GEMINI 22May-22June

Gemini....The Twins...

Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory. On the one hand it produces the virtue of versatility, and on the other the vices of two-facedness and flightiness. The sign is linked with Mercury, the planet of childhood and youth, and its subjects tend to have the graces and faults of the young. When they are good, they are very attractive; when they are bad they are more the worse for being the charmers they are. Like children they are lively, and happy, if circumstances are right for them, or egocentric, imaginative and restless. They take up new activities enthusiastically but lack application, constantly needing new interests, flitting from project to project as apparently purposelessly as a butterfly dancing from flower to flower. To them life is a game which must always be full of fresh moves and continuous entertainment, free of labor and routine. Changing horses in the middle of the stream is another small quirk in the Gemini personality which makes decision making, and sticking to a decision, particularly hard for them.

Since they lack the quality of conscientiousness, they are apt to fight a losing battle in any attempts they make to be moral (in the widest sense of the word). Their good qualities are attractive and come easily to them. They are affectionate, courteous, kind, generous, and thoughtful towards the poor and suffering - provided none of the activities resulting from expressing these traits interferes too greatly with their own lives and comforts. They quickly learn to use their outward attractiveness to gain their own ends, and when striving for these they will use any weapon in their armory - unscrupulous lying, and cunning evasiveness; escaping blame by contriving to put it on other people, wrapped up in all the charm they can turn on. In their better moments they may strive to be honest and straightforward, but self-interest is almost always the victor. If things go against them, they sulk like children.

Also like children, they demand attention, admiration, and the spending on them of time, energy and money, throwing tantrums if they don't get what they want. They reflect every change in their surroundings, like chameleons, and can become pessimistic, sullen, peevish and materialistically self-centered if circumstances force them to struggle in any way. If the conditions of life become really adverse, their strength of will may desert them entirely. They can become uncertain of themselves, either withdrawn, or nervously excitable worriers, sullenly discontented, hard and irritable, with "Self" looming ever larger in their struggles. On the other hand their versatility can make them very adaptable, adjusting themselves to control the world around them by means of their inherent ingenuity and cleverness.

Most Gemini have a keen, intuitive, sometimes brilliant intelligence and they love cerebral challenges. But their concentration, though intense for a while, does not last. Their mental agility and energy give them a voracious appetite for knowledge from youth onward, though they dislike the labor of learning. They easily grasp almost everything requiring intelligence and mental dexterity, and are often able to marry manual skills to their qualities of mind. Their intellect is strongly analytical and sometimes gives them so great an ability to see both sides of a question that they vacillate and find it hard to make decisions. But their intelligence may very well be used to control and unify the duality of their natures into a most efficient unit. If faced with difficulties, they have little determination to worry at a problem until they find a solution - they will pick the brains of others. In their intellectual pursuits, as in other departments of their lives, they risk becoming dilettantes, losing themselves in too many projects which they follow until they become difficult.

In love they are fickle, not intentionally so but because of the basic inconsistency of their emotional nature, which has an amoral aspect to it. Their is a side to Geminians which can become deeply involved emotionally, and another, hostile to sentimentality, which stands back from a romantic situation, laughing at it and the protagonists in it, including themselves while analyzing it intellectually. Gemini subjects take nothing seriously. So, in love, in spite of their temporary depth of feeling, for the intensity of involvement lasts only while it is new, they are superficial, light-hearted, cool, flirtatious and unimaginative in the understanding of the pain they may give others. They like intrigue, the excitement of the chase, but once they have caught the prey, they lose interest and look around for the next creature to pursue. In less serious situations they make witty, entertaining companions, good acquaintances rather than friends. Even at their worst they are never dull - there is usually playfulness below the surface, and they can be brilliant conversationalists - but they can also be quarrelsome, prattlers, boasters, liars and cheats.

Geminians can be successful in many walks of life though their general characteristics tend to make them unreliable. They are often skilled manipulators of language, in speech and writing, and may be: debaters, diplomats (though in politics they are more interested in theory than practice), orators, preachers (brilliant rather than profound), teachers, authors, poets, journalists, or lawyers. In business any work which combines quick-wittedness with a change of surroundings suits them; working as a traveling salesperson, brokerage work, or dealing with the public in any capacity is right up their alley. Because they are dispassionate, logical, rational and analytical they make good scientists, especially in the fields of medicine and astronomy. They can also make excellent members of the Armed Forces, for they take danger no more seriously than anything else and can earn themselves a reputation for devotion to duty and heroic acts. In the arts they may excel in music, painting and sculpture. They make good psychic researchers of a sceptical kind. Negatively they can degenerate into confidence tricksters, thieves and even adepts in the black arts.

Possible Health Concerns...

Gemini rules the arms, shoulders, hands, lungs and nervous system and its subjects need to beware of diseases and accidents associated with the upper part of the body, as well as nervous and pulmonary disorders such as catarrh and bronchitis. Their mercurial nature may also affect a constitution which is not strong if it is put under strain.

You are prone to taking unnecessary risks and wind up harming yourself or others in the process. Sometimes pursuing pleasure too vigorously could also qualify as risk taking.

Some Famous Gemini That Share Your Sign!

May 22, 1813 - Richard Wagner - Composer May 22, 1859 - Sir Author Conan Doyle - Writer May 22, 1896 - Cyril Fagin - Astrologer May 22, 1907 - Sir Lawrence Oliver - Actor May 22, 1928 - Marcia Moore - Astrologer May 23, 1733 - Franz Mesmer - Hypnotist May 23, 1928 - Rosemary Clooney - Singer May 23, 1933 - Joan Collins - Actress May 23, 1940 - Rennie Davis - Activist May 23, 1945 - Lauren Chapin - Child Actress May 24, 1819 - Queen Victoria - Br. Royality May 24, 1864 - George W. Carver - Botanist May 24, 1941 - Bob Dylan - Singer May 24, 1944 - Patti Labelle - Singer May 24, 1955 - Roseanne Cash - Singer May 25, 1567 - Claudio Monteverdi - Composer May 25, 1803 - Ralph Waldo Emerson - Writer May 25, 1899 - Gene Tunney - Pugilist May 25, 1898 - Bennet Cerf - Writer May 26, 1867 - Queen Mary - England Royalty May 26, 1920 - Peggie Lee - Singer May 26, 1948 - Stevie Nicks - Singer May 26, 1923 - James Arness - Actor May 27, 1878 - Isadora Duncan - Dancer May 27, 1907 - Rachel Carson - Scientist/Activist May 27, 1911 - Hubert Humphrey - Politician May 27, 1911 - Vincent Price - Actor May 27, 1922 - Christopher Lee - Actor May 27, 1923 - Henry Kissinger - Statesman May 27, 1937 - Louis Gossett, Jr - Actor May 28, 1908 - Ian Flemming - Writer May 28, 1934 - The Dionne quintuplets - Famous Children May 28, 1944 - Gladys Knight - Singer May 28, 1947 - Sondra Locke - Actress May 29, 1903 - Bobe Hope - Comdian May 29, 1917 - John F. Kennedy - American President May 29, 1958 - Annette Benning - Actress May 30, 1474 - Albrecht Durer - Artist May 30, 1908 - Mel Blanc - Cartoon Voices May 30, 1964 - Wynona Judd - Singer May 31, 1898 - Norman Vincent Peale - Clergyman May 31, 1923 - Prince Rainier III - Royalty May 31, 1930 - Clint Eastwood - Actor May 31, 1943 - Joe Namath - Sports Figure May 31, 1950 - Gregory Harrison - Actor

June 1, 1801 - Brigham Young - Religious Leader June 1, 1926 - Andy Griffith - Actor June 1, 1926 - Marilyn Monroe - Actress June 1, 1934 - Pat Boone - Singer June 2, 1743 - Ales. di Cagliostro - Rogue June 2, 1890 - Hedda Hopper - Celebrity Columnist June 2, 1904 - Johnny Weissmuller - Actor June 2, 1937 - Sally Kellerman - Actress June 2, 1941 - Stacy Keach - Actor June 2, 1948 - Jerry Mathers - Child Actor June 3, 1865 - George V - England Royalty June 3, 1925 - Tony Curtis - Actor June 3, 1926 - Allen Ginsberg - Poet June 3, 1906 - Josephine Baker - Entertainer June 4, 1910 - Rosalind Russell - Actress June 4, 1924 - Dennis Weaver - Actor June 4, 1936 - Bruce Dern - Actor June 5, 1934 - Bill Moyers - Journalist June 5, 1956 - Kenny G. - Musician June 6, 1755 - Nathan Hale - Patriot June 6, 1875 - Thomas Mann - Writer June 6, 1955 - Sandra Bernhard - Comedienne June 6, 1907 - Jessica Tandy - Actress June 7, 1848 - Paul Gauguin - Artist June 7, 1940 - Tom Jones - Singer June 7, 1952 - Liam Neeson - Actor June 7, 1958 - Prince - Musician June 8, 1810 - Robert Shumann - Composer June 8, 1902 - Grant Lewi - Astrologer June 8, 1925 - Barbara Bush - First Lady June 8, 1933 - Joan Rivers - Comdienne June 8, 1940 - Nancy Sinatra - Singer June 8, 1944 - Boz Scaggs - Musician June 9, 1910 - Robert Cummings - Actor June 9, 1893 - Cole Porter - Song Writer June 9, 1963 - Johnny Depp - Actor June 10, 1895 - I. Velikovsky - Writer June 10, 1922 - Judy Garland - Actress/Singer June 10, 1928 - Maurice Sendak - Children's Author June 10, 1933 - F. Lee Bailey - Attorney June 11, 1910 - Jacques-Yves Costeau - Ocean Explorer June 11, 1934 - Gene Wilder - Actor June 11, 1956 - Joe Montana - Sports Figure June 12, 1897 - Anthony Eden - Statesmen

June 12, 1929 - Anne Frank - Writer June 12, 1924 - George Bush American President June 12, 1932 - Jim Nabors - Actor June 13, 1865 - William Butler Yeats - Writer June 13, 1892 - Basil Rathbone - Actor June 13, 1926 - Paul Lynde - Actor June 13, 1951 - Richard Thomas - Actor June 13, 1962 - Ally Sheedy - Actress June 14, 1811 - Hariette B. Stowe - Writer June 14, 1906 - Margaret Bourke-White - Photographer June 14, 1946 - Donald Trump - Entrepreneur June 14, 1961 - Boy George - Musician June 14, 1969 - Steffi Graf - Athlete June 15, 1922 - Morris Udall - Politician June 15, 1932 - Mario Cuomo - Politician June 15, 1954 - Jim Belushi - Actor June 16, 1938 - Joyce Carol Oates - Writer June 17, 1832 - Sir William Crooks - Scientist June 17, 1878 - M.C. Esher - Artist June 17, 1882 - Igor Stravinsky - Composer June 17, 1917 - Dean Martin - Singer June 17, 1946 - Barry Manilow - Singer June 17, 1904 - Ralph Belemy - Actor June 18, 1910 - E. G. Marshall - Actor June 18, 1918 - Sylvia Porter - Economist June 18, 1942 - Paul McCartney - Singer June 18, 1952 - Isalla Rosselini - Actress June 19, 1856 - Elbert Hubbard - Writer June 19, 1896 - Wallis Simpson - Royalty June 19, 1902 - Guy Lombardo - Band Leader June 19, 1936 - Gina Rowlands - Actress June 19, 1947 - Salman Rushdie - Writer June 19, 1954 - Kathleen Turner - Actor June 19, 1963 - Paula Abdul - Singer June 20, 1909 - Errol Flynn - Actor June 20, 1924 - Chet Atkins - Musician June 20, 1924 - Audie Murphy - Actor June 20, 1949 - Lionel Richie - Singer June 20, 1972 - Nichole Kidman - Actress June 21, 1921 - Jane Russell - Actress June 21, 1925 - Maureen Stapleton - Actress June 21, 1927 - Carl B. Stokes - Politician June 21, 1940 - Mariette Hartley - Actress June 21, 1947 - Meredith Baxter Birney - Actress June 21, 1982 - Prince William - Royalty

Next...

What is bioethanol

What is Bioethanol?

The principle fuel used as a petrol substitute for road transport vehicles is bioethanol. Bioethanol fuel is mainly produced by the sugar fermentation process, although it can also be manufactured by the chemical process of reacting ethylene with steam.


The main sources of sugar required to produce ethanol come from fuel or energy crops. These crops are grown specifically for energy use and include corn, maize and wheat crops, waste straw, willow and popular trees, sawdust, reed canary grass, cord grasses, jerusalem artichoke, myscanthus and sorghum plants. There is also ongoing research and development into the use of municipal solid wastes to produce ethanol fuel.

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) is a clear colourless liquid, it is biodegradable, low in toxicity and causes little environmental pollution if spilt. Ethanol burns to produce carbon dioxide and water. Ethanol is a high octane fuel and has replaced lead as an octane enhancer in petrol. By blending ethanol with gasoline we can also oxygenate the fuel mixture so it burns more completely and reduces polluting emissions. Ethanol fuel blends are widely sold in the United States. The most common blend is 10% ethanol and 90% petrol (E10). Vehicle engines require no modifications to run on E10 and vehicle warranties are unaffected also. Only flexible fuel vehicles can run on up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol blends (E85).

What are the benefits of Bioethanol?

Bioethanol has a number of advantages over conventional fuels. It comes from a renewable resource i.e. crops and not from a finite resource and the crops it derives from can grow well in the UK (like cereals, sugar beet and maize). Another benefit over fossil fuels is the greenhouse gas emissions. The road transport network accounts for 22% (www.foodfen.org.uk) of all greenhouse gas emissions and through the use of bioethanol, some of these emissions will be reduced as the fuel crops absorb the CO2 they emit through growing. Also, blending bioethanol with petrol will help extend the life of the UK’s diminishing oil supplies and ensure greater fuel security, avoiding heavy reliance on oil producing nations. By encouraging bioethanol’s use, the rural economy would also receive a boost from growing the necessary crops. Bioethanol is also biodegradable and far less toxic that fossil fuels. In addition, by using bioethanol in older engines can help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide produced by the vehicle thus improving air quality. Another advantage of bioethanol is the ease with which it can be easily integrated into the existing road transport fuel system. In quantities up to 5%, bioethanol can be blended with conventional fuel without the need of engine modifications. Bioethanol is produced using familiar methods, such as fermentation, and it can be distributed using the same petrol forecourts and transportation systems as before.

Bioethanol Production

Ethanol can be produced from biomass by the hydrolysis and sugar fermentation processes. Biomass wastes contain a complex mixture of carbohydrate polymers from the plant cell walls known as cellulose, hemi cellulose and lignin. In order to produce sugars from the biomass, the biomass is pre-treated with acids or enzymes in order to reduce the size of the feedstock and to open up the plant structure. The cellulose and the hemi cellulose portions are broken down (hydrolysed) by enzymes or dilute acids into sucrose sugar that is then fermented into ethanol. The lignin which is also present in the biomass is normally used as a fuel for the ethanol production plants boilers. There are three principle methods of extracting sugars from biomass. These are concentrated acid hydrolysis, dilute acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis.

Concentrated Acid Hydrolysis Process
The Arkanol process works by adding 70-77% sulphuric acid to the biomass that has been dried to a 10% moisture content. The acid is added in the ratio of 1.25 acid to 1 biomass and the temperature is controlled to 50C. Water is then added to dilute the acid to 20-30% and the mixture is again heated to 100C for 1 hour. The gel produced from this mixture is then pressed to release an acid sugar mixture and a chromatographic column is used to separate the acid and sugar mixture.

Dilute Acid Hydrolysis
The dilute acid hydrolysis process is one of the oldest, simplest and most efficient methods of producing ethanol from biomass. Dilute acid is used to hydrolyse the biomass to sucrose. The first stage uses 0.7% sulphuric acid at 190C to hydrolyse the hemi cellulose present in the biomass. The second stage is optimised to yield the more resistant cellulose fraction. This is achieved by using 0.4% sulphuric acid at 215C.The liquid hydrolates are then neutralised and recovered from the process.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Instead of using acid to hydrolyse the biomass into sucrose, we can use enzymes to break down the biomass in a similar way. However this process is very expensive and is still in its early stages of development.

Wet Milling Processes
Corn can be processed into ethanol by either the dry milling or the wet milling process. In the wet milling process, the corn kernel is steeped in warm water, this helps to break down the proteins and release the starch present in the corn and helps to soften the kernel for the milling process. The corn is then milled to produce germ, fibre and starch products. The germ is extracted to produce corn oil and the starch fraction undergoes centrifugation and saccharifcation to produce gluten wet cake. The ethanol is then extracted by the distillation process. The wet milling process is normally used in factories producing several hundred million gallons of ethanol every Year.

Dry Milling Process
The dry milling process involves cleaning and breaking down the corn kernel into fine particles using a hammer mill process. This creates a powder with a course flour type consistency. The powder contains the corn germ, starch and fibre. In order to produce a sugar solution the mixture is then hydrolysed or broken down into sucrose sugars using enzymes or a dilute acid. The mixture is then cooled and yeast is added in order to ferment the mixture into ethanol. The dry milling process is normally used in factories producing less than 50 million gallons of ethanol every Year.

Sugar Fermentation Process
The hydrolysis process breaks down the cellulostic part of the biomass or corn into sugar solutions that can then be fermented into ethanol. Yeast is added to the solution, which is then heated. The yeast contains an enzyme called invertase, which acts as a catalyst and helps to convert the sucrose sugars into glucose and fructose (both C6H12O6).

The chemical reaction is shown below:



The fructose and glucose sugars then react with another enzyme called zymase, which is also contained in the yeast to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide.

The chemical reaction is shown below:



The fermentation process takes around three days to complete and is carried out at a temperature of between 250C and 300C.

Fractional Distillation Process
The ethanol, which is produced from the fermentation process, still contains a significant quantity of water, which must be removed. This is achieved by using the fractional distillation process. The distillation process works by boiling the water and ethanol mixture. Since ethanol has a lower boiling point (78.3C) compared to that of water (100C), the ethanol turns into the vapour state before the water and can be condensed and separated.

Next...