BORDAS & BORDAS PLLC: How Do You Become a Lawyer?
Bordas & Bordas PLLC issued the following announcement on August 8.
Someone recently asked me what my profession was and when I responded with "attorney" they immediately asked – well how long did it take you to become an attorney? What did you have to do for that? It then dawned on me that the process to becoming an attorney is often overlooked by many. While attending law school is clearly one of the requirements, there are a number of other steps along the way of reaching the goal of becoming a lawyer. These steps often begin as early as high school or even one's first year of college.
Although there is no set major or minor an individual looking to become an attorney must obtain before law school, a college student's grades are important if they have any inkling towards potentially attending law school as GPA is among the main considerations factored in during a review of a law school application. Also, because law school is geared towards reading, research and writing, it doesn't hurt to have a major that focuses on these skills as well. Moreover, there are pre-law courses and pre-law groups that college students can and should utilize to help them not only understand the application process for applying to law school, but also, to help them understand what additional requirements there are for becoming an attorney once law school is completed.
In addition to maintaining a solid GPA and putting research into the law school application process, students must also take the LSAT or in other words the Law School Admissions Test. The LSAT tests students on their analytical and critical reasoning skills as well as their research and writing skills. Students are then given an LSAT score which is another huge element of the law school application and therefore it's important to take the time to prep for the LSAT either on your own or through a prep course.
The LSAT is only the beginning to the law school journey. Individuals then must research the various law schools around the country and start the application process which can take time to complete. Once accepted to law school, there are a number of certain courses that are required of students and specific courses in which a certain grade level must be achieved in order for the student to move on with their studies. Law school typically lasts three years; however, schools are now implementing rapid degree programs where you can obtain your degree in two years. Although many think graduating law school is the end of the process; there's one more step on this path which is often thought to be the hardest and most challenging step along the way – taking the bar exam.
Although each state has its own set of requirements, for the most part, to be admitted to practice law, you must have passed a bar exam. The bar exam is a two-three day test that quizzes you on a variety of legal topics as well as your legal writing skills. Students often study for this exam for months at a time and take prep courses to prepare for the same. In addition to the bar exam, there is a character and ethics part of the process to becoming admitted to practice law which an individual also must pass to be admitted to a bar association.
After successfully completing a bar exam and being admitted to practice law, attorneys must stay current with their continuing legal education credits in order to stay active within their respective bar associations.
In sum, although everyone's path to becoming an attorney is different, this blog should give you some insight into the hard work that your lawyer has put in over the years!
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The cover story explores the promise of "smart" grids, and concerns about related privacy and cybersecurity standards. A second feature presents research and analysis about the nuclear deal with Iran, with a focus on what to expect in the days after a deal. The Q&A features Marc Elliott, who holds the distinguished chair in statistics and was recently identified in a Thomson Reuters ScienceWatch report as one of the world's most cited scientists. The POV column features Raynard Kington, a RAND alum and current president of Grinnell College, on diversity in the biomedical scientific workforce. The Voices column by Shelly Culbertson takes a look at the education crisis among Syrian children. We also report on a $1 million gift to the Pardee RAND Graduate School from Lynda and Stewart Resnick.


My home state of West Virginia could use some good PR.
This week, the results of the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index (WBI) showed that not only was the Mountain State ranked as the saddest state (Hawaii with its beaches was No. 1), but the fattest state, too—for the third year in a row. I now fully expect Jimmy Kimmel to ransack West Virginia in his monologue.
This kind of headline isn't new. I cringe when I flip to the Metrogrades page in Men's Health. In our monthly statistical ranking of 100 American cities, the capital of West Virginia, Charleston, regularly ranks in the bottom 10. Some recent highlights: Diversity, dead last; Best Cities for Men, 98th; Most Dangerous Drivers, 98th (and I always make fun of drivers from Ohio). We can't even luck out when it comes to the amount of luck we have.
It's hard for me to defend the fattest state ranking with 33.5 percent of West Virginians clocking in as obese. We've held on to that title like a heavyweight boxer in his prime (even if that boxer is George Foreman). Huntington, home to my alma mater Marshall University, was once the fattest city in the country. Underscoring this point: The first season of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution was filmed there.
So fattest, okay, I get it. But saddest? Really? In the December 2011 issue, Men's Health published a Metrogrades survey on the most depressed cities in America. We calculated suicide rates, unemployment rates, and even looked at the percentage of households that use antidepressants. Where did West Virginia rank? 54th—with a D+. The WBI did a fairly thorough phone survey of more than 350,000 people in 2012, too. But who's to say they didn't catch these people after a tough West Virginia Mountaineer loss?
The old saying is that any press is good press, but not when it's this ranking year after year. A recent poll released by Widmeyer Communications showed that 76 percent of people said they didn't know much—or anything—about the Mountain State. I can't count the number of times people ask me what part of Virginia I'm from—8 percent of those surveyed didn't know West Virginia was, in fact, its own state. Those that do probably only know it's "fat" and "sad" and home to MTV's Buckwild.
That needs to change. I haven't lived in West Virginia in 4 years, but I'm not sad, I'm not fat, and I remember my home state as anything but deserving of the Metrogrades basement. Here's why you should, too.
The Burn: West Virginia is nothing but small towns, back roads, and hollers.
The Silver Lining: The whole state is actually quite gorgeous because it's not choked with urban sprawl. I grew up in a house overlooking the Ohio River. Nothing you can do in a city park beats watching the sun glisten off the water on a summer night while your thumb rests on a page of an old paperback or your shoes crunch the gravel after a long run.
The Burn: There's nothing to do.
The Silver Lining: You want to gawk at Edvard Munch? Fine, go to The MET. But try finding skiing, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting on Madison Ave. Or anything that compares to the ecstasy that is New River Gorge on Bridge Day, where adrenaline junkies base jump off the 876-foot structure.
The Burn: Fattest state 3 years in a row.
The Silver Lining: Again, I get it: Hell, when I asked my West Virginia friends on Facebook to list their favorite things about the state, almost half mentioned Tudor's Biscuit World. I've never indulged (really, I swear), but I'll be the first to stand up for the the pepperoni roll. I make my own for parties, and if you've ever had one, you too would understand why no West Virginian would believe any survey that says we're sad.
The Burn: There are no jobs.
The Silver Lining: I'm a bad example since I left the state for work, but for what it's worth, the state unemployment rate in Janurary was actually lower (7.4 percent) than the national average (7.9 percent). I'll take it.
The Silver Lining: Hatfields and McCoys. You may think a bloody family feud is nothing to brag about, but the miniseries on History Channel was up for 16 Emmys. And if you think that's dramatic, you should see one of their weddings—I was guest at one of the massive gatherings a few years back.
The Burn: No professional sports teams.
The Silver Lining: That makes local stars heroes. Just ask Jerry West and Randy Moss.
The Burn: The Cracker Barrel is considered fine dining.
The Silver Lining: You'll never find an $8 pint. What you'd pay for three rounds in West Virginia might fill half a pilsner glass in Manhattan.
Is there reason for concern? Sure. These polls reflect a disturbing trend—made even more disturbing when Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin fails to mention the words "health" or "fitness" in his State of the State address. Next time, the Governor should tell everyone about that running path over the Ohio River—or all the other great ways to stay in shape across the state. Even a few minutes of cardio a day can boost serotonin levels in your brain—the hormone associated with feelings of happiness. Hey, it's a start.


Welcome to a Becoming A Modern Man! In this article I will be looking at one of the Top Tier decks of the moment, Mono-Green Tron.
Tron has been a staple of the Modern scene since very early on in the format and different variants have come in and out of fashion. For a very long time, RG Tron was the preferred option with Grove of the Burnwillows fueling sweepers like Pyroclasm . With the arrival of Fatal Push , GB Tron started becoming the favoured version of the deck. These days Mono-Green Tron appears to be the most popular version. I think this is largely due to the increasing presence of cards like Field of Ruin and Blood Moon running around in the format. Mono-Green Tron is heavy on basic lands and can cast all of its spells once it has a Forest in play which makes it more resilient against the hate cards running around.
The list I am using actually dates back to Pro Tour Rivals of Ixalan. This list was played by Eder Damasceno to an 8-2 record at the Pro Tour. The list is slightly dated in that sense but really not a whole lot has changed since then in Mono-Green Tron lists.
You will see from the gameplay videos that I have messed around with a few of the sideboard slots but otherwise my list is pretty much the same as Eder's.
Triskelion 's younger brother is an extremely powerful addition to Tron. You can cast Ballista at varying costs as required. Sometimes it is a 2-drop just as a chump blocker to soak up pressure or to ping off a Dark Confidant or Young Pyromancer . Sometimes it's a 2/2 or a 3/3 and later in the game you can make Ballista huge and it can just win you the game. It fills a lot of roles and is incredibly versatile. A very welcome addition to the Tron deck.
Wurmcoil Engine is a very powerful colourless creature and one that is difficult to answer effectively. Barring a Path to Exile there are not many cheap and efficient ways to answer a Wurmcoil Engine as it produces tokens if it goes to the graveyard. The Lifelink on Wurmcoil Engine also means it helps shore up the deck's natural weakness to fast aggro decks. It is very tricky to attack profitably through a Wurmcoil.
World Breaker is another top end threat that provides an answer to various problem cards. World Breaker is an answer to Blood Moon , Chalice of the Void and various other problem artifacts, enchantments and lands. Also, at worst you can exile a land and you have a 5/7 with reach. World Breaker is also actually one of only two creatures in the deck that can block flyers.
It's actually pretty rare that World Breaker dies once hitting the battlefield but if for any reason it does end up in your graveyard, there is the lesser used ability of returning it to your hand from the graveyard. This can actually be very useful if you are light on threats and allows you to exile another one of your opponent's permanents.
Since arriving in Battle for Zendikar, Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger has become the huge Eldrazi of choice for Tron decks. Exiling two permanents is pretty devastating for an opponent and then there is the little matter of dealing with an indestructible 10/10 that exiles about a third of your library when it attacks. Ulamog certainly has a way of ending the game in a hurry.
Ulamog can be handled with a Path to Exile or a counterspell but you have already got a decent amount of value off the double exile which triggers when it is cast. Also, although the 10-mana casting cost may seem steep remember that Tron can produce 10-mana with as little as 4 lands - 2 x Urza's Tower , Urza's Mine and Urza's Power Plant . I am sure it was never intended for Ulamog to be a four or five-drop but that's very achievable for Tron.
I am still unsure on including Emrakul, the Promised End in the deck. It does have a tendency to win the game but at the same time Tron actually isn't a great Delirium deck. Yes, we do put artifacts readily into the graveyard readily and there are a good number of sorceries but after that it become a bit more tricky. Accordingly, I find Emrakul usually costs 11-mana which when you compare it to Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger at 10-mana doesn't seem that favourable. I might be tempted to swap this out for a third Ulamog or even a third Walking Ballista . I have seen some list play a fourth Oblivion Stone in this spot which is another option.
Ancient Stirrings is a very powerful draw spell that allows you to look at the top five cards of your library and pick our a land or colourless spell. With high number of lands and colourless spells in the deck Stirrings is pretty much guaranteed to hit and can realistically find any card we need. Early on you are often looking to find Tron pieces or cards like Expedition Map to allow you to find Tron. Once you have Tron online then Ancient Stirrings can find your big mana spells, such as your Eldrazi and Planeswalkers.
Being able to search up the land of your choice is obviously something this deck is desperately looking for. Usually Sylvan Scrying finds a Tron piece but it can also be used to find Ghost Quarter and sometimes it is even right to just find a Forest .
A deck that only runs Green and Colourless spells is obviously going to have some trouble with targeted removal. Dismember gives us a spell that can deal with powerful creatures that can land early such as Tarmogoyf and Tasigur, the Golden Fang .
Map is a key card for Tron as it is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of finding a missing Tron piece. Turn 1 Tron piece into Map into Turn 2 Tron piece search for the last Tron piece is a very common and easy way to set up a Turn 3 Tron.
The Chromatic artifacts act as cantrips for the deck and also a way to make green mana when, ideally, we want to play Tron lands each turn. These are very much key as they dig us deeper into the deck to find the cards we need and also produce the mana we need to cast spells like Ancient Stirrings and Sylvan Scrying .
The misers copy of Relic of Progenitus . There was a time when Tron decks were running a lot more copies of Relic in the main deck. There are a lot of decks looking to get up to graveyard shenanigans - be it Delve creatures, Snapcaster Mage s, flashback cards, Dredge or reanimator. Relic acts like the Chromatic Star /Chromatic Sphere in it's another cantrip artifact but has the benefit of being very painful for some other decks.
Oblivion Stone is a very powerful mass removal spells that not only destroys creatures but all non-land permanents. Without Tron it can be a bit slow but even if you have to do it the hard way, clearing the board on Turn 5 can be enough to buy you the time to take control of the game.
The dreaded Turn 3 Karn is something that haunts Modern players nightmares. It is exaggerated as to how often you actually manage to get a Turn 3 Karn but certainly hitting a Karn early can be devastating and in a lot of cases game breaking. Karn is very impactful as it lands and can immediately exile a permanent or tick up and exile a card from an opponent's hand. Karn's high loyalty also makes it difficult to remove through combat damage. It is very rare that you need to ultimate Karn as if you get to the point where Karn has been ticking up for multiple turns you are probably well ahead already but you can restart the game if you so desire.
Ugin is Karn's slightly more expensive partner-in-crime. Another incredibly powerful planeswalker. Ugin is usually able to clear an opponent's non-land permanents while remaining on a healthy enough loyalty count to carry on. Alternatively, you can start Lightning Bolt ing creatures or people and building towards his powerful ultimate.
The Urza Lands, also known as Tron lands, are the engine for the deck. With a copy of all three on the battlefield Tower taps for 3 mana and Mine and Power Plant tap for 2 mana each. This means you can have 7-mana as early as Turn 3 and even larger amounts thereafter.
Since losing Eye of Ugin , Sanctum of Ugin has been the replacement of choice. Sanctum allows you to tutor up a colourless creature from your deck. This is a nice way to find an Ulamog to finish up the game or some other huge creature to seal the game.
Once you have established Tron you can take advantage of your excess ways of searching up lands to find utility lands such as Ghost Quarter . Ghost Quarter is good at fending off opposing Tron decks, dealing with creaturelands and getting rid of Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin.
Nature's Claim is a very cheap answer to problem artifacts and enchantments. It is very good against Affinity, Lantern Control and Blood Moon decks for example. It's also an answer to Stony Silence which is probably one of the more crippling hate cards that opponents can bring in against us. One weakness to only running Nature's Claim is it cannot answer a Chalice of the Void for 1, which is actually quite a powerful play against Tron. It's possible that it's worth adding another slightly more expensive artifact/enchantment destruction spell like Seal of Primordium for that reason.
Thragtusk is the decks answer to some of the more aggressive decks you will face. Thragtusk is good for the same reasons it dominated its time in Standard. Gaining 5 life is a pretty huge swing back in your favour and you then have a threat that replaces itself. It's difficult to deal with Thragtusk profitably as even if it is instantly removed it will leave a 3/3 token in its wake.
Pithing Needle turns off a lot of different and relevant cards in the format. Planeswalkers are the big targets but it can also deal with various other cards including AEther Vial , Knight of the Reliquary , Codex Shredder and even fetchlands. Very strong against planeswalker focused decks and Lantern Control.
Bojuka Bog is a utility land that we can tutor for once we have established Tron or earlier if there is a pressing need. Having graveyard hate that you can bring in in exchange for a land is nice.
Spatial Contortion is another removal spell. Early creatures like Young Pyromancer and Dark Confidant can cause us a lot of trouble so it's good to have additional removal options.
Warping Wail has a lot of uses and can be removal, countermagic against cards like Scapeshift or it can create a blocker. Additionally you can use the Eldrazi spawn to ramp you if required. Wail offers a lot of options and is a solid sideboard card.
Thought-Knot Seer gives us a nice sized creature that also lets us disrupt our opponent, which is particularly useful against Control and Combo decks. I also like bringing in Thought-Knot Seer against aggressive decks or decks where you anticipate there will be a lot of attempts to disrupt your Tron. Having a creature at a more reasonable cost can be helpful to provide board presence in these types of matchup.
Grafdigger's Cage and Relic of Progenitus provide additional graveyard hate. Cage turns off flashback cards, Collected Company and other reanmination strategies. Relic supplements our other ways of emptying the graveyard and can also cantrip.
Our first matchup is against Hollow One. Their deck can be very explosive but it's also pretty high variance. They aren't really interacting with us so if we can get Tron then the majority of our creatures outstrip theirs once they hit the battlefield. It's a bit of a race really. Post-board we can bring in Nature's Claim to kill Hollow One and Blood Moon if they bring that in. We also have Thragtusk which can trade with all of their big creatures while also giving us a healthy life boost.
Our second matchup is a mirror match. This matchup is kind of a race to Tron. Obviously the first person to stick a Karn Liberated or something of the like is likely to be the winner. It's also worth noting that once you have Tron you can search up Ghost Quarter to disrupt your opponent's Tron.
Our third matchup is against GB Value. This deck is sort of a variant on the Selesnya Value deck I covered a few articles back and I think Todd Anderson was involved in innovating this deck too. The deck is actually more focused around Heartless Summoning which can be very powerful if they stick it early. This match was very close and if they can put together the Ramunap Excavator /Ghost Quarter combo together it will make life very difficult.
If you want to see more of GB Value, Corbin Hosler recently did a series of videos on the deck.
Our fourth matchup is against the UW Spirits deck I was playing in my last article. They have a lot of flyers, which can be problematic for us and cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Leonin Arbiter which can disrupt us. Also, this version runs Geist of Saint Traft which can kill us pretty quickly if we stall. I think this matchup largely comes down to whether they are able to disrupt us and apply a good amount of pressure long enough to pick up the win. Once we start dropping our haymakers it become pretty hard for them and cards like Wurmcoil Engine are tough for them to deal with. Post-board you can bring in Thragtusk to make their lives that much harder.
Our final matchup is against Mardu Pyromancer, which is the deck that Gerry Thompson took to the Top 8 of Pro Tour Rivals of Ixalan. This matchup felt pretty good. The real problem is that their deck is able to go wide with cards like Young Pyromancer and Lingering Souls . If we aren't able to answer an early Young Pyromancer life can be very difficult. However, their less aggressive hands are much easier to beat and I think we are pretty favoured in this matchup.
There is a lot of hate surrounding Tron. I see on Twitter and other sources people complaining about Tron fairly regularly. I think this largely surrounds the whole Turn 3 Karn scenario which feels very bad for opponents. Tron is certainly a very powerful engine but I do not think it's every really reached a point of being overpowered in the Modern metagame. Personally, I really like Tron as a deck and I like that it lets you play such flashy and powerful spells, creatures and Planeswalkers. Also, as it stands it's probably the Top Tier deck that I am most comfortable piloting in the current Modern metagame.
The deck can power out huge powerful creatures and Planeswalkers that go over the top of anything your opponent is doing.
The deck is more resilient than it may seem. Unless it is accompanied by a good amount of pressure a single hate card is unlikely to be sufficient to derail Tron thanks to the multiple search effects in the deck. Additionally, even if you cannot put together Tron if your opponent doesn't apply pressure you can get to a stage where you are just hardcasting your big spells naturally. It is very possible to win a game where you never put Tron together.
Has a very strong matchup against Control decks and any of the slower decks in the format as given the time Tron will just go over the top of anything the opponent is doing.
Lantern Control isn't the bogeyman it was when it won the Pro Tour but Lantern is a very good matchup for Tron generally.
Very aggressive decks can be a problem. The deck does not have a lot of early interaction and so speedy aggro decks are problematic. Matchups like 8-Whack Goblins, Burn, Affinity and Infect can be tricky.
Combo decks can also be a problem as again our ways to interact with combos is limited. However, any combo that requires some number of permanents on the battlefield gives us a chance to disrupt it with cards like Karn Liberated or Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger . Accordingly Storm is probably the combo deck that proves most problematic.
Cards like Leonin Arbiter and Aven Mindcensor that prevent you searching your library can be a problem. Expedition Map and Sylvan Scrying are important cards for finding our Tron pieces.
There is quite a bit of main deck hate running around in the current metagame. Main decks Ghost Quarter s and Field of Ruin s are not uncommon and Blood Moon decks also pose a problem.
I think that Mono-Green Tron is a powerful Top Tier deck that has been around for a long-time and is well worth getting to grips with it. I would certainly say it's my favourite deck of the moment.


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The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton and is the first of the series of the same name.
1. I was excited about this book. There is so much potential in the summary, but in the end, it just did not live up to all the hype. The world building felt a lot previous books' world smashed together, like Amy Ewing's The Lone City and the Capital from Hunger Games.
2. Clayton has such a wonderful idea with showcasing how societies try to hide the evils of slavery with beauty. She had a lot of interesting points made during the story, but did not take the time to flesh them out. It felt like she was trying to nail down every little detail instead of really developing the important details.
3. I honestly was not a big fan of Camellia. She is all like Amber is my bestie but as soon as she gets what I wanted, even though I broke the rules, I am angry at her. Plus, no big deal when I steal her job. I did respect the way she treated the servants, and I did want more of her pushing people to be a little more natural in their looks.
4. I disliked Auguste, the "love" interest from the very start. He always just seemed a little off, a little too much like he was running a con on Camellia than really interested in her affections. I was really cheering for her personal guard and her to have a thing.
5. I will say this, that Clayton has come up with an absolutely terrifying antagonist in Princess Sophie. She is definitely a psychopath, and her mood swings are beyond frightening.
6. I will say that I am intrigued enough by the ending to continue with the series at least into the second book. I am hoping that Clayton can fix some of the problems from this book and make a great series.
Read, because I think there is still potential here.


"To Accept One's Enemy is to face the Judge."
A lovely young girl of fourteen came down to breakfast and surprised her family by asking for a second helping. They gave it to her. Then she said, after eating it, "I am going upstairs to die. I have taken poison." She quietly left the table, and went upstairs to her bedroom. Terrified, her family rang up their Doctor. But when he arrived, the girl was dead. At the same time her boy friend, companion at school, had also committed suicide.
I knew her grandfather and grandmother well. I gathered there was no apparent cause. The parents wrote this sad story in their child's funeral card, with a photograph of her as a smiling, happy girl. When the news of the two suicides was gently broken to her school-mates in our neighbouring town, the children declared that they had contemplated killing themselves. They gave no explanation.
Deeply meditating on this – and I know of many similar cases even afflicting under-eights, I came up with this idea. In the past, children were brought up in a richly populated world containing God, Angels, Ancestors, Devils, ghosts and a future existence for themselves in some other sphere, either pleasant or fearful. That belief in the supernatural was very real was shown to my brother, a rector. A farmer, his parishioner, asked him at a dinner party: "Tell me, Padre, when Our Lord ascended into Heaven, did he go into orbit?" Science was catching up on him! So in this no-man's land between 'Homo Sapiens' and 'Divine Humanity', children are brought up in a psychological vacuum, for who can endure the prospect of oblivion at death.
My mother told me she had been afraid of going to hell, because she did not believe in it. At least she had a hope of survival somewhere! One little boy I knew asked what had happened to a lady who had just died. He was told she had gone to sleep forever. He fainted with horror.
Within every creature is totality – childhood, life, death and beyond. Within each human, in the womb, are the embryos of the fish, the reptile – and the famous chimpanzee plus tail, which comprises 98% of our physical bodies. We all start female in the womb anyway.
People who turn up their noses at containing mere animals – and so tolerate vivisection – ignore their divine selves, for our future is with us like a buried star.
I have my painting of the red-haired boy in rags, seated in a slum doorway. I had it propped on railings outside my first painting exhibition in 1938. The little boy himself came up and contemplated himself! When I painted similar children during my work on the Dublin city playgrounds – I gave the children themselves a glamorous version – I would depict them glowing with health, instead of being emaciated; richly clad with necklaces and smart socks and even boots, instead of bare feet. One boy wanted a football jersey. He got it – in paint.
But is there some artistic link with this earth and spirit sphere? I painted the red-haired boy eight years before I saw a child in an energy body. I was lying flat on a couch when I heard a rushing sound – my arms were lifted above my head – and leaning over me was a divinely luminous small boy, shining with golden colour. He had hair like uncarded vermilion wool – and the most glorious smile I have ever seen – showing dazzling white teeth. He looked Indian.
We all have our divine counterpart in Divine Reality. We worry over our transient physical counterparts – a material replica – sometimes a travesty, of our true Selves.
I expect many of us democrats worry about the coming of "Indigo children" – alleged to be from the stars. This suggests a detestable caste system: "I am high, sister." "And I am higher than you…" Great will be the number of "Merlins," "Archangel Michaels" and "Nefertitis", I fear. We have enough of these already. True Avatars do not advertise!
Who indeed. This see-saw of balance of characters is designed by Providence to help us. Whenever someone comes into our life whom we detest as antagonistic, unpleasant, critical… We face our Judge! For who can judge us as truthfully as an enemy? We should give thanks. By the way, I wonder if Leonardo and Michelangelo ever make it up?


text:
IRS Tax Lien, How to release federal tax liens and levies
IRS Tax Lien – How to release federal tax liens and levies
Taxpayers have the right to appeal the IRS' filing of a notice of a tax lien in the public record and petition for release. If filed in error, the IRS must release the lien and state that the lien was erroneous. The request for tax relief must be based on one of the following grounds: (1) the tax liability had been satisfied before the lien was filed; (2) the assessing of the tax liability violated either the notice of deficiency procedures or the Bankruptcy Code; or (3) the limitations period for collecting the liability had expired prior to the filing of the lien.
The IRS may withdraw a tax lien before payment in full if:
(1) the filing of the lien notice was premature or not in accord with administrative procedures;
(2) the taxpayer has entered into an agreement to satisfy the tax liability;
(3) withdrawal of the lien notice would facilitate the collection of the tax liability; or
(4) the withdrawal of the lien notice would be in the best interest of the taxpayer and the government.
The withdrawal of a notice of tax lien does not affect the underlying tax lien; rather, the withdrawal simply relinquishes any lien priority the IRS had obtained when the tax lien notice was filed.
The IRS is required to release a levy if:
(1) the underlying tax liability is satisfied or becomes unenforceable due to lapse of time;
(2) the IRS determines that the release of the tax levy will facilitate the collection of the tax debt;
(3) a satisfactory installment payment agreement has been executed by the taxpayer with respect to the tax liability;
(4) the IRS agrees that the levy is creating a financial hardship; or
(5) the fair market value of the property exceeds the tax liability, and the partial release of the IRS levy would not hinder the collection of tax.
In addition, a taxpayer may request that the IRS sell the levied property.
The IRS has been given authority to return property that has been levied upon if:
(1) the tax levy was premature or not in accordance with the IRS administrative procedure;
(2) the taxpayer has entered into an installment agreement to satisfy the tax liability, unless the agreement provides otherwise;
(3) the return of the property will facilitate collection of the tax liability; or
(4) with the consent of the taxpayer, the return of the property would be in the best interests of the taxpayer and the government.
Property is returned in the same manner as if the property had been wrongfully levied upon, except that the taxpayer is not entitled to interest.
A taxpayer may bring a suit in federal district court if an IRS employee knowingly or negligently fails to release a tax lien on the taxpayer's property after receiving written notice from the taxpayer of the IRS's failure to release the lien. The taxpayer may recover actual economic damages plus the costs of the action. Injuries such as inconvenience, emotional distress, and loss of reputation are not compensable damages unless they result in actual economic harm. Costs of the action that may be recovered are limited generally to certain court costs and do not include administrative costs or attorney's fees, although attorney's fees may be recoverable under Code Sec. 7430. A two-year statute of limitations, measured from the date on which the cause of action accrued, applies.
Third-Party Owners. A third-party owner of property against which a federal tax lien has been filed may obtain a certificate of discharge with respect to the lien on such property. The certificate is issued if (1) the third-party owner deposits with the IRS an amount of money equal to the value of the government's interest in the property as determined by the IRS or (2) the third-party owner posts a bond covering the government's interest in the property in a form acceptable by the IRS.
A third-party owner who is a co-owner of property with the taxpayer against whom the underlying tax was assessed may no longer be automatically barred from obtaining a certificate of discharge with respect to a lien on the property. Applicable to requests to obtain a discharge after January 31, 2008, third-party owners may request the discharge of a tax lien on property that they own with the person whose tax liability gave rise to the tax lien.
If the IRS determines that (1) the liability to which the tax lien relates can be satisfied from other sources or (2) the value of the government's interest in the property is less than the IRS's prior determination of the government's interest in the property, then the IRS will refund (with interest) the amount deposited and release the bond applicable to such property. Within 120 days after a certificate of discharge is issued, the third-party owner may file a civil action against the United States in a federal district court for a determination of whether the government's interest in the property (if any) has less value than that determined by the IRS.
Keywords: IRS tax lien, IRS Tax Levy, tax lien, tax liens, federal tax lien, federal tax levy, stop wage garnishment, release tax levy, IRS wage levy, IRS bank levy, release tax levies, IRS tax help, Tax Relief Video, stop ca ftb wage garnishment, release ca ftb wage garnishment, stop ca ftb levy, release ca ftb tax lien
Stop wage garnishment, IRS Tax Levy, release IRS levies and release federal tax liens in the following states, counties, and metro cities, Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington D.C.. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming. AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY New York, Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Ventura, Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Barbara, Chicago, Washington D. C., Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Cleveland, San Diego, St Louis, Denver, San Juan, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Portland, Cincinnati, Sacramento, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Orlando, Indianapolis, San Antonio, Norfolk & VB, Las Vegas, Columbus, Charlotte, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Greensboro, Austin, Nashville, Providence, Raleigh, Hartford, Buffalo, Memphis, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Rochester, Grand Rapids, Reno, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Richmond, Greenville, Dayton, Fresno, Birmingham, Honolulu, Albany, Tucson, Tulsa, Tempe, Syracuse, Omaha, Albuquerque, Knoxville, El Paso, Bakersfield, Allentown, Harrisburg, Scranton, Toledo, Baton Rouge, Youngstown, Springfield, Sarasota, Little Rock, Orlando, McAllen, Stockton, Charleston, Wichita, Mobile, Columbia, Colorado Springs, Fort Wayne, Daytona Beach, Lakeland, Johnson City, Lexington, Augusta, Melbourne, Lancaster, Chattanooga, Des Moines, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Modesto, Fort Myers, Jackson, Boise, Billings, Madison, Spokane, Montgomery, and Pensacola
Posted in: Back Taxes, IRS Federal Tax Lien, IRS Tax Help, Offer In Compromise - OIC, Payroll Tax Problems, Tax Controversy, Tax Help, Tax Relief, Wage Garnishment and Wage Levy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Difference between aws s3 cli grants and Java API AccessControlList when uploading object Using the aws s3 cli, I can upload a file using the "cp" command and, at the same time, grant a specific user full control by ID using the "--grants" option and it works.
However, when using the Java API, I am using the AccessControlList and using grantPermission to give a specific user full control by ID and then associating the AccessControlList with the PutObjectRequest, but I am not achieving the same result.
Is there a distinction between how the "--grants" option works on the cli "cp" command and the AccessControlList in the PutObjectRequest in the API?
Note that the upload is conditional on that user getting full control (the upload gets "access denied" otherwise).
Thanks.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Find range of $m$ such that $|x^2-3x+2 | = mx$ has 4 distinct solutions
$|x^2-3x+2 | = mx$

I think that $(x^2-3x+2) = mx$ or $-(x^2-3x+2) = mx$
For $-(x^2-3x+2) = mx$, $D > 0$,
$m = 3 \pm \sqrt{8}$
For $(x^2-3x+2) = mx$, $D > 0$,
$m = -3 \pm \sqrt{8}$
Now. What do you think it's the range?
Note that $ |x^2-3x+2 | = mx$ which means $mx > 0$ isn't it?

A: Solving $|x^2-3x+2|=mx$ is same as finding the intersection of the graph of $y=|x^2-3x+2|$ and the lines $y=mx$ passing through the origin. Here is a figure to better illustrate the idea.

By changing the value of $m$ we are changing the slope of the line passing through the origin. Unless this line is tangent or  passes through the middle cusp in the graph there cannot be $4$ solutions. This means the first instance the line will intersect the graph at $4$ points (tangent point is counted as double point) is when this line is tangent to the graph.
Ques: what is the point of tangency?
Let $(h,k)$ be the point on (the middle cusp) the curve such that the line $y=mx$ is tangent. Then using the fact that slope of the line $\frac{k}{h}$ should be the same as the slope of the curve (in particular the middle cusp which is given by $y=-x^2+3x-2$), we get
$$m=\frac{k}{h}=\frac{dy}{dx}\Big|_{(h,k)}=-2h+3.$$
But $k=-h^2+3h-2$, so this gives $h=\pm \sqrt{2}$. Note that the negative value is not possible. So $\color{red}{h=\sqrt{2}}$.
Observe that the slope $m=-2h+3=3-2\sqrt{2}$.
Since you have asked for $4$ distinct solutions, so
$$\color{red}{0 <m < 3-2\sqrt{2}}.$$

A: Hint:
$$x^2-3x+2=\pm mx$$ has two distinct real solutions when the discriminant is strictly positive, i.e.
$$(\pm m-3)^2-8=(\pm m-3-\sqrt8)(\pm m-3+\sqrt8)>0.$$
The condition must hold for the two signs, and the general condition is
$$((m-3-\sqrt8>0\land m-3+\sqrt8>0)\lor(m-3-\sqrt8<0\land m-3+\sqrt8<0))\land\\
((-m-3-\sqrt8>0\land-m-3+\sqrt8>0)\lor(-m-3-\sqrt8<0\land-m-3+\sqrt8<0)).$$
This simplifies to
$$(m-3-\sqrt8>0\lor m-3+\sqrt8<0)\land\\
(-m-3-\sqrt8>0\lor-m-3+\sqrt8<0).$$
The rest is yours.

The graphical approach (as by Anurag) is interesting. We can consider the equation
$$\left|x-3+\frac2x\right|=m$$ and plot the LHS. From the plot, we see that the solution will consist of two intervals, $(0,a)$ and $(b,\infty)$, where $a,b$ are extremal values of the LHS.

A: If $f(x) = x^2-(3+m)x+2$, the discriminant is
$D = (3+m)^2-4\cdot 2 = (m+3)^2-8.$
This gives you a quadratic polynomial in $m$. If you have two solutions for $m$, you get in total four solutions of $f(x)$.


text:
Rachel Anne Stewart1
F, #276581, d. 2 October 1863
Rachel Anne Stewart was the daughter of Major William Stewart.1 She married Robert Blakeney, son of Reverend Thomas Blakeney and Alicia Newcome, in 1846.1 She died on 2 October 1863.1
From 1846, her married name became Blakeney.1
Children of Rachel Anne Stewart and Robert Blakeney
Stewart Blakeney1 d. 11 Oct 1939
William Newcome Blakeney2 b. 1854, d. 20 Dec 1949
[S47] BIFR1976 Blakeney, page 126. See link for full details for this source. Hereinafter cited as. [S47]
Major William Stewart1
Major William Stewart lived at Drummagassen House, County Antrim, IrelandG.1
Child of Major William Stewart
Rachel Anne Stewart+1 d. 2 Oct 1863
Stewart Blakeney1
M, #276583, d. 11 October 1939
Stewart Blakeney was the son of Robert Blakeney and Rachel Anne Stewart.1 He married Anne Elizabeth Bourne, daughter of William Bourne, on 12 October 1894 in a childless marriage.2,1 He died on 11 October 1939 at SwitzerlandG.2
He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, County Dublin, IrelandG, in 1871 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)1 He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for County Down.1 He sold all his land in Ireland.1
Anne Elizabeth Bourne1
Anne Elizabeth Bourne was the daughter of William Bourne.1 She married Stewart Blakeney, son of Robert Blakeney and Rachel Anne Stewart, on 12 October 1894 in a childless marriage.1,2
From 12 October 1894, her married name became Blakeney.1,2
William Bourne1
William Bourne was appointed Companion, Order of the Star of India (C.S.I.)1
Child of William Bourne
William Newcome Blakeney1
William Newcome Blakeney was born in 1854.1 He was the son of Robert Blakeney and Rachel Anne Stewart.1 He died on 20 December 1949, without issue.1
He was awarded the honorary degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) by Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, County Dublin, IrelandG, in 1876.1 He lived at Appin House, Wokingham, Berkshire, EnglandG.1
Lieutenant George Blakeney1
Lieutenant George Blakeney was born on 19 July 1810 at Dublin, County Dublin, IrelandG.1 He was the son of Reverend Thomas Blakeney and Alicia Newcome.1 He died unmarried.1 His will (dated 21 August 1846) was proven (by probate) in September 1853.1
He retired from the military in 1835, with the rank of Lieutenant, late of the 83rd Regiment of Foot.1 He was an Inspector, Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.)1 He lived at Moville, County Donegal, IrelandG.1
Anne Blakeney1
F, #276588, b. 4 May 1806
Anne Blakeney was born on 4 May 1806.1 She was the daughter of Reverend Thomas Blakeney and Alicia Newcome.1 A settlement for the marriage between her and John Nugent was made on 6 July 1830.1 A settlement for the marriage between her and Reverend William Trocke was made on 16 August 1837, with issue, (this was her second marriage.)1
From 6 July 1830, her married name became Nugent.1 From 16 August 1837, her married name became Trocke.1
John Nugent1
M, #276589, d. 25 April 1835
A settlement for the marriage between him and Anne Blakeney was made on 6 July 1830.1 He died on 25 April 1835.1
He lived at Lacken, County Westmeath, IrelandG.1
Reverend William Trocke1
A settlement for the marriage between him and Anne Blakeney was made on 16 August 1837, with issue, (this was her second marriage.)1
He lived at Mount Ormond, County Kilkenny, IrelandG.1


text:
Solar Power Plant Replaces Fossil Energy
Project type: Solar
Project location: Dominican Republic
Installing the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean the project is an alternative to the fossil driven electricity fuel mix by sun power and furthermore creates local employment, a visitor center and a fund for social activities
It is the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean and a first of its kind in the region.
Once the plant will be fully contructed, 264,000 pieces of solar modules will be installed on an area as big as 50 football pitches.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony of Phase 1 on Mar. 29th, 2016. Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic (3rd from left), and Dr. Quincy Lin, GES Chairman (5th from left).
The Monte Plata solar project will increase fivefold the current photovoltaic power in the country's energy mix once the overall project has been completed.
There was no rainforest where the solar panels are located but unused meadows and bushland (see map).
Monte Plata with its 27,000 inhabitants borders on the solar power plant.
On google maps you see the harmonious integration of the installation in the environment.
Local project employees presenting on the Gold Standard and Sustainable Development at the local stakeholder consultation in October 2011.
Connection to the national feed-in is near and already existing.
% of the income from carbon credits goes toward schools
pieces of solar modules installed
permanent jobs created
The project activity consists in the installation of a 60 Megawatt photovoltaic Solar Energy Farm in the Monte Plata province in the Dominican Republic. The expected solar irradiation per year (with 1,490 kWh/kWp) is approximately one and a half times higher than in Switzerland. 100 Giga Watt hours (equals the consumption of 20,000 households in Switzerland) electricity will be produced per year thanks to this ideal solar radiation conditions.
It is the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean and a first of its kind in the region. It produces renewable, local produce electricity for around 50,000 households in the Dominican Republic per year. Almost 70,000 t CO₂ are being reduced per year. This equals the burning of around 26 million liter fossil fuel.
The success of Monte Plata solar project increases local employment rate and raises the percentage of renewable energy for the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Quincy Lin, Chairman of GES
An assessment of environmental effects has been done. The owner is obliged to reforest outside the project area any if needed deforestation activity and to conserve an area next to a river adjacent to the project site. At least equal amount of native flora will be replanted next to the project site and also a plantation of different plant species within the boundaries of the project site is mandatory. In addition, a visitor center will be installed next to the site to demonstrate renewable energy possibilities and to provide climate education. At least five percent of the income of carbon revenue will flow in a revolving fund managed by the community of Monte Plata dedicated for social activities.
Thanks to the support of myclimate and the CO₂ offsetting mechanism the attractiveness of the project for investors can be improved. The project activity is financed by GES and operated by Soventix.
More Pictures on Facebook
5% of the income from carbon credits goes to local schools.
People are being trained on different aspects of the project.
167 GWh of renewable energy has been delivered to the grid until 2019. This means locally produced renewable electricity for around 100,000 households.
49 long-term positions have been generated (33 men and 16 women). Additionally, 36 security employees from an external company are being employed and 200 jobs were created during construction.
500 trees have been recultivated.
Foreign experts were involved in the project to build local capacity. 264,000 pieces of solar modules have been installed (equivalent to 50 football pitches), completing the spread of environmentally sound technology.
National electricity fuel mix
UNFCCC Project Documentation


The place to post tips, suggestions, video links, etc.
Lots of interesting stuff going on at UC Davis.
It is with a heavy heart that I take on the duties of UC Davis Chancellor on an acting basis under the present circumstances. I appreciate the kindness and encouragement of our diverse campus community. I ask for your continued support as we move our great university forward.
Information has recently come to light that raises serious questions about whether Chancellor Katehi may have violated several University of California policies, including questions about the campus's employment and compensation of some of the chancellor's immediate family members, the veracity of the chancellor's accounts of her involvement in contracts related to managing both the campus's and her personal reputation on social media, and the potential improper use of student fees. The serious and troubling nature of these questions, as well as the initial evidence, requires a rigorous and transparent investigation. As such, President Napolitano will appoint an independent, outside investigator to conduct the investigation and submit a report, before the start of the 2016-17 academic year. The president, with the support of the leadership of the Board of Regents, has determined it is in the best interest of UC Davis that Chancellor Katehi be placed on investigatory administrative leave from her position as chancellor pending the outcome of this investigation. Pursuant to an existing delegation of authority, UC Davis Provost Ralph Hexter will fill the chancellor role on an acting basis.
NOTE: This message has been verified by our "Authentic Message Registry" group.
Apparently, they have now all banded together and wish to go to school for free….but ONLY BLACK STUDENTS get to go to schools for free.
The rest of us will just have to pay for it because we all are guilty of being white.
Here is what I want, where are the Attorney Generals in this country?? Why are they not standing up and telling all of these groups that they are legally unable to have any of their "demands" met at this time?? What are they so busy doing that is more important than addressing the lack of free speech and civil rights laws on our nations college campuses??
Oh, I forgot, they are busy prosecuting anyone who says anything against Islam, Muslims, or the clock boy.
The story gets even bette the more it is reported. Listening to the spin of denial is really entertaining.
Another threat against black lives on college campus happened recently, we need to stop the aggression against brown and black bodies, this system of white systemic racism must end… wait, the perpetrator was a black female college student??
She will never be charged with a hate crime because that law only applies to white males of privilege.
Student at Brandeis wrote an op-ed on the BLM protests on campus. Finally someone wiling to stand up to the narrative on campus. Everyone should see it!
University of California Regents Meeting yesterday on intolerance.
UC Irvine professor Chuck O'Connell takes exception to UCI commemorating Memorial Day.
This could be an important development in the fight against classroom indoctrination -at least within the University of California.
On Fox News site: Teacher to student: If you don't support gay marriage, drop my class. Todd Starnes on Marquette University.
Yeah, like government workers; living like kings off the taxpayers dime. That's what happens with federal funds going to "Help" students afford college.
Are you following this story from Northeastern?
A new documentary giving the statistics to show that college attendance is in a bubble.
Tonight, the undergraduate student government of Arizona State University, the Senate specifically, will be bringing a bill to the floor to divest from Caterpillar because of their link to Israel and the death of Rachel Corrie. The bill largely cites the UN as justification for this, as well the death of Rachel Corrie. I read it last night and it's largely garbage, linking to those oh-so-reputable souls at the UN who called Israel's expansion illegal.
Open debate will be Thursday, 3/20.
I'm writing to urge you to take a good look at Nancy Mace, a Republican running against Lindsey Graham. I think you will be as favorably impressed as I was. She is a strong conservative, an author, and the first woman to graduate from The Citadel Military Academy.
I have nothing to do with her campaign although I felt compelled to donate after some research today. It will be an uphill fight but consider the IMMEDIATE impact a serious challenge to Graham would have on the whole Amnesty push. This could send a timely and immediate message to wavering Republicans NOW. Such could be signaled by a surge in the polls, on social media, or major buzz in key conservative blogs.
Hope to see her on LI and thanks for all you do so well.
Sir, I was serious, this cartoonist needs to be nominated for a Pulitzer prize, the deadline is 1/25/13. Michael Ramirez has won two Pulitzer's and most of his work is not quite as good as Branco. Please consider nominating.
I alerted him to the comment you made over at Legal Insurrection on this topic.
Hmmm, the tip line won't seem to let me post.
I just notice that there is _no_ _'Preview'_ button here at Col▪lege In▪sur▪rec▪tion to preview comments before clicking 'Submit'.


Khalil Abou Obeid also known as Khalil Abu Obeid is a well known music teacher at the Star Academy Reality Show.
- Diploma of Graduation in Harmony, Music Theory & Dictation.
- High End of studies in Arabic Music.
- Diploma of music writing (composition) and opera.
- Master in Musicology Music Sacred And music education.
Khalil Abu Obeid is also the head of many of musical training Lebanese schools and universities.
He is a creative chief Of chorus and a talented oriental music composer, who focuses on both classical and techno music.
Khalil Abou Obeid is considered as the Hottest Music Teacher and ranked 4th in the official Top 100 Sexiest Arab Men 2010 list.


text:
African Swine Fever: 80 000 pigs culled at two farms in Bulgaria's Rousse
August 10, 2019 August 12, 2019 The Sofia Globe staff African Swine Fever
The culling and burial of close to 80 000 pigs at two industrial pig farms in Bulgaria's Rousse district where outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) were detected have been completed, Bulgarian National Television said on August 10.
At the industrial pig farms, in the villages of Nikolovo and Brushlen, a specialist company is carrying out disinfection.
The procedure will take about 10 days, after which the farms will additionally have to disinfect their premises and all equipment. This, according to their managers, will last about two to three months.
Meanwhile, a new vehicle disinfection system is being installed at the Danube Bridge border crossing, BNT said.
The hunting season for feathered game opened on August 10, with Bulgaria's Agriculture Ministry warning hunters to carry out disinfection procedures against ASF.
A week ago, Bulgaria banned hunting in areas where outbreaks of ASF have been confirmed.
Agriculture Minister Dessislava Taneva said on August 9 that 30 outbreaks of ASF had been confirmed in Bulgaria, mainly in the northern part of the country, and including six at industrial pig farms.
Most of the new cases were in wild boar, she said.
Taneva said that even in areas where there are protests and farmers refuse to slaughter their pigs, 75 per cent had already done so.
She said that there undoubtely would be staffing and organisational changes at the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, but these could not be carried out now "at the height of the African swine fever infection when we need people on the ground".
The agency has been subject to severe criticism over its handling of the ASF crisis and is under investigation by prosecutors over its public procurement procedures.
← US investor building 300M leva entertainment complex in Bulgaria's Svilengrad
Bulgarian police shut down 'retro' photo stall over Nazi uniforms →
European Parliament approves 6.3M euro aid for Bulgaria over early 2015 heavy snowfall, floods
October 6, 2015 October 7, 2015 The Sofia Globe staff
Covid-19 in Bulgaria: Morbidity rate continues to climb
Socialists, Dogan's party table motion of no confidence in Borissov Cabinet over CVM report


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Maggie Breslin Visits Designing for Service
by Jamin | Nov 1, 2007 | Design | 0 comments
This week Maggie Breslin, a former Carnegie Mellon design grad, visited our Designing for Service class to hear about our University of Pittsburgh Medical Center projects and give a presentation on her service design work for the Sparc Innovation Program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
She described her role as both understanding and making. But what do you make if you're a service designer? A composition of elements—space, technology, people and roles, processes, and tools—within a given context. Adding, subtracting, and manipulating those elements is the work of service design, she said.
Part of her job as a designer is also to steward the customer experience. In healthcare, service is often designed as a rational systems, but she points out there is also an emotional system, through which the most interesting, most powerful information, is revealed.
The idea of the emotional system, or feeling system, as she sometimes said, got me thinking about the complexity we face as designers when you truly consider the dimensions of human behavior. As evidence of this, Maggie said they start every project by talking to patients in order to reconnect to that moment. "You can never talk to too many patients," she said. Further, their process is to prototype with actual patients and doctors because the emotional piece is too hard to predict.
Regarding design, Maggie stressed the importance of storytelling, making, and critique. She claimed that if you can't tell a good story, you can't affect change within an organization. By telling a story, you can immerse your audience in the experience, which works better than a presentation, she said.
This speaks to the value of video sketches over presentations. As designers, we seek to envision the future and share that vision with others. Stories are an excellent way to convey that vision, and visualizing the story works even better. And while video sketches can do this, Maggie acknowledged that there is a lot of opportunity to do something different. The key, she said, is to find a way to make an idea stick.
As for making, that is a skill that separates the designer from other practices. Designers translate understanding into making, she said. Making is key. This point is echoed by another School of Design alum, Dan Saffer, on A Brief Message. Maggie recognized the value of all the making she had to do as a grad student, even when the making seemed unrelated to her field of study.
Finally, she expressed critique as a skill the differentiates the designer. I had not considered critique to be a skill, but it makes sense. She put it in terms of being able to share work and ideas without being fearful of criticism, and in fact welcoming the criticism because you know it will make your work all the better. In addition to taking criticism, she also acknowledged that because of our experience with critique, we are skilled at giving criticism as well.
The last thing she mentioned that I really appreciated was an example of designing for interaction that involves no technology or interface. She showed a video where a doctor was having difficulty talking to a patient about quitting smoking. Designing for a conversation…that too is interaction design.


text:
Review of Evolution: A View from the 21st Century, Fortified
The Definitive book on Why Evolution Works as Well as it Does
Evolution: A View from the 21st Century, Fortified is James Shapiro's magnum opus, a triumph of 50 years of intense scholarship – from the man who discovered that bacteria can restructure their own DNA.
If you're brand new to evolution, or not scientifically adept, feel free to skip this book. But for intermediate or advanced students, it's a feast.
The intended audience ranges from the general reader who is somewhat familiar with evolution, to the most rigorous molecular biologist.
On the right, the 2011 and 2022 editions are pictured together. This new volume contains:
-A complete reproduction of his out-of-print 2011 book, which is not even slightly obsolete. In fact the 2011 book was short and incredibly dense with a remarkable amount of information on each page. The science textbook equivalent of a thick rich slab of pecan pie.
This is accompanied by:
-An introduction that explains, with zero hyperbole, the absolutely CRUCIAL nature of getting evolutionary science back on the right track. For 100 years the field of evolutionary biology has been built on quicksand. All the major assumptions of the "Modern Synthesis" have been disproven. The five most popular books on evolution by Dawkins, Coyne and Futuyma omit nearly all the most important discoveries.
The Modern Synthesis aka Neo-Darwinism has wrought devastating consequences on the human race in failure to solve cancer, viruses and infectious diseases. The implications of this run for miles in all directions.
In this book, James Shapiro describes:
"Natural Genetic Engineering" refers to cells' innate ability to re-organize their genomes in response to hundreds of kinds of inputs. This is the star of the show. Not natural selection.
Horizontal Gene Transfer, cells exchanging segments of DNA to instantly gain new features;
Inter-species hybridization – new species form when unlikely mates cross from two different species;
Symbiogenesis, when separate organisms physically merge to form a new species;
Epigenetics, shaping heredity without altering the DNA sequence;
Whole Genome Duplication – DNA doubling to expand "hard drive space" and make room for novel features.
In most books, the introductions are filler. The introduction of this book is by itself worth the price of admission.
-A dozen or so Huffington Post articles written by Shapiro, aimed at general readers, including helpful added commentary and dialogue from the blog discussions. Topics range from unsung heroes of evolutionary biology such as Evelyn Witkin to the now-thoroughly-discredited "Junk DNA" theory, to outdated concepts of the (selfish) gene.
-Papers on the Read-Write genome, a concept which all by itself turns biology upside down and inside out. Traditional evolutionary theory is rooted in a misinterpretation of Crick's "Central Dogma," which insists that information can only flow one way. It has been demonstrated far beyond dispute that organisms not only read instructions from their DNA, they also write instructions TO their DNA, because the genome and organism are engaged in a dance. Without this, evolution would not be possible.
-In my opinion the most important and profound paper is "All Living Cells are Cognitive" (page 541). Where does Natural Genetic Engineering come from? How do cells get their ability to engineer their way through any imaginable situation? No one knows for sure, but one thing all life forms have in common is they are smart. They don't just 'act smart' on certain occasions. They ARE smart.
"Cognition" is a technical term that encompasses cellular intelligence and this paper makes an unassailable case that all life forms are a lot smarter than most people think they are.
In my opinion cognition is THE central question in biology, and like the related concept of consciousness, it is unsolved. But what is unmistakably clear is that it is there and the mystery is staring us in the face.
If you begin with the understanding that this is the #1 issue in evolution, everything else you discover in Shapiro's work will make sense. As Barbara McClintock said, "A goal for the future would be to determine the extent of knowledge the cell has of itself, and how it utilizes this knowledge in a "thoughtful" manner when challenged." (McClintock 1984).
When she made this statement, I don't believe the world was ready to grapple with this question. Today, with the "hard problem of consciousness" now being at the forefront of biology, philosophy and psychology, perhaps we are ready to confront the magnitude of this mystery.
-An extensive glossary
-A bulwark of scholarly references distributed throughout the book. I estimate 2,000 to 3,000. His original 2011 book had over 1100. This book is a solid foundation for a lifetime of scholarship for future students of evolution.
The book is justifiably endorsed by some of the finest evolutionary thinkers of our time, including Lynn Margulis, Carl Woese, Denis Noble and Sydney Altman. It poses decades of future research questions and avenues of exploration. It points to dozens of mysteries and unanswered questions, and answers to any of them could merit multiple Nobel prizes.
Considering that many of these papers are paywalled and cost $40 each to download, the price of the printed book is a bargain; the Kindle edition is a triple bargain.
Shapiro has had his share of detractors, both on the Intelligent Design side (some of whom insist that such problems are scientifically unsolvable) and on the reductionist / Darwinist side (who have vastly underestimated and under-reported nature's ingenuity for a century).
There are three things to say about this:
1) I've been following Shapiro's work for 15 years and I've never seen anyone mounting criticisms come to the table with anything even approaching Shapiro's level of scholarship and rigor. If there is one thing to be learned from James Shapiro, it is: Never bring a knife to a gunfight. He showed up to this fight with tanks and aircraft carriers.
2) Since the 2016 Royal Society "New Trends in Biological Evolution" conference at the Royal Society in London, which Shapiro helped organize, the old-school Neo-Darwinists have gone silent. This is because Neo-Darwinism is utterly impossible to defend. These men should frankly be ashamed at their overt efforts to obstruct the process of science, especially during the last 30 years. I attended the Royal Society meeting in person, and it was a remarkable de-throning of what prior to that time was an unassailable cabal of bullies. The present task is now to disseminate accurate information.
3) Despite his detractors, Shapiro remains a perfect gentleman at all times. Evolution debates can be as rancorous as any field you've ever seen, but throughout his career he has insisted on civilized dialogue. His delivery is calm, peaceable, factual and never polemical.
It is difficult to overstate how inhospitable the field was to "Third Way" ideas especially 20-30 years ago. Like his mentor Barbara McClintock, he was ridiculed. For decades it was nearly impossible to get funding for such concepts and for a very long time, despite his accomplishments, Shapiro was an outlier.
Yet he has over time literally silenced his critics, and in some circles (such as the American Association of Cancer Research's Cancer and Evolution Working Group), he is revered. He co-founded the group, which now encompasses over 100 involved scientists.
It is beautifully packaged and scrupulously edited. Shapiro does not indulge in "techno-latin" or bandy about buzzwords just to sound smart. To the greatest extent possible he delivers his message in plain English.
There are very few books that are both understandable to lay people and rigorous enough for the most demanding geneticist or molecular biologist. "Evolution: A View from the 21st Century – Fortified" is nothing less than THE definitive book on biological evolution. It will reshape the field for many decades to come.
« Agency of the Cell: Convergence between Origin of Life, Evolution, Cognition and Cancer
LIVE DEBATE: Richard Dawkins vs. Denis Noble »


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What a brilliant idea.
Click on the interactive version of the above map to find opera and classical music festivals all over Europe this summer.
22 May 2014 22:25:52 | Stuff
Classical coughing - a guide
Professor Jürgen Lamprecht is an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in Germany. He's also a big classical music fan.
Like every regular concertgoer, he's a bit fed up with the various sonic disturbances that punctuate the typical night out. So, combining his professional and recreational interests, he's created a 'Cough Culture' website, which includes an etiquette guide to coughing in concerts.
He stresses it's not a rule book. "Anyone who coughs has a reason," he says - a cough is an involuntary reflex that can't be easily suppressed or controlled. Instead he is setting out to help the afflicted manage their coughs "with understanding and humour".
He splits his tips into three parts - location, timing and volume.
1 - Where? If you're really sick, says Professor Lamprecht, give up your ticket, stay home, and don't spread your germs. If you must go, and you know there's a good chance you'll cough, try moving to a seat where you'll disturb fewer people. Ask someone at the very back if they'd like to swap for your seat further forward (I suspect this one works better in Essen than the Royal Festival Hall). If you get caught out by a surprise coughing fit, either try to change places or just leave.
2 - When? If you can't suppress a cough until the end of the show, then at least wait for a round of applause . The next best choice is during a very loud passage - discreetly. It's essential to avoid coughing between two sections of a work. "If there's no applause, it's not a break!" Professor Lamprecht reminds us - something you'd never guess in London, where entire audiences hack away between movements with impunity, whether they're ill or not. The other time to avoid coughing is during very quiet passages.
3 - How loud? If you really must cough, the quieter the better. A big handkerchief held in front of the mouth helps to dampen the sound. If you don't have one, cough into your elbow. It muffles the volume and has the added advantage that you won't pass on germs when shaking hands.
Finally, he has a tip for the coughers' victims. Don't hiss and don't protest loudly, he says - it only creates more of a disturbance.
13 Feb 2014 14:50:56 | Stuff
Classical music makes the grass grow
A New Zealand man who grew 287 cannabis plants in his spare room played classical music to encourage them to flourish.
Amongst his $17,000-worth of kit was a radio set to a classical station. He told the police the plants responded better to classical music.
Detective Sergeant Wayne Beattie described the set-up as - wait for it - a "well-orchestrated growing operation".
22 Jan 2014 12:17:42 | Stuff
Rosa Ponselle gets a facelift
This is the statue of soprano Rosa Ponselle on the facade of the I Miller Building in Times Square, where she was chosen to represent opera alongside her fellow stars of stage, screen and musical comedy. After a recent spruce-up, she's looking almost as good as she did on the day she ascended her pedestal in 1928. Read the full story on ScoutingNY.com.
7 Jan 2014 23:51:57 | Stuff
And the most stressful job in the orchestra is ......
No prizes if you guessed conducting, but the first violins suffer more than most too.
That's according to a new study which examined the stress reactions in conductor and musicians of the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna.
Blood samples taken after a performance showed that the first violinists and the conductor had higher stress indicator levels than all the other musicians put together.
The musicians' ability to do their job (including health and work situation) had no influence on the results. But a good mood did. The sunnier they felt before the concert, the lower the rise in stress.
So the message to musicians is - cheer up, or switch to flute.
Sophie's choices
Soprano Sophie Bevan gives BBC News her top 10 tips for becoming an opera star.
Or does she? Looks as if someone might have made up a few after reading Sophie's interview. Anyway, here they are:
1. Sing every day
2. Don't record Ave Maria as a child
3. Get a teacher and immerse yourself in the world of opera
4. Don't listen to pop music
5. Throw away your microphone and work hard
6. Be friendly and willing to suck up to those in charge
7. You don't have to look good, but it helps
8. Avoid competitions and don't compare yourself with others
9. Enjoy yourself
10. You have to love it
23 Dec 2013 16:17:09 | Stuff


Major price reduction ! This is a wonderful lot with a quiet neighborhood.Street to street lot. Close to town, great schools and the City. Services at the street, come get your chance to make your home here.Ready to sell!


YouTube let users upload 60 fps videos earlier this year, resulting in some gorgeous, silky-smooth video. It was especially great for gamers.
Now, they're pushing the envelope again with 4K 60 fps videos. Yes, you read that right: 4K videos at 60 frames per second. The catch is that it's a small experiment for now, and it's restricted to a very small number of clips.
Well, that's not a problem as far as the masses are concerned. Most cameras can't shoot at 4k/60; the ones that do are incredibly expensive and are far from becoming the norm anytime soon.
Another problem is that most computers aren't capable of playing back such high quality video. First of all, you'll need a monitor or TV with 4K resolution. Then you'll need a beefy computer, one that has a fast processor and a good GPU. Finally, you'll need Chrome. Oh, and don't forget: a fast internet connection capable of streaming 4K.
I tried it out on my Core i7 computer—it runs brilliantly. On my old laptop, however, it's a choppy, unplayable mess.
So, all this raises a very important question: why are they doing this? Well, because they can. More importantly, they can do it now. They've tweaked their codec and processing power to help them deliver such high quality content. Unfortunately, most of us aren't ready yet, though that will change very soon.
4K/60 is the future. This is just a small glimpse at the future.
Youtube now providing support for 4k 60FPS video support.


In this episode of Witnessing Greatness, we finish our NFL season preview with a discussion of the AFC East and the AFC North. We discuss how the Browns could win six games, if the Steelers are Super Bowl Contenders, and if Andy Dalton can ever make the leap. Topics also include Jay Cutler's ability to have a great year and the Bills leaving Tyrod Taylor with no chance for success.


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Eine umfassende Affiliate-Tracking-Plattform mit Analysen, Benachrichtigungen und mehr. Everflow ist eine Affiliate-Marketing-Plattform – setze Influencer-Partnerschaften durch klicklose Promotionscodes und View-Through-Attribution wirksam ein.
Onalytica wurde 2009 gegründet und hat sich auf die Bereitstellung von Influencer-Relationship-Management-Software und professionellen Dienstleistungen spezialisiert, um Marken dabei zu unterstützen, Ergebnisse im Influencer-Relationship-Management eins zu eins umzusetzen. Das Unternehmen hilft Marketing-, Kommunikations-, Digital- und PR-Experten dabei, maßgeschneiderte Influencer-Programme zu entwickeln, um Influencer-Aktivitäten stärker automatisieren und optimieren sowie aktuelle Engagement-Chancen wahrnehmen zu können. Onalytica hat sich auf die Bereitstellung von Influencer-Relationship-Management-Software und professionellen Dienstleistungen spezialisiert.
Grin is the #1 influencer marketing solution to help brands and agencies run influencer marketing programs at scale. Use our advanced tools to: Find high-quality influencers, automate email outreach and follow-up, activate campaigns, grow influencer relationships with CRM, and track and report campaign results and ROI. Manage the entire influencer marketing process from start to finish with Grin. Grin is the #1 influencer marketing solution to help brands and agencies run influencer marketing programs at scale.
Upfluence Software ist eine umfassende Influencer-Marketingplattform, mit der Marken ihre Influencer identifizieren und Kampagnen innerhalb von Minuten starten können. Funktionen: Identifizierung von Influencern basierend auf mehreren Kriterien wie Schlüsselwörtern, Geolokalisierung, Bindungsraten, Demografie und mehr – Influencer-Management und -Listen – Kampagnen-Management – E-Mail-Kampagnen – Reporting. Upfluence Software ist eine umfassende Influencer-Marketingplattform, mit der Marken ihre Influencer identifizieren und Kampagnen verwalten können.
Phlanx is an online platform which connects business owners and PR professionals to marketing opportunities.Our platform consists of online software and tools that assist brands in their marketing, as well as a two-sided market community where brands and influencers can communicate with each other. Online platform which connects business owners and PR professionals to marketing opportunities.
Influencer marketing solution that lets brands find appropriate influencers, examine their usefulness, and cooperate with them. Influencer marketing solution that lets brands find appropriate influencers, examine their usefulness, and cooperate with them.
Influencer marketing platform that helps brands and publishers with dashboards, reporting, analytics and more. Influencer marketing platform that helps brands and publishers with dashboards, reporting, analytics and more.
Speed up your clients' brand choice with solution that includes influencer search, analytics and campaign management. Speed up your clients' brand choice with solution that includes influencer search, analytics and campaign management.
A tool for managing infuencer marketing in-house. Includes influencer stats, campaign performance tracking, and content calendar. A tool for managing infuencer marketing in-house. Includes influencer stats, campaign performance tracking, and content calendar.
Identify influencers, track content, and understand your audience much better. Identify influencers, track content, and understand your audience much better.
Helps eCommerce brands automate their ambassador, influencer and affiliate marketing programs for thousands of participants. Helps eCommerce brands automate their ambassador, influencer and affiliate marketing programs for thousands of participants.
Blogger-Outreach-Software, mit der du Beziehungen zu den Influencern der Industrie verwalten kannst. Blogger-Outreach-Software, mit der du Beziehungen zu den Influencern der Industrie verwalten kannst.
A social media marketing solution with features for branded chats, website integration, live content, conversation filtering, and more. A social media marketing solution with features for branded chats, website integration, live content, conversation filtering, and more.
Dovetale is a data focused influencer platform for brands and agencies looking to grow on social media. With more informative data you can discover online trends, save time and build relationships with people that can drive results. A data-focused influencer platform for brands and agencies looking to grow on social media.
Cloud-based CRM platform for businesses that helps you manage and organize operations related to influencer marketing. Cloud-based CRM platform for businesses that helps you manage and organize operations related to influencer marketing.
Lefty is the most exhaustive platform on Instagram influencers, with more than 6 million profiles worldwide. Lefty helps brands to optimize their influencers relations. The search engine allows brands to identify the most relevant influencers. Then brands can communicate with influencers through the platform. Finally, Lefty collects sponsored content, posts and stories, and provide an automatic reporting of the campaign, measuring the impact of influencers. Allows you to identify relevant influencers, manage them, and collect and measure sponsored content (posts and stories).
Choose top influencers in your industry and keep track of interactions with them through integrated messaging and campaign management. Choose top influencers in your industry and keep track of interactions with them through integrated messaging and campaign management.
Campaign management solution with cross-platform social post tracking capabilities designed for influence marketers. Campaign management solution with cross-platform social post tracking capabilities designed for influence marketers.
Influencer marketing solution that searches the web for suitable influencers associated with your business. Influencer marketing solution that searches the web for suitable influencers associated with your business.
Cloud-based system for managig influencer marketing and content amplification efforts for brands and marketing agencies. Cloud-based system for managig influencer marketing and content amplification efforts for brands and marketing agencies.
Influencer relationship building solution that helps find and connect with verified influencers that match your company values. Influencer relationship building solution that helps find and connect with verified influencers that match your company values.
A tool that allows companies to find new and upload existing influencers, detect relationships between them and influencer ROI. A tool that allows companies to find new and upload existing influencers, detect relationships between them and influencer ROI.
Integrated platform to find affiliates, bloggers, influencers and business prospects from millions of contacts. Integrated platform to find affiliates, bloggers, influencers and business prospects from millions of contacts.
YouTribe is an IRM (Influencer Relationship Manager) which help you to manage your influencers team. Product available in French only. YouTribe is an IRM (Influencer Relationship Manager) which help you to manage your influencers team.
AI-powered Instagram analytics tool that helps safeguard authenticity in influencer marketing. It applies machine learning to determine behavioral patterns and identify fake followers and engagement on influencer accounts. HypeAuditor presents users with a breakdown of actual engagement, actual reach and demographic data for an influencers audience. AI-powered Instagram analytics tool that helps safeguard authenticity in influencer marketing.
Enables brands and agencies in the FMCG industry to create on-demand micro influencer campaigns any where in the world. Enables brands and agencies in the FMCG industry to create on-demand micro influencer campaigns any where in the world.
Helps you sell more online, by leveraging user generated content and activating influencers. Helps you sell more online, by leveraging user generated content and activating influencers.
KRONO provides brands, influencers and advertising agencies with actionable insights and predictive intelligence to maximize their ROI. We help brands across various verticals create a data-driven marketing approach to discover, engage and measure the most authentic influencers for your brand. Krono matches brands with social media influencers through machine learning, transparent data & creative genius.
Influencer marketing tool which enables brand visibility through micro-influence campaigns. Influencer marketing tool which enables brand visibility through micro-influence campaigns.
The ZINE platform contains all the ingredients for influencer marketing campaigns that produce maximum ROI at a fraction of the time. The ZINE platform contains all the ingredients for influencer marketing campaigns that produce maximum ROI at a fraction of the time.
Intellifluence is an influencer marketing solution you can actually afford. Unlike some influencer networks, we have real influencers in our network, not just a list of possible contacts. Unlike most influencer networks, we don¿t try to lock you into a long term contract. Unlike all of our competitors, we¿re priced for small businesses and capable of servicing even the biggest enterprises. We provide the best dollar-to-real-influencer ratio in the business. We are an Influencer Marketing service that helps brands and influencers collaborate to achieve their respective goals.
Video management software that helps businesses to upload or sync video content with video selling, product video mapping & analytics. Video management software that helps businesses to upload or sync video content with video selling, product video mapping & analytics.
Influencer marketing platform dedicated to Fashion, Luxury and Cosmetics. Features include influencer search, campaign and payment management plus campaign tracking and reporting. Influencer marketing platform dedicated to Fashion, Luxury and Cosmetics. Influencer search, campaign management & tracking/reporting.
Achoo Influencer Platform is a 360 workflow, which lets the user identify the right influencer, maintain relations, activate influencers and build custom report-based campaigns. Achoo helps you manage, monitor and have clear insights in all the data you need to succeed with influencer marketing! Influencer marketing solution that allows users to discover and monitor the effectiveness of influencers.
Influential matches brands to audiences through transparent data and machine learning on all social media platforms. Influential matches brands to audiences through transparent data and machine learning on all social media platforms.
Lumanu's influencer marketing software allows you to deliver targeted impressions that drive real engagements and conversions. Lumanu's influencer marketing software allows you to deliver targeted impressions that drive real engagements and conversions.
Helps restaurants to manage and grow their Instagram influencers. Helps restaurants to manage and grow their Instagram influencers.
Trend is an influencer marketing and campaign management software that allows you to source, share, and scale content. Trend is an influencer marketing and campaign management software that allows you to source, share, and scale content.


A series of new Pd(II) complexes (1–4) were obtained from the reactions between K2[PdCl4], 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde-4(N)-substituted thiosemicarbazone [H2L1–H2L4] and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane [dppp]. All the complexes were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques (IR, electronic, 1H-NMR and ESI-MS). The crystal structures of complexes 2 and 4 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The binding affinity and binding mode of the palladium complexes (1–4) towards calf-thymus (CT) DNA and BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) were studied by using UV-vis and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. These results showed that the binding of the complexes to DNA is through electrostatic interaction and the quenching of the complexes is static. Further they cleaved supercoiled DNA pBR322 without any added external agents. The alterations in the secondary structure of BSA by the Pd(II) complexes were confirmed by synchronous and three dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was evaluated by an MTT assay in the MCF-7 cell line and complex 3 exhibited significant activity (IC50 = 5.60 ± 0.04 μM), which was comparable with those of the other complexes. The morphological changes assessed by acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining revealed that the cell death occurred through apoptosis.


Of the wide 29er wheels we tested, the Wide Lightning was the cheapest by a bunch and the lightest by a bit. Their best attribute on the trail: responsiveness. They feel very lively, accelerating quickly and endowing the bike with quick deceleration and directional changes. American Classic's six-pawl clutch isn't the fastest to engage, but it's quick enough for trouble-free ratcheting in technical terrain, and never popped or skipped. We appreciated its quiet, low-drag coast as well. Compared the carbon wheels we tested, the Wide Lightning wasn't quite as smooth through rough terrain. Laterally, they were stiff enough for our riders but only just stiff enough.
The rim's deep center channel eases tire installation, but the aggressive bead lock provides a tight fit so non-tubeless tires work well also. We had no burps or peels, even at pressures below 20psi. American Classic's sealing tape is durable and stays put, and the alloy tubeless valves with removable cores are a nice touch. Myriad hub options are offered: in the front, QR/15mm thru-axle, Cannondale Lefty, or RockShox Predictive Steering (for the RS1 fork) are offered; 20mm is not. In the rear, 135 or 142mm spacing is available for the axle while the driver is offered in the standard 9/10/11 speed, or SRAM XD.
The second-lightest wheels we tested, the Fattie 29s had a nice mix of performance and user friendliness. Not quite as snappy as the American Classics, but still reactive with a fast-engaging rear hub (DT Swiss internals with 54-tooth ratchet), the Rovals felt great on long, smooth climbs and when maneuvering through challenging technical terrain. They offered a nicely damped ride that's improved when you run lower air pressures that wide rims allow. It's almost as though this wheelset boosts a bike's suspension. The wheels were sharp and accurate when pushed hard. They weren't the stiffest in our test (that praise goes to the beefy Syntace), but are plenty stiff for charging on 150mm-travel bikes. Specialized does give these wheels a 240-pound rider weight limit, however.
We had no issues with tire installation, though the tubeless rim strips would peel up at times when we were changing tires. The wheels do come with Roval's spoke-hole plugs (claimed to save 60g per wheel versus Roval's rim strips), which we did not have an opportunity to test. The rims have a hookless desing, which used to give us pause but after riding these (and other hookless) models, we're over our trust issues—they worked great, no burps or peels, even at pressures well below 20psi.
The double-wall alloy rim of the German-designed and engineered W35 MX measures a whopping 35mm external and 28.5mm internal. This translates to a super stout rim, and it proved to be the one of the stiffest of this group, along with the Ibis.
Available in all three wheel sizes (26", 27.5", 29") and both 28- and 32-hole configurations, the W35 includes Syntace's Hi-Torque hubs. Our test set was laced with 32 Sapim CXray spokes, though a running change in production sees the wheels delivered with stouter, round, triple-butted Sapim spokes for added durability against breakage. The axles can be configured for QR or thru-axle via a quick swap of the hubs' end-caps, and the front hub is both 15 and 20mm compatible. Rear hubs accommodate standard, Shimano splined type, and SRAM XD cassettes with the easy swap of the driver. Disc rotors are standard six-bolt.
Another running change is the addition of adjustable end caps to dial in hub adjustment. Just make sure you make these adjustments while the wheel is mounted on the bike; otherwise, all you are doing is pushing the end-cap off the axle and misadjusting the endplay.
For power transfer—Syntace calls the design "spur gear"—the hubs use a mechanism similar to the DT Swiss star ratchet system. Two 32-toothed plates mesh against each other for quick engagement and easy serviceability. Unlike the DT Swiss design, the inboard spur is fixed in the hub while the other one is pushed against it via four minuscule coil springs. While the design is proven, we destroyed one set after three rides in cold weather. The replacement set is going strong, and our California tester reports no problems on a pair of hubs that have seen tons of miles over the last three seasons. Even if you do bust the spurs, replacement is simple and can be performed in the wild without tools, provided you have spares on hand.
At over 1,800g for the bare wheelset, the W35 is aimed at gravity warriors and trail riders less concerned with the journey up than the trip back down. Don't get me wrong, when I mentioned these were stout, I meant stout—the wheels delivered on all the promises of wider hoops and added precision to all the bikes I tried them on, from 100mm cross-country models through 150mm trail bikes. The increased control helped me pinpoint where I wanted the wheels to go, and in hard landings kept the bike on the path I had chosen rather than getting pushed out of line as can happen with flimsier wheels.
Tubeless compatibility was excellent on all the tires we tried. I sealed the rim bed with one wrap of Stan's NoTubes yellow tape and valves—though Syntace offers their own too—and never burped a tire or peeled one off during testing.
Weighing in at 488 grams, these carbon puppies feature a hookless bead and taped center section for tubeless use. Thirty-two triple-butted spokes are laced to Ibis's own front hub. Out back you'll find a DT Swiss 350. The choice of a DT rear hub is a running change to the wheel line this year to boost long-term durability. Ibis chose the faster engaging 54-tooth ratchet assembly to speed up engagement to six degrees, down from 10 degrees in the more common 36-tooth setups. The rear hub is offered with Shimano or SRAM XD drivers. Front hubs will work with 9mm QR or 15mm thru-axles, and rear hubs accommodate 142x12 and 9mm QR.
The widest of the rims we tested, these monsters make a 2.3-inch tire feel amazingly close to 29-plus offerings. We could drop air pressure ridiculously low—down to the mid teens—before any cornering deflection reared its ugly head. The limiting factor now became rock strikes—too low a pressure and the rim would make regular contact. Once we struck a balance, these low pressures aided both climbing and braking traction, with improved flotation on soft, sandy trails. Cornering traction was generally improved as well, but only with certain tires athat had a wide spaced tread and tall outer knobs. This ultra-wide rim has a tendency to flatten a tread's profile and close up the spacing of the outer knobs relative to the next row. About half the tires we tried seated with a floor pump, the other half required a compressor.
Mounted to a Specialized Enduro, these wheels took everything we could toss at 'em. The thick hookless bead withstood a pounding on rocks that would have dented aluminum rims. The hardest hit came from a piece of concrete embedded in the face of a landing from a small jump. The impact caused the wheel's spokes to sing in protest under the heavy impact every time I hit it, but I never suffered anything worse than a punctured tire.
Lateral stiffness is superb too—one tester considered these more robust than the Syntace—and a noticeable improvement over most aluminum rims and even some narrow carbon rims.


text:
Camilla Calicchio (Venecia, 24 de diciembre de 1653 – Ibídem, 6 de mayo de 1728) fue la madre del compositor Antonio Vivaldi.

Camilla Calicchio era hija de un sastre llamado Camilo Calicchio, natural de Pomarico (Matera, Basilicata), y de Giannetta (Zanetta) Temporini, casados desde el 12 de octubre de 1650 y trasladados a Venecia. Tres años después nació Camilla.

Cerca de la casa familiar vivía una viuda originaria de Brescia (Lombardía) con sus dos hijos. El mayor de ellos se llamaba Giovanni Battista Vivaldi.

Los dos adolescentes comenzaron a verse y, en el día 11 de junio de 1676, cuando Camila ya era huérfana, se casaron en la iglesia de San Gionanni della Giudecca (ya demolida). El 4 de marzo de 1678 tuvieron a su primer hijo, llamado Antonio Lucio, el que llegaría a ser Antonio Vivaldi.

Además de Antonio, tuvieron siete hijos más: Margherita (n. 1680); Cecilia (n. 1683); Bonaventura (n. 1685); Zanetta (n. 1687); Francesco Gaetano (n. 1690); Issepo (n. 1692); y Michela Gerolama (n. 1697, y muerta a edad temprana).

Bibliografía

 Karl Heller, Antonio Vivaldi: The Red Priest of Venice, Reclam Verlag, 1991
 Primo Seminario Internazionale su Vivaldi, Bruxelles, 16 de diciembre de 1963

Antonio Vivaldi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia