text:
Is evolution as simple as we think?
Discussion of everything related to the Theory of Evolution.
Moderator: BioTeam
Is evolution as simple as we think?
Evolution is generally seen as a response system to the environment. For example, it gets cold so an species is selected for a thicker coat. The genes needed for this would be created by random mutations.
My question is why, if mutations are what cause these changes, there was no evolution of lifeforms for 2 billion years after blue-green algae appeared 2.6 billion years ago. Even if the physical environment was stable, would there not have been other factors such as competition that, coupled with mutation, would have formed a new kind of life form. Considering the relatively short/recent diversification of life, it seems unlikely that, following the current interpretation of evolutionary processes, that no new life forms would have formed in such a long period of time.
Sorry for the vagueness of the question, any thoughts or links to relevant papers would be appreciated.
'Evolution' never happened. Its is the greatest myth i am aware of EVER. It is utter fraud science and exists only in textbooks. We have 6,000 years of eye witness testimony
of which no one has ever observed a fish bring forth anything other than a fish. If someone wants to believe by faith that contrary to every observed law of nature in written history a fish can bring forth something other than a fish that is their own personal religion and has NO basis in science. For people at uni ask your professors for LITERATURE of a mutation adding NEW genetic information (NEW nucleotides for NEW protein), neofunctionlization is a myth for the most part but see if he gets angry or if he actually can cite something (100% can NOT).
Re: Is evolution as simple as we think?
Well recorded history only reaches back as far as 4th millennium BC. Evolution requires a much longer time period. Besides even in recorded history there is evidence for evolution such as the domestication of animals. They are still the same organism, but have changed even in the this small time period.
You are welcome to your view but i didn't create this thread to argue whether or nor evolution exists.
Dayren, what do you mean by there was no evolution of organisms during that time?
As far as I understand, there has been evolution of organisms basically whenever there first was competition for resources or space to live, which would be pretty soon after life emerged (local competition would happen almost instantly on the evolutionary time scale).
However, most of the "tools of the trade" of more complex organisms were yet to evolve (such as enzymes for oxidative energy metabolism and many others), so there could not be advanced organisms for this long time. The atmosphere of that time could not support very complex life forms and it did not drive the evolution towards oxygen-based life, unlike the oxygen-rich atmosphere created by the blue-green algae did later. That is why most of the early eukaryotes appeared only after the oxygenation of the atmosphere around 2 billion years ago and this finally sped up the rate of speciation to a completely new level.
I mean that, like you said, complex organisms didn't evolve for a long time. If there was a sudden evolution into complex life, why did it happen in the first place? Surely the simple life forms that evolved into the more complex life forms would have benefited more in terms of survival by remaining as simple organisms. And why weren't the conditions previously suitable for complex life? Yes, today's complex organisms could not survive in such conditions, but if evolution sees complex life as an advantage surely it would have found a way to form complex organisms suited to the harsh conditions.
Its a slow process - evolution HAS found a way to form complex organisms suited to harsh conditions, like Earth's moon for example. Humans. But it takes time. Another aspect of the evolution of complex organisms is the development of sexual reproduction, which allows the existence of large long-lived complex organisms by speeding up the production of diverse genetic material beyond that provided by mutation. All of this takes time, and it took less time for oxygen-emitting organisms to terra-form the Earth and to develop sexual reproduction to evolve than it would have taken for complex mutation-dependent organisms to evolve in the harsh conditions, which might not even be possible.
dayren, you have some misconceptions about evolution. To answer your overall question, yes evolution is an incredibly simple concept. However, the details are more complex but that's what makes it fascinating! Below, I've quoted a few things from your last post and responded to them.
"Surely the simple life forms that evolved into the more complex life forms would have benefited more in terms of survival by remaining as simple organisms."
Why would you think that? Anything that allows an individual to reproduce more than its competition will benefit it and lead to its evolution. In general, that means increased complexity but that is not always the case, as shown by cave-dwelling organisms that lost their eyes - they were benefited by saving the energy that went into producing and maintaining eyes that were unneeded. Hence, they had a survival advantage by losing a trait that had once been beneficial
"And why weren't the conditions previously suitable for complex life?"
The conditions may have been suitable (I'm not a geologist or paleobiologist) but if there was no complex life with the necessary traits to take advantage of it, it doesn't matter.
"Yes, today's complex organisms could not survive in such conditions"
We don't know that for sure and can never know it, since we can't go back in time.
"but if evolution sees complex life as an advantage surely it would have found a way to form complex organisms suited to the harsh conditions."
Evolution is directionless in the present. We can look backwards in time and see a direction - e.g., from small dinosaurs without feathers to those with feathers to birds that can fly and back to lack of flight in aquatic penguins. However, we cannot predict (and neither can evolution) what traits will be beneficial in the future. If the traits weren't available, then no organism could take advantage of the conditions.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
Theodosius Dobzhansky
"Most people who hate the idea of evolution do so because if it was working properly, they'd be dead."
In many cases that is true. The most numerous organisms on the Earth are still the prokaryotes, which in many ways can be said to be "simple" organisms. So one could argue that it is the most effective form of life even in today's world. This is especially true in harsh environments that are short of nutrients or are otherwise inhospitable. In most places, however, it was beneficial to evolve into something more complex just to gain that edge in competition. If you were a bit bigger, faster and meaner than the others, you could, for example, eat the others for lunch. Of course, not everyone can afford to be big and mean, since it requires more energy and nutrients, so there has always been room for tiny, energy-efficient and simple forms of life. The food chain looks like a pyramid largely because of the same reasons (the few apex predators forming the top).
Perhaps. Or perhaps not: it is also possible that with the building blocks available on the Earth, the only way to "power up" large and complex organic life forms is to use oxidative metabolism. It is possible that other methods of energy production are simply too ineffective, or if they are effective (like nuclear fission!), they cannot be utilized by cellular metabolism. So it is possible that complex life forms could only emerge after the atmosphere contained enough oxygen. Being able to utilize oxygen gave also an enormous competitive edge because oxygen was most likely toxic to early organisms relying on anaerobic metabolism, but that alone would not drive evolution towards more complex life forms - just towards a switch from anaerobic metabolism to aerobic one. But after this, the new and highly effective means of energy metabolism was available, supporting the growth of new, multicellular life forms.
I have been under the impression that it is commonly accepted view among scientists that the Earth's early atmosphere was a reducing one with no oxygen and thus unable to support multicellular life as we know it. That does not necessarily mean it could not have been able to support any complex life forms, but based on our current knowledge of life the only organisms that could have survived on young Earth were similar to Archaea - prokaryote life forms capable of tolerating extreme conditions and utilizing anaerobic metabolism and uncommon energy resources (that would be too ineffective for any larger organism).
Of course in science you cannot say that you "know" anything with 100% certainty, but as far as I am aware the scientist have a pretty good idea of what the conditions on the young Erath must have been (based on, for example, geological data and our knowledge of other rocky planets in our solar system etc.) and that there are no ongoing major scientific arguments concerning the key topics of our planet's development.
Re: Is evolution as simple as we think?
I see this again and again. Evolution is NOT a RESPONSE system. Evolution is OUTCOME or END RESULT of genetic mutation/drift + selective pressure or absence of it (diversification process). If you put a live chicken in the fridge for a long time, it will die. There is no "response to environment", mutations at will, etc. However, if you put a million (billion?) chickens in the fridge - one or two might survive (those that happened to have random required mutations that allow then to withstand the cold). Keep them and their progeny in the fridge for a long time and you get new pure breed variety.
Re: Is evolution as simple as we think?
This answer makes me uncomfortable, but before I disagree, how do you distinguish a response system from an outcome system? Is there a test I can apply that will decide this question?
Evolution does not respond to situations, it (through mutations) simply provides possibilities. For example, it the climate gets colder, evolution does not respond by providing fur, feathers, blubber, etc. to insulate against the cold. If there are individuals that are able to withstand the colder temperatures, they will survive better than those that can't. If no individuals of that species can tolerate the cold,the species goes extinct.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
Theodosius Dobzhansky
"Most people who hate the idea of evolution do so because if it was working properly, they'd be dead."
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text:
Reducing High Risk Behavior in Treatment Court
This study has been completed.
Treatment Research Institute
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First Posted: November 29, 2011
Last Update Posted: January 10, 2017
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Treatment Research Institute
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
This study will be the first to examine the efficacy of using a brief, computerized HIV risk reduction intervention in treatment courts.
|Substance Abuse HIV
|Behavioral: Computer-facilitated HIV intervention Behavioral: Attention Control
|Phase 1
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary Purpose: Prevention
|Official Title:
|Delivering HIV Risk Reduction Services in Treatment Court
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDSU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Treatment Research Institute:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Engagement in high risk behaviors [ Time Frame: 15 month follow-up ]Measured by the Risk Assessment Battery (RAB)
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Rate of HIV testing [ Time Frame: 15 month follow-up ]
- Condom Procurement [ Time Frame: 15 month follow-up ]
- Self-reported Condom Use [ Time Frame: 15 month follow-up ]
|Study Start Date:
|September 2012
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2016
|Primary Completion Date:
|December 2016 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Active Comparator: Attention Control
Behavioral: Attention Control
Life skills training DVDs that match the duration of the anticipated experimental condition. The DVDs address topics such as positive listening skills, anger management, and stress reduction.
|Experimental: Computer-facilitated HIV intervention
Behavioral: Computer-facilitated HIV intervention
Individuals assigned to the experimental condition will complete the self-directed CARE HIV intervention during each of their first three sessions. The 20 minute intervention sessions involve several components including a brief risk assessment, review of identified risks, structured skill building videos, and the development of a risk prevention action plan. Because of the adaptive nature of the CARE program, the content of each session will be tailored to address the current risks of the participant. While the main focus of the intervention is on risk, individuals who report being HIV infected will receive a referral to treatment if they are not currently receiving medical care and their session will address, among other things, adherence to HIV care.
Detailed Description:
Four hundred consenting treatment drug court participants will be randomly assigned to either an HIV intervention group (n = 200) or an attention control group. All clients will attend their regularly scheduled status hearings which are scheduled approximately every six weeks. Clients in the HIV intervention group will receive a brief computerized, self-administered HIV risk reduction intervention following each of their first three status hearings. Clients in the attention control condition will view a series of educational life-skill videos of matched length following each of their first three status hearings. The primary outcome will be engagement in high risk behaviors as measured by the Risk Assessment Battery (RAB). Secondary HIV-related outcomes will include: (1) rate of HIV testing, (2) condom procurement, and (3) self-reported condom use. Tertiary outcomes related to treatment court compliance will include: (1) drug court graduation, (2) urinalysis-confirmed drug abstinence, (3) case management attendance, and (4) satisfaction with case management. In addition, we will conduct preliminary cost and cost-effectiveness analyses on the delivery of the brief computerized HIV intervention. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 9- and 15-months post admission.
Information from the National Library of Medicine
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- be charged with a non-violent felony offense
- have no more than two prior non-violent convictions or diversionary opportunities
- be willing to participate in the treatment court program for at least 12 months
- be in need of treatment for substance abuse or dependence as assessed by case management.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Elderly subjects and those with medical problems will be included in the research as long as they do not have any physical or psychiatric condition that would impede their ability to give competent consent to research participation or to understand the research instruments.
- Those individuals who are intoxicated, cognitively impaired, or psychiatrically unstable when approached will not be included; however, such individuals may subsequently be included if the disqualifying condition subsides.
- Spanish speaking only individuals.
- Client remanded to jail or residential treatment facilities at the time of Treatment Court enrollment.
Contacts and Locations
Information from the National Library of Medicine
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01481428
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01481428
|United States, Pennsylvania
|Philadelphia Treatment Court
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
Sponsors and Collaborators
Treatment Research Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
|Principal Investigator:
|David S Festinger, Ph.D.
|Treatment Research Institute
More Information
Keywords provided by Treatment Research Institute:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|Responsible Party:
|Treatment Research Institute
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01481428 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
R01DA030257 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|First Submitted:
|November 18, 2011
|First Posted:
|November 29, 2011
|Last Update Posted:
|January 10, 2017
|Last Verified:
|January 2017
Keywords provided by Treatment Research Institute:
High risk behavior
Drug court clients
Substance abuse
HIV intervention
Treatment Court Clients
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Substance-Related Disorders
Chemically-Induced Disorders
Mental Disorders

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Edna V. Broch, Elkhorn, WI (1919-2014)
July 14, 1919 - March 24, 2014
Edna V. Broch, 94, of Elkhorn, WI, formerly of Grayslake, IL, died peacefully at home Monday, March 24, 2014. She was born July 14, 1919, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of the late Aaron and Signe (Blomberg) Johanson. She was united in marriage on June 23, 1945, in Chicago, IL, to Robert L. Broch. Robert died in 2007. Edna worked as a secretary for various companies over the years, retiring in 1982. She was a member of the United Protestant Church of Grayslake, IL, Svithiod Lodge #1, The Questers, and the Sweet Adelines. She enjoyed her family and shopping. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother who will be deeply missed.
Edna is survived by her daughter, Linda (James) Conrad of Elkhorn, WI; and four grandchildren: Melissa Ruiz, Robert Loebs, Andrew Baldwin and Joseph Baldwin; and one great-granddaughter, Shanna Loebs. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Robert; and a sister, Alice Johanson.
Memorial service will be held at 9:30 AM Saturday, April 19, 2014, at UNITED PROTESTANT CHURCH, 54 South Whitney Street, Grayslake, IL. Friends may visit with the family at church from 9 AM until time of service.
Memorials may be made in Edna's name to the church. On-line guestbook is at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com. The Broch family was assisted by HAASE-LOCKWOOD & ASSOCIATES FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, Elkhorn, WI.


text:
Any SOLID arguments against evolution?
Discussion of everything related to the Theory of Evolution.
Moderator: BioTeam
Re: Re:
1. If it would be Bill Gates, Obama or the King of Saudi Arabia, with 4 fingers in one hand, I'm sure he would be able to get marry... not really an excuse... natural selection by people takes specially into account an important factor: "money"...
2. How many species of bacteria were found able to change of specie? Only one! And how many species of microbes exist all over the world? Millions, I assume... And that change of specie was not from a bacteria into a fungi (what I really call change of specie, for me what happened was simply a mutation phenomena, but it is not me who defines the specie's criteria...). And we have the powerful Aids virus to contradict permanently it...
3. In order to proof continuous evolutionism, all changes of specie triggered by mutations have to be proofed, sorry... is far from being the case. It is not because one cause works, that the whole set follows that rule...
author (source): christianstrategies
christian: you have serious misunderstanding of evolution. First, human does not change every 30 000 generations. Even if it did, that doesn't mean anything about any other species. Every species mutates and changes with other speed. Consider some "living fossils", which didn't change for millions of years, while other species change very often.
Cis or trans? That's what matters.
Re: Re:
...Again, you can't "make" something happen "spontaneously." If something happens "spontaneously," then it happened without external cause. The word "make" implies that we are the external cause.
That is, it is not logically possible to meet the requirement. We cannot be the cause of something that happens with no cause.
Even if Australopithecus still existed, I think such an attempt would be unethical..."Cannot be tested" is not equivalent with "false" (or "true," for that matter).
I think you need to provide verifiable evidence for this...I don't really see any in the reference that you gave.
Soil with no organic matter in it (bacteria, fungi, earthworms, decomposing material, humus) is infertile. Most of the vegetables we eat wouldn't grow in it. The point is that "fertile ground" and "ground containing no organic matter" are mutually exclusive categories.
But then you used the term "serious mutation" again below that, and also "small mutation" in the next paragraph. I know about certain scientific conventions, but none of them have a "serious/nonserious" designation; I want to know what you mean.
...It is relevant if we do not understand what you mean. If you're not sure what you mean, then you need to decide, or to stop using the term.
I don't think you answered the question (it is a "yes" or "no" type question).
Again, I don't think you answered the question (and again, it is a "yes" or "no" type question).
I think your main argument is something similar to "The world is 6,000 years old, therefore there was not enough time for evolution to happen, therefore evolution did not happen." Is that correct?
Re: Re:
What I mean is:
1) you start, trigger the experience to restart life, setting the same environment as it happened in the beginning, according to the science. Here there's an external cause: you're trying to reproduce a past event
2) afterwards, you let the things go, spontaneously: I mean, you set a sterile ground or lake exposed to the weather and you don't intervene anymore (but if you're able to observe the results, through a kind of window, it would be nice...)
2b) alternatively, you can try to simulate a permanent electrical storm in a previously sterilised lake, assuming life was created that way (a good experience to do in a lake in Mars, or in an artificial lake in a spaceship, for example). Yes, here it is not spontaneous because you have to simulate the theoretical conditions of the origin of life. But this experience, because of human intervention is too artificial: normally it should be an initially disinfected lake and atmosphere, exposed to the weather, without no more human intervention, just waiting... and observing the results... the problem is that, afterwards, science would come with a excuse that a permanent electrical storm would be required, "as it happened in the beginning"...
Is it clearer now?
author (source): christianstrategies
Re: Re:
1.That's the point: Darwinism is not an evidence: it is a non proofed theoritical, and the truth, the coherency with reality, per definition, can not be proofed
2. According to Jesus, the hominids are the result of sex between humans and animals (monkeys/gorila's?). An attempt to reproduce again australopithecus, it would be really non ethical... According to wikipedia, genetics proof that there were interbreeding between (at least) the last 2 or 3 most recent families of homo (e.g. neandertal and modern man). That's how "evolution" happened: sex at "mule style"...
Yes, dates are also non proofed. But "the million of years" stories are also far from being an evidence. The reliable time machine is not there to test the truth, the coherency with reality. Logical reasoning, (= logical date procedures) means nothing without the test of coherency with reality, which is impossible to do for dates before the Flood...
Anyhow, I hope that you agree that the story of the modern man, able to do doctorats, since 100.000 to 200.000 years ago (dates source: wikipedia), living permanently in caves, because he refused to do a hut in wood or stone, unable to deplace quickly (e.g. with horses), to hunt or to practice agriculture in Africa, or that refused to reproduce as it should , is really a big tale... Just to compare, population in Algeria increased 8 times in the 20th century, in very difficult economical conditions, war and with a terrible climate
author (source): christianstrategies
Re: Re:
Could you provide any reference, where did Jesus mention hominids?
Cis or trans? That's what matters.
Re: Re:
When I mean disinfected, or sterilized, I mean that all living beings there were previous killed, and not to remove all organic matter. But you have always the alternative to use ground with no death organic matter at all: indeed, may it was so in the beginning, when God created the first form of life...
You could easily deduce it from my previous quoted text below:
serious mutation: able to trigger a change of specie
small mutation: the opposite of serious mutation
You want a "yes" or "no" answer, but you combine two different questions. All can be deduced from the text above...
question 1 " Are you saying that the overall morphology of humans has not changed since the time of Aristotle?"
Yes, Aristotle, Tutakamhon had 5 fingers and we keeping having 5 fingers per hand and not 6...
question 2. It is impossible for any change to happen at all in any time frame? That's the argument that I think you seem to be using.
No, small mutations (=mutations that don't trigger change of specie) are always possible and are en evidence.
Note: question 1 doesn't imply question 2. However, I contest change of species through mutations, behalve sexual intercourse between closer species (ex. mule, ligre, hominids)
I think your main argument is something similar to "The world is 6,000 years old, therefore there was not enough time for evolution to happen, therefore evolution did not happen." Is that correct?[/quote]
1. Please note that according to Gen 1,1: "in the beginning, God created the earth and heavens", thus the earth and the skies existed before the 6 days of the creation, but not the rest of the universe (galaxies etc.)
2. Even if life existed since "millions of years ago", the experiences with thousands of successive generations are far from proofing continuous evolution (= one specie derived from the other only by mutations, without sexual intercourse with closer species and without "jumps")
3. In Wikipedia, they don't dare to call the E. Coli experiment as a change of specie of this bacteria. Although conventionally it could be "considered as a very important mutation enough to trigger a change of specie, making the E. Coli closer to Salmonella", in practice:
3a. E. Coli was able, after 50.000 generations and hunderd of millions of mutations(but only 100 to 1000 valid for this experience), to survive in citric acid, which she was not able to do before.
3b. but the survival capacities of the bacteria diminished: extinguishion more probable...
3c. this kind of mutation is similar to those of bacterias resistant afterwards to antibiotica, and which per definition, didn't change of specie: once again, the scientifical criterias of change of specie may be quite "ambiguous". Just to give a better idea, people with Aids imunity (able to successfully live in case of Aids contamination, thus, in contact with the Aids virus), may be mutant, but they don't change of specie...
author (source): christianstrategies
We're here to argue. Closer species to modern man,according to wikipedia,
- Homo Neandertal existed, since 600.000 years ago. Making 25 years the generation time, it appeared about 600.000/25= 24 000 generations ago
- Homo Heidelberg existed since 300.000 years ago= 12.000 generations ago
- Modern very intelligent man since 100.000 to 200.000 years ago (and of course, he loved the caves for 95% of that period, with the spiders, the humidity, the bats and the rats... ), which gives 4.000 to 8.000 generations ago
Which means, the closer ancestors of (and including )modern man had very strong positive mutation capacity, I mean, able to trigger change of species, a lot bigger than E. Coli, which requires 30.000 generations to become "antibiotica-resistant like". It seems to me that mutant microbes have stronger positive mutation capacity than the modern man ancestors... Or do you think, the man/hominids family have stronger mutation capacities? Do you have evidences? Because since the times of Noah/Adam we keep having 5 fingers and not 6... I would like to have wings also, but we don't evolve enough (spontaneously) since the last thousands of years (=with written registers).
Note: people suffer a lot of mutations indeed, but they're almost exclusively negative: cancers etc.
1. I completely disagree with the "million of years" story/tale. Detailed discussion in pages 19 and 20 of the forum. It is rather non proofed subject.
2. What do you mean by living fossils (discarding dates, of course)?
author (source): christianstrategies
Re: Re:
Yes, in French: "http://forums.lesoir.be/index.php?showtopic=14284&st=820&p=821648&#entry821648"
the original, also in French, shall be found somewhere in the web site http://www.apparitionsmariales.org, the Web site of private messages of Jesus and Mary, including also explanations that touch scientifical domains (evolutionism, hominids, dates etc.). It shall be in the topic "nature et création". I think I should also give a look there in order to increase my knowledge in this domain...
author (source): christianstrategies
Re: Any SOLID arguments against evolution?
I'm spending far more time on this than I had intended...
Yes, thank you. Now - if such an experiment was repeated in a laboratory, what would you think had been demonstrated?
Or suppose some different criterion were met instead:
- if the experiment showed that a self-replicating but non-cellular entity had been produced?
- if the experiment showed that all the components found in living organisms could be produced spontaneously?
- if the experiment was run, and it was clear that it would work if it were done enough times, but it would take lots of repetitions (costing enough money to be infeasible to actually carry out)?
Alternatively: what other kinds of evidence would convince you that evolution occurs?
What is "coherency with reality"?
And again, "cannot be tested" (even if that were the case) is not equivalent with either "true" or "false."
Then what evidence would convince you of the age of the earth? You and I both know that time machines are not available, if they are even possible.
I think you may want to talk to the physicists and geologists.
Thank you. So why are you not using the term "change of species"?
The next question is, what would you consider to be a change of species? Please make sure that it applies to both microbes and to larger organisms (and you can supply a different definition for each if you choose).
...It is a single question, asking whether you are making a particular "if...then" statement. I now understand what you mean by "serious mutation" - so you can replace "any change" with "any change of species."
I agree that the conclusion (which you called the "second question") is not implied by the premise. However, you then need to provide different support for your conclusion.
I still don't think you addressed this question. It's possible that this is being caused by a language difference across English and French - again, it is a question about whether you are making a particular inference. I'm fairly sure the answer is no, but then I don't know what argument you are using to try and demonstrate the conclusion.
Or if you want, only answer the main question:
You are operating under some argument that concludes with "therefore, evolution did not happen" (or "therefore, species cannot change into another" or something similar). I don't really understand what that argument is - at least, I can't seem to find anything of the form "X is true, Y is true, therefore Z is true."
Your main premise, at last in your last few posts, seems to be "humans have not recently changed into another species" (and possibly, "microbes may have changed into another species in one case"). I don't think it's possible to get from this to "species cannot change into another." Am I wrong, or are there premises that I'm missing?
Re: Re:
Any proof that this is not fake?
Senior Education Officer, BNHS, India. www.bnhs.org
Bitter Truth!
Who says reason for world war III will be Petrol?
Reason lies in two words "Me and Mine".
Re: Re:
I'm sure, you will find something in English, if Jesus said that, right? (best with direct link to the page) Or better, verse from Bible, because if Jesus said that, it has to be in Bible, has it not?
Cis or trans? That's what matters.
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text:
Janesville man sentenced to 60 years in prison for two Janesville attempted murders last April
JANESVILLE—Katrina Patrick said she felt as if Jeffrey J. Starkman always was watching her when she lived in Janesville.
After he attacked her with a roofing ax last April, she knew her instincts were right.
"I was property to him, nothing more," Patrick said in a victim statement delivered in Rock County Court by phone Monday. "I want him to finally pay for what he's done."
Judge James Daley sentenced Starkman to 60 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision for the attempted murders of Patrick and Patrick's friend Jonathan Barthel on April 13, 2013.
Daley told Starkman he "can't take the chance you won't do it again."
At a January trial, Starkman admitted smashing the roofing ax into the skulls of two people. He tried to convince the 12-person jury he didn't intend to kill the mother of his children and her friend.
The jury on Jan. 31 found Starkman, 35, of 2521 Bond Place, Janesville, guilty of the attempted murders.
The two attempted-murder charges each carried maximum penalties of 60 years in prison.
Starkman also was found guilty of burglary, fleeing and aggravated battery with intent to cause great bodily harm. Daley sentenced him to 10 years probation on those charges.
On the night of the attack, Starkman went to the apartment on South Main Street because he thought Patrick and Barthel were in a romantic relationship, police said.
He saw Patrick on the porch, where he hit her twice in the head with the roofing hammer, Richard Sullivan, assistant district attorney, said.
He left Patrick on the ground and went upstairs to the apartment and attacked Barthel. Patrick struck Barthel in the head and body numerous times with the same weapon, Sullivan said.
Starkman then left for Rockford, Ill., threw the weapon in the woods, returned to Janesville the next day and led police on a chase on Interstate 90/39 at speeds exceeding 100 mph, Sullivan said.
In court Monday, Sullivan said he knew three things about Starkman: He was controlling, he wanted to kill and he wanted to get away with it.
"If he couldn't have Katie Patrick, then nobody could have Katie Patrick," Sullivan said.
Sullivan credited the medical staff for the survival of Patrick and Barthel, saying that without their care the case would have been a double homicide.
Before being sentenced, Starkman apologized to the victims, their families and his family.
"I'm very sorry for the physical and emotional trauma I have caused," Starkman said.
Later he added, "I'm willing to accept anything the court deems necessary."�
A presentence investigation showed Starkman has a history of domestic abuse, Daley said.
In her victim's statement, Patrick said she spent five years being hit in the head, thrown across rooms and screamed at before she and Starkman separated.
Starkman performed a "form of mind control" in his intimate relationships, Daley said, adding that Starkman is a "genuinely good person outside of personal relationships."
What caused the attack is hard to determine, both Daley and defense attorney Walter Isaacson said.
"I don't think anyone here can explain this attack … it was a terrible assault which came out of the blue for both of the victims," Daley said.


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Ring in the holidays aboard Santa Train
EAST TROY — Limited tickets are available for children of all ages who would like to ride in special passenger trolley cars that will follow the East Troy Electric Railroad's Santa Train on Saturday, Dec. 7, when it makes its annual journey into town.
Presented by the East Troy Electric Railroad in conjunction with the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Center, the beautifully lit four-car train will travel down the century-old interurban trolley line between Mukwonago and East Troy.
The original East Troy Christmas Parade train, started by the East Troy Jaycees and the railroad in 1972, was an historic reproduction of the Schuster's Christmas Parade in Milwaukee. The Schuster's Department store chain sponsored the parade, established in 1928, to kick off the Christmas shopping season. It disappeared in 1955 with the demise of the Milwaukee Electric Lines interurban and streetcar system.
Spectators, who aren't aboard the train, can catch a glimpse of Santa along County Highway ES. Santa will disembark the train in East Troy to catch a ride on an East Troy Fire Department truck to the town square at 6:30 p.m.
The heated passenger trolley will pick up riders at 4:30 p.m. at The Elegant Farmer and follow the Santa Train to East Troy. Riders will be able to walk to the village square to watch Santa light the community Christmas tree on the East Troy's historic village square.�
Tickets for the special ride, which must be purchased in advance, are available at the East Troy Chamber Office, 2096 Church St. (on the Village Square) and the Mukwonago Chamber office, 801 Main St., Suite 1, for $10 each.
But there's plenty of additional holiday activity. In anticipation of Santa's arrival, festivities will begin on the East Troy Village Square at 6 p.m. with concessions and a Christmas carol sing-along led by the East Troy Community Band. The East Troy Lioness Club also will offer walking tacos and hot beverages in the warmth of the Lions Lodge.
Photos of children with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available following the tree lighting inside Ivan's Backstage at a cost of $5 each, with the proceeds to benefit the East Troy Food Pantry. The photographs will be taken during the East Troy Holiday Marketplace from 5-8 p.m., featuring more than 20 vendors offering a variety of holiday gift items and entertainment by Cork N Cleavage.
Midnight Magic, sponsored by the Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce, also takes place Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. until midnight at sites throughout the community. Under the theme "It's a Wonderful Night in Mukwonago," the event offers pictures with Santa, The Enchanted Gingerbread Forest, Alaskan Malamute Dog Sled Pull, marketplace/craft fair, carriage rides, Christmas Parade at 3 p.m., Festival of Trees, live nativity scene, holiday entertainment and fireworks. Call (262) 363-7758 or visit online at mukwonagochamber.org.


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CALL US NOW: (Spain +34) 952 661 849
No special offers found
Many of our UK customers ask us about IAGTO and ABTA, so here is a kind of FAQ or explanation on the subject, based on questions from our loyal golf customers.
© Copyright 2015 - CostaLessGolf.com S.L. - Site created by http://www.marbellaconsulting.com


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Which new features do you want the most?
I would still love a way to block posts of certain users who make life miserable. Or at least block them from commenting on your tasting notes, which would make life a little happier. haha
really good idea.
haha nah, just getting fed up. Last straw kind of deal, nothing terribly interesting sadly! lol
Might have been said before, but a way to prioritize the shopping list, possibly including sections for samples,companies, and/restock staples would be lovely!
I'm sure it has already been requested but an iphone/android app would be fabulous. Yes, the website is accessible on Safari on my phone, but its a pain to navigate it on the phone (trying to rate a tea, use the slider for time & temp of steeping) is impossible. And I usually have my phone or Kindle Fire on me more than I'm on a regular computer.
I'd like a sticky forum topic for negative trade feedback. Someone would update the first post, and anyone that had problems with people in trades could reply to that topic. Then the main list would be updated by someone who wants to moderate it. For example, the main list could look like this:
TEA SIPPER – two negative trade feedbacks given by (username) + (username)
No, I don't think I have any negative feedback, I'm just using myself as an example! The feedbacks don't have to ban the members from trading, or be taken as fact or law, but just to give a better idea to anyone setting up trades or traveling tea boxes on who might not be so reliable. If many negative feedbacks are stacked up, that would give people a clue. Right now, there isn't really a way to tell. thanks!
What I've seen other forums do is just have a thread where users will list the transaction / the users involved with positive feedbacks only.
Well, I think I'd rather assume that everyone who trades has positive feedback, until they don't, so then only the negative feedback would have to be noted. Otherwise, there would be tons of positive feedback and you could never find the negative.
That's precisely the point. The reason negative feedbacks aren't allowed in most forum feedback systems is simply because feedback differs on a user by user basis. One user might be a bit annoyed that a user shipped via first class instead of priority mail. Another user might be annoyed that only one serving per sample was swapped where as the other user swapped 1oz of tea per sample. Basically by promoting only positive feedbacks, you can see which users do a lot of trades and those who do a lot of trades won't get penalized due to one bad experience.
ah, okay. I see your point. If someone does 200 swaps then they will probably have more negative feedback than someone who doesn't get involved in swaps at all. I'm thinking more along the lines of not mailing out traveling tea boxes or something. All the details could go in the replies to the feedback thread so if it was just an uneven swap or something, you could see that. Then the top post in the thread could have like
TEA SIPPER 14 positive + 2 negative
But I think it would just be crowded if positive feedback was included (and also complicated for the moderator.) But if enough negative feedbacks stack up, and not just for uneven trades or something (ie: someone consistently not mailing things out) it would be a big hint.
I think listing just negative feedback would be fine because I severely doubt any users here are really going to give negative feedback because of something like the type of shipping used! There could also be standards for negative feedback i.e. user has to have sent the package out either very late (over 1 month?) OR not at all, or if they lie about the amount, send tea that's gone bad, etc.
It sounds as if there might be a steepster intervene to ameliorate the exchange composing of guess what, some more tea. I suppose negative feedback on the tea itself would not really warrant sending more of that one though, And not be stultified but where is the button for 'please send tea samples, athankyou'
Recommendations for teas or users based on ratings by "similar users" (people who have rated teas the same way you have). Taste is so subjective that ratings from users with different taste preferences to yours are useless. I'd like to be able to find and follow users who like the same teas that I do and see what other teas they like.
Great idea. I've been making a go at remembering whose comments on teas are similar to mine, or who I think have particularly well-tuned flavor discrimination or even who like the same kind of teas (i.e., score similarly) but it's hard to do, at least for me, and is very time-consuming. It'd also be a good way to build relationships/deepen our tea appreciation in a less diffuse way, like having a bunch of friends who are into the same kinds of things :)
Iphone App would rock my socks! I checked soon after joining and did not find one. :) Love the site though, have spent silly amounts of time here already.
Pardon me for not being able to properly navigate yet but I couldn't find where to add that I had the Monkey-Picked Oolong today, too. Heavenly. Leeflea.
Oolong cha is quite heavenly, Leaflea, my inclination is towards steeping it a maximum of three times, but others find more is well 'more better'. I dare say that should you like to post again you search in the broweser on this site for 'Monkey-picked' and you'll find there are at least two to chose from at which point you click on post a review on the top right of the screen, happy teatime. TEArender2Tea
Thanks TEArender2tea,
I'll do as you suggested though I'm not the best when it comes to a synopsis of things.
You mentioned to click on a post. Now, where is that as I'm sure I've overlooked it. Lee.
You can always look for "how to" answers in the Steepster FAQ, which is pinned to the top of the "Discussions" link (which you'll find along the top menu of every page). The first FAQ discusses posting tasting notes. You can also use the search function with the Discussions, found on the right.


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Police seek suspect in Saturday robbery
JANESVILLE—Police are looking for a suspect in a Saturday morning armed robbery at EZ Loan, 1603 Milton Avenue in Janesville.
At 9:51 a.m. Saturday, Janesville Police responded to EZ Loan to a report that a robbery had just taken place, according to a news release from the Janesville Police Department.�
The suspect entered the store with a knife in his hand and demanded money from the clerk. He left the store with an undisclosed amount of money and fled west.
Police searched the surrounding area and were unable to locate the man, the news release said.
The suspect is described as a male black with a slender build wearing a wig of long black hair that partially covered his face. He is approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and wearing a black jacket and tight black jeans.
Anyone with information about the robbery should call the Janesville Area Crime Stoppers at 608-756-3636 or the Janesville Police Department at 608-755-3100.


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The Federal Reserve extended until next year the capital plan resubmission deadlines for Citigroup Inc., HSBC North America Holdings Inc., RBS Citizens Inc., and Santander Holdings USA Inc. after objecting to earlier versions.
The June 26 resubmission deadline now will be pushed back until Jan. 5, the due date for the next round of annual plans, the Fed said today in a statement in Washington. Regulators at the central bank objected to the capital plans from the banks during the 2014 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, according to the statement.
"The firms will not be able to increase their capital distributions until a new capital plan is approved," the Fed said in the statement.
"The extensions will give the firms additional time to address the capital planning weaknesses identified by the Federal Reserve," the central bank said.


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Bean to Bar in Brooklyn: Mast Brothers Chocolate
Since opening in Brooklyn a few years ago, Mast Brothers Chocolate has been making a big name for itself. Founding brothers, Rick and Michael Mast, create flavorful bean-to-bar chocolate with imagination and enthusiasm at every step. They import some of the finest single origin cacao from around the world. Recently, they realized a long-held dream of importing some of their beans by sailboat, direct from the Dominican Republic to New York.
Each step of their process is an exercise in meticulous care. This care is possible because they do everything by hand and in small batches. Once finished, each bar is hand-wrapped in thick paper with striking prints, each designed by a family member or friend. However, the resulting chocolate bars are more than just a tasty treat in snappy packaging; they're steeped in both the craft and art of chocolate making.
When I had an excuse to take a trip to NYC, I made sure to visit the Brooklyn chocolatiers to take a tour of their "factory". To accommodate the growth of their business, they recently moved into a larger space, which still keeps them comfortably in the scale of craft chocolatiers. On a sunny Friday afternoon, when production had mostly slowed down for the day, the office manager, Stephanie, took me on a tour of the space and talked me through each step of the chocolate making process.
The process starts thousands of miles away in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Madagascar where cacao beans are carefully grown, harvested and fermented. Upon reaching Mast Brothers, the large sacks of cacao beans go through a rigorous process of tasting and experimenting to figure out a recipe to best showcase the flavor profiles of each region's cacao. Then, the production process begins: careful sorting, gentle roasting, winnowing, stone grinding, aging and tempering:
First, the cacao beans are sifted to remove any pebbles or debris.
Next, they are moved to roasting pans where they are hand sorted to remove shells or damaged beans.
The beans are then oven roasted, an attention to detail which is rare for chocolatiers. Most commercial roasting is done in large, mechanized roasters.
Then, the roasted cacao beans are winnowed in a machine that was custom-made for the Mast Brothers. The machine carefully grinds the beans and separates the cocoa nibs from the shell. Using an innovative design, a vacuum sucks up the shells while the heavier nibs fall to the bottom.
After winnowing, the nibs are stone ground to create thick paste. During this process cane sugar is added. The amount of sugar added determines the chocolate bar's percentage – for example, if you see a bar with 70% cacao, it will have approximately 30% sugar.
The ground chocolate is then aged for a minimum of 30 days, a step that not all chocolate makers take. This is done to allow the chocolate to rest, which develops the flavors, and helps the chocolatiers to manage their inventory so they can make chocolate to order. After aging, the chocolate is tempered to stabilize the final product.
The chocolate is then poured into molds to cool. Once set, the chocolates are hand wrapped, and delivered to us. The next and final step in the process is the best – eating it!
Gini Bell is a cheesemonger and the chocolate buyer at Formaggio Kitchen South End.


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Washington Park
5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60637
(773) 256-1248
Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
Three sisters form a successful singing group and must deal with the fallout of fame and drugs.
Rated PG-13 | 116 minutes | 2012*Closed Captioned
Presented by Charter One, with additional support from RCN.
Underwritten by DuSable Museum of African American History
Movies in the Parks is presented by:
With additional support from:


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Where are we located?
We are located at 118 Davis Street, Franklin, Georgia 30217
Directions from Interstate 85 – Take Interstate 85 to Georgia Highway 34 - Newnan Shenandoah, Exit 47. If you are traveling southbound turn right at the end of the ramp – if traveling northbound turn left at the end of the ramp. Continue to Georgia Highway 34 bypass and turn right. Follow that road to Georgia Highway 34 at the four way stop sign and turn right. From that location travel 18.3 miles to the intersection of Georgia Highway 34/Main Street/Davis Street (red light at intersection) and turn right onto Davis Street. Travel -0.1 miles to Franklin City Hall and Police Department, located on the Court Square. Our location is on the right.
Directions from Interstate 20 – Take Interstate 20 to Georgia Highway 61 - Villa Rica – Exit 24. If you are traveling eastbound turn right at the end of the ramp – if traveling westbound turn left at the end of the ramp. Continue on Georgia Highway 61 for 10.7 miles. Turn left onto Georgia Highway 166 and continue 3.3 miles. Take the U.S. Highway 27 ramp and turn left at the end of the ramp onto Georgia Highway 27. Travel 20.8 mile on Georgia Highway 27 and turn right onto the Georgia Highway 34 ramp. At the end of the ramp turn left onto Georgia Highway 34 and continue to the intersection of Georgia Highway 34/Main Street/Davis Street (red light at intersection) and turn right onto Davis Street. Travel -0.1 miles to Franklin City Hall and Police Department, located on the Court Square. Our location is on the right.
How do I contact the Police Department?
What is the mailing address?
City of Franklin Police Department, P.O. Box 250, Franklin, Georgia 30217
What are the hours of operation?
The police department is available for service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our administrative office, where accident reports and incident reports are issued, is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. This office is closed on all major holidays.
How do I contact the on-duty officers for assistance?
If you need assistance you can contact the Heard County Dispatch Center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at (706) 675-3328. They will have an officer to meet with you or call you.
How do I file a complaint?
Complaints may be filed over the telephone at (706) 675-6624, in person or by printing and completing the Police Department Complaint Form, found under the Main Menu in Forms.
How do I report a crime that occurred in the City of Franklin?
If you are in an emergency situation, dial 911. If a non-emergency incident has occurred, please call (706) 675-3328 or come by our headquarters, located at 118 Davis Street in Franklin.
Do we unlock vehicles and provide battery boost?
Yes, we do. There is no fee for this service, however you will be required to acknowledge that you will not hold us liable for any damage to your vehicle while we are performing this service.
How much do copies of reports cost?
Copies of police reports are $2.00. These can be obtained in person or by mail with a signed request.
Who is the Chief of Police?
The Franklin Police Department, Chief of Police is Kevin Hannah
Who is the Municipal Court Judge?
The City of Franklin, Municipal Court Judge is Emmett Harrod
What is the fine amount for a citation?
To obtain the fine amount of a citation, contact the City of Franklin Municipal Court at (706) 675-6623 to determine the cost of your citation or from the home page of our website, click on Pay Your Traffic Citation Online (located on the right side of the screen).
What types of payments do you accept?
Cash up to $50.00, money orders, bank certified checks and credit cards (Visa or Mastercard). We do not accept personal checks.
Who should I contact about problems with my driver's license?
Problems with driver's license must be addressed with the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety.
Can I get an extension on my court date?
Extensions may be granted for justification. To obtain an extension you can contact the City of Franklin Municipal Court at (706) 675-6623 or appear in person on your court date. Only one (1) extension may be granted.
Where is court held?
The City of Franklin Municipal Court is held at 118 Davis Street, Franklin, Georgia 30217
How do I find out if someone is in jail?
If our agency has charged and arrested someone they will be housed at the Heard County Jail, located at 11820 Georgia Highway 100, Franklin, Georgia 30217. You can either appear in person at that location or contact them by telephone at (706) 675-6100.
How do I find out what towing company impounded a vehicle?
The Heard County Dispatch Center maintains a record of towing companies that impound vehicles and can be reached at (706) 675-3328 or contact the City of Franklin Police Department at (706) 675-6624.
How do I request a residential check while I am away?
To request a check of your residence located inside the City of Franklin while you are away you can either contact the City of Franklin Police Department at (706) 675-6624 or complete the online form located on the home page, listed as Residential Security Patrol Request.


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Beverly Chandler, Opalesque London:
Europe's hedge funds are uniquely dynamic according to the latest Europe's Top 50 survey of Europe's hedge funds ranked by assets under management, from the Hedge Fund Journal and Newedge Alternative Investment Solutions.
While the popular theory is that large hedge funds tend to hog the in-flows of assets and just get bigger, this study reveals that the composition of the top 50 European asset managers by funds under management is not constant year on year.
Five managers in the 2012 Europe 50 failed to make the 2013 ranking, with one of them shutting down, and there were six new names in this list for 2013. The authors comment that with only 39 or the 50 in both years' surveys, is there any other industry where less than 80% of the top 50 players stay the same from one year to the next?
Beyond the five ejections, 16 funds from the 2012 survey experienced absolute declines in assets. And if you calculate in the fact that many had positive performance, net outflows must have been even bigger than the drop in assets. The authors write: "In several cases it seems that managers of latterly unfashionable strategies – such as emerging markets, CTAs, and event-driven – have seen big outflows, even though many of them not only outperformed peers b......................
To view our full article Click here
Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The Deloitte Center for Financial Services has published its 2018 Investment Management Outlook focusing on the big challenges in the year ahead for hedge funds, mutual fun
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: There is an air of uncertainty in fixed income strategies as the Fed ended quantitative easing. A recent survey by BarclayHedge amongst fu
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: Add Lone Pine Capital in the growing list of hedge funds who have thrown their support to activist hedge fund manager Sir Chris Hohn, manager of The Children's Investment (TCI) fund, to remove Donald Brydon from the board of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), reported
In the week ending 15 December, 2017, as a broad Bitcoin Update, the start of bitcoin futures trading on the Cboe exchange was off to a flying start, bringing the cryptocurrency into the mainstream investing. ED&F Man Capital Markets, a $14.2 billion brokerage, has signed up 35 hedge funds, f
By: Gerard O'Beirne, Eisner Amper
As of the date of this article, both the House and Senate have voted on and approved separate versions of tax reform legislation. The process of reconciliation is now underway. Although tax planning decisions, both long term and short term, cannot be final
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: South African equity-centric hedge funds post double-digit returns in the first 11 months of this year, with Peregrine's Total Equity Hedge Funds up 10.77% year-to-date despite a flight fall of -0.98% during November after their good performance in October.
In the week ending 08 December, 2017, in FinTech, deVere Group said that the surge in cryptocurrency signals the dawn of fianancial technology era, bu
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Silverpeak Credit Partners is in market with a $250 million special situations credit fund, according to information reviewed by Opalesque. This is Silverpeak's debut fund and the firm plans to start investing from the vehicle next year.
Silverpeak Cred
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Credit Suisse Asset Management's NEXT Investors has led a $6 million Series A funding round for LUX Technology and Services, a business and technology solutions provider for the alternative assets industry. The investment will be used to fuel growth of Trans
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: Many investors require their hedge fund managers to stick to their mandates. However, there may also be a downside to that as many funds, even with large assets under management, are not making money just because they are constrained by their mandates, said Gaurav C
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: Fund managers from the UK who want to relocate or operate in Malta should have a local substance as required by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), said Monika Salomon, senior manager at Malta Financia
In the week ending 01 December, 2017, hedge fund portfolio performance of large U.S. public pension funds staged a dramatic comeback in the year ended June 30 after two years sliding downward. Each of the 20
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: Malta's financial market regulator, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), has widened up the sphere of the underlying investments of the alternative investment funds (AIF) covered under the Notified AIF
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York for New Managers: When spirits giant Constellation Brands announced tha
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York for New Managers: Investors are taking a closer look at commodities funds. With equities hitting new highs week after week, cautious investors have started to look for opportunities
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: US managers wanting to market funds in Europe are facing a big question mark when it comes to Brexit, said Adam de Domenico, Founder and CEO of regulatory compliance support firm Cordium Malta.
In the week ending 34 November, 2017, IOSCO said that global hedge fund assets rose 24% to $3.2tln through Q3. Gross leverage of the hedge funds reported in the 4th IOSCO S
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: At the recent Opalesque 2017 Ireland Roundtable, Roundtable participants agree that it is going to be a hard Brexit. At the same time, Philip Dempsey, a branch manager at
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: French asset manager TOBAM, has launched the first Bitcoin focused mutual fund in Europe. The TOBAM Bitcoin Fund will operate as an unregulated alternative investment fund domiciled in France.
TOBAM created the fund using an in-house crypto research team an
Walter Davis, Alternatives Investment Strategist Invesco
I recently have been traveling around the country participating on a panel titled: "Alternatives: Time to Buy When Others Are Selling?" Spoiler alert - my answer to that question is a resounding "yes." There are two reasons why.
First, loo
by Stephen Scott, Partner, BRI Partners
Don't worry: investors will end up paying less - and here's why:
The conventional wisdom is that everything on Wall Street gets cheaper over time. From trading costs to management fees, capitalism forces competition and efficiency.
In the h
By Ian Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Augentius
Enthusiasm for private equity as an asset class continues to rise in a time of opportunity for fund managers - Prequin data shows the number of private equity funds in the market continued to
grow in Q3 2017, with a 10 percent rise in the number
By Ben Taylor, Chief Data Officer at ZIFF, Inc.
Everyone has AI on their 2017/2018 roadmap these days. Bottom-tier innovation verticals like HR, multi-level marketing, entertainment, fashion, medical, supply chain (anyone else we should throw under the bus?) are even starting to talk about it.
Matthias Knab, Opalesque: From Donald A. Steinbrugge, CFA: Most institutional investors understand the uncorrelated, diversification benefits of property catastrophe reinsurance. Many have been waiting on the sidelines for a large event to happen that would drive up pricing before allocating t
By Doug Schwenk, Founder & CEO, Advise Technologies
Given the dramatic impending changes in regulatory reporting requirements for asset management firms, their chief operating officers, administrators and compliance officials have pretty "full plates" these days. There is no shortage of reporti
By Lars Jaeger: The billionaire and acclaimed tech visionary Elon Musk just expressed another dire warning about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). In a Twitter message (where else, we are to ask today) a few days ago he warned that this technology represents a greater risk to world p
By Donald A. Steinbrugge, CFA, Managing Partner Agecroft Partners, LLC
Hedge fund managers focused on structured credit strategies can be simplistically divided into two categories: beta managers or alpha generators. Many investors believe the beta opportunity born out of the financial crisis
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: Listed diversified banking group Mediobanca SpA said it has acquired a majority stake in Geneva-based hedge fund firm RAM Active Investments SA (RAM AI), an active and alternative asset manager offering a range of act
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Northleaf Capital Partners has closed its debut private credit fund - Northleaf Private Credit I - on $670 million. The vehicle will invest in private credit transactions in Europe and North America, with a primary focus on lending to private equity-backed compa
From Newsoftheweird.com: As elder members of the First United Methodist Church in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, gathered on Nov. 16 to discuss the recent church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, one of those present asked if anyone had brought a gun to church.
One man spoke up and said he c
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Credit Suisse Asset Management's NEXT Investors has led a $6 million Series A funding round for LUX Technology and Services, a business and technology solutions provider for the alternative assets industry. The investment will be used to fuel growth of Trans
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Hedge funds marked their 13th consecutive month of positive returns in November with +0.47% average returns for the month, according to the latest Hedge Fund Performance Report from eVestment.
Activists, long/short and quant equity
strategies are producing
Featuring : Spain's first regulated hedge fund, Cygnus Asset Management (2006): The Power of Cycles.Cygnus Asset Management was the first independent hedge fund registered with the Spanish financial regulator CNMV, paving the way for more Spanish firms to come within this asset class. Today, Cygnus is also registered with the...» Watch the video
» More
Near Term Trend: BearishAs of 12/15/17 close: 1,258.10Last week, I suggested selling longs / getting short of gold at 1276 with stops above 1277 and with a 1210 target.Gold made a short-term top at around 1,264.80 after bouncing briefly off of oversold levels. I'm still bearish of gold right now and am maintaining my downside target of 1,210.I would look to hold existing shorts and add to shorts near 1,264 with stops on a close above 1,265 and with a target of 1,210.
Near Term Trend: Bearish
As of 12/15/17 close: 1,258.10
Last week, I suggested selling longs / getting short of gold at 1276 with stops above 1277 and with a 1210 target.
Gold made a short-term top at around 1,264.80 after bouncing briefly off of oversold levels. I'm still bearish of gold right now and am maintaining my downside target of 1,210.
I would look to hold existing shorts and add to shorts near 1,264 with stops on a close above 1,265 and with a target of 1,210.


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Legal scholars have differing views on whether St. Louis County Attorney Robert McCulloch should step aside in handling the case involving the shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer.
Some contend that from the point of view of legal ethics McCulloch should not step aside. Others, including some local attorneys, say there many reasons why someone else should lead the possible prosecution, which is now being considered by a grand jury.
In an interview with InsideCounsel, American University law professor Angela J. Davis said she personally thinks that McCulloch should voluntarily recuse himself from the case involving the police officer.
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Typically, recusals come about if a prosecutor or judge believes a conflict of interest would prohibit them from doing their jobs. Often, they relate to someone having a close, personal relationship, such as being a close friend or the person is a relative. If this were the case with McCullough and the police officer, Davis said there would be "no question" the prosecutor would recuse himself.
But in this case, there are other factors that should lead him to step aside, she said. "His background is enough for him to recuse himself," Davis said. His father died in the line of duty, as a police officer, and many of his relatives have worked for the department. He has made statements defending the police department when the governor directed the Highway Patrol to take a major role in the situation. There also have been questions about his commitment to prosecute police officers in the past.
"Any one of these issues would raise an eyebrow," Davis said, adding that in totality, they make it necessary for the prosecutor to step aside.
"There are many good reasons for him to step down," Davis said.
In addition, Davis says a special prosecutor should be appointed, someone who is outside of McCullough's office. She points out that "he is in charge of that office."
She also explained that because prosecutors work with police departments all of the time, there is likely going to be some bias in favor of the local police. "In his (McCullough's) case, it goes beyond that," she said.
And very importantly, Davis said, McCullough should want the process to be a fair one, where the community can believe that justice has been done. She added that confidence and satisfaction with the process "should outweigh anything else."
"The appearance of fairness in the criminal justice system is extremely important," Davis explained.
There is also another basic issue about McCullough. Davis points out, "It is not as if he is the only prosecutor capable of handling the case. He has no special expertise needed for this case."
Davis, who has widely studied prosecutorial power and racism in the criminal justice system, was previously a director of the D.C. Public Defender Service.
Similarly, Mount City Bar President Kendra Howard, who heads up the local African-American bar association, has said, "Mr. McCulloch has shown that he is emotionally invested in protecting law enforcement, and therefore should immediately step aside and allow the Justice Department to investigate the death of Michael Brown."
And in an online petition, MoveOn.org says, "McCulloch must fully recuse himself and his office from the investigation related to the murder of Michael Brown." It cited McCulloch's decision not to charge officers who killed two unarmed African-American men in 2000 and shot into their car 20 times.
This "gives us no confidence that his office can provide a fair and impartial investigation into this current matter," the petition said. As of Aug. 20, 2014 the petition had 72,367 signatures.
On the other hand, Bruce Green, who directs the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at Fordham Law School, said in a statement to InsideCounsel, "Robert McCulloch is the democratically elected county prosecutor. Presumably, when it elected him, his constituency had confidence in his competence and fairness. Unless there are grounds for him to recuse himself, he has a responsibility to investigate shootings that occurred in his county over which his office has jurisdiction, including this one."
"There is no suggestion that Mr. McCulloch has a close personal relationship with the officer under investigation, the victim, a witness, or any other relevant individual that might give rise to an impermissible bias," Green adds. "It is true that he has had a dramatic life experience — his father, a police officer, was shot to death in the line of duty. This was undoubtedly searing and there is no telling how it has shaped his approach to law enforcement. If he thinks he cannot be fair as a result, he should step aside. But his life history is not, objectively speaking, a disqualifying relationship or bias."
"All prosecutors have life experiences that contribute to their approach to prosecuting and that may potentially influence their judgment, but their election to the position gives rise to a presumption that they can discharge their responsibilities fairly," he added.
"Let's judge him on his record, not on his past," added American University law professor Susan Carle, another prominent leader in legal ethics. She adds she does not see anything in his background that would suggest he would not be zealous enough in the case. She points out too that as a relative of a victim of crime involving gun violence some might argue he could be on Brown's side.
"Let's not prejudge," she added. "Let's look at the merits." And she says attorneys in such situations have to ask themselves, "Can I be fair and zealous in this situation."
Also, Stephen Gillers, a professor at NYU Law School and specialist in legal ethics and professional responsibility, said nothing in McCulloch's personal history "requires him to step out of the case. If a court were asked to remove him, it would and should reject the request. Those conclusions are not debatable."
But McCulloch, or the governor, "are free to decide that even though McCulloch is ethically able to conduct the prosecution, it would be best to appoint a special prosecutor," Gillers said in a statement to InsideCounsel.
McCulloch "is not required to step aside, nor is he required to stay in," Gillers added.
"The community and the governor should keep in mind that while McCulloch is politically accountable to the public – he must run for office – a special counsel is not," Gillers explained.
Meanwhile, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said this week he will not ask McCulloch to step down from the prosecution of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
"I am not asking St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCullough … to recuse himself from this case," the governor's statement said. "There is a well-established process by which a prosecutor can recuse themselves from a pending investigation, and a special prosecutor be appointed. Departing from this established process could unnecessarily inject legal uncertainty into this matter and potentially jeopardize the prosecution."
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster released a statement supporting McCulloch, too. "It should be noted that Bob McCulloch has been elected by the people of St. Louis County seven times in a row, and he is one of the most experienced prosecutors in our state," Koster said. "It is my understanding he has placed the matter in the hands of two highly experienced prosecutors, one of whom is African-American. I trust in their ability to diligently and fairly present the evidence in this case."


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MasterCard and Western Union have teamed up to simplify cross-border trade for small and midsize businesses. Customers of the organizations' new international payments service will have access to a dedicated foreign-payments portal on the MasterCard Business Network. Through this portal, they will be able to send payments in more than 135 currencies directly from their bank account to a foreign recipient's account. Western Union Business Solutions will provide the foreign exchange (FX) functionality underlying the transactions. The customer portals will offer real-time quotes and transparent FX pricing, according to MasterCard and Western Union.
"Over 95 percent of American importers in 2011 were small and medium-sized enterprises, which demonstrates how significant they are to the American economy," says Raj Agrawal, president of Western Union Business Solutions. "Working with global partners and managing international cash flow is clearly an important part of their operations. [Western Union is] working with MasterCard to help SMEs be as competitive as possible in the global marketplace, whether they trade with near neighbors such as Canada or countries as far away as Kenya, Indonesia, and Brazil."


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Mold removal and cleanup services for Marlton, NJ 08053 and all of Burlington County in New Jersey
Are you seeing the surface areas in your Marlton home beginning to change color. If they are, and you have moisture problems from the roof or bathroom leakages, you ought to have an expert inspect the damage and prepare a quote. Mold elimination and cleanup is necessary to preserving your health.
Your Marlton home being filled with mold can pose a giant health hazard. You'll need to take precautions to take care of it sooner rather than later. Mold, especially black mold, can cause you and your family to have respiratory issues, get sick, and have other severe health and lung problems. In fact, you can also begin to have problems with your homes structural integrity as well.
Any Trapped Moisture In A Burlington County Home Will Likely Need Mold Remediation – In Marlton, NJ call: (888) 970-9483
If you notice a wall becoming soft and mushy or discolored that's bad and will likely need to be torn out and replaced. Mold to this degree probably has a constant source of moisture that also causes wood to rot and can make your entire house collapse. If you are seeing brown spots it might be due to a plumbing leak, or it could be leaking in from outside source. In any case, leaks and moisture like this will cause your Marlton home to start falling apart.
Once water gets in, it causes mold to grow within the walls where it is warm, dark, and moist. The result of leaving this untreated, is cracks will develop in your walls and the mold spores can then escape and contaminate the air you breath. Eventually, it can spread around the entire house leaving every room infected and affected by it. Some examples of this would be a leaky bathtub or shower, a water hose dripping on the side of the house, or a leaking chimney or other New Jersey roofing problem.
How Long Will Black Mold Removal Take in Marlton NJ 08053?
We cannot provide you with an exact time frame to perform our mold removal services. Sometimes we encounter an area inside a home that has been let go for a long time, or wasn't easily accessible to the homeowner so they didn't know there was a problem. In cases such as these, there may be some re-construction needed to properly restore your home and stop the mold growth.
It's of course more cost effective to paint over the moldy spots, but that's just a cover up to the underlying problem. You don't have to settle for that. You should make sure that whoever you hire is qualified to repair any mold and moisture problems. Inform them that it needs to be fixed right because you don't want to contract a preventable sicknesses that could have been avoided if you had spent a few more dollars. Household mold that's visible and growing in Marlton, New Jersey is just plain dangerous.
Mold Removal in Marlton Not Without It's Inconveniences
To get a black mold or household mold problem fixed, you may have to leave your house for a few days so the mold cleanup company can locate and fix the source the mold. When they do, they will remove the entire infected area and replace everything. They are usually able to have the work completed within a day if it's a small enough area of contamination. Jobs like this can take up to a week or two depending on the severity of it, and the amount of reconstruction to be performed. Again, if you need to leave your home for any length of time, try to make it during the week you normally take your family vacation. This will greatly reduce any inconveniences and likely speed up the process of mold removal in your house.
Household Mold Remediation in New Jersey Will Probably Require Marlton Cleanup Professionals to Completely Eradicate
Cleanup of house mold, especially black mold in your home is a very serious subject. It can be harmful or even fatal for some people if exposed for too long. You have to remember that it is NOT your fault if you have mold growing, so don't let your spouse or neighbors fool you in to believing this is nothing you should be concerned about. It can literally be a LIFE or DEATH matter. If you suspect you have a mold problem that requires cleanup, call the mold removal professionals!
Call Us For Your Mold Removal and Repair Needs!
(888) 970-9483
Check out our Household Mold Removal video!


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The Reuben: A Saturday Tradition
Many folks are familiar with the Saturday BBQ that happens out front of our Cambridge shop from early spring through mid-fall. When BBQ season ends, it is a sad day in the shop. We are somewhat mollified, however, by the onset of Reuben season. Instead of BBQ, each Saturday, trays of Reubens are prepared for toasting on the panini grill.
One recent Saturday, staffers were swapping bits of Reuben lore gleaned via word of mouth. Because our collective knowledge consisted primarily of hearsay, we decided to take things a step further, do a little research and get the definitive story behind this iconic sandwich.
Turns out, there is no definitive story. According to "The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches" by Susan Russo and Matt Armendariz, the Reuben has several Genesis stories:
"The first credits Arthur Reuben (1883-1970), founder of Reuben's Restaurant and Delicatessen in New York. The story goes that one evening in 1914 one of his customers, an actress named Anna Selos, asked for something hearty to eat. Reuben whipped up a hefty sandwich made with Virginia ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and his special Russian dressing, christening his concoction the 'Reuben Special.' The second theory holds that Reuben Kulakofsky, a wholesale grocer from Nebraska created the sandwich one night during a card game. Charles Schimmel, one of the players, was so smitten that he dubbed it 'the Reuben' and put it on the menu at his hotel's restaurant, where it quickly gained fame. The third version claims the inventor was Fern Snider, grand-prize winner of a 1956 national sandwich idea contest."
In doing a bit of online research, we came across this interesting rundown of the Reuben debate. According to the recap by Jim Rader, it seems correct to credit Fern (a waitress at the Blackstone, Charles Schimmel's hotel) with one of the earliest official codifications of the sandwich. However, it also seems to be quite well-established that the sandwich pre-dated the 1950s, making Fern a contributor to the Reuben's history but not its inventor. Rader argues in his post that the Reuben Kulakofsky story seems to hang together marginally more than the Arthur Reuben story. However, as he points out, the discovery of an antique menu may eventually help to resolve the dispute conclusively.
The origin of the sandwich aside, one thing that does seem to be agreed upon are its defining characteristics. In order to be called a Reuben, mandatory components of the sandwich are: corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing, all on rye bread. Variations do exist and we were interested to learn that a Reuben containing turkey instead of corned beef is sometimes called a "Georgia Reuben." There is also a sandwich called "The Rachel" which involves substituting pastrami for the corned beef and coleslaw for the sauerkraut. Here at the shop, Julie, our charcutière, makes both pastrami and corned beef and so we occasionally sub in pastrami but have yet to try the coleslaw variation – maybe we should call ours the "Rachel + Reuben." What would you think of us branching out to making a few "Rachels?" Tyler who often preps the Reubens on Saturdays says he makes a mean slaw…
Update: Tyler ended up making some "Rachels" – to see the pics, click here!


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Delavan to appeal development plans to Supreme Court
DELAVAN—Add another round to the Sho-Deen fight.
In a closed session meeting Tuesday, the Delavan City Council voted to appeal a lower court ruling regarding the Sho-Deen development to the state's Supreme Court.
The decision means that at least part of a proposed 600-home development in the town of Delavan will, once again, come to a halt.
Delavan City Administrator Denise Pieroni said the "council authorized the city's attorney to file a petition" to the high court.
Because the session involved discussion of legal strategy, Pieroni said she could not say what lead the council to make its decision in favor of the appeal.
The move is another round in a decade-long attempt to build more than 600 homes on 285 acres at the corner of County F and Mound Road in the town of Delavan.
In July 2012, the Delavan City Council exercised its extraterritorial rights and denied Sho-Deen's rezoning request for 74 lots on a 36-acre tract called "Mound Road Estates."
A city's extraterritorial rights extend 1.5 miles outside its limits.
Sho-Deen's plans for the area in question called for 74 lots over 36 acres with an average lot size of 0.36 acres. The city's land division requirements call for a minimum lot size of 1 acre, according to city of Delavan attorney Steven Koch.
Those requirements were established when the city updated its code in February 2011.
In response to the city's move, the Lake Delavan Property Co., a division of the Sho-Deen Group, sued the city. The Walworth County Circuit Court found in favor of the company, as did the District 3 Court of Appeals.
In its ruling, the appeals court concluded the city can exercise some control on land outside its borders, but it cannot reject a zoning request based on land use. Zoning must be done by a committee representing the city and each of the affected neighboring towns, the court ruled.
On Feb. 18, the Town of Delavan Board voted unanimously to approve the rezoning and conditional use permits necessary for the Sho-Deen group's plans. The company's next step would have involved taking its plans to the Walworth County Zoning Agency for approval.
The area under consideration has been designated "urban density residential" in long-range plans by the county and the town. Plans call for less than 5 acres per dwelling.


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300th Military Police Brigade ACU Patch
This ACU Patch is made by the same manufacturer that supplies the US Military. It carries a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. This patch comes with a hook and loop fastener on the back for use with the ACU (Army Combat Uniform).
Item usually ships in 2-3 days.
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The Probate Court in Los Angeles will hold a trial next month on Shelly Sterling's proposal to sell the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion.
Her husband, Donald, who three doctors say is mentally incapacitated, opposes the sale and his attorneys may try to block the transaction during the four-day Probate Court trial which will start on July 7, news reports said.
Meanwhile, the news reports cite court documents that say Donald Sterling has early signs of Alzheimer's or another form of brain disease.
Donald Sterling and Shelly Sterling are co-trustees of the Clippers under a family trust. Under California law, a trustee is declared incompetent if two doctors deem the person mentally incompetent.
"That person is no longer a trustee," Attorney Mary Gillick, who trained as a nurse and then went to law school, explained in a statement to InsideCounsel.
Under the terms of the trust, Shelly Sterling would likely be allowed to make decisions about the team alone – if her husband is no longer deemed competent.
"She can operate the trust by herself," Gillick, who practices trust and estate litigation in California at McKenna Long & Aldridge, and is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, told InsideCounsel. "She's got fiduciary duties."
Jeremiah J. Moffit, another trust and estate litigation specialist at the law firm, adds that Shelly Sterling would still have to act in the best interest of all the beneficiaries, including Donald Sterling. The sale price of the LA Clippers would need to be fair market value or above, he adds. Neither of the two attorneys is involved in the Sterling case.
But getting $2 billion for the team, sounds like a "good deal," Gillick said. The trust also has control over 150 valuable real estate holdings.
Yet, the attorneys representing Donald Sterling may try to prove the doctors are not disinterested, Shelly Sterling did not comply with the terms of the trust and is breaking her fiduciary duties, and that Donald Sterling still has sufficient capacity to remain a trustee, according to the two attorneys from McKenna Long & Aldridge. His side may try to stop his removal as a trustee, and block the sale of the team, as well.
In addition, Moffitt said Donald Sterling's attorneys could even try to revoke the entire trust arrangement via the Probate Court. One other option is that Steve Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO who negotiated the sale with Shelly Sterling, could become uncomfortable and may back out of the purchase, or a temporary trustee could be appointed by the probate court.
Looking at the big picture, the two attorneys said there have been increasingly more legal fights involving relatives over trusts in California. It used to put stepparents up against children of a deceased spouse, but now siblings are fighting amongst each other or with their older parents, Gillick said. Often, it becomes financial elder abuse. "It's vicious," she adds.
When it comes to this case, Donald Sterling recently called the National Basketball Association "despicable monsters" and "a band of hypocrites and bullies." The NBA has imposed a $2.5 million fine on Donald Sterling, banned him from the NBA for life, and could force him to sell the team in response to a racist rant that was later released by TMZ.
Donald Sterling now opposes the sale of the Clippers, and only approved letting his estranged wife "to negotiate with a buyer, not to formally sell the team," CNN reported, based on comments from Donald Sterling's attorney.
"Bottom line, Donald Sterling does not want to sell the team," Bobby Samini told CNN.
In addition, CNN reported that Meril S. Platzer, a California neurologist, examined Donald Sterling on May 19 and found he "is suffering from cognitive impairment secondary to primary dementia Alzheimer's disease," court papers said. In addition, a PET scan on May 16 showed findings "consistent with a neurodementia of the Alzheimer's type," Platzer added. Donald Sterling could not spell "world" backward, did not know it was spring, and found it hard to draw a clock, Platzer said.
In addition, James Edward Spar, a geriatric psychiatrist, said Donald Sterling suffers "mild global cognitive impairment" and "the overall picture is consistent with early Alzheimer's disease, but could reflect other forms of brain disease," court papers said. In addition, Spar said Donald Sterling "is substantially unable to manage his finances and resist fraud and undue influence, and is no longer competent to act as trustee of his trust," court documents said. Also, Stephen L. Read, a geriatric psychiatrist, "confirmed the methodology and conclusions of Drs. Platzer and Spar," court papers said.
But Maxwell Blecher, an attorney representing Donald Sterling, told CNN his client is mentally sound. "It strikes me as totally incredible to argue that this man — I talk to him every day — is incapable of making decisions and is mentally incompetent," Blecher said on Tuesday. "And I don't believe any court is going to make a finding to the contrary."
It was also recently reported that Donald Sterling's lawyers have hired four private investigation firms. ESPN.com reports they will "dig up 'dirt' on the NBA's former and current commissioners and its 29 other owners."
Further reading:
LA Clippers likely to be sold as Donald Sterling's future role in team is unclear
NBA players support Silver's 'Sterling' decision, but litigation may follow
Alleged racist comments attributed to Donald Sterling widely condemned