I tried reading this thread throughly, but just couldn't do it.... Call me stupid, but nothing made sense to me. I am in no way a scientist, and doubt anyone in here is. There MAY not be enough research to prove coconut oil is better than any other oil, but there are thousands of testimonials of people who made the switch from vegetable oils to coconut oils and are just astounded at how much healthier they are. No this does not mean that you can go ahead and eat a double double cheeseburger or a couple slices of all meat pizza and then take a tbsp. of coconut oil and it will make it all better for you. I want to share how coconut oil has helped ME. I started cooking at home more and cut out almost all eating-out (only eat out when it's a really kick back weekend and I don't feel like cooking). I was still using vegetable oil at first but in moderate amounts, I wasn't gaining any weight but I wasn't loosing either (and yes I was counting calories, cut out most of the sugars and most carbs), but I felt a bit better. THEN I found coconut oil, I cannot rave enough about all the good things it has done for me. I don't count calories anymore, but I do follow portion control and have my snacks in between. Two of my sisters (the thinner and "healthiest" ones in the family) had their cholesterol checked and found out it was a bit high, I on the other hand am overweight compared to them and enjoy a healthy life, since I made the switch I've been loosing pounds little by little (something that wasn't happening when I was counting calories, only 1200-1500) maybe because I had candida and didn't even know it until I started coconut oil and started experiencing yeast die-off. Not only for cooking but for dry skin, dry damaged hair, acne, and I don't have a list but I know there are many other benefits. My son didn't like to eat, I had to literally force him to eat, now he actually tells me to cook him something because he's hungry!! I am more active, with lots of energy that I actually feel like starting the p90x. I just want to say "God, thank you for putting coconuts on earth. And whoever started making oil out of this, thank you for coming up with this great idea. Its been a miracle food for me and my family. P.S. I told my sisters about coconut oil, they switched, and I'm glad to say that their cholsterol levels have actually lowered since then. (What's up with all the media misinformation? The big guys with the big bucks actually pay and threaten them with lawsuits if this kind of good information leaks out)

Malathion is strong stuff and is not my first choice and I can even add that it appears inaffective to a small scale type that is tan/red in color and very dense in population,having no squishy innards to indicate life.They are flat and dry,overlapping and cause severe discoloration to leaves.I have them attacking an apidestra and rhapsis palms.I have tried everything to eliminate them,but they just come back,even afer repeated applications of everything under the sun as well as cutting the apidestra down to the ground.The Malathion did work very well on traditional scale and succeeded where other,less toxic remedies failed.I did have to use it a few times and as these plants will be used in my chameleon enclosures,I did not want this to be my first choice.It is not systemic and with a few good rinsings in warm/soapy water and a week or so outside to air out,I would expect it to be safe.I reiterate what Toni said about it harming the gardenias.Some plants do have a marked sensitivity to it.It has burned or blanched some leaves on the rhapsis palms and a draceana,but these will regrow to cover the damage.Scales are most prolific on stressed trees and plants,keeping plants in the best possible conditions, should help to avoid the scale.Adult scale do not find their way back tot he tree, if knocked or scraped off.Even if they did,scraping them off usually breaks the proboscis they feed with an dthey would starve.The adults are more or less something to wait out,the crawlers(moblile stage of the scale) is what you are really after with spraying and that is why reapplication is needed.The adults die off on their own in a while,if you can kill the new generation before they take hold,you are winning the battle.I HATE SCALE!!!

Ethanol is "an alcohol product produced from corn, sorghum, potatoes, wheat, sugar cane, even biomass such as cornstalks and vegetable waste. When combined with gasoline, it increases octane levels while also promoting more complete fuel burning that reduces harmful tailpipe emissions such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.Biodiesel is "a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil, and which meets the specifications of ASTM D 6751." Or, for those of you who want a more technical definition, it is "a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. Also Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification "whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil.Both forms of biofuel have definite environmental advantages over petroleum-based gasoline and diesel fuel.Ethanol contains 35% oxygen. Adding oxygen to fuel results in more complete fuel combustion, thus reducing harmful tailpipe emissions. Ethanol also displaces the use of toxic gasoline components such as benzene, a carcinogen. Ethanol is non-toxic, water soluble and quickly biodegradable.Biodiesel, on the other hand, "is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. Looking forward for more interesting discussion on this.

Oh so right about adding coconut oil (liquid) to cold ingredients!!! Make sure your eggs are room temperature, and you may need to take the chill off of milk, yogurt, or other cold ingredients (few seconds in the microwave), otherwise you'll end up with chunks of solid coconut oil. The "solid nature of coconut oil is a PITA but will need to adjust to it" isn't a problem if you leave your coconut oil at room temperature, especially during warmer weather in an ambient temperature warmer than 70-degrees F. It gets harder the cooler the ambient temperature, but I've never stored coconut oil in the refrigerator - EVER. As part of the "Seven Survival Foods", I store enough coconut oil for 3-years (which I do of all the "Seven Survival Foods") and rotate it regularly and it's stored in a cool basement storage room until I move it to the kitchen. Several years ago I kept a cup of Nutiva Coconut Oil in our pantry for several years after the use-by date to see if it would go rancid. It never did and I finally went ahead and used it for homemade deodorant mixed with baking soda, cornstarch and essential oils. I mix coconut oil with homemade peanut butter or almond butter. You can purchase it already mixed, but it's a lot cheaper to do-it-yourself. I use several brands, and LouAna brand (I can get it at Wal-Mart and Dillons/Kroger) doesn't have any coconut flavor, and it's also the least expensive I can purchase locally, and use it when I don't want any coconut flavor. I like to use a brand that has the light coconut flavor in baked goods that has chocolate in it. It's my little "secret" flavoring ingredient in brownies. Coconut oil is also great in homemade yeast bread to help slow staling and mold. I also use coconut oil in many of my homemade "convenience" foods that call for shortening or butter - pancake mix, baking mix, Magic Mix (a mixture of powdered milk, cornstarch and coconut oil - used for making homemade Fudgsicles, pudding, cream of ______ condensed soup, Pesto Alfredo Sauce, etc.). There are all kinds of things you do with coconut oil (see link below). I always wipe any off a spoon and use it as hand lotion. I apply it to my face each morning and night. I often make a hot beverage mid-morning and add a dollop of coconut oil and a tablespoon of gelatin powder as a pick-me-up (I get up around 3 a.m. daily) and it keeps me from snacking. For bacon grease.... I purchase packages of bacon ends from a local meat packing company and will cook the entire package. Much cheaper than buying bacon and you can use it in nearly the same ways you would strips. I strain the bacon grease, put it in mini-muffin tins and make bacon grease "pucks" and freeze them in a vacuum-sealed container. I freeze the cooked bacon ends on a flat cookie sheet in a single layer, then portion them in snack-size plastic bags and vacuum-seal them in a FoodSaver bag. The bacon pieces work in egg dishes, topping a BLT (sandwich or salad), etc..... -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: 101 uses for coconut oil