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Fracking, the process of breaking trapped resources like natural gas and oil from shale, has led to a revolution in energy production in the U.S. It's also given rise to increasing worries that the process can have sweeping environmental impacts.
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Female Speaker: Welcome to Stuff You Should Know, from HowStuffWorks.com.
Josh: Hey, and welcome to the podcast. I'm Josh Clark. There's Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant. And this is Stuff You Should Know, a very serious edition. So don't even laugh once throughout the whole episode.
Chuck: We're just a couple of fracking podcasters. We can't do that the whole time.
Josh: I wasn't going to do it at all.
Chuck: Well, you know I would.
Josh: I find it distasteful to substitute -
Chuck: I like fracking puns.
Josh: - something for the F word.
Chuck: Yeah, sure.
Josh: Even the F word, I can barely get that out, calling it the F word.
Chuck: Oh, yeah, yeah, right, you just want to say it.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: Don't say fudging.
Josh: Right.
Chuck: I hate those people, fudging.
Josh: Yeah, Midwesterners?
Chuck: Yeah, just don't even say anything at all.
Josh: Yeah, just glower.
Chuck: Yeah, or say something entirely unrelated, but all it does is make people think of the real F word, which is like - loses the spirit of your intent, which is to not curse.
Josh: Well, yeah, that's definitely a way to put it. That's one problem with it.
Chuck: All right. What's your intro? What's your fracking intro?
Josh: Well, you know, we did that episode on peak oil.
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: And it was really funny that we recorded it when we did because like two days after, we're talking about the US running out of oil. A report was released that basically said the United States is predicted to be energy independent by like 2030 at this rate. And we actually are. We probably are never going to achieve true energy independence that's just - I mean 100 percent of our supplies of oil and fossil fuels and all that stuff, created here, it's just - it's never gonna happen. But we're gonna get closer and closer and closer. And in fact, in 2010, John Kerry, famous senator, possibly a future Secretary of State.
Chuck: Oh, yeah, is he being bandied about?
Josh: Uh-huh.
Chuck: Okay.
Josh: He said that the United States is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas, and definitely natural gas is one of the reasons - one of the ways that US has suddenly experienced this huge boom in oil production.
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: Oil production, gas production, fuel production.
Chuck: Clean burning natural gas, but we will learn. That doesn't necessarily make it clean over its life cycle. It's a big difference.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: Some say it's as dirty as coal over its life cycle.
Josh: Especially people who love coal.
Chuck: Yeah, that is one problem I had with this fracking article is - and not just the article, but the whole topic. Everybody has a slant, depending on who they're working for, like if you're an environmentalist, you're gonna have your slant. If you're working with the big oil companies, you're gonna have your slant, and they all say like these are the facts. It's really annoying.
Josh: Yeah, well, one of the reasons why everybody's able to get away with saying these are the facts is because this stuff is so new, and so unstudied, I guess to this point, as far as published purviewed studies are concerned.
Chuck: And as far as massive amounts of fracking. Like it's been around for a while, but not like it's going on today.
Josh: Right, exactly. Apparently, there's - in some form or fashion, it's been around since the 19th "Century, the concept of fracking, but the fracking, like you just described massive fracking operations, carried out by huge energy concerns, that's probably decades old.
Chuck: Yeah, I think Halliburton started it in 1949.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: They invented it.
Josh: Did they?
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: Really, Dick Cheney?
Chuck: I don't think Dick Cheney invented it.
Josh: He's like give me that pipe. I'm gonna try something new.
Chuck: Yeah, so they developed the process at least.
Josh: But it's really started to take off in the last few years. In the last decade or two is when you've started to see real concerns about what's going on here. Wait a minute, what are you guys doing?
Chuck: Right.
Josh: And that's where this idea that oh, it's perfectly safe - oh, it's gonna cause a catastrophe has come about. And that's why we should probably say like we - this isn't going to settle the issue, but you should keep your eyes - I hope this raises people's awareness of this.
Chuck: Well, yeah, just on that note, I saw a study today that 35 percent of Americans have never heard of fracking, and about 28 percent said they've heard of it, but don't know what it is.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: So that's a lot.
Josh: Well, let's teach a few people.
Chuck: Okay.
Josh: Fracking, a.k.a, hydraulic fracturing, or if you're a total square, hydro-fracking, you know, like that's the kid who thinks he's cool, but he's really kind of out of the loop, so he's calling it hydro-fracking still. But really you just call it fracking. It's a technique that's used to get to incredibly deep deposits of fossil fuels.
Chuck: Yeah, not always natural gas, but most of our discussion will be on that.
Josh: Right, and I shouldn't even say fossil fuels because you can use fracking to get to incredibly deep deposits of water if you wanted to. But the one thing in common that all of this - all of these techniques have is that you go down in a vertical line, and then all of a sudden, you just cut to the right or cut to the left, anywhere between 6000 to 13,000 feet down, to get after shale.
Chuck: Get after it.
Josh: And shale is this type of porous rock.
Chuck: Yeah, we did oil shale, right?
Josh: A long time ago, years ago. Maybe like 2008, we did oil shale. And it's a type of rock - it may contain oil. It may contain gas. It can contain water. But the stuff is trapped in it because of the tremendous pressure at these depths. And with a fracking operation, you go down there and break it up, get it out, and it comes back up.
Chuck: Yep, and here in the US, we have a lot of the shale, specifically the Marcellus shale is one of the main fracking grounds in the country. And what does it cover, Pennsylvania, Ohio, parts of New York.
Josh: Virginia, Maryland - West Virginia, Maryland.
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: It's huge.
Chuck: So that's where a lot of this stuff is taking place right now, and many more states and Europe are hot on the scene here, to get into fracking.
Josh: They think that there's about 2552 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the United States, and about 500 trillion of that is in the Marcellus region on, so it's a big deal.
Chuck: Yeah, New York just - they were letting it through, and then the government kyboshed it for now, and said, wait, maybe we should study this some more.
Josh: Yeah, because a lot of municipalities were taking it on their own to outlaw fracking in one form or fashion, and this has caused like a huge problem because there's a lot of people out there who are saying well, wait a minute. I own land. I'm kind of happy with this idea, and I want to get incredibly rich overnight, like Jed Clampett did, you know, where's my bubbling crude?
Chuck: Well, yeah, you've got to - you do have two sides. You have some farmers that are like this is contaminating our land, and you have some farmers saying I haven't been able to farm and make money in years, so I would love to sell my land off, or lease my land, and make some serious money. So it's not like every farmer's like, no, I don't want this. A lot of them do.
Josh: No, it's very much divided, and this is playing out in like town halls.
Chuck: Creates jobs.
Josh: Around New York and around the country, wherever fracking is possible, I guess, and it is definitely dividing communities. All right, so let's go a little more in-depth about the process of fracking.
Chuck: In depth?
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: It's really pretty simple. It starts off like a conventional well, so you drill deep. I think you said between six and thirteen. They said the average is about 7700 feet down.
Josh: That's for I think Chesapeake Energy's wells.
Chuck: Oh, okay, and so - well, they go to wherever the deposits are, so it just sort of depends. How do they find that out I wonder? Like what's a good site?
Josh: They detect radioactivity, I believe, because this stuff is slightly radioactive.
Chuck: Yeah, we'll get to that, too.
Josh: But I think that's one of the techniques they use is they analyze the radioactivity and say, oh, there's a bunch right here.
Chuck: Interesting. Okay, so you've got your regular well, and like you said, at what's called the kick-off point, it's gonna take a left or a right, and become a horizontal line, and that can span anywhere from 1000 to 6000 feet. Then they stick something called a well bore - it's just basically a steel casing, like a big steel pipe. And they stick that down in there, and then they shoot a bunch of cement down, and it comes out the bottom and goes back and fills it up on the outside, further encasing it.
Josh: Then they clear it out of the mill of the well bore.
Chuck: Then they clear that out, so you've got a pipeline, I guess. And then the actual fracking part takes place. So I'm setting you up for that part.
Josh: Oh, you were.
Chuck: Sure.
Josh: You'd think after all these years, I would have noticed that. Well, so you've got the well bore completely cemented and in place, and it's going down about a mile off from the kick-off point, and it's right there in the middle of this shale deposit. And they send down a little tool. It's like a little cable scrambler, you know what I'm talking about? It looks kind of like that. And it's an explosive device. And it blows a hole into - well, little holes - a bunch of little holes through the well bore, through the cement, and into the surrounding rock.
Chuck: Yeah, just a few inches. Each one will be two or three inches of - a little mini-shaft, I guess.
Josh: Right, so you've got the horizontal well bore, and the cracks are then vertical - perpendicular to it.
Chuck: Yes.
Josh: Right, and then they plug that up, and then move on and do it again, all the way down the line of this - the horizontal kick-off point - in the horizontal kick-off point - and they blow them up and blow them up and blow them up, and you've got all these perforations into the rock. And then all of a sudden now, you are prepared to frack.
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: And I was setting you up.
Chuck: At this point, they pump water - well, the pump a lot of stuff.
Josh: It's mostly water though.
Chuck: It's mostly water and sand, and then what they call other chemicals. And although, sometimes diesel fuel's a part of this.
Josh: Apparently, they stopped doing that in 2003.
Chuck: That's not true.
Josh: Well, they were supposed to stop it. The EPA came up with something that sounds like it has a lot of teeth. It's called a Memorandum of Agreement. And they asked the oil companies to sign it, and say that they won't use diesel as part of their fracking fluid any longer. I didn't realize that people were still doing it.
Chuck: Yeah, a recent congressional investigation found that 32 million gallons of diesel fuel has been injected in 19 different states, between 2005 and 2009. So it's still going on.
Josh: Well, that flies in the face of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Chuck: Yeah, the Memorandum of Understanding, yeah, it didn't have teeth, did it. But you can get a permit to do it.
Josh: That's messed up.
Chuck: Apparently, you can get a permit, but there is no office to process the permit at the EPA, so it's an effective ban, but they're still doing it.
Josh: Okay, so you've got your fracking ready. You pump you - you start actually the process of fracking. What you've just done, everything we talked about up to the water is preparing for fracking. Once you start pumping this water down at an incredibly pressurized state, like 9000 PSI - by contrast, you know, an air compressor for your air tools in your garage. It's like 90 PSI. At 9000 PSI is just an incredibly pressurized state.
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: The water rushes down, and when it hits those perforated areas, it cracks the shale even further. And eventually, the - it also - that particulate matter, the sand or whatever else that they added, goes into those cracks, and then keeps it open - keeps the cracks open after think water recedes.
Chuck: Yeah, these must be tiny little cracks.
Josh: They are, but it's enough because what you're talking about is - like you're getting gas out of rock, rather than - yeah, just a little bit.
Chuck: Yeah, exactly, it just needs a leak.
Josh: And then once you stop pumping the water, the pressure pushes it back up, and eventually, the water's done. The water that you sent back down there comes back up, and then it's followed by gas or whatever else.
Chuck: Yeah, and that water is waste water that is - and we will get into this - it's one of the controversies, how that waste water is handled is kind of a - one of the things at the center point of the controversy.
Josh: Yeah, so that's fracking. It's complex engineering-wise, but it's actually kind of simple as a concept, and then the whole thing lasts from preparation - I guess the first drilling to the end of fracking, about four months, but then this well that's just been developed can produce natural gas for decades, possibly years or decades.
Chuck: Yeah, I saw up to like 40 years even sometimes. Okay, so that's fracking/
Josh: That's fracking, and that's where the story ends.
Chuck: That's where the story ends. So we're gonna present both sides of the argument like we try to do, sometimes more successfully than others at other times.
Josh: Yeah, because if you're an environmentalist, you probably just noticed eight things that we said that are driving you crazy right now because it's like, well, what about this, what about that? We're gonna address that.
Chuck: Well, let's take the pro-fracking side first of all, which right now, you know, includes President Obama. You know, it's not like we're not dividing this politically, as best we can. Like he's in favor of it right now, and we also need to point out that we had a listener mail that pointed out that there's an EPA study that was commissioned in 2011, that's really the most comprehensive study ever. And it'll be done in 2014, and I think it - by the time this comes out, some preliminary notes should be in. So we'll learn a lot more soon, and maybe the Obama Administration will come out against it after that. But as of now, there's not a lot of hard science.
Josh: Yeah, which is problematic.
Chuck: Yeah, which is problematic.
Josh: It is problematic.
Chuck: So on the pro side, you're gonna say, you know what, we can - these horizontal wells are really sort of efficient, in that you're not going to have above ground hundreds and hundreds of wells. This one well can go horizontally for 6000 feet, and do most of the work out of site.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: Of course, counter that with there are like tens of thousands - hundreds of thousands of these wells, fracking wells, and there's still a lot going on above ground.
Josh: There is because the whole operation, while once they finish drilling, they remove the drill rig, but now you have pump trucks coming in. It takes about 200 trucks to deliver a million gallons of water.
Chuck: Yeah, man, I saw this one mini-documentary on this small town of Pennsylvania, and they're like on Main Street. And the guy was like yeah, we used to sit out here at the Sidewalk Café and literally, while they were filming this, it's like every other - every third car that passed was a huge tanker truck.
Josh: Right.
Chuck: Through like the middle of this little quaint town.
Josh: Carrying water to the site.
Chuck: And removing waste water, and whatever else.
Josh: Right, so if it takes 200 trucks to carry one million gallons of water, some of these operations use ten million gallons, so 2000 trucks, just to carry it there. Then you've got pump trucks and - I mean it is an operation, even though, compared to oil drilling, above ground, it's less. It's more innocuous.
Chuck: That's right. So another pro is that natural gas is pretty great, and you're not going to find a lot of people to argue with that. It burns very cleanly, it's a good solution, but it's the - like we said, over its lifetime, some contend that because of the practices, it's not any cleaner than coal in the end.
Josh: Yeah, like if you burn it itself, in a perfect world, as it emits one-third the nitrogen oxides of coal, half of the CO2, and just one percent of the sulfur oxides, so it is like a lot cleaner. beautiful than again, as part of the fracking process, you have like all these trucks that are using all this diesel that are coming to and from the site, right?
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: Another problem with it is methane release associated with tapping natural gas. Apparently, as much as eight percent of the methane in a natural gas well is lost, and methane is bad. It's a really serious greenhouse gas. It's worse than CO2, as far as creating the greenhouse effect is concerned. It's just there's typically less of it. And we usually produce less than we produce CO2. So there's an air pollution factor to it as well.
Chuck: Yeah, that's true. We should probably point out, if anyone's seen the documentary, Gas Land, from 2010, there was the famous scene where the guy lights his tap water on fire. It's very impactful.
Josh: Yeah, did you see it?
Chuck: Yeah, and you know, you can't see that and not go, holy crap, like they're letting this happen? As it turns out, in fairness, the officials determined that it was a naturally occurring methane reserve at this particular homeowner's well, and it was not due to fracking.
Josh: Right, his well had hit like a methane reserve.
Chuck: Yeah, so -
Josh: That would explain his flaming water.
Chuck: Exactly.
Josh: But before that came out, I think Truth Land, which was, I guess, and answer to Gas Land, came out. Did you hear about that?
Chuck: No.
Josh: Truth Land was released by Energy In-Depth, which is a pro-fracking group, which if you go into SourceWatch, is funded by frack - by oil companies. But they released this documentary that said nothing about the oil companies funding it, and called it Truth Land, and it was exposed as propaganda, like right out of the gate. But there's definitely this propaganda war going on -
Chuck: Yeah.
Josh: - between pro and con sides. Speaking of pro and cons, you got anymore pros?
Chuck: I do, but quickly, just because that guy in Gas Land, it turned out to be a different thing, the companies have been fined for negligence with methane reaching the water supplies. Like that has happened.
Josh: Right, which is not supposed to happen because if you're talking about like a - the Marcellus region, this - that's the typically very deep, deep shale, like 7000, 10,000 feet deep. That's how far you have to drill down before you hit that kick-off point, right. Your ground water reserves, your aquifers are going to be a few hundred to 1000 feet. So if you pass through them, and then you use your steel well bore and encase it in cement correctly, you're not - you're not going to get any release into that ground water, and the cracks that you're making, the fractures, are so deep and small enough, that they're not gonna travel all the way up, thousands and thousands of feet up to the aquifer.
Just the pressure won't allow it, supposedly. That's like the - that's the logic behind it now. But there are things like coal bed methane fields that are typically much more shallow. And they're closer to aquifers. And those are the ones, if you're tapping those using fracking, you run a tremendous risk of methane getting into the water supply, big time. But if you're doing deep shale stuff, as it stands now, all the evidence suggests that no, it's - if you seal your well bore correctly, you should be fine.
Chuck: Right, well, that's the listener mail pointed out that most of the issues - the problems have been because of bad concrete or incorrect well, this and that, not the fracking itself. But it's the same people doing that, so it still counts as part of the problem with fracking. You can't say like, oh, the fracking segment of this operation went well. But of course, we had cracks all up and down that ruined everything. So come on, it's semantics. All right. Some of the more - last couple of pro arguments here Josh, are revenue.
Josh: It's a big one.
Chuck: 17,600 jobs would be created, and $125 million in tax revenue, if New York State lifted their fracking ban, and that's just in New York.
Josh: In their state alone.
Chuck: Yeah, so a lot of jobs - a lot of these are former farming communities that are somewhat depressed, and a lot of people want those jobs. And anytime you're reducing our dependence on foreign oil, that's a good thing, in a worldview. So those are some of the pro arguments.
Josh: Sure. And they're good ones. So - and again, we should say like the jury is still very much out, but there is a lot of common sense criticism of fracking operations. Some have already been discarded, like a lot of people are worried about that radioactivity. And the wastewater that does come back up is slightly more radioactive than it was when it went down, but not any - as one professor put it, that's like the least of your worries with fracking.
Chuck: Is the radioactivity?
Josh: Yeah, another one is that it causes earthquakes, which is sensible, you know, you're down there, you're drilling, you're blowing holes into the shale, thousands of feet down. How can you not cause an earthquake. Apparently, earthquakes are associated with fracking, but it's not the actual fracking. It's when you store wastewater in a retention pond, reservoir-induced seismicity.
Chuck: Oh, is that where it's coming from?
Josh: Yeah, so there are a couple of earthquakes that were associated with fracking, but not from the fracking process - from storing the wastewater.
Chuck: Again, semantics, if you ask me.
Josh: But the wastewater is probably the single most - I guess if you're an environmentalist, that's the smoking gun, like that's the one that you can't get around, if you're an energy company because fracking uses tons of water, lots and lots of water. I mean millions of gallons of water to get to these, and recovers maybe between 15 and 50 percent of that water. And then the water that is recovered is now way more toxic than it was before, so you're taking water from a municipal water supply, drinking water, people - water people need, sending it down in the earth, and then getting maybe 15 to 50 percent back. And then the stuff you do get back is like, what are we gonna do with this?
Chuck: Yeah, well, they - the oil companies will say that they dispose of it in ways that adequately match state regulations.
Josh: Which may or may not be adequate.
Chuck: Yeah, it may or may not be, and depending on the state, the regulations are a little more lax in others. I know a lot of the wastewater from Pennsylvania is deposited in surrounding states because I think they have one of the more aggressive wastewater policies, so they'll just say - ironically, New York, even though they banned fracking for now, allows Pennsylvania wastewater to be dumped there.
Josh: Okay, so there's at least one municipality that has banned fracking fluids, like you can't buy or sell them or possess them in the city, and you aren't allowed to introduce any used fracking fluid into their waste treatment plants, like their city water isn't allowed to treat fracking fluid.
Chuck: Yeah, and some of this water, like the wastewater, some of it is reused for other fracking operations. Some of it is just treated.
Josh: Which makes sense. Economically, it just makes sense to get as much back as you can, and then use it again - use the same water as much as possible.
Chuck: Yeah, that'd be a good idea.
Josh: Some is treated, you were gonna say, in like a wastewater plant.
Chuck: Yeah, sure.
Josh: Others, like a lot of the stuff that comes back up includes like ancient salt beds - salt from ancient sea beds.
Chuck: Oh, really?
Josh: Yeah, and they use those on the - to clear off snow and ice on roadways, but they're starting to outlaw that as well. It's basically like the fracking industry went unregulated for a very long time. It was unregulated, in that it was a drilling technique, as far as the EPA was concerned. And it wasn't until this environmental group, LEAF, sued I guess the EPA over some fracking techniques in the late '90s in Alabama, before the EPA finally started to regulate fracking. I'm sorry.
Chuck: What?
Josh: I got a little into it for a second.
Chuck: No, I love it. We were talking about wastewater. Some of that water also spills. In June, 2011, there was a well blow-out in Clearwater County Pennsylvania. It was a gas explosion, 16 hours of uncontrolled spill, about a million gallons of toxic waste, in to a creek in Moshannon State Park. I saw this one documentary where they interviewed a guy that used to - one of the blue collar guys who used to work at the operation, and he was like, yeah, you know, some of them are heavily regulated and get visited by inspectors. And he went, but many thousands are not, and he said I worked at one of those. And he said in the - at the frack pad, it was on top of like a mountain area.
Josh: That's where the bar is.
Chuck: Yeah, I guess so. But he said you would look at this mountain on the side of it, and he said it looked like it was bleeding, like this red, oozy water, just tumbling down into like the forest below. And he said but yeah, some of them are regulated, some of them aren't - or inspected. And I think it's probably one of the same issues as the mountaintop coal removal, is that you've got like a handful of inspectors for these like thousands and thousands of operations, which is not good.
Josh: No. Wasn't there a spill of just - not even wastewater, but it was straight up fracking fluid, like all the additives? Which, by the way, are - for a very long time, energy companies said that their fracking fluid mixtures were proprietary, and they wouldn't reveal what was in there. The EPA finally said no, you have to. We need 100 percent transparency. So now -
Chuck: Well, not 100 percent though, because there's still some - that is true, and dude, I saw that, too, and I was like great, finally. Release the chemicals that you're putting in there. And then they said that there's a bit of a loophole in that some of them can be - still be listed as trade secrets.
Josh: Well, it's like trans fat, like you can list - you can put trans fats in your food still, and say that has zero grams of trans fat, as long as it has half a gram or less per serving of trans fats, but you can still put that big zero on there.
Chuck: It's very tricky, so some of the states outlawed - or some of the states said all right, you have to tell us at least what your little trade secrets are, and we won't release them, and then some states, like Colorado, believe it or not, just said you don't even have to tell us what your trade secret is.
Josh: So, well, the ones that have been released, it's very - there's some unusual stuff in there - walnut hulls, table salt.
Chuck: That doesn't sound harmless.
Josh: Lemon juice.
Chuck: That sounds great.
Josh: Laundry detergent, antifreeze.
Chuck: Oh, okay, it's getting worse.
Josh: Emulsifiers - apparently, the price of this - what is it called? I want to say guar, but it's not guar - you know, Gwar the band. But it's like guar. It is like guar, but instead of a W, it's just a single U. It's an emulsifier used in ice cream, and apparently, fracking operations have driven the price of this up so much that the ice cream industry is like what the heck man? Like we - you just lowered our profit margin significantly.
Chuck: Is that why Ben and Jerry's is so expensive?
Josh: No, Ben and Jerry's is expensive because -
Chuck: It's so delicious?
Josh: It is delicious.
Chuck: Chubby Hubby.
Josh: That's a good one.
Chuck: That's my favorite one.
Josh: New York Super Fudge Chunk, that white chocolate in there?
Chuck: I like the offerings, the seasonal offerings, too, like I had some pumpkin cheesecake the other day that was really good.
Josh: I have not tried that one yet.
Chuck: It's delicious.
Josh: You know what else is good is their - it's a blueberry graham Greek yogurt, frozen yogurt.
Chuck: Oh, yeah, Emily had that. Is it good?
Josh: It's very good, too.
Chuck: Boy, we can get sidetracked on food at the drop of a hat.
Josh: We've been doing good in this one. We've been talking about nothing but fracking.
Chuck: That's true. So they will - depending on what website you go to, you will - if you're worried about chemical additives, you will see stats from people like Halliburton that say it only makes up like point-five percent of this mixture. But what they don't say is that can still equal like 300 million - I'm sorry, 300 tons of chemical additives. Is that for a single operation?
Josh: That's four million gallons of water used in a fracking operation would equal about 300 tons of these additives.
Chuck: Chemical additives.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: So, there's a lot of this stuff. It may be only point-five percent to two percent, but there's still a lot of - like many tons of harmful chemicals.
Josh: And again, what are you doing with it? I mean like what do you do with it afterwards? If you could reuse it, awesome. I have very few problems with it. But it's taking water from a water supply, and it's - in Texas, fracking operations have been shown to actually have exacerbated droughts in the area.
Chuck: Oh, yeah?
Josh: Yeah, around the Marcellus region, there's apparently plenty of water, like for example, in Pennsylvania, in a single day, the whole state uses about 9.5 billion gallons of water every day. Natural gas development, fracking, uses about 1.9 million gallons of the 9.5 billion every day - 1.9 million to 9.5 billion, so it's insignificant, but in an area that's already water stressed, that's a problem, taking all that water and using it for fracking, wasting it, and then what do you do with it afterwards?
Chuck: Yeah, well, at least Texas has - apparently, it's like the leading state, as far as having capabilities. They have many more disposal wells, is what they're called there. But in places like Pennsylvania, where the Marcellus shale is, they don't have nearly the kind of disposal wells at this point yet, which leads to more retreatment - or treatment of the water, and dumping it in places like New York. I don't want to say they're dumping it - I mean I don't think they're like putting a big tube out in the middle of a field in New York, and just letting it run out everywhere. They'd better not be doing that.
Josh: They probably aren't.
Chuck: I saw one stat where there is one serious environmental concern for every 150 wells.
Josh: Wow.
Chuck: Which if you multiply that over hundreds of thousands of wells, the reason a lot of people point out and say it's not so dangerous is like where - where's the hard science on the effect right now? And this guy was like, well, we're not seeing it quite yet, like come back in ten years. At the rate that we're going - and you'll see some problems.
Josh: Sure. One for every 150 operations, huh?
Chuck: One serious environmental concern. It could be a spill, it could be leaching into the soil, it kind of depends. And my whole thing is if it's really no big deal, and it's totally safe, and it's just not gonna impact anyone in any way, then why do you exclude it from the Safe Water Drinking Act in 2005? Like why do you take congressional measures to have the language of what a pollutant is changed? Which is what happened in 2005.
Josh: Tell me about it.
Chuck: Well, the Safe Water Drinking Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 - and this is not political - this happened. You can go look it up.
Josh: Just settle down.
Chuck: Dick Cheney did push for these measures to go through. They went through.
Josh: The Cheney loophole.
Chuck: The Halliburton loophole is what it's called. And I'll even give you the section. If you go to page 102, section 322, it covers hydraulic fracturing, and it excludes in the Safe Water Drinking Act, the underground injection of fluids or propping agents, other than diesel fuels. That's the one that they still said like you can't do - pursuant to hydraulic fracturing related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activity. So basically, you need to keep your water safe, unless it's hydraulic fracturing. Frackling?
Josh: Hydro-fracking.
Chuck: Furthermore, in the Clean Water Act, they changed the definition of pollutant to not include water, gas, or other material, which is injected into a well, to facilitate production of oil or gas. So if it's so clean and no big deal, why are they going in and changing the term for pollutant, and saying exclude fracking from Safe Water Drinking Act?
Josh: Yeah, it's a great question.
Chuck: And why was the guy -
Josh: Erin Brockovich.
Chuck: Why was the guy behind pushing this, a former Halliburton executive? It's like I'm no smart guy, but I'm no dummy either.
Josh: Yeah. Well, I think you know, check - the jury's still out, as we said ,on this, and we're waiting for this hard science to come in, but I feel like you should always be wary of any group or industry, or anyone on either side, that engages in a disinformation campaign, that tries to sway the public using underhanded tactics. That should always raise red flags to you.
Chuck: And they're both doing it right now, which is what's maddening.
Josh: For sure, for sure. And anytime somebody's selling you something, and you find out that they're being underhanded, you should wonder about everything they're doing across the board, like with the Energy and Development, releasing Truth Land. That was misinformation. That was a misinformation campaign. They didn't say who released it.
Chuck: And they called it Truth Land.
Josh: Yeah, exactly. And if you go onto the Energy and Development website in particular, it reads really defensive - real defensive, like the text of it does. I can't believe that they let whatever PR company put that together release it like that because it's like why are you asking? Like I'll be you didn't know that. I'll bet you didn't know that natural gas could blow up your whole family if we wanted it to.
Chuck: Well, that did happen, too.
Josh: Well, tell them first about the studies. This month represents the third month in a row, where a major public university has taken a real black eye from being exposed for being in bed with the fracking community.
Chuck: Yeah, University of Texas study said that fracking is safe, and it's really no big deal. Well, I don't know if they said that. They said it was safe. I don't want to paraphrase. And then they got some independent reviews of Professor Grote's study, and they said, oh, you know what, he's on the board of a natural gas drilling company, and received more than a million and a half dollars in compensation.
Josh: And he didn't mention that anywhere in his study.
Chuck: No.
Josh: Nowhere.
Chuck: But what he did do is quit his job at the University of Texas afterward, and kind of retreat quietly into his corner full of money.
Josh: And the department head over him was forced to resign, too. But the thing was, it wasn't just that he didn't report that conflict of interest, he said that there was like flaws in the science. It was a bad article. It was a bad study, and they retracted it. And that's a big deal to retract a scientific study. They're saying like we want that back. Pretend we never said anything. Penn State tried to open a shale development school, I guess, and they couldn't because all of the professors wouldn't join. They couldn't get anybody to be a part of it. And then there was one more, I think that was part of this little three-month sweep that our buddy Wade Goodwin over at NPR was reporting.
Chuck: Oh, yeah?
Josh: Yeah, the Shale Resources Institute at the State University of New York at Buffalo was closed after people wanted to know who was funding its work, and whether its work was truly independent, into studying fracking. So they closed this whole school down because they found out that it was basically funded by energy companies, and the people were working for them, rather than the public good.
Chuck: Wow, so there are plenty more anecdotal stories that we could not get to. If you type in fracking timeline, there's a great timeline, oddly enough, of incidences and accidents, and you know, I realize that there's no way to get oil and petroleum out of the earth without there being accidents at some point. It's just one of the dangers and unfortunate side effects. It's gonna happen. But there are a lot of them out there. Wells exploding - 2009, a fracking wastewater impoundment caught fire, exploded in Avella, Pennsylvania. A soil test conducted at the site found arsenic at 6000 times the permissible level. November to December of 2007, 22 water wells in Bainbridge, Ohio, contaminated with drilling chemicals. One explodes - a lot of methane explosions. One family was killed.
Josh: Yeah, it's pretty flammable.
Chuck: Like when they lit their pilot light in their house.
Josh: Oh, my gosh.
Chuck: Killed the family, so -
Josh: And what was it doing to their brains leading up to that, just huffing it all the time/
Chuck: Yeah, who knows?
Josh: If the levels were so high, it blew up their house, I mean how long was it accumulating?
Chuck: Well, anecdotally, you'll see interviews with people talking - it's just like Erin Brockovich, like I went to drink my water, after they started this operation, and it had a little petroleum-like residue on top, and it tasted awful. And like they say don't even bathe in it. And like this is what I'm supposed to drink.
Josh: I want to say - I want to really make sure everyone gets this. If you ask me, natural gas is a really great fuel, like it really does - Chuck, if we could convert the nation's transportation sector to natural gas only, cars and trucks, we would reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent. No, I'm sorry, we would reduce CO, carbon monoxide emissions, which makes smog, by 90 percent; CO2 by 25 percent; and nitrous oxides by 60 percent. It really is a good idea. And it probably will be this excellent bridge fuel between coal and oil, and whatever renewable we come up with, wind, solar, in the future. And we could become energy independent thanks to natural gas.
And if fracking is the best way to do it, that's awesome, but we have to hold the people who are doing this, feet to the fire, to do it as safely as possible, to cut down on these incidents that you're talking about, to not pollute water, but to get it out as reasonably and efficiently as possible, but also as safely as possible because if we don't say you have to do this smartly and safely, they're going to do it as cheaply as possible because it's a mandate of their corporate charters, to maximize profits, not maximize public safety, which is why it's important for people to be talking about this. It's not inherently bad, it just has to be done correctly it seems like to me, after researching this.
Chuck: Right, agreed. And didn't you find a new fracking method that does not use the chemicals at all?
Josh: Yeah, it's called gelled fracking. It uses a liquid propane, and it - when you pump it down in there, it doesn't come back up. It turns into vapor, which escapes back up as a vapor, which you can capture, and reuse, resell, or burn as fuel for - to power the site.
Chuck: That sounds pretty good. No wastewater.
Josh: Gelled fracking doesn't need water at all.
Chuck: And are people using this yet, or is it -
Josh: It's - they're patenting it. It's been used about 1000 times since 2008. I should probably say I invented, so I have an enormous financial stake in this. See, I admit my financial interests.
Chuck: Josh Gel is what it's called.
Josh: Right, but yeah, I ran across that today. It seemed like a pretty good jam - gelled fracking.
Chuck: Yeah, I bet one of the issues with that though is like it probably requires some sort of redoing of your current systems, which probably would incur costs that companies don't want. I'm just guessing.
Josh: Plus you have to sacrifice like 8000 cats, just to get the machine to start working.
Chuck: Who cares?
Josh: It is inhabited by a god that loves cat sacrifice.
Chuck: Just leave my cats alone and you can have the rest.
Josh: You got anything else?
Chuck: No.
Josh: Fracking has been done .
Chuck: Yeah, we've been asked about this one for a while.
Josh: If you want to learn more about fracking, you can type that word, F-R-A-C-K-I-N-G, into the search bar at HowStuffWorks.com, and I said search bar, so it's time for listener mail.
Chuck: Josh, before we do listener mail, our TV show is going on. It debuted last week. Hopefully, to great numbers. And we would like to remind everyone to watch each and every week on Science Channel at 10 p.m., following Idiot Abroad, which is our lead-in, which is great. And it's on Science Channel on Saturdays.
Josh: Ten p.m., what else are you doing on a Saturday night at 10 p.m.?
Chuck: Nothing.
Josh: That's why you should watch our show because you'll like it.
Chuck: Yeah, if you're out, DVR it, and if you don't have a DVR and you don't have TV or cable, you can get these on iTunes for I think a buck-99.
Josh: Yeah, the day after the premiere, so Sundays.
Chuck: That's right. So go to iTunes and search for Stuff You Should Know on the television side of things, and we'll thank you for your support.
Josh: Yes, hats off to you guys.
Chuck: All right. Listener mail?
Josh: Yes.
Chuck: I'm going to call this Caving Sucks. This is from Michelle [inaudible]. Guys, I'm a Canadian speech pathologist currently living in Manhattan. Last month I went on my honeymoon in Belize and decided to go on a guided cave tour. I imagined a large opening in a rock, a beautiful sparkling waterfall and lights, and rainbows coming from the ceiling, kind of like you were talking about, Chuck, but what it really turned out to be was five hours of total darkness, except for the headlight of course; high pressure water rushing over jagged moving rocks. I swam, stumbled, crabbed, walked, for two and a half hours to reach a series of seven waterfalls that I then climbed.
Someday I'll look back and laugh, but at the time, I was screaming to Jesus to save me. Luckily, my group thought I was hilarious and enjoyed my jokes. But I kept my tears on the inside. They guys were very well trained, also very relaxed. And I never felt like we were in too much danger. At first, I tried really hard not to touch the precious centuries-old stalactites, as I stumbled through, but by hour four, I was grabbing at anything I could as I was going down, trying not to have my eyes stabbed out by jagged rocks. I can't believe they let random tourists through these caves with no special training or a fitness test.
Living in New York City, I've had some crazy experiences, such as inadvertently getting caught in the middle of a shoot-out and being quasi-attacked by a gentleman on PCP, but caving was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. Had I listened to this podcast before my honeymoon, I never would have gone and disaster would have been avoided. Thank you for the delightful podcast, much love, Michelle [inaudible].
Josh: Thanks a lot, Michelle. Sorry about the PCP guy. That's really something. Maybe that requires its own email as well, don't you think?
Chuck: It's always PCP. I wonder how many times it really is. Everyone's always like they were crazed out on PCP.
Josh: Yeah.
Chuck: Maybe it was just the Ambien.
Josh: They were eating a stick of butter and coming for me. Let's see, if you have a commentary about how something that we thought was awesome actually sucks in real life, we want to hear about that. And if you have any kind of fracking operation in your neighborhood, we'd love to hear about that as well, pro, con, whatever. You can Tweet to us at SYSKpodcast. You can join us on Facebook.com/StuffYouShouldKnow, and you can send us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Female Speaker: For more on this, and thousands of other topics, visit HowStuffWorks.com.
[End of Audio]
Duration: 46 minutes
Topics in this Podcast: oil, energy, environment, howstuffworks, josh, stuffyoushouldknow.com, Chuck


text:
Need help? Advice?
10-6 EST, m-f
Ready to B-flexible with Britax? The 2016/2017 Britax B-Safe 35 Elite & B-Agile 3 Travel System provides the easiest possible way to travel with baby, whether you're strolling the sidewalk or driving to the grocery store, and it comes with that familiar brand name that stands for safety!
The 2016 Britax B-Safe 35 Elite & B-Agile 3 Travel System package comes with three pieces:
All three parts combine for superb ease in traveling with your baby – the B-Agile comes with Britax's patented Click & Go technology, so you can pop your infant car seat right on and go, without undoing any harnesses (and possibly waking a napping baby).
The Britax B-Agile Stroller has some minor changes that were carried out in response to consumer requests: the stroller seat is now more upright, so your curious toddler can see the world around her; the recline mechanism is updated and vastly easier to use; the basket is even larger, to haul more gear; and the wheels are higher-quality, with better treads.
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This well-loved travel system ensures a snug, cozy, and safe ride for your baby wherever she goes, from birth right up through preschool. It's a B-eautiful thing!
This product has no reviews...yet.
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A good stroller travel system takes the effort out of moving your new baby from the car to the stroller and back again, by enabling you to click your infant car seat right on to the frame of your baby stroller. In this video, we demonstrate three of our favorite travel systems, which combine a stroller and infant car seat that harmonize perfectly to make life so much easier for new parents!
In this video, you'll see:
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- The UPPAbaby Cruz Stroller & the UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat: The UPPAbaby Cruz is a popular choice, with great features including a reversible seat, a nice big SPF-protected canopy, a huge basket, and a standing fold. The matching Mesa Infant Car Seat is loaded with safety and ease-of-use features, and clicks right onto the Cruz without the need for additional adapters.
- The Nuna Tavo Stroller & the Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat: The new-for-2016 Tavo has a seat that can lie entirely flat and be modified to form a bassinet-like rolling bed for your newborn; it can also accommodate the popular Pipa, which clicks right into the belly bar with no need for an additional purchase.
Which of these stroller travel systems is best for you and your family? If you're not sure, there are plenty of ways we can help!
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Private Link is an exciting new service that lets you bring Azure PaaS resources into your virtual network. Find out what it does, how it works and why you want to use it.
It's often necessary to configure Azure virtual machines to use a consistent outbound IP address, to connect to another resource with an IP based whitelist. In a classic cloud service based deployment this was easy, all of the VM's in the cloud service used the cloud services IP for outbound traffic
On Tuesday at Ignite Microsoft announced a number of new Azure services, one of which was Azure DNS. The ability to host your DNS zones has been a feature of cloud providers like AWS for some time now, so it's good to see Microsoft adding in this essential component for providing web services. Befor
Picking the right Azure data centre to host your application in is critical to getting decent levels of latency. In some cases it's very clear which data centre to use based on your audience location, but what about when things aren't so clear? If your in Europe, which of the two locations is best?


text:
State Auditor Tom Schweich has released two audits Wednesday – one dealing with the merger of the Missouri State Water Patrol with the Highway Patrol, and the other with the now-defunct Tour of Missouri bicycle race.�
By Marshall Griffin (Jefferson City, Mo.)
First, Governor Jay Nixon and legislative leaders had touted the merger of the Highway and Water Patrols as a cost-saving move that would also provide valuable cross training for state troopers. But Deputy State Auditor Harry Otto says the merger has actually cost the state an additional $900,000 per year.
"The Highway Patrol has a more lucrative retirement package than [the] Water Patrol, and also provided a better health insurance benefit package than did the Water Patrol," said Otto.
In response, public safety officials say that not enough time has gone by for all savings to be captured, and that the merger aided the state's response to natural disasters, including the Joplin tornado, flooding and the February blizzard.
The second audit finds that Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder may have had a conflict of interest when he simultaneously served as chairs of the state's Tourism Division and a non-profit group that operated the now-defunct Tour of Missouri pro bicycle race. A spokesperson for Kinder says he had no financial interest in the race.


text:
When the Batchery launched in 2015, a group of 30 leaders in startups and venture capital committed to serving as Investor Advisors and supporters to all Batchery member companies.
Additionally, our network of 20+ mentors work closely with our enrolled startup entrepreneurs to advance their business growth, achieve investment readiness, and get to market faster. Much like our Investor Advisors, they hail from a broad range of experiential backgrounds, with the common thread of being leaders in their fields.
Batchery mentors typically meet with our entrepreneurs, either in person or remotely, to learn about their business and challenge their assumptions with the mentors' own facts, feedback, and industry experience.
The entrepreneur-advisor/mentor relationship is often the catalyst of the Valley's most successful ventures, and can lead to opportunities far beyond that initial mentorship.


text:
Kenya bank invests millions through reality show
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – KENYA Commercial Bank (KCB) has invested more than Ksh 150 million (over US$1,4 million) in local businesses through the first season of its award-winning, Japan-inspired business reality show.
Dubbed KCB Lions' Den, the show came through the 2jiajiri initiative of KCB which aims to tackle the unemployment scourge facing the youth in Kenya.
The first season of the 72 local businesses were represented on the show for a period of 12 weeks and 30 lucky entrepreneurs were able to convince the five celebrated Lions in the Den: Kris Senanu, Wandia Gichuru, Darshan Chandaria, Olive Gachara and Myke Rabar, to invest their own money in exchange for equity in the local business.
Total amount invested in Season 1 of the Lions' Den was Ksh 153,3 million.
KCB Marketing Director, Angela Mwirigi, said KCB Bank celebrated local entrepreneurship milestones.
She said in line with the 2jiajiri initiative, Lions' Den came as a response to the entrepreneurs' call for more opportunities as more than 40 percent of the youth in Kenya between the ages of 15 and 34 years old face unemployment.
"KCB Bank believes in entrepreneurship as a solution to the high unemployment rates in the country and we seek to come up with innovative platforms such as Lions' Den to curb this menace," said Mwirigi.
As an adaptation of the globally acclaimed Dragons' Den, Quite Bright Films (QBF) produced Lions' Den in collaboration with Sony Pictures International for the Kenyan market.
The first of its kind in Kenya, Lions' Den is a variation of the original show that was first aired in Japan and has now been produced in over 30 countries.
KCB Bank is working at the show's second season.
Applications open in March.
– CAJ News


text:
Back to all reports
Tree has one of its main trunks collapse in recent high winds
Reported in the Trees category by do it right 1st time at 16:29, Fri 12 January 2018
Sent to Coventry City Council less than a minute later
Tree collapsed in recent high winds a main trunk has snapped and is touching floor, being held on by god knows! also before xmas tree surgeons just cut and left loose branches from other trees in area on the floor .this if done by joe public would be classed a fly tipping!!!
Council get a grip on your workers/ contractors to do the job right first time, its becoming a joke!
Provide an update
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text:
In his inauguration speech, Trump stated that his administration will, "unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth."
The thing that makes this quote so significant is that unlike former President Obama, President Trump was unafraid to call out the problem for what is it. Despite being presiding over the worst radical Islamic terror attacks on US soil since 9/11, former President Obama and his administration (and Hillary Clinton) refrained from using the term 'radical Islamic terror' at virtually all times.
When asked by a mother whose son was killed in the fight against terrorism why he refused to use the term 'radical Islamic terror,' Obama responded by saying that there was "no religious rationale that would justify in any way any of the things that they [Islamic terrorists] do."
So when the Islamic State's propaganda arm releases an article detailing the reasons why they want to conquer the West, and it states, "our primary reason for hating you will not cease to exist until you embrace Islam," that has nothing to do with a radical interpretation of Islam in Barack Obama's eyes. At least according to his rhetoric.
When jihadists throw gays off rooftops, stone those accused of adultery, and murder other Muslims for believing in the wrong interpretation of Islam, and endlessly cite their religious beliefs as justification for all these things, the issue is clearly religious in nature.
Surely, one can say that the extremist's interpretation of Islam is perverted, but that doesn't detach their religious beliefs from their motivation to commit violence, as the left has relentlessly tried to do. Never mind the fact that anyone can play that 'no true Scotsman' game. The extremists themselves claim that secular and liberal interpretations of Islam are in fact the perverted versions of the religion and consider adherents of those interpretations apostates rather than Muslims.
The reality is that though Donald Trump is a controversial figure, the label 'radical Islamic terrorism' is perfectly accurate and thus ought not to be considered controversial. Acts of terror the like of which were witnessed in San Bernardino, Brussels, and Paris were undoubtedly motivated by radical interpretations of Islam.
To deny that is to deny reality and to refuse to identify the problem for what it is for fear of being divisive or politically incorrect is nothing short of a pathetic lie by omission. Though there is much to dislike about Trump, it is nice to see him speak with clarity about the motivations of our enemies, unlike his predecessor.


text:
this space has gotten a bit dusty o'er the past few months...
we moved. to the island. it is peaceful. we are far too far from family and friends, but the peace is enchanting. peace for the first time - in a long, long time.
five children now. it's busy, but it's good. each day my legs grow a little stronger under me being in a new home (still not completely unpacked and moved in), a new city, dear Hubs taking on a new business with so much joy, and in a way - we are redefining ourselves as a family. many days I have to close my eyes and just breathe.
baby is here. he's a monkey bean, a dolly boy, a sweet little bundle of heaven that is already more like a little man than a wee babe. we named him Otto Nathaniel. 9 pounds, 3 ounces. it was a terrible labor. but such as these things do, it has been mostly forgotten as he folds into my arms, our hearts, our family. contractions that raged on for 6 days, so many times where all I could do to keep from falling into an abyss was just breathe. the 6th night, I knew it was time. after being pulled over by the police for speeding on the way to the hospital (Joel to the officer exiting his vehicle: "I can't wait for you to get to the car, my wife is in full-blown labor!" Officer: "Oh my gosh - go then. Go! Good luck!" he looked at me in such a panic like he wanted nothing to do with delivering a baby in a minivan on the side of the road. I thought this would be a funny memory - woman in labor just like in the movies, me panting away with hair in my face and ready to tear someone else's face off). they checked me and reported I was 8cm and I cried, thanking Jesus and looking up at Joel to report through grateful tears, moist cheeks, quivering lips with a hoarse but triumphant whisper, "that's my personal best - I stayed at home until 8cm..." - and 3 hours later was still at 8cm. dang. I champed and breathed and rocked and showered and swayed and yelled and begged for mercy - when I had just about given up due to my legs feeling like they were on fire again (just like my 3rd labor, my Jacob all over again) - I felt the snap of my water breaking - Joel said he heard it, too - and then I pushed like I've never pushed before. I was seriously screaming, yelling, begging with all of my might, my anger, my frustration at how long this was taking and at how terrible my body felt - I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw and screamed myself hoarse as I pushed my newborn son into the world.
when he was finally born, all I could say over and over and over was "thank God he's out. thank God that's over. thank God he's out. thank God that's over. thank God he's out. thank God that's over."
he was covered in meconium, he aspirated the meconium, he needed deep suctioning. the meconium was orange. (never seen before by myself or any of the people attending his birth). when he was handed to me he was breathing too rapidly - he was rooting around, looking to eat, but was panting. I mentioned to the pediatrician "he's panting - I think he's having trouble breathing" - after which he was whisked to the NICU and poked full of IVs and given an OG and an NG and had popped a little hole in his lung (a pnuemothorax). he was a beast in there, all 9lbs 3ozs of him, 2 days past his due date - but he needed help breathing and of course they gave him a boatload of antibiotics and he had to stay for 48 hours to ensure he didn't develop problems or infection due to the inhaled meconium.
when Joel sweetly and tenderly rolled me down the hallway to the NICU in a wheelchair without my baby in my arms, we both got teary eyed as we shared how much this felt like our experience with Amos all over again. belly empty of baby and arms empty of baby is a gut-wrenchingly painful place to be - and I was envisioning that we had another long painful road ahead of us before we could bring him home. I wept bitterly for the tender mamas who don't ever get to bring their babies home.
I still weep. and I pray.
but in the days in between? the moments where all I feel and see and know is joy?
the blessing of a husband rising with joy to provide for his family? beaming with joy to greet his children, the arrows in his quiver? his smile and tenderness when strain is relinquished?
of gazing into five faces that have sprung from my body, have come alive from my dreams, the children I dreamed of, prayed for, ached for, and have been blessed with? I am in awe.
absolute awe.
this is a blessed, sacred time. I am fighting the urge to simply survive the loss of sleep, the chorus of voices demanding and competing for attention, the weight of the baby weight piled under my skin again.
many days I still have to fight hard for joy, and in the multitude of moments it is revealed to me? breath escapes me, it is so good.
Lord, You are good. You are so good to me. I smile. tears fall.
and I just breathe.
'tis a blessed life we live.


text:
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text: In researching curriculum options for our cross-country education, I stumbled upon a great web site for home school curriculum. It is Currclick, found at www.currclick.com. This is different from standard home school curriculum, such as Abeka or Bob Jones, in that it compiles resources that are available for instant use. There are TONS of resources available to download, and many are free. I am just now getting into this site, so if anyone has any comments or suggestions related to it, please leave a comment. To leave a comment, click the little word bubble box to the right of the title of this entry.


text:
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Double click here to edit this text.
Double click here to edit this text.


text:
- Lakeville Journal
- Millerton News
- Compass A&E
- Obituaries
- Classifieds
- Regional
- Special Sections
- TriCorner Real Estate
True Crime Tales From The Hudson Valley
Books: 'Hudson Valley Murder & Mayhem'
In November 1930, the entire Germond family was murdered on their family farm in Stanfordville.
The details of that night and the subsequent investigation are outlined in "Hudson Valley Murder & Mayhem," a new book by Andrew K. Amelinckx that features 11 true crime stories that span 300 years in 11 Hudson Valley counties — including the Stanfordville tale in Dutchess County and an outline of the Austerlitz Cannibal in Columbia County.
Amelinckx, who lives in Catskill, N.Y., moved to the area with his wife in 2006.


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Voltaic Systems
Voltaic Systems is a portable power company that designs high-performance solar panels and solar chargers for smartphones, laptops, DSLRs, IoT applications and more. The company was created in 2003 when its founder, Shayne McQuade, found himself in the middle of Spain with a drained phone. The experience led him to design the first solar backpack; in the time since then, the company's goal has been to keep all devices charged regardless of location.


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Bulletin of Symbolic Logic
- Bull. Symbolic Logic
- Volume 17, Issue 3 (2011), 337-360.
V = L and intuitive plausibility in set theory. A case study
What counts as an intuitively plausible set theoretic content (notion, axiom or theorem) has been a matter of much debate in contemporary philosophy of mathematics. In this paper I develop a critical appraisal of the issue. I analyze first R. B. Jensen's positions on the epistemic status of the axiom of constructibility. I then formulate and discuss a view of intuitiveness in set theory that assumes it to hinge basically on mathematical success. At the same time, I present accounts of set theoretic axioms and theorems formulated in non-strictly mathematical terms, e.g., by appealing to the iterative concept of set and/or to overall methodological principles, like unify and maximize, and investigate the relation of the latter to success in mathematics.
Article information
Bull. Symbolic Logic, Volume 17, Issue 3 (2011), 337-360.
First available in Project Euclid: 6 July 2011
Permanent link to this document
Digital Object Identifier
Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
Zentralblatt MATH identifier
Arrigoni, Tatiana. V = L and intuitive plausibility in set theory. A case study. Bull. Symbolic Logic 17 (2011), no. 3, 337--360. doi:10.2178/bsl/1309952317. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.bsl/1309952317


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Details on Cabrera, Garciaparra contracts with Oakland
The Oakland A's are nothing if not contrarian. At a time when small market teams are trimming their budgets, Oakland has opened its wallet. The A's will have around a $60 million payroll — still well below the Rockies' $73 million 00 but have made some serious improvements to their offense.
Shortstop Orlando Cabrera's contract became official. He will make $4 million, and will receive $250,000 if traded. Oakland also agreed not to offer Cabrera salary arbitration if he's a Type A free agent, a status that specifically thwarted the market for Cabrera and reliever Juan Cruz this offseason.
They have also added an intriguing bat off the bench in Nomar Garciaparra. He was guaranteed $1 million and can make an additional $150,000 if he reaches 300 plates appearances. He will also be rewarded handsomely if healthy and on the active 25-man roster: $100,000 for 60 and 90 days and $50,000 for 120 days.


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A deputy in Descanso was airlifted to the hospital Wednesday after a rattlesnake bit him on the hand.
The off-duty Sheriff's Corrections Deputy walked to a nearby fire station on River Drive to report the bite at about 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, according to CalFire and Sheriff's Department authorities.
The fire crew was not in the station when the deputy arrived, so sheriff's deputies radioed for assistance and the fire crew responded.
The deputy was then transported via helicopter to UCSD Medical Center.
His condition is not known at this time.
Earlier Wednesday in a separate incident, emergency crews were called to Iron Mountain in Poway after a man called reporting a snakebite. The hiker was never located, and authorities believe the call was either a prank or the hiker made it successfully to the hospital.
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Optus has provided satellite communication services to Defence through the Optus C1 satellite and on-board Defence Payload System since 2003, and the extended partnership will go well into the next decade.
Minister Payne said the satellite partnership will improve capacity for Australian Defence Force users.
"Optus will reconfigure the C1 satellite to operate in an inclined orbit to reduce on‑board fuel usage and extend the life of the satellite as far as 2027. The existing agreement with Optus was due to expire in 2020 coinciding with the satellite's anticipated end-of-life," Minister Payne said.
"The Optus C1 satellite partnership will provide Australian Defence Force users additional satellite communications capacity throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
"The extended use of Optus C1 will preserve Australia's orbital filing precedence and options to place future satellite communications capabilities within the region."
Minister Payne said the extended arrangements with Optus provides Defence with prolonged capacity to continue to support Defence, other Australian government agencies and international partners.
"The agreement assists Defence and the government to preserve Australia's right to continue to operate in the radio-frequency spectrum from space until such a time as government elects an alternative course of action," she said.
The total cost of the contract is approximately $40 million over the next 10 years, which includes the necessary preparation of ground infrastructure within Optus facilities at Belrose, NSW and Lockridge, WA as well as operating and sustainment costs associated with continued use of Optus C1.
The Optus C1 is the Australian hotbird with 24 commercial Ku-band transponders operating in beams covering Australia, New Zealand, the nearby offshore islands, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii and south-east Asia.


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What Does It Take to Make an Internet Hit? (Check Out These Videos!)
One of the more interesting things about my interview yesterday with Mike Volpi of Joost–Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here–was our discussion about what kind of original and high-quality material will be created on the Web and how popular it will be.
It's certainly been a hit-or-miss proposition, since the Internet was popularized–mostly misses, actually. Beyond viral phenoms from the Dancing Baby to Mentos and Coke, there really is little there that has taken off in a big and lasting way online.
Many, big and small, have tried, but none have truly succeeded. Most recently, Yahoo pulled the plug on Hollywood player Lloyd Braun, for example, who was brought in to make Web hits.
But that has not stopped him–Braun's got a new deal with Pepsi to create original online content. Over at AOL, which has a lot of history in this arena, there is much stuff in the works.
And sites like Funny Or Die–which uses more celebrities, like a recent one with Bill Murray–pop up daily.
One interesting effort is social network Bebo with its recent series called "KateModern," an honest version of "LonelyGirl15", both of which are series focused on attractive self-consciously self-conscious twentysomething women and their attractive friends.
And today, in a project with great similarity to these efforts, MySpace unveiled an exclusive partnership with well-known television producers Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, creators of such iconic shows as "My So-Called Life" and "thirtysomething," for an original Web series called "quarterlife."
The 36-episode series–there will also be a social-network component, natch–is about a group of attractive twentysomethings, with what appears to be, yep, another self-consciously self-conscious central female character who video blogs about them.
Sort of like hit BoomTown's reality series–well, a hit with my Mom!–that is also posted below. We could use some self-consciousness, for sure, plus we're much lumpier.
Here are some videos for you to peruse:
FCU With Bill Murray
AllThingsD.com & D Unplugged


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To start the registration process, read below and then click the registration link at the bottom of this page.
The TSC Competitive program will provide year-round opportunities for boys and girls in the U13-U14 age groups. The program is designed for players who desire a competitive level of play. Our players come from across the Middle Tennessee area to take advantage of the training offered to Tennessee Soccer Club teams. Our certified professional coaching and training staff is proud of its domestic and international playing and coaching experience. Tennessee Soccer Club provides outstanding team and individual development, which results in teams competing at various levels in state, regional and national competitions.
TSC Competitive teams will tryout and train at all three TSC locations; TSC Murfreesboro, TSC Nashville and TSC Williamson.
*New in 2019-20
With the merger of TSC, NFCY and MFCY, directors from all clubs agree that the increased size of the player pool allows for the creation of another layer in the TSC Player Development Pathway.
"TSC Nike" will become an additional tier within the TSC Team Structure in between the ECNL program and Showcase level teams. In the 2019-20 season, TSC Nike teams will only be offered in the U13 and U14 boys and girls age groups. Over the course of the next several years, TSC will continue to add this layer into all U13 boys and girls teams (for example, in 2020-21 TSC Nike teams will be formed at the U13, U14 and U15 age groups). This is a proven pathway that professional clubs use to enhance player development.
TSC Nike teams (U13 and U14 age groups only in 2019-20) will compete in the state league, USYS National League, and/or Regional League. In addition to league play, teams will compete in several high-level events on an annual basis. Players on TSC Nike teams will have potential participation opportunities with the ECNL program via training and / or games.
TSC Nike (U13 and U14 age groups only in 2019-20) teams will tryout and train at the TSC Williamson location.
*Training locations may vary
The Boys and Girls ECNL are one of the nation's top development and competition platforms for youth soccer players, with conference competition in six age groups (U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, and U18/U19) and incredible collegiate exposure through the ECNL National Events. In addition to the competition platform, the ECNL offers player identification and development opportunities for top players in every conference, unique coaching education and club development programs, and player health and education resources. TSC is proud to be a part of the ECNL and host the highest level of youth soccer offered in the state of Tennessee.
The Boys and Girls ECNL programs will provide raised standards in training, competition, club organization, and coaching in a holistic development program.
TSC Boys and Girls ECNL teams will tryout and train in the TSC Williamson location only.
To learn more about the TSC ECNL programs please click here.
Click here to view the tryout schedule for our U13-U14 age groups.


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Many of the transcriptions found here are now in published form. They have been published by the Orange County Genealogical Society (in Goshen, New York). Volume 3 includes my Volume 3 and Volume 5. Volume 4 includes my four parts of New Milford history. There is a planned Volume 5, which will include my Volumes 6, 7, and 8, Part 1, which is about 250 transcriptions. They can be purchase through the Genealogical Society. Just Google them and print out the order form. Or they can be purchased from the Warwick Historical Society. They are also on sale at the gift shop at Baird's Tavern. I would like to thank the Genealogical Society and Dan Burrows for their efforts. Started a new blog for images of Warwick. Go to: www.imagesofwarwicknewyork.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
This is a scan of a print done by Bob Fletcher, New Milford's resident artist. It was used as a Christmas card a few years back. The work depicts the Lazear Tavern on Iron Mountain Road. Bob has given me permission to post his work.
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Eye Diseases
A quick look at some of the most common eye diseases diagnosed and often treated at Peters Family Eyecare in Bryan
"Eye diseases" is a blanket term that refers to a host of diseases relating to the function of the eye. Below we describe some of the more common types of eye diseases and how they are generally treated. For more in-depth information, please speak with your eye care provider at Peters Family Eyecare.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic eye disease is a general term for a group of eye problems that can result from having type 1 or type 2 diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.
Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic eye disease, so it is important that you don't wait for symptoms to appear before having a comprehensive eye exam. Early detection and treatment of diabetic eye disease will dramatically reduce your chances of sustaining permanent vision loss.
Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease refers to a breakdown in the quantity or quality of tears that moisten, cleanse and protect the eyes. This is significant because, with each blink, tears protect the surface of the eye, washing away dust and microorganisms. When this protective coating dries up or is of insufficient quality, the eyes may feel "gritty" or burn and can be more sensitive to light. In extreme cases, vision can be blurred.
If you suspect that you have dry eye, please make an appointment right away. Our office is an Accredited Dry Eye Center of Excellence, and Doctor Peters has implemented a dry eye protocol that is proven to provide long-term relief. By following your personalized treatment regimen, Doctor Peters can restore your tear film, and we can help you maintain a healthy ocular surface.
Often called "the silent thief of sight," glaucoma is an increase in the intraocular pressure of the eyes, which causes damage to the optic nerve with no signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to a decrease in peripheral vision and eventually blindness.
While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are medications and surgery available that can help halt further vision loss. Early detection and regular eye exams are vital to slowing the progress of the disease.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a chronic, progressive disease that gradually destroys sharp central vision due to a deterioration of the macula, a tiny spot in the central portion of your retina comprised of millions of light-sensing cells. Because it is so commonly associated with aging, it is also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are two forms of AMD called "dry," most common and with no known treatment, and "wet," less common and treated with laser procedures. Genetic testing is now available to help identify those most likely to develop "wet" macular degeneration.
In most cases, reversing damage caused by AMD is not possible, but supplements, protection from sunlight, eating a balanced diet and quitting smoking can reduce the risk and progression of macular degeneration. For suggestions, speak with your eye care provider at Peters Family Eyecare.
Peters Family Eyecare has the experience and equipment necessary to diagnose and often treat the eye diseases detailed above, as well as many other eye diseases, at our office in Bryan. For more information please schedule an appointment with your optometrist, and we'll be in touch with you shortly.


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The day of prayer is a refreshing few moments of peace and quiet to recharge your batteries.
The church will have prayer stations each with a different focus for reflection, but it really is that, reflection, you don't need to spend hours in prayer. There are always objects and activities to guide and inspire your thoughts. The hall will have reflective DVDs, refreshments and a children's activity area so you can have a few minutes of quiet while the children are occupied with their own activities.
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Refractory Ferrules Information
Refractory ferrules are designed to protect boiler tube inlet areas and metal tube sheets in sulfur recovery units (SRUs) used in oil refinery operations. Boiler tube inserts are also used in methane reformers and waste heat boilers (WHB). Refractory ferrules are made of materials called refractories that have high melting points. Refractories are suitable for applications requiring wear resistance, high temperature strength, electrical or thermal insulation, and other specialized characteristics. Alumina is a commonly used refractory material in boiler tube ferrule applications. Alumina's chemical inertness and resistance to hydrogen sulfide protects the tube sheet inlets and tube sheets from hot sulfur gas corrosion. Other materials used in refractory ferrules and boiler tube inserts include silicon carbide and zircon, which may or may not be matrixed with alumina.
There are many different types of refractory ferrules. Hexhead refractory ferrules have an interlocking shape that provides stability and an interlocking fit that can eliminate or reduce the need for additional refractory mortar between ferrules. Fibrous ceramic rope and paper are used to form a seal. Hexhead ferrules are designed to fit in a tubesheet with a triangular pitch or arrangement of boiler tube openings. Square head refractory ferrules also have an interlocking shape that provides stability, and an interlocking fit that can eliminate or reduce the need for additional refractory mortar between individual ferrules. With these products, fibrous ceramic rope and paper are used to form a seal.
Square head refractory ferrules are designed to fit in a tubesheet with a square pitch or grid-like arrangement of boiler tube openings. Standard round ferrules are also available. These products feature double flanges and have a smooth circular shape with two raised ridges along the ferrule's length. Standard round ferrules require additional refractory mortar between the refractory ferrules to form a gas tight seal. The refractory cement results in a large monolithic sheet across the tubesheet face. Monolithic designs may not withstand repeated thermal cycling as well as interlocking hexhead ferrules or squarehead ferrules, however. Some refractory ferrules are manufactured with a cement-free design. This feature is important because a layer of monolithic refractory cement on the tubesheet will eventually crack under repeated heating and cooling cycles.


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It's difficult to pinpoint the difference between a good book and a great book. I have the privilege of reading and reviewing many wonderful books, but I believe my latest YA read, Crossing the Line, by Dianne Bates (Ford Street Publishing, 2008) will become a classic of modern Australian literature, and I've been trying to work out why.
The book blurb is short:
Being abandoned is nothing new for Sophie. But things look up when she moves in with Matt and Amy.
So how come she ends up in a psych ward? And aren't therapists supposed to help?
From the first lines, we are firmly in Sophie's point of view. Bates is a masterful writer. She weaves narrative, dialogue and introspection expertly together so that the reader lives the story, eyes racing down the pages. Often, I found myself nodding or cringing over a wryly-observed character trait, and always sharing Sophie's pain and triumphs. Sophie is a chaotic mix of confidence and anxiety, revelling in rare moments of peace, annoyed by bureaucratic intervention, and desperate for love. Her voice is an authentic teen voice. Before I read the novel, I assumed the main character would be rebellious, contemptuous, probably someone I wouldn't much like. But I loved Sophie, and got inside her skin to the extent that I wept over her story.
I hate to think of children who ache for a mother's love. In my perfect Book Chook world, being loved and cared for should be just as fundamental a right as having access to quality reading material. Reality tells a different tale. In Crossing the Line, we share Sophie's life, and understand why someone would want to self-mutilate. Abandoned by loved ones, controlled by bureaucracy, Sophie's deep depression seems alleviated only in those moments when she cuts herself.
Yet Crossing the Line is not gloomy or dark. Neither is it sweet and uplifting. Above all it is real, every facet of the story contributes to seeing Sophie's life the way it is.
Even the minor characters in this powerful novel are beautifully drawn. They're three dimensional - some likeable, some not, but all believable. I swear I have met many of them. Crossing the Line should be mandatory reading for those in the psychiatric and welfare industries. It helps the reader comprehend what it's really like to be a teen struggling with mental illness.
The story stayed with me, long after I closed the cover on the final page. At odd moments, I've found myself wondering and worrying about Sophie, and wishing I could give her a hug. I've decided this is what makes Crossing the Line a great book, and future classic. Not just Bates's awesome writing skills, but her ability to create a character so real, and so loveable, that you want to adopt her.
Sophie, I know you're out there. Hang in there sweetheart, we're on your side.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Book Review, Crossing the Line
Labels: Young Adult Fiction
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Hi! I'm Jason Pang from Malaysia. I enjoy designing and making art. When I'm not designing or drawing, I love to surf the web, watch a movie, hang out with my friends, or play some music with my saxophone. You can visit my personal blog. Add me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter or drop me an email at email@example.com!
Personal Projects
Follow me: http://twitter.com/jasonmon


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The Healthiest Brownies On Earth!
I don't know anyone who doesn't love a good brownie. It's everyones favorite decadent chocolate treat that seems to just melt in your mouth with every chewy bite. Most brownies are not very healthy though. They are either made with gluten, eggs, butter and even milk sometimes. Today I am going to teach you how… Read More


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Virtual protest in China
From Danwei (via Virtual China) a post on protests in ZT Online (征途), the largest on-line game in China. That there are on-line games that cater to Chinese users is not surprising if only because of the language barrier and the lag time across the Pacific.1 According to the article however, the main reason Chinese gamers like Chinese games is that
"Chinese gamers are an unwelcome species on European and American servers," said a game manager who once worked on World of Warcraft. Chinese players always have ways of quickly ascending levels that leave European and American gamers in the dust, and on group missions they do not like to respect the tacit rules of profit division. For those "pedantic" European and American gamers, Chinese players are like fearsome pagans. "European and American games do not encourage unlimited superiority of power; they put more of an emphasis on balance and cooperative support." The former WOW manager said, "Perhaps this is because of the influence of traditional culture and the current environment; truth be told, Chinese gamers are better suited to jungle-style gaming."
Ahh, those individualistic Chinese just don't get along with the group-oriented Euro-Americans. The essay itself is interesting enough, although the author needs to spend more time on Terra Nova.
- I tried to get on to ZT for this post, but the lag was something awful [↩]


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Lifesaver/Cutter Tool
Easily Cuts Cobra Cuffs with recessed stainless steel blade. Protected blade allows safe prisoner release. Great for first responders and easily snaps onto a key chain. Also includes spring loaded, window breaking tool. Simply push onto any automotive tempered glass window and spring loaded steel pin will shatter window easily.


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Andrew Okaro
About me
My name is Andrew Okaro, I'm an Intuitive Soul Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Energy Healer. I'm passionate and dedicated to helping others uncover their true potential and achieve their goals. My 1-2-1 sessions are structured according to each client's specific goals and needs. I will provide guidance and support to help move you into a more positive state of being. During the sessions we identify any negative emotions, limiting beliefs and thought patterns preventing you from manifesting your full potential. We'll quickly get to the root cause of any emotional blocks, and work to eliminate them for good.
The issues I work on include:
Self love & Confidence
Relationships Issues
Inner child Work
Post traumatic stress
Stopping Smoking
Health & Well being
Sex & sexuality
Creative blockages
All emotional issues
Inner peace and balance
Past Life Regression
Financial Abundance
Career Change
Training, qualifications & experience
Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy (DCH)
Level 2 EFT Practitioner
Reiki Level 2 healer
Member organisations
Registered / Accredited
Therapies offered
Therapy/Healing/Soul Coaching session
£70 (75minute)
£80 (90 minutes)
£90 (120 minutes)
Smoking Cesstation
£90 (120 minutes)
Past Life Regression Therapy
£90 (2 hours)
Reiki Session
£60 (1 hour)
Skype Sessions:
Soul Coaching/Energy Clearing
£60 (75 minutes)
£70 (90 minutes)
£45 (60 minutes)
Discounts are available for multiple sessions
Important information
If you have been diagnosed with or suspect you may have a pre-existing medical condition you should consult your GP for advice, diagnosis and treatment and always inform your health professional before starting any alternative or additional therapies, treatments or making any major changes in your diet or exercise programme.
Maps & Directions
Type of session
|Home visits:
Practical details
|Sign language:
|Other languages:
Monday to Friday 10.00am - 8.00pm


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With the advent of mobile websites, online promotion of businesses and services have become easier. Experts believe that for a number of websites, responsive website designing is not a feasible option to work on. You can therefore work on various Mobile SEO aspects to promote your online ventures in the online business domain. A mobile site acts differently with its components in compared to a traditional desktop site. This is why an SEO Expert takes different route when it comes to optimize this website. Although there are numerous ways to accelerate the optimization route let me illustrate some of them that plays a significant role during the process.
A Comprehensive Mobile SEO Blueprint
When you start working on an illustration SEO strategy, information architecture is the first thing you must consider. When you prepare a mobile website you have an opportunity to provide users a better browsing experience. All you have to work on certain facets and techniques elaborated below.
Check The User Intent:
Before finalizing the structure of a mobile website you should try to understand the overall intent of the website. You must ask your visitors the experience they are having with a desktop website and whether or not they willing to change the trend. And if yes, what will be the terms. To check the user behavior and user traffic to your website you can use web analytics solutions available in the market.
Work On Web Usability:
It's not everything to having a mobile website but ensuring it a user oriented is more important. You have to give your visitors a solid reason to visit your website. I will therefore suggest you to add more mobile specific and user-oriented features to the website to attract more and more visitors to your website.
Work on 'Redirects' :
It is very important to understand that you must serve your mobile website visitors a correct version of the website. What I will suggest you to use redirects based on the user agent. When you set redirects on the basis of user agent detection, when someone visits the desktop website of yours on a mobile he is redirected to the mobile version of the same. From the SEO services perspective, use server-side redirects (301s or 302s) rather than Javascript redirects. Javascript causes a cliff in the load time. You need to make sure that make sure that if a user clicks on the mobile link, he will be redirected to the desktop version of the same website. Remember these quick tips on redirect.
- Use only 301 or 302 redirects.
- Don't redirect all desktop pages to the mobile homepage.
- Try to use 'mirrored' URL structures
- Avoid duplicate content, use a special mobile rel='canonical' tag.
Take Advantage Of Google Analytics:
Tracking website statistic is another important aspect of the mobile SEO. If you haven't yet added tracking code in your mobile website, do it now. Web analytics solutions such as Google Analytics Tool used to keep track on the user behavior on your mobile website. Analytics is probably the best solution that helps to understand the user behavior across the mobile websites.
Follow On-Page Optimization Strategies:
This is the functional part of the mobile site optimization that you need to work on during the process. Keep in the mind certain primary factors that play a significant role during the optimization. Since a mobile screen is smaller in size, there are fewer characters displayed in the SERPs. You should therefore format your meta tags in a mobile-friendly style. It is becoming increasingly vital to target your keywords specific to target mobile traffic. Remember that a user of the desktop version of our website has a different perspective to pursue than the user of a mobile version of the website.


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901 Fest
Add to my Calendar Get DirectionsPrint This Event
North Mississippi Allstars and Dead Soldiers are set to headline the best post-run race party in Memphis. The two local bands will take the stage following the completion of the 2016 Great American River Run on May 28. Drinks, food and music will keep downtown Memphis rocking long after the race is complete.
The inaugural event features half marathon and 5k races and is part of the final day festivities for the 2016 Memphis in May International Festival. All registrants for this year's Great American River Run will get free entry into 901Fest, another first-year event taking place after the run on May 28.
Make sure you celebrate the close of another terrific festival by joining us on Memorial Day weekend for all the festivities.
- Start:May 28, 2016
- End:May 28, 2016
- Where:
- Phone:N/A
- Event Type: Festivals & Fairs
- Ticket Price:N/A