sorrow crucial

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Coffee-Processing Plant to Produce Energy Too

coffee

We?ve written about coffee-roaster technology being used in new renewable energy applications, we?ve written about a record-breaking car that ran on coffee grinds, and we?ve even written about efforts to turn coffee grinds into ink, but this story is about something completely different.?The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota announced just at the end of 2011 that it is ?leading a project to develop an efficient renewable electricity technology for coffee-processing plants.?

EERC and Wynntryst ? an energy solutions company based in South Burlington, Vermont ? are going to develop ?a gasification power system to utilize the waste from a coffee-processing plant to produce energy.?

?The project specifically focuses on the waste from the?Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR)?plant.???(Yep, that?s the same Green Mountain Coffee Roasters that installed 530 solar panels on the roof of its distribution center in 2009, the largest solar installation in Vermont at the time.. and maybe still.)

The company, which provides coffee products to multinational corporations around the world (such as Starbucks and McDonald?s), has a decent waste stream that includes coffee residues, plastic packaging, paper, cloth or burlap, and plastic cups.

One super interesting thing about this project is that it continues the work performed for NASA regarding space stations in lunar bases.

?This project is an extension of work performed by the EERC for NASA, which explored the conversion of waste from a space station and future Martian and lunar bases into heat and power,? said Deputy Associate Director for Research Chris Zygarlicke. ?This project will similarly utilize a mostly renewable and bio-based waste and convert it into electricity for the coffee industry.?

More details from the news release follow (everything below except the photo credit is reposted from EERC?s site):

?The first step of the project is to demonstrate that we can gasify the complex mixture of waste and produce clean synthetic gas, or syngas, by utilizing the EERC?s novel advanced fixed-bed gasifier (AFBG) system on the biomass-residue mixture,? said Project Manager and Research Scientist, Nikhil Patel.

The syngas will then either be utilized in an internal combustion engine (or a fuel cell) for efficient production of electricity and heat or be converted to high-value biofuels or chemicals. The pilot-scale tests will evaluate the quality of syngas that can be produced from the Green Mountain waste. EERC researchers will fine-tune the technology to meet the highest environmental standards possible.

?Over the years, the EERC has developed and tested numerous small gasifier systems like this on a variety of biomass feedstocks,? Zygarlicke said. ?The EERC system has already produced power by gasifying forest residues, railroad tie chips, turkey litter, and other biomass feedstocks and burning the produced syngas in an on-site engine generator. The coffee industry residues will be similarly tested.?

The EERC will use the outcome of the pilot-scale efforts to propose a full-scale commercial demonstration system for installation at various Green Mountain sites.

?The EERC is developing smaller-scale distributed gasification technologies as a means for converting biomass to renewable energy,? said EERC Director Gerald Groenewold. ?This project is a perfect example of the EERC?s ability to adapt to changing market needs, as more and more industries, manufacturers, and municipalities look for ways to utilize modest quantities of available biomass residues for energy.?

Coffee photo via shutterstock

Source: http://feeds.importantmedia.org/~r/IM-cleantechnica/~3/3w4kWLg_Vj8/

act sinead o connor atlanta falcons falcons dan marino passing record ipad 2 cases movie times

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

60beat GamePad brings console controls to iOS games (Digital Trends)

60beat GamePad

Apple?s iOS devices?the iPod touch, the iPhone, and iPad?might have carved out a major niche for themselves in the portable gaming world, but every console player knows there?s just no comparison between touchscreen and motion sensor controls and an honest-to-goodness console-style controller with joysticks, triggers, a D-Pad, and two-handed ergonomic goodness. To that end, 60beat has unveiled the 60beat GamePad, a console-style game controller for iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad, which can connect to any iOS device via its headphone jack?and works without batteries. The GamePad features two analog joysticks, ten action buttons, a classic D-Pad, and comes with an audio splitter so users can use the GamePad and their headphones simultaneously.

Of course, there?s a catch: since games have to be coded to specifically suport the GamePad, it suffers from a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem: right now only two iOS games work with the GamePad. 60beat claims as many as 60 games should work with the unit by February.

The GamePad works with the iPhone 4 and 4S, both the original iPad and the iPad 2, along with the fourth-generation iPod touch. Because the GamePad connects via the headphone jack rather than the dock connector, users can charge their iOS devices while playing.

The GamePad controller may not be the most portable thing in the world?it?s hard to see even the most serious gamer carting one of these along with their iPhone for a little entertainment on the train?but it may fill a niche for PC and console gamers who wish they could get a little more serious with their iOS gaming?so long as serious games eventually support the GamePad.

The 60beat GamePad is available now for $49.99.

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

Saudi to apply law for women to sell lingerie

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia?? Saudi Arabia said Monday it will begin enforcing a law that allows only females to work in women's lingerie and apparel stores, despite disapproval from the country's top cleric.

The 2006 law banning men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores has never been put into effect, partly because of view of hard-liners in the religious establishment, who oppose the whole idea of women working where men and women congregate together, like malls.

Saudi women ? tired of having to deal with men when buying undergarments ? have boycotted lingerie stores to pressure them to employ women. The government's decision to enforce the law requiring that goes into effect Thursday.

The country is home to Islam's holiest site in the city of Mecca and follows an ultra-conservative form of the religion known as Wahhabism.

Only on msnbc.com
1. Rock Center: Farmland prices booming in Iowa
2. Arab League: Syria army retreats but killings continue
3. Romney and Santorum battle it out
4. McCarthy locked lips with cop on New Year's Eve
5. Tension, resentment could redefine US-Pakistan relations
6. Need a hand? Find someone humble
7. Can you really lose weight? Motivation matters

The kingdom's religious police, under the control of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, enforce Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islam, which prohibits unrelated men and women from mingling. Women and men in Saudi Arabia remain highly segregated and are restricted in how they are allowed to mix in public.

The separation of men and women is not absolute. Women in Saudi Arabia hold high-level teaching positions in universities and work as engineers, doctors, nurses and a range of other posts.

The strict application of Islamic law forced an untenable situation in which women, often accompanied by uncomfortable male relatives, have to buy their intimate apparel from men behind the counter.

Over the past several weeks, some women have already begun working in the stores. Although the decision affects thousands of men who will lose their sales jobs, the Labor Ministry says that over 28,000 women, many of them South Asian migrants, have already applied for the jobs.

Saudi's Arabia's most senior cleric, Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, spoke out against the Labor Ministry's decision in a recent sermon, saying it contradicts Islamic law.

"The employment of women in stores that sell female apparel and a woman standing face to face with a man selling to him without modesty or shame can lead to wrongdoing, of which the burden of this will fall on the owners of the stores," he said, urging store owners to fear God and not compromise on taboo matters.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45848301/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

dash diet weather phoenix dippin dots triumph the insult comic dog tucson weather tucson weather peyton hillis

Monday, January 2, 2012

Spain: 2011 deficit could be higher than 8 pct (AP)

MADRID ? Spain's government will approve further deficit-reduction measures this week, on top of the bombshell euro15 billion package of tax hikes and spending cuts they announced only days ago, ministers said Monday.

They also said the 2011 budget deficit could be even higher than the 8 percent of GDP announced last week. That figure was already a major increase on the 6 percent forecast by the previous government.

Treasury Minister Cristobal Montoro said the new measures would be passed at a Cabinet meeting Thursday. The previous austerity package was announced last Friday.

Montoro gave no details but told reporters the measures would show Spain's eurozone partners and other countries that Madrid's new conservative government is serious about acting quickly to shore up public finances.

Separately, Finance Minister Luis de Guindos said that the government, which took power just before Christmas, found out only early last week how bad the 2011 deficit numbers were and had no choice but to act quickly by increasing income and property taxes, despite an election campaign pledge not to do so.

The conservative Popular Party swept to victory in Nov. 20 general elections, winning a comfortable majority in Parliament as voters enduring 21.5 unemployment and a stagnant economy dumped the incumbent Socialists.

De Guindos said the 8 percent figure would have come out in a matter of weeks anyway and would have almost certainly led to a punishing rise in Spain's borrowing costs.

So the government acted quickly by announcing Friday the package of tax rises and spending cuts at the same time as it unveiled the new deficit estimate, so as to stay ahead of events, he said.

"It was an act of responsibility and political initiative to keep the Spanish economy from reaching a situation that would have been practically unsustainable," de Guindos told Cadena Ser radio.

He said both the central government and Spain's regional governments shared blame for the overspending.

As for the final 2011 deficit figure, he said: "It is possible that it will exceed 8 percent. Not by much, I certainly hope."

He said Spain right now, with its economy a mess and the eurozone in a debt crisis, could not afford to announce its deficit will be two points higher than forecast without also quickly taking measures like raising taxes, as unpleasant as that might be.

"If we had not, others would have done it for us," de Guindos said, suggesting the European Union would have stepped in somehow.

The deficit-reduction package is a first bitter taste of austerity for Spaniards under the new Popular Party government. It came as part of an extension of the 2011 budget because none for 2012 had been passed when the government changed hands.

More austerity is expected when a full-blown 2012 budget is approved in late March.

The government's goal is to get the deficit down to 4.4 percent of GDP this year.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120102/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_spain_financial_crisis

pearl harbor day discovery channel jersey shore season 5 lea michele michael buble michael buble teddy roosevelt

smallbizcreativ: Facebook Photo of Stolen Ring Leads to Man?s Arrest (VIDEO) http://t.co/QBz5hn7n via @Mashable

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

Facebook Photo of Stolen Ring Leads to Man?s Arrest (VIDEO) bit.ly/steNFD via @Mashable Il y a environ 3 heures via twitterfeed

smallbizcreativ

Small Biz Creative

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/smallbizcreativ/statuses/152918235585581056

zooey deschanel and joseph gordon levitt andrew bailey debra messing ayaan hirsi ali rachel uchitel new years eve party ideas strait of hormuz

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Cal football: Tedford sees brighter days ahead

Click photo to enlarge

Cal Bears' Keenan Allen, #21, scrambles against Texas Longhorns' Kenny Vaccaro, #4, and Blake Gideon, #21, during the second half of the 34th Holiday Bowl football game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. The Bears loss 21-10. (Ray Chavez/Staff)

Cal coach Jeff Tedford acknowledged that the Holiday Bowl was a treat for his team after a year away from postseason football, but he added that it was not the ultimate prize.

"Even though this is a great bowl game, you're always striving to be the best," he said. "Texas is probably a little different than us because they've been in the national championship, and that's where we hope to be someday. Got to keep working toward that."

Obviously, there still is much work to be done. Everything that clicked so well while the Bears won three of their final four regular-season games -- a more potent running game, a more efficient pass attack -- came apart during a mistake-filled 21-10 loss to the Longhorns on Wednesday.

But Tedford is convinced that the Bears, who finished the 2011 season at 7-6, will be improved next fall.

"I love our team," Tedford said. "I wouldn't trade our guys for anybody."

Texas exposed some weaknesses that weren't evident in late-season wins over Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona State, three teams with a combined 13-24 record.

Cal was guilty of five turnovers -- three by quarterback Zach Maynard-- but he was under relentless pressure during the entire game, as the Bears appeared to have no answer for it.

Eleven starters -- six on offense, five on defense -- return next season, with three key offensive positions intact, starting with junior-to-be Keenan Allen, who will be an All-America

candidate at wideout after catching 98 passes for 1,343 yards this year.

Maynard, who played well late in the season before his Holiday Bowl troubles with Texas, and tailback Isi Sofele return for their senior seasons.

"We were inexperienced (this season) in certain areas on offense," Tedford said prior to the Texas game. "I think our quarterback situation has been answered a little bit. I think our running back situation (also has been), and I think we're going to have some depth at running back, too."

Maynard finished his first season in the Pac-12 with 2,990 passing yards, third-most in school history, and Sofele rushed for 1,322 yards.

The next hurdle for Maynard, Sofele and the offense is to deliver against the better teams: Cal scored a combined 34 points in losses to USC, Oregon and Texas.

Maynard is as upbeat as Tedford about next season.

"I see a bright future for us. A lot of young guys played this year," he said after the Texas game. "We have to work hard in the off-season, and we'll see the potential we have for next season."

The defense, which allowed the Longhorns just 16 yards on their first five possessions, will be the younger unit a year from now.

Gone are inside linebackers Mychal Kendricks, who was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, and D.J. Holt. The Bears also lose safeties D.J. Campbell and Sean Cattouse, and all-conference punter Bryan Anger.

But freshmen linebackers Chris McCain and David Wilkerson are expected to blossom, and the Bears have two other promising young linebackers in freshman Cecil Whiteside and sophomore Dan Camporeale. All of the top cornerbacks return.

"Some of the lessons that the young guys learned this year are going to help us and give us momentum going into next season," Tedford said. "So there is a lot of learn from."

Cal opens the 2012 season on Sept. 1 against Nevada at Memorial Stadium, whose $321 million renovation will be complete. Two weeks later, the Bears visit Ohio State and new coach Urban Meyer. They will have home games against Stanford, Oregon and UCLA, and will play on the road against USC. Dates for Pac-12 games have not been announced.

Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/cal-bears/ci_19641014?source=rss

giants eagles bcs rankings week 13 bcs rankings week 13 philadelphia marathon rhodes scholar cranberry sauce recipe mls cup

jamievarner: RT @PunchDrunkGamer: Dream: Fight for Japan ? Genki Desu Ka! New Year! 2011 Live Results & Event Coverage - http://t.co/ipLyfl6w

Twitter / PunchDrunkGamer Inc.: Dream: Fight for Japan ? G ...

Dream: Fight for Japan ? Genki Desu Ka! New Year! 2011 Live Results & Event Coverage - Il y a environ 8 heures via web

Source: http://twitter.com/jamievarner/statuses/153010401976655873

julia gillard julia gillard pecan pie the hobbit trailer prometheus trailer red velvet cake recipe josh krajcik