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US 7018567 B2 Abstract An antistatic flame retardant composition comprises a polycarbonate resin; an impact modifier comprising polysiloxane; an antistatic agent; and a flame retardant in a an amount greater than or equal to about 9 wt % of the total composition. Owing to its excellent antistatic, impact and flame retardant properties, the composition can be used in electrical and electronic equipment and precision machinery where high fabrication temperatures and high usage temperatures are often encountered.
Claims(19) 1. An antistatic composition comprising:
a polycarbonate resin;
an impact modifier comprising a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer;
an antistatic agent; and
a flame retardant comprising phosphorus, wherein the flame retardant is present in an amount greater than or equal to about 9 wt % of the total composition.
2. The composition of
3. The composition of
4. The composition of
5. The composition of
6. The composition of
7. The composition of
wherein each R may be the same or different and is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkyl substituted aryl, halogen substituted aryl, aryl substituted alkyl, halogen, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing substituents.
8. The composition of
9. The composition of
wherein R1, R3 and R5 are, independently, hydrocarbon; R2, R4, R6 and R7 are, independently, hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonoxy; X1, X2 and X3 are halogen; m and r are 0 or integers from 1 to 4, and n and p are from 1 to 30.
11. The composition of
12. The composition of
13. The composition of
14. The composition of
15. The composition of
16. The composition of
17. An article comprising the composition of
18. An antistatic flame retardant composition comprising, based on the total weight of the composition:
about 10 to about 90 wt % of a polycarbonate resin;
about 1 to about 20 wt % of an impact modifier comprising a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer;
about 0.01 to about 25 wt % of an antistatic agent; and
greater than or equal to about 9 wt % of a flame retardant comprising bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate).
19. A method of manufacturing an antistatic composition, comprising:
extruding a polycarbonate resin, an impact modifier comprising a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer, a polymeric antistatic agent, and a flame retardant comprising phosphorus, wherein the flame retardant is present in an amount greater than or equal to about 9 wt % of the total composition.
Description This disclosure relates generally to antistatic compositions, their use in flame retardant resin compositions, and a method of manufacture thereof. Polymeric resins are suitable for a large number of applications because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and ease of processing. However, the build up of electrostatic charges in the polymeric resin attracts dust and foreign particles, thereby spoiling the appearance of molded parts made therefrom. Moreover, the build up of electrostatic charges renders the polymeric resin unusable in certain electrical and electronic applications. It is therefore desirable to have polymeric resins that possess antistatic properties (i.e., are electrostatically conductive) and that maintain these properties at the elevated temperatures used in processing these materials. Polymeric resins and articles having antistatic properties are typically obtained by directly blending antistatic agents with the polymeric resins during a compounding process. Unfortunately, the antistatic agent often migrates to the surface layer of the article over time, lowering the antistatic properties due to frictional wear of the surface layer. A need therefore remains for stable antistatic compositions wherein the antistatic agent remains well dispersed in the bulk of the polymeric resin during high temperature processing and subsequent use. In addition, it is desirable to have flame retardant antistatic compositions for end use applications such as electronic applications or packaging flammable materials. An antistatic, impact resistant, flame retardant composition comprises a polycarbonate resin; an impact modifier comprising polysiloxane; an antistatic agent; and a flame retardant in an amount greater than or equal to about 9 wt %. Owing to its excellent antistatic, impact and flame retardant properties, the composition can be used in electrical and electronic equipment, and precision machinery where high fabrication temperatures and high usage temperatures are often encountered. Antistatic compositions comprising polymeric resins and antistatic agents are often flammable, which is undesirable especially in electronic applications. The addition of large amounts of a flame retardant to reduce the flammability of the material typically has the effect of reducing the impact properties of the material. It has now been unexpectedly discovered that the addition of bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (hereinafter BPADP) to an antistatic composition comprising a polymeric resin, an impact modifier comprising polysiloxane, and an antistatic agent such as PELESTAT 6321, commercially available from Sanyo, or PEBAX MH1657, commercially available from Atofina, can impart excellent flame retardant properties to the composition while maintaining impact properties. This combination of antistatic, impact resistance, and flame retardant properties is useful in electronic articles as well as for packaging flammables. These compositions can also be used as media optical shells for optical media and other similar data storage devices. The term polycarbonate resin, comprises aromatic carbonate chain units and includes compositions having structural units of the formula (I): Polycarbonate resins can be produced by the reaction of the carbonate precursor with dihydroxy compounds. Typically, an aqueous base such as (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and the like,) is mixed with an organic, water immiscible solvent such as benzene, toluene, carbon disulfide, or dichloromethane, which contains the dihydroxy compound. A phase transfer resin is generally used to facilitate the reaction. Molecular weight regulators may be added to the reactant mixture. These molecular weight regulators may be added singly or as a combination. Branching resins, described forthwith may also be added singly or in admixture. Another process for producing aromatic polycarbonate resins is the transesterification process, which involves the transesterification of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diester carbonate. This process is known as the melt polymerization process. The process of producing the aromatic polycarbonate resins is not critical. As used herein, the term �dihydroxy compound� includes, for example, bisphenol compounds having general formula (III) as follows: Some illustrative, non-limiting examples of suitable dihydroxy compounds include the dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons disclosed by name or formula (generic or specific) in U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,438, which is incorporated herein by reference. A nonexclusive list of specific examples of the types of bisphenol compounds that may be represented by formula (III) includes 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) methane; 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane; 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (hereinafter �bisphenol A� or �BPA�); 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) butane; 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) octane; 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane; 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) n-butane; bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) phenylmethane; 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-1-methylphenyl) propane; 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-t-butylphenyl) propane; bis (hydroxyaryl) alkanes such as 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-bromophenyl) propane; 1,1-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclopentane; and bis(hydroxyaryl) cycloalkanes such as 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane. Two or more different dihydric phenols may also be used. Typical carbonate precursors include the carbonyl halides, for example carbonyl chloride (phosgene), and carbonyl bromide; the bis-haloformates, for example the bis-haloformates of dihydric phenols such as bisphenol A, hydroquinone, and the like, and the bis-haloformates of glycols such as ethylene glycol and neopentyl glycol; and the diaryl carbonates, such as diphenyl carbonate, di(tolyl) carbonate, and di(naphthyl) carbonate. Typical branching resins such as α,α,α′,α′-tetrakis(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-xylene, α,α,α′,α′-tetrakis(2-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-xylene, α,α,α′,α′-tetrakis(2,5 dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-xylene, α,α,α′,α′-tetrakis(2,6 dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-xylene, α,α,α′,α′-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-xylene, trimellitic acid, trimellitic anhydride, trimellitic trichloride, tris-p-hydroxy phenyl ethane, isatin-bis-phenol, tris-phenol TC (1,3,5-tris((p-hydroxyphenyl)isopropyl)benzene), tris-phenol PA (4-(4-(1,1-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl)alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzyl)phenol), 4-chloroformyl phthalic anhydride, trimesic acid, benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid and the like, can also be added to the reaction mixture. Blends of linear polycarbonate and branched polycarbonate resins can be utilized herein. The branching agent may be added at a level of about 0.05 to about 2.0 weight percent (wt %). Some illustrative, non-limiting examples of suitable phase transfer resins include, but are not limited to, tertiary amines such as triethylamine, quaternary ammonium compounds, and quaternary phosphonium compounds. Molecular weight regulators or chain stoppers are optional and are added to the mixture in order to arrest the progress of the polymerization. Typical molecular weight regulators such as phenol, chroman-1, p-t-butylphenol, p-bromophenol, para-cumyl-phenol, and the like may be added either singly or in admixture and are typically added in an amount of about 1 to about 10 mol % excess with respect to the BPA. The molecular weight of the polycarbonate resin is generally greater than or equal to about 5000, preferably greater than or equal to about 10,000, more preferably greater than or equal to about 15,000 g/mole. In general it is desirable to have the polycarbonate resin less than or equal to about 100,000, preferably less than or equal to about 50,000, more preferably less than or equal to about 30,000 g/mole as calculated from the viscosity of a methylene chloride solution at 25� C. Polycarbonate resins are generally used in amounts greater than or equal to about 10 weight percent (wt %), preferably greater or equal to about 30 wt %, more preferably greater than or equal to about 40 wt % of the total composition. The polymeric resins are furthermore generally used in amounts less than or equal to about 99 weight percent wt %, preferably less than or equal to about 85 wt %, more preferably less than or equal to about 75 wt % of the total composition. The term �antistatic agent� refers to several materials that can be either melt-processed into polymeric resins or sprayed onto commercially available polymeric forms and shapes to improve conductive properties and overall physical performance. Examples of monomeric antistatic agents that may be used are glycerol monostearate, glycerol distearate, glycerol tristearate, ethoxylated amines, primary, secondary and tertiary amines, ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl sulfates, alkylarylsulfates, alkylphosphates, alkylaminesulfates, quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary ammonium resins, imidazoline derivatives, sorbitan esters, ethanolamides, betaines and mixtures of the foregoing. Non-limiting examples of commercial monomeric antistatic agents which may be used in polymeric resins are Pationic 1042 and PATIONIC AS10, available from Patco, or STATEXAN� K1, available from Bayer. Examples of polymeric antistatic agents include: copolyesteramides such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,115,475 to Foy et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,839,441 and 4,864,014 to Cuzin et al.; polyether-polyamide (polyetheramide) block copolymers such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,807 to Frey et al.; polyetheresteramide block copolymers such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,604,284; 5,652,326; and 5,886,098 to Ueda et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,331,786; 4,230,838; 4,332,920 to Foy et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,195,015 to Deleens et al.; polyurethanes containing a polyalkylene glycol moiety such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,053 to Kolycheck et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,466 to Mor et al.; polyetheresters such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,940, U.S. Pat. No 4,537,596 to Muller et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,258 to Singh et al, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Polymeric antistatic agents have been shown to be fairly thermally stable and processable in the melt state in their neat form or in blends with other polymeric resins. Examples of polyetheramides, polyetheresters and polyetheresteramides include block copolymers and graft copolymers both obtained by the reaction between a polyamide-forming compound and/or a polyester-forming compound, and a compound containing a polyalkylene oxide unit. Polyamide forming compounds include aminocarboxylic acids such as ω-aminocaproic acid, ω-aminoenanthic acid, ω-aminocaprylic acid, ω-aminopelargonic acid, ω-aminocapric acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid and 12-aminododecanoic acid; lactams such as ε-caprolactam and enanthlactam; a salt of a diamine with a dicarboxylic acid, such as hexamethylene diamine adipate, hexamethylene diamine sebacate, and hexamethylene diamine isophthalate; and a mixture of these polyamide-forming compounds. It is preferred that the polyamide-forming compound is a caprolactam, 12-aminododecanoic acid, or a combination of hexamethylene diamine and adipate. Polyester forming compounds include a combination of a dicarboxylic acid (or a mixture of two or more dicarboxylic acids) with an aliphatic diol (or a mixture of two or more aliphatic diols). Non-limiting examples of dicarboxylic acids include aromatic dicarboxylic acids, such as isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, phthalic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, naphthalene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid, diphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, diphenoxyethanedicarboxylic acid and sodium 3-sulfoisophthalate; alicyclic dicarboxylic acids, such as 1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid, 1,4cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and 1,3-dicarboxymethylcyclohexane; and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as succinic acid, oxalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid and decanedicarboxylic acid. These dicarboxylic acids may be used individually or in combination. Non-limiting examples of aliphatic diols include ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol and hexanediol. These aliphatic diols may be used individually or in combination. Preferred dicarboxylic acids are terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, and sebacic acid and decanedicarboxylic acid. Preferred diols are ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol. Compounds containing polyalkylene oxide units such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol and a block or random copolymer of ethylene oxide and tetramethylene oxide; diamines obtained by replacing the terminal hydroxyl groups of these diols by amino groups; and dicarboxylic acids obtained by replacing the terminal hydroxyl groups of these diols by carboxylic acid groups can be used to form the polyetheramide, polyetherester and polyetheresteramide polymeric antistatic agents. These compounds containing a polyalkylene oxide unit can be used individually or in combination. Of these compounds, polyethylene glycol is preferred. For synthesizing a polyetheramide, a polyetherester or a polyetheresteramide, there can be employed a method in which a polyamide-forming compound and/or a polyester-forming compound is reacted with a polyalkylene oxide unit-containing compound, wherein, depending on the type of the terminal groups of the polyalkylene oxide unit-containing compound, the reaction is an esterification reaction or an amidation reaction. Further, depending on the type of the reaction, a dicarboxylic acid or a diamine may also be used in the reaction. Polymeric antistatic agents such as PELESTAT 6321, available from Sanyo, or PEBAX MH1657, available from Atofina, are non-limiting examples of commercially available polymeric antistatic agents that may be added to polymeric resins to improve conductive properties. Other commercially available antistatic agents are IRGASTAT P18 and P22 from Ciba-Geigy. Other polymeric materials that may be used as antistatic agents are doped inherently conducting polymers such as polyaniline (commercially available as PANIPOL� EB from Panipol), polypyrrole and polythiophene (commercially available from Bayer), which retain some of their intrinsic conductivity after melt processing at elevated temperatures. In one embodiment, the antistatic agent is generally used in an amount greater than or equal to about 0.01, preferably greater or equal to about 0.1, and more preferably greater than or equal to about 1 wt % of the total composition. The antistatic agent is generally used in amount less than or equal to about 25 wt %, preferably less than or equal to about 15 wt %, and more preferably less than or equal to about 10 wt % of the total composition. Impact modifiers used in the antistatic compositions may be copolymers comprising a polysiloxane, such as, for example, A-B-A triblock copolymers and A-B diblock copolymers. In one embodiment the impact modifier may be a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer comprising a polycarbonate block and a polysiloxane block, wherein the polysiloxane block portion comprises about 0.5 to about 10 wt % of the impact modifier. In another embodiment, the impact modifiers include copolymers of one or more of an acrylic polymer or a methacrylic polymer mainly comprising an alkyl acrylate or an alkyl methacrylate, a silicone polymer mainly comprising a polysiloxane and an optional diene polymer mainly comprising a conjugated diene such as butadiene or isoprene. A preferred impact modifier of this type is polymethylmethacrylate-polyacrylic-polysiloxane copolymer, which is a core shell impact modifier wherein the shell comprises a polymethylmethacrylate graft polymer and the core is a rubbery phase comprised of a copolymer of silicone and acrylic polymers. A commercially available example of such core shell impact modifiers is Metablen� S-2001 from Mitsubishi Rayon. Impact modifiers may be used in amounts greater than or equal to about 1, and preferably greater than or equal to about 2 weight percent (wt %). Also preferred, the impact modifier is used in amounts less than or equal to about 20, preferably less than or equal to about 15, and more preferably less than or equal to about 12 wt % of the total composition. The antistatic composition may also comprise at least one flame retardant, generally a halogenated material, an organic phosphate, or a combination of the two. For antistatic compositions containing polyphenylene ether or a polycarbonate resin, the organic phosphate classes of materials are generally preferred. The organic phosphate is preferably an aromatic phosphate compound of the formula (V): Examples of suitable phosphate compounds include phenyl bis(dodecyl) phosphate, phenyl bis(neopentyl) phosphate, phenyl bis(3,5,5′-trimethylhexyl phosphate), ethyl diphenyl phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl bis(p-tolyl) phosphate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) p-tolyl phosphate, tritolyl phosphate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phenyl phosphate, tri(nonylphenyl) phosphate, bis(dodecyl) p-tolyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, dibutylphenyl phosphate, 2-chloroethyl diphenyl phosphate, p-tolyl bis(2,5,5′-trimethylhexyl) phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, and the like. The preferred phosphates are those in which each R is aryl. A preferred phosphate compound is triphenyl phosphate, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, for example, isopropylated triphenyl phosphate. Alternatively, the organic phosphate can be a di- or polyfunctional compound or polymer having the formula (VI), (VIl), or (VIII) below: Examples of di- and polyfunctional phosphate compounds include the bis (diphenyl phosphates) of resorcinol, hydroquinone and bisphenol-A, respectively, or their polymeric counterparts. Methods for the preparation of the aforementioned di- and polyfunctional phosphates are described in British Patent No. 2,043,083. Another group of useful flame-retardants include certain cyclic phosphates, for example, diphenyl pentaerythritol diphosphate, as a flame retardant resin for polyphenylene ether resins, as is described by Axelrod in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,775. Also suitable as flame-retardant additives are the phosphoramides of the formula (IX): The flame retardant composition may contain a single phosphate compound or a mixture of two or more different types of phosphate compounds. Compositions containing essentially a single phosphate compound are preferred. Preferred phosphate flame-retardants include those based upon resorcinol such as, for example, resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate), as well as those based upon bisphenols such as, for example, bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate). Also preferred are the aforementioned piperazine-type phosphoramides. Phosphates containing substituted phenyl groups are also preferred. In an exemplary embodiment, the organophosphate is butylated triphenyl phosphate ester. The most preferred phosphate compounds are resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (hereinafter RDP), bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (hereinafter BPADP) and N,N′-bis[di-(2,6-xylyl)phosphoryl]-piperazine (hereinafter XPP), and mixtures thereof, with BPADP most preferred. Halogenated materials are also a useful class of flame-retardants. These materials are preferably aromatic halogen compounds and resins of the formula (X): Suitable halogenated flame retardant materials include 2,2-bis-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-propane, bis-(2-chlorophenyl)-methane, bis(2,6-dibromophenyl)-methane, 1,1-bis-(4-iodophenyl)-ethane, 1,2-bis-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-ethane, 1,1-bis-(2-chloro-4-iodophenyl)ethane, 1,1-bis-(2-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-ethane, 1,1-bis-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-ethane, 2,2-bis-(3-phenyl-4-bromophenyl)-ethane, 2,6-bis-(4,6-dichloronaphthyl)-propane, 2,2-bis-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-pentane, 2,2-bis-(3,5-dichromophenyl)-hexane, bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-phenyl-methane, bis-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-cyclohexylmethane, bis-(3-nitro-4-bromophenyl)-methane, bis-(4-hydroxy-2,6-dichloro-3-methoxyphenyl)-methane, 2,2-bis-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane and 2,2 bis-(3-bromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane. The preparation of these halogenated flame-retardants may be by condensation of two moles of a phenol with a single mole of a ketone or aldehyde. In place of the divalent aliphatic group in the above examples may be substituted oxygen, sulfur, sulfoxy, and the like. Other suitable halogenated flame-retardants include 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dibrombenzene, 1,3-dichloro-4-hydroxybenzene and biphenyls such as 2,2′-dichlorobiphenyl, polybrominated 1,4-diphenoxybenzene, 2,4′-dibromobiphenyl, and 2,4′-dichlorobiphenyl as well as decabromo diphenyl oxide, and the like. Also useful are oligomeric and polymeric halogenated aromatic compounds, such as, for example, a copolycarbonate of bisphenol A and tetrabromobisphenol A and a carbonate precursor, e.g., phosgene. Metal synergists, e.g., antimony oxide, may also be used with the flame retardant. The incorporation of flame-retardants also affords methods to increase the heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the flame retardant antistatic compositions so that the composition has a flame rating of at least V-2, preferably a flame rating of at least V-1, and more preferably a flame rating of V-0 as measured in accordance with a UL-94 protocol. While the particular amount of flame retardant used in the compositions will vary depending on the molecular weight of the organic phosphate, the amount of the flammable resin present in the composition is greater than or equal to about 9 wt % of the total composition. Also preferred, is to have the flame retardant present in an amount less than or equal to about 30, preferably less than or equal to about 25, and more preferably less than of equal to about 20 wt % of the total composition. One method of preparing the composition includes such steps as dry blending followed by melt processing, the latter operation frequently being performed under continuous conditions such as extrusion. In another exemplary method, the components of the composition, e.g., the polycarbonate resin, impact modifier, antistatic agent and flame retardant, are fed directly into the throat of a twin screw extruder and extruded at a temperature greater than the melting point of the polycarbonate resin. It is also possible for the various components of the composition to be fed into the extruder sequentially. Additionally, some of the components such as the antioxidant and the antistatic agent may be fed into the extruder in a masterbatch form. The strand emerging from the extruder is quenched in a water bath, pelletized and subjected into additional processing such as injection molding, blow molding, vacuum forming, and the like. This disclosure is further illustrated by the following non-limiting example. The Table below shows antistatic flame retardant compositions comprising the antistatic agent PELESTAT NC6321 from Sanyo. BPADP obtained from Akzo-Nobel was used as the flame retardant. Lexan PC 145 (obtained from GE Plastics) was used as thermoplastic resin. Polycarbonate-polysiloxane (PC/PDMS) (obtained from GE Plastics) and Metablen� S-2001 (obtained from Mitsubishi Rayon) are used as the impact modifiers. TSAN (a 1:1 blend of polytetrafluoroethylene and styrene acrylonitrile) was added as an anti-dip agent in an amount of about 0.6 wt %, while hindered phenol was added as the antioxidant in an amount of about 0.3 wt % in all compositions. The samples represented in the Table were first dry blended in the appropriate quantities in a Henschel high-speed mixer. The dry blends were then extruded in a 30 mm Werner and Pfleiderer Twin Screw extruder having six barrels. The barrel temperature was maintained at 230� C., 240� C., 260� C., 260� C., 260� C., and 260� C., respectively. The die temperature was set at 260� C. and the extruder was run at 300 rpm at 50 lbs/hour. The strand of antistatic flame retardant resin emerging from the extruder was pelletized, dried at approximately 90� C. for two to four hours and subjected to injection molding on an 85 ton Van Dorn molding machine to obtain the test samples. Samples were tested for flexural strength and flexural modulus as per ASTM D790, tensile strength and elongation as per ASTM D638, notched Izod as per ASTM D256. Flame retardancy tests were performed as per UL94 V-0-2 protocol. 2 mm or 3 mm�0.5-inch�5-inch bars were burned in the vertical position using a calibrated flame height from a Bunsen burner. The flame was applied for 10 seconds and then removed. The flame out time was recorded. The results were fed into a computer program, which predictively ascertains the probability that a particular composition will attain a V-1 or V-2 rating at a given distance from the flame. The method by which the probability is computed is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,142 to Choate et al. the contents of which are incorporated by reference. A value close to 1 indicates that the composition will have a V-1 rating, while a value close to zero indicates that the composition will fail the flame retardancy test. The distance in these examples is chosen as 2 mm. Heat distortion temperature (HDT) was performed on 0.5″�0.125″�5″ bars while being subjected to 264 pounds per square inch (psi) load at a rate of 248� F./hour starting at 86� F. and finishing at 554� F. as per ASTM D648. Surface resistivity was measured as per ASTM D257 by placing 4″ diameter�0.125″ thick disks into a Keithley model 6517A electrometer equipped with a model 6524 high resistance measurement software.
Samples 1, 2, and 3 shown in Table 1 were used as comparative examples, while samples 4, 5, 6, and 7 are representative of the antistatic, flame retardant compositions having high impact. In composition 1, no impact modifier was used and therefore the impact properties as measured by notched Izod were low at 1.24 ft-lbs/inch while the use of BPADP as a flame retardant is effective as can be seen from the V-1 results at 2 mm of 1.0. The surface resistivity of 2.33�10 ohm/sq is attributable to the addition of 5 wt % antistatic agent. Composition 2 contains 5 wt % of the PC/PDMS impact modifier and hence shows a tremendous increase in impact strength from composition 1. The V-1 value however, drops to 0.61 showing reduced flame retardancy upon addition of the impact modifier, despite the use of the same amount of the flame retardant BPADP. Composition 3 contains a similar amount of impact modifier as composition 2, but contains less flame retardant and antistatic agent. This causes a poor V-1 value as well as an increase in surface resistivity. Composition 4 demonstrates that by increasing the antistatic agent and the flame retardant content, the sample has improved antistatic properties and better flame retardant properties than composition 2. Samples 4 and 5 have the same amount of antistatic agent as composition 1 but an increased amount of flame retardant, having 10 and 12 wt % respectively. This results in a combination of improved flame retardant as well as high impact properties. Similarly, while sample 6 has the same amount of antistatic agent and impact modifier as sample 2, an increased amount of the flame retardant renders this composition excellent in its flame retardant properties in addition to the impact and surface resistivity properties. The antistatic, impact resistant, flame retardant compositions can be advantageously used for a number of applications in the area of electronics, automobile components, packaging, and the like, where it is desirable to have notched Izod impact properties greater than or equal to about 1 ft-lb/inch, preferably greater than or equal to about 2 ft-lb/inch. The compositions will preferably have surface resistivities of less than or equal to about 1014 ohm/square while having a flammability rating of greater than V-2. While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Patent Citations
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"Had this recipe at a PC party. Great dish and beautiful presentation. Found these photos online:http://fullbellies.blogspot.com/2007/11/chicken-ring.htmlFilling is different, but it shows the layout if you are confused by the directions.YUM!"

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Good news from the solar front: Solar Photovoltaics Getting Cheaper than Natural Gas in California.
Come Saturday Morning: Solar and Bachmann and Patriots, Oh My! |
By: Phoenix Woman Saturday February 12, 2011 6:45 am |
The Dark Side of the 'Toons |
By: Glenn W. Smith Sunday September 19, 2010 9:30 am |
Christine O'Donnell says she dabbled in witchery and attended a midnight picnic on a Satanic altar. Meanwhile, Kenyan witch-hunter Thomas Muthee prayed over Sarah Palin to "protect her from the spirit of witchcraft," proving the point that the Tea Party's cartoon covens want to have their hell-broth and drink it too.
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To: Participants in the JS Faculty Seminar
From: Maud Mandel
Re: JS Faculty Seminar Schedule, fall 2013
After a one year hiatus, I am pleased to announce the return of the JS faculty seminar. Below please find the schedule of meeting times and presenters for the fall. I will send paper titles and further details in the weeks to come.
Although the seminar will continue to meet once a month in the Judaic Studies seminar room (163 George Street, second floor) on Thursdays from 12-1, please note that the first seminar is on a Tuesday at 4:00. Per usual, we will discuss a paper circulated two weeks in advance. Buffet lunch and beverages will be provided. If you know of others, especially newcomers to Brown, who might be interested in joining the seminar, please let me know.
Tuesday, September 24, 4:00 (please note change in time): Michael Satlow (Judaic Studies; Religious Studies)
Thursday, October 24, 12:00 Israel Bartal (Hebrew University)
Thursday, December 5, 12:00 David Jacobson (Judaic Studies)
JS Faculty Seminar Schedule, fall 2013
August 21, 2013


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The Houston Astros have been swept out of town and with them the plethora of ex-Phillies prospects who have been making their
MIAMI -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have called up right-hander Vance Worley from Triple-A Indianapolis to start on Sunday against the Miami Marlins.
When the Phillies moved on from Shane Victorino midway through the 2012 season, it was time. He was hitting .261 and second in the majors to only Jimmy Rollins in the infield fly department.
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Vance Worley managed to become a fan favorite in Philadelphia despite pitching on a staff that included Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.


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Published in 1776, in the same year as the Declaration of Independence, The Wealth of Nations has had an equally great impact on the course of modern history. Adam Smith's celebrated defense of free market economies was written with such expressive power and clarity that the first edition sold out in six months. While its most remarkable and enduring innovation was to see the whole of economic life as a unified system, it is notable also as one of the Enlightenment's most eloquent testaments to the sanctity of the individual in his relation
to the state.
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)
Excerpted from The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith; Introduction by Alan B. Krueger. . Excerpted by permission of Bantam Classics, a division of Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
1. Many of the concepts developed by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations-the nature of free trade, laissez-faire, the division of labor-were revolutionary notions in 1776, and remain central to contemporary liberal economic thought. Discuss contemporary economics in light of some of the key notions elaborated by Smith.
2. Smith famously writes: "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love. . . ." What does Smith mean by "self-love" or "self-interest"?
3. As R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner write, The Wealth of Nations "was not only an intellectual achievement . . . embracing as it does the explanation of complex social relations on the basis of a few principles, but also a work which provided practical prescriptions for the problems of the day." Discuss these aspects of Smith's work-analytical and prescriptive or historical; what is their relation? Is the one necessary for an appreciation of the other?
4. In his Introduction to this volume, Robert Reich notes that "The Wealth of Nations is resolutely about human beings-their capacities and incentives to be productive, their overall well-being, and the connection between productivity and well-being." How does this statement, taken as a point of departure, shed light on Smith's book and its significance?
5. Although he is considered the founder of political economy (or modern economic thought more generally), Adam Smith considered himself a moral philosopher. How does looking at him in this way-as someone fundamentally concerned with questions of ethics-change your understanding or appreciation of his work?


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Researcher output profile for Mr Roy Hay
Taught at Universities of East Anglia, Glasgow, the Open University before coming to Deakin University in 1977, where he taught for 25 years.
Since retiring Roy has been a partner in Sports and Editorial Services Australia which has been involved with the publication of 16 books in the last five or six years. Regular columnist with the Geelong Advertiser and Goal Weekly. Writing a history of Association football in Australia with Dr Bill Murray.
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Volatile Middle East sees World Bank offer assistance to Lebanon
The World Bank said it is willing to provide Lebanon with financial and technical assistance to help offset the impact the volatile situation in the region could have on the country's economy. This strong message of support came from the Bank's vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, Inger Andersen, as she wrapped up a two-day official visit to Beirut Thursday.
"Lebanon is going through difficult times, some of this driven by factors beyond its control," Andersen said.
"In all my meetings with senior officials, with the private sector and with representatives of civil society, we discussed these multiple challenges but we also talked about opportunities in Lebanon which can be exploited to spur growth and create inclusive job opportunities," Andersen said.
Andersen was accompanied by Ferid Belhaj, who assumed his post as Country Director for Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iran and Iraq earlier this week.
Belhaj's predecessor, Hedi Larbi, was also part of the delegation.
The team met Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi and Energy Minister Gebran Bassil.
The delegation heard from key private sector actors and civil society representatives about the difficulties they are facing, especially how inadequate economic infrastructure services are impeding growth.
"Naturally, I took this opportunity to thank the Lebanese authorities for their cooperation and excellent relationships we had during the four years I spent in Lebanon," Larbi said.
"We discussed with government officials the development challenges Lebanon is facing and how the Bank can further help Lebanon address the priority structural and fiscal reforms to gradually restore fiscal stability and put the country on a more sustainable and inclusive growth path," the senior World Bank official added.
"This visit and the time afforded us by the many officials and citizens we have met, has been a timely reintroduction for me to Lebanon," Belhaj said.
"I realize I come to this post at a particularly challenging time but this multiplies the World Bank's energy to work in partnership to mobilize the resources needed to achieve Lebanon's social and economic objectives," he stressed.
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- Strong domestic policies needed in face of outside trouble- Lebanon's IMF representative


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Royal Wedding
Photos: Royal-Wedding Crowds in London
Thousands thronged the streets between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Braving the sea of Union Jacks and silly hats, photographer Craig Thomas found signs of hardy optimism in Britain's new age of austerity.
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Register | Gallery | FAQ | Calendar | Links | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read | Members List | Vendors | Garage | Auto Escrow | Advertise | Store |
Topic Review (Newest First) |
asmithey | My horn is not working and the airbag light is on as well. Also, my washer fluid does not dispense either. The pump makes no sound. Could the washer pump not working also be from the clock spring breaking? |
Patrick H | It's the clock spring. Not every circuit in them always breaks. For instance, on mine, the cruise didn't work, but everything else was fine. Then one day, the air bag light started coming on when I turned the steering wheel to the left.. |
dhussey | Did you ever find out the problem? My horn won't work and airbag light is on as well, but my cruise works fine. |
adh826 | I just bought my 1998 TJ a few months ago and the horn doesn't work and the airbag light is on. However, the cruise control does work fine. Does this mean that my clock spring could be ok and there is another issue perhaps with the airbag? Is there a test I can perform to determine which parts have failed? |
first4x4 |
Clockspring This just happened to my 1997 Jeep, I've only had a couple months now. Thanks a million for your post; very informative. I actually heard the snap and had no idea it was tied to the horn as well, I only noticed the airbag light did not go off. |
txhotrod |
The clockspring has a limited number of turns each way befoe it snaps, you just turned it too many times the wrong way! |
advancedjosh |
pain in the arse ok so i recently i was trying to fix my gear box and i had spun around the wheel quite a few times and then fixxed the issue and have been driving fine and i went out wheeling a little the other day and bam airbag light! then cruise went out today and horn is intermittent. what do u think could have caused the closkspring to just crap out? and is there a way to check it? |
Jerry Bransford | Nice writeup, thanks, that's something I'll refer to if/when my clockspring craps out. Luckily mine has been ok so far all these years. |
DontTellMeAboutCajun |
TJ airbag light on and horn not working, clockspring All, Since I encountered some difficulty when searching for a diagnosis, I thought I'd post this for future seekers. If your TJ's airbag light begins to flicker on and off over the course of a few weeks then stays on constant...listen up! Shortly thereafter, your horn will stop working. A faulty airbag clockspring is to blame, and its an easy fix! I sourced one through Ebay, approximately $129 with shipping (brand-new). Here's how to do it: *Tools needed! 8mm socket, 13/16" socket, steering wheel puller kit.* ***Do not turn the steering wheel at any time during this process!!!*** - ***UNPLUG YOUR NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE!!!*** Allow AT LEAST 2 minutes to lapse before resuming work; your airbag will de-arm during this period. - ***ENSURE THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, AND TIRES ARE POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD!!!*** This is crucial, so don't skip this step! On the backside of the steering wheel, there are two 8mm bolts holding the airbag/horn assembly on. Remove them, and your airbag/horn assembly will come loose. - There are two wires plugged into the airbag. The one plugged directly into the middle simply pulls out of the unit with a firm tug. The other is a blade-type connector, pull them apart. Carry the assembly pointed away from you, and set it down with the trim side facing up. - Remove the steering wheel retaining nut with the 13/16" socket. - Attach the steering wheel puller, and remove the steering wheel. I thought I needed a ducks-foot type puller, but an H type puller is what is needed! I rented the kit from Advanced Auto, $20. - You are now looking at the airbag clockspring. Look at the new unit, do you see the plastic clips which will hold it in place once installed? The old unit has them also. I jerked hard on the old unit and they both broke off, falling into the steering column cover. Once they are broken, the unit will slide off the shaft with some tugging, just try not to turn the shaft! - Install the new clockspring in EXACTLY the same position that the old one was removed. Push firmly so the new unit locks into place. Use care, there are plastic splines in the inner part of the unit that must fall into grooves cut into the steering wheel shaft. - Once installed, break the plastic retainer holding the white wheel thingy off of the clockspring. It's now time to reassemble, but there is one catch! That plastic retainer you broke off the new unit was holding that white wheel thingy from turning....see how the wheel is shaped kind of like an H? Look on the back of your steering wheel, and you'll see that the white wheel thingy and the steering wheel fit together. When putting the steering wheel back on, line up the white wheel with that spot on the back of the steering wheel. Then re-assemble the whole mess in reverse order! It took me about 1 1/2 hours to do all this, only because I was taking my sweet time I've never worked on any airbag module or system before, so I was a bit leery...but this is truly straight-forward and easy to repair on your own. You don't wanna know how much the stealership quoted me to fix this! Just take your time, and soon you'll have an airbag light that stays off, and a horn that works again. |


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Publishers face a "Copernican change." Until recently, the book was "the sun" of a publishing solar system, and all other opportunities were subsidiary rights revolving as planets around it. Now, the intellectual...
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Although the digital revolution has made content available to more people than print books ever could, ebooks are still only as accessible as the foundation they're built on—and all too often the foundation...


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Chelsea announce record profit, turnover for 2013-14 season
Chelsea have announced a profit of $28.9 million and a record turnover of $50.2 million for the year ending June 30, 2014.
Figures released on Thursday, showed the west London club recorded their second profit in three years and the largest since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003. The club state the figures demonstrate they have satisfied UEFA's break-even criteria under...
Via Fox Sports
November 13, 2014
How Chelsea's Stamford Bridge Will Expand If Or When They Move to Twickenham
One of the more pressing issues facing a number of Premier League clubs, as we edge ever nearer to the end of 2014, is the prospect of either building a new stadium or expanding an existing home following years of risk free wait and see policies.
We have seen the news earlier this month involving Everton Football Club's desire to build a new stadium not too far from their current...
Via World Soccer Talk
September 30, 2014
Manchester City: Changing the Face of English Football
Manchester City: Changing the Face of English Football - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
It is fair to say that while Chelsea may be viewed as the first of English football's Nouveau Riche clubs, piggybacking on the benevolence of their billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to Premier League success, not even Abramovich himself, nor the Premier League authorities could have foreseen...
Via Soccerlens
August 13, 2014
DONE DEAL: Chelsea defender to join Dutch club on loan
DONE DEAL: Chelsea defender to join Dutch club on loan - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Another Chelsea youngster left the club to join Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem on loan for the rest of the season, the club has confirmed.
Chelsea share a strong relation with Vitesse, with the Dutch team's owner, Alexander Chigirinsky, is thought to be good friend of Roman Abramovich...
Via Soccerlens
July 01, 2014
Why Roman Abramovich and other billionaire owners are good for football
Why Roman Abramovich and other billionaire owners are good for football - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Since Roman Abramovich brought Chelsea back in 2003 the club has constantly come under scrutiny for 'buying success' and the same goes for Manchester City who have now recently won their second Premier League since the owner bought the club. There is no doubt that the...
Via Soccerlens
May 14, 2014
Tough Tie For Newcastle Youngsters
Newcastle will play Chelsea FC in the FA Youth Cup quarter finals, after the strong London side beat Cardiff City 2-0 on Tuesday. Adam Armstrong – 17 year-old budding star on Tyneside And Chelsea have had an excellent Youth program under owner Roman Abramovich, and they have reached the FA Youth Cup final four times […]
Via Newcastle United FC Blog
February 18, 2014
Video: Chelsea fans are excited about signing players who don't exist
While the Premier League is known for their passionate, tribalistic local fanbases, its worldwide popularity also leads itself to developing legions of frontrunning bandwagoners. Perhaps no team is more synonymous with this type of fan than Chelsea, a London club that shot to prominence thanks to new owner Roman Abramovich and his Russian oil money and won its first top division...
Via Awful Announcing
January 27, 2014
Chelsea reports annual losses of more than $80m
Chelsea has posted annual losses of more than $80 million but the Premier League club remains confident of complying with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.
The club slipped back into the red a year after making a profit for the first time since Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich's takeover in 2003.
Chelsea lost 49.4 million pounds ($81.7 million) in the year to June 30...
Via AP on Fox
December 31, 2013
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Fame Pictures
Snooki looks cute at the VMA's!
Fame Pictures
The cast of Jersey Shore makes an appearance at the VMA's.
Cory Monteith presents Lady Gaga with one of her 8 Moon Men.
Sarah Jessica PArker was fancy in floral as she posed with pal Andy Cohen at Diane Von Furstenberg Fashion Weeks fashion show in NYC.
Ozzy performs in Stockholm for his Swedish fans!
Before heading in to catch a match at the US Open, Bradley Cooper takes a picture of himself and a lucky fan!
Hot Photos of September 14, 2010


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South faces testing time
- Published: 10 Jul 2013 at 00.00 | Viewed: 1,601 | Comments: 1
- Newspaper section: News
Ramadan has begun in Islamic communities worldwide, and the next month presents a challenge and opportunity in the restive deep South. Ramadan is the time when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The abstinence from food and water for half of each day brings a chance for reflection and compassion. The absence of a ceasefire in the South provides all the more reason for officials and troops to show restraint and stress the need for respect all around.
Two months ago, there was a chance for a first ever truce in the deep South. The Malaysian leader of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) had agreed in principle with the head of the government's peace talks delegation on a Ramadan ceasefire. But Hassan Taib, the BRN spokesman, imposed more conditions for the 30-day truce on top of what he had demanded for a complete end to the war for secession, and a formal ceasefire was impossible.
But prospects for a peaceful Ramadan still partly lie in the hands of security forces and government officials in the four southernmost provinces. Last week, the Chularatchamontri, the Muslim spiritual leader for all of Thailand, urged the military and police to take Ramadan into consideration when conducting their duties over the next four weeks. All security forces should bear in mind two things during the next month.
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Mystical tales from Transylvania
'For me, this is such a special place,' says Gabor Tomas, as he treks through the snowy woods around Zalanpatak, another tiny hamlet on the Kálnoky estate, about 15 miles southeast of Miklósvár. He's been exploring Transylvania's backcountry since he was a child and now works as a conservationist and nature guide. 'There are very few places in Europe where you feel so far from civilisation. If you want to, you can still really taste the wild here.'
As if to illustrate his point, a winged shadow swoops low across the valley, fluttering to rest on a branch of a skeletal oak tree. 'Look,' he whispers. 'A Ural owl. People believed they were an evil omen and signified death.'
We watch the owl loop and hover above the land, as the sun silhouettes spindly trees along the horizon and snowflakes tumble from the winter sky. 'I wish people took the time to discover this side of my country,' Gabor says. 'Nature is our greatest asset. But as soon as you mention Transylvania, it means just one thing to people: Dracula. No matter what we do, that won't change.'
It's more than a century since Bram Stoker dreamt up his vampiric count, but Dracula is still big business in Transylvania. He's everywhere: on T-shirts and keyrings, on leaflets and billboards, on coffee jars and toothpaste tubes. Every town claims a tenuous link with the count, or more accurately with his real-life counterpart Vlad Țepeș, known as Dracula, the bloodthirsty warlord who ruled the kingdom of Wallachia intermittently between 1448 and 1476, and who had a predilection for impaling his enemies on stakes, allegedly thousands at a time.
Few places sell their Dracula connections harder than Bran Castle in the Carpathian foothills, about 20 miles south of the well-preserved medieval town of Brașov. This sturdy fortress was originally built during the 13th century to guard the Rucăr-Bran Pass, a key strategic route into Wallachia. It's now better known as the legendary location of Dracula's castle.
It certainly looks the part: ringed by ramparts and riddled with echoing halls and secret passageways, it seems the ideal place for a thousand-year old strigoi to have made his mountain lair. Unfortunately, as so often with the Dracula legend, there's no evidence that Vlad ever visited Bran, let alone lived there; his actual castle, now a ruin, was at Poienari, 150 miles north of Brașov.
'When it comes to Dracula, untangling fact from fiction is the biggest problem,' says local history professor Dr Nicolae Teșculă, as he surveys the red-tiled rooftops of Sighișoara, the hilltop town that's now famous as Vlad Dracula's birthplace. The winter sun is casting long shadows as we walk through Sighișoara's alleyways, past merchants' mansions, cobbled courtyards and fortified gateways. Ravens strut and croak on the medieval ramparts, and a faint peal of bells echoes from the church.
'There's no doubt that Dracula was a brutal warrior,' Teșculă continues. 'But many of the myths surrounding him are propaganda disseminated by his enemies. In fact, he's regarded by most as a hero. He protected Transylvania against the threat of Ottoman invasion and ensured the survival of our own indigenous culture.'
He crunches on through the town's icy streets and sets about debunking the Dracula myth with an academic eye. The name Dracula actually derives from a chivalric order called the Order of the Dragon, he explains. Vlad Țepeș' father was a member of this order, and took the epithet Dracul – the dragon. Dracula simply means 'son of Dracul'. Vlad's reputation as an impaler was exaggerated by his enemies, to portray him as a bloodthirsty tyrant. The fact that Vlad's body was found buried with no head is no surprise: his killers would simply have wanted proof of his death in order to collect a bounty.


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Bones Promo: "The Signs in the Silence"
What's coming up next week on Bones? Find out here in this promo.
Posted in:
Oliver: I don't have any friends.
Brennan: That's because you're objectionable.
- Permalink: I don't have any friends. That's because you're objectionable.
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You are a horrible child!
- Permalink: You are a horrible child!
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In his Father's Day email, President Obama challenged fathers to have their kids "turn off the videogames and pick up a book." The President of the United States refers here to what a new European study calls the "incapacitation effect" of videogames: if your mind's mired in Cyrodiil or Liberty City or wherever-have-you, it's easy to neglect other avenues of imagination or application unless reminded. But the study also stresses that the incapacitation effect isn't all bad for society: time spent playing, after all, is time that can't be spent lawbreaking.
Above: Not pictured: actual criminality
Crime in the US has been dropping since the early 90s and continued to fall even in the economic strife of recent years, says the BBC. "Researchers in Texas working with the Centre for European Economic Research," the article adds, found that the incapacitation effect of games "more than offset any direct impact the content of the games may have had in encouraging violent behavior." Other factors cited include the proliferation of cell phone cameras and the election of Obama himself. So... zoned out in front of games to avoid prying eyes, or exploring a brave new world where citizens control their own wellbeing? Which are you in this totally non-loaded argument?
Jun 21, 2011
5 ways that video games have most heinously lied to us about hackers and hacking
The PSN was not hacked with a game of Pipemania. Fact
Why GTA V shouldn't be set in the USA
We've lived the American dream, time to pack up and take our criminal capers abroad


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Fall Classes Start Wednesday, September 10th, 2014!
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Print out the Registration Form, fill it out, and mail it back (with the $5 registration fee per student/ $10 registration fee per family) to ...
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7. 8. 2014
TESCO SW among the best IT companies in the Czech Republic.
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ULTRAOLIVE – Pebble Duffel Bag Giveaway
We are excited to announce this great give-away of the ULTRAOLIVE Pebble Collection Duffel Bag. ULTRAOLIVE™ is an independently owned and operated company based in Brooklyn, NY. They are aimed at providing durable, high-performance gear for daily use and travel. Their goal is to inspire and improve the journey for those who seek.
Pebble Duffel Bag
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Gusseted face pockets
To Enter for this contest – Please follow @ULTRAOLIVESHOP and Instagram any of the images below of the bag. You will be entered. One winner will be chosen at random on 08/18/2014. Good Luck Everyone!


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Ratings based on 30 Guest Reviews
Hear it directly from our travelers
4.5 Room cleanliness
4.1 Service & staff
4.4 Room comfort
Hear it directly from our travelers Recommendedby jim1952from Birmingham, AL
Nice Family Accommodations
Posted Jul 15, 2013The Hilton Grand Vacation Suites is a very nice hotel. It isn't a casino, doesn't have a formal restaurant and is a quiet spot within walking distance of the Las Vegas Convention Center. That might turn some off, but it was just what I was looking for on this short trip.
by SuzyDfrom Tarzana, Los Angeles, CA
Excellent for Families with Children
Posted Jun 20, 2013My husband, 10 year old son and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the HGVC for Father's Day weekend. The staff is incredibly friendly, the room was very spacious - we reserved a one-bedroom suite. Extremely clean with a full kitchen, laundry facilities in your room and separate bedroom with a Jacuzzi tub. Parking was included and they have both outside and structure parking. The only reason that I didn't rate this as excellent is that they need a restaurant - they have a small place to order food but not a very large selection and they close at 10:00 p.m. (again staff is extremely friendly in this shop). Across the street - walking distance - is LVH - they have an amazing buffet - great price and excellent food and access to the monorail which will take you into the Strip. I would highly recommend, if you are going to stay more than one day to purchase the monorail 2-3, etc. day passes - you don't need your car and driving into the Strip, as you can imagine would be a nightmare. They hotel is at the far north end of the Strip. The positives: No casino, no smoking and very family-friendly oriented - gym, table tennis, pool table, bbq area, swimming pool with 2 hot tubs. The hotel seemed fairly busy and yet no problem getting a lounge chair by the pool. I believe that this is a hidden gem in Las Vegas.
Recommendedby Bikefanfrom Glendale, CA, USA
One of the best deals ever.
Posted Sep 22, 2012Pros: Close restaurants, Free Internet, Quiet
Hilton Grand vacations suites went above and beyond my expectations. Everything was clean, and bed was excellent. TV and amenities were excellent. I'll always go back.
Recommendedby Luvcleanhotelroomsfrom San Diego, CA, USA
What an amazing place!
Posted Sep 12, 2012Pros: Free Internet, Quiet
Had I known I was staying at such an excellent establishment I would have booked a few more nights and extended my vacation in Vegas simply because of the hotel.
Recommendedby oarsfrom San Francisco, CA
Great place to stay - away from the strip
Posted Sep 10, 2012Pros: Free Internet, Quiet
We wanted to stay in a non-smoking hotel not too far from the strip. This place was perfect for it! The view of the Stratosphere tower from our hotel window was an added bonus.
Recommendedby worldtraveler888from Boston, MA, USA
Posted Sep 5, 2012Pros: Close restaurants, Free Internet
Great service and the nicest/most helpful staff you'll find. Went above and beyond during my stay. Def will go back!
Recommendedby Big6from Arlington Texas
The staff was very professional and warm.
Posted Jun 5, 2012Pros: Free Internet, Quiet
Cons: Nothing close
The restaurant was not open. I had to leave to get a meal.
Recommendedby SusyQ7from Burbank, CA, USA
The hotel was very comfortable and clean.
Posted Nov 12, 2011Pros: Quiet
I am looking forward to come back to this hotel. Our experience was pleasant and away from the noise of the strip. It has a convenient parking area and the service is awesome.
Recommendedby Rich04from Phoenix AZ
Great place to stay @ just next to the big Hilton!
Posted Feb 23, 2011Pros: Close restaurants, Free Internet
Great place to stay @ just next to the big Hilton room was super clean, I will definitively stay there in the future
by yanayanafrom DC
This Hotel was Ok, But didn't stand out amongst a sea of other hotels
Posted Feb 7, 2011Pros: Free Internet, Quiet, convention center/walking distance
Cons: surptise holding fee on cc
This hotel was decent and I don't have anything bad to say about it, but at the same time I don't have any rave reviews to give either. It was simply just a hotel. It was convenient to the convention center that my seminars were held at , so that was a plus. The room was clean and comfortable, but again nothing to write home about. The only complaint that I would say that I had was the surprise $100 holding fee that I wasn't told about prior to my stay. It took a week for the money to be refunded to my account. When I go back I will likely stay somewhere a little more fabulous.


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Our holdings include hundreds of glass and film negatives/transparencies that we've scanned ourselves; in addition, many other photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs) in the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) They are adjusted, restored and reworked by your webmaster in accordance with his aesthetic sensibilities before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here. All of these images (including "derivative works") are protected by copyright laws of the United States and other jurisdictions and may not be sold, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without permission.
Vintage photos of:
This picture shows the "Four Novelty Grahams" acrobatic performers at the Victoria Theatre, Philadelphia. The father is 23 years of age. Willie Graham is 5 years of age, and Herbert Graham is 3 years of age. At 9 P.M. on June 10th, 1910, these children were performing on the stage. Four times daily they do a turn which lasts from 12 to 14 minutes. Herbert Graham, the youngest, was said by the father to have commenced performing on the stage as an acrobat when he was 10 months of age. Willie, now 5, is said to be the youngest acrobat in the world. The mother of these boys was formerly a school teacher, and is now performing with this trio on the stage. The children are bright and strong, but have a playfulness about them which shows them to have forgotten the best years of childhood. Photo by Lewis W. Hine, 1910. View full size.
June 1938. Nettie Featherston, laborer's wife with three children near Childress, Texas. "I just prayed and prayed and prayed all the time that God would take care of us and not let my children starve." View full size | Audio interview.
June 1938. Nettie Featherston, wife of a migratory laborer with three children. Near Childress, Texas. "If you die, you're dead – that's all." View full size. Photo: Dorothea Lange. Bio of Nettie (1898-1984) and audio interview.
U.S. 99 in Kern County on the Tehachapi Ridge. February 1939. Migrant workers travel seasonally back and forth between the Imperial Valley and San Joaquin Valley over this ridge. View full size. Photograph by Dorothea Lange. (The billboard up ahead: "76 miles to GRAPEVINE air cooled cafe.")
Dorothea Lange, Resettlement Administration photographer, in California atop car with her giant camera. February 1936. View full size.
Fourth of July 1939 near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. "Rural filling stations become community centers and general loafing grounds. Cedargrove Team members about to play in a baseball game." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange. View full size.
June 1938. Caddo, Oklahoma. Migrants leave the small towns as well as the farms of the southwest. This region is a source of many emigrants to the Pacific Coast. View full size. Photograph by Dorothea Lange.


text:
vanilla satin lantern sleeve blouse
designer's notes
A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz knows how to add just the right amount of flirty feminine flare to his gorgeous tops.
color: Vintage Vanilla Lustrous satin woven Banded round neck Double pleated along front Elbow length lantern sleeve Unlined Contemporary fit 100% Silk; Dry Clean; U.S.A; style# 212395700


text:
Tagged: Transition
The Changeover: Labor Relations
Feb. 04, 2009 9 a.m.
How will the labor landscape change with the new administration?
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As 2014 draws to a close, we thank all our fans, customers, dealers, and partners across the globe for their support. We wish you all a Happy New Year and to keep us engaged with you throughout 2015, just the same way as we did in 2014.
December 31, 2014
Happy New Year 2015!
Posted by #TakePoint
October 6, 2014
Fan Photo Roundup - October 2014
Posted by #TakePoint
July 1, 2014
Fan Photo Roundup - June 2014
Posted by #TakePoint
See other SOGs in their work environment. Which one do you like?
June 20, 2014
A day in the life of my SOG...
Posted by #TakePoint
What if your SOG knife or tool can tell stories like your grandfather? Does it help you save lives or does it get gunk out of your fingernails every day? Either way, entertain us and your fellow SOG fans with your stories. We'll pick a couple each month and feature them. Those selected might even get some new SOG stuff.
August 25, 2009
SOG on Entourage
Posted by SOG Marketing
Just got word that one of our knives was featured on the HBO show Entourage this weekend. I have a screen capture of the scene with the SOG Tigershark Elite.
Continue Reading -
May 11, 2009
SEAL Pup Elite in use
Posted by SOG Marketing
I was just forwarded these great photos from a SOG fan. Great use of the SEAL Pup Elite with straight edge blade.
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April 6, 2009
Tigershark signed by Terry O'Quinn
Posted by SOG Administrator
March 30, 2009
SOG Knife in Movie?
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I was just forwarded this image of what looks like a SOG SEAL knife in a movie. Continue Reading
March 19, 2009
Spencer hard at work
Posted by SOG Administrator
Here is a photo of Spencer working on one of our new products.
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
CAMBODIA/ASIA PACIFIC-Cambodia Calls For Talks With Govt To Settle Disputed Maritime Area
Released on 2012-10-17 17:00 GMT
Email-ID | 2555307 |
Date | 2011-08-31 12:38:22 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
Corrected version: correcting headline; report by Supalak Ganjanakhundee:
"Cambodia: Jointly Develop Maritime Zone" - The Nation Online
Wednesday August 31, 2011 01:47:48 GMT
Cambodia yesterday called for resumption of negotiations with the Thai
government to settle the dispute in an overlapping area in the Gulf of
Thailand and jointly develop the maritime resource, while also rejecting
the Thai opposition Democrat Party's accusation of former premier Thaksin
Shinawatra having a personal interest in the project.
The Cambodian National Petroleum Authority issued a statement calling on
Thailand to honour the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the area of
overlapping maritime claim signed by the two countries in 2001. The MoU
aimed to jointly develop the ar ea in the gulf, which is claimed by both
sides and is believed to have abundant petroleum resources.The Abhisit
Vejjajiva government decided to scrap the MoU signed during the time of
the Thaksin administration after Thaksin was appointed Cambodian Prime
Minister Hun Sen's adviser in November 2009. Abhisit accused Thaksin of
having personal interest in the maritime deal and the likelihood of him
disclosing information that would benefit Phnom Penh under the 2001
MoU.However, the denunciation of the MoU did not come into effect as the
Abhisit government did not officially inform Phnom Penh of the
decision.The Cambodian petroleum authority said in its statement that
negotiations between the two countries during 2001-2007, before the
Abhisit administration came to power, was fruitful. It said the
negotiations resulted in many proposals for joint development of the area
and profit sharing.The statement alleged that the Abhisit government tried
to make a secret deal, which Phnom Penh disagreed with, on the maritime
area. Abhisit sent his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for talks with Cambodian
leaders many times, including two behind-the-scene meetings with Deputy
Prime Minister Sok An in Hong Kong and Kunming in August 2009 and July
2010 respectively.While asking for transparency from previous governments
which had deals with Phnom Penh openly "why under the Abhisit government
was there a need for secret meetings", it said.The opposition Democrats
raised the question of Thaksin's personal business deal on oil and gas
concession in overlapping area in the Gulf of Thailand in Parliament last
week when the new government under Yingluck Shinawatra delivered its
policy address. Thaksin, who is Yingluck's brother, had reportedly planned
to visit Phnom Penh from August 19-21 but later changed his mind.The
Cambodian petroleum authority accused Abhisit of attempting to derail
negotiations between the governments of the two countries on the maritime
deal. The Democrat allegations of Thaksin of having a personal interest is
groundless, it said."So far, the new government (under Yingluck) has not
held any meeting or raised any proposal with Cambodia to resolve the
overlapping area, let alone any proposal to settle the dispute in exchange
for any private individual's gain," the statement said.Thaksin's legal
adviser Noppadon Pattama said yesterday that the former prime minister,
who is now in China after his high-profile visit to Japan, did not have
any plan to visit Cambodia or any of Thailand's neighbouring countries.
(Description of Source: Bangkok The Nation Online in English -- Website of
a daily newspaper with "a firm focus on in-depth business and political
coverage." Widely read by the Thai elite. Audited hardcopy circulation of
60,000 as of 2009. URL: http://www.nationmultimedia.com.)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of


text:
(Updates with Baden-Wuerttemberg starting in first paragraph.)
June 28 (Bloomberg) -- Inflation in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Hesse accelerated in June, led by higher energy costs.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the inflation rate rose to 2.3 percent from 2.2 percent in May, while increasing to 2.5 percent from 2.3 percent in North Rhine-Westphalia and to 2.1 percent from 2 percent in Hesse, the states' statistics offices said today. Inflation held steady in Bavaria, Brandenburg and Saxony. The Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden will release German inflation, based on data from six states, later today.
Inflation in the 17-nation euro region has breached the European Central Bank's 2 percent limit every month since December and President Jean-Claude Trichet today called for strong vigilance on price threats, indicating a July increase in the benchmark interest rate. While crude oil costs have retreated over the past month, they're still up 16 percent from a year earlier, adding pressure on companies to raise prices.
"Upward pressure from energy prices may ease somewhat in the coming months but inflation will remain above 2 percent for quite some time," said Ralph Solveen, head of economic research at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. "The German economy is doing well, inflation is accelerating and the cost situation is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for companies."
Economists expect the German harmonized inflation rate to rise to 2.5 percent in June from 2.4 percent in the previous month, the median of 19 forecasts in a Bloomberg survey shows.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, heating oil prices jumped 19 percent in June from a year earlier, today's report showed. Fuel was 9.3 percent more expensive in the year.
Rising Confidence
BASF SE said on June 16 it's raising prices for formic acid in Europe and K+S AG, Europe's biggest potash producer, in June increased prices for the crop nutrient.
While euro-region governments from Ireland to Spain are cutting spending to plug their budget deficits, the German economy is showing few signs of slowdown, giving companies room to pass on higher costs. Business confidence unexpectedly increased in June and unemployment dropped for a 23rd straight month in May, encouraging consumer demand.
The Bundesbank said on June 10 that "the prospects of the German economy experiencing a lengthy period of expansion are rising" and the recovery "has evolved into a broad-based upturn." The Frankfurt-based central bank forecasts Europe's largest economy will grow 3.1 percent this year after a record 3.6 percent expansion in 2010.
In the euro region, inflation probably accelerated to 2.8 percent in June from 2.7 percent in May, a separate survey showed. Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg, will release that data on June 30.
ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark said yesterday that the bank is "ready not to leave the interest-rate increase from April stand by itself." Trichet said in Amsterdam today that policy makers are "united on the goal of solidly anchoring inflation expectations."
--With assistance from Kristian Siedenburg in Budapest and Jeffrey Black in Frankfurt. Editors: Simone Meier, Jennifer M. Freedman
To contact the reporters on this story: Jana Randow in Hamburg at firstname.lastname@example.com; Christian Vits in Frankfurt at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Craig Stirling at email@example.com


text:
I have to play that. Now.
None - Of course non !! YOU PERVERT !
One, then I got fed up....
I could count them up on fingers of my one hand
Ok, I would need to use fingers from my other hand..and foot
Shut up - I'm trying to get the secret 20th path in this game ! COME ON !
I have to play that. Now.
Greetings earthlings.
Mmm... I have played some about 12-15 lets see... Sagara Family, Come see me tonight 1-2, Tokimeki chek-in, Jewel knights Crusaders, Hitomi Stepsister and some other games like that with a bit of "action".
The few that I have truly liked are Private Nurse, Heart de Roommate and figures of Happiness, less H but better for my taste and... I have to play Yume too.
In the middle of the Mizuki storyline right now. Does the author have some sort of asphyxiation fetish?
Several -_-
I know some people who are big fans of them, and then I read Genshiken and wanted to see what the fuss was about.
Needless to say, each left me with a deeper sense of self-loathing than the last.
jkjk XD.
i never played any full length games, but ive tried a few flashes. do those count?
Played about 5 of them. Doushin Heart, Critical Point, Come See Me Tonight, Kana Little Sister, and i forgot....
None- for a variety of reasons. First off, I'm not interested in H-games at all, two, I think I'm pretty young for them and three- where the hell would I get them? I don't even read hentai series so I definitely wouldn't touch a H-game. I'm happy playing my Cooking Mama, Fire Emblem and Phoenix Wright. XDD
Cooking Mama, sound perverted ;p
Some of them do have a really good story.
I recommend you try Fate stay night. It even got animated and it even has a part 2. I don't know how it could get a part 2 but it did. ?_?
The story ended already. I can't think of extending it any longer after it finish
If your interested in trying them. you can download them.
I bet you bought one and thought it was hentai game didn't you?
Theres actually a cooking Mama 2 ^^
Last edited by _Vincent_; 04-17-2008 at 11:38 AM.
May i list it?? heheh....^^;
Artificial Girl 2 & Artificial Girl 3
Dessblood VR & Desblood 4
Sexy Beach 2 (now buying the 3rd)
School Mate
Yuki Hotaru
....and so on i forgot^^ (about 3 or 4 more i guess)
2d :
Eroge that "officially" translate into US (Sagara Family,Lets Meow,Come see me tonight, Horny Bunnies, Yume Miru Kusuri, and so on count 4 u'reself i forgot^^)
Queen Bonjourno! (jp)
Chibusa Byoutou (jp)
FSN (jp)
fyuuh....that was a LOT of em....
again...sorry for my bad english^^;


text:
Easy-to-follow video tutorials help you learn software, creative, and business skills.Become a member
When you finish designing your book in BookSmart, you will upload it to Blurb, so that it can be ordered and printed on demand. To show you the upload process, I've opened a fresh copy of the file that I've been working on throughout this chapter. This is the finished version of this book. I've added text and image to every page. Before uploading, it's always a good idea to preview the book. I can do that by clicking the Preview Book button here or by going to the Publish menu and choosing Preview Book. If I forget to preview the book and I just choose Order Book, I get this warning from BookSmart reminding me to preview the book. I'll click OK, and that will take me into the Preview mode as well.
I'll check the text and image on the cover elements and then I will click this arrow and I'll check every page of the book. Particularly when I have a full bleed image on a page, an image that comes all the way out to the edge of the page. I want to make sure that during the manufacturing process I won't lose anything important at the edges of the photo. I'll check Display trim guidelines and click OK. Anything outside of the red dotted lines won't appear in my final book. I'll keep these trim guidelines on as I move through the pages of the book.
I'll be careful about checking text, taking a look at whether it's in the right font, whether it's flowing properly from column to column and page to page, and whether the spelling and grammar is correct. Basically, I'll look through every page of the book to make sure that the book looks like I designed it. If I want to, I can even print a hard copy of the book and proof that hard copy. And I can do that by going up to the File menu and choosing Print. When I'm satisfied that the book is fine, I will go back to the Publish menu and I'll choose Order Book.
If Blurb finds something that it thinks needs attention, it'll tell me that here. So, here it's telling me something about the flaps on the cover. If I select that warning and I click Go To Page, Blurb takes me right to the page where it thinks there might be a problem. The problem here isn't really a problem; it's just that I didn't add any content to the back and front flaps of this book. That's okay because I want them to print with nothing on the flaps. So, in this dialog box, I'll just click Ignore All Warnings.
Blurb gives me one final checklist of things to check on: spelling, keeping important content away from page edges, and reviewing everything in BookSmart's preview mode. I've done all of that so I'll click Continue. Here, I have to sign into my Blurb account. BookSmart connects to Blurb and begins to upload my book. This can take a while, depending on how many pages there are in the book and how large the images are. When the book is uploaded to Blurb, I'll see this page on the Blurb site in my web browser.
Later in the course, I'll be showing you how you can order one or more copies of your own book, how you can announce the publication of the book to family and friends, and how you can sell the book in the Blurb Bookstore. But for now, simply note that Blurb doesn't automatically print your book, it doesn't send you a copy of the book automatically, and it doesn't charge you anything automatically. None of that happens unless you order one or more copies of the book. As it says here, you have 15 days in which you can make that decision about whether to order the book or not.
At the end of that time, if you don't order the book, Blurb will remove it from the site. And during that time, if you have something you want to change about the book, you can upload other versions of the book, still at no charge. And by default, nobody knows about this book. The fact that you've uploaded it to the Blurb website is private, as you can see down here in the Book Settings tab. The book only becomes public if you choose to make it so. If you ever want to get back to this detail page, just sign into your Blurb account, and then go to Your Blurb and choose Your Books. And there you will see a list of all your books that are on Blurb, whether you created them with BookSmart or with one of the other bookmaking methods.
If I want to get back to the detail page for the book that I just uploaded, I'll find it in this list and I'll click on details. And back in the detail page I can order the book, I can share the fact that it's here on Blurb, and I can edit various book settings.
Access exercise files from a button right under the course name.
Search within course videos and transcripts, and jump right to the results.
Remove icons showing you already watched videos if you want to start over.
Make the video wide, narrow, full-screen, or pop the player out of the page into its own window.
Click on text in the transcript to jump to that spot in the video. As the video plays, the relevant spot in the transcript will be highlighted.


text:
I really should have taken the time to do this a L-O-N-G time ago. Jeff & Brandi run the BEST online magic shop...period. Their customer service and...Read More ->
When I purchased "The Elmsley Count Project by Liam Montier & Big Blind Media - DV" it arrived on my doorstep before I even knew I placed the...Read More ->


text:
East [S]
(2). Properly what is in front of one, or a country that is before or in front of another; the rendering of the word kedem . In pointing out the quarters, a Hebrew always looked with his face toward the east. The word kedem is used when the four quarters of the world are described ( Genesis 13:14 ; 28:14 ); and mizrah when the east only is distinguished from the west ( Joshua 11:3 ; Psalms 50:1 ; 103:12 , etc.). In Genesis 25:6 "eastward" is literally "unto the land of kedem;" i.e., the lands lying east of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia, etc.
East. [E]
The Hebrew term kedem properly means that which is before or in front of a person, and was applied to the east form the custom of turning in that direction when describing the points of the compass, before, behind, the right and the left representing respectively east, west, south and north. ( Job 23:8 Job 23:9 ) The term as generally used refers to the lands lying immediately eastward of Palestine, viz., Arabia, Mesopotamia and Babylonia; on the other hand mizrach is used of the far east with a less definite signification. ( Isaiah 42:2 Isaiah 42:25 ; 43:5 ; 46:11 ) [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary


text:
Ricky Lee Ray
Position: DB
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180 lbs.
Born: May 30, 1957 in Waynesboro, VA
High School: Waynesboro
College: Norfolk St.
Drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 6th round (146th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 7 (7982nd overall since 1950)
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1980 Game Log: Regular Season · Playoffs · vs.


text:
RJ Lehmann: C-FIRE's New Deputy Director
Meet the new host of the FIRE podcast and OOTS's new editor: RJ Lehmann, a financial journalist with almost a decade of experience covering the insurance industry, is C-FIRE's new deputy director. He is the guest on this week's FIRE Podcast, talking with host Arin Greenwood -- who recently left C-FIRE to join the Huffington Post as an editor, and who is married to RJ Lehmann -- about his plans for the podcast and OOTS. Their cat Derrick weighs in on federal backstops. (Note that one of RJ's plans for the podcast is to stop letting the cat participate.)


text:
How to buy jade in Asia
Our group is now ready for our own examination. The box is brought back out, and using the methods that we were taught, within a few minutes, we came to a collective consensus as to which three of the nine bangles are of genuinely high quality. We don't get them all correct, but - as the Meatloaf song goes - two out of three ain't bad.
But before our newfound semi-expertise can go to our heads long enough to make us consider any serious purchasing, Roxanne informs us what the asking price might be for the genuine article.
"This one, for example", she holds one of the dark green bracelets we had correctly identified as real, "is worth around 30,000."
"That's a lot," I say. "Most casual tourists aren't going to spend 30,000 NT [New Taiwan dollar] on a keepsake."
"NT? No. I mean American dollars. A real jade bracelet such as this can cost that much, or even more," Roxanne said.
Duly schooled in the value, complexity and precious nature of this very precious stone, we thank our teacher and exit the museum to shop for what we now know will be mere baubles at the weekend Jade Market.
Joshua Samuel Brown is one of the authors of Lonely Planet's latest Taiwan guide.


text:
The running time of data structures is not obvious without making assumptions on the current state of the data structure under speculation.
As a programmer and an algorist, I find myself computing the operating cost of devices that I intend to purchase. In my recent shopping endeavors, I was in search for a printer with simple requirements: it must be a laser printer that prints pages in grayscale. Once my range of options have been narrowed, it comes down to selecting the most cost-effective option: which printer has the cheapest cost per page printed?


text:
My Profile
Littleton, Colorado
Member since Jul 2010
Flag This ProfileFlag as Inappropriate
Reviewed mexican chocolate-banana muffins
Jun 27, 2014 on FoodNetwork.com
"I just made these and they were fantastic! Flavorful, moist and not too sweet. Plus, they were very easy to make with everyday ingredients. I didn't have Mexican chocolate on hand, so I substituted 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips and added 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon to the flour mixture. I live at high altitude, and followed the directions for baking..."