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Bob Herbert: An Unnatural Disaster
Stunning NOAA map of Tennessee's 1000-year deluge:...
John Abraham of St. Thomas Univ., Minn., produces ...
Arctic team reports unusual conditions near Pole
Shifting rivers threaten India's top tea region
Polar Science Center: Arctic Sea Ice Volume Anoma...
NASA Takes to the Air with New 'Earth Venture' Res...
World faces the nightmare possibility of fishless ...
Mars Attacks!!! Climate Denial Crock of the Week b...
Richard Black of the BBC: A financial trick in th...
John Cook, Skeptical Science: Latest GRACE data o...
ERW: AAAS Board of Directors: Virginia Attorney G...
Jeff Masters' Wunderblog: What would a hurricane ...
Tim Dixon, Shimon Wdowinski, Yan Jiang: Greenland'...
NOAA predicts an active to extremely active Atlant...
John Cook, Skeptical Science: Why Greenland's ice...
John Cook, Skeptical Science: Working out climate...
M. D. Mastrandrea et al., Climatic Change (2010), ...
Climate change, exponential curves, water resource...
P. H. Gleick & M. Palaniappan, PNAS (2010), Peak w...
BP oil spill: Unbelievable photos from what is rea...
Remarks by Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, May...
Eric Normand: The Tennessee deluge of 2010: Nashv...
Gavin Schmidt of Real Climate: Ocean heat content...
John M. Lyman et al., Nature (2010), Robust warmin...
Hermann F. Jungkunst, Nature Geosci., 3 (2010), So...
F. Straneo et al., Nature Geosci., 3 (2010), Rapid...
B. Elberling, H. H. Christiansen & B. U. Hansen, N...
John Cook, Skeptical Science: Robust warming of t...
J. E. Tierney et al., Nature Geosci., (2010), Late...
Unprecedented Warming in East Africa's Lake Tangan...
A. J. McMichael & K. B. G. Dear discuss the new Sh...
James Hansen: Remarks in the National Assembly of...
Sailesh Rao: Population, Consumption and the Unive...
Kerry Emanuel slams media, asserts Lindzen charge ...
Jeff Masters' Wunderblog: Record Atlantic SSTs co...
Open letter: Climate change and the integrity of s...
Remarkable Insight Into the Climate Denial Machine...
New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington...
Joe Romm: Arctic poised to see record low sea ice...
John Cook of Skeptical Science: Vote for Peter Sin...
Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, Scaife Family all fun...
Cumberland River Crest Highest in 73 Years: May 20...
John Cook, Skeptical Science: Heat stress -- sett...
China's Energy Use Threatens Goals on WarmingCoal-...
USGS estimates river flows for Tennessee floods of...
Heck of a snow-job, Brownie: Gibbs chastizes Fox N...
S. C. Sherwood & M Huber, PNAS, An adaptability li...
NYT: U.S. farmers cope with Monsanto's herbicide ...
Joseph Romm: Flashback to 2008 Minerals Managemen...
Joseph Romm: Shocking allegations against BP
AP: Calling deadly Tennessee superstorm an "unprec...
Flooding from record rains kills 11 in Tennessee; ...
A Brief History of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout
Fears for crops as shock figures from America show...
Y. Fukamachi et al., Nature Geosci., 3, Strong exp...
Fukamachi et al., Deep ccean current found near Ke...
As oil spill approaches, dead animals wash up in M...
Is BP the Goldman Sachs of Big Oil? CBS and the AP...
Whistleblower: BP risks more and greater catastro...
Halliburton Presentation May Explain Deepwater Hor...
J. A. Screen & I. Simmonds, Nature 464 (2010), The...
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Joseph Romm: Oilpocalypse Now -- WSJ reports BP o...
Reuters: U.S. lawmakers call for Lamar McKay of BP...
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Eric Normand: The Tennessee deluge of 2010: Nashville's 'Katrina' and the dawn of the superflood
The Tennessee deluge of 2010: Nashville's 'Katrina' and the dawn of the superflood
from Climate Progress, May 22, 2010
One of the epic extreme weather events in U.S. recorded history devastated one of America's great cities this month. But the status quo media has barely told the story of Nashville's Katrina (let alone its link to human-caused climate change).
Since the great Tennessee deluge of 2010 foreshadows the shape of things to come for many of the world's great cities if we stay anywhere near our current emissions path, I'm going to begin a multipart series on it. Uber-meteorologist Dr. Jeff Masters and I have already touched on the link to warming already (see AP: Calling deadly Tennessee superstorm an "unprecedented rain event" did "not capture the magnitude"), and I'll have more scientific analysis on that next week. What follows is some straightforward — but stunning — reporting on the disaster by guest blogger Eric Normand, a Tennessee-based writer and musician.
The rain began falling on the morning of Saturday, May 1st, 2010, and by the time it finished, approximately 36 hours later; it had dumped a record rainfall of between 12 and 20 inches across Middle and Western Tennessee, devastating 52 of Tennessee's 95 counties. Rivers that normally spanned 100 feet across swelled to a half-mile or more, flooding cities, towns, and roadways, washing away homes and bridges, destroying businesses and infrastructure, and leaving thousands homeless. At least 33 people died across Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky; some while trapped in cars on flooding interstates, others who were swept away from flooding homes by the raging waters, while thousands more were left stranded in remote communities without power or communication for days. Water plants were decimated, the Grand Ole' Opry and many other historic buildings and icons damaged or destroyed, and more than $1.9 billion of damage has been sustained to the private sector in Nashville alone.
And where was our national media in all of this? During the flood, and in the days that followed, mainstream news media like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox, provided minimal coverage of this disaster, a disaster that is likely to be the costliest non-hurricane water related disaster in American history. Our plight was dwarfed by the Gulf oil spill and the New York City car bomber which, while being important stories, were not the only stories. In spite of the American press corps residing under a blanket of ineptitude, all levels of government, combined with an army of volunteers, quickly began to mobilize.
"The President was on the phone to me before the sun came up practically on Monday morning" stated Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. FEMA administrator Craig Fugate, along with Bredesen and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, toured flooded areas later in the day. By Tuesday, several counties had been declared federal disaster areas which began to allocate funding for the relief effort (the number of counties declared federal disaster areas would eventually reach 42). By Wednesday, almost 300 members of the Tennessee National Guard were assisting in rescue and relief efforts and the Red Cross was present early on as well.
In the center of this disaster were the people of Tennessee who showed great strength and unity from the onset, when thousands of volunteers showed up at multiple locations; filling sandbags, assisting with boat rescues, and helping with other relief efforts. Community centers and churches across the state became havens for families who lost homes. Schools became water distribution centers. Some citizens even took it upon themselves to rent excavation equipment to clear roads, as the county road crews were overwhelmed.
When officials announced the need to conserve water, water usage almost immediately decreased.
While all this was going on, the minimal media depiction was that of a flood that primarily affected Nashville. And while a small percentage of America was hearing about a flood in Music City; 20,000 people in Hickman County, some 50 miles south of the capital, were completely cut off and isolated and without power or communication for almost a week. Much of their community was devastated and many roads and bridges were washed out, with months of repairs still ahead. On Highway 7 in Maury County, an area the size of three football fields collapsed. The city of Clarksville, some 80 miles to the northwest of the capital, was also particularly hard hit, with dozens of small businesses on Riverside Drive under 4 to 5 feet of water. An AT&T call center was flooded, rendering 1400 people out of work indefinitely, and 2 weeks after the disaster, one neighborhood of homes was still under water. In fact this storm system also killed four in Arkansas, and flooded many parts of Mississippi and Kentucky, where it caused statewide damage estimated at more than $30 million. All of this was accompanied by, essentially, no national media coverage to speak of.
This is the worst disaster to hit the state of Tennessee since the Civil War, and all these statistics and facts don't even begin to paint the picture of the loss and suffering had by many. For some, the disaster will remain a part of their lives for a long time to come. Thousands of damaged or destroyed homes and businesses were not in flood zones, leaving many with mortgages on structures that no longer exist, and without insurance money to rebuild. Thousands have also lost their jobs and livelihoods. Communities and infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed over an area that spans thousands of square miles, with the totality of destruction still yet unknown.
So while the people of Tennessee are rebuilding, most of the nation remains unaware, and most will unlikely ever know the whole story. Tennesseans will survive, rebuild, and emerge from this wreckage, but for many, life will never be the same. Natural disasters affect everybody as we are all interconnected. After Katrina, thousands of hurricane refugees relocated to neighboring states to restart their lives, Tennessee among them, and this catastrophe will inevitably have its own unique set of social and economic impacts that will be far-reaching as well.
Even though I didn't lose any loved ones or personal property in this flood, what I have lost, is piece of mind. Three weeks after this epic storm, a rainstorm fell in middle Tennessee, causing flood warnings in five counties. While it didn't cause widespread flooding, it put us all on edge. I used to like rainy days, their once mellow mood almost comforting. Now I fear them. As a nation, we must get our collective heads out of the sand and better understand this world we live in. The absence of this monumental event from our MSM was irresponsible and reckless, leaving us all vulnerable to the next extreme precipitation event. We may not be able to change the weather patterns, but we can at least prepare for what they can do. And if our media could begin to cover all of the pertinent stories in this new dawn of the superflood, we just might stand a chance.
I have put up a slide show that shows some of the damage in my community. Most of these pictures were taken within 10 miles of my home in Pegram, TN. You can also read more about the flood at my blog.
Guest Blogger Eric Normand is a Tennessee-based writer and musician. Originally from New England, where he attended the Berklee College of Music, he is currently authoring his first book "The Nashville Musician's Survival Guide."
Posted by Tenney Naumer at Monday, May 24, 2010
Labels: Precipitation extremes


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Linarejos es una localidad española del municipio de Manzanal de Arriba, en la provincia de Zamora, comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León.

Geografía
Está situado en el corazón de la sierra de la Culebra, reserva regional de caza desde 1973, donde habita en libertad una de las mayores poblaciones de lobo de Europa Occidental y una rica fauna entre la que destacan el jabalí y el ciervo, del que se pueden contemplar los más espectaculares ejemplares en estado salvaje. Además, en Linarejos se puede disfrutar de un bello paisaje y un rico patrimonio, como las pinturas rupestres de la Covacha de Portillón y el Canchal de Melendro, ambas declaradas bienes de interés cultural. Además, en sus cercanías se encuentra la estación ferroviaria de Linarejos-Pedroso, con servicios de media distancia.

Historia
La Covacha del Portillón conserva una de las pocas muestras de arte esquemático prehistórico existente en la provincia de Zamora. Se encuentra situada al sur de Linarejos, muy cerca del Peña Mira, el punto más elevado de la sierra de la Culebra, un lugar desde el que se domina la totalidad del valle adyacente, lo que implica una ubicación estratégica notable. Se trata de una pequeña cavidad de origen cuarcítico y de dimensiones reducidas (9 m de largo, 3,5 m de ancho y 3m). La entrada está orientada al norte, dominando el paso del Portillón, aunque al sur de la misma hay otra abertura, más reducida, que da luz al interior. Desde la covacha se contempla todo el valle adyacente. Desde este lugar también se divisa el cercano Canchal de Melendro, también con representaciones esquemáticas, que se encuentra ubicado en la parte opuesta de dicho valle. Destaca la representación de un bastón, una serie de cuatro barras o puntos de diversos tamaños y tres figuras antropomorfas, una de ellas con un arma o bastón de mando en su brazo izquierdo.

Las pinturas del Abrigo de Melendro están al sur del paso del Portillón, en las inmediaciones del arroyo de Melendro. Está orientado hacia el oeste y mide 10 m de anchura. Desde allí se puede observar la Covacha del Portillón, dato que puede indicar cierta conexión entre ambos yacimientos. Sus pinturas esquemáticas representan una serie de cuatro grupos compuestos por sucesiones de barras, realizadas en colores rojizos. En uno de los grupos aparecen sólo dos barras (40 mm de longitud), junto a otra que tiene forma de figura antropomorfa (70 mm) que está aislada.

En la Edad Media, Linarejos quedó integrado en el Reino de León, cuyos monarcas acometieron la repoblación del oeste zamorano.

Posteriormente, al reestructurarse las provincias y crearse las actuales en 1833, Linarejos quedó integrado en la provincia de Zamora, dentro de la Región Leonesa, pasando a formar parte en 1834 del partido judicial de Puebla de Sanabria.

Patrimonio

Histórico
La iglesia parroquial es el edificio más notable de Linarejos. En su término se encuentra la Covacha de Portillón y el Canchal de Melendro, ambos declarados bienes de interés cultural el 25 de junio de 1985, en la categoría de arte rupestre.

Natural
 Sierra de la Culebra
 Sierra de la Culebra (Red Natura 2000)

Festividades
En Linarejos se celebra la fiesta de Las Candelas el 21 de mayo, en lugar de su fecha oficial del 2 de febrero. También son relevantes la festividad de Pentecostés y la semana cultural de "La Murujona", el 17 de agosto.

Demografía

Comunicaciones
A pesar de su ubicación, de difícil acceso, entre Linarejos y Pedroso se encuentra la estación ferroviaria de Linarejos-Pedroso, con servicios de Media Distancia. Se encuentra situada a 965 metros de altitud y en el punto kilométrico 88,432 de la línea férrea de ancho ibérico que une Zamora con La Coruña (vía Orense), entre las estaciones de Cabañas de Aliste y Puebla de Sanabria. El tramo es de vía única y está sin electrificar.

Enlaces externos
 Ayuntamiento de Manzanal de Arriba
 Información sobre las comarcas de Sanabria y Carballeda

Referencias

Municipios desaparecidos de la provincia de Zamora
Localidades de Manzanal de Arriba
Localidades de La Carballeda
Localidades de la provincia de Zamora

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


ReportsWeb.com published "All-in-one PCs Market" from its database. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 04, 2017 ) This report focus on global and regional market, providing information on major players like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and etc., major types, major applications from global and major regions such as Europe, North America, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and etc. Data type include capacity, production, market share, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, growth rate, consumption, import, export and etc. Industry chain, manufacturing process, cost structure, marketing channel are also analyzed in this report.


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Q: How to get distinct output voltages in LM3914 dot/bar cimparator IC? I am using LM3914 for testing soil moisture content. Based on the water content, the  output of the IC needs to reflect.I am using the IC in the bar mode.

Now, the issue that i am facing is that, when the LED is OFF(i.e.OUTPUT IS OFF) and when the LED is ON (i.e. OUTPUT PIN IS ON), there is a very small difference in the voltage on the PIN.
I need 2 distinct voltages- 1)Greater than 3.1 V 2) GND(<0.8V)  since i need to connect the output pins of  the IC to a communication circuit.
Could anyone please help me?

A: Replace the LED you want to monitor with an opto-isolator. The photo-transistor will give you the logic levels you require - although they may be inverted from the way you would like.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
This also has the benefit that you can isolate the two circuits. The soil probe negative rail can not be grounded without interfering with the circuit operation.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Jakeem Grant Wants to Flourish in New Miami Dolphins Offense
Rob Breaux
Mark Brown/Getty Images
Jakeem Grant has been mostly a specialist during his time in Miami after being one of the most prolific receivers to ever go through the Texas Tech football program, which is saying something.
Since 2016, Grant has had more production as a returner than he as a wide receiver. But in 2020, he wants to change that.
First off, judging by the latest video he's put out on social media, he's in incredible shape. He's looking faster than ever, and can still start and stop at full speed.
Just look at him!
Heading into 2020, the Miami Dolphins will have a new look on offense. Not only do the Dolphins have a brand new rookie quarterback, but they also have a brand new offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey. Yes, that Chan Gailey.
Gailey hasn't coached in several years after retiring after the 2016 season as the Jets offensive coordinator. Gailey has NFL experience as a head coach and offensive coordinator after getting his start as a tight ends and wide receiver coach in 1985. He went to the college game to be Georgia Tech's head coach but got fired in after the 2007 season.
His return to the NFL saw him go to the Kansas City Chiefs as the offensive coordinator for a season before getting demoted during the preseason of year two. He then spent three seasons as the head coach in Buffalo before he was fired. His final NFL stop before retiring was with the New York Jets where the team had the10th ranked offense in his first season and the 24th ranked offense in his final season.
But...look at Jakeem's speed!
27 Best and Worst Texas Tech Football Uniforms Since 2000
Filed Under: chan gailey, jakeem grant, Miami Dolphins

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Lisbon, Europe's most southerly capital, seat of explorers and discoverers, is so packed with monuments and world-class museums you'll want to visit it again and again. An intriguing blend of past and present, with ultra-modern buildings at the Parque das Nações contrasting with baroque and art nouveau mansions set beneath cloudless blue skies.
This cultural melting pot with African, Indian, Asian influences is perched above the Tagus estuary, with its landmark 25th April suspension bridge and Christ the King Statue dominating the city. In summer Lisbon's Largo do Camões and Praça do Comércio squares are full of flower stalls while in winter the streets are marked with the smell of roasted chestnuts. The narrow, winding cobbled allies of Bairro Alto are full of trendy bars, fusion restaurants, concept cafés and off-the-wall boutiques waiting to be explored.
The Moorish influenced Alfama with brightly painted houses and flower filled windows, leads up to the city's impressive São Jorge Castle and battlements from which you can admire the view of the straight, wide streets of the city's downtown Baixa set out by the Marquis de Pombal following Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 before cooling off by dancing fountains in Rossio and strolling up the city's fashionable main thoroughfare of Avenida da Liberdade with its designer shops, five-star hotels and majestic buildings echoing Lisbon's colonial past. Along the riverfront at Belém are magnificent Manuelian Monastery of Jéronimos , charming pink Presidential Palace, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Renaissance Belém Tower set in a river-side park. Further along the coast a short train ride will take you to some of the region's finest sandy beaches and upmarket resorts at Estoril and Cascais and on to the lush, castle filled town of Sintra and nearby fishing villages of Sessimbra and Setúbal.
Welcome to Lisbon, a city packed with so many fine hotels, restaurants, modern shopping centres and world-class museums that you'll wonder why on earth you never visited sooner.


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State Specific Case Law
Alabama Case Law
WILKINSON v. WILKINSON, 2011255 (Ala.Civ.App. 4-16-2004)
No. 2011255.
Decided April 16, 2004.
This is the second time these parties have been before this court. See Wilkinson v. Wilkinson, 828 So.2d 924 (Ala. Civ. App. 2001) (" Wilkinson I"). In Wilkinson I, this court reversed the trial court's divorce judgment insofar as it failed to order the wife to provide the husband continued health-insurance coverage, failed to award the husband any portion of the wife's retirement benefits, and failed to order the wife to pay sufficient alimony to the husband On remand, the trial court entered an order modifying its alimony award but failing again to require the wife to provide continued health insurance for the husband or to divide the wife's retirement benefits. The husband appeals, arguing that the trial court is in error for failing to comply with the mandate of this court in Wilkinson I.
Alaska Case Law
LAING v. LAING, 741 P.2d 649 (Alaska 1987)
S-1357.
This appeal challenges a marital property division. The husband challenges generally the trial court's finding that the wife was entitled to more than fifty percent of the marital assets. He also contests the court's allocation of certain assets and credits. We affirm the trial court's findings and conclusions except with regard to its disposition of the husband's nonvested pension, which we conclude cannot be presently divided. We remand the case with instructions that the trial court redetermine the property division in a manner consistent with this opinion.
Colorado Case Law
In re Marriage of Hunt, 909 P.2d 525 (Colo. 1995)
No. 93SC565, No. 93SC631
Decided December 18, 1995 Rehearing Denied (93SC631) January 29, 1996.
[1] We granted certiorari in In re Marriage of Hunt, 868 P.2d 1140 (Colo. App. 1993), and in In re Marriage of Raimer, No. 92CA0759 (Colo. App. Aug. 5, 1993), to determine whether pension increments based on post-dissolution increases in rank are included in determining what portion of a military pension is subject to division as marital property. In both cases, the court of appeals affirmed the trial courts' deferred distribution of military pensions based on the "time rule" formula which includes distribution of benefits attributable to post-dissolution increases in rank. The petitioners, in both instances the husbands, petitioned the court to review the distributions. We issued a consolidated opinion on May 15, 1995, reversing judgment in both cases and remanding with directions. By order dated June 19, 1995, we granted the respondents' motions for rehearing and withdrew our previously issued opinion. After requesting and receiving additional briefs, we now affirm the court of appeals' decision in Hunt and approve the trial court's distribution in that case. We reverse the court of appeals' decision in Raimer. We find that the trial court in Raimer abused its discretion in altering the "time rule" formula.
In re Marriage of Beckman, 800 P.2d 1376 (Colo. App. 1990)
No. 88CA0966
Decided October 25, 1990.
[1] In this dissolution of marriage action, the husband appeals from portions of the judgment relating to maintenance and property division and from a finding regarding the length of the marriage. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
In re the Marriage of Heupel, 936 P.2d 561 (Colo. 1997)
No. 95SC754
[1] We granted certiorari in In re Marriage of Heupel, No. 94CA1291 (Colo. App. Oct. 19, 1995) (not selected for official publication), to determine the applicability of a property division clause in a marital separation agreement to a payment received by the former husband when he resigned from his position as a member of the armed services. Specifically, we consider whether DuWayne P. Heupel's lump sum payment, received from the United States Air Force under the Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program when he voluntarily elected to switch from active duty to reserve status, should be treated as retired pay for purposes of equitable distribution under the separation agreement of his dissolution decree.
In Re Mar. of Riley-Cunningham, 7 P.3d 992 (Colo. App. September 16, 1999)
September 16, 1999 Rehearing Denied November 4, 1999. Certiorari Denied August 21, 2000.
In this dissolution of marriage action, Barbara U. Riley-Cunningham (wife) appeals the portion of the permanent orders distributing 16.2% of the disposable military retirement pay of James A. Cunningham (husband) to her. We affirm.
Connecticut Case Law
Appellate Decision
KRAFICK v. KRAFICK, 234 Conn. 783 (1995)
Decision released August 8, 1995
The principal issues in this certified appeal are whether vested pension benefits constitute property for the purposes of equitable distribution pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-81;[fn1] and, if so, what methods are appropriate by which to value such benefits. The plaintiff, Patricia A. Krafick, appealed to the Appellate Court from the judgment of the trial court dissolving her thirty-three year marriage to the defendant, John H. Krafick, and distributing the parties' marital assets. The Appellate Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court without opinion. Krafick v. Krafick, 34 Conn. App. 930, 643 A.2d 314 (1994).[fn2] We granted certification[fn3] and now reverse the judgment of the Appellate Court.
Kansas Case Law
IN RE MARRIAGE OF CRAY, 254 Kan. 376 (1994)
No. 67,312
Opinion filed January 21, 1994.
This is an appeal and cross-appeal from various orders and judgments of the trial court in a dissolution of marriage proceeding. The petitioner in the divorce action, Aileen M. Cray, appealed from the district court's orders (1) selecting the date of the parties' separation as the valuation date of marital assets; (2) failing to award profits and/or losses upon certain pension plan assets; and (3) awarding child support. The respondent, Thomas M. Cray, cross-appealed from the court's orders regarding (1) maintenance; (2) assessment of certain litigation expenses; and (3) modification of his settlement proposal. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's orders and judgments in part and reversed in part, remanding the case with directions to the trial court to reweigh the evidence as to property division and maintenance using a different valuation date. In re Marriage of Cray, 18 Kan. App. 2d 15, 846 P.2d 944 (1993). Both parties filed petitions for review. We granted Aileen's petition for review on the issues of the selection of a valuation date for marital assets and whether profits and/or losses should have been allowed on her share of the pension plan assets. We denied the petition for review of Thomas. For the sake of clarity, the petitioner will be referred to as Aileen and the respondent as Thomas.
Louisiana Case Law
HARE v. HODGINS, 586 So.2d 118 (La. 1991)
Nos. 90-C-2405, 90-C-2445.
September 9, 1991.
[1] We granted certiorari to decide whether the court of appeal correctly partitioned a divorced couple's community property interest in the employee spouse's defined benefits pension after it matured in 1988. The trial court divided the community interest by awarding the non-employee spouse a fixed percentage of the pensioner's retirement payments. The court of appeal amended, restoring full pension payments to the retiree spouse, and relegating the non-employee spouse to a lump sum representing her share of the unmatured pension as of the date in 1975 when the community was terminated. Hare v. Hodgins, 567 So.2d 670 (La.App. 5th Cir. 1990). We vacate the partition decree and remand for further proceedings by the trial court consistent with this opinion.
Michigan Case Law
Court of Appeals Report
KILBRIDE v. KILBRIDE, 172 Mich. App. 421 (1988)
Defendant appeals as of right from the trial court's judgment of divorce awarding plaintiff partial attorney fees, alimony, and one-half of defendant's pension. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Missouri Case Law
LYNCH v. LYNCH, 665 S.W.2d 20 (Mo.App. 1983)
December 20, 1983. Motion for Rehearing and/or Transfer to Supreme Court Denied January 24, 1984.
[1] This case is an action brought by the respondent-wife (petitioner below) to dissolve a marriage of nearly twenty-seven years. The trial court dissolved the marriage, divided and disposed of the parties' separate and marital property, awarded primary custody of the minor children to the wife, and awarded her child support, maintenance, and attorney's fees. Appellant-husband (respondent below) seeks review of that portion of the decree which categorizes his vested but non-matured [fn1] pension plan as marital property and which divides it between the parties. We modify the decree and affirm it as modified.
New Jersey Case Law
Superior Court Report
CLAFFEY v. CLAFFEY, 360 N.J. Super. 240 (2003)
A-6632-00T2
Decided May 19, 2003
This matrimonial appeal illustrates the special problems posed by the equitable distribution of a defined benefit pension plan where there are no available survivor benefits, and the pensioner spouse has a significant alimony obligation to the non-pensioner spouse. Plaintiff Dale Eagan Claffey appeals from certain provisions of the final judgment of divorce, as later modified during a limited remand, that provide security for the potential termination of her deferred-distribution share of the defined benefit pension plan of defendant Daniel Claffey in the New Jersey Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Plaintiff also appeals from the manner of distribution of her equitable share in defendant's deferred compensation fund. The following factual and procedural history is relevant to our resolution of the issues posed in this appeal.
Eisenhardt v. Eisenhardt, 325 N.J. Super. 576 (App. Div. 1999).
Where husband retired prior to the divorce and received early retirement benefits, proper coverture fraction to be used in determining wife's share of pension must be based on actual years worked and not additional years added for early retirement benefits, affirming the principle set forth in Reinbold.
Hayden v.Hayden, 284 N.J. Super. 418 (App. Div. 1995).
Husband's pre-retirement cost of living increases under the State Police Retirement System are not subject to equitable distribution. (Court distinguishes the post-retirement benefits in Moore v Moore). 2.) There should be no reduction in value of husband's pension due to Social Security benefits he would have received in equivalent private employment.
Kikkert v. Kikkert, 177 N.J. Super. 471 (App. Div. 1981), aff'd88 N.J. 4 (1981).
Held– husband's vested pension plan subject to equitable distribution.
LaSala v. LaSala, 335 N.J. Super. 1 (App. Div. 2000)certif. denied,167 N.J. 630 (2001).
Trial court ordered immediate monthly benefits to be paid to wife from husband's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) pension plan even though husband was not retired and not currently eligible to collect benefits. App Div reversed, finding that the trial court impermissibly required the PFRS to provide a benefit which was not authorized by the plan. Court says that the coverture formula (Marx) must be used to determine wife's benefits. Good description of 3 methods of distributing pensions: deferred distribution, immediate offset, and partial deferred distribution.
LINEK v. KORBEIL, 333 N.J. Super. 464 (2000)
DOCKET NO. A-3719-98T1
Decided: August 3, 2000 Page 465
Defendant appeals from the trial courts order clarifying and modifying the provision in the parties' 1981 judgment of divorce which purported to distribute defendant's pension equitably. We affirm.
L.M. v. State of New Jersey, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, 140 N.J. 480 (1995).
Good discussion of equitable distribution of pensions at 496-497.
MARX v. MARX, 265 N.J. Super. 418 (1993)
Decided March 26, 1993. Page 419
This matter comes before the court on a post-judgment motion to settle the form of qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) to be entered pursuant to the parties' inter-spousal agreement. Specifically, plaintiff seeks to have the court determine her rightful interest in defendant's American Airlines Pilot Pension Plan. The facts are undisputed in this case. The sole issue to be determined by the court is the method of distributing defendant's fixed income plan.
MENAKE v. MENAKE, 348 N.J. Super. 442 (2002)
Decided February 22, 2002
This is an appeal arising from a post-matrimonial dispute over defendant's entitlement to a portion of plaintiff's defined-benefit pension that he has with the New York State and Local Retirement System as a result of his employment with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It is a dispute that has spanned eight years with four different judges and numerous court applications and orders, two different Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO) and several recalculations by the New York State and Local Retirement System. It is the formula for the calculation of defendant's share of plaintiff's pension in the second of the two QDROs that prompts this appeal. By order entered April 1, 1996, defendant's share was to be determined by a formula which consisted of the "[number of months of marriage of the parties while in the retirement systems divided by total number of months in retirement systems multiplied by 50%. . . ." In contrast, a March 27, 2000, order directed that defendant's share be determined by a formula which consisted of "50% of the hypothetical retirement allowance computed using final average salary as of May 14, 1990, and the service credit accrued between July 9, 1973, and May 14, 1990." The latter dates reflect the duration of the parties' marriage to the date of the filing of the divorce complaint. The differences in these two formulas are significant. Indeed, because the Retirement System had made a number of payments to defendant under the first order, the effect of the March 27, 2000, order was a recalculation, which resulted in a $93,809.92 overpayment. In order to repay this amount, defendant will receive no pension benefits until July 30, 2012. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
Monteforte v. Monteforte, (unreported) 2002 WL 32862137 (App. Div. 2002).
Trial Court entered QDROs distributing Husband's PERS pension and military pension using the coverture formula. Husband appealed claiming that using the coverture formula improperly gave wife share of post-divorce salary increases which were solely attributable to husband's efforts. App Div affirmed the trial court's use of the coverture formula. This case contains a very good discussion of why the Husband's argument is incorrect and the coverture formula is the most appropriate method for distributing a deferred defined benefit pension.
Moore v. Moore, 114 N.J. 147 (1989).
Husband's post-retirement cost of living increases under NJ Police and Firemen's Retirement System are subject to equitable distribution. The Supreme Court encourages use of "immediate payment" approach of distributing pensions. Cost of living increases are distributed by way of the coverture formula.
PANETTA v. PANETTA, A-1424-02T5 (N.J. Super. 7-1-2004)
No. A-1424-02T5
Decided July 1, 2004
In this post-judgment matrimonial matter, we focus on two issues: the appropriate formula for calculating the marital share of plaintiff's federal pension and whether plaintiff is entitled to an offset against defendant's share of his pension for defendant's social security benefits.[fn1]
REINBOLD v. REINBOLD, 311 N.J. Super. 460 (1998)
Plaintiff Linda Reinbold and defendant Frank Reinbold were married on October 29, 1960. Two children were born to them, both of whom are emancipated. After thirty-four years of marriage, plaintiff filed a complaint for divorce on June 20, 1994. At the time the complaint was filed defendant was 55 years old and had 28 years of service at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals ("Sandoz").
RISOLDI v. RISOLDI, 320 N.J. Super. 524 (1999)
Decided May 3, 1999.
In this post-judgment matrimonial pension evaluation and distribution dispute, we examine the appropriate method for evaluating the non-pensioner wife's equitable distribution, deferred-distribution, interest in her husband's Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) pension where the parties agreed to a partial distribution through the present-value offset of a portion of her interest in exchange for the husband's interest in the marital domicile, and a deferred distribution of the remainder of the wife's interest in his pension until the husband's retirement date, through entry of a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO).
WHITE v. WHITE, 284 N.J. Super. 300 (1995)
Decided May 10, 1995. Page 301
The evidence in this case indicates that the parties were married on July 10, 1965. The jurisdiction and venue requirements for the divorce were met and the grounds for extreme cruelty were satisfactorily proven.
WHITFIELD v. WHITFIELD, 222 N.J. Super. 36 (1987)
The issue before us is whether that portion of a pension which was earned during coverture but which is neither vested nor matured is subject to equitable distribution upon divorce. We hold that such a pension is "property" acquired during the course of the marriage within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23 and that the practical difficulties inherent in its valuation in no way affect its includability in the marital estate. In so doing we part company from prior decisions of this court which have concluded otherwise. Barba v. Barba, 198 N.J. Super. 205 (App. Div. 1985); White v. White, 136 N.J. Super. 552 (App. Div. 1975).
Re:End date of Marriage
Genovesev. Genovese, 392 N.J. Super. 215 (App. Div. 2007).
Husband filed for divorce in New York and a Judgment of Divorce was entered in 1994. Wife appealed and Judgment was vacated and complaint dismissed due to insufficient evidence to support the cause of action. Husband later filed complaints for divorce in New Jersey in 2001, 2002, and 2003, all of which were dismissed for lack of prosecution. Husband filed again in New Jersey in 2005 and case was tried and a Dual final Judgment of Divorce was entered. Trial Court found that for purposes of equitable distribution of husband's pensions, the marriage ended in 1994 when husband filed his first complaint for divorce and that date was used for the coverture fraction for distributing the pensions. Wife appealed and App Div affirmed. [Note: the facts in this case are somewhat unusual and the date of the complaint which results in a final judgment is still the rule which is most often followed by the courts for determining the end of date of a marriage and determining which assets accrued "during the marriage" for purposes of equitable distribution. Portnor v Portnor, 93 N.J. 215 (1983), Brandenburg v. Brandenburg, 83 N.J. 198, (1980), Painter v. Painter, 65 N.J. 196, (1974)]
Re:Life insurance
Claffey v.Claffey, 360 N.J. Super. 240 (App. Div. 2003).
Trial court improperly tied Husband's security requirement (life insurance) for wife's share of deferred compensation pension (PFRS) to present day value of pension. App Div reversed and remanded for trial court to determine proper amount of life insurance to be secured by husband.
Larrison v.Larrison, 392 N.J. Super. 1 (App. Div. 2007).
This case involved equitable distribution of Husband's disability pension which the App Div remanded for the trial court to determine which portion of the pension represented a retirement component and which portion represented compensation for disability and economic loss. In addition, the App Div vacated the trial court's order which required the Husband to maintain life insurance to protect the wife's share of the pension benefits in the event of his death. The App Div stated that since the pension plan did not provide for survivor benefits, then "…there was no legal support for the trial court's order directing otherwise." (Contrary to Claffey).
Re:Distribution of Disability Pension
Sternesky v.Salcie-Sternesky, 396 N.J. Super. 290 (App. Div. 2007)
Trial court determined that husband's disability pension through PFRS was income and not distributable to the wife. In the alternative, the trial court found that even if husband's disability pension was determined to be an asset, the wife was not entitled to share in that asset through equitable distribution. The App Div reversed and set out a formula for determining which part of the disability pension was for ordinary retirement benefits and therefore subject to equitable distribution.
Re:Value of 401(k) at time of distribution
Settenbrino v.Schwartz, (unreported) 2007 WL 3085151 (App. Div. 2007)
certif. denied, 194 N.J. 270 (2008).
The Final Judgment of Divorce entered on August 22, 2000 awarded the wife $32,500 as her equitable share of husband's 401(k) which was to be distributed by QDRO. The accompanying QDRO stated that "… the plaintiff is to receive a 50% distributive award of the marital portion of the defendant's 401(k) to wit: the sum of $32,500 to be distributed by separate QDRO…" The plan administrator did not transfer the funds until April 1, 2001 at which time the value of wife's share had diminished to $18,724.61. Wife filed motion to compel the pension plan to transfer the balance of the money owed to her. Pension plan wrote to the wife and stated that they had complied with the QDRO and transferred her 50% interest in the 401(k). The trial court relied upon the decision by the pension plan and denied the wife's motion. Wife appealed and App Div affirmed finding that the intent of the QDRO was to award the wife half of the value of the 401(k) and if she were to receive the full $32,500, she would be receiving more than 50% of the marital asset contrary to the Final Judgment of Divorce
Re:Consequences of not filing a QDRO
Ross v.Ross, 308 N.J. Super 132 (App. Div. 1998)
The parties were divorced and their attached PSA provided that wife would receive half of husband's annuity and pension and also provided her with all of the survivor benefits under all of the plans in the event of his death. The PSA specifically referenced 2 of the 3 pension plans of the husband and required the wife to prepare QDROs to effectuate the division of the pensions. The husband remarried immediately after the divorce. One month later he died. Wife moved in the Family Court for the entry of QDROs or in the alternative to deem the PSA to be a QDRO and to declare her to be the surviving spouse. New wife (widow) opposed the motion claiming that she was the surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to survivor's benefits under the plans. Widow also filed an action in Federal Court seeking survivor's benefits under ERISA. Family Court judge entered the QDROs and widow appealed. App Div held thata QDRO cannot be entered after the death of a participant, but found that the PSA met the requirements of a QDRO under ERISA and the REA for the specific plans mentioned but not for the plans that were not stated in the PSA.
Samaroo v.Samaroo, 193 F.3d 185 (3rd Cir. 1999)
Cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1062 (2000)
Parties were divorced and the PSA stated that the wife was to receive one half of the husband's pension benefits at the time of his retirement. Three years later, husband died while still employed and prior to reaching retirement age. The pension plan denied the wife's claim to pre-retirement survivor's benefits since the divorce decree did not mention such benefits and there was no QDRO which designated the wife as the surviving spouse. The wife filed a motion in state court to amend the divorce decree nunc pro tunc to provide her with pre-retirement survivor's benefits and that motion was granted. The pension plan was joined as a defendant and the case was removed to federal court. The district court held that the amended divorce decree was not a QDRO since it would require the plan to provide increased benefits to the wife and this was prohibited by ERISA and the REA. The 3rd Circuit affirmed.
Files v. ExxonMobil Pension Plan 428 F.3d 478 (3rd Cir. 2005)
Cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1160 (2006).
Parties were divorced and the PSA stated that the wife was entitled to one-half of husband's Exxon Savings account and one-half of the pension. The transfer was to be by QDRO for the pension and by transfer to an account designated by the wife for the savings account. The pension plan was notified of the divorce and the provisions of the PSA relating to the pension and savings account. Husband died 2 ½ years after the divorce at age 54 and no QDRO had been submitted at that point. The pension plan refused to pay any survivor's benefits to the wife since the PSA did not designate the wife as the surviving spouse. Wife filed a motion in Family Court for relief and the court entered an order nunc pro tunc as a QDRO to compel the pension plan to pay wife her share of the pension. The pension plan again denied benefits to the wife stating that since no QDRO was entered at the time of the husband's death, no benefits were payable to any party. Wife filed suit in federal court against the pension plan and the attorneys for the parties in state court. The district court granted summary judgment to the pension plan finding that the PSA was not a QDRO and, relying on the decision in Samaroo, also found that the nunc pro tunc order was not a QDRO. Wife appealed. Circuit Court reversed distinguishing Samaroo and finding that the PSA had created a separate interest in husband's pension plan for the wife prior to husband's death and the nunc pro tunc order was a QDRO which was simply enforcing a right given to the wife in the PSA. The court went on to note that nothing in ERISA precluded the entry of a QDRO after the death of a plan participant.
New Mexico Case Law
MATTOX v. MATTOX, 105 N.M. 479 (App. 1987)
February 10, 1987.
Respondent-appellant (husband) and petitioner-appellee (wife) appeal the decision of the trial court in this divorce proceeding. Husband raises five issues: (1) whether the trial court properly valued his pension plan; (2) whether the trial court properly valued his employee stock option plan; (3) whether the trial court properly valued his employee savings plan; (4) whether the trial court erred in the award of a coin collection as husband's separate property when its value was already included in the award of household goods; and (5) whether the trial court abused its discretion in awarding lump sum alimony in addition to alimony of $500 a month for one year. We affirm on issues 1 and 2 and remand as to issue 3 with instructions. As to issue 4, we grant the parties' request to correct the arithmetic error on the personal property list. We discuss issue 5 in conjunction with wife's cross-appeal since the parties appeal the common issue of alimony.
Miscellaneous Report
McGOWAN v. McGOWAN, 136 Misc.2d 225 (1987)
Defendant in this divorce action governed by the Equitable Distribution Law moves for an order determining that plaintiff's teaching license is marital property subject to equitable distribution, and that the pension of both parties should be valued as of the date of the earliest retirement as provided by their respective plans.
Appellate Division Report
CASELLA v. CASELLA, 306 A.D.2d 800 [3d Dept 2003]
Decided and Entered: June 26, 2003.
The parties to this divorce action entered into a stipulation of settlement resolving the distribution of all of their marital assets. The stipulation was incorporated, but not merged, into their judgment of divorce. Under the terms of this stipulation, the parties agreed that plaintiff's state pension would be divided in value as of the commencement date of the action (May 20, 1998) and that defendant would be entitled to 50% of this value to be accomplished through a domestic relations order.[fn1] The stipulation further provides, without differentiation, that "counsel" shall prepare the domestic relations order to be "viewed by other counsel" and further permits, but by no means requires, that a certain pension evaluator, namely William Troyan, may prepare the order "subject to approval by both counsel."
HEBER v. HEBER, 112 Misc.2d 799 (1982)
This motion by defendant for an order pursuant to section 237 Dom. Rel. of the Domestic Relations Law directing plaintiff to pay defendant her costs in retaining an actuary and an appraiser is granted as set forth below.
North Carolina Case Law
BISHOP v. BISHOP, 113 N.C. App. 725 (1994)
No. 9329DC288
Filed 1 March 1994
Prior to the hearing on equitable distribution in this case, plaintiff and Harry H. Bishop, Sr. (defendant), resolved many of the equitable distribution issues by consent. At the hearing, the trial court was asked to classify, value, and distribute three assets: defendant's military retirement, defendant's DuPont retirement, and defendant's DuPont incentive plan. The trial court concluded that the DuPont retirement plan was a marital asset and that the military retirement was defendant's separate property. The trial court further concluded that an equal division of the marital property was equitable and entered the following order:
Pennsylvania Case Law
BERRINGTON v. BERRINGTON, 534 Pa. 393 (1993)
Decided November 12, 1993.
This is a divorce case involving equitable distribution of a defined benefit pension fund. The issue presented is whether the non-employee spouse's share in a deferred distribution of a pension should be based upon the salary which the employee-spouse earned at the date of separation or upon the amount earned at some post-separation retirement date. The trial court determined that the marital share should be based on the employee's pension to be received at the time the pension plan enters pay status. Superior Court reversed, holding that the amount to be awarded the non-employee spouse should be based on the employee's salary at the date of separation, but augmented by growth in the pension fund based on factors other than the employer's or employee's contributions to the fund after the date of separation. 409 Pa. Super. 355, 372, 598 A.2d 31, 40 (1991). We affirm.
KING v. KING, 332 Pa. Super. 526 (1984)
Filed August 24, 1984.
Appellant is the former husband of appellee. He contests the distribution of property ordered by the trial court in conjunction with the parties' divorce. Specifically he challenges the valuation of his pension plan, which was subject to equitable distribution, and what he claims was the failure of the trial court to take into consideration in making its distribution of marital property the fact that appellee had resided since the date of separation in the marital residence rent free.
KRIZOVENSKY v. KRIZOVENSKY, 425 Pa. Super. 204 (1993)
Filed May 4, 1993.
Linda Krizovensky ["wife"] appeals the order entered July 23, 1992, in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County. The court's order apportioned the post-retirement distribution of John Krizovensky's ["husband"] Civil Service Retirement System pension. On this appeal, wife argues that the court misinterpreted the parties' property settlement agreement and disputes the amount awarded to her pursuant to the court's order. We agree and reverse the trial court's order.
BRADERMAN v. BRADERMAN, 339 Pa. Super. 185 (1985)
Filed February 8, 1985.
These cross-appeals arise from an order of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas in a divorce proceeding concerning the equitable distribution of marital property, alimony, and counsel fees. Roslyn S. Braderman, is the appellant in appeal No. 272 and Jay R. Braderman is the appellant in appeal No. 273. In order to avoid the confusion which the terms "appellant" and "appellee" would cause in dealing with these cross-appeals, the term "plaintiff-wife" will be used throughout this opinion to describe Roslyn S. Braderman and Jay R. Braderman will be designed as "defendant-husband".
HOVIS v. HOVIS, 518 Pa. 137 (1988)
The issue before this Court is under what circumstances potential tax liability should be considered in the valuation of marital property for purposes of equitable distribution under the Pennsylvania Divorce Code, 23 Pa.S.A. § 401(d).
FLYNN v. FLYNN, 341 Pa. Super. 76 (1985)
Filed March 29, 1985.
This is an appeal from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County entered November 23, 1982, granting a decree in divorce and an award of temporary alimony. The appellant, Mary Flynn, requests that the divorce decree be reversed and that her award of alimony be vacated and remanded for additional consideration.
MANTELL v. MANTELL, 384 Pa. Super. 475 (1989)
Filed May 11, 1989.
I agree with President Judge Cirillo that, except for the trial court's award of counsel fees in the Texas action, the decree of divorce and order of distribution must be affirmed. The award of counsel fees in the Texas action, however, was improper and must be vacated.
DeMASI v. DeMASI, 366 Pa. Super. 19 (1987)
Filed August 10, 1987. Petition for Allowance of Appeal Denied March 2, 1988.
These are four consolidated appeals: three filed by Rocco J. DeMasi, and one filed by Tanya J. DeMasi. As both parties are appellant and appellee, we shall refer to Rocco J. DeMasi as "husband" and to Tanya J. DeMasi as "wife." The orders under review concern child support, spousal support, alimony pendente lite, equitable distribution of marital property, counsel fees and litigation expenses.[fn1]
ZOLLARS v. ZOLLARS, 397 Pa. Super. 204 (1990)
Robert D. Zollars appeals from an order distributing marital property. He specifically takes issue with the valuation of his pension and with the trial court's decision to award Dolores 60 percent of the marital property. We affirm the portion of the order granting Dolores 60 percent of the marital property and the valuation of his pension, but reverse as to the manner of distribution.
LYONS v. LYONS, 401 Pa. Super. 271 (1991)
Filed January 17, 1991.
Appellant-wife (hereinafter "Wife") appeals from a December 15, 1989 equitable distribution and child support order. The order in question denied Wife's motion for post-trial relief and modified a September 15, 1989 order to require appellee-husband (hereinafter "Husband") to provide medical insurance coverage for two of the parties' minor children and to pay for half of their unreimbursed medical expenses.[fn1] Wife contends that the trial court erred in: (1) failing to distribute Husband's pension on a 50/50 basis; (2) underestimating the present value of the marital portion of Husband's pension; and (3) failing to order Husband to pay all of the children's medical and dental expenses that are not covered or reimbursed by insurance.[fn2] For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court's order regarding Husband's payment of uncovered or unreimbursed medical expenses, and we vacate the portion of the court's order disposing of Husband's pension and remand for proceedings consistent with this Opinion.
HOLLAND v. HOLLAND, 403 Pa. Super. 116 (1991)
Filed February 12, 1991. Petition for Allowance of Appeal Denied August 6, 1991.
In this appeal of an equitable distribution order, Appellant raises four questions. Chief among them is the method used by the trial court in distributing the marital share of Appellant's pension. The trial judge, after entering a decree of divorce, ordered Mr. Holland's government retirement plan be equitably distributed using the deferred distribution method. The court ruled that the basic benefit of this asset should be determined at the time that husband retires based upon an application of the coverture fraction.
GORDON v. GORDON, 436 Pa. Super. 126 (1994)
Filed July 11, 1994.
Reargument Denied September 14, 1994.
This is an appeal from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County dividing the parties' marital estate.
Rhode Island Case Law
STEVENSON v. STEVENSON, 511 A.2d 961 (R.I. 1986)
No. 83-550-Appeal.
June 26, 1986.
[2] This is an appeal from a divorce decree entered in the Family Court in which the trial justice granted the husband's petition and the wife's cross-petition for absolute divorce based upon irreconcilable differences that had caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage.[fn1] The husband appeals from the court's assignment of property and from the award of alimony and counsel fees to the wife. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
RETIREMENT BOARD OF THE EMPLOYEES' v. DiPRETE, 845 A.2d 270 (R.I. 2004)
No. 2000-0429-Appeal (PC 99-206)
Abraham Lincoln once explained that "[t]he legitimate object of government is to do for * * * people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves * * *."[fn1] Implicit in this is an indispensable ingredient of a well-functioning democracy - the element of trust. Public officials are honored with the opportunity to serve the public to benefit the people. It is expected that those officials will fulfill their commitments with loyalty, honor and integrity. This opinion comes in the wake of an elected official's decision to breach that commitment.
KENDRICK v. KENDRICK, 902 S.W.2d 918 (Tenn.App. 1994)
Published Pursuant to Tenn. Ct. App.R. 11.
This appeal involves the right of a divorcee to receive a portion of her former spouse's nonvested military pension. After over ten years of marriage, the wife sued the husband for divorce in the Chancery Court for Franklin County. The trial court granted the wife a divorce and awarded her a portion of the husband's nonvested military pension as part of the division of the marital property. The husband asserts on this appeal that his nonvested military pension should not have been considered marital property. We have determined that the wife is entitled to a portion of the husband's military pension when and if he begins to receive it and that her share should be based on the husband's salary at the time of the divorce.
Virginia Case Law
ZIPF v. ZIPF, 8 Va. App. 387 (1989)
46009 No. 1114-87-4
Decided July 11, 1989
On this appeal from a decree entered in a divorce proceeding, Marion K. Zipf contends that the trial judge erred in: (1) selecting as the valuation date of marital property the date of filing of the bill of complaint instead of a date as near as practical to the evidentiary hearing; (2) awarding her twenty-five percent of the value of the husband's military pension and twenty-five percent of the value of stock titled in the husband's name; (3) fixing as a sum certain the value of her share of the husband's pension without adjustment to compensate for delayed receipt of that sum in the form of periodic payments; and (4) requiring her to exhaust her share of the marital property before awarding more than nominal spousal support. For the reasons which follow, we affirm in part the trial judge's decision, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
GAMBLE v. GAMBLE, 14 Va. App. 558 (1992)
Decided June 2, 1992
By final decree entered on September 21, 1990, the Circuit Court for the City of Charlottesville granted Constance P. Gamble a final divorce on the grounds of desertion and adultery from Harry Yandle Gamble, Jr. The decree further granted Mrs. Gamble a monetary award and spousal support, and ordered Mr. Gamble to convey his interest in the jointly owned marital home to Mrs. Gamble in partial satisfaction of the monetary award. On appeal, Mr. Gamble challenges the monetary and spousal support awards. He does not challenge the grounds for the divorce.
West Virginia Case Law
BUTCHER v. BUTCHER, 178 W. Va. 33 (1987)
April 2, 1987. Petition for Rehearing April 17, 1987. Rehearing Denied June 3, 1987.
The primary issue presented in this appeal is whether military nondisability retirement benefits can be considered for alimony and child support purposes and as marital property subject to equitable distribution in a divorce proceeding. A secondary issue involves whether the circuit court abused its discretion in awarding only temporary rehabilitative alimony. The circuit court concluded that military retirement benefits were exempt, and we find this to be error. The circuit court also erred in awarding only temporary rehabilitative alimony.
Wisconsin Case Law
IN RE: MARRIAGE OF WASHINGTON v. WASHINGTON, 2000 WI 47 234 Wis.2d 689
Case No.: 98-1234.
Opinion Filed: June 7, 2000.
This is a review of an unpublished decision of the court of appeals, Washington v. Washington, No. 98-1234, unpublished slip op. (Wis. Ct. App., June 9, 1999), affirming an order of the circuit court for Ozaukee County, Joseph D. McCormack, Circuit Judge. The circuit court denied Gail M. Washington's post-divorce motion to grant her appreciation and interest, from the date of divorce until pension payments begin, on her award of a lump-sum share of her ex-husband Melvin K. Washington's federal employee pension. The circuit court held that Wis. Stat. § 767.32(1)(a) (1997-98) prohibited the circuit court from modifying or revising the provisions of the judgment and order with respect to the final division of property.
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
Arizona. Chapter 357, Laws of 2011 (Senate Bill 1609) revises the structure of cost-of-living adjustments for members of the Elected Officials', the Public Safety Personnel's and the Correction Officers' retirement plans. The new provisions require a total return of more than 10.5% for the prior fiscal year to allow for a cost of living increase, and limit that increase to: Ratio of actuarial value of assets to accrued liability.
Percentage of benefit being received on preceding June 30
60% or more but less than 65% 2.0%
70% or more but less than 75%-- 3.0%
At least 80% 4.0%
States that the amount available to fund the increase to be 100% of the earnings of the fund that exceed 10 .5% of the total return of the fund for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the calendar year preceding the July 1 of the increase. If that 100% is insufficient to fully fund the present value of the appropriate percentage increase, the increase is limited to the percentage that can be fully funded. Reverts any earnings in excess of the amount necessary to fully pay that amount to the appropriate public fund. Such earnings will not be available for future benefit increases. Allows the Legislature to enact permanent one-time increases, from and after December 31, 2015, after an analysis of the effect of the increase on the plan by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC).
Florida. Senate Bill 2100 (to the governor May 6, 2011) eliminates the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for service earned on or after July 1, 2011. Subject to the availability of funding and the Legislature's enacting sufficient employer contributions specifically for the purpose of funding the reinstatement of the COLA, the new COLA formula will expire effective June 30, 2016, and the current 3% cost-of-living adjustment will be reinstated.
Hawaii. House Bill 1038 (to the governor May 6, 2011) reduces the annual post-retirement benefit increase for those who become members of the Hawaii Retirement System after July 1, 2012, from 2.5% to 1.5%.
Maryland. House Bill 72, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act, included extensive changes to Maryland retirement plans. The bill became law without the governor's signature on April 8, 2011. Under current law, all SRPS retirement benefits are adjusted automatically to account for annual inflation, but the size of the adjustments varies by plan. Retirees of the Employees' Pension System (EPS) and Teachers' Pension System (TPS), as well as the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System (LEOPS), receive automatic annual COLAs linked to inflation, subject to a 3% cap. The State Police Retirement System (SPRS) and the Correctional Officers' Retirement System (CORS) also receive COLAs linked to inflation, but they are not subject to a cap. The changes in House Bill 72 do not affect COLAs for individuals retired as of July 1, 2011, but do affect COLAs that current active members in EPS, TPS, LEOPS, SPRS, and CORS will receive when they retire. For service credit earned after June 30, 2011, the COLA will be linked to the performance of the SRPS investment portfolio. If the portfolio earns its actuarial target rate (7.75% for fiscal 2011), the COLA is subject to a 2.5% cap. If the portfolio does not earn the target rate, the COLA is subject to a 1% cap. For service credit earned before July 1, 2011, the COLA provisions in effect during that time still apply for each plan. The COLA provisions do not apply to current or future retirees of the Judges' Retirement System (JRS) or the Legislative Pension Plan (LPP) because their benefit increases are linked to the salaries of current judges and legislators, respectively, and not limited to inflation rates.
Mississippi. Chapter 469, Laws of 2011 (Senate Bill 2439), Section 2, changes COLA provisions for people who join the retirement system on or after July 1, 2011. For people who became members of the system before July 1, 2011, the COLA is equal to the sum of 3% for each full fiscal year in retirement before the member reaches age 55, plus 3% compounded for each full fiscal year in retirement after the member reaches age 55. For those hired on or after July 1, 2011, the COLA will remain at 3% but the age at which the compounding begins will increases from age 55 to age 60.
Oklahoma. Chapter 199, Laws of 2011 (House Bill 2132) amends the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act (OPLAAA), so that cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are considered fiscal retirement bills for purposes of OPLAAA procedures, thus requiring COLAs to be funded by the Legislature at the time of enactment. According to the legislative fiscal analysis of the legislation, the practical application of the concurrent funding requirement would suggest the retirement systems remove their unfunded COLA assumption. According to the legislative actuary's calculations, removal of COLA assumptions will affect the UAAL and the funded ratios of the pension systems as follows: Teachers Retirement system: UAAL will decrease by approximately $2.9 billion and increase OTRS's funded ratio from 48% to 56%; Public Employee Retirement System: UAAL will decrease by approximately $1.4 billion and increase the OPERS funded ratio from 66% to 77%;
Washington. Chapter 362, Laws of 2011 (House Bill 2021) eliminates further increases of Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 (PERS Plan 1 and TRS Plan 1) benefits through the annual increase, or "Uniform COLA" above the amount in effect on July 1, 2010, unless a retiree qualifies for the minimum benefit. It reduces the minimum employer contribution rates for the PERS Plan 1 unfunded liability from 5.75 to 3.5%, and for the TRS Plan 1 unfunded liability from 8.0 to 5.75%. The bill also increases the alternative minimum benefit to $1,500, and continues to index the alternative minimum benefit by 3% per year. [The two plans were closed to new members in 1977. Employers are responsible for amortization of the UAAL in the plans.]
Colorado. Chapter 2, Laws of 2010 (SB 1), reduces PERA's commitment to post-retirement cost of living adjustments. Reduces the COLA to the lesser of 2% or inflation for 2010, and requires the inflation calculation to be based on periods in 2009, resulting in a 0% COLA; Limits the COLA to 2% in 2011 and future years, unless PERA experiences a negative investment return, in which case the COLA will be calculated as the lesser of the inflation from the preceding 3 years or 2 percent; Provides for COLA adjustments to be made with the July benefit, and requires those that retire after January 1, 2011, to receive benefits for at least 12 months before receiving a COLA adjustment; and Sets rules for adjusting the COLA based on PERA's actuarial funded ratio. Suit has been filed challenging the reduction in benefits as a violation of contract.
Illinois. Public Act 96-0889 (SB 1946) affects most statewide pension plans. The bill's provisions include the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Cook County employees, Chicago municipal employees, Cook County Forest Preserve, Chicago Park District, Judges Retirement System, General Assembly Retirement System, State Employees Retirement System, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, Teachers Retirement System, Chicago laborers, and the State Universities Retirement System. Excluded from the bill are the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago fire or police, downstate and suburban fire and police plans, and those covered by the sheriff's formula in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Provisions apply to those who become members of plans on or after January 1, 2011. Post-retirement increases will be available one year after a beneficiary begins receiving benefits or reaches the age of 67, whichever is later. The increase will be 3% or 50% of CPI, whichever is less, but not less than zero. The increases will apply only to the base annuity, and will not be compounded. Current law provides an annual 3% increase for SERS and TRS, compounded. For members of the General Assembly plan and judges, the annual postretirement increase will be at full CPI.
Maryland. Chapters 56 and 57, Laws of 2010 (SB 317 and HB 775), require that retirement allowances for most Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS) retirees not be subject to COLAs in fiscal 2011 if the average change in the CPI-U from 2008 to 2009 is negative. If COLAs are not applied in fiscal 2011, then fiscal 2012 retirement allowances must be reduced by the difference between fiscal 2010 allowances and the allowances that would have been paid in fiscal 2011 if COLAs had been applied. The acts do not apply to retirees of the Legislative Pension Plan or the Judges' Retirement System, whose benefits are linked to the salaries of active legislators and judges, respectively. The Acts also require the MSRPS Board of Trustees to study options for addressing future situations in which the CPI-U is negative and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.
Michigan. Act 75 of 2010 (SB 1227) provides that all newly hired school employees after July 1, 2010 will be enrolled in a hybrid defined benefit and defined contribution system. The hybrid plan eliminates cost of living adjustments to pension allowances.
Minnesota. Chapter 359, Laws of 2010 (Senate File 2918 and House File 3281), provided for post-retirement increase rate reductions or suspensions. Generally speaking, for state-administered plans, post-retirement increases are reduced from existing rates until plans attain a 90% funding ratio, based on the market value of assets as a percentage of the AAL. For example, for Minnesota State Retirement Plan general employees, legislators, constitutional officers and some others, the rate is reduced from 2.5% to 2 % and for the State Patrol Plan from 2.5% to 1.5%. For Public Employee Retirement Association members other than Police & Fire, the rate is reduced from 2.5% to 1%. For the Teachers Retirement Association, the post-retirement increase is suspended for 2011 and 2012, to be followed by 2% increases until the plan is 90% funded. The bill also requires a retiree or beneficiary of any State Retirement or Teachers Retirement Association plan to have been retired at least six months before qualifying for an initial post-retirement adjustment. For further details, see the bill summary of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. Legal challenges have been filed.
Rhode Island. Public Law 23 of 2010 (HB 7397(the budget bill), Article 6, reduces post-retirement benefit increases for state employees, teachers, justices and judges who are ineligible for retirement as of the date of enactment. The legislation limits post-retirement cost of living adjustments for such future retirees to the first $35,000 of retirement benefits, with that base to be increased annually by the CPI-U or 3%, whichever is less.
South Dakota. Chapter 20, Laws of 2010 (SB 20), makes various cost-saving changes affecting post-retirement increases. The bill: Removes COLAs for retirees in the first year of retirement. Reduces refunds of employer contributions to people who withdraw from the system after July 1 2010. Current law provides a 75% refund to non-vested members and 100% to vested members; the percentages are reduced, respectively to 50% and 85%.• Pins the annual improvement factor (COLA), currently 3.1%, to 2.1% for one year, and thereafter pins it to the market value funded ratio for the system.
1. If the ratio is 100% or more, the COLA remains at 3.1%
2. If the ratio is 90% to 99.9%, the COLA will be indexed to the CPI with a maximum of 2.8% and a minimum of 2.1%
4. If the ratio is less than 80% the COLA will be 2.1%
According to the Pierre Capitol Journal, June 16, 2010, retirees have filed a challenge to the law on the grounds of a violation of contract.
Virginia. Chapter 737, Laws of 2010 (HB 1189/SB 232), for those hired or rehired after July 1, 2010, reduces the portion of the increase in the Consumer Price Index used for determining annual retirement allowance supplements ("COLA") from three percent plus one-half of the next four percent to two percent plus one-half of the next eight percent.
Louisiana. Act 144 of 2009 (House Bill 586) provides retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors with a benefit below $1,200 a month a minimum benefit increase with several requirements including having 30 or more years of service credit, being at least 60 years of age, and having been retired for at least 15 years. None of them is to receive an increase of more than $300 a month. Act 270 of 2009 (House Bill 96) allows a member of any state-wide retirement system who retires after July 1, 2009, to self-fund a guaranteed 2.5% annual cost of living adjustment through an actuarial reduction of benefits. Any COLAs provided by the retirement system will be in addition to the self-funded annual 2.5%. Act 497 of 2009 (SB 296) places limits on the granting of COLAs and changes the terminology from "cost-of-living" adjustment to "permanent benefit increase." It provides that after July 1, 2009, such increases will be limited to those who have been retired for at least one year and who are at least 60 years old (current law: 55 years old). The law adds controls to permanent benefit increases given by the State Employee Retirement System (LASERS). Under existing law, the Experience Fund, which receives revenue under certain conditions when investment return exceeds the actuarial assumption (8.25% a year) must hold funds sufficient to amortize the full cost of such an increase. Additional controls now applied to LASERS are that if the actuarial return for a year is below the assumption and the fund is below 80% funded, no increase can be granted. If the investment return is below the assumption but the fund is 80% or more funded, an increase up to CPI capped at 2% can be given. If the investment return exceeds the actuarial assumption, the cap on an increased will be 3%.
Nevada. Chapter 426, Laws of 2009 (SB 427), reduces postretirement increases for those who become members of the Public Employee Retirement System on or after 1/1/2010. Current law provides for a gradually increasing percentage in the COLA until the retiree has reached a 14th anniversary of retirement when it reaches 5% annually. This bill provides that the 12th anniversary amount of 4% annually will be in effect thereafter.
Kentucky. See Kentucky under "Defined Benefit Plan Changes." Utah. SB 19 provides for an annual cost of living adjustment determined by the consumer price index as high as 4 percent annually, instead of the 2.5 percent in existing law, for state public safety officers. The bill authorizes other employers of members of the public safety retirement system to elect to provide similar annual cost of living adjustments, for employees who retire after July 1, 2008. Provides a funding mechanism. Signed 3/17/08.
Vermont. Act 116 of 2008 (HB 403) provides for cost of living adjustments equal to the full increase of decrease according to the Consumer Price Index for the preceding fiscal year, beginning in 2014 for active employees as of June 30, 2008 who retire after July 1, 2008.
Minnesota. Chapter 277, Laws of 2005-2006 (SF 1057) caps future post-retirement adjustments. Under the old law, effective in 2010, post-retirement adjustments are based on two components: (1) a cost-of-living adjustment, of up to 2.5 percent per year; and (2) an investment-based adjustment, which is not capped. Under the new law, if investment earnings (combined with the cost-of-living adjustment) would cause the total increase to exceed 5 percent in any year, the adjustment will be capped at 5 percent, with excess investment earnings being retained and made available to support adjustments in future years. An annual cap, also effective in 2010, was also placed on COLAs paid by the St. paul Teachers' Retirement Fund. Chapter 277 reduced the amount that deferred pensions are adjusted annually until the annuity is taken. Under the old law, when a person leaves public employment but does not yet begin to draw a pension, the amount of the deferred pension is augmented by 3 percent per year until the employee reaches age 55, and by 5 percent per year after that until the person begins to draw a pension. For people first hired after June 30, 2006, this article changes the augmentation rate to a flat 2.5 percent for each year the pension is deferred. The changes affect funds administered by the Minnesota State Retirement system, the Public Employees Retirement Association, teacher funds, and combined service annuities.
West Virginia. The Legislature appropriated $718 million to the Teachers' Retirement System in 2006 – the scheduled $334 million for amortization of its UAAL plus an additional $385 million that would otherwise have been deposited in the state rainy day fund. -- Final Wrapup, May 2006, and Budget Digest, 2005-2006.
Wyoming. Enrolled Act No. 32 caps firefighters' annual COLA at 3 percent.
Arizona. Increased the limit on the annual cost of living adjustment from 3 percent to 4 percent and repealed a provision limiting the COLA to the change in CPI. The actual annual COLA is determined by applying a formula to the amount of investment return above the actuarial assumption of 8 percent. The threshold for a calculation was reduced from a 9 percent investment return to 8 percent to coincide with the actuarial investment assumption.
Arkansas. Set the annual COLA at 3 percent and eliminated its tie to the CPI. Act 39.
Mississippi. Increased the COLA for retired members. H. B. 472.


For photographers, artists, and other creatives, here are some beautiful themes and stunning templates you can use for your portfolio websites. Nowadays, it's not enough to show your clients a collection of your printed works. With the necessity of smartphones and computers becoming more and more evident every day, it is also imperative for every anyone in the creative field go beyond their canvasses and prints.
Impress your tech-savvy and modern audience with this collection of exciting and interesting artist and photographer website themes. Being from popular theme sources, these templates are packed with amazing features that will surely help you build a high-functioning, as well as a visually striking, website that your audience will surely love. So, dig in and enjoy these themes.
This responsive WordPress theme is made especially for photographers who want a sleek and modern design. Julie Bernerro is crafted according to the latest web design trends, with 7 available header layouts to choose from. It features a full-screen image background with a stylized typography overlay for a breathtaking visual effect. The theme is also boasts superior functionality as it is packed with features such as Live Customizer, TM Gallery, and many others.
Defrozo is a unique Moto CMS 3 Template with a rich layout and an amazing design. It includes extra templates that enable you to build original pages according to your preferences. Featuring a drag and drop website creator, you can build your online portfolio with tons of ready-made blocks in just a few minutes. It is an all-in-one solution for any photographer and artist who needs a website to promote their works online and expand their business.
A multipurpose HTML template, Indigo is a theme built for online photo and video portfolios. It comes with 12 homepage layouts that you can choose from, over 10 gallery and album variations to showcase your works, and even an Instagram gallery to reach out to a wider audience. Built with the Bootstrap framework, this template is a fully responsive template with a clean design that will surely look great on all devices.
Lumberjack is a photo gallery template created through the Moto CMS platform that offers fantastic functionality and a varied collection of designs. With its handy drag-and-drop editor, presets builder, color picker, and useful widgets, you can quickly build sections and other elements on your website. You can also modify it with a diverse set of customizable presets and widgets. It also features a parallax effect and creative animations to enhance the visuals of your website.
Another beautiful photographer portfolio website template is Intense. With a minimal color scheme of black and white, it directs the viewers' eyes and highlights your creative and colorful photo galleries. Easy to use and easy to install, this theme also comes with functions you can use to share your works through social media.. Other than these, this theme comes with modern and dynamic features making it suitable for online art galleries as well.
This art gallery WordPress theme is an eye-catching and fast-loading template that is perfect for online art galleries and other artists' portfolio. Made with WordPress, Fine Art comes with a bunch of powerful features such as: MegaMenu for awesome navigation; MotoPress Editor; and Slider to manage page elements and help you choose the perfect slider for your website. The theme is fully responsive, cross-browser compatible, WPML-ready and SEO-optimized.
This modern artist portfolio theme is another WordPress template that offers an edgy and stylish design for every contemporary artist and photographer out there. Created with robust features like TemplateMonster's drag-and-drop page builder, multiple layout options, TM gallery, more than 25 modules available, a vast library of preset, and an advanced set of configuration options, Steven Mosk is definiety a powerful website template to be reckoned with.
Salvatoro is an artist portfolio theme that is built within the Cherry framework that enables you to create a stunning gallery of your best artworks. The template is easy to use with its advanced functions. These include a large number of animation and layout options such as the masonry-grid style layout. Its custom widgets and sidebars enrich your website's functionality and navigation, while the live customizer allows you to adjust the theme easily.
Another online gallery and artist portfolio theme is Artworker. It is a premium PrestaShop template, which means you can integrate eCommerce functionalities on your website so you can sell your artworks online. The theme comes with a unique set of features that includes catalogues, store modes to choose from, a Mega Layout builder with 3 pre-made layouts, tons of exclusive modules, and an ultra-responsive design that fits each and every screen.
This professional photographer Joomla template comes with a simple and minimalist aesthetic. It has a pixel-perfect design so it is perfect not just for art and photography but also for interior and exterior design and other creative projects. With a responsive design, parallax effect, and background video support, this theme will let you create a visually stunning website that will certainly attract your audience's attention and interest.
Whether you're running a personal or company portfolio website, this list definitely has the right theme for you. So, jazz up your websites with these templates. This could be the best decision you'll ever make this year. For more ideas and inspiration, you can also check out our compilation of the best product design portfolio websites.


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WTSGems: Meet Koel – an amazing singer who makes music majorly for her.
by Moyo Onipede
Meet the enterprising Koel, who is a student, has a business and makes great music.
Hi, Koel! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How are you coping with the lockdown?
Heyy, I'm doing fine thank you. I'm Koel, pronounced like how you would "Cole/Coal". I got the alias from the singing bird , The Asian Koel. I'm a new alternative RnB and afro fusion artiste with a beautiful sound. I'm not boasting, I'm just telling you lol. I've got a collaboration called 'Shimmer' produced by Keziri out and a couple of features with some new artists.
This lockdown has been a blessing to me majorly. I've had more time to create and write.
What was growing up like for you?
Growing up (I was 5/6 years old), I showed interest in music and creativity in general and my family always encouraged me in every way possible.
I enjoyed whatever fun moments I shared with my family and times I was in the school and church choir.
What kind of music did you listen to, growing up?
I got exposed to RnB, American Jazz, Reggae, Fuji, Afro sounds, Gospel, Soul, Makossa Rap and Dancehall through my parents, school and the media. Ultimately, I think my mum's general love for good music no matter the genre rubbed off on me and I'm glad it did.
Did your early music experiences influence you to start creating music?
Yes, they eventually did.
When did you start creating music? When did you start pursuing it professionally?
I've been singing for years but 'creating music' only properly started this year. Before now I didn't have the mind to try music out professionally. Fear of the unknown, lack of confidence amongst other reasons.
Who & what inspires you to make music now?
My inspiration for music, well, experiences. Mine or other people's.
My influences are Beyoncé, Burna Boy, Asa, Tiwa Savage, Sean Paul, Rihanna to name a few.
How would you describe the kind of music you make? What genre?
My genres are alternative RnB and Afro Fusion. You might also hear elements of other genres too.
Sometimes when I listen to certain songs or artistes, I get chills.
I want people to have that when they listen to me. I want them to feel excited, happy, all sorts of positive emotions when my songs come on.
Do you play any musical instruments? Can you produce and engineer yourself?
I could play the keyboard and the saxophone when I was much younger, but I can't say the same now. Well, it's something I'd still work on relearning again.
Considering how new I am to music creation, producing and engineering is something I cannot do, yet, but they are part of the plan.
Even though I can't produce yet, I'm still quite involved, I'd like to think I have a good ear and I know what sounds good and what doesn't.
When you create, what's your process like? What are some things you do to get into the zone to create?
In a scenario where I'm given a beat, most times I imagine contexts, for it then freestyle melodies on it.
From there I build up my lyrics. Most of the time the initial lyrics and melodies I put in, change. That's a rough idea of my process.
To create I'd like to have a clear head and a good mood. If I absolutely have to create even with a clouded head, I just blank out everything else and get drunk on the beat(s) then create.
Do you make music for yourself or does your audience influence your direction?
I think I make music majorly for me. I can't and will not create what I don't like. But, I also take into consideration what my supporters and audience will like too.
Have you ever performed on stage? How did it feel?
I haven't performed my own personal music on stage yet but I have been on stages before now, I felt a mix of anxiety, tension and excitement and thrill then and I'm sure the experience of performing my own music on stage in the nearest future would be more wholesome and emotional for me (in a good way). I can't wait!
How is support from your family regarding your music?
Nothing has changed, it's still as strong as ever.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your career as an emerging artist & producer?
Omo finances o, almost everything with music requires money. There's nothing better than having your own setup, money for promotion, to keep up with your image/style and these are just a few of the expenses. Abeg e no easy.
Will you rather be independent or sign to a record label right now? Why?
I think I'd want to stay independent for as long as I can till I'm offered a great deal.
There's a lot to know about the industry and till I know all that I need to and have the experience to match, I don't intend to sign with just any label.
What have you learnt the most so far in your music and life journey?
One thing I've learnt the most is about the need to keep learning, networking, and most importantly, Confidence.
Many artists have distinctive visual brands. What would you say is your fashion style? Do you have a stylist?
I don't have a stylist but I think my style is very modern and mixes androgynous fashion, feminine style and a bit of African fashion.
How frequently do you release music? What influences your decision on when to drop music?
I have no personal released projects yet. But, I plan to release a single soon. For this one, timing and funds are the major influence for the decision to release.
What was the idea behind your upcoming project?
For my upcoming project which will be my first, it's for my audience and fans to get acquainted with my sound. They've heard me on features and a collaboration and loved it I'm sure they'd want to know what I'll be like on my own track(s).
If given the chance, would you: Reinvent the wheel or build a new chariot?
Build a new chariot mehn.
What's the goal for you? What would a successful career for you look like
The plan is to win a Grammy or two amongst other awards and feats. Establish my name on an international basis. Working with certain international big names and of course plenty money in the bank.
Would you take a 9 to 5 job to supplement your income – do you currently have a job – or do you do music full-time?
I have a side business for income and I'm a freelance writer since I'm still a student. But if I weren't, I can't say if I'd take 9 to 5 just yet.
Where can people reach you on all platforms ?
My current handles are:
Instagram: @koel._
Twitter: @Koelll_
Email: koeldoorstep@gmail.com
You can reach me on any of those.
Moyo Onipede
WeTalkSound
We are Nigeria's biggest music community. This blog represents our contribution to documenting and sharing knowledge regarding our rich musical heritage.
WTXtra
© 2020, WeTalkSound


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Our PTFA
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St. Jérôme Church of England Bilingual School is funded by the British government and our curriculum is based on the English national curriculum and enriched by our Christian ethos and cross curricular bilingual approach. The first academic priority of the school is to make sure that every child makes excellent progress in English, maths and science. However, we are confident that through our bilingual approach, our children also learn to speak, read and write in French.
Children join our school with a wide range of home languages which we believe contributes to the richness of our community. Our innovative curriculum and approach to communication allows all children to make progress whatever their starting point in either English or French.
Dr Napoleon Katsos, Cambridge University is asked what he would say to a parent considering a bilingual education for their child.
In Reception (4-5 years) children enjoy a creative and language rich environment in which adults model spoken English and French and encourage the children to begin to communicate bilingually. They explore high quality resources in both English and French and the role play areas encourage play in both languages.
We introduce children to a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures through the use of authentic songs and storytelling.
Alongside their language development, children are introduced to a wide range of aspects of culture from the English and French speaking worlds.
By the end of Reception all children develop confidence in singing and communicating in French spontaneously.
In Years 1 and 2 (5-7 years) children move to a more formal curriculum. English, maths and science are taught in English and we expect children to make excellent progress.
All children also have a daily French lesson which introduces them to the French written word. In Year 1 the focus is on reading and phonics using our unique approach which combines the use of colour coding of sounds and British Sign Language. This multi-sensory methodology is highly effective in enabling children to read aloud with confidence, fluency and an authentic pronunciation.
In Year 2, children develop their skills further by writing from memory and reading independently.
Geography, Art and PE are taught exclusively in French following an immersion approach called CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning). These lessons incorporate the use of mobile learning technology to enhance the curriculum experience.
This approach will continue into Key Stage 2 (7-11 Years). French lessons will include speaking, listening, reading, writing, spelling and grammar and children will have a French reading book and home learning tasks in French. All children will continue to learn some PE and cross-curricular themes in French. Children who have made excellent progress in Key Stage 1 will have the opportunity to learn up to be taught half of their subjects in French – a truly bilingual experience.
Working with research experts
There is a growing body of evidence from all over the world about the academic, social and cognitive benefits of a bilingual education. As we have been planning St. Jérôme Church of England Bilingual School we have been fortunate to receive advice from leading experts like Dr Peeter Mehisto. We will use this expertise to develop the best possible learning environment and to monitor children's progress very carefully to make sure they are progressing right across the curriculum. It will also allow us to develop as a centre of excellence for the teaching of language and communication skills.
Why did you decide to open a bilingual school?
There is lots of evidence that learning a second language from a young age helps brain development but, until now, in West London this has only been available in the private sector. One of the opportunities that comes with opening a new school is to offer something that is not already available to local parents, and the proposers of St. Jérôme Church of England Bilingual School strongly believe that this should be an option for all families, not just those who can afford a private education.
What are the benefits of a bilingual approach?
Young minds are much more adaptive to developing new skills. Learning is much more organic and less systematic than for older children. Learning another language is useful in itself, however, the real benefit comes in the positive impact it has on other areas of the curriculum. When young brains are encouraged to work through the curriculum in the medium of two different languages they develop stronger, more effective neural pathways, leading to more creative and imaginative modes of thought.
St. Jérôme Church of England Bilingual School will be a new kind of school for Harrow – a state funded school offering high standards across the curriculum but with an additional layer that means all children will learn to communicate in French as well as English. By working with successful schools elsewhere in England and with world renowned experts in bilingual education like Peeter Mehisto we are confident our new school will offer high standards from the start.
"Children who speak more than one language are multiply advantaged over their monolingual playmates – in communication, cognition and social interaction … Studies show that a bilingual child is better able to cope with tasks that involve attention, memory and concentration. The mental gymnastics needed to constantly manage two or more linguistic systems increases cognitive flexibility and makes learning easier."
Source: Cambridge University's Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/bilingualism-is-good-for-learning
"Children exposed to different languages become more aware of different cultures, other people and other points of view. But they also tend to be better than monolinguals at 'multitasking' and focusing attention, they often are more precocious readers, and generally find it easier to learn other languages. Bilingualism gives children much more than two languages!"
Source: http://www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk/
Neither I nor my child knows any French. Will they be able to keep up in class?
Yes! We have given careful thought to making sure that every child makes good progress from their starting points.
Many children in Harrow speak a first language at home that is neither English nor French. Research has shown that a bilingual approach is beneficial for these children too, and our curriculum and teaching will be organised to meet the needs of these children as well.
Our school day is from 8.55am to 3.15pm
We have a soft start from 8.40am
Our Location & Contact Details
Saint Jérôme Church of England Bilingual School, 120-138 Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2DJ
© 2020 St Jerome Church of England Bilingual School