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By This Still Hearth
Life rubs up on truth, igniting a flame by which we light our path.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Why "Miracles from Heaven" Makes Us Cry
Crying, last time I checked, is not a good time. It can be cathartic, relieving, and useful, but it's never, in my experience, enjoyable. Even at weddings. Even in victory.
So we were off to a bad start.
"Miracles from Heaven" is advertised as a true story and I believe it is. But beware. It is not everyone's story. It is not hardly anyone's story.
Anna Beam, the sick little girl at the story's center, is cute and sad and suffering, so sick that she wants, at one point, to die. I didn't blame her. Of course, the movie is about a miracle, so we know from the very beginning that she won't and she doesn't. I'm glad about that. But the story isn't really hers--it's her mother's--her mother, Christy Beam, whose faith fails during her daughter's illness and is regenerated at her healing.
That's the part that bothered me. I believed the little girl. I believed Anna. I believed her suffering. I believed her faith. I believed her healing and her carefree embracing of renewed life afterward. But I felt sad for Christy.
She got her daughter back, of course, and that's good, but what kind of faith did she get? She got a faith borne on the back of healing. What happens if Anna gets sick again? Or her husband? Or one of her other daughters?
Frankly, I was hoping Anna would not survive. I wanted to see Christy in real victory, a victory that is the product of common sorrow, of looking square in the face of our worst fear and knowing that God still loves us and is still directing our lives for good in spite of circumstances. I wanted to see a Christy walk away with a faith that would last. As it is, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to Christy's faith the next time it is tried.
That was when I understood the tears in the audience--and there were tears, lots of them. Christy got her daughter back--for awhile at least. But most people don't. Most sick loved ones don't live. They die. And we know it. We see it every day. We know that Christy's story will probably not be ours.
We rejoice in Christy's good fortune, but know that we will probably not get that same miracle. Our loved one, when faced with a life-threatening illness or accident will probably not survive. And that is the more common challenge of faith. That we are to find God in our sorrow, not just in our victory. We are going to need a faith more than that given to Christy Beam. I am going to need it.
So we cry at "Miracles from Heaven". For Christy's pain. For Anna's suffering. And for our own. Fortunately, God hears those cries. Because, regardless of physical deliverance that may or may not come, we are drawn close in trial and loved. That is a miracle. That is my miracle.
photo credit: youtube.com
Sunday, February 28, 2016
The God Who is not Superman
And then it happens....
Oh, I do like that moment....the feeling of rescue. The fear as it drains away and you wrap grateful arms around his neck.
What is is about that guy, anyway? I'm pretty sure it's not the cape. It's not the muscles or that cute curl in the middle of his forehead. In fact, I'm pretty sure I know why the Man of Steel appeals so much, at least to me.
It's that in giving in to Superman, I'm admitting a secret vulnerability.
I mean really.
When was the last time any of us had to be rescued from anything?
In general, we are capable, intelligent, and self-sufficient. I don't fall off buildings. Bad guys don't chase me. No one needs to rescue me. Not really.
And a good thing too. Because Superman isn't real. I know that. *shrug*
But here's the rub.
Sometimes I still feel like I need rescue.
Everybody seems to be calling my name at once. The washer breaks on the same day as it snows 15 inches. Three of our children all get the flu at the same time and we don't have insurance. Somebody hits the only car we own. Somebody we love betrays. Somebody we love dies.
I'm not falling off a bridge, but it sure feels like it. Superman may be fiction, but my feelings are real. I'm hanging alone at the end of my rope. I've done everything I know to do and I'm still going down for the third time. No man, super or not, is coming to help.
There's only one thing to do--and I cry out:
Rescue me, Oh Lord,
Make haste to help me...
Free me from the snare they have set for me...
Come quickly and answer me.
Do not turn away from me or I will die...
Psalm 40, 31,143
And He does. God rescues.
Not like Superman. Not with cape and tights. But like God.
The God Who is not Superman.
And there's a big difference.
This is what God's rescue looks like:
When I prove my holiness among you, I will gather you from all foreign lands; and I will pour clean water upon you and cleanse you from your impurities, and I will give you a new spirit, says the Lord. --Ezekiel 36:23-26
He just doesn't fold us into His arms, carry us to safety, and then fly off to the next crisis.
God completes the job. He makes us holy.
He doesn't pat us on the head and let us straighten our skirt and go our way. He cleans us from the inside out.
He doesn't give us a pert little salute. He gives us a new spirit.
He has to and, better yet, He wants to.
Like Moses who had to take off his shoes before he could approach God in the burning bush, like the Israelites who had to believe God before they could enter the promised land, we have to be prepared. God's rescue isn't a one-step process.
He wants to reclaim all of us, inside and out, and that takes time.
That's real rescue.
God plucks us out of danger by showing us our sin and guiding us to the firm ground of repentence.
God takes us to high ground by gifting us with faith and hope.
God puts out his hand, helping us stand every day in growing the fruit of His Spirit--kindness, meekness, self-control, and all the rest.
And, when He is done, He brings and keeps us near, made new in confidence in Him, leaning on His shoulder, depending on the only sure rescue there ever was and ever will be.
And there it is, the fear draining away as you wrap grateful arms around His neck...
Do not be afraid. I have ransomed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine.--Isaiah 43:1
Pictures courtesy of : www.top10films.co.uk
Posted by JoAnne Potter at 9:52 AM 2 comments:
Labels: belief, defending, emotions, fear, gifts, holy, perfection, perseverance, power, provision, readiness, repentance, rest, rising, salvation, savior
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Who Are We, Anyway?
It started out on New Years Eve, and a talk about the lives we'd built for ourselves over these 50 or 60 years, and not our dissatisfaction with them, but our downright confusion. We've become, in great parts, what we've set out to be--capable, thoughtful, faithful in measures more than we'd ever expected--but now, well, now it all seems a bit silly and out of place.
Oh, we still mess up (and I did, spectacularly, later that same night) but that's not the problem.
We recognize our instances of falling short with ease. It's the instances of success that make us pause. Our successes haven't taken us where we know we have to go. In fact, they seem to take us farther from it.
That's where the mask comes in.
The mask reminds me that we are still trying to figure out who we were meant to be.
You'd think that, by now, we'd have gotten farther in this basic truth, but well, we haven't. And this is why--
After spending our whole lives learning and building, it seems like our business now is to dismantle it--to take apart the entire construct we've worked so hard on, looking for that essence, that kernel of what's really important.
The mask doesn't represent something that's fake--it's the layers of our life.
|credit: www.miraclefruitusa.com
It's God saying, 'I've shown you what I can make of you, but I'm not done yet. Now I'm going to show you what I've put in you.'
He warned us about this, you know.
I will put my Spirit in you...--Ezekiel 36:27
Somebody asked me on New Years Eve for one wise saying to share to take us into 2016 and I, clumsy and self-conscious, said that God wants to show us that He is in us. What I should have done is gotten out the mask, because that's the whole point.
God has made us wonderful, but what we've had to do to build our lives has covered it up.
It's taken Him all our lives to teach us to trust Him.
Now, He wants to show us who we really are in Him.
So they asked him, "What are you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "No, I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you so that we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'"--John 1
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
No Beast of Burden, Reflections on an Empty Yoke
He says they are light and momentary.
My yoke is easy and my burden is light.--Matthew 11:10.
It doesn't feel like it. Not today. Maybe not ever.
I know what God says. Walk beside Me. Let me help you.
But He doesn't get it.
I am not a beast of burden.
A yoke is made for animals. I am a human being. He made me that way. I walk upright. I think. I dream. I have dominion. He gave it to me. He put me in charge.
Why, then, do I feel so helpless?
It's the burdens that keep me there. The cares. The problems. The misunderstandings. The intentional hurts. My arms and back tire of them. My neck hurts.
My neck. Where I'm supposed to wear the yoke. That darned yoke.
For a farmer, a yoke does two things.
First, it provides an efficient way to get work done. It harnesses and employs the work of two strong beasts focused on one task simultaneously, sharing the load equally between them.
Second, and maybe more important, it makes those beasts docile. Before being confined, they roam or butt or buck. Within the confines of the yoke, they know they are mastered. Once there, they calm down and settle into what the farmer wants them to do.
That's the problem.
I want that calm but I don't want that confinement.
It's better, I think, to bear the whole load than to be mastered.
There's only one problem.
It's not working.
The burden is crushing me.
And I still don't want to let go.
My problem isn't a new one.
In the 12th century, Baldwin of Forde had something to say about it:
The Lord advised and instructed us to put ourselves under His yoke and His burden and thus, through obedience and patience, to become His docile creatures...
Agreed, but it still feels like defeat, like giving up, like copping out.
And I don't want to become docile.
I was made to lead, not be led. I am a person of intelligence and decision. He gave those to me. I'm supposed to use them.
If you're looking for a neat answer to this, you won't get it today.
I know the promise. Probably, so do you.
Again, from Baldwin:
Patience enables us to rise above tribulation and not be crushed beneath it. All who become gentle under the yoke and burden of Christ find that God is also gentle with them.
Why do I think myself so smart and capable when I'm still dragging and snorting, pushing the empty yoke around with a streaming snout, flanks worn, running and stinking with years of sweat? Why don't I just give it up and push my ragged head through the thing?
I don't know, but I do know one thing. I'm tired of this. It's got to change.
And so I've determined my advent discipline this year.
To admit that God is God.
To let Him master me, tame me, rule me.
To figure out this yoke thing.
To give in, if that's what it takes.
To give up the burden and admit I can't do it any more.
To become gentle with Him and finally, finally, let Him be gentle with me.
Image: pixabay.com
Posted by JoAnne Potter at 5:12 AM 3 comments:
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Picking Up Sticks
I mean, the instruction book for life is pretty plain--worship God, repent, pray, hope, help others, look for heaven.
But sometimes, it's not enough.
I worship but God still seems far away. I repent but the list of my sins grows. I hope but it fades in the face of living. I help others but what I do rarely seems to have any lasting effect for either them or me. As for looking for heaven--well, I can barely manage earth. Sometimes, it's just not working for me.
Then I realize that it doesn't matter.
It doesn't.
My disappointment, after all, is all about my feelings. I get dissatisfied because as much as I pray, as much as I hope, as much as I love God and understand what He's done both for me and the ones I love, there's still a huge gap between God's best and my reality.
A crevasse. A desert. A black hole. And it's not going away.
I can't create the heaven I want on the earth I'm given. And in the end, there's only one thing to do.
Pick up sticks.
That's right. Pick up sticks.
In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance to the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread." She answered, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now, I was collecting a couple of sticks to go in to prepare something for myself and my son. When we have eaten it, we shall die."
This woman knows she is dying. The country has lived through years of drought and she has no more food. She has enough left for one more meal for her and her son and along comes Elijah.
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son." --1Kings 17
What? "Oh, by the way," he says, "You're dying anyway. You might as well give me some of your last meal. It won't make any difference in the end."
Thanks a lot, bud.
I can't imagine she was thrilled with what Elijah, who spoke for God, told her to do, and sometimes, neither am I. Giving him that little she had left was not going to solve anything.
But she does it.
She goes and gathers the sticks, builds the fire, bakes the bread, gives some to Elijah, and then something happens--
She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry.--1Kings 17
She has enough. Just like that. Not enough just for that day or that week, but for a year. Enough until the drought ended, until her season of starvation was over.
That's what God does. He provides enough. When we finally come to the place where we have nothing left and know we're going to die without Him, He brings enough.
I wonder what would have happened if she didn't gather the wood, didn't make the fire, didn't bake the bread and share it with Elijah? I don't know for sure, but I suspect we wouldn't be reading about her today. She would likely have died, and her son, too. Starved for the lack of doing the one thing that was left for her to do. Because, when she did that, the only thing she could, God did the rest. God did what she could not.
And that's what I have to do.
What I can.
No matter how things look. No matter how I feel.
Because that is when God shows up with flour and oil that never run out.
That is where I find the cup that, in spite of circumstances, overflows.
|Credit: holdfasttowhatisgood.com
So, excuse me please. I'm needing God and I still have some sticks to pick up.
Posted by JoAnne Potter at 8:18 AM No comments:
Labels: blessings, dying, emotions, faith, food, heaven, hope, obedience, prayer, promise, provision, suffering, work, worship
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Seeds of the Spirit
Nearly 7AM and it's still dark. Indian summer come and gone. Leaves turned gold and red, then brown, and now coming down in nearly constant showers, swaying as they fall, settling in crinkly heaps where the wind gathers them, dead, in airy eddies. Autumn.
What a time to think of growing things. And yet, and yet... That's what I'm doing.
Instead of the beauty of Fall, I'm thinking of fruit. Bursting, juicy, warm from a high summer sun. Ripe and perfect. Strawberries, peaches, grapes. And flowers--spreading roses and extravagant hydrangeas. Gone now, but remembered well. They are summer, lush and dripping. Already missed.
But they have left something behind. Usually brown, sometimes red or orange, the fruit of summer has left a kernel of itself, a promise. Seeds.
They don't look like much. I know that come next year, they will burst open into flower and then, after the grace of fertilization, will produce an apple, a zinnia, a plum, but now, well, they just sit there looking dead.
For now, they're just seeds.
They need time.
In the growing dark of these days, seeds don't hold a lot of hope. Not yet. Hard and as dim as these predawn hours, they don't change, not for months.
But they are fruit. Fruit in the making.
And that's the point of fruit. It takes time.
So it is with all kinds of fruit--even fruits of the Spirit.
Fruit is not a gift, something that once unwrapped, is instantly available, full and bursting, ready to eat. Fruit takes preparation, nurturing, time. We have to wait for it, watch it develop day after impatient day,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.--Galatians 5:23
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Fruit, not gifts.
Pray for them, but don't expect them to come in an instant.
When they come, they come as a seed, a promise, something to be developed slowly over time.
At their start, we get seeds of the Spirit.
In time, with God's favor and patient grace, we eventually have fruit.
What a time to think of growing things. And yet, and yet... That's what I'm doing.
Instead of the beauty of Fall, I'm thinking of fruit. Bursting, juicy, warm from a high summer sun. Ripe and perfect. Strawberries, peaches, grapes. And flowers--spreading roses and extravagant hydrangeas. Gone now, but remembered well. They are summer, lush and dripping. Already missed.
But they have left something behind. Usually brown, sometimes red or orange, the fruit of summer has left a kernel of itself, a promise. Seeds.
|Credit: funflowerfacts.com
For now, they're just seeds.
|Credit: www.pinterest.com
In the growing dark of these days, seeds don't hold a lot of hope. Not yet. Hard and as dim as these predawn hours, they don't change, not for months.
|Credit: www.pinterest.com
And that's the point of fruit. It takes time.
So it is with all kinds of fruit--even fruits of the Spirit.
Fruit is not a gift, something that once unwrapped, is instantly available, full and bursting, ready to eat. Fruit takes preparation, nurturing, time. We have to wait for it, watch it develop day after impatient day,
|Credit: www.gettyimages.com
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Fruit, not gifts.
Pray for them, but don't expect them to come in an instant.
When they come, they come as a seed, a promise, something to be developed slowly over time.
In time, with God's favor and patient grace, we eventually have fruit.
Posted by JoAnne Potter at 5:21 AM No comments:
Labels: blessings, fruit, gentleness, gifts, growth, Holy Spirit, hope, love, mercy, patience, peace, promise, spirit, waiting
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Abraham's Dirty Laundry
But I did today.
I had a dream last night...a dream of disarray, of inconclusion, of hoplessness, of incomplete instruction and unclear future.
Well, a dream of dirty laundry, actually. Piles of it everywhere. I couldn't walk without tripping over it, rags and sheets and t-shirts. I kept tripping every time I took a step. I felt tied up. Strangled by it. And I was alone in the house, abandoned with no one to help. No one to tell me what to do. Nowhere firm to step.
Then I woke up and read about Abram.
So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD.--Genesis 13:18
There really is a connection, at least a perceived one.
Abram had been following God's instruction. He'd been going where God sent him, but nothing good had happened there. God told him to go to Haran and made him a promise there, but nothing changed. God sent him to Canaan, and he got nothing but famine. God sent him to Egypt, and he got in trouble with the Pharaoh. God sent him to Bethel and Lot got the best of the land they found there.
No fulfillment of the promise God kept making. Just more promises. He didn't even have his final name yet.
And what did he do? He built an altar. A place to worship. A place to remember. Remember what, I want to know? Nothing had happened yet. Nothing good, at least.
It felt like my dream of laundry. Piles all around. Endless work. Enough to trip over. All the promises God makes but no indication of Him keeping them. Roadblocks. Hopelessness. Confusion.
And Abram built an altar.
Not because of what God had done, but because he needed it.
He needed a stone that didn't move, that he could kick at or cling to.
He needed to remind himself who God really is. He needed something concrete, that didn't move like tents, like sheep, like nephews who take the best for themselves.
The altar was not just a place to worship, it was a place that wouldn't move or change. A place like God Himself. He needed a place to hang on.
Kind of like this:
|credit: www.bibleplaces.com
I don't like waiting. Not necessarily because I don't trust God, but because I rarely know what to hang onto while I'm waiting. I don't have a place to build the stone altar Abram did. But I have to have one anyway, so I'm going to have to build my own altar in the place Christ taught...
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.--Ephesians 3:17
I don't build my altar out of rocks. I carry it with me wherever I go. My Rock. My touchstone. My love. My trust. The only altar God wants anymore. And the only one I need.
If I can do that, eventually, my laundry will look like this:
|credit: www.purecleaners.com
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A non-partisan non-profit organization working to make criminal justice
and public safety policies and practices more effective through innovation,
research, and education.
Board & Leadership
Richard M. Aborn
As president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, a non-partisan non-profit organization focused on criminal justice and public safety policies and practices, Richard Aborn draws on his wide experience in criminal prosecution and litigation, policy development, management and government affairs to promote the Crime Commission's agenda of making the criminal justice and public safety policies and practices of New York City more effective.
In his work at the Crime Commission, Mr. Aborn maintains a focus on the process of identifying problems, developing strategic responses, and implementing comprehensive, effective solutions. This approach often involves "silo busting"—the process of working across outmoded or counterproductive organizational barriers to achieve successful results.
read more »
Ashley Cannon
Director of Public Policy
Ashley Cannon is responsible for policy analysis, project management, and overseeing the daily operations of the Crime Commission. Ms. Cannon has extensive knowledge of the criminal justice field and experience working with government, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, foundations, and community groups to address criminal justice and public safety issues.
Prior to joining the Crime Commission, Ms. Cannon worked for the Vera Institute of Justice Center on Sentencing and Corrections where she provided technical assistance to state governments reforming their criminal justice policies and practices. There her work focused on expanding community corrections programs in Alabama, developing policy to address overcrowding in California prisons, and creating a sentencing commission in Connecticut.
She has previously worked for the Midtown Community Court and the Fund for Modern Court's Citizens Jury Project in New York City, and the Montgomery County Police Department's Crime Analysis and Crisis Intervention Team Units in Rockville, Maryland.
She received a bachelor's degree in justice from American University and a master's degree in criminal justice from John Jay College.
As Workforce Development Specialist, Mr. Jackson brings over 12 years of experience in youth and workforce development. He has dedicated his career to youth development, emphasizing the psychology behind racial and cultural identity development, and how it relates socially, academically, and professionally. He has had success in curriculum design and development, creating programs for male empowerment, leadership development, rites of passage, and mentoring. Mr. Jackson has worked with government agencies, academia, and numerous nonprofits, gaining experience with community and national organizations such as the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, YouthBuild, and Color of Change.org, among others. He has served on a number of boards, including the New York Urban League Young Professionals, Community Board 9, and IMANI Youth, as well as been an active leader in education reform focusing on educational inequalities, the school-to-prison pipeline, and special education protocols and procedures in New York City and Chicago.
Before coming to the Crime Commission, Mr. Jackson was helping young men who were reentering the workforce and society with life skills and workforce training. He provided extensive psychological and tangible skills training workshops that allowed previously incarcerated men and young men to transition back into society and turn their lives around. Mr. Jackson also manages a leadership development and mentoring program, serving over 100 young men in New York City. Currently, Mr. Jackson is working on a documentary that investigates the development of image and identity and leadership of African American males as seen through the history and significance of Black barbershops in North America.
Mr. Clarence Jackson is a passionate and dedicated professional, who tirelessly applies himself to the service of his community, through education, training, and advocacy.
As a Program Associate, Ms. Liggett assists the Crime Commission in violence prevention efforts, focusing on how social media impacts real-world violence. Utilizing her expertise in psychology and research, Ms. Liggett assists in furthering the E-Responder Program, an intervention model that trains community professionals in how to de-escalate violence on social media as well as how to use social media to empower youth and change violence norms. Through this work, Ms. Liggett is thrilled to continue advancing the important work of community anti-violence organizations and the Crime Commission.
Before beginning her work at the Crime Commission, Ms. Liggett supported research on criminal behavior from a multitude of different psychological lenses, including cognitive science, neurobiology, and clinical perspectives. This experience gave her an integrated view on how psychology can further prevention efforts.
Ms. Liggett graduated with honors from Eckerd College with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a minor in biology, and from New York University where she received a master's degree in forensic psychology.
Director of Violence Prevention
As the Director of Violence Prevention, Ms. Ueberall provides the Crime Commission with expertise in research and analysis concerning youth violence. Her career is focused on creating effective programs for youth involved in the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and has worked with probation offices in New York and California, along with other government agencies, academia, and numerous non-profit organizations.
Before beginning her work with the Crime Commission, Ms. Ueberall was the Senior Program Analyst for Esperanza NY Inc, where she provided technical assistance and analyzed processes utilized by NYC Probation. Ms. Ueberall was also the Research Coordinator for a feasibility study run by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she developed research designs and protocols for a national study on Transition Age Youth.
Ms. Ueberall strongly believes her direct service work led to her deep understanding of court-involved youth. She acted as a research interviewer, crisis counselor, and facilitated cognitive-behavioral therapy groups and academic achievement curricula.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, with a minor in Spanish from the University of Arizona, studying abroad in Oviedo, Spain. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in community psychology, with a concentration in program development from the University of New Haven. Originally from Yonkers, Ms. Ueberall is proud to be serving NY youth.
Director of Cybercrime Prevention Initiatives
Ina Wanca is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is also a Director of Cybercrime Prevention at the Citizens Crime Commission of NYC, and oversees the Predictive Prevention Lab. As a Director of Cybercrime Prevention, Ina Wanca leads the Crime Commission's efforts to bring technology and people together in order to prevent and reduce cybercrime.
Ms. Wanca's passionate approach to cybercrime is both transdisciplinary and holistic, with an emphasis on public-private partnerships to address cybercrime cooperatively, capacity building projects, sustainable development, and motivational environment, including the use of artificial intelligence in cyberlearning and cybercrime prevention.
Throughout her career, Ms. Wanca has worked with various international, intergovernmental, diplomatic, and private organizations including the United Nations, the International Peace Institute, and the U.S. Mission to the European Union. In her capacity as a project manager and a research trainee, Ms. Wanca examined the role of governments and private enterprises in securing cyberspace. As a global affairs field intensive researcher, she interviewed and initiated cybercrime dialogues with the UNCTAD, ILO, UNDP, NATO, ICRC, WIPO, WTO, UNAIDS, IOM, IPCC, WFP, Radio Europe, ICC, ICTY, Chinese Mission to the UN, Turkish Mission to the UN, the Russian Embassy in Prague, U.S. Embassies and Consulates, and the Czech Ministry of Interior, among others, to map the most effective ways of preventing cybercrime. Ms. Wanca conducted country-specific risk assessments and presented concept ideas to high-level UN senior policymakers and U.S. and EU officials addressing the issues of social impact through secure capacity building and knowledge development.
Ms. Wanca is also a member of the FBI InfraGard, NY Chapter and a prominent member of the Council of Europe Octopus community working on initiatives to strengthen public-private cooperation in fighting cybercrime. Mr. Wanca is also an affiliated member of the Initiative for the Study of Emerging Threats at New York University, a project led by the internationally recognized expert of transnational crime and Russian security affairs Dr. Mark Galeotti. In addition, she takes part in simulations at the Wikistrat's international cybersecurity crime desk.
Previously, Ms. Wanca enjoyed a successful career with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Bloomberg LP and Chubb Limited, where she worked on intellectual property, lobbying, and regulatory compliance matters in more than 120 countries.
Ms. Wanca is currently pursuing a graduate degree from MIT in artificial intelligence. She holds a master's degree in Global Affairs/Cybersecurity from New York University, where she served as a vice president of the Transnational Security Committee, and earned a law degree from VFU Chenorizetz Hrabar in Bulgaria. Her bachelor's degree is from the Technical University of Varna. Ms. Wanca is continuously expanding her knowledge and skills in the area of computational social science, artificial intelligence, cyberlearning, machine learning, robotics and game theory through various educational programs offered by MIT and Stanford University. Most recently Ms. Wanca completed a SummerLab on human-computer interaction at Carnegie Mellon, where she developed a cognitive tutor for a phishing email prevention.
Richard Aborn, President
Learn About Our Initiatives

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MacDowell Club announces 2012's top young composers
Christopher J. Darnieder, 23, has won the MacDowell Club of Milwaukee's 2012 Young Composer Competition for his woodwind quintet, "Introduction and Tarantella," the club announced in a recent statement.
Darnieder, of Milwaukee, will receive $1,200 and his composition will be premiered during a MacDowell Club concert next season. »Read Full Article
Gaffigan's stand-up act well-received by Milwaukee crowd
Jim Gaffigan didn't have the fortune of being born here, but the native Hoosier did the next best thing and married someone who was.
Milwaukee is sort of a second home for the New York-based stand-up comic, not simply because of his family connections or because he's played annual year-end shows at the Pabst Theater since 2007. His style of stand-up - clean, soft-spoken, often deadpan, obsessive about food - seems tailor-made for Midwestern sensibilities. »Read Full Article(2)


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2. Florida State -- They lost a lot of key players from last year's championship team but quarterback Jameis Winston looked like the real deal in the opener.
3. Miami -- The Canes did what they were expected to do against FAU and then beat 9th-ranked Florida at home. After two weeks, it seems like they should be favored in all their remaining games except for FSU.
4. North Carolina -- They played a tough South Carolina team to start the season and didn't play all that well, but were able to keep it fairly close. Otherwise, they're untested.
5. Virginia Tech -- The Hokies were able to hang with Alabama for awhile and then dominated Western Carolina. It all depends on Logan Thomas for them, and how well he plays.
6. Georgia Tech -- They blew out Elon in their only game so far. They've been middle of the pack lately and seem like it again this season.
7. Syracuse -- They've probably played the toughest schedule so far. They hung with both Penn State and Northwestern so it seems like they should be competitive in the ACC this year.
8. Virginia -- After beating a BYU team not many people knew about, they were waxed by Oregon. BYU went on to beat Texas, which makes this team very strange to figure out.
9. Maryland -- They have started the season with two blowout wins over non-BCS opponents. It's too early to tell much.
10. Pittsburgh -- They returned a lot of starters from last season but got blown out by FSU in the opener. They should only get better.
11. Duke -- After blowing out NC Central in the opener, they let a bad Memphis team hang around last week.
12. Boston College -- After barely beating Villanova in the opener, BC pulled out a win over what appears to be a bad Wake team.
13. North Carolina State -- Anytime Richmond takes you down to the wire at your place, it might be a troubling sign of things to come.
14. Wake Forest -- Perhaps the least talented team in the league got beat by what appears to be an average Boston College team by a couple touchdowns.


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Remembering Nora Ephron, by the Family and Friends Who Loved Her
At the documentary screening of Everything Is Copy.By Bennett Marcus
At the documentary screening of Everything Is Copy.By Bennett Marcus
Joan Juliet Buck has been collecting the best of art and fashion for years.By Véronique Hyland
Tour the former French Vogue editor's Hell's Kitchen loft.By Wendy Goodman
"There was this huge brouhaha about it. It was kind of like WikiLeaks."By As told to Véronique Hyland
A blow-by-blow of her disastrous Vogue profile of Syria's first lady.By Charlotte Cowles
But W, on the other hand ...By Charlotte Cowles
Buck says Asma was "extremely thin and very well-dressed, and therefore qualified to be in Vogue."By Charlotte Cowles
Along with Clarissa Dalrymple, Gisue Hariri, and Dale Larocca, who wear $60 million worth of gems.By Stella Bugbee
But she's a vegan — it's not easy for her to just go out and order a fatty lunch.By Amy Odell


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The Unit Mounted Thermostat Kit is for use on the Modine® Electric Unit Heaters (Model HER #21100 - #21126). The kit provides a temperature range of 40° F to 90° F.
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Gift Premium Subscription To scaryeyes
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Posted in thread: Starter for 55 gal batch? on 10-18-2014 at 09:03 PM
Yes mrmalty says 20 dry packs.And 50 vials. 13 vials in a 9 gal starter.I think its insane much
Posted in thread: Starter for 55 gal batch? on 10-18-2014 at 05:33 PM
Hi. How do i overcome the insane ammount of yeast? 50 packs without starter and 13 with a 10
gal starter....I only brew lagers and use 3 dry packs for a 10 gal batch, and that works just
fine.Now i ha...
Posted in thread: Peltier kegerator on 09-20-2012 at 09:35 PM
Yea! I would do that! AND fan inside. I think when I installed the fan, thats when my temp
began to drop! Im currently down 15�C below the room temp. Sometimes lower. It varies between
5�C and 7�C whe...
Posted in thread: Peltier kegerator on 09-06-2012 at 02:57 AM
So now I can tell you all the secret! :ban::mug:Dont go all this way. Buy a refrigirator.
Posted in thread: Peltier kegerator on 09-06-2012 at 02:53 AM
HiI think you will need more water flow than you believe. To get the coolers to do a good job,
you want nearly zero temperature differenace between the water in radiator and the water in the
cooling b...
Posted in thread: Peltier kegerator on 09-06-2012 at 02:41 AM
Just an update here for all the no sayers out there! Im constantly down to 40�F or like 4�C
here now when I can keep it to 72�F/22�C inside!Wouldnt you call it in as a win??I left this
behind now and ...
Posted in thread: Anybody have any tricks or ts for drilling a hockey puck??? on 09-02-2012 at 12:49 AM
I once drilled a puck for use as a starter wheel for a radio controlled car. I threaded it with
3/8 and just used a counter nut. It was tight as hell. That rubber is stable!
Posted in thread: River Float 5L Mini Keg System on 08-31-2012 at 06:38 PM
I used the same configuration for more than a year now. It works fine. But i took the easy way
out and used vinyl tubing to go into the keg. Just strapped it on to the copper tubing. Havent
Posted in thread: Free homebrewing management website with interactive, user-friendly interface on 08-14-2012 at 12:31 AM
Thanks for the effort on the metric system. Havent been able to try it out yet, im gonna use it
Posted in thread: Peltier kegerator on 07-31-2012 at 09:55 AM
Im constantly down to 6�C/43�F now. On extreme warm days when tep in the room exeeds 27�C, it
rises above 8�C. But when its only 25�C in the room, it stays at 6�C. So I think that it would
be appropia...


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King Drive gets a burst of new food
Restaurants on N. King Drive have been sparse, or tended to be chains rather than independently owned restaurants - until lately.
Over the past months, I've encountered not one but three restaurants that offer something fresh for Milwaukee diners: wholesome, filling soups and sandwiches at one, spice-rich Somali dishes at another and updated Southern fare in a polished setting at a third. »Read Full Article
This is the final weekend for most Milwaukee County Parks pools
Milwaukee County Parks pools will begin closing after this weekend as lifeguards begin heading back to campus.
Deep-well pools will remain open through Sunday. Those are the pools in Hales Corners, Holler, Jackson, Kosciuszko, McCarty, Oak Creek Parkway, Sheridan, Washington and Wilson parks. »Read Full Article(4)


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 21, 1999
|Filing date
|Mar 8, 1994
|Priority date
|Mar 12, 1993
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|John Lawson Beven, Paul David Case, Martin Coleman, Colin Campbell Greig, Peter Rex White
|Original Assignee
|British-American Tobacco Company Limited
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (9), Referenced by (13), Classifications (18), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to filters and filtration material, and in particular, but not exclusively to tobacco smoke filters, and methods of producing same.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Numerous methods of making filtration material have been proposed. One method previously proposed by the Applicant was disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 2 205 102A, wherein a particulate plastics material, a polysaccharide, optionally a binder, and water are fed to an extruder which is operated under such heat and pressure conditions that upon emergence from the extruder die, the extrudate assumes a cross-section greater than that of the exit orifice of the die. The expanded product may be fed to the garniture of a cigarette filter making machine or shredded and then gathered and formed into a cigarette filter in a garniture of a cigarette filter making machine. A disadvantage with the product obtained by following the teaching in this document was that, although the product was considerably expanded, it was not very suitable for standard filter making product because at low moisture contents the product could be friable and brittle. Thus, the use of such product on a filter tipping machine, where the filter element is rolled to interattach same to the tobacco rod, would be likely to result in the physical breakage thereof. Furthermore, it has been found that polypropylene, and other plastics materials having similar melting points, fuse with itself and/or the polysaccharide expansion medium and will not break down if left in the physical environment without leaving a fused amalgamation of plastics material.
The present invention has as an object the provision of processes for producing a filtration product which is particularly suitable for filtering tobacco smoke and which is degradable, especially under the weather conditions of the natural environment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a filtration product which has physical characteristics which are suitable for the manufacture of tobacco smoke filtration elements and filter tipped cigarettes, and which is degradable, especially under the weather conditions of the natural environment.
The weather conditions of the natural environment were simulated using a Q.U.V. Weathering Tester (Horizontal Option) made by the Q--Panel Company. This machine reproduces the damage caused by sunlight, rain and dew on materials placed outdoors. Filters according to the present invention and control conventional filter elements of cellulose acetate and paper were tested by exposing samples for pre-determined time periods to alternating cycles of UV light and moisture, at controlled elevated temperatures. The conditions of the cycles were:
1. 8 hours UV light at 60� C.
2. 0.5 hours "rain" at room temperature.
3. 3.5 hours condensation at 50� C.
The present invention provides an extruded filtration material comprising plastics material, a water-soluble polysaccharide expansion medium, a binder and water, the melting point of the plastics material being greater than the operating temperature at the operating conditions of the extrusion process, wherein the extruded filtration material is degradable.
The term `degradable` as used herein means that all water soluble or water dispersible components are dissolved or dispersed and the non-water soluble or non-water dispersible components do not form a fused or melted amalgamation. There is a change in physical form, the strength and shape of the extrudate being lost due to the effects of water and/or sunlight.
As used herein the term `water-soluble` as applied to the polysaccharide expansion medium means a compound which goes into solution (fully or partially), or forms a suspension in water. The water-soluble polysaccharide medium may alternatively be defined as a water-suspendable polysaccharide medium. The medium in the final extruded product should also absorb water causing disintegration of the product structure because of the properties of the medium.
As used herein the term `extruded` relates to any process where material is extruded through an orifice, under pressure or not, into conditions which subject the extruded material to a reduction in pressure. Suitably the reduction in pressure ranges from a 15 bar reduction to a 70 bar reduction upon exit from the orifice, although when sugar as a plasticiser is utilised, the pressure difference may be up to 170 bars. The pressure reduction may be achieved by extrusion into a vacuum.
FIG. 1 shows apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention.
FIG. 2a shows conventional cellulose acetate filter elements before being subjected to simulated weather conditions of the natural environment. FIG. 2b shows conventional cellulose acetate filter elements after being subjected to simulated weather conditions of the natural environment.
FIG. 3a shows conventional paper filter elements before being subjected to simulated weather conditions of the natural environment. FIG. 3b shows conventional paper filter elements after being subjected to simulated weather conditions of the natural environment.
FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b show filter elements according to the invention before and after being subjected to the accelerated weathering cycle.
The present invention further provides an extruded filtration material comprising inorganic material, a water-soluble polysaccharide expansion medium, a binder and water, wherein the filtration material is degradable.
The present invention provides a process of making an extruded filtration material, wherein plastics material, water-soluble polysaccharide expansion medium, binder and water are mixed together, and extruded through the exit orifice of an extruder die, the plastics material being selected so that the melting point thereof is above the operating temperature of the extrusion process at any particular operating pressure, wherein the extruded product is cellular and is degradable.
The present invention further provides a process of making an extruded filtration material, wherein inorganic material, water-soluble polysaccharide expansion medium, binder and water are mixed together, and extruded through the exit orifice of an extruder die, the inorganic material being selected so that the melting point thereof is above the operating temperature of the extrusion process at any particular operating pressure, wherein the extruded product is cellular and is degradable.
Preferably extrusion occurs under pressures at the extruder die above atmospheric pressure. Alternatively extrusion may occur at substantially atmospheric pressure into a vacuum, for example, injection moulding.
The present invention also provides a degradable smoking article comprising a degradable smoking material enwrapped in degradable wrapping material and a degradable filter comprising extruded filtration material enwrapped in degradable wrapping material, said filtration material comprising 0-90% plastics material, 5-100% water-soluble polysaccharide expansion medium and 0-50% binder, all on a dry weight basis of the extruded filtration material and produced in accordance with the above method.
Preferably the filtration material is a tobacco smoke filtration material.
Preferably the plastics material is one or more of the group consisting of cellulose acetate, polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene. The term plastics material as used herein includes man-made fibres or materials natural or otherwise which can exhibit plastic properties, for example, cellulose acetate. The material selected will depend on the process of manufacture of the filtration material and the operating conditions of that process. If cellulose acetate is used, preferably the cellulose acetate is cellulose acetate flake. The maximum particle size of the plastics material is naturally governed by the extruder configuration. A range of particle size from <75 μ→500 μwas utilised.
Suitably the cellulose acetate flake is of the same grade, i.e. purity and degree of substitution, as that supplied for producing conventional cellulose acetate tow.
The inorganic material may suitably be mineral earth materials, such as vermiculite and alumina, or materials such as carbon, aluminium hydroxide or chalk. Materials such as Metaspheres 50, aluminosilicates, such as Garolite, and Trihyde may also be used. Garolite is a trade name of Croxton & Garry, Dorking for an inert low density filler of hollow silicate glass spheres. Metaspheres 50 is a Trade Name of Phillite Ltd. Trihyde is a Trade Name of Croxton & Garry, Dorking for alumina trilydrate. Preferably the inorganic materials are of particulate form. Mixtures of these compounds may also be used.
The expansion medium is preferably starch, which may be natural starch, such as maize starch, having a higher proportion of amylopectin rather than amylose, or a starch having a higher proportion of amylose, such as, for example, Hylon (VII) (Registered Trade Mark) as sold by National Starch and Chemical Company. Rice or tapioca starch may also be used. Chemically modified starch, such as hydroxypropyl amylose sold under the Registered Trade Mark of Ecofoam, for example, may also be used, provided it is water-soluble to a sufficient degree. Chemically modified starches such as acid hydrolysed or enzyme hydrolysed starches may also be suitable. Suitably the starch is a food-grade starch. Mixtures of starches may also be used. Mixtures of expansion medium may also be used.
The binder material is preferably a cellulosic binder such as hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose in particular, or a carboxymethyl cellulose, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Pectins and alginates or other similar water-soluble binders can also be used. Mixtures of binders may also be used.
In an extrusion process, preferably 0-90% plastics material, 0-100% polysaccharide material and 0-50% binder is fed to the extruder on a dry weight basis of the materials fed to the extruder. Water may account, on a weight basis, for 1-35%, preferably 1-30%, more preferably 1-25%, and even more preferably 5-20%, of the materials plus water fed to the extruder. Where 0% is given above, that component should be seen to be an optional component.
Where plastics material is desired to be extruded in a degradable form in accordance with the invention, the plastics material is suitably present in the range of 50-90% on a dry weight basis. The polysaccharide expansion medium in this instance is suitably present within the range of 1-50% by weight and 1-20% binder by weight.
However, we have found that in order to reduce costs and to provide a filtration material which is more degradable, or at least degradable to natural products, the amount of plastics material may be reduced, even down to zero. The proportions of polysaccharide material consequently can be increased above the 50% level, even up to constituting 100% of the dry materials fed to the extruder, i.e. starch alone may be the dry material. A plasticiser may be advantageously utilised, particularly in the latter embodiment. In all of the embodiments listed herein, the presence of a plasticiser serves to give resiliency to the extrudate, which is particularly useful in processing of the extrudate. Thus, the plastics material may suitably be present in the range 0-50%, the polysaccharide expansion medium in the range of 50-100, and 0-50% binder, all weights given on a dry weight basis of the materials fed to the extruder.
Optionally, 0-25% of the materials fed to the extruder on a dry weight basis of a plasticiser, such as glycerol, a sugar or a humectant, may be utilised. Preferably 0-20%, more preferably 0-15% and even more preferably 0-10% of a plasticiser may be utilised, depending on the requirements of the product.
Advantageously, in one embodiment currently being used the plastics material is present at about 80% by weight, the polysaccharide is present at about 15% by weight and the binder is present at about 5% by weight, of the dry materials fed to the extruder. The water fed to the extruder in this formulation is preferably in a range of 8-20%, and preferably in the range of 10-15% by weight of the total material, including water, fed to the extruder, depending on the product characteristics required.
In alternative embodiments of the inventive concept, the formulation comprises plastics material within the range of 55-75%, polysaccharide material within the range of 20-35% and binder material within the range of 5-15% on a dry weight basis of the materials fed to the extruder. The water fed to the extruder may suitably be within the range of 8-20%, and is preferably within the range of 10-15% by weight of the total material, including water, fed to the extruder.
In further alternative embodiments of the inventive concept the formulation may comprise plastics material within the range of 65-95%, polysaccharide material within the range of 1-35% and binder material within the range of 1-15% on a dry weight basis of the materials fed to the extruder. The water fed to the extruder may suitably be within the range of 8-15% by weight of the total material, including water, fed to the extruder.
In yet further embodiments of the inventive concept the formulation may comprise 0-50% plastics material, 50-100% polysaccharide material and 0-50% binder material, by weight of the dry materials fed to the extruder, and water is within the range of 5-50% by weight of the total materials, including water, fed to the extruder.
Suitably the barrel of the extruder has a temperature profile ranging from the feed port, or first section, temperature of less than 65� C., a second section having a temperature of 65� C., a third section having a temperature of 85� C., and a die end, or fourth section, having a temperature of 115� C. The temperature of the extrudate at the die is suitably therefore in excess of 100� C. Extrudate temperatures at the die may, however, range from 50� C. to 200� C. Naturally the temperature at the die will depend on the plastics material fed to the extruder, the melting point thereof, and the physical requirements of the produced filtration material.
The operating pressure of, as well as the torque and current drawn by, the extruder depends on the material and the formulation of the material running therethrough, the screw speed, the screw configuration, the amount of water in the mixture within the barrel, the feed rate and the die size, for example. The exact operating conditions will therefore be dependent on the material formulation, the extruder configuration and the characteristics of the product required upon extrusion. These can be readily determined by the skilled man without the exercise of inventive ingenuity.
The purpose of introducing water to the extruder is to produce the foamed structure of the extrudate. In the extruder the materials fed thereto are subjected to conditions of heat, shear and pressure such that immediately upon emergence from the exit die of the extruder, the water, or at least a portion thereof, vaporises into steam, thereby creating cells within the extrudate and a consequent swelling of the extrudate. The water may be injected into the extruder through ports in the extruder barrel and/or be fed to the extruder via the feed hopper thereof.
The cellular structure produced by the vaporisation of water at emergence from the exit die of the extruder preferably provides a porous structure for the passage of air and/or smoke. The cellular structure may comprise a proportion of closed cells and a proportion of cells which are inter-connected or open, provided that there is sufficient inter-connection of cells along the length of the extrudate to provide an acceptable pressure drop along a cut portion of the extrudate. The pressure drop can be measured, for example, when a cut portion of the extrudate is placed in a pressure drop testing machine. Pressure drop measurement is an indication of the resistance to air as air is drawn along the length of a cut portion of extrudate.
Preferably the filtration material is extruded as a rod of filtration material, for example, by extrusion to atmospheric pressure through a circular die. For filtration material for use as tobacco smoke filter material this is particularly advantageous, as the arrangement approximates conventional filter rod appearance. The size and characteristics of the rod can also be controlled. Alternatively, the extrudate may take the form of a sheet which may then be cut into shreds and fed through a chimney to the garniture of a cigarette making machine, for example. In a further alternative, the extrudate may be extruded under vacuum into a tubular mould.
The present invention provides a tobacco smoke filter element comprising a rod of extruded filtration material, the rod of filtration material being degradable and being produced in accordance with the method hereof.
On an experimental scale extruder, a Clextral BC21, for example, the die diameter may be from about 2.5-10 mm. The expanded extrudate issuing from the die may then be sized and shaped to a conventional or required rod diameter. The preferred die size for production purposes may readily be determined upon scaling up of the experimental design to full size.
The composition of the extruded filtration material will be similar to the composition of the materials fed to the extruder because of the closed system of operation. The final product composition will depend on the moisture conditions under which measurement of the product is carried out.
The moisture content of the extrudate exit the die is typically within the range of about 5% to about 35%. The density of the final product after extrusion may be within the range 100 mg/cc-560 mg/cc. Advantageously, the density of the final product is within the range of 100 mg/cc-400 mg/cc, and preferably within the range of 125 mg/cc-300 mg/cc. Rods of filtration material can be produced according to the inventive method, with densities which are similar to conventional filter rod densities. Naturally, the density of the final product is dependent on the original formulation fed to the extruder, the operating conditions of the extruder and the method by which the extrudate is handled after extrusion.
Extruded rods of filtration material according to the present invention, when wrapped in a wrapper, may be laser ventilated to vary the delivery of tobacco smoke when the rod is attached to a rod of smoking material. The surface of the extruded rod is suitably perforated by the laser treatment. Porous plugwrap may also be used.
It has been observed that the filtration efficiency of extruded filtration material can be substantially constant over a pressure drop range of 30-120 mm W.G. per 20 mm length of rod. This feature is surprising and is not seen in conventional rods of filtration material.
It has also been observed that cut rods of extruded filtration material, when exposed to the natural environment, rapidly begin to disintegrate in the weathering tester within the equivalent of what would be 24 hours of exposure to the natural environment. This feature is not exhibited by conventional cellulose acetate filter rods.
Rods according to the present invention also exhibit a rod pressure drop within the range of 100 mm WG-7000 mm WG for a 100 mm length. This pressure drop range is considerably wider than that which is obtainable from conventional cellulose acetate filter rods. A large pressure drop range can be advantageous in terms of providing a large scope for reduction, for example, in the pressure drop range consequent of further processing techniques of the extruded rod downstream of the die.
The pressure drop measurement taken on most of the samples described herein is the pressure drop of the samples without downstream processing exit the die, other than collection by hand in a tray as long rods.
Rods extruded according to the present invention have been found to exhibit a firmness which may be at least about 10% greater than the firmness of rods made of conventional cellulose acetate tow. Applicant has found that it is, however, possible to achieve firmness values which are closer to the firmness values of conventional cellulose acetate filter rods by varying the formulation fed to the extruder. Applicant currently believes that adjustment of the extruder operating conditions gives a lesser effect on firmness than does variation in the formulation.
Extruded rod may also comprise a photodegradable substance which promotes degradation in sunlight.
In Examples 1, 2, 3 and 6 the same plastics, polysaccharide and binder blend was utilised, this being a blend of 80% cellulose acetate flake, 15% starch and 5% hydroxy propyl cellulose. As shown in FIG. 1, each component may be fed from supply bins 1, 2, 3 to a blending bin 4. The blended components were fed via a K-tron feeder 5 to a Clextral BC21 extruder 6 having a barrel 7 comprising four 100 mm barrel sections and a length to diameter ratio of 16:1. The feed port, or first section, of the extruder barrel had been modified and it was not possible to control the temperature of that particular section of the extruder barrel. Water was injected via a pump 8 from a supply source 9 into the barrel section immediately downstream of the feed port. The extruded product 10 was collected by hand immediately exit the extruder die 11 and collected in a long tray.
A plasticiser, sugar or humectant may be added to the extruder barrel 7 via injection line 12 from supply source 13.
After air drying, all the samples were cut in the laboratory to a standard 70 mm or 100 mm length, weighed and circumference tested using a Borgwaldt laser circumference gauge. Pressure drop was tested on a BAT servo mechanical pressure drop tester. Firmness was also determined by using the standard Borgwaldt filter firmness tester. It was found that, for extrudate which had physical dimensions greater than the largest dimensions capable of being measured in conventional testing machines, it was difficult to determine accurate measurements therefor.
Using the above formulation, several runs were made with various screw speeds and water feed rates in order to determine the effect on rod pressure drop. The results are illustrated in Tables 1 and 2. It can be seen, especially with the Hylon (a high amylose content starch; National Starch and Chemical Company) runs, that increasing screw speed tends to increase the rod pressure drop. Reducing the water feed rate also increases the rod pressure drop.
The pressure drop range from extruded rods of filtration material according to the present invention extends above and below the range achievable with cellulose acetate tow.
TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________Run No. 15/1/06 15/1/03 15/1/07 15/1/08 14/2/01 14/2/04 14/2/05__________________________________________________________________________Starch Type Maize Maize Maize Maize Hylon 7 Hylon 7 Hylon 7Feed (KG/HR) 12 12 12 12 19 19 19Water (KG/HR) 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75Screw Speed (RPM) 350 406 450 500 406 500 550Barrel Temps (Deg C.) 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115Die Size (mm) 4 4 4 4 5 5 5Back Pressure (Bars) 20 20 18 18 32 30 32Product Diameter ex Die (mm) 8.40 8.60 7.60 7.20 8.50 8.50 8.40Moisture content ex Die (%) 19.6 19.4 19.3. 19.1 13.4 13.2 13.5Cooled Product diamter (mm) 21.81 22.64 21.27 20.75 24.73 24..36 24.91Weight of 70 mm Rod (mg) 790.00 782.00 721.00 736.00 1182.00 1123.00 1140.00P.D. of 70 mm Rod (mm WG) Small 62.00 Small Small 296.00 338.00 618.00Circumference (mm) 21.81 22.64 21.27 20.78 24.73 24.36 24.91Density of Cooled Product (mg/cc) 298 273 286 306 346 339 329__________________________________________________________________________ Small pressure drop measurement too small to register on pressure drop tester.
TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________Run No. 5/2/05 5/2/04 5/2/03 5/2/01 5/2/02 14/2/03 14/2/01 14/2/02__________________________________________________________________________Starch Type Maize Maize Maize Maize Maize Hylon 7 Hylon 7 Hylon 7Feed (KG/HR) 20.4 20.4 20.4 20.4 20.4 19.0 19.0 19.0Water (KG/HR) 2.10 2.25 2.40 2.75 3.25 2.25 2.75 3.25Screw Speed (RPM) 412 411 411 406 409 408 406 407Barrel Temps (Deg C.) 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115 85-115Die Size (mm) 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5Back Pressure (Bars) 36 34 31 26 23 39 32 27Product Diameter ex Die (mm) 9.6 9.0 9.0 9.4 9.9 9.0 8.5 8.9Moisture content ex Die (%) 12.4 13.7 13.8 14.7 17.7 11.9 13.4 15.5Cooled Product Diameter (mm) 23.78 24.85 26.10 25.80 25.58 23.69 24.73 24.71Weight of 70 mm Rod (mg) 1167 1231 1239 1104 1124 1219 1182 1153Density of cooled product (mg/cc) 371 358 327 305 30& 390 347 339P.D. of 70 mm Rod (mm WG) 644 242 142 77 86 2000 296 191Circumference (mm) 23.78 24.85 26.10 25.80 25&58 23.69 24.73 24.71__________________________________________________________________________
A number of products from various runs were tested and their firmness noted. Conventional cellulose acetate tow filters have mean firmness values in the range of 77%-88%. From the data below it can be seen that the firmness of rods according to the present invention are in the order of at least about 10% greater than the firmness of conventional cellulose acetate filters.
______________________________________Experiment A B C D E F G______________________________________Mean Firmness (%) 95.9 94.0 96.3 96.0 95.4 95.8 95.4______________________________________
In order to assess the effects of a number of different operating parameters on the formulation, or blend, fed to the extruder a factorial experimental protocol was designed for the blend described above, i.e. a blend comprising 80% cellulose acetate flake, 15% maize starch and 5% hydroxy propyl cellulose. The factorial design is outlined in Table 3 below. The physical characteristics of the final product were determined using cut 100 mm lengths of extrudate.
TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________ PRESSURE SCREW DROP (mm WG) FEED RATE WATER FEED SPEED DIE SIZE CIRC. DENSITY WEIGHT (100 mmFACTORIAL (kg/hr) (l/hr) (rpm) (mm) (mm) (mg/cc) (g) length)__________________________________________________________________________1 12.5 1.6 400 4 24.36 300 1.42 5084*2 15.0 1.6 400 4 25.77 269 1.43 5270*3 12.5 2.1 400 4 21.60 328 1.22 5904 15.0 2.1 400 4 23.99 289 1.33 1096*5 12.5 1.6 500 4 26.13 266 1.44 54006 15.0 1.6 500 4 27.96 243 1.51 66007 12.5 2.1 500 4 22.63 297 1.21 2958 15.0 2.1 500 4 25.31 253 1.29 9419 12.5 1.6 400 4.5 25.55 273 1.58 99710 15.0 1.6 400 4.5 26.93 304 1.56 3272*11 12.5 2.1 400 4.5 24.57 323 1.55 15512 15.0 2.1 400 4.5 25.81 286 1.51 17413 12.5 1.6 500 4.5 27.33 276 1.64 1384*14 15.0 1.6 500 4.5 29.07 244 1.64 5512*15 12.5 2.1 500 4.5 23.70 306 1.37 19116 15.0 2.1 500 4.5 26.12 265 1.44 153__________________________________________________________________________ *Smaller lengths measured then scaled up to 100 mm.
Statistical analysis of this data shows that increasing the screw speed increases the rod pressure drop and reducing the water feed rate also increases the rod pressure drop. Increasing the die size tends overall to decrease the rod pressure drop.
A number of formulations were extruded through the extruder under the same operating conditions. The extruder had a die orifice of 4 mm, a water feed rate of 2.1 liters/hour, a screw speed of 500 rpm and a feed rate of 15 kg/hour. Table 4 below outlines the formulations used and the measured physical characteristics of the final product.
TABLE 4__________________________________________________________________________ Maize Starch CIRCUMFERENCE DENSITY PRESSURE DROPCA Flake (%) (%) HPC (%) (mm) (mg/cc) FIRMNESS (%) (mm WG)__________________________________________________________________________ 74 20 6 24.48 224 94.1 117 69 25 6 23.21 197 90.1 158 64 30 6 22.00 221 91.9 236$ 71 20 9 26.38 169 89.3 105 66 25 9 23.62 190 89.8 192# 61 30 9 20.62 215 87.5 84 68 20 12 22.98 187 86.1 142+ 63 25 12 22.24 198 86.0 199* 58 30 12 19.62 232 87.4 168__________________________________________________________________________ CA = cellulose acetate HPC = hydroxypropyl cellulose Pressure drop measurements taken for 100 mm lengths * FIG. 4 + FIG. 5 # FIG. 6 $ FIG. 7
It may be seen that the firmness of some of the rods of these examples can be brought down into or towards the firmness range of conventional cellulose acetate filter rods. It is therefore possible to produce degradable filter rods at a firmness which is comparable to that currently experienced by the consumer of filter-tipped cigarettes. Furthermore, the extruded final product circumference, density and pressure drop are also obtainable within conventional limits for these parameters.
A number of formulations using a different polysaccharide expansion medium from that described in Example 4 were extruded through the extruder under the following operating conditions: die orifice 4.5 mm, feed rate of 16.2 kg/hr to give a final product weight of 270 g for a sample extruded over 1 minute, and screw speed 500 rpm. Table 5 outlines the formulations used and the measured physical characteristics of the final product.
TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________ Pressure Eco foam HPC Water Circumference Density Firmness DropCA flake (%) starch (%) (%) (l/hr) (mm) (mg/cc) (%) (mm WG)__________________________________________________________________________80 15 5 2.10 27.05 264 95.8 b80 15 5 1.75 28.12 257 95.3 --77 15 8 2.10 27.15 200 89.2 11977 15 8 1.75 31.14 162 -- b70 25 5 2.10 25.22 245 92.6 --70 25 5 1.75 28.95 207 92.7 154383 15 2 2.10 19.18 555 99.3 s83 15 2 1.75 20.96 482 98.2 v90 5 5 2.10 17.61 649 97.0 s90 5 5 1.75 19.98 542 96.1 s__________________________________________________________________________ b = too big to measure v = variable -- = not measured s = too small to measure
Cigarettes were made by hand by assembling a 20 mm filter length with a 64 mm Virginia tobacco rod length. The filter elements used were selected from the extrudate of Examples 1 and 2. These cigarettes were smoked under standard machine smoking conditions, namely a 35 cm3 puff of 2 seconds duration was taken every minute, to filter plus 8 mm butt length. Five cigarettes were smoked for each type. The deliveries and filtration efficiencies, together with theoretical efficiencies for mono cellulose acetate tow filters of equivalent lengths and pressure drop, are given in Table 6 below.
The pressure drop of the filters were measured by three methods (A, B, C) to illustrate the difference in readings. These pressure drop differences are probably caused by different levels of incomplete sealing around the irregular surface of the filter exterior, either when in the test head of the pressure drop meter or when attached by tipping paper to a tobacco rod. The expected filtration efficiencies for mono cellulose acetate filters were calculated using the mean pressure drop from these three readings. The efficiencies calculated for the highest pressure drop are purely theoretical, as a conventional cellulose acetate filter having such a high pressure drop does not exist within present manufacturing tolerances.
TABLE 6__________________________________________________________________________EXPERIMENT NUMBER 5/2/01 5/2/03 5/2/04 5/2/05 14/2/05 5/2/05__________________________________________________________________________Weight of filter (mg) 315 354 352 332 323 332Circumference (mm) 25.8 26.1 24.85 23.8 24.9 23.8Density (mg cm-3 297 326 358 368 336 368Filter p.d. (mm Water Gauge)A 18 32 55 93 145 93B 28 47 74 116 166 116C 22 41 69 114 160 114Filter Ventilation (%) 0 0 0 0 0 37Deliveries (mg cig-1)Tar 27.3 28.4 30.1 29.3 17.2 18.7Nicotine 2.03 2.04 2.06 2.04 1.44 1.72Water 2.79 3.04 4.01 4.13 1.42 0.93PMWNF 22.5 23.3 24.0 23.1 14.3 16.0Puff No 8.2 8 8 8.4 8.2 8.9Filtration Efficiencies (%)Tar 32.1 29.5 25.2 27.1 57.3 36.2*Nicotine 17.1 16.7 15.9 16.7 41.2 15.7*Water 64.6 61.5 49.2 47.7 82.0 77.5*PMWNF 24.8 22.0 19.6 22.5 52.1 30.7*Expected Efficiencies for Mono CA (%)Tar 24 33 44 52 58Nicotine 18 26 35 39 43__________________________________________________________________________ A = Filter pressure drop determined by total cigarette minus tobacco rod pressure drop. B = Measured pressure drop of 20 mm filters. C = Filter pressure drop calculated from filter rod (70 mm length) pressure drop. *Reductions due to ventilation.
It may be noted that the filtration efficiencies for the experimental filters show a different response to increasing pressure drop than the expected filtration efficiencies for the mono cellulose acetate filters of conventional construction. The filtration efficiencies of rods according to the invention remain effectively constant over the pressure drop range of 30-120 mm WG. In contrast, conventional filters show an increase in filtration efficiency as pressure drop increases.
The pressure drop and efficiencies of a conventional cellulose acetate filter are directly related to the total surface area of the fibre used in filter construction. The difference in efficiencies of filters according to the invention and conventional cellulose acetate tow filters suggests that there is a different physical structure in filters according to the invention.
The similarity of filtration efficiency of filters according to the invention may be of use to a cigarette designer. For example, for filter rods of 20 mm length and having a pressure drop in the range of 20-120 mm WG which have an effectively constant filtration efficiency, the filtration efficiency of said filter rods could, perhaps, be varied by increasing or decreasing the length of the filter rod.
Ventilation may also be used to alter the filter pressure drop and smoke deliveries. The invention allows for the production of filter elements having higher pressure drops but lower filtration efficiencies than a conventional cellulose acetate tow filter of the same length. Ventilation of a filter element produced according to the invention will lower the pressure drop but also increase the overall reduction of some of the mainstream smoke deliveries such that the pressure drop and deliveries of a filter element produced according to the invention will equate to those seen with the cellulose acetate filter in a similar cigarette design. However, smoke components that are normally unaffected by filtration (e.g. gases such as carbon monoxide, vapour phase components, etc.) will be reduced by said ventilation.
It is believed that much larger extrudate diameters could be obtained by varying the operative conditions of the extruder. However, extrudate parameters such as diameter which are much larger than conventional diameters are difficult to measure in conventional testing equipment.
FIG. 2 shows conventional cellulose acetate filter elements before and after being subjected to simulated weather conditions of the natural environment.
In order to subject these filter elements to conditions simulating the weather conditions of the natural environment, they were placed in the Q.U.V. Weathering Tester for 2 hours and subjected to the weathering cycle described above. Two hours exposure in the Weathering Tester is roughly equivalent to 24 hours exposure to the weather conditions of the natural environment.
FIG. 3 shows paper filter elements before and after being subjected to the accelerated weathering cycle. FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b show filter elements according to the invention before and after being subjected to the accelerated weathering cycle. It is clear from these samples that the filter elements of the present invention are already exhibiting significant disintegration. In contrast, the conventional cellulose acetate and paper filter elements show very little after-effects of the weathering conditions.
A run was conducted using a formulation comprising 65% cellulose acetate flake, 24% maize starch and 11% hydroxypropylcellulose, the feed rate being 8.86 Kg/hr. Glycerol was fed to the barrel at 1.14 l/hr. The screw speed of the extruder was 400 rpm. The temperature profile along the barrel was 65� C., 85� C. and 115� C. for the second, third and fourth sections respectively. The extruder die was 6 mm in diameter. The back pressure at the extruder die was about 1 bar (this measurement at low pressures varies from 0-5 bars in accuracy). The throughput of the extruder was 9.36 kg/hr.
Upon extrusion the product had the following physical characteristics:
______________________________________Diameter 14.4 mmWeight 1283 mg/70 mm lengthCircumference 24.97 mmPressure Drop 1078 mm WG/70 mm lengthFirmness 89.3% (Borgwaldt measurement)Moisture content (ex-die) 9.8%Glycerol content (ex-die) 5.0%______________________________________
A number of formulations were extruded to determine the effect of removal of the plastics material from the formulation, thus further enhancing the degradability of the product to natural components. The extruder had the following operating conditions: die orifice 6 mm circular and screw speed 400-420 rpm. Below are the run numbers and formulations.
______________________________________Run Number Extrudate Mix______________________________________15/2/03 100% Hydroxypropylamylose15/2/04 100% Hydroxypropylamylose16/2/01 50% Hydroxypropylamylose 50% Pectin16/2/02 50% Hydroxypropylamylose 50% Pectin16/2/03 70% Hydroxypropylamylose 30% Propylene glycol alginate16/2/04 70% Hydroxypropylamylose 30% Propylene glycol alginate18/2/01 60% Maize Starch 40% Hydroxyethylcellulose18/2/02 60% Maize Starch 40% Hydroxyethylcellulose______________________________________
For the run numbers 15/2/03 and 15/2/04 the barrel temperatures in the second, third and fourth sections were 55� C., 75� C., 105� C. For the remainder of the runs the barrel temperatures were 65� C., 85� C. and 115� C.
Table 7 outlines the operating conditions and physical characteristics measured.
The water feed to the extruder, when used alone, was with the range of about 29-45%. When glycerol was fed to the extruder in addition, the water was 7-22% of the total material, including water, fed to the extruder.
It should be noted that the firmness figures are probably lower than actual as we experienced difficulty in making the measurements because of the smaller diameter than normal of the rods. The screw configuration for these samples was different from the screw configuration used for the previous examples.
TABLE 7__________________________________________________________________________Run No. 15/2/03 15/2/04 16/2/01 16/2/02 16/2/03 16/2/04 18/2/01 18/2/02__________________________________________________________________________Water Feed (1/hr) 1.02 1.68 1.5 2.7 0.6 2.1 1.2 2.7Glycerol feed (l/hr) 0.9 -- 1.2 -- 0.9 -- 1.2 --Back pressure (bars) 3 1 1 -- 6 1 5 6Extrudate diameter (mm) 12.5 13.2 9.7 10.7 10.4 NM 19.2 NMCircumference (mm) 24.65 26.34 23.00 24.88 24.34 22.49 25.24 24.58Density (mg/cc) 476 356 549 428 545 543 447 458Weight (mg/85 mm) 1982 1682 1984 1801 2181 1850 1907 1880Pressure Drop* mm/WG 100 mm 1455 174 2894 1718 5353 1138 600 993Firmness (Borwaldt) (%) 90 91 88 91 88 85 91 91Moisture Exit Die (5) 19.8 26.4 26.2 34.3 18.4 28.5 18.9 30.2Glycerol Exit Die (% dwb) 9.9 -- 16.5 -- 13.5 -- 13.5 --__________________________________________________________________________ *scaled up to 100 mm from 85 mm length NM not measured dwb dry weight basis
A series of runs were carried out with inorganic fillers using a Baker Perkins MPF 50 extruder. The barrel temperature along the five sections leading towards the die end section were 50� C., 65� C., 75� C., 85� C. and 95� C., respectively.
Each blend used the basic formulation, on an approximate dry weight basis, of 65% inorganic filler, 10% starch, 20% binder consisting of 12% hydroxypropylcellulose and 8% carboxymethylcellulose, and 5% glycerol. Water was further supplied to the extruder barrel. In some runs the inorganic filler comprised a mixture of materials. Details of the inorganic fillers and the physical characteristics of the extruded products are given in Table 8 below.
TABLE 8__________________________________________________________________________ Filter CharacteristicsInorganic Filler Length Weight Circumference Pressure Drop Die Size Screw(% dry weight basis) (mm) (mg) (mm) (mm W.G.) (mm) Speed (rpm)__________________________________________________________________________65% Aluminium hydroxide 70.45 1826 20.6 195 4.0 22532.5% Aluminium hydroxide 70.2 994 23.48 88 4.0 22532.5% Aluminium oxide49% Aluminium hydroxide 70.45 1493 24.3 126 4.5 22516% Aluminium oxideMetaspheres 50 99.7 2730 24.18 579 6.5 225Garolite 99.9 2460 24.29 309 6.5 225Verniculite 99.9 3410 24.91 194 6.5 230Trihyde 101.8 6400 23.83 NM 9.0 270__________________________________________________________________________
A further series of runs was carried out on the same extruder and under the same barrel conditions as Example 10, using chalk and carbon as detailed below:
______________________________________ Weight (% dry weight basis)Material Run A Run B Run C Run D______________________________________Chalk -- -- 80 71Carbon 65 70 -- --Starch 10 8 -- 15Hydroxypropyl-cellulose 12 12 9 9Carboxymethyl-cellulose 8 5 6 --Glycerol 5 5 5 5______________________________________
Water was further fed to the extruder barrel. The physical characteristcs of the extruded rod are detailed in Table 9 below.
TABLE 9______________________________________ Pressure Die ScrewLength Weight Circumference Drop Size SpeedRun (mm) (mg) (mm) (mm W.G.) (mm) (rpm)______________________________________A 70.2 1600 24.51 231 -- --B 69.5 1700 24.24 390 -- --C 71.1 2660 22.48 NM 6.5 225D 69.6 1450 24.08 NM 5.0 225______________________________________
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Jun 23, 1954
|Sep 17, 1957
|Emmanuel Yarsley Victor
|Production of filter elements
|Aug 12, 1976
|May 9, 1978
|Esb Incorporated
|Atactic polypropylene tape
|Aug 12, 1985
|Jul 12, 1988
|Philip Morris Incorporated
|Method for producing a cigarette filter rod
|Jan 21, 1992
|Oct 6, 1992
|National Starch And Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
|Biodegradable shaped products and the method of preparation thereof
|Nov 18, 1992
|Dec 21, 1993
|Evergreen Solutions, Inc.
|Biodegradable expanded foam material
|Jul 1, 1993
|Feb 22, 1994
|The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
|Cellulose acetate and starch based biodegradable injection molded plastics compositions and methods of manufacture
|Aug 13, 1993
|May 3, 1994
|Nippon Gohsei Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
|Process for preparing biodegradable resin foam
|Sep 22, 1993
|Mar 12, 1996
|Kubica; Stephen A.
|Cigarette and soluble cigarette filter therefor
|Apr 22, 1992
|Jun 4, 1996
|British-American Tobacco Company Limited
|Methods of making tobacco smoke filter elements
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Oct 16, 2003
|Jul 27, 2010
|Biotec Biologische Naturverpackungen Gmbh & Co. Kg
|Filter element
|Jul 31, 2007
|Mar 1, 2011
|Philip Morris Usa, Inc.
|Method of forming a filter component
|Jun 4, 2013
|Philip Morris Usa Inc.
|Hollow/porous fibers and applications thereof
|Oct 9, 2009
|Sep 17, 2013
|Philip Morris Usa Inc.
|Method for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fiber
|Oct 16, 2003
|Jun 15, 2006
|Harald Schmidt
|Filter element
|Jul 31, 2007
|Jun 5, 2008
|Philip Morris Usa Inc.
|Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization
|Oct 12, 2005
|Jul 23, 2009
|Nissei Bio Company, Limited
|Cigarette Filter
|Dec 18, 2008
|Dec 3, 2009
|Philip Morris Usa Inc.
|Hollow/porous fibers and applications thereof
|Apr 14, 2011
|Philip Morris Usa Inc.
|Method and apparatus for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fibers
|Jun 9, 2011
|Philip Morris Usa Inc.
|Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization
|Aug 6, 2013
|Nov 20, 2013
|Solid-type filter stick formed by granular assembling and preparation method thereof
|Aug 6, 2013
|Apr 27, 2016
|Jun 15, 2011
|Jan 5, 2012
|R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
|Degradable filter element for smoking article
|U.S. Classification
|131/332, 521/81
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Mar 8, 1994
Owner name: BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY LIMTITED, ENGLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BEVEN, JOHN L.;CASE, PAUL D.;COLEMAN, MARTIN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:006902/0806
Effective date: 19940302
|Apr 9, 2003
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Sep 22, 2003
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Nov 18, 2003
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20030921


text:
Deal 's official report is due to be submitted later tonight to the Georgia Government Transparency and Finance Commission.
But Brian Robinson, Deal's chief of staff, confirmed the $550,000 figure.
The money includes an estimated $200,000 the GOP governor collected at a June 16 reception in Savannah.
Nearly all of the $550,000 was rounded up after April 14, after the General Assembly adjourned.
Candidates for state office are barred from accepting campaign money during the session, which began Jan. 10, the day Deal was sworn in.
Experts say a strong early fundraising effort by new office holders gives them a leg up over potential challengers and may even discourage some from emerging.


text: MT-3802-SUB Substitute Mount with no shock Absorbers. Mounting holes in wrong location so it will need modified. The tray is 5.1 inches wide. The distance from the ridge on the rear pin to the center of the retaining cup is 7.75 inches at the shortest. 3 lbs sh. (N2J) Used,


text:
City of Heroes Issue 11 Stitches Time
New powers and adventures heading to Paragon City.
Lore-wise, Issue 11 puts budding cape-wearers on the path of the mysterious Menders of Ouroboros, a time-traveling group that unlocks the "Flashback" power. With this new trick in the bag, players can jump to important points in the history of Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. These relived past adventures will be drawn from background story revealed throughout the game and in the City of Heroes comic book. Players will also be given the chance for the first time ever to return and play through story arc missions that they may have passed up the first time through the game.
Two new power sets, rare additions to the game, add a lot of excitement to the air surrounding Issue 11. Dual Blades, which will be usable by Brutes, Scrappers, Stalkers, and Tanks, will bring cinematic, two-handed swordplay into the gameworld in a big way. Willpower is available to the same hero types but focuses much more on the defensive, offering the ability to shrug off powerful blows and ignore painful wounds.
Rounding off Issue 11's additions is the long-awaited weapon customization system. Numerous weapon-based power sets such as Assault Rifle, Claws, and Ninja Blade will benefit from this added depth to the already overwhelming character creation options. No release date has been given for Issue 11, but from their normal schedule of updates, we'd expect in the next couple of months.
Alongside the Issue 11 revelations, NCSoft also announced that new character transfer and name-changing abilities have gone live on the game. Before rushing off to finally re-title the legendary "Mr. StinkyPants" keep in mind that both renaming and transferring will cost $9.99 each.
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Comments (1)
An Interesting UpdatePosted: Oct 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by KaelWolfcry
While the ability to re-play missed story arcs doesn't really wow me (I'm not a badge whore), everything else behind this issue does. Playing through important parts of each universe's storyline could be very cool, and I'm certainly for new powersets. Looking very forward to this issue's drop. ...on a semi-related note, am I the only one who posts responses to these articles? So does that mean I can get a gig writing for the site? Eh? hehe :)


text:
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4 Reviews
Shoot 'em straight in the Mainline.
You've scouted your line, and now it's time to drop in—the Marmot Men's Mainline Jacket allows you to forget about snow and weather and focus on those steep turns below you. Thanks to its two-layer, waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex shell, the Mainline scoffs at moisture in any form. The removable storm hood and powder skirt let you slim down the jacket for bluebird resort days.
It'll be tough to complain about being too hot or too cold with the Mainline. The zippered Core vents quickly dump built-up heat after another high-aerobic run, while Primaloft Silver insulation works to keep you toasty warm during the coldest days of the season. Lock the hem and cuffs down tight when you need to trap a little more warm air. The pocket configuration on the Mainline carries everything you could possibly want for a day on the slopes with a zippered sleeve pocket for your ski pass, an internal mesh pocket for goggles, and zippered sunglasses pocket all ready to carry everything you need for another epic day on the slopes.
- Gore-Tex two-layer shell
- Fully taped seams
- Primaloft Silver insulation
- Regular fit
- Zippered core vents
- Zip-off hood
- Zip-off powder skirt
- Adjustable hem and cuffs
- Item #MAR00ME
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Dad gift
- Size Bought: XL
He tells me he loves it but I'm pretty sure that is his obligation. From what I have gathered it is very warm but extremly breathable, this isn't something great for a windy day without any layers in between but I think it is the most versatile jacket he owns now. This is something he can go skiing in with a puffy mid layer, something he can go hiking in with a long sleeve under, or just something to put on in the ever changing Idaho climate he still lives in. The comment he did have was that the chest was a bit big but I think that was the only thing he wasn't the biggest fan of. I think this is one of my most recommended jackets if you are within this price range looking for a minimal style jacket. He got the orange so we could always see him *facepalm
Great Jacket!
- Familiarity: I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share
- Fit: True to size
Great fitting & functional jacket! Incredibly warm when you need it, but great ventilation when you don't. Great buy!
Simply love this jacket
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
- Fit: True to size
- Size Bought: Large
The Mainline looks great and feels great. Size is true. Warm on the coldest of days but comfortable in warmer conditions due to excellent vents. Great pockets and powder skirt. Highly recommend this jacket.
Great Jacket!!!
- Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
- Fit: True to size
Received this jacket with a couple of other Marmot Jackets. When there is a sale at 25% off , it's well worth it.. The jacket is just slightly thicker than a Shell jacket, it has insulation. It gives you great mobility but warmth at the same time. The Mainline jacket is well-made, it looks impressive. I ordered all three Colors. I went with Blue Night. The other two colors are great looking as well. It was a hard decision. Marmot did a great job with colors.
I would recommend this jacket.
The only problem I had with Marmot (NOT Back Country) is that I purchased a pair gloves which failed($$$). I called up Marmot's 1- 800 Number to see if I can switch the gloves out by walking into their store in Greenwich Connecticut. I was told I would have to send the product in for review & testing by the warranty department. This policy makes it very difficult for the person who purchases Marmot products. They will send you through hoops.
I hope they change the policy so the service matches the quality of their product. The products from Marmot are superb.
Can I return if don't fit for full refund?
If the items are in new condition, with the manufacturers tags, then you can return them any time, for a full refund. Let me know how your order works out. Just call or email me, directly. 801.746.7587 ---->email@example.com