texascavers Digest 5 Aug 2012 21:51:24 -0000 Issue 1603
Topics (messages 20469 through 20480):
Re: Texas Caver on the Karst Information Portal
20469 by: George Veni
Sinkhole Conference: new abstract deadline and tragic sinkhole video
20470 by: George Veni
Re: ethanol-free gas stations
20471 by: Gill Edigar
20477 by: Rick Corbell
Breaking WNS policy-related news from USFS Region 2
20472 by: NSS Announcements
How to maintain and mark gear, by Petzl
20473 by: Fofo
Re: Help - speed, tire size change
20474 by: Chris Vreeland
Re: Waller Creek Flood Tunnel
20475 by: Chris Vreeland
How to save your house from wildfire
20476 by: Louise Power
20478 by: Steve Keselik
20479 by: Louise Power
Jacqui Thomas
20480 by: Michael Cicherski
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--- Begin Message ---
Jerry,
Thanks for the compliments. The KIP and partnership that makes it is an
incredible and growing resource.
Yes, the gray scale with the early issues is disappointing. Even though our
partners at the University of South Florida were using the state-of-the-art
equipment to scan the issues, the faint mimeo printing was extremely difficult
to scan and preserve, not just for the text and images, but for a lot of the
hidden background attributes. Following lots of experimenting, adjusting, and
pulling of hair, they managed to preserve the information in gray scale,
sacrificing the color.
George
***************************
George Veni, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Cave and Karst Research Institute
400-1 Cascades Avenue
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA
Office: 575-887-5517
Mobile: 210-863-5919
Fax: 575-887-5523
gv...@nckri.org
www.nckri.org
From: jerryat...@aol.com [mailto:jerryat...@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 01:32
To: gv...@nckri.org; Texascavers@texascavers.com; s...@caver.net
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Texas Caver on the Karst Information Portal
Excellent work, George. It's good to have the Texas Caver available to the
general community, especially the older issues which are very difficult to find
in most folks' collections or libraries.
Just to be fair, those that access the current version of the KIP archive of
the Texas Caver will find that the early issues are in grayscale rather than
color, and the scanning quality was fair but not great. Still, the information
is all there if not the aesthetic quality of the original. Note that some of
the newer issues are rather large files as the compressed pdf versions were not
used.
Jerry Atkinson
Texas Speleological Survey
*******************************************
In a message dated 8/3/2012 12:43:09 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
gv...@nckri.org writes:
A couple of years ago the TSA directors agreed that I could send my complete
collection of The Texas Caver for scanning and free digital access the Karst
Information Portal (www.karstportal.org <http://www.karstportal.org/> ). The
process took longer than I thought, but the reasons were worth the wait.
The Karst Information Portal is created by a partnership of the National Cave
and Karst Research Institute, University of South Florida, International Union
of Speleology, and the University of New Mexico. Its purpose is to serve as a
free, open access research tool for anyone and anything related to caves and
karst. Currently, the major effort going on with the Portal is developing a
major, digital, open access cave and karst library. The Texas Caver is one of
70 newsletters and journals from 17 different countries currently available
through the Portal.
While the Portal gets many offers from cavers wanting to help and offering to
do the scans, that isn’t practical. The scanning, OCRing, metadata
documentation, and many hidden digital archiving features conducted by the
professional library staff at the University of South Florida is far beyond
what any person who doesn’t work in a professional digital archiving facility
can achieve. Some of the hidden work is developing flexibility and
functionality, including for use with emerging technologies that aren’t
currently available but will be in the future. That is much of what took the
extra time. Also, there was major upgrade of the Portal. I’ll send a separate
announcement on that in a week or two, but I find the Portal easier to use and
more flexible, and there were behind-the-scenes and less obvious upgrades I’ll
report on later.
Though my collection of The Texas Caver is complete, the online version on the
Portal is complete only through 2009; TSA decided to restrict access to the
most recent three years to only TSA members. Next year the 2010 issues will be
posted. Also, the Portal’s collection is missing the issues for 1968 and 2001.
My copies of 1968 and 2001 were too tightly bound and some of the text for
those years was hidden in the binding, but I’m now working to get those issues
from other sources.
While this message is mainly intended for Texas cavers, I know cavers from
around the country also read this list. If any of your would like your
newsletters posted on the Portal so information on what you’re doing can be
more easily shared with the rest of the caving world, let me know and I’ll work
with you to make that happen. Don’t assume “It’s just a grotto newsletter and
no big deal.” Grotto and regional newsletters collectively are the largest and
most important sources of maps, descriptions, photos, and other information on
caves, and it is often not available anywhere else. Now with the Karst
Information Portal, your efforts can be more recognized, appreciated, and of
benefit to cavers everywhere.
George
***************************
George Veni, Ph.D. Executive Director
National Cave and Karst Research Institute
400-1 Cascades Avenue
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA
Office: 575-887-5517
Mobile: 210-863-5919
Fax: 575-887-5523
gv...@nckri.org
www.nckri.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Dear Friends,
The abstract deadline for the Sinkhole Conference has been moved from 15
August 2012 to 31 August 2012. The Organizing Committee realized that the
original deadline was only a day after the Geological Society of America
Convention deadline, plus many faculty may not be back in time from their
summer travels and research. The new deadline still provides us enough time
to work with the authors to assure the continued publication of quality
papers in the proceedings, and that the proceedings are ready and
distributed at the conference.
The new deadline also applies to students applying for the Dr. Barry F. Beck
Sinkhole Conference Student Scholarship. We hope many students will apply.
Professors, please encourage your students! This conference series is an
excellent learning opportunity and chance to meet potential colleagues and
employers.
More information about the Sinkhole Conference is available at
www.nckri.org/sinkholeconference2013. We are putting finishing touches on
our on-line registration, but for registration and other details download or
open the Second Circular at
https://sites.google.com/site/sinkholeconference2013/home/announcements/seco
ndcircularisonline.
If you haven't seen it, the link below is a tragic reminder of why we work
so hard to better understand sinkholes, caves, and karst, and to prevent
problems like sudden, unpredicted sinkhole collapse. This is a video of
someone in Taiwan swallowed and killed by a sinkhole that suddenly opened
beneath his feet:
www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/world/2012/08/02/vo-taiwain-teipei-sinkh
ole.cnn
Be safe,
George
***************************
George Veni, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Cave and Karst Research Institute
400-1 Cascades Avenue
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA
Office: 575-887-5517
Mobile: 210-863-5919
Fax: 575-887-5523
gv...@nckri.org
www.nckri.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I have recently bought gas at a pump that had both: ethanol added and
ethanol free, at like a nickle or dime difference in price. But I
can't recall where it was. Could have been in Alabama or somewhere
related to our NSS Convention trip last month.
--Ediger
On Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 4:07 PM, Sam Young <youn...@centurytel.net> wrote:
> Fritz Holt asked: By the way, can anyone tell me a brand of gasoline or a
> retail distributor that does not have ethanol in the product?
>
> Here is a list of the stations in Texas which have ethanol-free gas. Alas,
> you will notice that there are no large Texas cities in the list:
> http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=TX
>
> ........ Sam
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
There are several such in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Didn't notice any between San
Antonio and there on a trip in May.
Rick Corbell
...
> --Ediger
>
> On
> > you will notice that there are no large Texas cities in the list:
> > http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=TX
> >
> > ........ Sam
>
> ----
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The U.S. Forest Service Region 2 has issued a new, modified cave
closure order for the Rocky Mountain Region for one year. In it,
members of the NSS and CRF are granted exemptions for broad purposes
consistent with the conditions of the MOUs the organizations have with
the USFS.
Advance permission is still required, as well as following decon
procedures, modified by the USFS.
Why is this important? It shows that government policy-makers are
beginning to acknowledge that the risk of human-based transmission of
Geomyces destructans can be all but eliminated if people take the time
to decontaminate their gear. Secondly, the USFS trusts the NSS and
our members as we continue to develop long-term, sustainable cave
visitation policies. Those of us in other areas of the country can
point to this policy as one that is mutually beneficial to everyone
and protects a potentially endangered resource.
We all owe Derek Bristol a huge debt of gratitude for his perseverance
during negotiations with the USFS. Thanks to Derek's efforts the
templates for trip reports required by this order will now permit
non-NSS grotto members, scouts, and other groups to accompany NSS and
CRF members on authorized trips.
Here is a PDF copy of the Order:
http://www.caves.org/WNS/USFS%20Region%202%202012%20Closure%20Extension.pdf
CavingNews.com Article:
http://cavingnews.com/20120802-rocky-mountain-region-extends-cave-closures-acknowledges-cavers
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Howdy!
Here's a nice guide from Petzl on how to maintain and mark gear:
http://www.petzl.com/files/all/technical-notice/both/protecting-equipment-tips_EN.pdf
Or: http://tinyurl.com/cs3kutn
Have a fun weekend!
- Fofo
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Above about 70 mph in the ol' Grey Pendejo, the extra gas input from
pushing the pedal to the floor almost exactly equalled the extra wind
resistance. I think I managed to get that thing up to 75 a couple
times in passing situations, and the gas gauge had always noticeably
moved after I was done passing.
I miss that square beast now and again, but I sure don't miss the 8-10
mph on the highway -- it was like driving a billboard sideways down
the road, for all the aerodynamics it had. What was Chevy thinking?
On Aug 1, 2012, at 7:13 AM, vivb...@att.net wrote:
Another reason you're mileage will drop is that the increased tire
diameter will raise you slightly higher relative to the ground,
which will increase your wind resistance. Wind resistance is the
main reason mileage drops so fast at higher speeds too.
-Vivian Loftin
--- On Wed, 8/1/12, Mimi Jasek <mjca...@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Mimi Jasek <mjca...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Help - speed, tire size change
To: "Diana Tomchick" <diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu>
Cc: "TexasCavers" <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 12:01 AM
Ok, Diana, Nico, and Karl, thanks so
much. A lot of what you all said was close to some of what I
thought, but you defined it for me.
I will use your info to try to solve our problem, and for
now just slow down.
Lost 5+ mpg, which to me is a lot, for the cookie jar has no
funds for stock.
If others reply to help, it will be tomorrow before I get
back to mail. Last load of laundry calls to be put away,
then this tired lady must go to sleep before another work
day starts:)
Mimi
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 31, 2012, at 11:42 PM, Diana Tomchick <diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
>
wrote:
Mimi,
A simple back-of-the-envelope calculation would be to
divide the current tire circumference by the previous tire
circumference. This would give you an estimate of the
fractional difference the new, larger tire would travel for
each revolution of the tire. Using the numbers you supplied
gives a value of approximately 1.071. If you are used to
driving at 60 m.p.h., in theory the new tires would
actually be taking you at 60 x 1.071 = 64.26 m.p.h.
Of course this is a pretty simplistic estimate.
If you want to maximize your gas mileage, that's a more
complicated experiment that would need you to fill your gas
tank (be sure to always use the same type of gas--the higher
the percentage of ethanol, the lower your mile per gallon),
drive a set distance at different speeds and re-fill the
tank to see how much you used. Oh, and be sure that the
prevailing wind speed and direction is the same every time
you repeat the drive at the different speeds.
Diana
********************************************************
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
Dept. of Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-8816
(214) 645-6383 (office)
(214) 418-5827 (cell)
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
On Jul 31, 2012, at 11:09 PM, "Mimi Jasek" <mjca...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Ok, I need help. I have a Ford Escape that we use
as our main caving vehicle due to great gas mileage. Due to
age, miles, and need for stronger sidewalls and better
traction, we traded our old tires for new. Love them, but
because bigger, noticed huge drop in gas mileage at same
speeds used to traveling, and I seem to be staying up with
or passing everyone!!
Old = P235/70R16 normal street tires
New = LT245/75R16 E Toyo OPAT OWL 120Q
Don't want a speeding ticket, and need my good mpg
back, or close to it. Can anyone tell me how much to
decrease my speed, and if the reduction is the same for all
speeds? If not the same, how much decrease at what
increments?
I believe my old tires were 28" diameter (spare is
that) with 7.33' circumference, and new are 30" with 7.85'
circumference.
I have to believe there are more than enough math
wiz/ tire savvy folks out there to get me some answers, but
if I am asking the impossible, tell me. I do have a
tachometer as well as a speedometer if that helps.
For us, mpg means a lot due to cost of gas, and
determines how many trips we make. I would really appreciate
any help anyone can give me.
Thanks,
Mimi Jasek
Sent from my iPhone
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________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I would think that it's primarily Austin Chalk in that part of town
(Geologic map's not handy, but that's my memory) which is too soft
hereabouts to support caves. It's doubtful they'd encounter any around
there.
It seems the eastermost caves in the county are probably along the
Shoal Creek line.
On Aug 2, 2012, at 1:02 AM, Justin Haynes wrote:
Is anyone keeping up with this tunnel from a geological perspective?
At 85 feet deep and ~20 feet in diameter, I wonder about the rock
there and if they are likely to hit any caves. I also wonder if they
know whether or not they will hit any caves and what could possibly
happen if they do so. Is there any typical features of caves that
exist that close to the Colorado River? Is such a cave likely in this
area?
http://www.tunneltalk.com/Waller-Creek-Apr11-Austin-Waller-Creek-flood-tunnel.php
http://www.espeyconsultants.com/projects/waller_creek.php5
Thanks,
Justin
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I know that last year's fires caught most of you by surprise and some of you
lost most of your belongings or everything. I have worked for the Bureau of
Land Management for more than 30 years during which time I was an information
officer and information officer instructor for a multiagency group. I don't
have a lot of money to pass on to those of you who had losses, but I do have
information which can be almost as valuable. I would like to refer you to the
two sites below as a jumping off place for those of you who are rebuilding and
those who want to know what to do to help safeguard your property. There are
other links on these sites which can also be valuable.
http://www.firewise.org/
http://www.nifc.gov/prevEdu/prevEdu_main.html
I hope none of you ever have to go through this again.
Louise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I guess a wildfire is different than a fire storm of burning volatile
gas.After sustaining a direct hit of over 6500 acres of burning state
park pines,yaupons and cedars and losing every thing. I know that
there was nothing but Gods right hand that could have stopped it.I've
helped rebuild at least one home that was in the middle of 100 acres
of cleared land.When the sky is on fire 75 to 100 feet in the air and
raining sparks and embers over ten miles away there isn't much you can
do but get out of the way.I would encourage every one to follow the
tips listed and also up your home owners insurance.The wound is still
fresh,but I did get to live in paradise for 28 years and am still
alive because it wasn't a surprise after the drought and 45 mile an
hour winds.Steve
On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 6:33 PM, Louise Power <power_lou...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I know that last year's fires caught most of you by surprise and some of you
> lost most of your belongings or everything. I have worked for the Bureau of
> Land Management for more than 30 years during which time I was an
> information officer and information officer instructor for a multiagency
> group. I don't have a lot of money to pass on to those of you who had
> losses, but I do have information which can be almost as valuable. I would
> like to refer you to the two sites below as a jumping off place for those of
> you who are rebuilding and those who want to know what to do to help
> safeguard your property. There are other links on these sites which can also
> be valuable.
>
> http://www.firewise.org/
>
>
> http://www.nifc.gov/prevEdu/prevEdu_main.html
>
>
> I hope none of you ever have to go through this again.
>
>
> Louise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hi Steve,
I am so sorry for your loss. Wildfires and what you call a fire storm differ
only in magnitude and location. In some areas, there is hardly any significant
dollar loss even with a bigger fire simply because it burns in an area with
fewer or no manmade structures. Eastern Nevada is a good example of this. At
the wildland/urban interface (WUI), however, it is a much different case. The
fires last year in Texas, this year in Colorado and many years ago on the
outskirts of Boise, ID, and Reno, NV, are prime examples of this type of fire.
As we move out into the countryside, this type of danger becomes ever more
present.
The sites I listed do not assure that you will never suffer loss, but in some
cases it will give you and the firefighters a fighting chance. Building
materials and landscaping are of prime importance in the WUI. Another important
thing is getting in and out of the property. In the WUI, your road or driveway
should be a loop with an entrance and an exit or should be wide enough for two
firetrucks to pass each other and brush should be cleared back from each side
to the recommended distance. In many cases, if the road is not big enough or
you have a bridge that is not strong enough to hold a firetruck, crews may pass
your property by.
One of my lasting memories of how important preparedness is was a TV news story
many years ago about a fire in a WUI near Los Angeles. It had hit a cul de sac
and run up to the top of a ridge. Only one house was left standing and
relatively undamaged. It was concrete dressed to look like adobe with a tile
roof, low-growing plants around it, ice plants on the downhill slope and a
swimming pool in the backyard which had been used in fighting the fire. The man
whose house it was stood there in tears looking at the devastation of his
neighbors' homes. An extreme form of survivor's guilt for doing the right
thing. It broke my heart.
I hope all of you will take care and live safely.
Louise
> Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2012 20:22:03 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] How to save your house from wildfire
> From: skese...@gmail.com
> To: power_lou...@hotmail.com
> CC: texascavers@texascavers.com; jpme...@lavernia.net
>
> I guess a wildfire is different than a fire storm of burning volatile
> gas.After sustaining a direct hit of over 6500 acres of burning state
> park pines,yaupons and cedars and losing every thing. I know that
> there was nothing but Gods right hand that could have stopped it.I've
> helped rebuild at least one home that was in the middle of 100 acres
> of cleared land.When the sky is on fire 75 to 100 feet in the air and
> raining sparks and embers over ten miles away there isn't much you can
> do but get out of the way.I would encourage every one to follow the
> tips listed and also up your home owners insurance.The wound is still
> fresh,but I did get to live in paradise for 28 years and am still
> alive because it wasn't a surprise after the drought and 45 mile an
> hour winds.Steve
>
> On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 6:33 PM, Louise Power <power_lou...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I know that last year's fires caught most of you by surprise and some of you
> > lost most of your belongings or everything. I have worked for the Bureau of
> > Land Management for more than 30 years during which time I was an
> > information officer and information officer instructor for a multiagency
> > group. I don't have a lot of money to pass on to those of you who had
> > losses, but I do have information which can be almost as valuable. I would
> > like to refer you to the two sites below as a jumping off place for those of
> > you who are rebuilding and those who want to know what to do to help
> > safeguard your property. There are other links on these sites which can also
> > be valuable.
> >
> > http://www.firewise.org/
> >
> >
> > http://www.nifc.gov/prevEdu/prevEdu_main.html
> >
> >
> > I hope none of you ever have to go through this again.
> >
> >
> > Louise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Jacqui,
Can you please contact me offline.
Thank you,
Michael Cicherski
coastalca...@me.com
--- End Message ---
