attheraces: "The profitability of backing riders unable to claim in apprentice-only races is a new phenomenon this year.

Certainly, a glance at the overall level stakes profits provided by the likes of Sam Hitchcott (170 points), Robert Miles (100 points), Lisa Jones (80 points) and Nicky Mackay (50 points) is a reminder of the advantages to be had by employing a claiming jockey who is riding as well as many fully-fledged pilots

NOT FOR YARD ATTATCHED TO!
Claiming jockeys who ride for yards that have lots of runners, but a low strike-rate, often seem to represent very good value during the latter stages of their claim."

Trainer Form

Yorkshire-based Ian McInnes provides an excellent current example of why winners alone are not the sole guide to a stable’s wellbeing. The yard hasn’t yet had a winner in October from seven runners…but there have been plenty of near misses. Shamwari Fire has been second of 15 at 20-1 and also fourth of 17 at 16-1; Rock Concert was third of 15 at 16-1 and third of 17 at 12-1; and H Harrison was third of 14 at 20-1. None of them were beaten far, and given that the yard also H Harrison won three times in September, it’s well worth keeping looking out for any runners in the next few weeks.

Similar comments apply to Neville Bycroft, who has had five horses placed from just 11 runners in the last three weeks at odds ranging from 12-1 to 33-1, with none of the placed horses beaten very far

Guardian Unlimited | Archive Search: "Hijacked your bank balance, your identity, your life
Rachel Shabi
October 25 2003
Whatever you do today, you are leaving a blatant trail of information behind you. It is personal, sensitive information, and it is easily abused. Everything you do to live will create this data trail. "

So true - tempting, but I will resist double posting or mailing this on at all cos it is basic commonsense really...
BBC NEWS | Technology | Web guru fights info pollution: "Having an always-on connection with Outlook permanently open in the background with a notification system was ultimately my biggest mistake - couple that with Instant Messaging and my productivity went through the floor... Now I have got rid of the notifications, don't have IM on during working hours and check my mails on average about three times during the day. Coupled with having created a complicated list of filters and a closed exemption list, I only have to react to spam once a day - usually last thing before I turn my computer off rather than getting notified every 5-10 mins throughout the day..."

i really, really hope that I will never have to look back for this article to use as an outline for setting up seo on my own...PromotionData.com - Web promotion and development community: "If you have ever considered starting a new SEO service company, there are several steps you can take that will get things moving in the right direction. I myself started a company this past year that is already realizing great results"

Barefoot Doctor's Bit: Are Fairweather Friends Better Than None?

Barefoot Doctor: "Fairweather friends are better in the general sense that company of any kind is usually more fulfilling than watching TV, but only if you view them in the same way as watching TV; for entertainment.

True friendship, on the other hand, requires time to develop during which you check out each other's sense of reciprocity, the inherent give and take of any relationship, to see whether it's balanced. Different people give and take in different ways and with different timing, which is why it takes a while to establish that balance.

However, you'll actually know whether someone is a true friend or simply fair-weather the first time you meet them, because you'll feel it in your belly. The trick is to be sensitive to whatever your belly's telling you and that requires breathing consciously and remaining mindful of your inner feelings while engaged in the clatter and clamour of the world."

One for the reading list:
What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson: " what should I do with my life?"

The Observer | Comment | They said what... ?: "'I ended up on a shrink's couch and he told me to write down how much I did in a week - 20 Es, four grams of coke, half an ounce of hash, three bottles of Jack Daniel's, 60 pints and 40 fags a day. He looked at me and said 'Do you wonder you're depressed?''
Colin Farrell, actor "

A little bit of history..
The Observer | Travel: "
Empire built on love of travel
Now celebrating its thirtieth birthday the Lonely Planet series sells more than 5.5 million books a year in English in 118 countries, and also brings out maps and mobile phone guides."

The Observer | Business | Mammon: Betfair co-founder Mark Davies: "Bookies' favourite? Not by a long chalk

Loved by punters, hated by rivals - internet gambling site Betfair must keep the taxman and regulator off its back and forge new markets. All in a day's work for co-founder Mark Davies, writes Nick Mathiason "

The man:Barefoot Doctor Bit: Do Age Gaps in Romances Matter?

Barefoot Doctor: "Age gaps matter as much or as little as any of the other differences between two people matter. There may be cultural differences between you (age related or otherwise) which give rise to insecurity or dissatisfaction for sure but then dissatisfaction is an essential part of the human condition. Perhaps you'll have varying sex-drive levels, but this can apply no matter what the age difference.

In many ways a big age gap can enhance rather than diminish the connection, perhaps because there's generally less competitiveness between you, or perhaps because it reminds you that physical form is only physical form and it's your souls that meet regardless of how old or young your bodies and personalities are.

When the force of destiny, fate, the stars, cause and effect or whatever you call it, brings you together with someone you'll be together and when the force moves you apart, you move apart; all other considerations regarding age gaps or any other interpersonal differences, are merely a play in the mind."

This, from the Guardian, echoes exactly Pete's reaction to my blog url having been sent to AU....
Guardian Unlimited | Online | Why blogs could be bad for business: "There are plenty of areas of business where people are judged on their knowledge, and the competitive edge - and thus the safety of everyone's jobs - is the thickness of a single good idea. Share it all on a weblog, with competitors or (worse) an office rival? You must be kidding."