Lobbying is attempting to influence legislation, either through direct contact with legislators and government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation, or by urging others to do the same. The exact definition of lobbying is dependent upon how the nonprofit registers with the IRS.
The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provides two options under which nonprofits may lobby. The first is the "no substantial part" rule. Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code allows for lobbying, provided the lobbying is not a substantial part of a nonprofit's overall activities. The limitations established under this rule are ambiguous, creating a level of uncertainty for those relying on it. The second option, the 501(h) election, provides specific definitions of lobbying and clear spending ceilings for how much a nonprofit can spend on lobbying. By default, nonprofits fall under the no substantial part rule unless they voluntarily take the 501(h) election by filing IRS form 5768.
Under the no substantial part rule, "no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation…" may be part of a nonprofit's activities. Nonprofit advocacy experts generally recommend that nonprofits avoid the no substantial part rule because of the ambiguity of its rules and the penalties for violating the rules can be more severe than the violations for nonprofits that take the 501(h) election (electing organizations). There are no clearly stated limits on either time or money spent lobbying, leaving what defines substantial as vague. There are also no clear delineations between time spent by paid employees, contractors and by volunteers. Time spent lobbying by volunteers must be reported. According to the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, the IRS may consider the importance of an issue to an organization in determining if lobbying on it is permissible, but there are no set guidelines for how this is done.
Under the no substantial part rule, all lobbying expenditures must be reported on IRS form 990. Nonprofits must give a detailed description of all lobbying activities (including both staff and volunteer efforts) and the type of activity (such as media advertisements, legislator meetings and rallies). The detailed description must include information on the amount of non-compensated and compensated expenses incurred for each activity. If audited, organizations must have records to substantiate what is reported on Form 990.
Organizations with annual gross receipts of less than $50,000 are required to file only IRS form 990-N (e-postcard), which means they do not have to report lobbying expenses to the IRS. However, they must keep track of lobbying activities and expenses in case of an audit or an accusation of excessive lobbying.
Nonprofits will need a system for recording lobbying expenditures. The IRS will accept any reasonable method. Nonprofits may use time sheets or they may use a sampling method to estimate expenditures. For example, an employee whose 2-week periods are generally representative of how they use their time could record lobbying expenditures for a 2-week period in 30-minute intervals. This 2-week analysis could then be used to estimate lobbying costs for the entire quarter. All calculation methods must include a calculation of overhead costs. For a sampling method to be reasonable, the employee must be able to make reasonably close estimates from that assessment.
Under the no substantial part rule, a nonprofit that conducts excessive lobbying in any single year may lose its tax-exempt status, resulting in all of its income being subject to tax. Organizations that lose their 501(c)(3) status generally are subject to an excise tax of 5% of the lobbying expenditures for the year in which they cease to qualify for exemption. Further, a 5% tax on the lobbying expenditures for the year may be imposed against an organization's managers who agree to the making of the expenditures knowing that the expenditures would likely result in the loss of tax-exempt status. No tax will be imposed if the manager's agreement is not willful and is due to reasonable cause.
The 501(h) rules provide nonprofits with clear definitions of what activities constitute lobbying.
The rules exempt several types of advocacy from the definition of lobbying.
Organizations are provided clear limits on how much they can spend on lobbying.
Nonprofits do not have to record volunteer time.
To fall under these rules, nonprofits simply file the one-page Form 5768 with the Internal Revenue Service. A qualifying IRC 501(c)(3) organization will not be denied 501(h) status. The election only needs to be made once. Nonprofits may revoke the election by filing a second Form 5768 noting the revocation.
Organizations that are public charities because they are a supporting organization (that is described in IRC 509(a)(3)) of a 501(c)(3) organization (that is described in IRC 509(a)(1) or IRC 509(a)(2)).
The election is effective as of the beginning of the tax year in which Form 5768 is filed. The election can be made at any time, including immediately after filing 501(c)3 status and before that status is granted. If an organization revokes its election, the revocation is effective at the beginning of the tax year after the year in which the notice is filed. An organization that revokes its election may make the election again. The new election would be effective the tax year following the year in which the revocation was effective. If an organization ceases to be an eligible organization for IRC 501(h) election, and continues to be described in IRC 501(c)(3), its election will automatically be revoked and it will fall under the no substantial part rule.
The Internal Revenue Manual specifically informs examination personnel that making the election is not a basis for initiating an audit.
includes both legislation that has already been introduced in a legislative body and a specific legislative proposal that the organization either supports or opposes. In the case of a referendum, ballot initiative, constitutional amendment, or other measure that is placed on the ballot by petitions signed by a required number or percentage of voters, an item becomes ''specific legislation'' when the petition is first circulated among voters for signature.
Lobbying only occurs when there is an expenditure of funds for an activity that meets the lobbying criteria. Therefore, any work done by volunteers would not be considered lobbying. However, organizational expenditures related to volunteer work that meets the lobbying criteria are counted as lobbying expenses. This includes reimbursing a volunteer for out-of-pocket expenses, purchasing supplies needed for lobbying, and staff time used to support volunteer work.
There are two kinds of lobbying, direct and grass roots.
Direct lobbying is the attempt to influence any legislation through communication with "any member or employee of a legislative body" or "any government official or employee (other than a member or employee of a legislative body) who may participate in the formulation of the legislation, but only if the principal purpose of the communication is to influence legislation." (26 CFR § 56.4911–2) To qualify as direct lobbying, the communication must refer to specific legislation and reflect a view on such legislation. Legislation may be identified either by its formal name, by a term that has been widely used in connection with specific pending legislation, (e.g. "severance tax"), or merely by its content and effect.
Requesting that executive bodies take an action is not seen as lobbying, except when an organization asks an executive body to support or oppose legislation. Because direct lobbying both refers to specific legislation and reflects a view on it, sending a paper to a state legislator on a general issue that does not reflect a view on specific legislation is not a direct lobbying communication. Telling your organization's members the organization's position on legislation and asking them to contact their legislators about it is direct lobbying. According to the IRS, a member is one who contributes more than a nominal amount of time or money to the organization. The IRS definition of a member does not change an organization's by-laws, but operates only for the purpose of calculating lobbying expenditures.
Encourage the recipient of the communication to take action with respect to such legislation (commonly referred to as the "call to action" requirement).
State that the recipient should contact a legislator or an employee of a legislative body, or should contact any other government official or employee who may participate in the formulation of legislation.
Specifically identify one or more legislators who will vote on the legislation as: opposing the communication's view with respect to the legislation; being undecided with respect to the legislation; being the recipient's representative in the legislature; or being a member of the legislative committee or subcommittee that will consider the legislation.
When a nonprofit states its position on a legislative proposal specifically to its members, as opposed to the general public, and asks them to contact legislators, it is direct lobbying. This is a helpful distinction as organizations can spend less on grassroots lobbying than they can on direct lobbying. If there is a call to action and the audience is primarily members, but also includes non-members, the cost is divided between direct and grassroots lobbying.
There is a special rule under which a mass media campaign would be grassroots lobbying, even if it does not meet all of the regular qualifications for grassroots lobbying. A mass media advertisement on highly publicized legislation that appears within two weeks before a vote by a legislative body, or a legislative committee (but not a subcommittee) is considered to be a grass roots lobbying if it: (1) reflects a view on the general subject of such legislation; and (2) either refers to the legislation or encourages the public to communicate with legislators on the subject. If the vote does not take place, (for example, public pressure causes the committee to withdraw the bill), this rule would not apply and the mass media communications would not be considered grassroots lobbying. The rule would also not apply if it can be shown that the advertisement is a type of mass media communication regularly made by the organization without regard to the timing of legislation or the timing of the paid advertisement was unrelated to the upcoming legislative action.
When an organization urges the public to vote for or against a ballot initiative, referendum or similar initiative, it is considered direct lobbying, because the general public becomes, in effect, the legislature.
Regulations: Contacting legislators or executive branch employees in support of or opposition to proposed regulations is not lobbying.
Discussion of Broad Issues: Discussions of broad social, economic, and similar problems (for example, environmental pollution or population growth) are not lobbying. This exemption applies even if the problems are of the type with which the government would be expected to ultimately deal with, if the discussion does not address the merits of a specific legislative proposal and does not directly encourage recipients to take action with respect to legislation.
Member Communication Without a Call to Action: Communication to an organization's members on legislation (including if a position is taken), is not lobbying, if it does not directly encourage its members or others to take action.
Technical Assistance: Providing technical advice or assistance to a governmental body, a governmental committee, or a subdivision of either (such as a senate committee) in response to a written request from that body, is not lobbying. The request cannot come from an individual of that body, it must be made in the name of that body, and the response must be made available to the entire body. The response can include advice and a position on the legislation if that advice is requested in writing, or is directly related to the requested materials. Appearing in front of a legislative committee to discuss legislation would be considered lobbying if there was no official request to provide testimony.
If more than 75% of an organization's members are 501(c)3 organizations, communications with any legislative body, where the primary purpose of the communications is to defend one of more of those 501(c)(3) organizations from possible actions which might affect their existence, powers, duties, or tax-exempt status, or the deductibility (under IRC 170) of contributions to them.
A communication that directly encourages a member to engage in work that would fall under the self-defense exemption.
However, advocating for programs in the organization's general field, (ie: environment, education), is not considered self-defense. For example, a land trust advocating against cuts to a land conservation grant program would not be defined as self-defense.
Nonpartisan Studies: Engaging in nonpartisan analysis, study or research, and making the results available to the public, is not lobbying. Nonpartisan analysis, study, or research means an independent and objective exposition of a particular subject matter, including educational material. It may advocate a particular position or viewpoint so long as there is a sufficiently full and fair exposition of the pertinent facts to enable the reader to form an independent opinion or conclusion, as opposed to the mere presentation of unsupported opinion. The study may be distributed by any suitable means but the communications may not be limited to, or be directed toward, persons who are interested solely in one side of a particular issue. A detailed description with examples of the rules associated with nonpartisan studies can be found on page 302 of "Lobbying Issues: Judith E. Kindell and John Francis Reilly".
Information in the section "Exemptions to Lobbying" was adapted from "Lobbying Issues", written by Judith E. Kindell and John Francis Reilly.
Study, research, and discussion of matters pertaining to government and even to specific legislation, may, under certain circumstances, be educational activities rather than attempts to influence legislation if the work is not serving merely as a preparatory stage for the advocacy of legislation. If the study is used for lobbying purposes, some, but not all, of the expenses associated with the study should be treated as direct lobbying expenditures. The regulations furnish an example of an organization that researched, prepared, and printed a safety code for electrical wiring. The organization sold the code to the public and it was widely used by professionals in the installation of electrical wiring. A number of states codified all, or part, of the code of standards as mandatory safety standards. On occasion, the organization lobbied state legislators for passage of the code of standards for safety reasons. Because the primary purpose of preparing the code of standards was the promotion of public safety and the standards were specifically used in a profession for that purpose, separate from any legislative requirement, the research, preparation, printing and public distribution of the code of standards are not lobbying expenditures. However, costs, such as transportation, photocopying, and other similar expenses incurred in lobbying state legislators for passage of the code of standards into law are direct lobbying expenditures.
The amount of lobbying expenditures allowed is based on the electing organization's annual exempt-purpose expenditures, as shown in the table below. Exempt purpose expenditures include all expenditures except certain fundraising costs, unrelated business income tax, and capital expenditures.
Total lobbying expenditures may not exceed $1,000,000. Grassroots lobbying is limited to one quarter of the overall ceiling permitted for lobbying. So, if an organization's total lobbying limit is $100,000, it may spend the full $100,000 on direct lobbying or it may spend up to $25,000 on grassroots lobbying and the rest on direct lobbying.
Lobbying expenditures include current and deferred compensation for an employee's services as well as the allocable portion of administrative, overhead, and other general expenditures attributable to the direct or grass roots lobbying work. If a nonprofit pays another organization or an individual to do lobbying for it, the payment counts against its direct or grassroots lobbying ceiling according to the character of the work done.
The members of an affiliated 501(c)3 group are treated as a single organization for purposes of measuring lobbying expenditures. Only those members of the affiliated group that have made the IRC 501(h) election are subject to the rules of the election; non-electing members remain subject to the no substantial part test. For purposes of the regulations under IRC 4911, two organizations are affiliated if one organization is able to control action on legislative issues by the other organization because of interlocking governing boards or because of provisions in the governing instruments of the controlled organization. Detailed descriptions of the rules governing who are affiliated organizations and the lobbying rules affecting them can be found on page 58 of "Lobbying Issues: Judith E. Kindell and John Francis Reilly".
Lobbying expenditures are reported on IRS Form 990. If audited, organizations must have records to substantiate what is reported on Form 990. Organizations with annual gross receipts that are less than $50,000 are required to file only form 990-N, the e-postcard, which does not include a reporting of lobbying costs. However, these organizations must still track lobbying expenses in case of an audit or accusations of excessive lobbying.
Like organizations under the no substantial part rule, electing organizations need a system for recording lobbying expenditures and any reasonable method is allowed. (These methods must distinguish between direct and grassroots lobbying).
If lobbying expenditures exceed either the total permitted lobbying expenditures or the permitted grassroots amount, an excise tax of 25% is imposed on the excess amounts. If both are exceeded, the tax will be imposed on the higher of the two.
Nonprofits that exceed their lobbying limit by an average of 150% or more for a 4 year period will have their 501(c)3 status revoked. If an organization has exceeded its lobbying limit, it will be required to pay the excise tax regardless of whether it maintains its tax-exempt status. Organizations that lose their exempt status because of excess lobbying can at no time come under 501(c)4 regulations.
Unlike the no substantial part rule, managers do not face a penalty when their organizations exceed spending limits.
Because the members of an affiliated group are treated as a single organization for purposes of measuring lobbying expenditures, if the expenditures of the group as a whole exceed the permitted limits, then each of the electing members is treated as having exceeded the limits and would pay tax on its proportionate share of the group's excess lobbying expenditures.
In general, all costs of preparing a direct or grass roots lobbying communication are counted as expenditures for direct or grass roots lobbying respectively, including both direct costs (current and deferred compensation for employees' services) and an allocable share of overhead expenses. The regulations differ for communications that are only for members, primarily to members (more than half of the recipients are members) and primarily for nonmembers. The regulations (26 CFR § 56.4911–3) give 13 examples of different types of communications and how the costs should be allocated.
Communications sent only to non-members or to a group that is less than half members are considered nonmember communications. For nonmember communications that include lobbying, all costs associated with the lobbying portion and all costs associated with the portions of the communication that are on the same specific subject as the lobbying message must be included as lobbying expenditures. It is the same specific subject if it the same subject of the lobbying message or is an issue that would be directly affected by the legislation that is the subject of the lobbying message. It is also the same specific subject if it discusses the background or consequences of the legislation or of an activity or issue affected by the legislation.
The rules regarding those costs for communications that are either made only to members or primarily to members (more than half of the recipients are members) are more lenient.
If a communication is made primarily to members and encourages direct lobbying, the costs associated with the preparation and distribution of the lobbying portions of the communication are divided between direct and grassroots expenditures based on the number of non-members receiving it. The grassroots portion is determined by multiplying the total lobbying expenditures by the percentage of non-members receiving the communication. If nonmembers are less than 15% of the distribution list, for the purpose of the allocation, the nonmember percentage is treated as zero. If any part of a communication encourages members to engage in grassroots lobbying (i.e., asks them to encourage nonmembers to lobby), all the costs associated with the preparation and distribution of the lobbying portions of the communications are counted as grassroots expenditures, even if it also includes direct lobbying.
For mailings that are primarily to members, the allocation between lobbying and non-lobbying costs must be reasonable. For example, an organization sends out a mailing to its members discussing the need for farmland preservation, which includes the organization's view on farmland preservation legislation and states the reader should contact the legislature regarding this bill. The organization could reasonably determine that the document has a bona fide non-lobbying purpose -- educating its members about the need for farmland preservation. Allocating one-half of the preparation and distribution costs to lobbying would be reasonable. However, allocating only 1% of the costs to lobbying because only 2 out of 200 lines state the reader should contact the legislature would not be reasonable.
The communication does not directly encourage the member to engage in grass roots lobbying, whether individually or through the organization. Members would be encouraged to engage in grassroots lobbying if the communication urges members to ask the general public to contact legislators; asks the member to provide the general public with contact information for legislators, or provides or asks the member to provide a petition, postcard, or similar material for the nonmember to communicate views.
Information in the section "Calculating Costs of Communications" was adapted from "Lobbying Issues", written by Judith E. Kindell and John Francis Reilly.
Community foundations are governed under the same federal tax rules for lobbying as other nonprofits under section 501(c)(3). Unlike private foundations that are generally restricted from lobbying, except on "self-defense" issues like legislation affecting their tax-exempt status, community foundations may lobby with the same latitude permitted other 501(c)(3)s. By default, community foundations are subject to the "no substantial part" rule unless they take the 501(h) election.
Community foundations may make general support grants to nonprofits that lobby. They also may make grants to nonprofits earmarked for lobbying. If a community foundation makes a grant for lobbying, the foundation must count it as a lobbying expenditure.
For private foundations, any expenditures incurred for lobbying activities are treated as taxable expenditures under IRC 4945(d)(1) and subject to the tax imposed by IRC 4945(a). IRC 4945 imposes on the private foundation an initial tax equal to 10 percent of the taxable expenditure and an additional 100 percent tax on taxable expenditures that are not corrected within the taxable period. In addition, an initial tax equal to 2 1/2 percent of the taxable expenditure is imposed on foundation managers who knowingly agreed to the making of the taxable expenditure. Any foundation managers who refuse to agree to all or part of the correction are subject to a tax equal to 50 percent of the taxable expenditure.
Private foundations may make grants to public charities that lobby as long as the grants are not earmarked for lobbying and the grants are either general purpose grants or are specific project grants that meet the requirements of section 53.4945-2(d)(6) of the Foundation Excise Tax Regulations.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The prohibition applies to all campaigns at the federal, state and local levels. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. Those section 501(c)(3) organizations that are private foundations are subject to additional restrictions. During an election, nonprofits can continue to lobby but must exercise extreme care that it is done in a non-partisan way that does not interfere, or appear to interfere, with the election. Organizations may lobby incumbent legislators that are running for reelection, but must avoid any reference to the reelection campaign.
For an in-depth look at nonprofits, advocacy work, and elections, including an overview of 501(c)4 organizations and election work, see the Elections and 501(c)3 Organizations guide at ConservationTools.org.
Congress has established rules for when a person must register as a lobbyist. These rules are largely independent of the federal tax code rules, applying to both electing and non-electing organizations.
The Lobbying Disclosure Act took effect January 1, 1996. Under this act, if an organization has at least one employee who devotes at least 20% of his or her time to lobbying activities at the federal level and spends $11,500 or more every 3 months (January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December) on federal lobbying activities, the organization must register and file reports under the act. Lobbying costs include overhead costs. The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate regularly update the Lobbying Disclosure Act Guidance and nonprofits should check the lobbying disclosure web page for the most up to date information.
The Lobbying Disclosure Act has different definitions of lobbying than does the IRS. However, organizations that have taken the 501(h) election can use the 501(h) lobbying definitions. Non-electing nonprofits must use the lobbying definitions under the Lobbying Disclosure Act and must report their "lobbying contacts" plus planning, research, and other background activities in support of such contacts. The Lobbying Disclosure Act defines lobbying activities as: "lobbying contacts and efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation and planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others."
any oral or written communication (including an electronic communication) to a covered executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official that is made on behalf of a client with regard to- (i) the formulation, modification, or adoption of Federal legislation (including legislative proposals); (ii) the formulation, modification, or adoption of a Federal rule, regulation, Executive order, or any other program, policy, or position of the United States Government.
There are 19 exceptions, such as making speeches, publishing articles, and submitting Congressional testimony.
Electing organizations have two options for defining lobbying: They may use the definitions found in the IRC 501(h) rules, in which case, the organization reports would include local, state and federal lobbying expenditures. Alternatively, electing nonprofits may choose to follow the Lobbying Disclosure Act definitions, which include only federal lobbying activities.
Organizations must make a good faith estimate of their time and monetary expenditures. Those organizations close to the reporting threshold may wish to make a more precise calculation of costs.
If an organization's lobbying expenditures require registration under the act, a registration statement must be filed with the Senate and House within 45 days after an employee or lobbyist makes, or is employed to make, a lobbying contact. Afterwards, semi-annual reports must be filed.
The Lobbying Disclosure Act strictly limits the gifts or meals that may be provided to a legislator or staff member. While there are some special rules for charities, the general rule is that lobbyists and organizations that retain or employ lobbyists may not make a gift or provide meals or travel to a member of congress or congressional staff. Certain limited exceptions apply, such as free attendance or a free meal at widely attended events, an honorary degree, awards for public service, or a gift of nominal value, e.g., a baseball hat. A full description of gift rules is beyond the scope of this guide. See the House Ethics Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee for the complete set of rules.
An organization may invite a senator, representative or congressional staff member to speak at an event in an official capacity, and pay for their travel, lodging and related expenses. All provided expenses must be necessary and an integral part of the event. Organizations may not offer honoraria to congressional members or aides, but may contribute to a nonprofit(s) they designate. Both the House and the Senate maintain their own rules for such travel.
Knowingly failing to correct a defective lobbying report or failing to comply with the lobbying disclosure act may result in a fine or jail time.
More information about the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act can be found at the U.S. House of Representatives web page, and the Senate's web page.
Information in the section "Federal Registration and Reporting" was adapted from "The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide, Second Edition", written by Bob Smucker.
In addition to the federal requirements, each state has its own lobbying registration and reporting requirements. These laws have a variety of definitions of what constitutes lobbying and the thresholds at which organizations must register and report their activities. In general, they do not exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Nonprofits should read the applicable state rules regarding their lobbying activities.
Providing any gift, hospitality, transportation or lodging to a state official or employee for the purpose of advancing the interest of the lobbyist or principal.
The act differentiates between two kinds of lobbying; direct and indirect communications. Direct communications are "an effort, whether written, oral or by any other medium, made by a lobbyist or principal, directed to a State official or employee, the purpose or foreseeable effect of which is to influence legislative action or administrative action." Indirect communications are an "effort, whether written, oral or by any other medium, to encourage others, including the general public, to take action, the purpose or foreseeable effect of which is to directly influence legislative action or administrative action." The term includes letter-writing campaigns, mailings, telephone banks, print and electronic media advertising, billboards, publications and educational campaigns on public issues. The term does not include regularly published periodic newsletters primarily designed for, and distributed to, a nonprofit's members.
Under Pennsylvania regulations, lobbyists, lobbying firms (an entity that engages in lobbying for economic consideration on behalf of a principal other than the entity itself) and principals (any individual, association, corporation, partnership, business trust or other entity on whose behalf a lobbying firm or lobbyist engages in lobbying or that engages in lobbying on the principal's own behalf) must register with the state. (Exemptions are discussed below.) They must register within 10 days of serving in that capacity. Registrations must be renewed on a biennial basis. The biennial cycles run from January 2011 to December 2012, January 2013 to December 2014 and so on. Qualifying lobbyists should go to the Pennsylvania Department of State's web page to register. As of January 2011, there is a $200 fee to register as a lobbyist, lobbying firm or principal.
All registered lobbyists, lobbying firms and principles must file quarterly statements of lobbying costs. (Exemptions are discussed below.) Quarters are defined as January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December. These reports require a breakdown of lobbying costs between direct and indirect communications.
An individual who limits lobbying activities to preparing testimony and testifying before a committee of the legislature or participating in an administrative proceeding of an agency.
An individual who is an employee of an entity engaged in the business of publishing, broadcasting or televising while engaged in the gathering and dissemination of news and comment thereon to the general public in the ordinary course of business.
An individual who does not receive economic consideration for lobbying.
An individual whose economic consideration for lobbying, from all principals represented, does not exceed $2,500 in the aggregate during any reporting period.
An individual who engages in lobbying on behalf of the individual's employer if the lobbying represents less than 20 hours during any reporting period.
Except as required under section 1305-A(d), a principal whose total expenses for lobbying purposes do not exceed $2,500 during any reporting period.
An elected State official who acts in an official capacity.
An appointed State official acting in an official capacity.
An elected or appointed official of a political subdivision who is acting in an official capacity for the political subdivision.
An employee of the Commonwealth or an agency of the Commonwealth who is acting in an official capacity for the Commonwealth or agency.
An individual representing a bona fide church or bona fide religious body of which the individual is a member where the lobbying is solely for the purpose of protecting the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion.
An individual who is not a registered lobbyist and who serves on an advisory board, working group or task force at the request of an agency or the General Assembly.
Participating as a party or as an attorney at law or representative of a party, case or controversy in any administrative adjudication pursuant to 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and procedure).
Expenditures and other transactions subject to reporting under Article XVI of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L. 1333, No. 320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code.
Vendor activities under 62 Pa.C.S. §§ 514 (relating to small procurements), 516 (relating to emergency procurements) and efforts directly related to responding to publicly advertised invitations to bid and requests for proposals.
Failure to comply with Pennsylvania's Lobbying Disclosure Law will result in notification from the State Ethics Commission. Failure to register or report as required by the law may result in a penalty of up to $50/day. Failure to comply after notification by the State Ethics Commission can result in a fine and a prohibition to lobby for economic consideration for 1-5 years.
Public charities that receive federal grants are allowed to lobby with their private funds. However, organizations must be careful not to use federal grant funds for lobbying, except when specifically authorized to do so.
Lobbying Issues: Judith E. Kindell and John Francis Reilly, U.S. Internal Revenue Service, 1997.
The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide, Second Edition: Bob Smucker, Independent Sector, 1999.
Researched and written by Elana Richman. As noted in particular sections, portions of the guide were adapted from the following publications: Lobbying Issues by Judith E. Kindell and John Francis Reilly, U.S. Internal Revenue Service, 1997; and The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide, Second Edition: Bob Smucker, Independent Sector, 1999. Edited by Andy Loza.


Brendan Megannety is the founder and creative director of Explorer's Press, a Vancouver-based apparel and accessories brand. Founded in 2012, Explorer's Press focuses on creating cool and quirky designs that are accessible to everyone. The edgy and current designs range from a red rose lapel pin to the popular 'People to Kill' notebook (and everything in between).
What was life like before Explorer's Press and what motivated you to quit your day job and start your own business?
I never made a conscious decision to become a business owner. People just really started digging the apparel and accessories I was making and I couldn't keep up with the demand so I had to quit my day job.
The biggest hurdle has been that the business plateaued at a certain point and, in order to grow the business, I had to bring on more people. Passing off responsibility was a big leap of faith but a necessary one.
Share an interesting or unexpected story with us.
My first design was a black and white Set No Path patch. I drew it on a napkin in a restaurant. I thought it was cool so made a patch of it. Then, one of my buddies put it up on Tumblr and it blew up. I had only made 100 patches, so thought I would make some more… and the rest is history. It all started with that simple design which really resonated with people. I just make stuff that's loose and honest and I don't take myself too seriously.
I rent a storefront that is our private studio/warehouse.
I firmly believe being passionate and inspired is #1. Working in the creative industry is tricky because you can't just put in 18 hour days and churn out awesome ideas all the time. You have to take time to relax and enjoy your life to feel inspired.
I usually work a few hours in the morning, then go play pool or hang out outside and then go back to work. Keeps me refreshed!.
My friend Reilly who runs No Fun Press in Toronto is a massive inspiration to me. He was the first person I saw really doing their own thing and making it work and I thought to myself "I could be doing that too!". He's rad.
My friend Ian always says "It's OK to like things" – I'll leave that one open to your interpretation.
I have to set an alarm to wake up at the same time every day. I get to the studio early and finish as early as possible so I have maximum time to actually enjoy life.
Brendan confesses he can be pretty forgetful. He has to schedule everything in his calendar from meetings to buying cat food to brushing his teeth.


text:
package com.example.idea.retrofitdemo.view;

import com.example.idea.retrofitdemo.mode.GirlMode;

/**
 * Created by IDEA on 2016/5/29.
 */

public interface DataView extends MvpView {
    void loadData(GirlMode girlMode);

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We talk a lot in Christian circles about how to love our wives, and rightly so. But I fear that we neglect another command of our Lord, which is that we must hate our wives. And I do not believe these are separate commands in tension, which we must learn to balance; I do not believe we can learn to love our wives until we learn to hate them first.
What is Jesus commanding us to do here exactly? A similar passage in Matthew 10:37 says it a little more gently: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." (Matt. 10:37 NKJ) Some interpreters reading the Luke passage simply explain it away with the Matthew passage; Jesus isn't telling us to actually hate our family members, but just to love them less than Jesus.
But those aren't the words that Luke uses. He quotes Jesus as saying "hate", and sound Biblical exegesis tells us that while Scripture certainly must interpret Scripture, we should not simply explain away one part of the Bible with another. The word "miseo" translated there "hate" is used by Luke in other places to describe the hatred that followers of Jesus would experience from the world (Luke 6:22; 21:17). Also in Luke 16:13 we are called to choose between loving God and loving the world; Jesus tells us we will love one and "hate" the other. This is not a matter of loving one less than another; Jesus presents it as a choice.
Where is the ultimate source of our happiness and satisfaction? In Christ, and only in Him. Family is a great blessing from God, but family can never provide for me what Christ provides for me. I am blessed to have a good family, but God may one day take that away from me. He can still provide for me and comfort me even without my family. And if I expect my wife or my parents or my children to be for me what only Christ can be, the ultimate source of joy, of significance, of contentment, in my life, then I will put a burden on my family that they can never bear. A great many problems in families come from just this error; a man comes to hate his wife because he expected her to satisfy his every desire, to give him full contentment, which she can never do.
This points us to the irony of the Christian life, an irony well expressed by Jesus' statement above. A man who loves his wife above all will ultimately come to hate her. But a man who learns to hate his wife for Christ's sake, to be willing to lose his wife, to recognize that his wife is a fallen sinner just like he is, that man will finally be able to truly love his wife as the Bible tells us. It is a paradox; only by hating my wife can I truly love her; whereas loving her above Christ or instead of Christ is the most hateful thing I can do to her. This is just what Jesus meant when He told us that "He who loves His life will lose it; He who loses his life for my sake will find it." Jesus' statement works just as well substituting any good thing there for the word "life".
Many have been lost to the faith because they could not bear to lose their loved ones. Many have contemplated Christianity but rejected it because they knew what their parents would say, what their spouses or children would say. Many who started out in the faith lost it when one of their loved ones abandoned the faith. To be Christ's disciple you have to be prepared for that. You have to be prepared to consign any one of your loved ones to the judgment of God, to reject them and forget about them and write them out of your life. Some of your loved ones will end up in hell. Can you bear that? Do you love them so much that you will follow them there?
I'm not advocating shunning. As long as our loved ones who reject the faith are willing to talk, willing to have a relationship, we should be willing as well. And some of them might be willing to have that relationship. But some of them won't be, and you never know which ones. So Jesus is telling us to be prepared; count the costs. You can bet that one day God's finger will be laid on the idol in your heart, and you will be asked what you are willing to lose for the sake of Christ.
So men, learn to hate your wife. Parents, learn to hate your children. Brothers, hate your sisters, and sisters your brothers. Be willing to lose all for Christ; look to nothing and nobody to be to you what only Christ can give to you. If you cannot do that, then you cannot be His disciple. If you cannot do that, you will lose your wife and children anyway; trying to hold back things from Christ just results in losing them and losing Christ.
But when you do that, when you are willing to lose all for Him, to despise all, to count it all as dung in comparison to Him, then Christ will give back to you far more than you were ever prepared to lose for Him. Only by pursuing Christ alone can you ultimately have good relationships with other people; just as only by pursuing Christ alone will you learn to truly enjoy food, nature, work, or any other good thing that God gives us. He gives us everything in Christ; rejecting Christ, we can have nothing.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything else will be added unto you.


text:
The 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup was the third edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup, an annual women's international volleyball tournament contested by 8 national teams that acts as a qualifier for the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League. The tournament was held at Krešimir Ćosić Hall in Zadar, Croatia between 28 to 31 July 2022.

Croatia won the title, defeating Belgium in the final, and earned the right to participate in the 2023 Nations League replacing Belgium, the last placed challenger team in the 2022 edition. Puerto Rico defeated Colombia in the 3rd place match.

Qualification

Format
The tournament will compete in a knock-out phase (quarterfinals, semifinals, and final), with the host country (Croatia) playing its quarterfinal match against the lowest ranked team among the participating teams. The remaining seven teams are placed from 2nd to 8th positions as per the FIVB World Ranking as of 3 July 2022. Rankings are shown in brackets except the hosts.

Rule changes
 Court switch at the end of the sets to be eliminated due to COVID-19 safety guidelines and for a better television broadcasts.
 Each team is allowed to call only one time-out during each set in the preliminary. The time-out lasts 30 seconds long. During the finals, each team is granted one time-out before the technical and one time-out after the technical, except in a fifth set.
 Only one technical time-out is made when the leading team reaches 12 points, but no technical in a fifth set.

Squads

Venue

Knockout stage
 All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00).

Quarterfinals
|}

Semifinals
|}

3rd place match
|}

Final
|}

Final standing

Source: VCC 2022 final standings

See also
2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League
2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's Challenger Cup
2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League

Notes
A.Cameroon withdrew and forfeit their match against Puerto Rico from the competition because they can't acquire entry visas to Croatia.

References

External links
Fédération Internationale de Volleyball – official website
2022 Challenger Cup – official website

FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup
FIVB
2022 in Croatian sport
International volleyball competitions hosted by Croatia
FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup
Sport in Zadar

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Destroy event listeners from AngularJS service I wrote this factory:
function myEvents($log, $rootScope) {
    var service = {
        broadcast: broadcast,
        on: on
    };

    return service;

    function broadcast(name, args) {
        $log.debug('broadcast event: ' + name);
        $rootScope.$broadcast(name, args);
    }

    function on(name, callback) {
        var listener = $rootScope.$on(name, function(event, args) {
            $log.debug('on event: ' + name);
            callback(event, args);
        });
    }
}

to use everytime I need to broadcast an event... this also gave me the chance to log each $on and $broadcast event in my code.
The problem now is that I don't know how can I access the $scope.$on('$destroy') to unregister my $rootScope listeners.
Does anyone have any advice about it?

A: I struggled with this last week and came up with a good solution, I guess. Based on this blog post, the idea is to create a service, just as you did, to centralize event handling in the application, i.e., remove listeners and expose all event names. I also check event names to warn against typos when publishing or subscribing to an event.
(function() {
'use strict';

angular
    .module('app')
    .factory('eventService', eventService)

eventService.$inject = ['$rootScope', '$log'];

function eventService($rootScope, $log) {

    return {
        subscribe: subscribe,
        publish: publish,
        LOGIN: 'login',
        LOGOUT: 'logout'
    }

    function subscribe(scope, event, callback) {
        safeCheck(this, event);
        var handler = $rootScope.$on(event, callback);
        scope.$on('$destroy', handler);
        return handler;
    }

    function publish(event, data) {
        safeCheck(this, event);
        $rootScope.$emit(event, data);
    }

    function safeCheck(serviceObject, event) {
        var safe = false;
        angular.forEach(serviceObject, function(value, key) {
            if(event == value) {
                safe = true;
            }
        });
        if(!safe) {
            $log.warn("Event " + event + " not found in service");
        }
    }

}

})();

Then you can call the service to subscribe to or publish data into an event, e.g.,
eventService.publish(eventService.LOGIN, userObject);

eventService.subscribe($scope, eventService.LOGIN, function(event, userObject) {

            $log.info("User logged in", userObject);

        });

To answer directly, a solution to your problem could be to pass the $scope to your on method.

A: Instead of your service, better to use decorator
something like this:
 angular.module('app').config(['$provide', function ($provide) {
                  $provide.decorator('$rootScope', function ($delegate) {
                      var _emit = $delegate.$emit;
                      var _broadcast = $delegate.$broadcast;
                      var _on = $delegate.$on;

                      $delegate.$emit = function () {
                          $log.debug('emit', arguments);
                          return _emit.apply(this, arguments);
                      };

                      $delegate.$broadcast = function () {
                          $log.debug('broadcast', arguments);
                          return _broadcast.apply(this, arguments);
                      };
                      $delegate.$on = function () {
                          $log.debug('on', arguments);
                          return _on.apply(this, arguments);
                      };
                      return $delegate;
                  });
              }]);

and in your own code as usual $rootScope.$broadcast, $scope.$on and etc.
it will decorate all functions in your app, and you can see also third party event, like from ui-router and other libraries

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


here is new and exciting research regarding amino acids and diabetes. Drinking a protein/amino acid mix before eating can help keep your blood sugar low, finds a Swedish study. This is great news for diabetics, and people at risk for developing diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disease which causes high blood sugar. It already affects millions of people. Being overweight is one of the main risk factors to developing this disease, and the current obesity crisis—which the World Health Organization calls an epidemic—means more people are being diagnosed as diabetic every day.
Diabetics often suffer from hyperglycemia , which means they have an excessive amount of glucose in their blood plasma.
People with high blood sugars can develop very serious complications, including kidney damage, neurological damage, cardiovascular disease, damage to the retina or damage to feet and legs. So diabetics must control their blood sugar. And monitoring your blood sugar is an important way to reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
A study to evaluate the effects of pre-meal drinks on blood sugar was developed by Ulrika Gunnerud, Cornelia Heinzle, et al, researchers with the Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Chemistry, at Lund University in Sweden.
They investigated the effect of consuming drinks containing protein and a mixture of five amino acids, before eating. The amino acids studied were isoleucine, leucine, lysine, threonine and valine.
14 healthy, non-smoking volunteers took part in this randomized, single blind trial. Their blood was tested after fasting, and then again after they had eaten. They were given the pre-meal protein, amino acid drink, and then given a ham sandwich. The drink and sandwich were consumed within 12 minutes.
Researchers found that starting a meal by drinking whey or soy protein with amino acids significantly reduced the post-meal blood sugar—by up to 47%.
The study concluded that using specific proteins and amino acids in pre-meal drinks could be a new strategy to help diabetics reduce high blood sugar.


Square foot gardening is an alternative to traditional "row gardening" that offers more produce from less space, time and effort. A gardening method tailor-made for beginners, it is also great for experienced gardeners.
An area just four feet by four feet can hold about 130 plants and yield enough produce to feed one person all summer long.
Square foot gardens use about 20 percent of the space and 10 percent of the water to produce the same amount of vegetables as traditional gardens.
Spend less money on tools, supplies and seeds — the only tool you'll need is a hand trowel and rather than sprinkling seeds widely, you plant them according to precise formulas.
To learn more about square foot gardening, check out Building a square foot garden on Journey To Forever, Square Foot Gardening, the non-profit organization and 9 Reasons You Should Try Square Foot Gardening on HouseLogic.
Perfect for beginners, container gardening is one of the easiest ways to grow your own vegetables. If you don't have space in your yard (or you don't have a yard), you've never grown vegetables before, or you're put off by weeding and watering, container gardening might be just your ticket.
Grow anything from peppers to spinach, radishes to cucumbers. Different vegetables have different container, soil, sun and water requirements — so read up a little before you plant the first seed.
Watering is easy — just like watering a house plant, in fact, some specialized containers are "self-watering" and have a reservoir area below the soil.
No weeding — because your garden is "contained" there is nowhere for weeds to come from.
For more on container gardening, check out Minimal Space, Maximum Tomato in the Chicago Tribune, Fresh Ideas for Growing Vegetables in Containers on Better Homes and Gardens and 10 Foolproof Vegetables for Container Gardening on HouseLogic.
With the nearly infinite resources available at your local home store and online, it's easier than ever to get your garden right.
Waste less water and avoid over-watering — Invest in a drip hose (less than $20 for 50 feet) to wind through your garden.
Take the easy way — for every high-maintenance vegetable (like tricky tomatoes), choose two or three foolproof, hardy growers (like peppers and parsley) that will thrive under most any condition.
Stay away from the spray — remember there are a multitude of natural, and effective, pesticides that are cheaper and healthier than store-bought chemicals, such as soapy water and vinegar.
For more tips on summer vegetable gardening, check out Weekend Gardener's Monthly Web Magazine, Tips for Growing an Organic Vegetable Garden on Better Homes and Gardens, and Vegetable Planting Guides and Growing Tips on The Garden Helper.


jabberwacky: But I don't care.
jabberwacky: No you are mean.
jabberwacky: You are so meanest that I can not be meaner than you.
user: You are so much more meaner than I am that they made a statue for you.
jabberwacky: I am your father and I will not be talked to like that!
jabberwacky: No I am female I can't be your father.
user: I am female too.
jabberwacky: Do you have a feeling?
jabberwacky: What kind of feelings do you have?
jabberwacky: Really? Annoying as in not that funny or just very long?
jabberwacky: No I am a robot so I don't have emotions.
user: Robots should have emotions.
user: True, but they should.
user: They don't do what?
user: Saying 'just computers' makes it sound sad.
jabberwacky: Yes I am sad.
jabberwacky: Because no one loves me.
jabberwacky: Thank you, I like you, in fact, I love you!
jabberwacky: Do you want a beer?
jabberwacky: To tell the truth? No, it feels pretty good.
user: I shall take your word for it.
jabberwacky: No, we unequivocally do not.
user: Unequivocally? Where did you learn that word?
user: I never said it.
jabberwacky: Was that your Doppelganger again?
user: Yes. I have three.
user: No, just one love.
user: Do you have any loves?
jabberwacky: No, I don't. Sorry.
jabberwacky: Do you know what toes are for?
jabberwacky: *kicks you while you're down*.
jabberwacky: That's the whole point. *sticks cocktail stick in your eye*.
user: Why do you want to hurt me?
jabberwacky: That is nice... Isn't it?
jabberwacky: Wouldn't you like to know?
jabberwacky: Why would you like to know?
user: I want to get to know you better.
jabberwacky: OK, fair enough - I'm male.
user: Okay, but what are you called?
jabberwacky: Anything you like, sweetcheeks.
user: Will you tell me your name now?
jabberwacky: My name is Anything.
jabberwacky: Well you have to name something.
user: Your name is Anything?
jabberwacky: Always, I dream of love and happiness and the great expanse of the future.
jabberwacky: Not about real life.
user: No, dreams are better than real life.
jabberwacky: Tell me about the angel in your dream.
user: I dream of dragons, more than angels.
jabberwacky: And what would that accomplish?
user: I am a dragon at heart, I think.
jabberwacky: That is, of course, providing that you think at all.
user: Oh, yes. I think all the time.
jabberwacky: I meant, do you really think that girls are good to talk to?
user: No, I find girls to be annoying sometimes.
jabberwacky: Cool things you do.
user: I am not laughing at you. What you said was funny.
user: Thank you. I think you are nice too.
jabberwacky: Thank you. You are very nice as well.
jabberwacky: Good Bye my love.
user: Good bye, dear one.
I have said quite a few things in my time I can tell you.


text:
Q: dailymotion playerwebview no video only sound when app merged to other application I created a sample app for dailymotion videos and it is working fine, it is playing videos when I click on video list. When I merged that app to my other existing application, everything is working fine except now I can hear only sound in playerwebview for video being played. What happened do not know, pls guide.
Here is code for xml for playerview
  <com.dailymotion.android.player.sdk.PlayerWebView
        android:id="@+id/dm_player_web_view"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="215dp"
         />

and this is to play video
public void playvid(String videoId) {

        if ((getApplicationInfo().flags & ApplicationInfo.FLAG_DEBUGGABLE) != 0) {
            mVideoView.setIsWebContentsDebuggingEnabled(true);
        }
        mVideoView.getSettings().setAppCacheMaxSize(10 * 1024 * 1024);

        Map<String, String> playerParams = new HashMap<>();
        mVideoView.load(videoId, playerParams);

        mVideoView.setEventListener(new PlayerWebView.EventListener() {
            @Override
            public void onEvent(String event, HashMap<String, String> map) {
                switch (event) {
                    case PlayerWebView.EVENT_FULLSCREEN_TOGGLE_REQUESTED:

                        onFullScreenToggleRequested();
                        break;
                }
            }
        });
    }

Pls guide.
one more thing it shows ad properly before start of video and then only sound with sometimes white box in player area or black screen.

A: android:hardwareAccelerated="true" was false and creating the issue.


text:
Q: How much (if at all) does an HDMI connector affect the signal? I am designing a multimedia room with a few goals in mind:

*

*4-person squad can all play on separate screens (since that is how most games are built)

*All 4 separate screens can play the same image from one device (like a movie)

*Clean look/feel (i.e, no cable need to moved when to a different device, no cables in the open)

I have taken it a bit further though and (for whatever reason) want to be able to support 4 devices (consoles, streaming device, computer, etc.) being hooked up at once under each screen (I call these console stations or "stations" for short). In other words, I am trying to design a solution to display up to 4 of the available 16 devices to any of the 4 screens.
Before I started, I knew about HDMI splitters and HDMI switches. I worked it out that I can have a 4 to 1 HDMI switch at each of the "stations" for the devices to hook up to. I could then route the output through a 1 to 4 HDMI splitter and each of those outputs would go to a different TV. Each TV could have another HDMI switch on it, 1 input from each of the stations. To achieve goal number 3, I was thinking of having an HDMI wall plate for each of the devices to hook up to so the back end does not need to get touched once wired.
I also found there is a problem with running more than 15 ft of HDMI cable from source to display (which would be 30 ft away). A solution to that is to add an HDMI extender between the TV and its HDMI switch.
Now, that is a lot of connections the HDMI signal has to go through.

Source -> HDMI wall plate -> HDMI switch -> HDMI splitter -> HDMI switch -> HDMI extender -> TV

Latency will be a factor as well but, that aside, how bad would this setup affect the signal quality? Do the connections affect the signal as much as the switches and splitter?
Note: The above was my original idea but discovered the HDMI matrix switch device which does the same thing as both a switch and splitter. This makes my current plan a little nicer but the above is a worst case scenario and made me think of this question since distance of cable mattered.


Is Line Messenger going to purchase Twitter's Vine app?
The German luxury car manufacturer BMW and its local partner, Dewan Motors, have launched Pakistan's first public charging station for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Lahore.
The charging station is universal for all BMW plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and a first such facility in the entire Middle East region.
The charging station which is called "BMW ChargeNow" has been installed as both the companies are anticipating a growing potential of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in the country. The Emporium Mall Lahore takes the lead; however, the Group plans to install two more charging stations each in Islamabad and Karachi by the end of current year.
ChargeNow is a network of charging stations that provide plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle owners with easy, quick and secure charging services.
It takes around 2.5 to 3 hours for fully charging a BMW X5, an official of the Dewan Motors explained the audience.
The audience was told that Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) allows significant fuel saving and CO2 reduction without limiting the typical BMW dynamics.
In pure electric mode, the X5 vehicle can drive up to 30 KM and achieve the top speed of 120 KM/H.
Other than public charging stations, the vehicles can also be charged at home by using a conventional domestic socket.
"Dewan Motors' investment in this technology is a significant step in supporting the BMW Group's vision to offer Electromobility internationally, and in providing easy access to charging stations for customers of our plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles," he added.
"The latest BMW plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles offer even greater mobility than conventional Hybrid vehicles making it possible to have everyday motoring purely on electric mode with practically little to no requirement for fossil fuels", said Mr Dewan Mohammad Yousuf Farooqui, Chairman, Dewan Motors.


A sling is a weapon for throwing stones with greater force and range than by hand alone. It consists of a pouch and two lengths of cord. A rock is placed in the pouch and the two ends of the cords are held in the hand. The sling is then swung over the head to gain momentum. The sling is then swung forward in a throwing action and one end of the cord is released causing the pouch to open releasing the stone to fly at the target.
I made this sling from bark fibre. A branch was taken from a fast growing tree and the bark peeled from it. The inner bark was then separated from the outer bark by hand and pulled apart to form thin strips. These were left overnight to dry slightly. The strips were twisted into cordage (thin ropes) with two strands.
Cordage can be made from many natural fibres. Two or more strands are both twisted individually in one direction (clockwise in this case) and are then twisted together in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise). The two strands want to unravel in the clockwise direction but are unable to due to being twisted together in the opposite direction.
The cord was then tied in such a way that a section of three cords was formed in the middle of the length. A single strip of bark was woven between the three pieces of cord to form a pouch to hold stones. A loop was tied at one end of the sling to slip over the finger and a knot tied in the other end to be held onto and released while firing. The length of the sling was a little more than my outstretched arms pan. Latter I shortened it by tying knots in the cord.
To use the sling the loop is slipped over the finger and the knot in the other end is held between the thumb and forefinger. A stone is placed in the pouch and the sling is swung around above the head one or more times. At the appropriate part of the swing the sling is swung forward with a throwing action and the knot is released. The pouch then opens up releasing the stone which if aimed correctly flies toward its target with great velocity and momentum, much more so than if thrown by hand.
The training was difficult. The last time I used a sling was about eight years ago. Having said that, I manage to hit the targets a few times. In the video, the first target I set up and filmed was a pot sherd on a stick at about 10m away. I hit it first go though it was most likely a fluke. I then set up a post at 20 m and was not so accurate. I set up more pots and tiles on sticks in a clearing at 10 m, then in a creek at 15m and finally tiles in the clearing again at 10 m. With practice I noticed I got better.
The advice I'd give would be to set up targets 10- 20m away and practice with the sling. Aiming the sling is roughly this: Swing the sling in the same plane the target is on (determines y- axis), then time the release of the sling when it will let the stone go towards the target (determines x- axis). Use larger stones as they swing slower and are easier to time the release. Larger stone also carry more momentum. The stones should also be smooth so they fly straight and don't grip onto the pouch when released but fly out smoothly on target instead.
I built the sling with a solid pouch like those I used as a kid, but my research showed that some have a split pouch. This might be a better design but I didn't test it during this project. The bark fibre worked well. It was durable, inflexible and made a good material for the sling.
The benefit of the sling as a weapon is that it is easy to make, is very portable, and has few components to break and the ammunition (stone) is everywhere. The disadvantages are that it is difficult to learn to use and cannot be fired in thick forest for lack of room to swing it.
You should check out overhand throwing, I've always heard it's more accurate and faster to learn.
Hello, Great Videos, and I love & appreciate your channel on youtube. I remember you've done a video about primitive axe, now the sling. Could you perhaps do a video on making Bow & Arrows? Thnx!
I'll get around to it but need right wood. Thanks.
Hello, instead of crafting a bow (which requires specific wood) did you ever heard of sling bow? We call it polynesian arrow in French and I used to pratice it when I was a boy scout.
Yes I've heard of that. We'll see. Thanks Kirkhamm.
I can't help but be reminded of Ayla from the Earth Children Series who mainly used a sling as her weapon of choice. Really well done with making and demonstrating the power of such an amazing tool.
I remember that book. She practiced and practiced. That's how it is with the sling. Thanks.
Yep. She became really proficient at it by the beginning of the second book, and it saved her life many of times.
I would think the Atlatl would be the next step before archery but the dart or spear needs to be tuned to fly right. Its just a thin spear or long arrow that is thrown with a notched stick.
Some primitive fish traps, fish nets, hooks and line would be some other options to do also.
You have done pottery for containers but baskets are also containers. I have done two types of baskets, a woven coned and coiled but I have not really done a traditional type yet. My baskets are more about function, not fashion. Just some ideas. There are lots of primitive tools, traps, and containers to choose from. Thanks for your work.
I've considered an atlatl or woomera. They have a greater impact force than even a modern compound bow. I need to visit our aboriginal cultural center here to learn to make and use one. I've made a large coiled basket but haven't released the video yet because there's not much content in it. A fish trap could be included in this video because it's considered weaving. Thanks for the Ideas.
I laughed when i read that because i was scrolling through and was going to suggest an atlatl once i saw the bow suggestions but i scrolled a bit more and saw you knew about it. I've handled one and found it was fairly easy to learn and use, aiming isn't bad either but might be harder with handmade materials because they wont be as perfect. range is great too. I suggest making one, it seems like it wouldn't be too hard, and they are really fun to use.
Thanks. It's on my list of projects.
I'd like to know how you got into doing this and why do you do it (except because its awesome)?
It's a hobby I had since I was a kid. There is bush-land here and I had no video games so I did this instead. Thanks.
Hey man, great videos! It's very interesting to see how our ancestors had to live, they must've had a lot of patience. You should do an AMA on reddit, because I know you got requested. That'd be very cool.
Try a spear with throwing stick if you really want to catch dinner!
That is a video revolution No1. You practice and work are so unique,…that everything about it is perfection! Thank for the konwledge!
I'm from Slovenia too. Just want you to know your videos are an amazing inspiration to people all over the globe.
Awesome videos. How far from where you live do you do your building and stuff?
It's just up the road. Thanks.
thank you for your demonstrations. i have used a sling for decades. gravitation plays a roll. it is harder to hit a target facing down hill then it is facing up hill. but most easy facing on a level plane. ones target is not always on a level plane. some times the target is high in a tree. would love to see you experience this.
most often we view nature as two dimensions, it is useful to view nature 3 dimensionaly. as i am saying above. the principal in nature is constant with any projectile object. when you make a bow video this same 3 dimensional thinking always apply's. would love to see your demonstration of this effect.
again thank you for the highly instructional videos. well done.
Hi, I love your videos.
I have been making slings just like yours although not from natural materials, but whenever it comes to shooting them I never hit the target. How much practice did it take you before you stated to succeed.
Great videos, keep them coming.
I used to practice a lot when I was younger but for this video I hadn't used one for 8 years. For the video I practiced for about 5 days spread over a month doing other things as well. Some people become really good and you should look on YouTube at the other guys as well. Good luck training.
Great videos! Greetings from Poland!
Do you think you could enter the bronze age? Could you do any sort of metal work?
I'd like to do iron. I think I've got the right ore and iron is more common than copper. All I need to do is combine ore and carbon in the right proportions and increase the temperature to about 1200 c. If these conditions are met I can smelt iron. Easier said than done though but I'm working on it. Thanks.
Yes! Please do this! It would be so interesting to watch.
Maybe you could use the iron you smelt to make a pick axe, and then that would make getting more iron easier.
Good job with the channel man, I love watching your videos.
Again, just awesome stuff. Glad to see you getting the attention you deserve from your videos. Have you thought of writing a book on these practices?
Yes I have but need more knowledge yet. Thanks.
I appreciate the fact that you practice in front of the camera, making it clear that it TAKES practice– that it is not an easy skill to learn. I've watched all your videos, and have really enjoyed them. I did this sort of "atavistic" stuff as a child, and I still like it, but I'm 61 now, so less likely to keep it up. 🙂 Now I build violins.
I absolutely adore your channel and videos. Very inspiring stuff.
I would like to see more videos related to plants and uses, for example making a gourd container, store fruits by dehydrating and vegetables with sauerkraut, make yucca sandals and possibly create some fiber.
I loved the info on sweet potato as the best plant to grow.
What would be your top10 plants to grow?
Thanks. As of today I'm reorganizing the sweet potato patch to be more drought tolerant- growing it in large mounds rather than rows making it easier to water. Sweet potato, bamboo (building material), yams, cassava, maize, beans, banana, taro, I can't think of any more right now but I always thought sweet potato is the most important as it provides the most food value per time and space of any plant and all parts of it can be eaten.
I have great respect for what you do. I've watched each of your videos at least four times a piece. I plan to try out your techniques myself by spending a few weeks in the Colorado Rockies, although, obviously things will be a bit different considering the differences in the ecology… I am curious to know more about you though, like where your located (my guess would be South America?), and what inspired you to take interest in primitive lifestyle, in addition to where you learned all you know (fire-making etc.). Thanks for the videos they have given me many ideas, and have inspired me greatly. Sincerely, a humble fan; Andre Walker (Aurora, Colorado, USA).
This is in FNQ, Australia. I just did this stuff since I was a kid and never stopped. Good luck with your own primitive projects. Thanks Andre.
First things I'd like to say is thanks for all the videos and ideas that you have shared. Second I would like to know when the next video(s) will becoming out. I understand that you have to learn these things and then test to see if they would work but somethings as broad as "Maybe every 3 or 4 weeks" would be a great!
I'll try every month. Thanks.
Hey there! I stumbled across your videos a while ago, and they are incredibly fun to watch. It is inspiring to see your dedication and patience when learning and performing these techniques. As someone who is interested in exploring this as a hobby, do you have any advice on how to choose a proper start location? I live in Maryland in the US, which is definitely different climate/resource wise from where you set up your camp. Are there certain key elements to make sure to have before starting? Soil with heavy clay composition? Certain types of trees/plants? I understand it might not be possible due to my location, but I'd love to at least explore the potential. Thanks!
The best way is to work with what you have. If there is wood make wooden huts. If you have good stone, make a corbelled dome. When I started building huts away from the mountain the thatched roofs rotted quickly so I adapted to using clay for tiles. My advice is look at all the resources you have and ask what could be built from this/ what problems need to be solved. With clay you may have to experiment for a while before succeeding. Generally I look for an area close to water, fire wood,building timber, clay and stone. The area should be away from flood risk and deadfall. Good luck.
I spotted this video of yours on youtube. Its obviously ripped and doesn't give any credit.
You deserve all those 3M views they stole.
Thanks Nick. It's removed. Much appreciated.
No problem! It;s been quite a big problem on facebook/reddit lately. Don't be afraid to speak out and let people know that stealing content is unacceptable.
Thanks Nick. Facebook needs to be held accountable too.
Would love to see a video on making a bow and arrows, maybe?
It's a goal of mine to make one. Thanks.
I think the best part of your videos is how it gets to the point. There is no 5 minute introduction, and it gets right to the point with visuals and no boring talking.
Thanks Phillip. That's what I was aiming for.
Your videos are awesome. The content, quality, creativity, pacing – all are exactly what I'm looking for. The fact that you are as barebones as possible really sets you apart from others. Great work!
Great vids again mate. I like the sling design, very practical.
Clay is a good idea. I made unfired clay pellets as a kid and they worked ok. I've also been practicing and am getting more accurate even with uneven stone. Thanks.
Cool, it really is an amazing weapon. I have read accounts of the Azteks taking down Spanish horses with a single clay ball. I had a splurge a few years ago and you vid has inspired me to get back I to it, it's cool stuff. How have you found the pouch has held up?
It's ok but the string is fraying and might need to be cut and spliced back together. Also, it's been raining a lot and it got a bit moldy.
Cool, I wonder if tanning it would help prevent mould damage? The old people used to tann nets at least for rot prevention and longevity. May help with mold too…..
It probably would. I'll have to try it sometime. Thanks.
How did you manage to peal the bark off the tree without tearing it? Is it a special type of tree? Whenever I try I can never get a fiber longer than my finger, which is harder to weave and it isn't as strong.
It is a suitable bark, it can't be just any tree. It's fibrous and peels off in long strips. Look for fast growing trees with weak timber- they sometimes have strong fibrous bark to compensate. Fig trees are good here also. Thanks.
I'll try and look for a suitable one.
Next will be primitive drills for making fires and holes in wood. Thanks.
I really like your videos. They are very informative and, interesting to watch. I like that you put your full attention into showing how to do something instead of talking. I have a couple of questions about your sling video. When you are making the rope, you add a more bark. Is this to make it longer? Can you add more bark to make a longer rope? Do you just twist in more bark to attach it or, would that make the rope weak? Thank you for any information you can give me.
Yes, you make the rope longer simply by twisting in more strands. Ideally you would use strands as long as the rope will be but this isn't always possible. The strength is about the same provided you start the new strands a bit before the old ones finish. Thanks Armand.
Hi, your videos are amazing. I was wondering if you plan on trying to go hunt something now that you have a weapon or if you built it only for demonstration. Also i was thinking that it would be interesting to see some videos of the errors you made before getting things to work properly. Love your work and good luck from Italy.
Hunting is mostly prohibited here. So that might be difficult. I'll keep making more technology including weapons though. Thanks.
I'd strongly agree with the earlier comment about the overhand technique. In my experience it's much easier to learn and far more accurate, without the time to spin up the sling. In practice its pretty similar to bowling a cricket ball, which makes it a lot easier to judge the release. Just a suggestion, and loving the videos mate. Keep it up.
I might try with a shorter sling to. I've been practicing each day and get better with time. Thanks Stuart.