Read the entire article. Keith
Fact or Fiction?: Archimedes Coined the Term "Eureka!" in the Bath
The famed mathematician made many important scientific contributions. Was this exclamation really one of them?
By David Biello
Let's begin with the story: the local tyrant contracts the ancient Greek polymath Archimedes to detect fraud in the manufacture of a golden crown. Said tyrant, name of Hiero, suspects his goldsmith of leaving out some measure of gold and replacing it with silver in a wreath dedicated to the gods. Archimedes accepts the challenge and, during a subsequent trip to the public baths, realizes that the more his body sinks into the water, the more water is displaced--making the displaced water an exact measure of his volume. Because gold weighs more than silver, he reasons that a crown mixed with silver would have to be bulkier to reach the same weight as one composed only of gold; therefore it would displace more water than its pure gold counterpart. Realizing he has hit upon a solution, the young Greek math whiz leaps out of the bath and rushes home naked crying "Eureka! Eureka!" Or, translated: "I've found it! I've found it!"
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
A Bit of History
January 1940
Aircraft engaged in air combat games over Crockett with simulated bombing of the bridge, RR, Mare Island, etc. Also taking part in the war games were anti-aircraft guns atop Grandview Terrace manned by 114 members of Battery "C" of the 65th Coast Artillery
Aircraft engaged in air combat games over Crockett with simulated bombing of the bridge, RR, Mare Island, etc. Also taking part in the war games were anti-aircraft guns atop Grandview Terrace manned by 114 members of Battery "C" of the 65th Coast Artillery
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
And So It Goes
Biofuels Discovery Promises to End Dependence on Natural Gas
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new, carbon-neutral way to convert vegetable-based fuels to syngas, a breakthrough that could allow producers to power hydrogen fuel cells or create a replacement for America's dwindling supplies of natural gas, all without relying on fossil fuels.
We've all had the experience of watching cooking oil smoke once a pan reaches a certain temperature—and suffered the indignity of having to scrub off the caked-on, carbonized gunk that results. A similar problem plagued researchers trying to convert biofuels: When heated, they clogged the pores of the catalyst used to transform them into syngas, which is a mixture of gases that include hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new, carbon-neutral way to convert vegetable-based fuels to syngas, a breakthrough that could allow producers to power hydrogen fuel cells or create a replacement for America's dwindling supplies of natural gas, all without relying on fossil fuels.
We've all had the experience of watching cooking oil smoke once a pan reaches a certain temperature—and suffered the indignity of having to scrub off the caked-on, carbonized gunk that results. A similar problem plagued researchers trying to convert biofuels: When heated, they clogged the pores of the catalyst used to transform them into syngas, which is a mixture of gases that include hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Monday, November 06, 2006
A Great Use of Space Technology
NASA SUPPORTS UAS FIRE MAPPING EFFORTS ON CALIFORNIA FIRE
A team led by NASA and U.S. Forest Service scientists recently collected real-time, visible and infrared data from sensors onboard a remotely piloted aircraft over the Esperanza Fire in Southern California.The Esperanza Fire, an arson-set fire that claimed the lives of five firefighters, ignited on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. Whipped by powerful Santa Ana winds, it spread over 40,200 acres, or roughly 62 square miles, destroying 34 homes and 20 other structures.
A team led by NASA and U.S. Forest Service scientists recently collected real-time, visible and infrared data from sensors onboard a remotely piloted aircraft over the Esperanza Fire in Southern California.The Esperanza Fire, an arson-set fire that claimed the lives of five firefighters, ignited on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. Whipped by powerful Santa Ana winds, it spread over 40,200 acres, or roughly 62 square miles, destroying 34 homes and 20 other structures.
Friday, November 03, 2006
More Global Warming?
Fisheries face collapse by 2048, study warns
Overfishing, other factors will wipe out stocks worldwide by 2048, scientists say. But there's hope.
By Marla Cone, Times Staff WriterNovember 3, 2006
All of the world's fishing stocks will collapse before midcentury, devastating food supplies, if overfishing and other human impacts continue at their current pace, according to a global study published today by scientists in five countries.Already, nearly one-third of species that are fished — including bluefin tuna, Atlantic cod, Alaskan king crab, Pacific salmon and an array in California fisheries — have collapsed, and the pace is accelerating, the report says.
Overfishing, other factors will wipe out stocks worldwide by 2048, scientists say. But there's hope.
By Marla Cone, Times Staff WriterNovember 3, 2006
All of the world's fishing stocks will collapse before midcentury, devastating food supplies, if overfishing and other human impacts continue at their current pace, according to a global study published today by scientists in five countries.Already, nearly one-third of species that are fished — including bluefin tuna, Atlantic cod, Alaskan king crab, Pacific salmon and an array in California fisheries — have collapsed, and the pace is accelerating, the report says.
Friday, October 27, 2006
SUN, RAIN, VOLCANOES
This from an October 24, 1936 Hawaii newspaper.
Sugarcane is a giant grass, and "stools out" from the root as other grasses
do. In a recent fair on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, a prize was offered for the
biggest stool of cane. It was taken by the one shown on the cover of this week's
Science News Letter. This one-root jungle of thirty-foot stalks would have
yielded about 400 pounds of sugar.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Great Source of Information on C and H
What was Havermyer's interest in C and H? Spreckels interest in American Sugar Refining? The report of the 1911 Congressional Hearins is essential. It is available through Google books.
Hearings held before the Special Committee on the Investigation of the
American Sugar Refining...By United States. Congress. House. Special Committee
on Investigation of American Sugar Refining Company
Raiders Are Leading
For the first time this season the Oakland Raiders are leading at the end of the third quarter. There is still hope!
Friday, October 13, 2006
More News Impacting the Price of Sugar
Norwegian farmers share view of family farms, biofuel potential - Examiner.com: "MINOT, N.D. - Norway's agriculture minister says farmers in his country share the views of North Dakota farmers when it comes to the value of family farms and the potential of biofuels.
Terje Riis-Johansen brought a Norwegian delegation to the Norsk Hostfest, Minot's Scandinavian festival, this week. The group also is visiting Minnesota.
'It's necessary for Norway to move extremely, much faster in the direction of renewable energy in the next 10 to 20 years than what we have done for the last 10 to 20 years,' Riis-Johansen said."
Terje Riis-Johansen brought a Norwegian delegation to the Norsk Hostfest, Minot's Scandinavian festival, this week. The group also is visiting Minnesota.
'It's necessary for Norway to move extremely, much faster in the direction of renewable energy in the next 10 to 20 years than what we have done for the last 10 to 20 years,' Riis-Johansen said."
Friday, September 29, 2006
Bay Area expenses drive up salaries
Bay Area expenses drive up salaries
This article explains some of the challeges of living in the California Bay Area.
This article explains some of the challeges of living in the California Bay Area.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Claus Spreckels as Publisher
Who knew??
"Whitney owned the paper until 1870, when, financially drained, he sold it to printers James Black and William Auld but remained as editor.
Ten years later, the paper was sold again and Whitney promptly quit. The new owner was the great sugar baron, Claus Spreckels, the man for whom Spreckelsville, Maui, is named. Whitney disagreed with much that Spreckels stood for and Spreckels was a Royalist."
"Whitney owned the paper until 1870, when, financially drained, he sold it to printers James Black and William Auld but remained as editor.
Ten years later, the paper was sold again and Whitney promptly quit. The new owner was the great sugar baron, Claus Spreckels, the man for whom Spreckelsville, Maui, is named. Whitney disagreed with much that Spreckels stood for and Spreckels was a Royalist."
The Honolulu Advertiser | Celebrating 150 Years
The Honolulu Advertiser Celebrating 150 Years: "Claus Spreckels
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
Claus Spreckels was a German financier, San Francisco sugar refiner and late-night card player who hit the financial jackpot in Hawai'i, particularly after he became a poker-playing buddy of King Kalakaua.
Thanks to that association, Spreckels became known as 'the power behind the throne' and 'the sugar king of Hawai'i.'
Spreckels was already financially flush when he showed up in Hawai'i in 1876 at age 48 and began investing in a number of enterprises, from land deals to railroads and sugar mills.
Within two years his efforts had led to the formation of what was considered the finest plantation in the Islands, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.
By that time he had realized the corruption potential of being a poker chum of Kalakaua's. Spreckels was able to manipulate the king by playing to his vanity. He made a fortune off a coinage fiasco in which silver dollars bearing the king's image were minted in San Francisco.
Under Spreckels' influence, the king dismissed resistant cabinets. The result was that Spreckels ended up controlling tens of thousands of acres of crown land with the backing of the legislature.
Spreckels returned to California in 1886 after he and the king had a falling out. But he continued doing business in Hawai'i for more than a decade after the king's death in 1891."
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
Claus Spreckels was a German financier, San Francisco sugar refiner and late-night card player who hit the financial jackpot in Hawai'i, particularly after he became a poker-playing buddy of King Kalakaua.
Thanks to that association, Spreckels became known as 'the power behind the throne' and 'the sugar king of Hawai'i.'
Spreckels was already financially flush when he showed up in Hawai'i in 1876 at age 48 and began investing in a number of enterprises, from land deals to railroads and sugar mills.
Within two years his efforts had led to the formation of what was considered the finest plantation in the Islands, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.
By that time he had realized the corruption potential of being a poker chum of Kalakaua's. Spreckels was able to manipulate the king by playing to his vanity. He made a fortune off a coinage fiasco in which silver dollars bearing the king's image were minted in San Francisco.
Under Spreckels' influence, the king dismissed resistant cabinets. The result was that Spreckels ended up controlling tens of thousands of acres of crown land with the backing of the legislature.
Spreckels returned to California in 1886 after he and the king had a falling out. But he continued doing business in Hawai'i for more than a decade after the king's death in 1891."
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Brazil boosts ethanol output as prices soar - After Oil - MSNBC.com
Brazil boosts ethanol output as prices soar - After Oil - MSNBC.com
It is sort of interesting about the effect one counry can have on the industry.
It is sort of interesting about the effect one counry can have on the industry.
The Discussion Continues
: "How cane sugar is different.
Cane sugar contains trace minerals that are different from those in beet sugar, and it’s these minerals that many experts say make cane sugar preferable to use. As professional bakers have long noticed, cane sugar has a low melting-point, absorbs fewer extraneous and undesirable odors, blends easily and is less likely to foam up. And that can be very important when you’re caramelizing a syrup, making a delicate glaze, baking a delicious meringue, or simmering your family’s favorite jam recipe."
Cane sugar contains trace minerals that are different from those in beet sugar, and it’s these minerals that many experts say make cane sugar preferable to use. As professional bakers have long noticed, cane sugar has a low melting-point, absorbs fewer extraneous and undesirable odors, blends easily and is less likely to foam up. And that can be very important when you’re caramelizing a syrup, making a delicate glaze, baking a delicious meringue, or simmering your family’s favorite jam recipe."
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Ethablog: SUGAR CANE GROWERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT LAYS OUT PLANS
Ethablog: SUGAR CANE GROWERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT LAYS OUT PLANS
This blog provides much info about the Brazilian sugar industry
This blog provides much info about the Brazilian sugar industry
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Abstracts of 2004 Meeting
Abstracts of 2004 Meeting: "#860 IMPROVEMENTS IN WHITE SUGAR CRYSTALLIZATION CONTROL AT C&H SUGAR CO.
Jean Paul Merle and Vijay Hemraj, C&H Sugar Co., Crockett, CA, USA
The previous control system for white sugar crystallization used an absolute pressure – temperature relationship to determine the seed point. Grain establishment was carried out by increasing the absolute pressure and reducing the steam flow rate. Boiling consistency control was carried out by pan circulator motor load. The new system is microwave-based. The sugar liquor is based on density as indicated by the microwave sensor. Grain establishment is controlled in two steps: a grain-formation period controlled by a timer and a dilution period, also controlled by a timer, that admits increasing amount of fresh feed liquor, water or a mixture of liquor and water. During the boiling period, the concentration set point is changed continuously as the massecuite level increases. Final concentration is carried out by pan circulator motor load. The whole boiling operation is monitored and controlled by DSSE system (Danish Sugar & Sweetener Engineering)."
Jean Paul Merle and Vijay Hemraj, C&H Sugar Co., Crockett, CA, USA
The previous control system for white sugar crystallization used an absolute pressure – temperature relationship to determine the seed point. Grain establishment was carried out by increasing the absolute pressure and reducing the steam flow rate. Boiling consistency control was carried out by pan circulator motor load. The new system is microwave-based. The sugar liquor is based on density as indicated by the microwave sensor. Grain establishment is controlled in two steps: a grain-formation period controlled by a timer and a dilution period, also controlled by a timer, that admits increasing amount of fresh feed liquor, water or a mixture of liquor and water. During the boiling period, the concentration set point is changed continuously as the massecuite level increases. Final concentration is carried out by pan circulator motor load. The whole boiling operation is monitored and controlled by DSSE system (Danish Sugar & Sweetener Engineering)."
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Grove Farm History
I think Grove was the home of the first successful cane sugar operation.
Management change at Grove Farm - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):: "Guido Giacometti resigned as president and chief executive officer of Grove Farm Company Inc. to pursue other interests. Giacometti first became a director of the company in 1987 and assumed the position of president and CEO in 1996. In other news, the board of directors elected Hugh W. Klebahn, chairman of the board of directors, to the position of chief executive officer. "
Management change at Grove Farm - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):: "Guido Giacometti resigned as president and chief executive officer of Grove Farm Company Inc. to pursue other interests. Giacometti first became a director of the company in 1987 and assumed the position of president and CEO in 1996. In other news, the board of directors elected Hugh W. Klebahn, chairman of the board of directors, to the position of chief executive officer. "
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
When Does Duck Season Open
N.D. ducks top average: "N.D. ducks top average
BISMARCK - The number of breeding ducks in North Dakota is down from last year but still well above the long-term average, state wildlife officials say.
The state Game and Fish Department said a spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of nearly 3.7 million birds. That was 11 percent lower than last year but still 76 percent above the long-term average, said Mike Johnson, a migratory game bird management supervisor.
Duck indices were up from 2005 for mallards and pintails, and unchanged or down for all other species, the department said. All species except pintails were above the long-term average.
The 2006 water index was down from last year but still 3 percent above the long-term average. However, Johnson said the wet cycle that began in 1993 appears to be waning."
BISMARCK - The number of breeding ducks in North Dakota is down from last year but still well above the long-term average, state wildlife officials say.
The state Game and Fish Department said a spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of nearly 3.7 million birds. That was 11 percent lower than last year but still 76 percent above the long-term average, said Mike Johnson, a migratory game bird management supervisor.
Duck indices were up from 2005 for mallards and pintails, and unchanged or down for all other species, the department said. All species except pintails were above the long-term average.
The 2006 water index was down from last year but still 3 percent above the long-term average. However, Johnson said the wet cycle that began in 1993 appears to be waning."
Even in Norway
Krekar feared CIA plot: "Krekar feared CIA plot
A Norwegian newspaper is reporting that several agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have been present and operating in Norway, in an effort to spirit Mullah Krekar out of the country.
Mullah Krekar's pronouncements in support of terrorists have infuriated many, not least US officials.
A Norwegian newspaper is reporting that several agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have been present and operating in Norway, in an effort to spirit Mullah Krekar out of the country.
Mullah Krekar's pronouncements in support of terrorists have infuriated many, not least US officials.
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