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--captions by vitac--
Www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
Discovery communications
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Narrator: paper umbrellas
Originated in china
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And eventually spread
Throughout asia.
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Initially, their purpose
Was solely practical --
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00:00:58,137 --> 00:00:59,620
To protect against rain
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And to provide shade
From the scorching sun.
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00:01:02,482 --> 00:01:05,965
But before long, they took on
Symbolic significance
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00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:09,620
And were incorporated into
Many ceremonies and rituals.
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They're called
Oil paper umbrellas
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Because the paper
Is coated with oil
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Or, like these, with oil paint,
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Making the umbrella waterproof.
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At this workshop
In northern thailand,
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They cut a bamboo log
To the length
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Of the umbrella's radius,
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00:01:30,517 --> 00:01:32,517
Then shave off the bark.
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They split the log into strips
Of equal thickness,
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00:01:37,655 --> 00:01:39,241
Then group these ribs,
As they're called,
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00:01:39,241 --> 00:01:40,896
Into bundles of 28.
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Each bundle will become
The frame of one umbrella.
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Next, they thin out
The bottom half of each rib
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And cut a slit in the top half.
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Then, using a traditional drill,
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00:01:52,482 --> 00:01:57,896
They bore
Tiny holes at specific points.
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00:01:57,896 --> 00:02:00,137
Taking one bundle at a time,
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00:02:00,137 --> 00:02:03,310
They string the ribs together
Through the uppermost hole
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00:02:03,310 --> 00:02:06,931
And insert them into slots
Of a hand-carved wooden hub.
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00:02:06,931 --> 00:02:09,758
Then they tighten and tie off
The string
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00:02:09,758 --> 00:02:13,000
To retain the ribs in position
And provide a pivot
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00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,172
On which the ribs can move
Up and down.
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00:02:15,172 --> 00:02:17,965
Next, they attach the scaffold,
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00:02:17,965 --> 00:02:21,896
A smaller hub
With shorter ribs strung on it.
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00:02:21,896 --> 00:02:26,137
They insert a scaffold rib
Into the slit of each frame rib,
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00:02:26,137 --> 00:02:28,103
Then attach them by threading
A string
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00:02:28,103 --> 00:02:30,344
Through the aligned holes.
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00:02:30,344 --> 00:02:31,655
The result?
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00:02:31,655 --> 00:02:33,517
Raising and lowering
The scaffold
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00:02:33,517 --> 00:02:36,586
Moves its ribs along the slit --
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00:02:36,586 --> 00:02:39,827
Pushing the frame ribs up
To open the umbrella,
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00:02:39,827 --> 00:02:42,206
Or pulling them down
To close it.
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00:02:42,206 --> 00:02:45,379
With the umbrella open now,
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00:02:45,379 --> 00:02:48,896
They thread more string
Through holes in the frame ribs
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00:02:48,896 --> 00:02:51,448
And loop it into
A spider-web-type pattern.
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00:02:51,448 --> 00:02:53,551
This produces a sturdy base
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00:02:53,551 --> 00:02:56,586
To support
The umbrella's paper skin.
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After mounting the frame
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00:02:58,724 --> 00:03:00,896
On a wood and bamboo
Umbrella handle,
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00:03:00,896 --> 00:03:04,793
They wrap two lines of string
Along the frame perimeter.
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00:03:04,793 --> 00:03:08,103
This will support the paper skin
At the edge of the umbrella.
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00:03:08,103 --> 00:03:11,172
They make the paper from
The bark of the native saa tree.
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00:03:11,172 --> 00:03:14,137
The first step
Is to soften the bark
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00:03:14,137 --> 00:03:16,827
By soaking it in water
For about 12 hours,
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00:03:16,827 --> 00:03:19,379
Then boiling it
For another three or four.
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00:03:21,965 --> 00:03:24,620
Next, they mash it
With wooden mallets
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00:03:24,620 --> 00:03:27,068
For about an hour,
Turning it into pulp.
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00:03:29,931 --> 00:03:33,517
They bleach the pulp and wash it
Again to remove the bleach.
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00:03:33,517 --> 00:03:37,172
Only then is the pulp ready
To become paper.
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00:03:40,448 --> 00:03:43,206
They dump the pulp
In a large basin of water
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00:03:43,206 --> 00:03:45,827
And stir
So that it floats in suspension
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00:03:45,827 --> 00:03:48,931
While they move a plastic screen
Through the water,
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00:03:48,931 --> 00:03:50,724
Catching enough floating pulp
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00:03:50,724 --> 00:03:53,000
To coat the screen
In a thin layer.
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00:03:55,413 --> 00:03:57,758
They lay the screen
Out in the sun
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For three to four hours
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00:03:59,310 --> 00:04:00,724
Until the layer of pulp
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00:04:00,724 --> 00:04:04,241
Dries into a thin, fragile sheet
Of paper.
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00:04:04,241 --> 00:04:07,034
They cut the sheets
To the shapes required,
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00:04:07,034 --> 00:04:10,689
Then saturate each piece
With glue made from cassava,
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00:04:10,689 --> 00:04:12,448
A tropical root vegetable.
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00:04:12,448 --> 00:04:15,517
After applying a circular piece
Around the hub,
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They glue pie-shaped pieces
Onto the rest of the frame.
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00:04:22,344 --> 00:04:25,413
Once they cover
The entire frame,
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00:04:25,413 --> 00:04:28,896
They repeat the process
To add a second layer.
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00:04:28,896 --> 00:04:31,137
They fold
All the pie-shaped pieces
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00:04:31,137 --> 00:04:32,586
Over the end to thicken
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00:04:32,586 --> 00:04:35,793
And, thereby, reinforce
The edge of the umbrella.
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00:04:35,793 --> 00:04:40,172
After about four hours
Out in the sun, the glue dries,
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Bonding the now stiff
And strengthened paper
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Securely to the frame.
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They apply
Three coats of oil paint,
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Allowing four hours
Of drying time between coats.
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This is a key step
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00:04:53,379 --> 00:04:56,068
Because aside from providing
The background color,
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The oil paint waterproofs
The paper.
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00:04:59,206 --> 00:05:02,241
Next, they varnish the handle
To make it moisture-resistant.
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00:05:05,517 --> 00:05:08,034
And now for the grand finale --
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An artist paints a design
In vibrant waterproof oils.
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The themes are traditional --
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Flowers, animals,
Landscapes, people.
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00:05:21,758 --> 00:05:25,758
No stencils to trace
Or patterns to follow --
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The artist works
Entirely freehand,
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The result being
That no two umbrellas
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Are ever exactly alike.
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Each oil paper umbrella
Is a portable work of art.
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Pretty yet practical,
Rain or shine.
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Narrator: the most-used fuel
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For producing electricity
In the world today is coal.
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Power plants burn it
In their furnaces
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00:06:05,620 --> 00:06:07,241
To heat water into steam
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00:06:07,241 --> 00:06:10,620
That spins giant turbines
Which generate electricity.
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At least 40%
Of the world's electricity
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Is produced
By coal-fired power plants.
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Coal developed
From prehistoric vegetation
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That wound up buried underground
Due to geological changes.
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Over millions of years,
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00:06:26,517 --> 00:06:30,517
These decayed plants transformed
Into combustible rock.
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00:06:30,517 --> 00:06:33,965
This is why we refer to coal
As a fossil fuel.
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00:06:33,965 --> 00:06:37,379
Coal runs in seams
Through other rock layers.
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Miners drill holes
Through the seam
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At several locations,
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Then mix together
Ammonium nitrate and diesel
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00:06:44,448 --> 00:06:47,310
And pour a precise quantity
Of this liquid explosive
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Into each bored hole.
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The plug the holes with dirt to
Contain the upcoming explosion.
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This directs the force
Of the blast sideways
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So that it'll fracture rock
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As much horizontally
As vertically.
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00:07:01,413 --> 00:07:04,965
They place a blasting cap
In each plugged hole,
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00:07:04,965 --> 00:07:06,862
Then connect
All the blasting cap wires
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00:07:06,862 --> 00:07:08,655
To detonation lines
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Through which they'll send
An electrical charge
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00:07:11,344 --> 00:07:12,793
To ignite the explosives.
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00:07:12,793 --> 00:07:14,655
They install detonation delays
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00:07:14,655 --> 00:07:17,000
To time the blast
One after another
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00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,034
Because successive explosions
Have greater impact
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00:07:20,034 --> 00:07:21,517
Than simultaneous ones.
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The blast dislodge
And break up the layers of rock
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00:07:28,172 --> 00:07:31,551
Between the surface
And the coal seam deep below.
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00:07:31,551 --> 00:07:34,137
Workers clear away
The rocks and dirt
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With a mammoth machine
Called a dragline.
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00:07:45,068 --> 00:07:49,034
Removing the blasted rock
And dirt exposes the coal,
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00:07:49,034 --> 00:07:51,827
Which is still
A solid, hard seam.
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The side of the mine pit
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00:07:56,103 --> 00:07:59,896
Shows how much rock is on top
Of this particular coal seam.
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00:07:59,896 --> 00:08:02,896
Once miners blast
And clear away that rock,
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00:08:02,896 --> 00:08:06,620
They drill and load the holes
To set off more explosives
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00:08:06,620 --> 00:08:09,000
To fracture
The coal seam itself.
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00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,172
Then front-end loaders load
The coal
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00:08:12,172 --> 00:08:16,517
Into specialized trucks
Called coal haulers.
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00:08:16,517 --> 00:08:21,379
In one trip, a coal hauler can
Transport about 220 tons of coal
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00:08:21,379 --> 00:08:24,448
Out of the pit
To the coal stockpile.
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00:08:29,241 --> 00:08:31,172
From there,
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00:08:31,172 --> 00:08:34,068
Railcars transport the coal
To the nearby power plant.
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00:08:37,862 --> 00:08:40,965
When this company prepares
To mine an area,
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00:08:40,965 --> 00:08:44,068
It removes the topsoil
On which vegetation grows.
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00:08:44,068 --> 00:08:46,655
As part
Of a land reclamation program,
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00:08:46,655 --> 00:08:49,000
The company stockpiles
The topsoil
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Until it finishes
Mining out the coal.
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00:08:51,517 --> 00:08:53,206
Then it refills the pit
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00:08:53,206 --> 00:08:55,896
With rock and dirt
It blasted away,
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Returns the topsoil,
And plants native vegetation.
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00:09:02,068 --> 00:09:04,586
The power plant is situated
By a man-made lake,
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The water source for the steam
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00:09:07,241 --> 00:09:10,689
With which it generates
Electricity.
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When the coal arrives,
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Crushers grind it up
Into baseball-sized pieces.
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00:09:15,827 --> 00:09:19,931
After a strategic blending
Of different grades of coal,
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00:09:19,931 --> 00:09:21,448
To optimize heat output,
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00:09:21,448 --> 00:09:24,862
The coal travels by
A conveyor belt to indoor silos.
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00:09:26,965 --> 00:09:31,482
Each silo feeds crushers, which
Pulverize the coal into powder.
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Now the coal is ready
To fuel the furnace.
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00:09:34,689 --> 00:09:40,172
Meanwhile, huge intake pumps
Draw lake water.
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The furnace heats
The water to 1,000° fahrenheit,
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Well beyond the boiling point,
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00:09:45,689 --> 00:09:48,689
Transforming it into
High-pressure steam.
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The steam then enters
And rotates turbines,
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Generating electricity.
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00:09:53,586 --> 00:09:57,379
By the time
The steam exits the turbines,
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It's thermally depleted
Down to just 120° fahrenheit
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00:10:02,172 --> 00:10:05,758
And depressurized
To a vacuum state.
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00:10:05,758 --> 00:10:07,758
It then passes through
A condenser
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Containing cold lake water.
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00:10:09,724 --> 00:10:12,000
The water absorbs
The remaining heat,
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00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,310
Converting the steam
Back to water,
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00:10:14,310 --> 00:10:17,689
Which is then recycled
Into new steam.
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00:10:19,931 --> 00:10:23,862
The combustion process itself
Creates sulfur dioxide.
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The plant runs this gas waste
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Through vessels containing
A lime solution
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To neutralize the sulfur.
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00:10:31,103 --> 00:10:34,793
This chemical reaction creates
Water vapor,
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Which exits the plant's stack.
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00:10:37,310 --> 00:10:39,862
Wires coming off
The turbine generators
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Carry the electricity
To outdoor transformers.
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00:10:42,724 --> 00:10:45,724
The outdoor transformers convert
It to higher voltage
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00:10:45,724 --> 00:10:47,896
In order to have
Less energy loss,
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As the power from coal travels
Through transmission lines
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To some 350,000 households.
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Narrator:
When you're traveling by air,
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00:11:07,172 --> 00:11:09,827
You want to be sitting
In a comfortable seat.
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00:11:09,827 --> 00:11:12,275
Private aircraft take comfort
To a level
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00:11:12,275 --> 00:11:14,551
Far above that
Of commercial airlines
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00:11:14,551 --> 00:11:17,034
With seats
That are as cozy and luxurious
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00:11:17,034 --> 00:11:18,827
As fine furniture.
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00:11:18,827 --> 00:11:23,965
They must also be lightweight
And fire-resistant.
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00:11:23,965 --> 00:11:26,862
On private
And corporate aircraft,
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00:11:26,862 --> 00:11:29,310
It's all about luxury seating.
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00:11:29,310 --> 00:11:32,896
Armchairs often swivel
And, at the push of a button,
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00:11:32,896 --> 00:11:35,482
Recline
With an extending footrest.
200
00:11:35,482 --> 00:11:39,241
The cushions are constructed
From layers of fireproof foam
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00:11:39,241 --> 00:11:40,862
Containing carbon fiber
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00:11:40,862 --> 00:11:43,310
For optimum support
And durability.
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00:11:43,310 --> 00:11:46,310
Workers cut the cushion pieces
Using a band saw
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00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:49,000
With a round blade
That slices through foam
205
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:50,965
Without tearing or shredding it.
206
00:11:50,965 --> 00:11:54,586
They spray adjoining surfaces
With water-based contact cement
207
00:11:54,586 --> 00:11:56,068
And assemble them.
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00:11:56,068 --> 00:11:59,413
The assembly combines
Different thicknesses
209
00:11:59,413 --> 00:12:01,103
And three different densities
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00:12:01,103 --> 00:12:03,620
To make the cushion soft
In certain areas
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00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:04,896
And rigid in others.
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00:12:04,896 --> 00:12:07,448
The densities are color-coded.
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00:12:07,448 --> 00:12:11,551
After letting
The glue dry for 12 hours,
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00:12:11,551 --> 00:12:13,689
Workers begin the final shaping.
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00:12:13,689 --> 00:12:16,172
This is
The seat-cushion assembly.
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00:12:16,172 --> 00:12:18,758
They first saw through it
Laterally
217
00:12:18,758 --> 00:12:20,413
To make the right thickness.
218
00:12:20,413 --> 00:12:23,931
Then they temporarily adhere
A plastic template
219
00:12:23,931 --> 00:12:25,689
Of the final cushion shape,
220
00:12:25,689 --> 00:12:28,344
Trace it, then saw
Along the trace line.
221
00:12:28,344 --> 00:12:31,620
Next, using the technical
Drawing as a guide,
222
00:12:31,620 --> 00:12:35,862
They mark, then grind
The cushion's rounded profile.
223
00:12:35,862 --> 00:12:38,793
Holding the next layer of foam
Over the edge,
224
00:12:38,793 --> 00:12:41,758
They verify the shape
With another template.
225
00:12:41,758 --> 00:12:43,827
Then with yet another template,
226
00:12:43,827 --> 00:12:46,724
They mark lines
For the cushion's creases
227
00:12:46,724 --> 00:12:49,896
And, with a foam saw,
Cut them two inches deep,
228
00:12:49,896 --> 00:12:52,551
Just enough to insert
Velcro strips,
229
00:12:52,551 --> 00:12:55,448
The backsides of which they glue
To the foam
230
00:12:55,448 --> 00:12:57,689
With water-based contact cement.
231
00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,034
Workers construct
The backrest cushion
232
00:13:02,034 --> 00:13:03,482
Just like the seat cushion --
233
00:13:03,482 --> 00:13:05,310
Assembling foam pieces
234
00:13:05,310 --> 00:13:07,689
Of different thicknesses
And densities,
235
00:13:07,689 --> 00:13:11,068
Shaping the perimeter,
Grinding the edge profile,
236
00:13:11,068 --> 00:13:13,103
Cutting and velcroing creases.
237
00:13:15,241 --> 00:13:20,310
Then they apply a final layer
Of soft foam, 1/2 inch thick,
238
00:13:20,310 --> 00:13:23,724
Folding the edges onto
The velcro inside the creases.
239
00:13:23,724 --> 00:13:27,275
They do the same with the seat
Cushion, armrests, and footrest.
240
00:13:29,793 --> 00:13:31,137
All the foam cushions
241
00:13:31,137 --> 00:13:33,896
Are now ready to be covered
In genuine leather.
242
00:13:33,896 --> 00:13:36,241
In accordance
With safety regulations,
243
00:13:36,241 --> 00:13:38,896
The supplier rendered
The leather fireproof
244
00:13:38,896 --> 00:13:41,517
By treating it
With a calcium-based solution.
245
00:13:43,586 --> 00:13:47,000
Seamstresses trace patterns
For the cover pieces,
246
00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,758
Then cut them out.
247
00:13:51,344 --> 00:13:53,172
They line the perimeter
Of each piece
248
00:13:53,172 --> 00:13:54,344
With double-faced tape...
249
00:13:58,310 --> 00:14:01,034
...Fold over the edges
To create a neat hem...
250
00:14:03,448 --> 00:14:06,379
...And trim the corners flat.
251
00:14:06,379 --> 00:14:10,413
Then they sew on velcro strips
Where required.
252
00:14:13,206 --> 00:14:16,275
Finally, they assemble
The pieces into covers,
253
00:14:16,275 --> 00:14:19,379
Sewing an identification label
On each one.
254
00:14:24,896 --> 00:14:28,379
They hammer every seam flat
To prevent bulges.
255
00:14:28,379 --> 00:14:31,724
Then they sew
What's called a french stitch,
256
00:14:31,724 --> 00:14:35,862
A line of straight stitches
On either side of each seam.
257
00:14:35,862 --> 00:14:40,103
Meanwhile, workers glue
Fireproof polyester batting
258
00:14:40,103 --> 00:14:41,655
To the foam.
259
00:14:41,655 --> 00:14:43,965
This layer
Between foam and leather
260
00:14:43,965 --> 00:14:46,137
Will even out the surface.
261
00:14:48,448 --> 00:14:53,827
They tear the perimeter
Of the batting to thin it out.
262
00:14:53,827 --> 00:14:57,931
Finally, it's time to dress
The cushions in their covers.
263
00:14:57,931 --> 00:14:59,241
Workers use a metal rod
264
00:14:59,241 --> 00:15:01,896
To help push the leather
Deep into the creases
265
00:15:01,896 --> 00:15:04,068
Without bunching up.
266
00:15:04,068 --> 00:15:06,172
Velcro strips on the cover
267
00:15:06,172 --> 00:15:09,000
Adhere to the velcro strips
Inside the creases.
268
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,103
The covers also have
Velcro closures,
269
00:15:12,103 --> 00:15:15,724
And certain cushions have
Velcro strips on the bottom
270
00:15:15,724 --> 00:15:18,758
Which attach
To the seat structure.
271
00:15:18,758 --> 00:15:20,586
Once all the covers are on,
272
00:15:20,586 --> 00:15:23,344
Workers can complete
The seat assembly.
273
00:15:23,344 --> 00:15:28,068
They attach the armrest
To the structure with screws,
274
00:15:28,068 --> 00:15:32,034
Then install the footrest,
Which attaches with velcro.
275
00:15:32,034 --> 00:15:35,000
It contains a cavity
For storing the life vest.
276
00:15:38,482 --> 00:15:41,206
The seat cushion also attaches
With velcro.
277
00:15:44,758 --> 00:15:46,965
The passenger seats
And pilot seat
278
00:15:46,965 --> 00:15:48,758
Are constructed the same way,
279
00:15:48,758 --> 00:15:52,793
Except for the pilot seat
Often has a sheepskin insert
280
00:15:52,793 --> 00:15:53,793
On the sitting surface
281
00:15:53,793 --> 00:15:55,551
To absorb sweat
282
00:15:55,551 --> 00:15:58,379
And keep the pilot
Cool and comfortable.
283
00:16:11,689 --> 00:16:13,517
Narrator:
It was the ancient romans
284
00:16:13,517 --> 00:16:16,344
Who first began
Using cremation urns.
285
00:16:16,344 --> 00:16:18,310
Today the custom continues.
286
00:16:18,310 --> 00:16:21,448
The remains are stored in urns
Permanently
287
00:16:21,448 --> 00:16:24,379
Or sometimes temporarily
Before burial.
288
00:16:24,379 --> 00:16:25,862
And with cremation,
289
00:16:25,862 --> 00:16:27,724
One's final resting place
290
00:16:27,724 --> 00:16:30,310
Doesn't have to
Be six feet under.
291
00:16:33,586 --> 00:16:36,413
The cremation urn has
An important place
292
00:16:36,413 --> 00:16:37,793
In some households.
293
00:16:37,793 --> 00:16:41,068
It's a constant reminder
Of the dearly departed,
294
00:16:41,068 --> 00:16:43,586
Helping to keep
The memories alive.
295
00:16:46,172 --> 00:16:48,448
The urn starts with a concept.
296
00:16:48,448 --> 00:16:51,137
The potter draws
A large-scale design,
297
00:16:51,137 --> 00:16:53,068
Which he'll use as a reference
298
00:16:53,068 --> 00:16:57,068
As he shapes a prototype urn
From clay.
299
00:16:57,068 --> 00:17:00,241
He slaps a lump of clay
Onto the potter's wheel.
300
00:17:00,241 --> 00:17:02,000
The wheel spins,
301
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,724
And the potter begins
To transform the shapeless lump
302
00:17:04,724 --> 00:17:06,655
Into the desired form.
303
00:17:09,655 --> 00:17:15,241
The process is called throwing,
A potter's term for shaping.
304
00:17:15,241 --> 00:17:17,000
He leaves the bottom open
305
00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,724
So the walls can be more easily
Formed into the desired shape.
306
00:17:21,724 --> 00:17:24,586
He'll add
A base to the urn later.
307
00:17:24,586 --> 00:17:27,827
As he pulls up the clay
To produce the walls,
308
00:17:27,827 --> 00:17:31,172
He works it
To a uniformed thickness.
309
00:17:31,172 --> 00:17:33,896
He gathers top
To narrow the opening,
310
00:17:33,896 --> 00:17:35,551
A technique known as collaring.
311
00:17:39,068 --> 00:17:41,344
Then with the potter's wheel
At a stop,
312
00:17:41,344 --> 00:17:44,896
He takes the shape from round
To rectangular
313
00:17:44,896 --> 00:17:48,103
And tapers it at the neck.
314
00:17:48,103 --> 00:17:50,000
Then it's into a casting box,
315
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,379
Which exposes
Only half of the urn prototype.
316
00:17:53,379 --> 00:17:56,482
He brushes
A release agent onto that half.
317
00:17:56,482 --> 00:18:00,103
Using a mixer, he whips up
A mix of plaster and water.
318
00:18:00,103 --> 00:18:03,000
He blends it until it thickens
319
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,310
To the consistency
Of pancake batter.
320
00:18:05,310 --> 00:18:08,413
The liquefied plaster
Will harden in minutes,
321
00:18:08,413 --> 00:18:10,655
So he quickly pours it
Into the box
322
00:18:10,655 --> 00:18:12,275
With the urn prototype
323
00:18:12,275 --> 00:18:14,379
And fills it right to the top.
324
00:18:14,379 --> 00:18:17,482
As the plaster hardens,
325
00:18:17,482 --> 00:18:22,000
The exposed urn prototype makes
An impression of half the urn.
326
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,724
He'll make
Another one exactly like it
327
00:18:24,724 --> 00:18:26,724
For the other half of the urn.
328
00:18:29,931 --> 00:18:33,068
He'll attach them
With a key system.
329
00:18:33,068 --> 00:18:36,689
For this, he drills notches
In one mold half.
330
00:18:39,758 --> 00:18:42,724
The notches match up
With raised areas
331
00:18:42,724 --> 00:18:44,689
On the other mold half
To align them.
332
00:18:48,068 --> 00:18:51,206
He ties the molds together
With suspender-like straps,
333
00:18:51,206 --> 00:18:53,689
Cinching them tightly together.
334
00:18:56,517 --> 00:18:57,793
He adds a base to the urn
335
00:18:57,793 --> 00:18:59,758
And straps it
To the other two pieces.
336
00:18:59,758 --> 00:19:03,344
He sets
The assembled mold upright,
337
00:19:03,344 --> 00:19:07,241
Exposing the opening of the urn.
338
00:19:07,241 --> 00:19:10,379
He's now ready to make a copy
Of the original urn.
339
00:19:10,379 --> 00:19:12,724
In fact, he'll make 20 at once
340
00:19:12,724 --> 00:19:15,551
Using 20 identical
Plaster molds.
341
00:19:15,551 --> 00:19:19,655
He pumps liquid clay into each
One, filling it to the brim.
342
00:19:19,655 --> 00:19:21,103
Over three to four hours,
343
00:19:21,103 --> 00:19:22,896
The plaster absorbs water
344
00:19:22,896 --> 00:19:25,689
In the clay
It comes into contact with,
345
00:19:25,689 --> 00:19:27,344
Causing it to solidify.
346
00:19:27,344 --> 00:19:29,655
The clay in the center
Remains liquid.
347
00:19:29,655 --> 00:19:33,103
He pours that into a barrel
To be strained and reused.
348
00:19:36,827 --> 00:19:38,689
And now the big reveal --
349
00:19:38,689 --> 00:19:42,724
He opens the mold
And removes the urn.
350
00:19:42,724 --> 00:19:48,344
It's exactly like the prototype
Sculpted by the potter.
351
00:19:48,344 --> 00:19:51,655
He lifts a lid
From another plaster mold
352
00:19:51,655 --> 00:19:53,551
And checks the fit to the urn.
353
00:19:57,344 --> 00:19:59,793
After drying
And an initial firing
354
00:19:59,793 --> 00:20:01,206
To harden the clay,
355
00:20:01,206 --> 00:20:04,379
A worker coats the urn
And lid with a glaze,
356
00:20:04,379 --> 00:20:08,551
Working from the inside out.
357
00:20:08,551 --> 00:20:11,655
The glaze is a mixture of finely
Milled minerals and water.
358
00:20:11,655 --> 00:20:14,896
It adds color and
A glass-like nonporous surface
359
00:20:14,896 --> 00:20:17,793
When fired a second time.
360
00:20:17,793 --> 00:20:21,379
Cremation urns come
In a range of styles and colors.
361
00:20:21,379 --> 00:20:23,862
Customers often make a selection
362
00:20:23,862 --> 00:20:28,000
That reflects
The taste of the deceased.
363
00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,034
Another worker now brushes
A mixture of wax and alumina
364
00:20:32,034 --> 00:20:34,103
Onto the neck of the urn
And lid.
365
00:20:34,103 --> 00:20:36,034
This will keep them
From fusing together
366
00:20:36,034 --> 00:20:37,275
During the final firing.
367
00:20:40,034 --> 00:20:41,655
They fire the cremation urns
368
00:20:41,655 --> 00:20:44,724
At a very intense
2,200° fahrenheit
369
00:20:44,724 --> 00:20:47,241
For about 15 hours.
370
00:20:47,241 --> 00:20:52,758
This transforms the clay
Into a durable ceramic.
371
00:20:52,758 --> 00:20:57,275
They cool the urns slowly for
13 hours to prevent cracking.
372
00:20:57,275 --> 00:21:00,379
Four days in the making,
373
00:21:00,379 --> 00:21:04,758
These urns are now ready
To contain a loved one's remains
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00:21:04,758 --> 00:21:07,034
And, in so doing, honor a life.
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00:21:16,586 --> 00:21:19,827
If you have any comments
About the show,
376
00:21:19,827 --> 00:21:22,551
Or if you'd like to suggest
Topics for future shows,
377
00:21:22,551 --> 00:21:24,689
Drop us a line at...
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