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Researcher Measures the Gases Cows Emit By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer Wed Jul 27, 9:51 PM ET DAVIS, Calif. - In a white, tent-like "bio-bubble" on a farm near Davis, eight pregnant Holsteins are eating, chewing and pooping — for science. "The ladies," as they're called by University of California researcher Frank Mitloehner, are doing their part to answer a question plaguing one of California's largest agricultural industries: How much gas does a cow emit? The findings will be used to write the state's first air quality regulations for dairies and could affect regulations nationwide. But before he explains how it works, Mitloehner wants one thing to be clear. "We're not talking about flatulence," he says. He emphasizes the point because his research has been dismissed as "fart science," a label he says doesn't do justice to the seriousness of his work. There are more than 3 million cows in California, the vast majority living in the booming Central Valley, home to some of the most polluted air in the country. How much to blame the cows and how much to blame the cars for the bad air is no small concern. Mitloehner's research has suggested that cows are responsible for far fewer of the compounds that contribute to smog, known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs, than previously thought, perhaps as little as half the amount. That puts the air quality specialist and animal emissions expert in the middle of a heated dispute coming to a head Aug. 1, when the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will announce its new emissions factor for cows_ the amount of VOCs, in pounds, that a cow releases each year. The number will eventually determine which dairies must apply for air quality permits and invest in mitigating air pollution equipment. "This is a multibillion decision," said Mitloehner. "It's not just a number." Currently, regulators assume that a cow produces 12.8 pounds of VOCs a year. But regulators, environmentalists and many in the $4 billion dairy industry agree that the current emission factor, which is based on a 1938 study, is out of date. A regulator for the air control district has proposed an increase to 20.6 pounds per cow. Industry groups estimate that number is around 5 pounds. Mitloehner says he just wants to make sure the new number is based on science. His solution was to recreate a cow's living conditions in a modern dairy and then seal it off. In one experiment, eight cows spend two days in the space-agey, air-conditioned "bio-bubble." The large white structure houses a typical dry-lot corral, blanketed with dirt and, by the end of the experiment, manure. The cows are left to eat, chew and emit compounds while their every move is caught on video and the air is monitored by machines so sensitive they can detect one molecule out of a trillion others. A similar test is conducted in a smaller environmental chamber simulating a typical stall with a concrete floor. To Mitloehner's surprise, the first results from that study show the presence of smog-causing compounds dropped significantly after the cows left chamber, even though they left fresh manure behind. "We thought it was the waste that would lead to the majority of emissions, but it seemed to have been the animals," he said. The chief offender appears to be the ruminating process. After a cow eats, the food is briefly deposited in its bathtub-sized stomach. There it mixes with bacteria, begins to break down and produces methane, a greenhouse gas. About 20 minutes later, the food comes up again as cud. As the cow chews it, the methane is released into the air. The process also emits methanol and ethanol, both VOCs. For some in the industry, the results indicate that dairy farmers who may be forced to mitigate pollution may be trying to fight nature. "Is this something that we really want to do, try to regulate a living thing?" said J.P. Cativiela, a program coordinator for Dairy CARES, an industry-funded environmental group. "All living things have emissions, plants, animals, even, people. It absolutely makes sense to regulate the industrial part of a dairy, are we really seriously talking about regulating animals?" Cativiela said changing a cow's food may prove to be more effective than expensive technologies. He and other industry advocates are concerned that regulators will call for expanded use of methane digesters. The digesters cover a dairy's lagoon of diluted waste, trap pollutants and create electricity. They also cost about $1 million a piece, and industry groups argue their effectiveness is unproven. Meanwhile, environmentalists contend that the import of Mitloehner's research has been exaggerated. They note that it tests only one of the many polluters on a modern, large-scale dairy. "It doesn't take into account the lagoons that store the waste or the decomposing feed, the decomposing corn stored on a dairy," said Brent Newell, an attorney with the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment. San Joaquin regulators say Mitloehner's research is just one factor in the decision. "The district's assessment is based on all of the science in total," said spokeswoman Jaime Holt. "It is not based on any one study, or any one process being measured." Mitloehner agrees that his research should only be one of several factors being considered by regulators. But he's recently criticized the other studies being used by regulators, as well as how the district, which funded part of his research, is interpreting his findings. He and other scientists have written letters to San Joaquin Air Pollution Control Officer David Crow expressing their concerns. But for now, Mitloehner has returned to his bio-bubbles to continue researching other cow-related air quality problems, like dust and ammonia. Someday, he and his students joke, he may like to use the bio-bubble to measure emissions from another polluter: the car.

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Cobra Bites Man's Testicles Saturday, 23 July 2005 GhanaWeb, Ghana A Fulani herdsman who allegedly stole two sheep from the pen of a farmer at Mmofrabesu near Tease in the Afram Plains in the Eastern Region was bitten to death by a cobra while hiding in the bush after he saw the owner of the sheep approaching him. The snake saw Sulley Mahmoud, the headsman's manhood dangling while he was squatting naked near an anthill pretending to nature's call to dodge Opanin Nti Mensah, 70, the owner of the sheep. Known also as Sidikou Gyaale, Mahmoud who was bitten at the testicles died while being conveyed to the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital for medial attention. This was after he had confessed to Opanin Mensah who is also a farmer that he stole the sheep from his pen. A source told the Spectator that Opanin Mensah, who rears cows and sheep on his farm had been a victim of thieves in the last five months, but he was helpless because of his old age. It was alleged that he frequently accused his family members of conniving with other people in the area to steal his animals. The source said Opanin Mensah after rained curses on the unknown thieves and prayed that they should be punished. The source said that in the evening of June 10, this year, Mahmoud allegedly stole the sheep from Opanin Mensah's pen and tied the animals on his bicycle. While riding on the bicycle with the animals, he saw Opanin Mensah, who was then on his way back from the farm, approaching him. Sensing danger, Mahmoud quickly released the sheep from the bicycle, entered the bush, removed his trousers and squatted near an anthill pretending to be attending to nature's call, allegedly to divert attention of Opanin Mensah from him. Unknown to him, a cobra which was lying in the shrub, close to where he was squatting drew closer, and bit his manhood. Mahmoud's cry for help attracted the attention of Opanin Mensah who came to his rescue and with the help of a group of farmers who were on their way to a nearby village, managed to kill the snake. The source said Mahmoud then in pains, begged for forgiveness from Opanin Mensah for the theft and pleaded that they save his life by taking him to the hospital. He unfortunately died while being sent to the Donkorkrom hospital.

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Dark Dirty Tech Tribal. | Hands in air (trance) and feet on the floor (house).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4719819.stm

Man 'on motorway in wheelchair'

German lorry drivers were shocked to find themselves sharing the autobahn with an 80-year-old in a wheelchair, Reuters news agency reports.

He took to the hard shoulder in an electric chair capable of speeds of 6-10 km/h (4-6mph), said a police spokeswoman in the town of Goerlitz.

Drivers are said to have called the police, who intercepted the pensioner and took him back to his nursing home.

The police spokeswoman explained that he had wanted to do a little shopping.

"He wanted to go shopping at a service area up the road from his home," she said.

Police picked the man up when he turned off the road connecting the eastern city of Dresden and the town of Bautzen, Reuters reports.

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Nathan Fake - Outhouse (Valentino Kanzyani Remix) || ID PLZ! PVD ID!!!
Disco and classical had sex while watching a sci-fi movie. Their child: trance.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4720457.stm

Polygamy no fun, admits Ethiopian

By Mohammed Adow
BBC, Ethiopia

An Ethiopian man with 11 wives and 77 children is urging people not to follow his example and is giving advice on family planning and contraception.

After seeing his fortune disappear under the competing demands of his enormous family, Ayattu Nure, 56, even urges people not to get married.

"I want my children to be farmers but I have no land, I want them to go to school but I have no money," he says.

But his eldest son has not heeded Mr Ayattu's advice and he has three wives.

Share wealth

Seven of Mr Ayattu's wives live in huts around his compound, which are in urgent need of renovation.

Another four live in huts on the other side of the valley in Giwe Abossa village, 300km from the capital, Addis Ababa in Arsi region.

He says he cannot remember all his children's names but tries to work out who they are from their mothers and which huts they live in.

Mr Ayattu says he used to be rich and wanted to share his wealth around, which is why he took so many wives.

But now he struggles to feed them all.

"I feel like killing myself when I see my hungry children whom I cannot help," Mr Ayattu says.

His wives have given birth to more than 100 children but 23 have died.

School photos

However, he blames Ethiopia's government for not doing more to help him look after all his children.

"I know I have done wrong by marrying many wives and begetting many children but I think I deserve help from the government."

But his biggest complaint at the moment is with the authorities of the local school which 40 of his children now attend.

They want photographs for each of his children's files, which will further deplete his meagre resources.

He says that he tries to share his time evenly between his wives and children, adding that although quarrels and squabbles are common, they try to solve their problems amicably.

"People see me as a funny man, but there is no fun in my condition. I am a desperate man struggling to survive," he says.

Although Mr Ayattu's eldest son, Dagne Ayattu, does not have a job, at the age of 33, he has seven children and is about to marry his fourth wife.

But he says he will not have as many children or wives as his father.

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Nathan Fake - Outhouse (Valentino Kanzyani Remix) || ID PLZ! PVD ID!!!
Disco and classical had sex while watching a sci-fi movie. Their child: trance.

holy jesus!

that's a lot of kids and a lot of pussy for one man@ hahahahah

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Treat people as if they are what they ought to be and you may help them to become what they are capable of being.

for evil tree!

book mark this damn thread dude!

seriously.

Yes ma'am.

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Originally posted by chinamon not true. i say "ugh" but i am a tranny.

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Originally posted by kotsy lol colour me retarded