ROSES

If only one rose

ever in history

were seen to bloom,

what awe might be!

Now people yawn

at roses by dozens,

pretty weeds to eyes

that won’t see.

If we but knew

we’re each a rose

asleep in a bud,

might bloom we?

RELIEF IN RELIFE

Does evening raise a fear of no more dawns?

Does autumn’s chill forever kill our lawns?

If not, then why dread gray hair in a mirror?

If dawns and lawns recur, is death to fear?

Is body all I am, a soft robot

conditioned by blind chance, then left to rot?

Is heaven just a slide shone on the sky

to keep believers honest till they die?

To think extinction ends our too-short life—

to think a void replaces child and wife—

to think a shroud blanks out all consciousness—

all far too grim for me, I must confess.

I’m reassured from deep in bone and heart

that when I and my body come to part,

I’ll slip it off and leave it like a coat,

retaining what I know, but free to float.

Our breath comes in, goes out, and so do we

who end each earthly life, but then are free

to roam bright inner realms with opened eyes

which see through physicality’s bleak lies.

We thrive in heaven’s symphony of mind

uncounted blissful years, until we find

we thirst again to join the physical

where atoms quickly teach what’s practical.

Like gravity, a pull of destiny

reels in our soul from near infinity

and helps us choose as home some mother’s womb—

what most call birth, our trammeled soul deems tomb.

Then choice and aftermath on earth are learned—

like school, where each promotion must be earned.

With open-hearted deeds we all progress;

with selfish acts we duly retrogress.

If death is no more end than western sun—

if Soul appears through bodies, one by one—

then life is no more opposite of death

than breathing is the opposite of breath.

SAFE

I have floated like a maple leaf

to the sky below an autumn pond,

to an inner place of rich relief

from gusty winds now slipped beyond.

I sense eternal love from high

(or is it deep?) inside my being,

and find this view before my eye

requires a lighter, wider seeing.

Odd now, the fear those final sighs

would turn out all my lights within,

when light now brings these newer eyes

envisionings of friends and kin.

Since here I live within a force

that moves me anywhere I ask it,

let no one feel the least remorse

upon the closing of my casket.

ALAN HARRIS

Born on June 20, 1943, Alan Harris was raised in Earlville, Illinois, a small farming community of about 1,400. His father Keith (1919-1980) was a World War II B-17 pilot who for the rest of his life farmed the family acreage east of Earlville while also taking time out on weekdays to drive a school bus. Alan’s mother Margie (1920-2005) served as a diligent housewife and mother of four children, and for many years was Head Librarian of the Earlville Public Library.

Although he studied plenty of poems (often half­heartedly) in the local elementary and high school system, it wasn’t until he majored in English at Illinois State Uni­versity (minoring in trumpet and piano) that Alan began experiencing strange inner stirrings that resulted in some serious poems. His college poems seemed to spring from a new unknown place and they struck him as rather odd, yet were satisfying to write. Several of these poems were published in annual issues (1964-1966) of ISU’s literary magazine, The Triangle.

Alan and his wife Linda were married in 1966, and all through the next 40 years, new poems have continued to emerge and find readers. Every year or two, between 1980 and 1995, he would assemble that interval’s crop of poems and self-publish a volume to give to family and friends.

In October of 1995, having acquired some HTML skills, Alan published on the World Wide Web all of his poetry books as Collected Poems. Within a year he added four more site sections: Thinker’s Daily Ponderable (original aphorisms), Stories and Essays, Christmas Reflections, and Garden of Grasses. The latter section, originally co-edited with Lucille Younger and now co-edited with Mary Lambert, is an on-line literary anthology for screened work contributed by other authors.

In 1998 Alan’s literary collection took on its current Web address of www.alharris.com and in 2000 became An Everywhere Oasis. After buying a digital camera and taking it to the forest, Alan published several photographic essays and poems which are now available in the site’s Gallery. Also offered are 76 audio poetry readings, with 20 poems being read by actor and friend Paul Meier and the others being read by Alan. New “Web-only” poetry books posted since 1995 are Writing All Over the World’s Wall, Heart clips, Knocking on the Sky, Flies on the Ceiling, Just Below Now, Carpet Flights, and Fireflies Don’t Bite. Launched in December 1999 with co-editor Mary Lambert, a new anthology entitled Heart place began accepting and publishing work from contributing authors. In 1998 Alan’s son Brian composed and per­formed Bunga Rucka (a recording of which is offered on the Web site), which is based upon Alan’s chant poem of the same title. Alan has earned his living in a variety of occupations—high school English teacher, junior high band director, piano tuner—all of these before settling into a long career of computer-related work. He retired in 1998 after 22 years’ service at Commonwealth Edison in Chicago, having worked initially as a computer programmer, then a systems analyst, and later a computer training coordinator. For his final three years at ComEd he developed Web sites for its corporate Intranet and the Internet. Linda retired in 1999 after working for 20 years at an insurance company, but she rejoined the work force in 2000 as a transcriptionist in a large medical clinic. Since retiring, Alan has been doing freelance Web design for individuals, non-profit organizations, and other non-commercial interests, as well as continuing his cre­ative writing.

DOES CORES SAND HARM GREEN SAND ?

Since 1979, the growth of chemical binders—particularly phenolic urethane binders— has been phenomenal. Although usage of most chemical binders has increased during

the last 25 years, the use of phenolic urethane binders has grown at the fastest rate. In 1971 the U.S. metalcasting industry used only 2.7 million lbs. of coldbox and nobake

phenolic urethanes. In 2003, 150 million lbs. of both resins were projected to have been consumed in the U.S. Estimated worldwide use is considered to be greater than 300 million lbs. These newer binder systems have helped to meet the increased demands

of the metalcasting industry for a variety of reasons including improved dimensional

accuracy, increased productivity and reduced energy consumption. However, spanning the same time period has been an ongoing controversy about the effect of recycled chemically bonded sands on green sand properties.

In the 1970s, few reports were conducted on the topic. But over the last 25 years, more engineers have investigated the issue, mainly focusing on phenolic urethane binders, and in particular, whether their introduction into a green sand system affects rebonding properties. One of the earlier studies (conductedin 1979) investigated the effects of

chemical binder core sand contamination on the properties of a bentonitebonded green sand. Although the results were relevant at that time, the study was updated this year, reviewing the same tests with additional parameters. Also, the updated investigation

studied three different metalcasting facilities and how phenolic urethane binders

affect their green sand systems. This article examines both the 1979 and updated studies of such binders as well as results of other investigations found during this 25-year span.

Binding Past Knowledge

Amid further studies of phenolic urethane binders’ performance, some of the investigations have contested one another. Despite this closer examination and a dichotomy of information, one important question remained: “What effect will core butts and shakeout core sands have on green sand properties as they enter a green

sand molding system?” Several investigators have looked into possible chemical-related effects of core sand contamination on green sand properties. One study concluded that although specific change to a green sand system might be slight—and in some cases even advantageous—the long-term effects might be grave. In those cases where an effect was noticed, it was felt that condensed resin distillates (a byproduct of binder pyrolysis) impeded the bonding effectiveness of bentonite. The effects observed were most apparent in the deterioration of both green compression and wet tensile strengths of the molding sands. Other investigations have declared the benefits of mixing, such as little to-no difference between the rebonding characteristics of 100% recycled phenolic urethane coldbox (PUCB) process sand and new sand. A similar study revealed that 15% particulated core sand from both phenolic hot box and PUCB cores could be blended into a green sand system with minimal effect on molding properties. The losson- ignition (LOI) values of the particulated sands were 2.13%.A different investigation also

focused on the effects of core sand dilution with PUCB binders. This study concluded that the spent PUCB sands, regardless of LOI value, had no effect on green properties of the molding sand. Still, examinations have been performed announcing that mixing core

and green sands will have significant effects on molding properties. Because the curing mechanisms of all chemical

binders involve various modes of acidbase catalysis, concern exists on how residual pH changes from shakeout core sands affect clay-bonded sand properties. Past studies have revealed that pH significantly affects green sand properties. These studies note that as

the pH value of green sand increased, green compression strength decreased while dry strength, permeability and flowability increased. Reconditioning of green sand systems

has been said to be one of the most difficult steps in molding-sand technology. Bentonite and water preferentially settle on the molding sand grains already coated with clay. Long and intensive mulling is required before recycled core sands assume the same properties as those of the base molding sand. One investigation found that incorporating lustrous carbon forming additives at high levels to improve the refractoriness of sands often leads to the buildup of an oily film, which further reduces bentonite swelling capacity. Lustrous carbon, several engineers have claimed, hinders

green sand properties, and some note high-percentage LOI sands had such a coating.

However, lustrous carbon doesn’t burn in a LOI test, hence, lustrous carbon and LOI values are not related. Therefore, the intermediate LOI values were likely the result of some other pyrolysis condensate residues. If these condensates from intermediate thermal decomposition levels produce a slippery or oily film on the sand grains, then one would expect to see reduced ability for bentonites to bond to sand surfaces. This may be partially overcome by additional mulling. The pH and lustrous carbon dilemmas

will be discussed later in this article. In addition to chemical contamination, another factor affecting green sand properties is the physical effect from additional core sand entering a green sand system. These sands may be more difficult to mull with bentonite if they contain pyrolysis condensate residues. If appropriate tests are not run to make up

for deficiencies in bentonite content, loss of bonding properties could result.

Then and Now

By updating the research from 25 years ago, a more detailed approach can be taken in regards to this controversial topic. The 1979 study dealt exclusively with residual chemical effects, such as acidity and basicity contributions from recovered shakeout sand. It did not examine physical interactions, such as pyrolysis condensate residues

on sand grain surfaces and/or condensate residues on bentonite particles from binder decomposition. That study showed that recycled nobake core sand additions up to a 50% substitution rate and after exposure to casting temperatures had littleto- no effect on green sand properties. In all cases, optimum green sand properties were achieved after 25 min. of mulling. With a few exceptions, green sand properties, such as compactability and green compressive strength, for the bentonite-bonded coldbox recycled shakeout sand were essentially equivalent to those of the new base sand.

Although some slight shifts in performance were observed, these deviations were usually within one standard deviation of the average base green sand system properties. In the current study, the results from 1979 were reviewed to determine the effect of deliberate additions of recycled shakeout core sands and the effects on the properties of the new bentonite-bonded molding sand. To investigate these effects, varying amounts of recycled nobake sands were added to fresh sand mixtures to determine possible interactions between the recycled core sand and new sand system. Green compressive strength, shear strength, compactability and permeability were measured in an attempt to determine potential chemical interactions. Other properties measured were moisture, available clay, mean available clay and bonding clay contents.

The procedure used was divided into two phases. The first phase consisted of generating

shakeout sand from chemically bonded molds after performing casting trials. The second phase evaluated the effects of the recycled sands when added in various proportions to a new sand-clay water mixture. The sand was a blend of new sand and recycled core sands obtained during casting shakeout. Recycled core sand contaminant levels of 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% and 100% were evaluated. (The 1979 research did not include contaminant levels of 1% and 100%).

The Current Event

With the addition of the 1% and 100% contaminant levels, one finding was as noticeable in the current study as in 1979—almost all of the binder systems for the various properties studied were found to be within a standard deviation of 1 This proves that the properties of a contaminated system are similar to those of a standard base green sand system. The only property where more than two binder systems exceeded the 1 standard deviation level was permeability, which had a standard deviation of 10 properties of recycled core sand and new green sand.

When this investigation was moved to three metalcasting facilities (A, B and C) the results were all similar. Facilities A and B, both of which use rigid flasks, run nearly identical green sand properties, whereas facility C, which utilizes vertically parted molds, requires more robust green sand properties. Even though two entirely different base sands were used at facilities A and B, the physical properties of the green sand system were remarkably similar.

Facilities B and C reported that PUCB shakeout sand re-entering their green sand systems did not present any problems. Both PUCB shakeout sands had relatively low LOI values and both facilities treated spent PUCB shakeout sand entering the sand system as a new sand addition; they added the appropriate amount of bond and water to compensate for the PUCB sands. These findings are likely due to the fact that facilities B and C use aromatic and aliphatic solvents, which are normally associated with PUCB systems. On the contrary, facility A used a system based on bio-diesel solvents due to a “brittle-sand” condition that resulted in casting surface deterioration. After converting to the new system, the facility no longer needed to add new sand to the green sand system to restore properties and, like facilities B and C, did not report any green sand property deterioration.

Truth Be Told

By evaluating the reports from the three facilities as well as the updated laboratory research, these investigations advance the argument that nobake sands do not significantly affect molding characteristics of a green sand system.

pH level—Even though certain nobake binders may contain strong acids or bases in either the resin or the catalyst, it is evident that after the binders have undergone curing and casting, they impart very little of their original acidic or basic character to the reclaimed sand. When such sands enter into a green sand molding system, they do not significantly reduce the bonding effectiveness or molding properties of bentonite clays

in the mix, thus, there is no correlation between residual pH and green properties. There are several reasons why residual binders on reclaimed nobake sand do not impart appreciable acidic or basic impurity functionality to a green sand system. In some cases, during the curing reaction between resin and catalyst, acidic or basic substances react to form neutral salts, which are relatively nonreactive with bentonite clays. In addition, acidic or basic catalysts in a nobake system are normally used in such small amounts that after casting and reclamation, only a minimal amount of residual catalyst remains on the sand. It appears likely that in instances where there have been reports of decreased green sand properties because of suspected PUCB contamination, pyrolytic condensate residues on either sand grain surfaces or bentonite particles, from incomplete pyrolysis, may affect resultant green sand properties. These condensates may impede the swelling action of bentonite and, for a given mulling time, the smearing

action of bentonite particles needed to develop green sand properties.

Lustrous Carbon—Lustrous carbon defects have been blamed as a cause of many contamination problems. Some investigators of core sand contamination have concluded that lustrous carbon is one cause of reported deterioration green sand molding properties. Lustrous carbon, a brittle material measuring 0.0001 in., forms at the mold metal interface in binder systems that contain high levels of carbon and relatively low levels of oxygen. It cannot coat sand grain surfaces. As additional metal flows into the mold, these films may become dislodged and be flushed ahead of the leading edge of the incoming metal stream. If the films are not dissolved in the metal or oxidized, solidification can proceed against these accumulations, resulting in surface wrinkling characteristics of lustrous carbon defects. However, the lustrous carbon-forming tendencies of certain chemical binders are harmful only if large amounts of carbon films form and then are dislodged from the mold on the proposed mechanism of lustrous carbon formation, lustrous carbon films from PUCB binders cannot be responsible for some reports of diminished green sand properties. If and when green sand properties deteriorate from PUCB binders, it probably results from unique thermal circumstances occurring within the core during casting, not lustrous carbon. Such problems may be overcome by employing longer mulling cycles.

Useful Sand to the Core

Despite the 25 controversial years regarding green sand contamination, this recent investigation augments the theory that both recycled core and green sands are compatible in the same system. Although this study showed that reclaimed nobake core sand had little acidic or basic interaction with bentonite clays, such sand should be treated as new, unbonded sand. However, there are a number of methods that may be used if green sand properties need to be restored.

These include:

• increasing mulling time;

• increasing western bentonite levels;

• increasing mold venting to help release gaseous decomposition products;

• reducing binder content in cores;

• scalping or removing core butts from

the shakeout system; if possible, reducing core weight to provide higher levels of thermal breakdown. Other factors that metal casters using PUCB binders should consider are that, in the investigation, PUCB binders formulated with aromatic and aliphatic solvents generally did not result in green sand property deterioration. In instances where the deterioration of green sand properties is linked to the use of standard PUCB binders, the facility should consider cold box binder systems that use bio-diesel solvents. Further, appropriate additions of new bentonite clay and water should be made to adjust total clay back to its original value. Thermal conditions within the mold may result in incomplete combustion of PUCB decomposition gases during pouring. Condensate residues generated from such conditions may inhibit the ability of

bentonite particles to effectively coat sand grains. Lastly, past studies have claimed the

addition of small amounts of sodium carbonate or soda ash (Na2CO3) to a bentonite green sand system has helped improve the bonding action of bentonite clays as well as soda ashes’ ability to cleanse sand grain surfaces. Although green sand systems might falter as a result of other conditions, after this thorough examination, no indication was found that recycled chemically bonded sands have any deleterious effect on the properties of a green sand system.

HOW I BECAME A CELEBRITY CHEF : MICHAEL SYMON

With four cookbooks and 20 restaurants under his belt, chef and co-host of ABC’s The Chew,
Michael Symon is always moving. USA TODAY College caught up with the iron chef, TV host and
restaurant owner to talk everything from caffeine habits and roast chicken to navigating his way from

culinary school to the national stage.



What’s your coffee order?

My first coffee is usually a macchiato — whole milk. The rest of the day, it’s just red-eyes.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done?

Our son opened up his first business, a gourmet coffee and donut shop. Doing that with him has been
the coolest experience of my life. We’ve been in the restaurant business for our whole lives, but to
see Kyle do it and to do it with him and just help him through the process, to me that’s the most
exciting thing that’s happened in my life.

Who’s your role model?

My grandfather. He’s 99, loves to cook, loves his family and loves golf. I try to be more and more like
him every day.

Best piece of advice someone’s ever given you:

It’s harder to cut your own path than to walk down someone else’s.

What’s one recipe that every college student should know how to cook?

Everyone — culinary student or not — should know how to roast the perfect chicken.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I get to work with my family. I really, I really feel like I’m lucky. Liz and I started the company
together, and continue to grow the company together. Doug, my business partner, he’s been one of
the best friends for the majority of my life. My father’s retired, he does the books. My mom and my
wife’s mom used to answer the phones. We have 20 restaurants, a $60 million a year business, and
there’s still a mom-and-pop feel to it.

What does your career path look like, from culinary school to The Chew?

I graduated from culinary school in 1990, and shortly after that I met my wife, also in the restaurant
business. We opened our first restaurant together in March of 1997, Lola. Since that time myself, Liz,
and Doug have owned or operated 19 additional restaurants. It’s crazy. We’ve opened 21, and still
have 20. I’ve been very fortunate.
In 1998 I was named one of America’s best new chefs, which brought me beyond the Cleveland
scope. That same year, I started co-hosting The Melting Pot on the Food Network, which was my first
national TV gig. I did Food Network on and off until Iron Chef, which was over 10 years ago. Now,
on The Chew, we’re on our sixth season.
I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I’ve been able to open these businesses with my wife and my
best friends, so essentially I get to work with my two best friends every day. In the TV world, I also
get to work with great people every day. The five of us on The Chew are very close, and I’ve always
been very lucky to work with the people I love.

What advice would you give the person who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Σ Be humble.
Σ Make sure that you always outwork the person standing next to you.
Σ There are going to be a lot of naysayers. At the end of the day, you have to believe in yourself
Σ When I won Food & Wine in ’98, I was walking through Aspen with Drew (Nieporent) when he asked me if I
wanted to have lunch. He told me, “Now that you’re in the national spotlight, you’re gonna get reviews. Some
great, some awful. Some love, some hate. I would recommend that when someone writes something, read it,
learn something from it if you can, crumple it up, and throw it away.”
Σ You’re never as great as some people think you are, and you’re never as bad.
Σ Stay your path and and believe in yourself.

What’s been the hardest part of your career?

Finding that balance between work and family. I’ve been in the restaurant or TV business essentially
since I was 19. There have been a lot of 80-90 hour work weeks in those 30 years. To be a good
husband to Liz, to be a good role model and father to Kyle, finding that balance. … You are working
and building something and building your dreams, but you also have to focus on what’s important —
and that’s family.

SPACE 'X' LAUNCHES ROCKET FROM HISTORIC NASA LAUNCHPAD

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully blasted off from Kennedy Space Center's historic pad 39A on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. The first stage returned for a successful landing in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Following in trails blazed by Saturn V moon rockets and space shuttles, a SpaceX Falcon
9 rocket blasted off Sunday morning from a storied Kennedy Space Center launch site on
a mission to resupply the International Space Station.
The 210-foot rocket carrying a Dragon cargo craft quickly disappeared into clouds after the
9:39 a.m. liftoff from KSC’s pad 39A, where Apollo astronauts launched to the moon and
shuttle astronauts last set sail nearly six years ago.
Minutes later, the rocket’s first stage did something the historic missions never
contemplated, flipping around above the atmosphere and flying back to Cape Canaveral
for a soft landing that unleashed powerful sonic booms across the area.
“Baby came back,” CEO Elon Musk posted on Instagram.
The landing eight minutes after liftoff was SpaceX’s third of a booster at Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station, miles down the coast from the launch site. It was the first attempt in
daylight, but clouds obscured the views for many spectators.
SpaceX is attempting experimental booster touchdowns at sea and on land with the hope
of making rockets reusable and could re-fly a used stage for the first time as soon as next
month. A total of eight boosters have now been recovered.
Two minutes after the landing, cameras showed the unmanned Dragon capsule carrying
nearly 5,500 pounds of cargo float away from the rocket’s upper stage in what SpaceX
said was a perfect orbit.
The Dragon's arrival at the ISS is planned around 9 a.m. Wednesday, where European
astronaut Thomas Pesquet will use a 58-foot robotic arm to snare the spacecraft and reel it
into a docking port.
The launch was SpaceX’s second this year, following one from California in January that
marked the Falcon 9’s return to flight after a rocket exploded on a Cape launchpad during
a test last Sept. 1.
The accident badly damaged Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
but SpaceX was nearing the completion of renovations to pad 39A at KSC, which was built
in the mid-1960s to support the Apollo program and later modified for shuttles.
On Sunday, the mission’s second attempt after a rocket problem scrubbed the first try
Saturday, crowds at KSC cheered the Falcon 9’s thundering ascent and landing.
The first launch from pad 39A since the shuttle Atlantis lifted off in July 2011 was a
psychological boost for the space center eager to show it had evolved into more than just a
NASA spaceport. The space agency is preparing its own Space Launch System rocket,
more powerful than a Saturn V, to launch from pad 39B to the north, possibly in late 2018.
SpaceX next year plans to begin launching astronauts from pad 39A on missions to the
space station, which Boeing will also fly from neighboring Launch Complex 41 at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station.
A Falcon 9 could fly again from KSC within two weeks, launching a commercial
communications satellite.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Digital photography has surpassed film photography in popularity in recent years, a fact  that has relegated some amateur and professional film cameras to the unlikely task of becoming a paperweight. In the art world, however, film cameras are  coveted. The lesson is simple: choose the tools that you  need to get the results you want. Just a couple of years ago a professional would have chosen from a vast array of film camera types—single lens  reflexes, twin lens reflexes, rangefinders, and view cameras to name a few—when selecting the tools of his or her  trade. Now, with the advent of digital technology and digital software, the serious photographer can, for the most  part, rely on a digital single-lens reflex camera, or D-SLR.

A D-SLR is an incredibly advanced and refined tool  that still offers the all-important ability, as in film version cameras, to view your subject through the same lens that  records the image onto your sensor. This is achieved via a mirror and a pentaprism so that what you see is what  you get (often referred to as WYSIWYG). It is hard to  imagine that every time you press the shutter to take a  picture, a mirror between the rear of the lens and the image sensor flips out of the way, the camera shutter  opens, and the sensor is exposed for the required time.  Meanwhile, the camera’s microprocessor is writing the multitude of information the image sensor has recorded  to the camera’s memory card. This is incredible in itself. Now consider how incredible are the cameras used by  sport and press photographers, which manage this at  eight frames a second!

For all intents and purposes, there are two types of  D-SLR cameras. The first is a traditional-looking camera  roughly based on the 35mm film camera bodies that preceded it. Photographers who would normally use both medium- and large-format professional cameras are discovering that in some instances the modern high-end D-SLR provides superior image quality when compared to the scan that was possible from their film. (The “format” of a camera refers to the size of the negative of film ?