Should I Buy A Down Jacket Or A New Fan??

Global warming or an ice age which will it be? As humanity is increasingly aware and concerned by our effect on the earth's fragile climate system; scientists are not sure if man made climate changes are even noticeable and that if fact they may even be a drop in the bucket.

After a winter that is breaking many "pre-global warming" records those in the know are starting to wonder if maybe we should get down jackets instead of solar powered fans to prepare for the earth's next climate shift. Lower solar activity may cause an ice-age that could compare with one that lasted 5 centuries and caused a lot of trouble,

"The last time the sun was this inactive, Earth suffered the Little Ice Age that lasted about five centuries and ended in 1850. Crops failed through killer frosts and drought. Famine, plague and war were widespread. Harbours froze, so did rivers, and trade ceased."

I know we have to look longer than one winter for any significant climate assumptions. I have to say that either way you are leaning- neither global warming nor a little ice age sounds too appealing.

Read Article Click Here

Polymer "Greens" Oil Sands

If it isn't global warming then it is certainly the oilsands use of potable water that has enviromentalists in an uproar. The industry consumes 2–4 barrels of water for every barrel of oil it produces, if oil sands production triples to 3 million bbl/day by 2015, as predicted, the industry would require 15 cubic meters of water per second.

“The Government of Alberta is very interested in making sure our resources are extracted in a fashion that’s environmentally friendly and has long-term potential to enhance recovery,” says Alberta Energy spokesman Tim Markle.

A polymer which increases waters viscosity is hoped to be one of many solutions.
This polymer is a solid, imported from the United States and blended at the site. It thickens water to a jelly like syrup that reduces the difference in viscosity between water and oil, improving H2O's ability to displace oil when producing wells.

“We’re using polymer to create elasticity in the fluid,.... If you think of pushing molasses with water, water will break through molasses. On the other hand, molasses will push water like a piston. If the two were a more similar viscosity, the push would be smoother."
“We believe we’re going to get very good recovery factors. Every per cent counts....”
Canadian Natural Resources Limited exploitation manager Rob Richardson
Full Article