Most people know that hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas is controversial, but not so many know what it really means. So here is an overview of the “fracking” process, frac equipment, and the roots of the controversy.

Fracturing uses pressurized fluid to create cracks in layers of rock surrounding a drilled shaft. This is done because there is often a great deal of oil and natural gas scattered in small pockets underground. These cracks allow the dispersed material to be extracted.

The fluid used in fracking is mixed with sand, called proppant, which helps keep fractures open when pressure is released. Moving sand to be mixed with the fluid is a significant logistical challenge, and requires a specialized mobile conveyor/blender and frac sand storage equipment.

Frac sand is loaded into large holding units called frac sanders. Heavy duty mobile conveyor systems, called T belt conveyors, carry the sand to be mixed with fracking fluid as it is pumped down the well. Many frac jobs require in excess of 1,000 tons of sand.

Enough fluid and sand are pumped in to cause cracking throughout the surrounding area. When the cracking is done, the fluid is pumped out of the well and piped to treatment facilities. The oil or natural gas can then be easily extracted.

Controversy over fracking comes from a few different areas. In some cases, natural gas has been released in high concentration into groundwater or the atmosphere. This can create health problems for people who consume it. Secondly, waste water removed from the well has been mishandled, often due to poorly constructed piping, releasing chemicals into the environment. Finally, positioning the large frac sand storage containers and other frac equipment can leave scars on surrounding land.

Whether you’re for or against hydraulic fracturing it’s good to know some background. So next time it comes up in a heated conversation, you can talk about it with some solid understanding about what it really means.

Cambelt International
2820 W 1100 So.
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Phone: (801) 972-5511

Don’t ask me to explain it, but people have always been interested in the odd and the whacky. This is especially the case when it comes to the interesting laws different states impose on their citizens. While these laws may have made sense to at least one person at one point in history, the general concensus nowadays is “What exactly were they thinking?”. Whether it comes as a completely surprise or a law that should be so COMMON SENSE that asking an individual that has lived under a rock whether they needed a Utah DUI lawyer when they received a DUI, these laws still need to be remembered and acknowledged.

• Blind Side – In the state of Alabama have declared it illegal to drive while blindfolded. What spurred this interesting declaration? Perhaps it was a few individuals who had a particularly boring day and thought it a wise idle pursuit to master blind driving, or an attempt to be able to pull over anyone wearing a mask. Whatever the reason, this law is most likely obeyed by all, without them even knowing it.
• Cursed Root Bags – Someone in California must have hated this vegetable, because it is a law that prohibits anyone from planting rutabagas on roadways. On top of all that they’ve decided to ban fun all together when officials in Glendale made it illegal to jump from a car at 65 mph. There may still be those who are fine with 55 mph to satiate their daredevil needs, but everyone knows that extra 10 miles per hour makes all of the difference.
• Illegal Fancies – With possibly one of the most absurd descriptions I’ve ever come across, Illinois tolerates absolutely NO “fancy riding” in any form.
• Dressed for Comfort – We all have those days, the ones where no matter how hard you try, you just can’t make it out of your bathrobe. The state of New York has planned for such an event as it is illegal to disrobe while in your car.
• Strongest Men Discouraged – Don’t plan on training for the World’s Strongest Man competition while in the state of Oregon, not only will you be ticketed if you leave your door open too long while pushing it half a mile, but to top it off, any attempt to prove your physical endurance with a car on a highway is a guaranteed traffic violation.

While it’s true that there isn’t a high chance that the majority of lawmen know about these obscure laws, the best way to avoid an unexpected traffic violation is to use common sense. This goes the same for the unfortunate event of receiving a DUI. While a highly trained Utah DUI attorney may be able to navigate their way out of trouble, the odds of your success without proper representation are about as low as the number of people who have heard of the above stated traffic laws.

David Rosenbloom, DUI Utah
211 East Broadway, Suite 210
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Ph: (877) 384 – 8946

In today’s edition of “Ask an Orlando Dentist or Someone Who Knows About Teeth” we will be addressing a few age old questions about the coloration of teeth and why certain things happen as you get older. It’s important to note that not all reasons for these occurences may be listed, but additional research is a great way to find out what might be missing.

Why Might Teeth Turn Black?

A common occurence in the world of teeth is a discoloration that is off of what people might consider a “normal” color for teeth. These discolorations are very normal, but what might not be so common is when teeth go from a white-ish shade to an almost black hue. This absence of color from a tooth may often mean that the tooth is literally rotting inside the mouth. In children the darkening of the tooth may occur, this could be because they bumped or injured their baby teeth. Since baby teeth were not made to last the darkening may happen at a rapid pace. Occasionally the darkening of the tooth may mean that not enough blood is going to that area and there is a chance that it could go back to its original color. With children, however, if the tooth remains dark often no action is needed, as the tooth will eventually be replaced by a healthy one.

“Rotting”, which is more commonly known as an advanced stage of tooth decay, it most often occurs when bacteria in your mouth make an acid that eats away at teeth. If not properly treated tooth decay could lead to infection, loss of a tooth, and almost certainly will cause pain. When bacteria (plaque) feeds on sugars contained within the food you eat, they make acids. As resilient as teeth may be eventually the acid will destroy tooth enamel which results in tooth decay.

The best way to prevent tooth decay is regular flossing and brushing of the teeth. Obtaining a toothbrush with soft bristles and gently brushing the teeth is important, as brushing too hard can slowly wear away tooth enamel. Nature also supplies ways of keeping our teeth healthy, such as eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Obstaining from tobacco of an form, coffee, and food or drink with an abundance of sugars will greatly help your fight against tooth decay.

If your tooth has already experienced a fair amount of tooth decay there are other options in regaining some confidence with that smile of yours. The work done by dentists in Orlando have technologically advanced at a rapid pace these last few years. What before was thought of as impossible is now being done a daily basis. Whether it be veneers or dental implants, asking a specialist ofreconstructive dentistry in Orlando is a harmless way to take the first step on the road to tooth recovery.

Dr. Elena Puig
1600 Hillcrest Street
Orlando, FL 32803
Ph: (407) 895 – 5600