2008年5月26日星期一
Summer tarpon and snook primer
Our local water temperature is right around 80 degrees, making it prime season for Nylon Monofilament Nets and tarpon. Being tropical fish both snook and tarpon are most comfortable when the water is warm. Beach tarpon fishing is in full effect. Plenty of fish are making their way through our area from the north heading south to major inlets. Persistent westerly winds have made it impossible to fish the beach as of late. Despite the rough conditions anglers fishing the Redington Long Pier have had multiple hook-up’s with tarpon daily. So we know that they’re there it’s only a matter of when Mother Nature will let us fish for them. Tarpon anglers fishing the Skyway Bridge and the nearby Egmont Hole haven’t found the weather to be as much as a factor. This week’s full moon brought big tides and excellent tarpon fishing. Afternoon outgoing tides are feeding frenzy’s for crab crushing tarpon. Drifting the hole at Egmont can be a busy affair when the tarpon are feeding. Free-line live pass crabs for a natural presentation. Beach snook fishing is on the verge of busting loose. This week’s full moon is the first of the spawning moons for snook; the transition has been made from the backwaters to the clean waters of the passes and nearby shoals. Targeting these snook can be difficult as they become quite wary of their surroundings. Light fluorocarbon leaders are a must and you may even want to consider trading that braided line in for some monofilament line, free-line a live shrimp or pilchards for best results. Spanish mackerel are spread throughout the entire region. Some of the best mackerel fishing lately has come from north of the Skyway Bridge inside of Tampa Bay. Mackerel can be found ravaging pods of threadfins around channel markers and bridges, chum the mackerel close with chum bags and fresh cut bait. Pompano are being caught along inland bridges and sandy bars inside of the passes. Strong tides are what you need for a good pompano bite, vertical jig Crazy Jigs on the down tide side of the pilings when fishing the bridges. If you are targeting the sand bars, idle along the bar until you skip some pompano then shut off the motor and cast crazy jigs to them.
Open air complex for work and shopping
THERE's a place in Ara Damansara called Niuzexui. You've not heard of it? Well, it's part of a new commercial development near Kuala Lumpur that's slowly but surely picking up a reputation as a great spot for snacks, browsing and shopping. Visitors to Niuzexui have described it as an "open-air" shopping Red Dragon Fruit . But funnily, the meaning of the word is far from what the complex is all about. Literally, it means "Buffalo Cart Water!" Why the name Niuzexui then? Beats me. Maybe the owner liked the sound of it. The complex is actually three connected pedestrian malls between rows of office blocks that were rather empty when I visited this place in April. The malls are protected from the elements by a giant canopy similar to that of Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Petaling. Located here are more than 50 small stores selling a myriad of merchandise and snacks. Red lanterns hang overhead, giving the place a Chinatown ambiance. Value-for-money buys are the main lure here. Where handbags are concerned, Niuzexui is not to be snuffed at. Traffic, Wat? Bag and Butik GPS have an impressive array of totebags, hobo bags, duffel bags, shoulder bags and drawstring bags. Complementing the handbags are the shoes. Franco Martino, OMG Unique Enterprise and several other stores boasts of pumps, T-strap shoes, ballerinas, clogs and sandals at extremely irresistible prices. For some items, discounts are up to a whopping 40 per cent. One store there creatively displays its sports shoes by sticking them in metal poles with side stumps!
Vietnam to invest in Panax Ginseng Extract embryogenesis
The Vietnamese government will invest VND1.7 billion (US$105,400) in a project to reproduce a type of local Panax Ginseng Extract which is in danger of extinction, according to the Central Highlands Biological Institute. The project would replicate Ngoc Linh Ginseng (Panax vietnamensis) through embryogenesis, a process of sexual or asexual plant reproduction, said Duong Tan Nhut, deputy head of the institute. Nhut has already produced some 300 ginsengs using the process. 50 percent of them were transferred to natural environments successfully. Ngoc Linh Ginseng grows in the south-central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam, especially in Ngoc Linh Mountain in the provinces of Kon Tum and Quang Nam. Its extract has been found to stimulate the body in cases of physical, mental and sexual asthenia, enhance physical strength, immunity and reduce fatigue. The ginseng has been exploited heavily over the past few years because of its medicinal qualities.
Cuprinol leads the way in garden woodcare
The Power Sprayer is the fastest, easiest and most effortless way to treat a fence, no matter how big the garden. The Power Sprayer's fast charger means that in approximately one hour it is fully powered up and ready to go - without the need for batteries - and can treat up to 12 fence panels in 30 minutes. It works hand in hand with Knapsack Power Sprayer , a premium fence treatment offering fade-resistant colour and five-year protection. Jamie Barber, Marketing Manager for Cuprinol, comments: "Consumers are looking for convenience, ease of use as well as long lasting results and that's exactly what the Cuprinol Power Sprayer provides. Sprayable Plus 5-year Fence Treatment is a high performance treatment which includes added waxes for waterproofing, algicides which combat the growth of green algae, and UV filters to prevent colour fade, which together ensure the fence is both protected and looks great in just one coat." The Cuprinol Power Sprayer has a SSP of £39.99 and Cuprinol Sprayable Plus retails at around £18.99 for 5 litres - available in a choice of six popular colours.
15 charged in fresh federal crackdown on Chicago payoffs
Tag: Fresh Box
Federal prosecutors unveiled payoff charges against 15 building inspectors and others Thursday, saying Chicago's real estate development industry is in the grip of widespread, systematic corruption. It was the second batch of charges in a year aimed at what prosecutors describe as a system under which developers use payoffs ranging from envelopes of cash to Chicago Bulls sky box seats to get city officials to rubber stamp projects rather than waiting out time-consuming inspections. U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said it was apparent that last year's charges failed to sink in with either inspectors or developers. "Basically, here we go again," he said in unveiling the new charges. "These charges show that last year's arrests didn't change the system enough," Fitzgerald said. "It didn't stop the bribery. It just changed how the bribery was done. They got sneakier." Federal investigators got sneakier, too, revealing Thursday that a bribe-carrying "bagman" supposedly working within the corrupt system was actually a cooperating witness, secretly gathering evidence against 30 individuals at meetings and in recorded telephone calls. Mayor Richard Daley said the charges were "regrettable" and "appalling." "People who take money from the ... private sector, public sector, are going to get caught," he said, adding only a few building department personnel were involved in the alleged wrongdoing. Chicago's city government has long been beset by widespread corruption. Major corruption cases in recent years have focused on illegal patronage hiring and millions of dollars paid to trucking companies that did little or no work and in some cases had close ties to organized crime. Eight separate cases were announced Thursday in which 15 individuals were charged, seven of them city employees. Money changed hands to get inspectors to approve illegal basements, plumbing code violations, zoning approval, occupancy permits and other items that saved money for builders and developers, authorities said. One inspector allegedly got a new deck put on his home in exchange for hurrying through approval of a permit.
Federal prosecutors unveiled payoff charges against 15 building inspectors and others Thursday, saying Chicago's real estate development industry is in the grip of widespread, systematic corruption. It was the second batch of charges in a year aimed at what prosecutors describe as a system under which developers use payoffs ranging from envelopes of cash to Chicago Bulls sky box seats to get city officials to rubber stamp projects rather than waiting out time-consuming inspections. U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said it was apparent that last year's charges failed to sink in with either inspectors or developers. "Basically, here we go again," he said in unveiling the new charges. "These charges show that last year's arrests didn't change the system enough," Fitzgerald said. "It didn't stop the bribery. It just changed how the bribery was done. They got sneakier." Federal investigators got sneakier, too, revealing Thursday that a bribe-carrying "bagman" supposedly working within the corrupt system was actually a cooperating witness, secretly gathering evidence against 30 individuals at meetings and in recorded telephone calls. Mayor Richard Daley said the charges were "regrettable" and "appalling." "People who take money from the ... private sector, public sector, are going to get caught," he said, adding only a few building department personnel were involved in the alleged wrongdoing. Chicago's city government has long been beset by widespread corruption. Major corruption cases in recent years have focused on illegal patronage hiring and millions of dollars paid to trucking companies that did little or no work and in some cases had close ties to organized crime. Eight separate cases were announced Thursday in which 15 individuals were charged, seven of them city employees. Money changed hands to get inspectors to approve illegal basements, plumbing code violations, zoning approval, occupancy permits and other items that saved money for builders and developers, authorities said. One inspector allegedly got a new deck put on his home in exchange for hurrying through approval of a permit.
Wall Street goes bargain hunting in the farm bill
Tag: fodder additive
Money managers, including hedge funds looking to scoop up battered stocks on the cheap, have told their Washington-based consultants to keep close tabs on the farm bill. High-flying Wall Street financiers hardly seem the sort to follow the mind-numbing farm bill negotiations, which have been swinging from mini-breakthroughs to near-collapse for months. But the talks have grabbed their attention, according to sources in the political intelligence business, because the legislation could prove a boon to ethanol producers, timber companies and farm equipment manufacturers. “There’s a lot of interest in what might end up in the final bill,” said Mark McMinimy, an analyst with the Stanford Group in Washington. “People are sitting on pins and needles waiting to see what will happen.” Wall Street investors have long traded on information flowing from Washington. But their hunger has grown in recent years with the hedge fund industry’s boom, making money managers more eager for any tips on legislation or regulatory changes that will give them an edge in the markets. They are hunting especially for opportunities to bet on a stock likely to fall or rise sharply on a policy action. Businesses heavily concentrated in a sector affected by the policy change are prime targets. The farm bill has given them plenty of fodder for such investment plays. Moreover, the uncertainty swirling around whether a bill will be enacted this year has intensified Wall Street’s interest because it has made it difficult for markets to discount the impact of the legislation. House and Senate negotiators have been tangling for months over the bill. Unhappy with the latest proposal from Congress, the Bush administration on Tuesday called for a one-year extension of the current farm program, fueling speculation that there will be no reauthorization passed this year. Wall Street investors are intensely interested in the energy provisions tucked into the $2.4 billion tax package the Senate attached to its legislation. The tax package has proved controversial in the House, and investors and their consultants are busy trying to handicap its chances of surviving. Philip L. Fraas, a Washington lawyer who tracks the saga of the legislation on his farmbill2007 blog, says he regularly gets inquiries from people in the financial industry regarding the fate of the energy provisions, which are intended to spur alternative fuels. Having poured money into ethanol plants during the ethanol boom, many investors are now aching from the ethanol bust. They’ve been burned by a surge in the price of corn, the fuel’s main ingredient, and depressed ethanol prices caused by oversupply. The tax package contains a two-year extension of the 54-cent per gallon tariff on foreign-produced ethanol that has been crucial for U.S. producers. Without congressional action, the tariff will be lifted at the end of the year. “Ethanol generally is of huge interest to the market,” said Pete Davis, who runs Davis Capital Investment Ideas. He said his money manager clients were “very concerned” that the tariff could be allowed to expire, opening the floodgates to cheaper Brazilian ethanol. The ethanol tariff has heavyweight supporters in Congress, such as Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.
Money managers, including hedge funds looking to scoop up battered stocks on the cheap, have told their Washington-based consultants to keep close tabs on the farm bill. High-flying Wall Street financiers hardly seem the sort to follow the mind-numbing farm bill negotiations, which have been swinging from mini-breakthroughs to near-collapse for months. But the talks have grabbed their attention, according to sources in the political intelligence business, because the legislation could prove a boon to ethanol producers, timber companies and farm equipment manufacturers. “There’s a lot of interest in what might end up in the final bill,” said Mark McMinimy, an analyst with the Stanford Group in Washington. “People are sitting on pins and needles waiting to see what will happen.” Wall Street investors have long traded on information flowing from Washington. But their hunger has grown in recent years with the hedge fund industry’s boom, making money managers more eager for any tips on legislation or regulatory changes that will give them an edge in the markets. They are hunting especially for opportunities to bet on a stock likely to fall or rise sharply on a policy action. Businesses heavily concentrated in a sector affected by the policy change are prime targets. The farm bill has given them plenty of fodder for such investment plays. Moreover, the uncertainty swirling around whether a bill will be enacted this year has intensified Wall Street’s interest because it has made it difficult for markets to discount the impact of the legislation. House and Senate negotiators have been tangling for months over the bill. Unhappy with the latest proposal from Congress, the Bush administration on Tuesday called for a one-year extension of the current farm program, fueling speculation that there will be no reauthorization passed this year. Wall Street investors are intensely interested in the energy provisions tucked into the $2.4 billion tax package the Senate attached to its legislation. The tax package has proved controversial in the House, and investors and their consultants are busy trying to handicap its chances of surviving. Philip L. Fraas, a Washington lawyer who tracks the saga of the legislation on his farmbill2007 blog, says he regularly gets inquiries from people in the financial industry regarding the fate of the energy provisions, which are intended to spur alternative fuels. Having poured money into ethanol plants during the ethanol boom, many investors are now aching from the ethanol bust. They’ve been burned by a surge in the price of corn, the fuel’s main ingredient, and depressed ethanol prices caused by oversupply. The tax package contains a two-year extension of the 54-cent per gallon tariff on foreign-produced ethanol that has been crucial for U.S. producers. Without congressional action, the tariff will be lifted at the end of the year. “Ethanol generally is of huge interest to the market,” said Pete Davis, who runs Davis Capital Investment Ideas. He said his money manager clients were “very concerned” that the tariff could be allowed to expire, opening the floodgates to cheaper Brazilian ethanol. The ethanol tariff has heavyweight supporters in Congress, such as Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.
2008年5月25日星期日
New Britain doubles profit from palm oil
New Britain Palm Oil (Crude Palm Oil ) doubled quarterly profits and underlined plans to double acreage over the next seven years in anticipation of strong palm oil prices, the Australasia-focused planter said on Wednesday. First-quarter pretax profits for the period to May 13 doubled to $37 million as sales rose 63 percent to $83 million, Papua New Guinea's largest palm oil producer said. New Britain has doubled in value since its December listing giving it a current market value of 790 million pounds ($1.54 billion). Its performance compares with a 3.7 percent decline in the FTSE All Share <.FTAS> index in 2008. With no debt, about $50 million in cash and a share price that's a shade off its March peak of 600p, the company is on track to double acreage by 2015, Executive Director Alan Chaytor told Reuters. New Britain has about 40,000 hectares of plantation estates on Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands -- a size it can easily double in surrounding areas, Chaytor said. Additional estates could come from acquisitions in Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's two top producers of the edible oil, he said, adding that palm oil prices are expected to stay strong in the medium to long-term.
Nutrition: Eleven Superfoods You Ought To Know About
Tag: Coconut Fiber
There’s a lot more to foods than just the nutrition they contain. Some can act as medicines, helping to tame inflammation in the body, or protect cells from DNA damage. Others can act as aphrodisiacs (see number 2 below). Still others can protect your memory. Superfoods are “super” precisely because they offer more benefits than what you can find on the “nutrition facts” label. Every one on this list qualifies! 1.Blueberries These amazing berries are on anyone’s list of superfoods. Recent research shows that they’re brain food-- feeding blueberries to rats actually slows their age-related mental decline. Blueberries contain pterostilbene, a plant compound recently shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Their ORAC value (antioxidant rating) is the highest of any fruit. And blueberries are rich in fiber. Tip: try them frozen. They taste like sherbet! 2.Maca Based on a long history of traditional use in Peru, maca has recently become known as a “natural Viagra”, and is popular as an aphrodisiac, and for increasing fertility and stamina. (I talked about it in my book ‘The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth” as part of a natural treatment for restoring sexual potency.) But maca’s also a superfood from a nutrition point of view. It’s an important staple for the Andean Indians, has been around since 3800 BC and is rich in sugars, protein, starches and essential minerals, especially iron and iodine. You can buy it as a supplement, or, even better, as a powder which you can add to shakes. 3.Cherries Cherries are absolutely loaded with anti-inflammatory, antiaging, anticancer compounds that don’t show up on your average nutrition facts label. These include quercetin, a member of the flavonoid family which has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Cherries also contain anthocyanains which act like natural COX-2 inhibitors, reducing pain and inflammation. That’s one reason why they’re so great for gout. My favorite “healthy” desert- frozen cherries mixed with full fat yogurt. Tastes like Cherry Garcia only way better for you. 4.Guava Among the superfoods of the world, guava is a sleeper. With a taste that’s been described as “part strawberry part pear”, one low-calorie cup of this vitamin rich fruit contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber. And in one widely used nutrition lab test for antioxidant power, guava scored second only to blueberries, and right behind kale. Guava also contains cancer fighting lycopene. 5.Kale Kale is a member of the brassica family, vegetable royalty that boasts cabbage and broccoli among it’s relatives. It’s simply loaded with nutrition. It’s rich in potent cancer fighting substances called indoles, and loaded with bone-building vitamin K. Kale also contains sulforaphane, a powerful nutrient that helps the liver detoxify carcinogens and other toxins. Kale has the highest antioxidant rating of any vegetable and is ridiculously low in calories. Try it tossed with olive oil, a few dried cranberries and some pine nuts.
There’s a lot more to foods than just the nutrition they contain. Some can act as medicines, helping to tame inflammation in the body, or protect cells from DNA damage. Others can act as aphrodisiacs (see number 2 below). Still others can protect your memory. Superfoods are “super” precisely because they offer more benefits than what you can find on the “nutrition facts” label. Every one on this list qualifies! 1.Blueberries These amazing berries are on anyone’s list of superfoods. Recent research shows that they’re brain food-- feeding blueberries to rats actually slows their age-related mental decline. Blueberries contain pterostilbene, a plant compound recently shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Their ORAC value (antioxidant rating) is the highest of any fruit. And blueberries are rich in fiber. Tip: try them frozen. They taste like sherbet! 2.Maca Based on a long history of traditional use in Peru, maca has recently become known as a “natural Viagra”, and is popular as an aphrodisiac, and for increasing fertility and stamina. (I talked about it in my book ‘The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth” as part of a natural treatment for restoring sexual potency.) But maca’s also a superfood from a nutrition point of view. It’s an important staple for the Andean Indians, has been around since 3800 BC and is rich in sugars, protein, starches and essential minerals, especially iron and iodine. You can buy it as a supplement, or, even better, as a powder which you can add to shakes. 3.Cherries Cherries are absolutely loaded with anti-inflammatory, antiaging, anticancer compounds that don’t show up on your average nutrition facts label. These include quercetin, a member of the flavonoid family which has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Cherries also contain anthocyanains which act like natural COX-2 inhibitors, reducing pain and inflammation. That’s one reason why they’re so great for gout. My favorite “healthy” desert- frozen cherries mixed with full fat yogurt. Tastes like Cherry Garcia only way better for you. 4.Guava Among the superfoods of the world, guava is a sleeper. With a taste that’s been described as “part strawberry part pear”, one low-calorie cup of this vitamin rich fruit contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber. And in one widely used nutrition lab test for antioxidant power, guava scored second only to blueberries, and right behind kale. Guava also contains cancer fighting lycopene. 5.Kale Kale is a member of the brassica family, vegetable royalty that boasts cabbage and broccoli among it’s relatives. It’s simply loaded with nutrition. It’s rich in potent cancer fighting substances called indoles, and loaded with bone-building vitamin K. Kale also contains sulforaphane, a powerful nutrient that helps the liver detoxify carcinogens and other toxins. Kale has the highest antioxidant rating of any vegetable and is ridiculously low in calories. Try it tossed with olive oil, a few dried cranberries and some pine nuts.
Kenya: Tea Industry Responds to Increasing Competition
Tag: tea product
On the usually bustling Koinange Street in Nairobi, Chai House towers like a solid testimony of the power of the tea industry. On the ground floor is a splendid tea cafe, The T-Spot, that has marked the battle lines in the race of the tea cup. A lane away on Loita Street is Sasini House, which not only houses the headquarters of a tea and coffee company, but a new tea and coffee restaurant. Both houses are at war for the tea market and so are others out to add premium to their produce as the international market weathers the dollar fluctuation storm. In April, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) opened the T-Spot Restaurant, which is to street-test its entry into the beverage market. To back it up, its subsidiary Kenya Tea Packers (Ketepa) launched the first cold tea drink, Safari Ice Tea, in the local market. Of late, the export of Kenyan tea to traditional buyer countries such as Pakistan has shrunk by 18 per cent, which is forcing local companies to turn to the home ground for survival. "A company has to be innovative to be part of this fast changing market, from what is inside the package to the outside. The packaging has to be of good quality too," says Edwin Bii, the sales and marketing manager of Sasini Ltd. Mr Bii says the new vibrancy in the sector is about integrating the business to bring another aspect about the company and to increase shareholder value. At the newly refurbished National Museums of Kenya headquarters in Nairobi's Museum Hill is a new coffee and tea outlet operated by Sasini as part of its diversification programme. "When a company does this, it is addressing people's needs," says Mr Bii Sasini's core business has been in exporting coffee and tea from farms it owns, while being a retailer in the local and regional market. Besides selling branded tea in Kenya, the company hopes to take the African coffee drink to London and Dubai. Although tea has been commercially grown in Kenya since the 1920s - and in small portions since 1903 - it has yet to be fully exploited and little value addition is done. Back in 1996, Flora Mutahi of Melvin Marsh International, tired of seeing the same black tea on the shelves all the time, decided to add value to local tea. She started her own tea packing company filling the vacuum and adding excitement in the local tea market. It worked. In her office in the Nairobi's Industrial Area, the powerful aroma of spices filters and wafts into the corridors. This smell is one that has changed the tastes of people; a sign the value addition is bringing a new life to the once business she was tired of. As the pioneer of the local flavoured tea, Ms Mutahi is constantly recreating and introducing teas with only natural fresh spices. Today, Melvin's Tea remains a case study of an experiment gone right. "I have to keep abreast with the customer and keep moving with them," she says, sounding upbeat about emerging success on a mission to satisfy the market. As the Kenyan consumer gets stronger in demanding the best and high quality from companies, the consumer market is moving fast too and that is why the tea producers are entering the market slowly. As the tea growers struggle to add and interest locals into taking more tea it is becoming a cut throat competition that has thrown into place all ideas into the arena. Although Kenya is a tea growing country, its supermarket shelves still spot tea brands from other countries. This is a testimony the market is there is need to improve consumer choice. That is how KTDA feels about it newest baby, the T-Spot which is entirely run by a restaurant consultant management, Blanco's Holdings, which they hope to go regional, then international. It offers all the teas grown in the country and experiments with it; from cookies made from tea to tea mochas.
On the usually bustling Koinange Street in Nairobi, Chai House towers like a solid testimony of the power of the tea industry. On the ground floor is a splendid tea cafe, The T-Spot, that has marked the battle lines in the race of the tea cup. A lane away on Loita Street is Sasini House, which not only houses the headquarters of a tea and coffee company, but a new tea and coffee restaurant. Both houses are at war for the tea market and so are others out to add premium to their produce as the international market weathers the dollar fluctuation storm. In April, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) opened the T-Spot Restaurant, which is to street-test its entry into the beverage market. To back it up, its subsidiary Kenya Tea Packers (Ketepa) launched the first cold tea drink, Safari Ice Tea, in the local market. Of late, the export of Kenyan tea to traditional buyer countries such as Pakistan has shrunk by 18 per cent, which is forcing local companies to turn to the home ground for survival. "A company has to be innovative to be part of this fast changing market, from what is inside the package to the outside. The packaging has to be of good quality too," says Edwin Bii, the sales and marketing manager of Sasini Ltd. Mr Bii says the new vibrancy in the sector is about integrating the business to bring another aspect about the company and to increase shareholder value. At the newly refurbished National Museums of Kenya headquarters in Nairobi's Museum Hill is a new coffee and tea outlet operated by Sasini as part of its diversification programme. "When a company does this, it is addressing people's needs," says Mr Bii Sasini's core business has been in exporting coffee and tea from farms it owns, while being a retailer in the local and regional market. Besides selling branded tea in Kenya, the company hopes to take the African coffee drink to London and Dubai. Although tea has been commercially grown in Kenya since the 1920s - and in small portions since 1903 - it has yet to be fully exploited and little value addition is done. Back in 1996, Flora Mutahi of Melvin Marsh International, tired of seeing the same black tea on the shelves all the time, decided to add value to local tea. She started her own tea packing company filling the vacuum and adding excitement in the local tea market. It worked. In her office in the Nairobi's Industrial Area, the powerful aroma of spices filters and wafts into the corridors. This smell is one that has changed the tastes of people; a sign the value addition is bringing a new life to the once business she was tired of. As the pioneer of the local flavoured tea, Ms Mutahi is constantly recreating and introducing teas with only natural fresh spices. Today, Melvin's Tea remains a case study of an experiment gone right. "I have to keep abreast with the customer and keep moving with them," she says, sounding upbeat about emerging success on a mission to satisfy the market. As the Kenyan consumer gets stronger in demanding the best and high quality from companies, the consumer market is moving fast too and that is why the tea producers are entering the market slowly. As the tea growers struggle to add and interest locals into taking more tea it is becoming a cut throat competition that has thrown into place all ideas into the arena. Although Kenya is a tea growing country, its supermarket shelves still spot tea brands from other countries. This is a testimony the market is there is need to improve consumer choice. That is how KTDA feels about it newest baby, the T-Spot which is entirely run by a restaurant consultant management, Blanco's Holdings, which they hope to go regional, then international. It offers all the teas grown in the country and experiments with it; from cookies made from tea to tea mochas.
Nigel Slater savours his herb of the season, mint
Tag: Black Watermelon Seed
Whatever impression I give of this kitchen and its little garden being in good order, I have to admit some things often have a will of their own. A loaf or a cake will sometimes do as it wishes, vegetables will run rampant or sulk, herbs move themselves to an inconvenient part of the garden. It has been very much that way with the garden mint. Wandering around the Physic Garden at Chelsea the other day, I was surprised to see that their many mints seem to be planted perilously close together, yet on closer inspection spotted that they are actually planted in individual pots, each sunk so deep into the ground as to be almost invisible. Had I done this at home, I wouldn't have spent quite so much time trying to untangle one variety from another. The mints now live in heavy, terracotta pots in the basement garden below the kitchen window, where their scent seems to get trapped on sunny afternoons. (It's a secret spot in which to have a cup of tea.) Crush the leaves as you cut sprigs for the kitchen and you could easily be in Morocco.For two years now the Moroccan variety has been happy enough in its large pot and in the last few weeks has sent up several new shoots, with scores of tiny, brilliant green leaves unfurling by the day. The spearmint, with its sweeter flavour, also continues to hold its own. Mint has always been a mainstay of my summer cooking. In generous amounts it can make a bowl of soporifically calming grain - couscous, rice, cracked wheat - suddenly vibrate with freshness. More than that, it has a certain mystery to it, and something ancient about it, too, especially when used in tea form as they do in the Middle East. Mint with lamb is often frowned upon by some of the more up-themselves foodies, and yet I can think of few more pleasing extras to serve on the side of a trio of lamb cutlets than a hollandaise sauce into which you have stirred freshly mashed mint leaves. On the other hand, a traditional clear mint sauce made with vinegar and the merest pinch of sugar with a roast shoulder is almost worth doing just to watch the food snobs' hackles rise. I love it, and would argue it is just perfect with peas and new potatoes. A tabbouleh made classically with soaked, cracked wheat needs parsley and lots of it, but I also like there to be more than half the quantity in fresh mint and much, much lemon juice. Stirring the mint in at the last minute will stop the chopped herb going black. Occasionally I have put tomatoes in there, too, seeded and cut into small pieces. Right now, I am making my tabbouleh with mangoes. Carbs suddenly seem more acceptable in summer when they have refreshing qualities stirred through them. Cucumber, watermelon or grated carrot and citrus fruit also work well. It is worth growing several mints if only for your wellbeing (crush a leaf and inhale and your mood will change in an instant). The wacky mints that smell of chocolate or pineapple don't really do it for me even if the chocolate one does have beautiful browny-red stems and smells of After Eights, but apple mint has a gentle almost Elizabethan charm. My favourites are the classic garden spearmint with its sharp, pointed leaves, eastern mint (Mentha longifolia subsp. schimperi) which is the green-grey, very fine-leaved variety, the one I use for tea. Moroccan mint is a good all-rounder, and if I had to choose just one then that would be it. The Bowles' variety has a very fine flavour indeed.
Whatever impression I give of this kitchen and its little garden being in good order, I have to admit some things often have a will of their own. A loaf or a cake will sometimes do as it wishes, vegetables will run rampant or sulk, herbs move themselves to an inconvenient part of the garden. It has been very much that way with the garden mint. Wandering around the Physic Garden at Chelsea the other day, I was surprised to see that their many mints seem to be planted perilously close together, yet on closer inspection spotted that they are actually planted in individual pots, each sunk so deep into the ground as to be almost invisible. Had I done this at home, I wouldn't have spent quite so much time trying to untangle one variety from another. The mints now live in heavy, terracotta pots in the basement garden below the kitchen window, where their scent seems to get trapped on sunny afternoons. (It's a secret spot in which to have a cup of tea.) Crush the leaves as you cut sprigs for the kitchen and you could easily be in Morocco.For two years now the Moroccan variety has been happy enough in its large pot and in the last few weeks has sent up several new shoots, with scores of tiny, brilliant green leaves unfurling by the day. The spearmint, with its sweeter flavour, also continues to hold its own. Mint has always been a mainstay of my summer cooking. In generous amounts it can make a bowl of soporifically calming grain - couscous, rice, cracked wheat - suddenly vibrate with freshness. More than that, it has a certain mystery to it, and something ancient about it, too, especially when used in tea form as they do in the Middle East. Mint with lamb is often frowned upon by some of the more up-themselves foodies, and yet I can think of few more pleasing extras to serve on the side of a trio of lamb cutlets than a hollandaise sauce into which you have stirred freshly mashed mint leaves. On the other hand, a traditional clear mint sauce made with vinegar and the merest pinch of sugar with a roast shoulder is almost worth doing just to watch the food snobs' hackles rise. I love it, and would argue it is just perfect with peas and new potatoes. A tabbouleh made classically with soaked, cracked wheat needs parsley and lots of it, but I also like there to be more than half the quantity in fresh mint and much, much lemon juice. Stirring the mint in at the last minute will stop the chopped herb going black. Occasionally I have put tomatoes in there, too, seeded and cut into small pieces. Right now, I am making my tabbouleh with mangoes. Carbs suddenly seem more acceptable in summer when they have refreshing qualities stirred through them. Cucumber, watermelon or grated carrot and citrus fruit also work well. It is worth growing several mints if only for your wellbeing (crush a leaf and inhale and your mood will change in an instant). The wacky mints that smell of chocolate or pineapple don't really do it for me even if the chocolate one does have beautiful browny-red stems and smells of After Eights, but apple mint has a gentle almost Elizabethan charm. My favourites are the classic garden spearmint with its sharp, pointed leaves, eastern mint (Mentha longifolia subsp. schimperi) which is the green-grey, very fine-leaved variety, the one I use for tea. Moroccan mint is a good all-rounder, and if I had to choose just one then that would be it. The Bowles' variety has a very fine flavour indeed.
Global Beauty Secrets Revealed
Tag: Tea Seed Powder
A wave of new products, tips and techniques has swept the international beauty community. Color palettes designed for all complexion tones, treatment products that target sensitive, oily, dry, delicate, uneven, and irritation-prone skin, and hair care styling and treatments for all hair types, are increasingly found on today's beauty shelves. From dermatologist lines to high tech botanical delivery, there's a treasure trove of beauty products and information designed for and created by aficionados around the world. A diverse audience for beauty has been driving options and product innovation. According to The NPD Group, as the population of the US becomes more and more ethnically diverse, women of different ethnic groups continue to change the face of beauty. In a new report from NPD, "Makeup and skin care products are not as widely accepted across all ethnic segments as one might think, and all women of color do not behave similarly when it comes to beauty products, not only category usage, but brand preferences vary widely across ethnic groups as well."
A wave of new products, tips and techniques has swept the international beauty community. Color palettes designed for all complexion tones, treatment products that target sensitive, oily, dry, delicate, uneven, and irritation-prone skin, and hair care styling and treatments for all hair types, are increasingly found on today's beauty shelves. From dermatologist lines to high tech botanical delivery, there's a treasure trove of beauty products and information designed for and created by aficionados around the world. A diverse audience for beauty has been driving options and product innovation. According to The NPD Group, as the population of the US becomes more and more ethnically diverse, women of different ethnic groups continue to change the face of beauty. In a new report from NPD, "Makeup and skin care products are not as widely accepted across all ethnic segments as one might think, and all women of color do not behave similarly when it comes to beauty products, not only category usage, but brand preferences vary widely across ethnic groups as well."
Gum with bark to take bite out of bad breath
Tag: White Willow Bark Extract
Magnolia bark extract -- a traditional Chinese medicine -- may be the newest weapon in the war on bad breath. Chewing gum maker Wm Wrigley Jr said on Tuesday that it has added a bit of this germ-killing compound to their Eclipse gum and mints. The hope is to not simply mask bad breath, as most strongly flavoured mints and gums do, but to kill odour-causing bacteria. Magnolia bark extract has long been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine. It is used to treat fever, headache and stress -- and has proven effective against germs that cause ulcers. Recent studies have shown it has low toxicity and few side effects. Most bad breath occurs when bacteria in the mouth break down proteins, producing foul-smelling sulphur compounds. But many antimicrobial agents cause nasty side effects like tooth staining, making them impractical for oral care. According to research published last fall by company scientists, researchers in Wrigley's lab tested magnolia bark extract on cultures of three types of oral micro-organisms. The extract killed 99.9 percent of the micro-organisms within five minutes, the researchers said. In a study of nine volunteers who chewed the mints after lunch, they killed off more than 61 percent of the germs that cause bad breath within 30 minutes -- which is comparable to some commercial mouthwashes, the company study found. Mints without the extract were only 3.6 percent effective. Gum with the extract took a bit longer to kill oral bacteria. The extract also helped kill a group of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Wrigley's tree-bark gum will be on U.S. store shelves later this summer. Mints with the tree-bark extract will be available this fall.
Magnolia bark extract -- a traditional Chinese medicine -- may be the newest weapon in the war on bad breath. Chewing gum maker Wm Wrigley Jr said on Tuesday that it has added a bit of this germ-killing compound to their Eclipse gum and mints. The hope is to not simply mask bad breath, as most strongly flavoured mints and gums do, but to kill odour-causing bacteria. Magnolia bark extract has long been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine. It is used to treat fever, headache and stress -- and has proven effective against germs that cause ulcers. Recent studies have shown it has low toxicity and few side effects. Most bad breath occurs when bacteria in the mouth break down proteins, producing foul-smelling sulphur compounds. But many antimicrobial agents cause nasty side effects like tooth staining, making them impractical for oral care. According to research published last fall by company scientists, researchers in Wrigley's lab tested magnolia bark extract on cultures of three types of oral micro-organisms. The extract killed 99.9 percent of the micro-organisms within five minutes, the researchers said. In a study of nine volunteers who chewed the mints after lunch, they killed off more than 61 percent of the germs that cause bad breath within 30 minutes -- which is comparable to some commercial mouthwashes, the company study found. Mints without the extract were only 3.6 percent effective. Gum with the extract took a bit longer to kill oral bacteria. The extract also helped kill a group of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Wrigley's tree-bark gum will be on U.S. store shelves later this summer. Mints with the tree-bark extract will be available this fall.
2008年5月20日星期二
The Simple Way To PoP The Oil Bubble Speculation
When essential commodities are no longer traded in a free market that relies on supply and demand new legislation is needed to correct the insanity. When the stock market creates a bubble the only people who hurt are the speculators and investors who have a choice to invest or not to invest. In the essential food and energy commodities markets it is the world populations that suffer when things get out of Extract Oil . The answer to the current oil and food commodity market´s wild speculations is a simple one and yet overlooked at this moment in time. Before we explore the answer that can solve the problem, let's investigate the causes of the nonsensical prices. Most speculators will tell you they only trade oil futures for one reason and that is to make money. It is their money and they will trade the easiest way to make a fast buck with the minimal risk. It seems they have a one way bet at the moment. The commodity markets were devised to trade and hedge oil companies production and find a market for the oil they extracted from the ground. It was a place where buyers and sellers met and a fair price was struck by the laws of supply and demand. Today, accurate supply and demand has little influence on the price of a barrel of oil and speculation rules the day. Consequently, the oil futures market is no longer a free market. Rather, it is a speculators market that can control prices by intellectual rhetoric consisting of opinionated experts and propaganda from the president of Iran. The price of oil has risen from $12.00 a barrel in 1999 to a high of $127.00. The two main factors that aid and abet the speculators are; Firstly, the Iranian government is hell bent on constructing a nuclear reactor and repeatedly states it craves to destroy the state of Israel. This propaganda accounts for 50% of the price rise in oil and puts a floor under any falls. Whenever prices weaken a little, the president of Iran communicates his repulsive propaganda to a media hungry for sensationalistic news. Secondly, expert opinion states China and India are booming and although there is no shortage at the moment, in five years time there will be. Even though most Indians and Chinaness ride bikes or walk. To be fair there has been an increase in oil demand in these counties, but nothing to spike prices to ridiculously high levels. What the so called oil experts do not take into account is economies do not boom forever and recession or inflation will come along and dampen the growth substantially. Also, many new discoveries of oil will emerge in the next five years that will add to the already enormous amounts of oil still in the ground. By the experts logic and reasoning we could declare that apples may be in short supply in five years due to prophesies of a famine in the orchards, so increase the price of an apple to $50.00. Accordingly, there is no true reason why oil is trading at $127.00 other than the fact speculation is controlling a market that is no longer free to trade solely on genuine supply and demand. What is the simple answer to end the craziness? The USA government should pass a law that declares every oil contact bought on the mercantile exchanges must be delivered to the buyer and held in storage no longer that 6 months. It cannot be traded back onto the exchanges and its end use must be in an oil related business. Likewise, all sell contacts have to originate straight from companies that extract oil from the ground and they cannot trade contacts that have been purchased on the exchanges. This act will restore the exchanges back to the standing they were intended to be and a fair market price will be established for all essential commodities. The other commodities such as gold and silver can still be the plaything of the speculators in the same way as the stock market. The fear of enacting the law will be enough to drive the speculators away from the oil market in double quick time. As oil prices crash to around $40.00 a barrel, improving most corporations profits, the stock market prices will go through the roof, helping pension funds and public sentiments. Once again the open road will become the delight of the people that is an intrinsical part of the American way of life. The family can enjoy a car ride out in the countryside or beach without watching in dread as the fuel gauge drops.
Pest management remedies from the kitchen
When considering a product to aid in pest management, it is important to treat with the mildest product that will do the job while being the least disruptive to beneficial insects and the least-toxic to people. It often makes sense to wait a little while before treating to see if beneficial insects will do the job for you. The Texas Bug Book by Howard Garrett and Malcolm Beck and the Insect Color Handbook by Anna Carr are two helpful books for Epoxidized Soybean Oil . Over the long term, gardeners will reap great dividends from planting a variety of native and well-adapted naturalizing plants. Many of these plants such as wild ageratum, butterfly weed and native asters will attract them in droves while others like black-eyed Susan, scarlet sage, Indian blanket, Gulf Coast penstemon, bee balm, gayfeather, Mexican hat, and verbena will provide the nectar to feed the adult form of many beneficials. Before you know it, the beneficials will visit other plants in your landscape and help keep populations of pests like tomato hornworms, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, webworms, tent caterpillars and others in check. In order to keep the beneficials in play, it is necessary to hold off on using harsh, toxic chemical and organic pesticides in and around the landscape and garden. These days, we have so many least-toxic organic options available, that the need for the old toxic treatments is simply moot. The following are a few homemade pest management products that are easy to use effectively and safely when transitioning to a more ecological approach to pest management. Over time as you stop using harsh pesticides, as you start planting natives, and as you stop using pest prone plants, you will find that it becomes rare that even least-toxic treatments are needed.
Animal oil producers hope lower biodiesel cost
If the world is grumpy about using food products such as corn and soybean products to make fuel then try this: how about using animal fat as a biodiesel of Animal Oil ? Animal fats, primarily those triglycerides your doctor warns you about, are looking better and better to biodiesel producers who have seen their soy oil feedstock almost double in price in the last year. Renewable Energy Group (REG) of Ames now runs animal fats in at least four of its seven biodiesel plants in the state, according to Gary Haer, vice president of sales and marketing. He says the animal fat fuel works well in the diesel market, whether it's blended at 5 percent, 10 percent or 20 percent with regular diesel. "Biodiesel made from animal fats is a very good product, and we are using it as one of our alternatives to soybean oil," Haer said. Another biodiesel group, Benefuel, which uses an India-developed technology to process the animal fat, is scouting the state for investors and plant sites. Bill Summers, Benefuel's engineer and business consultant, says Iowa is the logical place to concentrate an animal fat-based biodiesel industry because of the large supply of animal fats from rendering plants. Besides, he says, a fuel doesn't need a pure product such as soy oil. "Iowa didn't start growing soybeans to make soy oil for a fuel," says the 63-year-old Summers, an Indiana native who has worked as an engineer for a Texas seed company and, for the last two decades, as a consultant for Iowa venture capital firms. Animal fats aren't immune from rising prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says animal fats, mostly sold by animal rendering firms, are expected to increase in price 8 percent to 9 percent this year. That's still better than soybean oil prices, which have nearly doubled in the last 12 months to about 60 cents a pound. Producers need 7.5 pounds of soybean oil to make one gallon of biodiesel, according to one industry estimate. Benefuel's process uses dry catalysts, which are mixed with animal fats to turn methanol - the basic heat source for biodiesel - into a pure biodiesel product. As with soy processes, Benefuel's catalysts break down triglycerides and leave behind a fuel. Like soy oil-based biodiesel, the animal fat process separates out a pure glycerin, which can be sold to the pharmaceutical, food and cleaning industries. The idea of substituting animal fats or tallow for soy oil isn't new. REG began testing animal fat biodiesel in February 2007. "You have to be careful with animal fat biodiesel because it tends to gel quicker in colder weather, and that's why we ran the test in February," Haer said. "But that can be managed." Haer said the early 2007 tests were encouraging enough for REG to begin adding animal fats to its feedstock mix. He said REG plants can switch back and forth between soy oil and animal fats. Summers describes the Benefuel process as "second generation" biodiesel. The problem, of course, is that the first generation of biodiesel is having more than its share of problems. Biodiesel has enjoyed nothing like the boom that its fuel cousin, ethanol, experienced in the last two years. While ethanol production is expected to top 7 billion gallons in the United States this year, biodiesel will likely be fortunate to achieve the 450 million gallons made last year. The Iowa biodiesel industry has been shaken by two events this year. REG withdrew its planned initial public stock in late March. At the same time, the East Fork Biodiesel plant in Algona, which opened to much fanfare last year, closed. Operators say they would lose money at today's prices if the plant began production. "We're an industry coming out of our infancy into adolescence," REG's Haer said. "We're learning that the quality of the product is important. We can use different feedstocks for biodiesel and the market will accept it, but the product must be of good quality."
Dilmah Offers Real Ethical Teas to US Consumers
Although new in the US, Dilmah Tea is the number one brand of authentic, garden fresh single origin Ceylon tea in over 90 countries. teadog.com, an Internet retailer, now offers Dilmah Tea in 20 varieties. Dilmah is the world's first Ethical Tea. Earnings are shared with workers and the community in Sri Lanka as well as reinvested to help make tea a sustainable Concentrated Tea
. Dilmah is single origin 100% pure Ceylon tea. Single origin means it comes exclusively from Sri Lanka, home of the world's finest teas. Some tea brands are blends from up to 30 different countries. Quality often suffers with blended teas. Dilmah Tea is made the old-fashioned way. The company still picks the two tender tea leaves and bud, where the full flavor is concentrated. The company grows the tea in Sri Lanka, harvests the tea by hand, packages the tea in-house and markets it under their brand, dispensing with middlemen. To ensure maximum freshness, Dilmah Tea is packed at the source within days of harvesting. The unconditional freshness guarantee means more antioxidants in every cup. In 1988, Merrill J Fernando launched Dilmah, the world' first fully-integrated family tea company.
. Dilmah is single origin 100% pure Ceylon tea. Single origin means it comes exclusively from Sri Lanka, home of the world's finest teas. Some tea brands are blends from up to 30 different countries. Quality often suffers with blended teas. Dilmah Tea is made the old-fashioned way. The company still picks the two tender tea leaves and bud, where the full flavor is concentrated. The company grows the tea in Sri Lanka, harvests the tea by hand, packages the tea in-house and markets it under their brand, dispensing with middlemen. To ensure maximum freshness, Dilmah Tea is packed at the source within days of harvesting. The unconditional freshness guarantee means more antioxidants in every cup. In 1988, Merrill J Fernando launched Dilmah, the world' first fully-integrated family tea company.
Onion marketers adjust to changing exports
Tag: onion product
Onion marketers are taking varying approaches to the export market. Some note that the market is shrinking. Others are working to expand the export market for their own companies. “We’re exporting to the Netherlands right now,” said Michael Hively, general manager of Glennville, Ga.-based Vidalia onion grower-shipper Bland Farms LLC. “They want a medium sweet onion. This is our first year, so we’ll see how it goes.” Shipments were scheduled to run between April 21 and May 21, he said. “If it works, we’ll look into similar things elsewhere,” Hively said. “We have a comfort level with this gentleman. If it works, then we’ll start focusing on maybe France or the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe.” The weakness of the dollar compared to the euro made it a good time to try this experiment, Hively said. “It’s a good time, but the quality of the onion has evolved the last four or five years that now we have a good shipping onion that can travel 21 days on the water with no problem at all,” he said. Other shippers say they hesitate to ship a sweet onion — known for a shorter shelf life than other varieties — to overseas markets. “That’s a problem with having a product that’s as perishable as these,” said Don Ed Holmes, owner of the Weslaco, Texas-based Onion House LLC. “When 1015s came out, we shipped some to Oslo, Norway. We put them on a boat, and about three weeks later they arrived. The guy on the other end called, and you could hear him scream after putting the phone down. That’s generally been the deal here.” Hardier onions like those grown in the Pacific Northwest are better suited to overseas travel, Holmes said. “People in Washington and Idaho and Oregon are real good at it,” he said. “They do it every year. They’re familiar with the way to ship them. One, they’re starting with a product that’s ideal for that — they’re hard as a rock. It’s a good solid hard product that’s suited for that. They know how do to the freight, and they’re familiar with the people in Japan, Taiwan and Korea.” Wayne Mininger, executive vice president of the Greeley, Colo.-based National Onion Association, said the international onion market is competitive. “Eight percent of the world’s onion production moves from the country of origin to the country it’s consumed,” he said. “That’s significant when you think about it. Whether it’s moving onions from India to Pakistan, or from Holland to Russia, or from Peru to the U.S. or from New Zealand to Germany, onions are moving around the world all the time in raw form.” The single largest foreign consumer of U.S.-grown onions is Canada, Mininger said. “With the increasing currency exchange value of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar, it has made the U.S.’s onions actually more of a value in Canadian markets,” he said. “That’s the positive. At the same time, we’ve lost a lot of the Japanese opportunities to the cheap onions that run up into Japan now out of China. So there’s excitement on one hand and distress on the other because there just isn’t near the opportunity in Japan as there was five years ago.” Mininger noted Mexico has increased its intake of U.S. onions. “It’s important to note that Mexico is now a major market,” Mininger said. “We’re seeing a lot of Mexican onions shipped to the U.S., which has been the case for a long time, but now we’re also seeing a lot of U.S.-grown onions go to Mexico.” For some shippers in the Pacific Northwest, sending a shipment to Canada is no tougher than sending one to a neighboring state. “Canada is one of our better customers,” said Michael Locati, president of Locati Farms Inc., Walla Walla, Wash. “We’re close to the border and, transportation being what it is, we can get things north pretty easily.” The parity of the U.S. and Canadian dollars is a benefit in that respect, Locati said. “It’s basically equal, so dollar-for-dollar that’s good on both sides, really,” he said. “There aren’t any tariffs or anything like that. When the government starts messing around with it, that’s when problems begin.” Chris Eddy, sales manager of the McAllen, Texas, office of Oviedo, Fla.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., said his company also has a good business in Canada.
Onion marketers are taking varying approaches to the export market. Some note that the market is shrinking. Others are working to expand the export market for their own companies. “We’re exporting to the Netherlands right now,” said Michael Hively, general manager of Glennville, Ga.-based Vidalia onion grower-shipper Bland Farms LLC. “They want a medium sweet onion. This is our first year, so we’ll see how it goes.” Shipments were scheduled to run between April 21 and May 21, he said. “If it works, we’ll look into similar things elsewhere,” Hively said. “We have a comfort level with this gentleman. If it works, then we’ll start focusing on maybe France or the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe.” The weakness of the dollar compared to the euro made it a good time to try this experiment, Hively said. “It’s a good time, but the quality of the onion has evolved the last four or five years that now we have a good shipping onion that can travel 21 days on the water with no problem at all,” he said. Other shippers say they hesitate to ship a sweet onion — known for a shorter shelf life than other varieties — to overseas markets. “That’s a problem with having a product that’s as perishable as these,” said Don Ed Holmes, owner of the Weslaco, Texas-based Onion House LLC. “When 1015s came out, we shipped some to Oslo, Norway. We put them on a boat, and about three weeks later they arrived. The guy on the other end called, and you could hear him scream after putting the phone down. That’s generally been the deal here.” Hardier onions like those grown in the Pacific Northwest are better suited to overseas travel, Holmes said. “People in Washington and Idaho and Oregon are real good at it,” he said. “They do it every year. They’re familiar with the way to ship them. One, they’re starting with a product that’s ideal for that — they’re hard as a rock. It’s a good solid hard product that’s suited for that. They know how do to the freight, and they’re familiar with the people in Japan, Taiwan and Korea.” Wayne Mininger, executive vice president of the Greeley, Colo.-based National Onion Association, said the international onion market is competitive. “Eight percent of the world’s onion production moves from the country of origin to the country it’s consumed,” he said. “That’s significant when you think about it. Whether it’s moving onions from India to Pakistan, or from Holland to Russia, or from Peru to the U.S. or from New Zealand to Germany, onions are moving around the world all the time in raw form.” The single largest foreign consumer of U.S.-grown onions is Canada, Mininger said. “With the increasing currency exchange value of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar, it has made the U.S.’s onions actually more of a value in Canadian markets,” he said. “That’s the positive. At the same time, we’ve lost a lot of the Japanese opportunities to the cheap onions that run up into Japan now out of China. So there’s excitement on one hand and distress on the other because there just isn’t near the opportunity in Japan as there was five years ago.” Mininger noted Mexico has increased its intake of U.S. onions. “It’s important to note that Mexico is now a major market,” Mininger said. “We’re seeing a lot of Mexican onions shipped to the U.S., which has been the case for a long time, but now we’re also seeing a lot of U.S.-grown onions go to Mexico.” For some shippers in the Pacific Northwest, sending a shipment to Canada is no tougher than sending one to a neighboring state. “Canada is one of our better customers,” said Michael Locati, president of Locati Farms Inc., Walla Walla, Wash. “We’re close to the border and, transportation being what it is, we can get things north pretty easily.” The parity of the U.S. and Canadian dollars is a benefit in that respect, Locati said. “It’s basically equal, so dollar-for-dollar that’s good on both sides, really,” he said. “There aren’t any tariffs or anything like that. When the government starts messing around with it, that’s when problems begin.” Chris Eddy, sales manager of the McAllen, Texas, office of Oviedo, Fla.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., said his company also has a good business in Canada.
We all want to get paid
Tag: Groundnut Kernels
Apart from visions of global domination, all exporters have at least one thing in common – they all want to get paid! The easiest way to ensure payment is by asking for it upfront before you start to manufacture, but obviously this does not always work. One payment option is by letter of credit or documentary credit. Documentary credit has two meanings – it refers to the actual document of undertaking issued by the bank at the request of an applicant (the buyer) to pay the seller a sum of money under specified conditions (for example, seller provides compliant documents for the purpose of transferring property in the goods or possession of the goods to the buyer). Second, it refers to an arrangement for effecting payment in a transaction under which the bank acts as an intermediary between the seller and the buyer as a provider of finance to the buyer or a guarantee to the seller. The obligation to pay arises as a result of a contract of sale stipulating payment by way of documentary credit as well as supplementary contracts between both buyer and his bank and seller and his bank. The tricky thing with documentary credits is that to enforce them is a matter of strict liability. If conditions of the documentary credit are not satisfied, the bank will not pay. This is where freight forwarders come in. Because shipping documents need to be provided for the bank to pay up on a documentary credit, your freight forwarder needs to make sure that bills of lading etc are correct, especially in relation to description and quantity of goods. There is a famous case where a bank was allowed to refuse a bill of lading which stated the goods as being “machine shelled groundnut kernels” not “coromandel groundnuts” as described in the letter of credit, even though it was later established both descriptions referred to the same nuts. In another case, the bank was rejected a bill of lading which revealed a shipment to be short by three bags of sugar. The lesson: Freight forwarders need to be very careful when drafting of bills of lading so that descriptions match with letters of credit, otherwise you, the exporter, may not get paid. It pays for you, the client, to check any documentation going out from your freight forwarder against any documentary even if it is in really small print and seems to be a generic document.
Apart from visions of global domination, all exporters have at least one thing in common – they all want to get paid! The easiest way to ensure payment is by asking for it upfront before you start to manufacture, but obviously this does not always work. One payment option is by letter of credit or documentary credit. Documentary credit has two meanings – it refers to the actual document of undertaking issued by the bank at the request of an applicant (the buyer) to pay the seller a sum of money under specified conditions (for example, seller provides compliant documents for the purpose of transferring property in the goods or possession of the goods to the buyer). Second, it refers to an arrangement for effecting payment in a transaction under which the bank acts as an intermediary between the seller and the buyer as a provider of finance to the buyer or a guarantee to the seller. The obligation to pay arises as a result of a contract of sale stipulating payment by way of documentary credit as well as supplementary contracts between both buyer and his bank and seller and his bank. The tricky thing with documentary credits is that to enforce them is a matter of strict liability. If conditions of the documentary credit are not satisfied, the bank will not pay. This is where freight forwarders come in. Because shipping documents need to be provided for the bank to pay up on a documentary credit, your freight forwarder needs to make sure that bills of lading etc are correct, especially in relation to description and quantity of goods. There is a famous case where a bank was allowed to refuse a bill of lading which stated the goods as being “machine shelled groundnut kernels” not “coromandel groundnuts” as described in the letter of credit, even though it was later established both descriptions referred to the same nuts. In another case, the bank was rejected a bill of lading which revealed a shipment to be short by three bags of sugar. The lesson: Freight forwarders need to be very careful when drafting of bills of lading so that descriptions match with letters of credit, otherwise you, the exporter, may not get paid. It pays for you, the client, to check any documentation going out from your freight forwarder against any documentary even if it is in really small print and seems to be a generic document.
2008年5月19日星期一
Former Amazing Race Star Shares His Kind Sole
Tag: Rubber Sole Shoes
A North Texas man is helping impoverished children half a world away, two shoes at a time. Perhaps you have seen TOMS Shoes in a store or on someone's feet, but wait until you hear the 'soleful' story behind the footwear.It all began with an appearance on "The Amazing Race" in 2002. Blake Mycoskie lost the competition, but the shoeless children he saw in Argentina won his heart.Mycoskie said, "When I saw these kids running around on glass, or trying to play soccer on a field that had a bunch of rocks, and had no shoes, I immediately wanted to find a way to give them shoes."The former reality television show star started up TOMS Shoes (TOMS for 'tomorrow'), but don't call him the CEO. Mycoskie prefers the title of Chief Shoe Giver."It's an Argentine, canvas slip-on shoe that farmers, polo players, their girlfriends have been wearing for a very long period of time," Mycoskie explained of his product. "For every pair of shoes that we sell, we give one pair away to a child that doesn't have shoes."The Arlington native started selling the shoes out of his Los Angeles loft just two years ago. Since then, he has sold more than 65,000 pairs all over the country, and plans to sell 200,000 more this year. The rubber-soled shoes, which retail for $40-$48, can be found in 300 boutiques and department stores including Nordstrom.Mycoskie's 'shoe drops' have even extended beyond Argentina, to South Africa and Ethiopia.The best part of his success, Mycoskie said, is giving it back to the children. "You can just tell in their face, as they're literally stepping down and feeling the cushion of the shoes, what a new experience that is for them. And it's amazing, every time we do it."
A North Texas man is helping impoverished children half a world away, two shoes at a time. Perhaps you have seen TOMS Shoes in a store or on someone's feet, but wait until you hear the 'soleful' story behind the footwear.It all began with an appearance on "The Amazing Race" in 2002. Blake Mycoskie lost the competition, but the shoeless children he saw in Argentina won his heart.Mycoskie said, "When I saw these kids running around on glass, or trying to play soccer on a field that had a bunch of rocks, and had no shoes, I immediately wanted to find a way to give them shoes."The former reality television show star started up TOMS Shoes (TOMS for 'tomorrow'), but don't call him the CEO. Mycoskie prefers the title of Chief Shoe Giver."It's an Argentine, canvas slip-on shoe that farmers, polo players, their girlfriends have been wearing for a very long period of time," Mycoskie explained of his product. "For every pair of shoes that we sell, we give one pair away to a child that doesn't have shoes."The Arlington native started selling the shoes out of his Los Angeles loft just two years ago. Since then, he has sold more than 65,000 pairs all over the country, and plans to sell 200,000 more this year. The rubber-soled shoes, which retail for $40-$48, can be found in 300 boutiques and department stores including Nordstrom.Mycoskie's 'shoe drops' have even extended beyond Argentina, to South Africa and Ethiopia.The best part of his success, Mycoskie said, is giving it back to the children. "You can just tell in their face, as they're literally stepping down and feeling the cushion of the shoes, what a new experience that is for them. And it's amazing, every time we do it."
Talent in the genes at Brandon home
Tag: Rayon Ribbon
Bethanie Brandon has been a fabric artist for three decades.Her son, Robin, is just beginning his artistic career.The mother and son, residents of Lucas Valley, will show their work during one of the two weekends of Marin Arts Council's Open Studios - appropriately enough, Mother's Day weekend. They are among 280 artists, from Sausalito to West Marin, who will open their studio doors to the public May 3 and 4, May 10 and 11.Bethanie, 50, will open her garage-studio to show scarves, throws, pillows and table runners, most of them handpainted or appliqu d on sueded rayon. She will also show dresses, dusters and flare-leg pants of her own design.Robin, 13, will show a series of hand-painted skateboards - art that evolved from his hobby as a skateboarder. Last week, he was nursing a broken arm, product of an accident at the McInnis Park skateboard arena.As they prepared to get their home studio ready for public viewing, Bethanie's pride was starting to show and Robin knows to give credit when it's due."She always influenced me to be artistic and supported that, so that's what got me into this," he says. "Her artwork doesn't really influence mine, but her being an artist does."Bethanie saw Robin's knack for art early on. "When was he young and started doing drawings, I could see that he was into color and texture," she says. "I was hopeful. He was surrounded by art at home. We're always doing stuff around art; we have friends who are artists and photographers. But I think it's really in him, not something he picked up on because it was in his environment. I think it's genetic."Robin, a Miller Creek School student, works on a table set up in the family patio. His tools are spray paints, bottled acrylics, a drill. His art is highly fanciful and colorful, evolving lately into studied design rather than the cartoonish motifs of his first boards.Bethanie's art is coolly artistic: the designs are simple, often with an Asian aesthetic, the colors muted. Several of her works hang on the walls of her home, an airy Eichler whose simplicity reflects her artistic eye.On one wall, suspended from a pole, are three ribbon-like hangings inspired by Tibetan prayer flags. On a bedroom wall is a series of bundled bamboo sticks wrapped in fabric and installed behind Plexiglas. On a wall in one hallway is a collage of colored chips made to resemble an American flag."I have always loved the American flag," she confides. "The flag is very fragile and we must take care of it."In the works: a Union Jack. In her plans: a Tibetan prayer flag.Bethanie studied textile design at what is now Philadelphia University in Pennsylvania, and got her first job with J.P. Stevens in New York, designing fabrics for women's coats and suits. When her husband, real estate developer Peter Brandon, got a job in San Francisco, she came, too, and worked for Levi Strauss as a clothing designer. After two years, she joined a startup clothing company, Schram and Company, where she earned her skills as a businesswoman.When daughter Caely was born, Bethanie decided to work from home - and Bethanie Brandon Design was born.First she designed hats, then matching scarves. She soon adapted the sueded rayon she used in the scarves to make pillow covers and throws. "The home-decorating market was expanding enormously just then," she says.The owner of Summer House Gallery in Mill Valley persuaded her to enter the San Francisco Gift
Bethanie Brandon has been a fabric artist for three decades.Her son, Robin, is just beginning his artistic career.The mother and son, residents of Lucas Valley, will show their work during one of the two weekends of Marin Arts Council's Open Studios - appropriately enough, Mother's Day weekend. They are among 280 artists, from Sausalito to West Marin, who will open their studio doors to the public May 3 and 4, May 10 and 11.Bethanie, 50, will open her garage-studio to show scarves, throws, pillows and table runners, most of them handpainted or appliqu d on sueded rayon. She will also show dresses, dusters and flare-leg pants of her own design.Robin, 13, will show a series of hand-painted skateboards - art that evolved from his hobby as a skateboarder. Last week, he was nursing a broken arm, product of an accident at the McInnis Park skateboard arena.As they prepared to get their home studio ready for public viewing, Bethanie's pride was starting to show and Robin knows to give credit when it's due."She always influenced me to be artistic and supported that, so that's what got me into this," he says. "Her artwork doesn't really influence mine, but her being an artist does."Bethanie saw Robin's knack for art early on. "When was he young and started doing drawings, I could see that he was into color and texture," she says. "I was hopeful. He was surrounded by art at home. We're always doing stuff around art; we have friends who are artists and photographers. But I think it's really in him, not something he picked up on because it was in his environment. I think it's genetic."Robin, a Miller Creek School student, works on a table set up in the family patio. His tools are spray paints, bottled acrylics, a drill. His art is highly fanciful and colorful, evolving lately into studied design rather than the cartoonish motifs of his first boards.Bethanie's art is coolly artistic: the designs are simple, often with an Asian aesthetic, the colors muted. Several of her works hang on the walls of her home, an airy Eichler whose simplicity reflects her artistic eye.On one wall, suspended from a pole, are three ribbon-like hangings inspired by Tibetan prayer flags. On a bedroom wall is a series of bundled bamboo sticks wrapped in fabric and installed behind Plexiglas. On a wall in one hallway is a collage of colored chips made to resemble an American flag."I have always loved the American flag," she confides. "The flag is very fragile and we must take care of it."In the works: a Union Jack. In her plans: a Tibetan prayer flag.Bethanie studied textile design at what is now Philadelphia University in Pennsylvania, and got her first job with J.P. Stevens in New York, designing fabrics for women's coats and suits. When her husband, real estate developer Peter Brandon, got a job in San Francisco, she came, too, and worked for Levi Strauss as a clothing designer. After two years, she joined a startup clothing company, Schram and Company, where she earned her skills as a businesswoman.When daughter Caely was born, Bethanie decided to work from home - and Bethanie Brandon Design was born.First she designed hats, then matching scarves. She soon adapted the sueded rayon she used in the scarves to make pillow covers and throws. "The home-decorating market was expanding enormously just then," she says.The owner of Summer House Gallery in Mill Valley persuaded her to enter the San Francisco Gift
Organic cotton starting to turn heads in fashion
Tag: Polyester Skirts
You've given up your gas-guzzling SUV, bought a high-efficiency furnace and have switched to organic produce, all in the name of the environment. But have you given any thought to what you're wearing?Cotton may come from the Earth, but the large amount of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals used to grow and process it can make conventional cotton fabrics an unfriendly environmental choice.As a result, many companies have sought out alternatives, creating a growing number of clothes made from sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo and soy yarns.No, that doesn't mean shirts cut from coarse sack-cloth or skirts woven from stiff bamboo poles. These new fabrics can be as soft, washable, colourful and stylish as cotton or polyester jersey.Organic cotton looks and feels no different than non-organic cotton, and both bamboo and soy jersey fabrics are super-soft, says Jessica Kennedy, owner of Nokomis, an Edmonton store that carries a number of sustainable fabric lines, including its own, in-house pieces.Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or fertilizers and processed without chemicals like formaldehyde, which is used to prevent wrinkles, explains Michael Kalmanovitch of Earth's General Store in Edmonton.Bamboo grows quickly, doesn't need added chemicals, is durable and has long fibres that work well for making fabric.Clothes made from organic fabrics are slightly more expensive, but as those fabrics become more popular and widely used, the prices are coming down, says Kennedy.Her store carries a range of clothes made from sustainable fabrics.
You've given up your gas-guzzling SUV, bought a high-efficiency furnace and have switched to organic produce, all in the name of the environment. But have you given any thought to what you're wearing?Cotton may come from the Earth, but the large amount of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals used to grow and process it can make conventional cotton fabrics an unfriendly environmental choice.As a result, many companies have sought out alternatives, creating a growing number of clothes made from sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo and soy yarns.No, that doesn't mean shirts cut from coarse sack-cloth or skirts woven from stiff bamboo poles. These new fabrics can be as soft, washable, colourful and stylish as cotton or polyester jersey.Organic cotton looks and feels no different than non-organic cotton, and both bamboo and soy jersey fabrics are super-soft, says Jessica Kennedy, owner of Nokomis, an Edmonton store that carries a number of sustainable fabric lines, including its own, in-house pieces.Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or fertilizers and processed without chemicals like formaldehyde, which is used to prevent wrinkles, explains Michael Kalmanovitch of Earth's General Store in Edmonton.Bamboo grows quickly, doesn't need added chemicals, is durable and has long fibres that work well for making fabric.Clothes made from organic fabrics are slightly more expensive, but as those fabrics become more popular and widely used, the prices are coming down, says Kennedy.Her store carries a range of clothes made from sustainable fabrics.
Trying Another New Mexican Restaurant
Tag: Pario
Wayne and I tried another new Mexican restaurant over the weekend. This one, Los Dorados Mexican Restaurant, is located at 3512 Dayton Boulevard. The location was previously occupied by Parios and prior to that, Shoneys.Los Dorados has an extensive menu with lots to choose from. Menu headings are Chimichangas, Especialidades De La Casa, Mariscos, Combinaciones, Fajitas, Quesadillas, Burritos, Vegetariano, Favoritos, Enchiladas, Pollo, Ensaladas, Emparedados, Botanas, along with a few other sides, chips, etc. Each category has numerous items listed.Not speaking Spanish, I had to read the menu listings to learn that Mariscos was the seafood category and Emparedados are sandwiches. I learn something new everyday!After looking over the menu, Wayne decided on the Enchiladas Supremas (four filled corn tortillas, one each beef, bean, chicken, cheese, topped with enchilada sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream - $7.99). Other enchilada items were the Mexican Flag topped with green tomatillo sauce ($9.29) and Enchilada Oaxaca (four corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken and covered with mole sauce, cheese and onions ($9.49).I ordered the Taquitos Mexicanos (four rolled corn tortillas filled with shredded beef or chicken and served with lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo - $7.99) with chicken. I also ordered the cheese dip with our chips ($3.29). Chips were just regular, run-of-the-mill chips.Of course, Wayne ordered the hotter salsa. It was red, rather than the green tomatillo sauce we ordered, but he said he was very hot and he had no problem with it. He didnt care for the regular salsa that is served with the chips as he thought it was too much tomato. There didnt seem to be much in the way of onion or cilantro, just mostly tomatoes.Waynes enchiladas were a plateful. They are prepared fresh-to-order so we did have to wait a bit on them, but we had rather have them fresh and hot, than pre-prepared, tough and cool. The enchiladas are covered with the red sauce, which he usually gets on Enchiladas Rancheras and he said it had a nice flavor.The Taquitos Mexicanos were extremely hot when served (which is a plus), and I thought they were quite good. They werent the best I have eaten, but I would order them again. The pico de gallo had a bit of a kick to it at one point (I must have gotten hold of a pepper), and the guacamole was slightly chunky, the way I like it, and was tasty (there just wasnt enough of it). Neither of our plates was served with rice and/or beans.Other interesting items on the menu are Pollo Michoacano (marinated chicken served on a bed of vegetables, spinach, and green tomatillo sauce - $9.49); Lupita Plate (Ceviche, grilled shrimp, chicken taquitos, chicken nachos, cheese quesadilla - $11.50), and the El Paisano (one fish taco, shrimp cocktail and ceviche tostada - $12.25).Our server didnt seem to speak a lot of English, but we were able to get our orders taken and food delivered with absolutely no problems. The person at the cash registered seemed to speak terrific English.We were offered dessert, but decided we had already eaten enough. Im not certain what the desserts are since they are not listed on the menu.They do have fruit flavored Margaritas for those who are so inclined.Hours for Los Dorados are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM, Friday, 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM until 11:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM until 10:00 PM.READER PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK:My pet peeve is brown-tinged lettuce used in salads. I see this most often at salad bars. My latest experience was not only brown but slimy. When I inquired about fresh lettuce, I was informed that it had only been on the bar a short time. When I informed them that it was brown, I was told all their lettuce was like that. I would never serve lettuce like that at home and certainly not to guests. Unfortunately, I am beginning to see this more often, even at restaurants known for their salad bars.We look forward to receiving your comments and pet peeves cdojanet@chattanoogadineout.com
Wayne and I tried another new Mexican restaurant over the weekend. This one, Los Dorados Mexican Restaurant, is located at 3512 Dayton Boulevard. The location was previously occupied by Parios and prior to that, Shoneys.Los Dorados has an extensive menu with lots to choose from. Menu headings are Chimichangas, Especialidades De La Casa, Mariscos, Combinaciones, Fajitas, Quesadillas, Burritos, Vegetariano, Favoritos, Enchiladas, Pollo, Ensaladas, Emparedados, Botanas, along with a few other sides, chips, etc. Each category has numerous items listed.Not speaking Spanish, I had to read the menu listings to learn that Mariscos was the seafood category and Emparedados are sandwiches. I learn something new everyday!After looking over the menu, Wayne decided on the Enchiladas Supremas (four filled corn tortillas, one each beef, bean, chicken, cheese, topped with enchilada sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream - $7.99). Other enchilada items were the Mexican Flag topped with green tomatillo sauce ($9.29) and Enchilada Oaxaca (four corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken and covered with mole sauce, cheese and onions ($9.49).I ordered the Taquitos Mexicanos (four rolled corn tortillas filled with shredded beef or chicken and served with lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo - $7.99) with chicken. I also ordered the cheese dip with our chips ($3.29). Chips were just regular, run-of-the-mill chips.Of course, Wayne ordered the hotter salsa. It was red, rather than the green tomatillo sauce we ordered, but he said he was very hot and he had no problem with it. He didnt care for the regular salsa that is served with the chips as he thought it was too much tomato. There didnt seem to be much in the way of onion or cilantro, just mostly tomatoes.Waynes enchiladas were a plateful. They are prepared fresh-to-order so we did have to wait a bit on them, but we had rather have them fresh and hot, than pre-prepared, tough and cool. The enchiladas are covered with the red sauce, which he usually gets on Enchiladas Rancheras and he said it had a nice flavor.The Taquitos Mexicanos were extremely hot when served (which is a plus), and I thought they were quite good. They werent the best I have eaten, but I would order them again. The pico de gallo had a bit of a kick to it at one point (I must have gotten hold of a pepper), and the guacamole was slightly chunky, the way I like it, and was tasty (there just wasnt enough of it). Neither of our plates was served with rice and/or beans.Other interesting items on the menu are Pollo Michoacano (marinated chicken served on a bed of vegetables, spinach, and green tomatillo sauce - $9.49); Lupita Plate (Ceviche, grilled shrimp, chicken taquitos, chicken nachos, cheese quesadilla - $11.50), and the El Paisano (one fish taco, shrimp cocktail and ceviche tostada - $12.25).Our server didnt seem to speak a lot of English, but we were able to get our orders taken and food delivered with absolutely no problems. The person at the cash registered seemed to speak terrific English.We were offered dessert, but decided we had already eaten enough. Im not certain what the desserts are since they are not listed on the menu.They do have fruit flavored Margaritas for those who are so inclined.Hours for Los Dorados are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM, Friday, 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM until 11:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM until 10:00 PM.READER PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK:My pet peeve is brown-tinged lettuce used in salads. I see this most often at salad bars. My latest experience was not only brown but slimy. When I inquired about fresh lettuce, I was informed that it had only been on the bar a short time. When I informed them that it was brown, I was told all their lettuce was like that. I would never serve lettuce like that at home and certainly not to guests. Unfortunately, I am beginning to see this more often, even at restaurants known for their salad bars.We look forward to receiving your comments and pet peeves cdojanet@chattanoogadineout.com
Examine the World Medical Nonwoven Disposables Markets
Tag: Non Woven Interlining
This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Medical Nonwoven Disposables in Millions of US$. The specific product segments analyzed are Incontinence Products, Surgical Non-Woven Products, and Medical Non-Woven Supplies. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual forecasts are provided for each region for the period of 2000 through 2015. The report profiles 158 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as Ahlstrom Corporation, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Buckeye Technologies, Inc., EI. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND CO., Fiberweb Plc, Freudenberg Nonwovens, Polymer Group, Inc., Precision Fabrics Group, Attends Healthcare Products, Inc., Covidien, Kendall Healthcare Products Company, Hogy Medical Co., Ltd., Kao Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Medline Industries, Inc., Molnlycke Health Care AB, Nissan Medical Industries, Ltd., SCA Hygiene Products AG, THE HARTMANN GROUP, and UniCharm Corporation. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are mostly extracted from URL research and reported select online sources.
This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Medical Nonwoven Disposables in Millions of US$. The specific product segments analyzed are Incontinence Products, Surgical Non-Woven Products, and Medical Non-Woven Supplies. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual forecasts are provided for each region for the period of 2000 through 2015. The report profiles 158 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as Ahlstrom Corporation, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Buckeye Technologies, Inc., EI. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND CO., Fiberweb Plc, Freudenberg Nonwovens, Polymer Group, Inc., Precision Fabrics Group, Attends Healthcare Products, Inc., Covidien, Kendall Healthcare Products Company, Hogy Medical Co., Ltd., Kao Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Medline Industries, Inc., Molnlycke Health Care AB, Nissan Medical Industries, Ltd., SCA Hygiene Products AG, THE HARTMANN GROUP, and UniCharm Corporation. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are mostly extracted from URL research and reported select online sources.
Hugh Bradner, UC's inventor of wetsuit
Tag: neoprene diving suit
Hugh Bradner, a UC physicist whose love of the ocean and curiosity about everything in it led him to revolutionize diving by inventing the neoprene wetsuit, has died at his home in San Diego at the age of 92.Dr. Bradner died May 5 of the effects of pneumonia, according to his daughter, Bari Cornet. Dr. Bradner's wife, Marjorie, died April 10. They had met during World War II, when both were working at the top-secret Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, N.M. Dr. Bradner was one of the first employees of the nascent atomic bomb experiment, and his wife was the secretary of Robert Oppenheimer, the project's mastermind.Born in Tonopah, Nev., Dr. Bradner was raised in Findley, Ohio, and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1936. He received his doctorate from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena in 1941 and, along with several other bright young scientists, was recruited by Oppenheimer to come to New Mexico and work on the plan to develop the bomb. He did everything from laying out the design of the new town to working on the bomb's intricate triggering mechanism.After the war, Dr. Bradner joined the faculty of UC Berkeley and taught physics. He also worked at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on high-energy physics, and in his spare time he started noodling around with ideas on how to improve the lot of divers, who spent much of their time in a cold and clammy clime."All his life, he had been interested in diving," Cornet, who is a faculty member of UC Berkeley's school of social welfare, said the other day. In the early part of World War II, Dr. Bradner had talked to Navy frogmen about the problems of being immersed in cold water for long periods of time. "He was looking at the notion that you didn't have to stay dry to stay warm," Cornet said.In 1951, experimenting with neoprene, a synthetic rubber-like substance, he found that it "would trap the water between the body and the neoprene, and the water would heat up to body temperature and keep you warm. He developed this in the basement of our house on Scenic Avenue in Berkeley," Cornet said.The wetsuit was officially invented in 1952. Dr. Bradner and a few of his colleagues created a small company to market what was called the "EDCO Sub-Mariner" suit, $45 for the short version and $75 for the "full suit," as an ad in a 1954 edition of Skin Diver magazine put it, according to the archives of Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla (San Diego County).Cornet said, however, that her father never patented the invention and the wetsuit business venture foundered. The wetsuit was eventually adopted by divers and surfers all over the world. In 2005, the Los Angeles Times examined a half-century dispute about who was the real inventor of the wetsuit - the other two contenders for the title were two California-based firms that have made a fair amount of money from wetsuits."In our little world, these were the guys who had produced the first surfing wetsuits," Matt Warshaw, author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing" and former editor of Surfer magazine, said of Body Glove International and O'Neill Inc. Nonetheless, Warshaw added, "Bradner was the father of the wetsuit." This was corroborated in a lengthy paper by Carolyn Rainey published in 1998 by Scripps.By 1960, with his interest in oceanography well known in the scientific community, Dr. Bradner was recruited to UC San Diego, where he was on the faculty of Scripps and worked on several ocean-related projects, including experiments with scuba underwater breathing devices.In 1961, he persuaded Scripps to let him make a seismic expedition across the Pacific aboard a 106-foot schooner, dropping seismographs to study seismic shaking of the ocean bottom, and also "as a way of detecting bomb tests in other parts of the world," Cornet said. In the Bradner family, it was called "Seismic Summer."Dr. Bradner, who was known to his colleagues as Brad, retired in 1980 but continued his diverse interests, which included scuba diving, hiking, skiing and collecting shells.In addition to his daughter, he is survived by three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A memorial celebration of the lives of Dr. Bradner and his wife, Marjorie, will be held at 3 p.m. May 25 at the UC San Diego Faculty Club.
Hugh Bradner, a UC physicist whose love of the ocean and curiosity about everything in it led him to revolutionize diving by inventing the neoprene wetsuit, has died at his home in San Diego at the age of 92.Dr. Bradner died May 5 of the effects of pneumonia, according to his daughter, Bari Cornet. Dr. Bradner's wife, Marjorie, died April 10. They had met during World War II, when both were working at the top-secret Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, N.M. Dr. Bradner was one of the first employees of the nascent atomic bomb experiment, and his wife was the secretary of Robert Oppenheimer, the project's mastermind.Born in Tonopah, Nev., Dr. Bradner was raised in Findley, Ohio, and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1936. He received his doctorate from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena in 1941 and, along with several other bright young scientists, was recruited by Oppenheimer to come to New Mexico and work on the plan to develop the bomb. He did everything from laying out the design of the new town to working on the bomb's intricate triggering mechanism.After the war, Dr. Bradner joined the faculty of UC Berkeley and taught physics. He also worked at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on high-energy physics, and in his spare time he started noodling around with ideas on how to improve the lot of divers, who spent much of their time in a cold and clammy clime."All his life, he had been interested in diving," Cornet, who is a faculty member of UC Berkeley's school of social welfare, said the other day. In the early part of World War II, Dr. Bradner had talked to Navy frogmen about the problems of being immersed in cold water for long periods of time. "He was looking at the notion that you didn't have to stay dry to stay warm," Cornet said.In 1951, experimenting with neoprene, a synthetic rubber-like substance, he found that it "would trap the water between the body and the neoprene, and the water would heat up to body temperature and keep you warm. He developed this in the basement of our house on Scenic Avenue in Berkeley," Cornet said.The wetsuit was officially invented in 1952. Dr. Bradner and a few of his colleagues created a small company to market what was called the "EDCO Sub-Mariner" suit, $45 for the short version and $75 for the "full suit," as an ad in a 1954 edition of Skin Diver magazine put it, according to the archives of Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla (San Diego County).Cornet said, however, that her father never patented the invention and the wetsuit business venture foundered. The wetsuit was eventually adopted by divers and surfers all over the world. In 2005, the Los Angeles Times examined a half-century dispute about who was the real inventor of the wetsuit - the other two contenders for the title were two California-based firms that have made a fair amount of money from wetsuits."In our little world, these were the guys who had produced the first surfing wetsuits," Matt Warshaw, author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing" and former editor of Surfer magazine, said of Body Glove International and O'Neill Inc. Nonetheless, Warshaw added, "Bradner was the father of the wetsuit." This was corroborated in a lengthy paper by Carolyn Rainey published in 1998 by Scripps.By 1960, with his interest in oceanography well known in the scientific community, Dr. Bradner was recruited to UC San Diego, where he was on the faculty of Scripps and worked on several ocean-related projects, including experiments with scuba underwater breathing devices.In 1961, he persuaded Scripps to let him make a seismic expedition across the Pacific aboard a 106-foot schooner, dropping seismographs to study seismic shaking of the ocean bottom, and also "as a way of detecting bomb tests in other parts of the world," Cornet said. In the Bradner family, it was called "Seismic Summer."Dr. Bradner, who was known to his colleagues as Brad, retired in 1980 but continued his diverse interests, which included scuba diving, hiking, skiing and collecting shells.In addition to his daughter, he is survived by three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A memorial celebration of the lives of Dr. Bradner and his wife, Marjorie, will be held at 3 p.m. May 25 at the UC San Diego Faculty Club.
2008年5月18日星期日
Big Bag Machinery Joins EFIBCA
Tag: circular loom
Starlinger, a leading supplier of production technology for FIBCs of various sizes and types and of machinery for load testing of the finished container bags, recently became the newest member of EFIBCA, the European FIBC Association.With two-digit annual growth rates worldwide, the market for flexible single-use and multi-use woven containers (FIBCs= Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers, Big Bags) reflects the revolutionary effect these bags have had on bulk goods logistics in many sectors. A big bag can hold up to 2000 kg of building materials, metal parts, chemical products, minerals, foodstuffs, or other bulk goods for safe and easy transportation. It requires no special equipment for loading and unloading and doubles as a space-saving storage container.Starlinger has many years of experience in FIBC technology. The Austrian company’s current line-up of reliable and versatile equipment includes new developments in starEX tape extrusion technology, latest versions of the circular loom series SL 61/SL 62/SL 8 and SL 82, the coating and laminating line stacoTEC, and the FIBC testing unit stacoTEST. The fabric from this type of line is used mainly for production of FIBC’s, but also for applications such as geotextiles, agrotextiles, and tarpaulins.EFIBCA, which was founded in 1983, is the European trade organisation for producers and suppliers of FIBCs and for suppliers to the FIBC industry. The association’s main objectives are to develop and define standards of quality, safety, product development, and service. EFIBCA is the world’s only active FIBC industrial association. Membership is limited to companies that demonstrate compliance with EFIBCA’s high standards in a stringent audit process.In April two events will offer opportunity for a close look at Starlinger’s big bag know-how. During the 5th World FIBC Conference in Amsterdam (April 21-22, 2008) there will be a presentation by Starlinger on the topic of “FIBCs from the machinery producer’s viewpoint”.
Starlinger, a leading supplier of production technology for FIBCs of various sizes and types and of machinery for load testing of the finished container bags, recently became the newest member of EFIBCA, the European FIBC Association.With two-digit annual growth rates worldwide, the market for flexible single-use and multi-use woven containers (FIBCs= Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers, Big Bags) reflects the revolutionary effect these bags have had on bulk goods logistics in many sectors. A big bag can hold up to 2000 kg of building materials, metal parts, chemical products, minerals, foodstuffs, or other bulk goods for safe and easy transportation. It requires no special equipment for loading and unloading and doubles as a space-saving storage container.Starlinger has many years of experience in FIBC technology. The Austrian company’s current line-up of reliable and versatile equipment includes new developments in starEX tape extrusion technology, latest versions of the circular loom series SL 61/SL 62/SL 8 and SL 82, the coating and laminating line stacoTEC, and the FIBC testing unit stacoTEST. The fabric from this type of line is used mainly for production of FIBC’s, but also for applications such as geotextiles, agrotextiles, and tarpaulins.EFIBCA, which was founded in 1983, is the European trade organisation for producers and suppliers of FIBCs and for suppliers to the FIBC industry. The association’s main objectives are to develop and define standards of quality, safety, product development, and service. EFIBCA is the world’s only active FIBC industrial association. Membership is limited to companies that demonstrate compliance with EFIBCA’s high standards in a stringent audit process.In April two events will offer opportunity for a close look at Starlinger’s big bag know-how. During the 5th World FIBC Conference in Amsterdam (April 21-22, 2008) there will be a presentation by Starlinger on the topic of “FIBCs from the machinery producer’s viewpoint”.
As business shifts, China quick to adapt
Tag: plastic pipe machinery
Anyone can read today’s stocks charts, but only real pros can accurately predict tomorrow’s. They are the ones who make money, regardless of the market’s ups and downs. The same concept applies to doing business with and in China. Some point out that China’s economic growth is slowing down. That’s true if you are a generic toy maker. But take a moment to step back, get out of the particular niche, industry, sector and region you happen to be in, and get a feel of the whole picture. It’s a picture of breakneck changes, more intense than ever. With the yuan strengthening against the U.S. dollar, steep inflation, tighter credit, stricter labor laws and fewer tax incentives, export businesses are shuttering plants while foreign investment is crossing China’s southern borders for cheaper alternatives. But on the other side of the table, multinational suppliers such as Sabic Innovative Plastics LP, Dow Chemical Co. and Conair Group Inc. are choosing China to launch products globally. Their China strategies are far from the cut-costs-and-ship-back-to-America formula. They understand there will always be a cheaper location, but China has two trump cards: scale — of market and, more importantly, of production; and adaptability. Obviously China’s large population means a tremendous domestic market, which at present is primarily supplied by domestic producers. In past decades, Western companies have made China an export powerhouse, but they have also been waiting patiently for the Chinese market to grow and upgrade to eventually demand higher-end goods. Today, running on Shanghai’s busy roads are not just tiny, $5,000 Chery cars. There are sharp-looking business vans, SUVs, sedans and sports cars, mostly from major international carmakers’ China joint ventures. Demand for higher-end products is rising in the industrial sector, too. I don’t know how many in the plastic industry have heard of Yibin, China-based Push Group Ltd., but the state-owned conglomerate in western China supplies Coca-Cola Co.’s China operation with 2 billion preforms every year and makes car parts for BMW’s Chinese joint venture. It also makes almost 20,000 tons of pipe and fittings annually, plus 11,000 tons of film, 440 million gift bags, and 1.2 billion pieces of plastic cutlery. The company said one of its secret weapons is a first-class manufacturing model, with suppliers including Husky, Demag, DuPont Co. and Invista. “Chinese companies can be just as sophisticated and advanced as everybody else,” said Carl Lu at the company’s Shanghai office. This is China. Garment and toy shops are closing, but modern plants are opening to serve the auto, industrial, packaging and electronics sectors. Banks are holding their pockets, but private lenders are backing up businesses. The Pearl River Delta is slowing down, but the eastern, northern and western regions are flourish- ing. The dollar is working against exporters, but they now quote in euros and yuan. In short, people adapt fairly quickly. China’s big negatives — rapid change and endless uncertainly — are the best training for the finest businessmen, said a Taiwanese machinery firm owner. The way I see it, China is becoming a stronger link in the globalization chain. It adds value by producing and consuming. The World Trade Organization doesn’t just open China’s door to export to the global market. It also gives the world better-than-ever access to the Chinese domestic market. Do you see your piece of the pie there?
Anyone can read today’s stocks charts, but only real pros can accurately predict tomorrow’s. They are the ones who make money, regardless of the market’s ups and downs. The same concept applies to doing business with and in China. Some point out that China’s economic growth is slowing down. That’s true if you are a generic toy maker. But take a moment to step back, get out of the particular niche, industry, sector and region you happen to be in, and get a feel of the whole picture. It’s a picture of breakneck changes, more intense than ever. With the yuan strengthening against the U.S. dollar, steep inflation, tighter credit, stricter labor laws and fewer tax incentives, export businesses are shuttering plants while foreign investment is crossing China’s southern borders for cheaper alternatives. But on the other side of the table, multinational suppliers such as Sabic Innovative Plastics LP, Dow Chemical Co. and Conair Group Inc. are choosing China to launch products globally. Their China strategies are far from the cut-costs-and-ship-back-to-America formula. They understand there will always be a cheaper location, but China has two trump cards: scale — of market and, more importantly, of production; and adaptability. Obviously China’s large population means a tremendous domestic market, which at present is primarily supplied by domestic producers. In past decades, Western companies have made China an export powerhouse, but they have also been waiting patiently for the Chinese market to grow and upgrade to eventually demand higher-end goods. Today, running on Shanghai’s busy roads are not just tiny, $5,000 Chery cars. There are sharp-looking business vans, SUVs, sedans and sports cars, mostly from major international carmakers’ China joint ventures. Demand for higher-end products is rising in the industrial sector, too. I don’t know how many in the plastic industry have heard of Yibin, China-based Push Group Ltd., but the state-owned conglomerate in western China supplies Coca-Cola Co.’s China operation with 2 billion preforms every year and makes car parts for BMW’s Chinese joint venture. It also makes almost 20,000 tons of pipe and fittings annually, plus 11,000 tons of film, 440 million gift bags, and 1.2 billion pieces of plastic cutlery. The company said one of its secret weapons is a first-class manufacturing model, with suppliers including Husky, Demag, DuPont Co. and Invista. “Chinese companies can be just as sophisticated and advanced as everybody else,” said Carl Lu at the company’s Shanghai office. This is China. Garment and toy shops are closing, but modern plants are opening to serve the auto, industrial, packaging and electronics sectors. Banks are holding their pockets, but private lenders are backing up businesses. The Pearl River Delta is slowing down, but the eastern, northern and western regions are flourish- ing. The dollar is working against exporters, but they now quote in euros and yuan. In short, people adapt fairly quickly. China’s big negatives — rapid change and endless uncertainly — are the best training for the finest businessmen, said a Taiwanese machinery firm owner. The way I see it, China is becoming a stronger link in the globalization chain. It adds value by producing and consuming. The World Trade Organization doesn’t just open China’s door to export to the global market. It also gives the world better-than-ever access to the Chinese domestic market. Do you see your piece of the pie there?
FESPA World Expo gets Asia-Pacific boost
Tag: printing machinery
FESPA’s second Digital Printing Europe exhibition, which took place from 1 to 3 April 2008 at Geneva’s Palexpo exhibition centre, attracted an increasingly diverse international audience, including a significant number of screen and digital wide format printers from Asia-Pacific, looking to explore the latest innovations in the sector. Overall the show attracted similar visitor numbers to the inaugural event in 2006, with 12,817 visits recorded over the three days comprising guests from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Excellent attendance levels were recorded for Asia-Pacific with nearly 150 printers from the region visiting the show, representing 15 individual countries. Marcus Timson, FESPA event director for Asia-Pacific commented, 'We are delighted with the number of individuals from Asia-Pacific that attended our digital show. This illustrates the strong interest among the region’s print community to explore the latest industry developments and innovations in the wide format sector, and their confidence in FESPA’s ability to deliver a worthwhile, content-rich event experience.' Greg Stone of GJS Machinery Pty Ltd commented, 'As an Australian distributor of dye sublimation equipment and consumables, it is important to attend international exhibitions to monitor future developments in the industry. FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2008 also gave me the opportunity to build stronger relationships with our current suppliers and meet prospective suppliers in person. This exhibition was my first FESPA event and it exceeded all my expectations in terms of size and diversity of products and services on show. I am looking forward to FESPA World Expo Asia-Pacific in Bangkok later this year.' Several exhibitors in Geneva also confirmed their interest in the emerging Asia-Pacific markets, by booking their stands at FESPA World Expo Asia-Pacific 2008. With more than six months to go before the event, key industry players including Epson, Konica Minolta, Nazdar, Bordeaux and GCC have also booked their places, impressed with the quality of FESPA’s digital events, FESPA’s professionalism, industry expertise and strong brand. Exhibitors at FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2008 expressed their collective satisfaction with the international spectrum of visitors, and their decision-making authority. Many vendors commented that the majority of discussions were with someone with a genuine ability to make or influence a major purchasing decision. This is borne out by the visitor data, which indicates that over 40 per cent of individual visitors to the show were owners or general managers of their businesses. Timson continued, 'Research that we conducted in the Asia-Pacific region, along with feedback from Asia-Pacific visitors at FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2008, further reaffirms the clear need for a high-calibre, pan-regional screen and wide-format printing event dedicated to the unique interests of the Asian-Pacific printing community. Our launch event in the region, FESPA World Expo Asia-Pacific (28 – 30 November) in Bangkok, will aim to inspire printers and help them acquire the know-how to effectively grow their businesses and maximise profitability.'
FESPA’s second Digital Printing Europe exhibition, which took place from 1 to 3 April 2008 at Geneva’s Palexpo exhibition centre, attracted an increasingly diverse international audience, including a significant number of screen and digital wide format printers from Asia-Pacific, looking to explore the latest innovations in the sector. Overall the show attracted similar visitor numbers to the inaugural event in 2006, with 12,817 visits recorded over the three days comprising guests from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Excellent attendance levels were recorded for Asia-Pacific with nearly 150 printers from the region visiting the show, representing 15 individual countries. Marcus Timson, FESPA event director for Asia-Pacific commented, 'We are delighted with the number of individuals from Asia-Pacific that attended our digital show. This illustrates the strong interest among the region’s print community to explore the latest industry developments and innovations in the wide format sector, and their confidence in FESPA’s ability to deliver a worthwhile, content-rich event experience.' Greg Stone of GJS Machinery Pty Ltd commented, 'As an Australian distributor of dye sublimation equipment and consumables, it is important to attend international exhibitions to monitor future developments in the industry. FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2008 also gave me the opportunity to build stronger relationships with our current suppliers and meet prospective suppliers in person. This exhibition was my first FESPA event and it exceeded all my expectations in terms of size and diversity of products and services on show. I am looking forward to FESPA World Expo Asia-Pacific in Bangkok later this year.' Several exhibitors in Geneva also confirmed their interest in the emerging Asia-Pacific markets, by booking their stands at FESPA World Expo Asia-Pacific 2008. With more than six months to go before the event, key industry players including Epson, Konica Minolta, Nazdar, Bordeaux and GCC have also booked their places, impressed with the quality of FESPA’s digital events, FESPA’s professionalism, industry expertise and strong brand. Exhibitors at FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2008 expressed their collective satisfaction with the international spectrum of visitors, and their decision-making authority. Many vendors commented that the majority of discussions were with someone with a genuine ability to make or influence a major purchasing decision. This is borne out by the visitor data, which indicates that over 40 per cent of individual visitors to the show were owners or general managers of their businesses. Timson continued, 'Research that we conducted in the Asia-Pacific region, along with feedback from Asia-Pacific visitors at FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2008, further reaffirms the clear need for a high-calibre, pan-regional screen and wide-format printing event dedicated to the unique interests of the Asian-Pacific printing community. Our launch event in the region, FESPA World Expo Asia-Pacific (28 – 30 November) in Bangkok, will aim to inspire printers and help them acquire the know-how to effectively grow their businesses and maximise profitability.'
Neela launches new line of reusable plastic bags
Tag: Polypropylene Material
Neela Products announced today that its line of reusable, recyclable bags is now available for sale on its website www.neelabags.com. Neela bags come in an array of stylish patterns and colors inspired by modern textile designs, and are made out of nonwoven polypropylene - a lightweight and durable material that is both reusable and recyclable. The bags are intended for everyday use and are designed to reduce excess consumption of paper and plastic bags. "When researching our products, we heard from so many people that they would be more inclined to carry reusable bags if they came in attractive patterns and colors and were easy to store," said Carla Manna, co-founder of Neela Products. "Neela bags answer this call - now consumers have an environmentally-friendly alternative that does not require them to sacrifice either style or convenience." The bags are offered in the following three styles, which come in several sizes and patterns, with options such as a self-pouch, zippers, and stabilizers: -- The Neela Market Tote - slightly larger than a paper grocery bag, the Neela Market Tote includes a fold-up version (offered as a single bag or in a pack of five) and a stabilizer version for extra heavy loads. -- The Neela Shopper - a shopping tote that comes in three sizes (small, standard and large) for errand running, everyday shopping and travel. -- The Neela Wine Tote - a beverage carrier that comes in two sizes - small has a single compartment for a wine bottle, large can hold four wine bottles (or bottles of similar size). "Grabbing a paper or plastic bag every time we make a purchase has become second nature to Americans - the average person consumes nearly 1000 bags per year!" said Renee Fischer, co-founder of Neela Products. "Unfortunately, 96% of these bags end up in landfills or polluting our lakes and rivers. We hope that by offering a fun, appealing alternative, we can encourage people to change these consumption patterns." In addition to the consumer line of bags available on its website, Neela also has a wholesale business for companies that want to offer branded reusable, recyclable bags to their customers. Companies can select from standard options and simply add their logo to the bag, or they can work with Neela's design team to create an entirely customized solution. "Consumers tend to reuse nonwoven bags far more often than traditional paper or plastic bags - which means Neela bags offer retailers a fantastic means of increased brand exposure while doing something good for the environment," added Fischer. For more information, see www.neelabags.com/wholesale.
Neela Products announced today that its line of reusable, recyclable bags is now available for sale on its website www.neelabags.com. Neela bags come in an array of stylish patterns and colors inspired by modern textile designs, and are made out of nonwoven polypropylene - a lightweight and durable material that is both reusable and recyclable. The bags are intended for everyday use and are designed to reduce excess consumption of paper and plastic bags. "When researching our products, we heard from so many people that they would be more inclined to carry reusable bags if they came in attractive patterns and colors and were easy to store," said Carla Manna, co-founder of Neela Products. "Neela bags answer this call - now consumers have an environmentally-friendly alternative that does not require them to sacrifice either style or convenience." The bags are offered in the following three styles, which come in several sizes and patterns, with options such as a self-pouch, zippers, and stabilizers: -- The Neela Market Tote - slightly larger than a paper grocery bag, the Neela Market Tote includes a fold-up version (offered as a single bag or in a pack of five) and a stabilizer version for extra heavy loads. -- The Neela Shopper - a shopping tote that comes in three sizes (small, standard and large) for errand running, everyday shopping and travel. -- The Neela Wine Tote - a beverage carrier that comes in two sizes - small has a single compartment for a wine bottle, large can hold four wine bottles (or bottles of similar size). "Grabbing a paper or plastic bag every time we make a purchase has become second nature to Americans - the average person consumes nearly 1000 bags per year!" said Renee Fischer, co-founder of Neela Products. "Unfortunately, 96% of these bags end up in landfills or polluting our lakes and rivers. We hope that by offering a fun, appealing alternative, we can encourage people to change these consumption patterns." In addition to the consumer line of bags available on its website, Neela also has a wholesale business for companies that want to offer branded reusable, recyclable bags to their customers. Companies can select from standard options and simply add their logo to the bag, or they can work with Neela's design team to create an entirely customized solution. "Consumers tend to reuse nonwoven bags far more often than traditional paper or plastic bags - which means Neela bags offer retailers a fantastic means of increased brand exposure while doing something good for the environment," added Fischer. For more information, see www.neelabags.com/wholesale.
Steel plant breaks ground in Vietnam
Tag: metallurgy machinery
The Viet Nam–China Minerals and Metallurgy Co (VTM) last week held a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of a steel plant capable of producing a million tonnes of steel a year at the Tang Loong Industrial Zone in northern Lao Cai province. The plant, capitalised with US$152 million, is a joint venture of the Viet Nam Steel Corporation, the Lao Cai Minerals Company and the Kunming Iron and Steel Group Co. Ltd. Construction work is expected to be completed by 2010.
The Viet Nam–China Minerals and Metallurgy Co (VTM) last week held a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of a steel plant capable of producing a million tonnes of steel a year at the Tang Loong Industrial Zone in northern Lao Cai province. The plant, capitalised with US$152 million, is a joint venture of the Viet Nam Steel Corporation, the Lao Cai Minerals Company and the Kunming Iron and Steel Group Co. Ltd. Construction work is expected to be completed by 2010.
Indian sugar futures fall on weak exports
Tag: Brazilian White Sugar
Indian sugar futures fell on Monday as export prospects faded with higher supplies from a bumper Brazilian crop pushing world prices lower.At 4:00 p.m. (1030 GMT), the May contract NSMK8 was down 0.72 percent at 1,382 rupees ($32.8) per 100 kg on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, while the June contract NSMM8 fell 1.03 percent to 1,440 rupees.Spot prices in the western state of Maharashtra, a leading producer, dropped 0.3 percent to 1,406.45 rupees.Ramesh Mistry, vice president at sugar exporter Sakuma Exports Ltd (SAKE.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), said a drop in world prices to 11.5 cents per pound from 13.6 cents about a month ago has hit exports."Indian exporters are not finding this lucrative since prices in the local markets are better," he said.About 42 ships were waiting at Brazil's main ports to load 187,350 tonnes of white sugar and 530,598 tonnes of raw sugar last week.Brazil's cane output in 2008/09 would rise to a record 550 million tonnes from 431.2 million tonnes in 2007/08, London-based International Sugar Organisation, said last week. ($1=42.1 rupees) (Reporting by Abhishek Shanker)
Indian sugar futures fell on Monday as export prospects faded with higher supplies from a bumper Brazilian crop pushing world prices lower.At 4:00 p.m. (1030 GMT), the May contract NSMK8 was down 0.72 percent at 1,382 rupees ($32.8) per 100 kg on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, while the June contract NSMM8 fell 1.03 percent to 1,440 rupees.Spot prices in the western state of Maharashtra, a leading producer, dropped 0.3 percent to 1,406.45 rupees.Ramesh Mistry, vice president at sugar exporter Sakuma Exports Ltd (SAKE.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), said a drop in world prices to 11.5 cents per pound from 13.6 cents about a month ago has hit exports."Indian exporters are not finding this lucrative since prices in the local markets are better," he said.About 42 ships were waiting at Brazil's main ports to load 187,350 tonnes of white sugar and 530,598 tonnes of raw sugar last week.Brazil's cane output in 2008/09 would rise to a record 550 million tonnes from 431.2 million tonnes in 2007/08, London-based International Sugar Organisation, said last week. ($1=42.1 rupees) (Reporting by Abhishek Shanker)
2008年5月14日星期三
Seafood exporters get foreign currency loans
Tag: PVC Hose
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has asked the State Bank of Viet Nam to provide loans in foreign currency to seafood exporters according to Tran Thien Hai, chairman of VASEP. Under Decision 09/2008/QD-NHNN, the State bank does not provide any loans for such exporters. Interest rates on loans in Vietnamese dong are 19 per cent a year while the rates on foreign currency are 6.5-7 per cent a year. Twin electronics expos to be held in HCM City HCM CITY — The 12th International Exhibition in Viet Nam for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Vietnam Telecomp 2008) and the International Exhibition in Viet Nam for Electronics Products 2008 (Vietnam Electronics 2008) will be held in tandem from November 26-29 at the HCM City International Exhibition and Convention Centre (HIECC). The twin expo is expected to occupy an exhibition area of over 6,000sq.m, with 178 exhibitors from 17 countries and territories participating. Featured products likely to catch the industry’s attention include third-generation networking (3G), satellite technology, electronic components and accessories, and home entertainment and appliances. SaraWindow launches new products BAC NINH — The SaraWindow factory located in the Tien Son Industrial Zone, in the northern province of Bac Ninh, has officially launched a new line products made of u-PVC, a type of plastic incorporating a steel core, produced to meet the quality-control standards of European technology. SaraWindow produces doors and windows. SaraWindow operates two other factories in Viet Nam, one in the Nam Cam and the other in the My Phuoc 5 Industrial Zone, which are situated in the central province of Nghe An and the southern province of Binh Duong, respectively. These factories represent a combined capital of US$20 million. Each factory occupies a 30,000sq.m site and has an annual production capacity of 130,000 units. Builder/developer expects sharp rise in 2008 profits HCM CITY — The Lu Gia Mechanical Electric Company planned to earn a net revenue of VND120 billion (US$7.5 million) this year, a year-on-year increase of 56.4 per cent, resulting in an after-tax profit of VND30 billion and allowing a dividend payment ratio of 17 per cent. The company plans to raise its charter capital to VND80 billion from VND30 billion by issuing an additional 5 million shares. The Lu Gia Company will sell 4.5 million of those shares to existing shareholders at a ratio of 1:1.5, 150,000 to its staff and the rest to strategic partners, all at the same price of VND15,000 per share. The total capital after issuance will be invested into a Lu Gia apartment-building development project. Gemadept puts $18.7million into new subsidiary HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Investment and Planning granted a licence to develop the Sai Gon Commodity and Service Joint Stock Co (SCSC) with an initial charter capital of VND300 billion (US$18.7 million). The company, founded by Gemadept Joint Stock Company with a capital contribution ratio of 23 per cent, will trade in a range of commodites, including oil and gas, transport, and real estate.
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has asked the State Bank of Viet Nam to provide loans in foreign currency to seafood exporters according to Tran Thien Hai, chairman of VASEP. Under Decision 09/2008/QD-NHNN, the State bank does not provide any loans for such exporters. Interest rates on loans in Vietnamese dong are 19 per cent a year while the rates on foreign currency are 6.5-7 per cent a year. Twin electronics expos to be held in HCM City HCM CITY — The 12th International Exhibition in Viet Nam for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Vietnam Telecomp 2008) and the International Exhibition in Viet Nam for Electronics Products 2008 (Vietnam Electronics 2008) will be held in tandem from November 26-29 at the HCM City International Exhibition and Convention Centre (HIECC). The twin expo is expected to occupy an exhibition area of over 6,000sq.m, with 178 exhibitors from 17 countries and territories participating. Featured products likely to catch the industry’s attention include third-generation networking (3G), satellite technology, electronic components and accessories, and home entertainment and appliances. SaraWindow launches new products BAC NINH — The SaraWindow factory located in the Tien Son Industrial Zone, in the northern province of Bac Ninh, has officially launched a new line products made of u-PVC, a type of plastic incorporating a steel core, produced to meet the quality-control standards of European technology. SaraWindow produces doors and windows. SaraWindow operates two other factories in Viet Nam, one in the Nam Cam and the other in the My Phuoc 5 Industrial Zone, which are situated in the central province of Nghe An and the southern province of Binh Duong, respectively. These factories represent a combined capital of US$20 million. Each factory occupies a 30,000sq.m site and has an annual production capacity of 130,000 units. Builder/developer expects sharp rise in 2008 profits HCM CITY — The Lu Gia Mechanical Electric Company planned to earn a net revenue of VND120 billion (US$7.5 million) this year, a year-on-year increase of 56.4 per cent, resulting in an after-tax profit of VND30 billion and allowing a dividend payment ratio of 17 per cent. The company plans to raise its charter capital to VND80 billion from VND30 billion by issuing an additional 5 million shares. The Lu Gia Company will sell 4.5 million of those shares to existing shareholders at a ratio of 1:1.5, 150,000 to its staff and the rest to strategic partners, all at the same price of VND15,000 per share. The total capital after issuance will be invested into a Lu Gia apartment-building development project. Gemadept puts $18.7million into new subsidiary HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Investment and Planning granted a licence to develop the Sai Gon Commodity and Service Joint Stock Co (SCSC) with an initial charter capital of VND300 billion (US$18.7 million). The company, founded by Gemadept Joint Stock Company with a capital contribution ratio of 23 per cent, will trade in a range of commodites, including oil and gas, transport, and real estate.
Season Opener Heats up Cool Night at AMS
Tag: IQF Green Bean
The Angola Dental Center presented the 2008 Season opener on Saturday at the Angola Motor Speedway. Windy City Bags held a benefit bean bag toss tournament for Kedrin Holliday, a driver whose wife recently received a bone marrow transplant. $230 will be donated to the Holliday Family, a big thanks to Windy City Bags and all the fans who participated. After a long winter, drivers and fans alike were ready for another exciting season of racing. The Budweiser Super Late Models took to the track first for their 35 lap feature event. Joe Ellert started on the pole but was challenged early and often. Evan Barrett got alongside Ellert on lap 4 but lost control and spun out in turn 2. That gave Jack Landis his chance at Ellert and he took the lead on lap 6. Landis pulled away from the field for an exciting win and a cruise into Tri State Line-X Victory Lane, while Jeff Parr and fast qualifier Brent Jack battled side by side for second. Parr held on for a second place finish with Jack, Scott Hantz and Mike Kugler rounding out the top 5. Heat race winners were Jason Shively and Ellert. Next, on the track were the Superior Auto Modifieds and after several early cautions the racing really got going. Darwin Wolfe started up front and looked like he might be able to run away with the win. Fast qualifier Brad Springer worked his way from deep in the field to get right behind Wolfe on Lap 20. After a great battle Springer finally got around Wolfe on lap 25 and pulled away for the win. Wolfe, Jason Dietsch, Steve Minich Jr and a charging Jason Timmerman all brought home top 5 finishes. Wolfe and Dietsch both collected heat victories. Robby Henderson jumped out to the early lead in the Jonny on the Spot Street Stocks feature event, but fast qualifier Tom Little was closing fast. Little got alongside Henderson on lap 11 but the two got together sending Little to the pits with a flat tire. A Green White Checker finish made for a great finish as Justin Oberlin gave Henderson everything he had coming to the checkers. Henderson held on for the win with Oberlin second in his first night in a Street Stock, Brent Dirrim third, Bob Thompson fourth and Jacob Mann fifth. Henderson and Oberlin took home heat wins. Jerry Slone set a new track record for the Smith Enterprises Mini Stocks with a qualifying lap of 17.296 seconds. Starting in the back with a full field inversion Slone had to work hard to get to the front but finally got around Zac Sipe with a few laps to go to take home the checkers. The rest of the top five were Sipe, Rookie Logan Parker, Jimmy Musser, and Clif Bennett. Heat wins went to Sipe and Charlie Beattie. Next Saturday Night Tri State Line-X and WLKI 100.3 will present the Short Track Trucks.com Challenge Series along with the Budweiser Super Late Models, Superior Auto Modifieds, Jonny on the Spot Street Stocks, and Smith Enterprises Mini Stocks. Practice at 4:30, Time Trials at 6:00, and racing at 7:30. Don’t forget about the famous AMS Dollar Menu including $1 FAYGO sodas!
The Angola Dental Center presented the 2008 Season opener on Saturday at the Angola Motor Speedway. Windy City Bags held a benefit bean bag toss tournament for Kedrin Holliday, a driver whose wife recently received a bone marrow transplant. $230 will be donated to the Holliday Family, a big thanks to Windy City Bags and all the fans who participated. After a long winter, drivers and fans alike were ready for another exciting season of racing. The Budweiser Super Late Models took to the track first for their 35 lap feature event. Joe Ellert started on the pole but was challenged early and often. Evan Barrett got alongside Ellert on lap 4 but lost control and spun out in turn 2. That gave Jack Landis his chance at Ellert and he took the lead on lap 6. Landis pulled away from the field for an exciting win and a cruise into Tri State Line-X Victory Lane, while Jeff Parr and fast qualifier Brent Jack battled side by side for second. Parr held on for a second place finish with Jack, Scott Hantz and Mike Kugler rounding out the top 5. Heat race winners were Jason Shively and Ellert. Next, on the track were the Superior Auto Modifieds and after several early cautions the racing really got going. Darwin Wolfe started up front and looked like he might be able to run away with the win. Fast qualifier Brad Springer worked his way from deep in the field to get right behind Wolfe on Lap 20. After a great battle Springer finally got around Wolfe on lap 25 and pulled away for the win. Wolfe, Jason Dietsch, Steve Minich Jr and a charging Jason Timmerman all brought home top 5 finishes. Wolfe and Dietsch both collected heat victories. Robby Henderson jumped out to the early lead in the Jonny on the Spot Street Stocks feature event, but fast qualifier Tom Little was closing fast. Little got alongside Henderson on lap 11 but the two got together sending Little to the pits with a flat tire. A Green White Checker finish made for a great finish as Justin Oberlin gave Henderson everything he had coming to the checkers. Henderson held on for the win with Oberlin second in his first night in a Street Stock, Brent Dirrim third, Bob Thompson fourth and Jacob Mann fifth. Henderson and Oberlin took home heat wins. Jerry Slone set a new track record for the Smith Enterprises Mini Stocks with a qualifying lap of 17.296 seconds. Starting in the back with a full field inversion Slone had to work hard to get to the front but finally got around Zac Sipe with a few laps to go to take home the checkers. The rest of the top five were Sipe, Rookie Logan Parker, Jimmy Musser, and Clif Bennett. Heat wins went to Sipe and Charlie Beattie. Next Saturday Night Tri State Line-X and WLKI 100.3 will present the Short Track Trucks.com Challenge Series along with the Budweiser Super Late Models, Superior Auto Modifieds, Jonny on the Spot Street Stocks, and Smith Enterprises Mini Stocks. Practice at 4:30, Time Trials at 6:00, and racing at 7:30. Don’t forget about the famous AMS Dollar Menu including $1 FAYGO sodas!
Comforting foods to help forget the cold winter
Tag: Onion Slice
Spring is in the air and here are some comforting foods to welcome in the new season while warding off last winter's chill. In large pot, put 3-l4 oz. containers of chicken broth, bring to a boil, and stir in 3 tab. orzo pasta, reduce heat and cook just until tender. Stir in l l/2 cups of sliced zucchini, 4 green onions sliced, cook l minute. Add l-8 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast thinly sliced, reduce heat and simmer until cooked through then add l/2 cup frozen peas. Remove from heat and stir in l tab. of lemon juice, l tab. finely chopped parsley and some green onion tails chopped finely. Serves 6 at 82 calories per serving. HEART HEALTHY TENDER BAKED SALMON FILLET Preheat oven to 400. Place 24-inch piece of heavy duty foil on baking sheet with sides, allowing edges to hang over sides. Place 2 lb. of salmon fillet, skin removed in the centre of the foil, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. With a sharp knife, thinly slice 3 small plum tomatoes, and l medium red sweet onion. Advertisement Remove basil leaves from l bunch of fresh basil and wash well. Arrange tomato slices and onion slices as well as the basil leaves on the salmon fillet. Bring edges of foil together over top of fish then seal well by rolling tightly and crimping foil. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. To check carefully, open package if necessary and reseal and continue to cook until fish is done.
Spring is in the air and here are some comforting foods to welcome in the new season while warding off last winter's chill. In large pot, put 3-l4 oz. containers of chicken broth, bring to a boil, and stir in 3 tab. orzo pasta, reduce heat and cook just until tender. Stir in l l/2 cups of sliced zucchini, 4 green onions sliced, cook l minute. Add l-8 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast thinly sliced, reduce heat and simmer until cooked through then add l/2 cup frozen peas. Remove from heat and stir in l tab. of lemon juice, l tab. finely chopped parsley and some green onion tails chopped finely. Serves 6 at 82 calories per serving. HEART HEALTHY TENDER BAKED SALMON FILLET Preheat oven to 400. Place 24-inch piece of heavy duty foil on baking sheet with sides, allowing edges to hang over sides. Place 2 lb. of salmon fillet, skin removed in the centre of the foil, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. With a sharp knife, thinly slice 3 small plum tomatoes, and l medium red sweet onion. Advertisement Remove basil leaves from l bunch of fresh basil and wash well. Arrange tomato slices and onion slices as well as the basil leaves on the salmon fillet. Bring edges of foil together over top of fish then seal well by rolling tightly and crimping foil. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. To check carefully, open package if necessary and reseal and continue to cook until fish is done.
Vigilantes deliver mob justice in Bihar
Tag: Bamboo Sticks
Ashok Sahni, who belonged to an extremely backward caste, was beaten to death for falling in love with a girl from a different community. He was one of over a dozen people lynched last month, a clear sign that mobs are rushing in to deliver "street justice." The state government’s failure to punish people involved in meting out such instant justice seems to be encouraging them. What’s more, people are being lynched over minor issues. Bihar, India’s second most populous state with 83 million people, has the dubious distinction of being the most crime-ridden as well. More than a dozen ganglords operate in different parts of the state. The semi-feudal society is bitterly divided along caste lines. Sahni, who was in his early 20s, was beaten to death with bamboo sticks and bricks by relatives of the girl in Sedukha Mananpur village in Samastipur district, about 80 km from here. He was attacked after being caught with the girl, police sources said. According to a police report lodged by his father, Sahni was beaten to death instead of being handed over authorities. In another case, a mentally challenged man was beaten to death by a mob in Gotkharik village in Bhagalpur district on charges of trying to administer injections to children. Police said some girl students told the villagers that a man was trying to lure them so that he could administer injections. A group of people attacked him with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones. He was seriously injured and fell unconscious. Some people took him to the house of a village council member. But before police could intervene, he was dragged out and beaten to death. Another man, Mithilesh Singh, was lynched for allegedly attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl in Kelbanni-Dahiyar village in Samastipur district. Singh was caught by the family members and thrashed to death. Nasib Paswan was fatally beaten by the family members of his wife for opposing her alleged extramarital relations in Bhojpur district. A teashop owner, Abdul Qayum, in his 40s, paid with his life for a delay in serving tea to a group of youths in Araria district. People these days justify the act of "street justice." "What is wrong in lynching a criminal or a man trying to outrage the modesty of a girl?" asked Ashok Singh, a businessman. Last year, over three dozen cases of lynching were reported. The worst incident occurred when 10 people from the underprivileged Kueri community were beaten to death over alleged theft. Later, an investigation found that the men were not thieves as the villagers had suspected.
Ashok Sahni, who belonged to an extremely backward caste, was beaten to death for falling in love with a girl from a different community. He was one of over a dozen people lynched last month, a clear sign that mobs are rushing in to deliver "street justice." The state government’s failure to punish people involved in meting out such instant justice seems to be encouraging them. What’s more, people are being lynched over minor issues. Bihar, India’s second most populous state with 83 million people, has the dubious distinction of being the most crime-ridden as well. More than a dozen ganglords operate in different parts of the state. The semi-feudal society is bitterly divided along caste lines. Sahni, who was in his early 20s, was beaten to death with bamboo sticks and bricks by relatives of the girl in Sedukha Mananpur village in Samastipur district, about 80 km from here. He was attacked after being caught with the girl, police sources said. According to a police report lodged by his father, Sahni was beaten to death instead of being handed over authorities. In another case, a mentally challenged man was beaten to death by a mob in Gotkharik village in Bhagalpur district on charges of trying to administer injections to children. Police said some girl students told the villagers that a man was trying to lure them so that he could administer injections. A group of people attacked him with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones. He was seriously injured and fell unconscious. Some people took him to the house of a village council member. But before police could intervene, he was dragged out and beaten to death. Another man, Mithilesh Singh, was lynched for allegedly attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl in Kelbanni-Dahiyar village in Samastipur district. Singh was caught by the family members and thrashed to death. Nasib Paswan was fatally beaten by the family members of his wife for opposing her alleged extramarital relations in Bhojpur district. A teashop owner, Abdul Qayum, in his 40s, paid with his life for a delay in serving tea to a group of youths in Araria district. People these days justify the act of "street justice." "What is wrong in lynching a criminal or a man trying to outrage the modesty of a girl?" asked Ashok Singh, a businessman. Last year, over three dozen cases of lynching were reported. The worst incident occurred when 10 people from the underprivileged Kueri community were beaten to death over alleged theft. Later, an investigation found that the men were not thieves as the villagers had suspected.
Floor grating items offered by FSM
Tag: Bar Grating
FSM (Food Service Machinery) offers a wide range of floor grating items. Floor grating items offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) include Rollagrate Floor Grating from 100-200 mm width, 201-250 mm width, 251-300 mm width, up to 551-600 mm width. Food preparation products offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) include drop in freezer, egg rings, food finisher, fry tools, grill tools, kebab shaver, mixer, potato chipper, sear tools, slicers and dicers, timers, toasters, vegetable peeling, vegetable washing and drying equipment. Silver King Drop-in Ice Cream Freezer offered by offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) can be simply installed in any bench top or bar. Silver King Drop-in Ice Cream Freezer is available with stainless steel interior and coved corners for simple and quick cleaning. FSM (Food Service Machinery) also offers a wide range of food safety products. Food safety products offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) include bandages, cross contamination, personal safety; sink sanitiser and time and temperature control products. FSM (Food Service Machinery) offers different types of cutting boards such as ‘San Jamar Board Mate’, ‘San Jamar Cut-N-Carry Quad Set Cutting Boards’ and ‘San Jamar Tuff-Cut Resin Cutting Board with Groove’. San Jamar Board Mate is a hold system that is located below cutting boards to avoid potentially hazardous slipping. It avoids cross contamination that can be caused by the un-safe wet-towel method.
FSM (Food Service Machinery) offers a wide range of floor grating items. Floor grating items offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) include Rollagrate Floor Grating from 100-200 mm width, 201-250 mm width, 251-300 mm width, up to 551-600 mm width. Food preparation products offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) include drop in freezer, egg rings, food finisher, fry tools, grill tools, kebab shaver, mixer, potato chipper, sear tools, slicers and dicers, timers, toasters, vegetable peeling, vegetable washing and drying equipment. Silver King Drop-in Ice Cream Freezer offered by offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) can be simply installed in any bench top or bar. Silver King Drop-in Ice Cream Freezer is available with stainless steel interior and coved corners for simple and quick cleaning. FSM (Food Service Machinery) also offers a wide range of food safety products. Food safety products offered by FSM (Food Service Machinery) include bandages, cross contamination, personal safety; sink sanitiser and time and temperature control products. FSM (Food Service Machinery) offers different types of cutting boards such as ‘San Jamar Board Mate’, ‘San Jamar Cut-N-Carry Quad Set Cutting Boards’ and ‘San Jamar Tuff-Cut Resin Cutting Board with Groove’. San Jamar Board Mate is a hold system that is located below cutting boards to avoid potentially hazardous slipping. It avoids cross contamination that can be caused by the un-safe wet-towel method.
2008年5月12日星期一
Pest Sea Squirt Found At Marsden Cove
A ‘relatively abundant’ infestation of the unwanted marine sea squirt ‘Styela clava’ has been discovered during a routine sweep of the new Marsden Cove Marina by a dive team contracted to Biosecurity New Zealand. Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) advised the Northland Regional Council yesterday that about 40 Styela clava (or clubbed tunicate sea squirt) had been found during the 29 April survey, part of its national marine surveillance programme. The marine pest - widely established in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf – poses a threat to New Zealand’s aquaculture industry due to its ability to blanket oyster and mussel lines, suffocate growing shellfish and compete for food and space. Previous Styela finds in Northland have included Tutukaka and Opua but not Marsden Cove, a private marina near Marsden Pt aquaculture equipment . Don McKenzie, Biosecurity Team Leader for the Regional Council says according to MAFBNZ the sea squirt appears to be ‘relatively abundant’ at Marsden Cove. “They advise that about 40 sea squirt were seen during a roughly 60-metre swim around pontoons and on six out of 10 piles inspected at another site, mainly on the floating rings that allow the pontoons to ride up and down the piles with the tide.” He says the Regional Council has raised the issue of the delayed notification of the find with Biosecurity NZ and is keen to investigate removal of the sea squirt as soon as possible before it can spread any further. Urgent Regional Council investigations into how that might be achieved – and the likely costs - are underway. “Biosecurity NZ has already advised it will not help fund Styela eradication, although it is prepared to help train commercial divers to identify Styela and other marine pests in Northland as part of building education and awareness.” Mr McKenzie says MAFBNZ had also offered to advise the Regional Council on a survey to define the extent of the sea squirt’s spread at Marsden Cove. He says the NRC has advised Marsden Cove’s marina manager of the discovery and is urging boaties entering or leaving Northland waters to take steps to ensure they don’t spread the pest. These include: • Keeping boats free of bio-fouling like seaweed, barnacles and shellfish• Regularly cleaning a boat’s hull and equipment• Ensuring vessels are regularly treated with anti-fouling Mr McKenzie says Styela are usually club-shaped with a tough, leathery skin that varies from brownish-white, yellow-brown or reddish-brown and favour protected areas like bays and harbours away from wave action. “Its body is cylindrical, tapering to a stalk and it prefers to settle on hard surfaces, especially man-made ones. It’s usually seen on jetty and wharf pilings, on aquaculture structures and equipment, on ropes and lines, and on the hulls of infested vessels.” Adults grow up to 16cm long and the species establishes from the low tide mark, down to about 25m.
Dynamic effective price control with Decorator
There’s an interesting consequence of eCommerce on the Web: when companies use localised prices for different regions, it becomes transparently obvious that living in the UK (and the EU in general) is much more expensive than living in the US. So when I was looking at buying some software recently – available via download, involving no retail outlets or shipping – I was somewhat shocked by the price differential that we have to pay on our side of the pond. Of course, when calculating prices online, retailers often have to allow for many other factors such as local taxation rates, discounts for customers that are upgrading their software, promotional offers and reduced prices for educational customers. So I began to wonder how I might choose to implement a flexible pricing strategy in, say, an ASP.NET application. This article describes one approach using a standard Gang of Four (GoF) Design Pattern Extract Product . The important thing to note about this table is that the prices are held exclusively in US$. The code that reads the values from this table is not relevant to our discussion (and won’t be examined in this article). Suffice to say that an objective for the model is that we only need to maintain one product price table; not one per country. We now need some form of “shopping cart” object to hold the customers’ order information. Again, this code is kept deliberately simple as it’s not the focus of the article, so we have two classe .
Marketing milk as hormone-free hurtsconsumers and farmers
Tag: Cow Milking Machine
Michael Hansen and Rhonda Perry are guilty of the very violations they claim that lobbyists are committing in "Lobbyists try to keep milk information from consumer" (April 1). Under the guise of promoting consumers' "right to know what's in their food," they offer blatant misinformation on the subject. The claim that "there are significant changes in milk and dairy products produced with (recombinant bovine growth hormone)" simply is untrue. The facts: All cows have a natural protein (bST) that helps them produce milk. Some dairy farmers choose to supplement their cows' bST to boost milk production, helping to ensure a plentiful milk supply. Extensive studies have shown that milk from these cows is the same wholesome product consumers have enjoyed for generations. This has been affirmed and reaffirmed by the Food and Drug Administration, among other leading U.S. and international health organizations. Additionally, there is no test to determine if milk has been produced by a cow that has been treated with rbST or recombinant bovine growth hormone. A dairy farmer, who must sign an affidavit that he does not treat his cows with rbST, receives only a small percentage of the added premium that is charged the consumer. If other safe effective technologies are banned, what happens? The farmer gets no premium, and the consumer continues to pay more for milk. Ill-informed activists then can pick out another production practice they believe is detrimental to the cow and/or the consumer. Consider the milking machine. Some may think it's cruel to attach a machine to a cow, twice a day, every day. So, then we are left with hand-milking. The end result: an ever-shrinking milk supply and sky-high prices. I support labeling and telling the consumer the truth, including the facts about the content of the product they are going to purchase. Milk is milk, as it comes from the cow. However, the real truth is that pitting one milk against another is purely for the purpose of profit. This marketing ploy hardly protects consumers. It hurts them.
Michael Hansen and Rhonda Perry are guilty of the very violations they claim that lobbyists are committing in "Lobbyists try to keep milk information from consumer" (April 1). Under the guise of promoting consumers' "right to know what's in their food," they offer blatant misinformation on the subject. The claim that "there are significant changes in milk and dairy products produced with (recombinant bovine growth hormone)" simply is untrue. The facts: All cows have a natural protein (bST) that helps them produce milk. Some dairy farmers choose to supplement their cows' bST to boost milk production, helping to ensure a plentiful milk supply. Extensive studies have shown that milk from these cows is the same wholesome product consumers have enjoyed for generations. This has been affirmed and reaffirmed by the Food and Drug Administration, among other leading U.S. and international health organizations. Additionally, there is no test to determine if milk has been produced by a cow that has been treated with rbST or recombinant bovine growth hormone. A dairy farmer, who must sign an affidavit that he does not treat his cows with rbST, receives only a small percentage of the added premium that is charged the consumer. If other safe effective technologies are banned, what happens? The farmer gets no premium, and the consumer continues to pay more for milk. Ill-informed activists then can pick out another production practice they believe is detrimental to the cow and/or the consumer. Consider the milking machine. Some may think it's cruel to attach a machine to a cow, twice a day, every day. So, then we are left with hand-milking. The end result: an ever-shrinking milk supply and sky-high prices. I support labeling and telling the consumer the truth, including the facts about the content of the product they are going to purchase. Milk is milk, as it comes from the cow. However, the real truth is that pitting one milk against another is purely for the purpose of profit. This marketing ploy hardly protects consumers. It hurts them.
NDP wants WSIB program scrapped
Tag:carrot powder
The McGuinty government is being asked to scrap a controversial workplace insurance program that gave financial rewards to companies guilty of fatal safety violations. The New Democratic Party has put forward a motion, scheduled to be debated at Queen's Park next week, that also calls for an audit of the so-called "experience rating" program that critics claim entices companies to hide injuries and rush injured workers back on the job. An ongoing Star investigation recently found the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board has given millions of dollars in rebates to companies that have been prosecuted by another arm of the provincial government and ordered to pay fines. In many cases, the amount of the rebate far exceeded the value of the fine. The WSIB announced a year-long review of the program and labour groups called for the firing of its chair, Steve Mahoney. While Premier Dalton McGuinty called the Star's findings an "embarrassment" that needs to be fixed, he said Mahoney stays put. Mahoney yesterday said the NDP motion is "nothing more than grandstanding," and Liberal Labour Minister Brad Duguid dismissed it as unproductive posturing. "I think the NDP should keep their powder dry and wait until we get the facts," Mahoney said. "It's a little disappointing, frankly, and I don't know what purpose it will serve. We have already launched our own thorough examination." But NDP Leader Howard Hampton says he wants to know how much money went to undeserving companies, adding that he has no faith the McGuinty government will attempt to make any serious changes as part of the review already underway. The incentive program – known in WSIB circles as the "experience rating system" – began in 1985 to make companies safer by using a penalty-rebate ("carrot-stick") approach. The system looks at the "experience" of each company. Premiums are based largely on the expected cost of a company's claims for the year. If lower than projected, the company gets a rebate. How much lower determines the amount of the rebate. If a firm's insurance costs exceed expectations, it is hit with a surcharge. The program does not add any extra penalty when there is a death. Loss-time injuries – that is, injuries that cause a worker to miss at least one shift – can be more costly to a company than injuries that do not lead to lost time. Generally speaking, the longer a loss-time injury persists, the greater the cost under the experience rating program. Defenders of the system say it encourages most companies to make workplaces safer, and they underscore the ministry of labour's claim that loss-time injuries have gone down 20 per cent since 2004. But Hampton and others say the program's emphasis on the cost of loss-time injuries is creating an increasingly common problem: Companies coming up with degrading, meaningless jobs designed to prevent the injured worker from missing a shift. Rushing an injured worker back to work, they say, often makes the injury worse. "It's a widespread problem. I know from my own experience there are a number of significant industrial employers in my constituency where when you talk with workers they say this goes on all the time," Hampton said.
The McGuinty government is being asked to scrap a controversial workplace insurance program that gave financial rewards to companies guilty of fatal safety violations. The New Democratic Party has put forward a motion, scheduled to be debated at Queen's Park next week, that also calls for an audit of the so-called "experience rating" program that critics claim entices companies to hide injuries and rush injured workers back on the job. An ongoing Star investigation recently found the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board has given millions of dollars in rebates to companies that have been prosecuted by another arm of the provincial government and ordered to pay fines. In many cases, the amount of the rebate far exceeded the value of the fine. The WSIB announced a year-long review of the program and labour groups called for the firing of its chair, Steve Mahoney. While Premier Dalton McGuinty called the Star's findings an "embarrassment" that needs to be fixed, he said Mahoney stays put. Mahoney yesterday said the NDP motion is "nothing more than grandstanding," and Liberal Labour Minister Brad Duguid dismissed it as unproductive posturing. "I think the NDP should keep their powder dry and wait until we get the facts," Mahoney said. "It's a little disappointing, frankly, and I don't know what purpose it will serve. We have already launched our own thorough examination." But NDP Leader Howard Hampton says he wants to know how much money went to undeserving companies, adding that he has no faith the McGuinty government will attempt to make any serious changes as part of the review already underway. The incentive program – known in WSIB circles as the "experience rating system" – began in 1985 to make companies safer by using a penalty-rebate ("carrot-stick") approach. The system looks at the "experience" of each company. Premiums are based largely on the expected cost of a company's claims for the year. If lower than projected, the company gets a rebate. How much lower determines the amount of the rebate. If a firm's insurance costs exceed expectations, it is hit with a surcharge. The program does not add any extra penalty when there is a death. Loss-time injuries – that is, injuries that cause a worker to miss at least one shift – can be more costly to a company than injuries that do not lead to lost time. Generally speaking, the longer a loss-time injury persists, the greater the cost under the experience rating program. Defenders of the system say it encourages most companies to make workplaces safer, and they underscore the ministry of labour's claim that loss-time injuries have gone down 20 per cent since 2004. But Hampton and others say the program's emphasis on the cost of loss-time injuries is creating an increasingly common problem: Companies coming up with degrading, meaningless jobs designed to prevent the injured worker from missing a shift. Rushing an injured worker back to work, they say, often makes the injury worse. "It's a widespread problem. I know from my own experience there are a number of significant industrial employers in my constituency where when you talk with workers they say this goes on all the time," Hampton said.
Irish foods low in trans fats, high in saturated
Tag: Palm Acid Oil
The results of a survey by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on the fat content and fatty acid composition of pre-packaged food products reveal that generally, levels of trans-fatty acids in the surveyed products are low. However, the FSAI is urging the food industry to find creative solutions to reformulate products, which still show high levels of saturated fats. One hundred retail food products available on the Irish market were analysed for total fat content and fatty acid profile including trans fatty acids. The samples comprised products which would be expected to naturally contain trans fatty acids such as cheese and products which may include industrial trans fatty acids as a result of the manufacturing process (eg fried food and snacks) or ingredients (eg hydrogenated oil). Results indicate that overall eighty percent of products surveyed contained less than two per cent trans fatty acids as a percentage of total fat. Thirty-three products declared hydrogenated oil as an ingredient. The results of the survey regarding the impact of the use of hydrogenated oils as a possible source of trans fats are indecisive. The survey shows that dried gravies and soups containing hydrogenated oil had the highest concentrations of trans fatty acids overall. However, 64 per cent of products declaring hydrogenated as an ingredient had levels of less than two per cent trans fatty acids as a percentage of total fat. Of these 33 products, 29 were high in saturated fat. Some products such as cereal and milk bars had saturated fat concentrations of more than 84 per cent of their total fat. If the level of trans fat may be lower than expected, the high level of saturated fats identified in the products surveyed represents high health concerns, said the FSAI. Thirty-four per cent of all products surveyed contained more than 50 per cent saturated fat (as a percentage of total fat).
The results of a survey by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on the fat content and fatty acid composition of pre-packaged food products reveal that generally, levels of trans-fatty acids in the surveyed products are low. However, the FSAI is urging the food industry to find creative solutions to reformulate products, which still show high levels of saturated fats. One hundred retail food products available on the Irish market were analysed for total fat content and fatty acid profile including trans fatty acids. The samples comprised products which would be expected to naturally contain trans fatty acids such as cheese and products which may include industrial trans fatty acids as a result of the manufacturing process (eg fried food and snacks) or ingredients (eg hydrogenated oil). Results indicate that overall eighty percent of products surveyed contained less than two per cent trans fatty acids as a percentage of total fat. Thirty-three products declared hydrogenated oil as an ingredient. The results of the survey regarding the impact of the use of hydrogenated oils as a possible source of trans fats are indecisive. The survey shows that dried gravies and soups containing hydrogenated oil had the highest concentrations of trans fatty acids overall. However, 64 per cent of products declaring hydrogenated as an ingredient had levels of less than two per cent trans fatty acids as a percentage of total fat. Of these 33 products, 29 were high in saturated fat. Some products such as cereal and milk bars had saturated fat concentrations of more than 84 per cent of their total fat. If the level of trans fat may be lower than expected, the high level of saturated fats identified in the products surveyed represents high health concerns, said the FSAI. Thirty-four per cent of all products surveyed contained more than 50 per cent saturated fat (as a percentage of total fat).
An anniversary is a time to reflect
As we approach the sixth anniversary of Between the Vines, I think it important to stop, smell the dried rose petals, relax, reflect and take another sip of pinot noir. On the topic of smell, you've probably read about the Bordeaux wine maker, Ilija Gort, who had his nose insured for about $8 million by Lloyd's of Dried Rose Bud . After reading that, I immediately called my insurance agent, and, well, he pretty much told me where I could stick my nose. In other news, Paul Newman's food brand, Newman's Own, is coming out with a line of wines, Butch Cabernet and the Sundance Blanc. Actually, they really are producing a California cabernet sauvignon and a chardonnay, and if the wines are as good as Fig Newmans, I'll be waxing eloquent on them. By the way, I forgot in my article on yak cheese to include the one wine to pair it with, and it was so obvious: any wine from Yakima. Meanwhile, out in my little vineyard, all the vines are pruned, and I'm just waiting for the temperatures to crawl out of the basement. Maybe by July we'll have bud-break. Which would put harvest at just about Christmas. On the other hand, all it takes is one warm, dry spell, and things could take off early. Or maybe on time. Speaking of which, to celebrate my anniversary, I'm taking off. My lovely wife and I are sojourning nine days in Paris. And although we'll take a few day trips (Versailles, Giverny), I also have to make sure my favorite Paris wine bars, Jacques Melac, Au Sauvignon, A la Cloches des Halles, are up to snuff. And you can bet I'll be returning home loaded with stinky French cheese. I can already see my kids' faces scrunched up in agony. But, before I run off, let me leave you with a couple handy wine recommendations. I've been saving one particular wine for a warm spring day, but that's not going to happen (it's snowing as I write these words). But still, try this serious rosé from West Salem's Cubanisimo, the 2006 Rosado de Pinot Noir, $20. This is bone dry, with wonderful aromas of strawberry and flowers and a soft, mellow texture. The flavors are of tart berry and fresh blackberry with an intriguing note of brown spice. Now if we could just get some warm weather to enjoy it with. Willamette Valley Vineyards has a new offering out, the 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, $25, a pleasing, pretty thing, beginning with lovely aromatics of blackberry, strawberry and cherry. Mild tannins accentuate the intense fruitiness with cola, strawberry and blackberry flavors. It's soft, pretty and easy to cozy up to. And from ol' (Jay) McDonald's farm comes the EIEIO, 2006 Cuvée E Pinot Noir, $30. You know how some wines just smell big? Well, this does. And the color looks like syrah on a cloudy night. But it has the classic pinot noir nose of dried rose petals, earth and bing cherry leading into rich, full flavors of plum, tobacco and tar. It's very lush on the midpalate, and a wee harsh on the finish. Given that note, combined with the big tannins and bracing acidity, I would guess this to be an ager.
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