Look Before You Leap: Investment in Small Businesses Receiving Government Funds
Often in the late stage of deals, misrepresentations in small business status may be uncovered and revenue expectations dependent on government funding may have to be reduced. When acquiring a small business involved in federally funded research and development activities, before progressing to this stage of the deal, it is advisable for the parties to diligently investigate the potential for loss of eligibility and cessation of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding.
Multiple categories of government procurements, including those for research and development activities, depend on socio-economic status, and these procurements permit expenditure of federal funds only on work performed by eligible entities, all with different eligibility requirements. These include, among others, procurements restricted to 8(a)-certified entities, self-certified small business entities, and veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses under both Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations and a separate statutory authority, which applies different standards only to purchases by the VA. However, the eligibility that is perhaps of greatest importance to many startups or other potentially small businesses with promising early-stage drugs, biologics, devices, countermeasures, and diagnostics is eligibility under the federal SBIR/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR program is intended to encourage domestic small businesses to engage in federal R&D with the potential for commercialization. The STTR program also funds R&D but through a structure that requires collaboration between the small business and a research institution with intent to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and the commercialization of resulting innovations. DOD and NIH SBIR/STTR funding together is over $1.5 billion per year.
Key SBIR/STTR Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this funding,
the firm plus its affiliates as defined must not have more than 500 employees (see comments regarding affiliates below); and
the firm must be more than 50% (a) directly (b) owned and controlled by
one or more individuals (who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States);
other small business concerns (each of which is more than 50% directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States);
an Indian tribe, ANC or NHO (or a wholly owned business entity of such tribe, ANC or NHO),
any combination of these; or
(only with respect to SBIR eligibility for agencies permitting this) multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these, but not other investment firms, none of which owns more than 50% unless that firm itself is a qualifying small business.
Note that SBA SBIR guidance appears to prohibit the 50% ownership and control test from being satisfied, for example, by a combination of venture capital and individual ownership interests.[1] For purposes of determining ownership and control, SBA will consider equity ownership on a fully-diluted basis.
Proposed transactions typically run into problems regarding existing or continued eligibility to receive SBIR awards or continued funding when, under certain circumstances, the number of employees both at existing or proposed investors and at all other companies controlled by these investors are not taken into account when calculating the size of the firm to be acquired (affiliation), when the right type of individual or corporate entities do not own and control the firm to be acquired, when the ownership requirement is met but controls are implemented by non-qualifying owners to prevent the qualifying ownership from fully controlling management and day-to-day operation of the company, and when required notices are not given to the government upon a change in eligibility.
Accordingly, investors must carefully consider the arcane and complex SBA affiliation rules that potentially would require consideration of numbers of employees at direct and indirect parents, subsidiaries, and other affiliates of the target company as well as employees of both the controlling owners and other companies controlled by these owners (even if only portfolio companies of an investor operating in unrelated industries) in determining whether the 500-employees SBIR size standard is met. Companies can be affiliated if one has the power to control more than 50% of the other's voting equity, through common management or board control, through identity of interest either between businesses controlled by family members or when one company is overly dependent on the other, if one is a newly organized firm arising from and closely associated with the other firm, if the companies are joint venturers, or if a subcontractor of the potentially SBIR-eligible entity performs primary and vital requirements of the funding agreement or is heavily relied upon by the potentially eligible entity. Affiliation may be found on a totality of the circumstances, even though no single factor is sufficient to constitute affiliation.
Because an investor may control both the target and other entities in related or unrelated industries, often it is not the number of employees at the investor that pushes the aggregated total number of employees over the 500-employee SBIR size standard but the employees from the other entities controlled by the investor, including portfolio companies. The one exception to this is that portfolio companies of an investor affiliate that is a venture capital operating company, a hedge fund, or a private equity firm will not be deemed affiliates of the SBIR candidate firm if the investor affiliate has only a minority interest in the SBIR candidate firm and has only a minority ownership interest in the portfolio company.
Investors also must carefully evaluate whether the composition of the proposed ownership meets SBIR requirements and whether, even if it does, proposed control structures would provide non-qualifying owners with control over aspects of management or the day-to-day operations of the target company, even though such control might, outside of the SBIR context, be considered a normal and expected condition of investment in a small business.
Has the firm in the past received government funding conditioned on its representation of eligibility as a small business?
Was the firm actually eligible when representations were made and/or at the time of award?
If the firm's status changed before or after award, was the firm required to and did it properly notify the government to ensure that receipt of funds remained proper?
Is future revenue or access to government sponsored research channels contingent on maintaining eligibility as a small business?
If so, is this revenue an important consideration in determining whether or how to proceed?
Does the proposed structure of the acquisition or investment render the firm ineligible for future SBIR awards, and, if so, can the needs of the acquiring entity or individuals be met through an alternative structure that preserves eligibility?
If you have any questions or would like more information on the issues discussed in this Insight, please contact the following Morgan Lewis lawyer:
Stephen Ruscus
[1] A firm also is eligible if owned and controlled by a joint venture when each of the entities participating in the joint venture itself would be eligible.
AUTHORS AND CONTACTS
Stephen E. Ruscus


Report: NBA players due same share of salaries, whether or not their teams continue
By Dan FeldmanJun 12, 2020, 3:00 PM EDT
Photo Illustration by Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Clippers guard Lou Williams' slated salary this season: $8 million. Knicks guard Elfrid Payton's slated salary this season: $8 million.
Should they get paid the same amount?
The Clippers are among 22 teams set to continue the season at Disney World. Players on those teams will effectively be confined to a closed campus for at least five weeks – longer if they advance through the playoffs. Families can't join for about seven weeks. Players must undergo daily coronavirus tests, which can be invasive.
The Knicks are already finished. Payton – and everyone else on the eight done teams – can just sit home and let other players do the difficult work of generating revenue amid the coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, players on those eight teams didn't ask for their seasons to end prematurely.
There is no easy answer.
But apparently there is a decided answer.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
All of the players are going to paid – and I mean all of them, I mean even the guys whose seasons are over – are going to get paid the same pro-rated amount as the players in the bubble.
Complicating matters, players on the continuing 22 teams who choose not to report to Disney World reportedly won't get paid for missed games. Which makes sense – until you consider that players on the other eight teams will get paid despite not playing.
Is that fair? Probably not.
But it's difficult to devise a fair system. The normal pay structure wasn't created for teams playing a disparate number of games. The normal structure definitely wasn't designed for the additional games to be so burdensome on players.
No player will get his full slated salary this season. With so many games canceled and fans no longer in attendance, league-wide revenue is way down. That supersedes whatever salary is slated in individual contracts, which is why a portion of paychecks are being withheld.
The big question was whether team games played would also affect salary. The answer is apparently no – though nothing is final. This could always become a topic of negotiation as some players resist returning.


Updated 6:38 AM ET, Fri July 24, 2015
Nicholas Sisk, 10, bows his head at a makeshift memorial outside a military recruiting center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Tuesday, July 21. Authorities say Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24, opened fire on the recruiting station on July 16 before moving to a U.S. Navy facility seven miles away. At the Navy facility, Abdulazeez fatally wounded four U.S. Marines and a Navy sailor before being killed in police gunfire.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes a remark about former Texas Gov. Rick Perry during a campaign rally in Bluffton, South Carolina, on Tuesday, July 21. "He put glasses on so people will think he's smart," Trump said. The two presidential hopefuls have been sparring on social media this week.
A beluga whale sprays water toward young visitors at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, an amusement park in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday, July 20.
This image of Earth was taken by NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite on July 6, 2015. The satellite was 1 million miles from Earth at the time of the photo. NASA says it's the first time an image of the full, sunlit side of Earth has been captured since Apollo 17's iconic "Blue Marble" photo in 1972. See more photos of the Earth from afar
Delegates, some in traditional dress, attend the opening of a climate summit in Paris on Tuesday, July 21. French President Francois Hollande called for an ambitious accord ahead of a United Nations conference to address the threat of global warming.
People in Grazalema, Spain, avoid a bull during the Toro de Cuerda festival on Monday, July 20. During the festival, a long rope restrains bulls as they run through the village's streets.
A wounded woman, left, holds the hand of another woman who is about to die just after an explosion rocked the Turkish city of Suruc on Monday, July 20. More than 30 people were killed and at least 100 others were wounded in what Turkish officials called a terrorist attack near the Syrian border.
Old fragments of a Quran are shown Wednesday, July 22, at the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, England. Radiocarbon analysis dates the parchment to the years between 568 and 645. This means it was created close to the time of the Prophet Mohammed, who is generally thought to have lived between the years 570 and 632.


Hive Reads
By Author Surname
Four-Part Fiction
SPFBO
Book ReviewsEpicFantasyMalazan
Home›Book Reviews›Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
By Laura M. Hughes
Genre giant Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon is the first in a ten-book series that you will inevitably love and worship. (Or hate and resent.) (Or maybe just give up on before reaching the end of book one.)
The first chapter in the truly epic Malazan Book of the Fallen introduces a hugely diverse and seemingly endless cast of characters: mages and soldiers; humans and not-quite-humans; demon lords and talking ravens; gods and nobodies; heroes and villains and others occupying the grey space in between. There are a great many overlapping storylines – huge-scale campaigns, deadly assassin wars, magical battles, political manoeuvring, covert missions – and not all of them appear to fit together very well (at least at first).
Yes, Gardens of the Moon gives us a LOT to take in, and the first three hundred pages or so are enough to leave any first-time readers as lost and helpless as a puppet with its strings cut. In the prologue to the newer editions Erikson himself states that he refuses to spoon-feed his readers, and finds it insulting and patronising when other writers do the same. His decision to withhold important backstory and omit dreary exposition is a conscious and tactical choice, and he is fully aware that Gardens of the Moon is likely to leave readers floundering.
However, Erikson assumes that those of us who choose to read his work don't mind floundering a little; don't mind having to work things out for ourselves, and don't mind waiting many hours and thousands of pages before the pieces finally begin to fit together. As someone who has read all ten books in this series I can unequivocally state that finally reaching the moment(s) when everything starts to make sense . . . makes ploughing through the confusion at the beginning so worthwhile.
The Malazan series as a whole contains enough 'ohhhh, so that's what that was about!' moments that the rewards of reading well outweigh the challenges. That said, it's only upon re-reading Gardens of the Moon and the rest that you really begin to appreciate the amount of planning and detail that Erikson has put into this series. There are so many tiny nuances that take on a double meaning, so much of the dialogue that becomes multi-layered, and so many little things that you didn't notice the first time but are steeped in pathos now that you're fully aware of the events to follow.
As a debut novel, Gardens of the Moon is insanely dense and ambitious. It's also incredibly clever and well-executed; and while I'm not claiming that Gardens of the Moon is the best book I've ever read, it is the first book in the best series I've ever read. In my opinion Gardens of the Moon is actually the weakest instalment of the entire Malazan Book of the Fallen, yet it's still spectacular (and far superior to much of what's on the shelves today).
If you haven't read Gardens of the Moon, my advice to you is 'read it, but have patience, and be prepared to read more in the series in order to fully appreciate it'. If you have already read it, then go ahead and re-read it right now.
Either way, you can thank me later.
TagsBantam PressGardens of the MoonMalazanSteven EriksonThe Malazan Book of the Fallen
Laura M. Hughes
Laura works as a freelance editor beneath the grey, pigeon-filled skies of northern England. When she isn't working on a manuscript or writing for the Hive, you're most likely to find her on Twitter, playing Dragon Age, or hoarding polyhedral dice. Laura also writes LitRPG under the pen name Demi Harper; her first novel, GOD OF GNOMES, was published in September 2019. She created The Fantasy Hive in 2017; her sanity has been steadily disintegrating ever since.
Laura's Books
Follow Laura
More from Laura
50 Most Anticipated SFF Books of 2020 posted a year ago
5 Reasons to Read 'The Faithful and the Fallen' posted 3 years ago
A Beginner's Guide to Malazan Characters: 'Gardens of the Moon' posted 3 years ago
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett posted 3 years ago
A Beginner's Guide to Malazan Characters: 'Deadhouse Gates' posted 3 years ago
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch posted 3 years ago
Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence posted 3 years ago
King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence posted 3 years ago
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss posted 3 years ago
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks posted 3 years ago
View thefantasyhive's profile on Facebook
View thefantasyhive's profile on Twitter
View thefantasyhive's profile on Instagram


Height: 6 ft 3″
Date of birth: 24th January, 1985
Turned pro: 2006 (plus 4)
Family: Wife – Annika. Daughter – Elsi
Residence: Lappeenranta, Finland & Orlando, Florida
Manager: Kate Whyte
After a short stay at the University of Minnesota, Antti returned to Europe with the ambition of turning professional.
He had his first victory in the Nordic League in 2005 at the Sonera Open as an amateur. He then went on to hold off Rory McIlroy in a playoff to win the Irish Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship.
Winning the Gant Open in the Nordic league proved to Antti that he could compete at this level and he turned professional in 2006 and signaled his intent as one of Finland's hottest prospects.
2008 was a great season for Antti as he was victorious on two occasions on the Challenge Tour. His victories came at the Abierto Visa de la Republica in Buenos Aires and the ECCO Tour Championship in Denmark.
In 2016, Antti played on the European Challenge Tour, as he has done for the past few seasons. He ended the season in 142nd on the Road to Oman Rankings after finishes of T21 at First Stage of Q-School and T33 at the Volopa Irish Challenge.
2017 saw Antti mainly play on the Nordic Golf League and has finished the season in 9th position on the final order of merit standings. A win at the Lannalodge Open was the highlight of his season.
Antti competed at tournaments on the Challenge Tour in 2018 through invitations and he finished his season ranked 89th on the rankings, securing Challenge Tour status for 2019.
His best finish of the 2018 season came at his home open, the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge, where he finished solo 4th.
Antti had dreams of becoming a professional ice hockey player as he was very accomplished at the sport.


Documentary History of American Water-works
Introduction Historical Background Chronology Geography Biography Technology Ownership and Financing General Bibliography
Middle Atlantic States Pennsylvania Carbondale
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale was incorporated as city in 1851.
The Carbondale City Water Company was incorporated on March 21, 1866 by B. M'Tighe, John E. Brown, Anthony Nealon, John M. Poore, John Nealon, Richard Foote and T. Voyle. It does not appear that this company built anything.
The Crystal Lake Water Company was incorporated on August 19, 1867 by Joseph A. Van Berger, William Henry Richmond and others. The company built a gravity system that began operating in 1868.
The company expanded and was eventually acquired by the Scranton Gas & Water Company, and eventually became part of the American Water Works Company.
Water is provided by Pennsylvania American Water.
1866 An act to incorporate the Carbondale City Water Company. March 21, 1866
1867 Crystal Lake Water Company incorporated. August 19, 1867.
1867 "New Water Company," The Luzerne Union (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), August 28, 1867, Page 2.
The Crystal Lake Water Company of this place was incorporated by decree of the court last week. It is the intention of the company, we understand, to proceed at once with the erection of their works and the introduction of water. Complaints are bitter and deep about the extortion of the old company, and our citizens would hail with delight a company which would supply water within the bounds of reason. The borough of Norristown, not much larger than this place, with expensive pumping machinery, is supplied with water at about one fourth the price charged here, where the water runs down the pipes with a natural fall from the mountains, and no expense but original cost in pipe-laying and repairs.
1882 Carbondale, from Engineering News, 9:50 (February 11, 1882)
1882 Carbondale from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1888 "Carbondale," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1897 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, by Chapman Publishing Company
Pages 377-378: Joseph B. Van Bergen. Being president of the Crystal Lake Water Company that furnishes the city with its fine system of water works and was one of its organizers.
1905 "Scranton Gas & Water has acquired properties of Consolidated Company," The Scranton Truth, June 27, 1905, Page 2.
Crystal Lake Water Company
1907 "Rates are to high," The Scranton Republican, December 17, 1907, Page 3. | part 2 |
1917 "The Grand Old Man of Scranton," by Frank Allaben, The Journal of American History 11(4):421-443 (July, 1917)
Page 442: William Henry Richmond. He was the projector and chief stockholder of the Crystal Lake Water Company.
© 2019 Morris A. Pierce


Here's how long you can safely store your Thanksgiving leftovers
Food leftovers are indeed a part of Thanksgiving.
But the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that there is a limitation on how long you can keep that food – including your turkey and some of the cranberry sauce.
Leftovers from the celebration can stay anywhere ranging from three to four days, and can even last for a couple to six months based on where you plan to store it.
The USDA recommends the use of divided containers for different leftovers to make sure that they are stored and kept safe from the formation of harmful bacteria.
Here's how you store your Thanksgiving leftovers safely, as reported by FOX News:
This Thanksgiving favorite can be stored in a fridge for three up to four days.
The storing strategy is also applicable to other meat-based food you had on your Thanksgiving like cooked beef, cooked pork, and cooked chicken. Plant-based food, on the other hand, will sit safely in your fridge for up to a week or in a freezer for five months, the USDA's FoodKeeper App said.
This holiday leftover can be best consumed or stored in the chilled within three or four days. It can last for two or three months when frozen.
Thanksgiving vegetables
The greens you partake during Thanksgiving, including the green beans, mashed potatoes, and yams can be stored in a fridge to last for three or four days.
Cranberry sauce is available in cans or one can opt to make it from their own kitchen. These two options have two different shelf lives.
Canned cranberry sauce can stay in the refrigerator for a week to two after opening, while the homemade ones, also refrigerated, can last up to a week to ten days, the USDA's FoodKeeper App said.
The USDA said unfinished gravy can safely be stored inside your fridge for three to four days. When placed in a freezer, it can last for four to six months.
The egg, cream, or chiffon-homemade pies can be kept in the fridge for three to four days. Different kinds of pies like pecan, pumpkin, custard and lemon meringue can be stored this way. Meanwhile, fruit pies can be stored at room temperature for one to a couple of days. They can also last a week if they are kept in a fridge
mardonneyarcenas


Centerline.news covers culture and politics from the viewpoint of Jim Bessman, a veteran free-lance journalist.
@JimBessman
Barbara Cook--An appreciation
Jim Bessman
Christine Lavin's video for Barbara Cook's version of Janis Ian's "Stars"
Janis Ian was hardly alone in assessing the death last Tuesday of Barbara Cook as "a huge loss to the community—and the cabaret world in particular," being that Cook had "come to define cabaret" in the mid-1970s following a Tony-winning (The Music Man, 1958) Broadway musical career.
But Ian had a special insight into what made Cook, who was 89, so special as a cabaret singer.
"She made the first seminal recording of my song 'Stars'—after mine, of course!" says Ian, whose "Stars" was her poignant 1974 album titletrack reflecting the loneliness of stardom.
"She did a beautiful job on it with a full orchestra—totally opposite of everything I did with it. And then she said she wanted to do a cabaret show around it, and I was going to come up with new material."
Sadly, Cook took ill and the show never happened. But Cook was such a fan of Ian that she used her as an opening act, and "also did a brilliant job on another song of mine, 'Candlelight.'" But her recording of "Stars," according to contemporary folk singer-songwriter Christine Lavin, was one of the "all-time great pairings of a phenomenal song with a magnificent singer and musical arrangement."
"It's one of those music events that crosses all boundaries," continues Lavin. "No matter what kind of music you love, I've never met anyone who doesn't love how she sings it. It's even more heartbreakingly beautiful listening to her sing it now that she is gone."
In fact, Lavin was so moved by Cook's interpretation of "Stars" that she put together a retrospective career slideshow YouTube video for it.
"It's photos of her stage and concert career, just looking back over her life--like an 'in memoriam' tribute, though I posted it a couple months ago on the day she retired. The song is so moving, and combined with the photos I ended up crying--and I made the thing! I didn't know her personally—I almost met her in a grocery store on the Upper West Side but I had a bad cold so I waved to her and told her I loved her work and quickly ran out of the store!—but she was incomparable. Just hearing her voice and looking at the photos of her onstage is the best contribution I can make to her legacy."
That legacy includes teaching, notes Ian.
"She was one of the great teachers—though nobody realized this outside o her students," says Ian, herself a student of famed late acting coach Stella Adler, "so I recognize a good teacher—and I saw her give one of the best master classes in singing that I've ever seen."
New York dramatic soprano Jenny Lynn Stewart, whose reporetoire includes opera, musicals and cabaret, has been likened to a cross between a very young Barbara Cook and late opera great Eileen Farrell, and worked with Cook in a coaching session ahead of a Lincoln Center performance by Stewart a year ago last April.
"It was like a dream come true," says Stewart. "I responded to a post on Facebook that Barbara Cook was interested in coaching singers, though it seemed as though it just wasn't going to happen because she was working on her book [her memoir Then & Now] and a new show. Then I was told she had finished her book and the show was postponed and she was available to coach me."
Working with Cook, adds Stewart, was on her bucket list for at least 12 years.
"It was very exciting to finally work with someone who had inspired me for so many years," she says. "It was great: She greeted me at the door with a big smile. She was wheelchair bound, but that didn't seem to have any bearing on her spirits for she was incredibly positive with me, and we worked together for two hours."
Stewart recalls working with Cook on "Somebody, Somewhere" from The Most Happy Fella and "What's the use of Wond'rin" from Carousel.
"We talked a lot about the keys of various songs--since both of us were classically trained singers--and about making the music accessible to the listener," says Stewart. "She told me that I didn't have to do anything and to just be myself while singing. I think Barbara was always herself on stage and openly showed her own vulnerability."
And "her mind was sharp as a tack and she remembered every word and every note of those two songs," adds Stewart.
"It was thrilling working with her," she concludes.
Incidentally, Cook's versions of Ian's "Stars" and "Candlelight" both appear on her 1977 album As of Today.
Magnolia Sisters' Ann Savoy and Jane Vidrine s...
Roberto Clemente a big hit at APAP
Inspired by Tony Bennett's memoir, APAP exhibi...


WNBA Teams Wonder About Mosqueda-Lewis' D
WNBA teams aren't sure what position Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will play.
Published Apr 16, 2015 at 10:13 AM
Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) drives past Memphis' Ariel Hearn (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)
The WNBA Draft is Thursday night, which means that the speculation will be over and we'll know exactly where Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will be playing next season. For now, we're all still wondering -- based not only on how the players will go off the board once the draft starts, but how teams picking early in the draft feel about Mosqueda-Lewis.
As one of the best shooters to ever come through UConn, no one questions her ability to put the ball through the hoop. The issues arise when teams try to find a position for Mosqueda-Lewis, particularly on defense.
Geno Auriemma's response was typically Geno Auriemma. When asked how Mosqueda-Lewis would be able to guard a player like Diana Taurasi, he said (via the Hartford Courant), "Tell me who can guard [Taurasi]?"
Fair question. But also fair are the concerns about Mosqueda-Lewis on the defensive end. Indiana assistant coach Gail Goestenkors spoke about those concerns earlier this season.
"Well, there is no better shooter than she is," Goestenkors said, via the Courant. "If a team needs a shooter, she's going. But her defense and her conditioning are the question marks.
"She's going to have to defend, at the three on the perimeter, and the question is can she defend the most athletic players in the league. Will she get herself into the best shape of her life?
"Again, there is so much respect for Geno and what he is able to get from his players. So with [Mosqueda-Lewis] you wonder if she hasn't gotten herself into tip-top shape at UConn, will she do it at the next level. To have a job, you have to be in great shape and be able to do certain things. But she is big, strong and physical, so that's a good thing.
"But every team needs a player like her. Every team is searching for more shooters. They need one that in crunch time can be depended on. In terms of her defense, she may just need to be one of the smartest players on the floor, one that's able to use angles [to help]."


Nonprofit, Charities, Fundraising
Business, Finance & Economics/
WA community protests against greyhound racing at Cannington track
Dog lovers from across Perth are expected to protest against greyhound racing outside the Cannington racetrack on New Year's Eve.... more
Wednesday, December 29th, 2021 - Free the Hounds Inc
A Bright Future in Sight as The IDEAS Van and St John Ambulance Merge
The IDEAS Van, Australia's first mobile Ophthalmic treatment facility to combat avoidable blindness in remote and vulnerable Australian communities, has joined forces with St John Ambulance Queensland. St John will continue to provide state of... more
Tuesday, November 9th, 2021 - The IDEAS Initiative
mcrIT and Cisco Meraki stabilise Australian Red Cross remote area networks, while enhancing security posture
Sydney – October 27, 2021 — mcrIT, a Sydney-based, leading IT Service Provider partnered with Cisco Meraki to bolster Australian Red Cross' highly dependent remote IT network while enhancing their security posture. ... more
Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 - mcrIT
mIoT partner with charity Books in Homes to celebrate First Nations people's water knowledge for National Water Week
Each October, the Australian Water Association organises National Water Week, making a splash across Australia by inspiring communities and organisations to build awareness around the value of water.... more
Monday, October 18th, 2021 - mIoT
Cat Haven Celebrates 60 Years Of Community Service
Cat Haven celebrated its 60th Birthday today (Friday 8th October 2021 from 11.00am) with a morning tea onsite their premises in Shenton Park which saw both Federal and State Politicians along with the Minister for Local Government John Carey, long te... more
Friday, October 8th, 2021 - McNaught Media
Girls Exposed to 'Shadow Pandemic' of Sexual Abuse, GFA World Says
TOOWOOMBA, Qld -- COVID-19 has triggered a "shadow pandemic" of sexual abuse, violence and exploitation against girls, a shocking new report reveals on International Day of the Girl Child, Oct. 11.... more
Thursday, October 7th, 2021 - GFA - Gospel for Asia
GFA World Summons Next Generation to 'Fight Back' Against 'Chaotic' Culture
TOOWOOMBA, Qld -- One of the largest mission organisations in the world is challenging the next generation of young Christians to "fight back against the cultural attack on your faith" -- as recent research shows an alarming drop in the n... more
Wednesday, September 8th, 2021 - GFA - Gospel for Asia


Murley Miller
Director of Major Gifts
Major & Planned Giving
Beth Eden - 211
millerma@denison.edu
Murley received a B.S. in education from Ohio University and has worked in higher education development for the majority of her 25-year fundraising career. She joined Denison's Institutional Advancement team as director of major gifts in 2014, where she works with donors to secure support for the college's strategic initiatives. Murley, credentialed by CFRE International, has served previously as vice president for advancement at Ohio Dominican University and as director of development for the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University.
Degree(s)


The Oscars Know They're So White and Don't Really Care
January 29, 2020 filmadmin
The Oscars nominations have been out for 2 weeks now and I am still upset. Almost everywhere you look, there is some kind of discussion going on around the lack of equality and diversity paired with calls to fix it. This year's biggest award show in the film industry is no exception.
The Oscars have come under fire for their lack of diversity on numerous occasions, and soon after the 2020 Nominations were released, the Academy Awards made headlines for all the wrong reasons once again. This year's nominations seem to be part two of the #OscarsSoWhite fiasco in 2015, with nearly all of the nominations being given to white, male-led, male-directed, and male-focused films.
In Best Picture, undoubtedly the most prestigious award of the night, six out of nine of the nominated movies were directed by white males, and with the exception of Marriage Story, were about and led by white males. Little Women, also nominated, was directed by Greta Gerwig, who takes up the only woman-directed spot in the category. The two diverse options in the category are Jojo Rabbit, a Nazi comedy directed by and starring Taika Waititi, and Parasite, a Korean film directed by Bong Joon-Ho.
There is a similar pattern across the other major categories. Here's a rundown in case you haven't gotten around to looking up nominations: Best Director? All male. Yes, really. It was a huge relief to read Bong Joon-Ho's name at the end of this list, making him the only non-white male nominee. The Best Actor and Best Actress categories have a cap of five nominations max, and feature four white people and one token person of color each.
The nominations are so white, cis-gendered, and male-lead this year that every nomination for a marginalized individual or film about one just feels overwhelmingly tokenised. In fact, as if to prove that they know just how bad the nominations were, the Academy made ample effort to appear inclusive. The nominations were announced by John Cho and Issa Rae, following a list of A-list presenters including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Rami Malek, Regina King, and more. While this is of course a great lineup of presenters and a step-up from previous years, it still feels so wrong to have them presenting such non-diverse nominations.
In a perfect world, having diversity at the Oscars means going beyond nominating non-white or male individuals, but also means seeing films about diverse stories and people represented in the nominations. Films like Us, Harriet, The Farewell, and Dolemite Is My Name were snubbed in the major categories. Social media rightly exploded when Lupita Nyong'o missed out on a nomination for her performance in Us. She showed impressive range in playing two different characters giving us something extra we didn't really see in some performances nominated for Best Actress. The Farewell tells an artfully crafted story about family dynamics, cultural displacement and explores traditions in Chinese culture that would have made a great addition to the Best Picture list.
In all fairness, the Oscars are trying to make progress. In 2012, 94 percent of the voters (5,700) were white, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the last two years, the Oscars have invited over 1,500 more members into the Academy with voting rights. This opens up the opportunity for more diverse voters to be a part of the voting process. And it is true that diverse directors have recently won major awards. While this is progress, it's not enough–it's too slow and not enough. If the Oscars want to maintain ratings, and quite frankly, respect, they need to start producing a show that celebrates stories and people from all walks of life.
Emily Rivero is a junior at Florida International University studying Creative Writing and Film Studies. She is an aspiring screenwriter who subscribes to too many streaming services and wishes Netflix would stop asking if she's "still watching."
author: Emily RiveroOscars
Previous PostThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: A Well-Earned MigraineNext PostOscar Watch Party 2020


San Diego Air & Space Museum
Local Online Shopping
2001 Pan American Plaza
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving Day.
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California's official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and was the first aero-themed Museum to… read more
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California's official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Now showing: Be the Astronaut, a fun, interactive experience where you fly and spaceship, drive a rover and land on the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and an asteroid. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with admissions until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Visit Be the Astronaut throught 2017
Book your next special event at the Air & Space Museum
163 South to Park Avenue. Left on Park. Left on President's Way. Left into Pan American Plaza.


7-up Serena surpasses Steffi
29 Jan 2017 1:18 AM GMT
Melbourne: Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her 23rd grand slam singles title and become the most successful tennis player in the open era.
The 35-year-old American's victory gave her a seventh Melbourne Park crown and sent her clear of Germany's Steffi Graf at the top of the list of most prolific grand slam winners since the game turned professional in 1968.
The second seed overcame a stuttering serve to take a topsy turvy opening set and one break of 36-year-old Venus's serve proved enough to claim the second after 82 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
The victory also wrested back the world number one ranking from Angelique Kerber who swiped it away during her winning run to the US Open championship.
Crediting elder sister Venus for motivating her to be the best, Serena said after receiving the trophy: "Thank you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player that I can be. There's no way I would be at No.23 without her. Without her, the 'Williams Sisters' wouldn't exist."
"We'll see her again next year... I don't like the word 'comeback.' She never left," Serena said of Venus.
Venus was oldest finalist in Melbourne in the professional era and won huge admiration for her unlikely run to the final.
"Serena Williams, that's my little sister, guys," she said beaming. "Congratulations Serena on number 23, I've been right there with you, some of them I've lost with you.
"Your win has always been my win, you know that.
"I'm enormously proud of you, you mean the world to me."
At 35, an age at which most former champions have enjoyed life after tennis for several years, Serena's powers appear undiminished and she will now train her sights on Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 major titles.
Rightly or wrongly, many will feel Serena's top ranking in history is already assured, with Court's haul split between the amateur and professional eras and the American's silverware amassed despite numerous physical setbacks.
In the ultimate throwback tournament, Serena met her sister on the same Rod Laver Arena court where 14 years before she had edged her in three sets to claim her first Melbourne Park crown.
Eight years had passed since their last grand slam decider at Wimbledon in 2009, and their combined ages in Melbourne added up to the 'oldest' major final ever contested.
They walked down the corridor silently prior to the match, with Serena tuned into headphones and Venus focusing only ahead. It was a tense start and neither player was able to hold serve until Venus took the fifth game.
Serena was the worst afflicted by the nerves, and she smashed her racket in a rage in just the third game after she slipped behind the baseline when chasing down a ball. She double-faulted three times to be broken a second time, causing a gasp from the crowd.
But galvanised by her serve, Serena soon settled and the blistering groundstrokes from the baseline began to find their mark as she surged to a 5-3 lead before sealing the set by thumping a pair of aces.
With Serena renowned as one of the best front-runners in the game, Venus showed her readiness to scrap, and she saved three break points to hold in the third game.
But she was never on safe ground, with Serena feasting on her second serve.
Serena pounced in the seventh game, firing a searing backhand return to break and served out to love to come within a game of the title. Having dragged Serena to 15-30 at 5-4 on her serve, Venus dropped her racket in despair as she hammered a forehand into the net to give up match point.
Serena needed no further reason and after a furious exchange of shots, she charged in to the net swinging to claim yet another major title.


To Charles Lyell 8 [May 1860]
Down Bromley Kent
My dear Lyell
Your letter contained much news for me.— It is indeed most important that the Cambrian or Barrandes primordial should be getting so much separated (in spite of Murchison) from Lower Silurian: I did not at all know this.1
I fear it is not very likely that I shall be up on 16th (I have written to J. Lubbock)2 though I shd. much like to hear the paper & discussions, for, I am sure that you will both be sorry to hear that Etty is ill with remittent Fever.3 There is at present no cause for anxiety, though she is very ill, & the Fever is sure to run on for a fortnight or three weeks, and anxiety always knocks me up.—
I have sent for Canadian Naturalist;4 if I cannot procure a copy I will borrow yours.— I had letter from Henslow this morning who says that Sedgwick was on last Monday night to open a battery on me at Cambridge Phil. Socy. —5 Anyhow I am much honoured by being attacked there & at Royal Soc. of Edinburgh.—6 With respect to Aster, I remember long ago reading curious paper by Asa Gray & another on Aster, in which they give cases of two forms so very distinct that they must consider them specifically distinct, & yet perfectly united by intermediate varieties or links & they admit that in almost every other case that this suffices to upset two species as distinct.—7 But I do not think it worth while to contradict single cases. Nor is it worth while arguing against those who do not attend to what I state. A moment reflexion will show you that there must be (on our doctrine) large genera not varying—see p. 56 on this subject in 2d Edit of Origin— Though I do not there discuss case in detail—
It may be sheer bigotry for my own notions, but I prefer to the Atlantis my notion of plants & animals having migrated from old to new world or conversely when climate was much hotter by approximately the line of Behring's Straits.8 It is most important as you say to see living forms of plants going back so far in time. I wonder whether we shall ever discover the flora of dry land of the Coal period & find it not so anomalous as the swamp or coal-making flora!
I am working away over the blessed Pigeon manuscript;9 but from one cause or another I get on very slowly,—chiefly from my abominable stomach.—
This morning I got letter from Acad. Nat. Sc. of Philadelphia, announcing that I am elected a Correspondent;10— I do not suppose that this is much of honour; but it shows that some naturalists there do not think me such a scientific profligate as many think me here.—
Ever | My dear Lyell | Yours gratefully | C. Darwin
What a grand fact about extinct Stags horn worked by man!—11
See letter from Charles Lyell, 7 May 1860. CD refers to Roderick Impey Murchison.
In the missing portion of his previous letter, Lyell had evidently mentioned several of the topics to be discussed at the next meeting of the Geological Society of London on 16 May 1860 (see letter from Charles Lyell, 7 May 1860). Édouard Amant Isidore Hippolyte Lartet and Leonard Horner spoke about the evidence for humans having existed contemporaneously with animals that had since become extinct. John Lubbock was also deeply interested in the topic.
An entry in Emma Darwin's diary on 7 May 1860 records that Henrietta Emma Darwin was suffering from 'cold & fever'. She had fallen ill on 28 April 1860 (Emma Darwin's diary).
A review entitled 'Darwin on the origin of species by means of natural selection', signed 'J. W. D.', appeared in the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist 5 (1860): 100–20. John William Dawson was the editor of the journal. CD's copy of the article (Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL) identifies Dawson as the author; CD also wrote on it: 'good geologist & Palaeontologist.'
See preceding letter and letter from J. S. Henslow to J. D. Hooker, 10 May 1860.
A reference to Andrew Murray's critique of Origin in a paper read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 20 February 1860 (Murray 1860a).
CD may be referring to Torrey and Gray 1838–43, 2: 104, in which the following statement is included in a passage discussing difficulties in the classification of species of Aster: It must, however, be admitted that, in this as in all large and natural genera, several species which we cannot but consider as distinct (such for instance as A. cordifolius and A. sagittifolius) do frequently present very puzzling intermediate forms;
CD refers to Edward Forbes's proposed former Miocene continent, across which organisms were supposed to have migrated from Europe to the Azores. CD rejected hypothetical continents and other land-bridges for which there was no obvious geological evidence in favour of occasional and accidental transport of seeds and ova across the intervening ocean. He and Lyell had discussed the subject at length in 1856. See Correspondence vol. 6, especially letters to Charles Lyell, 16 [June 1856] and 25 June [1856], and letters from Charles Lyell, 17 June 1856 and [1 July 1856].
CD was drafting chapters on pigeons that were eventually published in Variation (see 'Journal'; Appendix II).
CD had been elected as a corresponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (see letter to Thomas Stewardson, 8 May 1860). The academy, founded in 1812, was one of the most prestigious scientific societies in the United States.
Lartet 1860, p. 472.
Lartet, Edouard. 1860. On the coexistence of man with certain extinct quadrupeds, proved by fossil bones, from various Pleistocene deposits, bearing incisions made by sharp instruments. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 16: 471–5.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Did not know about separation between Silurian and Cambrian.
Cannot attend Geological Society meeting.
Etty [Henrietta Darwin] ill.
Sedgwick in his attack at Cambridge Philosophical Society states "there must be [on CD's theory] large genera not varying".
Discusses migration of plants and animals from Old World to New.
Views of Asa Gray on Aster.
Mentions flora of coal period.
Has been elected to Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.211)
Lyell, Charles
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 8


Coalition Overview
CPR Members, Partners & Coalitions
Work with CPR
Intro to Pesticides
CA Pesticide Use
Impacts of Pesticides
Pesticides & Human Health
Pesticides and Air
Pesticides and Water
Alternatives to Pesticides
Genetically Engineered Crops
Climate Change & Pesticides
California's regulatory system
Pesticide Use Near Schools
Pesticide Exposure Guides
Pesticide Use Maps
Safe Air For Everyone (SAFE)
Healthy Homes
Pesticides in Air
Pesticide drift is any airborne movement of pesticides away from the intended target site, including droplets, dusts, volatilized vapor-phase pesticides and pesticide-contaminated soil particles. Some application methods disperse pesticides directly into the air, by aerial spraying, ground rig broadcast sprays and orchard mist-blowers. Once on a target surface, pesticide residue can volatilize by evaporation or be transported into the atmosphere on dust particles. Volatilization from soil and surface waters is a primary pathway for many pesticides to dissipate as much as 80-90 percent of certain compounds can be lost within a few days of application through this process.
Today, pesticides have been detected in the atmosphere throughout the nation, and a wide variety of pesticides are present in air, rain, snow and fog. There is significant evidence that pesticides used in one part of the country are transported through the atmosphere and deposited in other parts of the country and beyond, sometimes in places where pesticides are not even used. Even in the Arctic and Antarctic pesticides are found in the air, snow, people and animals. The extent of atmospheric contamination has not been adequately studied. Only 2 national scale, multiyear studies have been done since the late 1960s, testing for only 25 percent of the total number of pesticides in current use.
For more information, please visit the SAFE campaign page.
Californians for Pesticide Reform
2029 University Ave., Suite 200
pests@pesticidereform.org
Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Californians for Pesticide Reform. (You can unsubscribe anytime)
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Californians for Pesticide Reform, 2029 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA, 94704, http://www.pesticidereform.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact


Machine Learning for Signal Processing
Call for Proposals: MLSP 2023
Home » Special Sessions
Call for Special Sessions
The MLSP 2021 technical program will highlight a series of Special Sessions to complement the regular program with important and emerging topics in a field of special interest to the MLSP participants. Each Special Session should be a focused effort rather than defined broadly.
Special Session Requirements
The target for each Special Session is more than 5 accepted papers (minimum 4 papers). The following information should be included in the proposal:
Title of the proposed special session.
Names and affiliations of the organizers (including brief bio and contact info).
Session abstract (state the motivation and significance of the topic, and the rationale of the proposed session).
List of invited papers (including a tentative title, author list and a 300-word abstract for each paper).
In addition to invited papers, other potential authors will be allowed to submit papers to Special Sessions. All papers will go through the same review process as the regular papers submitted to the main conference to ensure that the contributions are of high quality.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the timeliness of the topic and relevance to MLSP, as well as the track record of the organizers and anticipated quality of papers in the proposal session. When considering submitting a Special Session proposal, please bear in mind that approved Special Session organizer(s) and Special Session Chairs are expected to coordinate the review process.
For further inquiries you may contact the organizers at: lsheng@buaa.edu.cn.
Special Session Proposals Due: April 30th, 2021
Notification of Special Session Acceptance: May 7th, 2021
Submission of full-length papers: May 31st, 2021 June 14th, 2021
Special Session Proposal: Submission Form Template – PDF Format
Special Session Proposal: Submission Form Template – Word Format
Proposals should be submitted to lsheng@buaa.edu.cn before the deadline.
Accepted Special Sessions
The following special sessions have been accepted.
Machine Learning for Image and Video Understanding,
Prof. Xinxiao Wu, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
Prof. Han Wang, Beijing Forestry University, China
Real-time vision-based contactless perception for human-centered smart building and human health ,
Prof. Xiaogang CHENG, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China
Prof. Bin Yang, Xi' An University of Architecture and Technology, China
© Copyright 2023 IEEE – All rights reserved. A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.


The Lady of the Lake
Vendor: Andrzej Sapkowski
Now a Netflix original series
Trapped in a world ruled by the Elves, separated from Geralt and her destiny, Ciri will need all her training as a fighter and sorceress to return to her own time in the fifth book of the New York Times bestselling series that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games.
After walking through the portal in the Tower of Swallows while narrowly escaping death, Ciri finds herself in a completely different world... an Elven world. She is trapped with no way out. Time does not seem to exist and there are no obvious borders or portals to cross back into her home world.
But this is Ciri, the child of prophecy, and she will not be defeated. She knows she must escape to finally rejoin the Witcher and his companions - and also to try to conquer her worst nightmare. Leo Bonhart, the man who chased, wounded and tortured Ciri, is still on her trail. And the world is still at war.
Andrzej Sapkowski, winner of the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement award, started an international phenomenon with his Witcher series.
Now, look out for The Tower of Fools, book one of Andrzej Sapkowski's Hussite Trilogy, coming in October 2020
Witcher novelsBlood of ElvesThe Time of ContemptBaptism of FireThe Tower of SwallowsLady of the LakeSeason of Storms
Witcher collectionsThe Last WishSword of Destiny
The Malady and Other Stories: An Andrzej Sapkowski Sampler (e-only)
Translated from original Polish by David French
Author: Sapkowski, Andrzej
Publisher: Orbit
Vanessa Riley
Island Queen
"Richly detailed, vividly depicted, and sweeping in scope, Island Queen is historical fiction at its absolute finest. A stunning must-read "--Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of The Most...
T. West Fields
Daughter of Mine: Innocence Broken
The Kingsley's seemed like a normal family moving into a duplex house in Boynton Beach, Florida. When this one family began to interact with the neighborhoods around them the impact...
Latanya McQueen
When the Reckoning Comes
A haunting novel about a black woman who returns to her hometown for a plantation wedding and the horror that ensues as she reconnects with the blood-soaked history of the...
Brit Bennett
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick "Bennett's tone and style recalls James Baldwin and Jacqueline Woodson, but it's especially reminiscent of Toni Morrison's 1970...
Vailes Shepperd
A Good Ending for Bad Memories
A Good Ending for Bad Memories is a multi-generational tale that follows the matriarchal lineage of a splintered woman with an irregular memory. Equal parts sprawling travelogue and family saga, A Good...
Casino Diamonds
Murder of A Boss: Rise of The Black Diamond Cartel
Binding Type: PaperbackAuthor: Diamonds, CasinoPublished: 04/14/2021Publisher: Independently PublishedISBN: 9798707770449Pages: 234Weight: 0.70lbsSize: 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.49d
Quan Millz
Old THOT Next Door
OLD THOT NEXT DOOR is indeed a long-anticipated ratchet soap opera thriller by bestselling African-American Urban Fiction author QUAN MILLZ.Meet Vernita Ernestine Washington, a feisty 76-year-old woman who doesn't care...
The pioneering novel of physical disability, transatlantic travel, and black international politics. A vital document of black modernism and one of the earliest overtly queer fictions in the African American...


GOP Health Care Vote Delayed as Republican Senators Balk at Medicaid Cuts
The BradСast
Brad Friedman. Sputnik International
https://sputniknews.com/radio_the_bradcast/201706271055041358-gop-health-care-vote-delayed/
Things fell apart quickly for Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over the past 24 hours after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office announced that the Senate GOP health care scheme would result in 22 million Americans losing health care coverage by 2026, 15 million next year alone.
© REUTERS / Jonathan Bachman
US Senate Healthcare Bill Leaves 22Mln More Without Insurance Than Obamacare
As fellow Republicans balked at McConnell's "Better Care Reconciliation Act" bill, as written, he was forced to back away from his vow to hold a vote on the plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) this week. That vote, if it ever comes, will now wait until sometime after the July 4th recess and after more Senators have the chance to hear from constituents about the unpopular legislation.
So, the deal making process begins to win 50 votes for passage, somehow, in the US Senate, as moderate Republicans like Sen. Susan Collins cited the legislation's massive cuts to Medicaid (which other Republicans spent the weekend pretending did not exist) as harmful to her constituents and, specifically, to already struggling rural hospitals in her home state of Maine.
Joining us today to explain the nexus between Medicaid and the health of hospitals are health care reform analysts ALLEN DOBSON and RANDY HAUGHT of Dobson and DaVanzo & Associates. Their new study, published by the Commonwealth Fund, details huge disparities in the effects that the GOP health care plans to slash Medicaid and cut taxes for the wealthy will have on hospitals in Medicaid expansion v. non-expansion states and in urban and rural areas. They also explain how the GOP's attempted cuts to Medicaid will affect all Americans, not only those who directly receive benefits under the program.
"Medicaid is absolutely critical to the survival of the hospital," Dobson explains, particularly in rural areas, as well as places where services were upgraded thanks to the expansion of Medicaid under ObamaCare. If Medicaid is now cut under the GOP plans, "what you've done is you've weakened a hospital. A hospital that is sick financially is a hospital that is sick for everybody in the community. You're not just hurting Medicaid- you're not just hurting the Medicaid folks, the so-called 'poverty population', you're hurting everybody in the community, because when a hospital can't provide the quality care it would like to one guy, it can't provide it to the next guy, either."
Dobson, a health economist (he explains what that means) and Haught, a thirty-year data analyst of health care reform legislation and regulations, also offer their thoughts on whether the proposed GOP plans in the House and Senate actually speak to any of the problems Republicans have long cited in regard to ObamaCare, such as claims that it kills jobs and harms the economy. Dobson explains why the ACA arguably helped the economy, and charges the GOP effort in the Senate "is hardly a healthcare bill" and "primarily about taxes, getting set up for a broader tax cut." Haught adds: "For actual health care, we don't see anything in [the GOP plans] that's going to improve the quality of care, nor the access to healthcare coverage."
We also discuss whether a single payer "Medicare-for-All" style health care system is as feasible in the US as it is in other major developed countries, and why the US has yet to adopt such a system.
All of this as Trump tried to rally Republican Senators at the White House today, and McConnell attempts to regroup his caucus in hopes of jamming through the GOP's long-promised repeal of the Affordable Care Act come hell, high water, or tens of millions of Americans who will no longer have health care coverage in the US…
You can find Brad's previous editions here. And tune in to radio Sputnik five days a week.
We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com
healthcare, Medicaid, Trumpcare, GOP


Data and Research December 14, 2021
DC Specialists and Their Value to Plan Sponsors
Plan sponsors are paying more attention to the value DC specialists bring to the table, including increased attention to plan design review.
Voya Investment Management (IM), the asset management business of Voya Financial Inc., has announced the findings of the third edition of its survey of plan sponsors and defined contribution (DC) specialist advisers. The survey was developed to help DC specialists better understand the needs of their clients and prospects, while giving plan sponsors a chance to voice their hopes and concerns.
The survey, conducted in 2021 between mid-February and early March, found sponsors and DC specialists continue to share views on many aspects of retirement plan support and service, but where differences exist, they indicate that DC specialists feel their services add greater value than plan sponsors recognize.
"Sponsors told us they are looking to specialists for a broad spectrum of advice and want higher levels of expertise, which again underscores the need for specialists to make sponsors aware of all that they can do," says Jake Tuzza, Voya IM head of intermediary distribution.
A change noted in this year's survey results is that sponsors are paying more attention to plan design issues, as guidance on updating plan design and features was the second most frequently cited DC specialist support area being sought. The survey did find upticks in sponsor recognition that DC specialists help keep plan costs reasonable (93%) and that DC specialist compensation is proportional to the support provided (85%). Also encouraging, Voya says sponsors are more likely to say they understand the DC specialist's compensation and fee disclosures (73%).
The survey also looked at several other issues impacting sponsors and specialists, including the impact of COVID-19, use of target-date funds (TDFs) and the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act.
Voya says the most common pandemic-related impact on retirement plans was an increase in hardship withdrawals. Only one in five sponsors saw no impacts, and many noted the need for "post-COVID realignment" to drive better participant and plan outcomes. The pandemic amplified trends that already were underway, including increased attention to plan design, review and rebidding of service contracts and an emphasis on the digital experience.
Many industry professionals see TDFs as "foundational" components of a retirement plan and less of a forefront concern. Yet, the study found that mid-sized plans have significantly increased their use of TDFs since 2018, from 56% to 74%, in line with larger plans. Smaller plans now stand alone with lower usage levels at about 53%. In aggregate, nearly six in 10 sponsors include TDFs in their plans, an increase from 2018. Of the aggregate four in 10 sponsors whose plans do not currently offer TDFs, two in five say they would prefer to include them, up from one in three in 2018 and one in four in 2016.
The study also found that most sponsors and DC specialists agree that the SECURE Act has encouraged plans to adopt a focus on retirement income. Offering a retirement income solution can complement financial wellness programs, such as online tools and calculators, education on retirement income planning and education on investing. While the majority of sponsors plan to offer retirement income options, such as guaranteed income for life products, these options are not yet widely offered.
retirement plan advisers, retirement plan design
Reframing Participant Communications Is Key for Plan Sponsors to Boost Retirement Savings
A panel of retirement researchers examined participant behaviors that can assist with or deter workers from achieving optimal savings outcomes.
« Recognition Can Play an Important Part in Retaining Employees


Florida Senate - 2019                                     SB 316
By Senator Taddeo
40-00202B-19                                           2019316__
1                        A bill to be entitled
2         An act relating to contracts for the sale or lease of
3         pets; creating s. 828.32, F.S.; providing legislative
4         intent; defining the term "pet"; declaring that
5         certain contracts entered into on or after a specified
6         date for the sale or lease of a pet are void and
7         unenforceable as being against the public policy of
8         this state; providing an exception; providing remedies
9         for noncompliance; providing penalties; providing an
10         effective date.
12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14         Section 1. Section 828.32, Florida Statutes, is created to
15  read:
16         828.32 Contracts for the sale or lease of pets.—
17         (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect
18  consumers in this state from deceptive and predatory financing
19  arrangements and to protect pets from the harmful effects of
20  such arrangements by making it a policy of the state to prohibit
21  the leasing of pets.
22         (2) As used in this section, the term:
23         (a) "Pet" means a living animal that has been acquired for
24  the primary purpose of providing companionship to the owner,
25  rather than for a business or agricultural purpose.
26         (b) "Pet dealer" has the same meaning as in s. 828.29(13).
27         (3) A contract entered into on or after July 1, 2019, to do
28  any of the following is against the public policy of this state
29  and is void and unenforceable:
30         (a) Transfer ownership of a pet, if the pet is used as
31  collateral for the contract or is subject to repossession in any
32  manner upon default of the contract. Such prohibition does not
33  apply to sales in which payments are made to repay an unsecured
34  loan for the purchase of the animal.
35         (b) Lease a pet, if the contract provides for or offers the
36  option of transferring ownership of the animal at the end of the
37  lease term.
38         (4) In addition to any other remedies provided by law, the
39  consumer taking possession of a pet transferred under a contract
40  described in this section is the owner of the pet and is
41  entitled to the return of all amounts the consumer paid under
42  such contract.
43         (5) A person who offers a pet for lease or as collateral
44  for a contract in violation of this section commits a
45  noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08(3) and upon
46  conviction shall be punished as provided in s. 775.082(5) by a
47  civil fine of not more than $500 for a first violation and not
48  more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation.
49         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.


Go to JCI Insight
Conversations with Giants in Medicine
Author's Takes
View all reviews ...
New Therapeutic Targets in Cardiovascular Diseases (Upcoming)
Immunometabolism (Upcoming)
Circadian Rhythm (Oct 2021)
Gut-Brain Axis (Jul 2021)
Tumor Microenvironment (Mar 2021)
100th Anniversary of Insulin's Discovery (Jan 2021)
Hypoxia-inducible factors in disease pathophysiology and therapeutics (Oct 2020)
View all review series ...
In-Press Preview
Concise Communication
Top read articles
JCI This Month
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
Human CD4+ CD25hi Foxp3+ regulatory T cells are derived by rapid turnover of memory populations in vivo
Milica Vukmanovic-Stejic, … , Derek C. Macallan, Arne N. Akbar
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2006;116(9):2423-2433. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI28941.
View: Text | PDF | Corrigendum | Erratum
Research Article Immunology
While memory T cells are maintained by continuous turnover, it is not clear how human regulatory CD4+CD45RO+CD25hi Foxp3+ T lymphocyte populations persist throughout life. We therefore used deuterium labeling of cycling cells in vivo to determine whether these cells could be replenished by proliferation. We found that CD4+CD45RO+Foxp3+CD25hi T lymphocytes were highly proliferative, with a doubling time of 8 days, compared with memory CD4+CD45RO+Foxp3–CD25– (24 days) or naive CD4+CD45RA+Foxp3–CD25– populations (199 days). However, the regulatory population was susceptible to apoptosis and had critically short telomeres and low telomerase activity. It was therefore unlikely to be self regenerating. These data are consistent with continuous production from another population source. We found extremely close TCR clonal homology between regulatory and memory CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, antigen-related expansions within certain TCR Vβ families were associated with parallel numerical increases of CD4+CD45RO+CD25hiFoxp3+ Tregs with the same Vβ usage. It is therefore unlikely that all human CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs are generated as a separate functional lineage in the thymus. Instead, our data suggest that a proportion of this regulatory population is generated from rapidly dividing, highly differentiated memory CD4+ T cells; this has considerable implications for the therapeutic manipulation of these cells in vivo.
Milica Vukmanovic-Stejic, Yan Zhang, Joanne E. Cook, Jean M. Fletcher, Arthur McQuaid, Joanne E. Masters, Malcolm H.A. Rustin, Leonie S. Taams, Peter C.L. Beverley, Derek C. Macallan, Arne N. Akbar
CD4+ CD25+ T cells remain functional with age.
Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
(A) Freshly isolated PBMCs from younger and older donors were stained with CD4 and CD25 and the percentages of CD25int and CD25hi CD4+ T cells were determined. Statistical significance was determined by 2-tailed, unpaired Student's t test. (B) The coexpression of CD25 and Foxp3 in CD4+ T cells in older and younger subjects was determined. The left panels show the gating on PBMCs labeled with CD4-PerCP and CD25-PE. Based on CD25 expression, the CD4 population is subdivided into CD25–, CD25int, and CD25hi populations. Histograms illustrate the Foxp3 expression in gated populations (log scale). Filled histograms represent staining with secondary antibody alone. Results are representative of 5 separate experiments performed on younger and older subjects. (C) Purified CD4+CD25– T cells were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3, purified protein derivative (PPD), and tetanus toxoid in the presence of autologous irradiated PBMCs as APCs. CD4+CD25– T cells were cultured in the absence (black bars) or presence (white bars) of equal numbers of either CD4+CD25– or CD4+CD25+ cells. Proliferation was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation on day 3 (for anti-CD3) and day 6 (for recall antigens), and results are expressed as mean ± SEM of triplicate wells. Results shown are representative of 5 experiments performed in younger and older subjects.
Copyright © 2021 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)


Two Local School Districts Take Honorary Mention at International Virtual Enterprise Trade Fair in New York City
Two local school districts came home with awards recognizing their business acumen at an international trade fair that helps young people learn essential entrepreneurial skills of innovation, strategy, and marketing. Students from Alexander and Lyndonville Central Schools were delighted that their virtual businesses and their related marketing initiatives received honorable mentions at the 7th Annual Virtual Enterprise (VE) International Trade Fair held in New York City on April 1, 2004. One hundred high schools, colleges, and adult classes from around the world participated and competed in four business categories, networked with business leaders, and marketed and promoted their own business ventures. With virtual companies hailing from across New York State and as far away as southern California, Romania, and Austria the teams represented a wide-range of different business enterprises and competed in the following categories: 1. Best Web Design2. Best Catalog3. Best Booth Display4. Best Sales Techniques
Visitors to the VE Trade Fair were given a total of $3,000 virtual dollars to spend on any one of 100 different business entities that were displaying virtual products or services, and implementing dynamic sales and marketing plans all aimed for success. As the day progressed, the sales earnings were deposited by each virtual company treasurer into the VEC Bank managed by Deloitte and Touche, a national firm volunteering to provide accounting services.
Students from Alexander Central School created "BNI" or "Bare Necessities Inc.," a virtual business which provides survival kits for everyday needs. A Caffeine Kit, College Kit, and a Catastrophe Kit were among the options with different sizes and prices available online for various situations. It was the BNI website that earned the students an honorable mention.
"The trade fair was a wonderful experience for the students not only in a business sense, but also in a cultural and social sense," Randy Palladino, Economics Teacher at Alexander Central Schools. "The students from Alexander had to communicate and conduct business transactions with students from a wide variety of social, ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds that they do not have the opportunity to do within their community." Palladino added that BNI made a significant amount of virtual money and noted that the company's award winning website can be viewed at www.alexandercsd.org/bni. Students from Lyndonville High School developed "M3 - Movies, Music, and More" as their virtual enterprise, with opportunities to easily purchase a wide range of electronic entertainment media. The Lyndonville group received honorable mention for best booth, which cleverly illustrated the virtual company's numerous media options. The website for M3 can be accessed at www.velyndonville.org
"The kids (from Lyndonville) were thrilled about receiving their honorable mention," Cathie Hogan, Lyndonville Entrepreneurial Class Instructor said. "We thank Tech Prep at Genesee Community College for getting the GLOW schools organized and into this program."
Between both school districts, 25 GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming County) students had the opportunity to visit New York City and experience the Virtual Enterprise Trade Fair. In addition to the extensive learning opportunities provided by the Virtual Trade Fair, students also acquired important fund raising skills to help pay for their travel expenses. From holding raffles, earning monies through candy and beverage sales, planning special events to collect proceeds, and requesting donations from local businesses?students in both schools participated in fund raising.
The Virtual Enterprise Program (VEP) is supported, in part, by College Tech Prep, a federally funded program operated by Genesee Community College with the goal to help students make a smooth transition from high school to college. College Tech Prep currently works with 19 high schools in the GLOW county region offering a wide range of programs to encourage student interest in college and enhance their career development. Six other high schools in the GLOW area participate in the other aspects of VEP, which included a regional Trade Fair at Genesee Community College last December.
"Over the entire semester, students explore all the finer elements of entrepreneurialism and business success with their own Virtual Enterprise as a hands-on learning opportunity," Kathy Lopes, Director of the Genesee Region College Tech Prep program at Genesee Community College said. "We are very proud of the students who competed on the international level and commend them for their success. I can't imagine a more rewarding learning opportunity, which undoubtedly will help fuel their future success in real business enterprises."
For further information on the Virtual Enterprise Trade Fair or Genesee Region College Tech Prep, please contact Kathy Lopes, Director, or Debbie Dunlevy, Technical Specialist at 585-343-0055 extension 6629 or 6316. You may also contact Randy Palladino of Alexander Central Schools at (585) 591-1551.
A group photograph of the Alexander students in New York City promoting their Virtual Enterprise, "BNI or Bare Necessities, Inc." is available by clicking to the following Internet location:
http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/AlexVPstudents.JPG


Home Entertainment 25 of the Greatest Movie Quotes in History
25 of the Greatest Movie Quotes in History
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Screenwriters don't always know which one of their lines will become a memorable quote. It's often a combination of the drama or action in that moment, the character speaking it reaching a pivotal moment, the cinematography and ambience, and of course — the delivery by the actor.
When people think of their favorite movies, chances are the first thing that comes to mind – along with the visual effects if it's an action movie – is the film's memorable lines.
24/7 Tempo reviewed several entertainment sources, including the American Film Institute and movie review sites, to compile a list of 25 of the most famous quotes in the history of American and English-spoken cinema. We only included individual lines, not conversations between characters.
People often relate to characters or the words they speak. Memorable movie phrases have made their way into people's everyday vocabulary and pop culture.
The most recent film to make the list came courtesy of 2008's "The Dark Knight." Perhaps, more time needs to pass until newer releases — and the lines in them — can claim to be timeless. These are the 50 best movies of all time.
Previous article25 Reasons Rescue Dogs Are the Best Pets
Next articleWorst Sci-Fi Movies Ever Made
247tempo