Opie

Well it's Chris' Birthday party so he's in charge of the door, but I've yet to see him turn a girl away from a party yet! As for coming in the Pleasure Palace, the bedroom's in the back but from what I've seen the front couch ain't bad either

LOL Poor Sharky, poor poor unsuspecting Sharky

I opened up a brand new neptune on Sunday, installed the batt., the wristband, set the date and took it up for a jump. It stayed at zero the entire time on the plane and on the jump The gear store where bought it (paraconcepts at SDC) switched it out for another new one and no troubles the rest of the day. I have another neptune I've been using since last fall and had the screen freeze up on me a couple of weeks ago for a few hours. I found the battery had been leaking a little and have replaced it. I'm hoping that is all that was wrong or maybe just some software problems they still need to sort out because overall I really like mine.

I hope that includes a pysho stalker kidnapping one of your freinds.... You kidnap him that's an extra slot in the rv. I say more power to ya

As far as I'm concerned once you sign the waiver all is fair game

Is this http://www.rgstudios.com/English/index_E.htm# maybe what your looking for. Check the wmv for "I Love Sky"

Well you should try to have Lew take your picture because she makes people famous and gets you in the parachutist. I think she is even guaranteeing that this year

Also remember to show your thanks to the city, people & businesses of Rantoul. The town took a chance on having us despite the the poor reputation some people of that "other" town wanted to label us with. So try and do some shopping in town if at all possible and let them know why you are in town. We all need to stock up on H20, food, and other "refreshments" so why not do it in Rantoul when you get to town as a little show of thanks for them having us.

I second that

Not working here Bo but its' nothin but clouds here. I was going to the DZ but it doesn't look like I need to hurry.

I don't know but it makes me thirsty

Sounds like a good reason for me not to pay my bills

It's only a nightmare if it's in real life. If you're asleep its truly a DREAM because you will find that you can survive the impact quite nicely. Try sleeping though it next time instead of waking up before you go in. Like aggiedave said you just kinda dust yourself off and go on about your way. A dream for sure.

I heard a rumor that you two would be making an appearence at SDC today. Can you confirm this Val or is it a false rumor to throw off the stalkers?? Double tie the shoes

On top of this you're selling a wedding dress in favor of "casual beach attire". Makes me want to visit New Orleans

"Changes in fuel economy are minimal. While a 10% ethanol blend contains about 97% of the energy of 'pure' gasoline, this is compensated by the fact that the combustion efficiency of the ethanol-blended fuel is increased. The net result is that most consumers do not detect a difference in their fuel economy, although many people using ethanol-blended fuels have said that their fuel economy has improved." Quoted from http://www.greenfuels.org/ethaques.html I wouldn't mind seeing some studies that show a significant drop in mileage with a 10% blend if you can point me to some. It's not something I've heard of and ethanol blends have always been marketed as "premium" blends in our area because of the higher octane levels. As for the "jack in the price" you mention. I think it's a distribution problem. Mainly high transportation costs to move the product from the midwest to cali. but production expansion in the western states should be relieving much of that.

I guess we have a different view about what the thread is about. I was focusing on the original post and the replies I saw here that ethanol has no real net energy gain. The facts as I see them are that it does have a gain and it can be used in our gasoline burning cars on the road right now. I have no issue with using something else when it becomes available and affordable, but if ethanol is here now, cost effective, and a pollution reducer I see no reason for ethanol to continously get the bad wrap of having no real energy gain and being a waste of time while quoting no sources or one vary flawed cornell study imho. Just trying to get the facts about the ethanol out here.

The thread is not about whether biodiesel has a greater net energy gain than ethanol, I agree biodiesel is another good option but that has nothing to do with this discussion. As you say "depending on how you do the accounting" the 34% figure is just one that looks like a fairly good reflection of the current effiencies but I think you can also find studies showing from 57% an higher at ethanol.org but my point isn't the exact number but that it does have a good gain and is something that is in place now. As for the 30% nationwide figure I took it from an article that should be posted at www.farmweek.ilfb.org it's out in print now and should be up soon. If we could push the 10% blend to every gallon of gas used is would make a nice but not huge difference in the oil we need to import and help clean up pollution at the same time. As far as the FFV's and E85 is concerned we certainly have a long way to go as far a distribution. I'm in the heart of ethanol country but would have to drive 40 miles to find it at a pump right now. I do think is another option even considering the lower mileage you would likely see. Is a 10% drop in mileage really so bad if you could get E85 for $1.25 and gasoline for $2.50? Use more ethanol, use more biodiesel, use less imported oil

My guess is that local regulations are calling for it as an additive and that has nothing to do with price. Your guess would be wrong. In the area I live in it is not required by any local regulations. When is the last time you saw 'straight' gasoline? I can't remember the last time that I did. Well just by straight gasoline I mean gasoline with no ethanol in it, and I see that all the time in this area. It is usually the lowest octane rating and higher priced than the higher octane 10% ethanol blend. - Jim

http://www.ncga.com/public_policy/issues/2001/ethanol/08_22_01b.htm This article goes through the flaws in the Cornel study you are quoting on point by point basis. Basically Pementel was using very outdated figures and not even considering the fact that ethanol production plants produce more than ethanol alone. DDGS in the main co-product that is sold as a feed product. edited to add that I meant this as a reply to Jimbo

U.S. production should be up to 3.5 billion gl in 2004. New records for production are being set every month this year so far as new production plants come online. The 1.5 billion gallon mark is right for 1999 I believe. Another good source of info is at http://www.ethanol.org/production.html

If I'm not there could you just leave some in my camper

What about the Presidents before the current President? They don't need patents to profit from it, they need the infrastructure to manufacture and deliver it. Oil companies currently own the infrastructure to import oil and refine it to gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other byproducts. (Although environmental legislation has discouraged them from building more refineries - so while demand has gone up the oil companies have been forced to begin importing gasoline. That is very expensive). Anyhow - back on track - if the oil companies were to invest in building the infrastructure to manufacture and deliver Ethonal you can you bet your ass that it would be expensive. Are you willing to pay even more for ethonal than you do for gasoline? Yeah, that's it. It's all about blood and politics. - Jim Just why do you predict that ethanol will be so expensive? Production of ethanol has doubled in the last five years and its not because it costs more than gasoline. Here in the midwest a 10% blend of ethanol is cheaper than straight gasoline at the pump. So are you willing to pay more for gasoline without ethanol in it? Because if you are in the midwest the price is higher for the straight gasoline than it is for a 10% ethanol blend.

Actually that is wrong but seems to be a popular statement made by a few people that never seem to back it up with anything other then 1970s studies. Current studies show a net energy gain of 34%. see here http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2002/08/0322.htm for one current example. Ethanol is already included in 30% of gas nationwide reducing our need to import that much foreign oil. It is a renewable fuel that is here today, works in cars and trucks on the road today, it also increases the demand and therefore price of corn which helps eliminate the govt. sending your tax dollars out to farmers, and helps clean up pollution to boot.