texascavers Digest 10 Jun 2011 17:43:15 -0000 Issue 1329
Topics (messages 18004 through 18016):
Cavers wanted to rappel the One American Center in downtown Austin
18004 by: Tim White
18006 by: Bob Booth
new publication
18005 by: Mixon Bill
HQComm Recommendation
18007 by: Alex Sproul
speleothem chemistry
18008 by: Mixon Bill
NSS headquarters
18009 by: Mixon Bill
American Scientist magazine
18010 by: Mixon Bill
Van trip to NSS Convention
18011 by: Geary Schindel
Texas Cavers in June issue of NSS News
18012 by: Logan McNatt
Re: Bat Translocation
18013 by: J. LaRue Thomas
Re: new border law
18014 by: Denise P
18015 by: Tim Stich
Environmental Organizations and Endangered Species
18016 by: Mark Minton
Administrivia:
To subscribe to the digest, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
To post to the list, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
I hope the subject got your attention. ;-)
Some of you may know me as the NCRC Southeast Regional Coordinator, or the
Editor of the Vertical Section's Nylon Highway, or as a CaveChat Moderator, but
I'm reaching out to the Texas caving community today wearing another hat, as
the Southeast Regional Tech Manager for Over the Edge.
Over the Edge is a special events company that provides events for non-profit
organizations in North America. Participants are invited to raise pledges in
exchange for the experience of rappelling over the edge of a local TALL
building.
OTE is recruiting Ropes Volunteers for an event in Austin, TX on June 25, 2011
This is a great event with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation of South
and Central Texas.
Below is the blurb right off of OTE's website. Bottom line...for a day and a
half of volunteering you get to rappel the 32 stories of One American Center in
downtown Austin for free! Caver and NCRC Instructor, Glenn Segrest will be the
Level 3 rope access technician in charge of this event, so you would be working
under him. This is a GREAT time and very rewarding. So much so, that many other
cavers that you may know now work for OTE. (Nina and Jeff Martin of IMO,
Rebecca Segrest; NCRC Instructors, Bill Putnam; SCCi and NSS BOG member, along
with others)
To sign up as a Ropes Volunteer go to:
http://www.overtheedgeusa.com/default.asp?mn=1.432.473
To learn more about Over the Edge for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central &
South Texas go to:
http://www.austinovertheedge.com/
Feel free to repost this and pass it on to anyone that you think would like to
help.
---------------------
Ropes Volunteers
Volunteering… Building Better Communities
WE NEED YOU, SIGN UP TODAY!
This event simply cannot exist without the gracious support of community minded
individuals like you. Our non-profit partners throughout North America rely on
the time, commitment and efforts of local volunteers. Our volunteers are strong
communicators with a passion for helping others and are utilized in a support
capacity to assist our industrial rope specialists. You play a vital role in
ensuring that a professional, seamless, safe event happens. We are grateful for
your consideration and respect your time constraints ensuring that we schedule
only what is necessary.
The time commitment we request is:
30-45 min webinar 14-21 days in advance (sign in to follow)
2-3 hrs staff training on equipment usage, and industrial safety practice and
procedures usually the day before the event
6-12 hrs of time on Event Day
What you get out of it:
A great experience of helping completely terrified people go over the edge!
A great sense of community and pride knowing that you made a difference
A big thank you from our local non-profit partner!
A nifty shirt, lunch and all the event day fixings!
An exclusive rappelling experience that very few have ever done!
Be safe,
Tim White <>< NSS 26949 RE FE
Editor, Nylon Highway
-------------------------------------
Southeast Region Coordinator-
National Cave Rescue Commission, NSS
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I volunteered for the OTE event in Cleveland (on a somewhat smaller
building) and had a great time; I recommend it!
Bob
On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 12:09 PM, Tim White <[email protected]> wrote:
> I hope the subject got your attention. ;-)
>
> Some of you may know me as the NCRC Southeast Regional Coordinator, or the
> Editor of the Vertical Section's Nylon Highway, or as a CaveChat Moderator,
> but I'm reaching out to the Texas caving community today wearing another
> hat, as the Southeast Regional Tech Manager for Over the Edge.
>
> Over the Edge is a special events company that provides events for
> non-profit organizations in North America. Participants are invited to raise
> pledges in exchange for the experience of rappelling over the edge of a
> local TALL building.
>
> OTE is recruiting Ropes Volunteers for an event in Austin, TX on June 25,
> 2011 This is a great event with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation of
> South and Central Texas.
>
> Below is the blurb right off of OTE's website. Bottom line...for a day and
> a half of volunteering you get to rappel the 32 stories of One American
> Center in downtown Austin for free! Caver and NCRC Instructor, Glenn Segrest
> will be the Level 3 rope access technician in charge of this event, so you
> would be working under him. This is a GREAT time and very rewarding. So much
> so, that many other cavers that you may know now work for OTE. (Nina and
> Jeff Martin of IMO, Rebecca Segrest; NCRC Instructors, Bill Putnam; SCCi and
> NSS BOG member, along with others)
>
> To sign up as a Ropes Volunteer go to:
> http://www.overtheedgeusa.com/default.asp?mn=1.432.473
>
> To learn more about Over the Edge for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central
> & South Texas go to:
> http://www.austinovertheedge.com/
>
> Feel free to repost this and pass it on to anyone that you think would like
> to help.
>
> ---------------------
> Ropes Volunteers
> Volunteering… Building Better Communities
> WE NEED YOU, SIGN UP TODAY!
>
> This event simply cannot exist without the gracious support of community
> minded individuals like you. Our non-profit partners throughout North
> America rely on the time, commitment and efforts of local volunteers. Our
> volunteers are strong communicators with a passion for helping others and
> are utilized in a support capacity to assist our industrial rope
> specialists. You play a vital role in ensuring that a professional,
> seamless, safe event happens. We are grateful for your consideration and
> respect your time constraints ensuring that we schedule only what is
> necessary.
>
> The time commitment we request is:
> 30-45 min webinar 14-21 days in advance (sign in to follow)
> 2-3 hrs staff training on equipment usage, and industrial safety practice
> and procedures usually the day before the event
> 6-12 hrs of time on Event Day
>
> What you get out of it:
> A great experience of helping completely terrified people go over the edge!
> A great sense of community and pride knowing that you made a difference
> A big thank you from our local non-profit partner!
> A nifty shirt, lunch and all the event day fixings!
> An exclusive rappelling experience that very few have ever done!
>
>
> Be safe,
> Tim White <>< NSS 26949 RE FE
> Editor, Nylon Highway
> -------------------------------------
> Southeast Region Coordinator-
> National Cave Rescue Commission, NSS
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The Proceedings of the 2011 International Conference on Karst
Hydrogeology and Ecosystems contains, besides some interesting field
trip guides to Mammoth Cave and vicinity, several abstracts of papers
about Texas. Free download from
http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/tles_pub/2
--Mixon
----------------------------------------
No dolphins were killed in the preparation of this e-mail.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The following is posted at the request of the Headquarters
Commission Secretary, Dave Luckins.
Dear Headquarters Commission Members,
The voting has closed on the following motion:
Shrewsbury moves: The Headquarters Commission of the NSS
requests approval of _____________ as the location of the new
NSS office pursuant to requirements listed in paragraph G of the
National Speleological Society Headquarters Commission Charter.
Our choices are:
A) Cahaba Temple
B) the land adjacent to Indian Cave
C) None of the above
Luckins seconded the motion.
Voting was by email vote with all members casting their vote. The
results are:
For Cahaba Temple:
· Ashbrook
· Luckins
· Ormeriod
· Rea
· Shrewsbury
For the land adjacent to Indian Cave
· Scheltens
The voting having been made, the recommendation of the
Commission is Cahaba Shrine Temple, Huntsville, Alabama.
Dave Luckins
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Here's a lesson in the chemistry of ordinary calcite and aragonite
speleothems, and an interesting alternative observed in a cave in
England.
The usual mechanism is: Rainwater picks up CO2 from the air and,
mainly, from the soil, where it is produced by decay of organic matter
and the respiration of living roots. This produces weak carbonic acid,
which dissolves limestone (calcium carbonate) from the bedrock,
producing a solution of bicarbonate and calcium ions. When the water
drips into a cave, where the CO2 in the air is usually more like that
in the open atmosphere than in the soil, the excess of CO2 (as
bicarbonate) outgasses, sort of like what happens when you open a
bottle of soda, only less dramatically. This reduction in CO2 makes
the water less acidic, and it cannot continue to hold all the calcium
carbonate. Therefore some calcium carbonate (a hundred billion
molecules per drop, or thereabouts) deposits on the formation as
additional calcite or aragonite. This is the predominant source of
speleothems, although a lot of show-cave guides will assure you that
it is evaporation of the dripwater that does it. The calcium in the
formation has come from the limestone that the water filtered through.
Show cave Poole's Cavern is overlain by thin soil that covers a thick
layer of lime (calcium oxide) that was spread over the ground when a
quarry and cement plant closed down. When rainwater filters through
that, it becomes a quite alkaline solution of calcium hydroxide
(rather than an acidic solution of CO2). There is not enough carbon
dioxide in the water to combine with all the calcium ions to make
calcium carbonate, so when the water drips into the cave, the water
actually _absorbs_ CO2 from the cave atmosphere, producing calcium
carbonate to add to the formations. The calcium in the formations came
from the layer of lime above the limestone that the cave is formed in.
The formations in Poole's Cavern, in fact, grow at a considerably
faster rate than those in most other caves. [Source: article in Cave
and Karst Science, 36(2)37-46 2010 (for 2009) by Hartland et al. That
journal, of the British Cave Research Associaton, should not be
confused with the similarly named Journal of Cave and Karst Studies,
of the NSS. Back when the NSS renamed the old NSS Bulletin, I tried to
talk them out of picking a name so similar to the Brits', but didn't
have any luck.]
This is a bit like the ultimate fate of spent carbide (for you old-
timers who know what that is). Spent carbide is calcium hydroxide, and
it absorbs CO2 from the air and becomes limestone. It may also be the
mechanism that causes soda straws and small stalactites to grow so
quickly beneath some concrete structures.
I haven't attemped to display chemical equations in a plain-text e-
mail. Those who remember their chemistry might try to write them down
based on what I've written.--Mixon
----------------------------------------
No dolphins were killed in the preparation of this e-mail.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Note that the vote about NSS headquarters location just reported is
just a vote of the Headquarters Commission, which was charged with
investigating potential moves to larger quarters. What the NSS Board
of Governors will do about it this summer remains to be seen.
--Mixon
----------------------------------------
No dolphins were killed in the preparation of this e-mail.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Does anybody get American Scientist? There was a contraversial article
on cave-critter evolution in the March-April issue that I'd like to
see. If you're a member of Sigma Xi you could download the article
from their web site for free. -- Mixon
----------------------------------------
No dolphins were killed in the preparation of this e-mail.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Folks,
I wanted to check if there is any interest in carpooling to the NSS Convention
in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. A group of us are considering renting a van and
driving from San Antonio (and back). We will be leaving on Friday morning,
July 15 and returning to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon, July 24th. Right
now, Jon Cradit and Michelle Bryant have expressed interest along with Sue
Schindel, Aspen Schindel, and Petar Milanovic. I've got some rough costs for
gas and van rental and it should run around $150 a piece depending on the
number of folks going.
We may swing by the new National Cave and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad,
N.M. on Friday afternoon or evening if I can work out the logistics. Petar has
been asked to make a presentation at the new building.
So, if you are interested in a fun road trip and attending the NSS convention
in a great setting, please let me know and I'll fill you in on the details.
Geary Schindel
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The June 2011 issue of the NSS News has a stunning color front cover photograph by Peter Sprouse of a cave in the Galapagos Islands. Flip over
to the back cover for more awesome color photos by Peter, Vivian Loftin, and Jean Krejca. Inside is an article by Aaron Addison about the April
2010 expedition to the Galapagos, with team members Aaron, Peter, Vivian, Jean, Geoff Hoese, Bob Osburn, and Steve Taylor. Numerous B&W photos
by Geoff, Peter, & Jean, plus a centerfold section of color photos by the same folks. Aaron ended the article with "A good time was had by
all", and it's easy to see why.
You will notice that most of these cavers either live in Texas or used to live here (Aaron). But the issue doesn't stop there, because Karen
Veni has an intriguing article on "Cavers and Literature", with photos of her, Joe Ivy (RIP), and Bill Steele modeling his award-winning brake
bar necklace. Karen, as most of you know, is also a former Texas caver, married to some guy commonly known as "Karen Veni's husband".
But wait! Still more current/former Texas Cavers (Alan Cobb and Albert Ogden) have stories in "Cave Chronicles", edited by Philip Rykwalder.
And yes, Philip also lived in Texas for awhile.
It's not the first issue of the NSS News with extensive contributions by Texas cavers, and it certainly won't be the last. Oh, did I mention
that the NSS News is printed by Terry Raines?
An excellent issue, and one more reason to join the NSS. If you're not a
member, you don't know what you're missing!
Logan
NSS 11274
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
>From the Cascade Grotto remailer (with permission):
>>Subject: [CascadeGrottoPUBLIC] Bat Translocation
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol9no1/02-0104.htm
Here's some good info from the CDC re bat translocation. The studies were
done re rabies, but I'm sure it could apply to any bat disease.<<
__._,_.___
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
FYI
-Denise
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2011 16:39:26 -0500
Subject: new border law
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Hello Denise,
I thought I should pass this on to you cavers! I know that many of you don,t
have any intentions to head south for a while, but here it is.
They are going to take a deposit of 300 Dollars for every car between the Year
2001 to 2006 and 200 $ for every car older than that and 400$ for every car
younger than that! It will start on the 11th of June! And if you give your car
permit back in time you get the money back, but if you,re a day over the date ,
they will keep it!
We got here Monday evening without problem, but had many federal
police-controlls around Monterrey, but astonishingly didn,t have to pay any
bribes to keep moving, they were very polite , just checked ID and Car papers
and wished us a good trip!
muchos saludos Brigit
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Wow, in the midst of all of the drug violence, propping up the corrupt new
car dealership scam by choking off the used car market supply is still
winning at the policy table. Not surprising in the least.
So glad I don't even think about driving to Mexico anymore.
On Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 7:27 AM, Denise P <[email protected]> wrote:
> FYI
>
> -Denise
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2011 16:39:26 -0500
> Subject: new border law
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
>
> Hello Denise,
>
> I thought I should pass this on to you cavers! I know that many of you
> don,t have any intentions to head south for a while, but here it is.
>
> They are going to take a deposit of 300 Dollars for every car between the
> Year 2001 to 2006 and 200 $ for every car older than that and 400$ for every
> car younger than that! It will start on the 11th of June! And if you give
> your car permit back in time you get the money back, but if you,re a day
> over the date , they will keep it!
>
> We got here Monday evening without problem, but had many federal
> police-controlls around Monterrey, but astonishingly didn,t have to pay any
> bribes to keep moving, they were very polite , just checked ID and Car
> papers and wished us a good trip!
>
> muchos saludos Brigit
>
>
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
(Paraphrased from TAGNet) Here are a couple of articles
detailing how the Center for Biological Diversity and other extreme
environmental groups make a business out of suing the government over
environmental issues, often overwhelming their ability to
respond. CBD has been in the caver news recently because they want
all caves to be closed to protect bats from WNS, which of course
wouldn't happen even if the caves were closed because most
transmission is between the bats themselves.
<http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20110602/COLUMNS/110609990/1078&ParentProfile=1055>
<http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/05/16/legislation-to-stop-litigation-abuse-by-litigious-environmental-groups/>
------------------------
For a much more considered approach to WNS, check out the
Defenders of Wildlife. This week they are highlighting the
endangered Indiana bat on their
blog: <http://www.defendersblog.org/tag/clwe/>. Last fall they had
an article on WNS and how it is being
combatted:
<http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/defenders_magazine/fall_2010/flying_in_the_dark.php>.
Mark Minton
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
