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Focus on the microbiome
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
Center for the Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics
Alm Laboratory
Institute for Medical Engineering & Science
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Although perhaps not top of mind for most researchers, more than 90 percent of the genes in our bodies do not come from our own cells. Instead, the vast majority of this genetic material is found within the trillions of microorganisms that call our bodies home. Collectively known as the microbiome, these communities of bacteria and other microbes play a significant role in the functioning of the digestive tract, immune system, skin and other body systems.
In recent years, the microbiome has attracted increasing attention for its role in health and disease. Recently, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) announced the launch of the Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, a new interdisciplinary center dedicated to advancing the understanding of the microbiome's role in human biology and harnessing this knowledge to develop treatments for related illnesses.
With an expendable $25-million fund to support research and operations for the first five years, the center will fuel collaborations at the junction of clinical practice, basic research, computational biology and engineering—critical disciplines for gathering and analyzing vast quantities of data related to the diverse types of bacteria within the human body and their interactions with each other and the body's own cells and organs. The ultimate goal is to develop tools and techniques for treating diseases and conditions linked to an altered microbiome.
The new center's co-directors are Eric Alm, an associate professor of biological engineering at MIT, and Ramnik Xavier, chief of gastroenterology and director of the Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at MGH. Under their guidance, the center will seek to develop a regional ecosystem together with other hospitals, universities and research institutions. Collaboration between academic investigators and real-world clinicians is vital to the center's purpose, according to Xavier, who also serves as the Kurt Isselbacher Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
The center will have three core functions: to advance the field by funding research proposals; to help individual research projects proceed more efficiently through shared services, such as a regional sample facility or support for regulatory compliance; and to draw new talent to microbiome research by promoting the field within the academic community.
The center's initial flagship project will focus on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Individuals with IBD, which includes conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, suffer from chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and experience severe diarrhea, pain, fatigue and weight loss.
IBD is known to have a strong link to the microbiome, according to Alm: "Microbiome- based medicine is poised to revolutionize patient care for IBD and many other diseases in the gastrointestinal tract," he says. "Our goal is to develop new treatment options—personalized to an individual's microbiota and based on natural or engineered microorganisms—that have higher efficacy and fewer side effects than conventional drug treatments."
"Today, low-cost genetic sequencing and high-powered computational methods give us an unprecedented ability to collect information about the human microbiome, but our ability to translate this data into usable knowledge is lagging behind," says Arup K. Chakraborty, the Robert T. Haslam Professor of Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biological Engineering at MIT, and director of the MIT Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES). "This center is built around a bold idea: to accelerate our progress toward a world in which conditions with a genesis in the microbiome can be prevented and treated by solutions derived from a deep scientific understanding of the microbiome."
The center introduces a new research and academic component to MIT and adds an important pillar to the formal strategic partnership announced by MIT and MGH last month. It is also a key component of IMES, which was established at MIT in 2012 to tackle some of the world's biggest health challenges through interdisciplinary approaches at the intersection of engineering, science and clinical medicine. Major funding to support the center's launch was provided by the Neil and Anna Rasmussen Foundation.
"Molecular biologists, microbiologists and cell biologists seek to understand microbe/microbe and microbe/host cell function and communication," Xavier says. "Immunologists, geneticists and genomics researchers drive progress. To this wealth of information, clinicians contribute patient-based insights and gain potential targets for therapeutics. We want this center to be a convening hub for strengths that are distributed across disciplines and throughout different institutions in the New England region."
Until a few years ago, researchers studied the microbiome by carefully separating individual strains and culturing them in isolation, a time-consuming method that is biased toward species that grow well in the laboratory. Today, however, researchers and doctors can take advantage of faster, low-cost genomic tools that allow them to study the entire bacterial system of individual patients. These tools have opened a window into the balance of human cells and the bacteria, viruses and fungi that colonize and interact within the body.
Based on this knowledge, potential future treatments for IBD and other conditions might include simple dietary adjustments; targeted therapies designed to remove, add or even modify specific bacteria; or medical interventions based on reprogramming an individual's immune system. "We need to develop a toolkit for engineering the human microbiome," Alm says.
Both Alm and Xavier emphasize that the center's long-term purpose is to expand the breadth and depth of this emerging field. To that end, the center will also support smaller-scale "innovation projects" that would not otherwise receive funding due to their cross-disciplinary or exploratory nature. While IBD is the focus of the initial flagship project, the center is designed to foster opportunities to explore the impact of the microbiome on systemic autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and arthritis as well as other disorders, such as autism, obesity, acne and allergies.


I'm a graduate of Ex'pression College for Digital Arts. I majored in Animation and Visual Effects.
I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and moved to Emeryville, CA to go to school at Ex'pression College for Digital Arts, where I graduated as a Valedictorian. In high school, I took Theater and Art for all four years. I won the Congressional Art Award in 2006 (1st place) and 2007 (3rd place).
I worked on 21 Jump Street at DuMonde Visual Effects in New Orleans in 2011. It was a wonderful experience and I learned so much.
I worked at Aechelon Technology, a flight simulation company in San Francisco, for about 6 and a half years. For three of those I was a Production Assistant, learning everything I could about our pipeline. In 2015, I was promoted to 3D Production Lead where I got to lead a team and be a bigger part of pre and post production.
All I ever knew for certain was that I wanted to make art. And that you never stop learning.


A comforting crowd-pleaser with plenty of vegetables.
until lightly browned, about 8 minutes.
Dissolve cornstarch in cold water. Pour cornstarch mixture into pan, stirring constantly. Return to oven and cook 15 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Serves 10.


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Category Archives: House
MA-6: An Upset in the Making?
There are many House districts around the country that could become part of what many are predicting will be a Republican wave, but the 6th district of Massachusetts was certainly not on anybody's GOP conversion list even as late as September. Developments are unfolding in the suburban region between metropolitan Boston and New Hampshire, however, that makes GOP challenger Bill Hudak's bid against seven-term Rep. John Tierney (D) among the campaigns that could conceivably transform into a "sleeper."
Rep. John Tierney
About two weeks ago, Tierney's wife pled guilty in federal court to tax fraud charges. Many incumbents have survived worse, especially in a district that routinely elects members of the dominant political party to which they belong, but Patrice Tierney's situation appears a bit more serious. Though she claims not to have known her brother's online gambling operation located off the shores of Antigua was illegal when she prepared the company's tax returns, she pled guilty to the felony tax charges involving amounts upwards of $7 million, nonetheless, and will be sentenced in January. What raises eyebrows further, and certainly makes Rep. Tierney more vulnerable to the Hudak challenge, is his support for the online gambling bill when it came before the House. Though the Congressman was not personally implicated in any of his wife's legal dealings, the two possibly unrelated events do bring ethical questions to the forefront.
As we have seen throughout the country during primary season this year, voters have little tolerance for political scandals or patience for office holders abusing their offices. Businessmen like Bill Hudak who have never before sought political office have shown strong win percentages in the intra-party preliminary races and now we'll see if such a pattern continues through the general election. Most political pundits believe it will.
October internal and independent polls do suggest a weakening of Tierney's image and increasing vulnerability. Though the survey results have not been publicly released, it is known that the data show a tightening of the race to single digits, while Hudak scores much better among the most intensely interested voters, and even leads among those who have been closely following the Tierney scandal.
With 12 days remaining in the election cycle, it is apparent that Rep. Tierney has not yet secured re-election. The more attention his personal situation attracts, the greater his vulnerability and the stronger Hudak becomes. With the open 10th district being in toss-up mode and even Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA-4) to the southwest facing credible opposition, it is now reasonable to add MA-6 to the competitive Bay State congressional race list.
Posted in House and tagged Hudak, MA-6, Massachusetts, tax fraud, Tierney on October 22, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment
Is Sanchez in a Sleeper?
In an election cycle where arguably 150 House races are at least moderately competitive and 90 campaigns are legitimately in play, sleeper contests are few and far between. One such situation may be in Anaheim, Calif., however, where seven-term Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA-47) has apparently fallen into a dead heat with her GOP opponent, Assemblyman Van Tran, according to a new Public Opinion Strategies poll (for the Tran campaign, 10/11-13; 300 likely CA-47 voters; Sanchez and Tran tied at 39%).
Though Tran's challenge to Sanchez has been on the board for more than a year, few believed it would become hotly contested. The district is decidedly Democratic and the Congresswoman normally wins with percentages right around 60%. What makes the seat a potential GOP conversion opportunity is the turnout history here – CA-47 has the lowest voter participation rate of any in the Golden State – and its demographic complexion. Though the seat is more than 65% Hispanic, it is also 14% Asian and features an extremely large Vietnamese community, of which Tran is a member. He's won three elections to the state Assembly, in a political division more than half the size of CA-47, proving that he has a strong political base. In a seat that routinely records fewer votes than most members receive by themselves, anything can happen, particularly in an election year that may evolve into a political wave. This is definitely a race to watch.
For more details, insights, to sign up for my daily email updates, or to sign up to track specific issues or industries, please email me @PRIsm@performanceandresults.com.
Posted in House and tagged California, Sanchez, Tran on October 21, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment
Pennsylvania Tightens
Public Policy Polling (PPP), the national survey research firm based in Raleigh, N.C., yesterday released a new study (10/17-18, 718 likely PA voters) that gives Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak (PA-7) a bare 46-45% lead over former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA-15) in their battle for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat. This represents a significant change from all other recently released polls, including ones from PPP, that have previously posted Toomey to leads of between two and 10 points.
The revelation that the Sestak-Toomey campaign is closing is not particularly surprising for various reasons. First, Pennsylvania is a Democratic state, so seeing the Senate race and several House campaigns begin to move back toward the majority party meets expectations. Private polling suggests that the contests in PA-7 (open Sestak), ex-US Attorney Pat Meehan (R) vs. state Rep. Bryan Lentz (D); PA-8, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D) vs. former Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R); and PA-10, Rep. Chris Carney (D) vs. ex-US Attorney Tom Marino (R); also are tightening in favor of the Democratic candidate after the GOP contestant maintained discernible, if not considerable, previous advantages. Conversely, the PA-3, Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D) vs. Mike Kelly (R); and PA-11, Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D) vs. Lou Barletta (R); races still appear to be going the way of the GOP challenger. Polling now detects that Democratic voters are expressing greater interest in voting, thus suggesting better electoral participation rates.
Second, Sestak's strategy for the general election is similar to that of his primary: wait to spend the campaign treasury until people are paying attention much closer to the election. During the Democratic primary, the Congressman trailed party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter by as much as 10 points early, but caught and passed the veteran politician as voting day approached and finally arrived. Sestak is implementing a replay of such an expenditure timing plan against Toomey, thus his recent polling upswing tracks with him now coming to the forefront of the advertising campaign.
The latest poll tells us that the Senate race, despite a continued strong GOP lead in the Governor's race, is coming back into toss-up range. The final outcome will likely be determined upon which party better motivates its supporters to actually cast their ballots, thus the end result is still very much in doubt.
Posted in House, Polls, Senate and tagged Barletta, Carney, Dahlkemper, Fitzpatrick, Kanjorski, Kelly, Lentz, Marino, Meehan, Murphy, Pennsylvania, Sestak, Specter, Toomey on October 20, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment
Quayle in Trouble
With national pollsters providing consistently good news for Republicans, at least one seat normally viewed as relatively safe for the party is now in play for the Democrats. Arizona's 3rd congressional district, a place where Rep. John Shadegg (R) has racked up strong victories over the past 16 years, is now highly competitive according to a new Public Policy Polling survey. The study, conducted October 16-17 (655 likely AZ-3 voters) for the Daily Kos, a national liberal blog, gives Democratic attorney Jon Hulburd a 46-44% lead over Republican nominee Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle. According to the data, the younger Quayle has a personal approval ratio of only 34-52% favorable to unfavorable and trails 36-50% within the crucial Independent voter sector.
Quayle defeated nine other candidates in the August 24 Republican primary, but captured only 22% of the vote in doing so. Controversy arose during the summer about his involvement with a non-traditional website, charges that were answered with his own unusual and off-beat response advertisements. With the currently intense and fractured Grand Canyon State political climate, and virtually every congressional district in the state seeing robust competition, it is clear that anything can happen in the many races to be decided there on November 2.
Posted in House, Polls and tagged Daily Kos, Hulburd, Quayle, Shadegg on October 19, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment
Upsets? Possible or Not?
Every day, new seats pop up as upset possibilities. Yesterday, for example, a new poll was publicized showing even Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ-12) dropping to a single-digit lead. If the election becomes a Republican wave as many believe will happen, which "out of nowhere" races will actually come home?
With so many campaigns on the board, which are legitimate upset possibilities, and which are fool's gold? The following are contests that have surfaced in recent days as potential upset picks. Our analysis:
AK-Senate: The theory is that Lisa Murkowski's write-in bid takes enough votes away from GOP nominee Joe Miller to either elect herself or throw the race to Democratic nominee Scott McAdams. Polling regarding write-in candidates is one thing; translating support into write-in votes is quite another. Had Sen. Murkowski operated a strong grassroots organization, she wouldn't have lost her primary. The key to running a successful write-in effort is a strong ground operation. That doesn't happen overnight, and especially not in a place as spread out as Alaska. Likely outcome: Miller wins.
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D, AZ-7)
AZ-7: Now the upset possibilities are even creeping into Voting Rights districts. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) has undeniably dropped to the low single digits in his battle with GOP scientist Ruth McClung. This one actually might have some legs. Grijalva is leading the charge to economically boycott his own state because of the immigration law, a position not well received by his constituents in a largely rural area experiencing tough times. Grijalva shouldn't lose, but leading the charge to inflict economic pain upon one's own constituents could be the catalyst that causes the seismic political shift that leads to a McClung upset.
DE-Senate: It's wishful thinking to believe that Christine O'Donnell can still win the seat because of the Tea Party surge. She can't. This one is done. Democrats win.
MA-4: Rep. Barney Frank (D) is in trouble. While true opponent Sean Bielat is raising a great deal of national small-dollar money and is Frank's toughest-ever re-election opponent, the House Financial Services chairman will survive. No poll has dropped him below 50% and the district is just too Democratic in nature. Frank wins again.
Rep. John Dingell (D, MI-15)
MI-15: In December, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI-15) will have been in Congress for 55 years. Though at least one poll shows the Dean of the House falling behind opponent Dr. Rob Steele, it will be extremely difficult for this trend to continue. Back in 2001, the 15th district was designed to pair two Democratic incumbents, Dingell and then-Rep. Lynn Rivers, into one district. The Democratic primary would be a difficult fight for both, but the winner would get a seat for the rest of the decade. The seat will still remain intact for the Ds. Rep. Dingell wins a 29th term.
These are just a few examples of races that I detail in my daily newsletter, the PRIsm Political Update. For all the details, insights, to sign up for my daily email updates, or to sign up to track specific issues or industries, please email me @PRIsm-us.com.
Posted in House, Senate, Upsets and tagged Alaska, Arizona, Bielat, Delaware, Dingell, Frank, Grijalva, Holt, Massachusetts, McAdams, McLung, Michigan, Miller, Murkowski, New Jersey, O'Donnell, Steele on October 15, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment
Georgia is No California
With several Democrats publicly saying they would prefer to vote for individuals other than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to lead the next House of Representatives, Congressman Jim Marshall (D-GA-8) just launched the strongest of anti-Pelosi ads in his own difficult run for re-election. Attacking not only Speaker Pelosi, but also her home town of San Francisco and portraying the old California hippie culture as "being a long way from Georgia," Marshall goes on to say that he is a "long way from Pelosi." He also claims not to support Pelosi and that he votes with Republican leaders "65% of the time." According to the Politico newspaper, Marshall's Democratic Party support figure is actually 88%, a number that is difficult to comprehend when he says he votes with the GOP almost two-thirds of the time. The Marshall ad ends with the announcer saying the Congressman has been endorsed by The NRA, Chamber of Commerce and "Right to Life." The tag line at the end of the ad, referring to the three organizations, says "… and they wouldn't have anything to do with a Nancy Pelosi supporter."
The Marshall approach is the most brazen to come from any Democrat so far in this election cycle. It is an extraordinary attack on a leader of his own party, and a person who he twice voted for Speaker and once as Minority Leader. It will be interesting to see how GOP nominee Austin Scott responds to his opponent's latest attempt at neutralizing what is probably his most glaring negative.
Posted in House and tagged Marshall, Pelosi, Scott on October 14, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment
When Will it End?
As we pull to within less than three weeks of the election, the Democrats appear to be in a free-fall. Nevada GOP Senatorial candidate Sharron Angle, opposing unpopular Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, raised a huge amount of money –– $14 million from July 1st to September 30th — an impressive haul for any candidate, but especially so for one from a small state. It's even more stunning when you note that 94% of the money came from contributions of less than $100. In Florida, Senate GOP candidate Marco Rubio brought in more than $5 million for the quarter. In liberal Washington, Republican Dino Rossi locked in a tight battle with Sen. Patty Murray (D), exceeded $4.5 million.
In the House races, Reps. Gene Taylor (D-MS-4), Heath Shuler (D-NC-11), Walt Minnick (D-ID-1) and Bobby Bright (D-AL-2) are publicly saying they will vote for someone other than embattled House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-8), when the new Congress convenes. Reps. Chet Edwards (D-TX-17), Jason Altmire (D-PA-4) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN-2) have ads expressing their independence from Pelosi and President Obama. Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY-23), in serious trouble because the split among local Republicans and Conservatives has ostensibly healed and Matt Doheny now has virtually united support from the right-of-center, launched a rather desperate new ad saying that he "votes with the Republican leader 63% of the time." These are obvious signs of a party in trouble.
And new competitive congressional races are popping up every day. Now the list is even reaching protected voting rights districts like AZ-7 (Rep. Raul Grijalva in a close contest with scientist Ruth McClung), and TX-27 (Rep. Solomon Ortiz actually trailing Republican opponent Blake Farenthold in both a campaign-released survey and a private independent poll).
All of these anecdotes are similar to what we were seeing for Democrats in both 2006 and 2008, and the results, as we all know, were landslide elections. Right now, it appears that Republican House candidates are likely to win in the neighborhood of 35 Democratically-held seats, with another 30 or so in range to win. The Democrats will at least pick up two GOP seats, and maybe as many as five. Thus, the GOP approaching or exceeding a 50-seat gain is not out of the question, and reclaiming the majority appears to be on the horizon.
Posted in House, Senate and tagged Alabama, Altmire, Angle, Bright, Doheny, Donnelly, Edwards, Farenthold, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Minnick, Mississippi, Murray, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Owens, Pelosi, Pennsylvania, Reid, Rubio, Shuler, Taylor, Texas, Washington on October 13, 2010 by Jim Ellis. Leave a comment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Mr.P.Rajesh isworking as AssistantProfessor in SSM Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul in the stream of Automobile Engineering disciplinefrom 17.02.2016to till date.
B.E. (Mechanical Engineering), Madurai Kamaraj University, Dindigul, India, 2004.
Best Outstanding Student Award in Mepco Schlenk Engineering College.
Employee of the year award in TVS – 2007.
Teaching Appreciation award twice in RMK Engineering College.
Organized One day workshop in "Applications of Advanced Materials" in SSMIET, Dindigul on 07.02.2018.
Organized 5 days Value added course in "Geometric Dimension & CNC Workshop 2017" on Dec 2017.
Attended Two days FDP in "Goal Setting Workshop for Faculty Empowerment" in SSMIET, Dindigul in 2017-18.
Attended one day workshop on "Advanced Machining Processes" in SSMIET, Dindigul in 2017-18.
Attended one day workshop on "Intellectual Property Rights and Innovations" in SSMIET, Dindigul in 2017-18.
Working as a Department NAAC coordinator (criterion-V).
Working as a Department value added course.
Working as a Department Gate exam coordinator.
Working as a final year faculty coordinator.
Worked as a Department NBA Coordinator.
Worked as a Department Virtual Lab Coordinator.
Worked as a Department Exam cell in charge.
Having contacts with industries to arrange for In-Plant training, project guidance and placement guidance for students.
Won the Faculty appreciation award two times for II and IV year.
Collaborate with the engineering staff to produce design sketches and drawings in accordance with applicable standards.
Responsible for designs of the commodity depending on the sector is based.
To analyze the test results and change the design as needed and oversee the manufacturing process for the device.
Senior Member in Society of Automotive Engineers.
"Attended the International Conference held at "Sri Krishna INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY" – Coimbatore on dated 22nd& 23rdth March 2018.


TUESDAY -- Library Board of Trustees, 6 p.m., library; Board of Selectmen, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY -- Housing Authority, 2 p.m., 18 Pond St.; Board of Assessors, 2 p.m.; Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.; Finance Committee, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Shawsheen Regional Technical High School Subcommittee, 5:30 p.m., Shawsheen Regional Technical High School.
WEDNESDAY -- Vietnam Veteran Memorial Committee, 6 p.m.; Zoning Board of Appeals, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY -- Community Preservation Committee, 6 p.m. High School Building Committee, 6:30 p.m.
MONDAY -- North Chelmsford Water District, 6 p.m., 64 Washington St.; Finance Committee, 6:30 p.m., senior center.
TUESDAY -- School Committee, 6 p.m., 230 North Road; Commission on Disabilities, 7 p.m.; Conservation Commission, 7 p.m.; Economic Development Committee, 7 p.m.; Historical Commission, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY -- Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., senior center.
MONDAY -- Housing Authority, 6 p.m., 971 Mammoth Rd.
WEDNESDAY -- Board of Library Trustees, 4:30 p.m., 28 Arlington St.; Historical Commission, 6 p.m.; Conservation Commission, 7 p.m.
MONDAY -- Water Commission, 5:30 p.
m.; Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m.; Planning Board, 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Board of Selectmen, Advisory Board and Affordable Housing Committee, 5:30 p.m.; Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m.; Board of Health, 7:15 p.m.
MONDAY -- Commission on Accessibility, 3 p.m., Groton Commons, 74 Willowdale Ave.; Fire Department Task Force Study Committee, 6 p.m.; Invasive Species Committee, 7 p.m., Legion Hall.
TUESDAY -- Electric Light Commission, 8 a.m., 23 Station Ave.; Select Board, 7 p.m.; Trails Committee, 7 p.m., Legion Hall; Water Commission, 7 p.m.; Sustainability Commission, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY -- Sewer Commission, 2 p.m.; Housing Authority, 7 p.m., 19 Lowell Road.
TUESDAY -- Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m.; Municipal Utility Committee, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY -- Library Trustees, 6 p.m., Hills Memorial Library.
THURSDAY -- Benson Park Committee, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees, 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY -- Town Administrator Search Committee, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY -- Permanent Municipal Building Committee, 7 p.m.
MONDAY -- School Committee, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY -- City Council Finance Subcommittee, 5:30 p.m.; City Council, 6:30 p.m.
MONDAY -- Master Plan Climate Change Resiliency and Sustainability Work Group, 1:30 p.m.; Board of Selectmen, 6 p.m.; Recreation Commission, 6 p.m.; Board of Selectmen, 6 p.m.; Historical Commission, 7 p.m.; Planning Board, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Peter Fitzpatrick Feasibility Study Committee, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Library Trustees, 7 p.m., library.
WEDNESDAY -- Ayer Shirley Regional School Committee, 7 p.m., middle school.
TUESDAY -- Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m.; Elementary School Building Committee, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., 139 Pleasant St.; Elementary School Building Committee, 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY -- Beautification Committee, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY -- Regional 911 Emergency Communications District Planning Committee, 9 a.m., fire station.
MONDAY -- Board of Health, 6 p.m.; Board of Selectmen, 6 p.m.; Tyngsboro Public Schools Negotiations Subcommittee, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Council on Aging Board, 3:30 p.m., 169 Westford Rd.; Community Preservation Committee, Parish Grounds, 6 p.m.; Tyngsboro Public Schools Subcommittee, 6:30 p.m.; Master Plan Committee, 7 p.m.; School Committee, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY -- Board of Library Trustees, 6:45 p.m.; Planning Board, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY -- Energy Committee, 7:45 p.m.
WEDNESDAY -- Historical Commission, 7 p.m., Museum Cottage; Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.
MONDAY -- Special Education Parent Advisory Council, 6:30 p.m., high school.
TUESDAY -- Board of Health, 5:30 p.m.; Board of Library Trustees, 7 p.m., library.
WEDNESDAY -- Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY -- Water and Sewer Commission, 5:30 p.m., Elderly Services Commission, 1:30 p.m., senior center.


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Home » Media Center » Press Releases » May 25th 2017
A.G. Schneiderman And Comptroller Dinapoli Announce Sentencing Of Brooklyn Man For Stealing Over $22K In Deceased Mother's Pension Benefits
New York City Press Office / 212-416-8060
Albany Press Office / 518-776-2427
Jimmie Buie Concealed Mother's Death For 19 Months; Sentenced To 1 ½ To 3 Years In State Prison
Schneiderman: My Office Will Continue To Prosecute Those Who Attempt To Undermine And Steal From The Retirement System
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today the sentencing of Jimmie Buie, a Brooklyn resident, for stealing over $22,000 in pension benefits issued by the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System to his deceased mother, Sandra Buie, between May 2011 and December 2012. Jimmie Buie was convicted of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and sentenced to 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison by the Honorable Elizabeth Foley in Kings County Supreme Court.
"Stealing pension benefits from a deceased family member is not a victimless crime, nor will it go unpunished," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "My office will continue to prosecute those who attempt to undermine the Retirement System and steal from the retired New Yorkers who depend on it."
"Jimmie Buie concocted an elaborate scheme to steal his deceased mother's pension," said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. "Thanks to our investigators and the Attorney General, he'll serve jail time and repay $22,000 to the New York State and Local Retirement System."
According to statements made in court, Jimmie Buie's grandmother, Thelma Hairston, was a New York State pensioner who retired in 1995. At the time of her retirement, Hairston selected to receive her pension as a Pop Up Joint Allowance Half, which provided her with a reduced pension benefit, but allowed her to pass on pension payments to her daughter, Sandra Buie, following Hairston's death. When Hairston died in 1996, Sandra Buie began to receive Hairston's share of monthly pension benefits.
During Jimmie Buie's guilty plea, he disclosed that his mother, Sandra Buie, died on May 15, 2011. However, Jimmie Buie, who lived in the apartment where the pension checks were mailed to each month, admitted that he enlisted help from four associates to cash 19 pension checks after Sandra Buie's death. Jimmie Buie concealed his mother's death from the Retirement System in order to continue receiving her pension payments. In total, Jimmie Buie stole over $22,000 in pension benefits before the Retirement System discovered his mother's death.
Comptroller DiNapoli's investigation was handled by the Comptroller's Division of Investigations working with the New York State and Local Retirement System.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Herman Wun of the Public Integrity Bureau. The Public Integrity Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Daniel G. Cort and Deputy Bureau Chief Stacy Aronowitz.
The Attorney General's investigation was conducted by Investigators Dennis Churns and Joel Cordone under the supervision of Deputy Chief Antoine Karam. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella.
Public Integrity Bureau


No, it isn't a coincidence: The winner of the #IAMCOPING Mainline contest, Russell Jaffe's beautiful new collection was born by the adopting our publishing namesake, "Civil Coping Mechanisms," and turning it into a writing prompt. What does it mean to cope? Jaffe took it to heart and has crafted poetry as unique and heartwarming as much as it is devastating. This one's for the community. Jaffe makes it clear: We're coping.


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The core of my dissertation research was to understand the mechanisms driving fall migration in both moths that are agricultural pests and in the insectivorous bats that eat them. Now you can read the primary results in this paper from the Journal of Animal Ecology. While I can't share the final formatted paper, the version you can download here is the last review version, with just a few formatting changes from the final.
This paper explores the role of weather, or specifically cold fronts as a mechanism driving autumn migration in both bats and moths in Texas. The moths in question are from the family Noctuidae, specifically corn earworm, fall armyworm, and cabbage looper. The larval forms of these moths cause considerable damage to crops. In spring, over multiple generations the moths move northward across the continent following ripening crops, but in fall it appears the adults return southward in a single generation. The bats I studied are Brazilian free-tailed bats, roosting in huge colonies in Texas caves in the summer, and returning south into Mexico in the fall.
Average mass of 25 bats caught each day during the fall season at Frio Cave, Uvalde Co. Texas. Vertical lines represent cold front passage.
I did find that weather, and cold front passage specifically, was a significant factor explaining patterns in moth counts and changes in bat mass. Of course, it's ecology, with so many variables involved that actually proving anything is going to be impossible. However, there are a few curious pieces that appear to fit together into a picture with big implications for possible effects of climate change. September and October are very dry and dusty times in south Texas with little vegetation to support insects for bats to feed on. At the same time, the bats are at their lowest weight after their pups fledge, and they must somehow get fat before they can head south themselves. It may not be coincidence, then, that streams of fat moths appear just when the bats need them the most. What will happen if things get even hotter and drier, or the cycle of cold fronts shifts? If the moths come later, will the bats even be able to fly south in time?
The next part of this project is to figure out if the bats are actually eating these moths as they pass through. I've extracted insect DNA from thousands of samples of bat guano, and next I want to see if I can show a more direct link between migratory predator and migratory prey. But first, I'm working on another migratory bat project.


The Nest Bedding Alexander Memory Foam mattress incorporates a high quality, topnotch density memory foam and a soft quilted top to provide a plethora of benefits of name brand memory foam beds without off-gassing, and at a cheap price.
Designed and crafted in America with locally-sourced materials, offering evenly–distributed comfort at an cheap price, the Alexander was rated at the highest of majority of review sites as the most cozy bed.
All of their mattresses can be found in a variety comfort firmness options, and with 2 memory foam beds, 3 hybrid variants, and 1 latex, I'm sure you will find the firmness and support that you prefer. So, no matter if you're lighter, heavier, sleep on your side, or you deal with chronic pain, Nest Bedding can fit your tastes on at least one of their mattresses.
Alexander Signature: The Alexander Signature is a memory foam mattress. The comfort layer features 4 layers: a quilted cover made of cotton and polyester, a top layer of 4 PCF memory foam, a middle layer of 4 PCF polyfoam, and a base layer of transitional polyfoam. The support center is manufactured with 1.8 PCF polyfoam. The Alexander Signature is available in two firmness options: Medium and Luxury Firm.
Love & Sleep: The Love & Sleep memory foam mattress is designed with layers of 2.8 PCF memory foam and polyfoam from the comfort layer. The support core is designed from 1.8 PCF polyfoam. The Love & Sleep is offered in 2 firmness levels: Medium and Luxury Firm.
Alexander Hybrid Luxury Contour: The Alexander Hybrid Luxury Contour features a comfort layer containing three layers: a cover made of 2.5 PCF copper-infused, phase-change gel memory foam; a middle layer of 3 PCF polyfoam; and a bottom layer of 4 PCF memory foam. The support center is made with a high-density polyfoam edge reinforcement and individually-wrapped coils.
Hybrid Latex: The Hybrid Latex mattress has 1 layer of Dunlop latex in the comfort layer. The support center is designed with individually-wrapped coils and a bottom layer of 1.8 PCF high-density polyfoam. The zippered cover is made from a blend of cotton and wool.
Latex Mattress: The Latex Mattress is offered in 'Blended Latex' and 'Organic Latex' designs; the models share the same general framework, but vary substantially when it comes to price-point with the Organic model being more expensive. Additionally, the Latex Mattress is available in 3 firmness options. The 'Soft w/topper' option features a comfort layer built with soft Dunlop latex, in addition to a three-inch Dunlop latex topper. This model is more expensive because of the inclusion of the topper. The 'Medium' and 'Firm' variants go without the topper; the 'Medium' uses a gentle Dunlop latex comfort layer and a firm Dunlop latex support center, while the 'Firm' uses a firm Dunlop latex comfort layer and a gentle Dunlop latex support core.
The three varying firmness options of the Alexander Signature Hybrid all make use of the same general construction, but with slightly different foams and densities. Each bed begins with 8 inches of individually-pocketed support coils. The second layer is 1 inch of "SmartFlow" support polyfoam, that's made to improve airflow and assists with heat retention. Each firmness level uses 3 PCF (lbs per cubic foot foam within this layer. The following layer is 1.5" of either 2.5 PCF copper-infused "Energex" polyfoam (Plush), 3.5 PCF copper-infused Energex polyfoam (Medium) or 4.5 PCF slow-recovery memory foam (Luxury Firm). The final layer is 1.5" of "TitanChil" cooling polyfoam. The bed cover is 1.5 inches of 4 PCF gel-infused memory foam within a quilted, cooling cloth. This provides a soft feel.
The Alexander Signature Hybrid is produced in three firmness settings: Plush (3), Medium (5) and a Luxury Firm (8). Firmness is measured on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the least firm and 10 being the firmest. You can pick between Plush, Medium, and Luxury firm. Weight is important on what you would prefer. Generally, heavier people fare better with firmer beds while lighter people usually find they can achieve more hug and contour on plusher beds.
Hybrids usually do not isolate movement as well as all-foam beds usually do, due to the fact that inner-springs permit motion to more easily transfer across the surface of the bed. The Alexander Signature Hybrid, however, has various foam layers above its inner-springs. These foam layers help the mattress absorb motion to a large extent. As soon as I moved next to my colleague, you could not see much motion in her body. She mentioned that she could feel the movement, but it was minimal. In spite of this, the bed still exhibits impressive bounce.
If you have mobility problems, moving around in a reclined position can be difficult. Traditional memory foam usually caused a lot of sinkage that it made it hard to move around. However, if you have too much bounce, it's easy to disturb sleep.
You will experience some sinkage using the Alexander Signature Hybrid due to its soft foam uppermost layers. But this sinking feeling differs from what you'd achieve with a more conventional memory foam mattress as it's mitigated by the mattress' supportive individually-wrapped coil system. Meaning you will sink, but will still be able to move around easily and get out of the bed without too much problem. While there is some sinkage here, it's not as striking as it would be on a normal memory foam mattress. This creates great pressure relief without that stuck-in-the-bed experience.
The inner-spring coil support base of the Alexander Signature Hybrid works to fortify its edges. This provides an even sleeping surface across the whole bed and helps prevent sagging and sinkage at the perimeter of the mattress. The spring coils are great at providing that solid base you want. When I moved in various positions, I felt very well-supported. I can feel and you can actually see where I do sink in a quite a bit, but the sinkage from the mattress ends where the spring coils start. Despite the soft foam top layers, this bed is extremely supportive, thanks to the eight inches of individually-wrapped coils at its core. It's super easy to get in and out of the bed, and I am well–supported when I lie on the edge, a big advantage for sleep partners.
The Alexander Signature Hybrid sleeps quite cool. The spring coils allow enough airflow, assisting to reduce body heat. The foam layers, which in most cases trap heat, are infused with copper and cooling gel to counteract this frequent problem. This bed is a good fit for those who need to sleep cool. This hybrid does a wonderful job of isolating and dispersing heat, leading to a resting feeling that's marvelously cool.
Once an Alexander Signature Hybrid mattress is manufactured, it's compressed, vacuum-sealed in plastic and delivered to your front door in a marked box. Every time a mattress is compressed and vacuum-sealed, it tends to emit a temporary odor when it's opened. This odor is known as "off-gassing." You should anticipate to see this with the Alexander Signature Hybrid, but the odor should disappear right away.
If you are convinced that one of the Nest mattresses is the ideal mattress for you, the dimensions and pricing information for the mattress are below. But please note that these figures reflect standard pricing, and doesn't include my special promo. Click here in order to get my special discount and receive 5% off your mattress today.
All in all, the Alexander Signature Select Series is a great mattress for anyone who enjoys a quality constructed mattress that is firm yet comfortable. I suggest it to anyone who likes the pillow-top feel and understanding that their mattress is good for the environment.


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Do more charities need to consider a multi-asset approach to investing?
02 Dec 2019 In-depth
Investors are exploring a wider range of assets as returns grow harder to come by. Charity Finance convened a panel of experts and Ian Allsop pooled their responses.
During certain times the importance of charities maximising the impact that their investments have is even more acute. However, trustees' heightened perceptions of risk can make it more difficult for them to consider new approaches to investing.
Talib Sheikh, who heads up Jupiter Asset Management's multi-asset strategies team, pushes back at the idea that the current environment is more uncertain than it has been historically. "There is a degree of hindsight bias to say it was clearer three years ago, five years ago, ten years ago.
"As an investor, markets are always incredibly uncertain, and you are trying to make decisions where the odds are on your side. The thing that has changed as opposed to three, five, ten years ago, is the valuation point at which you enter. When you consider risk and reward as two sides of the same coin, risk has remained largely constant. But the reward available is less so. This poses huge problems for all investors and one of the reasons that we have had growth in multi-asset investing."
He continues: "In reality, pre-financial crisis, if you were looking for cash plus 3 or 5 per cent you could mostly do it yourself through government bonds, investment grade credit or if you felt really racy, some equities. This would have got you 90 per cent of where you needed to be. Now most of that has gone.
"In Europe, for example, the Germany bond yield curve is deeply negative, adjusted for inflation. In the UK ten year gilt yields are less than 70bps. Many traditional sources of income with medium risk return have disappeared. I don't think they are coming back. We have to understand this."
Bridgit Richards, director of product and marketing at CAF, agrees that views on the uncertain nature of the world may be purely perception, but those perceptions are having an effect. "The rear view mirror is always clearer than the windshield. But still, there remains a level of uncertainty. At CAF, we see a lot of charities holding off on making decisions around lending and investment and sticking with the status quo. They are increasingly aware of the need for transparency and the glare of social media on how they operate, which brings a higher sensitivity to that uncertainty, whether or not it is new."
Elizabeth Garner, head of pensions and investments at Save the Children, wonders whether overall risk is constant because it has stabilised at a higher riskier level. She adds: "And is Brexit not a significant risk?"
Sheikh responds by saying that measures such as the VIX index shows volatility has been falling since the height of the 2008 crisis. "It is now about average, which means an average risk environment. This is reflected in the equity market. I think the world we live in is one of the most benign of the last ten years in investment terms.
"Don't get me wrong I think Brexit is a risk, but it's not at the top of our list of issues. The UK makes up about 6 per cent of the global equity market. For us as investors it's about being conscious of the risks out there, but it's very easy to overestimate the potential for those risks to affect markets, and thereby miss out on what can be decent investment returns from an otherwise benign environment."
Guy Davies, an investment consultant at Yoke & Co, founder of Charity Intelligence, trustee of a number of charities, and clerk to the Charity Investors Group, identifies a gradual trend towards more pooled fund investing by charities, including into CIFs and CAIFs. "They are moving away from a segregated approach and asking if there are funds out there that meet their needs. The amounts being invested in funds is increasing. And what's interesting is that over the last ten years, charities invested in general multi-asset funds have doubled their money, even after taking income out. In real terms they have done well. But maybe charities are a little bit complacent about valuations because of these returns. The investment community is now saying that you won't achieve that in the future. In reality, for most charities, the investment bit of their operation is not of very great concern. They are more focused on, for example, staff cuts, beneficiaries, safeguarding. Investment chugs along in the background. Yet beneficiaries have had stagnant wage inflation so it might be time to spend a bit more money."
Henrietta Gourlay, investment manager at the Grosvenor Estate – Family Office, which looks after the Westminster Foundation charity, points out that markets are cyclical. "As long as funds are managed for that, then things should be fine." However, she points out another area of uncertainty. "ESG is a big focus for us, and making sure managers are properly doing what they say they are doing is quite tough. You may be investing in something today that seems fine from an ESG perspective, but might not be in five years' time. There's not a lot you can do but you need to be aware of the triggers."
Having considered the needs of charity investors in the current climate, Sheikh says that this is where solution-based investing has come in. "I dislike the term multi-asset solutions, as no one will ever refuse a solution. But it is about trying to meet that end investment objective. A lot of investors will talk eloquently in great detail about how they are trying to beat a benchmark – for example, the FTSE 100, and have beaten it. Increasingly charities are realising that this approach isn't relevant to their actual investment objectives. This is where there has been a growth in multi-asset investing, where, for example, aiming to deliver steady income and capital appreciation for a set level of risk is much more in accordance with what many clients might be trying to achieve.
"In some cases, the investment world has overpromised and under-delivered on these objectives. Some of those chickens could, and have, come back home to roost. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that the approach of investing for an objective that accords with what our clients actually need can have significant benefits. The difficulty going forward isn't that the world has become more complicated – it hasn't, but the valuation point we are starting with is much higher, and this means the margin for error in multi-asset simply becomes much greater.
"If we flip to the other side, the needs of users have remained constant, so this has focused a need for a different approach. Charities have been a bit slower than other institutional investors to embrace this need for change for all sorts of reasons, but they are increasingly realising that the things that have worked for the last 20 or 30 years may not do so in the future."
Garner says: "In my head a multi-asset approach is about having more balance, holding things with a lower return to balance the riskier instruments."
For Davies it comes back to seeking alternative sources of income, which charities can get obsessed with. "It pushes you into more difficult areas."
So what is Jupiter's multi-asset approach? Sheikh explains that traditionally a multi-asset fund would be roughly split 50/50 in equities and government bonds. "They have done well over the last decade, where the correlation between the two was largely negative over that period. Now, when I look at the world, this has changed as bonds have become expensive. The traditional diversifiers are compromised. So we have to look more broadly at the assets we can buy. Rather than a two-asset class portfolio, we can use a very wide range of different asset classes. This is where we can add underlying value, by having to look more broadly. We are looking for assets that can help us meet clients' objectives with a reasonable balance between risk and return."
Jupiter has launched two multi-asset funds – one an income fund, and one a total return fund. "Clients are pretty agnostic about what goes into them, to a degree. They're saying I want the product because I have an investment desire for a repeatable level of income, or a relatively uncorrelated return stream. Consistency is about trying to achieve that solution.
"I think of it in terms of the following question. Why buy a takeaway when you can cook yourself? The solution is the takeaway. You don't care what goes into it, within reason, as long as it tastes nice. Investors care about whether the end product meets their needs.
"In my previous role at JP Morgan we used to have a conversation about what the investment need was. The first step is determining what we are trying to solve. Then you look at what is a sensible mix of assets that can meet that need. Finally, you build a portfolio around that and make sure that the investor is comfortable with its risk attributes. They can either feel more comfortable taking market or liquidity risk, or accept lower returns."
Richards says that the level of understanding of the range of choice out there for charities is a barrier to new approaches. "Some bigger charities can use advisers and employ specialists. But many others don't have that expert guidance to hand. Being able to explain concepts like multi-asset and what it can bring as a solution for charities of all sizes, letting them know that they have a range of options, is very much what we are trying to facilitate. We need to open up those choices and opportunities at all levels. It is about educating trustees, and more broadly finance teams."
Sheikh concedes that while it may sound obvious, a multi-asset fund looks from the outside potentially more complicated than a single asset fund. "The hurdle for the investor is higher. They know what equities and bonds are, but are confused by multi-asset. It needs greater trust and understanding. The days of fund managers saying 'I am really clever, give me your money and I will report back in a year' have gone, which is great. We should be explaining that this is what we are investing in and what we are trying to do. Part of our job is to ensure this.
"I hate the term hand-holding, but it is about making trustees comfortable. They have other things to worry about other than investment. That should only become an issue if something goes wrong."
Gourlay says that one concern for charities might be the proportion of the fund which is held in illiquid assets, and what return they are giving.
Sheikh thinks that some charities are naturally comfortable with illiquid assets, and he is starting to see more illiquidity than in the past. However, he cautions: "It is called liquidity risk not a liquidity free lunch, so you have to be comfortable with that and be there for the long term. People may not be comfortable with things such as emerging market debt. This is where the multi-asset investor makes the decision for you.
"I am not blind to the fact that the client needs to be sure that if they give us more rope we won't hang ourselves. They need to understand what we do and trust us. From a business point of view we love to have that dialogue as we have a happy client, and it obviously suits us to have a long-term relationship. Charities want a trusted adviser and we want to get engrained in the process."
Clearly multi-asset intuitively sounds sensible but charities are at different levels of engagement and understanding. And while everyone agrees there is a potential problem with the traditional charity approach to investment, and is able to discuss the solutions, how can charities be persuaded to try something new?
Sheikh says that firstly, a multi-asset approach can be seen as more complicated. "They are considering whether they trust you. You need the dialogue to comfort people about the risk being taken. Speak to clients. Work out where they are and what they are worried about.
"The fund management industry has to be honest about what is achievable. Everyone wants cash plus 3 to 5 per cent with no risk, which doesn't exist. You have to take some risk. You have to make sure people understand that and that it matches their risk tolerance. We need to be more transparent."
Richards says it is a question of oversight and clarity of mandates, transparency and knowing what is really going on.
Davies adds: "Ultimately investment decisions sit with trustees, whether they like it or not. Some don't understand these concepts so lose confidence. But as traditional asset allocation to some extent no longer works they need to be nimble about where they put their money. It might be easier to let someone else do it.
"But even when trustees have greater understanding, they still need to find the right manager. It is a generalisation, but many charities are not good clients as they are not clear about what they really want. A manager may come in once a quarter to a board meeting, talk briefly about performance and then go. There should be, on both sides, greater understanding about what each are doing and trying to achieve."
Gourlay says that this lack of understanding is not unique to charities, and also exists in the pension industry, while Richards points out that there is a reputational risk for trustees by not having a full understanding. "This isn't an insurmountable obstacle but it is a danger that fund managers can help with," she says. "While long-termism should make them open to riskier assets, there is a sense of ensuring things don't go wrong on their watch. If you are looking after donors' money for future beneficiaries the stakes are high."
Davies agrees that there is a psychological problem related to trustee term timescales but says this can sometimes work the other way. "Sometimes, far from being cautious, trustees might want their watch to be the one where great returns were achieved."
Sheikh says that doing nothing is not an option in itself – it is also a decision. "Not doing anything is as risky as taking a risk today. You could end up 30 years down the line and the purchasing power of your assets has gone. Doing nothing is not an option. And being transparent about the risks that come with taking a different approach is the investment manager's job."
With thanks to Jupiter Asset Management for its support with this feature
Civil Society Media's Trustee Exchange conference takes place on 28 April 2020, and this year's theme is 'effective decision-making in a complicated world'. View the programme and book online here.
Charity Fund Management Survey 2019
04 Nov 2019 Research
Paul Maguire: Get the balance right on returns and reputation
03 Oct 2019 In-depth
Charity Pooled Funds Survey 2019
08 Jul 2019 Research
Investment 274
Ian Allsop
Understanding governance stage 1: The trustee role
06 Feb 2020 Birmingham
Webinar: Making Tax Digital - navigating the soft-landing period
The art of being an effective chair


Lompoc Brewing is having a five year vertical tasting of one of its finest beers, Old Tavern Rat, a beefy, rich, malty, and hoppy barleywine that ages fantastically. The event is on Tuesday, December 23 from 4pm to Midnight at the newly remodeled Sidebar, 3901 N Williams Ave.
Old Tavern Rat was named in honor of the famed Portland publican Don Younger, the business partner and close friend of Lompoc owner Jerry Fechter. Though the flavors vary with each batch, the beer is generally a very intense (like Don) strong ale with a malty body and plenty of caramel, dried fruit, and roast flavors. The beer's label is a painting of Younger done by the talented John Foyston, local beer writer and painter.
Sidebar is located at 3901 N Williams Ave. Portland, Oregon.


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Porto Sant'Elpidio é uma comuna italiana da região dos Marche, província de Fermo, com cerca de 21.750 habitantes. Estende-se por uma área de 18 km², tendo uma densidade populacional de 1208 hab/km². Faz fronteira com Civitanova Marche (MC), Fermo, Sant'Elpidio a Mare.

Demografia

Comunas de Fermo (província)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Question: What Is Difference Between Resident Alien And Nonresident Alien?
Can non filers get stimulus check?
Is h1b resident alien or nonresident alien?
How long can you be a resident alien?
How do I find non resident alien status?
Is a permanent resident alien card the same as a green card?
How do you track a stimulus check?
What is non resident alien?
Is f1 a non resident alien?
Can a nonresident alien have a SSN?
Can a nonresident alien file 1040?
What is a resident alien?
Can a resident alien get stimulus check?
Is h4 a non resident alien?
Do j1 visa holders get stimulus check?
Who qualifies as a nonresident alien?
Who pay more tax resident alien or nonresident alien?
Do resident aliens have SSN?
Does a nonresident alien have a Social Security number?
The IRS continues to issue Economic Impact Payments as tax returns are processed.
People who aren't required to file a tax return and used the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool to register for a payment can check the status of their payment using the Get My Payment tool..
For tax purposes, there are two types of aliens: resident and nonresident aliens. … Generally, an alien in H-1B status (hereafter referred to as "H-1B alien") will be treated as a U.S. resident for federal income tax purposes if he or she meets the Substantial Presence Test.
Even without having a green card, a person who spends 31 days in the United States during the current year and 183 days during a three-year period that includes the current year and the two years immediately before that, is considered a resident alien.
Definition of Non-resident Alien If a person does not meet either the Green Card or Substantial Presence Test, then that person is classified as a non-resident alien. A new arrival on a J-1 or F-1 visa is generally a non-resident alien.
Having a Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card (PDF, 6.77 MB) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. The steps you must take to apply for a Green Card will vary depending on your individual situation.
If you're asking yourself "where's my stimulus check," the IRS has an online tool that will let you track your payment. The tool is called the "Get My Payment" portal, and it's an updated version of the popular tool Americans used to track the status of their first-round stimulus checks.
An alien is any individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. A nonresident alien is an alien who has not passed the green card test or the substantial presence test.
F and J student visa holders are considered non-resident aliens during their first five calendar years in the U.S. … H-1, TN and O-1 visa holders are considered non-resident aliens until they meet the "substantial presence" test.
Generally, only noncitizens authorized to work in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can get a Social Security number. … Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many benefits and services without a Social Security number.
Nonresident aliens who are required to file an income tax return must use: Form 1040-NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return or, Form 1040-NR-EZ, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Nonresident Aliens With No Dependents, if qualified. Refer to the Instructions for Form 1040NR-EZ to determine if you qualify.
A resident alien is also known as a permanent resident or a lawful permanent resident, which means they are considered an immigrant who has been legally and lawfully recorded as a resident of the country. A resident alien must have a green card or pass a substantial presence test.
Under the March CARES Act, all US citizens and non-US citizens with a Social Security number who live and work in America were eligible to receive stimulus payments. That includes people who the IRS refer to as "resident aliens," green card holders and workers using visas such as H-1B and H-2A.
They're non-resident aliens. The H4 ends at the latest when the corresponding visa of the spouse expires.
A representative from Congressman Andy Harris's office confirmed on Tuesday that the visa holders are eligible if they have a social security number, are not claimed as a dependent by someone else, and meet the income threshold. …
A nonresident alien is a person who is not a U.S. citizen and does not pass the green card or substantial presence tests used to determine tax status.
In general, those who become resident aliens (e.g., earn their Green Cards or otherwise remain in the US for extended periods of time and meet the Substantial Presence test) are taxed fully as US citizens (on all income worldwide), while nonresident aliens have a more limited scope of taxation (but must still pay on …
Upon admission to the United States based on your immigrant visa, you will be a U.S. permanent resident. Each permanent resident needs a Social Security Number (SSN).
A nonresident alien may obtain a Social Security number only if she/he is (1) engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and (2) required to file a U.S. tax return. … An alien who is eligible for employment or self-employment is also is also eligible for an SSN.
What Are Four Non Store Retailing Methods?
What is non store retailing and types? Non-store retailing
What Is The Minimum Typing Speed Required By Most Employers?
How can I increase my typing speed to 100 wpm?
Question: What Does Linking A Nintendo Account Do?
Is linking a Nintendo account safe? Nintendo is notifying
Quick Answer: How Can I Improve My Reputation At Work?
How do you build good reputation at work?
Question: Why Are L1 Visas Getting Rejected?
How can I crack my l1 visa interview? To gain entry


I started the whole thing in 1997.
You may contact me at wk@gnupg.org but do not include any HTML in your mail. In general it is advisable to ask on one of the mailing lists - almost always your are not the only one with that question.


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What the 1st American Ikea Catalog Looked Like in 1985
susanna kim
Jun 12, 2015, 5:13 PM ET
 Ikea celebrates the 30th anniversary of its first U.S. store, June 12, 2015.
Thirty years ago today outside Philadelphia, the first Ikea store in the U.S. opened its doors, bringing Swedish meatballs and Billy bookcases to the American masses.
After the first store in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, the U.S. now represents 12 percent of the Swedish company's global business. There are 40 Ikea stores in the U.S. today employing 36,500 people, according to the company.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Ikea is offering a discount of up to 30 percent on 30 items to the company's loyal "Family" members this weekend, as well as giving fans a blast from the past by showing off its first U.S. catalog.
Ikea and Other Brand Names You've Been Mispronouncing
IKEA Cracking Down on Hide-and-Seekers at Its Stores
Ikea celebrates its 30th birthday in the U.S., June 12, 2015.
There are four iconic Ikea products that are still available today, including the "BILLY bookcase, POÄNG chair, LACK table and KLIPPAN loveseat."
Ikea's "BILLY bookcase" is now $59.99. Ikea celebrates its 30th birthday in the U.S., June 12, 2015.
The 1985 prices are noticeably steeper, though it's not clear if the quality of materials have changed.
Ikea's "KLIPPAN loveseat" in a 1985 catalog. On June 12, 2015, on the company's 30th anniversary in the U.S., it's $299.
The bookcase, for example, is 27 percent cheaper today at $59.99 compared to $82 then.
In Ikea's 1985 catalog, the "LACK table" description states: "Lack tables come in all shapes, sizes and colours. But they all have one thing in common: An impossibly low price." On its 30th anniversary in the U.S., June 12, 2015, it's $9.99.
The "POÄNG chair" is now $69. Ikea celebrates its 30th birthday, June 12, 2015.


MPC Falcon exhaust grille for the short sidewall Bluemoon kit.
Another upgrade part to add to our Falcons.
In this case is for the modded Falcon with the Blue Moon kit with short sidewalls -17 mm height grille-.
The grille has the right size and dimensions to fit the MPC exhaust zone equipped with the Blue Moon kit.


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Home Sports FIFA World Cup 2022: PPP Minister to visit Qatar
FIFA World Cup 2022: PPP Minister to visit Qatar
As part of her visit to the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Hina Rabbani Khar is expected to visit Doha in the first week of December. It will be confirmed by the Ministry soon.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was among the world leaders who attended the inaugural ceremony hosted by Qatar, according to details.
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Qatar Ambassador, Saoud Abdulrahman Al-Thani, recently invited Bilawal Bhutto to watch the World Cup with his Qatari counterpart.
Qatar hosts the first FIFA World Cup in Mulsim history. In 2010, Qatar was awarded the hosting rights, and the Western media has been at the forefront of the propaganda since then.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted earlier this month: "Unfortunate that Qatar is being subjected to a barrage of propaganda as FIFA World Cup host."
It deserves a lot of praise for its arrangements for the mega event and for promoting global peace. "Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Qatari people," he wrote on Twitter.
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Lily James set to play Pamela Anderson in sex-tape drama with Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee
LILY James is set to play Pamela Anderson in sex tape drama with Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee.
The pair will star as the iconic couple in an exclusive series brought to life by Hulu.
In a far cry from her usual period dramas and her recent turn in the Netflix movie Rebecca, 31-year-old Lily will go blonde to depict the famous actress and model.
While Sebastian, 38, known for roles in Captain America and I, Tonya, will do his best rockstar impression as the Mötley Crüe drummer.
Deadline also reports the news that Seth Rogen, 38, is set to take on the role of the man who stole the couple's honeymoon sex tape.
The eight-episode series has been given the working title of Pam & Tommy.
It will depict the sex tape scandal that rocked Hollywood, as well as the pair's whirlwind relationship, which saw them marry in 1995 after knowing each other for only 96 hours.
For years fans could not get enough of their rockstar romance, before they spilt in 1998, although not before having two children together – Brandon and Dylan.
The sex tape's leak online saw the couple enter a legal dispute with video distribution company Internet Entertainment Group, before reaching a settlement agreement.
I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie is set to direct with Rob Siegel writing the script.
Both Pamela and Tommy are not involved in the project, which is set to start filming in the spring.
Lily recently was involved her own scandal when pictures were published of the actress kissing married Dominic West.
Lily and 51-year-old Dominic, who play a father and daughter in upcoming BBC drama The Pursuit Of Love, caused shockwaves when they were seen kissing and cuddling while on holiday in Rome in October.
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RENT had it right when they referenced "La Vie Boheme". Boheme is where it's at this Spring, as far as Make Up For Ever is concerned.
Observe, the awesomeness of the new spring collection. Bursting with beautiful colors and a brand new Rouge Artist formula, this is the collection for spring.
Find the Make Up For Ever Spring La Boheme collection, in Sephora stores now.
I love that palette! Oh my goodness, so gorgeous.


Each One Save One is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children in our community by providing an army of volunteer mentors throughout the metropolitan area. We can easily see the devastation of violence, drugs, teen pregnancy and crime in our communities today but we, as individuals and corporations, can act decisively to effect positive changes and offer concrete alternatives to this generation. Volunteer or donate now!
Each One Save One is an area-wide network whose purpose is to provide mentors for the youth. Each One Save One works with school districts and local government agencies to establish workable mentoring programs where none exist. Our mentors serve one hour during the school day each week for an entire school year. Each One Save One is a school-based mentoring organization, which means our mentors meet in the school during the school day.
The purpose of Each One Save One is to recruit, screen, train, and support mentors. Training, guidance and support will also involve mentees, parents and teachers.
Each One Save One was founded in 1994. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the physical offices of Each One Save One but not the spirit of the caring adults across our community willing to give an hour a week to encourage a young person. Corporations and other businesses provide financial support and/or encourage their employees to spend one lunch hour a week working with a young person at a local school.
Jack Fielkow Scholarship- Deadline Approaching!


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Published: Friday, 12 August 2022 08:20
The waterbreak will make its return to GAA matches this weekend.
Their Central Competitions Control Committee's made the decision due to Ireland's current high temperature warning.
The water-break will last one minute, and will take place after 15 minutes of each half.
It's understood the break - which was a big part of games during the pandemic - is being re-introduced on temporary basis.
THURSDAY 14TH JULY, 2022 U13 DIVISION 3 KNOCKOUT 2022 Breaffy 4-