I must confess that I horde small scraps of patterned papers. I have a huge file of them. They are too pretty to throw away and I'm sure I'll find uses for them later. Well, this banner card would be perfect! Using small strips of many different pattern papers and one banner die this colorful card is a great way to use those scraps. If you also have a pile of pretty papers visit the Reverse Confetti blog for this card tutorial.


Where Is Roger Federer? Why He's Underwater!
That's not a fish, that's Roger Federer! In a new post on Facebook, the Swiss tennis star appears to be having a great time on his vacation, location unknown.
"Just finishing up my vacation and sending everyone greetings from under the water!" Federer wrote.
While many of his rivals like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are preparing for Monte Carlo next week, Federer and wife Mirka celebrated their third wedding anniversary yesterday.
Roger is expected to return to tennis action next month on May 6 at the Madrid Open followed by the Rome Masters. Federer, ranked No. 3 this week, has won four three ATP titles this year.
You can see more of what the players are doing on the Facebook tennis tracker.
22 Comments for Where Is Roger Federer? Why He's Underwater!
It's a different look for him, but I like it!
Three years now? Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Federer, As the flame of love goes, why not celebrate in style?
has won four ATP titles this year.
Indian Wells. Perhaps the author like more?
although Rogers not really my type,he looks great here,in the age of so many celebrity marriages falling apart,it makes a refreshing change to here of a couple still so happy together,and enjoying a family holiday,not just an amazing tennis player,but a great family man,congrats Roger and Mirka on 3 happy years together.
Congratulations to the Federers on their third anniversary, may they have many more happy years together.
It's good to see that they're relaxing and having fun in the midst of a long and difficult season.
Alison, you truly are one of the nicest posters. I need to learn from you. Steve 27, may be you need to learn from Alison too.
thanks Rave i appriciate the compliment but honestly im just being myself,and believe me i do have to bite my tongue sometimes virtually speaking,however as its the age of the internet i have realized,everyones entitled to there opinions and to say what they want,but some comments are not worth responding to,and are best ignored,BTW i like your posts too,as they always seem pretty fair to me.
Not your type. This is not a dating site. Plus he is married!
humble rafa yeah i do know that,i was just paying a compliment thats all,as many of the women on the forum do about the men sometimes,and the men do so about the women,i dont see anything wrong with complimenting someone its not a crime you know.
You're not allowed to do that. You are a Rafa fan. So your compliments have to be only for Rafa. Don't make his humble highness angry.
It's still not too late to enter Monte Carlo.
Yeah but I wanted to see his hairy chest!
Mat4 lol yeah just realized what i have done,commiting the cardinal sin,offending his humble highness,and giving the arrogant one a compliment,sorry your humble highness it will not happen again.
@alison, "his not my type, what are you trying to say" the guy has done you no wrong, why boast of yourself against him?
lisa im sorry but i dont really understand why your offended by my post,and i certainly was not boasting about myself against the guy,Rogers a perfectly lovely guy,a great family man,and a pretty awesome tennis player,the greatest ever in fact,but im the same as all women,well im the same as all human beings for that matter,some women love Rafa,some love muzza,some love nole,etc etc,we are all different,dont you think it would be a boring old world if we all liked the same thing?
Whether under water or over water, Roger is the best !!
Certainly an usual photo of Roger. Congrats to him and Mirka on their 3rd anniversary.
Everyone deserves a holiday break and everyone needs to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Congratulations to Roger and Mirka on their 3rd anniversary and wishing them many more! Looking foreward to seeing Roger back on court. He is still too young and too good on court to quit now!


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Appellate Court Awards Conservative Commentator Mark Steyn $1 Million in Attorney Fees
Jerry LambeJul 3rd, 2019, 11:55 am
A Manhattan appellate court ruled Tuesday that lawyers representing conservative pundit Mark Steyn were entitled to attorney fees as originally awarded to Steyn in an arbitration lawsuit against online television network CRTV (now known as BlazeTV).
Judge Dianne T. Renwick of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, First Department reversed a lower court's ruling which declared the award of over $1 million in attorney fees were unauthorized by either statute or contract.
In vacating the fees awarded in arbitration, Judge Eileen Bransten ruled in April that the arbitrator's decision "manifestly disregarded" New York state law, which follows the "American Rule" of legal fees, requiring each party to pay its attorney regardless of the outcome.
However, the appellate court found that the arbitrator believed the "American Rule" did not apply because the parties had agreed to an arbitration clause which incorporated the rules set forth by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The arbitration clause stated that any unresolved disputes between the parties "shall be settled exclusively by confidential binding agreement in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act" and "rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) applicable to general commercial disputes."
"[H]ere the parties' arbitration clause incorporated the rules of the AAA as controlling, and Rule 47(d) of the AAA explicitly provides that an award of attorneys' fees may be made 'if all parties have requested such an award or it is authorized by law or [the] arbitration agreement,'" Judge Renwick wrote.
The conflict began in early 2017 when Steyn sued CRTV for breach of contract after the conservative media network abruptly cancelled his program, The Mark Steyn Show, after only two months on the air. Steyn claimed that he performed all of his contractual duties while CRTV blamed Steyn for the show's failings. After arbitration proceedings, Steyn was awarded approximately $4 million from the arbiter in damages and an additional $1 million in attorney fees.
California attorney Michael Murphy represented Steyn in the dispute along with Melanie Hill of Melanie Hill Law in Nevada, and Erin O'Leary, an associate at the Manhattan-based law firm Fishkin Lucks.
"We are thrilled," Murphy said in a statement following Tuesday's ruling. "We are hopeful that CRTV will be mature and follow through with that as it promotes itself as being a champion of liberty and freedom of contract, and that they will satisfy their contractual obligations and pay this award."
Steyn's spokeswoman Melissa Howes said Tuesday's decision was a big win, but claims that the awarded fees do not cover all of the legal costs incurred by Mark Steyn Enterprises, Inc. in this dispute.
"The legal fees we have incurred from this continued malicious prosecution and abuse of process is in the millions and growing every day. We are gratified that the court has upheld an award to recoup at least a portion of that," Howes said.
Howes is also the president of Mark Steyn Enterprises Inc.
Jeffrey Mitchell, an attorney for CRTV (BlazeTV), suggested, however, that this dispute is not over.
"We continue to believe both awards appealed from were improperly made. This decision speaks to the risks parties take by agreeing to arbitration, and how there is little anyone can do after the fact when an arbitrator makes an erroneous award. This may be an issue for the Court of Appeals to address given the importance of it," he told the New York Law Journal.
[image via YouTube screengrab]
arbitrationattorney feesconservative reviewcrtvmark steyn
Jerry Lambe - Journalist
Jerry Lambe is a journalist at Law&Crime. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law.
More Stories by Jerry Lambe

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Car colours: Why it's important when buying
Choosing the perfect coloured car is not only an important decision for yourself, but also others if you wish to sell it on in future.
Buying a car isn't an easy task. There are many factors that you need to take into consideration before committing to such a big purchase.
The likelihood is that in most people's lifetime, a car will be the second most expensive thing they buy, behind a house, and so it's critical that you get it right.
The first thing that needs to be considered is the needs and requirements for you and your family. Who will predominantly be using the car and what features will benefit those the most?
Do you know your car's equity position? Find out today by clicking the banner below and signing up to Car Credible for a full car finance appraisal.
Beyond that, it's the overall running costs and extras that need to be budgeted and accounted for.
Although many will not see it as a huge problem, the colour and other modifications should be thoroughly thought out.
Just because you like something, doesn't mean another person would, and if you ever wish to sell your car later down the line, you may be stuck trying to shift it if it's too outlandish.
Most popular coloured cars
The most popular car colour in 2020 went to grey for the third year in a row as per the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It made up over 24% of new cars purchased last year.
The second was black coming in just below 20% and in third was white at over 17%. It means that grey, black and white make up nearly 62% of all new cars bought.
Coming in at the bottom was bronze, making up only around 0.1% of the total new cars purchased, while yellow, green and orange were also unpopular choices, all with less than 1.5% of the total market share.
If you want to stand out and are confident you'll keep your car in the future, then why not go bold with a pink, purple, or cream.
Best car colours for resale
Although grey, black and white are the most popular cars, it doesn't necessarily mean it'll be easier to shift than others.
Over the years, people's taste in car colours has changed, and although grey is the most popular now, a brighter colour like red or blue may be the best in a few years.
Over the last 21 years, there have been five different colours that have dominated the market.
Pros and cons of buying a new or used car.
What is the car depreciation value and how does it affect you?
Top tactics used by car dealers to make a sale with you.
In 1999, it was blue that was the leader, but silver dominated 2000-2008 before black took over between 2009-2012.
White came to the fore in 2013-2016, black then reemerged for a solitary year and then it's been grey since 2018.
So it really could be a different story in a few years time.
At the end of the day, it's your decision when it comes to making the purchase. Buying a new car is such a good feeling and you'll want to show it off regardless of what colour it is.
Sign up to Car Credible today by clicking the image below for a full appraisal of your car finance deal.
NewsletterGet the latest articles and product updates
How to successfully haggle down a car's priceIt can be daunting haggling for a discount on anything, let alone a car, but we have some tips to help you feel confident.
Car buying: The future of the industryThere is a lot to be excited about in the automotive industry right now as we look to the future.
Car buying: How consumer habits have changedCar buying is always evolving with the process becoming more digital and streamlined in recent years.
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Warm Springs Lodge
 Location
601 Warm Springs Road
Landisburg, PA 17040
30 minutes or less from both Carlisle and the West Shore
Located off 850 between Rt 34 & Rt 74
Who knows where the history of a place begins. Somewhere back in time just this side of the things we remember, the stories, the facts, the legends. So it is with the history of Warm Springs Lodge in the Blue Mountains of Perry County, Pennsylvania. Often to find out about a place, we look at the names, the owners, the historical records, but for the beauty of this place, there are other, better paths with which to begin. And so we start along a trail, The Allegheny Pathway that runs from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. An old Indian route. Soon, we come to a stream and follow it to a valley narrowly nestled between two wooded ridges, Quaker Hill and Pasgah Hill, in Central Pennsylvania. And along this tributary to the Susquehanna, Sherman's Creek, are six warm springs. Near the largest of the springs is Warm Springs Lodge, a stately old building dating back to just after the Civil War when it was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire.
It is the geography of the land, the setting that first catches our eye. The rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the watershed of streams, the lush vegetation, the nearby dairy farms, the Amish, and the small homesteads with orchards, corn, and flowers. Off the beaten track, and you're in the past. Ancient, virgin hemlocks, the sprawling boxwood huckleberry-Gaylussacia brachycera, the oldest living plant in the United States, tracing its childhood back to at least 1500 BC . Fields of arrowheads, ghosts of Indians, and the countless fossils and trilobites, those marine arthropods that used to molt in the nearby rocks, leaving a few offspring like the crayfish in the streams.
It would be easy to go on forever about the flora and the fauna, the wonderful green watercress in the springs by the Lodge, the two huge tulip trees that are the guardians of the springs, hovering behind it like wise sagamores from a time past remembrance. There are hickory trees, black walnut, grand sycamores with the bark peeling into scrolls of white and tan parchment, the woods and nearby hills aflame with oak and maple trees in Autumn. Yes, it is hard not to mention the wildlife, the raccoons that come down to the stream, the deer, the hints of beaver and mink, possums, squirrels, and rabbits. And because the springs never freeze, egrets frequent the area, and blue and green herons. Owls, eagles, bluebirds, pileated woodpeckers, tangers, orioles, finches, and wood ducks. Even an occasional phoenix has been sighted, making the valley truly an Audubon paradise.
For the fisherman? Well, there are pickerel in the reeds and wild water lilies, bass abundant in the deeper holes, fallfish, bluegills, and rockies. Just upstream, brown and rainbow trout. For the more adventurous, an eel or hellbender to let us know that they're still here and plan on sticking around for a long time.
The Lodge, itself, resting on a small hill overlooking the peaceful and expansive green lawn, the stream, and the moon riding the ridge across the southern sky, often speculates on its own past. It looks out from the veranda over all of this, dreaming for an evening in its rocking chair or hammock, remembering the human history that has made it what is is.
How it was the spring that first brought people here. Coming from Harrisburg, a half-hour to the east, or from Carlisle, twelve miles over the mountain to the south. From Blain, from Newport. Not to forget the frontiersmen who lived in the county, the squatters along the creeks, and the Indians. And how with time, when the curative properties of the water in the springs became more widely known, how the people started coming in from as far away as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Boston. And still do. With such a beautiful setting, all that was needed was a place to stay, to lodge in, but a place equally pleasing, to match, to blend in with the mountains.
Though the tract of land where the Warm Springs are located was first warranted to Soloman Dentler in 1793, it wasn't until 1830, ten years after Perry and Cumberland County were divided, that James Kennedy purchased the ground and built a bath house. Then John Hipple, the sheriff, leased the land from Kennedy for a ten-year period, and he erected a building 40 by 45 feet in size, and put in additional bathhouses. These times were interesting, the breaki8ng of ground, the first foundations. The place soon opened as a health resort. People from the nearby farmhouses and the big cities came to take the cure, to bathe in the water, and to drink it.
By 1838, Peter Updegraffe had added a small pottery that turned a thriving business. Stagecoaches arrived on the hill behind the Lodge. Then in 1849, H. H. Etter bought all the grounds and added a seventy-five foot extension to the original building. Around the time of the Civil War, the property had passed the R. M. Henderson and John Hayes of Carlisle, who in turn sold it to the Perry Warm Springy Hotel Company. There were more improvements and the hotel flourished until the end of the century when the big seaside and mountain resorts were developed. The Warm Springs, without a railroad nearby, managed to escape all the hustle and the ill-conceived changes of the early industrial era. The human traffic died down, there were financial setbacks, but the Lodge and the area around it were saved by neglect.
During all this time, however, there were some exciting moments, Indians camped on the grounds as late as 1880. Even before this, for instance, there was the duel. Sometime shortly before the Civil War, two gentlemen in love with the same woman met up at the Lodge. The lady was about. There was a ruckus, a challenge. Swords were chosen over pistols, and the following morning just as the sun was coming over Pisgah Hill, the men and their seconds once again met. One killed the other and two weeks later the survivor was killed in the streets of Baltimore. The Pennsylvania legislature was aghast. Soon thereafter, it passed a law prohibiting duels. Another honorable and sane tradition cut short by good intentions.
Then there was the fire that destroyed the main building shortly after 1865. The place was abandoned, but Christian Thudium rebuilt it, and in 1867, Abraham Bower of Landisburg bought it. In 1871 it was once again open to the public, this time without liquor. The alcoholic spirits to this day rebel against such hard times, and it is rumored that sometimes early in the morning the innkeeper finds a partially filled wineglass or mug of applejack on the table in the basement.
However, teetotaler that he was, Mr. Bower had improved things. By 1897 he was marketing the water from the spring as a beverage and for medicinal purposes under the name of Abraham Bower and Sons, with office in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Boston. It was bottled and sold around the world. The properties of the water were well known. As early as 1850, a Dr. Booth of Philadelphia had found by chemical analysis that it contained carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of iron, alkaline salts, and chiefly chlorides with portions of sulfate and silica. It was said to be a good purgative and diuretic, helpful or rheumatism, kidney and liver complaints, dyspepsia, gout, Bright's disease (diabetes), eczema, sore eyes and general weaknesses of constitution. Feeling tepid in winter and cool in summer, the 66 degree F waters are thought to come from two miles beneath the earth's surface, heated by the natural heatflow of the earth's interior. No wonder the springs bathe both the body and soul.
The clear water and the beautiful Lodge brought in the folks. Yes, those were the days. A railway was planned, the People's Freight Railroad Company, and was never finished. The old bed can be seen in the woods downstream near a poet's small cabin. The Warm Springs was at the height of popularity in the gay nineties. The well to do from the big eastern cities fell in love with the quiet spa hidden away in the mountains of Pennsylvania. They came by stagecoach, on horseback, or by foot from the nearest towns to canoe in the streams, bathe in the life-giving waters, picnic and walk in the woods. Up on the hill back of the Lodge was the first outdoor bowling alley in Pennsylvania. There were wonderful parties in the big hotel, dancing and coquetry. Parasols, tall hats, fetching gown, bonnets and lace. The romance even mad the local papers sometimes.
But with the coming of hard times and World War I, the Lodge gradually slipped into disuse. Gossip has it that the spirits avenged themselves, that there were private festivities, that, the Gods forbid, a bordello might have been in operation. If only we could read the mind of the fellow there on the porch looking out over green grass and the water, remembering it all.
In the 1920's H. B. Rhinesmith, the proprietor of the Hotel Rhinesmith, owned the Warm Springs property in New Bloomfield. The Gring family also owned the Lodge for awhile. But there were no new developments or improvements. Things were at a standstill. Then in 1968, Lloyd and Dorcas Hetrick bought the property, restoring many of its features, rebuilding the roofed front porch, fixing up the quaint bedrooms, adding a lovely foyer, and updating some of the bath facilities.
As we move firmly into the 21st century in 2010, new owners and operators Carol Franklin and Cable Kinnard welcome you to come experience the history and the pleasures of Warm Springs Lodge in its third century.
Contact Us | Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved.


If you have children, it's never too early to think about ways you can set money aside for their education. There are several college savings options available for parents, and some of them offer attractive tax advantages.
You can contribute up to $2,000 per year for any one child into this tax-favored account. Contributions accumulate tax deferred at the federal level, and earnings are tax free when used for qualified educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and certain room and board charges. The $2,000 maximum contribution is reduced once modified adjusted gross income exceeds $95,000 (or $190,000 if married filing jointly).
A Section 529 plan is a college savings plan that offers flexibility and tax-favored features. You can contribute to a 529 plan regardless of your annual income or your age. 529 plans allow investment earnings to accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. Earnings won't be subject to federal income taxes when withdrawn to cover a child's qualified educational expenses. You can choose from a variety of states' plans, since many 529 plans are open to nonresidents. In addition, certain states offer tax incentives to their residents for investing in their in-state plan.
Some parents open a custodial account for their child's future education expenses. With a custodial account, income is reported on the child's tax return (unless the parents elect to include the income on their own return). As a result, the income is taxed to the child but is subject to the "kiddie" tax rules, which generally require that the child's "unearned income" over a certain amount ($2,100 for 2017) be taxed at the parents' highest rate. Another potential drawback: Your child would control the assets when he/she reaches adulthood (though putting the account in a Crummey trust may help to address this problem). Also, custodial account assets are considered assets of the student for financial aid purposes.


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Verenium technology to be used in Asia
By Kris Bevill
Web exclusive posted July 25, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. CST
Cambridge, Mass.-based Verenium Corp., a cellulosic ethanol enzyme developer and producer, is collaborating with Tokyo-based Marubeni Corp. to continue the advancement of cellulosic ethanol facilities in Asia.
Last week the companies announced the opening of an approximately 790,000 gallon per year cellulosic ethanol production facility in Saraburi, Thailand. Marubeni spokesperson Kanaya Mitsushige said the plant began operations in March and is continuing to operate on a demonstration-scale under supervision from Marubeni headquarters.
The facility is colocated with an ethanol production facility that will use sugarcane as its primary feedstock. The bagasse left over from ethanol production will be utilized as feedstock at the cellulosic plant, using Verenium's process technology to produce ethanol.
"We are very pleased to see our proprietary cellulosic technology continue to serve as a template for the commercialization of next-generation ethanol in Asia," said Carlos Riva, president and chief executive officer at Verenium. "As in the U.S., we believe cellulosic ethanol derived from non-food biomass is going to play a critical role in the global energy mix, and we look forward to further partnering with Marubeni, as we continue to advance additional strategic corporate partnership opportunities, to expand our technology's reach and potential around the globe."
Marubeni and Tsukishima Kikai Co. Ltd., co-sub-licensors of Verenium's cellulosic ethanol production technology, have already utilized the process in an approximately 370,000 gallons per year cellulosic facility in Osaka, Japan, which primarily uses wood waste as feedstock.
EPA: More than 31.11 million cellulosic RINs generated in May
Bright Biomethane opens North America office
Boeing invests in Brazil's sustainable aviation fuel industry
Kinetrex breaks ground on RNG plant in Indianapolis
EIA: Densified biomass fuel sales reach 710,000 tons in February


text:
© Shane Leonard
Meet Your New Neighbor, BILLY SUMMERS (Teaser #2) Readers Can't Get Enough of BILLY SUMMERS Billy Summers's Final Hit (Teaser #4) Billy Summers Has a Secret… (Teaser #3) BILLY SUMMERS by Stephen King (Teaser #1) Billy Summers | Book Trailer If It Bleeds | Book Trailer "Holly Gibney" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King (Now in ... "The Life of Chuck" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King (No... "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King ... "Rat" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King (Now in Paperback!) IF IT BLEEDS by Stephen King Is… Stephen King's Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption Stephen King's THE INSTITUTE | Now in Paperback! Stephen King in Conversation with John Grisham: On Writing Sho... Stephen King in Conversation with John Grisham: Writing on a C... Stephen King's IF IT BLEEDS Is… "Rat" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King Title Story "If It Bleeds" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King "The Life of Chuck" Trailer | If It Bleeds by Stephen King If It Bleeds by Stephen King - "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" Trailer If It Bleeds by Stephen King Book Trailer If It Bleeds: New Fiction from Stephen King The Institute Wrap Up A Stephen King Book ELEVATION: A Story About What Can Happen When You Lighten Up The Gunslinger's Origin Story From Stephen King Stephen King's ELEVATION Stephen King Talks About His ELEVATION Audiobook The Outsider: Book Trailer
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
Books by Stephen King


How to make a Borax Snowflake | What Will We Do Today?
Before we begin, and in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I went down a few "rabbit holes" while I was putting this post together. As a result, I have included information about Death Valley Days, the history of Borax and how borax crystals are formed. This was supposed to be all about making beautiful Borox snowflakes, but … I just can't help myself. Feel free to skip ahead to the pdf if you really just wanted to know how to make the darned snowflake.
(On the other hand, won't you feel silly if you are a contestant in a trivia contest and a question is asked about the mules that carried borax out of Death Valley or how a crystal is formed)?
When I was little, Twenty Mule Team Borax was the 'clean machine' for every 50s housewife. It was used for everything from washing clothes to washing dishes. I guess it has fallen out of favor in this age of high efficiency, lavender scented, enzyme laden, bleach added, fabric softener and brightener detergents, but it was the big cat daddy of cleaners in the "old days" of my youth.
1. Twenty Mule Team Borax commercials and Death Valley Days (this may seem like two separate things, but the commercials and show were inextricably entwined).
My family watched Death Valley Days with my Grandma and Grandpa S. in the living room of their farm every summer. There was no remote and only three channels, but that was just fine. We knew exactly what we were going to watch: Bonanza, Lawrence Welk, Perry Mason, Have Gun Will Travel, Candid Camera and Death Valley Days.
I watched the Death Valley Days episode below while I was writing this and it brought back great memories. (If you decide to watch, the actor who plays the U.S. Representative from Nevada is Jim Davis. He played Jock Ewing in Dallas). For those of you who are not old enough to remember, Ronald Reagan (yep, the President) was one of the hosts of Death Valley Days for a number of years.
Enough about my black-and-white-tv watching days. Let's return to our regularly scheduled program.
Borax has been around for about 7 million years, but it became important in the United States in the late 1880s. Unlike silver or gold, it was something that prospectors in Death Valley could mine and make quite a bit of money with in the process. The only problem they faced was transporting the borax out of Death Valley. Mule teams were necessary to move the more than 12 million pounds (over 5 years) of borax from Death Valley to the nearest railroad spur, and they needed 20 mules to actually move the wagons. The wagons were loaded up with borax, the mule teams (all 20 of them) were hitched to the front and the water tank for the mules and men was hitched to the back.
"Don't worry about the mule, just load the wagon" (quote from my friend, Tom. He assures me it is just a work euphemism).
Why all the excitement? Evidently borax is useful as an additive to glazes, is used in fire retardants, moth proofing and anti-fungal foot soaks. I'm guessing it was used for a lot more than foot soaks, but you get the drift. Seems it was a very useful element.
In the 50s and 60s, it was also used to clean, freshen, whiten, deodorize….
I hadn't really thought about Borax in quite awhile, but last year my sister, Cathy, mentioned that she wanted to make Borax snowflakes with her grand-children and couldn't find any Borax in the town where her kids lived.
I was pretty sure our local Piggly Wiggly Grocery store would carry the key ingredient for these sparkly snowflakes, and I was right.
That box of Borax sat on my laundry shelf for a year before I had a chance to make snowflakes with the grand-kids.
Finally, on a grey cold day after Christmas we gathered our pipe cleaners, dusted off the Borax and made beautiful sparkly snowflakes.
Wait. If we made these snowflakes shortly after Christmas, why are you just hearing about them now? Why did it take me three and a half weeks to show you how to make these wonderful, sparkly, crafty, "gee, ain't it too bad it's cold out but you can make this if you want to" snowflake?
I really thought it was important to take time-lapse photos of at least one Borox snowflake.
I thought it might get you excited enough to make one of your own.
Unfortunately, I had NO IDEA how hard it was going to be to actually stick around long enough to take a picture every half hour. It's entirely possible that I have a setting on my camera to do this, but I never found it. As a result, it took me until now to get something that was even remotely close to a time-lapse. As you look at the pictures, you will see the results of several batches of Borax snowflakes, but I am sure you will forgive me. (You will, right)?
Here it is. Forgive me.
Watching Paint Dry….er….Watching a Borax Snowflake form…sort of….
Want to make some for yourself? Follow along..
Boiling Water (this MUST be done by an adult. The kids can make the snowflake shapes out of the pipe cleaners).
If you want colored snowflakes, you can use colored pipe cleaners. You will need two for a fancy snowflake.
Twist the three pipe cleaner sections together at their centers to form a six-sided snowflake. You need to be sure that this shape will fit through the mouth of your jar without having it touching the sides. If necessary, you can trim the ends of the pipe cleaners.
For the fancy snowflake, cut six 1 inch pieces of pipe cleaner.
Wrap one piece around each of the snowflake ends.
If the ends touch each other, you may wish to trim them.
Cut a piece of string to one side of the snowflake.
Tie the other end of the string to the stick or pencil.
You want the length of your string to be enough that the snowflake hangs into the jar but doesn't touch the bottom. Once you have your length set, remove pipe cleaner snowflake from the jar while you prepare the solution.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and pour into the jar (yes, I am aware that I am now using a different jar, with a different pipe cleaner and using it in a different house. Remember what I said about this taking me longer than it should have? Now you know why).
Add 3 tablespoons of Borax for each cup of water (if you use 6 cups of water, then you would use 1 cup of Borax. That was easier for me so I'm thinking it might be easier for you).
Stir until the Borax is dissolved. Some of the Borax may settle in the bottom of the jar, and that's just fine.
Hang the pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar with the stick or pencil resting on top of the jar.
Make sure that you've added enough water so that the snowflake is completely submerged.
Now, you wait. Be sure you don't disturb the jar. You might want to put it somewhere out of the way so that it doesn't get jostled.
In my experience, it will take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours for the crystals to form.
While the water is still hot, not much happens, but once the water begins to cool crystals will begin to form.
Once you see crystals formed all over the pipe cleaner, you can take the snowflake out of the liquid and enjoy.
We used colored pipe cleaners to make these snowflakes.
A lovely blue snowflake. I won't tell you that I took this picture under a perfect blue sky on a sunny day in Florida. That would just be too mean.
I've never seen a green snowflake, but I still think this is pretty. I don't want to tell you what to do, but you might want to avoid yellow snowflakes….you know….yellow snow….
You don't need to limit yourself to snowflakes. Let your imagination run wild. Our friend, Tom, made this star (with great precision).
I know, I know … this took far too long. Since we are so close to Valentines Day, I made this heart for you. Am I forgiven?
And just one more. A little starfish.
Oh, by the way. When you are done, you will have a bit of a challenge getting the Borax out of your container (actually, I thought it was rather pretty). We tried soaking it in hot water, but to no avail.
I took a knife and chipped away until I got a chunk of Borax to break away from the glass (those crystals really loved each other). Once I got a chunk loose, the rest just fell away.
In case you are interested, here's the science behind the magic (my version). If you want a more "scientific" explanation, you might want to head over to Steve Spangler's Science (highly recommended, by the way).
Because Borax is a crystal (like salt, sugar and Epsom salts), it has flat sides and a symmetrical shape with a unique, repeating pattern. When you heat water, the water molecules move farther apart. This makes room for the Borax crystals to dissolve. When the water/Borax solution cools, the water molecules move closer together again so there is less room for the Borax crystals. What's a crystal to do? As the water gets cooler, the crystals begin to form and then, frightened and alone, they get close together and build on each other. They have flat sides, so they can easily adhere to each other, the container, the pipe cleaner and the string. I'd like to think they are now happily enfolded in their little crystal family.
This is the same thing that happens to snowflakes. As the water cools the molecules move closer together and form a snowflake. Because all water molecules are shaped the same, they form a six sided crystal.
You've been so patient, I am including a pdf of this craft.
Feel free to download and make your own snowflake. If you do make one, could you take a picture and share with everyone on the What Will We Do Today Facebook Fan page? That would be loverly.
« 10 Reasons why you haven't heard from me lately…..
Thanks for the mention. I stopped by your blog and was very amused. May have to do something about Bean Day!!!
I must say. They are pretty magical. Kinda like real snowflakes.
Love your humor. Great blog. With your help, made snowflakes with my 10 y/o DD today. Danke!
Oh, I'm so glad you made the snowflakes!! Be sure to share on Facebook whatwillwedotoday.com!! Can't wait to see…..
Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your enthusiasm, photos, and sense of humor.
You are very welcome. Do let us know if you attempt to make your own snowflakes!! I love to see other's fun…Have a great day!
Okay…. we loved doing this project and have some awesome crystal snowflakes… What I am curious about is… Will they last or melt or what? Can we hang them in a window? Or box away for next Christmas.
Sorry for the delay, but your snowflakes will last as long as you keep them from moisture. I haven't boxed any away, but I would imagine using parchment paper might protect the snowflake!! Good news, is that they are fun to make. Be sure to showcase your snowflakes on the whatwillwedotoday Facebook page!! Have a great day!
Can the jars be 'washed' using hot boiling water to get the Borax out, so that the jars can be used again in the next experiment?


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Full Title Name: Detailed Discussion of Commercial Breeders and Puppy Mills
Robyn F. Katz Place of Publication: Michigan State University College of Law Publish Year: 2008 Primary Citation: Animal Legal and Historical Center 1 Country of Origin: United States
Enforcement of commercial breeding laws rests within the individual states. It is important that states maintain uniformity, however, to preserve legitimate breeding operations. Without proper enforcement of current laws, and stricter laws introduced, puppy mills will continue to thrive on consumer demand.
Millions of dogs each year are produced in puppy mills, adding to the pet overpopulation that overwhelms the country's animal shelters. According to the Humane Society of the United States ("HSUS"), 2-4 million dogs bred in puppy mills are sold each year to uninformed, eager consumers. See Humane Society of the United States , (last visited Aug. 24, 2008). While legitimate breeders try to place desired dogs with competent homes, the prevalence of irresponsible breeders has risen in recent years with the growing demand for purebred and designer dogs. This trend is further complicated by the fact thatonly twenty-six states have laws implementing regulations on commercial kennels. Those that have licensing requirements for kennels lack in substance and enforcement. The laws of each state differ drastically from one another, giving motivated breeders room to travel between states to find the location that has the least restrictive way to make money from breeding. Normally, these state laws instruct breeders on how to legally maintain a breeding operation, including but not limited to registration fees, limits on the number of dogs (currently only in Virginia), whether or not they will be subject to inspections, and maintenance of facilities. ( Click here for an update that describes what states have amended or adopted breeding laws since 2008).
The lack of overarching federal law and lack of state law enforcement leads to the problem of puppy mills. This paper will examine the increasing trend of such illegitimate commercial breeding facilities. It will address the single federal law that was enacted in 1966, and continue to examine the adequacy of existing state laws and enforcement mechanisms. The paper then examines how the inadequacy of current laws has permitted the existence of puppy mills, and the ability of the operations to thrive with so few laws. Finally, the paper will conclude with a determination that more states need to incorporate stricter licensing requirements that are easily enforceable and address both retail pet stores and Internet sales. Even with these enforcement mechanisms, however, this ultimately an issue of supply and demand, where the consumer's roll in this tragedy is paramount to its change in direction.
II. The Animal Welfare Act
The only uniform animal welfare law is the federal Animal Welfare Act ("AWA" or "Act"), which includes regulations for living conditions of certain animals and penalties for violations. The law provides criminal penalties, civil penalties, and revocation of permits for violations of the AWA. See David Favre, Animal Legal & Historical Center, Overview of U.S. Animal Welfare Act (2002) . Congress passed the AWA as a means of regulating animals in science and research, not animal cruelty. See David Favre, Animal Legal & Historical Center, Overview of U.S. Animal Welfare Act (2002). However, on the surface, parts of the law are applicable to certain companion animal breeders. For example, dogs and cats are listed as animals covered by the Act. See 7 U.S.C. §§ 2131 – 59 (2007) . Further, under the AWA, a dealer or exhibitor is required to have a license before operating, and also must undergo inspections that are run by the United States Department of Agriculture.
This Act sounds like it would govern the inappropriate sale of dogs by commercial breeders; however, this law is much more limited than the general public realizes. In fact, a "dealer" is defined as "any person who, in commerce, for compensation or profit, delivers for transportation, or transports, except as a carrier, buys, or sell, or negotiates the purchase or sale of, (1) any dog or other animal whether alive or dead for research, teaching, exhibition, or use as a pet, or (2) any dog for hunting, security, or breeding purposes." 7 U.S.C. § 2132 . While the definition appears to cover breeders who sell dogs, the definition continues to exempt most retail pet stores, and someone who does not gross more than $500 from the sale of a dog, cat, or any wild animal. See id. Thus, savvy breeders can maneuver around the license requirement if the breeders sell directly to the public or do not gross more than $500 per year.
Despite the AWA's limitations, commercial breeders often fall within the inspection requirements of the AWA. The AWA regulates inspections through the Department of Agriculture's Animal Care Program. See Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_welfare/content/printable_version/faq_animal_dealers.pdf (last visited Aug. 24, 2008). Under the federal inspection process, each facility is designated by its risk based on its previous inspection history, such as low, moderate, or high. High risk facilities are inspected more often than low, and moderate usually once per year. The AWA regulations cover housing, sanitation, food, water, and protections against extreme temperatures. 7 U.S.C. § 2143 . However, since the federal law exempts those facilities that sell dogs directly to the public (backyard breeders and those not registered as a commercial breeder), a significant amount of breeding facilities go uninspected.
The extension of the Act to commercial breeders is extremely limited. In fact, t he Doris Day Animal League in the late 1990s sought to try and narrow the definition of "retail pet store" as to only exclude commercial pet stores. Doris Day Animal League v. Veneman , 315 F.3d 297 (D.C. Cir. 2003). This would have forced those who sell dogs retail from their homes to comply with the AWA. In the final action on July 19, 1999, APHIS decided not to amend the Act for a number of reasons. First, Congress could have changed the regulatory definition but did not. Thus, the Congressional intent was clear to the Department, which did not believe it to include limiting the Act any further. In addition, home sellers are subject to self-regulation and pressures from the purchasing public and breed/registry organizations. Restricting the exclusionary provision within the Act further would also cause a shift in already limited funds, creating more money for inspections that may not be necessary. APHIS also reasoned that state laws currently govern animal cruelty laws. Finally, APHIS defended its denial of amending the Act as a result of the potential for people to consider regulation within private homes an invasion of privacy by the Federal Government. See David Favre, Animal Legal & Historical Center, Overview of U.S. Animal Welfare Act (2002).
Since the purpose of the federal Act is not for the regulation of commercial breeders, loopholes within the Act allow unregulated breeders to exist. In addition, it would be impossible for the USDA to monitor all of the commercial breeding operations. The primary authority to regulate the welfare of animals is through the states, which need to maintain laws that are enforceable and hold people accountable for violating the current laws.
III. State Laws
Only twenty-six states currently have laws that govern commercial kennels. See HSUS State Puppy Mill Laws Chart (pdf file - 93.28 KB ). States laws vary, but most states that do have laws address sanitation, housing, food and water requirements, the governing agency, and inspections; few address veterinary care and the humane treatment of dogs, ventilation, and exercise. This section will examine, in detail, the state laws that do address commercial breeders by comparing their provisions. It will further address the lack of uniformity of the state laws and finally provide recommendations to make them more enforceable.
A. Geography Does Not Matter
Generally, states define commercial breeder, commercial kennel, breeding facility, retail pet store, and other terms differently. Comparing California's laws with both Colorado's and Arizona's, one can see the large discrepancy of terminology within the same region of the United States. The California law defines a breeder loosely as someone or a corporation who has "sold or harbored three or more litters or 20 or more dogs in the past twelve months" California Health and Safety Code §§ 122045-122110 (1999) . Although the Code references the term "breeder," it does not have any licensing requirement in order to operate a facility. There is also no inspection requirement in order to be a breeder. Colorado, on the other hand, defines a "pet animal facility" similar to the "breeder" term in California's statute, but looser to include the purpose of the facility as one that handles, sells, grooms, or breeds animals. This statute does include a licensing requirement, up to a $350 fee for such, and a required inspection by the State Agricultural Commission. Colorado st. §§ 35-80-101 – 35-80-117 (2001) . Conversely, Arizona's general dog laws statute does not mention any terminology in its Definitions section using the term "breeders." See AZ st. § 11-1001 (2003 ) . The section defined the term "kennel" as an "enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals, in which a person keeps, harbors or maintains five or more dogs under controlled conditions." AZ st. § 11-1001(8 ). Kennels are then overseen at the county level by the board of supervisors in the county where the kennel is located. Arizona then has a separate section for pet sales. See AZ st. § 44-1799 . This section defines both "pet dealer" and "pet store" – both of which apply to the for-profit commercial sales of dogs and cats. See id. While the Arizona statute details sanitary requirements of the facilities, inspection requirements, and civil penalties of up to $1,000, the statute does not provide the method for establishing a facility. See id.
The variations in the state laws mayencourage commercial breeders to migrate in geographic regions, often times to states that have less restrictions. States such as Arizona, California, and Colorado have vastly different laws pertaining to operating a commercial kennel, allowing breeders to easily have the choice of maintaining an operation in a state that has the least restrictive laws and penalties. For example, A rizona only defines "kennel" in its statutes, and leaves out pet stores and breeders. Further, there is no inspection requirement for Arizona, while Colorado does impose a requirement. Like Colorado, a license is required in order to operate a kennel; however, the fee of $75 is much smaller than the Colorado fees. AZ st . § 11-1001 , 1009 . The discrepancy in laws between adjacent states may encourage illegitimate breeders in Colorado to skirt the laws and move to Arizona where the standards are far more lenient.
Some states have no discussion of breeding regulations in their statutes. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky (repealed in 2004), Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. See HSUS State Puppy Mill Laws Chart (pdf file - 93.28 KB ). While state agencies may have relevant administrative regulations, there is still a vacuum in these states. The political pressure within the state is a major factor when the state legislatures decide to add and amend bills. Since the positions are elected, the legislators rely on the public support to keep them in office. Thus, if the public does not support commercial breeding laws, or if other issues are more pressing for the state, state legislators will prioritize the relevant issues as determined by the public.
While these states provide little or no overall regulation of commercial breeders, even those states that do have laws depend on how well the laws are enforced through inspections.
B. The Importance of Inspections and Governing Agencies
Inspections of commercial breeding facilities are of great importance to animal welfare because it is the regulatory agency that has the power to shut down facilities that do not follow the laws. Those states that do not mandate inspections are setting up laws that are rarely enforceable.Although law enforcement is already spread thin within the states, and there is a lack of funding and personnel to carefully inspect each commercial kennel, the answer is not to leave out an enforcement strategy. For states that do have some enforcement agency, those regulatory agencies that most often take charge of enforcing commercial breeding facility statutes are the various state departments of agriculture. See CO st. § 35-80-109 ; see also 7 DE st. § 1702 (1999 ). Some states grant power to the local government to inspect facilities as well as state veterinarians.
One problem with some states is that there is a discretionary aspect of some laws. Administrative agencies in some states may operate with more discretionary authority than others, leaving room for commercial breeders to be technically violating the state laws, yet never be charged with doing so. See 7 DE st. § 1703(c ). In a state such as Virginia, the commercial kennel is required to obtain a business license, but law enforcement officials "may" enter the facility upon complaints or upon their own motion. VA st. § 3.1-796.77:3 (2008 ). The passive approach taken by Virginia allows more commercial breeders to be legally licensed, but violate conditions of the license (sanitary, food, veterinary care) without proper enforcement. Similarly, Delaware structures its law very specifically, mandating specific requirements for storage, space for puppies, temperature, feeding, cleaning, ventilation, lighting, and more. DE st. § 1704 (a ). The statute does not, however, address any mandatory inspection. The closest the statute comes to such provision is where it authorizes dog wardens to inspect facilities during normal business hours. DE st. § 1703 . In states where there is no licensing requirement whatsoever, it is virtually impossible for law enforcement and agencies to effectively enforce the laws governing commercial breeders. At least with the licensing requirement, the state has a record of the operation with relevant information.
A more proactive state law is Nebraska's, where the statute requires that all licensees "shall" be inspected at least once every twenty-four months. NE st. § 54-628 (2007 ). This statute is the affirmative enforcement of the conditions that the Nebraska statute already imposes upon commercial breeders. In Nebraska, when a person is an official licensee, he or she is aware that someone will inspect the facility at some point within a two-year period.
The variation in inspection requirements between states underlies the primary issue that allows and encourages illegitimate commercial breeders to operate. An in depth comparison of state laws demonstrates that some laws are more effective than others.
C. 2008: Virginia Taking the Lead
Virginia has taken the lead on battling problems with illegitimate commercial breeders. See Jim Nolan, Animals To Get New Legal Protection: Kaine Signs Bills That Raise Penalty for Animal Fighting and Operating Puppy Mills , Richmond Times Dispatch , June 5, 2008, at B2. However, laws in other states trail behind Virginia's progressive trend. For example, Georgia and Delaware both have loopholes that enable commercial breeders to circumvent state laws.
Examining the Georgia Animal Protection Act, the definition of pet dealer only applies to those who breed, sell, or adopt more than thirty animals per year. GA st . § 4-11-2(7) (2000 ). If an operation is classified as a pet dealer, it must apply for a license, which costs between twenty-five and two-hundred dollars per year. GA st. § 4-11-3(c) (1992) . In order to obtain a license, the applicant must simply list the name of the applicant, business address, phone number, location of kennel, type of ownership, and other partners within the business. GA st. § 4-11-3 (d ). Previous violations in other states are not considered, nor is whether the applicant has been convicted of animal cruelty. There is no preliminary inspection to make sure, proactively, that the facility is properly built to ensure the dogs' safety. While the statute in § 4-11-9 states that an inspection may occur at any time so long as the facility is licensed within the State, there are no specific requirements listed. For example, the inspection consists of making sure the facility is in sanitary conditions. GA st. § 4-11-10 (2000 ). The statute does not list what sanitary conditions includes, though the state administrative regulations set these forth in greater detail.
In contrast to Georgia, t he Delaware statute does an adequate job of laying the foundation for denying licenses to those who have violated animal cruelty laws in other states, or who have been found guilty in other jurisdictions. DE st. § 1702(i) . Further, the law does provide the specifics as necessary to make sure that the inspectors have objective requirements to check when they visit facilities. DE st. § 1704 .
The Virginia laws demonstrate better protection than both the Georgia Animal Protection Act and the Delaware statute. In the text of the Virginia statute, definitions are far more comprehensive and demonstrate more specifically what the word "adequate" means, regarding care, exercise, feed, shelter, space, and water. VA st. § 3.1-796.66 (2008) . The adequate space definition provides guidelines for determining whether a kennel is large enough for the dogs. The section states that the animal must be able to stand, sit, lie, and turn around, in addition to specific tethering requirements.
Further, effective on January 1, 2009, the Virginia law will be the only state that mandates that any commercial breeder must apply or and obtain a business license. VA st. § 3.1-796.77:1 . Virginia is the first of its kind to require that a commercial breeder conform to business standards. Designating a breeding facility as a business forces breeders who could become irresponsible breeders through the sheer number of puppies they produce, to comply with the statutory requirements. While the law might not affect small breeding operations, it does ensure that breeders with a large number of dogs live up to enforceable standards. This is important in an animal welfare context because some commercial breeders take shortcuts and do not ensure that the facility is equipped with necessary elements to keep the dogs and puppies safe. In a large scale facility, diseases can spread quickly where puppies are kept too close to one another, temperature in the facility is not well-maintained, and fires can quickly spread due to irresponsible owners. See Donna Alvis-Banks, 176 Dogs Perish in Fire at Bland County Kennel , The Roanoke Times , March 22, 2007, http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/109743 .
Despite Virginia's advancement in commercial breeding operations, a commercial breeder can still slip through the cracks and avoid meeting the imposed standards. Commercial breeder is defined as "any person who, during any twelve month period, maintains thirty or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals." VA st. § 3.1-796.66 . While this law does cover commercial breeders, it does not encompass all, since thirty female dogs is such a large number and most likely only be applicable to massive breeding facilities. Moreover, it is apparent the law is directed more towards large-scale operations as the new commercial breeder section provides that commercial breeders shall maintain no more than 50 dogs over the age of one year for breeding purposes. VA st. § 3.1-796.77:2(1 ). There are exceptions, provided they are allowable by local ordinance. The female dogs within such a facility are only allowed to be bred after a veterinarian approves, and the dog must be over 18 months and younger than eight years. VA st. § 3.1-796.77:2(2).
While the Virginia law illustrates major progress by limiting large-scale puppy mills, it still leaves loopholes for breeders who have less than thirty female dogs. If a breeder has twenty-nine dogs and each dog produces two litters a year, there is a potential for hundreds of puppies born without the facility being inspected since there was no license requirement. By allowing local ordinances to overrule the fifty dog limit, the uniformity within the state is altered and it gives more room for irresponsible commercial breeders to easily move from city to city. The section does mention that there will be additional requirements, but does not list any such one specifically. Again, the law needs to be more narrow and specific in order to close off loopholes. Virginia still has no inspection program for kennel operations either, which dilutes the strength of the puppy mill laws in the state.
However slightly broad and unpolished the Virginia law is, Virginia's upcoming law is paramount, as other states will be able to use Virginia as a template for enacting new laws. Louisiana is strongly considering new legislation governing puppy mills. Introduced by Rep. Harold Ritchie (D-Bogalusa), H.B. 1193 (pdf file) passed both the House and the Senate, and is awaiting the signature of Governor Bobby Jindal. See The HSUS Urges Louisiana Gov. Jindal To Sign Anti-Puppy Mill Bill , U.S. Federal News , June 18, 2008. The Louisiana law would place more restrictions on breeders selling to pet stores and over the Internet. See LA H.B. 1193 (pdf file). There is little doubt that Virginia's new legislation has an impact on the rest of the Nation. The issue now becomes whether the state laws are enforced, and when there are violations, what consequences the commercial breeders face.
D. Uniformity in the United States
When examining state laws, it becomes apparent that a major problem the United States has with its animal welfare laws is the consistency. The AWA does not govern animal cruelty, and it is up to the states to uphold cruelty laws on commercial breeding facilities. However, states continue to be disconnected from one another and conflict at times. The lack of consistency is a problem because puppies are products that are shipped through the stream of commerce. This is especially true with the advancement of technology and the Internet. States need to focus their laws on regulating breeders so consumers know they are buying a puppy from a reputable and legitimate breeder. Under current commercial breeder laws, many breeders can escape the laws by traveling to a state that has more lenient regulations.
Without these laws, dog hoarders and illegal breeders can easily move from state to state and never be prosecuted. It is the leniency of the laws, the lack of enforcement of the current laws, and the inability of states to coordinate regulations that contributes to the problem of puppy mills. Moreover, the inadequate or absent standards of care in these laws allow dogs to languish in often inhumane conditions.
IV. What Is a Puppy Mill?
The United States' economy "set the state for the puppy mill." Adam J. Fumarola, With Best Friends Like Us Who Needs Enemies? The Phenomenon of the Puppy Mill, the Failure of Legal Regimes to Manage It, and the Positive Prospects of Animal Rights , 6 Buff. Envtl. L.J. 253, 262 (1999). When agriculture was plummeting after World War II, farmers needed a new source of income. See id. The United States Department of Agriculture promoted the business of breeding, raising, and selling dogs for profit—just as it did for crops. See id . Soon, farmers were producing a growing supply of dogs, leading to a need for more retail pet stores. See id . Pet stores became the "leading distributor of puppy mill animals." Id .
Currently, no current state statute utilizes the phrase "puppy mill" in its text. The ASPCA defines responsible breeders as those who have focused their efforts on one or a select few breeds, and through breeding , historical research and ongoing study, mentoring relationships, club membership, showing, raising and training of these breeds have become experts in the breed's health, heritable conditions, temperament, and behavior. See ASPCA, http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills_statement . The Humane Society of the United States ("HSUS") defined puppy mills as dog-breeding operations that put profit above the welfare of dogs. See Kathleen Summers, On the Front Lines: The Fight to Stop Puppy Mills , The Colorado Dog Magazine , Summer 2008, at 110 (pdf file - 337.85 KB).
There are legitimate breeders operating in the world. The best breeders do not operate only to make money and they do not simply sell their puppies to the highest bidder. See Humane Society of the United States, http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_adoption_information/how_to_find_a_good_dog_breeder/ . The best breeders ensure that the puppies they sell go to the proper homes that will provide for the puppies' well-being. In addition, responsible breeders will encourage consumers to visit the facility and meet the potential families before allowing the families to walk away with the puppies. There are more than 6,000 licensed commercial kennels in the United States, and an untold number of unlicensed. See http://www.awarenessday.org/national/pm_info.html ; http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/index.shtml .
Although the general population might believe that a facility producing "papers" for the dog could not be classified as a puppy mill, this is far from the truth. Even facilities that claim the dogs are registered could be classified as puppy mills because the term relates to more than a questionable paper trail. In fact, some facilities might claim the dogs are purebred and provide written documentation of veterinary records that turn out to be false. Anyone can essentially register a dog simply by filling out paperwork and paying a fee. See American Kennel Club, http://www.akc.org/reg/registeradog.cfm . Eager consumers rush to breeders who claim to be AKC certified without realizing that the paperwork is no guarantee of the puppy's temperament, health, or a that it is a good representation of its breed. Adam J. Fumarola, With Best Friends Like Us Who Needs Enemies? The Phenomenon of the Puppy Mill, the Failure of Legal Regimes to Manage It, and the Positive Prospects of Animal Rights , 6 Buff. Envtl. L.J. 253, 264-65 (1999).
Puppy mills are institutions where dogs are forced to breed their whole lives until they are physically incapable. A female dog is bred every time she goes into heat, so female dogs are pregnant or nursing all the time. See http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/whelping.html . At that time, the dogs are either sold to other breeders, left on the side of the road, neglected, or even killed. The dogs spend twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in cages, with often little to no contact with people or the outside world. The facilities that are classified as puppy mills are kept in deplorable and unsanitary conditions, lack proper veterinary care for the dogs, and often have USDA licenses. The reason for a USDA license is that it ensures that the facility can sell to pet stores. If a breeder is USDA licensed, it may be a warning that it could be a puppy mill because the primary purpose of the facility is to make money regardless of the health and safety of the puppies. A USDA license does mandate a series of basic requirements; however, with the lack of support personnel to enforce the requirements, facilities continue to violate the laws with little to no consequences. The consequences are felt through the mistreatment and continuous abuse of the dogs.
In fact, the USDA cites conditions of licensed breeding facilities in their reports:
"…outside was noted a dead adult female boxer, covered with a feed sack, who had died the day before";
"several boxers were found with skin problems and yellow matted eyes…no medical records were available on these dogs";
"temperatures in the Miller building were 34 to 39 degrees…no bedding was provided to offset the temperature."
See http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/a.shtml .
While a retail pet store is not a puppy mill per se , the store may receive its "merchandise" directly from puppy mills or indirectly through "dog brokers." Puppy mills and pet stores sign contracts, where the puppy mill breeds a certain number of puppies and provides them to the store. The use of a dog broker is often more efficient for a store since the store then needs to contract with only a single broker to procure many different breeds of dogs. Sometimes the use of brokers also serves to insulate larger chain stores from directly dealing with a puppy mill or other less reputable breeding operations. For more on this, See Detailed Discussion of Retail Pet Stores, by Ashley Duncan, Animal Legal & Historical Center (2006) ; see also http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/2/article2.htm (illustrating how the UCC applies to pet sales contracts). The store then receives any AKC or other breed registration information from the breeder or broker, although many times these papers mean very little to ensure previous care of the animal.
The puppy mills that supply sick puppies are not always the ones from backyards or in rural areas. In fact, the HSUS investigated a pet store in Hollywood ("Pets of Bel Air") that many celebrities use to buy their dogs. The store assured the Internet browsers and buyers that the puppies came from small hobby breeders and not from puppy mills. See Kathleen Summers, On the Front Lines: The Fight to Stop Puppy Mills , The Colorado Dog Magazine , Summer 2008, at 112 (pdf file - 337.85 KB). The HSUS visited five of the breeders randomly and confirmed that the facilities were puppy mills. Over one hundred dogs were living in continual confinement at each facility, some injured, others visibly stressed. According to the basic laws of supply and demand, when people continue to purchase puppies from breeders, over the Internet, and from pet stores, they are both directly and indirectly supporting the demand for these innocent creatures. Thus, the effect will be the continual supply to meet the increasing demand for dogs, regardless of the conditions at the breeders' facilities.
As technology progresses, the Internet is a convenient way to purchase a dog from an unknown source. The danger in this is buying a sick puppy from an unlicensed breeder and supporting his or her efforts to skirt the law. No current state law has any statute governing the sale of dogs through the Internet. See Mac McLean, Customers and Experts Warn About Buying Dogs Via Internet , Bristol Herald Courier , July 4, 2008.
V. Accountability
A false generalization is that puppy mills are only in rural, backwoods neighborhoods or farmlands. This is far from true. In fact, the HSUS investigated Virginia in 2007, where it found hundreds of puppy mills existing in trailers, basements, and suburban backyards, even in states that are not well known for having a puppy mill problem. See Kathleen Summers, On the Front Lines: The Fight to Stop Puppy Mills , The Colorado Dog Magazine , Summer 2008, at 109 (pdf file - 337.85 KB ). Over nine-hundred dog breeders sold commercially in Virginia, and most of them were unlicensed and unmonitored by any oversight agency. Id.
Since puppy mills sell their "products" to consumers in pet stores, through the Internet, and newspaper classifieds, many buyers are unsuspecting and misinformed about their new product. While the current emphasis is focused on the supply end of the puppy mill problem - the breeders - some have suggested that buyers share in some of the responsibility. However, it can be said that the emotional consequences buyers suffer when their pets become ill far exceed the monetaryfines imposed on commercial breeders. There is a need for greater awareness on the part of the buyers who keep the puppy mill operations in business.
VI. Conclusions and Recommendations
While the problem of unethical breeders has become a national problem, the solution must be addressed at the state level. Enforcement standards should be applied in each state that has laws governing commercial breeding operations. Loopholes can be closed by states enforcing the current laws that presently exist, and providing new laws that enable the public to be knowledgeable about legitimate breeders operating within the state. Without overstepping their boundaries, states can provide clear expectation and standards for facilities that operate as commercial kennels, and allow those legitimate breeders to prosper in the production of healthy puppies; at the same time, states can prevent puppy mills from arising by forcing operations to operate as businesses such as Virginia does, and dedicating more funding to the departments that perform inspections. Under such a model law, inspections should be in the summer and in the winter, assuring that the dogs are well taken care of in the various weather conditions. If a breeder violates the law, there should be a probationary period where the facility is monitored closely by a representative of the state's governing agency. If the facility continues to violate the standards set by the state statute, the license should be permanently revoked and the violator should not be allowed to conduct any business with animals in the future. The dogs should be confiscated by the local animal shelters and adopted out, so long as it is in the best interest of the dog.
While twenty-six states currently have commercial breeding laws, these laws are meaningless if they are not enforced. States need to work together, especially regionally, in order to ensure that illegitimate breeders do not slip through the cracks of the current laws. For example, although the Virginia business requirement applies to larger operations, smaller operations are able to avoid registering and can conduct breeding without any regulations. Each state should have licensing requirements for breeders whose primary source of income is through the sales of puppies, and include the same definition of a commercial breeder. It is the discrepancies between states that encourage those who do not wish to comply with the law. It is important to provide guidelines for even the smallest breeding operation, as the products are not merely disposable item.
Some state laws treat dogs like agricultural crops—so long as they receive the necessary food, water, and shelter, the operators of the facilities are not prosecuted. In order to maintain commercial kennels that do not foster inhumane conditions, the standards need to be raised and implemented consistently. One question that often arises is "Why can't puppy mills just be completely shut down?" The HSUS answers this question well when it states, "The disaster-level response required to remove and care for hundreds of confiscated animals is often beyond the resources of local humane societies and other enforcement agencies." See Kathleen Summers, On the Front Lines: The Fight to Stop Puppy Mills , The Colorado Dog Magazine , Summer 2008, at 112 .
States are able to act proactively to avoid such disasters. It is critical for states to act immediately and effectively on dogs' welfare. Responsible breeders, depending on the state, are encouraged to follow the laws and regulations set forth and preserve the integrity of the business. The general public, most importantly, can help curb the downward spiral of the disturbing business of puppy mills by decreasing the demand, ensuring they are purchasing puppies from responsible breeders, performing self-inspections of facilities and reporting violations, and avoiding buying puppies over the Internet. The commercial breeding business and the general public both need to be held accountable for this rising problem of puppy mills in the United States.


Starting with an overview of the system the document would cover implementation details like circuits and algorithms, followed by some suggestions on improving the design.
What is a line follower?
Why build a line follower?
Sensing a line and maneuvering the robot to stay on course, while constantly correcting wrong moves using feedback mechanism forms a simple yet effective closed loop system. As a programmer you get an opportunity to 'teach' the robot how to follow the line thus giving it a human-like property of responding to stimuli.
Automated cars running on roads with embedded magnets; guidance system for industrial robots moving on shop floor etc.
Sheer interest, an innovative brain and perseverance!
I started with building a parallel port based robot which could be controlled manually by a keyboard. On the robot side was an arrangement of relays connected to parallel port pins via opto-couplers.
The next version was a true computer controlled line follower. It had sensors connected to the status pins of the parallel port. A program running on the computer polled the status register of the parallel port hundreds of times every second and sent control signals accordingly through the data pins.
As cable length increases signal strength decreases and latency increases.
A long multi core cable for parallel data transfer is expensive.
The robot is not portable if you use a desktop PC.
The obvious next step was to build an onboard control circuit; the options – a hardwired logic circuit or a uC. Since I had no knowledge of uC at that time, Iimplemented a hardwired logic circuit using multiplexers. It basically mapped input from four sensors to four outputs for the motor driver according to a truth table. Though it worked fine, it could show no intelligence – like coming back on line after losing it, or doing something special when say the line ended. To get around this problem and add some cool features, using a microcontroller was the best option.
Apart form this almost all AVRs support In System Programming (ISP) i.e. you can reprogram it without removing it from the circuit. This comes very handy when prototyping a design or upgrading a built-up system. Also the programmer used for ISP is easier to build compared to the parallel programmer required for many old uCs. Most AVR chips also support Boot Loaders which take the idea of In System Programming to a new level. Features like I2C bus interface make adding external devices a cakewalk. While most popular uCs require at least a few external components like crystal, caps and pull-up resistors, with AVR the number can be as low as zero!
This one is difficult to answer since all uC families offer comparable features in their different chips. For a just comparison, I would rather say that for a given price AVR = PIC > 8051.
8051 has been around from many years now, consequently there are more tools available for working with it. Being a part of many engineering courses, there is a huge communitiy of people that can help you out with 8051; same with books and online resources. In spite of being new the AVR has a neat tool chain (See 'References and Resources'). Availability of online resources and books is fast increasing.