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Home Cartoon characters Kidscreen »Archive» Toybox Labs hires its first COO
Kidscreen »Archive» Toybox Labs hires its first COO
3D printing company Toybox Labs created Malcolm Bird as the very first COO. The former Turner executive is already working to expand the company's kid-focused lines of business, including a new direct-to-consumer subscription service called Play Pack, and international expansion is a target for 2022.
Bird, who has been an advisor to Toybox since October 2019, started in this new role on November 1 and plans to split his time between his home in Asheville, NC, and the company's headquarters in Oakland, California. He will also work closely with CEO Ben Baltes to secure new corporate funding next year.
Bird previously served as a media advisor for a number of companies, including TPG Capital and Share Rocket, and he was the founder of the now defunct social media platform Viddiverse. Prior to that, he headed the Tweens / Teens division of AOL and worked at Turner Broadcasting as the Director of International Programming for Hanna-Barbera.
Toybox manufactures and sells 3D printers for US $ 300 and hosts an online platform where kids can download and print over 3,000 character designs from a mix of free and premium licensed products, as well as create and print their own original toy creations. The company currently has an average of around 25,000 active monthly users.–more than double its user base in the past year.
Its latest offering, Play Pack, is a subscription service set to launch in the United States on November 12. For US $ 20 per month, Toybox will ship toy accessory packs that kids can combine with original 3D printed designs for a more intricate look. and an engaging build and play experience. The first door design is a customizable battle truck (pictured below). Its game pack includes metal bearings and wheels, springs for its missile launchers, and a variety of decals. And kids will be able to print multiple versions of the truck in different colors thanks to a special file that only subscribers can unlock. Plans are also underway to offer Play Packs with designs from licensed partners, Bird says.
As for expanding Toybox's international presence, Bird's strategy will be to focus on the UK first and then expand across Europe from next year, he says. .
Last year, Toybox signed its first license agreement to add characters from the animated series from London-based Beano Studios. Dennis & Gnasher: unleashed to its catalog. This deal was followed by a deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, which Bird negotiated, to allow kids to print their own toys based on brands like Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, DC's Batman, and a collection of Cartoon Network characters.
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A few weeks ago I wrote about the Hidden Kitchen in Paris, which has tossed all haute dining conventions aside and became one of the most talked about "restaurants" in town. Shortly after, I went to a similar anti-establishment dinner, served at Randy Rucker's home, in Houston and found some truly inspired cooking. Is it really possible that some of the best food today is served outside of professional kitchens and multi-million dollar dining rooms? Seems that way.
The night turned out to be such a success, Randy is considering making it a regular event and the second dinner will be held this Thursday. Getting a reservation at this point may be difficult. Meanwhile, you can entertain yourself with a recap of the first evening, complete with over 100 photos. If you want to see a larger slide show, just click on the gallery and it will take you to my Flickr page.
Randy lives in a picture perfect house in the Heights and almost every bit of land is used to grow something that can be used in a kitchen. I am not exactly the "go off the grid and live on the commune" type, but there is something really appealing about getting the produce to the table in minutes, rather than days. When you consider the lunacy people go through in cities where population density creates the prototypical urban landscape, where there is barely any space for humans, much less other living organisms, you really begin to appreciate what Houston has to offer.
The people gathered for the first supper club were an eclectic bunch, which made the conversation almost as interesting as the food. Several chefs. A couple of art society types. More than a couple of people better at writing about food than cooking.
I had an especially good time listening to the chefs talk shop. I spend most of my time around people who get really excited about computing, and this is really the first time I am around people who feel the same way about food. You can tell these guys really feel like they are creating something. I imagine this is what the Homebrew Computer Club must have been like back in the days.
cured rainbow trout in yusu with microbasil, Korean chili threads – the trout had an interesting flavor that reminded me of the preserved roe I had at Sawa Sushi in Sunnivale, but the real depth came from the Korean chili threads, which I thought was some whacky saffron that had a hit of heat to it. Turns out they were Korean chile threads. I have no idea where you buy those, but they were good.
tilefish tiradito with lemon verbena, fennel blossoms and kimchee consomme – my favorite dish of the night. Ceviche preparations sound simple, but balancing the acidity with the delicate flavor of the fish can trip up even the most talented chefs, as I found out at Nishino earlier in June. Randy really nailed this one, despite the complexity of the ingredients involved. I don't know how he decided to put together fennel and kimchee, but it was a brilliant combination. Although not mentioned in the description, what really brought the dish home were the Thai chilis, which added the level of heat you would never find on a tasting menu in a restaurant in NY or California. Absolute Houston.
smoked vichyssoise, foamed dashi, gulf crab, garlic flowers – a very close second best dish, this thing had perfectly balanced flavors and textures. I am not even going to try to describe it, because it wouldn't do it justice. Read the other blog posts (links are above), if you must.
roasted gundermann's farm peach, red komatsuma lettuce, warm lime-eucalyptus emulsion, and fenugreek meringue – one of those dishes where technique fades into the background and ingredients take over. Everything on the plate, from the meringue to the lime-eucalyptus emulsion (which could have been a disaster) worked really well together, but the peach carried most of the load.
toasted "bacalhau" gnocchi, trumpet royal mushrooms, & pea shoots – one of the best courses of the night. The bacalhau is in quotes because randy used trout that he salted for almost a week for this dish. Not sure I understand why it was hard to get bacalhau, since I come across it all the time in Houston, but this dish did not suffer the substitution much at all. At least for me, the dish flipped and the main ingredients were just supporting players to what I thought was the best thing on the plate – the pea shoots Randy cut down from his garden right before serving. The same happed to me on my first visit to Manresa, when I realized that Into the Vegetable Garden was the best dish I had all night. You simply cannot beat pristine produce.
mr buddy's compressed pork, japanese cucumber, and "sauce" ravioli – a perfect example of how much a good story can enhance the flavor of the dish. Even with additional pork fat, the hog lacked the fat content to make the Coca-Cola and Indonesian spice braised meat truly tender, but overall the Aquavit-inspired dish was a success. I tried the compressed pork before it hit the saute pan and it was a bit more moist and had a completely different flavor than what came across in the final preparation. I think it actually would have worked very well as a terrine course.
frozen lemon balm gazpacho & opal basil – an excellent dish with very intense, layered flavors, that also displayed some skillful play on temperature and texture. If I remember right, the same gazpacho was served in a sorbet form, as well as a soft foam on top. Very nice.
strawberries, yogurt, and mint – very simple (and entirely too small) course of strawberries, which I think may have been compressed, yogurt and homegrown mint. Strange as it sounds, I think the dusting of the espresso ground really brought a whole new dimension to this dish.
"moonshine" – a rather intense bit of booze Randy brewed up in his kitchen and forgot about for 3 months. I am not a drinker, but this thing was awesome.
In the short time I have known Randy I got a sense that he is a true food enthusiast. I doubt there is anyone in Houston more curious about every aspect of food, which makes him an interesting guy to be around. But it didn't at all mean he could cook, so I was going to the dinner with somewhat muted expectations.
I've been to a fair number of restaurants that walk the fine line between being a science experience and delivering really special food. Randy definitely fits into the latter category, which makes him one of the few chefs where technique and ingredients become a small part of a broader palette used to create new flavors and textures.
As long as he'd doing his supper club, I'll be there to take it all in.


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BMWBLOG Test Drive: 2014 BMW 335i xDrive GT
Home » BMWBLOG Test Drive: 2014 BMW 335i xDrive GT
MY2014 marks the launch of the all-new F34 chassis BMW 3 Series GT. BMW North America were kind enough to invite us up to the winding, circuitous roads that stretch between Seattle, WA and the Canadian border to give this latest entry to the 3 Series family a go.
Interestingly, a little bird mentioned to us that while the BMW 3 Series GT is an all-new entry in the United States, the basis for the car is actually around the long wheelbase 3 Series – a notable player for BMW from the Chinese market. Beyond the elongated wheelbase, which affords a massive amount of legroom in the rear of the car, the exterior design cues curiously lift from both the 3 Series and newly emerging 4 Series. Boomerang styling cues flank each front wheel well ala the 4 Series. While it still has the slight "tacked on" hunchback appearance – is this now the modern Bangle butt? – with the large rear hatch like its large brother, the 5 GT, BMW have managed to better integrate this feature into the overall styling of the F34.
Upon exiting the lobby of our hotel and dipping into the darkened valet stand I caught the first glance of the 3 Gran Turismo for the first time in person and found it instantly more appealing than the 5 Series GT. However, it wouldn't be until a few hours later that I would get some time both behind the wheel and in the back seat to see which was the best place to be in the 3 Series GT.
Driving Impressions
After a morning jaunt in a 2013 BMW M6 Competition Package and narrowly avoiding a ticket from the fierce Washington State Patrol, my driving partner and I took a decidedly reduced pace vis-a-vis a 335i xDrive Gran Turismo in the sexy Estoril Blue by way of the optional M Sport line. Beyond the striking color, M Sport brings 18 inch Style 400M wheels, and generally everything else festooned with M badging but the standout piece being the M aero kit which escalates the aggressive nose of the F34.
I offered to take the first stint and slipped into the Venetian Beige Dakota Leather driver's seat and thumbed the Start/Stop button – noting the surprisingly quiet turnover of the N55 TwinPower turbocharged inline-six. We crept out of the River Meadows Park, our first rendezvous point, and onward North towards the US-Canadian border as the morning fog surrounding Seattle began to burn off. Confined to slower back roads, we took a more leisurely pace. Noting the relative comfort and striking similarity to the F30's interior while trying to get acclimated to the elevated seating position – though most anything will feel elevated when stepping from the cockpit-like interior of the M6. At the controls, I found the steering to feel light, perhaps a touch lighter than the F30's. As our speed climbed a bit, the steering firmed up somewhat thanks in part to the optional variable speed as well as switching Dynamic Control to Sport and Sport+ mode.
At speed, the BMW 335i xDrive GT proved to be more accurate than initial feedback through the wheel would have led me to believe. Turn in for a corner and electric steering proved to be accurate and easy to correct when exiting a turn. As always, the 8-Speed ZF gearbox was a perfect pairing for snapping off rapid gear changes but even better when left to its own devices to choose shift points for you in Sport mode – allowing for a satisfying hold of each gear before continuing upward.
Overall, the suspension felt compliant and never let the 3 GT put a wheel wrong even on the occasionally less than perfectly even back roads of the Pacific Northwest. Through the bends, thanks to the adaptive suspension from the M Sport line coupled with the Dynamic Handling Package, body roll was kept to a minimum with the N55 motor providing enough poke to quickly propel us down the road to the next corner.
Everything was good, then, it seemed.
But not quite.
The 335i xDrive Gran Turismo is a good car overall, a jack of all trades but doesn't champion any one area. Dynamically, the 3 GT falls somewhere between an F30 3 Series Sedan and F10 5 Series Sedan– not as communicative or fun as an F30 but not quite as remote as an F10. Paired with xDrive and the additional weight of the deep rear cargo area, the N55 feels like the right engine pairing while the N20( I was unable to drive the N20-powered F34) could potentially be a bit underpowered for the chassis. The ride height is a bit awkward as well, sitting somewhere between a 3 Series and an X3. From the driver's seat the 3 Series GT just doesn't quite get me to a point of buying into the Ultimate Driving Machine moniker.
For that reason, I decided to change my perspective on things.
As my stint as driver came to an end, we pulled off at a small roadside dinner for one of the pre-determined driver swap points. Disappointed in the results I was finding in the front seat, I moved my 6'4 (193cm) frame to the rear passenger side seat and stretched out as my driving partner got comfy upfront before tearing off down the road, inching us closer to the US-Canada border and most importantly, lunch along the Washington coastline.
The rear seats of the 3 GT proved a more compelling place to be. Ensconced in the lightly bolstered rear seat, I felt as though I was positioned slightly above the driver's line of sight giving excellent visibility both throughout the cabin and outside the car. Just ahead of me, my feet lay, outstretched and happy to be free of the pedal box of the driver's seat. After a morning either driving or riding it was a nice change of pace to sit in relative comfort in the 3 GT and begin to take better note of our surroundings.
The latter half of the morning was spent bombing along curvaceous back roads as we would climb and fall back toward the valley floor under a canopy of tree tops. Despite the corner carving going in the front seat, I was able to relax a bit and start taking in the nicer accoutrement of the F34 – notably the Harman Kardon 16 speaker, 600W sound system that created a mini-symphony in the back seat, easily overpowering the low pitch of the N55's exhaust as my driving partner hustled the 3 GT along the back roads of Northern Washington.
As we glided into the Chrysalis Inn in Bellingham,WA I had mixed feelings about the 335i xDrive GT. While, as a passenger it is a wonderful place to be in the back seat, wafted around with acres of legroom and leather surrounding you. The 3 GT is, like its larger sibling, an ideal car for couples vacationing. It can swallow up luggage and comfortably carry four adults for hours without leaving them worse for wear. With the help of the Technology Package, the F34 3 Series GT will even help them get there as they stream music through an iPhone integrated into the recently improved iDrive.
Should I Buy One?
This car feels perfect for empty nesters – but that demographic is perhaps not looking for the Ultimate Driving Machine and maybe that's OK when it comes to the somewhat lackluster fun factor of the 3 Series GT. However, the car we tested easily clocked in right at the $60,000 barrier when you consider it came equipped with the M Sport line, Dynamic Handling Package, Technology Package and Premium Package in addition to the M Sport Brakes. For my money, BMW has other options that provide a better balance of performance, comfort and technology at perhaps a lower pricing point – give me a 428i or even a lowly optioned X5 xDrive30d.
I'm not the target demographic for this vehicle – but there is a market for it – and that's why I'll be recommending it to my parents who are in the market for this type of BMW.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Although occasionally these don't have any maths in, the vast majority have all sorts of charts, percentages and numbers thrown around the place. Great for some discussion about data and numbers.
This entry was posted in Data & Measure, Interpreting Data, Misleading Statistics, Resources, Starters, Statistics, Visual Prompts and tagged math, maths. Bookmark the permalink.


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Your Writing Life: The Benefits of an End-of-Year...
Writing through Trauma: Two Published Memoirists ...
Facing Writer's Block: Words of Wisdom from Georg...
Slow Writing: The Pros and Cons of Writing by Han...
Writing about People You Know: Do You Need to Get...
When One of Your Characters Is an Institution: Wri...
Famous Writers' Favorite Tips
Exploring Theme in Your Story: How Wounding Event...
Online Classes and How They Help with Feedback
To Storyboard or Not to Storyboard: How This Cool...
Residencies and Retreats--How They Help You Start ...
Editor Beth Wright on How She Helps Indie Authors ...
What's the Primary Environment of Your Book--Physi...
Beta Readers--Who Are They, How Do They Help Your ...
Four Stages of Writing Practice--Where We Are Stro...
Readers Don't Care Who Publishes Your Book--Really...
How Much Research Is Really Enough? Building Worl...
Wounding Event--The Backstory That Drives Your Nar...
Unlearning How to Write Your Book--What You Need t...
How Close Are You to Your 10,000 Hours? Viewing Wr...
Moving from Writer to Reader View: Revision Steps...
Fueled from Within or Without--How Does Your Narra...
Backstory--A New Take on Its Usefulness in Memoir ...
100 Things about Writing a Novel--Wisdom from Alex...
Querying Too Soon: We've All Done It, Here's How ...
Battling Your Inner Critic or Making Friends with ...
How Do You Procrastinate? Tips to Recognize How Y...
Interview with Chris Jones--Behind the Book: Elev...
Charts and Lists: The Fun of Organizing Your Stor...
Writing about Your Life--The Good, the Hard, and t...
How to Deal with Memory and Emotions When Writing ...
False Agreements, Misbeliefs, Core Misunderstandin...
How I Got My Agent--An Interview with Debut Author...
Imagine Finishing Your Book! A Three-Part Exercis...
Chapterettes, Prologues, Introductions, and Other ...
Too Much Reflection? How to Make Sure Your Story ...
Building the "Why" of Your Story--Inner and Outer ...
Finding the Best "Triggering Event" for Your Book-...
Can First Chapters Ever Be TOO Dramatic?
Creating Pause in Your Action--When and How to Let...
Winding Up for the Pitch--How to Craft a Winning Q...
How to Choose Good Writing Partners--Making the Pr...
Writing Amazing, Authentic Dialogue--Hard to Learn...
How Do I Know When I'm Done? Five Stages of Writi...
Walking--Why It Helps Me Write My Books
Refueling Your Creativity--How to Plan in Recovery...
If It Doesn't Further the Conflict, Should You Lea...
Three Ways to Help Your New Year's Writing Resolut...
Your Writing Life: The Benefits of an End-of-Year Review
Last year, I coached a business owner who was writing a book about his years as a wildly successful entrepreneur. He attributed much of that success to his practice of regularly stepping back to review of how he was doing. He did this weekly, taking an hour or so to write down what he'd accomplished or realized or changed in his business procedures, how he worked with employees or clients, what he'd learned along the way, as well as the next week's priorities.
I was intrigued. I'd always enjoyed setting goals but rarely did I take time to acknowledge where I'd been. So I began testing out this practice. For one year, I chose an hour each weekend to list what I'd realized about my writing life.
Writing through Trauma: Two Published Memoirists Share Their Experiences with Writing and Finishing Their Books
Two of my past students released new books this year. Katherine Dering, of New York, launched her second memoir, Aftermath, and Judith Mattison, of Minnesota, published her first, I Will Not Break. Both write about trauma, Katherine about grave mental illness and loss and Judie about abuse. Not easy subjects, so this week I interviewed each of them about their journey through writing these books, how they mined their difficult subjects, and how they took care of themselves during the process.
Facing Writer's Block: Words of Wisdom from George Saunders
Some writers don't believe in writer's block--that stall out, mind- and spirit-numbing experience that occasionally visits us when we're plowing ahead on a book deadline or trying to bring a new character to life. But I do. I've had it, I've coached dozens of writers through it, and it's a real phenomenon.
Recently, I read a wonderful interview in Lit Hub on the writer George Saunders. You might be a great fan of Saunders, as I am (his collection of stories, Tenth of December, is some of the quirkiest, most amazing writing I've ever read), or his fiction might be new to you. His opinion about writer's block is equally inspiring. It's a bar set too high, he says. It's about the writer, not the writing. Always.
Ira Glass, the well-known host and producer of "This American Life," speaks of it as the distance between our taste and our abilities:
Slow Writing: The Pros and Cons of Writing by Hand
A reader sent me this link, a brief article by award-winning writer Annie Proulx on her five rules for good writing. Even if you don't agree, the website (Writer's Write) is worth a visit. But I like Proulx's work and I read her counsel, hoping for some inspiration for my current project. It's always helpful to look into a respected writer's progress.
Of her five rules, two were about writing by hand.
Writing about People You Know: Do You Need to Get Permission?
A reader from Connecticut is finishing up her new novel this month, getting ready to send it out to agents. She sent me a good question that often plagues writers right before their work goes out into the world.
"I believe it was Barbara Kingsolver who said she sends her finished manuscripts to family for final approval," this writer wrote. "If there's anything there that offends them she takes it out. Since there are a few true intimate details in my novel that helped develop my fictionalized characters who were originally based on real people, I'm wondering if you have any thoughts on that."
When One of Your Characters Is an Institution: Writing about Racism, Politics, and Other Large Subjects
Tom is writing a novel about a fellow physician, but one of another race who lived in a time of great political and personal challenge. He attended my weeklong retreat last January in Tucson and we worked together on building the storyboard for his book. He has plenty of events to make the book tense and full of action (lynchings, KKK threats, and more), but one of his biggest concerns has nothing to do with any of the outer story. He sent me a great question this week about racism and how to depict it in his story.
I'm just back from a marathon teaching trip so this week's post will be short and sweet: a wonderful article from the newsletter, BrainPickings, on famous writers' favorite writing tips, compiled by The Guardian. (Thanks to reader Mary K. for the link.) Enjoy!
(If the link doesn't work, go to www.brainpickings.org and search for Jeanette Winterson.)
Exploring Theme in Your Story: How Wounding Event and False Beliefs Intersect with Theme
Theme answers the question: So what? That's pretty harsh, but it's what readers need to know soon after they pick up your book. Theme is the meaning and the message, the purpose of your story. Not just entertainment, although that is usually part of good writing. But we look for meaning now, in our literature and in our lives, more than ever. Publishers know this, agents know this, readers crave this.
Nonfiction writers can tell us the theme, or meaning, of their books. They can stand on a platform and present the message quite frankly. If you do that in fiction or most memoir, you alienate readers. Characters and narrator can rarely be on platform and still keep readers involved in the story. So theme is trickier for those genres.
I haven't always been a fan of online learning--for many years, I liked the face-to-face best, especially when it came to feedback on my writing. But in the past ten years I've grown very fond of online classes and how they actually enhance writers' ability to give and receive feedback. I regularly take them for motivation, accountability, and the helpful responses I get for my work-in-progress.
I think there's a great use for them, in the journey of a book, and that's often in the generative and early revision stages. I don't find as much help when I'm closer to final revision, because seeing only parts of a manuscript is less helpful then.
To Storyboard or Not to Storyboard: How This Cool Planning Tool Compares to Outlines, Charts, and Maps
I'm working on my third novel, my fifteenth book, and I'm approaching it as many writers do: from nowhere! It's an exploratory process, and I don't really know what the book will be about. I have a good idea, a handful of characters I already love (and hate), and a kind of plot. But I do have my storyboard, and that's gotten me a lot further along than I would be without it.
You've probably heard of the plotter versus pantser continuum in writing. Plotters like to know where they are going, in every degree, before they begin. Pantsers are the opposite--they feel their way along, following the nudges and ideas that come as they generate writing. I fall somewhere in the middle. I don't think I would've gotten thirteen books published, fourteen written, without some planning. But I also know I gained a tremendous amount by letting the muse direct some of my steps as I went forward.
Residencies and Retreats--How They Help You Start and Finish Your Book
As summer winds down, at least in this part of the U.S., I'm starting a new book. Although I'm sad to say goodbye to the warm weather, our annual hibernation here in New England always brings me more time for writing and a chance to retreat.
I love to retreat, either at home or for a planned get-away. It's hard to imagine such dedicated time, but retreats can happen in small increments, and with planning, you can gift yourself with one during the next months.
Editor Beth Wright on How She Helps Indie Authors Win Awards
A few weeks ago, a former student, memoir-writer Mary Knutson, sent me an exciting email: "I can now put 'award winner' in my bio!"
On publication of her indie release, Mary's editor had suggested four book awards to consider and the first announced its winners August 2. As Mary scrolled down to see who had been chosen, there was her book! She'd entered in three categories and won a Gold Winner Award in the Inspirational Human Relations category for the 2018 Human Relations Indie Book Awards. She also won Silver Awards in the two other categories. "So now I have three beautiful certificates to frame," she told me.
What's the Primary Environment of Your Book--Physically, Emotionally, Intellectually, Spiritually?
A new author wrote me this week. She'd read my writing-craft book, Your Book Starts Here, and it helped her realize which book project she needed to focus on first: a self-help/memoir hybrid. But she was confused by my chapter on finding the primary environment of your story. How did this apply to her book?
Every book has an environment that it lives in. I think of it like a lab where the experiment lives in a beaker or container. Everything happens within that container.
Beta Readers--Who Are They, How Do They Help Your Book, How to Find Them
Linda is closing in on the finish line with her memoir and sent a great question this week: "I'd like to hear what you have to say about beta readers, particularly if it's a good idea to find complete strangers or folks I've already worked with (such as from online classes). Who makes good beta readers?"
I first heard the term "beta readers" at a writing conference many years ago. Just like beta testers for software, beta readers are an important part of the book writing process before you "release" your product into the world, either through indie or traditional (agented or small press) publishing.
Four Stages of Writing Practice--Where We Are Strong and Where We Can Fall Down
I was asked to teach a workshop on the stages of creative practice. I spent weeks thinking about my own writing practice, and what I've witnessed in students, clients, and colleagues over twenty some years of teaching. Are there stages of anyone's practice, and what did this mean? Scouring the internet didn't help. Many writers discussed their practice--how they approach their writing each day--but few had distinct steps. Some had rituals. Some knew how to begin or end. But what about the murky middle, when you're in the midst of writing and things aren't going well?
I took it as a laboratory experiment. I began making notes about what happened when I sat down to write. Where did I move from one kind of activity, internal or external, into another?
Readers Don't Care Who Publishes Your Book--Really!
One of my private amusements is the serendipity surrounding how well my different books sell, or not. And how that really doesn't align with who published it. A writing friend was bemoaning this with me, feeling bad about her small press status versus a Big Five publisher. But her book has sold well, very well. While other writers I know, published by a top echelon press, sell fewer copies.
How Much Research Is Really Enough? Building Worlds, Bringing Back Worlds
A writer from Minneapolis recently sent me a good question about research. He wondered how much and what kind of research a writer should do when writing historical novels. I've gotten the same question from writers working on fantasy or sci-fi novels. When is enough, enough? When do you stop researching and start writing? Or vice versa?
Wounding Event--The Backstory That Drives Your Narrator
A short post this week: I'm just returning from teaching at a writing retreat and wanted to share this article in Fiction Writers Review by Michelle Hoover, on the wounding event, a pivotal moment of backstory that drives much of the internal quest of your narrator. If you have trouble accessing the link, go to www.fictionwritersreview.com and search for "wounding event."
Unlearning How to Write Your Book--What You Need to Forget You Knew
In May, at Grub Street's annual writing conference, The Muse and the Marketplace, I sat in on a lively workshop taught by writer Steve Almond. If you've heard of The Rumpus's "Dear Sugar," you'll know Steve (and his co-writer, Cheryl Strayed). His workshop was about stuff we know that we need to unlearn. Forget. Let go of. Set aside. He focused specifically on a rule that's dear to many writers, "show, don't tell." Steve feels this is a crock and he's not mincing words to tell you why. We ran through examples from published authors who used telling skillfully--and some examples of showing that didn't make the mark at all.
How Close Are You to Your 10,000 Hours? Viewing Writing as Practice
On our fridge we have a New Yorker cartoon. A dog is sitting on a mountain ledge at the feet of his guru. The caption reads: "The bone is not the reward--digging for the bone is the reward." I keep it there to keep me humble. About my writing, and my 10,000 hours.
A past MISA student sent me a great article about this (thanks, Tom!). As a beginner so many times during my life--in writing, in playing a musical instrument, in kayaking, in painting--I know well the impatience we can have to have it all now. To be good enough immediately, to show unexpected genius, to land that incredible deal, because we have such innate skills. We want to not practice writing, we want to just be a great writer. Right?
Moving from Writer to Reader View: Revision Steps to Make Your Book Stand Out
Books enter our lives in distinct stages. First comes the wild idea. It grows gradually in the inner room of your creative self, until you can't ignore it. You have to get it down. This burst of energy propels you through an important starting gate--past ideas ruminating inside to ideas on the page. Maybe they're externalized for the first time, and they generate other ideas. You write for months, years, whatever it takes to shape your vision. This initial timeline is very individual: if it's your first book, you may need a lot of time to dream. Or, if it's been generating inside for years, it may come forth in a mad rush.
It's exciting, this idea to vision stage. And eventually, you have a draft. It's way rough (I love writer Anne Lamott's name for it: shitty first draft), but without it, you ain't got nothing, as they say. So you start here.
Fueled from Within or Without--How Does Your Narrator Move the Story Along?
As I often do when I need a jump start into a new book I'm writing, I signed up for an online class this summer. My class is good, with writers of varied skills and experiences, all exploring new narrators, characters, plots, and other ideas for their next manuscript.
Our instructor assigned us a well-reviewed contemporary novel to read and analyze during the course: Chemistry by Weike Wang. It's generated a lively discussion, because, well, the narrator isn't lively at all.
Backstory--A New Take on Its Usefulness in Memoir and Fiction
I "grew up" as a writer in the era of NO BACKSTORY ALLOWED. I was given examples of stories and books that had zero backstory and engaged readers completely. So I worked hard to eliminate any pesky references to the past--whether summarized as backstory (background of the story) or presented as flashbacks in scene.
I got published, and all was well in my writing life sans backstory for many years. Flash forward to my MFA experience and advisers who began to cure me of my antagonistic attitude towards stalling out scene with flashback or inserting large swaths of the past as summary. These writers hinted that backstory was important, even as an explanation of character motive. Why people do what they do was becoming more interesting to readers than what they did.
100 Things about Writing a Novel--Wisdom from Alexander Chee
I've long admired the novelist Alexander Chee, not just for his writing, but for his approach to writing. It's sensible, it works, and he shares his tips and ideas generously.
I'm taking an online course with Grub Street to kick start my next book, and the instructor, Alison Murphy, shared a wonderful article from the Yale Reviewwhere Chee offers 100 things he's found about writing a novel. The insights are so useful, and not just to novelists but anyone writing a book-length work, that I thought I'd share as this week's writing exercise.
Click here to read the article. (If for any reason the link doesn't work, go to yalereview.yale.edu and search for Alexander Chee. Enjoy!
Querying Too Soon: We've All Done It, Here's How to Avoid the Temptation
You've been working hard on your manuscript and it feels in reasonable shape. Plus, you're reading articles and books about writing the perfect query letter. A sort of urgency, maybe even FOMO (fear of missing out), is growing inside. Is it too soon to begin the query process?
An all-important question. I can almost predict when a writer will ask it. What stage of manuscript, what stage of experience. I've asked it myself many times--because it's almost impossible to know when is too soon, when is too late. I'll share some of what I've learned in my own publishing journey and advice from those who have an inside view.
Battling Your Inner Critic or Making Friends with It--What Keeps You Writing the Most?
Everyone faces the Inner Critic, no matter how experienced they are. Professional writers, even those who have published widely and won awards, might give it names. Sue Grafton calls hers "the ego," the part that's always concerned with "how are we doing?" I think of mine as an elderly, worried aunt, trying to keep me safe. Some Inner Critics are funny, joking with you inside your head as they mess with your mind--maybe teasing you about taking writing so seriously. Most are discouraging, even menacing.
But rarely is this inner voice truthful--its job is to sabotage all efforts to create art, to do anything with our writing that takes us out of the known and acceptable.
So why is such an obstacle there, in the first place? Is there a chance we, ourselves, create that critical voice? And is there any way to make friends with it, silence it enough so we can keep on writing?
How Do You Procrastinate? Tips to Recognize How You Avoid Your Writing and What to Do about It
Many writers I talk with are masters at procrastination, yet they manage to complete and publish books regularly. What's that about?
* they've also mastered a particular kind of self-talk
* they use routines or disciplines
* they work with self-imposed or other-imposed deadlines
* they promise themselves rewards when they meet a writing goal
I know about these.
Interview with Chris Jones--Behind the Book: Eleven Authors on Their Path to Publication
I'm always fascinated with how debut authors make it into print. And I know and respect Chris Mackenzie Jones from my years of teaching for the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, where he works. So when his new book came out last month, I was keen to find out how he did it. Below is an interview with Chris which explains his idea for the book, how he found an agent and publisher, and what happened during the editing process.
Tell us how you came to write this book. Did you see a need for it? Was it a subject that fascinated you?
In my almost nine years at the Loft Literary Center, I've run into hundreds-maybe thousands-of aspiring writers. I've listened to their ideas, questions, confusions, and doubts. And one of the things that became apparent to me over these years is that there are blind spots for most writers as they try to publish a first book.
Charts and Lists: The Fun of Organizing Your Story Structure
This week, I've been studying a page from the book-structure chart used by mega-successful author, J.K. Rowling, for her Harry Potter stories. You can access it here. The chart is handwritten and hard to read, but it's fascinating to see what she uses to keep an overview of her story. (Thanks to Rita, one of my private clients, for sharing the link.)
So many published writers, when interviewed, talk about the need to organize their story structure. Storyboards are useful to a point. But charts and lists come in very handy when the first draft is complete and you're on to revision.
Writing about Your Life--The Good, the Hard, and the Beautiful
Two of my students/clients have just published memoirs this month. Both have compelling--and difficult--stories to tell. The process of writing about your life for publication is not for the faint-hearted, as Chris Bauer and Mary Knutson can attest.
I also know their books have taken a lot of time, years, in fact. They have each experienced discouragement and exhilaration. I interviewed them for my blog this week, knowing they'd have good insights to share.
How to Deal with Memory and Emotions When Writing a Memoir
Several clients have emailed me lately, asking how to deal with the flood of emotions that comes with writing memoir. "Memories bring back the feelings, especially traumatic ones, and I get stalled out with my writing," said one client recently. "Do you have any tips for handling these overwhelming emotions so I can keep writing?"
I'm very familiar with that internal flood. When I was writing my second memoir (a spirituality memoir with self-help components called How to Master Change in Your Life), I remember working on a chapter about business failure and bankruptcy. Reliving that terrible time was so difficult, I actually had to run to the bathroom and throw up. Other times I'd get so stuck, I couldn't write one word.
False Agreements, Misbeliefs, Core Misunderstandings--How They Drive the People and the Plot in Your Book
For my birthday this month, I got an anniversary copy of A Wrinkle in Time. It has been a LONG time since I read that book, but I loved it. Basic reason: the characters are unforgettable. Especially the narrator, Meg. I enjoyed revisiting her story and considering the false agreement that makes her so memorable.
False agreements are where characters start out in a story. It's the belief they have about the world, which is usually limited or not entirely true. The false agreement drives the character's journey to a larger consciousness. That's why many of us read--to find out what they'll do, as they face the limits of their false agreement.
How I Got My Agent--An Interview with Debut Author Kathleen West
Kathleen West came to several of my online classes in the early days of writing her first novel. She got structuring help and good feedback, and later we worked together privately to help her develop the character arcs for the multiple points of view in her woven narrative. After four months, she felt ready to finish revising on her own and start querying agents.
Imagine Finishing Your Book! A Three-Part Exercise for Encouragement
When the book journey feels way too long and the end is nowhere in sight, I use this short but encouraging exercise to help me vision my way to finishing my book. You may not need it now, if you're rocking along. But there may be a time when it's useful. It has been for many of my clients who get stuck in the doldrums of are-we-there-yet?
Chapterettes, Prologues, Introductions, and Other Spare Parts--What Purpose Can They Serve in a Book?
I happen to love small pieces of books: prologues, introductions, forewords, even epilogues, and epigraphs (those quotes or small things planted before each chapter). Such add-ons often get derided in writing classes, but they still serve a unique purpose.
I fought one of my MFA advisers who hated the idea of a prologue in my young-adult novel, and won--it got published to good reviews.
No one complained about the prologue, which ran two pages at most.
So why so many warnings and controversies? What do these small elements contribute to a book and why would a writer be wary of them?
Too Much Reflection? How to Make Sure Your Story Doesn't Stall Out
One of my blog readers sent me a wonderful question last week. It's a question that many writers struggle to answer. It had come to mind when she read my post a few weeks ago about creating enough pauses for meaning within the flurry of events in your story.
But what about the opposite? she wondered. If you're not an event writer, and maybe you write in too many pauses, how do you work with that tendency?
Building the "Why" of Your Story--Inner and Outer Purpose for Characters Is the Key
Characters are it, in both fiction and memoir, if you want to publish. Of course you have to have a good plot, something happening. And your characters have to be externalized enough that we readers feel they're believable, interesting, intriguing. But characters drive a story, and no more than in today's publishing market.
Several of my clients have had happy news these past weeks--agents or book contracts--and almost all of them have emailed me about their agent or editor loving the characters. Those who get rejections know that this is also the most common complaint: I just didn't fall in love with your characters.
Finding the Best "Triggering Event" for Your Book--How to Launch Your Story
In two weeks, on Friday, March 30, I'll be teaching an all-day workshop at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. We'll examine book structure: what makes a book successful, in terms of its structure, and how can you choose the pivotal moments in your story wisely? Many books are beautifully written but poorly structured, and many writers haven't a clue as to how to fix that.
Writing teachers and writing classes-- if you've worked with either, if you've shared your writing for feedback, you've probably heard the golden rule of first chapters. They need to have something happen. Preferably something outwardly dramatic.
It's called a triggering event, and it literally triggers your story. Here are some classic examples:
Creating Pause in Your Action--When and How to Let the Reader Linger without Losing Momentum
A blog reader sent in this fascinating question:
How can "event writers" develop stationary moments in their narrative and sections in their books where the main characters reflect on the meaning of what happens? What's the purpose of this, and what's is benefit to the story?
This is a question about pacing, but it also hints at our natural preferences as writers, to write certain kinds of scenes.
Winding Up for the Pitch--How to Craft a Winning Query Letter
Several of my private clients are completing their manuscripts this month, getting ready to pitch to agents at one of the large writing conferences happening in April: The Loft Literary Center's Pitch Conference, April 20-21, in Minneapolis, and Grub Street's The Muse and the Marketplace, April 6-8, in Boston.
Writers can meet with agents and "pitch" their book--or give a short description designed to spark an agent's interest. Some pitch sessions permit a written query letter and sample of your writing, others just allow you to pitch verbally.
Most writers agree that crafting a winning query letter is all important. Even if your pitch is verbal, the query can help you figure out how best to describe your book in a unique, interesting way. Agents often receive hundreds of these a week. How do you make sure that yours stands out?
How to Choose Good Writing Partners--Making the Process Less Trial-and-Error
They say it takes a lot of support to write a book--the process is long, hard, and personal for most writers. We need encouraging words and people who believe in what we're doing, so we can keep doing it when the journey feels useless. I know most writers who complete books gather a team of supporters by the end. Supporters like writing groups, writing partners, or hired editors/coaches. I don't know many who get published without this kind of backup.
Writing Amazing, Authentic Dialogue--Hard to Learn, Vital to Know
Writing dialogue should be easy, right? Most of us talk. We text, we email, we use words in conversation all the time. We listen (sometimes) to other people talking. Dialogue runs through our thoughts all day, every day. So why isn't dialogue on the page just a matter of listening well and copying down what we hear?
Literature has different rules than real life--obviously. So dialogue on the page also has different rules than spoken dialogue.
How Do I Know When I'm Done? Five Stages of Writing a Book
A past student from my Madeline Island retreats emailed me recently with a great question. It's one most writers struggle with: How do I know when my book is actually finished? "An overarching question I find more difficult," she says, "is whether it could ever be ready. Some things may not be worth the effort or the money. Is it better to pay someone willing to say yea or nay first or does that have to go together with sending it out for paid editing?"
Not everyone will agree with this post, so skip it if you already know it's not your thing. Walking has saved my writing life this week. Even though I live in snow country, northern New England, and we've been hit with a series of snowstorms these past weeks, I have to walk. It keeps me sane when I'm working out a gnarly problem with a story.
Julia Cameron made a big deal of walking in her sequels to The Artist's Way, which many of you read, as I did, to recover our blocked inner artist. I thought, yeah, OK, when I first saw "daily walk" up there with "morning pages" and "artist's date." I liked to walk, but not every day and certainly not as part of my writing routine.
These past months have changed my mind.
Refueling Your Creativity--How to Plan in Recovery Time as You Write (and Finish) Your Book
Two of my private clients just completed their books. A time for celebration, since they both worked extremely hard for the past year or more. One of them, a first-time novelist, wrote me this week about how stunned she feels and how little creativity she can muster in other areas of her life. She's a parent, great cook, and gardener, but nothing is feeling charged with energy at the moment.
She's happy her book is done--at last!--but worries about her lack of umph. Is this normal? Shouldn't she be gung-ho on the next project, so as not to lose momentum?
If It Doesn't Further the Conflict, Should You Leave It Out?
A writer who attended my retreat/workshop in Tucson recently emailed me with a great question. It addresses an important choice that writers face every time they work on their books: what to include and what to omit.
She asked: "What happens when there is an event or narrative that reflects my theme but doesn't have enough conflict to carry the story forward. Should I exclude it?" For example, if a character supported the narrator in her journey, but there was no conflict involved, should this character be part of the book?
Three Ways to Help Your New Year's Writing Resolutions Actually Happen
I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions, especially when it comes to my writing goals. But I do appreciate making time for a pause to review what I've accomplished in the past year and imagine what I'd like to bring into the new one. It's more of a visioning moment than setting firm goals, because I know (oh so well!) how my goals can morph as the year goes forward. And I only know what I can see from this moment. But I've used three methods to help myself create realistic goals for my new writing year, based on what I learned from the previous twelve months.
Here' s a short writing exercise to try this week, if you want to reflect and plan intelligently, in a way that acknowledges your particular creativity.


We are your one stop shop to ensure your home is rodent-free by repairing rodent damage back to its original fixed condition.
Do you ever hear that annoying scratching noise in your attic or walls while you're trying to sleep? Have you even set traps and does it seem the rats keep coming back? This is because rats are smart.
The key to eliminating rats comes in three steps. Rodent proof entire home, trap rats, clean up droppings and odors. Most companies will send a technician to seal all visible and accessible entry points with a can of foam, then set traps and with a three-month warranty. Our process is much different. We will crawl and rodent proof your entire attic, base of your home and roof line with construction material like mortar and metal flashing. The only way we can eliminate your rodents is by cutting off their food, water and shelter and it can only be accomplished if we do the entire job.
If you have been waiting to get rid of your rodents because you are still undecided, just please know that we can rid your home of rodents in almost any financial situation. We can make something work for you.
If we cannot get to accessible rodent entry points, then we will need to repair your home. For example, if your roof is Spanish tile and rats are getting under the tiles and into your walls. Then we will need to remove a layer of roof tile and repair your wall. Once we have sealed all entry points from the base of your home to the top of your chimney, then if there are any rodents still inside your home, then they will get very hungry and have to eat off the traps. We will return weekly until your rats are gone for good.
Here is how rats were accessing under home along the sewer line. We needed to fill this gap with cement so rats could not come back.
Here is how rats were chewing a hole into the attic. We needed to screen the exposed section of attic with galvanized mesh to rodent proof this home.
– They can climb 90 degree angles up brick, stucco walls or any textured surface.
– Thrive in cooler months and most active once in doors where it is safe and dry.
– They enter homes, sheds, garages and other structures through any opening larger than a nickel, looking for places safe from predators and good for nesting.
– They may follow pipes down from the attic, gnaw through drywall, burrow tunnels into dirt crawl space, squeeze through gaps in siding of home.
– They may chew through wood, plastic, aluminum siding, sheet rock, and soft metals to gain access to interiors.
– Attics provide a safe refuge, a nesting place for their young and routes into the home below.
Many people get their attic cleaned without repairing rodent entry points. But what happens if you get your attic cleaned and rodents get back in your attic? This can be a major headache. Our plan is to thoroughly inspect all accessible and inaccessible rodent points of entry. This way your attic will stay clean.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites. Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly, through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent. Inhaling dust from dried rodent urine, feces and nesting material can also result in illness.
In California, the most common diseases caused by rodents are Typhoid, Rat Bite Fever, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, Salmonellosis, Hantavirus, and Rabies. If you think you have come into contact with rodents and are having symptoms contact your health care professional immediately.
1) Bagging up all infested insulation.
2) Vacuuming droppings and debris with hepa filter.
3) Seal all rodent and animal entry points with wire mesh with 100% visibility.
4) Wipe down rub marks and all bacteria with sanitizer.
5) Apply an odor encapsulation enzyme to remove all smells.
This green insulation for new and existing homes & buildings made from recycled paper that incorporates a borate-based pest control into the product. Unlike traditional insulations that use rolls of fiberglass, T.A.P layers onto surfaces like paint. The smallest cracks and crevices will be seal to reduce energy loss and keeps pest from entering your structure. While the borates toxicity levels are too low to harm people or pets, the levels are lethal to insects such as mites, silverfish, spiders, ants, and termites. T-A-P insulation offers energy star efficiency by having superior thermal and sound-deadening properties and a unique method of pest control. The features and benefits outweigh the cost of this revolutionary product.
– Rebates- If your current insulation does not meet the new standard r value rating of 30, Sempra Energy will pay you 15 cents per square foot to bring it to R30 Value . What a deal!- Prevent Pests- Any and all pests that contact this natural borate powder are toast.
– Reduce energy loss- Cracks and crevices are efficiently sealed since tap is much denser than other insulation. It is 32% more energy efficient than traditional insulation.
– Long lifespan- Tap insulation will last 30-50 years with only a 1/2 shrinkage during its life span.
– Noise reduction- The acoustical in tap can reflect external waves from entering your home because of the dense components within this insulation.
– Fire retardant- The properties in this insulation will not catch fire and limit the spread of the flames.


so hard my plate jumped?
anchoring him for one more chapter.
in the dulcet tones of a Southern lady.
holes in the darkness to the east.
her lizard shack's a big house.
That's what she tells them.
talks loud and writes in secret.
Stuffs it in a drawer.
on a bird's tail to tame it.
she watches through the window.
An old wife has a right to her tales.
Isabel studies the Mojave sky.
It's almost big enough for her.
About the Author: Erica Goss served as Poet Laureate of Los Gatos, California, from 2013-2016. She is the author of Wild Place (Finishing Line Press 2012) and Vibrant Words: Ideas and Inspirations for Poets (PushPen Press 2014). Her poems, reviews and articles appear widely. Please visit her here.


It's a bit pricey, but it sure is funky!! BIN is at $510.96 but there is a Make an Offer thingy!!
And you save $188.92. What a deal!
Get ready to take some time off. Might take a while to clear that ball jam. Especially if he ships it like that.
wHAT A COOL CELL! I was trying to see if it was a custom or original design. I only see 2 staples in the green part at the bottom, otherwise all screws. So, I thought the GOLD STANDARD woul be if the "staples" that hold the ball track on, look original. I can't see any! I can't see any evidence of a cell replacement...but, the cell is "not characteristic" of vintage machines. But then again...it is a Mizuho!
I like it! Just crazy enough to really get your attention...without being full blown custom artwork that don't look right on a vintage machine. NOT worth $510 though! Even if perfect with original, unusual cell...I couldn't do it!
I do like it...even if a custom cell.
I saw that one last night and thought about adding it to this thread.
Well the first one went up to $524.96??
The first one is now down to just $468.97!!
First, the one from post #4 sold for $100!!
Well..the original has been relisted again.. Let's review its prices!! It started with a BIN of $510.96 then up to $524.96 Then down to $468.97 And now it is....$545.96!!
It's down a bit to $489.97 now!!
Whoa..It's been relisted again, this time for $699.95!!
Not sure why they stick with such a high price. Maybe they paid WAY too much for it...and trying to recoup some of their loss.
The machine looks nice. All covers on back intact (that alone makes it rare! ) I'm not sure why there is a brass plate at the bottom. The bottom of the back looks normal, but maybe some damage to the formica on front? I don't think I ever seen one with one there. It is a Mizuho...a less common brand, but that won't justify the price...even with the cool cell.
I'm wondering if it's being sold by someone who buys or processes estates. Looking at the items for sale, and feedback, they do a lot of business.
In the description of the item it says "I do not know how to test it, so it is being sold as is, but it came from the home of a collector who restored them"
I guess they didn't do any research to see what these things go for. Anybody make an offer?
whats with the weird pictures. 2 taken in the boot of someones car. the other taken through a slit.
I saw that one yesterday, I thought it looked like either it was taking a nap or was the victim of a hit!! It may have an $820 start, but it's got free shipping and "It has custom all around it."


People use fitness tracking platform Strava for many reasons. The platform has outstanding social features that allow users to share their workouts and compare their performance with others, but that's one part of the service. The driving force behind the Strava platform is data analysis. Everyone from professional to weekend athletes use Strava to record their workouts, analyze their stats and monitor their progress. Like most fitness tracking apps, Strava has both a full-fledged desktop component for comparison and analysis and a companion mobile app for on-the-go performance monitoring. Strava made a big leap forward in the mobile department with the addition of Workout Analysis to its iOS and Android apps.
Workout analysis, previously only a feature available to desktop users with a premium account, allows athletes to delve into their workouts even when they are on their mobile phones. No more paper notes with split times scribbled quickly after a run. All that data is now automatically calculated and made accessible on any iOS or Android device. Each split time is graphed when a lap is detected using an auto-lap feature, or is manually recorded by pressing a button on wristwatch GPS device. If laps are not enabled, the Workout Analysis tool calculates split times by mile or kilometer, depending on the default measurement selected by the user.
Besides split times, Workout Analysis also calculates the distance and pace of the workout. The pace is presented as a colorful graphic, allowing the user to visualize the intensity of their exercise at a glance. And that's not all — users can even overlay an elevation profile and heart rate data that can help provide insight into an athlete's performance.
Using the new Workout Analysis feature is simple. Users start by recording a run with the Strava app or a Strava-compatible GPS device and uploading the workout to their Strava account. When the workout is complete, Users with a premium account can open the Strava app on their mobile device and start diving into their statistics on the activity page. The feature does require a premium account — free users can access a preview of the statistics but cannot delve into the data without signing up for the premium service. Strava's premium account costs $59 for a yearly subscription or $8 monthly.


text:
This Tuesday in Texas è stato un evento in pay-per-view di wrestling organizzato dalla World Wrestling Federation. L'evento si è svolto il 3 dicembre 1991 al Freeman Coliseum di San Antonio (Texas).

Cinque match di wrestling erano programmati nella card. Il main event era un rematch per il WWF Championship, che vide Hulk Hogan sconfiggere il campione The Undertaker, riconquistando il titolo. Hogan aveva perso il titolo sei giorni prima alle Survivor Series in un match dal finale controverso.
Fra gli altri match spiccava un incontro fra Randy Savage, che riprendeva a combattere dopo WrestleMania VII e Jake Roberts, colpevole di aver schiaffeggiato in diretta Miss Elizabeth, che vide la vittoria di Macho Man. L'evento fu un esperimento della WWF per tentare di rendere il martedì sera la seconda cornice stabile di eventi in pay-per-view. Uno scarso numero di acquisti rese l'esperimento un fallimento, e la compagnia ripropose l'idea di un evento di martedì sera solo tredici anni dopo, quando tenne Taboo Tuesday. Nello specifico ricevette molte critiche dagli addetti ai lavori il main event della serata, dove Hogan sconfisse The Undertaker gettandogli della cenere negli occhi, ritenuto non all'altezza degli standard qualitativi WWF.

Storyline
This Tuesday in Texas fu caratterizzato da match di wrestling che coinvolsero lottatori immischiati in diverse faide, storyline, che furono mandate in onda su Superstars, Wrestling Challange e Prime Time Wrestling, programmi televisivi della World Wrestling Federation. Alcuni lottatori svolgevano un ruolo da cattivi (heel), mentre altri svolgevano un ruolo da buoni (face), seguiti da una serie di eventi che costruirono la tensione, e che culminarono in uno o più match di wrestling.

Verso la fine dell'estate del 1991, Ric Flair, un più volte campione del mondo della National Wrestling Alliance e della World Championship Wrestling, firmò con la WWF e, apparendo in televisione con la sua "Big Gold Belt", dichiarò davanti a Hulk Hogan (l'allora WWF Champion) di essere "Il vero campione del mondo". Allora Flair iniziò una faida con Hogan.

Un'altra faida che caratterizzò l'evento fu tra Jake Roberts e Randy Savage. La faida ebbe origine da un'altra rivalità precedente che The Undertaker aveva avuto con The Ultimate Warrior, dove Roberts inizialmente si era offerto di aiutare Warrior a sconfiggere Undertaker, ma dove poi divenne un heel e si schierò dalla parte di Taker. Tuttavia, le circostanze portarono all'abbandono di Warrior dalla federazione dopo Summerslam nel mese di agosto. Nello stesso evento, la faida tra Roberts e Savage iniziò, quando lui e Undertaker rovinarono il ricevimento di nozze tra Savage e Miss Elizabeth (nella kayfabe, infatti i due erano già sposati da quasi sette anni). Roberts poi cominciò a insultare Savage in una serie di promo in tutto il paese, ma Savage non poté fare nulla, visto, che dopo aver perso il retirement match contro Warrior a WrestleMania VII, non poteva più lottare. Gli insulti crebbero sempre di più, ma nonostante gli sforzi di Savage di farsi reintegrare da Jack Tunney (l'allora presidente della WWF, continuò a non poter lottare, e quindi a non poter reagire alle provocazioni. Alla fine, uno spazientito Savage, mentre commentava un episodio di WWF Superstars, salì sul ring per affrontare Roberts, che stava eseguendo un promo contro Savage. Tuttavia, Roberts ebbe la meglio su Savage, infatti, dopo averlo legato alle corde, permise a un cobra di mordergli il braccio. Questo incidente convinse Tunney a reintegrare Roberts nel roster come lottatore attivo.

Evento
Il primo match ad andare in onda in diretta in pay-per-view (PPV) fu un single match standard per il WWF Intercontinental Championship tra lo sfidante, Skinner e il campione, Bret Hart. Hart controllò i primi minuti del match fino a quando Skinner attaccò la spalla di Hart nel bordo ring. Skinner poi mantenne il controllo per gran parte della contesa fino a quando tentò di eseguire una mossa dalle corde, che fu contrastata da Hart con un calcio al volto. Poco dopo, Skinner salì le corde di nuovo, ma fu afferrato e sbattuto al tappeto. Hart poi applicò la sua mossa finale, la Sharpshooter, che costrinse Skinner a cedere. Il vincitore per sottomissione fu quindi Hart, che mantenne il titolo.

Il match successivo fu un single match tra Jake Roberts e Randy Savage. Mentre Roberts stava facendo il suo ingresso, Savage si precipitò lungo lo stage e attaccò Roberts alle spalle. Savage trascorse i successivi due minuti ad attaccare l'avversario fino a quando l'arbitro intervenne mettendosi tra i due concorrenti, il che permise a Roberts di attaccare Savage sul basso ventre. Roberts poi gettò Savage oltre la terza corda, mandandolo fuori dal ring, dandosi il tempo di riprendere fiato. Roberts assunse il controllo del match, concentrandosi principalmente sul braccio ferito di Savage. Per circa sei minuti Roberts ha il vantaggio, poi afferrò Savage in preparazione della sua mossa finale, la DDT, quando Savage contrastò la mossa lanciando l'avversario all'angolo, e sbattendo la sua spalla sulle costole di Roberts. Ciò fece cadere al tappeto quest'ultimo dal dolore, permettendo a Savage di salire sopra le corde ed eseguire la sua diving elbow drop, seguita dallo schienamento vincente. Dopo il match, Savage prese una sedia con l'intento di attaccare Roberts, ma fu fermato da un ufficiale di bordo ring. Savage poi afferrò la campanella che dà inizio ai match, ma anche stavolta intervenne un arbitro, che cercò di toglierli l'oggetto dalle mani. Questo permise a Roberts di eseguire una DDT ai danni di Savage. Circa un minuto dopo, Roberts attaccò nuovamente Savage con una DDT. Roberts poi andò sotto il ring e prese un sacchetto, simile a quello che normalmente conteneva il suo cobra reale. Miss Elizabeth poi corse sul ring e cercò di impedire che Roberts lo attaccasse nuovamente. Non ci riuscì però, visto che Roberts entrò nel quadrato ed eseguì una terza DDT, seguita da uno schiaffo ai danni di Elizabeth. Poi arrivò anche un secondo arbitro sul ring che aiutò Roberts a tornare nel backstage. Il presidente WWF (nella kayfabe) Jack Tunney arrivò in seguito a bordo ring per assicurarsi che Roberts non avesse fatto altri danni.

Il match successivo fu un single match dove The Warlord (con Harvey Wippleman) affrontò The British Bulldog. Per la maggior parte del match nessuno dei due lottatori acquistò un vantaggio importante, fino a quando Warlord guadagnò un controllo più prolungato e tentò di eseguire la sua mossa finale, la full nelson, ma non riuscì ad applicare la mossa a causa della presa sbagliata alle mani. Alla fine, Warlord lasciò la presa e gettò Bulldog al tappeto. Warlord raccolse British, lo mandò in un angolo. Bulldog contrastò l'attacco con un calcio al volto, seguito da una clothesline. Bulldog eseguì la sua delayed suplex e tentò lo schienamento, ma Warlord non cedette e il conto non arrivò al tre. Bulldog poi tentò la sua mossa finale, la running powerslam, ma Warlord bloccò l'attacco. Poi British riuscì ad eseguire una crucifix per la vittoria finale.

Poi ci fu un tag team match tra The Repo Man e Ted DiBiase (con Sensational Sherri) contro El Matador e Virgil. I primi minuti del match furono controllati da Matador e Virgil fino a quando DiBiase colpì Virgil con una gomitata al petto. Repo Man e DiBiase poi si alternarono l'attacco ai danni di Virgil fino a che non egli riuscì a colpire DiBiase con un neckbreaker, seguito dal tag a El Matador. Dopo una raffica di attacchi, El Matador tentò di eseguire la sua mossa finale, la running leaping forearm club, ma fu lanciato all'esterno del ring da DiBiase. El Matador fu poi buttato oltre la terza corda da Repo Man, dove DiBiase lo gettò nel palo di sostegno del ring, mentre l'arbitro era occupato con Repo Man e Virgil dall'altra parte del ring. Dopo una double clothesline, Repo Man ed El Matador diedere il cambio al loro compagno di squadra. Presto tutti e quattro i partecipanti furono sul ring. Poi Sherri salì i gradoni d'acciaio tentò di colpire Virgil con la sua scarpa con i tacchi, tuttavia quest'ultimo si chinò e la scarpa colpì DiBiase. Virgil, arrabbiato con Sherri riguardo alla sua interferenza, la prese, ma fu schienato da Repo Man. Questo permise di sconcentrare Virgil, e di farlo schienare da DiBiase, per il conto finale di tre.

In seguito ci fu l'ultimo match dello show, dove il WWF Championship tra il campione, The Undertaker (con Paul Bearer) e lo sfidante, Hulk Hogan. Jack Tunney fu presente a bordo ring per garantire che non ci fossero interferenze esterne. Undertaker entrò sul quadrato per primo, seguito da Hogan, che entrò sul ring da sotto le corde, e fu accolto da Undertaker e Bearer, che iniziarono a prenderlo a calci. Dopo un paio di calci, Hogan si alzò in piedi, li afferrò e schiantò le loro teste l'una contro l'altra. Paul rotolò fuori dal ring, lasciando Taker e Hogan da soli sul ring per iniziare la contesa. Hogan iniziò con una serie di attacchi, che ebbero un basso effetto su Taker. Dopo essere stato attaccato da una Clothesline che lo fece andare fuori dal ring, Undertaker afferrò le caviglie di Hogan, lo trascinò fuori dal quadrato e lo attaccò. Taker assunse il controllo del match fino a quando Hogan iniziò una rimonta, che indusse Ric Flair ad arrivare a bordo ring. Iniziò una discussione con Jack Tunney che cercò di impedirgli di farsi coinvolgere. Hogan colpì Flair sulla schiena con una sedia, che lo fece cadere su Tunney, mandando entrambi a terra. Con Tunney temporaneamente knock-out, Flair salì sul ring con una sedia d'acciaio. Tuttavia, Hogan fu in grado di fermare l'attacco avversario e gettò la sedia su Undertaker. Quest'ultimo si riprese e afferrò Hogan da dietro, bloccandolo, permettendo al suo manager Bearer di colpire Hulk con l'urna, ma Hogan si abbassò e Paul colpì Taker. Hogan prese l'urna, l'aprì, e afferrò una manciata di cenere, che gettò negli occhi di Undertaker. Nel frattempo, Flair cominciò a tentare di risvegliare Tunney, in modo che lui potesse vedere quello che stava succedendo. Hogan poi schienò l'avversario con un roll up, vincendo il WWF Championship.

Conseguenze
Il week-end successivo al ppv, Jack Tunney rese vacante il WWF Championship a causa del finale controverso del match tra Hogan e Undertaker. Egli dichiarò che il titolo sarebbe stato assegnato al vincitore della prossima Royal Rumble. Sia Hogan che Undertaker presero parte alla Rumble con il vantaggio di essere sorteggiati per l'entrata nella rissa reale con numeri alti dal 20 al 30. The Undertaker venne eliminato da Hogan, che a sua volta venne estromesso da Sid Justice. Jake Roberts e Randy Savage continuarono la loro faida per altri due mesi. Ciò comportò l'eliminazione di Roberts dalla Rumble da parte di Savage e un successivo match tra i due a Saturday Night's Main Event. Dopo aver perso l'incontro, un furioso Roberts aspettò nel backstage Savage ed Elizabeth cercando di colpire la coppia con una sedia. Elizabeth stava per essere colpita quando la mano di Roberts venne inaspettatamente bloccata da Undertaker che colpì a sua volta Jake con la sedia, dando così inizio a un feud tra i due che si risolse a WrestleMania VIII.

Jake Roberts e Randy Savage continuarono il loro feud per i due mesi successivi. In questo periodo Savage eliminò Roberts durante il Royal Rumble match, e si concluse a seguito di un match tra i due l'8 febbraio 1992 nell'edizione di Saturday Night's Main Event. Dopo aver perso la partita, un infuriato Roberts andò dietro le quinte, e annunciò che il primo che fosse entrato nel backstage sarebbe stato colpito dalla sedia d'acciaio che aveva in mano. Poco dopo arrivò Elizabeth, e mentre Roberts si stava nascondendo per aspettare il momento giusto per colpirla, arriva The Undertaker, che ferma Jake dicendogli che non avrebbe permesso di colpire la manager di Savage. Questo fatto rese The Undertaker un eroe per la prima volta nella sua carriera. A quel punto Taker iniziò una faida con Roberts, che culminò a WrestleMania VIII quando Undertaker emerse vincitore. Il feud, però, fu di breve durata, visto che Roberts lasciò la WWF subito dopo WrestleMania a causa di alcuni problemi con Vince McMahon.

Accoglienza
La WWF guadagnò circa $ 100,000 per quanto riguarda le vendite dei biglietti, con una presenza di 8.000 persone. Il pay-per-view ricevette un buyrate di 1.0, l'equivalente di circa 400.000 acquisti. L'evento fu trasmesso su Supertape '92 Home video, che fu rilasciato su VHS negli Stati Uniti il 23 gennaio 1992 da Coliseum Video.

Risultati

Note

Collegamenti esterni

Pay-per-view della WWE
Wrestling nel 1991

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Ервенице је насеље у Србији у општини Тутин у Рашком округу. Према попису из 2011. било је 54 становника.

Демографија
У насељу Ервенице живи 29 пунолетних становника, а просечна старост становништва износи 25,1 година (26,8 код мушкараца и 22,9 код жена). У насељу има 11 домаћинстава, а просечан број чланова по домаћинству је 5,18.

Ово насеље је великим делом насељено Бошњацима (према попису из 2002. године), а у последња три пописа, примећен је пад у броју становника.

Референце

Спољашње везе

 Мапе, аеродроми и временска ситуација локација (-{Fallingrain}-)
 Сателитска мапа (-{Wikimapia}-)
 Гугл сателитска мапа (-{Maplandia}-)
 План насеља на мапи (-{Mapquest}-)

Насељена места у Тутину
Насељена места у Рашком управном округу
Википројект географија/Насеља у Србији


Simple fact, doing something that you do not enjoy will not work out too well. That goes the same for cardio workouts. If you are currently working on a cardio workout that you do not enjoy doing then do yourself a favor and STOP! Choose another type of workout that could get your heart rate pumping. If running on the treadmill is boring to you, try running outdoors so you can enjoy the scenery and get some fresh air. You could also try swimming, dancing, boxing and other cardio workouts.
Before you start, have a plan for yourself. This plan could tell you when you should increase your cardio workout and how many minutes and days you should be doing it. Remember to work out for yourself and not against it.
Before any type of workout that you do, make sure to warm up. Stretch your muscles before doing the major workout so you do not pull anything. Also, warming up increase blood flow and prevent strains.
Try changing up your cardio workout. Although doing one workout could still be effective, try mixing it up so you will not get too bored in doing one thing. Challenge yourself mentally and physically. If you work out inside, try working out outside.
To help you keep track of your workouts, try logging in when you get in some cardio workouts. Take note of your current weight, number of days you work out, the distance, the length and your goals. This could help you motivate yourself more and improve your run each and every time.
If you get bored working out by yourself, try having cardio partner to help get you going. Try motivating one another in doing more so that you cardio workout could be more effective each and every single time.
Get your MP3 player and load it up with a few good workout songs. Make sure to choose songs that could help you run faster and help you concentrate and focus on other things besides the pain and soreness of working out.


One good thing about my dear old friend insomnia is that when the days are way too busy and chaotic to find moments to write, the quiet of night is a secret refuge…moments stolen from sleep to find myself again, and to reach out and reconnect with you, my readers. So in this much overdue post I will finally tell you where my daughter and husband James went on holiday recently! The Holy Land!
A few of my closest friends encouraged me to not make decisions and live life based on fear, and to let them go as it was such an amazing opportunity to see the world, especially while she is young enough to still want to hang out with her Daddy. My daughter really wanted to go as well. "Please, Mummy? I want to see where Jesus lived!" So after weeks of crazy passport preparations, paperwork and shopping for desert gear like giant sun hats, off they went! Now here is the fun part: some more pictures!
Happy Easter from the Eastlands!
Wow! Looks like an amazing trip! We'd love to go there too someday, though I do share some of your fears about safety there. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Such a wonderful experience for both Daddy and daughter. The pictures are amazing. A trip many dream of taking but never get the opportunity.


Today is June 5, HIV long-term survivors day. Today, June 5, 2018, the AIDS epidemic (pandemic) turns 37.
Journeys Through Darkness: A Biography of AIDS. Photography by Kurt Weston.
Some 37 years ago, on or around June 5, 1981, I was experiencing the magical white nights in a city now known as Saint Petersburg. I was only a kid at the time, and had no idea of the significance of that day. It took a few more years for me to hear the word "AIDS" for the first time in my life….
It's funny how sometimes the universe nudges us on a certain path, toward a certain goal or cause. In my case, it did, and I'm glad that it happened, because I've got to meet many wonderful people along the way–the HIV warriors, HIV advocates. Their stories have impacted my life in a profound way, a good way.
One of the first "HIV warriors" I've met is award-winning photographer Kurt Weston. I got to write a book, Journeys Through Darkness: A Biography, about his photography and his journey through photography and through AIDS. One of my favorite photographs by Kurt Weston is called "Dark Angel." I found myself fascinated by its story, and also its symbolism.
As an artist, Kurt Weston has used art to express his own vision of the disease. One of his black-and-white photographs, "Dark Angel," may best capture Weston's first intimate experience with AIDS. The photograph is one of his first to be inspired by Angels in America, [the original] play.
With Dark Angel, a photograph by Kurt Weston.
In Western monotheistic religions, angels are pictured as God's messengers, living among humans and in the transitional space between Heaven and Earth. They can be guardian angels helping humans throughout their physical life, or they can be angels of death, delivering the coming of death. The concept of angels and the symbolism of funeral rituals concur in the artist's work, revisiting old concepts about life, death and the vast beyond that follows.
Kurt Weston's Dark Angel is an angel of death. He is also an angel of AIDS, which, at the time, was a death sentence. Weston's angel appears out of the shadows with his wings spread wide. The image shows an implied representation of the angel's wings, which are basically the shadows from where he's peering out.
Before the arrival of the AIDS epidemic, many envisioned funerals as horrifying events where they would mourn and sob over an open casket. As the epidemic started to decimate the gay community and people started losing so many friends to the disease, funerals became more celebrations of life. And this transformation began to spread throughout the culture.
Weston's Dark Angel symbolizes an angelic figure composed of a play of the elements often used in the artist's work—darkness and light—to manifest the subtle interaction between what's real and what is not. This interaction further transposes between the dark angel and the white cat that doesn't seem afraid of the angel, but rather interested in his stake. The cat was actually "a happy mistake," the artist says, explaining how he created the image.
Angel in Central Park: image of the Bethesda Angel in Central Park.
Weston used a view camera, which is a large-format camera. He placed a sheet of film in a film holder, in the camera and had the subject pose, holding on to his stake, as he appears in the image.
The room was completely dark, as the photographer started walking around with a hand-held flash, popping the flash off in different angles to create different shadows surrounding the Dark Angel.
Unbeknownst to Weston, while he was moving around, working on his photograph, his cat, Che (from Che Guevara), walked into the room and was accidentally illuminated when the flash came off. Only during the developing process the photographer discovered the cat staring at the angel's stake.
Although Kurt Weston created Dark Angel in total darkness, he also interjected light into the image only to illuminate the angel's face. The light is a symbol of hope and of life's triumph coming through the immense blackness of the (then) terrifying AIDS epidemic.
We've come a long way in the fight against AIDS, but the fight is not over yet, and we should not give up, we should never give up. We should learn to do that from the HIV activists.
Queerpower Silence=Death facade at Leslie-Lohman Museum for 30-year anniversary of Silence=Death poster. June 2017. Photo by Alina Oswald.


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Boron tribromide (BBr3) lewis dot structure, molecular geometry, polar or nonpolar, hybridization
Home > Chemistry > BBr3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
Boron tribromide composed of boron and bromine appears as colorless to amber liquid, has a sharp and irritating odor with chemical formula BBr3.
In this tutorial, we will discuss BBr3 lewis structure, molecular geometry, polar or nonpolar, etc.
Bromide tribromide decomposes by water and alcohols, and it reacts violently with water. It is used in image processing, organic synthesis, photovoltaic manufacturing, etc.
Name of Molecule Boron tribromide
Chemical formula BBr3
Molecular geometry of BBr3 Trigonal planar
Electron geometry of BBr3 Trigonal planar
Hybridization Sp2
Nature Nonpolar
Total Valence electron for BBr3 24
1 How to draw lewis structure of BBr3?
2 Follow some steps for drawing the Lewis dot structure for BBr3
3 What is the molecular geometry of BBr3?
4 Hybridization of BBr3
5 Is BBr3 polar or nonpolar?
How to draw lewis structure of BBr3?
BBr3 lewis structure contains three B-Br bonds with boron in a central position and all three bromine atoms in an outside position. The lewis structure of BBr3 contains a total of 3 bond pairs and 9 lone pairs.
The drawing of the BBr3 lewis's structure is very easy and simple. Let's see how to do it.
Follow some steps for drawing the Lewis dot structure for BBr3
1. Count total valence electron in BBr3
First of all, determine the valence electron that is available for drawing the lewis structure of BBr3 because the lewis diagram is all about the representation of valence electrons on atoms.
So, an easy way to find the valence electron of atoms in the BBr3 molecule is, just to look at the periodic group of boron and bromine atoms.
As the boron atom belongs to the 13th group in the periodic table and bromine is situated in the 17th group, hence, the valence electron for the boron is 3, and for the bromine atom, it is 7.
⇒ Total number of the valence electrons in boron = 3
∴ Total number of valence electron available for the BBr3 Lewis structure = 3 + 7×3 = 24 valence electrons [∴BBr3 molecule has one boron and three bromine atoms]
2. Find the least electronegative atom and place it at center
An atom with a less electronegative value is preferable for the central position in the lewis diagram because they are more prone to share the electrons with surrounding atoms.
In the case of the BBr3 molecule, the boron atom is less electronegative than the bromine atom.
Hence, put the boron atom at the central position of the lewis diagram and all three bromine atoms outside it.
3. Connect outer atoms to the central atom with a single bond
In this step, join all outer atoms to the central atom with the help of a single bond.
In, the BBr3 molecule, bromine is the outer atom, and boron is the central atom. Hence, joined them.
Count the number of valence electrons used in the above structure. There are 3 single bonds used in the above structure, and one single bond means 2 electrons.
Hence, in the above structure, (3 × 2) = 6 valence electrons are used from a total of 24 valence electrons available for drawing the BBr3 Lewis structure.
So, we are left with 18 valence electrons more.
4. Place remaining electrons on the outer atom first and complete their octet
Let's start putting the remaining valence electrons on outer atoms first. In the case of the BBr3 molecule, bromine is the outer atom and each of them needs 8 electrons in its valence shell to complete the octet.
Start putting the remaining electrons on bromine atoms as dots till they complete their octet.
So, all bromine atoms in the above structure completed their octet, because all of them have 8 electrons(electrons represented as dots + 2 electrons in every single bond) in their outermost shell.
Now again count the valence electron in the above structure.
In the above structure, there is 18 electrons are represented as dots + three single bonds that contain 6 electrons means a total of 24 valence electrons is used in the above structure.
So, we have used all the valence electrons available for drawing the lewis structure of BBr3.
5. Complete the octet of the central atom
We don't have any extra valence electrons left and the central atom boron has only 6 electrons(3 single bonds) in its valence shell.
It should be noted that Boron is exceptional to the octet rule as it can have 8 electrons or less than 8 electrons in the outermost shell to attain stability. Boron is an exception just like aluminum where it can be octet deficient.
Octet deficient molecules are the molecules that can attains the stability by having less than 8 electrons around the atoms. Some examples – Boron, beryllium, aluminium, hydrogen, lithium, helium
But boron and aluminium is two most common element that can fail to complete the octet as they attains stability having only 6 valence electrons.
Therefore, the boron central atom in the BBr3 lewis structure attains stability by just having 6 valence electrons around it.
Let's check the formal charge for the 4th step structure to verify it's stable or not.
The lesser the formal charge on atoms, the better is the stability of the lewis diagram.
⇒ Formal charge = (valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – 1/2 bonding electrons)
Let's count the formal charge for the 4th step structure.
For bromine atom
⇒ Valence electrons of bromine = 7
⇒ Nonbonding electrons on bromine = 6
⇒ Bonding electrons around bromine (1 single bond) = 2
∴ (7 – 6 – 2/2) = 0 formal charge on the bromine atom.
For boron atom
⇒ Valence electrons of boron = 3
⇒ Nonbonding electrons on boron = 0
⇒ Bonding electrons around boron (3 single bonds) = 6
∴ (3 – 0 – 6/2) = 0 formal charge on the boron central atom.
BBr3 lewis structure
Hence, in the above BBr3 lewis structure, all atoms get a formal charge equal to zero. Even the boron central atom has only 6 electrons instead of 8 in the valence shell, it also gets a formal charge equal to zero.
We have no required to form multiple bonds and provide boron atom to 8 electrons in its valence shell.
The boron can achieve stability by just having 6 electrons in the valence shell.
Therefore, the above lewis structure of BBr3 is most stable and appropriate.
What is the molecular geometry of BBr3?
The molecular geometry of BBr3 is trigonal planar because the central atom boron is bonded with three bromine atoms and it contains no lone pair that means, it is an AX3 type molecule.
A represent central atom
X represent the number of bonded atom to central atom
According to VSEPR theory or chart, the AX3 type molecule forms trigonal planar molecular geometry.
Hybridization of BBr3
The hybridization of BBr3 is Sp2 because the steric number of the boron central atoms is three.
The calculation of steric number is done by adding a number of bonded atoms attached to the central atom and lone pair on the central atom.
In the case of the BBr3 molecule, boron is the central atom that is attached to the three bonded atoms(bromine) and it has no lone pairs.
Hence, (3 + 0) = 3 is the steric number of central atom boron in the BBr3 molecule that gives Sp2 hybridization.
Is BBr3 polar or nonpolar?
So, Is BBr3 polar or nonpolar? Well, it is obvious that BBr3 is a nonpolar molecule because each B-Br bond is directed at the angle of 120° to each other in a plane, hence, canceling of dipole moment generated along these bonds is very easy.
Therefore, no dipole moment is generated in the BBr3 molecule, hence, it is nonpolar in nature.
Also, the molecular geometry of BBr3 is very symmetrical since no lone pair is present on the central atom that can cause distortion in a molecule, so, the charges are distributed uniformly all over the atoms.
Hence, the dipole generated in the BBr3 molecule will easily cancel out each other leaving this molecule nonpolar in nature.
Is BF3 polar or nonpolar?
The total number of lone pairs present in the lewis structure of BBr3?
The lone pair are represented as dots in the lewis diagram. According to the BBr3 lewis structure, there is a total of 18 dots present(6 dots on each bromine atom).
Hence, the number of lone pairs in the BBr3 lewis structure is 9.
The total number of bond pairs present in the lewis structure of BBr3?
The bond pairs simply are the bonding electrons that are found between the atoms, generally in the covalent bond.
Two bonding electron between the atoms forms a single covalent bond.
Now, as per BBr3 lewis structure, the central atom boron is attached with three single covalent bonds, and one single covalent bond means 2 bonding electrons.
Hence, total bonding electrons is (3 × 2) = 6 bonding electrons that make 3 bond pairs.
BCl3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
BF3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
BH3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
BI3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
NBr3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
PBr3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
NF3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
PCl3 lewis structure and its molecular geometry
Properties of Boron tribromide
It is colorless and has an irritating odor.
It reacts violently with water and other protic solvents.
It is a strong lewis acid.
It is soluble in CH2Cl2, CCl4.
It has a boiling point of 91.3 °C and a melting point of −46.3 °C.
Preparation of Boron tribromide
Boron tribromide is prepared by reacting boron trioxide with 3 moles of carbon and 3 moles of bromine at high temperatures.
⇒ B2O3 + 3C + 3Br2 → 2BBr3 + 3CO
The total valence electron is available for drawing the BBr3 Lewis structure is 24.
The molecular geometry or shape of BBr3 is trigonal planar.
BBr3 is nonpolar and has Sp2 hybridization.
In the BBr3 Lewis structure, a total of 18 nonbonding electrons and 6 bonded electrons are present.
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Ringleader in Prescription Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to Federal Prison
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The leader of a conspiracy that used forged prescriptions to obtain and sell large amounts of highly addictive opioids has been sentenced to federal prison. Raheem Hardy, 29, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to 55 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent...
Pain Clinic Doctor and Staff Member Charged with Unlawful Distribution of Opioids
TAMPA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Dr. Qing McGaha (55, Tampa) with conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, as...
Thirteen Arrested for Fentanyl Distribution
AUSTIN – Today 13 individuals were arrested on criminal charges for their alleged involvement in fentanyl distribution announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux and United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. According to court documents, Marcos Garcia, 18, of Somerton, AZ; Oliver Garcia, 20, of...
Baltimore Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Conspiracy Charge
Baltimore, Md., – Larry Gardner, a/k/a "Little Larry," age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including heroin. The guilty plea was announced by Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Divison...
Operators of Three Texas Pharmacies and Two Pain Clinics Arrested for Illegally Dispensing Nearly Four Million Opioid Pills
WASHINGTON – Three Houston-area pharmacists, a doctor, and a pharmacy technician have been arrested for allegedly running three pharmacies and two clinics as "pill mills;" distributing hydrocodone, oxycodone, and other controlled drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. According to court documents, since January 2018, Chrisco Pharmacy (Chrisco), Keystone Pharmacy (Keystone)...
DEA Reveals Criminal Drug Networks Are Flooding the U.S. with Deadly Fentanyl
NEWARK, N.J. – As U.S. overdose deaths reach a devastating new height, claiming a new victim every five minutes, the Drug Enforcement Administration has revealed a direct link between fentanyl-related overdose deaths and criminal drug networks in Mexico. These groups are harnessing social media platforms to bring drugs laced with...
Two Members of Pagan's Motorcycle Club Indicted for Shooting at Hells Angels Rival
NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced two high-ranking members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club were indicted today for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid...
Cocaine Supplier Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Trafficking Charges
Baltimore, Md., – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Jack Anderson IV, age 45, of Tucson, Arizona, to 126 months in federal prison after Anderson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The guilty plea and...
Former Long Island Doctor Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Causing the Overdose Deaths of Two patients and Illegally Distributing Oxycodone
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. - Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Michael Belfiore, a former medical doctor, was sentenced by United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco to 23 years in prison for the illegal distribution of oxycodone causing the deaths of two patients and the illegal distribution of...
Washington, D.C. - As U.S. overdose deaths reach a devastating new height, claiming a new victim every five minutes, the Drug Enforcement Administration has revealed a direct link between fentanyl-related overdose deaths and criminal drug networks in Mexico. These groups are harnessing social media platforms to bring drugs laced with...