text:
Snoop Gives Brutally Honest Advice To Kanye West About The Women In His Life (Video)
Over the last few weeks, Kanye West has drawn the ire of seemingly everyone, at one time or another. Whether it was due to his ongoing support of Donald Trump, his release of music seemingly designed to troll or outlandish comments about slavery, West’s popularity is now at an all-time low.
The reaction from celebrities has been mixed. Charlamagne Tha God, who interviewed West for nearly 2 hours recently, has encouraged people not to abandon Kanye. Long-time peers and collaborators like John Legend tried to reason with Kanye privately, only to have their correspondence leaked by Kanye on social media. Of Ye’s many public detractors, Snoop Dogg has been particularly vocal, and his words have been both cutting and caring.
During a recent trip to The Breakfast Club, Snoop reacted forcefully when asked about West. Rather than focus on Kanye’s mental health, possible thirst for attention or other internal motivations for his behavior, Snoop spoke about the impact of those around Kanye and, equally importantly, those not around the embattled MC/producer. “What I’m saying is, and I hate to be Black and White…There’s no Black women in his life. Let’s just keep that 100. That’s real. I got aunties, and they’ll pull up with them big church hats on [like] ‘What’s happenin’??!! What you on?? You bullsh*ttin’, Nephew. We taught you way better than that’,” he says, explaining that he has Black women in his life who would not be tolerant of the type of behavior recently exhibited by West.
Like many, Snoop also attributes the void in Kanye’s life to the loss of his mother. “Remember the music he was making when she was here, and the spirit that he had? That’s gone now, and if you never lost your mother, you don’t understand that feeling. So, I had to sympathize with that and say ‘You know what? Maybe the women around him should look into getting him some help from some women that’s stronger than them.'”
Snoop’s comments are clearly directed at the Kardashian/Jenners, and he goes on to suggest there’s a pattern of men who have deteriorated in their presence. “If you look at the people that went into that house, with their minds straight…Let’s go to Lamar Odom. Let’s go to Kanye West. Let’s go to Rob Kardashian.” When Odom began dating Khloe Kardashian, sister to Kanye’s wife Kim, he was a successful NBA basketball player, but by the end of their relationship, he was suffering from severe substance abuse that lead to a near death experience. Rob Kardashian, brother to Kim and Khloe, has slowly unraveled before the public’s eyes. Similarly, Kanye was at his creative apex, having just released My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, shortly before he became involved with Kim.
Snoop then contrasts the men in the household with the women. “The women [are] on point. Million dollar deals. Walking the runway. Selling makeup, emojis…” When Breakfast Club host Angela Yee asks, given Snoop’s theory, whether people should be concerned about Travis $cott, who recently had a child with Kardashian sister Kylie Jenner, Snoop says “Mmm hmm. Y’all better get that cup of tea away from that ni**a,” a sly reference to the method used by a character in the film Get Out to hypnotize and break the broken protagonist.
The Breakfast Club interview is the latest for Snoop, who has been on a tour promoting his recent Gospel album, Bible Of Love, as well as other projects. Earlier in the week, Uncle Snoop showed off his impeccable freestyle skills, as he and Jamie Foxx effortlessly crafted a song on the spot.


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Titan Comics and Humble Bundle are pleased to announce the launch of the Doctor Who Humble Comics Bundle, which is guaranteed to bring you on an adventure through time and space, to far-flung galaxies, ancient history, and futures you can only imagine.
Humble Bundle offers collections of videogames, books, and comics at a price determined by the customer. Content is divided into three tiers: pay $1 or more to purchase the first tier; pay $8 or more to purchase tier one and two; and pay $15 or more for content from all three tiers. A portion of each Humble Bundle sale goes to charity. Over $75 million has been donated to charities around the world since the company’s launch in 2010.
When purchasing the Doctor Who Humble Comics Bundle, in addition to furnishing your chosen digital device with an enviable Doctor Who comics library, you’ll also be able to choose to donate any percentage of the Bundle’ s retail price to BBC Children In Need, which currently supports over 2,400 projects to help disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
The Doctor Who Humble Comics Bundle contains 70 Doctor Who comics, with appearances from the Third, Fourth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors, and stories from an array of comic writers, including Eisner Award-winning Nick Abadzis (La ika), Paul Cornell (The Severed Streets, Wolverine, Warcraft), Al Ewing (2000AD, The Ultimates), George Mann (Dark Souls, Warhammer 40,000), Robbie Morrison (Drowntown, Nikolai Dante), Cavan Scott (Star Wars: Adventures in Wild Space, Vikings), Gordon Rennie (2000AD, Dishonored), and Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Unfollow); and artists, such as Elena Casagrande (The X-Files, Vigilante), Boo Cook (Elephantmen, 2000AD), Si mon Fraser (Judge Dredd, Nikolai Dante), Daniel Indro (Green Hornet, Vikings), Christopher Jones (Avengers, Young Justice), Rachael Stott (Star Trek), Emma Vieceli (Jem and the Holograms, Young Avengers), and Brian Williamson(Spider-Man, The New Avengers).
The Doctor Who Humble Comic Bundle is available for purchase now - click here
TIER 1: Pay $1 or more to get seven classic Doctor Who stories from the archives featuring the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, including time travelling adventures to Victorian England and 1940s Casablanca, alien body-swapping, and sculptures that hide deadly secrets!
Volumes included: When Worlds Collide; As Time Goes By; Fugitive; Through Time & Space; Body Snatched; Rippers Curse; Agent Provocateur.
TIER 2: Pay $8 or more to get everything in Tier 1 along with the first of the Tenth and Eleventh collections as the Doctors meet their new companions and embark on incredible adventures! Plus, be introduced to past regenerations, with the Ninth, Eighth, and Fourth Doctors, as well as more gems from the Doctor Who archives and the very special Doctor Who Comics San Diego Comic-Con issue – what could possibly go wrong at a comics convention?!
Issues and volumes included: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Vol.1 – Revolutions of Terror; Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.1 – After Life; The Forgotten; The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who; Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Miniseries #1; Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Miniseries #1; Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Miniseries #1; Doctor Who San Diego Comic Con Special 2015.
TIER 3: Pay $15 or more to get both Tier 1 and Tier 2, along with the second Tenth Doctor collection, where the Doctor encounters the terrifying weeping Angels in the bomb-besieged trenches of World War I, the second Eleventh Doctor collection, where he battles the evil machinations of SERVEYOUInc., and the first ever Twelfth Doctor collection, where there’s a sentient star on the warpath and an ancient celestial being murdering her way towards resurrection. Plus, meet the Third Doctor, read how the action continues with the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors, and enjoy the Twelfth Doctor Holiday Special!
Issues and volumes included: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Vol.2 – The Weeping Angels of Mons; Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.2 – Serve You; Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Vol.1 – Terrorformer; Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor (2016) #1; Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #11; Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #11; Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor #6; Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor #16 2015 Holiday Special; Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Miniseries#1.

domain: entertainment


Just picked up this album about two weeks ago. Great stuff! The entire album is solo acoustic baritone guitar. Much more intimate than a lot of his work, and to me it was very reminiscent of Michael Hedges (minus all the harmonics). Much more simplistic work as well; it's mostly chording with droning tones as opposed to his virtuosic stuff-I can't recall a 'solo' on the disc, although it's still definitely him (he still hits all the "wrong" notes in right places in small atonal passages, which always makes me think of him). Worth checking out.


text:
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Name Variations Edit
- moo juice
About Milk Edit
Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals to feed their young, including humans. The female's ability to produce milk is one of the defining characteristics of mammals and provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to digest more diverse foods. Milk, usually non-human milk is processed into dairy products for human consumption, such as cream, butter, yogurt, ice-cream, gelato, cheese, whey protein, condensed milk, powdered milk, and many other food-additive and industrial products. Milk usually contains sugar, nutrients and proteins such as lactose, galactose, casein, calcium and others.

domain: food


text:
- CHAMP HIGH SKULL METAL PIPE 8 CM DL12€5.90Incl. VAT
- Heisenberg Glass Pipe Spoon Blue€8.90Incl. VAT
- Heisenberg Glass Pipe Spoon Green€8.90Incl. VAT
- Champ High ALU PIPE 8.5cmAs low as €2.90Incl. VAT
- Champ High DRIPPING Metal Pipe, 4 motifs€2.80Incl. VAT
- Champ High SPACESHIP PIPE MetalAs low as €3.90Incl. VAT
- Steamroller Big 20cm€8.90Incl. VAT
- CHAMP HIGH Wooden Metal PipeAs low as €5.50Incl. VAT
- Cournot Key - Multitool and Metal pipe€8.50Incl. VAT
- Metal Pipe with casket by Heisenberg, diff. colorsAs low as €7.99Incl. VAT
- Champ High Original Glass PipeAs low as €9.90Incl. VAT
- Skull Aluminum-/Glass pipe with removable bowlAs low as €6.90Incl. VAT
- CHAMP HIGH Pipe and Grinder Set of Plastic€5.90Incl. VAT
- Wooden Pipe, clear, Olive in a Set€29.90Incl. VAT
- CHAMP HIGH Pipe and Grinder Set, various colours€5.90Incl. VAT
- CHAMP HIGH metal skull pipe, 2 colours€5.90Incl. VAT
The best pipes for tobacco & herbs
Small, compact and handy - that' s what the pipes at Heisenberg are all about. Away from the fancy and creative design, we also place a very high value on the quality of these products. Our pipes are not only available in different colours, shapes and patterns, but also in different materials such as wood, metal, silicone and glass.
Large range of good pipes
From pure pipes, kawumms and one-hitters to piecemakers and high-end titanium pipes - with the variety we offer in this category, it would be a miracle if we didn't meet any taste. Each pipe has its own peculiar construction, which - matched to its source material - brings with it different behaviour in terms of its smoking characteristics.
Different types of pipes
In the following we will introduce you to some of the most popular types of pipes:
- Kawumm / Steamroller - A kawumm has a cylindrical design. It can be shaped like a simple glass tube with a recess in the shaft for herbs, or it can also have an external bowl. The end behind the pipe bowl opens outwards and is used as a carb hole to inhale the smoke quickly and virtually without resistance.
- Oil pipe - Usually made of glass. Concentrates or oils are filled into the roundish bowl and vaporised by a strong heat supply, e.g. by a pocket torch.
- One hitter - A narrow, thin smoking device, often no longer than a cigarette. Can be made of ceramic, glass or metal and only holds a small amount of herb. One hitters are often sold as dugout pipes including a box with compartments for the smoking device as well as herbs.
- Peace pipe - Typically a multi-piece, very long shank pipe, usually made of wood, with a small bowl for smoking tobacco and herbs.
- Pure pipe - The most popular pipe for smoking herbs. Comes in a wide variety of designs and materials, including wooden pipes with activated carbon filters and spoon pipes with a carb hole.
- Tobacco pipe - The traditional pipe of style-conscious smokers. Consists of a bowl made of wood such as bruyère or bog oak, but also meerschaum or soapstone and a synthetic mouthpiece. Depending on their shape, more than 20 types can be identified.

domain: hobby


- Slim and compact
- Very high cut and wear resistance due to special ribbed profile
- Robust, tear-resistant label protected by a transparent protective tube
- Superior load capacity indication woven into the sleeve
- With integrated loop to allow for easy retrofitting of an RFID transponder
- Optimal tear protection due to reinforced fabric with interwoven textile filament
Versatile and reliable
Whether it‘s a straight pull, single-layer lift or noose: The very compact SupraPlus round sling adapts to the load with virtually no creasing. The round sling is particular slim and finds sufficient contact area even in smaller crane hooks, without being compressed. This helps to effectively prevent an impermissible loss of load capacity. Universally applicable in all sectors of industry, SupraPlus meets the highest standards in terms of safety and quality worldwide.
With reinforced fabric and textile filament
The ribbed structure woven into the outer sleeve makes SupraPlus even more resistant to wear. The ribs are made of a high-performance polyester that is markedly more cut- and we-ar-resistant than conventional chemical fibres. The textile filament woven into the sleeve offers additional tear protection. More safety that also pays its way economically. An attachment loop firmly sewn onto the round sling allows for easy and quick attachment of the RFID chip.
Protective sleeves such as the one-sided SF-1 and the two-sided SF-2 or SpanSet NoCut are the ideal addition. They not only effectively protect the round sling from da-mages, but also facilitate the turning and rotating of sharp-edged loads and generally offer protection against sharp edges.


text: Artemis recommends regular veterinary care for the optimal health of your pets. Our veterinary team will answer questions about your pet's health and offer advice regarding which Artemis formulas might work best in your particular situation. Please remember that this service does not take the place of your veterinarian's expertise and our vets cannot make a diagnosis or recommend treatments via email. Questions are answered in the order that they are received and a response should be expected within 2 business days. If your pet is experiencing a medical problem, you should contact your local veterinarian or emergency clinic.

domain: pet


text:
Kia ora, welcome to New Zealand – where we create unique solutions to problems, while always caring for people, place and planet. Together we can do amazing things.
New Zealanders characteristics of determination and independence of thought have built a nation that is creative, innovative and often ingenious. It is this resourcefulness that has led to many world-class innovations in software.
27 August 2018
New Zealand innovation is reshaping the aerospace industry – with Rocket Lab blazing a smarter path to orbit and bringing space closer for thousands of businesses worldwide.
10 August 2017
With a fresh approach and premium ingredients, New Zealand’s K9 Natural is taking pet nutrition back to basics – and winning over pets and their owners around the world.
29 June 2017
Meet just some of the innovative New Zealand businesses that played a role in the 2017 America’s Cup - and learn how they’re making a difference for customers worldwide.
22 June 2017
Take a closer look at the latest agricultural technology from New Zealand – leading the charge for smarter, cleaner and more profitable farming globally.
Explore some of the industries and sectors where New Zealand excels, and discover unique, world-class products and services tailored to your needs.
Our agritech experts use the latest on-farm technology to help farmers in the United States make the most of their time, staff and capital.
We pride ourselves on our ideas – we are ingenious and our technology and skills reflect this. Not only that, we are an ideal testbed for new technologies.
Source: World Bank Doing Business Report, 2017
We make investing in New Zealand easy for you. We have unparalleled access to companies, people and networks throughout New Zealand to connect investors with opportunities.
New Zealanders have a reputation for innovation and creativity. Our fast growing tech sector delivers world-class innovations in software, special effects, 3D games, retail and finance.
New Zealand is the largest exporter of dairy products and lamb and a major exporter of beef, apples and seafood. We have untapped capacity to export more.
If you’re planning to visit or emigrate to New Zealand to work or start a business, you may need a visa. You can find out more on the Immigration NZ website.
Visit Immigration NZ
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Thank you for your interest in our resources. Please enter your email address and we’ll send you a link to your instant download.
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domain: economics


text:
According to the IRS, the average tax refund for 2022 is $2,933, as of Mar. 17 — and the agency has already refunded nearly 54 million overpayments. That’s almost an 85% increase over the number of refunds it issued by the same time last year.
While the average amount is sure to change as tax season progresses, it’s clear that millions of filers have joined the ranks of the early birds — but why the sudden urgency?
Maybe it’s because they’re expecting a windfall.
According to a new GOBankingRates study of more than 1,000 adults, 12% of taxpayers anticipate a refund greater than $3,000 — another 14% expect to get at least $2,000 back from Uncle Sam.
If you’re among those waiting for a big direct deposit from the IRS, don’t spend it all in your mind just yet. A check for $2,000 or $3,000 can change your life — but only if you spend it wisely with a few of the following smart money moves.
APRs Are Over 24% — Your Credit Cards Need Some TLC
There aren’t many less-exhilarating ways to spend a big tax refund than by using it to pay down debt, but that’s exactly what one out of five people polled in the survey plan to do.
“At today’s interest rates, averaging more than 20%, getting rid of credit card debt effectively generates a return of 20% annually,” said consumer finance and lending expert Kyle Enright, president of Achieve Lending.
Consider the consequences of holding $3,000 in debt on a card that charges 18% interest, which is optimistic, considering Forbes reports the average APR is now above 24%.
“A standard minimum payment of 3% would be $90 per month,” Enright said. “Paying just that, which does decrease over time, will amount to $2,698.44 in interest and take almost 16 years to pay off. That means the item you bought will cost you almost double its purchase price. And, you won’t have the chance to invest that money and earn something on it.”
High-Yield Savings Accounts Are Back — and You Need an Umbrella
If your credit cards are in good shape, the second-best thing you can do with a few thousand bucks is to save it for a rainy day — because if the last few years have proven anything, it’s that it can start pouring at any moment.
“The effects of the coronavirus and concerns about a recession have amplified why everyone needs a good emergency fund,” Enright said. “Unexpected events do happen. Emergencies do arise. In the past, some professionals have recommended three or six months of basic living expenses in the emergency fund. At least six to nine months is best. The reality is that more is better, yet even a small amount of emergency savings can be a lifesaver.”
Without it, you’ll have to beat up your credit cards to survive the next crisis, which will land you right back where you started paying 24%.
People seem to sense the urgency. The largest group of the study’s respondents — more than 1 in 4 — plan to put their refunds into savings.
Start Growing It for Your Future Self
If you have lots of toxic debt and no financial cushion, the best use for your refund is in the here and now. But if you’re comfortable, $2,000 or $3,000 invested now could grow into real money that could be waiting for you in the future when you need it most.
“Add it to retirement savings in an individual or Roth IRA, 401(k) or another plan,” Enright said. “If the program is tax-deductible, you may be helping your tax situation next year, too.”
Pretax contributions, like those you make to an IRA, are generally tax deductible. After-tax contributions to Roth accounts are not.
Either way, only about 8% of the study’s participants plan to invest their refunds, possibly because many need it for more immediate concerns — more than 20% will use their refunds to pay bills.
Prevent Medical Bankruptcy With a New HSA
If you have a high-deductible health insurance policy, you might be eligible to put your $3,000 in a health savings account (HSA). If so, you’ll be sheltering your cash in one of the most flexible accounts available — one with a triple tax advantage that you can access both now and in retirement.
“Fund your health savings account fully if you have one,” Enright said. “Most contributions are tax-deductible, and withdrawals to pay qualifying medical expenses — at any time in life — are tax-free.”
Spend Some of It on Something That Makes You Happy
About 10% of the people polled plan to use their refunds to travel or otherwise treat themselves — and if they can swing it, a little indulgence can be money well spent. But even if you can’t or don’t want to spend the whole thing on yourself, a small splurge can buy you some well-earned happiness — but the more philanthropic might get even greater joy from paying it forward.
“Donate to a charitable organization,” Enright said. “Even if it’s no longer tax-deductible for you, helping others is never a bad idea.”
More From GOBankingRates
- Side Gig: Earn Up To $200/Hour With This Easy-To-Start Job, No College Degree Required
- How To Get Free Money: 13 Proven Ways
- 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
- 5 Ways To Elevate Your Finances Daily
Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,002 Americans aged 18 and older from across the country on between January 30 and February 1, 2023, asking fourteen different questions: (1) How do you plan on filing your taxes for this year?; (2) When do you expect to file your taxes this year?; (3) How much do you expect to receive in a tax refund?; (4) What do you plan to do with your refund?; (5) Do you feel confident you are receiving all the deductions you feel qualified for?; (6) Do you believe your tax dollars are being spent effectively?; (7) Do you believe you are paying too much, too little, or a fair share in taxes?; (8) Have you ever been audited before?; (9) Who will/would use your tax dollars the best?; (10) How much is the standard deduction for a single filer (and married filers) in 2023?; (11) What concerns you the most about Tax Day?; (12) Do you expect your tax refund this year to be more or less than last year?; (13) What do you understand the least about your taxes?; and (14) What would you rather be doing than your taxes? (Select all that apply). GOBankingRates used PureSpectrum’s survey platform to conduct the poll.

domain: finance


AR15, thanks for your commenst and explanations. But there's still something about it that doesn't seem right.
It's physically impossible (optical laws of refraction of light rays as they travel through one medium to another) for a rifle scope to have the target image focused exactly on the reticule and the aiming eye seeing the reticule in sharp focus and not have both target image and reticule as sharp as can be as seen by the human eye.
For a given focal length of the combined lenses in front of the reticule, there's only one finite point where a target at a given range will focus sharply. Same for the eyepiece and the human eye; there's only one finite point in front of the eyepiece lens that the human eye can naturally focus on.
If you're referring to the side adjustment (focus or parallax, whatever one chooses to name it) being set to a range but the target image from that range isn't in sharp focus, then I understand what you're saying.
US Navy Distinguished Marksman Badge 153
Former US Navy & Palma Rifle Team Member
NRA High Power Master & Long Range High Master
NRA Smallbore Prone Master


text:
The Carhartt WIP Long Sleeved Base T-Shirt in Grey Heather and Black is the perfect comfort piece to pair with anything. Carhartt’s long sleeved t – shirt is created from 100% cotton jersey with a crew necked regular fit, completed with Carhartt’s subtle logo printed on one of the long sleeves.
- 100% cotton jersey
- Crew Neck
- Regular fit
- Long sleeved; logo printed on sleeve

domain: design


text: Primates, especially apes, are popular with the public, often attracting large crowds. These crowds could cause behavioral change in captive primates, whether positive, neutral, or negative. We examined the impact of visitors on the behavior of six western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), observing the troop over 6 weeks during high season (4.5 hr/day, 35 days, May-July 2016). We used focal scan sampling to determine activity budget and enclosure usage, and focal continuous sampling to identify bouts of anxiety-related behavior (visitor-directed vigilance, self-scratching, and aggression). Both daily zoo-entry numbers (VGATE ) and instantaneous crowds at the exhibit (VDENSITY ) were measured. Overall, VGATE had little effect across behaviors. However, consistent with the more acute time frame of measurement, VDENSITY was a better predictor of behavior; at high crowd volumes, we observed significant group-level changes in activity budget (increased inactivity, increased locomotion, and decreased environment-related behaviors), increase in some anxiety-related behaviors, and decreased enclosure usage. Although contributing similar effects, it could not be determined if crowd numbers, composition, or noise most affected the troop, nor any chronic effects of exposure to large crowds. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that measures to minimize the impacts of large crowds at the exhibit would be beneficial. Furthermore, we highlight potential discrepancies between common methods for measuring visitor numbers: VGATE is less sensitive to detecting visitor effects on behavioral indices than VDENSITY . Future studies should appropriately match the biological time frame of welfare indicators and visitor measures used to ensure the reliability of findings.

domain: biology


|Publication number||US4800110 A|
|Application number||US 07/069,772|
|Publication date||Jan 24, 1989|
|Filing date||Jul 6, 1987|
|Priority date||Jul 6, 1987|
|Also published as||EP0298709A2, EP0298709A3|
|Publication number||069772, 07069772, US 4800110 A, US 4800110A, US-A-4800110, US4800110 A, US4800110A|
|Inventors||Gerard M. DuCorday|
|Original Assignee||Ducorday Gerard M|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (20), Referenced by (43), Classifications (17), Legal Events (4)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates to hot melt glue binding, and more particularly concerns such binding which offers maximum adaptability and flexibility in home or office preparation of the front cover and thickness of bound documents.
Presently known glue binders for home or office use generally employ pre-formed front and back covers having a spine or backbone bearing hot melt glue, or provide only a glue bearing spine strip. Typical of such binders are the arrangements illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,371,194 to Wang, et al, 4,471,976 to Giulie, 4,129,471 to Rome, and 4,496,617 to Parker. The Parker patent employs only a backbone strip having bands of hot melt glue adapted to cover and connect to the back edges of the sheets to be bound and also has hot melt glue bands that are adapted to be secured to the topmost and bottommost sheets of the stack, which then serve as front and back cover sheets of the bound volume. The arrangements of the Wang et al, Giulie and Rome patents, on the other hand, provide binders having complete front and back covers which form the outer covers of the completed bound document. Of these, the patent to Wang et al provides for variable thickness of bound documents by providing a variable width foldable spine. If the spine is folded to accept a smaller stack of documents, one of the covers inherently becomes wider, and thus Wang et al must provide for folding of a cover end remote from the spine, to eliminate this increase in cover width and to obtain a more regular finished document.
A major drawback of the arrangements of Rome, Wang et al and Giulie is that the cover sheets are an integral part of the binder, and there is thus little flexibility in choice of cover or in ability to process the cover. The patent to Parker addresses this problem by providing no covers for the binder but rather arranging the spine with several spaced bands of precisely configured and positioned hot melt glue so that a central glue band will adhere to and bind back edges of the document, and two additional side glue bands on either side of the central band will simultaneously adhere to the top and bottom sheets of the stack of documents being bound. The glue is conventional hot melt adhesive, and thus the entire stack, including the top and bottom sheets which form front and back covers, must be bound together, all at the same time. A more significant problem with the arrangement of Parker, which is discussed at length in the patent itself, is the difficulty of ensuring that the binder strip, or substrate, which carries the hot melt glue will adequately and properly adhere to the top and bottom sheets. The Parker binder requires precision manufacturing with small tolerances of glue strip thicknesses and gaps, and moreover, after manufacturing can fit only one thickness of document which must be precisely matched to the size of the Parker binder strip. In the arrangement of Parker, in order to ensure proper adhesion of the binder strip to the cover, it is essential to carefully control the location and thickness of the glue bands and the gaps between the various glue bands. Failure to meet these precise requirements results in a poor and unacceptable binding. Moreover, the Parker system requires a special, complex and costly machine capable of heating and pressing the spine and both sides of the binder. Thus Parker is not really an in-home or office system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hot melt glue binder for home or office use that avoids or minimizes above-mentioned problems.
In carrying out principles of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a binder sheet is formed having a back cover, a spine and a front cover attaching flange. Hot melt adhesive is applied to the spine section, and a separate peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strip is applied to an edge of the front cover attaching flange. Pages of a document to be bound, excepting only the cover sheet of the bound document, are stacked and pressed against the hot melt adhesive, which, when heated, secures the document sheets to one another and to the binder. A front cover is then separately processed, as a separate individual sheet, to provide appropriate printing, embossing or other ornamentation or indicia thereon and then individually attached to the front cover attaching flange by means of the pressure sensitive adhesive. No further heating is required for attachment of the front cover, and, moreover, the latter may be readily detached and replaced with another front cover, as the pressure sensitive adhesive may be reusable. The hot melt adhesive of the spine is laid down in contiguous glue beads, one or more of which may be separately removed to enable the spine to be folded to a lesser width so as to accommodate a document stack of fewer sheets.
FIG. 1 shows an edge view of an unfolded binder sheet embodying principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of the binder sheet of FIG. 1, partly folded to enable it to accept a stack of document sheets;
FIG. 3 shows the binder strip with a front cover about to be attached thereto;
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a completed bound document; and
FIG. 5 shows a modification of the binder sheet of FIGS. 1 through 4.
As shown in FIG. 1, a binder embodying principles of the present invention, in one embodiment thereof, is made of a substantially rectangular binder sheet 10 formed of a suitably strong material, such as heavy paper, cardboard of appropriate thickness and stiffness, vinyl or like material and includes a back cover section 12, a front cover attaching flange section 14, and an intermediate spine section 16 between sections 12 and 14, all being integral with one another. The spine section is defined in part and separated from the other sections by fold lines in the form of V-shaped grooves 18,20 extending the full height and formed in an outer surface 22 of the sheet 10. The inner surface of the sheet 10, for almost the full width of the spine section 16, and for substantially the entire length thereof has secured thereto a strip of temperature sensitive adhesive in the form of a strip of hot melt glue 26.
Preferably the strip of hot melt glue 26 includes a plurality of immediately contiguous, side-by-side glue beads 28,30,32 separated from one another by V-shaped grooves 34,36. The grooves 34,36 do not extend completely through the glue strip 26, but stop short of the inner surface thereof, which is affixed to spine section 16, to provide very thin, longitudinally extending continuous connecting sections or strips 40,42 between mutually adjacent ones of the individual glue beads. The arrangement is such that individual ones of the glue beads 28,30,32 may be separately removed from the spine and detached from the adjacent glue beads merely by prying up one end of a bead and peeling it from the spine section 16 in an action which severs the very thin connecting sections 40 or 42. In this manner, and for reasons to be described below, the spine can be provided with a glue strip having a smaller number of glue beads, less than the number of such beads originally adhered to the spine, and therefore of less total width. The spine section is also provided on its outer surface 22 with additional V-shaped grooves 46,48 extending partly into the spine, each positioned opposite a corresponding glue strip groove 34,36, respectively.
Front cover attaching flange section 14 is of relatively small width and may be three or four times the width of the spine, but as little as one-fifth or less of the width of the back cover 12. The back cover has a width and length substantially the same as the width and length of sheets to be bound, such as, for example, 81/2 inches×11 inches, but may have a width and length slightly greater than the conventionally sized 81/2×11 sheet to provide a slight extension of the back cover beyond the free edge of pages to be bound.
Securely affixed to the end portion 50 of front cover attaching flange 14 and running for the full length thereof is a strip of peel-off, pressure sensitive adhesive 52, including a strip of adhesive 54 and a protective or peel-off sheet 56. In a presently preferred embodiment the inner end of adhesive strip 52 is spaced from groove 20 by a substantial distance, but less than the width of the spine. This allows for adjustment of front cover width as will be explained below.
The hot melt glue strip 26 is temperature sensitive, of the type well known to those skilled in the art that is very low tack at room temperature. When subjected to increased temperature the hot melt glue strip will soften or melt, and, upon subsequent cooling, secure itself to articles such as edges of document sheets that have been pressed against the glue strip while it is heated. Thus, at room temperature the hot melt glue is relatively rigid, provides good securement, and has little tendency to attach itself to articles or materials not already secured thereto. The pressure sensitive adhesive 52, on the other hand, has a high tack at room temperature and does not operate in response to temperature variations, nor does it require heat for its operation. The pressure sensitive adhesive 54 is provided, as is well known, with a non-stick protective or peel-off cover 56 which prevents the adhesive 54 from attaching itself to objects or articles until the peel-off cover 56 is removed. After removal of the peel-off cover 56, pressing of an object, article or document cover upon the pressure sensitive adhesive will secure the article or cover to the adhesive firmly and securely. Further, as an additional feature of the pressure sensitive adhesive, articles secured thereto by pressure may, with careful manipulation, be detached and reattached or detached and replaced by similar articles, all without addition or application of heat.
In use of the described binder, a binder sheet formed as described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 is partly bent or folded, in the manner shown in FIG. 2, with the spine section 16 being folded relative to the back cover section 12 about score line or V-shaped groove 18, and the front cover attaching flange section 14 being folded relative to the spine about the score line or V-shaped groove 20. This positions both the hot melt glue strip 26 and the pressure sensitive peel-off adhesive strip, with the protective cover 56 still attached, on the inside of the partly folded binder. Now a stack of document pages generally of a size substantially equal to or just smaller than the size of back cover section 12 is inserted into the binder between the back cover section 12 and flange section 14 with all of the edges of the stack of document sheets firmly abutting the glue strip 26. The outside of the spine section 16 is then heated by any suitable means, including conventional well known hot melt glue heaters. When the heat is removed, the document sheets are all secured at their rearmost edges to one another and to the spine 16 by means of the melted and then re-hardened temperature sensitive adhesive strip 26. At this stage of assembly neither the front nor back sheets of the stack of documents is secured directly to either the back cover section 12 or to the front cover attaching flange section 14. Now a suitable cover sheet 60 may be selected, processed as desired, on any small in-home or office equipment, and then attached to the front cover attaching flange section 14. This is done merely by peeling off the protective strip 56 to expose the surface of pressure sensitive adhesive 54 and pressing an edge portion of the independently and separately processed cover sheet 60 against the pressure sensitive adhesive to securely affix front cover 60 to flange 14, and thus to the previously bound document. It will be readily appreciated, of course, that the order of attachment of cover sheet and document sheets may be reversed so that the front cover sheet 60 may be first attached to the flange 14 by means of the pressure sensitive adhesive and then the document pages may be inserted in the binder and attached to the spine by means of heating and then cooling of the temperature sensitive glue strip 26. In either case the front cover sheet can be separately and independently processed for attachment to the binder.
It is important to emphasize that the front cover is but a single sheet of approximately document size, which may be in the order of or slightly larger than 81/2 inches×11 inches, for example, and may be readily processed as such as a separate single sheet in any suitable manner and by any one of the many types of equipment commonly available in home or office.
There is presently widely available a variety of inexpensive so called desk-top publishing equipment for use in home or office, as distinguished from a factory type environment, which is revolutionizing printing and pre-production capabilities of large and small businesses, leading to profound changes in office practices everywhere. High volume generic product service and sales literature print jobs are being replaced by numerous customized small job productions aimed at specific groups and clients, promising a more effective flow of pertinent information, and resulting in substantial economies and improved market efficiencies. Such in-office or in-home publishing equipment includes desk-top computer driven printers, enlarging and reducing color copiers, small laminators, foil applying, stamping and embossing machines. Although such in-office equipment or in-home equipment provide a variety of different types of processing to provide a variety of different types of indicia on a sheet of paper of a single front cover, there is one major limitation that is common to many different types of this equipment. This limitation is the fact that the machines can handle only a single sheet of paper of conventional size and are not capable of handling a full size binder, such as would normally include both front and back covers and an interconnecting document spine. Thus presently available in-office or in-home publishing equipment can be readily, efficiently and inexpensively applied for manufacture of customized documents, even in small quantities, provided only that the binding arrangement permits use of a front cover that can be processed separately, apart from the remainder of the binder.
According to an important feature of the present invention, the front cover need not be attached to the binder at the same time that the document pages are attached to the binder, and, moreover, can be later detached from the binder and replaced, since the pressure sensitive adhesive for attaching the front cover can be reused. Thus a number of documents may be prepared, completely bound excepting only for lack of a front cover, stacked, stored, handled or transported to remote locations and then individual cover sheets may be applied to different ones or different groups of such pre-formed and prebound documents at the same or remote locations, or at different times, as deemed necessary or appropriate. The entire document can be prepared in large quantities, and selection of one cover or different types of covers for different groups of the pre-prepared documents may be made at a later time or at a different location. Further, having completely bound a document and attached a given cover, the latter may be changed simply by detaching the first cover from the pressure sensitive adhesive, processing a substitute cover as desired, and then attaching the substitute cover to the same strip of pressure sensitive adhesive.
As previously mentioned, the temperature sensitive glue strip 26 is formed into separate but continuously longitudinally interconnected beads, each of which can be individually removed from the spine 16 and detached from an adjacent bead along the very thin relatively weak connecting portions 40 or 42. Moreover, the spine is additionally scored, as at 46 and 48, at points directly opposite the respective glue strip scores 34,36. Thus the spine 16 may be made with a width capable of accommodating a relatively large number of sheets, and, when such a large number of sheets is bound and the binding completed, the completed document will appears as illustrated in the elevational view of FIG. 4, wherein the flange 14 is folded relative to spine 16 about the fold or score line 20, and back cover 12 is folded relative to the spine about the score line 18.
The described arrangement, even though capable of use with a thick document, will readily accommodate efficient binding of a thinner document merely by removing one of the endmost glue beads, such as glue bead 28, for example, and then folding the flange 14 relative to the spine 16 about the intermediate spine score line 46, rather than score line 20. Removal of the glue bead 28 significantly facilitates folding of the binder about the intermediate score line 46. Without such removal of the endmost glue bead, folding of the spine about the intermediate score line 46 would be difficult, and, at best, would result in a dislocation of the corner of the bound document at this point.
It will be readily appreciated that the spine may be made with two, three, four or more individual beads of temperature sensitive adhesive, all mutually continuous along their inner surfaces, but all provided with separable score lines or V-shaped grooves such as those indicated at 34 and 36 in FIG. 1. Thus, in manufacture of the described binder, a single size may be produced and will readily fit a final bound document of any one of many different thicknesses.
Where one or more of the glue beads is removed for binding of a document of fewer sheets, the effective width of flange 14 is increased by the total width of the glue beads that have been removed, with the spine now being bent along one of the intermediate spine grooves, such as groove 46 or 48. The additional effective width of the front cover attaching flange is readily accommodated, without change of front cover sheet width, merely by changing the relative position of the innermost end of the front cover sheet with respect to the spine. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the innermost edge 64 of the front cover projects inwardly of the inner edge 66 of the peel off adhesive strip 54. The amount of this projection is readily varied during attachment of the cover sheet to the flange. The same size front cover sheet is readily employed with documents of different thicknesses. As previously indicated, a different width of cover sheet required by different spine width for variation of documents of different thicknesses is accomplished by the amount by which the front cover attaching flange 14 overlaps the inner edge 64 of the front cover. It is not required, with such an arrangement, to either cut or fold the free edge of the front cover. Thus the free edge of the front cover can be positioned relative to the free edge of the back cover or the free edges of the bound document pages in the same relation regardless of the thickness of the document and without changing front cover width. Variation of the effective width of the flange is accommodated merely by varying the degree of overlap between the flange and the inner edge portion of the front cover.
If deemed necessary or desirable, the front cover can be manufactured as an integral part of the binder, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A binder sheet having a front cover attaching flange 114 and pressure sensitive adhesive strip 152 connected to a spine section 116 and a full width back cover section 112, are all substantially the same as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, however, an integral front cover sheet 160 is provided. Front cover 160 is formed integrally with the front cover attaching flange section 114 and separated therefrom by a score line 202 in the form of a V-shaped groove or line of perforations (not shown) or the like that facilitates ready separation of front cover sheet 160 from the flange 114. Separation line 202 is formed at the forward or free edge of adhesive strip 152 and extends for the full length of the binder sheet, from the top of the sheet to the bottom of the sheet, to enable ready and complete separation of the cover sheet 160 from the rest of the binder.
In use of the arrangement of FIG. 5, the totally pre-formed binder sheet is manufactured with the integrally attached but readily separable front cover sheet. For binding of a document the front cover sheet 160 is removed by separating it from the flange 114 along the separation line 202, and then the document is assembled and bound by hot melt glue strip 126 just as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. The front cover sheet 160, after separation from the remainder of the binder, may be separately and individually processed to provide front cover indicia by any suitable processing means, including various in-office or in-home desk top publishing devices, copiers, embossers, laminators or foil application machines as appropriate. After processing of the separated front cover 160, it is then re-attached to the flange 114 by means of the pressure sensitive adhesive 152. An advantage of this arrangement is the fact that a front cover sheet of appropriate material, rigidity, and consistency is readily available at all times with the binder. Moreover, the user has the option of using the front cover sheet that is provided with the binder or merely detaching this integral front cover sheet 160 and discarding it to be replaced by some other sheet at the desire of the user. Preferably the width of the front cover sheet is sufficiently great to accommodate the necessary amount of overlap of the inner edge of the front cover with the front cover attaching flange as previously described. The effective width of this front cover sheet is varied for bound documents of different thicknesses by adjusting the amount of overlap between the front cover and the pressure sensitive adhesive strip.
There have been described binding apparatus and techniques for preparing customized documents which are specifically and readily adaptable for use of in-home or in-office single sheet processing machines to provide bound documents with individually customized and replaceable front covers and which, moreover, are readily adapted to the binding of documents of a variety of different thicknesses.
The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.
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|U.S. Classification||428/43, 412/6, 428/194, 428/347, 412/900, 281/21.1, 428/41.7, 412/8, 281/34|
|Cooperative Classification||Y10T428/1471, Y10T428/15, Y10T428/2817, Y10T428/24793, Y10S412/90, B42D3/002|
|Jun 1, 1992||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Sep 3, 1996||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jan 26, 1997||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Apr 8, 1997||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 19970129


text:
If your company is considering taking on a large investment project to improve your manufacturing process or sales, you will want to have a financial plan in place. Therefore, we recommend you consider capital budgeting — the most efficient route to feeling confident in your company’s investment decisions.
What Is Capital Budgeting?
Capital budgeting, which is also known as investment appraisal, is a process of evaluating the costs and benefits of potential large-scale projects for your business. Say you want to add a new product to your lineup, build a second warehouse and update your database software. Before deciding which of these options to pursue, you’ll need to complete a financial analysis — known as capital budgeting.
A capital project is a long-term investment that improves a capital asset in some way. Capital assets are anything your company owns, such as an office building, an employee computer, or a machine on a production line. In other words, capital assets are tangible items that have what is called a “useful life,” the period when the item should help your business grow. A capital project is more than routine maintenance on an asset — it must make the asset more efficient or productive in some way.
The presumption is that your business will own the asset for more than 1 year, after which you’ll incur either a capital gain or loss, and you can build upon those assets with capital projects.
These projects can be funded by public money (for infrastructural improvements), bonds, bank loans, grants, private funding or through the company’s budgets. To get a loan, you must prove that the investment will increase your business gains, reduce your costs or add a new element to your business in order to get funding approval for the project.
Reasons Capital Budgeting Is Important
Before making a huge financial decision, it helps to have clarity, define risk and have a financial plan in place. If it’s unclear why you need to pursue capital budgeting before you commit to a significant investment project, let’s review the top reasons.
Helps Clarify Decisions
A budget is a financial plan, which is essential for any successful capital project. After seeing the numbers of each budget laid out, you can select which project makes the most financial sense to pursue now and which projects should be put on hold. This process is vital for you to avoid throwing money at a project that brings no gains to your business.
With a capital budget, you’ll worry less about the risks you are taking with the projects you undertake. You have done the analysis and decided on the best potential investment. It’s easier to secure outside funding after completing the capital budgeting process because you’ll be able to demonstrate this project is a worthwhile investment.
Provides a Financial Plan
Capital projects require a significant amount of planning and budgeting because they are substantial investments. If you go through the capital budgeting process, you will understand how much money you’ll need and if it could financially impact your other ventures. Capital projects can be independent, which means they don’t affect the funding of other company projects, or mutually exclusive, which are tied to other projects’ financing in some way.
Capital Budgeting Methods
Like there are many capital project options available to you, there are many ways to analyze each potential capital project. There are advantages and disadvantages for each investment appraisal method.
You must estimate cash flows — for how much and for how long — that will come from the project. You need to know how much the project will make for your business.
Check out these capital budgeting examples and see which will help your business make solid investment decisions. Remember that financial analysis can be complicated, and it’s best to seek advice from a professional if you are new to the process.
Internal Rate of Return
In this method, you consider the rate of return vs. the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Many companies pursue projects with a rate of return that is higher than the WACC. If the capital budget foresees that a project won’t achieve the desired results, it can be tabled for the present or scrapped altogether. However, tabling a project doesn’t mean it will never be financially sound.
You must be savvy about which projects to choose because companies usually can’t afford to invest in every capital project they conceive. Also, there is always an opportunity cost — when you fund one project, you’re taking away your chance of funding another.
Discounted Cash Flow
Discounted cash is money adjusted for its time value. This method is based on the idea that money today can earn interest, thus making it worth more than money in the future. To complete the discounted cash flow method, look at all the cash flows in and out: money to fund the project, income the project will generate and maintenance costs. Use the discount rate to figure out what that amount is worth in today’s dollars, which is known as the net present value (NPV).
This method is an attempt to discover how much the project is worth today based on how much revenue it will generate in the future. You must consider future sales growth and profit margins. You’re looking for a project with the highest NPV. However, this method is not helpful when the investor can’t access future cash flows.
This capital budgeting method is the simplest, but also the least accurate. It’s quick and can give managers a vague sense of how well a project will perform. In its most basic form, this analysis calculates the amount of time it will take to recoup any funds put into the project. To find this number, divide the amount of money invested in the project by the average amount of money the project will generate each year.
If you don’t have the time or the resources to complete a more thorough capital budgeting process, this one will give you a basic idea of the financial breakdown.
How Capital Budgeting Can Help You Succeed
A budget is a critical element of any successful financial investment. It’s the first step in any decision-making process. You first need to know what you’re getting yourself into before you hand over any money. Whether you use a financial professional to complete one of the particular methods or not, a capital budget can clarify any uncertainties about which direction you should take your company.
Without capital budgeting, you’re setting yourself up for more risk, less confidence and fewer available funds. Capital budgeting is an efficient way to know what your company’s best route forward is. When you give yourself the knowledge to make decisions, your decisions are more likely to turn out well.


text: Friendship is one of the greatest gifts that we can be given. Research shows that friendship boosts happiness, well-being, self-confidence and promotes a positive outlook on life. This week,the children at Beulah have been celebrating friendship by looking at what makes a good friend, how their friends make them feel and by making new friends. We have learnt that being kind helps us and others to be happy and confident. Thank you to all of the parents that joined our ‘Google Meet’ Friendship assembly yesterday to help us celebrate the children’s fantastic work and hear their wonderful singing.

domain: psychology


Ski Prep From the Pros
Top racers are using techniques from two unlikely sports to train for ski season. Here's how you can, too.
Surf Towns, Reborn Cities, and Mountain Meccas Where Life is Good
Plus: Inside Climbing's Toughest Triumph
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text:
The InterContinental Madrid receives 3% of its business from Ireland, ITTN was told by Oliver Benalal, the hotel’s Director of International Sales, on a recent visit to the InterContinental Dublin in Ballsbridge (previously the Four Seasons until the New Year), where he co-hosted a reception for travel agents and media with Destination Madrid and the Spanish Tourism Office.
Oliver also brought a team of chefs with him from Madrid, headed by Miguel de la Fuente, to prepare a delicious tapas lunch, including paella.
The 5-star InterContinental Madrid, a landmark hotel on Paseo de la Castellana, was inspired by an 18th-century palace and is ideally located in the cultural and business district. The hotel is minutes from the Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Real Madrid Museum and the elegant Serrano shopping district.
Accommodation comprises 302 guest rooms, including 134 Superior rooms, 36 Executive rooms, 91 Club rooms, 17 Suites, seven Presidential Suites, and one Royal Suite, as well as the Club Lounge, which offers private check-in and late check-out, Internet access and business centre. Other facilities are two restaurants, El Cafe and the first-class El Jardin, the Bar 49, a fitness centre and spa, and 10 meeting rooms.

domain: travel


text:
Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire at the end of the court's term this summer, NPR reports. Souter would reportedly remain on the bench until a replacement can be confirmed, even if that doesn't happen before the court reconvenes in the fall, and has already informed the White House of his decision.
Souter was appointed to the court by former President George H.W. Bush, but disappointed conservatives by becoming a dependable member of SCOTUS' liberal voting bloc. Unless his eventual replacement experiences a similar ideological shift during his or her time on the bench, Souter's decision is unlikely to have any significant effect on the ideological make-up of the court. The balance of power currently tips towards the right, in part because Justice Anthony Kennedy tends to be more conservative than the previous swing vote, former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
That doesn't mean, however, that President Obama's choice to replace Souter will go unopposed. Because of Democratic dominance in the Senate, it's likely that the actual confirmation vote will be fairly easy, unless Republicans decide to break with their previous stance on using the filibuster of judicial nominees. But even if they can't do anything to block the nominee, they can certainly muster quite a bit of opposition, especially if whoever Obama picks has a paper trail on hot-button issues for the right like abortion or gun control.

domain: news


No-compromise performance demands a no-compromise approach. Features like built-in navigation are standard with the Bosch Kiox controller, whilst Sram's wireless AXS technology drives the 12-speed transmission and the Reverb dropper post. With 150mm of front-wheel travel courtesy of a Fox 36 Float Factory FIT GRIP2 fork, there's a Fox DPX2 Factory piggyback shock at the rear. And Newmen Advanced wheels and Schwalbe Magic Mary and Big Betty SuperTrail 2.4in tyres work with four-piston Magura MT7 hydraulic disc brakes and a new, two-piece disc rotor design to serve up powerful stopping in all conditions. This bike is fast, stable, capable and absolutely indomitable.
Frame and equipment
Building more power and great handling into a 140mm carbon hybrid is no mean feat - and it all centres around the CUBE Modular Battery System and Bosch's fourth-generation CX drive unit. The fully enclosed battery looks great, is easy to recharge and is protected from the elements. With a Boost 148 rear axle, larger pivot bearings for longer life and internal cable routing, you're assured of great handling and lower maintenance, too. And our All Mountain Geometry is specifically designed to work with both the Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC's suspension kinematics and the Bosch drive system, so you end up with a bike that's stable, confidence-inspiring and fun.
For whom is the Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC SLT 625 Kiox suitable?
For athletes and enthusiasts. Many professionals now use bikes from this category for training purposes. The reason is obvious: The bike takes the rider up the mountain with a lot of power and down the trail with top components. But these bikes don't weigh as much as they did a few years ago. The perfectly integrated batteries hide the power at first sight. Top quality sports equipment with serious ambitions for all riders who see support as an opportunity rather than a flaw.
The advantages of 27.5 inch tires
27.5 inch wheels are the logical addition to the large 29 inch wheels and the optimum compromise for all smaller riders and trail fanatics. The combination of smoothness and manoeuvrability meets every wish of a biker. More agile than the 29 inch wheels and therefore the optimal choice for off-road driving and hairpin bends that leave you with little reaction time. This category offers the best choice especially for those changing from 26 inch wheels. 27.5 inch combines the best of two worlds and creates bikes that are not restricted in their use. Whether Fully or Hardtail - 27.5 inch is the golden mean and the perfect tyre size for all who want to use their mountain bike according to its purpose.
The advantages of 29 inch tires
29 inch is THE trend of the last few years, which was able to assert itself completely. Initially viewed critically by mountain bike purists and equipped with some teething troubles, the bike industry has recognized the trend and made it the new standard through continuous improvements. The advantage of the 29" tyres is the enormous running smoothness, which brings great advantages and saves power on long tours as well as uphill and downhill. Obstacles are easier to overcome due to the larger circumference of the wheels, and a greater distance is covered by turning the bottom bracket. By improvements and adjustments in the frame construction and the component selection, initial problems with the agility in the Trail and the optics of smaller frames were optimally balanced. Whether fully or hardtail, a 29 will take you far away.
Please note15 Inches = Wheel size 27.5"
16, 18, 20, 22 Inches = Wheel size 29"
|Frame||C:62 Monocoque Advanced Twin Mold Technology, Aluminum 6061 T6 Rear Triangle, Efficient Trail Control, FSP 4-Link, Agile Trail Geometry, Boost 148, Full Integrated Battery|
|Size||Size Split: 27.5: XS (15") // 29: S (16"), M (18"), L (20"), XL (22")|
|Fork||Fox 36 Float Factory FIT GRIP2, Tapered, 15x110mm, E-Bike Tune, 150mm, Kashima Coated|
|Shock||Fox Float DPX2 Factory EVOL, 185x55mm, Open(Adjustable)/Medium/Firm Mode, Trunnion Mount, Kashima Coated|
|Shock-hardware||Top: 54mm Trunnion Mount, Bottom: 22.2x8mm|
|Headset||ACROS AZF-1035, ICR (Integrated Cable Routing), BlockLock 120¬∞, Top Zero-Stack 1 1/2" (ZS 56mm), Bottom Zero-Stack 1 1/2" (ZS 56mm)|
|Stem||CUBE Performance Stem E-MTB, 31.8mm|
|Handlebar||Newmen Advanced 318.25, Carbon, 780mm|
|Grips||CUBE Race Grip 31mm, 1-Clamp|
|Rear Derailleur||Sram X01 Eagle‚Ñ¢ AXS, 12-Speed|
|Chain Guide||e*thirteen Plus e*spec|
|Shifter||Sram Eagle AXS‚Ñ¢ Controller|
|Brake||Magura MT7, Hydr. Disc Brake (203/203)|
|Crankset||e*thirteen Plus Crank, 165mm (27.5: 36T // 29: 34T)|
|Cassette||Sram XG-1299 Eagle‚Ñ¢ Rainbow, 10-52T|
|Chain||Sram PC-XX1 Eagle‚Ñ¢ Rainbow|
|Wheelset||Newmen Advanced SL A.30, 28/28 Spokes, 15x110mm/12x148mm, Tubeless Ready|
|Tire Front||Schwalbe Magic Mary, Super Trail, Addix Soft, Kevlar, 2.4|
|Tire Rear||Schwalbe Big Betty, Super Trail, Addix Soft, Kevlar, 2.4|
|Saddle||Natural Fit Venec|
|Seat Post||RockShox Reverb AXS‚Ñ¢ 31.6mm (XS, S: 100mm, M, L: 150mm, XL: 170mm)|
|Seat Post Clamp||CUBE Screwlock Semi-Integrated, 34.9mm|
|Drive Unit||Bosch Drive Unit Performance CX Generation 4 (85Nm) Cruise (250Watt)|
|Battery||Bosch PowerTube 625|
|Weight (KG)||23,6 kg|
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Ford is now betting on C-V2X technology, which means it is a 4G-LTE-based technology that is also compatible with 5G. The goal is that its cars launched in the United States from 2022 will be able to communicate with each other, and with C-V2X, the cars will be able to communicate with road infrastructures and thus warn other drivers about potential risks. Will this new technology change the future of mobility and road safety?
Answering a bit to the previous question, although you are also free to think whether this technology can be beneficial or not, it can be said that beyond the sensors and applications that the autonomous cars of the future possess, one of their main needs is that they can connect with each other.
Therefore, you should know that this is the focus of the new C-V2X model, as it will ensure almost like a kind of radar, for example, the location and speed, among other aspects of other vehicles on the road. The result? There could be greater road safety since, according to the information provided, it will be possible to adapt behaviors and regulate certain driving parameters.
To illustrate what this new technological bet is all about, an example was exhibited at CES 2019: it consists of a driver suffering from diabetes who suffers a crisis, but immediately, his car, initiates a protocol of identification of vital signs, then calls the emergency service, there they receive the user’s medical data and finally arrive quickly thanks to the redirection of traffic. Don’t you think it’s great?
Smart cities, Ford’s bet with its C-V2X car
Ford CEO Don Butler commented at CES 2019 that:
“Connecting everything will allow cities to be uncovered, with Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) cellular technology cars will communicate directly with each component of the smart city and that ‘conversation’ will create data that can be accessed in real time by city authorities or decision makers and thus ‘problem solve’.”
For his part and continuing with the concept of smart cities, Ford CEO Jim Hackett, proposed:
“We need to redesign transportation systems, where there are ‘livable streets’ and people-centered not car-centered and thus be able to improve the quality of life of society in the future.”
He further commented:
“Henry Ford was right about freedom of movement, but he wanted to avoid the mistakes of the industrial age at the expense of community living.”
On the other hand, the firm also announced that they have other initiatives in place that go beyond vehicle manufacturing but do not deviate from the path they are taking so far with the concept of “smart cities”. The Ford Transportation mobility cloud, which is primarily a platform for optimizing the transportation system and user experience.
The idea is that Ford’s C-V2X could begin to be commercialized according to analysts between 2020 and 2025, however, other firms such as Bosch assure that this will only happen until 2030. Can you imagine what the smart cities of the future will look like with the help of technology?


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Time sure flies when you are having fun!
So............this week is my turn....I would like you to make a card using ONLY a Squigglefly digital sentiment.
Here is my card-
Here is Darlene's card-
Here is Lucy's card-
Here is Chris's card-
Here is Patricia's card-
Here is Alice's card-
Are these not Wonderful! Thank you Ladies!
Now it is your turn to come and play with us. Just make a card using a Squigglefly sentiment and link it here using Mr. Linky.
LOOK what you could win!!!!
Get busy now!!!!!

domain: artistic


CUs/Banks Now Own 1 Million Homes
The real estate crisis, hitting across the country, has put 1 million homes in the hands of banks and credit unions with home loan delinquencies now topping 10%, CUNA Mutual Group's Jeff Post told Southeast CU conferees Thursday.
Addressing the inaugural convention of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions in Orlando, the insurer's president/CEO, forecast that "this isn't going to be a bounce-back economy" since there are "torpedoes in the water and difficult times ahead for credit unions."
But the CUs that use the current environment "to implement cost savings and collaborate to improve their performance will reap the benefits" when the economic downturn eases.
But quoting from statistics, some apparently drawn from CUNA Mutual data, Post provided three other bullet points:
o7.2 million mortgage loans are behind on payments
o18 million homes unoccupied out of 130 million
o25% of homeowners are "underwater" in the first quarter
Regarding CUNA Mutual's recent performance, but not mentioning specifics, he told the CU group the firm "took advantage of opportunities the bad economy presented over the past year putting some wind in our sails" and so "I feel our company is turning the corner, despite what's happening in the economy."
In a separate action at the conference, LSCU's president/CEO Patrick La Pine disclosed a $15,000 donation being made to Credit Union House on behalf of CUNA's retiring CEO Dan Mica to recognize his industry dedication.


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International Football’s African ‘Brain-Drain’
When discussing the prospects for economic development in Africa, a topic that often comes up is “brain-drain” and its effect on the continent. According to the World Bank, migration from African countries doubled to 30.6m between 1980 and 2010, with half of these people leaving the continent altogether. Amongst these migration figures, the African Union estimates that approximately 70,000 per year are skilled professionals. Such figures evidently have a significant effect on the countries which these skilled workers have left behind. Examining the healthcare sector in particular, it is estimated that brain-drain costs the African continent £2bn a year.
One less-discussed area where this has also been playing out over many years has been international football. Many African-born players and European players of African descent with dual-eligibility have elected to represent more successful European nations at the international level. The latest case in the headlines involves the highly rated Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traoré. In recent months, the player has been contending with a tug-of-war between the country of his birth – Spain – and the country of his parents – Mali. Since a call-up to Spain’s senior squad in November 2019 was put on hold because of an injury, the Malian Football Federation has been attempting, so far unsuccessfully, to get Traoré to switch allegiances.
Traoré’s case is not the first of its kind and it certainly will not be the last. The history of Africa’s greatest footballing talents being lost to the continent is an ongoing struggle that African sports federations have been contending with for some time. Where club football is concerned, the footballing brain-drain is inevitable and potentially somewhat desirable. It would only hinder a world class player not to allow him the chance to showcase his abilities in Europe’s elite leagues. That said, there are some exceptions to the rule. Egyptian talisman Mohamed Aboutrika was a rare example of an African star who played almost the entire of his illustrious career in his native country.
For the most part, the true damage comes when players of dual eligibility decide to represent European countries at the international level. For a long time, European nations have had free reign over talented African players who were born in that country or who had eligibility through other means. Nowhere was this better expressed than in the opening game of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where France played Senegal. The vast majority of Senegal’s squad played their club football in France, while France’s squad consisted of a number of prominent players, who would have been eligible to play for African countries. This included some who were born in Africa, such as Patrick Vieira (Senegal), Claude Makélélé (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Marcel Desailly (Ghana), as well as French-born players of African parentage, such as Zinedine Zidane (Algeria) and Djibril Cissé (Côte d’Ivoire). The prevailing model was clear: France would take the elite players, whilst Senegal had to “make do” with the rest.
As it happened, Senegal’s determined side put in a memorable display to defeat the defending champions, who subsequently failed to get past the group stage. Senegal, meanwhile, reached the quarter finals, which still stands as a joint record for an African side at a World Cup finals. While this was certainly a noteworthy event in the footballing world, it did not represent a significant sea change. In 2018, France’s World Cup-winning squad included two African-born players – Samuel Umtiti (Cameroon) and Steve Mandanda (DRC) – and twelve players of African parentage, including several of the team’s stars, such as N’Golo Kanté (Mali), Paul Pogba (Guinea) and Kyliane Mbappé (Cameroon and Algeria). Accordingly, it could be argued that, rather than the trend reversing, the footballing brain-drain has actually increased since 2002.
It certainly seems that sport is reflective of the wider economic trend and, as in other sectors, Europe continues to get its pick of African talent. As far as Traoré is concerned, as always, the decision as to who to represent will be a strictly personal one. Given that he was born and raised in Spain and came up through the country’s junior set-up, it is likely that the player feels more Spanish than Malian. Indeed, Traoré turned down Mali’s approach in 2016 before his recent surge in form saw him become a contender for Spain.
Moving forward, African football federations are going to have to become more creative in reaching such players before their European counterparts come calling. That said, there are certainly grounds for optimism. The current international football scene is littered with African stars, including the Premier League’s 2019 joint-Golden Boot winners: Sadio Mané (Senegal), Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon). The latter of these is also an example of a French-born player, who decided to represent their parent’s nation, much like Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly. It is possible that such players could inspire the next generation of African footballers to represent African nations on the international stage and potentially lead to the continent’s first World Cup Winner.


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Liquid Bakeable Clay – Sculpey Pearl
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Liquid Bakeable Clay – Sculpey Pearl Highlights
– Liquid Clay can be used as a transfer compound, adhesive, color wash, glazing medium and more!
– Bakes Permanent in Oven, Can also be used in Silicon molds for baking.
Bottle Quantity – 1oz (30ml)
Additives that can used in Liquid Sculpey:
– Chalk pastel powder to add color
– Mica powder to add color
– Glitters to enhance the look
– Alcohol inks to create deep textures
– Dried flowers and embellishments
If you need more information regarding the clay please contact us by Clicking Here

domain: chemistry


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"Thank you! You nailed the fit and design. I can't remember being stopped so many times for a dress!"
PERFECT WEDDING ATTIRE
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Medieval Europe is not a time in European history that is remembered for its cultural advancements. If anything, it is a period of history that is thought of as backward, stagnant, and hostile to new ways of thinking. While this is certainly true to an extent, Medieval European culture was much more alive and colorful than is often portrayed in modern media. Many Western holidays, traditions, and dances trace back to Medieval Europe. As a matter of fact, dance played a surprisingly significant role in the cultural identities of countless European ethnic groups and nations.
The most popular form of dance during the 11th and 12th centuries in Medieval Europe was known as carole or carola. This dance style was common in rural and urban communities, including many members of the nobility.
Besides a handful of surviving records and artwork from this era, we do not know much about this dance style. That being said, what modern historians can agree upon at the bare minimum is that Carole was usually done by groups of participants interlocking their hands and forming a circle. Each circle would have a lead who would set the tone and pace in which the rest of the group danced.
Carole was usually done in large groups of people at community gatherings or feats, but it is also thought that this dance could also be conducted with just two partners. However, it is not clear how much the dance changed with just two participants.
The mention of Carole in England goes as far back as the year 1000 in the chronicles written by Saint Dunstan. Dunstan recalls walking into a church and finding several women holding each other's hands, singing hymns, and dancing in a circle. This raises the question of how Carole might have played a role in religion during this period, but things are still not too clear. If there is one aspect of life in Medieval Europe that is well documented, it is the intricacies of church proceedings.
It would be assumed that if this dance style was common in the church, it would have been mentioned in other records aside from just Saint Dunstan. While it is possible that Carole did play some role in the religious lives of certain worshippers, it would have most likely only existed in isolated instances and was certainly not something that the Vatican taught.
France And Central Europe
It is thought that Carole can trace its origins to Northern France. It is here that the mention of Carole is most frequent and was likely the most widespread. Plenty of instances mention French nobility and aristocrats taking part in this dance at large banquet halls and castle courts.
In Germany and other Central European nations, Carole was often referred to as Reigen. In the various German-speaking states, it appears as though many German Christians interwove dancing with their faith, something that church authorities looked down upon. There are records that date to the 8th century of local kings and church officials strictly banning any kind of dancing in churches or other holy buildings. It is most likely that the church, especially in Central Europe, saw this style of dancing as a form of paganism.
In modern times, this style of chain dancing is still most prominent in folk dances from the Balkans. While it has surely deviated from the source material over the centuries, there are still many similar aspects that Balkan folk dance has with Mediveal Carole dancing. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, stone tablets can be found in the countryside that date back to the 12th century and depict a very similar style of dance common in Central and Northern Europe. Some historians think that Carole lived much longer in the Balkans than anywhere else in Europe. Even as Carole began to die out or heavily change in Western Europe, a much more traditional style was kept well preserved in places like Greece and Serbia in the 17th century.
Even though Mediviela Europe might have been a backward place by modern standards, it was much more colorful and alive than is often given credit. It is true that the authority of monarchs and priests was absolute, but this did not stop the everyday person from developing their own unique ways of dance and other cultural expressions. This kind of group dance can still be seen today in various traditional wedding dances from the Balkans and Eastern Europe and even in square dancing in the United States.

domain: sociology


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Electricity, Internet and Adapter in Costa Rica
It’s the first time you visit Costa Rica, and you are not sure about electricity there. Do you need an adapter? Is there electricity? Is there internet? How many volts come from the sockets? I will answer all these questions in this article, and if you have more, then feel free to write to me!
Is there electricity in Costa Rica?
Yes, in most areas, there is electricity.
There are places where you have electricity just during the day. In this way, people can use their kitchen over the day and during the night the electricity will be turned off. In some secluded areas, people get their electricity through their own solar panels.
We usually think that if there is electricity, it is always there. That’s not always the case. It happens occasionally that there is a power failure for just 10 seconds, 10 minutes or even some hours or days. This happens because the powerlines can stop working because of the weather, e.g. when a tree fell, truck accidents, etc. When there is a storm and a tree falls on a powerline, there probably won’t be electricity. The local electricity company will fix it, but in Latin American countries you must be patient.
By the way: In Costa Rica, about 96% of the energy comes from renewable sources, e.g. from the Chachí dam, Lake Arenal, windmills all over the country, etc.
How many volts? Do I need an adapter?
In Costa Rica, 120 V come out of the plugs. For German or Swiss devices you will definitely need an adapter with two small, thin plugs and probably a third-round plug.
The socket in Costa Rica
It is enough if you just use the two thin plugs. In the US they use the same plugs. You should check before if your device works with 120V. If you need a fan, a travel fan would be the best option. They usually adapt to the voltage.
With a fan, you will realize it just blows a bit of air instead of actually drying your hair.
Adapter with two plugs
Adapter with three plugs
Is there Internet?
Many people think that we live in the jungle and barely have internet. Wrong! The capital San José is a city jungle full of cars and buildings; no green palm trees and monkeys. Outside of San José begins the tropical forest. Costa Rica is influenced by the US, so in many restaurants, stores and hotels you can find free wifi, for example at Subway or McDonalds. But I have actually never seen an internet café. Especially the capital San José has a very good internet connection.
If you want to use your mobile data, you should know that mobile networks are not as good in the mountains or rural areas. You won’t have a good connection in Tortuguero, but a full connection in San José. Therefore at most hotels good and stable WiFi is available.
Warm water through electricity
An important fact about electricity is water, and so is the shower.
When there are cables inside the shower, most Europeans will get scared and probably won’t take a shower. But don’t worry! In Central and South America, electrical showers are normal and common in private homes and many tourist accommodations.
Water tanks with warm water or water heaters are not usual, rather than that the water there will be only cold water. In the case of the electrical showers, the water will be heated inside of the showerhead and comes out hot. This includes unfortunately also the cables which are often hidden inside of a pipe so you don’t get scared. But don’t worry, nothing is going to happen! If you think the device doesn’t work, because the water doesn’t turn warm, it is probably because of the amount of water. Just turn the water tap a little bit back, so that less water runs through the pipe. You shouldn't change the settings at the showerhead.
Warm water at the sink is also not common, as you can probably imagine. Everything is a little different here, but you will enjoy it!
Do you have more questions? Then

domain: geography


BPL virtual panel to discuss climate change, NYC transit amid COVID-19
On Wednesday, July 22, Brooklyn Public Library is kicking off a virtual edition of Climate Wednesdays — a panel series on climate and how it is intertwined with other pressing issues.
Wednesday’s panel is titled “Where To Next? Fossil-Free Transportation in a Pandemic and Beyond,” and will discuss climate change and NYC’s public transit system amid the pandemic. The panel will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, BPL writes. As the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new set of mass transit woes to the nation’s most extensive subway system and slowest bus service, the panel will ask: How can we get our troubled public transit system back on track and headed where we need to go in a climate-friendly way?
The event will be moderated by Emily Nonko, an award-winning freelance journalist based in Brooklyn. Her writing covers real estate, architecture, urbanism, design, transit, history, and the ways climate change will affect New York. She is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Next City and Curbed New York.
The panel will include Regional Plan Association leader Vanessa Barrios, Brooklyn organizer for Transportation Alternatives Dulcie Canton, Sierra Club clean transportation campaign representative Allison Considine, and New York City Environmental Justice Alliance transportation planner Renae Reynolds.
Registration for the webinar is available at the BPL website. Viewers will receive a link to the event once they RSVP.
Upcoming Climate Wednesdays sessions will include “Natural Allies: Working with Nature to Combat Climate Change” on August 26 and “Green Collar Jobs: Making a Living, Forging a Better World” on September 16.
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The government plans to amend the SEZ Act in the upcoming Budget to reduce the compliance burden and allow companies operating within the conclaves to accept payments in Indian rupees, according to two people familiar with the development.
The government could also allow entities that don’t wish to avail benefits to be treated on a par with others located outside the SEZ, said two people aware of the development.
Several stakeholders have raised concerns that as tax holidays come to an end, many companies will move out of SEZs due to the restrictions and these places could end up as ghost towns.
“Many companies that have leased properties inside SEZs are looking to move out as there is a huge compliance burden, including that around net foreign exchange earning obligation. Although the infrastructure within SEZs is very good, for most companies, it doesn’t make economic sense to continue operations,” a person aware of the development said.
The government is looking to make these changes in the upcoming Budget that will lead to companies not having to show import revenues or submit detailed operational information.
As a corollary, the companies could continue to operate from SEZs like any other place without having to comply with all the elaborate compliance requirement.
The commerce ministry is already working on such a proposal, another person aware of the development said.
“If any SEZs wishes to be de-re-cognized, even that could be allowed. The government could also bring in a change whereby SEZs could offer additional commercial and residential holdings within their premises,” the person said.
Many SEZs had sought an extension of the direct tax holiday, especially on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The primary attraction of setting up entities within an SEZ was the favorable taxation structure.
Many SEZs had even approached the government to discuss the tax sops this year, but the government didn’t relent.
“The government representatives told us clearly that no tax sops or tax exemptions are possible this year,” a person part of an industry association that met the government said. An email sent to the ministry of commerce and industry did not elicit any response till press time on Monday.