[Texascavers] caves in the news
This news story popped up on my Google Alert: http://www.herald-citizen.com/index.cfm?event=news.viewid=B5D73C77-19B9-E2E2-677CE5FEC199A60A ( click on photo also ) or, Cavers clean up watershed Cold, wet weather wasn't enough to deter a group of cavers from their appointed duties. Over the course of several hours and with the help of rigging equipment, the group hauled tons of trash from the side of a steep incline and sent it to be recycled or to a landfill. It went fantastic, said event organizer Anne Elmore of the clean- up at Coal Bank Road in White County. We went two or three feet deep in bottles, cans, diapers and all the dead animals. The group was part of the SERA (SouthEastern Regional Association) Karst Task Force, a nonprofit organization of cavers dedicated to the conservation and clean up of caves and watersheds. Fifty-nine volunteers braved the cold weather, traveling from as far away as Texas and North Carolina to be a part of the event. The Coal Bank Road area is part of the Blue Spring Watershed. It is also the site of trash dumping. The people at the bottom of the watershed, when they turn their water on, it's been filtered through the dirty diapers, the dead goats, the tires, Elmore said. And it goes into our nightly glass of water. She hopes people will think before they throw their trash on the side of the road and consider not only the damage it can do to the landscape, but also the damage it can do to the environment and ground water. Evan Hart Ph.D., at Tennessee Tech University, explained groundwater moves quickly in this area due to the bedrock and high density of caves and sinkholes. In the Highland Rim, you have a high density of caves and underground openings that allow water to move quickly, Hart said. A trash dump can easily be connected to a spring or well a few miles away. Hart explained water is naturally filtered by soil, sand and rock, but it needs to move slowly to be effective. Trash dumping in a watershed area has a high potential for damage, he said. Cavers are uniquely qualified for an event such as this, which was taking trash up a steep hillside. Using a haul system, the group was able to easily haul up trash and old tires they found. The hard thing is getting people to sit and pick through the dirt, Elmore said. Cavers can do that. The group recycled 6,780 pounds, for which they earned $33.90, which will be used to purchase materials for a future clean-up. Another 8,040 pounds of trash was collected and transported to the White County landfill. That's not bad for the first shot at it, Elmore said, noting another clean-up would be needed. We still have stuff at the bottom. And that's the heavy things, the stoves and refrigerators. But those can be knocked out in a few hours. Elmore thanked everyone who took part in the clean-up, including White County Executive Herd Sullivan, who waived tipping fees and provided a roll-off container for the trash collection; PSC Metals in Cookeville, which provided a recycling container and picked it up; Lonnie Carr, who also assisted with planning the event; and the landowner William Johnson. Weather that morning was difficult. It started out overcast in the 30s, and it went downhill from there, Elmore said. But the volunteers came out, many with their children, and all were ready to face the elements. Elmore organized a clean-up just for the kids nearby the adults so they could be part of the day. I want our children to clean up trash. It makes an impact, Elmore said. They are the ones that are going to clean up when we are gone. When you're working down a slope like this and you are working and sweating and you've got your best friends next to you, weather is just so insignificant. And you are all working toward the same goal, you don't even think about it. Elmore said the organization operates on a shoestring budget and relies on volunteers. They are also always looking for potential clean-up locations -- both on private and public property. They complete six to eight clean-ups each year and can tackle clean-ups where the terrain requires special equipment. We keep plugging because we believe it's the right thing to do, Elmore said. You feel really good at the end of the day. Between cave trips, we feel like we need to give back to Mother Nature and what she lets us do underground. For more information about SKTF, e-mail sktfi@yahoo. com. It is a nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] OT - recent computer news - supercomputers
Charles (only) -- Remember when, during the absence of Steve Jobs, Apple did try licensing its system and letting other manufacture sell machines that ran Apple system? It didn't work out well at all. With a relatively small installed base, Apple needs hardware profits to support software development. I doubt it could afford to license its software for $50 a copy to other manufacturers. Anyway, Apple's list of supported hardware such as video boards or sound cards would be very short. One of the reasons Microsoft's systems are such a mess is that they try to support everything, hardware-wise, and also stay compatible with very old software. There are legitimate business reasons for that, but I was a computer programmer for 30 years (since a dollar was a dollar and memory was a dollar a byte), but I never liked system-maintenance type chores. Even for me, it's nice to have a computer with no user- upgrade choices except more memory (and external peripherals, of course). There isn't even any obvious way to get inside an iMac, although I'm told that the front hard plastic cover is held on by magnets and is pried off for repairs. I do have Windows XP on my iMac, using Parallels. XP boots up quite a bit more quickly on my Mac than on my not-too-old Windows box. -- Mixon -- You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
Re: [Texascavers] OT - recent computer news - supercomputers
Hiya Bill, and yes, I do remember that, their installed user base was much smaller then, and the type of hardware needed to build an Apple clone back then was very hard to find. Today, things are different, with a single plugin chip, you can install OSX on a home built computer. The caveats to this is that it's potentially illegal, breaks your Terms of Service agreement when buying the software and the chip has very specific hardware requirements, but it supposedly works very nicely. I'm in the process of building a compatible computer to try this out. Apple could do this as well, and make money with selling this for the same price that Microsoft sells its low end operating systems. This wouldn't take much for Apple to do, they are just hard headed and refuse to try it. Charles On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM, Mixon Bill bmixon...@austin.rr.com wrote: Charles (only) -- Remember when, during the absence of Steve Jobs, Apple did try licensing its system and letting other manufacture sell machines that ran Apple system? It didn't work out well at all. With a relatively small installed base, Apple needs hardware profits to support software development. I doubt it could afford to license its software for $50 a copy to other manufacturers. Anyway, Apple's list of supported hardware such as video boards or sound cards would be very short. One of the reasons Microsoft's systems are such a mess is that they try to support everything, hardware-wise, and also stay compatible with very old software. There are legitimate business reasons for that, but I was a computer programmer for 30 years (since a dollar was a dollar and memory was a dollar a byte), but I never liked system-maintenance type chores. Even for me, it's nice to have a computer with no user-upgrade choices except more memory (and external peripherals, of course). There isn't even any obvious way to get inside an iMac, although I'm told that the front hard plastic cover is held on by magnets and is pried off for repairs. I do have Windows XP on my iMac, using Parallels. XP boots up quite a bit more quickly on my Mac than on my not-too-old Windows box. -- Mixon -- You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
Re: [Texascavers] OT - recent computer news - supercomputers
Well, let me know how it works out. -- Bill -- You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
Re: [Texascavers] OT - recent computer news - supercomputers
http://www.efixusa.com/index.html has the info, not a cheap chip, but overall, can build a fast computer cheaper than any of the Apple. I won't be giving up my mac pro anytime soon, but this will be a nice replacement for my older xp box. On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 3:52 PM, Mixon Bill bmixon...@austin.rr.com wrote: Well, let me know how it works out. -- Bill -- You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
[ot_caving] lame duck politicians
Does it sicken anybody off that our hard-earned tax dollars are going to so-called lame duck politicians? What if you told your boss? I am leaving in a few months and I am just going to coast the rest of the way and not work very hard or tackle any problems. What a screwed up system we have in America? When Salinas Gortari finished his presidency of Mexico, he had to seek asylum in a foreign country, and 10 years later there appears to still be hit on him if he sets foot in Mexico. Other countries, just lynch their leaders afterwards. We build ours million dollar libraries to display their scribbles; and brainwash our children that these crooks were saints. Our country is in a terrible crisis, and nobody is lifting a finger to fix it. Why is Cheney still in office? What purpose does that serve? Why not have Biden immediately take his place to help smooth the transition? How much money does this so-called Transition cost the taxpayer? Shouldn't we see an itemized list? For example, Secret Service is working double time. Hey - maybe I need to get a job with them. Certainly, Obama is going to have the highest security cost of any person in the history of the world. How much good can he actually accomplish to justify the cost of his security? Why not have a holographic image of him on display instead or do like Saddam and have a dozen body doubles?( Whatever happened to those guys? ) I often hear patriotic people cheer and brag about the U.S. But personally, I think these folks are like the horses in the derby who wear blind-siders. I have a message for Obama: Wair B da chainj, Bro?U no wat eyem say'n, homie? David - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [ot_caving] lame duck politicians
God!! my head hurts from laughing so hard that has to be the funniest attempt at ebonics I've ever seen. next time try this Translator http://joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp David Nico On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:33 PM, David dlocklea...@gmail.com wrote: I have a message for Obama: Wair B da chainj, Bro?U no wat eyem say'n, homie? David - Give this to a friend: ot-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: ot-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: ot-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Bev Shade get together
Bev is back from Argentina for a short visit, so we are having a get together at her house,4811 Duval Street, Austin, starting 9:00 P.M. This Saturday night, Nov. 22nd. She may show slides of Argentina. Bring drinks and snacks, See you there, Pete - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Blind Mexican cave fish research applications :
Evolutionary progress might need to be rethought from the top down when considering epigenetics. Imagine things that you've done to yourself, directly effecting your offspring (even that of your own 'clone)! Epigenetics (possibly) introduces a mechanism into evolution that has nothing to do with selection!!! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3411/02.html -WaV On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM, CaverArch cavera...@aol.com wrote: Mary's comments were quite interesting and. indeed, clarifying. I have one slight quibble, however: improvements to the sensitivity of these organs or structures in blind cave fish will be the result of evolutionary selection processes. The analogy to a blind person's 'learned' hearing improvement skills is therefore not quite appropriate. Yes, the point is minor, but a blind person hones his or her hearing intentionally, and any analogy that implies intention or design in biological evolution is a scientific pitfall that should be avoided. Roger Moore GHG In a message dated 11/18/08 09:53:36 Central Standard Time, wpipistre...@yahoo.com writes: This article suggests that the cupulae are unique to blind cave fish. I think there needs to be some clarification made here. All fish have what is termed a *lateral line* running along the trunk and tail and I think also project up along the side of the head. This is basically a sensory system that is sensitive to hydrostatic pressure and other receptors for temperature and electrical charges. The sense organs of the lateral line system are the *neuromasts* which are bundles of cells (not unlike taste bud clusters).The neuromast cells secrete a substance which is referred to as *cupula.* Each sensory cell has a hairlike projection which is surrounded by the gelatinous cupula which plays it's part in the sensory input to the brain. There are also isolated neuromasts on the head which are referred to as *pit organs* which are also sensory organs. Remember that these things are common to all fish. It seems to me that in blind cave fish these sensory organs are more highly developed as say in a blind person who develops a heightened sense of hearing or other senses. It seems like a reasonable correlation to me. Mary TZ -- *From:* jerryat...@aol.com jerryat...@aol.com *To:* Texascavers@texascavers.com *Sent:* Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:58:05 AM *Subject:* [Texascavers] Blind Mexican cave fish research applications : Blind Cave Fish Research Blind cave fish research may lead to new applications. By David Alderton ** http://fishchannel.com/images/reptilechannel/.jpg[image: blind cave fish - SPAN id=]Astyanax mexicanus src= http://fishchannel.com/images/fish-news/blind-fish-news-200.jpg; width=200 border=0 Blind cave fish. *Photo courtesy JohnstonDJ.*Blind cave characins (*Astyanax mexicanus*) have long fascinated fishkeepers, thanks to their apparent ability to see, even though they are totally blind. These blind cave fish occur only in the San Luis Potosi cave system in Mexico, where their ancestors became cut off by changes in the water level thousands of years ago. The appearance of the blind cave fish has been modified, as a result of their isolation in this subterranean world. They rely on a remarkable sensory system to guide them when swimming, which scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta have recently been studying. Blind cave fish have tall, plate-like structures called cupulae along their bodies, which sense changes in water movement in their vicinity. These connect to bundles of specialized cells which in turn convey the information to the brain. This means that as a fish swims past an object, it can instantly detect its position by the water flow around its body helping it to gauge its distance and avoid a collision, or escape from a predator. Professor Vladimir Tsukruk, who leads the research team, built corresponding cupulae by using droplets of a polymer applied to flow sensors. He discovered that these modified sensors were far more sensitive than the basic sensors currently in use. This means they could have applications in many different areas, ranging from tsunami detection to port security. It's a simple but robust demonstration of the potential of bio-inspired design in solving difficult engineering problems, he said. These modified sensors may also be valuable as a replacement for sonar in some situations, helping to protect marine life. More widespread underwater use of sonar by the world's navies is believed to be the major reason as to why whales are now beaching themselves in increasing numbers. The next step is to develop sufficient computing power to interpret the data coming from groups of these sensors. This, of course, is something that the blind cave fish already does as it swims through its dark environment.
