How about a thread...................

[sixdogsmom]

Then I would say that cork is well worth the expense, damn, it sounds like the gene pool is nearing the bottom rungs doesn't it?

[Cheyenne]

Many of the playgrounds in Emporia, or at least the ones that have been recently updated are now using recycled shredded tire rubber. It is really nice because we dont have the whole backseat full of sand when we leave. Also it is very soft and "springy". Not sure what the cost was but you would think it would be a little cheaper since it is a recycled product. Its also nice because after a rain it doesn't get mushy or muddy. They also have those thick mats underneath the swings to keep from getting those holes that fill with water. The just built a new peter pan playground last spring and they did an excellent job planning it. We don't go there often because it is so crowded.

[pamsback]

 A lot of the playgrounds around here use the recycled tire rubber too. You can even buy it at landscaping stores to use for mulch on your yard instead of wood chips. Lasts forever and drains good and the cats don't use it Lol.

[pamsback]

Tyler Casey was honored at the National Firefighters Memorial in Maryland yesterday. He was a member of the volunteer department and was out warning people about the 2008 tornado that took out huge chunks from Picher Oklahoma to Monett Missouri. His truck got caught in the tornado.

Seneca firefighter Tyler Casey, who lost his life during the tornado:
Redings Mill Fire Chief Andy Nimmo credited Casey with saving the lives of three people before he was injured.

"The key is he sacrificed his life so that others would live," Nimmo said. "He was out warning people so they could get to safety, and then a tornado got him.

"I have a tremendous amount of pride for what he did. I wish I could be as much of a firefighter as he was. Here he was, just 21 years old and not getting paid anything for what he did. He could have run the other way, but he ran toward it, and gave his life saving others. I hope everyone realizes how much of a hero he was."

[Diane Amberg]

Good one Pam. The first Sunday in Fire Prevention week (tomorrow) is National Fallen Fire Fighter's Memorial Sunday. Fire companies across the country  are supposed to blow their sirens at noon. We still have our big original big bell from 1888. We pull the rope once for each fire fighter whose  life was lost in the line of duty the previous calendar year .There is also a big ceremony at Emmitsburg Md. Every fire fighter's family is invited and we always send a few people down to act as escorts since we are close. This year we ring the bell 118 times. 113 for regular firefighters and 5 more for contract fire fighters, usually from wild fires. That's 118 total. 118 too darn many.Tyler will be included for Kansas.

[pamsback]

Thought this was interestin....what do yall know about algae as fuel?

Southern Ute Tribe invests in making fuel from algae   
Monday, September 21 2009 

 
By Associated Press,
An unusual experiment featuring equal parts science, environmental optimism and Native American capitalist ambition is unfolding on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in southwest Colorado.
With the twin goals of making fuel from algae and reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases, a start-up company co-founded by a Colorado State University professor recently introduced a strain of algae that loves carbon dioxide into a water tank next to a natural gas processing plant. The water is already green-tinged with life.

The Southern Utes, one of the nation's wealthiest American Indian communities thanks to its energy and real-estate investments, is a major investor in the professor's company. It hopes to gain a toehold in what tribal leaders believe could be the next billion-dollar energy boom. But from the tribe's perspective, the business model here is about more than business. "It's a marriage of an older way of thinking into a modern time," said the tribe's chairman, Matthew J. Box, referring to the interplay of environmental consciousness and investment opportunity around algae.

The tribe, whose reservation sits atop one of the world's richest fields of natural gas from coal-bed methane, had to surmount many hurdles to find an alternative energy idea it considered suitable. For example, any project that would displace land used for growing food was tossed out for philosophical reasons: the Southern Utes' belief that energy and food should not compete in a world where people still starve. That eliminated discussion of corn-based ethanol.And whatever was chosen had to be at least technically feasible, if not immediately profitable.

The 1,400-member tribe also has a long history of herbal medicine use that made growing algae for fuel appealing, Mr. Box said. "It reminded people of herbs that are helpful here, like bear root, which is harvested in the mountains," he said.

The Colorado State professor, Bryan Willson, who teaches mechanical engineering and is a co-founder of the three-year-old company Solix Biofuels, said working with the Southern Utes on their land afforded his company advantages that would have been impossible in mainstream corporate America. The tribe contributed almost one-third of the $20 million in capital raised by Solix, free use of land and more than $1 million in equipment.

"If you're going with strict venture capital, they're looking for a blistering return on capital in three to five years," Dr. Willson said. "The Utes have a very long economic view. They're making decisions now for future generations as opposed to the next quarter, and that is just fundamentally different."
Al Darzins, a group manager at the lab's National Bioenergy Center, said Solix's model was different from most: the algae is grown in closed bags, lined up vertically in the water tanks, with the intent of increasing yield. He said the crux will be controlling costs. "Solix has an interesting idea; whether it will work, I don't know," Mr. Darzins said. "It's all going to come down to the economics."

Solix's facility project is next to the natural gas processing plant for access to the carbon dioxide waste stream, which will be used to nourish the algae – a kind of biological recycling of carbon dioxide before its discharge into the atmosphere as the vegetable fuel is burned. The plant also produces waste heat, which could be used to warm the algae beds in winter. In addition, the high desert plateau of southwest Colorado is one of the sunniest spots in the nation, providing solar radiation that accelerates algae growth.

Central to Solix's business model, Dr. Willson said, is the hope that power plants and other factories now venting carbon dioxide will allow the company to build an algae farm next to their carbon dioxide vent pipes. A plant could sell the oil or biodiesel, and Solix would earn its return by being a part owner-operator, or by licensing the technology.

If Solix can expand its operations to a commercial scale, the Southern Utes will have certain first ownership and operating rights in Solix plants throughout much of the Western United States.

[frawin]

Pam, this is my post from September 4, 2008. Algae makes more sense than using Corn.

Carl, I have mentioned Algae on here before, what you have posted is a new article to me and a good one. It has been proven that Algae will produce  a good quality Ethanol and at a much better yield per acre than Corn and/or Sugar. To me the biggest plus for Algae based Ethanol is that we can raise it in waters that are not used for sustaining life otherwise, we have massive areas that can be utilized and the biggest plus of all is that it is not taking food away from a rapidly growing population that has many people starving in the world. I have always been opposed to using Corn or other food sources to make fuel for people to burn in their Hummers, Big V-10s etc. Anything we can do to reduce our dependence on Foreign Oil is important. The clock is ticking and it is just a matter of time until the Nations of Islam, Russia, Venzuela and others decide to cut the US off from their oil. I don't think people have any idea how bad it will be if we loose half or more of oil supply. One of the biggest concerns I have about Ethanol is the long range damage to the current engines, most articles I have read say it is not as efficent as Petroleum Based Gasoline and Diesel, that we can live with, but there have been several articles written about the damage it can do to the engines with prolonged use. Also given the current engines I think 10% Ethanol is considered the optimum mix, that can no doubt be improved as we use more Ethanol. Again, I am for anything that reduces our independence on Foreign Oil.
CARL, ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD IS THAT ETHANOL IS NOW TRADED IN THE FUTURES MARKET. THERE MUST BE ENOUGH OF IT AVAILABLE NO TO MAKE A MARKET IN IT.

[Diane Amberg]

UD has been researching it here for several years....looks promising.

[srkruzich]

You know any plant is a CO2 digester.  Algae just manages to digest more per square foot than other plants do.  I believe that some groups have perused the idea of using algae as a o2 generator for use on other planets if we colonize them.  It is compact and grows rapidly and produces a lot of O2 from carbon dioxide.  call it a co2 scrubber if you will.   It also can be used as a food source.

[pamsback]

 Thanks Frank, I appreciate it I have the same concerns about the ethanol....a few stations down here sell what they call E85 and you sure don't want to put it in your regular car. Still sounds like a good idea tho.