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Hanauma Bay, Oahu
I returned last week from a 17 day trip through the Hawaiian islands. I hopped from Oahu to Maui to the Big Island to Kauai and back. I try to visit Hawaii every other year, and I spend most of my time on the Big Island. For at least half of my trips, I usually snorkel for the majority of my time. The first time I snorkeled in Hawaii was at Hanauma Bay in 1990. I've gone back maybe half a dozen times over the years, but i haven't been to the Bay in the last 12 years, until this most recent trip. My heart broke. There was scantly a living coral that I could find. I spent 4 hours there, and saw 5 small pocillipora and 3 small montipora colonies. In contrast, I have underwater pictures taken in 1990 of a Hanauma Bay teeming with corals to the point that there was aggression between neighboring corals competing for space. The number of fish species has dwindled to a point as well, that I see more marine diversity in a Petco than in Hanuama Bay. The number of tourists there is staggering, each paying a $7.50 entrance fee, and then however much the vendors charge for snorkeling gear. It's plain to see that the state of Hawaii has sold nature out. They have the audacity to make people sit through a 15 minute video lecture about how much they do to protect the reef, while the lecture room itself is holding over 300 people entering the park, every half hour. Hawaii claims to care about their reefs, by passing legislation that bans collection of ornamental fish, and the sale of coral-killing sunscreen. Yet they don't dare question their own greed when it comes to allowing 3 MILLION tourists per year desecrate the reef. That's an average of 8,219 people a day. That equates to over $22 million dollars a year in entrance fees, alone. Hawaii's legislators should be absolutely ashamed. The mere swipe of a pen would apply a cap on the number of people allowed in the park every day, in order to allow the reef to heal. But no, they'd rather turn a blind eye and keep collecting millions, while touting themselves as defenders of the environment. Hypocrites.
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No difference from every other business... money!
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It's truly very sad!
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Guess your lucky to have been part of the bigger picture.. :-) I was there in the late 80's and again in 2014.. night and day----Sad
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Yup...was there in 1971.....was pretty nice back then...
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I don't know is it has anything to do with the volume of tourists. Everywhere I dive the reefs are either dead or dying. I think the Acidification of the oceans coupled with global warming and over fishing are the main cause of this problem.
The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says its half empty, an engineer only see's a glass thats twice as big as it needs to be!
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I'm surprised that I'm about to make excuses for Hanauma bay and the government of Hawaii, but either way I'll go for it.
I visit the Hawaiian islands several times a year for the past few years, mostly Oahu of course but with frequent diversions to the Big Island. The Big Island is my second favorite part of the United states (with the first being the Rocky Mountains). Favorite places to snorkel in Hawaii were Honauau - a special place for me in that I first saw the sun set into the ocean there when I was like 10 years old - and Kapoho. Unfortunately, the former has not been doing well of late, and the latter (including its two meter montipora plates) is now covered by several feet of lava.
Oahu is nice, but to me is just another big US city. (though admittedly the Honolulu suburbs like Kaneohe and Hawaii Kai are much awesomer places than most US suburbs).
Many locals consider Hanauma a great place for a nice day on the beach. The swimming in the lagoon area is fairly calm, and few places match it, especially if you don't want to go to Waikiki. This means you'll see a good number of locals on the weekends. It's also the destination for a good number of (generally Asian) package tours. And it's famous for a lot of casual tourists.
Which means that yes, there are lots of people. The fact that it has lifeguards and the calm water are all good for folks who want to picnic, sunbathe, and get a little wet in a very safe environment. (though with the sheer number of people getting wet and the fact that it's not to far from fairly wild ocean, it is a place with frequent drownings). IMO, this is why they charge for entry, so that some quality level can be kept for the facilities and to limit the number of people. (I've read histories of the place, and there were allegedly even more visitors before they instituted the fees IIRC in the 1990s).
If you don't like that, there's Kailua and Lanikai beaches an hour north. If you swim 100 yards or so from shore in the right places, there are a number of cool patch reefs. (parking will be a bigger chore, though)
The hint for Hanauma is to come early in the morning. This is also generally when the waves are weakest, and if you get in right when it opens (6am IIRC) and before the ticket booths open (7am IIRC) they'll waive the fees. This is coincidentally when lots of hard core snorkelers and divers come (including a 70 year old woman I met who comes almost daily to swim to the fore reef and do her volunteer work)
I first snorkeled Hanauma several years ago. It is very true that there are not so many corals in the lagoon areas. However, I think the fish variety is decent in there. (I have even been surprised by seeing multiple morays swimming in the lagoon in broad daylight).
Nevertheless, even in the lagoon area there are "back reef" type areas near the reef crests with good coral growth. One area is the "keyhole lagoon", which is around 8-15 feet deep. A second area is the front of the "backdoor laggon", where you'll see some decent size massive-form Porites lobatas. You will also pass a 6-foot diameter Porites lutea there, probably 500 years old, which King Kamehameha probably saw when he visited the Bay in the 1800s. Even these coral areas are decent.
But once you pass them - though the backdoor channel, or through the cable channel - onto the fore reef it changes completely. I think the coral growth on the upper fore reef are as good as anything you'll find in the lower Hawaiian islands. But, I think maybe 0.5% of the visitors go there on any given day - because this is not casual swimming, and in fact requires confident swimming of at least a moderate ability; because it's not always possible because of wave action; and because even when you get there it's often not so "fun" because you're getting pummeled by the waves. (my WAG is that the flow's generally something like 300X in reef tank terms when I've gotten there. That's what you need apparently for good SPS growth). Depending on the sea conditions, going further out will bring you different corals. These include some areas dominated by heavy surge with dozens of pocillopora (only safe to swim to on a very good day, admittedly).
I recommend this book for the curious. It's only available used, but the others IMO are nowhere near as good.
I will try to note these areas on a JPG later and attach it to this post.
Anyway, there is awesome coral growth in Hanauma bay and IMO the Oahu government is right to charge a fee, to limit visitors (though admittedly it is a money maker, and they could do better if they limited package tours).
Purple tyrannosaurs. Yes....
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NVM, can't post a picture.
Purple tyrannosaurs. Yes....
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That's really sad. I read online that corals are becoming endangered now! However, if there's any new hope, people are attempting to create coral nurseries in hopes of coral population growing. I hope it becomes successful. Otherwise, sea life will be endangered too!
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That is sad . My daughter just relocated to the main island of Oahu . We plan on visiting in Feb. 2019 . We are planning on visiting several islands and look
forward to seeing it for ourselves . It has been at least 25 years since last visit . There is a foundation in Key Largo called Coral Reef Restoration and
they are successfully transplanting corals through various programs . They
propagate and plant new corals from their nurseries to our main reef system .
It seems to be working even after Hurricane Irma . They have spread their program out to Bonaire , Curacao and other islands . Maybe Hawaii should try this as well . It won't stop the impact from the tourists but may save a stressed reef system . Safe diving and snorkeling !
Sea Dwellers
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It seems a little hypocritical to be annoyed with the crowd of people at a beach when you're one of the people...
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa
Posts: 230
I have been there as well. It's a barren boulder field with Asian tourist puking off the dive boats. The only positive spin I can see is that it concentrates the tourist novices into a concentrated area, keeping them off the real reefs, and there are plenty! The coral and fish inside most of the harbors is better than the bay there.
You spent how much on what?
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: East Coast US
Posts: 88
Apologies for missing the various replies.
Again, if you want to see good numbers of corals at Hanauma Bay, you can see a few in the inner reef lagoon, at the very edges. The "back channel" has a number of good massive encrusting corals, as well as Oahu's biggest coral on the way. (mostly Porites lobata, P. lutea, a few P. compressa and Montipora capitata). The "keyhole lagoon" also has a few Porites lobata or lutea and M. capitatas).
But to really see the coral, you have to go through the channels. This can be very dangerous, please check with the lifeguards, have a buddy, and take proper precautions. To include not going if you're uncomfortable with the waves. (as I am about half the time I go. Go as early as possible and listen for the sea states). And even then, the time's I've gone it's not been a pleasant swim.
But the SPS growth is great. Unfortunatley, it's mostly the same species because the coral diversity in Hawaii was never very good in the first place. (e.g. Acroporas were thought to be myths in the lower islands, until someone found 1-2 colonies in the past few years)
And again, I would say the right parts of Kaneohe or Lanikai Beach are better and more reliable easy beach swims to see corals.
Purple tyrannosaurs. Yes....
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I loved Lanikai Beach when I was there in August. Great fish population as well.
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I'm sorry to hear that! I hope your next experience is much better :/
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Hi softhammer,
You are rite. Keep the main bumbling tourists that will trample the roof and use there asian sunzscreen x 3000 peps a day. You guys know better than that, the best coral diving will be where it protected. Big island City of refuge kona side/, wai opae,and Kapoho,under not only 40 feet of cooling lava but now the shoreline is 1.2 mi further out. MOLOKINI,KAUAII NORTH shore,oahu north shore, maui north shore etc. Kona is the bomb for diving. Hike 5 miles to the shore in volcanoes nat park,now $25 entry. Theres a beach you will probably have all by yourself, go up waipio valley, dive rite next to the river.
Kona now has 45 dive boats, I can remember it having 5 pluss the agressor. 15 yrs ago. 300 days of malia(calm) weather. 25 boats at nite for manta dives. A zoo of lites and peps and alot of Mantas. But still beautifull.
Dives 5-10 miles out in 10 k feet of water looking at the most incredible macro plankton, jellies etc.
Imaging filming a macro short nosed spearfish at nite 3 in long while teathered to a boat in the dark,
Or the same thing with ocenic black tips on oahu and a tiger. We have a tiger in kona harbor 13 ft
Eats the turtles that come out. Or the super cool reef in Puako. No soft corals but OMG. Better diving than Midway island.
Now the bad part,like the new virus in Florida, the 85 + deg water is killing the corals all the way to midway 1350 mi west of oahu. We need to help save them dudes and ladies. Lets be proactive like
GreatBarrier Reef. We have The largest marine reserve in the world. I know we can help save it. To start we have 2.6 mi of new lava shoreline that needs to be planted. Or wait 30 years and hope.
Nope lets all pitch in ,so the kekis (kids) have a great spot to enjoy in the future and we appreciate you visiting us on the Big Island. When u come Pm me lets dive
Nuf said
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 15
And oh If u like swim with the green sea turtles, beach dive Honokohau harbor. Keepunder the boats ,go north 100 yds, bang, turtle cleaning station, just like puako.. Cant edit last post spelled reef,roof lol
Its been a bad week. Year lol. 100 days of lava and SO 2 will do that to u.
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The Zubaric abjad is a cuneiform writing system created by Jason Liekhus, who started work on it in 2006 for use in his constructed world project. The mechanics of the writing system were inspired by the Semitic abjads, and in part by complex writing systems such as Japanese. Its aesthetic qualities are modeled after ancient cuneiform scripts such as Akkadian and Sumerian.
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Prior to the Safritic conquest Zubár was populated mostly by Oleptites, who were credited with creating the first writing system in the world's history. Oleptic cuneiform was originally a logographic writing system used to write their isolating language. It was later adopted by the Dyzites to represent the phonetic values of their language, thus becoming the first alphabetic writing system. The language of Dyz spread with the political influence of the city, and later came to be known as the Zubaric language. In later times it was maintained as the liturgical and political language of the empire of Zubár.
Qayfn syufra lyusúda 'óz-murudh ku azyzu yz zaáfu gofzaw yz aqhyat hvadh. Doyabdh yahmuvu sawruyen yz ad'elen, ororyánt kyalaf azfa azzar abta.
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are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
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The Inconvenient Truth About Ethanol
Ethanol is not as great as it is cracked up to be. Read this. You will also understand why there are so many Chewy Ethanol ads.
Welcome to the forum.
That is a good article with lots of facts to ponder.0
It really is a good article. I think that it is funny how the E85 milage is not on the window stickers. I smell some lawsuits.0
lurge_taxa Posts: 1I was wondering instead of having a E85 mix of ethanol and gasoline that, if it is possible to use 15 percent fuel as
hydrogen peroxide mixed with 85 percent ethanol. I know that these two combinations are soluble, but i wonder how the combustion would be like. If anybody knows something of these
mix, please feel free to answer them or if you guys have an opinion on it feel free to answer any way.0
john500 Posts: 409Interesting idea, but here are my thoughts:
Lots of energy in the fuel
1. Is it too much energy for the engine to handle and will there be storage stability problems?
2. Cost. H2O2 is generally made using hydrogen and then distilled if a high purity material (doesn't contain water) is needed. What is the cost per gallon?
3. Corrosivity/reactivity of the peroxide with the fuel tank/lines/engine0
midnightcowboy Posts: 1,978I have notice a 2-3 MPG drop in mileage since the gas stations forced to change to Ethanol.
You must mean E10. E10 will go about 97% as far as E0.
If you are used to 30MPG's, it would be easy to have a drop of 1MPG under IDEAL conditions, 2MPG would certainly not be atypical.
My congresswoman still thinks this E85 stuff represents "salvation."
I want this to be true -- it just isn't so.
However, with diesel we could stop importing from SA -- IF, 30% of the cars were diesel powered and equivalent "power" and cost of their gas engined counterparts.
The BMW 3 series diesel if imported to the US and if it were priced at a $1,200 premium over the 330i gas version would pay for itself in a bit over 35,000 miles and from then on would start to have a TCO that would be lower for the diesel than for the gas version.
Performance (acceleration), in this example, between the gas and diesel versions are very close due to the diesel's weapons grade torque. The mileage however exceeds a 40% improvement.
Check out the review in the new C&D.
Audi, too, produces some of the best diesels in the world -- with Audi, BMW and Mercedes engineering muscle and perhaps a diesel/electric hybrid, we would really make some progress in energy independence.
The effect, too, would be lower greehouse gasses and we could buy time to perfect either newer and/or different and better technologies or improve our ability to get at the world's largest oil reserves (800 billion bbls.) that just happen to be in Colorado, et al.
The talk on the T and V this week is "$4" gasoline. What's it gonna take $5/gallon to work on a mature and ever improving technology and put it under the hoods of American's cars?
Yeah, $5/gallon, sustained for months and months and months would probably "get our attention."
At the momemnt Ethanol and E85 are simply false promises.
Yet, even believing that, I also believe we need to work on creating fuel that we can renew and renew and renew. Bio-diesel made from soybeans makes more sense from a fuel standpoint, an economy standpoint and a FARMING and FOOD standpoint (something that seems to be ignored in all of this Ethanol noise.)0
byronwalter Posts: 220Ethanol is the real deal. It will do just fine. That's as long as you don't want to ever eat again.
BTW, what hasn't received much coverage is that the world's second largest oil field, Cantarell in Mexico, is entering a rather spectacular decline. Its production is down by around 7 to 8% from last year and the drop is expected to get steeper over the next year (that's the nature of these maximum contact horizontal wells).
Mexico is our second biggest source of petroleum. And a further crimp on Mexican petroleum exports is that internal consumption is on the rise.
So as an alternative for a renewable resource I'm going to suggest whale blubber. You can burn it, you can eat it, and it even makes a great skin moisturizer.0
gypsy_tech Posts: 15This article is typical misinformation put out by special interest. Some examples, the corn yield hasn't been that low since the mid 1990's see http://www.usda.gov/nass/aggraphs/cornyld.htm , a test recently run by an external lab showed almost no difference in fuel efficiency at 10% ethanol see http://www.ethanol.org/PressRelease8.24.05.htm and if it cost so much energy to produce the product the ethanol plants wouldn't be making profits way above the subsidies. I think the subsidies should be removed and let free market take place. Unfortunately free market is just a pipe dream as the large lobbyist such as the oil companies usually rule the market. See Who killed the electric car.0
I think the subsidies should be removed and let free market take place.
The US government not only hands out $.51 per gallon to the producers. They guarantee the price of corn to the farmer. Plus the biggest gamble is they guarantee the loans on the ethanol plants. We were on the hook for the 90 ethanol plants that were dismantled during the last go around with ethanol. ADM has nothing to lose and millions to gain. We are paying the price with little or nothing to show for it. I can make a profit on anything if the government builds the factory and makes sure I get as much as I want for the product.
Do you think I trust ethanol.org to give an accurate mileage on E10? NO!!!0
There are many places that proclaim E10 gets 97% the mileage of E0.0
dtownfb Posts: 2,918I thought of myself as a relatively intelligent person until I read today's CNN article regarding the President meeting with the Detroit 2.5 (GM, Ford and DC) about E85. The Big 2.5 is touting this as the way to reduce US dependency on foreign oil for security and environmental reasons. I'm sorry but everything I have read says E85 fuel give 25-33% LESS fuel economy then regular gas. the only reason the big 2.5 uses it is they receive a huge "credit" toward the CAFE standards, which makes no sense. Also it smells like this is the "cheapest" way they can accomplish more fuel efficient engines is through the use of this bogus technology. I guess that hybrid technology just isn't panning out the way it should for them.
Maybe I am misreading something but please somebody explain this to me!!!0
I think you got E85 figured out quite well. It is a smokescreen for the automakers to circumvent the CAFE regulations and corporate welfare for big farmers and ethanol producers. It is pork barrel politics at its finest.0
fezo Manahawkin, NJPosts: 10,376And in addition to paying the producers 51 cents a gallon in subsidy they are also charging a tariff of 53 cent per gallon on imported sugar cane ethanol. Yes, that means they are giving the corn lobby a $1.04 price advantage for nothing.
I'd be much happier with diesel or at least with importing ethanol from Brazil rather than oil from the Middle East, Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria and all our other "pals."2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.0
I get the feeling that most people think that Ethanol is just a terrible thing. I ask you the question, how can you say that this is a terrible alternative in the short term to our age old plan of burning dirty non-renewable fossil fuels, mostly coming from the worst part of this world. Why not step up and embrace something that is RENEWABLE and made right here in the USA. I have been burning E85 in my 07 Silverado LT2, have been achieving 14 mpg on the highway.
Also, even though the Govt is giving out the .51 subsidy, new ethanol plants can produce 3 gallons of ethanol to 1 bushel of corn. Currently on the CBOT, ethanol is trading at $2.13 a gallon, Corn is currently at $3.75, so do the math, even without the subsidy, the break even on just the ethanol sales is $6.39. That does not include the added revenue brought on by the sale of the ethanol byproduct DDG's, which is a very popular cattle feed stock. I know this is not the long term solution to the energy problem, can easily be seen that Hydrogen is the long term solution. But why not embrace a cleaner, renewable, domestic made fuel that can put a dent in all the gasoline consumption, just seems like a no-brainer to me. Also this DOES support American farmers, go look at all the commodity markets compared to a year ago, most of them are up 50-75% compared to one year ago, this is due to one thing ETHANOL. And complaining about higher food prices, I geuss if this nation wants to have the cheapest food in the world as it does today, so be it, but I will pay a little more in the grocery stores, Heck if we can buy these new cars, we can afford to spend a lil more in the checkout line. Ethanol gets a black eye for no reason I think. With farmers burning bio-diesel in the farm equipment used to produce the corn, turns into a bio-fuels circle. Good deal in my mind, tell the Arabs to keep their oil over there!0
I am not sure where to start other than welcome to the Forum.
If you have a ready supply of E85, I say go for it. You are taking a 27% hit in mileage according to the new EPA ratings. That means when regular unleaded is selling for $3 per gallon you would need to get E85 for $2.19 to break even. That is just the economics for you as an individual. You have left out the cost in fossil fuel to grow that bushel of corn for ethanol. The most optimistic studies are somewhere around a 20% positive gain. Or for every 8/10ths of a gallon of fossil fuel you get one gallon of ethanol. Then you burn it in your vehicle at a 27% loss and you can see you are in negative territory. So much for economics.
Now to the environment. Growing corn the way it is done to get the highest yield per acre is killing the Gulf of Mexico. Google the Dead Zone and read about what all the fertilizer run-off is doing. The Union of Concerned Scientists are not on the side of ethanol. One of the biggest problems is the vehicles you and I choose to drive. Here is where the dirty little secrets about ethanol come into play. GM builds a PU truck and equips it to burn E85. Sounds eco friendly right? Wrong, they only did that to get a higher CAFE rating. That gets the automaker off the hook on building more economical vehicles. If we were interested in ethanol as an alternative and not just more PORK, we would have pulled the 53 cent tariff off of Brazilian ethanol. Ethanol can be made from sugar cane without big subsidies.
My last big gripe about ethanol is the fact that it was forced onto the whole USA. It has to be trucked to CA, WA & OR at a very high cost per gallon to be mixed with our designer gas. Making us pay the highest gas prices in the nation, aside from Hawaii.
To a school child ethanol looks like a great idea, because they are only told part of the story. None of the infrastructure we are now building will be usable when they figure out how to make ethanol from waste products. So we will buy the plants twice to satisfy the constituencies in the Mid West. Making Verasun, ADM and the mega-ag corporations very wealthy with no risk. We are taking all the risk for them.
Ethanol Dirty Secrets0
You anti-ethanol people simply cease to amaze me. Yes, corn is obviously not the most efficient form of making ethanol, but it does create more energy than it takes to make. The talk about fertilizer is pretty mute, farming is always going to be there and fertilizer is used on all crops, NOT just corn. I am a senior in Agricultural Economics at a State University. One CANT say that this is not good for our domestic economy. Yes, switchgrass (Biomass) ethanol is on its way, but corn is the current source, I dont think we should turn our backs on it. And also for the price difference, I have figured with my personal vehicle if, E85 is 50 cents a gallon cheaper, it pays to run ethanol. Calculate it down to a per mile basis and this is the figure that I have come up with for my individual vehicle. Plus your not burning DIRTY, NONRENEWABLE fossil fuels. Nothing is going to be as cheap as pumping stuff out of the ground, but if you think that we should rely only on that, you are a complete idiot and 70 dollar oil will seem cheap if alternative sources on not brought in before demand outstrips supply on fossil fuels.0
This is what ethanol is doing for us.
My neighbors wife works at QFC and at a meeting a few weeks ago was told by suppliers that food prices will go up about 8% by summer due to the higher price of corn.
On Sunday, 4/15 and Monday 4/16, both the ports of Tacoma and Seattle in that order, ran out of corn for export. To my knowledge neither port knew or knows when the next train of corn is to arrive.
The result of this was that both TEMCO (Tacoma) and Pier 86 (Seattle) sent the ships partly loaded with corn to anchor and had ships waiting for soy come in and start loading.
We ran out of corn? What the ...
Ethanol benefits the few at the price of many.
Another plus for diesel/bio-diesel0
Wow, amazing when food goes up 8%, the complaining starts right away. When adjusted for inflation, corn should actually be $8-$9 a bushel. We as americans have become so insistent on a cheap food supply, it has driven this country to import alot of food. That is a whole different story for a different day. The comment that this has helped very few people. I beg to differ, PRIME Example, Farmers receive more money for commodities. With increased revenue purchases go up. Fellow Americans working at John Deere or Case-New Holland receive more work. Americans working at automobile manufacturing facilities receive more orders, because farmers and other people involved in the ethanol chain have more money. So dont [non-permissible content removed] about food prices going up 8%, when you spend more every year feeding your cars oil that comes from the dam middle east. Oh yeah since 2000, how much has oil gone up on a percent scale??? Maybe 300%, thats costing your family a heck of a lot more per year than the small 8% increase in food prices. Go try and live in Europe and buy food, then you will get a wake up call my friend.0
If your professors are in agreement with your feelings on ethanol. I would question either their credibility or lack of education. You being as young as you are were not around the last time this boondoggle presented itself in the late 1970s. We the tax payers built close to 100 ethanol plants in the Midwest. Less than 10% are still in operation. The rest were scrapped when ethanol was not considered worth the effort. If you have convinced yourself that buying E85 for 50 cents a gallon less than RUL makes it a bargain, who could argue with you. That is a math problem. Also your lack of caring about the environment is noted. The higher levels of anhydrous ammonia used to get a bigger crop of corn IS a serious problem. Whether you or your college professors are willing to accept it. If this whole ethanol production thing was done by the farmers and producers I would be less inclined to beat on them. It is not, as you well know. We are subsidizing every aspect of the process. From farm subsidies, to guaranteeing loans for production facilities. It is a simple case of PORK politics on a Grand Scale.0
Here I may have some bit of agreement. The price of corn should be higher. I was getting about $2.75 a bushel in 1977. My yield was about 90 bushels to the acre. I was still going broke as many farmers did during that horrible administration. When you say farmers are getting more, I think you mean mega-ag corporations are getting more. The family farmer is not helped much by these higher corn prices. If there are any small farmers left. They may be able to get a temporary job in the ethanol plant until it folds up in a few years.
As for food prices in the EU, that is their problem. They have sat around fat dumb and happy allowing the elitist governments to lull them into a false sense of security. They are taxed way beyond what is reasonable to maintain a stable government. What would they do if they had to defend themselves without the US military?
Hopefully your studies will result in a profitable way to produce ethanol. Not the current corn for fuel method. Makes us look real bad in the eyes of the World. We use up all the fossil fuel now we are using up all the food to feed our vehicles. Grow less destructive crops for biodiesel and you might have a good argument.0
Alright, my question to you, what is your solution to the energy problem in the SHORT TERM. Yes I know all about the cellulosic approach to ethanol, and yes with time that will come along and be much more efficient. I want you to give me one situation that weans us off fossil fuels and cuts down the pollution we are putting out in the SHORT TERM. Now dont go knocking the education that I am getting, I am attending what people in the Ag. industry consider one of the better Agricultural Economics schools in the country. There are professors that obviously know that corn ethanol is not the final solution. But it is better than sitting and doing nothing as we have for the past 20 years. If we can get to the presidents goal of reducing gas consumption by 20% in 2017, I would be very proud of this country. But people have to WANT to do this, look at Brazil, they stepped up to the plate and their gasoline consumption today is 40-50 % less than it was 20 years ago. It CAN be done0
Steve Elias Posts: 2,187i think ethanol as fuel in USA is a scam on many levels, especially CAFE. but i'd still like to try it myself.
unfortunately i don't have a gasser that can handle E85 and don't see any available soon that are interesting to me.
i'll buy another SUV some year soon, but i think it's will be a diesel.
i might buy a corvette, M3, M5, or BMW550 or a zippy Audi some year. will any performance car like that be E85 compatible?0
First let me apologize for treating your educators harshly. I am sure they know their field better than I.
I feel very strongly that we as a country and our government are not really interested in solutions to the fossil fuel problem. There is too much money being passed around that keep the votes for the status quo. Ethanol in its current form is one of those well paid for products. It makes a few Congressmen look good to a constituency that has long been forgotten, the farmers. I just do not see the little farmers being helped. If you plan to go into the Mega-Agriculture business I can understand your wanting to protect the field.
If I was to pick a short term solution it would be to encourage the use of diesel cars & SUVs. They would give us an immediate 25% to 35% increase in efficiency. That and they can when available run on any mixture of biodiesel. ULSD was an important step to making it possible in states like CA where there has been an anti-diesel bias for years. I am just finding out that the biggest complaint about diesel cars is not quite accurate. According the latest UN report on GHG, NoX can be mostly attributed to farming. Many would have us believe that it is from diesel cars.
I also think we are in the dark ages so to speak on our electrical generation. We are the only major country that has not expanded our use of Nuclear energy. It is by far the cleanest energy available. We have untold streams of geothermal that are not used. Off limits due to environmental & religious zealotry. Solar is a solution. It is not near as perfect as some would have us believe. The processes involved in making PV cells is not real eco friendly. Wind is coming under fire also by opposing environmental groups.
Nothing is going to satisfy everyone. Even hydrogen could raise the GHG levels more than a gas car.0
This was posted elsewhere by one of our fine Hosts. It needs to be read by those advocating the current ethanol craze.
"It's not green in terms of air pollution," said study author Mark Jacobson, a Stanford University civil and environmental engineering professor. "If you want to use ethanol, fine, but don't do it based on health grounds. It's no better than gasoline, apparently slightly worse."
His study, based on a computer model, is published in Wednesday's online edition of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology and adds to the messy debate over ethanol.
Farmers, politicians, industry leaders and environmentalists have clashed over just how much ethanol can be produced, how much land it would take to grow the crops to make it, and how much it would cost. They also disagree on the benefits of ethanol in cutting back fuel consumption and in fighting pollution, especially global warming gases.
Based on computer models of pollution and air flow, Jacobson predicted that the increase in ozone _ and diseases it causes _ would be worst in areas where smog is already a serious problem: Los Angeles and the Northeast.
The science behind why ethanol might increase smog is complicated, but according to Jacobson, part of the explanation is that ethanol produces more hydrocarbons than gasoline. And ozone is the product of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide cooking in the sun.
Also, the ethanol produces longer-lasting chemicals that eventually turn into hydrocarbons that can travel farther. "You are really spreading out pollution over a larger area," he said.
And finally, while ethanol produces less nitrogen oxide, that can actually be a negative in some very smoggy places. When an area like Los Angeles reaches a certain high level of nitrogen oxide, that excess chemical begins eating up spare ozone, Jacobson said.
Hwang agreed that that is a "well-known effect."
For the first time, E-85 is available at a local station just up the road from my home. I drive an 03 Chevy Suburban that will run on E-85, so I have filled up on it twice to give it a try. E-85 is selling between 20 and 30 cents cheaper than regular unleaded, which I don't think completely compensates for the lost MPG. It seems pretty obvious from the debate that E-85 is not the savior that some politicians want to pretend like it is (yes, I must have the same Congresswoman as markcincinnati - she drives a new Chevy Tahoe with license plates reading "E85 4 OH"... and, coincidentally, the station that started selling E-85 is directly across the street from her farm). Nevertheless, on balance, since I already have a vehicle that will run on it, it seems like on balance it is at least slightly better for the environment and to reduce demand for foreign oil, so I think I will keep filling up on E-85. Interested in your thoughts...0
Keep track of your mileage with E85 and with Regular unleaded and lets see what the diffrence is.
The Suburban has a trip computer... strictly around town stop-and-go driving, I am averaging around 10.5 MPG on my first two tanks of E85. Not impressive, but I only averaged around 14 MPG on regular unleaded under similar driving conditions. The problem, of course, is that currently E85 is only about 11% cheaper than regular unleaded, whereas my mileage is suffering by around 25%. So, as I do the math, about 14% increase in fuel cost. I'd be willing to pay 14% more if I thought I was doing some good, but I'm not convinced that my money is well spent.0
Well, the numbers are discouraging and with fuel prices rising I'm not sure my wallet could take a 25% reduction in MPG.
The numbers make a Suburban with a diesel option getting 25 to 30 MPG much more appealing.
It's truly a shame and a travesty that such an option does not exist.
Thanks for the update.0
My 2005 Audi A6 3.2 seemed -- over two years ago -- a gas sipper, compared to my previous thirstier Audis. Now, as the cost for premium juice (even with my Costco or Kroger cards) has risen to $3.59 (and counting) per gallon, well, I'm thinking this "sipper" even is too thirsty.
Reading about diesel, clean, cleaner, cleanest diesel -- then reading about diesel made from (fer instance) soybeans and other non petrol based substances -- AND THEN reading about the variety of diesel cars we Americans cannot buy. . .well, its enough to frustrate and confuse even the most optimistic of us.
I'd say I'm beyond confused, I've made the transition to disappointed.
Careful reading -- and it is hardly lively prose -- about E85 does seem to lead to the conclusion that its main purpose is to allow the skirting of CAFE issues that are, er, "difficult" (or would be) to address without some clever engineering and/or adoption of diesel across a much wider number of vehicles.
It seems E85 costs more to use (including the subsidy that it gets, which means it would REALLY cost more without the subsidy). Some evidence suggests it is -- overall -- dirtier than dino-fuel, too. Additional evidence says it (as it is currently produced) an energy negative or at best energy neutral (in terms of production when "the total impact" is accounted for.)
Virtually none of these concerns seem to be the case with dino-diesel and the varying permutations of "B" diesel. Moreover, diesel cars get up to 44% better mileage when one attempts to keep the performance "similar."
My 3.2 V6 gasoline engine can be replaced with a 3.0 V6 diesel engine (but not in the US). The result? More torque, similar performance (both in acceleration and top speed) and a 39% improvement in MPG. Diesel, per gallon, was -- recently -- $.70 less per gallon than the fuel my engine requires.
Hmm: more torque, approximately the same performance, better mileage and lower price per gallon to boot.
Add any amount of "B" you care to, to these points, all the way to B100.
E85 seems doomed -- it seems "E85 4 OHIO" is, er, crapola, political crapola at that.
Diesel, in the short term, still seems a more "appropriate" solution.0
I'd say I'm beyond confused, I've made the transition to disappointed
Join the club. The sad truth is the US Government including Congress, EPA and the Administration are not at all interested in using less fossil fuel. Ethanol is a smoke screen and political ploy to keep the farm lobby happy. It takes about as much fossil fuel to grow and produce ethanol as you get back in BTUs. Add those entities to most of the state governments especially the very powerful CA legislature and the lackeys they hire to run CARB and it brings the frustration level even higher. In CA they have held off the environmental wackos in Hollywood with hybrid cars. The real truth is any kind of decrease in fuel usage costs these government agencies TAX DOLLARS. They managed to turn off the EV-1 program that would have cost them billions in lost gas tax revenue.
They have managed to keep the status quo for the last 30 years. They are going to keep it flowing at any cost.0


text:
Stress Reduction (Part 1) - overview
Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH February, 2010
We all have and need stress. Without stress few of us would meet deadlines, perform optimally in any activity, or even wake up in the morning! This fact was recognized by Dr. Hans Selye in his 1956 book The Stress of Life, in which he coined the concept of the "General Adaptation Syndrome". Dr. Selye recognized that "optimal stress" led to optimal performance, increased attention and focus and without any stress life would become boring and without emotion. Dr. Selye also recognized too much stress led to anxiety and unhappiness. In his book, he described phases of stress response, including the classic "fight or flight" response, or "alarm" phase, but he also recognized that chronic stress first leads to "adaptation" but ultimately leads to "resistance". If the stress continues, Dr. Selye suggested the final stage occurs, or "exhaustion". Although this model of stress also has some scientific support, it serves as an intuitive model of our experience with stress- first we respond, then we either adapt or resist, and then prolonged resistance typically wears us out!
The difficulty with Dr. Selye's model is that everyone perceives stress differently. Activities like speaking in front of an audience are stressful for many people, but if well practiced, public speaking can be as simple as attending a meeting, or some other mundane element of a work day. Similarly, needing to perform advanced mathematics is not a desirable task for many of us, and even long division may cause some stress, however for an accountant or scientist it's all just part of the job.
Further complicating matters is the response to stress is also very individualized. Some people improve their performance during stress and then crash into an exhaustive phase immediately. Some people respond outwardly and emotionally, seeking the help of their friends and family during stress. Others retreat inward, bottling up stress for their own internal processes. Some choose to eat their stress away, allowing the short term chemical response of feeling full with food to comfort them in times of need. Because different stimuli serve as "stressors" for different people, and then everyone reacts differently to their stress, i.e. stress is subjective, "stress" is very challenging for researchers to study.
If you have diabetes, you will clearly notice a change in your blood sugar (and often blood pressure) during times of stress. Why does this happen and can anything be done about it?
What is Stress?
Although many hormones participate in stress, stress is powered by three major hormones: epinephrine (AKA adrenaline), norepinephrine, and cortisol. All three of these hormones are produced by the adrenal glands, two small glands that sit on top of our kidneys in our lower back. Upon experiencing stress, our brain sends chemical messengers into our blood to cause the release of cortisol from our adrenals into our blood. Simultaneously, our nervous system directly stimulates the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from our adrenal glands. Because several stress hormones are made and released by the adrenal glands, some practitioners refer to chronic stress as "adrenal fatigue" or "adrenal exhaustion". These descriptors are useful when talking about stress with patients, but are not entirely accurate. True "adrenal exhaustion" can occur medically, and is a serious medical condition that requires hormonal treatment.
The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine is labeled a "sympathetic" nervous system response. This sympathetic response is in contrast to a "parasympathetic" response. You can think of the parasympathetic and sympathetic responses as the yin and yang of stress, where the sympathetic response is the classic "fight or flight" response, while the parasympathetic response is the "rest and digest" response. As suggested by these labels, each of these responses causes powerful changes in our entire body and to multiple organ systems.
The sympathetic stress response is designed to give our muscles the fuel they need to run, and to give our brains the fuel and mental clarity needed to perform in times of need. These effects are accomplished by reducing blood flow (and thus oxygen and glucose) to our digestive tract and away from our sexual organs and increasing blood flow to the muscles in our arms and legs, and to our brains in order to run away. This increase in blood flow requires an increase in heart rate, which results in an increase in blood pressure. In contrast, the parasympathetic response increases blood flow to our digestive and sexual organs, increasing production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes and increasing peristalsis, or the movement of food through our intestines. This response tends to lower heart rate and blood pressure as blood is more universally distributed throughout the body.
Cortisol and Blood Sugar
Another important hormonal player in our stress response is cortisol. Cortisol has several actions including being a potent anti-inflammatory hormone, thus the use of synthetic "steroid" injections for injuries, or inhaled "steroids" for conditions like asthma. ("Steroid" refers to the chemical structure of cortisone, and should not be confused with anabolic steroids like testosterone used illegally to increase sports performance; both share a similar "steroid" structure). Cortisol reduces inflammation by acting directly on our immune system and suppressing the immune response.
The other primary action of cortisol is to help maintain our blood sugar in times of starvation or deprivation. Cortisol helps to maintain, or can increase, our blood sugar by reducing our sensitivity to insulin. Thus more sugar stays in our blood stream for our brain and heart to use, but less sugar gets into our muscles and other tissues. Under normal circumstances, we all release a certain amount of cortisol in a daily pattern, or "circadian" rhythm.
The Dawn Phenomenon
For most of us the peak in this daily release of cortisol occurs at approximately 8 o'clock in the morning, but cortisol has been on the rise for several hours before this peak occurs. Cortisol is not the only hormone that is affected by this cycle, other hormones include testosterone, growth hormone, glucagon and epinephrine, and this daily hormonal surge is responsible for the "dawn effect" or "dawn phenomenon" that leads to high blood glucose in people with diabetes.
Why would we be designed to have this hormonal surge and increase in blood sugar in the morning? The simple answer is because we have to wake up! After an overnight fast, our brain needs fuel to wake up, observe our surroundings and look for food! Historically it was not as easy as opening the refrigerator door for breakfast! It is literally breaking our fast (breakfast) that stimulates the release of insulin, ultimately causing our morning cortisol spike to drop back down.
This reaction is thought to be why eating breakfast is an important element of preventing weight gain and maintaining normal blood sugar throughout the day; if the daily cycle starts poorly it just continues poorly throughout the day. This is also why people using insulin to control their diabetes may need higher doses at night to prevent large rises in blood sugars over night and in the morning.
Our Response to Stress
As mentioned, our response to stress begins, not surprisingly, in our brain. Our ability to respond quickly and robustly to threats has contributed to our evolution on this planet, allowing us to run from dangerous animals, and fight for our lives. When times were rough when we needed these responses, and we were programmed well to survive these tough times. This response has been, and may still be, critical to our survival. But is this response as critical now? Granted many people are still challenged in this world to meet their basic needs, but many of us (certainly most reading this article) are no longer threatened by vicious animals, major infectious diseases, or shortages of food or water. Instead the "stressors" have become more contemporary: our national financial crisis, family and relationship stress, workplace stress, manufactured deadlines, traffic, and long term health conditions. In fact, a recent review of the effects of cortisol on the body suggests that the stress responses that served us so well evolutionarily may actually be culprits in our modern diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, allergy, anxiety, depression and pain syndromes.1
The Effects of Stress on Body Systems
As mentioned, the hormones of stress have effects on numerous body systems. Chronic elevations of epinephrine and norepinephrine shift blood flow away from the digestive organs reducing digestive functions like enzyme production and nutrient absorption. Stress hormones may increase the permeability of the digestive tract to poorly digested proteins, leading to food intolerances. Stress seems to be important in even more extreme chronic digestive disease, like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); patients with IBD had a greater cortisol response than patients without IBD and exposure to stressful events clearly cause flares in their condition.2
Stress hormones impact our immune systems too. Research shows that people under stress were less likely to form protective antibodies when given flu vaccinations.3 This reduced response is thought to be because "stress" reduces the activity of our anti-viral and anti-cancer arms of our immune system, favoring a more robust, but less specific response. Cortisol stimulates our immune system to make these changes by producing messengers, called cytokines, like TNF-alpha.4 TNF-alpha is a group of cytokines considered "pro-inflammatory".
TNF-alpha has effects on our metabolism of other hormones, including our sex hormones, or androgens, like DHEA and testosterone. Specifically, TNF-alpha inhibits the formation of DHEA and testosterone and instead increases estrogen like hormones.4 This shift lowers sex drive, i.e. libido, and reduces metabolic rate. Because testosterone helps us maintain glucose-requiring lean muscle, a shift in testosterone production can increase blood sugar by reducing lean muscle tone, and thus metabolic rate.
Stress in Diabetes & Heart Disease
The basic physiologic action of stress hormones makes their relevance in diabetes and heart disease obvious. As previously mentioned, increased epinephrine and norepinephrine cause increases in blood pressure, and these increases can last for up to an hour after the stressful event.5 Cortisol clearly reduces our sensitivity to insulin, and thus raises blood glucose. Epinephrine and norepinephrine also stimulate our liver to make its own glucose (a process called gluconeogenesis) and release it into the blood stream, further increasing blood glucose. These hormones also cause the release of fat from fat stores, increasing blood fat and triglyceride levels. TNF-alpha is also known to reduce insulin production by the pancreas, and may contribute to the insulin deficiencies that occur later in diabetes. Increases in blood glucose that become too high, even in the short term, are known to result in increased oxidative stress and reduce the ability of blood vessels to expand properly (See Complementary Corner June 2009 for more information on Endothelial Dysfunction).
Does Stress Cause Diabetes?
Based on the above actions alone, it is not difficult to stitch together a theory of chronic stress causing diabetes and leading to heart disease. Although this hypothesis is complicated by other factors, including lifestyle factors and genetics independent of stress (although some argue many of our lifestyle choices are trained responses to stress, like emotional eating), this hypothesis does have some support in the evidence.
For example, a Swedish study in over 5,200 adults followed for 8-10 years demonstrated people with high emotional distress had twice the risk for developing pre-diabetes and three times the risk for developing type 2 diabetes than those with low distress scores.6 This study does not prove causation, but clearly demonstrates some association. Another example in heart disease is the vary large INTERHEART study in 52 nations in over 30,000 people that demonstrated psychosocial factors including depression, anxiety at work or home, history of a traumatic life event, and financial stress were responsible for over 30% of the population's attributable risk for having a first heart attack!7 (Also see Complementary Corner February 2009 for more on the role of depression in diabetes).
What Can You Change?
Although many of us hope for a time without stress, is this a realistic goal? Despite our efforts to reduce stressors in our environment (a process that I encourage, by the way) it may not be possible to remove them all - and remember without stress our performance suffers. So instead of focusing exclusively on the stressors, it is also critical to address our response! If the response to stress begins in our brain (it may not be all in our heads, but it does start there), then can our response to stress, or perceived stress, be re-programmed? Does lowering stress response improve blood glucose in diabetes? Reduce our risk for high blood pressure and heart disease? Can we reduce oxidative stress simply by changing our reactions?
Just Breathe!
One of the most important approaches to stress reduction is free, and relatively easy: breathing! For the sake of experiment, focus on your breath over the next few days/weeks. What is your breathing pattern like? Do you hold your breath unconsciously? Do you breath slowly or rapidly? Do you use your diaphragm to breathe fully into your belly or is your breath more shallow?
Breathing exercise - breathing slowly, fully and regularly - can be a simple and remarkably effective means of reducing anxiety, clearing the mind for mental work, and, yes, even lowering blood pressure and blood sugar. A typical exercise is to take just fifteen minutes to focus on the breath. Inhale deeply into the belly for a full count of 3 seconds, hold the breath for a full 3 seconds, and exhale slowly and regularly also for a 3 seconds count. An old yogic mantra states, "The mind controls the body, and the breath controls the mind". Test this mantra in your own stress responses, and feel free to let me know how it goes for you.
In my next article I will summarize clinical research on more formal stress reduction techniques that can improve blood glucose and other risk factors. In the meantime, take a step back and assess your own stress and your response to stress. Which "stressors" are real and consequential? Which are perceived? Do you have responses to stress that are truly protective - or more detrimental - for your long-term health? Do you have stress reducing activities that you prioritize and do regularly? Are there patterns in your daily routine that could be changed to reduce the effects of stress on your body's functioning? The answers to these questions have real consequences on your long-term health and happiness.
In Health- Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH
Stress Reduction Part 2
Stress Reduction Part 3
1. Chrousos GP, Kino T. Glucocorticoid signaling in the cell. Expanding clinical implications to complex human behavioral and somatic disorders. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Oct 2009;1179:153-166.
2. Farhadi A, Keshavarzian A, Van de Kar LD, et al. Heightened responses to stressors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. Aug 2005;100(8):1796-1804.
3. Burns VE, Carroll D, Drayson M, Whitham M, Ring C. Life events, perceived stress and antibody response to influenza vaccination in young, healthy adults. J Psychosom Res. Dec 2003;55(6):569-572.
4. Capellino S, Straub RH. Neuroendocrine immune pathways in chronic arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. Apr 2008;22(2):285-297.
5. Vlachopoulos C, Kosmopoulou F, Alexopoulos N, Ioakeimidis N, Siasos G, Stefanadis C. Acute mental stress has a prolonged unfavorable effect on arterial stiffness and wave reflections. Psychosom Med. Mar-Apr 2006;68(2):231-237.
6. Eriksson AK, Ekbom A, Granath F, Hilding A, Efendic S, Ostenson CG. Psychological distress and risk of pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes in a prospective study of Swedish middle-aged men and women. Diabet Med. Jul 2008;25(7):834-842.
7. Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, et al. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. Sep 11-17 2004;364(9438):937-952.


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We at LawPavilion understand how much you value your privacy and we strive to respect that privacy when you use our services. This Privacy Policy describes what information we will gather from you, how we use or intend to use that information and what we do to protect it. By using the LawPavilion website, you expressly consentto the information handling practices described in this policy.
Upon signing up with LawPavilion, we require that you establish a password-protected personal account for subscription to our services ("the services"). When your personal account is being set up, we usually request contact and billing information (your name, your mobile phone number(s) as well as a valid email address.) We use this information to provide you with our Services and to contact you about the services in which you have expressed interest.
We will keep track of your interactions with us, including but not limited to your site activity, order history, payment history and correspondence. We do this to provide you with better service, for billing and administrative functions, to improve your customer experience and also for internal research and reporting purposes.
We may send you the following types of email communications: welcome emails, our weekly newsletter, account status updates and promotional content. You may opt-out of receiving our email newsletter via the unsubscribe links in each email. You can also opt-out of specific types of email communications through your Account Settings. We may also communicate with you via SMS sent to your mobile phone regarding the services you request for, your account status and updates as well as promotional information about our other products.
Our website collects and retain technical information regarding visits to theLawPavilion website such as the IP address assigned to the computer visiting the site, the type of browser used by a visitor and the operating system running the user's connections to the service. This data is not linked to your personal account. It is used to analyze the ways in which our site is used, and how we can improve the user experience.
We use your personal information in the following general ways: To provide you with our Services, to allow for your identification and authentication onto the LawPavilion website, for billing and administrative functions, to contact you, and for internal research and reporting purposes.
Website and service announcement updates with important information about the service may be sent to you through the email address or cell phone number you provided. Our special promotions may also be communicated to you via this website. You can opt-out of receiving these promotional emails, but not service related messages, at any time either through the unsubscribe link in the email we send you.
You may update your personal profile by visiting the Account Setting section of your profile on our website if your personal information changes, or you want to update your email preferences. You must be signed in to access your Account Settings.
Our Site may use "cookies" to enhance User experience. User's web browser places cookies on their hard drive for record-keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about them. User may choose to set their web browser to refuse cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If they do so, note that some parts of the Site may not function properly.
The administrators of LawPavilion website take reasonable and ethical measures to safeguard your personal information during transmission and when stored on our network. However, due to the nature of open communication on the internet, communications between you and the website, and the website and you, may not be secure, depending on the network you are using to communicate with us.
If LawPavilion becomes aware of an actual or potential security breach through which sensitive personal information may have been compromised, you may be notified electronically so that you can take appropriate protective steps. By using this web site, or providing personal information to us through any means, you agree that we can communicate with you electronically regarding security, privacy, and administrative issues relating to your use of this site.
Any questions regarding the security of our website may be directed to us at "firstname.lastname@example.com.
LawPavilion has the discretion to update this privacy policy at any time. When we do, we will post a notification on the main page of our Site, revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage Users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us:
In the rare event that you are unsatisfied with the LawPavilion Web platform, please contact us by clicking the Contact Us button on the page and using any of the available means of communicating with us.
If you have any reason to cancel your access to our product suite, please contact us using any of the various methods available by clicking the Contact Us button on the page.
You can make payments for your LawPavilion Online license via two (2) channels.
If you prefer to make direct bank deposits, please find below our Bank Accounts details:
|Account Number
|Account Name
|Zenith Bank
|Grace InfoTech Ltd (Lawpavilion)
|Grace InfoTech Ltd (Lawpavilion)
After making the required payments into any one of the accounts above, please click on "Direct Bank Deposit" at the top-right corner of this page to provide your payment information.
You can make payment through our e-Payment partners - Interswitch™ - using your web-enabled Debit/Credit Cards


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94 N. Main Street, Jasper, GA - (706) 253-2457
We like to hear from readers. We particularly enjoy publishing well-crafted and thought-out letters to the editors. Even if you disagree with us, if your letter brings something new to the table of public discourse, we appreciate it.
Letters with clear opinions commenting on local issues are among the most popular and powerful articles you'll find in a weekly newspaper. This is where the public has an open venue for voicing their opinions.
At the Progress it's rare that we don't publish our letters to the editor. One writer was surprised that we would run his politically conservative musings since (he assumed) all the press is liberal.
We ran them. We also run far left-wing letters.
Frankly, if they are talking national politics we really don't like them. We prefer someone commenting on what's going on in this community. A poorly-written letter reflecting something specific to Pickens County beats a finely-crafted document on any national subject any week of the year. This is what community journalism is all about and, goodness knows, there is plenty of long-winded diatribe on national politics everywhere else you look.
When we decide what letters to run, we look at each submission individually. Since writers can address literally any subject under the sun from any point of view with any language or writing style, issuing broad rules on what we run doesn't work. Most newspapers follow a similar letter-by-letter decision making process. If you have called our office wanting a snap decision on what we'll run, you have likely heard us say we'll have to see it first.
About the only set rules we have are length. It has to be 400 words or less, baring an exception. And that exception is a letter from someone who has been the subject of a story and wants to respond. If you are writing about gun control, yes we are going to cut you off at 400 words. If you feel that we have unfairly portrayed you in the paper, then we'll give you all the space we can within reason to respond. Similarly if you are a direct participant in a news story you may be allotted more space. If you are the person whose home burned or saw the UFO, we can bend that rule.
The other area we steer clear of is personal issues and that includes letters about local businesses. There is simply too much liability involved. You may have gotten horrible service, but that business may say your demands were impossible; we're not going to referee.
We are adding a third restriction starting with our next issue – two letters per month, per person and this includes responses.
Earlier this month, someone called to say that he would like to write on his thoughts on school budgets. We suggested that he send it as a letter to the editor since that section is just for people to sound off.
His reply caught us off-guard -- somewhat. The potential writer wasn't sure he "wanted to be on there with all the regular nuts."
It's true that at times our letters page becomes a back and forth and almost every time this has happened it's been a national subject that elicited the never-ending point/counterpoint. The replies tend to get nastier and nastier the longer the issue ferments.
We'll take this opportunity to invite people who have shied away from the letters page to give it another shot. We want this space to be as inclusive as possible on subjects that the community feels are important. While people are free to disagree with your points, we'll see that the letters' page maintains a civil tone.
And for those who like to mix it up, the Progress offers a message board at www.pickensprogress.com that is open for more vigorous debate (though with some restrictions).


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Shell Graduate Programme
Discover the exciting and diverse world of Shell. See what you could do and where you could go.
Find here information about applying for Students & Graduates opportunities at Shell.
Do I have to upload my CV in English?
If the entire application process for your country is in English, an English CV is mandatory. Please be aware that the entire application process will be in English in most of the countries where we recruit and so we prefer to receive your CV in English.
If the application form and process for your country is in your local language, then a CV in that language is fine.
Is the whole application process in English?
The entire application process will be in English in most of the countries where we recruit and so we also prefer to receive your CV in English.
The exceptions, where you will be given the option to choose local language if you prefer, are Mandarin (China), Brazilian Portuguese (Brazil), Canadian French (Canada) and French (Gabon).
My application has been regretted can I receive some feedback?
Unfortunately, due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we are unable to offer you individual feedback on your application at this stage of the recruitment process. We assess applications taking into account a number of qualities we have identified as being critical to high performance in Shell. A detailed explanation of these qualities can be found in the "What we look for" section of the website.
What is the status of my application?
To check your application status, please log on to your candidate account using the same email and password you created when you registered to apply, then select 'Application Status'.
Please see below an explanation of the statuses you will see throughout the application and hire process:
When is the application deadline?
We open our applications all year round at most of the locations where we offer graduate employment opportunities, so you can apply at any time of the year. But don't delay - the sooner we receive your application, the better the chance that we can match you with the ideal job for your abilities.
Please visit local country website to find out the application deadlines at countries where we do not recruit all year round.
Where will the interview take place?
The interview will take place either face-to-face or over the telephone. All Shell graduate candidates are assessed on the following criteria (CAR):
At the end of the interview, you'll have the chance to ask us some questions of your own - about the role, the culture, work environment or any other area of interest to you.
English is not my first language; will this be taken into account during my interview?
While fluency in English is necessary to participate in a Shell Recruitment Day, Gourami Business Challenge or an Internship your ability in English is not a selection criterion. If you're not a native English speaker, you will be given additional time to prepare where appropriate, and you are welcome to bring a dictionary. In locations where a SRD, Gourami Business Challenge or an Internship is conducted in a language other than English, a level of fluency in that language is required.
I have already graduated and have some work experience; am I eligible to apply?
Yes. You may be surprised to find that you wouldn't be the only graduate in Shell who joins us with previous work experience. In terms of process, you will still need to apply in the same way as any other graduate.
I have applied before; can I re-apply?
Yes, you can re-apply if you have been unsuccessful. However, if you do wish to re-apply, we advise that you should leave:
At least 12 months from the date of your previous application, if you were rejected before or after the interview stage. Three years from the date of the final outcome of your previous application, if you were invited to a Shell Recruitment Day or an assessed Internship.
We advise this to enable you to have a better chance of being successful the second time round. The additional time will allow you to demonstrate that you have developed yourself further and have gained additional experience and/or qualifications.
What do you mean by graduate?
A Graduate is someone who has been awarded a degree by a university or college.
While a strong academic record is important, our selection processes are designed to assess your Capacity, Achievement and Relationship.
What selection criteria do you use to assess applications for your student opportunities?
While a strong academic record is important, our selection processes are designed to assess your Capacity, Achievement and Relationship.
Do you sponsor the studies of individual students?
We only consider sponsoring students from developing countries who are interested in carrying out postgraduate studies in the UK and the Netherlands. First-degree students are not eligible. We have 90 scholarships available in total, administered by The Shell Centenary Scholarship Fund.
The programme is a partnership with the Universities of Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Oxford, Imperial College London and University College London, who also contribute to the funding.
Please visit the local country website to find out whether we offer Scholarship there.
For more details please visit Shell Scholar
Will I be paid during my internship?
Yes you will be compensated during your internship. The amount depends on the country.
How many graduates do you employ each year?
We have graduate employment opportunities in most of the countries where we operate. In some countries where we have a higher operating presence we are able to offer more opportunities - for example the Netherlands, UK, Germany, US, China, Malaysia, Qatar and Nigeria.
Please visit the local country website to find out whether we have graduate employment opportunities there.
What is an In-house Day?
An In-house Day is a one day interactive event at which we host a selected group of students at a Shell location with the aim to give them a feel of what it would be like to work for Shell. Included are usually presentations from Shell Recruitment, recent graduates, senior staff and a site tour and/or a case study or workshop.
Will I work outside my home country?
In most cases your first assignment will be in your home country. However, because we are a global company, the job you are matched with may mean relocating abroad. In Europe, for example, your application will be considered both for opportunities in the country you are studying/living in and across the region. You are welcome to note your personal preferences for location on your application. One of the clear dynamics of working for Shell is the possibility of a future posting outside your home country, and we provide full support for all staff to do so.
Discover the exciting and diverse world of Shell. See what you could do and where you could go.
Discover the exciting and diverse world of Shell. See what you could do and where you could go.


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The "presidential historian," that expert on the American presidency who is ubiquitous on television screens and newspaper pages during elections, is a very recent phenomenon. But it seems to be implanted in the culture now, becoming a respected side gig for those writing popular American history. Of these presidential historians – a group that would also include Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, and Michael Beschloss – Robert Dallek probably is the best. He does the most original research, offers the most new insights into his subjects, and is the least likely to shower readers in nostalgia.
All of which makes The Lost Peace so disappointing. The book is not bad per se – it's just unoriginal and unnecessary. "The Lost Peace" is an international history of the cold war's beginnings, focusing on the maljudgments made by world leaders. As World War II closed, and the United States and the Soviet Union lost their common Nazi enemy, they turned on each other. By the time US President Harry Truman left office in 1953, the Allies were solidified as enemies, a status that lasted until Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union. How a period so pregnant with possibilities descended into just another great power conflict, and how it could have been otherwise, is the focus of Dallek's mid-sized book. "[I]t is an attempt to revisit the end-of-war and immediate postwar events by asking why, in spite of the uncivilized acts of violence that had dominated international affairs, men and women all over the globe could still imagine that traditional power politics could assure their national safety and a wider peace," he writes.
Every major aspect of the cold war, from FDR's death to the 1952 US presidential election, is covered in "The Lost Peace," focusing on events in the US, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser extent, China. Dallek's political judgment is very sound, recognizing as he does that Stalin was primarily responsible for beginning the cold war, but the US militarized and extended it through a combination of paranoid anti-Communism and militarism. If one were to need an introduction to the early cold-war years, "The Lost Peace" would serve well as an example.
But Dallek's previous books went well beyond being mere introductions – they were definitive works on their subjects. "Nixon and Kissinger," Dallek's 2007 study of Franklin Roosevelt's foreign policy, as well as his biographies of Lyndon Johnson and John Kennedy, were so terrific precisely because they offered new insights and facts about their already-familiar subjects, in addition to being solid guides on their topics. Dallek utilized primary source material in those works, making extensive use of internal memorandums, tapes, letters, and documents.
"The Lost Peace," instead, cites one single primary document. The rest comes from secondary sources and even, a few times, Wikipedia. Even worse, he overlooks some of the best scholarship on the cold war, work from respected scholars like Odd Arne Westad, Bruce Kuniholm, Walter LaFeber, and others. And he relies far too heavily on McCullough's overrated, maudlin book, "Truman," and the memoirs of George F. Kennan. It seems Dallek dipped into the vast ocean of cold war historiography, grabbed what he could with one hand, and declared himself satisfied.
This wouldn't be so bad if Dallek had anything new to say about the years between 1945 and 1953. But he does not. The beginning years of the cold war are among the most examined in history. The subject has fascinated many and the fall of the Soviet Union has facilitated new research. Many good books already exist on the topic, from LaFeber's books to those of John Lewis Gaddis, Melvyn Leffler, Vladislav Zubok, and others. When Dallek does cite their work, he rarely challenges their conclusions, rarely wades into the academic controversies. "Political leaders and governments around the world did not take much knowledge from the horrors of the two world wars," he writes, a rather banal judgment coming from someone with so deep a knowledge of postwar foreign policy.
Coming from a lesser writer, "The Lost Peace" might not be so underwhelming. But emerging from someone as gifted and reliable as Dallek, it cannot be considered anything but.
Jordan Michael Smith is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer, who has written for The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, and The New Republic.


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New York Mets sign analytics to lead their lineup
The New York Mets are a perennial fan favorite, but they knew if they had the right information, they could do even more to engage their fan base. The goal? Analyze fan data at an individual level to discover what fans want and how they behave so the team can design experiences that appeal to them on a personal level.
How? For starters, the Mets are building a fan engagement hub that uses analytics to generate a 360-degree view of fans. The data will help them personalize communications and promotions. By analyzing data from social media, mobile and email, the Mets will accurately gauge fan sentiment relating to different players and games. And they'll be able to interact with fans on league and team sites, social media channels and public forums with information the fans care about.
There's an ever-increasing volume of data in the business of baseball and we're always looking for new ways to analyze.Lou DePaoli
Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer,
New York Mets.
"There's an ever-increasing volume of data in the business of baseball and we're always looking for new ways to analyze," said Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Lou DePaoli of the New York Mets.
The Mets are planning to analyze all their data – from when and where fans buy tickets to the seats they select, what drinks they enjoy with their hotdogs, and the merchandise they buy – all to improve the fan's experience.
The Mets are one of many sports organizations around the world using analytics to improve fan insight and engagement, operations, player management and marketing. Here are just a few:
Orlando Magic
Using analytics, the Orlando Magic are among the top revenue earners in the National Basketball Association (NBA), despite being in the 20th-largest market. The Magic accomplish this feat by studying the resale ticket market to price tickets better, predict season ticket holders at risk of defection (and lure them back), and analyze concession and product merchandise sales to make sure the organization has what the fans want every time they enter the arena. The club even uses analytics to help coaches put together the best lineup.
"Our biggest challenge is to customize the fan experience, and analytics helps us manage all that in a robust way," says Alex Martins, CEO of the Orlando Magic. Having been with the Magic since the beginning (working his way up from PR director to president to CEO), Martins has seen it all and knows the value that analytics adds. Under Martins' leadership, the season ticket base has grown to 14,200 and the corporate sales department has seen tremendous growth.
Major League Soccer
Fan loyalty is everything in the sports business. So when Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight pro soccer league in the US and Canada, wanted to deepen customer engagement, they turned to analytics for a better understanding of fans. Instead of sending out traditional static emails, MLS wanted to reach out to fans with personalized information that matched their location, club affinity (the league has 16 clubs in the US and three in Canada) and more. To do this, MLS had to first build a fan database.
The first step in the process was integrating data from various internal sources, including ticketing, merchandising and digital subscriptions from all of the league's clubs. MLS then applied predictive analytics and data mining to get a better understanding of what its fans wanted. With these insights, MLS was able to put together an automated content relationship management program to increase ticketing and merchandising opportunities for its clubs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are planning to use analytics to help analyze aspects of the team's performance. This initiative includes applying a data-driven approach to everything from player performance to on-ice strategy
This is the latest phase in the Toronto Maple Leafs' move toward an analytics-focused approach to complement traditional hockey decision making. "Analytics is a big part of the future of sports, and we're excited to add a sports analytics platform to complement our overall hockey evaluation process," said Kyle Dubas, Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We're bringing a fresh method to approaching all aspects of our team development and strategy this season."
Read More
- Download the white paper: Analytics in Sports
- Read more about how each organization is using analytics:
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