text:
356 F.3d 518
In re Marlene MOFFETT, Debtor,
Tidewater Finance Company, No. 03-1279. Plaintiff-Appellant,
Marlene Moffett, Defendant-Appellee.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Argued: December 3, 2003.
Decided: January 23, 2004.
Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Stephen S. Mitchell, J.
ARGUED: James Robert Sheeran, Tidewater Finance Company, Virginia Beach, Virginia, for Appellant. Robert Ross Weed, Law Office of Robert R. Weed, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee.
Before WILKINSON and NIEMEYER, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by published opinion. Judge WILKINSON wrote the opinion, in which Judge NIEMEYER and Senior Judge HAMILTON joined.
WILKINSON, Circuit Judge:
Appellant Tidewater Finance Company lawfully repossessed Marlene Moffett's vehicle because of Moffett's failure to make her scheduled payments, and shortly thereafter Moffett filed a petition for Chapter 13 reorganization. Moffett demanded possession of the vehicle pursuant to the automatic stay and turnover provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, but Tidewater Finance sought relief from these provisions. The bankruptcy court, after ensuring that Tidewater Finance's security interest in the vehicle was adequately protected in the bankruptcy plan, ordered Tidewater Finance to return the vehicle to Moffett. The district court affirmed that decision. Because we find that Moffett's right to redeem the vehicle under Virginia law was part of her bankruptcy estate, and because the reorganization plan in this case provides for the exercise of her right of redemption, we affirm. To hold otherwise would deprive Moffett and other debtors of the rights and protections afforded to them by the Bankruptcy Code, and it would thereby undermine their chances for successful financial rehabilitation.
On January 22, 2001, Marlene Moffett purchased a used 1998 Honda Accord from Hendrick Honda in Woodbridge, Virginia. Moffett agreed to pay $20,024.25 with interest in 60 monthly installments, and Hendrick Honda retained a security interest in the vehicle. Under the purchase contract and Virginia state law, Hendrick Honda had the right to repossess the vehicle in the event of default, subject to Moffett's right to redeem it. See Va.Code §§ 8.9A-609, 623 (2003). Hendrick Honda assigned its rights under the purchase agreement to Tidewater Finance Company, which subsequently perfected its security interest. According to the bankruptcy court, the automobile was Moffett's only means of traveling the forty miles from her home to her workplace at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Moffett made her payments in timely fashion for approximately one year. Because Moffett failed to make her monthly payments in March and April 2002, however, Tidewater Finance lawfully repossessed the vehicle on the morning of April 25, 2002. Later that day, Moffett filed for voluntary Chapter 13 reorganization. On May 1, 2002, Moffett's attorney notified Tidewater Finance of Moffett's bankruptcy filing and demanded return of the vehicle, according to the Bankruptcy Code's automatic stay and turnover provisions. See 11 U.S.C. §§ 362(a), 542(a) (2003).
Tidewater Finance in turn filed a motion for relief from the provisions, claiming that its repossession of the automobile stripped Moffett and the bankruptcy estate of any interests in the vehicle, except bare legal title and an intangible right of redemption. It therefore asked the bankruptcy court to terminate the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d) so that it could sell the vehicle. Tidewater Finance took no steps to dispose of the vehicle or to apply for a new certificate of title.
The bankruptcy court denied Tidewater Finance's motion for relief. The court explained that Tidewater Finance's repossession did not terminate Moffett's equitable interests in the vehicle under Virginia law, such as her right to redeem the vehicle. This right, the court held, became part of Moffett's bankruptcy estate. The bankruptcy court therefore ordered the vehicle returned to Moffett.
However, the bankruptcy court first required adequate protection in the reorganization plan for Tidewater Finance's security interest. The modified plan provided for full payment of the amounts due under the contract — including the delinquent payments — over the course of the plan. Tidewater Finance complied with the orders and turned over the car, but filed a notice of appeal on June 27, 2002.
The district court heard Tidewater Finance's appeal of the bankruptcy court's orders. Tidewater Finance claimed that Moffett did not have any interests in the car other than bare legal title and an intangible right of redemption. The district court, however, ruled that Moffett retained the statutory right of redemption. Therefore, the court held, the bankruptcy court properly required Tidewater Finance to turn over the repossessed vehicle once it was adequately protected in the reorganization plan. Tidewater now appeals that ruling.1
Once a debtor files for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the Bankruptcy Code automatically stays any act by parties to exercise control over, or to enforce a pre-petition or post-petition lien against, property of the bankruptcy estate. 11 U.S.C. §§ 362(a)(3)-(5) (2003). Any entity that possesses property that the bankruptcy trustee may use, sell, or lease under the Bankruptcy Code is required to turn over or account for the property. Id. § 542(a). Before requiring a party to turn over property, however, courts must ensure that the party's interest in the property is adequately protected. Id. §§ 362(d)(1), 363(e). The central question here is whether Tidewater Finance and the repossessed vehicle are subject to these automatic stay and turnover provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.
We must first determine the nature of Moffett's property interests in the repossessed vehicle, and whether those interests became part of her bankruptcy estate. A debtor's bankruptcy "estate" is automatically created at the time she files for bankruptcy. It broadly includes, among other things, "all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case." Id. § 541(a)(1). The inclusive scope of the bankruptcy estate reflects the desire of Congress to facilitate the financial rehabilitation of debtors. See United States v. Whiting Pools, Inc., 462 U.S. 198, 203-04, 103 S.Ct. 2309, 76 L.Ed.2d 515 (1983). Yet, while federal law defines in broad fashion what property interests are included within the bankruptcy estate, state law determines the nature and existence of a debtor's rights. Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 54-55, 99 S.Ct. 914, 59 L.Ed.2d 136 (1979); Universal Coops., Inc., v. FCX, Inc. (In re FCX, Inc.), 853 F.2d 1149, 1153 (4th Cir.1988). We therefore must look to Virginia law in determining the nature of Moffett's interests in the vehicle upon repossession.
Because we deal here with a debtor's default on a purchase agreement with a secured creditor, Virginia's Uniform Commercial Code-Secured Transactions ("UCC") controls our analysis. See Va. Code § 8.9A-601, et seq. (2003). Section 8.9A-609 of the UCC expressly permits a secured creditor to repossess the collateral protecting its security interest after default by the debtor. Upon repossession, Virginia's UCC grants the secured creditor a number of important rights. Here, for example, once Tidewater Finance repossessed Moffett's vehicle, it was permitted to dispose of the vehicle under certain conditions. See id. § 8.9A-610.
At the same time, however, the UCC grants certain rights to the debtor upon repossession and otherwise imposes duties on a secured creditor in possession of collateral. Most importantly for purposes of this case, § 8.9A-623(c)(2) of the UCC granted Moffett the right to redeem the vehicle at any time before Tidewater Finance disposed of it. This right of redemption was further protected by a duty imposed on Tidewater Finance to notify Moffett of any planned disposition, at least ten days prior to disposing of the vehicle. See id. §§ 8.9A-611, 8.9A-612. Indeed, Tidewater Finance was even required to advise Moffett of her right of redemption. See id. § 8.9A-614. Moffett was also entitled to any surplus amount that the secured creditor made in excess of its interest in the collateral. See id. § 8.9A-615(d). Furthermore, the UCC makes clear that Moffett's rights of redemption, notification, and surplus — among other rights — are not extinguished until Tidewater Finance disposes of the repossessed vehicle under § 8.9A-610 or itself accepts the collateral under § 8.9A-620 of the UCC. See id. § 8.9A-617. Since Tidewater Finance has not taken any steps to dispose of the vehicle, Moffett still possessed these rights when she filed for bankruptcy.
These interests, and particularly the statutory right of redemption, are unquestionably "legal or equitable interests" of Moffett's that are included within her bankruptcy estate. See 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(1). As the Supreme Court observed in Whiting Pools, Congress broadly defined the property of the estate in § 541(a)(1) to include all tangible and intangible property interests of the debtor. See 462 U.S. at 204-05, 103 S.Ct. 2309 and n.9 (quoting legislative history); see also Black's Law Dictionary 1234 (7th ed.1999) (defining "property of the estate" to include "the debtor's tangible and intangible property interests (including both legal and equitable interests)"). Indeed, the Whiting Pools Court expressly stated that "interests in [repossessed] property that could have been exercised by the debtor — in this case, the rights to notice and the surplus from a tax sale — are already part of the estate by virtue of § 541(a)(1)." 462 U.S. at 207 n. 15, 103 S.Ct. 2309 (internal citation omitted).
Consequently, Moffett's statutory right to redeem the vehicle was properly made part of her bankruptcy estate under 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(1). Accord Charles R. Hall Motors, Inc. v. Lewis (In re Lewis), 137 F.3d 1280, 1284 (11th Cir.1998) (holding that a statutory right of redemption under Alabama's UCC is part of a debtor's bankruptcy estate); see also Bell-Tel Fed. Credit Union v. Kalter (In re Kalter), 292 F.3d 1350, 1355-56 and n. 4 (11th Cir.2002) (following Lewis when interpreting Florida's UCC).
We consider next whether Moffett's right to redeem the repossessed vehicle was sufficient to subject Tidewater Finance to the automatic stay and turnover provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. The bankruptcy court found that Moffett's reorganization plan proposes to exercise her right of redemption. Consequently, the court held that Tidewater Finance's security interest was adequately protected and that it must return the vehicle to Moffett.
We agree. Section 8.9A-623(b) of Virginia's UCC permits a debtor to redeem collateral by tendering fulfillment of all obligations secured by the collateral, as well as reasonable expenses from repossessing and holding the collateral. As the bankruptcy court found, Moffett's modified reorganization plan facilitates the exercise of this right of redemption by tendering to Tidewater Finance the full amount due under the contract.
Specifically, the modified plan requires Moffett to make the same monthly installment payments contemplated in the purchase agreement directly to Tidewater Finance, and it provides for the trustee to cure the existing delinquency with payments made over the course of the plan. The estate must pay all applicable interest from the delinquent payments. Moreover, the vehicle is insured. Moffett has now begun to make payments pursuant to the reorganization plan.
It is true that Moffett's reorganization plan does not provide for a lump sum payment of all outstanding debts. However, even if the purchase agreement and § 8.9A-623 of the UCC require such acceleration of her debts upon default, the Bankruptcy Code entitles Moffett to restructure the timing of her payments in order to facilitate the exercise of her right of redemption. Section 1322(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code permits debtors to modify the rights of holders of secured claims. Section 1322(b)(3) also allows debtors to cure their defaults. Courts have recognized that the Bankruptcy Code permits debtors to restructure the timing of payments to secured creditors by de-accelerating debts, in order to allow debtors to regain collateral necessary to their financial recuperation. See, e.g., In re Robinson, 285 B.R. 732, 738-39 (Bankr. W.D.Okla.2002) (permitting a debtor to de-accelerate debts and redeem a repossessed vehicle with full repayment over the course of the bankruptcy plan); Anderson v. Assoc. Commercial Corp. (In re Anderson), 29 B.R. 563, 565-66 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1983) (allowing a debtor to de-accelerate debts and redeem a repossessed tractor by promising full payment over the course of the bankruptcy plan). Pursuant to these powers, the bankruptcy plan here provided for the payment of all future installments, the curing of all delinquent payments, and the payment of all applicable interest, over the course of the plan. Such a flexible approach to repaying claims is precisely what the Bankruptcy Code allows in order to facilitate a debtor's successful rehabilitation. Id. at 565.
Moffett's right to redeem the vehicle is being exercised in the bankruptcy estate, and Tidewater Finance's security interest is thus adequately protected. For these reasons, we find that the bankruptcy court was correct in ordering Tidewater Finance to turn over the vehicle to Moffett. See id. at 565-66 (holding repossessed collateral subject to turnover upon the exercise of a debtor's right of redemption in the reorganization plan); see also Bell-Tel Fed. Credit Union v. Kalter (In re Kalter), 292 F.3d 1350, 1355-56 and n. 4 (11th Cir.2002) (holding that, under Florida law, a debtor can exercise his right to redeem a repossessed vehicle by tendering the full amount due in the reorganization plan); Charles R. Hall Motors, Inc. v. Lewis (In re Lewis), 137 F.3d 1280, 1284-85 (11th Cir.1998) (holding that, under Alabama law, a debtor's right of redemption is part of the bankruptcy estate, but that in order to redeem the repossessed vehicle the debtor must tender the full amount due in the reorganization plan).
Aside from the question whether Tidewater Finance had to turn over the vehicle as a result of Moffett's exercise of her right of redemption, the parties have presented the Court with extensive arguments concerning who holds legal ownership of the repossessed vehicle under Virginia law. This question is significant, as it determines whether Moffett had a legal as well as an equitable interest in the repossessed vehicle that became part of her bankruptcy estate.
For example, if Moffett retained ownership of the repossessed vehicle under Virginia law, then the vehicle would automatically become part of her estate. See United States v. Whiting Pools, Inc., 462 U.S. 198, 205-06, 209-10, 103 S.Ct. 2309, 76 L.Ed.2d 515 (1983). In such a case, there would be no need for her to exercise her right of redemption in order to bring the vehicle within the estate.
On the other hand, if Virginia law operated to transfer ownership from Moffett to Tidewater Finance immediately upon repossession, then Moffett's bankruptcy estate would automatically include only her statutory rights in the repossessed vehicle. See id. at 207 n. 15, 209-10, 103 S.Ct. 2309. In that event, the only way for Moffett to regain possession of the vehicle would be to exercise her right of redemption. See Lewis, 137 F.3d at 1284-85; Kalter, 292 F.3d at 1353, 1355-56 and n. 4.
We need not resolve this question here, however. As we have held, Virginia law at least provides Moffett a right to redeem her vehicle after repossession. Even if Virginia law otherwise transfers legal ownership of the vehicle to Tidewater Finance upon repossession — a question we do not decide — this transfer cannot be construed as severing Moffett's interests in the vehicle provided by the UCC. Her right of redemption is unquestionably part of the bankruptcy estate. See 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(1). Moffett proposes to exercise her right to redeem the vehicle in her reorganization plan, thus making the vehicle subject to the Bankruptcy Code's automatic stay and turnover provisions.
We hold then that the bankruptcy and district courts properly ordered the vehicle returned to Moffett. The Bankruptcy Code was designed to facilitate the financial rehabilitation of debtors. See Whiting Pools, 462 U.S. at 203-04, 208, 103 S.Ct. 2309. The bankruptcy court's orders here accomplish precisely that by returning to Moffett her sole means of transportation to work, while at the same time fully protecting the interests of her creditor. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is
This Court has previously denied Moffett's motion to dismiss the appeal as mootSee Order Den. Mot. to Dismiss as Moot, Sept. 9, 2003. We likewise deny the motion of Tidewater Finance to certify the questions in this appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court. See Appellant's Mot. to Certify, July 25, 2003.

domain: finance


text:
Structures and interactions of N-acetylated oligosaccharides
MetadataShow full item record
Oligosaccharides are of central importance in the development and maintenance of biological systems. They are found free in solution and as constituents of proteins (glycoproteins) and lipids (glycolipids) on the cell surface; they have been implicated in the mechanisms of action of diverse cellular processes including inflammation, cell-cell recognition and adhesion, protein turnover, and bacterial infection. Oligosaccharides, or molecular mimics thereof, are also becoming more frequent targets in drug design for the treatment of human illness and disease. As cellular functions of oligosaccharides are intimately related to their three-dimensional shapes or conformations, generating 3D structures of these molecules and their complexes with receptors is an essential step in deciphering their function. This dissertation aims to develop NMR-based probes of conformation and protein interaction for N-acetylated oligosaccharides. Efforts focus largely on utilization of information that can be retrieved from 13C enriched acetyl groups. Novel means of introducing 13C-enriched sites, post isolation in natural carbohydrate products, are introduced and the ability to acquire sufficient information to characterize the conformation of the carbohydrate targets is illustrated. Structural information is obtained from chemical shift anisotropy offsets of 13C carbonyl resonances and 13C-13C dipolar couplings between the labeled methyl and carbonyl carbons of the acetyl groups. Three applications are presented: a structure determination of a chitin dimer in free solution, a structure determination of a chondroitin sulfate (CS) pentamer in free solution, and a preliminary study of CS hexamers bound to a chemokine (CCL5) important to T-cell migration.

domain: literature


text:
Off Catalan Beach in the heart of Marseille, an underwater museum was created in 2020, slowed down by the current health crisis.
The museum now has 10 submerged statues with the recent arrival of the sculpture "Résilience" by Thierry Trivès, representing a free diver. This sculpture has the particularity of being connected. Thanks to its HD camera and various sensors, the statue will provide real-time data on the quality of the water: temperature, pH and oxygen levels.
Immersed at the depth of 5 meters and 100 meters from the beach, the 10 statues have in common that they are all made from recycled marine cement with a neutral pH. their composition allows them to create an artificial reef for local aquatic fauna and flora.
This museum is at the same time a cultural, educational and touristic place, but above all a place dedicated to the environment and the protection of biodiversity.
For more information: www.musee-subaquatique.com

domain: artistic


Janez Janša on Radio Ognjišče: We are doing everything in our power to retain the potentials of Slovenian people and the economy
Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest of today's Pogovor o ... talk show on Radio Ognjišče, where he talked about various current topics, especially Slovenia's fight against the coronavirus and the measures adopted by the Government to contain the spread of the coronavirus and to help the people and the economy.
To begin with, he said that "we are not celebrating a victory yet. It is about containing the first wave. According to the experts, there is always a second and third wave with pandemics, but no one dares to predict the end. We have been learning from the experiences of the past weeks and are preparing plans for a possible second wave during the summer or in the autumn, while adopting measures to mitigate the consequences of the epidemic," he said, adding that we could have been even more successful in our fight against the epidemic were it not for the one-week delay at the start. The Prime Minister also recalled that he himself had publicly called for a National Security Council meeting on 22 February 2020 and for the adoption of some measures, which were relatively mild at the time, to prevent the infections from being passed on in Metlika and Šmarje pri Jelšah.
"On 20 April, we were among the first countries in Europe to start loosening the measures. Therefore Slovenia was among the most successful countries in containing the epidemic, because we did not solely look at what others were doing and waited for them, but we held many long, even all-night, talks with experts in the field of epidemics and deliberated what the right measures for Slovenia were. We did not only look at Austria or Poland, which were successful, but we took into consideration the situation here. I think we were one of the few governments that also dealt with many details which were dealt with at lower levels in other countries. This has, however, meant that, during the last weeks, others have been asking us what to do, even though our mandate only started on 13 March 2020," emphasised the Prime Minister.
Regarding the conditions in Slovenia returning back to normal, he said that the loosening of some measures presents a bigger risk. "When we close or restrict something, the effect can be measured quite accurately, while with opening up some things are harder to gauge," he said, mentioning large systems such as education, which involve a lot of people.
"We prevented chaos, yet some are trying to cause it. There is, however, a reality which is felt by the people, and then there are pictures shown by RTV and Pop TV (Slovenian TV channels). Today they criticise you for not loosening a certain measure; tomorrow they criticise you for loosening a measure. It is a biased view on reality, which we do not really agree with," he answered when asked about the accusations that the loosening of the measures was chaotic.
"All decisions connected to introducing restrictions were hard as we did not have the instruments that other countries had. We did not declare a state of emergency, we did not impose a curfew, we did not have a state of war. I spoke to other prime ministers from the region and, in some places, there is still a state of emergency. In core EU Member States, there are still wartime decrees in place where local authorities can confiscate medical equipment. A wide range of measures adopted by others were exclusively in the hands of the government, while in Slovenia the only real legal instrument was the Communicable Diseases Act. We had to pass every amendment through the National Assembly and wait for its implementation, so we experienced some delays. If we had had the same clearances as others in Europe, we could have implemented many measures earlier and more effectively," he replied to the question regarding which decision was the hardest for him during the epidemic.
"We have by far the best epidemiological situation of all the neighbouring countries. The key to maintaining this situation is in the capabilities of each country or the whole Europe to track the infection. That means that, when new infections are confirmed somewhere, we do not have to close down the whole country, but rather contain the infection," commented the Prime Minister, who added that "without modern technology, the infection is really hard to track". He also emphasised: "We do not have enough personnel, epidemiologists, capacities, and I hope that there will be an app developed within the EU which will comply with the protection of personal data standards and therefore will not present an issue for certain know-alls in Slovenia."
As to the beginnings of the formation of a new coalition, the Prime Minister said that the coalition parties were aware of what would happen in Slovenia without forming a new government. "Commendations also go to the leadership of the SMC and Desus parties for such awareness. Slovenia owes a lot to the parties of this government coalition. It was a matter of a very clear choice of priorities, and we chose care for the general public health, people's lives and the good of our homeland and country. If the SDS had been looking selfishly at the situation, we would have gone to the polls," said the Prime Minister about the beginnings of the formation of the current coalition. According to him, former Prime Minister Marjan Šarec did not even submit the much talked about national plan upon handover of duties, and that a purely technical handover took place at other ministries as well. "The situation at the beginning of March was chaotic and the Ministry of Health, which was affected most, was also in an extremely poor condition. Partly also due to the fact that Prime Minister Šarec simply did not allow his successor, Minister Šabeder, to take some of the measures proposed by the ministry and, at that same time, there was already a major conflict between the experts then in charge, who were pushing for action, and the NIJZ leadership, which provided the public with instructions on how to sneeze into a sleeve and that infection was not transmitted from person to person," Prime Minister Janša described the days of early March this year.
When asked about cooperation with the former Health Minister Šabeder at the time when Prime Minister Janez Janša did not yet have a fully operational government, the Prime Minister said there was a wealth of correspondence about cooperation: "If the competent authorities deal with the omissions of the former Prime Minister, we will make public all the relevant documents to show who is to blame for the chaos that arose at the beginning," he stressed. He also added that Minister Šabeder, after it had become clear that the “joke was over” and when he had received no response from the then Prime Minister, he contacted him and harmonised with him some regulations which had then been adopted.
In connection with the three packages adopted by the Government to curb the epidemic and to mitigate its effects, the Prime Minister said that there every Slovenian resident and taxpayer will benefit in one way or another from these packages. The Prime Minister also commented on the Government's decision to introduce tourist vouchers: "The decision was easy: allocate EUR 300 million to those laid off and observe the activities that would collapse or give money to people to spend it and allow many tourist facilities to come to life at the peak of the season," said the Prime Minister.
When asked by tradesmen and businessmen about the fourth anti-coronavirus measure, Prime Minister Janša replied that, due to the lack of work, the key measure was to subsidise part-time work, as this measure would also provide state funding for the work performed on a part-time basis. "Slovenia will provide help as there is no other more effective measure to help the economy," stressed the Prime Minister.
"While the extreme left-wing opposition decries onscreen the Government's measures, the European Commission has assessed that, due to these measures, Slovenia's economy will grow next year by as much as it has been expected to decline this year. This Government will do everything within its powers to ensure that the results achieved are even better than forecast, "stressed the Prime Minister, pointing to the act on removing bureaucratic barriers to major investments.
As to the Government's cooperation with trade unions, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Economic and Social Council had not functioned during the term of the previous two governments and that no criticism had been heard on the subject. It was not until April this year that its functions were restored by this Government. "We have taken into account the proposals of the trade unions, as well as the proposals of the Chamber of Commerce. In fact, we have included in economic relief packages significantly more than required by the unions or the Chamber of Commerce," said the Prime Minister.
"What we are doing is because we want to preserve the potential of Slovenia's people, not because of some left or right ideology, and we are making efforts to prevent recession from turning into a depression, as was the case in 2009 due to the left-wing government measures," he said, adding that the measures taken by his Government were more liberal than conservative. "When a concept no longer suits the elite, they invent another", continued the Prime Minister. When I come across such an example, I remember Justin Stanovnik's study which says that the Communist Left killed not only people, but also the word, i.e. the fundamental meaning of a concept.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the opposition's activities during the epidemic. "The harassment during the procedure in the National Assembly, like last night, when trying to prevent through insidious procrastination the timely adoption of the measures to help hundreds of thousands of people, is base and vile," said the Prime Minister, who added that nowhere in the world was there an opposition at the time of an epidemic that would delay all night the passing of a piece of legislation that was distinctly non-political and drawn up to help everyone. He also said that the ruling coalition was capable of cooperation and that all parties had been invited to join it. "When it became known that an epidemic was on the horizon, we invited them to join us, but they refused to come along and help. They were involved in the preparation of legislative packages, we provided them with working drafts thereof, which they then criticised at press conferences, without sending us any comments. But the Government continues to insist that its door is open to everyone who wants to help rather than impede its work."
As regards allegations that residents in homes for the elderly were not administered the necessary care and the accusations of genocide by the opposition Left, Prime Minister Janša replied that the accusation of genocide was made by those celebrating the dictator who actually committed genocide against the Slovenian people. Later in the conversation, he thanked the employees of the homes for the elderly, who made sure that 90% of these homes did not have a single infection. He was also critical of the actions of the management of the Ptuj Hospital, where the hospital director and the town mayor, both from the SD party, decided on a "gross attack on solidarity". "Where there were outbreaks of infections in homes for the elderly, the Ministry of Health responded with help, and not a single person had been left uncared for," said the Prime Minister.
Regarding NGOs' demands concerning destruction of nature and their protests and allegations that the Prime Minister did not care about the environment, the Prime Minister said he was co-signatory of a request for an extraordinary meeting "where we tried to prevent one of the biggest attacks on nature, i.e. building the C0 canal across aquifer in the water protection area." "At that time, no NGO member protested," recalled the Prime Minister, adding that "those who care about nature act where there are problems, but not using EUR 2,000 bicycles on the asphalt in the middle of Ljubljana."
In the conversation, the Prime Minister pointed out that the coalition stands firmly behind Minister Počivalšek regarding his interpellation and left the calls for the government reshuffle and early elections to those who think that this was their life mission.
As priorities in the government's future activities, Prime Minister Janša highlighted the elimination of bureaucratic barriers, demographic issues and priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council. As regards the EU Presidency, we have some larger ambitions than those written in the priorities by the previous government. At present, our efforts within the framework of the recovery fund and the new financial framework or the EU budget are aimed at providing Slovenia with a position based on which, as early as this year, we will be able to invest in those programmes that will enable Slovenia to make the most of its natural advantages", said the Prime Minister.
As regards the functioning of the judiciary, the Prime Minister expressed his opinion that much remains to be done in this area, since the reputation of the judiciary is low, irrespective of the picture members of the judiciary might have of themselves. The Prime Minister also mentioned one billion euros of money laundered for Iranian terrorists that nobody investigated and 200 million euros which disappeared in overpaid coronary stents. "All this is possible since this branch of power does not function properly, even though there are many honest judges who try their best, but the key functions are in the hands of those who protect the élite, deep state, economic crime and tycoon networks, these are real octopuses of clientelism with tentacles reaching out to the highest peaks of the judiciary, and until this swamp dries up, Slovenia will not be a state governed by the rule of law; there is a lot of work to do in this area," commented the Prime Minister.
When asked about the closure of shops on Sundays, the Prime Minister said that a referendum had been held on the subject with a clear result, but later a compromise was reached between trade unions and retailers and this compromise turned to a different direction from what was decided in the referendum. "In fact, this is not a commitment set out in the coalition agreement, and the coalition parties have different views on this issue. The position of the SDS is that shops should be closed on Sundays. However, wherever shops are closed on Sundays, there are always some exceptions that need to be agreed within the Economic and Social Council," said the Prime Minister, believing that a solution would be reached in a normal way to follow the direction chosen by the people in the referendum.
Last but not least, in the conversation Prime Minister Janez Janša compared the time 30 years ago and today: "There are quite a few parallels that may be made. At the time, we were disarmed and we got empty warehouses, the previous authorities lied to us about the situation, now it was similar, only that this time we found empty warehouses of personal protective equipment and less than 30 free beds available for the epidemic in the intensive care units. The difference is that, after the swearing in of the Demos government, we still had a whole year ahead until the declaration of independence and that we were left some time to prepare; this year, the epidemic was declared on 12 March and we were sworn in on March 13," said the Prime Minister, adding that because there was no serious plan for proper or for routine action, and as solutions had to be found, the entire government went through many sleepless nights, as did those who helped, most of them being health workers and doctors who bore on their shoulders the major burden of the successful fight against the epidemic.
"The optimism, diversity and good cheer that were typical of Bishop Uran was what we missed in these times of crisis. It would make us happy if, instead of the sad news of his death, we had received the news that he had recovered and that again we would hear some cheerful word or song from him. Even when this sad news came, we all remembered the serenity, good will and his approach to the people, which is the most noble thing in the priestly profession," said the Slovenian Prime Minister about the life and example of Bishop Alojz Uran, who recently passed away.


text:
Cool Runnings: The Reggae Movie - 35MM w/ Intro
Documentary, Music | 1985 | 105MIN
In 1983, at the recommendation of Gil Scott-Heron, Sunsplash promoters Tony Johnson, Ronnie Burke, and Don Green asked Robert Mugge to document that year’s festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The financially troubled production has been little seen since its world premiere at the 1983 London Film Festival—at least, in 35mm with Dolby Surround Stereo, as intended—yet has nevertheless achieved legendary status because of the quality of its filmmaking and the featured performances by Third World, Rita Marley, Skatalites, Alton Ellis, Judy Mowatt, Chalice, Melody Makers, and many others. As Richard Cook wrote in the British music magazine New Musical Express, “Mugge’s new film is easily the best record of live reggae on film, a steaming selection of highlights from the 1983 Sunsplash Festival. Mugge’s cameras seem to actually hug the players—he’s realized brilliantly the smoldering intimacy of reggae, and the superb concert sound booms like a giant heartbeat. Excellent routines from Gregory Isaacs, Gil Scott-Heron (a monumental rendition of ’The Bottle’), and Sugar Minott; a spellbinding one from Mutabaruka.” This rare screening of a surviving 35mm print is meant to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary.
Introduction by Robert Mugge 8/10. Copies of his new memoir Notes from the Road: A Filmmaker’s Journey through American Music will be available for purchase.

domain: entertainment


Here are a few projects we think are worth looking into. Be careful... it is crowdfunding.
L Hetherington for | RoboticsTomorrow
Here are a few projects we think are worth looking into. Be careful... it is crowdfunding:
Ohbot2 - A Robot Head to program from your PC
Ohbot2 is an affordable kit robot and graphical software that works with your PC. It comes with an Arduino-compatible servo controller... (from £99, ends Nov 15, 2015)
Gest: Work With Your Hands
Gest lets you work with your hands in a more intuitive way. Switch between apps just by twitching your finger. Point at your screen to move the mouse around. Twist your palm to adjust sliders in Photoshop. Rotate a 3D object by literally grabbing it and rotating your hand. You don’t have to think about what you’re doing, just do it... (starting at $149 USD, ends Nov 28 2015)
Makerarm-The first robotic arm that makes anything, anywhere
Makerarm is multi-purpose
Makerarm works with interchangeable heads for countless applications.
It 3D prints: Makerarm is not confined to a box and can 3D print with both filament and resin.
It carves and mills: Makerarm includes high-speed desktop milling (light duty) and carving. You can mill on a variety of materials including plastics, wood, and soft metals right on your desktop. You can even hook up heavy duty flex shaft tools such as the Dremel Fortiflex to Makerarm for power-carving, grinding, or shaping applications (with speeds up to 23,000 RPM!).
It laser engraves: Makerarm’s high power 500mW laser head (405nm) engraves and etches on plastics, wood, leather, cardboard, and more.
It picks and places: Choose from vacuum pump coupled suction cups, electromagnetic heads, or grippers to carry out pick and place operations.
It assembles: With the assembly heads, you can automatically place and fasten screws, carry out gluing, and perform pick and place functions.
It's a PCB fab: PCB milling, drilling, solder-paste dispensing, pick and place assembly (PCBA), and automated soldering take the hassle out of prototyping... (starting at $1,199, ends Nov 10 2015)
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of RoboticsTomorrow
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More dreams. More wishes and wantings. More beautiful images captured by photographer Anna Williams. Images that whisk me away to another place, images that whisper to me. Simple but lovely.
(Previous post here.)
And this one again because I love the way this intimate little corner of a kitchen has been captured.


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Senior New York residents face a multitude of problems. Many have been being kicked out of their rent-stabilized apartments due to being hospitalized when sent to nursing homes for rehabilitation. Others seniors have problems with bike lanes, and many have been hit by bike riders. Another big problem that seniors face is the rising cost of drug co-pays, especially for those whose incomes are just above the cutoff for assistance yet not enough to live a comfortable life in NYC. I will work hard to improve quality of life for seniors, including advocating for the following improvements:
- Push for legislation that will prevent landlords from kicking seniors out of their homes.
- Create a fund to assist seniors with financial help while rehabilitating.
- Propose legislation that will allow seniors to temporarily rent out their apartments while they’re in nursing homes.
- Create a nonprofit that will screen and monitor the renters for the seniors’ apartments.
- Have the city install caution and stop signs for bikers and at dangerous corners. Seniors or others would push a button where they’re going to cross and thereby trigger a traffic signal specifically for bike lanes to caution riders that someone is crossing the street.
- Push for legislation that would mandate jail time when a criminal attacks a senior.
- Work with major companies like CVS and Duane Reade to give senior assistance for co-pays.
- Create a nonprofit that will assist with those costs.

domain: sociology


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Since what we eat and how often we eat rules our body functions and thus our life, it behooves all of us to answer these important questions:
What is the healthiest food consumption? How often and when should we eat? To answer these questions, I turned to a couple of recent reviews by medical experts. In this January newsletter, I'll cover WHAT we should consider eating, and next month I will cover the controversial topic of
What is the healthiest food consumption? While not a scientific publication, this month
US News and World Report published the conclusions of a panel of very distinguished medical experts to determine the healthiest food plan. Ranking #1 was the Mediterranean Diet which tied for first place with the DASH diet. The
Mediterranean diet is high in veggies, fruits, nuts, olive oil, legumes, fish, and whole grains while low in red meat, high fat dairy, sugar, and saturated fats. There is more data on this diet than any other popularly promoted plans, documenting reduced heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular deaths, dementia, and cancer. The
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is similar to the Mediterranean eating plan, rich in fruits, veggies, fat-free or low-fat milk products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts. It also contains less sodium, sweets, added sugars and beverages containing sugar, fats, and red meat than the typical American diet. This heart healthy way of eating is also lower in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol while rich in nutrients associated with lowering blood pressure - -mainly potassium, magnesium, calcium, protein, and fiber.
These food plans mirror the recommendations of an extensive nutritional review published in 2017 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology entitled Trending Cardiovascular Nutrition Controversies. The impressive list of 12 doctors concluded that the healthiest dietary patterns are "high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans), and nuts in moderation, although some may include limited quantities of lean meats (including poultry and seafood), low-fat dairy products, and liquid vegetable oils. These dietary patterns are also low in 1) saturated, trans, and solid fats; 2) sodium; 3) added sugars; and 4) refined grains."
If it sounds like I'm repeating myself, I am! FRUITS, VEGGIES, NUTS, LEAN MEATS, LOW-FAT DAIRY, OLIVE OIL. We need to dump today's common food plan:
SAD (Standard American Diet) composed of pizza, sandwiches full of processed meats in between hundreds of calories of bread, hamburgers, fries, fried chicken, Mexican food, calorie laden specialty coffees, sugary and diet beverages, donuts, pastries, and other nutrient poor / calorie dense foods.
If 10 years ago you would have told me my diet would be lacking in these SAD foods, I would have told you to take a hike. No way would I give up these foods I ate every week. Well, my husband and I have made these foods a rarity, and we are never going back. None of these foods taste as good as we feel. I had no idea people in their mid-sixties could feel this good. And, our food consumption is a huge factor.
You may be thinking: "No way am I going to give up all my favorite foods. I can't do it. It's too hard!" Don't set yourself up for failure with negative thinking. Come up a realistic plan that will work for you. It's what we do 90% of the time that matters. I don't know too many people who have a "perfect" diet totally devoid to unhealthy foods. I repeat: Find a plan that will work for you. I have loads of healthy eating tips in my book and workbook that I live by and many have also found beneficial.
CRITIQUE CALORIC CONSUMPTION! It's about Living WELL Aware. Stay tuned for February's newsletter on FASTING.

domain: medical


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Wednesday’s confrontations between Manchester United fans and police inside the Stadio Olimpico have created a “diplomatic issue”, according to the Italian media.
Rome’s La Repubblica, a national newspaper, says in its main headline: ‘Clashes at the Olimpico – Blair government accuses’.
The sub-header says 'London demands an explanation after police charge against English fans during Roma v Manchester'.
One headline in Gazzetta dello Sport says: ‘Blair government has demanded an explanation from Italy. The incidents between Roma and Manchester have become a diplomatic issue.’
Sports Minister Richard Caborn said today: “It seems the police were heavy-handed – but whether that was justified or not we will have to wait and see.”
The British Home Office minister, Vernon Coaker, also expressed concern at the level of force used by Italian police, while Manchester United accused police of “indiscriminate beatings” and announced they would collect fan statements for an independent investigation.
Corriere dello Sport has a column which says: “The incidents at the Olimpico have become a diplomatic issue. The English authorities accuse ‘police of being brutal and UEFA are investigating’.”
Corriere quote the head security official in the stadium, Achille Serra, who said: “We have acted correctly.”
Corriere’s main focus is on the victory, however, with the paper quoting Roma club president Franco Sensi as saying: “I am proud of my Roma. Now, my Roma is one of the top teams in Europe.”
In Gazzetta is an editorial critical of Roma fans, using the headline: ‘Those Knives Were All Ours’.
The writer, respected journalist Candido Cannavo, says he wants to apologise to English fans for what happened, but also refers to the police report that says English fans are to blame.
He wrote: “Yes, it’s true, the Manchester fans were drunk and behaved in their own disgusting manner and some of them have tried to create a confrontation but the knives, considering the number of injured, were probably all from one side.”
The headline in Rome-based sports publication Corriere della Sera says: ‘Fans hit, London against Italy’.
Photographs from Wednesday night’s incidents are played prominently.
In Corriere della Sera, there are three photos of a fan who is bleeding after being hit on the head.
The Corriere dello Sera has a photo covering two pages of a frightened English fan kneeling underneath a riot policeman who is holding a baton.
Another Englishman stands behind the fan, trying to defend him.
A Gazzetta photograph on the front page shows Italian police hitting United fans beside a headline: ‘It is the fault of the English’.
On page three of Gazzetta is another photo of a United supporter and stabbing victim, lying in a hospital bed.

domain: news


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For the first time ever, the historically male Middle School (MS) wrestling team of 10 consists entirely of girls, since no boys signed up and several girls wanted to create an all-female team, MS wrestler Ali Roche ’22 said.
MS Wrestling Coach Henry Kasdon ’98, who has worked at the school since 2002 when girls weren’t allowed to wrestle, said he was surprised by this year’s female turnout. Girls were only officially allowed to wrestle about 10 years ago, but few tried out. Prior to now, only three or fewer girls have participated in a single season, Coach Kasdon said.
Coach Kasdon partially credits wrestling’s ability to teach confidence for the increased participation of girls on the MS team.
“Wrestling is a sport that people don’t usually choose right away because it’s uncomfortable, and some aren’t willing to try it. Wrestling is about getting out of your comfort zone and being more confident in your body,” he said. “When you learn how to fight, and you realize that you can get out of a tough situation, you gain confidence—something that everyone wants—boy or girl.”
Even though the MS team is too young to compete, they meet three times per week to condition and practice wrestling moves, so they will be prepared for the more competitive Upper School (US) seasons.
Ali started wrestling this year and said that even if her friends were to quit, she would continue the sport. She says that wrestling has been beneficial both physically and mentally.
“It’s a fun but challenging sport,” she said. “I like that there are just girls on the team. It feels like a safe space where we all do the same workouts.”
Annie Stockwell ’22, a first-year team member, said she believes the girls aren’t getting the same amount of respect as she thinks boy wrestlers would.
“[Classmates] make fun of us,” Annie said, adding that her peers refer to girls’ wrestling sarcastically.
Currently, two girls and 18 boys wrestle on the Upper School (US) team. The team wrestles against schools across New England, few of which have as great a number of girls. But schools like Thayer, Middlesex, Lawrence, Tabor, St. Mark’s, and Pomfret have a few females on the team.
Abigail Rabieh ’21, who wrestled on the MS team for two years and now wrestles at the US, said she doesn’t mind being on a team with a male majority.
“It’s really great that more girls are getting involved because it shows that they’re stepping out of their comfort zone and becoming more in touch with themselves,” she said.
US wrestler Philip Melki said he was also glad that more girls were wrestling.
“It makes the team dynamic better,” he said. “We haven’t really seen that at BB&N before: girls who stick with wrestling. It shows that anyone can wrestle, [and] it breaks the norm that only boys can fight—girls still have the toughness.”


BMW Z4 sDrive20i and 28i review
* New four-cylinder Z4 models driven * 41.5mpg; 159g/km CO2 * Price from £29,480; on sale now...
What is it?
The BMW Z4 has been our favourite roadster since its launch in 2009. With only thirsty six-cylinder petrol engines available, though, it's always taken a battering on the forecourt from Audi's efficient TT Roadster.
That could be about to change with the launch of two new turbocharged four-cylinder petrol models. These versions aren't just cheaper to run thanks to a 20% improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions they're also cheaper to buy and come with more standard equipment.
What's it like to drive?
The 2.0-litre sDrive20i replaces the outgoing 2.5-litre sDrive23i as the entry-level model.
With 181bhp, the new engine has slightly less power than the one it replaces, but it also shaves off a few kilos of weight, so there's barely any performance penalty. The 20i can sprint from 0 to 62mph in 6.9 seconds and doesn't run out of puff until it hits 146mph.
In fact, because the new turbocharged engine has more low-down torque it pulls strongly from much lower in the rev range, so you don't have to work it as hard to build speed quickly. It doesn't mind being revved, although acceleration does begin to tail off above 5000rpm.
It's not all good news. The old six-cylinder model howled like a proper sports car, and while the new four-cylinder unit sounds bassy at low revs and rorty when worked, it isn't that special sort of sound that'll have you prodding the throttle just for fun.
The new sDrive28i version of the Z4 uses the same basic 2.0-litre engine, but kicks out a much more muscular 242bhp. Again, that's slightly down on the 30i it replaces, but the new car is hardly slower: 0-62mph takes 5.7 seconds and top speed is electronically restricted to 155mph.
The extra 61bhp over the 20i makes the 28i feel seriously quick. There's the slightest of pauses as the turbocharger spins up to speed, followed by a strong surge of power from 1300rpm.
It also sounds sweeter than the 20i's engine, and spits and pops between gearchanges and when you back off the power.
The Z4 has never handled as brilliantly as a Porsche Boxster, but it's always been agile, with plenty of grip and a reasonably comfortable ride (as long as you steer clear of M Sport versions).That remains the case with these new versions.
Our biggest criticism of the car remains as before: the steering just doesn't provide the level of feedback or interaction you'd expect from a sports car.
What's it like inside?
Not much has changed inside, but then not much needed to. The Z4's class-leading cabin is beautifully crafted from top-quality materials, and everything important is clearly labelled and within reach.
BMW's iDrive system (part of the £2225 Navigation package fitted to our test cars) is one of the best infotainment set-ups available in any car, with intuitive controls and a user-friendly menu system.
The only area that has been improved is the Z4's standard specification. Despite being £945 cheaper than the outgoing model, the new sDrive20i adds leather seats, Bluetooth, a USB socket and automatic lights and wipers to the kit list.
The sDrive28i adds Bluetooth and a USB socket to the spec of the sDrive30i and costs £1015 less.
Should I buy one?
If you're in the market for a small, premium-branded roadster then the Z4 is more appealing than ever. It's not only a lot more efficient than before, it's also cheaper to buy and better equipped.
The Porsche Boxster remains the class benchmark for performance and handling, but throw everything else into the equation and the BMW has it beaten.
The question is, which version of the Z4 should you choose? In the past we've always recommended sticking with the entry-level model, but that's no longer such a straightforward decision for two reasons: the extra power now comes at a lower price, and the new 28i engine suits the Z4 better than the old six-cylinder 30i.
Both new versions also have exactly the same 41.5mpg and 159g/km CO2 emissions only slightly worse than the figures of an Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI.
Overall, we (just) prefer the sDrive20i, simply because the 28i pushes the price a little too close to Porsche Boxster territory. However, whichever engine you choose, we'd strongly recommend going for the standard (not M Sport) version because of its better suspension set-up.
Best family SUVs 2022
Want practicality, class and an elevated driving position in a relatively compact package? Then these are the top 10 cars you should be looking at – and the ones that are best avoided
Used Ford Mustang Mach-E long-term test
The Mustang Mach-E is an electric family SUV with a high-tech interior, but what's it like to live with and is it a good car? We're finding out


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Troy Gentry's Widow and Daughter Walk the CMAs Red Carpet in His Honor
Troy Gentry made a promise to his daughter Kaylee, and his wife Angie just kept it.
Two months after the Montgomery Gentry singer died in a helicopter crash, widow Angie Gentry and their 15-year-old daughter Kaylee stepped out on to the red carpet to attend the 2017 CMA Awards Wednesday night in his honor.
The mother-daughter pair posed for pictures as they made their way down the carpet, with Angie wearing a plum-colored gown and her mini-me opting for a royal blue number with a white clutch.
It was supposed to be a moment shared with Gentry, who had promised to escort Kaylee to her first awards show this year. Married to Gentry for nearly 20 years, Angie is also a breast cancer survivor, having undergone chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery before being cleared by doctors in 2015.
A devoted family man, Gentry was just 50 when he died following an impromptu helicopter ride ahead of a performance at The Flying W Airport and Resort in Medford, New Jersey, leaving behind Angie, Kaylee, his daughter Taylor from a previous relationship, and longtime bandmate Eddie Montgomery.
RELATED VIDEO: Eddie Montgomery Faces the Future in Grief at Troy Gentry’s Memorial
Gentry was laid to rest after a star-studded memorial at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where Montgomery paid his respects to his singing partner of 30 years, serving as a pallbearer.
In February 2018, Montgomery Gentry’s new album Here’s To You will be released, featuring songs the duo recorded earlier this year.


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Hanoverian, Silver, The flatware collection is conspicuously lacking good examples of French and English classic silver flatware from the eighteenth century. These simple patterns, for which the decoration was meant to be a coat of arms, creat, or initials are now known as Fiddle pattern for the French and Hanoverian, and later Old English for the English., London, England, 1749, cutlery, Decorative Arts, Tablespoon, Tablespoon
Contributor:Artokoloro / Alamy Stock Photo
File size:76 MB (1.7 MB Compressed download)
Releases:Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?
Dimensions:3770 x 7046 px | 31.9 x 59.7 cm | 12.6 x 23.5 inches | 300dpi
Date taken:13 December 2020
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.

domain: history


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The 26.2 miles Flanagan will run in London will be her third marathon. As in, ever. After taking bronze in the 10,000 meters in Beijing, Flanagan decided it was time to push herself even harder. This past January, she raced the Olympics marathon qualifier and finished first, setting the event record. "My lack of experience is kind of nerve-racking, but the race is so exciting, too," she says. "Each time I run one, it feels like Christmas." This year, Christmas comes on August 5, when the gun goes off.
Follow Flanagan @ShalaneFlanagan, and tweet with #SelfSummerGames.

domain: sports


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It’s getting a little chippy now. A few minutes ago, the officials called a series of technical fouls stemming from what looked like a pushing incident between UC’s Cashmere Wright and Gonzaga’s Demetri Goodson. Then UC’s Toyloy and Gonzaga’s Sacre got into it. After the officials checked the video, all four players received technical fouls, although no free throws were shot as a result. So now it appears the refs are going to call a foul on every trip down the floor.
Posted in: Updates


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Face Kuroko Tetsuya Coloring Pages
You can Download, Favorites, Color online and Print these Face Kuroko Tetsuya for free. You want to see all of these related coloring pages, please click here: Kuroko No Basket coloring pages.
Size: 86 KB
Dimension: 803 × 1024

domain: hobby


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From a psychological and cultural perspective, a healthier diet may be difficult to achieve for people with poor eating habits. This may be due to tastes acquired in childhood and preferences for sugary, salty and/or fatty foods. In the UK, the chief medical officer of the government recommended in December 2018 that sugar and salt be taxed to discourage consumption.
In children, consuming less than 25 grams of added sugar (100 calories) is recommended per day. Other recommendations include no extra sugars in those under 2 years old and less than one soft drink per week. As of 2017, decreasing total fat is no longer recommended, but instead, the recommendation to lower risk of cardiovascular disease is to increase consumption of monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, while decreasing consumption of saturated fats.
When it comes to eating for weight loss, fiber is the number one nutrient that belongs on your radar. The Cleveland Clinic says women should aim for the recommended 25 to 30 grams per day, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by loading your plate with broccoli. The veggie contains 16 grams per bunch! If you don't like eating it solo, sneak it into the dishes you already love, like this Fusilli with Broccoli Pesto recipe.
The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a diet promoted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (part of the NIH, a United States government organization) to control hypertension. A major feature of the plan is limiting intake of sodium, and the diet also generally encourages the consumption of nuts, whole grains, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables while lowering the consumption of red meats, sweets, and sugar. It is also "rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as well as protein".
For a 2,000-calorie daily diet, aim for 2½ cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit a day. If you consume more calories, aim for more produce; if you consume fewer calories, you can eat less. Include green, orange, red, blue/purple, and yellow vegetables and fruits. In addition to the fiber, the nutrients and phytochemicals in these foods may help protect against certain types of cancer and other diseases. Legumes, rich in fiber, can count as vegetables (though they have more calories than most vegetables). For more fiber, choose whole fruits over juice.

domain: food


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Food trucks might get avenue to Akron
Akron City Council members Margo Sommerville (D-Ward 3) and Jeff Fusco (D-at large), after months of committee work, presented an ordinance May 12 that would allow food trucks to operate in the city.
Food truck operators would need to apply and pay a permit fee to bring their businesses onto public property in the city. The permit fee is $225 inside the city, and totals $1,975 within the Biomedical Corridor.
Fusco said the operators who choose to pay the higher fee would essentially have rights to their spot 14 hours a day, every day for the year. He said operators expressed the desire to be near the hospitals.
“This has been quite a journey,” he said.
At issue has been the collision of food truck operators’ wishes to bring their businesses into the city and the protestations of brick-and-mortar restaurateurs’, who have said they pay taxes and are established within the community and balk at the competition introduced by food trucks.
“The spirit of this … is balance,” Fusco said of the ordinance, on which he said he did not plan to ask for a vote May 12.
Sommerville commented that the committee that had been established to study the food truck issue and research other cities’ ordinances learned “food truck legislation is not a one-size-fits-all type of situation,” and they hoped to find a happy medium.
The fee for operating in the Biomedical Corridor is, stressed Fusco, not a tax. The money would be distributed as follows: $1,400 to Akron Public Schools, $275 to Summit County, $225 to the city of Akron, $45 to the Akron-Summit County Public Library and $30 to the Summit Metro Parks.
Vendors also would be under restrictions regarding the distance they must operate from locations such as residences, schools and food service establishments.
Council will vote on the ordinance at a future meeting.
In legislative action, Council approved an ordinance authorizing the city to apply for grant funding from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to purchase equipment for the Akron Police Department’s Gun Violence Reduction Team.
The $15,000 grant — which does not require a local match — is through the Mortgage Settlement Grant Program and would focus gun violence reduction efforts in areas of the city most affected by foreclosures.
The one-year grant would provide for the purchase of cameras and computers for the 10-officer gun violence reduction unit.
During the Council meeting, Planning Director Marco Sommerville announced there will be a vacant property survey taking place in the city between May 19 and July 31. Sommerville said interns will take photos of every house in the city using iPads. They will be wearing reflective vests.
Anyone with questions can call Abraham Wescott at 330-375-2696.
In other business, Council’s Health and Social Services Committee hosted a meeting regarding Crisis Intervention Services available in Akron. Committee Chairwoman Linda Omobien (D-at large) noted May is the month devoted to mental health awareness, and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a resource available to address mental health situations that arise.
Akron Police Department (APD) Sgt. Michael Yohe said Akron was the first city to adopt the CIT model, in 2000. He said about 90 current APD officers have undergone CIT training, and the APD devotes considerable resources to responding to mental health crises, such as attempted suicides in progress.
Also presenting during the session were representatives of the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, which sponsors the training twice a year, and Community Support Services.
The next Council meeting will be May 19 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the third floor of the Akron Municipal Building, 166 S. High St. in Downtown Akron. Committee meetings will begin at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers.
More Community News
- Akron Council taps Forney for at-large seat
- Fairlawn fireworks brighten skies
- Artistry displayed as Stan Hywet wall rebuilt
- Faith Lutheran welcoming St. John/St. Paul to its congregation
- West Hill wall gets artistic touch
- West Side News & Notes
- West Side Political News & Notes
- Norton officers run for Special Olympics
- Juvenile Court’s Detention Center receives accreditation
- Bath trustees approve 2016 budget
- Boston officials considering police levy for November ballot
- Richfield trustees give construction go-ahead
- Sharon residents express concerns about flooding
- SCCS’ Citizens Advisory Committee hosts awards event
- Season busy time for zoning departments
- Springfield ‘rocks’ during annual event
- Green board hires assistant super
- Blitz obstacle course coming to Green July 11
- Dragon Boat Festival returns for third year
- South Side News & Notes
- Ford, Vaughn sentenced for death of New Franklin couple
- Akron Council taps Forney for at-large seat
Calendar of Events
- First Tuesday Dance with Gene Fiocca Band - 7/7/2015
- Christine Mabon: The Five Essential Friendships - 7/7/2015
- Jungle Safari Puppet Show - 7/7/2015
- Canvas Shoe Art: grades 6-12 - 7/7/2015
- Secrets of Slimes - 7/7/2015


Lee Fraser has been appointed Murray Bushrangers' talent manager, taking over from Andrew Carson who resigned in December.DAMEN FRANCIS February 4, 2014 4:05am
Lee Fraser is the man tasked with replacing outgoing Murray Bushrangers talent manager Andrew Carson.
Carson announced his resignation from the TAC Cup club in December after seven years at the helm, to take up the role of national recruiter with AFL club North Melbourne.
Fraser is believed to be the first TAC Cup graduate to take on such a role, having made his way through the Western Jets program in the class of 1994, after initially joining the club in the competition’s foundation season in 1992.
Drafted to Hawthorn in 1995, Fraser was delisted after one season and played three seasons at Williamstown in the VFL.
Fraser went on to serve as general manager of Coburg Football Club, before relocating to Yarrawonga with his family in 2010, where he has been employed as executive grants officer at Moira Shire and Brimbank City councils.
Since the move, Fraser has been involved in local sport, as senior assistant coach at Ovens and Murray Football League club Yarrawonga and captain of Wangaratta District Cricket Association club Yarrawonga-Mulwala.
AFL Victoria state league and talent manager John Hook said Fraser’s ‘‘strong football background, coupled with his employment in local government made him an ideal candidate’’.
Fraser was looking forward to the challenge of continuing Carson’s good work in the region.
‘‘All the reports coming out of Melbourne are that this is a great program and that AJ (Carson) has done a great job,’’ Fraser said.
‘‘I’m looking forward to meeting all the volunteers and coaches and working closely with coach Darren Ogier to find out how the club operates.
‘‘The Bushies have a great reputation and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to build on that.’’
Fraser said among the biggest challenges he faced were engaging with local clubs and coping with the size of the region in regards to player opportunity.
‘‘We want to give every player the chance to show their talent and we want all the young men that come through the program to leave as better people,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s an area I see benefits for local clubs, because often players that don’t end up getting drafted do come back to their home clubs as better people for the TAC Cup experience.’’
Fraser is expected to start on Monday, with Carson to finish up the following Friday.
A man in his 40s has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car in Shepparton late this afternoon. Police and emergency services are on scene.
The talent was truly amazing at this year’s Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Got Talent competition.
‘‘Time for reflection is rare in life and in business,’’ Tatura Milk Industries chairman Barry Irvin told suppliers when delivering his end-of-financial-year report.
St Joseph’s College principal Kate Fogarty will be Assumption College’s first female principal when she takes over the role next year.
Rochester athlete Morgan Dingwall won medals at an international athletics competitions last month.
If you thought it was cold yesterday morning, you weren’t wrong!
Brigade transforms station for Christmas in July.
Despite being scheduled to play at home this Saturday, Finley footballers and netballers will instead make the trip to Blighty.
Axedale student Zara Smith has created history, raising the single largest amount raised by a primary school student in the Jump Rope for Heart event’s 31-year history.
Mixed response from Cobram region politicians and businesses to the Commonwealth's removal of a price on carbon.
Ten Deniliquin athletes competed at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships last Friday.
Tackling salinity in the Goulburn-Broken basin was a key element of a presentation made to an international forum in the United States last month.
The Melbourne Scottish fiddlers return to Swanpool to raise money for local CFA brigades. Group officer Jim Ranken and fiddle player Kristin Marriott
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Nightclubs are still one of the best properties a GTA Online player can get in 2022. Other than the chill ambiance that one can't really get from other businesses, there are some other notable advantages to consider, as it:
- Has good passive income (especially on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S)
- Allows players to upgrade the Terrorbyte, which in turn upgrades the Oppressor Mk II
- Has several floors of garages, making it the best property for storing a few dozen vehicles
- Has sell missions tied to other businesses
It doesn't matter if one gets this illustrious property via Career Builder or by buying it later. What does matter is that GTA Online players consider buying it for the numerous advantages it can offer.
Why GTA Online players should get the Nightclub property in 2022
It doesn't particularly matter which Nightclub the player purchases, but these are the following locations for them to ponder:
- Elysian Island: $1,080,000
- LSIA: $1,135,000
- Vespucci Canals: $1,320,000
- Cypress Flats: $1,370,000
- Mission Row: $1,440,000
- La Mesa: $1,500,000
- Strawberry: $1,525,000
- Del Perro: $1,645,000
- Downtown Vinewood: $1,670,000
- West Vinewood: $1,700,000
Further customizations and upgrades cost extra. Some options (like dry ice) don't serve a purpose, but others (like garage floors) are incredibly valuable.
The Nightclub's passive income differs based on which generation of GTA Online the player is playing. The old-gen versions offer $10,000 per 48 minutes of real-life gameplay, while the next-gen port provides $50,000 in the same time frame. To pick up this money, one just needs to go to their Nightclub and open the wall near the main computer.
The player could be doing practically anything, and they would still get this passive income. Other businesses often force them to be selling stock or doing missions, but the Nightclub is far more generous in this regard.
Players can still sell various stocks if they own other businesses here if they desire. Similarly, this property does have a few missions to boost the business' popularity, which is necessary to keep the passive income high.
Terrorbyte and Oppressor Mk II
The Nightclub is the only business that can store the Terrorbyte. That vehicle is necessary to upgrade the Oppressor Mk II, which is an infamous vehicle in and of itself. Some notable upgrades include:
- Homing Missiles: $180,000
- Explosive MG: $275,000
- EMS Upgrade, Level 4: $33,500
Owning a Terrorbyte also gives players access to Paige's Client Jobs, which can be a decent way to make some cash (especially in a solo public lobby). Remember, owning a Terrorbyte and the Specialized Workshop upgrade is a necessity to upgrade the Oppressor Mk II (so it isn't cheap).
Huge vehicle capacity in these garages
There are three optional garage levels that a GTA Online player can purchase for their Nightclub. Each level can store up to ten vehicles, allowing a player to store over 30 vehicles if they utilize all three floors plus the default garage.
No other business comes close to storing this many vehicles, except for the Arena Workshop.

domain: game


The Greek ambient-EDM creator Bazlight released the three track single Leviathan within the past twenty hours.
The single comprises the original and two remixes of creamy electronic pulse that bathes the listener in warming techno.
The opening track is the original version, even that, extends to just over seven minutes.
Leviathan – Single – Bazlight is available on iTunes.*
Join Emerging Indie Bands on Twitter for more of the latest tracks from around the world.
*Purchases made through the iTunes link will result in Emerging Indie Bands earning a commission.


Who will Messianic Jews vote for in the Israeli elections?
Kehila News, Kehila News Staff, September 17, 2019
Messianic Jews and Christians are small religious minorities in Israel, and no party is particularly interested in them as voters. Especially not if that could cost them the vote of the greatly larger number of Orthodox Jews.
This situation puts Messianic Jews in Israel in a similar dilemma as many other religious minorities in the world, like Jews in the US or Muslims in Europe: On the one hand they usually agree to conservative values of the political right, but the political left proclaims it will safeguard their rights against the majority religion that rules the conservative parties.
Messianic congregations in Israel usually stay away from politics as pastors will not tell their congregational members who to vote for. Individual believers make their own decisions regarding their party of choice. Some vote for a conservative party, such as Yamina, the far-right Orthodox party led by Ayelet Shaked, or for Likud, the party led by Benjamin Netanyahu. The problem is that these parties tend to give more power to those who are usually antagonistic towards believers. For example, when believers have trouble getting a visa to Israel, making aliyah (immigration to Israel), or similar issues, recently it has been due in part to Ultra-Orthodox politicians (like the current Minister of the Interior Ariye Deri) with key influence in government, given by parties like these.
On the other hand, these are the parties that will oppose the creation of a Palestinian state, and that are in favor of Israel’s border to the Jordan river. They also share similar family values and they promote a free, capitalistic economy with lower taxes and less government intervention. These key issues usually provide enough incentive to receive many votes from Messianic Jews.
More left-wing parties which espouse the protection of religious minorities, such as the Democratic Union or Labor, do not share the conservative views of most Messianic Jews and Christians. They strongly support the creation of a Palestinian state, which could entail relinquishing control over parts of Jerusalem. In addition, they promote a secular leftist and sometimes socialist worldview, not largely held by Messianic Jews in Israel.
There are two small parties with Messianic Jews as members. One is the Jewish-Christian party The Bible Bloc, and the other is the Arab Christian party The Christian Liberal Movement, who have included a Russian-Israeli who promotes the party in Hebrew. Many consider their vote would be wasted since neither of them stand any chance of passing the necessary electoral threshold, and thus very few Messianic Jews and Christians will vote for them.


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Looking out to sea from the summit of Brim Fell near Coniston Old Man. Dow Crag is the summit on the right.
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This is the largest family portrait I have worked on to date. It includes a family of thirteen. The drawing was commissioned as a gift for the grandparents pictured in the drawing with all their children and grandchildren. The drawing is 30 x 50 cm in size drawn with graphite pencil on paper.
I had two photographs for reference. And although they were not too clear, they provided me with enough detail to complete the portrait and capture everybody’s likeness. The clients were very happy with the finished portrait and upon receiving it, the children could not believe how alike they looked in the drawing:
Hi Ivana! That looks fantastic!….The drawing arrived today, it is fantastic, the kids are amazed at how it looks so much like them! Many thanks and best wishesCiaran, Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland
The drawing took quite a while to complete due to the number of people and detail not only in their faces, but also clothes and background. The clients wanted to capture the balloons and decorations as a memory of the day the photo was taken.
I mounted the finished drawing in a neutral coloured mount before posting the portrait to the client.