effect will strike and you'll see one today. Worst case, it will always plug into a standard 120V outlet but will take F O R E V E R to charge, not a good way to plan travel from A to B.
You can use this link to search for charge points in Missouri – https://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations/
None in your city that I can see but looks like others sort of nearby and plenty in the bigger cities. Note some may be Tesla Superchargers and thus incompatible. Hutcheson Ford in Rolla also seems to be well versed in the Focus Electric http://www.hutchesonford.com/electric-vehicle-faq/
I live in Florida and have seen several charging stations in my area. I thought it was odd, maybe no one else here will, but one of those charging stations was at a Dunkin Donuts. I saw another at a shopping mall, but it seemed to be for Tesla owners only.
I haven't been to a movie theater in decades but that seems like another likely location.
I think that I could have an electric as my only car and rent a "regular" car for trips out of town, no problem. I have watched my driving and rarely travel more than 35-45 miles per day.
BTW, with Germany requiring such vast reduction in greenhouse gases in the near future, the government there is proposing each car manufacturer build a certain percentage of it's vehicles as EVs though I don't know if that has definitely been made a law.
Over at TTAC, there was a discussion on how EVs would only become mainstream vehicles (i.e., an only car) with a dramatic shift in how the vehicles are 'refueled' (recharged). The Dunkin Donuts scenario is likely part of that. IOW, because of the much longer time required to recharge, it becomes something of a 'value-added' proposition. It's just not possible to refuel-and-go with an EV like it is with an ICE vehicle. Tesla even experimented with a novel, automated battery replacement system that performed the task in five minutes, but I haven't heard anything of it since.
So, the recharge stations need to be located somewhere a driver wants to stop and spend more time for another reason (Dunkin Donuts, shopping mall, etc.). Once this infrastructure is in place, full recharge times get down to 30 minutes or less, and the price of recharging becomes comparable to fossil-fuel, the mainstream shift to EVs will become much more prevalent. In fact, maybe a system similar to validated parking would work. You would stop at a business, plug in your EV, patronize the business, and then get a receipt with a code to use at the recharge station for a reduced charge fee.
It's also worth mentioning that there needs to be adequate charging stations located at older leased apartment (or even condo) residences (are they even popping up at new builds?), and that's unlikely to take shape for quite some time.
Jim these are useful links. It also falls in line with how I can see implentation unfolding.
Charging stations near here are in Columbia and Rolla. Both are university towns with Rolla being primarily engineering. Rolla is also 20 minutes from Ft Leonard Wood.
That said I frequently visit both. So despite a lack of charging here one could easily charge at either. The country is growing into it. It would also help explain the Tesla spottings, which are usually around Rolla which has a population of 20,000 – half that of where I live.
Gubra
Nice story, I have a 2012 Focus Electric myself and have a very similar experience .
It was bought as a nr.2 car, but in a short time it became the nr.1 car. It drives well, is comfortable and the (noiseless) acceleration is something that really sets the car apart from oilfired veichles. Remember, the torque is there from zero rpm. Not the faintest hesitation or need for downshift at start or passing. And did I mention no engine noise even when flooring the pedal?
It's used to work and to move the kids to whatever activity. I can charge it at home and at work. In addition there is never any long distance to a public chargepoint.
As a 1st gen Ev, the battery has only 23kwh capacity. This has been sufficient for me, but demands frequent charging.
However, the battery technology is moving fast, and a 2017 model has 33kwh capacity within the same physical dimensions. The New Chevy Bolt packs 60kwh in a small car.
In short, I'm hooked. There will never be bought any new car in this house with an oilburner.
MarcKyle64
"The only way that I could get the system to work again was to stop the car, put it in Park, shut it off, open the door (to clear the retained accessory power feature), shut the door, turn the car back on again, and put it back in Drive"
Tell me again how this is better than plugging my phone into the AUX jack? I'm not quite getting it here. Did you have to do this before using the heater and a/c?
I think the interest in EVs is mostly because of environmental issues, global warming etc. It seems that we won't run of petroleum supplies anytime soon, as so many global oil companies are scrambling to exploit and market their resources. Internal combustion gasoline engines are very clean now and fuel efficiency is at an all time high. But the IC engine always produces carbon dioxide which is the component that the regulators are trying to limit. I think that there will be a mix of different propulsion units in the vehicle mix in the future. It is an interesting time for car fans.
I'm still putting my money on the "giant wind-up key in the back" system myself. 😉
Nice writeup, thanks. I didn't know much about the electric Focus. These compliance cars are helping the established manufacturers get real experience producing electric cars. Ford's coming out with a "Model E" electric crossover next year and like GM expects to offer more plugin hybrids and pure electrics in the future.
I'm celebrating a year and about 7K miles with my Fiat 500e. I still just love it. Everything, including the entertainment system, works very nicely, and that electric torque and handling is still a blast. Batteries are well integrated and the hatchback opens into a flat floor. I get the feeling that the Chrysler engineers in Detroit who developed it made a major effort to come up with a great car.
Do you have some numbers on how much your utility bill went up?
Electricity isn't particularly cheap where I live, so I'd be interested.
On the Fiat 500e the US EPA says 30 kWh per 100 miles. In my 20 mile commute I use 25% of the 24 kWh pack, which is 6 kWh per 20 miles, which is 30 kWh per 100 miles, so I'm getting the EPA mileage.
Multiply that by what you pay per kWh for electricity and that's your cost. US average is 12 cents per kWh, so that's $3.60 per 100 miles.
Mileage does drop when the weather gets down around freezing. YMMV.
For the 2017 electric Focus, EPA says its mileage is 31 kWh/100 mi.
imperialman
Being the owner of a Nissan Leaf(and I LOVE it) this past winter my electric bill has spiked at its highest about $25 a month .
This is using my Leaf as a daily driver with a 28 mile round trip to work and back.
Also I use its 110 charger 98% of the time vs its 220 charger.
To the OP I respectfully think you did a total disservice to yourself by dismissing the Leaf because of its looks
I am actually VERY satisfied my new Ranger for what it is. No, it won't beat the interior space or utility of the Aerostar (it's the XL regular-cab, short-bed configuration), but with a camper shell I eventually want to install on it I should still be able to haul a decent amount of cargo in the bed without having to tie EVERYTHING down so it doesn't fly out, and I've still got that Nissan 720 trailer lying around if I need more cargo capacity (the hitch receiver is rated for up to 3500 lbs. weight carrying & 6000 lbs. weight distributing, both of which are more than I'll ever need). Keeping total load weight as low as possible & vigilant driving a top priority (as always), pulling it around town & only once or twice on the open highway should be perfectly doable with the 2.3L I4, 5-speed automatic, & 4.10 axle ratio (DEFINITELY the base model, minus the stick-shift). What's lacking in ACTUAL horsepower & torque compared to the 4.0L V6 (both versions) is more than made up in power DELIVERY off the line, at least up to 60 mph—Gearing can make all the difference in the world. I actually parked next to a 1980-83 DATSUN 720 at Wal-Mart a few days ago: the taillights were UNDERNEATH the tailgate as opposed to the '84 & later models, a large DATSUN script was embossed on the tailgate (hard to see in the pics, though), and the rope ties were on the OUTSIDE of the bed. I was amazed at the size difference between the 2 pickups: the Ranger was WAY taller, but that may have been simply b/c of the suspension design; still, that made it look like an F-150 in comparison. It somehow seems like all pickups eventually used the same ride height for both 2WD AND 4WD models (the Ranger EDGE comes closely to mind). What I DO have is one heck of a nicely-equipped work truck.
A view from the rear makes the height difference even more obvious (I AM getting better at picture-taking from my phone as I was able to include both vehicles in the pics this time). Again, the DATSUN script is barely visible, not helped by the fact it shares the same paint color as the body.
'The only issue I had with the buying experience was that this dealership was a bit old-school and used stickers for dealer identification that were essentially impossible to peel off, so I left it even though I didn't want it."
That sounds like Academy Ford in Laurel MD. Almost everybody else uses tag brackets with the dealer name on it. I am surprised the Ford dealer in walking distance to me and close to you (Crapple…..er… Apple Ford) did not have one, they bill themselves as the biggest Ford dealer in Maryland.
I got a car from Academy once with that stupid sticker that was next to impossible to peal off. I removed it by going to the local self serve car wash(off of Berger Road) and used the pressure washer to carefully get rid of the sticker.
Yes that battery pack location was stupid as $h!t. The Prius integrates the battery pack into the back perfectly and still has gobs of room
What's even more annoying is when the dealership slaps on a sticker or nameplate crookedly. I've seen that maddeningly often.
Bogman57
The Smart EV's are starting to pop up tantalizingly cheap. As a main vehicle it's a poor choice. As an occasional toy it has it's virtues.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I love the simple pine and bamboo strapped to the entry gate of my local shrine. This is where we start the new year a few minutes past midnight with the neighbors drinking amezake and enjoying a small fire. Even the graffiti is cute. This new year, I will try to improve my photography, and seek a greater capacity for identifying the path of least resistance.
Recently I brought 28 participants of the Dutch-Tokyo Still City workshop on "post-growth" urban life to Hamarikyu garden. This photo captures the simultaneity of activities inside and outside the garden: Edo-style pruning of pine trees, city dwellers enjoying traditional tea, port and luxury housing structures, even an incinerator chimney.
I like how this pine tree is starting to fill out. It was hard pruned for winter, which allows more sunlight into the apartments. By summer it provided thick shade. Somehow this dubious security camera adds to the charm of this very orderly tree.
Giving this pine tree a little off the top. Skilled pruning creates a living shape.
I love how these traditional Japanese pines in Shinjuku Gyoen are so meticulously pruned. On this clear winter day, I love how you can see the pine needles accumulating against the brown lawn. Three ladders, red traffic safety cones, helmets, and no doubt some great pruning shears.
Fellow Shiho ceramic studio student Hagiwara-san organized a new year ornament or shimekazari workshop. It was so fun to work with beautiful, fresh materials, including several types of pine needles, pine cones and woody seed husks, Shinto folded paper, rice, ribbons and ropes, berries and rose hips, even dried chocolate cosmos and other leaves.
In past years I've bought them from Muji or even the supermarket. It was fun how all of the hand-made shimekazaris turned out differently. Some had circular and oval bases made of twigs and bamboo, others were tied together in a bunch. I used wires to attach the mini pine cones and even a yuzu.
Hagiwara-san is also a loyal Tokyo Green Space reader. Thank you!
My favorite Kichijoji plant store is moving soon. I have long admired the owner's meticulous sidewalk garden, full of surprises. Here are perfect grapes, two of which we have just eaten. The garden is a long narrow strip with some more plants in a light well and the stairway to the lower level entrance.
I like the mix of exotics like grapes, with traditional Japanese plants like pine and raphis palm, plus ferns, cactuses, and so many more plant types. The incredible variety of plants and the impeccable maintenance show off the gardener's skills and wide interests.
Tokyo residents and small businesses welcome the gods in temporary homes built of bamboo, pine, and plum blossoms.
I love how the best ones are hand-crafted from pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms. They are intended to be temporary homes for the Shinto gods (kami, 神様). I like the idea that you can create a temporary house for the gods to visit at new year. The three heights of the kamomastu represent heaven, humanity, and earth- in descending order. The shimekazari are smaller, with Shinto rope holding charms such as oranges, folded paper, rice straw, and ferns.
Shimekazari (標飾り) and Kadomatsu (門松) are traditional New Year's ornaments placed on walls and on the sidewalks outside shops and homes. The city simultaneously empties of people and fills with physical connections to mountains and spirits. This year I took photos of the widest variety I could find in the areas I visit on typical days: on a car bumper, outside a sento, next to a wall of cigarette advertisements, on a busy boulevard, outside a barbershop, pachinko parlor, 24 hour convenience store, and a department store.
After the holiday, these decorations should be burned at a shrine. By mid-January, they are already a faded memory.


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Home > Forums > Family Law Task Force > Family Law Case Digest > Henriquez vs. Henriquez - Affirmed!
Henriquez vs. Henriquez - Affirmed!
Jose Henriquez v. Ana Henriquez, No. 81, September Term 2009
Court of Special Appeals Decision and Court of Appeals Decision Attached.
FAMILY LAW – SECTION 12-301 – COUNSEL FEES – NON-PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION
Ana and Jose Henriquez were married in El Salvador on April 18, 1998 and had two children during the marriage, Ana, born in 1998, and Jessica, born in 2000; Mrs. Henriquez had another child born in 1994. In 2005, Mrs. Henriquez filed a Complaint for Absolute Divorce in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, requesting "sole legal and physical custody" of the children, "temporary and permanent child support," as well as "reasonable counsel fees and costs." During the custody, visitation, and child support phase of the proceedings, counsel for Mrs. Henriquez introduced an itemized bill entitled "Attorney's Fees for Custody, Visitation, and Support Issues Only," documenting legal work on her behalf undertaken by the House of Ruth Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, a non-profit legal services organization, amounting to 58.34 hours, at $200 per hour, for a total of $11,668. Counsel for Mr. Henriquez objected to the introduction of the bill for attorneys' fees, because the House of Ruth agreed to represent Mrs. Henriquez on a pro bono basis. The trial judge awarded Mrs. Henriquez sole physical custody of the children and ordered Mr. Henriquez to pay child support and also awarded attorneys' fees in the amount of $5,000 to the House of Ruth for legal work on Mrs. Henriquez's behalf regarding custody, visitation, and support issues, pursuant to Section 12-103 of the Family Law Article, Maryland Code (1984, 2006 Repl. Vol.), governing fee shifting in child custody matters. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed.
The Court of Appeals affirmed, rejecting Mr. Henriquez's argument that the award of attorneys' fees was improper as a matter of law, because Section 12-103 authorizes an award of attorneys' fees only when a party actually incurs expenses for legal representation. The Court reasoned that the plain meaning of Section 12-103 permitted the award of attorneys' fees, because "counsel fees" are limited only to that which "are just and proper under all the circumstances." The Court further noted that the only other statutory mandate that restricts a court's award of attorneys' fees is contained in Section 12-103(b), which enumerates considerations a court must weigh before awarding fees, to include (1) the financial status of each party, (2) the needs of each party, and (3) whether there was substantial justification for bringing or defending the proceeding. Finally, the Court determined that the Circuit Court properly awarded attorneys' fees directly to the House of Ruth, construing Section 12-103 in pari materia with Sections 7-107, 8-214, and 11-110 of the Family Law Article, governing fee shifting in divorce proceedings, property disposition matters, and alimony proceedings, respectively, and all permitting an award of fees directly to an attorney. To do otherwise, noted the Court, would foster the illogical result of permitting an award of fees directly to an attorney when a party prevails in a divorce proceeding on fault grounds, or when a party obtains a monetary award and could then pay the attorney, or when a party receives alimony, but not permitting an award of fees directly to an attorney in a determination of physical custody of children, in which each party "has equal constitutional rights to parent" and at stake is the "best interests" of the children.
Henriquez v Henriquez.pdf 56.78 KB
Henriquez - Attorney Fees - Nonprofit - CA.pdf 58.44 KB
‹ 2010 - Flanagan vs. DHR: No Contempt for Failure to Pay C/S Where No Personal Service of Petition and SCO 2009 Cruz vs. Silva ›


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The BJP is inching towards forming the government in almost all the three Northeastern States where elections were held, exit polls stated.
While exit polls predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-IPFT combine in Tripura, the ruling Manik Sarkar-led Left Front government could see its tally come down to around 10 to 20 seats from the current 50 it enjoys in the State assembly.
While the JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll predicted that the BJP-IPFT alliance in Tripura will win 35-45 seats, an exit poll by AxisMyIndia predicted anything between 44 and 50 seats for the combine.
Meanwhile in Nagaland, the exit polls also predicted that the BJP-NDPP alliance will form the government in the state while in Meghalaya it could win more 10 or more seats while the NPP, an ally of the Northeast Democratic Alliance, will emerge as the single largest party. The Congress could lose another State with the exit polls predicting the Congress to come second.


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The Comte de Rochefort is a secondary fictional character in Alexandre Dumas' d'Artagnan Romances. He is described as approximately 40 to 45 years old in 1625 and "fair with a scar across his cheek".

In The Three Musketeers

Known throughout the novel as "The Man from Meung", his first appearance is in the opening chapter of The Three Musketeers (1844). He insults d'Artagnan and steals his letter of recommendation to Monsieur de Tréville, causing d'Artagnan to swear revenge.

He reappears from time to time as the story progresses. D'Artagnan regularly sees Rochefort and tries to catch him, but each time Rochefort skilfully vanishes into the street crowds of Paris. D'Artagnan does not meet him again or learn his name until the end of the novel. It is Rochefort who kidnaps Constance Bonacieux, and we eventually learn that he is the other main agent (in addition to Milady de Winter) of Cardinal Richelieu. He is sent by Richelieu to escort Milady de Winter in some of her missions. At the end of the novel, Rochefort tries to arrest d'Artagnan for the cardinal; Richelieu eventually orders the men to become friends. In the Epilogue, we learn that Rochefort, and an older and wiser d'Artagnan, fought on three occasions (all duels being won by d'Artagnan), settled their differences and became friends.

In Twenty Years After
Rochefort reappears in the 1845 sequel, Twenty Years After. He falls out of favor with Richelieu's successor Mazarin, and spends five years in the Bastille. When Mazarin dismisses him from service for being too old, he joins the side of the Frondeurs. He aids Athos in freeing the Duke of Beaufort, and reappears in the end at the riot against Mazarin's return. Unable to recognize his friend in the chaos, d'Artagnan kills Rochefort, as he had predicted he would if they fought a fourth time.

In other fiction
The Comte de Rochefort was the subject of an earlier novel, Mémoires de M.L.C.D.R. (Memoirs of Monsieur Le Comte de Rochefort) written in 1678 by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras.  Courtilz de Sandras also wrote Mémoires de M. d'Artagnan (1700).  Dumas combined the two, replacing an aristocrat named Rosnay from the d'Artagnan story with the Comte de Rochefort.

A thug nicknamed Rochefort plays the role in the 1993 book The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte.
Rochefort is the narrator and protagonist of Mary Gentle's 2003 novel 1610: A Sundial in a Grave.
Rochefort appears in Jason Sæterøy's 2008 graphic novel The Last Musketeer in which he colludes with the Emperor of Mars to invade Earth.
Rochefort is an important character in The Cardinal's Blades, a historical fantasy trilogy by Pierre Pevel set in the early 17th century.
Rochefort appears in Tansy Rayner Roberts' science fiction retelling Musketeer Space, renamed Rosnay Cho. She is an agent in the service of the Cardinal, and the love interest of protagonist Dana Dartagnan.

In film and television
In film Rochefort has been played by:
Boyd Irwin in The Three Musketeers (1921)
Ullrich Haupt in The Iron Mask (1929)
Ian Keith in The Three Musketeers (1935) and The Three Musketeers (1948)
Lionel Atwill in The Three Musketeers (1939)
Christopher Lee in The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers (1974) and The Return of the Musketeers (1989).
Boris Klyuyev in D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers (1978)
Michael Wincott in The Three Musketeers (1993)
David Schofield in The Musketeer (2001)
Mads Mikkelsen in The Three Musketeers (2011)
Marc Warren in the BBC TV series The Musketeers (2015), replacing Peter Capaldi's Cardinal Richelieu.

Film incarnations tend to depict Rochefort as a far darker character than in the novel, and often extend his role. d'Artagnan kills Rochefort in duel in The Four Musketeers, though he turns up alive in The Return in the Musketeers, only to die "again" in a gunpowder explosion intended for (and partially triggered by) the musketeers; the character suffers the same fate in the 1993 adaptation. In his three appearances as Rochefort, Christopher Lee wore an eyepatch, intended to make the character look more sinister. The eyepatch, a departure from Rochefort's appearance in Dumas' novel, was deemed striking enough to be retained in several other film adaptations: Wincott, Mikkelsen and (eventually) Warren retained it in their portrayals, as did the cartoon series Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds and the anime version. Tim Roth's Febre, the main villain of The Musketeer, also wears an eyepatch (although Rochefort does not).

Dogtanians Rochefort has a scar on his forehead rather than his cheek. Throughout the series, the title character often calls him "Black Moustache".

References

Fictional French people
Characters in The Three Musketeers
Fictional counts and countesses
Fictional secret agents and spies
Literary characters introduced in 1844
Male literary villains
Male film villains
Fictional people from the 17th-century

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The ISIL is a variable length identifier. The ISIL consists of a maximum of 16 characters, using digits (Arabic numerals 0 to 9), unmodified letters from the basic Latin alphabet and the special marks solidus (/), hyphen-minus (-) and colon (:). Latin letters modified with one or more diacritics and letters from alphabets other than Latin cannot be used in the ISIL.
Each ISIL identifier shall be unique when normalized to the repertoire of characters specified in ISO/IEC-10646-1 without regard to case. It means that e.g. FI-Ht leave out FI-HT and reverse.
An ISIL is made up by two components: a prefix and a unit identifier, in that order, separated by a hyphen-minus. The hyphen-minus is a mandatory character in the ISIL string.
A country code identifies the country in which the library or related organization is located at the time the ISIL is assigned. The country code shall consist of two uppercase letters in accordance with the codes specified in ISO 3166-1. All two-character alphabetic combinations are reserved for possible future assignment as country codes, thus may not be assigned as non-country code prefixes.
When the library has components located in different geographic areas, the country code is based on the location of the main library or of the main administrative unit.
A non-country code prefix is any combination of Latin alphabet characters (upper or lower case) or digits (but not special marks). The prefix may be one, three, or four characters in length. The prefix is registered at a global level with the ISIL Registration Authority.
The Unit identifier is an alphanumeric element designed to accommodate existing national systems of library identification or newly assigned identifiers for libraries or related organizations. Already existing identifiers, when used in international contexts, will necessarily require the addition of the two uppercase letters of the respective country code, followed by a hyphen-minus character. If appropriate when assigning a new identifier to a library or related organization, it is recommended that the Unit identifier of the ISIL include the element indicating the geographic subdivision (state, province, region, city, etc.) where the library or the related organization is located. If the geographic subdivision element is used, it is recommended that the element be in accordance with the codes specified in ISO 3166-2.
The Unit identifier will have up to 11 character positions.
When an ISIL is written, printed, or otherwise visually presented, it shall be preceded by the letters ISIL separated from the identifier by a space.


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Young pitchers who exceed pitch count limits are more prone to elbow injuries, according to research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in San Diego. Season statistics of players were compared relative to pitch count limits established by the Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine.
"As the demand on young pitchers to play more increases, there is less time for repair of bony and soft tissues in the elbow,. We hope research like this continues to direct young athletes, parents and coaches to follow pitch limits to prevent injuries.Toshiyuki Iwame, MD
SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) July 08, 2018
"Our research focused on 149 young pitchers ranging in age from 7 to 11 who had no prior elbow pain," commented lead author Toshiyuki Iwame, MD, from Tokushima University in Tokushima, Japan. "We found those who reported elbow pain after the season were associated with pitching numbers beyond current throwing guidelines."
Researchers asked the players to complete a questionnaire after the season, which showed 66 (44.3%) experienced pain. Multivariate analysis showed that throwing more than 50 pitches per day (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.22–4.94), 200 pitches per week (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.03–4.10), and 70 games per year (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.24–5.02), the baselines established by the JSCSM, were risk factors for pain.
"As the demand on young pitchers to play more increases, there is less time for repair of bony and soft tissues in the elbow," commented Iwame. "We hope research like this continues to direct young athletes, parents and coaches to follow pitch limits to prevent injuries."
The study authors noted the player recall bias, reporting of pain detail on the questionnaire, and limited geographical representation were limitations of the research.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is the premier global, sports medicine organization representing the interests of orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and levels. We cultivate evidence-based knowledge, provide extensive educational programming, and promote emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.
Lisa Weisenberger
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine


Hej and welcome to the SoundCloud account of Sweden Abroad. Here you can listen to information from the Sweden Abroad website. We will for instance explain how the work permit application process works at our Embassies, upload speeches by the Foreign Minister and offer you information in consular matters. Sweden Abroad consists of the websites of all Swedish missions abroad and you can learn more on www.swedenabroad.com.


Cubio mobile drawer cabinet 800mm x 650mm x 990mm with 5 x drawers. Constructed of sheet steel with a hard wearing light grey / blue (RAL 7035/5010) powder coated finish. Supplied with: 1 x 100mm, 1 x 100mm, 1 x 100mm, 1 x 150mm, 1 x 150mm high drawers with 60KG U.D.L capacity per drawer. Cubio drawers are fitted with integrated handles and 100% extending roller bearing drawer slides. All Cubio mobile drawer cabinets come complete with 125mm diameter castors, 2 with brakes and give a maximum load capacity of 300kg.
Cubio mobile drawer cabinet 800mm x 650mm x 890mm with 5 x drawers. Constructed of sheet steel with a hard wearing light grey / blue (RAL 7035/5010) powder coated finish. Supplied with: 1 x 100mm, 1 x 100mm, 1 x 150mm, 1 x 150mm, 1 x 200mm high drawers with 60KG U.D.L capacity per drawer. Cubio drawers are fitted with integrated handles and 100% extending roller bearing drawer slides. All Cubio mobile drawer cabinets come complete with 125mm diameter castors, 2 with brakes and give a maximum load capacity of 300kg.


What is Mincom Ellipse ERP?
Mincom Ellipse enables world's best practice in the management of assets, work, logistics, financials and human resources, empowering asset-intensive organizations to respond faster and make better decisions that directly impact the bottom line.
Why use Mincom Ellipse ERP?


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IAM Testifies on Capitol Hill on Behalf of Railroad Membership
Andrew Sandberg, IAM District 19 Assistant to the President, went to Capitol Hill yesterday to testify before the U.S. House subcommittee on rail policy.
A massive operational change, known as Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), is currently upending the railroad industry—threatening the jobs, health and safety of IAM members. It is also significantly impacting the massive freight network.
"Our union supports efforts to efficiently operate our nation's railroads. We want our employers to be profitable—as profits lead to raises and quality benefits for our members," said Sandberg. "However, we are concerned that current PSR schemes are detrimental to the long-term outlook of the rail industry, putting short-term gains ahead of long-term success—furloughing thousands, while degrading safety. PSR schemes are designed to increase short-term profits for shareholders, at any cost."
"I thank District Lodge 19 and Assistant to the President Sandberg for their relentless advocacy for both jobs and safety on our nation's railroads," said General Vice President Sito Pantoja. "PSR schemes are designed to reduce the rail workforce and benefit shareholders at the expense of railroad safety."
IAM District 19 represents 11,000 active machinists across the country at every Class 1 commuter railroad, Amtrak and others. Members primarily maintain and repair locomotives and track maintenance equipment both in shops and on the line of road. They also perform complete overhauls of locomotives and many assemblies and sub-assemblies used in all aspects of railroading.
The Transportation Communications Union (TCU-IAM) represents approximately 46,000 members in the U.S., most employed in the railroad industry.
Watch an excerpt of the hearing here.
Click here to watch the entire hearing.
The post IAM Testifies on Capitol Hill on Behalf of Railroad Membership appeared first on IAMAW.
Updated: June 27, 2019 — 9:30 am


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A Life Twice Given
By Monica Yell
A simple production, A Life Twice Given stretches itself to do justice to a very complicated idea, with only limited resources and space. In some ways, it doesn't manage to do so – the dialogue is clunky, the design choices basic, and the acting largely ineffective. However, the concept itself is towering, and just about enough to carry the performance into watchability.
A mostly engaging, unusual piece of theatre.
The story's brave exploration of such huge ideas as death, life, identity, bereavement, parenting and trauma make for an intense experience, and the angle at which it comes at them is interesting. It has so much potential to be uniquely thought-provoking and emotive, that the mere ghost of that effect which is realised suffices to make it worth seeing. Given more input to be developed, I really feel it could be something special.
Some of the faults must be laid at the playwright's feet, as the whole piece comes across more like a storyboard plan than a refined final draft, and the result is somewhat messy. It errs on the side of flat-out telling you what you need to know, rather than attempting any kind of subscript, and the cumbersome indications of setting render the amateurish background projections moot.
Acting through such flaws makes the job much more difficult, so on some level a degree of forgiveness ought to be extended to the cast. They are only three strong, playing a mother (Natalia Campbell), a father (Johnny Neal) and a son (Damian Reyes-Fox). They all manage to pull off remarkably well-studied accents throughout, but the similarities stop there; Campbell struggles to be truly sympathetic, too often substituting subtlety for shouting, while Neal slips in and out of a good performance, coping well with the more mundane, but battling to satisfy a script which asks him to realistically watch his child dying on stage. Reyes-Fox is in another league entirely. While his is likely the least ample part, needing him to play at a multitude of ages (and even nationalities), he excels, even despite having to lead several out-of-place physical theatre interludes, which never seem to resolve themselves as having much to do with anything.
I wonder if the play is just far too ambitious. It features, for example, a mimed vehicle crash, which is near impossible to stage without risking straining the audience's suspended disbelief. The mime itself was unconvincing, so, like many of the lacking elements, detracted from any possible emotional investment. Ultimately, A Life Twice Given is an engaging, unusual piece of theatre, unfortunately dogged by its flaws, haunted by its potential, but mostly worth its time and money.
Readers 6,588
A committed consumer of and participant in the arts since her enthusiastic debut as Angel Gabriel, aged 4, Monica is a Brighton based student, always keen to find the best examples of local culture, and enjoy an evening of live entertainment, even if she can't quite afford it.
Reviews by Monica Yell
SpaceXPat
My Boy Danny
A Company 6 Scots
Short Film Night
Theatre Royal Brighton
Stick Man
The Old Market
A Little Space
David and Lisa lead a blessed life in rural Virginia; children, a summer-house by the river, warmth and laughter. Then their worst nightmare happens and their eldest son is killed. Utterly distraught, David enlists the help of an unconventional Rabbi and, by dangerously mixing age-old religious belief with cutting edge genetic science, a new son is cloned from the old one.
A happy family life resumes but then disturbing things start to happen. The boy feels odd. The parents puzzlingly disconnected. Is nature fighting back? Is David's arrogance in playing God backfiring?
Based on the book by David Daniels.
Award winning playwright Gail Louw has her plays performed throughout the world. Her plays include; Shackleton's Carpenter, The Mitfords, Being Brahms, Blonde Poison (Argus Award, Brighton Festival), Two Sisters, Duwayne (Best New Play, Brighton Festival), Miss Dietrich Regrets (UK and South Africa winning the Naledi Best Actress Award) and the Czech Republic. Two anthologies of Gail's plays are published by Oberon Books. Her latest play The Ice Cream Boys and Shackleton's Carpenter both play at Jermyn St Theatre in London's West End in Autumn 2019.
Only Fools and Horses - The Musical


Car maintenance is important to optimize its overall performance. It helps you to reduce down on recurring restore expenses. Adhere to all the safety measures to maintain your car running. Maintenance should be undertaken for every part of the vehicle including lights, breaks, windshields, seats etc. You might be forced to spend large quantities of money for windshield substitute Plano or motor breakdown or else.
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Different sorts of harm to a windscreen can have various consequences. If a pane of auto glass has been completely smashed or deeply cracked, it is most most likely that a total replacement will be necessary. However, this type of severe harm is actually fairly unusual. Usually, the windshield will have been subtly broken a long time before it cracks or breaks. Numerous windshields are composed of two panes divided by an internal layer of plastic. Usually, if each panes are cracked, a substitute is essential. Surface cracks which affect only the outer layer can be repaired fairly effortlessly.
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Ignore the harm. While small chips or cracks may not seem like a big offer at first, they can spread or otherwise sacrifice your car's structural integrity. For maximum security and compliance with the rules of the road, get your windshield repairs done correct away.


Because Hallux Rigidus is a progressive condition, the toe's motion decreases as time goes on. In its earlier stage, motion of the big toe is only somewhat limited—at that point, the condition is called Hallux Limitus. As the problem advances, the toe's range of motion gradually decreases until it reaches the end stage of rigidus—the big toe becomes stiff, or what is sometimes called a frozen joint. Other problems are also likely to occur as the disorder progresses.
Common causes of Hallux Rigidus are faulty function (biomechanics) and structural abnormalities of the foot that can lead to osteoarthritis in the big toe joint. This type of arthritis—resulting from "wear and tear"—often develops in people who have defects that change the way their foot and big toe functions. For example, people with fallen arches or excessive pronation (rolling in) of the ankles are susceptible to developing Hallux Rigidus.
For some, Hallux Rigidus runs in the family and is a result of inheriting a foot type that is prone to developing this condition. In other cases, it is associated with overuse—especially among people engaged in activities or jobs that increase the stress on the big toe, such as workers who often have to stoop or squat. Hallux Rigidus can also result from an injury—even from stubbing your toe. Or it may be caused by certain inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Your foot and ankle surgeon can determine the cause of your hallux rigidus and recommend the best treatment.
The sooner this condition is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. The best time to see a foot and ankle surgeon is when you first notice that your big toe feels stiff or hurts when you walk, stand, bend over, or squat. If you wait until bone spurs develop, your condition is likely to be more difficult to manage.
An examine your feet and toe is conducted to determine its range of motion; X-rays are usually required to determine how much arthritis is present; as well as an evaluation to determine the presence of any bone spurs or other abnormalities that may have formed.
If your condition is caught early enough, it is more likely to respond to less aggressive treatment. In many cases early treatment may prevent or postpone the need for surgery in the future.
There are several types of surgery to treat allux rigidus, and in some cases surgery is the only way to eliminate or reduce pain. These surgical procedures fall into two categories: reconstruct and "clean up" the joint. This requires the removal of the arthritic damage from the joint and any accompanying bone spurs, and altering the position of one or more bones in the big toe. These procedures are designed to preserve and restore normal alignment and function of the joint as well as reduce or eliminate pain.
More aggressive procedures are used when the joint cannot be preserved. These may involve fusing the joint, or removing part or all of the joint, or in some cases, replacing it with an implant, such as is done for the hip or knee. These procedures eliminate painful motion in the joint and provide a stable foot.


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Q: Data sources not updating with ADO.NET Data Model So I am creating a dashboard with C#/Silverlight. The dashboard is hooked to a remote database with a data model and a domain service. In my database I created a new view, and have added it to the data model. For some reason, after adding it to the data model, it does not show up in the data sources in visual studio 2010. Why is that? I tried refreshing the data sources but that didnt work. Any ideas?
I feel like this should probably be fairly simple to solve, but I think I have been staring at it for too long today, haha. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A: Well it appears I have fixed the problem. I just had to delete the .edmx file and the domain service and recreate it. Then it added everything to the data sources properly.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Unlike some operators who can simply offer a few laps on a track, we give you the chance to use the environment up and down hills and through some of the most stunning sceneries ore landscape has to offer. Very simple controls ensure that even if you have never ridden a quad bike before you will quickly get how to use these awesome machines. Your experience starts with full instructions on the safe use of a quad bike, including basic tips while you get to learn how to control the bike on ground level. Then we will be off to tackle the ups and downs of the land guided by your instructor. Then it's time to head off tackling the ups and downs Rustenburg land has to offer, guided by your instructor. We also specialise in guided quad biking tours allowing tourists to experience what our town has to offer from a heritage and history points of view. The element of interaction with the locals is also brought into the guide. All necessary safety equipment is provided. We usually run no more than 6 quads at a time for an outride to guarantee safety and ensure everyone gets to ride at a safe pace. Minimum age requirement is 10 years old. Children younger than 14 years are required to drive with an adult, at an additional cost per person.


More On Stacy Keibler's Wedding, Hulk Hogan Signing Note, Cameron's Single Release Party - Wrestling Inc.
- Several hundred fans turned out to see Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart at Steiner Sports Store in Garden City, New York. You can see photos from the appearance at this link.
- As noted, People.com revealed that former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler was married on Saturday in Mexico. The magazine will have exclusive wedding photos and interviews in the issue that hits newsstands on Friday.
- WWE Diva Cameron noted on Twitter that the single release party she had in Beverly Hills on Friday night was just for friends, family and the fans that were able to make it. Her "Bye Bye" single will be released to the public around May of this year.


See Julie Scrap: Some TooTs and some layouts!!
I was asked to join the Design Team at The Scrapping Spot and started there this month! I love the community on the board, its a great bunch of gals, lots of inspiration and great kits. You should check it out. Definately.
Featuring the imaginisce Lucy Bird line. All papers are double-sided unless noted. 1-Tweet Talk, 1-Good Morning Sunshine!, 1-Daisy May, 1-Pretty Maids in a Row, 1-Twinkle Twirls, 1-Flutter Butter die cut paper (single sided). 2 ea. Prima Fluttering butterflies. 1/2 pkg. Adorable Lucy Bird Flower. 1-Melon Bazzill. 1-Limerick Bazzil. 1 yd. Green/yellow/blue ribbon. 1 yd. lime green twill tape. Handful dazzler flowers. 1- Making Memories Glitter bling square frame. 6 ea. Lemon Lime Bazzill Just the Edge. 4 ea. Butterfly Madeline chipboard. 1 BoBunny Flutter Butter alpha combo. 1/2 pkg. Kaiser Droplets hot pink. 1 ea. Fancy Pants Sweet Title. 5 ea. Light pink gem stone petal. 1/2 pkg. Desert Sun Bazzill jewels. 1/2 pkg. Chirping Bird Brads. 6 ea. Butterfly foam stickers.
Your layouts are gorgeous.. congrats on both DT positions hun!
Congrats Julie on both your DT positions! Beautiful work on both kits just love them!
Congrats on the new DT spots.


Apple close to signing major record labels for its iTunes streaming service | What Hi-Fi?
The Guardian is this morning reporting that Apple has signed two of the four major music labels – EMI and Warner Music – for its rumoured iTunes digital streaming service.
And there's speculation that Universal Music and Sony Music are close to agreeing terms for Apple's iTunes upgrade too.
Recently Amazon launched its cloud-based music service, Amazon Cloud Drive, in America and Google has unveiled a similar service called Music Beta by Google.
However, neither company managed to sign a license agreement with any of the big record labels, so it appears that Apple may have stolen a march on its rivals.


Looking back, the founding of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 1898 seems especially remarkable, for the beginning was anything but auspicious. The 38-year-old founder, Frank A. Seiberling, purchased the firm's 1st plant with a $3, 500 down payment - using money he borrowed from a brother-in-law Lucius C. Miles. The rubber and cotton that were the lifeblood of the industry had to be transported from halfway around the world, to a landlocked town that had only limited rail transportation.


"A new profession for the Internet age" is a newspaper article from the Harbin Daily [for those who don't know, Harbin is a major city in China's extreme northeast], via Chinese IT community Donews. The article chronicles the ins and outs of owning, working at, and regulating businesses that sell virtual assets. Rough translation, sometimes paraphrased, follows. The article is too long for me to translate every sentence.
After two years of hard work, business at Chen Xiao's "proxy player" business — selling virtual currency, equipment, and game characters — is on the rise. Chen is one of Harbin's first group of virtual goods merchants. As the article explains, proxy player shops "网游代练"公司 arose to serve those who love online games but don't have the skills or the time to develop a mature character. Instead, they simply buy what they need. The people who are hired to develop virtual assets in-game are called "online game proxy players".
Workers earn meals, a bunk in a dorm, and 600-1000 RMB per month (roughly 80-120 USD) working 12 hour days. They work in 2 shifts so as to maximize the production of virtual assets and characters, and while they "play," Chen handles the business side of things. Most of those who run the shops are Internet bar owners. In several Internet bars near Harbin's technical and provincial universities, the reporter saw dozens of computers set aside for for proxy playing.
But it's not easy to earn a good living selling virtual assets. First there is the issue of equipment–this is a business where scale produces profit. More boxes equals more proxy players equals more profit. Second, there's the issue of finding a market for your goods. Foreign players are the biggest source of profit for China's virtual goods shops. Success requires skills in the game and in foreign languages. Even then, the Chinese companies have to keep their prices very low. Chen explained that Chinese proxy player businesses are basically wholesalers for foreign companies that turn around and sell the virtual goods for a healthy profit. There's also the constant threat of being cheated; always a possibility in doing business, and even more so when the goods are virtual.
As for labor, these games are designed to be playable by pretty much anyone, which means that some proxy player shops are moving to the suburbs or even to China's towns to take advantage of rural laborers who can be paid less.
Worker Chen is 22 and after proxy playing for almost one year is now making 1000 RMB per month. The work is "painful but fun," he says. Sitting at the screen playing for 12 hours at a time is physically and mentally exhausting. And living conditions are pretty bad: the 34 male and female workers use 17 computers in two shifts, and live, sleep, and eat together in small room with bad air. But Chen has no academic degree. And he manages to fulfill the quota set by the boss every day, which earns him an additional bonus. However, worker Chen says that the twenty-year olds who do this kind of work have no sense of achievement, indeed even feel a sense of emptiness about what the future might hold. Worker Chen hopes to open his own proxy player shop someday.
Owners sometimes even hire minors, who will work for a couple of days simply for the fun of playing their favorite games. Many don't need salaries, which brings down operating costs. But these practices have given proxy player shops a bad name in China.
The shops operate in a legal gray zone. Harbin's commercial officlals say they haven't registered a single such company, and there are no regulations under which to register them in any case. Rules, licenses and regulations would go a long way toward increasing the stability of this new industry.
That is maybe true.I do not have similar experiences.
Fascinating post. Thanks for running it.
June must be Gold Farmer Hunting Month.
Virtual China has a translation of an article about the nuts and bolts of working for a gold farm. Gold farmers can earn up to US$100 per month.
Next post Chinese vlogging contest: source of the next Asian Backstreet Boys or Bus Uncle?


Patrick Starnes, former Independent candidate for the state governor, with Gov. Kate Brown, left, and Republican candidate Knute Buehler.
ASTORIA — The next Ales & Ideas lecture features former Independent candidate for governor Patrick Starnes with Astoria's David Delk, chair of the Oregon Progressive Party. They will discuss campaign finance in Oregon and options for reform.
The presentation takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Fort George Lovell Showroom. Doors open with food and beverage service at 6 p.m. No purchase is required. Minors are welcome. The venue is at Duane and 14th streets.
What's required to enact meaningful democratic reaforms to assure the U.S. has a democracy governed by "We the People," not "We the Wealthy" or "We the Corporations"? Formal presentations will be followed by an audience Q-and-A and a discussion of ways citizens can become more involved with the movement to support effective democratic processes.
The event is put on by Clatsop Community College and Fort George Brewery.