have been eating oatmeal every morning for breakfast for about two years now because it's quick, easy and tasty. For the past year and 11 months it's been the instant kind, which obviously I like or I would not keep eating it. But, I have been hearing a lot about Steel Cut Oats and how much healthier it is for you, so I decided to give it a try and I love it. I've been buying Bob's Red Mill brand from Martin's and have been very happy with it. The texture is much heartier than instant and it sticks with you longer. Plus, I feel like I'm getting my day off to an even healthier start.
The down side is that Steel Cut Oats take much longer to cook than instant, so every couple of days I make a batch in the evening - put in in a covered plastic container and it's ready for me in the morning. I just spoon out the amount I want and microwave it for about 45 seconds and I have a delicious, healthy breakfast. Most of the time I top it with a couple craisins, chopped walnuts, agave nectar and soy milk, but it's also yummy with some good ole brown sugar and milk. If you're looking for a healthy way to start your day give it a try!
Steel Cut Oats
3 cups water
1 cup Steel Cut Oats
dash of salt
Bring water and salt to a boil. Add oats and then simmer on low for about 25 minutes or until water is absorbed. Top dried fruit, nuts or your favorite oatmeal topping.
How simple is that!
Monday, 8 February 2010
The Courage That’s Needed to Work in Steel Mills
For many who live in either Indiana and Illinois, either you work in the steel industry, or you know someone who does. Steel is big business in our part of the country.
Most folk know that working steel is dangerous, but they may not realize how truly scary these jobs can be….
According to the United Steel Workers of America (USWA), a USWA worker is killed while doing his job every TEN DAYS in his country (see report, p.2). The union has been investigating these tragedies for over 20 years, and they’re still trying to find out why people die on the job, and what can be done to make life safer for steel workers.
What’s happening here?
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), steel workers face a variety of dangers as they do their jobs, the most common being:
1. Hazard of falling down from considerable heights, while joining metal components of a building; and/or when the work is done while standing on a ladder or at an elevated surface;
2. Being hit by falling objects (falls of heavy loads on the feet or on other parts of the body;
3. Eye injury, as a result of flying metal splinters, while working with a chisel and hammer, or when doing sharpening, cutting or welding works;
4. Back and spinal column injury caused by lifting and moving heavy loads;
5. Exposure to very high noise levels; and
6. Electrocution, as a result of touching live electric wires, or while working with portable power tools the isolation of which is defective.
You’d Think Job Safety Would Be Standard By Now, Right? You’d Be Wrong.
Historically, working in steel mills quickly separated the men from the boys — even in the 1800s, the steel industry was a place where lots of workers died on the job.
By the 21st century, you’d think that things would be pretty safe, that the conditions associated with death would be resolved. Wrong.
In 2008, the number of deaths in steel mills was higher than it had been in years. Then, fingers were pointing to high demand for the product pushing workers to work hard and fast, which always invites accidents and injuries. Today, fingers can point to the decline in steel demand and the pressure on companies to maximize their dollars, trying to stay out of the red. The U.S. Steel industry is suffering along with the rest of the economy these days.
For the father, son, husband, brother (or mother, daughter, wife, sister) who enters a steel mill for a hard day’s work, they bring with them not only a commitment to a job well done, but a spine as hard as the product they’re making.
Most folk know that working steel is dangerous, but they may not realize how truly scary these jobs can be….
According to the United Steel Workers of America (USWA), a USWA worker is killed while doing his job every TEN DAYS in his country (see report, p.2). The union has been investigating these tragedies for over 20 years, and they’re still trying to find out why people die on the job, and what can be done to make life safer for steel workers.
What’s happening here?
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), steel workers face a variety of dangers as they do their jobs, the most common being:
1. Hazard of falling down from considerable heights, while joining metal components of a building; and/or when the work is done while standing on a ladder or at an elevated surface;
2. Being hit by falling objects (falls of heavy loads on the feet or on other parts of the body;
3. Eye injury, as a result of flying metal splinters, while working with a chisel and hammer, or when doing sharpening, cutting or welding works;
4. Back and spinal column injury caused by lifting and moving heavy loads;
5. Exposure to very high noise levels; and
6. Electrocution, as a result of touching live electric wires, or while working with portable power tools the isolation of which is defective.
You’d Think Job Safety Would Be Standard By Now, Right? You’d Be Wrong.
Historically, working in steel mills quickly separated the men from the boys — even in the 1800s, the steel industry was a place where lots of workers died on the job.
By the 21st century, you’d think that things would be pretty safe, that the conditions associated with death would be resolved. Wrong.
In 2008, the number of deaths in steel mills was higher than it had been in years. Then, fingers were pointing to high demand for the product pushing workers to work hard and fast, which always invites accidents and injuries. Today, fingers can point to the decline in steel demand and the pressure on companies to maximize their dollars, trying to stay out of the red. The U.S. Steel industry is suffering along with the rest of the economy these days.
For the father, son, husband, brother (or mother, daughter, wife, sister) who enters a steel mill for a hard day’s work, they bring with them not only a commitment to a job well done, but a spine as hard as the product they’re making.
Global steel output to reach 1.35 billion tonnes in 2010
Steel industry consultancy MEPS forecasts world steel output to reach an all time high of 1.35 billion tonnes this year, an increase of approximately 11% over the estimated output in 2009. It also expects blast furnace iron production to reach a record level of 994 million tonnes
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Troax UK supply steel Excalibur partitioning for new and renewable energy centre NaREC
Industrial safety and partitioning specialist Troax UK Limited has supplied its double skin, steel Excalibur partitioning to create a new calibration laboratory at the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. The recent opening of the new facility makes NaREC the leading high voltage measurement laboratory in the UK, setting the benchmark for the UK's High Voltage Reference Measurement Standards.
Established in 2002 as a Centre for Excellence for new and renewable energy technologies, NaREC works to enable the move towards a low carbon economy, both nationally and internationally, by assisting the development and growth of new energy technologies.
NaREC's new calibration laboratory, which is located within an existing 140 metre high testing hall at the centre, was built by Aaran Design using Troax's modular steel partitioning.
The solid steel Excalibur panels reach a height of 5 metres and have been installed together with a solid steel ceiling, also supplied by Troax. A specialist contractor was brought in to fit a Faraday Cage to the structure to earth every component within it. The doors reach a height of 3.25 metres, providing access for both staff and large items of electrical equipment.
Excalibur's double skin steel construction was ideal for this unusual and demanding project; the two steel skins, which are of monobloc construction, are separated by a composite insulating infill which complies with all relevant Health and Safety legislation. This design ensures excellent sound and heat insulation and provides a half-hour fire rating.
Commenting on the project, Mark Ridden at Aaran Design said: "This was an interesting project which, because of the nature of the facility, involved a number of quite complex issues, such as the installation of the Faraday cage to earth the structure. Troax were involved from the outset and worked with us both on the initial design of the testing facility and throughout the construction to solve technical issues as they arose. We've used their partitioning systems for a number of years and they always prove to be helpful, thorough and easy to deal with."
Established in 2002 as a Centre for Excellence for new and renewable energy technologies, NaREC works to enable the move towards a low carbon economy, both nationally and internationally, by assisting the development and growth of new energy technologies.
NaREC's new calibration laboratory, which is located within an existing 140 metre high testing hall at the centre, was built by Aaran Design using Troax's modular steel partitioning.
The solid steel Excalibur panels reach a height of 5 metres and have been installed together with a solid steel ceiling, also supplied by Troax. A specialist contractor was brought in to fit a Faraday Cage to the structure to earth every component within it. The doors reach a height of 3.25 metres, providing access for both staff and large items of electrical equipment.
Excalibur's double skin steel construction was ideal for this unusual and demanding project; the two steel skins, which are of monobloc construction, are separated by a composite insulating infill which complies with all relevant Health and Safety legislation. This design ensures excellent sound and heat insulation and provides a half-hour fire rating.
Commenting on the project, Mark Ridden at Aaran Design said: "This was an interesting project which, because of the nature of the facility, involved a number of quite complex issues, such as the installation of the Faraday cage to earth the structure. Troax were involved from the outset and worked with us both on the initial design of the testing facility and throughout the construction to solve technical issues as they arose. We've used their partitioning systems for a number of years and they always prove to be helpful, thorough and easy to deal with."
Warning about old steel tube type ladders
Hi everyone,
Just as I was about ready to restart work on my PDRacer, I was helping out a neighbour, when the ladder I was using snapped, and colapsed from under me.
The ladder was one of those old steel tube step / extension types ( I only weigh 99.5 kg ), both vertical tubes snapped right through, about 6 inches above the joints ( the neighbour only got it second hand last sunday ), causing me to drop straight down about 5 feet, to land on and bend one of the ladders steps about 45 degrees.
I have 2 very sore feet and ankles, according to the x-rays I have not likely broken anything except the ladder, but have soft tissue dammage to both feet and ankles, thankfully it was not worse.
This would seem a great joke ordinarily, but I am in too much pain to truly enjoy the funny side of this unlikely event, hopefully you can at least get a laugh out of this, I no doubt will at some time later.
If everything goes ok ( and if I havn't actually broken any bones, such as a hairline fracture etc. ) I should recover sufficiently in a week or two to get started again on my PDRacer.
Just as I was about ready to restart work on my PDRacer, I was helping out a neighbour, when the ladder I was using snapped, and colapsed from under me.
The ladder was one of those old steel tube step / extension types ( I only weigh 99.5 kg ), both vertical tubes snapped right through, about 6 inches above the joints ( the neighbour only got it second hand last sunday ), causing me to drop straight down about 5 feet, to land on and bend one of the ladders steps about 45 degrees.
I have 2 very sore feet and ankles, according to the x-rays I have not likely broken anything except the ladder, but have soft tissue dammage to both feet and ankles, thankfully it was not worse.
This would seem a great joke ordinarily, but I am in too much pain to truly enjoy the funny side of this unlikely event, hopefully you can at least get a laugh out of this, I no doubt will at some time later.
If everything goes ok ( and if I havn't actually broken any bones, such as a hairline fracture etc. ) I should recover sufficiently in a week or two to get started again on my PDRacer.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Global Steel Prices Continue to Rise
European Prices Surge; Flat-Rolled Posts Another Strong Week. The U.K. and Europe each posted five price increases this week, followed by China and Korea with four, while Japan, the Ukraine, and the U.S. had three increases apiece. The CIS, Taiwan, and Vietnam had two price hikes each, while Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Malaysia, Thailand, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the U.A.E. posted one price increase apiece. China had four price decreases while India recorded two price drops.
There were 11 price increases for flat-rolled products, followed by rebar with eight, billet, pipe, and wire rod with five, while plate and beam had four price hikes. Flat-rolled products posted three price cuts, followed by billet with two, and beam with one decline.
Relative Domestic Prices Finish Strong in January. U.S. prices continue to move up with particular strength in plate and rebar. U.S. rebar prices were up 11% from December and have posted increases -- off of near-record lows --- relative to China and Europe where prices have increased modestly, and vs. Japan where prices have fallen 6%. Plate prices rose 16% in January, and are up significantly relative to China and Europe where prices are nearly unchanged from December. Absolute hot-rolled coil prices in the U.S. were up 8% for the month, and were up relative to China and Europe, and up sharply relative to Japan. Domestic beam prices ended January up 5.6% and were up relative to China where prices have risen 2% and up relative to Europe where prices were flat and Japan where prices fell 5%.
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