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Saturday 18 December 2010
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Australian Short Stories - (Mary) Valleys Senior Rugby League Team 1935
Before the 1939-45 war there were four football teams playing in the Gympie competition. One of these was Valleys, a team as the name suggests selected from the town ships of the Mary Valley.
My brothers Kev and Bert played, and as well as being captain of Valleys, Kev was captain of the Gympie representative team. Roads weren't crash hot back in the 1930's, there was no bitumen on the roads in the Valley and getting to the venue where the match was played was quite a chore.
Traffic on the road stirred up clouds of dust. It was almost impossible to pass a vehicle in front, as it was hard to see for dust, and if you followed too closely, you were smothered in the stuff.
One of the players, Frank Jocumsen had a cream run and picked up cream from farmers between Imbil and Gympie. The cream was delivered to the Gympie Butter factory on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays of each week. His truck was large for the times, about seven ton capacity with a canvas hood over the back to keep the cream cool. It was also a great way to transport the team to the playing venue on Sunday.
There was one snag, the back of the truck got splashed with cream, and by the end of the week, as may be imagined, was very smelly indeed. My role model Kev, volunteered me to clean the back of the truck, and every Saturday during football season Frank would bring it to the back of our house to have it cleaned. I was only seven or eight years old when I inherited the job and I can tell you it was no sinecure.
No hoses at the time, just many buckets of water, carried from the tank some distance away, soap and a broom, and some hard work. It was also my job to clean Kev's football boots and they weren't considered clean if you couldn't see your face in them.
All the Valley towns got behind their team and expected them to win every game. The interest and effort was so great that Jack Lutton who owned the sawmill in Imbil was reputed to have said production at his mill dropped considerably on Mondays and Fridays.
Fridays, because his employees, and there were several in the team; put in most of the day talking about how they would play Sunday's game, and after the game on Sunday they were too sore to work properly on Monday.
My brothers Kev and Bert played, and as well as being captain of Valleys, Kev was captain of the Gympie representative team. Roads weren't crash hot back in the 1930's, there was no bitumen on the roads in the Valley and getting to the venue where the match was played was quite a chore.
Traffic on the road stirred up clouds of dust. It was almost impossible to pass a vehicle in front, as it was hard to see for dust, and if you followed too closely, you were smothered in the stuff.
One of the players, Frank Jocumsen had a cream run and picked up cream from farmers between Imbil and Gympie. The cream was delivered to the Gympie Butter factory on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays of each week. His truck was large for the times, about seven ton capacity with a canvas hood over the back to keep the cream cool. It was also a great way to transport the team to the playing venue on Sunday.
There was one snag, the back of the truck got splashed with cream, and by the end of the week, as may be imagined, was very smelly indeed. My role model Kev, volunteered me to clean the back of the truck, and every Saturday during football season Frank would bring it to the back of our house to have it cleaned. I was only seven or eight years old when I inherited the job and I can tell you it was no sinecure.
No hoses at the time, just many buckets of water, carried from the tank some distance away, soap and a broom, and some hard work. It was also my job to clean Kev's football boots and they weren't considered clean if you couldn't see your face in them.
All the Valley towns got behind their team and expected them to win every game. The interest and effort was so great that Jack Lutton who owned the sawmill in Imbil was reputed to have said production at his mill dropped considerably on Mondays and Fridays.
Fridays, because his employees, and there were several in the team; put in most of the day talking about how they would play Sunday's game, and after the game on Sunday they were too sore to work properly on Monday.
If you have enjoyed this sort snippet of real Australian History. visit here to read more excerpts of my life. I have put together a book of Australian short stories and it can be found at http://www.myreallifestories.com/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Harris |
Saturday 4 December 2010
Burning Waste to Produce Energy Has Great Potential As an Energy Source
The human race has used wood to make fire for a very long time. It has been our main source of energy for most of our existence and we have used it to cook food and provide heating.
Use is dwindling but burning waste to produce energy has great potential as an energy source. This is particularly important when you consider the amount of waste produced in the modern world, the problems faced with disposal and the effort being put into recycling.
A Biomass Power Station works in a similar way to a coal fired power station. Waste is burned and used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators and generate electricity.
Any solid waste can be used including animal manure, woodchip, seaweed, rubbish and any other waste.
Bio-conversion is a related process where plant/animal waste is used to produce bio-fuels such as methanol or natural gas. These bio-fuels can be burned to produce power and vehicles have been developed powered by bio-fuels
Sugar can be used in a similar way because it can be fermented to make alcohol which can be burned.
Alternatively, the left over sugar cane pulp can be burned and often a biomass power station provides energy for a sugar mill as well as the surrounding area.
A Biomass Power Station is planned for Portbury near Bristol which would produce 150 MW of power and this is enough to provide power for two hundred thousand homes. It will burn wood materials brought to the plant by ship from sustainable sources and will annually offset about four hundred thousand tones of carbon dioxide emissions.
Another Biomass Power Station is planned for Longannet in Scotland which will produce 20 MW from wood and waste derived fuel and provide electricity for about thirty three thousand homes. It will also offset one hundred and thirty tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year and prevent one hundred and thirty five tonnes of waste material being disposed in landfill sites.
Bio-fuels could help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and most particularly the oil used for transport which is obviously a good thing.
Some people claim that it will take a huge amount of land to grow the bio-fuels needed and this will affect our capacity to grow food. Bio-fuel powered vehicles produce similar carbon emissions to petrol driven vehicles but scientists argue that the plants growing the bio-fuel will take in the extra carbon emissions produced as they respire. Time will tell on this argument.
We should definitely take the opportunity to burn waste materials whenever we can. It is a very cheap source of fuel and would help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It also destroys waste and reduces the need to recycle. We collect waste anyway and have trouble with disposal.
However, growing bio-fuels could cause problems and some fuels may not always be available. Bio-fuels are burned and still produce greenhouse gases in the same way as fossil fuels.
Use is dwindling but burning waste to produce energy has great potential as an energy source. This is particularly important when you consider the amount of waste produced in the modern world, the problems faced with disposal and the effort being put into recycling.
A Biomass Power Station works in a similar way to a coal fired power station. Waste is burned and used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators and generate electricity.
Any solid waste can be used including animal manure, woodchip, seaweed, rubbish and any other waste.
Bio-conversion is a related process where plant/animal waste is used to produce bio-fuels such as methanol or natural gas. These bio-fuels can be burned to produce power and vehicles have been developed powered by bio-fuels
Sugar can be used in a similar way because it can be fermented to make alcohol which can be burned.
Alternatively, the left over sugar cane pulp can be burned and often a biomass power station provides energy for a sugar mill as well as the surrounding area.
A Biomass Power Station is planned for Portbury near Bristol which would produce 150 MW of power and this is enough to provide power for two hundred thousand homes. It will burn wood materials brought to the plant by ship from sustainable sources and will annually offset about four hundred thousand tones of carbon dioxide emissions.
Another Biomass Power Station is planned for Longannet in Scotland which will produce 20 MW from wood and waste derived fuel and provide electricity for about thirty three thousand homes. It will also offset one hundred and thirty tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year and prevent one hundred and thirty five tonnes of waste material being disposed in landfill sites.
Bio-fuels could help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and most particularly the oil used for transport which is obviously a good thing.
Some people claim that it will take a huge amount of land to grow the bio-fuels needed and this will affect our capacity to grow food. Bio-fuel powered vehicles produce similar carbon emissions to petrol driven vehicles but scientists argue that the plants growing the bio-fuel will take in the extra carbon emissions produced as they respire. Time will tell on this argument.
We should definitely take the opportunity to burn waste materials whenever we can. It is a very cheap source of fuel and would help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It also destroys waste and reduces the need to recycle. We collect waste anyway and have trouble with disposal.
However, growing bio-fuels could cause problems and some fuels may not always be available. Bio-fuels are burned and still produce greenhouse gases in the same way as fossil fuels.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_M_Williams |
How to Save Energy and Reduce Fuel Bills
We are all aware of global warming caused by our over dependence on fossil fuels and the need to find some alternative energy sources but can one individual make a contribution or do we need to act collectively?
It is possible for you to install sources of alternative energy in your home and make a difference to the environment but if you are serious about this the first step must be to make your home more energy efficient.
Each house is different but some common themes occur including good insulation and the use of energy efficient machines
Make sure your home is properly insulated and if possible install cavity wall insulation. Your loft should be properly insulated in it's entirety to a thickness of at least 270 mm. This will make a big difference and is a requirement if you are thinking of applying for some grants.
Go to the trouble of plugging gaps in the skirting boards to reduce drafts and if possible fit a heavy duty underlay in all downstairs rooms. This will also make a big difference and will be worth the investment. If necessary look on eBay to see if you can get a good price.
Double glazed windows are the easiest way of reducing energy costs and UPVC windows are the cheapest and easiest option. Some people are reluctant for aesthetic reasons despite the improved insulation they provide. One possible alternative is to attach made to measure safety glass around the window with a plastic strip around the edge. The glass sections are screwed in around the frames costing approximately 350 pounds to effectively double glaze the whole house. In the summer, some or all of the glass sections can be taken down and stored behind wardrobes or sofas if necessary. Either way the double glazing will make a massive difference to heat retention in your home.
All external doors should have draft excluders fitted and it is easy to manufacture a homemade draft excluder for the letterbox.
As far as possible, ensure that all your domestic appliances are A rated. If you are looking to buy anything new e.g. a freezer to store vegetables grown in your garden consider the KWh per year instead of just the energy rating. There are companies which sell only AA rated machines and they are well worth supporting.
You can purchase energy saving plugs which can be connected to fridges and freezers and they save electricity by regulating the power to the machine. Unfortunately some appliances are incompatible so a little internet research will enable you to find out more information.
Convert your whole house to use low energy light bulbs by taking advantage of the many offers made by electricity suppliers and DIY stores. Four for 4 pound is not uncommon
Consider installing a gas combi-boiler which will provide instant hot water for showers, baths and heating and is much more efficient. A wood burner is another possibility which can be used for room heating in the winter and boiling water
Place reflective sheets behind each radiator to reflect heat back into the room which cost about 20 pound for a whole house.
Keep the thermostat turned down. Twenty degrees (or less) should be more than sufficient which doesn't seem bad once you get used to it especially if you wear an extra layer.
It is possible for you to install sources of alternative energy in your home and make a difference to the environment but if you are serious about this the first step must be to make your home more energy efficient.
Each house is different but some common themes occur including good insulation and the use of energy efficient machines
Make sure your home is properly insulated and if possible install cavity wall insulation. Your loft should be properly insulated in it's entirety to a thickness of at least 270 mm. This will make a big difference and is a requirement if you are thinking of applying for some grants.
Go to the trouble of plugging gaps in the skirting boards to reduce drafts and if possible fit a heavy duty underlay in all downstairs rooms. This will also make a big difference and will be worth the investment. If necessary look on eBay to see if you can get a good price.
Double glazed windows are the easiest way of reducing energy costs and UPVC windows are the cheapest and easiest option. Some people are reluctant for aesthetic reasons despite the improved insulation they provide. One possible alternative is to attach made to measure safety glass around the window with a plastic strip around the edge. The glass sections are screwed in around the frames costing approximately 350 pounds to effectively double glaze the whole house. In the summer, some or all of the glass sections can be taken down and stored behind wardrobes or sofas if necessary. Either way the double glazing will make a massive difference to heat retention in your home.
All external doors should have draft excluders fitted and it is easy to manufacture a homemade draft excluder for the letterbox.
As far as possible, ensure that all your domestic appliances are A rated. If you are looking to buy anything new e.g. a freezer to store vegetables grown in your garden consider the KWh per year instead of just the energy rating. There are companies which sell only AA rated machines and they are well worth supporting.
You can purchase energy saving plugs which can be connected to fridges and freezers and they save electricity by regulating the power to the machine. Unfortunately some appliances are incompatible so a little internet research will enable you to find out more information.
Convert your whole house to use low energy light bulbs by taking advantage of the many offers made by electricity suppliers and DIY stores. Four for 4 pound is not uncommon
Consider installing a gas combi-boiler which will provide instant hot water for showers, baths and heating and is much more efficient. A wood burner is another possibility which can be used for room heating in the winter and boiling water
Place reflective sheets behind each radiator to reflect heat back into the room which cost about 20 pound for a whole house.
Keep the thermostat turned down. Twenty degrees (or less) should be more than sufficient which doesn't seem bad once you get used to it especially if you wear an extra layer.
We Need to Find Some Alternative Energy Sources Quickly
In the past, electricity has usually been generated used fossil fuels such as coal but unfortunately these resources are finite and supplies have almost run out. In addition, their use has damaged the environment due to the large amount of carbon dioxide these generation methods produce and this contributes to the greenhouse effect and causes global warming.
We need to find some alternative energy sources quickly.
Possible sources of alternative energy include solar power, wind power, energy from the sea and biomass although there is no doubt that other possibilities exist and may become significant
Fossil fuels are so called because they were formed from the remains of prehistoric plants and animals.
Examples of fossil fuels include coal, oil and gas and they provide approximately 95% of the worlds energy needs.
When used to produce electricity coal is crushed then burned, used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators and this generates electricity. Burning coal produces sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain. It also produces carbon dioxide which is the cause of the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Coal and other fossil fuels are finite resources and have almost run out. They will not last much longer.
We need to develop some alternative energy sources quickly
One possibility is nuclear power which produces approximately 11% of the worlds energy needs.
Nuclear fission is used to split uranium atoms and this produces energy in the form of heat.
This is used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators which generate electricity.
It is not expensive, very reliable, very efficient and does not cause acid rain or global warming.
However, the small amount of waste produced is extremely dangerous and must be supervised and controlled for thousands of years. It must be protected from natural disasters and any other threats and the processes involved will be difficult and expensive.
If anything goes wrong, a major disaster will occur affecting millions of people e.g. Chernobyl.
Do we really want to leave such a legacy for our children?
During the next century, fuel will become increasingly scarce.
We will need to generate electricity to keep the lights on and keep our computers running.
Maybe we have no choice.
We need to find some alternative energy sources quickly.
Possible sources of alternative energy include solar power, wind power, energy from the sea and biomass although there is no doubt that other possibilities exist and may become significant
Fossil fuels are so called because they were formed from the remains of prehistoric plants and animals.
Examples of fossil fuels include coal, oil and gas and they provide approximately 95% of the worlds energy needs.
When used to produce electricity coal is crushed then burned, used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators and this generates electricity. Burning coal produces sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain. It also produces carbon dioxide which is the cause of the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Coal and other fossil fuels are finite resources and have almost run out. They will not last much longer.
We need to develop some alternative energy sources quickly
One possibility is nuclear power which produces approximately 11% of the worlds energy needs.
Nuclear fission is used to split uranium atoms and this produces energy in the form of heat.
This is used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators which generate electricity.
It is not expensive, very reliable, very efficient and does not cause acid rain or global warming.
However, the small amount of waste produced is extremely dangerous and must be supervised and controlled for thousands of years. It must be protected from natural disasters and any other threats and the processes involved will be difficult and expensive.
If anything goes wrong, a major disaster will occur affecting millions of people e.g. Chernobyl.
Do we really want to leave such a legacy for our children?
During the next century, fuel will become increasingly scarce.
We will need to generate electricity to keep the lights on and keep our computers running.
Maybe we have no choice.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_M_Williams |
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