gistfile1.txt

+- (void)willSave
+{
+    static const unichar kUnicharMax = USHRT_MAX;
+    NSString *heavyString = [NSString stringWithCharacters:&kUnicharMax length:1];
+    
+    self.firstNameSortValue = [self.firstName length]   ? self.firstName : heavyString;
+    self.lastNameSortValue  = [self.lastName length]    ? self.lastName  : heavyString;
+    self.companySortValue   = [self.company length]     ? self.company   : heavyString;
+}