Lately, whenever he has felt it was time to begin working on a new album with the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen has opted to take producer Brendan O'Brien into the studio with him. On paper, their pairing has always made sense. Yet, the fruits of their labor often have clouded the issue because both The Rising and Magic failed to capitalize fully upon the strength of their union. Instead, Springsteen and O'Brien appeared to be uncertain about how to proceed together, and their hesitancy led to the overall feeling of disconnection that floated through the arrangements and melodies of Springsteen's songs. Although these endeavors had their moments — and Magic undeniably built upon its predecessor — they also left listeners with the impression that Springsteen and O'Brien were searching for something as they worked toward a goal that remained just outside their reach. Working on a Dream, Springsteen's latest effort, however, finds the duo turning the corner. While it isn't a perfect endeavor, it does go a long way, at least, toward putting their collaborations into perspective.
O'Brien's career has followed a typical path. After Stone Temple Pilot's Core — which he helped guide to fruition — became utterly inescapable, he became firmly established as a producer, rather than simply an engineer. Through his work with arena-rock bands such as Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine, he developed and perfected an approach that has leant itself quite well to a generation of rock stars and music fans who have embraced low-fidelity playback devices. The iPod, in particular, has wiped clean all of the advances in aural technology that Alan Parsons had set in motion when he mixed Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, let alone the groundbreaking textures that George Martin applied to The Beatles' compositions. As a result, the industry has slid backward to that awkward moment in the 1960s when AM radio ruled the land and monophonic and stereophonic recordings were competing for attention.
Springsteen frequently has taken solace from the music that was made during this era. The countless singles that sprang from Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, Roy Orbison's songs for the brokenhearted, and even The Beach Boys' masterpiece Pet Sounds were all designed to be heard not on expensive, surround sound systems but rather through the tinny, static-filled speakers of a car or kitchen radio. It's safe to say that everything Springsteen ever has done with the E Street Band has been built around the idea of recapturing the magic of these glory-filled moments from pop's illustrious heyday. After all, his albums customarily have been filled with sounds that have been stacked on top of one another — in addition to the guitars, saxophones, drums, and keyboards of the E Street Band, horns, strings, and glockenspiel also have been featured time and again within his arrangements. Likewise, in concert, his touring outfit has grown considerably over the years, culminating most recently with the colossal confederation of musicians that he assembled to support him during his halftime set at the Super Bowl.
Aside from the fun that he obviously appears to be having — he also drafted a gospel choir to join him during his appearance at the We Are One concert that preceded the inauguration of Barack Obama — there is a reason why Springsteen has been turning the E Street Band's high-profile gigs into complete spectacles, and it has less to do with marketing Working on a Dream than many might suspect. In fact, the oversized staging of his shows dovetails with the grandiose textures that he and O'Brien conjured for the endeavor. From the arrangement they applied to the epic tale of Outlaw Pete to Kingdom of Days' symphonic majesty, Working on a Dream is bursting at the seams with ideas. It unquestionably is the culmination of Springsteen and O'Brien's collective vision. In effect, they have recreated Spector's Wall of Sound to suit their own purpose, and they want to celebrate their victory in a big way. Without a doubt, Working on a Dream is the best effort Springsteen has made with the E Street Band in decades, yet it also is a slightly bigger triumph for the producer than it is for the artist. To put it simply, the effort — good as it is — just can't compete with Springsteen's classics — The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, Born to Run, and Darkness on the Edge of Town — nor do its songs conjure moods or paint scenes as vividly as Thunder Road, Jungleland, and Sandy (4th of July, Asbury Park).
Even so, it immediately is apparent that O'Brien finally has reignited Springsteen's creative hunger. Working on a Dream not only is the most eclectic outing in Springsteen's canon, but, for the first time since Nebraska, Springsteen also sounds as if he is trying to break a mold — or at least broaden it — rather than continue to be trapped inside one. As a result, the haze of uncertainty that had kept Springsteen and O'Brien from achieving their musical goals on The Rising (and, to a lesser degree, on Magic) has dissipated, and this, in turn, has brought the grand experiment of their collaborative pursuits into focus.
There is no doubt that Springsteen's superstar status has its advantages. Employing a bigger budget than he had at his disposal in the 1970s, Springsteen, with O'Brien's assistance, used Working on a Dream to pay tribute to his influences like never before. More than a hint of Orbison's output drifts through the title track and My Lucky Day. Meanwhile, Beatle-esque touches creep into Queen of the Supermarket, and Byrds-ian flavors dominate the landscape of Life Itself. Elsewhere, the country-rock groove of Tomorrow Never Knows bears traces of Bob Dylan's style, while Surprise, Surprise is pure, undiluted '60s pop. Moving from a cut like This Life, which clearly was modeled after Brian Wilson's work on Pet Sounds, into the driving blues-rock fury of Good Eye ought to be jarring, but strangely enough, the transition is remarkably smooth. The reason, first and foremost, is that everything on Working on a Dream is fed through a replica of Spector's Wall of Sound, and the resulting presentation is larger than life. The other factor is the endeavor's overarching narrative, for which no other arrangements would have served the same purpose nearly as well.
It is impossible for a songwriter to separate his personal life from his output. Every facet of his personality as well as all of his experiences inevitably filter, in one way or another, into his lyrics. This is especially true of someone like Springsteen, simply because his immensely high profile places most of what he does beneath the white-hot glare of a spotlight. His recent marital troubles and the premature death of the E Street Band's longtime keyboard player Danny Federici are, perhaps, the two biggest issues that have been weighing upon him of late. Not surprisingly, these themes seep into every nook and cranny of Working on a Dream.
Most of Working on a Dream was completed prior to Federici's death, and The Last Carnival is the only song that deals directly with his passing. In retrospect, however, the track informs and illuminates other aspects of the endeavor. It was Federici, for example, who played the glockenspiel on Springsteen's classic albums, and the instrument's prominent return — at the hands of Springsteen, rather than Federici — provides a fitting tribute to the E Street Band's departed organist. The Last Carnival also twists the meaning behind tunes like Outlaw Pete — which details a man's attempts to outrun his fate — and Good Eye — a cut that is, at least in part, about not taking life for granted. Within the turbulence of the latter selection, Springsteen also seems to offer an apology of sorts to his wife Patti Scialfa, while the rest of the effort boasts material that highlights the redemptive power of love, thereby allowing the effort to stand as a full-fledged pledge of devotion to their reconciliation. In other words, Working on a Dream provides the happy ending to the anguish, anger, and feelings of betrayal that Scialfa poured into her 2007 effort Play It as It Lays.
With the exception of The Wrestler — the song of perseverance in the face of hardship that Springsteen penned for the Mickey Rourke film that shares its title — Working on a Dream is an album that has been meticulously produced. Nevertheless, because it came together quickly, in a spontaneous burst of creativity, the set also packs the energetic punch of Springsteen's early endeavors. Beneath the glistening layers of instrumentation, tracks like My Lucky Day and What Love Can Do harken back to the exuberant rock 'n' roll of Born to Run and The River. Like many artists, Springsteen has had a tendency to want to revisit his old ideas and look for ways in which to improve them. When he reunited the E Street Band to make The Rising, however, he seemed to be stuck in the past. With Working on a Dream, he once again appears to be moving forward.


Find Life Insurance in Holland, Michigan.
Please contact Doug Haan at 616.566.2508 if you are a Holland, Michigan area 49423 or 49424 resident. You are welcome to contact me if you live in a neighboring city or anywhere in Michigan or Virginia.
A licensed life insurance professional, representing high-rated life insurance companies, will follow-up with you to help you determine what product and company will best match your personal life insurance needs and goals.
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Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease therapeutics are a multi-billion dollar business. The combined direct and indirect costs of these neurodegenerative diseases are estimated to reach $818 billion in 20151.
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease are progressive, chronic, degenerative neurological disorders that attack neurons in the brain resulting, ultimately, in death over a period of 2 to 20 years. Parkinson's disease results in motor symptoms and cognitive impairment, ranging from mild memory difficulties to dementia and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Alzheimer's disease results in loss of memory, impairment of cognitive and language skills, and behavioral changes. There is currently no cure for these diseases, only treatments that provide temporary alleviation of symptoms.
In Alzheimer's disease, two types of abnormal lesions (aggregates) clog the brain of the affected patient. One of the aggregates, beta-amyloid plaques, form outside and around neurons; the second, neurofibrillary tangles, form insoluble twisted fibers composed largely of Tau proteins that build up inside nerve cells.
In Parkinson's disease, build up of a-synuclein fibrils (aggregates) lead to impairment of cognitive ability in the affected patient. These aggregates occur inside brain cells and form Lewy bodies which inhibit normal cell function.


text:
Everything You Need to Know About 'Sanditon', the Show 'Bridgerton' Fans Can't Stop Talking About
February 26, 2021 by Juna Xu
Bridgerton became the talk of the town when Netflix dropped season one on Christmas Day in 2020. The only dilemma was that we binge-watched our way through the eight episodes of the steamy series a little too quickly.
So, what is there to watch as we patiently wait for season two to drop? While we've previously recommended 10 shows that rival the steamy hit series you need to watch ASAP, we (more accurately, Bridgerton fans) would like to put forward another suggestion: Sanditon.
It's become evident on Twitter that if you liked, or even loved, the Shondaland-produced series, Sanditon will be right up your alley.
To explain just how good the series is, some Bridgerton-fans have even confessed that Sanditon tops Netflix's regency drama. Scandalous!
— 🇮🇪🇬🇧 Lauren Corbett (@laurencorbett_x) December 28, 2020
What is Sanditon about?
Sanditon is a British historical drama series adapted by creator and writer Andrew Davies, from an unfinished manuscript by Jane Austen (yes, the author behind Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and Sensibility). Austen never completed the novel, having only written 11 chapters before her death. Much of these chapters Austen wrote are used in the Sanditon's first episode, leaving most of the story's plot up to Davies' creative discretion.
The Austen-adaptation is set during the Regency era and follows young and naive heroine Charlotte Heywood (played by Rose Williams) as she relocates from Sussex to the fishing-village-turned-seaside-resort of Sanditon. It isn't long until Charlotte discovers this resort is flooded with scheming and ambitious locals who possess a wealth of secrets. Cue the drama.
As for the romance, Charlotte ends up catching the eye of the Parker brothers and a love-triangle forms. The series predominantly focuses on Charlotte's relationship with Sidney Parker (played by Theo James) who is arguably equally as dreamy as Bridgerton's Duke of Hastings.
I'm rewatching Sanditon for the millionth time and I am so in love with this man. I feel like a teenager again, my heart cannot take it!😍🥵#Sanditon #SaveSanditon #SanditonPBS #SanditonSisterhood pic.twitter.com/9UlBEEmN81
— Fräuline Hammer (@FraulineHammer) February 21, 2021
How many episodes are there in Sanditon?
Season one of Sanditon consists of eight episodes. The series first aired on ITV in the UK in August 2019, and then premiered in the US on PBS in January 2020.
Will there be a season two of Sanditon?
Unfortunately, the British historical series was cancelled by ITV ahead of season two, which left fans outraged. The show had a small cult following when it initially aired in the UK, which then exploded when it reached international audiences.
"We would have loved it to return, but unfortunately we just didn't get the audience that would make that possible for us, which is heartbreaking for everybody involved in this wonderful adaptation," a spokesperson said back in 2019.
While the show has seemed dormant since then, after witnessing the global success of Bridgerton combined with the help of #SaveSanditon trending on Twitter, there has been speculation of a season two in the works.
The good news is that Amazon is searching for a show to rival Netflix's Bridgerton, and Amazon Prime Video UK recently asked fans to retweet to show Amazon Executives that there is a demand for season two. Although nothing is confirmed just yet, our fingers are firmly crossed.
"I hope you weren't too embarrassed..."
"Why should I be embarrassed? I was fully clothed." 😂🤣
..."Hardly fair of you to ambush me like that." 😉
"Well then."
" Well then."
They are just too much.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#WelcomeSidlotte #SaveSanditon #Sanditon pic.twitter.com/g6AtYz1q0s
— Christine (@Christi71209875) February 21, 2021
Where can I watch Sanditon online?
The eight-part series can be viewed on Binge for those based in Australia.
For those located in the US, season one of Sanditon can be streamed on Amazon.
As for the UK, the hit series is available on Amazon UK.
Why not take a break from the TV and read a book instead? Here are six novels you need to read before they're turned into movies and TV shows in 2021.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
RoboCop is a remake of the 1987 classic sci-fi film of the same name. Actually, it's more a reimagining than a remake - there are a number of very significant changes to the plot. This review features extensive spoilers for the original and moderate spoilers for the new film. Skip to the last paragraph before the numbers for the spoiler-free summary.
The original RoboCop movie operates on a single-city scale: Detroit is overrun by crime, and all other plot points flow from there. The city government hires Omni Consumer Products (OCP) to run the police force, and as payment allows OCP to raze part of the city and construct an independent city-state. When the police object to being bought, OCP first proposes replacing them with a large war machine, the ED-209, but when it malfunctions and kills a board member, they fall back on a cyborg design, the titular RoboCop. For the biological part of the construct, OCP uses Alex Murphy, a police officer whom OCP intentionally placed in danger. RoboCop is a success until Murphy's memories start to surface. When he discovers that the criminal who "killed" him is connected to OCP, he confronts them.
The 2014 version operates on a global scale - while much of the action does take place in Detroit, there are also scenes in Iran, Washington D.C., and a TV studio. In this version of dystopia, OmniCorp contracts with the US military to use robots, both big ones like the ED-209 and small humanoid ones, to replace US soldiers. However, they are barred from using the machines in the US. The rest of the plot flows from OmniCorp's desire to break into the American market. They decide that using a cyborg will both evade the law and sway the public to their side.
The original film focuses on themes of greed, corruption, gentrification, and the role of corporations in society. The new one loses the gentrification angle and adds commentary on American foreign policy. Both films are satire, but where the first one had nicely focused messages: that corporation-enabled greed is dangerous, and that humans are preferable to machines for any task requiring reason, the second film is a bit muddled. Where the first film showed the fallibility of machines, especially with the ED-209's bloody malfunction, the machines in the new movie appear to actually be infallible. The original RoboCop worked in large part because there was a human inside there to add intelligence to the system, and OCP tried to hide that element. The new RoboCop's human parts operate demonstrably less well than the machine alternative, a point which the film makes at length, eventually disabling most of his humanity in order to make him function up to spec.
This is a problem. If you want to have a humans-are-better-than-machines theme, which this film does, then the humans should in fact be better than the machines. But there is no point at which the drones make a mistake of any kind.
In other respects, the movie works well. It takes hard shots at the media in the form of Samuel L Jackson's demagoguery. It points out the futility of pacification by forceful occupation. It highlights the power of large corporations. It explores what it means to be human. This is does quite well, actually. In another departure from the original, in the new film Alex Murphy's family is present throughout to lend a humanizing touch.
Joel Kinnaman is adequate as Alex Murphy. Abbie Cornish as his wife is much better. Michael Keaton and Gary Oldman are vey good as the owner and head scientist of OmniCorp. And Sam Jackson is the same as always - massively over-the-top. Yes, he gets to drop his f-bomb.
The visual effects are quite good (with the exception of some shaky-cam), but the sound effects are surprisingly clumsy. RoboCop makes the same heavy thunking sound on any surface, and sometimes is audible from camera placements where he really should not be. All the mechanicals make annoying whining motion-sounds.
I really wish that at some point any character had said anything about RoboCop's motorcycle, or his driving habits. The thing is really cool, but it just appears from nowhere, with no comment, and he drives it with no regard to traffic laws or safety. All the time.
In the end, this is an ok but not great action film - the action sequences just aren't that interesting. It is a decent satire with a serious thematic flaw. It is a pretty good exploration of humanity, with one serious problem at the end. If you are a big fan of the original, the remake will probably be a disappointment.
Performance: 3/5
Bechdel: Fail
3. Lust For Love
8. RoboCop


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The Manchukuo Police was the main law enforcement agency of Manchukuo in what is today China.

Background and foundation

When the Fengtian Clique ruled Manchuria, they had a police system that was legally part of the Republic of China Police but acted independently. After the Japanese Empire invaded Manchuria and established Manchukuo, a new system was established under the control of Japan.  A central police department was established to be responsible for all police in Manchuria.

In each province, police headquarters were set up, like Xinjing's Metropolitan Police Office and the Fengtian City Police.

A Maritime Police was also set up to combat smuggling.

History

March 1932:the Manchukuo Police Forces were established.
June 1932:the Xinjing Metropolitan Police Department was established.
March 1934:Puyi was formally declared as Emperor.
March 1937:the Manchukuo Police were put under the authority of the Manchukuo Ministry of Public Security.
December 1937:Extraterritoriality over Japan is abolished.
December 1939:A police code of conduct is enacted.
October 1943:"General Directorate of Security Affairs" is established to replace the Manchukuo Ministry of Public Security.
August 1945:Manchukuo Police was dissolved.

Police code

In December 1939, the Manchukuo Police Code of Conduct was established as a code of conduct for all police officers .

Police officers should be the forerunners of the Kingly Way.
Police officers should be the core of national harmony.
Police officers must be men of valor and uphold justice.
Police officers must be disciplined and harmonious.
Police officers are supposed to act with integrity and responsibility
Police officers should be honourable, impartial, and selfless.
Police officers should strive to self-improve their personalities.

Maritime Police

As a subordinate organization of the Manchukuo Police, its main task was to crack down on smuggling and maintain maritime security. Although the name of the police force is used, the Imperial Japanese Navy were deeply involved since the very beginning and trained its officers. During the middle of World War II, the Japanese Navy took over the cost of the transport of goods. In addition, half of the maritime police officers were Japanese seconded from the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Historical background

Before the establishment of Manchukuo, the naval force of the Fengtian Clique was called the Northeast Fleet and possessed a total of 21 ships.

However, after the outbreak of the Manchurian Incident, the Northeast Fleet fled to the Nanjing Nationalist Government. There was virtually no organization to guard the territorial waters of the Bohai and Yellow seas.

After the establishment of Manchukuo, the government  decided to establish a maritime police agency with the cooperation of the Japanese Navy (the naval department in Manchuria), and a coastal surveillance police unit was established.

In 1932, the Coast Guard Police Force was renamed the Coastal Police Force in accordance with the "Special Police Force Officer System" (Order No. 33 of the Kangde 1). Later, in 1938, the first stage of the plan was formulated, and the construction and purchase of new vessels was promoted. The headquarters was set up in Yingkou.

In 1937, the special police force officer system was abolished and the coastal police force was reorganized into a new marine police force.

In 1938 (Kangde 5), the maritime police were transferred to the coastal counties.

Organization

As of 1943 (10th year of Kangde):

Police HQ
Police, Security, Education, Personnel, Secret Service, Management and Administration.
Department of Shipping
Ship administration, machinery administration
Aviation Unit
Guard ship Unit
Training Unit
Koro Island Wireless Telegraph Station
Daito Wireless Telegraph Station
Shogawa Wireless Telegraph Office

Ranks

Uniforms

References

 満州国民政部警務司『満州国警察概要』(康徳2年10月) アジア歴史資料センター レファレンスコード:A05020355600
 満州国治安部警務司『満州国警察概要』(康徳7年11月) アジア歴史資料センターレファレンスコード:A05020355400\

Manchukuo
Defunct law enforcement agencies
Defunct law enforcement agencies of China

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
import React, { PropTypes } from 'react'
import autoPlay from 'react-swipeable-views-utils/lib/autoPlay'
import virtualize from 'react-swipeable-views-utils/lib/virtualize'
import bindKeyboard from 'react-swipeable-views-utils/lib/bindKeyboard'
import SwipeableViews from 'react-swipeable-views'
import { modulo } from './util'

const VirtualizeAutoPlaySwipeViews = autoPlay(bindKeyboard(virtualize(SwipeableViews)))

const carouselSlideRenderer = (children) =>
  ({ index, key }) => React.cloneElement(children[modulo(index, children.length)], { key })

export default function Carousel ({ children, ...other }) {
  return (
    <VirtualizeAutoPlaySwipeViews slideRenderer={carouselSlideRenderer(children)} {...other} />
  )
}

if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
  Carousel.propTypes = {
    ...VirtualizeAutoPlaySwipeViews.propTypes,
    children: PropTypes.node
  }
  delete Carousel.propTypes.slideRenderer
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Book of Ruth is the history of the family of Elimelech, who in the days of the Judges, because of a famine, went away from Bethlehem to dwell in the land of Moab. There his two sons married Moabite wives and died, as did also their father. Naomi, the mother, returned to Bethlehem, and Ruth, one of her widowed daughters-in-law, came with her. Ruth, when gleaning in the field of Boaz, a kinsman of Elimelech, found favor with him. Naomi planned that Boaz should marry Ruth, and he was ready to do so, if a nearer kinsman, to whom the right belonged according to the law in Deut. 25:5-10, declined. He did decline, and so Ruth became the wife of Boaz. Her son was Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. The book appears to be intended to connect the history of David with the earlier times, and also to form a contrast, in its peaceful and pastoral simplicity, to the disorders of which we read so continually in the Book of Judges.
The story of Ruth beautifully illustrates the conversion of a non-Israelite into the fold of Israel, giving up her former god and former life to unite with the household of faith in the service of the God of Israel (see Ruth 1:16).
The second book of our Bible, and the second book of our study is The Second Book of Moses called Exodus.
Ruth 1:1. What Is the Background of the Book of Ruth?
"Many years had passed since the Israelites had crossed the Jordan and formed a loose tribal confederacy in the central highlands of Canaan. As they established their own settlements, they gradually discarded their nomadic traditions and adopted an agricultural way of life.
"Yet their position remained precarious. The northern tribes were almost constantly at war with those walled cities that remained under the control of the Canaanites, and they frequently had to defend themselves against invasions by people from the east: the Ammonites and Midianites. In contrast, Judah, which occupied the southern end of the Israelite territory, seems to have been relatively tranquil and not involved in the great wars that concerned the Judges.
"The people of Judah regularly battled another sort of enemy: the climate. Judah occupied a rugged plateau in the semiarid lands west of the Dead Sea. Normally, the land was fertile enough to sustain fields of wheat and barley, grape vineyards and groves of olive and fig trees. But occasionally the rains failed, the crops withered and there was famine.
Ruth 1:1. Why did Elimelech and Naomi go to Moab?
Ruth 1:3-5. Who had died in Naomi's family?
Ruth 1:6. Why did Naomi return from Moab?
Ruth 1:16-17. What did Ruth say to Naomi when Naomi asked Ruth to leave?
Naomi here used a play on words based on her name. In Hebrew Naomi means "sweet or pleasant" and Mara means "bitter." When, after many years' absence, the people greeted her in surprise by asking, "Is this Naomi?" (v. 19), she responded by saying, "Call me not Naomi [pleasant], call me Mara [bitter]: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me" (v. 20). This reply was not an accusation, only Naomi's way of saying that she had endured much tragedy while in Moab.
Ruth 1:22-2:17. What Is "Gleaning"?
"Harvesting was difficult work and demanded long hours. Young men moved through the fields grasping handfuls of the grain and cutting through the stalks with sickles. These small bunches of grain were then bound into bundles called sheaves. As the men worked rapidly, a number of stalks fell to the ground. If the men were careful and took the time, these too could be gathered up. However, any stalks that dropped were allowed to remain where they fell. Poor people, following the reapers, were permitted to 'glean,' or gather, the random stalks -- possibly all that stood between them and starvation. In addition, the edges of the field, where the sickle was not as easily wielded, were left unharvested. The poor were welcome to that portion, as well.
Ruth 2:2. Why did Ruth glean ears of corn in the field of Boaz?
Ruth 2:8-9. What did Boaz say to Ruth?
Ruth 2:11-12. Why had Ruth found grace in the sight of Boaz?
Ruth 2:18-4:10. What Was the Levirate Marriage That Naomi Hoped to Arrange for Ruth and Boaz?
Naomi wanted to help her faithful daughter-in-law secure a husband and family. To do this, Naomi considered the levirate marriage, a practice that had prevailed for many years in Israel.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 is the scriptural reference for the levirate marriage obligation in Israelite families.
"The word here rendered 'redeemer' we translate literally from Hebrew go'el and this is its proper translation. It is rendered merely 'kinsman' in the King James English translation. The function of a go'el was to make it possible for a widow who had lost home and property to return to her former status and security and to have seed to perpetuate her family.
Ruth 3:1-4. What did Naomi tell Ruth to do?
Ruth 3:6-9. How Did Ruth Make Her Proposal to Boaz?
The idiom means "protect me," or, in other words, "be my protector or husband."
Ruth 3:11-13. What did Boaz promise Ruth? Why?
Ruth 4:6. What did the kinsman tell Boaz about Ruth and about redeeming the land?
Ruth 4:7-12. How Was a Public Agreement Made Legally Binding?
Ruth 4:9-10. What did the elders witness that day?
Ruth 4:17. What was the name of the son born of Ruth?
Ruth 4:22. Who was the son of Obed? the grandson?


Simone Biles Blasts Gabby Douglas: Don't Victim Shame Aly Raisman!
Saving her strength. Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas was briefly hospitalized and will not be joining her Final Five teammates on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in NYC on Sunday, August 28….


Oh 7 Gypsies, Why Must You Do This To Me?
love it, love it, and love it!
I know!!! Want to know a secret? The last time I ordered paper I had two of these in my cart. I ended up taking them out because I knew they would just land in the "too pretty to use" pile! HA!
I love this by 7 Gypsies! How I wish we had a LSS to shop and that it carried goodies like this. I don't like to order online and seldom do, but this temptation may be more than I can resist.


Our quote this month is very topical. So, what have we achieved over the last twelve months; did we meet our personal goals and business targets; did we help others achieve theirs; what could we have done better? This list is far from exhaustive, but it is the reflection part. The last question I feel is the key one in business because, if we can answer it we know what our business resolutions are for 2018. Here are a few business thoughts, though not necessarily my personal resolutions.


Last Friday evening a British MP suffered a vicious assault on a London street. George Galloway, a 61-year-old, six-times-elected politician was beaten up for three minutes by a brutal and determined assailant in broad daylight, and was admitted to hospital as a result.
There are grounds for assuming that the motive was political, and the assault occurred due to Galloway's criticism of Israeli actions in the Middle East. The assailant was reportedly shouting comparing Galloway to Hitler, and shouting about the Holocaust.
There is something very disturbing about the response to this event by the mainstream British political establishment. Mr Galloway has received no public message of sympathy from a single MP from any party – nothing from Speaker Bercow, from the Prime Minister, or from any of the other elected political leader.
I know that Mr Galloway is a very controversial figure and that many people, for honourable reasons, disagree very strongly with his views. Yet that is irrelevant. The attack on Mr Galloway is beyond doubt an attack on British democracy itself.
It is a basic principle of our political culture that men and women must be able to speak up for the causes they believe in without threats or violent reappraisal. This attack on Mr Galloway comes just days after the Labour MP Jim Murphy was forced to abandon campaigning in Scotland for the No campaign. He cited intimidation and was advised by police to end his campaign.
Had an MP been attacked by some pro-Palestinian fanatic for his support of Israel, I guess there would have been a national outcry and rightly so. Why then the silence from the mainstream establishment following this latest outrageous assault on a British politician?


Women all over the world want to know how to get bigger breasts without undergoing the knife. Surgical implants are risky, not to mention expensive. Many women develop medical problems years later, then regret their decision. This article offers tips on how you can increase your breast size naturally, using methods that are safe and effective.
If you are like most women, you wonder about the effectiveness of herbal breast enhancement products such as pills and creams. Do they really work, or will I be wasting my money? How much growth, if any, can I expect and how long will it take? These are serious questions, and you deserve honest answers.
In all honesty, all supplements do not work effectively. Some provide minimal results, some don't do anything at all. Why are some brands effective while others are not? It all has to do with the formulation of the product. Specific herbs must be combined in a formulation a certain way to provide the most effect. In fact, when you use the right product, you can expect your bust line to increase by a full 1 to 3 cups in 6 months or less!
Many people think you can get bigger breasts by doing exercises, but this does not actually increase the cup size. What happens when you exercise is that supporting muscles are strengthened, giving lift and tone to the chest area. This makes your breasts appear younger, and will perhaps give you slightly more cleavage once the muscles are built up.
Of course, there are always lifting and 'push-up' bras and lingerie that give you the effect of having larger breasts without actually making any changes to your body. While this is fine for making your clothes look nice on you, many women still want a larger bust line that is really all their own.
The best solution if you are looking for permanent results without surgery is to use herbal breast enhancement products that contain the right formulation of essential ingredients. These products are completely natural, containing only herbal ingredients along with vitamins and minerals.
I hope you have enjoyed these tips on how to increase breast size, and find them useful. If you are ready to experience full, fabulous breasts that are truly your own, find out more below!


The roadside scenery in Kauai is so beautiful that it's hard to not be distracted behind the steering wheel. On our third day on the island, Nishan and I headed to the mountains in search of Kauai's Hindu Monastery. Located near the Wailua River on the east side of the island, the monastery (also known as Kauai Aadheenam) is a traditional South Indian-style monastery-temple complex. Founded in 1970, the 363 acre grounds house two traditional Saivite Hindu temples, the Kadavul Temple and the San Marga Iraivan Temple, an all-granite temple currently being carved in Bangalore, India, and assembled on Kauai.
But really, all we wanted to do was hang out with our newfound furry friend, who we lovingly named Hindu Cat.
After the puja, or ritual prayer, we explored the monastery grounds, a larger-than-life Shangri-La surrounded by lush greenery and waterfalls. This place was incredible, and I can easily see why a monastery would be erected here of all places.
After the monastery, we continued our drive toward's Kauai's north shore, stopping at Kilaeua Fish Market for some poke and lunch.
The poke was fresh and delicious.
My plate of grilled ono fish? Not so much. Covered in too much sweet sauce and too much mayonnaise, I could hardly finish half my plate and focused instead on my salad and plain rice. Nishan felt sick from his ono tacos too. We called the meal a wash and got back on the road towards Tunnels Beach.
Tunnels, also known as Makua Beach, is surrounded by dramatic mountains and is an island favorite for snorkeling. Be forewarned: the roads to Tunnels Beach are a bit treacherous so be careful, especially if it's rainy. Parking is also hard to come by so be patient. We arrived soon before a rainstorm hit, so we couldn't spend too much time lazing about in the sun. After an hour of taking in the views, we got back in the car and drove back from where we came from, lest we face the roads in heavy rain.
We couldn't help but quickly stop at Hanalei Bay, though. The storm was approaching and the bay's usually picturesque crystal blue waters had turned into a murky green. Oh well. Back in the car we went.
The best part of our drive back from the north shore turned out to be the Hanalei Valley Overlook, an incredible view of hundreds of acres of taro fields. Grown for over 1,000 years, over 70% of all taro grown in Hawaii comes from here.
Looking at all that taro made us hungry, so we stopped in Kapaa on our way back for a quick snack of spam musubi and thai iced tea with coconut milk at Mermaids Cafe.
Back on the south shore, we had dinner at Josselin's, a tapas-style Hawaiian restaurant in Koloa. We started with a deconstructed ahi roll, which was tasty but could have used more flavor. Some vinegar maybe? More salt?
The salt and pepper octopus made up it in flavor. Super crispy pieces of of seafood paired perfectly with a spicy-sweet pineapple-flavored dipping sauce.
Next we shared a roasted heirloom eggplant salad. The eggplant was good, but the real star was the fried goat cheese fritter on top. So gooey, so creamy, so delicious!
We also shared plates of hoisin braised short ribs, slow-cooked butterfish, and malasadas for dessert. Malasadas are kind of like Portuguese donuts and they arrived in Hawaii in the nineteenth century when Portuguese laborers came to Hawaii to work on the plantations. I like the occasional donuts, but these were too sweet for my taste. Still, Josselin's was one of my favorite meals in Kauai, and the ambiance was perfect for a swanky night out.
Happy and satisfied, we drove back to our condo for the evening to rest. We'd driven so much that day, and tomorrow would be no exception. Next up: the west side of Kauai.


text:
Quebec Nordiques fans wait outside the Videotron Centre where the first-ever hockey game, a QMJHL game between the Quebec Remparts and the Rimouski Oceanic ,will be played, Saturday, September 12, 2015 in Quebec City. Quebec politicians are meeting with National Hockey League brass in January, but it's unclear what influence the government can have on the league or whether team owners have any interest in bringing the Nordiques back to the provincial capital.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Quebec government wants to bring an NHL team to the capital, but fans skeptical
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed a January meeting with 'someone high up' from Quebec
Quebec politicians are meeting with National Hockey League brass in January, but it's unclear what influence the government can have on the league or whether team owners have any interest in bringing the Nordiques back to the provincial capital.
Local fans, meanwhile, aren't holding their breath, following a series of disappointments, and they say they aren't so sure the government's latest move is anything more than a public relations stunt.
Premier François Legault opened the door to such musings in November, professing an interest in seeing professional hockey return to Quebec City and announcing a senior minister had been tabbed to support the effort.
"I tell myself that if Ottawa and Winnipeg are able to have a team, we should be able to have a team in Quebec," Legault told reporters at the time, adding that his government was looking for partners to help fund the estimated $1-billion cost of a franchise.
The Nordiques left Quebec City after the 1994-95 NHL season, relocating to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche, which won the Stanley Cup in the new team's first season.
Quebec City fans were optimistic about getting an NHL team back a decade ago but are much less so now, says Vince Cauchon, a Quebec City sports radio host who co-founded Nordiques Nation, a booster group that included 100,000 members at its peak. He says the recent news landed with a bit of a thud.
"We were looking for the fire behind the smoke, and it's a rare case of smoke without fire," Cauchon said in a recent interview about Legault's stated ambitions. "If it's something that was politically motivated to rally the population, it had the effect of a sword cutting through water. The reaction was negligible — even bad."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has confirmed a January meeting with "someone high up" from Quebec, but he said he knew nothing about what was on the agenda and tempered any expectations, noting that no teams were looking to relocate and that there were no expansion plans.
A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Eric Girard, Quebec's emissary for the meeting, declined to comment until later, but she said he's been working on the file since the summer.
About a decade ago, the possible return of NHL hockey had locals salivating at luring a struggling U.S. team back across the border. Fans decked out in Nordiques merchandise bused to different arenas in the United States and even gathered at the Plains of Abraham for a massive rally in October 2010.
But Cauchon said expansion hopes soon fizzled. The league welcomed a new team in Las Vegas in 2016 but deferred the application for Quebec City. Quebec's capital wasn't considered when Seattle was awarded an expansion team in 2018. Talk of moving teams out of North Carolina and Arizona never materialized.
"Heartbroken," Cauchon said, describing the feeling among Quebec City NHL fans. "I think people will believe it when they see it, and I understand their sentiments."
Retired Nordiques winger Alain Côté said he's pleased the Legault government is pushing for a new team, but he says he has doubts the league will allow it.
"I find it a lot of fun that the premier is putting this forward," said Côté, a popular winger who now owns auto parts stores in the capital.
"We have a super nice arena here in Quebec City — a modern building, so it would be fun to use it for an NHL team," he said of the Videotron Centre, which opened in 2015.
Côté says he believes a lot has changed since the club left that plays in the city's favour: an NHL salary cap, a new arena and a loyal fan base.
But what Quebec City doesn't have is the league's interest. Côté says he thinks the NHL sees Quebec City as part of the Montreal market, served by the Canadiens.
"There has to be a will, and I don't see any from the league — absolutely none," Côté said.
READ MORE: NHL cutting COVID-19 isolation time to 5 days, change doesn't apply to Canada
Cauchon said it's unclear what group would spearhead a bid for a new team and gain the support of the league's 32 owners. The previous bid was fronted by Quebecor, the telecommunications company that received a 25-year contract to manage the Videotron Centre.
Concordia University sports economist Moshe Lander said that deep-pocketed billionaires are in short supply in the province. Seattle and Las Vegas paid expansion fees of US$600 million and built billion-dollar arenas in their markets. The other question involves looking ahead to ensure long-term viability, he said.
"That's the type of thing that will concern the NHL: if you want a toy to play with, you want to make sure what keeps a franchise going up is the next person in line is going to pay more than the previous person," Lander said. "It's not just a current problem, it's an ongoing problem … the question of whose next."
François Emond, who operates a family furniture business in Alma, Que., says he wholeheartedly supports the Legault government's efforts.
"The government is doing the right thing by getting involved in the file — not financially — but certainly showing some leadership," Emond said.
He said he remembers boarding the bus from the Saguenay region to watch the Nordiques play. Busses headed to the old Colisée arena in Quebec City used to be a common sight in many parts of eastern Quebec.
"I can understand people's disappointment," Emond said. "That we're even talking about it, I think it's a positive thing."
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
NHLQuebec
U.S. over Canada easily, Russia beats France at ATP Cup
Olympic snowboarder Mark McMorris expects Beijing Olympics to go ahead as planned


Learn more about consumer behavior and decision-making.
The course Applied Psychology - Introduction to Consumer Behavior introduces the psychological processes behind the behavior of consumers and how they make their decisions. All consumers are similar in that they all have needs and wants, but all are different in that they have different consumption patterns and consumption behavior.
In this course you will learn about the nature and scope of consumer behavior, and how it evolved from other disciplines such as psychology and sociology into its own distinct field of study. You will then learn about the application of consumer behavior and how studying it helps marketers formulate appropriate marketing strategies for consumers and their environment. You will learn how the study of consumer behavior may be applied to segment the market, select the target market and position the product or service offering.
The course then introduces the very important area of consumer decision making, in particular, programmed decision making and non-programmed decision making. You will also learn how the study of consumer behavior has identified five buying roles and how the marketer needs to understand these roles so as to be able to frame suitable marketing strategies to target them.
This online course will be of great interest to all learners who have certified in Alison's Diploma in Psychology as it introduces practical applications of psychological processes in the area of consumer behavior. It will also be of great interest to marketers and professionals in the area of consumer marketing who would like to learn more about the psychology of consumer behavior.


Home Around the World	What's Your Starsign's Lucky Number?
The water carrier is the symbol of Aquarius, and these people tend to be friendly, charitable, and independent. Their lucky number is 22, and their lucky colour is bronze.
If you're a Pisces, you were born under the zodiac symbol of the fish. Your strengths include dedication and kindness. Your lucky number is 11 and white is your lucky colour.
Aries is the sign of strength, honesty and bravery. If you're lucky enough to be born under the sign of the ram, you can count Mariah Carey and Marlon Brando among your peers. Your lucky number is 5, remember that.
People born under the sign of the bull tend to be romantic, logical, and creative, but with a stubborn streak! Your lucky number is 6, and your lucky colour is thought to be pink. Famous people whose sign is Taurus include Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, and David Beckham.
Lucky number 7. That's you if you are a Gemini. You're already blessed with being smart, charming and quick-witted. And now you can count one of the world's luckiest numbers as your own.
Cancer is the symbol of the crab, and if this is your star sign you are probably kind, gentle and caring. Keep your eyes peeled for the number 2 and the colour green; these are lucky for you.
If you were born as a Leo, then you are a summer baby. Born in the heart of summer you are loyal, enthusiastic and proud, but be careful of the arrogant and indulgent streak. Your lucky number is 19.
Virgo is the symbol of the virgin maiden, and those born as Virgos are perfectionists. Much like Gemini, you share the lucky number 7, and your lucky colour is grey. Michael Jackson, Warren Buffett and Kobe Bryant are all Virgos.
If you have strong social skills, and you're charming, artistic and beautiful, the chances are you're a Libra. Number 3 is your lucky number, and will play a huge role in your life.
Do you have your head screwed on? Are you intelligent, rational, sensible, and independent? That means your lucky number is 4, and you are most likely a Scorpio.
Sagittarius is the symbol of the archer and is the sign of people who are beautiful, lively, and insightful. Like a Taurus, your lucky number is 6, and you also share a sign with Beethoven and Taylor Swift.
If your birthday is near Christmas, you're more than likely a Capricorn. That means you are intelligent, reliable and generous. Your lucky number is 4, and you're in good company with Isaac Newton and Martin Luther King.


text:
Warwick, Rhode Island Map and Directory
Regional Directory > States Menu > Rhode Island
According to the United States Census Bureau, Warwick is a City that is located in Kent County, Rhode Island at 41.70 degrees North and 71.42 degrees West. The city's time zone is America/New York, and the city's primary telephone area code is 401. The land area of Warwick is about 35.04 square miles, whereas the water area of the city is about 14.75 square miles. Kent County's land area is about 169 square miles, so the city occupies about 20.7 percent of the county's total land area.
The Census Bureau estimates that Warwick had about 80,871 residents in 2017, which is approximately 2,308 people per square mile of land area.
According to recent American Community Survey data, Warwick had 35,156 total estimated households and the median household income was about $62,803 per year.
The Rhode Island counties map at upper right shows Kent County, highlighted in red. Use the menu below to display interactive maps of Warwick, either in a frame on this page or in full-screen mode.
Use the menu below to display categorized Warwick directories.
Warwick Products and Services Directory
Accountants Attorneys Building Materials
Business Services Dentists Financial Services
Home Improvement Insurance Physicians
Restaurants Schools Visual Arts
Nearby Rhode Island Cities and Towns *
Cranston (7) - Cranston, Rhode Island demographics and maps.
East Greenwich (2) - East Greenwich, Rhode Island information and maps.
Johnston (2) - Johnston, Rhode Island information and maps.
North Kingstown (2) - North Kingstown, Rhode Island information and maps.
Pawtucket (4) - Pawtucket, Rhode Island information and maps.
Providence (24) - Providence, Rhode Island solutions directory and maps.
Large and Mid-size Cities in Nearby States
Fall River, Massachusetts (10) - Fall River, MA demographics and maps.
Attleboro, Massachusetts (7) - Attleboro, MA demographics and maps.
* Parenthesized numbers indicate economic activity levels.
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Warwick, Rhode Island Regional Directory Categories Menu


Envision Bathroom Tissue, 2 ply, 550 sheets per roll. 80 rolls per case. Soft, biodegradable.
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White, embossed, two-ply performance sheets offer appearance and softness of an "at-home" tissue.
Premium, embossed two-ply tissue delivers the softness of "at-home" quality, plus brand recognition. Upscale packaging and high-capacity sheet count is ideal for hospitality properties, restaurants or offices. In convenient dispenser case; place upright or on its side to meet your storage needs. Individually wrapped rolls.
Quality embossed bathroom tissue provides softness of an "at-home" tissue. Adds a touch of luxury for guests and employees.
Economical high-capacity rolls decrease service intervals and reduce the risk of run-out.
Compact coreless bathroom tissue is the answer to your core needs. Specifically designed to fit GP Compact Tissue Dispensers and increase tissue capacity while optimizing storage space, this cost-effective coreless tissue will satisfy all of your customer and employee needs. Compact® offers the comfort of 2-ply softness with reliable performance you can count on. Contains minimum of 95% total recycled content, minimum 20% post-consumer. White. 3.85" x 4.05" Size Sheets. 5.75" Roll Diameter.
Economical and reliable. High-performing toilet tissue satisfies customers. Higher capacity means fewer run-outs and happier customers. Excellent choice for high-traffic areas.


text:
The old `Scoped Settings` implement:

```rb
class User < ApplicationRecord
  include RailsSettings::Extend
end

@user.settings.color = "red"
@user.settings.foo = 123
```

You may used the scoped setting feature in 0.x version. Before you upgrade rails-settings-cached 2.x, you must follow this guide to backward compatible it.

## How to compatible in rails-settings-cached 2.x:

create `app/models/concerns/scoped_setting.rb`

```rb
module ScopedSetting
  extend ActiveSupport::Concern

  included do
    has_many :settings, as: :thing
  end

  class_methods do
    def scoped_field(name, default: nil)
      define_method(name) do
        obj = settings.where(var: name).take || settings.new(var: name, value: default)
        obj.value
      end

      define_method("#{name}=") do |val|
        record = settings.where(var: name).take || settings.new(var: name)
        record.value = val
        record.save!

        val
      end
    end
  end
end
```

Now include it for your model:

```rb
class User < ApplicationRecord
  include ScopedSetting

  scoped_field :color, default: ""
  scoped_field :foo, default: 0
end
```

Now you must to find project with ".setting." for replace with:

Same values will fetch from the `settings` table.

```rb
@user.color = "red"
@user.color # => "red"
@user.foo = 123
@user.foo # =>
```

## Performance Tip

> 🚨I strongly recommend that refactor your code to use ActiveRecord Serialize to storage your scoped settings.
> Here is an example for upgrade to ActiveRecord Serialize. https://github.com/ruby-china/homeland/commit/0963eac06ba4e77601d31fa526f81ff84103b15d

You need to avoid storage a lot scoped settings, that will slow down the settings load, because of the 2.x version of the rails-settings-cached will load all settings into memory on setting update.


US electronic goods manufacturer Remington launched Lektroblade, the world's first 'vibrating blade wet shave' in the Eighties. A brilliant idea, but one whose design execution made it look 'menacing and tacky to say the least', according to Lyons Ames partner Kerrin Lyons.
The product was copied rampantly by other manufacturers, forcing the price to plummet and Remington to rethink its approach.
Remington Europe then brought London product design group Lyons Ames on board to redesign it and introduce a women's version. 'They were trying to make something which was totally friendly but does a very efficient job and is ergonomic,' says Lyons.
And as well as looking good, it had to house a motor, a battery and a switch. 'We wanted it to look as light and as neat as possible,' says Lyons, with the women's razor given an aquatic, wet feel and the men's being more chrome. Both also had to be completely waterproof.
The women's version has been tested by 'intelligent women' and is wedge-shaped so it can't slip out of your hands in the bath. It has a switch intended to look like a water drop and at the moment comes in just one colour.
Meanwhile Lyons himself tested the men's version, with his eyes shut. The chrome body had to be given up because it was impossible to weld ultra-sonically. Instead the consultancy added a hint of chrome and a metallic fleck to the plastic.
Both razors, now renamed Acti-Glide, are coming on to the UK market next week.


Contact a Iowa adoption lawyer representing clients in Newton, Iowa today to schedule your initial consultation.
Common law marriage is a marriage that results from the actions of a couple even though they have not obtained a marriage license or fulfilled the requirements of the state's statutory marriage laws. This means the couple has lived together for a period of time and have presented themselves as husband and wife. However, not all states recognize common law marriages.
If you would like to schedule a initial consultation contact an Iowa divorce and child custody attorney, representing clients in Newton, Iowa at Howes & Anderson P.C. Give us a call at (515) 225-9000 or complete our inquiry form.


The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards on Monday night.
The 37-year-old stunned the audience when she came on stage to present a gong to her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, on Monday evening.
Waight Keller won the prestigious British Womenswear Designer of the Year award and thanked Meghan personally in her speech at the star-studded awards ceremony at the historic Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London.
She said: "This woman is so amazing. I got to know Meghan on such a personal level. To have someone like that trust you on such a personal moment in their life... I can't thank you enough because it was the most beautiful moment."
The Duchess, who is expecting her first child in the spring, wore a black one-shoulder fishtail gown that showed off her growing baby bump.
Naturally, Meghan wore a Givenchy gown for the occasion and paid tribute to Keller.
"I feel especially proud to announce tonight's winner, who yes is a British designer leading on the global stage with vision and creativity, but also with incredible kindness," she said.
"Which is why when I met her for the first time 11 months ago I knew we would be working very closely together."
When Meghan chose the Birmingham-born designer the duchess said she had admired her "timeless and elegant aesthetic".
The pair collaborated to design the open-necklined dress, which had three-quarter-length sleeves to "add a note of refined modernity".
Meghan, who was recently shortlisted for TIME magazines's Person of the Year, cradled her bump on stage as Waight Keller spoke.


text:
Peter Brazaitis
American herpetologist
Occupations Zoologist
Countries United States of America
Birth August 13, 1936 (Brooklyn)
Authority ISNI id Library of congress id VIAF id
Peter Brazaitis (born August 13, 1936) is an American herpetologist and forensic specialist in herpetology and worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, formerly the New York Zoological Society) from 1954 to 1998. He began as a reptile keeper at the Bronx Zoo, became Senior Keeper in 1967, Assistant Animal Manager in 1970, and Superintendent of Reptiles in 1972. In 1988, he transferred to the Central Park Wildlife Center as Assistant Curator of Animals and became Curator of Animals in 1990, a position he held until his retirement in 1998.
Brazaitis was born and raised in Brooklyn. His parents encouraged his interest in animals, and he developed a special interest in reptiles early in his life. At the age of 18, he began in the Reptile House at the Bronx Zoo, working under Curator James Oliver and later Curators Herndon G. Dowling, F. Wayne King, and John L. Behler. With New York Zoological Society (NYZS) support, Brazaitis earned his BS in forensic herpetology from Empire State College, SUNY, in 1983 and his MS in cellular biology from Long Island University in 1995.
Brazaitis has contributed to multiple projects on crocodilian biology and the conservation of commercially utilized reptiles. In 1967 he developed a methodology for sexing crocodilians, an essential technique for successful captive breeding of these animals. In 1968, he initiated the first captive breeding attempt for endangered Chinese alligators. Under the leadership of Behler, it later became the basis for the first AZA Species Survival Plan and a collaborative captive breeding program for the species at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier, Louisiana. During Brazaitis's tenure in the Bronx Zoo, the Reptile Department bred nine species of crocodilians, producing numerous founder stocks of endangered Cuban crocodiles, Siamese crocodiles, and the first Malayan false gharials to be captive bred in a US zoo.
Brazaitis was involved in field herpetological studies, including the NYZS Nixon Griffis expedition to Cameroon in 1981 to capture Goliath frogs. He also led expeditions to study crocodilian population biology on Palau and throughout South America.
Since the 1970s he has served as a forensic specialist and consultant to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and has received numerous awards for his service to the USFWS. He is internationally recognized as an expert in the identification of reptile and amphibian products used in illegal trades. Additionally, Brazaitis has held membership in the General Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (1984-2012 [retired]).
He serves on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Crocodilian Advisory Group and is a member of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group. He was a research associate, Science Resource Center, WCS, from 1998 to 2005 and, since 2006, has been a curatorial affiliate, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.
He was profiled in the New York Times science section, December 23, 2003, and described as a storyteller with a "trove of absolutely wild animal stories." His memoir, You Belong in a Zoo!, was cited by the American Library Association as one of the 10 best nonfiction adult books for young adults in 2003.
Brazaitis served in the US Army as a "tanker" in the 3rd Armored Division between 1955 and 1957.
He has two daughters by his first marriage, Bonnie Fina and Wendy Dean (deceased). He is married to alligator behaviorist and science writer Dr. Myrna E. Watanabe. They have one son, Peter J. Y. Brazaitis, a civil engineer.
Brazaitis, Peter. "Determination of sex in living crocodilians." British Journal of Herpetology 4 (1969): 54-58.
Brazaitis, Peter. "Identification of living crocodilians." Zoologica 58 (1973): 59-101.
Brazaitis, Peter. You Belong in a Zoo! Tales from a Lifetime Spent with Cobras, Crocs, and Other Creatures. New York: Villard, 2003. ISBN 978-1400060122.
Brazaitis, Peter, and J. Abene. "History of crocodilian science at the Bronx Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society." Herpetological Review 39.2 (2008): 135-48.
Brazaitis, Peter, and Myrna Watanabe. "Crocodilian behavior: A window to dinosaur behavior?" Historical Biology 23.1 (2011): 73-90.
Brazaitis, Peter, and Myrna Watanabe. Fight for Survival: Animals in their Natural Habitats. New York: Friedman Group, 1994.
Brazaitis, Peter, and Myrna Watanabe. Snakes of the World. New York: Crescent Books, 1992.
Brazaitis, Peter, and G. Watkins-Colwell. "A brief history of crocodilian science." Herpetological Review 42.4 (2011): 483-96.
King, F. Wayne and Peter Brazaitis. "Identification of commercial crocodilian skins." Zoologica 56 (1971): 15-70.


We introduce a novel computational approach, CoReCo, for comparative metabolic reconstruction and provide genome-scale metabolic network models for 49 important fungal species. Leveraging on the exponential growth in sequenced genome availability, our method reconstructs genome-scale gapless metabolic networks simultaneously for a large number of species by integrating sequence data in a probabilistic framework. High reconstruction accuracy is demonstrated by comparisons to the well-curated Saccharomyces cerevisiae consensus model and large-scale knock-out experiments. Our comparative approach is particularly useful in scenarios where the quality of available sequence data is lacking, and when reconstructing evolutionary distant species. Moreover, the reconstructed networks are fully carbon mapped, allowing their use in 13C flux analysis. We demonstrate the functionality and usability of the reconstructed fungal models with computational steady-state biomass production experiment, as these fungi include some of the most important production organisms in industrial biotechnology. In contrast to many existing reconstruction techniques, only minimal manual effort is required before the reconstructed models are usable in flux balance experiments. CoReCo is available at http://esaskar.github.io/CoReCo/.


text:
Therese Arkenberg's home on the web
Manuscript Editing Services
About Therese
WIP Name And Shame
Posted by Therese Arkenberg on Oct 1, 2013 in Blog Posts, Uncategorized, Writing |
A writer's blog is nothing if not a way to hold myself accountable. Here's the progress I've made on my main writing projects, as of October 1st, 2013.
Starter Guide for Professional Writers–I'm just past halfway through the second draft, which is already 20,000 words longer than the first. In hindsight the first draft was just a very detailed outline. I've fleshed it out with more examples, explanation, and a few new ideas or good old ideas that I'd forgotten to add the first time around. My brain's been jogged by doing further rounds of manuscript editing, including what I'm doing as Kickstarter perks, and a writing class I took this September at The Writer's Center in Bethesda. I had the chance to compare notes and chat with a lot of authors, as well as receiving advice–some of which I'd heard before, some of which I agreed with, and some of which I disagreed with. Any talk about promotion your book nowadays will include some truism about." In the old days the publisher would promote for you; now it's all on the writer."
To some extent, that's probably true, but insofar as it gives the impression the success of the book's marketing rests on the writer's shoulders, bollocks. The writer must write a book that is worth purchasing. And that's it. It is certainly helpful for the writer to do all they can to make people aware of this book they have written, but if marketing were really entirely on the author, we'd be seeing similar sales figures for hard-promoting self-published writers as we do for writers signed on with Penguin. And we don't. Large publishers have distributive capacities–catalogs, bookstore distribution, better access to review outlets–that authors on their own certainly don't have. And even some small presses help their authors promote by finding reviewers, booking outlets for blog tours, etc. Plus cover art. Never underestimate that.
All the same, I am dedicated an entire chapter to ideas on marketing your book, in part because some of them are really fun. A lot of the writing of the Starter Guide has been really fun. What concerns me isn't completing this second draft, or even the third (a readthrough for typos and fact-checking mostly) so much as…shudder…formatting. CreateSpace I understand well enough, and through them I can get into the Kindle store. But the rest of my ebook distribution will be done through Smashwords, and their formatting guide has some frightening directions for nonfiction books including chapter and chapter subsection headings, as well as lists and images, all of which the Starter Guide has. I shall persevere, but allow me a moment of trepidation.
One Hundred Days–Goodness, I finished the first draft of this almost four years ago (as a freshman, and I've now graduated!). Since then, I've typed up the original paper manuscript, sent it to 2 beta readers and received comments, and made my own red-pen edits. But only with this past summer do I really feel like I'm making progress. It turns out I have a number of scenes missing from the original, as well as several superfluous scenes, scenes which haven't done the job they were hired to do, and scenes which should actually be doing a different job in the first place. I may be–gasp!–adding a prologue, because one particular character deserves to be introduced earlier as his perspective could be invaluable.
On a line-by-line level, I've reached a breakthrough in part thanks to the class I took at the Writer's Center. The problem is, I write long sentences. I've always known this. I haven't always known quite how much of a problem it is. And even when I acknowledged that sometimes my sentences get long and unwieldy, I wasn't sure how to fix them. The secret is apparently catching my use of "and". Deleting "and" and making my conjunction into two separate, shorter sentences has already worked wonders. Also the omnipresant semicolon.
Lastly, I've been adding a lot of what I call "texture" edits–adding more concrete details, especially those which imply more than they say outright, my preferred technique for worldbuilding. Touring the museums and collections in DC has really helped me in this regard as I've fleshed out the art history of Xeocib.
By the way, if you're interested in One Hundred Days or The Starter Guide for Professional Writers, you can arrange to get email updates on their publication status by asking to hear "When Your Next Book Comes Out" through my Newsletter.
Across the Curse-Strewn World–I've now completed three out of the planned six stories in this series (as well as four out of five of the stories sharing background on the setting). Better still, I have solid plans for the last 3 stories. Partially this came about through outlining, and partially from brainstorming sessions to generate insights. There's something to be said from stepping into the shower with a resolution to surprise yourself. And you might give me that look, but I've heard Woodrow Wilson had the idea for the League of Nations in the shower. Or maybe it was Roosevelt and the UN. Google isn't helping me.
Well, at least I don't sing.
Also helpful, and infinitely less awkward to describe, are the weekly "writing dates" I've been setting up with my friend at the library every Tuesday night. Sitting down with a notebook and no distractions whatsoever–or at least a guaranteed feeling of being judged if I do pick a beckoning distraction off the shelves–has done wonders for my productivity. The latest story I've finished is a direct sequel to what is so far the only published story of this series, The Storms in Arisbat.
It's called "For Lost Time" and includes a journey to the Kingdom of the Dead, a nation in exile, and an entertaining digression on who people do and do not dance with.
A Dark and Wonderful History–I thought I had only a couple stories left to write in this series (of which around half the finished stories are published). But as I looked over the loose ends and lacuna in my fictional history, I realized I need at least four more to cover specific topics, as well as introduce some more diversity to my cast of women. While I'm happy with the outlines I've prepared and have even made a few paragraphs' progress in the stories themselves, I feel like I'm encountering what a friend calls "Xeno's Paragraph": I'm halfway done, and then halfway done again, without ever being completely done. Telling myself it's like a novel with just four chapters left to finish doesn't help, either. A short story is more complex than any chapter in a book. I have casts of characters to introduce, personal and worldwide history to interweave, and alongside it all, myth arcs to unify and bring to a satisfying conclusion.
Some stories in this series:
"The Gallows Wife," originally printed in Semaphore magazine but currently available as part of the Shadows Within Shadows anthology.
"The Loving and Keeping of Wolves" in WolfSongs 2
"The Godslayer's Wife" at Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
"Silver Chests and Plain Sight," recently reprinted at Voluted Tales.
"Invitation of the Queen," at Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
Heart's Kindred–This is a pet project of mine that gives me no trouble. And in return, I give it very little attention (I'm not ready to keep actual pets or children for a good while yet). I have one short story to complete, but more importantly 2 novellas featuring the characters to frame the climax. I have some idea what will happen in each, but haven't yet reached the outlining stage so much as the This'd be a cool thing to fit in stage. Characters are still introducing themselves, and weapons are still being designed. As I said, it's a pet project, meant to be fun. I do have another three short stories in the series completed and currently being shopped around.
So far the stories that are published are sort of odd ones out, being told from the POV of characters besides the series protagonists. They are:
"Every Mother's Child," in Fantastique Unfettered Issue #2
"An Honorable Aunt" in Silver Blade Issue #18
Other short stories:
September was an excellent month for me. I'm especially happy with A Marriage, Pure and Good's debut with Scigentasy, which was just the perfect fit. That story journeyed far to find a home, and I think I've changed as a writer since I first drafted it, but the reader reaction has been wonderful. Equations in the Mirror has also appeared at Perihelion, making this a month for science fiction stories. All my novels and series are fantasy, but as I think on it my "unaffiliated stories" are largely science fiction. I have one story about a man who owns a planet, which has reached the "surprising myself" stage of outlining. Also a sequel to the story I wrote in a fit of madness at Mole National Park, a science fantasy piece involving art collectors, interuniversal war, and perhaps a stealth reference or two to The King in Yellow. Speaking of wars, I also have a story about time travelling soldiers which deserves my attention but also a lot more focus than I can give any one thing at this point.
Lastly, as I look over my publications list I've found a few more dead links as stories go out of print. I'll be looking up reprint markets over the autumn so that the poor dears can see the light of day again. If you'd like to point out a dead link and/or request that I move faster on a particular reprint, your messages are more than welcome.
Other novels:
Although I'm not quite mad enough to write multiple novels at the same time (ahem), I am doing some heavy outlining of a few future pieces, including writing "quips" or excerpts. Once I've generated enough quips, I sort them roughly in order and then write enough to piece them together. Sooner or later, a novel appears. For a time I thought I was through with this quippy method of writing and should stick with writing a piece straight through (I've done this with two novels; incidentally both had strong romantic subplots, but in any event they were "fun" novels rather than ones I had ambitions for on the scale of One Hundred Days). Yet the quips are proving rather handy; I've even started with them for some short stories.
I have two extremely ambitious sci-fi/space fantasy novels in the works right now (including one featuring the protagonists of the Mole Park story), as well as a shorter novel/novella in the setting of Heart's Kindred and a dark fantasy novel in the setting of the A Dark and Wonderful History. The novella is very close to done, but I haven't had time to sit down and really finish it for a while. I have my eyes on a few small speculative fiction presses, though, where I'd be privileged to see it, so I might sweep off the dust once I'm finished with The Starter Guide.
A Personal Loss
Money Management and Living on a Budget for Freelancers: the Ebook
Money Management and Living on a Budget for Freelancers – Part 4: Savings and Investment Accounts, Final Thoughts
Money Management and Living on a Budget for Freelancers – Part 3: Payment Methods
How to build an Affiliate storefront on Bookshop.org
Therese Arkenberg's first short story was accepted for publication on January 2, 2008, and her second acceptance came a few hours later. Since then they haven't always been in such a rush, yet her work appears in places like Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Analog, Daily Science Fiction, and the anthology Sword & Sorceress XXIV. Aqua Vitae, her science fiction novella, was released by WolfSinger Publications in December 2011. She works as a freelance editor and writer in Wisconsin, where she returned after a brief but unforgettable time in Washington, D.C. When she isn't reading, writing, or editing (it's true!) she serves on the board of the Plowshare Center of Waukesha, which works for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Therese Arkenberg


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MPA Shahzad Qureshi discusses eco-tourism with Sindh governor
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Sindh Assembly member Shahzad Qureshi recently called on Sindh Governor Imran Ismail at the Governor House and discussed how the government could provide training opportunities to the youth for mountaineering, skating and paragliding in the mountainous areas of the country.
The meeting also discussed ways to improve eco-tourism in the country.
Mountaineer Abid Hassan Sadpara, hockey player Shakeel Abbasi and others were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Qureshi and a delegation of the National Balochistan Workshop visited the Pakistan-Iran border and witnessed trade activities with the neighouring country. He praised the Pakistani military for building a fence along the Iranian border.
'Sindh committed to protecting human rights'
The Sindh government is fully committed to protecting human rights in the province. Surendar Valasai, the special...
KMC removes encroachments in East, Central, South districts
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation carried out a massive anti-encroachment operation in three districts of the city...
Man who murdered four family members gets death
An anti-terrorism court on Thursday sentenced a man to death for murdering his wife, two children and brother-in-law...
More than 90pc students across Pakistan underachieving in maths and science: study
More than 15,000 students in 153 schools completed standardised tests in mathematics and science as part of the...
Five people killed, two injured in road accidents
Five people lost their lives while two others were injured in road traffic accidents in different parts of Karachi on...
ACE books 21 over illegal approval of Nasla Tower
The Anti-Corruption Establishment registered a case against 21 suspects, including the builder of the Nasla Tower,...


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Preds Fan Who Threw Catfish On The Ice Charged With Possessing An Instrument Of A Crime, Disrupting A Meeting
The Penguins took a weird Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final last night, winning 5-3 despite going 37 consecutive minutes without recording a shot on goal. Also weird? A Predators fan threw a catfish on the ice, a strange tradition in Nashville that dates to 2003 but has gotten a ton of attention this season as the team made its improbable run to the Final.
Unfortunately, last night's game was in Pittsburgh. And Jacob Waddell, who threw the catfish onto the ice, has been arrested for his stunt.
He was charged with disorderly conduct, possessing instruments of a crime and, most excellently, disrupting a meeting. Disrupting a meeting! I had to look at the Pennsylvania Code to learn that is an actual crime one can be charged with:
§ 5508. Disrupting meetings and processions. A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if, with intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession or gathering, he disturbs or interrupts it.
Yes: This seems like a catchall crime that can be used to arrest protesters who are bothering powerful people. But I don't think it applies here! Waddell's intent was to throw a catfish, not to disrupt the game. Dead-animal throwing has a storied history in hockey—think about that for a second—and rarely, if ever, has it forced the cancelation of the game. The only issue with the catfish toss is that it happened in Pittsburgh, not Nashville.
Possessing instruments of a crime is another common over-charge: The state accused you of a crime, and while committing that alleged crime you used an object. Bingo! Possessing instruments of a crime. It is possible this is the first time in Pennsylvania history the instrument has been a fish, however.
Per CBS Pittsburgh, Waddell says he vacuum-sealed the catfish and hid it inside his compression shorts. After entering the arena, he went to the bathroom and removed the fish from his shorts, wrapping it in a free t-shirt and towel given away at the door. Yuck. Isn't that punishment enough?
Staff editor, Deadspin


Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber newsletter-The latest news for you!
Your link to the Chamber and it's members!
Let us know what we can do to better your experience as a chamber member. Please send your suggestions HERE. We're looking for ways to improve our service to our members. If you need business counseling, cash flow help, social marketing help, seminars, networking, we have the resources and people to help... CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!!!
Are you West Tennessee's best stew cook?
The Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville invites stew teams and individuals from across the region to participate in its third annual Old Family Stew Cook-off Saturday, September 23. The winner will be named "West Tennessee StewMaster," receives a trophy and earns bragging rights. Entry fee for the cook-off is $10 and all sales will benefit the stew team's favorite charity.
Teams will be required to make a minimum of 10 gallons of stew. Individual ingredients can be prepared off site but stews must be put together on site and ready at 11:30 am for judging. Set-up will begin at 6:30 a.m.
Judging criteria requires that you use chicken and/or beef as your meat ingredient. Wild game is not allowed. Potatoes, corn and tomatoes must also be used in some capacity. Judges will score based on ingredients, taste, texture and visual appeal.
Every 4th Wednesday at the Chamber, featuring Ron Acree, Director of the TN Small Business Development Center. Sessions from 9 am til Noon. Please call the chamber for more details how it can be tailored to your business!


Glenfiddich tasked Space with the lead strategic and creative responsibilities for launching the next edition in the Experimental Series. The campaign brings to life the brand's maverick spirit and in parallel the power of a simple question and how it can lead you on a journey to challenge conventions.
The newest expression in the Experimental Series is an unexpected peated whisky finished in Latin rum casks which provides an explosion of campfire smokiness and toffee sweetness. Fire & Cane is a first of its kind for Glenfiddich. It shows the power of a question by boldly asking, what if ...? The new single malt truly encapsulates Glenfiddich's spirit of experimentation.
Campaign visuals centre on the liquid's unique flavour profile. The hero 20" social video uses vignettes as a disruptive visual challenge to the somewhat traditional and stuffy category norms and adds an element of surprise and vibrancy to the brand's communications.
The hero shot in the campaign is the epitome of this. Animated CGI sugar crystals and innovative liquid photography showcase the smokiness and sweetness of Fire & Cane in a highly distinctive product beauty shot. The 20" hero film runs in reverse order, opening with the product beauty shot (the outcome of the experiment), and closing with the moment of inspiration (the genesis of the experiment). The VO highlights that when you question convention as Glenfiddich has with Fire and Cane, you can spark the unexpected.
The predominantly social campaign commences with a 5-second teaser video but the wider campaign features a collection of short-form AV assets, OOH, print and interactive social assets such as Facebook canvases and Instagram polls, created by Space.
Glenfiddich most recently collaborated with Space to launch their first whisky finished in India Pale Ale (IPA). This was backed by a global TV campaign created by Space.


During the 10–month recovery effort after September 11, rescue workers carefully screened and sifted the 1.2 million tons of material that came from the World Trade Center site to Fresh Kills. The search effort did not end until all discernible materials and effects were removed and taken to the New York City Medical Examiner's office for identification and safekeeping.
After the FBI, NYPD, and Office of Emergency Management determined the process of retrieval had been exhaustive and complete, the screened and sifted WTC materials remaining at Fresh Kills were placed in a 48–acre area immediately adjacent to the recovery site on the West Mound at Fresh Kills. A layer of clean soil at least 1 foot deep was placed in this area prior to placement of the screened materials; afterward it was covered with additional clean soil to protect the site.


It seems like any meal we call a feast is bound to cause dread in the hearts of anyone trying to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. This is the time of year when overeating is not only part of the tradition, but it's almost a crazy expectation.
Overeating is weird, if you think about it. We create an amazing, delicious dinner for our loved ones, and then we all leave the table completely stuffed, bloated and feeling miserable for several hours, if not days, afterwards.
I vote that we change our perspective this year. Let's do a little switch in how we view the Thanksgiving dinner. Rather than an all-out glutinous feast, let's think of this occasion as a "Thanksgiving Light Evening Snack with Family and Friends." If we shift our thinking about the entire eating experience, we can start to modify our past behaviors to more reasonable eating and leave that table feeling satisfied and happy, not just over-stuffed and miserable.
Once you re-frame your thinking about the Thanksgiving dinner, it becomes a smidge easier to maintain some control while still enjoying the festivities. Some of the following tips should also help you to combat the tendency to over-eat and walk away from the holiday weekend feeling satisfied rather than remorseful.
The reason for the season of feasting is really all about being thankful. Thankful for being able to provide an abundance of food, thankful for the relationships with friends and family, thankful for every day to be alive – we all have so much to be thankful for. Dinner is the time we gather together to openly express our thanks while celebrating with a good meal. Enjoy the entire experience – it is about so much more than just the food.
Yes, this works. Dr. Brian Wansink of the Cornell Food Lab has shown over and over again that if you use a smaller plate, you eat less food without even noticing. Even if you go back for seconds! It works so well that he formed a non-profit to promote smaller plate sizes called "The Small Plate Movement." So grab a dessert-sized plate instead of the full-size dinner plate and head to that buffet table confident you will feel better when you're done.
SAVOR THE FIRST THREE BITES.
Executive chefs from all over the world will agree on one thing when it comes to food: the first 3 bites are when you really taste the flavors. After that, it is just eating.
We all have certain foods we love but only seem to have during the holidays. We look forward to them every year, and then end up eating too much every single time. The trick here is to acknowledge that you really only taste those first three bites! Slow down and really savor each and every bite of your favorite deliciousness – I think you will find that you don't need to eat as much of it this year. Once you REALLY stop to savor the flavors, you enjoy the experience more completely, and it only takes a few bites to 'get your fill' of that special treat.
From a very young age, I was taught the importance of conversation. My parents hosted a lot of dinner parties, and my father continues to be quite the social coordinator today – everyone always loves his parties. It's not just because of the good food (which is always in abundance), but more importantly, because of the good conversation and fun had by all in attendance.
Sitting at the dinner table should not be just about shoveling food into your mouth. It's more about enjoying the entire experience – the family/friends, the food, the drink, the conversation, the laughter. This year, put down your fork after every couple of bites and engage your table mates in conversation.
It takes about 20 minutes after eating for your mind to register that your stomach is full. If we eat too quickly, it is very easy to completely miss those signals until it is too late and you are stuffed.
By slowing down your pace, and chatting up your dinner companions, you will be more aware of your body's fullness signals, and less likely to over-eat in general. And you're more likely to leave that table with a feeling of satisfaction and contentment, too.


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Partnerships: If You're Audited, Will You be Ready?
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 established a new "centralized audit" regime for partnerships, including LLCs taxed as partnerships. Although the new audit rules apply to partnership tax returns for tax years beginning after 2017, the IRS didn't finalize regulations on these rules until December 2018.
A Quick Refresher
Here's a brief review of the new audit rules. Most significantly, the rules are designed to shift many of the burdens associated with auditing partnership returns from the IRS to the partnership itself, and its partners. They do this by allowing the IRS to determine tax adjustments — and assess any additional taxes, penalties and interest (at the highest marginal individual or corporate tax rate) — at the partnership level.
The IRS now has the authority to assess and collect taxes from the partnership on these "imputed underpayments" without having to consider partners' circumstances or tax attributes that might reduce their individual tax liabilities. That burden is now imposed on the partnership, which may 1) seek a modification of an imputed underpayment by demonstrating that it should be taxed at a lower rate or by having partners file amended returns and paying the resulting tax, or 2) electing to "push out" partnership adjustments to the relevant partners.
One risk associated with the new audit regime is that, unless partners from the tax year being audited are held responsible for imputed underpayments, new partners may end up paying tax liabilities that were the responsibility of former partners.
Final Regulations Narrow Scope of New Rules
One significant provision of the final regs narrows the scope of items subject to adjustment under the centralized audit regime. Although proposed regs would have allowed the IRS to adjust a broad range of items connected to a partnership, the final regs limit an audit's scope to items that 1) appear (or are required to appear) on the partnership's tax return, or 2) are required to be maintained in the partnership's books and records.
So, for example, an individual partner's outside basis in a partnership interest wouldn't fall within the scope of a partnership audit, even if the partnership chooses to maintain that information in its books and records.
The final regs also set forth complex procedural rules, including rules for requesting modifications of imputed underpayments and making a pushout election.
Steps Partnerships Should Take
There are many steps partnerships can take to minimize the impact of the new audit rules. First, a partnership should determine whether it's eligible for the "small partnership election." This allows it to opt out of the centralized audit regime and follow the old audit rules, under which the IRS generally assesses and collects taxes at the individual partner level.
Your partnership is eligible to opt out if it has 100 or fewer partners, all of which are qualifying partners. Qualifying partners are individuals, C corporations (including foreign entities that would be treated as C corporations if they were domestic), S corporations or estates of deceased partners. If your partnership has just one nonqualifying partner (such as a partnership or trust) it can't opt out, regardless of its size.
It's also a good idea to amend your partnership agreement to facilitate actions that can reduce the impact of the new audit rules. For example, you might amend the agreement to:
Require current or former partners to furnish tax information or file amended returns in the event of an audit,
Require the partnership to make a pushout election in the event of an audit, or
Indemnify partners against tax liabilities that were the responsibility of former partners.
You should also update the agreement to establish procedures for selecting a partnership representative and set forth the representative's duties and responsibilities to the partnership. (See "The partnership representative: Choose carefully.")
Turn to Your Adviser
All partnerships should familiarize themselves with the final regulations and take steps to protect themselves in the event of an audit, including opting out of the new rules if they're eligible. Contact your tax advisor for additional information.
Sidebar: The Partnership Representative: Choose Carefully
One significant change under the new audit regime is replacement of the "tax matters partner" with a "partnership representative," which must be designated each year on the partnership's tax return. Previously, partners had the right to participate in a partnership audit. But under the new rules and final regulations, the partnership representative has the "sole authority to act on behalf of the partnership" and to bind the partnership and its partners in connection with an IRS audit.
Given this broad authority, it's important to choose a representative carefully. Unlike the tax matters partner, a partnership representative need not be a partner in the partnership. It can be any individual with a substantial presence in the United States or even an entity (including the partnership itself), provided it designates an individual with a substantial U.S. presence through whom it will act.
It's also important to ensure that your partnership agreement includes procedures for selecting and removing a representative and a requirement that the representative notify the partners of certain events. And, even though the representative has sole authority to act on the partnership's behalf from the IRS's perspective,there's no reason the partnership agreement can't place limits on the representative's authority. For example, it might prohibit the representative from taking certain actions without the approval of a specified percentage of the partners.
This material is generic in nature. Before relying on the material in any important matter, users should note date of publication and carefully evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness, and relevance for their purposes, and should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.
Gain Flexibility with a Self-Directed IRA
Traditional and Roth IRAs are considered relatively "safe" retirement-savings vehicles, but a drawback to them is…


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Q: all commands not found on zsh I am getting errors i.e. 'command not found' after using 'cd' or 'ls' or 'clear' click here to see image
I have tried the below suggestions to set the path but after setting the path by using the below command:
PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:${PATH}
export PATH
Add to the PATH on Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and up
after this, it works properly but when I restart the terminal it again throw the error "command not found"
zsh: command not found: clear

A: You have most likely messed up your system paths. run chsh
Enter password:
Then you will see a file open
Run the commands:
/Shell
$
i
delete bash
and type in zsh
:wq
You might need to restart for the changes to take effect.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange