Maurita The Notary

06/17/2026

06/16/2026

Open the cans on that basement shelf and a lot of them are already gone.

Paint is not preserves. Latex paint is water-based, so once air gets in it starts oxidizing, and any bacteria that sneak in start working on it. Unopened, manufacturers generally say 2 to 10 years on the shelf. Opened and resealed, you have a much shorter window: roughly 2 to 5 years stored properly, and far less if the lid was a poor seal or the can spent a winter freezing. Oil-based paint lasts a bit longer but follows the same arc.

There is a quick test. Pop the lid, peel off any skin, and stir for a couple of minutes. If it stirs back to a smooth, even consistency and does not smell rancid, it is fine. If it stays lumpy, stringy, or hits you with a sour, foul odor, it is bacterial spoilage and it is done. Roll a little on cardboard: gritty or bumpy means trash it.

So go through the stash. Label every keeper with the room and the date so you are not guessing in three years. Anything dried solid can usually go in the regular trash once it is fully hardened; liquid leftovers should go to a paint recycling drop-off, not down the drain. Keeping a clearly labeled quart of each color beats hoarding ten mystery gallons that quit on you years ago. [2NBSS]

06/16/2026

It usually isn't on purpose. Someone scrubs with one cleaner, switches to another, and the fumes hit before they realize what happened.

Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in chlorine bleach, reacts with the acetic acid in vinegar to release chlorine gas. Low exposure causes coughing, burning eyes, and a tight chest. Higher exposure in a small, unventilated bathroom can cause fluid in the lungs and send people to the emergency room. The American Association of Poison Control Centers logs thousands of toxic chemical exposures from mixing household cleaners every year.

Bleach is just as dangerous mixed with ammonia (which is in many glass cleaners) and with rubbing alcohol. The safe rule: use one cleaning product at a time, rinse the surface with plain water before switching, and never combine anything with bleach.

If you do get a lungful, get to fresh air immediately and call poison control or 911. Do not "wait it out."

The simplest protection is also the most boring one. Read the labels, and never let the bleach bottle and the vinegar bottle meet. [TRTHC]

06/15/2026

Noooooo

A Texas land dispute is drawing national attention after reports revealed that property donated by a Black farming family in 1999 for use as a public park was later sold by the city for approximately $10 million to support a data center project. The land, totaling 87 acres, was originally gifted with the expectation that it would benefit the community through public use and recreation.
The sale has sparked criticism from community members and advocates who argue that the family's wishes were not honored. Supporters of the development say the project could bring economic growth and investment to the area. The controversy has renewed discussions about land preservation, community trust, and the long-term stewardship of donated public property.

06/14/2026