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Excuse me for a moment while I vent about the mind-boggling stupidity of the autocratic, bureaucratic, right-wing, neanderthal numbskulls who keep pushing an insane, inane, and inhumane holy war against marijuana – which is after all, a weed.
The most embarrassing thing for these holy warriors is that the weed is winning! They’ve been at this war since 1937, spending billions and billions of our tax dollars, militarizing our borders, and stomping on our Bill of Rights. They’ve used phone taps, garbage searches, jack-booted raids, and draconian prison terms to… well, to do what? To nab peaceful, mellow tokers who aren’t bothering anyone, that’s what.
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Despite 60 years of spending our money, they’ve failed: 85 percent of Americans say marijuana is easy to obtain today, a third of our population says they’ve tried it, nearly 15 million people partake of it at least monthly – and more high school students now smoke marijuana than cigarettes!
Meanwhile, the holy warriors have become more fanatical and thuggish than ever. A marijuana arrest is made every 41 seconds in America – nine out of ten of them for mere possession. In 2004, 772,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges – more than for all violent crimes combined. And 40,000 Americans are in prison today for this victimless crime – more than the entire prison populations of eight European countries.
Even sicker, the sanctimonious weed warriors have made it a crime for thousands of seriously sick people to get the medical benefits of using small amounts of doctor-prescribed marijuana. Weirdly, our doctors can prescribe cocaine for patients – but not marijuana. Worse, drug thugs from the DEA and FBI bust down the doors of these patients, seize their dosages… and haul them to jail.
This is Jim Hightower saying… For information and action to stop this absurd war, call the Marijuana Policy Project: 202-462-5747.

domain: politics


davecz Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Want to say hello I am new to the forum. I just got my new sbe II, what do you guys suggest I do to break it in. all the manual says to do is shoot a few boxes of hunting loads through it. Does it come from the factory with a protective coating that I need to clean off. And I do hear a sqeaking noise from the recoil spring, is this normal becuase its a new gun or does this need to be cleaned and re- oiled? thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Late last week, the “Justice” Department decided that Lois Lerner and the IRS did nothing illegal by targeting Obama’s political opponents with special scrutiny and delays. Today, the House GOP responded as 19 members introduces a measure to impeach current IRS head John Koskinen.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz began the impeachment process against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen Tuesday, accusing him of misleading the public and destroying documents that were being sought under a congressional subpoena.
…Among the specific charges Mr. Chaffetz and 18 of his fellow Republicans on the committee allege are that Mr. Koskinen misled Congress when he said he’d turned over all of former IRS senior executive Lois G. Lerner’s emails, and oversaw destruction of evidence when his agency destroyed backup tapes that contained the emails.
It was unclear how far the resolution would go, in a Congress already preoccupied with so many other fights and with little more than a year to go in President Obama’s tenure.
The impeachment resolution says the IRS knew Ms. Lerner’s messages were missing, due to a reported computer hard drive crash, as early as February 2014, but didn’t notify Congress until June — while the backup tapes were destroyed in March.
Earlier Tuesday, Koskinen told the Senate Finance Committee that he is cleaning up the IRS to avoid any of that completely legal harassment of Tea Party groups:
“The chain of command all the way down has changed. There are new people that have gone through, and we’ve pursued appropriate disciplinary review as needed,” Mr. Koskinen said.
He also acknowledged his agency is still holding up a “handful” of tea party groups’ applications — including one that’s been waiting for nearly six years, The Washington Times reported earlier this week.
Lerner and Koskinen have learned that they won’t face repercussions for using the federal government as a weapon to harm President Obama’s political opponents. It is long past time that the House GOP took matters into their own hands, just as the Constitution allows.


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Minister of Sports, Stephen Lashley (FP)??
The National Sports Council (NSC) is taking steps to generate more revenue, so it would be less dependent on financing from central Government.
To this end, the first billboard will be put up this Thursday, April 29, at the National Stadium, at 10:30 a.m., during a brief ceremony to be addressed by Minister of Sports, Stephen Lashley, Mr. Inniss and a representative of Roberts Manufacturing, the company with the first advertisement.
Mr. Inniss added that he expected other businesses to follow suit, stressing that the initiative would greatly assist with the development of sports in Barbados.


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- Eat less saturated and trans fat. Stay away from fatty meats, fried foods, cakes, and cookies.
- Cut down on sodium (salt). Look for the low-sodium or “no salt added” brands of canned soups, vegetables, snack foods, and lunch meats.
- Get more fiber. Fiber is in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Take this list with you the next time you go food shopping.
Healthy Vegetables and Fruits
Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. To save money, buy vegetables and fruits that are in season, frozen, or canned.
- Fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and spinach
- Leafy greens for salads
- Canned vegetables low in sodium (salt)
- Frozen vegetables without added butter or sauces
- Fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, bananas, pears, and peaches
- Canned fruit in 100% juice, not syrup
- Dried fruit
- Frozen berries without added sugar
Healthy Milk and Milk Products
Look for fat-free or low-fat milk products. Or choose soy products with added calcium.
- Fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
- Fat-free or low-fat yogurt
- Cheese (3 grams of fat or less per serving)
- Soy-based drinks with added calcium (soymilk)
Healthy Breads, Cereals, and Grains
For products with more than one ingredient, make sure whole-wheat or whole-grain is listed first.
- 100% whole-wheat bread
- Whole-grain breakfast cereals like oatmeal
- Whole grains such as brown or wild rice, barley, and bulgur
- Whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta
Healthy Meat, Beans, Eggs, and Nuts
Choose lean cuts of meat and other foods with protein.
- Seafood, including fish and shellfish
- Chicken and turkey breast without skin
- Pork: leg, shoulder, tenderloin
- Beef: round, sirloin, tenderloin, extra lean ground beef
- Beans, lentils, and peas
- Eggs and egg substitutes
- Nuts and seeds
Healthy Fats and Oils
Cut back on saturated fat and look for healthy products with no trans fats.
- Margarine and spreads (soft, tub, or liquid) with no trans fats
- Vegetable oil (canola, olive, peanut, or sesame oil)
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Light or fat-free salad dressing and mayonnaise

domain: food


Manchester City wait on Vincent Kompany injury
Roberto Mancini faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of Vincent Kompany's hip injury.
The Belgium defender has been a key component of Manchester City's defence this season but was forced off during the first-half of last night's 3-0 win over Aris Salonika.
With so many injuries decimating his squad at present, Mancini can ill afford to lose such an influential member of his first-choice starting line-up, especially with games coming every three days at present.
"We won't know what has happened until tomorrow when we see what the situation is," said Mancini.
"We have a lot of injuries at the moment, so I hope it is not serious and he will be available for Sunday."
City tackle Fulham at Eastlands this weekend as they continue their quest for a top four berth.
Whether they will throw all their big name strikers at Mark Hughes' men, as Mancini did last night, is open to debate.
Edin Dzeko profited most from the tactic, scoring twice in the opening minutes to help seal a last-16 meeting with Dynamo Kiev.
However, Mancini can see a flaw in selecting the Bosnian, in addition to Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli.
"I thought we did well and in the first half I was very pleased," said the Italian.
"The problem comes when we don't have the ball. If we don't close down every situation, it could be difficult for us.
"We can play this formation, but not often, unless we improve."
Dzeko's efforts doubled his previous tally since a £27million move from Wolfsburg last month.
The Bosnian should have had a hat-trick too after being sent through by Silva in the final minutes of the first-half.
However, the chance went begging when Michail Sifakis robbed him as Dzeko attempted to go round the Aris keeper and it was left to Yaya Toure to complete the scoring with a deflected effort 15 minutes from time.
Aris coach Ioannis Michalitsios was refreshingly honest as he assessed his side's downfall, even though the Greek outfit had gone into the tie level after the first leg on home soil.
"We lost to a better team," he said.
"We found ourselves two down in the first few minutes, which obviously knocked us back. Given what happened, the eventual outcome could have been a lot worse.
"In order to knock Manchester City out we needed a perfect performance and for City to make a lot of errors. That did not happen.
"City are a better team that most in Europe and the favourites to win the Europa League this season."
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Homemade coconut milk contains just two ingredients. That’s it. It’s GAPS-friendly, Paleo, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and when you make it at home, you don’t have to worry about the guar gum, xanthan gum, carob bean gum, natural flavors, or other additives found in commercial brands that can negatively affect your health and digestion.
Most of the cans used for commercial food items on grocery store shelves are lined with Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor that interferes with the production and function of natural hormones; specifically, BPA can imitate your body’s estrogen production. Because of the controversy, a handful of companies have been lining cans with alternatives such as acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, and oleoresin, a non-toxic mixture of oil and resin extracted from plants, such as pine or balsam fir, but even those are in question when it comes to long-term storage and possible leaching effects.
I’ve only found one brand of commercial coconut milk without additives, and when I opened the can, discovered gray coconut milk with a sulfur-like odor. I threw away every can, and started making my own.
You’ll find a variety of recipes for homemade coconut milk online, all with different ratios of water to coconut. I’ve found a 2:1 ratio of water to coconut is the most economical, and produces the best flavor, color, and consistency. Because it’s rare to find fresh, local coconut, look for the least processed (flakes vs. shredded) organic, unsweetened, dried variety.Print
- 2 cups flaked, unsweetened coconut
- 4 cups very hot water (about 180 F)
- Nut milk bag or cheesecloth
- In a medium bowl combine coconut and water. Let stand 7 minutes. Transfer mixture to a food processor, blender, or frozen drink/smoothie blender. Pulse several times to mix, and then blend on high until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Place nut milk bag in the previously-used medium bowl. Pour coconut mixture through the nut milk bag; squeeze to release liquid into the bowl. *If you don’t have a nut milk bag, line a fine-mesh strainer with cheese cloth and place over the bowl. Pour mixture into the cheesecloth, hold or tie the cheesecloth closed, and squeeze over the strainer to release the liquid.
- Transfer liquid to a glass container or jar; refrigerate up to 1 week, or freeze up to 3 months. Coconut cream will rise to the top as the mixture cools in the refrigerator. Skim off or shake container before use to incorporate the cream back into the liquid.
If using shredded coconut, you may need to add more water while blending. Add ½ cup at a time until the blender is able to run smoothly.
Save and freeze strained coconut pulp to use in smoothies.
P.S. If you liked this post, please use the buttons below to share it with your family, friends, and co-workers, so they can be their healthiest, best selves, too. You can also subscribe to This Honest Food below so you don’t miss an honest to goodness thing, and you can comment below, too!

domain: chemistry


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When it comes to making cheesecake, most of us tend to use cream cheese as the main ingredient. But did you know you can make a delicious cheesecake without cream cheese too? I have handpicked 10 practical substitutes for cream cheese in cheesecake just for you.
Some of the best substitutes for cream cheese in a cheesecake include making your own cream cheese at home, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, greek yogurt, mascarpone and a few others.
Cream Cheese Substitutes
Of course, cheesecake with cream cheese is delicious!
But what if you're tired of eating it, or do not have any cream cheese at home?
There's nothing to worry about. I've compiled a list of the 10 best substitutes for cream cheese in cheesecake.
1. Homemade Cream Cheese
When that sudden craving for cheesecake kicks in and you do not have cream cheese at home, then making your own cream cheese is your best bet.
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to make your own cream cheese. It's easy, it's cheap, and it can be made in so many different flavours.
I love it because we know exactly what's in it, and you can even make it yourself at home!
Let me walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to make cream cheese using nothing but milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
How to make Cream Cheese at home:
- 1 litre full-fat Milk
- 2-3 tbsp Vinegar/Lemon Juice
- flavouring agent of choice.
Bring the milk to a rolling boil over medium heat. Switch off the heat and let it cool down a bit say around 3 mins.
Then start adding 1 tsp of vinegar a little at a time until the milk is curdled completely and you are left with green coloured liquid (whey)
Pass the mixture through a muslin cloth to separate the cheese. I can hear you yes the process till now is just the same as making paneer at home.
Hang the mixture for about 30 mins so that all the whey is drained out. ( The process till now is similar to making paneer for Rasmalai).
Then pulse the paneer in a food processor until creamy. Add a pinch of salt to flavour it. And this is also the stage to mix in flavours of choice if you like.
How simple was that!!
You can use this mixture to make your cheesecake.
2. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese can be a tasty substitute for cream cheese in your cheesecake. It's low-fat and high in protein, so it can make for a healthier dessert. The taste is mild, which means it won't overpower your other ingredients.
In fact, Cottage cheese has a lot of uses beyond just being a substitute for cream cheese in cheesecake!
The only thing to note is to add a little whipping cream or sour cream or greek yogurt to your recipe to make the cottage cheese creamy and moist and not dry.
Try this cheesecake recipe using cottage cheese!!
In fact, Chenna Poda a popular Indian Cheesecake hailing from Odisha, India is made using cottage cheese.
3. Greek Yogurt
If you're looking for a healthier substitute for cream cheese in cheesecake, greek yogurt is the best choice.
Greek yogurt has a thicker and more smooth texture than plain yogurt and a sour taste. It also has more protein and less fat, which makes it a good choice if you are trying to cut down on your fat intake.
It will also be easier to find since it is available at most grocery stores.
This recipe is exactly what you are looking for!! In fact, it is made using Hung Curd.
So if you do not have access to greek yogurt you can also use hung curd here.
4. Mascarpone Cheese
Mascarpone is a soft, buttery Italian cheese that's perfect for use in place of cream cheese in cheesecake recipes. This fresh-tasting alternative has a rich and creamy texture that blends well with other ingredients, making it an ideal substitute for cream cheese in cheesecake recipes.
You can find mascarpone at most grocery stores or specialty markets. It comes in small tubs containing about 8 ounces (227 grams) each and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks after opening.
This mascarpone cheesecake is the recipe you need to check out now.
It's no secret that tofu is a good substitute for a variety of foods. In this case, we're talking about cream cheese.
You can use tofu as a substitute for cream cheese in cheesecakes to create a vegan-friendly dessert.
The only drawback is that Cream cheese adds body, which tofu does not have, but it does absorb water quite well. To compensate for this, you should add extra flour or cornstarch when using tofu instead of cream cheese in your recipe.
Tofu also has a mild flavor and for the missing tangy element, you would definitely need a little lemon juice.
Silken Tofu has that soft texture similar to cream cheese, lemon adds the tangy element and cornstarch gives body making this deadly combination of the trio - silken tofu, lemon juice and cornstarch a great substitute for cream cheese in cheesecake.
This recipe exactly uses the above-said formula.
If you'd like to make a cheesecake without using cream cheese, then this Italian cream cheese - "Ricotta cheese" is a great option.
Ricotta is a soft Italian cheese. It's often used in savory dishes like lasagna and cannolis, but it can also be used in cheesecakes.
To make a ricotta-based cheesecake, definitely mix equal amounts of heavy cream and ricotta cheese together.
Ricotta is a little grainier than cream cheese and hence mixing with heavy cream makes it a bit smoother.
Just like Tofu do consider adding little lemon juice if you are using Ricotta
Here is a cheesecake recipe using Ricotta.
7. Almonds or Cashewnuts Cream Cheese
If you're a vegan who's looking to make a cheesecake, or if you're just trying to avoid dairy products, here are some tips for creating a creamy, dreamy cheesecake that doesn't contain any cream cheese.
- Soak the nuts: Soak your cashews (or almonds) in water overnight. This will help them blend up smoother.
- Blend the nuts: Once they have soaked overnight, drain them and add them to a food processor along with other ingredients until they are smooth.
This will give you a great base for your cheesecake! In fact, this is your homemade vegan cream cheese commonly known as cashew cheese.
1 cup of packed cashew nuts would be sufficient to replace 1 cup of cream cheese.
The only drawback is that you cannot use this to make baked cheesecakes. This forms the best base only for No Bake Cheesecakes and also a best dairy-free substitute.
This 7 ingredient Vegan Cheesecake recipe would blow your mind.
Even before I start talking about it let me be honest that I heard about this particular cheese only while doing the research for this blog post and reading about all the cheeses and their uses.
Apparently, Neufchatel cheese is a soft, slightly crumbly, cheese made in the Neufchâtel-en-Bray region of Normandy. One of the oldest kinds of cheese in France (Source: Wiki)
It is also said that American cream cheese was developed by adding cream to this Neufchatel cheese. The only difference is that Neufchatel cheese has less fat content as compared to the former making it an excellent low-fat cream cheese substitute.
So if you are choosing this as an alternative then definitely add a little heavy cream to the recipe.
This cheesecake recipe using Neufchatel definitely sounds promising.
Quark is a soft cheese that is typically made from milk and has a mild, slightly sour flavor.
It's the most popular type of cheese in Germany and is also popular in other European countries like Austria, Poland and Hungary.
Quark has a high protein and fat content makes it perfect for cheesecake making because it doesn't curdle when heated.
It has a consistency similar to Greek yogurt but is not tart like it.
Here is a classic German Cheesecake recipe that uses quark in place of cream cheese.
10. Kefir Cheese
Kefir is a fermented milk (any type of milk - whole milk, cow’s milk etc) drink that can be made at home, and you can use the grains from this to make your own substitute for cream cheese in cheesecake.
Kefir grains are basically Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast, and it is from this colony that the kefir grains are formed; imagine kombucha.. formation of kefir grains are similar to those.
Kefir grains being rich in probiotics are easily available in the market in these days.
You just have to buy it once and use it in a fashion similar to making yogurt at home. Kefir has so many health benefits that you can consider replacing yogurt with kefir milk in your everyday life.
The process is fairly simple:
- Add 2 tbsp of kefir grains to 4 cups of milk and leave it to ferment for 24 to 48 hours.
- After 24 hours, strain the whey through a cheesecloth in a pot. Tie the cheesecloth and hang it for a couple of hours until you are left out with creamy and thick cheese on top.
Do not discard the whey you can use it to knead bread, roti or chapati.
With a lower fat content kefir cheese is a great alternative to regular cream cheese.
The texture of kefir cheese is similar to cream cheese and it has a little more tanginess than yogurt which would be just similar to the tangy flavor of cream cheese.
Consider checking out this recipe of cheesecake using kefir.
Best Cheesecake Recipes:
If you are looking for an egg substitute in cheesecake consider checking out our 13 easily available egg substitutes post.
Recently I have also published 19 best substitutes for banana bread that has more knowledge about how egg substitutes work.
When it comes to cream cheese and cheesecake, there are plenty of options. You can use any of the above options individually or mix and match them.
The most important thing to remember is that each substitution has its own unique flavor profile. The flavor will change depending on which option you choose, so you'll need to experiment a bit until you find one that suits your needs best!
Although it is best advisable that instead of experimenting with a whole new recipe by substituting one particular ingredient it is better that you start with a recipe that already has done all the substitutions to meet your requirements.
The best option according to me is Mascarpone Cheese. It has the right texture, firmer texture, rich flavor, and less water content, its a spreadable cheese, easily available making it a versatile ingredient to be used in baking recipes, especially cheesecake. The best part both no-bake and bake cheesecake can be made using this making it one of the best cream cheese substitutes.
What would be your choice?


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5 RECIPES YOU, YOUR HAIR & YOUR BODY WILL LOVE
We love being able to transform our clients’ dry, damaged hair back to being alive & beautiful… And while trims, in-salon treatments & correct product use can make a HUGE difference, there’s still only so much we can do in the salon.
The rest comes down to what you do habitually – How many times do you shampoo weekly? What goes into your body? Is your hair exposed to many environmental factors? Do you heat style often?
All these factors can affect the growth, strength & longevity of your locks.
So what exactly can you do in between appointments to give your hair its best chance of thriving?
We’ve put together some of our best tips & tricks for keeping your hair looking & feeling BOMB for 2018 & beyond.
Today, we’re looking at what you can do from the INSIDE to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients to encourage hair growth & strength.
There’s no ‘quick fix’ when it comes to the long-term health of your hair & one nutritious meal probably won’t make a huge difference, but if you’re able to incorporate more of these powerful ingredients into your diet daily, your hair & body will love you for it!
*BONUS: They’re all VEGAN, so no furry friends harmed ❤
1. 5 INGREDIENT SWEET POTATO SALAD
This wholesome, nourishing salad includes three incredibly beneficial ingredients for your hair: Spinach, sweet potato & quinoa.
Spinach is a great source of iron, an essential mineral off which all your hair cells thrive. When your body is running low on iron, oxygen & nutrients are not getting transported to your hair roots, which can inhibit growth & cause weakness.
Sweet potato contains beta carotene, a carotenoid which is converted to vitamin A in the body. In other words, it’s basically an elixir of life for your hair. It’s great for preventing dullness & promoting sebum production in the scalp.
As for the quinoa, the real question is what isn’t it good for? Incredibly rich in fibre & protein, this magical grain holds too many benefits to list!
FULL RECIPE: http://bit.ly/2Fbjb3B
2. LENTIL CHILI
Q: What do protein, iron, zinc & biotin all have in common?
A: They’re all essential for healthy hair & they’re all found in LENTILS!
Biotin (or vitamin B7) acts as a coenzyme in the body, meaning when we eat foods which provide us which fat, protein & carbohydrates, biotin must be present in order to absorb & benefit from these macronutrients.
Zinc also plays a crucial role in hair growth & overall wellbeing. Zinc deficiency can lead to deterioration of the protein structure which makes up the hair follicle, causing hair loss.
FULL RECIPE: http://bit.ly/2ygCGa0
3. MANGO CITRUS VITAMIN C SMOOTHIE
This smoothie is full of Vitamin C, which plays a couple of essential roles in the body: It’s vital for iron absorption & it’s also required for the production of collagen, one of the most abundant proteins present in your hair.
Hemp seeds are also incredibly nutritious, containing essential fatty acids (omega-6 & omega-3) & loads of plant-based protein.
FULL RECIPE: http://bit.ly/2AE4h2h
4. AVOCADO FUDGE
Don’t worry, drooling at this point is perfectly normal.
This decadent, guilt-free fudge contains a tonne of hair-loving ingredients.
The avocado provides vitamin E, which improves blood circulation & helps hair follicles work efficiently. It also helps maintain the balance of oils & PH levels in the scalp.
As for walnuts, not only do they have more omega-6 fatty acids than ANY other food, they’re also full of zinc, iron, B vitamins & protein.
FULL RECIPE: http://bit.ly/2mbrSmA
5. PEANUTBUTTER, BANANA & CHIA OATMEAL
You could be surprised by just how many benefits the humble oat has to offer.
Oats are rich in iron, fibre, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids & polyunsaturated fatty acids, all of which help stimulate hair growth & encourage thickness.
This bowl of goodness will also provide you with loads of protein from the peanut butter & chia seeds, leaving your hair stronger than ever!
FULL RECIPE: http://bit.ly/2m9KmEg
Shout out to all the creators of these scrumptious masterpieces!
Let us know if you’ve ever noticed any positive or negative changes in your hair as a result of diet – your experience could help someone else!

domain: health


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Advocacy Alert: 2017 Session Ends Without Deal on NYC Mayoral Control
Last night just before midnight, both houses of the legislature adjourned and released their members. Unfortunately, this was before a deal could be agreed to on an extension of mayoral control over the New York City school system. This provision of law expires at the end of the month. At this time it is unclear if or when legislators will return to address this issue.
While negotiations on this issue were ongoing, many issues of importance to school districts were taken up by one or both houses. Two NYSSBA priority bills that were approved by both houses made important adjustments to the interpretation and implementation of the tax cap that will yield meaningful results for impacted school districts. The first, S.4283 (Murphy)/A.5965 (Galef), would allow BOCES capital expenses to be treated in the same manner as district capital expenses, as an exclusion from the tax cap. The second, S.2122-A (O'Mara)/A.1841-A (Morelle) would allow properties which have PILOT agreements in place to still be included in the districts' tax base growth factor. These bills now await review by the Governor, who did sign similar legislation two years ago which allowed, but did not mandate, the Department of Taxation and Finance to make these changes administratively.
Hear more about these and all the bills that did (and did not) make it through during NYSSBA's end of session webinar next Tuesday. Registration information can be accessed below.
NYSSBA End of Session Wrap Up
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Bullet Aid Allocations
The Assembly and Senate adopted resolutions to distribute the bullet aid appropriated in the 2017 budget to schools and other educational entities. A full list or recipients can be viewed below.
NYSSBA's Governmental Relations team will continue to keep you up to date on these and other issues.
For more information, visit our Key Issues Page, and be sure to follow NYSSBA on Facebook and Twitter.

domain: law


I generally stay away from the low-key singer/songwriter stuff since Elliott Smith snuffed himself. I saw one of his shows at Irving Plaza back when he was still around, and I wanted to stab myself in the chest. Seriously dreadful. So there’s Kurt Vile on the cover of his album with his acoustic and an illusion to religion and sin in the album title (and a song called “Jesus Fever”) and I start to get nervous that I’m going to want to chloroform myself by track three. But what I find is less Smith and more Mascis (at least his solo stuff). Granted there are no squealing guitar solos or rusty-spring singing, but there is a melodic quality and phrasing at times that reminds me of J. Mascis’ solo stuff. Though Vile’s passion is lazier in its approach. His heart isn’t bleeding all over the music, but rather he stands back in an almost out of body experience kind of way and drawls through the haze of his observations. He has a full band backing him up, so the music is fleshed out, but still sounds intimate as he works his way through music that I wouldn’t say has hooks in its slightly jangly midst, but has a few melodies here and there that are memorable. But certainly no big hit-you-over-the-head moments. It puts forth more of a mood than anything else. A nostalgic vibe that recalls the 70s, a decade full of lazy afternoons inside, and unmade beds juxtaposed with sunwashed fields of gold. Just listen, you’ll get it.


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The Columbus College of Art and Design hosts a fashion show many Columbus style lovers look forward to on their social calendars every single year. The show highlights some of the very best up-and-coming designers in Ohio, who are sure to go on and make a major statement in the world of fashion.
By Derek Fergusson
Betsy Johnson Raciee Leather Pump $59.95 (Compare at $89)
By Caroll Jeanne Kern
N.Y.L.A. Zuzu Sandal $39.94 (Compare at $80)
By Linh Tran
Madden Girl Unite Platform Pump $44.95 (Compare at $59)
By Abigail Staley
Charles by Charles David Francis Wedge Sandal $49.95 (Compare at $99)
Which designs caught your eye? We’re dying to hear your thoughts! And keep these names top of mind—you might just see one of these CCAD students join the ranks of Dior, Versace, McQueen, Chanel…you get the idea.

domain: artistic


“Cheese!” “Click, snap, click”. Many of us today should know or have heard about a Japanese camera company called “Olympus.” Though not the biggest player in the camera market, the company is still prominent in the U.S. Market, and has recently been engulfed in numerous ethical complications. It seems that similar to Enron, the energy company which became bankrupt following a very large scandal, Olympus has also been altering its accounting books. However, although not completely bankrupt or as fraudulent as Enron, the company is in great trouble, for what looks like, may be a long haul.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Olympus’ loss hiding dates as back as the 1990s. Back then the company had cleared up losses on investments by writing them off and channeling money through funds from controversial deals. These controversial deals arise with the acquirement of an English company, Gyrus Group PLC, and three small Japanese businesses by Olympus. Also, the company’ cover up in the 90s and even at present could be seen as a practice known as “tobashi”, which means “hiding bad loans, or selling unwanted stock”. Back in the day, when Olympus sold faulty assets and loans using the tobashi method, Olympus was able to keep their losses out of their financial statements. Another technique they were able to manipulate was a series of transfers between clients so that losses, once again, would be invisible in the financial reports.
Confirmed by the president of the company, Shuichi Takayama, Olympus acknowledges that they participated in “inappropriate accounting”, something Enron also did extremely well. Also similar to Enron, the Company’s leaders have displayed a great deal of unassigned dependence and diffusion of responsibility. As seen with Enron, many of the executives such as Jeffrey Skilling, Ken Lay, and Andy Fastow tried greatly to appear oblivious of the problems, and once the problems became evident, tried to make sure that they were not to be blamed. The Olympus Corporation is also seen to bide by this trend, since all of the officials also blame each other, and proclaim that they were unaware of the faulty accounting. In addition, as a result of this controversy, the Olympus stock has taken a big plunge down about 70% to around $9.40, their lowest stock price since 1995. Not unlike the Enron stock which continued to decline until it officially flat-lined.
Although they are from two different worlds, both Olympus and Enron have acted in ways that are extremely similar. Their actions have not only been treacherous for their shareholders, they have also impacted the Wall Street community in constantly displaying corporate greed and immoral behaviors by corporations. Therefore, after this bump in the road Olympus must decide to either prosper once again, by fixing its philanthropy and attracting shareholders and increasing public perception, or becoming extinct like the giant that used to be Enron.
**Due to technical difficulties we recently had to switch domains and transfer all of our website content. Please keep in mind that while we have been publishing articles for two years, the published dates shown may not reflect the initial publish date.
Inagaki, Kana, Phred Dvorak, and Shawn Schroter. “Olympus Admits to Hiding Losses – WSJ.com.” Business News & Financial News – The Wall Street Journal – Wsj.com. N.p., 8 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011.


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UPDATE: Organizers announced the second day of the festival Sunday has been canceled.
Original story: Riverhead transformed into medieval times on Saturday on the first day of the 2017 Medieval Festival at the Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp on Sound Avenue. The event runs through 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10, $5 for children between 4 and 12 and free for kids under 4.
The event featured jousting, vendors, food, a Royal Court and more. Click here for more information.
See more photos below:

domain: news


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An assailant opened fire at a light rail yard in San Jose, California, on Wednesday morning, killing an unspecified number of people and injuring others, the county sheriff’s office said.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Russell Davis told reporters that “there are multiple injuries and multiple fatalities,” and the assailant was dead.
“I can’t confirm the exact number of injuries and fatalities,” he said. He said he could not identify the shooter or confirm how they died.
The shooting took place just before 2 pm GMT at a light rail yard run by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority near the city’s main airport.
“The shooter is no longer a threat, and the facility has been evacuated,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo wrote on Twitter.
San Jose, a city with about 1 million residents, lies at the heart of Silicon Valley, a global center of technological innovation and home of some of America’s biggest tech companies.
Mass shootings are common in the United States, which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world.
In March, eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were shot dead in a string of attacks at day spas in and around Atlanta, and less than a week later, 10 people were killed at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.


Nicholas Reveles premieres new opera, ‘Sextet’
Nicolas Reveles’ “Sextet”
When: Continues 8 p.m. Oct.1; 2 p.m. Oct. 3 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4
Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego
Tickets: $29, $39
Phone: (619) 220-0097
That’s why they call it a preview.
At the end of Thursday’s first performance of “Sextet,” Nicolas Reveles’ new chamber opera at Diversionary Theatre, Will Earl Spanheimer and David McBean bask in the knowledge that even after 20 years, they still love each other. And as the music reached its final cadence, a single bubble floated down from the top of the stage.
Chances are good that Reveles, director Cynthia Stokes and scenic designer Robin Sanford Roberts wanted more than one bubble, But that was about the only thing that went amiss in a strong, committed performance by an exceptional cast and a first-rated creative team of Reveles’ always appealing, often inspiring work.
It may bit of a stretch to call these six scenes from gay life an opera. In the work’s overt lack of drama, it’s more like a gay oratorio or a gay song cycle.
No matter. Call it whatever you want, Reveles’ opening scene in particular, “Dinner Party,” is a tour de force. The music, which Reveles calls “American eclectic” is described by one of his characters as sounding like Aretha swallowing Norah Jones, but it just as often sounds like Richard Rodgers channeling Ralph Vaughan Williams or George Gershwin assimilating the Episcopal 1940 Hymnal.
Musically and dramatically there’s one surprise after another in “Dinner Party,” especially when Jesus (a compelling Abdiel Gonzalez) interrupts five friends’ Thanksgiving dinner and announces that it’s up to the gays to save humanity. And it’s the only scene where the entire cast – Matthew Starkey, David McBean, Enrique Toral, Will Earl Spanheimer, Noah Longton and Gonzalez – is on stage singing together.
“The Vulcan” (apparently named after a bathhouse in San Diego) is essentially a duet between Starkey and Gonzalez and “The Ugly Duckling” is a solo (backed by the rest of the cast moving behind the curtain to choreography by Peter G. Kalivas) by an affecting Toral in a gay retelling of the famous fairy tale.
So far so good; but three scenes that form the opera’s second half are more static, even anticlimactic.
“Walt’s Boy” is a setting of Walt Whitman poems convincingly sung by Spanheimer to a boy played by a vulnerable Starkey. “Quartet: Before and After” shows a couple simultaneously in the present (splitting up) and in the past (getting together) to music so rhythmic, overtly pop-oriented and predictable that it almost seemed out of place. “The Cruise” has Spanheimer and McBean staying together, and blessed by that single bubble.
Reveles provided definitive musical direction and accompaniment on the piano, joined by cellist Cliff Thrasher and violin and violist Lee Wolfe. They made it seem as if there was a smaller orchestra on stage. Stokes’ inspired direction was both imaginative and left little to the imagination.
She found the drama in the smallest moments, and ultimately that’s what “Sextet” is all about.
James Chute is the UT’s music and art critic; (619) 293-1290;
email@example.com; twitter: @sdutchute


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Game Board Station
Games, Snacks, Virtual Reality Machine.
Welcome to the Castle, a getaway for gamers of all ages. Come play from our collection of board games, from classic kids' games to strategy or social games. Not sure how to play? We've got experienced and friendly gameboard coaches on hand to save you from reading all those directions!
Want virtual games? Strap on our VIVE virtual reality headset and step into a cutting edge virtual gaming experience.
Hungry? We've got plenty of snacks and drinks, too.

domain: game


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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a solventless method for preparing elastomers with multiple pendant carboxyl groups and application of such elastomers for the cured compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Carboxyl grafted elastomers are used as such or as co-reactants in a wide range of applications. Grafted carboxyl groups improve adhesion to various polar and non-polar substrates, compatibility with polar polymers, such as polyamides, polyurethanes, polyesters, acrylic, phenolic and epoxy resins, provide dyeing property, increase filler acceptance, etc. Reactions with carboxyl groups are employed in many crosslinking reactions, e.g., with epoxy, isocyanate, amine, hydroxyl, ester, ether, and polyvalent metal groups.
The applications of these products are extremely versatile. Carboxyl containing polymers are used in hot melt, pressure sensitive and biomedical adhesives; spray, powder and electrodepositional coatings; paints; inks; seals, packings and gaskets; for filler surface treatment; as polymeric binders and compatibilizing agents; for thermoforming and thermosetting articles; in water based systems, for detergents and surfactants preparation; as thickening agents, rheology modifiers, etc. They are used as binders for solid propellant and binders for various fibers and fillers, chip resistant coatings, electrodepositional primers, laminates and adhesives for bonding identical or different materials, such as metals, plastics, rubbers, molding compounds, textile, cement, glass, and wood in various combination and form, e.g., as sheet, fiber, wire, foam, etc.
Carboxyl containing elastomers increase green strength and adhesiveness of rubber compositions and are used in joint sealants, tire formulations, and noise and vibration damping compositions, for example in automotive applications such as an adhesive or a sealant. For such applications it is especially important that the carboxyl containing elastomers are hydrophobic to repel the water and protect the metals from corrosion.
Leighton, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,749 assigned to National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation describes a method for preparation of hydrophobically modified polycarboxylate polymers via copolymerization of unsaturated carboxylic monomers with non-carboxylic monomers having a long hydrocarbon chain, e.g., acrylic and maleic acid with lauryl or stearyl methacrylate, in an organic solvent. Following polymerization, the polymers are extracted into an aqueous solvent and then isolated by azeotropic solvent removal.
This technique has resulted in useful elastomers, but such methods have not received general acceptance for the reason that the process is laborious and complicated.
A random copolymer formed from ethylene, alkyl acrylate and a mono alkyl half-acid ester of 1,4-butenedioic acid can be formed by continuously feeding monomers and initiator to a stirred reaction zone and continuously withdrawing a reaction mixture containing the copolymer. This is reacted for 30 minutes at 180° C. and 40,000-lb pressure. Such a polymer is Vamac sold by E. I. DuPont. The method of making such a polymer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,588.
This process also requires isolation of the carboxylic polymer from the reaction mixture. The polymers obtained by this method are solids of high molecular weight and the process requires special high-pressure equipment. Another disadvantage of this process is the use of a mono alkyl half-acid ester of 1,4-butenedioic acid as a carboxylic component. It is known that the carboxyl group of such half-acid esters has lower acid strength and therefore limited reactivity as compared to the non-esterified 1,4-butenedioic acid.
It is long known that unsaturated carboxylic acids and their derivatives, such as anhydrides, can be adducted onto polymers via different techniques. For example, maleic anhydride can be added through the reaction of maleic anhydride with a diene polymer. Such a process is thoroughly described in literature, e.g., Trivedi, B. C. and Culbertson, R. M. “Maleic Anhydride” Plenum Press, NY, 1982.
Grafting of polyisoprene resin with maleic anhydride is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,349 assigned to Kuraray, Ltd. The maleinized resin is used in a sulfur cured natural rubber blend to provide improved green strength of the compounds and adhesion to metal. A similar material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,046 also assigned to Kuraray, Ltd. for use as a constituent of a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Grafting of low molecular weight liquid polybutadiene resins with maleic anhydride is most widely realized on commercial scale. Such maleinized polymers are prepared by reacting polymeric resins, such as, for example, polybutadiene homopolymers or copolymers of styrene and butadiene, with a dicarboxylic acid anhydride, such as maleic anhydride. The maleinized polybutadienes are claimed to improve adhesion of elastomers to various substrates, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,569 assigned to Ricon Resins, Inc.
The aforementioned patents and publications disclose many methods for modifying elastomers via incorporation of carboxylic acid functionality. Most these methods suffer from mechanical difficulties associated with handling the increasing viscosity of the elastomer during the chemical reaction sequences. In part, the difficulty with processing of such elastomers lies in the high viscosity built upon the addition of acid group to the polymer chain. It is known that even a small number of not terminal carboxyl groups in the polymeric molecule cause interchain hydrogen bonding resulting in sharp increase of the bulk viscosity of the polymer. Therefore, the reactions leading to the formation of carboxylic polymers are usually conducted in organic solvents or in water, with the well known disadvantages associated with these techniques, for example, the necessity to remove the reaction media prior or during the use of the resin, resulting in higher energy use, slow down of the process, and VOC development. Yet another problem is the impossibility of working with high concentrations of polymer without an intolerable increase in the viscosity of the reaction mixture and resulting difficulties in agitation and heat exchange.
A solventless method for the synthesis of carboxylic polymers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,031 assigned to Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd., where a carboxyl modified rubber is obtained by the reaction of a rubber having an unsaturated carbon linkage with an organic compound having a carboxyl group and an aldehyde group in the presence of an acid catalyst, carried out in a rubber-kneading machine in the absence of a solvent. Such process requires a prolong use of sophisticated mixing equipment, like a kneading machine, and can lead to side-reactions such as gellation of the unsaturated rubber caused by the high processing temperature of about 200° C. or a chain scission caused by shear forces. Besides, the organic compounds used for this process contain an aldehyde group, hence are potentially toxic.
Another solventless method for production of saturated carboxylic polymers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,025 assigned to BASF Aktiengesellschaft. The method comprises pyrolytic cleavage of ethylene-carboxyl ester copolymers in the presence of an acid catalyst at temperatures between 150 and 250° C. Again, such a process requires high temperature, hence it is difficult to control. The method is limited to ethylene-carboxyl ester copolymers and cannot be used for unsaturated polymers that have insufficient high temperature stability.
Due to the ease of processing, anhydrides of maleic acid group are most widely used to graft or adduct unsaturated elastomers with carboxylic acid derivatives. The anhydrides are less prone to hydrogen bonding, therefore such maleinized elastomers have significantly lower viscosity than their truly carboxylic analogues. These elastomers found application as a replacement for the more difficult to prepare unsaturated carboxylic polymers.
However, the anhydride containing elastomers have some definite shortcomings. For example, maleic anhydride grafted polymers are highly moisture sensitive due to the hydrolysis of the anhydride moiety. Upon the hydrolysis of the anhydride, acid groups are produced changing physical properties of the polymer, e.g., the viscosity increases in the moisture-contact area resulting in “skinning” of the polymer surface. Besides, maleic anhydride adducted to an unsaturated polymer such as a liquid polybutadiene accelerates its oxidative crosslinking to the extent that maleinized polybutadiene resins have been used in air-drying coatings (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,228 assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.) Therefore, storing and application of unsaturated elastomers containing maleic anhydride usually require nitrogen blanketing to provide moisture and oxygen free environment. Still another drawback of the anhydride functionality compare to the acid form is a much lower tack and adhesiveness of the polymer.
Carboxylic and carboxyl-grafted polymers can be used in a wide range of applications. Examples of such applications comprise hot-melt adhesives (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,172); PSA (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,879); biomedical adhesives (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,867), pumpable adhesives (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,248); adhesives for bonding identical or different materials (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,569—rubber to metal adhesion, U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,392—thermoplastics to rubber adhesion, and Patent Application JP 09,299,261—polyolefin foam adhesion to steel); laminates of various substrates (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 0,369,808—plastics, and U.S. Pat. No. 0,296,042—glass); compositions of detergents (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,047); powder coatings (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,400) and electrocoating (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,018); stereolithography aid (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,025); filler surface treatment (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,670); compatibilizers for not miscible materials (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,642—asphalt-polymer blends); golf ball manufacture (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,740); sealants (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,428); packing (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,753); gaskets (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,841); paint additives (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,481); inks formulation (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,083); inkable coating (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,577); lubricant additives (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,249); cosmetics (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,747); various water based formulations (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,791—water based sealant) among other applications. The subject matter of the instant invention is also related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,412,031; 4,621,127; 5,066,749; 5,473,025 and 6,166,149.
The previously identified patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference.
Consequently, there is a need in this art for a method of preparing an unsaturated elastomer containing multiple carboxyl groups that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art noted above. Such an elastomer can be used in crosslinkable compositions to improve the compatibility of the components of the composition, increase the green strength, adhesion and tack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention solves problems associated with conventional practices by providing a method for preparing an unsaturated elastomer containing multiple pendant carboxyl groups.
It is desirable to have a highly functionalized unsaturated carboxylic elastomer, which can provide tack and adhesion to various substrates and can be ionically and covalently crosslinked for improved resistance to both hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents.
One aspect of the instant invention comprises a method for converting liquid elastomers containing organic acid anhydrides into substantially pure acidic form (e.g. to improve storage stability and adhesiveness). In one aspect the subject invention relates to a solventless process for making a polymeric composition having at least two pendant carboxyl groups, which comprises reacting at least one molecule of water with at least one dicarboxylic acid anhydride group of at least one suitable polymer. By “solventless” it is meant that the reaction medium comprises less than 5 weight percent, and typically less than 2 weight percent, and in some cases about zero weight percent, among other volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.).
The term liquid elastomer comprises elastomers having a flowable viscosity at a temperature between about 4° C. and about 95° C. at normal pressure.
Examples of suitable polymers comprise at least one unsaturated liquid polymer capable of forming an adduct with organic acid anhydride, including but not limited to polymers of various dienes, e.g., butadiene and its homologues such as isoprene and chloroprene, or copolymers of dienes with vinyl monomers such as styrene and its homologues, vinyl acetate and other vinyl esters or ethers, acrylonitrile and other (meth)acrylic monomers, and ethylene and its homologues. Such unsaturated polymers can be grafted or copolymerized with unsaturated organic acid anhydrides, such as maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, acrylic anhydride, aconitic anhydride, among others. Polymer molecular weights may be in the range of 500 to 100,000, typically between about 1,000 and about 80,000 g/mol. The quantity of anhydride groups may vary within broad limits depending on the type of the polymer and the intended applications. The quantity is generally between 1 and 80 moles of anhydride per polymer, and usually between about 2 and about 50 moles.
A polymeric adduct which can be employed in one aspect of this invention can comprise at least one unsaturated polymer such as polybutadiene or polyisoprene adducted with an organic acid anhydride such as maleic acid anhydride under conditions described in literature and known to the art, e.g., Trivedi, B. C. and Culbertson, R. M. “Maleic Anhydride” Plenum Press, NY, 1982; hereby incorporated by reference. Homopolymers of 1,3-butadiene and its homologues, or copolymers with up to about 95% of a comonomer can also be employed. Suitable comonomers comprise at least one vinyl-aromatic compounds, olefins having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and/or dienes having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, for example cycloalkadienes having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, such as dicyclopentadiene. Desirable comonomers comprise at least one of styrene, cyclopentadiene, norbornylene and ethylene. The amount of maleic anhydride should be sufficient to provide a polymer that contains at least 1 anhydride group, and typically greater than about 2 anhydride groups per molecule.
One aspect of the invention comprises a solventless method for preparing unsaturated carboxylic polymers. This method comprises reacting polymers adducted with carboxylic anhydride, e.g., maleic acid anhydride, with the equivalent amounts of water in the presence of at least one catalyst, e.g., a tertiary amine, toluenesulfonic acid, among others, to hydrolyze the anhydride moiety to form a substantially pure acid form.
Surprisingly, it was found that such a reaction can be done in a solventless process under normal pressure and mild temperature conditions without a prolong mixing of components. The solventless process is normally heated at a temperature for a time sufficient to achieve the desired results. Typically, the reaction temperature is in the range of between about 60° C. and about 110° C., typically between 70° C. and 100° C., and usually between 80° C. and 90° C. Although the viscosity of the reaction mixture is greatly increased in the course of the reaction, substantially no gel is formed. That means that the reaction products remain substantially soluble in a suitable organic solvent such as xylene or a ketone, e.g. methylethyl ketone, or an appropriate mixture of solvents.
This invention also provides uncured adhesive compositions comprising the aforementioned unsaturated carboxylic polymer adduct that can be formulated with cure initiators such as at least one of peroxides or sulfur and accelerators, and optionally other elastomers and additives, wherein said adduct comprises between about 1 and about 99 weight percent of said adhesive composition. In order to improve adhesive qualities, the composition can be vulcanized.
Another aspect of this invention relates to improved formulations of polymeric materials that are obtained by adding the aforementioned carboxylic polymer adducts, e.g., to achieve improved adhesive and physical properties of the compounded elastomers. As shown in the examples hereof, adhesive properties are improved with the relatively small addition of the carboxylic polymer to the composition during a compounding or formulating step and, typically, prior to vulcanization or cure. Examples of improved adhesion are E-coat to Nylon 66, Nylon 66 to itself, E-coat to itself, coatings on plastics (e.g., PETG, E-coat, and Nylon 66), metals (e.g., cold-rolled steel, galvanized steel and aluminum), adhesion through oil to cold-rolled steel, among other substrates and coating systems.
Adhesion is measured by means known to the art, such as lap shear test, e.g., ASTM D-816-70, and through subjective observations of the substrate after removing the adhered material by peeling, scraping, etc. The adhesive elastomers of this invention can exhibit lap shear adhesion to Nylon 66 between about 80 and about 500 lbf, and to E-coat between about 160 and about 600 lbf. Such adhesive strengths are far superior to the formulation that does not contain a carboxylic polymer of this invention.
Polymers useful in practicing the instant invention comprise at least one member selected from the group of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), polychloroprene rubber (CR), natural rubber (NR), polyisoprene rubber (IR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), isoprene isobutylene rubber (IIR), halogenated isoprene isobutylene rubber (CIIR, BIIR), fluorocarbon rubber (FKM), polyethylene and various ethylene copolymers, e.g. ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), blends of two or more of such elastomers, among others.
The amount of inventive carboxylic polymer to be added to a formulation is sufficient to achieve a desired tack and/or adhesive bond of the elastomer to the substrate, and still provide an elastomer with satisfactory physical and chemical properties without adversely affecting the vulcanization rate and the ultimate cure of the elastomeric compound. For example, the adhesive adduct comprises between about 1 and about 25 weight percent of the mixture prior to curing, but may comprise more than 90 weight percent of the cured mixture.
An example of a method for making a curable adhesive elastomeric compositions of this invention comprises:
(a) mixing at least one liquid unsaturated polymer adducted with at least one carboxylic acid anhydride (e.g. Ricon 1756 of Ricon Resins, Inc.) with an equivalent amount of water and with at least one catalyst until a uniform cloudy blend is obtained or for about 15 minutes, optionally at a slightly elevated temperature. The catalysts comprises acid or base catalysts effective at anhydride ring opening reaction. Examples of such catalysts comprise at least one of bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl)ether (e.g. DABCO BL16 Catalyst of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.), an amine salt of p-toluenesulfonic acid (e.g. BYK-451 of BYK Chemie or Nacure 2500 of King Industries, Inc.), among others. Desirable results are obtained by using the DABCO BL16 Catalyst,
(b) pouring the cloudy blend from step (a) in a suitable leak-protected container, e.g., a plastic or rubber bag, or a plastic-lined fiber box;
(c) maintaining said container with the reaction mixture at a temperature of about 90° C. for about 2 hours or until a clear reaction product, e.g., the carboxylic adduct is formed; and,
(d) adding said carboxylic adduct to an uncured formulation in an amount between about 1 and about 25 weight percent of said composition.
Curing agents may also be added to the mixture but may not be necessary when the uncured formulation is one which may be cured by the adduct, e.g., epoxy, amine, urethane, melamine resin, mixtures thereof, among others.
The carboxylic adduct is normally mixed with the uncured formulation prior to vulcanization. The best results are obtained when about 5-20 weight percent of the carboxylic adduct is used in the formulation. The unvulcanized formulation can be extruded, injection molded, or otherwise pre-formed, then placed on a substrate and heated to bring about cure.


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Victory Finds Lady Dragons
January 13, 2022
The Central Lady Dragons faced two teams this week, Chestnut Ridge and Johnstown. While the Lady Dragons lost to the Chestnut Ridge Lady Lions 57-42 on Wednesday, they were victorious over the Johnstown Lady Trojans 55-30 on Friday.
Kat Longenecker led the Lady Dragons against the Lady Trojans with 13 points. Leah Johnston had 11 points for the Lady Dragons as well. Central’s JV was victorious with a 31-25 victory. High scorer was Kaylee Keith with six points.
The Lady Dragon’s Friday game left them with a win, however. Carly Dixon put up five three-point shots for Central for 15 points...


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In the winter of 2014, I was asked to help an elderly family friend with day-to-day financial and other end-of-life issues. His health was failing and he was alone – no wife, no children. That same week I was coincidentally made aware of the book “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande. In the book, Dr. Gawande gives a brutally honest overview of the heart-wrenching ordeal of aging and dying. My experience with our family friend and the real-world scenarios described in the book coalesced to teach a valuable lesson: it is impossible to overestimate the importance of planning for the end, regardless of the circumstances. This lesson is reinforced constantly in our day-to-day experience as we help clients and their families through the process.
This is not just about money. Even though wealthy families don’t have the stress of how to pay for care, there are countless non-financial details to attend to. Families unable to pay for care carry additional stress, making it difficult to focus on everything else. Regardless of the financial situation, taking the time and making the effort for end-of-life planning is not for the dying. It is a gift the dying can give to their loved ones. A gift we give to those helping us navigate the sometimes heart-wrenching final days.
Nor is this simply a matter of “having a will,” as we often hear. Estate planning is an important piece, but it’s just that, a piece of a much larger puzzle. I never fully appreciated this until I had to live it myself. I was fortunate that our friend had diligently planned for his decline both financially and administratively. But even with his detailed diligence, there was still so much to do: pay bills, open mail, make phone calls, research retirement and health care facilities, file tax returns, communicate with concerned friends. I can’t imagine trying to do all this on top of figuring out how to pay or making health care and financial decisions without clear directives. For many, the reality is that it becomes overwhelming. In those cases, things are often missed and mistakes are often made, adding stress on top of stress.
How can you give this gift? Here are a few key ways:
First and foremost, start the process early and revisit it often. Good communication is paramount. These issues can be complex and time consuming, and each topic requires thorough communication and diligent execution. Procrastination often leads to problems, and in too many cases it can lead to family strife. It’s quite likely that one family member’s assumptions differ from another’s, so talking it through is the only way to get on the same page.
Execute estate plan documents and update them as often as needed. “I did a will years ago” is probably not enough. A good estate plan includes a last will and testament, a durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, a living will, and in some cases, a trust agreement. The benefits of each of these are well beyond the scope of this article, but the investment of time and money for a thorough, updated estate plan is well worth the benefits to you and your family in the end. In our experience, far too many are walking around with inadequate, outdated documents.
Get a handle on the finances, and prepare those who will have to take over when you are unable to manage them. Having lots of money helps tremendously, but most people don’t have endless financial resources. Understanding assets, liabilities, income streams, how bills get paid, and the overall budget helps immensely when it’s time to step in and assist. It’s a good idea to bring someone in the loop before they have to take over. That enables time for discussion and clarification about the overall financial situation and how to access information. It’s a nightmare to be tasked with managing someone else’s finances with no access to key documents, passwords, bank accounts, etc. Documentation of this important information is greatly underappreciated.
Communicate preferences to decision makers. Our decision-making abilities decline significantly in times of stress and grief. When multiple parties are involved, like siblings, a lack of clarity often leads to conflict. When key decisions and preferences have been articulated, and even better, documented, it makes the process smoother and less likely to descend into an argument. Estate plan documents cover lots of important topics, but others need to be specified separately. Preferences about where to live, health care arrangements, palliative care, and funeral arrangements are a few key items to discuss with loved ones. By the way, a prepaid funeral is a time and stress saver that most funeral homes offer.
Facing the issues associated with aging and dying is not fun for anyone. But we all have to face mortality sooner or later. Don’t tarnish your legacy by leaving a mess for those you love. Instead, give the gift of planning for the end.

domain: literature


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The avocado is a popular pear-shaped, green fruit that grows on the avocado tree (Persea americana). It is notable for its dark green outer shell that looks like alligator skin that protects a creamy pale green flesh surrounding a single seed. Mexico grows the majority of the world's avocados. It's most common in Latin American foods, including the very popular guacamole. The fruit can also be added to a variety of dishes, from salads and smoothies to sauces and even sweets. Avocados are packed with nutrition, easy to prepare—most often raw or pureed—and offer a creamy texture and mellow flavor that's irresistible.
What Is Avocado?
The avocado (or alligator pear) is a fruit with green flesh that gets softer as it ripens. It surrounds a large pit (the seed), which must be cut around and removed. The pebble-textured outer skin changes from a lighter yellow-green to dark green (almost black) as it ripens. This can vary by variety, however, so firmness rather than skin color is the best way to judge ripeness.
The avocado grows in tropical climates on tall trees. Most come from Mexico, California, Florida, and Hawaii, and the peak season is late winter into early spring. This is when you'll find the cheapest and best ones of the year. At other times of the year and during shortages, a single avocado can be expensive. The avocado can also vary in size, ranging from the small, 1-ounce "avocadito" to the massive, 5-pound queen avocado. The majority, however, are palm-sized and, like the popular Hass variety, weigh about 6 ounces.
How to Cook With Avocado
Avocado can be eaten raw and scooped straight out of the skin with a spoon. The fresh fruit is often diced or sliced and included in salads, wraps, and as a sandwich topping. Avocado is also pureed for use in dips, smoothies, and soups, and it's easy to mash by hand. Additionally, avocado can help transform favorite desserts like brownies into vegan-friendly treats.
Since the skin is generally bitter tasting, most of the time it is discarded, though it is edible. In order to get to the flesh inside, work the knife lengthwise all the way around the pit, cutting the fruit into two equal halves. With gentle pressure, twist the two halves in opposite directions to pull them apart. The pit should stay firmly in one side and can easily be removed with a spoon. Use the spoon to separate the avocado meat from the skin, then cut it up as needed.
Like apples and pears, avocado meat will turn brown once it's exposed to oxygen. This doesn't affect the taste. To preserve the green color, squeeze a little lemon juice over the avocado as soon as you cut it open. You can also mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice into pureed or mashed avocado.
What Does It Taste Like?
The taste of avocado will depend on its ripeness and variety. In general, avocado has a rich, buttery taste that is simultaneously mellow and uniquely avocado. It's the creamy texture that makes it a favorite for many people.
If you thought guacamole and avocado toast were fun ways to eat avocado, you'll really enjoy the more unique recipes to feature the fruit. Avocado lovers have devised creative ways to incorporate it into favorite foods of all kinds.
Where to Buy Avocado
It is hard to find a grocery store that does not carry avocado. The tricky part is selecting a good avocado and paying attention to the price. They're almost always sold by the individual fruit, rather than by the pound. During peak avocado season, they're inexpensive, and it's easy to find a perfect avocado in various stages of ripeness. During the rest of the year, the cost may double or triple, and you will have to be more selective to ensure you get quality fruits. Rather than discard the seed, it can be used to grow an avocado tree at home. It thrives in tropical climates and will be an indoor plant in cold regions. Propagation is not always successful, and you should not expect a lot of fruit.
Avocado is very hard when fresh and soften as they ripen. If you want to use them right away, select fruit that is slightly soft when gently squeezed. Since they do bruise easily, it's often best to choose harder fruits and ripen them at home. This can take anywhere from two to five days at room temperature. Avoid bruised avocado and any with soft spots or loose skin. You can also give it a quick shake; pass on any that feel like the pit is loose.
Don't store unripened avocado in the refrigerator as it won't ripen properly. Instead, store avocado in paper bags out of direct sunlight until ripe. After that, store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Avoid cutting an avocado until you're ready to eat it.
The best way to preserve avocado long-term is by freezing a puree. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for every 2 avocados, then freeze for three to six months in an airtight container. Avocado can also be pickled in a vinegar brine. Canning them is not recommended, but you can store the jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Though all avocado generally looks the same, there are many varieties of the fruit available. Hass is the most common and popular, the epitome of an average avocado. Other avocado varieties include Bacon, Fuerte, Gwen, Pinkerton, and Zutano. Lamb Hass and Reed avocados are good varieties to look for during the summer.


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Stanford undergraduates fall just below national averages in alcohol consumption, according to a survey conducted by the Office of Alcohol Policy and Education (OAPE). The survey indicated, however, that Stanford is above average in having alcohol as the center of campus social life, in hard liquor use and in pre-gaming before events.
According to OAPE Director Ralph Castro, the survey was conducted as part of a larger Stanford alcohol initiative including the recent development of the OAPE office. The office used a standard, national survey from the Core Institute in order to compare responses to standard questions with survey results from other institutions.
This year, 583 students took the survey. Castro said OAPE will conduct the same survey every year to evaluate trends over time.
Compared with the national average of 81.7 percent, 79.7 percent of Stanford students said they had consumed alcohol in the past year. The average number of drinks consumed per week fell well below average, at 3.6 versus the national 4.6.
Despite the near average numbers for overall alcohol consumption, Castro said that some of the more specific drinking habits at Stanford still might be cause for concern and University action.
“We are above national averages for students who take shots of alcohol, who drink hard liquor and who engage in pre-gaming,” Castro said. “Those situations … are risk factors for negative consequences to happen.”
OAPE added several questions to the Core Institute survey to evaluate these high-risk behaviors. According to Castro, 53.4 percent of students reported pre-gaming in the last 30 days. Many more students — 32.2 percent — reported drinking primarily hard liquor than students who reported drinking primarily beer — 24.3 percent.
Castro said that 56.9 percent of students reported ever having taken a shot of hard liquor.
“It reaffirms what our thought was,” Castro said of OAPE’s reaction to the high-risk drinking numbers. “We know that [pre-gaming and hard liquor] are our two big risk factors, and we know we need to provide some targeted education in those areas.”
Castro also noted that the trend toward hard liquor, which is typically served in quantities that are difficult to measure, could exacerbate underestimation by drinkers of overall alcohol consumption. Castro specifically referred to the average of 3.6 drinks per week, noting that when drinking hard liquor, students might not know how much alcohol they are consuming.
Despite the tendency toward hard liquor and pre-gaming, Stanford still fell below national numbers in the Core Institute survey for binge drinking, which is usually considered a metric of high-risk drinking behavior. At Stanford, 40.9 percent of students reported having five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks, whereas nationally 43.1 percent reported the same behavior.
Another area of concern for OAPE is in the alcohol-centered culture that students reported experiencing at Stanford. Notably, 84.5 percent of students said that people at Stanford drink because it gives them something to do, almost 13 percent above the national average.
“To me that was a big one,” Castro said. “When people say the perceived effect of alcohol is that it just gives people something to do, then it means people are maybe just bored on given weekends.”
One of the largest divergences from national averages came from asking if students think the social atmosphere on campus promotes alcohol use. At Stanford, 73.6 percent of students said yes, whereas only 47.7 percent nationally said yes. Fraternities in particular were believed to promote alcohol use: 94.8 percent of students said they consider alcohol central to fraternity life, compared to 77.9 percent nationally.
“There isn’t anything else to do,” said Jacob Cruz ‘14, who said he does not drink. Cruz said that socially, he usually just abstains at events with alcohol present or does not go out.
“There’s different kinds of drinking scenes,” Cruz said. “You have the huge, big house parties, and then you have just the chill-backs. I enjoy those [chill-backs] a little bit more.”
OAPE started a program this year called Cardinal Nights to offer alternative, alcohol-free activities for the weekends, but the program is still in its infancy.
“For me [the survey] was clarification that we’re on the right track,” Castro said of OAPE’s response to the numbers.
One survey question, addressing student likelihood to attend alcohol-free events, divided students into thirds, according to Castro, with one third each saying they were likely to attend, unlikely to attend and unsure. Castro said he wants OAPE to adjust its offerings to target the unsure group.
“For me, we need to make it OK for people to want to go [to alcohol-free events],” Castro said.
Some numbers, however, indicated that students are already making healthy alcohol decisions. Nationally, 20.2 percent of students reported ever performing poorly in their schoolwork as a result of drinking, but only 12.7 percent of Stanford students reported the same. Stanford also fell below averages for vomiting or feeling nauseated because of alcohol and for other consequences like driving under the influence (6.9 percent at Stanford, 24.1 percent nationally).
“Even though only 13 percent of students say they’ve performed poorly on a test because of drinking, that’s still a significant number of students given our academic rigor,” Castro said.


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A PRIDELESS MAN AMBER KELL PDF
A Prideless Man is available tomorrow from Total-E-Bound. Here is the buy link Blurb: Book three in the Supernatural Mates Series Sometimes. A Prideless Man By Amber Kell – FictionDB. Cover art, synopsis, sequels, reviews , awards, publishing history, genres, and time period. Read “A Prideless Man” by Amber Kell online on Bookmate – ©Copyright Amber Kell Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright Total-e-bound books All.
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Review written for Queer Magazine Online. Sighing over the hopelessness of his infatuation, James logged into the college website and answered several emails from his students.
James Everett moved to a shifter town to escape his shifter-hating father. He has two children with Tia, one of the lionesses within the same pride, and unlike other cat species, loves his children and has stayed around to assist with raising them. Kevin finds Payce through an online dating service.
After having two boys of his own, Kevin, a werelion, is ready to find his mate.
I tell you what I wasn’t let down. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. This is not a deep read nor is it the best writing. The bear-shifter possessed strength, vitality, physicality, and sensuality, combined with a sense of humor and a nurturing streak.
A Prideful Mate (Supernatural Mates #2) by Amber Kell
Here is the buy link Blurb: This, among other things, helped endear him to me, because at times I felt he was a little presumptuous in his thinking. If it’s known, our sheriff is one stupid shifter. A cry of pain tore from pridelesss chest as he shifted positions. When people learn to compromise and stop to listen.
Looking through the listing, he sees werejaguar, Payce. Both of these helped in creating that extra feeling of tension I could get my teeth into. Overdosing just after being asked out on a date. No trivia or quizzes yet. The sex was hot and all of the familiar tropes are there, and besides Kevin jumping to conclusions every five minutes, he was lovable and friendly and the kids were cute. A very nice read!
What happened to his mother? This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far. Totally Bound PublishingJul 11, – Fiction – 69 pages. Although I love Lou and James was okay, this one was a little bit of a let down for me. I never am with Amber Kell stories. Lou wants James no matter what.
Dec 02, Barbara Means rated it it was amazing Shelves: Jul 10, Chris rated it it was ok Recommended to Chris by: To view it, click here. The charm came from both the MCs.
The shy redhead drew his eye from that first day, and only the thought Currently he taught classes online which finally let him find a use for his expensive college education.
There was so much packed into the 60 pg short story that I felt there really wasn’t pdideless time for them to get that bond formed.
This is a very straight-forward bite-size increment shifter series, but this story went a little bit deeper. I fully expect that I’ll have to use some imagination while reading but the author normally gives a more solid starting point than this. The only thing I wonder about is why he fights it. Kevin has two sons with female Tia, but knows his mate is a man. What I had a hard time buying into was his role. I just read this story this morning.
A Prideless Man
Apr 04, Ramona rated it really liked it. Just When can three equal a suitable two?
May 30, Iris rated it liked it Shelves: To see what s friends thought of this book, please sign up. My library Help Advanced Book Search. All in all, it was a fast and easy read with an interesting plot.
A Prideless Man (Supernatural Mates #3) by Amber Kell
I think out of all the mates we have met so aamber he is my favourite for his sheer tenacity. He is understandably leery, but when danger strikes, Kevin is there. I could relate to the silence and the complications. Who were shifters sold to? Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.


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Adults and Teens Can Learn a Lot From "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"
The Cast of Characters
Kenny Baumann portrays Benjamin "Ben" Boykewich, an idealistic seventeen-year-old who plays the cymbals in the school band. He was also the boyfriend of Amy. He was very devoted to her and completely supported her during her pregnancy days. Ben is the heir of a wealthy meat company owned by his father, Leo.
Greg Finley II portrays Jack Pappas, an eighteen-year-old on the football team. Jack is the stepson of a minister. The summer before his sophomore year, Jack began a relationship with Grace, partially in an effort to keep her well-to-do family at his stepfather's church.
Molly Ringwald portrays Anne Juergens, the mother of Amy, Ashley, and Robert Juergens, and the wife of George Juergens. After discovering George was cheating on her with Adrian's mother, Cindy Lee, Anne separated from him and filed for divorce.
Mark Derwin portrays George Juergens, the father of Amy, Ashley, and Robert Juergens, and the husband of Anne Juergens. He owns a furniture store and was previously married to Kathleen Bowman, Grace's mother,
Steve Schirripa portrays Leo Boykevich, Ben's widowed father. Known locally as "The Sausage King", he is wealthy and owns a butcher shop. He recently married a woman named Betty, a sweet but slightly ditzy former prostitute.
(Source for above: Wikipedia)
"Secret Life": Not Just for Teens
"The Secret Life of the American Teenager" entertains viewers while tackling very awkward situations head on and it doesn't waste any time doing it. Five minutes into the first episode of the first season, we learn that fifteen-year-old Amy Juergens is pregnant - the result of an unplanned and unexpected interlude with the local bad boy.
This immediately tells viewers that the show deals with the kind of life issues which span generations. But I didn't know this until recently, because I refused to watch the series when it came out.
I'll admit that when I first saw advertising for, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager", I thought it would be just another too-adorable coming-of-age show.. In recent years television and the movies have been flooded with dramadies featuring ridiculously attractive young people who find themselves in even more ridiculous situations - a lot. I was annoyed and couldn't take one more.
All of that explains why it took me four years to watch one episode of "Secret Life". When I did catch an episode on the local ABC Family Channel, I was quickly hooked and wanted to see more. Specifically, I liked it enough to want to go back to the beginning to see how it all started. It turned out that Seasons 1-4 were available via my Amazon Prime membership, so I sat back and caught up.
Everyone Can Enjoy and Learn From This Show
As you can see from the brief cast bios, relationships on this show are complex and more like real life than many of us are comfortable with. The students of Grant High School (in California) and their parents deal with birth, death, Alzheimer's, marriage, divorce, infidelity, chastity, religious beliefs, race, and gender issues, among others. To their credit, the writers never duck a problem, no matter how thorny. They tackle them fearlessly.
The topic of pre-marital sex comes up often, which is appropriate, since it's something teens and their parents deal with. Students at Grant High School often learn the hard way about the consequences of reckless behavior. They struggle with unwanted pregnancies, ruined relationships, and living lifestyles they shouldn't have to deal with until they're much older.
The amazing thing about the program is that there's a lot of humor sprinkled in. Just like citizens of Anywhere U.S.A. (or probably the world), the characters find themselves laughing with and at each other, sometimes through tears. George Juergens alone is worth watching. His stumbling through relationship mistakes with his wife Anne - and other women - is often hysterical.
When you break it down, though, the kinds of things these complicated people go through is really the stuff we all go through, and not just when we're young. I promise you, you will see yourself or someone you know somewhere among the the relationship problems, sexual complications, and major life changes.
What is especially terrific is that the writers never insult their audience with happily-ever-after. Sure the characters have their high points - births, weddings, the senior dance, etc. - but the next day they are right back at it - dealing with school, jobs, & sick kids, just like everyone else.
An Addictive, Thought-Provoking Series
If you're like me, you won't take someone else's word for it and need to watch a show to see if it's "you". That's exactly what I did and got hooked in the process. If you need a change from the usual violence and fantasy, sit back and enjoy Secret Life - you might even come away with some thought-provoking questions-or answers.
Note: In the Season Five finale, one of the more lovable characters was clinging to life and audiences were left agonizing over his fate. However, they'll have to wait a while to find out what happens. The show is currently on a long mid-season hiatus, with no definite start date for Season Six. For those who want to check it out, Secet Life reruns are sometimes aired on the ABC Family Channel and the series is available on Amazon in DVD and instant video formats.

domain: entertainment


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ALMOST a third of Britain’s small building firms have shed staff since the turn of the year, a survey said today.
New research by the Federation of Small Builders said falling workloads and rising costs had forced many small and medium-sized construction firms to cut back their operations.
The FMB’s latest state of trade survey of member firms – many of them working in the domestic repair, maintenance and improvement market – showed total workloads falling at the fastest rate since the first quarter of 2012.
The net balance for residential workloads – the lifeblood of the small builder – was minus 23% compared with minus 15% in the final quarter of last year.
FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “Last year was a tough one for our members, but there were some encouraging signs in the final quarter of 2012 that the industry may be turning a corner.
“These latest survey results, however, paint a bleak picture and our members are telling us that they are faced with the unenviable choice of putting up their prices or laying off staff.”
The survey showed that 30% of firms shed staff during the first quarter of 2013 – although 26% anticipated that workloads may pick up in the next few months.
Said Mr Berry: “Our members have for years eaten into their own profit margins in a bid to maintain capacity – but that cannot continue.
“There was little in the Government’s recent Budget Statement to cheer small domestic repair, maintenance and improvement companies.
“We urgently need to see a cut in VAT from 20% to 5% on home renovation and repair as householders simply can’t afford to get work done to make their homes more comfortable, affordable and energy-efficient.”


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A Minneapolis electronics manufacturer that says it paid excessive freight fees because of price fixing stands to benefit from a $29 million civil settlement with several freight firms, including two that pleaded guilty to separate criminal charges.
Precision Associates, which makes and distributes industrial rubber supplies, is a lead plaintiff in a 2008 federal lawsuit brought in New York against several dozen freight-scheduling firms in the United States, Europe and Asia who allegedly colluded to set prices.
In late September, several of the accused, including Germany's Detsche Bahn AG and Schenker AG, agreed to settle the civil case for $29 million. Those firms are among 12 companies that have pleaded guilty to criminal price fixing.
"These are icebreaker cases," said attorney Joe Bruckner of Lockridge Grindal Nauen of Minneapolis, one of two Minneapolis law firms and two New York law firms that have been appointed lead counsel by a federal judge. "These companies came to us and said, 'We not only want to get out of this litigation, but we will cooperate in the case going forward.' Once these settlements are approved, we'll continue to litigate against the other defendants. We're also open to negotiate."
The Feds started their criminal investigation after the lawsuit was filed. Last week, six Japanese freight forwarders pleaded guilty to price fixing charges and agreed to pay $46.8 million in fines. According to criminal charges filed U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the companies conspired to fix freight-forwarding service fees -- including fuel surcharges and security fees -- charged to customers with air freight shipments from Japan to the United States from about September 2002 until at least November 2007.
Six other companies pleaded guilty to similar charges last year, according to Sharis Pozen of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Those companies agreed to pay $50.3 million in fines.
"Prosecuting global price-fixing conspiracies, that are harmful to the economy and consumers ... will continue to be a top priority," Pozen said.
Freight forwarders manage the domestic and international delivery of cargo for customers by packaging, preparing, documenting and warehousing cargo freight, arranging for cargo shipment through air and sea transport providers.
According to the civil and criminal charges, the companies imposed uniform freight forwarding service fees, often citing securing concerns as the reason for coordinated price bumps.
A federal judge gave preliminary approval on Sept. 23 to the proposed civil settlement, which also involved Eagle Global Logistics and Vantec. It clears the way for lawyers for Precision and several other companies to contact what could be a few thousand business customers who may be entitled to current and future settlement proceeds. Paul Kadue, the president of Precision was traveling last week and unavailable to comment.
STRATASYS EXPANDS INTO BIGGER PRODUCTION PLANT
We've got plenty of stores and restaurants in these parts, but too little manufacturing.
So it's great to see Eden Prairie-based Stratasys, maker of high-tech machines for prototyping and producing plastic parts for industrial and consumer product designers, debut a 90,000-square-foot building that doubles its production capacity.
Stratasys acquired the building last year and spent nearly $10 million refurbishing and outfitting the space. It's more than is needed for now.
"We've said we're optimistic about the economy and our prospects," said Stratasys CEO Scott Crump. "We're putting our money where our mouth is. It's evidence of our product's market acceptance."
Stratasys, which markets the Dimension 3-D and Fortus Production 3-D printers, has a lot of leading-edge applications including this one: Its technology provided a "3-D printing" of an entire car body for Urbee, a Canadian company that is designing a 200-mpg hybrid car.
Analysts expect Stratasy to earn 89 cents per share on $150 million in revenue this year.


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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
We adopted Rose right around Christmas 2011. She has always been afraid of her kennel, usually beating herself against the door to try to bust it open and crying. She tore apart her first wire crate, so we bought one of the plastic crates that our trainer recommended, since it would be more like a den. When we tell our other dog to "place kennel", Rose runs and hides. We usually have to put a slip lead around her to get her to even get off the floor. When she gets to her crate she just stands there, she won't accept treats or anything. (Rose isn't motivated by food, especially in this situation...this dog absolutely loves her freedom). We already feed her in her crate so she can at least associate it with something pleasant. She used to run in to it for meals, but now she's grown more timid and slow creeps up to it and runs in and out while she eats. Any ideas on how to make her more comfortable. We don't trust leaving the dogs out in the house during the day.

domain: pet


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Here's yet another reminder that the plauge is real and conspiracy theories are a threat to public health.
"Authorities said Officer Freddie Castro was diagnosed with the virus last month."
Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
Overland Park police announced Tuesday evening that a 23-year-old officer who was battling COVID-19 has died.Officer Freddie Castro tested positive last month for COVID-19.Police Chief Frank Donchez released a statement on Facebook:"It is with a heavy heart that I share that Overland Park Police Officer Freddie Castro passed away a short time ago.