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STARKVILLE, Miss.--Fifty years after Martin Luther King Jr. penned the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Mississippi State students, faculty and staff joined in a worldwide celebration recognizing the document's continuing influence.
The university's Americorps Volunteers in Service to America, along with the Maroon Volunteer Center, answered the Birmingham Public Library's international call to sponsor an April 16 reading on the same day when, 50 years ago, King composed the multi-page correspondence and presented the moral foundations of the non-violent civil rights demonstrations he helped lead.
"The Birmingham Library asked for people to do readings all over the country, so people all over the world are reading this today, not just here at Mississippi State," said Lacy Jaudon, public policy and administration master's student. "Everybody's celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."
Following the reading, Becky Smith, MSU agricultural economics extension instructor, led a discussion about how the context and assertions of King's correspondence apply today.
"King explains that it's inevitable: Change is going to come," said Michael Vinson Williams, assistant professor of history and African-American studies. "We need that same determination that we are going to push forth regardless. If you align yourself with other people who feel the same way, change will come."
King's letter suggests change results from extremists' actions; he cites Jesus as an extremist for love and Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln as extremists for equality.
Reader Candice L. Higginbottom, a senior English major from Jackson, suggested that King was communicating that extremism isn't necessarily bad.
"I like how King pointed out how all these people are extremists. These are people who've left their marks on history," she said. "It's OK to be extreme."
Discussions also focused on the importance of voting and creating change by going to the polls.
"You need to vote because you have the right to," said junior business information systems major Reggie Tenner, of Water Valley. "Voting is a right where you can make a difference."
Read a copy of "Letter from Birmingham Jail" at http://bit.ly/KLa2H.


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In brief: Paper seeks Black Friday shoppers
Paper seeks Black Friday shoppers
VENTURA COUNTY — The Star is looking for Black Friday shoppers who would allow a reporter and photographer to tag along that day, Nov. 27.
If you or your group are open to sharing your shopping experience — what you're looking for, shopping strategies, tips for other consumers, how much you spend and whether this year's Black Friday is any different from previous years — please contact us. We won't reveal any special holiday surprises.
Volunteers should be willing to have photos and videos taken at various times of the day. For more information, contact staff writer Allison Bruce at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Big Lots expands to Port Hueneme
PORT HUENEME — Ventura County will have six Big Lots stores when the newest one opens Friday in Port Hueneme.
The newest store, opening a week before Black Friday, is hiring from 30 to 40 people. Big Lots will occupy the 15,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by Rite Aid in the Oliveira Plaza shopping center on Channel Islands Boulevard near Victoria Avenue.
Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots operates 1,367 stores in 47 states. As a "closeout retailer," Big Lots purchases low-cost merchandise resulting from production overruns, packaging changes, discontinued products, liquidations and returns.
GMAC chief resigns amid negotiations
NEW YORK — Troubled auto and home lender GMAC Financial Services said Monday that CEO Alvaro de Molina is stepping down.
Michael A. Carpenter, a member of the company's board of directors, has been named his successor.
De Molina's sudden resignation comes as the lender is in the midst of negotiating with the Treasury Department over a third round of taxpayer assistance. GMAC is instrumental to the operations of automakers General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, but its finances have been haunted by bad loans it made during the housing boom.
GMAC, based in Detroit, said it has asked the federal government to postpone any decision on additional taxpayer aid until Carpenter and the company's management assess the company's situation and can advise Treasury on the amount needed and what form it might take.
De Molina said in a statement it was a "good time for me to move on to my next chapter," though he did not say his next move.
Time Warner plans to spin off AOL
NEW YORK — Time Warner says it will spin off its Internet business, AOL, as a separate company on Dec. 9.
Time Warner Inc. said Thursday it has declared a dividend on the AOL shares it owns that will result in a complete separation of the two companies.
On Dec. 9, Time Warner stockholders of record Nov. 27 will receive AOL common stock for every 11 shares of Time Warner common stock they hold.
Time Warner was initially purchased by AOL in 2001.
The media conglomerate had said earlier this year it would spin off AOL after years of trying unsuccessfully to integrate the two companies.
Foreclosures hit minorities harder
NEW YORK — Blacks and Latinos are at a disproportionate risk in the ongoing foreclosure crisis because they are more likely than whites to have higher-cost mortgage loans and face higher unemployment rates, a report says.
The report from the William C. Velasquez Institute called on the federal government to take steps, including reforming bankruptcy laws and expanding eligibility for mortgage modification efforts, to help combat the crisis.
"If nothing is done then the foreclosures will continue disproportionately hitting blacks and Latinos," said UCLA professor Raul Hinojosa, the author of the study.
Hinojosa was in New York City on Monday to talk about the report, which was officially released last week. He said continued foreclosures could wipe out billions of dollars in home equity wealth amassed in those communities, and even those black and Latino homeowners who kept their homes would be affected by lower property values in foreclosure-riddled neighborhoods.
Unemployment is now the primary force behind foreclosures.
The nationwide unemployment rate is 10.2 percent. For blacks, it's 15.7 percent and for Latinos, 13.1 percent.
— From staff and wire reports
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subset: commoncrawl


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Hockey 'the dirty way'...do you care?
Paulie Puck prefers to keep it simple. (Is that because we're a card carrying simpleton? Uh, we refuse to dignify those questions�)
Instead, let's get a show of hands here regarding another simple question: Who's willing to play dirty? You know, as in "Hockey the Hard, err�Dirty Way."
Specifically, who's willing to withstand headlines across North America that scream "Dirty Hit" in bold print? Who's prepared to listen to irate opposing coaches proclaim that our style of play "makes me sick." Who's equipped to absorb hit �n run tweets from Chicago fans that paint our Coyotes as "classless" and "nasty."
Put in real simple terms - who's willing to play whatever stinkin' style it takes to advance out of the first round for the first time ever?!
Because, guess what? That line now forms behind me. I'm ready and willing. Without a doubt, my response to all of these questions happens to be a definitive and emphatic YES.
Get �er done. And how the Coyotes get there doesn't really matter anymore. Heck, go sign Oggie Oglethorpe for all we care. Pick up the phone and dial 1-800-NHL-GOON.
In a couple of months, we may not even own the Phoenix Coyotes. The chances are good that the Doggies will become the latest Arizona short sale. So, forgive me if I'm treating this team right now like a rental car ("Uh, did we just run over something? Hossa? Whatever, it's a rental�")
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather be known for the occasional big hit (BIG, BIG hit) than the Big El Foldo every postseason. And we do mean every single year in the history of the Phoenix Coyotes. Hence, the time has arrived for "Hockey - Whatever Way is Necessary�"
Again, maybe it's just me since I was standing there in St. Louis when, over a dozen years ago, Coyotes head coach Jim Schoenfeld guaranteed a win in Game Seven (#Buzzer). Forget Lord Stanley, it's been "Oh Lord, not again�" ever since.
So, this year, if Coyotes players are all ready to star in one of those "I Can't Take It Anymore" movies, can you blame �em? (Rated R for Reviled).
In fact, if the NHL league office is trying to diagnose why the team it owns is playing with the bile of a bunch of desert dogs? Well, this team is merely playing the hand it's been dealt. Then, think of everything the Coyotes have been forced to deal with the past few years, right?
Meaning, if you believe that whatever you deal out to others will be dealt to you in return�then the rest of the NHL might be in real trouble.


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Greater Florida LEGO® Users Group
Follow Us:
National Train Day Tampa on May 9th! click for more...
June Tampa Train Show at the State Fairgrounds, click for more...
Maker Faire Orlando Event Report, click for more...
Tweets by @GFLUG
What a great weekend event! Here are some interesting stats. It took a soccer ball 1:06 (one minute and six seconds) to traverse from Robin's Great Ball Contraption (GBC) up the conveyor, down the back and forth then over Shelley's bucket machine, through the wave machine into the sweeper, out the second bucket machine by Todd's and into Dan's four conveyor conveyance...
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While most people in Florida take to the beach for Labor Day Weekend, the Greater Florida LEGO® Users Group was busy displaying at Florida's Largest Home show. Todd, Mark, Robin, David, Katie and myself worked most of the day on Wednesday, to setup the roughly 15' x 80' display in the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The Expo Hall is a much different atmosphere than the Special Events center of which we are so accustomed...
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The new summer RAILBRICKS issue is available for free via their web site! Check out reviews of all the new LEGO® City train sets, take a look back at Brickworld Chicago and much more. Be sure to read the behind the scenes interview with LEGO® Train designer Ricco Rejnholdt Krog and Henrik Andersen. And learn how to build a small diesel shunter model by Tille Muovinen with just 89 pieces. You will find it all in the latest issue of RAILBRICKS, go to railbricks.com for more.
Click here to download RAILBRICKS Issue 15
May 9, 2015 (Saturday Only)
National Train Day at Tampa Union Station - Tampa, Florida
June 6-7, 2015 (Saturday-Sunday)
Tampa Model Train Show - Tampa, Florida
June 20-21, 2015 (Saturday-Sunday)
Brickworld Chicago 2015 - Schaumburg, Illinois
Matt S - The LEGO Movie is a film that will simultaneously appeals to LEGO fans of all ages and those who love them. As an AFoL (Adult Fan of LEGO) and the parent of two KFoLs (Kid Fan of LEGO), I was able to enjoy the movie as both a parent and a fan. The song in the movie "Everything is Awesome!" will quickly drive parents and AFoL to the brink of insanity!
More »
Special thanks to Eric Bravick of Hive Mind Internet Cooperative and Network Knowledge Systems for providing domain, server and support services to our club for this website.
More →
The Greater Florida LEGO® Users Group was formed in summer of 2000 for the sole purpose of giving Adult Fans of LEGO® a way to express their unique hobby.
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This is a club created website for fans and members of the Greater Florida LEGO® Users Group.
LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Company which does NOT sponsor, authorize or endorse this website.
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Home | News | Calendar | Our Club | Members Area | Links | Site Map | Legal Notices | Contact Us
|Copyright ©2000-2015 Greater Florida LEGO® Users Group - GFLUG. All rights reserved.


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Due to budget constraints last summer, the MTA had to move forward with a doomsday budget that left numerous bus and subway lines being discontinued or rerouted. While much of the expansive subway system's signage was changed, some things managed to slip through the cracks and reflect the previous subway lines that no longer exist at locations.
For instance, according to the drain pipes at Queensboro Plaza, the W train still makes stops there when the train line no longer exists (please don't think that we're suggesting that money be wastefully spent to change this).
Also, nearly all of the Braille signage has incorrect information at the affected subway stations. We're surprised that we've never come across aggravated blind person waiting for the M train at Court Street.
Lastly, as of late September, which was months after the W train was discontinued, N trains were making announcements for a connection to the W train at Whitehall Street at 5AM.
All of this merely adds to the real life bizarro world that sometimes exists on the subway, and we're fine with it.


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Our Fantasy Rhinestone Calf boots perfect for any warm weather or beach event or to add that sparkle to your evening. These Sandals feature a 6 inch heel with a 1.5 inch platform and feature a floral design and ribbon lace up front. These sandals are available in Black and Gold and are perfect for any special occasion or bridesmaid.
Copyright © 1995 - 2015 By The Sword All rights reserved
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Available formats: epub mobi pdf rtf lrf pdb txt html
Suzy Beamer Bohnert launched her writing career with a job as a newspaper sports editor. During that job, she interviewed numerous coaches, athletes, and fans about sports, putting complicated games into simple words. She has written six books, including "Game-Day Goddess: Learning Baseball's Lingo"; "Game-Day Goddess: Learning Basketball's Lingo"; "Game-Day Goddess: Learning Football's Lingo"; "Game-Day Youth: Learning Baseball's Lingo"; "Game-Day Youth: Learning Basketball's Lingo"; and the fiction children's book "Binkie Learns to Fly."
Her basketball, baseball, and football titles have been named Best Books for College Students by StudentAdvisor.com, a "Washington Post" Co. She also claimed the Best Books for Teen Boys Award from the New Hampshire Library Media Association. The Mom's Choice Awards named "Game-Day Youth: Learning Baseball's Lingo" as the "Most Outstanding Nonfiction Children's Book."
The winner of fifteen national awards for writing excellence, including the Hermes Creative, Ragan Communications, and MarCom Awards, she lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband, Randall, and son and daughter, where she helps coach her kids' basketball, baseball, and soccer teams.


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The Coast Guard found a debris field about 2.5 miles north of Maui where a plane went off radar Saturday night.
PHOTOS: Debris found in missing pilot casePublished 11:56 AM HST Dec 03, 2012
Slideshow Central
CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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Nick Brown founded Soludos — a combination of the Spanish words "salud" (cheers) and "sol" (sun) — in 2010 after realizing there were no good Stateside options for traditional jute-soled espadrilles like the ones he wore as a kid on vacation in Spain. A kind of summer ambassador, Brown first gave the shoes to family and friends (many of whom were among the Soho fashion crowd) and they soon spread to lovers of a laid-back lifestyle all around the world. The Mediterranean-inspired shoes include 100% cotton uppers, eco-friendly and breathable jute soles, and a thin layer of rubber on the bottom. Slip them on and you'll be carrying a bit of summer with you, no matter what season it actually happens to be.
As Moscow Fashion Week comes to a close, we're celebrating these serious style stars, spotted on the street. Standing out from the show-going crowds is no easy feat, unless you happen to be a part of the impeccably dressed tribe known as the "Russian Fashion Mafia." Ultra chic members like Mira Duma and Elena Perminova serve up outfit inspiration worthy of a photo op in eye-catching looks often ripped straight from the runways. Tap into the It Girl look yourself with the wardrobe upgrades below, and cue the flashbulb frenzy.
Total statement-makers, crafted in the U.S.A.
Our favorite brands and styles from this week's sales
Indulge your shopping habit with the latest pumps, sandals, sneakers, and flats with promo code Shoes25


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Parking startups ParkWhiz and SpotHero find their first rounds of funding in Chicago
Dec 21, 2012 1:35 am
Skift Take
Does parking really need to be disrupted? These companies are making strides by partnering with major event venues, and ParkWhiz is a step ahead of its competitor with venues around the U.S. already plugged into its system.
Monday we reported that Chicago parking startup SpotHero had raised $2.5 million in funding. That was big news for the ExcelerateLabs alumni that's currently working out of 1871. Now, we've heard that another Chicago parking startup called ParkWhiz has raised $2 million dollars.
ParkWhiz' funding round was led by Hyde Park Venture Partners.
ParkWhiz has been around a little longer than Chicago rival SpotHero. One of ParkWhiz' major success stories is the partnerships they've formed with organizations that are key in the big event space. ParkWhiz is partnered with StubHub, Ticketsnow, several NFL and NCAA teams and other sports and entertainment venues.


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Dragon Boat races in Lake Lure
Jun. 16, 2013 @ 08:55 AM
Row, row as fast as you can was the matter of importance Saturday at the sixth annual Lure of the Dragons in Lake Lure. Sixteen teams from the Carolinas competed in the event.
A contingent of participants gather for a photo at Saturday's sixth annual Lure of the Dragons in Lake Lure. The weather was perfect for being on the water at the Broad River and enjoy a bit of friendly competition.


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A Great Place to Volunteer
Oregon Caves is one of the few publicly accessible marble caves in the northwest and contains a rich store of scientific knowledge about the region's natural history. The visitor center and historic Chateau lodge are nestled around the cave entrance under a crown of lush green conifers, maples, and madrone trees. Oregon Caves National Monument preserves an old-growth forest within the rugged and of southwestern Oregon, a region widely recognized for its rich geological and biological diversity.
Can you picture yourself here? Do you want to help serve park visitors and protect park resources? Good news, there are VIP positions open at the Monument!
Volunteers have the flexibility to work in a wide variety of jobs and projects for short and long periods of time. Oregon Caves offers some unique underground experiences as well as opportunities in science, restoration, interpretation, and more! You can gain experience, learn new skills, and stay active and involved. Student internships and group service projects can work in conjunction with our Volunteers-in-Parks program to provide opportunities for career development and service. There are also many potential projects for volunteers with specialized skills and backgrounds.
There are many options for volunteers:
International volunteers must meet visa and immigration requirements to be able to volunteer with the National Park Service. Learn more about the International Volunteers-in-Parks program.
Volunteer Housing
Dormitory-style park housing is limited but may be available. Park policy does not permit pets in the dorm. Download the housing handout (202KB PDF). There are no RV sites in the park. An off-park RV site may be available for volunteers who make a commitment of at least three months.


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Last week, the Washington Court of Appeals held that "in an insurance bad faith case, the amount of a reasonable covenant judgment sets a floor, not a ceiling, on the damages the jury may award." Miller v. Safeco Ins. Co.,...more
- Appeals Auto Insurance Bad Faith Car Accident Damages Jury Verdicts Settlement
In Stewart Title Guar. Co. v. Sterling Savings Bank, et al., Wash. No. 87087-0 (October 3, 2013), the Washington Supreme Court held that a nonclient insurer may not pursue a malpractice claim against appointed defense counsel...more
- Attorney Malpractice Duty of Care Duty to Disclose Insurers Third-Party Liability
In a case widely reported by the national media, the Washington State Supreme Court recently ruled that a governmental entity may face liability for faulty road design that leads to injuries in car crashes, even when the...more
- Car Accident Distracted Driving DUI Infrastructure Liability Roads
The Washington Supreme Court joined a minority of jurisdictions that hold that insurers may not unilaterally reserve the right to seek reimbursement for defense costs paid in defending non-covered claims through a reservation...more
- Excess Policies Insurers Legal Costs Medicare Prejudice Prescription Drugs Reimbursements Reservation of Rights Umbrella Policies
In Capitol Specialty Insurance v. JBC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 68129-0-I, 2012 Wash. App. LEXIS 2835 (Ct. App. Dec. 10, 2012), the Washington Court of Appeals held a firearms exclusion in a commercial general...more
- Commercial General Liability Policies Exclusions Firearms Negligence
In Schmidt v. Coogan, No. 41279-9-II, 2012 WL 5331567 (October 30, 2012), the Washington Court of Appeals held that (1) collectibility is a required component in determining legal malpractice damages and (2) the failure to...more
- Attorney Malpractice Damages
Attorney Malpractice
Car Accident
Auto Insurance
Bad Faith
Commercial General Liability Policies
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Want to set your local edition?
Select an edition for more focused local news coverage when you visit AL.com.
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You people are indicative of why Alabama is ranked #49 in the nation for education.
parking is free after 5pm along the street. and in the parking garage it's $2 flat starting at 6pm until 6am. Meters are 50 cents an hour. During the day parking garage is 50 cents/day with a max of $4.00 being charge. you people are a bunch of complainers. and since you're so worried about your quarters that you would need to spend to park in the daytime, just how much money do you think it would COST to build a new downtown courthouse? It was built in 1964 by the way and so it's not 70's design. And because it's built on top of a cave, with concrete pillars supporting it inside the cave, I'm sure that it would be a nightmare to rebuild.
My child is a student at ASFL and while I can't say anything spectacular about the food there, it is adequate. It could most certainly be better. And yes, like the Hampton Cove parent stated, there is a lot of waste. The children throw A LOT of it away. It is disgraceful. But this is where I beg to differ. I am at school a lot. I help quite frequently in the lunchroom. It is my observation that the children throwing their food away are not good eaters. They never want to eat any of the healthy options on the lunch plate. My child is allowed to buy lunch one or two times a week. She eats almost everything on her plate. I was picky eater as a child and I was determined not to handicap my child with this same problem and we have so far been successful. Just like the problem with discipline in the schools, it seems to me that it all goes back to home training (aside from the schools with problems of over/under prepared food).
What Alabama (and the rest of the US needs) is MORE instructional days (not longer school days) to keep up with a global economy and competitiveness. http://www.theatlantic.com/past/politics/educatio/barr2f.htm
Oh my word. Our state legislature is filled with idiots. There is so much research showing the effects of summer break and the backslide students experience because of it.
In a 2009 government web cast, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan described summer learning loss as "devastating." This is what researchers have often referred to as the "summer slide." It is estimated that school summer breaks will cause the average student to lose up to one month of instruction, with disadvantaged students being disproportionately affected (Cooper, 1996). Researchers conclude that two-thirds of the 9th grade reading achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years, with nearly one-third of the gap present when children begin school (Alexander, Entwistle & Olsen, 2007). The body of existing research demonstrates the critical importance that the early development of summer reading habits can play in providing the foundation for later success.
Summer learning research can be broadly categorized under the following themes:
The impact of summer learning loss on disadvantaged youth
Access to books and time devoted to reading
The importance of successful reading experiences
The impact of innovative summer reading programs
south huntsville has a new library branch in the works with donated land and financial support from the councilman. the 2 small branches will be closed and a new "high tech" community spot will be built. Why can't north Huntsville do something like this? There is plenty of land out that way, large acres still being farmed in the middle of neighborhoods. For example, the big piece of acreage on Mastin Lake across from Davis Hills Middle. And what about sprucing up the magnet school on Mastin Lake a little? It brings in students who drive from all areas. How about making the outside areas, especially the playground and outdoor PE areas more attractive and a little less "ghetto" looking. It's a disgrace. I'm sure many families take one look at the place and say "no thank you."
Unless it's a medical issues, it all goes back to home training. The parents sound like they need some parenting classes - as well as a refresher in English grammar. But yes, cuffing the child was definitely a poor decision. Calling the police was a poor decision - unless the school couldn't get the parents to come in regarding the problem.
Google maps street view clearly shows that Hickory Hill and Lily Flagg is a two way stop and the cyclist coming down the hill did not have a stop sign. I would assume this was just an accident. While technically it looks to me like the car would have been at fault (assuming the cyclist was on the road and not the sidewalk) since the car had the stop sign and the cyclist didn't, I'm sure it's very hard to see a cyclist coming fast down a hill at 6am in the morning. On the day of the accident it looks like sunrise wasn't even until 6:15am. I hope the cyclist/coach recovers fully. I hope when he's back in the bicycle saddle again he models better bike safety for his students by wearing a helmet, reflective biking clothing, and lights on his bike if he's going to continue biking in low light situations.
considering this studio has been a fixture in this location since 1965...i'm thinking shouldn't they have gotten over it in the last 40+ years?
she's been there for 40+ years. you've been there for how long? guess you didn't talk to any of the neighbors. and if you are from Huntsville then there's no way you couldn't already know about this. everybody in southeast huntsville knows how busy ann's is.
considering this studio has been a fixture in this location since 1965...i'm thinking shouldn't they have gotten over it in the last 40+ years?
it was a shame that Huntsville City Schools squandered it's opportunity with this award winning school. Instead of closing it they should have been replicating it in all their underpreforming schools. I bet not a single one of the Title I schools since has had the success that Lincoln had. Way to go Lincoln Ministries for not giving up and bringing this facility back to life! ProLifeButNotYou is clearly ignorant of the issues involved when this school was originally closed and what it means to reopen it again. Maybe s/he should be more action and less talk and get her/himself into a Title I school and start trying to turn things around for the children of our community.
it was a poor headline choice but from reading the article the main idea is evident and 14Liberty and Kislath seemed to have missed the point which is, "All proceeds raised Monday night will go to benefit the Everybody Can Play special needs playground splash pad at Brahan Spring Park."
i'm not a member of PETA so why would I do something like that? I try to respect all of the life God has put on the planet. It's just hard when people like you are part of the life on the planet that I have to try to respect. It's hard to respect people when they have no respect for the rest of the life in the world.
You know what HsvDad? I see you post on here a lot and you seem to be one of those people who gives Alabama a bad name. If I had to guess, my bet is you are an upper middle class, church going, who cares about the rest world as long as I'm not affected type of person whose kids are going to grow up to be self centered spoiled brats who don't contribute anything to our society except just want to know what the can get out of it. I bet your main goal for them is you want them "to be happy" instead of having them grow up to be honest, contributing members of society. I bet if you showed your kids a few behind the scenes ringling brothers videos they would be begging you not to take them. Good clean fun. Good grief. What's wrong with you self-centered, heads stuck in the sand people? Try some of these non-PETA videos for your viewing pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdt-RBbmiyE&feature=related
ummm...teaching economics at Westpoint doesn't mean that he knows anything about public school education. lizzyle is right, he's doing a great job with what he knows - the finances. He's really falling down on the job as far as educating the children. Too bad we couldn't have Dr. W as the CFO and a great public school educator with forward thinking ideas in the superintending spot. That would be a great coup for Huntsville.
ahhh...it's always lovely when the ignorant illustrate just HOW ignorant they are with their own words. Thanks commentor steve and readarmymembe for outing yourselves.
when will schools be notified about if they will or will not be getting a new principal? And if they are, when will they find out about the replacement?
The other new propst home on McClung:
i drove by this house on my way home from church this morning. it's already been torn down. the house that the propst family built on mcclung is U-G-L-Y. For the neighborhoods sake, I hope they do a better job this time around.


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An electrically conductive non-porous polyolefin composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of propyleneethylene copolymer containing 20 mol % to 35 mol % ethylene and at least 30 parts by weight of finely divided conductive carbon, e.g. carbon black, per 100 parts by weight of copolymer. This composition may be made by mixing under conditions of high shear, e.g. in a Banbury mixer, and at a temperature of at least 100° C the propylene-ethylene copolymer and the finely divided conductive carbon, the mixing being continued until a homogeneous blend is obtained. A bi-polar sheet for an electrochemical cell may be formed by obtaining a homogeneous blend of polyolefin and finely divided conductive carbon by the above-mentioned process and thereafter forming the composition into the shape of a bi-polar plate.
1. An electrically conductive nonporous polyolefin element comprising a homogeneous mixture of a crystalline propylene-ethylene copolymer containing from 20 mole % to 35 mole % ethylene and at least 30 parts by weight of finely divided conductive carbon per 100 parts by weight of copolymer, said element being in the form of a thin sheet having a thickness of from about 150 microns to about 500 microns and said element having an electric resistivity below about 10 ohm-cm as determined by ASTM Test Method D-257-61.
2. An element according to claim 1 wherein the copolymer has a Melt Flow Rate (MFR) of from 5 to 10.
3. An element according to claim 1 wherein the finely divided conductive carbon is present in an amount of 90 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of copolymer.
4. An element according to claim 3 wherein the finely divided conductive carbon is carbon black.
5. An element according to claim 4 wherein the carbon black is acetylene black.
6. An element according to claim 1 wherein the finely divided conductive carbon has an active surface area of 300 to 500 m2 /gm.
7. An electrically conductive non-porous sheet having a thickness of between about 150 microns to about 500 microns comprising a homogeneous mixture of a crystalline propylene-ethylene copolymer containing from 20 mole % to 35 mole % ethylene and from 30 to 120 parts by weight of finely divided conductive carbon per 100 parts by weight of copolymer, said copolymer having a Melt Flow Rate of from 5 to 10 and said element having a resistivity below about 10 ohm-cm as determined by ASTM Test Method D-257-61.
8. In a bipolar plate for electrochemical cells having an insulating frame supporting a thin electrically conductive sheet element, the improvement wherein said sheet element comprises a crystalline propylene-ethylene copolymer having from 20 mole % to 35 mole % ethylene and a Melt Flow Rate of from 5 to 10, said copolymer compounded with from 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of finely divided conductive carbon, said sheet element having a thickness of from 150 microns to 500 microns, being nonporous and having a substantially uniform volume resistivity as determined by ASTM Test Method D-257-61 of below 10 ohm-cm when measured at any point on the surface of the element.
9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said element has an average resistivity of below about 1 ohm-cm.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 767,113, filed Feb. 9, 1977, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 583,614, filed June 4, 1975, now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation, and in particular the extrusion, of electrically conducting nonporous thin sheet elements from polyolefins, useful especially in the construction of bipolar plates for electrochemical cells.
2. Prior Art
Many attempts have been made to make conductive or semi-conductive materials from polymeric plastics loaded with conductive solids such as carbon black, graphite, or finely divided metals. All manner of thermosetting and thermoplastic resins have been proposed including melamine, phenol-aldehyde, and more commonly polyolefins such as polyethylene and graft copolymers thereof and polytetrafluoroethylene. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,591,526 and 3,673,121.
In general, compositions of relatively low resistance can be prepared by dry mixing a finely divided thermoplastic polymer and conductive filler and molding the mixture under heat and pressure. Such molded products are normally porous and nonhomogeneous in structure, and accordingly are not suitable for certain sophisticated applications which require thin impermeable conductors of highly uniform composition. An example of such a sophisticated application is a bipolar plate for a fuel cell or battery. In this regard, see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,814,631 and 3,530,003.
A far higher degree of homogeneity than is obtained by a dry blending process can be obtained by the use of known mixing devices such as a Banbury mixer or roll mill. French Pat. No. 1,305,140 describes the preparation in a Banbury mixer of a number of blends of carbon black or graphite in a crystalline polypropylene with or without an amorphous copolymer plasticizer. The resistivities of these blends were all of the order of a number of megohms-cm and they are described as suitable for use as thermistors and semi-conductors. In addition, the mixing time in the Banbury mixer is of the order of 30 minutes and this inevitably results in some thermal degradation of the polypropylene with consequent impairment of its physical and mechanical properties. Moreover, such carbon-plastic blends are not capable of being easily formed, for example, by extrusion, into thin nonporous sheet-like structures, particularly thin sheet elements, having thicknesses, for example, of from about 150μ to about 500μ.
When carbon black is incorporated in a polymer such as rubber or polypropylene in a Banbury or similar mixer, there is an upper limit to the amount that can be incorporated to give a homogeneous product. When this limit is exceeded, heterogeneous particles or carbon exist in the mixture and can be identified as such in a number of different ways. The greater the amount of carbon which a given polymer can take up, the better is what can be called its binder efficiency. Three test methods used to measure binder efficiency are briefly described below. In all cases the loaded polymer was ground into granules of about 2 mm diameter.
A white polypropylene compound is melted for 5 minutes on a mill roll at 160° C. When a good rolling pencil is obtained, three grams of the carbon loaded granules are added and the sheet immediately stripped. If the carbon black is properly incorporated, the individual granules are taken up by the white polypropylene without the latter being stained. If not, the white sheet becomes locally stained gray by the free carbon.
The carbon-loaded granules mentioned above are extracted with isopropanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. Any free carbon black dust shows itself as a black turbidity.
The examined compound is extruded through a flat die 12 cm wide to a 0.25 thick sheet and corrugated between rolls. It is then visually examined for cracks or fissures. If present, these indicate the presence of free carbon, and simultaneously show that the sheet cannot have uniform resistance over its surface.
When carbon black is used as a reinforcing agent in rubber, and particularly for tires, a typical concentration is 45 phr, or 45 parts by weight of black per 100 parts by weight of rubber. So-called "master batches" intended for subsequent dilution with additional rubber may be made up containing 70 to 75 phr of black. The resistance of such a master batch would be of the order of a few hundred ohms-cm.
As already indicated, low resistance compounds may be made by the treatment under heat and pressure of dry-mixed blends of finely divided carbon black and polymer. These are heterogeneous, have relatively poor mechanical properties and are porous. Since the blends are always heterogeneous, the concept of binder efficiency as a measure of the maximum carbon content which can be taken up to give a homogeneous blend is no longer applicable.
It is known to cast electrically conductive polymer films from solutions. In this regard, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,958. Typically such films are cast on a supporting substrate since plastic films cast from solution are exceedingly thin, indeed generally below about 100μ, typically about 10μ to 50μ, and require support to maintain their structural integrity. Also, these films generally are porous. In any event, the concept of binder efficiency as a measure of the maximum carbon content which can be taken up by the polymer to give a homogeneous blend is not applicable to solution casting techniques.
It has now been discovered, in accordance with the present invention, that by proper selection of the starting materials and preferably by the use of a particular blending technique, it is possible to prepare nonporous, homogeneous conductive carbon polyolefin elements in thin flat sheet or thin foil forms having exceptionally low resistivity, uniform electrical properties, and good mechanical properties. Such elements are particularly useful in the manufacture of bi-polar plates for electrochemical cells such as fuel cells and storage batteries.
In forming the electrically conductive nonporous polyolefin element, a homogeneous mixture of a crystalline propylene-ethylene thermoplastic copolymer having at least 20 mole % ethylene and at least 30 parts by weight of finely divided conductive carbon per 100 parts by weight of copolymer is employed. Indeed, the copolymer has a minimum ethylene content of 20 mole % and for practical purposes the ethylene content should not exceed about 35 mole % since above this level the thermoplastic characteristics tend to be lost and the product becomes an elastomer. In addition, the copolymer, when intended for electrochemical cell use is preferably highly purified, e.g. by extraction with solvents such as chloroform or isopropanol, to remove catalyst residues and stabilizers which could act as poisons or otherwise interfere with the electrochemical reactions taking place in the cells. Obviously this is not necessary when the end use is one in which their presence is harmless. A desirable class of copolymers is that having a Melt Flow Rate (MFR) of at least 5 and preferably from 5 to 10.
The preferred form of finely divided conductive carbon used in the practice of the present invention is carbon black since it is cheap, readily available and gives extremely good results. The finely divided conductive carbon, e.g. carbon black, generally should be present in from 30 to 120 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of copolymer and preferably in from 70 to 100 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of copolymer. Part or all of the carbon black may be replaced by graphite.
Acetylene blacks are preferred because of their good electrical properties, but obviously furnace blacks and channel blacks can also be used. Suitable commercially available blacks are available under the Trade Name of Vulcan (e.g. Vulcan 3, Vulcan XXX and Vulcan XC-72).
Usually the finely divided conductive carbon has an active surface area of 300 to 500 m2 /gm.
It was found experimentally that crystalline polypropylene homopolymer, for example has a binder efficiency which is far too low to give a homogeneous mixture with finely divided carbon and, consequently, elements formed from such blends do not have uniform electrical properties over the entire surface of such elements. Indeed, for use as bipolar plates in electrochemical cells, the volume resistance perpendicular to the plate face of the polyolefin element is most significant, and elements prepared from crystalline polypropylene, for example, did not have electrical resistivities approaching desirable values of below about 10 ohm-cm as measured by ASTM D-257-61.
The proper selection of starting materials also is important in the shaping or forming of the materials into nonporous plate-like structures for use as bipolar plates for electrochemical cells. A battery of such bipolar plate is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,003 wherein each bipolar plate of the battery is a thin sheet-like electrically conductive plastic element in an insulating plastic holding frame. For use as an electrically conductive sheet element, the starting material, i.e. the carbon-olefin blend, must be capable of being formed into thin, nonporous sheets, most preferably by extrusion. It was found experimentally that copolymers such as ethylene-propylene copolymers containing less than 18 mole % of ethylene and having, for example, a MFR of 3.5 when mixed from about 90 to 110 parts by weight of carbon per hundred parts by weight of copolymer could not be extruded into thin nonporous sheet elements.
As stated earlier, the use of a Banbury mixer for incorporation of carbon black into propylene as described in the art involves mixing times of the order of half an hour or so and this inevitably causes degradation of the polymer and consequent deterioration of its physical and mechanical properties. This degradation is substantially reduced if the filler is incorporated into the polymer under severe conditions, involving a high degree of shear, high temperature and relatively short mixing time.
In accordance with this invention, the electrically conductive nonporous polyolefin composition is prepared by a process comprising mixing under conditions of high shear and at a temperature of at least 100° C. the propylene-ethylene copolymer and the finely divided conductive carbon, the weight ratio being at least 30 parts of carbon per copolymer, the mixing being continued until a homogeneous blend is obtained.
Mixing equipment such as a Banbury mixer or roll mill, as used in the rubber industry, may be used, the Banbury being preferred. Essentially, a Banbury-type mixer has two interdigitating screw-like vanes contained in a close-fitting housing which also mounts a ram used to exert pressure on the mix during mixing, if so desired. Heat transfer fluid can be circulated through passages in the vanes to provide heating or cooling as desired during the mixing operation. During mixing, the charge will, of course, be progressively heated by the energy expended in the shearing action. In a typical plastic compounding operation, the amount of charge required to fill the mixer to capacity is added portionwise, generally with heating of the charge and over an extended period of time. Indeed, normally the plastic is added to the mixer and the carbon black is added in increments after the plastic has been heated in the mixer. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mixer, which has been preheated to a temperature above 100° C., preferably above 150° C. and desirably up to 200° C., is charged simultaneously with the copolymer and carbon black in the requisite proportions and most preferably in an amount sufficient to completely fill the mixer after being fluxed, i.e., after it is at its final density in a fused state. When both carbon black and copolymer are charged simultaneously into the mixer, especially if the amount of charge is such that the mixer capacity will be filled after completion of the mixing operation, high shear is introduced by both the ram and vanes of the mixer. The mixing, when conducted under conditions of high shear and at temperatures between 100° C. and 200° C. in accordance with the present invention, is complete generally in less than 10 minutes and typically in from 3 to 5 minutes.
It is found that the copolymer blends prepared according to the present invention have suffered very little degradation and are readily formed into thin sheet or foil-like structures which are non-porous and also have very low resistivity of a few tens of ohms-cm at most, and which may range from about 0.5 to 10 ohms-cm according to the circumstances and the amount of carbon black incorporated. Most significantly, the copolymer blends prepared in accordance with the present invention can be extruded into thin nonporous sheets having substantially uniform volume resistivities at any point across the face of the sheet of below about 10 ohms-cm. Indeed, elements with average volume resistivities of below about 1 ohm-cm can be prepared.
The compounded copolymer can be formed, e.g. by calendering or extrusion, into thin non-porous foils or sheets having a thickness of between about 150 microns to about 500 microns and preferably about 250 microns and having a substantially uniform resisitivity through the volume of the sheet material at any point over its surface of below about 10 ohms-cm and preferably with average resistivities of below about 1 ohm-cm, as measured by ASTM Test Method D-257-61. Indeed, it is preferred to form the thin non-porous sheets by extrusion through a die having the requisite dimensions.
The foils or sheets can be corrugated or given a similar profile by appropriate molding techniques. For use as a bi-polar plate in an electrochemical cell, it is preferable to mount the sheet in an insulating plastic frame in a manner such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,003, for example, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
The following comparative data will illustrate the unexpected benefits of the invention.
Compounded compositions of Vulcan XC-72 carbon black in various proportions were made with a polypropylene homopolymer and a propylene-ethylene copolymer containing 27 mole % ethylene (PP-PE copolymer). Both resins in powder form had a MFR of 6 and a crystallinity of about 93% (before extraction) and had been previously extracted with isopropanol to remove catalyst residues, etc.
The blends were prepared in a Banbury mixer of 2.5 liter capacity which was pre-heated for half an hour at the full steam pressure of 11 kg/cm2 whereby its temperature was raised to about 180° C. Polymer and carbon black were simultaneously charged to the mixer in the proportions indicated in the table and in a total amount per charge of about 3 kg. The rotor speed was 78.5 RPM and the Piston Ram pressure 4.8 kg/cm2. Mixing times were from about 7 minutes for the low carbon blends to 10 minutes for the high carbon blends.
After extrusion through a flat die 12 cm wide to a sheet 0.25 mm thick, the resistivities of the resultant blends were determined by the method of ASTM-D-257-61, and the binder efficiency by plate-out test and cracks examination were determined. The results are shown in the following table:
______________________________________Binder Efficiency and Electrical Resistivity MeasurementsVulcan XC-72/PP homopolymer Vulcan XC-72/PP-PE copolymer Binder Binder Effi- Electrical Effi- ElectricalRatio ciency Resistivity Ratio ciency Resistivity______________________________________50/100 E 190 ohm-cm 50/100 E 11 ohm-cm60/100 E 147 ohm-cm 60/100 E 3.5 ohm-cm70/100 G 137 ohm-cm 70/100 E 2.5 ohm-cm75/100 G 132 ohm-cm 80/100 E 1.4 ohm-cm77/100 B -- 90/100 E 0.97 ohm-cm80/100 B -- 100/100 E 0.48 ohm-cm90/100 -- -- 110/100 G 0.27 ohm-cm 115/100 B --______________________________________ Rating: E = Excellent G = Good B = Bad
As shown in the table, the binder efficiency of the copolymer is far better than that of the homopolymer with a maximum content of 110 parts of black per 100 of copolymer compared with a maximum of only 75 parts for the polypropylene. It can also be seen that using polypropylene the lowest resistivity obtainable is around 130 ohms-cm which is many times too high for the intended fuel cell and battery uses. In sharp contrast it can be seen that over the same range of proportions all of the copolymer blends are effectively within the target range of 1 to 10 ohms-cm indicating not only a higher capacity for the carbon black but also a much more effective internal distribution.
The product with 110 parts of black to 100 of copolymer was ground to give granules of about 2 mm particle size. This was fed to a 30 mm extruder with 25:1 L/D ratio equipped with a 12 cm flat die having a 250 micron lip opening. Twelve samples of the extruded non-porous sheet were taken at 15 minute intervals and twelve test specimens 10 square cm and 250 ± 1 micron thick were tested for electrical resistivity isotrophy by measuring the resistivity at nine points along the diagonals using a four electrode direct current indicator. All of the readings were within ± 10% of the average of 0.27 ohm-cm.
Following the procedure of Example 1, Vulcan XC-72 carbon black was compounded with a propylene-ethylene copolymer containing about 14 mole % of ethylene. The copolymer had a MFR of 3.5. After compounding the product was ground to give granules of about 2 mm particle size and then the ground product was fed to an extruder equipped with a 120 mm flat die having a 300 micron lip opening. In the case of this compounded copolymer, a non-porous sheet could not be obtained. Indeed, the compounded copolymer of this example when attempted to be extruded resulted in internal pressures at the die of about 30% greater than when using the compounded PP-PE copolymer of this invention having 20 mole % ethylene.
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Feb 03 2013
About Entericorp
We are a small business focused on communication impact, the value of life experience, and the power of community. Vocal Impact Communication Services is one of our practices.
The Method
Author of Can You Hear Me Now? Harnessing the power of your vocal impact in 31 days, and Entericorp co-founder, Kate Peters has been developing the Vocal Impact Services concept and delivery methods for more than 15 years. As an expert guest she has been featured on radio and television, providing insight about how the sound of a speaker's voice supports, or betrays, their message and impact.
Our method to communicating with impact and influence is a science-based, performance-proven approach that is grounded in a deep understanding of vocal physiology and muscle control; we treat communication as an athletic endeavor and systematically build skills and performance discipline in the communicator. Our executive coaches and practitioners help executives create communication that aligns their personal intention and business strategy with compelling content and purposeful delivery choices that impact listeners.
Our client list includes Cisco, Intel, First American Title, Invensys, Verify, Disney, politicians, non-profit leaders, radio personalities, and others.
A Commitment to Community
Demonstrating a strong commitment to their community, we have produced extremely successful events for arts and education organizations in Orange County, helping to raise more than 12 million dollars since 2004.
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Katie Faulkner
DANC 195Core F"The dance is the movement of longing, the will to action, the wish for an affirmation to life" – Mary Wigman, 1932.
Course Description:This course introduces dance as a performative art that serves as a reflection of individual expression, cultural identity, and social conflict. By exploring the San Francisco dance environs, we will learn that dance not only echoes particular values and aesthetics, but also has the potential to re-imagine and subvert those ideals. We will be dancing in the studio, reading articles about dance, studying with San Francisco dancer/choreographers, and attending city dance performances. Over the course of the semester, we will learn about the diversity of dance forms, concepts in dance theory, and social/political issues that impact the making of dance.
Faculty Bio:Katie Faulkner is a Bay Area choreographer, performer, filmmaker and teacher. She has performed the works of Bill T. Jones, Randee Paufve, Stephen Petronio, June Watanabe, Victoria Marks, Kim Epifano, Ann Carlson, and Susan Rethorst. She has worked with several of these choreographers as a dancer with AXIS Dance Company, with whom she performed from 2003-2007. In 2006 she founded the little seismic dance company. Since its inception, Faulkner has received support in the form of numerous commissions, residencies, and awards. She was artist-in-residence at ODC Theater from 2009-2011, the Marin Headlands Center for the Arts, the Djerassi Resident Artist Program, and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography. She has received Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (Izzies) in Choreography, Performance, and for her 2008 dance film, LOOM. In 2011 she received the top prize in the Joyce Theater A.W.A.R.D. Show!/San Francisco competition as well as the San Francisco Bay Guardian GOLDIE Award for dance.


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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Martin Maldonado clubbed a grand slam in the third inning to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 triumph over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Jim Henderson (1-2) earned his first career win after tossing a perfect seventh inning. Tyler Thornburg started for the Brewers and gave up one run on four hits and fanned four over four innings.
John Axford stranded two runners in the ninth to notch his 36th save.
Jesus Guzman, Will Venable and Yasmani Grandal each drove in a run for the Padres, who have dropped six of their last seven.
Anthony Bass (2-8) gave up four runs on three hits and three walks over three innings to absorb the loss.


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Gear Question
Are any of these frames the Di2 compatible...
Are any of these frames the Di2 compatible model?
yes i beleive they are di2 compatible
You can get a PINA Dogma frame designed specifically for electronic systems like Di2 and Campagnolo EPS. If the frame is not designated and described as such then its very likely not. The electronic versions have all the provisions to run the cables internally plus the mounting bosses for the system brain/battery. You could retro fit a mechanical shift frame with one of the electronic systems but it would just not be as clean looking.
View More Details on Pinarello Dogma Carbon Road Frameset 2011


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Posted at: 02/20/2013 4:51 PM
Updated at: 02/20/2013 10:29 PM
By: Renee Passal
After a tough 2012 financially, Cliffs Natural Resources is poised to stabilize the company and move forward in all of their different sectors. This was the news at the annual community breakfast in Virginia, where over 100 people came to hear the plans for the future.
Cliffs leaders said that they're looking at a strong North American ore market, and growth in China. They are also planning ahead for a surge in stainless steel in China.
Also, the planning for a nearly pure iron pellet that could feed a Direct Reduced Iron plant is still in the works. "It's not if, it's when. And it's likely both Northshore and United Taconite, although Northshore may have fewer hurdles with permitting and capital investment," said Kelly Tompkins, Executive Vice President. "We also need to see a customer, ideally in the Great Lakes region."
He's referring to someone building a DRI plant in the region. DRI products are a more energy efficient way to make steel.
As for the domestic iron ore market, the company expects to produce 20 million tons. Two million of those will be shipped to Asia.
There will be over $50 million dollars invested in the plants in the United States, which include three in Minnesota and two in Michigan. Cliffs owns Northshore, United Taconite, and partially owns Hibbing Taconite.
They also continue to invest in their major project in Canada, the Bloom Lake mine.
Challenges include the ever-changing environmental regulations that are under scrutiny in Minnesota. And steel imports from China are also an issue at times.
However, the outlook is positive for 2013.


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Lawmakers seek curbs on police power to use drone aircraft
PHOENIX - Rapidly advancing drone technology packing the latest surveillance tools into affordable and lightweight machines could help police do their jobs more effectively and with greater safety.
But some Arizona lawmakers say that current state law doesn't offer enough privacy protections against police using drones.
"Many of my constituents out there that approached me really believe that if law enforcement is using drones and cameras, spying on people or looking at what's going on, they really need to have a search warrant, they need to have a good reason," said state Rep. Jeff Dial, R-Chandler.
Dial introduced a bill, HB 2574, that would require a warrant for police to use drones to collect evidence against people except in emergencies.
Dial's bill wasn't taken up in committee, but a similar bill by Rep. Tom Forese, R-Chandler, made it through the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 20. HB 2269 also calls for police to get a warrant but would lower the standard for the use of drones from probable cause to reasonable suspicion.
Forese said he is working with the Arizona Commerce Authority to bring more military-grade drone business to the state. He authored a resolution, which the House has approved and forwarded to the Senate, that would express the Legislature's support for the Federal Aviation Administration to place one of several national drone test ranges in Arizona.
Forese said that economics should play a role in any policy decisions on drones.
"I do not think that these issues are mutually exclusive," Forese said. "I believe that we can strike a balance between privacy and economic development and that will be our objective."
The drones making most of the headlines lately are larger fixed-wing machines used by the U.S. to track and kill enemies in other countries. Drones used by police are much smaller - up to 25 pounds - and look more like remote-controlled helicopters. They almost always carry cameras but can also be equipped with facial recognition technology, tools that can lock onto and track cellphone information and cameras that can see through walls.
Arizona is among more than two dozen states considering legislation to regulate how police use drones, and legislation is pending in Congress.
"State lawmakers of both parties have realized this issue is critical in voters' minds, and they've decided to take a stand for privacy," said Trevor Timm, an activist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation focusing on surveillance issues. "In all my work at EFF, I've never seen anything that so unites the left and right. I think it underscores that this is a nonpartisan issue that has struck a chord with people."
Most of the legislation would require police to get a warrant before using drones to collect evidence against people. In some states, the bills call for a moratorium on drone use. Charlottesville, Va., passed a resolution this year banning any use of drones by the city.
A 2012 Federal Aviation Administration policy allows public safety agencies to operate drones up to 5 pounds under certain circumstances. The policy has since expanded to allow devices weighing up to 25 pounds.
But Lt. Col. Thomas Streed, a retired law enforcement officer from California who's been watching the drone debates at the Arizona Legislature, said Forese's bill doesn't include enough protections for everyday people.
"I've worked in communist countries, and I have to tell you that unbridled surveillance is a way of life for those people and no one should have to live like that," he said. "This is a step toward that, independent of the reasonable and appropriate regulations that control such conduct."
Mario Mairena, government relations manager for a drone-industry trade group called the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, said a lot of the bills in legislatures across the country are fueled by misperceptions.
"When the average citizen thinks about drones, they think about the (unmanned aerial systems) that are being utilized in theater," he said, referring to machines used in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. "That's not what we're talking about here."
Current constitutional protections are enough to regulate the way police use drones, he said.
"The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has protected individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures for years," Mairena said. "We feel there's no reason to think that the courts aren't able to handle this new technology."
Mairena said his trade group's code of conduct calls on drone operators to respect privacy regardless of the technology. He also pointed to guidelines adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police that call for police to operate drones within constitutional limits.
Mairena said that drones are no different than helicopters the police already use to surveil people. But Timm, the activist from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, countered that helicopters are expensive and typically only used for serious investigations.
"Drones are so cheap," he said. "There's a big difference, and the chance that police would use them for more routine, everyday surveillance."
Dial said drones could be very helpful with things like search and rescue and scientific research, but he said the ability for police to use them has to be regulated.
"We don't want to feel like we're living in a police state," he said.


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Garden House Bed and Breakfast
Table Of Contents
Present Day rest and relaxation at a time-honored inn is found at this 1896 Queen Anne bed and breakfast. Hannibal Garden House Bed and Breakfast, located in Hannibal, Missouri, offers Mississippi River views, seasonal gardens and cozy featherbeds.
Hannibal Garden House Bed and Breakfast can be found in Historic Downtown Hannibal, Mark Twain's hometown. Located on the street once known as Millionaire's Row because of its beautiful homes and fine architecture, the Garden House Bed & Breakfast beckons guests to lodge in a beautifully restored home. Built by Albert Wells Pettibone, Jr., one of the founders of the Hannibal Saw Mill and Sash Companies, the family's love for natural woods is still evident throughout the rooms today. Oak, mahogany and old grove pine adorn the parlors, fireplaces, foyers and four guest bedrooms.
Innkeepers Chris and Rick greet each guest, with European featherbeds, personalized breakfasts served in the signature garden dining room (a visitor attraction in itself), midday cookies on the charming porch overlooking the seasonal gardens, cotton robes, cable TV, wireless internet access and more.
Be greeted with a warm, personalized breakfast at the top of each morning, in a stunning, hand painted floral-themed dining room. Enjoy friendly conversation with other guests on the charming wooden porch overlooking the seasonal gardens.
Then head out for a wonderful day amidst artist studios and galleries, along the Mississippi River or off the beaten path, where you will find awesome antiquing, as well as historical and outdoor recreational adventures.
Midday cookie breaks and roll-down bed service complete your perfect day in Hannibal.
History of the Garden House
The Garden House was built in 1896 by Albert Wells Pettibone, Jr., son of the founder of the family lumber businesses: the Hannibal Saw Mill Company and the Hannibal Sash and Company. The family's love for natural woods is still evident throughout each of the House's rooms.
The Garden House today, guests have the rule of the house in the Garden House's two parlors (historically, a men's and a women's), two foyers (downstairs and upstairs) and formal dining room.
Three guestrooms have queen beds and the South Room has a king bed. The South Room can also be paired with the West Room and its adjoining bath to accommodate families. The South and East Room, featuring unique canopy beds, overlook the Mighty Mississippi River. The North Room, with its adjoining bath, is the most secluded and is decorated in violet hues.
Mark Twain
"It is an art apart. Saint Francis of Assisi said, 'All saints can do miracles,' but few of them can keep hotel." - Mark Twain
...nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people - Mark Twain
When I find a well-drawn character in fiction or biography I generally take a warm personal interest in him, for the reason that I have known him before--met him on the river - Mark Twain


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Wood Architecture in Vorarlberg
HittisauHittisau on the map
The fact that wood is also durable and still looks great even after centuries has much to do with the care with which it is selected, felled, dried and worked - a care that has been handed down through the ages. Thus roofing tiles are made from water-repellent larch. The weather side of a building is clad in pine and the side facing the sun in spruce, while Swiss pine is just right for terrace floors. When felling the wood, the phases of the moon play are every bit as important as the timing of what is felled when, and for what purpose. Wood acquired in winter, out of the growing season, is a naturally long-lasting wood for construction. By contrast, wood felled in summer when the moon is waxing is suitable for pile constructions in water, such as wooden jetties or boathouses. It may sound like a country saying, but this is knowledge confirmed empirically over centuries and now backed up by laboratory tests.
Take a Wood&Culture walk in Hittisau, and you can track the roots of the craftsman's skill in handling this forward-looking material with its promise of a better world. The arc spans from a visit to a farmhouse in Bregenzerwald to crossing the oldest covered wooden bridge in Vorarlberg, before leading on to a modernised inn and the newly-built "Feuerwehr- und Kulturhaus", serving both as the fire station and the building housing the Hittisau Museum of Women. Wood plays the main role in all these constructions. It is sleek, elegant, spectacular. And it smells great!
It can be experienced close enough to touch at the wood workshop run by Markus Faißt, who devotes love, commitment, serious application and immense skill to making furniture for the good life - from Zurich to Athens, from Washington to Vienna. Dining, living, working, sleeping - these are the things he focuses on. For instance, he has designed a bed that does away entirely with metal and glue. The individual parts are connected using dovetail joints, a carpentry technique that is as simple as it is sophisticated. By way of contrast, the Werkraum Bregenzerwald has established itself in Andelsbuch as a competence centre for wood. New furniture and objects in wood are exhibited at the werkraum depot, the showroom in Schwarzenberg. One particularly fascinating piece is a dowelled fountain in pine wood. The wooden dowels swell up when coming in contact with water, and the fountain - that can simultaneously be a bathing tub - becomes sealed. A further delight is wooden shoes. Traditionally, these were the clogs worn when working on the farm. But with long-hair goatskin applied as the leather upper, they become a celebration of fashion.


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CS315P : Microprocessor Design Lab
The existing BEETEL COREL was using the UM91214A dialer chip which both scans the keypad and generates the DTMF tones.
Click here for spec sheet of UM91214
UM91214 was replaced by W91312N (Winbond) which can be interfaced to the Microcontroller. The chip costs only Rs. 50. It is connected to the 8051 using an 8255 PPI.
Click here for W91312N data sheet
A51 Source code for the dialer
Following are some BMPs of the waveforms of the DTMF tones generated by W91312
Another alternative to the W91312N is BU8307CS.
Click here for BU8307CS data sheet
Click here for a pin-by-pin comparison b/w UM91214A & BU8307CS


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A system and method for funding a collective account via aggregating usage of electronic tags is disclosed. The system and method promotes the use of electronic tags, and, the funding of collective accounts that may be associated with charitable or other philanthropic causes. Further benefits may be realized by replenishing the prefunded account that serves as the source of funds for the electronic tag to an affinity account that also benefits the charitable or other philanthropic cause.
1. A method for attributing a reward to an individual account and a collective account, comprising:
associating an RFID tag with an individual account, wherein the individual account and the RFID tag are both associated with the tagholder and a financial institution, wherein further the financial institution comprises one or more host computers;
aggregating RFID tag usage and calculating, on a periodic basis, a first reward based at least in part on aggregate RFID tag usage, wherein aggregate tag usage comprises aggregate purchase amounts for purchases of at least one of goods or services from a plurality of merchants when the tag is presented to the merchant at time of purchase;
calculating a second reward on the same periodic basis;
aggregating individual account usage and calculating, on the same periodic basis, a third reward based at least in part on individual account usage, wherein individual account usage comprises aggregate purchase amounts for purchases made using the individual account as a source for payment;
attributing the first reward and the third reward to the individual account;
attributing the second reward to a collective account associated with at least one organization, wherein the at least one organization comprises at least one of a business organization, a trade organization, a political party, a religious organization, an athletic organization, a professional society, an educational organization, a charitable organization, a fund-raising organization, or a governmental organization, or combinations thereof; and
distributing the first reward and the third reward to the tagholder from the financial institution,
wherein the REID tag is branded with a symbol, name, or colors, or combinations thereof, generally associated with the at least one organization.
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This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/927,462 filed on Aug. 13, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,453. The contents of the above-identified U.S. application are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates generally to the funding of collective accounts through the use of electronic tags ("tag" or "tags"). More specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods for funding a collective account that may be used for a variety of purposes, such as making charitable contributions or otherwise contributing to causes, based on tag usage and the "float" of a prefunded account associated with a tag.
Electronic tags are used today to conduct various financial transactions. For instance, the Mobil� division of ExxonMobil Corporation sponsors a program called SPEEDPASS� whereby a customer can purchase gas and other goods and services by activating a system with a tag containing a transponder, where the tag is associated with some source of the customer's funds which are used to pay for the purchase. The tag may be kept on a keyring, and is waved in front of a detector to activate the system.
Another popular, rapidly growing use of electronic tags is in Electronic Toll Collection ("ETC") systems including E-Z PASS,� GEORGIA CRUISE CARD,� SUNPASS,� EPASS,� and FASTRAK,� among others, which allow a motorist to electronically charge a toll for using certain roadways without having to physically stop at a tollbooth to pay the toll. ETC systems are a part of the technology known as Intelligent Transportation Systems ("ITS") fostered by the Intelligent. Transportation Society of America ("ITSA"), a society composed of private and public members which was mandated by the United States Congress in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 ("ISTEA") to coordinate the development and deployment of intelligent transportation systems in the United States. ETC systems enhance the safety, capacity, and efficiency of the tollway systems in this country, as well as improve customer service and satisfaction. In addition, ETC systems improve air quality by reducing the number of vehicles which sit at idle speed at tollbooths.
The users of these tags generally associate a prefunded account to serve as a source of funds to pay for charges made with their tags, where the prefunded account balance is referred to as the "float." These prefunded accounts are maintained by the ETC system operator, who invests the account balances and makes a profit off this "float." The user may automatically replenish the prefunded account by instructing the system to charge additional "float" to an individual checking, savings, or credit card account or other source of funds that is associated with the tag when the prefunded account balance reaches a low limit, or the user may manually replenish the prefunded account balance.
ETC systems operate by detecting some tag identification information associated with the tag using some type of sensor as the motorist passes through a tollbooth or otherwise activates the sensor and determining which prefunded account is associated with that tag. Tag identification information may be contained in bar coded labels, which are placed on the vehicle and detected by laser scanners at the tollbooth. Alternatively, tag identification information may be transmitted via an RF or IR or other type of transponder located in the tag, where the emitted signal is read by a reader/antenna located at the tollbooth. Often the tags are intended to be attached to the motorist's front windshield or side window by some type of adhesive, and are, for the most part, contained in generic plastic casings which many consider unattractive to display.
When the tag identification information is detected by a scanner or reader/antenna at a tollbooth, the prefunded account associated with that tag is debited the amount of the corresponding toll or charge. Annual toll revenues for the nation's toll roads which use ETC systems easily exceed one billion dollars a year,1 so enrollment of users in the nation's ETC systems contemplates a significant "float" potentially to be held by ETC systems operators. 1According to data compiled during the years of 1996 through 1999 by the ETTM, a component of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). See www.ettm.com/usafac.html.
Some potential ETC users currently do not enroll in the systems because they do not want to leave their money in the prefunded account where they lose the use of the account balance, and where they are committed to spending the prefunded account balance with the ETC system operator. Further, as noted, the tags currently used are considered plain and unattractive, which may lead some motorists not to mount the tags on their windshields, creating a safety hazard as those motorists fumble to find the tag to pay the toll.
The method and system of the invention overcomes these problems of the prior art, and adds an incentive for potential users to sign up for and to use ETC tag systems. As well, the invention provides ETC systems operators an incentive to make charitable and other contributions based on the users' tag usage and "float."
It is feature of the invention to provide a method and system for funding a collective account with a reward based either on aggregate tag usage of a plurality of tags associated with that collective account or on the aggregate of prefunded account balances for a plurality of prefunded accounts associated with the collective account.
It is another feature of the invention to provide an incentive for potential users of electronic tag systems to open and prefund accounts with electronic tag system operators.
It is yet another feature of the invention to facilitate a method for electronic tag systems operators to make charitable and other financial contributions.
It is yet another feature of the invention to provide an electronic tag that will increase public awareness of charitable or other political or educational causes.
It is yet another feature of the invention to facilitate the earning of rewards in a loyalty program sponsored by or otherwise associated with a for-profit or retail program, where the tag is associated with an individual account that is associated with the loyalty program.
It is another feature of the invention to provide an additional benefit to holders of collective accounts by prefunding accounts with individual accounts that are associated with and benefit the holders of the collective accounts through affinity programs.
It is another feature of the invention to encourage use of ETC systems by motorists and thereby benefiting the environment.
It is yet another feature of the invention to increase safety at toll booths by providing an electronic tag that motorists will want to install on their windshields.
One aspect of the invention relates to a method and system for funding a collective account comprising a plurality of tags and prefunded accounts associated with those tags, associating the tags or the "float" of the prefunded accounts to the collective account, aggregating either the tag usage or the prefunded account balances, calculating a reward based on the aggregate tag usage or prefunded account balances, and funding the reward to the collective account. The funds in the collective account may be used for a variety of purposes, such as making charitable contributions, funding political campaigns, or making contributions to religious or civic groups or educational institutions.
Another aspect of the invention relates to decorating a tag with a symbol, name, or color scheme of the target organization. Not only does such decoration increase public awareness of the tagholder's chosen cause, but it also increases the likelihood that the user (if a motorist) installs the tag on the windshield of the vehicle which increases highway safety by reducing motorist distraction as he or she fumbles to locate the tag as he or she approaches the toll booth.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method and system for associating a prefunded account for a tag with an individual account that is itself associated with a loyalty program, and increasing credits in the loyalty program through use of the electronic tag. These loyalty program credits may inure to the benefit of the tagholder, as for example where the individual account amasses cash bonuses or frequent flyer miles upon individual account usage. Alternatively, the loyalty program benefits may inure to a charitable or other organization, as where the individual account is an affinity account that makes a contribution to a chosen card based on individual account usage. Further, an organization that is the beneficiary of both an affinity program associated with an individual account associated with a tag and is also the holder of a collective account associated with the same tag may receive double benefits from tag usage.
As used in this specification, the terms "tag" and "tags" refer to any known or later developed device or object, associated in some manner to a source of funds, that may be used to activate a system for automatically making purchases of goods or services and charge the purchase of those goods or services to the associated source of funds. The associated source of funds may itself be a prefunded account, and may also be associated with at least one other source of funds, as an individual account, to replenish the prefunded account balance.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the following figures.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are referenced with like numerals.
The invention relates generally to a method and system for funding a collective account through the use of electronic tags, or through profits made off the "float" of the prefunded accounts associated with those tags. One embodiment of the invention may comprise associating each of a plurality of tags to a prefunded account and a collective account, or alternatively associating the prefunded account directly to the collective account. The invention further comprises aggregating tag usage for all associated tags in the collective account. A reward may be calculated based on the aggregate tag usage for all tags associated with the collective account and the reward credited to the collective account, thus providing an incentive for tagholders to increase their use of ETC systems. The above steps can be accomplished in real time or on a periodic basis. The funds in the collective account may be used for a variety of purposes as, for example, funding of charitable, religious, political, or educational institutions. Individual tagholders may be members of the organization that is the holder of the collective account.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the reward to the collective account may be calculated based on the aggregate prefunded account balances for all prefunded accounts associated with the collective account, thus providing an incentive for tagholders to increase the "float" amounts kept in their prefunded accounts.
In another embodiment of the invention, the system operator may establish a number of collective accounts and designate each collective account for a particular purpose as an environmental purpose, charitable purpose, etc. Tagholders may associate all or a portion of their prefunded accounts and/or tag usage to one or more collective accounts. In this embodiment, it is not necessary that tagholders be members of any organization that is the holder of the collective account, and a single tagholder may associate his or her prefunded account and/or tag usage in percentages to multiple collective accounts.
Tagholders may be issued periodic reporting statements detailing the contributions made in relation to the association of their prefunded accounts and/or tags to collective accounts.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a computer-based system for funding a collective account, wherein a tag is associated with prefunded and collective accounts. The system may include a host computer capable of programmed response and software capable of monitoring individual tag usage or prefunded account balances, aggregating tag usage or prefunded account balances, and calculating a bonus based on the aggregate tag usage or prefunded account balances of all prefunded accounts associated with a particular collective account. The computer may perform other functions as generating statements of the prefunded accounts to the tagholders and statements of the collective account to the holder of the collective account, and may also be capable of automatically initiating a funds transfer from an individual account associated with the tag and/or prefunded account to replenish the prefunded account based upon predetermined conditions, such as low prefunded account balance. In addition, a plurality of remote computers may be networked or otherwise capable of communicating with the host computer, where the remote computers are associated with reader/antennas at tollbooths or other sites where a tag may be used to purchased a good or service. The reader/antennas may be capable of detecting tag identification information and transmitting the tag identification information along with the charge to the remote computers, which can then transmit the information to the host computer to charge the associated prefunded account for that tag. Alternatively, remote computers may access the host computer for tag identification information, and identify the prefunded account before transmission of the charge information to the host computer.
In another embodiment of the invention, the tag and prefunded account may be associated with an individual account used as a source of funds to replenish the prefunded account based on fulfillment of predetermined conditions, as for example a predetermined low balance amount in the prefunded account. The individual account may be an affinity account, where an organization receives a benefit from use of the individual account. If the affinity organization is also the holder of the collective account, that organization can realize a double benefit from a tagholder's use of the tag—both from the affinity program when the individual account is used to fund the prefunded account, and again when the reward is calculated and awarded based on tag usage. In other embodiments, the individual account may be associated with a loyalty program, where benefits accrue directly to the tagholder upon use of the individual account. In this scenario, increased tag usage benefits the holder of the collective account, and also causes increased needs to replenish the prefunded account, which then benefits the tagholder directly by increased loyalty program credits.
The presence of an LED and/or LCD readout in the tag allows the user to view such information as remaining balance in his or her prefunded account or to receive and/or view messages transmitted from the reader/antenna. The tag may also have the ability to generate a sound that indicates a successful detection by the reader/antenna or a low prefunded account balance which might be a theme song associated with the holder of the collective account, as for example the fight song of a selected university. The tag may have a communication port to allow it to communicate with other devices, as for example relaying traffic information received from the reader/antenna to a device capable of reading and mapping out the relayed information within a vehicle or some remote or hard wired device.
The holder of the collective account can be an organization comprising a plurality of members. However, the tagholders are not necessarily members of the holder of the collective account, as the tagholders may designate different causes to receive the reward. The collective account may also comprise one or more sub-accounts, where each sub-account is designated for a different purpose.
The reward may be calculated in a number of ways. For example, the reward may be based on aggregate tag usage or aggregate "float" of the prefunded account balances associated with the collective account calculated over some period of time. Alternatively, the reward may be customized by basing it on a comparison of aggregate tag usage or aggregate "float" of the prefunded account balances during a given period to historic performance, where increased performance in the given period results in a proportionately greater reward. Alternatively, a minimum performance standard may be set to achieve any reward to be credited to the collective account.
Although the invention is described in terms of electronic tags associated with prefunded accounts, collective accounts, and individual accounts, this description is not intended to limit the invention but is rather one embodiment as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Referring now to
A flowscheme of one embodiment of the invention is shown in
A flowscheme of an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in
Referring to
Upon or anytime after tagholder enrollment with the ETC, searchable indexed computer files 430 1 through 430 n are created by the host computer processor 460 for each enrolled tagholder and stored in the host computer storage 470. The files 430 1 through 430 n may contain such information as an individual tagholder's name, address, tag identification information, prefunded account information, tag usage, and selected collective account(s). The files 430 1 through 430 n may also contain information identifying individual accounts that may be used to replenish the prefunded account balances. Each account can be indexed by the tag identification information, name, and selected collective account. Also, files 480 1 through 480 n may be created by processor 460 and stored in storage 470 containing information for a plurality of collective accounts.
A plurality of readers/antenna 420 1 through 420 n may be located at remote locations from the host computer 400 at the sights where the tagholders use the tags to purchase goods or services. The tag can transmit or is otherwise detectable to provide the tag identification information. Each reader/antenna 420 n may be associated with and capable of communicating with a remote computer 410 n, where each remote computer is capable of communicating with and transmitting information to and receiving information from the host computer 400. In addition, each local computer 410 n may also have a processor capable of programmable response and storage capability.
When a tag is detected by the reader/antenna 420 n for a purchase of a good or a service, tag identification information can be recorded in the local computer 410 n along with the amount of the charge. Either in real time or on a periodic basis, the local computer 410 n can communicate with the host computer 400 and transmit the detected tag identification information along with the associated charge amount. Using the tag identification information, the host computer 400 can access the file 430 n indexed by that tag identification information, and debit the prefunded account associated with that file for the charge amount.
Either in real time or on a periodic basis, the processor 460 of the host computer 400 can access all tags and/or prefunded accounts that are associated with a certain collective account 480 n and either aggregate the total tag usage or the "float" of the prefunded account balances for the prefunded accounts associated with that collective account. A reward can be calculated based on these aggregates, and the processor 460 can initiate a funds transfer in an amount equal to the reward to the collective account 480 n.
The foregoing embodiments have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. The scope of the invention is to be determined from the claims appended hereto.
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Diana DeGette
From ConservapediaDiana DeGette is the United States Representative for the 1st congressional district of Colorado. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She was first elected to the House in 1998. As with most liberals, DeGette isn't very smart. During a public forum held on April 9, 2013 she explained her support for a ban on high capacity magazines by saying,
"These are ammunition, they're bullets, so the people who have those now, they're going to shoot them, so if you ban them in the future, the number of these high-capacity magazines is going to decrease dramatically over time because the bullets will have been shot and there won't be any more available"
clearly demonstrating a lack of basic knowledge regarding a stance she has championed since taking office.[1][2]
After initial criticism of her lack of knowledge about guns, DeGette and her minions doubled down on stupid by releasing a statement saying that DeGette meant to say that "clips" can not be reused. [3] This information came as a surprise to everyone who has ever shot an M-1 Garand.
DeGette and the people who work for her obivously no nothing about guns, so it was natural for the Democrat party to put her in charge of their bill to ban certain types of magazines. [4]
- ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_22942476/degette-draws-criticism-pretty-stupid-ammo-magazine-comment?source=rss
- ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_22971620/inaccurate-remarks-gun-magazines-put-rep-diana-degette?source=rss
- ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/apr/3/co-sponsor-bill-banning-high-cap-magazines-stumble/
- ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22942476/degette-draws-criticism-pretty-stupid-ammo-magazine-comment