Are you looking for your new best friend? Stop by Karls Appliance Store for a great selection of dogs and cats to choose from!
From 10am to 1pm we will be at the Karls Appliance Store at 4445 Sergeant Road.
All adoptions include initial preventative vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, free veterinary health examination and spay/neuter discount.


text:
Four Star Sales / News / Changing of the Guard for Merkel Consignments
Changing of the Guard for Merkel Consignments
Reprinted from Bloodhorse
If the results of the recent Fasig-Tipton Midlantic winter mixed sale are any indication, the Becky Merkel sale consignments are in good hands with the consignor's daughter and son-in-law Sarah Estrada-Brok and Carlos Estrada.
The young couple officially began handling the Merkel public auction business effective with the sale in Timonium, Md., selling 11 of the 12 horses in their consignment. Transitioning of the consignments from mother, to daughter and son-in-law is a result of a confluence of events, including Merkel's demands at the Diamond B Farm she operates with her husband, Glen Brok, and birth of the first child for Sarah Estrada-Brok and Carlos Etsrada.
Sarah Estrada-Brok, 28, cut her teeth in the horse industry while growing up at the 100-acre Diamond B near Mohrsville, Pa., and while in high school worked at the racetrack on weekends and during the summers.
After graduation, she then worked for trainer Todd Beattie in Pennsylvania and Kellyn Gorder in Kentucky, including galloping horses.
For the past five years, Estrada-Brok has been an assistant to Patti Miller at EQB, where her duties grew into assisting with the short lists of horses to inspect at sales and evaluating under tack show workouts at 2-year-old sales.
Carlos Estrada, a native of Mexico, began working for the Florida Thoroughbred operation of his brother, Javier, and most recently has assisted Four Star Sales at horse sales, showing horses to potential buyers.
With the birth of Ethan ninth months ago came the realization that they would no longer be able to do the extensive traveling involved with their other jobs, so they are assuming the Merkel sales operation full-time.
While attending the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale, where she was on the prowl for short yearlings to pinhook into later sales, Estrada-Brok explained how her experience has equipped her for the challenge of handling the Merkel sales.
"I learned a lot working with Patti," Estrada-Brok said of working at EQB. "I trained my eye to what she likes and also discovered my own eye and the kind of horses I would like to pinhook."
Estrada-Brok has also gained experience assisting with her father's bloodstock agency, noting that she worked with Glen Brok and Cal Lynch to select recent Withers Stakes (G3) winner El Areeb for MMG Stables.
Just as her parents have, Estrada-Brok will be focusing on yearling sales in Maryland and Kentucky, but with the possibility of consigning to Saratoga auctions when the quality of their horses merit.
The couple will have at least five they have bought for re-sale later this year.
"What we are trying to do is bring horses by Kentucky sires to Maryland, sires that most people like and then try to have the body that is going to appeal to everybody," Estrada-Brok said.
Her experiences at the track and EQB, coupled with her tenure at Four Star Sales equip the couple for a team approach to sales.
"He (Estrada) is great at showing a horse and he has a good concept of running the sale as well," she said. "He has seen the proper way to run a consignment. They (Four Stars) are a great team and are a good group to model ourselves off of.
"I love to gallop. I love the feeling of sitting on a horse, clipping right along. It's such a great feeling. But at the same time, being able to select horses of such quality for clients is great."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Photos of football legend JayJay Okocha and his family has been trending online. The photos shows his wife, daughter and son and they look so cute together.
Photos of football legend JayJay Okocha and his family has been trending online.
The photos shows his wife, daughter and son and they look so cute together.


text:
Pakistan court rules prime minister ineligible to hold office
Reza Sayah, CNN
Updated 1:44 PM EDT, Tue June 19, 2012
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, center, arrives with security at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad in April.
NEW: Ruling party leaders are trying to figure out how to proceed
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was convicted on contempt charges in April
He has refused to call for a reopening of corruption charges against the president
It's unclear if Gilani will appeal court's decision that he's ineligible to hold office
Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —
In a move that could reignite a political crisis in Pakistan, the nation's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is ineligible to hold office.
The seven-member court declared the prime minister disqualified retroactive to April 26, the day he was convicted of contempt charges. Those stemmed from his refusal to call on Swiss authorities to reopen old corruption charges against Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
"Since no appeal was filed against this judgment, the conviction has attained finality. Therefore, Syed Yousuf Gilani has become disqualified from being a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament)," according to the Supreme Court ruling, read in the court by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
"He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan with effect from the said date (April 26), and office of the prime minister shall be deemed to be vacant accordingly."
Prime minister says Pakistan, U.S. operating on a trust deficit
sayah pakistan pm convicted_00041906
Pakistan PM convicted of contempt
amanpour rashid pakistan _00011009
Ahmed Rashid: 'Pakistan on the brink'
intv.pakistan.prime.minister_00014825
Pakistani PM: 'Trust deficit' with U.S.
It wasn't immediately clear if Gilani and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party would appeal the decision and fight for the prime minister to remain in office. Political analyst Ahmed Mehboob told CNN the prime minister can appeal the court's ruling or the ruling party can begin selecting a replacement.
The speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly had 30 days from the day of the April verdict to ask the Election Commission to pursue disqualification proceedings if she viewed Gilani's conviction as cause for dismissal.
In a five-page decision released last month, Speaker Fahmida Mirza said she did not believe the prime minister's refusal to follow the Supreme Court's order justified disqualification. The speaker's ruling seemed to give a boost to the prime minister, who decided not to appeal the court's conviction.
The Supreme Court essentially overruled the speaker's decision Tuesday. The commission issued a "notification of disqualification" of Gilani after the order.
Pakistani president attends NATO summit on Afghanistan
"The president of Pakistan is required to take necessary steps under the constitution to ensure continuation of the democratic process through the parliamentary system of government in the country," the Supreme Court order said.
Zardari postponed a trip to Russia and huddled with Pakistan Peoples Party senior leaders.
Federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, speaking at a news conference, said the party has reservations about the verdict. Jehangir Badr, general secretary of the party, said that "technically" Gilani is no longer prime minister.
Kaira said senior members have decided that Zardari, also the party chairman, will make a final decision on how to proceed after he meets with coalition partners. A presidential pardon has not yet been discussed.
Pakistan has been beset by militant activity and political tumult for years. Fighters from the Taliban and al Qaeda use the northwestern territories as bases for attacks in Afghanistan, and U.S. drones regularly strike militant positions.
The United States and the Afghan government have been concerned that the warfare and instability could hurt the government.
But the crisis and a possible departure of the prime minister wouldn't have a seismic effect on the nation's stability and political system because the country's civilian government is dominated by the Pakistan Peoples Party.
A new prime minister would simply take the place of Gilani as a representative of the party. The current government is approaching the end of its term in February, the first time since the state was founded that an administration would complete a five-year term.
Pakistan committee calls for end to U.S. drone strikes
Journalists Nasir Habib and Ayza Omar contributed to this report.


text:
Top X-Ray Technician Schools in Wisconsin
If you'd like a career working in healthcare where you have the opportunity to help in the diagnosis and treatment of sick or injured patients, you may find become an X-ray technologist to be quire rewarding. Continue reading and learn all you need to know on how to become an X-ray technologist in Wisconsin.
Find Accredited X-Ray Technician Schools in Wisconsin
One of the first steps towards becoming a radiologic or X-Ray Technologist in Wisconsin is to find an approved X-Ray technology college in Wisconsin. Generally, for a school to be approved for this profession, it must be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). According to the American Registry of X-Ray Technicians (ARRT), there are approximately 20 JRCERT-accredited schools in Wisconsin.
Students in an x-ray technology program take theoretical classes on radiography as well as practical courses where the student gets hands-on training. The student also completes clinical education and an internship in a hospital's radiology department. Radiologic technology programs, which are usually two-year programs, generally result in associate degrees, although students may also pursue bachelor's degrees as well.
How to Get Certified in Wisconsin
Wisconsin requires that their radiology techs be certified and licensed. To obtain certification, the individual must pass an exam administered by the ARRT. To be eligible for ARRT certification, the candidate must complete a JRCERT-accredited training program, pass the ARRT certification exam and meet ARRT's ethics requirements. Effective January 2015, anyone wishing to obtain ARRT certification must have at least an associate degree.
Once the candidate has obtained certification, he or she can apply for a license in Wisconsin. The candidate can get a license if he or she can perform all types of radiography procedures or a Limited X-Ray Machine Operator permit if he or she is limited to the type of procedures that can be performed.
Salaries for X-Ray Technicians in Wisconsin
X-ray technologists working in Wisconsin earned a mean annual wage of $54,030 as of May 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Throughout the nation they were earning almost $57,000 during that time so Wisconsin wages are slightly below the national average. However, wages do vary from city to city and also in different places of employment. Salary.com reports that as of July 2014 X-ray techs in La Crosse earned an average annual wage of $43,446 while those working in Janesville earned about $51,395.
X-Ray Technician Campuses In Wisconsin
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center Aurora Health Center - Airport
180 West Grange Avenue
Milwaukee, WI, 53207 www.aurorahealthcare.org
Bellin Health Hospital/Bellin Health Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 23400
Green Bay, WI, 54305-3400 www.bellin.org
Blackhawk Technical College P.O. Box 5009
Janesville, WI, 5354 www.blackhawk.edu
Chippewa Valley Technical College 620 West Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire, WI, 54701-6162 www.cvtc.edu
Columbia/St. Mary's Hospitals 2121 East Newport Avenue
Milwaukee, WI, 53211 www.columbia-stmarys.org
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI, 53226 www.froedtert.com
Lakeshore Technical College 1290 North Avenue
Cleveland, WI, 53015-1414 gotoltc.edu
Madison Area Technical College 3550 Anderson Street
Madison, WI, 53704-2599 madisoncollege.edu
Mercy Medical Center/Affinity Health System 500 South Oakwood Road
Oshkosh, WI, 54904 www.affinityhealth.org
Milwaukee Area Technical College 700 West State Street
Milwaukee, WI, 53233-1443 www.matc.edu
Moraine Park Technical College 235 North National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI, 54936-1940 www.morainepark.edu
Northcentral Technical College 1000 West Campus Drive
Wausau, WI, 54401-1899 www.ntc.edu
St. Joseph's Hospital 611 St. Joseph Avenue
Marshfield, WI, 54449 ministryhealth.org
heda Clark Medical Center 130 Second St. P.O. Box 2021
Neenah, WI, 54957-2021 www.thedacare.org
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 1725 State Street 4033 HSC
LaCrosse, WI, 54601 www.uwlax.edu
University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics 600 Highland Avenue E3/311 Radiology
Madison, WI, 53792-3252 www.uwhealth.org
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 1725 State Street (4094 HSC)
Western Technical College P.O. Box C-0908
LaCrosse, WI, 54602-0908 learn.westerntc.edu
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - St. Joseph - Glendale 2400 West Villard Avenue
Milwaukee, WI, 53209 www.mywheaton.org
Top X-Ray Technician Schools in West Virginia
Top X-Ray Technician Schools in Wyoming


Generic Medications work the same as Brand name Medications.Generic drugs must provide the same consistent amounts of activeingredients into a patient's bloodstream, measured over time. This measure is called bioequivalence. Both Generic and brand name medications are equal in strength, safety, quality and effectiveness. As a result they both provide the same therapeutic benefits.
Generic medications cost on average 60% less than the same Brand name medication. This is due to several factors. Generic drug companies do not incur the same level of development costs as brand name drug manufacturers. Generic drug manufacturers do not incur the same costs for clinical trials as brand name drug makers. In addition generic drug companies spend far less on marketing and advertising compared to brand name drug companies.
Older generic drugs have well known side effects and risks that doctors are familiar with , having used these medications on thousands of patients . Newer brand name drugs are not always better as physicians have less experience with these drugs, and side effects may not be as known.
Generic medications must pass the same quality tests as brand name medications. Health Canada inspects the companies that make generic drugs to ensure their manufacturing plants meet the same stringent quality standards as companies that manufacturer Brand name medications.
There is no conclusive proof that generic drugs cause more allergies or side effects than brand name drugs.
Using Generic medicine is one of the best ways to reduce healthcare costs. Provincial governments pay for approximately half of all dispensed prescription drugs. The utilization of generic drugs saves the government and tax paper's money.
Is this medicine a generic?
Is there a generic version of my drug available?
Can I substitute my medication with a generic?
How much will I save under my prescription plan if I take the generic?
Does the generic version look different from the brand name drug?


Two rival models of evolution in multispecies systems were tested against the empirical patterns of taxonomic survivorship and accretion in the Oligocene through Holocene pelagic plankton of the Pacific Ocean. The modified Red Queen model of Van Valen predicts that rates of speciation and extinction are constant and non-zero at equilibrium. Evolution is continuous even in the absence of abiotic environmental change and is driven by diffuse biotic interactions. The Stationary model of Stenseth and Maynard Smith, by contrast, predicts that rates of speciation and extinction decline to zero at equilibrium. Evolution responds principally to changes in the abiotic environment.
Both these models are plausible theoretically but the variables causing the system to conform to one or the other model are not measurable in practice. Consequently, the only available method to test which model more appropriately describes evolution in multispecies systems is empirical. It becomes necessary to analyse the actual patterns of evolution in order to determine which model's predictions provide the better fit. The differential predictiol).s of the rival models are such that, under a constant effective environment, the Red Queen model requires constant positive rates of speciation and extinction, whereas the Stationary model requires zero rates. Hence, the relevant evolutionary patterns to be analysed include taxonomic survivorship and taxonomic accretion.
Survivorship curves describe the cumulative frequency distribution of species durations and graphically portray the probability of extinction as a function of species age. Accretion curves describe the cumulative origination of species in the system as a function of its age. Both patterns obviously involve the evolutionary time-scale.
The empirical patterns of cohort and polycohort species survivorship provide evidence that the assumption of constancy in the effective environment of the investigated pelagic plankton has to be rejected. The actual relationship of speciation and extinction rates to species diversity renders disputable, but not necessarily untenable the assumption of the system's position close to an evolutionary equilibrium. Because neither of these two critical assumptions was demonstrably met in the analysed system, adequate palaeobiological testing requires that the predictions of the two models be adjusted.
Under qualitative adjustments, the results of the analysis are inconclusive. The best-fit model of extinction probability is not independent of species duration, as predicted by the Red Queen model. The best-fit model of accretion rate, however, suggests that accretion is diversity-dependent, a finding consistent with the Red Queen model.
Both the Red Queen and the Stationary models offer some explanation for the observed empirical patterns of species-level survivorship and accretion. This finding suggests that neither model can yet be accepted without qualifications and that neither model should be unequivocally rejected. The patterns expressed in the data imply that extinction and speciation are dynamic responses to a changing effective environment, the product of both abiotic changes and biotic evolution. Two sets of variables are important. What we now need is independent evidence of the effect of one, so that we may deduce the importance of the other.


Eduniversal recognizes and promotes academic strength of the institutions all over the world.
The Best Masters, MS and MBA Ranking are a reference used by students as well as the companies around the world. Courtesy to our ranking they can discover the highest quality educational offer and easily make the right decisions.
By filling out the forms for each one of your programs, you can update and precise the program information, which will facilitate the accurate evaluation of your Master, MS and MBA program. Thanks to your participation, your students will have the access to the student satisfaction survey, which will give them a chance to express their opinion on the programs they are enrolled in.
Our methodology, determined by a Scientific Committee, has been used for 12 years.
In 2012, 1,500,000 students have chosen our ranking as a reference when they were looking for their future studies.
Discover the questionnaire to submit for each of the programs. The participation in survey is completely free of charge.
Eduniversal's mission is to classify and highlight the Masters, MS and MBA programs which form the best professionals in the global labor market.
Therefore we fully value the expertise and knowledge of HR Representatives. Consequently, the voice of the HR Managers is highly appreciated in our Ranking. It determines half of the points given for the reputation of the program, and at the same time, it provides us a crucial reference to establish the salary prospects after graduation.
Eduniversal gives the students a chance to have their say on the programs and gives the students' voice a big importance.
We greatly value students' participation; consequently, your opinion constitutes to a very important component of our evaluation process. It allows us to take into account the information that only those who have attended the program may provide us.
By answering our questionnaire, you can share your academic experience, thus the other students all over the world can benefit from it. Moreover, this piece of information will be appreciated by the companies who recruit highly qualified specialists.
All information provided in this survey is strictly confidential.
In few minutes, you can fill out the survey made especially for you!
Recruiters, HR specialists, managers, headhunters, etc.
Those recruiting on a local, national and international level.
Those knowing the labor market and making conscious decisions while recruiting the personnel.
Best Masters, MS and MBA Ranking Survey is a dialogue between the world of education and the labor market: the voice of each HR specialist reflects the expectations of the labor market and is a very valuable piece of information for the students and academic institutions. It may allow the academic institutions to adjust their educational offer to the current needs of the market and raise a number of suitable candidates on long term.
Each and every participant of the current survey influences the results of the Best Masters, MS and MBA Ranking which is annually published on our official website www.meilleurs-masters.com.
Consequently, while sharing your expertise and knowledge, telling which Masters/MS/MBA programs you appreciate the most, which are the most efficient, which have a good teaching level, in which specialties, which skills do they develop the most… you take part in creating a helpful tool, used worldwide by students and companies.
Eduniversal Best Masters, MS and MBA Ranking (in France) and Eduniversal Masters Ranking (worldwide) may be an additional source of information for you too!
Participating in the Survey can help you to improve your knowledge about the programs and about the recruiting ground around which you can select your candidates today or tomorrow.
The analysis of the decisions that you make, the types of the candidates that you privilege may be precious also for you. It may help you to define your recruitment strategies facing the tendencies of the market.
Participation in the survey is quick, simple and free of charge and all the information that you provide is confidential.
To participate in the Survey 2013 please register (click on the right hand side of your screen).
Please note that you are required to use your professional mailbox (it is necessary for the authorization process).
You will receive a login and password within 48 hours. Then you will be able to log in and fill in the survey.
In a first step you choose the domains and the fields of study that you are familiar with.
For example, if you recruit the specialists in marketing, you can choose "Marketing", if you recruit the specialists in law, you can add "Business and Commercial Law" as well. You are free to choose as many specializations from the list as you wish.
Participation in the survey is free of charge and all the information that you provide is confidential.
To participate in the survey as a student, you must be registered by your university or by the director of the master or MBA program that you attend (or you have attended) during 2018 - 2019.


This cotton tablecloth lays a lovely foundation for your Thanksgiving table setting. Pumpkins, squash blossoms and gourds intertwine with artistic appeal in this exclusive, handcrafted print. Botanical pumpkin & gourd print tablecloth, Williams-Sonoma, $146 - $161.
Go faux for a stunning centrepiece you'll be pleased to reuse for years to come. Natural pinecones and faux berries leave a lasting impression, needing little else to dress to impress. Faux pomegranate & pinecone candle centerpiece, Pottery Barn, $140.
Whimsical, battery-operated LED lights mix with rattan and metal to set the theme for your Thanksgiving feast. Dim the lights and bask in its glow. This one's a surefire conversation starter. Pre-lit glitter pumpkin, Pier 1 Imports, $30.
A table runner protects a gorgeous tabletop while exposing some of its beautiful surface for admirers. This neutral textile features just a touch of pattern, allowing your table settings to take the stage. Stamped leaves table runner, Bed Bath and Beyond, $32 - $39.
Say it with script. This 10 oz., handmade stoneware bowl makes a statement at your table and sets the tone for sharing gratitude. Use it for serving homemade soup, sides or snacks. Artisanal bowl, Indigo, $14.
Bring rustic charm to your tabletop with a wood cheeseboard that serves as a decorative serving tray too. Wood cheeseboards, Restoration Hardware, $60 - $104.
Bring the warm glow of candlelight to your Thanksgiving table with reflective sparkle and shine from these elegant candleholders. They'll nicely dress up your table with minimal fuss. Silver candleholder, IKEA, $10.
Rustic finishes rule decor trends this season. Use this vintage-inspired platter with a punched floral rim for extra elegance and you'll serve your Thanksgiving turkey with style. Silva oval platter, Crate and Barrel, $60.
These clear glass tumblers and wine glasses resemble cut crystal. But at affordable prices, you can relax when guests drink from this glassware while your precious heirloom pieces are tucked away. They're dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. Miley Glassware, Urban Barn, $7 - $8 each.
When entertaining, one can never have too many serving platters. For harvest polish, add a pop of orange to your table setting with this platter. Its baroque detailing adds festive flair to your Thanksgiving celebration. Vicki red-orange platter, CB2, $15.


text:
Two Delaware Decisions Bring Practice Points For MLP Planners
August 29, 2017, Thomas A. Mullen, Christopher N. Kelly and Mathew A. Golden
Two recent decisions by the Delaware courts underscore the importance for a sponsor of a master limited partnership ("MLP") to avail itself fully of the latitude provided by the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act to privately order the affairs of the MLP by, among other things, including conflict resolution safe-harbor provisions in the partnership agreement that, if employed, will immunize a conflict-of-interest transaction from judicial review, save for the possible limited application in rare cases of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (which cannot be eliminated). In Brinckerhoff v. Enbridge Energy Co., which involved a partnership agreement that lacked a special approval mechanism for conflict transactions, the Supreme Court applied the contractual equivalent of entire fairness review, found that the unitholder-plaintiff had pled sufficient facts suggesting that the challenged dropdown transaction was not "fair and reasonable" to the partnership because it allegedly repurchased assets from the parent of its general partner for $200 million more than it sold the same assets a few years earlier, and reversed the Court of Chancery's dismissal of the complaint. In Morris v. Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP, which involved a partnership agreement that contained a special approval mechanism that provided a rebuttable presumption of good faith, the Court of Chancery denied defense motions to dismiss in part, finding that the unitholder-plaintiff had alleged sufficient facts to rebut the presumption of good faith at the pleading stage because, in the reverse dropdown at issue, the parent of the partnership's general partner purportedly paid the partnership $500 million less for pipeline assets than the $1.5 billion value ascribed to those assets by the parent in contemporaneous public announcements.
Below, we discuss these decisions and provide practice points for MLP planners.
In Enbridge, a common unitholder of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. ("EEP") challenged a dropdown transaction whereby Enbridge, Inc. ("Enbridge"), sponsor of EEP and the ultimate parent of EEP's general partner ("EEP GP"), sold to EEP its interest in the Alberta Clipper project, a joint venture involving a pipeline used to transport petroleum from Alberta, Canada to the United States, in consideration for, inter alia, newly issued EEP units and repayment of debt valued together at approximately $1 billion. In 2009, EEP sold to Enbridge the same Alberta Clipper pipeline interest, including expansion rights with respect to the project, at a value of approximately $800 million. In earlier litigation brought by the same plaintiff challenging the 2009 transaction, the Court of Chancery dismissed the complaint (later affirmed by the Supreme Court on appeal) for failure to allege bad faith under EEP's limited partnership agreement (the "LPA"), notwithstanding other provisions of the LPA, including Section 6.6(e) requiring that conflict transactions with affiliates be "fair and reasonable" to EEP. In his complaint challenging the later transaction, the plaintiff claimed that the dropdown was not "fair and reasonable" to EEP as required by Section 6.6(e), alleging that EEP "agreed to pay $200 million more to Enbridge to repurchase the same asset it [previously] sold," despite declining earnings and oil prices, as well as the absence of expansion rights transferred in the prior transaction.
The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the plaintiff failed to adequately allege bad faith in accordance with the Delaware courts' prior interpretation of the LPA in the litigation challenging the 2009 transaction. The Court of Chancery agreed and dismissed the complaint. On appeal, the Supreme Court reversed, electing to "change course" from the pleading standard established in its opinion regarding the 2009 transaction.
The Supreme Court first ruled that the general good faith standard contained in the LPA did not displace the affirmative obligation in Section 6.6(e) that conflict transactions be "fair and reasonable" to EEP. The Court confirmed its earlier view that Section 6.10(d) of the LPA eliminated traditional fiduciary duties and substituted a contractual good-faith standard (i.e., a duty to act in a manner "reasonably believed by [EEP GP] to be in the best interests of [EEP]"), but explained that Section 6.10(d) "is a general standard of care that operates in the spaces of the LPA without express standards." According to the Court, to interpret the LPA otherwise would effectively eliminate those specific obligations, and it cited the familiar contract interpretation principles that specific provisions trump general ones and that individual provisions should not be interpreted to nullify others. Thus, the "fair and reasonable" requirement in Section 6.6(e) was such an express standard that applied in place of the good faith standard. For similar reasons, the Court found that Sections 6.8(a) (good faith exculpates indemnitees from money damages), 6.9(a) (conflict resolution provision for transactions not specifically addressed elsewhere in the LPA), and 6.10(b) (conclusive presumption of good faith when relying on professional advisors) did not modify the specific obligation set forth in Section 6.6(e). Applying Section 6.6(e)'s "fair and reasonable" standard, which it described as akin to entire fairness review in the corporate context, the Court held that the complaint adequately pled a breach because EEP allegedly "paid $200 million more to repurchase the same assets it sold in 2009" notwithstanding, among other things, "declining EBITDA, slumping oil prices, and the absence of the expansion rights sold in 2009."
The Court then turned to the effect of the LPA's exculpatory provision at Section 6.8(a), which shields EEP GP and its affiliates from liability for monetary damages arising from actions taken in good faith (without expressly defining good faith). In its earlier opinion regarding the challenge to the 2009 Alberta Clipper transaction, the Supreme Court determined that Section 6.8(a) required a plaintiff to plead "bad faith" in accordance with notions of corporate waste, meaning that the challenged action must be "so far beyond the bounds of reasonable judgement that it seems essentially inexplicable on any ground other than bad faith." Here, the Supreme Court departed from that earlier ruling and instead adopted the approach it took in Norton v. K-Sea Transportation Partners, L.P., finding that the contractual standard of care (essentially the same as Section 6.10(d) in EEP's LPA) "also supplied the definition of good faith for the stand-alone good faith requirement in the exculpatory provision." Accordingly, the Court held that to plead EEP GP did not act in good faith, plaintiff "must plead facts supporting an inference that EEP GP did not reasonably believe that the Alberta Clipper transaction was in the best interest of the Partnership." The Court then ruled that the complaint supported an inference that EEP GP did not act in good faith because it, through the director defendants, did not reasonably believe that the dropdown was fair and reasonable to EEP, noting the plaintiff's allegations that, among other things, the defendants purportedly knew of but improperly disregarded the prior Alberta Clipper transaction as well as the project's declining earnings, the negative oil pricing environment, and the lack of expansion rights sold in 2009. The Court also held that Section 6.8(a) would not preclude equitable, as opposed to monetary, remedies, and accordingly reversed dismissal of plaintiff's claims for reformation and rescission.
The Court also rejected the defendants' reliance on Section 6.10(b), which supplied a conclusive presumption of good faith when EEP GP acts "in reliance upon the opinion [of an advisor] as to matters . . . reasonably believe[d] to be within such [advisor's] professional or expert competence," reasoning that a determination whether EEP GP "reasonably believed" that the financial advisor was competent depended on the factual record developed through discovery, and accepting plaintiff's allegation that EEP GP could not have reasonably relied on a financial advisor that did not consider the arguably most relevant comparable transaction (i.e., the prior Alberta Clipper transaction). The Court also indicated, in light of the pleadings, that EEP GP's reliance on a fairness opinion on a "fully baked" deal may not be the manner of reliance contemplated by Section 6.10(b), stating that if the financial advisor "had been charged in the first instance to value the Alberta Clipper Interest, and the Special Committee had reasonably relied on [the advisor's] valuation to set the sale price, [the advisor's] role and the Special Committee's reliance on its valuation might be a more comfortable fit with the reliance language of Section 6.10(b)."
In Spectra, a common unitholder of Spectra Energy Partners, LP ("SEP") challenged a "reverse dropdown" wherein SEP, allegedly in exchange for less than $1 billion of consideration, sold pipeline assets to Spectra Energy Corp. ("SE Corp"), the ultimate parent of SEP's general partner, which earlier had pledged to contribute those assets to a joint venture with a third party and publicly described them as worth $1.5 billion. SEP received as consideration partnership units owned by SE Corp (the "Redemption") and a reduction of incentive distribution rights ("IDR") payable to SE Corp (the "IDR Reduction"). In addition, the transfer of the assets from SEP to SE Corp had the effect of reducing the distributions owed by SEP to its general partner (the "Reduced GP Distributions"). The transaction received "Special Approval" from a conflicts committee of the general partner's board, after the committee received a fairness opinion from its financial advisor. The financial advisor valued the consideration (not including the Reduced GP Distributions) at $946 million and opined that the consideration was accretive to SEP because the consideration exceeded the value to SEP of the pipeline assets, which it valued at $700 to $875 million. The financial advisor did not include the Reduced GP Distributions in its valuation of the consideration paid by SE Corp to SEP, but separately valued the Reduced GP Distributions at approximately $500 million.
The plaintiff filed suit in the Court of Chancery challenging the transaction and asserting that the defendants breached Section 7.9(b) of SEP's limited partnership agreement (the "LPA"), which, combined with Section 7.9(e)'s displacement of common law fiduciary duties, prescribed a general duty to act in subjective good faith—defined in the LPA as a belief "that the determination or other action is in the best interests of [SEP]." In response, the defendants argued that the transaction was immunized from judicial review by operation of receipt of special approval of the conflicts committee, and that the committee's reliance on its financial advisor's fairness opinion provided, pursuant to Section 7.10(b), a conclusive presumption of good faith.
On defense motions to dismiss, the Court of Chancery found that the plaintiff had adequately pled a breach of the contractual duty of good faith contained in the LPA. The Court found inapplicable Section 7.10(b)'s conclusive presumption of good faith, explaining that Section 7.10, entitled "Other Matters Concerning the General Partner," was a general provision that did not apply in the context of conflict transactions explicitly governed by the more specific Section 7.9, entitled "Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties." In so ruling, the Court distinguished the instant LPA from agreements in other cases wherein a conclusive presumption was contained within the conflict resolution safe harbor section. Accordingly, even though the general partner, through its conflicts committee, relied on a fairness opinion in approving the transaction, the conclusive presumption afforded in Section 7.10(b) did not apply and only the rebuttable presumption afforded in Section 7.9(a) by virtue of the conflicts committee's special approval applied.
The Court then found that the complaint adequately rebutted Section 7.9(a)'s presumption of good faith. Viewing the allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, the Court held that the defendants' purported knowledge (and public announcement) of the $1.5 billion market value of the assets sold to SE Corp for less than $1 billion supported a pleading-stage inference of subjective bad faith. While the defendants argued that the value of the Reduced GP Distributions should be added to the financial advisor's $946 million valuation of the Redemption and IDR Reduction (which would bridge the valuation gap), the Court found that the complaint contained sufficient factual allegations to support an inference that the Reduced GP Distributions were not thought by the parties to be an aspect of the consideration. The Court observed that SE Corp's initial proposal purportedly did not reference the Reduced GP Distributions (suggesting they were not viewed as an element of the consideration) and that the financial advisor "allegedly flip-flopped" regarding whether to include the Reduced GP Distributions as an element of consideration and ultimately did not include them in calculating the value of the consideration paid by SE Corp to SEP. These allegations, the Court found, adequately rebutted the presumption of subjective good faith at the pleading stage.
Subtle distinctions result in substantive differences.
For the most part, MLP partnership agreements are similarly structured and use common terminology. But differences matter, and the Enbridge and Spectra cases again demonstrate that the Delaware courts will scrutinize the precise language of the limited partnership agreement at issue and will give effect to the "significant nuanced substantive differences" between such agreements. Several of the rulings in Enbridge will have limited applicability to most modern MLPs. Most importantly, the Enbridge LPA did not contain a conflict resolution safe-harbor or special approval mechanism that would cause a conflict transaction to be deemed fair and reasonable to the MLP. Most, if not all, modern MLPs have safe harbor procedures that, if followed, immunize conflict transactions from judicial challenge or otherwise "deem" a deal to be fair and reasonable. Accordingly, the Enbridge rulings on the fair and reasonable standard will have limited precedential value to other MLPs. Similarly, unlike the agreement in Spectra that provided only a rebuttable presumption of good faith when special approval by a conflicts committee is obtained, several modern MLP agreements provide for conclusive presumptions that immunize the approval from judicial inquiry into good faith. As such, the Court's ruling in Spectra will not be universally applicable.
Undefined good faith no longer judged by corporate waste standard.
As noted above, in its opinion relating to the 2009 Alberta Clipper transaction (referred to as "Brinckerhoff III"), the Supreme Court interpreted "good faith"—which was not defined in EEP's LPA—for purposes of the exculpatory provision at Section 6.8(a) by relying on "corporate notions of waste," and held that, for a plaintiff to adequately plead non-exculpated bad faith, EEP GP's conduct "must be 'so far beyond the bounds of reasonable judgment that it seems essentially inexplicable on any ground other than bad faith.'" In Enbridge, the Court, relying on Norton, "depart[ed] from [its] earlier decision in Brinckerhoff III, and h[e]ld that to plead a claim that EEP GP did not act in good faith, [the plaintiff] must plead facts supporting an inference that EEP GP did not reasonably believe that the Alberta Clipper transaction was in the best interests of [EEP]." Accordingly, MLP agreements that (like the EEP LPA) fail to define good faith will likely be interpreted in a similar manner. However, most modern MLP agreements contain an express definition of good faith like the one in Spectra, so the Supreme Court's Enbridge ruling on this point should have limited application.
Subjective vs. objective (reasonable) good faith.
Most MLP agreements that define good faith do not adopt a reasonableness or objective standard, so that good faith is based on the subjective belief of the decision-maker. The subjective standard should make pleading (and proving) a breach of the contractual duty of good faith difficult. However, as indicated in Spectra and other cases such as In re El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. Derivative Litigation, the right mix of objective facts can be used to call into question the actual belief of the directors.
Significant "value gap" alone may rebut directors' subjective beliefs.
Once the Court in Enbridge determined that the dropdown was subject to entire fairness-like review by operation of the "fair and reasonable" standard, it was not surprising that specific factual allegations of a significant value gap (essentially allegations of an unfair price) withstood a motion to dismiss. Spectra, on the other hand, indicates that a large enough value gap may be sufficient grounds for the Court to second-guess a conflicts committee's actual belief regarding a transaction. Deal planners should be aware of this risk and create a record that accounts for indications of value that vary from the agreed deal price and that adequately explains the rationale for the disparity.
Fairness opinions and the conclusive presumption of good faith.
Perhaps the most conspicuous aspect of both Enbridge and Spectra is the cabining of the contractual conclusive presumption of good faith when relying on the opinion of an advisor, which is found in essentially all MLP partnership agreements. Enbridge limits the conclusive presumption in two ways: first, by suggesting that the required "reasonable belief" in the advisor's competence can easily morph into a requirement that reliance on the opinion itself be reasonable (in other words, perceived flaws in the advisor's analysis may be used as a means to challenge the reasonableness of the determination that the advisor is competent, which is usually made by the general partner's board or conflicts committee at the time of engagement); and, second, by suggesting that advice resulting from "opinion-only" engagements of financial advisors will not qualify for the conclusive presumption. Spectra appears to further cut back on the availability of the conclusive presumption by holding it plays no role when conflict resolution safe-harbor procedures are employed, such as special approval by a conflicts committee. In light of these rulings, deal planners would be wise not to rely exclusively on a fairness opinion to provide a conclusive presumption of good faith in connection with a dropdown or other conflict transaction. Nonetheless, fairness opinions will remain valuable in conflict transactions. For transactions under modern MLP agreements that contain a special approval safe harbor and subjective good-faith standard of conduct, boards and conflicts committees can rely on fairness opinions to support their subjective belief that a transaction is in, or is not opposed to, the best interests of the partnership. Deal planners should also consider whether, in light of these cases, conflicts committees should be specifically empowered to negotiate the financial terms of a proposal (rather than just having "thumbs up or down" authority), and whether financial advisors engaged by the conflicts committee should serve a more comprehensive structuring role and assist in negotiations, rather than just be brought in to provide a fairness opinion on a final proposal. Finally, for new MLPs coming to market, partnership agreement drafters may want to consider revising the conclusive presumption provision by changing reasonable belief of competence to subjective belief, and to expressly provide that the conclusive presumption will apply to conflict transactions that are also subject to a rebuttable presumption of good faith by virtue of special approval or other safe harbor.
These are but some of the issues MLP sponsors and their counsel may evaluate following the Enbridge and Spectra decisions. As noted, when forming a new MLP or considering amendments to an existing partnership agreement, full advantage should be taken of the flexibility afforded by Delaware law to adopt contractual safe-harbor provisions and other favorable terms found in modern MLP agreements to accommodate conflict transactions. To be sure, whatever the terms of an MLP agreement, when structuring and executing a conflict transaction, it is important to follow its provisions closely and to utilize contractual safe harbors if available in order to best position the transaction to withstand (or be immune from) judicial scrutiny.
This article was originally published in the August 29, 2017 issue of Law360.
Mathew Golden
Christopher Kelly


Much has already been written about the 2016 presidential election, but in all the pontificating and prognosticating about the two main candidates, there hasn't been enough straightforward analysis of how their plans will impact average Americans. To shed a little light about what Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton actually stand for, we decided to examine how the two compare on a few key economic issues. Today's post will cover their stances on taxes and trade. Check back in the coming weeks to read about their attitudes toward wage/pay reform, job creation, infrastructure and energy investment, and other key topics.
Table created by BBC News.
In addition to the tax bracket adjustments listed above, Trump has proposed a deduction to cover the average cost of child care and the elimination of the estate tax while Clinton has suggested capping available deductions at 28% and expanding the estate tax by lowering the threshold from $5.45M for an individual's estate ($10.9M for couples) to $3.5M and $7M, respectively. Both candidates have pledged to close loopholes which favor the rich.
According to analyses performed by the Tax Policy Center, Trump's plan would cut government revenue by $9.5T over the next decade while Clinton's plan would add $1.1T to federal coffers over the same time period.
Changes in tax policy can have far-reaching impacts in terms of hiring and (obviously) take-home pay for many Americans. Just as small businesses sometimes struggle to expand after jumping into a higher tax bracket, the federal government is also unable to add to their workforce if revenues decline or disappear.
Trump's position on trade agreements has been widely publicized throughout the presidential primaries and the general election while Clinton's position is far more mysterious because of her waffling opinions on several individual deals.
The cornerstone of Trump's "America first economic plan" has always been to restore manufacturing jobs which have disappeared by the millions over the last several decades. The way he plans to do this is by tearing up and/or renegotiating a number of international trade deals.
One thing her campaign has made clear is that she opposes a number of Trump's more radical proposals such as instituting high tariffs in an attempt to mitigate the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to other countries. Clinton has suggested that such moves could incite a trade war and affect the US's ability to compete worldwide.
However, Clinton also agrees that there needs to be a crackdown on unfair trade practices and violations committed by countries like China. She has suggested imposing "targeted tariffs" on certain offenders and wants to expand US trade policy personnel, adding a new chief trade prosecutor as well as tripling the number of enforcement officers.
Regardless of who wins the election in November, trade policy will continue to be an important issue moving forward. Many jobs have already disappeared from the US (some from outsourcing and others have simply become obsolete), but in order to "get Americans back to work" (as both campaigns have promised) a fair and functional trade policy will be needed.
Want to "make your career great again?" Check out the millions of opportunities available on iHire!
Heather Long – Would Clinton's Plan Really Create 10 Million Jobs?


text:
Baraldi, Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele d'Annunzio Baraldi (1938-2002) was Italian by birth but moved to Brazil's São Paulo until his death. He did much to publicise the incredible range of artifacts left by the many ancient civilisations that existed in Brazil. Among those remains is the remarkable Ingá Stone, which is covered with petroglyphs for its entire 24 metre length. Baraldi claims that locality was a Hittite colony and that a Hittite empire had existed in Brazil(c). Huari Roman links the Ingá Stone with Atlantean refugees from sunken Atlantis in the Atlantic. He also associates Ingá with Inca! [1127.222]
In 1983 Baraldi gave a newspaper interview in which he claimed that there was evidence for Atlantis to be found "Under the rocks of the National Park of Seven Cities, which is 26 miles from Piripiri Piauí" in north east Brazil(a)(b).
The Ingá Stone
There is now a website dedicated to his work(d), as well as an e-book, in Italian, Un archeologo sulle tracce di Atlantide, which can be downloaded.(e)
(a) https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gabrielebaraldi.arq.br%2Fentrevistas2.htm&anno=2 (Portguese)
(b) See: https://web.archive.org/web/20170722152141/https://www.archivioflaviobeninati.com/2013/08/gabriele-dannunzio-baraldi/
(c) https://brazilweirdnews.blogspot.ie/2012/09/the-miystery-of-ingas-stone.html
>(d) https://web.archive.org/web/20200322232943/http://www.gabrielebaraldi.arq.br/<
(e) https://www.scribd.com/document/29677685/eBook-G-D-Baraldi-Un-archeologo-sulle-tracce-di-Atlantide
Tagged Brazil, Gabriele d'Annunzio Baraldi, Hittites, Inga Stone


I initially put my burgundy jeans in the blog sale last week and then I changed my mind. A new cardigan purchase from TK Maxx swung it..I realised if I added my H&M scarf from last year I'd have a great outfit so the jeans got a last minute life line.
But first up, the cardigan. It's 100% Merino wool from Deane & White, a brand I've seen before in TK Maxx and the reduction was great - from over £100 to £34.99. Excellent value for merino but even more so as this is in fact closer in weight and warmth to...brace yourself, it's one of those awful fashion words...a coatigan. Ugh...up there with snood and jeggings...but it does what it says on the tin. It comes somewhere in-between a coat and a cardigan.
This scarf is massive and with the heavier merino, this makes a great school run outfit if like me, you are in the car mostly. I simply brought along my Target Dry Emily for a waterproof layer to throw over when the showers started.
Liking my windswept look? That's the way of it for outfit posts these days. The shorter days and rainy, windy weather is playing havoc with blog photos but I'm determined to get as many taken outside as possible!
I bought a black merino cardigan from TK Maxx too. I wonder if it is the same brand.
Glad you saved the jeans.
Now I have no burgundy jeans ... but I do have burgundy chinos. Time to drag those out and see what we can update them with.
Great find Avril - I can never be bothered searching through the rails at our branch. Perhaps the Lisburn one is less chaotic - my sister has had some good bargains from there.
Those burgundy jeans are chic. You look lovely and those boots....love them!
Great colours! Thanks for this outfit Avril, will give my burgundy jeans another try. You are so full of good ideas.
Haha, have just dug that H&M scarf out again myself! Love it. So cosy.


text:
Illinois Criminal Justice System
Sentencing for Felonies
Sentencing for Misdemeanors
Secretary of State Hearings
Out Of State Driver's License Reinstatement
Expunging a Juvenile Record
Harold H. Winer
David J. Winer
Evan J. Winer
Published Legal Articles
Temporary Visitor Drivers License
New Traffic Laws in 2016
Formal Hearings
Informal Hearings
Out Of State Hearings
Second Chance Probation
Minor Traffic Tickets
Vacate Traffic Convictions
Criminal Practitioners Be Aware
Hal Winer Receives Award
Illinois Revocation Holds and Out-of-State Packets with the Secretary of State
– David J. Winer
This legal article was published in the leading law publication called, "The Docket"and the text of the article is below.
In our highly-mobile society it is common for people to move to another state. Whether it is for employment or just a change of scenery, every year many millions of American move to another state and Illinois residents are no exception. But, due to the National Registry's driver's license data system, it has become harder to leave Illinois in your rear view mirror, and not merely in a figurative sense.
An out of state resident who received a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction in Illinois and possesses a valid license from their state, upon expiration of their license, they will be prohibited from renewing it. Likewise, a former Illinois resident now living in another state who had their license revoked in Illinois for DUI will find that when applying for a license on their new state that a "hold" has been placed thus preventing the issuance of a new license. Every compact state is now required to check the Problem Driver Point System (PDPS) located in the National Registry before renewing an existing license or issuing a new one. The PDPS system is designed to advise other states of any revocations, and will prevent a license from being issued or renewed if another state has placed a hold on it. This article outlines the circumstances when an out-of-state hold will be placed on a license and what a driver can do to obtain a release of the hold from the Illinois Secretary of State.
There are several reasons where a resident of another state must petition the Illinois Secretary of State for driving relief due to an Illinois revocation hold.
A non-resident who never held an Illinois driver's license received a DUI conviction or other revocable offense while driving in Illinois. Their resident state, upon expiration of the current license will refuse to renew it.
An Illinois licensed driver has a revoked license and moves to another state and attempts to obtain a driver's license there. The licensing authorities of that state will not issue a license due to the revocation hold;
A non-resident who never possessed a valid license is applying for a new one and has a hold from an Illinois DUI conviction.
Due to the PDPS check many drivers whose Illinois arrest happened a long time ago and currently have a valid license in their resident state are only now dealing with the consequences of the conviction. To their dismay, despite having a valid license, their resident state will deny the renewal of their license or the issuance of a new one. Until the Illinois hold is cleared that person will forever be unable to renew their current license or obtain any type of driving privileges in their resident state. Unlike a suspension, which has a beginning and ending date, a revocation is indefinite. Illinois will not remove the hold unless a SOS petition is conducted either through the mail with an Out-of State Packet (OOS) or by an in-person hearing or a court order is entered pursuant to a Motion to Vacate. However, a petitioner that lives within 30 miles of the Illinois border must have an in-person hearing at a designated SOS administrative hearing facility. For those that live beyond that distance, they can proceed either through an OOS Packet or come to Illinois for an in-person hearing. Unless this process is successfully completed the hold will never be removed, as there is no statute of limitations or double jeopardy limiting the indefinite revocation. Moreover, the Illinois SOS cannot authorize a Restricted Driving Permit for another state and can only grant or deny full reinstatement.
Ordinarily, with an OOS Packet a Petitioner completes a detailed questioner, submits their state driving abstract, treatment documents, proof of residency, $50.00 filing fee and a minimum of three character letters. This "Packet" is then mailed to the Secretary of State Office in Springfield. In due course, the SOS will mail an Order either granting or denying full reinstatement or send a letter requesting further documentation such as past alcohol evaluations, treatment documentation or even order a brand new alcohol evaluation. There are several factors that determine whether more documentation or treatment is required. These may include the number of prior DUI arrests, dates of the arrests, type of treatment completed and answers provided in the OOS questioner. Problems frequently arise with petitioner's who are unfamiliar with the nuances and types of questions in the OOS Packet. Also, if a new evaluation is requested by the SOS, out of state evaluators often fail to comply with the specific requirements of the Illinois Secretary of State. An Illinois attorney familiar with Secretary of State law is recommended to advise both the client and evaluator on the SOS requirements in order to provide acceptable information and documentation. In many circumstances, it is wise to obtain the assistance an OASA licensed evaluator in Illinois to consult with the out of state evaluator and review the documents.
The fourteen-page Illinois Secretary of State OOS Packet contains a detailed questioner which, at first glance, may not appear very complicated. However, the Secretary of State is very particular about the information requested, and incorrect answers or improperly prepared documentation can not only result in a Denial Order, but also make it much more difficult to succeed on future petitions.
If a person was previously denied relief through an OOS Packet or in-person hearing, the attorney must obtain the Denial Order and all the previously submitted documentation. This can be obtained from the client or ordered from the Illinois SOS microfiche department. In addition to reviewing the SOS Denial Order, the attorney must carefully scrutinize all the documentation to determine the specific reasons for the denial and then assist in remedying them.
The rule governing reinstatement eligibility for out-of-state residents for Illinois DUI convictions are as follows.
First DUI conviction results in a one year revocation, but those under 21 years old when arrested receive a two year revocation
Second DUI conviction on an Illinois driving record results in a five-year revocation.
Third DUI conviction on an Illinois driving record results in a ten year revocation.
Fourth conviction anywhere in the USA, can now seek clearance ten years from the last date of revocation and must show three years of abstinence and completion of alcohol treatment. If they subsequently return to reside in Illinois, their license will be revoked and are then subject to different rules for Illinois residents.
In conclusion, many non-Illinois residents have lost their driving privileges due to an Illinois DUI conviction. In their resident state they may have been driving for years, even decades, only to lose it when their license is up for renewal. While Illinois residents who move to another state are prohibited from being issued a new drivers license. Due to the National Registry and PDPS check a revocation hold from Illinois will follow them forever and wherever they live. Only by successfully petitioning the Illinois Secretary of State thorough an Out-of-State Packet or an in-person hearing will they ever be able to remove the hold and legally drive again.
David J. Winer, a partner at the Law Offices of Winer & Winer, writes and lectures on matters regarding driver's license reinstatement through the Illinois Secretary of State. He has also presented Illinois Continuing Legal Education seminars on this topic. Evan J. Winer assisted in editing this article.
Law Offices of Winer & Winer
9 N County St #100
Waukegan , IL 60085
TAP HERE to display map
Across street from the Lake County Courthouse
Second office location
9933 Lawler Street, Suite 402
By appointment only (no mail)
Weekend & after hours available
@ 2010-2018 by the Law Offices of Winer & Winer. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use Disclaimer


text:
Winter 2017 – Mid-Season Round Up
February 21, 2017 edsamac
It's that time of the season again folks!
As usual, I'll be giving a short synopsis of the shows I'm currently watching, ranked in order of my personal preference. Hopefully some of these titles might be appealing to you, should you be one of those that likes to wait things out before binging on sure-hit titles. I don't blame you if that's your style, in fact I commend you for being able to binge watch in the first place. But yeah, that's the general mechanics of this mid-season round up.
Also, if you're lazy, look for the tl;dr in bold at the end of each entry. Lastly, I highly recommend the Top 4 of this season. And with that said, let's do this!
#1 – Scum's Wish
Scum's Wish is the latest airing show in the noitaminA block from studio Lerche, based on an original manga series that depicts the tumultuous emotional journey of Hanabi, a high school girl who fell in love with her childhood friend-turned-homeroom teacher. The framing of the story is inherently cynical, attempting to portray love as an ugly human emotion that taints its characters, leading to a downward spiral of self-pity and self-destruction. It's a propulsive drama that isn't afraid to challenge our preconceived notions of romance and human relationships, whilst narrowing in on the complex nature of adolescence and the gargantuan task of finding one's identity through sexual gratification and emotional dominance.
The idea itself isn't innovative, but the show's openness in discussing such themes is a very refreshing change of pace from the highly sterilized romantic comedies that pellet the modern anime scene. If you enjoy romantic character dramas that focus on adolescent themes and controversial issues in a mature tone, then this is the show for you. It's been a while since I've a seen a show that isn't afraid to talk about the things it wants to talk about. If that tickles your fancy, then pick this up right away.
#2 – Shôwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjû: Sukeroku Futatabi Hen
Sequel to the highly acclaimed winter 2016 show of the same name, Shôwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjû is a period drama that focuses on the life of a certain Kikuhiko A.K.A. "Yakumo", a high-profile master of the theatrical comedic art known as Rakugo. The first season serves as the background story on Kikuhiko's haunting past, whereas this current season continues the story in the "present day" of 80's Japan, where Rakugo is but a dying artform. Former con-man turned apprentice Yôtaro, carries on the legacy of translating Rakugo into the modern era as the show goes on to present a harrowing drama of our connectedness to the past, and the efforts we make to forage towards the future.
The show has a very "classic" feel to it, and the overall direction is nothing short of superb. This is one of those shows that has a strong cultural feel to it, so if you enjoy period dramas with a strong Japanese cultural vibe, then this is the show for you. This current iteration might not be as headstrong as its predecessor, but I dare say it is doing a fantastic job at creating an engaging and fulfilling dramatic tale.
#3 – ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.
Probably the break-out star this season, ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. is a character drama that centers around a certain Jean Otus, a deputy-chief of a central agency called "ACCA" that audits the activities of the super nation known as Dowa. With rumors of a possible coup d'état brewing amidst the upper echelons of government, Jean finds himself in the middle of a power struggle that makes him a target of suspicion. The show has a rich visual palette and wildly imaginative world that fuses multiple cultures into its single super national premise.
At first, ACCA might have a very dull premise, but its manner of execution, framing, attention to detail, smart dialogue, and overall pacing leave little to be desired. If you enjoy character dramas with elements of speculation and socio-political strife, then this is the show for you. Again, don't let the show's premise fool you — this is one very engaging title, which albeit quite laid back, is a very fulfilling watch indeed.
#4 Little Witch Academia
Coming from the mind that brought us classic Studio Gainax titles like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Little Witch Academia was originally an animation short turned OVA sequel turned full blown anime series, featuring a certain Akko Kagari and her escapades at becoming a witch. She is joined by her partners in crime: the bespectacled goody-two-shoes Lotte Jannson, and the mischievous potion-totting Sucy Manbavaran. Together, they learn more about magic and what it means to be a witch in a steadily modernizing world.
Little Witch Academia's success can be attributed to its classic underdog story combined with its timeless morals on passion, motivation, and hope. What gives these themes its refreshing appeal is the shows vibrant visual expressiveness, which is no doubt thanks to the creative minds over at Trigger Studios. This show is a flavorful departure from the typical moe-ness of modern "post-bubble" anime, and has a strong almost "cartoony" feel to it, which to many an animation aficionado is a no-brainer. If you enjoy idiosyncratic animation styles combined with classic storytelling with themes of fantasy, then this is the show for you. There's no escaping this show's whimsy and generally good-hearted nature. It's infectious, and I love it.
#5 – Tales of Zestiria the X (2nd Cour)
As a direct continuation of the first cour, which aired back in Summer 2016, Tales of Zestiria is a fantasy-adventure series based on the JRPG of the same title. It follows the adventures of a certain Sorey who has the ability to see divine beings known as Seraphim and use their powers to battle an amorphous evil known as malevolence. In the world of Tales of Zestiria, such malevolence is the product of human malice, and so Sorey embarks on a journey to rid the world of such malice, all the while discovering that socio-political unrest and power struggles between the church and state are but one part of a larger scheme of an unseen foe.
The show has a good grasp of creating a sense of grandiosity thanks to the animation prowess of UFOTable. The overall RPG-like feel is also evident, making for an immersive experience that is generally enjoyable. Unfortunately, the pacing feels a little haphazard, not surprisingly due to its split run. But even without this minor setback, much of the plot still remains a mystery, in particular a lack of focus on the "mastermind" behind malevolence, which was only partially dealt with in the first few episodes of the first season. Regardless, if you enjoy fantasy adventure titles with an immersive soundtrack and grandiosity of scale in terms of visuals, then this is the show for you.
#6 – Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
It's easy to confuse this show for a random comedy based off of a four-panel gag comic, but Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid is a slice-of-life show that portrays the not-so-normal life of one "Kobayashi" and her serendipitous encounter with a dragon called Tohru, who offers to become her personal maid. The setup is obviously outlandish, but the show proceeds likewise unperturbed, featuring more dragons that freeload off of other human characters, whilst depicting their own experiences in the human realm.
The show gives off more of an introspective vibe at times, often questioning modern society through the inquisitive eyes of its dragon characters. Balancing this quasi-critical tone is a general smattering of random comedy and gratuitous fan-service. But despite being more or less all over the place, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid is both endearing and light-hearted, despite attempts by the show to create emotional heft where it isn't necessarily warranted. If you enjoy slice-of-life comedies with some dramatic elements and fan service, then this is the show for you. It still remains to be seen if this show will have any actual direction in terms of plot, but at the rate it's going, it runs the risk of becoming another Amagi Brilliant Park.
#7 – Demi-chan wa Kataritai
Legendary creatures and monsters are an apparent genetic aberration, and efforts from society to be more inclusive towards these demi-humans has resulted in what is essentially the world of Demi-chan wa Kataritai. The show follows the exploits of a biology teacher, Tetsuo Takahashi, and his efforts to understand this minority more.
What is initially a rather endearing display of earnestly wishing to understand one another more ends up becoming some sort of fan-service crazed harem-esque setup, which might come across as somewhat disturbing for anyone who finds themes on student-teacher relationships a bit disturbing. See past that and the show is actually a rather fun discussion on social identity from the standpoint of adolescence and early adulthood, and does so with interesting, albeit inconsistent, visual direction. If you enjoy slice-of-life comedies with some elements of fan service (i.e. harem setup) then this is the show for you. It's an oddball, surely, but if taken lightly, may turn out to be an enjoyable experience.
#8 – Gabriel DropOut
What happens when angels act like demons, and demons act like angels? Well, you get Gabriel DropOut, a show that focuses on the exploits of the angel Gabriel, who after descending to earth in order to "train" in a worldly high school, ends up becoming a social degenerate. She's accompanied by her fellow angel brood Raphiel (a self-confessed sadist), and demon friends Vigne (a well-mannered philanthropist) and Satania (a dimwitted chuunibyou).
The setup is generic as its gags are basically predictable and uninspired. But even if you're not expecting a punch to the stomach in terms of comedy, the show's aesthetic is generally pleasing, if not cute enough to be endearing. If you enjoy simple comedies with cute character designs then this is the show for you. There isn't really much to go with this show, so it's probably a pretty campy show from the get go. You either like it or you don't.
And there you have it! Not included in this list are Urara Meirochô, since I dropped that, and The Dragon Dentist, which only just premiered (and I will be writing about in a bit). And that pretty much wraps up this mid-season round up. Hope it's helpful, and happy anime viewing!
RankingsACCA, ACCA 13-ku Kansatsu Ka, ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., Demi-chan wa Kataritai, Gabriel Dropout, Interviews with Monster Girls, Kobayashi-san chi no maid dragon, Kuzu no Honkai, Little Witch Academia, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Scum's Wish, Shokugeki no Soma, Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, Sukeroku Futatabi Hen, Tales of Zestiria the X
Previous Article [Side B] Winter 2017 – Thoughts on Week 6
Next Article [Side A] Winter 2017 – Thoughts on Week 7
5 thoughts on "Winter 2017 – Mid-Season Round Up"
moonhawk81 February 21, 2017 / 04:10
I'll readily agree that ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. is this season's best new show. However, I think that I find a little more of that emotional heft you mentioned than do you in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid–while the other dragons seem to explore various interpretations of friendship through their interactions with humans, the construction of an ad hoc family by Kobayahsi, Tohru, and Kanna just melts my heart. As for Gabriel Dropout, my Catholic upbringing adds tremendous depth to the humor–if catechism had been taught to this script, I might have been far more interested!
Again, some keen insights and telling observations from you. Thanks!
edsamac February 21, 2017 / 08:30
The issue I'm having with Miss Kobayashi isn't its lack of endearment, but the clear purpose of production, hence why I mention the drama having some form of presumed heft. Although I agree that the familial values do add some relevance, I end up returning to this question as to what is the point. It doesn't help, either, that the core themes seem to be a little muddled up with the randomness of the comedy. I dunno, I think my fears of it being another "Kannagi" or "Amagi Brilliant Park" are preventing me from enjoying it in its entirety. It's a shame, really.
As for Gabriel DropOut, I agree that some of the religious-related gags are actually the funnier ones, as I mentioned in earlier musings. And to be honest, these quips are actually courtesy of the on-board translator, which I've hinted to as being liberal. So it's odd to say that a third party's input is actually making the show funnier than it really is, which makes Gabriel DropOut even more uninspired than it already is. But I will admit that the characters are still cute, and unless you're not looking for something revolutionary in terms of comedy, the show can be quite enjoyable.
Remy Fool February 22, 2017 / 07:37
Great midseason post. I'm a fan of the format. And I'm happy you were able to get it out since you always seem swamped with work!
I think I'm in agreement with most of the points you brought up. I really do need to catch up on Kuzu no Honkai, Shôwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjû: Sukeroku Futatabi Hen (after I bingewatch the first season) and LWA, though. At least I am caught up on ACCA.
The season did start off as odd, like you said, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless. Sounds like you are, too, for the most part.
Thanks Remy, glad you enjoyed the post!
Speaking of binge watching, I need to get back to watching Amanchu. Gaah…
It was my pleasure to read it!
Yeah…it's difficult enough keeping up shows that are currently airing. ;__:
Leave a Reply to edsamac Cancel reply


text:
Opinion Electronics & communications Manufacturing
The next industrial revolution will be (self) organised
By Jason Ford	 5th February 2014 12:38 pm 24th January 2019 4:17 pm
Business leaders must work together if the UK is to follow Germany into a new era of smart factories
Everyone seems to have a different idea about what will spark the next industrial revolution: 3D printing, more sophisticated robots and even renewable energy have all been put forward as potential progenitors. The German vision of the future of manufacturing, as laid out at a talk this week at the Royal Academy of Engineering, is somewhat more complicated and extensive. Proposed by a government-backed working group of Germany's top industrial companies, "Industry 4.0" envisages a world of self-organising smart factories where manufacturing machines talk to each other, to their products and to other links in the supply chain to make production more efficient, more flexible and more personalised.
If you don't really understand what that means then don't worry: unlike previous big changes in the way things are made, which were driven by the advent of steam power, electricity and computers, respectively, Industry 4.0 isn't easily summed by a single key technology, cause or effect. At its heart is the internet's ability to connect many different machines to one another, but wireless communication and artificial intelligence are also crucial. It encompasses many of today's most popular technology buzz concepts – the internet of things, cloud computing, 3D printing , big data – but it's also more than the sum of its parts.
Put simply, Industry 4.0 is about faster manufacturing of products to more particular customer specifications by automating not just the metal bashing but as much of the design and production process as possible. For example, an Industry 4.0 smart factory might receive a unique order for a set of customised products, adjust its production lines to match the design and number of units needed, contact supply chain factories so their production matches the component requirement, track each individual unit as it is made and customise it accordingly, and have transport ready to ship the order as soon as it is complete.
The good news about Industry 4.0 – besides the obvious potential for improved productivity – is that much of the technology to enable it already exists. The difficulty will be in convincing companies to adopt it. The easiest things to sell are the ones that need the least explanation and, as the previous three paragraphs show, Industry 4.0 is not a simple concept to unpick, at least not like electrification is and especially when described with jargon such as "cyber-physical systems".
The German conception of Industry 4.0 includes considerations of how it could make manufacturing more environmentally friendly, achieve a better work-life balance for operating staff and even enable the introduction of more computerised assistance systems for older workers. But the reality is that a technology is unlikely to be widely adopted if companies can't clearly see how it will improve the bottom line.
There are other issues to overcome as well. For companies to collect and share so much data, they will have to be sure it is securely stored on their own systems and on the internet using "trusted cloud" technology. And other questions of data privacy and ownership will have to be addressed if products become so connected that they continue to gather and send data even after they've been shipped to the customer – for example to let a manufacturer know if something goes wrong and they need to send out a repair team.
Pushing humans further out of the production process with ever-greater automation might destroy traditional manufacturing jobs but there's a good chance Industry 4.0 could create plenty of new jobs as well, just as happened in previous industrial revolutions. So skills and training could become an even bigger issue for manufacturing than it is at the moment, with legions of software engineers and code-literate machine operators needed to ensure those intelligent factories are doing their jobs properly.
But the biggest lesson from the German experience of developing Industry 4.0 seems to be that it requires strong business leadership. It may be that because the change encompasses a variety of technologies and processes, we will see a gradual, piecemeal transition to smart factories over several decades. Certainly, no one is expecting an overnight transformation. But the complexity and interconnected nature of Industry 4.0 suggests it will require companies to work closely together.
Political backing will help: Industry 4.0 is part of the German government's high-tech strategy and is even mentioned in its coalition agreement. But primarily the concept is the work of the country's top industrialists and researchers. It inevitably needs manufacturing companies to work with software companies, for big firms to encourage and collaborate with their supply chain to ensure smaller firms understand the benefits of the new technology and that they are willing to invest.
The UK hasn't traditionally been that good at industrial collaboration, instead sticking to fierce competition with rivals and harsh negotiation with clients. But Jaguar Land Rover director Bob Joyce told the Royal Academy audience that this was changing and that the top engineering companies were now much more inclined to share best practice than they were even five years ago.
If this greater partnership culture can be developed then it might help the UK achieve the productivity gains it needs to compete with already advanced Germany and the newer low-cost manufacturing countries. If we revert to muddling along then a future of further decline seems much more likely.
Visit the UK's dedicated jobsite for engineering professionals. Each month, we'll bring you hundreds of the latest roles from across the industry.
Opinion Policy & business
Innovation as a contact sport
4th February 2014 12:09 pm 16th December 2015 3:51 pm
News Aerospace
UK kicking out engineers to work for competitors says Dyson
5th February 2014 4:16 pm 16th December 2015 3:51 pm
News Policy & business
Worcester Presses to hit £1.75m in sales
6th February 2014 10:18 am 16th December 2015 3:51 pm
Latest ArticlesComments (1)
Rolls-Royce unveils world's largest engine testbed
15th January 2021 11:05 am 15th January 2021 11:05 am
News Electronics & communications
New crowd analytics solution deployed at Orlando airport
News Manufacturing
Britishvolt gigaplant set for Siemens' manufacturing tech
Latest The Student Engineer
Sheffield Uni engineers having a blast
Bob Woodham 5th February 2014 at 1:55 pm
This will not happen for many of my customers due to their slow internet connectivity.
For many even basic programs such as Internet Explorer are slow or crash out and as for running programs from the Cloud', that is a distant dream.
Reply	Link
Threaded commenting powered by interconnect/it code.
All comments are moderated. Click here for our guidelines.