Oil Shale For Energy-Power-Fuel Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Oil Shale is a sedimentary rock substance with a fine grain that contains a significant amount of Kerogen. Kerogen is a mixture of organic chemical compounds that can be used to manufacture liquid hydrocarbons. Oil Shale is actually a misnomer for two reasons; first because the rock is not actually a shale substance, and second because the hydrocarbon manufactured from the Kerogen is not true oil. Deposits of this substance, oil shale, can be found all over the world, including large deposits located within the United States. There are an estimated 2.9 to 3.3 trillion barrels worth of recoverable oil according to estimated global deposits of Oil Shale.

The Kerogen that is found in oil shale can be converted, through a chemical process that is known as pyrolysis, into synthetic crude oil. It has to be heated to a specific temperature to drive off a vapor that can then be either retorted or distilled to create a shale oil that is similar to petroleum but is actually a non-conventional form of oil, as well as a shale gas. It is also possible to burn oil shale directly to create a low-grade fuel that is ideal for heating purposes and power generation. Oil shale can also be used as a raw material for construction material and chemical industries.

Oil shale resources can be found in many different countries, but only approximately thirty-three different countries possess oil shale deposits with any real economic value. The United States is actually accountable for around sixty percent of the world's resources for oil shale, and together with Russia and Brazil, more than eighty-six percent of shale oil content is accounted for. There are several oil shale deposits that have not yet been explored, however, so these figures are simply estimations at the current time.

Oil shale has industrial uses in Brazil, China, Germany, Israel, Estonia and Russia. There are other countries who are currently assessing their oil shale reserves, or who are working on an experimental production. Oil shale is generally exploited for the production of oil in Estonia, China and Brazil, and for the generation of power in China, Germany, Estonia and Israel. Oil shale is exploited for cement production in China, Germany and Estonia, and for other chemical industries in Russia and Estonia. Estonia is responsible for more than seventy percent of the world's production of oil shale.

There are two basic ways that you can mine oil shale; the first of which is traditional underground mining, and the second of which is through several different forms of surface mining. The aim of these different mining methods has to do with fragmenting the oil shale and then transporting it to either a retorting or distilling facility or to a power plant. The main methods for surface mining include strip mining and open pit mining. Room and pillar method mining is the most popular mining method for traditional underground oil shale mining.

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Protect Your Invention in Foreign Countries Friday, September 17, 2010

Once you file your patent application in the United States, you have started a clock running that when it runs out will prevent you from getting a patent in a foreign country if you don't take timely action. That clock runs for one year.

Your alternatives are to file in the foreign countries (or country groups) of your choice within the year or file a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application to extend the deadline for filing to at least two-and-one-half years.

As of the date of this article, 136 countries are member states that abide by the PCT. This includes nearly all countries in the World, and those that aren't members are unlikely to have significant markets that require patent protection.

When you timely file in foreign countries or file a PCT application, you preserve your U.S. filing date as the priority date for use in those foreign countries. The priority date is important because other countries award inventions to the first to file the application, rather than the first to invent as in the United States. Thus, others cannot later come in and be awarded patents on applications filed after your priority date. Further, your priority date may be important to negate the effect of references (publications and patents) that are later than your priority date, and thus those cannot be used to reject your application.

For most countries, the ultimate limit through the PCT process is 30 months. If your application is not filed by that deadline in those countries, you will no longer be able to obtain patent protection in those countries in which you have not filed a national phase application. Filing in Europe via the European Patent Office has an alternate deadline of 31 months and Canada has a deadline of 42 months, although surcharges for late filing may apply.

The member countries of the European Patent Organization that may be included under a European Patent are currently Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hellenic Republic, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

There are other patent organizations servicing major areas of the world, such as Africa, South America, Asia, etc.; however, at present only Africa (two separated organizations having different country members) and a Eurasian group that consists of some of the former countries of the Soviet Union have collective patents to cover their constituent counties.

As with the U.S., most countries require that practitioners before their patent offices must be registered with their country. Your registered U.S. patent attorney can assist with foreign filing by working with associate attorneys in foreign countries who are authorized to prosecute patent applications in their countries. One should keep in mind that different countries have different laws and those who practice in those countries will likely be the most skilled in fully understanding their country's laws.

Unlike the United States, many foreign countries have maintenance fees that must be paid during the application process. Thus, the initial costs of foreign filing and the subsequent prosecution will be increased by such fees. Accordingly, it is all the more desirable in foreign venues to prosecute your application with all due speed.

When considering foreign filing, one should keep in mind that your U.S. patent will allow prevention of anyone from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing your device in or into the United States. Thus, with only a U.S. patent, while your device could be made in, say, China, and sold to, say, Mexico, neither China or Mexico could legally send your device into the United States.

Lastly, one word of caution: While the United States allows an inventor to file for a patent application within one year after a first public disclosure, sale or offer for sale, such actions could potentially defeat your priority for the purposes of filing in some foreign countries. Thus, it is prudent to get your U.S. patent application on file before introducing your product.

This article, and/or the reading thereof, shall not be construed as offering, containing or receiving of legal advice, and shall not create any attorney-client relationship or privilege. If you are considering protecting your intellectual property, you should consult with an attorney of your choice.

C2007, Williamson Intellectual Property Law, LLC; all rights reserved, world-wide.

Dr. Thomas R. (Terry) Williamson III is a Patent Attorney practicing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Williamson Intellectual Property Law, LLC
1870 The Exchange, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30339
770-777-0977

http://www.trwiplaw.com

Williamson Intellectual Property Law, LLC is an intellectual property law firm that serves clients nationwide from its home office in Atlanta, Georgia and provides a full range of services for patent searches, preparation and filing patent applications, trademark searches, preparation and filing trademark and service mark applications, preparation and filing copyright registration applications, licensing of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and litigation of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret infringements. With staff experience in running small startup companies and on the executive committee in a Fortune 500 company’s three-quarter billion dollar division, Williamson Intellectual Property Law, LLC can provide the necessary corporate services and expertise to your small or large company

A City Rich in History Friday, September 10, 2010

Very few cities in the world have bore the weight of history as Berlin - even fewer still have gone through the strife's and downtimes that Berlin has. Berlin is the capital city of Germany and has a population of over 3.4 million. The city is a continental hub for air and rail transport. Berlin is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in the EU.

Thirty Years' War

This war took place between 1618 and 1648 and it had serious consequences for Berlin. The city lost half of its population and about a third of the cities houses were damaged. Frederick William, who succeeded his father as a ruler in 1640, started a policy that promoted immigration and also religious tolerance. He offered asylum to the French Huguenots. By 1700, approximately twenty percent of Berlin's residents were French, and their cultural influence on the city was immense.

Berlin wall

This wall was constructed in 1960 to stop the deflection of the thousands of East Germans to the west. More than 60,000 people were arrested and at least 170 killed attempting to get over the wall by using homemade air balloons, digging tunnels or other methods.

Full of art.

In the 19th century German architects searched far and wide over Europe, bringing back what they found. You can see these items on display at the Pergamon museum. If you only have time for one museum, make it the Pergamon.

Education

This region is one of the most prolific centers of higher education and research in the European Union. There are four universities and several private, professional, and technical colleges. There are a total of 878 schools in Berlin. The city has a six year primary education program. After completion of the program students progress to one of the four different secondary schools for six more years: Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, or Gesamtschule. Berlin has a unique bilingual school program; students are though the curriculum in German and a foreign language, starting in grammar school and in secondary school. There are 9 major European languages in 29 schools that can be chosen.

The nightlife.

Berlin has one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in Europe. Throughout the 20th century, young adults from surrounding countries made Berlins club scene a primary destination. Berlin is home to many nightclubs, including Kunst Haus Tacheles, Tresor, WMF, Ufo, E-Werk, the infamous Kitkatclub and many others. This city is a center for nightlife and DJ-culture in Europe.

This article only touches on many of the wonderful aspects of Berlin, Germany's capital. This city has made an impact on the entire world with its intricate history. This city is one of the most popular cities in Europe, and if you plan to take a vacation, Berlin is a great place to go if you're old or young.

Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for Deutsches Haus which specializes in imported German gifts, souvenirs and collectibles from Germany.

Explore the Treasures of Egypt - Discover the Ancient Temples at Abu Simbel Friday, September 3, 2010

Why Travel to Egypt

If you are an Africa travel enthusiast, Egypt probably needs no introduction. This North African country has a rich, mystical, and well-known history dating back to the old testament days of the Christian bible. Today, many historical monuments from these ancient days still stand in Egypt, attracting millions of visitors every year. The ancient temples at Abu Simbel are one great example.

Abu Simbel: Background Information

Consisting of two sacred temples carved out of a mountain side, Abu Simbel is the second major ancient man-made tourist attraction in Egypt today, after the great pyramids. The Abu Simbel temples are part of the Nubian monuments in Egypt, which have collectively been declared UNESCO world heritage sites. You should visit Abu Simbel at least once, to appreciate the beauty of the temples and also learn about its mystical history, like thousands of other local and foreign tourists do.

Location

The temples at Abu Simbel are presently situated at the top of an artificial cliff on the western banks of Lake Nasser, about 300 km southwest of the Aswan High Dam. However, this was not their original site. Originally, these ancient temples were located about 200 feet below the current location. They were relocated in the 1960's to prevent them from being submerged in Lake Nasser, following the construction of the Aswan high dam. The temple relocation and reconstruction is deemed as one of the great engineering feats of the modern world.

The Temples' Relocation

Done through the combined efforts of the Egyptian Government and UNESCO, the relocation of the Abu Simbel cost over 60 million US dollars and lasted four years. The temples were cut up into huge slabs at their original site, each slab weighing over 3000 kilograms. The slabs were then moved to higher ground very gingerly to avoid damage. At the new site, the pieces were carefully reassembled, taking into consideration all the elements that had been in place at the original site including the accurate construction measurements and the position of the sun. There is a small museum outside the Abu Simbel, where you can get a step by step documentation of the relocation and reassembly of the two temples. The museum also has a lot of other information such as the history of Abu Simbel and the ancient kingdoms who worshiped in it.

Abu Simbel History

The two temples were built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, reputedly to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.

Touring Abu Simbel

Four gigantic statues of Pharaoh Ramesses sit at the front of the Abu Simbel. This is the mesmerizing sight that greets your eyes as you approach the temple. You will feel both dwarfed and amazed by its sheer size. One of the statues in the middle has however been destroyed from the head to the waist by a past earthquake. At the feet of these gigantic statues are much smaller statues, probably of members of the then royal family.

When you tour the Abu Simbel, you will most likely be in the company of travel guides who will awe you with stories of the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms, and of gods who could spit fire and turn day into night. By the time you get past the first entrance of the Abu Simbel, you may be so spooked that you will not want to fall even a step behind the tour group. The first entrance leads to a corridor lined with more statues, wall engravings and cave paintings.

Most of the history about the temples has been concluded from the illustrations carved on these walls. However, some of these illustrations have never been fully interpreted. As you go deeper inside the temples, it gets more beautiful, interesting and almost unsettling. If you love mysteries and scary stories, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience here.

At the innermost shrine inside the temple, you will find four statues of the main gods seated on a high platform. The most remarkable thing about this shrine is that it was constructed in such a way that twice a year, in late February and late October, the first rays of the sun shine directly down on the back wall of the shrine illuminating the gods and giving the shrine an eerie yet powerful presence. This phenomenon points to the extraordinary sense of design and planning that ancient Egyptians had, particularly when it came to the sun and other heavenly bodies.

The temples are still considered sacred by some Egyptians and don't be surprised if you find a group of people outside the temple saying a prayer while facing the sun. Most people who believe in the sanctity of the Abu Simbel like to visit the site in February and October when the rays of the sun light up the innermost shine and make the statues of the gods "come alive".

Getting There

To travel to Abu Simbel, you can take a flight from Cairo or Aswan to the airstrip behind Abu Simbel, or you can go by bus. The temples are located in a very remote setting with very few inhabitants in the area. The area is largely desert land and temperatures can soar to uncomfortable heights during the day and then drop to skin penetrating cold during the night.

Tom Mghendi is the webmaster at Africapoint, online travel agents for Africa. You will find many incredible Egypt vacation packages at the Africapoint website. You can also make your Egypt hotel reservation online at the website

Operation Storm Thursday, September 2, 2010

Operation Storm was a large-scale military operation started on 2nd August 1995 and carried out by Croatia, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to recapture occupied areas of central Croatia held by Croatian Serb forces. After only four days of fighting with relatively modest casualties on both sides, it ended in a total victory by the Croatians. Operation Storm serbia srbija vojska albania albanian training UCK KLA kosovo SAJ siptar america orthodox russia grecce SRBIJA SERBIA BOSNA RS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA KOSOVO METOHIJA RUSIJA RUSSIAN GREECE GRK ZIVELO PRAVOSLAVLJE PRAVOSLAVAC BRACA velika srbija great serbia albania uck cetnik siptari kosovo kosova srpska vojska tigrovi arkan pristina beograd siptar sarajevo kosovo republika smesno srbija hrvatska bosna serbia croatia bosnia balkan croats croat serbia srbija srbi srbin serb serbs cetnik chetnik cetnici chetniks serbian beograd belgrade sr Albanian stupidity Must see serbia srbija srbi srbin serb serbs cetnik chetnik cetnici chetniks serbian beograd belgrade srpski srpska serbien cccc Srbija srpske zene cure serbia girls women balkan kosovo je srbija muzika song music igra folk sexy dance bosnia italy spain russia poland czech republic belorus slovakia slovenia croatia hrvatska ukraine hungary romania moldova estonia germany france greece portugal england scotland ireland north ireland norway sweden finland europe union belgium holland netherlands ljudiHrvati Dalmacija Croatia Istra ...



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