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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit* has held that employers may use "sticks" to encourage participation in wellness programs as well as "carrots," if the wellness program is part of a group health or other benefit plan.
*The 11th Circuit hears appeals from federal courts in the states of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
Let me back up and explain the issue a bit.
**NERD ALERT (but this is important!)**
As most readers know, the general rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act is that employers cannot make "medical inquiries" of current employees unless the inquiries are "job-related and consistent with business necessity." This means that an employer is normally not allowed to ask for medical information unless there is reason to believe that the employee's medical condition is affecting safety, performance, or behavior on the job.
If this rule were applied without exception, then any wellness program would violate the ADA, right? That is why the ADA has an exception pertaining to voluntary wellness programs. An employer is allowed to ask for medical information from employees -- even if the information is not "job-related and consistent with business necessity" -- if the information is obtained in connection with a voluntary wellness program.
The "voluntary" part of this is very important -- a "mandatory" wellness program would not qualify for the exception. Maybe.
A couple of times in the past, I have posted on wellness programs and the ADA, and expressed concern about employers who used "sticks" instead of "carrots" to encourage participation. Specifically, I discussed a program in which Broward County, Florida, charged its employees an extra $20 on each biweekly paycheck if they did not participate. (Actually, the county imposed the $20 charge only if the employees participated in the group health plan and not the wellness program. Employees who were participated in neither one were not penalized in any way.) The City of Chicago was also preparing to start a wellness program that required employees to pay $50 a month to opt out.
I was afraid that these programs might render the wellness programs "not voluntary," meaning that any information obtained from employees in connection with the programs would violate the ADA.
A Broward County employee named Bradley Seff had the same concern, and he filed a class action lawsuit against the county. While the lawsuit was pending, the county stopped imposing the charge.
A federal district court in Florida granted summary judgment to the employer, and yesterday a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit affirmed. Both courts found that the county's program fell within a "safe harbor" in the ADA, which provides that a covered entity is not prohibited "from establishing, sponsoring, observing or administering the terms of a bona fide benefit plan that are based on underwriting risks, classifying risks, or administering such risks that are based on or not inconsistent with State law."
The decision is short on legal analysis, no doubt because there is virtually no case law on this issue. In addition, Mr. Seff's only ground for appeal was that district court should have given more weight to testimony by the county's acting benefits manager. The manager had testified that the wellness program was not a term of the county's benefit plan and that the wellness program was not a term of the county's health and pharmacy plans. The 11th Circuit held that this testimony was either an inadmissible legal conclusion, or a factual statement that did not preclude the possibility that the wellness program was nonetheless a part of the program.
The court said, "The parties do not cite, nor are we independently aware of, any authority suggesting that an employee wellness program must be explicitly identified in a benefit plan's written documents to qualify as a 'term' of the benefit plan within the meaning of the ADA's safe harbor position."
Therefore, because the wellness program
*was sponsored "as part of the contract to provide Broward with a group health plan,"
*"was only available to group plan employees," and
*was presented "as part of [the County's] group plan in at least two employee handouts,"
the court affirmed the district court's ruling that the program fell within the ADA's "safe harbor" provision. And because the program fell within the safe harbor, it was irrelevant whether the program was "voluntary" or whether medical inquiries made in connection with the program violated the ADA.
So, party on, wellness programs!
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
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'Dreamtime: Tales from Down Under,' Brookline, Dec. 29 - 31
Posted by Jen Clark Estes December 17, 2012 08:58 AM
Photo by Warren Johnson
Looking for another fun activity to occupy some winter vacation time? Head over to the Puppet Showplace Theatre in Brookline for a performance by Barefoot Puppets with their show based on traditional Aboriginal folktales. Learn about some truly unusual animals as a mother platypus tries to get her young one to sleep by sharing three stories from the Australian Dreamtime. In these "how and why" tales you'll learn how the emu became a flightless bird and why the platypus looks so strange. In the final story, you'll meet a giant, bloated, ocean-swallowing frog -- and perhaps you'll even be invited onstage to help get the water back. Emus, crocodiles and frogs -- oh, my! Sat., Dec. 29, 1 & 3 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 30, 1 & 3 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 31, 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Ages 3 and up. $15. The Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St., Brookline. www.puppetshowplace.org
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Welcome to Parent Buzz, where you can read about and discuss the hot parenting issues of the day, find family-friendly events in Boston and beyond, and get parenting tidbits and tips.
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Dan Balz suggests that the Obami actually do realize the health-care debate has been a loser for them. He writes:
Like Democrats everywhere, White House officials are keenly aware that, after two elections in which the party made significant gains, losses will be inevitable in November. The health-care debate has damaged the president's approval ratings and the cohesiveness of the coalition that elected him. The question is how significant.
It seems then that congressional Democrats have been sold a bill of goods by the White House, which despite horrible polling on its signature legislation, insisted that passing a health-care bill was essential to the Democrats' political survival. Now we learn that the exercise is to assess how disastrous it has been.
But Balz's analysis reveals a fundamental flaw in the thinking of political insiders and the administration specifically. Balz explains that now that health care is a nearly done deal, Obama can worry about the economy, unemployment, the deficit and spending. But wait. Health-care reform, at least in its current form, is likely to impact adversely each of these items. Isn't the mammoth tax-and-spend bill and the Ponzi scheme (which resorts to politically untenable Medicare cuts to fund a new mammoth entitlement program) going to impact the economy, unemployment, the deficit, and spending?
This is a now familiar pattern — the disinclination of the Obama administration to see that its central policy proposal will adversely impact private-sector growth, risk taking and hiring. Labeling health care "social welfare legislation" and everything else "economic policy" is a misnomer. They are part and parcel of a legislative agenda that helps create an environment hostile to employers, which will retard the economic recovery. If conservatives are going to be successful in offering an alternative, they would do well to point this out to voters and explain how preventing Obama's signature "social welfare legislation" is the best thing we could do to prevent further damage to a still frail economy.


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Lawmakers are wanted back in Raleigh
RALEIGH — The group representing hundreds of North Carolina towns and cities wants Gov. Pat McCrory to recall legislators to Raleigh to beef up economic incentives and revive expiring film production and historic preservation tax credits.
North Carolina League of Municipalities Executive Director Paul Meyer wrote the governor Thursday asking for a special General Assembly session. The legislature officially adjourned two weeks ago.
Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker already has backed the special session idea. She says the state will run out of funding for popular job-creation grants this fall. Decker also seeks a fund to help attract big companies to rural areas. Neither item passed before adjournment.
Meyer says the state can't afford to sit on the recruitment sidelines as the country's economy improves.
The governor hasn't indicated what he'll do.


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City transport is set to receive an overhaul, as community services are ramped up to offer more free travel for residents.
At least three new community transport services could be provided over the next four years, including three-day-aweek shuttles between Dawes Point and Camperdown; and Rosebery, Alexandria and Erskineville.
A review has found multiple operating providers including Council, has proved inefficient and uncoordinated.
Councillor John McInerney said: "We as a community weren't getting the maximum benefit from community transport. There are a number of disconnected services."
Lord Mayor, Clover Moore said a revamp would help those who might otherwise be cut-off from shops, hospitals, and essential services.
"Through improved organisation, we can provide over 80,000 trips each year once services are fully up and running – almost double the number of trips we now provide."
Liberal Councillor Shayne Mallard said the standard transport system is geared toward commuters with few services and needs to connects suburbs together.
"We've been targeting isolated and disadvantaged communities such as areas of public housing."
"It has provided a safety net for transport for some groups."
The shuttles are free, fixed route services that fill in the gaps of public transport, offering
the young, elderly and socially disadvantaged, travel between Redfern-Broadway and Redfern- Woolloomooloo.
Ms Jane Rogers, Manager of South East Sydney Community Transport which operates the service, said an elderly woman and her disabled daughter would save for a taxi fare for a month to see each other.
"Now they use the shuttle from Redfern to Glebe twice a week for free."
Ms Maureen Lee, 80, started using the Woolloomooloo community shuttle about 18 months ago after a hip replacement.
"I had to use a walking stick and found it impossible to get on and off a regular bus.
Now I catch the bus around the corner from my home.
It's so helpful and the only way I can get around," Ms Lee said.
By Lynn Chinnock


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GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C — The Department of Transportation in Guilford County had 48 trucks on the road Monday, salting bridges and slick spots on main roads.
A wreck on I-40 westbound slowed traffic in the early afternoon near Sandy Ridge Road.
Drivers like Joy Blasser said they were surprised how slushy some roads were.
"I could feel that I didn't have a lot of traction so I was trying to go slowly and not spin out," Blasser said. "On the way back to Kernersville from downtown Winston[-Salem] there were three cars that had spun out on the side of Business 40. That's not even a secondary road!"
Blasser's kids attend schools in both Forsyth and Guilford County. She says it's been an odd winter school schedule because of the number of late starts, early releases and snow days.
Rob Baldwin was also driving in the area and pulled over.
"This is a first for me," Baldwin said. "I've never had to pull off the side of the road and watch traffic go by."
"I'm definitely ready for spring to get here!" Blasser said.
The DOT told FOX8 its salt barn off Sandy Camp Road is the largest in the Triad. It has a capacity of 8,800 tons. There is a little more than 2,000 tons of salt left.
Salt is in high demand in this part of the country and companies are rationing deliveries.


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George Kovacs, the designer of this modern pendant chandelier, was very famous for his contribution to the lighting world. This beautiful design shows why. The glass diffuser on this contemporary pendant lighting is elegantly elongated. Needed to make this light illuminate is one 60W candelabra bulb. This stand alone light fixture will look perfect in a row.
Illuminate your home with the renowned mid-century modern flair of George Kovacs designer lighting. This unmistakable look has been challenging the status quo for years with bold materials, dramatic shapes, and stunning textures. With the help of hot in-house designers like Karim Rashid and Rachel Simon, the George Kovacs line of fixtures promises to challenge conventional lighting design for years to come.
Shipping and Delivery Information - For item EUJ3593 if ordered by 1 pm Pacific Time


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Three Law Faculty Members Receive University Merit Awards
There are many ways that you can make a gift in support of the USF School of Law. From simply writing a check for your annual gift to including USF in your estate plan, each and every gift makes a difference.
The Law Assembly is the foundation of financial support for the USF School of Law. Law Assembly contributions bolster student and alumni services and programs, and help to advance the stature of the law school.
These gifts offer benefits ranging from life income to estate planning and income tax reduction.
Each year the graduating class, led by the Graduation Committee, comes together to continue a tradition of philanthropy at the USF School of Law. Graduating 3Ls and 4Ls create a legacy for their class and help future students for years to come.


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With its patented, nickel-plated-brass, pressurized portafilter, the stainless steel Aroma Espresso Machine makes it easy to create the perfect espresso.
The pressurized brewing chamber forces the flavor and aroma out of the coffee at the optimal moment, ensuring a beautiful extraction of espresso with a thick golden crema every time. And Saeco's steam wand with the Pannarello frother is near magic for making those delicious cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes.
Pressurized portafilter allows water to pass through coffee only when appropriate pressure for optimum flavor extraction is reached.
Saeco steam wand is made of stainless steel and swivels to accommodate different pitcher or mug sizes.
Pannarello attachment dispenses steam for frothing milk, or hot water for tea. Two-part device is easy to remove and disassemble for quick clean up.
E.S.E Pod Adapter and special filter basket fit into the portafilter to accommodate single serve, prepackaged pods.
Cup warming surface comfortably holds 6 espresso cups and is heated by the residual heat of the stainless steel boiler.
Stainless steel boiler and housing are durable and easy to clean.
Dual spout dispensing head divides espresso evenly, brewing two cups at once.
Display indicator lights in newly redesigned control panel show when the machine is "ready to brew" and "ready to steam."
Removable 85-fl oz water tank for easy cleaning and refilling.
Hot water dispenser.
Removable drip tray for easy cleaning.
- Dimensions: 8"W x 10"D x 11.5"H
- Capacity: 85 fl oz
- 950 watts - 120v
- 15-bar pump pressure
- Weight: 14 lbs
- Construction: Stainless Steel
- 1-year warranty
Click here for manufacturer's warranty information.
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$11.95 / 12 count
$37.95 / 50 count
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$12.95 / 1 liter
Reviewed by 8 customers
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This machine replaced my Baristazia which I used for nearly 12 years. What a jewel it was.
My new and current machine makes it even easier to make excellent Latte's and I love it and expect the same great service from this one as the last.
Starbucks machines are the only ones I would recommend. Thank you for a great product which is easy to use and clean Jann Kendle
We purchased this machine 2 years ago. It was recommended to us by a friend from Italy. We absolutely love it! We make 2 espressos every day, and make sure to stream water through the portafilter to clean it after each use.
The smaller size is perfect for us, and most espresso cups fit the machine. Very easy to use. We use it only for espresso, have not used the steam wand. If you want a great espresso machine for a great price, this is the one!
We should have got a clue from other reviews of this model. The fact that the steamer wand is poorly designed is well known. You should not have to make up for design flaws, (the wand is too low to use, without sitting the machine up on a block of some kind). It's a sign of negligence on the part of the manufacturer. The fittings on the wand fall apart easily. Eventually they get lost. After just a couple months of use, it fails completely. No amount of cleaning and descaling can get it to work. I purchased this online from Starbucks in 2014. They sent us one that was made in 2011. The product is apparently not selling very well. Wish I had known that.
I once owned the Serena sold by Starbucks. It was a fantastic machine and I was looking for something similar in ease of use and quality of espresso. I was very impressed with the Saeco experience last time I was sure I could trust the quality. I've only had my new machine a few days and I've already perfected my cup! If I can do it, anyone can!!
In one word DISAPPOINTED with the new product the Aroma Espresso Machine for the price its to small you cant fit the pot under to steam you have to put it on the edge of the counter to be able to put your pot under so you can steam the milk the front knob is plastic it looks really cheap and the espresso handle doesn't lock all the way in, its not deep in the front were you brew your espresso. VERRY DISAPPOINTED
After reading through all the instructions to make sure I would be setting this up correctly, I began going step by step to do the "start-up" procedure. After about 10 attempts to make this machine work, and cleaning up water from all over my countertop from it pouring out all over the place several times, I finally gave up. I called Seaco's customer service line and spoke to a very nice man who is going to send me anew machine since this one is obviously faulty! I'll let you know how I like it after I get the replaced machine, which should be between 7-10 days.. Very disappointed at this point.
This is a simple machine for the whole family. The coffee is delicious. I thought the machine might be too small, but easily solved that by placing it on a spare chopping block (to more easily use the steamer) and taking out the drain grate. Now my smaller coffee cups fit under the filter just fine, and I can steam a small pitcher of milk on the side. WONderful. My children love a bit of steamed, frothed milk with a dash of vanilla and a sprinkle of cinammon, and my husband and I have our espresso, grandparents prefer it "American" with extra hot water out of the steamer nozzle...
I was expecting the same ease of use as the Starbuck's Barista this machine replaced. Not so. It is difficult to put the milk under the steaming wand. . . limited heighth . . . the drip tray is too narrow to balance the regular-sized containers. . . AND the button lights are very difficult to see if they are on. It does make good coffee but is just not easy to use.


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Professional Counseling graduate students recognized during hooding ceremony
Twenty-five University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Professional Counseling graduate students were recognized for their achievements at the department's 2010 spring hooding ceremony May 14 at Reeve Memorial Union.
Instituted in December 2003, "this semi-annual personalized ceremony acknowledges the achievements of our most recent Professional Counseling graduates who have sacrificed significant time, sweat, tears and finances, and who have persevered through academic and personal challenges to earn their degree," said Alan Saginak, chair of the Professional Counseling Department.
The ceremony enables the students to share personal statements about what their new degree means to them, and provides an opportunity to thank and honor individuals who have supported them in their journey including family members, faculty, department staff, site supervisors, fellow students, and others. "The students invest a lot in the program and it's an emotional and celebratory time for both the graduates and the faculty," said Saginak.
Accredited since 1992 by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) at the master's level, the counseling program emphasizes experiential, hands-on learning supported by supervision and mentoring.
Students are challenged to reflect extensively on their own lives, and decide what they would like to change themselves so that when they go out into the world as counseling professionals they can help others confidently. This challenge was evident in many of the personal statements graduates shared during the ceremony.
Lynn Swoverland, who earned a master's of science in education with an emphasis in school counseling, said "The experience has been more than just an education. I'm a better person for learning alongside so many wonderful people – my peers, my professors and my site supervisors. Their beautiful impressions on me will be lifelong."
"I learned comfortableness with being me, which I didn't have before enrolling," said Rhiannon Kelleher, who earned her master's of science in education with an emphasis in student affairs and college counseling. "I'm leaving the program a different person than I was when I started."
"In entering the program, I thought it would help me learn about other people," said Julie Braunreiter, who earned her master's of science in education with an emphasis in community counseling, "but the program helped me learn more about myself than I thought possible."
Students at the ceremony who earned their master's of science in education and were hooded included:
Kim Marie Auer, emphasis in school counseling
Julie A. Braunreiter, emphasis in community counseling
Desiree' Aleen Crocker, emphasis in student affairs and college counseling
Bobbie Jo Daul, emphasis in school counseling
Ammie Ann Ebben, emphasis in community counseling
Matthew James Fure, emphasis in community counseling
Keri Ann Gerlach, emphasis in school counseling
Jennifer Susan Hanni, emphasis in school counseling
Helen Cochran Holmes, emphasis in school counseling
Aaron Michael Homp, emphasis in school counseling
Rhiannon Katherine Kelleher, emphasis in student affairs and college counseling
Anne Wysocki Louis, emphasis in community counseling
Lori Jean Lustig, emphasis in student affairs and college counseling
Kelly Melvin, emphases in student affairs and college counseling, and community counseling
Michelle Joy Taczala Miller, emphasis in community counseling
Anne Michelle Peaslee, emphasis in community counseling
Amanda L. Popp, emphasis in school counseling
Angela Marie Savides, emphasis in community counseling
Lindsay Lee Schumacher, emphasis in school counseling
Katherine Marie Seibel, emphasis in student affairs and college counseling
Lynn Marie Swoverland, emphasis in school counseling
Danielle Elyse Urban, emphasis in community counseling
Jamie A. Ver Hage-Riley, emphasis in school counseling
Melissa Ann Wells, emphasis in community counseling
Lisa R. Zeman, emphasis in student affairs and college counseling


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Worst Halloween Sequel
Okay, now that we're all done reviewing the HELLRAISER franchise, and given the date and all...why not transfer a little bah humbug to the HALLOWEEN franchise. It too has had some stinkers...which one smells the most of death?
If I count the Zombie films, I'd say RZ's H2. Although it's more stylish than H1.
If I'm doing the original series, I'd have to say Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. Felt like a fan fic comic. Which, btw, is not a good thing. Cult of Myers? Nyet!
I think jamie lee jumped the shark by appearing in part 8 or whatever that was. it's like she really needed to get back out there and her fame was faded. or needed to pay the water bill that month.. It was ok to see her back in H20 but to do the next one really wore out her welcome. even though shes only in the beginning...
I was never a fan of the Zombie take on the franchise - he threw the essence of Carpenter's work out the window by explaining Michael's evil and placing him in a ghetto rather than a comfortable suburbia.
But... The single worst Halloween for me is Resurrection. It doesn't even feel like a Halloween movie. The reality tv fad feels akward and ill-suited for Carpenter's timeless horror villain, and with the death of the last Myers apart from Michael himself, the victim pool is totally irrelevant. And Busta Rhymes is truly jarring, overplaying and underacting a part which can't possibly compensate for the absense of Dr. Loomis.
this is kind of hard. there are a few worthy contenders, and all for different reasons. 4 and 5 aren't my favorite films, but I do enjoy them, and the man in black mystery in part 5 is fairly compelling - but all that is ruined by The Curse of Michael Myers. For being the first film to really tank the franchise (after which it just wouldn't recover), this film is deserving. Of course, Ressurection is by far the most incompetent film on the list. It's so staggeringly, stupidly bad, that chosing it as the worst feels kind of like picking on a kid in a wheelchair - maybe we should be politely applauding Ressurection for being able to string a few coherent sentences together, rather than chastising it for failing to live up to films that are so much better they're practically in a different medium. Zombie's remake is certainly deserving of the title of worst. It's more insulting to the intelligence of the viewer than Ressurection because, as a remake, it's putting itself in direct comparison with the original. Of course, Zombie was somehow able to missunderstand one of the most fundamental reasons for why Michael is so scary in the original, which is that his actions are completely unmotivated and unexplained. The high technical quality of the remake only makes it worse, as it begins to feel like a deliberate betrayal of the original. My memory of the remake's sequel is that it was an unpleasant, masturbatory waste of film. However, having forgotten most of it, I can't quite bring myself to rekindle the exasperation I felt upon seeing it for the first time.
It really is so hard to choose. I think I'll have to go with part 6. Up until then, it was an entertaining series. Curse of Michael Myers ruined that. So for blowing all the potential the ending of part 5 left it with, it gets my pick for worst of the series.
Easily Resurrection - one word, Busta.
I voted for Rob Zombie's Halloween, but seriously have no use for 4,5,6, Resurrection or Zombie's 2 and haven't watched H20 in so long I don't know how I'd feel about that one if I were to see it today.
For me its really a tossup between Resurrection and the remake. Although, I can usually keep Resurrection on for at least 30 min. I remember I tried watching the remake again not too long ago, and I couldn't make it passed the breakfast table seen. Its excruciating to watch. Never mind the "white trash" vulgarity;… even the genuine dialog between Mrs. Myers and Loomis or little Michel Myers is just painful to listen to. I don't think there is a sincere sentence given in the whole movie. McDowell tries, but even with his acting ability, he just doesn't have the aptitude to polish that turd of a script into something the least bit earnest. It would be like trying to start a fire with a bucket of water.
Its like the whole script was written by a high schooler that was angry at his parents and teachers.
Not only that, I think even the idea of dissecting Michael Myers' childhood is without a doubt one of the worst ideas in the history of the franchise…its worse than Thorn, worse than H2O ignoring 4 films, and even worse than Dangertainment. I mean Resurrection at least had somewhat of an interesting idea, it just was executed rather poorly.
I also hated Danielle Harris' character. I cannot believe she agreed to play that role. I thought she had better chops and respectability than to play one of the useless bimbos that are only cast to show her rack (or in Danielle's case, lack-there-of) and then slaughtered. She means so much more to the franchise than to be brought down to that level. Disappointing to say the least.
Fuck it, now that I think about it, I'm just going with the remake. Other than the somewhat decent soundtrack and a couple pairs of tits, I just can't think of a single redeeming factor that the remake has going for it. It's just bottom of the barrel, pointless, meaningless drivel. It's one of those movies, that I could give two-shits if I ever saw again. Terrible. Fuck you Rob Zombie.
I feel like Resurrection probably should be the worst, but I went with Curse Of Michael Myers.
Resurrection is easy to follow, while I have no fucking clue what Curse is even about.
Halloween 6, while not the greatest film in the franchise, still maintains that sense of atmosphere fairly well, I thought. It also has some great cinematography going on in it as well. Plus a young Paul Rudd puts on a great performance. He has a great character arc that goes from creepy peeping-Tom to the great all-knowing hero. And Donald Pleasance too…fat Michael Myers creeped me out as a kid.
Halloween 6 has a couple of redeeming factors to it…I think the films get worse as they go on….hell, I'd pick the H2O Scream-clone as the worst before I looked anywhere in Halloween 6's vicinity.
Had to go with Halloween 5, for me it's just bad from the minute the opening credits end.
Curse is pretty bad, but it has its moments. Resurrection, on the other hand, is just embarrassingly awful. Not a single redeeming quality.
To me it is not even close - Resurrection is just horrible
I went with the Halloween remake cause I just can't get my head around rednecks in the Suburbs.
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Joined: 6/28/12
Originally posted by VengeSunsoar
Its the only logical conclusion you can draw. especially in any game based on rng. Calling xp boosters p2w is like calling the guys who take a couple days off from work p2w because they now have more time to play. Or that player who gets lucky with that low level drop that sells for stupid amounts of currency. Even directly selling in game currency is not p2w, though that has its own issues, like not being able to effectively sink out what is flowing in making the entire economy inflate.
Originally posted by Rider071
Disagrees with your assertion, and is one that is often repeated.
I did battle with ignorance today, and ignorance won.
To exercise power costs effort and demands courage. That is why so many fail to assert rights to which they are perfectly entitled - because a right is a kind of power but they are too lazy or too cowardly to exercise it. The virtues which cloak these faults are called patience and forbearance.
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Joined: 1/30/09
Originally posted by jtcgs
Actually, that is why you should love wikipedia... in any other place, you could do nothing except complaining in a comment box (if there's any) that they left it out, in wikipedia you can just dive in and add it yourself.. :)
What can men do against such reckless hate?
Novice Member
Joined: 12/22/11
It's only in the west that P2W is looked at as a negative thing. Tons of east asia/russian games have P2W models, and the players support it. You read about it all the time with games having to change the cash shop to be more western friendly.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 3/26/12
Originally posted by jimdandy26
Actually there is a strictly ingame way: you hire a person ingame who has the 10xdamage bullet to fight for you. That way you've made up for the difference in power; it may be costy ingame wise, it may take a long time but it is very much possible.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 3/26/12
Originally posted by tollbooth
Korea is also known for having a massive racism issue (if they even consider it to be an issue): Just because another country thinks something is alright, it doesn't mean that another country has to agree.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 7/17/11
Originally posted by VengeSunsoar
Too bad its not that simple when how much you pay is tied to what you can accomplish in a resonable time, something that used to happen with a flat charge of 14.99 per month. And yes you can CHOOSE to pay more than 14.99 for the same thing that used to cost you that much. And this choice is good how? And you can never pay less than 14.99 for the same stuff that cost you 14.99 So again in this case choice is good how?
Advanced Member
Joined: 12/13/08
Originally posted by Loktofeit
P2W actually describes the payment model of cash shop based games. Players can purchase items to advance faster, or further through the game.
F2P is just the standard/only advertising term used to describe cash shop based games. It doesn't describe the payment model, but just highlights a possible way to play the game.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 1/02/08
Let em put a slave ring thru u're nose u're prob not going to like where they're taking you. Think.
I am pro F2P but I really wish they would have called it Share To Play (S2P) instead. It would have calmed a lot of upset because nothing in life is truely "free" and that word always makes you feel like you're getting gypped.
Best console game: DD Dark Arisen. Best mmo: GW2. Best game series ever: The Sims.
Elite Member
Joined: 1/13/10
Currently playing EVE, SMITE, ArcheAge, and Combat Arms
Originally posted by thinktank001
Free to Play is a payment model. Pay to win is a term players have come up with to describe how they feel about it. I have no problem with anyone's personal opinions of the payment model, good or bad, but it gets ridiculous when you are not only unfamiliar with the terminology of the discussion but show little interest in understanding the subject matter you choose to argue about to begin with.
If you're interested in getting up to speed, here's a few links:
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
Advanced Member
Joined: 11/23/05
"Playing things I shouldn''t be playing since 1977."
"Free to Play" is about as standard a term as "Mature" is to this industry: it's a good way to portray your product, but it says little about the truth of the product.
Because "Mature" rated games aren't designed to appeal to "Mature" players. They are designed to appeal to adolecent boys.
And "Free to Play" games aren't designed to appeal to the thrifty. They are designed to appeal to the spendthrifts.
"...when it comes to pimping EVE I have little restraints."
"It's like they took a gun, put it to their nugget sack and pulled the trigger over and over again, each time telling us how great it was that they were shooting themselves in the balls."
Advanced Member
Joined: 12/21/07
Originally posted by snapfusion
It is that simple. YOu choose to spend more, you accomplish more in the same time. What is not simple about that choice?
Originally posted by jimdandy26
That may be the only conclusion you can draw that is not the only conclusion I can draw and it is not really vrey logical either. Actually "logic" has very little to do with this conversation since it is inherently about subjective enjoyment and subjective value. Chief among those values are 1. Time. and 2. Convenience.
Your comparison of xp boosters an people taking time off work is again rife with problems but still chief amont them is the time vs convience debate. The logic of the situation will be different depending on your particular values and resources.
Quit worrying about other players in a game and just play.
Originally posted by nariusseldon
Too bad that what you choose to accomplish is completely a personal choice. Too bad that a "reasonable time" is a completely arbitrary number that is different for each person.
Is spending 5 years to get a max character in WoW a reasonable time? To me it is... actually I still don't have a max character.
So yes it is completely that simple.
You choose your values. You choose what is reasonable for you. You choose the games you play. If the game you choose doesn't meet the first 2 criteria then you have a problem, however it is a problem you created.
Quit worrying about other players in a game and just play.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 7/17/11
Originally posted by VengeSunsoar
Again no its not that simple, you are moving from a platform that was once driven simply by a set fee and and a reasonable time of achievemnt to a system that is based on how much you spend and someones perception of "something". Reasonable is not subjective when your talking about the majority of people. If the majority of people agree something is unreasonable then it is, regardless whether or not the minority thinks it isnt, You cant base arguments on the minority.
If you want to compare F2P games to some new world order of choice where the value of a dollar is subjective then fine. I though am comparing the F2P experience DIRECTLY to the P2P cost model that includes everything a game has to offer for one set price, not a comparision full of philosophical analogys and ambigious statements.
It's really about math, and math really isnt that hard to understand.
P2P - everything the game has to offer equals 14.99 per month
F2P - everything the game has to offer equals 100's a month and up
Reasonable is completely subjective. I highly doubt there is any concessus on what reasonable time is.
P2p has never been one cost for all. There has always been collectors editions and expansions.
You have always chosen how much time you are willing to spend and how much money you are willing to spend. Now there are just more choices ranging from free to horribly expensive to years or instantaneous
Quit worrying about other players in a game and just play.
Previous message sent from phone - corrected.
Quit worrying about other players in a game and just play.
Elite Member
Joined: 1/13/10
Currently playing EVE, SMITE, ArcheAge, and Combat Arms
Originally posted by Beatnik59
Excellent point.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
Elite Member
Joined: 1/13/10
Currently playing EVE, SMITE, ArcheAge, and Combat Arms
Originally posted by snapfusion
Sounds great. Can you link the source to that data? The reason I ask is because I haven't seem many, if any, F2P games that cost "100's a month and up" to access everything. I also haven't seen but a small handful of subscription MMOs where you get everything for 14.99 a month as there are also extra services and expansion packs that you pat for as well.
Since both of your claims seem they may possibley be a tad bit, y'know... completely made up numbers being passed off as fact right after saying "math really isn't that hard to understand" it would be great to see the source of your data.
Note: Yes, we all know you're going to pull out Runes of Magic or War Rock. Yes, they are off the charts. No, they are not representative of the average Free to Play game.
With that out of the way, it would be awesome to see some numbers that support your two claims, especially due to the snarky lead-in you had to it.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
Apprentice Member
Joined: 1/28/11
Not every MMO that is FTP is pay to win. The problem is that there is a large grey area of what is acceptable or not because it varies from player to player.
Unobtainable vertical progression is immediately pay to win to me and I won't play anything with that design. The worst example is gambling for power items. Time saving items can vary if they are unacceptable to me because while I don't mind small boosts some games sell things that are technically avaliable in game but require an astronomical amount of time to get as a free player and offer a vertical upgrade. An example of this is the stat items in DDO or some of the higher end STO stuff. I stay away from this type of content.
For example allods had that cash shop dust that gave you a large buff for each day you used it. This essentially turned the game into a subscription game if you wanted to constantly have that buff. And that buff was huge. But the benefit of the rest of the cash shop was relatively minor.
League of Legends has a very non agregious cash shop because once you are max level and have a champion and a rune setup you are competitively the same as everyone else. The cash shop here, besides for the xp boosts, is just horizonal as it unlocks more options for champions/runes in its power and includes skins for vanity sales.
I don't mind paying a subscription fee at all for a game and if the cost from free to play to playing at full player power is less than 20 bucks a month then I am fine with that. I have a problem with the games that try and live off whales who can drop 1000 dollars a month and get a competitive advantage from that.
And don't get me wrong. Those games that are truly pay to win should exist as there is definately a market for them. In fact, I want them to exist so that pay to win gamers can go somewhere else. I just want some games that suit my tastes too.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 1/28/11
Originally posted by Loktofeit
Sure I can offer some examples.
Aika- offered weapon synthing where each successful synth gave a HUGE damage boost. The problem was the break chance versus the success chance was extremely low. You could get to +6 with relative ease but after that, the break chance was greater then the success chance. The item to do the synth and the item to prevent your weapon from being destroyed were sold in the cash shop. On average it took about 200 dollars to synth the best item. When they expanded the game, new weapons were created released that you can to replace your weapon with...and synth to max again.
Battle of the Immortals has zodiac pets the best of which had to be found randomly in a cash shop box (these pets auto attack during combat, and they basically can do about the same damage you do, very important to have and huge difference between bad and good pet). The drop rate of these are incredibly low and people would spend 500 dollars and not get one.
If you want to be competitive in one of these games you will pay an arm and a leg to do so. Also both games were designed to have the best compete against each other to increase the drive to be better then others.


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text:
Magnesium oxide (MgO) compounded into a polymer can subsequently be hydrated in-situ within the polymer to form magnesium hydroxide. In the case of silane-based or peroxide-based crosslinkable resins, the MgO hydration and polymer crosslinking can be done in a single process step, or in sequential steps. In the case of non-crosslinkable compounds, hydration can be carried out after compounding (no crosslinking step). In all cases, steam CV, sauna, or hot water bath are options for hydration. This approach enables preparation of polymer compounds that are flame retarded with metal hydrates yet free of the traditional limitations posed by shelf instability, extrusion scorch, undesired dehydration, and processing temperature limitations posed by metal hydrates.
1. A method to make a flame retardant composition, the method comprising:
first melt compounding one or more polymers with at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymers, of magnesium oxide; and,
second reacting at least 50% of the magnesium oxide with water within the composition to form magnesium hydroxide.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 National Stage entry of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US07/82860 filed on Oct. 29, 2007, claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/863,502 titled "Magnesium Hydroxide-Based Flame Retardant Compositions Made via In-Situ Hydration of Polymer Compounds Comprising Magnesium Oxide" filed on Oct. 30, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
This invention relates generally to flame retardant polymers and specifically to such polymers that contain magnesium hydroxide as a flame retardant.
Metal hydrates such as aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) are effective flame retardants for many polyolefin systems. However, these metal hydrates cannot be used in many systems because of shelf-life and processing issues. For example, because they absorb water from the environment, have hydroxyl groups in their structure, and partially dehydrate during processing, they give limited shelf-life and can cause scorch problems in moisture crosslinkable resins. Furthermore, polymer compounds (thermoplastic, peroxide crosslinkable, and moisture crosslinkable) containing metal hydrates must be compounded and extruded at temperatures below the dehydration temperatures of the metal hydrates in order to avoid loss of activity of these flame retardants and to avoid undesired foaming that results from dehydration of the metal hydrates. What is needed is a way to prepare polymer compounds that are flame retarded with metal hydrates yet free of the above-mentioned limitations posed by shelf-instability, extrusion scorch, undesired dehydration, and processing temperature limitations.
Magnesium oxide (MgO) compounded into a polymer can subsequently be hydrated in-situ within the polymer to form magnesium hydroxide. In the case of silane-based or peroxide-based crosslinkable resins, the MgO hydration and polymer crosslinking may be done in a single process step or in sequential steps. In the case of non-crosslinkable compounds, hydration can be carried out after compounding (no crosslinking step). This approach enables preparation of polymer compounds that are flame retarded with metal hydrates yet are free of the traditional limitations posed by shelf-instability, extrusion scorch, undesired dehydration, and processing temperature limitations posed by metal hydrates.
In one embodiment, the invention is a method to make a flame retardant composition. The method comprises melt compounding one or more polymers with at least about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymers, of magnesium oxide and subsequently hydrating at least about 50% of the magnesium oxide within the composition to magnesium hydroxide.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method to make a moisture-curable flame retardant composition. The method comprises melt compounding one or more polymers with at least about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymers, of magnesium oxide, wherein the polymers comprise silane functional groups and subsequently hydrating at least about 50% of the magnesium oxide within the composition to magnesium hydroxide.
In yet another embodiment, the invention is an intermediate for making a moisture-cured composition. The intermediate comprises at least one polymer comprising moisture-curable silane functional groups and at least about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymers, of magnesium oxide.
We have discovered that magnesium oxide (MgO) compounded into a polymer can subsequently be hydrated in-situ within the polymer to form magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). Despite the fact that the MgO must expand by approximately 18% as it is converted into Mg(OH)2, this hydration is surprisingly able to occur rapidly at temperatures above ambient but below the melting point of the polymer despite the MgO being encapsulated within the semi crystalline polymer. At temperatures above the melting point of the polymer, the hydration occurs fast enough to carry it out within a steam continuous vulcanization (CV) tube. In the case of silane-based or peroxide-based crosslinkable resins, both MgO hydration and polymer crosslinking can be done in a single process step in a CV tube. Alternatively, hydration can be done in a water bath or sauna.
This invention can be used with any thermoplastic, peroxide crosslinkable, or moisture crosslinkable polymers. Non-limiting examples of such polymers include polyolefins (including those listed in WO2006026256), polyamides, polystyrenes, acrylic resins, polyvinyl chlorides, polyurethanes, polyesters, or such polymers further comprising silane functional groups, epoxy functional groups, or other functional groups that will react to crosslink the polymer resin in the presence of water. This invention can be especially advantageous with polymers containing moisture crosslinkable functional groups and with polymers having melting points and/or processing temperatures above the decomposition temperature of Mg(OH)2.
Polymers with silane functional groups are well-known in the field. Such polymers can be made either by copolymerization with a vinyl silane monomer or by one of many methods for grafting a silane-containing molecule to the backbone of a polymer chain. Examples of such techniques are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,646,155; 6,420,485; 6,331,597; 3,225,018; and 4,574,133, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Polymers with silane functional groups are also commercially available, for example, SI-LINK™ ethylene-vinyltrimethoxysilane copolymers available from Dow Chemical Co.
The compositions of the invention comprise MgO at levels greater than about 10 wt %, preferably greater than 20 wt %, and most preferably greater than 30 wt %, based on the weight of the polymer resins in the composition. Magnesium oxide is available in a variety of grades based on surface area, purity and presence of Mg(OH)2. Choosing a specific grade of MgO for a given application is a balance of impurities, surface area, and residual Mg(OH)2. High surface area grades of MgO have the advantage of most rapid hydration. However, many commercially available high surface area magnesium oxides provide insufficient shelf life stability in silane-based crosslinkable resins, possibly due to a combination of impurities within the MgO and residual high surface area Mg(OH)2 within the starting MgO. Although grades of MgO having low surface area exhibit better shelf stability in silane-based crosslinkable compositions, they hydrate more slowly and are therefore less useful in these applications. Grades of MgO having intermediate surface area provided adequate rates of hydration and sufficient shelf life stability with silane-based resins. It is also anticipated, based on these observations, that high surface area grades of MgO with very low levels of Mg(OH)2 would provide both rapid hydration and sufficient shelf life. Generally, an acceptable shelf life for a resin is at least six months.
The flame retardant composition may be made in a two step process of 1) melt compounding one or more polymers with at least about 10% by weight of MgO, and 2) hydrating most or all of the MgO within the resulting polymer compound. The MgO is hydrated in the hydration step to at least about 50% completion, and preferably to at least 75% completion. Hydration may be done in a steam chamber, a continuous steam vulcanization tube, a hot water sauna, or any other convenient means.
The MgO hydration step is done at temperatures above ambient, preferably at least about 50� C., with higher temperatures providing faster hydration rates.
The composition can also comprise additives that increase the rate or level of moisture penetration. These moisture penetration additives include polar co-resins or molecules. Non-limiting examples of such additives include EVA, PEG, polar small molecules, etc.
The composition can contain other flame retardants and fillers including talc, calcium carbonate, organoclay, glass fibers, marble dust, cement dust, feldspar, silica or glass, fumed silica, silicates, alumina, various phosphorus compounds, ammonium bromide, antimony trioxide, antimony trioxide, zinc oxide, zinc borate, barium sulfate, silicones, aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, titanium oxides, glass microspheres, chalk, mica, clays, wollastonite, ammonium octamolybdate, intumescent compounds, expandable graphite, and mixtures thereof. The fillers may contain various surface coatings or treatments, such as silanes, fatty acids, and the like. Halogenated organic compounds including halogenated hydrocarbons such as chlorinated paraffin, halogenated aromatic compounds such as pentabromotoluene, decabromodiphenyl oxide, decabromodiphenyl ethane, ethylene-bis(tetrabromophthalimide), dechlorane plus, and other halogen-containing flame retardants. One skilled in the art would recognize and select the appropriate halogen agent depending on the desired performance of the composition. The composition can further comprise various other additives. Moisture cure catalysts, such as dibutyltindilaurate or distannoxanes, are normally added for moisture-curable resins. Peroxides and free-radical initiators can be added for crosslinking the resin. Additives that may increase the hydration of MgO, such as CaO, may be included in the formulation. Additionally, pigments and fillers may be added as desired.
The composition can contain other additives such as, for example, antioxidants (e.g., hindered phenols such as, for example, IRGANOX™ 1010 a registered trademark of CibaSpecialty Chemicals), phosphites (e.g., IRGAFOS™ 168 a registered trademark of CibaSpecialty Chemicals), U.V. stabilizers, cling additives, light stabilizers (such as hindered amines), plasticizers (such as dioctylphthalate or epoxidized soy bean oil), thermal stabilizers, mold release agents, tackifiers (such as hydrocarbon tackifiers), waxes (such as polyethylene waxes), processing aids (such as oils, organic acids such as stearic acid, metal salts of organic acids), crosslinking agents (such as peroxides or silanes), colorants or pigments to the extent that they do not interfere with desired physical or mechanical properties of the compositions of the present invention, and other flame retardant additives. The above additives are employed in functionally equivalent amounts known to those skilled in the art, generally in amounts of up to about 65 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition. The compositions of the present invention can be processed to fabricated articles by any suitable means known in the art. For example, the compositions can be processed to films or sheets or to one or more layers of a multilayered structure by know processes, such as calendering, blowing, casting or (co-)extrusion processes. Injection molded, compression molded, extruded or blow molded parts can also be prepared from the compositions of the present invention. Alternatively, the compositions can be processed to foams or fibers or extruded into wire and cable coatings such as jacketing and insulation.
Unless stated otherwise, levels of MgO were selected such that after 100% hydration the compositions should contain 50% by weight of Mg(OH)2.
Standard Compounding Method
Lab-scale compounds were prepared in a 250 cc Brabender mixer. The initial set temperature was 150� C. The mixing time was approximately five minutes for all samples at 50 rpm. The addition sequence was the polymers (e.g., ethylene-vinyltrimethoxysilane copolymer), followed by fillers and finally the masterbatch (e.g., dibutyltindilaurate in LDPE). The compounded materials were then two-roll milled on a Kobelco Stewart Boiling Inc. mill to ensure complete mixing and homogenization of the compound. The temperature of the roll mill was set to 155� C. In certain cases the catalyst master-batches were combined with the other ingredients just prior to extrusion rather than pre-compounded into the formulation, and this is pointed out specifically.
Silane-ethylene copolymer 1 is copolymer of ethylene and vinyltrimethoxysilane (1.5% by weight of the vinyltrimethoxysilane). Silane-ethylene copolymer 2 is copolymer of ethylene and vinyltrimethoxysilane (1.5% by weight of the vinyltrimethoxysilane) to which is added 0.5% by weight of octyltriethoxysilane.
MB1 (masterbatch 1) is low density polyethylene containing 1.7% by weight of dibutyltindilaurate.
MB2 (masterbatch 2) is low density polyethylene containing 2.6% by weight of dibutyltindilaurate.
Tape Extrusion
Tapes were extruded using a �″ Brabender lab extruder with a polyethylene screw (3:1 compression ratio) and a 2″ tape die with a 20 mil opening. The temperature profile was as follows: feed section 135-145� C., zone one 140-150� C., zone two 145-155� C., zone three and die 155-165� C. The screw was run at 10-20 rpm and the take-off speed was adjusted to give a 22-26 mil. tape thickness and 1.25″ tape width. No screens were used. A vertical draw off from a 1″ tape die onto the conveyor belt was also frequently used.
Wire Extrusion
Wire was extruded using a �″ extruder with a polyethylene screw (3:1 compression ratio) and a Maddock mixing head at the metering section. A standard right angle flow with an adjustable die for centering was employed. An extruder tip with 0.067″ aperture was used with a 0.064″ solid copper conductor. The extruder rpm and conductor pulling speed were adjusted to 11 rpm and 5 ft/mm to give a wall thickness of 16 mil. The temperature profile from the feed section on was 170� C. zone 1, 180� C. zone 2, 185� C. zone 3 and 185� C. tape die. The melt temperature was approximately 145� C.
Gel Extractions
Gel contents were measured by extraction in boiling decalin at 180� C. for 5 hours according to ASTM 2765. The screens were dried in a vacuum oven at 150� C. for 15 hours.
Cure Conditions
Extruded tapes 22-26 mil thick and wires 16 mil thick were cured in a water bath at 90� C. for intervals of times that are indicated on individual graphs and in the text. In some examples a combination of temperatures such as 50� C. for a few hours and 90� C. for the next few was also used. Cure in a static steam tube for wire samples was carried out at 180� C. for either 15 minutes or 30 minutes.
Tensile Strength and Elongation
Tensile strength and elongation were measured on tapes or wires. The tape specimens were cut according to ASTM D638. The Instron 4200 machine was used by pulling at 2″/minute.
Level of Hydration
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to monitor the conversion of MgO to Mg(OH)2 in the various samples. The samples were heated in a nitrogen environment to 1000� C. at a rate of 20� C./min. The only residue expected to remain behind is MgO. This can be used to calculate the percentage of MgO hydrated after exposure to hot water/steam for different periods of time.
Limiting Oxygen Index
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) was measured using a Redcroft LOI instrument on 2.75″�0.25″�0.125″ testing specimens according to ASTM D2863.
Hot Creep
The hot creep test was done either at 150� C. or 200� C. with a 20N/cm2 weight attached to the lower end of a tape cut out as a dog bone sample with a die cutter recommended per ASTM D412 type D. The percent elongation of the sample from its initial value was recorded after exposure in the oven for 15 minutes without removing the sample from the oven. The sample passes if the elongation is less than 100%.
Results and Discussion
Demonstration of in-situ hydration during moisture curing, and demonstration of effect of MgO characteristics.
The formulations shown in Table 1 were made using various grades of MgO. They demonstrate feasibility of doing the in-situ hydration and also provide important information about the effect of surface area, particle size and source of MgO. Example 1 used HSA-10, a MgO from Martin Marietta with an average particle size of 1 μm and a surface area of 160 m2/g, Example 2 has HSA-30 which is a MgO that has an average particle size of 3 μm and a surface area of 160 m2/g, Example 3 has MagChem 50 which is a MgO with a surface area of 65 m2/g and an average particle size of 5 μm. Example 4 has Super Premium MagOx supplied by Premier Chemicals. This grade of MgO has a surface area of 150 m2/g and an average particle size of 3 μm. Example 5 is made with MB2, which has more dibutyltindilaurate than MB1.
At short times of cure in a 90� C. water bath there exists an inverse relationship between the gel content (shown in
Interestingly, processability is significantly affected by choice of MgO used. When attempting to extrude Examples 1, 2, 3 and 5 (that cover a range of surface areas, shapes, particle sizes and MG(OH)2 impurity content) as a tape via a coat hanger die, processing difficulties were encountered resulting in tapes with irregular edges, whereas extrusion of Example 4 results in a normal tape. This points to certain impurities in all grades of MgO from Martin Marietta as a key factor adversely impacting processability, rather than any specific differences in shapes and sizes. The level of Mg(OH)2 in these three grades is high enough that no distinction can be made between these grades based on this factor.
Only Example 3, with MagChem 50, passes the hot creep test at 200� C. after curing in a 90� C. water bath at 24 h. All the other Examples (1-2, 4-5) fail even after 72 h in a 90� C. water bath. This shows that intermediate surface area MgO, as represented by the 65 m2/g material, allows an acceptable balance of cure and hydration under these conditions, since the higher surface area materials suffered from insufficient cure. Longer cure times did not help, presumably due to catalyst deactivation or extraction over time.
Effect of Volume Expansion
The theoretical volume of Examples 1 to 5 can be calculated on a 100 g basis as follows:
The volume on complete hydration (V2) can be calculated by knowing that 40.86 g of MgO will result in 59.11 g of Mg(OH)2 with a specific gravity of 2.36.
The theoretical expected change in volume is 18%. The experimentally measured change in dimensions of rectangular samples of the following examples measured after 72 hours in a 90� C. water bath (based on complete hydration shown in
It was feared that the volume expansion required to form Mg(OH)2 from MgO would either result in negligible hydration (due to restriction by the semi-crystalline polymer) or result in physical damage to the polymer compound as the expansion occurs during hydration. The comparative samples (CS A and CS B) and Example 6 in Table 2 were exposed to hydration conditions then evaluated for tensile strength and elongation (
Effect of Polar Species
It was postulated that the rate of hydration and/or cure might be increased by addition of polar resins or additives that would increase the moisture uptake of the formulations and improve the rates of reactions. Referring to
Extrusion Wire Coating
A formulation the same as Example 1 (except instead of MB1, a different masterbatch was used which contained 5 times as much dibutyltindilaurate as MB 1) was extruded on a solid 14 gauge copper conductor with an outer diameter of 96 mil. Conditions used for extrusion are described above in the experimental section. This demonstrates successful use in fabrication of a finished article.
Shelf-Life Stability
In the above formulations, significant gel formation occurred in the absence of a moisture cure catalyst. The formulations shown in Table 3 were made with the intention of characterizing rheological stability, processability, and percentage extractables (by decalin extraction) as a function of time to test the benefits of using MgO instead of Mg(OH)2.
Example 9 compares MgO in silane-ethylene copolymer 2 with MgO in LDPE (Ex. 10). Unlike a comparison of Ex. 1A and Ex. 8, a comparison of Example 9 vs. Example 10 is in the absence of a catalyst. CS C and CS D compare FR20S10, a leading Mg(OH)2 flame retardant, in silane-ethylene copolymer 2 vs. LDPE respectively. CS E is the base resin silane-ethylene copolymer 2. Example 11 is with a 99% pure Aldrich MgO that has a high level of Mg(OH)2 impurity but very little other impurities. Example 12 is with Super Premium MagOx that was previously shown to have good processability (extrusion as tape was good). All these formulations are extruded as tapes after standard Brabender compounding and roll-milling procedures at 150� C. as described earlier. The resulting percent extractables are shown in
A good metric for comparison of gels is percent extractables which is defined as the (weight lost/original weight)�100. The higher this number the better the shelf life stability of the formulation. It is obvious from
Table 4 shows the percent residue from TGA for Examples 9, 11 and 12. All these grades of MgO have a significant content of Mg(OH)2 impurity in them, with Aldrich grade having the most and HSA-10 having the least. The level of Mg(OH)2 does not correlate with the lowest extractables observed with Super Premium MagOx and we expect that given a certain level of Mg(OH)2 impurity in each grade, the differences in extractables occur due to differences in other impurity levels.
In continuing the evaluation of various grades of MgO that would give better shelf life stability and to further understand processability issues, the formulations shown in Table 5 were made.
Example 13 contains RA-150, a MgO from Dead Sea Bromine Group having similar surface area and average particle size as HSA-10. Example 14 is made with a higher loading of Super Premium MagOx to compensate for the fact that it has a lower effective MgO content than Example 9. A very high purity grade of MgO from Aldrich is used in Example 17 (still contains a lot of Mg(OH)2 impurity) and a dead burnt grade of MgO (MagChem 10 325S) with impurities but very little Mg(OH)2 content is used in Example 18. Table 6 below shows that the percentage of Mg(OH)2 impurity in the various formulations and
The dead-burnt grade of MgO MagChem 10 325 S (Example 18) indeed has the lowest content of Mg(OH)2 impurity and over a three week period shows 100% extractables (
A comparison of the impurities and physical properties of different grades of MgO is made in Table 7.
All these formulations, even when exposed to air, are stable with regard to hydration, i.e. the Mg(OH)2 content does not increase at room temperature for months. Thus, the MgO is not expected to provide protection against atmospheric moisture during storage. These results establish that hydration will not happen at a significant rate at ambient temperature, and therefore, surprisingly, a post compounding hydration step at elevated temperature is required to convert the MgO into Mg(OH)2.
Effect of MgO Characteristics on Processability
Table 8 summarizes the quality of the tape and ease of processability (the head pressures in the extruder) with different grades of MgO and Mg(OH)2 in different resin systems. The fact that head pressures are lower with LDPE (Ex. 10) as compared to silane-ethylene copolymer 2 (Example 9) indicates lack of interactions between LDPE and filler. Extrusion of a good tape with Super Premium MagOx (Example 12) and Aldrich 99% (Example 11) in spite of a high Mg(OH)2 content of a high surface area is indicative of the role of impurities. CS F is made with a grade of Mg(OH)2 from SPI Pharma Barcroft 5250 that has a surface area of 74 m2/g and an average particle size of 38 μm. This formulation could not be extruded due to head pressures exceeding 10,000 psi indicating very strong interactions between silane-ethylene copolymer 2 and a high surface area Mg(OH)2. This result shows that in addition to impurities a high content of high surface area Mg(OH)2 can adversely affect the processability and the difficulty in processing (higher head pressures) MgO containing compounds may be traced back to high surface area Mg(OH)2 impurity in these grades of MgO. On hydrating Ex. 8, in-situ creation of a high surface area Mg(OH)2 in a LDPE resin occurs. On grinding up this tape and extruding this again through a tape die, no difficulty is encountered during extrusion. Low head pressures are also observed with ethylene-silane copolymer 2 and MagChem 10 325 (Ex. 18) that does not have a significant level of Mg(OH)2 impurity. This confirms that a specific interaction between silane-ethylene copolymer 2 and high surface area Mg(OH)2 is a key contributor to high head pressures. The term "Christmas Tree" in Table 8 refers to tapes with irregularly-shaped edges due to flow irregularities.
Flame Performance
Example 7, discussed above, was tested for limiting oxygen index (LOI). The LOI was 25%, in the range expected for polyethylene containing around 50% by weight of Mg(OH)2. In contrast, PE without flame retardant is known to have a LOI of less than 20%. Cone calorimetry results are also consistent with formation of Mg(OH)2 upon hydration of MgO. These results establish that the desired flame retardancy has been achieved.
Cure in a static steam tube and with a combination regime of temperatures in a water bath.
The formulations shown in Table 9 were prepared and extruded on a 14 gauge solid copper conductor with the moisture cure catalyst masterbatches added directly to the hopper without being pre-compounded with the rest of the components. To avoid static charge and inhomogenous mixing a coarse grinding of the formulation was used, and a ground strap on the hopper was implemented. Also based on learnings from the sets of experiments described earlier it is obvious that though both hydration and cure reactions compete for moisture, the activation energy of hydration is higher than the activation energy of the cure reaction. The cure reaction is faster at lower temperatures whereas hydration reaction is faster at higher temperatures. Thus an optimization of rates can be attempted wherein the formulations are cured at 50� C. to boost the cure rate for the first 24 hours and then at 90� C. for a further 24-48 hours to boost the hydration rate. This might enable higher gel content by crosslinking before catalyst deactivation or catalyst leaching. Example 19 is the control with Super Premium MagOx and MB1. Example 24 is with silane-ethylene copolymer 1. Example 20 has 2.5 wt % of Elvax 265 and 2.5 wt % of a silicone masterbatch also based on EVA to improve surface finish. Example 21 is made with a distannoxane tin catalyst masterbatch. This distannoxane catalyst had been previously shown to be very effective for crosslinking silane functional polymers. Example 23 is with a Fusabond 493 maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene coupling agent. This very low density resin is expected to be a better filler acceptor as well as an effective coupling agent for the hydrated MgO. Example 22 is prepared with MagOx 98 LR that was identified in shelf-stability studies to have good processability, 100% extractables, low content of Mg(OH)2 impurity and impurity levels that did not adversely affect processability.
The gel content on exposure to a steam tube environment as shown in
The disclosure and examples that have been presented include certain hypotheses and speculations as to underlying causes of the results. Such hypotheses and speculations are included solely for guidance to those wishing to practice this invention, and may be incomplete or incorrect. The inventors are not bound to such hypotheses and speculations and the scope of the disclosure and claims are to be interpreted without reference to the hypotheses and speculations.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
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Speaking Out Against Corruption
The Leadership Development Program taught Arun a great number of things. He learned about time management, Christian discipline and social awareness. Most importantly, he learned how a Christian must respond to contemporary issues.
What Does Isaiah 58 Have to Do With Poverty?
How does Isaiah 58 relate to extreme poverty? How does it relate to oppression and corruption? Does Isaiah 58 have anything to do with these topics?
How about its relevance to how we serve the Lord today? What are your thoughts?
Redemption Needed
Remember when I told you about my new job? I've been doing it for several months now and so I feel like I've gotten a pretty good grip on things. Well … as good a grip as one can have on a job that depends entirely on world events. And oh my word, the world…


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Degree In Sight
APA offers several ways for students to get involved with advocacy and stay updated on issues affecting the field.
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Contact your APAGS Advocacy Coordinating Team (ACT) campus representative, state advocacy coordinator or regional advocacy coordinator, who are listed at the APA Advocacy website, to see how you can get involved on your campus.
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Visit the APA Practice Directorate website.
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Eight-Run Ninth Propels UNM to Seventh Straight Win
The 15-11 win gave the Lobos their second straight sweep in the Mountain West as they maintained their three-game lead in the conference
UNM Dominates Wolf Pack in 7-2 Win
The Lobos' sixth straight win gives them a three-game lead in the Mountain West
UNM Scores 12 in the Eighth to Blow Past Bulldogs 14-3
The first 12 Lobo batters reached base and scored in the inning as UNM clinched its fifth straight MW series victory
UNM Loses to Air Force 11-4
The Lobos remain in first place in the MW despite the loss
Birmingham Wins 1,000th Career Game as Lobos Rout Air Force
UNM erupts for a season-high 19 runs to help head coach Ray Birmingham win career game number 1,000
2011 MWC Baseball Championship
Photos from the Lobos championship run.
Lobos vs. New Mexico State
Lobos fall to Aggies, 13-8
SENIOR (2013):Finished 23rd in the nation in hitting with a .385 average, which helped him earn All-Mountain West second team honors ... hit 15 doubles, three triples and seven home runs, scored 49 runs and drove in 49 runs ... led the Lobos with 28 multi-hit games and was fourth with 13 multi-RBI games ... finished the season with a 20-game hitting streak, which included a string of nine straight multi-hit games, and 16 multi-hit games overall ... hit .464 (39-84) during the streak with eight doubles, two triples and five home runs, while both scoring and driving in 22 runs ... drove in a career-high six runs at Air Force on April 6, which included a grand slam ... also hit a grand slam at San Diego St. on May 16 ... hit .500 (8-16) in the MW Tournament with a double, two home runs, four RBI and four runs to be named to the All-Tournament Team ... named MW Player of the Week May 20 after going 5-12 with two home runs and seven RBI in a three-game sweep at San Diego St. ... was one of a record 16 players on the team to be named Academic All-Mountain West.
REDSHIRT (2012): Redshirted the season after getting injured a week before the season started ... recovered and had a solid summer campaign for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League ... appeared in 42 games and tied for fourth in the league with 18 doubles and was seventh with a .350 average, which was enough to earn an All-Star berth ... slugged .564 with one triple, five home runs, 35 RBI, and 39 runs ... will be a prominent figure in the Lobos' potent 2013 offense.
JUNIOR (2011): Second on the Lobos with a .301 batting average in his first year on the team... his five home runs and .448 slugging percentage were also second on the team ... only started three out of first 12 games for the Lobos, but started every game but one from Mar. 30 until the end of the season ... had a 15-game hitting streak from Apr. 1 through Apr. 29 ... hit .322 (19-59) during the streak ... had season-high four hits against TCU on May 20 ... named to 2011 MWC All-Tournament Team . . . was 6-15 during the tournament with two runs and three RBI.
SEWARD CC (2009 and 2010): In his first year, appeared in 49 games as an outfielder ... had a .371 batting average in 186 plate appearances ... led the team in homeruns (11) and RBIs (54). In his second year, played in all 63 games ... led the team with a .378 batting average in 230 at-bats ... led the team with 65 RBIs ... first-team all conference Jayhawk West and academic all-American ... earned an associate's of science degree.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Arvada West High School in Arvada, Colo. ... graduated in 2008 ... lettered in baseball and football.
SUMMER/CLUB TEAMS: Sag Harbor Whalers and Colorado Sox.
PERSONAL: Born August 20, 1989 in Arvada, Colo., to Cindy Campbell ... has three siblings Nate, Chase and Chad ... major is Finance.


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Saturday Night Review of Sunday Book Reviews--September 26, 2010
The New York Times Sunday Book Review contains reviews of some very interesting books, though the reviewers are themselves hit and miss in their reviews:
1. Sebastian Mallaby's tempered, yet positive review of Robert Reich's new book, "Aftershock" is well worth reading. Reich has distilled important information in less than 200 pages in his new book, and I bet readers even of this blog would be rewarded in reading it. I disagree with Mallaby's lone, if significant criticism of Reich's point about lax demand and the American consumer. What Mallaby fails to appreciate is that Reich's point is that for over three decades the American family has (1) worked longer hours (2) sent the female spouse out of the home and into the workforce and (3) gone into debt in order to consume goods and services. Reich's point is that there would have been much more consumer spending these past thirty plus years if the American worker were paid in a manner that matched individual American worker productivity gains, and had the wealthiest 1-10% not gobbled up most of the income produced over that time.
Reich's more recent point is that the American family cannot get out of the fiscal and financial mess we are in by (1) working more hours, (2) finding a third spouse and (3) borrowing any more money, the last due to tight credit measures going on in banks. See here for Reich's point in a single article at Salon.com. Reich is engaging the argument that if there were a better distribution of wealth and higher taxes to provide the type of government services in education, libraries, social services we used to provide, more families would choose to allow one spouse to stay home with the kids. That this escapes the relatively younger Mallaby is perhaps not too surprising. He is part of the DC Village, after all...
2. Here is a review of a new biography of a promoter of the arts of a century ago who is nearly lost in our collective memory: Serge Diaghilev. The reviewer does a marvelous job of re-creating for us the cultural currents of the early 1900s, and how Diaghilev helped shape much of the culture of Europe and parts of America during that time.
3. An example of a review that lacks historical depth: This review of a new book on why we are supposedly addicted to scandal would have been far more helpful had it been more historically grounded. Are we as a people really more addicted to scandal than we were decades ago? How does the fact that the media incessantly cover it now, as opposed to simply holding back out of elitist decorum fit in? How does it compare to the way British subjects reacted in the 19th Century to various personal scandals among the Royal Family, a topic that would absolutely shock most Americans if they read about the scandals and the way in which regular folks gobbled up the information via word of mouth and newspapers of the time.
4. This review of the growth of "human rights" in foreign affairs deserved something better than the reviewer gave it. It was a too short and perfunctory review, and obscures the salient point the book's author, Samuel Moyn, gave to the 1975 Helsinki Accords and Jimmy Carter's demand for a more prominent place for human rights in the wake of those accords (which were pushed by his predecessor, Gerald Ford, over the sometimes objecting Henry Kissinger). If the reviewer is going to say the 1990s are the key time for the idea of human rights in foreign affairs, then she should write her own book or explain better why Moyn's book is wrong.
5. This review of Israeli novelist, prominent Israeli dove and grieving father, David Grossman, is long enough and extremely positive about Grossman's new novel. Still, at the end of the review, I wondered, Do I really want to read this novel? Is it going to capture and enlighten me in any way? I hope I am not glib in asking those questions. I hope the book gets wide circulation at least in the Jewish-American community, particularly the synagogue going American Jews, who really have no idea about the depths of contradictions within Jewish Israeli society when they go on their Potemkin Village trips there...Grossman certainly understands those contradictions better than most.
6. But let's end this week's review of book reviews on a positive note of personal triumph. This review of a new book by two African-American sisters, one of whom is a playwright of renown, was well-written and the book sounds fabulous. I opened the excerpt and went, "Whoa. Now that grabs me." The African-American story in American History has long called deep into me in a way that makes me feel more Jewish than much of what goes on in Israel. The African-American story does have parallels to the Jew in Europe, the Permanent Other, and yet, our nation's recent gains in promoting civil rights show why our nation's brief history is so much more positive in that realm than the history of Europe. There is still a long way to go, but gains can be clearly seen; plus, life for African-Americans, and how white America views African-Americans, have definitely improved despite the contingent of racists who show up at Tea Party rallies. In all, a novel about African-American history, a novel about music that strives to sing in prose is something worth reading and celebrating.
Wow. Lots to read in the NY Times Sunday Book Review this week!


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A useful husband
Posted: May 16, 2014|
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Ayli was talking to his recently widowed sister. "Why yoh put yer 'usband's ashes in an egg timer?" he asked.
She replied, "Well, 'e day do any werk when 'e was alive, an' I'm gooin' to see as 'e meks 'isself useful now 'e's jed."


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The Insight Program allows producers—through a participating elevator—to select up to three professional analysts to market their grain. The Insight Program is a great way to diversify your marketing plan using the experience of three trusted analysts.
Daily market commentary and timely recommendations from the AgriVisor research team covering corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, hogs and inputs.
Read more about E-Visor
November 29, 2014
There were a lot of strong feelings and commentary that surfaced in the wake of the Friday after Thanksgiving markets. But, with a lot of the trade gone for the holiday, one has to recognize the possibility the market action may have been exaggerated to some degree with the volume outside of hedge fund stops/sell orders lighter than it otherwise might have been.
The movement in many markets, grain included, was largely the result of the OPEC decision on crude oil output that came out late Thursday. OPEC members decided not to cut output, triggering a steep collapse in crude oil prices Friday. But, it's important to remember the collapse came on the heels of a decline prior to Friday's break that had already dropped from $107/barrel to $73/barrel over 5 months. Crude prices ended Friday $7.50/barrel lower. Much of that decline came on ideas demand had moderated because of eroding economic activity in Europe and China, while world crude output remained relatively high. But, the lower prices will start to spur demand, offsetting some of the price weakness. But even as some think crude prices are headed lower, we are not so sure. Crude oil is in the window to put in a seasonal low, and maybe even a longer term cycle low. Maybe more important, oft times when a market has a sharp move, up of down, after an extended move, the action represents an exhaustion, typically setting a market up for a top or (in this case) a bottom. This panic selling typically comes from the last "weak longs" pitching their positions, something that is characteristic of a market approaching a low.
The soybean market was the grain that responded most to the decline in energy prices, with soybeans losing 30 cents Friday. Export sales, while still good, weren't great like they had been in some recent weeks. Soymeal actually had some net cancelations, although shipments finally appear to be accelerating now that more product is in the pipeline. And soymeal basis levels remain high, indicating spot demand is still absorbing all of the supply entering the pipeline. Soybean basis levels remain good, and crush margins are still very good, although off the exceptional highs of a few weeks ago. Technical factors might have played into the mix as well, with many technicians wanting to point to a potential head and shoulder topping pattern. But it has not yet been completed, leaving some uncertainty as to whether it will be fulfilled. In these scenarios, it has a so-so success rate. January soybeans need to close under $9.95 to confirm that possible pattern. Even then, longer term indicators for soybeans hint the bigger trend has turned up as well, suggesting downside follow-through may not be as good as it might otherwise.
And then, there's the strong surge in the wheat market, along with the small slippage in the corn market that didn't follow the lead of the crude oil or soybean markets. The action in those, along with the soybeans, would suggest there may have been some inter-market spreading at play in the grains. Corn export sales were good, while wheat export sales were mediocre again. For the latter, the anxiety about new crops in various places in the world, mostly in the Black Sea area and the US is altering expectations about future world supplies. Regarding corn, if energy markets are so negative, why did corn hold up, and why has ethanol demand remained robust? The performance in the other grains suggest it may have been the more limited volume Friday that played a part in the extent of the soybean decline than is apparent on the surface.
In the end, clearly Friday was a day dominated by emotion. And as we suggested in the crude comments, maybe the decline in that market, as well as the break in commodity indices over the last few months were exhaustions of existing declines. One cannot yet say we have seen the absolute bottoms in a number of markets, crude oil and commodity indices specifically, but there is a chance they could be closing in on critical lows. Commodity indices have a semi-annual cycle that could bottom at any time. It's a little early, but they are in the window for the semi-annual low. The emotion is certainly appropriate for the indices(and energy markets) to bottom. The grains may act a little different than commodities in general. Clearly this week's push higher positions the wheat market to move a little higher into the next layers of resistance, $6.00 on Chicago futures and $6.50 on K.C. And corn prices have as yet to indicate they've come to the end of their post-harvest rally, although $4, and above, should stop advances as well. The soybean complex has the least positive short term picture, but even those prices, soybeans or products haven't yet confirmed their short term trend is ready to turn down again. But if soybean futures do turn down into the next short term cyclic low due at the end of January, nearby futures may not drop further than $9.75, and maybe $9.50-$9.60 at the most. It's because of the larger technical features we don't see the soybean market having an extended decline. Longer term indicators have turned higher, helping reinforce the possibility the early Oct. low was a 3 year cycle low. That tends to suggest prices should remain somewhat strong at least over the next few months.
July 07, 2014
by Joe Camp
With countries in Asia and South American often dominating the talk in agriculture circles, countries that make up the European Union are sometimes overlooked. But, the world's economists and financial market participants certainly haven't forgot about the region. EU countries have made plenty of news in recent years as credit problems have caused concerns over financial stability.
The EU and US are closely linked by agricultural ties. The EU provides major export competition in wheat markets and is a major importer of corn and soybeans. For that reason, the health of those EU economies will have important bearing on the U.S. grain trade in the years ahead.
The European Union is made up of 28 members that include core countries like the U.K., France, and Germany, as well as peripheral countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. Legal jurisdiction is supported by treaties among the countries and trade relations are controlled by various economic associations and agreements.
The economies are also under purview of the European Central Bank (ECB), which in part governs money stock and interest rates. The ECB has played an important role in the effort to accommodate financial institutions after the last global economic crisis. As it has for the U.S., easy money in Europe has inflated the amount of funds that circulate throughout the economies and there is evidence that money has trickled into commodity markets.
While the EU boasts strong agriculture production and export capacity, the region continues to be a major importer of finished food products. Countries in the EU also rely on imported machinery. Total U.S. exports of agricultural products to the EU were $11.9 billion last year and will continue to grow if the countries achieve economic stability.
The EU is an important customer for U.S. ag producers, but the region is also a formidable competitor. Economic recovery has been led by export initiatives and agriculture is playing a major role in the trade market. Whether customer or competitor, U.S. agriculture will rely on a strong EU economy because of the interrelations that exist among them in the global ag sector.
AgriVisor's next blog edition will examine the U.S. agriculture as it is affected by the economic health of its two neighbors, Canada and Mexico. The North American Free Trade Agreement allows the three countries to benefit from a strong partnership where commodity flows are a linchpin.