The Appeal Of The Mccain Feinstein Amendment - 935 Words

The appeal of the McCain-Feinstein amendment is its comparatively restrictive nature. In the words of constitutional law professor, David Cole, with particular reference to the past actions of the Bush administration, ‘the new legislation seems designed to prevent future administrations from interpreting existing laws to permit what they were plainly designed to prohibit’ (Cole, D 2015). In other words, the amendment approaches the problem from a different perspective in contrast to previous prohibitions. Rather than expressing a broad prohibition, it restricts interrogators to a definitive list of approved techniques (Feinstein, D 2015). This approach, thus, essentially avoids the ambiguity that has become an enduring quality of international human rights law in relation to torture (Cole, D 2015; Levinson, S 2015, pp. 2017-2018). In succinct terms, if a technique is not authorised, it is affirmatively prohibited. To this avail, in stark contrast with its predecessors, this legislation may yet prove to be instrumental in the prevention of torture. In spite of its acclaimed innovation, critics call attention to the fact that, likewise, the McCain-Feinstein amendment cannot escape the ‘definition debate’ that plagues the discourse surrounding torture. In reference to this, a proponent of this thesis may advance the case of Appendix M. Whereby, under the circumstance, Appendix M could be conceivably read as permitting ‘torture lite’. The point being, as the proponent

Book vs. Movie Which One Portrays the Theme the Best Essay

With the constant streaming of new movies and television shows available, moviegoers tend to watch them for fun. They see an entertaining movie about conflict that sparks the sense of adventure in them. But do they really grasp what the movie can teach the viewers? With today’s society, the themes are lost in the entertainment purposes. However, books have developed to do what a movie does and so much more. In this way books give life to all people that read them. When a person reads a book they are entranced in the plot line. They have to comprehend and understand in order to finish the book and have it make sense. Movies can just be idly watched without gaining attention or intellect. Due to this, movies do not leave an impression.†¦show more content†¦The movie based off of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke takes out many scenes that are important to the book. They also change the entire ending so it throws off the original themes and meanings in the book. This movie did a terrible job with connecting the two pieces together and left many people upset with the ending. The book was a glorified version of the movie when compared. That is how it should be. Inkheart was not the only book that changed when turned into a movie. Tuesday’s with Morrie, by Mitch Albom, is another example of a movie that changes what the book intended. The movie did a great job of portraying the book though it did make some changes that changed the focus of the movie. Instead of fully receiving the concept of â€Å"it is never too late,† the lesson that anyone can have an impact on another person is shown. Though these are very similar, they are not the same. The way it is portrayed tends to leave a stronger message with the book then it does in the movie and that makes all the difference. This is the same for the Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. In this movie, they take out many parts from the book. This does not necessarily change a lot of the initial concepts but it has an effect. When something is taken out, like a suicide attempt, it takes the intensity out of the movie that was received from the book. Though the movie teaches the lesson that the book does, it does not have the strength it did as in the book. That connect people get from readingShow MoreRelatedCritique of Oprah Winfreys Film Version of Their Eyes Were Watching God1771 Words   |  8 PagesWatching God. She modified characters and symbols, altered the theme and relationships, and utterly desolated the significance of the title, making it almost unrecognizable to someone who has read the book. Winfrey totally eviscerated Hurston’s unsurpassed novel, extrapolating what she thought important without going in depth in to the true meaning of the story. Oprah took Hurston’s writing and morphed it into her own abominable movie. Oprah’s first mistake, changing Janie’s character to making herRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Maus 1653 Words   |  7 Pagessurvived it was either because of luck or some sort of economic advantage. We see this theme in Art Spiegelman s book Maus. Many of the situations Vladek, the main character, finds himself in, he would have never mahde through without luck and/or his socioeconomic status. Vladek witnesses people, family members, sent to the camps and die around him, yet he lives. Why is this? One of the first scenes in the book that luck comes into play is when Vladek is caught by the Nazis and sent to a PrisonerRead MoreFairy Tales And Folk Stories1668 Words   |  7 Pagesthough not exclusively, at children because they are passed on by parents each night before bed. But some of the stories that have been told for a long time across many different cultures have affected the perspectives of people more than they realize. One of the most well-known examples of a fairy tale that has been influential in American culture is the classic tale of Cinderella. Though the details of the tale can vary with different authors and cultures, aspects of it have taken on a certain significanceRead MoreDevil in a Blue Dress Rhetorical Analysis Novel vs. Film Essay2428 Words   |  10 PagesDevil in a Blue Dress: Novel vs. Film The hardboiled mystery novel, Devil in a Blue Dress, by Walter Mosley was first published in 1990 and was acknowledged by former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, as one of his many favorite novelists (Easy Writer). Taking place in post-war Los Angeles, the story is narrated by an African American laborer, Easy Rawlins, who is transformed into an L.A. detective after being pulled in to the affairs of local townspeople. The successful novel continued onto screenRead More America Essay5829 Words   |  24 PagesAmerica is a series of myths about one’s heroic ancestors. America and Me (1) History is fabrication, coated with honey, and bubbled from all evil, in order to make life worth living. American History is no exemption. Our history books contain heroes. Men and women displayed to be as perfect in life as Christ himself. Their lives are relived through the typed paragraphs, their faults extinct, their miracles numerous. This is a fabrication. A lie is a lie if only half the truthRead MoreThe Master Of Death By Harry Potter1848 Words   |  8 PagesNovember 2014 The Master of Death Millions have read the popular book series, Harry Potter, and have become fans of the famous hero that Harry is. Author J.K. Rowling made millions of children excited for reading. The Harry Potter book series has become synonymous with screaming fans, midnight movie premieres, and record-breaking book sales. It is one of the most popular book series of all time, internationally, and is considered the book that made kids want to read again. While many fans immerse themselvesRead MoreEssay Witchcraft Portrayed in Films6180 Words   |  25 Pagescovers her untidy hair. She concentrates on her cauldron, in which some unwholesome-looking liquid is boiling and sending off coloured fume into the air. In the background, one can glimpse a row of jars and pots, each filled with exotic and macabre ingredients. Her old broom, made not for sweeping but for flight stands in a corner, and she is watched by the glowing and unmoving eyes of a black cat that sits calmly atop the table. Now she take s one of the jars with her long crooked fingers, and after inspectingRead MoreMasculinity in the Media3136 Words   |  13 PagesMasculinity in Media This research looks at the association of masculinity with violence, racism, power and the objectification of women, which has been around since early civilization. This study also shows how these concepts are still evident today in the media. Masculinity in the media is portrayed as muscular, violent, angry, aggressive, dominant, and warrior like. The rhetoric in media, as it relates to masculinity, has influenced the amount of violence in the world. The associationRead MoreCross Cultural Analysis of Slumdog Millionaire2126 Words   |  9 Pageswe are exposed to. This idea is prevalent in the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog Millionaire tells the tale of 18 year old Jamal, a kid from the slums, â€Å"slum dog† of Bombay/Mumbai as he is about to answer the final question on India’s version of â€Å"Who Wants to be a Millionaire†. The movie opens on Jamal being interrogated by police who think the only way a kid from the slums could make it that far on the show is by cheating. Throughout the movie we see Jamal get asked each question and as a resultRead MoreThe Growth of Artificial Intelligence and Its Relevance to the Matrix2789 Words   |  12 Pageswith any new attempts in high-risk technology. Science and new advancements in artificial intelligence have made it accessible to finding out more than humans have every imagined possible. The development of the computer was a long strenuous process, which to ok many trials and errors to make effective as seen now in the twentieth century. It seems very unreal that humans would enable machines with so much ability to think evil, or is it? The reality of this topic is that mechanical machines have proven

Cell Phone Safety The Most Cherished Work Of Mine

This is probably the most cherished work of mine. I had heard the potential hazards of cell phones, and after spending an extended amount of time doing the research, the findings negating cell phone safety was irrefutable. I think that since cell phones are such a highly debated topic, it was an awesome subject to tackle, and I hope this paper can help people think twice about cell phone safety. Unseen Dangers: The Reality of Cell Phones The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of modern technology, creating fruitful moments in history that paved the groundwork for the Information Age. The advancement of computer chip technology allowed us to create the modern day cell phones, revolutionizing the concept of communication. Today our†¦show more content†¦George Zysman provides an excellent explanation, â€Å"This is especially impressive when we consider that the early phones were little more than radios, while the modern ones are essentially sophisticated computers capable of hundreds of millions of calculations per second† (109). Today, cell phones are devices many people cannot live without, which is evident in the exponential growth of cell phones users. According to a United Nations Telecom Agency report, there were about 6 billion cell phone subscriptions at the end of 2011, â€Å"with one cell phone account for roughly 86 of every 100 people† (Canadian Press). The modern â€Å"smartphone† is becoming the most desired communication device available. Nearly all businesspeople utilize the technology to stay current on their work tasks, and nearly every common layperson is impelled to possess these devices for entertainment and service applications. â€Å"Smartphones have†¦ a real Web browser and a variety of other services, including GPS, a camera and a wide variety of other applications† (Sinisalo 6). The capabilities of modern cell phones have undoubtedly marked an unprecedented shift in convenient communication, entertainment, and service technology. However, since cell phones first debuted on the market, and continuing until present day, there has been a startling misconception regarding the safety of cell phones. When the cell phone industry began growing in the 1980s, the industry

The Symposium And The Bhagavad Gita Essay - 1725 Words

Paper Assignment 2 Prompt 1 When it comes to the subject of love and desire, it would seem that The Symposium and The Bhagavad Gita disagree as to whether those qualities are beneficial to achieving spirituality or detrimental. In the Symposium, Plato states that desire is part of the pathway to achieving spirituality. By contrast, the unnamed author of the Bhagavad Gita seems to state that desire is an obstacle in the pathway to achieving divinity. Their perspectives can seen through their texts that connect of love to the divine, Plato’s way of reaching divinity and the way of reaching divinity that is mentioned in the Hindu scripture of The Bhagavad Gita. Through the readings of The Bhagavad Gita and The Symposium, it is clear that love and desire seems to be a asset to fulfilling one’s divinity rather than an obstacle. An important part of the subject is that in both The Symposium and The Bhagavad Gita, love is seen as sort of a divine force. At the setting of the Symposium, Plato, through the speeches of the other great minds at the Symposium, introduces the possible concepts that Love might be a God that is one of the beautiful gods of all. However, according to Plato, love is neither a god nor human, but â€Å"He is a great spirit, Socrates. Everything classed as a spirit falls between god and human† (Plato 38). This quote is crucial to the rest of the content of The Symposium because by saying that Love falls in between the status of gods and humans, Plato is able toShow MoreRelatedThe Bhagavad Gita And The Symposium2073 Words   |  9 PagesDesire in the Bhagavad-Gita and the Symposium Concepts of love and desire cross cultures and time periods, defining human interaction and goals with its powerful force on the human mind. The line between love and desire is not always clear and people from philosophers to scientists have attempted to understand these complex emotions and how they may be right or wrong. Desire has been characterized mainly as a distraction that will hinder humans on their solitary paths to self- enlightenment, butRead MoreDesire In The Symposium1508 Words   |  7 PagesIn Plato’s The Symposium, a group of well-versed men consider philosophical arguments, specifically regarding the role desire plays in a virtuous life. As academics and philosophers who hold high rank in the social system of ancient Greece, these men are praised for their wisdom and eloquence. One such philosopher, Pausanias, gives a speech early in the text that addresses desire as a multifaceted concept, setting the tone for the novel. The Bhagavad-Gita, an ancient India n text that is much reveredRead MoreLove And Devotion : Everlasting Concepts With Innumerable Meanings1655 Words   |  7 Pageschanged; and the studying of great texts such as the Plato’s Symposium, the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible, and the Bhagavad Gita have contributed to the expansion of my knowledge on such abstract topics. Love holds various meanings that vary from person to person, which is largely what is so remarkable about it. Love is an emotion, a drive, an expression; love is many things combined into one strong pull to some force. In The Symposium, love holds many interpretations by the various speakers, butRead More Siddhartha Essay: Hindu and Buddhist Thought1501 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween Siddhartha and the Bhagavad Gita, an important poetical document of the Hindu religion. Timpe maintains that Hesse was influenced largely by the Bhagavad Gita when he wrote his book and that the protagonist was groping his way along the path prescribed by the Bhagavad Gita. Hesse was indeed familiar with this important work, and a comparison between it and Siddhartha is rewarding.    As Timpe points out, the basic central problems of Siddhartha and the Gita are similar: how can theRead MoreConcepts Of Love And Desire2059 Words   |  9 Pagesbecause they are literally regarded as a disposable vessel for the real spirit which is placed in much higher standing within the world order. In the same way, â€Å"beauty of minds as more valuable than that of the body† (Plato 48) is an emphasized in the symposium. This connection to the concept of the other text where the bodies of humans and other material things are of much less value than that which is less tangible. The mind is valued for its infinite possibilities and its connection to knowledge. The

The Host Book Review Free Essays

The Host Book Review Melanie Stryder is one of few â€Å"wild† human rebels who have evaded the alien souls currently taking over the Earth. With her younger brother, Jamie, and the man she loves, Jared Howe, Mel is on the run from souls who hunt down host bodies for use. Souls are creatures that rely on host bodies to survive. We will write a custom essay sample on The Host Book Review or any similar topic only for you Order Now After insertion, they erase any mental presence of the being originally there and establish a claim over the body and mind. Earth is Wanderer’s ninth planet, and Mel is her ninth host body. Upon waking inside her new body, she is shocked not only by the vividness of human emotions, memories, and senses, but quickly learns that Melanie Stryder is not willing to give up the entirety of her mind. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga has often been described as vampire fiction for people who don’t like vampires. It is fair to say that with The Host, her latest novel, she has once again managed to break the usual genre stereotypes. This time, writing a science fiction novel for people who don’t like science fiction. Unlike the most popular alien invasion movies and science fiction television shows, The Host doesn’t have Will Smith or Richard Dean Anderson to save the planet against a background of gun fire, secret weapons, and loud explosions. In The Host humanity is lost, vastly outnumbered and overwhelmed by superior technology. There are tiny pockets of resistance left; just a handful of humans who have yet been captured, but they don’t spend their days plotting to retake the planet from the aliens. Just trying to survive consumes all their time. The Host isn’t really about saving the planet from alien invaders; it’s a story about what it is to be human, about identity and about individuality. Most of all The Host is a story about the nature of love. Romantic  love, love of family, love of friends – all of these emotions are explored by Wanderer as she first surrenders to Melanie’s emotional memories then surrenders to the emotions for herself. There is more than just memories left of Melanie though; she is trapped inside her own head unable to take control of her own body, forced to be an unwilling host to the alien Wanderer. Which makes things very interesting when Wanderer and Melanie eventually meet up with Melanie’s loved ones. Possibly the largest similarity between The Host and Stephenie Meyers Twilight Saga is the character of Wanderer. She has something of a Bella vibe going on. It is the way that they are both self sacrificing. Wanderer’s alien nature actually makes her even more self sacrificing than Bella which means that she needs others to look out for her and take care of her since she has little instinct for self preservation. Unlike the Twilight Saga, I would recommend The Host for both teens and adults. Stephenie Meyer wrote this book to attract a wide audience. All in all The Host makes a very compelling read. Avoiding the obvious science fiction cliches, it concentrates on humanity and the human emotions experienced by an alien invader who really wants to be a human. How to cite The Host Book Review, Papers

Alternative Fuels Essay Example For Students

Alternative Fuels Essay Alternative Fuel Vehicles You Can Buy TodayFrom the earliest days of the automotive industry alternative fuels have always competed with petroleum for powering vehicles. Nicholas Cugnot made the first self-powered road vehicle in 1769 with a steam engine, and the first gasoline automobile didnt appear until over 100 years later from Karl Benz. Through the late 19th and early 20th century steam and electric power remained strong contenders. The invention of the self-starter for gasoline engines by Cadillac eventually proved the undoing of the early steam cars, which required warming up. Electric cars continued to be produced for a while longer, but the expanding road network gradually made their short range of 8-15 miles between charges too inconvenient for many uses. Today we understand that the wholesale burning of petroleum cant continue forever. As the new century opens alternative fuel vehicles are becoming more and more common. Major manufacturers such as Ford, Daimler/Chrysler, and Fiat offer dual fuel cars and trucks now. These vehicles allow you to choose between gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG) for cleaner emissions. Other large manufacturers such as General Motors, Toyota, and Honda are concentrating on electric vehicles. These global automakers are slowly moving from conventional to alternative power as the technology is developed and refined. Current battery technology allows a maximum range of about 125 miles per charge. The leading edge of electric vehicle technology is occupied by much smaller companies. Bombardier, Pivco AS, and S-LEM AG have designed small, lightweight city cars intended for daily use in dense urban environments. Corbin-Pacific and Zebra Motors have chosen to concentrate on performance. Both companies produce creditable sports cars that just happen to be electrically powered. Do you have an idea that you think will work for an alternatively powered vehicle concept? The U. S. Department of Energy invites small businesses (500 employees or less) to submit grant applications on hybrid electric vehicle technology. Applicants may receive up to $75,000 US for a Phase I grant to develop the feasibility of the idea.Hydrogen VehiclesFuel DescriptionHydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but is rarely found in its uncombined form on the earth. When combusted (oxidized) it creates only water vapor as a by-product (4H + O2 = 2 H20). When burned in an internal combustion engine, however, combustion also produces small amounts of nitrogen oxides and small amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide because of engine lubricants. The exhaust is free from carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is normally a gas and can be compressed and stored in cylinders. It can also be kept as a liquid, but the gas only turns liquid at temperatures of minus 423.2 degrees Fahrenheit (below zero)! Today, hydrogen is mostly obtained by cracking hydrocarbon fuels, but it can be produced by electrolysis of water (using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen) and photolysis (chemical decomposition). The main problem with hydrogen is bulk storage required for fuel tanks. For an equivalent energy content of gasoline, liquid hydrogen and the required refrigeration system requires six to eight times more storage space than gasoline and compressed hydrogen gas requires six to ten times more storage space. Another development using hydrogen is as a blend of hydrogen and methane (natural gas) called Hythane. Preliminary information presented in mid- 1994 at the 10th World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Cocoa Beach, Florida, says that a test cars exhaust using 30 percent hydrogen and 70 percent methane contained 80 percent less nitrogen oxides than U.S. EPA standards for 2003. This blend has much higher content of hydrogen than other Hythane blends, which typically run about five percent. To learn more about hydrogen go to the Hydrogen Fuel Page. Vehicle AvailabilityThere are no vehicles currently available that use hydrogen as a fuel; however, automobile manufacturers have experimented with developing vehicles that use hydrogen. Research vehicles have been produced by Daimler-Benz, BMW and Mazda. The Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles use liquid hydrogen. The Mazda vehicle stores its hydrogen as a gas in a metal-hydride lattice of shaved metal. Other vehicles have been built using compressed hydrogen, including two vehicles in Arizona operated by the American Hydrogen Association. High production costs and low density have prevented hydrogens use as a transportation fuel in all but test programs. It may be 20 to 30 years or more before hydrogen is a viable transportation fuel and then perhaps only in fuel-cell-powered vehicles.What is Ethanol?Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, ETOH) is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic, agreeable odor. In dilute aqueous solution, it has a somewhat sweet flavor, but in more concentrated solutions it has a burning taste. Ethanol, CH3CH2OH, is an alcohol, a group of chemical compounds whose molecules contain a hydroxyl group, -OH, bonded to a carbon atom. Two higher blends of ethanol, E-85 and E-95 are being explored as alternative fuels in demonstration programs. Ethanol is also made into an ether, ethyltertiary-butyl ether (ETBE), that has properties of interest for oxygenated gasoline and reformulated fuels. Chemical Properties: Ethanol is ethane with a hydrogen molecule replaced by a hydroxyl radical. See the fuel properties table (PDF: 116 KB) for more information. How is Ethanol Made?There are basically eight steps in the ethanol production process: 1. Milling: The corn (or barley or wheat) will first pass through hammer mills, which grind it into a fine powder called meal. 2. Liquefaction: The meal will then be mixed with water and alpha-amylase, and will pass through cookers where the starch is liquefied. Heat will be applied at this stage to enable liquefaction. Cookers with a high temperature stage (120-150 degrees Celsius) and a lower Temperature-holding period (95 degrees Celsius) will be used. These high temperatures reduce bacteria levels in the mash. 3. Saccharification: The mash from the cookers will then be cooled and the secondary enzyme (gluco-amylase) will be added to convert the liquefied starch to fermentable sugars (dextrose), a process called saccharification. 4. Fermentation: Yeast will then be added to the mash to ferment the sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Using a continuous process, the fermenting mash will be allowed to flow, or cascade, through several fermenters until the mash is fully fermented and then leaves the final tank. In a batch fermentation process, the mash stays in one fermenter for about 48 hours before the distillation process is started. 5. Distillation: The fermented mash, now called beer, will contain about 10% alcohol, as well as all the non-fermentable solids from the corn and the yeast cells. The mash will then be pumped to the continuous flow, multi-column distillation system where the alcohol will be removed from the solids and the water. The alcohol will leave the top of the final column at about 96% strength, and the residue mash, called stillage, will be transferred from the base of the column to the co-product processing area. 6. Dehydration: The alcohol from the top of the column will then pass through a dehydration system where the remaining water will be removed. Most ethanol plants use a molecular sieve to capture the last bit of water in the ethanol. The alcohol product at this stage is called anhydrous (pure, without water) ethanol and is approximately 200 proof. 7. Denaturing: Ethanol that will be used for fuel is then denatured with a small amount (2-5%) of some product, like gasoline, to make it unfit for human consumption. 8. Co-Products: There are two main co-products created in the production of ethanol: carbon dioxide and distillers grain. Carbon dioxide is given off in great quantities during fermentation and many ethanol plants collect that carbon dioxide, clean it of any residual alcohol, compress it and sell it for use to carbonate beverages or in the flash freezing of meat. Distillers grains, wet and dried, are high in protein and other nutrients and are a highly valued livestock feed ingredient. Some ethanol plants also create a syrup containing some of the solids that can be a separate production sold in addition to the distillers grain, or combined with it. Ethanol production is a no-waste process that adds value to the corn by converting it into more valuable products. Ethanol is also made from a wet-milling process. Many of the larger ethanol producers use this process, which also yields many other products, such as high fructose corn sweetner. Ethanol MarketEthanol will probably be transferred from import terminals or production facilities by barge, rail, or truck to eventually reach retail outlets. Barkha Dutt EssayFleetWise is a federal initiative to address the pollution caused by vehicle emissions and its effect on climate change. It involves a gradual phased-in increase in use of alternative fuels, such as ethanol. The Government of Canada has committed to integrating environmental considerations and sound management practices in the operation of its motor vehicles. This includes a phased-in acquisition of alternative fuel vehicles, by the year 2005. Is ethanol production energy efficient?Ethanol contains about 32,000 (high heating value) BTUs per litre. It takes about one fourth of that amount to grow the corn and about one third of that amount to process the corn in a modern ethanol production facility. Some of the processing costs should be allocated to the co-products that are produced with the ethanol. If corn farmers use state-of-the-art, energy efficient and sustainable farming techniques and ethanol plants integrate state-of-the-art production processes, the amount of energy contained in the ethanol and its co-products is more than twice the energy used to grow the corn and convert it into ethanol. How will using ethanol-blended fuels affect my vehicle?What is the effect of using ethanol-blended fuels on the manufacturers warranty of my vehicle?When the use of ethanol began in 1979, most automobile manufacturers did not even address alcohol fuels. As soon as each manufacturer tested their vehicles, they approved the use of a 10% ethanol blend. Today, all manufacturers approve the use of 10% ethanol blends, and some even recommend it for environmental reasons.Is it necessary to make changes to my vehicle in order to use ethanol-blended fuels?All cars built since the 1970s are fully compatible with up to 10% ethanol in the mixture. Will ethanol-blended fuels work in fuel-injected engines?Yes. It may be necessary to change the filter more frequently. Ethanol helps to clean out the fuel-injection system, and may aid in the maintenance of a cleaner engine.Since 1985, all ethanol blends and nearly all non-ethanol gasolines have contained detergent additives that are designed to prevent injector deposits. These detergents have been very effective in addressing this issue.Does ethanol in the fuel work as an effective gas line anti-freeze?Gas line anti-freeze contains alcohol-usually methanol, ethanol, or isopropyl, which can be used up to a 0.3% level in a cars fuel tank. All alcohols have the ability to absorb water, and therefore condensation in the fuel system is absorbed and does not have the opportunity to collect and freeze. If an ethanol blend contains 10% ethanol, it is able to absorb more water than a small bottle of isopropyl, and eliminates the need and expense of adding a gas line anti-freeze.Will ethanol burn valves?Ethanol will not burn engine valves. In fact, ethanol burns cooler than gasoline. Ethanol high-powered racing engines use pure alcohol for that reason. Will using ethanol-blended fuels plug the fuel filters in my vehicle?Ethanol can loosen contaminants and residues that have been deposited by previous gasoline fills. These can collect in the fuel filter. This problem has happened occasionally in older cars, and can easily be corrected by changing fuel filters.Symptoms of a plugged fuel filter will be hesitation, missing, and a loss of power. Once your cars fuel system is clean, you will notice improved performance.Can I mix fuels?Yes. All gasolines in Canada (including low-level ethanol blends) must meet the specifications of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB). They are all interchangeable. What is the effect of using ethanol-blended fuels on fuel economy?Changes in fuel economy are minimal. While a 10% ethanol blend contains about 97% of the energy of pure gasoline, this is compensated by the fact that the combustion efficiency of the ethanol-blended fuel is increased. The net result is that most consumers do not detect a difference in their fuel economy, although many people using ethanol-blended fuels have said that their fuel economy has improved.Can ethanol-blended fuels be used in ATVs, chainsaws or other power or recreational equipment?Yes. An ethanol blend may be used anywhere that unleaded gasoline is used. Farmers, cities, counties, and rural electric co-op fleets, plus snowmobile racers and fishing guides in the U.S. use ethanol blends exclusively with no performance problems. Adjustments may be required for air intake. It is important to consult your owners manual.Is it safe to handle fuel ethanol blends?The WHMIS Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) reveals that the properties of ethanol blends are substantially the same as conventional gasoline blends. Occupational health and safety risks presented by the use of ethanol gasoline do not appear to be any different than those posed by conventional gasoline blends. Do ethanol blends need special handling or storage?Only in special circumstances. The gasoline marketer should pump any accumulated water from the storage tank, and add a final filter to the dispensing hose. It is wise also to check seasonally used small engines such as chainsaws and outboard motors (which are more susceptible to water contamination) for the presence of water, and drain the tank if necessary.What are the alternatives to ethanol as an oxygenate? How do they compare?MethanolMethanol is a derivative of natural gas. It is less expensive to produce than ethanol but is highly corrosive, more volatile than ethanol, and more damaging to plastic and rubber fuel system components (elastomers). It also requires a co-solvent (usually ethanol). Ethanol provides better water tolerance than methanol.MTBEMTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) is a high octane, low volatility, oxygenated fuel component made by combining methanol and isobutylene from oil refineries. It is not as sensitive to water as the alcohols, and does not increase the volatility of most gasolines. It is known to have a very distinct odor. It is non-corrosive and relatively low-priced. It is currently the most widely used oxygenate, but is derived from a non-renewable resource. ETBEETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) has properties similar to MTBE, but is produced by combining ethanol (derived from a renewable resource) and isobutylene.TAME and TAEETAME (Tertiary Amyl Methyl Ether) and TAEE (Tertiary Amyl Ethyl Ether) are complex methyl and ethyl ethers, respectively. They are relatively new and have similar characteristics to MTBE and ETBE.How much fuel ethanol is being produced?Canadas current annual ethanol production, for all markets (1998) is approximately 234 million litres a year. With additional proposed development of ethanol production plants, Canadian potential production in the next few years is at 664 million litres per year.How much fuel ethanol is being used?It is difficult to ascertain current levels of fuel ethanol use in Canada. In the U.S. , it now represents about 9% of total gasoline sales, or the equivalent of the total Canadian gasoline consumption. Over two trillion kilometres have been traveled using fuel ethanol blends.Who produces alcohol Mohawk Oil Canada Ltd., Minnedosa, Manitoba (Capacity = 10 million litres); ? Pound-Maker Agventures, Ltd. , Lanigan, Saskatchewan (Capacity = 12 million litres); ? Commercial Alcohols Inc., Tiverton, Ontario (Capacity = 23 million litres); ? Commercial Alcohols Inc., Chatham, Ontario (Capacity = 150 million litres); ? Agri-Partners International, Inc. (API), Alberta (Capacity = 22 million litres); ? Tembec, Temiscaming, Quebec (Capacity = 17 million litres). Additional proposed development of ethanol production plants includes those by? Seaway Grain Processors, Inc., Cornwall, Ontario (Capacity = 66 million litres); ? Commercial Alcohols, Inc., Varennes, Quebec (Capacity = 150 million litres); ? Commercial Alcohols Inc.s Chatham plant plans to expand by another 150 million litres; ? Metalore Resources Inc. is continuing development on a wheat-based ethanol production facility. Who sells ethanol-blended fuels? Where can I purchase them?Across Canada, there are approximately 950 retailers of ethanol-blended fuels (July, 1998), excluding those who are not listed with the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.Mohawk Oil is presently selling ethanol blends at over 290 stations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon and Northern Ontario. Across southern Ontario, UPI Inc. retails ethanol blends at over 60 UPI Inc., FS and Co-op gasbars and cardlocks. They are available in all grades of gasoline and for on-farm delivery. On January 1, 1998, Sunoco Inc. launched ethanol-enhanced fuels at all its 275 retail outlets in Ontario. In eastern Ontario and western Quebec, MacEwen Petroleum Inc. is retailing ethanol blends at over 60 locations. Fuel ethanol retailing has expanded into Quebec with over 100 Sonic stations and other independent retail outlets. Other companies that have joined in the retailing of ethanol-blended fuels include Mr. Gas, Pioneer Petroleum, Frances Fuels, Stinson Petroleum and Sunys.