During the previous generation, Microsoft attributed much of PlayStation 2's lead over the Xbox to its earlier arrival on the market. Microsoft was determined to beat Sony to the punch for the next generation, as the source explained, "MS was so focused on beating Sony this cycle that the 360 was rushed to market when all indications were that it had serious flaws. The design [quality] testing was insufficient and incomplete when the product was released to production. The manufacturing test equipment had major gaps in test coverage and wasn't reliable or repeatable. Manufacturing processes at [all] levels of suppliers were immature and not in control. Initial end to end yields were in the mid 30%. Low yields always indicate serious design and manufacturing defects.

"Management chose to continue to ship anyways, and keep the lines running while trying to solve problems and bring the yields up.

Broken families, broken courts: How rushed justice fails our kids

The doctor believed Joseph had intentionally burned the toddler. In dependency court, Monique faced a common allegation: She had failed to protect her child.

With her youngest still in the hospital, police escorted Monique's two older children to a Spanish-speaking foster home in Gilroy, although they spoke only English. Later, the two would move to the children's shelter, and then to a second foster home in Hollister.

Joseph was arrested, and after two years of court hearings, he pleaded guilty to felony criminal negligence, serving a seven-month jail sentence.

Meanwhile, Monique battled in dependency court to regain custody of her children. But her desperation was matched by the court's seeming indifference. "You're in, you're out, they don't even talk to you," she said.

Yzerman named Canada's GM for Worlds

After a gold medal-winning performance at the IIHF World Championship last year, Hockey Canada is bringing Steve Yzerman back for another successful run on home ice.

Cash bonanza for US taxpayers as Bush gives away £80bn tax refund

As far as Scotland's economy is concerned I think think the Scots should get there own house in order.Gordon Brown spent £167.5 billion on quangos in his last year as Chancellor.By comparison this £80 billion is peanuts considering the USA's population is about 5 times that of the UK (300 million comapared to 58 million).By population, 8% of that quango figure should could have been spent in Scotland.8% of £167.5 billion is £13.4 billion. That would have increased Holyrood's budget by almost 50%.Alternatively, Brown could have given every adult in Scotland, say 2.5 million, a wee gift of £5,360!BTWUnder Bush the 'neocon' every resident in Alaska gets an oil revenue cheque. Alaska has its own fund from the oil revenue and its only the interest, not the capital, from this fund that is handed out every year.No such thing exists in Scotland even with all the socialist talking about the 'equal distribution of wealth' bull&*^".

Drug Treatment

Corticosteroids (commonly called steroids) are mainstay treatments for acute relapses patients with relapse-remitting MS. High-dose methylprednisolone given intravenously (IVMP) is typically administered for major relapse, often followed by oral prednisone for a few days. Steroids reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and may help suppress the immune system's attack on myelin and even improve electrical conduction.

Steroids, in general, do not improve the long-term course of the disease and can lose effectiveness if overused. They are not generally used for maintenance therapy. Some research, however, is reporting benefits from the use of pulsed administration of intravenous methylprednisolone. Such an approach typically administers the steroid daily for 5 days every 4 months for 3 years, then every 6 months for 2 years.

Spring Training preview

Edinson Volquez: It's too close to call between him and Bailey for the fifth spot in the rotation. But with an arm like his, we see him making the team.

... Ryan Freel (above) runs like Ryan Freel. Freel is coming off knee surgery - the second on his right knee. Freel's game largely depends on speed, so he has to show he still has that speed to be effective.

The Shrink's Progress

ORINDA, Calif. -- Debbie, a 17-year-old now down to 86 pounds and ever closer to her secret goal of 81 pounds, slowly awoke in her bed on a hospital intensive care unit. She was so groggy from her drug overdose that the only thing she noticed was the painful burning sensation in her nose.

She then discovered that she couldn't move her hands to rub the unpleasant sensation away. Debbie had survived her suicide attempt and finally figured out that padded leather restraints secured her wrists and ankles to the sides of the bed. The burning sensation came from a tube that had been inserted through her nose down into her stomach.

The tube had been used initially to pump out whatever pill fragments in Debbie's stomach had not been absorbed before she reached the hospital. After monitoring her for awhile the medical doctor decided that because her nutritional condition was so precarious, the nasogastric tube would be used for feeding Debbie's malnourished body.