Biofuels: can they really save the planet?

Among green innovations, powering buses with old chicken legs is one of the more inventive. The use of 100% sustainable biodiesel made from tallow (rendered animal fat) and used cooking oil has certainly caught the imagination of passengers on Stagecoach's Stewarton-Darvel service. "We've seen an increase in the number of passengers travelling on the route," says Stagecoach spokesman Steven Stewart. The six-month trial has had another green spin-off: in the first two months, 5000 containers for used cooking oil were issued to households along the route, which could then be taken to an East Ayrshire Council recycling centre in return for money-off bus vouchers. Eight tonnes of oil were collected, giving the whole enterprise a pleasingly self-sustaining nature.

The biodiesel comes from Argent Energy near Motherwell, which was the first large-scale biodiesel plant in the UK when it opened in 2005.


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Sacramento doctor takes unconventional approach to autism

In the controversial world of autism treatment, mainstream medical doctors are increasingly pitted against alternative providers in the quest to figure out causes and develop treatments.

Dr. Michael Chez, a neurologist specializing in child autism, likens talking about the neurodevelopmental disorder to discussing politics or religion.

"Many times, I have wanted to give it up, because it's hard to keep your ego from being beaten up all the time," said Chez, who practices at Sutter Health and holds a teaching position at UC Davis. "You're portrayed as part of the Evil Empire of the Darth Vader Medical Society."

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Montessori home to skilled chess players

Tucker Price, 12, a sixth-grader at Franciscan Montessori Earth School in southeast Portland, and Sean Richardson, 9, a fourth-grader, spend a lot of time staring at tables.

Their concentration paid off last weekend at the Chess for Success State Championship Tournament at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, March 21-22.

Tucker – the 2005 state champion in the elementary division – tied for fourth place in the sixth grade division, and Sean tied for sixth in the elementary, or kindergarten-through-fourth division. Meanwhile, Nathan Smith, a third-grader at Franciscan, tied for fourth place in the elementary division.

Prior to the tournament, Montessori's two chess teams placed second in the K-5 and 6-8 divisions respectively in prior regional Chess for Success tournaments.


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Chandler Flower Girl ritual has long history

The Chandler Service Club's Flower Girl program is a charity organization made up of high school seniors. Each is recommended and selected for the program by the Chandler Service Club at the beginning of her senior year. "It's not real froufrou, but again it's not open to everyone," said Flower Girl chairwoman Vangie Blake. The program began in 1952. At the time each member had to be the daughter or granddaughter of a member of the Chandler Service Club. The program was modified in 1988, making it available to any high school senior approved by a club member. "It's astronomical the things they've done," Blake said. "Their accomplishments just go on and on." Throughout their yearlong membership, the girls dedicate their time to charitable organizations as a group and also individually spearhead their own personal service projects.


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MayoClinic.com Features New Strength Training Videos

For the best results with strength training, proper technique is vital. MayoClinic.com has a new series of online strength training videos that help individuals maximize their strength training program. The new series includes detailed instruction on more than 30 strength training exercises, including body weight, resistance tubing, free weight and weight machine exercises.

When done correctly, strength training can help people lose fat, increase strength and muscle tone, and improve bone density. But if done incorrectly, strength training won't provide these benefits -- and may even lead to injury.

Here are some simple tips to help individuals maximize their strength training program:

-- Lift an appropriate amount of weight. Start with a weight you can lift comfortably 12 to 15 times.


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Tigers were more than 7-15 record

The record will forever say the Massillon Tigers were 7-15 in the 2007-08 high school basketball season. Massillon coach Matt Creamer doesn�t deny that�s what the record says, but it�s not a true measure of what the Tigers really were by the end of the season.

�I think everybody looks at your record,� Creamer said Wednesday, almost two weeks since the Tigers ended their campaign with a loss to undefeated Timken in the sectional finals. �We didn�t feel at the end we were a 7-15 team; I thought we were playing more like a 15-7-type team. That says something about the kids. They kept improving and kept staying coachable.

�That was probably one of the more enjoyable parts of the whole year. We saw improvement almost daily and throughout different stages of practice in the weeks we ended up with, we just kept improving.


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Tickets still available for next community breakfast March 14

CHARLESTON — The foundation of area leaders is growing brick by brick, and another row looks to be added next week at the Community Leaders Breakfast featuring bricklayer-turned-author Lynn Donohue.A junior high dropout who became a professional mason and eventually established her own construction company, Donohue now operates a non-profit organization for at-risk youth about 20 miles from where she grew up in Massachusetts."I got out of the situation I was in and created a different life for myself," Donohue said in a telephone interview. "It really only happened because I didn’t accept doing what I was doing."The Community Leaders Breakfast will last from 7 to 9 a.m. March 14 at Eastern Illinois University’s Grand Ballroom in Charleston.

In addition to Donohue’s keynote address, the event will feature the 2008 Class of 20 Under 40 — individuals under the age of 40 who have met with success in their fields — as well as the latest five recipients of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.Tickets cost $15 and must be purchased in advance.


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